The Widow and the Orcs

Orc Sworn #9

by Finley Fenn

He’ll do anything for his wounded warrior… even wooing him a widow.

In a world of orcs and men, Lady Scall is a widow besieged — by her debts, her demons, and her dangerous lord neighbour. But time is running out, and she’s about to lose everything…

Until the night an orc shows up in her chambers.

Killik is a cold, cruel, condescending spy, and he wants nothing to do with Lady Scall… for himself.

But he’s decided she’s the perfect woman for his clanmate. For Ulfarr, the Wolf of Clan Skai.

And Ulfarr isn’t just any orc. He’s a huge, broken, brutal monster with a dark, deadly past…

And Killik wants Lady Scall to help Ulfarr.
To heal Ulfarr.
To handle Ulfarr however she pleases…

In return, Killik will solve all her problems — and he’ll teach her how to tend and tame an orc. And maybe, if she behaves, he’ll fulfill all her own deepest longings, too…

But even a desperate, lonely widow shouldn’t risk such a scandalous affair, right? Especially when Ulfarr’s secrets are darker than she ever imagined, and Killik far more jealous than she knew…

And a deal with two devils might draw more doom to her door… and her heart.

_____________________

An angsty, full-length, enemies to lovers fantasy romance. Comes after The Beauty and the Orcs, but also reads as a standalone. Happily ever after guaranteed.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Monster Romance, Monsters, M M F, Erotica, Fantasy Romance

722 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 14, 2024

About the author

Finley Fenn is “the queen of dark orc romance” (Virgo Reader), and her ongoing Orc Sworn series has been praised as “sexy, romantic, angsty, and captivating … utter brilliance” (Romantically Inclined Reviews).

When she’s not obsessing over her stories, Finley loves reading, drooling over delicious orc artwork, and spending time with her incredible readers on Patreon, Discord, and Facebook. She lives in Canada with her beloved family, including her very own grumpy, gorgeous orc mate.

News, free stories, and artwork: www.finleyfenn.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Finley-Fenn/e/...
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/finleyfenn
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/finle...
Instagram: https://instagram.com/authorfinleyfenn
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/finleyfenn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/finleyfenn

THE ORC SWORN SERIES
1. The Lady and the Orc
1.5: Offered by the Orc: Free with signup at www.finleyfenn.com
2. The Heiress and the Orc
3. The Librarian and the Orc
4. The Duchess and the Orc
5. The Midwife and the Orc
6. The Maid and the Orcs
6.5. Tryggred by the Orc
7. The Governess and the Orc
7.5. Yuled by the Orcs
8. The Beauty and the Orcs
9. The Widow and the Orcs
10. The Artist and the Orc

THE ORC FORGED SERIES
1. The Sins of the Orc
2. The Fall of the Orc

THE MAGES SERIES
0.5: The Mage's Maid
1. The Mage's Match
1.5: The Mage's Groom: Free with signup at www.finleyfenn.com
2. The Mage's Master

Reviews

[Romantically Inclined Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best MMF yet! I don't even know what to write here because I don't want to spoil anything and it all seems like a spoiler. Basically be ready for hot older characters (all over 35), more communication and less angst than usual (but not gone completely for those who like that), and aggressive flirting through insults (finally characters that I see myself in).

[Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped reading at chapter 37.
First book of the saga I tried to read, but too uncomfortable and frustrating to finish reading.

Initially I was curious cause this book was advertisement as GrumpyXgrumpyXgrumpy, now I didn't feel like it was quite that, more like DepressedXAverageWomanXManipulatorlittlesh*t. Now, dont take me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the with Wolf being depressed, its quite well explained why, Louise is just meh, but I really had a love hate relationship with Killik.
Every time I started to like Killik he showed himself to be an ass, him yelling at L until she cried for bringing their son home because he was injured was the last drop, but since the moment he tried to screw things between Wolf and L by saying she didn't want Killik mengling with Wolf yet not explaining why (because he was a slut) just felt like he was constantly manipulating information as it was convenient. Just like when he brought Wolf to her place the first night without explaining him anything he agreed previously with L.

I didn't love the kidnapping revelation, it was a struggle but I could try to see reasoning, however, it was just another reminder throught out the story that they picked to bed Louise because she seems like the only one up for it. They couldn't get anyone from the mountain because people struggled to see past what happened, and at the camp the only human not scared of them was L so... That seems to be the only reason for them picking her and it feels utterly undervaluing her, since Wolf would be fine with Simons Wife, or L, or any breathing women at this point, it's so desperate the woman loses her value, she's just there as an object for them to play as they want, holding no true value as Louise and not just any girl.

Please note that I'm not defending L over favouritism, I didn't quite love her either, I liked her resilience, however she need more back bone and perhaps a little more personality, though if she had such she probably wouldn't tolerate Killik pushing her around and threatening her over every single little thing.

About Wolf there's not much to say, he's far too depressed to hold much personality or show much, which I really understand and seems fitting to his situation, sadly this ended up making a lot of the sexy scenes very awkward and uncomfortable as he mostly didn't seem to want to be there and the chemistry evaporated.

Additionally, tried to peak through the epilogue and saw that the trio often beds people outside of the relationship which for me is a complete turn off in any story, really wished there was a warning about it at the beginning of the book as I wouldn't have read it at all...

I can see the potential, and the initial premise for the book was really enticing, I read all this chapters in less than 24 hours after all, however I cannot like the characters dynamic no matter how hard I try or how the story was going to end.

[Anne-Marie Romance Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way opening a new Orc Sworn book makes my heart so happy! I do an internal squeeeee and happy dance from the moment I see that first italicized "orc" in the book, and I just know that Finley Fenn is about to tug on all my emotions and leave me so satisfied at the end.

In Widow we get to return to Clan Skai with a later in life romance between Louisa, a widowed Lady with mounting debts and evil in-laws, Killik a Skai who loves his knives and his clan, and Ulfarr the disgraced Wolf of Clan Skai. When Killik approaches Louisa with an offer that might solve all her problems, will she be brave enough to take him up on it?

All three main characters have troubled pasts and so much baggage and they struggle to find their place in the world and with each other. But in Finley we trust, so know that all the angst, hurt, and longing will lead to a very satisfying HEA. And there is so much to love on our road to happiness. The banter and loving insults are top tier. The delving into Skai culture and lost arts is a wonderful back story to the romance. The tension between all the characters is as delicious as always in an Orc Sworn book. And it's all balanced with moments of humour and lightness that make for a fantastic read

Lovers of this series have been waiting for Ulfarr's redemption arc and wondering if we can possibly end up loving the villain from a past book. I am here to tell you that we absolutely can. The redemption story of the Wolf of Clan Skai is one of the best parts of the story, and it will bring you to tears of sadness and happiness. I don't know how Finley always manages to put us through such a rollercoaster of emotions and always leave us wanting more, but she's done it again.

And of course this book has so much scorchingly hot spice. The scenes with our three heroes as so incredibly hot with each of their personalities and desires tended to by their mates. And the Skai may have learned a thing of two from the Ka-Esh.

This was another amazing novel in the Orc Sworn world where we got to resolve old wounds, laugh and cry with old friends, and get taken on a thoroughly amazing ride to the satisfying end!

[Shelby · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 90%
This was entirely too long. I kept expecting the story to be done only to look down at 75% and see that I had over 3 hours left in the book. I skimmed heavily until the 90% point but I could not sit through another hour just to finish another convoluted plot that added nothing to the story. The amount of miscommunication in this book made me want to bang my head against a wall. I’m begging the author to please find another device for her plots.

I’ve read every book in this series up to this point, and I hate to say this will probably be my last. The author has definitely leaned into the ridiculousness of the way these orcs speak and I just really fucking hate it. The last couple books it’s just been so cringe to read, if I have to read one more sentence about speaking truth or taking a good ploughing…. 🙃

If you’re reading this review, I’m gonna assume this ain’t your first Finley Fenn book and if you’ve enjoyed it up until now, keep going. You’ll still like it and you’ll probably love this book. This series is just not for me anymore.

[Danny Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok. So I'm giving 5 stars for the story and to the characters individually. This MMF did work better for me than Beauty and the Orcs, but I still wasn't sold on their relationship as a whole. I enjoyed reading about everyone's story, their background, etc... But the MM relationship was already established, and I still felt more of a connection between Ulfarr and Killik. For some reason when we have MMF in Finley's books the female always seems to be the mediator/therapist for the Orcs involved in the relationship. There's a closeness with the Orc couple that just isn't their with the female. I really did like Louisa. She's an older FMC and she was mature. I felt sorry for her and kinda felt she should have just had one orc who gave her all of his time and attention because from her inner monologue in the story that seemed to be what she was wanting. Killik was just using her at first to get her for Ulfarr. Yes, he develops feelings for her, but they weren't the strong feelings he had for Ulfarr. They're in love where I just felt they loved and cared for Louisa only.

The characters individually were awesome. I loved them. I fell in love with Ulfarr after learning his background and what happened to him. I knew I was going to love Killik. He was like Drafli 2.0 just vocal and even more cocky. And Louisa.. she was mature and knew how to take care of herself and she wasn't putting herself in danger. The story was engaging and had me turning pages. And even if I wasn't into their relationship dynamic as a whole I won't deny Finley is a great storyteller. I tell you every time I finish one of her books I have the biggest book hangover and find it hard to get immersed into another story. Orc Mountain is a great invention and I'll always be interested and intrigued with what's going on there.

I was excited to see that her next book will be MF and I couldn't be more excited. Finley does perfect MF and MM. And it's definitely a character I've always wanted to know more about. But like I've mentioned before in the previous book review and even in other authors book reviews. MMF isn't my preference. I don't really care for it. I'll read MFM, MF, and MM all day long, but I can't make MMF work for me. The only book that did work for me was Maid and the Orcs, and it was probably because of Drafli 😂. But I loved that book and read it often.

Overall I much preferred this to the previous book and enjoyed reading about other side characters who I'm sure will get books down the road. I hope Finley continues to write about Orc Mountain because I would seriously have withdrawal if she stopped. So please don't stop.

Also, Finley will always make me blush in her smexy scenes. 🙈 And orc seed? So much all the time. You have to read from the beginning of this series which I highly recommend. Lady and the Orc is where my obsession started. And those bonuses at the end of the epilogue for Widow and the Orcs? Totally worth it. The rutting scene? Sign me up please 😂

[✨Lucy IntheSky☄️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

No, I didn't read this book, but this is my rant.

5⭐ go to the two beefcakes on the cover. 👍

I've got this author's newsletter today and saw the cover for this book and fuck me, I thought we're already getting a new installment in the MM #Orc Forged series! But then while reading further I realised that of course we're not, you guys over here are too greedy to let us have our thing too.



The author keeps giving these great covers and hot guys to this series, popping out book after book, I mean just look at the characters - Killik, "a cruel, condescending spy" and Ulfarr, "the huge, broken, brutal monster" and how they look like, how they're getting their enemies to lovers story and then tell me you don't want to knock that widow out into oblivion.


Yeah, I resent this shit.
This should've been a m/m book and a m/m cover, I don't care what anyone says.


Rant over.

