What do you think?
Rate this book
War of the Underhill #1
Heartsong: A Gargoyle Monster Romance
San Francisco, Present day
A gargoyle warrior unprepared for the modern world…
Fifteen hundred years ago, Frey and all his kind were cursed by the vicious fae queen, their magick stolen and their bodies rendered stone. It has been a hellish existence, frozen in time as the world changes around them. A proud warrior ready for a mate, Frey rages against his stone prison, but with every year that passes, hope slips away that the curse will ever be broken.
That is, until he and some of his kin are placed in an odd little museum. And she walks through the door.
A modern woman not ready for a medieval male…
Anna Kincaid has just gotten back on her feet. After struggling with student debt, chronic migraines, a serial-dater mother, and Bay Area rent for years, she’s finally landed a job that will help with all of it. It feels too good to be true—full health care with dental and helping manage a museum full of exquisite artifacts? Her heart and history degree are thrilled, but something about the museum is…odd. The owners are a mysterious, if kind couple who call the collection the clan. And the collection is…well, monstrous. Huge, savage-looking statues from the late Celtic period.
Magick stolen can be reclaimed, and curses cast can be broken…
When the museum is stormed by masked commandos one night, it isn’t even the weirdest thing to happen. No, she could wrap her head around organized art theft—what defies belief is one of the big gray behemoths springing to life to save her. And that he flies off with her. And when he tucks her into his big body and growls mate. Fans of Lisette Marshall, SL Prater, and the Gargoyles Disney show will love this monster romance novel. Title includes several heavier themes as well as open-door spice.
A gargoyle warrior unprepared for the modern world…
Fifteen hundred years ago, Frey and all his kind were cursed by the vicious fae queen, their magick stolen and their bodies rendered stone. It has been a hellish existence, frozen in time as the world changes around them. A proud warrior ready for a mate, Frey rages against his stone prison, but with every year that passes, hope slips away that the curse will ever be broken.
That is, until he and some of his kin are placed in an odd little museum. And she walks through the door.
A modern woman not ready for a medieval male…
Anna Kincaid has just gotten back on her feet. After struggling with student debt, chronic migraines, a serial-dater mother, and Bay Area rent for years, she’s finally landed a job that will help with all of it. It feels too good to be true—full health care with dental and helping manage a museum full of exquisite artifacts? Her heart and history degree are thrilled, but something about the museum is…odd. The owners are a mysterious, if kind couple who call the collection the clan. And the collection is…well, monstrous. Huge, savage-looking statues from the late Celtic period.
Magick stolen can be reclaimed, and curses cast can be broken…
When the museum is stormed by masked commandos one night, it isn’t even the weirdest thing to happen. No, she could wrap her head around organized art theft—what defies belief is one of the big gray behemoths springing to life to save her. And that he flies off with her. And when he tucks her into his big body and growls mate. Fans of Lisette Marshall, SL Prater, and the Gargoyles Disney show will love this monster romance novel. Title includes several heavier themes as well as open-door spice.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published March 29, 2024
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 797 reviews
February 18, 2026
Heartsong is a passionate gargoyle romance featuring fated mates, hurt/comfort, and he falls first! The story follows Anna, who, after a lifetime of struggle, is finally happy with how her life is moving. Her new job at a gallery offers full benefits, and now she has the means to treat her chronic migraines. However, when she ends up staying late at work one night, Anna is shocked when the place is robbed, and one of the gargoyle statues comes to life to save her. Stuck with the gargoyle, Frey, as he has nowhere to go and she can't exactly turn him in, the two begin living together in her cramped apartment.
This was such a sweet and romantic read! I loved Frey and how obsessed he was with Anna and keeping her safe. The gargoyle was downright smitten, and it was adorable how he was so ready to spend the rest of his life with her. While Anna had some trouble getting on the same page as fast as Frey, I loved that she eventually melted for him and realized that she needed to be vulnerable and let him in. The two were so lovely together, and I just adored how their slow burn relationship progressed as they learned about one another. Aside from the romance, the mystery behind the robbery and the building tension were the perfect balance to the cozy and charming plot. With the ideal blend of fantasy and contemporary, this romance delivered all the magical moments one could want!
~Many thanks to Avon for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
This was such a sweet and romantic read! I loved Frey and how obsessed he was with Anna and keeping her safe. The gargoyle was downright smitten, and it was adorable how he was so ready to spend the rest of his life with her. While Anna had some trouble getting on the same page as fast as Frey, I loved that she eventually melted for him and realized that she needed to be vulnerable and let him in. The two were so lovely together, and I just adored how their slow burn relationship progressed as they learned about one another. Aside from the romance, the mystery behind the robbery and the building tension were the perfect balance to the cozy and charming plot. With the ideal blend of fantasy and contemporary, this romance delivered all the magical moments one could want!
~Many thanks to Avon for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
March 21, 2024
ARC review - received copy from author for honest review.
This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it! Anna was grumpy, isolated, and jaded. Frey was also grumpy, isolated, and jaded, but more open to love and the mate bond. The growly back and forth between them was awesome and I’m somewhat obsessed with Frey’s purring. I appreciated the chronic illness rep as well. As someone who has migraines, it’s nice to see a MC who has a lot of the same struggles I do.
The world building was well done, with interesting lore. The side characters all had motivations and their own backstories that made them engaging as well. I wanted to drop kick Anna’s mom and Titania.
Most of the book had cozy vibes, although there were some high stakes moments.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: kidnapping, violence, mild gore, mentions of poverty, stalking (not by MC), grief
This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it! Anna was grumpy, isolated, and jaded. Frey was also grumpy, isolated, and jaded, but more open to love and the mate bond. The growly back and forth between them was awesome and I’m somewhat obsessed with Frey’s purring. I appreciated the chronic illness rep as well. As someone who has migraines, it’s nice to see a MC who has a lot of the same struggles I do.
The world building was well done, with interesting lore. The side characters all had motivations and their own backstories that made them engaging as well. I wanted to drop kick Anna’s mom and Titania.
Most of the book had cozy vibes, although there were some high stakes moments.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: kidnapping, violence, mild gore, mentions of poverty, stalking (not by MC), grief
April 9, 2024
I am GAGGED at how AMAZING this book truly is!
Heartsong had me in the feels, seriously 😭 Anna was definitely difficult at first when it came to Frey. Seeing her warm up to him and eventually opening up was 🤌🤌 So so good. Getting scenes with Carys and Gavren was such a treat. Them still being absolutely in love with each other made me giddy kekfiekekdnd.
Heartsong had me in the feels, seriously 😭 Anna was definitely difficult at first when it came to Frey. Seeing her warm up to him and eventually opening up was 🤌🤌 So so good. Getting scenes with Carys and Gavren was such a treat. Them still being absolutely in love with each other made me giddy kekfiekekdnd.
May 1, 2024
This was rough.
On the one hand, there's so much to like:
- Heroine has chronic migraines and . Not at all surprised that the author mentions battling migraines, herself. You 100% see the self-insert, but I think it's forgivable in light of how few FMCs I've seen balancing plot and a chronic condition.
- There's proof of research. I wouldn't say it's heavy research, but the author clearly did some advanced Googling on Welsh history and Irish folklore. I saw a few snatches of specificity when I think a lesser novel would have chosen to gloss over any allusions and stick to generalities.
- The FMC and MMC have time together. I know it's not everyone's jam, but I appreciate it when I can find a novel that doesn't toss its protagonists into a Plot Tornado and leave me dizzy. A lot of this book is just vibes, and that's unique in a way that suits my interests.
- Fun paranormal romance plot. Woman awakens gargoyle; gargoyle gets to navigate life in a modern world when he's been "asleep" for a 1,000 years.
- I liked that the FMC was a bit skeptical of the bond and had to be won over. She's won over on a timeline that felt realistic.
- Author's a good writer. Everything flows. There's switch-up in syntax. She balances inner/outer worlds really well. Is it a literary masterpiece? No. But it's not claiming to be.
On the other hand:
- This is my second Wendel novel and I'm sniffing a trend where the MMC is just bonkers obsessed with his "mate." It's arguably manageable until she's on board, and then it's just mate, mate, mate, mate, I'm so in love with you, you can do no wrong, let me kiss your kneecaps, my mate. And I said it in my last review for Halfing (also by this author): I aDORE the fated soulmates trope, but I don't like it when it's laid on too thick. You can write about two people willing to rip the world apart to save each other—you can write about navigating the idea of a destined partner (do I have to love this person, and if I do, what does that say about consent and free will?)—without veering into a place that reeks of cheese. Some possessiveness/obsession? Hot. Too much possessiveness/obsession? Free me from this sugar-walled prison. Of course, YMMV.
- So, I do enjoy Just Vibes, and I liked that the couple spent so much time together...but they spent so much time together doing the same. exact. things. in the same. exact. place. Anna goes to work and Frey frets for her safety and wants her to quit; Anna returns to Frey cooking dinner; Anna and Frey either A) bond or B) argue; Anna is carried to bed; Frey turns to stone at daybreak. I'm all for domesticity (and fat chunks of it), but there was too much sameness. It was the same repeated problems.
- The characterization was aggravating. I was sympathetic to Anna's fears regarding Frey's claim. It's cool to explore the "but if you're obligated to be with me, isn't it damning if I manage to push you away?" avenue. But there wasn't a whole lot of rumination (at least at first) for any of his comfort, which...I feel like any decent person would care about? Even if he was just a friend? He's trapped in a one-bedroom apartment in a land he's never been to in a time he doesn't understand without a single contact and not once (to my memory) does Anna think, "How can I smuggle you to a park?" I didn't believe the "...and we bonded over ___" moments because...who wouldn't feel aggravated after being treated like a on-site maid? But Frey soaks it up because it's Anna and Anna is his life. There's some backstory to help you understand how Anna became Anna, but those details ended up feeling too shallow to matter. They're brought up a few times and then never again.
- So, to sum up: Frey wasn't meant to be a doormat (I think the author described him as hardheaded, which he is in terms of thinking about soulmates), but he felt like a doormat. Anna wasn't unlikable, but also wasn't easy to love. She wasn't the kind of obnoxious FMC that makes your hackles immediately rise (despite everything, she IS a good person; that's clear), but she never won me over.
--
This author's still on my radar. She has the potential to be a gem in the PNR genre; I'm just looking for something slightly different than this.
On the one hand, there's so much to like:
- Heroine has chronic migraines and . Not at all surprised that the author mentions battling migraines, herself. You 100% see the self-insert, but I think it's forgivable in light of how few FMCs I've seen balancing plot and a chronic condition.
- There's proof of research. I wouldn't say it's heavy research, but the author clearly did some advanced Googling on Welsh history and Irish folklore. I saw a few snatches of specificity when I think a lesser novel would have chosen to gloss over any allusions and stick to generalities.
- The FMC and MMC have time together. I know it's not everyone's jam, but I appreciate it when I can find a novel that doesn't toss its protagonists into a Plot Tornado and leave me dizzy. A lot of this book is just vibes, and that's unique in a way that suits my interests.
- Fun paranormal romance plot. Woman awakens gargoyle; gargoyle gets to navigate life in a modern world when he's been "asleep" for a 1,000 years.
- I liked that the FMC was a bit skeptical of the bond and had to be won over. She's won over on a timeline that felt realistic.
- Author's a good writer. Everything flows. There's switch-up in syntax. She balances inner/outer worlds really well. Is it a literary masterpiece? No. But it's not claiming to be.
On the other hand:
- This is my second Wendel novel and I'm sniffing a trend where the MMC is just bonkers obsessed with his "mate." It's arguably manageable until she's on board, and then it's just mate, mate, mate, mate, I'm so in love with you, you can do no wrong, let me kiss your kneecaps, my mate. And I said it in my last review for Halfing (also by this author): I aDORE the fated soulmates trope, but I don't like it when it's laid on too thick. You can write about two people willing to rip the world apart to save each other—you can write about navigating the idea of a destined partner (do I have to love this person, and if I do, what does that say about consent and free will?)—without veering into a place that reeks of cheese. Some possessiveness/obsession? Hot. Too much possessiveness/obsession? Free me from this sugar-walled prison. Of course, YMMV.
- So, I do enjoy Just Vibes, and I liked that the couple spent so much time together...but they spent so much time together doing the same. exact. things. in the same. exact. place. Anna goes to work and Frey frets for her safety and wants her to quit; Anna returns to Frey cooking dinner; Anna and Frey either A) bond or B) argue; Anna is carried to bed; Frey turns to stone at daybreak. I'm all for domesticity (and fat chunks of it), but there was too much sameness. It was the same repeated problems.
- The characterization was aggravating. I was sympathetic to Anna's fears regarding Frey's claim. It's cool to explore the "but if you're obligated to be with me, isn't it damning if I manage to push you away?" avenue. But there wasn't a whole lot of rumination (at least at first) for any of his comfort, which...I feel like any decent person would care about? Even if he was just a friend? He's trapped in a one-bedroom apartment in a land he's never been to in a time he doesn't understand without a single contact and not once (to my memory) does Anna think, "How can I smuggle you to a park?" I didn't believe the "...and we bonded over ___" moments because...who wouldn't feel aggravated after being treated like a on-site maid? But Frey soaks it up because it's Anna and Anna is his life. There's some backstory to help you understand how Anna became Anna, but those details ended up feeling too shallow to matter. They're brought up a few times and then never again.
- So, to sum up: Frey wasn't meant to be a doormat (I think the author described him as hardheaded, which he is in terms of thinking about soulmates), but he felt like a doormat. Anna wasn't unlikable, but also wasn't easy to love. She wasn't the kind of obnoxious FMC that makes your hackles immediately rise (despite everything, she IS a good person; that's clear), but she never won me over.
--
This author's still on my radar. She has the potential to be a gem in the PNR genre; I'm just looking for something slightly different than this.
March 24, 2024
"I care for you, my Anna. I should like to love you, too."
Ok before I start the rest of my review I'm going to mention one thing that I feel will convince you to read this. TIGHT GRAY SWEATPANTS. SWOONY GARGOYLE IN TIGHT GRAY SWEATPANTS.
Now that I've got your attention...😆 I loved this book. In the words of Frey, it was most excellent. SE had me guessing the whole time to who was causing all the trouble for the museum and Anna and being able to see Carys and Gavren again was great. They're so adorable and totally BA!
One part I did wish had been written differently was when they had begun a physical relationship and Anna mentioned she wanted Frey to use condoms because she wanted to be extra sure (on top of her birth control) that she didn't get pregnant. He immediately tried to talk her out it and gave the excuse that they were both clean and that he would "be extra careful" because he wanted to feel her while doing it. That did give me a bit of icky feelings and it felt sort of out of character for how caring and accepting Frey had been in the rest of the book.
Frey was the perfect surly and moody MMC. I loved his flirty banter! He had me cracking up reading about him preening and striking a pose for her to show off his strength and big wings. And Anna was so strong and independent. I was very happy when she didn't immediately accept the mate bond business and was very upfront with Frey that it made her uncomfortable. Knowing the trauma she experienced in her childhood really helped with understanding her reservations and feelings about moving into a romantic relationship with Frey. I immediately related to her when I read "Her truest form came with stretchy lounge pants and a cozy fleece hoodie with deep pockets." Same girl. Same.
Can't forget to mention the star of the book, Captain. Protect that fur baby at all costs!
Loved the epilogue! It has me so excited to read the next book. 👀 And that last spice scene?? SO HOT!!!
Ok before I start the rest of my review I'm going to mention one thing that I feel will convince you to read this. TIGHT GRAY SWEATPANTS. SWOONY GARGOYLE IN TIGHT GRAY SWEATPANTS.
Now that I've got your attention...😆 I loved this book. In the words of Frey, it was most excellent. SE had me guessing the whole time to who was causing all the trouble for the museum and Anna and being able to see Carys and Gavren again was great. They're so adorable and totally BA!
One part I did wish had been written differently was when they had begun a physical relationship and Anna mentioned she wanted Frey to use condoms because she wanted to be extra sure (on top of her birth control) that she didn't get pregnant. He immediately tried to talk her out it and gave the excuse that they were both clean and that he would "be extra careful" because he wanted to feel her while doing it. That did give me a bit of icky feelings and it felt sort of out of character for how caring and accepting Frey had been in the rest of the book.
Frey was the perfect surly and moody MMC. I loved his flirty banter! He had me cracking up reading about him preening and striking a pose for her to show off his strength and big wings. And Anna was so strong and independent. I was very happy when she didn't immediately accept the mate bond business and was very upfront with Frey that it made her uncomfortable. Knowing the trauma she experienced in her childhood really helped with understanding her reservations and feelings about moving into a romantic relationship with Frey. I immediately related to her when I read "Her truest form came with stretchy lounge pants and a cozy fleece hoodie with deep pockets." Same girl. Same.
Can't forget to mention the star of the book, Captain. Protect that fur baby at all costs!
Loved the epilogue! It has me so excited to read the next book. 👀 And that last spice scene?? SO HOT!!!
March 30, 2026
Will be in my next vlog
I adored everything about this book! From the nostalgic feeling of the Gargoyles cartoon (my shipper dreams between Goliath and Elisa are FINALLY REALIZED) to the ease of world building that felt logical and easy to follow, to the chronic illness representation, and most importantly to the slow building romance.
I'm a big fan and can't wait to read more from this author! The caretaking scenes were by far my favorite.
I adored everything about this book! From the nostalgic feeling of the Gargoyles cartoon (my shipper dreams between Goliath and Elisa are FINALLY REALIZED) to the ease of world building that felt logical and easy to follow, to the chronic illness representation, and most importantly to the slow building romance.
I'm a big fan and can't wait to read more from this author! The caretaking scenes were by far my favorite.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
**𝔄ℜℭ ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴** ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔰𝔬𝔫𝔤 𝔟𝔶 𝔖.𝔈. 𝔚𝔢𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔩 (𝔚𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔘𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔥𝔦𝔩𝔩 #1)
Release Date: February 10, 2026
5⭐️4🌶
This book is honestly a perfect monster/paranormal romance. It has everything you could want in a romance, plus, a little extra if you know what I mean. This series is going straight to my must-read-next-book-immediately list. I will be keeping a close eye on Ms. S. E. Wendel to see when the next book is coming out. @se.wendel.author
Anna Kincaid is closer to 30 than 20, and she's been romantically alone by choice. She grew up with a mother that would jump from bad relationship to bad relationship always saying the next one would be "the one." So, Anna was disillusioned about romance at a young age. Because of her chronic migraines, she's never had a very high paying or secure job. However, when she lands a position at a brand new art gallery filled with gorgeous stone be-winged devils/gargoyles, she lept at the chance to have a desk job with amazing health benefits to get her migraines in order. The owners of the gallery and collection are Gavin and Carrie Gwyneth and are gorgeous in their own right. Plus, there seems to be something a little odd about them.
One night, she was working late at the museum when she accidentally touched one of the amazing gorgeous stone statues, and he came to life. Frey of the Clawtip Clan is a Guardian created by the druids in Southern Wales using magic stolen from the Fairie Queen. They were created from stone and blood to help the Celts of Albion fight off the Romans led by Julius Caesar. Thousands of years after they were created, the Fairie Queen grew angry at the use of her stolen magics, so she cursed the Stone Guardians to live consciously in a stone body never moving until their curse is broken.
All Frey wants to do upon waking from his stone sleep is care for and protect his mate, but she does everything but make it easy for him. She's never had any interest in having or keeping a romantic relationship.
This book was so well paced and raw and real when it comes to brand new relationships. I can't wait to see what the next in this series holds.
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Paranormal Romance
🍁Monster Sm*t
🍁Overly possessive alpha male
🍁Fated Mates / Heartsongs
🍁Urban Fantasy
🍁Grumpy and sunshine
🍁Cursed peoples with stolen magic
TW:
✨Chronic pain
✨Minor violence
✨Protection training sequences
✨Minor language
✨Sexual Content
Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC copy!
Release Date: February 10, 2026
5⭐️4🌶
This book is honestly a perfect monster/paranormal romance. It has everything you could want in a romance, plus, a little extra if you know what I mean. This series is going straight to my must-read-next-book-immediately list. I will be keeping a close eye on Ms. S. E. Wendel to see when the next book is coming out. @se.wendel.author
Anna Kincaid is closer to 30 than 20, and she's been romantically alone by choice. She grew up with a mother that would jump from bad relationship to bad relationship always saying the next one would be "the one." So, Anna was disillusioned about romance at a young age. Because of her chronic migraines, she's never had a very high paying or secure job. However, when she lands a position at a brand new art gallery filled with gorgeous stone be-winged devils/gargoyles, she lept at the chance to have a desk job with amazing health benefits to get her migraines in order. The owners of the gallery and collection are Gavin and Carrie Gwyneth and are gorgeous in their own right. Plus, there seems to be something a little odd about them.
One night, she was working late at the museum when she accidentally touched one of the amazing gorgeous stone statues, and he came to life. Frey of the Clawtip Clan is a Guardian created by the druids in Southern Wales using magic stolen from the Fairie Queen. They were created from stone and blood to help the Celts of Albion fight off the Romans led by Julius Caesar. Thousands of years after they were created, the Fairie Queen grew angry at the use of her stolen magics, so she cursed the Stone Guardians to live consciously in a stone body never moving until their curse is broken.
All Frey wants to do upon waking from his stone sleep is care for and protect his mate, but she does everything but make it easy for him. She's never had any interest in having or keeping a romantic relationship.
This book was so well paced and raw and real when it comes to brand new relationships. I can't wait to see what the next in this series holds.
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Paranormal Romance
🍁Monster Sm*t
🍁Overly possessive alpha male
🍁Fated Mates / Heartsongs
🍁Urban Fantasy
🍁Grumpy and sunshine
🍁Cursed peoples with stolen magic
TW:
✨Chronic pain
✨Minor violence
✨Protection training sequences
✨Minor language
✨Sexual Content
Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC copy!
![Profile Image for ri ⊹.˚ [ semi-ia - finals ].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1775692063i/160676009._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
March 16, 2026
heartsong
⌗ nov. 6 - nov. 7
⤿ 3.5 stars [rounded up]
༉ initial thoughts- spoiler review
i’m going to be honest and say i didn’t expect the amount of plot in this book but i am in no way disappointed.
i found the story to be so captivating especially with the magic aspect of it. frey’s pov while he was still stone as well as when we was actually able to move was such a great move, it seemed like the reader was there stuck with him.
i was not expecting an art heist at the beginning but it added a substantial part of the story. the plot was so interesting but i was not a mega fan of the cliffhanger in the end. we got a bit of closure but the last chapter but the main storyline is left unresolved.
that being said i honestly would love to keep reading about this story and see its resolution.
༉ characters - spoilers ahead
📜 anna kincaid - i loved her background in history, i think it added a lot to her character and also connected her to frey. i got a bit frustrated with her and the van cause like it was mega suspicious and she was just like “oh it’s just the police” like girl… aside from that little part i had a lot of fun with her character.
🪨 frey - once again i really enjoyed getting his pov both from when he was a stone and when he was free of the curse. also the statues being able to hear and keep up with society in that way was such an intriguing part of their existence. he had a heartbreaking back story and i really want to see him succeed in his quest to free his clan.
༉ final thoughts- spoilers ahead
i’m looking forward to what the author will do to resolve the plot. both of these character were likable and the set up for the next book was pretty interesting and well done. the academic side of this story is something that i really enjoyed and hope to keep seeing that portrayed in these books.
༉‧₊˚. pre - read
do i read monster romances often? no, but alas here i am. the blurb was very interesting so im looking forward to this book !!
ⓘ thank you netgalley & avon and harper voyager for this arc in exchange for an honest review
⌗ nov. 6 - nov. 7
⤿ 3.5 stars [rounded up]
༉ initial thoughts- spoiler review
i’m going to be honest and say i didn’t expect the amount of plot in this book but i am in no way disappointed.
i found the story to be so captivating especially with the magic aspect of it. frey’s pov while he was still stone as well as when we was actually able to move was such a great move, it seemed like the reader was there stuck with him.
i was not expecting an art heist at the beginning but it added a substantial part of the story. the plot was so interesting but i was not a mega fan of the cliffhanger in the end. we got a bit of closure but the last chapter but the main storyline is left unresolved.
that being said i honestly would love to keep reading about this story and see its resolution.
༉ characters - spoilers ahead
📜 anna kincaid - i loved her background in history, i think it added a lot to her character and also connected her to frey. i got a bit frustrated with her and the van cause like it was mega suspicious and she was just like “oh it’s just the police” like girl… aside from that little part i had a lot of fun with her character.
🪨 frey - once again i really enjoyed getting his pov both from when he was a stone and when he was free of the curse. also the statues being able to hear and keep up with society in that way was such an intriguing part of their existence. he had a heartbreaking back story and i really want to see him succeed in his quest to free his clan.
༉ final thoughts- spoilers ahead
i’m looking forward to what the author will do to resolve the plot. both of these character were likable and the set up for the next book was pretty interesting and well done. the academic side of this story is something that i really enjoyed and hope to keep seeing that portrayed in these books.
༉‧₊˚. pre - read
do i read monster romances often? no, but alas here i am. the blurb was very interesting so im looking forward to this book !!
ⓘ thank you netgalley & avon and harper voyager for this arc in exchange for an honest review
November 2, 2025
3.5 rounded up. I absolutely loved the Goliath /Elise vibes and this scratched an itch Gargoyles gave me. At times it felt repetitive but overall a really enjoyable gargoyle read. Loved the migraine rep and the mystery backstory. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for this advanced copy 💜
March 23, 2024
He'd rolled up the sleeves of the flannel and it wasn't okay.
He also never bothered to button it, so it was just all rippling muscles on display all night, which also wasn't okay.
For her state of mind.
For her sanity.
For her libido. And therefore state of mind.
Statues aren't sexy. Sure, they could be beautiful, moving, arresting. You had to be dead inside not to be moved by Michelangelo's David or Pietà. But you weren't supposed to feel things for statuary.
Just call me Pygmalion. Great, now she was thinking about his rippling chest and making art history jokes to herself. This was bad.
(4-4.5⭐️)
Sometimes, a girl just needs a cozy, yet angsty romance about a wounded, independent-to-a-fault heroine and the hulking cinnamon roll gargoyle that saves her from danger and then announces that she is his mate. And oh boy, does S.E. Wendel deliver on the coziness and the angst. Heartsong was a delightful slow-burn of a read, made even better by the fact that there's some intense action early on, and then we're just left to simmer in our anxiety as things gradually make their way up to a full boil at the climax.
I really enjoyed Anna and Frey as characters (and as a couple) - Frey was the ultimate protective-yet-sweet MMC, but Anna was the one that got the deepest under my skin. This woman has been through a lot - from a tumultuous upbringing and emotionally abusive, neglectful, and narcissistic mother, to an adulthood practically defined by the phrase "barely managing to scrape by." Our girl is hurting (quite literally, too, with the chronic migraines), but it's that deep, aching loneliness she ends up having to face head on that damn near broke my heart.
In Anna's experience, men rarely lived up to the hype. Not that there was anything normal about Frey. He wasn't even really a man, a human man at least. Nothing about him or the situation was normal. They couldn't really date. They couldn't even go out during the day. Still, whatever could happen would be serious.
And Anna... was terrified of that.
It scared her how easily a monstrous man from the sixth century had eased into her life. Sure, there had been growing pains those first days, and yea there were moments she wanted to just be by herself in her own apartment. But those moments were far outweighed and outnumbered by the joy growing like a weed inside her each time she came home to him. To his smiles and flirting and curiosity. Even if it was just dinner and some TV before bed, her evenings felt full.
Sometimes the depths of loneliness weren't apparent until the burden had been eased a little.
She had Captain. She had things she enjoyed doing. But Frey drove out the worst of her loneliness. He had her looking forward to things again.
Did that all mean she could accept being someone's soulmate? Choosing to give his promises a chance and see what came of them?
She wasn't sure.
Because what if he regrets it? What if, after he's stuck with me as a mate, he gets buyer's remorse?
That she couldn't accept, and so all the rest went with it.
I think what I appreciated most about this book was how realistic Anna was as a character/heroine. Her reactions to the things happening around her were always believable and very much in character. She's carrying around a lifetime of emotional baggage and trauma, so of course she's not just going to drop that at Frey's feet the minute he shows up. It does happen, but it happens by degrees.
Frey is very much the same with his understandable "fish out of water" situation as he struggles to acclimate to a totally new world and time, but also to the insecurities of having a mate who isn't just throwing herself into his arms without question. Their relationship was very organic, and I found that refreshing.
It was in living the day-to-day (or rather, night-to-night) with one another that trust, affection, and love truly had a chance to bloom between them. And it was never just a one and done deal - which was something I also appreciated. These two have some very believable hiccups in their relationship, but when they're good together, they are good.
And I'm not just talking about the sexual chemistry. The emotional connection, especially at one point where Anna is literally at the end of her rope... it was so poignant and moving, it made me cry.
"Let me help you, Anna. Please."
The tiredness and pain pulled at her face, and he could see that right now, she had nothing left. She was at her wit's end - but she had him. a mate who would take care of her.
For that's what his Anna needed. Care. Tenderness. She wasn't a battle to win, nor a fortress to breach. He shouldn't be sharpening his blade against her hard exterior, nor trying to crack it with his brute strength. She wasn't a challenge nor a prize. Anna was a woman, one with a sharp tongue and stubborn mind and a large heart. And she was his mate.
Mates deserved care and compassion. It was their due. In his haste and desperation to finally form and solidify their bond, he'd forgotten this important tenet.
Her voice wobbled again when she finally agreed. "O-Okay."
... Being Anna's mate was to be Anna's partner. Her support. Not just her sword but her shield, her sustenance, her home. She didn't just need the strength of his arm and wing but his heart and his compassion. She would test him. try him. and likely vex him again and again - but always would she be worth it.
The climax and reveal at the end brought on one twist I didn't see coming, but the rest had had the hints and foundations already laid out, so it was easy to guess where we were going. Regardless, though, I'm still very curious to see how things proceed from here - with our big bad and his "prisoner", but also June... the woman intrigues me. And I do love a good intrigue.
Seeing Carys and Gavriel again was a pleasure - especially during the climax. Carys in particular had me in stitches a few times - girl just can't be bothered. But I forgot how much I love and admire her tenderness and empathy. The reunion with Frey made my heart hurt.
All in all, a solid story. If you're in the mood for a cozy slow-burn, Heartsong just might scratch that itch!
TROPES:
- "Monster"/Human relations
- Ancient Curses
- Fated Mates
- Close Proximity
- Fish out of water
- Adorable fur-baby sidekick
- Low-ish stakes, but solid on the angst
- Guaranteed HEA with some setup for the next installments
God, she really did love him, so much it hurt. But then, growth usually came with some growing pains, and Frey had expanded her heart, her life. She'd had her reasons to avoid anything serious with him, but those reasons had long since gone silent. Did it mean she wasn't scared? Hell no. This was so big, and there was still the very real threat of [SPOILER] out there. Who knew what [SPOILER]'s plans were or when [they] might reappear. And now she'd been pulled into a world of magick and fae and gargoyles - definitely not for the faint of heart.
And Anna wasn't. She wasn't faint of heart.
Because Frey was her heart.
February 11, 2026
my type of man is one made of stone
4.25-4.5ish
4.25-4.5ish
May 1, 2025
I want to love this author so bad. She writes really beautiful romances, has amazing concepts and great potential. However, i find she tends to write fluff romance with little to no plot until things crack off at the end and considering her books are around 400 pages that really doesnt cut it for me.
If this book was 300 pages or less i think it would've been a 5 star, but it's repetitive and i think a good 60 consecutive pages were smut and fluff.
The whole book is a wash rinse repeat of our fmc going to work, eating mmc food, cuddling then sex then back to work a couple arguements thrown in there...
I just am not sure this author is for me which is a shame because i love her writing and concepts but the content doesnt justify the page count for me. And even though the end with the next fmc sounded really good i just dont think i can continue trying this authors work.
Safety&Info:
Dual 3rd person Pov
Spice:🔥🔥🔥🔥 or more
Romance meter:💚🧡/5
Magic meter:✨️/5
◇Ow drama: none
◇Om drama: none
◇No cheating/sharing/love triangle
◇ 3rd act breakup: no?
◇Seperation: 1 day or so
◇fmc not a v, mmc not sure
◇Ages: ????
◇Protection: birth control
◇HEA
If this book was 300 pages or less i think it would've been a 5 star, but it's repetitive and i think a good 60 consecutive pages were smut and fluff.
The whole book is a wash rinse repeat of our fmc going to work, eating mmc food, cuddling then sex then back to work a couple arguements thrown in there...
I just am not sure this author is for me which is a shame because i love her writing and concepts but the content doesnt justify the page count for me. And even though the end with the next fmc sounded really good i just dont think i can continue trying this authors work.
Safety&Info:
Dual 3rd person Pov
Spice:🔥🔥🔥🔥 or more
Romance meter:💚🧡/5
Magic meter:✨️/5
◇Ow drama: none
◇Om drama: none
◇No cheating/sharing/love triangle
◇ 3rd act breakup: no?
◇Seperation: 1 day or so
◇fmc not a v, mmc not sure
◇Ages: ????
◇Protection: birth control
◇HEA
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2024
— 4.5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
"I care for you, my Anna. I should like to love you, too."
📖 | 457 pages
👤 | author S.E. Wendel
🏢 | published independently
📅 | release date 29 March 2024
What you can expect:
— Adult Monster Romance
— Second Instalment In A Series
— First-Person POV
— Dual-POV
— Medieval Meets Modern
— Fated Mates
— He Falls First
— Chronic Pain Rep
— Grumpy X Grumpy
— Slow Burn Romance
— Forced Proximity
— Animal Companion
— Morally Grey Heroine X Moody Winged Hero
Trigger & Content Warnings include: sexually explicit content, chronic pain & migraines, kidnapping, stalking, minor blood and gore, violence.
Heartsong is the second instalment in the War of the Underhill series by author S.E. Wendel. Fifteen hundred years ago, Frey and all his kind were cursed by the vicious fae queen, their magick stolen and their bodies rendered stone. A proud warrior ready for a mate, Frey rages against his stone prison, but with every year that passes, hope slips away that the curse will ever be broken. That is, until he and some of his kin are placed in an odd little museum... and she walks through the door. Anna Kincaid has just gotten back on her feet. After struggling with student debt, chronic migraines, a serial-dater mother, and Bay Area rent for years, she’s finally landed a job that will help with all of it. It feels too good to be true—full health care with dental and helping manage a museum full of exquisite artifacts? Her heart and history degree are thrilled, but something about the museum is… odd. The owners are a mysterious, if kind couple who call the collection the clan. When the museum is stormed by masked commandos one night, it isn’t even the weirdest thing to happen. No, she could wrap her head around organized art theft—what defies belief is one of the big grey behemoths springing to life to save her as he flies off with her and tucks her into his big body as he growls "mate." Can a modern woman allow a medieval male to whisk her away and claim her well guarded heart? Or will sinister forces seek to drive them apart before they can ever begin?
This is my third read by author S.E. Wendel and I've come to truly adore and anticipate her style of writing. Wendel possesses a unique and compelling narrative voice that drives the storyline and leaves the reader enraptured and enthralled from beginning to end. There's very few authors that I have found leaves me with this true feeling of contentment and I'm thrilled to add another to the very short list. Heartsong is a love letter to those who fiercely guard their heart whilst yearning for love and companionship. That it's okay to lower your walls and welcome somebody else in. That it is not weakness to lean on other's during times of struggle and pain. With it's steady pacing, a mysterious on-going plot and a strong cast of characters, this is not a story to be missed for fans of the Monster Romance genre.
Anna Kincaid is my favourite kind of main character as she is somebody that I find myself truly resonating with and seeing pieces of myself in. With an unstable upbringing moving from one place to the next, as she witnessed her mother stuck in a vicious cycle of falling in love to ultimately get her heart broken... Anna guards her heart with an iron will and a determination to never let another claim in. All she has seen is the ultimate heartbreak that comes at the end of a short-lived love affair, so her doubt and apprehension is as understandable as it heart-breaking. I felt so bad for Anna during her emotional turmoil as she battled with her loneliness and chronic pain. After spending much of her life taking care of herself, Anna doesn't know how to let anybody in. Least of all a grumpy, overbearing gargoyle who is centuries years old and is making grand claims about his intentions towards her. Whilst I admit to sometimes feeling frustrated towards Anna and her actions, her mistrust in Frey is valid and I'm glad that she took the time to establish boundaries as she progressed at a pace that felt safe for herself. I ended the book feeling really proud of Anna's development, and I hope other readers will come to share my sentiment.
Frey is a grumpy and assertive gargoyle who we meet as he wants to claim his Mate on an instinctive and primal level. From the very beginning I loved how despite what his base nature was compelling him to do, Frey desperately wished to earn Anna's love and affection on his own. His overall patience and keenness to please Anna was honestly really sweet and endearing to witness in contrast to his otherwise surly personality. I loved watching as Frey came to life the more Anna seemed open to their connection. His flirty banter and boastful nature was hilarious as he is clearly a proud male who may not have much to offer in this new modern era, but he knows who he is and is willing that to be enough. Also I never anticipated enjoying a purring gargoyle that struts about in low-hanging grey sweatpants... be here I am. I felt for Frey during his moments of defeat and impatience as he sought to gain Anna's approval, and I'm truly glad that these moments were included as it added a sense of realness to his character. Despite Frey's good and well-meaning intentions, he's not always going to get things right and that's okay. What mattered the most is the aftermath of these moments when Frey and Anna would come together and maturely discuss what went wrong. I loved the development in their communication, and this made the progression of their relationship all the more realistic and true. I adore Frey and Anna as a couple, and I particularly enjoyed their moments of independent development which only went to strengthen them as a couple.
Outside of the main characters and their development as a couple... I'm utterly obsessed with the lore of the world? I love how author S.E. Wendel inserts real life history and weaves it into the world of Fantasy that we are introduced to. It's such a fun and unique take on key moments of history, and I cannot wait to see what comes next in the War of the Underhill series. That ending? I have so many questions that I desperately need answers to. Also to those that read the prequel to this story, Stone Heart... Carys and Gavriel are everything. I adore those two with everything I am. I cannot wait to see their continued role in the plot as the series continues to progress.
Thank you to the author for the eARC to read and review prior to release day.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
"I care for you, my Anna. I should like to love you, too."
📖 | 457 pages
👤 | author S.E. Wendel
🏢 | published independently
📅 | release date 29 March 2024
What you can expect:
— Adult Monster Romance
— Second Instalment In A Series
— First-Person POV
— Dual-POV
— Medieval Meets Modern
— Fated Mates
— He Falls First
— Chronic Pain Rep
— Grumpy X Grumpy
— Slow Burn Romance
— Forced Proximity
— Animal Companion
— Morally Grey Heroine X Moody Winged Hero
Trigger & Content Warnings include: sexually explicit content, chronic pain & migraines, kidnapping, stalking, minor blood and gore, violence.
Heartsong is the second instalment in the War of the Underhill series by author S.E. Wendel. Fifteen hundred years ago, Frey and all his kind were cursed by the vicious fae queen, their magick stolen and their bodies rendered stone. A proud warrior ready for a mate, Frey rages against his stone prison, but with every year that passes, hope slips away that the curse will ever be broken. That is, until he and some of his kin are placed in an odd little museum... and she walks through the door. Anna Kincaid has just gotten back on her feet. After struggling with student debt, chronic migraines, a serial-dater mother, and Bay Area rent for years, she’s finally landed a job that will help with all of it. It feels too good to be true—full health care with dental and helping manage a museum full of exquisite artifacts? Her heart and history degree are thrilled, but something about the museum is… odd. The owners are a mysterious, if kind couple who call the collection the clan. When the museum is stormed by masked commandos one night, it isn’t even the weirdest thing to happen. No, she could wrap her head around organized art theft—what defies belief is one of the big grey behemoths springing to life to save her as he flies off with her and tucks her into his big body as he growls "mate." Can a modern woman allow a medieval male to whisk her away and claim her well guarded heart? Or will sinister forces seek to drive them apart before they can ever begin?
This is my third read by author S.E. Wendel and I've come to truly adore and anticipate her style of writing. Wendel possesses a unique and compelling narrative voice that drives the storyline and leaves the reader enraptured and enthralled from beginning to end. There's very few authors that I have found leaves me with this true feeling of contentment and I'm thrilled to add another to the very short list. Heartsong is a love letter to those who fiercely guard their heart whilst yearning for love and companionship. That it's okay to lower your walls and welcome somebody else in. That it is not weakness to lean on other's during times of struggle and pain. With it's steady pacing, a mysterious on-going plot and a strong cast of characters, this is not a story to be missed for fans of the Monster Romance genre.
Anna Kincaid is my favourite kind of main character as she is somebody that I find myself truly resonating with and seeing pieces of myself in. With an unstable upbringing moving from one place to the next, as she witnessed her mother stuck in a vicious cycle of falling in love to ultimately get her heart broken... Anna guards her heart with an iron will and a determination to never let another claim in. All she has seen is the ultimate heartbreak that comes at the end of a short-lived love affair, so her doubt and apprehension is as understandable as it heart-breaking. I felt so bad for Anna during her emotional turmoil as she battled with her loneliness and chronic pain. After spending much of her life taking care of herself, Anna doesn't know how to let anybody in. Least of all a grumpy, overbearing gargoyle who is centuries years old and is making grand claims about his intentions towards her. Whilst I admit to sometimes feeling frustrated towards Anna and her actions, her mistrust in Frey is valid and I'm glad that she took the time to establish boundaries as she progressed at a pace that felt safe for herself. I ended the book feeling really proud of Anna's development, and I hope other readers will come to share my sentiment.
Frey is a grumpy and assertive gargoyle who we meet as he wants to claim his Mate on an instinctive and primal level. From the very beginning I loved how despite what his base nature was compelling him to do, Frey desperately wished to earn Anna's love and affection on his own. His overall patience and keenness to please Anna was honestly really sweet and endearing to witness in contrast to his otherwise surly personality. I loved watching as Frey came to life the more Anna seemed open to their connection. His flirty banter and boastful nature was hilarious as he is clearly a proud male who may not have much to offer in this new modern era, but he knows who he is and is willing that to be enough. Also I never anticipated enjoying a purring gargoyle that struts about in low-hanging grey sweatpants... be here I am. I felt for Frey during his moments of defeat and impatience as he sought to gain Anna's approval, and I'm truly glad that these moments were included as it added a sense of realness to his character. Despite Frey's good and well-meaning intentions, he's not always going to get things right and that's okay. What mattered the most is the aftermath of these moments when Frey and Anna would come together and maturely discuss what went wrong. I loved the development in their communication, and this made the progression of their relationship all the more realistic and true. I adore Frey and Anna as a couple, and I particularly enjoyed their moments of independent development which only went to strengthen them as a couple.
Outside of the main characters and their development as a couple... I'm utterly obsessed with the lore of the world? I love how author S.E. Wendel inserts real life history and weaves it into the world of Fantasy that we are introduced to. It's such a fun and unique take on key moments of history, and I cannot wait to see what comes next in the War of the Underhill series. That ending? I have so many questions that I desperately need answers to. Also to those that read the prequel to this story, Stone Heart... Carys and Gavriel are everything. I adore those two with everything I am. I cannot wait to see their continued role in the plot as the series continues to progress.
Thank you to the author for the eARC to read and review prior to release day.
September 10, 2025
dnf 25%
I could not get into this. I loved the beginning, but I struggled with Frey and Anna's dynamic. I was quickly exhausted of her woe is me I am not lovable attitude. I disliked him telling her what she could not do or breaking her medication.
I could not get into this. I loved the beginning, but I struggled with Frey and Anna's dynamic. I was quickly exhausted of her woe is me I am not lovable attitude. I disliked him telling her what she could not do or breaking her medication.
April 1, 2024
4.5 ⭐️/5
3.0 🌶️/5
This is book two in the War of the Underhill series from S. E. Wendel and it touches every part of my heart and feelings. 🥹
Again, S.E. Wendel created another MMC that is perfect (Orek from Halfling totally captured my heart first 🥹). Frey is my newest book boyfriend, and I definitely am not biased because I’m telling you that he can do no wrong. 😉☺️ If you’re looking for a character whose declarations of love is pure poetry, Frey is the guardian for you.
I love how Frey is a centuries old being who is trying to navigate the present day. He’s a warrior guardian from another time, who has found his heartsong but he is alone and vulnerable in a world he can no longer dominate on sheer strength. Anna, is Frey’s heartsong, and a modern independent human woman who is finally finding stability from a very unstable past. I completely relate to Anna’s suffering from chronic migraines, and it’s such a relief to see on page something that I struggle with being put into words in a way I find hard to describe.
While not required, I definitely recommend reading Stone Hearts before Heartsong to get the fullest appreciation of the series. Stone Hearts sets up the world of the series and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I love Carys and Gavriel and their adventures through hundreds and hundreds and of years.
If you love mates, Welsh ancient lore and legend, fated mates, MMCs who fall first and hard, lots of spice and heat, FMCs who take some convincing, read Stone Hearts and Heartsong.
Thank you SE Wendel for the ARC. My thoughts/opinions are my own and my review is voluntary.
3.0 🌶️/5
This is book two in the War of the Underhill series from S. E. Wendel and it touches every part of my heart and feelings. 🥹
Again, S.E. Wendel created another MMC that is perfect (Orek from Halfling totally captured my heart first 🥹). Frey is my newest book boyfriend, and I definitely am not biased because I’m telling you that he can do no wrong. 😉☺️ If you’re looking for a character whose declarations of love is pure poetry, Frey is the guardian for you.
I love how Frey is a centuries old being who is trying to navigate the present day. He’s a warrior guardian from another time, who has found his heartsong but he is alone and vulnerable in a world he can no longer dominate on sheer strength. Anna, is Frey’s heartsong, and a modern independent human woman who is finally finding stability from a very unstable past. I completely relate to Anna’s suffering from chronic migraines, and it’s such a relief to see on page something that I struggle with being put into words in a way I find hard to describe.
While not required, I definitely recommend reading Stone Hearts before Heartsong to get the fullest appreciation of the series. Stone Hearts sets up the world of the series and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I love Carys and Gavriel and their adventures through hundreds and hundreds and of years.
If you love mates, Welsh ancient lore and legend, fated mates, MMCs who fall first and hard, lots of spice and heat, FMCs who take some convincing, read Stone Hearts and Heartsong.
Thank you SE Wendel for the ARC. My thoughts/opinions are my own and my review is voluntary.
September 7, 2025
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. I was expecting a smutty monster romance, and this was so much more than that.
The MMC, Frey, is a gargoyle (technically a grotesque) who’s been cursed since the sixth century, and because of this, he’s trapped in a stone body. The FMC, Anna, is his heartsong (which is the most beautiful word for soulmate/mate) and is the key to breaking his curse.
Frey manages to escape his stone prison, but all of the other gargoyles from his clan are still imprisoned. I’ll be looking forward to the next book to find out what happens to the rest of the clan.
I thought the relationship between Anna and Frey was truly moving. Anna has a rough background, is used to taking care of herself, and has trouble opening up to Frey. Frey is stubborn in the best way and manages to pursue Anna without becoming too pushy or overbearing.
—Thank you to NetGalley, S.E. Wendel, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC copy of Heartsong—
The MMC, Frey, is a gargoyle (technically a grotesque) who’s been cursed since the sixth century, and because of this, he’s trapped in a stone body. The FMC, Anna, is his heartsong (which is the most beautiful word for soulmate/mate) and is the key to breaking his curse.
Frey manages to escape his stone prison, but all of the other gargoyles from his clan are still imprisoned. I’ll be looking forward to the next book to find out what happens to the rest of the clan.
I thought the relationship between Anna and Frey was truly moving. Anna has a rough background, is used to taking care of herself, and has trouble opening up to Frey. Frey is stubborn in the best way and manages to pursue Anna without becoming too pushy or overbearing.
—Thank you to NetGalley, S.E. Wendel, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC copy of Heartsong—
May 4, 2024
Absolutely adorable! I loved these two main characters, they are so different from each other and it is lovely to see them grow together. Really great action, cannot wait to see where the story goes next. Loved Carys and Gavren in the modern world! And who doesn’t love a black cat animal sidekick! Great modern day monster romance!
Read
February 19, 2026rep: chronic migraines
Read
January 25, 2026I DNF’d Heartsong at around 15%, and honestly that might’ve been optimistic. I went in excited—monster romance is usually a win for me, and a statue that comes to life is a solid concept—but the execution completely killed any interest I had.
First of all, the writing. Oh my god. The repetition. I have never been so aggressively reminded of the same facts in my life. The author will tell you something, then tell you again, then rephrase it, then remind you one more time just in case you somehow forgot within the last three sentences. And sometimes—SOMETIMES—it’s repeated multiple times in the same paragraph. Like bestie… I am right here. I can read. My brain is functional. I do not need to be told for the 47th time that Claire is her boss. I promise you, that information has been branded into my frontal lobe permanently.
And that repetition applies to everything. Character dynamics, emotions, internal thoughts—nothing is allowed to exist once. It must be said again and again and again until it loses all meaning and you start dissociating. Instead of building atmosphere or tension, the prose just circles the same three ideas like a Roomba stuck in a corner.
Now let’s talk plot, or rather, the complete lack of it. By 15% in, nothing had happened. And I don’t mean “slow burn nothing,” I mean actively stagnant. No intrigue, no momentum, no sense that the story was gearing up to go anywhere interesting. It was just vibes. And not even good vibes. Boring vibes. Beige vibes. Waiting-room-without-WiFi vibes. If your book is already boring before anything has even started, that’s not a slow burn—that’s just bad pacing.
There is also an egregious amount of telling and almost no showing. We are told how characters feel, told what’s important, told what dynamics exist—but rarely allowed to actually experience any of it. Nothing feels earned or organic because the narrative refuses to let scenes breathe or emotions unfold naturally. It’s like being force-fed information instead of being invited into a story.
And then… Frey. Oh Frey. Where do I even begin. This man—this ancient being, this supposedly complex creature with history and lore and a whole pod—has exactly one thought in his entire head: mate. That’s it. That’s the thought. Over and over and over again. Mate mate mate mate mate. Sir, are you okay? Do you have hobbies? Opinions? A personality? Literally anything else rattling around up there?
The mate bond itself is rushed to the point of being uncomfortable. There’s no buildup, no chemistry, just instant possessiveness. His constant need to protect her and know where she is at all times doesn’t come across as romantic—it feels smothering and unearned. Without emotional development or trust being built, it’s hard to root for the relationship.
Which is extra disappointing because the premise had so much potential. I wanted to fall in love with a statue that comes to life. I wanted ancient yearning, slow awakening, emotional depth, and monster romance goodness. Instead, I got boredom, repetition, zero plot movement, and a male lead whose entire personality is a mate bond he discovered five minutes ago.
By the time I DNF’d, I wasn’t sad—I was relieved. Relieved that I didn’t have to read the word “mate” one more time. Relieved that I could stop being reminded who Claire was. Relieved that I didn’t have to wait around for a story that showed no signs of ever getting interesting.
Overall, Heartsong is a case of a fun concept completely fumbled by bad writing, poor pacing, and characters who feel less like people (or monsters) and more like repetitive thought generators. Strong DNF. Statue stayed stone-cold boring. 🗿💔
First of all, the writing. Oh my god. The repetition. I have never been so aggressively reminded of the same facts in my life. The author will tell you something, then tell you again, then rephrase it, then remind you one more time just in case you somehow forgot within the last three sentences. And sometimes—SOMETIMES—it’s repeated multiple times in the same paragraph. Like bestie… I am right here. I can read. My brain is functional. I do not need to be told for the 47th time that Claire is her boss. I promise you, that information has been branded into my frontal lobe permanently.
And that repetition applies to everything. Character dynamics, emotions, internal thoughts—nothing is allowed to exist once. It must be said again and again and again until it loses all meaning and you start dissociating. Instead of building atmosphere or tension, the prose just circles the same three ideas like a Roomba stuck in a corner.
Now let’s talk plot, or rather, the complete lack of it. By 15% in, nothing had happened. And I don’t mean “slow burn nothing,” I mean actively stagnant. No intrigue, no momentum, no sense that the story was gearing up to go anywhere interesting. It was just vibes. And not even good vibes. Boring vibes. Beige vibes. Waiting-room-without-WiFi vibes. If your book is already boring before anything has even started, that’s not a slow burn—that’s just bad pacing.
There is also an egregious amount of telling and almost no showing. We are told how characters feel, told what’s important, told what dynamics exist—but rarely allowed to actually experience any of it. Nothing feels earned or organic because the narrative refuses to let scenes breathe or emotions unfold naturally. It’s like being force-fed information instead of being invited into a story.
And then… Frey. Oh Frey. Where do I even begin. This man—this ancient being, this supposedly complex creature with history and lore and a whole pod—has exactly one thought in his entire head: mate. That’s it. That’s the thought. Over and over and over again. Mate mate mate mate mate. Sir, are you okay? Do you have hobbies? Opinions? A personality? Literally anything else rattling around up there?
The mate bond itself is rushed to the point of being uncomfortable. There’s no buildup, no chemistry, just instant possessiveness. His constant need to protect her and know where she is at all times doesn’t come across as romantic—it feels smothering and unearned. Without emotional development or trust being built, it’s hard to root for the relationship.
Which is extra disappointing because the premise had so much potential. I wanted to fall in love with a statue that comes to life. I wanted ancient yearning, slow awakening, emotional depth, and monster romance goodness. Instead, I got boredom, repetition, zero plot movement, and a male lead whose entire personality is a mate bond he discovered five minutes ago.
By the time I DNF’d, I wasn’t sad—I was relieved. Relieved that I didn’t have to read the word “mate” one more time. Relieved that I could stop being reminded who Claire was. Relieved that I didn’t have to wait around for a story that showed no signs of ever getting interesting.
Overall, Heartsong is a case of a fun concept completely fumbled by bad writing, poor pacing, and characters who feel less like people (or monsters) and more like repetitive thought generators. Strong DNF. Statue stayed stone-cold boring. 🗿💔
April 4, 2026
This is a really cozy romance and who knew gargoyles could be so sweet. I loved the museum and domestic settings. The Art History of it was lovely and as someone who studied Art History it made me smile.
Anna's Chronic pain was a nice part of her characterization and struggles. Sometimes it can be really nice to see that a character is going through something that experience as well, this really spoke to me. It was easy to connect with Anna as a character.
The theme of loneliness here was also treated really beautifully! Sometimes those mundane things, time she spent with Frey just eating dinner and watching tv, do show you how much you were missing. I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to read more in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for the arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
Anna's Chronic pain was a nice part of her characterization and struggles. Sometimes it can be really nice to see that a character is going through something that experience as well, this really spoke to me. It was easy to connect with Anna as a character.
The theme of loneliness here was also treated really beautifully! Sometimes those mundane things, time she spent with Frey just eating dinner and watching tv, do show you how much you were missing. I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to read more in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for the arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 2, 2026
After the stellar prequel, Heartsong was a letdown. It felt like a 100-page novella stretched into a 300-page slog. Trapped in a "bottle episode" plot, we spend 200 pages in an apartment watching the characters watch TV.
Frey is disappointing; his only personality trait is "MATE." For a centuries-old gargoyle, his lack of wonder at the modern world was a missed opportunity, and his obsession felt more repetitive than romantic. Meanwhile, Anna’s "poor pitiful me" energy was exhausting. The book tells us she’s lonely but shows her pushing everyone away, making it hard to sympathize with her "cosmic justice" outlook on her migraines.
The pacing only picks up in the final 30 pages, seriously, idk how I didn't DNF. While the ending has potentially baited me for Book 2, the placement of the epilogue killed the momentum. I enjoyed this world. 3⭐ just for the potential, but I need the characters to actually do something next time.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Frey is disappointing; his only personality trait is "MATE." For a centuries-old gargoyle, his lack of wonder at the modern world was a missed opportunity, and his obsession felt more repetitive than romantic. Meanwhile, Anna’s "poor pitiful me" energy was exhausting. The book tells us she’s lonely but shows her pushing everyone away, making it hard to sympathize with her "cosmic justice" outlook on her migraines.
The pacing only picks up in the final 30 pages, seriously, idk how I didn't DNF. While the ending has potentially baited me for Book 2, the placement of the epilogue killed the momentum. I enjoyed this world. 3⭐ just for the potential, but I need the characters to actually do something next time.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 10, 2024
I was swept away by this heart-melting romance! The world building was top-notch. I fell in love with the writing style from the very beginning; I could totally believe the MMC was not from modern times. His story and that of his kind was a tear-jerker; it was that well-told. The FMC was a strong, believable and relatable character. Seeing their relationship develop had me giggling, cheering, and swooning; the dangers they faced had be holding my breath - when you're that invested in a book, you know it's good! The schmexy times were the cherry on top. In short, I LOVED this book!
2026
October 21, 2025Halloween TBR
Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Avon a
Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Avon a
February 26, 2026
This is FOMO. I've been seeing this around for a few weeks and I caved, curious.
Did I enjoy this? Yes.
Was it perfect? No.
Just gonna list what I liked and what I didn't:
Likes:
1. Anna's a good character to follow throughout this story. As a fellow migraine sufferer, her brutal headaches were heavily relatable - even if they did come on a liiiiiittle too easily and conveniently for the plot for me.
1.5. I also enjoy that these moments gave Frey the chance to show his mate he cared for her wellbeing.
2. Anna's got a little bit of parental trauma in her background, her mother's one of those women who hops from shitbag to shitbag and it's caused Anna to sort of lose faith in the whole love thing. She's also suffering from a bit of self-esteem issues and Frey has to work with her to get past these things in order to properly woo her. Which means while there IS instant attraction between them (and insta-love on Frey's part) it's still sort of a slow-burn.
2.5. I really liked the angst that took up the middle of this story - the way Anna pushes Frey away and runs from the idea of being his fated mate.The way she balked at "not having a choice in the matter." So many of these fated mates stories just have the woman falling into the hot fae/vampire/whatever's arms with zero question. It takes Anna months to come around to the idea. So their love story felt realistic from a personality and a timeline perspective.
3. The worldbuilding. You can tell Wendel at the very LEAST enjoys the myths and legends and folklore for the time period and the area she's referencing in this story. I love that she takes the time to offer up stories for us at the back of the book - references that she's found in her research. This dedication ensured that the lore in this world felt substantial and not slapdash. I think as this series goes on, the magic and myth etc is only going to get richer.
4. I enjoyed the balance of teaching Frey the modern world and him already having a handle on some things because he wasn't entirely unconscious while he was frozen in stone. With so many of these "teach the ancient being about the modern world" stories the plots tend to drift into the ridiculous and unrealistic. This one didn't.
And for the things that irritated me:
1. I wasn't terribly fond of the way Frey and Anna are basically locked inside her apartment for 70% of the book. It's sort of difficult to try and convince a skeptical woman that you worship the ground she walks on and will never choose another over her and that you will do anything to keep her safe and make her happy if you're just wandering around her apartment the whole time petting her cat. (Her actual cat, not her...you know) Logistically speaking it's understandable he'd need to stay inside - what with the horns and wings and tail...but still. Their WHOLE relationship is built out of him making her dinner and them watching documentaries on TV afterwards.
2. Because it's the same thing day in and day out for SO LONG, this story's pace suffered a bit. The characters had the same arguments over and over. For a while there in the middle it didn't feel like anybody was gaining any ground and I'll be honest, while I could appreciate an FMC who didn't immediately accept a mate bond, Anna's stubbornness to even consider Frey's feelings kind of irritated from time to time.
2.5. The 'flip' from Anna being against the whole fated mates thing to wanting to try and being in love with Frey happens at what feels like an arbitrary place in the story for an arbitrary reason.
3. The villains are interesting, and for me, they weren't entirely straightforward - not who you think they might be and not possessing the motives you might think. But I think if you'd read the prequel to this book it would have been ruined for you.
4. After the major encounter with the enemy it takes entirely too long for the book to wind down. We have all this excitement and uncertainty and instead of going out on a high note, I have to go on a cringy date with Frey and Anna where all they do is talk about how badly they wanna fuck each other the whole time.
All in all, this isn't a bad story. The overarching plot is something that will have me coming back to other books in this series. I think whether or not you like it personally will just depend on what gets on your nerves and what you can handle.
Did I enjoy this? Yes.
Was it perfect? No.
Just gonna list what I liked and what I didn't:
Likes:
1. Anna's a good character to follow throughout this story. As a fellow migraine sufferer, her brutal headaches were heavily relatable - even if they did come on a liiiiiittle too easily and conveniently for the plot for me.
1.5. I also enjoy that these moments gave Frey the chance to show his mate he cared for her wellbeing.
2. Anna's got a little bit of parental trauma in her background, her mother's one of those women who hops from shitbag to shitbag and it's caused Anna to sort of lose faith in the whole love thing. She's also suffering from a bit of self-esteem issues and Frey has to work with her to get past these things in order to properly woo her. Which means while there IS instant attraction between them (and insta-love on Frey's part) it's still sort of a slow-burn.
2.5. I really liked the angst that took up the middle of this story - the way Anna pushes Frey away and runs from the idea of being his fated mate.The way she balked at "not having a choice in the matter." So many of these fated mates stories just have the woman falling into the hot fae/vampire/whatever's arms with zero question. It takes Anna months to come around to the idea. So their love story felt realistic from a personality and a timeline perspective.
3. The worldbuilding. You can tell Wendel at the very LEAST enjoys the myths and legends and folklore for the time period and the area she's referencing in this story. I love that she takes the time to offer up stories for us at the back of the book - references that she's found in her research. This dedication ensured that the lore in this world felt substantial and not slapdash. I think as this series goes on, the magic and myth etc is only going to get richer.
4. I enjoyed the balance of teaching Frey the modern world and him already having a handle on some things because he wasn't entirely unconscious while he was frozen in stone. With so many of these "teach the ancient being about the modern world" stories the plots tend to drift into the ridiculous and unrealistic. This one didn't.
And for the things that irritated me:
1. I wasn't terribly fond of the way Frey and Anna are basically locked inside her apartment for 70% of the book. It's sort of difficult to try and convince a skeptical woman that you worship the ground she walks on and will never choose another over her and that you will do anything to keep her safe and make her happy if you're just wandering around her apartment the whole time petting her cat. (Her actual cat, not her...you know) Logistically speaking it's understandable he'd need to stay inside - what with the horns and wings and tail...but still. Their WHOLE relationship is built out of him making her dinner and them watching documentaries on TV afterwards.
2. Because it's the same thing day in and day out for SO LONG, this story's pace suffered a bit. The characters had the same arguments over and over. For a while there in the middle it didn't feel like anybody was gaining any ground and I'll be honest, while I could appreciate an FMC who didn't immediately accept a mate bond, Anna's stubbornness to even consider Frey's feelings kind of irritated from time to time.
2.5. The 'flip' from Anna being against the whole fated mates thing to wanting to try and being in love with Frey happens at what feels like an arbitrary place in the story for an arbitrary reason.
3. The villains are interesting, and for me, they weren't entirely straightforward - not who you think they might be and not possessing the motives you might think. But I think if you'd read the prequel to this book it would have been ruined for you.
4. After the major encounter with the enemy it takes entirely too long for the book to wind down. We have all this excitement and uncertainty and instead of going out on a high note, I have to go on a cringy date with Frey and Anna where all they do is talk about how badly they wanna fuck each other the whole time.
All in all, this isn't a bad story. The overarching plot is something that will have me coming back to other books in this series. I think whether or not you like it personally will just depend on what gets on your nerves and what you can handle.
April 25, 2026
This was very adorable in the way that if you are looking to dip your toes into monster romance, this would be the book for you. It was super cute and really light hearted in a way that it almost seemed like a regular romance book instead of a gargoyle and human romance.
While I did find the story super cute and captivating, I just felt like something was missing a bit. Maybe it’s because I’m so used to monster romances being super dark, but I maybe wanted a little bit more of that. While it has tell the story from Anna and Freys POV, It was writing on third person which I always have a hard time connecting with. Even though this was not my favorite, I know others would love this adorable story with an interesting twist on Celtic lore!
While I did find the story super cute and captivating, I just felt like something was missing a bit. Maybe it’s because I’m so used to monster romances being super dark, but I maybe wanted a little bit more of that. While it has tell the story from Anna and Freys POV, It was writing on third person which I always have a hard time connecting with. Even though this was not my favorite, I know others would love this adorable story with an interesting twist on Celtic lore!
April 26, 2026
I went into a bad reading slump in the middle of reading this so I feel like my thoughts arent as genuine, but I did enjoy it. I appreciated the chronic migraine representation as someone with chronic migraines. I dont think ill continue with the series though, I wasnt hooked in enough with the ending. Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy to review.
April 2, 2026
It took me a very long time to finish this book, and I’m very sad about it because I loved the plot.
These characters had depth, and I loved the chronic pain rep a lot for the fmc. Watching Frey learn how to help was adorable. I also loved Carrie and Gavin from the get, for some reason! Being helpful and respectful employers? That’s hard to find these days honestly, and that made me envious yet happy for Anna.
The real problem was the constant back and forth, over and over again. Do not get me wrong, I LOVE ANGST and miscommunication and a slow burn.
I think the reason this one was harder to get through was because it was the same thing over and over and over again.
There was also a lot of inner dialogue. This is fine, but it took up quite a bit of the story, and seemingly misplaced in the middle of scenes.
I truly just think it was the flow — or lack thereof — that made it take a while for me to finish this story. Which, the story was adorable and I loved it, but how it was portrayed was really hard to get around!
Overall
2 ⭐️
2 🌶️
Thank you so much to Avon and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Heartsong !
These characters had depth, and I loved the chronic pain rep a lot for the fmc. Watching Frey learn how to help was adorable. I also loved Carrie and Gavin from the get, for some reason! Being helpful and respectful employers? That’s hard to find these days honestly, and that made me envious yet happy for Anna.
The real problem was the constant back and forth, over and over again. Do not get me wrong, I LOVE ANGST and miscommunication and a slow burn.
I think the reason this one was harder to get through was because it was the same thing over and over and over again.
There was also a lot of inner dialogue. This is fine, but it took up quite a bit of the story, and seemingly misplaced in the middle of scenes.
I truly just think it was the flow — or lack thereof — that made it take a while for me to finish this story. Which, the story was adorable and I loved it, but how it was portrayed was really hard to get around!
Overall
2 ⭐️
2 🌶️
Thank you so much to Avon and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Heartsong !
April 5, 2026
Thank you Avon Books and NetGalley for the review copy; all opinions are my own
This is a spicy monster romantasy, so please make sure you know what that means before reading. It is also written in the third person, so again make sure you know what that means for your reading enjoyment.
This is our first book from this author and we are now S. E. Wendel fans! We loved that the story was written in the third person and descriptive. We really felt like we were with the characters and part of their world.
We called this story a monster romantasy because there is a magic system, but it isn't totally fleshed out, but does show up in the story in a minimalist fashion. Also, the romance between Frey, the Gargoyle, and Anna, the human female, is the main driving plot of the story. The title of the story, Heartsong, means fated mates or mates in the story. This is the other reason we called it a romantasy, they are mates and appear to be fated.
Frey, is such a monster MMC and we love him. He says, "mine" and will do anything for his Heartsong, Anna <3. He is all about upholding not only his duty as a guardian, which the Gargoyles are, but also his duty as a heartsong. He's all brute and muscles, which we love.
There is history of and about the Gargoyles told throughout the story, which helps also propel the two main characters forward in their quest to break the stone curse. It's interwoven with their love story as Frey is a Gargoyle whose cure has been broken.
The only criticism we have is with the FMC Anna. Part of her character arc is her moving past her past lived experiencing and allowing herself to experience new things in her life even if they are scary. This is a wonderful thing, and we love that she is not only overcoming a toxic childhood, but also has disability representation. The criticism is in this self discovery and growth taking a bit too long. It felt like we spent too many chapters of Anna denying and fighting not only Frey, but her own growth.
However, once we got past that part it was once again a wonderful medium-fast paced story that had a wonderful twist and an introduction of two characters that help strengthen the Gargoyle lore and history of this Underhill battle.
One thing that was most wonderful about the story was the use of history as the structure and premise of the story. Though, of course some facts were embellished or changed. Having that as a foundation made the story more enjoyable and felt more plausible. Like this could happen to me when I went to the museum. Now I'll touch all the statues.
This is a spicy monster romantasy, so please make sure you know what that means before reading. It is also written in the third person, so again make sure you know what that means for your reading enjoyment.
This is our first book from this author and we are now S. E. Wendel fans! We loved that the story was written in the third person and descriptive. We really felt like we were with the characters and part of their world.
We called this story a monster romantasy because there is a magic system, but it isn't totally fleshed out, but does show up in the story in a minimalist fashion. Also, the romance between Frey, the Gargoyle, and Anna, the human female, is the main driving plot of the story. The title of the story, Heartsong, means fated mates or mates in the story. This is the other reason we called it a romantasy, they are mates and appear to be fated.
Frey, is such a monster MMC and we love him. He says, "mine" and will do anything for his Heartsong, Anna <3. He is all about upholding not only his duty as a guardian, which the Gargoyles are, but also his duty as a heartsong. He's all brute and muscles, which we love.
There is history of and about the Gargoyles told throughout the story, which helps also propel the two main characters forward in their quest to break the stone curse. It's interwoven with their love story as Frey is a Gargoyle whose cure has been broken.
The only criticism we have is with the FMC Anna. Part of her character arc is her moving past her past lived experiencing and allowing herself to experience new things in her life even if they are scary. This is a wonderful thing, and we love that she is not only overcoming a toxic childhood, but also has disability representation. The criticism is in this self discovery and growth taking a bit too long. It felt like we spent too many chapters of Anna denying and fighting not only Frey, but her own growth.
However, once we got past that part it was once again a wonderful medium-fast paced story that had a wonderful twist and an introduction of two characters that help strengthen the Gargoyle lore and history of this Underhill battle.
One thing that was most wonderful about the story was the use of history as the structure and premise of the story. Though, of course some facts were embellished or changed. Having that as a foundation made the story more enjoyable and felt more plausible. Like this could happen to me when I went to the museum. Now I'll touch all the statues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2025
I really, really wanted to love this. I enjoyed that this story had chronic illness rep, a regular sized FMC, difficult mother / daughter relationship, and an FMC who learned independence all on her own. The MMC was down so bad, and he was funny! He had some great one liners, and he put himself in some hilarious situations. The spice here was good too.
But unfortunately I was incredibly bored. The first 15% went so fast. The last 15% went so fast. But the middle 70%? I was on the struggle bus. While I do enjoy character stories which allow the relationship to fully develop and even bits of monotonous real life, this was wake up, go to work, come home, fight with gargoyle over and over again. And sadly I felt what little external plot there was here was extremely predictable. And our FMC was just kind of a bitch almost the entire time. Oh, and he sniffs her panties when he’s stressed.
Idk. I think if you want just a low stakes, intro to monster romance, this could be an ok start. I will continue reading this authors work though. Lot of promise for future stories.
But unfortunately I was incredibly bored. The first 15% went so fast. The last 15% went so fast. But the middle 70%? I was on the struggle bus. While I do enjoy character stories which allow the relationship to fully develop and even bits of monotonous real life, this was wake up, go to work, come home, fight with gargoyle over and over again. And sadly I felt what little external plot there was here was extremely predictable. And our FMC was just kind of a bitch almost the entire time. Oh, and he sniffs her panties when he’s stressed.
Idk. I think if you want just a low stakes, intro to monster romance, this could be an ok start. I will continue reading this authors work though. Lot of promise for future stories.
December 22, 2025
My rating: 3.75 ⭐⭐⭐✨
Tropes:
— fated mates
— he falls first
— close proximity
— moody winged hero
— fish out of water
— medieval meets modern
— hurt/comfort
It was an interesting story that reminded me a bit of the movie Night at the Museum and the Gargoyles animated series. I enjoyed the beginning and the ending, but the middle felt a bit slow and lost my attention. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to reading the next part.
It's perfect for fans of the Gargoyles animated series who want to feel nostalgic while enjoying a more mature version of the story.
Thank you to Avon a and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
— fated mates
— he falls first
— close proximity
— moody winged hero
— fish out of water
— medieval meets modern
— hurt/comfort
It was an interesting story that reminded me a bit of the movie Night at the Museum and the Gargoyles animated series. I enjoyed the beginning and the ending, but the middle felt a bit slow and lost my attention. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to reading the next part.
It's perfect for fans of the Gargoyles animated series who want to feel nostalgic while enjoying a more mature version of the story.
Thank you to Avon a and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 797 reviews