These Gentle Wolves

Bound by a Fae Bargain #2

by Clare Sager

Journey into Elfhame to rescue her closest friend. What seems a simple task soon becomes a daunting challenge, as Rose finds herself facing the terrifying monsters that lurk amidst the fae land’s ethereal beauty. When danger strikes, she’s the one who needs saving. Fortunately, aid arrives in the form of a huge, beastly fae. But Faolán’s assistance comes with a condition—marriage, to ensure her safety. Or so he says. A chance encounter with an apple tree leaves the couple stranded for thirty days and nights in a crumbling mansion, with the enigmatic “Granny” as their host. Strange and terrifying dreams haunt the couple, and Rose begins to suspect their meeting was less coincidence and more a carefully planned trap. As the past and present collide, Rose discovers the manor may hold the key to her very survival—and Faolán’s secrets. Full of haunted fae parties, sinister plots, and a house that dreams of its dark and tragic past, These Gentle Wolves is Little Red Riding Hood meets Crimson Peak . It features steamy enemies-to-lovers romance, grumpy/sunshine, and a marriage of convenience to a gruff hero fans of Wolverine and Geralt will fall in love with. ~~~~~ This book is set in the same world as A Kiss of Iron and includes meetings with characters from this story. Content warnings can be found in the look inside and on the author’s website.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fae, Fantasy Romance, Forced Proximity, Spicy

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2023

About the author

Clare Sager writes darkly addictive romantasy full of slow-burn steam, gut-wrenching conflict, and morally grey *everybody*. Dubbed the Queen of Edging by readers, she takes no responsibility for lost sleep or therapy bills.

When she’s not breaking hearts with her Shadows of the Tenebris Court series, Clare can usually be found drinking coffee, lifting weights, or impulse-buying stationery.

She lives in Nottingham, Robin Hood country, so it’s no surprise she writes about characters who don’t always play by the rules.

Reviews

[Michelle (Bamamele.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was entirely delightful. Read if you like:
-Marriage of convenience
-Fae and fae bargains
-Mysterious magic houses
-Forced proximity
-Grumpy/sunshine
-Both Beauty and the Beast and Red Riding Hood vibes
-Slow burn romance that really pays off 🌶️💥🔥

Honestly I just loved this. I loved seeing Bastian and getting Rose and Faólan’s backstory (who we meet at the end of Kiss of Iron). Plus we see Ari and Ly again❤️

4.5 stars

[Morgan Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything Clare writes. This was a beautiful red riding hoodish retelling that also gave me beauty and the beast vibes. I loved learning Rose and Faolan love story. All the best tropes - grumpy vs sunshine, marriage of convenience, one bed, found family. Rose finding herself and her place was probably my fav part and well the spice never disappoints. Can't wait to reread KOI and TOP with a deeper understanding of these characters

[☽⋆Katarina⋆☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fantastic! Faolan was just soooo perfectly my type. I loved it.

[Taylor Lichty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟 I loved getting these back stories after having read Kiss of Iron first. I can’t wait for the next book!

[Kaitlyn Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved These Gentle Wolves!!! Rose has entered faerie to find Ari but right away she gets hunted by werewolves. When she is trying to escape them she runs into a fae, Faolàn, who offers her a marriage bargain so he has the right to save her. And then they get trapped in a sentient house for a month.

I have to say I loved this book more than Ari’s. There was just something about Rose and Faolàn’s story that took a hold of my heart. She’s so determined and fierce, I had to love her even though some of her decisions were questionable. And he is so big and grumpy but is a secret softie and super protective. I adored the tension between these two and how they gave each other what they didn’t even realize they wanted.

The mystery of the house and what the memory dreams were was so cool and definitely creepy at times, I really enjoyed that aspect of this book! I also loved seeing returning characters again!! I already read the Shadows of the Tenebris Court so seeing these characters before those events made me happy.

Now I’m almost caught up in the Sabreverse, I just have to read the Beneath Black Sails series, which I’m hoping to do in December!!

❤️‍🔥 marriage of convenience
🐺 forced proximity
❤️‍🔥 slow burn & tension
🐺 red riding hood vibes
❤️‍🔥 grumpy x sunshine
🐺 fae mmc x human fmc
❤️‍🔥 dislike to lovers

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another spin-off of a couple we meet in the shadows of tenebris court series.

This book is sort of a red riding hood retelling... that puts a bit of a spin on who the bad guy really is in that story.
It was done really well and super easy to enjoy!
A small, easy read that's romance in a fantasy world

[Kaya Nunally · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5/5

This one did not work for me😭. The pacing felt awkward and I struggled to connect with any of the characters. The writing is very descriptive but the problems in the story felt overly forced. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t recommend this one. 👎🏻📚

[Nicole Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this Little Red Riding Hood telling (where Granny is the villain)! And obviously loved Rose/Faolan. Where can I find myself a 7ft tall werewolf?

[Ariel Brammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Clare sager is one of those authors that I would read their grocery list. I have been so excited to read These Gentle Wolves, and it did not disappoint. I will never tire of reading enemies to lovers and a marriage of convenience, and she executes it so well. The story is incredibly unique and refreshing, and you absolutely need to read it.

• marriage of convenience
• forced proximity (one bed)
• spicy reimagined red riding hood

Rose is looking for her best friend who was taken by a fae. She ventures into Elfhame to search for Ari, who we met in the previous book, Stolen Threadwitch Bride. Rose has no idea where she is and ends up crossing paths with a pack of werewolves who want to play with her. While running away from them, she encounters another stranger who says he can only help her if she marries him. With no other options left, she agrees, and he saves her from the werewolves. Rose makes a bargain with her new husband Faolán that he has to help her find Ariadne, and he asks for a favor he can call in later in return. As they make their way towards the nearest town, Rose finds herself in trouble and must stay with a strange creature known as "Granny" for a month. Faolán promises to protect her and join her. Prepare for the magical twilight zone fever dream that comes next.

Faolán is everything I want in an MMC. He's grumpy, speaks in grunts, and is a 7 foot tall wall of muscle. I love that no matter how little he knows Rose, he is going to do everything he can to protect her. Including sentencing himself to a month at Granny's house. He calls Ross "little flower," and every time he does, it melts my heart.

Rose will stop at nothing to make sure she saves her best friend Ari, even if it means agreeing to marry strangers and putting herself in deadly situations. We could all use a best friend like her.

I love how Rose is dropped into Elfhame with little to no explanation, and she makes normal decisions that lead her to trouble, like eating an apple from a tree. It makes the story feel that much more realistic and really grounds you in the universe because it's something I could see myself doing.

Clare writes some of the best fantasy romances I've read. I love how the characters go from being at odds with each other to slowly growing fond of each other. They both really start to open up, and it's such a beautiful journey to experience. Every time I finish one of her books, I think to myself, "Yep. That one was my favorite." And this one is no different.

"My gorgeous fae beast of a husband whose body looked like the model for a statue also knew how to pick out incredible scent combinations.
And I had to share a bed with that.
I was in so much trouble."

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea

What on earth did I just read????
I tried the two books in this series and they are not for me
This story had no rhyme or reason. It literally made no sense to me. It took me forever to read it….time that I will never get back. This book encompassed (loosely) some of the concepts found in “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Hansel and Gretal”. There were so many weird things happening. I was confused by what the author wanted me to take away from this book. There were many mismatch concepts happening all at once. The way that it was all laid out did not serve the story in a positive way.
Why did the wolf need to marry her for a year and a day?
A wolf that works for the queen? What does he do and where was he coming from and heading when he found her?
The slowing of time within the house verses outside….why?
Relationship between Faolán and granny? How did she know that she could snare a werewolf and his traveling companion would not know what he was? How did she subdue him to steal his powers? What was she?
How was people able to portal in and out of house? What sort of power was that and who has it?
Towards the end when he was a wolf were it appeared that they were able to communicate telepathically. Why didn’t he use that ability when he was attacking her. I came away from this story with more questions than answers
I am also not a big fan of the writing. She has a tendency to repeat the same thought/dialogues over and over, but just keep rephrasing it. It’s redundant. I noticed that a few authors have that tendency in their writing. Perhaps it’s a new style of writing. I find it to be pointless and extends the book needlessly

[Michaela Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Absolutely LOVED “These Gentle Wolves” by Clare Sager 😍 Diving into Rose and Faolán’s story was as incredible as I hoped it would be and I’m so very glad I made the plunge 🎉


This book was definitely a bit creepy if I’m being honest. All those freaky nightmares and those horrific acts that the fae woman partook in? Like ekkkkk…I was definitely feeling some horror vibes up in here 👻 Plus, I thought it was so unique for Sager to create a “backwards” version of Little Red Riding Hood. Absolutely phenomenal writing, with some creepy vibes, and I was 100% sold on this standalone from the Sabreverse🤩


Obviously I can’t forget to talk about Rose and Faolán’s journey to love 😉🫶🏼 I adore Faolán and think all of his grumpy vines really give him that edge, making him even more mysterious 🔍 The fact that Rose is able to pull back all of his layers and find a place in his heart that was created just for her, well that melted my soul 💗 After knowing how their story ends in the Shadows of the Tenebris Court trilogy (with three little cubs of their own), the ending of this book really hit the mark 🥹💗

[Tempest Reign · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 (4.5 rounded to 5)
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 🌶🌶🌶

I really enjoyed this book, it had everything I wanted — a grumpy x sunshine marriage of convenience, steamy tension, a slightly spooky sentient house, and Little Red Riding Hood vibes.

I loved going back to the Sabreverse; this story is set in the same world as Sager's A Kiss of Iron, Slaying the Shifter Prince, the Beneath Black Sails series, and Stolen Threadwitch Bride, so if you've read these books, there's a chance you've already met some of the characters in this book.

My only issue with this is that I found a couple of teeny tiny typos, otherwise it would have been a 5 star read. [Edited — the author has now fixed said typos]

My favourite part of These Gentle Wolves was the slow burn relationship that developed between Rose and Faolán. While they aren't fated mates, I felt there was something there right from the start.

“𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒈𝒆; 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆...𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒇𝒚 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒇𝒆.” 😏🔥

The ending was just so beautiful, and I may have cried happy tears. This book has a complete HEA, no cliffhanger in sight, and this can be read as a standalone, or as part of either the Bound by a Fae Bargain series, or as part of the wider Sabreverse books.



💢 𝙏𝙒𝙨: violence, death, suicide (brief, low detailed scenes, minor character), threat of SA, consensual sexual scenes

[KellyG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing as all of Clare's books!

These Gentle Wolves is so amazing. I love the world that Clare has created and how all of her books are linked. You don't have to read The Threadwitch Bride to enjoy this book, but I love how Rose braves the fairy lands to find her friend Ari, who was taken by a Fae Lord. Rose is so brave and smart. But she is soon trespassing on the werewolves lands. As she runs away, she runs right into Faolán. Entering a bargain with a fae is always dangerous but sometimes a human has no other choice!

I love how Faolán is the strong silent type and how he protects Rose. I totally wasn't expecting the adventure they went on and I loved it!

I love that this is a Little Red Riding Hood retelling but it is so unique! And you wouldn't guess who the villain of this story is!

Clare Sager is one of my top favorite authors! I will buy anything she writes!

[_boundbytales · Rating 4 out of 5]

╰►3.75/5 ⭐️ 2/5🌶️

I love these quick gems that are fun to read and easy to get through at the end of a long week. Plus, anything there Clare writes, I devour. There's something about her writing style that captures me each and every time. She knows how to world build and drag you in without effort. Her words have meaningful purpose, and her sentences paint the scenes perfectly. If you’re looking for a quick, fun, flirty book with some smut in it, this is a hit. While it started to drag at the end, it was still a good read.

My rating system:

⭐️: Not my vibe at all.
⭐️⭐️: I finished it, but I didn't have a good time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Yeah, that was fun. I enjoyed myself. I probably won't reread it, but it was fun.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: I loved it and want to read more from this author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Perfect, amazing, everything I love in a novel! 

[Jordy✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clare Sager is fantastic

This was cute! I give it 3.5 stars!
It was good, I loved the characters as usual, Sager writes such fantastic characters. I loved seeing the way her world is all coming together and seeing cameos from other books, I’m excited to see where this continues to go as she adds to her universe.

Also she is the queen of spicy scenes 🔥

I thought the plot line with the house and “Granny” was really good, it wasn’t where I imagined the book going when it began. I think I may have wanted a little more suspense/ creepiness added in but I was definitely hooked. I thought the little nods at Beauty and the Beast and Red Riding Hood were so fun and cheeky and I loved the twists on those stories worked in without it being just a retelling.

[Bobbie-Leigh (thefairybooksqueen) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will read anything this woman writes!!

I was so excited to read rose and faolàn’s story!
Foalàn was a much deeper character than I thought especially with the way he sees himself which made me so sad 😭
Rose’s character didn’t interest me as much as faolàn but I loved that she was the eldest daughter of her family and felt the need to help them so much, and the way she soothed faolàn with his insecurities.
I do wish the book was longer and had a little more character building but I did just read a touch of poison and these are side characters, I just love the way Clare writes romance! Her spice scenes are fantastic too🫠
The whole haunted house thing was spooky af too I loved it! I just love being in the saberverse

[Jy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a decent read with a cute, sweet romance between the main characters. I really enjoyed Faolan's character. It's refreshing to read a romantasy where the MMC isn't an ass or arrogant or super over protective. There are certain tropes I get tired of reading in books, but this was a very sweet romance that I wish I could read more of. Faolan wasn't overly over protective, he wasn't possessive, he wasn't an enemy to lover, he didn't have that over the top "touch her and you die" personality. He was the perfect love interest in my opinion, none of that toxic masculinity that gets romanticized. I just loved his aloof, stoic personality and how vulnerable Rose made him. Also, I'm Team Werewolf and the author did a great job portraying him as one.

[Tracy]

I liked this, though not quite as well as Stolen Threadwitch Bride. The opening section suffered -- the FMC comes across as the world's biggest dummy, and the faerie wedding seemed unnecessary -- and I liked it better once they were trapped together in the magical house. The slow burn stretched a bit too long considering their interactions. They're also surprisingly lackadaisical about being stuck in the house and un-suspicious about the setup. The dream magic is interesting. The FMC overreacts at the end, but pulls it together relatively quickly.

[Melinda T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could have read in one sitting if not for real-life requirements

I enjoyed this story so much. Rose is able to continue to be the strong, brave woman we were introduced to in 'Stolen Threadwitch Bride'.

Faolán is a big softy. He is solid and strong, but his heart is bigger than his physical body, at least when it comes to Rose.

I seriously could have read this in one sitting. I wanted to read it all at once, but I started reading this last night, so, close enough.

You'll want to read 'Stolen Threadwitch Bride' first, since Rose's determination to save Ariadne will make more sense, and Ariadne does make appearances in this book with Lysander, the fae lprd who took her.

[Apinya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another prequel to A Kiss of Iron. I liked it so much better than Stolen Threadwitch Bride since there were a lot more scenes with the couple together vs. how Ariadne was featured more in the other book than Lysander.

I also like the two's adventure through the sorta haunted house. Made their story more interesting especially when you look back at all the clues after the truth was revealed. Nice angle to introduce the couple.

Appearance of Bastian was a bonus.

