School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--After an incident at boarding school sends her running to a home and family she hardly remembers, Eleanor Zarrin must find a way to reconnect with relatives who both terrify and intrigue her. Will she find her place among these bizarre family members, or will her return prove to be their downfall? Set in Maine, ostensibly in the 1950s, this debut YA novel from Szabo is one part haunting mystery, one part dark fantasy. As the title suggests, wolves abound--but so do ghosts, witches, and other, less definable paranormal beings. Eleanor is well-rounded, with understandable motivations behind her actions; many teen readers will surely relate to her feelings of inadequacy and "otherness" as she struggles to find a place where she belongs. The rest of the ensemble are slightly more one-dimensional, though still enjoyable to read. All characters present as white. VERDICT This darkly thrilling gothic fantasy will appeal to fans of Karen McManus and Maggie Stiefvater alike. A recommended purchase.--Kaitlin Frick, Darien Lib., CT
Publisher's Weekly Review
Comparable to The Hazel Wood, Szabo's uneven debut features a pitch-black fairy tale atmosphere and rich, mid-century gothic descriptions. Returning home to Maine after a violent incident at her boarding school, Eleanor Zarrin reunites with a family unlike any other. With a mother who is half woman, half marine life; several werewolf-shapeshifting relatives; and Grandmother Persephone, who can see the future, Eleanor is not sure how she fits in or why she was sent away for eight years. When her grandmother dies, first instructing Eleanor to care for and protect the family, the girl uncovers long-buried secrets and calls on her maternal French grandmother for help. But Grand- mere's incredible powers threaten them all, and Eleanor must decide whether to defend the family who abandoned her or become the creature her Grandmere insists she is inside. Fragmented worldbuilding leads to labored plotting, yet Szabo introduces an intriguing cast of characters--particularly Arthur, a vampirish family guest and paramour to many--alongside meaningful explorations of identity and belonging. Ages 14--up. (Feb.)■