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The House of Shadows
Welcome to the House of Shadows, where dark secrets, wicked magic, and dangerous mates thrive in the city of New Orleans.
I messed up my last heist.
Now caught by those I tried to steal from, I’m terrified that I traded one lifelong debt for another. Between the ruthless vampire, the arrogant wolf, the mysterious dragon, and the irritating fae assassin, the men of The House of Shadows have monsters brewing inside. And to make it worse, my presence means they must now choose to punish me or become my protectors forever.
Because I am being hunted.
The secret is out that I am not fully human, and that curse places a target on my back. The Crescent Coven wants me dead. The men need my special birthright to make them stronger. And I must learn how to tap into my legacy magic without fear holding me back.
I have to survive.
My only choice is to align with those more wicked and more cunning—and much more dangerous than the enemies I’ve come to know. But summoning the darkest parts of my soul comes with a price. And that cost might devastate us all if I can’t find a way to control it.
The House of Shadows is a steamy, medium-burn paranormal why choose romance featuring an additional story from A.L. Garr’s Romance With A Bite shared world. These stories were previously published under Carla Winters as The Blood Game, The Blood Curse, and The Blood Wars.
I messed up my last heist.
Now caught by those I tried to steal from, I’m terrified that I traded one lifelong debt for another. Between the ruthless vampire, the arrogant wolf, the mysterious dragon, and the irritating fae assassin, the men of The House of Shadows have monsters brewing inside. And to make it worse, my presence means they must now choose to punish me or become my protectors forever.
Because I am being hunted.
The secret is out that I am not fully human, and that curse places a target on my back. The Crescent Coven wants me dead. The men need my special birthright to make them stronger. And I must learn how to tap into my legacy magic without fear holding me back.
I have to survive.
My only choice is to align with those more wicked and more cunning—and much more dangerous than the enemies I’ve come to know. But summoning the darkest parts of my soul comes with a price. And that cost might devastate us all if I can’t find a way to control it.
The House of Shadows is a steamy, medium-burn paranormal why choose romance featuring an additional story from A.L. Garr’s Romance With A Bite shared world. These stories were previously published under Carla Winters as The Blood Game, The Blood Curse, and The Blood Wars.
504 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 24, 2026
8 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
A.L. Garr
5 books10 followersA.L. Garr enjoys losing herself in fantasy worlds. She loves to write snarky, sassy characters of all ages, knowing that adventure, excitement, and love have no age limit.
Learn more about A.L. Garr and her other romance pen names at www.algarrbooks.com.
Learn more about A.L. Garr and her other romance pen names at www.algarrbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
March 5, 2026
Thank you to Nerd Fam and A.L Garr for an ARC of this book!
Katarina has spent the last 7 years of her live serving Witches and completing jobs for them. On what was supposed to be her final job, everything goes wrong for her. She is taken to the House of Shadows where she is taken prisoner and thrust into a world she never anticipated being thrown into.
I would rate this 3.75. It was a very very spicy why choose story. It was very fast paced, lots of spicy romance scenes. There was a lot of action packed scenes and mystery thrown in there. There was a lot of fun banter between the men of House of Shadows and Katarina. I also enjoyed the supernatural elements to the story as well. If you are a fan of spicy with supernatural elements, you would definitely like this story!
Katarina has spent the last 7 years of her live serving Witches and completing jobs for them. On what was supposed to be her final job, everything goes wrong for her. She is taken to the House of Shadows where she is taken prisoner and thrust into a world she never anticipated being thrown into.
I would rate this 3.75. It was a very very spicy why choose story. It was very fast paced, lots of spicy romance scenes. There was a lot of action packed scenes and mystery thrown in there. There was a lot of fun banter between the men of House of Shadows and Katarina. I also enjoyed the supernatural elements to the story as well. If you are a fan of spicy with supernatural elements, you would definitely like this story!
March 23, 2026
I am actually a little mad about this one…
The House of Shadows by A.L. Garr
If you enjoy…
✨Paranormal Romance
✨Hidden/Found Powers
✨Why Choose
✨Found Family
✨Dog Sidekick
This book is for you!
Rating: ⭐️ 3.0/5 | 🌶️5/5 | ⚠️ ⚠️
Indentured thief, Katarina, can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Her last assignment from the Crescent Coven: steal the ruby necklace up for auction at New Orlean’s hottest charity function. Unfortunately, when three infamous men corner her just as she slips the necklace from its display case, she knows she’s been had. Kidnapped by the men of the infamous House of Shadows, Katarina begins to realize that her final job may have been a trap, with her the innocent bait at the center. Feeling a connection, she begins to bond with her captors. Unexpectedly, this triggers mysterious powers with in her to emerge, putting a target on her back, and setting off a paranormal underworld war. Who will come off on top, the Crescent Coven or The House of Shadows?
Plot and Pacing
I wanted to love this book so badly. The premise and setting is so good!!! Unfortunately, the pacing in this book was so inconsistent it made it incredibly hard for me to finish. The first forty percent or so reads super quick after that it slows down, stalls and then speeds through conflict, and then rinse and repeat to the end. The choppy writing style made it hard to me follow. More than once I had to go back and re-read a section because I was so confused as to how a conflict had been resolved so quickly. I wish more time had been spent building and resolving conflicts between waring factions. As much as I hate to say this, I felt like plot movement was a sort of afterthought to the spice at several points.
Character Development:
I wanted to love these characters. Again, I felt character development lost out to the time spent on the intimate encounters between the characters. I think I would have enjoyed this book so much more if more time had been given to better understanding what made these character ticked. The set up was definitely there, everyone had intriguing “hook” when introduced but no additional time was given to develop it. As such, the male main characters all sort of blended together, especially the wolf and Fae character. The female main character had a legitimate coming-into-her-own arc, transitioning from unhappy, damaged, and defeated to powerful, confident, and loving.
The Spice:
I have a love hate relationship with the “why choose” trope. Well done “why choose” builds crazy tension and allows for a variety of relationship dynamics to be explored. However, more often than not, it’s a mess of excessive and repetitive encounters between characters. Unfortunately this book commits that sin. I will allow for a little leeway in this case as one could argue that a couple of the spicy scenes are essential for the plot because they relate to a Character’s magic. Unfortunately, vocabulary became so repetitive by the end, I just skipped forward past the scene so I could stay engaged with the plot.
I was so excited for this one. I am a little sad that I just couldn’t connect with this book as it has so many elements I enjoy. If you really love paranormal romance that features shifters, vampires, witches, and demons with a lot of spice this could absolutely be your next favorite read.
A big thanks to A.L Garr and the Nerd Fam for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The House of Shadows by A.L. Garr
If you enjoy…
✨Paranormal Romance
✨Hidden/Found Powers
✨Why Choose
✨Found Family
✨Dog Sidekick
This book is for you!
Rating: ⭐️ 3.0/5 | 🌶️5/5 | ⚠️ ⚠️
Indentured thief, Katarina, can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Her last assignment from the Crescent Coven: steal the ruby necklace up for auction at New Orlean’s hottest charity function. Unfortunately, when three infamous men corner her just as she slips the necklace from its display case, she knows she’s been had. Kidnapped by the men of the infamous House of Shadows, Katarina begins to realize that her final job may have been a trap, with her the innocent bait at the center. Feeling a connection, she begins to bond with her captors. Unexpectedly, this triggers mysterious powers with in her to emerge, putting a target on her back, and setting off a paranormal underworld war. Who will come off on top, the Crescent Coven or The House of Shadows?
Plot and Pacing
I wanted to love this book so badly. The premise and setting is so good!!! Unfortunately, the pacing in this book was so inconsistent it made it incredibly hard for me to finish. The first forty percent or so reads super quick after that it slows down, stalls and then speeds through conflict, and then rinse and repeat to the end. The choppy writing style made it hard to me follow. More than once I had to go back and re-read a section because I was so confused as to how a conflict had been resolved so quickly. I wish more time had been spent building and resolving conflicts between waring factions. As much as I hate to say this, I felt like plot movement was a sort of afterthought to the spice at several points.
Character Development:
I wanted to love these characters. Again, I felt character development lost out to the time spent on the intimate encounters between the characters. I think I would have enjoyed this book so much more if more time had been given to better understanding what made these character ticked. The set up was definitely there, everyone had intriguing “hook” when introduced but no additional time was given to develop it. As such, the male main characters all sort of blended together, especially the wolf and Fae character. The female main character had a legitimate coming-into-her-own arc, transitioning from unhappy, damaged, and defeated to powerful, confident, and loving.
The Spice:
I have a love hate relationship with the “why choose” trope. Well done “why choose” builds crazy tension and allows for a variety of relationship dynamics to be explored. However, more often than not, it’s a mess of excessive and repetitive encounters between characters. Unfortunately this book commits that sin. I will allow for a little leeway in this case as one could argue that a couple of the spicy scenes are essential for the plot because they relate to a Character’s magic. Unfortunately, vocabulary became so repetitive by the end, I just skipped forward past the scene so I could stay engaged with the plot.
I was so excited for this one. I am a little sad that I just couldn’t connect with this book as it has so many elements I enjoy. If you really love paranormal romance that features shifters, vampires, witches, and demons with a lot of spice this could absolutely be your next favorite read.
A big thanks to A.L Garr and the Nerd Fam for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
DNF Review – House of Shadows by A.L. Garr
Thank you to the publisher and Nerdfam for providing me with an ARC.
I was genuinely excited to get my hands on this one because I absolutely love the why choose trope. It’s one of my favorite romance dynamics, and I’ve read a lot of books in this subgenre that hooked me from the very first chapter.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.
The premise initially caught my attention. The FMC is a thief tasked with stealing something extremely important for the coven that took her in, which set up what could have been a really intriguing story. However, as I continued reading, I struggled to connect with both the narrative and the main character.
The FMC’s internal voice and the heavy focus on lust early in the story made it difficult for me to engage with her character. I would have loved to see more meaningful interactions and character development between the FMC and the MMCs before the attraction ramped up. That emotional build is usually what makes why choose romances so addictive for me.
Another aspect that didn’t quite work for me was the way the FMC viewed herself as powerless or not special, even though she could communicate with a familiar she didn’t realize she had. That element felt a bit frustrating to read through.
I did actually like the MMCs individually, but as a group they felt a little too familiar almost like versions of archetypes I’ve seen many times before in other why choose stories. Because of that, I never fully connected with them or their dynamic with the FMC.
I also found myself repeatedly putting the book down and not feeling motivated to pick it back up, which is very unusual for me with this trope.
At the end of the day, this just wasn’t the right fit for my reading taste. That said, readers who enjoy fast-burn attraction and familiar why-choose dynamics may still have a great time with this one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5⭐ 5🌶️ - Digital Copy, Advance Read
Found Family, SPICY!!!!, BDSM, Polyamorous, Magic
The House of the Shadows is a spice forward romantasy that borders on erotica, in all the best ways. While there is a plot, the plot actually revolves around the spice. This was a fun read with magical elements that were entertaining to learn about. The spice scenes were well written. I didn't love Katarina as a character; there was something about her that had me struggling to really connect with her. The men were entertaining and their characters were well written. Aiden was my favorite as he had a great balance of goofy, serious, and pitch-black moments throughout the story.
Would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a spice forward paranormal story with not too much world/magic building in it.
Story Synopsis:
Meet the men:
Roman - Vampire: Head of the House of Shadows and in charge of running New Orleans for the vampires and all paranormal creatures.
Blaise - 1/2 Dragon shifter who can't shift: angry and closed off due to an extra-long life of being disconnected from his dragon
Dorian - Wolf Shifter who is fun and loving but very protective and will kill when the situation calls for it.
Aiden - Fae who, like Dorian, enjoys having fun and handles stress by cracking jokes. But he will kill those who threaten his family.
When the men of the House of Shadows catch Katarina trying to steal a neckless from a charity auction, they bring her to their house to interrogate her on why the witch coven has sent her. Believing she is merely a human who steals for the witches to pay off a debt, Katarina doesn't understand why these men would be drawn to her. But she is not what she has grown up believing she is and the more she is around the men, the more her true nature comes out.
Found Family, SPICY!!!!, BDSM, Polyamorous, Magic
The House of the Shadows is a spice forward romantasy that borders on erotica, in all the best ways. While there is a plot, the plot actually revolves around the spice. This was a fun read with magical elements that were entertaining to learn about. The spice scenes were well written. I didn't love Katarina as a character; there was something about her that had me struggling to really connect with her. The men were entertaining and their characters were well written. Aiden was my favorite as he had a great balance of goofy, serious, and pitch-black moments throughout the story.
Would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a spice forward paranormal story with not too much world/magic building in it.
Story Synopsis:
Meet the men:
Roman - Vampire: Head of the House of Shadows and in charge of running New Orleans for the vampires and all paranormal creatures.
Blaise - 1/2 Dragon shifter who can't shift: angry and closed off due to an extra-long life of being disconnected from his dragon
Dorian - Wolf Shifter who is fun and loving but very protective and will kill when the situation calls for it.
Aiden - Fae who, like Dorian, enjoys having fun and handles stress by cracking jokes. But he will kill those who threaten his family.
When the men of the House of Shadows catch Katarina trying to steal a neckless from a charity auction, they bring her to their house to interrogate her on why the witch coven has sent her. Believing she is merely a human who steals for the witches to pay off a debt, Katarina doesn't understand why these men would be drawn to her. But she is not what she has grown up believing she is and the more she is around the men, the more her true nature comes out.
February 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to A.L. Garr for an ARC!
This was a spicy good time! We follow Katarina, a thief for the Crescent Coven, who was tasked to steal a valuable necklace from Roman, the vampire head of the House of Shadows. During the heist, Katarina is caught and taken captive by Roman, Aiden (a fae), Dorian (a werewolf), and Blaise (a dragon shifter). Once their captive, Katarina weaves her presence into their world and their hearts; however, they all end up in the middle of a supernatural power battle for control over New Orleans. Katarina was a strong and feisty FMC. I loved seeing her come into her own, especially after learning some unknown aspects of her own past. And I can’t forget about her adorable, four-legged sidekick, Grim! As far as her men, I loved the character depth of each of them, especially that of Blaise. I loved watching his walls crumble as he let Katarina in more and more. This was also a high spice, quick burn romance. I loved the emotional depth of the spicy scenes and how they helped to further along the plot, especially the group scenes. This story was originally published as three different books under a different pen name, and I was able to tell where each of the books ended despite being integrated into one book. This didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book though. I will say that the book wrapped up a bit too quick in my opinion and there were some details that were glossed over and didn’t end up fully resolved. Overall, I had a great time with this one and would recommend it!
*Check TWs if needed!*
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to A.L. Garr for an ARC!
This was a spicy good time! We follow Katarina, a thief for the Crescent Coven, who was tasked to steal a valuable necklace from Roman, the vampire head of the House of Shadows. During the heist, Katarina is caught and taken captive by Roman, Aiden (a fae), Dorian (a werewolf), and Blaise (a dragon shifter). Once their captive, Katarina weaves her presence into their world and their hearts; however, they all end up in the middle of a supernatural power battle for control over New Orleans. Katarina was a strong and feisty FMC. I loved seeing her come into her own, especially after learning some unknown aspects of her own past. And I can’t forget about her adorable, four-legged sidekick, Grim! As far as her men, I loved the character depth of each of them, especially that of Blaise. I loved watching his walls crumble as he let Katarina in more and more. This was also a high spice, quick burn romance. I loved the emotional depth of the spicy scenes and how they helped to further along the plot, especially the group scenes. This story was originally published as three different books under a different pen name, and I was able to tell where each of the books ended despite being integrated into one book. This didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book though. I will say that the book wrapped up a bit too quick in my opinion and there were some details that were glossed over and didn’t end up fully resolved. Overall, I had a great time with this one and would recommend it!
*Check TWs if needed!*
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The House of Shadows is a compelling novel blending supernatural intrigue with a strong emotional core. Set against the evocative backdrop of New Orleans, the novel follows a young woman whose life is upended after a failed heist forces her into the House of Shadows - a sanctuary ruled by a powerful vampire and protected by a wolf shifter, a half-breed dragon, and a fae assassin. What begins as a desperate bid for survival evolves into a layered story of identity, trust, and unexpected connection.
Garr's world-building is one of the novel's standout strengths. The House itself feels alive, steeped with magic and danger. The pacing strikes a satisfying balance between action, mystery, romance, and character development, ensuring the story remains engaging. Each of the four male leads is distinct, morally complex, and layered with secrets. The chemistry with the heroine is electric and steamy, but Garr also gives space for emotional depth and trust-building. The romantic tension builds gradually, supported by emotional nuance and genuine character growth.
While the novel delivers on its promise of paranormal romance, it also offers deeper themes - found family, self-discovery, and the courage to confront one's past. The writing is accessible yet vivid. It is an engrossing, well-crafted paranormal romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy supernatural politics, slow-burn tension, and richly drawn characters.
The House of Shadows is a compelling novel blending supernatural intrigue with a strong emotional core. Set against the evocative backdrop of New Orleans, the novel follows a young woman whose life is upended after a failed heist forces her into the House of Shadows - a sanctuary ruled by a powerful vampire and protected by a wolf shifter, a half-breed dragon, and a fae assassin. What begins as a desperate bid for survival evolves into a layered story of identity, trust, and unexpected connection.
Garr's world-building is one of the novel's standout strengths. The House itself feels alive, steeped with magic and danger. The pacing strikes a satisfying balance between action, mystery, romance, and character development, ensuring the story remains engaging. Each of the four male leads is distinct, morally complex, and layered with secrets. The chemistry with the heroine is electric and steamy, but Garr also gives space for emotional depth and trust-building. The romantic tension builds gradually, supported by emotional nuance and genuine character growth.
While the novel delivers on its promise of paranormal romance, it also offers deeper themes - found family, self-discovery, and the courage to confront one's past. The writing is accessible yet vivid. It is an engrossing, well-crafted paranormal romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy supernatural politics, slow-burn tension, and richly drawn characters.
Review of advance copy received from Author
thank you to the nerd fam and a.l. garr for this arc!
⭐⭐⭐
this book was completely immersive. we really got into the world and every character's traits and personality over a fair amount of time: it wasn't rushed and it definitely wasn't too long. I really enjoyed the world building and how deeply connected you grow to be of all the characters we're following.
I really loved having multiple povs during the book, because each of them made me understand the plot better and have a wider perspective on what was going on. I have to admit, though, that at first, when getting to know everyone, I was a bit confused and overwhelmed with the amount of characters we have in the story, but, as it went on, this stopped being a problem, as I learned to love them all individually and understand them.
the writing is also very fast paced and easy to read. for me, having english as a second language, this was really easy to understand and follow: I was glad about it, cause usually I have a harder time reading fantasy novels because of the language that is used😭.
overall, i really enjoyed this book! the only thing that I feel is lowering my rating is the amount of spice contained in this book: I'm not one who deeply enjoys super spicy novels and this one had a lot of those scenes. this was just an aspect that wasn't entirely for me, but I can see many many people enjoying this type of story!
in conclusion, I'm giving in 3 stars and I would definitely read whatever a.l. garr comes out with next!
⭐⭐⭐
this book was completely immersive. we really got into the world and every character's traits and personality over a fair amount of time: it wasn't rushed and it definitely wasn't too long. I really enjoyed the world building and how deeply connected you grow to be of all the characters we're following.
I really loved having multiple povs during the book, because each of them made me understand the plot better and have a wider perspective on what was going on. I have to admit, though, that at first, when getting to know everyone, I was a bit confused and overwhelmed with the amount of characters we have in the story, but, as it went on, this stopped being a problem, as I learned to love them all individually and understand them.
the writing is also very fast paced and easy to read. for me, having english as a second language, this was really easy to understand and follow: I was glad about it, cause usually I have a harder time reading fantasy novels because of the language that is used😭.
overall, i really enjoyed this book! the only thing that I feel is lowering my rating is the amount of spice contained in this book: I'm not one who deeply enjoys super spicy novels and this one had a lot of those scenes. this was just an aspect that wasn't entirely for me, but I can see many many people enjoying this type of story!
in conclusion, I'm giving in 3 stars and I would definitely read whatever a.l. garr comes out with next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for this eARC!!
This book said monsters, chaos, magic, and why choose… and honestly I was immediately on board. The House of Shadows is fast paced, very spicy, and packed with morally gray men who absolutely understood the assignment.
Between the ruthless vampire, arrogant wolf, mysterious dragon, and the fae assassin who spends half the time being irritating in the best way, the dynamics in this group were a lot of fun. The romance is definitely quick burn and the spice level is HIGH, so if you like your paranormal romance with plenty of tension and steamy scenes, you’ll have a good time here.
I really enjoyed watching the FMC start to come into her power as she learns more about her past and the magic tied to her birthright. Seeing her grow more confident and step into who she is was one of my favorite parts of the story. And I cannot talk about this book without mentioning Grim, her adorable four legged sidekick, because he completely stole my heart.
I will say the ending wrapped up a little faster than I would have liked. A few things felt glossed over and some plot points didn’t feel fully resolved. The romance also leans a bit into instalove territory, which might not work for everyone.
That said, I still had a really fun time with this one. It’s spicy, chaotic, full of monsters, and an easy binge if you’re in the mood for a why choose paranormal romance.
This book said monsters, chaos, magic, and why choose… and honestly I was immediately on board. The House of Shadows is fast paced, very spicy, and packed with morally gray men who absolutely understood the assignment.
Between the ruthless vampire, arrogant wolf, mysterious dragon, and the fae assassin who spends half the time being irritating in the best way, the dynamics in this group were a lot of fun. The romance is definitely quick burn and the spice level is HIGH, so if you like your paranormal romance with plenty of tension and steamy scenes, you’ll have a good time here.
I really enjoyed watching the FMC start to come into her power as she learns more about her past and the magic tied to her birthright. Seeing her grow more confident and step into who she is was one of my favorite parts of the story. And I cannot talk about this book without mentioning Grim, her adorable four legged sidekick, because he completely stole my heart.
I will say the ending wrapped up a little faster than I would have liked. A few things felt glossed over and some plot points didn’t feel fully resolved. The romance also leans a bit into instalove territory, which might not work for everyone.
That said, I still had a really fun time with this one. It’s spicy, chaotic, full of monsters, and an easy binge if you’re in the mood for a why choose paranormal romance.
March 12, 2026
If you’re looking for your next spicy romantasy, featuring all sorts of magic, vampire, wolf and dragon shifters, witches and of course plenty of romance and banter, check this one out!
You’re dropped into the life of the FMC, as she is setting up to run one last job as a thief for the witches who took her in and helped raise her after she lost everyone else in her life. When she gets caught trying to steal the necklace by a group of powerful men, instead of punishing her, they take her back to their home as their temporary prisoner until they can find out why the witches set her up to be caught. In a race against time, she must work with these new men she feels and unknown draw to, and understand the truth about why she’s so important to the witches and what their plans are for her and the rest of this new group she’s been forced into.
This book had multiple POVs which is slowly becoming one of my favorite ways to read a story. I enjoyed seeing how each of the men saw the FMC as she was introduced to their lives and how the bonds between them formed so quickly and they immediately became both protective of her and wanting her. There was a pretty good mix of chaotic plot lines and spice, and as the truth about the FMC continued to unravel, some of the mysteries of her life started to make more sense! Overall I enjoyed this book and look forward to picking up the next one! My rating 4.2/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
You’re dropped into the life of the FMC, as she is setting up to run one last job as a thief for the witches who took her in and helped raise her after she lost everyone else in her life. When she gets caught trying to steal the necklace by a group of powerful men, instead of punishing her, they take her back to their home as their temporary prisoner until they can find out why the witches set her up to be caught. In a race against time, she must work with these new men she feels and unknown draw to, and understand the truth about why she’s so important to the witches and what their plans are for her and the rest of this new group she’s been forced into.
This book had multiple POVs which is slowly becoming one of my favorite ways to read a story. I enjoyed seeing how each of the men saw the FMC as she was introduced to their lives and how the bonds between them formed so quickly and they immediately became both protective of her and wanting her. There was a pretty good mix of chaotic plot lines and spice, and as the truth about the FMC continued to unravel, some of the mysteries of her life started to make more sense! Overall I enjoyed this book and look forward to picking up the next one! My rating 4.2/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
March 24, 2026
A thief versus the most powerful leaders in New Orleans sounds like a fantastic start. I love it when a PNR book takes place in New Orleans. Even if it doesn't mention much of the city, between the history, the Gothic architecture, and stories, it still adds an extra layer of magic. The world-building was good. Garr did things a little differently; instead of different factions made of the same type of supe, things were mixed up. Werewolves with necromancers, vampires with fae, that kind of thing, and I think I like it better that way. Everyone has different perspectives and a variety of skills. It made things more interesting.
This burn was fast, and it was hot. So hot my Kindle started smoking. Haha. The romance was sweeter than I expected. Katarina was a little naive for someone who dealt with the supernatural on a daily basis. She really needed people in her life, and the guys of House of Shadows filled that need. However, they also needed her. The guys already worked and lived together, but she pulled them together as a family. The guys fell pretty quickly and cherished Katarina from the start, so there was very little angst, which I am not mad about. There was plenty of action. The battles between the House of Shadows and the Crescent Coven were noteworthy. I was confused about a few things, but overall, House of Shadows was an entertaining read.
3.75⭐️
This burn was fast, and it was hot. So hot my Kindle started smoking. Haha. The romance was sweeter than I expected. Katarina was a little naive for someone who dealt with the supernatural on a daily basis. She really needed people in her life, and the guys of House of Shadows filled that need. However, they also needed her. The guys already worked and lived together, but she pulled them together as a family. The guys fell pretty quickly and cherished Katarina from the start, so there was very little angst, which I am not mad about. There was plenty of action. The battles between the House of Shadows and the Crescent Coven were noteworthy. I was confused about a few things, but overall, House of Shadows was an entertaining read.
3.75⭐️
March 25, 2026
✨ ARC REVIEW: The House of Shadows by A.L. Garr ✨
First of all a big thank you to Nerd Fam & A.L. Garr for the ARC 🫶🏽
~New Orleans. A failed heist. Four dangerously unhinged men.
…yeah, I was already seated.
Katarina has spent years doing dirty work for witches, and on what’s supposed to be her final job… she gets caught. Dragged into the House of Shadows, she goes from thief → prisoner → something much more complicated 👀
And when I say complicated, I mean:
🩸 vampire boss energy
🔥 emotionally constipated dragon man
🐺 golden retriever wolf (who will absolutely kill for you)
✨ chaotic fae menace
The vibes?? immaculate.
This is a fast-paced, spice-forward paranormal why choose that does not hold back. Like… at all. It’s giving plot and spice but let’s be honest… the spice is driving the car 😌
•The banter between Katarina and the guys? 10/10.
•The supernatural elements? fun, easy to digest, not overwhelming.
•The tension? constantly simmering.
I will say though, Katarina didn’t fully click for me emotionally, but the men?? carried. Aiden especially had me locked in. Unhinged but funny 🤪
Also: found family, power struggles, hidden magic, being hunted??
yes. yes to all of it.
🌶️ SPICY SPICY SPICY
If you like your fantasy with:
✨ minimal world-building
✨ maximum chaos
✨ and a whole lot of “she doesn’t have to choose”
…this is absolutely your book.
First of all a big thank you to Nerd Fam & A.L. Garr for the ARC 🫶🏽
~New Orleans. A failed heist. Four dangerously unhinged men.
…yeah, I was already seated.
Katarina has spent years doing dirty work for witches, and on what’s supposed to be her final job… she gets caught. Dragged into the House of Shadows, she goes from thief → prisoner → something much more complicated 👀
And when I say complicated, I mean:
🩸 vampire boss energy
🔥 emotionally constipated dragon man
🐺 golden retriever wolf (who will absolutely kill for you)
✨ chaotic fae menace
The vibes?? immaculate.
This is a fast-paced, spice-forward paranormal why choose that does not hold back. Like… at all. It’s giving plot and spice but let’s be honest… the spice is driving the car 😌
•The banter between Katarina and the guys? 10/10.
•The supernatural elements? fun, easy to digest, not overwhelming.
•The tension? constantly simmering.
I will say though, Katarina didn’t fully click for me emotionally, but the men?? carried. Aiden especially had me locked in. Unhinged but funny 🤪
Also: found family, power struggles, hidden magic, being hunted??
yes. yes to all of it.
🌶️ SPICY SPICY SPICY
If you like your fantasy with:
✨ minimal world-building
✨ maximum chaos
✨ and a whole lot of “she doesn’t have to choose”
…this is absolutely your book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
House of Shadow by A.L Garr
After heist goes wrong, maddie finds herself captive to Roman, Vampire king and his group of enforcers. What will Maddie discover of her past, and how will these men affect her life?
Thanks to @algarr and @thenerdfam for this gift eARC.
This is a high spice why choose with graphic polyamrory and BDSM, and lots of morally grey men. So many delicious MMCs - a brief introduction bellw
Dorian - Loyal and possessive wolf boy
Aiden - Powerful blond Fae rake
Blaise - Dark and moody dragon shifter
Roman - Vampire King and everyone's Zaddy
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT... GRIM, our goodo boy animal companion ❤️
There is also a really great storyline, lots of chacter development and overcoming mental barriers and trauma. My Favourite character is actually a supporting role, but I dont want to spoil the story 🤐
Highlights
- Some really touching found family moments, the round table family dinner had me giggling
- Grim is just the bestest boy 🐕🦺
- Battle scenes are well placed and well paced.
Thoughts
- I felt like the book ended quite abruptly, like there's still some background and plot lines that could be unpacked?
Overall rating 4/5
#thenerdfam #whychooseromance #bookstagrammer #romantasy #fantasyreads
After heist goes wrong, maddie finds herself captive to Roman, Vampire king and his group of enforcers. What will Maddie discover of her past, and how will these men affect her life?
Thanks to @algarr and @thenerdfam for this gift eARC.
This is a high spice why choose with graphic polyamrory and BDSM, and lots of morally grey men. So many delicious MMCs - a brief introduction bellw
Dorian - Loyal and possessive wolf boy
Aiden - Powerful blond Fae rake
Blaise - Dark and moody dragon shifter
Roman - Vampire King and everyone's Zaddy
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT... GRIM, our goodo boy animal companion ❤️
There is also a really great storyline, lots of chacter development and overcoming mental barriers and trauma. My Favourite character is actually a supporting role, but I dont want to spoil the story 🤐
Highlights
- Some really touching found family moments, the round table family dinner had me giggling
- Grim is just the bestest boy 🐕🦺
- Battle scenes are well placed and well paced.
Thoughts
- I felt like the book ended quite abruptly, like there's still some background and plot lines that could be unpacked?
Overall rating 4/5
#thenerdfam #whychooseromance #bookstagrammer #romantasy #fantasyreads
Review of advance copy received from Author
Katerina has spent her life as an orphan in service to the Witches, carrying out their orders without question. On what is supposed to be her final job, everything goes wrong. Caught in the act by the formidable House of Shadows , she is taken prisoner and thrust into a dangerous power struggle she never intended to join.
As tensions rise in New Orleans, a battle brews between the Witches, hungry for greater power, and the House of Shadows, the city’s reigning authority. Trapped between these two forces, Katerina becomes an unwilling pawn in a supernatural conflict that threatens to erupt into all-out war.
This story delivers an engaging mix of witches, vampires, and werewolves, blending political intrigue with fast-paced action. The stakes feel real as alliances shift and loyalties are tested. Alongside the supernatural drama, there’s a thread of romance and a few steamy moments that add extra heat to the tension.
Overall, this is an entertaining and immersive read with compelling characters and plenty of magical intrigue. Fans of paranormal fantasy with a touch of spice will find much to enjoy. I would definitely recommend it.
As tensions rise in New Orleans, a battle brews between the Witches, hungry for greater power, and the House of Shadows, the city’s reigning authority. Trapped between these two forces, Katerina becomes an unwilling pawn in a supernatural conflict that threatens to erupt into all-out war.
This story delivers an engaging mix of witches, vampires, and werewolves, blending political intrigue with fast-paced action. The stakes feel real as alliances shift and loyalties are tested. Alongside the supernatural drama, there’s a thread of romance and a few steamy moments that add extra heat to the tension.
Overall, this is an entertaining and immersive read with compelling characters and plenty of magical intrigue. Fans of paranormal fantasy with a touch of spice will find much to enjoy. I would definitely recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
‘The House of Shadows’ is an action packed read that absorbed me immediately, I struggled put to the book down as this was a fast paced read.
Katerina, Roman, Pasha, Blaise, Roman and Dorian are spectacular characters, I loved seeing each character grow as a person especially Katarina. The bond they have is so beautiful, the guys are super protective over Katarina and they’re always encouraging her and cheering her on, those were my favourite parts of the book as I absolutely love protective MMC’s. It was really lovely to see Katrina discovering the power she possesses and seeing her learn to manage her powers however I would havd been intrigued to know more back story regarding her heritage as I felt this was very brief and I still have questions about the coven and Murielle’s side of the story.
As a whole this a wonderful read and super spicy, it had me blushing as well as getting emotional in certain parts of the book, this was my first 'why choose' romance and I’d definitely read more of this genre. If you love reading paranormal romances with lots of smut with 'why choose' romance then this is the read for you.
Katerina, Roman, Pasha, Blaise, Roman and Dorian are spectacular characters, I loved seeing each character grow as a person especially Katarina. The bond they have is so beautiful, the guys are super protective over Katarina and they’re always encouraging her and cheering her on, those were my favourite parts of the book as I absolutely love protective MMC’s. It was really lovely to see Katrina discovering the power she possesses and seeing her learn to manage her powers however I would havd been intrigued to know more back story regarding her heritage as I felt this was very brief and I still have questions about the coven and Murielle’s side of the story.
As a whole this a wonderful read and super spicy, it had me blushing as well as getting emotional in certain parts of the book, this was my first 'why choose' romance and I’d definitely read more of this genre. If you love reading paranormal romances with lots of smut with 'why choose' romance then this is the read for you.
March 25, 2026
DNF at 68%
I really wanted to love this book, and it had a lot of potential and the premise sounded great, but it just didn't work for me. I was struggling to stay connected into the story and with the characters.
The romance piece was almost instant and unexpected and it kind of made the relationships feel forced. She was captured, but then instantly lusting for the men and then instantly they were bonded. But the bonding wasn't really developed, so it was a bit strange. I usually love a spicy romantasy read, but even for me, the spicy scenes felt a bit excessive and definitely distracted from the plot rather than adding to it. I understand that some of her magic was tied to that, but it still seemed a bit excessive and repetitive.
There were definitely pieces of the story that were intriguing and I think with more development could have been great. This one might be more for readers who enjoy very fast-burn romance and very heavy spice that overrides the plot, but unfortunately it just was not for me.
Thank you to the author for the early copy to read.
I really wanted to love this book, and it had a lot of potential and the premise sounded great, but it just didn't work for me. I was struggling to stay connected into the story and with the characters.
The romance piece was almost instant and unexpected and it kind of made the relationships feel forced. She was captured, but then instantly lusting for the men and then instantly they were bonded. But the bonding wasn't really developed, so it was a bit strange. I usually love a spicy romantasy read, but even for me, the spicy scenes felt a bit excessive and definitely distracted from the plot rather than adding to it. I understand that some of her magic was tied to that, but it still seemed a bit excessive and repetitive.
There were definitely pieces of the story that were intriguing and I think with more development could have been great. This one might be more for readers who enjoy very fast-burn romance and very heavy spice that overrides the plot, but unfortunately it just was not for me.
Thank you to the author for the early copy to read.
March 26, 2026
This book is 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
🥵🥵🔥
That being said this book is not what I expected it to be! It definitely shocked me in the best way! I do not want to post spoilers but without too much detail the FMC is a thief and is going in for her last job to pay off an old debt she owes to an old witch coven. The heist goes drastically wrong and then she is thrown into a world of chaos. She is taken by men she has only ever heard of in horror stories…she doesn’t know if they are going to help her or kill her. She then finds out she’s not who she thinks she is and neither are her parents. This book is laced with legacy magic, dragon shifters, wolf shifters, vampires, fae, witches and so many other creatures. Oh and I can’t forget to mention from her animal familiar! He’s the one person(animal) she can rely on no matter what and together thy go on a whirlwind of a journey. Eventually she finds her own family and is forced to fight for that.
If you love a spicy book with a really good story line full of paranormal creatures this book is definitely for you!
🥵🥵🔥
That being said this book is not what I expected it to be! It definitely shocked me in the best way! I do not want to post spoilers but without too much detail the FMC is a thief and is going in for her last job to pay off an old debt she owes to an old witch coven. The heist goes drastically wrong and then she is thrown into a world of chaos. She is taken by men she has only ever heard of in horror stories…she doesn’t know if they are going to help her or kill her. She then finds out she’s not who she thinks she is and neither are her parents. This book is laced with legacy magic, dragon shifters, wolf shifters, vampires, fae, witches and so many other creatures. Oh and I can’t forget to mention from her animal familiar! He’s the one person(animal) she can rely on no matter what and together thy go on a whirlwind of a journey. Eventually she finds her own family and is forced to fight for that.
If you love a spicy book with a really good story line full of paranormal creatures this book is definitely for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to The Nerd Fam and A.L Garr for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I honestly had a great time reading this book. it was my first shifter romance and why choose romance, so that was a super fun time!
This book is a VERY spicy read. it's definitely more romance over plot, but it's great if you're just looking for a good time. I read this book in 2 days, so you know it was an easy and fun read!
I would've loved to delve further into our main character and her background and backstory before she meets our MMCs. And I also would love to hear more from those MMCs and their respective stories. We do get some more and background, but I would've loved even more!
The character dynamics are super fun as well. this is a perfect example of found family within a book. The why choose was new for me and I liked that troupe more than I thought I would!
I'm super excited to dive into more of A.L Garr's works now!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I honestly had a great time reading this book. it was my first shifter romance and why choose romance, so that was a super fun time!
This book is a VERY spicy read. it's definitely more romance over plot, but it's great if you're just looking for a good time. I read this book in 2 days, so you know it was an easy and fun read!
I would've loved to delve further into our main character and her background and backstory before she meets our MMCs. And I also would love to hear more from those MMCs and their respective stories. We do get some more and background, but I would've loved even more!
The character dynamics are super fun as well. this is a perfect example of found family within a book. The why choose was new for me and I liked that troupe more than I thought I would!
I'm super excited to dive into more of A.L Garr's works now!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The House of Shadows had potential, but unfortunately it didn’t quite work for me. The premise and overall story idea were intriguing, but the execution fell a bit flat. The writing style made it difficult to fully connect with the story, and the pacing of the romance felt rushed.
The main characters seemed to fall in love almost immediately, which made the relationships feel forced. I usually love a spicy romantasy read, but even for me, the intimate scenes felt a bit excessive and sometimes distracted from the plot rather than adding to it.
There were definitely elements of the story that could have been compelling, but overall I found myself wishing the characters and their relationships had been given more time to develop. Readers who enjoy very fast-burn romance and heavy spice may still enjoy this one, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for an ARC of this book.
The main characters seemed to fall in love almost immediately, which made the relationships feel forced. I usually love a spicy romantasy read, but even for me, the intimate scenes felt a bit excessive and sometimes distracted from the plot rather than adding to it.
There were definitely elements of the story that could have been compelling, but overall I found myself wishing the characters and their relationships had been given more time to develop. Readers who enjoy very fast-burn romance and heavy spice may still enjoy this one, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What I enjoyed most is the length of the story. It's not over and done in an hour - this will take more time than that and features animal familiars, enemies-to-lovers, found families and secret pasts. The heroine (Katarina), is not a fainting female: she fights, steals and claws her way to where she can be successful. Her enemies: Roman (vampire prince), Dorian (werewolf alpha), Blaise (dragon shifter) and Aiden (Fae assassin) have joined together to form the House of Shadows. Her relationships with each as well as with the group as a whole twists and adds to the mystery of who she really is and why she was hidden for so long. Ultimately, its her relationships and the strength of her passions that bring out the best in each of them.
note: this was previously published in 3 stories under a different pen name.
4.5 stars
note: this was previously published in 3 stories under a different pen name.
4.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Author
thank you to the nerd fam and a.l. garr for this arc!
This book was completely immersive. We get to read about 5 different povs. we really got into every character and personality.
I like having multiple povs during a book, only i do think 5 is a bit too much for my personal liking. I have to admit, that it can be quite overwhelming having to learn and understand so many characters/povs.
The writing is fast paced and easy to read.
Really liked the different supernatural aspects to it. We get to see vampires, dragons, fae and wolfs which was done quite well.
Why my rating is lower is because the plot fell away because of the focus on all the characters and the amount of spice
It's definitely a standalone! So no commitment to a big series which is quite nice! Midway i did find it repetitive and wished the plot was faster.
This book was completely immersive. We get to read about 5 different povs. we really got into every character and personality.
I like having multiple povs during a book, only i do think 5 is a bit too much for my personal liking. I have to admit, that it can be quite overwhelming having to learn and understand so many characters/povs.
The writing is fast paced and easy to read.
Really liked the different supernatural aspects to it. We get to see vampires, dragons, fae and wolfs which was done quite well.
Why my rating is lower is because the plot fell away because of the focus on all the characters and the amount of spice
It's definitely a standalone! So no commitment to a big series which is quite nice! Midway i did find it repetitive and wished the plot was faster.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review // A dragon, a wolf, a vampire, and a fae...why choose? Why choose indeed. The spice spices, and the various array of personalities that our FMC, Katarina, gets to build a deep affection for are intriguing and all bring their own little something to the table. However, it was a little fast for me, but hey, this book never promised a slow burn and I can suspend disbelief for fantastical worlds.
I think for me, Katarina's choices and emotions all seemed almost ridiculously carefree for someone who has had to fend for themselves in harsh systems their whole life. It just didn't feel consistent with what we were being told about her character. Similarly, I found the tempo of the story beats to sort of ebb and flow leading to quite a haphazard ending, but I still would really like to see where these characters go.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC!
I think for me, Katarina's choices and emotions all seemed almost ridiculously carefree for someone who has had to fend for themselves in harsh systems their whole life. It just didn't feel consistent with what we were being told about her character. Similarly, I found the tempo of the story beats to sort of ebb and flow leading to quite a haphazard ending, but I still would really like to see where these characters go.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC!
March 16, 2026
If you like why choose and can’t get enough of all things paranormal, this is the story for you!
Immensely spicy, with thoroughly captivating morally grey men and a bad ass fmc who is learning she is a force to be reckoned with.
The bonds forged between these characters and the magical depths they explore as they take on this vicious coven of bloodthirsty witches and the threat they pose to their newly formed family, are truly astounding. And in between the sinister plot to take over New Orleans and run the city, and the individual back stories and traumas each of the main characters have faced, you get numerous spicy scenes to keep you hot and bothered and falling head over heels for these dangerous creatures.
AL Garr has done it again, and easily cemented herself as an auto buy author for me!
Immensely spicy, with thoroughly captivating morally grey men and a bad ass fmc who is learning she is a force to be reckoned with.
The bonds forged between these characters and the magical depths they explore as they take on this vicious coven of bloodthirsty witches and the threat they pose to their newly formed family, are truly astounding. And in between the sinister plot to take over New Orleans and run the city, and the individual back stories and traumas each of the main characters have faced, you get numerous spicy scenes to keep you hot and bothered and falling head over heels for these dangerous creatures.
AL Garr has done it again, and easily cemented herself as an auto buy author for me!
Review of advance copy
I was really intrigued by the description of this book. I am a huge fan of shifter and why choose books.
I liked the fast paced environment this book had to offer. Katarina attitude toward her powers is completetly understandable. To have to raise yourself and think you are human and then discover there is so much more to you would be unfathomable to most. I actually enjoyed that aspect of someone so young discovering more about themselves and not accepting things at face value and being open minded to accepting all different species and people in their life.
The background of certain characters need to be explored more and I did feel like the smut started way to soon but wasn’t something that put me off the book at all.
Thank you The Nerd Fam and A. L. for the ARC of this book.
I liked the fast paced environment this book had to offer. Katarina attitude toward her powers is completetly understandable. To have to raise yourself and think you are human and then discover there is so much more to you would be unfathomable to most. I actually enjoyed that aspect of someone so young discovering more about themselves and not accepting things at face value and being open minded to accepting all different species and people in their life.
The background of certain characters need to be explored more and I did feel like the smut started way to soon but wasn’t something that put me off the book at all.
Thank you The Nerd Fam and A. L. for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is THICK
And so is…
Never mind.
If you ever read any of The Twisted Sister’s series and thought: this could use some spice! This book is for you!
Very much a why choose, be aware that this is a very spicy book wrapped around a mystery that unfolds nicely.
Multiple POV, you get the chance to know every main character with the exception of my favorite one, Grim, the FMC’s familiar. Grim is a dog (?) who finds Katarina on her 18th birthday. Could that be a sign?
Or the fact that they can communicate - does this mean Katarina isn’t fully human?
So many mysteries!
Let’s just hope they can keep their clothes on long enough to find out!
If you love harems of the reverse kind, animal familiar, witches and vampies and weres and sex demons- then make sure you add this to your tbr!
And so is…
Never mind.
If you ever read any of The Twisted Sister’s series and thought: this could use some spice! This book is for you!
Very much a why choose, be aware that this is a very spicy book wrapped around a mystery that unfolds nicely.
Multiple POV, you get the chance to know every main character with the exception of my favorite one, Grim, the FMC’s familiar. Grim is a dog (?) who finds Katarina on her 18th birthday. Could that be a sign?
Or the fact that they can communicate - does this mean Katarina isn’t fully human?
So many mysteries!
Let’s just hope they can keep their clothes on long enough to find out!
If you love harems of the reverse kind, animal familiar, witches and vampies and weres and sex demons- then make sure you add this to your tbr!
March 17, 2026
ARC Read
This was such a fun read! It follows Katarina, who’s basically working as a thief for a coven of witches to pay off her debt, but of course things go wrong on her final heist and she gets caught, and everything kind of spirals from there.
It’s very supernatural, fast-paced, and has a strong found family vibe, which I loved. The characters felt really multilayered and interesting, and the relationships (especially with the why choose dynamic) made it even more addictive. Also it’s insanely spicy, just a heads up.
The pacing is super quick, which made it easy to fly through, but it did feel a little rushed at times. I definitely found myself wishing we got more backstory on Katarina and the coven because there’s so much there that could’ve been explored more.
This was such a fun read! It follows Katarina, who’s basically working as a thief for a coven of witches to pay off her debt, but of course things go wrong on her final heist and she gets caught, and everything kind of spirals from there.
It’s very supernatural, fast-paced, and has a strong found family vibe, which I loved. The characters felt really multilayered and interesting, and the relationships (especially with the why choose dynamic) made it even more addictive. Also it’s insanely spicy, just a heads up.
The pacing is super quick, which made it easy to fly through, but it did feel a little rushed at times. I definitely found myself wishing we got more backstory on Katarina and the coven because there’s so much there that could’ve been explored more.
Did not finish
February 27, 2026DNF @ 56%
Sadly, I’m not enjoying this one as much as I thought I would. We’ve got a female thief believed to be human though with a psychic connection to a beast of a hound who is sent to steal an expensive necklace for the witch coven she’s trying to payback. Enter the owners of said necklace: a vampire, a wolf shifter, a fire fae, and a half-breed dragon shifter. They capture her, they’re drawn to her, and then chaos ensues. It was built up like a why choose I’d typically like, but I don’t know. It just didn’t hit? Seemed like such a fast burn with not enough build, so the dynamics came off a bit rushed. Could just be me being picky, but I wasn’t vibing this time.
Sadly, I’m not enjoying this one as much as I thought I would. We’ve got a female thief believed to be human though with a psychic connection to a beast of a hound who is sent to steal an expensive necklace for the witch coven she’s trying to payback. Enter the owners of said necklace: a vampire, a wolf shifter, a fire fae, and a half-breed dragon shifter. They capture her, they’re drawn to her, and then chaos ensues. It was built up like a why choose I’d typically like, but I don’t know. It just didn’t hit? Seemed like such a fast burn with not enough build, so the dynamics came off a bit rushed. Could just be me being picky, but I wasn’t vibing this time.
March 23, 2026
Thanks to the author and NerdFam for the ARC!
This book has so many things I love:
Why choose
Animal companion
Fae, shifters, and vampires
However the main reason this wasn’t higher rated was the instantaneous and unexplained love between the main characters. There was little no build up then it lagged a bit in the middle. It would have been better to build up more of the romantic relationships first. Not that it didn’t need spice because attraction and love are very different - there was just no build up to the relationships and we are expected to believe they are all in love so fast with no reason behind it. Likewise, there was barely any time where the female main character was training, her magic or anything. The pacing was really off in how much time was given to some scenes and how little time was given to others.
This book has so many things I love:
Why choose
Animal companion
Fae, shifters, and vampires
However the main reason this wasn’t higher rated was the instantaneous and unexplained love between the main characters. There was little no build up then it lagged a bit in the middle. It would have been better to build up more of the romantic relationships first. Not that it didn’t need spice because attraction and love are very different - there was just no build up to the relationships and we are expected to believe they are all in love so fast with no reason behind it. Likewise, there was barely any time where the female main character was training, her magic or anything. The pacing was really off in how much time was given to some scenes and how little time was given to others.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Super spicy, exciting and magical!!
I really loved this book 😍 It was the perfect why-choose paranormal romance with incredible MMCs that I loved all equally. Our FMCs is also a capable and smart woman with badass powers and an even cooler familiar.
While this book is very heavy on the romance and the spice (which I loved!), it doesn't take away from the plot that's still intricate and exciting!
This is a super fun read and I love that it's a standalone ❤️🔥
Thank you for the ARC provided by NerdFam and the author!
I really loved this book 😍 It was the perfect why-choose paranormal romance with incredible MMCs that I loved all equally. Our FMCs is also a capable and smart woman with badass powers and an even cooler familiar.
While this book is very heavy on the romance and the spice (which I loved!), it doesn't take away from the plot that's still intricate and exciting!
This is a super fun read and I love that it's a standalone ❤️🔥
Thank you for the ARC provided by NerdFam and the author!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The House of Shadows by A.L. Garr is a haunting, slow burn thriller that lingers long after the final page. Garr masterfully builds an atmosphere thick with tension, weaving together secrets, betrayal, and the unsettling weight of the past. The setting feels almost alive, adding to the creeping sense of dread that intensifies with each chapter. While the pacing is deliberate, it pays off in an emotionally charged and satisfying conclusion. A compelling read for fans of dark, character driven suspense.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Katerina has spent the last 7 years of her life as an orphan servicing the Witches no questions asked. On her so called final job, everything goes south as she is caught stealing something and brought to the House of Shadows as a prisoner.
The Witches are hungry for greater power and want to get rid of the House of Shadows who is the city’s current supernatural authority. I truly enjoyed reading this book. It was very engaging, fast-paced, action filled, lots of spice and drama. The book has a mix of witches, werewolves, vampires, and a dragon. Highly recommend.
The Witches are hungry for greater power and want to get rid of the House of Shadows who is the city’s current supernatural authority. I truly enjoyed reading this book. It was very engaging, fast-paced, action filled, lots of spice and drama. The book has a mix of witches, werewolves, vampires, and a dragon. Highly recommend.
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