Book Review: Wolf By Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Over ten years since the Nazis won the war, 18 yr old Yael has one mission: to kill Hitler - a captivating second novel from Walled City author, Ryan Graudin.

Once upon a different time, there was a girl who lived in a kingdom of death. Wolves howled up her arm. A whole pack of them-made of tattoo ink and pain, memory and loss. It was the only thing about her that ever stayed the same.Her story begins on a train.

Germania, 1956. Over ten years since the Nazis won the war. 18-year-old Yael is part of the resistance, and she has just one mission: to kill Hitler. But first she's got to get close enough to him to do it. Experimented on during her time at Auschwitz, Yael has the unique ability to change her appearance at will. The only part of her which always remains are the five tattooed wolves on her arm; one for each of the people she's lost. Using her abilities, she must transform into Adele Wolfe, Germany's most famous female rider and winner of the legendary Axis Tour; an epic long distance motorcycle race from Berlin to Tokyo, where only the strongest (and wiliest) riders survive. If she can win this, she will be able to get close enough to kill the Fuhrer and change history forever.

But with other riders sabotaging her chances at every turn, Yael's mission won't be easy. . .

My Review: 
Yael is part of the resistance who are determined to kill Hitler and change the world but with Hitler being paranoid and reclusive, getting close to him is virtually impossible. The one time he is seen in public is when he presents the prize for the motorbike race from Berlin to Tokyo so if Yael can win the race, she can try to kill him. She will have to use her unique transformation skills to take on the identity of famous rider Adele Wolfe, who famously danced with Hitler when she won the race. However with Adele's brother and biggest rivals in the race, trying to keep up the deception through the race will be just as difficult as winning it.

I had heard such good things about this book but not the details of the plot and I thought it was a really great read. Yael is a wonderful character, a young girl ripped from her family and experimented on by Nazi doctors in Auschwitz. The experiments allow her to change her appearance at will and she has joined the resistance to avenge the loved ones she lost in the camp. I loved that she had wolf tattoos, one for each person she lost and the story of each of these losses is told in short flashbacks to the death camp. I loved the way that these flashbacks were blended with the main story of the resistance and the race-and I'm not a huge fan of flashbacks! The stories of her losses and the experiments on her were very sad and emotional. It really added to the story and the development of the character.

The people in the resistance are just as interesting. I liked finding out their motivations and how they are organised with their secret hideouts and plans. It was interesting to find out more about how they were plotting to take back their country. The plan was to kidnap Adele from her flat the night before the race, replacing her with Yael who would alter her appearance accordingly. Adele would be held prisoner for the duration of the race, her family hidden away to protect them until they could reveal the true assassin after it happened. The death of Hitler would provoke an uprising against the Nazis.

The race itself is fascinating. It was started as a race across Europe, Africa and Asia, to show off the lands that Germany and Japan had conquered during the war. It became a globally televised event that brings glory to both countries. Last year it was won by Adele Wolfe, who danced with Hitler at the Ball after the race, giving the resistance the idea of using Yael impersonating Adele to get close enough to kill Hitler. The problems arise with Yael having to ensure that she wins at any cost to complete her mission, and watching out for sabotage by the competition. She has to fool the two people that know Adele best-her brother Felix, who doesn't want his sister racing and will do anything to stop her, and Luka who seems to have a very complicated and possible romantic past with, something that the resistance can find no information about to help Yael. She can't trust them but may need their help if she is to win.

The race was all I was expecting and more. The contestants have to deal with bike repairs and punctures, the changing weather conditions from country to country, rough terrain, hostile populations as well as the sabotage by others. It is a race full of twists, turns and unexpected moments with plenty of action and betrayal. It was exciting to follow them on their adventures and try to work out what was coming next. Blending this with the resistance trying to help Yael along the way as well as the haunting flashbacks led to a beautifully written YA adventure and I just loved it! I never knew what twist was coming next and it surprised me a couple of times. The ending was tension filled and pretty explosive! This book has that mixture of action, tension, hint of romance and pulsating race that combined to be one of my best reads of the year.

I look forward to reading the second book soon so I can find out what happens next!

Read August 2018.
5 stars.