What do you think?
Rate this book
Feral
Fall in love with a supernatural tale of mystery, passion, and destiny where the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
If life in blue-collar Pennsylvania has taught American teenager Natalie Damarand anything, it’s to set achievable goals like a college scholarship and financial support for her single mother. Luckily and unluckily for her, life has other plans…like handing her the crown to a magical empire she never knew existed.
When Natalie inherits a sprawling Scottish estate from her secretive ex-stepfather, he also leaves her with a life-altering riddle to solve—one that puts her in the war path of a mysterious stranger’s revenge against the family and her enigmatic stepbrothers, Cassian and Archer, who should have inherited it all.
As she untangles deadly secrets and inches ever closer to the riddle’s answer, the brothers draw her into a dangerous game of intrigue and desire, determined to keep the estate in their family even if they must seduce—or transform—her to do it.
In a landscape where reality blurs with the supernatural, Natalie’s journey will unravel a hidden tapestry of love, betrayal, and the untamed power that lies within her. A power that plunges her into a volatile paranormal world hidden in plain sight that holds the fate of humanity in its claws.
You’ll love this series if you like: Enemies to lovers, Fish out of water, Forbidden love / Star-crossed lovers, Dark secrets, Emotional scars, Forced proximity, Love triangles, Magic, Secret heirs, Rags to riches, Slow burn, Soul mates, Secret identities
If life in blue-collar Pennsylvania has taught American teenager Natalie Damarand anything, it’s to set achievable goals like a college scholarship and financial support for her single mother. Luckily and unluckily for her, life has other plans…like handing her the crown to a magical empire she never knew existed.
When Natalie inherits a sprawling Scottish estate from her secretive ex-stepfather, he also leaves her with a life-altering riddle to solve—one that puts her in the war path of a mysterious stranger’s revenge against the family and her enigmatic stepbrothers, Cassian and Archer, who should have inherited it all.
As she untangles deadly secrets and inches ever closer to the riddle’s answer, the brothers draw her into a dangerous game of intrigue and desire, determined to keep the estate in their family even if they must seduce—or transform—her to do it.
In a landscape where reality blurs with the supernatural, Natalie’s journey will unravel a hidden tapestry of love, betrayal, and the untamed power that lies within her. A power that plunges her into a volatile paranormal world hidden in plain sight that holds the fate of humanity in its claws.
You’ll love this series if you like: Enemies to lovers, Fish out of water, Forbidden love / Star-crossed lovers, Dark secrets, Emotional scars, Forced proximity, Love triangles, Magic, Secret heirs, Rags to riches, Slow burn, Soul mates, Secret identities
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2024
256 people are currently reading
458 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 8, 2024
Unique fantasy with a little bit of romance tossed in
First things first:
Spice🔥: 0 (very light affectionate kissing/not detailed)
Violence/Gore: 1/5 (mild gore)
Single POV
Cliffhanger: yes
Triggering content: not really
M/F
Slow burn/No burn
Don't know about future books but this one could be read by teenagers.
Premise: Teenage girl is surprised to find out her ex step dad has passed and left her his entire estate, which includes a title, in Scotland. When she get there, the staff is mysterious, the land is mysterious, the family is mysterious. Basically everything is mysterious. There's magic afoot. Don't ask me for more. A large part of this story centers on these mysteries unfolding and the main character navigating them.
Thoughts: I read a lot of romantic fantasies and I kinda launched into this one expecting another steamy shifter or fae type novel and was surprised to find that's not what I got. I took a moment to recalibrate my expectations and then embraced the story. It's well written, it's magical, it's not tropey, and it's very fairytale-ish. The author describes this as a love triangle, but I'm not sure I got that vibe at all, in fact I thought the love/romance was very light. The two main male characters are very much still boys, not men, not alpha men, not dominant...more soulful, brooding, sweet, bashful etc... and the main female character is 17, and not very sure of herself either.
Regardless, this was a pleasant and clean read. Whatever is going on here, I do want to read the next book to find out.
First things first:
Spice🔥: 0 (very light affectionate kissing/not detailed)
Violence/Gore: 1/5 (mild gore)
Single POV
Cliffhanger: yes
Triggering content: not really
M/F
Slow burn/No burn
Don't know about future books but this one could be read by teenagers.
Premise: Teenage girl is surprised to find out her ex step dad has passed and left her his entire estate, which includes a title, in Scotland. When she get there, the staff is mysterious, the land is mysterious, the family is mysterious. Basically everything is mysterious. There's magic afoot. Don't ask me for more. A large part of this story centers on these mysteries unfolding and the main character navigating them.
