Howl

Lost Moon: Unravelling Monsters Universe #2

by Allegra Hall

For wolves, there is always the small chance that fate will choose your partner.


Werewolf and practicing witch Bronte may be the chosen heir to her grandmother’s dynasty, but when she makes a split decision it threatens to alter the course of her future. Chasing pixies and a stolen relic into the human world leads her straight to Weston, a handsome and wealthy wolf shifter with questionable morals and a scent that calls to her like nothing else ever has before. With her inner wolf crying ‘mate,’ it’s impossible to deny the instant attraction between them.


Pack alpha Weston has no intention of ever settling down, that is until he meets his fated mate. Bronte is perfect; beautiful, intelligent, powerful, and headstrong. However, they are from two different realms, are two different wolves — shifter and werewolf — and they both have ties and obligations they are expected to keep.


Weston cannot abandon his pack, and Bronte is hiding something about the magical stone she needs to retrieve. There’s no doubting the lust and instinct-driven loyalty between them, but reconciling their two different lives seems impossible, and the question


Is this love, or has fate made the wrong choice?


Howl is a spicy paranormal romance set in the Unravelling Monsters universe. It is set in 1991 over two realms — the ‘First Realm’ world of paranormal creatures and monsters, and the ‘Second Realm’ human world where non-humans remain hidden under glamour — and is a prequel to the monster romance A Wolf in the Garden, featuring a couple from the previous generation.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Shapeshifters, Werewolves, Magic, Witches

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 24, 2024

Reviews

[* A Reader Obsessed * · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!

Technically, a prequel to A Wolf in the Garden, this is the love story of Van’s parents Bronte and Weston, and it was oh so spicy and nicely swoony!

Many a reader may have felt a bit put off by Weston’s seemingly cold and stubborn stance when it came to his pack and family, but this story really added depth to his character. Admittedly, Weston can be a pretty big alpha-hole, but what we learn here definitely sheds more light on his past tragic trauma, and I really appreciated how Hall made him not just a stereotypical paint by the numbers alpha. I loved how deliciously dominating and ruthless he was, decisively dealing with any challenge with vicious efficiency when necessary, never apologizing for crossing a moral boundary as long as it was done for those under his protection. UNF

In addition, the gaps regarding werewolf and wolf shifter culture and lore were filled in, especially the contentious history between the two species. This also lent insight into why the First and Second Realms are divided, explained the evil machinations of the fae, and expanded upon the magic system and background of Bronte who’s basically werewolf royalty.

Overall, if you had a bit of difficulty with A Wolf in the Garden because of its repetitive length, I feel that this installment brought all of the good stuff, leaving out the extraneous. Weston and Bronte have a great love story here, and this does a stellar job at the fated mates trope making it a really compelling, heady pool of desire and rightness that clicks immediately into place for our protagonists, wonderfully showing how perfect and powerful such a predestined bond is. Top it off with continued world building, and this sexy paranormal fantasy romance just makes me look forward to more!

Lost Moon: Unraveling Monsters Universe
1. A Wolf in the Garden - 4 Stars
2. Howl - 4 Stars

Set in the same world…
A Breath of Fresh Air - 3.5 Stars

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS is the kind of alpha hole I love. West is such a d!ck and he knows it, but he’s endlessly loving to Bronte and adores his children, even if he’s an imperfect father. He’ll do anything for his pack too, and finds a balance with Bronte that works for them. I adored Bronte and seeing her come into her power with startling journeys to the past where West is always waiting for her. The world building is so fascinating and I can’t wait for more answers!

Spice: 4/5

Triggers: violence and death, light gore, speciesism, references to past killing by MMC, pregnancy, attempting to conceive, difficult familial relationships including estrangement, death of parents (off page), hunting of animals (off page), reference to drug dealing, non-sexual assault of FMC by side character, surprise sex (consensual, time travel is involved)

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t tell what I like the most about this series, the magic/lore, the characters or the plots. Another banger from this series. Time travel too that wasnt insanely confusing and poorly done. Shes got a fan in me for however long this series becomes

[Biblio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series and Allegra's characters. Star crossed lovers, time travel, magic, powerful women and spice! Bronte and West's story was so sweet and I loved seeing them bond and overcome things together. Allegra always brings the vibes.

[Caitlin_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

Well this was stinkin’ cute. And hot 🥵…REALLY hot 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I’m not a breeding-kink trope kinda gal usually but holy moly did it work for me here. The mouths on our 2 main characters….🫦❤️‍🔥. Excuse me while I take a cold shower.

