Heartsworn

War of the Underhill #2

by S.E. Wendel

Return to the world of Heartsong in the highly anticipated sequel! A reclusive researcher gets the shock of a lifetime when the (very attractive) gargoyle statue in her rose garden awakens and claims her as his mate.

She’s known him all her life…

June Parkhurst is a prodigy, a conservator, and…an empath. Yet, her empathic abilities don’t feel like a gift; they’re a curse, one that’s driven her into isolation.

Overwhelmed by the feelings of others and her own grief, June sticks to what she loves statues. She’s always been fascinated by them, especially the gothic masterpiece in her family’s rose garden.

He’s watched over her for years…

For centuries, Alaric has despaired. Cursed to stone by the cruel Faerie Queen, Alaric has watched the world pass him by. He holds desperately onto a fleeting hope—that one day, June will come to understand what he’s known for she is his heartsong.

Magick stolen can be reclaimed, and curses cast can be broken…

A new museum with enigmatic owners has just opened, full of statues just like hers. Unable to resist, June emerges from seclusion determined to find answers about her statue. Yet, nothing is what it seems in this curious place, and June can’t ignore how…alive the statues feel.

The mysterious statues and their owners are just the start of the strangeness. During an attack by masked thieves, June swears one of the statues comes to life and flies away. But that’s impossible. As impossible as the whispers she hears from her beloved statue…mate.



Monster romance

Museum mystery

Domestic bliss

Protective monster mmc

Nerdy fmc

Neurodivergent fmc

Healing/comfort over grief

Fated mates

Forced proximity

Genres: Monsters, Romantasy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 10, 2026

About the author

S.E. Wendel is a graduate of the MA Creative Writing program at the University of California, Davis. She loves maps, magic, and making epic fantasy worlds with romance thrown in. She has been writing fantasies since before she could even type (thankfully her mother was kind and patient enough to take dictation, but is relieved she can type for herself now)! From her first stories about raccoons hunting treasure on a haunted island to her latest sweeping epics, she loves to write strong heroines and noble heroes.
S.E. is a technical editor by day and in the evening loves to lose herself in her fantasy worlds and the stories of other amazing authors. She is currently working on the second part of the Broken Wings Duet. She loves her domineering orange tabby cat, true crime docs, tiramisu, pink nail polish, and swoony romantasies!

Reviews

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartsworn • S.E. Wendel
War of the Underhill #2

One phrase: cinnamon roll gargoyle romance 🖤🪽

A reclusive empathic researcher, a gothic gargoyle statue in a rose garden, and one very protective monster MMC who wakes up and claims her as his mate?

Say less.

Heartsworn is a cozy, spicy modern romantasy with museum mystery, fated mates, forced proximity, grief healing, and the softest gargoyles. June’s empath abilities have pushed her into isolation, and Alaric has spent centuries trapped in stone, waiting for the woman he knows as his heartsong.

I loved the mix of comfort, mystery, magic, and domestic bliss. It felt soft and cozy while still giving us spice, danger, and monster romance goodness.

Also, cinnamon roll gargoyles? I eat that up every time.

✨ Tropes and vibes:
🪽 gargoyle MMC
🖤 monster romance
🌹 rose garden statue
🔮 fated mates
🏛 museum mystery
🫶 healing and comfort
🧠 neurodivergent FMC
🏡 domestic bliss
🔥 cozy spice
🛡 protective MMC

📚 Read this if you like:
Cozy monster romance, protective cinnamon roll heroes, fated mates, magical museums, grief healing, nerdy heroines, gothic statues, and romantasy that feels soft, spicy, and comforting.

This was sweet, cozy, spicy, and such a fun binge read.

#Heartsworn #SEWendel #MonsterRomance #CozyRomantasy #BookReview

[BookForAHeart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grab your favorite cozy sweater and a warm cup of tea, because Heartsworn is absolute perfection for all my soft, gothic-loving hearts! ☕️🌸✨ If you adore a nerdy FMC, a protective monster MMC, and a delicious museum mystery, this book will completely sweep you off your feet! 🏛️💖

June Parkhurst is such a sweet, relatable, nerdy FMC,l an empath and conservator who feels overwhelmed by the world and finds comfort in her beloved statues. Meanwhile, Alaric is the ultimate devoted, protective MMC! Cursed to stone in June’s family rose garden, he’s spent centuries watching over her, holding onto the hope that she’ll realize she’s his heartsong. The angst! The pure devotion! 🌹

When a curious new museum opens filled with statues that feel a little too alive, June emerges from isolation to uncover the truth, setting off a wild ride filled with masked thieves, gargoyles coming to life, and magical whispers! ✨ Under all the curse-breaking and intrigue, there’s the sweetest sprinkle of cozy domestic bliss that will leave you swooning. Heartsworn is the ultimate blend of monster romance sweetness and heart-melting devotion 🏰

[Mads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one! It's a cozy yet spicy modern-day romantasy with the most cinnamon roll gargoyles ever. I eat it up, and I have a good time binge-reading it. I will say that I didn't enjoy as much as book 1. That might have been due to book 1's representation of chronic migraines, which is something really close to my heart. While I liked June and Alaric, they felt a little too similar to Anna and Frey for me. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I would have liked seeing more of the bossy chieftain within Alaric and see him be a little different to Frey. However, I'm excited to continue reading this series, and I really hope we'll get Heirik's and Dragan's books soon!! I have a feeling those two MCs will be very much my speed.

Thanks to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Jia Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

S E Wendel... its getting to the point where I think we may have the same brain. You are just better at getting those words out of your brain and into a book than I am, I hyperfixate too quickly onto something else or get distracted by...life things. Anyways, as a huge commitment fobe and a constant overworrier, this addition to your already incredible romances hit the main anxieties I would. If its fate then is it real? You dont know me so what do you mean we belong together? And of course, why does everyone else feel so damn much and how can I get them to shut up? I might not have supernatural empathy like June, but i feel more than I want to of other people and I'm glad someone else understands that isnt always a blessing. At this point, I'm just writing you a love letter not a review, oh well.

[Emily Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love magic and monsters and mystery this is the book for you!

In this second book in, The War of the Underhill series, June is grieving the loss of her father but slowly trying to pull herself out of her depression nest she’s made. An exciting opportunity to work with grotesque statues arises and she dives in head first. Although the statues remind her of her own family’s grotesque, she knows hers is special.

Alaric and June were so exciting to read. They had a will they/won’t they vibe and kept me on my toes. The beginning was a little slow but once it was moving I couldn’t stop reading. I can’t wait for the next one already!

This story was very spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️
With a wonderful ending ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review ⭐️

[Whitney Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost I want to give a huge thanks to NetGalley for giving me this lovely ARC to read!

The depth of character and the world building in this book was so much fun for me. I really appreciate the various representations that are explored through this story. It plays out like a day in the life, centered on magic, whimsy, romance, mystery, and introspection. This book feels like a warm hug, and if you liked the first book then I think you’ll love this one. Being more of a slow burn this book gives you time to fully become immersed in the world and the lore, balancing both character and plot beautifully.

If you’re looking for more Fourth Wing vibes mixed with a dash of lit fic, then I recommend you read this book.

[Jessica Grogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, but I enjoyed the first more. I found June to be an interesting but frustrating heroine. I’m not saying she had to be Alaric’s Heartsong immediately, but man is it a slow burn. I absolutely loved Alaric, and thought seeing the events of the first book from June’s POV was interesting. I did skim quite a bit near the end, though.

*I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Full rtc!