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Vahşi Dilekler
ASLA BİR HİNE GÜVENME.
Enna, evinin yakınındaki vahşi ormanda dolaşan hinlerden korkması gerektiğini biliyordu. Fakat içlerinden biri bileziğindeki sihirli bir taşı ele geçirmek istediğinde, bu durumdan kurtulabilmek için tüm riskleri göze alarak başka bir hinle anlaşma yapmaya karar verdi.
Ancak Maekallus hiçbir yardımı karşılıksız yapmazdı.
Peki ya bedeli neydi? Bir öpücük. Üstelik Enna’nın ruhunu çalabilecek güçte bir öpücük.
Yaptıkları anlaşma, Maekallus’un onu canlı canlı tüketen fani diyara hapsolmasına neden oldu. Sonsuza dek yok olmaktan kurtulmasını sağlayabilecek tek şey Enna’nın içten gelen öpücüğüydü. Her bir öpücük onun için geçici bir kurtuluş, Enna içinse yaklaşan bir felaketti. Genç kadının ruhu içinde alev alev yanarken Maekallus hayatında ilk kez bir şeyler hissediyordu.
Enna onun çektiği acıları paylaşsa da küçük fedakârlığı uzun sürmeyecekti. Eğer birlikte onu fani diyara bağlayan sihri bozamazlarsa Maekallus sonsuza dek yok olacaktı... Üstelik Enna’nın ruhu da onunla birlikte tükenip gidecekti.
Enna, evinin yakınındaki vahşi ormanda dolaşan hinlerden korkması gerektiğini biliyordu. Fakat içlerinden biri bileziğindeki sihirli bir taşı ele geçirmek istediğinde, bu durumdan kurtulabilmek için tüm riskleri göze alarak başka bir hinle anlaşma yapmaya karar verdi.
Ancak Maekallus hiçbir yardımı karşılıksız yapmazdı.
Peki ya bedeli neydi? Bir öpücük. Üstelik Enna’nın ruhunu çalabilecek güçte bir öpücük.
Yaptıkları anlaşma, Maekallus’un onu canlı canlı tüketen fani diyara hapsolmasına neden oldu. Sonsuza dek yok olmaktan kurtulmasını sağlayabilecek tek şey Enna’nın içten gelen öpücüğüydü. Her bir öpücük onun için geçici bir kurtuluş, Enna içinse yaklaşan bir felaketti. Genç kadının ruhu içinde alev alev yanarken Maekallus hayatında ilk kez bir şeyler hissediyordu.
Enna onun çektiği acıları paylaşsa da küçük fedakârlığı uzun sürmeyecekti. Eğer birlikte onu fani diyara bağlayan sihri bozamazlarsa Maekallus sonsuza dek yok olacaktı... Üstelik Enna’nın ruhu da onunla birlikte tükenip gidecekti.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 21, 2020
2950 people are currently reading
11835 people want to read
About the author
Charlie N. Holmberg
53 books8,762 followersCharlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of fantasy and romance fiction, including the Paper Magician series, the Spellbreaker series, and the Whimbrel House series, and writes contemporary romance under C. N. Holmberg. She is published in over twenty languages and is a Goodreads Choice Award, ALA, and RITA finalist. Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. A BYU alumna, she discovered in her thirties that she’s actually a cat person. She lives with her family in Utah. Visit her at www.charlienholmberg.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,138 reviews
November 5, 2020
“ What is a soul if not an extension of the heart”!
This great quote of the book and Paper Magician series author’s attempt to retell Beauty and Beast made me buy new dancing shoes and work on a new happy dance moves to celebrate it! (This time I went back to retro and added some figures of Vanilla Ice and Janet Jackson to my choreography!)
Just a small kiss could determine the souls’ paths between life and death! This book is capturing you from its first page, enchanting you with those magical, well-rounded, likable characters and you want to read more, learn more about their well depicted, lyrical, outstanding stories.
Maekallus is tempting, charismatic, red-yellow eyed beast steals your heart and you also easily resonate with the narrator, our young, beautiful heroine Enna Ryder.
It was a fast, heart throbbing, exciting and interesting reading and I enjoyed the romance parts but I think it failed with the fantasy parts. I wanted to learn more about Deep and mystical creatures walking around at the Wildwood. But they cut short and book is mainly focused on characters’ forbidden, impossible love story.
We have a hero a.k.a. monster who wants to eat the heroine’s soul and we have a gold-hearted heroine who sacrifices herself to protect her father, accepting the bargain with the beast. I enjoyed their enemies to lovers kind of dynamics but the malicious antihero, Scroud is barely seen in the book.
Actually he had an important role to create obstacles and cliffhanger of the story. But most of the time I felt like he was just an extra of the story with no proper back story. I wish I could learn more about his motives, his schemes, his vengeful acts.
So my 3.5 starts eventually rounded up to 4 for the love of leading characters and world building. But I’m sure this book could be better with its powerful potentials and the magical Wildwood theme.
Special thanks to Netgalley and 47North for sharing this intriguing ARC COPY in exchange my honest review.
This great quote of the book and Paper Magician series author’s attempt to retell Beauty and Beast made me buy new dancing shoes and work on a new happy dance moves to celebrate it! (This time I went back to retro and added some figures of Vanilla Ice and Janet Jackson to my choreography!)
Just a small kiss could determine the souls’ paths between life and death! This book is capturing you from its first page, enchanting you with those magical, well-rounded, likable characters and you want to read more, learn more about their well depicted, lyrical, outstanding stories.
Maekallus is tempting, charismatic, red-yellow eyed beast steals your heart and you also easily resonate with the narrator, our young, beautiful heroine Enna Ryder.
It was a fast, heart throbbing, exciting and interesting reading and I enjoyed the romance parts but I think it failed with the fantasy parts. I wanted to learn more about Deep and mystical creatures walking around at the Wildwood. But they cut short and book is mainly focused on characters’ forbidden, impossible love story.
We have a hero a.k.a. monster who wants to eat the heroine’s soul and we have a gold-hearted heroine who sacrifices herself to protect her father, accepting the bargain with the beast. I enjoyed their enemies to lovers kind of dynamics but the malicious antihero, Scroud is barely seen in the book.
Actually he had an important role to create obstacles and cliffhanger of the story. But most of the time I felt like he was just an extra of the story with no proper back story. I wish I could learn more about his motives, his schemes, his vengeful acts.
So my 3.5 starts eventually rounded up to 4 for the love of leading characters and world building. But I’m sure this book could be better with its powerful potentials and the magical Wildwood theme.
Special thanks to Netgalley and 47North for sharing this intriguing ARC COPY in exchange my honest review.
February 10, 2020
267 pages
Publication: January 21st
A story of a girl and a monster.
I really enjoyed this book. I love fairy tales and am just starting to get more into the fantasy genre so this was a great book that had aspects of both of those. The characters were fully developed and completely awesome, even the supporting characters. There are hero’s and villains, humans and monsters, magic spells, enchanted stones and all that jazz. What could be better?
This is the story of a girl named Enna who is a bit of an outcast in her village because her papa’s mind is not all there. What most of the villagers don’t know or remember is that her father lost part of his mind in the war against the misting. The misting are monsters from another world or dimension called “The Deep” they come through portal rings to the wildwoods and at one point an Orjan called Shroud had amassed an army of monsters to go to war with humans.
Enna’s Mother was killed during that time while pregnant and her father had to cut Enna out of her body. He later went into the deep and brought back a telling stone that Enna now wears on her wrist. It warns her when misting are near. Her father warned her never to let anyone see it. Though he sacrificed a lot to get it and he was the only human to ever go into The Deep.
When Enna is attacked by a Gobbler misting and the telling stone warns of another close, she decides to summon a misting that she can bargain with to protect her. That is how she meets Maekallus who is a Narval misting. I won’t give away any spoilers as to his appearance, but to say he is humanoid. Though all mistings do not have a soul.
Enna and Maekallus end up bound and have to work together to save their lives and Enna’s soul. The resulting adventure is truly original and the way the romance built up was very good.
I really just got an epic romance fairytale feeling from this book. At one point I was crying like A baby. Because there are sometimes when the differences between two people are just too big to be overcome.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Publication: January 21st
A story of a girl and a monster.
I really enjoyed this book. I love fairy tales and am just starting to get more into the fantasy genre so this was a great book that had aspects of both of those. The characters were fully developed and completely awesome, even the supporting characters. There are hero’s and villains, humans and monsters, magic spells, enchanted stones and all that jazz. What could be better?
This is the story of a girl named Enna who is a bit of an outcast in her village because her papa’s mind is not all there. What most of the villagers don’t know or remember is that her father lost part of his mind in the war against the misting. The misting are monsters from another world or dimension called “The Deep” they come through portal rings to the wildwoods and at one point an Orjan called Shroud had amassed an army of monsters to go to war with humans.
Enna’s Mother was killed during that time while pregnant and her father had to cut Enna out of her body. He later went into the deep and brought back a telling stone that Enna now wears on her wrist. It warns her when misting are near. Her father warned her never to let anyone see it. Though he sacrificed a lot to get it and he was the only human to ever go into The Deep.
The mortal realm will devour a misting body. The monster realm will destroy a human’s mind.
When Enna is attacked by a Gobbler misting and the telling stone warns of another close, she decides to summon a misting that she can bargain with to protect her. That is how she meets Maekallus who is a Narval misting. I won’t give away any spoilers as to his appearance, but to say he is humanoid. Though all mistings do not have a soul.
Enna and Maekallus end up bound and have to work together to save their lives and Enna’s soul. The resulting adventure is truly original and the way the romance built up was very good.
I really just got an epic romance fairytale feeling from this book. At one point I was crying like A baby. Because there are sometimes when the differences between two people are just too big to be overcome.
Tears threaten my vision, and I blink and shove the thoughts away, clawing for composure. “W-Why are you here?”
He gives me that narrow gaze again, then a shrug. “The Deep isn’t a friendly place.”
“No, it’s not.” The lump has reformed and chokes my words to a whisper. I swallow again. Take a deep breath. “I—”
“He is not me.”
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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March 15, 2020
2.5 stars - I feel “meh” about this book and think it will be pretty forgettable. While I was reading it, it felt like a 3 star as the prose is decent. But I never felt compelled to pick it up. Nothing much happens in the plot and it’s rather anti-climatic. It’s mostly about the romance, but the romance also isn’t interesting enough to propel the plot forward. If you like monster boyfriends, this may still be worth it for you (especially since it’s so short), but I definitely wanted and expected more from it.
July 19, 2020
DNF @51% this just isn’t keeping my interest
$1.99 on Kindle US today 6/19/2020!
$1.99 on Kindle US today 6/19/2020!
April 25, 2022
I really enjoyed this book went in completely blind, and was pleasantly surprised how good it was.
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January 30, 2020
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Genre: Fantasy + Romance + Young Adult
Enna lives with her ill father in the wildwood. Many kinds of mystings roam there all the time. They are after something she has. She needs to get rid of them by making a deal with one (Maekallus) but what is the catch? To give up her soul? or give up her heart?
I always wanted to read the Paper Magic series by Charlie N. Holmberg but that has not happened yet. I decided to pick up this standalone fantasy since it is her latest work. First thing, isn't that a stunning cover? I love how Enna is depicted on that cover. Both cover and title are totally fit for the story. The author's writing style is lyrical, sometimes I felt she was overdoing it. I would not say it was completely over the top but I felt it needed to be toned down a bit to fit the story more.
I know this is a short book but still when we talk about fantasy one will think about a bigger cast of characters that have significant roles in moving the story forward. This is what The Will and the Wilds lacked. I mean besides the two main protagonists there were two side characters that had no big role in the story. So we are left only with the main protagonists. I expect more than that from a fantasy book.
I felt the romance dosage was way more than the fantasy elements. Although somehow I liked the chemistry between Enna and Maekallus, I still felt that their relationship or romance had a bigger focus than the world-building. I would call this more a romantic story with a fantasy element than a fantasy book with romance. The story is enjoyable but it is forgettable, at least to me.
Available on Kindle Unlimited
August 25, 2019
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 Stars)
Title: The Will and the Wilds
Author(s): Charlie N. Holmberg
Character(s):
― Enna Rydar: 20 years old, Brunette, Blue Eyed
― Maekallus: Red, Yellow Eyed
Setting: ―
Tag(s): Romance, Fantasy, Supernatural
Content Rating: PG
POV: First Person (Heroine)
Smexy Level: Subtle
Favorite Quote(s):
― "Beware the narvals, formed from the spilled blood of bastards. They feed upon souls, and will steal one with a willing kiss."
― "Little mortal, you’ve just half a soul left. Be careful how you divide it."
― "What is a soul if not an extension of the heart?"
― “I am the afterlife. I was created by death. I am the end. When I perish, I am gone.”
Overall Opinion:
To think that a kiss, a small and brief kiss, could change one's soul and pushed the characters towards a life or death predicament when a sudden bargain is made. The author was able to graced us with a whimsical fantasy novel that she was able to bring to life with her easy going writing style, unique and diverse characters and intriguing plot. From page one, the reader is brought into this fantasy world filled with mortals and mysting, and the stone that alters the lives of Maekallus and Enna forever. Despite how much I adore this read I will notate that I wished the author would have touch more base on the Deep (a supernatural realm so to speak) and the creatures that lurked around Wildwood. That was an element of the story that initially drew me in and I was slightly disappointed she deferred from providing more details in regards to that aspect when it was obvious the romance portion was the main focus of the plot, causing that to be pushed aside. Which wasn't bad mind you but I was left wanting to learn more about the mythical creatures that lurked through the woods, their history and horrid behavior. Nevertheless, it was an enthralling supernatural and fantasy read that ended on a high note (finally an ending I can stand by) in which case I would recommend to just about anyone to pick this up and give it a go. You won't be disappointed.
January 22, 2020
“The strong prey on the weak, it has always been so. The setting is just happenstance.”
A species called mystings have been wandering the human realm and the wildwood near Enna’s village for years. They lurk through the darkness of the trees, killing and consuming those left unprotected or caught unawares. But Enna has always been kept safe by a charm on her wrist that warns of a mystings proximity-a charm her father stole from the monster realm. So when her home is suddenly attacked by not one, but two goblers, Enna is forced into the wildwood to summon a mysting in the hopes of striking a deal. She has heard that some mystings may be persuaded into work by mortals, and Enna hopes that a mysting will kill the creatures that seem to be hunting her. But the deal Enna makes will cost her more than she planned on bargaining with, and her soul might not be the only thing up for shattering.
“Mystings should never be trusted. Ever.”
The Will and The Wilds is set in a much earlier period where horses are the primary use of transportation, food is traded in a market of a small village and talk of witchcraft is either whispered about or scoffed at. Enna and her father are practically shunned by their fellow villagers due to Enna’s fascination with the mystings that plague their world, and because her father experiences frequent lapses in his memories. Though there have been reports and sightings of mystings in the wildwood near their village, many villagers assume that they do not exist or think they have left. But Enna knows full well they are still very close and prowling the woods.
The day that Enna was born, some seventeen years ago, her father and mother were attacked by a species of mysting that delights in consuming humans. With Enna still in the womb, and her mother being horribly eaten alive (ugh, I know), Enna’s father is forced to cut her out of his wife and flee. Her father then finds a way into the monster realm (where the mystings originate from) and steals a charm from a powerful creature, which he brings back to Enna and gifts to her for protection. The charm that has hung on her wrist ever since warns of a nearby mysting. With this charm, several herbs and rituals to keep mystings at bay, and a journal that has been passed down in her family which holds vital information about the monster realm and its creatures, Enna is able to keep herself and her father safe. Until, of course, their home is attacked. From her journal, Enna learns that sometimes mystings will make a bargain with humans if a summoning circle is cast. So naturally, the poor dear casts the circle.
“Some of the intelligent species of mysting are tricksters-these are creatures more interested in toying with mortals than feasting upon them. However, do not let that fact convince you they are docile, for often a trickster will claim something far more valuable than flesh.”
Enter: Maekallus.
Devilish mysting creature with a razor-sharp tail, a horn sword and the kiss that will do more than just take a girls breath away…
…it’ll take her soul too. ❤
Maekallus is a type of mysting called a Narval, who consume human souls with a kiss. After a deal between Enna and Maekallus turns south, and Maekallus is bound to the mortal realm with his body slowly decaying into a bubbly black tar, Enna makes the decision to willingly kiss him in order to save him. But what would normally leave a human completely soulless, somehow, only a piece of Enna’s soul is given to Maekallus.
“The mortal realm will devour a mysting’s body. The monster realm will destroy a human’s mind.”
This story is such a fantastical and beautiful tale. It blends two of my favorite genres (Fantasy and Historical Fiction) into an old-timey tale where portals to realms are opened, and a human becomes bound to a monster. It has a slight Beauty and the Beast romance mixed with a Grimm fairy tale darkness. Instead of angels and demons, it’s demons and humans, and it is totally swoon-worthy! The romance doesn’t overpower this wonderful plot by making it an eye-roll fest full of forced physical contact or stomach roiling one-liners. It feels natural and purposeful, and fully adds to the story that the author tells.
“It’s nothing like Tennith’s kiss. There’s desperation in the movement of his lips. They’re rough, but in a different way. Tennith was much warmer.
Maekallus is like kissing the twilight.”
There is a slight love triangle that happens, but trust me, it is so inconsequential to the big picture and it actually adds an amusing scene to the story that I was LOVING. I found Enna to be a very proper, strong, loyal and good-hearted character who is incredibly selfless. On more than one occasion she is willing to sacrifice herself for someone else, and she exudes a determination and strength that is to be envied. Maekallus is…mysterious. As a mysting he doesn’t have a soul, so he does not understand human emotions like fear, sadness, happiness, love or regret. He finds amusement in toying with humans and delights in consuming a soul to feel the short-lived traces of their emotions.
Though I fully enjoyed this story and read it in a day, I did find that there was a lot of moments that were either left unexplained or just weren’t tied up properly. The world-building wasn’t really there, the explanation of how a portal from the monster realm opened into the human world was vague, and scenes that didn’t center on Maekallus and Enna were left off to the side without a second glance. There was a lot of exciting moments that kept me hooked throughout the read, but I do wish there was more emphasis put on descriptions and extra history/research on the mystings in proximity to humans. But with that said, I also don’t think it takes away from the story at all. The writing is beautiful and eloquent, the dialogue is a fantastic representation of the times and the story as a whole is truly beyond creative. It was a perfect blend of fantasy, romance, sweetness and darkness.
A species called mystings have been wandering the human realm and the wildwood near Enna’s village for years. They lurk through the darkness of the trees, killing and consuming those left unprotected or caught unawares. But Enna has always been kept safe by a charm on her wrist that warns of a mystings proximity-a charm her father stole from the monster realm. So when her home is suddenly attacked by not one, but two goblers, Enna is forced into the wildwood to summon a mysting in the hopes of striking a deal. She has heard that some mystings may be persuaded into work by mortals, and Enna hopes that a mysting will kill the creatures that seem to be hunting her. But the deal Enna makes will cost her more than she planned on bargaining with, and her soul might not be the only thing up for shattering.
“Mystings should never be trusted. Ever.”
The Will and The Wilds is set in a much earlier period where horses are the primary use of transportation, food is traded in a market of a small village and talk of witchcraft is either whispered about or scoffed at. Enna and her father are practically shunned by their fellow villagers due to Enna’s fascination with the mystings that plague their world, and because her father experiences frequent lapses in his memories. Though there have been reports and sightings of mystings in the wildwood near their village, many villagers assume that they do not exist or think they have left. But Enna knows full well they are still very close and prowling the woods.
The day that Enna was born, some seventeen years ago, her father and mother were attacked by a species of mysting that delights in consuming humans. With Enna still in the womb, and her mother being horribly eaten alive (ugh, I know), Enna’s father is forced to cut her out of his wife and flee. Her father then finds a way into the monster realm (where the mystings originate from) and steals a charm from a powerful creature, which he brings back to Enna and gifts to her for protection. The charm that has hung on her wrist ever since warns of a nearby mysting. With this charm, several herbs and rituals to keep mystings at bay, and a journal that has been passed down in her family which holds vital information about the monster realm and its creatures, Enna is able to keep herself and her father safe. Until, of course, their home is attacked. From her journal, Enna learns that sometimes mystings will make a bargain with humans if a summoning circle is cast. So naturally, the poor dear casts the circle.
“Some of the intelligent species of mysting are tricksters-these are creatures more interested in toying with mortals than feasting upon them. However, do not let that fact convince you they are docile, for often a trickster will claim something far more valuable than flesh.”
Enter: Maekallus.
Devilish mysting creature with a razor-sharp tail, a horn sword and the kiss that will do more than just take a girls breath away…
…it’ll take her soul too. ❤
Maekallus is a type of mysting called a Narval, who consume human souls with a kiss. After a deal between Enna and Maekallus turns south, and Maekallus is bound to the mortal realm with his body slowly decaying into a bubbly black tar, Enna makes the decision to willingly kiss him in order to save him. But what would normally leave a human completely soulless, somehow, only a piece of Enna’s soul is given to Maekallus.
“The mortal realm will devour a mysting’s body. The monster realm will destroy a human’s mind.”
This story is such a fantastical and beautiful tale. It blends two of my favorite genres (Fantasy and Historical Fiction) into an old-timey tale where portals to realms are opened, and a human becomes bound to a monster. It has a slight Beauty and the Beast romance mixed with a Grimm fairy tale darkness. Instead of angels and demons, it’s demons and humans, and it is totally swoon-worthy! The romance doesn’t overpower this wonderful plot by making it an eye-roll fest full of forced physical contact or stomach roiling one-liners. It feels natural and purposeful, and fully adds to the story that the author tells.
“It’s nothing like Tennith’s kiss. There’s desperation in the movement of his lips. They’re rough, but in a different way. Tennith was much warmer.
Maekallus is like kissing the twilight.”
There is a slight love triangle that happens, but trust me, it is so inconsequential to the big picture and it actually adds an amusing scene to the story that I was LOVING. I found Enna to be a very proper, strong, loyal and good-hearted character who is incredibly selfless. On more than one occasion she is willing to sacrifice herself for someone else, and she exudes a determination and strength that is to be envied. Maekallus is…mysterious. As a mysting he doesn’t have a soul, so he does not understand human emotions like fear, sadness, happiness, love or regret. He finds amusement in toying with humans and delights in consuming a soul to feel the short-lived traces of their emotions.
Though I fully enjoyed this story and read it in a day, I did find that there was a lot of moments that were either left unexplained or just weren’t tied up properly. The world-building wasn’t really there, the explanation of how a portal from the monster realm opened into the human world was vague, and scenes that didn’t center on Maekallus and Enna were left off to the side without a second glance. There was a lot of exciting moments that kept me hooked throughout the read, but I do wish there was more emphasis put on descriptions and extra history/research on the mystings in proximity to humans. But with that said, I also don’t think it takes away from the story at all. The writing is beautiful and eloquent, the dialogue is a fantastic representation of the times and the story as a whole is truly beyond creative. It was a perfect blend of fantasy, romance, sweetness and darkness.
January 20, 2020
ARC Received via NetGalley for an honest review
You can find this review and others on my blog here:
http://vicariouslyvoraciously.com/rev...
Charlie Holmberg, you've done it again!!!
I fell in love with Charlie Holmberg back when I read her Paper Magician series. I have always been a fan of origami so when I read the synopsis that it was about a magical origami I couldn't pass it up. Instantly I knew that I found a new favorite author. I flew through that series and couldn't help but want more!!! So when I saw The Will and the Wilds pop up on NetGalley I couldn't help myself and instantly started smashing the request button. Then to my happy surprise, I was approved!!!! The book gods were looking out for me that day because I could hardly contain my excitement. Now here we are the day before its published out into the world and I finally can tell all my friends to READ THIS BOOK!!!! It was exactly what I was hoping for when I read the description. Dark and twisted yet still in that same feel good Charlie Holmberg fashion, you are left with a happy contented feeling that you just went through quite the adventure and found a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
If I could compare this book to anything, I would definitely say that it has a Labyrinth feel. Complete with a forbidden romance and monsters and magic and all the ingredients for a book that you can't help but devour. It starts off with our main character Enna narrowly avoiding a gobler attack in her home. But what's strange is that normally the monsters of the wildwood don't venture close to the people of her village and definitely not past the wards and herbs that are supposed to keep them away. But when she wakes up to find a monster in her home in the middle of the night she knows something is different. It soon becomes clear that the stone her father risked his life to find and give her for protection might be the very thing that is putting her in danger. So Enna takes it upon herself to find a solution, but at what cost? Can she save herself and her father without creating more danger? Has she made a huge mistake? You know that saying that if you're going through hell, keep going? I think that was probably the mindset our sweet and innocent Enna had to keep to in order to try and right this horrible mess she gets into,.
And of course no story can be complete for me with out some sort of love interest, and one of my favorite tropes lies within these pages... FORBIDDEN ROMANCE! I love when two characters can't be together but against all odds they fall for each other anyway. This is one ANGSTY love that you are rooting for helplessly throughout and ugh its so good too!!! I loved this love!!!
This book was a wonderful journey through the dangerous wildwood and beyond to the Deep. Full of dark monsters, magic, and love there really isn't anything that this story lacks. Not to mention it all wraps up neatly within one book. No waiting for the next in the series, no cliffhanger ending. Just pure enjoyment from beginning to end. There weren't any dull moments, any lags or parts where I was just waiting for something to happen. It was one of those books where every part had meaning and was put there for a reason. Which is why I appreciate Charlie Holmberg so much as an author. She is a wonderful writer that doesn't get the notice that she deserves because everything she writes is just so damn good!!! If you're looking for that dark but lovely story to kick off your 2020 look no further, its here!!!
You can find this review and others on my blog here:
http://vicariouslyvoraciously.com/rev...
Charlie Holmberg, you've done it again!!!
I fell in love with Charlie Holmberg back when I read her Paper Magician series. I have always been a fan of origami so when I read the synopsis that it was about a magical origami I couldn't pass it up. Instantly I knew that I found a new favorite author. I flew through that series and couldn't help but want more!!! So when I saw The Will and the Wilds pop up on NetGalley I couldn't help myself and instantly started smashing the request button. Then to my happy surprise, I was approved!!!! The book gods were looking out for me that day because I could hardly contain my excitement. Now here we are the day before its published out into the world and I finally can tell all my friends to READ THIS BOOK!!!! It was exactly what I was hoping for when I read the description. Dark and twisted yet still in that same feel good Charlie Holmberg fashion, you are left with a happy contented feeling that you just went through quite the adventure and found a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
If I could compare this book to anything, I would definitely say that it has a Labyrinth feel. Complete with a forbidden romance and monsters and magic and all the ingredients for a book that you can't help but devour. It starts off with our main character Enna narrowly avoiding a gobler attack in her home. But what's strange is that normally the monsters of the wildwood don't venture close to the people of her village and definitely not past the wards and herbs that are supposed to keep them away. But when she wakes up to find a monster in her home in the middle of the night she knows something is different. It soon becomes clear that the stone her father risked his life to find and give her for protection might be the very thing that is putting her in danger. So Enna takes it upon herself to find a solution, but at what cost? Can she save herself and her father without creating more danger? Has she made a huge mistake? You know that saying that if you're going through hell, keep going? I think that was probably the mindset our sweet and innocent Enna had to keep to in order to try and right this horrible mess she gets into,.
And of course no story can be complete for me with out some sort of love interest, and one of my favorite tropes lies within these pages... FORBIDDEN ROMANCE! I love when two characters can't be together but against all odds they fall for each other anyway. This is one ANGSTY love that you are rooting for helplessly throughout and ugh its so good too!!! I loved this love!!!
This book was a wonderful journey through the dangerous wildwood and beyond to the Deep. Full of dark monsters, magic, and love there really isn't anything that this story lacks. Not to mention it all wraps up neatly within one book. No waiting for the next in the series, no cliffhanger ending. Just pure enjoyment from beginning to end. There weren't any dull moments, any lags or parts where I was just waiting for something to happen. It was one of those books where every part had meaning and was put there for a reason. Which is why I appreciate Charlie Holmberg so much as an author. She is a wonderful writer that doesn't get the notice that she deserves because everything she writes is just so damn good!!! If you're looking for that dark but lovely story to kick off your 2020 look no further, its here!!!
January 22, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley for sending me a free arc of this to read and review.
What is a soul if not an extension of the heart?
This was so freaking good. Like Jesus Christ, I didn't expect this.
I went back and forth on whether to give this 4.5 or 5 stars, since this is an arc and I tend to be more strict about books I'm obligated to review, but I've decided to rate this 5 stars simply because I feel that the overall enjoyment this book gave me far outweighs its flaws, not that there are many to begin with.
I've had terrible luck with arcs in the past. I've always picked out books I was certain I would enjoy, but they've all been two star reads for me for various reasons. Until now.
Enna is a twenty year-old girl that spends her days taking care of her father and using various plants to protect them from the wildwood, a forest near their home filled with monsters called mystings, the majority of which are hostile towards humans. Enna wears a bracelet with a stone that can sense them, and after being attacked by one and sensing another, she summons an intelligent mysting named Maekallus to kill it for her. This is where the story really begins.
This book grabbed my attention from page one. The author wasted little time jumping into the story, and her writing really drew me into what was happening.
I really liked Enna as a character. She was caring, ambitious and intelligent. She was flawed like a real person but wasn't one of those weak, timid main characters that I despise. I liked how no-nonsense and borderline hostile she was to Maekallus in the beginning. It wasn't one of those stories where the female lead starts off headstrong and fierce and ends up this sappy, whiny, useless blob. It took a while to change, and when she did, she kept the most likable aspects of herself and I enjoyed that.
I didn't particularly like Maekallus in the beginning but he grew on me as his character developed. I disliked his dishonesty, but I realize I probably would've been just as deceptive in his situation. Again, another flawed but likable character. I also really appreciated his character design, more specifically his horn and hooves. Most authors would avoid adding traits like that to their male lead, since I feel like some readers wouldn't like it. Especially in the young adult romance genre. His hair & eye color didn't hurt either 😏
One of the main reasons I read fantasy is for the magic and the creatures. This book did not disappoint.
There is nothing I love more than the suspense and the anxiety given to me from a book filled with dangerous fantastical creatures, and a main character that lives/works close to them. These creatures in particular were fun to read about. I enjoyed their weird descriptions and reading about their habits and the things that can hurt or deter them.
The little descriptions and tidbits of information at the beginning of every chapter were a nice touch, as were the formal way the characters spoke. It really gave me a sense of feeling that they were actually in another time and another place, and unlike some other fantasies, I never forgot it wasn't my world.
However, I do feel that the ending was a tad rushed and definitely could've been extended into more than one book had the author chosen to do so. Sadly though, I have a feeling this will be a standalone novel since everything was wrapped up by the end of this, albeit leaving a few unanswered questions.
I'm very upset at that, since I would've loved a sequel where
I also felt that some things came too easily to the main character at times. There was the occasional plot device here and there and a couple of scenes were a bit anticlimactic.
But the only real issue I had with this book was that I felt like every loose end wasn't tied up and it could've been so much longer and so much more. I hope that the author writes a sequel even though I don't think she will.
Overall, this was a very fun read and I would recommend this to young adults and new adults that like fantasy, dangerous creatures, & romance that takes time to develop.
What is a soul if not an extension of the heart?
This was so freaking good. Like Jesus Christ, I didn't expect this.
I went back and forth on whether to give this 4.5 or 5 stars, since this is an arc and I tend to be more strict about books I'm obligated to review, but I've decided to rate this 5 stars simply because I feel that the overall enjoyment this book gave me far outweighs its flaws, not that there are many to begin with.
I've had terrible luck with arcs in the past. I've always picked out books I was certain I would enjoy, but they've all been two star reads for me for various reasons. Until now.
Enna is a twenty year-old girl that spends her days taking care of her father and using various plants to protect them from the wildwood, a forest near their home filled with monsters called mystings, the majority of which are hostile towards humans. Enna wears a bracelet with a stone that can sense them, and after being attacked by one and sensing another, she summons an intelligent mysting named Maekallus to kill it for her. This is where the story really begins.
This book grabbed my attention from page one. The author wasted little time jumping into the story, and her writing really drew me into what was happening.
I really liked Enna as a character. She was caring, ambitious and intelligent. She was flawed like a real person but wasn't one of those weak, timid main characters that I despise. I liked how no-nonsense and borderline hostile she was to Maekallus in the beginning. It wasn't one of those stories where the female lead starts off headstrong and fierce and ends up this sappy, whiny, useless blob. It took a while to change, and when she did, she kept the most likable aspects of herself and I enjoyed that.
I didn't particularly like Maekallus in the beginning but he grew on me as his character developed. I disliked his dishonesty, but I realize I probably would've been just as deceptive in his situation. Again, another flawed but likable character. I also really appreciated his character design, more specifically his horn and hooves. Most authors would avoid adding traits like that to their male lead, since I feel like some readers wouldn't like it. Especially in the young adult romance genre. His hair & eye color didn't hurt either 😏
One of the main reasons I read fantasy is for the magic and the creatures. This book did not disappoint.
There is nothing I love more than the suspense and the anxiety given to me from a book filled with dangerous fantastical creatures, and a main character that lives/works close to them. These creatures in particular were fun to read about. I enjoyed their weird descriptions and reading about their habits and the things that can hurt or deter them.
The little descriptions and tidbits of information at the beginning of every chapter were a nice touch, as were the formal way the characters spoke. It really gave me a sense of feeling that they were actually in another time and another place, and unlike some other fantasies, I never forgot it wasn't my world.
However, I do feel that the ending was a tad rushed and definitely could've been extended into more than one book had the author chosen to do so. Sadly though, I have a feeling this will be a standalone novel since everything was wrapped up by the end of this, albeit leaving a few unanswered questions.
I'm very upset at that, since I would've loved a sequel where
I also felt that some things came too easily to the main character at times. There was the occasional plot device here and there and a couple of scenes were a bit anticlimactic.
But the only real issue I had with this book was that I felt like every loose end wasn't tied up and it could've been so much longer and so much more. I hope that the author writes a sequel even though I don't think she will.
Overall, this was a very fun read and I would recommend this to young adults and new adults that like fantasy, dangerous creatures, & romance that takes time to develop.
December 28, 2019
"Monsters are only ever fascinating from afar."
The Shape of Water meets Beauty and the Beast in this enthralling retelling that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up and your heart beat ten times faster.
Enna has a personal connection to Mystings and knows the fear that they bring out. Her Mother was killed by one while she was pregnant with Enna. Her Father saved her life by cutting her out of the womb. Now it’s only the two of them and her Father isn’t in the best of health.
Living near the Wildwood isn’t safe for them since Mystings roam those woods. When one attacks her one night, she uses a Mysting to fight back. Using a Mysting comes with a price and a price that could cost her dearly.
Maekallus is the Mysting that she made the deal with. His price is a kiss but that kiss can cost her her soul. But she has an ability that one of else has. It comes to a shock not only to her but to Maekallus as well.
That one small price has lead Maekallus to be trapped in the real world and that begins to eat him alive. The suffering goes both ways and it starts destroying Enna too.
Enna must give a kiss willingly to save them both temporarily. To break the binding that dooms them, they must hunt down their Mysting attacker and destroy that Mysting before it’s too late.
The Will and the Wilds was definitely a unique retelling with quite the twist. This epic fairytale romance will make that Romeo and Juliet romance come alive. That people from two different sides of the realm can be together happily.
Fingers are crossed for a story just involving Tennith.
The Shape of Water meets Beauty and the Beast in this enthralling retelling that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up and your heart beat ten times faster.
Enna has a personal connection to Mystings and knows the fear that they bring out. Her Mother was killed by one while she was pregnant with Enna. Her Father saved her life by cutting her out of the womb. Now it’s only the two of them and her Father isn’t in the best of health.
Living near the Wildwood isn’t safe for them since Mystings roam those woods. When one attacks her one night, she uses a Mysting to fight back. Using a Mysting comes with a price and a price that could cost her dearly.
Maekallus is the Mysting that she made the deal with. His price is a kiss but that kiss can cost her her soul. But she has an ability that one of else has. It comes to a shock not only to her but to Maekallus as well.
That one small price has lead Maekallus to be trapped in the real world and that begins to eat him alive. The suffering goes both ways and it starts destroying Enna too.
Enna must give a kiss willingly to save them both temporarily. To break the binding that dooms them, they must hunt down their Mysting attacker and destroy that Mysting before it’s too late.
The Will and the Wilds was definitely a unique retelling with quite the twist. This epic fairytale romance will make that Romeo and Juliet romance come alive. That people from two different sides of the realm can be together happily.
Fingers are crossed for a story just involving Tennith.
January 10, 2018
I got to read this as Charlie was writing it. Heavy romance + gorgeous fantasy with a dark and whimsical edge--this really is Charlie at her best.
October 2, 2022
Sigh.
I love this author. I have loved every book I have read by her and was truly excited to see this on NetGalley and then to receive it as an ARC. And then I started reading it and that is when my excitement ended. From almost the beginning, I knew this book was not really for me, but I kept reading because as I said before, I LOVE this author. And as I read, the more it became apparent I was not going to love this book.
This book was boring. B O R I N G. I didn't feel anything for Enna at all - she was a foolish girl who kept doing foolish things and then sat around wondering just HOW she got into this mess and how was she going to get out of it ALL while getting the very thing that is lying to her and stealing her soul. Yeah, no. And while Maekallus is an interesting character, his arc is also boring. It just all fell so flat for me. And then to read 33 chapters of this and get THAT ending? R E A L L Y?
Sigh.
I still love this author and I will still read her books. But I certainly hope that this book was a fluke and that she will get back her stride. She is an awesome writer and can write so much better than this and her fans deserve a better book than this ultimately was.
Thank you to NetGalley, Charlie N. Holmberg, and 47North Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love this author. I have loved every book I have read by her and was truly excited to see this on NetGalley and then to receive it as an ARC. And then I started reading it and that is when my excitement ended. From almost the beginning, I knew this book was not really for me, but I kept reading because as I said before, I LOVE this author. And as I read, the more it became apparent I was not going to love this book.
This book was boring. B O R I N G. I didn't feel anything for Enna at all - she was a foolish girl who kept doing foolish things and then sat around wondering just HOW she got into this mess and how was she going to get out of it ALL while getting the very thing that is lying to her and stealing her soul. Yeah, no. And while Maekallus is an interesting character, his arc is also boring. It just all fell so flat for me. And then to read 33 chapters of this and get THAT ending? R E A L L Y?
Sigh.
I still love this author and I will still read her books. But I certainly hope that this book was a fluke and that she will get back her stride. She is an awesome writer and can write so much better than this and her fans deserve a better book than this ultimately was.
Thank you to NetGalley, Charlie N. Holmberg, and 47North Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2020
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Zoë Leonarczyk
Newly released, The Will and the Wilds is a magical retelling of the classic fairytale Beauty and the Beast. In a time where Beauty and the Beast retellings are plentiful in the market, Holmberg sets her story apart by creating a new otherworldly realm. This story is a fantastic read for anyone who loves fairy tale retellings!
As a self-proclaimed Beauty and the Beast retelling critic, I was hesitant going in to this book, but after reading just the first page, I knew this would be one of the few that I loved. I was immediately hooked with the fast pacing and magical style of the writing.
The mystings are reminiscent of the wild and dangerous fae, making the humans in the story terrified of anything remotely out of the ordinary. This parallel to the original fairytale continues to expand with the protagonist, Enna, being introduced along with her father. Enna has spent her life protecting her home and watching over her father. Plagued with the after effects of entering the mystings’ realm, “The Deep”, Enna’s father no longer remembers the fighter he once was. While in The Deep her father retrieved a stone that Enna now wears as a bracelet, warning her of any mystings nearing their abode neighbouring the wildwood.
After an attack by a Gobbler, described as pudgy slow moving mysting, Enna foolhardily enters a deal with Maekallus, a mysting she summons to help protect her and her father from another attack. Maekallus is a Narval mysting, which I of course just kept reading it as narwhal. Let me just say that once you read his description my little misread makes sense!
In typical fairytale sense, Enna and Maekallus’ deal goes awry and Maekallus finds himself stuck in the mortal realm, a place where mystings cannot remain for an extended period of time. While reading the description of how Maekallus looked after a day or so in the mortal realm, I kept finding myself comparing it to Howl’s little temper tantrum in the Studio Ghibli 2005 movie, Howl’s Moving Castle. Maekallus knows that he is dead unless he can fulfil his deal with Enna. Well, with a little bit of trickery, Maekallus convinces Enna to willingly give a kiss, needing a piece of soul to return from the “living dead.” Now what do kisses and souls have in common? It’s quite simple, a kiss with a Narval is a gift of your soul.
After some inner turmoil, Enna finally decides to save Maekallus with her kiss, believing it to be her best chance of survival. This perks Maekallus right up while Enna finds herself overly sluggish with a piece of her soul missing, but this is where the adventure truly begins. Will Enna’s gift of a kiss save them both or was their doom sealed with a deal?
I found Enna to be a typical heroine, often describing herself as plain and focused on survival. She sees herself as an expert of mystings and is constantly updating her encyclopedia of information on the mystings. I really enjoyed Holmberg giving Enna a dream, albeit one she believes is unobtainable, of going to a university and becoming a true scholar of mystings. I found it to be such a fun quirk of the book to bring in a form of official schooling to this world. Yet, as Enna points out, these schools are not too friendly towards females and would more likely than not never accept Enna.
Maekallus was a breath of fresh air for me. In these retellings the “Beast” character is typically very gruff and stiff, yet Holmberg threw this character map out the window and made our resident Narval her own. Maekallus has the quirk and trickster tendencies reminiscent of classic fae characters, including the original Puck. I really enjoyed this modification from the traditional, as I am often not the biggest fan of this character. But Maekallus immediately stole my heart and I can now say I am a fan of the Beast.
Be sure to check out this story of magic, adventure, and trust.
Newly released, The Will and the Wilds is a magical retelling of the classic fairytale Beauty and the Beast. In a time where Beauty and the Beast retellings are plentiful in the market, Holmberg sets her story apart by creating a new otherworldly realm. This story is a fantastic read for anyone who loves fairy tale retellings!
As a self-proclaimed Beauty and the Beast retelling critic, I was hesitant going in to this book, but after reading just the first page, I knew this would be one of the few that I loved. I was immediately hooked with the fast pacing and magical style of the writing.
The mystings are reminiscent of the wild and dangerous fae, making the humans in the story terrified of anything remotely out of the ordinary. This parallel to the original fairytale continues to expand with the protagonist, Enna, being introduced along with her father. Enna has spent her life protecting her home and watching over her father. Plagued with the after effects of entering the mystings’ realm, “The Deep”, Enna’s father no longer remembers the fighter he once was. While in The Deep her father retrieved a stone that Enna now wears as a bracelet, warning her of any mystings nearing their abode neighbouring the wildwood.
After an attack by a Gobbler, described as pudgy slow moving mysting, Enna foolhardily enters a deal with Maekallus, a mysting she summons to help protect her and her father from another attack. Maekallus is a Narval mysting, which I of course just kept reading it as narwhal. Let me just say that once you read his description my little misread makes sense!
In typical fairytale sense, Enna and Maekallus’ deal goes awry and Maekallus finds himself stuck in the mortal realm, a place where mystings cannot remain for an extended period of time. While reading the description of how Maekallus looked after a day or so in the mortal realm, I kept finding myself comparing it to Howl’s little temper tantrum in the Studio Ghibli 2005 movie, Howl’s Moving Castle. Maekallus knows that he is dead unless he can fulfil his deal with Enna. Well, with a little bit of trickery, Maekallus convinces Enna to willingly give a kiss, needing a piece of soul to return from the “living dead.” Now what do kisses and souls have in common? It’s quite simple, a kiss with a Narval is a gift of your soul.
After some inner turmoil, Enna finally decides to save Maekallus with her kiss, believing it to be her best chance of survival. This perks Maekallus right up while Enna finds herself overly sluggish with a piece of her soul missing, but this is where the adventure truly begins. Will Enna’s gift of a kiss save them both or was their doom sealed with a deal?
I found Enna to be a typical heroine, often describing herself as plain and focused on survival. She sees herself as an expert of mystings and is constantly updating her encyclopedia of information on the mystings. I really enjoyed Holmberg giving Enna a dream, albeit one she believes is unobtainable, of going to a university and becoming a true scholar of mystings. I found it to be such a fun quirk of the book to bring in a form of official schooling to this world. Yet, as Enna points out, these schools are not too friendly towards females and would more likely than not never accept Enna.
Maekallus was a breath of fresh air for me. In these retellings the “Beast” character is typically very gruff and stiff, yet Holmberg threw this character map out the window and made our resident Narval her own. Maekallus has the quirk and trickster tendencies reminiscent of classic fae characters, including the original Puck. I really enjoyed this modification from the traditional, as I am often not the biggest fan of this character. But Maekallus immediately stole my heart and I can now say I am a fan of the Beast.
Be sure to check out this story of magic, adventure, and trust.
Read
April 23, 2020
February 16, 2020
· “What is a soul if not an extension of the heart?” ·
*I got an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Let me just say it’s been a while since I last read a Fantasy YA novel and this one was simply ~A m a z i n g~. The beautiful narrative pulled me right in from the very first line and kept me hooked until the last dot. Having said that, I must also admit that the cover and the blurp were most captivating for me at the time of requesting a review copy. Could a kiss be so dangerous as to stealing your soul? You bet!
In addition to the author’s talented story-telling skills, the world creation and the character development were exceptional. Charlie’s words create the perfectly shady but yet attractive setting where our protagonists meet and interact and as a reader I found myself wondering through the wildwood with Enna or walking down the medieval-like village market feeling the long, hard stares of the villagers.
Also there’s Maekallus, a soulless mysting unable to feel—that is until until he kisses Enna, causing strange things start to come to life inside of him. As the story unfolds, I found myself swooning over Maekallus, a bad boy with a big heart, and enjoying the conversations and arguments between him and Enna.
However, what I loved the most about this book was the ending.
(If you’re not up for spoilers, you should seriously consider stop reading now.)
The thing is, the author remains most loyals to her characters. In this story, love overcomes every obstacle and there’s sacrifice on both parts, of course. But neither Maekallus nor Enna have to quit being who or what they are in order to be together. Without a doubt, that’s the most beautiful message this story has to offer.
*I got an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Let me just say it’s been a while since I last read a Fantasy YA novel and this one was simply ~A m a z i n g~. The beautiful narrative pulled me right in from the very first line and kept me hooked until the last dot. Having said that, I must also admit that the cover and the blurp were most captivating for me at the time of requesting a review copy. Could a kiss be so dangerous as to stealing your soul? You bet!
In addition to the author’s talented story-telling skills, the world creation and the character development were exceptional. Charlie’s words create the perfectly shady but yet attractive setting where our protagonists meet and interact and as a reader I found myself wondering through the wildwood with Enna or walking down the medieval-like village market feeling the long, hard stares of the villagers.
Also there’s Maekallus, a soulless mysting unable to feel—that is until until he kisses Enna, causing strange things start to come to life inside of him. As the story unfolds, I found myself swooning over Maekallus, a bad boy with a big heart, and enjoying the conversations and arguments between him and Enna.
However, what I loved the most about this book was the ending.
(If you’re not up for spoilers, you should seriously consider stop reading now.)
The thing is, the author remains most loyals to her characters. In this story, love overcomes every obstacle and there’s sacrifice on both parts, of course. But neither Maekallus nor Enna have to quit being who or what they are in order to be together. Without a doubt, that’s the most beautiful message this story has to offer.
