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Edge Worlds #1
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves
A lone girl determined to survive. The feral wolf she must learn to trust. Only one chance to escape their icy planet: a race across the deadly tundra.
Seventeen-year-old Sena Korhosen hates the sled race, especially after it claimed both her mothers' lives five years ago. Alone on her frozen planet, she makes money any other way she can—until she double-crosses a local gangster.
Desperate to escape, Sena flees with his prized fighting wolf, Iska, and takes an offer from a team of scientists. They'll pay her way off-world, on one condition--that she uses the survival skills her mothers taught her to get them to the end of the race. But the tundra is a treacherous place. When the race threatens their lives at every turn, Sena must discover whether her abilities are enough to help them survive the wild, and whether she and Iska together are strong enough to get them all out alive.
As the girl and the wolf forge a tenuous bond and fight to escape ice goblins, giant bears, and the ruthless gang leader intent on trapping them both, one question drives them relentlessly forward: Where do you turn when there is nowhere to hide?
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a captivating, breathless debut about survival and found family that delivers a fresh twist on classic survival stories.
Seventeen-year-old Sena Korhosen hates the sled race, especially after it claimed both her mothers' lives five years ago. Alone on her frozen planet, she makes money any other way she can—until she double-crosses a local gangster.
Desperate to escape, Sena flees with his prized fighting wolf, Iska, and takes an offer from a team of scientists. They'll pay her way off-world, on one condition--that she uses the survival skills her mothers taught her to get them to the end of the race. But the tundra is a treacherous place. When the race threatens their lives at every turn, Sena must discover whether her abilities are enough to help them survive the wild, and whether she and Iska together are strong enough to get them all out alive.
As the girl and the wolf forge a tenuous bond and fight to escape ice goblins, giant bears, and the ruthless gang leader intent on trapping them both, one question drives them relentlessly forward: Where do you turn when there is nowhere to hide?
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a captivating, breathless debut about survival and found family that delivers a fresh twist on classic survival stories.
357 pages, Hardcover
First published January 11, 2022
97 people are currently reading
16.4k people want to read
About the author
Meg Long
2books273followersMeg originally wanted to be a spy. Instead she somehow found herself teaching overseas in China and Malaysia before ending up in Colorado, where it snows entirely too much.
She taught middle and high school for eight years before jumping into the tech industry as a content designer. Her debut novel, COLD THE NIGHT, FAST THE WOLVES, will be released in 2022 from Wednesday Books. She was a Pitch Wars mentee in 2018 and a mentor in 2020-21.
When not reading or writing, she’s kicking things at her Muay Thai gym with her boyfriend, playing video games, or obsessing over Sailor Moon fanart.
Fun Facts: Meg likes Oxford commas, bossing her Roomba around, and people-watching at airports.
She taught middle and high school for eight years before jumping into the tech industry as a content designer. Her debut novel, COLD THE NIGHT, FAST THE WOLVES, will be released in 2022 from Wednesday Books. She was a Pitch Wars mentee in 2018 and a mentor in 2020-21.
When not reading or writing, she’s kicking things at her Muay Thai gym with her boyfriend, playing video games, or obsessing over Sailor Moon fanart.
Fun Facts: Meg likes Oxford commas, bossing her Roomba around, and people-watching at airports.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 787 reviews
September 21, 2021
balto meets jack london in this story about a dangerous landscape, a race for escape, and a bond between a girl and a wolf.
the best thing going for this story is definitely the world-building and atmosphere. i loved reading about the cold and barren environment, the need for survival, a scientific expedition participating in a sled race, and all the wolves. its quite a unique story.
but where i failed to connect is with the writing itself. the pacing is sooo slow. the race itself doesnt even start until the 55% mark. and theres of lack of urgency and desperation i would expect when it comes to the fight for survival from the elements and personal betrayals. although the stakes are high, it doesnt feel that way. the way the narrative/description flows is very laid-back.
i understand that this is a debut, so i would be willing to read MLs next book to see if the writing develops, because i do think she has creative and interesting ideas!
thank you so much st. martins press/wednesday books for an ARC!
� 3.5 stars
the best thing going for this story is definitely the world-building and atmosphere. i loved reading about the cold and barren environment, the need for survival, a scientific expedition participating in a sled race, and all the wolves. its quite a unique story.
but where i failed to connect is with the writing itself. the pacing is sooo slow. the race itself doesnt even start until the 55% mark. and theres of lack of urgency and desperation i would expect when it comes to the fight for survival from the elements and personal betrayals. although the stakes are high, it doesnt feel that way. the way the narrative/description flows is very laid-back.
i understand that this is a debut, so i would be willing to read MLs next book to see if the writing develops, because i do think she has creative and interesting ideas!
thank you so much st. martins press/wednesday books for an ARC!
� 3.5 stars
December 3, 2021
White Fang meets Red Riding Hood sets place at wild, eerie, soul sucking frozen world. Isn’t this intriguing enough to stop what you’re doing and diving into this book?
That’s exactly what I did! I have to summarize my entire feelings about this high tension, intense, compelling, not so easy to read journey.
There are too many amazing qualities of this book that I adored: starting with spectacular, detailed world building: with the ultra vivid descriptions the author gave us, you can easily visualize everything about it in your head. It’s like wearing headset of 3 D Virtual reality and getting transported into a deadly survival game!
I also loved Sena Korhosen: real definition of bad-ass heroine who does what she needs to do for staying alive! She’s quiet outcast, with two mothers represent two other worlds and unfortunately none of the worlds accept who she is. She can not adjust in living at frozen planet. For getting out: she has to win the sled race!
I also loved to read the chapters about the prize fighting wolf Iska and Sena’s intense bounding!
But� even though I was so excited to see the start of sled race, it felt like it would start at another book. Even though I enjoyed the premise of the story, I thought about not finishing and marked this one as my rare I did everything I could but I DNF it books category!
Because the real story started at the second half but till you reach there you’re struggling a lot like you’re sinking in the swamp deeper at each second, it is impossible to move so you are stuck in the same cycle and you’re getting extremely bored!
I think there are lots of chapters needed to edit! If this story gets shorten with less characters ( there are so many but we’re doomed to forget their names , they’re just passing through and without enough background story we just forget their names eventually) and the pacing might be fasten, it would be so much interesting page turner!
I can understand the author’s hard working and enthusiasm to create a brilliant fantasy novels! The plot idea and main characters were great. Only the execution needs a lot of work. But as a debut it is still a promising start! I liked the creative mind of the author and I’d love to read her future works.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
That’s exactly what I did! I have to summarize my entire feelings about this high tension, intense, compelling, not so easy to read journey.
There are too many amazing qualities of this book that I adored: starting with spectacular, detailed world building: with the ultra vivid descriptions the author gave us, you can easily visualize everything about it in your head. It’s like wearing headset of 3 D Virtual reality and getting transported into a deadly survival game!
I also loved Sena Korhosen: real definition of bad-ass heroine who does what she needs to do for staying alive! She’s quiet outcast, with two mothers represent two other worlds and unfortunately none of the worlds accept who she is. She can not adjust in living at frozen planet. For getting out: she has to win the sled race!
I also loved to read the chapters about the prize fighting wolf Iska and Sena’s intense bounding!
But� even though I was so excited to see the start of sled race, it felt like it would start at another book. Even though I enjoyed the premise of the story, I thought about not finishing and marked this one as my rare I did everything I could but I DNF it books category!
Because the real story started at the second half but till you reach there you’re struggling a lot like you’re sinking in the swamp deeper at each second, it is impossible to move so you are stuck in the same cycle and you’re getting extremely bored!
I think there are lots of chapters needed to edit! If this story gets shorten with less characters ( there are so many but we’re doomed to forget their names , they’re just passing through and without enough background story we just forget their names eventually) and the pacing might be fasten, it would be so much interesting page turner!
I can understand the author’s hard working and enthusiasm to create a brilliant fantasy novels! The plot idea and main characters were great. Only the execution needs a lot of work. But as a debut it is still a promising start! I liked the creative mind of the author and I’d love to read her future works.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
November 17, 2022
My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Meg Long and Netgalley. Just wow! Meg Long is freaking fantastic! I was enamoured of this world from the start, but the shape it took was exactly what I needed! A girl on a snow world, who...spoiler, spoiler, spoiler! I adored the whole dang story! The ending was a bit twee, so I'll take a star from the rating. Also, I need a wolf. And a squirrel and chipmunk!
February 14, 2021
Vivid, dangerous, and absolutely exhilarating, Cold The Night, Fast The Wolves imagines a world teeming with predators both animal and human, telling a captivating story of survival alongside a heartwarming bond that grows between girl and feral fighter-wolf.
April 3, 2020
This book....THIS BOOK, OMG. It takes place on a barely-hospitable ice planet, where every single creature and every aspect of the environment is out to get you. The only thing that makes it remarkable is its deposits of exo-carbon, a valuable material used in all the tech in the galaxy. Soooo, of course, the capitalists came and further fucked up and exploited the planet. Since the planet's constant ion storms wrecks any high-tech vehicles that try to land and mine in the biggest exo-carbon deposits, sleds pulled by genetically-enhanced "vonenwolves" must be used. The treacherous journey to the deposits in the planet's mildest season gradually turned into a once-a-year spectacle of a race. The death count is high and few race teams ever make it to the end, but for most, it is their only financial option and their only hope of getting off the planet.
