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A Woman of Whispers
Every whisper hides a secret. Every secret has a price.
They call her Little Wolf—half Skarrowyn, half human. The mercenary who never misses. The girl who whispers death. But when she wakes in the mud with her memories stolen, even her name feels like a stranger's.
When she's hired to steal a dangerous witch from a crumbling tower, Wolf doesn't hesitate. Because Wolf doesn't believe in witches, or blight, or magic. Only silver and blood, and a contract done.
But when the witch turns out to be nothing but a girl, tortured and burned, Wolf starts to wonder—about a truth she’s denied too long, a lie she hides from herself, and a love she never thought she’d share.
Now Wolf must choose: deliver the witch to a monster, or break every oath she's sworn to save a girl who might be the only person to see her as more than a blade. A choice that could lead to her ruin—or shatter every lie she's carried too long.
They call her Little Wolf—half Skarrowyn, half human. The mercenary who never misses. The girl who whispers death. But when she wakes in the mud with her memories stolen, even her name feels like a stranger's.
When she's hired to steal a dangerous witch from a crumbling tower, Wolf doesn't hesitate. Because Wolf doesn't believe in witches, or blight, or magic. Only silver and blood, and a contract done.
But when the witch turns out to be nothing but a girl, tortured and burned, Wolf starts to wonder—about a truth she’s denied too long, a lie she hides from herself, and a love she never thought she’d share.
Now Wolf must choose: deliver the witch to a monster, or break every oath she's sworn to save a girl who might be the only person to see her as more than a blade. A choice that could lead to her ruin—or shatter every lie she's carried too long.
410 pages, Unknown Binding
7 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Cary Caffrey
6 books170 followersCary Caffrey is the author of the bestselling science-fiction trilogy The Girls from Alcyone, The Machines of Bellatrix, and Codename: Night Witch—an indie hit that somehow found readers all over the world—which still feels surreal and wonderful.
After too many years away from writing, Cary sat down in April 2025 and just started typing again. Something new. Something dark. Something romantic. The result: A Woman of Whispers, a dark fantasy where gunpowder and magic collide with the kind of romance that cuts deep.
And while Cary will return to Alcyone—sooner than you think—now it's time for dark fantasy and adventure with a foul-mouthed mercenary named Little Wolf who just might steal your heart.
Because there's more coming. More Little Wolf. More Sigrid and Suko. More stories about women who survive and burn, love fiercely, and always leave marks behind.
After too many years away from writing, Cary sat down in April 2025 and just started typing again. Something new. Something dark. Something romantic. The result: A Woman of Whispers, a dark fantasy where gunpowder and magic collide with the kind of romance that cuts deep.
And while Cary will return to Alcyone—sooner than you think—now it's time for dark fantasy and adventure with a foul-mouthed mercenary named Little Wolf who just might steal your heart.
Because there's more coming. More Little Wolf. More Sigrid and Suko. More stories about women who survive and burn, love fiercely, and always leave marks behind.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 24, 2026
Opening up to page one of A Woman of Whispers I was quickly immersed into the fantasy. The vivid descriptions of the landscape and the intricate details of daily life immerse you in a realm where magic exists just beneath the surface. As you delve deeper, the complexities of Wolf’s character and the challenges she faces begin to unfold, drawing you further into the narrative. You find yourself captivated by the relationships she has and the moral dilemmas she must navigate. Each twist and turn of the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover what lies ahead for Wolf and her allies.
I anxiously await book two in this series.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I anxiously await book two in this series.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 30, 2025
One of my best reads of 2025. This high-action fantasy-romance grabbed me from the first chapter and never let go. The nonstop action and vivid world-building were fantastic, but what truly stayed with me was the heroine’s transformation—revealed with perfect timing and completely believable. The story juggles complicated relationships, conflict, violence, lust, forbidden love, and redemption with impressive confidence.
It has everything I love in fantasy: magic, mystery, sorcery, dark secrets, and a harrowing mission at its core. If you love stories about strong women fighting impossible odds while staying true to their heart, I think you’ll devour this one. I’m still thinking about it.
It has everything I love in fantasy: magic, mystery, sorcery, dark secrets, and a harrowing mission at its core. If you love stories about strong women fighting impossible odds while staying true to their heart, I think you’ll devour this one. I’m still thinking about it.
December 17, 2025
I finished this in two evenings, though I would have liked to stay up all night and devour it one sitting. It's a fresh take on fantasy romance that is plump with loveable and flawed characters and action that keeps you on edge until the bitter end. I hope that Caffrey writes another in this world very soon.
January 16, 2026
This was my first book by this author and I found that I enjoyed it. I picked this book up thinking it was a romance but it was so much more than that. There was action and betrayal, courage and strength as well as love. What I didn’t realize was how long this was, but the author did keep me interested throughout. I was rooting for Little Wolf and Valerian the whole way through, and just wanted them to be together.
I received an advanced review copy for free in exchange for my honest review. I would like to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this and will definitely pick up other work by her.
I received an advanced review copy for free in exchange for my honest review. I would like to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this and will definitely pick up other work by her.
January 28, 2026
3.5 stars and I wavered on whether or not to round up or down.
Thank you to the authors and BookSirens for giving me this arc in exchange for my honest review!
This book is filled with intriguing characters. Little wolf is interesting as a mercenary who’s lost her memories. Her crew and all their various personalities were intriguing as well. The complications between Rook, Linny, and Bear, and her especially makes more dynamic characters than just the main FMCs. And, of course, Valerian is a big exciting mystery to try to figure out. I loved her and Little Wolf’s relationship. It was sweet and hot and well-paced. And showing the more casual way sex was used and perceived by other characters in this story and by Little Wolf herself before all this, definitely helps highlight the difference in her relationship and feelings toward Velarian that develop in this book.
The plot was well developed too! It took me a bit to differentiate the different factions that were all against witchcraft but, once I did, the plot flowed well. The action scenes were very well executed. The main villain was sufficiently creepy and, while I was a little shocked with how easily everyone decided to go after him, I think it all made sense towards the end. And the twist I didn’t see coming toward the end of the book was also an out-loud “what the fuck” moment.
This book was a wild ride and other than some minor inconsistencies with language use or slight confusion with the different groups of people in the beginning, the story was very well written. The biggest reason it lost 1.5 stars from me was the “prologue” which wasn’t actually a prologue but was a chapter that occurs later in the book. I think having that prologue and then still having Little Wolf have amnesia in the beginning of the book was confusing. Maybe that was the intention of the authors, but, to me, it messed with the flow of my reading and with the understanding of the plot in the beginning once Velarian was introduced. This had me going back to skim the “prologue” twice before I realized that those events were yet to take place. It just took me out of the story, and then had me dreading the ending of the book. I think I was expecting an amnesia trope in a different way and was, thus, disappointed and confused when it didn’t play out that way. That excerpt in the beginning does intrigue me to read, but placing it in a prologue spot makes the reader feel as if that event happened before the plot events of this book. Other reviews seem to not have the same issue I took with this begging excerpt, however, so read it if you wish!
Overall, I enjoyed this read and if more in this series does come out I would want to read it! The plot wraps up in the end but with enough loose ends that I am certainly inclined to read more. I want to understand how magic works more and see how their mercenary clan fairs and get even more development into side characters. And I think that’s a sign of a good book, even if I would have preferred to not have read that beginning excerpt.
Thank you to the authors and BookSirens for giving me this arc in exchange for my honest review!
This book is filled with intriguing characters. Little wolf is interesting as a mercenary who’s lost her memories. Her crew and all their various personalities were intriguing as well. The complications between Rook, Linny, and Bear, and her especially makes more dynamic characters than just the main FMCs. And, of course, Valerian is a big exciting mystery to try to figure out. I loved her and Little Wolf’s relationship. It was sweet and hot and well-paced. And showing the more casual way sex was used and perceived by other characters in this story and by Little Wolf herself before all this, definitely helps highlight the difference in her relationship and feelings toward Velarian that develop in this book.
The plot was well developed too! It took me a bit to differentiate the different factions that were all against witchcraft but, once I did, the plot flowed well. The action scenes were very well executed. The main villain was sufficiently creepy and, while I was a little shocked with how easily everyone decided to go after him, I think it all made sense towards the end. And the twist I didn’t see coming toward the end of the book was also an out-loud “what the fuck” moment.
This book was a wild ride and other than some minor inconsistencies with language use or slight confusion with the different groups of people in the beginning, the story was very well written. The biggest reason it lost 1.5 stars from me was the “prologue” which wasn’t actually a prologue but was a chapter that occurs later in the book. I think having that prologue and then still having Little Wolf have amnesia in the beginning of the book was confusing. Maybe that was the intention of the authors, but, to me, it messed with the flow of my reading and with the understanding of the plot in the beginning once Velarian was introduced. This had me going back to skim the “prologue” twice before I realized that those events were yet to take place. It just took me out of the story, and then had me dreading the ending of the book. I think I was expecting an amnesia trope in a different way and was, thus, disappointed and confused when it didn’t play out that way. That excerpt in the beginning does intrigue me to read, but placing it in a prologue spot makes the reader feel as if that event happened before the plot events of this book. Other reviews seem to not have the same issue I took with this begging excerpt, however, so read it if you wish!
Overall, I enjoyed this read and if more in this series does come out I would want to read it! The plot wraps up in the end but with enough loose ends that I am certainly inclined to read more. I want to understand how magic works more and see how their mercenary clan fairs and get even more development into side characters. And I think that’s a sign of a good book, even if I would have preferred to not have read that beginning excerpt.
January 11, 2026
The Woman of Whispers by Cary Caffrey & Agatha Anders
The Woman of Whispers is a slow-burning psychological read that really leans into mood, emotion, and character rather than nonstop action. The story follows a quiet, complex protagonist whose inner life is just as important as the mystery unfolding around her.
What stood out most to me was the way the book explores different kinds of relationships. The protagonist’s connections with others are layered and often complicated—some are distant and strained, shaped by mistrust and unspoken pain, while others offer brief moments of comfort or understanding. There are relationships built on power, expectation, and control, and others that hint at healing, even when communication is imperfect. Just as important is her relationship with herself, which is full of doubt, guilt, and self-questioning. Watching her navigate these dynamics added a lot of emotional depth to the story.
The atmosphere is one of the book’s strongest points. It feels tense and slightly haunting, with a steady build-up that pulls you in quietly rather than dramatically. That said, the pacing is on the slower side, especially when the focus shifts heavily to internal reflection, which may not work for everyone.
The ending leaves a lot of questions unanswered. While this might feel frustrating if you’re looking for clear resolution, it definitely feels intentional and sets things up for future books. I’m hoping the next instalments will dig deeper and provide answers to the lingering mysteries.
Overall, this is a thoughtful, character-driven read that will appeal to fans of psychological fiction who enjoy atmosphere, emotional complexity, and stories that linger after the last page.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Woman of Whispers is a slow-burning psychological read that really leans into mood, emotion, and character rather than nonstop action. The story follows a quiet, complex protagonist whose inner life is just as important as the mystery unfolding around her.
What stood out most to me was the way the book explores different kinds of relationships. The protagonist’s connections with others are layered and often complicated—some are distant and strained, shaped by mistrust and unspoken pain, while others offer brief moments of comfort or understanding. There are relationships built on power, expectation, and control, and others that hint at healing, even when communication is imperfect. Just as important is her relationship with herself, which is full of doubt, guilt, and self-questioning. Watching her navigate these dynamics added a lot of emotional depth to the story.
The atmosphere is one of the book’s strongest points. It feels tense and slightly haunting, with a steady build-up that pulls you in quietly rather than dramatically. That said, the pacing is on the slower side, especially when the focus shifts heavily to internal reflection, which may not work for everyone.
The ending leaves a lot of questions unanswered. While this might feel frustrating if you’re looking for clear resolution, it definitely feels intentional and sets things up for future books. I’m hoping the next instalments will dig deeper and provide answers to the lingering mysteries.
Overall, this is a thoughtful, character-driven read that will appeal to fans of psychological fiction who enjoy atmosphere, emotional complexity, and stories that linger after the last page.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 27, 2025
I was given this book complimentary from Book Sirens in e-book form in return for my honest review. Everything stated in this review is of my own opinion and I was not compensated monetarily for providing this review.
2025 has seen Book Sirens introduce me to some great new authors convincing me that the future for fantasy novels is looking good. This book/author is not an exception, if I was making a list of my favorite books read this year this novel would certainly be there.
The world is bleak and dystopian and the relations between people are the same, sex is a quick release from the regular routine of killing people. Against this backdrop the true romance stands out brightly.
The storyline is well thought out, full of twists and turns and the action just keeps on coming, in short, every reason we read fantasy novels. The romance is great, not insta-love but something both characters were ready for and intertwines perfectly with the story. So is this a sapphic romance with a fantasy backdrop or a fantasy with a sapphic romance, it's both and works beautifully as both.
The ending leaves the door open for #2 and I for one am really looking forward to more of little wolf and Valerian. This is my first book by this author and I am already a fan.
Highly recommended - five stars
2025 has seen Book Sirens introduce me to some great new authors convincing me that the future for fantasy novels is looking good. This book/author is not an exception, if I was making a list of my favorite books read this year this novel would certainly be there.
The world is bleak and dystopian and the relations between people are the same, sex is a quick release from the regular routine of killing people. Against this backdrop the true romance stands out brightly.
The storyline is well thought out, full of twists and turns and the action just keeps on coming, in short, every reason we read fantasy novels. The romance is great, not insta-love but something both characters were ready for and intertwines perfectly with the story. So is this a sapphic romance with a fantasy backdrop or a fantasy with a sapphic romance, it's both and works beautifully as both.
The ending leaves the door open for #2 and I for one am really looking forward to more of little wolf and Valerian. This is my first book by this author and I am already a fan.
Highly recommended - five stars
December 27, 2025
This book left a deep impression on me. The bond between Velarian and Wolf is written with such intensity that every moment of their separation hurts. The scene where the Dark takes everything, memories, love, shared nights, while restoring Wolf’s body was devastating. Watching Wolf live on, healed yet empty and unaware of what was lost, while Velarian carries the full weight of remembrance, felt cruel and beautifully tragic.
The prose is vivid and atmospheric, especially in the way grief is portrayed as something physical, slipping away like water through Velarian’s fingers. Just when the story seems to settle into quiet aftermath, the ground itself begins to stir. The ancient presence beneath the citadel adds a powerful sense of dread and makes it clear that the Dark is only one part of a much larger, older threat.
This is a dark fantasy that doesn’t shy away from consequence. Love here is costly, memory is a burden, and sacrifice reshapes everything that follows. It’s emotional, haunting, and the kind of story that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished reading.
The prose is vivid and atmospheric, especially in the way grief is portrayed as something physical, slipping away like water through Velarian’s fingers. Just when the story seems to settle into quiet aftermath, the ground itself begins to stir. The ancient presence beneath the citadel adds a powerful sense of dread and makes it clear that the Dark is only one part of a much larger, older threat.
This is a dark fantasy that doesn’t shy away from consequence. Love here is costly, memory is a burden, and sacrifice reshapes everything that follows. It’s emotional, haunting, and the kind of story that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished reading.
December 18, 2025
I won't lie. I gobbled this book up.
It's an emotional, action-packed romantasy set in a richly detailed world with a heartfelt, character-driven story that compels you to keep telling yourself "just one more chapter" well into the night.
This book has it all: Love. Adventure. Violence. Sex. And, most importantly, flawed characters so authentic they seem to actually live and breathe.
What a treat to get a new Cary Caffrey book and also discover a new author to follow in Agatha Anders! I'll be waiting impatiently for future releases!
It's an emotional, action-packed romantasy set in a richly detailed world with a heartfelt, character-driven story that compels you to keep telling yourself "just one more chapter" well into the night.
This book has it all: Love. Adventure. Violence. Sex. And, most importantly, flawed characters so authentic they seem to actually live and breathe.
What a treat to get a new Cary Caffrey book and also discover a new author to follow in Agatha Anders! I'll be waiting impatiently for future releases!
December 19, 2025
One of my favorite reads of 2025!
For a fantasy novel, the complexities of the main character felt realistic and honest. It was refreshing to read a character who dabbled in questionable choices, and the questionable circumstances they inevitably led to.
The unique world building, and the creation of the Skarrowyn race and Little Wolf's unique slang was exciting and fun.
Unexpected twists around every corner, and the quiet, heart-felt, moments in between kept me hooked from start to finish!
My first time reading anything by Agatha and/or Cary. I'm eager to check out more!
For a fantasy novel, the complexities of the main character felt realistic and honest. It was refreshing to read a character who dabbled in questionable choices, and the questionable circumstances they inevitably led to.
The unique world building, and the creation of the Skarrowyn race and Little Wolf's unique slang was exciting and fun.
Unexpected twists around every corner, and the quiet, heart-felt, moments in between kept me hooked from start to finish!
My first time reading anything by Agatha and/or Cary. I'm eager to check out more!
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January 19, 2026I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book really surprised me. It’s a quiet, atmospheric book that slowly pulls you in rather than trying to impress right away. The writing feels intimate and emotional, and I found myself getting very attached to the main character and her inner struggles. It’s the kind of story that stays with you after you finish, not because of big twists, but because of how it makes you feel. I will definitely be reading more from the author.
This book really surprised me. It’s a quiet, atmospheric book that slowly pulls you in rather than trying to impress right away. The writing feels intimate and emotional, and I found myself getting very attached to the main character and her inner struggles. It’s the kind of story that stays with you after you finish, not because of big twists, but because of how it makes you feel. I will definitely be reading more from the author.
December 19, 2025
This is my first Cary Caffrey book so I didn't know what to expect. I am loving the complex world-building and the well-drawn characters. I also love the strong female protagonist :)
It's the kind of book I could finish in one sitting - if I had the time: Lots of adventure, suspense, love triangles, magic etc. I am being forced to read it more slowly, and in fact haven't quite finished it yet!
But will definitely recommend, and can't wait to get back to it!
It's the kind of book I could finish in one sitting - if I had the time: Lots of adventure, suspense, love triangles, magic etc. I am being forced to read it more slowly, and in fact haven't quite finished it yet!
But will definitely recommend, and can't wait to get back to it!
February 1, 2026
Has all the gritty, adventuring feel of a classic pocketbook fantasy, but is also very fresh and energetic. Little Wolf is a lovely character to follow around with her band of good-hearted brigands, as she tries to piece her old self and old life back together, giving every moment and interaction an extra layer of tension and confusion. (Maybe besides the point, but the cover was such a great choice to represent her. Like YEAH that really IS her.)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 19, 2025
It's been a long while since I've read Cary Caffrey's books, normally in the science fiction genre and his superb trilogy, The Girls From Alcyone. Branching out into fantasy, A Woman of Whispers, only proves Caffrey is a talented author. This was a page-turning read, and I was immediately invested and intrigued by Little Wolf's story. There's heart-pounding action (a must-have with Caffrey's work), there's mystery, magic, untold secrets and revelations, and all centred around unabridged love - an emotion that motivates us all to do the things we do. The characters are three-dimensional and believable, with relatable goals and expectations, and the world-building breathtakingly convincing. And that ending! Please tell me there's a book two in the future. I need answers!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews