Beautifully bold and enticingly enchanting, A Wolf for a Spell gave me chills, full on perfectly-impossible-to-put-down chills. From the first page I knew I was reading something special - The House with Chicken Legs meets a fantastically 'Freaky Friday' situation, glistening with magic, bravery and adventure.. Uhh yes please! And for a debut Karah Sutton's storytelling and imagination is comparable to the talented likes of Sophie Anderson and Kelly Barnhill.
Rooted and layered in Russian myth and magic gives A Wolf for a Spell this exciting, unshakable feeling of classic meets contemporary. Sutton writes in a luminous language that enthrals and entertains, whilst whimsically weaving together the energy, spirit and heart of Russian folklore to create a deliciously descriptive adventure which middle grade readers will simply devour.
Narrated between three characters - the witch Baba Yaga, a young female wolf named Zima, and an orphan girl named Nadya - each voice shines bright, and each perspective seamlessly connects to deliver an overall story of generosity, trust and friendship, with a thoughtful twist I didn't see coming. Plus, Pauliina Hannuniemi's cover and interior black and white illustrations are just beautiful. If there's ever a time to judge a book by its cover this is that book!
Rich, unique, and thrumming with possibilities, I heartily and highly recommend this stunning story.
Get your copy from Bookshop UK here.
WHAT TO READ NEXT
Check out my interview with author Karah Sutton here, where we talk about the inspiration behind A Wolf for a Spell, favourite myths, where we'd go if we had a chicken house for the day and dinner party guests!