Duty of the Winter Wolf is a novella, but it’s really more like the first installment of a serial novel. It introduces us to Akira, an outcast in her remote and isolated village even among her own family due to having been born with the soul of a wolf. She’s inexplicably chosen as the new Guardian of the Winter Stone (also the name of the series), and is tasked with finding said stone, an ancient relic that’s missing.

Despite never before having left her village, Akira sets off alone on a journey to find the stone. As she travels she comes across some other interesting characters, and discovers that what she’s been taught to believe may not actually be the truth. The installment ends in a cliffhanger, but definitely left me wanting to read on.

I received a free ARC from the author, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.