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Black Wolves of Boston #2
Black Tie and Tails
From the Romantic Times Sapphire award winning author of the Internationally best-selling Elfhome series, comes the sequel to The Black Wolves of Boston
Joshua Tatterskein’s life has been strange. He's become a werewolf, lives with a three-hundred-year-old vampire named Silas Decker and a ginger kitten called Trouble. Then things get even weirder when he encounters a talking penguin who wants to hire him for a job. Joshua just wants to graduate from his new high school. The school is owned by Boston’s werewolf pack, and while the teachers might not realize the owners are wolves, all the kids with special abilities –– the Goths –– know. The good news is the Goths are happy to help Joshua, but the bad news is: one of them has gone missing.
Silas Decker has been waking up earlier than normal – very odd after three hundred years of being dead to the world when the sun is up. He enjoys the change – but what does he have to do for it to continue?
Elise Grigori’s day starts bad; her angelic family has discovered that she’s dating Jack Cabot, Thane to the Wolf King. It gets worse when Central Office calls to say that her cousin Francis is missing from his Vermont monastic retreat. He’s a Power, God’s strength manifested in flesh, which means he’s a walking nuke. His car is in Boston, which is very bad news for Boston.
Seth Tatterskein is just trying to hold his life together until he’s old enough to leave the Wolf King’s castle in New York and return to Boston as its Prince. His departure requires keeping his emotions in check – not an easy thing to do when your brother starts texting things like, “What kind of penguin talks?”
Joshua Tatterskein’s life has been strange. He's become a werewolf, lives with a three-hundred-year-old vampire named Silas Decker and a ginger kitten called Trouble. Then things get even weirder when he encounters a talking penguin who wants to hire him for a job. Joshua just wants to graduate from his new high school. The school is owned by Boston’s werewolf pack, and while the teachers might not realize the owners are wolves, all the kids with special abilities –– the Goths –– know. The good news is the Goths are happy to help Joshua, but the bad news is: one of them has gone missing.
Silas Decker has been waking up earlier than normal – very odd after three hundred years of being dead to the world when the sun is up. He enjoys the change – but what does he have to do for it to continue?
Elise Grigori’s day starts bad; her angelic family has discovered that she’s dating Jack Cabot, Thane to the Wolf King. It gets worse when Central Office calls to say that her cousin Francis is missing from his Vermont monastic retreat. He’s a Power, God’s strength manifested in flesh, which means he’s a walking nuke. His car is in Boston, which is very bad news for Boston.
Seth Tatterskein is just trying to hold his life together until he’s old enough to leave the Wolf King’s castle in New York and return to Boston as its Prince. His departure requires keeping his emotions in check – not an easy thing to do when your brother starts texting things like, “What kind of penguin talks?”
464 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2025
57 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Wen Spencer
44 books894 followersJohn W. Campbell Award Winner Wen Spencer resides in paradise in Hilo, Hawaii with two volcanoes overlooking her home. Spencer says that she often wakes up and exclaims "Oh my god, I live on an island in the middle of the Pacific!" This, says Spencer, is a far cry from her twenty years of living in land-locked Pittsburgh.
The Elfhome series opener, Tinker, won the 2003 Sapphire Award for Best Science Fiction Romance and was a finalist for the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Fantasy Novel. Wolf Who Rules, the sequel to Tinker, was chosen as a Top Pick by Romantic Times and given their top rating of four and a half stars. Other Baen books include space opera thriller Endless Blue and Eight Million Gods.
The Elfhome series opener, Tinker, won the 2003 Sapphire Award for Best Science Fiction Romance and was a finalist for the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Fantasy Novel. Wolf Who Rules, the sequel to Tinker, was chosen as a Top Pick by Romantic Times and given their top rating of four and a half stars. Other Baen books include space opera thriller Endless Blue and Eight Million Gods.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 3, 2025
A fun, action filled sequel to Black Wolves of Boston. Joshua and his friends face a new supernatural opponent while his brother Seth fights to keep Joshua safe.
January 7, 2026
3.5 to 3.75 stars
September 8, 2025
Very satisfying.
September 30, 2025
This multi-viewpoint novel is the second in the Black Wolves of Boston series. It follows the adventures a new werewolf named Joshua who lives with a three-hundred-year-old vampire named Silas Decker.
Seth Tatterskein is Joshua's younger brother who is the Prince of Boston. Because he's only sixteen, he's under the care of the Wolf King and living in New York. He's trying to manage Boston from a distance and with only his cousin Jack, who is one of the Wolf King's thanes, to help him.
Elise Grigori is the fourth viewpoint character. She is a grigori whose role is to battle monsters. She's assigned to Boston which has more than its usual number of monsters because of the lack of resident werewolves. It is her family that uses Decker who has a dowsing talent to help them find the monsters.
Joshua is a high school senior with only a few months before graduation. He's been put in a new school in Boston that was founded and is still supported by his family. He finds a circle of friends who are also gifted but not werewolves. His status as a werewolf is unknown to most of the students. He is having some problems integrating with his wolf and managing his shapechanging.
Things start to go sideways when Joshua dreams of talking penguins that he meets at the aquarium. The world is new to him. His first thought is to text Seth to ask if talking penguins are real. Seth in the middle of things in New York too. The werewolf king has come back from Europe exhausted. His son Isaiah has always been jealous of Seth and has harassed him for years with the able assistance of thanes loyal to Isaiah. Isaiah's main complaint is that the Wolf King has not yet named him Prince of New York despite the fact that he's a decade older than Seth.
Seth is also making connections with his wife. The Wolf King insisted on the marriage when Seth was still suffering with alpha amnesia. Seth doesn't even know her name but needs her help rebuilding the pack in Boston. Getting to know his wife is just one of the moves he's making to transfer to Boston. After his family died when he was thirteen, the Court was burned down which leaves Seth nowhere to live in Boston or house any werewolves he might convince to join his pack.
Elise has a problem too. Her cousin Francis has left his monastery in Maine and evidence indicates that he might be in Boston. Francis is a Power - a nuke in human form dispatched by God to solve problems in a drastic way.
People and events are converging in Boston, and all the viewpoint characters have roles to play if evil is to be defeated.
This was another excellent urban fantasy story. I like the worldbuilding. I also really like that characters. All the viewpoint characters are fascinating and the new characters - mostly Joshuah's classmates - are intriguing too.
Seth Tatterskein is Joshua's younger brother who is the Prince of Boston. Because he's only sixteen, he's under the care of the Wolf King and living in New York. He's trying to manage Boston from a distance and with only his cousin Jack, who is one of the Wolf King's thanes, to help him.
Elise Grigori is the fourth viewpoint character. She is a grigori whose role is to battle monsters. She's assigned to Boston which has more than its usual number of monsters because of the lack of resident werewolves. It is her family that uses Decker who has a dowsing talent to help them find the monsters.
Joshua is a high school senior with only a few months before graduation. He's been put in a new school in Boston that was founded and is still supported by his family. He finds a circle of friends who are also gifted but not werewolves. His status as a werewolf is unknown to most of the students. He is having some problems integrating with his wolf and managing his shapechanging.
Things start to go sideways when Joshua dreams of talking penguins that he meets at the aquarium. The world is new to him. His first thought is to text Seth to ask if talking penguins are real. Seth in the middle of things in New York too. The werewolf king has come back from Europe exhausted. His son Isaiah has always been jealous of Seth and has harassed him for years with the able assistance of thanes loyal to Isaiah. Isaiah's main complaint is that the Wolf King has not yet named him Prince of New York despite the fact that he's a decade older than Seth.
Seth is also making connections with his wife. The Wolf King insisted on the marriage when Seth was still suffering with alpha amnesia. Seth doesn't even know her name but needs her help rebuilding the pack in Boston. Getting to know his wife is just one of the moves he's making to transfer to Boston. After his family died when he was thirteen, the Court was burned down which leaves Seth nowhere to live in Boston or house any werewolves he might convince to join his pack.
Elise has a problem too. Her cousin Francis has left his monastery in Maine and evidence indicates that he might be in Boston. Francis is a Power - a nuke in human form dispatched by God to solve problems in a drastic way.
People and events are converging in Boston, and all the viewpoint characters have roles to play if evil is to be defeated.
This was another excellent urban fantasy story. I like the worldbuilding. I also really like that characters. All the viewpoint characters are fascinating and the new characters - mostly Joshuah's classmates - are intriguing too.
November 4, 2025
Joshua Tatterskein has been trying to control his inner wolf puppy since he joined The Black Wolves of Boston(paper) after becoming a werewolf. Now he goes to an expensive prep school, lives with a friendly vampire (300 years old). Unfortunately his wolf, unlike other werewolves, manifests in many sizes. His old family is convinced he has been abducted and is going to the FBI. Then he dreams of a talking penguin (Black Tie and Tails (hard from Baen) and all) at the local aquarium. Unfortunately there’s a man who has stolen a magic rock that controls other penguin shifters. The man is possessed by an ancient evil god dreaming under the ice of Antarctica. Wen Spencer gives Joshua new abilities as he and his new classmates go to save the world from the evil god.
December 18, 2025
Compared to the first book of this series, The Black Wolves of Boston, and many other Spencer's stories, this one was rather mediocre. Most of it read like YA, and not the best of it either. The lead characters, so vivid in book 1, seemed washed out and flattened, almost pale facsimiles of themselves, and the plot felt forced, artificial, unlike the organic development of events in the previous book. I was disappointed. Not sure if I'm going to read the next installment. Maybe not, but I have a lot of time to decide. If it ever comes out at all.
September 5, 2025
Great read!
I was wanting another Black Wolves of Boston book. I was pleased to meet the main characters again and have their adventure shared. Fast pace, incredible world building, satisfying ending, and I want another book!
Off to check out to see if it’s an Audible book. And I’ll probably reread this one again, again. My highest praise.
I was wanting another Black Wolves of Boston book. I was pleased to meet the main characters again and have their adventure shared. Fast pace, incredible world building, satisfying ending, and I want another book!
Off to check out to see if it’s an Audible book. And I’ll probably reread this one again, again. My highest praise.
September 6, 2025
A sequel worth waiting for - a return to Boston brings all sorts of new mysteries. Who at school will Joshua make friends with? Why is he dreaming of penguins? How is he turning up in places without remembering how he got there? My only concern is we still don’t know Joshua’s adopted last name. Ready for book three!
September 6, 2025
Wonderful
Wonderful book, can’t wait for the next one. Wen has done her usual excellent job of character development. Even Mannie the rockhopper penguin is a real person. Love getting to see a bit of Kate and Seth. Joshua and Decker are still my favorite. Well worth reading more than once.
Wonderful book, can’t wait for the next one. Wen has done her usual excellent job of character development. Even Mannie the rockhopper penguin is a real person. Love getting to see a bit of Kate and Seth. Joshua and Decker are still my favorite. Well worth reading more than once.
September 9, 2025
I’m so happy the Black Wolves of Boston are back! I thought it would never get a sequel. This one starts directly after the first so you might need to refresh your memory. Joshua continues to be a chaotic delight. Please don’t make me wait 8 years for the next one!
(Ps. I would also never say no to another Ukiah Oregon book)
(Ps. I would also never say no to another Ukiah Oregon book)
December 13, 2025
Normally I'm not a huge fan of the multi-pov style with its bouncing back and forth between different perspectives. However, I really like this series because I feel the multi-pov is written well. The Black Wolves of Boston have their claws in me and I want to read more about their adventures (although shenanigans feels like a better descriptor at times lol).
September 9, 2025
Great sequel!
Joshua starting school, making friends, and finding his feet - somewhat - as a werewolf. Seth is faced with dilemmas of his own.
Boston in peril and more shapeshifters than you can shake a stick at. Great adventures!
Joshua starting school, making friends, and finding his feet - somewhat - as a werewolf. Seth is faced with dilemmas of his own.
Boston in peril and more shapeshifters than you can shake a stick at. Great adventures!
September 12, 2025
Wow!
What a fantastic read! Wen Spencer does a fantastic job with world building and keeping the story interesting. I can't wait for the next installment. When will we find out the reason for Joshua's strange powers?
What a fantastic read! Wen Spencer does a fantastic job with world building and keeping the story interesting. I can't wait for the next installment. When will we find out the reason for Joshua's strange powers?
September 14, 2025
Fabulous romp!
This is an amazing second book on the series. Answers some questions and leaves room for more. The characters have definitely developed, and I’m waiting (not so) patiently for the next installment.
This is an amazing second book on the series. Answers some questions and leaves room for more. The characters have definitely developed, and I’m waiting (not so) patiently for the next installment.
September 24, 2025
Feel good
This book gave me a,really good feeling from the first chapter. With all the characters popping in and out it really was a joy to read. Deserving the five star rating wholeheartedly.
This book gave me a,really good feeling from the first chapter. With all the characters popping in and out it really was a joy to read. Deserving the five star rating wholeheartedly.
September 25, 2025
Two books in, can't wait for another!
So far, an excellent two-book series with great characters, entertaining plot and sub plots, and great pacing!
Very much enjoyed the story. I hope there will be more.
So far, an excellent two-book series with great characters, entertaining plot and sub plots, and great pacing!
Very much enjoyed the story. I hope there will be more.
October 7, 2025
Love this series!
Love all of Wen Spencer’s books but this is one of my favourite series. I read them again and again. I’m hoping with all the evolving characters and new developments that a third book is already in the planning.
Love all of Wen Spencer’s books but this is one of my favourite series. I read them again and again. I’m hoping with all the evolving characters and new developments that a third book is already in the planning.
August 31, 2025
I've been looking forward to this for a long time and it did not disappoint! So happy to go on another adventure with Joshua, Decker, Seth and Elise and I am psyched for what's coming down the road!
September 2, 2025
Wonderful
I recommend this story very highly! I really enjoyed this tale and the main characters. The humor is perfect. I hope another installment is forthcoming.
I recommend this story very highly! I really enjoyed this tale and the main characters. The humor is perfect. I hope another installment is forthcoming.
September 3, 2025
Loved it
However it’s a shame it took so long. Having said that, I don’t think Wen Spencer can write a bad book. Very much looking forward to the next one
However it’s a shame it took so long. Having said that, I don’t think Wen Spencer can write a bad book. Very much looking forward to the next one
September 3, 2025
I liked it
I re-read book 1 before starting, so it was easy to slide in. Not sure it would be so easy without.
Chaotic and fun.
I re-read book 1 before starting, so it was easy to slide in. Not sure it would be so easy without.
Chaotic and fun.
September 3, 2025
Wen Spencer does it again!
This is a great book! A wonderful sequel to Black Wolves of Boston! I hope she writes many more in this series!
This is a great book! A wonderful sequel to Black Wolves of Boston! I hope she writes many more in this series!
September 6, 2025
More!
Excellent sequel and long! Can’t wait for more with Seth in Boston now and Kate joining him and Decker now awake and eating. Thank you Wen!
Excellent sequel and long! Can’t wait for more with Seth in Boston now and Kate joining him and Decker now awake and eating. Thank you Wen!
September 8, 2025
great story and world
Could use another edit pass (PLEASE search for Elsie and change all to the correct ELISE!!!) but this is otherwise a fun, enthralling read.
Could use another edit pass (PLEASE search for Elsie and change all to the correct ELISE!!!) but this is otherwise a fun, enthralling read.
September 14, 2025
A most worthy if long delayed sequel
The further adventures of the accidental and lone werewolf of Boston. It's as funny and exciting as the first book of the series.
The further adventures of the accidental and lone werewolf of Boston. It's as funny and exciting as the first book of the series.
September 17, 2025
excellent sequel!!
I loved it. Now I’m looking forward to book three. It’s fun meeting the new clients. I want to see what happens next.
I loved it. Now I’m looking forward to book three. It’s fun meeting the new clients. I want to see what happens next.
October 2, 2025
Loved it! Such a long wait from book one but worth it!
Read
October 2, 2025This book was not for me! I got annoyed with the talking penguin, the werewolf that Joshua couldn't control, the spiritual characters, and lost interest. DNF
October 16, 2025
I really like how this story is growing.
November 5, 2025
Glad to get a sequel! Could do with a series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews