The first daughter is for the Throne.
The second daughter is for the Wolf.
For fans of Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale comes a dark fantasy novel about a young woman who must be sacrificed to the legendary Wolf of the Wood to save her kingdom. But not all legends are true, and the Wolf isn’t the only danger lurking in the Wilderwood.
As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose-to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he’ll return the world’s captured gods.
Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can’t control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can’t hurt those she loves. Again.
But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn’t learn how to use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood-and her world-whole.
Before we go on this particular adventure, there are a few words I’d like to say. I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK EVERYONE READ IT. Stranger Things + Red Riding Hood + Beauty and the Beast = A thriller dark fairytale. Sign. Me. Up. Oh yeah, plus a bit of the sweetest romance ever?! This world is my newest obsession. Thank you so much to Orbit for sending me this!
Destination
Today we are going to the magical dark fairytale world that is For the Wolf. First let’s visit Valleyda. This is the kingdom that is cursed with sending their second daughter princess to the Wilderwood and to the Wolf. This is the most powerful kingdom where their religious beliefs about the 5 ancient and trapped kings are strong. People and other priestesses come from all over the world to come and pray at the famed temple and to see the sacrifice of a second daughter. Valleyda is home to beautiful gardens that lately seemed to have withered and died. Valleyda and it’s stone seems cold and lacking in something…
Let’s travel to the Wilderwood. It is a dangerous and wild place filled with trees who will want blood and who make deals bargaining with your life. It seems as though it is eternally twilight. It is also a doorway to the shadowlands where monsters from your worst nightmares can form a breach and come through to terrorize everyone in their path. There is rot in the Wilderwood, but if you look and listen, you can find the beauty here. Especially in the stories the trees tell or in the giant manor sitting in the middle of the woods with a huge library. Cue *swooning*.
Smells, Fashion, Food
In the manor, in the Wilderwood, you can always smell fresh coffee, ink stained pages, and rustling leaves. You might smell the coppery tang of blood as well but you will get used to that. Blood is life here. It is everything.
When you travel, make sure to pack your cloak. One type that is especially in style is a beautiful red cloak with gold thread making a picture. Oh, and definitely a good pair of boots. You will also need plenty of bandages. Again, lots of blood.
Food. Don’t eat in Valleyda. Just skip that part. And as far as food in the Wilderwood (if you aren’t the food), you just get some coffee and soup. So I suggest making or packing your own food if you go.
People
Oh the people you will meet. Let’s start with the first person you will come across, Redarys, or Red. Red is a fiercely protective second sister who has secret magic she probably won’t show you for fear it will, well, kill you. She is insanely curious and brave and someone I’d want to be friends with. She would sacrifice anything for those she loves.
Neverah – Neve- is the first daughter. She is in line for the Valleydian throne. She has a certain darkness about her that is curious. She will not hesitate to delve into that darkness to do what she *thinks* is right, even if the world burns. She is whip smart and will also do anything for her sister. She might have a slight trust issue however.
Raffe is the man everyone falls in love with. He loves just one, however, and fights with everything he has to get to her heart. He is the wry, handsome, prince-like, man that is so loveable even though bad things keep happening to him.
Lord Arick. You will meet this poor sweet fool and hesitantly love him anyways. *Sigh*
Kiri. Back away slowly if you come across this crazed, psycho priestess. She is the most devote to the 5 kings.
Fife and Lyra. Comes as a packaged deal. You will meet them in the Wilderwood. They are hard to get to know. Very private people who have lived long lives. But their stories are worth the search to know.
Eammon. Think new cinnamon roll book boyfriend material. SWOON. Tall. Dark. Handsome. Tragic backstory. Mysterious. Kind of sad. I love him. You will definitely want to meet him. I don’t want to give away too many of his secrets, those are his to tell, but he is a protector. He deserves all the love!!
And lastly the mysterious Solmir. I don’t know him as much as the others. He comes across as a scary dude, but is he?
Coming back out of this world is hard! It really sucks you in! I highly recommend adventuring here! Your adrenaline will be pumping, your heart will pound, you will gasp multiple times, and be sad when your trip is over. I can’t wait to go back in book 2!
Storied Adventures 