Finn Longman
Erewhon Books
27 January 2026
368
eBook - PDF
Historical LGBT Fantasy
ARC via Edelweiss
A noble knight hiding the beast inside. A lonely king isolated by his courtiers. Between them an impossible gulf surmountable only by the twists and turns of relentless destiny in this spellbinding retelling of Marie de France’s classic 12th-century tale of romance and adventure.
The wolf-sickness strikes always without warning, stealing Bisclavret’s body and confusing his mind. Since boyhood he hasn’t dared leave his isolated holdings—not to beg the return of his father’s lost estate, not to seek brotherhood among the court, not even to win the knighthood he yearns for. But when a new king ascends, Bisclavret must deliver his kiss of fealty or answer for the failure.
Half an exile himself, the young king is intrigued by this uneasy, rough-hewn nobleman. Bisclavret seems a perfect knight: bold, strong, and merciful. But he keeps his secrets close, and the king’s longings are not for counsel alone. As his fascination grows, the barriers between them multiply, until the king battles desperation and grief. Then Bisclavret vanishes beyond reach, just as the greatest threats to the kingdom converge. Only duty to his people stands between the king and ruin—duty, and the steady loyalty of the strangest wolf . . .
The Wolf and His King was a fascinating tale. I have read a few of Marie de France's tales, but Bisclavret is not one I was familiar with; therefore, I came to this book without any expectations as to the story. One thing that stood out for me was the interesting prose style. There were essentially three POVs: the king in second person, Bisclavret in third person, and then Bisclavret as the wolf in more of a verse style. It took me a couple of chapters to attune myself to this, but then I really enjoyed it, and it lent a more mysterious feel to the piece, as did the fact that Bisclavret is the only character whose name we learn throughout the entire book. This tied in wonderfully with the idea of his name calling him back to humanity. Overall, the book was atmospheric, the story captivating and the storytelling well handled. I am giving it 4.5 stars and I recommend it to readers of gay romance looking for an historical tale with a fresh prose style.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
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