Written by Erik Julkin
There’s always a certain delight in picking up a novella (this is equally true of novels, or any other format of book created for adults) and discovering pictures interspersed throughout its prose. Erik Julkin’s The Witch and the Wolf – Bond of the Ancients (the first entry in his Tales from the Omniworld series) is a book of such delights. As evocative as its cover is, it does little to prepare the reader for the beautiful artwork inside. Unfortunately, the book doesn’t credit the artist, so I can’t provide any such information, but whoever they are, they have contributed significantly to the atmosphere this novella conveys.
Whilst the art adds a great deal to The Witch and the Wolf’s atmosphere, it doesn’t do so alone. The majority is left to the author’s storytelling. Through every word, the author’s prose paints a picture, transporting the reader into its world. The prose drips gothicism while illustrating the world through its lyrical words. Although books that feature lyrical prose can get lost in their words, resulting in a story that feels overwritten, The Witch and the Wolf never falls into this trap. The writing guides the reader on a journey, unveiling the story methodically, while giving it room to breathe.
Although this is a short journey at just 218 pages in paperback (or an estimated 147 pages on Kindle), the author has created a wonderful setting. The Witch and the Wolf is nestled within a fantasy landscape (the Omniverse, per the series title), which the novella uses to tell a story that’s part dark fantasy, part fable. The story takes inspiration from Little Red Riding Hood, with clear connections between its protagonist, and the novella’s protagonist, Red. and the Big Bad Wolf, and the novella’s Bad Wolf. As a fan of such fairy tales, the connection delighted me, but what I found more delightful is how The Witch and the Wolf tells its own story, rather than simply retelling or reimagining the fable. I’m curious about whether future entries in the series will take inspiration from other stories.
Despite its length and origins, The Witch and the Wolf is not a children’s story. Little Red Riding Hood’s origins lie in Greek and Roman mythology, and although the versions of the fairy tale it was adapted into were admittedly dark stories, they were still written for children. The novella straddles the line between the dark fairy tale and the mythological stories, presenting a story that is often violent. The book also includes dark sexual themes. This will unsettle some adult readers, and if you’re someone who would find this disconcerting, consider this your trigger warning. At no point does the book’s subject matter feel gratuitous; it’s in service of the story and its unsettling atmosphere.
Novellas risk feeling like they have too much story to tell for the space used or can feel like short stories padded out, but The Witch and the Wolf’s story feels perfectly suited to its length (although this comes with the proviso that it forms the first part of a longer story; more on that later). The pacing builds slowly, but the pace never feels as though it’s too slow. It feels deliberate, luring the reader in and keeping them captivated, without ever rushing through it.
Without the room a novel provides a story, novellas often sacrifice character development. This isn’t necessarily an issue, and many authors work within these confines incredibly well. However, The Witch and the Wolf‘s protagonist Red, along with Dave, her companion to whom she’s connected to thanks to a curse, are fully fleshed out characters. They both bring a level of depth with them, which the book provides in efficient detail. While certain other characters in the book feel three dimensional, others don’t, with their inclusion being used to drive the plot and populate the world. The book has a reasonably large cast, and whether the character has levels of depth or not, they are always entertaining.
Much of this entertainment comes from the dialogue. As the dialogue in many fantasies does, it feels as though it comes from another time. It not only conveys the book’s fantasy setting, but also helps convey the book’s fable-like qualities. Each character has their own voice and sounds distinct from the others, including one, introduced early, who speaks like a pirate. The dialogue flows well, and the conversations sound realistic.
As the title’s precursor, Tales from the Omniworld, suggests, The Witch and the Wolf is part of a series. As it’s the first book, it’s easy to pick up and dive into without any prior knowledge. By the end of the story, it becomes apparent there’s more to come, beckoning the reader to pick up the next book in the series. Whilst it feels like a substantial story this may disappoint those readers who prefer their books to have a solid conclusion, rather than wanting to continue the story in subsequent books.The Witch and the Wolf straddles the line between fable and dark fantasy, creating a story that is sure to engross readers. The prose, accentuated by stunning artwork, is a thing of beauty, conveying everything the reader needs to know while presenting it in gothic fashion. While the book’s darkness, themes and subject matter may be a bit much for some readers, those who lean towards dark tales will be drawn into its web. I’m looking forward to seeing where Tales from the Omniworld goes next.
Favourite Passage
Barely holding his eyes open, he took off his pants, and naked, he hid under the blanket, already dreaming about all the adventures that would come his way. The bed, creaking under his weight, welcomed his dreams with the warmth of well-worn sheets.
Tales from the Omniworld: The Witch and the Wolf – Bond of the Ancients, Chapter 7: “Deal”
Tales from the Omniworld: The Witch and the Wolf – Bond of the Ancients was provided by the author for the purpose of an honest review.
The Witch and the Wolf is available on Kindle, exclusive to Amazon, and paperback and hardcover, exclusive to the Great British Book Shop.
Note: I do not post scores for reviews on this website, but do post them on my Amazon and Goodreads reviews:
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Interested in purchasing The Witch and the Wolf?
Please find a link below; please note I do not collect any proceeds from the sale.
The Witch and The Wolf – Bond of the Ancients (Tales from the Omniworld)
wastanley.com 