The protagonist Sena's mothers were racers who died tragically in one such race, leading her to hate every aspect of it and become emotionally closed off from the world. However, she has a lifetime of unique skills in training the vonenwolves, and so a sleazy capitalist ropes her into it nonetheless. She develops an uneasy relationship with an injured vonenwolf, and the character development and emotional arc she goes through mADE ME CRY, Y'ALL. It's definitely the strongest aspect of this book.
The worldbuilding was also so amazing that for DAYS, I was walking around feeling I was being besieged by blizzards in an icy wasteland (though that's also just called living in Canada). There are details so vivid, relating to both the planet and the vonenwolf training system, that I'm still baffled to how they were thought of. It is a deeply immersive sci-fi book, and I can't WAIT for all of you to get your hands on it Winter 2022!!!
The protagonist Sena's mothers were racers who died tragically in one such race, leading her to hate every aspect of it and become emotionally closed off from the world. However, she has a lifetime of unique skills in training the vonenwolves, and so a sleazy capitalist ropes her into it nonetheless. She develops an uneasy relationship with an injured vonenwolf, and the character development and emotional arc she goes through mADE ME CRY, Y'ALL. It's definitely the strongest aspect of this book.
The worldbuilding was also so amazing that for DAYS, I was walking around feeling I was being besieged by blizzards in an icy wasteland (though that's also just called living in Canada). There are details so vivid, relating to both the planet and the vonenwolf training system, that I'm still baffled to how they were thought of. It is a deeply immersive sci-fi book, and I can't WAIT for all of you to get your hands on it Winter 2022!!!
Want to read
July 2, 2021Apparently my brain is broken, and I now compulsively add anything that mentions wolves to my TBR.
January 17, 2022
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long is a young adult science fiction fantasy novel. This story is one of survival on a frozen planet making it a perfect story in the winter and is a standalone read which of course features wolves.
Sena is seventeen and does whatever she can to survive on her frozen planet since the loss of her mothers who were racers. Sena vows never to become involved in the race but those around her think it’s in her blood. Sena gets roped into helping with the vonenwolves who are used in the race and becomes especially close with one, Iska.
Brrrr! I’m still warming up from my adventure into the world of Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long. When beginning this story it reminded me of Star Wars and the land of Hoth with all the ice and storms throwing in a dog sled type of race like we would find in Alaska. The author did a good job creating this world and bringing it to life and although it felt a bit slow in the beginning for my taste I still enjoyed the characters and story and found it certainly did pick up the pacing and became an adventure of it’s own.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit
Sena is seventeen and does whatever she can to survive on her frozen planet since the loss of her mothers who were racers. Sena vows never to become involved in the race but those around her think it’s in her blood. Sena gets roped into helping with the vonenwolves who are used in the race and becomes especially close with one, Iska.
Brrrr! I’m still warming up from my adventure into the world of Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long. When beginning this story it reminded me of Star Wars and the land of Hoth with all the ice and storms throwing in a dog sled type of race like we would find in Alaska. The author did a good job creating this world and bringing it to life and although it felt a bit slow in the beginning for my taste I still enjoyed the characters and story and found it certainly did pick up the pacing and became an adventure of it’s own.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit
February 10, 2022
I don’t see that this is the start of a series� but it totally should be!!! Sena is such a strong character!! Don’t get me wrong, I spent a good portion of this book thinking, “you’re an idiot, please stop being stupid…� but then eventually she did and then the book took off from there!!
But who really stole the show?!?! Of course Iska did!!!! I absolutely love her and would now read any book that she makes an appearance in. I mean, who wouldn’t live a fierce, loyal, and protective wolf?! I know I do!!!
The plot is a little slow at first, but as mentioned previously, once Sena stops making ridiculous choices, the story just speeds up and becomes really good!! Fast pace and highly enjoyable. I love a tale of growth and becoming a better version of yourself. And I like the world building as well. I could really picture the world they live on and it was pretty vivid.
There’s only one little complaint I have� What in the hell happened to Temur and Kirima?!?! It’s like they were a huge part of the first portion of the book, but then nothing. Spoiler alert!!!�. You never find out what happens to them. They just fade away into the ether and are never heard from again. Why?!?! I’m curious to know what in the heck happened to them. Did Kalba kill them?? Did they get off world??? Did they fade away into nothing?!?! Seems like it!!! But that’s why I took off a star. I don’t like loose ends like that.
Otherwise, this is a seriously solid read!! I recommend this to YA adventure lovers who like sci-fi reads and animals. Wolves or vonen wolves to be precise. Very cool book.
Thanks so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Meg Long for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion!!
But who really stole the show?!?! Of course Iska did!!!! I absolutely love her and would now read any book that she makes an appearance in. I mean, who wouldn’t live a fierce, loyal, and protective wolf?! I know I do!!!
The plot is a little slow at first, but as mentioned previously, once Sena stops making ridiculous choices, the story just speeds up and becomes really good!! Fast pace and highly enjoyable. I love a tale of growth and becoming a better version of yourself. And I like the world building as well. I could really picture the world they live on and it was pretty vivid.
There’s only one little complaint I have� What in the hell happened to Temur and Kirima?!?! It’s like they were a huge part of the first portion of the book, but then nothing. Spoiler alert!!!�. You never find out what happens to them. They just fade away into the ether and are never heard from again. Why?!?! I’m curious to know what in the heck happened to them. Did Kalba kill them?? Did they get off world??? Did they fade away into nothing?!?! Seems like it!!! But that’s why I took off a star. I don’t like loose ends like that.
Otherwise, this is a seriously solid read!! I recommend this to YA adventure lovers who like sci-fi reads and animals. Wolves or vonen wolves to be precise. Very cool book.
Thanks so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Meg Long for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion!!
February 5, 2022
A fairly bland sci-fi is ruined by needless animal deaths.
January 2, 2022
Gah, this book about did me in! Set on a planet covered in ice and bogged down by near constant snow storms, Sena is stuck in a dreary life. Ridiculed because of her heritage, the only way off the planet is by embarking on a race that is more likely to kill her than free her. But if she can survive the race, she may be able to leave this dark and cold planet in search of a new home. So when the chance to join a racing team comes along, she has no choice but to accept. Soon Sena finds herself on a journey that will test her will.
Along the way, Sena discovers an unlikely friend in a fiery wolf. This friendship is what gave the book heart. I adored Sena's bond with Iska and their loyalty to eachother. A few parts nearly brought me to tears. As the book unfolds, Sena meets other characters that she develops bonds with and must depend on for survival.
I'm so glad I received an early copy of this book. It was so very good and left me with many emotions. I hope there will be a sequel soon.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves will be released on January 11, 2022.
Along the way, Sena discovers an unlikely friend in a fiery wolf. This friendship is what gave the book heart. I adored Sena's bond with Iska and their loyalty to eachother. A few parts nearly brought me to tears. As the book unfolds, Sena meets other characters that she develops bonds with and must depend on for survival.
I'm so glad I received an early copy of this book. It was so very good and left me with many emotions. I hope there will be a sequel soon.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves will be released on January 11, 2022.
December 21, 2021
This book was so fun, I absolutely loved the setting. You don't get a lot of stories with a lot of snow, cold weather and such in books these days. Like imagine a very small town with a lot of wilderness with snow. Always snow. And of course the dog sledding competition reminds me of Balto, Snow Dogs and literally every Alaska-story ever. It was a great change of pace, honestly.
Our orphan thief was a hoot. She knew her way around her home-town like one would expect, but honestly she isn't very smart. She steals a prized wolf from someone who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty. I just felt like she was always like "okay so I could do this BUT I think I'll do that instead even though it obviously is not going to work out in my favor and is the harder way to get things done" lol.
This book doesn't have romance, but it has a lot of other vibes people seem to look for, like found family, character arc, dogs (super important), I honestly hope there is a follow up book for reasons!
Our orphan thief was a hoot. She knew her way around her home-town like one would expect, but honestly she isn't very smart. She steals a prized wolf from someone who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty. I just felt like she was always like "okay so I could do this BUT I think I'll do that instead even though it obviously is not going to work out in my favor and is the harder way to get things done" lol.
This book doesn't have romance, but it has a lot of other vibes people seem to look for, like found family, character arc, dogs (super important), I honestly hope there is a follow up book for reasons!
July 22, 2021
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves was such a fun adventure to dive into. In it, you will meet Sena and she's 17 years old and kind of a little bad ass. She lives in a tough place that kind of reminds me of Alaska but that's mostly because of the dog racing. While this town isn't the safest place to ever live, Sena knows the in's and out's due to her being a great thief. She wasn't really on anyone's shit list until she took a prized wolf from someone bloody important.
Now Sena had some likable traits to her but she made so many terrible decisions throughout the book. The entire time I kept thinking she was going to say '..but did you die?' after everything went chaotic. She never did but I said it to myself every now and then to spice things up. I'll even admit that she definitely knew her way around the frozen tundra and I think that's all because of her mom. This knowledge alone definitely helped keep her safe and the party she was with during this race.
As for the party? Well I think the two certain assholes definitely need to deal with some consequences if we ever get a sequel. I'm also glad another certain asshole met my friend karma. Oh and the Iska. It was beautiful and I almost slipped a tear of joy from my eyes.
I'm not sure what the heck is going to happen after that little cliffhanger but I really hope that we get another book. If not, I will be very disappointed in myself for getting my own hopes up because this definitely can't stay being a standalone. I just wont allow it. It's unacceptable in my eyes.
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves was such a fun adventure to dive into. In it, you will meet Sena and she's 17 years old and kind of a little bad ass. She lives in a tough place that kind of reminds me of Alaska but that's mostly because of the dog racing. While this town isn't the safest place to ever live, Sena knows the in's and out's due to her being a great thief. She wasn't really on anyone's shit list until she took a prized wolf from someone bloody important.
Now Sena had some likable traits to her but she made so many terrible decisions throughout the book. The entire time I kept thinking she was going to say '..but did you die?' after everything went chaotic. She never did but I said it to myself every now and then to spice things up. I'll even admit that she definitely knew her way around the frozen tundra and I think that's all because of her mom. This knowledge alone definitely helped keep her safe and the party she was with during this race.
As for the party? Well I think the two certain assholes definitely need to deal with some consequences if we ever get a sequel. I'm also glad another certain asshole met my friend karma. Oh and the Iska. It was beautiful and I almost slipped a tear of joy from my eyes.
I'm not sure what the heck is going to happen after that little cliffhanger but I really hope that we get another book. If not, I will be very disappointed in myself for getting my own hopes up because this definitely can't stay being a standalone. I just wont allow it. It's unacceptable in my eyes.
March 21, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC!
This is one of the rare books that turns out exactly how you expected it to.
The plot of this book was very compelling - not my style, but still really cool. Sena lives on Tundar, an icy and hostile planet where literally everything is deadly. The societal system, the people, the animals and plants, and the weather. She just wants to get off the planet and live somewhere a bit more hospitable. But when she encounters a wounded she-wolf and a team of scientists, she’s enlisted to join the race.
The race is, essentially, a death trap. A journey across the worst parts of the planet to the exocarbon mine in the tundra, the most valuable and rare substance in their galaxy.
The world-building was really clever and interesting. I think (???) it was meant to be based on Inuit culture, but do not take my word on that because that’s just a guess based on the way it was written and not at all confirmed.
Anyway, I thought the science fiction aspects were so well-included and made the story so much richer. Everything from climate and animals to technology was incorporated. The corpos (rich, high-class people who belonged to greedy companies) vs the syndicates (street gangs) and the class system was intricate and very core to the story. The society and structure of the world was so well-developed.
The characters were all pretty developed but didn’t have a lot to them. I could tell them apart and I knew their basic traits, but I feel like there could have been more.
Sena was smart, but I also thought she was an absolute idiot. I mean that in the sense that she was incredibly resourceful and skilled, but literally all of her problems in the book were caused by her own stupid decisions.
In her narrative, she acknowledged that she was doing something dumb, and then did it anyway??? I firmly recall the words “this is the worst idea I’ve ever had,� right before the scene where she poorly executed said stupid idea. Ma’am where is the logic -
If you know it’s going to cause problems then why would you go ahead and do it??? You’re telling me that after years of fending for your own survival you still can’t control your stupid impulses???
Kalba was pretty shit. Obviously. He was an asshole and basically the definition of a brutish mob boss.
Kaassen was interesting but I didn’t really care about him much. He felt unrealistic in the world. Sena herself pointed out that he was a little too kind and understanding for it not to be suspicious.
Remy was my favorite and she was absolutely the best. She was stubborn and opinionated and strong, and I think she was brought out in a really nice way.
Pana was unique and I liked that about her, but she didn’t stand out to me that much.
Tulok and Askaa were plain assholes, and I was a little bit disappointed that they didn’t get any characterization aside from “prejudiced brutish idiots who go out of their way to be shits.�
Iska was very interesting and she’s probably the first animal I’ve listed as a character in my reviews. She was stubborn and loyal and had a sense of wit, from what Sena perceived. She was definitely the only reason Sena survived.
The bond between Iska and Sena lowkey reminded me of Stone Fox (please tell me someone remembers reading that book in like second grade.) Little Willy and Searchlight are literally just the male child versions of Iska and Sena.
I personally think the bond between them was a little stereotypical, with the way Sena “sensed� Iska’s opinions and how they just naturally formed this strange bond. It just felt like something I’d seen before.
This book went into found family a little bit with the groups and people and relationships, but I didn’t really see that as much of an important aspect, especially when it could have been. Sena’s perspective was set up really well for that trope and it fell a little flat in my opinion.
The best thing about this book was the racism that it addressed, alongside the worldbuilding. Sena was half-scavver, which caused her to be picked on and prejudiced against by almost everyone in the book (scavvers are a group of people who choose to live outside the society of Tundar).
The prejudices and stereotypes of a society were really well-demonstrated and I loved the insight this book gave into those mindsets.
However, I do think this was a little bit too heavy-handed with the insults and race reminders. I could probably count on one hand the number of interactions Sena had without someone bringing up her heritage and her scavver mother. I could swear half the dialogue was just insults thrown at Sena for her culture (which was lowkey nonexistent considering that she was an orphan) and appearance.
Yes, racism exists and it should be addressed, and it was important to the plot of the book, but still. If the racism and insults in this book were to be believed, I wouldn’t be able to walk into my school building without five people trying to beat me up for being Asian. And I do live in America, so it's not like that’s unheard of.
Overall, I was really drawn into the premise of the book and I thought the execution of the concept was pretty good, but I think the characters and the story fell short of my expectations. The setup of this book could have been something much more dramatic and intense, and it just wasn’t that for me.
“Sometimes you don’t get to pick your family. Sometimes, they show up and pick you and you have to embrace it. And that wolf picked you.�
January 11, 2022
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a fast-paced survival story with a dynamic protagonist, an immersive setting, and strong messages. A pickpocket who scrambles to survive on an unforgiving planet, Sena wants nothing to do with the race that killed her mother. All she wants is to save enough money to get off the planet that took everything from her, but Sena might not have a choice.
The story is told in the first person, which gives you a deep and fascinating look at Sena’s character. Sena goes through so much throughout the story. She is a stubborn and determined seventeen-year-old who has suffered much loss in her life. She doesn’t always make the best decisions, but she is fierce and independent, and she shows tremendous growth over the course of the story. As Sena goes on a physical journey, she also goes on an emotional one, and she learns so much about herself, her friends, and the world around her.
The relationship between Sena and Iska is the highlight of the novel. I loved how this pair slowly learned to trust each other. They are similar in many ways, and I love that they forge such a strong bond. This relationship helps Sena through her grief, and Iska, as well as some of the other characters in the novel, slowly helps Sena break down her emotional walls. The side characters are interesting too, and the family that Sena finds in the people she journeys with is a bright spot in a bleak and deadly world.
The world-building is vivid and immersive, and the author is skilled in creating a fantastic picture without overloading the reader with information. Also, I think the personification and imagery are really well done and enhance the often dark and ominous tone. The frigidness of this ice planet, the myriad of characters, the woods, the race, the futuristic elements, and more create a unique and often terrifying world.
Messages about survival, grief, corporate greed, and the dangers of capitalism are woven expertly throughout this high-stakes story, and the race is exciting, dangerous, and deadly. There is never a dull moment in the book � it starts off with a ton of action, and it never stops. It’s a pretty exciting and suspenseful read, and I like that the themes are relevant and thought-provoking.
This is a great book for readers who like YA dystopian survival stories with fierce protagonists, a wonderful relationship between girl and wolf, and a fascinating setting. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Meg Long for providing a copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The story is told in the first person, which gives you a deep and fascinating look at Sena’s character. Sena goes through so much throughout the story. She is a stubborn and determined seventeen-year-old who has suffered much loss in her life. She doesn’t always make the best decisions, but she is fierce and independent, and she shows tremendous growth over the course of the story. As Sena goes on a physical journey, she also goes on an emotional one, and she learns so much about herself, her friends, and the world around her.
The relationship between Sena and Iska is the highlight of the novel. I loved how this pair slowly learned to trust each other. They are similar in many ways, and I love that they forge such a strong bond. This relationship helps Sena through her grief, and Iska, as well as some of the other characters in the novel, slowly helps Sena break down her emotional walls. The side characters are interesting too, and the family that Sena finds in the people she journeys with is a bright spot in a bleak and deadly world.