Thoughts: I read a lot of romantic fantasies and I kinda launched into this one expecting another steamy shifter or fae type novel and was surprised to find that's not what I got. I took a moment to recalibrate my expectations and then embraced the story. It's well written, it's magical, it's not tropey, and it's very fairytale-ish. The author describes this as a love triangle, but I'm not sure I got that vibe at all, in fact I thought the love/romance was very light. The two main male characters are very much still boys, not men, not alpha men, not dominant...more soulful, brooding, sweet, bashful etc... and the main female character is 17, and not very sure of herself either.
Regardless, this was a pleasant and clean read. Whatever is going on here, I do want to read the next book to find out.
February 6, 2024
Need the next book
I'm completely and utterly hooked. I need to know what happens next. I know this book just came out but I need more. Please don't keep us waiting long for the next boom in the series!
Amazing world building and beautiful detailing. I highly recommend this book for the slow burn YA romantasy lover.
I'm completely and utterly hooked. I need to know what happens next. I know this book just came out but I need more. Please don't keep us waiting long for the next boom in the series!
Amazing world building and beautiful detailing. I highly recommend this book for the slow burn YA romantasy lover.
February 1, 2024
This novel was so much fun and I really loved getting sucked into this new world. Strong plot line plus characters to care about, what more do you need? How about never knowing which ones to trust AND a cliffhanger?? Definitely worth the read!! Cannot wait for the next one!
January 19, 2025
I love Prynne's characters, and can't wait to know what happens next!
May 1, 2024
This was absolutely captivating! I was sweep intoma world of unknown. Then, secrets are revealed. Unforgivable events unfold. Lies and deception and an unpredictable twist. I loved every moment. Amazing characters, original storyline, and a great build-up to the climax, leaving readers with a cliffhanger. I highly recommend this amazing story!
March 10, 2024
COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!!
One of the best books I have read in a long time. Started and finished within a few hours. Amazing book and I can’t wait for the others. I’m hooked!!
One of the best books I have read in a long time. Started and finished within a few hours. Amazing book and I can’t wait for the others. I’m hooked!!
July 18, 2024
Wow!
Although I read this genre almost exclusively, shifters are not usually my cup of tea. However, this book, with its well written characters, the Scottish backdrop, and intriguing mystery, kept me invested from at least Chapter 2! It is very well written witj a unique take on shifter folklore.
Although I read this genre almost exclusively, shifters are not usually my cup of tea. However, this book, with its well written characters, the Scottish backdrop, and intriguing mystery, kept me invested from at least Chapter 2! It is very well written witj a unique take on shifter folklore.
October 20, 2025
Feral
DNF. This first in an unfinished series is beautifully written and grammatically correct. Unfortunately for me it became boring at around page 150 and I plowed through some more before jumping to the end. The ever so drawn out tension before the revelation of the pnr shifter aspects detracts from the story. I kept saying, come on tell her what's happening. I also never trusted Archer and Cassian was so irritating that I couldn't root for either as a love interest. It appears that this will be a very long saga and who knows I might return to it when finished, but six books like this one feels more like an assignment than entertainment.
DNF. This first in an unfinished series is beautifully written and grammatically correct. Unfortunately for me it became boring at around page 150 and I plowed through some more before jumping to the end. The ever so drawn out tension before the revelation of the pnr shifter aspects detracts from the story. I kept saying, come on tell her what's happening. I also never trusted Archer and Cassian was so irritating that I couldn't root for either as a love interest. It appears that this will be a very long saga and who knows I might return to it when finished, but six books like this one feels more like an assignment than entertainment.
January 4, 2025
I didn't hate this, and I didn't love it. I just feel a bit meh about it. I think the plot was interesting, but the story could have used a little fleshing out. Idk...maybe I'm not the target audience.
Not sure if I'll read the next one.
Not sure if I'll read the next one.
July 24, 2024
Feral is the 1st book in the The Garden of Beastly Delights series by Sierra Prynne. It is a supernatural teenager/young adult fantasy featuring enemies to lovers, slow-burn, forbidden love, dark secrets, forced proximity, a love triangle, magic and shapeshifters.
Natalie Damarand, a regular American teenager living in Pensylvania, has grown up with her single mother. Her life is all about achievable goals like a college scholarship, until she unexpectedly inherits the crown of a magical empire located in Scotland and a riddle to solve from her ex-stepfather. She is now the head of a kingdom she has never even heared about – one with secrets she could never even imagine. After arriving in Bear Glen her life is changed forever. Her enigmatic stepbrothers Cassian and Archer are determined to keep the estate “in the family”, even if it means seducing or transforming her. But time is of the essence and forces much more powerful are keeping an observant eye on her. As deadly secrets are untangled, Natalie is drawn in a game of intrigue, power, revenge and desire. In a place where reality blurs with the supernatural, Natalie is plunged headfirst in a paranormal world hidden away in plain sight.
This is a tale of mystery, passion and destiny. The story is well-written, the words just flow and the story pulls you right in – you really can’t put the book down. The Scottish backdrop makes a perfect setup for the story. The world building works very well – you get enough detail and as the magical world is inside our regular one (also timeline wize), it is easy to imagine. The book offers a unique look on the shifter world. The plot is intriguing – there are enough twists and turns, so it doesn’t get neither boring nor predictable. The writing style of the author is very enjoyable – vivid desctriptions that make the story come alive. It is sort of a modern fairytale mixed with old magical shifter history. The story itself starts out as The Princess Diaries – a teenage girl raised by a single-mom finds out she has inherited an entire estate and become royalty overnight. She flies over to Scotland, alone, to find…well not the idyllic Genovia, but something rather more intriguing. So this is where it gets interesting. The main characters are not grown-ups and are still kind of insecure, but compelling and intriguing nevertheless. The characters are well written and you cannot help but like them. There is a love-story slowly building up, but there is also enough mystery, so you never know who is trustworthy and who has ulterior motives. There are numerous questions left unanswered in the end, so you will be waiting for the next part and yet there are no potholes in this one. The story is easy to read, but also has some darker notes. The book is fast paced, but does not overwhelm. I loved every moment of reading it – cannot wait for the next part. This is no doubt one of the best teenage/young adult fantasy romances I have read in a long time, so I absolutely recommend reading it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Natalie Damarand, a regular American teenager living in Pensylvania, has grown up with her single mother. Her life is all about achievable goals like a college scholarship, until she unexpectedly inherits the crown of a magical empire located in Scotland and a riddle to solve from her ex-stepfather. She is now the head of a kingdom she has never even heared about – one with secrets she could never even imagine. After arriving in Bear Glen her life is changed forever. Her enigmatic stepbrothers Cassian and Archer are determined to keep the estate “in the family”, even if it means seducing or transforming her. But time is of the essence and forces much more powerful are keeping an observant eye on her. As deadly secrets are untangled, Natalie is drawn in a game of intrigue, power, revenge and desire. In a place where reality blurs with the supernatural, Natalie is plunged headfirst in a paranormal world hidden away in plain sight.
This is a tale of mystery, passion and destiny. The story is well-written, the words just flow and the story pulls you right in – you really can’t put the book down. The Scottish backdrop makes a perfect setup for the story. The world building works very well – you get enough detail and as the magical world is inside our regular one (also timeline wize), it is easy to imagine. The book offers a unique look on the shifter world. The plot is intriguing – there are enough twists and turns, so it doesn’t get neither boring nor predictable. The writing style of the author is very enjoyable – vivid desctriptions that make the story come alive. It is sort of a modern fairytale mixed with old magical shifter history. The story itself starts out as The Princess Diaries – a teenage girl raised by a single-mom finds out she has inherited an entire estate and become royalty overnight. She flies over to Scotland, alone, to find…well not the idyllic Genovia, but something rather more intriguing. So this is where it gets interesting. The main characters are not grown-ups and are still kind of insecure, but compelling and intriguing nevertheless. The characters are well written and you cannot help but like them. There is a love-story slowly building up, but there is also enough mystery, so you never know who is trustworthy and who has ulterior motives. There are numerous questions left unanswered in the end, so you will be waiting for the next part and yet there are no potholes in this one. The story is easy to read, but also has some darker notes. The book is fast paced, but does not overwhelm. I loved every moment of reading it – cannot wait for the next part. This is no doubt one of the best teenage/young adult fantasy romances I have read in a long time, so I absolutely recommend reading it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
February 22, 2024
I first saw the cover for this book on Facebook. It intrigued me. One mouse click later, I was perusing the Amazon page. The marketing blurb ticked enough of the required boxes for me to look inside.
One paragraph. Just one, and I was sold. Please read the first paragraph, I dare you. It won’t cost you anything except sixty seconds or so of your life.
Was the storyline good? Yes. The best I ever read? No. But it was good, and I read the book in one day. And that is always a good sign.
Here’s why I am so blown away. It is the prose. Beautifully articulate, vivid descriptions, evocative passages, and, dare I say, even elegant at times. Why isn’t a publisher spamming Sierra’s inbox? I have no idea.
Let me give an example of the writing Sierra is capable of. I took it directly from the novel.
“I smiled; there was nothing more terrifying than sharing what you made with people. Some core parts of it ceased to be entirely yours. Then you had to dissect polite compliments, looking for the cruel truths within them, only panicking more if you didn’t find any. Self-flagellation at its finest.”
I find this so insightful; I suspect that these words would ring loud in the soul of many a storyteller, musician, or artist. As a published author myself, it certainly did for me.
Another passage at the beginning of Chapter Eight was so wonderful that I wished I had written it myself. I called one of my critique partners and read it to him. He writes police procedurals, and other than passing judgment on my fantasy offerings, it isn’t the genre he would read. After the first paragraph of that chapter, he took the title and author’s name to get a copy. Why? Because this tough-as-nails retired detective thought it was beautiful.
So, if you want to know how that paragraph reads, you must get the book. You won’t be disappointed.
Shelley Lee Riley - Author
One paragraph. Just one, and I was sold. Please read the first paragraph, I dare you. It won’t cost you anything except sixty seconds or so of your life.
Was the storyline good? Yes. The best I ever read? No. But it was good, and I read the book in one day. And that is always a good sign.
Here’s why I am so blown away. It is the prose. Beautifully articulate, vivid descriptions, evocative passages, and, dare I say, even elegant at times. Why isn’t a publisher spamming Sierra’s inbox? I have no idea.
Let me give an example of the writing Sierra is capable of. I took it directly from the novel.
“I smiled; there was nothing more terrifying than sharing what you made with people. Some core parts of it ceased to be entirely yours. Then you had to dissect polite compliments, looking for the cruel truths within them, only panicking more if you didn’t find any. Self-flagellation at its finest.”
I find this so insightful; I suspect that these words would ring loud in the soul of many a storyteller, musician, or artist. As a published author myself, it certainly did for me.
Another passage at the beginning of Chapter Eight was so wonderful that I wished I had written it myself. I called one of my critique partners and read it to him. He writes police procedurals, and other than passing judgment on my fantasy offerings, it isn’t the genre he would read. After the first paragraph of that chapter, he took the title and author’s name to get a copy. Why? Because this tough-as-nails retired detective thought it was beautiful.
So, if you want to know how that paragraph reads, you must get the book. You won’t be disappointed.
Shelley Lee Riley - Author
May 9, 2024
Having read both this one and the second book, Ravenous, this feel like a necessary prologue to the full series. It sets it up well, with a character to root for, and then blows out the fantasy so well! The main character, Natalie, is so fun to follow and this book sets up the shortcomings she needs to overcome. Plus it gives us two yummy love interests and a unique magic system. I can't wait to read more from this writer!
December 18, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!! I went right into the next one. Great modern fantasy world, with shifters. I couldn’t remember what it was about when I started, but I had seen it as a must read on a tiktok review. And I’m SO glad I did. I cannot wait to buy physical copies. There’s next to no spice in this first book, but I didn’t really feel like it *needed* it, the story was intriguing and flowed so well without it. It’s hard to believe this is one of this authors first books!
August 15, 2024
I finished this book and jumped to the next the same day. Having read the second, I get the sense that Prynne was working some stuff out in her writing style in this book--maybe a bit of self consciousness and nerves--but that doesn't take away from the immersiveness of it, and it's a really good setup for the next book which is just SO GOOD!
February 5, 2024
No scenes. Sweet love story - I suppose.
This is a gripping and interesting read. Doesn't take a great amount of time to read either. It felt familiar - then I remembered I had read Beastly prior to this one - a prequal. I really hope to see more by this author very soon.
This is a gripping and interesting read. Doesn't take a great amount of time to read either. It felt familiar - then I remembered I had read Beastly prior to this one - a prequal. I really hope to see more by this author very soon.
August 15, 2024
I really liked this. Low key for sure in parts, but it definitely gives you the sense that it's building to something. I like that this author doesn't just throw everything at you all at once. You have to earn the good stuff and when you get there, it hits hard.
May 9, 2024
I had a blast with this. Wish fulfillment to the max with beautiful descriptions, really cool mysteries and such a fun end. Loved it!
January 17, 2025
This is a great, intriguing book! It's a take on shifters I have not read yet. The world building is incredible and I can't wait to read book 2!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews