Hexy Beast

The Sherwood Witches #3

by Avery Flynn, Kelli Tager (Narrator), Darius Aetos (Narrator)

An impulsive witch and a buttoned-up werewolf discover love is its own beast in this spicy rom-com from USA Today bestselling author Avery Flynn.

As the eldest daughter of the magical Sherwood family, I’m supposed to have everything together. Well, joke’s on them—I, Effie Sherwood, am chaos incarnate, and you’ll never be able to guess my next move.

Like jumping on the back of Darius Aetos’ motorcycle. Not only is Darius grumpy, gruff, and hot, he’s also the head of the Aetos werewolf pack.

My spur of the moment decision has quickly become a much bigger commitment, because a pack elder is convinced this hunk of a man (or wolf, depending on the hour) is my fated mate.

Even though I’m a witch and he’s a werewolf, we’re stuck together until we can find our way out of the tricky pack politics. But under the light of the blue moon, it’s almost starting to feel like Darius doesn’t want to stay away from me. And I’m not sure if it’s my magic going haywire or the starlit skies, but I can’t imagine leaving his arms either.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Witches, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Audiobook, Enemies To Lovers

8 pages, Audiobook

First published September 8, 2026

Reviews

[HolleeJane · Rating 4 out of 5]

HEXY BEAST
Author: Avery Flynn
Series: The Sherwood Witches, Book 3
Format: Audiobook | ALC
Narrators: Scott Rose & Kelli Tager
Audiobook Length: 8 hrs 11 mins
Release Date: September 8, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
ALC provided by The Author Agency

Tropes:
Werewolf Shifter × Witch
Fated Mates
Enemies to Lovers
Paranormal Romance
Grumpy MMC
Pack Politics
Romantic Suspense
Witchy Magic

My Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️

Hexy Beast was such a fun mix of witchy magic, werewolf shifters, romance, humor, and just enough suspense to keep the story moving. Effie and Darius were such a fun pairing she brings the chaos while he’s the grumpy, buttoned-up alpha werewolf trying desperately to keep everything under control.

I really enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers and fated-mates dynamic between these two. There’s plenty of tension and chemistry as they’re thrown together while dealing with pack politics, magical complications, and everything happening around them. I especially liked that there was an actual storyline outside of the romance, giving us some suspense and action alongside all that supernatural goodness.

The audiobook was also a really enjoyable listen. Scott Rose and Kelli Tager did a great job bringing Effie and Darius to life and capturing their completely different personalities. Their performances made the banter, tension, and more emotional moments even more entertaining.

Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced paranormal romance with witches, werewolves, fated mates, enemies-to-lovers tension, pack drama, magic, and a little spice. Definitely a great listen when you’re craving something witchy, romantic, and entertaining.

Thank you to The Author Agency for providing me with an ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look, I’m a sucker for a witchy romance so I was super excited to read this one. Thankfully it lived up to my expectations and was a really cute and fun read. This book sucked me in from the beginning and did not net up. I was flying through the pages because I wanted to know what happened so bad. Not only is this one have witches, but it also had some sexy werewolves! Love a good paranormal element. Darius and Effie were so cute together. I loved the grumpy sunshine trope because it felt natural and was well done. Overall I really enjoyed this one a lot and had a good time reading it.

[Christi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hexy Beast is a cute paranormal romcom between a witch and a werewolf shifter who are told they’re fated mates and need to marry asap!

Effie is the eldest Sherwood daughter, a family of witches. I think the series follows her family but this was my first read and I wasn’t lost. She’s being taken by Darius, the grumpy head of the Aetos werewolf pack, for retribution. When they get back to his pack, an elder tells him that Darius and Effie are fated mates and the answer to a prophecy. We get lots of forced proximity because of a spell where they aren’t able to be far from one another physically (she gets transported to wherever he is if they’re too far away). His alpha/wolf form was interesting too, he doesn’t want his wolf form to be let out and instead keeps him leashed up, even though his wolf side has some serious thoughts about keeping Effie close to them. 🤭

This was just fun overall, very short read (like 320 pages). We get a gauntlet/race they have to participate in, him on a motorcycle, other supernatural/paranormal beings (included mentions of other shifters and centaurs too). Quick fun audio!

