Wolf by Wolf: Mad Max Fury Road meets Axis Powers Road Race in 1956

There are some books where I just read the synopsis and am like yes, I must read this book. This was one of them. In one sentence, this book is basically an alternate reality of WWII. What if the Axis powers had won? Wolf by Wolf is a Wolf by Wolf was Excellent: Mad Max Fury Road meets Axis Powers Road Race in 1956, and it’s truly excellent.

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin
Series: Wolf by Wolf #1
on October 20th 2015
Narrator: Christa Lewis
Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads

Her story begins on a train.
The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule. To commemorate their Great Victory, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor’s Ball in Tokyo.
Yael, a former death camp prisoner, has witnessed too much suffering, and the five wolves tattooed on her arm are a constant reminder of the loved ones she lost. The resistance has given Yael one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year’s only female racer, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin’s brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael’s every move.
But as Yael grows closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?
From the author of The Walled City comes a fast-paced and innovative novel that will leave you breathless.

What I liked:

1. This book technically takes place in our world just in a different reality, but it felt like a slightly different world altogether. There is a hint of magical realism in it – just a hint, and I loved it.

2. Yael is a BA, strong female protagonist. I loved her fierce hatred of the Axis powers and her willingness to do what it takes to bring them down.

3. The writing was wonderfully evocative. It’s simply done, without excessive flourishes or descriptions. It really gets the raw, grittiness of the road race across. It also thoroughly portrays Yael’s spectrum of emotions as she embodies this Aryan girl and becomes someone she hates.

4. I listened to the audiobook, and Christa Lewis, the narrator, did a fantastic job with the novel. I would definitely recommend the audiobook if you are a book listener!

5. The plot is just plain fun. A motorcycle race across Europe and Asia? Yes, please. 

6. The ending!! I can’t wait to dive into the sequel and finale, Blood for Blood. 

What I didn’t like:

1. There wasn’t much for me to dislike. I will say that sometimes Yael’s concern for her competitors seemed a little far-fetched. She hated these people with her whole entire soul. I can’t imagine she would so easily forget what they had done to her and her people.

Definitely recommend this one if you like historical fiction, the synopsis appeals to you, and/or you enjoy a fast-paced, heist-like adventure story with a strong female lead. 

The second and final novel in the duology, Blood for Blood, was released in November 2016!

Did you read Wolf by Wolf? What were your thoughts? Have you read other alternate history/reality stories? This one was my first, and I really liked it! 

A.S. Thornton

A.S. Thornton has evolved from book blogger to author with a particular fondness for writing forbidden love in ancient deserts. When not writing, she’s caring for dogs and cats as a veterinarian. You’ll never find animals at the center of her writing, though, because those fictional worlds don’t have veterinarians and her literal brain can’t accept that the poor critters would be without parasite prevention. Thornton’s debut, DAUGHTER OF THE SALT KING is available wherever books are sold.