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Expected 16 Sep 26Forced into the home of an unyielding Alpha, a grieving girl bent on revenge ignites a slow-burn werewolf romance where loyalty is law—and legends burn.
Her brother is dead.
Her freedom stolen.
And her greatest danger may be the Alpha werewolf sworn to guard her.
Aloka Tutten never asked to live among the pack. To them, she’s just a human girl—too small, too fragile, an unwanted liability. Her unwilling protector, Stark Lamont, makes no effort to hide that he doesn’t want her in his territory.
But the walls between them aren’t as strong as they should be. His quiet strength pulls her closer. His touch lingers too long. And beneath the heat of his gaze, the truth inside her threatens to break free.
Aloka isn’t what they believe.
And as war looms, her secret will rise—either to save them all…or set their world on fire, even if it burns her too.
Her brother is dead.
Her freedom stolen.
And her greatest danger may be the Alpha werewolf sworn to guard her.
Aloka Tutten never asked to live among the pack. To them, she’s just a human girl—too small, too fragile, an unwanted liability. Her unwilling protector, Stark Lamont, makes no effort to hide that he doesn’t want her in his territory.
But the walls between them aren’t as strong as they should be. His quiet strength pulls her closer. His touch lingers too long. And beneath the heat of his gaze, the truth inside her threatens to break free.
Aloka isn’t what they believe.
And as war looms, her secret will rise—either to save them all…or set their world on fire, even if it burns her too.
- GenresRomance
390 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 16, 2026
15396 people want to read
About the author
Izzy Barry
1 book64 followersHi, I’m Izzy, and I write paranormal and dark romance with love you’ll believe in. When I’m not writing, I’m spending time with my husband (my high school sweetheart of twelve years), coaching show jumpers, reading, talking to my dog about my characters, and picking up new hobbies. I may have a bit of a hobby problem.
My debut werewolf romance, Red releases September 16, 2026.
My debut werewolf romance, Red releases September 16, 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 2, 2026
First and foremost, I am so incredibly thankful to receive an ARC of RED.
I honestly can’t remember a time a book hooked me this hard within the first two chapters. I started it on my travels to a week-long conference, and it was a distraction the entire time. All I wanted to do was get back to reading and find out what happened next.
I finished this book in 3 days, though I truly believe that if it wasn’t for life getting in the way (and reading way too late into the night; hitting myself in the face with my Kindle a few times before finally putting it down), I would have easily devoured it in one sitting.
There is something really special about the way that Izzy writes. It has everything I love about a political fantasy and dark romance, but without the dense, slow-moving world-building and politics. My usual complaint with a political fantasy is how slow it progresses, and sometimes it can feel like the political torment never ends. This was not the case here; Aloka’s story, character and relationships progressed naturally throughout the book, with enough story to keep you hooked without ever feeling dragged out.
This one is a slow burn, but the tension? Absolute chef’s kiss. So much so that I genuinely gaslit myself into the male love interest being someone else. You never really know what Aloka will choose to do next, or who she will choose to trust - and that unpredictably makes it impossible to put down.
As for the ending, I still can’t decide if the ending wrapped up too quickly or if I just did not want the book to end. What I do love is that RED doesn’t leave you on a brutal cliff hanger, especially with the duology not yet complete. There is enough closure to satisfy readers, but it still leaves plenty of room for readers to theorise and imagine what could happen next.
If you haven’t pre-ordered it yet, this is your sign
Also, read the acknowledgements. Congratulations, Izzy, in so soooo many ways. <3
I honestly can’t remember a time a book hooked me this hard within the first two chapters. I started it on my travels to a week-long conference, and it was a distraction the entire time. All I wanted to do was get back to reading and find out what happened next.
I finished this book in 3 days, though I truly believe that if it wasn’t for life getting in the way (and reading way too late into the night; hitting myself in the face with my Kindle a few times before finally putting it down), I would have easily devoured it in one sitting.
There is something really special about the way that Izzy writes. It has everything I love about a political fantasy and dark romance, but without the dense, slow-moving world-building and politics. My usual complaint with a political fantasy is how slow it progresses, and sometimes it can feel like the political torment never ends. This was not the case here; Aloka’s story, character and relationships progressed naturally throughout the book, with enough story to keep you hooked without ever feeling dragged out.
This one is a slow burn, but the tension? Absolute chef’s kiss. So much so that I genuinely gaslit myself into the male love interest being someone else. You never really know what Aloka will choose to do next, or who she will choose to trust - and that unpredictably makes it impossible to put down.
As for the ending, I still can’t decide if the ending wrapped up too quickly or if I just did not want the book to end. What I do love is that RED doesn’t leave you on a brutal cliff hanger, especially with the duology not yet complete. There is enough closure to satisfy readers, but it still leaves plenty of room for readers to theorise and imagine what could happen next.
