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The Star-Crossed Gods #1
Heart of the Wolf Queen
Love could be her greatest weakness… or her deadliest weapon.
Sorrow Villente is no princess waiting to be saved.
When a devastating accident partially blinded her, Sorrow was locked away at the top of a tower in the wilderness, offered up as a sacrifice to the gods.
But Sorrow refuses to die quietly. Only she knows a dark magic burns inside her. With her fiercely protective wolf, Pablo, she spends every moment plotting her escape.
And yet when she finally breaks free, Sorrow is captured immediately… by the one man she never expected to see again.
Long ago, Sorrow and Matthias were inseparable. Tall and devastatingly handsome, with sparkling green eyes, the sight of him still sends her heart racing. Then she remembers the truth. When she needed him most, Matthias walked away. He didn’t just abandon her. He betrayed her.
And he hasn’t come to rescue her. Matthias is the ruler of a distant land, where monsters lurk in mist-shrouded forests. To save his kingdom, he needs an alliance with Sorrow’s family – one that can be sealed only by marriage.
Sorrow must marry the man who broke her heart… or die.
🌶️ Spice on the page
❤️ Second chance romance
💍 Marriage of convenience
🔮 Fated love
🗡️ Touch her and die
💔 Yearning
🦇 Gothic setting and atmosphere
The first book in the steamy epic romantasy series, The Star-Crossed Gods. Fans of Hannah Whitten, Leigh Bardugo and Sabel Sorensen will love Heart of the Wolf Queen and its feisty heroine.
What readers love about Heart of the Wolf Queen:
‘Fun fast-paced romantasy that was hard to put down. I love how [Sorrow] doesn't take sh*t and the banter between her and Matthias was so enjoyable… my favourite… an incredible journey!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Exactly what I want in a romantasy novel! Fast-paced… yearning off the charts… I devoured it in less than 24 hours. I loved the dynamic between Sorrow and Matthias… I just love how [Sorrow] still has a spine and stands up for herself. I absolutely loved her… amazing animal sidekick… wonderful… This one should be on everyone's radar.’ Bookishbookwormreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fast-paced romantasy… a very fun read… I loved the banter, and humour… perfect… I finished it in one day.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sorrow Villente is no princess waiting to be saved.
When a devastating accident partially blinded her, Sorrow was locked away at the top of a tower in the wilderness, offered up as a sacrifice to the gods.
But Sorrow refuses to die quietly. Only she knows a dark magic burns inside her. With her fiercely protective wolf, Pablo, she spends every moment plotting her escape.
And yet when she finally breaks free, Sorrow is captured immediately… by the one man she never expected to see again.
Long ago, Sorrow and Matthias were inseparable. Tall and devastatingly handsome, with sparkling green eyes, the sight of him still sends her heart racing. Then she remembers the truth. When she needed him most, Matthias walked away. He didn’t just abandon her. He betrayed her.
And he hasn’t come to rescue her. Matthias is the ruler of a distant land, where monsters lurk in mist-shrouded forests. To save his kingdom, he needs an alliance with Sorrow’s family – one that can be sealed only by marriage.
Sorrow must marry the man who broke her heart… or die.
🌶️ Spice on the page
❤️ Second chance romance
💍 Marriage of convenience
🔮 Fated love
🗡️ Touch her and die
💔 Yearning
🦇 Gothic setting and atmosphere
The first book in the steamy epic romantasy series, The Star-Crossed Gods. Fans of Hannah Whitten, Leigh Bardugo and Sabel Sorensen will love Heart of the Wolf Queen and its feisty heroine.
What readers love about Heart of the Wolf Queen:
‘Fun fast-paced romantasy that was hard to put down. I love how [Sorrow] doesn't take sh*t and the banter between her and Matthias was so enjoyable… my favourite… an incredible journey!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Exactly what I want in a romantasy novel! Fast-paced… yearning off the charts… I devoured it in less than 24 hours. I loved the dynamic between Sorrow and Matthias… I just love how [Sorrow] still has a spine and stands up for herself. I absolutely loved her… amazing animal sidekick… wonderful… This one should be on everyone's radar.’ Bookishbookwormreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fast-paced romantasy… a very fun read… I loved the banter, and humour… perfect… I finished it in one day.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2026
About the author
Sarah Gallego
2 books55 followersSarah Gallego is an author of dark fantasy romance who lives in North Wales with her husband and four children. Sarah is the author of the Star-Crossed Duology. She loves to create unforgettable flawed characters and dark, gothic worlds, with an inclusive cast of characters. Her stories are always filled with the weird and wonderful and she adores to throw in a small dash of heartbreak for her characters along the way. When she's not writing, Sarah can be found drawing, listening to an eclectic mix of music and drinking copious amounts of tea.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 464 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This had a really promising start but unfortunately it fell off for me after the halfway point.
I liked the magic system and found it to be very unique! I loved learning about Sorrow’s powers and her training which would take place, and little moments of her with her little animals! I also really liked Pablo’s character (her wolf) who was very protective and funny at times, he was a great addition to the story.
What didn’t work for me was the romance… It’s a second chance romance but I feel like when they met again for the “second chance” part, the relationship didn’t really develop well. Sorrow (fmc) was initially hurt and upset with Matthias (mmc) because of their history but the only development afterwards was her finding him attractive and finding herself wanting to be around him…and then boom they kiss. But we didn’t really see any actual moments between the two which showed her actually feeling deeper feelings towards him? Or any significant moments between them at all tbh.
My lack of connection with the characters also made me not inclined to pick this up at times.
That being said, it’s still a cool and unique story but just didn’t really work for me :)
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC ♡
I liked the magic system and found it to be very unique! I loved learning about Sorrow’s powers and her training which would take place, and little moments of her with her little animals! I also really liked Pablo’s character (her wolf) who was very protective and funny at times, he was a great addition to the story.
What didn’t work for me was the romance… It’s a second chance romance but I feel like when they met again for the “second chance” part, the relationship didn’t really develop well. Sorrow (fmc) was initially hurt and upset with Matthias (mmc) because of their history but the only development afterwards was her finding him attractive and finding herself wanting to be around him…and then boom they kiss. But we didn’t really see any actual moments between the two which showed her actually feeling deeper feelings towards him? Or any significant moments between them at all tbh.
My lack of connection with the characters also made me not inclined to pick this up at times.
That being said, it’s still a cool and unique story but just didn’t really work for me :)
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC ♡
March 13, 2026
Thank you to Second Sky Books for the ARC! 3.75 stars rounded up. This was enjoyable! The marketing is slightly off though. This wasn’t sizzling, nor was it dark. It was a very slow burn, friends to lovers written in a very YA voice.
All that aside, the magic was fun. The characters were also fun and had a lot of depth. My favorite part was the disability representation, though. FMC is progressively losing her sight and one of the most powerful side characters has lupus. It’s so much more fun reading books with realistically, flawed characters. The ending is a really fun cliffhanger which had me really excited for the next book.
All that aside, the magic was fun. The characters were also fun and had a lot of depth. My favorite part was the disability representation, though. FMC is progressively losing her sight and one of the most powerful side characters has lupus. It’s so much more fun reading books with realistically, flawed characters. The ending is a really fun cliffhanger which had me really excited for the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wanted to like this book so much, but I’m so disappointed.
While it had a promising start and a solid world building, I never connected with the characters. Sorrow became annoying quickly, and the rest of the characters felt flat and one dimensional. Even Matthias lacked any real depth.
There was so much potential for yearning, but I never understood why Sorrow and Matthias actually liked each other. Their feelings stemmed from a friendship eight years ago, and I never saw them truly connect as adults. I’m also not the biggest fan of miscommunication or second chance romance because they’re so rarely executed well. Here, the emotional conflict felt repetitive and lazy, and soon took the joy out of reading
The political plot also felt underdeveloped. It just feels like they only reacted to Romero’s actions, rather than making any bold moves of their own. I died when the response to Romero’s backstabbing was just a strongly worded letter. The plot twist at the end was unexpected but I didn’t care because the characters felt so paper-thin.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
While it had a promising start and a solid world building, I never connected with the characters. Sorrow became annoying quickly, and the rest of the characters felt flat and one dimensional. Even Matthias lacked any real depth.
There was so much potential for yearning, but I never understood why Sorrow and Matthias actually liked each other. Their feelings stemmed from a friendship eight years ago, and I never saw them truly connect as adults. I’m also not the biggest fan of miscommunication or second chance romance because they’re so rarely executed well. Here, the emotional conflict felt repetitive and lazy, and soon took the joy out of reading
The political plot also felt underdeveloped. It just feels like they only reacted to Romero’s actions, rather than making any bold moves of their own. I died when the response to Romero’s backstabbing was just a strongly worded letter. The plot twist at the end was unexpected but I didn’t care because the characters felt so paper-thin.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
May 15, 2026
4.25⭐️
I knew I… I’d found the missing part of my soul. That I didn’t want to live a day of my life without you in it
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
💜second chance romance
🐺childhood best friends to strangers to lovers
💜 marriage of convenience
🐺 soft MMC x snarky FMC
💜 ‘my wife’ moments
🐺 wolf companion
💜 betrayals & secrets
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Another book that could have been a five star read. I’m so disappointed right now because it had the potential. it really did!! The start of the book was soooo good. High stakes and the book’s pace to be totally honest continued to be amazing. Although I saw the plot twists from a mile away but it really was good. I really couldn’t put it down. I was totally hooked. Especially the last 20% ;I was screaming in my pillow. You may be wondering right now so why I’m so mad right now. Well, my problem is with the characters or to be more specific the MMC. I have read my fair share of books of this genre and others and I think the MMC in this book is the most naive one so far. I love my self a gentleman softy MMC but there is a big difference between someone being kind and like to see good in people and him being stupid!! I wanted to slap him so many times OMG at first I loved him as I said I lean more towards golden retrievers MMCs but this man would see the lion coming towards him to eat and be like he has the right to devour me the poor thing is just hungry. I’m aching to share his stupid decisions but unfortunately I can’t do this without spoiling anything. The FMC on the other hand was sweet. She sometimes comes off as stubbornly stupid but I guess she wasn’t as bad as the MMC. As for the side characters, Asher was my favorite character of them him and Efysn Although we didn’t get to see much of her this book. The wolf was sooooo wholesome I adored him !!
Preread
A second chance romance is not common trope that I see in romantasy books so I’m excited
I knew I… I’d found the missing part of my soul. That I didn’t want to live a day of my life without you in it
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
💜second chance romance
🐺childhood best friends to strangers to lovers
💜 marriage of convenience
🐺 soft MMC x snarky FMC
💜 ‘my wife’ moments
🐺 wolf companion
💜 betrayals & secrets
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Another book that could have been a five star read. I’m so disappointed right now because it had the potential. it really did!! The start of the book was soooo good. High stakes and the book’s pace to be totally honest continued to be amazing. Although I saw the plot twists from a mile away but it really was good. I really couldn’t put it down. I was totally hooked. Especially the last 20% ;I was screaming in my pillow. You may be wondering right now so why I’m so mad right now. Well, my problem is with the characters or to be more specific the MMC. I have read my fair share of books of this genre and others and I think the MMC in this book is the most naive one so far. I love my self a gentleman softy MMC but there is a big difference between someone being kind and like to see good in people and him being stupid!! I wanted to slap him so many times OMG at first I loved him as I said I lean more towards golden retrievers MMCs but this man would see the lion coming towards him to eat and be like he has the right to devour me the poor thing is just hungry. I’m aching to share his stupid decisions but unfortunately I can’t do this without spoiling anything. The FMC on the other hand was sweet. She sometimes comes off as stubbornly stupid but I guess she wasn’t as bad as the MMC. As for the side characters, Asher was my favorite character of them him and Efysn Although we didn’t get to see much of her this book. The wolf was sooooo wholesome I adored him !!
Preread
A second chance romance is not common trope that I see in romantasy books so I’m excited
April 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoture Audio for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in return of a voluntary and honest review!
This book in general is a pretty fun and easy one to read - I did however find that it took me a while (around 55%) to get fully invested in the book and everything that was happening in the plot.
This being said, with the way that book ended (what the actual fuck??????), I'll definitely be continuing this series!
The narrator was super fun! She presented all of the individual characters clearly and was super good and pushing out the emotions that characters wouldve been feeling at the time into her voice acting. I'd lvoe to check out more of her work
This book in general is a pretty fun and easy one to read - I did however find that it took me a while (around 55%) to get fully invested in the book and everything that was happening in the plot.
This being said, with the way that book ended (what the actual fuck??????), I'll definitely be continuing this series!
The narrator was super fun! She presented all of the individual characters clearly and was super good and pushing out the emotions that characters wouldve been feeling at the time into her voice acting. I'd lvoe to check out more of her work
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is exactly what I want in a romantasy novel! Fast paced, just the right balance of world building and character development, and yearning off the charts. This is so impressive for a debut and I devoured it in less than 24 hours.
I loved the dynamic between Sorrow and Matthias - childhood best friends who had a falling out after Sorrow had an accident that left her partially sighted. Her step-dad sucks and and Matthias is a king now and she's to marry him. Sorrow has A LOT of feelings about all those things and I just love how she still has a spine and stands up for herself.
I loved Sorrow's strength and her independence in spite of her limitations. That girl is never going to let anyone do anything for her if she can help it! I absolutely loved her wolf Pablo who was an amazing animal sidekick but also felt almost like a fleshed out side character - he has impeccable timing.
The found family is wonderful and I love every single one of them. They're supportive, unique, and truly lovely characters.
Thank you Second Sky for the ARC. This one should be on everyone's radar.
I loved the dynamic between Sorrow and Matthias - childhood best friends who had a falling out after Sorrow had an accident that left her partially sighted. Her step-dad sucks and and Matthias is a king now and she's to marry him. Sorrow has A LOT of feelings about all those things and I just love how she still has a spine and stands up for herself.
I loved Sorrow's strength and her independence in spite of her limitations. That girl is never going to let anyone do anything for her if she can help it! I absolutely loved her wolf Pablo who was an amazing animal sidekick but also felt almost like a fleshed out side character - he has impeccable timing.
The found family is wonderful and I love every single one of them. They're supportive, unique, and truly lovely characters.
Thank you Second Sky for the ARC. This one should be on everyone's radar.
April 9, 2026
Just finished listening to an advanced copy of a book that was just released on April 2nd called, Heart of the Wolf Queen. This is about Sorrow, when she was young she was injured while with her best friend Matthias, she lost most of her vision and her best friend that day because he never came around again after the accident and that was when she needed him the most. Her stepfather, the king, locks her away until he can give her away to another king as a bride. All while she is trying to keep secret magic abilities hidden that everyone thought she lost when the accident happened. But things are changing and she can't keep hiding them anymore, they are getting more powerful and more dangerous. Suddenly she is informed that she is being given to king Matthias as a bride, because her stepfather wants the alliance with his kingdom. But Sorrow feels like she is just escaping one prison for another because she has no say in these decisions. She wants absolutely nothing to do with Matthias after he left her after the accident when they were young, he broke her heart, yet now she is to be his bride and his queen.
This was a really enjoyable childhood best friends to enemies to lovers story. This was a slow burn romantasy, marriage of convenience, second chance romance, with a great storyline, and lots of banter and yearning. I really enjoyed these main characters, Sorrow and Matthias were very well written. I absolutely loved Sorrow's pet wolf/seeing eye dog/sidekick Pablo. The side characters, the world building, the twists, the love story, and the cliffhanger ending were all really well done! It was a strong start to the series and as soon as I finished it I had to look up when book 2 is coming out! I am definitely looking forward to continuing this series! 💜📚
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ALC of Heart of the Wolf Queen, in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really enjoyable childhood best friends to enemies to lovers story. This was a slow burn romantasy, marriage of convenience, second chance romance, with a great storyline, and lots of banter and yearning. I really enjoyed these main characters, Sorrow and Matthias were very well written. I absolutely loved Sorrow's pet wolf/seeing eye dog/sidekick Pablo. The side characters, the world building, the twists, the love story, and the cliffhanger ending were all really well done! It was a strong start to the series and as soon as I finished it I had to look up when book 2 is coming out! I am definitely looking forward to continuing this series! 💜📚
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ALC of Heart of the Wolf Queen, in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2026
I enjoyed the overall story of this one, it was a super fun fantasy adventure with some emotion plucking for sure.
Like some other reviewers commented, the writing style truly is written with a YA voice. YA book lovers and younger readers will love this. I’m personally just not in my YA era, and after recently being in some higher fantasy worlds in other Romantasy books recently, it was a little jarring for me.
I did appreciate that it wasn’t long and drawn out, it was a fast paced, quick read. I loved the relationship repair between Sorrow and Matthias and found family vibes.
I am a sucker for a slow burn and tension, and feel that those tropes really carried the book.
All in all, definitely recommend for YA Romantasy lovers!
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for this e-arc. All opinions are my own.
What to expect:
❤️ found family
❤️ he falls first
❤️ forced proximity
❤️ slow burn
❤️ fun magic system
❤️ arranged marriage
❤️ disability rep
❤️ second chance
❤️ gods and goddesses
❤️ cliffhanger / unfinished series
Like some other reviewers commented, the writing style truly is written with a YA voice. YA book lovers and younger readers will love this. I’m personally just not in my YA era, and after recently being in some higher fantasy worlds in other Romantasy books recently, it was a little jarring for me.
I did appreciate that it wasn’t long and drawn out, it was a fast paced, quick read. I loved the relationship repair between Sorrow and Matthias and found family vibes.
I am a sucker for a slow burn and tension, and feel that those tropes really carried the book.
All in all, definitely recommend for YA Romantasy lovers!
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for this e-arc. All opinions are my own.
What to expect:
❤️ found family
❤️ he falls first
❤️ forced proximity
❤️ slow burn
❤️ fun magic system
❤️ arranged marriage
❤️ disability rep
❤️ second chance
❤️ gods and goddesses
❤️ cliffhanger / unfinished series
April 23, 2026
3.5 stars but rounded up!
Fast-paced, romantic, and action-packed - this one kept me on my toes and tugged on my heartstrings.
I found the magic system to be unique and well thought out. I’m not usually a big second chance romance fan, but I really enjoyed the romance in this and loved seeing the main couple’s journey back to each other.
I struggled a bit with Sorrow’s character at times, specifically with her unwillingness to embrace her magic. I enjoyed seeing her character grow towards the end though!
The ending was pure emotional damage, but I’m excited to see what happens next!
Thank you NetGalley and SecondSky for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Fast-paced, romantic, and action-packed - this one kept me on my toes and tugged on my heartstrings.
I found the magic system to be unique and well thought out. I’m not usually a big second chance romance fan, but I really enjoyed the romance in this and loved seeing the main couple’s journey back to each other.
I struggled a bit with Sorrow’s character at times, specifically with her unwillingness to embrace her magic. I enjoyed seeing her character grow towards the end though!
The ending was pure emotional damage, but I’m excited to see what happens next!
Thank you NetGalley and SecondSky for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
March 12, 2026
✨✨✨Pablo!!🐺 ✨✨✨
Heart of the Wolf Queen is a really entertaining story set in such a captivating world!! I enjoyed the world soooo much. It was fun and unique but the world building was a little thin. I absolutely adored Pablo the wolf, he was my favorite character !😍 I loved Glesni too!!!
I really liked Sorrow’s character a lot also and she’s definitely a kickass FMC. I absolutely LOVED her feistiness and stubbornness!! I just adore FMC’s that are so bad ass!!
The romance ended up being just okay to me because of the whole miscommunication trope and it got a little whiny. I hate that trope so much, but other than that the second chance romance was cute. I liked the romance aspect a lot better after the whole “miscommunication” got resolved.
Overall I really enjoyed this romantasy and it’s definitely worth a read!! I can’t wait for book 2 in the duology !!👏👏
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released April 2, 2026.
Also, you can find me on the Pagebound app—— boobunny86
Heart of the Wolf Queen is a really entertaining story set in such a captivating world!! I enjoyed the world soooo much. It was fun and unique but the world building was a little thin. I absolutely adored Pablo the wolf, he was my favorite character !😍 I loved Glesni too!!!
I really liked Sorrow’s character a lot also and she’s definitely a kickass FMC. I absolutely LOVED her feistiness and stubbornness!! I just adore FMC’s that are so bad ass!!
The romance ended up being just okay to me because of the whole miscommunication trope and it got a little whiny. I hate that trope so much, but other than that the second chance romance was cute. I liked the romance aspect a lot better after the whole “miscommunication” got resolved.
Overall I really enjoyed this romantasy and it’s definitely worth a read!! I can’t wait for book 2 in the duology !!👏👏
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released April 2, 2026.
Also, you can find me on the Pagebound app—— boobunny86
April 4, 2026
Heart of the Wolf Queen by Sarah Gallego
Laugh. Cry. Rage. Repeat. This book will have you doing all three.
One thing I will always devour? Second chance romance + childhood friends wrapped up in an epic romantasy.
Did this book deliver that and more?! Absolutely. I am OBSESSED. Hand over the next book immediately because that ending had me HOWLING (pun fully intended 🐺).
The tension and constant push and pull between Sorrow and Matthias had me hooked from the very first page. I love a sassy FMC with a bone to pick with the MMC… and Sorrow delivers. She’s sarcastic, fiercely strong, an animal lover, and everything she’s been through just makes you root for her even more. Her backstory genuinely pulled at my heart.
And yes — there’s miscommunication. A LOT of it. But somehow… it works. This trope can be hit or miss, and here? It HIT.
Matthias might actually be my new book boyfriend. The devotion?? The history?? When you find out what really happened in the past… yeah, you fall even harder. BUT—this man makes a serious mistake at the end and is firmly on a time-out.
Which is exactly why I need book two RIGHT NOW 😭🐺
Immersive read = next level.
Felt every bit of tension and emotion.
Especially those spicy scenes… WOW
Laugh. Cry. Rage. Repeat. This book will have you doing all three.
One thing I will always devour? Second chance romance + childhood friends wrapped up in an epic romantasy.
Did this book deliver that and more?! Absolutely. I am OBSESSED. Hand over the next book immediately because that ending had me HOWLING (pun fully intended 🐺).
The tension and constant push and pull between Sorrow and Matthias had me hooked from the very first page. I love a sassy FMC with a bone to pick with the MMC… and Sorrow delivers. She’s sarcastic, fiercely strong, an animal lover, and everything she’s been through just makes you root for her even more. Her backstory genuinely pulled at my heart.
And yes — there’s miscommunication. A LOT of it. But somehow… it works. This trope can be hit or miss, and here? It HIT.
Matthias might actually be my new book boyfriend. The devotion?? The history?? When you find out what really happened in the past… yeah, you fall even harder. BUT—this man makes a serious mistake at the end and is firmly on a time-out.
Which is exactly why I need book two RIGHT NOW 😭🐺
Immersive read = next level.
Felt every bit of tension and emotion.
Especially those spicy scenes… WOW
April 24, 2026
3.5 rounded up 🫶🏻
This was such a fun and fast paced fantasy!
I absolutely LOVED the fierceness (and at times stubbornness) of the FMC Sorrow. Despite struggling with her vision after an accident, she doesn’t let this define her and continually shows her strength and determination.
Pablo stole my heart, who doesn’t love an animal familiar 🥹
it does end a bit cliffy but eager to read the next!
This was such a fun and fast paced fantasy!
I absolutely LOVED the fierceness (and at times stubbornness) of the FMC Sorrow. Despite struggling with her vision after an accident, she doesn’t let this define her and continually shows her strength and determination.
Pablo stole my heart, who doesn’t love an animal familiar 🥹
it does end a bit cliffy but eager to read the next!
April 1, 2026
Firstly, a huge thank you to Second Sky for sending me an early copy of Heart of the Wolf Queen to read and review.
This was my top read of March, I'm actually OBSESSED. I It's one of those books for me where I genuinely struggled to put it down as all I wanted to do was keep reading.
Sorrow was such a great female lead. I loved that her disability had only strengthened her resolve to be indepedent as much as possible and live life as much as she can before she loses her sight completely. I loved her fire and her boldness, and that these qualities weren't snuffed out by the king treating her the way he does. She's prideful too, and I thought that Sarah did such a wonderful job of showcasing the balance between her navigating her disability independently, and having times where she did need to (albeit stubbornly) accept help.
Pablo, of course, is the star of the show. Such a fantastic character and animal companion. The bond between him and Sorrow is fantastic. There's a level of understanding and respect between them in that he chooses to stay because he wants to, not because she forces him or because he's a pet. He acts as her guide but he's also a wild animal, and that isn't forgotten.
Second chance romance isn't one I've read a lot of but I loved how it was done in HotWQ!! Matthias is a wonderful male lead, and although I too was mad at him for hurting Sorrow, I did come to love him. On the surface, I think you can initially be fooled into thinking he's quite a simple character to fathom, but I actually think he's quite complex. He's thrust into a kingship he doesn't want and is weighed down by his responsibility - you can tell how much he agonises over the choices he makes and wondering if he's done the right thing. I think the romance and healing between Sorrow and Matthias was really well done, it needed to take it's time or it wouldn't have felt natural - but OMG the YEARNING!!! I was literally frustrated screaming at pages when they got interrupted by his brother hahaha.
Overall I thought this was an absolutely fantastic read. I loved the characters, the world building and the magic system, which was really interesting and clearly a lot of thought had gone into it. The plot and pacing of the story was fab - it grips you from the start and just keeps drawing you in. There's political intrigue between the various monarch's and kingdoms, as well as a potential threat from overseas and from within Mattias' own walls, which keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing. I cannot wait to dive into book 2!!
This was my top read of March, I'm actually OBSESSED. I It's one of those books for me where I genuinely struggled to put it down as all I wanted to do was keep reading.
Sorrow was such a great female lead. I loved that her disability had only strengthened her resolve to be indepedent as much as possible and live life as much as she can before she loses her sight completely. I loved her fire and her boldness, and that these qualities weren't snuffed out by the king treating her the way he does. She's prideful too, and I thought that Sarah did such a wonderful job of showcasing the balance between her navigating her disability independently, and having times where she did need to (albeit stubbornly) accept help.
Pablo, of course, is the star of the show. Such a fantastic character and animal companion. The bond between him and Sorrow is fantastic. There's a level of understanding and respect between them in that he chooses to stay because he wants to, not because she forces him or because he's a pet. He acts as her guide but he's also a wild animal, and that isn't forgotten.
Second chance romance isn't one I've read a lot of but I loved how it was done in HotWQ!! Matthias is a wonderful male lead, and although I too was mad at him for hurting Sorrow, I did come to love him. On the surface, I think you can initially be fooled into thinking he's quite a simple character to fathom, but I actually think he's quite complex. He's thrust into a kingship he doesn't want and is weighed down by his responsibility - you can tell how much he agonises over the choices he makes and wondering if he's done the right thing. I think the romance and healing between Sorrow and Matthias was really well done, it needed to take it's time or it wouldn't have felt natural - but OMG the YEARNING!!! I was literally frustrated screaming at pages when they got interrupted by his brother hahaha.
Overall I thought this was an absolutely fantastic read. I loved the characters, the world building and the magic system, which was really interesting and clearly a lot of thought had gone into it. The plot and pacing of the story was fab - it grips you from the start and just keeps drawing you in. There's political intrigue between the various monarch's and kingdoms, as well as a potential threat from overseas and from within Mattias' own walls, which keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing. I cannot wait to dive into book 2!!
March 17, 2026
A solid start to a new romantasy series
Pablo was 100% my favourite character. A wolf companion? Sign me up 👏👏
Sorrow is a strong FMC and after being left partially sighted after an accident, her best friend abandons her and her step father thinks she is no good for anything other than a sacrifice.
A second chance romance with the man that left her all those years ago - Matthias is to be her husband and did those feelings ever go away?
This was fun and I liked the main relationship. The tension was built well and I enjoyed the romance between the two.
I do wish the stakes had felt higher and that the plot was a little more action packed, but overall this was a fun read and the audiobook was very well narrated.
Pablo was 100% my favourite character. A wolf companion? Sign me up 👏👏
Sorrow is a strong FMC and after being left partially sighted after an accident, her best friend abandons her and her step father thinks she is no good for anything other than a sacrifice.
A second chance romance with the man that left her all those years ago - Matthias is to be her husband and did those feelings ever go away?
This was fun and I liked the main relationship. The tension was built well and I enjoyed the romance between the two.
I do wish the stakes had felt higher and that the plot was a little more action packed, but overall this was a fun read and the audiobook was very well narrated.
March 29, 2026
I was lucky to get a chance to read an early version of this book and let me tell you - Sorrow Villente is plucky, determined, living with a disability and takes no prisoners! The slow burn, second chance romance between Sorrow and childhood sweetheart-turned loathsome King is chef’s kiss with arranged marriage and misunderstandings galore on the side! And Pablo the wolf will steal your heart!
Sarah Gallego is a fantastic author (I’ve also read one of her unpublished short stories which was excellent and I secretly hope she turns it into a book!) and I look forward to reading more from her including the next in the series!
Sarah Gallego is a fantastic author (I’ve also read one of her unpublished short stories which was excellent and I secretly hope she turns it into a book!) and I look forward to reading more from her including the next in the series!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Heart of the Wolf Queen is a fantasy novel with marriage of convenience and second chance romance - two of my favourite tropes. Sorrow Villente is a princess who is partially blinded and has been locked away in a tower and will be offered as a sacrifice to the gods by her evil step-father. However, she is saved by Matthias, the boy who betrayed her turned King of a distant land. Matthias needs her as much as Sorrow needs him to escape the sacrifice - he needs the alliance with Sorrow’s family to save his kingdom from the Empress of Carush. We follow Sorrow (and her pet wolf, Pablo) as she navigates life as a queen, being married to the man that broke her heart AND having a dark magic that burns inside her that she refuses to train (or else she will succumb to the blight). In the background, monsters lurk in the forest while the villains approach their kingdom!
Sorrow was definitely something fierce and stubborn. She is intelligent and cares deeply but is afraid to let others in because she’s been hurt before. She is afraid of her power but certainly exercises her wit, with Matthias and Glesni, Sorrow’s mentor, in particular. It was lovely to see her growth and character development throughout the book, especially in accepting help from others and letting Matthias in. Matthias too is a king who is reluctant to accept help and puts everything on his shoulders. Above all, he wants to keep his people, kingdom and Sorrow safe, but might make some mistakes in the process (or one big one!). While I liked Matthias, I don’t feel like I know him very well or that we got to spend a lot of time with him. There was certainly yearning on both their parts but I would have loved to have seen some more groveling and pining from Matthias. However, it did make sense for the story and for Sorrow’s arc that Matthias didn’t feel quite as present. I would say that the romance was more of a sub-plot than the fantasy elements. The fantasy itself and the world were well-developed, though there is still a lot for us to discover. I am really excited for the next book in the series as I LOVED that cliffhanger. THIS IS WHY YOU LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE!
I am incredibly grateful to Second Sky for the beautiful proof! ✨
PR/Gifted
Sorrow was definitely something fierce and stubborn. She is intelligent and cares deeply but is afraid to let others in because she’s been hurt before. She is afraid of her power but certainly exercises her wit, with Matthias and Glesni, Sorrow’s mentor, in particular. It was lovely to see her growth and character development throughout the book, especially in accepting help from others and letting Matthias in. Matthias too is a king who is reluctant to accept help and puts everything on his shoulders. Above all, he wants to keep his people, kingdom and Sorrow safe, but might make some mistakes in the process (or one big one!). While I liked Matthias, I don’t feel like I know him very well or that we got to spend a lot of time with him. There was certainly yearning on both their parts but I would have loved to have seen some more groveling and pining from Matthias. However, it did make sense for the story and for Sorrow’s arc that Matthias didn’t feel quite as present. I would say that the romance was more of a sub-plot than the fantasy elements. The fantasy itself and the world were well-developed, though there is still a lot for us to discover. I am really excited for the next book in the series as I LOVED that cliffhanger. THIS IS WHY YOU LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE!
I am incredibly grateful to Second Sky for the beautiful proof! ✨
PR/Gifted
March 13, 2026
I am so thankful to have received the audio arc for this novel.
3.5 rounded up. I found this to be a slow-burn, found family story that lacked the “dark” aspects it advertised. This started strong and immediately grabbed my attention. Sorrow is strong-willed, a survivor. Pablo is probably my favorite character. I was not expecting an animal “sidekick” to be so charming & well rounded.
Romero is shaped perfectly as the villain. I hated him from the get-go.
One of my least favorite tropes is the miscommunication trope. Like, please stop making assumptions & just talk! So, to me, the characters didn’t feel as well rounded as they could have. I’m glad it got solved in this book rather than the next cause it was getting “whiny.”
Overall, it is a good story. I think the audio is worth listening to and makes the story “more attractive” if that makes any sense.
3.5 rounded up. I found this to be a slow-burn, found family story that lacked the “dark” aspects it advertised. This started strong and immediately grabbed my attention. Sorrow is strong-willed, a survivor. Pablo is probably my favorite character. I was not expecting an animal “sidekick” to be so charming & well rounded.
Romero is shaped perfectly as the villain. I hated him from the get-go.
One of my least favorite tropes is the miscommunication trope. Like, please stop making assumptions & just talk! So, to me, the characters didn’t feel as well rounded as they could have. I’m glad it got solved in this book rather than the next cause it was getting “whiny.”
Overall, it is a good story. I think the audio is worth listening to and makes the story “more attractive” if that makes any sense.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you net galley, for a arc copy in exchange for a honest review
For a debut novel, Sarah delivered an intriguing and fast-paced romantasy that kept me turning the pages. The overall plot was engaging, and I appreciated how quickly the story moved. I do wish the political elements had been explained in more depth, as a clearer foundation would have made the world feel even richer and more immersive.
I loved the inclusion of the character list at the beginning, it was helpful! I found myself wanting a bit more development from some of the supporting cast. That said, Sorrow truly shines. Her strength and independence, especially considering her upbringing and partial blindness, make her a compelling and admirable protagonist.
And Pablo? An absolute standout. As an animal companion, he was charming, memorable, and surprisingly well-developed, arguably even more so than some of the secondary characters.
Overall, this was a strong debut, and I’m genuinely excited to see where the author takes this adventure next and how her writing continues to grow.
For a debut novel, Sarah delivered an intriguing and fast-paced romantasy that kept me turning the pages. The overall plot was engaging, and I appreciated how quickly the story moved. I do wish the political elements had been explained in more depth, as a clearer foundation would have made the world feel even richer and more immersive.
I loved the inclusion of the character list at the beginning, it was helpful! I found myself wanting a bit more development from some of the supporting cast. That said, Sorrow truly shines. Her strength and independence, especially considering her upbringing and partial blindness, make her a compelling and admirable protagonist.
And Pablo? An absolute standout. As an animal companion, he was charming, memorable, and surprisingly well-developed, arguably even more so than some of the secondary characters.
Overall, this was a strong debut, and I’m genuinely excited to see where the author takes this adventure next and how her writing continues to grow.
April 13, 2026
ARC Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a ride! The main female characters eyesight slowly failing along with her long term health issues. The heartbreak and sacrifice that arises from circumstances outside of anyone's control felt real. The bitting bitter taste and deep sadness- that is carefully navigated and willfully ignored. Flawed and still trying to save the world. Gotta love the gumption. A slower paced book, good build up, and interesting magic system.
The main male lead wasn't as strong of a presence and while I wasn't against the romance it felt more of tell than a show kind of relationship. I enjoyed the snark and banter, but as a couple? Having said the distance comes across as intentional🧐. I'm super excited to see where it goes next. Lots of potential to build off of.
I picked up on some Tortal universe vibes - The FMC reminding me of Diane. That ending? Yes please. The hints are there and I was still pleasantly surprised 💙💙
Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for this ARC!
What a ride! The main female characters eyesight slowly failing along with her long term health issues. The heartbreak and sacrifice that arises from circumstances outside of anyone's control felt real. The bitting bitter taste and deep sadness- that is carefully navigated and willfully ignored. Flawed and still trying to save the world. Gotta love the gumption. A slower paced book, good build up, and interesting magic system.
The main male lead wasn't as strong of a presence and while I wasn't against the romance it felt more of tell than a show kind of relationship. I enjoyed the snark and banter, but as a couple? Having said the distance comes across as intentional🧐. I'm super excited to see where it goes next. Lots of potential to build off of.
I picked up on some Tortal universe vibes - The FMC reminding me of Diane. That ending? Yes please. The hints are there and I was still pleasantly surprised 💙💙
Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for this ARC!
March 16, 2026
Thank you to Second Sky for sending me an advanced copy!
Really enjoyed this book!
You can’t go wrong with an animal sidekick and a second chance romance!
I loved Sorrow’s character and thought the way Sarah had written her impairment was thoughtful and it made you think about other factors rather than just what you could see.
Pablo was a great companion, but my heart stuttered a few times when he ran into danger.
Matthias was a good MMC (have you seen the character art 😍) and that man can yearnnnn.
Ending had me in a chokehold and I’m excited to read the second book when it comes out!
Really enjoyed this book!
You can’t go wrong with an animal sidekick and a second chance romance!
I loved Sorrow’s character and thought the way Sarah had written her impairment was thoughtful and it made you think about other factors rather than just what you could see.
Pablo was a great companion, but my heart stuttered a few times when he ran into danger.
Matthias was a good MMC (have you seen the character art 😍) and that man can yearnnnn.
Ending had me in a chokehold and I’m excited to read the second book when it comes out!
April 8, 2026
Thank you to Second Sky Publishers for the ARC!
Overall, I found this an enjoyable read. This is a YA slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance.
The magic system felt fresh and new, and the side characters were well-developed and enjoyable to follow. My favourite aspect was the disability representation: the FMC is gradually losing her sight, and one of the most badass side characters has lupus. It’s refreshing to see flawed, realistic characters portrayed so thoughtfully.
The ending delivers a cliffhanger that left me excited for book 2 which I believe is coming later this year.
Overall, I found this an enjoyable read. This is a YA slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance.
The magic system felt fresh and new, and the side characters were well-developed and enjoyable to follow. My favourite aspect was the disability representation: the FMC is gradually losing her sight, and one of the most badass side characters has lupus. It’s refreshing to see flawed, realistic characters portrayed so thoughtfully.
The ending delivers a cliffhanger that left me excited for book 2 which I believe is coming later this year.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a fast-paced romantasy with an fmc who is losing her eye site and has a guide wolf.
This was a very fun read, filled with
🌟found family
🌟humor
🌟he falls first
🌟trans representative
🌟 wolf companion
🌟magic
🌟arranged marriage
🌟 forced proximity
🌟 🌶
Her wolf is protective and very loyal. In this world people are sacrificed, and our fmc finds herself chosen to be sacrificed. well her marriage to person she used to know is the only way out.
Her mother died, her step father hates her, she has a sister, and her only friend left her after an accident leave her with lost sight she will eventually lose.
Well the arranged marriage is to that friend she hasn't seen in 8 years, and well our fmc gives it to him, and takes no shit.
I Loved the banter, and humor in this book. The wolf comes In and interrupts things during the perfect moments.
I think this was a very fun read even though some of it was predictable. I mean I finished it in one day.
I think if you liked the serpent and the wolf you will like this one.
This was a very fun read, filled with
🌟found family
🌟humor
🌟he falls first
🌟trans representative
🌟 wolf companion
🌟magic
🌟arranged marriage
🌟 forced proximity
🌟 🌶
Her wolf is protective and very loyal. In this world people are sacrificed, and our fmc finds herself chosen to be sacrificed. well her marriage to person she used to know is the only way out.
Her mother died, her step father hates her, she has a sister, and her only friend left her after an accident leave her with lost sight she will eventually lose.
Well the arranged marriage is to that friend she hasn't seen in 8 years, and well our fmc gives it to him, and takes no shit.
I Loved the banter, and humor in this book. The wolf comes In and interrupts things during the perfect moments.
I think this was a very fun read even though some of it was predictable. I mean I finished it in one day.
I think if you liked the serpent and the wolf you will like this one.
Did Not Finish
April 26, 2026I DNF’d this at 55% after being able to guess what was going to happen. And that’s fine. I still think it’s a fun story. I loved the first half of the book! I love Sky so much. She’s my favorite! I think I will circle back around to this book, but right now I have too many books on my TBR that want my attention.
Read
March 17, 2026this one didn't quite land for me, but I can see it being a bit hit for more committed romantasy fans.
it was packed with snappy banter and bags of yearning, with some interesting magic and a couple of nice twists towards the end.
if you love first person narration and tons of longing, this could well be for you.
it was packed with snappy banter and bags of yearning, with some interesting magic and a couple of nice twists towards the end.
if you love first person narration and tons of longing, this could well be for you.
April 13, 2026
Between the animal sidekick and the mystery behind Sorrow’s magic, I was intrigued. Loved the strength in Sorrow, how she refused to let her partial blindness define or limit her. She doesn’t just endure her circumstances, she challenges them. And while it starts off at a great pace, unfortunately the story didn’t stick for me. The writing wasn’t my favorite and the transition in the romance wasn’t smooth. I found myself setting it down more often and not feeling that pull to dive back in. I struggled to connect which pulled me out of the flow. And while there were elements in the story that I appreciated, it just didn’t fully come together for me.
Thank you Second Sky for the eARC! 💛
Thank you Second Sky for the eARC! 💛
April 2, 2026
Thank you to the author, Second Sky, and NetGalley for this ARC. This book hooked me pretty early on. Between Sorrow’s accident/loss of sight, what happened with Matthias, Pablo (the best character in the whole book), and Sorrow’s sense of humor, I was super invested. Second chance romance is my favorite trope and my heart ached for most of this story at the loss and uselessness that Sorrow felt. It was a veryyyyy slow burn and it also took most of the book for Matthias and Sorrow to clear the air. I loved the tension that that maintained throughout the story. The last 25% was action packed and the cliffhanger was heartbreaking. Sorrow and Matthias were both keeping some secrets from each other. My heart hurts for Sorrow. I loved this and can’t wait for book 2 and the conclusion of Sorrow and Matthias’s story.
April 20, 2026
3.75 🌟 - I was really in the mood for a story that didn't ask me to follow too much worldbuilding or lore. Heart of the Wolf Queen fit the bill. It was fast-paced and had a simple plot. Overall, I liked what was here, but I kept wanting more.
The atmosphere is marketed as dark and gothic, but I never quite felt that. The dialogue is modern and the descriptions of the setting and other things like character appearances don't really go in depth. The world and the magic system are simple to follow, but I think that comes at the expense of details that would have brought the story to life. The simplicity made everything feel a little flat.
The romance is a second-chance, childhood-friends-to-lovers dynamic. When it finally kicks off, it's really sweet and I liked Sorrow and Matthias together. That said, the first half of the book does little to establish Matthias as a character or show the two of them actively working through the fallout of his betrayal. Instead, they'd have an argument, he'd disappear on some royal duty for a while, then reappear, and the cycle would repeat. It didn't feel like we were building toward anything, just stalling until the plot caught up.
The lack of movement in the romance mostly had to do with Sorrow. She was frustratingly stubborn in a way that felt unjustified. Being guarded made sense given her history with Matthias, but she often acted against her own interests, which made it impossible to root for her. It's worth noting that Sorrow is losing her sight after an accident, and as a result she relies on Pablo, a wolf companion, to guide her. I loved this representation of a disabled FMC, and their dynamic added so much to the story.
I also enjoyed the found family element. The side characters each had their own backstories, personalities, and identities, which gave the story more depth. That said, I think Matthias needed more page time, or even a chapter or two from his POV, so we could get to know him better. He and his motivations are central to the political plot, and fleshing him out would have added a lot to the story.
Overall, I'd still recommend this to those who want something fast-paced and uncomplicated, especially if you like stories featuring animal companions.
✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky Books for the ARC!
Burner Kindle Book Blog
The atmosphere is marketed as dark and gothic, but I never quite felt that. The dialogue is modern and the descriptions of the setting and other things like character appearances don't really go in depth. The world and the magic system are simple to follow, but I think that comes at the expense of details that would have brought the story to life. The simplicity made everything feel a little flat.
The romance is a second-chance, childhood-friends-to-lovers dynamic. When it finally kicks off, it's really sweet and I liked Sorrow and Matthias together. That said, the first half of the book does little to establish Matthias as a character or show the two of them actively working through the fallout of his betrayal. Instead, they'd have an argument, he'd disappear on some royal duty for a while, then reappear, and the cycle would repeat. It didn't feel like we were building toward anything, just stalling until the plot caught up.
The lack of movement in the romance mostly had to do with Sorrow. She was frustratingly stubborn in a way that felt unjustified. Being guarded made sense given her history with Matthias, but she often acted against her own interests, which made it impossible to root for her. It's worth noting that Sorrow is losing her sight after an accident, and as a result she relies on Pablo, a wolf companion, to guide her. I loved this representation of a disabled FMC, and their dynamic added so much to the story.
I also enjoyed the found family element. The side characters each had their own backstories, personalities, and identities, which gave the story more depth. That said, I think Matthias needed more page time, or even a chapter or two from his POV, so we could get to know him better. He and his motivations are central to the political plot, and fleshing him out would have added a lot to the story.
Overall, I'd still recommend this to those who want something fast-paced and uncomplicated, especially if you like stories featuring animal companions.
✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky Books for the ARC!
Burner Kindle Book Blog
April 6, 2026
Review of proof copy received from the Publisher.
Thank you Second Sky books for this proof copy for review!
Synopsis:
Sorrow Villente - a princess who is partially blind after a childhood accident. Sorrow is locked away by her stepfather in her tower until now.. Released to be a tribute to the gods.
Sorrow will not go willingly and with her protective wolf Pablo 🐺 - she spends every moment plotting her escape. And yet when she finally breaks free, Sorrow is captured immediately… by the one man she never expected to see again - Matthias. Growing up, Sorrow and Matthias were inseparable. Now, Matthias is the ruler of a distant land, where monsters lurk in mist-shrouded forests. To save his kingdom, he needs an alliance with Sorrow’s family – one that can be sealed only by marriage.
Sorrow must marry the man who broke her heart… or die.
Review:
This was such a stunning debut from Sarah! I really enjoyed the story of Sorrow being an absolutely stubborn FMC who refuses to give up despite all the challenges that are thrown at her. She shows great strength and courage by escaping from her father’s grasp and avoiding certain death from being a sacrifice to the Gods. Sorrow also shows great strength in coming to terms with the dark magic within her and learning to master it.
Then there is the MMC Matthias - my good lord Matthias. The chemistry between these two was palpable and it was obvious despite their setbacks that Matthias never stopped loving Sorrow and who doesn’t love a “touch her and die” moment?
This book was so fast paced and really packed a punch for 400 pages as a lot of ground was covered from the political landscape, magic powers and systems and monstrous creatures. This leads me to I my only critique of this book was that at times the plot moved on so quickly and sometimes with little explanation. I felt like I was jumping from scene to scene and it wad difficult to keep up at times. You may enjoy this however if you love books with a fast pace!
I recommend this to anyone who loves a strong FMC and your classic romantasy tropes (see below).
Tropes:
💜Second chance romance
💍 Marriage of convenience
🗡️ Touch her and die
🦇 Gothic setting and atmosphere
🐺 Overprotective familiar - Pablo we will die for you x
Thank you Second Sky books for this proof copy for review!
Synopsis:
Sorrow Villente - a princess who is partially blind after a childhood accident. Sorrow is locked away by her stepfather in her tower until now.. Released to be a tribute to the gods.
Sorrow will not go willingly and with her protective wolf Pablo 🐺 - she spends every moment plotting her escape. And yet when she finally breaks free, Sorrow is captured immediately… by the one man she never expected to see again - Matthias. Growing up, Sorrow and Matthias were inseparable. Now, Matthias is the ruler of a distant land, where monsters lurk in mist-shrouded forests. To save his kingdom, he needs an alliance with Sorrow’s family – one that can be sealed only by marriage.
Sorrow must marry the man who broke her heart… or die.
Review:
This was such a stunning debut from Sarah! I really enjoyed the story of Sorrow being an absolutely stubborn FMC who refuses to give up despite all the challenges that are thrown at her. She shows great strength and courage by escaping from her father’s grasp and avoiding certain death from being a sacrifice to the Gods. Sorrow also shows great strength in coming to terms with the dark magic within her and learning to master it.
Then there is the MMC Matthias - my good lord Matthias. The chemistry between these two was palpable and it was obvious despite their setbacks that Matthias never stopped loving Sorrow and who doesn’t love a “touch her and die” moment?
This book was so fast paced and really packed a punch for 400 pages as a lot of ground was covered from the political landscape, magic powers and systems and monstrous creatures. This leads me to I my only critique of this book was that at times the plot moved on so quickly and sometimes with little explanation. I felt like I was jumping from scene to scene and it wad difficult to keep up at times. You may enjoy this however if you love books with a fast pace!
I recommend this to anyone who loves a strong FMC and your classic romantasy tropes (see below).
Tropes:
💜Second chance romance
💍 Marriage of convenience
🗡️ Touch her and die
🦇 Gothic setting and atmosphere
🐺 Overprotective familiar - Pablo we will die for you x
April 2, 2026
"It was the highest honour a ruler could bestow on one of their subjects. An honour I’d every intention to decline. And decline it I would . As soon as I opened this damn door."
🐴 Only One Horse
❤️🔥 Friends to Lovers
💀 Touch Her & Die
🖤 Forced Proximity
🐺 Loyal Animal Companion
"Mortal, Anomaly, Deviant. Each of you is blessed with the most wondrous gift. Love. Fight for it. Defend it. Never, ever fear it."
Review -
I went in not really knowing what to expect from this story & slightly worried about the hype - but it totally lived up to it! The storyline had a beautiful slow burn, was action packed, fuelled by betrayal, fast paced & chocked full of plot twists which gave me whiplash! ✨️
FMC Sorrow was strong, fiesty, sarcastic, determined and full of grit from page 1 🙌 She never let her sight impairment define her, constantly pushing back through sheer stubbornness against it! Her bond with her companion Wolf Pablo was one of mutual loyalty & I loved how so much banter was based around it 🐺
MMC Matthias was loyal, strong yet broken, smitten with Sorrow and made me swoon with how protective & supportive he was of her ... also he just radiated touch her & die - which I was SO here for! 💀
The second chance slow burn love story between these two was beautiful 🥹 They had such a messy history with Sorrows accident at its core, so to see them naturally progress, start to trust & support one another had me rooting for them to just give into their undeniable feelings ❤️🔥
The found family element of the read was at the forefront of the story - each side character was well thought out, gave layering & added impact to the storyline. A mention has to be given to Captain Asher who stole my heart from the moment he hit the page as his sarcasm & almost brotherly tendencies eased Sorrow into the new role that was thrust upon her as Queen 🙌 Also Mentor Glensi was the most amazing character - SO much personality in such a small yet powerful woman 🔥 her wit, strength & love ... alongside her non existent filter & determination to help Sorrow, had me laughing out loud whenever the two of them were together!
The last 20% totally gripped me, the unexpected twists & turns that just kept going until the very end! And THAT cliffhanger 🤯 just wow ... I can not wait for Book 2 already to see how Sorrow & Matthias story plays out 🖤
🐴 Only One Horse
❤️🔥 Friends to Lovers
💀 Touch Her & Die
🖤 Forced Proximity
🐺 Loyal Animal Companion
"Mortal, Anomaly, Deviant. Each of you is blessed with the most wondrous gift. Love. Fight for it. Defend it. Never, ever fear it."
Review -
I went in not really knowing what to expect from this story & slightly worried about the hype - but it totally lived up to it! The storyline had a beautiful slow burn, was action packed, fuelled by betrayal, fast paced & chocked full of plot twists which gave me whiplash! ✨️
FMC Sorrow was strong, fiesty, sarcastic, determined and full of grit from page 1 🙌 She never let her sight impairment define her, constantly pushing back through sheer stubbornness against it! Her bond with her companion Wolf Pablo was one of mutual loyalty & I loved how so much banter was based around it 🐺
MMC Matthias was loyal, strong yet broken, smitten with Sorrow and made me swoon with how protective & supportive he was of her ... also he just radiated touch her & die - which I was SO here for! 💀
The second chance slow burn love story between these two was beautiful 🥹 They had such a messy history with Sorrows accident at its core, so to see them naturally progress, start to trust & support one another had me rooting for them to just give into their undeniable feelings ❤️🔥
The found family element of the read was at the forefront of the story - each side character was well thought out, gave layering & added impact to the storyline. A mention has to be given to Captain Asher who stole my heart from the moment he hit the page as his sarcasm & almost brotherly tendencies eased Sorrow into the new role that was thrust upon her as Queen 🙌 Also Mentor Glensi was the most amazing character - SO much personality in such a small yet powerful woman 🔥 her wit, strength & love ... alongside her non existent filter & determination to help Sorrow, had me laughing out loud whenever the two of them were together!
The last 20% totally gripped me, the unexpected twists & turns that just kept going until the very end! And THAT cliffhanger 🤯 just wow ... I can not wait for Book 2 already to see how Sorrow & Matthias story plays out 🖤
April 4, 2026
I think this may have been one of my favourite books of this year so far 😍
I picked this book up in a pretty crappy mindset; I just really needed something that had all the tropes I love so I could get a bit lost in the story. That’s exactly what happened with Heart of the Wolf Queen and I couldn’t put it down.
This was actually my first second chance romance and I was a little skeptical, but I loved the tension from Sorrow and Matthias. I had all the feels throughout and adored Matthias as an MMC, the relationship just felt believable. I will say that even though I loved how fierce Sorrow was, there were a couple of occasions where her ‘double standards’ had me screaming at her. Mainly girl keeping secrets and then kicking off when someone else has been too. Ma’am, please!
For me, where this book really excels is the representation and plot. Sorrow, our FMC, is partially sighted and her determination and stubbornness is admirable. The characters introduced also show representation for trans people and same-sex marriage, in addition to chronic illness. It was actually very refreshing to have real people depicted and added another layer to the character development.
Overall, Heart of the Wolf Queen had me gripped throughout with its exciting plot and unique magic/lore, loveable found family, and heart-clenching romance. Prepare to be emotionally devastated, frustrated to no end, and kicking your feet within the span of pages.
Thank you so much to both Second Sky & Sarah Gallego for an e-ARC of Heart of the Wolf Queen on NetGalley. I’m so excited for the second part of this duology 💜
I picked this book up in a pretty crappy mindset; I just really needed something that had all the tropes I love so I could get a bit lost in the story. That’s exactly what happened with Heart of the Wolf Queen and I couldn’t put it down.
This was actually my first second chance romance and I was a little skeptical, but I loved the tension from Sorrow and Matthias. I had all the feels throughout and adored Matthias as an MMC, the relationship just felt believable. I will say that even though I loved how fierce Sorrow was, there were a couple of occasions where her ‘double standards’ had me screaming at her. Mainly girl keeping secrets and then kicking off when someone else has been too. Ma’am, please!
For me, where this book really excels is the representation and plot. Sorrow, our FMC, is partially sighted and her determination and stubbornness is admirable. The characters introduced also show representation for trans people and same-sex marriage, in addition to chronic illness. It was actually very refreshing to have real people depicted and added another layer to the character development.
Overall, Heart of the Wolf Queen had me gripped throughout with its exciting plot and unique magic/lore, loveable found family, and heart-clenching romance. Prepare to be emotionally devastated, frustrated to no end, and kicking your feet within the span of pages.
Thank you so much to both Second Sky & Sarah Gallego for an e-ARC of Heart of the Wolf Queen on NetGalley. I’m so excited for the second part of this duology 💜
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