Title: Wolf of Withervale
Author: Joaquín Baldwin
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Fantasy / Epic / LGBT
Format: Paperback / Hardcover / Ebook / Audio
Release Date: October 7, 2023
Star Rating: 6/10
*Disclaimer*
Everyone is different and likes and dislikes different things. Reading is no exception. One person’s all-time favorite might seem too bland or too high stakes for another. That being said, the opinions of our judges in this contest are just that, opinions. Just because we let a book go, doesn’t mean it isn’t good. It could be your next favorite, who knows?
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can learn more about the contest here.
Today we are reviewing Wolf of Withervale, which was Queen’s Book Asylum’s pick for this year’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off.
You can see the finalist spreadsheet here.
An ambitious, sweeping saga. As epic as it is queer.
Lago was only a child when the shapeshifter entrusted the wolf-like mask to his care—an artifact so powerful that it could come to shape the entire world of Noss.
Now that he is coming of age, Lago is becoming ever more fearful of the ominous relic’s influence, of the empire who has scented its trail and is coming after it. Coming after him.
Aided by his best friend, an enigmatic scout, and his trusty dog, Lago seeks refuge in the vastness of the Heartpine Dome. The eighty-mile-wide structure had remained sealed for centuries, safeguarding more than mere secrets. Now that the dome’s entrails are stirring, the mysteries of the long-vanished Miscam tribes are coming to light, and the shapeshifting animal spirits are making their return.
Powers untold hide behind the blinkless eyeholes of the canid mask, powers that could tip the balance in the war. Lago is barely beginning to learn how to wield the dark visage, but he can already feel its potential.
… And he can feel a different change coming, deep in his marrow.
Riveting in scope and worldbuilding, and exquisitely illustrated by the author, this tale of transformation and self-discovery is filled with unabashed wonder and a lust for places unknown. A profoundly queer adventure that explores sexuality, our connections to other species, unconventional kinds of love, and the very nature of consciousness.
Our Thoughts:
Julia: I read this one in just a few days.
I liked the main character, and especially enjoyed the banter and loyalty between him and his best friend, and later on now travel companions. I’m always fond of group dynamics that are built on loyalties and trust, rather than unnecessary drama.
A few times the pace of people changing their minds or forming bonds was a bit too quick to feel entirely realistic to me. I might just be a wary person, but I’d not risk my life, and those of everyone there, for random strangers, or just trust random strangers with my life….
I did like how the book handled being different. Be it the main character being gay and decidedly liking bellies, or the racism against people who are outside of overs culture. Humans with fox tails or other such traits sounded very intriguing to me, and definitely enriched the world for me.
I personally could have done with less talk about cocks and how big people are, but I guess it’s realistic for a hormonal 18 year old.
The budding romance definitely didn’t grab me, but then I dislike 99% of romance, so I shall not detract any stars for that. But despite the clear message of accepting people for who they are, a relationship between said 18 year old, and a wizened “man” who’s seen centuries come and go just felt a bit off for me. I mean as long as everyone’s happy, that’s fine, I just always find a strong imbalance in power or life experience icky personally.
The writing was good enough to not stand out, but really let the story shine. It’s not pompous or clunky, but really just does it’s job fine.
The world building was intriguing, but could have used some smoothening. There was a bit too much at once in parts, which I’d have preferred more spread out, as to not bog down some scenes, especially in the start.
The ideas, magic, cultures and so on definitely had me hooked, so overall it did work out well.
Kerry: This year’s finalists are all big on their worldbuilding but the stand out so far has been The Wolf of Withervale. The author has obviously spent a huge amount of time and imagination creating the world in which the book is set – from climatic disaster for which biodomes were built, (each one for a different genus of animal so that they would survive into a unknown future), to the different races and cultures, astrological signs and study, religions just to name a few. While I can appreciate the work that has gone into this world, I thought there was a bit too much info dumping about it which hindered the movement of the plot.
The diversity and body positivity of the characters was a definite plus, though I am one of those readers who prefers sex scenes either ‘fading to black’ or off the page. I also didn’t feel comfortable with one relationship that developed in the story, primarily due to the age gap and terminology used, but at least the younger character is an adult and the relationship was consensual. It is definitely a me thing (my ick is always someone else’s yum) and it certainly didn’t deter me from reading the rest of the book.
Whilst this book only took a weekend to read I found the pacing quite bumpy. The first 25% went by quite quickly but I found the remaining 75% a bit of a slog, primarily due to the info dumping I mentioned earlier. I found myself more invested in the antagonists arcs than any of the protagonists but sadly there just wasn’t enough of those.
Adawia: I read 62% of this book (over a few months and many sittings) before deciding to put it down. It’s not that I dislike it, I just don’t like it enough to continue. I don’t feel the story has a nice flow and more often than not, the excessive world building doesn’t feel organic to the plot.
I feel the author tried a little too hard with the MC – trying to make him ’all things’, but it just felt confused and unrelatable.
There are definitely some things I like about the story, like the basic premise and how the ‘magic’ works, but the execution has just left me wanting.
