Wolf by Wolf (#1) by Ryan Graudin
Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on October 20th 2015
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, AU
Pages: 388
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased

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Synopsis: Her story begins on a train.

The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule. To commemorate their Great Victory, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor’s Ball in Tokyo.

Yael, a former death camp prisoner, has witnessed too much suffering, and the five wolves tattooed on her arm are a constant reminder of the loved ones she lost. The resistance has given Yael one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year’s only female racer, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin’s brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael’s every move.

But as Yael grows closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?

From the author of The Walled City comes a fast-paced and innovative novel that will leave you breathless.

Review: “She-wolf. An interesting choice.”
“I didn’t choose it,” she told him. “It chose me.”

Not what I was expecting when I picked up this book. This has a supernatural twist on what would happen if Hitler had won WW2 which was such an interesting concept. It also deals with genetic experiments on those in the concentration/labour camps and what “could” have been created as a result.

This was on my top 10 WWII historical fiction books I need to read, so I was so happy to find it at a good price. I love reading about WWII. I don’t know why but I find it fascinating and I love how this book put it’s twist on it. Graudin has a wonderful mind and her idea for this novel was so interesting to see come to fruition. At first I thought this was a standalone novel but as I reached the end I started panicking hoping there was more to read and alas the next part comes out at the end of 2016!

What I liked about it:

• I didn’t guess the ending and the ending was a good one!
• The concept I mean a motorbike race around several countries so she has the chance to kill Hitler? I’m down for that.
• I could not put this book down. I read it in one sitting.
• Seeing how the MC Yael discovers herself and how the other characters develop.
• No love triangle!!!
• The pace of the book is what you would expect about a motorcycle race: fast-paced
• The title of the book is described and delved into further in the novel and the explanation and stories of the wolves is beautiful
• I liked going back Then/Now

What I didn’t like about it:

• A bit draggy at times
• Major cliffhanger ending which leaves nothing resolved which makes me think I am going to go insane waiting for the sequel
• The romance aspect needs to decide to be or not to be