[Barbarzynka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Podsumowując dotychczasową "przygodę" z Finley Fenn.... To są naprawdę bardzo specyficzne książki, nie dla wszystkich. Pomijam okoliczność, że niemal każda ze stron ocieka płynami ustrojowymi bohaterów, ale przede wszystkim ze względu na bardzo nierówną dynamikę między bo postaciami, w każdym tomie. Na kartach tych niemałych objętościowo powieści ( kilkaset stron każda, ostatnie tomy ponad 600, 700 stron ) Finley Fenn opisała chyba wszystkie możliwe kinki. To nie są książki dla każdego również z tego powodu, że w opisanych relacjach kobieta jest tym drugorzędnym partnerem mimo, że autorka próbuje przekonać czytelników że jest odwrotnie. Bohaterowie rozmawiają ze sobą, ale dziwnie się składa że w każdej z części kobieta podąża za mężczyzną i jego potrzebami, wierząc że są to jej własne pomysły. Tak jak pisałam wcześniej - odwrócona dynamika każdego związku. Niemniej autorka wykreowała bardzo ciekawy świat - nie ulega wątpliwości, że obyczaje, religia, ukształtowana społeczność orków jest przede wszystkim pretekstem do opisywania naprawdę mocnych scen erotycznych. Fenn stworzyła całą masę świetnych bohaterów do których lubi się wracać. To bardzo wciągająca seria. Można się wzruszyć i autentycznie zdenerwować.

Edit: Fenn pisze bardzo dobre, prawdziwe trójkąty miłosne.

[EJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don’t read The Widow and the Orcs by Finley Fenn because you want a sweet and fluffy read. You don’t read it because you want the stakes low. You read this because you want a story that will grip and satisfy you as thoroughly and savagely as an orc. My fellow seasoned monster lovers will appreciate this story like the rest of Orc Sworn.
One of Fenn’s strengths is her characters’ inner journeys. This book is an excellent example of that.
Sometimes, it feels like we’re all in therapy together, the reader and the MCs. We’re all messed up and trying to redeem ourselves. Finley Fenn’s job is to guide us all to that path of healing and peace.
Each of the three MCs has a lot to unpack. Ulfarr’s need for redemption stands out in particular, as fans of The Duchess and the Orc are well aware. However, his love interests are older like he is. They have also experienced pain, and they have also done different kinds of arguably bad things. No one is a fresh young thing with no world experience here. They are all messy and a little messed up. That is why readers will like them. That is why I like them.
**ARC provided and voluntarily reviewed.**

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in my happy place, I adore this series and this one was a bloody beast of a read. As usual, I enjoyed myself immensely. I love a good redemption story and this had that element and more. Though this can probably be read as a standalone I would suggest reading from the very beginning as there is so much nuance and backstory that you'll just appreciate it much more, especially because you'll get to reacquaint yourself with a whole host of previous characters. 

This one occurs mostly away from the mountain and features Lady Louisa Scall. She's a widow with a tortured past and because of her experiences has some definite trauma. She's currently residing deeply in debt on a portion of her deceased husband's land that she managed to claim for her own.

When she is approached by Killick a Skai Orc, a bargain is struck, for ten nights she will make herself available for his heart mate Ulfarr, the disgraced wolf of clan Skai, an Orc with a traumatic backstory that has left deep wounds both physical and emotional. In return for this and the presence of an orc camp on Louisa's land, Killick will clear her debts leaving her free from the threat of eviction by her odious neighbour, the nephew of her former husband.

This was deeply emotional and as usual, the explicit antics are mixed in with the serious message. That's my favourite part about this series the way it combines the two so effortlessly. It's totally filthy and doesn't hold back in that department but it's also so much more than just the smutt as well. 

I adored both Killick and Ulfarr their dynamic intrigued me. The bluntness of Killick, he has a vicious tongue and high standards and expects Louisa to dance to his tune and then the shell of Ulfarr with occasional glimpses of his former self showing I was at times completely heartbroken for him. But the bond between these two Orcs is so clear.

Add into this mix Louisa and she just slots right into place. She's the glue these two need to forge forward and though Killick may have at first been looking for a woman for Ulfarr it's not long before he's also wanting her for himself. The constant battling of words and her ability to face him head-on impresses him and these two show their emerging affection through insults it's their language of love.

I also adored that we are focusing here on older individuals, I found that refreshing and that this seemed less angsty than previous books maybe because of the ages of the characters. We also got to witness a proper Skai rut which was an eye-opener for sure.

This one is M/M/F dynamic, it's totally filthy but also incredibly healing, such an easy well well-written read that I enjoyed so much. This is an auto-buy series for me and I always say that each book is my new favourite and it honestly is, until the next one and I'm In love, all over again. So truthfully I adore them all for different reasons. Be aware that it is very explicit and doesn't hold back on its descriptive language, which honestly is one of the things that I love about it. So If Orcs are your thing then this series is a blinder and gets my seal of approval. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of the Widow and the Orcs. 



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

[Imromanticallyinvolved · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my absolute favorite in the series! Unlike the others, this is set, mostly, outside Orc Mountain which made the story feel fresh, but still connected to the Orc world we love. I loved that the MC's are older giving us a different perspective to Orc life that didn't revolve around producing sons. I also loved how the focus was on speaking truths, caring, comforting, forgiving and accepting.
There were some truly painful moments as we witnessed Ulfarr's struggle to overcome his pain, regret and shame. He no longer had any faith in himself and I actually felt bad for him which was surprising since his actions in the previous book were pretty detestable.
Louisa was simply admirable. What she went through and was still going through brought out a strength she wasn't aware she possessed. She felt helpless, but not hopeless in trying to make amends for the actions of her former husband.
Killik was a man of action and extreme emotion. He was willing to do absolutely anything to end the suffering of the one he loved. Even if that meant he had to sacrifice his own wants and desires.
The length of this story might seem daunting but it flows so beautifully. Slowly revealing necessary truths and facing darkness no matter how painful. How perfect these three were for each other!
The author did an outstanding job of showing the character growth of all three MC's. Expertly blended plot and character depth set against a perfectly detailed setting that made me want to experience what was described. The banter between Louisa and Killik sparkled in its intensity creating palpable tension leading to some scorching intimate scenes! Ulfarr knew just how to temper the fire between all three of them bringing gentleness, consent and tending to their intimacy that actually raised the heat level. The redemption of Ulfarr was executed in a way that was believable and felt so worthy. I loved the epilogue, which I believe is five years later, where we see how their relationship was maintained through the years and became even stronger.

An amazing addition to the Orc Sworn series. Finley provides the perfect escape in revisiting the comfort of the Orc world she creates but with new characters to love and new places to explore keeping it fresh and making you crave more.

I was honored to receive an early copy directly from the author (Thank you!) All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Hilda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was soooo spicy. I feel like each book gets spicier than the last one. This is Ulfarr's redemption story and I went in thinking I would hate it, like it wouldn't be believable. But it was written so well. I could feel his pain and guilt. It was actually quite sad. There is so much to his story. And the way he is treated made me feel at parts like it was too much... but then I had to remember how awful he was.

I'm ever so glad for Killik finding Louisa and loved seeing them become a family. Watching Ulfarr become the Wolf and show what a great guy he really was. It was a very satisfying story.

Finally the explanation we all needed concerning the group rut. HUGE
“So what am I now,” she whispered, “to them?” She glanced at all the orcs still around them, and comprehension flashed across Killik’s eyes. “Ach, they are all yet your rutmates,” he murmured. “They are each bound to help you, and guard you, until they swear vows to a mate of their own. And should your mates meet death, any unmated orcs amongst them would come to you and offer to mate you, instead.” Oh. Of course. So it was also a way to protect the woman, to guard her even beyond death. And suddenly it felt almost — generous. Almost noble, to share a mate like this, and to ensure she and her children were cared for, no matter what befell them. And amidst that endless war, death would have come for the Skai so often — and the danger for their human mates would have been so great, too. But even now, even without that, it was still a gift. Still a pack, a band, strengthening Louisa, supporting her. And as she blinked at the orcs surrounding her, she could suddenly appreciate Ulfarr’s care in choosing them, and in gaining such a breadth of them. Powerful orcs, and common orcs. Known orcs, and unknown orcs. Orcs at multiple camps, orcs at the mountain. Fighters and healers and craftsmen, young and old and scarred and hale. Making sure Louisa had many, many options, spread across the Skai and across the realm. Honestly, once explained it made so much sense. The Skai are the warriors and first line of defense which would mean they die first in wars. This old ritual was made to ensure the woman belonged to more than one soldier and therefor was always protected. There was also talks about a pregnancy happening during a rut and how that benefited the whole community. Seriously, it was so satisfying to get this love story but also all the Orc history and meaning behind rituals.

[Mel Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm just here for the long haul—ain't nothing gonna prevent me from giving an Orc Sworn book 5 ⭐️. Now, this book is a strong 5 star'er 🤔 because never in the previous 8 books did I think I could stomach the two MMCs, but alas, here we are, and honestly, they may be my fav. WTF? And then, I was like, "Oh, an older FMC with no chance of orc babies 😒 ...okayyyyyyy." F it, let all of them be middle-aged women who don't give a damn anymore.

[Myramaynes · Rating 2 out of 5]

The way the characters spoke made me cringe. The FMC had no backbone. I had to stop reading at 50%.

[amalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know where to begin. I’ve put off writing this review because I simply have not been able to put into words the love I have for this book. I do not know how Ms. Fenn does it but she blows me away every single time.
Not only is she incredibly gracious and oh so friendly but she is an amazing storyteller. (Watch out, Kesst).
If I literally cannot verbalise my thoughts on a book then it was the best and I am just too stunned to speak.
I will try though.

Forgiveness. This is a book about forgiveness. This is a book about a seemingly irredeemable monster from another book yet redeemed he is.
This book is about how the actions we take after committing a mistake are oftentimes far more important than the actual mistake.
This book is about actions speaking louder than words. This book is about finding yourself again. This book is about letting others help you.

I know I’ve already said this but I literally do not know how Finley does this. How she makes me feel every human emotion in a book about orcs. It’s as magical as the orc seed is.

This book has put me into a slump that is so far over a week long because I literally cannot move on from it. I cannot stop thinking about it.

Alright, let’s get down to more specific things about this book…or at least try to.

This book had a woman in trouble, Louisa, who definitely benefited from the help the orcs provided but don’t let that make you think she’s weak. Louisa is thirty-nine years old and living her life on her terms after the death of her vile husband but not without the incessant annoyance of another slimy human man.
Killik, the sneaky Skai spy, makes Louisa a deal. A deal he secretly, or not so secretly hopes she doesn’t take but yet needs/wants her to take.
This is Orc Sworn so there’s a lot of feelings and things left unsaid. There’s scheming and there’s fucking. Lots of it.
Ulfarr is the downtrodden Wolf of the Skai. The son of the former and awful Enforcer before Simon took over.
If you haven’t read The Duchess and the Orc, I highly recommend doing so before reading this one as you will not have what I view as necessary context.
Ulfarr is disgraced and depressed. He’s withdrawn, scared, and guilty. He sees himself as a waste of space but Killik doesn’t and their adopted son Sune doesn’t either.
For a while Louisa is kept in the dark about Ulfarr’s past blunders but when she learns she decides to listen to Ulfarr, to talk to him to see the light in his dark, to appreciate that life isn’t black and white. That making horrible mistakes does not equate to having a horrible character or no morals.
I don’t wish to be too detailed as there’s so much nuance and so many twists that I don’t want to reveal so apologies if you feel like this review isn’t giving you as much information as you would like.
In the end all parties involved were able to explain themselves and find peace, together.
I truly loved how this one ended and I loved the different family dynamic they had.

________ TW: miscarriage below & possible spoilers for ending (but not ruin the book spoilers or reveal the twists __________________

While most of the Orc Sworn books do feature pregnancy and do center around babies and previously infertile women magically becoming fertile this one did not. Louisa suffered a few miscarriages one that almost killed her and required the removal of her uterus so there was no room for anything to suddenly grant her a baby, not even orc seed can fix a missing uterus.
But what I found most beautiful about that storyline was the way Louisa honoured her grief, yet moved on. She found other things and other people to care for. Other hopes and dreams when she realised that specific one wouldn’t come to be.

__________________________________________________________________________

Overall, I fricken loved this book but I do really hope I can get out of this slump at some point. HA.

[Mahia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have never in my life wished I had gone into a book with more information ahead of time, but that day has finally arrived.

This was the first book in this series I decided to read--it came across my feed as something I might be interested in, and I figured it would be a companion standalone fantasy romance. It was. Until it wasn't.

Here's the deal: the writing is fine. There is plot, character development and depth, and an arc. Craft-wise, this author has something going, barring a few issues. This book is way longer than it needed to be, and it felt like 3 books congealed into one, with one plot lined up after another. After a certain point, it became too much and dragged on, but depending on the author and how much you dig the story, that can sometimes be forgiven.

Here is the real issue with this book--the thing that ruined it for me: at the 44% mark, you find out that one of the male love interests attempted to SA the heroine of a previous novel in the series.

Yes, you read that correctly. I even googled the previous book to try to find out more info because I was so shocked and confused by all the high-rated reviews I had seen for the Widow and the Orcs.

This story is supposed to be his redemption arc, and it mostly comes across as our leading lady feeling very bad for how this orc has been unfairly punished for his actions. 10 minutes after being told about what he did, she has sex with him and then goes to demand that the victim and the rest of the orc clan forgive him because "he's suffering and in pain". It very much gives "But punishing him for attempting sexual assault is ruining his life ☹️" energy.

I immediately checked out at that point. I could no longer root for him as a character or understand how our leading lady could view him romantically. When she immediately turned around and took his side, standing by him rather than the woman he assaulted, I lost all respect for her as a character, and no longer really cared about her or her journey.

I skimmed the rest of the book because I kept wondering if the author would somehow try to really redeem him--though I could not imagine a way that she would be successful in portraying this. It never came around.

And it was even more confusing because several times throughout the novel, human men are depicted as threatening or committing sexual violence and it is very clear the narrator, and the story, view that as bad and correctly villainize it. The leading lady murders her husband because he was sexually assaulting women, and intentionally infecting them with an STD that was killing and making these women sick.

So human men commiting SA is punishable by death, but Orcs doing the same thing is okay?? He gets a pass????? MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.

I really try not to pin too much of a story or character actions on an author--there are bad characters and they do bad things and that does not inherently mean the author is bad. However, when problematic characters/issues in books are romanticized and it feels like the author is not acknowledging that at all....it does make me question them, and feel a little squicked out.
I honestly don't think that I will ever be able to read something this author writes again, because I've just been left feeling distinctly uncomf.

I can acknowledge that if I had read the previous books in the series, I would have known to avoid this one based on the description alone. But I didn't, and I'm sure there are lots of other people who read companion stand-alone romances out of order, too.

[ToriLovesHea’s · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought I’d say this but Lady and the Orc has been knocked out of the number one spot on my Orc Sworn list. Oh yeah. This is my new favorite.

Something I love about the last few books is that they’ve added on to the setting in fresh, unique ways that expand the world and keep the stories from feeling to similar to each other. Now we’re in a Skai camp (which is in the trees!!) set up on our FMC’s property and it’s cute and cuddly and cozy.

HA almost got you didn’t I? It’s so angsty. So MESSY. Just how I like things on Orc Mountain. But for all the messiness and angst, the dynamic between Louisa, Killik, and Ulfarr is perfect in its mess because, while it’s a twisty road to get there, they each give one another something different that the other can’t. Louisa offers tenderness, Killik offers fire, and Ulfarr offers stability. It’s incredibly perfect to see how they balance each other out and it makes sense.

Listen one of my biggest pet peeves is a badly done poly romance. But this was lovely. Just absolutely lovely. The tension, yearning, and fear in all three MCs is poignant and really is driven along by their separate traumas. And while most of this is character driven, the addition of the Skai Camp open house and terrible cousin trying to steal Louisa’s land are great examples of Finley knowing how to expand a world in a way that doesn’t feel like she’s dumping information on top of us. It develops so naturally within this messy, angsty love story. (And really is what brings these knuckleheads together).

And because I feel like Finley always asks us a question in her books, I think the theme here is forgiveness. Forgiving yourself, forgiving what you can’t change, and earning forgiveness for harm you’ve done to others. I never thought I’d root for Ulfarr after his shenanigans with Maria and Simon. BUT THERE I WAS. ROOTIN AWAY. jfc yall the man went through three years of immense pain and never complained. I was aching for him.

The infertility plot was wonderfully done. The way Louisa’s trauma is handled is poignant. Ulfarr’s journey to forgiveness is heart breaking. And Killik opening his heart to what he really wants is beautiful. Stunning.

[Myfanwy · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 54%

‘Blatant’ count: 13

Increasingly convinced Finley Fenn has run out of ideas.

I held off reviewing this for almost a month in the hopes that I would be able to bully myself into finishing, but frankly life is too short.

There’s nothing egregiously bad about this book, and if you’ve been happy with the content and quality of Fenn’s last couple of books, you’ll probably have a great time with this one. But there’s also absolutely nothing new either and it mostly just feels like an increasingly tired retread of the greatest hits of her previous books.

This book also lost major points from me because of Fenn’s decision to turn Ulfarr, the violent paedophile-enabler from The Duchess and the Orc, into a misunderstood sad boy who’s just trying to keep the family together. Despite self-identifying as the ‘queen of dark orc romance,’ there’s really nothing dark in Fenn’s work (despite the amount of kidnapping, the characters are obsessed with consent), and certainly not anything dark enough to do the villain to hero turn without some serious character work (Angel Lawson and Samantha Rue she is not, and even they do a lot more to rehabilitate their characters than Fenn does). Instead, Fenn’s solution is to wave her authorial magic wand and bippity-boppity Ulfarr into a nice guy, and shockingly, it is neither compelling nor convincing.

[WitchyMitchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This book was riveting as usual and I loved getting immersed in this world again. I didn’t love Ulfarr’s redemption trajectory as it rewrote what happened in Duchess. I wasn’t expecting that and I don’t know if I’ll read Duchess again in light of all the ‘facts’ lol. I didn’t like how tortured Ulfarr was at the expense of our kickass widow. She had been through so much and the focus was on her appeasing and healing the orcs. I started to lose interest in the last third. So in my humble opinion, decent to good, not as good as others in the series. Looking forward to book 10!

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where was the depth for Ulfarr… I found this so boring 😭 and over 700 pages. It felt like every moment was building up to a sex scene and the plot wasn’t there. Meh.

[Casandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instantly my new favorite Orc Sworn

Finley Fenn, how do you do it!? This trio far surpassed my expectations and quickly became my new favorite book in the Orc Sworn series. The world building and exploration of culture alone was amazing. We get to find out so much about Skai clan culture and the history of the Wolf of the Skai. This book takes place largely outside of Orc Mountain at a Skai camp built on the widow Lady Scall’s land. I loved getting to see more of the world and how it’s shifting since the peace treaty. (I will always call Orc Mountain home though💚)

Ulfarr made a series of terrible choices three years ago. Choices that cannot be undone, that some would consider disgusting, vile, evil. He’s been labeled a monster, unfit to be a member of the Skai until he can prove he’s learned his lesson and is a changed orc. Can one such as he be forgiven? Can he find himself again? Find peace?

Killik has watched his friend, the co-parent to his adopted son, his wolf, slowly slip away from him, a shell of the orc he once was. What is a scheming and devious Skai to do but follow tradition and hunt him a woman?

Lady Louisa Scall is a Widow who has managed to carve out a small piece of her late husband’s property. But her troubles didn’t end with his death. Now she must figure out how to pay her small staff and the loans on her house while maintaining the property and keeping the orcs she’s allowed to set up camp, away from her neighbor, the horrible nephew of Lord Scall. Louisa is offered a deal from the frustrating and impossible Killik. Ten nights in his Wolf’s bed in exchange for the money she needs to settle all her debts and finally find peace.

This book had me in such a chokehold. The dynamic between the three of them is just perfect. The banter is hilarious, Killik has met his match in Louisa who never shies away from giving as good as she gets. It takes time for Ulfarr the wounded warrior to come out of his shell, but once he does, you are in for such a treat. He is a sweet, dominant, submissive, caretaker and leader. I never thought I’d love the villain as much as I fell in love with Ulfarr.

I laughed, I cried, I blushed. As always, we’re in for angst, miscommunication, found family, and so much good strong Skai orc seed.

[HighLady-Fireheart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get in bookworms, we're going back to Orc Mountain!

I'm 9 books and 3+ years into the Orc Sworn series and Finely Fenn still manages to suprise me with the latest *adventures* these ladies and their orcs get up to.

The Widow and the Orcs is my favourite since Maid, which is high praise following in the footsteps of such a double trouble masterpiece!

30% promise was right on schedule (with a few fun surprises even before that).

Widow introduces a mature FMC as the newest edition to Orc Mountain, with plenty of cameos from all the past favourites.

r/fantasy book bingo orc square here we come!

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the world, and the characters are interesting. But...this one wasn't for me. I was clutching my imaginary pearls throughout this looong book. Throuples aren't for me. This would even be an enjoyable series without the smut. 2.5 stars

[Jen P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a complex morally grey villain. I wasn’t sure how Ulfarr was going to have a successful redemption arc considering how badly he behaved in Duchess. Finley Fenn is a master at making her characters feel real and three dimensional though. Ulfarr’s character development is top notch and he way more of a cinnamon roll than I expected.

It was fun getting to really dive into Killik’s character. His snark is great in Governess and the banter between him and Louisa is top notch.

Revisiting Clan Skai and learning more about their culture outside the mountain made for great world building. I liked seeing a new side of the clan and how they are working to reclaim their identity.

I cannot understate how much I liked that all of the main characters are 35+ years old. They are adults with responsibilities and pasts that shape their choices.

[Jamie Wagnor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Things Can Be True At Once:

This book was very good. The running theme for me throughout Widow was it showed the two sides of each character and of each situation and let you decide how you felt about it from there. This was a lesson in duality- and it's why I titled this review "Two things can be true at once". I'm going to be upfront and say I didn't agree with everything that happened or decisions that were made by the characters, but I did understand them for the most part. Everything was explained or at least given a reason for being, so it's definitely a "up to you" situation. My review will have spoilers and probably a great deal of them but I will start by just generally talking. I'm not sure anyone will read this as it will be long... but so is the book so... here we go:

First: The threesome worked so well. This group was an older set with one of the orcs being 40. So these are seasoned and very scarred individuals. None of them are without pain or vulnerability. Ulfarr, Killik and Louisa are deeply wary and, especially in Ulfarr's case, nearly broken. This is the back drop for their relationship at the start. Nothing is solidified, everything is shifting. Each has their own demons that haunt them. I really loved that they weren't young- honestly- because there aren't enough older/more mature stories out there and let's be real- there should be.

Second: The characters are definitely darker than some we've seen previously. There is a lot to unpack with every single one of them. There are layers upon layers to reveal and it's done very well. To get into the nuances, spoilers must be talked about... So...

****Spoilers****

Louisa: This character previous appeared in The Librarian and the Orc. She was shown as self-assured, a force of nature, one not to be trifled with. She was fierce and had a presence about her that made you take notice. She wasn't in the book long-mostly peppered throughout the pages- but Lady Scall was a strong female that stood tall. In Widow, she's definitely more broken down. She's on the brink of poverty, she's haunted by her late husband, she's barely able to fed those she cares about and her neighbor/nephew is hounding her. She's still strong and a force, but she's also frightened and aware that if something doesn't change she'll likely lose everything. Two things can be true at once: she can be fierce in so many of her interactions with others, but also be scared while in the privacy of her own room. Through her relationship with Killik and Ulfarr- Louisa comes into her own. She embraces her past, defeats the demons that dog her every step and fully steps into her role as a Skai's mate (or rather as two Skai's mate). Louisa's inability to have children, then her assertion that she doesn't want them was a welcome change. There are so many women that don't feel the calling to be a mother- that's not to say they don't love children or enjoy being around them (well some feel that way and that's valid)- and that doesn't get shown much. It was nice to have a woman be firm in her beliefs on this and not get shamed for it. It was also great to read how she handled her husband. She took the great risk of killing him to protect other women and those in her own household. She stood tall, while also being terrified- two sides of the same coin. The part that I wish had been shown in greater detail was her reaction to what happened to Maria. I felt like Louisa got over it and brushed it aside fairly quickly and I know it was necessary for the story- but Ulfarr did some really evil things...

Ulfarr: This character... I wasn't sure what to think about him being the male lead. Even at the end I'm not sure what to think. He does a lot of things I don't agree with, but he also does some great things as well. The first book that really features him is Duchess and the Orc- now disclaimer: I love that book- Maria and Simon are my favorite couple and Simon is my orc crush, so I had feelings going in. Ulfarr is definitely the antagonist of that book. He does horrible things to so many but especially to Maria. His motives are pretty murky - it seems to be driven by jealousy and anger, but in Widow that's turn on it's head. He is shown, not as the hulking evil force, but as a broken and barely surviving male. He is depressed and fearful and in pain. He can barely take care of himself or others. He hides away and only comes alive in small moments- mostly with his kin he trusts. When Maria goes and explains the trauma that he put her through to Louisa- Ulfarr caves in on himself that much more. His hope at happiness with Louisa is rocked by his past. I was glad Ulfarr didn't act as if he was in the right, but Killik really irked me in his retelling. This was another moment of duality: In Ulfarr's mind he was protecting all he held dear by "getting rid of a threat" and saving his clan from Simon's folly, but in reality he was causing pain and strife and leaving lasting scars. With each revelation we realize while Simon was looking forward to move the Skai into a better place by changing some things, Ulfarr held onto those traditions as necessary- including the Skai rut- which I will get into later. He is shown as large and dedicated, but also as broken and unsure of his place. He, like Louisa, finds himself again as the story progresses.

Killik: This part won't be as long. He is full of contradictions from the start. He is sarcastic and borderline mean one minute, then fiercely protective and giving the next. His focus is on Ulfarr from the start- his love for him strong and one of the most endearing parts- but he is also quick to hide any and all vulnerability. He was honestly the character I wanted to slap the most. He was blind to so many things- like in how he viewed the Maria situation, which at times felt like he was blaming her for Ulfarr doing what he did- but at other times: he was more in tune with all that was happening than any of the others. In some ways, he had the most growth but in others he stayed the same. Another lesson in duality.

The Three of them: Killik and Louisa were like cats fighting at times. It was teeth and claws and biting words- but that actually worked for these two. Killik needed someone to snipe back and Louisa proved she was just the person to do it. Killik and Ulfarr- this was an interesting dynamic. At any given moment the power balance could switch. For the most part, Killik was in charge, but when Ulfarr took over it was as if, Killik had been waiting for him to. He reverted back to a worshipful subject and he did worship Ulfarr. He had waited 20 years! Ulfarr and Louisa, however, were a sweet couple. They healed and helped each other. It was just the right amount of lightness this trio needed.

The Rut: Um, I have mixed feelings on it. I can't say I loved it- it didn't feel as intimate as other ruts in the past (Simon/Maria, Drafli/Baldr, Drafli/Alma/Baldr, etc) I get the idea of what was happening- forever linking Louisa to these other orcs, ensuring her protection through scent- but it wasn't for me. Did it take away from my enjoyment of the story? No. It's still a five star book. Honestly if there hadn't been so many orcs involved (Simon said that there were five normally with the main orc going twice) it probably would have been more easy for me to get behind. The other side of it was I loved how Ulfarr acted. I loved how in control he was. That was sexy.

Other Threesomes and other characters:

Halthorr/Joan/Elise: this group didn't move the needle for me. I didn't hate nor love them and I think that was because not enough time was given to them or building their characters for me to get invested. I liked Halthorr, he was a bright light in the story, but Elise was not. Her personality never really developed beyond her fear of the orcs at the beginning. I think had we spent more time getting to know her and her children, it would have helped to endear this group to me. Joan was fine, but again not shown enough to build a connection with.

Gladys: Now I'm about to contradict myself, because I loved Gladys and she was given even less time than those three. I think it was her introduction that sealed the deal. She was spicy and I think would have been a fun character, alas she's not in it much and then disappears.

Sune/Timo/Cecily: I WANT THIS STORY! These three are just the perfect mix. Sune is quiet and brooding, Cecily is sassy and spirited, Timo is steadfast and knowing. Their relationship really is one that I'm dying to see develop. Especially with Kesst being Cecily's uncle and Rath being her father. I mean... that's just a recipe for fun and angst!

Maria/Simon: As always, they were awesome! I am glad that the past was settled and seeing Ulfarr become friends with Simon was one of my favorite parts. It was the new ways (Simon) and the old ways (Ulfarr) embracing each other. It was nice closure to that and gave all involved peace.

There is still so much to discuss, but I know this is long enough already. The orc sworn books are always filled with so much and each one pulls me in. I loved this book and all it's dualities. I loved getting to see the other side of the Skai. I loved the camps and the characters (there was a human male there with a son... that's a story I want to know more about!) Each time I read one I find other characters to love. Ulfarr started as a character I really didn't like nor cared about, but by the end of this book- that perspective had changed slightly. That's good writing and great storytelling. 5 stars!

[Kathreadsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another adventure in Orc Mountain!

This time we finally get a happy ending for Louisa! She's been through a lot and really deserved happiness. Also we get a fun redemption arc for Ulfarr, who was the villain in a previous novel! I really liked the all three of them together, they really pushed/encouraged each other to deal with past baggage so they can move forward.

This book did feel a bit long, but all her novels in this series are on the longer side, so you are either here for the long ride, with many misunderstanding, or you're out. And I really enjoy the rides!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Characters were mostly likeable and they all needed comfort and friendship.
I couldn't vibe with their relationship all together, it felt awkward to me and the fact Killik kept twisting the truth to make him seem less of an asshole, made the whole thing feel icky to me.
Also Louise calling Ulfarr 'sweetheart' a million times was weird.
The book for me was overall way too long. I love Finely Fenn and her writing, but there was so much nothing happening in this book it dragged and felt like a slog to the end. I gave up at about the 70% mark.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

tooo long

I was so excited for this book! It started quite interesting and strong. And then nothing really happened and kept on not happening for 700+ pages.
Even smex scenes were meh. Killik was absolutely dislaikeable and Ulfar just did not have a personality. And her calling him sweetheart just gave me heebie jeebies. It rubbed me the wrong way each time I read it. I loved Louisa but I wish there was more to the story and plot

[Lanae · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf @ 45%
not sure what it says about the author when they are willing to make a character who attempted sexual assault on a previous character into a love interest. There’s something absolutely dastardly about it.

Because of that, I’m no longer invested in this story.

[K · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hate sharing and trains, yuck. It was all so manipulative and not genuine at all. A complete power grab. I’ve liked all the books in the series except this one, I hate this book.

[Jessica Jesinghaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of atonement, redemption, and chosen family

Actual rating: 4.5

While not my favorite of the Orc Sworn series, this book clearly has its place. We met Louisa, almost in passing, back in book 3 (Librarian) while Killik & Ulfarr make their first appearance in book 4 (Duchess) then play significant background roles in book 7 (Governess). If readers haven’t experienced those earlier tales, some of the nuance of the characters and their history might be lost.

The Ulfarr we met way back in book 4 made some… questionable (monstrous?) choices. And Killik was an orc I wasn’t terribly fond of in book 7 (aloof & condescending would be an understatement). So I honestly found myself wondering how on earth Finley was gonna make me care enough about them to change my opinions. It’s slow to happen, but as we finally learn the truth of WHY Ulfarr did what he did to Maria and everything he’s been forced to endure in the three years since to try to gain forgiveness… Ach!

Most of this book takes place away from Orc Mountain. Yet, despite this, there’s still such a fun layering of returning, core orcs and their mates. We are also treated to so much more history & culture when it comes to the Skai Clan… it was lovely to see these fierce fighters in a more familial, caring way! Their Skai camp was a beautiful refuge filled with orphans and Skai warriors who I imagined as, perhaps, ‘past their prime.’ Yet banded together as they were their strength was undeniable. I also loved the addition of a male human mated to an orc in the camp! It’s a dynamic we’ve not seen much of in this series.

Louisa’s journey parallels Ulfarr’s in a certain sense. They’ve both got horrors in their past, things they’re ashamed of and which have broken them. Yet together, with Killik and his trusty knives poking & prodding them along, they’re able to face their pasts, atone, and seek redemption. It’s a beautiful journey.

And Killik! The tyrant… the slug! He’s snarky. He’s quick to temper. But like a rowdy puppy, he’s mostly bark. Don’t get me wrong… His teeth are sharp and he’s not afraid to use them, but what Louisa initially interprets as his dislike is really the opposite. I saw, early on, that he was rather starved for attention and his snark was just a way to guard his heart. It takes Louisa calling him (& Ulfarr) out on his crap and forcing some real conversations before we get to see who Killik truly is and all he’s capable of.

There’s also a wonderful undercurrent throughout on the theme of chosen family. We have Louisa and the fierce love she holds for her household staff (women she treats more as sisters than employees). And Ulfarr & Killik have their adopted son, Sune. Not to mention a camp full of devoted Skai. This is the first book where an orc son wasn’t a guarantee, yet despite that family and security and care were still paramount. Some bonds are thicker than blood.

The spice in this installment was… so much! Louisa agrees to “ten days” to bed Ulfarr and, in so doing help Killik save Ulfarr from his despair. And those ten days are packed! (Pun shamelessly intended) Our widow & her orcs are a touch older than in previous books and it adds an interesting dynamic. Their encounters are shameless and frequent, yet touch on… performance issues and insecurities we’ve not seen our orcs suffer from before.

All in all, this was a lovely redemption story for so many characters. Orc Mountain delivers yet again.