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Noss Saga #1
Wolf of Withervale
An ambitious, sweeping saga. As epic as it is queer.
Lago was only a child when the shapeshifter entrusted the wolf-like mask to his care—an artifact so powerful that it could come to shape the entire world of Noss.
Now that he is coming of age, Lago is becoming ever more fearful of the ominous relic’s influence, of the empire who has scented its trail and is coming after it. Coming after him.
Aided by his best friend, an enigmatic scout, and his trusty dog, Lago seeks refuge in the vastness of the Heartpine Dome. The eighty-mile-wide structure had remained sealed for centuries, safeguarding more than mere secrets. Now that the dome’s entrails are stirring, the mysteries of the long-vanished Miscam tribes are coming to light, and the shapeshifting animal spirits are making their return.
Powers untold hide behind the blinkless eyeholes of the canid mask, powers that could tip the balance in the war. Lago is barely beginning to learn how to wield the dark visage, but he can already feel its potential.
… And he can feel a different change coming, deep in his marrow.
Riveting in scope and worldbuilding, and exquisitely illustrated by the author, this tale of transformation and self-discovery is filled with unabashed wonder and a lust for places unknown. A profoundly queer adventure that explores sexuality, our connections to other species, unconventional kinds of love, and the very nature of consciousness.
Wolf of Withervale is the first installment of the Noss Saga, an epic LGBTQ+ fantasy series.
Lago was only a child when the shapeshifter entrusted the wolf-like mask to his care—an artifact so powerful that it could come to shape the entire world of Noss.
Now that he is coming of age, Lago is becoming ever more fearful of the ominous relic’s influence, of the empire who has scented its trail and is coming after it. Coming after him.
Aided by his best friend, an enigmatic scout, and his trusty dog, Lago seeks refuge in the vastness of the Heartpine Dome. The eighty-mile-wide structure had remained sealed for centuries, safeguarding more than mere secrets. Now that the dome’s entrails are stirring, the mysteries of the long-vanished Miscam tribes are coming to light, and the shapeshifting animal spirits are making their return.
Powers untold hide behind the blinkless eyeholes of the canid mask, powers that could tip the balance in the war. Lago is barely beginning to learn how to wield the dark visage, but he can already feel its potential.
… And he can feel a different change coming, deep in his marrow.
Riveting in scope and worldbuilding, and exquisitely illustrated by the author, this tale of transformation and self-discovery is filled with unabashed wonder and a lust for places unknown. A profoundly queer adventure that explores sexuality, our connections to other species, unconventional kinds of love, and the very nature of consciousness.
Wolf of Withervale is the first installment of the Noss Saga, an epic LGBTQ+ fantasy series.
596 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2023
108 people are currently reading
683 people want to read
About the author
Joaquín Baldwin
8 books62 followersJoaquín Baldwin writes epic fantasy with a queer touch. As a multidisciplinary artist, he’s been recognized for his work in cinematography, photography, 3D design, and illustration, and his animated shorts have won over 100 awards. He unadvisedly decided that writing novels was the next thing on his list. While at Disney, he worked on films such as Zootopia, Encanto, Frozen and Moana. He spends an inordinate amount of time crafting the complex world of the Noss Saga. Visit him at joaquinbaldwin.com.
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August 9, 2025A finalist in the 10th annual SPFBO contest!
10 finalists were chosen from the 300 books entered this year.
10 finalists were chosen from the 300 books entered this year.
March 26, 2025
My SPFBOX finalist review of Wolf of Withervale is published at Before We Go Blog.
Wolf of Withervale by Joaquín Baldwin is a queer epic fantasy about Lago, a boy who has been entrusted with a lupine mask that he must try to understand and protect. Wolf of Withervale pulls in too many incongruous directions, which ultimately makes it feel directionless. Much of it is written in a young adult style that may feel insulting to the intelligence of adult readers. For example, consider this passage where one character explains the meaning of the word “analogous”:
“Analogous. It means something similar. But who knows? Life could be completely different out there. We have no idea.”
Then, for no apparent reason, there will be an explicit sex scene—I won’t call them romance scenes, because there was absolutely nothing romantic about them—inevitably with body parts described in a rather disgusting amount of detail. The sex scenes were all gratuitous and, frankly, quite gross considering the age of the protagonist.
On the positive side, Wolf of Withervale shines in its worldbuilding, especially with its shapeshifting magic:
“Shapeshifting is achieved through a particular state of mind. It is about intention, but it’s also about detachment and about awareness. Self-understanding and self-acceptance are most important. It is about knowing not just who you are, but who you are trying to become, and understanding that that form is and always has been a part of you, even in you hadn’t realized it before.”
However, the exceptional worldbuilding of Wolf of Withervale is sabotaged by its lack of a compelling plot. The main story doesn’t begin until about a third into the book. Even then, the plot just crawls along for the remainder of this very long book.
Wolf of Withervale, unfortunately, falls into the common trap of conflating length with being epic. Simply making a fantasy book long doesn’t make it more epic. It just makes it long. Wolf of Withervale is an unnecessarily long book and could be easily cut in half without losing anything key to the story.
Unfortunately, worldbuilding alone couldn’t sustain my interest in a book that left me alternating between boredom and revulsion. Wolf of Withervale is a major miss for me.
3/10
Wolf of Withervale by Joaquín Baldwin is a queer epic fantasy about Lago, a boy who has been entrusted with a lupine mask that he must try to understand and protect. Wolf of Withervale pulls in too many incongruous directions, which ultimately makes it feel directionless. Much of it is written in a young adult style that may feel insulting to the intelligence of adult readers. For example, consider this passage where one character explains the meaning of the word “analogous”:
“Analogous. It means something similar. But who knows? Life could be completely different out there. We have no idea.”
Then, for no apparent reason, there will be an explicit sex scene—I won’t call them romance scenes, because there was absolutely nothing romantic about them—inevitably with body parts described in a rather disgusting amount of detail. The sex scenes were all gratuitous and, frankly, quite gross considering the age of the protagonist.
On the positive side, Wolf of Withervale shines in its worldbuilding, especially with its shapeshifting magic:
“Shapeshifting is achieved through a particular state of mind. It is about intention, but it’s also about detachment and about awareness. Self-understanding and self-acceptance are most important. It is about knowing not just who you are, but who you are trying to become, and understanding that that form is and always has been a part of you, even in you hadn’t realized it before.”
However, the exceptional worldbuilding of Wolf of Withervale is sabotaged by its lack of a compelling plot. The main story doesn’t begin until about a third into the book. Even then, the plot just crawls along for the remainder of this very long book.
Wolf of Withervale, unfortunately, falls into the common trap of conflating length with being epic. Simply making a fantasy book long doesn’t make it more epic. It just makes it long. Wolf of Withervale is an unnecessarily long book and could be easily cut in half without losing anything key to the story.
Unfortunately, worldbuilding alone couldn’t sustain my interest in a book that left me alternating between boredom and revulsion. Wolf of Withervale is a major miss for me.
3/10
July 26, 2025
Read for SPFBO, this is only me personal opinion, group verdict might differ widely!
Wolf of Withervale by Joaquín Baldwin, is a fascinating story I read in just a few days.
I liked the main character, and especially enjoyed the banter and loyalty between him and his best friend, and later on now travel companions. I'm always fond of group dynamics that are built on loyalties and trust, rather than unnecessary drama.
A few times the pace of people changing their minds or forming bonds was a bit too quick to feel entirely realistic to me. I might just be a wary person, but I'd not risk my life, and those of everyone there, for random strangers, or just trust random strangers with my life....
I did like how the book handled being different. Be it the main character being gay and decidedly liking bellies, or the racism against people who are outside of overs culture. Humans with fox tails or other such traits sounded very intriguing to me, and definitely enriched the world for me.
I personally could have done with less talk about cocks and how big people are, but I guess it's realistic for a hormonal 18 year old.
The budding romance definitely didn't grab me, but then I dislike 99% of romance, so I shall not detract any stars for that. But despite the clear message of accepting people for who they are, a relationship between said 18 year old, and a wizened "man" who's seen centuries come and go just felt a bit off for me. I mean as long as everyone's happy, that's fine, I just always find a strong imbalance in power or life experience icky personally.
The writing was good enough to not stand out, but really let the story shine. It's not pompous or clunky, but really just does it's job fine.
The world building was intriguing, but could have used some smoothening. There was a bit too much at once in parts, which I'd have preferred more spread out, as to not bog down some scenes, especially in the start.
The ideas, magic, cultures and so on definitely had me hooked, so overall it did work out well.
Wolf of Withervale by Joaquín Baldwin, is a fascinating story I read in just a few days.
I liked the main character, and especially enjoyed the banter and loyalty between him and his best friend, and later on now travel companions. I'm always fond of group dynamics that are built on loyalties and trust, rather than unnecessary drama.
A few times the pace of people changing their minds or forming bonds was a bit too quick to feel entirely realistic to me. I might just be a wary person, but I'd not risk my life, and those of everyone there, for random strangers, or just trust random strangers with my life....
I did like how the book handled being different. Be it the main character being gay and decidedly liking bellies, or the racism against people who are outside of overs culture. Humans with fox tails or other such traits sounded very intriguing to me, and definitely enriched the world for me.
I personally could have done with less talk about cocks and how big people are, but I guess it's realistic for a hormonal 18 year old.
The budding romance definitely didn't grab me, but then I dislike 99% of romance, so I shall not detract any stars for that. But despite the clear message of accepting people for who they are, a relationship between said 18 year old, and a wizened "man" who's seen centuries come and go just felt a bit off for me. I mean as long as everyone's happy, that's fine, I just always find a strong imbalance in power or life experience icky personally.
The writing was good enough to not stand out, but really let the story shine. It's not pompous or clunky, but really just does it's job fine.
The world building was intriguing, but could have used some smoothening. There was a bit too much at once in parts, which I'd have preferred more spread out, as to not bog down some scenes, especially in the start.
The ideas, magic, cultures and so on definitely had me hooked, so overall it did work out well.
April 14, 2025
I read this as a judge for #SPFBOX and I am very pleased to say that this book was a delight. It was actually already on my radar before the competition and I’m so glad the competition bumped it up my TBR because it is certainly a world and a story which I really enjoyed.
The plot of this is incredibly detailed and well thought out, set in a large world which has various domes which are entirely mysterious to the world’s current inhabitants. These domes seem to be linked to the history and evolution of the world, but we (and the current species of the world) know very little about the past and the mysteries waiting to be discovered.
We follow Lego who is a young boy who has a tumultuous home life yet he’s bright and keen to learn. His best friend and he spend a lot of time together and their friendship was a lovely one to see. Lago goes through some tough challenges and his companions help him along the way.
The magic of this world is vibrant and comes in many forms. The domes almost seem impenetrable and magic because of their mystique, there are sentient animals, magical mind powers, strange masks and artefacts which seem to hold more magic and power, and more. We get to meet some of the magical beings and enjoy their presence and their companionship, and we also see some forced into roles they don’t want/deserve, so it’s not all nice.
At the point we start the story there’s a divide between two warring nations too, but one side seems to know more about the magical things in the world what the other is more about the science. These two opposing sides will no doubt have to clash at some stage.
Banook is a great character that you meet later on, and along with Alaia these two and others become travelling companions and friends. Again I think the friendship and leather romances which are showcased in this book were really nicely done. We have solid queer representation here and it shows that you can write stories which show all sides of yourself, and I think the author here has done an admirable job of seamlessly adding queer beings and culture into this world.
Overall, the story is one which goes through different tempos, we start fast, slow a little, then gradually build to a climactic ending of what is going to come next. This is only the first one in a 6-book series which means there’s more to come and I look forward to seeing how the story goes on, as I will need to get the second one! 3.75*s so 7.5/10 for #SPFBO.
The plot of this is incredibly detailed and well thought out, set in a large world which has various domes which are entirely mysterious to the world’s current inhabitants. These domes seem to be linked to the history and evolution of the world, but we (and the current species of the world) know very little about the past and the mysteries waiting to be discovered.
We follow Lego who is a young boy who has a tumultuous home life yet he’s bright and keen to learn. His best friend and he spend a lot of time together and their friendship was a lovely one to see. Lago goes through some tough challenges and his companions help him along the way.
The magic of this world is vibrant and comes in many forms. The domes almost seem impenetrable and magic because of their mystique, there are sentient animals, magical mind powers, strange masks and artefacts which seem to hold more magic and power, and more. We get to meet some of the magical beings and enjoy their presence and their companionship, and we also see some forced into roles they don’t want/deserve, so it’s not all nice.
At the point we start the story there’s a divide between two warring nations too, but one side seems to know more about the magical things in the world what the other is more about the science. These two opposing sides will no doubt have to clash at some stage.
Banook is a great character that you meet later on, and along with Alaia these two and others become travelling companions and friends. Again I think the friendship and leather romances which are showcased in this book were really nicely done. We have solid queer representation here and it shows that you can write stories which show all sides of yourself, and I think the author here has done an admirable job of seamlessly adding queer beings and culture into this world.
Overall, the story is one which goes through different tempos, we start fast, slow a little, then gradually build to a climactic ending of what is going to come next. This is only the first one in a 6-book series which means there’s more to come and I look forward to seeing how the story goes on, as I will need to get the second one! 3.75*s so 7.5/10 for #SPFBO.
September 25, 2023
I was fortunate enough to be a beta reader for Wolf of Withervale, and I'm excited that everyone gets to read it now.
Noss is an amazingly rich and complex world, deeply thought out in every regard, from geography to language, culture, currency, technology, religion, and history. Within that history lies an intriguing mystery: massive domes that span the map, but which have not been penetrated since time immemorial. Well... until now. And yes, there are detailed maps (as there should be in any sprawling fantasy world) rendered by the author, who just happens to be as talented an artist as he is a writer. It was a fun return to the fantasy reading of my youth, hungrily analyzing maps (like those of Middle Earth) to solidify my own conceptions, while eagerly theorizing about as-yet-unexplained features.
The world and its complexities are revealed through the story, which manages to remain intimately focused on our protagonist, Lago. He's real and relatable. He makes mistakes. He learns eagerly. Lago's curiosity, and the unfolding events around him, drive our expanding circle of awareness of the world and its features. He asks the questions we'd all like to know the answers to, and the people around him reflect the world's complexity with their answers, evasions, motives, alliances, and personal stories. When Lago is presented with the burden of a mysterious wolf mask, he and his best friend Alaia quickly discover how sought-after it is, while slowly unraveling its recondite properties.
Others are remarking on the fantastic queer representation in the story. Indeed, the treatment of sexuality is just as honest and nuanced as every other aspect of the world. However, I'll note how much this book resonated with me as a science-loving nerd. So many fantastic details, from to the astronomical observations of Noss's many-colored moon cycles to the puzzle-like magnetic currency, to other details of biology and magic that I don't want to spoil, are rooted in, and logically extrapolated from, real-life science.
It's an excellent book that doesn't shrink away from real danger or consequence. Its scale and development is worthy of the series. You'll eagerly await the next installment.
Noss is an amazingly rich and complex world, deeply thought out in every regard, from geography to language, culture, currency, technology, religion, and history. Within that history lies an intriguing mystery: massive domes that span the map, but which have not been penetrated since time immemorial. Well... until now. And yes, there are detailed maps (as there should be in any sprawling fantasy world) rendered by the author, who just happens to be as talented an artist as he is a writer. It was a fun return to the fantasy reading of my youth, hungrily analyzing maps (like those of Middle Earth) to solidify my own conceptions, while eagerly theorizing about as-yet-unexplained features.
The world and its complexities are revealed through the story, which manages to remain intimately focused on our protagonist, Lago. He's real and relatable. He makes mistakes. He learns eagerly. Lago's curiosity, and the unfolding events around him, drive our expanding circle of awareness of the world and its features. He asks the questions we'd all like to know the answers to, and the people around him reflect the world's complexity with their answers, evasions, motives, alliances, and personal stories. When Lago is presented with the burden of a mysterious wolf mask, he and his best friend Alaia quickly discover how sought-after it is, while slowly unraveling its recondite properties.
Others are remarking on the fantastic queer representation in the story. Indeed, the treatment of sexuality is just as honest and nuanced as every other aspect of the world. However, I'll note how much this book resonated with me as a science-loving nerd. So many fantastic details, from to the astronomical observations of Noss's many-colored moon cycles to the puzzle-like magnetic currency, to other details of biology and magic that I don't want to spoil, are rooted in, and logically extrapolated from, real-life science.
It's an excellent book that doesn't shrink away from real danger or consequence. Its scale and development is worthy of the series. You'll eagerly await the next installment.
March 25, 2025
Read for SPFBOX as part of team Fantasy Book Critic. This is just my opinion, group verdict may differ widely.
7.5/10
Wolf of Withervale is pitched as “An ambitious, sweeping saga—as epic as it is queer.”, and I honestly think that sums it up more perfectly than I ever could. It’s got ancient relics, mystifying magic, shape-shifting powers, diverse races and rich cultures, wholesome found family vibes, epic quests, all the queer love, and more mystery, intrigue and heart than you ever knew you needed.
As with any good start to an epic fantasy series, Wolf of Withervale is quite the slow-burn set-up book, but not in the boring way. From the moment I met Lago, I found him to be an extremely likeable and compelling protagonist, and I absolutely loved exploring all the mysteries and intricacies of the world together with him. I mean, I always love me a good morally grey anti-hero, but sometimes you just want to follow genuinely good people doing their best to do good things for the world and the people around them, and that is exactly what Baldwin offers.
Don’t get me wrong, Wolf of Withervale definitely has some dark aspects and there is no lack of conflict and stakes, but somehow I found this entire story to just be inexplicably cozy (which the wonderfully narrated audiobook probably also contributed to). For me, the nuanced interpersonal relationships and authentic personal inner journeys just kept me quite engaged, and I loved the found family vibes that started to develop between these loveable misfits. I mean, Alaia truly deserves the award for best friend in the world, and Bear is just the goodest boy ever.
I really enjoyed that they each have such a different background, because that allowed us to naturally get to learn all about this fascinating world as they share their own experiences and knowledge. And what a world it is! To me, the world of Noss is up there with The Wheel of Time or Stormlight Archive in both the breadth and depth of the world building, and I found myself fascinated by all the post-cataclysmic mysteries, the intricacies of the tense political landscape, and the level of rich diversity, be that on a racial, cultural or sexual level.
I mean, there is absolutely no denying that there were quite a few overwhelming info-dumps that went in one ear and out the other for me, but for the most part I think Baldwin actually did a pretty good job of balancing and interweaving the world building with the characters’ personal journeys. Especially the mysterious influence that the ancient wolf-like mask relic had on Lago kept me glued to the page, and I loved how his new-found shape-shifting powers and his transformative journey highlighted the story’s core themes of human connection, nature, empathy, belonging, and queerness.
And speaking of queerness, Wolf of Withervale is just hella gay, and I was mostly all here for it. That said, although I enjoyed the soul-deep connection between Banook and Lago, I am personally not the biggest fan of age-gap romances, and especially the whole ‘cub’ as a term of endearment made me feel deeply uncomfortable. Moreover, while I really liked Baldwin’s lush and descriptive prose in most sections of the story, I personally found the blunt and graphic way that most of the explicit scenes were written to be a bit off-putting.
Still, those quibbles didn’t end up hindering my enjoyment all that much, and I was just happily plodding along on this epic adventure. Sure, the pacing is quite wobbly, and I can’t sit here and pretend that I was really invested in the macro plot with the escalating war, but somehow I was just along for the ride (which the audiobook once again probably also helped with). And between the occasional intriguing non-Lago POV chapters and the ominously enticing (if slightly abrupt) ending, I am quite curious to see what Baldwin has in store in the rest of the Noss Saga.
If you are sick and tired of all the bleak worlds filled with morally gray anti-heroes, then Wolf of Withervale will be a wonderful breath of fresh air. It’s somehow both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly diverse, and I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone who likes their fantasy epic, slow, indulgent, character-driven, and unapologetically queer.
7.5/10
Wolf of Withervale is pitched as “An ambitious, sweeping saga—as epic as it is queer.”, and I honestly think that sums it up more perfectly than I ever could. It’s got ancient relics, mystifying magic, shape-shifting powers, diverse races and rich cultures, wholesome found family vibes, epic quests, all the queer love, and more mystery, intrigue and heart than you ever knew you needed.
As with any good start to an epic fantasy series, Wolf of Withervale is quite the slow-burn set-up book, but not in the boring way. From the moment I met Lago, I found him to be an extremely likeable and compelling protagonist, and I absolutely loved exploring all the mysteries and intricacies of the world together with him. I mean, I always love me a good morally grey anti-hero, but sometimes you just want to follow genuinely good people doing their best to do good things for the world and the people around them, and that is exactly what Baldwin offers.
Don’t get me wrong, Wolf of Withervale definitely has some dark aspects and there is no lack of conflict and stakes, but somehow I found this entire story to just be inexplicably cozy (which the wonderfully narrated audiobook probably also contributed to). For me, the nuanced interpersonal relationships and authentic personal inner journeys just kept me quite engaged, and I loved the found family vibes that started to develop between these loveable misfits. I mean, Alaia truly deserves the award for best friend in the world, and Bear is just the goodest boy ever.
I really enjoyed that they each have such a different background, because that allowed us to naturally get to learn all about this fascinating world as they share their own experiences and knowledge. And what a world it is! To me, the world of Noss is up there with The Wheel of Time or Stormlight Archive in both the breadth and depth of the world building, and I found myself fascinated by all the post-cataclysmic mysteries, the intricacies of the tense political landscape, and the level of rich diversity, be that on a racial, cultural or sexual level.
I mean, there is absolutely no denying that there were quite a few overwhelming info-dumps that went in one ear and out the other for me, but for the most part I think Baldwin actually did a pretty good job of balancing and interweaving the world building with the characters’ personal journeys. Especially the mysterious influence that the ancient wolf-like mask relic had on Lago kept me glued to the page, and I loved how his new-found shape-shifting powers and his transformative journey highlighted the story’s core themes of human connection, nature, empathy, belonging, and queerness.
And speaking of queerness, Wolf of Withervale is just hella gay, and I was mostly all here for it. That said, although I enjoyed the soul-deep connection between Banook and Lago, I am personally not the biggest fan of age-gap romances, and especially the whole ‘cub’ as a term of endearment made me feel deeply uncomfortable. Moreover, while I really liked Baldwin’s lush and descriptive prose in most sections of the story, I personally found the blunt and graphic way that most of the explicit scenes were written to be a bit off-putting.
Still, those quibbles didn’t end up hindering my enjoyment all that much, and I was just happily plodding along on this epic adventure. Sure, the pacing is quite wobbly, and I can’t sit here and pretend that I was really invested in the macro plot with the escalating war, but somehow I was just along for the ride (which the audiobook once again probably also helped with). And between the occasional intriguing non-Lago POV chapters and the ominously enticing (if slightly abrupt) ending, I am quite curious to see what Baldwin has in store in the rest of the Noss Saga.
If you are sick and tired of all the bleak worlds filled with morally gray anti-heroes, then Wolf of Withervale will be a wonderful breath of fresh air. It’s somehow both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly diverse, and I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone who likes their fantasy epic, slow, indulgent, character-driven, and unapologetically queer.
December 28, 2024
Read as part of SPFBO10
So, here’s the thing. I daresay a lot of reviews for this book will include a sentence that goes something like: it could have been shorter. And, yes, there would certainly have been ways to condense the story without it losing direction in plot… BUT… I also daresay that Baldwin would absolutely not have it any other way. The world he has created for this saga is vast. Most importantly, a lot of the elements he has created for this story are amazing – the new money, the new language, measurements, time, all possible metric conversions have been converted into something new. The illustrations are sublime. There are pages upon pages of exploration of locations, characters, the legends.
All that and yet the direction of the plot was the steady, stable focus point in the centre. I would like to say that Baldwin has every right to be uber proud of the work he has done. It’s no small feat. Plus, if you didn’t know this, all of the books in the saga are written, waiting for their turn to be published. The fans of this saga can be happy – they won’t be left hanging.
Personally, whilst I mostly enjoyed this book for its uniqueness and it’s ambitious size and for the sheer amount of work that has gone into it, I did get a little impatient at times and found myself skimming. There was one more thing that was just too much based on personal taste, or distaste, that stopped me from becoming a diehard fan. I will refrain from revealing it because 1. it would be a spoiler, and 2. each to their own. I can reveal that it had to do with some sexual choices.
Whilst at the start of the book I found it a bit hard to get used to the fact that very young characters spoke in such crude terms (yeah, I am naive like that), then the end of the book introduced a character that quickly became a favourite. So, in essence Wolf of Withervale was a book of opposites for me. Give it a try, you never know, it might be your favourite read this year!
So, here’s the thing. I daresay a lot of reviews for this book will include a sentence that goes something like: it could have been shorter. And, yes, there would certainly have been ways to condense the story without it losing direction in plot… BUT… I also daresay that Baldwin would absolutely not have it any other way. The world he has created for this saga is vast. Most importantly, a lot of the elements he has created for this story are amazing – the new money, the new language, measurements, time, all possible metric conversions have been converted into something new. The illustrations are sublime. There are pages upon pages of exploration of locations, characters, the legends.
All that and yet the direction of the plot was the steady, stable focus point in the centre. I would like to say that Baldwin has every right to be uber proud of the work he has done. It’s no small feat. Plus, if you didn’t know this, all of the books in the saga are written, waiting for their turn to be published. The fans of this saga can be happy – they won’t be left hanging.
Personally, whilst I mostly enjoyed this book for its uniqueness and it’s ambitious size and for the sheer amount of work that has gone into it, I did get a little impatient at times and found myself skimming. There was one more thing that was just too much based on personal taste, or distaste, that stopped me from becoming a diehard fan. I will refrain from revealing it because 1. it would be a spoiler, and 2. each to their own. I can reveal that it had to do with some sexual choices.
Whilst at the start of the book I found it a bit hard to get used to the fact that very young characters spoke in such crude terms (yeah, I am naive like that), then the end of the book introduced a character that quickly became a favourite. So, in essence Wolf of Withervale was a book of opposites for me. Give it a try, you never know, it might be your favourite read this year!
March 14, 2025
Read as a judge for SPFBOX - 6.5/10
These are my personal opinions only as is the rating. Rating is not a reflection of team score
This year's finalists are all big on their worldbuilding but the stand out so far has been The Wolf of Withervale. The author has obviously spent a huge amount of time and imagination creating the world in which the book is set - from climatic disaster for which biodomes were built, (each one for a different genus of animal so that they would survive into a unknown future), to the different races and cultures, astrological signs and study, religions just to name a few. While I can appreciate the work that has gone into this world, I thought there was a bit too much info dumping about it which hindered the movement of the plot.
The diversity and body positivity of the characters was a definite plus, though I am one of those readers who prefers sex scenes either ‘fading to black’ or off the page. I also didn't feel comfortable with one relationship that developed in the story, primarily due to the age gap and terminology used, but at least the younger character is an adult and the relationship was consensual. It is definitely a me thing (my ick is always someone else's yum) and it certainly didn't deter me from reading the rest of the book.
Whilst this book only took a weekend to read I found the pacing quite bumpy. The first 25% went by quite quickly but I found the remaining 75% a bit of a slog, primarily due to the info dumping I mentioned earlier. I found myself more invested in the antagonists arcs than any of the protagonists but sadly there just wasn't enough of those.
These are my personal opinions only as is the rating. Rating is not a reflection of team score
This year's finalists are all big on their worldbuilding but the stand out so far has been The Wolf of Withervale. The author has obviously spent a huge amount of time and imagination creating the world in which the book is set - from climatic disaster for which biodomes were built, (each one for a different genus of animal so that they would survive into a unknown future), to the different races and cultures, astrological signs and study, religions just to name a few. While I can appreciate the work that has gone into this world, I thought there was a bit too much info dumping about it which hindered the movement of the plot.
The diversity and body positivity of the characters was a definite plus, though I am one of those readers who prefers sex scenes either ‘fading to black’ or off the page. I also didn't feel comfortable with one relationship that developed in the story, primarily due to the age gap and terminology used, but at least the younger character is an adult and the relationship was consensual. It is definitely a me thing (my ick is always someone else's yum) and it certainly didn't deter me from reading the rest of the book.
Whilst this book only took a weekend to read I found the pacing quite bumpy. The first 25% went by quite quickly but I found the remaining 75% a bit of a slog, primarily due to the info dumping I mentioned earlier. I found myself more invested in the antagonists arcs than any of the protagonists but sadly there just wasn't enough of those.
June 11, 2024
While I did get a ARC copy I fully plan to buy this when it comes out. This was my favorite read of the year by far! Never before have I felt so seen with a MC character. I love that Lago paints his nails and like big guys. I love the world and the details that bring it to life. I CANNOT wait for the rest of the series.
September 13, 2023
Adventure, peril, wonder, awe.
Wolf of Withervale follows the main character Lago, his dog Bear, and his best friend Alaia from the edge of their childhood into their uncertain coming of age.
There is intrigue, mystery, and danger both physical and political, as Lago navigates the beautiful world of Noss.
Lago's natural curiosity, open mindedness, and healthy skepticism lend well to his being the main focus of perspective. What Lago knows he is willing to explain, and what he doesn't he seeks to understand. This explorative nature creates organic exposition that doesn't grate on the reader and leaves you wanting to know all the more.
Lago isn't alone in his curiosity, as his friends and chosen family have their own interests and expertise that pull you through the world's history, biology, and sciences.
There are many characters to love, and even some to despise and fear in kind. Noss understands gray morality, but also knows when a villain is a villain.
Noss paints the picture of a world with a complex natural and political landscape. There are many peoples, societies, biomes, and lands stretched across a planet that was crafted with care. It is believably alive, and it is believably dead, as the ruins of an old world dot the wilderness much like old civilizations do the world of Earth.
Queer representation is plentiful and well placed in Noss, as the variety of peoples matches the varieties of nature. The book treats queer issues in a nuanced light that I felt personally seen by.
Wolf of Withervale is just the first of many books in the Noss Saga, and I am itching to read on, to learn alongside the protagonists, to fall in love with them as well. I found myself laughing, crying, on the edge of my seat in anticipation. The only moments I felt to put the book down were when I feared the worst for the world I'd become so invested in, much like when one closes their eyes during the uncertain climax of a well crafted film.
I love Noss, and I encourage you to explore its verdant landscapes, to know its many peoples, and seek out its mysterious, lost histories alongside Lago and his allies, as they explore their identities and find themselves all at the same time.
If I could give it another half star, I would. Thank you, Joaquín, for the wonderful book.
Wolf of Withervale follows the main character Lago, his dog Bear, and his best friend Alaia from the edge of their childhood into their uncertain coming of age.
There is intrigue, mystery, and danger both physical and political, as Lago navigates the beautiful world of Noss.
Lago's natural curiosity, open mindedness, and healthy skepticism lend well to his being the main focus of perspective. What Lago knows he is willing to explain, and what he doesn't he seeks to understand. This explorative nature creates organic exposition that doesn't grate on the reader and leaves you wanting to know all the more.
Lago isn't alone in his curiosity, as his friends and chosen family have their own interests and expertise that pull you through the world's history, biology, and sciences.
There are many characters to love, and even some to despise and fear in kind. Noss understands gray morality, but also knows when a villain is a villain.
Noss paints the picture of a world with a complex natural and political landscape. There are many peoples, societies, biomes, and lands stretched across a planet that was crafted with care. It is believably alive, and it is believably dead, as the ruins of an old world dot the wilderness much like old civilizations do the world of Earth.
Queer representation is plentiful and well placed in Noss, as the variety of peoples matches the varieties of nature. The book treats queer issues in a nuanced light that I felt personally seen by.
Wolf of Withervale is just the first of many books in the Noss Saga, and I am itching to read on, to learn alongside the protagonists, to fall in love with them as well. I found myself laughing, crying, on the edge of my seat in anticipation. The only moments I felt to put the book down were when I feared the worst for the world I'd become so invested in, much like when one closes their eyes during the uncertain climax of a well crafted film.
I love Noss, and I encourage you to explore its verdant landscapes, to know its many peoples, and seek out its mysterious, lost histories alongside Lago and his allies, as they explore their identities and find themselves all at the same time.
If I could give it another half star, I would. Thank you, Joaquín, for the wonderful book.
June 26, 2024
I found myself drawn to this book upon seeing that it had won the Ursa Major award, which is an award for anthropomorphic literature. So that to me was confirmation, that even though the book cover doesn't look furry, and the blurb doesn't sound furry, there had to be some aspect of furry to it. But now having read it...I'm not so sure
I spent the longest time trying to figure out if this book is furry or not. And I concluded that this book is a great "kinda furry" story for people who are not furries themselves to be eased into it. There were some great messages involving the fandom and fursonas. But if one goes into this book expecting a whole bunch of furries, or a race of beastmen, or anything like that
The characters in the book feel somewhat inconsistent. It's like sometimes they have a personality but then loses it when they're not relevant for a scene. And the pacing is all over the place.
Another thing. You know when a book doesn't take its time setting up things and just jumps being "He did that. He did this". Usually, when a book does that, it becomes tedious to read by default. Withervale doesn't do this. It establishes scenes just enough that they don't become bad. It's quite the opposite that's the problem here I feel. The author creates amazing scenes, great action sequences, and just any event. But he doesn't give them enough time to melt, to stew. Everything is over way too quickly. It's like the author is excited to just move on to the next thing, but I'm sitting there going "No. Please drag the scene out more. Drag this emotional moment out more". Everything is over way too quickly.
One might get ideas about the book when one looks at the first page and sees a fairly long list of trigger warnings. I can tell you right now that almost every single one of them are unnecessary. The instances included are so mild that they're not even worth triggering. Some examples of this are, This book could easily get away with being a YA
There are things I did like about it. It is a gigantic world. Where the author did make me care for the characters in it. I believe if one is used to reading loads of fantasy, this would be worth grabbing a hold of. Especially since there'll be 6 books. And like I said. He's good at setting up and making the foundations for great scenes, even if they don't get to stew as long as they should. Also the combat. Combat can be something tricky to write, but the fight scenes were nearly as good as the ones by Hugo Jackson. I might pick up book 2 at some point, I just don't feel an urge to do so at the moment. Tl:dr, solid fantasy, but not for me.
I spent the longest time trying to figure out if this book is furry or not. And I concluded that this book is a great "kinda furry" story for people who are not furries themselves to be eased into it. There were some great messages involving the fandom and fursonas. But if one goes into this book expecting a whole bunch of furries, or a race of beastmen, or anything like that
The characters in the book feel somewhat inconsistent. It's like sometimes they have a personality but then loses it when they're not relevant for a scene. And the pacing is all over the place.
Another thing. You know when a book doesn't take its time setting up things and just jumps being "He did that. He did this". Usually, when a book does that, it becomes tedious to read by default. Withervale doesn't do this. It establishes scenes just enough that they don't become bad. It's quite the opposite that's the problem here I feel. The author creates amazing scenes, great action sequences, and just any event. But he doesn't give them enough time to melt, to stew. Everything is over way too quickly. It's like the author is excited to just move on to the next thing, but I'm sitting there going "No. Please drag the scene out more. Drag this emotional moment out more". Everything is over way too quickly.
One might get ideas about the book when one looks at the first page and sees a fairly long list of trigger warnings. I can tell you right now that almost every single one of them are unnecessary. The instances included are so mild that they're not even worth triggering. Some examples of this are, This book could easily get away with being a YA
There are things I did like about it. It is a gigantic world. Where the author did make me care for the characters in it. I believe if one is used to reading loads of fantasy, this would be worth grabbing a hold of. Especially since there'll be 6 books. And like I said. He's good at setting up and making the foundations for great scenes, even if they don't get to stew as long as they should. Also the combat. Combat can be something tricky to write, but the fight scenes were nearly as good as the ones by Hugo Jackson. I might pick up book 2 at some point, I just don't feel an urge to do so at the moment. Tl:dr, solid fantasy, but not for me.
September 13, 2023
Being lucky enough to get an ARC aside, truly one of the best fantasy books(soon to be) on shelves. I was already interested in a fantasy novel that was going to be loudly queer in an honest way, and after finishing my ARC, it really did deliver.
A sweeping world built with intent and kindness; and a story that didn't shy away from uncomfortable scenes, it never felt cruel for the sake of being cruel, but as tools to move the story forwards, about a queer found family and magic masks.
Despite early personal comparisons to Game of Thrones and also a little bit of Avatar The Last Airbender vibes, the story and world quickly unfold before you into a place all it's own, and one that you can't help but inhale as fast as you can.
A sweeping world built with intent and kindness; and a story that didn't shy away from uncomfortable scenes, it never felt cruel for the sake of being cruel, but as tools to move the story forwards, about a queer found family and magic masks.
Despite early personal comparisons to Game of Thrones and also a little bit of Avatar The Last Airbender vibes, the story and world quickly unfold before you into a place all it's own, and one that you can't help but inhale as fast as you can.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2025
This one is sadly a DNF at 84%. I usually am really against ratings or reviews if you (me) don’t read the full story. (If you aren’t me, please gladly do whatever you want!).
I received the audio to judge for the Indie Ink Awards, so I did really want to finish it in full. The narrator, Magnus Carlssen, did do a fantastic job. I wouldn’t say it was a struggle or anything, as I enjoyed a great deal of it, but there was definitely some issues, one of which, I could not come back from.
For one, I was asked to judge LGBTQ rep. Lago, our teenage main character, is announced as gay from the start. He paints his nails and has a female best friend he plays and swims naked with (because obviously he isn’t interested in her, we’re actually TOLD this), and he has a weirdly conservative dad even though we are set in a fantasy world? Other than that set up, the gayness of the character did little more than allow for some very overly depicted sex scenes.
That’s number two. We know this is a fantasy world and that our perceptions and morals and thoughts on age simply “don’t” exist there, but come on, clearly it was written in the real world. The sad but very real truth is teens do explore and have sex, but I do not want, need, or should have any involvement—and this author very clearly chose the age of his protagonist (much of the writing reads as very young adult) and then had MULTIPLE explicit scenes. In some aching, horrifying detail. While their world is described as not wholly accepting of gay people, Lago still manages to have a really weird one night stand in the middle of no where with a full grown man? Then the final scene made me throw in the towel. A character that is described as a 9ft tall immortal being, one that has already existed for time untold, has decided it’s okay to want to have sex with the teenager and then does. The character is very much so parts Beorn and Gandalf, Hagrid and Dumbledore, a wise and knowledgeable character I quite liked at first. But then he’s like those characters only if they were actually groomers.
Number three is the story itself. While the worldbuilding is interesting with the cataclysmic past that ended the ancient times making it feel as if this could be a primitive, yet futuristic and magical earth, every opportunity taken to build is entirely an info dump. Every single time. While it did make parts of the world feel super fleshed out and real, nothing ever seemed to come of it. Part one is basically all about Lago being a child and doing work, there’s not much there and it kind of does drag. Part two is basically Lago fulfilling his entire promise from the opening of the book, seeing as the author decides to subvert expectations by just making all of the characters important to the initial quest die. Part three goes into another subverted journey, but then it just becomes all about development and training, in the style you’d almost expect from a book two in a trilogy. This goes into the third part, where I decided I’d had enough. Lago uses his magical mask, which has only come to him specifically because the author decided to kill everyone else it belonged to, and it helps him change into a kind of half man half Timberwolf that seemingly just suffices to pay off as a sort of voyeuristic furry fantasy of some kind. The use of a teen and weird sex scenes felt almost exploitative and problematic even.
I received the audio to judge for the Indie Ink Awards, so I did really want to finish it in full. The narrator, Magnus Carlssen, did do a fantastic job. I wouldn’t say it was a struggle or anything, as I enjoyed a great deal of it, but there was definitely some issues, one of which, I could not come back from.
For one, I was asked to judge LGBTQ rep. Lago, our teenage main character, is announced as gay from the start. He paints his nails and has a female best friend he plays and swims naked with (because obviously he isn’t interested in her, we’re actually TOLD this), and he has a weirdly conservative dad even though we are set in a fantasy world? Other than that set up, the gayness of the character did little more than allow for some very overly depicted sex scenes.
That’s number two. We know this is a fantasy world and that our perceptions and morals and thoughts on age simply “don’t” exist there, but come on, clearly it was written in the real world. The sad but very real truth is teens do explore and have sex, but I do not want, need, or should have any involvement—and this author very clearly chose the age of his protagonist (much of the writing reads as very young adult) and then had MULTIPLE explicit scenes. In some aching, horrifying detail. While their world is described as not wholly accepting of gay people, Lago still manages to have a really weird one night stand in the middle of no where with a full grown man? Then the final scene made me throw in the towel. A character that is described as a 9ft tall immortal being, one that has already existed for time untold, has decided it’s okay to want to have sex with the teenager and then does. The character is very much so parts Beorn and Gandalf, Hagrid and Dumbledore, a wise and knowledgeable character I quite liked at first. But then he’s like those characters only if they were actually groomers.
Number three is the story itself. While the worldbuilding is interesting with the cataclysmic past that ended the ancient times making it feel as if this could be a primitive, yet futuristic and magical earth, every opportunity taken to build is entirely an info dump. Every single time. While it did make parts of the world feel super fleshed out and real, nothing ever seemed to come of it. Part one is basically all about Lago being a child and doing work, there’s not much there and it kind of does drag. Part two is basically Lago fulfilling his entire promise from the opening of the book, seeing as the author decides to subvert expectations by just making all of the characters important to the initial quest die. Part three goes into another subverted journey, but then it just becomes all about development and training, in the style you’d almost expect from a book two in a trilogy. This goes into the third part, where I decided I’d had enough. Lago uses his magical mask, which has only come to him specifically because the author decided to kill everyone else it belonged to, and it helps him change into a kind of half man half Timberwolf that seemingly just suffices to pay off as a sort of voyeuristic furry fantasy of some kind. The use of a teen and weird sex scenes felt almost exploitative and problematic even.
October 19, 2024
Read for Team Queen's Book Asylum for SPFBOX. All views are my own and do not reflect the team. I read this entry to 100%.
Wolf of Withervale truly puts the ‘epic’ in epic fantasy in both size and scale. Like The Stranger of Ul Darak, this tome (for it is a tome) has created an incredibly ambitious and detailed world, but unlike Stranger, I had no problem understanding it. And like The Stranger of Ul Darak, it suffers somewhat from its own obsession with worldbuilding. Or does it?
The story is split in three parts and begins with our main character of Lago as a child as he spends his days running errands and hanging out with his best friend and loyal dog. But everything changes when a fox-shifter dies after entrusting a strange wolf-like mask in his care. Part one takes its time introducing Lago and his world, and what a fascinating world it is. The various cultures and kingdoms of this world have rebuilt after a cataclysm known as the Downfall destroyed most of the previous generations and tribes, taking their mysterious technologies with them. But the Downfall left behind gigantic domes spread across the world, which no one has been able to penetrate. All of this becomes important in Lago’s life, as when the story shifts to his eighteen-year-old self, the enemy empire comes looking for the old wolf-mask, forcing Lago to flee and seek answers inside one of these domes.
Thus begins an epic quest across the land which features some of my favourite elements of fantasy—a journey with a rag-tag group of companions who become trusted friends. Lago unlocks magical abilities from the mask as he learns how to wield it. All the while, the enemy nation begin plans of their own.
Wolf of Withervale is a combination of many different things. It takes its time to establish elements of the worldbuilding, but once the story really gets going, I found myself enthralled by the adventure and the mystery of the domes. At times, the story is dark. There’s death, torture, and even sexual assault, which are referenced with a content warning. It’s also lovingly queer, with sexual scenes at various points. It’s also quite cozy, with scenes where the story slows to dish out mouth-watering descriptions of feasts or spend time sniffing the flowers.
But this is a big book. I honestly think the slow opening may put off readers. Persevere, and the story matures like a fine wine as the worldbuilding slots into place. Wolf of Withervale was an incredible read for me. I found the characters charming and I truly enjoyed being part of this world. I also loved the many maps and illustrations included in the book, and I found myself wandering off to the author’s website to view them properly. I recommend doing the same!
Wolf of Withervale truly puts the ‘epic’ in epic fantasy in both size and scale. Like The Stranger of Ul Darak, this tome (for it is a tome) has created an incredibly ambitious and detailed world, but unlike Stranger, I had no problem understanding it. And like The Stranger of Ul Darak, it suffers somewhat from its own obsession with worldbuilding. Or does it?
The story is split in three parts and begins with our main character of Lago as a child as he spends his days running errands and hanging out with his best friend and loyal dog. But everything changes when a fox-shifter dies after entrusting a strange wolf-like mask in his care. Part one takes its time introducing Lago and his world, and what a fascinating world it is. The various cultures and kingdoms of this world have rebuilt after a cataclysm known as the Downfall destroyed most of the previous generations and tribes, taking their mysterious technologies with them. But the Downfall left behind gigantic domes spread across the world, which no one has been able to penetrate. All of this becomes important in Lago’s life, as when the story shifts to his eighteen-year-old self, the enemy empire comes looking for the old wolf-mask, forcing Lago to flee and seek answers inside one of these domes.
Thus begins an epic quest across the land which features some of my favourite elements of fantasy—a journey with a rag-tag group of companions who become trusted friends. Lago unlocks magical abilities from the mask as he learns how to wield it. All the while, the enemy nation begin plans of their own.
Wolf of Withervale is a combination of many different things. It takes its time to establish elements of the worldbuilding, but once the story really gets going, I found myself enthralled by the adventure and the mystery of the domes. At times, the story is dark. There’s death, torture, and even sexual assault, which are referenced with a content warning. It’s also lovingly queer, with sexual scenes at various points. It’s also quite cozy, with scenes where the story slows to dish out mouth-watering descriptions of feasts or spend time sniffing the flowers.
But this is a big book. I honestly think the slow opening may put off readers. Persevere, and the story matures like a fine wine as the worldbuilding slots into place. Wolf of Withervale was an incredible read for me. I found the characters charming and I truly enjoyed being part of this world. I also loved the many maps and illustrations included in the book, and I found myself wandering off to the author’s website to view them properly. I recommend doing the same!
October 3, 2023
I was fortunate enough to be an ARC reader for this novel and I’m so thankful for the opportunity.
This is the greatest fantasy book I’ve ever read. This is what the genre has long been waiting for. No other group of characters, no other setting, no other story moment in any other book I’ve read has ever felt so immediately and consistently personal. The author perfectly connects threads between their heart and yours.
The characters; especially the main cast of Lago, Alaia, and more; feel as real and layered as anyone you know in real life, and the journey they go on will have you hooked from their first steps. You will not want to miss out on this first of many fantastic, beautiful, and gripping chapters in the saga of Noss.
This is the greatest fantasy book I’ve ever read. This is what the genre has long been waiting for. No other group of characters, no other setting, no other story moment in any other book I’ve read has ever felt so immediately and consistently personal. The author perfectly connects threads between their heart and yours.
The characters; especially the main cast of Lago, Alaia, and more; feel as real and layered as anyone you know in real life, and the journey they go on will have you hooked from their first steps. You will not want to miss out on this first of many fantastic, beautiful, and gripping chapters in the saga of Noss.
April 9, 2025
The Wolf of Withervale is a curious beast. On one hand, it’s a dazzling display of creativity, worldbuilding, and queerness. On the other, it can feel like a bit of a slog if you don't have patience for dense storytelling, detailed romances, and some eyebrow-raising narrative choices.
The story follows Lago Vaari, a young outcast who gets a magical wolf mask that changes the course of his life and his very identity. Others want it too, so Lago has to run from an empire hungry for mask's power. The setup is fantastic, and aetheric magic system is a standout feature (well thought-out, combines science and magic, nerdy in the best way.)
But here’s the rub: while the first half moves briskly, the story slams the brakes about midway through. The focus shifts to a romance between Lago (now going by his wolf-form name, Sterjall) and Banook, a bear shapeshifter and literal “bear” in gay culture. Now, I'm sure some readers will be here for this relationship and graphic sex scenes, but to me it dragged the pace down and sidelined the main plot.
Still, there’s plenty to appreciate here: Baldwin’s passion, detailed world, the stunning illustrations, and the depth of thought behind every detail. The Wolf of Withervale is queer, nerdy, and unapologetically itself. It’s not perfect but it’s undeniably memorable.
A subjective opinion: with the help of a berserker editor and some merciless tightening, this could be a true standout. As for today, I would say it's 100 -150 pages too long.
Anyway, give it a try if you’re in the mood for something ambitious and out of the ordinary.
October 22, 2024
I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
My notes for The Wolf of Withervale were just ridiculous, so hold on to your hats because this is going to be a long one.
*
The Wolf of Withervale is an incredibly ambitious story; a complex blending of races and world-building, with a future recovered-world built on the collapse of ours. It’s familiar, beautiful, and strange all at once.
*
The story begins with a grandma’s dying wish to have a mask returned to her grandson, via our main character Lago and builds from there.
*
Wolf is a slower kind of building story in the way of most fantasy epics. For the most part there was always something keeping me turning the pages and interested. A lot of the wonder of this world was in the joy of discovering and in the relationships/friendships that the characters built while doing so. I loved those moments, especially when you could feel the importance of what they were learning.
The story never settled in one place for too long- at least in the first half, though there were times I wished it had settled-in more in the places it didn’t, and moved-on more in the places it did. If that makes sense.
*
I adored Lago. He’s kind of an underdog in some ways but doesn’t allow himself to be tromped down. He’s smart, curious, and he kept me invested in his life. I’m probably a bit old-school but there’s nothing I like more than having a lead that is genuinely great, because when I am spending this many pages with them- I want to enjoy their company.
I also adored Alaia and Lago’s friendship/found family relationship (if you read my reviews, you’ll know by now that this is my jam in any book) and also the time Lago spent with Crysta and others at the monastery.
Everything about that time, let me experience and learn the world that Lago lives in, care about the life/family he has built for himself, all while building the anticipation for the tipping point when you knew it was going to all come crashing down. And it does splendidly.
In the first part of The Wolf of Withervale, I could feel the story building into an Avatar-esque/Fern Gully kind of feel, with the Negian Empire coming to use all the resources of these clans that are tightly-balanced to their surroundings with nature etc. I was ripping through the pages as fast as my little ebook could turn them.
The trip to the Heartpine dome and the time spent in it, was everything I hoped for, and from the way the story felt like it was building in the beginning, I thoroughly expected the events of this book to take place during the time spent travelling and discovering the one dome, only.
*
The story slowed a lot in the second half. That’s not to say I didn’t love it to pieces. I did. Just not with the same page-turning fervor of the first half. The fact that I think of the story in two halves probably says a lot about how different they felt to me.
The back-end while still epic, essentially felt more like a cozy fantasy version of Attenborough’s The Living Planet. You know, like the ones where they follow a cute little field mouse around, show you their families and them stuffing their cheeks full, and then, bam! A snake eats them on the way home to their little mouse family... just kidding that didn’t quite happen here but I did keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and the book to race to a big finish.
Though the storytelling in back half was just as strong and Banook was just as loveable as the rest of the group- I found myself getting antsy and counting remaining chapters.
I think mostly it was the pacing/tonal shift.
That and the focus was more on the exploring and building of Lago and Banook’s relationship and it almost felt like we were starting over. Lago was still front and center, but the friends in his group faded to the background, along with the events with the Negian Empire that were building outside of this bubble of our group. They were there, but you’d almost forget about them between stop-ins to see what they were up to.
We did have a few side-trips and lots of stories and lores being told -which were amazing btw (and would make great extra content) and even though Banook was the sweetest old man bear you ever did see… I think by this point I had become a little exhausted by the sheer amount of information, coupled with the group being mostly static for so long at their safe place. I was more than ready to move on, long before we actually did.
And here it is… my favourite criticism; this could have stood dropping a couple hundred pages. Even if the book is the tightest written thing I have read in a while and I am enjoying the hell out of it, if I begin checking the percentage bar is a good sign to me that it has more baggage than it needs or I’d prefer.
*
Despite my complaints about length, I enjoyed the hell out of this story and I’m positive I could go on about this book for another three pages because it was pretty damned amazing.
There was so much I didn’t even touch on in this review- like the excellent use of breadcrumbing, the conversations, or how alive/real everyone felt. Nor have I scratched the surface of the Negian Empire, The Red Stag, or anything to do with the “bad guys” or to do with the cultures, the shifting, or even the masks. And let’s not forget the author’s gorgeous illustrations throughout the book.
In fact, I pretty much left all the cool stuff unsaid, so that you all can experience The Wolf of Withervale for yourself. What a grandmaster of a story. I’m looking forward to seeing more from this author.
8 or 4- 4.5 I have a gap in my rating system that needs fixing when it comes to books like this haha
Learn more about the contest here-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Phase one is here-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
My notes for The Wolf of Withervale were just ridiculous, so hold on to your hats because this is going to be a long one.
*
The Wolf of Withervale is an incredibly ambitious story; a complex blending of races and world-building, with a future recovered-world built on the collapse of ours. It’s familiar, beautiful, and strange all at once.
*
The story begins with a grandma’s dying wish to have a mask returned to her grandson, via our main character Lago and builds from there.
*
Wolf is a slower kind of building story in the way of most fantasy epics. For the most part there was always something keeping me turning the pages and interested. A lot of the wonder of this world was in the joy of discovering and in the relationships/friendships that the characters built while doing so. I loved those moments, especially when you could feel the importance of what they were learning.
The story never settled in one place for too long- at least in the first half, though there were times I wished it had settled-in more in the places it didn’t, and moved-on more in the places it did. If that makes sense.
*
I adored Lago. He’s kind of an underdog in some ways but doesn’t allow himself to be tromped down. He’s smart, curious, and he kept me invested in his life. I’m probably a bit old-school but there’s nothing I like more than having a lead that is genuinely great, because when I am spending this many pages with them- I want to enjoy their company.
I also adored Alaia and Lago’s friendship/found family relationship (if you read my reviews, you’ll know by now that this is my jam in any book) and also the time Lago spent with Crysta and others at the monastery.
Everything about that time, let me experience and learn the world that Lago lives in, care about the life/family he has built for himself, all while building the anticipation for the tipping point when you knew it was going to all come crashing down. And it does splendidly.
In the first part of The Wolf of Withervale, I could feel the story building into an Avatar-esque/Fern Gully kind of feel, with the Negian Empire coming to use all the resources of these clans that are tightly-balanced to their surroundings with nature etc. I was ripping through the pages as fast as my little ebook could turn them.
The trip to the Heartpine dome and the time spent in it, was everything I hoped for, and from the way the story felt like it was building in the beginning, I thoroughly expected the events of this book to take place during the time spent travelling and discovering the one dome, only.
*
The story slowed a lot in the second half. That’s not to say I didn’t love it to pieces. I did. Just not with the same page-turning fervor of the first half. The fact that I think of the story in two halves probably says a lot about how different they felt to me.
The back-end while still epic, essentially felt more like a cozy fantasy version of Attenborough’s The Living Planet. You know, like the ones where they follow a cute little field mouse around, show you their families and them stuffing their cheeks full, and then, bam! A snake eats them on the way home to their little mouse family... just kidding that didn’t quite happen here but I did keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and the book to race to a big finish.
Though the storytelling in back half was just as strong and Banook was just as loveable as the rest of the group- I found myself getting antsy and counting remaining chapters.
I think mostly it was the pacing/tonal shift.
That and the focus was more on the exploring and building of Lago and Banook’s relationship and it almost felt like we were starting over. Lago was still front and center, but the friends in his group faded to the background, along with the events with the Negian Empire that were building outside of this bubble of our group. They were there, but you’d almost forget about them between stop-ins to see what they were up to.
We did have a few side-trips and lots of stories and lores being told -which were amazing btw (and would make great extra content) and even though Banook was the sweetest old man bear you ever did see… I think by this point I had become a little exhausted by the sheer amount of information, coupled with the group being mostly static for so long at their safe place. I was more than ready to move on, long before we actually did.
And here it is… my favourite criticism; this could have stood dropping a couple hundred pages. Even if the book is the tightest written thing I have read in a while and I am enjoying the hell out of it, if I begin checking the percentage bar is a good sign to me that it has more baggage than it needs or I’d prefer.
*
Despite my complaints about length, I enjoyed the hell out of this story and I’m positive I could go on about this book for another three pages because it was pretty damned amazing.
There was so much I didn’t even touch on in this review- like the excellent use of breadcrumbing, the conversations, or how alive/real everyone felt. Nor have I scratched the surface of the Negian Empire, The Red Stag, or anything to do with the “bad guys” or to do with the cultures, the shifting, or even the masks. And let’s not forget the author’s gorgeous illustrations throughout the book.
In fact, I pretty much left all the cool stuff unsaid, so that you all can experience The Wolf of Withervale for yourself. What a grandmaster of a story. I’m looking forward to seeing more from this author.
8 or 4- 4.5 I have a gap in my rating system that needs fixing when it comes to books like this haha
Learn more about the contest here-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Phase one is here-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
December 1, 2024
I wanted so badly to love this book. The thought of an epic fantasy series aimed (somewhat) at furries is basically impossible in traditional publishing these days, but a self published series by someone who worked on Zootopia, the modern furry origin story? Now that's right up my alley. Or so I thought it would be.
I'm not a huge reader these days like I was before, so it takes a really special book to hold my interest now, or at least the promise of one. And as I dove into Wolf of Withervale, I felt very optimistic. It had good reviews, great cover art, a down to earth author who engaged with fans, basically all the green flags. And before I actually review the book, no shade to Baldwin himself when I say I don't care for the work he created here. He clearly put in the time to flesh out his world and characters, and his determination to get these things out with quality is really admirable in an era where a lot of books are just rushed out for a quick buck. He clearly cares about the craft not just with his words, but with the overall presentation, and that's very inspiring as someone wanting to publish my own super niche furry fantasy someday.
However, I did say this book wasn't for me, so let's get into why.
If I had to describe this book with a single word, I'd go with BLOATED. It's a massive, ambitious book for the first in a series, which wouldn't be a problem if the narrative was well-paced with engaging characters and a satisfying plot to hold it together through rougher spots. The problem is that I didn't really find any of that here.
It's a book that very much leans into the worldbuilding aspects of fantasy writing, and as a worldbuilding "hater" who'd prefer to just learn about our characters rather than be lectured on how every little part of the world works around them like I'm back in school, it was a slog to read through a lot of the time. About 30% of the way through, I slowly realized the pattern this book uses for a lot of its storytelling. Our sheltered MC is passed along to a new location or shown something the audience needs to learn about, some character spends way too long explaining what it is or how it works even if it's not relevant to the actual plot, maybe we hang out there a little bit to kill even more time, and then we do it all over again with something else in the next chapter.
It felt like so much of the book could've been cut and saved for some kind of bonus worldbuilding encyclopedia, because I can only read so many info dumps about random landmarks and towns and planets and moons and seasons and money before I just want to quit. At some points I had to ask if some elements of the world were created simply for the sake of creating something different, because it's okay if some things are just like they are on Earth. I won't throw the book away if the seasons and the shape of currency aren't totally original. Overall, this book did NOT need to be so long, and I'd hope any future editions of the book trim it down significantly rather than beefing it up even more, because this already felt like a special edition with bonus content.
If the characters were really engaging, maybe it would've been easier to sit through, but unfortunately I just didn't really connect to a single one of them. Lago, our MC here, is sympathetic for sure even if he's a little by the numbers, but he feels so passive and uninteresting as the story just drags him from place to place without giving him much agency. A protagonist longing to find their place in the world can easily work, but Lago never felt proactive enough to get me invested in his journey. The story was all about his needs, but never really gave him any serious wants in conflict with them, so he's just passively handed everything from magic powers to a magical love interest because the plot demands he be treated well and given all the things, even at the expense of other characters. And while the supporting characters had some fun moments here and there, none excited me enough to perk up when they appeared outside of the few chapters devoted to a decent antagonist who's never actually a threat to our heroes because both sides of the "conflict" are just doing their own thing and minding their own business after a certain point.
And then there's the plot. The set up for this story is pretty solid even with its hiccups, and a lot of the themes Baldwin works with are really touching and powerful once we actually reach the legitimately cool domes that dot the land, but it unfortunately gets stalled out by all those worldbuilding info dump detours along the way, not to mention a near-complete genre shift about 60% of the way through. What began as an epic fantasy quest turns into a cozy shifter romance for a while, and that's when the book just kind of stops in its tracks and never gets going again, losing almost all its tension for the sake of appealing to a completely different audience. I'm not a romance reader, so it clearly wasn't for me like it would be for others, but trying to review it objectively here, it just feels like a huge misstep that cuts the plot short JUST when it was building up to something good. And if you showed up for the shifter romance, you have to wade through the rest of the book for it anyways, so nobody really wins here.
And unfortunately the ending of the book doesn't make up for all the stalling, because the potentially cool climax is saved for the next book instead as a tease. Imagine if A New Hope ended before they actually fought the Empire and blew up the Death Star. That's honestly how it felt, and I just don't feel hooked enough to keep going with Book 2 despite that gorgeous cover art.
If you want a serious furry fantasy epic, I'd have to say keep looking or hope this first book is just the awkward first step in a series with legitimately improved followups. There are fragments of something really great here, but fragments can only do so much for a story and cast of characters that feel overwhelmed and suffocated by awkward, bloated writing that appeals to only the most fanatic appreciators of dense worldbuilding. A lot of the book honestly could've been an e-mail, but that e-mail would still be full of interesting ideas at least. Moments of greatness shine at a glance, but the rest of the book stops them from outright glowing.
I'm not a huge reader these days like I was before, so it takes a really special book to hold my interest now, or at least the promise of one. And as I dove into Wolf of Withervale, I felt very optimistic. It had good reviews, great cover art, a down to earth author who engaged with fans, basically all the green flags. And before I actually review the book, no shade to Baldwin himself when I say I don't care for the work he created here. He clearly put in the time to flesh out his world and characters, and his determination to get these things out with quality is really admirable in an era where a lot of books are just rushed out for a quick buck. He clearly cares about the craft not just with his words, but with the overall presentation, and that's very inspiring as someone wanting to publish my own super niche furry fantasy someday.
However, I did say this book wasn't for me, so let's get into why.
If I had to describe this book with a single word, I'd go with BLOATED. It's a massive, ambitious book for the first in a series, which wouldn't be a problem if the narrative was well-paced with engaging characters and a satisfying plot to hold it together through rougher spots. The problem is that I didn't really find any of that here.
It's a book that very much leans into the worldbuilding aspects of fantasy writing, and as a worldbuilding "hater" who'd prefer to just learn about our characters rather than be lectured on how every little part of the world works around them like I'm back in school, it was a slog to read through a lot of the time. About 30% of the way through, I slowly realized the pattern this book uses for a lot of its storytelling. Our sheltered MC is passed along to a new location or shown something the audience needs to learn about, some character spends way too long explaining what it is or how it works even if it's not relevant to the actual plot, maybe we hang out there a little bit to kill even more time, and then we do it all over again with something else in the next chapter.
It felt like so much of the book could've been cut and saved for some kind of bonus worldbuilding encyclopedia, because I can only read so many info dumps about random landmarks and towns and planets and moons and seasons and money before I just want to quit. At some points I had to ask if some elements of the world were created simply for the sake of creating something different, because it's okay if some things are just like they are on Earth. I won't throw the book away if the seasons and the shape of currency aren't totally original. Overall, this book did NOT need to be so long, and I'd hope any future editions of the book trim it down significantly rather than beefing it up even more, because this already felt like a special edition with bonus content.
If the characters were really engaging, maybe it would've been easier to sit through, but unfortunately I just didn't really connect to a single one of them. Lago, our MC here, is sympathetic for sure even if he's a little by the numbers, but he feels so passive and uninteresting as the story just drags him from place to place without giving him much agency. A protagonist longing to find their place in the world can easily work, but Lago never felt proactive enough to get me invested in his journey. The story was all about his needs, but never really gave him any serious wants in conflict with them, so he's just passively handed everything from magic powers to a magical love interest because the plot demands he be treated well and given all the things, even at the expense of other characters. And while the supporting characters had some fun moments here and there, none excited me enough to perk up when they appeared outside of the few chapters devoted to a decent antagonist who's never actually a threat to our heroes because both sides of the "conflict" are just doing their own thing and minding their own business after a certain point.
And then there's the plot. The set up for this story is pretty solid even with its hiccups, and a lot of the themes Baldwin works with are really touching and powerful once we actually reach the legitimately cool domes that dot the land, but it unfortunately gets stalled out by all those worldbuilding info dump detours along the way, not to mention a near-complete genre shift about 60% of the way through. What began as an epic fantasy quest turns into a cozy shifter romance for a while, and that's when the book just kind of stops in its tracks and never gets going again, losing almost all its tension for the sake of appealing to a completely different audience. I'm not a romance reader, so it clearly wasn't for me like it would be for others, but trying to review it objectively here, it just feels like a huge misstep that cuts the plot short JUST when it was building up to something good. And if you showed up for the shifter romance, you have to wade through the rest of the book for it anyways, so nobody really wins here.
And unfortunately the ending of the book doesn't make up for all the stalling, because the potentially cool climax is saved for the next book instead as a tease. Imagine if A New Hope ended before they actually fought the Empire and blew up the Death Star. That's honestly how it felt, and I just don't feel hooked enough to keep going with Book 2 despite that gorgeous cover art.
If you want a serious furry fantasy epic, I'd have to say keep looking or hope this first book is just the awkward first step in a series with legitimately improved followups. There are fragments of something really great here, but fragments can only do so much for a story and cast of characters that feel overwhelmed and suffocated by awkward, bloated writing that appeals to only the most fanatic appreciators of dense worldbuilding. A lot of the book honestly could've been an e-mail, but that e-mail would still be full of interesting ideas at least. Moments of greatness shine at a glance, but the rest of the book stops them from outright glowing.
October 9, 2023
The Wolf of Withervale is a book that surprised me in ways I didn't think were possible. I had recently finished another series and my mind was still very occupied by that setting and it's characters, but Wolf of Withervale found a way to grab my attention and make it's self known. I've never read a book before where the main character, Lago, has a life experience as a kid that I too had, albeit not identical but it was close enough to invoke emotions about my past. There are other aspects to Lago's character that I too struggled with growing up and still do. I never thought I'd find a book where I related to a main character so much and I wish I had Wolf of Withervale to read when I was younger. I think It would have instilled more confidence in me, who I was and wanted to be. Books were one of my only escapes as a kid, they helped me learn about more about the world than my narrow-minded family wanted to teach me.
Now onto my spoiler-free review because I feel this book and it's contents need to be experienced without spoilers.
The beginning of Wolf of Withervale may feel like a chore for some younger readers, but I promise it's worth it. There is a lot of world building and establishment of in-universe words or phrases for things we know about like names for days of the week as an example. There's a lot to take in, but the characters slowly guide you through it so that it won't be confusing later when characters reference seasons, days, animals, etc etc. This universe has a lot to establish so I appreciated being brought along slowly for the basic of the setting and it's characters.
After about 10% into the book is when it REALLY shifts gears. The main ensemble of characters the book focuses on starts to narrow down a bit, plot threads start to weave together, action ensues, adventure whisks you away, there's plenty of laughs, tears, suspense! Several moments had me mouthing what the fuck!? OH NO NOT (insert character name here)!!! And before I knew it I was so glued to the pages that the book was done after a couple intense nights of being unable to put Wolf of Withervale down.
The Wolf of Withervale is going to be one of the next big things for fantasy readers to get their hands on and I bet I'm not the only one saying that. There is so much wonder in the world building, mystery and intrigue. The characters are lovable in their own ways, except for the ones who aren't of course. The book deals with some important real-world topics that we deal with everyday and should never stop talking about, but every good Fantasy and Science Fiction book does in my opinion. As soon as you can get your hands on this book, do it!
May the Moon light your path,
West
Now onto my spoiler-free review because I feel this book and it's contents need to be experienced without spoilers.
The beginning of Wolf of Withervale may feel like a chore for some younger readers, but I promise it's worth it. There is a lot of world building and establishment of in-universe words or phrases for things we know about like names for days of the week as an example. There's a lot to take in, but the characters slowly guide you through it so that it won't be confusing later when characters reference seasons, days, animals, etc etc. This universe has a lot to establish so I appreciated being brought along slowly for the basic of the setting and it's characters.
After about 10% into the book is when it REALLY shifts gears. The main ensemble of characters the book focuses on starts to narrow down a bit, plot threads start to weave together, action ensues, adventure whisks you away, there's plenty of laughs, tears, suspense! Several moments had me mouthing what the fuck!? OH NO NOT (insert character name here)!!! And before I knew it I was so glued to the pages that the book was done after a couple intense nights of being unable to put Wolf of Withervale down.
The Wolf of Withervale is going to be one of the next big things for fantasy readers to get their hands on and I bet I'm not the only one saying that. There is so much wonder in the world building, mystery and intrigue. The characters are lovable in their own ways, except for the ones who aren't of course. The book deals with some important real-world topics that we deal with everyday and should never stop talking about, but every good Fantasy and Science Fiction book does in my opinion. As soon as you can get your hands on this book, do it!
May the Moon light your path,
West
October 10, 2023
A young boy abused and disowned by his father and taken under the wing of an astronomer makes a promise to a dying woman that will change his life forever. After he becomes a young adult, he must put his life on hold to both fulfill that promise and to escape torture and murder by a foreign army seeking supreme power. Young Lago grows into a young man who finally accepts his true self and must step into a leadership role with powers similar to those of God(s). There is much for him to learn and practice and luckily, he has a chosen family that helps him fulfill his quests.
The world is both old and new. There are religious undertones, but acceptance in those who do not believe. There is both science and magic.
The fantasy novel is well-written with impressive vocabulary choice. In addition, there are fabricated words and religion that are unique.. The breadth of the imaginary world is impressive.
The world is both old and new. There are religious undertones, but acceptance in those who do not believe. There is both science and magic.
The fantasy novel is well-written with impressive vocabulary choice. In addition, there are fabricated words and religion that are unique.. The breadth of the imaginary world is impressive.
September 24, 2023
I had the honour of betareading this novel, and I very much enjoyed it.
The author has been meticulous in the creation of this world; it is expansive, it is richly detailed, and there is a LOT of it. This is clearly something that has been a labour of love—it shows from the description of places and cultures, to astronomy and history, to the absolutely lovely maps the author has included both in the book and on his website. The author is also frustratingly multitalented and has included some wonderful illustrations of his own.
It has very much the epic fantasy flavour, and I appreciate how we learn piece by piece about this world along with the characters. The theme of finding oneself and one’s place in the world is a strong one, and those are the parts I think I enjoyed most—those that were very much character-driven. There were times I wished there were more of those sections, because as with epic fantasy in general, the characters are often pulled into things much larger than them and become actors in the grand design. But that is a personal preference and no criticism of the story itself, which is well done. That grand design is definitely an intriguing one, and sustains interest throughout.
The book also does not shy away from queer themes, and I am very happy to see this treated in the way the author does therein.
I definitely recommend giving it a read!
The author has been meticulous in the creation of this world; it is expansive, it is richly detailed, and there is a LOT of it. This is clearly something that has been a labour of love—it shows from the description of places and cultures, to astronomy and history, to the absolutely lovely maps the author has included both in the book and on his website. The author is also frustratingly multitalented and has included some wonderful illustrations of his own.
It has very much the epic fantasy flavour, and I appreciate how we learn piece by piece about this world along with the characters. The theme of finding oneself and one’s place in the world is a strong one, and those are the parts I think I enjoyed most—those that were very much character-driven. There were times I wished there were more of those sections, because as with epic fantasy in general, the characters are often pulled into things much larger than them and become actors in the grand design. But that is a personal preference and no criticism of the story itself, which is well done. That grand design is definitely an intriguing one, and sustains interest throughout.
The book also does not shy away from queer themes, and I am very happy to see this treated in the way the author does therein.
I definitely recommend giving it a read!
October 1, 2023
I had the privilege of obtaining a review copy from being an Arc reader.
I have to give props to the author for the intricacy of the world he created. As I was reading book 1, I was able to vividly see the world in my mind as if I was traversing alongside the protagonists very easily.
I also want to applaud the author with the pacing of book 1 since I felt like he paced each chapter just right. Some authors I feel like have a tendency to drag on to make the story feel longer without adding anything substantively. And I think the author has done a very good job so far avoiding that.
And I've identified very strongly with the recurring theme of finding one's own identity with the main protagonist, especially with the context of LGBTQ+, since I'm still in my own journey of finding my own identity.
I felt bittersweet when I finished book 1, but in a good way. And that doesn't usually happen unless I enjoyed the book, which I certainly did. And I look forward to book 2, expecting to feel a flurry of emotions, like I have, reading book 1.
(I recommend taking your time with reading book 1 in order to get the full experience.)
I have to give props to the author for the intricacy of the world he created. As I was reading book 1, I was able to vividly see the world in my mind as if I was traversing alongside the protagonists very easily.
I also want to applaud the author with the pacing of book 1 since I felt like he paced each chapter just right. Some authors I feel like have a tendency to drag on to make the story feel longer without adding anything substantively. And I think the author has done a very good job so far avoiding that.
And I've identified very strongly with the recurring theme of finding one's own identity with the main protagonist, especially with the context of LGBTQ+, since I'm still in my own journey of finding my own identity.
I felt bittersweet when I finished book 1, but in a good way. And that doesn't usually happen unless I enjoyed the book, which I certainly did. And I look forward to book 2, expecting to feel a flurry of emotions, like I have, reading book 1.
(I recommend taking your time with reading book 1 in order to get the full experience.)
September 21, 2023
I love this book. Joaquín's high fantasy setting is very well thought out and considered, and his way of visually describing the beautiful environments draws me in every time. His rendition of the classic hero's journey is fresh and very heartfelt, both comfortable and excitingly novel at the same time.
The characters are just as engaging - I really feel I can relate to Lago, the main character, and each of the supporting characters feel full and well-rounded. The author doesn't shy away from having gay and queer characters, but even if you're squeamish about explicit scenes, there's only a few spots you'd need to skip a single paragraph.
I love Lago and Alaia and their journey is just beginning.
I got an advance review copy but I want this entire series on my shelf.
The characters are just as engaging - I really feel I can relate to Lago, the main character, and each of the supporting characters feel full and well-rounded. The author doesn't shy away from having gay and queer characters, but even if you're squeamish about explicit scenes, there's only a few spots you'd need to skip a single paragraph.
I love Lago and Alaia and their journey is just beginning.
I got an advance review copy but I want this entire series on my shelf.
November 5, 2023
This is a re-review of Wolf of Withervale. I originally gave this book 3 out of 5 stars. However, after giving it a lot of consideration, I don't think 3/5 accurately reflects my feelings on this book and how it's stuck with me.
This review will contain minor spoilers.
I originally gave this book a 3/5 because of two reasons. I believed that structure and content of the third act was not congruent with the rest of the book, and I had a few issues with character development and the writing style. I still feel this way about it, but after spending a lot of time reflecting on this book, I've begun to appreciate what it's trying to do a lot more.
Wolf of Withervale feels like two different books put together, back-to-back. One of them is a fantasy epic, and the other is a feel-good love story. I was drawn to the romance angle when it was introduced, and was excited to see where it went, but I feel that the way this story is told makes a big ask of the reader to set aside their investment for the first two acts while the third act unfolds. I think this transition could have worked really well if the first two acts provided more setup. Banook fills many gaps in Lago's heart -- especially those related to his father -- but I'm not sure we saw enough of that inner turmoil for that third act to be the cathartic payoff it could have been.
Setting those feelings aside, Wolf of Withervale has too many good individual elements for me to have comfortably leave it at 3 stars. Borrowing from my old review here: "I think you’re really going to like this book if you have any interest in queer/monster romance, shapeshifting characters, and evocative worldbuilding. Joaquin Baldwin’s background in visual art gives him a cutting edge in building imagery. He is VERY good at weaving complicated environments and objects into words, and I found my sense of imagination overloaded by the compelling descriptions of the world and characters."
I also very much appreciate this book for providing a space for characters to be completely and unashamedly explore the weird world of queer sex. It doesn't just entertain taboo ideas but revels in them. Think a relationship between an 18 year old and a 100 year old vampire is weird? Try an age difference of thousands of years. Or a height difference of several feet. Or sex with literal bears. Yeah, it's good stuff, and the world needs a lot more media like this that isn't afraid to push boundaries.
If you know what you're getting into, you'll probably quite like this one.
This review will contain minor spoilers.
I originally gave this book a 3/5 because of two reasons. I believed that structure and content of the third act was not congruent with the rest of the book, and I had a few issues with character development and the writing style. I still feel this way about it, but after spending a lot of time reflecting on this book, I've begun to appreciate what it's trying to do a lot more.
Wolf of Withervale feels like two different books put together, back-to-back. One of them is a fantasy epic, and the other is a feel-good love story. I was drawn to the romance angle when it was introduced, and was excited to see where it went, but I feel that the way this story is told makes a big ask of the reader to set aside their investment for the first two acts while the third act unfolds. I think this transition could have worked really well if the first two acts provided more setup. Banook fills many gaps in Lago's heart -- especially those related to his father -- but I'm not sure we saw enough of that inner turmoil for that third act to be the cathartic payoff it could have been.
Setting those feelings aside, Wolf of Withervale has too many good individual elements for me to have comfortably leave it at 3 stars. Borrowing from my old review here: "I think you’re really going to like this book if you have any interest in queer/monster romance, shapeshifting characters, and evocative worldbuilding. Joaquin Baldwin’s background in visual art gives him a cutting edge in building imagery. He is VERY good at weaving complicated environments and objects into words, and I found my sense of imagination overloaded by the compelling descriptions of the world and characters."
I also very much appreciate this book for providing a space for characters to be completely and unashamedly explore the weird world of queer sex. It doesn't just entertain taboo ideas but revels in them. Think a relationship between an 18 year old and a 100 year old vampire is weird? Try an age difference of thousands of years. Or a height difference of several feet. Or sex with literal bears. Yeah, it's good stuff, and the world needs a lot more media like this that isn't afraid to push boundaries.
If you know what you're getting into, you'll probably quite like this one.
October 10, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this novel.
Everyone has their own idea of what the star rating means. Three stars to me means entertaining but not spectacular. It is not meant as a negative.
In his debut novel, Baldwin brings us to the elaborate world of Noss. Highly detailed with created languages, money, and calendar systems, the world is at times overly-complex. Appendices provide support, which is helpful. If you are a fan of in-depth world building, then you should love this work. The illustrations, which on their own are worth the purchase price, are rich and help give deeper meaning to the world. The story took its time in the telling, which was helpful in keeping track of the vast world, but at times dragged too much. Overall, the work lacks a sense of urgency, thought the characters are in true danger. The narrative itself was more distant than I’d have liked. I felt like an outsider looking in rather than a companion on the adventure. That being said, it’s an enjoyable read that kept me engaged in a world that feels full enough to support a series.
Everyone has their own idea of what the star rating means. Three stars to me means entertaining but not spectacular. It is not meant as a negative.
In his debut novel, Baldwin brings us to the elaborate world of Noss. Highly detailed with created languages, money, and calendar systems, the world is at times overly-complex. Appendices provide support, which is helpful. If you are a fan of in-depth world building, then you should love this work. The illustrations, which on their own are worth the purchase price, are rich and help give deeper meaning to the world. The story took its time in the telling, which was helpful in keeping track of the vast world, but at times dragged too much. Overall, the work lacks a sense of urgency, thought the characters are in true danger. The narrative itself was more distant than I’d have liked. I felt like an outsider looking in rather than a companion on the adventure. That being said, it’s an enjoyable read that kept me engaged in a world that feels full enough to support a series.
October 9, 2023
This first book of the Noss Saga, Wolf of Withervale, is a most wonderful start into this new world as we are introduced to the characters and shown and taught about the world of Noss.
Joaquín Baldwin put in a lot of work into creating a detail-rich world that is, through exploration and exposition, shown to us while we follow the travels of the characters. Information and knowledge are not just presented for the sake of exposition, but learned and discovered with the characters when relevant to the situation.
Next to the certainly epic part of “As epic as it is queer,” the mentioned queer representation in this world is woven in naturally and done in a great manner, as it is encountered in the daily lives like it simply should be.
Also, all who follow Joaquín Baldwin on their social medias will notice quickly how passionate and dedicated they are to this saga.
May the moon light your path.
Joaquín Baldwin put in a lot of work into creating a detail-rich world that is, through exploration and exposition, shown to us while we follow the travels of the characters. Information and knowledge are not just presented for the sake of exposition, but learned and discovered with the characters when relevant to the situation.
Next to the certainly epic part of “As epic as it is queer,” the mentioned queer representation in this world is woven in naturally and done in a great manner, as it is encountered in the daily lives like it simply should be.
Also, all who follow Joaquín Baldwin on their social medias will notice quickly how passionate and dedicated they are to this saga.
May the moon light your path.
October 8, 2023
I've enjoyed every minute of this novel! Wolf of Withervale is about a boy called Lago, who as a child was entrusted with a magical mask by a dying shapeshifter and to return it to its owner. Years later, now grown into an adult, a powerful empire has caught wind of the mask and they want it for themselves. On the run to keep the mask safe, Lago and his best friend Alaia go on a journey in this coming of age story, meeting many other loveable and funny characters along the way.
The amount of world building and imagination in this book is stunning! With entire new religions, gods, star system, planet names and even animals, it really immerses you into this brand new world. You are eased into the world, whilst there are a lot of new terms and words to learn, they are explained without taking you out of the experience or world. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves fantasy and especially animal lovers as there are plenty to be seen (and Bear is such a good boy! <3)
The amount of world building and imagination in this book is stunning! With entire new religions, gods, star system, planet names and even animals, it really immerses you into this brand new world. You are eased into the world, whilst there are a lot of new terms and words to learn, they are explained without taking you out of the experience or world. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves fantasy and especially animal lovers as there are plenty to be seen (and Bear is such a good boy! <3)
October 10, 2023
An excellent fantasy/adventure story set in an original world. From the start it engages you with an easy flowing writing style. I couldn't stop reading it once I started until I was finished. An impressive amount of world building was done, but the book takes the time to acquaint the reader with Noss so that once the action is in full swing it flows smoothly and the reader knows whats going on. It has likable protagonists and the villains have motives that are realistic. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is its worth giving a read. The only real downside to the book was that it inevitably ends. Its the first book in a series, and it definitely left me wanting to see where things go from here.
October 10, 2023
this book is not about queerness.
this book is not about racism.
this book is not about furries.
but it treats its characters with the ottermost respect and let's them be themselves without leaving out the indecent details.
this is a tail set in a mystical world that was rebuilt after some kind of apocalyptic event and is still recovering from it and discovering old forgotten knowledge.
a refreshingly updated fantasy novel in the tradition of Tolkien that would have made the old man blush beyond belief. probably.
the language is really elaborate and picturesque .... for me as a non-native english speaker it was in parts not so easy.
12/10
would read again
this book is not about racism.
this book is not about furries.
but it treats its characters with the ottermost respect and let's them be themselves without leaving out the indecent details.
this is a tail set in a mystical world that was rebuilt after some kind of apocalyptic event and is still recovering from it and discovering old forgotten knowledge.
a refreshingly updated fantasy novel in the tradition of Tolkien that would have made the old man blush beyond belief. probably.
the language is really elaborate and picturesque .... for me as a non-native english speaker it was in parts not so easy.
12/10
would read again
October 17, 2023
4.5 stars. This was a great debut. The world building was expansive and intricate, the characters had great growth and motivations. I loved Lago and Alaia. I hope book two gives more of her. I liked the little sprinkle of romance here and there for the main character. I liked his final relationship. The world map is gorgeous and I love a good world map. The book dragged a little as there was the obligatory training montage and in-depth discussion of the history of the world. I viscerally hated every Negian, which I’m sure that’s what the author was going for. So it worked. Not going to lie, I might have to go back annotate in case a lot of that pops up in the next book. But I still really liked this book.
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