The world-building is vivid and immersive, and the author is skilled in creating a fantastic picture without overloading the reader with information. Also, I think the personification and imagery are really well done and enhance the often dark and ominous tone. The frigidness of this ice planet, the myriad of characters, the woods, the race, the futuristic elements, and more create a unique and often terrifying world.
Messages about survival, grief, corporate greed, and the dangers of capitalism are woven expertly throughout this high-stakes story, and the race is exciting, dangerous, and deadly. There is never a dull moment in the book � it starts off with a ton of action, and it never stops. It’s a pretty exciting and suspenseful read, and I like that the themes are relevant and thought-provoking.
This is a great book for readers who like YA dystopian survival stories with fierce protagonists, a wonderful relationship between girl and wolf, and a fascinating setting. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Meg Long for providing a copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 5, 2021
Big thanks to Edelweiss for the e-arc.
I have been a lifelong lover of wolves. Some of my favorite movies featuring wolves are The Journey of Narry Gan, Balto, and Princess Mononoke. In turn, I love huskies and I've always been fascinated with the Iditarod and sled races in general. Iron Will and Togo rank up there with my favorites. So when I heard about this book, I seriously gaped in shock. A girl who teams up with a wolf to race in order to get off her planet.
GET OUT OF MY DREAMS
The heroine, Sena, wants nothing more to get off her planet and away from the places that remind her of her dead mothers, especially the wolves that remind her of the annual race that killed them. In this futuristic frozen land, the races are the only thing that defines her home. But prejudices lie in the open and Sena's kind is not well received. She finds herself dealing with a mob boss who talks her into healing an injured fighting wolf. But some fights and some chases occur (I won't spoil it) and Sena ends up releasing the gangsters prized wolves and the injured one, Iska, stays by her side. Now, Sena's apathy toward the wolves is clear, but she knows the wilderness because of her mothers so her knowledge is key to a group of scientists who want to run the race. They promise her enough money to get off the planet if she helps them.
But Sena never expected to be on the sled with them.
As her journey expands to the frozen wilderness, she and Iska's relationship grows. In the quiet moments, you see her love of the wold slowly grow. These moments reminded of the aforementioned Jurney of Natty Gann. Natty looked the wolf for comfort and sometimes survival, but never expected to care for Wolf as much as she did. I loved this aspect of the book and it's probably what made me love it even more.
This was the most unique book I've read in a long time. Oh, but look closer at the cover. IT IS TO DIE FOR. If I don't hold this in my hands soon, I may just keel over, but lucky me, this doesn't come out until January 2022. There aren't many negative about reading books ahead of their release date, but reading a stunning debut that you cannot hold for another 8 months is definitely stinky.
Book tours, street teams, sign me up.
FInd me @celiamcmahonreads for all the pretty book photos :D
I have been a lifelong lover of wolves. Some of my favorite movies featuring wolves are The Journey of Narry Gan, Balto, and Princess Mononoke. In turn, I love huskies and I've always been fascinated with the Iditarod and sled races in general. Iron Will and Togo rank up there with my favorites. So when I heard about this book, I seriously gaped in shock. A girl who teams up with a wolf to race in order to get off her planet.
GET OUT OF MY DREAMS
The heroine, Sena, wants nothing more to get off her planet and away from the places that remind her of her dead mothers, especially the wolves that remind her of the annual race that killed them. In this futuristic frozen land, the races are the only thing that defines her home. But prejudices lie in the open and Sena's kind is not well received. She finds herself dealing with a mob boss who talks her into healing an injured fighting wolf. But some fights and some chases occur (I won't spoil it) and Sena ends up releasing the gangsters prized wolves and the injured one, Iska, stays by her side. Now, Sena's apathy toward the wolves is clear, but she knows the wilderness because of her mothers so her knowledge is key to a group of scientists who want to run the race. They promise her enough money to get off the planet if she helps them.
But Sena never expected to be on the sled with them.
As her journey expands to the frozen wilderness, she and Iska's relationship grows. In the quiet moments, you see her love of the wold slowly grow. These moments reminded of the aforementioned Jurney of Natty Gann. Natty looked the wolf for comfort and sometimes survival, but never expected to care for Wolf as much as she did. I loved this aspect of the book and it's probably what made me love it even more.
This was the most unique book I've read in a long time. Oh, but look closer at the cover. IT IS TO DIE FOR. If I don't hold this in my hands soon, I may just keel over, but lucky me, this doesn't come out until January 2022. There aren't many negative about reading books ahead of their release date, but reading a stunning debut that you cannot hold for another 8 months is definitely stinky.
Book tours, street teams, sign me up.
FInd me @celiamcmahonreads for all the pretty book photos :D
November 14, 2021
I was instantly sold when I read the description for this book. You have a harsh terrain, a variety of deadly animals, genetically modified wolves and a (senseless) race for riches. I loved the main character Sena, She is a girl born of two mothers one who was on a small race team and the other who was a scavver, one of the people who live away from society and only take what they need from nature. When her mothers die in their last race she swears off the race despite her prior dreams of competing. This story starts, slowly, with her getting herself into more trouble than she can handle. She is tasked with healing a fighting wolf naturally in one month. I loved the connection that grew between Sena and that wolf Iska. This story was slow, the race doesn’t take place until 55% in but it was worth it. I would like there to be more books in this series.
January 17, 2022
Seventeen-year-old Sena is a seasoned loner, living on the outer edges of society in a small town on the frozen planet of Tundra. She survives by picking the pockets of rich tourists and while she's good at it, she's not sharp enough to escape being caught by Kalba - a cruel capitalist with a stable of fighting wolves and several sled race teams. Sena is highly sought after by race teams because she possesses the knowledge to survive the strenuous races - skills learned from her mothers (one a racer and one a scavver) who disappeared in the last annual sled race to the exo-carbon mines. Ex-carbon, the most valuable resource on the planet, is coveted and controlled by capitalists whose methods of mining are destroying the ice planet. Through a lot of misfortune and a string of bad decisions, Sena finds herself working for Kalba, trying to heal one of his injured fighting wolves within one month or else. One catastrophe leads to another, and an injured Sena must flee barely escaping with her life and a killer she-wolf. A team of scientists takes her and the she-wolf called Iska in and nurses them back to health in exchange for Sena teaching team members the survival skills needed to win the deadly sled race. Sena refuses to run the race that killed her mothers, but in the end her choices are limited. The story that ensues is one of the fight for survival against all odds. One of a young girl and the killer wolf she rescued bonding and finding a way to persevere through a blood-thirsty journey where danger lurks around every bend. It's a story of the search for truth and justice and the acceptance of family forged by necessity not by blood.
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is an outstanding debut novel with amazing, skillful world building - from the frozen planet to the genetically altered wolves to the predators both animal and human to the different societies and races - it's a visual wonderland. While I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi, this book captured and totally immersed me in a young girl's race for survival in a harsh world where she doesn't fit in. I was completely captivated by Sena - her tenacity and determination to overcome all odds and discover exactly what happened to her mothers who were the best sledders on the planet meaning they didn't die from making a fatal mistake. Sena knows in her gut there's more to what happened than that, and she's determined to find answers even if she dies trying.
While this story starts out a bit slow, I found every single page of it fascinating. Long does an impressive job of world building - one scene, one character, one larger than life danger at a time which proves to be highly beneficial as the story progresses and the pace picks up. Without the meticulous setup, I would have soon lost my way in this complicated world of futuristic beings. Instead, I was totally immersed in a story that bombarded all my senses as I held my breath several times sure that all was lost. Author Meg Long proved to me that a futuristic sci-fi story can also be a great suspense thriller. There's no way to follow Sena on her journey from beginning to end and not get deeply immersed in the mystery of what happened to her mothers - did they succumb to fate . . . or murder? Or are they still alive?
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is an amazing debut novel that has me looking forward to more great things from Meg Long. It's intense, captivating, detailed and ultra-visual, worthy of reading in one sitting. I would love to see this book turned into a movie and can only imagine how the big screen would explode with color and creatures and characters and epic life and death battles. Fans of fantasy and sci-fi will devour this book; however, I also highly recommend it to fans of suspense thrillers. Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a delicious combo of genres that will rattle all your senses.
*Special thanks to Wednesday Books for an arc of this book.
**Review first published in
***Review posted at
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is an outstanding debut novel with amazing, skillful world building - from the frozen planet to the genetically altered wolves to the predators both animal and human to the different societies and races - it's a visual wonderland. While I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi, this book captured and totally immersed me in a young girl's race for survival in a harsh world where she doesn't fit in. I was completely captivated by Sena - her tenacity and determination to overcome all odds and discover exactly what happened to her mothers who were the best sledders on the planet meaning they didn't die from making a fatal mistake. Sena knows in her gut there's more to what happened than that, and she's determined to find answers even if she dies trying.
While this story starts out a bit slow, I found every single page of it fascinating. Long does an impressive job of world building - one scene, one character, one larger than life danger at a time which proves to be highly beneficial as the story progresses and the pace picks up. Without the meticulous setup, I would have soon lost my way in this complicated world of futuristic beings. Instead, I was totally immersed in a story that bombarded all my senses as I held my breath several times sure that all was lost. Author Meg Long proved to me that a futuristic sci-fi story can also be a great suspense thriller. There's no way to follow Sena on her journey from beginning to end and not get deeply immersed in the mystery of what happened to her mothers - did they succumb to fate . . . or murder? Or are they still alive?