[Asia · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

3.25/5

I'm disappointed in this book, I was expecting something else.

First of all, it was too insta-lovey for me. I liked in in the Head Witch in Charge because they didn't fell in love after one night in Vegas, they just slept together and only afterwards couldn't forget each other. but now? They've known each other for 2 or 3 days and they're suddenly in love and getting married??? Are you serious??

Also, the pacing was just weird. The entire premise of this book was "we have to get out of the forest and back into the village before the blue moon disappears and stop a rogue werewolf from staging the coup" where they had clear deadline, but the characters still stopped at any possible moment to have sex. Is that really the most important thing? And yeah, the spicy scenes might have been hot, but I couldn't enjoy any of them because I was screaming at the characters, "You don't have time! You have to move! No, not that way! To the village!"

Seriously, if the author wanted us to enjoy the spicy scenes, she shouldn't have drilled it into the audience's head that there's a tight deadline that the main characters mustn't miss or something horrible might happen. Because once you introduce a deadline, that's all I can focus on. Now it's not time to stop and smell the flowers, so why are you doing it!

I would enjoy the book much better if there wasn't a deadline - and if the entire plot didn't take 2-3 days, because it's not enough time for me to suspend my disbelief that the MCs are in love and ready to get married, fated mates or not.

Magic? Sure! Shifters? Of course! The characters falling in love and planning their future after 3 days of knowing each other? Absolutely the fuck not.

And the villains were just... Pathetic. Sure, it was funny, but if the author makes it seem like the Council was this boogeyman, almost impossible to defeat and then we get a Chad character calling the shots? Please.

I'm intrigued about Juniper and Bea's books, though; this little snippet in the epilogue was very interesting! I can't wait to see what they're up to and how they figure it out.

[suonnahbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hexy beast by Avery Flynn
ARC by Berkeley romance
Release: Sept 8th 2026
-starts off with a bang and right in the tea I’m intrigued
-love the concept of the witch families
-the way Effie describes everything has me dying of laughter 😆
-love the tension and chemistry between them 🤪
-Effie’s is a badass I love her
-love a good fated mate situation
-their banter is everything I love them
-the spice 👀❤️‍🔥
-the adventure and plots are a rideeee lol so much was going on but I was into it
-this was a cute and fun read
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

[Lynn_G · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the Sherwood sisters seem to suffer from imposter syndrome, and Effie is no exception! Guess that’s what comes from having a singular head of her coven mother who seemingly can do no wrong, and that pressure is immense.

This book works as a standalone, but it would undoubtedly go down easier if they were read in order. This book centers around Effie, eldest sister whose expected mantle of succession from their formidable mother passed instead to her second born sister, Leona. At the book’s outset, Effie has been “kidnapped” by biker and werewolf Darius, but she really went willingly to keep her sister’s husband and the Liber Umbrarum safe. Things take a turn once in pack territory and the cardio-averse Effie finds herself in an insane race under a blue moon with stakes even she couldn’t have imagined.

Darius, meanwhile, is incensed that his wolf is sitting up and begging for the curvaceous witch Effie, but the heart wants what it wants, and every protective instinct within him screams that it’s her and her alone for him.

Alpha Darius may look like a hedonistic sh!tkicker but is so tightly wound by duty and obligation that he could snap at any moment - and of course Effie’s chaotic presence is his breaking point. Their close proximity means they give into their desires, and it makes for lots of steamy scenes.

As they attempt to fend off challenges from within the pack and threats from the outside world including the dreaded Council, their feelings move well beyond a fated mate situation, and hurtle headlong into love.

Anything Avery Flynn writes is always a good time, and this is delightfully fun. I was generously furnished an advance reader copy from the author and NetGalley, and I’m sharing my honest review.

[Rose Colored Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rip-roaring good time that doesn't take itself too seriously and invites the reader to sit back and enjoy the ride. I thought this was an adorable little cozy fantasy story, complete with some truly funny banter and two main characters you just can't help but root for. I really appreciated how Darius and Effie balanced each other out, and showed one another that there's no reason to go to an extreme— a lesson that it's best to lean on those you love for help when you need it, rather than falling back on old and unhealthy habits. Both of them genuinely feel like they learn something by the ending! I love a good werewolf story, so I enjoyed learning the lore of this particular pack, and while I haven't read the rest of the books in this series (forgive me, genuinely did not know when I picked this one off my shelf that it was book 3!), I didn't feel behind or lost in any way. This serves as a true interconnected standalone and can absolutely be read as such. I think the pacing got a little funky in the blue moon race and their physical intimacy. It really did feel like nothing except them jumping each other’s bones happened for several chapters nearing the third act, which slowed me down a bit. But overall, I really liked the HEA ending, even with some catches here and there! This is perfect for lovers of romcoms, spicy werewolves, or anyone looking for some great banter. Thank you Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy— all opinions expressed are honest and my own. 4 stars ⭐️

[Sue Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witchy romp with an alpha werewolf is a riot. Effie's a wild witch, a chaos queen. When she tries to stop the theft of an ancient spell book, she ends up kidnapped by the werewolf. Spicy with laugh out loud banter and characters you are rooting for. Perfect for this time of year. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

[Good Reads with Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

The vibe somehow switches back and forth between sounding like a PG13 diary entry and an X-rated adult film. At one point, Effie says “I do love me some hyperbole” and… YUP. This whole book is hyperbole.

I listened on 2+ speed to see how it all played out, but this is not one I’ll come back to. I have nothing negative to say about the narration, I just don’t vibe with the writing.

Summary:
Effie Sherwood is the oldest daughter of the magically badass Sherwood family. There were certain expectations for her, being the eldest daughter, but when it comes to Effie… expect the unexpected. She is (as you will hear *repeatedly* throughout the book) a “chaos witch” and you’ll never know her next move (- unless you predict her next move is telling you that you won’t be able to predict her next move because she’s sooooo spontaneous and impulsive… because she basically does that every chapter). In an effort to help her sister and keep a powerful spell book (can’t remember the Latin-y name - Libre Umbrarum or something?) out of the dangerous hands of the Council, she jumps on the back of Darius Aetos’ motorcycle. He is the hot head of the Aetos werewolf pack (which has seen better days thanks to his dad and grandma driving it straight into the ground) in more ways than one and as Alpha he is determined to (very nicely) kidnap Effie for retribution and sell off the book to the highest bidder for the good of his pack. But when a pack elder declares Effie to be his fated mate and the wolf-y rules of the blue moon take effect (don’t ask me what they are, I couldn’t tell you, they did NOT make sense to me), their forced proximity becomes a proposal for a marriage of convenience (for some reason?). Despite the pack politics and the gauntlet they need to win under the blue moon, these two can’t seem to keep their eyes - and hands - off of one another.

So ummmmmm here are some things I didn’t love…
- In case you didn’t know, Effie is sooooo unpredictable. I think she was called a “chaos witch” at least a dozen times.

- The language is just so crass and there’s no nuance to their romantic connection at all. I like my romances to be more about a slow burn with some yearning and this was a lusty f*ck-fest. Seriously… for this to happen over TWO DAYS! That’s a LOT of river sex.

- The concept of a blue moon was a big plot device, but also super unclear. It lasts as long as it wants to last above woods that don’t follow the laws of physics and move where they want to move? I have NO idea how much time passes from beginning to end of this book. I thought it was like a week because they kept falling asleep after they had sex… but then one of the other reviewers says it takes place over TWO DAYS! This may be a new level of insta-love… and not in a good way.

- I didn’t know why there needed to be a marriage of convenience or why Darius’ pack’s only method of survival was crime… like, how does that work? They get away with running cons to survive… as a pack?

- The Council was set up as this enemy from previous books, but nothing was included as a reminder for why they are dangerous and can’t be trusted. So they’re just *the bad guys* and we don’t really get told why.

[kbn1031 · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hexy Beast by Avery Flynn

"We all have a purpose, even if it's not always the one the world thinks it should be - sometimes it turns out to be so much more."

Hexy Beast is book three in the Sherwood Witches series. It features Effie, a chaotic witch who hasn't really found her purpose, and Darius, an Alpha wolf shifter and pack leader. It's a wild ride, literally from the very beginning when Effie just so happens to steal Darius's motorcycle. She's never been a planner. She works on instincts and does what needs to be done. Darius is a chronic overthinker. So, of course, they are fated mates! When Darius's position as pack leader is threatened, the two must work together to defeat the Council and save not only the pack but the witches, too. This one is fast-paced and full of action. Dare I say slightly suspenseful and full of spiciness!

I received an ARC of this book, but these opinions are my own. I would like to thank the author, Avery Flynn, Berkley Publishing, The Author Agency, and NetGalley for allowing me the privilege of reading her work. 🧙‍♀️🐺

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

You could call this enemies to lovers if you want but the enemies portion doesn’t last long. The spice starts spicing real fast and goes down pretty hard throughout 😮‍💨.

Grumpy x Sunshine? Absolutely. He is a grumpy alpha for sure. She is absolutely ray of sunshine but not in a damsel in distress way, she’s definitely fierce and knows what she wants and takes no crap from anyone.

I keep accidentally reading books that are in a series without reading the previous ones first and that really grinds my gears. However, I don’t think you absolutely need to have the previous knowledge to enjoy this one. I didn’t. But, I enjoyed this enough that I will read the first two for sure.

[Kirsten Connors · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so FUN! Need to read something where you don’t need to think, has a whole handful of enjoyable characters, and so good amount of spice? This is it! Did it get a bit redundant at times? Sure. But it was cozy and cute and everything I needed to start this witchy reading fall! Thank you to the publishers for this ARC, I now have to read all the others in the series!!!

[Kerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not for me - the characters were obnoxious and the plot made no sense.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

The premise of this—a marriage of convenience between a witch and a werewolf—seemed really intriguing and sounded like it would make for a great fall/Halloween read.

Though a little repetitive at times, this was a fun, quick, and easy-to-follow story that’s equal parts funny and spicy. I did feel like the romance was a little too insta-lust for my personal tastes, and the spicy scenes sometimes felt like they were overtaking the plot a little bit. However, I think readers looking for a quick, fast-paced read with a paranormal twist, or anyone wanting some witch x werewolf romance, will enjoy this one! Perfect for a spooky-season read!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[LAJordan Leigh Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried it because of the witch and wolf shifter, but it didn’t captivate me. I barely paid attention, but I’m not sure there was much to pay attention to besides chaos in the forest. I just didn’t feel the feels.

[Dianna D · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | 4 Stars

First, thank you to NetGalley, Avery Flynn, and Berkley Romance for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Hexy Beast was such a fun surprise! This was my very first book by Avery Flynn, and I can confidently say it will not be my last. I was completely entertained from beginning to end, and now I absolutely need to go back and read the first two books in the Sherwood Witches series.

Effie Sherwood is pure, lovable chaos.

As the oldest daughter of one of the most powerful witch families, everyone expects her to be composed and responsible… but Effie is impulsive, quirky, and constantly making decisions that leave everyone else scrambling to keep up. I adored her personality. She never lost her spark, even when she was thrown into situations way over her head.

Then there’s Darius Aetos—the grumpy, broody alpha werewolf who carries the weight of his entire pack on his shoulders. Watching these two collide was everything I hoped it would be. Effie is sunshine and unpredictability while Darius is all control and responsibility, making their grumpy/sunshine dynamic incredibly fun to watch unfold.

One impulsive motorcycle ride quickly snowballs into pack politics, magical chaos, and everyone insisting they’re fated mates. Neither of them is thrilled with that idea at first, but being forced together makes it impossible to ignore the chemistry simmering between them.

The banter was easily one of my favorite parts of the book. Effie constantly kept Darius on his toes, and I loved seeing the cracks begin to form in his perfectly controlled exterior. There were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments mixed with genuinely sweet scenes, and the forced proximity only made their relationship more entertaining.

I also really enjoyed the magical world Avery Flynn created. Between witches, werewolves, meddling family members, magical mishaps, and complicated pack politics, there was always something happening. The world felt cozy without becoming overly complicated, making it easy to jump into even as a newcomer to the series.

If I had one small complaint, it would be that the beginning moved a little quickly while introducing the world, and I occasionally wished a few emotional moments had been given just a little more room to breathe. Once everything settled in, though, I found myself completely invested in Effie and Darius’s journey.

Overall, Hexy Beast delivered exactly what I wanted—a cozy paranormal rom-com with humor, magic, great chemistry, and plenty of heart. It made me laugh, smile, and immediately want to spend more time with the Sherwood family.

If you love:
✨ Witches & werewolves
🐺 Grumpy x sunshine
💜 Fated mates
🏍️ Forced proximity
🪄 Cozy paranormal romance
😂 Great banter and laugh-out-loud moments
❤️ A heroine who thrives on chaos

…then definitely add Hexy Beast to your TBR.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to binge the rest of the Sherwood Witches series because Avery Flynn officially has a new fan. 📚🧙‍♀️🐺

[AnnabellaSasha · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

Nothing happens. This book take place over two days and is so repetitive

[Dawn Schock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize at the time I snagged this one that it was the third in a series. That said, jumping into it at this point didn't leave me feeling lost or confused about the overall story. But I would like to go back and read the earlier novels, just to know more details.

This was a wild and fun read. I loved the dynamic between Effie and Darius, and the tension between them was deliciously charged. I knew, going in, it was going to be a apucy read, but there was a lot more spice than I thought there would be and I was here for it. It was a lot of fun, didn't feel out of place, and actually worked to advance the story and relationship.

I'm not a huge fan of fated mates, but I love the way this was handled and the way the story unfolded. They felt like they had more agency in the romance than some fated mates stories I've read.

I love the world building of the Aetos pack and the forest they lived in. It added both a whimsical level to the story, with the woods and creatures in them, and a tension to the story, with the pack dynamics and strife.

I did an immersive reading of this novel, and listened to the audiobook while reading the e-book. Kelli Tager and Scott Rose did a fantastic job with the story.

Kelli Tager captured the essence of Effie perfectly and I loved the level of sass and depth she gave the character. It made her feel so real and relatable. I absolutely loved Effie and I know a large part of that was due to Tager's narration.

Scott Rose did a great job of capturing the conflicted nature of Darius and the struggles he dealt with. Darius was such an emotionally complex character because there were almost 3 sides to his persona, and Rose handled the emotional turmoil he felt so well.

Overall, this was a quick, easy, and enjoyable read, perfect for this time of year. I loved the world the story is set in, the characters, and the relationships they had with each other and others in their lives.

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was ready to read this one after reading and enjoying the second book in the series last year. This one had a lot of the same fun magical world as the first one. And as with the 2nd book, it overlapped with the story from the prior book to get us going into this one. And I believe there is probably some stuff from the next book that we will see when that one comes out. Which it will, right, there are more than 3 sisters I think?

I enjoyed the author’s take on shifters, especially since Effie has a father who is a shifter, and now her fated mate is one as well. I also loved the twist with an important character’s identity at the end of the story. Learning about why Darius was the way he was between his own father and grandmother, as well as the other wolves within his pack, made a lot of his decisions make sense. Other times the stubbornness was one of those things that bugged me like it does in other books. But I do enjoy a good marriage of convenience story, and this had that, even if the characters were not actually going to have to do that in the short amount of time this book took place during.

Honestly, I’d say that once again I was left wanting a little more to the story when we got a ton of steamy parts. At times I was like, um, aren’t you supposed to be kind of racing to get back to Arcadia? I can see getting carried away one time, but as many times as they did got to seem a bit extreme in that type of situation. And there were several of those racy scenes. I’ll admit to skimming through them after a while, because I wanted to get on with the story?

Overall another fun paranormal story in this unique magical world created by the author!

[lauren dedinsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narrated By: Scott Rose and Kelli Tager

What To Expect:
- grumpy alpha werewolf x chaos witch
- fated mates
- forced proximity
- insta lust
- enemies to lovers
- romcom vibes
- banter
- spicy

4.5⭐️

oh my god this was such a fun book!! i absolutely love paranormal romance especially when its witches and werewolves 😍 i will never get enough of those

normally i don’t like insta lust because i always crave a good slow burn. but with this book it really works and had me giggling and kicking my feet. i honestly wouldnt change a thing in that department because it made the entire book.

the two narrators, scott and kelli did such an amazing job with bringing this story to life, so much so that i finished it in one listen. i wasnt pausing this audiobook for anything 😂

thank you so much the author agency and avery flynn for a gifted copy of this alc to listen to!

[nightlyreadingheather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great rom-com about a compulsive witch and the alpha who steals her heart!

Loved the FMC! She is feisty and highly impulsive. So much so that she has to remind herself to take a step back and slow down her thoughts. Our MMC does not want to run the pack like his ancestors! He wants to be more diplomatic and keeps his wolf at bay, locked in a cage!

The banter! Oh, the banter! It is so good in this one and had me giggling out loud on numerous occasions! The spice was also a spicin!

Although this is the third in the series, it can be read as a standalone, and now I may have to go back and marathon the first two!

[Nicole Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Effie and Darius

This was a fun read. Effie is my favorite sister. Effie is the oldest of the Sherwood Girls. She is loud, adventurous and feisty. Darius is a grumpy alpha. These two meet when Darius tries to steal a spell book the Sherwood Clan had and Effie ends up stealing his motorcycle. Turns out they are fated mates which they both fight hard to deny. Love the banter and chemistry between these two. Besides their relationship, there is also betrayal going on, fights and discovery of something that was dormant.
I enjoyed listening to this.

I received a copy and read it through NetGalley. I received an audio copy and listened to it through Libro.fm

[The Rampant Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the Author and Berkley for the gifted copy.

I was able to immersively read this and I thought Kelli Tager and Scott Rose did great voice work.

Vibes: contemporary magic

This is the third book in this series. It would be beneficial to read the other books in series although this can be read as a standalone. I love interspecies stories so this might be my favorite couple so far!


Tropes:
Witchy RomCom, Chaotic Witch, Fated Mates, Forced Proximity, Werewolf & Opposites Attract

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this! This series is fantastic and this is Effie's story. A witch who isn't "powerful" but likes to play and a werewolf alpha who is grumpy as all hell. Effie is pure chaos but so much fun and Darius is so "tough" but when he falls, he falls hard. I was lucky to get the eARC from netgalley and the ALC too - so the immersive read was fantastic! Highly Recommend for spooky season.

[Mick C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good story about being the oldest and not being in charge because the family magic did not choose you. But even with this knowledge you still love your family and accept the fact that your younger sibling was picked instead. Being thought of us a the crazy and impulsivity sister. But when one bizarre interaction with an alpha wolf sets off a whole new set of impulses. Will this be just another nick in the scoreboard of not thinking before you act or will it be an act of fate giving you the meaning to it all?

[Kelly NuclearFiction · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎧Song Pairing: Sexy B - David Guetta

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

What is the opposite of bewitching? Dewitching? It woke me up from a spell and it’s no longer happy, pretty and peaceful and the world is just chaos….AND I LOVE A KNOTTY READ😱

[Katie Gullo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mid

[Heidi Lengenfelder · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

A chaotic witch + a buttoned-up, grumpy werewolf + an inconvenient fated-mates situation = exactly my kind of paranormal romance.

Hexy Beast is fun, flirty, spicy, and packed with supernatural shenanigans. I loved how completely opposite Effie and Darius are. She leaps first and worries about the consequences later, while he’s controlled, responsible, and carrying the weight of his pack on his shoulders. Watching Effie barrel straight through all of Darius’ carefully constructed walls was ridiculously entertaining.

The fated-mates element was especially fun because neither of them is willing to simply accept that fate gets to decide who they love. Between the banter, forced proximity, pack politics, magical chaos, and seriously good chemistry, this was such an entertaining paranormal rom-com.

Come for the witch-and-werewolf chaos. Stay for the grumpy werewolf slowly realizing his fated mate might be exactly the kind of trouble he needs.

[Marlaina Knowlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book.

Getting the opportunity to listen to this as an ARC was such a fun experience, especially because this was my first audio ARC! I loved the dual narration, and both narrators brought so much personality to their characters. It made the story feel even more immersive, and I completely lost myself in it.

I was already familiar with this series and loved the first book, so I was very excited to see what happened next after that cliffhanger. And this book did not disappoint. It had all the makings of the perfect fall witchy read. The magic, adventure, mystery, romance, and characters you just want to spend more time with.

I especially loved Effy’s journey. There was so much more to her than what people initially saw. What others interpreted as chaos or acting without thinking was actually part of how she processed the world and worked through things. I loved getting to understand her better and watching her learn to trust herself, accept who she is, and see her own abilities differently.

And the Sherwood magic! I really loved getting to understand more about why it treated Effy the way it did. It added such an interesting layer to the story and made so much more sense as Effy’s journey unfolded.

The chemistry between the leads was another highlight for me. There was adventure and plenty happening around them, but the relationship still had room to develop naturally. And I loved the diverse cast of characters and the community surrounding them. Everyone brought something different to the story, and I really think the book would have lost some of its magic without them.

Then we got to the final scenes and… MY HEART. I was so invested that I couldn’t read fast enough. And after listening to that epilogue? I have so many questions and so much hope that we’re going to get more stories about these amazing sisters.

I’m definitely not ready to leave this world yet.

This was such a magical, cozy, adventurous continuation of the series, and I absolutely adored getting lost in it.

[Linda Ketter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hexy Beast is book 3 in the Sherwood Witches series and follows oldest daughter, Effie, as she lands in the lap of her fated mate, Darius.

Effie Sherwood is the oldest daughter of the Sherwood witch family. When she was born, she was passed over to become the family matriarch. She has four sisters, and Leona was the one blessed with the title at birth. Effie runs a witchigram account doing outrageous spells and such. She is chaos incarnate.

Darius is the alpha for the Aetos pack. He watched his grandmother, and then his father, abuse the alpha powers as a child. He was sent to live with the centaurs as a young boy to learn another way of life. When his father was killed, he fought til the end to become Alpha of the pack, including fighting his cousin, who desires to be the true Alpha.

Effie is in the Pixie Forest to help her sister, Leona, deliver a very valuable spellbook for safekeeping. But Leona gets sidelined and Effie "borrows" a motorcycle from none other than the Aetos Alpha, Darius. He is there to try to obtain the spellbook in order to help his pack become more prosperous. But he is thwarted by a witch, of all people.

When Darius believes he has the spellbook, and he is rid of Effie, he takes off on his motorcycle to the meeting point with his people in command. But when she lands in his lap, facing him, he is shocked. Especially when they approach his command in a location that is not the meeting point. Now he has to explain why he has a witch in his lap.

Something is up with his command, so Darius states he kidnapped the witch. If he only knew what he was getting himself into.

Effie's magic is wonky. Something is causing her to not be able to pull a spell and anytime she tries to leave Darius, she is transported right back to him. Next thing she knows, aunt Artemis is claiming that they are fated mates and that is why she is not able to leave his side. Neither one of them are buying the fated mates story. She is a witch. He is a wolf shifter. It is not possible.

Next thing we know, Effie and Darius are getting married. It is a short term arrangement to get her powers back, release the spell that binds her to him, and to figure out what is really going on.

Because of what he saw with his grandmother and father, Darius keeps his wolf under tight control. So when Effie tells him to let it loose so they can get back to Arcadia in time, he finally relents. His cousin is wreaking havoc on the pack and they have to beat a deadline in order for him to retain control of the pack. But he has some surprises in store for him.

There is a stench in the pack and Darius needs to remove it from Arcadia. But he is planning to do it on his own. However, Effie is not having any of that. She stands beside him, even when she is in danger and powerless. But she does get a message off to her family and, though they are a little late, they show up for her. Because that is what family does.

When the threat is finally revealed, the Sherwood sisters know where it is coming from. So much so, they use the given names for the men instead of their chosen names.

Will the threat be neutralized? Will Darius remain Alpha? Will Effie and Darius get married for real, or will it continue to be a marriage of convenience?

I freaking love Effie. Her escapades are pure chaos, but so entertaining. She goes above and beyond for her family, even if it puts her in danger. She does not think about the danger, which causes her family to worry. Until this experience, she never understood their worry.

Darius has a lot to learn. About women. About letting loose of the leash he has on his wolf. His control is overboard and sometimes he needs to let the wolf free in order to do what needs to be done. He loves Effie and will do anything to protect her, including dying to save her.

Aunt Artemis, or whatever he Fates name is, is one of my favorite characters. She is quirky. She is the power behind Effie and Darius as a couple. I hope we see more of her in future books.

I have listened to a few books narrated by Scott Rose and truly enjoyed him as Darius. His voice is smooth and deep and oh so soothing. Kelli Tager is new to me and I loved her as Effie in all her chaos glory. I hope to listen to more books narrated by these two.