• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Connect With Me
    • Request A Review
    • Beta Reading Requests
    • Policies
    • Testimonials
  • Book Review Archive
    • Book Review Archive
    • Audiobook Review Archive
    • Spooky Children’s Book Review Archive
  • Resources
    • A Running List of 2023 Horror Book Releases
    • Interview Archive
    • List of Horror Author Online Bookshops
    • List of Horror Publishers That Sell Books Directly
    • Podcast Recs
    • Referral Links
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Goodreads
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Erica Robyn Reads

a horror book review blog

Recent Posts

March 2023 Recap - Erica Robyn Reads

March 2023 | Recap

Blood and Smoke by Stephen King audiobook photo

Blood and Smoke by Stephen King | Audiobook Review

Soft Targets by Carson Winter book photo by Erica Robyn Reads

Soft Targets by Carson Winter | Book Review

[Book Review] The Wehrwolf by Alma Katsu

September 24, 2022      Erica Robyn      5 Comments

The Wehrwolf by Alma Katsu is a dark, terrifying, and heartbreaking fairytale that flows along in the same vein as the Brothers Grimm tales.

Let’s dive in!

My Thoughts on The Wehrwolf by Alma Katsu

Trapped between monsters on either side, these townspeople don’t know what they should fear more. Should they be watching for Russians that are in the area due to the war, or is the biggest threat the wildlife that has already left a man dead in a ditch?

With tensions continuing to rise, one voice that is louder and more insistent than others begins to become the center of attention. Soon, a group is created to protect the town, taking things into their own hands. Reluctantly, our main character, a man named Uwe, quickly realizes how dangerous the situation really is…

What an opening sentence this is: It started with a splash of crimson blood on snow.

Just that first sentence, and I was totally invested. I will say right off that I went into this story totally blind. All I knew was that it was by Alma! I had been sent a copy to prepare for the Dead Headspace recording, and I am oh so glad I was able to read it in time. I also preordered a copy so I would get to check out the final version when it launches.

I’m in love with the darkness that Alma writes about while adding in a heavy hand of terror and unease. This story, like her novel Red Widow, is focused mainly on the biggest monsters of them all; people.

This storyline will make you want to scream with the unfairness.

My Favorite Passages from The Wehrwolf

It started with a splash of crimson blood on snow.

A nation that put children in harm’s way while its leaders cowered in bunkers had already lost; it just wouldn’t admit it.

“Look, there are two kinds of men in the world. One kind takes responsibility for the things he’s done, both the good and – more importantly – the bad. The other kind always blames his misfortune on someone else. It’s never his fault when his crops fail or his wife leaves him.”

Every night, the wolf inside demanded a hunt, and the men readily gave in.

My Final Thoughts on The Wehrwolf

In the Author’s Note, Alma wrote that the point of stories like The Wehrwolf “is to show the danger that exists when we refuse to learn from history. And the main lesson history has to teach us is that it’s easy to slip the skin of humanity and become a monster.”

This story terrified me in many ways, but seeing all the parallels between this story and current times certainly tops the list. Unsettling from the start, this only gets deeper and deeper into dangerous territory.

A must-read for fans of dark fairytales with powerful messaging behind the words.


As this is an Amazon special, feel free to snag a copy using my Amazon Affiliate link below and go check out your local indie for more of Alma’s work:


Related Reading:

  • [Book Review] The Deep by Alma Katsu
  • [Book Review] The Fervor by Alma Katsu
  • [Book Review] Red Widow by Alma Katsu
  • The Familiar’s Assistant by Alma Katsu, short story in Dark Stars: New Tales of Darkest Horror

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Greg says

    September 25, 2022 at 8:24 pm

    That is a fabulous opening. Really sets a tone. Love the sound of this one 🙂

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      October 1, 2022 at 1:51 pm

      Right?!

      Reply
  2. Felicity Grace Terry says

    September 27, 2022 at 9:34 am

    A big fan of the Brothers Grimm tales, this sounds amazing. I’m off to add it to my wish List.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      October 1, 2022 at 1:51 pm

      <3

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Erica Robyn Reads!

Erica Robyn of Erica Robyn Reads
Hello! I’m Erica, a Mainer living in New Hampshire who runs on hot tea, good books, and loud music. Join me as I seek out amazing horror tales and help support the indie horror community!
 

Subscribe via Email

Loading

Search This Blog

Browse By Category

Recent Popular Posts

  • Blood and Smoke by Stephen King | Audiobook Review
  • Soft Targets by Carson Winter | Book Review
  • The Auld Mither by William Meikle | Audiobook Review
  • Your Mind Is A Terrible Thing by Hailey Piper | Book Review
  • Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt | Book Review

An Easy Guide to Locating Horror Reviews Without Losing Your Mind created by Lori of Barks At The Ghouls
Shirley's Book Blogger List
Ultimate List of the Best Book Review Blogs by Kindlepreneur

Copyright © 2023 Erica Robyn Reads