Of Melodies and Maledictions

Lingering Fates

by Maddox Grey

THE WITCH OF THE WOODS

I protect my sister. And I protect my forest. That’s all I care about. All I need.

But a series of unfortunate events leads to me having to step outside of my beloved woods. The hunt is simple. Find the men who dared to trespass. End them. Return home.

Simple.

What’s not simple? The thief with the dark eyes and sly grin who spells all kinds of trouble... and the way they call to my heart.

THE CURSED WEREWOLF

I protect my sister. And I protect my troupe. That’s all I care about. All I need.

We’re supposed to be taking a break, but the opportunity to get revenge—and some money—falls into my lap. I can hardly turn down that kind of opportunity. It’s just a simple job.

But the mysterious woman who invites herself to our robbery is anything but simple. And the pull I feel towards her... it’s like nothing I’ve ever known.

Of Melodies and Maledictions is a fast-paced and spicy queer romantasy that is a prequel novella to Of Silver and Curses. Perfect for fans of stabby morally grey characters, fated mates, forced proximity, banter and all the found family vibes.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Novella, Fantasy Romance, Amazon

151 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2025

About the author

Maddox Grey is a queer nonbinary elder millennial who still remembers vividly what it was like to be emotionally damaged by the season two finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

They write morally grey characters who fall for equally unhinged morally grey love interests. And the banter flows as fast as the action in the stories they craft.

When they’re not putting their characters through hell, Maddox is playing video games, reading smut, burying their nose in comic books, or hiding behind a pillow while they watch horror movies.

NOTE FROM AUTHOR:
Hey there! I'm rarely on this site, only popping over occasionally to make sure my books updated correctly. If you have any questions for me, please use the contact form on my website or message me on Instagram : )

If you’re curious about what I’m reading, you can follow my “reviews” here. Personally I’m not comfortable publicly reviewing other authors books. So if I enjoyed it, it gets five stars from me, lol. My taste in books is… chaotic… but mostly some flavor of fantasy.

Reviews

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excuse me, I am OBSESSED

[KMart Vet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This spicy little novella absolutely delivered. It’s fast-paced and already has me hooked on these characters after less than 100 pages; which makes me very excited to dive into the full-length novel next.

I loved the morally grey characters, the tension between the leads, and the way it didn’t shy away from complexity despite the shorter format. This does have instant lust, but that's fine because it will likely be expanded upon. Love the fact that the love interest is non-binary. Their chemistry is immediate, but there’s also something deeper simmering under the surface that I can’t wait to explore more of.

Curses, fated mates, and a witch-meets-unique-werewolf; this was such a good time. I’m in. Bring on the next!

Thanks so much to the author and Behind the Pages for the complimentary copy! This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Raechel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of Melodies and Maledictions is a short prequel to Of Silver and Curses that details how the two main characters met one another. While the story is basically a sexcapade (that is NOT a complaint), I think the interactions between the characters is really helpful backstory for the full-length Of Silver and Curses.

Tropes:
-witch(es), fae, cursed werewolves
-lots of slasher violence
-fated mates
- poly-amory (subplot)

One of the main characters is nonbinary, which I absolutely love. The character reads strongly masculine to me (also not a complaint).

There is a lot "scream"-ing during sex scenes, which throws me off (this is a complaint, lol, but a silly and very personal one that is not a fault with the book or the author.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice introduction into the characters and the story that is unfolding. Definitely not for YA.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of Melodies & Maledictions is a quick and exciting read that introduces us to the two main characters of Maddox Grey’s new Lingering Fates series.

Read for:
🐺 forest witches and cursed werewolves
🌳 lovers to enemies
🐺 instant chemistry
🌳 found family
🐺 nonbinary MC
🌳 unique magic

First we meet Scythe, who is honestly just a SUPER cool witch and the B.A. protector of her forest. Then we meet Talon. They’re a super smooth and charming cursed werewolf. The two are immediately drawn to each other, but curses and love never mix well 👀

This is a prequel novella to a series of interconnected stand-alones & is available for FREE nearly everywhere!

Thank you, Maddox, for creating such AMAZING and complex characters for us to fall in love with! I loved learning about Talon & Scythe’s origin and I cannot wait to see where the rest of these books take us. 😍

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Under 100 pages, Of Melodies and Maledictions provides the perfect short story that brings together two amazing characters. Maddox Grey delivers a wonderful prequel to set up their new Lingering Fates series. I ate this book up and cannot wait for the first full length novel in this series to come out.

Scythe, our amazing FMC and forest witch, is impossible to not love. She protects the forest and everything within it. When an outside force threatens to disrupt the forest she will do everything she can to remove it. Along her journey, she meets Talon, a cursed werewolf. They are immediately drawn to each other, but each holds their own secrets. Talon is charming, sexy, and has a smile that captivates. They bring something to Scythe she never knew she was missing.

Maddox always creates wonderful characters that you devour within their stories. The world building has set us up for an amazing first novel and I can’t wait to go back to Arandia with this series. Highly recommend reading this stabby, action packed, magical short book before their newest book comes out. Lingering Fates is already a series I know I will love!

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
💀Morally Grey Characters
🖤Stabby FMC
💀Werewolf MMC
🖤Mistaken Identity
💀Instalust
🖤Found Family
💀Unique Magic
🖤Nonbinary Representation

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t realise this was an introduction to these characters but I’m so happy it is… looked into the next book immediately upon finishing this novella.

In a world where a war made Fae flee and Witches leave to their home land - lands where split between who dominated them. Humans have taken over much of the land and for the last remaining witch - Scythe she is the Witch in the Woods… she protects the forest and its inhabitants from the other people wanting to harm. She also has a half sister who is witch kin (no magic) who she protects at all costs! But Scythe has known heartbreak and loneliness and often wanders into human villages for some company.

Talon is a cursed werewolf (he can’t shift). He was cursed by Scythes ancestors, long ago. He is as much a werewolf as any other in his protective nature and aggression - which when he meets Scythe skyrockets!!! They are both happy for some company but when they realise who each other are their just and longing turn into hate due to their bitter rivalry. The book ends just as this realisation hits and wow does that cliffhanger make you RUN for the next book… just as I intend to do!

[Sie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a genuinely fun and surprisingly good read for a novella that I got for free. I liked Scythe and Talon from the moment they were both introduced and, while some things are pretty predictable, it was still deeply enjoyable.

I do wish there would have been more fleshing out of the side characters, but I also understand that this is a prequel novella and I'm genuinely hopeful that the book that follows the events does just that. Because I do actually intend to read that at some point (I need to work through more of my tbr before I get any more books).

There were a few errors in the novella, but nothing serious enough to annoy me or make me want to stop reading. I also really love openly queer books with nonbinary rep so that adds to my level of investment here.

Hands down one of the better freebies I've gotten and if y'all want a good, quick read to break a slump or set you up for something that seems really promising, I definitely recommend it.

[Rhiannon Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of Melodies and Maledictions - Maddox Grey

I really enjoyed this book. This is the absolute perfect prequel to a series. This got me hooked on the characters and the setting and the chemistry and vibes between them. I definitely will be reading more by this author, especially the first book in the series I loved not only the main characters, Scythe and Talon, but the sisters of the main characters as well. I like that they have a romance as well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️

🔥 / Spice Rating ☀️

# of Pages 🌙 89 pages

Release Date 🌟 5/4/25

Format 💫 Digital

Series 🌙 Lingering Fates, #0.5

Genre/Tropes ✨ Dark fantasy, Romantasy, mates, witch x wolf, prequel, strangers to lovers to enemies

Favorite Character ☀️ Scythe

Favorite Line 🌟 ‘Some people are just asking to get punched in the face. Or killed. Often both.’

[Rachel Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was included in the paperback for Of Silver and Curses, and I would absolutely recommend reading this first, before you dive into the main book (even though it's at the back of the book after the story so I read it after LOL)

In this we get to see what happened to Scythe and Talon before Of Silver and Curses begins. We did read that they had a prior encounter together, before Talon knew she was the witch of the wood, and now we get to see what all really went down.

I'm so glad we got this story to see how they first met, how they realized their sisters were in love, this would be a great intro for anyone into this world. I also thought that for a novella, this had a bunch of story packed into it, which I always appreciate!

[Jessica Beatty · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️

First of all, I absolutely would pick to live in Arandia, the land of witches. A land with no humans and full of magic where I could be a total cottage witch?

Sign. Me. Up.

Second, I need a heard of devil cats, pronto!

Third, this story was so fun! I'm not typically a fan of instalove/lust, but I think it fits perfectly in this novella, and I can't wait to read Of Silver and Curses!

There is so much awesome stabby action and magic, and I'm so excited for the rest of this series! Also, some pretty fun spice to keep you satiated 😏

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️


Some of the dialogue feels a bit cringey as if it is a imitation of a stereotypical fantasy books however the overall plot is interesting and even though it’s short it is able to explore the plot and even the characters very well

The book does a good job at giving u just enough information about the characters to care about them and be interested in them while keeping enough information about them unclear making u want to continue reading about them to find out more

[Angela Vankleeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short little fantasy read and had me finish it in one sitting. I liked the story line but wasn't sure what the plot was. It was more of a character build and I did like the introduction of characters and who they were. Each with their own problems and desires and of course issues that will prevent them from being together. Ill probably continue with this just to see what happens, though I wish it gave me a little more to really want to know what happens.

[Reading_seas0n · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was accepted to be of the arc team of the first book in this series & read this prequel to prepare.
All opinions are my own!

I ATE THIS UP!
It gives us a little world building and some idea of who our characters are (a little hint of values & backstory) plus REALLY delivers on chemistry. The way this book has perfectly set up some delicious angst has me very excited for Of Silver & Curses.

[Morgan Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little novella was wonderfully spicy and you get introduced to a lot of fun characters!

I absolutely love Scythe and Talon, their chemistry is off the charts!!! And I love their different POVs. Talon is a gorgeous man and he knows it! And Scythe is deliciously morally grey.

I'm definitely excited to get into Book 1 of this series!

[Samantha Hardesty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooooh I loved this spicy little novella read. It was fast-paced, but not overwhelmingly so, the spice was written incredibly well and I’m a bit obsessed with both Talon and Scythe. So excited to dive into Of Silver & Curses to find out what happens, I’ve got a feeling this angst is gonna be GIVING!

[Jenn Winning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this introduction to Scythe and Talon, and the curses between witch and werewolf. And let me tell you, I am already in love with these two. Snarky banter, so much tension, and already some delicious spice. I cannot wait to know them more as we delve into this series!

[Amanda Callies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short like very very short look into our characters and how they met and why they hate each other in Of Silver and Curses which releases this week! So excited to read it. Really enjoyed this sweet spicy novella!

[Kelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a satisfying and spicy intro to Scythe and Talon, it would work perfectly on its own but it also creates the best setup for the Lingering Fates world! Maddox’s writing is so wonderful, I ate this up in no time. A perfect romantasy novella

[Rachel Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story: 4.25/5

I love Maddox Grey as a writer and was so excited for another series by them. This book was the perfect tease to introduce the characters and their world as well as set-up the FMC and MMC's issues. I cannot wait to continue the series.

[Vice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine. A short novella so packed in a decent effort at world-building, but everything felt a little rushed and forced. The writing embraced using modern turn of phrase with reckless abandon to an extent where you just shrug and accept the voice for what it is.

[Nicole H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun short read

A fun short read that I can't wait to continue! I'm excited to see what happens to Scythe and Talon.

[Kevin Cannon (Monty's Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent prelude that efficiently whets the appetite for the main series. Great characters and plenty of scope for drama

[Bookish Coffee UK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omgosh! To say that I'm super hyped to read this series is a serious UNDERSTATEMENT!

I feel like this will be another series obsession of mine lol 😆

[Toni Everett · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an awesome start to what I can imagine is gonna be a rather enjoyable series 🤩

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely amazing! I loved getting to know these 2 new characters and their stories! I can't wait to see what happens with scythe and talon

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SO GOOD!! Great introduction to the characters and I can't wait to read more about Scythe and Talon in of Silver and Curses!

[Britney ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely enough to make me need to read the first book immediately. We got so much packed into this short novella without it ever feeling rushed. A fantastic intro to Scythe and Talon.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so good! Can’t wait for the book!

[Katie O’Reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

A charming & fast-paced intro novella to what looks like a much longer sequel.

Loved both main characters & all the supporting cast.