Fall of the Wild Ray

Wings of Ink #0.5

by Angelina J. Steffort

When pirate Ayna sets out to loot a merchant ship returning from the fairylands, her own ship gets attacked instead. All those years she spent building a new life for herself slip between her fingers when the Wild Ray is captured and its crew must answer for the crimes they committed—and those they didn't.

39 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2023

About the author

"Chocolate fanatic, milk foam enthusiast and strict fan of the southern sting-ray. Writing is an unexpected career path for me."

Angelina J. Steffort is a bestselling, award-winning Austrian novelist, best known for her Wings series and her Shattered Kingdom series. With over twenty YA and adult fantasy and paranormal romance books under her belt, Angelina is far from done with inventing and exploring new worlds. That might have something to do with her passion for following the narrative of new characters and getting surprised by the twists they spin on her stories. Angelina has multiple educational backgrounds including engineering, business, music, and acting. Currently, Angelina lives in Vienna, Austria, with her husband and her son.

Find Angelina online: linktr.ee/ajsteffort

Subscribe to Angelina's newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/ajs_zon_nl

Reviews

[destiny · Rating 3 out of 5]

such a great prequel to this series ! got me so hooked omg. i can’t wait to read the rest of this series. i feel like it’ll hate me by the neck 😍

[Sandra Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good background prior to the start of book #1

[Page_2_Pen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well rip my heart out in under 2 dozen pages, why don’t ya?! 😭💔 I guess I have to read this series now! I’m invested, dang it! 👀

[Asulley4785 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding, Emotional, and Absolutely Unputdownable!
Fall of the Wild by Angelina J. Steffort is one of those rare books that captures your heart from the very first page and refuses to let go. Steffort has created a world that feels both breathtakingly wild and deeply human — a perfect blend of fantasy, danger, and raw emotion.
The characters are unforgettable. They’re flawed, fierce, and beautifully real. You can feel every heartbreak, every moment of courage, and every spark of connection between them. The world-building is lush and immersive — from the haunting wilderness to the subtle magic that pulses through the story, it all feels alive.
What I loved most is how Steffort balances intensity with tenderness. The romance feels organic and powerful, never forced, and the themes of survival, sacrifice, and love hit straight to the soul. By the end, I was torn between wanting more and needing to sit quietly just to process it all.
If you love fantasy filled with heart, depth, and breathtaking emotion, Fall of the Wild is an absolute must-read. Angelina J. Steffort has once again proven she’s a master of storytelling.
✨ Highly recommended for fans of slow-burn romance, richly woven fantasy, and stories that make you feel everything.

I received an ARC copy and this is my honest review.

[Sky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice and brief look at how Ayna ended up in her situation when she is introduced in The Wings of Ink.

I read this first before beginning the "Wings of Ink" Series, so I feel this is a good introduction to the story, and it will be interesting to see the outcome, knowing Ayna has someone she loves before becoming a future bride of the Crow King.

[CelestialDreamer4 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely shocked to find out that Angelina Steffort writes a PREQUEL to the Wings of Ink Series so I IMMEDIATELY jumped on this and read it in 3 days as usual lol! I LOVE reading about the back story of the characters and what had transpired leading up to where the main book begins. If you want to read about how the FMC became to be this would be it.

[Erin Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novella. It was the first of Angelina's that I have read and it was a quick and well written read. The characters were likeable but didnt really have enough time in this small prequel to really gain a sense of them, which is why I rated 4 stars and not higher. I am looking forward to reading more in this series and by this author.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a prequel to the Wings of Ink series. It follows the story of pirate Ayna, who sets out to loot a merchant ship returning from the fairylands, only to have her own ship attacked instead. The novella is filled with adventure, fantasy, and romance.

[Rebecca Horist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: Got this as a free copy

A very gripping short story prequel with 2 leads that has some light pirate spice. The ending is so gripping I want to immediately start the main story

Overall I like the authors writing style and I look forward to reading more!

[Ashley Quiett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting start to the series! I look forward to the adventure!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was so fun and sad and a definite hook to follow Ayna's journey!!
I'm in!!

[Maria Mieling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good prequel. I hope the rest of the series is as intriguing and intense!

[Gabrielle Koizumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It read more like a first chapter of the book rather than a fully fleshed out prequel short story or novella. I wished there had been a bit more rich detail.

[Madeleine Booth-Smits · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic backstory/start to an enticing series!!

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was far too short! I would absolutely have read hundreds of pages more about Ayna's journey on the Wild Ray.

[Andra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this prequel for Wings of Ink series.