Dyrwolf (Dyrwolf #1) in Get Reviews!

Nov 13, 2022 Sotto Voce rated it it was amazing

First of all, I was nervous picking up this book. I knew nothing, literary nothing about werewolves except the eighties TV series, which I only watched for a few minutes. I remember the hideous effect that made it scarier, imprinted in my core memory with running away from a carnival where they pretended to unleash a werewolf. I swear everyone else ran too.

Well, I guess it'd be fair to say that no one actually knows anything about werewolves, but there are at least common ideas about them, right First of all, I was nervous picking up this book. I knew nothing, literary nothing about werewolves except the eighties TV series, which I only watched for a few minutes. I remember the hideous effect that made it scarier, imprinted in my core memory with running away from a carnival where they pretended to unleash a werewolf. I swear everyone else ran too.

Well, I guess it'd be fair to say that no one actually knows anything about werewolves, but there are at least common ideas about them, right?
So, it's not my cup of tea in the first place, so are Fantasy/Paranormal/Young Adult/Romance/genres. There are a lot of odds against me liking the book.

When I started, I didn't initially warm up to it and was wary about many torturous nights ahead. It was confusing to me, at first, with many names thrown around with their unfamiliar terms and settings. I didn't know what Proving, Alder, or Dyr are, and a ridiculous image of a wolf carrying a spear in its paw sent a knobby knot on my forehead.

Besides those and the initial alarming sign of what I thought would be a mushy teenager romance-erotica, I persevered through; it was not hard because I found many things that I enjoyed going on reading.

The pace is good. At times it goes very fast, but unless I was dead tired of too many other useless things in my life, I wanted to continue. One of the things that floats my boat is that, even though this is a fantasy, it doesn't use flowery-mundane language or unreasonable names for its genre. I loved the creative descriptions of everything: the scenes, settings, foods, senses, and expressions without overdoing them.

The characters are rootable and believable, I started investing in them around one-third of the book, and besides the initial alarm, the connections of the main protags are earned. There are distinctive enough personalities of important supporting characters, especially the father, which I learned a lot about without having many actual scenes with him in it. I felt Lea's pain, hope, and disappointment. I liked her thinking; it's not always right or good, but it shouldn't have to be.

Several funny moments made me chuckle. I enjoyed how everything unfolds, layer by layer, and thankful that the story and characters are deeper and more realistic. I wish Astrid is revealed more but the little scenes she has are impactful. Too many characters clean under their nails with the point of their knives, but I can't expect them to scratch their backsides while trying to act cool.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's a 4.5 round-up because again, it has the recipe with all ingredients that I don't like but turns me around just for this, for now. This teaches me that there is no reason to shy away from any genre, as again, paranormal young adult fantasy is not something I normally touch with a loooong pole, but I am glad I did. I appreciate the storytelling, the message the story tries to convey using rootable characters. I can almost smell and see the world. I can relate it to problematic human nature through an unusual way to tell it. Maybe not to others, but uncommon for me, a virgin in this genre.

4.5 overgrown dandelion out of 5 furry white rugs ...more

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Nov 22, 2018 David Rose rated it it was amazing

Shelves: incomplete-series, more-please-author, indie, fantasy, ya, coming-of-age, paranormal, action

Beautifully written. I was engaged, gripped, entertained and most of all charmed by this outstanding novel. There is fantasy, mystery, suspense, a fair dash of romance and quite a bit of action. There is great tension, very good pace, super plotting (and also intrigue!), and it is nicely spiced with Lea's wry sense of humour. The main characters are well done, particularly Lea and her father, and Henrik the fish-loving furball. While there is room for more character development, this is forgivea ...more

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Nov 30, 2018 Misty rated it it was amazing

Dyrwolf book one is an adventurous YA werewolf tale starring young Lea Wylder who has lived amid a war between the humans and the shape-shifters for as long as she’s known.
Lea suffers from a terrible sickness that alienates her from other humans, leaving her feeling like she doesn’t fit in.
When she meets Henrick, a Dyrwolf, the definitive line between good and bad is soon blurred and it isn’t long before she starts falling for him.
I usually dislike reading present tense but I was distracte ...more

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Apr 09, 2019 Ginger Bensman rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, paranormal

Kat Kinney’s Dyrwolf is an rip-snorting paranormal adventure that pits humans against werewolves. Lea Wylder has been training all her life to face off against her colony’s enemy, the dyrwolves, a race of werewolves who are a menace and constant threat to her people. When her best friend, Salem, is captured, Lea will do anything to get him back. Thus begins a quest that will test and reshape the way she sees her world. The writing is descriptive, sometimes lyrical. The story is imaginative and w ...more

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Mar 08, 2019 Kathleen Garlock rated it really liked it

Dyrwolf leaps into action from the first page, racing alongside our imaginations as we try breathlessly to keep up with Lea Wylder’s frantic quest to save her friend, her neighbors, and herself from the dyrwolves that menace her village. And from the one who haunts her dreams.

Set in a harsh northern terrain more suitable for wolves than people, the humans in Lea’s world have been threatened and enslaved by shapeshifters who are both human and wolves. It’s a hardscrabble existence, filled with de ...more

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Mar 19, 2019 Kyle Adams rated it really liked it

Dyrwolf is a YA Fantasy story about growing up, about identity, rights, wrongs, false assumptions, love, and a little bit of a political edge. It pulls all of these elements together into a story that, magic aside, feels real. The hero isn't always right. War isn't always right or wrong. The good guys don't always win, and our protagonist isn't at the center of everything. Events move between the chapters, while Lea sleeps, and the story unfolds in a way that is organic and as confusing for Lea Dyrwolf is a YA Fantasy story about growing up, about identity, rights, wrongs, false assumptions, love, and a little bit of a political edge. It pulls all of these elements together into a story that, magic aside, feels real. The hero isn't always right. War isn't always right or wrong. The good guys don't always win, and our protagonist isn't at the center of everything. Events move between the chapters, while Lea sleeps, and the story unfolds in a way that is organic and as confusing for Lea as life is for us.

The story shines most when any of the six-or-so most important characters are on screen. The web of secrets and lies between them, digging into the foundation of the war that's going on and the love borne between several of them, really makes sense. There is very little "I can't tell you" sitcom-style silliness, which is impressive considering the amount of distrust and deception going on. Every little reveal pulled me further into the story.

The battles are vivid, the romance is good and has events that naturally strengthen the bonds. The story does adhere in some places to old tales, mixing bits from Star Wars and Shakespeare, but it includes just enough of a twist by the end that I can natually say, "I have never read a story quite like this one." Specifically, without spoilers, I loved the role that Lea played in the story. Her position in the conflict, and her eventual impact on the war and the other characters... it isn't the normal impact that a hero might have. Small actions that changed the future of many in this book.

Lea herself is an engaging protagonist, and her struggles are endearing. Anyone who has struggled with illness, with being an outcast, with regretting past actions, or with misjudging or mistreating another will find a kindred soul in Lea.

The grey shaded morality and nuance of the war was also appreciated. In today's political world, a take like this is needed. There is no 'evil empire' to conquer, and that makes things more difficult.

Not everything in this story shone perfect. The tale is told in present tense. This wouldn't be a problem, but for the first third of the book. When the author includes a flashback for Lea, there is nothing to mark the scene change, no change in tense, nothing of the sort. When she is dreaming, it's the same way. Suddenly, before the reader has a chance to orient themselves, we see written "I am three years old" and we're off somewhere else. Later in the story, when recent events are recounted or stories are told by the characters, they use past tense... because the event is in the past. Those 'flashbacks' are much more palatable. With the amount of information being introduced in the first five chapters, this commitment to writing everything in present tense makes the read more difficult than it needed to be. It took me a few days to get into the book, due to the overload of information being thrown at me in a very present, very sensory-oriented way.

That's my main gripe. I hope that, in any inevitable sequels, the 'magic system' in this world is elaborated on. We only caught a glimpse, which was required for the plot to move, but I think there is much more there.

On a final note, do not read this book if you have a phobia of vomit. It's not borne out in sensory detail, but it's there pretty consistently.
Otherwise, if a bit of YA werewolf love-and-war fantasy sounds intruiging at all to you, I'd highly recommend Dyrwolf! ...more

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Jan 16, 2020 Samantha Henthorn rated it it was amazing

The Hunger Games meets Twilight - but grittier! I was spitting imaginary dirt out of my mouth when reading this; the writing is so stylish and will draw you in with the subliminal wolf references of growls and pack hierarchy. The fight scenes are very vivid - and all part of the plot. Lea and Henrik meet by accident in the forest, their journey taking them on a double Stockholm Syndrome trip. Lea can't go back, she has to sort out her nightmares and headaches, and Henrik can't cross the river. T ...more

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Jan 08, 2019 L.N. Denison rated it it was amazing

Great little fantasy tale that'll make you think!

This story is predominantly told from the MC, Lea Wylder's POV, and sees her encountering many challenges, and a curse/illness that she has had since a child.

The story itself is centered around her rites of passage, coming of age, if will. She is out on a test other friend Salem hen they are attacked,Nd he's captured. She starts to follow, but journey halts when she comes across a wolf trapped in the many animal traps that skirt the parameter of ...more

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Jan 03, 2019 Jeff Chapman rated it it was amazing

Dyrwolf is a YA adventure story set in a North American-type wilderness. The conflict pits a group of humans against a larger group of werewolves who have enslaved captured humans. Years ago, the people were expelled from the colony they were building by the werewolves. Told in first person, the story recounts Lea Wylder's struggle to discover and come to terms with her identity. Lea lives with her father in the human settlement. He has taught her hunt and be self-sufficient in the wilderness. H ...more

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Jun 04, 2019 Ian Miller rated it it was amazing

This is a YA fantasy where Lea Wylder and her father, a falconer, live in a small village on one side of a river. On the other side is the "colony", where people first live but is now occupied by Dyrwolfs, beings that can shape-shift between human and wolf. The Dyrwolfs have also enslaved a number of humans. Naturally there is friction between them, but the Dyrwolfs have to stay on their side of the river because on the other side there is a prolific plant that happens to be extremely poisonous ...more

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Apr 29, 2019 Nico Genes rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, romance, fantasy, young-adult

Beautifully written fantasy novel.

The story is predominantly told from the point of view of the main character, Lea Wylder. She is barely sixteen but yet often thinking and acting above her age. She has learned everything from her father who raised her by himself since she was 9 years old. All her life Lea has suffered a lot of psychical pain and by this, she was always considered being different than others. She was trained to hunt, be able to kill the wolves when necessary but she was searchi Beautifully written fantasy novel.

The story is predominantly told from the point of view of the main character, Lea Wylder. She is barely sixteen but yet often thinking and acting above her age. She has learned everything from her father who raised her by himself since she was 9 years old. All her life Lea has suffered a lot of psychical pain and by this, she was always considered being different than others. She was trained to hunt, be able to kill the wolves when necessary but she was searching constantly for a cure for her disease and an explanation for her mother departure. Was her mother dead or she just left? Was she an unwanted child? Was Lea going to find her answers? Through her dreams and early events, we are introduced to the part of the world they live in: Humans in the Village and Dyrwolves in the Colony. The war between two different species, both equally entitled to the land they're claiming is a very realistic aspect of the book.

Enters Henrik, a special Dyrwolf. As the story progresses, the more they grow to like and respect each other. At first, she is helping him survive hoping in return that he may have a cure for her ailment. but things evolve. I loved the romance that builds up among the girl and the white wolf. Was Henrik worth her trust? After all, he was a Dyr.

While I enjoyed the beautifully written prose I felt it slowed a bit the pace at moments. Still, I warmly recommend it.

Type of reader: Fans of paranormal fantasy and werewolf fiction, especially Teen and Young Adult.

Quotes from this book:

“There are moments where the path before you is clear and uncluttered as sand after the tide has withdrawn, when there are no choices to make because every road leads you back to someplace familiar. Practiced. Safe. And others when to trust an enemy may be your only chance of survival.”

“Lies. All of it. He’s probably just trying to get inside my head. Part of me knows this. But then, that’s the problem. Henrik is already in my head. He has been for months. And he has no idea. But what about the last thing he said, the part about growing unrest among the Dyr?”

More book reviews on: https://www.nicojgenes.com/book-reviews ...more

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Dec 17, 2018 Angela Panayotopulos rated it it was amazing

Shelves: for-review-group

I’m not normally a fan of werewolf stories, so I was a bit hesitant in picking up Dyrwolf. Given the good reviews and the enticing blurb, however, I decided to give it a shot. I’m truly glad I did! K. Kinney catapults us into a world of warring tribes and haunting winters with silver whispers of moonlight filtering through the trees, a place where things aren’t quite as they seem and boundaries have the potential to be blurred. She immediately thrusts us into the heart of the conflict, upping th ...more

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Apr 15, 2020 I.M. Redwright rated it really liked it

This fantasy paranormal story was really fun to read.

A YA tale about werewolves which is told from the perspective of Lea, a girl who is supposed hunt and hate these creatures but whose thoughts about them will eventually change after meeting Henrik.

The world building was excellent, while the characters were well developed. I liked the humor that Lea had, a nice touch that added an extra layer to her personality.

Dyrwolf was writing style was beautiful and was a pleasure to read.

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Mar 09, 2019 Matt Gianni rated it it was amazing

DYRWOLF, Kat Kinney's debut novel, centers on Lea Wylder as she tries proving her worth to "The Village," a rugged group of human survivors, and her father, their leader. Across the river sprawls "The Colony," once a human community, but now overtaken by werewolves. But Kinney's dyrwolves are neither the vicious lycans of UNDERWORLD, nor the tribal teenwolves of TWILIGHT. Instead, the alphas of their caste society treat those at the bottom ranks almost as horribly as the humans they enslave. Thi ...more

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Aug 14, 2021 Caralyn rated it it was amazing

From the first sentence, I was spirited away into a new, fantastic world full of rich cultures, people, and emotions. Dyrwolf isn't what I expected. It was so much more. And the prose... Invigorating from beginning to end, we follow Lea and experience her joy, pain, and everything in between. She's relatable on many levels; a character as real as a living person.
I don't want to give spoilers away. I will say that the foreshadowing is incredible and there are so many things I thought I'd figured ...more

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Dec 30, 2021 Patricia Bates rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paranormal-shifters

Where do I start with my review on Drywolf?
From the first line Kat has done an amazing job of pulling the reader into the story. I was immediately engaged and wondered what was the Proving? Reading through this book I could only be drawn further and further into the world that Kat has woven throughout the story and man is it a world that I am enthralled with.
It has the edgy dark feeling I like and is vivid, breathtaking, and makes me wonder why I can't go there.
Lea is a unique enigma. A woman ...more

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Jun 21, 2022 Ann Birdgenaw rated it it was amazing

Beautifully written, gripping paranormal YA Fantasy! Set in a dystopian, yet familiar, landscape very similar to my own up in northern Canada, Lea lives in fear of the werewolves that tortured and kidnapped her mother and forced humans to flee up into the mountains. That is, until she finds a young “Drywolf” in a trap, who convinces her to help him get back to his community and he’ll help her find answers to her burning questions. I liked the main character, Lea, who has learned from her father ...more

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Jan 17, 2024 Eric Gibson rated it it was amazing

This is hands down the best use of present tense I've ever read in a full length novel. In spite of my adamant prejudice against its heavy usage, Kinney nails it. I'm not yet ready to admit I'm wrong, but the writing was so stellar in this case that I appreciated the immediacy and emotional connection that authors so often try for and fail when choosing present tense. The impressive part is that the author was able to sustain that kind of intensity for so long. Lea's pain is raw, with genuine de ...more

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Jul 16, 2023 Dimitry Orlov rated it it was amazing

Dyrwolf might be the best book I read this year.
It is well written, and the enchanting love story makes the novel hard to put down.
The characters are well formed, and the pacing of the story is excellent.
I enjoyed the humor and intrigue in the book.
This is a story of a world where werewolves are in control and humans are the oppressed.
Lea is a young human who hunts werewolves and Henrik is a young werewolf. They have a chance encounter in the woods one day, while Lea is out hunting. Lea accide ...more

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Apr 05, 2021 Mackenzie • Messy Bun Bookworm rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 06, 2021 Lynn Helton rated it really liked it

Shelves: speculative-fiction, young-adult

The dyrwolves are the enemy, everyone knows that. Then one day Lea comes across a trapped, injured one, who turns out to be a boy about her own age who knows things he shouldn’t. And suddenly Lea’s not so sure about what everyone knows to be true. The story is told in first person, present tense, from Lea’s viewpoint.

Elements I liked:
The story really drew me in. I liked that Lea realistically struggled with migraines, making her an atypical main character and fantasy story hero. I liked that in ...more

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Mar 14, 2021 Kristian Joseph rated it really liked it

YA Fantasy at its finest, Kinney provides a beautifully written adventure about Lea - a bow wielding heroine. The world is beautiful and mystic, and the characters very real, the pacing excellent and the overall arch of the story very well done. Though I'm no a sucker for romance, I'd recommend this book to anyone who is seeking something with a bit of werewolves, a good crush and a damned good female character. ...more

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Nov 18, 2018 Kat rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

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Mar 29, 2019 Michael Gardner marked it as to-read

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May 13, 2022 Lorna Wilson rated it it was amazing

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