The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso

A Wolf of Oren-yaro is not tamed.

Queen Talyien has a reputation as the bitch queen. Her husband, Rayyel, left her and her son five years ago. But when she receives a letter from him saying he’d like to discuss business with her in another place, she quickly accepts.

Of course, things don’t go according to plan, and Queen Talyien soon finds herself trapped in a strange land, not knowing who to trust.

The World

I first read The Wolf of Oren-Yaro as a self-published novel back in 2017. I loved it then, but now, it’s… even better? How is that even possible? So, there are some changes that I think make reading the new, traditionally published version worth it. Some scenes are expanded upon, most notably the beginning. We get a bit more background and easing into the action. The prose has also gone through some edits, making it better than ever.

What makes The Wolf of Oren-Yaro special is its ability to make you feel like you’re right there in the book. Not just visually but through all the senses. Tali travels through many areas, and they all feel distinct. From the docks at night, to a putrid city in walls, to a crowded marketplace with a plethora of different aromas.

The world-building is done in such a way to show that even a single city (or country in Tali’s case) has its differences and variety. What I found most interesting is how—despite being in a position of extreme authority in her own land—she’s practically unknown in the new one.

The Characters

Speaking of Tali, she is ruthless. Someone not afraid to make tough, even deadly decisions. A hard worker. Horrendously bad at small talk. Hot headed. Quick to jump to conclusions. And also someone who can make some poor decisions.

The characters in general, from the major—Tali and Khine especially—to the minor—Yuebek, Arro, even Kora whom we only see briefly… to name a few—are all excellently written. For example, there’s a scene where a woman takes Talyien in and has a doctor heal her wounds. We meet another young woman, Tati. She only appears for a short while, but her personality was still fleshed out, even in just one scene.

Of course, top billing has to go to Olliver the cat.

The Pacing + Overall

This book is fast-paced, and I think that helps with a relatively simple premise. Things happen pretty quickly. And yet, there’s still room to breathe. One scene I appreciated, for instance, was where Tali meets Khine’s sisters for the first time. It just feels so pleasant to not have to worry about anything for a brief moment.

Khine is a mysterious man, a con artist, who assists Tali in navigating the strange streets. And we get to meet his family and learn of his background. In a sense, he helps bring a sense of calm and humor.

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro is a spectacular book with a fast-placed plot, amazing character work, and phenomenal micro & macro world-building. I’ve looked forward to seeing it be traditionally published, and it was simply wonderful to experience again.

We received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. You might also enjoy this review from Tam of the self-published version.