The Wolf and the Woodsman

On the face of it this is an interesting mix of reference points - eastern European folklore, paganism vs christianity, imperialism and cultural suppression. We follow the story of Evike, a pagan who is betrayed by her village and given as tribute to an imperialistic conqueror. But following betrayals and borderline civil war in that conquering nation she finds herself allied with a disgraced prince who has been betrayed.

The underlying themes are fascinating. The brutality of cultural suppression and cultural appropriation are taken on in an unflinching manner. Where I struggle is more in the character relationships, and the journey undertaken. Evike and Gaspar Barany relationship feels flat for much of the book to me. I struggle with some of the motivations in the characters. The marching up and down the country is exhausting to read and it feels repetitive. The themes are fascinating, the execution was not quite what I hoped for. It is still an interesting read, but unfortunately the characters ended up being a bit forgettable.