What a wonderful story of wolves and bravery and of friendship!

A story that really spoke to my imagination. It was amazing to experience it alongside brave, funny and sweet Feo. I think that the author did a wonderful job.

I really enjoyed this book. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and overall the author moved me with her beautiful writing and storytelling. This is one of the most emotional and profound MG books I have read in a long time. It is a spell-binding read!

Twelve-year-old Feo has grown up in the wild’s of Russia. With just her mother and the wolves they seek to ‘un-tame’ for company, Feo is fierce and strong with a great sense of loyalty and an even greater sense of the world of snow and ice that surrounds her. But when the Tsar’s military come calling, her world changes forever.

When her mother is taken captive and the wolves she loves become the targets of the army, Feo sets out on a journey that will change all of Russia. Determined to rescue her mother, she gathers her pack of wolves and heads for St.Petersburg. But the commander of the army has a debt to settle with Feo, and now like a dark shadow, he stalks her footsteps, promising retribution for the injury she gave him.

In this heart wrenching tale, Feo will experience love, loss and friendship, and learn the true meaning of being brave and standing up for your own beliefs. The Wolf Wilder is a book that will remain with you long after you turn the last page!

The characters are all very well written. Feo is brave and knows how to survive the in the wild, yet when it comes to interacting with other humans she is socially naive and often unsure of herself. Friendship with creatures other than wolves is a new experience for her and her awkwardness is truly adorable.

Illya is another great character. A young, run away solider who aspires to be a ballet dancer, he is just as naive of the wolves as Feo is of people. Yet watching him slowly build their trust and gain courage from Feo was a lovely thing to see. Also I hope boys would be inspired by his character, and learn that its ok to pursue the dreams you want to regardless of what others say and think.

The villain of course also played a huge role. Scary with just a hint of madness, I liked how his end was brought about by the hands (and paws) of those he had hurt the most. A truly despicable character!

In terms of plot, I though the book read well. Although I got the impression that the book was aimed at older readers in the beginning, younger readers at the end, while the middle could easily have been a mix of the two. Although saying that, I thought the middle of the story flagged a little, but never enough to have me stop reading it.

As for the wolves, they were probably the most interesting of all. Each with distinct personalities, the book shows the dynamics of the pack and how they were treated by the world around them. From its historical angle, the book is really interesting and I enjoyed the backstories of the wolves immensely.

The ending was probably one of my favourite parts. So wonderfully worded that I couldn't help but tear up.

Overall, a heart stopping but beautifully woven tale that you will always remember. Just keep a box of tissues handy! 4 stars!

3 stars
It was okay. Great story concept and I love reading anything that is set in Russia. This book just didn't seem to be paced very well and was rushed at the end.

Devoured this like a starving wolf! An exciting, emotional winter fairy tale set in Russia. Loved every page!

Lovely. The beginning and the ending especially. Loved the relationship between Feo and her wolves and the focus on family and friendship. The setting was perfectly cold and bleak (although I do believe it could've been used a little better.) The part before the ending was a little anticlimatic and seemed too easy for my taste but I'm not mad about that at all. A really good read and I would definitely recommend this to my nephew when he's older.