January 29, 2020
Will and the Wilds follows Enna who "oops I summoned a demon and he asks my soul" and Maekallus "I'm a broody smirking hottie with horns who's gonna steal your soul , babe"
Enna is the plain YA protagonist who's living far from the town and has her own plantation and doesn't need to actually talk with people. Except for her really sick father she has to take care of. Her family history is obviously a "mystery" with her dad's slipping memory.
Maekallus is that character who can be easily found roaming in the YA woods. Silent , saving , caring and doesn't show it. Ugh.
Next , the plot.
The plot didn't have the Charlie's touch I've accustomed to , in the Numina series. The story fails all the elements it promised. It tried to be an epic fantasy and turned out paranormal but not quite.
The tale as old as time , retold in the worst possible version.
Poor woman but brilliant , accidentally summoning a demon and obligated to help him and everything is just a bloody mess.
Characters:
Ermmm , you get it.
World building:
Small town + Monster mixer = Will and the Wilds world building.
And sidenote , there's actually a Groot lookalike.
I don't really feel like recommending this trashy retelling to anyone.
Butt if you wanna read a great beauty and the beast retelling , Read Language of thorns by Leigh Bardugo. It has a short story of the retelling and I love it.
Enna is the plain YA protagonist who's living far from the town and has her own plantation and doesn't need to actually talk with people. Except for her really sick father she has to take care of. Her family history is obviously a "mystery" with her dad's slipping memory.
Maekallus is that character who can be easily found roaming in the YA woods. Silent , saving , caring and doesn't show it. Ugh.
Next , the plot.
The plot didn't have the Charlie's touch I've accustomed to , in the Numina series. The story fails all the elements it promised. It tried to be an epic fantasy and turned out paranormal but not quite.
The tale as old as time , retold in the worst possible version.
Poor woman but brilliant , accidentally summoning a demon and obligated to help him and everything is just a bloody mess.
Characters:
Ermmm , you get it.
World building:
Small town + Monster mixer = Will and the Wilds world building.
And sidenote , there's actually a Groot lookalike.
I don't really feel like recommending this trashy retelling to anyone.
Butt if you wanna read a great beauty and the beast retelling , Read Language of thorns by Leigh Bardugo. It has a short story of the retelling and I love it.
February 29, 2020
I struggled to finish this book. I did not like it in the end and I kept hoping to see some development, instead I was given a plain plot and characters. Nothing much to say, I will definitely read something else of this author because I actually liked her writing style, it was just the story overall that was not for me.
Only thing I can save is the world building that was good overall, not really complex but not completely plain.
Final vote: 2/5
Ebook provided by NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
Only thing I can save is the world building that was good overall, not really complex but not completely plain.
Final vote: 2/5
Ebook provided by NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
Read
August 10, 2020This novel was my take on the "enchanted" forest trope and is the only novel I've ever written that was based on a dream. If you love a heavy dose of romance with your fantasy, put this one on your shelves!
The Will and the Wilds is available NOW and is included in Kindle Unlimited! https://amzn.to/3kyjs5h
The Will and the Wilds is available NOW and is included in Kindle Unlimited! https://amzn.to/3kyjs5h
February 9, 2020
4.5 Stars
THE WILL AND THE WILDS is a story of loss, family, and love set in a world where monsters lurk in the woods and where a girl lives secluded with her father outside a small town. The setting is vividly drawn, with complex characters that are easy to like, and a story that is mysterious and entertaining from beginning to the end. Highly recommended to fantasy fans who like stories with a bit of a darker edge!
I connected and fell in love with Enna, the protagonist, from the start. She was this mix of independent boldness, but also reserved, and extremely loyal and caring for her father who had lost part of his mind after travelling to the Deep in the world below. Then there was Maekallus who came off as a bad-boy trickster from the start, but with the hope of there being something redeeming about him. As a reader, I knew he couldn't' be trusted right along with Enna, but I couldn't help falling for him at the same time. Both of these characters were complex with different layers that were revealed as the story progressed. They also changed as they worked together to try to save themselves. I thought the author did an amazing job in making the plot work so well, especially the climatic and bittersweet ending. There was a bit of edginess to the story, like you'd find in most stories involving fae or fairies. There also was a constant undertone of mystery and danger the entire story. I loved just about every minute.
My one warning is that some parts are rather sensuous, so I'd recommend to older YA and adult readers.
In the end, was it what I wished for? If you like stories about sacrifice and redemption, with complex characters and swoon-worthy romance, then this story is for you. Definitely recommended to fans of dark fairy tales, stories with fae, or with elements of the underworld.
Content: Some violence, innuendo, some heavy making out, and a few suggestive references.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through JeanBookNerd, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
THE WILL AND THE WILDS is a story of loss, family, and love set in a world where monsters lurk in the woods and where a girl lives secluded with her father outside a small town. The setting is vividly drawn, with complex characters that are easy to like, and a story that is mysterious and entertaining from beginning to the end. Highly recommended to fantasy fans who like stories with a bit of a darker edge!
I connected and fell in love with Enna, the protagonist, from the start. She was this mix of independent boldness, but also reserved, and extremely loyal and caring for her father who had lost part of his mind after travelling to the Deep in the world below. Then there was Maekallus who came off as a bad-boy trickster from the start, but with the hope of there being something redeeming about him. As a reader, I knew he couldn't' be trusted right along with Enna, but I couldn't help falling for him at the same time. Both of these characters were complex with different layers that were revealed as the story progressed. They also changed as they worked together to try to save themselves. I thought the author did an amazing job in making the plot work so well, especially the climatic and bittersweet ending. There was a bit of edginess to the story, like you'd find in most stories involving fae or fairies. There also was a constant undertone of mystery and danger the entire story. I loved just about every minute.
My one warning is that some parts are rather sensuous, so I'd recommend to older YA and adult readers.
In the end, was it what I wished for? If you like stories about sacrifice and redemption, with complex characters and swoon-worthy romance, then this story is for you. Definitely recommended to fans of dark fairy tales, stories with fae, or with elements of the underworld.
Content: Some violence, innuendo, some heavy making out, and a few suggestive references.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through JeanBookNerd, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
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January 26, 2020
This book tried really hard to be all creepy and mystical and haunting and magical, and stuff. Like The Bear and the Nightingale or Uprooted or something. Unfortunately, it didn't quite make it.
PLOT
The plot centres on 20-year-old Enna Rydar, an only child who lives with her mentally disturbed father near the wildwood - a forest where the barrier between the mortal realm and mysting realm is notoriously thin. Mystings are basically fae, and they're highly dangerous. Enna has a Telling Stone which her father stole from the mysting realm for her when she was born, and it warns her if there are any mystings nearby.
One night she wakes up to find that, despite all the protective barriers placed around her house, a gobler (particulously vicious type of mysting) has got in. She only narrowly escapes with her life. Enna determines to make a bargain with a mysting for protection, and ends up summoning Maekallus, a narval born from the spilt blood of human bastards who steals souls with a kiss. Though he agrees to kill a gobler for her in exchange for gold, unforeseen mishaps mean that their souls become tied together. They have only a limited time to free themselves before they both waste away.
MY THOUGHTS
Holmberg's writing is pretty good. Not the most lyrical I've ever come across, and perhaps not quite lyrical enough for this type of story material, but it did the job well enough. The part I actually took the most issue with was the romance. Enna has spent her whole life afraid of mystings - it felt implausible that she would be getting snippy with Maekallus from the moment of their meeting, without any fear over the consequences of talking to a mysting like that. I also felt no real chemistry between them and was underwhelmed by the inadequately-explained ending. The reasons for them falling in love with each other never struck me as realistic.
The worldbuilding also had nothing new to offer. It was every basic pseudo-medieval fantasy world ever. Enna was too much of a good character - she's willing to sacrifice her life to save that of Maekallus, literally a mysting who wants to kill her, without a second thought. That level of thoughtless self-sacrifice has never appealed to me in a heroine because it feels so unrealistic. At least think about what you'd be sacrificing if you died for someone else, before you go off and do it! I'm not saying I'd never die for anyone, just that I'd probably have a regret or two before I went off and did it.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
PLOT
The plot centres on 20-year-old Enna Rydar, an only child who lives with her mentally disturbed father near the wildwood - a forest where the barrier between the mortal realm and mysting realm is notoriously thin. Mystings are basically fae, and they're highly dangerous. Enna has a Telling Stone which her father stole from the mysting realm for her when she was born, and it warns her if there are any mystings nearby.
One night she wakes up to find that, despite all the protective barriers placed around her house, a gobler (particulously vicious type of mysting) has got in. She only narrowly escapes with her life. Enna determines to make a bargain with a mysting for protection, and ends up summoning Maekallus, a narval born from the spilt blood of human bastards who steals souls with a kiss. Though he agrees to kill a gobler for her in exchange for gold, unforeseen mishaps mean that their souls become tied together. They have only a limited time to free themselves before they both waste away.
MY THOUGHTS
Holmberg's writing is pretty good. Not the most lyrical I've ever come across, and perhaps not quite lyrical enough for this type of story material, but it did the job well enough. The part I actually took the most issue with was the romance. Enna has spent her whole life afraid of mystings - it felt implausible that she would be getting snippy with Maekallus from the moment of their meeting, without any fear over the consequences of talking to a mysting like that. I also felt no real chemistry between them and was underwhelmed by the inadequately-explained ending. The reasons for them falling in love with each other never struck me as realistic.
The worldbuilding also had nothing new to offer. It was every basic pseudo-medieval fantasy world ever. Enna was too much of a good character - she's willing to sacrifice her life to save that of Maekallus, literally a mysting who wants to kill her, without a second thought. That level of thoughtless self-sacrifice has never appealed to me in a heroine because it feels so unrealistic. At least think about what you'd be sacrificing if you died for someone else, before you go off and do it! I'm not saying I'd never die for anyone, just that I'd probably have a regret or two before I went off and did it.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
dnf
December 2, 2023[dusty TBR pile cleanup project]
A YA-ish book without a "strong heroine" sounds like just my thing, but unfortunately this one was a bit too slow and boring to keep my interest. The writing was charming at first, but all the mundane expositions eventually became too much, and the melancholic tone didn't help either. I made it halfway before getting distracted by a different book and never felt the urge to pick it back up again.
A YA-ish book without a "strong heroine" sounds like just my thing, but unfortunately this one was a bit too slow and boring to keep my interest. The writing was charming at first, but all the mundane expositions eventually became too much, and the melancholic tone didn't help either. I made it halfway before getting distracted by a different book and never felt the urge to pick it back up again.
January 30, 2020
I wanted to read this after my friend Nenia read it and mentioned the movie Labyrinth in one of her updates. Naturally, I had to request it from NetGalley, because any comparison to Labyrinth, however minuscule, must not be taken lightly.
I ended up really enjoying it! It was a rather slow-paced novel, and as a result, I took a while to read it. Not for lack of interest, but because the book seemed to demand it.
For such a short book, the characterization and world-building were great. Without saying too much, I really enjoyed the progression of the relationship between Enna and Maekellus. It was flawless. I'm not exactly thrilled with the way the author chose to end things, but I'm not complaining either.
In general, I'm not a big fan of fantasy, but this is exactly the type of fantasy I enjoy. It was quiet, the scale wasn't too large, and it concentrated on just a few characters rather than several. I'm glad I requested it, even though I had so many other books ahead of it in my never-ending TBR.
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review!
I ended up really enjoying it! It was a rather slow-paced novel, and as a result, I took a while to read it. Not for lack of interest, but because the book seemed to demand it.
For such a short book, the characterization and world-building were great. Without saying too much, I really enjoyed the progression of the relationship between Enna and Maekellus. It was flawless. I'm not exactly thrilled with the way the author chose to end things, but I'm not complaining either.
In general, I'm not a big fan of fantasy, but this is exactly the type of fantasy I enjoy. It was quiet, the scale wasn't too large, and it concentrated on just a few characters rather than several. I'm glad I requested it, even though I had so many other books ahead of it in my never-ending TBR.
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review!
October 15, 2019
This book will make you Feel Things. Gorgeous and strange, in the best way.
April 27, 2020
**Thank you to the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review**
FEEDBACK
Everytime I start a Charlie novel I try to go in with an open mind. It’s no secret that I am obsessed with her work so I try to have an unbiased opinion with each book. However, she has been teasing me with this book for a while now so it was hard not to go in with super high expectations. But she went above and beyond what I had hoped for this book. The Will and the Wilds is a reminder of why I love Charlie’s writing so much. It’s simplistic in the best way a book should be. Charlie takes a wonderfully small world but makes it feel huge. The scene doesn’t change much but she puts so much magic into her words that you don’t need a whole map to traverse in her story. I loved the idea behind the mystings and how they entwined in Enna’s world. If you’re looking for a fantasy book with a lot of action, this would not be the book for you but it is a nice reprieve. A fantasy books that revolves around the characters and the settings rather than a high stakes adventure. All of the pieces came together perfectly.
One of my favorite thing about Charlie’s writing is her character developments. She always does a fantastic job of building her characters and giving them realistic strengths and weaknesses. This make it so much easier to relate to the characters and connect with them. I loved Enna. She was such a fantastic protagonist but by using her wits and surroundings. Maekallus was another great character. I’m glad we were able to get some of his perspective as well. It was nice to see the progression of Enna’s soul in him and how it affected him. I honestly didn’t know if Enna was going to end up with Maekallus or Tennith but honestly, I’m glad the story went the way it did. There weren’t a lot of characters in the book which made it easy to follow and enjoy. The characters that were in it though played their important role to the story.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, The Will and the Wilds by Charlie Holmberg was exactly the book I wanted from her. While I love all of her books this book reminds me of why I fell in love with her writing. A simple story, with not much action, but so much detail in all the right places. The character development is done so precise that the progression only felt natural. Charlie always creates such a beautiful world and this one was no different. I highly recommend this book if your looking for a great fantasy with a little bit of romance.
FEEDBACK
Everytime I start a Charlie novel I try to go in with an open mind. It’s no secret that I am obsessed with her work so I try to have an unbiased opinion with each book. However, she has been teasing me with this book for a while now so it was hard not to go in with super high expectations. But she went above and beyond what I had hoped for this book. The Will and the Wilds is a reminder of why I love Charlie’s writing so much. It’s simplistic in the best way a book should be. Charlie takes a wonderfully small world but makes it feel huge. The scene doesn’t change much but she puts so much magic into her words that you don’t need a whole map to traverse in her story. I loved the idea behind the mystings and how they entwined in Enna’s world. If you’re looking for a fantasy book with a lot of action, this would not be the book for you but it is a nice reprieve. A fantasy books that revolves around the characters and the settings rather than a high stakes adventure. All of the pieces came together perfectly.
One of my favorite thing about Charlie’s writing is her character developments. She always does a fantastic job of building her characters and giving them realistic strengths and weaknesses. This make it so much easier to relate to the characters and connect with them. I loved Enna. She was such a fantastic protagonist but by using her wits and surroundings. Maekallus was another great character. I’m glad we were able to get some of his perspective as well. It was nice to see the progression of Enna’s soul in him and how it affected him. I honestly didn’t know if Enna was going to end up with Maekallus or Tennith but honestly, I’m glad the story went the way it did. There weren’t a lot of characters in the book which made it easy to follow and enjoy. The characters that were in it though played their important role to the story.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, The Will and the Wilds by Charlie Holmberg was exactly the book I wanted from her. While I love all of her books this book reminds me of why I fell in love with her writing. A simple story, with not much action, but so much detail in all the right places. The character development is done so precise that the progression only felt natural. Charlie always creates such a beautiful world and this one was no different. I highly recommend this book if your looking for a great fantasy with a little bit of romance.
January 14, 2020
I don't think is deliberately a YA retelling of Beauty and the Beast but I can certainly understand that some readers would consider it so because it's a book about a girl of good heart entangled in the life of a rather unattractive male. I personally thought it reminded me more of the infamous Loki because I as a reader was tricked as much as the heroine Enna was but then again that's entirely my own fault because Maekallus never tried to hide his true nature.
Instead we follow this journey and as much as it felt like a traditional dark fairy tale it also completely enamoured me with twists and revelations along the way. This is a romance of sorts, it does feature magic and curses and there is a villain although sadly I thought him underused. I think for me this world the author has created was imaginative and interesting with an unlikely hero who whilst not completely monstrous was capable of being a monster and yet the power of a young woman's soul taught him that with love anything is possible.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
Instead we follow this journey and as much as it felt like a traditional dark fairy tale it also completely enamoured me with twists and revelations along the way. This is a romance of sorts, it does feature magic and curses and there is a villain although sadly I thought him underused. I think for me this world the author has created was imaginative and interesting with an unlikely hero who whilst not completely monstrous was capable of being a monster and yet the power of a young woman's soul taught him that with love anything is possible.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
August 6, 2019
I’ve been so excited for this book and I wasn’t disappointed at all! As always, Charlie N Holmberg tells an amazing story! I loved this book as much as I love the rest of her work. Great characters, unique world, and amazing love story!
Thank you 47North for allowing me to read this book through Netgalley for an honest review.
Thank you 47North for allowing me to read this book through Netgalley for an honest review.
January 22, 2020
I received an ARC of this book from 47North via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.
All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.
Content Warning: Gore, Death, Mental Health
The Wild and the Wilds is a story about how a soul ultimately defines the line between the human and the monster. The town of Fendell is situated on the edge of the Wilds—a large, magical forest teeming with foul mystings. Mystings, monstrous creatures not unlike tricksters, goblins, and such, are not to be trusted. Enna and her father live in the Wilds. Having lost her mother before she was even born her mother was attacked and killed by a pack of ruthless mystings. Her father, having traveled to the monster realm to find a charm to keep her safe, lost his mind in turn.
With her father's intermittent lucidness, Enna must take care of them both. Recently, mysting appearances have been more frequent. Enna knows, because the charm her father gave her tells when a mysting is near. After a direct attack on their house and Enna being marked by a Gobler, Enna turns to desperation and summons a mysting to help her against the Gobler threat. A humanoid/equine creature known as a narval appears, and she strikes with him a deal—he will hunt down the Goblers threatening her, and she will give him two war medallions of her father's in turn.
Soon after, Maekallus finds the Goblers, but is defeated, cursed, and trapped in the human world to die. Enna finds him, deteriorating quickly, as her world won't allow him to live for long. To save him, she offers him a kiss. The tricky thing about a narval is that they steal one's soul with a willing kiss. Enna kissed Maekallus willingly, and her soul fractured.
Healed for now, Maekallus—the soul eater—begins to lose his monstrous form, and Enna begins to hollow out from the missing pieces of her soul. The two, working together for their own purposes, begin to work together to solve their predicaments. Can the curse be broken to send Maekallus back to his home? Will Enna's soul remain fractured forever? With the threat of the mystings all around, searching for the charm Enna possesses, their time is wearing thin.
The Will and the Wilds is undoubtedly an intriguing story. I was sucked in the the plight between these two characters immediately. The uniqueness of this story is apparent, as it's not just a story—it's also a lesson. The concept of one's soul is discussed frequently, and how it makes us who we are—human. Humans with a will, at that. If that soul is taken away, or broken, what would happen? While these musings got me thinking, I couldn't help but notice the lack in world-building. Here is an incredible forest, the Wilds, a monster realm, in a seemingly Medieval era with little to reference it all by. These details aren't exactly necessary since they aren't the main point of the story, but are needed to make this story great, in my opinion.
Despite the world building, I appreciated the attention that the author delegated to these characters. Watching Enna slowly descend as her soul became more fractured, whilst Maekallus ascended towards a pure form of humanity kept these characters in a pendulum-like-state with Enna's soul anchoring it all at the center. Mystings are creatures born from ill-does of humans. Throughout the entire story, Maekallus character is represented as something impure and inhuman, but moves to become something whole. All-in-all, I thought this was a very creative, unique, and thoughtful read.
Vulgarity: Mild.
Sexual content: Kissing.
Violence: Moderate with some gore.
My Rating: ★★★1/2
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All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.
Content Warning: Gore, Death, Mental Health
Without a soul, she doesn't have a will.
The Wild and the Wilds is a story about how a soul ultimately defines the line between the human and the monster. The town of Fendell is situated on the edge of the Wilds—a large, magical forest teeming with foul mystings. Mystings, monstrous creatures not unlike tricksters, goblins, and such, are not to be trusted. Enna and her father live in the Wilds. Having lost her mother before she was even born her mother was attacked and killed by a pack of ruthless mystings. Her father, having traveled to the monster realm to find a charm to keep her safe, lost his mind in turn.
Mankind cannot linger in the monster realm, just as mystings cannot abide here long. Our worlds are too different, and they reject those who don't belong. My father stayed too many hours in the monster realm, and in exchange, it claimed the sharper bits of his mind. And so he retired here with the Telling Stone, learned to grow mushrooms, and the rest of our lives have been uneventful.
With her father's intermittent lucidness, Enna must take care of them both. Recently, mysting appearances have been more frequent. Enna knows, because the charm her father gave her tells when a mysting is near. After a direct attack on their house and Enna being marked by a Gobler, Enna turns to desperation and summons a mysting to help her against the Gobler threat. A humanoid/equine creature known as a narval appears, and she strikes with him a deal—he will hunt down the Goblers threatening her, and she will give him two war medallions of her father's in turn.
Soon after, Maekallus finds the Goblers, but is defeated, cursed, and trapped in the human world to die. Enna finds him, deteriorating quickly, as her world won't allow him to live for long. To save him, she offers him a kiss. The tricky thing about a narval is that they steal one's soul with a willing kiss. Enna kissed Maekallus willingly, and her soul fractured.
Healed for now, Maekallus—the soul eater—begins to lose his monstrous form, and Enna begins to hollow out from the missing pieces of her soul. The two, working together for their own purposes, begin to work together to solve their predicaments. Can the curse be broken to send Maekallus back to his home? Will Enna's soul remain fractured forever? With the threat of the mystings all around, searching for the charm Enna possesses, their time is wearing thin.
But for every mysting who's willing to cooperate, there are five others who will eat the flesh off your bones, if you but give them the chance
The Will and the Wilds is undoubtedly an intriguing story. I was sucked in the the plight between these two characters immediately. The uniqueness of this story is apparent, as it's not just a story—it's also a lesson. The concept of one's soul is discussed frequently, and how it makes us who we are—human. Humans with a will, at that. If that soul is taken away, or broken, what would happen? While these musings got me thinking, I couldn't help but notice the lack in world-building. Here is an incredible forest, the Wilds, a monster realm, in a seemingly Medieval era with little to reference it all by. These details aren't exactly necessary since they aren't the main point of the story, but are needed to make this story great, in my opinion.
Despite the world building, I appreciated the attention that the author delegated to these characters. Watching Enna slowly descend as her soul became more fractured, whilst Maekallus ascended towards a pure form of humanity kept these characters in a pendulum-like-state with Enna's soul anchoring it all at the center. Mystings are creatures born from ill-does of humans. Throughout the entire story, Maekallus character is represented as something impure and inhuman, but moves to become something whole. All-in-all, I thought this was a very creative, unique, and thoughtful read.
Vulgarity: Mild.
Sexual content: Kissing.
Violence: Moderate with some gore.
My Rating: ★★★1/2
My Blog ¦ Bookstagram ¦ Twitter ¦ Pinterest ¦ Facebook
January 2, 2020
What a pleasurable read. This book is a cozy fantasy rich in monstruous folklore and the value of the soul.
Set in the deep of the woods, against a backdrop of superstition and bigotry, two opposing worlds collide in the form of a bright girl and a wild creature.
I loved it all. I took a liking to Enna right away because she is smart, brave yet cautious, sweet and caring yet driven and hungry for knowledge. She dabbles in herbs, craves to find out the secrets of the monsters lurking in the dangerous forest, and is assertive in the face of threat. Unfortunately for her, that attitude leads her to make a devious pact with a hooved creature intent on trickery and violence. And so the exciting race to live or die begins.
I was mesmerized to learn along with her how to get free from the mess magic had created. And Maekallus is so fascinating with his dark-fairy nature and his netherworld powers. I loved their predicament, how it evolved as well as their complex relationship. It has so much mystery doused in fear, but also tiny seeds of sensuality. I enjoyed learning about the different monsters, the workings of the two worlds.
This paranormal Faustian pact is atmospheric, intimate and metaphysical.
A battle of wills ensues, of faith and trust and forlorn love that left me staggering and breathless. The forest with its primitive beat becomes as much a character as the trapped, red-haired mysting and the valiant girl who never relents in her mission.
This tale may not encompass epic battles, yet it feels trascendental and powerful in its life-or-death pursuit. And the mortal kisses, too!
Enna's despair and broken heart jumps out of the page, the threat from the monster underworld pulses between realms, and the impossible qualities of a soul bring on unforseen consequences.
For a story about stealing and losing souls, this book is soulful. I loved the sacrifices that were made. They cut the characters deep and my heart went out to them. And I loved how hopeless it seemed to be that they would succeed in liberating the tethered mysting or saving the stolen soul, yet I loved even more the painful, poetic ending that brought a different kind of tears to my eyes.
I'm in love with this fabled fairytale touched by Labyrinth and fae folklore in such enticing ways. I wholly recommend it to the curious and the romantic.
Favourite quotes :
Monsters are only ever fascinating from a far.
I'm too tired to cry, so the rain weeps for me.
Set in the deep of the woods, against a backdrop of superstition and bigotry, two opposing worlds collide in the form of a bright girl and a wild creature.
I loved it all. I took a liking to Enna right away because she is smart, brave yet cautious, sweet and caring yet driven and hungry for knowledge. She dabbles in herbs, craves to find out the secrets of the monsters lurking in the dangerous forest, and is assertive in the face of threat. Unfortunately for her, that attitude leads her to make a devious pact with a hooved creature intent on trickery and violence. And so the exciting race to live or die begins.
I was mesmerized to learn along with her how to get free from the mess magic had created. And Maekallus is so fascinating with his dark-fairy nature and his netherworld powers. I loved their predicament, how it evolved as well as their complex relationship. It has so much mystery doused in fear, but also tiny seeds of sensuality. I enjoyed learning about the different monsters, the workings of the two worlds.
This paranormal Faustian pact is atmospheric, intimate and metaphysical.
A battle of wills ensues, of faith and trust and forlorn love that left me staggering and breathless. The forest with its primitive beat becomes as much a character as the trapped, red-haired mysting and the valiant girl who never relents in her mission.
This tale may not encompass epic battles, yet it feels trascendental and powerful in its life-or-death pursuit. And the mortal kisses, too!
Enna's despair and broken heart jumps out of the page, the threat from the monster underworld pulses between realms, and the impossible qualities of a soul bring on unforseen consequences.
For a story about stealing and losing souls, this book is soulful. I loved the sacrifices that were made. They cut the characters deep and my heart went out to them. And I loved how hopeless it seemed to be that they would succeed in liberating the tethered mysting or saving the stolen soul, yet I loved even more the painful, poetic ending that brought a different kind of tears to my eyes.
I'm in love with this fabled fairytale touched by Labyrinth and fae folklore in such enticing ways. I wholly recommend it to the curious and the romantic.
Favourite quotes :
Monsters are only ever fascinating from a far.
I'm too tired to cry, so the rain weeps for me.
May 18, 2022
Monsters are only ever fascinating from afar.
Super cute is how I would describe The Will and the Wilds.
I am new to Charlie N. Holmberg's writing though The Paper Magician has been on my shelf for a while. After reading TWATW I can confirm that the praise for her books is true. This book was really unique in its idea and the writing is soft and flowing; I really enjoyed it.
I, however, had a couple of issues with the story itself. Though the idea is really intriguing it somehow lacks in execution. I understand that for such a short fantasy book it is not an easy task to manage to pull out world-building, charter-development, and the plot. But the author manages to do it, mostly. In my opinion, the story needs more story. What I mean is everything feels rushed. The romance, which is the main carcass of the story would've been better as a more defined slow-burn. The world-building only brushed the tip of the iceberg of the possibilities the author hinted in this book. It is mentioned that the story came out of a dream and it feels like an unfinished dream to me, though a pleasant and sweet one, but not enough to dig deep into my heart and stay there for long.
What is a soul if not an extension of the heart?
And the antagonist of the story, who was presented as a scary beast, made me almost feel sorry for the way the author treated hi/its line in the book. I do not think he even got to realize why he was even included in the plot. I think it's a big failure of the story because a good villain makes the story more interesting.
To be honest, I would love to hear more from this world the author created. It's wild, and scary, and beautiful, and I think it holds a lot of possibilities. I hope we will have another chance to come back with a different story and different characters into The Will and the Wilds.
Recommended.
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