Title: Don’t Call the Wolf
Author: Aleksandra Ross
Type: Fiction
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTeen (HarperCollins)
Date published: April 28, 2020

A physical copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of Leigh Bardugo and Holly Black will devour this gorgeously imagined fantasy about a dark forest besieged by monsters—and the wild queen who has sworn to drive them out.

A fierce young queen, neither human nor lynx, who fights to protect a forest humans have long abandoned.

An exhausted young soldier, last of his name, who searches for the brother who disappeared beneath those trees without a trace.

A Golden Dragon, fearsome and vengeful, whose wingbeats haunt their nightmares and their steps.

When these three paths cross at the fringes of a war between monsters and men, shapeshifter queen and reluctant hero strike a deal that may finally turn the tide against the rising hordes of darkness. Ren will help Lukasz find his brother…if Lukasz promises to slay the Dragon.

But promises are all too easily broken.

This Eastern European fantasy debut, inspired by the Polish fairy tale “The Glass Mountain,” will take you on a twisting journey full of creeping tension, simmering romance, and haunting folklore—perfect for readers who loved An Enchantment of Ravens and The Hazel Wood. 

⤖ My Review ⬻

One of the most exciting things to happen in YA, in my personal opinion, is the fairytale retelling trend. That being said, some fairytales or legends are retold more than others and it gets to a point where the retellings of very popular tales have to be very very very unique in order to stand out. And since that’s not always possible, I personally tend to take breaks from reading retellings of say…The Little Mermaid and Snow White, for example. Aside from the incredible cover art, what made Don’t Call the Wolf stand out to me was the title (it made me ask “hey, why don’t we want to call the wolf?” and also “why would you call a wolf to begin with?” It caught my interest.

There was also the fact that this is based on an Eastern European fairytale—”The Glass Mountain” a Polish fairytale—which I always have a place for in my heart. And the other important factor (which ties back to my ramble about YA fairytale retellings in the previous paragraph) was that this was a retelling that I have not seen done before. I have also never heard of “The Glass Mountain” for this, so I was kept on the edge of my seat and surprised throughout the entire reading experience!

Due to how the synopsis was written, I assumed that this story would be told by an omnipresent narrator who is very much not a part of the action. However, even though this book was written in the third person, I felt close to the characters as they undertook their quest. There was also a romance that I enjoyed in this book which I wasn’t expecting! I enjoyed Don’t Call the Wolf overall and recommend it to those who enjoy fairytales and high fantasy!

⤖ About the Author ⬻

Aleksandra Ross‘s earliest memories include sitting on the couch and listening to her grandmother read the Polish folktales of her childhood. She grew up in Vancouver, BC, and went to medical school at the University of Alberta. Don’t Call the Wolf is her first novel.

⤖ Purchase the Book ⬻

⤖ Let’s Chat ⬻

THANK YOU FOR READING MY REVIEW! HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? WHAT DID YOU THINK? AND IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT YET, DO YOU WANT TO, OR NOT? HOW COME? LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS!