AfterDark

Witches and Wolves #1

by Miriam Yvette

Bill Willingham’s Fable, Grimm, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets American Gods in this psychological paranormal romance where mythical creatures live in disguise.

“You’re mad because I didn’t kiss you, aren’t you?”
“I’m mad because I want to kiss you now.”

Vina wants a summer escape, but she wasn’t expecting a coffee run to send her bumping into a wolf shifter. Now he’s imprisoned in her family’s bookstore, and setting him free is out of the question. Her powerful scarf is unable to leave him, and a ruthless organization is days from discovering their crime. For many years, Wolf shifters were forbidden from entering San Francisco. Should a witch or wolf die by either of their hand, the ancient Blood Contract that contributed to their peace will break.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧TROPES✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
♡ Forced proximity
♡ Hopeless romantic vs realist
♡ I'll kill for you
♡ Love rivals
♡ *the rest are spoilers*
♡ A fat cat named Sushi.

Genres: Paranormal

358 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2025

About the author

Miriam Yvette is a fantasy romance author and fantasy artist. Born in California, most of her childhood was spent in the Central Valley and in Washington State. She enjoys visiting national parks, spending time with her husband, children, and family. She spends most of her time writing in the late, hooting hours of the night, when possums come out of hiding, and street cats brawl.


Readers who love awkward first kisses will enjoy my stories!

Reviews

[Timothy Wolff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one. Maybe something like Twilight with scarves. But this honestly was a ton of fun. The dry humor was perfect for me, and I absolutely loved the important scenes having artwork on the pages. Really appreciated the contrasts because the two leads. I immediately preordered book two.

“What she had done was a clean romance reader’s horror and to a smutty dark romance reader, heaven.”

Lmao

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the ARC 🤍

This was a phenomenal paranormal romance and I’m excited for the sequel 🤭 We follow a witch with unique magic and a wolf shifter with important ancestry navigating a world that doesn’t want them to succeed. I was captivated by the world building, magic systems, and how the storyline unfolds. The banter and relationship building was well done; however, I found the pacing in certain points wasn’t my favourite. Also, I would love to learn more about some of the side characters! Overall this is an amazing book for anyone who loves werewolves, witches, and mystery 🤗

The character drawings inside the book are also incredible!!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was awesome. The editing of the story was spot on, which I find refreshing. The author captured the emotions very well. The only reason this book didn't earn a 5 star is because it was easy to put down and get other stuff done. To me a 5 star book is one you can put down. I can't put my finger on why the book was easy to put down for a day or two and then come back to it. I'm so looking forward to the second book in this series. I will defiantly be looking for other books by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s nothing bad I can say about this book. It has everything you could want in a paranormal romance setting. The banter between Vina and Dante is just simply perfect and the right amount. This also has the perfect balance of romance and plot even if we haven’t gotten to the lovers aspect of the enemies to lovers trope. I had the hardest time putting it down and can’t wait to discover what happens next.

[Adam Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Fans of urban fantasy, especially ones keen on supernatural beings like werewolves and witches, will love it. The prose is so natural which makes the reading smooth and enjoyable. I was always keen to find out what happens next.

I really enjoyed how a lot of the book was set in a bookshop. It made everything so grounded, despite the epic nature of the story at large. I could really visualise the setting in my head. Both main characters - Vina (great name) and Dante - were flawed and believable. In particular, you really felt for Vina while I massively enjoyed Dante's time as a bird.

There was a real Sabrina the Teenage Witch vibe about this. Minus the talking cat (although there was a cat).

Really cool magic system too. Some of the spells were really unique as much of the story - and history - was centred around a magical scarf. I've never read anything like that before but I liked it.

Kudos to the author - a great read and page turner (not burner).

[Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing paranormal/urban fantasy romance. While there wasn’t much romance in there yet it does a good job laying the foundation for further books. The whole book was a good start to what promises to be an exciting series.

Not only are there witches and wolves but there’s also various other creatures in addition to strange dreams, past traumas, mysterious wolves, contracts, corrupt leaders, and so much more wrapped into this story. I look forward to seeing where things go.

This one was an interesting one with unique magicks like the scarf. I found that to be so cool and really want to know more about it.

Vina was a determined character. I do like her willingness to help and there remains a mystery about her that I can’t wait to uncover.

Speaking of mysterious Dante has that in spades! Now him I’d definitely like to unravel. There was so much to who he was that remains a secret and I want to know!

If you enjoy shifter/witch stories, hate to maybe allies, the beginnings of enemies to lovers, magic, mysteries, hidden pasts, secrets, forced proximity, they save each other, and so much more then check this one out.

[Katherine Tricker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I have devoured this story. I love all the characters, it got straight into the action without it feeling rushed.

The plot unravelled at a good pace, and kept me glued to the pages as I learnt more about the main characters. The villain in the story starts off as fairly mild but there some shocking things revealed as the story plays out and I hate him in that glorious way you only do when they are written to be hated.

The cliffhanger has left me in total suspense and I need the second book yesterday 🤣

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ashley Nussman-Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

AfterDark: Book 1 pulled me in from the very first chapter and had me wanting to drop everything so I could binge read. The pacing is strong, the worldbuilding is explained clearly, and the author ties up loose ends in a way that makes the story flow smoothly.
The mix of suspense, romance, and supernatural elements kept me hooked, and the main characters are engaging in a way that makes you want to know what happens next. The ending left me eager for more—I can’t wait to continue with the next books in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sheriah Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the fresh take on paranormal beings. I found myself reading into the late hours of the night because I just couldn’t get enough. The banter between the characters and the magic systems were intriguing and I can’t wait to read the next book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[bookishbunna]

"Vina, listen very closely. You don't ever need to look over your shoulder in my care. I won't let anyone hurt you." — Dante

Vina is a direct descendant of a powerful witch and the current Bearer of Red, the holder of a sentient scarf with inconceivable power. But she's also a hopeless romantic and a college student struggling through her final semester exam season. All Vina desperately wants is one good cup of coffee, a field trip outside the city so she can visit her best friend, and a date with the cute guy working at her local coffee shop.

Enter Dante, a grumpy wolf shifter, a witch’s mortal enemy, and unfortunately the person Vina's scarf decides to attach itself to when he sneaks into her city. Unable to get her scarf back, Vina now has to battle both her ailing health and weakening magic, hide their mistake from the ruthless organization governing supernatural beings, AND pass all her classes before the tentative peace between witches and wolves finally breaks.

◆ College Student Witch MC x Wolf Shifter Love Interest
◆ Enemies-to-Reluctant Allies-to-??? & They Save Each Other
◆ Forced Proximity & Banter & Slow Burn & Spice
◆ Complex Magic Systems
◆ Multi-Pov & Cliffhanger

Vina is a character you can't help but root for because she's so relatable! In the beginning I found myself VERY concerned by some of her actions, but then I thought back to my college days and all the things I did back then (especially when I ran out of coffee during exam season...) and decided she wasn't being too dramatic or outlandish at all 😂 I enjoyed both her character development arc and her evolving relationship with Dante as the trust between them grew.

I also found the worldbuilding in AfterDark very interesting, especially all the different factions and the magic system! Vina's Page Burning technique was such a cool concept, I wish we got more of it! Actually, I wish we got to see more of the entire world and history too, like the rest of Vina's family and their history along with Dante's wolf pack. Can't wait to see if things will be elaborated on in book two ... which I needed yesterday thanks to that cliffhanger!!! 🤲

[Bronze Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic world Miriam has created here! We have a stoic, moody, muscular Mexicano wolf shifter (Dante) who gets literally entangled with a very special young witch called Vina. From the start there is friction and mystery. Vina's magical artifact--a relic from the First Witch, Garnet--is a red scarf with a will of its own and exercises its freedom by leaving Vina during a freak accident at the onset of the story, wrapping itself around a few unsuspecting humans, immediately transporting them to purgatory, before finally wrapping itself round the neck of a handsome, tall stranger whose aura can handle the crazy magical piece of knitting!

The couple seem to have been brought together, but why? It's an exciting journey finding out why this interesting wolf shifter has entered the territory of San Francisco, a realm off limits to wolf shifters due to an ancient feud between witches and wolf shifters. For a quarter of the book or more, you get to know Dante better as he is transformed into a warbler, a spell cast by Vina's powerful mother, Rilanda. The poor thing is tormented and questioned, kept prisoner in the family's bookstore. Even the cat, Sushi, has its way with him, leaving an emotional scar behind.

There are so many memorable characters throughout this book: trolls, leprechauns, fae, shifters, wolves, smug warlocks, sexy vampires, powerful enigmatic witches, etc! Everything you could want in a fantasy series. I was reminded of some of my favourite televsion series as I encountered the characters and the complexity and fragility of their hidden world: "Lost Girl," "Grimm," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," and even Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" came to mind!

Mind you, paranormal romance is definitely NOT the genre I would willingly choose to read. Nevertheless, I loved this. I found the story captivating and the characters compelling. I can't wait to find out what happens next. I highly recommend this book.

[Bill Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been an avid fan of Miriam Yvette’s work, and I recently learned that an ARC copy of her latest book is available. Of course, I signed up for ARC.
Miriam’s novel introduces Vina, a sharp and determined protagonist navigating the everyday bustle of San Francisco while carrying the burden of her magical legacy. The opening scenes, set against the backdrop of Johnny’s Café and Rune Books, are both charming and tense, immediately grounding me in a world where the mystical and mundane coexist. Miriam’s detailed writing and emotional depth make Vina’s inner struggles and reactions to betrayal, magic, and responsibility all the more compelling.
One of Miriam’s strongest story qualities is her ability to balance high-stakes magical conflict with relatable emotional undertones. A good example is the red scarf. This object has powerful and mysterious properties. Yet it was also a symbol of identity, family legacy, and personal struggle.
The arrival of Dante adds both conflict and comic relief. I enjoyed their evolving relationship, which had tension, fun banter, and begrudging cooperation.
Afterdark is a fresh and spirited take on the urban fantasy genre. Miriam’s book is filled with lore, humor, and heart. The fantastic characters contain themes of family, heritage, and strength. The writing style is immersive and polished, with an engaging pace that pulled me in from the first page.
Miriam continues to be one of the best new authors out there, and I look forward to her future works.

[C.D. McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What is history but clouded stories worded by finicky mouths."

Now THIS is paranormal romance!!!!

It has been a long while since I've picked up a paranormal romance, but I am so glad that I grabbed this one. Yvette does an epic job at creating a vast and ever-expanding world, while still holding true to some of those juicy tidbits that make paranormal romance what it is. I absolutely adored Yvette's storytelling and writing style - the dialogue and narrative is well-crafted (and some of the things these characters say feel so natural and in the moment that it's beyond refreshing).

I dare say Yvette has reignited my love for the paranormal romance genre. The plot is well-developed and layered, the characters real and relatable, and the pacing a refreshing mix of grand tales and page-turning need. THIS is what paranormal romance should be - rich with story and with loveable characters.

And the heat between Dante and Vina? Their evolving friendship (relationship?!?!?!) is the literal definition of forced proximity and slow burn - two of my favorite tropes in any romance.

Seriously - a must read. If this is the future of paranormal romance, consider me invested.

[Sammyll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this magical world that Miriam has created. From the first page I was hooked! From the Red Scarf to the tantalising Wolf Shitfer Dante, I was riveted. The banter, & humour was entertaining , as are the spells amd side characters. Miriam's writing flowed with ease but at times I felt it lost some mementum but this did not put me off from engaging with the characters or the story.

Steeped in mystery, drama & amongst the chaos, a brilliant world of magic enticed me to read at full speed. I reached the end to a major cliffhanger. I hope we don't have to wait too long for the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[JenniferARCReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first three chapters couldn't stop reading.
AfterDark: Witches and Wolves hooked me fast: a cursed red scarf zips through San Francisco, turns two pedestrians into books, and lands on a fourteen-foot wolf shifter who gets bound into a tiny warbler and caged in a family bookstore. Vina Rune, a 21-year-old Bearer of Red, and Dante, the grumpy wolf, spark hilarious, sharp banter that makes the slow-burn romance feel earned. World-building (the Blood Contract, Arbiters, Etharlians) is clear and lived-in, Aunty Crystal steals scenes, and the Bay Bridge ending left me stunned.
Perfect series-starter fun, inventive, and absolutely addictive. Highly recommended.

[Bill Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced slooooooow-burn urban fantasy romance where the enemies to lovers are enemies the entire time. Lots of intrigue and the book ends on a massive cliffhanger. I really liked Vina's character and her chronic passing out because of her magic. The idea of a magic scarf that sends humans to purgatory is also really cool. Dante is such a douche but I still liked him. All in all, a fun quick story!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have high expectations for this author, and she never disappoints. The first installment of the Witches and Wolves series is a fast-paced adventure that is funny, exciting, and emotional.

AfterDark is a paranormal romance slow burn that lures you into this story on page one. Witches, wolves, and trouble lurks, and I couldn't get enough.

Eagerly awaiting book 2.

[Olivia L. Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much fun. I loved the storyline and the charactes. I kept going back for more.

The FMC and MMC have a great tension. I'm curious to see where it leads.
Can't wait for the next book!

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the story. It was so good, I could not put it down. The characters are so lovable.The plot is really good. Dante and Vinas Aunt are definitely my favorites so far. I definitely found this werewolf /witch story very unique. Definitely a really good read. Now off to the next.❤️❤️❤️

[Samantha Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im hooked! The banter between Dante and Vina is top tear and the ache the slow burn gives is beautifully aching. The world building was great and the cliffhanger sucks! Thankfully the second book comes out soon!

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good introduction into the paranormal world and characters the author has created. The plot had me hooked quickly and kept me turning the pages but I did find it a bit slow in places. I’ve already started the next in the series!

[Cutesy Nay · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC through booksirens

Alright this story did not go in the direction I thought it would, different from all my other reads and really enjoyed it.

I got a bit confused by a few characters and who they were/their position (arbitrators)

[CHUCK MOTSINGER]

Kept me on the edge of my seat. Well written and
Great building of characters

[elles. bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review Copy - I really enjoyed reading from the perspectives of our main characters Vina and Dante and liked seeing the developing tension between them. Enemies to lovers is my favourite trope so of course I enjoyed this, and there was also humour which was a great addition. There were a few other characters I struggled to recall but this got easier as the plot progressed.

The plot is full of action and I liked this, I also favoured Yvette’s writing style which included the switching of perspectives but some scene changes were a little hard to follow. The world building is complex and I didn’t understand this as quickly as I would have liked, but by the end of the book I definitely understood it a lot more. The plot includes witches and werewolves and AfterDark felt unique compared to other books with these characters.

Before reading I was aware the ending had a cliffhanger, this made me all the more intrigued for book 2! I’m hoping for more romance and spice in the second book, and I don’t think I’ll be disappointed.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, a huge thank you to the author and Book Sirens for providing me with this copy.

[A.J. Ashton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. The story was like a cosy scarf. I loved Vina and definitely liked Dante. He was the loveable yet also annoying, in a good way, anti hero. Loved how he was more focused on food than anything else and he might not admit it but he definitely had a soft spot for Vina.
Vina was a brillant character too. I liked how she tries her hardest to help Dante even when he doesn't want it. She was also a strong character that even with her weaknesses tried her utmost to do all she could. And she could definitely kick ass.
The story was well written and paced nicely. I'm not one for cliffhangers but this worked well and can't wait to read the next book in the series.