Bronte & West make a great team. Their chemistry and connection just works. Allegra Hall writes couples really well….they’re always so down for each other, always willing to stand side by side against the world. And the men she writes 😮‍💨…since West is Van’s (book 1) dad, it makes sense the type of man Van turned out to be because daddy is daddying in this prequel 💓👨

There’s just something about shifters and fated mates that doesn’t give me the insta-love ick. And yes, this is definitely an insta-attraction, insta-love story because our FMC can see the future so WHY even try to fight it? Also Bronte is giving ‘Time Traveler’s Wife’ energy with her magic. It’s super interesting.

This story gave us a lot of lore about the shifters vs werewolves, and sets us up for something far more nefarious going on (with pixies & fae). Although the love story comes to a good resting point, there’s still a lot of story left unresolved. There are 2 more books following this storyline (The Revenge of the Wolves & The Fae Among Wolves), which are TBD on release date.

✔️ Fated Mates
✔️ Wolf Shifters & Werewolf-witches
✔️ Alpha MMC
✔️ Powerful, Witchy FMC
✔️ Spicy (explicit content) 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✔️ Breeding / Pregnancy Kink
✔️ Knotting 🪢
✔️ Dual PoV
✔️ Can read before or after Book 1

[spidermse · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm always yours. In every realm, in every time. We were made for each other."

Wow...Allegra outdid herself with this one. I felt all the feels while reading this book. And many of those feels had my bawling my eyes out. Even as I'm reading over my highlights to write this review I was tearing up all over again. Who knew such a simple sentence as "It's always fun seeing you, sweetheart" would have me crying like a baby.

It was so cool to read Bronte's divination and seer powers and all the little easter eggs sprinkled in throughout the book was amazing. I was skeptical that she could make me love West after all we learned about him in AWITG but she did it. He's the perfect kind of alpha hole - just look past all those red flags. He put up this front of being a horrible person, and yes he's done some really bad things, but he loves his pack and his family and would do anything to keep them safe. And plus he is HOT. The spice was delicious.

The world building in this book continued to be fantastic and we get even more questions to what is going on between all these species of monsters. Can't wait to see where it leads us!

[Robyn G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh I loved being back in this world!
I loved Bronte and West so much, the fact she literally saw him coming is so cute and different!
The time travelling parts was my favourite because West was always so calming for Bronte!
This was hawt too especially with the breeding aspect!
West was definitely a morally grey MMC but the love he has for Bronte had me swooning everytime!
I can't wait to read more!

[Deanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allegra has a way of pulling me into a story that makes me ignore everything in reality because I want to be fully immersed in the story.

I loved Bronte and West together. Neither was very sure of each other at the start but that fated mate bond helped with that. I loved that Bronte didn’t let West get away with pulling the Alpha bark on her. I’m all for a strong FMC.

The visions into the future were an exciting addition to the story! We obviously know what has happened with this family and Van but it was interesting to see how it all matched up!

Overall this was a fun paranormal romance with a hefty dose of spice and I’d highly recommend it!

[Dearna (Words of the Roses) · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my full review: https://wordsoftheroses.com/2024/12/0...

"I’m not a patient man. I’m used to getting what I want and getting it quick, but for you I will be as patient as you need me to be. Whatever you need from me, I’ll do it.”

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own. Thank you so much to Allegra for sending a copy my way.⁠

When Allegra Hall announced that she was releasing a prequel to A Wolf in the Garden, which tells the story of Van’s parents, I did not think I was going to enjoy it as much because of Weston. But boy, was I wrong. I loved seeing how Weston and Bronte’s star-crossed lovers romance happened.

Bronte has spent her life trying to live up to her grandmother’s impossibly high standards as the chosen heir to the most powerful werewolf clan. When a gaggle of rogue pixies steal a valuable heirloom and open a portal into the Second Realm, without thinking, Bronte follows them. She ends up in New York City and lead to Weston – her fated mate and the man she’s had visions of. What she didn’t expect was for him to be a powerful alpha shifter rather than a werewolf. Weston is equally perplexed, but can’t deny that his wolf recognises Bronte as his mate. Though powerfully drawn together, the couple faces insurmountable obstacles: conflicting duties and a bitter rivalry between their races.

I was not expecting the time travel elements, but I adored it. It gave me The Time Traveler’s Wife vibes. It was amusing that their arguments are what triggered her time travel visions, and it’s future West who talks her through how stupid his past self is. These moments felt like the universe telling Bronte that she’s exactly where she’s meant to be. There is an understandable tension as the pair learn to communicate and compromise. West is used to getting his way, no questions asked, but so is Bronte. I was a little worried that there was going to be a slight power imbalance, and that Bronte was going to be the only one who had to make sacrifices for their relationship but, thankfully, that’s not the case. 

Howl’s set in the 90s, which as a 90s kid I adored. I just loved all the little nods Allegra included from fax machines, VHR tapes and pop culture references. It was subtle, but the perfect way to highlight to time period.

I am completely enchanted by the world Allegra has created. I am beyond excited for the release of the next one, where we’ll be back in New Zealand and feature a dragon shifter. Say less, I need to read it ASAP. As Howl is a prequel, you can either read this first or start with A Wolf in the Garden and then pick it up. The choice is yours!

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, these two!

Bronte and West are the definition of a power couple. I loved the fact that these two were powerful on their own and even more together, only for the fact that they had each other's backs from the very beginning. I was a little skeptical because of how these two appear in AWITG, but with the tropes and the blurb, I KNEW I was going to like it.

The visions were such a special and beautiful part of the story, it only made me emotional knowing that Van and West still love each other and that Bronte can see her babies before they are even born. I was a little confused at times when she mentions four babies because one of them supposedly drowns, but maybe it was taken by the fae, also mentioned in the same paragraph and the lost and found novella I do know that the fae plot is way more complicated than I first realized and will expand, which I should have seen coming lol, but I love that these two are going to be at the forefront with Van and Ellie.

All I can say is that Allegra Hall has been a favorite author of mine since I read AWITG, and I will continue to pick up anything she writes!

Also, thank you thank you, thank you for giving me an E-arc of this book!

[Mrs. Pendragon Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rode an emotional rollercoaster with this one, devouring Bronte and West’s story gave me all the feels. If you’ve read A Wolf in the Garden, brace yourself because this one’s an even bigger treat. While technically the second book in the series, it serves as a prequel, and let me tell you, it’s worth starting here. Normally, I’d never recommend reading out of order (it’s just not who I am), but Allegra Hall’s storytelling is so captivating, I’m retroactively wishing I had experienced this epic love story first.
The world-building and character development are utterly spellbinding, as Allegra weaves together Shifters, Wolves, Fae, magic, divination, portals, time-travel body-jumping, and pack politics into a fantasy so rich and immersive you’ll never want to leave. It’s the kind of book that feels like slipping through a portal yourself, one minute you’re on your couch, and the next you’re deep in Bronte and West’s world. And then there’s the romance. Swoon alert. Bronte and West’s chemistry is off-the-charts electric, intense, passionate, and the kind of love story that truly transcends time. I’ll admit, I wasn’t West’s biggest fan in AWITG. His red flags were… bright. But in Howl, so see his layers peeled back to reveal a fiercely loyal, morally complex alpha who would do anything for his pack and, more importantly, for Bronte. Those red flags? Faded into the background, replaced by his unshakable sense of duty, familial bonds, and a love that hits right in the soul. And the spice? Oh, the spice between Bronte and West is as delicious as it is intense.
If you’re into time travel, magic, powerful women, morally grey men, and a healthy dose of extra spice, this series is the vibe.


*I was given an advance copy by the author and all opinions are my own.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, thank you to Allegra Hall for the opportunity to read and review Howl.

Trigger or content warnings? Yes, found in book.

Details?
The FMC’s name is Brontë, and she is 25 years old. The MMC’s name is Weston and he is 33 years old. Brontë is a werewolf, and Weston is a shifter. So they both shift into a wolf but different forms.
There is no OW or OM drama. Neither are virgins. Condoms are not used. Brontë does know how to do birth control spells, but she is pregnant by the end of the book. So unprotected sex is the route they end up taking.

My thoughts?
Howl is a fantasy/paranormal romance that takes place in the 1990s. Brontë and Weston meet in the middle of a busy street while she’s wearing classic witch robes, and he’s in his business-man clothes. While they may look like an odd pair, fate had a way of throwing them together. Which is how their adventure starts. I read Howl with the perspective of it being mostly a standalone- I didn’t finish the first book (A Wolf in The Garden) the first time I read it and was quite blurry on recalling the details. Brontë and Weston have really strong personalities, both alphas in their own rights and used to being able to get their way. I found Brontë much more charming between the two, while Weston seemed to rely on his alpha bark to get his way more often.

Weston is a self-made millionaire, whose company employs the majority of his pack. He is reliable, snarky, and morally grey. Something he shares with the rest of shifters is a prejudice against Werewolves. Bronte just didn’t seem as prejudiced against shifters? Even with being taught by her grandmother that werewolves are better in every sense. The werewolves in the first realm consider themselves better than shifters. So shifters and werewolves have the tendency to think that they’re better than each other.

Brontë was also the one to sacrifice everything to live in the first realm with Weston, and sometimes it didn’t seem like he had empathy for her giving up what was everything she knew. I sympathized with him being the pack alpha and having so much responsibility, but it made me wonder how *he* would have dealt with being thrown into a realm he isn’t familiar with.

Overall, I love Bronte’s character and her strength. It was heartwarming to read the connection she had to her children even before they were physically in the world. While with Weston I struggled, what I did like about him was his love for Bronte. Specifically as their story progressed and he gained insight on how to be a good partner.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story with my entire heart. I read A Wolf in the Garden earlier this year, and something about that world and the way Van and Ellie are written really connected with me. I was very interested in Van’s parents and their story, but I wasn’t sure how I’d feel reading it knowing the struggles they’ve had. It turns out that they might be my favorite??

Bronte is SUCH a badass. I love that even when she feels uncertain or anxious, she’s SO strong and firm in her choices. And WEST 😩 don’t get me started. I love this man. He will destroy the world for her, and when I say that he supports her rights AND her wrongs! He is so steadfast in his love for her, and he made me tear up multiple times with his reassurances.

This book was the perfect follow up to A Wolf in the Garden. It’s a prequel, but learning more background raises the stakes even higher for what’s coming next in this universe.

Read this if you like:
🌘Fated Mates
🌑Badass Witch FMC
🌒Werewolf/Shifter
🌓Time Traveller’s Wife vibes
🌔Touch Him/Her and 💀

Thank you to Allegra Hall for sending me a copy for an honest review 💛

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book so much!! It was fun to see the beginning Weston and Bronte’s love story. Their chemistry is great and there was a good balance of fated mates and realism. Meeting each other didn’t make all their problems go away (and in fact introduced new ones) but seeing them both go all in and meet each other where they’re at was really awesome. I loved the glimpses of the future- both details we know from AWITG and new ones. Another fantastic book!

[Maria]

DNF at 36%

[Artemis Cienfuegos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this world that this author made I would definitely recommend just be aware at times this book gets hot, but overall, I really liked it and I liked peeling back the layers of the world history. Super fun and sexy would recommend.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 5 ⭐️
Spice 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Dual POV

Paranormal Romance
Set in 1991
Werewolf witch x Wolf alpha
Time travel through seer ability
Fated mates
Bi Rep
Knotting
Breeding
Squirting
Loves eating her 🐱
Pregnancy
No 3rd act break up
HEA

Howl is the prequel love story featuring Bronte and West—Van’s parents from A Wolf in the Garden. It's written in a way that allows you to read it before or after AWITG without spoiling anything that isn’t already known. I’d recommend reading it first, but that’s just my preference. When I first heard there would be a prequel centered on West, I was skeptical. After everything we learned about him in AWITG, I wasn’t sure the author could make me care about him, let alone root for his love story. Honestly, I didn’t like him at all and purposely avoided this book because I didn’t want my opinion of him to change (yes, maybe that’s petty—but still). That said, I’m really glad I finally gave in and read it. Enough time had passed between books for me to go in with fresh eyes, and I ended up fully enjoying this paranormal romance for what it is. It’s pure wolf shifter goodness. Perfect for fans of alpha males, possessiveness, knotting, and biting. But more than that, it’s a heartfelt romance between two people who’ve been told they shouldn’t be together, only for fate to intervene. The story strikes a solid balance between action, romance, and spice, keeping you hooked from beginning to end.

I love that Howl is set in 1991 as it adds a layer of nostalgia to the story, especially with West being part of the rising tech industry. It’s fun to think about how far that will take him, knowing where technology and innovation have gone since then. His ambitions are definitely headed in the right direction. Beyond the timing, the world-building is fantastic. The story blends paranormal and fantasy elements uniquely. We learn that Realm 1 is the birthplace of all magic and magical creatures, including shifters, werewolves, Fae, witches, orcs, and more. Realm 2 is where humans live, and magical beings can move there, but at the cost of losing their magic and altering their appearance. A global glamour conceals their true nature, making them appear human. One of the central conflicts is the why behind maintaining the glamour in Realm 2, especially with the wolf shifter community. The werewolf clan, who are also powerful witches help maintain this illusion, which leads to a lot of frustrations and restrictions within the magical community. As we dive into the lore, we uncover a deep-seated tension between werewolves and wolf shifters—two species that strongly distrust each other. Our protagonists represent each side: one is a werewolf witch and heir to the throne, and the other is a powerful wolf alpha, wealthy in the human world.

Bronte and West make an amazing couple because they balance each other so well. Their chemistry is electric, and the connection between them is beautifully written. Shifter romances with fated mates always make the instalust/instalove dynamic work, and this story is no exception. What makes it even better is Bronte’s ability to see into her future; she knows their love is inevitable, so there’s no resistance. Her power gives off Time Traveler’s Wife vibes, especially since West always recognizes her past self. It’s oddly romantic how he can sense her across time and space. His jealousy of his future self is hilarious, but his desire to reenact their moments together? So hot. West’s willingness to be submissive, only to her, is equally sexy. Wolf romance is known for its kink, and this book delivers it on a silver platter. Both Bronte and West have dirty mouths, and their love for breeding and knotting takes center stage. It’s intense and super hot.

West is the perfect example of an alpha hole, and Bronte is the epitome of a strong woman who stands beside her man. His self-awareness about his dickish moments adds a redeeming touch (even if it’s a big issue in AWITG). Learning about his past gives depth to his morally gray behaviors, but his love for Bronte and their future children softens the red flags. It’s great to see Bronte break free from her grandmother’s stifling expectations and embrace her own powers. As heir to a powerful matriarchal line, she doesn’t take any crap from any man, let alone West. She’s his equal, and realistically (as West admits), she surpasses him in both power and status. I love it when an alpha male is unbothered by his woman having equal or greater power. There’s something so sexy about that dynamic.

This story does the fated mates trope brilliantly, blending intense desire with a sense of "rightness" and showing how a powerful bond can endure conflict while keeping the couple deeply in love. I loved learning more about the wolves' history and the magic system, and I’m excited to return to the main timeline to see this world continue to evolve!

[Pao · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 🌟

Bronte a witch and werewolf, is destined to follow her grandmothers rule in the first realm, and yearns for change. She has visions of a future with Weston who is a new billionaire, shifter wolf with a pack, her apparent mate, and in the human world/"second realm". When she gets the chance by pixies stealing an important magical object, she goes to the second realm and meets West who is wary of her family and their power and won't give up his pack to defer to her and her family.

✨ It’s his scent that shocks me the most; it floods my mind as it fills my nose, leaving me stunned because nothing has ever smelled so good. He is a stranger, and yet I know him.

🐺 I only get the briefest glimpse, the quickest impression of her, but something in my chest twists at the sight, instinct telling me that she’s a wolf. The sudden urge I have to help this complete stranger is foreign to me; in general, I make it a rule not to get involved in business that doesn’t affect my pack. I shouldn’t care.
—-
She looks up at me, green eyes wide with shock, her nostrils flaring, and that’s when her scent hits me. Every other thought deserts my mind as I breathe in her, and it’s so fucking mind-blowing that all I can do is stand there, staring wordlessly as everything in my life suddenly alters.
—-
My wolf chants the single word over and over in time with my racing heart. The logical part of my brain registers that she’s a werewolf, not a shifter, but in this moment I don’t give a shit. She smells like heaven. She smells divine. She is a goddess among mere mortals. She is mine.

🪨 Yes, we are matriarchal, which is why I am sitting here wondering why this man won’t tell me what his fucking wolf is telling him when I have asked him a direct question.”

✈️ While my focus has always been on my pack being safe and thriving, I want her to be happy.
—-
“You said my name, and I was half in love with you already. I’ve thought about you for weeks.”

🥪 You’re putting her first. Perhaps I am. She’s my mate. She already owns me.

✨ That I would die a thousand deaths for you, because you are mine. You are mine. My mate, my wife, my woman. I cannot handle seeing you hurt,” he finishes. “It kills me.”

🐺 “You want me to fuck a baby into you? A shifter pup? You want my cum like that?” “I thought we already established that you were going to knot me tonight,”

🪨 “I’m glad it’s you,” she says quietly. “Fate did well.” “It did.” One final kiss, the lightest brush of our lips. Eyes closed, my heart feeling as if it might burst. I’m glad, too.

✈️ “I’m always yours,” she agrees, clutching me tight. “In every realm, in every time. We were made for each other.”

🥪 I don’t understand how I ever lived without her when she is now the best part of every moment in every day.

✨ Home. That’s what she smells like. My life. My future. I kiss her cheek, then press my lips to her neck.

[Bobbie-Leigh (thefairybooksqueen) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️’s

This book was so different to anything I’ve read before! In the best way! I would’ve read it all in one sitting if I had the time, I never wanted to put it down!

Brontë is the heir to become the high witch of her family after her grandma, but her grandma isn’t the most current and forward thinking high witch to say the least. The world is separated by 2 different realms and passing into the other realm is forbidden. She can also see into the future, and honestly when Brontë looked into her future those scenes were my absolute favourite. How wholesome it was to see her future children and see her future with west😭🥲 Brontë also sees into her future and meets west for the first time before ever even meeting him. I couldn’t get enough of these scenes and when west found out that Brontë had met him already before he’d ever known about her made me laugh and made my heart squeeze 🫶🏻 when Weston would greet her and just know it was past Brontë 😭 I can’t explain just how wholesome and heartfelt Allegra has written these 2!!!

West is a white collar man in his realm, he’s also the alpha to his pack. I loved his alphahole vibe, west is very domineering in his day to day life and then Brontë pops into his realm and he instantly recognises her as his mate. Seeing them work through being mates but not really knowing each other was heart warming! I lovedddd how down bad he was for her and they made such a bad ass powerful couple!

The spice was absolute filth in the best way possible, I couldn’t get enough and I loved the dance when they first meet each other of will they won’t they!! There’s so much more I could say! The world building, amazing! The story’s left to tell, I can’t wait! I’m defiantly reading all the books in this world asap.

Allegra’s writing felt so smooth, it had a certain flow about it that made you never want to put the book down! Seriously, read the book!!!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allegra Hall is expanding the Unravelling Monsters Universe again. It all started with A Wolf in the Garden (I loved it so hard), but now we go back to how it all began in Howl. It's a prequel, but it's its own story and can be read alone. Where AWitG was a lighthearted second-chance romance that balanced out romance with a (great) plot, Howl is a steamy-fated romance that concentrates more on the relationship side of things.


Bronte is this badass witch-werewolf hybrid with terrifying powers, but she's also the sweetest thing. Bronte's vulnerability is shown a lot, she wears her heart on her sleeve and is a very emotional character. They say opposites attract. West is logical, strategic, and cunning. If you look at just the surface, he seems cold (and I'm pretty sure he's a psychopath), and he's like that with everyone but Bronte. The way he is with her... he's totally different, you can see his love for her. West had his moments, but for the most part, I liked him.


The story was good. The timeline was wild, most things take place in less than two weeks, but with glimpses of the past and future. I loved how Allegra wrote Bronte's power of premonition. It was different but done incredibly well. One of Bronte's powers reminded me of Lilia from Agatha All Along but with a slightly less chaotic timeline. The dynamics between the different shifter packs, within the packs, and between the werewolves and the shifters were laid out very clearly. There was some dark history there, especially between the weres and shifters. Plus, I finally got a look at the First realm, which I've been very curious about.


I very much enjoyed Howl. Allegra has created a great universe, and I'm enjoying every new addition. She's already hinted at what's to come, and I couldn't be more excited.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for vibes ..most of the time. However...I wanted to love alllll of this and while I did for the most part- West & Bronte are perfection- the overall story didn't quite give what I wanted it to give. What I needed it to give.

A lot of it was advertised as 80s/90s new York nostalgia. And while I loved the pretty woman dress, VHS reference, and the old cell phone....that was it for references. It could have all been taking place in the present and you wouldn't have known. I wanted more of the vibes I was promised!

I was actually fine with the insta love. We knew they were fated and most are reading this AFTER wolf in the garden so it wasn't a shock that they're together, but did they have to have the age gap. Did they have to want to have babies like instantly???? Could we slow down and breathe and take in the moments first? They didn't even know each other. Idk it kind of took me out of the story a few times. And the callous way West just filed marriage papers like....I know it's not wolf custom but HULLO??? (There's apparently a bonus chapter with their wedding...mmk)

I will say though...future West (I don't want to give too much away here) made me tear up almost every time. Allegra knows how to put her whole self into writing these men. Perfection. But like aside from a few bad things he had to do....I also didn't get the super morally grey vibes as promised. He wasn't that big of an ass idk. Perhaps my expectations to hate him more at first were too high after reading the 1st book.

Idk I loved this and yet it missed the mark in several ways for me...I was glad though that a certain tragic event in book 1 wasn't discussed here...but also...I have questions about future West regarding that and you'll just have to read it to know why.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fated mates is one of my favorite tropes and this book provides a really enjoyable iteration of the trope.

Bronte is a werewolves witch who has visions of the future and Weston is a wolf shifter and alpha of his pack. Brontë has visions of meeting West and recognizes him as her fated mate. When a powerful magical object is stolen from Bronte’s realm, she jumps through a portal to West’s realm, where the two quickly meet.

What I really enjoyed about this book is the fact that the two immediately knew they were fated mates and had strong lust toward one another. Yet they also knew that they were strangers. It was thoroughly enjoyable to watch them navigate being fated while having to learn each other and merge their separate lives together. There needs to be more tension around this in fated mates romance.

The other tension I enjoyed seeing was the divide between werewolves and shifters and the main characters navigating the discrimination each of their kinds feels toward the other. It felt really natural that such tension should exist and this provided opportunities for Bronte and West to meet each other in the middle.

All of this is set against a background of getting the magical artifact back. This made for a nice story arch with enough adventure, tension, and of course spice to make for a great read. Really enjoyable.

[Wandering Seal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved A Wolf in the Garden, so of course I was excited to read this, but I was also fairly certain West and I were not going to get on. I was surprised at how wrong I was - the Weston here is so loving and devoted to Bronte, it was impossible not to love him.

West and Bronte's relationship is never in doubt in this story. There is (almost) no anxiety about the hand fate has dealt them - they are together, they are in love, and they are going to work everything out. I feel like most fated mates books have that undercurrent of but is it really love, and the lack of that here was soooo refreshing. I don't know how West could take on the things Bronte tells him with the acceptance thst he does, but it's hot. Actually, them being together is very hot. It's a hot story all round.

Bronte is amazing. I don't think in I had quite appreciated in A Wolf in the Garden just how incredible and powerful she was, so getting a chance to sit with her and understand where she's coming from was great. I now feel like I need to reread A Wolf again to see how knowing what I now know changes how I see this parts of the plot.

I'm now desperate for the next part of the story, and to see how it all works out!

I read an advance copy of this book. My thoughts are very much my own.

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

"I saw you [...] You said my name, and I was half in love with you already."

This series just keeps getting better!

I absolutely loved this trip back in time to see what happened with Bronte and West when they first met. This story ties in so well with A Wolf in the Garden and gives us all a lot of back story on the world before the Unravelling. But it also stands on it's own as a beautiful love story of star-crossed lovers working to be together against a world that wants them to be apart. And we, the lucky readers, get to go along for a romantic and very spicy read.

I am in love with Bronte, a witch werewolf coming into her power and discovering what she wants despite the pressures she faces. And seeing a different side of West from AWITG really deepens out understanding of his actions. I loved getting to spend time with them and to read their story and HEA. I especially love that Bronte is steady in her power and her worth and West supports her wholeheartedly.

Of course the book also has lots of spice. The weres and shifters have no shortage of physical affection, and this book was hot!

Howl is perfect if you're a fan of strong and powerful women, mates working together to overcome obstacles, and hot and spicy times!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aw! I loved this!

Howl is Bronte and Weston’s story (we met them as Van’s parents in the fantastic A Wolf in the Garden).

These two! Bronte and Weston are fated mates so we get some hot insta-lust happening. But the development of their relationship to love is so lovely. They are both alphas in their own way however they figure out how to balance and support each other.

This is all against a backdrop of political intrigue, chasing some bad pixies, and a forbidden romance.

I really enjoyed getting this back story and peeks and hints of the A Wolf in the Garden world. However, this book can absolutely be read as a stand alone.

Allegra Hall’s Unravelling Monsters universe is a a rich world with lots of characters just there, surely waiting for their own HEAs. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next.

Thank you Allegra Hall for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exciting shifter romance! It’s the second book in the Unravelling Monsters series. While it could be read as a prequel, it works best as the second book.

The MCs from this book are Van from A Wolf in the Garden’s parents. Set in the early 90’s, werewolf/ magic wielder FMC Bronte lives in the First Realm and is next in line to become queen. When she ends up in the Second Realm (our world) she immediately meets her fated mate, MMC Weston, the shifter alpha.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. I had put off reading it because of my dislike for the characters in the first book, but Hall did an amazing job of not only making me like Bronte and Weston, but also making me genuinely excited to see what happens next. The character development was strong, and through Bronte’s magic we get glimpses of their relationship across different stages of time, past, present, and future. I was thoroughly impressed by how much my opinion shifted for these characters. The story and wordbuilding was captivating as well.

This is a wonderful addition to the series, and I can’t wait to see what happens in book 3, Lost and Found, which is scheduled to release at the end of October 2025.

Spice 4.5/5
Plot:4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
My Enjoyment: 5/5

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I'm really here for a possessive, morally gray alphahole, and West really hit every one of those buttons beautifully. This is aggressively fated mates, and I continue to be fascinated by the world building that Allegra is doing in this series. I love the concept of werewolves vs shifters and how two groups can both be wolves and hate each other so much. And the star-crossed lovers West and Bronte have divination on their side. Nothing will tear them apart, not their families, not the fact that they literally live in two different realms, and certainly not themselves.

This is a morality chain romance, and West makes no apology about not being a good person. He is also very clear that he will always be good to Bronte. Add in some fun time travel a la The Time Travelers Wife, and it's all quite a romp. A very sexy romp, because Allegra always brings the heat. There's so much breeding kink in this one. It's slightly weird because these are literally the parents of the hero from the first book, but their love story was compelling. Fated mates doesn't always work for me, but this twist was fantastic. I cannot wait for more.

[Ridim Buk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been looking forward to reading one of Allegra’s books and I managed to get my sticky little mitts on this book. It’s technically book two in the series but it’s a prequel, so I’m not mad about reading it first.

This story is super fast paced and though it was over 300 pages it still seemed to zoom past quite easily. Especially because we travel through time with the FMCs visions so we get a bunch of future information about where their lives end up.

I loved both MCs and their chemistry with each other. They were quite pragmatic about the whole “oh look, we’re from totally different realms and we’re not the same species, but we’re fated so I guess we’re just gonna have to work this all out.”

Thank you to the author for access to this ARC.

Genre: Romance/fantasy
Format: Digital
POV: Dual
Tropes: Werewolf vs shifter, witches, different realms, fated mates, time travel/visions, knotting, 🍞, pregnancy
Ending: HEA, stand alone, interconnected
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ /5
Age suggestion: 18+

[Rebecca Friedlander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow I just loved it. Time traveling can be so hit or miss but it was really necessary for them I think because we know from the first book that there are some awful things waiting for them in the future. So to see them happy many times and get a hint of the HEA waiting for us in the unraveling series was really nice. Also it was a really great plot device to spark character growth and I appreciated the way the characters grew together while maintaining what kept them themselves. The romance was really really sweet and a great balance of spice and devotion. I definitely wish we got to see them bond over more small things - favorite foods, etc - and some of the spice language wasn’t perfect for me. But the world building, complex character dynamics, and romance more than made up for it. I hate that there’s only a few books left in this series cause I think I’d read 10 more books set in this universe and not get tired of it.

[Nastia · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘You’re a handsome guy but your personality doesn’t match your face.’”

🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺
*ARC review*
What a ride, it was sexy, it was tender and with bittersweet moments.
We have two opposites from wolf community and we learn differences between werewolves and wolf shifters.
Bronte is a next High witch from werewolf court, she is strong, kind, caring and she is wearing her heart on her sleeve.
Weston is one of the most powerful alphas in his realm. His pack is nice, strong and protected because West is great and he thinks about his people (investing money to profitable companies and founding new one which not only succeeds but also provides work places for his community).
History between werewolves and shifters is not without blood and prejudice and more importantly it’s unheard of having shifter mate while you are a werewolf.
So it’s exactly what’s happening. They are mates and now they need to solve the problem of missing artifact, issues with pack and court and find a way to make their connection and relationship work.

I loved everything in this book, tender moments, moments when two strong characters became vulnerable and accepted love and care from one another, and especially moments when their wolves inside demanded to mate and strengthen their bond.
Plot wise it was great, we had problem and we meticulously worked to resolve it.