Red lives in a small village ruled by fear, rules and a tyrannical mayor. He has control of rations and who receives them, has had towers built with lookouts on the edge of the forest, and has stirred a constant undercurrent of distrust amongst the townsfolk.

The lookouts keep an eye out for wolves creeping near the town’s boundary with the forest. Many men have been lost to wolves over the years – even Red’s father. But they need the forest too for fuel for warmth, cooking and funeral pyres, of there have been many. Magic is said to lurk amongst the trees too, just as dangerous as the wolves, and once a proud hunting town, now men and boys are banned from entering the forest.

Women and girls however, have never been harmed by anything in the forest, and despite the warnings and rules, it is Red’s favourite place in the world. She knows of the wolves and magic, and neither have ever caused her harm. In fact it has always been the opposite, and with only partial sight, Red welcomes their help as she wanders amongst the trees.

Her grandmother has taught her the wonders of the forest, but just as she appeared one day after being gone since Red’s mother was a child, she is gone again, leaving Red lost and lonely for someone who understands her love for all that is forbidden.

Three years of searching for her grandmother has left Red without hope of ever seeing her again. But soon Red has bigger things to deal with. She has begun her periods – and painful and scary as they first are, they signal something else in her life. Something her grandmother was trying to prepare her for.

Suddenly all she loves, both inside and outside the forest is in jeopardy, and pulling all the recent mysterious events together, Red knows she’s the only one who can put things right, once and for all.

Whilst studying and during PhD research on fairytales, the spark of an idea for Wolf Siren came to author Beth O’Brien. The result is an intriguing world of magic, wolves, suspicion and love of nature.

Red inhabits two different worlds – whilst in her village, and even her home, she is careful what she says and who she speaks to, goes about her daily chores quickly and head down. But in the very place she is forbidden to be, she is free from worries, feeling safe and happy and loved by the forest around her.

This brings a compelling mixture of good and evil as in favourite fairytales, but tipped upon its head. Wolf Siren is primarily a tale of womanhood, with strong female roles, and those who stand together with loyalty and courage to defeat all the wrong in their small world.

After all… inside every girl is a wolf.

Author – Beth O’Brien

Age – 11+

(2025, Harper Collins, Adventure, Magic, Animals, Family, Friendship, Courage, Fantasy, Grief, Growing up, Historical, Murder, Mystery, Secret, Wolves, Trees, Wood, Forest, Control, Fear, Grandmother, Wolfwomen, Beliefs, Fairytales, Folklore, Loyalty)