Witch of the Wolves

Witch of the Wolves #1

by Kaylee Archer

Caught between spells and savage beasts, Cordelia Levine must unravel the secrets of her dual heritage—half witch, half werewolf—and face her desire for the one creature who holds her future in his hands.

Cordelia Levine, a twenty-three-year-old witch hidden in the human world, leads a quiet life in London with her aunt, managing an apothecary for the supernatural. But her life is upended when a brooding and handsome werewolf, Bishop Danvers, kidnaps her on her estranged father’s orders—the Alpha of the Albion Pack.

It is at Trevelyan, her father’s estate, that Cordelia learns she comes from a long line of witches with secondary werewolf traits—a powerful and unique bloodline that must be protected from foreign packs.

Not everyone in the pack is happy about Cordelia’s arrival, and as danger closes in, she wonders if the man who ripped her from her life could be the one to save it.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Witches, Paranormal, Werewolves, Paranormal Romance

361 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 2025

About the author

KAYLEE ARCHER grew up on tales of legend and lore, myth and magic. Her favorites were always werewolves and witches, and when she ran out of stories to read about them, she started writing her own. As she got older, the werewolves and witches stopped killing each other and started kissing. Okay, no, they still kill each other…but they also find plenty of time for kissing.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[kitkat (semi-hiatus ♡︎) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

── overview ── .✦

witch of the wolves is a fast paced romantasy about a witch who’s half werewolf. cordelia’s been leading a quiet life, until now. until now, she’s always assumed that her father was a human, not the alpha werewolf of the albion pack. that all changes when she’s kidnapped, by a handsome wolf, no less, and brought to the albion pack’s estate for her safety. in a completely new world of werewolves and secrets, cordelia must navigate the ways of the pack… all while fighting her attraction to her father’s second in command.

── my thoughts ── .✦

i honestly enjoyed this one more than i thought i would. it’s been a while since i’ve read a paranormal romance, but this one definitely delivered. cordelia has the perfect amount of wit and snark, while managing to still managing to have a good heart. bishop… he was just hot. i mean, he was so protective of her in the best way possible. the only real issue i had was that it really did not have that many witchy aspects to it and don’t think the storyline was that original. overall, it was a very enjoyable read, though.

features -
- slow burn
- arranged marriage
- witches
- werewolves
- enemies to lovers
- romantasy
- first person
- single pov

── preread ── .✦

it’s been awhile since i read a paranormal romance, so why not???

>> thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc <3

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

♥ My Thoughts & Rating ♥

Whew! this was quite the read! It was an entertaining experience that took me on a journey of love between a witch and a werewolf! This is the first book in this series and I’m excited for the next one to come out! I found the storyline to be really unique and interesting. Set in the Victorian era, a witch and a werewolf romance develops. This book is dark, tense, adventurous, mysterious and emotional! It is a fast paced read, filled with lovable characters.

It came with a clear thesis and had effective visuals. I did want to see more of the world building develop, but I think that will happen in the next book of this series. I really had fun reading the entire book. It left me wanting more, that’s for sure! I think that the main characters and the minor characters all stood out, while reading this. This enemies to lovers paranormal romance came with a slow burn, spice, and twists and turns you don’t see coming! Overall, I give this a solid 4 out of 5 stars rating!

♥ Who I think would enjoy this book & Content Warnings ♥

I think readers who like to read books set in the Victorian era that contain paranormal spicy romance would enjoy this book. Content warnings include death, misogyny, explicit sexual content, torture, abuse, and murder.

♥ Thank You ♥

Thank you to NetGalley, author Kaylee Archer and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

♥ Publication Date ♥

This book is expected to be published on September 30, 2025!

♥ Quick Review ♥

✔️ Victorian Era
◾️ Witch & Werewolf Romance
✔️ Full of Twists
◾️ Spicy 🥵
✔️ Enemies to Lovers
◾️ Slow Burn
✔️ First Book in Series
◾️ Dark / Tense / Emotional

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《

❥ ୨⎯ Connie ⎯୧ ❥

ツ౨ৎ

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

What Lit My Mood
A witch who’s also part werewolf-Cordelia, a powerful witch(more about that), discovers she’s the daughter of an Alpha werewolf. She is dragged into his Pack, denied her freedom, forced into marrying Bishop, second-in-command werewolf and expected to “produce” heirs to secure her father’s place as Alpha. This setup delivers some commentary on gender roles and women’s rights (a weakness of mine!).

The dark, Victorian-era romanasty tropes:
Enemies to lovers (though leaning more toward instant lust)
Forced marriage
Betrayal

Where My Mood Flickered
I’m always up for enemies to lovers, but here it fell into lust too quickly to savor that delicious tension. The betrayal trope was rushed to give it any real push-pull chemistry, and I wanted more mistrust and resistance to build suspense.
The Victorian setting often felt more modern than gothic, and while Cordelia is framed as a witch from a legendary line, her power never fully leapt off the page. I kept waiting for her magic to spark.

Witchy Mood Reader Rating
Almost Aligned – the vibes showed up, but the magic didn’t fully stick.

Spicy Level: Low to moderate. Lusty tension simmers early on (heated stolen moments), leading into longer spicy scenes that added enough steam to add heat. I might have jumped ahead after a couple of pages.

Verdict
Add this to your altar and summon it if you want a paranormal romance where witches clash with werewolves, and the bite comes more from its commentary than its spice.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley

[Shannon Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Release day Review!😊

“I mean what do you think you’re doing existing, looking like that. Fully dressed, you’re more than enough. Undressed? Entirely too much.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️.5

This was a pleasant surprise! I had so much fun reading it. I loved the simplicity of the writing. It was such a good change of pace to read a romantasy that was more direct and straight to the point. We weren’t left wondering and confused about the characters or the plot. It was steady and straightforward with its reveals and plot twists, which I found refreshing!

There were a lot of things I didn’t see coming with the twists and turns of this that kept me hooked! I also really like the characters. They flowed well with the writing, being more forthcoming with each other but also getting twisted up in other people’s plans, giving a lot of betrayal and serious tension!🔥

With this being Kaylee’s debut, I am so excited to see what is to come in the future! Thank you to Net Galley and publishers for the ARC read opportunity! ❤️

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Victorian-era romance and fantasy collide, we get a deliciously dark tale! Victorian era romance is one of my favorite time periods to read about, specifically for the corsets and dresses - but in combination with the Peaky-Blinders-esque grit of this story, I had a good time reading!

There are many layers to this story, and I appreciate on some level the lack of initial world-building - very much felt like we got to the meat of the story right away? Not dilly-dallying over family lineages, etc, kept my attention, and I could feel the main couple's tension rise immediately! Lots of shifting motivations definitely required me to pay closer attention because people were sneaky!

- Forced Proximity
- Enemies to lovers
- 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 - Open door (skipping will not impact your read of the book!)

*Fantastic cliffhanger and will be on the lookout for book #2!!
**CWs: talk of SA and non-consent but not between our main couple.

**Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR🖤

Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🖤 ||
Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel coming soon!!

[BookishKB · Rating 3 out of 5]

🐺 Bookish Thoughts
I’m conflicted about this book. On one hand, it had a really interesting premise with a witch who was half Lycan during the Victorian era. It started off exciting, with a lot of things happening quickly. But then it became very repetitive and super bleak. And super slow paced. I was honestly relieved to finish the book.

The audiobook narration was fantastic though.

🖤 What to Expect
• Witch FMC
• Lycan heritage
• Dark family secrets
• Pack tension
• Broody MMC
_ _ _

📖 Final Score: 3 Stars
🎧 Audio Score: 4.5 Stars
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo (Polly Edsell)
📅 Pub Date: September 30 2025
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Kayla_Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

In this Victorian Era, paranormal romance, we see a unique twist where a witch is also part werewolf. The witches find out who you are and want you for your power and the werewolves want you to breed their children. And then you find yourself forced to marry your father’s right hand man. I loved the characters and cannot wait for the next book.

[❤️My Dog is my Best Friend❤️ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won an early copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway--so thank you to the publisher for providing a copy through that.

*1.5

I have been going back and forth on how to review this book because honestly...I didn't like it. But I hesitate being too harsh since this is this author's debut and I know how hard it is to write a book and get it published. I didn't like this book but it also felt like younger YA in terms of maturity (excluding the sex scenes) so maybe I would have enjoyed this more in high school.

Right from the beginning our main character, Cordelia, is walking down the street with her friends and notices a guy looking at her. This isn't all that unusual because she is apparently "super good looking" which is something that is mentioned throughout the story to the point where I was like "okay I get it she is incredibly good looking---can we move on?" Furthermore her character did not make a lot of sense and there was a heavy emphasis on "telling" over "showing." This is not uncommon among debut authors however, I felt like I was being led a bit too much. Instead of showing the reader why or how Cordelia grows to trust Bishop (MMC) or even just in her choices to follow Bishop, enter into a fake relationship, etc. we are told that she does trust them because she feels it or because of x, y, z but I wanted to be shown her slowly giving that trust and finding legitimate reasons for her decisions. The telling over showing really made it hard to get into the story.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention two situations that Cordelia finds herself in that her reactions to don't really make sense.
1. When her aunt dies
Not long after her aunt is murdered right in front of her, Cordelia starts making out with Bishop in an underground prison and probably would have slept with him if he hadn't stopped. I understand trying to drown out your sorrow using another person (although it really isn't the best thing to do) but she legitimately seemed to forget her aunt had her neck snapped mere moments ago. Furthermore, after this happens things really start heating up between her and Bishop and randomly she'll be like "oh yeah my aunt died! Now I'm depressed." As the reader I didn't feel like she was really all that sad about the death of the aunt WHO LITERALLY RAISED HER. To have that emotion missing really brought down the rating for me.

2. When it is discovered her father is a piece of crap
The most interesting part of the book was when the father really shows who he is and Cordelia is put in a crazy situation with a bunch of history about her parents that she realizes she doesn't actually know. It was the first time I felt really invested in the story but Cordelia's reaction to the whole thing was weird to me. She seemed to be determined to make excuses for her father even though he was like "Yeah I'm forcing you to get married to my right-hand man because I need you to have kids to pass on your amazing witch/wolf genes to my future heir etc." This was the exact thing her father said he was protecting her from--he said everyone else was going to force her to do just that in other packs but then suddenly he turns around and does the same thing? And Cordelia doesn't seem all that panicked? Or really hating her father? I don't know maybe I missed something, but the whole thing felt underwhelming.

Overall this is not a book I'd recommend. If you are curious about it, maybe wait until your library gets it or if it shows up on Kindle Unlimited or something. I didn't read a finished copy but I really don't see my big issues being resolved by the time final print comes along.

Also--I know Bishop was supposed to be kick butt and all but I think I could crush him with a stern conversation. No fighting required.

Content: Some language throughout, there are some sex scenes that are fairly descriptive, graphic violence, physical/verbal abuse, sexual innuendo

[Mai ༊*·˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 ★— It’s been a while since I read a sexy werewolf book, and honestly, I’ve kind of missed them.
Witch of the Wolves seemed like the perfect candidate to sate that craving, and as I got into the story, I was pleasantly surprised by how easily I sank into the world-building, which was serviceable, if not exactly dazzling.

Set in historical England, Cordelia is a witch living with her aunt, hiding her powers and identity from the humans around them. After a strange encounter with a handsome stranger, her life is completely upended when she discovers she’s the daughter of the local wolf-shifter pack’s Alpha.

Let me just say, the book never specifies exactly when it takes place. It’s clearly a few hundred years back, and there are dresses, corsets, men and women addressing each other as Mr. and Miss, strictly entrenched gender roles (women needing to marry, of course)… but also gas lamps. So, probably sometime in the 19th century, I guess?
This vagueness didn’t do the already thin world-building any favors. That said, since I came here mostly for the wolf smut, I was willing to overlook this, along with a few other underdeveloped aspects of the setting.

As the book moved toward the midpoint, I actually started to get a little invested. There were some intriguing setups and revelations, but my interest faded pretty quickly as the story lost momentum and sort of floundered for a while.

Now, the wolf smut was pretty standard for the genre and well-written. The author included a few solid scenes between the MMC and FMC that worked well.
The dynamic between Bishop, who’s the MMC, and Cordelia was pretty much insta-lust on her side and a very quick fall on his. Cordelia makes her interest known right away and never wavers, while Bishop quickly morphs into the typical possessive wolf-shifter hero. Their connection felt very thin overall, and as more tropes piled on, the predictability of it all became pretty clear.

But… as an audiobook I listened to purely as brain candy, I had fun! A lot of the fantasy wolf-pack world-building felt pasted on and barely developed beyond the basics, and this is definitely not an inventive or breathtaking love story. However, as a bit of wolf smooching and some mindless historical fantasy fluff, it fulfilled its purpose for me and provided my monkey brain with some much needed serotonin.

🎧Audiobook/Narration:
The narrator did a great job giving distinct voices to the different characters. I never had trouble telling them apart, and I enjoyed her cadence immensely.

_________________________

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer
Romantasy. Part 1. Historical Paranormal romance with witches, werewolves and magic. Cliff hanger.
Cordelia Levine is a witch in London working in the human world until she’s abducted into her father’s werewolf pack. She’s being gifted and mated to her father’s second in command. Without her prior knowledge or consent of the union, Cordelia is determined to find a way out. Bishop Daniels has other ideas and he’s going to convince Cordelia to put her faith in him.
It’s a whole new world and the threats are vast and powerful.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook narrated by Polly Edsell who does a wonderful performance. Cordelia is brought to life via the life changing obstacles she must overcome and the narration is filled with her terror, her determination and her building desire. The story practically jumps off the page and kept me actively listening to find out what’s next.
I listened at 1.5 and higher to more closely match local conversation speed.

Action, adventure, power grab, pack dynamics, and romance.
I liked Cordelia’s strength and her ability to listen and act even when under threat.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan audio.

[❀ Jamie ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the dark Victorian era vibes & quick start into the action! Enemies to lovers / slow burn is my favorite and Cordelia & Bishop’s chemistry was chef’s kiss. This is a fun, fast paced, and good book to test the paranormal romance world.

I got The Handmaid’s Tale vibes about the “breeding potential” & even though I like that show, it always makes me so upset. The pacing felt off in some places that I wish the author would have elaborated on, but they just grazed over. Overall there was still an intense plot and was a page turning read with so many twists! I will definitely be continuing the series.

💞 Thank you Net Galley for the ARC! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review 💞

[Natalie Hopkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine. I will probably give the sequel a try. We follow a half witch half werewolf girl who is forced to marry the second in command in her father’s pact. There are twists and turns but nothing super crazy. If you want a simple paranormal story with average characters then you should check it out. It’s nothing special of a story but it did its job.

[Emily | emilyisoverbooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Griffin for the gifted copies!

Absolutely LOVED listening to WITCH OF THE WOLVES as narrated by Polly Edsell. I crushed it in a day.

Cordelia finds out that in addition to being a powerful witch, she’s also the daughter of an Alpha wolf when she’s taken by her father’s Pack and put in an arranged marriage / mateship with her abductor.

WITCH OF THE WOLVES is just a super fun, easy, escapist Romantasy that will leave you wanting more. (So like, thankfully it’s the start of a series). The world building here is simple and easy to understand, but there are both witch and werewolf politics that are GOOD and move the plot forward well. I also loved that this was in a Victorian setting. The romance between Cordelia and Bishop is just FUN and I was giddy as they fell for each other and loved when they got a lil spicy. They just work so well together. I’m a huge fan of this Pack and can’t wait to see what happens in book 2!

Add to your TBR if you liked THE WOLF KING, love an escapist Romantasy read, or are looking for a good Witch Week audio!

[Samantha Gaudious · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great time!!!

She’s half witch, half werewolf who gets taken
and now is an arranged marriage 🤭

If you are looking for a fun, fast paced and original story AND I have to say the romance & spicy scenes had me blushingggg 🤣🤣
…with plenty of action to keep you engaged!

Also perfect quick read for the fall 🖤🧡🐺

[Coffee&Cliffhangers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost forgot how much I missed stories like this and was hooked from the beginning. Cordelia, descended from a long line of witches, works at her aunt's apothecary in London, secretly helping supernaturals while honing her own powers. When she's abducted by Bishop Daniels at her father's request—an Alpha werewolf—she discovers she's not only a witch but also a Lycan. Her father claims to want to protect her from harm, but she soon learns his real motive is to marry her to Bishop to continue the bloodline and solidify his status. Determined to escape, she refuses to marry Bishop, but when it becomes clear that Bishop intends to challenge her father's power, she reluctantly teams up with him and begins to trust him. As they navigate the pack's dynamics, Cordelia finds her attraction to Bishop growing. This book was so much fun, and it reminded me how much I enjoy this genre. My only complaint is that the enemies-to-lovers trope developed too quickly, lacking the tension I had hoped for.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

This is the first book in a new romantasy/urban fantasy with romance series featuring witches and werewolves. The story takes place in Victorian London.

Cordelia Levine (23) is a witch. She lives among humans. But helps out her aunt Lenora (a wealthy fairly powerful witch).

The main male character is Bishop Daniels/Danvers. He is a werewolf who works for Cordelia’s father. He is sent to bring her to him.

I love Cordelia. I love books that feature witches. And I adore seeing them cast spells. I also enjoy werewolves. And the witch/werewolf dynamic here is amazing.

The romance is super steamy. Bishop and Cordelia are so great together!

The book has a lot of action. There are so many surprises. There is just one part near the end that is a bit too much for me. However I do understand why it happens. Overall this is such a fun new series. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

[Charity (Booktrovert Reader) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really came into Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer ready to dive into a lush paranormal romance. Witches, werewolves, forbidden magic. The concept had promise, but for me, the story never found solid footing and I ended up stopping around the 16% mark.

The pacing felt uneven, with the plot jumping ahead without much grounding. Although I could tell the story was aiming for a Victorian-era vibe—Cordelia's wardrobe gave that away—the lack of historical context left me floating in an unclear, unanchored world.

Cordelia's voice also threw me off. Her inner thoughts and dialogue rang modern, rather than fitting a gothic, period-inspired setting. Meanwhile, the side characters remained flat. There was no real introduction or emotional layering, so I never felt connected to any of them. Their interactions felt hollow, like they were just there to fill the scene.

Then there's the paranormal aspect: Cordelia discovering and accepting her werewolf heritage happened too easily. There was no internal conflict, no emotional weight. She just sort of shrugged and moved on. Something that didn’t sit right with me when reading the story.

Overall, Witch of the Wolves had an intriguing premise, but the world-building and character depth didn’t resonate enough to keep me reading. If you prioritize immersive settings and emotional resonance, this might not be your paranormal cup of tea.

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Advance Review Copy generously provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Haunna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Are you actually fucking kidding me with this book? I don't remember the last time I felt rage about a poorly crafted book like this. It started off rather whimsical which lolled me into a false sense of security on what the central themes of this book would be. As things progressed I would've told you it wasn't well plotted or written but at least it was compelling to read. That is until I hit 50% and our main character who has been brutalized by her father (for really rather flimsy reasons) watches him kill her beloved aunt and then immediately starts having a passionate moment not five minutes later with the man who got her into the situation!??? I literally sat and said are you fucking kidding me. This book is not worth the time.

[CiCi | bookameme · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun!! There were a lot of surprise twists and plenty of spice in this amalgamation of the historical, fantasy, and shifter romance genres. I enjoyed the characters, fast pace, and the romance.

🎧 The narrators English accent and story telling abilities elevated my enjoyment of this particular story.

Shifter x Witchy Romance
Historical Fantasy (Regency Era)
Forced Marriage
Tyranical Rulers
Dark Secrets
Political Machinations
& An Extremely Clevel MC, think Sherlock Holmes as an English Debutant
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Selene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was phenomenal. The emotion this made me feel , anger, sadness, surprise , all of it. This is 10/5. The feminine rage, the romance all of it was so perfect. If you enjoy paranormal romances with witches, werewolves demons etc set during a more historical time period this will be perfect for you! Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced copy!

[Cindy ✩☽♔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining, albeit predictable shifter romance.

This world and this story have a lot of promise, but as of now, it's underdeveloped. The romance is much the same. I liked the potential; however, there wasn't enough build-up for me to truly fall in love with Cordelia and Bishop as a pairing. That being said, I think there's room to grow and improve. So I am open to checking out the sequel to see where this story goes.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story had potential, but the execution didn’t sit right with me. The magic in particular felt underwhelming—Cordelia’s spells were described more by what they accomplished (“a knockback spell,” “a privacy spell”) rather than allowing readers to experience the magic through vivid detail. Instead of immersing me in the atmosphere, it often read like an explanation.

The romance between Cordelia and Bishop also felt forced. The author was going for enemies to lovers, forced proximity, but It leaned more toward insta-lust than believable connection. Their “romance” often cropping up at odd times—like immediately after someone is beat and/or murdered. Cordelia, who is supposed to be inexperienced, is constantly instigating their tension (though the narration frames it as flirting), which felt silly and unbelievable.

The storyline was also weighed down by repetitive family drama, especially with Cordelia’s father and grandmother/mother/aunt plotlines that ended up feeling nearly identical. However other characters like Oliver and Julius added some charm and helped carry the story.

Overall, the premise intrigued me, but the writing style wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I enjoy a good werewolf story because frankly there isn’t enough of them in the paranormal romance world. What I liked about this book was the Arranged Marriage trope, but it’s viewed from the Werewolf hierarchy and laws and how female wolves and/or lycans are used as pawns to further political gain (not unlike our own medieval customs with royals) and that arrangement turns quickly into a real romance.

I also appreciated the witch lore in this book, and I thought it was interesting to have witch vs werewolf as usually it’s werewolf vs vampire etc.

This was a fun, medium paced, paranormal romance set in Victorian era too which I LOVE!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Shannon K G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well done paranormal romance that left me ready for the next book.

I wouldn't say this is exactly enemies to lovers. More like rivals to lovers. I enjoyed the arranged marriage aspect, but felt the main characters attraction and actions towards each other was too quick for slow burn. Not that there's anything wrong with the pace, but if you're expecting that slowwww burn now you have a heads up.

I loved the Victorian era vibes and the dynamic between wolves and witches. There were some great plot twists. The characters are well done and you love some and feel a bit of violence towards some. I hope to get a bit more on the world building in the next book because this has been a very interesting read.

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing this up as a 'read now'.

Of romantasy books (and someone who has a hard time with them) this was decent read. Why did I give it only three stars?

For a witch she hardly uses witchcraft. I honestly don't know the point of witchcraft since without it it'd still technically be the same story - except the plot detail about having her witch powers and her mate chosen lycan powers make kids extra powerful. But seriously - there was hardly any magic used.

I like the fact that it took place in an alt. universe London, but the world building and it's sociological / political attributes were skimped on. It was all reduced to her being a prisoner inside a house with a bunch of sex-driven werewolf men.

I will say that it has some of the best non-piv stuff (foreplay / pent up frustration) moments I've seen in a while. But lets be real - it was a will they won't they fuck in the house just better written.

The end doesn't really have me intrigued to continue on. So as a free read, it's a decent read but I was left wanting more.

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

REVIEW✨
Witch of the Wolves
By Kaylee Archer

I really wanted to love this one; a witch in a manor of werewolves that has arranged marriage, slow burn romance, and enemies to lover vibes. But it was extremely flat, I found the characters very annoying, the world building wasn’t great, it just kind of felt like a witch that is imprisoned in a house with a whole lot of sexual frustrated werewolf males… At about the half way point of the book, I really didn’t care what happened in the story and there wasn’t enough chemistry to want me to continue reading to see what happens… so I didn’t finish it.

Book Status: DNF at 44%
Stars: ⭐️

Out on September 30th 2025

I would like to thank St.Martin Press and Netgalley an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[BookSiren Baddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star audiobook review.
I really enjoyed this book. Witch of the Wolves completely captivated me. This story is fast-paced, atmospheric, and dripping with intrigue, and I couldn’t stop listening to it. I was that invested.
Cordelia Levine is such a strong, tenacious FMC, I love her resilience and refusal to be controlled, even when thrown into a world she didn’t know existed.
And then there's Bishop. I loved how mysterious and dark he is, yet he is so protective of Cordelia, he so gives Rhysand vibes. The chemistry between him and Cordelia is undeniable, simmering with tension and heat. Their dynamic is deliciously spicy. Every moment between them crackled with sizzling energy.
The story itself blends Victorian fantasy with supernatural intrigue in a way that felt both fresh and cinematic. The stakes are high, the world is richly drawn, and every twist kept me wanting more.
If you're a fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses or From Blood and Ash, this book is a must-listen. The narration was excellent, too, bringing the characters and their emotional depth to life beautifully.
I absolutely cannot wait for book two. Kaylee Archer has created something magical (and a little wild), and I’m all in.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

[Nash Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a refreshing spooky season read. I really enjoyed the audiobook performance and the narrators accent. The plot was easy to follow but still a good fun read. Cordelia is a little whitty which I love in an FMC. Im interested to see how the series continues.

[RachelElizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was genuinely bad. I think the main goal for the author was to just write a paranormal romance, but then she started adding all these different elements to it that just didn’t end up making sense.

The different paranormal species and their politics just didn’t make sense? The author also chose the weirdest species to focus on? Why necromancers, half-demons, and witches/sorcerers? Why are werewolves and vampires treated differently? I felt that there was a lot of potential to explore the policies around these creatures and how they interacted with the human world, but that never happened.

The dialogue and narration was wayyy too modern for a story set in the Victorian era. This has become a trend among newer authors who write historical or fantasy novels to make their characters sound gen-z because??? It never works and it makes the writing sound juvenile. Also, this author clearly has no idea how Victorian clothing works. How is Cordelia able to take her corset off like it’s a bra? Why is the corset cover being taken off AFTER the corset??

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled to get through this one for several reasons, and honestly, had it not been an ARC, I would have DNF’d it early on.

The prose felt choppy and uneven. It’s meant to be set in the Victorian era—at least, that’s what the sparse references to clothing and setting seemed to suggest—but the FMC frequently spoke in modern colloquialisms that pulled me right out of the story. On top of that, the narration felt oddly disconnected, almost as if it was originally written in third person and later converted to first without fully reworking the text to make the perspective shift flow naturally.

Sometimes uneven writing can be elevated by a strong audiobook performance, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case here. The phrasing and continuity remained awkward, making it hard to stay engaged. The narration by Polly Edsell—whose lightly accented British vocals are usually lovely—felt sleepy and flat in this instance, though I truly don’t fault her for that. The material itself simply didn’t give her much to work with.

To be frank, I’m surprised this book made it through the publishing process in its current form. It reads more like a loosely strung-together fanfic than a polished, finished novel.

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.