Fang of the Wolf stands out among fantasy I’ve read over the past few years. Even though it is fantasy (as in, set in another world), it really reads like historical fiction (no magic). I really enjoyed this book from start to finish and I can’t wait to dig into book 2! Here’s some background on Fang of the Wolf (blurb from Goodreads):

The raiders came, they took her father, and they left her for dead.

In the heart of the Northlands, the Varg is the greatest warrior of his clan. His daughter, Valaria, has trained all her life to follow in his footsteps.

The morning after her initiation as a warrior, an enemy clan ambushes the Varg’s hunting party and leaves Valaria unconscious. When she wakes, her father has disappeared. 

When the clan refuses to send men after the Varg, believing him dead or soon to be, Valaria leaves on her own. He’s alive, and she will not rest until she rescues the father who gave her everything, no matter the cost.

The warriors who captured him won’t be easy foes, most of all Culland Jarlsorn, the son of the enemy warlord. Rumors say he is better with a sword than even the Varg.

But during her mission, Valaria discovers a new force beyond the clans that threatens them all.

Ratings for Fang of the Wolf

Story: 5/5

Worldview: 4/5

Story

The storytelling here was amazing! From page one, we greet Valaria just as she is about to go through her initiation into being a new warrior. This initiation is referred to as the Reckoning and is meant to target her specific weaknesses. I loved facing the unknown with Valaria, and I’m going to be thinking about that Reckoning for a while. It set such a great tone for the whole rest of the novel in terms of character and themes. The plot itself moves quickly but then there is a great balance in character building moments for Valaria, her father, and Culland (the enemy clan leader’s son). I can’t go into too much detail without spoilers, but the twists are great and definitely surprising! It was nice to read a straightforward fantasy with personal stakes–this felt a bit like a comfort read in the sense that it was easy to get into.

Worldview

This is not a Christian book, so I’m not evaluating the worldview as such. However, I loved the themes of loyalty and honor. Valaria often weighs her own goals against what’s best for her clan. And she also has to come to terms and reach her own convictions: “Valaria didn’t know her honor well in this land. Honor was easier to judge on the training ground, safe with the heart of Vargland with the Varg’s careful eye upon her. Here and now, in this unfamiliar place with her father’s life in the balance, she no longer knew what to expect of herself.”

There was not any romance in this book, but hints of something more in the future.

Content notes: There is mention of blood and fighting; enemy warriors are killed (not descriptive but violent). There was also mention of some man in the woods talking about destiny, but it wasn’t explored or explained further beyond the first few chapters.

Overall thoughts

Fang of the Wolf was such a pleasant surprise! I’m so glad I got the chance to read this book, and I can’t wait for book 2! Note: I did receive a free copy of this book but all opinions expressed are my own.

If you’re looking for some fantasy reads with Christian themes, I highly recommend Where Darkness Dwells by Andrea Renae and When the Stars Shine Again by Lucy Peterson.