The Seldom Wings

by Beka Westrup

For years, Sia’s hidden herself in the gnashing forest, dodging her father’s bounty hunters and ignoring the nameless magic in her veins. When she receives a letter from an estranged lover, she returns to the coast she used to call home, within reach of her father’s magical city hovering above the smog and the arranged marriage waiting for her. This place is not somewhere Sia wishes to linger—the land is noxious and filled with rebels, witches, and other humans who become walking corpses when they die. What was intended to be a brief visit turns into a death-bed promise anchoring Sia to Gwaith House for the foreseeable future. She agrees to look after her first love’s human child until her widower proves he can care for his daughter himself.

The thing with promises Sia can’t break them. No seraph can. At least, not without severe consequences.



While navigating the complex feelings she develops for the angry widower and her own grief, Sia becomes entangled in a mysterious string of dismembered corpses roaming the smog and a strange detective who refuses to leave her alone. As the desperate undead draw closer and closer to the child she is sworn to protect, Sia races to find the murderer responsible for creating them. She needs to figure it out quickly, or she may risk falling right back into her father’s scorching hands.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Dark, Paranormal

425 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2023

About the author

Beka Westrup is an author of fantasy romances. When she's not reading, writing, or chugging exorbitant amounts of coffee, she can be found watching The Office with her husband and two kids at home in Boise, Idaho.

Sign up for her author newsletter for updates and early access to art, pre-orders, and giveaways: https://www.bekawestrup.com/coming-so...

Reviews

[KMart Vet · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Seldom Wings" by Beka Westrup is fucking delightful. I had an amazing time. It is a book that grabbed me from the very beginning and refused to let go until the very end. It's a dark fantasy tale that manages to break free from the tired, predictable tropes that can sometimes plague the genre.

One of the aspects I appreciated most about this book was its refusal to rely on clichés. While I could predict a few things, I found myself eagerly waiting for the characters to uncover what I already knew, adding an exciting layer of anticipation to the story. This element of unpredictability kept me engaged and invested in the plot, and I loved how the narrative constantly subverted my expectations.

But it's not just the plot that shines in "The Seldom Wings." The book delves deep into the emotions of its characters, offering a nuanced exploration of grief and love. The bittersweet romance between two individuals who once loved the same woman is beautifully portrayed despite the fact that it's doomed from the start, adding a layer of depth to the story that I truly appreciated. It's a testament to Westrup's skill as a writer that she can make the reader feel the characters' pain and longing so acutely.

Moreover, "The Seldom Wings" includes a positive representation of polyamory, which is still relatively rare in literature. The way it's woven into the story is respectful and authentic, and it's refreshing to see diverse relationships portrayed in such a natural way.

And, of course, I can't forget to mention the sizzling chemistry between the characters. The spice level in this book is scorching, and the intimate moments are written with care and sensuality. It adds another layer of complexity to the relationships and serves as a reminder that love can take many forms.

Overall, "The Seldom Wings" is a fantastic read for fans of dark fantasy who are looking for something fresh and original. With its engaging plot, complex characters, and skillful handling of themes like grief and love, it's a book that I wholeheartedly recommend. I would easily give it a 5-star rating, and I can't wait to see what Beka Westrup writes next. I want the next book immediately, please.

Thanks to R&R booktours and the author for the eARC. This is an honest review.

[Thais • tata.lifepages • · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review 4.5 stars!❤️ y’all this book was so unexpected!!
This is a dark NA fantasy with a pansexual fierce female lead, a slow burn enemies to lovers and lots of sexual tension and spice 🔥

The story takes a bit to grasp as we are trying to connect the prologue to the first chapters, but soon enough I was absolutely HOOKED! I didn’t read the synopsis before going in because I like to be entirely surprised, and the hidden identity trope hit me like a deer in headlights 😱😍 also holy crap the entire undead walkers + mysterious murders + factory smog thing was SO intriguing!! It’s like if you put together the political intrigue of Game of Thrones with a monster killing vibe of The Witcher and fill it with love interests 👀😈

Sia is a complicated morally grey female lead, which makes her so relatable as she doesn’t always make the right choices. There are multiple romances and I was the entire time trying to guess the authors next move! Although Destin crawled his way into my heart unexpectedly… 😭❤️

The Seldom Wings was a soothing balm for my dark and wicked heart 😈🖤 will definitely be checking out more books by this author!

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review

[sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

i wanted to love it but i was soooo confused 😭

[Jaja · Rating 2 out of 5]

She mourns her dead ex lover for 89% of the book, then proceeds to fuck said ex lover’s husband. She’s not morally gray she’s mentally unstable.

[Bookaholic Shaima · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠.”

“ 𝙰 𝙶𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚢 𝚓𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌, 𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚢, 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 ”......

Beka made reading about a morally grey heroine on the run, a fantastic experience.
This is a book well written, with outstanding vocabulary, poetic and outright addictive.

I had a full on crash on "Sia" all throughout the book, she was a mystery, a prise waiting to be unwrapped, and the author made sure to take the layers ,one by one, while keeping us entranced.
And the spice " just yum🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼"
I was held captive with the intensity in which the characters were swimming in.
Everything was vivid, magical and a hair shy away from being Real🖤 that's how you know the book hit it's mark and the author wrote something from within their soul. It just is, no explanation.
And as a reader, IYKYK.

To say I'm "super excited" for the next book is an understatement. ( That cliffy * bite knuckles* 😬

What I loved the most though ( silly me 🤭)
Is how diverse the characters were and how well represented.
As a POC person And ally of the LGBTQIA I love a well represented community.
And Beka DID A PHENOMENAL JOB 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

🆃🆁🅾🅿🅴🆂
⚔️ Pansexual rep
⚔️ Love triangle
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
⚔️ Single dad 🫠🫠
⚔️ Hidden identities
⚔️ Morally grey heroine 🫠🫠
⚔️found family
⚔️Slow burn

Highly recommend

[(old.enough.for.fairytales) · Rating 5 out of 5]

GASP 😱

Oh my gosh, I loved this book. It kept me guessing the whole time and definitely had some “my mind is blown” moments. I looove our morally grey FMC Sia. She’s conflicted, she doesn’t always make the “good” decision, and she’s very complex. Which I love. This book has so many of my fave tropes…enemies to lovers, sleeping with the enemy, slow burn, hidden identity…gosh it was so good. If you’re looking for a unique fantasy with diverse representation, you’ve gotta pick this one up! FYI: def ends on a cliffhanger that leaves you dying for book 2 👀

Also, I loved trying to figure out how the prologue connected to the rest of the story while reading. It was just SUCH a fun and twisty mystery to solve.

Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kady · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a freaking ride. I finished a day ago and I'm still processing everything! SO MUCH happens in this book to set up the world and characters. It's constantly moving with lots of action and so many mysteries. I kept asking myself how all these seemingly separate questions were going to be resolved and somehow, many (not all - gotta save something for the next book I guess haha) were answered by the end of the book, or partially answered. I never knew what sort of unhinged event was going to happen next. There was a good mix of predictability and also totally unpredictable threads. One of the character's arcs was so gut-wrenching and beautifully done. Our FMC has ALL THE MOXIE. She was a little slow to the uptake on some things, but there are some explanations for why certain things would be more obvious to us as the reader and not so much to her. Sia is horny AF and while there wasn't a lot of spice in this, some of the tension was simmeringggg HOT. I am very intrigued to see where these characters will take me in book 2. 

Notes for future readers: 
TBH I was sorta lost with some of the world building but I just kept moving and trusting it would all make more sense later. I advise you to just breeze past it & trust the process. 
This is a dark fantasy & not for the queasy. 
Read the trigger warnings. 
It's not a typical romance subplot, so don't expect that going in or you'll be disappointed. The Author says there's more romance in book2. ( I feel like it's pretty clear early on but I know some people will be confused if they don't know it going in!) 

I was given an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Brooke Matheis · Rating 5 out of 5]

received an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Beka!

“My life would have been easier if I inherited that flame. Instead, I was the flint rather than the spark, free and sharp and flammable, as dark and unknowable as the night.”

Sia is a seraphim on the run from her father and her arranged marriage. She’s got a promise to fulfill and she can’t break promises.

The lore that Beka created in this novel is sprawling and beautiful. We’re set up with so many questions, many of which were answered in the end. An ending that asked so many more questions.

“The existence of thought requires us to accept that anything is possible, that we are capable of anything if we have the bravery to think it, and that includes creating love where we need it to be. Making a conscious decision to love someone doesn’t make the feeling any less authentic. The moment we stop choosing, we stop feeling.”

The connection between Destin and Sia was so beautifully written. It was made clear that they would not end up together, but that they needed each other in their moments.

I have so many questions about Sia’s mother and what the Elven found out in Sia’s blood. I cannot wait to read the next one and learn more about the seraphim.

Also. I’m team Lee.

[Belinda Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I keep fluctuating between 3 and 3.5 stars for this book. I had a hard time getting into the story and sitting down and reading it.

I gotta say, Sia is not a FMC I could fall in love with. I don’t mind a flawed MC, it actually makes the character easier to connect with. But it gets hard when the reasons given for the character are not clear. Sia was hiding from her father, but it took till the end of the book to kinda explain why they are estranged. But, apparently, that was a misunderstanding, so….. what was the issue?

I definitely fell in love with the world created here. With angels and other supernatural creatures, their worlds and their enemies, I was very invested in learning about this exciting world. The investigation part of the story was interesting as well. The snippets here and there gave us a good picture of the dangers surrounding the characters and their loved ones.
​
With the way the book ended, I have no idea what the sequel will bring us, but I’m definitely looking forward to it. Thank you to the author and BOMM for sending me an ARC to review.

[Rhiannon Chillingworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a complete gem of a book! The sort of thing you spend hours searching for on Kindle Unlimited, only to often end up disappointed!

What is so great about this book is that it is not tropey. When you read a lot of this genre they sort of meld into one and it's like there's a generic blueprint that authors follow. This felt really fresh and different and like it wasn't just trying to follow a pattern.

Sia is a fabulously flawed main character and she is impossible not to love. Messed up, prickly, but with her own moral compass - I totally adored her. She was multi-faceted and relatable.

We have a whole host of side characters, namely Destin, the widow of the woman she loved, and Lee, a mysterious stranger who she has a strange connection to. We also have Erlene, Dustin's daughter and the girl she has to protect.

The romance is another thing that's unique here. Firstly, it doesn't follow the usual pattern, which was so refreshing. While both Lee and Destin are romantic interests, this is NOT a lovely triangle. I say that because I despise love triangles. I can't say more without giving spoilers, but the whole thing was so well done.

The ending was magnificent and I cannot wait for the next book. This is definitely a new favourite!

[Chiara | wordsbychiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spice rating: 3 peppers

THE SELDOM WINGS is one of the best fantasy books I've read recently. This world combines angels, witches, werewolves and even the walking dead into something that feels incredibly fresh and new, uniting it with a mystery around the main character that kept me glued to the pages, wanting to understand. It may seem like a lot at first, but trust the process. You'll be addicted in no time! Definitely recommend to fantasy readers who love a delightfully morally gray protagonist, multiple love interests that make it hard to pick a side, and touching found family bonds.

This time around, I couldn't tell you if I loved the plot or the characters more. The mysterious element of this story was probably what drew me in before everything else. I was desperate to understand the link between the events of the prologue and Sia's mysterious past, and the more elements were added to the story, the more theories I was making! This constant trying to pick up clues had my attention laser focused on the characters, and I won't say that I fell in love with them right away (except Lee, I loved him immediately), but love them I did in the end! These are characters with flaws that make them relatable. They might not immediately seem likable or won't always make the right decisions, but their motivations were clear and understandable. This "imperfection" also left so much room for tension and growth. The author did such an incredible job building up this story!

And then there's the romance, which has me confused in the best way possible. There are multiple potential love interests, and I don't know if the author is pointing at a true love triangle or not, but I can say that I loved Sia's interactions with both Destin and Lee, and that both of these men are H-O-T. This is one of those situations where choosing is hard (although right now I do have a slight preference), and this is the sign of a love triangle done right. I am enjoying this drama so much! Cannot wait to read the sequel.

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.

[Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

An atmospheric, gritty, & vividly imagined adult Dark High Fantasy read. ✨️

Marketed as a 'Witcher Vibes' High Fantasy with a morally gray FMC, this book does not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed the incredible slow burn romance and well-written and diverse characters.
It has action, adventure, secret identity vibes, enemies-to-lovers/sleeping with the enemy, and found family. The plot and world-building are so well done, and there is still so much to discover in the next books. I am thoroughly looking forward to them since this one ends on a bit of a cliffy.

Tysm to Beka Westrup for letting me be an ARC reader for this one!

[Chandler (chapterswithchan) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sia has been hiding in the Gnashing Forest for several years trying to hide from her father. When she makes a promise to her dying friend, she finds herself as the guardian of a sweet little girl, Erlene. While the little girl's father is still alive, Sia doesn’t fully trust him. Nor does she trust the man she meets at the market who seems to be turning up way too often.

In a world full of zombies, dangerous smog and evil all around… Sia has to do what she can to make sure she is protecting Erlene. But she can only do so much before her father comes for her so she can fulfill her destiny.

Review
Beka does an amazing job of building a world full of multiple different species, from angels to zombies. She has a little bit of everything and it keeps you on your toes. I loved her main character, Sia. She was a badass who always had us guessing what she might do next. There were multiple layers to peel back in this book, but I enjoyed the process and can’t wait for her next book to come out this fall.

[Skye • literaryintheskye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blessed by the gods to receive a stunning edition from Beka of The Seldom Wings before it’s release. I have been following Beka for a while and watching this book mold into something AMAZING. And it certainly did not disappoint because this book was EVERYTHING to me. I am all for a dark fantasy romance, everyone knows that, this book hit all the fine points for me. Sia was a vibe and a half; strong, unhinged, sexy and straight up badass. Now the men…all imma say is the sexual tension - WOOWEE.

The characters were well developed with some backgrounds that tugged on the heart-strings. The world building was complex but not hard to the point it gave you a headache yet it head edge. The vibes of this book is almost gothic vibes with edgy dark fantasy, it’s very original and different, plus it held a lot of magical elements that kept you on your toes. There was truly never a dull moment, from the prologue to the end, I can’t wait for book two!

[Erin Mainord · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not been able to stop thinking about this book since I read it. This is a stunning dark fantasy with raw, authentic characters, complicated relationship dynamics, and epic worldbuilding seamlessly woven throughout.
Sia is not your typical heroine. She is messy and often dark in her thought patterns, and honestly, I related to her so much. Her wings may make her not human, but Sia definitely experiences the worst and most organic parts of humanity through her deep-seated insecurities regarding her self-worth and purpose.
The romance in this is also not typical, but in the best possible way. Westrup constantly kept me on the edge of my seat because I genuinely was unsure at times which direction she was headed, and that made the reader experience even better. I'm certain Lee is going to be a character you either love or hate, and BOY, did I fall hard for him. Sarcastic detective with on-the-surface golden retriever energy, but Westrup writes him with so much depth and subtle character descriptions that hint at something much darker and deeper underneath, and I ATE it up. There is a bit of a love triangle in this book, and if you can't tell, I'm team Lee all the way.
All around, this is a beautiful dark fantasy that absolutely demolishes typical genre conventions and is all the better for it. Do yourself a favor and read this hauntingly beautiful book.

[j a y • d e p r a v e d - .dammnitjay. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god ....
So, I feel extremely privileged to read this book early, and the story that has been weaved ... it just; it gives you all the fantasy/paranormal type vibes you could ever want.
You get to follow the FMC in this extremely well written world where promises mean everything, and the world is going to hell in a hand basket.
The species that are involved in the book range, but all connect.
The prologue alone sent goosebumps up my arms, and the connection to it later in the book makes you go HOLY SHIIIT!
You also get some epic romance type feelings with it - and yes; it is a slow burn, but it is worth it.
The cliffhanger is not horrible but it keeps you there begging for book 2 cause you need to know what is going to happen.
You connect with the characters on such an emotional level that you feel what they are feeling as the story continues.

[Maria Elena | pagesofmaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spice: 3 peppers

Why hello new book obsession. What a pleasant surprise.

I’m not sure what I was expecting from The Seldom Wings when I first picked it up. Of course, when you start a book you hope you will love it, but when you love it this profoundly…it’s magic. This book is simply perfection for me. The dark atmosphere, the seraphim lore and the whole magic system and worldbulding, the gaslamp fantasy vibes, the complex and utterly beautiful character dynamics, and a fantastically morally gray and badass female protagonist to top it all off. To put it simply, it was a fantastic read.

Picking a favorite element of the story is difficult because there’s so much I loved about it. Let’s focus on the seraphim lore for now, which I found super fascinating. There are different kinds of seraphim, with different abilities. Sia is a Fenix, which merges phoenix with angels. (Though don’t go calling the seraphim angels. They don’t like it.) Cue my braingasm. I’m obsessed with winged creatures in fantasy, so I loved having two of my favorites merged together like this. I was also very fascinated by the whole concept of promises, which are binding for seraphim. They feel actual pain when they don’t fulfill a promise, and we might see this in play with Sia herself. What promise is she not keeping? Well, there’s just one more reason for you to pick up the book.

As far as romance goes, it isn’t the main focus of the book but it does have a significant presence nonetheless. The dynamics are complex and all beautiful in their way. We see Sia interacting with Tova, the human woman she loved but who wound up marrying Destin, with whom Sia has a complicated relationship that blooms into something sweeter than lust but not as deep as love. And then there’s also Lee, my favorite, who is charming, witty and also a bit mysterious. Lee is the character that made me theorize the most—after Sia, that is. I have so many theories about her, her magic, and a potential link to what we see in the prologue. I loved seeing Sia interact with all these characters, but the banter with Lee is on another level, and by the way the book ends, I am looking forward to see more! Another relationship I adored is the one between Sia and her ward, Erlene, Tova and Destin’s precious daughter. Their interactions were so sweet, and Erlene has a way of bringing out Sia’s sweeter side.

I’m very excited to continue this series, and I’m especially looking forward to seeing more of the seraphim! I highly recommend it to lovers of dark fantasy everywhere. Think Daughter of Smoke and Bone meets The Witcher.

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.

[Julia (teastarsandbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

You ever found a book that prior to its release, you just knew you had to read it? That was me with The Seldom Wings. I first heard of it during its Cover Tour and immediately fell in love with its description as a Queer Dark Fantasy with Witcher Vibes.
You know the trepidation that comes with the waiting for a highly anticipated book — the worry that it won’t live up to your expectations and will have you walking away disappointed?
Well, The Seldom Wings lived up to every bit of my personal hype for this book and more.

Beka Westrup has created a phenomenal Dark Fantasy with fantastic Queer representation and a truly unique take on Industrial Revolution Fantasy. She’s crammed this story full of fully fleshed out lore and mythology, interesting and lovable characters, and creative twists on that which we are familiar with. And did I mention zombies? Her writing is a pleasure to indulge in, with an enticing plot that keeps you turning page after page.

The Seldom Wings follows the story of an interesting young woman named Sia, who is introduced to us as a woman in hiding, willing to do anything to find answers. Her search is interrupted by a detour that was prompted with the arrival of a letter from a former lover. A letter which requested her to come say good bye.

Seems quite mundane and like the typical start to a love story, right? Well this story is anything but mundane. Sia’s arrival in her mother’s home town is the catalyst that starts the ball rolling on this dark fantasy ride. Shortly after she arrives, a mystery arises as murder victims are being discovered with limbs and organs missing — all of them slashed in a gruesome way. And Sia is bound and determined to get to the bottom of what is happening. Along the way, we discover much about Sia — who she really is, bits and pieces of her past, what her motivations are. And with every bit of knowledge we uncover about our morally grey protagonist, the more wonderfully fleshed out she becomes, making it harder to condemn her more questionable choices.

Alongside Sia, we are introduced to Lee, a mysterious detective who we’re not quite sure what to think of. There’s Destin, the grieving widower of Sia’s former lover. He’s such a grumpy curmudgeon, but I absolutely loved him. There’s Destin’s daughter who Sia has guardianship of and is such an adorable ray of sunshine — I will fight to protect her. Along with some other side characters not worth naming *cough*Felicity*cough*, Beka Westrup orchestrates beautiful character arcs that brilliantly compliments the overall plot and brings life to the dreary fog ladened world she’s conjured.

All in all, this book was an excellent start to my Fall Reads and 100% goes on my list of “Books I Wish I Could Read For The First Time Again”. It completely surpassed any and all expectations I held and now I’m ADHD vibrating for the next installment.

[Sarina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, but it really fell short. While I've heard that this was supposed to "subvert cliche tropes" it was honestly just full of the misscomunication trope.

I think there was a really interesting premise, but it fell short when it came to the actual building of the book.

The world building was confusing at best, and also not nearly as deep/fleshed out as it needed to be.

The relationship building was severely lacking. We kept getting told how they feel about each other, but no real evidence behind why.

It's like this was unsure whether it wanted to be a fantasy novel or a Romantasy, and failed at both. The intriquate political world building was not fleshed out enough for a fantasy, and the romance development was not there for a Romantasy.

My LEAST FAVORITE part, was how that information would be kept from the reader until the EXACT moment it was important. The facts where not weaved into the story, but instead just popped up conveniently when it was necessary to move the plot along. Do not read this book if you don't like being in the "dark" purposefully the entire time. Like I understand not knowing what the main character doesn't know... But Sia was withholding details from us the entire time and I was sick of it.


Spoiler:
Also, I still can't get around her getting with Destin. Like it didn't make sense beyond grief just making her crazy. They didn't show any true relationship building to support this. And their sex scene gave me the ick, in part because he called her "angel" during it which had been previously defined as being a slur for her kind.

[Manuela - Fathoms Amidst The Lines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute banger from start to finish. The prologue alone sucked me in and the story just kept getting better.

Sia is a woman with magic she doesn't understand, who's on the run from her father and an arranged marriage, while also being in the midst of keeping a promise that she cannot break; all the while having to deal with humans and their inevitable and never-ending BS. This is a tale with twists and turns, that will have you questioning what's going to happen next, and how what's already happened is going to impact what's to come.

The plot in this is incredible and original and unique; I haven't read anything like it and I absolutely love it. The world-building is divine and the characters, dialogue, and overall interactions are delightful.

Speaking of characters, one of the many things that I love about this is that Westrup gives us fair warning in the beginning that the morally gray FMC (Sia) doesn't follow the prescribed path of typical morally gray characters. She "doesn't always do the right thing, or even the wrong thing for good reasons". So many morally gray characters do just that, so it was refreshing to see an MG character that deviates from the norm and isn't sorry about it. It also makes room for so much character growth, I can't wait for this series to be out in full so that I can revisit it all and see how she'll have grown.

This was beautifully written and I can't wait for book two.

A massive thank you to Beka Westrup & R&R Book Tours for an e-ARC of this to read and review.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀✨
📖: The Seldom Wings (Winged Spirits Series Book 1)
💻: Out now and in KU

“𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨."

In The Seldom Wings, we follow Sia, a seraph who sought freedom from the expectations of her kingdom and hid amongst mortals. When an ailing ex makes her promise to look after her daughter, Sia’s bound to uphold that promise. Fraught with grief, Sia becomes entangled with her ex-lover’s grieving widower over their shared loss and unconventional connection. Sia also meets a mysterious detective while investigating gruesome murders throughout the city. Will Sia be able to help prevent more loss of innocent lives and before she must face her destiny?

Tropes/themes:
🩶 Morally grey MCs
🫂 Forced proximity
🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Governess/single dad
❤️‍🩹 Grief & healing
📝 Secret pen pals
🪽 Winged MCs
💍 Arranged marriage
🫥 Hidden identities
🌶️ : moderate

Beka has a way of building incredible worlds and creating some of the most intricate and complex morally grey characters. I adore Sia, who is headstrong and still finding herself and her place in the world. Her journey of healing is progressive and messy. Beka showcases how Sia processes loss, lack of choice, and slowly begins to reconcile her situation and embrace what can be. The Seldom Wings is an exquisite meditation on grief, loss, and love. I cannot wait to see Sia’s continued growth in The Obsidian Blaze!

[Jada Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Beka Westrup & Jacci Prior for the Audiobook 💋

Audiobook 🎧 Book Review 🤍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

At the start of the story, I was already 👀

Sia (FMC) off the bat is someone comfortable w/ their sexuality (love the rep 🏳️‍🌈). She also doesn’t take ish 🔥 from no one, which I absolutely love—
Although, she does make very… interesting choices later on. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I felt her ex was selfish… Do I still hold Destin accountable? 100%

As for the storyline, this gave me “The Golden Compass” - “His Dark Material” vibes (plot wise). The Rebellion against the Seraphim / Phoenix— I’m very lost when it comes to the world building, but I’m still so intrigued!!
*This book included so many creatures*

Destin did grow on me later on, but I absolutely live for the banter between Sia & Lee lol. I don’t know, it might just be me 😬 But I’m curious to see how everything will play out. I also loved that even though the romance was a subplot, I was still able to enjoy the moments.

Overall, this was an enjoyable debut. I’m SO curious to see how everything plays out in the sequel ‘cause—
There’s just soooo much to cover. That ending!!
Jacci Prior (My girl!!) and Brandon Francis did an AMAZING job narrating this whole thing 🫶🏽

[Alyssa Chin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I truly could not predict what would happen next and was very willing to blindly follow wherever the story was going.

You can't describe this book with tropes as it doesn't follow any typical formula of the fantasy genre. It weaves its own path and, while a bit confusing and disjointed at times, came together in a very satisfying way by the end.

I adore the way Beka wrote about the complexities of love and grief and trauma and healing, and how they are all connected. Her descriptions of each character's inner turmoil and all the feelings that came with it truly felt like poetry. I feel very attached to these real, flawed characters and am rooting for them.

While it took until almost the ending to understand what happened in the prologue and understand all the lore, it only made the ending that much more rewarding.

Can't wait to read the next book when it comes out in September!

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as part of a book tour. My review is based on my own opinion.

The blurb captured my attention as soon as I saw it and I knew I had to read it.
I did thoroughly enjoyed the premise of this novel and found it really interesting. The world building for me was a little heavy but it is book 1 so I can understand why as it needs to set the scene.
I found the characters have been written so realistically.
Sia, you can emotionally connect to her, she has flaws but don't we all!?!
The author definitely sucks you into this novel and you just need to know what happens.
I can't wait to read book 2 and I'm delighted to know that it is a trilogy

[Bianca Rose (Belladonnabooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a story with morally grey characters, steamy slow-burn romance and the Witcher vibes then look no further.

Seldom Wings is a story of magic, witches and mystery. The world building is dark, vivid and captivating. At the beginning there’s a few threads floating around but trust the process, it all makes sense in the end! The pace is phenomenal and keeps your turning the pages until the end.

As an MC Sia is incredibly strong and an absolute bad ass. My favourite type of female character. She’s not scared to wield a blade or stand up for herself. Not all readers will enjoy Sia but I think that was the point. She’s not for everyone and that’s okay. I enjoyed witnessing her growth throughout.

There’s so much potential in this series and I’m interested to see where it leads! Especially the romance.

Thank you so much to BOMM Book Tours, the author and publisher for my E-ARC copy in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Kait · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sia is my hero!!! I instantly fell in love with the main character— she is such an angsty bad ass with so much heart. I’m already dying for book two!! Westrup is an amazing author who’s world building totally blew me away. I loved every page of this book!!

[Aleesh Mageesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 a must read

I love this book! A unique world and fun, vibrant characters. It’s got all the things we love in this genre: the right amount of world building, interesting magic and characters, spicy scenes, action, and turmoil. My only problem is that I have to wait until September for book 2!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what I was expecting but this book was different from other fantasy books. I loved this author's descriptive writing and her interesting characters. I can't wait to see where this story goes!

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ review to come

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Westrup has written a compellingly dark new twist on angelic mythology. Sis is a fascinating character with layers of secrets, and very few characters didn’t have layers to unfold as the story progressed. Violence, sexual tension, emotional fallout, and secrets abound here and I absolutely couldn’t put this book down. I am desperately going to be waiting for book two!