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Child Of The Pines
Child of The Pines is the compelling story of a young woman and her jarring introduction to society. Kenna, a shifter who was raised by wolves finds the unexpected beneath her beloved shady pines. With that discovery she leaves the forest and finds herself in the midst of a war decades in the making. On her journey she encounters people from all walks of life, and delves deeper into her magic; yet, with this power and knowledge comes a greater risk. Once an outcast, Kenna struggles to balance the joys of companionship and the dangers of court. There is more lurking in the castle walls of Sapphire Bay than she ever expected.
- GenresParanormal Romance
344 pages, Paperback
Published March 23, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 27, 2026
For me, this story just sings. There is something so delicate and captivating about it. It isn’t just a love story, but a tale of growth, connection, and self-discovery, with a bit of action and intrigue woven throughout.
Our main character is Kenna. She is a shifter, but that only scratches the surface of her power. Her connection with animals was such a highlight for me. Her pack, her true family, brought joy, love, and care to every moment, and I absolutely reveled in it.
But Kenna is also a girl who is struggling. She has her family, but in the human world, she doesn’t quite fit. Growing up, it was clear she didn’t belong. She was an outcast. When she stumbles upon a man in the forest, near death, she saves him without realizing the impact it will have on her life. Soon, she is swept off to another kingdom, navigating a world of overwhelming crowds and suffocating stone walls. Leaving behind the freedom of the forest, her home, is a huge change, but her curiosity drives her to explore what this new path holds. It certainly helps that the man she saved happens to be a knight and a very handsome one at that.
Caleb is a knight bound to the kingdom by lineage and loyalty to the crown, but honestly, he is a total cinnamon roll. He has the looks, the build, and that smirky grin we all love, and he is completely smitten with Kenna. You can feel it from the very beginning, the looks, the pull, and the way their eyes always seem to find each other. It is a sweet, slow, and beautiful romance with a side of spice, of course.
This story really gives a bit of everything. It is not all love and frolicking with wolves, though that does sound amazing. There is emotional depth, but also compelling intrigue that keeps building as secrets and danger stir in the shadows. The end had me on the edge of my seat and has me eagerly anticipating what comes next!
Our main character is Kenna. She is a shifter, but that only scratches the surface of her power. Her connection with animals was such a highlight for me. Her pack, her true family, brought joy, love, and care to every moment, and I absolutely reveled in it.
But Kenna is also a girl who is struggling. She has her family, but in the human world, she doesn’t quite fit. Growing up, it was clear she didn’t belong. She was an outcast. When she stumbles upon a man in the forest, near death, she saves him without realizing the impact it will have on her life. Soon, she is swept off to another kingdom, navigating a world of overwhelming crowds and suffocating stone walls. Leaving behind the freedom of the forest, her home, is a huge change, but her curiosity drives her to explore what this new path holds. It certainly helps that the man she saved happens to be a knight and a very handsome one at that.
Caleb is a knight bound to the kingdom by lineage and loyalty to the crown, but honestly, he is a total cinnamon roll. He has the looks, the build, and that smirky grin we all love, and he is completely smitten with Kenna. You can feel it from the very beginning, the looks, the pull, and the way their eyes always seem to find each other. It is a sweet, slow, and beautiful romance with a side of spice, of course.
This story really gives a bit of everything. It is not all love and frolicking with wolves, though that does sound amazing. There is emotional depth, but also compelling intrigue that keeps building as secrets and danger stir in the shadows. The end had me on the edge of my seat and has me eagerly anticipating what comes next!
March 23, 2026
A richly descriptive slice-of-life turned fish-out-of-water journey of discovery romantasy story. Kenna, an animal shifter raised by wolves & the only one of her kind (or is she?), leaves behind her isolated forest home adjacent to a small & small-minded village (who shun her for being different), after saving the life of Caleb, a King’s Knight, after finding him in the forest on the brink of death from a brutal beast attack. Caleb and Kenna’s bond & hunger for each other develops slowly along the way - there is on page spice! Caleb introduces Kenna to court and life beyond the forest and she revels in her curiosity and lust for new experiences. She eventually takes on magic lessons while Caleb resumes his knightly role at court.
This would make a great palette cleanser between plot-heavy & more explosive romantasy stories!
Fave Quotes:
“But a moment with you is always more precious. I would be late to the crowning of the gods if it meant I could stay by your side.”
She watched him cross the marble floor with powerful strides; he did not slip through the crowd, they parted before him: Caleb Devoney. A warmth built beneath her skin and chased away the shadows that had clung to her. He reached her and his lips parted on a soft inhale when his hand clasped hers; her heart strained at the emotion that radiated from him, she squeezed his calloused fingers, and couldn’t imagine a life without him by her side.
This would make a great palette cleanser between plot-heavy & more explosive romantasy stories!
Fave Quotes:
“But a moment with you is always more precious. I would be late to the crowning of the gods if it meant I could stay by your side.”
She watched him cross the marble floor with powerful strides; he did not slip through the crowd, they parted before him: Caleb Devoney. A warmth built beneath her skin and chased away the shadows that had clung to her. He reached her and his lips parted on a soft inhale when his hand clasped hers; her heart strained at the emotion that radiated from him, she squeezed his calloused fingers, and couldn’t imagine a life without him by her side.
April 21, 2026
If you love a fantasy book with a magically gifted FMC who goes on a captivating journey with a hottie she rescued in the woods, this is for you!
Reading through Child of the Pines was such a pleasure! This book was the perfect fast-paced fantasy read! Kenna’s journey from the wilderness with her Pack to the humane world was riveting and full of adventure. I loved all of the animals and side characters introduced throughout this story. Like I mentioned before, the pace was very quick and the plot was always filled with interesting moments and events. There was never a dull chapter! I thoroughly enjoyed the romance between the characters featured. The pace of the romantic relationship and friendships Kenna developed was a joy to watch blossom across each page and chapter. It was so touching as a reader to see Kenna open up to others and to be shown love that she so deeply deserved. I adored the deep magic, the enchanting creatures and the world lore provided throughout the book! Overall, this book was a page-turner for me and I can’t wait to see how Kenna’s story develops! I am ready for book two!!
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My favorite quote: “The world is not always kind Kenna, as I’m sure you well know. It is full of two types of people; those that would see you drown, and those that would save you from the darkest waters.”
Reading through Child of the Pines was such a pleasure! This book was the perfect fast-paced fantasy read! Kenna’s journey from the wilderness with her Pack to the humane world was riveting and full of adventure. I loved all of the animals and side characters introduced throughout this story. Like I mentioned before, the pace was very quick and the plot was always filled with interesting moments and events. There was never a dull chapter! I thoroughly enjoyed the romance between the characters featured. The pace of the romantic relationship and friendships Kenna developed was a joy to watch blossom across each page and chapter. It was so touching as a reader to see Kenna open up to others and to be shown love that she so deeply deserved. I adored the deep magic, the enchanting creatures and the world lore provided throughout the book! Overall, this book was a page-turner for me and I can’t wait to see how Kenna’s story develops! I am ready for book two!!
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My favorite quote: “The world is not always kind Kenna, as I’m sure you well know. It is full of two types of people; those that would see you drown, and those that would save you from the darkest waters.”
September 24, 2025
Kenna is a shifter that can hear thoughts of animals, have them understand her thoughts, and shift into any animal. She predominantly chooses her wolf form and is part of a loyal pack. One day after a hunt, Kenna finds an injured man who is more than he seems and changes the direction of her life, talking her on quite the journey.
I loved Kenna's special connection to animals and unique abilities. The twist on shifting is a lot of fun with being able to shift to anything while also being part of a wolf pack. The writing is lush and detailed, and the characters are the perfect amount of mysterious. The first part of the book is very atmospheric, beautifully setting the scene. As we move into more romance and action, the pace picks up and things get twistier with mystery and magic. The romance had great tension and kept me on my toes. I was definitely excited by some events that shook things up at the end and am looking forward to the next one as it seems there will be some pretty high stakes!
I loved Kenna's special connection to animals and unique abilities. The twist on shifting is a lot of fun with being able to shift to anything while also being part of a wolf pack. The writing is lush and detailed, and the characters are the perfect amount of mysterious. The first part of the book is very atmospheric, beautifully setting the scene. As we move into more romance and action, the pace picks up and things get twistier with mystery and magic. The romance had great tension and kept me on my toes. I was definitely excited by some events that shook things up at the end and am looking forward to the next one as it seems there will be some pretty high stakes!
April 27, 2026
very hard to read
I wanted to like this book, I really did, but it needs desperate help in the editing department. While the prose is decent it’s often hard to tell who the speaker is due to the author only adhering to a new paragraph for each speaker some of the time. Nothing is resolved or well fleshed out in the end. I’m also not super clear what the plot is. Though this says for 16-18 yr olds there are 3 explicit sex scenes that I don’t think are suitable for children under 18.
I wanted to like this book, I really did, but it needs desperate help in the editing department. While the prose is decent it’s often hard to tell who the speaker is due to the author only adhering to a new paragraph for each speaker some of the time. Nothing is resolved or well fleshed out in the end. I’m also not super clear what the plot is. Though this says for 16-18 yr olds there are 3 explicit sex scenes that I don’t think are suitable for children under 18.
March 6, 2026
𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚; 𝙖 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩, 𝙖 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙, 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚.
Child of the Pines was such a unique read and I loved Kenna’s blunt, straightforward personality. Kenna’s magic allows her to communicate with animals and shift into various forms. She’s happiest as a wolf though and the bond she has with her pack is the absolute sweetest 🐺🐾
One night after a hunt with her wolf family, Kenna comes across a wounded man in the forest. She brings him to a healer and a spark of friendship between the wolf girl and the city boy blooms. She decides to travel with Caleb to the Capital and experiences a life outside her sheltered woods.
Those special moments between Kenna and Caleb were my favourite 🥰 Their dynamic feels a bit like ‘friends with benefits’ at times, but you can tell they truly care about each other and there’s an undeniable attraction. And don’t we love it when the man falls first? 🫠 I didn’t feel a deep, fated connection between them, but looking at the next book in the series, I actually think this was intentional. Regardless, their chemistry always had me smiling.
This was a great debut novel. There were a few parts I would have loved a bit more explanation and I have a couple lingering questions, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. I honestly flew through those pages and am excited to see how everything plays out in Children of the Moon.
Child of the Pines was such a unique read and I loved Kenna’s blunt, straightforward personality. Kenna’s magic allows her to communicate with animals and shift into various forms. She’s happiest as a wolf though and the bond she has with her pack is the absolute sweetest 🐺🐾
One night after a hunt with her wolf family, Kenna comes across a wounded man in the forest. She brings him to a healer and a spark of friendship between the wolf girl and the city boy blooms. She decides to travel with Caleb to the Capital and experiences a life outside her sheltered woods.
Those special moments between Kenna and Caleb were my favourite 🥰 Their dynamic feels a bit like ‘friends with benefits’ at times, but you can tell they truly care about each other and there’s an undeniable attraction. And don’t we love it when the man falls first? 🫠 I didn’t feel a deep, fated connection between them, but looking at the next book in the series, I actually think this was intentional. Regardless, their chemistry always had me smiling.
This was a great debut novel. There were a few parts I would have loved a bit more explanation and I have a couple lingering questions, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. I honestly flew through those pages and am excited to see how everything plays out in Children of the Moon.
March 12, 2026
Kenna is a wolf shifter who can communicate every single animal, and if that's not cool enough, I don't know what is! There was tension between Kenna and Caleb from the start, and I think we get to see more on the next book. There were some scenes that made me tear up from the beginning, and I can understand why Kenna didn't like humans that much.
🖤 He Fell First
🖤 Third Person POV
🖤 Secret Order
🖤 Lust to Love
🖤 Shifter FMC
🖤 One Bed
🖤 Moral Corruption
🖤 He Fell First
🖤 Third Person POV
🖤 Secret Order
🖤 Lust to Love
🖤 Shifter FMC
🖤 One Bed
🖤 Moral Corruption
April 20, 2026
I love Kenna from Child of the Pines. This story feels like a classic shifter romance and I loved the focus on Kenna’s pack. Kenna is on a journey of discovering more of the world, but you never lose sight of who she is as a shifter. I really appreciated this detail. If you’re looking for your next PNR with beautiful world building, read immediately.
April 13, 2024
Loved this book! It was a short read, but had so much depth! The characters were relatable, it was fast paced and exciting!
Kenna is a strong female lead. No whiny vibes here which I absolutely adored!
💋smut
💋strong female lead
💋magic
💋strong male supporting character
💋wolves/ shifters
💋mystery
Kenna is a strong female lead. No whiny vibes here which I absolutely adored!
💋smut
💋strong female lead
💋magic
💋strong male supporting character
💋wolves/ shifters
💋mystery
May 16, 2025
A fun and original story. The descriptions of the FMC shapeshifting were amazingly written, and the characters and setting were vivid and vibrant to me. Lots of love went into this book and you can tell.
February 22, 2024
Everything you need in one book.
-mystery
-magic
-romance/ smut
-vivid imagery
-relatable characters
A must read!
-mystery
-magic
-romance/ smut
-vivid imagery
-relatable characters
A must read!
June 26, 2024
A fresh twist on the magical world and shifters. Imaginative, descriptive, and beautiful.
March 6, 2026
“It would seem wolves are smarter than men.”
I loved the magic and the supernatural surprises so much. Shifter magic but with a twist!
The writing is so detailed and painted a picture throughout the whole book. I was captivated by the world and characters.
Perfect amount of romance! The slow burn tension had me on the edge of my seat but didn’t take away from the magic and politics. The energy between the MCs was electric, palpable.
I’m really curious how things will turn out in the next book, Children of the Moon, which is out, so you can immediately continue the story 🙌.
🐺Banter
⚔️He falls first
🐺Shifters
⚔️Court politics
🐺Mystery
I loved the magic and the supernatural surprises so much. Shifter magic but with a twist!
The writing is so detailed and painted a picture throughout the whole book. I was captivated by the world and characters.
Perfect amount of romance! The slow burn tension had me on the edge of my seat but didn’t take away from the magic and politics. The energy between the MCs was electric, palpable.
I’m really curious how things will turn out in the next book, Children of the Moon, which is out, so you can immediately continue the story 🙌.
🐺Banter
⚔️He falls first
🐺Shifters
⚔️Court politics
🐺Mystery
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews