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Crae Romance #1
Callum
He's waited centuries for his mate.
Callum Crae, the youngest sibling of the Crae family who has led the werewolves for millennia, has watched his siblings all fall in love with their mates. He's been patient, he's waited, knowing that, when the time came, his mate would be perfect.
She's never had anyone devoted to her.
Marielle has only ever been valuable for her pain. A rare cross between a druid and the child of a god, she's been kept prisoner for two centuries, used and abused as they cut pieces off her body for particularly powerful spell ingredients. She has no idea how her life is going to change when Callum finds her.
His devotion to his mate will give them both a second chance at life.
He's never felt anything like this before. She's never known anyone could love her. As she struggles with her past and all that's been taken from her, he's determined to prove to her that they can have a wonderful life together. And he'll do anything to make that happen for her.
A he-falls-first, mating-bond spicy paranormal romance, Callum is a guaranteed HEA that stands alone. Each book in the series is focused on a different Crae sibling.
Content warnings for the abuse Marielle went through, including sexual abuse, and scenes of violence. This is an 18+ book with multiple sexual scenes.
Callum Crae, the youngest sibling of the Crae family who has led the werewolves for millennia, has watched his siblings all fall in love with their mates. He's been patient, he's waited, knowing that, when the time came, his mate would be perfect.
She's never had anyone devoted to her.
Marielle has only ever been valuable for her pain. A rare cross between a druid and the child of a god, she's been kept prisoner for two centuries, used and abused as they cut pieces off her body for particularly powerful spell ingredients. She has no idea how her life is going to change when Callum finds her.
His devotion to his mate will give them both a second chance at life.
He's never felt anything like this before. She's never known anyone could love her. As she struggles with her past and all that's been taken from her, he's determined to prove to her that they can have a wonderful life together. And he'll do anything to make that happen for her.
A he-falls-first, mating-bond spicy paranormal romance, Callum is a guaranteed HEA that stands alone. Each book in the series is focused on a different Crae sibling.
Content warnings for the abuse Marielle went through, including sexual abuse, and scenes of violence. This is an 18+ book with multiple sexual scenes.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 5, 2023
About the author
Addison James
16 books52 followersAddison James is a romance book author from New England. They are obsessed with all things mythical, mystical, and magical. A lifelong fantasy reader, that evolved to fantasy romance as they grew up. Addison always has a story to tell and is excited to introduce you to their world of fantasy romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 14, 2025
3.75⭐️ this was a super cute quick read
April 16, 2023
She literally cuts out her own eye to spare his life. I can't say I'd do the same, but I guess that's why I'm not a werewolf's fated mate 🤷♀️
April 28, 2025
Story naja - passiert teils viel auf einmal & schnell, dann wieder schleppend. Die Romance story und der Spice waren sehr cute.
August 18, 2026
I hadn’t intended to read two books by this author back to back, but I am not sad I did. I think I like her trope of choice - good men being kind and thoughtful to good women who fall in love with them because of it. Frankly we need more of this - on and off the page.
Again, another satisfyingly quick and smutty read.
Again, another satisfyingly quick and smutty read.
August 23, 2026
Fated mates
Mating bond
He falls first and harder
Insta-love / very fast bond
Touch her and die
Extremely protective MMC
Spicy paranormal romance
Mutual devotion
Standalone romance
found familyWerewolf MMC
Druid/Fae-like magical FMC
Divine/demigod bloodline
Immortal characters
FMC escapes captivity
Physical mutilation/experimentation
FMC learns modern life after centuries of captivity
FMC rescues the MMC
Mating/rut
🐺 Callum Crae
Callum is the youngest of the Crae siblings and the general/warrior of the werewolves.
🌿 Marielle
Marielle is a druid/divine halfling, the daughter of a powerful supernatural being and a druid.
👑 Celia Crae
Celia is Callum's sister and the queen/leader of the werewolves.
⚔️ Heath Crae
Heath is another Crae sibling and an experienced warrior/spy.
🗡️ Bryce Crae
Bryce is another Crae sibling and acts as the family's diplomat. He's already mated to Mae
🧙 Mae
Mae is Bryce's mate and a witch/caster.
🧛 Theo
Theo is Marielle's brother.
🧛 Silas
Silas is Theo's vampire mate and a vampire prince.
😈 Chase
Chase is a demon who works closely with the Craes.he is heath's mate
🧙bethany
She is celias mate
FULL SUMMARY
Callum has spent centuries watching his siblings find their mates while he remains alone.
He's a werewolf warrior and practically lives for battle. At the beginning of the story, he and his brother Heath are sent to attack a group of magical criminals involved in enslaving people and using dark magic.
But during the mission, something changes.
Callum suddenly smells his mate.
His entire wolf instinct locks onto the scent.
He abandons everything else and follows it through the building, killing anyone who gets between him and the person he knows is his.
Eventually, he finds a heavily secured room.
Inside is a woman lying on the floor.
She's barely recognizable as someone who has lived a normal life.
Her name is Marielle.
Callum immediately knows she's his fated mate.Marielle has been imprisoned for approximately two hundred years.
Her captors discovered that because of her unusual druid/divine blood, her body can regenerate.
They exploited that ability.
They repeatedly injured her and removed pieces of her body to use as magical ingredients. Her eyes were repeatedly destroyed, leaving her blind for enormous stretches of time.
She has been isolated, abused and treated as an object rather than a person.
When Callum finds her, she has almost no reason to trust him.
She doesn't know who he is.
She doesn't even know whether he's another person coming to hurt her.
But Callum is different.
Instead of treating her like an object, he immediately becomes obsessed with protecting her.
He carries her out of the prison.
And for the first time in centuries, Marielle feels grass and earth beneath her hands.
She sees the moon.
She sees the outside world.
And Callum is beside her.
Her eyes, because of her magical nature, takes magic from ground and begin healing.
Callum is stunned by her.
Marielle is equally fascinated by him.
Callum takes Marielle away from the ruined compound.
He's extremely careful with her because he realizes just how badly she has been treated.
He gets her clothes, food and everything else she needs.
Eventually she is brought into the Crae family's world.
She doesn't understand cars, phones, modern clothing or many ordinary aspects of modern life because she has been isolated for two centuries.
As Callum spends more time with Marielle, he begins realizing the extent of her trauma.
He can tell that she has been sexually abused.
He can also tell that pieces of her body were repeatedly removed.
Callum is naturally violent, but the thought of someone hurting his mate makes him almost uncontrollably furious.
At the same time, he realizes something important:
Marielle is afraid of being touched.
So although his wolf wants to constantly protect and possess his mate, Callum deliberately holds himself back.
He tells her, in effect, that she decides what happens between them.
Marielle begins rebuilding her life
Marielle moves into Callum's home.
She gets her own bedroom.
Importantly, the bedroom can be locked from the inside.
That small detail means a lot to her.
For perhaps the first time in her life, she has a space that is actually hers.
Callum's family gradually accepts her.
Mae helps her learn about modern clothing.
Marielle begins spending time with Mae and Chase.
She discovers that she actually enjoys being around other people.
She also begins using her knowledge of herbs and healing to help the wolves.
She becomes useful because of what she chooses to give, rather than because someone is exploiting her.
Marielle discovers she isn't helpless
Callum eventually introduces her to weapons.
He gives her knives.
Marielle proves that she can fight.
She uses her druid abilities to manipulate plants and roots, even taking down trained werewolves.
Callum is incredibly proud of her.
He doesn't see her as a helpless victim anymore.
He starts seeing the full person underneath the trauma.
And Marielle begins seeing herself that way too.
Their relationship develops
Their relationship grows slowly emotionally, even though their mating bond makes Callum's feelings immediate.
Callum falls completely and hopelessly in love with her.
Marielle initially struggles to understand what healthy love looks like.
She's never experienced someone who wants something from her while simultaneously caring about what she wants.
Eventually she begins wanting Callum physically.
Their first kiss is extremely important because Marielle has never kissed anyone before.
Callum is careful.
He repeatedly reminds her that she controls the pace.
For Marielle, intimacy slowly changes from something associated with abuse into something associated with choice, pleasure and trust.
Their relationship becomes increasingly physical, but the important part is Marielle's growing confidence.
She starts initiating affection herself.
Eventually she chooses to take their relationship further.
Callum sacrifices his own desires for her
One of the biggest conflicts is the full moon.
Werewolves have stronger instincts during the full moon, particularly when they have found their mates.
Callum knows that his wolf will be much harder to control.
Because Marielle is still recovering from sexual trauma, he doesn't want to risk frightening or hurting her.
So he voluntarily separates himself from her during the full moon.
He goes to Demonheim, where supernatural beings can be confined in magically enforced cages.
It's awful for him.
The cages remove his senses, including his ability to smell or sense Marielle.
But Callum accepts the suffering because he believes her safety matters more than his own comfort.
Marielle realizes how much she loves him
While Callum is gone, Marielle realizes how deeply she has become attached to him.
His absence hurts.
She doesn't merely want him because of the mating bond.
She genuinely loves him.
When Callum returns, Marielle is much more confident about what she wants from their relationship.
Their physical relationship continues to develop on her terms.
Callum is almost absurdly devoted to making her feel safe and wanted.
For Marielle, this becomes another stage of reclaiming something that was previously stolen from her.
Then comes one of the biggest emotional revelations.
Callum and the others discover that Theo who was Marielle's human brother is alive.
Theo is now a vampire.
Marielle's reaction is complicated.
She is happy that her brother survived, but she also struggles with the fact that he never returned for her.
She understands why.
Theo himself had been trapped under their father's control and was fighting for his own survival.
He wants Marielle to have her own family back, not just become dependent on his.
Marielle eventually meets Theo again.
Theo is horrified when he learns what happened to her.
He had believed she was dead.
He learns that their father sold Marielle to the people who imprisoned her.
Theo and Marielle finally talk about their past.
There is pain, but also relief.
Marielle has finally recovered someone from her old life.
Theo is now mated to Silas, a vampire prince.
Callum is initially wary because werewolves and vampires have a long history of hostility, but Marielle's happiness comes first.
At the vampire gathering, Marielle encounters another powerful supernatural being.
She immediately senses that this woman is divine.
The woman recognizes her.
She tells Marielle that her mother was Rota.
Marielle learns that Rota is actually her aunt's sister.
This means Marielle's heritage is far more powerful and complicated than she realized.
She isn't simply a strange halfling with useful body parts.
She comes from an ancient supernatural lineage.
After the vampire gathering, Marielle and Callum leave.
But their enemies have not forgotten about her.
They attack them.
Marielle is knocked unconscious.
Callum fights back brutally.
But the attackers realize that they can't defeat him normally.
So they use Marielle against him.
A sword is held against her neck.
Callum has no choice but to surrender.
He is captured.
And Marielle wakes up alone.
Marielle immediately understands what has happened.
The people who imprisoned her before have taken Callum.
The difference now is enormous.
Two hundred years earlier, Marielle had been powerless, isolated and unprepared but now she is not
The captors send a message demanding that she come to their manor.
Marielle decides to go.
The rescue leads Marielle back to the place where she grew up.
It's her father's old house.
The same place connected to the beginning of her suffering.
Callum is being held in a magical cell.
And something even worse has happened.
His wolf has taken control.
Callum's enemies have deliberately pushed him into his most dangerous state.
Marielle realizes she can't simply overpower them.
So she uses herself as bait.
She deliberately damages one of her own eyes, knowing that the captors will immediately focus on her because of her regenerative abilities.
Callum's wolf is horrified.
But Marielle continues.
She needs the enemies distracted long enough to use her real weapon:
her druid magic.
The plants throughout her father's old home respond to her.
Roots and vines explode through the building.
She attacks the people who imprisoned her.
Her magic becomes overwhelming.
She uses plants to restrain, pierce and kill her enemies.
She frees Callum.
Callum's wolf then goes on a rampage against the remaining enemies.
Eventually everyone threatening them is dead.
Callum carries Marielle out.
But they aren't completely safe.
The full moon is approaching.
Callum knows what happens to werewolves under the full moon, especially when their mate is nearby.
He tries to send Marielle away so she won't be endangered.
But Marielle refuses.
After everything they've been through, she doesn't want him leaving her again.
She literally uses her magic to bind their wrists together.
Marielle decides she wants to stay with Callum.
The two finally fully surrender to their mating bond under the full moon.
Callum's wolf comes closer to the surface, but Marielle isn't frightened.
Instead, she recognizes that the wolf is still Callum.
The experience becomes another major turning point for Marielle.
Something that could have represented fear and loss of control becomes something she actively chooses.
She is no longer allowing someone else to decide what happens to her body.
She chooses Callum.
Next morning They talk about their future.
Callum even starts thinking about the possibility of children someday, while making it clear that any such decision would ultimately be Marielle's choice.
Ending / HEA ❤️
The supernatural conflict isn't completely over—the wolves are preparing for a larger strike against the people responsible for the magical enslavement operation.
Mating bond
He falls first and harder
Insta-love / very fast bond
Touch her and die
Extremely protective MMC
Spicy paranormal romance
Mutual devotion
Standalone romance
found familyWerewolf MMC
Druid/Fae-like magical FMC
Divine/demigod bloodline
Immortal characters
FMC escapes captivity
Physical mutilation/experimentation
FMC learns modern life after centuries of captivity
FMC rescues the MMC
Mating/rut
🐺 Callum Crae
Callum is the youngest of the Crae siblings and the general/warrior of the werewolves.
🌿 Marielle
Marielle is a druid/divine halfling, the daughter of a powerful supernatural being and a druid.
👑 Celia Crae
Celia is Callum's sister and the queen/leader of the werewolves.
⚔️ Heath Crae
Heath is another Crae sibling and an experienced warrior/spy.
🗡️ Bryce Crae
Bryce is another Crae sibling and acts as the family's diplomat. He's already mated to Mae
🧙 Mae
Mae is Bryce's mate and a witch/caster.
🧛 Theo
Theo is Marielle's brother.
🧛 Silas
Silas is Theo's vampire mate and a vampire prince.
😈 Chase
Chase is a demon who works closely with the Craes.he is heath's mate
🧙bethany
She is celias mate
FULL SUMMARY
Callum has spent centuries watching his siblings find their mates while he remains alone.
He's a werewolf warrior and practically lives for battle. At the beginning of the story, he and his brother Heath are sent to attack a group of magical criminals involved in enslaving people and using dark magic.
But during the mission, something changes.
Callum suddenly smells his mate.
His entire wolf instinct locks onto the scent.
He abandons everything else and follows it through the building, killing anyone who gets between him and the person he knows is his.
Eventually, he finds a heavily secured room.
Inside is a woman lying on the floor.
She's barely recognizable as someone who has lived a normal life.
Her name is Marielle.
Callum immediately knows she's his fated mate.Marielle has been imprisoned for approximately two hundred years.
Her captors discovered that because of her unusual druid/divine blood, her body can regenerate.
They exploited that ability.
They repeatedly injured her and removed pieces of her body to use as magical ingredients. Her eyes were repeatedly destroyed, leaving her blind for enormous stretches of time.
She has been isolated, abused and treated as an object rather than a person.
When Callum finds her, she has almost no reason to trust him.
She doesn't know who he is.
She doesn't even know whether he's another person coming to hurt her.
But Callum is different.
Instead of treating her like an object, he immediately becomes obsessed with protecting her.
He carries her out of the prison.
And for the first time in centuries, Marielle feels grass and earth beneath her hands.
She sees the moon.
She sees the outside world.
And Callum is beside her.
Her eyes, because of her magical nature, takes magic from ground and begin healing.
Callum is stunned by her.
Marielle is equally fascinated by him.
Callum takes Marielle away from the ruined compound.
He's extremely careful with her because he realizes just how badly she has been treated.
He gets her clothes, food and everything else she needs.
Eventually she is brought into the Crae family's world.
She doesn't understand cars, phones, modern clothing or many ordinary aspects of modern life because she has been isolated for two centuries.
As Callum spends more time with Marielle, he begins realizing the extent of her trauma.
He can tell that she has been sexually abused.
He can also tell that pieces of her body were repeatedly removed.
Callum is naturally violent, but the thought of someone hurting his mate makes him almost uncontrollably furious.
At the same time, he realizes something important:
Marielle is afraid of being touched.