Spice scale (as defined by Mysterious Galaxy): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 [Grab a fan because it’s getting hot in here!]

[Sandy Schleich · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

I like the way that this book started with Rose going after her friend. Not too far into this book I felt like this book was an interesting twist on the beauty and the beast story and also little red riding Hood. I did find it interesting that one of the Faye made a bargain to Mary Rose to keep her safe for a year and a day. Then, of course Rose and her Faye end up in a crazy house and start having weird dreams. Some of the dreams were very dark, other dreams were very sexual and orgy like, and others had both sexual and dark undertones. I liked the mystery of this book and also the ending had a very interesting twist to it.

[sarah stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

haunted house/little red riding hood

Creepy and I loved it
Little red riding hood with creepy haunted house twist
Unexpected and loved. Clare sager you continue to snare me with your beautiful portrayal of love. I’m one to scoff at the fluffy declarations of love in books but not here, I was all for it

I did cringe at the misunderstanding/miscommunication towards the end, but that is a trope that I always personally dislike. Thankfully it was handled well and quickly without a pain drag on. My only wish … that there was more rose and Faolan to enjoy 😊

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I do see how some people could not like this. It is all coincidental with a massive detour, as in I could imagine the author rolling dice to pick a random/weird next step then piecing it well. But, she writes very well so it works.
I was always curious about Rose and Faolan and their story. I did prefer this to Stolen Threadwitch. I really liked Faolan.
Bonus, my boyfriend and I read these books to each other so we argued over how to pronounce his name so much that it became a big joke. I'm Team Fway-lyn, he once say Folding. I dunno.

[Marissa Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This women really said, “I chose beast over beauty”. 🥴 What a weirdly phrased compliment.

I enjoyed this so much more than book one. It was an unexpected thriller. There was a tad bit of insta love going on here but I was still able to buy into the romance.

I love that Clare is writing all these series with different characters in the same world where they cross paths. And I think I may love Clare.

3.5/5 cheers 🥂

[Chantelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I really felt like this book was lacking. I had a hard time getting into it and a hard time remaining captivated. The story was a bit dull and the forced drama break-up was a little cringy. Rose was a little too bubbly and weak for me and that put me off the book even more. I just really hate a ditsy female character. I'm glad I read it so I can understand the characters for future books but am glad I didn't buy the book either.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

more like 3.7 stars!

this could be a standalone but i think i would've appreciated it more if i read the previous book! i actually liked rose and faolan! i actually liked the parts that led up to the haunted house... for some maybe because the house is a static location... it seemed slower in those parts. i didn't really care much for the dream sequences but i know that's a big portion. but otherwise, i really liked the characters!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the Tenebris books, I went back and wanted to read more about Rose. It was an ok story, incentive bit about the enchanted house, but frustrating main female character. I got frustrated by the fact that despite the fact that she knew that Fae can't lie she repeatedly questioned statements that were very clear and straightforward. The repeated questioning was annoying, and much of the misunderstanding could have been avoided without it. I guess that was one of the plot points in the relationship though. I skimmed through the last 20%. I love her other books, but this one wasn't a huge hit for me. I did appreciate getting more background on some characters, though.

[Daisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was definitely better than the first, but perhaps I just enjoy a stronger heroine. Rose is a badass and marriage of convenience? Say less. Faolán is gruff and sweet, an irresistible combination. I think this book could’ve been really great with just a little bit of a push. In what direction, I’m not quite sure.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 stars + 1 star because indie author

Again, another cute, fun addition to the Elfhame universe. These are definitely more novellas than in-depth stories. I liked the story of the first novella more, but the characters were much more fun in this book. I’m cautiously optimistic we’ll see them reappear in the larger series!

[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down

I really enjoyed this sequel. It was an interesting concept referencing classic fairy tales. Just a warning- if you can't handle nonperiod language (ie catch feelings, etc), don't read. I read the book in a day, couldn't put it down. Would recommend for a romantasy fan not looking for a long series!