The Wolf and the Woodsman

by Ava Reid
The Wolf and the Woodsman cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Fantasy
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Paperback • £9.99
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Technical
  • ID: 8046
  • Added: 2025-12-20
  • Updated: 2025-12-31
  • ISBN: 9781473582637
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2021-06-08
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

In a forest-veiled pagan village, Évike is the only woman without power. When soldiers from the Holy Order of Woodsmen arrive to claim a girl for their king's blood sacrifice, the villagers have no choice but to offer up Évike. However, their journey is cut short by an attack, leaving only Évike and a lone Woodsman, Gáspár Bárány, the disgraced prince. As they travel together, they form a tenuous pact that slowly turns to affection, but trust is easily betrayed, and Évike must discover her own hidden magic to decide where her loyalties lie. The Wolf and the Woodsman is a dark, evocative fantasy that blends Hungarian history and Jewish mythology. It's a story of power, trust, and self-discovery, perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden.

Reviews
Bookwitch Blog · 2022-01-19
lovely 4.00

The book is praised for its rich world-building and vibrant characters, making it a lovely debut with a unique Eastern European flavor. The multi-faceted plot adds depth to the story, making it a compelling read.

This reviewer really enjoyed the book's setting and characters. They found the Eastern European flavor to be a standout feature, adding a unique touch to the story. The world-building is rich and immersive, and the characters are vibrant and well-developed. The plot is multi-faceted, offering layers of complexity that make the book a compelling read. They appreciated the depth and intricacy of the story, making it a lovely debut novel.

Quick quotes

    The Wolf and The Woodsman by Ava Reid is a lovely debut with an Eastern European flavor, a rich world, vibrant characters, and a multi-faceted plot.

    The world-building is rich and immersive, and the characters are vibrant and well-developed.

    The plot is multi-faceted, offering layers of complexity that make the book a compelling read.

The Gloss Book Club · Caitlin Winkler · 2022-01-01
unforgettable 4.50

This debut novel is highly anticipated and delivers a dark, evocative, and unforgettable fantasy steeped in Hungarian history and Jewish mythology. The reviewer is eager for more from the author.

This reviewer was really looking forward to this book and it did not disappoint. They found it to be a dark, evocative, and unforgettable fantasy that is steeped in Hungarian history and Jewish mythology. The reviewer is a fan of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden, and they think fans of those authors will enjoy this book as well. They are eager to read more from Ava Reid in the future, which is a high compliment indeed.

Quick quotes

    The Wolf and the Woodsman is a debut novel by Ava Reid and all I can say if this is her first book, I cannot wait for all her following books.

    A dark, evocative and unforgettable fantasy debut steeped in Hungarian history and Jewish mythology.

    Perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden.

Smexy Books · Angela · 2021-06-11
fabulous 4.50

This book is a fabulous debut fantasy that has everything the reviewer loves in a new epic adventure. It is full of rich elements that make it a standout read.

This reviewer loved this book and found it to be a fabulous debut fantasy. They appreciated the rich elements that the book offers, making it a standout read. The reviewer is a sucker for creepy forests, and the woods in this story did not disappoint. They found the story to be full of everything they love in a new epic adventure, making it a highly enjoyable read. They think fans of fantasy will find this book to be a great addition to their reading list.

Quick quotes

    The Wolf and the Woodsman is a fabulous debut fantasy.

    Full of everything I love when I'm seeking out a new epic adventure.

    I'm a sucker for creepy forests, and not only do the woods in this story have dark.

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