Counting Wolves Review

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. 5 glorious stars!!! Okay, deep breaths before I start actually writing a review for this book. I just have to say, I so did not expect this book to turn out the way it did. I was expecting a retelling of the fairytales with a twist. But, it took me completely by surprise and in an amazing way. So, as you can see there are all smiles here. :D Firstly, I absolutely loved the concept of the novel. The idea of setting the story in a psychiatric ward was interesting. The fact that the book was referred to as The Breakfast Club meets Grimm's Fairy Tales was intriguing and the author, Michael F. Stewart, has pulled it off brilliantly. I loved his writing style as well. The story was filled with beautiful prose and imagery. The descriptions weren't overly detailed but it created enough of a fantastical feel for the reader to get immersed in. I also loved the intertwining fantasy elements set against the starkness of such a clinical environment. It made for the perfect setting and added a depth of richness to the story. Secondly, I adored the characters. Each and every one of them were fleshed out and portrayed in a uniquely complex manner. I really applaud the author for such intricacies and the fact that the story lacked the usual love triangle made it even more refreshing. This book definitely steered clear of the usual YA cliches. Thank goodness for that. I really liked how the wackiness of the characters really jumps off the pages. The MC Milly (or Romila Malone) was described well. I liked how the author didn't focus on how the character looked but how she dealt with her issues and faced her fears. She comes across as a very resilient girl albeit having to overcome some deep seeded insecurities and vulnerabilities. I also liked how she was willing to stand up for herself and own up to her mistakes. I think the characters had a rawness and authenticity to them which I greatly appreciated. But at the heart of this story, I think what blew me away was how the author portrayed mental illness. It wasn't described in a harsh light but was shown in the most beautifully humane way. The way the fairytales were interwoven with PTSD, OCD, bi-polar disorder, etc made for a gorgeous read. The way the MC deals with anxiety is shown with such emotion and rawness left me speechless. I could so relate to her. All of us go through times in our lives when we are paralysed by our pasts or circumstances, but we are called to push past our inadequacies. I think the author does an amazing job of bringing these to light. This book is about love, relationships, overcoming fear and embracing your quirks. It's about not letting a mental-illness define you and that's what I loved about it. Overall, it was a fantastic read. I might have read it faster as the pacing was brisk. Unfortunately, Uni got in the way and I read it a bit slowly. Alas, it's still going on my favourites. I can't wait to read more books by Michael F. Stewart. I'd definitely recommend reading this one, you will not be disappointed in the least :D

#youngadult #mentalillness #fantasy #fairytale #MichaelFStewart