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is an amazing debut novel that has me looking forward to more great things from Meg Long. It's intense, captivating, detailed and ultra-visual, worthy of reading in one sitting. I would love to see this book turned into a movie and can only imagine how the big screen would explode with color and creatures and characters and epic life and death battles. Fans of fantasy and sci-fi will devour this book; however, I also highly recommend it to fans of suspense thrillers. Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a delicious combo of genres that will rattle all your senses.
*Special thanks to Wednesday Books for an arc of this book.
**Review first published in
***Review posted at
February 10, 2022
**4.5 Stars**
So, I did not realize that this was a science fiction novel when I started reading, I just had a vague sense of the synopsis being about snow and wolves and sledding so color me surprised when I began the book to find out that it is set on a far off frozen planet in outer space where people come to mine for a crazy valuable resource. This is best described as science fiction had a baby with Call of the Wild but with a female teen protagonist. All of that being said, I really enjoyed this story. The story was gritty and dangerous and exciting, it was very easy to forget that this was supposed to be another planet because my brain kept putting the story into like Alaska here on earth no problem. To be fair though, I am a complete sucker for books with or about animals, especially when the animal is such a huge part of the story- which, spoiler, this one is! I spent a majority of the book holding my breath hoping that my new favorite alien wolf was going to survive the book, not even caring about the side human characters. Yes, I have my priorities.
Maybe this is petty of me but I dropped my stars from 5 to 4.5 due to how much repetition there was about the death of the main character's moms. Sure, it was sad she became an orphan (which took place years before the book began) and their deaths caused her to stay away from basically everything the book is about (racing, caring for the wolves, making connections with other humans, life in general for the most part) but at least the first half the book the main character thought about their deaths (in almost the same wording/manner) and used the deaths to avoid something at least once a chapter and by the end of the book I didn't want to hear about either of her mother's anymore. Call me insensitive, but I picked up on her grief within the first two times of it being brought up and did not need to continuously discuss it. That aside, I loved the action and overall plot of the book as well as her relationship with my new favorite wolf.
The story has a solid ending that I am completely happy with- but the author also left open a tiny crack in the door in case there might be a sequel, which I will be completely down for! There was zero romance in the book but still it had 2 of the best relationships that I have read recently and I love the story even more for not having a romance- not everything has to be romantic to be love or support and this was a great example of girls having each other's backs.
So, I did not realize that this was a science fiction novel when I started reading, I just had a vague sense of the synopsis being about snow and wolves and sledding so color me surprised when I began the book to find out that it is set on a far off frozen planet in outer space where people come to mine for a crazy valuable resource. This is best described as science fiction had a baby with Call of the Wild but with a female teen protagonist. All of that being said, I really enjoyed this story. The story was gritty and dangerous and exciting, it was very easy to forget that this was supposed to be another planet because my brain kept putting the story into like Alaska here on earth no problem. To be fair though, I am a complete sucker for books with or about animals, especially when the animal is such a huge part of the story- which, spoiler, this one is! I spent a majority of the book holding my breath hoping that my new favorite alien wolf was going to survive the book, not even caring about the side human characters. Yes, I have my priorities.
Maybe this is petty of me but I dropped my stars from 5 to 4.5 due to how much repetition there was about the death of the main character's moms. Sure, it was sad she became an orphan (which took place years before the book began) and their deaths caused her to stay away from basically everything the book is about (racing, caring for the wolves, making connections with other humans, life in general for the most part) but at least the first half the book the main character thought about their deaths (in almost the same wording/manner) and used the deaths to avoid something at least once a chapter and by the end of the book I didn't want to hear about either of her mother's anymore. Call me insensitive, but I picked up on her grief within the first two times of it being brought up and did not need to continuously discuss it. That aside, I loved the action and overall plot of the book as well as her relationship with my new favorite wolf.
The story has a solid ending that I am completely happy with- but the author also left open a tiny crack in the door in case there might be a sequel, which I will be completely down for! There was zero romance in the book but still it had 2 of the best relationships that I have read recently and I love the story even more for not having a romance- not everything has to be romantic to be love or support and this was a great example of girls having each other's backs.
February 25, 2022
4½�
ᑎᗩᖇᖇᗩTIO� = 😁 (ᐯᙓᖇY ᘜOO�)
ᑎᗩᖇᖇᗩTᙓᗪ ᙖY 🎙️ᒪᗩᙀᖇI� ᙅᗩTᕼᙓᖇIᑎᙓ ᙎIᑎKᙓᒪ
TᖇY TᕼIS I� YOᙀ ᗩᖇ� I� Tᕼᙓ ᙏOO� ᖴO�
Science Fiction with a Dystopian vibe
Found family
Human/Wolf-dog bonding
Dog-sled Race
I love the movie Iron Will…it features a dog sledding race, the Iditarod with the bonding of a boy and his sled dog. This book really reminded me of that movie…it captured the essence of it but with a girl instead of a boy and a wolf instead of a Siberian Husky. It also has some wonderful found-family vibes, which is where the dash of Guardians of the Galaxy fits in.
I kept seeing a lot of mediocre ratings for this but I really liked it, a lot. The planet she has created here is vivid, striking, and even slightly eerie. I was fully into the story and I’m fairly certain there is going to be another book…and I don’t have a problem with that.
TOTᗩᒪ SᙅOᖇᙓ 8.76/�
OᑭᙓᑎIᑎᘜ � 8 ᙅᕼᗩᖇᗩᙅTᙓᖇS � 9 ᑭᒪOT/ᙖᙓᒪIᙓᐯᗩᙖIᒪITY � 8.5 ᗩTᙏOSᑭᕼᙓᖇ�/TOᑎᙓ � 9 ᙎᖇITIᑎᘜ STYᒪᙓ � 9 ᙓᑎᗪIᑎᘜ � 9 Oᐯᙓᖇᗩᒪᒪ ᙓᑎᒍOYᙏᙓᑎT � 9.5
ᑎᗩᖇᖇᗩTIO� = 😁 (ᐯᙓᖇY ᘜOO�)
ᑎᗩᖇᖇᗩTᙓᗪ ᙖY 🎙️ᒪᗩᙀᖇI� ᙅᗩTᕼᙓᖇIᑎᙓ ᙎIᑎKᙓᒪ
TᖇY TᕼIS I� YOᙀ ᗩᖇ� I� Tᕼᙓ ᙏOO� ᖴO�
Science Fiction with a Dystopian vibe
Found family
Human/Wolf-dog bonding
Dog-sled Race
I love the movie Iron Will…it features a dog sledding race, the Iditarod with the bonding of a boy and his sled dog. This book really reminded me of that movie…it captured the essence of it but with a girl instead of a boy and a wolf instead of a Siberian Husky. It also has some wonderful found-family vibes, which is where the dash of Guardians of the Galaxy fits in.
I kept seeing a lot of mediocre ratings for this but I really liked it, a lot. The planet she has created here is vivid, striking, and even slightly eerie. I was fully into the story and I’m fairly certain there is going to be another book…and I don’t have a problem with that.
TOTᗩᒪ SᙅOᖇᙓ 8.76/�
OᑭᙓᑎIᑎᘜ � 8 ᙅᕼᗩᖇᗩᙅTᙓᖇS � 9 ᑭᒪOT/ᙖᙓᒪIᙓᐯᗩᙖIᒪITY � 8.5 ᗩTᙏOSᑭᕼᙓᖇ�/TOᑎᙓ � 9 ᙎᖇITIᑎᘜ STYᒪᙓ � 9 ᙓᑎᗪIᑎᘜ � 9 Oᐯᙓᖇᗩᒪᒪ ᙓᑎᒍOYᙏᙓᑎT � 9.5
January 1, 2022
Fantastic debut!
I loved the story, the setting, and especially the characters.
4.5 stars rounded up
I loved the story, the setting, and especially the characters.
4.5 stars rounded up
July 1, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday books for providing an ARC of this book for an honest review.
Sena just 17 lives in a frozen Tundra which is her planet. She is a thief, liar and a cheat. She does all this to survive. When she escapes with the prized wolf she makes the decision to take a team of scientist to end of “The Race� the one she said she would never do because it killed her mother. Sena knows she must do this because she wants to get off this planet and make a better life for herself.
I thoroughly loved this Dystopian novel. It was filled with a lot of adventure. The book did leave an ending where there could be number 2 so hoping we will hear more from this world.
Sena just 17 lives in a frozen Tundra which is her planet. She is a thief, liar and a cheat. She does all this to survive. When she escapes with the prized wolf she makes the decision to take a team of scientist to end of “The Race� the one she said she would never do because it killed her mother. Sena knows she must do this because she wants to get off this planet and make a better life for herself.
I thoroughly loved this Dystopian novel. It was filled with a lot of adventure. The book did leave an ending where there could be number 2 so hoping we will hear more from this world.
January 10, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC!
Content Warning: violence, murder, death, animal cruelty, animal death, racism, colonization.
On Tundar, survival is everything. Sena Korhosen knows this better than anyone: she spends her days pickpocketing rich tourists in the hopes of earning enough to buy herself an off-world ticket. There's nothing keeping her on Tundar anymore since her mothers' death five years ago. When she runs afoul of a local mob boss, though -- one of the most powerful men in the Ket -- Sena runs out of options. She swore she'd never race, but when a team of scientists offers her more money than she could ever hope to steal if she coaches them through the notoriously dangerous sled race, Sena agrees. With her fighting wolf, Iska, at her side, Sena embarks on a journey so deadly that most racers don't live to see its finish line. Can she find a way out of the dead-end existence on her home-planet, and keep them all alive in the process?
One of my most highly anticipated 2022 reads, my first reaction upon reading the premise of Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves was "wow." It was exactly like something I'd have eagerly devoured in my adolescence, with its animal sidekick, gritty planet and deadly race. In many ways it reminded me a bit of The Hunger Games, though this is not dystopian, but in fact sci-fi. Long's story starts with Sena stealing money from the wrong guys, and a chase sequence that leads her straight into the arms of syndicate leader Kalba.
The first few chapters captivated my interest: I liked the icy setting, and I loved just how mean and cruel the world Sena lives on can be. Long's writing left something to be desired for me; I'm never a fan of first-person, present-tense at the best of times, but it was also quite dry and spent most of the narrative telling, rather than showing. However, I can often overlook qualms with writing-style -- after all, it's something completely subjective, and just because it isn't my cup of tea doesn't mean it won't be someone else's.
The concept is fantastic. I had a bit of an obsession with sled racing (particularly the Iditarod) as a child, and I kept thinking, I can't believe no one's capitalized on this idea before! I'm sad to say that the execution did not meet my expectations. The actual race doesn't even begin until the 55% mark! The pace was painfully slow, and in my opinion, so much could've been cut. A huge portion of the scenes that take place before the race could've been cut, and would've made for a much faster, more satisfying read. That wasn't actually my main issue with the story, though: it was Sena herself.
All of the characters feel very one-dimensional (aside from, perhaps, Remy, one of her sled-race teammates), but Sena suffers the most from this since the book is told through her eyes. Although she often tells us the grief she's still experiencing from the loss of her mothers, the narrative feels distant from her actual feelings and experiences. I also didn't like that the only LGBT representation in the book is Sena's mothers, who are both dead long before this narrative begins. Sena is one of those boringly tough female YA protagonists; she is rarely allowed to display any softness or tenderness, as if in fear that she'll be seen as "weak." She's not sympathetic or likable, particularly after one incident with Iska that left me speechless. How was I supposed to relate to her, or empathize with her, after she did something so shockingly cruel?
I hate giving books low-star ratings, and they have to truly be earned, but I'm disappointed to have to say that Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves was not enjoyable for me. Many people will love (and do love; simply take a look at the reviews on ŷ) this novel, but I simply couldn't become immersed in it. I'm sure many edits will take place, but the core problem is with Sena's character, and I just couldn't bring myself to root for her. I do want to reiterate how original and fresh the actual concept is (and I absolutely love that we're seeing some YA sci-fi!), and I will be interested to see what else Long comes out with. It's worth remembering that this is a debut, and therefore I'm sure that Long will grow as a writer in the years to come!
Although I can't personally recommend this, as it was not a pleasant journey for me, I do think that those who have an interest in sledding, deadly quests and gritty sci-fi should give it a shot.
Content Warning: violence, murder, death, animal cruelty, animal death, racism, colonization.
On Tundar, survival is everything. Sena Korhosen knows this better than anyone: she spends her days pickpocketing rich tourists in the hopes of earning enough to buy herself an off-world ticket. There's nothing keeping her on Tundar anymore since her mothers' death five years ago. When she runs afoul of a local mob boss, though -- one of the most powerful men in the Ket -- Sena runs out of options. She swore she'd never race, but when a team of scientists offers her more money than she could ever hope to steal if she coaches them through the notoriously dangerous sled race, Sena agrees. With her fighting wolf, Iska, at her side, Sena embarks on a journey so deadly that most racers don't live to see its finish line. Can she find a way out of the dead-end existence on her home-planet, and keep them all alive in the process?
One of my most highly anticipated 2022 reads, my first reaction upon reading the premise of Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves was "wow." It was exactly like something I'd have eagerly devoured in my adolescence, with its animal sidekick, gritty planet and deadly race. In many ways it reminded me a bit of The Hunger Games, though this is not dystopian, but in fact sci-fi. Long's story starts with Sena stealing money from the wrong guys, and a chase sequence that leads her straight into the arms of syndicate leader Kalba.
The first few chapters captivated my interest: I liked the icy setting, and I loved just how mean and cruel the world Sena lives on can be. Long's writing left something to be desired for me; I'm never a fan of first-person, present-tense at the best of times, but it was also quite dry and spent most of the narrative telling, rather than showing. However, I can often overlook qualms with writing-style -- after all, it's something completely subjective, and just because it isn't my cup of tea doesn't mean it won't be someone else's.
The concept is fantastic. I had a bit of an obsession with sled racing (particularly the Iditarod) as a child, and I kept thinking, I can't believe no one's capitalized on this idea before! I'm sad to say that the execution did not meet my expectations. The actual race doesn't even begin until the 55% mark! The pace was painfully slow, and in my opinion, so much could've been cut. A huge portion of the scenes that take place before the race could've been cut, and would've made for a much faster, more satisfying read. That wasn't actually my main issue with the story, though: it was Sena herself.
All of the characters feel very one-dimensional (aside from, perhaps, Remy, one of her sled-race teammates), but Sena suffers the most from this since the book is told through her eyes. Although she often tells us the grief she's still experiencing from the loss of her mothers, the narrative feels distant from her actual feelings and experiences. I also didn't like that the only LGBT representation in the book is Sena's mothers, who are both dead long before this narrative begins. Sena is one of those boringly tough female YA protagonists; she is rarely allowed to display any softness or tenderness, as if in fear that she'll be seen as "weak." She's not sympathetic or likable, particularly after one incident with Iska that left me speechless. How was I supposed to relate to her, or empathize with her, after she did something so shockingly cruel?
I hate giving books low-star ratings, and they have to truly be earned, but I'm disappointed to have to say that Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves was not enjoyable for me. Many people will love (and do love; simply take a look at the reviews on ŷ) this novel, but I simply couldn't become immersed in it. I'm sure many edits will take place, but the core problem is with Sena's character, and I just couldn't bring myself to root for her. I do want to reiterate how original and fresh the actual concept is (and I absolutely love that we're seeing some YA sci-fi!), and I will be interested to see what else Long comes out with. It's worth remembering that this is a debut, and therefore I'm sure that Long will grow as a writer in the years to come!
Although I can't personally recommend this, as it was not a pleasant journey for me, I do think that those who have an interest in sledding, deadly quests and gritty sci-fi should give it a shot.
February 4, 2022
This would be a great read for younger YA fans or even those who prefer no romantic subplots. If you hold any love for Balto, Snow Dogs, the Iditarod, or even Call of the Wild—this would be up your alley. But even more than that, this book has a sci-fi setting and touches upon societal issues such as corporatism and socioeconomic struggles. It features strong animal companionship, as well as a found family.
My biggest caveat is that the pacing of this overall was fairly slow—and I felt as though the story was still struggling to find its footing until about halfway in, when the race finally started. After that, everything seemed rushed, and it was difficult to keep up with what was going on and who was who. I think if this had more consistent pacing throughout, it wouldn’t have felt like such a bumpy ride at times.
Other than that—I really wanted to learn more about the world and the powers beyond the planet. I had so many questions and interest, but much of it felt unanswered.
My biggest caveat is that the pacing of this overall was fairly slow—and I felt as though the story was still struggling to find its footing until about halfway in, when the race finally started. After that, everything seemed rushed, and it was difficult to keep up with what was going on and who was who. I think if this had more consistent pacing throughout, it wouldn’t have felt like such a bumpy ride at times.
Other than that—I really wanted to learn more about the world and the powers beyond the planet. I had so many questions and interest, but much of it felt unanswered.
January 12, 2022
Big thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Occasionally a book comes along that is just so perfect in everything from plot to character development to pacing that you can't help but wish you could read it for the first time again and again. Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long is that book.
From the first page, I was hooked. This is a fast paced sci-fi-y survival story done exactly right. There are tropes- oh, there are tropes galore- but they are executed to perfection. Main character Sena is your typical stubborn, hard-headed, fearless YA protagonist with dead parents but she's so well written I didn't care what a stereotype she was because she was real.
Seventeen year old orphan Sena lives on a frozen, monster-infested ice planet called Tundar. The one thing that attracts people to the barely-hospitable world is a yearly dogsled race where teams attempt to reach a deposit of the valuable element called exocarbon which can be mined and sold for huge amounts of money. The race, however, is unbelievably dangerous and few survive to reap their rewards. In fact, the race is what claimed Sena's mothers' lives, leading her to become one of the few people on the planet not interested in competing.
Sena ends up in over her head with an angry mob boss and a series of events predictably leads her to join the race against her will, along with a wolf stolen from said mob boss. Not just any wolf, but a vicious fighting wolf who happens to bear Sena's mother's name, Iska, plus a ragtag racing crew who are more interested in the science of the exocarbon than the typical money hungry, brutish racers.
Sena's relationship with the wolf Iska is everything I've ever wanted in a book. It is beautiful and heart-wrenching and completely believable. The way Sena and Iska start as strangers, each equally wary of the other, and come to depend on each other, two brave souls, alone in the world until they find each other, was a thousand times more fulfilling than any romance subplot I can think of.
The side characters are interesting in their own way, though none nearly as compelling as Sena and Iska. And even though I suspected exactly what their fates would be, I had to read to find out how they get there because the journey is the whole point of this book.
I cannot think of one dull moment in Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves. The plot moves along at breakneck speed, every scene, every line of dialogue moving it forward. I felt like I was flying through this book as fast as Sena and Iska flew through the trails, barely time to stop and check my surroundings. In fact, if there was one negative thing I could say about this book, it's that it isn't longer. On the short side for its genre, Long could easily have added another 100-200 pages, giving rich backstory to interesting side characters, but perhaps to stretch the story out would be to lose some of its magic. The book certainly doesn't suffer for its speedy plot.
One thing worth mentioning, both for those who will rejoice and those who will be disappointed, is the book's complete lack of romance. Sena has no real love interest, and to shoehorn any in would truly be to take away from the plot and the perilous, lonely, barely survivable journey Sena is on. However, there are likely some who will be disappointed, especially as several characters seem perfectly poised to be a love interest to grumpy Sena but nothing ever comes of it.
At its core, Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a story about the dangers of capitalism and corporate greed, wrapped up in a heart-pounding, heartbreaking tale of one girl and her wolf trying to survive against all odds.
Content warnings: death (graphic, human and animal), violence (graphic), gore (graphic), animal cruelty (graphic), murder, organized crime, abandonment,
Occasionally a book comes along that is just so perfect in everything from plot to character development to pacing that you can't help but wish you could read it for the first time again and again. Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long is that book.
From the first page, I was hooked. This is a fast paced sci-fi-y survival story done exactly right. There are tropes- oh, there are tropes galore- but they are executed to perfection. Main character Sena is your typical stubborn, hard-headed, fearless YA protagonist with dead parents but she's so well written I didn't care what a stereotype she was because she was real.
Seventeen year old orphan Sena lives on a frozen, monster-infested ice planet called Tundar. The one thing that attracts people to the barely-hospitable world is a yearly dogsled race where teams attempt to reach a deposit of the valuable element called exocarbon which can be mined and sold for huge amounts of money. The race, however, is unbelievably dangerous and few survive to reap their rewards. In fact, the race is what claimed Sena's mothers' lives, leading her to become one of the few people on the planet not interested in competing.
Sena ends up in over her head with an angry mob boss and a series of events predictably leads her to join the race against her will, along with a wolf stolen from said mob boss. Not just any wolf, but a vicious fighting wolf who happens to bear Sena's mother's name, Iska, plus a ragtag racing crew who are more interested in the science of the exocarbon than the typical money hungry, brutish racers.
Sena's relationship with the wolf Iska is everything I've ever wanted in a book. It is beautiful and heart-wrenching and completely believable. The way Sena and Iska start as strangers, each equally wary of the other, and come to depend on each other, two brave souls, alone in the world until they find each other, was a thousand times more fulfilling than any romance subplot I can think of.
The side characters are interesting in their own way, though none nearly as compelling as Sena and Iska. And even though I suspected exactly what their fates would be, I had to read to find out how they get there because the journey is the whole point of this book.
I cannot think of one dull moment in Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves. The plot moves along at breakneck speed, every scene, every line of dialogue moving it forward. I felt like I was flying through this book as fast as Sena and Iska flew through the trails, barely time to stop and check my surroundings. In fact, if there was one negative thing I could say about this book, it's that it isn't longer. On the short side for its genre, Long could easily have added another 100-200 pages, giving rich backstory to interesting side characters, but perhaps to stretch the story out would be to lose some of its magic. The book certainly doesn't suffer for its speedy plot.
One thing worth mentioning, both for those who will rejoice and those who will be disappointed, is the book's complete lack of romance. Sena has no real love interest, and to shoehorn any in would truly be to take away from the plot and the perilous, lonely, barely survivable journey Sena is on. However, there are likely some who will be disappointed, especially as several characters seem perfectly poised to be a love interest to grumpy Sena but nothing ever comes of it.
At its core, Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a story about the dangers of capitalism and corporate greed, wrapped up in a heart-pounding, heartbreaking tale of one girl and her wolf trying to survive against all odds.
Content warnings: death (graphic, human and animal), violence (graphic), gore (graphic), animal cruelty (graphic), murder, organized crime, abandonment,
December 1, 2021
THIS REVIEW & MORE � Paws and Paperbacks
ARC provided by Wednesday Books.
3.5 stars �
Sled racing, a frozen planet, and wolves? I don’t believe there’s another book out there as perfectly tailored to my wants and needs as Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves. I’ve made it very clear in the past that if the title says “wolves� or “wolf� there is a one hundred percent chance of me reading it and this was no exception. I was so excited for a story about the bond between a wolf and girl, especially one that features sled racing (I mean, I named my husky Balto for crying out loud).
The worldbuilding is definitely the book’s strong point. The author did an amazing job creating a setting that was both believable and imaginative. The vivid descriptions easily bring to mind images of an inhospitable frozen planet and the feel of the sharp sting of cold winds on your face. It was so easy to feel transported into the story while reading. The entirety of the setting of Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves was detailed, well thought out, and excellently written.
I was truly expecting to love everything and anything about this book, but the pacing of the story needed some work. The actual sled race doesn’t happen until well past the halfway mark. The beginning half of the story spent way too long setting up for the events of the second half and I was getting frustrated. I felt like the same plot line was reused multiple times: Sena angers her boss, Sena runs away from her boss, Sena has to go back because she needs something–rinse and repeat until the race begins. My expectations of the story were hoping for a book that spent a majority of time following Sena and Iska during the sled race as they fought for survival in the deadly elements of their world.
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a debut that I still highly recommend, despite my personal shortcomings. The worldbuilding and atmosphere of the novel is phenomenally written and who can resist a book about the bond between a wolf and girl and a deadly sled race?
ARC provided by Wednesday Books.
3.5 stars �
Sled racing, a frozen planet, and wolves? I don’t believe there’s another book out there as perfectly tailored to my wants and needs as Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves. I’ve made it very clear in the past that if the title says “wolves� or “wolf� there is a one hundred percent chance of me reading it and this was no exception. I was so excited for a story about the bond between a wolf and girl, especially one that features sled racing (I mean, I named my husky Balto for crying out loud).
The worldbuilding is definitely the book’s strong point. The author did an amazing job creating a setting that was both believable and imaginative. The vivid descriptions easily bring to mind images of an inhospitable frozen planet and the feel of the sharp sting of cold winds on your face. It was so easy to feel transported into the story while reading. The entirety of the setting of Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves was detailed, well thought out, and excellently written.
I was truly expecting to love everything and anything about this book, but the pacing of the story needed some work. The actual sled race doesn’t happen until well past the halfway mark. The beginning half of the story spent way too long setting up for the events of the second half and I was getting frustrated. I felt like the same plot line was reused multiple times: Sena angers her boss, Sena runs away from her boss, Sena has to go back because she needs something–rinse and repeat until the race begins. My expectations of the story were hoping for a book that spent a majority of time following Sena and Iska during the sled race as they fought for survival in the deadly elements of their world.
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a debut that I still highly recommend, despite my personal shortcomings. The worldbuilding and atmosphere of the novel is phenomenally written and who can resist a book about the bond between a wolf and girl and a deadly sled race?
January 6, 2022
This book was not it for me.
The concept of Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is intriguing. Set on an frozen planet ruled by corporations that control all aspects of life, a deadly Iditarod-style race is held every year to reach the fields and mine precious exocarbon. Sena is the daughter of a former racer who gave up her glory to marry a scavver, a group of people who don’t believe in living under the corporations� thumbs. However, when her mothers died during a race five years ago, Sena found herself completely alone. She ends up picking pockets until she steals from the wrong people. Suddenly she finds herself on the run from the biggest racing gang in town with a prized wolf in tow.
The strength of this book is the world-building. This planet is an unforgiving frozen tundra populated by a cutthroat society. I felt the cutting chill of both the people and the environment as I read.
However, just because a book is geared toward younger adult readers doesn’t mean you need to dumb down the plot. The constant reminders that Sena’s mothers died as social outcasts were frustratingly repetitive. I felt like the author reminded me at least once per chapter that Sena's mothers died and told me that Sena was callous because of their deaths. And while her backstory certainly explained her preference of social isolation, I also suspect that Sena may be a loner because her actions actively endanger both herself and those around her, and the secondary characters are forced to give her a wide berth or else be caught in the crossfire. Her selfishness and lack of foresight contribute to most of her problems, and she spends a lot of time mentally kicking herself for putting people and wolves in danger again. And again. And again.
Honestly, the supporting characters exist solely to either move the plot or to act as a fairy godmother the main character. There were far too many hollow characters propping Sena up, including the wolf.
Overall, the plot was far too convenient and the characters far too underdeveloped for my tastes.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
The concept of Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is intriguing. Set on an frozen planet ruled by corporations that control all aspects of life, a deadly Iditarod-style race is held every year to reach the fields and mine precious exocarbon. Sena is the daughter of a former racer who gave up her glory to marry a scavver, a group of people who don’t believe in living under the corporations� thumbs. However, when her mothers died during a race five years ago, Sena found herself completely alone. She ends up picking pockets until she steals from the wrong people. Suddenly she finds herself on the run from the biggest racing gang in town with a prized wolf in tow.
The strength of this book is the world-building. This planet is an unforgiving frozen tundra populated by a cutthroat society. I felt the cutting chill of both the people and the environment as I read.
However, just because a book is geared toward younger adult readers doesn’t mean you need to dumb down the plot. The constant reminders that Sena’s mothers died as social outcasts were frustratingly repetitive. I felt like the author reminded me at least once per chapter that Sena's mothers died and told me that Sena was callous because of their deaths. And while her backstory certainly explained her preference of social isolation, I also suspect that Sena may be a loner because her actions actively endanger both herself and those around her, and the secondary characters are forced to give her a wide berth or else be caught in the crossfire. Her selfishness and lack of foresight contribute to most of her problems, and she spends a lot of time mentally kicking herself for putting people and wolves in danger again. And again. And again.
Honestly, the supporting characters exist solely to either move the plot or to act as a fairy godmother the main character. There were far too many hollow characters propping Sena up, including the wolf.
Overall, the plot was far too convenient and the characters far too underdeveloped for my tastes.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2022
Ok, this was one of the best debuts I've read this year. Pushing it even farther, it was one of the best books I read this year. The cover drew me in, but the characters and world kept me there.
Id be lying if I said I didn't love this because of Iska. This book wouldn't have been the same without Iska. She was the animal companion I wanted for years, and she made every other animal I've read look one-dimensional. At the end, i was sobbing for her. And don't even get me started on her and Sena's connection. It was so strong, and I loved how they each helped each other heal and become better. She was the friend Sena needed, and Sena was the person Iska needed.
I also absolutely loved the world. It was lush, and almost too realistic. From the ruthlessness of the miners to the greed of the corporations, none of it was glorified. The world was gritty and fierce, and it shone so bright because of this.
Finally, I loved Sena as a character. Yes, she could be bitter, and yes, she could be unlikable. But she was so determined to succeed and do right. She was so determined to make her way in the world. She never let other characters walk all over her, which is something we need more of in YA.
I'm already off to preorder this, and I know it won't leave my mind for months. As soon as it releases, I'll be forcing this onto all of my friends. This was that good, and every YA/sci-fi fan should read it
8/27/22 Reread
I didn't think I could love this more than I already did, but I do. I fell in love with Iska and Sena all over again, and fell even more in love with Pana and Remy. The found family here was amazing, and the ending didn't cut it. I need more of them saving the universe. I need more of them being badass. I need more of them in general. I love this book so much, and I can't wait for Long's next book.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Id be lying if I said I didn't love this because of Iska. This book wouldn't have been the same without Iska. She was the animal companion I wanted for years, and she made every other animal I've read look one-dimensional. At the end, i was sobbing for her. And don't even get me started on her and Sena's connection. It was so strong, and I loved how they each helped each other heal and become better. She was the friend Sena needed, and Sena was the person Iska needed.
I also absolutely loved the world. It was lush, and almost too realistic. From the ruthlessness of the miners to the greed of the corporations, none of it was glorified. The world was gritty and fierce, and it shone so bright because of this.
Finally, I loved Sena as a character. Yes, she could be bitter, and yes, she could be unlikable. But she was so determined to succeed and do right. She was so determined to make her way in the world. She never let other characters walk all over her, which is something we need more of in YA.
I'm already off to preorder this, and I know it won't leave my mind for months. As soon as it releases, I'll be forcing this onto all of my friends. This was that good, and every YA/sci-fi fan should read it
8/27/22 Reread
I didn't think I could love this more than I already did, but I do. I fell in love with Iska and Sena all over again, and fell even more in love with Pana and Remy. The found family here was amazing, and the ending didn't cut it. I need more of them saving the universe. I need more of them being badass. I need more of them in general. I love this book so much, and I can't wait for Long's next book.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
January 10, 2022
Rating 4
This was such an enjoyable story! As you all know, I love a good strong female main character and I’m pleased to say this one didn’t disappoint! This story also has a strong wolf named Iska who is both scary and loveable! The bond between Sena and Iska melts my heart. They learn so much about the work it takes to save the ones you love the most. I love thinking that together they are able to conquer anything. The setting behind this story is so fresh and engaging. The author did a great job building a world that you can easily picture and become a part of. While reading this book I actually felt cold from some of the descriptions in this book! I’ve never felt that before but thought it was so neat. This is a book that you don’t need to know more than what the synopsis gives you. Better to go into this book knowing less because you will enjoy it more! It does have a slow start but stick with it because it does pick up. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a coming of age survival story full of heart.
**Received an advanced copy through NetGalley in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **
This was such an enjoyable story! As you all know, I love a good strong female main character and I’m pleased to say this one didn’t disappoint! This story also has a strong wolf named Iska who is both scary and loveable! The bond between Sena and Iska melts my heart. They learn so much about the work it takes to save the ones you love the most. I love thinking that together they are able to conquer anything. The setting behind this story is so fresh and engaging. The author did a great job building a world that you can easily picture and become a part of. While reading this book I actually felt cold from some of the descriptions in this book! I’ve never felt that before but thought it was so neat. This is a book that you don’t need to know more than what the synopsis gives you. Better to go into this book knowing less because you will enjoy it more! It does have a slow start but stick with it because it does pick up. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a coming of age survival story full of heart.
**Received an advanced copy through NetGalley in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **
February 13, 2022
Narration: sometimes the voices sounded very similar but I was never confused wh0 was speaking and she did a great job bringing the story up a few notches.
3.75 stars 🌟
Story/characters: 4 stars 🌟 🤩 ✨️
I had trouble putting this down.
I loved everything about it:). I felt very immersed in the world 🌎 and the people in it. It all just jumps off the page and doesn't pull punches.
It was a wonderful thing to see the bond between Sena and Iska grow and to see Sena slowly learn to rely on someone other than herself and to learn how to start healing.
Her growth throughout everything was ❤️❤️❤️.
I was very happy when one person got their comeuppance.
I do wish we had more of this world, only because I just wanted to know more about every nook and cranny. I hope she writes more in this universe, even if Sena/Iska aren't a part of it.
*via Overdrive app from the library *
3.75 stars 🌟
Story/characters: 4 stars 🌟 🤩 ✨️
I had trouble putting this down.
I loved everything about it:). I felt very immersed in the world 🌎 and the people in it. It all just jumps off the page and doesn't pull punches.
It was a wonderful thing to see the bond between Sena and Iska grow and to see Sena slowly learn to rely on someone other than herself and to learn how to start healing.
Her growth throughout everything was ❤️❤️❤️.
I was very happy when one person got their comeuppance.
I do wish we had more of this world, only because I just wanted to know more about every nook and cranny. I hope she writes more in this universe, even if Sena/Iska aren't a part of it.
*via Overdrive app from the library *
February 13, 2021
THIS. BOOK.
It’s not often that a YA book feels truly unique and unexpected. Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves surprised me in so many ways—a Horizon: Zero Dawn-esque fusion of tech and deadly wilderness on a frozen planet, with heart-pounding stakes and heroic sled dogs that feel reminiscent of Balto.
Sena is a resilient, damaged heroine whose story is defined by her deep friendship with a wounded wolf, instead of a romantic arc. The story blends realistic, well-researched aspects of dogsledding and survival with fresh sci-fi elements. It’s atmospheric and lovely, with a tundra haunted by terrifying monsters and excellent portrayals of loss and trust.
Highly recommended.
It’s not often that a YA book feels truly unique and unexpected. Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves surprised me in so many ways—a Horizon: Zero Dawn-esque fusion of tech and deadly wilderness on a frozen planet, with heart-pounding stakes and heroic sled dogs that feel reminiscent of Balto.
Sena is a resilient, damaged heroine whose story is defined by her deep friendship with a wounded wolf, instead of a romantic arc. The story blends realistic, well-researched aspects of dogsledding and survival with fresh sci-fi elements. It’s atmospheric and lovely, with a tundra haunted by terrifying monsters and excellent portrayals of loss and trust.
Highly recommended.
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