The Wolf and His King: Deluxe Limited Edition - by Finn Longman (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Madeline Miller meets Angela Carter in this spellbinding queer retelling of the 12th - century tale of Bisclavret the werewolf -- unmissable for fans of Uprooted by Naomi Novik, Swordcrossed by Freya Marske, and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden.

***DELUXE LIMITED EDITION HARDCOVER with stenciled edges, a beautiful foil-stamped hardcover, and exclusive interior design with full-color illustrated endpapers!*** Only while supplies last.

A noble knight hiding the beast inside. A lonely king isolated by his courtiers. Between them an impossible gulf surmountable only by the twists and turns of relentless destiny in this spellbinding retelling of Marie de France's classic 12th-century tale of romance and adventure.

The wolf-sickness strikes always without warning, stealing Bisclavret's body and confusing his mind. Since boyhood, he hasn't dared leave his isolated holdings--not to beg the return of his father's lost estate, not to seek brotherhood among the court, not even to win the knighthood he yearns for. But when a new king ascends, Bisclavret must deliver his kiss of fealty or answer for the failure.

Half an exile himself, the young king is intrigued by this uneasy, rough-hewn nobleman. Bisclavret seems a perfect knight: bold, strong, and merciful. But he keeps his secrets close, and the king's longings are not for counsel alone. As his fascination grows, the barriers between them multiply, until one day Bisclavret vanishes beyond reach. Battling desperation and grief, the king stands alone to face the greatest threats to his kingdom, with only duty to his people between him and ruin--duty, and the steadfast loyalty of the strangest wolf . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for The Wolf and his King

"Enter the shady forests of medieval Brittany and smell the hot wolf fur and hear the beat of yearning hearts in this gorgeous love story. Historian and wordsmith Finn Longman's atmospheric retelling of Bisclavret will sink its teeth into you." --V. V. James, Sunday Times bestselling author of Sanctuary

"The perfect book to feast upon this winter, wrapped in fur blankets, with a rich mug of cocoa. This lyrical, rich retelling elevates queer voices while still honoring the original medieval folklore. Finn Longman is a master of their craft." --Wren James, Carnegie-longlisted author of The Loneliest Girl in the Universe

"Blending the pageantry of medieval romance with a heart wrenching queer love story, The Wolf and His King is filled with loyalty and betrayal, dark secrets, and oh, so much yearning. I couldn't put it down!" --Kimberly Bea, author of The Changeling Queen

"Beautiful and devastating, with prose that flows off the page like honey. This book is ambitious in form and deeply romantic, infused with the ache of yearning and the healing balm of being truly seen and embraced." --Cristin Williams, author of The Whisper of Stars

About the Author

Finn Longman is an author and medievalist, originally from London. They write young adult and adult fiction, with a particular interest in genre-bending stories about identity, friendship, and monstrosity--of the metaphorical or the literal sort. They've spent most of their adult life alternating between working in libraries and studying for increasingly niche degrees in medieval literature, and can usually be found in the vicinity of a pile of books. Finn is currently a PhD student at the University of Cambridge, researching friendship and affection in the late Ulster Cycle. You can find them at finnlongman.com.