So although his wolf wants to constantly protect and possess his mate, Callum deliberately holds himself back.
He tells her, in effect, that she decides what happens between them.
Marielle begins rebuilding her life
Marielle moves into Callum's home.
She gets her own bedroom.
Importantly, the bedroom can be locked from the inside.
That small detail means a lot to her.
For perhaps the first time in her life, she has a space that is actually hers.
Callum's family gradually accepts her.
Mae helps her learn about modern clothing.
Marielle begins spending time with Mae and Chase.
She discovers that she actually enjoys being around other people.
She also begins using her knowledge of herbs and healing to help the wolves.
She becomes useful because of what she chooses to give, rather than because someone is exploiting her.
Marielle discovers she isn't helpless
Callum eventually introduces her to weapons.
He gives her knives.
Marielle proves that she can fight.
She uses her druid abilities to manipulate plants and roots, even taking down trained werewolves.
Callum is incredibly proud of her.
He doesn't see her as a helpless victim anymore.
He starts seeing the full person underneath the trauma.
And Marielle begins seeing herself that way too.
Their relationship develops
Their relationship grows slowly emotionally, even though their mating bond makes Callum's feelings immediate.
Callum falls completely and hopelessly in love with her.
Marielle initially struggles to understand what healthy love looks like.
She's never experienced someone who wants something from her while simultaneously caring about what she wants.
Eventually she begins wanting Callum physically.
Their first kiss is extremely important because Marielle has never kissed anyone before.
Callum is careful.
He repeatedly reminds her that she controls the pace.
For Marielle, intimacy slowly changes from something associated with abuse into something associated with choice, pleasure and trust.
Their relationship becomes increasingly physical, but the important part is Marielle's growing confidence.
She starts initiating affection herself.
Eventually she chooses to take their relationship further.
Callum sacrifices his own desires for her
One of the biggest conflicts is the full moon.
Werewolves have stronger instincts during the full moon, particularly when they have found their mates.
Callum knows that his wolf will be much harder to control.
Because Marielle is still recovering from sexual trauma, he doesn't want to risk frightening or hurting her.
So he voluntarily separates himself from her during the full moon.
He goes to Demonheim, where supernatural beings can be confined in magically enforced cages.
It's awful for him.
The cages remove his senses, including his ability to smell or sense Marielle.
But Callum accepts the suffering because he believes her safety matters more than his own comfort.
Marielle realizes how much she loves him
While Callum is gone, Marielle realizes how deeply she has become attached to him.
His absence hurts.
She doesn't merely want him because of the mating bond.
She genuinely loves him.
When Callum returns, Marielle is much more confident about what she wants from their relationship.
Their physical relationship continues to develop on her terms.
Callum is almost absurdly devoted to making her feel safe and wanted.
For Marielle, this becomes another stage of reclaiming something that was previously stolen from her.
Then comes one of the biggest emotional revelations.
Callum and the others discover that Theo who was Marielle's human brother is alive.
Theo is now a vampire.
Marielle's reaction is complicated.
She is happy that her brother survived, but she also struggles with the fact that he never returned for her.
She understands why.
Theo himself had been trapped under their father's control and was fighting for his own survival.
He wants Marielle to have her own family back, not just become dependent on his.
Marielle eventually meets Theo again.
Theo is horrified when he learns what happened to her.
He had believed she was dead.
He learns that their father sold Marielle to the people who imprisoned her.
Theo and Marielle finally talk about their past.
There is pain, but also relief.
Marielle has finally recovered someone from her old life.
Theo is now mated to Silas, a vampire prince.
Callum is initially wary because werewolves and vampires have a long history of hostility, but Marielle's happiness comes first.
At the vampire gathering, Marielle encounters another powerful supernatural being.
She immediately senses that this woman is divine.
The woman recognizes her.
She tells Marielle that her mother was Rota.
Marielle learns that Rota is actually her aunt's sister.
This means Marielle's heritage is far more powerful and complicated than she realized.
She isn't simply a strange halfling with useful body parts.
She comes from an ancient supernatural lineage.
After the vampire gathering, Marielle and Callum leave.
But their enemies have not forgotten about her.
They attack them.
Marielle is knocked unconscious.
Callum fights back brutally.
But the attackers realize that they can't defeat him normally.
So they use Marielle against him.
A sword is held against her neck.
Callum has no choice but to surrender.
He is captured.
And Marielle wakes up alone.
Marielle immediately understands what has happened.
The people who imprisoned her before have taken Callum.
The difference now is enormous.
Two hundred years earlier, Marielle had been powerless, isolated and unprepared but now she is not
The captors send a message demanding that she come to their manor.
Marielle decides to go.
The rescue leads Marielle back to the place where she grew up.
It's her father's old house.
The same place connected to the beginning of her suffering.
Callum is being held in a magical cell.
And something even worse has happened.
His wolf has taken control.
Callum's enemies have deliberately pushed him into his most dangerous state.
Marielle realizes she can't simply overpower them.
So she uses herself as bait.
She deliberately damages one of her own eyes, knowing that the captors will immediately focus on her because of her regenerative abilities.
Callum's wolf is horrified.
But Marielle continues.
She needs the enemies distracted long enough to use her real weapon:
her druid magic.
The plants throughout her father's old home respond to her.
Roots and vines explode through the building.
She attacks the people who imprisoned her.
Her magic becomes overwhelming.
She uses plants to restrain, pierce and kill her enemies.
She frees Callum.
Callum's wolf then goes on a rampage against the remaining enemies.
Eventually everyone threatening them is dead.
Callum carries Marielle out.
But they aren't completely safe.
The full moon is approaching.
Callum knows what happens to werewolves under the full moon, especially when their mate is nearby.
He tries to send Marielle away so she won't be endangered.
But Marielle refuses.
After everything they've been through, she doesn't want him leaving her again.
She literally uses her magic to bind their wrists together.
Marielle decides she wants to stay with Callum.
The two finally fully surrender to their mating bond under the full moon.
Callum's wolf comes closer to the surface, but Marielle isn't frightened.
Instead, she recognizes that the wolf is still Callum.
The experience becomes another major turning point for Marielle.
Something that could have represented fear and loss of control becomes something she actively chooses.
She is no longer allowing someone else to decide what happens to her body.
She chooses Callum.
Next morning They talk about their future.
Callum even starts thinking about the possibility of children someday, while making it clear that any such decision would ultimately be Marielle's choice.
Ending / HEA ❤️
The supernatural conflict isn't completely over—the wolves are preparing for a larger strike against the people responsible for the magical enslavement operation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2026
Fast read
September 11, 2026
***Possible Minor Spoilers***
I'm having such a hard time figuring out how I feel about this book. I don't hate it, but I don't like it either. It was a quick read but it had so much missing. It felt sloppy and rushed. I'm almost thinking it's been written by AI.
I loved the premise of the story but it's just not complete in my eyes. It's like the book was originally much longer but was stripped down to be 200 pages with no editing. There's chapters where lots of time has passed but it feels like we've skipped over important conversations and events. It feels like this book was never supposed to be the first in the series. There's not enough information about the characters and there's zero world building, which wouldn't be a problem if there had been a previous book that already built it. There's often moments when the MFC makes a comment about other characters and your left wondering where that came from. It's just random facts being thrown out as if we should already know. There's also so many questions left hanging. Why was the MMC fighting/hunting the supernaturals that held the MFC in the first place? What made the MFC so special they attempted to take her again? Why did they bring up an aunt for half a page? There are so many holes, so many questions. I'm left unsatisfied.
The intimate scenes were also missing something. I can't fully put my finger on it. Altho the sex scene was decent, the previous foreplay just seemed off. Maybe it felt like it was inbetween closed and opened door? I'm not sure i just know there was something missing. I was annoyed when they reference how the MFC likes sex but there hadn't been any penetration yet. Its called foreplay and it bothers me that the author confused sex and foreplay. Maybe that's what broke it for me.
There's a lack of human understanding in this. If you're gonna write about characters who have trauma, you need to do research and understand the trauma. Especially for the abuse the MFC suffered for 200 years. She got over it too quickly and effortlessly almost from the beginning. It's not realistic and it downplays the trauma. There were zero reasons for the character growth of overcoming her trauma. She just magically gets over it. If the trauma healing process had been done better, this would have been amazing and unique.
My last issue is the MMC. Now I was happy with the cinnamon roll male. It was a nice change of paces from the "manly" aggressive wolf shifters you normally have. He seemed to be written as a patient and understanding character but he came across as a perv to me. I get he waited a thousand years for his mate so he's excited when they show up but he finds her in a dark, dirty torture room, abysed beyond imaginable and as soon as they're away from the danger (within hours), he has the dirties thoughts. He didn't act on them but it just didn't sit well with me. If you're partner was severely abused, the last thing on your mind is sex or how you would ravish them. There are so many other emotions and scenarios that will occur. It just shows a total lack of respect for the MFC and takes away from the cinnamon roll image of the MMC. This rolls off my last comment about the lack of human understanding. Maybe it's a lack of life experience but it's still no excuse to me.
This book had the promise to be absolutely amazing. It was just done to quickly and there was too much missing and lacking to give it substance. It's what I would expect from a teenager's first attempt at writing. There were grammar mistakes that bothered me and incorrect terms used, which broke the fantasy for me. Again, the premise had me so excited. Sadly, the execution was just that, an execution.
I'm having such a hard time figuring out how I feel about this book. I don't hate it, but I don't like it either. It was a quick read but it had so much missing. It felt sloppy and rushed. I'm almost thinking it's been written by AI.
I loved the premise of the story but it's just not complete in my eyes. It's like the book was originally much longer but was stripped down to be 200 pages with no editing. There's chapters where lots of time has passed but it feels like we've skipped over important conversations and events. It feels like this book was never supposed to be the first in the series. There's not enough information about the characters and there's zero world building, which wouldn't be a problem if there had been a previous book that already built it. There's often moments when the MFC makes a comment about other characters and your left wondering where that came from. It's just random facts being thrown out as if we should already know. There's also so many questions left hanging. Why was the MMC fighting/hunting the supernaturals that held the MFC in the first place? What made the MFC so special they attempted to take her again? Why did they bring up an aunt for half a page? There are so many holes, so many questions. I'm left unsatisfied.
The intimate scenes were also missing something. I can't fully put my finger on it. Altho the sex scene was decent, the previous foreplay just seemed off. Maybe it felt like it was inbetween closed and opened door? I'm not sure i just know there was something missing. I was annoyed when they reference how the MFC likes sex but there hadn't been any penetration yet. Its called foreplay and it bothers me that the author confused sex and foreplay. Maybe that's what broke it for me.
There's a lack of human understanding in this. If you're gonna write about characters who have trauma, you need to do research and understand the trauma. Especially for the abuse the MFC suffered for 200 years. She got over it too quickly and effortlessly almost from the beginning. It's not realistic and it downplays the trauma. There were zero reasons for the character growth of overcoming her trauma. She just magically gets over it. If the trauma healing process had been done better, this would have been amazing and unique.
My last issue is the MMC. Now I was happy with the cinnamon roll male. It was a nice change of paces from the "manly" aggressive wolf shifters you normally have. He seemed to be written as a patient and understanding character but he came across as a perv to me. I get he waited a thousand years for his mate so he's excited when they show up but he finds her in a dark, dirty torture room, abysed beyond imaginable and as soon as they're away from the danger (within hours), he has the dirties thoughts. He didn't act on them but it just didn't sit well with me. If you're partner was severely abused, the last thing on your mind is sex or how you would ravish them. There are so many other emotions and scenarios that will occur. It just shows a total lack of respect for the MFC and takes away from the cinnamon roll image of the MMC. This rolls off my last comment about the lack of human understanding. Maybe it's a lack of life experience but it's still no excuse to me.
This book had the promise to be absolutely amazing. It was just done to quickly and there was too much missing and lacking to give it substance. It's what I would expect from a teenager's first attempt at writing. There were grammar mistakes that bothered me and incorrect terms used, which broke the fantasy for me. Again, the premise had me so excited. Sadly, the execution was just that, an execution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2026
Super cute, quick read.
Marielle has been trapped for two hundred years, and warlocks use her regenerating body parts for magical spells.
Callum has been alone for a century, searching for a mate that seems to never come around. While everyone else around him is falling in love and finding their forevers.
Callum is sent on a mission, and before he even steps into the building, he knows she's there. His mate.
Marielle, wounded and terrified, clings to him in a desperation that he is different and can help her gain her footing. It isn't until he brings her to his queen that she lets slip that they are mates, scaring her, but not enough to make her run.
Together, they move through the stages of finding herself sexually after being abused for so long. There is loads of spice in this book, and Callum takes his time, only moving at her speed.
I found this novel sweet, although some spots were a bit cheesy, it felt like it wasn't rushed between the two and I appreciated that.
Marielle has been trapped for two hundred years, and warlocks use her regenerating body parts for magical spells.
Callum has been alone for a century, searching for a mate that seems to never come around. While everyone else around him is falling in love and finding their forevers.
Callum is sent on a mission, and before he even steps into the building, he knows she's there. His mate.
Marielle, wounded and terrified, clings to him in a desperation that he is different and can help her gain her footing. It isn't until he brings her to his queen that she lets slip that they are mates, scaring her, but not enough to make her run.
Together, they move through the stages of finding herself sexually after being abused for so long. There is loads of spice in this book, and Callum takes his time, only moving at her speed.
I found this novel sweet, although some spots were a bit cheesy, it felt like it wasn't rushed between the two and I appreciated that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️.5/5
- MF
- Fated mates
- Werewolf/half Devine half Druid
- Novella
- Healing from trauma
- Honestly slight body horror lol (not to that extent just the eye stuff was crazy)
- Lots of asking or confirming consent from MMC (off-page rape mentioned in the FMC’s past)
Random thoughts while reading:
- How Marielle found out they were mates was kind of funny lol, made me go like this 🤦🏼♀️
- Love a long sex scene, like the last 20% is just smut lol
- One of my fav micro tropes, when he eats her out after he came inside her 💦🥵
““For you. Not because of you.” “What’s the difference?” “Because of puts the blame on you. For you… we haven’t even scratched the surface of what I’d do for you yet, Marielle.””
This was so cute/funny: “I turn so she hopefully can’t see what I’m doing and cut my hand open on my knife. Jake gives me a very unimpressed look. “Think she’ll fall for that?”” (Marielle is healing everyone just so they heal faster even though they have supernatural healing abilities)
🌶️🌶️.5/5
- MF
- Fated mates
- Werewolf/half Devine half Druid
- Novella
- Healing from trauma
- Honestly slight body horror lol (not to that extent just the eye stuff was crazy)
- Lots of asking or confirming consent from MMC (off-page rape mentioned in the FMC’s past)
Random thoughts while reading:
- How Marielle found out they were mates was kind of funny lol, made me go like this 🤦🏼♀️
- Love a long sex scene, like the last 20% is just smut lol
- One of my fav micro tropes, when he eats her out after he came inside her 💦🥵
““For you. Not because of you.” “What’s the difference?” “Because of puts the blame on you. For you… we haven’t even scratched the surface of what I’d do for you yet, Marielle.””
This was so cute/funny: “I turn so she hopefully can’t see what I’m doing and cut my hand open on my knife. Jake gives me a very unimpressed look. “Think she’ll fall for that?”” (Marielle is healing everyone just so they heal faster even though they have supernatural healing abilities)
October 16, 2025
For as dark as the themes are in this book, Callum was honestly a very fun read. The dynamic between Callum and Marielle was so sweet. It was a slowish burn for sure. There was a lot of healing that Marielle needed to go through (although we don't see much of it outside of her just existing unmolested.)
The pacing for the book was well done. It wasn't a frantic run to the end by no means. It also didn't feel like a plot was created just to make smut happen. In fact, this could have been without any sex scenes and it would have been just as good. I really like the relationships that were sprinkled in throughout the book.
Nothing about this is really deep. Marielle went through 200 years of torture but she's honestly unscathed. She healed with no physical scars (because magic) and frankly, she didn't seem to hold any mental scars. It worked but this isn't a work of deep emotional healing. It's a fun read with some dark themes and paranormal happenings. I really enjoyed it for sure.
The pacing for the book was well done. It wasn't a frantic run to the end by no means. It also didn't feel like a plot was created just to make smut happen. In fact, this could have been without any sex scenes and it would have been just as good. I really like the relationships that were sprinkled in throughout the book.
Nothing about this is really deep. Marielle went through 200 years of torture but she's honestly unscathed. She healed with no physical scars (because magic) and frankly, she didn't seem to hold any mental scars. It worked but this isn't a work of deep emotional healing. It's a fun read with some dark themes and paranormal happenings. I really enjoyed it for sure.
June 19, 2026
After reading, I switched back and forth on if I liked this book or what I should rate it. I liked the characters themselves, but even for a fated mates plotline, it still felt too instalove and lust on Marielle's side. She has gone through 200 years of torture, sexual assault, and captivity. Callum was a well-written male lead, but other than telling her to trust him and holding her hand while they slept, he didn't really do anything about the lingering PTSD of Marielle's trauma. The spicy scenes were nicely written, and I did like that he let her take the lead. It just felt rushed. Like there wasn't a whole done to build her back up from being imprisoned. I also feel like there were a bit too many chapters where absolutely nothing happened regarding the conflict that brought the two together anyway. Overall, I feel the book had multiple problems and multiple successes. I don't know if I'll read more. Maybe I will.
January 22, 2026
3.5
This probably would’ve been a 4-star read, but it just moved a little too fast for me. After everything Marielle went through for 200 years, there’s no way she would’ve trusted anyone—or gotten physical with Callum—that quickly, even if they’re fated mates. It felt rushed given the amount of trauma she endured.
I also would’ve loved more of a reunion with her brother Theo and a stronger confrontation with her aunt. Those moments felt a bit glossed over when they could’ve added so much emotional depth.
Overall, the story was good and definitely kept my interest, but it could’ve been even better with more healing, buildup, and detail. I might read the next book… or I might not—we’ll see.
🌶️🌶️
Tropes
• Fated mates
• Royal warrior werewolf MMC
• Divine/Druid FMC
• Touch-her-and-die
• Protective MMC
• Traumatized FMC
• Found family
• Kidnapping & captivity
• Healing after trauma
This probably would’ve been a 4-star read, but it just moved a little too fast for me. After everything Marielle went through for 200 years, there’s no way she would’ve trusted anyone—or gotten physical with Callum—that quickly, even if they’re fated mates. It felt rushed given the amount of trauma she endured.
I also would’ve loved more of a reunion with her brother Theo and a stronger confrontation with her aunt. Those moments felt a bit glossed over when they could’ve added so much emotional depth.
Overall, the story was good and definitely kept my interest, but it could’ve been even better with more healing, buildup, and detail. I might read the next book… or I might not—we’ll see.
🌶️🌶️
Tropes
• Fated mates
• Royal warrior werewolf MMC
• Divine/Druid FMC
• Touch-her-and-die
• Protective MMC
• Traumatized FMC
• Found family
• Kidnapping & captivity
• Healing after trauma
June 14, 2023
True Love and the depths
This is a new author for me, and she did not disappoint!! It's such a whirlwind of a romance, and you really do understand the depths of Callums feelings for Mariella. In the beginning, my heart hurt that Callum was without a mate, but to see his character develop once he found her was so heartwarming.
The spice was very well written and didn't take away from the plot. I was looking forward to their first night doing the "deed" when Matiellas passed up with her, and I could feel the panic she was feeling when she realized Callum was gone!
True love is proven in this story, and it will make your heart a flutter!!! Wonderful read and can't wait to read Bryces story next!!
This is a new author for me, and she did not disappoint!! It's such a whirlwind of a romance, and you really do understand the depths of Callums feelings for Mariella. In the beginning, my heart hurt that Callum was without a mate, but to see his character develop once he found her was so heartwarming.
The spice was very well written and didn't take away from the plot. I was looking forward to their first night doing the "deed" when Matiellas passed up with her, and I could feel the panic she was feeling when she realized Callum was gone!
True love is proven in this story, and it will make your heart a flutter!!! Wonderful read and can't wait to read Bryces story next!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2025
An interesting take
A decent story with a new variation on fated mates. In this world it's not about breeding as the mate bonds are not all same sex. It's about who suits you best, your soulmate as it were.
Marielle's time as a prisoner makes food interesting dynamic with her old fashioned ways and needing to be caught up in modern vernacular and culture.
There were a few slight discrepancies with her language (i.e the phrase Okay wouldn't have been used when she was human) but they managed it well. There were one or two working/ grammatical mistakes and in the last chapters she suddenly had claws??
Enjoyable story with a decent MMC and a realistic traumatized FMC.
A decent story with a new variation on fated mates. In this world it's not about breeding as the mate bonds are not all same sex. It's about who suits you best, your soulmate as it were.
Marielle's time as a prisoner makes food interesting dynamic with her old fashioned ways and needing to be caught up in modern vernacular and culture.
There were a few slight discrepancies with her language (i.e the phrase Okay wouldn't have been used when she was human) but they managed it well. There were one or two working/ grammatical mistakes and in the last chapters she suddenly had claws??
Enjoyable story with a decent MMC and a realistic traumatized FMC.
October 1, 2025
Left in the lurch
Overall it was an okay read, found myself wanting more world building. Ultimately this book feels like a start to an interesting series full of battle and fighting for love but seems like it is just a series about standalone romances. The way this book ends would be great if the next in there series was a continuation. But nope the next is a "look back into time". Utterly disappointed and honestly dont have any desire to continue reading due to the sour taste I have.
Overall it was an okay read, found myself wanting more world building. Ultimately this book feels like a start to an interesting series full of battle and fighting for love but seems like it is just a series about standalone romances. The way this book ends would be great if the next in there series was a continuation. But nope the next is a "look back into time". Utterly disappointed and honestly dont have any desire to continue reading due to the sour taste I have.
July 6, 2026
This was a cute and short read, kind of like a palette cleanser. While Marielle had been through a lot, it was relatively low angst and the romance between her and Callum was everything. He was so patient and loving while Marielle found her footing and confidence.
As cute as this story was, Callum’s family bothered me. They treated Marielle well but seemed rather abrasive and sometimes uncaring towards Callum. I haven’t read the other books in this series and based on the characters are portrayed in this one, I have no plans to read them either.
As cute as this story was, Callum’s family bothered me. They treated Marielle well but seemed rather abrasive and sometimes uncaring towards Callum. I haven’t read the other books in this series and based on the characters are portrayed in this one, I have no plans to read them either.
November 1, 2025
I'm not sure where the spicy part was supposed to be but I had to DNF at the halfway point. The slowest of slow burns. Snail shifters would be faster. It was just dragging out her trauma and didn't give any insight as to if the MMC was actually working and trying to help her thru it. There is another book I've read where MMC rescues his mate in a similar type of situation. However he was very hands on and helped her overcome things. For being his mate he sure wasn't putting much effort into it.
June 6, 2026
Four stars!
I liked the premise of the story, heroine abused and held captive then hero saves her. Also, liked having both points of view, and how they interacted with one another. For instance, how he was so patient and understanding. However, I would have liked the other characters to have more interactions with one another, especially the siblings and mates. Lastly, would have liked more dialogue between the person and their wolf.
I liked the premise of the story, heroine abused and held captive then hero saves her. Also, liked having both points of view, and how they interacted with one another. For instance, how he was so patient and understanding. However, I would have liked the other characters to have more interactions with one another, especially the siblings and mates. Lastly, would have liked more dialogue between the person and their wolf.
January 26, 2024
LOVE!! LOVE!!! LOVE!!!
This is such a cozy read!! I absolutely love the dynamic between Callum and Marielle, and the other characters in this book are also amazing!! I can’t wait to read more of this series! There’s nothing not to like here, super cozy shifter romance, good world building, love able characters! I could read a 100 books based in this universe and never tire of it! Amazing!!!!
This is such a cozy read!! I absolutely love the dynamic between Callum and Marielle, and the other characters in this book are also amazing!! I can’t wait to read more of this series! There’s nothing not to like here, super cozy shifter romance, good world building, love able characters! I could read a 100 books based in this universe and never tire of it! Amazing!!!!
February 20, 2025
3.5 Stars
The grammar was correct, so this is a better read than most werewolf stories. The plot is a little weak, there is potential to strengthen it. It satisfies the desire for a dirty werewolf romance read. This book is just superficial content wise, and leaves a lot of room for creating a fantasy world.
The grammar was correct, so this is a better read than most werewolf stories. The plot is a little weak, there is potential to strengthen it. It satisfies the desire for a dirty werewolf romance read. This book is just superficial content wise, and leaves a lot of room for creating a fantasy world.
February 16, 2026
Not for me. Massively underwhelmed. I was intrigued by the synopsis - a dark love story. I found a lacklustre tale that didn’t hit hard enough. The torment was just words on a page, nothing made me feel for the characters. If anything, it felt like the plot moved too quickly for me to appreciate the journey of recovery necessary to overcome the suffering described.
January 17, 2026
The book is all over the place. Characters introduced without any depth to them. It’s like at 75% of the book, author suddenly recalled that “ohh we forgot to deal with what we started the book with!”
August 17, 2026
2.5⭐️
Compared to other Addison James books which I've read and loved, I didn't like this one so much. The story held a lot of promise and Callum's patience with Marielle in all ways was so sweet. I just felt like the writing itself left a lot to be desired.
Compared to other Addison James books which I've read and loved, I didn't like this one so much. The story held a lot of promise and Callum's patience with Marielle in all ways was so sweet. I just felt like the writing itself left a lot to be desired.
April 16, 2023
Soulmates for life
Great love story. Callum is every woman’s dream man. Book has great world building and a true good plot. I hope this becomes a series.
Great love story. Callum is every woman’s dream man. Book has great world building and a true good plot. I hope this becomes a series.
April 18, 2023
I devoured this book!!! I absolutely loved it!!
One of my favorites in many years!!! I have to ask or beg PLEASE TELL ME IS THERE A SIQUEL?? Is this a series??? I gotta know I need more 😍🥺🥺🥺
One of my favorites in many years!!! I have to ask or beg PLEASE TELL ME IS THERE A SIQUEL?? Is this a series??? I gotta know I need more 😍🥺🥺🥺
September 15, 2023
loved!!!!
Fast read. Loved the characters. Pulls you in from the start. Love, action, spice and family. Who wouldn’t want to be part of a wolf pack?
Fast read. Loved the characters. Pulls you in from the start. Love, action, spice and family. Who wouldn’t want to be part of a wolf pack?
October 12, 2023
Tbh I didn’t think this would be my vibe but it was so sweet?????
November 5, 2023
I liked it a lot! I think I liked "Bryce" a smidge more but theyre both really good for what they are 😊🫶🏻
January 7, 2024
I love fated mates and insta love. I know not everyone does, but I love the idea of a man falling instantly for you. And what a man...Callum is honestly too perfect.
February 19, 2025
It's just a series of events.
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