If you haven’t pre-ordered it yet, this is your sign
Also, read the acknowledgements. Congratulations, Izzy, in so soooo many ways. <3
Read
April 2, 2026Aloka is a fierce heroine. She is forced to stay with Stark. They have great chemistry together but you have Nikki who wants to be Stark’s mate.
This book had all the elements to draw the reader into this world. The reader will love how the author was able to combine it all. There is action, romance, mystery and angst. The reader will experience so many emotions as they follow Aloka on her journey.
This book had all the elements to draw the reader into this world. The reader will love how the author was able to combine it all. There is action, romance, mystery and angst. The reader will experience so many emotions as they follow Aloka on her journey.
April 3, 2026
I really loved Red by Izzy Barry. From the start, I found myself completely drawn to the characters—you can’t help but fall in love with them. Stark’s overprotective nature made me like him even more, and Aloka is so lovable and relatable that it was easy to connect with her.
Werewolf stories can be hard to get right, but this one felt fresh and enjoyable. For a first-time indie author, this is such a strong and heartfelt debut. I’m really excited to see what Izzy Barry writes next.
Werewolf stories can be hard to get right, but this one felt fresh and enjoyable. For a first-time indie author, this is such a strong and heartfelt debut. I’m really excited to see what Izzy Barry writes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow, what a debut! I genuinely devoured this book in one day, and honestly, that says everything. It has everything I look for in a good fantasy novel: tension, mystery, romance, and a world that keeps you completely hooked from start to finish. I was pulled in from the very first pages and didn’t want to leave.
Ratings
Spicy: 🌶️ 1/5
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5/5
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5/5
Aloka was a complete mystery to me at the beginning of the book, and I loved that. You only get small fragments of information about her, which makes reading feel like solving a puzzle in your head. It keeps you alert and constantly guessing, because you never fully know what is going on or how a situation will unfold. Aloka is determined, brave, and unpredictable in the best way, which made her such an engaging heroine to follow.
As the story progresses, you slowly get to know her brother Pratt and Alpha Stark better. This development felt natural and well paced, and the relationships built gradually in a way that felt believable and never rushed. I really appreciated how the author gave the characters time to grow and allowed the connections between them to develop organically.
The book touches on deeper themes such as grief, being the outsider, and having to make impossible choices. These are not easy topics to write about, but Izzy handled them beautifully. The pacing supports these emotional layers really well and keeps the story balanced between action, character development, and world building.
I don’t want to spoil too much about the storyline, but I do want to highlight how refreshing the plot felt. At the beginning, I briefly thought this might follow a familiar fantasy pattern I had read before, just in a different setting. That idea disappeared within the first two chapters. The plot is original, well constructed, and clearly built with a lot of care and love. You can feel that this book was carefully thought out and crafted.
One thing I especially appreciated is that, even though this is part of a duology, the book does not end with a massive cliffhanger. The ending feels satisfying (for now) while still making you excited and curious for what comes next, which is honestly the perfect balance.
All in all, this was an impressive and addictive debut that I would absolutely recommend to fantasy readers. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book and dive back into this world.
Thanks a lot for letting me read your book!
Ratings
Spicy: 🌶️ 1/5
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5/5
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5/5
Aloka was a complete mystery to me at the beginning of the book, and I loved that. You only get small fragments of information about her, which makes reading feel like solving a puzzle in your head. It keeps you alert and constantly guessing, because you never fully know what is going on or how a situation will unfold. Aloka is determined, brave, and unpredictable in the best way, which made her such an engaging heroine to follow.
As the story progresses, you slowly get to know her brother Pratt and Alpha Stark better. This development felt natural and well paced, and the relationships built gradually in a way that felt believable and never rushed. I really appreciated how the author gave the characters time to grow and allowed the connections between them to develop organically.
The book touches on deeper themes such as grief, being the outsider, and having to make impossible choices. These are not easy topics to write about, but Izzy handled them beautifully. The pacing supports these emotional layers really well and keeps the story balanced between action, character development, and world building.
I don’t want to spoil too much about the storyline, but I do want to highlight how refreshing the plot felt. At the beginning, I briefly thought this might follow a familiar fantasy pattern I had read before, just in a different setting. That idea disappeared within the first two chapters. The plot is original, well constructed, and clearly built with a lot of care and love. You can feel that this book was carefully thought out and crafted.
One thing I especially appreciated is that, even though this is part of a duology, the book does not end with a massive cliffhanger. The ending feels satisfying (for now) while still making you excited and curious for what comes next, which is honestly the perfect balance.
All in all, this was an impressive and addictive debut that I would absolutely recommend to fantasy readers. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book and dive back into this world.
Thanks a lot for letting me read your book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of RED, and it pulled me in almost immediately. Within the first chapter, I knew this was going to be one of those books that’s hard to put down. Sleep took a backseat, and everyday responsibilities definitely waited a little longer than planned.
This was the kind of read where you tell yourself “just one more chapter,” only to realize hours have passed. I finished it in under 24 hours, which is rare for me unless a story really has its hooks in me.
The characters were a standout. There’s usually at least one that doesn’t quite work for me—often the FMC—but that wasn’t the case here. Izzy created characters that felt believable, engaging, and emotionally resonant. Somehow Izzy made every character feel real, lovable, and emotionally damaging in the best way. I laughed with them, cried with them, rooted for them.
I genuinely did not want this book to end. For a debut novel, RED is an impressive achievement, and Izzy clearly has a strong storytelling voice. I’m already looking forward to what comes next and will absolutely be reading more from her in the future ❤️🐺
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of RED, and it pulled me in almost immediately. Within the first chapter, I knew this was going to be one of those books that’s hard to put down. Sleep took a backseat, and everyday responsibilities definitely waited a little longer than planned.
This was the kind of read where you tell yourself “just one more chapter,” only to realize hours have passed. I finished it in under 24 hours, which is rare for me unless a story really has its hooks in me.
The characters were a standout. There’s usually at least one that doesn’t quite work for me—often the FMC—but that wasn’t the case here. Izzy created characters that felt believable, engaging, and emotionally resonant. Somehow Izzy made every character feel real, lovable, and emotionally damaging in the best way. I laughed with them, cried with them, rooted for them.
I genuinely did not want this book to end. For a debut novel, RED is an impressive achievement, and Izzy clearly has a strong storytelling voice. I’m already looking forward to what comes next and will absolutely be reading more from her in the future ❤️🐺
Review of advance copy received from Author
Aloka has been hidden away from the world with only her brother to rely on and to protect her. When she loses him, she's forced to not only live with an alpha she doesn't know but interact with people who despise her. She has a huge secret but if they knew, would they accept her or despise her even more. Aloka is a great character. She's got spunk, snark, and doesn't back down from anything. She's willing to risk everything to save people who would be fine with her death. Stark is an emotionally closed off alpha who will protect her at all cost. There's witty banter, action, and a slow burn romance. There were times I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't put the book down because I wasn't sure what would happen next. I would ve loved to have Stark's POV. I hope another book comes soon so we learn more about Aloka and get a lot more spice with Stark. I'd also love to see Gretch again.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC
Chapter One had me! I love a good book that can catch my attention right away. Aloka’s world is turned upside down by tragedy. Forced to move in with the brooding Alpha. She is hiding a secret that only she knows and it becomes increasingly difficult as the pack is tighteniting security.
I think Aloka is a badass! You do you type of girl! She is tougher than she looks with everyone doubting her she holds her own and believes in herself.
Everyone might be singing a new tune after they have underestiamted her.
Aloka and Stark have a very slow burn chemistry. It is so realistic though due to their miscommunications and not truly hearing what the other is saying. Make no mistake though do not talk bad about Aloka or touch her!
I loved this book and I cannot wait for the next one!
Chapter One had me! I love a good book that can catch my attention right away. Aloka’s world is turned upside down by tragedy. Forced to move in with the brooding Alpha. She is hiding a secret that only she knows and it becomes increasingly difficult as the pack is tighteniting security.
I think Aloka is a badass! You do you type of girl! She is tougher than she looks with everyone doubting her she holds her own and believes in herself.
Everyone might be singing a new tune after they have underestiamted her.
Aloka and Stark have a very slow burn chemistry. It is so realistic though due to their miscommunications and not truly hearing what the other is saying. Make no mistake though do not talk bad about Aloka or touch her!
I loved this book and I cannot wait for the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advanced reader copy review
Spoilers
This one is a page turner! I couldn't put it down. I haven’t read many shifter books and this makes me want to read more of them. It's about werewolf shifters protecting themselves against humans. The main female character has a secret of her own that she must hide to protect herself from the shifters, while also living with them. Her character grows throughout the story as she makes friends and falls in love. I'm interested to see where this story goes as it is a duology. It doesn’t end on a big cliff hanger, which I appreciated. But it does leave room for plenty of theories about what happens next. I definitely recommend giving this one a read!
Spoilers
This one is a page turner! I couldn't put it down. I haven’t read many shifter books and this makes me want to read more of them. It's about werewolf shifters protecting themselves against humans. The main female character has a secret of her own that she must hide to protect herself from the shifters, while also living with them. Her character grows throughout the story as she makes friends and falls in love. I'm interested to see where this story goes as it is a duology. It doesn’t end on a big cliff hanger, which I appreciated. But it does leave room for plenty of theories about what happens next. I definitely recommend giving this one a read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews