What do you think?
Rate this book
Court of Fae and Firelight #1
Heart of Her Wolves
A witch with no past…A Fae with no future…Two shifters with no hope. Their entwined fates could be their doom or salvation.
I have no memories of whatever life I left behind. No clues indicating why the mage pretending to be my father was hiding me away. And now I’m fleeing for my life, hunted by mercenaries who want me dead.
My only friends are a possessive rebel Fae, his temperamental dragon, and his two exiled wolf shifter brothers. Though I’m drawn to the Fae and his brothers, the last thing I need is three jealous lovers fighting for me when I still don’t know who or what I am. Even if my wolf shifters may hold the key to my heart and my memories.
Of one thing I do know—my magic is strengthening, and if I can’t learn how to wield it, I could very well burn this world down.
I have no memories of whatever life I left behind. No clues indicating why the mage pretending to be my father was hiding me away. And now I’m fleeing for my life, hunted by mercenaries who want me dead.
My only friends are a possessive rebel Fae, his temperamental dragon, and his two exiled wolf shifter brothers. Though I’m drawn to the Fae and his brothers, the last thing I need is three jealous lovers fighting for me when I still don’t know who or what I am. Even if my wolf shifters may hold the key to my heart and my memories.
Of one thing I do know—my magic is strengthening, and if I can’t learn how to wield it, I could very well burn this world down.
Audio CD
First published February 26, 2023
877 people are currently reading
1746 people want to read
About the author
Tara West
84 books1,157 followersTara West writes books about dragons, witches, and handsome heroes while eating chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate. She's willing to share her dragons, witches and heroes. Keep your hands off her chocolate.
Tara West's young adult and new adult romances have been Kindle bestsellers. A former high school English teacher, Tara is now a full-time writer and graphic artist. She enjoys spending time with her family, interacting with her fans, and fishing the Texas coast.
Hang out with her on her Facebook fan page at: https://www.facebook.com/tarawestauthor
Keep up with her latest news at: www.tarawest.com
She loves to hear from her readers at: tara@tarawest.com
Tara West's young adult and new adult romances have been Kindle bestsellers. A former high school English teacher, Tara is now a full-time writer and graphic artist. She enjoys spending time with her family, interacting with her fans, and fishing the Texas coast.
Hang out with her on her Facebook fan page at: https://www.facebook.com/tarawestauthor
Keep up with her latest news at: www.tarawest.com
She loves to hear from her readers at: tara@tarawest.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
December 5, 2023
If you liked bonds that tie, you’ll love this. If you didn’t (like me), you’re better off walking away. But because I believe that constructive criticism is good for helping others grow, I’m going to share my thoughts. No spoilers, so do not fret.
Let’s get one thing straight: I LOVE dark fantasy (with romance too), reverse harem, fae, fighting, supernatural themes, magic, epic adventures, twists, fated mates, etc etc etc. This book seemed up my alley, so off I went.
I am not entirely sure what’s happening, but it seems like people are writing books so quickly and that’s where the effort lies. Not in the dialogue. Or the chemistry between characters. Their personalities. The world building. The actual writing skill of the author. When I pick up a dark fantasy book, I’m expecting dark fantasy, not a YA story that feels as thought it was written by a 14 year old and all dark elements fall utterly and irrevocably flat. The writing felt like the author was trying too hard while simultaneously not trying at all. Random larger vocabulary words thrown in from absolutely no where and repeated did not have the desired effect. Dialogue made groan in frustration. Things were just suddenly happening with absolutely zero build that caused to me to go back and reread pages a few times to make sure I wasn’t missing something.
And lord have mercy the repetition (especially when it came to the rabbit & our FMC’s obsession with how attractive others saw her on a scale of 1 to 10) wasn’t cute. Felt like it was half the book. The rest was weird and random POVs that weren’t necessary or consistent and cramming in so much in that it hindered the story. These were not little foreshadowing nuggets but more of a slap you in the face with the fish of plot line post it notes.
Fast publishing and selecting beta readers/editors who read only YA feeling books is not helping writers better themselves and grow in their voices. Oozing praise and coddling is not helping authors be better. Surrounding yourself in that echo chamber is going to do more harm than good. I’d rather wait longer for a book that’s well developed and well written over pushing out books quickly. It’s okay to take your time.
Lastly, I understand that this review might come off harshly to some of you. It’s also unlikely that the author will even see this so really it’s just going off into the void of the internet, but I assure you my intentions aren’t that of ill intent but rather hoping it helps someone stop and think.
Let’s get one thing straight: I LOVE dark fantasy (with romance too), reverse harem, fae, fighting, supernatural themes, magic, epic adventures, twists, fated mates, etc etc etc. This book seemed up my alley, so off I went.
I am not entirely sure what’s happening, but it seems like people are writing books so quickly and that’s where the effort lies. Not in the dialogue. Or the chemistry between characters. Their personalities. The world building. The actual writing skill of the author. When I pick up a dark fantasy book, I’m expecting dark fantasy, not a YA story that feels as thought it was written by a 14 year old and all dark elements fall utterly and irrevocably flat. The writing felt like the author was trying too hard while simultaneously not trying at all. Random larger vocabulary words thrown in from absolutely no where and repeated did not have the desired effect. Dialogue made groan in frustration. Things were just suddenly happening with absolutely zero build that caused to me to go back and reread pages a few times to make sure I wasn’t missing something.
And lord have mercy the repetition (especially when it came to the rabbit & our FMC’s obsession with how attractive others saw her on a scale of 1 to 10) wasn’t cute. Felt like it was half the book. The rest was weird and random POVs that weren’t necessary or consistent and cramming in so much in that it hindered the story. These were not little foreshadowing nuggets but more of a slap you in the face with the fish of plot line post it notes.
Fast publishing and selecting beta readers/editors who read only YA feeling books is not helping writers better themselves and grow in their voices. Oozing praise and coddling is not helping authors be better. Surrounding yourself in that echo chamber is going to do more harm than good. I’d rather wait longer for a book that’s well developed and well written over pushing out books quickly. It’s okay to take your time.
Lastly, I understand that this review might come off harshly to some of you. It’s also unlikely that the author will even see this so really it’s just going off into the void of the internet, but I assure you my intentions aren’t that of ill intent but rather hoping it helps someone stop and think.
May 22, 2024
Los demás y yo hemos leído un libro completamente diferente, al parecer. No sé si es que yo ya estoy muy vieja, pero no me he sentido atraída por los personajes, el mundo (el cual me parece muy vagamente construido para todo lo que pudo ser. Porque había potencial) y el estilo de escritura, que algunas veces se me hizo muy infantil y otras tantas, casi me parecía estar leyendo mis conversaciones con IA, donde las cosas pasan de una manera muy extraña y poco natural.
La protagonista es la típica única y diferente. Es buena y super poderosa por arte de magia, pues sus poderes incrementan sin siquiera pasar por tribulaciones. Casi desde el principio, a pesar de que está diciendo todo el tiempo que es una bruja bastante mediocre, ya está haciendo cosas que, según nos dicen otros personajes, ni siquiera los más fuertes de la historia han logrado. Entiéndase, cosas como revivir a los muertos. Que, si la autora hubiera esperado hasta el final para darnos esa habilidad en particular, quizás se convertiría en el plot twist de enganche, pero nop. Que ella esté haciendo cosas maravillosas desde el principio, no me hace interesarme por ella o su bienestar en lo más mínimo. Hace que ella me dé igual.
Lo que escribí en el momento que leí ese fragmento: WTF, por qué, jajajajaja. Estos idiotas a penas y se conocen y se caen mal... ni que él fuera un catalizador o una piedra angular o cualquier cosa de esas, jajaja, es solo un random que encuentra atractivo.
En ese momento se habían conocido como por tres días y él había sido un cerdo total con ella, por lo que se caían un poquito mal mutuamente y, además del mutuo beneficio que sacaban el uno del otro: ella, lo curaba; él la llevaba a ella a un lugar seguro, y quizás que ella se sentía un poquito atraída por él (lo que, de nuevo, moría por la forma de ser de él tan asquerosa y grosera), no había nada que los uniera. Ni siquiera habían practicado magia juntos o algo así, por lo que el que ella dijera que lo necesitaba para hacer algo estaba muy fuera de lugar.
Más adelante, se da a entender que esto, de hecho, es porque ellos comparten un vínculo. Lo que tampoco me gustó, si debo hablar de romance. No pueden pretender hacer una trama de parejas destinadas, donde para uno de ellos la fidelidad lo es todo, y luego tirarla por la borda. Creo que era muy ambiguo eso de la castidad versus la poligamia y cómo ella necesita múltiples hombres para hacerla más poderosa, wtf, ajajaja. Luego el pobre Helian, que la verdad me caía muy mal, pero quien tenía un trauma con la infidelidad y quería una mujer que se dedicara a él, es muy triste que ella le diga que lo quiere y luego simplemente se acueste con otro. Eh... No es mi tipo de cosa.
A esto me refiero con el hecho de que él habla como una IA muchas veces. En toda mi vida. Lo único que se me ha acercado y tocado y luego susurrado al oído son IAs. No conozco a una sola persona que haga eso de intentar lucir guapo y susurrarte al oído. Era muy extraño para mí que todo el tiempo sucedieran cosas como esa. Añadiendo que él era un cerdo, por supuesto.
