Princeweaver: The epic must-read slow-burn queer fantasy romance (Land of the Wildest Skies Book 1)
Elian J Morgan
4.7
The Wolf and His King
by Finn Longman
Published Jan 27, 2026
Category
About this book
Madeline Miller meets Angela Carter in this spellbinding queer retelling of the 12th - century tale of Bisclavret the werewolf -- unmissable for fans of Uprooted by Naomi Novik, Swordcrossed by Freya Marske, and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. 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 one day Bisclavret vanishes beyond reach. Battling desperation and grief, the king stands alone to face the greatest threats to his kingdom, with only duty to his people between him and ruin—duty, and the steadfast loyalty of the strangest wolf . . .
Available Formats
Paperback: $14.00 Kindle: $0.00
What readers are saying
Mary Soon LeeStriking and unusual fantasy, but with considerable bleakness.
"Well now. This is a difficult book for me to comment on, but let's see.... Underneath the title on the inside title page, it says "A retelling of 'Bisclavret', from the Lais of Marie de France. And so it appears to be, not that I have read the original, nor even heard of it before I began this book. Beyond that -- spoiler warning -- it's a story about a shapeshifting man who is sometimes a wolf, and about the king of a small kingdom. It is very much not a run-of-the-mill fantasy. The sections from the perspective of the wolf are cast in verse. The sections from the perspective of the king are in second person ("you"). No character other than Bisclavret is given a name. At the start I loved this, but soon afterward I found that I wasn't *enjoying* it. I cared about the main characters, but craved affection and sweetness, not just need and despair and loneliness. The book upset me. While the ending chapters offered balm, I spent over half the book reading in a state close to unhappiness. I love that this book doesn't retread familiar ground. Yes, it is retelling an old tale, but an unfamiliar tale told in an uncommon fashion. I note that two of the supporting characters (the scribe, the knight in green) compelled me. I half-wish there were a sequel that focused on them. Attempting to balance the highs and lows, call this four out of five wolf stars. About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved). ["
February 8, 2026 Verified Purchase
RWExcellent
"Love this book, the descriptions are very soulful. The king speaking in third person is not unusual or off putting. Its a beautifully written story of longing for love and being able to put your own desires aside. The verse/ poetry pages scattered thru out are equally heartfelt. Its a wonderful retelling. Plus the book cover and pages are beautiful. ["
February 22, 2026 Verified Purchase