Don't Call the Wolf

Written by Aleksandra Ross

Narrated by Eileen Stevens

Fans of Leigh Bardugo and Holly Black will devour this gorgeously imagined fantasy about a dark forest besieged by monsters—and the wild queen who has sworn to drive them out. 

A fierce young queen, neither human nor lynx, who fights to protect a forest humans have long abandoned.

An exhausted young soldier, last of his name, who searches for the brother who disappeared beneath those trees without a trace.

A Golden Dragon, fearsome and vengeful, whose wingbeats haunt their nightmares and their steps.

When these three paths cross at the fringes of a war between monsters and men, shapeshifter queen and reluctant hero strike a deal that may finally turn the tide against the rising hordes of darkness. Ren will help Lukasz find his brother…if Lukasz promises to slay the Dragon.

But promises are all too easily broken.

This Eastern European fantasy debut, inspired by the Polish fairy tale ""The Glass Mountain,"" will take you on a twisting journey full of creeping tension, simmering romance, and haunting folklore—perfect for readers who loved An Enchantment of Ravens and The Hazel Wood.   

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Apr 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9780062994899

Aleksandra Ross

Aleksandra Ross's earliest memories include sitting on the couch and listening to her grandmother read the Polish folktales of her childhood. She grew up in Vancouver, BC, and went to medical school at the University of Alberta. Don’t Call the Wolf is her first novel.

Reviews for Don't Call the Wolf

[Samantha McDonald · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really really enjoyed this. Very unique, and I loved the folk story vibes. Will definitely be reading any other books this author has or puts out.

[sennebec · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is not only a labor of love (read the acknowledgements in the back), but an incredibly rich and complex story. It is perfect for readers who love their fantasy a bit dark, aren't bothered by violence and who like unusual protagonists. This has all of that and much more, including a nice twist near the end and varied types of redemption for survivors. A nice look at the different sides of humanity and what constitutes redemption, with a bit of magic thrown in. Definitely worth adding to any library.

[jmchshannon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What happens when you combine Polish folklore with a story about a monster hunter, a princess who may or may not be a monster herself, and an entire forest filled with monsters? You get Don't Call the Wolf by Aleksandra Ross. I call it awesome.

Ms. Ross's world is rich and vibrant with fabulous characters and even better monsters. Lukasz is your typical moody monster hunter, but he has a good reason to be moody given that he is the last of his line and has to deal with the emotional fallout of losing his nine brothers. Ren is such a complex character, innocent but fierce, and tormented by her past as well as her ideas of what constitutes a monster. Together, they make fabulous foils, learning hard truths from one another that gives them great depths of character and makes them more human in the process.

All of Don't Call the Wolf is an exercise in exploring certain ideas. For example, what makes something evil versus good? Ms. Ross also explores innocence versus experience, definitions of home and family, and betrayal versus forgiveness. Combine that into a novel set into a forest where pretty much every step sees our cast of characters encounter yet another deadly myth, and it makes for some pretty compelling reading.

Don't Call the Wolf is a dark story, bloody and sometimes a bit more philosophical than one would expect in a young adult novel. As Ms. Ross heavily utilizes her Polish heritage throughout the story, such foreboding matter makes sense, as does the sense of hope that suffuses the story. After all, when your culture spends centuries being conquered by others, sometimes all you have is hope to get you through the terrible times.