The Wolf and the Woodsman is set in a world frequented by religious persecution. The official religion of the country is the Patrifaith, sacrificing parts of themselves to Saint Istan to be gifted power in return. The Patritians wish to rid their land of both pagans and Yehuli, a religion that represents Judaism in this world. I liked that while they all had their different beliefs, that belief all gave them magic of a kind. Not one religion was “the right one”.

The one-eyed Woodsman turns out to be no ordinary Woodsman, and soon him and Évike are on a quest to find a mythical beast that might just be the answer to both their problems. Évike might have been bullied all her life but she still sees herself as a wolf girl, she still doesn’t want to see her home and her family destroyed, even if she doesn’t like them very much. This is not a story with clear cut morality.

The throne is at risk to being lost to a charismatic individual, one who indoctrinates hatred through his impassioned speeches, blaming the country’s problems on the Yehuli, calling the pagans witches out for trouble. He represents a leader who can whip up hatred and create the path towards genocide. The story is based on Hungarian and Jewish history and mythology, and I’m guessing that history is around World War II and the rise of fascism in the early 20th century.

I loved the mythology so much. The religions were all connected but separate, at times brutal when characters lop off bits of themselves in order to be favoured by a god. Évike talks about some of the stories and myths, during her travels, helping to create a well-rounded picture of this world. The creatures that populate it include both the wonderful and the creepy.

It’s also lovely to have a fully formed standalone fantasy like this. There is a proper ending!