Of Wolves And Deceit

Forged by Fire #1

by Stephany Wallace

★
Wolves and Vampires never mix… Unless they are ready to rip each other apart.

All I want for my birthday is to pass the fire trial that will unlock my Wolf Shifter powers, join my uncle's Vampire hunting pack, and mate with the man I love… Until a mysterious human is captured and tortured by our Alpha, leaving me no choice but to act.

Except, not everything is as it seemed, and my act of kindness has just turned me into the enemy.

Suddenly on the run from my own family, I'm forced unconscious, only to awake in the deadly clutches of three scrumptiously irresistible strangers—Mr. Impulsive, Mr. Temperamental, and Mr. Cocky. What’s worse, my wolf is a bit too “approving” of my captors.

Taken from the only home I've ever known, I'm forced to realize that Vampires are not the scariest monsters out there, and Wolf Shifters may not be the good guys after all.
★
For fans of Romantasy, Why Choose Romance, "Shadow Daddies", sexy tension, slow burn romance, "touch her and die", funny banter, action, and shocking secrets, the "Forged By Fire series" is a thrilling world that will keep you glued to the page until the very end. Don't miss out on this spicy and gripping romance!"

***This series is recommended for readers 16 and older due to three seriously delectable monsters—A Shadow Daddy, A Vampire Bad Boy, and A Moody Wolf Shifter Prince—and a slightly naïve but seriously feisty wolf shifter FMC. It contains provocative, steamy scenes, and light cursing.

★For fans of Romantasy, Why Choose Romance, Shadow Daddies, sexy tension, funny banter, action, and shocking secrets, the "Forged By Fire series" is a thrilling tale that will keep you glued to the page until the very end. Don't miss out on this spicy and gripping romance!"

***This series is recommended for readers 16 and older due to three seriously delectable monsters—A Shadow Daddy, A Vampire Bad Boy, and A Moody Wolf Shifter Prince—and a slightly naïve but seriously feisty Wolf Shifter FMC. It contains provocative, steamy scenes, and some cursing.

★
Tropes:
RH/Why Choose Romance
Fated Mates
Slow burn
Shadow Daddy
Bad Boy
Touch her and Die
Kidnapped
Chosen/Found Family
Vampire Romance
Werewolf/shifter romance
Alpha/Omega

The guys:
A Dark & Dangerous Lord of Twilight
A Scary yet Sexy Vampire
A Moody Wolf Shifter Prince (he can shift into a werewolf, or a full wolf)


★A Note from the Author★
Forged by Fire, A reverse Harem Romance, is set in the connected worlds of The Curse of the Lycan & Dynasty of Blood series. These series can be read on their own, but contain crossovers, and some of the original characters will make cameo appearances in Forged by Fire. If you loved Of Wolves and Deceit and want to know the original worlds, we recommend you read the Curse of the Lycan and the Dynasty of Blood Saga, in that order, to fully immerse yourself in these exciting, steamy, and addictive stories.


**Books in the connected worlds**

The Curse of the Lycan
*A Wolf Shifters, Forbidden Love Romance.*
Beast of Shadow & Light, Book 1
Slayer of Hope & Sorrow, Book 2
Knight of Iron & Stone, Book 3
Queen of War & Peace, Book 4
Wolf Prince, Book 5
Dark Wolf, Book 6

Dynasty of Blood Saga
*A Vampire, Enemies to Lovers Romance.*
Cursed by Darkness, Book 1
Claimed by Darkness, Book 2
Consumed by Darkness, Book 3
Countess of Darkness, Book 4

Genres: Vampires, Romantasy, Romance, Werewolves, Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Why Choose

347 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2024

About the author

Stephany Wallace is an International Bestselling Author of Young Adult and New Adult Fantasy Romance, Paranormal Romance, and Urban Fantasy. She has multiple bestselling series including Dynasty of Blood, The Winter Court Chronicles, and Curse of the Lycan.
 
Stephany writes about headstrong, quirky, bad-ass heroines, and their swoon worthy, alpha male, sweet, or sexy nerdy heroes. She loves writing about Vampires, Dragons, Wolf Shifters, Witches, and creating incredibly vivid worlds that capture you from the very first page, and leave you wanting more.

Steph's Reading list:

Ancient Magic Series
*An Urban Fantasy Romance.*
Hidden Magic, Book 1
Renewed Magic, Book 2
Unwanted Magic, Eisha’s story, Book 3
Worthy of Magic, Art’s story, Book 4
Absolute Magic, Book 5

The Winter Court Chronicles
*A Fae & Dragons Fantasy Romance .*
Forgotten Kingdom, Book 1
Broken Kingdom, Book 2
Everlasting Kingdom, Book 3
Dragons of the Temple. Avra’s Story,
and the exclusive beginning of their war, Book 4
Secret Kingdom. Theo’s Story
and the series conclusion, Book 5

The Curse of the Lycan
*A Wolf Shifters, Fated Mates Romance.*
Beast of Shadow & Light, Book 1
Slayer of Hope & Sorrow, Book 2
Knight of Iron & Stone, Book 3
Queen of War & Peace, Book 4
Gustav & Zelin’s Story
Wolf Prince, Book 5
Dark Wolf, Book 6

Dynasty of Blood Saga
*A Vampire Romance.*
Cursed by Darkness, Book 1
Claimed by Darkness, Book 2
Consumed by Darkness, Book 3
Countess of Darkness, Book 4 with bonus story:
Cursed by Christmas, A Christmas Story.


Witches of Fire & Ice
*A Fated Soul Mates Paranormal Romance.*
Evil Little Witch, Grimoire 1
Lost Little Witch, Grimoire 2
Pure Little Witch, Grimoire 3 (Coming 2023)

Supernatural Taskforce Academy
*An Academy Series, Paranormal Romance from Authors
J.L Weil & Stephany Wallace.*
Scorpion Blood, Mission 1
Mystique Blaze, Mission 2
Immortal Shift, Mission 3

Darkling Penitentiary Series
*A Fae, Enemies-to-Lovers Romance*
Phantom Assassin, Part 1
Dark Phoenix, Part 2 (Coming Soon)
God of the Realms, Part 3 (Coming Soon)

Rise of the Dragon Master
*A Dragon Riders UF/Paranormal Romance*
Dragon Eye, Book 1
Dragon Rider, Book 2
Dragon Master, Book 3
Dragon Throne Part One, Book 4
Dragon Throne Part Two, Book 5

Wings of Change
*A Fae Romance Novella*
(Coming soon to Kindle Unlimited)

Queen of the Fallen
*An Angels Reverse Harem Romance*
Standalone
(Coming soon to Kindle Unlimited)

Wolf Bait
A Wolf Shifter Romance Novella
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Reviews

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟹 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐! ⊹
╰ ✦ •

Rating this 3 for now would have been lower, but THE ENDING is an exciting revelation that has slightly changed my mind, which makes me want to know more besides all the issues I had with this.

I get that this is an introduction to a series but it reads like an unnecessarily long novella where nothing happens until the very last page, which was disappointing and very annoying.

Natasha, a 19-year-old Wolf Shifter, anticipates her fire trial which will finally unlock her shifter powers, her longstanding dream has been to join her uncle's vampire-hunting pack, the Hunters, but she could never be like them.

The Shadow Born Pack , dedicated defenders of the humans, wage a relentless battle against Vampires, the very beings responsible for Natasha's parents' demise... (or so you thought)

On the eve of her fire trial, unforeseen events unfold. Natasha discovers the captive of the day's events, she mistakes the captive for a human which makes her free him.

In the aftermath of this rescue, Natasha's life takes an unexpected twist as she begins to unravel hidden truths, realizing that appearances can be deceiving in ways she never imagined.

A lot of things I didn’t like...but this was merely a 'setup' novel for the rest of the book so, ig it wasn't the WORST, I did enjoy the author's writing style.

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮:

➺And the big question of why Natasha was rescued was never fully answered - it was made out that after finding Isis everything would be explained to Nat but.. noooo and then BAM the ending (which I will not spoil though holy shit wasn’t expecting it but also I figured something like this would happen so not entirely unpredictable)

➺it was too long, with A LOT of filler, that honestly I skimmed - like cooool Vanessa teaches a dance class, but eh I want to know more about Natasha and why tf you kidnapped/rescued her

➺The smut was subpar, while this is supposed to turn into an RH, this particular first book is not in that category, it was very "insta-love-y" there were 2 smut scenes both with Dante (the one scene was kinda weird, near the end with Dante showing D or talking to him about the experience with this TWILIGHT SHADOW MAGIC??? - idk it was weird)

➺Why was the one guy's name only the letter D? And then we also have Dante (the LORD OF TWILIGHT) [so D & Dante (yes 2 different people)]... wondering if D will have a proper name in the next book?

➺gahhh don’t even get me started on how many times the word TWILIGHT is in this… italicized every time - was out here thinking about Edward Cullen the ENTIRE TIME OK

➺Hannes (the wolf shifter prince) wasn’t even in this besides how much he was mentioned to be one of her mates

➺-honestly, I felt for Natasha at the beginning but by the end of this book she was annoying, she is so immature (i get that she was manipulated/gaslit her entire 19 years and the human world is NEW to her but jfc she was like a toddler)

➺there was little to no character development


Overall, not bad, but not good (at least for me), but with how the book ended, I am interested in reading the rest of Natasha's story... I didn't like how nothing was explained til the VERY LAST PAGE, hoping book 2 won't be like this, and I want to get to know HANNES!!


thank you for the ARC Stephany & NGC!

_________________________________
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[Bianca ღ · Rating 2 out of 5]

set up for book 2, nothing happens in this book til the LAST PAGE

i wanted to DNF this SO BAD, ngl i skimmed a majority of it, the ending was slightly redeemable

fmc was the most childish ever like i understand she was sheltered and manipulated but god she was so annoying

tbh i dont think i really liked any of the characters...
so we have D (vamp) + Dante (witch) + Hannes (wolfshifter)

D - why is this his name? it got so confusing because we also have DANTE so i was like what is D dante? but no they are 2 different people ig?? weird

Dante - the twilight shadow lord - lmao it was kinda cringe - also the amount of times the word twilight is in this is absurd, he aint no edward cullen ill tell you that much

Hannes - was not even in this?? too busy doing Prince things in Germany? like what? if hes supposedly her mate why dont we even get to know him, oh well ig?

Vanessa - D's sister - i mean she was ok ig? idk though her voice wasnt really distinct to me.

The we meet the Viscountess + her husband (a wolf shifter) in the last 3 pages SPOILER -> they're Natasha's real parents (somehow)

anyways?

i feel like this could have been condensed + more important things talked about? idk it was way too long for nothing happening

like it wasn't bad but... the suspense of why Natasha was kidnapped and rescued was NEVER answered this was beyond annoying like just get to the point already!

with how it ended i might pick up book 2 just out of curiosity

[NinaInkdawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this fantasy we find several tropes including: why choose, bad boy vampire, innocent but feisty fmc, moody wolf shifter prince, fated mates, shattered secrets, shadow daddy and found family chosen .... What more do you want? I finished it tonight and I already miss it... Everyone and this wonderful Fantasy world I created. This book is part of a series... Let's say right away that as soon as I started the book I couldn't put it down, I didn't want to close the book... I immediately fell in love with Dante and the mysterious character D. And I loved the friendship between our Natasha and Vanessa, but I was still deeply touched by Natasha's growth process. Another point in favor of this fantasy romance is that we are faced with a reverse harem which, to be honest, really intrigued me, especially in which the various vicissitudes of the various characters are narrated which make you wish you would never finish it. It's only the first book in the series but I can't wait to read the sequel because I have to know especially given the ending.... 🤐🤐🤐. One thing this book teaches us is that what we believe is perhaps not the true reality... And that we need to know how to deal with what surrounds us, we are not alone. Finally I want to say that I definitely want to know more about Vanessa & Bjorn... 😍.

[Bent Letters · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Blue · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf

[Calliope · Rating 3 out of 5]

no

[Calyx Chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natasha has been trapped in her uncle's pack her entire life with only her guardian Isis to protect her. Just when she's about to meet her wolf and be allowed to explore the human world, everything falls apart. She soon meets Dante, D, Vane, Bjorn, and Hannes. She's now in the human world she wanted to see so badly, but Isis is missing, and her new roommates are the kinds of monsters she's been warned about her whole life. Despite all that, there's a growing need brewing between Natasha, Dante, and D. However, the pack she escaped from is desperate to have Natasha back and no one knows why.

Within the first few chapters of this book, I was ready to throw hands! I was so angry on behalf of Natasha, and Isis was my queen from moment one. The characters you're supposed to love are incredibly loveable, and the ones you're supposed to hate will definitely end up on someone's kill list. I also thought that Natasha's confusion and naivety were really well done. In addition, the responses to her prejudices felt real and legitimate. I appreciated that she wasn't allowed to go around and say whatever she wanted despite her being important for some reason.

That said, I did get a bit tired of her biases and favoritism. I wanted her to get over it, which I am fully aware is unrealistic. Natasha just felt a little juvenile, but she absolutely should, so again that's on me more than the book. It's a Naive Girl Meets World story, so it's to be expected.

Overall, I think it's a good shifter book and I enjoyed having other races mixed in. There was some quality action, but mostly it was a feel-good kind of drama book where a girl is finding her way in a new world. With some quality smut thrown in for flavor. It does end on a cliffy and I am dying to see what happens next! I think Of Wolves and Deceit is a nice addition to the wolf shifter genre and readers will eat it up.

[Stephanie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the beginning. Wolf shifter trope and the promise of delicious smut! What’s not to love. I just loved this book so much

[The Bookworm Hermit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Vampires

This ending is a shock to the system. I enjoyed this story and watching as Natasha meets the real world for the first time.

The world building is amazing with the connects to various points of mythology and various cultures.

I can't wait for what will be coming in Book 2.

[Gracie Bustillos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephany really knows how to write a captivating storyline
Great storyline, interesting characters. Absolutely loved this new book. Lots of action. The ending, OMG, was unexpected and I need the next book now. I highly recommend this book.

[Amanda Eddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow!

I was excited to start this book. I had yet to read anything by this author, and I have to say that I was blown away. There was so much to unpack here! Reverse harem, spicy, intriguing, twists and turns, and absolute delight!! You definitely want to give this a read! I mean who doesn’t love a good supernatural fest!

[Samantha Brandeberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natasha is a young Wolf Shifter who was taken in by her uncle, the Alpha of the Shadow Born Pack, after her parents were killed in a violent attack. The Shadow Born Pack lives in complete isolation from the Human World – except for the Hunters. The Hunters are the strongest members of their pack, who are the sworn protectors of the humans from the enemy: Vampires.

Natasha longs to be a Hunter, to be a part of the Human World, but her uncle and betrothed mate are determined to keep her locked away and disconnected from her inner wolf. Mysterious forces are revealed, and manipulative secrets are unraveled as Natasha learns that everything that she’s been taught has been a lie.

When a group of strangers enter her life, she is catapulted into a world in stark contrast to the one she grew up in. Indeed, she’ll have to unlearn biases and fictions that were engrained in the culture of her small village if she’s ever to accept her new family and her destiny.

I enjoyed reading Of Wolves and Deceit and am looking forward to the next installment! Natasha’s world is interestingly complex with several races of supernatural beings and their dynamics. While Wallace doesn’t give everything away in this first book, she provides you with just enough for you to want to know more.

The core identity of the main character is built around her naivety and isolation from the outside world. However, there are some inconsistencies with her understanding of human slang and cultural pieces despite having some access to social media/vlogging (although forbidden) in her pack. I would have loved to have seen more consistency in character development, but overall felt that Natasha’s inner monologue and actions reflected her youth and strong-willed personality.

While described as a Reverse Harem/Why Choose Fantasy Romance, it is important to note that in this first book, there is no spice in which more than one love interest is in the same room as our FMC. However, it is clearly stated that Natasha is different than the Wolf Shifters she grew up around and has three mates who already know she is theirs – if she wants them. This first book focuses on the development of her relationship with Dante (not to be confused with D), but the next two books will likely focus on each of the other men in her harem (D and Hannes). Dante is our favorite brand of Shadow Daddy with literal darkness at his disposal.

Threads of deceit are slowly untangled throughout the story, but I still have so many questions. The story ends on a cliffhanger that will have you asking what happens next!

[Michelle Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

You are introduced to Natasha, a not of age Wolf Shifter who has been taken in by her uncle. The Alpha of the Shadow Born Pack, due to her parents being killed by Vampires.
She has grown up in the isolation of the pack primarily helping with the cubs but longing to be accepted as a Hunter. The Hunters are the strongest members of the Shadow Born Pack and the protectors of the enemies… Vampires. (She wants revenge and is desperate to be a Hunter)
She is promised to the Beta, yet we find that the Alpha and Beta are trying to keep her from her true self. She also longs to be part of the human world. Her guardian Isis has allowed her small glimpses of the human world.
Not too long later we are introduced to a small close-knit group of strangers, one she tries to rescue but gets rescued herself in return. Here we find that there are many secrets to be discovered and Natasha’s life is not what it was truly meant to be. Everything she has been taught/told her entire life seems to not to be accurate and most of it lies.
Having not read a supernatural based fantasy book in a while, I quite enjoyed this. I have a soft spot for Vampires and was more interested in their introduction.
Natasha is very naïve; she has been extremely sheltered living with the wolf pack and that yearning for the human world is entertaining when she is finally introduced. Her lack of knowledge of modern culture, I thought, was well portrayed by the character. Despite at the start of the book you would have expected it to be more since Isis had given her forbidden items not allowed in the pack where you find her doing tutorials of makeup and Vlogging this.
If you are looking for spice, this is a slow burn, and you find this much later in the book. The book is described as a Reverse Harem/Why Choose Fantasy romance, as you do get a glimpse of this, I am sure it will be truly introduced in future books to the series.
Characters I felt were well introduced yet some are mentioned and not in the story, so I do look forward to the second book in hopes of finding out more about these said characters.
I will admit I was confused at the introduction of D and Dante as they are separate characters. I for the first few parts with either name being mentioned did think it was the same person. Until my light bulb went off and realized that they were two different characters.
My only issue with the story is how many times the word Twilight is mentioned and that it is always italicized. Understand that Dante is the “Lord of Twilight”, but I felt it was a bit overused.
Cliffhanger at the end does have me very interested in book two and I am looking forward to reading further.
Tropes – RH/Why choose romance (you do not see a lot of this in my opinion) Fated mates, Slow burn (I feel this is very, very accurate), Kidnapped, Chosen/Found Family, Vampire Romance (I am a total sucker for this) Werewolf shifter Romance (I felt this was not truly there), Touch her and die (very accurate).

[Ming-Ming | The Literary Lynx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and Dirty Plot: Sad werewolf girl with the inability to shift, has her life turned upsidedown after rescuing a mysterious man taken captive by her pack. After falling into the clutches of three hot, mysterious men, she learns that everything is a lie and that there are worse monsters out there than vampires, than she was led to believe.

Tropes: Fated mates, found family, touch her and die vibes

Things I liked: Interesting story with a plot that kept me reading to find out what happened next. Beautiful usage of descriptive language to paint rich pictures. Yummy shadow daddy. Spicy scenes are chef’s kiss.

Things I didn’t like: The writing style was very straight-forward and almost too informative, which I found to be a bit tedious and boring. The child-like naive main female character annoyed me, though it is valid considering how sheltered she is (totally personal preference of MFC).

Final Words: I almost DNFed this book as I found it a bit lackadaisical in the beginning; the plot sort of plodded on from point A to point B with little action and a lot of explanation. What kept me going was the desire to know what happens next! I found myself skimming along a lot until we met her three mysterious “friends”. Then my curiosity was sparked and I desperately wanted to know more about them and what makes them ‘tick’.
Finally, when we get some wink wink action, not only did I find the story more engaging, as the character’s stories begin to unfold, but I still had no idea what was happening and kept being promised an explanation!
Once i finally found out, it was the end of the book and I have still so many unanswered questions. If you are not a fan of cliff hangers in an uncompleted series, this book is not for you! I will likely read the next one, as I am curious how the romantic relationships will unfold, as the surface has barely been scratched.

Story: ⭐⭐⭐
World Building: ⭐⭐⭐
Character Development: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Overall Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐.5

[Briana Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young woman’s unexpected journey to finding not only herself but where she truly belongs.

Natasha is a shifter whose only desire is to face the fire trials and finally be able to shift into her wolf form. Having been raised separated from the human world she has a fascination with humans and wants more than anything to keep them safe from the terrifying vampires.

Mr. Temperamental, Mr. Cocky, and Mr. Impulsive are three mystery men who take Natasha from her home but are reluctant to tell her the whole truth of who they are and what she is to them. Unfortunately for Natasha, her wolf is wholly content with her captors.

Book 1 of the Forged by Fire series takes us through the lies Natasha has been told her entire life and her struggle to re-evaluate how she has looked at the world and the other mythical beings living alongside her. The more the story progresses the more unanswered questions we have.

There was a lot to enjoy in this book. I devoured it in two days because I was determined to know the answer to so many questions I had. The characters drew me in and had me wanting more. The small glimpses we get into the POVs of other characters was enough to tease but not nearly enough to satiate my need to know more! It was very easy to get emotionally invested into Natasha’s story and the author did a very good job of getting the reader to feel what Natasha was feeling.

The only thing I didn’t like and it’s 100% a me issue is I HATED not knowing what was going on. I really felt like I was in Natasha’s shoes and was so frustrated with not knowing and not being able to figure out all the twists and turns that were being thrown at us. Personally not something I’m used to in the books I read.

Overall this was a binge worthy book that I’m desperate to see how it all comes together in the future books in the series!

[Karen Winters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book with certain expectations, and honestly, it met them! What a fun read!

We begin the book getting to know Natasha, a werewolf who longs to be a part of the human world – a world she’s sworn to protect from vampires. We follow Natasha as she struggles with her social expectations, wolf instincts (and prejudice), and personal desires as she comes face to face with her destiny: 3 men of varying fantastical stock all destined to be her mate (and 1 new gal pal).

Things that I quite liked:

Although fated mates is a tried-and-true trope, it often leaves room for the dreaded insta-love. While there is an aspect of insta-love, I thought the author did a good job by tying it to Natasha’s inner wolf: her wolf warmed to these men very quickly while her human part held reservations for most of the book.

The characters are also likeable. After this first book, I don’t feel that I know them very well, but I like them enough to want to get to know them through the subsequent books.

Also, there’s a shadow daddy, so…

Now for things that I didn’t love:

Really, the only criticism I have is the writing style. It felt very YA (emphasis on the Y) despite the adult themes (side note: the spice was actually written quite well). I found the dialogue to be a little clunky at times and “after school special,” particularly as Natasha got to know her new companions and worked through her prejudice.
There are darker themes in the book, and I think if we had the writing to match the adult themes (I’m picturing Sarah Parker-style writing), this easily could have been a 4-5 star read for me.

Overall, this was a super fun and easy read. It ended on a cliff hanger and the plot was engaging enough that I’ll likely ready the second book.

Thanks so much to the author for the book!

3 stars

[Jenifer Stretch · Rating 5 out of 5]

CONTAINS SPOILERS

19 year old Nathasha lost her parents at a young age to a vampire attack, and if that wasn’t bad enough, Natasha is the complete opposite of the rest of her pack. She is the only one with blonde hair in a pack of black haired shifters and she wants desperately to be a part of the human world that they are bound to protect (but her uncle, the Alpha, forbids any interaction with humans or human items). Her whole life she believed vampires were mindless and horrific looking creatures that want to capture humans to be blood slaves. She has longed for the day she shifts and becomes one of the hunters so she can get revenge for her parents death and protect the humans she is drawn to. But when an attack happens in the pack’s home, Natasha goes looking for answers after seeing the hunters drag someone into the woods. When she comes across the cabin the prisoner is held at, she is shocked and overwhelmed at the sight of a human. Not understanding why they would be torturing a human they are bound to protect, Natasha breaks him free and makes a run down the mountain. After a turn of events at the edge of the pack territory and the human territory, Natasha’s world is turned upside down at the newfound knowledge she did not save a human. She saved a vampire...who was saving her.

This first book in Staphany’s Forged by Fire series had me hooked and craving more. You learn about the world through Natasha’s eyes and her innocence/naivety. Not only was her upbringing a lie, but she learns about magic weilders, vampires, other shifters, Fae, and why she matters enough to be saved by those she was raised to believe are horrific. Natasha has a greater purpose in her life, follow her as she watches her destiny unfold around her.

[Casey Feerst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Binge-worthy read! Cannot wait for #2
In this fast-paced spicy fantasy, shifter Natasha is a quiet, hopeful young woman seeking revenge on the vampires who killed her parents. A sudden and unexpected visitor forces her to examine everything she thinks she knows, which might be a bunch of lies. Encountering the very people she had been raised to most fear, Natasha quickly learns that people are more than WHAT they are. Through all obstacles, one thing remains her constant; Natasha knows in her heart that she must protect the humans who cannot protect themselves, whatever that may mean for her.
I really loved the realistic portrayal of Natasha as a 19-year-old young woman, full of longing for acceptance while struggling to find where she fits, and what she really wants in life. She is likable, without being syrupy sweet, and is an easy protagonist to root for. The other characters she meets are dynamic and lovable, adding a new level of interest with every encounter. I cannot wait to learn more about each of them as the series continues. This first book has so much world-building, both for us as readers and for Natasha; each new piece of information sucks you into the story more and more. With all that said, there is still so much I do not know. The slow burn on the unfolding plot and character development decidedly falls on the right side, just enough to leave you wanting more. The spice, however, is well placed, not too much or too little, and plot-driven. I am already eagerly awaiting the next book.

[shays reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natasha’s parents died fighting the vampires to protect her when she was just a child. Natasha has grown up in the Shadow Pack, a Colorado mountains village where Wolf Shifters live separate lives from humans. This pack of Wolf Shifters is led by Natasha’s uncle —ahem— Alpha whose word is law, and this law is to protect the humans by killing vampires. Raised by Isis, Natasha’s adopted mother, who has allowed her glimpses into the forbidden world of humans by collecting items to gift her. Natasha must complete the fire ceremony tomorrow in order to become her Wolf shifter.
When vampires attack the village, Natasha needs to have answers as to why the vampires came here in the first place. She goes into the forest, finding her pack holding a wounded human hostage. In a fit of shock and rage, she breaks the human free and escapes with him to the human world. Will Natasha ever be able to shift into a wolf despite abandoning the fire ceremony? Why would her pack of Wolf Shifters, her family, and the protectors of humans take a human as a hostage and torture him? Will Isis be held responsible for her daughter’s betrayal? Will she ever be able to go home to her family? And what does the human have to do with it all?
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I loved this book, I could not put it down! If you’re looking for a book with some of the best tropes, check out Of Wolves and Deceit!
- Fated Mates
- Reverse Harem
- Vampire Romance
- Werewolf / Wolf Shifter Romance
I loved the depth to each of the characters and their stories, the romance was really well written and it’s got a little bit of ✨🌶️ spice 🌶️✨. This spice was so well written, I loved every bit of it and the author did a really fantastic job writing those scenes in depth as well. I’ve never read smut like this, but I think I’ve found a new interest, and am looking forward to the next book in the series! Until then, I will be happy checking out this author’s other works because I have found a new favourite author!

[Juri (_snarkysharky) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephany Wallace's "Of Wolves And Deceit" is officially one of my new favorite Reverse Harem Romances.

Natasha, a Wolf Shifter, is turning 19 and about to undergo the fire trial to unlock her powers. She's always wanted to be part of her uncle's vampire hunting pack, the Hunters, but she could never be like them.

The Shadow Born Pack are sworn protectors of the human race. They fight against Vampires -- the same creatures that killed Natasha’s parents. The night before the fire trial, everything goes wrong. Natasha discovers a human held captive and tortured by the Hunters, leaving her no choice but to come to his rescue.

Her life takes an abrupt turn when she realizes that not everything is as it seems.

The entire book was very easy to digest and did not have a lot of world-building which made the pacing good. I love that Natasha’s train of thought is straightforward. Her choices and actions are headstrong and reasonable given her circumstances. I also appreciate that this RH builds up a slow-burn relationship, and that despite her wolf’s urges, the book didn’t devolve into an insta-lust romance.

However, I initially found it perplexing when Dante's POV was introduced. He was talking about D, and I mistakenly thought D was Dante’s nickname. It took some a good minute to realize they were not the same person.

I might be nitpicking, but does the letter D even stand for something? Considering there are 26 letters in the alphabet, it boggles me why the author didn’t name him differently. It's a "me" thing, but I also hated the fact that Isis calls Natasha “baby girl”. And do we have to be reminded that Dante is the Lord of Twilight in italics, every single time? I just can’t get past it. I cringe every time.

Despite my reservations, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I know this is a "Why Choose", but Wallace built Dante up so well to the point where I find myself hoping Natasha chooses him. I eagerly anticipate getting to know D and Hannes better in the next two books!

Many thanks to the Author, and Nerdy Girls Collective for providing me with an early copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[Millie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natasha, a wolf shifter, gets raised by her uncle, the Alpha of the pack, following a tragedy. She wishes to be part of the, the strongest wolf shifters of the pack, to help protect the humans from the Vampires that her Alpha told her about. After a group of strangers save her life, Natasha then needs to either trust them or fear them. Who’s telling the truth and who’s lying?

The story was fast-paced and an enjoyable read. The book series itself is a slow burn. Expect an abundance of mystery with lots of unanswered questions for a time. This was a 4 ⭐️ and the a 3.5 🌶️ on the spicy meter. The series is described as a “why choose”, but it has tinge of spiciness that causes tension between the protagonist and one of the male characters. I’m very excited to see what the next book will bring because this one ends on a cliffhanger!

Natasha is very naive when it comes to humans. There were parts of the story that were a bit confusing to me. At the beginning I confused the two male characters Dante and D, thinking they were the same person… they are not! They are totally different characters.

[The Sleepy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

So there's this village of wolf shifters that lives isolated on a mountain and their sole purpose is to protect humans from vampires. Natasha lives there with her guardian Isis. Unable to shift into her wolf like everyone else she's eagerly awaiting the fire ceremony where the magic should help her shift for the first time. That is of course, until she finds herself removed from the only home she's ever known and stuck with an extremely powerful witch, a shifter prince, and a couple of vampires. Natasha finds herself attracted to them and has to unlearn all the misinformation she's been fed her whole life. The vampires, her village, and the world are not what she has been led to believe.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was a fairly quick read but interesting enough that I finished it in a day. The pacing felt a little rushed. But other than that it was a really easy book to get into and it held my interest the entire time. The ending was unexpected and left me desperate for more. I need answers. Good thing the second book is supposed to come out this year.

4 stars.
0 naps.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes
🐺 Why choose
🐺 Mates
🐺 Protective MMCs
🐺 Shadow daddy 🖤
🐺 Found family

I really enjoyed Natasha's story. She's a headstrong girl forced to be in a submissive role in her pack, and I'm so glad she was able to break free of that! A big catalyst for the story is Natasha's isolationist upbringing. I'm looking forward to see where she goes from here now that she's been exposed to a little more of the real world! Of Wolves and Deceit really sets up the series well, but it also stands on its own. I feel like in a lot of series, there's too much set up and not enough of development in the first book--definitely not an issue here.

I'm also excited to learn more about our MMCs in future books 👀 We only really get to dig into Dante in book 1, so hopefully book 2 comes soon!! There was a lot more plot than I was expecting too 😜 which is always a good thing! But I'm expecting my spice rating to jump up the further into the series we go 🔥🔥

And can I just say I loved the dedication at the beginning! Also that cover 🤩

[Gemma (Bookishgem94) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natasha the young she-wolf who always felt like an oursider to her pack, pushed away and treat differently , saved D the monster she feared the most but turns out to be all dark ,dangerous and everything she wants. Dante (who is my current favourite btw ) is a whole other level of darkness, literally!! I can't wait to see how their story continues. This unpacked so much in so little time and i was here for every second of it. I can't wait to learn more about Hannes in book two as i feel that's going to make things hotter between the group.

Natasha really made me fall for this book , her innocence and the way she first see's the world make me connect with her thoughout her story as she's becoming the women she's meant to be. The ending was a huge shock i didn't see coming at all it toke me a solid 10 minutes of wtf moments.

I love the growing connectiom between tne group and how easy it was to fall into the story and get to know the characters on a deeper level.

Would recommend to anyone who loves supernatural, RH , spicy romance reads.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading Of Wolves and Deceit. It is a branch off series from 2 book series The Curse of the Lycan & Dynasty of Blood series. This is a Slow Burn Romance and Reverse Harem and is recommended for the ages 18 and up.
Natasha is a member Shadow Born Wolf Pack located in the Crystal Glow Mountains and her Uncle is the Alpha of her pack. A tragic Vampire attack happened while Natasha was a young child which took her parents away from her or so she was told. Her Guardian Isis raised her to adult hood. Buy the time Natasha was turning 19 there was supposed to be a ceremony to where Natasha was to get united with her wolf as children could not shift into their wolf. But unfortunately there was a Vampire attack on their village and Natasha didn't get her ceremony.
Fast forward after the attack Natasha meets Dante, D., Haanes, Vanessa (Vane to her friends) and Bjorn.
This story had me reading constantly as I couldn't put it down.
So, if you love Wonderful Guardians that care for their young charges, Bad Boys, Protective friends then you will want to read Of Wolves and Deceit.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author and Nerdy Girls Book Club for providing me with a digital ARC of this paranormal RH romance book. I took a while to get into Of Wolves and Deceit, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. I of course immediately fell in love with our dark witch, Dante and the mysterious D. I loved the budding friendship between Natasha and Vanessa - so MANY RHs forget the importance of a good girly friendship!

When I discovered this was a RH book, I did not expect it to be the SLOWEST of SLOWEST slow burns. You’re killing me here!! We didn’t even get a chance to get to know Hannes yet?? There was so much background information and unanswered questions, a prequel for Bjorn and Ises story would be amazing! I can already tell that this is a series that I am going to become more and more obsessed with, as I can see Ms. Wallace taking her time in giving us that realistic character development. I don’t know how much longer I can wait for the next book to come out 💀

[Maddie Sailers · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC and BEAUTIFUL book!!

3.75 ⭐️ (I wish goodreads would let me do this)

Tropes:
* Fantasy/PNR
* Reverse Harem/Why Choose
* Fated Mates
* Chosen/Found Family
* Vampire Romance
* Werewolf/wolf shifter romance
* Alpha/Omega dynamics (but only within her pack)

Favorite quotes:
* “Her disability didn’t stop her though, if anything, it made her determination stronger.”
* “I had spent an entire life being told what to do, so I thought everyone else lived that way.”
* “I could see an entire sea of different, beautiful races… and I loved it.”
* “You are my beginning and my end, Natasha. You are eternity itself.”
* “Because I’m not willing to risk my relationship with you to keep someone else’s secrets.”
* “We are all capable of becoming monsters.”

My thoughts:
Wow!! I LOVED this book!! After finishing HOFAS, I needed a quick romantasy to get me out of a slump. And this book delivered!!
This is a super quick and easy read! The world is very easy to follow along with and the characters are very relatable, which made reading a blast!! The character development our FMC goes through is incredible, and she’s hilarious. I am a sucker for the found family trope and I loved the relationships that Natasha built with her new friends!! It’s a beautiful story that takes us through Natasha’s journey of completely upending her life and having to learn and adapt to the real world, rather than the world she believed in!! If you’ve ever felt out of place, different, or outcasted, you’ll love this book! If you’ve ever had your entire belief system thrown out the window and belittled, you’ll love this book! And if you’ve ever had to leave the only home you’ve ever known, with no idea where you’re headed, this book is for you!!

Overall, I highly recommend this book!! However, this is the first book in a series. The book ends on a cliffhanger and I’m dying to keep reading!! It’s important to remember this is just the first book when reading. There are questions still unanswered, there are characters we have still yet to fully meet, and there are still a lot of things we as readers don’t know!! Don’t let that deter you from reading!

If you’re looking for a quick and easy fantasy or if you just love vampires and werewolves, check this one out!! Happy Reading 💛💛

[H.L. Charlesworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of wolves and deceit follows a young 18 year old wolf shifter, stuck in an abusive home with her uncle. She yearns to join the humans and to defend them against the evil of the vampires, yet not all is what it seems...

This story is reverse harem, where she finds herself, her true mates and her found family.

This book was an enjoyable read! I liked Tasha the main character and I liked how real it was her overcoming her situation, her prejudices, and finding herself and her loves. I love me a why choose!

This book isn't my favorite, but it was a cute read. I like spicy RH. It wasn't anything fantastic, but was enjoyable. I didn't really like the use of abbreviations she thought to herself like "af' I just don't really feel that's natural in a story of in thoughts. BUT,

This book is still worth a read if you like why choose and despite it not being my favourite read I will for sure be continuing the series.
Really, can you go wrong with three sexy men to love you?

[Aimee Littau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natasha is a young shifter who has been sheltered to her pack her whole life. Dreaming of the day she can protect the human realm with her pack, she will soon learn it’s not something that simple.

A world of shifters, vampires and witches; can Natasha find a way to her longing dreams?

I highly suggest you give this book a read if you like reverse harems, a bit of slow burn with a nice 3/5 spicy level and learning that being who you are is more than enough, you are always loved.

@Stephany took my heart with this book! Natasha is such a sweetheart and you just feel for her throughout the book. The spice level was a perfect temperature for the character development. My cup stayed feeling full and I found myself constantly picking the book back up, craving more, when I needed to do other things.

[TXBRITGAL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes....😉❤

Welcome one and all to this exciting, adrenaline packed introduction to the series! Consider me a fan of Natasha, our naïve but resilient FMC and her potential mates. Get ready for a doozy of a read. The blindfold is officially off...the lies that once blocked her eyes are starting to fall. Tasha is on overload from all she's learning. EVERYTHING has changed. Emotions are at an all time high, and information is coming in fast! I loved these multi layered characters and look forward to learning so much more about them in the books to come! This debut read truly captured my heart and imagination. There's definitely a lot of action, and what seems to be political machinations... and get ready for a whopper of an ending! Overall two thumbs up indeed.