Elle’s Reviews > The Wolf and His King > Status Update
Elle
is 60% done
Really weird heel-turn where the person responsible for all of Bisclavret's risks now tries to play like everyone else has made terribly dangerous decisions against his better advice. Did Bisclavret do a stupid? Yes. Was he married insanely, unbelievably fast? Also yes. But you had 3 weeks to pull him aside & talk him out of it, or make your threats about telling his wife then. Not wait til after the wedding night.
— Jan 21, 2026 07:58PM
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Elle’s Previous Updates
Elle
is 71% done
"This has always been a story about lying," the wolf POV says at 70%. And that's true, but it was never the main focus until over 60% in, which feels like too long to suddenly switch major themes/motivations.
The prose remains excellent, but there's too much "suddenly out of nowhere" in the plot for me to feel it flows naturally. If someone (multiple people) are going to heel-turn, there needs to be hints earlier.
— Jan 26, 2026 03:52PM
The prose remains excellent, but there's too much "suddenly out of nowhere" in the plot for me to feel it flows naturally. If someone (multiple people) are going to heel-turn, there needs to be hints earlier.
Elle
is 55% done
There's an interesting parallel between werewolf Bisclavret who thinks a soft gentle wife will 'fix' his wolf episodes, & the king (was he ever named?) who ~50% is revealed as manic-depressive & thinks new obsession Bisclavret will 'fix' his depression. The text makes it clear that it's unfair of Bisclavret to expect this from an unknowing woman, or to marry at all, but has yet to reflect the same back on the king.
— Jan 21, 2026 07:21PM
Elle
is 51% done
Is this incredibly long or just slowing down? The first portion seemed to move so fast, but it feels like I should be further through at this point, not only just halfway.
— Jan 21, 2026 07:02PM
Elle
is 31% done
There's just enough modern sensibility to keep this from feeling like it's TOO old. Royalty must marry opposite gender & have kids, but same-sex lovers are completely accepted by society. Women have no rights, but male characters promise to give them a choice of marriage & to vet their own suitors, disguising the fact that women are property. It's uncomfortable but not a deal-breaker.
— Jan 19, 2026 07:14PM
Elle
is 19% done
I'm shocked that swapping between 2nd and 3rd perspectives works so well. This is beautifully written, a touch of age and a touch of fantasy make this feel like a lyrical fairy tale, suffused with yearning. Not just romantic yearning either, but yearning for your childhood dream now in reach, yearning to not be sick, basically the yearning for the fairy tale 'happily ever after' you know reality won't let you have.
— Jan 13, 2026 06:19PM
Elle
is starting
I don't know that the "historical note" at the start is a good idea. This hasn't been marketed to actual history buffs / readers, but the note gives the impression that's what to expect. I had to come back to goodreads and check the blurb & novel comparisons, out of fear I'd accidentally requested an arc for something I was going to really struggle with.
— Jan 12, 2026 11:52PM
