The Lure of Wolves and Whispers

The Martyred Isle #1

by Amanda Connolly

A darkly addictive romantasy debut about a girl who sacrifices everything to buy the dangerous magic that could save her sister—the first in a trilogy perfect for fans of Powerless and Throne of Glass.

On the mist-shrouded Isle of Eireann, buying magic comes with a price.

But when her beloved older sister is gravely injured, Maeve risks everything to buy the forbidden magic that might save her. In exchange, Maeve trades her life to a ruthless and dangerously alluring rebel leader. Bound to do his bidding, Maeve finds herself thrown into a deadly competition to become the next queen and stand beside a prince rumored to be more brutal than his tyrannical father.

With the isle on the brink of war, trust and survival come at a terrible cost—one that will tear Maeve’s world, and her heart, in two.

What would you sacrifice to survive?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Young Adult, Audiobook, Fiction, Fantasy Romance

464 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2026

About the author

Amanda Connolly is the debut author of THE LURE OF WOLVES AND WHISPERS, the darkly addictive and propulsive first book in a new crossover romantasy/dark fantasy series launching on July 7, 2026.

She is also an award-winning Canadian political journalist and editor, and was the 2015 Canada-EU Young Journalist Fellow.

She is a dual citizen of both Canada and Ireland.

Reviews

[ellen]

thank you to netgalley and simon & schuster for this arc!

DNF @ 45%
sadly, i don’t feel like i can get through the rest of this book - although the concept itself is interesting to me, i am yet to feel hooked, and there are too many things irking me to make me feel like pushing through is worth it. i am finding the romance(s) to be very rushed and unbelievable, the writing feels clunky to me, the world building (particularly at the start of this book) was incredibly heavy-handed, and i just don’t feel like i have enough intrigue to keep me reading. i wish i’d loved this one!

[Sophie]

DNF @ 39%

The first thing that bothered me was the slow start. The FMC was not interesting enough to sit through this much inner monologue, and it didn't help that most of it was just an info dump of world building. I also didn’t love the writing style, and the dialogue didn’t feel natural.

The characters also felt tropey. The love interest #1 managed to be the flattest Shadow Daddy ever. Love interest #2, just as boring. From their looks to their dialogue and mannerisms, it felt like a trope checklist.

I also think Maeve’s character was poorly handled. She starts as a regular nineteen year old trying to stay out of trouble, but turns out she’s as fast with a knife as the rebel leader. Then she's forced into being an assassin and instantly wears the role like she was born for it. Hum, what?

There is also no logic to why she was chosen as the assassin. If you're trying to overthrow a king, are you really picking someone because they’re not bad with a blade and everyone else is too useful to risk? Ergh. I thought that we’d probably get a better explanation later on, but I read a review saying that anyone could have stepped into that role, so I assume that didn’t happen.

Then we get to the deadly competition… which isn't deadly at all. The first trial is to showcase their cunning, and when asked, "what skills make you worthy of our throne?" the FMC decides to present a riddle for the royal family to solve. A riddle. I swear I remember her saying this was a contest where they fought to the death.

Overall, I felt disconnected from the story and with so many inconsistencies, I lost any interest I had left.

─ ✦ ────

✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: ngl, i’m not loving the reviews i’ve seen so far and the first chapter didn’t convince me. but let’s see if it improves 🤞🥲

⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this but it fell a little short for me. It’s a well-written story but the tropes and storylines were just too familiar to other romantasy stories. I was definitely hoping for it to be a little more unique.

After Maeve strikes a bargain for magic to save her sister, she’s thrown into the assay - the deadly competition to marry the prince. Part of her bargain is assassinating the king to help bring magic back to the land. But things are more complicated when she’s targeted for being a peasant and must also sort her feelings for the rebel leader and the prince.

I thought the pacing of this book was really solid. The last 15% of the book really kept me hooked and has me interested in possibly picking up the next one. I am intrigued by the restoration of magic but feel like there were some fantasy elements that came out of nowhere and were too convenient. I also had difficulty with some of the info-dumping. There was so much information but at the same time I’m still left confused about the politics of the world.

The characters in the story were also a mixed bag. I found Maeve to be quite unlikable. She comes off as being combative rather than sassy. I’m also confused as to how she’s successful in these trials when she has no training as an assassin or anything. Wolf is more interesting, especially when more of his backstory is revealed. I’m definitely curious to learn more about him.

While this didn’t completely work for me, I do think new adult romantasy lovers who don’t mind a familiar story will find this more enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the advanced copy.

[tahaslibrary · Rating 2 out of 5]

the number of useless characters, especially men, in this story is groundbreaking, earth shattering and phenomenal. is everyone stupid? i'm genuinely asking. they're all just doing shit with their eyes closed and arms tied behind their backs on purpose.

you dumbasses have some semblance of a rebel coalition and yet you send a 19 year old girl into a political situation she has NO knowledge of and equip her with thoughts and prayers. her sister is part of your league basically and somehow that leads to you kidnapping her and throwing her into the stupidest set of trial by death monarchy games i've ever seen? she's reportedly chosen because she has the eyes of someone the bloody prince (who doesn't even live up to that name because he's a WEENIE) loved. this doesn't even end up being a serious factor because i think the author forgot it was mentioned at all. don't worry though, i remember every loose end.

the stupid, evil king is sick so he's been locked away to heal. why wouldnt the idiot prince know where his stupid, idiot king father was being kept during his illness? also, why is the king the main point of attack here for the rebels if he's basically a dementia patient? give bro like a powerful sedative and get rid of him. the queen is the one who's from a hostile neighboring country with plans to overthrow your current government? why would SHE not be the target?

the queen is also so half baked evil. she's got this pet dog, sorry pet assassin, she sends off to kill, maim and torture people - the usual killer's appetite. it's truly the equivalent of a "beware of dog" sign, but in front of a castle. EVERYONE knows she and her pet assassin are crazy evil and yet NO ONE in this rebel coalition has prepare for this fact or equipped the 19 year old fmc to be ready to handle that.

the mmc has actual rocks for brains and thinks with the rock in his pants. i would have actually choked him out if i was the fmc. she gave you one job you piece of garbage idiot in return for signing her life over to your cause.

talon is my favourite character. they're just an employed guard, vibing and trying to keep the fmc and themselves alive. the only person actually attempting to stick to their goals!

the ending actually pissed me off so bad. i was vibing until the 50% mark and then i was flabbergasted at the sheer idiocy of every single person on paper.

there's a character named CASH in this? who do you think you are? also, there are NO WOLVES. i think i'm more mad about that than anything else.

i wish someone whispered in my ear and told me not to read this doodoo, dusty, half baked romantasy.

[Lia Carstairs]

DNF @ 39%

I actually expected this to have a slow start as that's what a lot of reviews mentioned but I surprisingly didn't run into that issue. If anything, it got my attention right away because of the first few chapters.

My problem is that I just don't care enough to continue. I liked Maeve in the beginning and thought she'd be an interesting character but she's lowkey annoying me now... and I know I haven't seen too much of the MMC but he's pretty boring so far. I even skimmed a bit ahead to see if there'd be anything to change my mind and it doesn't appear so. Also, this has your typical tropes which I don't mind but it reads very YA (so like why is it labeled as adult in the UK???) and it's super obvious how the end will play out in those aspects (which yes, I looked ahead to confirm and I was right), and all of this just seems boring and not worth continuing to read in my opinion. Though I definitely agree with other reviews that the writing is really good.

Disappointed but I'm sure this book will find its audience!

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Stacey | read.with.stacey]

DNF at 40%

Thank you Harper Collin’s Canada for the gifted paperback arc 🫶

Unfortunately, this book didn’t work for me. I thought it sounded really interesting based on the synopsis, but the execution wasn’t there in my opinion. The writing felt a bit clunky to me and the story just didn’t feel like it was flowing well. I felt like we got almost no world building outside of a brief “info dumping” situation in the first few chapters. I understand that certain tropes and concepts are present in many romantasy books but this one just felt like a compilation of things I’d read before. I did not feel connected to the FMC and the story just wasn’t holding my interest.

I hope the book finds its intended audience! Might work better for people new to the genre.

[The Chapter Chaser · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐ “Familiar, immersive, and undeniably readable, this story delivers many of the elements readers love.....yet it never quite finds the spark, twist, or revelation that would make it truly its own and impossible to forget.”

First of all, I think this is a solid debut from Amanda Connelly. It’s easy to tell that a lot of care went into the editing. The writing is immersive, the narrative flows smoothly, and overall it’s a very pleasant reading experience.
I’ve seen quite a few readers wondering whether this should be classified as YA. Between the explicit scenes, the violence, the torture, and the fact that the FMC is nineteen years old, this feels much closer to New Adult or Adult fantasy. The writing itself also feels mature enough to fit comfortably within those categories.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC

✨ What worked for me

• The atmosphere

It took me a little while to settle into the atmosphere because the opening felt almost too familiar. During the first 20–30% of the book, I couldn’t shake the feeling of déjà vu, as many of the elements seemed heavily inspired by the romantasy books that have dominated the genre over the last few years. Fortunately, the story gradually finds its footing and develops enough of its own identity to stand apart. While it clearly borrows from successful romantasy trends, it ultimately delivers an enjoyable reading experience in its own right.

• Accessible worldbuilding

The world isn’t described in extensive detail, but it’s easy to understand and navigate. The author gives readers just enough information to stay immersed without becoming overwhelmed.

• Intriguing characters

The characters kept me engaged, particularly the MMC (hello, Shadow Daddy 👀,), who was easily the most compelling part of the story for me.

That said, I feel like several characters are still waiting for their moment to shine. We get glimpses of interesting backstories and motivations, but many of them still need room to grow and develop their own arcs. Hopefully, that’s something the next books will explore further.

• The romance dynamics

I’m still wondering whether we’re heading toward a love triangle. It seems obvious that the FMC’s feelings are firmly pointed in one direction, but the marriage arrangement adds enough tension to make me curious about where the series is going.

As of now, we simply don’t know enough about the prince to fully judge his role in the story. However, there are enough hints throughout the book to make me wonder whether there’s more to him than meets the eye. It’s difficult to predict where that dynamic is heading, but I definitely found myself wanting to learn more about him by the end.

⚠️ What didn’t work for me

• A lack of depth and a strong central storyline

My biggest issue was that the story never fully gave me a gripping challenge, mystery, or central objective to latch onto. There wasn’t a strong narrative thread pulling me forward and making me desperate to turn the pages. I kept waiting for higher stakes, a major twist, or a stronger sense of purpose driving the story forward, but it never quite happened.

Ironically, the pacing itself doesn’t lag much. Had it been slower, I probably would have DNF’d the book. I think that’s a testament to Connelly’s writing skills. The problem isn’t the writing—it’s that the story itself never becomes compelling enough to feel truly unputdownable.

• Too many familiar elements without enough originality

The book contains a little bit of everything successful in romantasy over the past few years: challenge games, hints of a love triangle, a dark love interest, and a romance that escalates into something steamy toward the end.

At times, it felt like the book was offering readers a collection of popular romantasy ingredients rather than building something distinctly its own. The challenges aren’t especially engaging, the FMC’s mission often feels flat, and even the betrayals that caught me by surprise were resolved so quickly that they lost much of their impact.

I also would have traded a few balls and dress descriptions for a little more intrigue, stronger twists, and a plot that dug deeper into its own mysteries.

And while we’re told that the villain is dangerous, I never truly felt her presence. She never becomes a memorable threat because she’s rarely in direct conflict with the FMC, making it difficult to feel invested in her as an antagonist.

[➸Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did really like this even though it started off a bit slow and I didn’t understand a single thing about the magic but it was surprisingly good!!

[Amanda Blanche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this title releasing in July 2026.

Not even judging this as a debut novel, it’s impressive. The writing has such good flow and ease. The pacing is consistent and keeps you hooked. The characters are interesting and compelling. Like I all around, had a good time. Some of the magic/plot points I probably couldn’t explain into great minute details - but I am more of a vibes reader.

What would you give to save the life of the person you love most? In Maeve’s case, she would do anything to save the life of her gravely injured sister. Even make a deal for some dangerous illegal magic and promise her life in exchange. But what she doesn’t know, is that her end of the deal brings her to the Array - to compete in a deadly competition as the only peasant among brutal nobles to become the next queen. Chances of survival? Slim. Chances of raising some hell and maybe helping a rebellion? Little more likely. Add in a dark and mysterious MMC and you got a story!

[Nadja]

DNF

I really wanted to get into The Lure of Wolves and Whispers, but from the very beginning I felt like I'd been dropped into the middle of its world without enough grounding to actually care about what was happening. I know plenty of fantasy books take time to find their footing, and it's entirely possible things improve later on, but I never made it to the point where I felt connected to either the world or the characters.

I didn't particularly care about our FMC or any of the people she'd met, and instead of looking forward to picking the book back up, I found myself finding every possible excuse to do literally anything else. That's usually the biggest sign for me that a book just isn't clicking.

The world-building also didn't work for me. It's relatively sparse in some areas while simultaneously overwhelming you with an avalanche of information right at the start. The balance just felt off. Simple pieces of information were repeated over and over again, while concepts that actually needed proper explanation were mentioned once in passing, as if the reader was just expected to nod along and somehow already understand everything.

The dialogue didn't help either. Most of the conversations felt very wooden and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters or believe their relationships.

I have considered giving the audiobook a chance once it's released, just to see if the different format helps the story click for me. But if I'm being realistic, my TBR is already far too overwhelming, so I honestly doubt I'll end up revisiting it.

[liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of court intrigue, trials for the seat on the throne, and a secret society leading a rebellion — this book is for you.

Set in a land where a tyrant monarchy destroyed the source of magic, Maeve agrees to a bargain to save her sister. With the help of a rebel outlaw, she goes to the castle & enters the deadly trials to become the prince’s betrothed, all while trying to assassinate the king.

*PSA I thought there was going to be werewolves in this book based on the book title but it’s a metaphor so sadly no actual wolves are frolicking in these pages :(*

I see a lot of discourse wondering if this book is YA or not considering the fact it’s published under Simon & Schuster Children’s. I don’t think it’s YA but it’s definitely not fully adult in my opinion. The word “f*ck” is used consistentlyyyyy throughout the story and there is one open door spice scene - so it’s definitely not fully YA. Fans of Powerless and Lightlark would like this story.

Me personally? I had a hard time with this one unfortunately. I will say the last 20% was very good.
The info dump world building at the start of this story was a lot to try to take in and I’m still not 150% sure what is going all the way on with the locations but I did not have a map with the ARC so it might not be a challenge for others. Pushing past that, I enjoyed the initial meeting and banter of the main characters. Then all of the sudden the chemistry / connection between the main characters goes from 0 to 100 considering they hardly spend any time together before he’s very much “touch her and you die”.

My biggest pet peeve was the phrase “Old ones” (which is used in this world like someone would mutter the phrase “Gods” or “Lord”) is used at least 3-5 times every single chapter to the point where I searched for it consistently. And I’m not exaggerating. It was my where’s Waldo and pulled me out of the story every single time.

I think a lot of people will enjoy this book but there’s nothing about this world or this storyline that necessarily stands out to me personally that pulls me into wanting to continue the story.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster & NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my review.

[Nancy Weiler · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Give me book two immediately 😭 This was such an epic read - dark fantasy romance with mages, court politics and a slow burn that’s perfection.

The world building in this story was so immersive and interesting, gives off dark elements with a creepy twist and a seriously sadistic villain. The whole isle population are not allowed to either touch, use or be seen with magic. The mages have been destroyed and no magic shall ever be used - if you are caught then you will be sentenced by treason. Our FMC’s sister has a wound that needs healing as it’s been laced with poison, she finds out some mages are still alive and in hiding so she makes a deal with the devil in exchange for her life to save her sister.

She is entered into the Assay (the trials). The trials themselves weren’t overly interesting and they weren’t actually the forefront of the plot, the plot itself is a mission and is laced intricately within court politics. There is so much to unpack within the plot - it’s layered beautifully with complexity.

The MMC aligns with the mages and wishes a better future without the Queen of shadows and the king ruling. He has the FMC with her life in the palms of his hands. He’s so mysterious and alluring, we didn’t get a resolution to his name or find out more about his past and felt it was slightly glossed over which is why I immediately need book two.

We also have the Prince, who is a dangerous character in himself and I wasn’t at all sure whether to trust his intentions or not. He had me sweating at the edge of my seat.

This is not a YA by any means, there are extreme dark elements of torture, murder and spice. The black rock, as dark as it is was super intense however, intriguing as it’s something I’ve never read before.

And the slow burn was absolutely delicious - timed and written exactly how I love to read.

Thank you so much Hodderscape for the advanced copy.

[Kim (readerbydusk) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This ended up being a generous three stars for me. I already soft‑DNF’d it once, and even though I decided to give it another try, I’m not sure picking it back up was the right call. The book has all the makes of recent romantasy hits with games, a hint of a love triangle, a dark love interest, and a romance that eventually turns steamy, but instead of feeling fresh, it felt like a collection of popular tropes rather than a fresh take on the genre.

The world-building didn’t help that feeling. The opening leans heavily on info‑dumping, and instead of easing me into the setting, it felt like being dropped straight into the middle of a fully formed world without enough grounding to understand why anything mattered yet. I kept waiting for the story to slow down long enough for me to connect with it, but that moment never fully arrived.

There are glimpses of potentially interesting ideas, atmospheric scenes, and a romance that could have landed more strongly with a bit more development; but the pacing and structure made it hard to stay invested. By the time I reached the end, I realized I’d spent more time pushing myself through the book than actually enjoying it.

↪ 3 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Alyssa Brannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the E-ARC!

I really had to push myself to finish this one. The concept was there, but the execution was lacking. I didn’t understand the relationship between the two main characters at all. They met for maybe a total of an hour over a few meetings and then just fell for each other? Y’all don’t know each other at all!! Don’t even know this mans full government name. I expect more with the prince as well, but there was nothing outstanding there either. I also hate when nothing happens up until the last 20% cause why did I read the first 80%??

[Elizabeth]

DNF Immediately

I was looking for a break from darkness and the beginning is so gruesome.

[†‪ ˚ ˙⟡ 𓂃𖤓🕊️𖤓𓂃 ⟡˙ ˚ †‪]

Thank you so much to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.

DISCLAIMER: *I did DNF this book at 90% because of the spice content. The following review shows my thoughts about the book up until then.*

The story starts with a bargain: illegal, lifesaving magic in exchange for the freedom of our main character, Maeve. Her new master throws her into the middle of a deadly competition. Everyone else is competing for the hand of the kingdom’s heir. She is there as an assassin.

This was the classic fantasy, and in many ways I liked it, but I have read this story too many times before. While the writing was good and the characters weren’t bad, nothing about the plot was new, unique, or even surprising. I think the author tried to make it “woke” enough that it felt more modern, but it obviously didn’t work as well as she wanted. It wasn’t bland, it was just a taste I’m sick of.

And then there is the reason I had to DNF this book: the spice!! I thought I was safe until at 90 FRICKING PERCENT when the characters started doing things I was not comfortable reading about. Was I sad? Yes! But only because I’m behind on my reading goal and this book would have helped. I could not care less that I missed the ending.

[ferra_the_bookdragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lure of Wolves and Whispers by Amanda Connolly

I’m honestly surprised this book kept me interested enough to finish it, because I really struggled through the first 30%.

The beginning was painfully slow, even for me. There were barely any dialogues, mostly the FMC’s inner monologues, and when conversations did happen, they just didn’t land. The banter felt forced rather than funny. The FMC constantly presented herself as strong, capable, and able to handle anything, yet somehow she was always getting caught off guard. And if I had a dollar for every time cold ran up her spine or the hairs on the back of her neck stood up, I’d probably be able to buy the sequel.

The MMC was intriguing enough to keep my attention, but I didn’t find him particularly convincing either. Honestly, the FMC would have been the last person I’d choose for the role she ended up playing. And how these two managed to fall for each other with so few meaningful interactions is beyond me. The romance felt more like attraction than an actual relationship developing.

That said, the plot itself somehow kept pulling me forward. It was fairly predictable, but there was enough intrigue to make me want to know what happened next. Around the halfway point, the pacing improved and there was more action, which definitely helped.

But I still finished the book with more questions than answers. The magic system and the wider world remain largely a mystery, and I never fully understood what the actual stakes were. There’s famine, magic is banned, and people are betraying each other, but the larger conflict remained frustratingly vague.

One thing I will say is that this is definitely not YA. Between the explicit scenes, murders, torture and “necessary sacrifices”, it firmly belongs in the adult fantasy category!

Overall, I can’t say I loved it, but I also can’t say I hated it. The plot managed to keep me turning the pages despite all the issues. I’m still undecided on whether I’ll continue, but I don’t regret finishing it.

Thank you, NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, for the ARC!

[Ashlyn Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It was beautifully atmospheric, dark, and moody. I couldn’t get enough of this world and these characters!

There’s a lot to take in with the world-building and magic system, but I really appreciated that the story unfolded through Maeve’s point of view. We discovered the world and its magic alongside her, which made everything feel natural rather than overwhelming.

Wolf was chef’s kiss! He had me kicking my feet, giggling, and absolutely delivered the spice I was hoping for! 👀

The story was perfectly paced, with twists and turns I wasn’t expecting! What really made this book stand out for me was how it took the romantasy elements and tropes I love and gave them a darker, more unique twist. It had all the fantasy, tension, and romance I look for in the genre, but the Irish lore influence made the world feel fresh and captivating.

Overall, this book had everything I love in romantasy and I’m really looking forward to book two so I can learn more about the magic system and dive even deeper into this world! (I’d buy magic in a heartbeat if it meant I could get my hands on it sooner! 🤭)

[Vi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was easy to read but very stereotypical typeset characters in a romantasy.
For love, the heroine is forced to sacrifice peace to save her sister and doing so compromises herself into a competition.
Her side mission to be an assassin to kill the king. If this is the attribute that makes this story similar to Throne of Glass this is a severe overstatement.
She is nothing like Aelin.

The Lure of Wolves and Whispers has all the elements of popular titles. Shadow daddy. A mysterious leader. Some unnecessary spice that had me rolling my eyes. I think I am inundated by so much romantasy that compare to so many stories in this explosive genre, this title is subpar.

Perhaps to a new reader introduced to this genre, they may find this story but refreshing so it might be a me thing.

Average.

[Maddie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I liked the concept of this book. Our FMC, Maeve, is from Quayside and grappling with the loss of her mother. The king has banished all mages and magic and anyone suspected of being involved is killed on the Black Quay. Her older sister, Finn, seems to have gotten into some trouble and in order to save her she makes a deal with Wolf, our MMC. However, what she doesn’t count on is being kidnapped and thrown into the Assay, a competition for noble daughters to become future queen. There’s a bit of a love triangle between Maeve, Wolf, and Prince Cashel but it’s complicated. Part of the Assay involves deadly trials and the FMC has to figure out how to keep up with the noble daughters who have been training for this their whole lives. There’s much more at play but I will allow you to discover those secrets for yourselves. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC! All thoughts are my own and this book is out now!!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from the moment I saw the cover and read the title. It's beautiful and stands out, and the message at the heart of this story reflects that. As other reviews have mentioned, it did have a slow start for me. While it took me a bit to get into it, I ended up loving it. I couldn't tell you anything about the fantastical elements. This is very much a character-driven story, and I am totally ok with that. Maave would do anything to save her sister from dying – even make a deal with a dangerous rebel leader. She trades her life for her sister's and is forced into a competition for the prince's hand. It sounds like a YA story you've read before, but somehow, it's fresh.

I recommend this one for fans of Victoria Aveyard, Sabaa Tahir, Shannon Meyer, and Ellis Hunter.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for a copy of the e-arc.

[Rahel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one, but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.

The writing itself is solid, and there are definitely some interesting ideas here. The world had potential and the premise sounded promising. The problem was that I never felt connected to the story, the characters, or the romance. I only finished it because I received an ARC and wanted to give it a fair chance. Otherwise, I probably would have DNF’d it.

For me, the book tried to do too much in too little time. There are trials, political intrigue, assassinations, romance, and magic but none of it felt fully developed. The trials were surprisingly brief and not nearly as exciting as I had hoped. The plot to kill the king should have been the most compelling part of the story, yet there was barely any actual plotting involved. When everything finally came together, it felt far too easy and almost like an afterthought. I also didn’t see why Maeve specifically had to be the one to do it. She didn’t really earn that position in the story. In the end almost anyone could have stepped into that role.

The romance didn’t work for me either. I never felt any real chemistry between Maeve and the Wolf. If anything, I thought she had more chemistry with the Prince, which makes me wonder if we’re heading into love triangle territory in future books. The timing of the spicy scene was also frustrating. Just when the story finally seemed to be building some momentum and important events were unfolding, the focus shifted elsewhere. It pulled me out of the story and the high-stakes moments ended up happening mostly off-page.

And this is admittedly a small thing, but if I never have to read the phrase “Old Ones” again, it’ll be too soon.

Overall, this book had some good ideas and plenty of potential, but the execution just didn’t work for me. Sadly, I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

beautifully written, very atmospheric and I liked Maeve as a MC. It did take a bit longer than I like (about 25% into the book) to really get into it as the pacing felt a bit slow at times but still a lovely Sunday well spent. I did like the chemistry between Maeve and Wolf too.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this earc in exchange of an honest review!

[Mac (bookwyrm_mac) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

The Lure of Wolves and Whispers follows Maeve, a girl from the slums placed in a deadly competition to become the future Queen, who is also tasked by a rebel faction to somehow assassinate the king. If this sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Unfortunately this story felt very repetitive to me, someone who reads a lot of fantasy/romantasy. There were too many common tropes used. It’s alright to use some tropes, there’s a reason they are popular. I like a good trial! Unfortunately this story just didn’t feel unique in any way to me. The characters didn’t stand out, the tension wasn’t there, and none of the story elements felt like a fresh take. I couldn’t latch on to anything to hold my interest. For those reasons this was a miss for me, and I don’t think I would continue with the series.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

Enjoyable, but ultimately not memorable.

I originally rated this 4 stars, but as time has passed, I've realized I can barely remember what I actually loved about it—so down to 3 stars it goes. The writing was solid, the story was easy to get through, and the plot delivered what it promised.

My biggest issue is that there wasn't anything particularly fresh, exciting, or unique about it. Nothing stood out enough to linger in my mind after I finished. It wasn't a bad read by any means, but it also wasn't one that left a lasting impression.

[svea.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 42 of 2026: The Lure of Wolves and Whispers
4.5 out of 5 stars ⭐

Thanks to the publisher for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, don’t let the title throw you off! Although “Wolves” is in the title, this isn’t a story about wolf shifters, wolf companions, or anything of that sort. Instead, the title is meant in a metaphorical sense: the Whisperers are a rebel group, and "Wolf" is one of the leaders with whom the FMC strikes a deadly deal. In exchange for a cure for her sister, she agrees to act as a dangerous lure within the royal court, helping the rebellion overthrow the monarchy from the inside.

This high-stakes tournament reminded me a bit of a mix between The Selection and the competition at the beginning of Red Queen. Six noble daughters who have trained their whole lives for this, and one peasant girl—brought in purely to prove to the rabble that they have no power and that no commoner can rise. Through three deadly trials of cunning, wisdom, and strength, they must demonstrate why they are fit to marry the prince, knowing that in the end, only one can survive. The twist? The FMC has to fight without any lifelong training, survive trials no peasant has ever made it past, and lure the prince to distract him, all while plotting to kill the king. While the trials themselves were enjoyable, it would have been nice to see more of the court intrigue and other tournament-related activities in between them.

Speaking of the prince, from the moment that green-eyed, scarred, hooded figure first appeared, I was absolutely certain it was him. When it was revealed that his name was "Wolf," I was completely convinced. However, I’m happy to say that about 55% in, this first guess was officially disproved—and I wasn’t even upset! In fact, it was refreshing that the MMC wasn’t the prince and that she wasn’t “fighting for his hand” like in so many clichés. That being said, my overall "Wolf" theory still stands strong.

This dynamic also made the romantic progression feel natural and free of unnecessary drama. Trust issues and trauma can leave lasting scars, and their struggles felt authentic and genuine. If anything, the slow burn could have simmered even longer, especially since the progression felt a bit fast for a character who is so deeply guarded. Seeing more of what made her special in his eyes to build that trust would have been great. But one thing is for sure: the author definitely has a knack for writing chemistry through small looks and gestures. I devoured it and highlighted so many quotes.

In terms of target audience, the book is labeled Adult in the UK and Upper YA in the US. The 16+ rating makes sense given the heavy themes, so definitely check the trigger warnings. For instance, the story includes an explicit scene that was a bit more graphic than I expected, though still pretty vanilla. However, its timing felt a bit jarring given the high stakes of the plot, as everyone else was fighting, she was worried about her sister, and she was on the verge of a panic attack. The other intense part is an on-page torture scene around the 95% mark. I couldn’t believe the author put the FMC through that so close to the end of the book, but it worked out fine for the climax of the first installment.

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT FOR THE ENDING ⚠️
Lots happened in the last few chapters! First of all, kudos to the way the king died—that was really clever and unique. On the other hand, a certain betrayal was heavily foreshadowed, even if it was still upsetting, and I wished we had seen more of their character. The same goes for the sister. I wanted more of their relationship and the secrets behind her choices, but I don’t think we’re done with that plot yet, especially with how things left off even after the end. Speaking of the end, as macabre as it sounds, the sister’s death shows just how far the FMC has come. She started all this to save her sister, and in the end, she makes a heavy sacrifice to keep the bigger mission going. What a great character arc! Though her sudden fighting skills were a bit confusing, especially since she struggled with training at the beginning, and I wondered why her malnutrition was only mentioned a few times.

Balancing out the darkness, I loved the inclusion of a nonbinary character—they were such a great person! Even though I wondered how the FMC knew they were nonbinary if nobody said it out loud. But I still can’t believe the book ended without revealing any real names! Despite that, the ending was mind-blowing, though I wasn't entirely surprised after the reveal that magic wasn't dead (or more precisely, that the wells weren’t empty).

One more thing… I was wondering if there's a Blood & Steel Easter egg here, or if it's just a coincidence that the history book has the exact same name?

Overall, it's a solid 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next book! What’s keeping me from a full 5 stars is just the fear that it isn't unique enough to stay with me permanently—I feel it will probably slip from my mind as soon as I start my next read. Either way, I’m definitely keeping my Fairyloot edition from the Romantasy box, and if it doesn’t have a green cover, I’ll scream. Seriously, that color is so important to the story!

Vibe: A high-stakes royal tournament with a dangerous underdog mission and a deeply scarred slow-burn.
⚔️ Deadly Royal Tournament
🥀 Forbidden Magic
💣Rebellion & Suicide Mission
🔥 Slow Burn & Eye Flirting
🌶️ Low Spice

[Lauralee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lure of Wolves and Whispers is a historical fantasy set in a fantastical version of medieval Ireland. Maeve is a young peasant. One day, her beloved sister, Finn, is gravely injured and dying. Desperate to save her, she makes a bargain with the rebel group, known as the Whisperers. As part of the bargain, Maeve has to kill the High King of Eireann. The only way to get close to the king is to enter into a deadly competition to become the next High Queen of Eireann where only one must survive. Will Maeve be able to accomplish the mission and save her sister?

I found Maeve to be a very fascinating heroine! I like that she has a caring heart. She is unwilling to hurt others. However, she knows that she has to in order to survive. I like Maeve. She is truly disgusted with endless bloodshed. She wants to live a peaceful life, but the events that happened in her life led it to become chaos. I also loved Maeve’s bond with her sister. She is willing to do anything for her including sacrificing herself. Maeve is also very tough and is a great fighter! Therefore, I was totally invested in Maeve’s story and wanted to know what happened to her.

Overall, this book is about sisterhood, secrets, and love. I thought that all of the characters were interesting. Most of them are not who they appear to be at first! I also liked the fantasy setting of medieval Ireland, and I like how it is heavily inspired by Irish mythology! I did think that this is not a young adult novel. This book is more suited to adults because it has some explicit scenes. There were also some gruesome and disturbing scenes that are also not suited for young adults. Nevertheless, it was a very emotional and compelling read! The story was very fast-paced and action-packed! The Lure of Wolves and Whispers is full of political and courtly intrigue, mystery, and romance to keep the reader turning the pages! It also ended on a cliffhanger! Therefore, I’m excited to read the sequel! I can’t wait to see what upcoming adventures are in store for Maeve! I recommend this book for fans of Shadowfell, Deception’s Princess, and Queen Among the Dead!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)

[Genevieve (GenLikesToRead) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 stars
1.5/5 spice

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Sarah Barley Books for providing me with an eARC!

Tropes:
🖤 Enemies-to-Lovers
💚 Slow Burn
🖤 Deadly Trials
💚 Sisterly Love
🖤 Forbidden Magic
💚 Court Politics

Book review:
If I’m completely honest, my initial opinion when picking up The Lure of Wolves and Whispers was that the writing was very clunky. The writing did smooth out but it still was a very slow, and frankly, kind of boring, start and things didn’t really pick up in 30%.

Despite things finally picking up, I never found myself immersed in this story. I agree and understand that it’s impossible to create a fully unique story but the general plot devices in The Lure of Wolves and Whispers were so overdone it was a bit exhausting to read (ex - Deadly Trials, Shadow Daddy, etc).

I did like our main protagonist and could appreciate her overall story, but really couldn’t find myself caring about the romantic element. Interestingly, this book is classified as YA in the US but Adult in the UK. I definitely think it’s one of those that should be in the New Adult (NA) category, but that doesn’t actually exist in publishing. There is a spicy scene towards the very end of the novel, and the characters are over 18, but otherwise it definitely rides that line of being upper YA, but could be classified as Adult.

I also think this book fell flat from a perspective of depth. It felt like it was grasping at some concepts that could lend themselves to a greater level of depth but never actually went there.

Despite all of my harsh critique, I do not think this was a bad book. I think it’s a book that had promising elements, but fell into the trap of overused tropes and didn’t bring enough unique storyline to the table. I think this book could thrive if it finds the right reader group but in the end, just wasn’t for me. I believe this is set to be a trilogy and unfortunately, I do not see myself continuing with this series in the future. The last 20% or so really picks up steam and absolutely starts to lure you (pun intended) into wanting to pick up the next book, though I see myself resisting temptation.

[Ashley Dunaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

So…I really loved this one! Maeve offers her life in exchange for magic to save her sister after her sister is gravely injured. Magic comes with a cost and she must then help
rebel leader Wolf with his cause. She is thrown into a deadly competition for the Prince’s hand, but she has to decide who she can trust.

This story kept me entertained the whole time, not knowing who I could trust either. It feels very atmospheric as well. There is a slow burn that finally burns towards the very end so it leaves plenty of space for plot.

I love how the magic was handled. You learn more about the magic with the FMC as she unravels more about it through the story. I am so excited to see where everything goes and what all else we find out in the next book. I definitely recommend!

You will love this story if you enjoy
✨ Deadly competition
✨ Atmospheric reads
✨ Slow burn romance
✨ Who to trust?
✨ High stakes
✨ Political tension
✨ Rebel cause
✨ Spice 🌶️
✨ Strong sisterly bonds

Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Jubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Simon and Schuster and NetGallery for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall a 3/5 star ⭐️
The pacing is very off in the book it’s a very slow start, the first 30%, was hard to get into. Then like 30-80% it felt repetitive. 80-100% the plot feels rushed.
The romance was okay, there wasn’t much yearning and development, I even barely felt the attraction between characters. There is spice in the book so I would say they shouldn’t classify this as YA. If I see this in a YA section in stores, I’m moving it.
Also the over use of the term “old ones”….. was driving me nuts, it might be hinting at something for the series, but let’s not add it so many times if we aren’t going to give background on them??
I would like to read the next part of the series, because of how this book ended. But I hope there are some changes to make this series stand out more to others series out there.