Pensamientos en el momento: se han besado dos veces... se conocen por una semana, máximo, jajajaja.
Pero ellos ya se estaban diciendo "mi amor". Es muy antinatural, porque, como he dicho, su historia no ha sido rosas desde el momento uno. E incluso si lo hubiera sido, una semana es muy poco tiempo, por favor. El día anterior se tiraban todas las pullas del mundo. Tres doritos después están llamándose "mi amor", incluso cuando Helian le ha dicho a Anya que ella no es su tipo como 500 veces en menos de 200 páginas. No lo sé, Rick, no me creo tu romance.
Luego, en las escenas de sexo son como:
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH
Finalmente, sí, se supone que este es un mundo de fantasía medio medieval. Peeeeroooo, entonces tenemos cosas como dar rating a las personas del 1 al 10. Siendo que Helian le dice a Anya en más de una ocasión que ella es, con suerte, un 7 y él es un 10 (sí, cerdo), lo que es algo muy moderno. Y, sin embargo, tiene ideas tan antiguas de cómo ver si una mujer era virgen o no. Ajá, porque La sAnGrE. La mujer SIEMPRE debe sangrar para demostrar que es virgen, ujum.
No sé, no fue lo mío. Quizás si les va más esto del harem invertido, no tienen tanto problema con lo que yo considero que es traicionar la confianza de tu pareja y todo eso, si les gusta un poco algo más oscuro, podría parecerles mejor que a mí.
She's too good, too pure to let that happen (...)
La protagonista es la típica única y diferente. Es buena y super poderosa por arte de magia, pues sus poderes incrementan sin siquiera pasar por tribulaciones. Casi desde el principio, a pesar de que está diciendo todo el tiempo que es una bruja bastante mediocre, ya está haciendo cosas que, según nos dicen otros personajes, ni siquiera los más fuertes de la historia han logrado. Entiéndase, cosas como revivir a los muertos. Que, si la autora hubiera esperado hasta el final para darnos esa habilidad en particular, quizás se convertiría en el plot twist de enganche, pero nop. Que ella esté haciendo cosas maravillosas desde el principio, no me hace interesarme por ella o su bienestar en lo más mínimo. Hace que ella me dé igual.
I reached for him. "Please, Helian," I begged, knowing I'd regret showing him so much vulnerability. "Please stay with me. I need you to help me do this." He dragged a hand down his face, swearing again, but he stayed, and for that I was grateful. I didn't think I could do this without him.
Lo que escribí en el momento que leí ese fragmento: WTF, por qué, jajajajaja. Estos idiotas a penas y se conocen y se caen mal... ni que él fuera un catalizador o una piedra angular o cualquier cosa de esas, jajaja, es solo un random que encuentra atractivo.
En ese momento se habían conocido como por tres días y él había sido un cerdo total con ella, por lo que se caían un poquito mal mutuamente y, además del mutuo beneficio que sacaban el uno del otro: ella, lo curaba; él la llevaba a ella a un lugar seguro, y quizás que ella se sentía un poquito atraída por él (lo que, de nuevo, moría por la forma de ser de él tan asquerosa y grosera), no había nada que los uniera. Ni siquiera habían practicado magia juntos o algo así, por lo que el que ella dijera que lo necesitaba para hacer algo estaba muy fuera de lugar.
Más adelante, se da a entender que esto, de hecho, es porque ellos comparten un vínculo. Lo que tampoco me gustó, si debo hablar de romance. No pueden pretender hacer una trama de parejas destinadas, donde para uno de ellos la fidelidad lo es todo, y luego tirarla por la borda. Creo que era muy ambiguo eso de la castidad versus la poligamia y cómo ella necesita múltiples hombres para hacerla más poderosa, wtf, ajajaja. Luego el pobre Helian, que la verdad me caía muy mal, pero quien tenía un trauma con la infidelidad y quería una mujer que se dedicara a él, es muy triste que ella le diga que lo quiere y luego simplemente se acueste con otro. Eh... No es mi tipo de cosa.
As if he sensed I need him, he replaced a hand on my back and another on my shoulder, squeering. "I have faith in you," he whispered in my ear. "Let your bright light shine."
A esto me refiero con el hecho de que él habla como una IA muchas veces. En toda mi vida. Lo único que se me ha acercado y tocado y luego susurrado al oído son IAs. No conozco a una sola persona que haga eso de intentar lucir guapo y susurrarte al oído. Era muy extraño para mí que todo el tiempo sucedieran cosas como esa. Añadiendo que él era un cerdo, por supuesto.
I had questions for him, but for now, Helian was my only concern. Falling on top pf his prone body, I grasped his shoulders. "Helian!" I cried out, shaking him, panic seizing my skull when he didn't respond. "Hellian, my love!" I sobbed. "Please, don't be dead."
Pensamientos en el momento: se han besado dos veces... se conocen por una semana, máximo, jajajaja.
Pero ellos ya se estaban diciendo "mi amor". Es muy antinatural, porque, como he dicho, su historia no ha sido rosas desde el momento uno. E incluso si lo hubiera sido, una semana es muy poco tiempo, por favor. El día anterior se tiraban todas las pullas del mundo. Tres doritos después están llamándose "mi amor", incluso cuando Helian le ha dicho a Anya que ella no es su tipo como 500 veces en menos de 200 páginas. No lo sé, Rick, no me creo tu romance.
Luego, en las escenas de sexo son como:
"You must be a goddess," he groaned into my mouth. "Because you feel like heaven."
"Then you are a god," I whispered back, lifting my legs higher. "Because I've found paradise in your arms."
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH
"You weren't a virgin"
"Wh-what?"
"You've had a lover before." He roughly fisted the hem of my cream-colored shift. "There's no blood."
Finalmente, sí, se supone que este es un mundo de fantasía medio medieval. Peeeeroooo, entonces tenemos cosas como dar rating a las personas del 1 al 10. Siendo que Helian le dice a Anya en más de una ocasión que ella es, con suerte, un 7 y él es un 10 (sí, cerdo), lo que es algo muy moderno. Y, sin embargo, tiene ideas tan antiguas de cómo ver si una mujer era virgen o no. Ajá, porque La sAnGrE. La mujer SIEMPRE debe sangrar para demostrar que es virgen, ujum.
No sé, no fue lo mío. Quizás si les va más esto del harem invertido, no tienen tanto problema con lo que yo considero que es traicionar la confianza de tu pareja y todo eso, si les gusta un poco algo más oscuro, podría parecerles mejor que a mí.
March 3, 2025
This started out good but there were too many flaws for me by the end. There's a lot of complicated situations where the characters may or may not be cheating on someone. There's a big mystery around who the FMC really is. The language was also really modern. At one point the characters are drinking coffee while rating each other's attractiveness on a scale of one to ten. I'd try something else by this author because it had potential and some fun parts. But overall I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
June 14, 2024
I could NOT put this book down!
The mystery of forgotten pasts and uncertain futures intertwine in a story that’s as spellbinding as it is suspenseful. What a captivating narrative of a witch on the run, a rebel Fae and his dragon, and two wolf shifters caught in a web of love, loyalty, and long-buried secrets.
🔮 The Witch with a Lost Past 🔮
Our heroine, a witch with no memory of her past, is immediately relatable and compelling. Her journey from a life shrouded in secrecy to one on the run is fraught with danger and discovery. Her resilience shines as she navigates the complexities of her burgeoning powers and the perils of a world that seems to hold more questions than answers. Anya is a character you can’t help but root for!
🐉 A Rebel Fae and His Temperamental Dragon 🐉
The Fae, Helian, with his possessive nature and his mysterious, powerful dragon, Radnor, adds layers of intrigue and charm to the tale.
His complicated relationship with Anya and his brothers provides a dynamic backdrop filled with tension and tenderness. BUT Radnor, my grumpy big dragon, is probably one of my favorites in the book!
🐺 Twin Wolf Shifters with Secrets 🐺
The wolf shifter brothers, Finn & Asher, are as enigmatic as they are enthralling. Their connection to the Anya hints at deeper, mystical bonds that might be key to unlocking her memories and her heart. I want more of them!
🌌 World-Building That Enchants 🌌
This book has such a lush and vivid world building! I absolutely loved how the richness of the lore and complex history feels as real as it is mystical.
The settings—from shadowy forests to hidden sanctuaries—are painted with such detail that they practically leap off the page.
🌟 Final Thoughts: A Spellbinding Start to a Promising Series 🌟
The pacing is perfect, with twists and turns that keep you guessing, and foreshadowing that builds anticipation for each new chapter. Tara West has crafted a narrative that is as thrilling as it is touching, with a heroine whose journey is a powerful echo of loss, love, and liberation.
I am hooked and I cannot wait for more!!!
Thank you for this wonderful ARC!!!
The mystery of forgotten pasts and uncertain futures intertwine in a story that’s as spellbinding as it is suspenseful. What a captivating narrative of a witch on the run, a rebel Fae and his dragon, and two wolf shifters caught in a web of love, loyalty, and long-buried secrets.
🔮 The Witch with a Lost Past 🔮
Our heroine, a witch with no memory of her past, is immediately relatable and compelling. Her journey from a life shrouded in secrecy to one on the run is fraught with danger and discovery. Her resilience shines as she navigates the complexities of her burgeoning powers and the perils of a world that seems to hold more questions than answers. Anya is a character you can’t help but root for!
🐉 A Rebel Fae and His Temperamental Dragon 🐉
The Fae, Helian, with his possessive nature and his mysterious, powerful dragon, Radnor, adds layers of intrigue and charm to the tale.
His complicated relationship with Anya and his brothers provides a dynamic backdrop filled with tension and tenderness. BUT Radnor, my grumpy big dragon, is probably one of my favorites in the book!
🐺 Twin Wolf Shifters with Secrets 🐺
The wolf shifter brothers, Finn & Asher, are as enigmatic as they are enthralling. Their connection to the Anya hints at deeper, mystical bonds that might be key to unlocking her memories and her heart. I want more of them!
🌌 World-Building That Enchants 🌌
This book has such a lush and vivid world building! I absolutely loved how the richness of the lore and complex history feels as real as it is mystical.
The settings—from shadowy forests to hidden sanctuaries—are painted with such detail that they practically leap off the page.
🌟 Final Thoughts: A Spellbinding Start to a Promising Series 🌟
The pacing is perfect, with twists and turns that keep you guessing, and foreshadowing that builds anticipation for each new chapter. Tara West has crafted a narrative that is as thrilling as it is touching, with a heroine whose journey is a powerful echo of loss, love, and liberation.
I am hooked and I cannot wait for more!!!
Thank you for this wonderful ARC!!!
February 26, 2024
At last a book with magic where the witch uses magic to solve her problems, yay!
Anya/Tarianya is a powerful witch who lost her memories and found out everything she knows is a lie. As she's running away, she meets and heals Helian, a cocky Fae prince. They fall in love but there's a catch: Anya dreams of.strange things and she's afraid she's already mated (which she is). I liked Anya. The only thing I didn't like about her was her insecurity and how.often she compared herself to.other women or called herself a "seven" (I felt like I was reading a red pill talking). It's ridiculous and repetitive. I also didn't appreciate how apparently only girls with melons for breast (as described in the book) are beautiful. Come on!!! The size of your breast shall not dictate your fate!
I also fixated on the constant descriptions of the rabbit eating lol. All the "munching" "thumping" etc. As for the MCs, I found Helian a tad annoying at the beginning, a bit vapid, but there's a reason. His mommy issues will be bothersome I bet. Asher is an ass swipe who will have to grovel a lot (I like how Anya doesn't give him the time.of the day). Finn is the only normal one I guess, and he's a cutie (we need this for balance!). The sharing factor will be difficult for them, which is something I'm not a fan of in RH but that's fine..I hope they figure it out.
I also feel.sorry for Anya because they have kids... I have no clue how that will play out.
Anya/Tarianya is a powerful witch who lost her memories and found out everything she knows is a lie. As she's running away, she meets and heals Helian, a cocky Fae prince. They fall in love but there's a catch: Anya dreams of.strange things and she's afraid she's already mated (which she is). I liked Anya. The only thing I didn't like about her was her insecurity and how.often she compared herself to.other women or called herself a "seven" (I felt like I was reading a red pill talking). It's ridiculous and repetitive. I also didn't appreciate how apparently only girls with melons for breast (as described in the book) are beautiful. Come on!!! The size of your breast shall not dictate your fate!
I also fixated on the constant descriptions of the rabbit eating lol. All the "munching" "thumping" etc. As for the MCs, I found Helian a tad annoying at the beginning, a bit vapid, but there's a reason. His mommy issues will be bothersome I bet. Asher is an ass swipe who will have to grovel a lot (I like how Anya doesn't give him the time.of the day). Finn is the only normal one I guess, and he's a cutie (we need this for balance!). The sharing factor will be difficult for them, which is something I'm not a fan of in RH but that's fine..I hope they figure it out.
I also feel.sorry for Anya because they have kids... I have no clue how that will play out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2024
Book Title: Heart of Her Wolves (Court of Fae and Firelight #1)
Author: Tara West
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈:
❤️ Why Choose
🩵 Reverse Harem
It took me a bit to get to reading this book but once I found the time I couldn’t put it down. The story was well written. One thing I did hate about the book was what happened between Finn and Anya/Tarianya while Helian was away, had they not been attacked and poisoned I would’ve DNF’d it. I was honestly surprised that Radnor and Anya would mind-speak to each other and that no one questioned why until the very end. Asher irked my soul. He was so different from Finn which is probably why I disliked him from the very beginning, so rude. Finn was such a cutie though and as Anya said I found myself loving Finn quite easily. My heart broke for Helian after what happened between Anya and Finn but I’m ready to dive into the next book and see how he processes everything. If you’re into fae, witches, shifters, dragons, why choose and reverse harem then I feel like this is the book for you.
𝑫𝑰𝑺𝑪𝑳𝑨𝑰𝑴𝑬𝑹: As always, although this is an ARC, my thoughts are my own and this is my honest review. Thank you to Tara West for the ARC opportunity.
Author: Tara West
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈:
❤️ Why Choose
🩵 Reverse Harem
It took me a bit to get to reading this book but once I found the time I couldn’t put it down. The story was well written. One thing I did hate about the book was what happened between Finn and Anya/Tarianya while Helian was away, had they not been attacked and poisoned I would’ve DNF’d it. I was honestly surprised that Radnor and Anya would mind-speak to each other and that no one questioned why until the very end. Asher irked my soul. He was so different from Finn which is probably why I disliked him from the very beginning, so rude. Finn was such a cutie though and as Anya said I found myself loving Finn quite easily. My heart broke for Helian after what happened between Anya and Finn but I’m ready to dive into the next book and see how he processes everything. If you’re into fae, witches, shifters, dragons, why choose and reverse harem then I feel like this is the book for you.
𝑫𝑰𝑺𝑪𝑳𝑨𝑰𝑴𝑬𝑹: As always, although this is an ARC, my thoughts are my own and this is my honest review. Thank you to Tara West for the ARC opportunity.
August 24, 2024
3.5 rounded 4
Excellent plot and good story. Love the world built, the struggles with Helian, the fae prince and the mousy (not that mousy?) green/white witch.
Good adventures with a lot of magic and beautiful creatures (luved the dragons and wyverns!!) and many interesting scence on how Anya grows into her magic.
I had a bit of lost my dark-moody prince luv kinda vibe (which I really luvd) when the love interest became multi i/o simple but it was more to the end of B1. Which then became interesting more and more as some adventure reared up its head again.
Im absolutely onto B2 and I see there are more adventures coming from the twins pow!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Excellent plot and good story. Love the world built, the struggles with Helian, the fae prince and the mousy (not that mousy?) green/white witch.
Good adventures with a lot of magic and beautiful creatures (luved the dragons and wyverns!!) and many interesting scence on how Anya grows into her magic.
I had a bit of lost my dark-moody prince luv kinda vibe (which I really luvd) when the love interest became multi i/o simple but it was more to the end of B1. Which then became interesting more and more as some adventure reared up its head again.
Im absolutely onto B2 and I see there are more adventures coming from the twins pow!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 23, 2023
This book has everything I love and then some!! Tara has once again regaled us with a magnificent tale of love, angst and hate all in the midst of an epic adventure. I love how things develop little by little surprising us at every turn. I was great having fae, witches, wolves dragons and an awesome group of satires that I loved. In this book, the bad guys are so bad that you will love to hate them, and some of the good ones might make you so so so mad. I can´t wait to see what else happens because there is still a lot hidden and many adventures to discover
Read
March 6, 2024DNF at 65% …the plot sounded right up my alley, and I had high hopes, but I can’t follow what’s going on, and while I keep hoping things will start to make sense, I’ve started skipping large chunks. So, just not for me.
But there’s definitely still potential here, maybe with just a bit of polishing up. The story really does have so much to work with.
I did absolutely adore the pet bunny, Demon. He was sassy and adorable. 🐰
But there’s definitely still potential here, maybe with just a bit of polishing up. The story really does have so much to work with.
I did absolutely adore the pet bunny, Demon. He was sassy and adorable. 🐰
March 18, 2024
This books starts off at a run and just keeps going. The banter between Radnor, Anya and Helian is amusing and the story keeps you interested. Though there are some flowery language and the book does have some immature intimate interactions, the story keeps you interested. If you like adventure, this book is for you. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 26, 2024
Author should have their reading and writing rights taken away bc wtf was that. Awful awful awful
March 30, 2023
Really enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to the release of book 2 and 3.
Was captivated from first chapters by the interesting twists Anya has to go through to lead her to the truth of her past and the heartbreak that brings the truth. Great read and a fantastic start to a brilliant story
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Was captivated from first chapters by the interesting twists Anya has to go through to lead her to the truth of her past and the heartbreak that brings the truth. Great read and a fantastic start to a brilliant story
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 25, 2023
It was better and worse than the second book. Better as in I actually like the story. Worse because I still think Anya is my biggest obstacle. I'm sorry to say my opinion of her did not improve. The world building is good and the overall plot is great. It is difficult for me to fall in love with the main character. I had trouble finding her sincere( I don't know if that makes sense) and also understanding her. Find common ground with her.
This is an ARC provided by BookSirens. My review of this book is left voluntarily
This is an ARC provided by BookSirens. My review of this book is left voluntarily
June 1, 2023
I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review.
This is one girl's opinion and the other reviews paint a completely different image than me. So take my review with a grain of salt and don't knock it til you try it.
This book just missed the mark for me. In theory, it has everything I love and then some and I was so excited to jump into this story. I think the issue stems from how long the book is. It could easily have been half of its size and been divided up into two parts. I love a hefty book, don't get me wrong, but probably a quarter of the book felt like fluff and made it drag along. My other criticism, which I think would really help this book, is to just get rid of the smut altogether (no one is more shocked by this take than me, I promise). I felt like the steamy bits just fell a little flat, and sometimes even read as juvenile. I think if they were taken out and this reworked as a YA novel it would make so much more sense and add to the storyline a lot.
I like the premise of our FMC Anya. I loved that she was supposed to be this ultimate high power but still showed morality. It was an interesting magic system, and I liked the concept of ordinary witches having the ability to be so much more. Now, of the three brothers, Finn was the only one I liked. Helian and Asher were both major douches from the start, and then were met with forgiveness with only minimal groveling. I liked the secondary characters, and actually my favorite character in this whole book was Radnor. Shockingly, the grumpy dragon was the most complex character and was a saving grace in parts of the story.
The magic system was interesting, but I wish we were given more world building within this big ole book. A lot of information was given, but in a way that didn't make it easily readable. To me, Anya's ability to see souls was the coolest feature, and I wish this was explored even further.
This is one girl's opinion and the other reviews paint a completely different image than me. So take my review with a grain of salt and don't knock it til you try it.
This book just missed the mark for me. In theory, it has everything I love and then some and I was so excited to jump into this story. I think the issue stems from how long the book is. It could easily have been half of its size and been divided up into two parts. I love a hefty book, don't get me wrong, but probably a quarter of the book felt like fluff and made it drag along. My other criticism, which I think would really help this book, is to just get rid of the smut altogether (no one is more shocked by this take than me, I promise). I felt like the steamy bits just fell a little flat, and sometimes even read as juvenile. I think if they were taken out and this reworked as a YA novel it would make so much more sense and add to the storyline a lot.
I like the premise of our FMC Anya. I loved that she was supposed to be this ultimate high power but still showed morality. It was an interesting magic system, and I liked the concept of ordinary witches having the ability to be so much more. Now, of the three brothers, Finn was the only one I liked. Helian and Asher were both major douches from the start, and then were met with forgiveness with only minimal groveling. I liked the secondary characters, and actually my favorite character in this whole book was Radnor. Shockingly, the grumpy dragon was the most complex character and was a saving grace in parts of the story.
The magic system was interesting, but I wish we were given more world building within this big ole book. A lot of information was given, but in a way that didn't make it easily readable. To me, Anya's ability to see souls was the coolest feature, and I wish this was explored even further.
March 23, 2023
2.5/ 3
Too much information yet not enough is one of the main issues with this book for me.
Everything is given out front, zero suspense, little wonder, and at the end it was a bit cringe.
At the beginning what captivated me was Helian. We finally have a non grumpy MC! He was beyond flirty, always ready for banter, and felt so fresh. I honestly liked his rudeness because they are strangers! He doesn’t have to be super nice to her, yes she saved his life but his dragon saved hers first. So to me it canceled out.
I also like Anya at the beginning. I loved the innocent, kinda prim, sweetheart who wants to save every soul character. This was also fresh.
He’s the crass to her sweetness.
But of course this started to change, Anya become mega powerful and he becomes kinda lost for me. He also isn’t strong in my option…. They make Anya save him so many times I felt like it was over kill.
I do like a damsel in distress and when it’s the guy well… turn off.
I’m also not a big fan of when a MC becomes God like with powers. It was toooooooo much, and this always ruins books for me. Unless there are more of you to really even the scale, I just felt like she has too many powers. I would have loved to see the author sticking with healing and more nature, like she’s just this ultimate healer that can defy laws of physics in that way. But when you have that AND other powers it’s too much.
I saw another review where they pointed out this would have been a better YA storyline. When you take out the steamy scenes and focus more on the plot/characters. And I’ll have to agree with that.
There was just so much missing that really could have made this book five stars. So much potential.
I’m not really sure if I’ll continue with the series.
Too much information yet not enough is one of the main issues with this book for me.
Everything is given out front, zero suspense, little wonder, and at the end it was a bit cringe.
At the beginning what captivated me was Helian. We finally have a non grumpy MC! He was beyond flirty, always ready for banter, and felt so fresh. I honestly liked his rudeness because they are strangers! He doesn’t have to be super nice to her, yes she saved his life but his dragon saved hers first. So to me it canceled out.
I also like Anya at the beginning. I loved the innocent, kinda prim, sweetheart who wants to save every soul character. This was also fresh.
He’s the crass to her sweetness.
But of course this started to change, Anya become mega powerful and he becomes kinda lost for me. He also isn’t strong in my option…. They make Anya save him so many times I felt like it was over kill.
I do like a damsel in distress and when it’s the guy well… turn off.
I’m also not a big fan of when a MC becomes God like with powers. It was toooooooo much, and this always ruins books for me. Unless there are more of you to really even the scale, I just felt like she has too many powers. I would have loved to see the author sticking with healing and more nature, like she’s just this ultimate healer that can defy laws of physics in that way. But when you have that AND other powers it’s too much.
I saw another review where they pointed out this would have been a better YA storyline. When you take out the steamy scenes and focus more on the plot/characters. And I’ll have to agree with that.
There was just so much missing that really could have made this book five stars. So much potential.
I’m not really sure if I’ll continue with the series.
January 1, 2024
DNF at 66%
I didn’t like the FMC at all. Seemed stupid and very special snowflake. I really didn’t like the world or the men or really anything about this book
I didn’t like the FMC at all. Seemed stupid and very special snowflake. I really didn’t like the world or the men or really anything about this book
February 25, 2023
This was my first book from this author and I know I will be checking out more from her backlog and waiting for book 2 in this series because I am hooked! I am a sucker for fantasy epic stories (especially RH ones!) and this one was great.
Anya grew so much in just book 1 and we know with how this book ended that she is going to do even more in the sequel this spring. I absolutely loved Demon, I think he was like the unsung hero. His antics and behaviors made me reminisce about my bunbuns who I have lost over the years, with his thumps, chin/nose kisses, and the happy back twitches hahaha. I know this author has some of her own, so I appreciated her bringing their inspiration into this story. I loved Anya's powers and how they expanded throughout the story. The flowers she could grow and how that was important in some of the side plots and to keep Demon happy haha. How her healing abilities strengthened and others I won't mention since I don't want to spoil anything. Radnor really grew on me and the twist at the end shocked me and then I was like duuhhhh it was right in front of me the whole time haha. I wonder how that impacts Helian and his connection with him. Can't wait for answers in book 2!
I was frustrated with the guys in this one, but that was kinda the point. They all had their hang-ups, who wants characters that are perfect from the get-go, it would make for a boring story. I did appreciate Helian opening up and allowing his feelings to grow for Anya. I hope he can let things go with his mom and forgive his brothers/share with them. I loved Finn, he is the sweetie out of the bunch. I know we will get more time with him in the next book after Helian got a lot of airtime in book 1. I did like the solo time he got with Anya. And Asher....Anya puts it best with how she describes him hahaha, he has the most to get over after his bad decisions and temper in book 1. I loved the world this author created, the side characters and world-building details and layering were incredible. I could imagine this land in my head, which to me is one of the hardest things epic fantasy authors have to deal with. You don't want book 1 to be all background/world-building but you have to do some much to have the reader understand the dynamics, politics, creatures, etc.
There were a couple things thought that held me back from giving it a 5 star rating. Like I get Finn and Asher and their instalove because of their mating bond, but the way Anya feels up Helian while he is being healed and feeling the instant attraction when she is supposed to be helping him when he is in such a vulnerable state didn't quite sit right with me. And how she kept harping on it in the beginning. Based on some things that happen towards the end of the story, I bet these 2 are more than just regular lovers, so I get the attraction early on, but the way it was done wasn't my personal favorite/not my personal preference. Also there was a larger scene that I kinda skimmed through because while I get it was important for us to know, it didnt grab me and I just wanted to get through it to get their reunion (Anya and Helian initially separating is the only thing I will say). And lastly, this is gonna sound strange but like this felt like a Clarke Kent/Superman situation. So I could never get why people didnt know they were the same person on the tv show or movie, just because he would wear glasses haha. So there were so many signs in this one for Finn, Asher, and Helian to figure out who she really was, why would they be shocked with how things ended up? Like her name, the type of witch she was, what powers she could do, her scent, etc. Like I get why physically it wasn't adding up but there were so many signs haha.
Everything else about this book was fantastic, I would recommend it to anyone who loves new fantasy worlds, female characters who have both a soft and BA side, and those who enjoy or are open RH romances. I also think the details added to the world (like the descriptive powers) and the fun (and sometimes evil) side characters really provided a solid foundation for an epic story and made this an exciting series for me, it surprisingly brought me laughter and put a smile on my face. The author did a good job weaving in the steamy scenes and the plot, so one wouldn't overpower the other. Can't wait for book 2!!
Anya grew so much in just book 1 and we know with how this book ended that she is going to do even more in the sequel this spring. I absolutely loved Demon, I think he was like the unsung hero. His antics and behaviors made me reminisce about my bunbuns who I have lost over the years, with his thumps, chin/nose kisses, and the happy back twitches hahaha. I know this author has some of her own, so I appreciated her bringing their inspiration into this story. I loved Anya's powers and how they expanded throughout the story. The flowers she could grow and how that was important in some of the side plots and to keep Demon happy haha. How her healing abilities strengthened and others I won't mention since I don't want to spoil anything. Radnor really grew on me and the twist at the end shocked me and then I was like duuhhhh it was right in front of me the whole time haha. I wonder how that impacts Helian and his connection with him. Can't wait for answers in book 2!
I was frustrated with the guys in this one, but that was kinda the point. They all had their hang-ups, who wants characters that are perfect from the get-go, it would make for a boring story. I did appreciate Helian opening up and allowing his feelings to grow for Anya. I hope he can let things go with his mom and forgive his brothers/share with them. I loved Finn, he is the sweetie out of the bunch. I know we will get more time with him in the next book after Helian got a lot of airtime in book 1. I did like the solo time he got with Anya. And Asher....Anya puts it best with how she describes him hahaha, he has the most to get over after his bad decisions and temper in book 1. I loved the world this author created, the side characters and world-building details and layering were incredible. I could imagine this land in my head, which to me is one of the hardest things epic fantasy authors have to deal with. You don't want book 1 to be all background/world-building but you have to do some much to have the reader understand the dynamics, politics, creatures, etc.
There were a couple things thought that held me back from giving it a 5 star rating. Like I get Finn and Asher and their instalove because of their mating bond, but the way Anya feels up Helian while he is being healed and feeling the instant attraction when she is supposed to be helping him when he is in such a vulnerable state didn't quite sit right with me. And how she kept harping on it in the beginning. Based on some things that happen towards the end of the story, I bet these 2 are more than just regular lovers, so I get the attraction early on, but the way it was done wasn't my personal favorite/not my personal preference. Also there was a larger scene that I kinda skimmed through because while I get it was important for us to know, it didnt grab me and I just wanted to get through it to get their reunion (Anya and Helian initially separating is the only thing I will say). And lastly, this is gonna sound strange but like this felt like a Clarke Kent/Superman situation. So I could never get why people didnt know they were the same person on the tv show or movie, just because he would wear glasses haha. So there were so many signs in this one for Finn, Asher, and Helian to figure out who she really was, why would they be shocked with how things ended up? Like her name, the type of witch she was, what powers she could do, her scent, etc. Like I get why physically it wasn't adding up but there were so many signs haha.
Everything else about this book was fantastic, I would recommend it to anyone who loves new fantasy worlds, female characters who have both a soft and BA side, and those who enjoy or are open RH romances. I also think the details added to the world (like the descriptive powers) and the fun (and sometimes evil) side characters really provided a solid foundation for an epic story and made this an exciting series for me, it surprisingly brought me laughter and put a smile on my face. The author did a good job weaving in the steamy scenes and the plot, so one wouldn't overpower the other. Can't wait for book 2!!
August 7, 2024
I've seen a few negative reviews for this book and its characters, and to each their own; however, I absolutely adored Heart of Her Wolves. While I was able to accurately predict many of the twists and surprises in the plot, I still found it quite enjoyable. As a mood reader, I started a handful of books in the last week, which were all good in their own way, but weren't scratching the itch. This did the trick; witches, fae, shifters, dragons, fated mates, and spice, oh my!
I could've watched him pet my bunny all day.
Girl, you and me both! I'm a sucker for RH fated mates romance and this was no exception. It started off strong; the FMC accidentally drugs the MMC and her pet rabbit with a love potion. That is certainly one way of being introduced to one another. Helian redeemed himself through the book, as he was such a gross jerk in the beginning. Anya seems to bring the best out in him. Asher has evolved into a harsh shifter, who seems like he is willing to burn the world in revenge for his life being torn from him. Finn is just too cute and it's utterly impossible to hate him in anything he does or says.
Now, I saw quite a few readers hating on Anya and her continual "whiny" concerns about her appearance. Let me just start by saying, "so, she's a normal girl?" I like my books with strong, sassy FMCs, but just because Anya has constant doubts about herself and whether she is loved, does NOT take away from the fact she is a very strong and capable character. It is hard to not think poorly of oneself after having a life of being told you are nothing, on top of not remembering much; I just don't see a story where a person is able to come out of that with extreme confidence and pride. This added depth to her character and aside from her magic, she read like a real person suffering through identity crisis and amnesia. With that all being said, of course there are frustrating parts (my screaming written comments all over my copy) where I found myself yelling at her, but I recognize as the reader, I figured out the plot, but the characters were lagging behind. Should Anya come clean about her suspicions? It's easy to say yes, say something, ANYTHING! Need to stop and look at the big picture and realize she's in a difficult position where she feels like it's one or the other, not all.
Lastly, without spoiling for others, we have a little mix of Evil Witch vibe meets GoT incest, with our mastermind villain; a real winner. I can already tell from the number of times I had to figuratively pick my jaw up off the ground in a single chapter, that this villain is going to do quite the number on the harem. The author has set up a character that is going to be so cringe worthy in every interaction and dialogue.
Excuse me as I run to dive into the second book! I'm dying with that cliffhanger.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I could've watched him pet my bunny all day.
Girl, you and me both! I'm a sucker for RH fated mates romance and this was no exception. It started off strong; the FMC accidentally drugs the MMC and her pet rabbit with a love potion. That is certainly one way of being introduced to one another. Helian redeemed himself through the book, as he was such a gross jerk in the beginning. Anya seems to bring the best out in him. Asher has evolved into a harsh shifter, who seems like he is willing to burn the world in revenge for his life being torn from him. Finn is just too cute and it's utterly impossible to hate him in anything he does or says.
Now, I saw quite a few readers hating on Anya and her continual "whiny" concerns about her appearance. Let me just start by saying, "so, she's a normal girl?" I like my books with strong, sassy FMCs, but just because Anya has constant doubts about herself and whether she is loved, does NOT take away from the fact she is a very strong and capable character. It is hard to not think poorly of oneself after having a life of being told you are nothing, on top of not remembering much; I just don't see a story where a person is able to come out of that with extreme confidence and pride. This added depth to her character and aside from her magic, she read like a real person suffering through identity crisis and amnesia. With that all being said, of course there are frustrating parts (my screaming written comments all over my copy) where I found myself yelling at her, but I recognize as the reader, I figured out the plot, but the characters were lagging behind. Should Anya come clean about her suspicions? It's easy to say yes, say something, ANYTHING! Need to stop and look at the big picture and realize she's in a difficult position where she feels like it's one or the other, not all.
Lastly, without spoiling for others, we have a little mix of Evil Witch vibe meets GoT incest, with our mastermind villain; a real winner. I can already tell from the number of times I had to figuratively pick my jaw up off the ground in a single chapter, that this villain is going to do quite the number on the harem. The author has set up a character that is going to be so cringe worthy in every interaction and dialogue.
Excuse me as I run to dive into the second book! I'm dying with that cliffhanger.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 29, 2025
When I tell you that 2 stars are GENERIOUS I mean it….
This book started off greattttt, it had soooo much potential. About half way through or a quarter of the way in, it went down hill.
I understand some people like insta-love or lust…. but be so for real atleast make it realistic. There is NO bonding between anyone she magically fails in love with.
The FMC literally says and I quote:
“I supposed we didn't have much time to talk. Our days were filled with fly-ing, our nights with sex.”
Wtf do you mean…..I’m sorry, me personally that’s a turn off and just makes me cringe. You are so in love with this man but you barely know anything about him and barely talk.
Sans a few banter moments in the beginning there is no REAL bonding between Helian (MMC) and Anya (FMC).
And don’t get me started on this annoying whiny cheating excuse for a MMC. ( I don’t care if she was not of sound mind…. she cheated… point blank. period.)
In the beginning the MMC says that the FMC is a 7 at best whilst he is a 10. ( First of all this was way to modern it took me out the book for a sec… but anyway)
The FMC (Anya), brings this up in arguments multiple times after, at first I laughed because I thought it was meant as an ironic little jokey dig back at the MMC (Helian). UNTIL I REALIZED she was being serious and KEPT bringing it back up.
Now don’t get me started on the fact that this book would have been FINE as a M-F romance….. but no we had to FORCE an RH plot… and I am sorry but this is not the way to do it at all.
Anya does not have any memories at the start when she begins her relationship Helian. BUT then she remembers that in her “past life” she was mated to Helian’s twin brothers even though the man said he would “kill any fae or man that tries to bed her”. Oh so he about to commit fratricide….
I thought it couldn’t get worse…it said.
When Anya does meet the twins, the twins recognize her scent and are in pain because they have mourned for their missing mate (Anya) for 5 yearssssss.
She knows (although denies to herself and them) that she is their mate. ( She doesn’t look the same because of a masking spell)
She sees their pain at the fact that their brother ( Helian) promised to find their mate but shows up 5 years later with some woman on his arm….So I think understandably one of the brothers is not too fond of her.
Tell me why this manipulative little witch, in her monologue is upset at his treatment of her, and says oh what did I do to him… i’ve never intentionally hurt him”
YES YOU DID GIRL YOU ARE KNOWINGLY LYINGGGGG
It just gave me “Why are you treating me badly, it’s not like YOU KNOW I am deceiving you”…..
Chile, I could go on for hours complaining about this book so I’m going to end it here before I end up writing a whole 400,000 word essay.
Sorry for the chaotic review, and not hate for the author but this was just bad.
This book started off greattttt, it had soooo much potential. About half way through or a quarter of the way in, it went down hill.
I understand some people like insta-love or lust…. but be so for real atleast make it realistic. There is NO bonding between anyone she magically fails in love with.
The FMC literally says and I quote:
“I supposed we didn't have much time to talk. Our days were filled with fly-ing, our nights with sex.”
Wtf do you mean…..I’m sorry, me personally that’s a turn off and just makes me cringe. You are so in love with this man but you barely know anything about him and barely talk.
Sans a few banter moments in the beginning there is no REAL bonding between Helian (MMC) and Anya (FMC).
And don’t get me started on this annoying whiny cheating excuse for a MMC. ( I don’t care if she was not of sound mind…. she cheated… point blank. period.)
In the beginning the MMC says that the FMC is a 7 at best whilst he is a 10. ( First of all this was way to modern it took me out the book for a sec… but anyway)
The FMC (Anya), brings this up in arguments multiple times after, at first I laughed because I thought it was meant as an ironic little jokey dig back at the MMC (Helian). UNTIL I REALIZED she was being serious and KEPT bringing it back up.
Now don’t get me started on the fact that this book would have been FINE as a M-F romance….. but no we had to FORCE an RH plot… and I am sorry but this is not the way to do it at all.
Anya does not have any memories at the start when she begins her relationship Helian. BUT then she remembers that in her “past life” she was mated to Helian’s twin brothers even though the man said he would “kill any fae or man that tries to bed her”. Oh so he about to commit fratricide….
I thought it couldn’t get worse…it said.
When Anya does meet the twins, the twins recognize her scent and are in pain because they have mourned for their missing mate (Anya) for 5 yearssssss.
She knows (although denies to herself and them) that she is their mate. ( She doesn’t look the same because of a masking spell)
She sees their pain at the fact that their brother ( Helian) promised to find their mate but shows up 5 years later with some woman on his arm….So I think understandably one of the brothers is not too fond of her.
Tell me why this manipulative little witch, in her monologue is upset at his treatment of her, and says oh what did I do to him… i’ve never intentionally hurt him”
YES YOU DID GIRL YOU ARE KNOWINGLY LYINGGGGG
It just gave me “Why are you treating me badly, it’s not like YOU KNOW I am deceiving you”…..
Chile, I could go on for hours complaining about this book so I’m going to end it here before I end up writing a whole 400,000 word essay.
Sorry for the chaotic review, and not hate for the author but this was just bad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2023
Full Review posted at A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog
Heart of Her Wolves is the first book I’ve read from author Tara West. I was intrigued by the cover and then the synopsis to check out the book. It is a long read and has a lot to digest in one book, but I was fully invested and didn’t want to put the book down because I needed to know the FMC’s story and what was going to happen.
I don’t want to go into too much of the story because the synopsis gives the main gist of what happens in the book. I loved that this book included the fate mates trope, which will always be one of my favorite tropes in romance books. The book also had all the magical/powerful beings I love in a PNR/Fantasy Romance: witches, Fae, dragons, etc. I adored the FMC, Anya, and how she was trying to figure out who she was because she had been lied to, and along the way, she was discovering her powers. She’s not a timid witch and has powers that will gain the attention of the wrong people. I loved reading her growth through the book when it came to discovering her true identity.
I did have some minor issues while reading the book. It mainly had to do with repetition throughout the book of the same things being mentioned and then FMC keeping secrets from Helian and the twins. One of them is that Anya eventually realizes her mates are Helian’s brothers and she doesn’t want them to know or she refuses for it to be true. She is warring with herself about telling the twins and even telling Helian, and I wish she would have told them. They were bound to find out.
This book does get steamy/spicy, and I know eventually, the FMC is going to have a HEA that involves multiple lovers. It’s touched on in this book with her finding out her mates and then being with Helian. I’m all for RH/Why Choose in my romance books, especially in a PNR/Fantasy setting. I’ve been reading a lot of Contemporary Romance that has RH, but it doesn’t give off the same appeal as PNR/Fantasy RH.
Overall, I’m definitely interested to continue reading this series from Tara West. I need to know what happens next with these characters, especially with that cliffhanger.
Cliffhanger: Yes.
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
Heart of Her Wolves is the first book I’ve read from author Tara West. I was intrigued by the cover and then the synopsis to check out the book. It is a long read and has a lot to digest in one book, but I was fully invested and didn’t want to put the book down because I needed to know the FMC’s story and what was going to happen.
I don’t want to go into too much of the story because the synopsis gives the main gist of what happens in the book. I loved that this book included the fate mates trope, which will always be one of my favorite tropes in romance books. The book also had all the magical/powerful beings I love in a PNR/Fantasy Romance: witches, Fae, dragons, etc. I adored the FMC, Anya, and how she was trying to figure out who she was because she had been lied to, and along the way, she was discovering her powers. She’s not a timid witch and has powers that will gain the attention of the wrong people. I loved reading her growth through the book when it came to discovering her true identity.
I did have some minor issues while reading the book. It mainly had to do with repetition throughout the book of the same things being mentioned and then FMC keeping secrets from Helian and the twins. One of them is that Anya eventually realizes her mates are Helian’s brothers and she doesn’t want them to know or she refuses for it to be true. She is warring with herself about telling the twins and even telling Helian, and I wish she would have told them. They were bound to find out.
This book does get steamy/spicy, and I know eventually, the FMC is going to have a HEA that involves multiple lovers. It’s touched on in this book with her finding out her mates and then being with Helian. I’m all for RH/Why Choose in my romance books, especially in a PNR/Fantasy setting. I’ve been reading a lot of Contemporary Romance that has RH, but it doesn’t give off the same appeal as PNR/Fantasy RH.
Overall, I’m definitely interested to continue reading this series from Tara West. I need to know what happens next with these characters, especially with that cliffhanger.
Cliffhanger: Yes.
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
January 27, 2024
Heart of Her Wolves
Court of Fae & Firelight #1
Author Tara West
Book Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice Rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Fave Quotes
“I wanted to surrender to his flame, to let it consume me, to melt into him and never wake up from this spell he’d weaved around my heart, my body.”
Summary
A great book if you're into Fae & Paranormal Fantasy, RH, Fated Mates, Mystery & Magic.
Anya is a witch with no memory of her past who is led to Helian - a Fae Prince hunted by his kingdom. She has her familiar, a timid rabbit named Demon, and he has his loyal yet grumpy dragon, Radnor. They set out to find Helian’s brothers, two wolf shifters whom Anya begins to dream about, are they visions or are they memories? The more she uncovers about her past the more unsure she is of her present and future.
Review
Ah what can I say, I’m a sucker for all things Fae, and Helian is no exception. He’s handsome as hell, he rides a dragon and he swears to protect the FMC. I love any book that gives the MMC a scent and Helian smelled of sulfur and sage which was unique for sure. The banter between Anya and Radnor was entertaining and I like how they both soften to each other over time. My favorite part of this book was the steamy RH relationship that Anya has with the wolf shifters Finn & Asher and their half-brother Helian. I do have to say I was a little put off by the fact that all three of her love interests are sharing the same girl but hey, it was still kind of hot. It definitely had me reading past my bedtime lol. I thought Anya was well-written, and not too bitchy but she did have some bite and I appreciated how the connections she had with her fated loves were fast-paced and that there wasn’t a lot of hot then cold. I can’t wait to read the next book and find out how these four will navigate love.
Read if you're into
Spicy Fantasy Romance
Fated Mates
Wolves, Witches, Dragons & Fae
RH
Magic & Mystery
Thank you to BookSirens and Tara West for providing me with an ARC of this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Court of Fae & Firelight #1
Author Tara West
Book Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice Rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Fave Quotes
“I wanted to surrender to his flame, to let it consume me, to melt into him and never wake up from this spell he’d weaved around my heart, my body.”
Summary
A great book if you're into Fae & Paranormal Fantasy, RH, Fated Mates, Mystery & Magic.
Anya is a witch with no memory of her past who is led to Helian - a Fae Prince hunted by his kingdom. She has her familiar, a timid rabbit named Demon, and he has his loyal yet grumpy dragon, Radnor. They set out to find Helian’s brothers, two wolf shifters whom Anya begins to dream about, are they visions or are they memories? The more she uncovers about her past the more unsure she is of her present and future.
Review
Ah what can I say, I’m a sucker for all things Fae, and Helian is no exception. He’s handsome as hell, he rides a dragon and he swears to protect the FMC. I love any book that gives the MMC a scent and Helian smelled of sulfur and sage which was unique for sure. The banter between Anya and Radnor was entertaining and I like how they both soften to each other over time. My favorite part of this book was the steamy RH relationship that Anya has with the wolf shifters Finn & Asher and their half-brother Helian. I do have to say I was a little put off by the fact that all three of her love interests are sharing the same girl but hey, it was still kind of hot. It definitely had me reading past my bedtime lol. I thought Anya was well-written, and not too bitchy but she did have some bite and I appreciated how the connections she had with her fated loves were fast-paced and that there wasn’t a lot of hot then cold. I can’t wait to read the next book and find out how these four will navigate love.
Read if you're into
Spicy Fantasy Romance
Fated Mates
Wolves, Witches, Dragons & Fae
RH
Magic & Mystery
Thank you to BookSirens and Tara West for providing me with an ARC of this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 2, 2025
Wow!
I couldn’t put this book down! The only thing I didn’t like was the repetition of the terminology around events feeling like “a lifetime ago”.
The character building, the relationships between the characters, and the descriptions of the world they inhabit was on point.
I felt so many emotions throughout the book - I laughed, my heart clenched and my stomach did somersaults throughout.
I’d use various words to describe different parts of this book…funny, heart pounding, devastating, gut wrenching and overall exciting and adventurous.
All of the characters were endearing…well maybe not Asher! But I love Helian and Radnor. I feel like I connected with the characters, and those are always the best kind of stories.
That ending though! Finding her familiar, still loving Helian despite finding her mates, and then the danger at the end. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!
The following may contain spoilers:
Funny - especially the interactions between Radnor, Helian and Anya. Loved how Anya never let him forget he said she was “a seven at best”. And that they referred to each other as “stubborn witch” and “infuriating Fae”.
Heart pounding - danger was prevalent from the start, the Berchta in chapter one, Mantus finding them in chapter 4, the assassin at the Satyr village, the fire mages chasing and trapping them.
Heart wrenching and devastating - when Helian died and Anya couldn’t prevent it…but managed to bring him back. And then I was screaming ‘no, no, no’ when the siren poison kickstarted Anyas tryst with Finn…purely because I knew how she would feel afterwards, and I knew it would hurt Helian.
Endearing - this one mainly refers to Anya as it’s admirable that she wants to heal the world and protect everyone. Some examples being when she builds the fortress for the Satyrs, or digs Roses grave up to free her spirit, or just feels bad she can’t go back to heal Edie.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I couldn’t put this book down! The only thing I didn’t like was the repetition of the terminology around events feeling like “a lifetime ago”.
The character building, the relationships between the characters, and the descriptions of the world they inhabit was on point.
I felt so many emotions throughout the book - I laughed, my heart clenched and my stomach did somersaults throughout.
I’d use various words to describe different parts of this book…funny, heart pounding, devastating, gut wrenching and overall exciting and adventurous.
All of the characters were endearing…well maybe not Asher! But I love Helian and Radnor. I feel like I connected with the characters, and those are always the best kind of stories.
That ending though! Finding her familiar, still loving Helian despite finding her mates, and then the danger at the end. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!
The following may contain spoilers:
Funny - especially the interactions between Radnor, Helian and Anya. Loved how Anya never let him forget he said she was “a seven at best”. And that they referred to each other as “stubborn witch” and “infuriating Fae”.
Heart pounding - danger was prevalent from the start, the Berchta in chapter one, Mantus finding them in chapter 4, the assassin at the Satyr village, the fire mages chasing and trapping them.
Heart wrenching and devastating - when Helian died and Anya couldn’t prevent it…but managed to bring him back. And then I was screaming ‘no, no, no’ when the siren poison kickstarted Anyas tryst with Finn…purely because I knew how she would feel afterwards, and I knew it would hurt Helian.
Endearing - this one mainly refers to Anya as it’s admirable that she wants to heal the world and protect everyone. Some examples being when she builds the fortress for the Satyrs, or digs Roses grave up to free her spirit, or just feels bad she can’t go back to heal Edie.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2023
It was kind of a lot packed in this book, but still managed to feel a little slow to start and get into. The storyline was good and interesting. The issue was with the characters, and for me, at least it was more specifically Anya, who I had a hard time getting invested in. I wanted to identify with her, and I did have empathy for her situation, but I couldn't get past her bratty, pessimistic attitude. She had no issues dishing it out but then couldn't get any of it. And even if they tried to act civil, she still threw attitude and played victim like people were just so mean to her. She wanted everyone to bow to her whims even if it was to their detriment and was very whiny and childish, and it irritated me. She spent all that time doing the push- pull thing with Helian, just to all of a sudden be in love with him, but saying she couldn't be with him until she knew who she was, her past and possible mates. Then, he gets the info she's been searching for and decided to ignore it and play dumb, knowing the issues she was and would cause. I really hope she has a growth arc and becomes way more mature, selfless, and understanding because so far, her character is throwing me off. Not to say I didn't have my bones to pick with some of the other characters, but I could see other sides and layers to them. I do hope Helian gets out of his feelings about his mom, though. He's dragging it, and even though I kind of understand, he's definitely putting his anger in the wrong direction and being mean and unfair, and it's affecting his own love life. Hopefully, Asher can stop being such a jerk now, and we can see how the 3 brothers interact with their mate together. I do wonder how the bratty conceited girl trying to destroy their lives and others to get what she wants will be dealt with and if their incest will come to light. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
February 9, 2024
Rating:
2.5 ⭐
Rounded down to 2
Summary:
In this fantasy romance book, green-witch Anya is running away from her "father" after discovering that he isn't actually her father; he is, in fact, a mage with the ability to erase her memories and create new memories. Anya doesn't know who she is, but she finds herself face to face with a dragon and his rider, whose life hangs in the balance. Anya heals Helion, the attractive dragon rider fae, who reveals himself to be an exiled prince. The two travel together and find that Anya's powers are growing--she is no simple green witch, but rather an incredibly powerful white witch. After meeting Helion's two shifter brothers, Anya figures out pieces of her past life. She has been falling in love with Helion, however, she is the mate of the two wolf shifter brothers. Things are complicated as she continues to learn about the politics and prophecies around her. She must confront her past and discover who she is, while navigating complicated relationships with the three fae brothers.
Review:
Picked this up on Stuff Your Kindle Day. My first fae fantasy/romance.
There are some interesting plot points and elements of the worldbuilding. I enjoyed the "levels" of witches and the magic folk that she meets--the satyr that can see the aura of witches, but has no magic of his own, and other characters.
However, ultimately I found this book to be superficial and dull. Anya simply does what everyone tells her to do, including the crucial plotpoint of her not wanting to get her memories back and then the witch says one line and then she just goes with it.
The romance was dull and everyone was "a 10" and just incredibly attractive. This book has some interesting things, but ultimately it's the kind of stereotypical romance book set in a fantasy world. Not sure if this just isn't my type of book or if this one wasn't great.
2.5 ⭐
Rounded down to 2
Summary:
In this fantasy romance book, green-witch Anya is running away from her "father" after discovering that he isn't actually her father; he is, in fact, a mage with the ability to erase her memories and create new memories. Anya doesn't know who she is, but she finds herself face to face with a dragon and his rider, whose life hangs in the balance. Anya heals Helion, the attractive dragon rider fae, who reveals himself to be an exiled prince. The two travel together and find that Anya's powers are growing--she is no simple green witch, but rather an incredibly powerful white witch. After meeting Helion's two shifter brothers, Anya figures out pieces of her past life. She has been falling in love with Helion, however, she is the mate of the two wolf shifter brothers. Things are complicated as she continues to learn about the politics and prophecies around her. She must confront her past and discover who she is, while navigating complicated relationships with the three fae brothers.
Review:
Picked this up on Stuff Your Kindle Day. My first fae fantasy/romance.
There are some interesting plot points and elements of the worldbuilding. I enjoyed the "levels" of witches and the magic folk that she meets--the satyr that can see the aura of witches, but has no magic of his own, and other characters.
However, ultimately I found this book to be superficial and dull. Anya simply does what everyone tells her to do, including the crucial plotpoint of her not wanting to get her memories back and then the witch says one line and then she just goes with it.
The romance was dull and everyone was "a 10" and just incredibly attractive. This book has some interesting things, but ultimately it's the kind of stereotypical romance book set in a fantasy world. Not sure if this just isn't my type of book or if this one wasn't great.
March 26, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I wanted to love this book. It’s a reverse harem with shifters, a dragon rider, and a witch. With magic, dragons, and smut. It should have been a home run for me, but it just wasn’t.
There wasn’t a set age for the characters, but given the promise of eventual smut (not until the halfway point) I went into this assuming everyone was grown. However, some parts of the story read very immature, and I rolled my eyes. Every time the grading scale on her luxe came up. I also had a hard time believing the romance between Anya and Helian. It was choppy and awkward. The dialogue between the two felt stilted and honestly I wanted to quit about halfway in.
But the action scenes were fun to read! It’s almost as if the author wrote those scenes first or had the most fun writing those. Because the tone in the action scenes are different and they flow easier than the rest of the text.
As far as the characters go, I only liked Finn. He was a sweetheart. Asher was an jerk, and Helian was somewhat manipulative and selfish. Anya was whiny, and even though she was very powerful, her magic being the most interesting thing about her, she was weak minded. Radnor was fun, but also unreasonably rude too Anya. I hated Arabella’s PoVs and almost feel like they were unnecessary until later. Also trigger warning: incest.
Even though I’m mildly curious about Anya missing memories, I will not be continuing this series.
I wanted to love this book. It’s a reverse harem with shifters, a dragon rider, and a witch. With magic, dragons, and smut. It should have been a home run for me, but it just wasn’t.
There wasn’t a set age for the characters, but given the promise of eventual smut (not until the halfway point) I went into this assuming everyone was grown. However, some parts of the story read very immature, and I rolled my eyes. Every time the grading scale on her luxe came up. I also had a hard time believing the romance between Anya and Helian. It was choppy and awkward. The dialogue between the two felt stilted and honestly I wanted to quit about halfway in.
But the action scenes were fun to read! It’s almost as if the author wrote those scenes first or had the most fun writing those. Because the tone in the action scenes are different and they flow easier than the rest of the text.
As far as the characters go, I only liked Finn. He was a sweetheart. Asher was an jerk, and Helian was somewhat manipulative and selfish. Anya was whiny, and even though she was very powerful, her magic being the most interesting thing about her, she was weak minded. Radnor was fun, but also unreasonably rude too Anya. I hated Arabella’s PoVs and almost feel like they were unnecessary until later. Also trigger warning: incest.
Even though I’m mildly curious about Anya missing memories, I will not be continuing this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2023
Rcvd an advanced reader copy from booksirens for giving my two cents. We meet green Witch, Anya, who ran away from her father after feeling smtg wasn't right. Running thru the forest trying to get away from the hag who means her harm when she sees a bright light in the sky and a voice telling her to save him. What she finds is a body burned and a mean looking dragon who tells her to save his rider...under one condition...they help her get away. So much energy to heal the man to find him extremely beautiful and dangerous all at the same time. Anya find out the man is Helian, the prince and his father is a cruel man. She learns he was banished for helping his wolf brothers escape death and that his mother is a Witch who ruined everything. When both are captured it is only Anyas magic that saves them....but it isn't just green but white....there hasn't been one in years and once she is found out she will be hunter. Anya is having visions and dreams but is unsure if it's the past, present or future. She has a good heart and helps all those she meets while falling in love with Helian. There are forces at work that will make things difficult for them including his brothers who are still searching for their missing mate. Bring on the 2nd book.
January 27, 2024
I want to start this off by saying I binged this book in like 12 hours… so in good conscience I can’t give it lower than 3 stars.
This book is far from a literary masterpiece, but it was definitely entertaining. It was so unironically cringeworthy it almost came off satirical, like it was a parody of some bigger fantasy book.
The smut in this book is so ridiculous, It sounds like it was written by a 15 year old virgin. I mean, who else would refer to a vagina as a “passage” or a “sheath”? I’m laughing my ass off just thinking about it. I don’t think that was the intention of the author, but it sure kept me entertained.
I will say as entertaining as it was at points, I really didn’t like the romance between Helian and Anya. They had literally nothing in common. It really seems like Helian is the first person to show Anya any male attention (or so she thinks) if she’s really charmed by the disturbingly forward come-ons this man makes.
It does get more interesting with the twins though, hopefully there will be more drama in the next book. It really does remind me of a poorly done soap opera you just can’t stop watching.
This book is far from a literary masterpiece, but it was definitely entertaining. It was so unironically cringeworthy it almost came off satirical, like it was a parody of some bigger fantasy book.
The smut in this book is so ridiculous, It sounds like it was written by a 15 year old virgin. I mean, who else would refer to a vagina as a “passage” or a “sheath”? I’m laughing my ass off just thinking about it. I don’t think that was the intention of the author, but it sure kept me entertained.
I will say as entertaining as it was at points, I really didn’t like the romance between Helian and Anya. They had literally nothing in common. It really seems like Helian is the first person to show Anya any male attention (or so she thinks) if she’s really charmed by the disturbingly forward come-ons this man makes.
It does get more interesting with the twins though, hopefully there will be more drama in the next book. It really does remind me of a poorly done soap opera you just can’t stop watching.
February 26, 2023
I recieved a copy of this book from Booksirens and i write this review of my own free will.
Holi canolis on a pancake!!!
I am blown away by how good this book was only took me 2 nights of reading i absolutely devoured this!
As we meet mousey human Anya overhearing something she shouldnt, she decided to just risk it all and run away and thats where the whole adventure starts and by gosh is it good, sometimes madding frustrating but ooh so good.
I got sucked into this story and it didnt want to let go, it felt as if i was right there with her.
From the couldren into the fire, trouble seems to follow her everywhere she goes lucky there is Helian to keep her safe(ish) as the pair make their joirney to a safe haven they meet new friends find more trouble but above all find something precious too.
It only took me almost the entire book for a key point to snap into place it was so obevious and right there!! From the start! Its a good thing trust me.
The book does end on a sort of clifhanger but also not..
I cannot wait to get my grabby paws on the second book.
Holi canolis on a pancake!!!
I am blown away by how good this book was only took me 2 nights of reading i absolutely devoured this!
As we meet mousey human Anya overhearing something she shouldnt, she decided to just risk it all and run away and thats where the whole adventure starts and by gosh is it good, sometimes madding frustrating but ooh so good.
I got sucked into this story and it didnt want to let go, it felt as if i was right there with her.
From the couldren into the fire, trouble seems to follow her everywhere she goes lucky there is Helian to keep her safe(ish) as the pair make their joirney to a safe haven they meet new friends find more trouble but above all find something precious too.
It only took me almost the entire book for a key point to snap into place it was so obevious and right there!! From the start! Its a good thing trust me.
The book does end on a sort of clifhanger but also not..
I cannot wait to get my grabby paws on the second book.
March 3, 2023
I'm in love with this book!
Omg i can't wait to see what happens next with Anya, now that she's had her masking spell removed to look like herself, but now only if her memories will return.
The book starts with Anya who ran away from the man who claimed he was her father when she overheard a conversation where he said he wasn't. She leaves to go find out who her parents really are. After almost being eaten by a demon, she is saved by Ragnar, a dragon, who asks her to use her green witch powers to heal his rider. The rider ends up being Prince Helian, who agrees to take her with him. They journey all over, trying to discover who she is since she has no memories. Try as they might, they can't help falling in love with each other.
Except what if she already has a husband... and the answer to that comes when she meets Helion's brothers, Asher and Finn, who are both wolf shifters.
Ahhhmazzzing story, and I'm dying to find out what happens with Anya and the three brothers!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Omg i can't wait to see what happens next with Anya, now that she's had her masking spell removed to look like herself, but now only if her memories will return.
The book starts with Anya who ran away from the man who claimed he was her father when she overheard a conversation where he said he wasn't. She leaves to go find out who her parents really are. After almost being eaten by a demon, she is saved by Ragnar, a dragon, who asks her to use her green witch powers to heal his rider. The rider ends up being Prince Helian, who agrees to take her with him. They journey all over, trying to discover who she is since she has no memories. Try as they might, they can't help falling in love with each other.
Except what if she already has a husband... and the answer to that comes when she meets Helion's brothers, Asher and Finn, who are both wolf shifters.
Ahhhmazzzing story, and I'm dying to find out what happens with Anya and the three brothers!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 7, 2023
It’s a good start but…
Ugh! I truly dislike when a book has too much and not enough. I know this is the first book and that future books will probably resolve the issues I have with this book, but that doesn’t help make this book better. Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s a first book, but that doesn’t change my opinion on what’s contained in this story.
Anya has had her mind altered by a mind-spinner. She saves a Sidhe Fae from death, and the adventure begins. What it boils down to is Anya trying to recover her past while dealing with the present.
We get an introduction to the major players of the series and broad generalized backgrounds for Helion, Asher, and Finn. There is rudimentary world building. Enough that you can get a picture of the places mentioned and who’s rule they are under, but not much else. Again, I hope that’s addressed in future books.
Overall it’s a good start to a series that has the potential to be a lot of fun to read.
I was provided a copy of this book courtesy of the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ugh! I truly dislike when a book has too much and not enough. I know this is the first book and that future books will probably resolve the issues I have with this book, but that doesn’t help make this book better. Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s a first book, but that doesn’t change my opinion on what’s contained in this story.
Anya has had her mind altered by a mind-spinner. She saves a Sidhe Fae from death, and the adventure begins. What it boils down to is Anya trying to recover her past while dealing with the present.
We get an introduction to the major players of the series and broad generalized backgrounds for Helion, Asher, and Finn. There is rudimentary world building. Enough that you can get a picture of the places mentioned and who’s rule they are under, but not much else. Again, I hope that’s addressed in future books.
Overall it’s a good start to a series that has the potential to be a lot of fun to read.
I was provided a copy of this book courtesy of the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews