Lady Wolf's Library

Wicked Tales & Wild Romances

recent posts

about

Step into a sanctuary of Wicked Tales & Wild Romances, where we explore the most captivating corners of dark fantasy and heart-tugging rom-coms. This is more than just a reading log; it’s a collection of Curated Chronicles for the Modern She-Wolf who isn’t afraid to get lost in the shadows or fall for the monster. ​Whether it’s a slow-burn magic system or a spicy contemporary trope, every story here is chosen to be Wildly Devoured.
  • SILVER & BLOOD

    SILVER & BLOOD

    By: Jessie Mihalik
    NOW AVAILABLE
    Genre: Romantasy

    Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
    Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥(howl)
    Tropes: Fae, Magic, Mysterious Past, Grumpy vs Sunshine

    REVIEW

    I read this last year and it’s was one of those books I enjoyed so much, but it had so many twists and turns and I didn’t really know how to wrote a review without giving too much away. I loved all of the characters. Riela and Garrick, who seems like such a curmudgeon throughout most the book, but he has his reasons, along with his fiercely protective lupine friend.

    The tension in this grows to delicious levels and there is enough going on that the plot does not fall to the wayside in an effort to push forward the romance. There is so much to learn and you want Riela to succeed in figuring out why her powers seem to only break through when she is desperate.

    There’s also the mistrust from Garrick’s perspective. Usually it would be a red flag for me, but in this case you learn how warranted it is for him and how dangerous it is for Riela.

    It’s a very good book. It gets a little dark at times, like once they figure out how to cross and we discover who Garrick truly is. There’s some court intrigue later in the book and danger around every corner throughout.

    I highly recommend it. I’m very excited for the sequel. There is so much left to learn.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

    PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

    “There’s something in the woods…

    When a vicious beast begins attacking her fellow villagers, Riela reluctantly agrees to enter the forbidden forest and kill the monster as she’s the only mage available—or so she thought.

    Untrained and barely armed, Riela is quickly overwhelmed when one beast turns into two. She fears her death is at hand until the unexpected arrival of a scarred, strikingly handsome man with gleaming moonlit magic changes her fate—and provides a rare opportunity to learn more about her own fickle power.

    After being rescued and healed from the beast’s poison, Riela awakens in a magical castle complete with a gorgeous library, a strange wolf, and the surly man who saved her life. She soon learns Garrick is both more powerful and far deadlier than a mere mortal mage—but thanks to a century-long curse, his powers are weakening.

    Trapped in his castle and surrounded by the treacherous woods, the spark of attraction between Riela and Garrick slowly ignites into fiery desire. But the more they discover about Riela’s magic, the more suspicious Garrick grows of her identity. As they unravel the secrets and lies connecting Riela’s past to Garrick’s, the tenuous threads of trust between them start to fray.

    Because Riela’s life—or her death—might be the key to regaining everything Garrick has lost.”

  • BONDED BY THORNS

    BONDED BY THORNS

    By: Elizabeth Helen
    Now Available
    Genre: Romantasy

    Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕
    Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥(howl)
    Tropes: Reverse Harem, fairytale retelling, Chosen One, Fated Mates

    REVIEW

    Bonded by Thorns is a really good retelling of Beauty and the Beast and is an excellent introduction to Castletree and its inhabitants. The world building is gradual, but not the main focus.

    The beginning and the framework are very close to the classic story, but we find that instead of one cursed prince, we have four who each rule their own realm. As Rosalina gets to know each if these men, she also comes to understand the realms they inhabit and how magiv works in this–parallel universe?

    I also loved the complexities of the relationships and also that Rosalina had a Past before she was shifted into this Fae place. Her “Gaston” is an ass as he should be. And then she meets these guys who don’t ask much of her and like her for her and she starts to see her self worth and that’s the second best part of the book. The best? The heat. Those two thungs will drive you deep into the rest of the series, which are the thick kind, but packed with flavor and easy to devour.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the free ebook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

    PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

    Four beastly princes. One awkward bookworm. An enchanted world of fae, magic, and danger.

    I’ve always loved fairy tales. I never imagined I’d actually be in one.

    When my father wanders into the enchanted realm of the fae, I know I have to go after him. And when he gets imprisoned, I’ll do anything to save him…even trade my freedom for his. I had no idea I’d end up imprisoned by four fae princes who turn into beasts at night.

    I have to win my freedom, and that means making a bargain with them. They must find their mates in order to break the curse. If I can help them do that, they’ll set me free. Sounds simple, right?

    It’s not. Because against my better judgment, I’m starting to fall for these beastly princes. One is smart and sweet, the other mysterious and deadly, another flirty and confident, and the last prince… He’s handsome, strong, has a wicked temper, and is dead set against breaking the curse. Why does he want to keep me here forever?

    But it’s not just my freedom on the line. If I don’t break the princes’ curse soon, all the magic in the Enchanted Vale will be stolen by the evil—and stupidly hot—Prince of Thorns. And I’m not letting my princes stay cursed.

    Not after I’ve fallen in love with them.

  • HOLLOW

    By: Karina Halle
    Now Available
    Genre: Dark Romantasy

    Rating: 🌕🌕🌛
    Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥(feral)
    Tropes: Shadow Daddy, Dark academia, Why Choose?

    REVIEW

    This was a spicy, dark remaining of the Sleepy Hollow legend coupled with a dark academia mystery full of witches, why choose?, and early puritan America vibes.

    The story of Ichabod and the Headless horseman is a widely known American legend. In Hollow, Ichabod Crane is a professor in the nearby school of witchcraft. The privileged daughter of the headmistress, Kat Von Tassel, is one of his students. He is immediately drawn to her and she to him. The love of her childhood, Bram, has been missing for three years after a night of passion with Kat and suddenly returns shortly after their meeting. However, something dark has happened to Bram that has caused him to become something other at night…something dark. Something deadly. Something possessive…over Kat.

    This story was mostly good. There were a few parts that were a little slow? But the spice was good and the dips into Crane’s past were illuminating. This is definitely a smit-droven book more than plot driven. Hopefully it will pick up in the next book.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

    PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

    Kat Van Tassel’s life was predestined from childhood; she was to marry her best friend, Brom Bones. But Brom vanished from Sleepy Hollow years ago, leaving Kat alone to enroll in Sleepy Hollow Institute, a shadowy university for advanced witchcraft run by her powerful family. And now she finds herself drawn to the school’s enigmatic new teacher, Ichabod Crane, as he delves into dark magic.

    When Brom returns, suffering from amnesia and a dark transformation, the trio must confront gruesome murders attributed to a vengeful spirit, The Headless Horseman, while navigating their tangled relationships.

    As Kat, Ichabod, and Brom seek answers, their bonds deepen, and forbidden desires take hold. But Sleepy Hollow holds secrets more sinister than they imagined. The Headless Horseman lurks, threatening to claim them, while something even more terrifying looms in the shadows. Embark on a journey of dark mysteries, desire, and danger in the eerie heart of Sleepy Hollow.

  • MARS VOL1 – 30th Anniversary Ed

    MARS VOL1 – 30th Anniversary Ed

    By: Fuyumi Soryo

    Pub Date: 06-16-2026

    Genre: Manga Romance
    Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

    Art: 🎨🎨🎨🎨

    Heat Level: 🔥(Tame)

    Tropes: Troubled Bad Boy, Quiet Artist Girl, Touch her and pay

    REVIEW

    It was really nice to revisit something that I read back in middle school. I had a friend who would read Manga and would let me read after her (special shout out to Ande for the intro which has lead to my love of graphic novels and appreciation for Asian culture that has grown deep over these many years!). It felt a little like stepping back in time with an old friend. It definitely wasn’t 30 years ago, but it was long enough that this was like taking the way-back machine to a time before smartphones.

    The story still holds up, although there were definitely a few parts I had forgotten, like the teacher in the art room, but it’s where we all became fascinated by Rei. The characters are loveable with many layers and there is so much that happens in just this first volume. I hope I get the chance to revisit the rest of the series!

    Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

    PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

    Kira’s life has been marked by pain. Gang violence took her father when she was young, and her mother’s remarriage only inflicted even more appalling scars. She has no trust left to offer the world, so when a ravishingly handsome boy asks her for directions one day, she draws a map and hands it to him without a word. On the other side of the map is one of her drawings, which catches the eye of the boy, a motorcyclist named Rei. When the two end up in the same class, an outrageous incident will bind them together—Rei promising to model for Kira, in exchange for more of her art. But Rei has also suffered a family tragedy that has worn down his temper to a short, flashing fuse. Can these two damaged souls with nowhere else to turn heal each other, or will they burn themselves out first?

  • CHRISTMAS WITH A CHIMERA

    By Isabelle Taylor
    Pub Date: NOW AVAILABLE

    Genre: RomCom, Contemporary Fantasy

    Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌗

    Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥(Howl)

    Tropes: Second Chance Romance, Grumpy v Sunshine, Celebrity, Small Town

    REVIEW

    Welcome back to Claw Haven, everyone! This was such a charming novella set in our favorite recently revamped little Alaskan town full of mythical creatures and beings.

    Arthur and Emma’s relationship is kind of hot. They are both looking for connection and love that they haven’t felt since the Big Betrayal of their high school years. Emma has been angry ever since, and Arthur has been faking it and making it but with no real interpersonal connection for the last couple of decades until a RomCom He’s filming decides that Claw Haven, his home town. Is the perfect place to shoot and at Emma’s Cafe no less. YIKES.

    I love how Athur goes about winning back the only person who ever made an effort to get to know the real him and how Emma has to come to terms with her anger and where it comes from.

    This is the perfect little fast paced romance novella to warm your heart on a winter’s eve.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

    PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

    Going home for Christmas wasn’t on chimera Arthur Pineclaw’s to-do list, not since he left the sleepy town of Claw Haven over a decade ago. He’s back now for one reason only—to film a cozy holiday romance. Two weeks of smiling for the cameras and charming his fans, and he can go back to LA. Easy. After all, there’s no one he can’t charm.

    No one except for Emma Curt, the high school sweetheart he dumped on Christmas Eve. The same woman who apparently owns the café they’re filming in.

    Emma never would’ve agreed to let her café be a filming location for a rom-com if she’d known Arthur Pineclaw was the lead. She’d rather eat rocks than be civil to the guy who abandoned her to become a movie star—on Christmas Eve.

    But as the two spend more time together, it’s easy to fall into old habits…and into bed. Just because things are still good between them doesn’t mean Emma’s ready for anything more, but when their unexpected reunion stirs up old feelings—and old arguments—a second chance romance might be the gift they both need.

  • ACCIDENTALLY WEDDED TO A WEREWOLF

    ACCIDENTALLY WEDDED TO A WEREWOLF

    By: Isabelle Taylor

    Pub Date: NOW AVAILABLE

    Genre: Fantasy RomCom

    Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌗

    Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥(Howl)

    Tropes: Fated Mates, Fake Marriage, Fish Out of Water, Found Family

    REVIEW

    When Luna, an LA party girl, gets stranded in Claw Haven, Alaska, on the way to a tropical beach vacation, she never expected the community that would welcome her or how invested she would get in helping the run down local inn and it’s grumpy, hot werewolf owner Oliver, let alone accidently end up married to him!

    Now it’s a race to find some way to counteract the bonding potion she accidentally drank that has made it nearly impossible to stay more than a few feet from her accidental husband. Their adventures take them to places neither would expect. Various places in town, the woods, the mountains, and even…the bedroom? Knotty knotty!

    The marriage might be faked, but the feelings are anything but.

    This book is a lovely introduction to the fantasy world where Claw Haven exists. We get to meet the members of the town alongside Luna as she navigates her way through the cozy and private town.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

    PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

    Spoiled heiress Luna Stack is meant to be sipping mai tais on a beach with her fun-loving fiancé. Instead, a snowstorm strands her in Claw Haven, Alaska, a cozy town full of monsters living the quiet life. At least the werewolf innkeeper’s hot—until he opens his mouth.

    Luna’s more than ready to leave the grumpy wolf and his decrepit inn behind as soon as the snow clears, but when a potion mishap bonds the two of them together, she resigns herself to staying in Claw Haven, just for a little while.

    She’s only werewolf married though, not married married, like, legally. No big deal.

    Oliver Musgrove wants nothing to do with his new “wife.” He has annoying, friendly townsfolk to ignore, and he’s lost his ability to shift, which means his alpha ambitions are currently on hold.

    Unfortunately, no matter how much Oliver wants to keep his distance from Luna, the bond says otherwise. Even though the two can’t stand each other, maybe they can stop bickering long enough to explore the magical spark between them…

    After all, what’s a little knotting between enemies?

  • LONG LIVE EVIL

    By: Sarah Rees Brennan

    Narrator: Moira Quirk
    Pub Date: Now Available
    Genre: Romantasy

    Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌖

    Narrator: 👄👄👄👄👄
    Heat Level: 🔥🔥
    Tropes: Fan Enters Fandom, Villain’s Journey, Court Intrigue, Morally Grey

    REVIEW

    Oh. My. God! I absolutely loved this book. The characters and setting were rich and well thought out and the plot was so deep, with many twists and turns. I was honestly not sure what to expect and went into this blind. It was so, so good. There was also only a mild salsa level of spice, but it totally worked, and I feel there is a promise for more. I tried to explain the book to my partner and ended up sounding very fangirl about it.

    I’m not usually a fan of “real world person travels to book/back in time” unless there are other factors, but the world building the character setup were fantastic in this one. This was a prime example of doing it the right way. I love the Vipers, and Rae is a fantastic FMC. Her rage and angst and vengeance all come across beautifully as does her heart and the love she has for her sister and eventually her companions. I raged with her, I laughed with her, and I ached with her.

    I am so excited to dive into the sequel, All Hail Chaos, and I’m also VERY glad I waited to read this until book 2 was available because so much happens at the end that it feels like I was left on read in the middle of making plans.

    If you want an epic romantasy with a great worldbuild and characters that make you feel like you are in the book (🤣 IYKYK), check this out immediately. I devoured the audiobook and stayed up late into the night reading and I think you will, too.

    If you go audio, Moira Quirk is an incredible narrator!

    PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

    Her fictional crush is the villain.
    And he’s about to meet his match…

    Rae is a bookworm who prefers fictional men over real life boyfriends. But her life takes a strange turn when she is trapped by magic inside her favourite fantasy series, and she finds herself pitted against her suddenly living and breathing crush, the ‘Once and Forever Emperor’.

    In a palace on the brink of war, she has become the villainess in his tale, and she needs to take control of the narrative before it, and the Emperor, take control of her… fatally.

  • MISTER MAGIC: GRAPHIC NOVEL

    MISTER MAGIC: GRAPHIC NOVEL

    By: Kiersten White
    Illustrator(s): Veronica and Andy Fish
    Pub Date: 6/9/2026
    Genre: Horror, Comics, Graphic Novels

    Rating (Story): 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
    Rating (Art): 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌖
    Tropes: Horror, Nostalgia, Amnesia, Cult

    REVIEW

    This was a fantastic graphic novelization with some truly talented artists. I could see the classic influences that helped bring this dark story into technicolored light. The story itself is a highly plot and character driven narrative filled with dark themes, unreliable narrators, and serious iceberg vibes, like you know something really messed up is happening beneath the surface, and when you finally see it rise above the tide, its giant eye is looking right back at you.

    I loved the story, and I loved the illustrations. Highly recommend for horror and graphic novel fans.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

    PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

    Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.

    But with no surviving videos or scripts, no evidence of who directed or produced the show, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former circle of friends has. In Val’s case, kidnapped by her father and in hiding ever since, she doesn’t even have those.

    A surprise encounter with Val’s old castmates brings them all together for a reunion. Back to the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Back among friends they haven’t seen for years, but who somehow understand one another better than anyone has since.

    After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as Val reclaims parts of her past, she wonders: Are they there by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?

    Because magic never forgets the taste of friendship. . . .

  • MUSCLES & MONSTERS

    By: Ashley Bennet
    Pub Date: NOW AVAILABLE!
    Genre: RomCom, Monster Romance

    Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌖
    Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥(Howl)
    Tropes: Thick babes, he falls first, chronically single finding love

    REVIEW

    Even ignoring the ‘monster’ aspect, this is still an awesome RomCom. Tegan and Atlas are absolutely adorable. As a thick babe myself, there’s something about a jacked guy throwing you around and giving you the heart eyes that is a total turn on. 

    Honestly, though, the tail wagging would be a nice thing to have around so one is not constantly questioning how someone is feeling. Especially in this case, where Tegan has had such a hard time figuring out her love life when she’s so busy and Atlas not only helping her and flirting, but genuinely being into her, and she has confirmation of that. When you’re busy, you don’t want to waste your time on anyone that doesn’t genuinely enjoy your company inside and outside of the bedroom.

    Monster or no, this is a good book. Very body positive. Loved it.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

    PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

    After a wedding cake catastrophe on the street, local baker Tegan lands in the most unexpected place—a solid wall of fur and fangs named Atlas. She’s never met anyone like him and finds herself enamored by his wolfish charm. After their sweet encounter, Atlas invites her to his gym anytime she needs his cake-lifting services.

    However, Tegan is through with being a damsel in distress. She signs up for a membership with Leviathan Fitness, determined to build her strength…and if she sees the handsome wolven again, it’s a win-win scenario.

    Atlas can’t believe his eyes when Tegan walks through the doors of his gym, and nearly goes snout-over-paw to offer her personal training. Shared glances over the barbell and accidental touches at the water fountain set Atlas’s heart racing in a way he swore it couldn’t again.

    Primal desires emerge as Atlas and Tegan test just how much their new love can lift. Could Tegan be the unexpected mate of Atlas’s dreams?

  • HE KNOWS WHEN YOU’RE AWAKE

    By: Alta Hensley
    Narrator(s): Jillian Macie & Rock Engle
    Pub Date: NOW AVAILABLE!
    Genre: Dark Romance

    Rating (Story): 🌕🌕🌕🌖
    Rating (Narration): 👄👄👄👄
    Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥(Howl)
    Tropes: He Falls First, Stalking, Obsessed

    PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS:

    Stalking in a winter wonderland…

    Jewelry designer Sloane dreams of launching her own custom line—but she needs a Christmas miracle to pull it off. With traditional banks turning her down left and right, she can’t resist when a mysterious stranger offers her a lifeline.

    I see what she creates in those stolen moments when she thinks no one’s watching. I see everything. There’s a darkness at her core and I will unravel her until I find it.

    Reclusive billionaire Cole Asher offers to fly Sloane out to an ultra-luxurious Swiss resort for a meeting. Reluctantly, she agrees—only to realize she’s met him once before in a New York bar.

    She is crucial to my plans, and I need her close. She insists that we keep things professional, and I comply. But soon she will realize that every line is blurred when it comes to her and me.

    Cole offers to back her company—but there’s a cost. To secure his investment, Sloane must move into his Manhattan penthouse, where she’ll complete her first round of designs for him to review before Christmas.

    Sloane throws herself into her work, yet soon the attraction between her and Cole becomes undeniable. As the city sparkles with Christmas splendor from her penthouse view, Sloane wonders if she has stepped into a fairy tale—until Cole’s powerful enemies close in. They will stop at nothing to destroy him, including going after the woman he loves.

    I will burn down the world to get her back…and it will be in time for Christmas.

    REVIEW

    I enjoyed the first book in this series He Sees You When You’re Sleeping. It was a cozy stalker romance (yes, I understand how that sounds) and I loved that Joe knew what he was doing was messed up. This one is NOTHING like that one.

    Cole lures his obsession in with an offer that Sloane cannot refuse: a chance to let her creativity run wild. Sloane knows that the deal is somewhat disturbing. She cannot leave the penthouse prison until the contract is up. But she has no idea how long Cole has been watching her, nor how powerful his enemies are. This book is high stakes, high heat, and a deliciously dark addition to your audio library. Not to mention, the voice acting is perfect for the story!

    Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the advanced Audiobook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!