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The Star-Crossed Gods #1
Heart of the Wolf Queen: A sizzling second chance dark fantasy romance
Love could be her greatest weakness… or her deadliest weapon.
Sorrow Villente is no princess waiting to be saved.
When a devastating accident partially blinded her, Sorrow was locked away at the top of a tower in the wilderness, offered up as a sacrifice to the gods.
But Sorrow refuses to die quietly. Only she knows a dark magic burns inside her. With her fiercely protective wolf, Pablo, she spends every moment plotting her escape.
And yet when she finally breaks free, Sorrow is captured immediately… by the one man she never expected to see again.
Long ago, Sorrow and Matthias were inseparable. Tall and devastatingly handsome, with sparkling green eyes, the sight of him still sends her heart racing. Then she remembers the truth. When she needed him most, Matthias walked away. He didn’t just abandon her. He betrayed her.
And he hasn’t come to rescue her. Matthias is the ruler of a distant land, where monsters lurk in mist-shrouded forests. To save his kingdom, he needs an alliance with Sorrow’s family – one that can be sealed only by marriage.
Sorrow must marry the man who broke her heart… or die.
🌶️ Spice on the page
❤️ Second chance romance
💍 Marriage of convenience
🔮 Fated love
🗡️ Touch her and die
💔 Yearning
🦇 Gothic setting and atmosphere
The first book in the steamy epic romantasy series, The Star-Crossed Gods. Fans of Hannah Whitten, Leigh Bardugo and Sabel Sorensen will love Heart of the Wolf Queen and its feisty heroine.
Sorrow Villente is no princess waiting to be saved.
When a devastating accident partially blinded her, Sorrow was locked away at the top of a tower in the wilderness, offered up as a sacrifice to the gods.
But Sorrow refuses to die quietly. Only she knows a dark magic burns inside her. With her fiercely protective wolf, Pablo, she spends every moment plotting her escape.
And yet when she finally breaks free, Sorrow is captured immediately… by the one man she never expected to see again.
Long ago, Sorrow and Matthias were inseparable. Tall and devastatingly handsome, with sparkling green eyes, the sight of him still sends her heart racing. Then she remembers the truth. When she needed him most, Matthias walked away. He didn’t just abandon her. He betrayed her.
And he hasn’t come to rescue her. Matthias is the ruler of a distant land, where monsters lurk in mist-shrouded forests. To save his kingdom, he needs an alliance with Sorrow’s family – one that can be sealed only by marriage.
Sorrow must marry the man who broke her heart… or die.
🌶️ Spice on the page
❤️ Second chance romance
💍 Marriage of convenience
🔮 Fated love
🗡️ Touch her and die
💔 Yearning
🦇 Gothic setting and atmosphere
The first book in the steamy epic romantasy series, The Star-Crossed Gods. Fans of Hannah Whitten, Leigh Bardugo and Sabel Sorensen will love Heart of the Wolf Queen and its feisty heroine.
412 pages, Paperback
Published March 30, 2026
72 people are currently reading
934 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Gallego
2 books46 followersSarah Gallego is an author of dark fantasy romance who lives in North Wales with her husband and four children. Sarah is the author of the Star-Crossed Duology. She loves to create unforgettable flawed characters and dark, gothic worlds, with an inclusive cast of characters. Her stories are always filled with the weird and wonderful and she adores to throw in a small dash of heartbreak for her characters along the way. When she's not writing, Sarah can be found drawing, listening to an eclectic mix of music and drinking copious amounts of tea.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This had a really promising start but unfortunately it fell off for me after the halfway point.
I liked the magic system and found it to be very unique! I loved learning about Sorrow’s powers and her training which would take place, and little moments of her with her little animals! I also really liked Pablo’s character (her wolf) who was very protective and funny at times, he was a great addition to the story.
What didn’t work for me was the romance… It’s a second chance romance but I feel like when they met again for the “second chance” part, the relationship didn’t really develop well. Sorrow (fmc) was initially hurt and upset with Matthias (mmc) because of their history but the only development afterwards was her finding him attractive and finding herself wanting to be around him…and then boom they kiss. But we didn’t really see any actual moments between the two which showed her actually feeling deeper feelings towards him? Or any significant moments between them at all tbh.
My lack of connection with the characters also made me not inclined to pick this up at times.
That being said, it’s still a cool and unique story but just didn’t really work for me :)
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC ♡
I liked the magic system and found it to be very unique! I loved learning about Sorrow’s powers and her training which would take place, and little moments of her with her little animals! I also really liked Pablo’s character (her wolf) who was very protective and funny at times, he was a great addition to the story.
What didn’t work for me was the romance… It’s a second chance romance but I feel like when they met again for the “second chance” part, the relationship didn’t really develop well. Sorrow (fmc) was initially hurt and upset with Matthias (mmc) because of their history but the only development afterwards was her finding him attractive and finding herself wanting to be around him…and then boom they kiss. But we didn’t really see any actual moments between the two which showed her actually feeling deeper feelings towards him? Or any significant moments between them at all tbh.
My lack of connection with the characters also made me not inclined to pick this up at times.
That being said, it’s still a cool and unique story but just didn’t really work for me :)
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC ♡
March 13, 2026
Thank you to Second Sky Books for the ARC! 3.75 stars rounded up. This was enjoyable! The marketing is slightly off though. This wasn’t sizzling, nor was it dark. It was a very slow burn, friends to lovers written in a very YA voice.
All that aside, the magic was fun. The characters were also fun and had a lot of depth. My favorite part was the disability representation, though. FMC is progressively losing her sight and one of the most powerful side characters has lupus. It’s so much more fun reading books with realistically, flawed characters. The ending is a really fun cliffhanger which had me really excited for the next book.
All that aside, the magic was fun. The characters were also fun and had a lot of depth. My favorite part was the disability representation, though. FMC is progressively losing her sight and one of the most powerful side characters has lupus. It’s so much more fun reading books with realistically, flawed characters. The ending is a really fun cliffhanger which had me really excited for the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wanted to like this book so much, but I’m so disappointed.
While it had a promising start and a solid world building, I never connected with the characters. Sorrow became annoying quickly, and the rest of the characters felt flat and one dimensional. Even Matthias lacked any real depth.
There was so much potential for yearning, but I never understood why Sorrow and Matthias actually liked each other. Their feelings stemmed from a friendship eight years ago, and I never saw them truly connect as adults. I’m also not the biggest fan of miscommunication or second chance romance because they’re so rarely executed well. Here, the emotional conflict felt repetitive and lazy, and soon took the joy out of reading
The political plot also felt underdeveloped. It just feels like they only reacted to Romero’s actions, rather than making any bold moves of their own. I died when the response to Romero’s backstabbing was just a strongly worded letter. The plot twist at the end was unexpected but I didn’t care because the characters felt so paper-thin.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
While it had a promising start and a solid world building, I never connected with the characters. Sorrow became annoying quickly, and the rest of the characters felt flat and one dimensional. Even Matthias lacked any real depth.
There was so much potential for yearning, but I never understood why Sorrow and Matthias actually liked each other. Their feelings stemmed from a friendship eight years ago, and I never saw them truly connect as adults. I’m also not the biggest fan of miscommunication or second chance romance because they’re so rarely executed well. Here, the emotional conflict felt repetitive and lazy, and soon took the joy out of reading
The political plot also felt underdeveloped. It just feels like they only reacted to Romero’s actions, rather than making any bold moves of their own. I died when the response to Romero’s backstabbing was just a strongly worded letter. The plot twist at the end was unexpected but I didn’t care because the characters felt so paper-thin.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
April 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoture Audio for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in return of a voluntary and honest review!
This book in general is a pretty fun and easy one to read - I did however find that it took me a while (around 55%) to get fully invested in the book and everything that was happening in the plot.
This being said, with the way that book ended (what the actual fuck??????), I'll definitely be continuing this series!
The narrator was super fun! She presented all of the individual characters clearly and was super good and pushing out the emotions that characters wouldve been feeling at the time into her voice acting. I'd lvoe to check out more of her work
This book in general is a pretty fun and easy one to read - I did however find that it took me a while (around 55%) to get fully invested in the book and everything that was happening in the plot.
This being said, with the way that book ended (what the actual fuck??????), I'll definitely be continuing this series!
The narrator was super fun! She presented all of the individual characters clearly and was super good and pushing out the emotions that characters wouldve been feeling at the time into her voice acting. I'd lvoe to check out more of her work
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is exactly what I want in a romantasy novel! Fast paced, just the right balance of world building and character development, and yearning off the charts. This is so impressive for a debut and I devoured it in less than 24 hours.
I loved the dynamic between Sorrow and Matthias - childhood best friends who had a falling out after Sorrow had an accident that left her partially sighted. Her step-dad sucks and and Matthias is a king now and she's to marry him. Sorrow has A LOT of feelings about all those things and I just love how she still has a spine and stands up for herself.
I loved Sorrow's strength and her independence in spite of her limitations. That girl is never going to let anyone do anything for her if she can help it! I absolutely loved her wolf Pablo who was an amazing animal sidekick but also felt almost like a fleshed out side character - he has impeccable timing.
The found family is wonderful and I love every single one of them. They're supportive, unique, and truly lovely characters.
Thank you Second Sky for the ARC. This one should be on everyone's radar.
I loved the dynamic between Sorrow and Matthias - childhood best friends who had a falling out after Sorrow had an accident that left her partially sighted. Her step-dad sucks and and Matthias is a king now and she's to marry him. Sorrow has A LOT of feelings about all those things and I just love how she still has a spine and stands up for herself.
I loved Sorrow's strength and her independence in spite of her limitations. That girl is never going to let anyone do anything for her if she can help it! I absolutely loved her wolf Pablo who was an amazing animal sidekick but also felt almost like a fleshed out side character - he has impeccable timing.
The found family is wonderful and I love every single one of them. They're supportive, unique, and truly lovely characters.
Thank you Second Sky for the ARC. This one should be on everyone's radar.
April 9, 2026
Just finished listening to an advanced copy of a book that was just released on April 2nd called, Heart of the Wolf Queen. This is about Sorrow, when she was young she was injured while with her best friend Matthias, she lost most of her vision and her best friend that day because he never came around again after the accident and that was when she needed him the most. Her stepfather, the king, locks her away until he can give her away to another king as a bride. All while she is trying to keep secret magic abilities hidden that everyone thought she lost when the accident happened. But things are changing and she can't keep hiding them anymore, they are getting more powerful and more dangerous. Suddenly she is informed that she is being given to king Matthias as a bride, because her stepfather wants the alliance with his kingdom. But Sorrow feels like she is just escaping one prison for another because she has no say in these decisions. She wants absolutely nothing to do with Matthias after he left her after the accident when they were young, he broke her heart, yet now she is to be his bride and his queen.
This was a really enjoyable childhood best friends to enemies to lovers story. This was a slow burn romantasy, marriage of convenience, second chance romance, with a great storyline, and lots of banter and yearning. I really enjoyed these main characters, Sorrow and Matthias were very well written. I absolutely loved Sorrow's pet wolf/seeing eye dog/sidekick Pablo. The side characters, the world building, the twists, the love story, and the cliffhanger ending were all really well done! It was a strong start to the series and as soon as I finished it I had to look up when book 2 is coming out! I am definitely looking forward to continuing this series! 💜📚
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ALC of Heart of the Wolf Queen, in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really enjoyable childhood best friends to enemies to lovers story. This was a slow burn romantasy, marriage of convenience, second chance romance, with a great storyline, and lots of banter and yearning. I really enjoyed these main characters, Sorrow and Matthias were very well written. I absolutely loved Sorrow's pet wolf/seeing eye dog/sidekick Pablo. The side characters, the world building, the twists, the love story, and the cliffhanger ending were all really well done! It was a strong start to the series and as soon as I finished it I had to look up when book 2 is coming out! I am definitely looking forward to continuing this series! 💜📚
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ALC of Heart of the Wolf Queen, in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2026
I enjoyed the overall story of this one, it was a super fun fantasy adventure with some emotion plucking for sure.
Like some other reviewers commented, the writing style truly is written with a YA voice. YA book lovers and younger readers will love this. I’m personally just not in my YA era, and after recently being in some higher fantasy worlds in other Romantasy books recently, it was a little jarring for me.
I did appreciate that it wasn’t long and drawn out, it was a fast paced, quick read. I loved the relationship repair between Sorrow and Matthias and found family vibes.
I am a sucker for a slow burn and tension, and feel that those tropes really carried the book.
All in all, definitely recommend for YA Romantasy lovers!
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for this e-arc. All opinions are my own.
What to expect:
❤️ found family
❤️ he falls first
❤️ forced proximity
❤️ slow burn
❤️ fun magic system
❤️ arranged marriage
❤️ disability rep
❤️ second chance
❤️ gods and goddesses
❤️ cliffhanger / unfinished series
Like some other reviewers commented, the writing style truly is written with a YA voice. YA book lovers and younger readers will love this. I’m personally just not in my YA era, and after recently being in some higher fantasy worlds in other Romantasy books recently, it was a little jarring for me.
I did appreciate that it wasn’t long and drawn out, it was a fast paced, quick read. I loved the relationship repair between Sorrow and Matthias and found family vibes.
I am a sucker for a slow burn and tension, and feel that those tropes really carried the book.
All in all, definitely recommend for YA Romantasy lovers!
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for this e-arc. All opinions are my own.
What to expect:
❤️ found family
❤️ he falls first
❤️ forced proximity
❤️ slow burn
❤️ fun magic system
❤️ arranged marriage
❤️ disability rep
❤️ second chance
❤️ gods and goddesses
❤️ cliffhanger / unfinished series
April 4, 2026
Heart of the Wolf Queen by Sarah Gallego
Laugh. Cry. Rage. Repeat. This book will have you doing all three.
One thing I will always devour? Second chance romance + childhood friends wrapped up in an epic romantasy.
Did this book deliver that and more?! Absolutely. I am OBSESSED. Hand over the next book immediately because that ending had me HOWLING (pun fully intended 🐺).
The tension and constant push and pull between Sorrow and Matthias had me hooked from the very first page. I love a sassy FMC with a bone to pick with the MMC… and Sorrow delivers. She’s sarcastic, fiercely strong, an animal lover, and everything she’s been through just makes you root for her even more. Her backstory genuinely pulled at my heart.
And yes — there’s miscommunication. A LOT of it. But somehow… it works. This trope can be hit or miss, and here? It HIT.
Matthias might actually be my new book boyfriend. The devotion?? The history?? When you find out what really happened in the past… yeah, you fall even harder. BUT—this man makes a serious mistake at the end and is firmly on a time-out.
Which is exactly why I need book two RIGHT NOW 😭🐺
Immersive read = next level.
Felt every bit of tension and emotion.
Especially those spicy scenes… WOW
Laugh. Cry. Rage. Repeat. This book will have you doing all three.
One thing I will always devour? Second chance romance + childhood friends wrapped up in an epic romantasy.
Did this book deliver that and more?! Absolutely. I am OBSESSED. Hand over the next book immediately because that ending had me HOWLING (pun fully intended 🐺).
The tension and constant push and pull between Sorrow and Matthias had me hooked from the very first page. I love a sassy FMC with a bone to pick with the MMC… and Sorrow delivers. She’s sarcastic, fiercely strong, an animal lover, and everything she’s been through just makes you root for her even more. Her backstory genuinely pulled at my heart.
And yes — there’s miscommunication. A LOT of it. But somehow… it works. This trope can be hit or miss, and here? It HIT.
Matthias might actually be my new book boyfriend. The devotion?? The history?? When you find out what really happened in the past… yeah, you fall even harder. BUT—this man makes a serious mistake at the end and is firmly on a time-out.
Which is exactly why I need book two RIGHT NOW 😭🐺
Immersive read = next level.
Felt every bit of tension and emotion.
Especially those spicy scenes… WOW
March 12, 2026
✨✨✨Pablo!!🐺 ✨✨✨
Heart of the Wolf Queen is a really entertaining story set in such a captivating world!! I enjoyed the world soooo much. It was fun and unique but the world building was a little thin. I absolutely adored Pablo the wolf, he was my favorite character !😍 I loved Glesni too!!!
I really liked Sorrow’s character a lot also and she’s definitely a kickass FMC. I absolutely LOVED her feistiness and stubbornness!! I just adore FMC’s that are so bad ass!!
The romance ended up being just okay to me because of the whole miscommunication trope and it got a little whiny. I hate that trope so much, but other than that the second chance romance was cute. I liked the romance aspect a lot better after the whole “miscommunication” got resolved.
Overall I really enjoyed this romantasy and it’s definitely worth a read!! I can’t wait for book 2 in the duology !!👏👏
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released April 2, 2026.
Also, you can find me on the Pagebound app—— boobunny86
Heart of the Wolf Queen is a really entertaining story set in such a captivating world!! I enjoyed the world soooo much. It was fun and unique but the world building was a little thin. I absolutely adored Pablo the wolf, he was my favorite character !😍 I loved Glesni too!!!
I really liked Sorrow’s character a lot also and she’s definitely a kickass FMC. I absolutely LOVED her feistiness and stubbornness!! I just adore FMC’s that are so bad ass!!
The romance ended up being just okay to me because of the whole miscommunication trope and it got a little whiny. I hate that trope so much, but other than that the second chance romance was cute. I liked the romance aspect a lot better after the whole “miscommunication” got resolved.
Overall I really enjoyed this romantasy and it’s definitely worth a read!! I can’t wait for book 2 in the duology !!👏👏
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released April 2, 2026.
Also, you can find me on the Pagebound app—— boobunny86
March 17, 2026
A solid start to a new romantasy series
Pablo was 100% my favourite character. A wolf companion? Sign me up 👏👏
Sorrow is a strong FMC and after being left partially sighted after an accident, her best friend abandons her and her step father thinks she is no good for anything other than a sacrifice.
A second chance romance with the man that left her all those years ago - Matthias is to be her husband and did those feelings ever go away?
This was fun and I liked the main relationship. The tension was built well and I enjoyed the romance between the two.
I do wish the stakes had felt higher and that the plot was a little more action packed, but overall this was a fun read and the audiobook was very well narrated.
Pablo was 100% my favourite character. A wolf companion? Sign me up 👏👏
Sorrow is a strong FMC and after being left partially sighted after an accident, her best friend abandons her and her step father thinks she is no good for anything other than a sacrifice.
A second chance romance with the man that left her all those years ago - Matthias is to be her husband and did those feelings ever go away?
This was fun and I liked the main relationship. The tension was built well and I enjoyed the romance between the two.
I do wish the stakes had felt higher and that the plot was a little more action packed, but overall this was a fun read and the audiobook was very well narrated.
March 29, 2026
I was lucky to get a chance to read an early version of this book and let me tell you - Sorrow Villente is plucky, determined, living with a disability and takes no prisoners! The slow burn, second chance romance between Sorrow and childhood sweetheart-turned loathsome King is chef’s kiss with arranged marriage and misunderstandings galore on the side! And Pablo the wolf will steal your heart!
Sarah Gallego is a fantastic author (I’ve also read one of her unpublished short stories which was excellent and I secretly hope she turns it into a book!) and I look forward to reading more from her including the next in the series!
Sarah Gallego is a fantastic author (I’ve also read one of her unpublished short stories which was excellent and I secretly hope she turns it into a book!) and I look forward to reading more from her including the next in the series!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Heart of the Wolf Queen is a fantasy novel with marriage of convenience and second chance romance - two of my favourite tropes. Sorrow Villente is a princess who is partially blinded and has been locked away in a tower and will be offered as a sacrifice to the gods by her evil step-father. However, she is saved by Matthias, the boy who betrayed her turned King of a distant land. Matthias needs her as much as Sorrow needs him to escape the sacrifice - he needs the alliance with Sorrow’s family to save his kingdom from the Empress of Carush. We follow Sorrow (and her pet wolf, Pablo) as she navigates life as a queen, being married to the man that broke her heart AND having a dark magic that burns inside her that she refuses to train (or else she will succumb to the blight). In the background, monsters lurk in the forest while the villains approach their kingdom!
Sorrow was definitely something fierce and stubborn. She is intelligent and cares deeply but is afraid to let others in because she’s been hurt before. She is afraid of her power but certainly exercises her wit, with Matthias and Glesni, Sorrow’s mentor, in particular. It was lovely to see her growth and character development throughout the book, especially in accepting help from others and letting Matthias in. Matthias too is a king who is reluctant to accept help and puts everything on his shoulders. Above all, he wants to keep his people, kingdom and Sorrow safe, but might make some mistakes in the process (or one big one!). While I liked Matthias, I don’t feel like I know him very well or that we got to spend a lot of time with him. There was certainly yearning on both their parts but I would have loved to have seen some more groveling and pining from Matthias. However, it did make sense for the story and for Sorrow’s arc that Matthias didn’t feel quite as present. I would say that the romance was more of a sub-plot than the fantasy elements. The fantasy itself and the world were well-developed, though there is still a lot for us to discover. I am really excited for the next book in the series as I LOVED that cliffhanger. THIS IS WHY YOU LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE!
I am incredibly grateful to Second Sky for the beautiful proof! ✨
PR/Gifted
Sorrow was definitely something fierce and stubborn. She is intelligent and cares deeply but is afraid to let others in because she’s been hurt before. She is afraid of her power but certainly exercises her wit, with Matthias and Glesni, Sorrow’s mentor, in particular. It was lovely to see her growth and character development throughout the book, especially in accepting help from others and letting Matthias in. Matthias too is a king who is reluctant to accept help and puts everything on his shoulders. Above all, he wants to keep his people, kingdom and Sorrow safe, but might make some mistakes in the process (or one big one!). While I liked Matthias, I don’t feel like I know him very well or that we got to spend a lot of time with him. There was certainly yearning on both their parts but I would have loved to have seen some more groveling and pining from Matthias. However, it did make sense for the story and for Sorrow’s arc that Matthias didn’t feel quite as present. I would say that the romance was more of a sub-plot than the fantasy elements. The fantasy itself and the world were well-developed, though there is still a lot for us to discover. I am really excited for the next book in the series as I LOVED that cliffhanger. THIS IS WHY YOU LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE!
I am incredibly grateful to Second Sky for the beautiful proof! ✨
PR/Gifted
April 1, 2026
Firstly, a huge thank you to Second Sky for sending me an early copy of Heart of the Wolf Queen to read and review.
This was my top read of March, I'm actually OBSESSED. I It's one of those books for me where I genuinely struggled to put it down as all I wanted to do was keep reading.
Sorrow was such a great female lead. I loved that her disability had only strengthened her resolve to be indepedent as much as possible and live life as much as she can before she loses her sight completely. I loved her fire and her boldness, and that these qualities weren't snuffed out by the king treating her the way he does. She's prideful too, and I thought that Sarah did such a wonderful job of showcasing the balance between her navigating her disability independently, and having times where she did need to (albeit stubbornly) accept help.
Pablo, of course, is the star of the show. Such a fantastic character and animal companion. The bond between him and Sorrow is fantastic. There's a level of understanding and respect between them in that he chooses to stay because he wants to, not because she forces him or because he's a pet. He acts as her guide but he's also a wild animal, and that isn't forgotten.
Second chance romance isn't one I've read a lot of but I loved how it was done in HotWQ!! Matthias is a wonderful male lead, and although I too was mad at him for hurting Sorrow, I did come to love him. On the surface, I think you can initially be fooled into thinking he's quite a simple character to fathom, but I actually think he's quite complex. He's thrust into a kingship he doesn't want and is weighed down by his responsibility - you can tell how much he agonises over the choices he makes and wondering if he's done the right thing. I think the romance and healing between Sorrow and Matthias was really well done, it needed to take it's time or it wouldn't have felt natural - but OMG the YEARNING!!! I was literally frustrated screaming at pages when they got interrupted by his brother hahaha.
Overall I thought this was an absolutely fantastic read. I loved the characters, the world building and the magic system, which was really interesting and clearly a lot of thought had gone into it. The plot and pacing of the story was fab - it grips you from the start and just keeps drawing you in. There's political intrigue between the various monarch's and kingdoms, as well as a potential threat from overseas and from within Mattias' own walls, which keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing. I cannot wait to dive into book 2!!
This was my top read of March, I'm actually OBSESSED. I It's one of those books for me where I genuinely struggled to put it down as all I wanted to do was keep reading.
Sorrow was such a great female lead. I loved that her disability had only strengthened her resolve to be indepedent as much as possible and live life as much as she can before she loses her sight completely. I loved her fire and her boldness, and that these qualities weren't snuffed out by the king treating her the way he does. She's prideful too, and I thought that Sarah did such a wonderful job of showcasing the balance between her navigating her disability independently, and having times where she did need to (albeit stubbornly) accept help.
Pablo, of course, is the star of the show. Such a fantastic character and animal companion. The bond between him and Sorrow is fantastic. There's a level of understanding and respect between them in that he chooses to stay because he wants to, not because she forces him or because he's a pet. He acts as her guide but he's also a wild animal, and that isn't forgotten.
Second chance romance isn't one I've read a lot of but I loved how it was done in HotWQ!! Matthias is a wonderful male lead, and although I too was mad at him for hurting Sorrow, I did come to love him. On the surface, I think you can initially be fooled into thinking he's quite a simple character to fathom, but I actually think he's quite complex. He's thrust into a kingship he doesn't want and is weighed down by his responsibility - you can tell how much he agonises over the choices he makes and wondering if he's done the right thing. I think the romance and healing between Sorrow and Matthias was really well done, it needed to take it's time or it wouldn't have felt natural - but OMG the YEARNING!!! I was literally frustrated screaming at pages when they got interrupted by his brother hahaha.
Overall I thought this was an absolutely fantastic read. I loved the characters, the world building and the magic system, which was really interesting and clearly a lot of thought had gone into it. The plot and pacing of the story was fab - it grips you from the start and just keeps drawing you in. There's political intrigue between the various monarch's and kingdoms, as well as a potential threat from overseas and from within Mattias' own walls, which keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing. I cannot wait to dive into book 2!!
March 13, 2026
I am so thankful to have received the audio arc for this novel.
3.5 rounded up. I found this to be a slow-burn, found family story that lacked the “dark” aspects it advertised. This started strong and immediately grabbed my attention. Sorrow is strong-willed, a survivor. Pablo is probably my favorite character. I was not expecting an animal “sidekick” to be so charming & well rounded.
Romero is shaped perfectly as the villain. I hated him from the get-go.
One of my least favorite tropes is the miscommunication trope. Like, please stop making assumptions & just talk! So, to me, the characters didn’t feel as well rounded as they could have. I’m glad it got solved in this book rather than the next cause it was getting “whiny.”
Overall, it is a good story. I think the audio is worth listening to and makes the story “more attractive” if that makes any sense.
3.5 rounded up. I found this to be a slow-burn, found family story that lacked the “dark” aspects it advertised. This started strong and immediately grabbed my attention. Sorrow is strong-willed, a survivor. Pablo is probably my favorite character. I was not expecting an animal “sidekick” to be so charming & well rounded.
Romero is shaped perfectly as the villain. I hated him from the get-go.
One of my least favorite tropes is the miscommunication trope. Like, please stop making assumptions & just talk! So, to me, the characters didn’t feel as well rounded as they could have. I’m glad it got solved in this book rather than the next cause it was getting “whiny.”
Overall, it is a good story. I think the audio is worth listening to and makes the story “more attractive” if that makes any sense.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you net galley, for a arc copy in exchange for a honest review
For a debut novel, Sarah delivered an intriguing and fast-paced romantasy that kept me turning the pages. The overall plot was engaging, and I appreciated how quickly the story moved. I do wish the political elements had been explained in more depth, as a clearer foundation would have made the world feel even richer and more immersive.
I loved the inclusion of the character list at the beginning, it was helpful! I found myself wanting a bit more development from some of the supporting cast. That said, Sorrow truly shines. Her strength and independence, especially considering her upbringing and partial blindness, make her a compelling and admirable protagonist.
And Pablo? An absolute standout. As an animal companion, he was charming, memorable, and surprisingly well-developed, arguably even more so than some of the secondary characters.
Overall, this was a strong debut, and I’m genuinely excited to see where the author takes this adventure next and how her writing continues to grow.
For a debut novel, Sarah delivered an intriguing and fast-paced romantasy that kept me turning the pages. The overall plot was engaging, and I appreciated how quickly the story moved. I do wish the political elements had been explained in more depth, as a clearer foundation would have made the world feel even richer and more immersive.
I loved the inclusion of the character list at the beginning, it was helpful! I found myself wanting a bit more development from some of the supporting cast. That said, Sorrow truly shines. Her strength and independence, especially considering her upbringing and partial blindness, make her a compelling and admirable protagonist.
And Pablo? An absolute standout. As an animal companion, he was charming, memorable, and surprisingly well-developed, arguably even more so than some of the secondary characters.
Overall, this was a strong debut, and I’m genuinely excited to see where the author takes this adventure next and how her writing continues to grow.
March 16, 2026
Thank you to Second Sky for sending me an advanced copy!
Really enjoyed this book!
You can’t go wrong with an animal sidekick and a second chance romance!
I loved Sorrow’s character and thought the way Sarah had written her impairment was thoughtful and it made you think about other factors rather than just what you could see.
Pablo was a great companion, but my heart stuttered a few times when he ran into danger.
Matthias was a good MMC (have you seen the character art 😍) and that man can yearnnnn.
Ending had me in a chokehold and I’m excited to read the second book when it comes out!
Really enjoyed this book!
You can’t go wrong with an animal sidekick and a second chance romance!
I loved Sorrow’s character and thought the way Sarah had written her impairment was thoughtful and it made you think about other factors rather than just what you could see.
Pablo was a great companion, but my heart stuttered a few times when he ran into danger.
Matthias was a good MMC (have you seen the character art 😍) and that man can yearnnnn.
Ending had me in a chokehold and I’m excited to read the second book when it comes out!
April 8, 2026
Thank you to Second Sky Publishers for the ARC!
Overall, I found this an enjoyable read. This is a YA slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance.
The magic system felt fresh and new, and the side characters were well-developed and enjoyable to follow. My favourite aspect was the disability representation: the FMC is gradually losing her sight, and one of the most badass side characters has lupus. It’s refreshing to see flawed, realistic characters portrayed so thoughtfully.
The ending delivers a cliffhanger that left me excited for book 2 which I believe is coming later this year.
Overall, I found this an enjoyable read. This is a YA slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance.
The magic system felt fresh and new, and the side characters were well-developed and enjoyable to follow. My favourite aspect was the disability representation: the FMC is gradually losing her sight, and one of the most badass side characters has lupus. It’s refreshing to see flawed, realistic characters portrayed so thoughtfully.
The ending delivers a cliffhanger that left me excited for book 2 which I believe is coming later this year.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a fast-paced romantasy with an fmc who is losing her eye site and has a guide wolf.
This was a very fun read, filled with
🌟found family
🌟humor
🌟he falls first
🌟trans representative
🌟 wolf companion
🌟magic
🌟arranged marriage
🌟 forced proximity
🌟 🌶
Her wolf is protective and very loyal. In this world people are sacrificed, and our fmc finds herself chosen to be sacrificed. well her marriage to person she used to know is the only way out.
Her mother died, her step father hates her, she has a sister, and her only friend left her after an accident leave her with lost sight she will eventually lose.
Well the arranged marriage is to that friend she hasn't seen in 8 years, and well our fmc gives it to him, and takes no shit.
I Loved the banter, and humor in this book. The wolf comes In and interrupts things during the perfect moments.
I think this was a very fun read even though some of it was predictable. I mean I finished it in one day.
I think if you liked the serpent and the wolf you will like this one.
This was a very fun read, filled with
🌟found family
🌟humor
🌟he falls first
🌟trans representative
🌟 wolf companion
🌟magic
🌟arranged marriage
🌟 forced proximity
🌟 🌶
Her wolf is protective and very loyal. In this world people are sacrificed, and our fmc finds herself chosen to be sacrificed. well her marriage to person she used to know is the only way out.
Her mother died, her step father hates her, she has a sister, and her only friend left her after an accident leave her with lost sight she will eventually lose.
Well the arranged marriage is to that friend she hasn't seen in 8 years, and well our fmc gives it to him, and takes no shit.
I Loved the banter, and humor in this book. The wolf comes In and interrupts things during the perfect moments.
I think this was a very fun read even though some of it was predictable. I mean I finished it in one day.
I think if you liked the serpent and the wolf you will like this one.
Read
March 17, 2026this one didn't quite land for me, but I can see it being a bit hit for more committed romantasy fans.
it was packed with snappy banter and bags of yearning, with some interesting magic and a couple of nice twists towards the end.
if you love first person narration and tons of longing, this could well be for you.
it was packed with snappy banter and bags of yearning, with some interesting magic and a couple of nice twists towards the end.
if you love first person narration and tons of longing, this could well be for you.
April 2, 2026
Thank you to the author, Second Sky, and NetGalley for this ARC. This book hooked me pretty early on. Between Sorrow’s accident/loss of sight, what happened with Matthias, Pablo (the best character in the whole book), and Sorrow’s sense of humor, I was super invested. Second chance romance is my favorite trope and my heart ached for most of this story at the loss and uselessness that Sorrow felt. It was a veryyyyy slow burn and it also took most of the book for Matthias and Sorrow to clear the air. I loved the tension that that maintained throughout the story. The last 25% was action packed and the cliffhanger was heartbreaking. Sorrow and Matthias were both keeping some secrets from each other. My heart hurts for Sorrow. I loved this and can’t wait for book 2 and the conclusion of Sorrow and Matthias’s story.
April 6, 2026
Review of proof copy received from the Publisher.
Thank you Second Sky books for this proof copy for review!
Synopsis:
Sorrow Villente - a princess who is partially blind after a childhood accident. Sorrow is locked away by her stepfather in her tower until now.. Released to be a tribute to the gods.
Sorrow will not go willingly and with her protective wolf Pablo 🐺 - she spends every moment plotting her escape. And yet when she finally breaks free, Sorrow is captured immediately… by the one man she never expected to see again - Matthias. Growing up, Sorrow and Matthias were inseparable. Now, Matthias is the ruler of a distant land, where monsters lurk in mist-shrouded forests. To save his kingdom, he needs an alliance with Sorrow’s family – one that can be sealed only by marriage.
Sorrow must marry the man who broke her heart… or die.
Review:
This was such a stunning debut from Sarah! I really enjoyed the story of Sorrow being an absolutely stubborn FMC who refuses to give up despite all the challenges that are thrown at her. She shows great strength and courage by escaping from her father’s grasp and avoiding certain death from being a sacrifice to the Gods. Sorrow also shows great strength in coming to terms with the dark magic within her and learning to master it.
Then there is the MMC Matthias - my good lord Matthias. The chemistry between these two was palpable and it was obvious despite their setbacks that Matthias never stopped loving Sorrow and who doesn’t love a “touch her and die” moment?
This book was so fast paced and really packed a punch for 400 pages as a lot of ground was covered from the political landscape, magic powers and systems and monstrous creatures. This leads me to I my only critique of this book was that at times the plot moved on so quickly and sometimes with little explanation. I felt like I was jumping from scene to scene and it wad difficult to keep up at times. You may enjoy this however if you love books with a fast pace!
I recommend this to anyone who loves a strong FMC and your classic romantasy tropes (see below).
Tropes:
💜Second chance romance
💍 Marriage of convenience
🗡️ Touch her and die
🦇 Gothic setting and atmosphere
🐺 Overprotective familiar - Pablo we will die for you x
Thank you Second Sky books for this proof copy for review!
Synopsis:
Sorrow Villente - a princess who is partially blind after a childhood accident. Sorrow is locked away by her stepfather in her tower until now.. Released to be a tribute to the gods.
Sorrow will not go willingly and with her protective wolf Pablo 🐺 - she spends every moment plotting her escape. And yet when she finally breaks free, Sorrow is captured immediately… by the one man she never expected to see again - Matthias. Growing up, Sorrow and Matthias were inseparable. Now, Matthias is the ruler of a distant land, where monsters lurk in mist-shrouded forests. To save his kingdom, he needs an alliance with Sorrow’s family – one that can be sealed only by marriage.
Sorrow must marry the man who broke her heart… or die.
Review:
This was such a stunning debut from Sarah! I really enjoyed the story of Sorrow being an absolutely stubborn FMC who refuses to give up despite all the challenges that are thrown at her. She shows great strength and courage by escaping from her father’s grasp and avoiding certain death from being a sacrifice to the Gods. Sorrow also shows great strength in coming to terms with the dark magic within her and learning to master it.
Then there is the MMC Matthias - my good lord Matthias. The chemistry between these two was palpable and it was obvious despite their setbacks that Matthias never stopped loving Sorrow and who doesn’t love a “touch her and die” moment?
This book was so fast paced and really packed a punch for 400 pages as a lot of ground was covered from the political landscape, magic powers and systems and monstrous creatures. This leads me to I my only critique of this book was that at times the plot moved on so quickly and sometimes with little explanation. I felt like I was jumping from scene to scene and it wad difficult to keep up at times. You may enjoy this however if you love books with a fast pace!
I recommend this to anyone who loves a strong FMC and your classic romantasy tropes (see below).
Tropes:
💜Second chance romance
💍 Marriage of convenience
🗡️ Touch her and die
🦇 Gothic setting and atmosphere
🐺 Overprotective familiar - Pablo we will die for you x
April 2, 2026
"It was the highest honour a ruler could bestow on one of their subjects. An honour I’d every intention to decline. And decline it I would . As soon as I opened this damn door."
🐴 Only One Horse
❤️🔥 Friends to Lovers
💀 Touch Her & Die
🖤 Forced Proximity
🐺 Loyal Animal Companion
"Mortal, Anomaly, Deviant. Each of you is blessed with the most wondrous gift. Love. Fight for it. Defend it. Never, ever fear it."
Review -
I went in not really knowing what to expect from this story & slightly worried about the hype - but it totally lived up to it! The storyline had a beautiful slow burn, was action packed, fuelled by betrayal, fast paced & chocked full of plot twists which gave me whiplash! ✨️
FMC Sorrow was strong, fiesty, sarcastic, determined and full of grit from page 1 🙌 She never let her sight impairment define her, constantly pushing back through sheer stubbornness against it! Her bond with her companion Wolf Pablo was one of mutual loyalty & I loved how so much banter was based around it 🐺
MMC Matthias was loyal, strong yet broken, smitten with Sorrow and made me swoon with how protective & supportive he was of her ... also he just radiated touch her & die - which I was SO here for! 💀
The second chance slow burn love story between these two was beautiful 🥹 They had such a messy history with Sorrows accident at its core, so to see them naturally progress, start to trust & support one another had me rooting for them to just give into their undeniable feelings ❤️🔥
The found family element of the read was at the forefront of the story - each side character was well thought out, gave layering & added impact to the storyline. A mention has to be given to Captain Asher who stole my heart from the moment he hit the page as his sarcasm & almost brotherly tendencies eased Sorrow into the new role that was thrust upon her as Queen 🙌 Also Mentor Glensi was the most amazing character - SO much personality in such a small yet powerful woman 🔥 her wit, strength & love ... alongside her non existent filter & determination to help Sorrow, had me laughing out loud whenever the two of them were together!
The last 20% totally gripped me, the unexpected twists & turns that just kept going until the very end! And THAT cliffhanger 🤯 just wow ... I can not wait for Book 2 already to see how Sorrow & Matthias story plays out 🖤
🐴 Only One Horse
❤️🔥 Friends to Lovers
💀 Touch Her & Die
🖤 Forced Proximity
🐺 Loyal Animal Companion
"Mortal, Anomaly, Deviant. Each of you is blessed with the most wondrous gift. Love. Fight for it. Defend it. Never, ever fear it."
Review -
I went in not really knowing what to expect from this story & slightly worried about the hype - but it totally lived up to it! The storyline had a beautiful slow burn, was action packed, fuelled by betrayal, fast paced & chocked full of plot twists which gave me whiplash! ✨️
FMC Sorrow was strong, fiesty, sarcastic, determined and full of grit from page 1 🙌 She never let her sight impairment define her, constantly pushing back through sheer stubbornness against it! Her bond with her companion Wolf Pablo was one of mutual loyalty & I loved how so much banter was based around it 🐺
MMC Matthias was loyal, strong yet broken, smitten with Sorrow and made me swoon with how protective & supportive he was of her ... also he just radiated touch her & die - which I was SO here for! 💀
The second chance slow burn love story between these two was beautiful 🥹 They had such a messy history with Sorrows accident at its core, so to see them naturally progress, start to trust & support one another had me rooting for them to just give into their undeniable feelings ❤️🔥
The found family element of the read was at the forefront of the story - each side character was well thought out, gave layering & added impact to the storyline. A mention has to be given to Captain Asher who stole my heart from the moment he hit the page as his sarcasm & almost brotherly tendencies eased Sorrow into the new role that was thrust upon her as Queen 🙌 Also Mentor Glensi was the most amazing character - SO much personality in such a small yet powerful woman 🔥 her wit, strength & love ... alongside her non existent filter & determination to help Sorrow, had me laughing out loud whenever the two of them were together!
The last 20% totally gripped me, the unexpected twists & turns that just kept going until the very end! And THAT cliffhanger 🤯 just wow ... I can not wait for Book 2 already to see how Sorrow & Matthias story plays out 🖤
April 4, 2026
I think this may have been one of my favourite books of this year so far 😍
I picked this book up in a pretty crappy mindset; I just really needed something that had all the tropes I love so I could get a bit lost in the story. That’s exactly what happened with Heart of the Wolf Queen and I couldn’t put it down.
This was actually my first second chance romance and I was a little skeptical, but I loved the tension from Sorrow and Matthias. I had all the feels throughout and adored Matthias as an MMC, the relationship just felt believable. I will say that even though I loved how fierce Sorrow was, there were a couple of occasions where her ‘double standards’ had me screaming at her. Mainly girl keeping secrets and then kicking off when someone else has been too. Ma’am, please!
For me, where this book really excels is the representation and plot. Sorrow, our FMC, is partially sighted and her determination and stubbornness is admirable. The characters introduced also show representation for trans people and same-sex marriage, in addition to chronic illness. It was actually very refreshing to have real people depicted and added another layer to the character development.
Overall, Heart of the Wolf Queen had me gripped throughout with its exciting plot and unique magic/lore, loveable found family, and heart-clenching romance. Prepare to be emotionally devastated, frustrated to no end, and kicking your feet within the span of pages.
Thank you so much to both Second Sky & Sarah Gallego for an e-ARC of Heart of the Wolf Queen on NetGalley. I’m so excited for the second part of this duology 💜
I picked this book up in a pretty crappy mindset; I just really needed something that had all the tropes I love so I could get a bit lost in the story. That’s exactly what happened with Heart of the Wolf Queen and I couldn’t put it down.
This was actually my first second chance romance and I was a little skeptical, but I loved the tension from Sorrow and Matthias. I had all the feels throughout and adored Matthias as an MMC, the relationship just felt believable. I will say that even though I loved how fierce Sorrow was, there were a couple of occasions where her ‘double standards’ had me screaming at her. Mainly girl keeping secrets and then kicking off when someone else has been too. Ma’am, please!
For me, where this book really excels is the representation and plot. Sorrow, our FMC, is partially sighted and her determination and stubbornness is admirable. The characters introduced also show representation for trans people and same-sex marriage, in addition to chronic illness. It was actually very refreshing to have real people depicted and added another layer to the character development.
Overall, Heart of the Wolf Queen had me gripped throughout with its exciting plot and unique magic/lore, loveable found family, and heart-clenching romance. Prepare to be emotionally devastated, frustrated to no end, and kicking your feet within the span of pages.
Thank you so much to both Second Sky & Sarah Gallego for an e-ARC of Heart of the Wolf Queen on NetGalley. I’m so excited for the second part of this duology 💜
March 2, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to Netgalley / Second Sky for this arc read. This was a really decent romantasy. Not a dark one that the cover suggests though. I enjoyed that there were a lot of unique concepts in this book that I haven’t seen in other romantasy books as yet. The world building was good, I could picture scenes pretty clearly. I loved Matthias (mmc) and the wolf Pablo. However the fmc Sorrow just annoyed me at times - I found her to be too negative and self sabotaging, which just irked me at times. There was a lot going on in this book, so at times it did feel a tad chaotic.
Overall I did enjoy this one and I believe its a duology so I will definitely pick up book 2 to see how their story concludes!
Thank you to Netgalley / Second Sky for this arc read. This was a really decent romantasy. Not a dark one that the cover suggests though. I enjoyed that there were a lot of unique concepts in this book that I haven’t seen in other romantasy books as yet. The world building was good, I could picture scenes pretty clearly. I loved Matthias (mmc) and the wolf Pablo. However the fmc Sorrow just annoyed me at times - I found her to be too negative and self sabotaging, which just irked me at times. There was a lot going on in this book, so at times it did feel a tad chaotic.
Overall I did enjoy this one and I believe its a duology so I will definitely pick up book 2 to see how their story concludes!
April 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars
Heart of the Wolf Queen: The Star-Crossed Gods, Book 1 by Sarah Gallego
🎧 Narrated by Zara Hampton-Brown
Heart of the Wolf Queen is filled with sorrow, lost love, and betrayal, all set in a world of creatures, magic, and tragedy. The story is emotional and immersive, pulling you into the characters’ struggles and the weight of their choices.
I really enjoyed the depth of the characters and the way the story unfolded with so much intensity and heart. The audiobook narration added to the experience, making the world feel even more vivid.
Overall, a captivating and emotional read that I’m glad I picked up—I can’t wait for Book 2! 🎧💫📚
Heart of the Wolf Queen: The Star-Crossed Gods, Book 1 by Sarah Gallego
🎧 Narrated by Zara Hampton-Brown
Heart of the Wolf Queen is filled with sorrow, lost love, and betrayal, all set in a world of creatures, magic, and tragedy. The story is emotional and immersive, pulling you into the characters’ struggles and the weight of their choices.
I really enjoyed the depth of the characters and the way the story unfolded with so much intensity and heart. The audiobook narration added to the experience, making the world feel even more vivid.
Overall, a captivating and emotional read that I’m glad I picked up—I can’t wait for Book 2! 🎧💫📚
April 3, 2026
Thank you so much to Second Sky, Sarah Gallego and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of Heart of the Wolf Queen.
3.5 stars!
Heart of the Wolf Queen follows Sorrow who, after a traumatic accident stole most of her sight, leaving her with partial blindness, has been locked away in a tower by her stepfather, the King of Drufaera, in order to sacrifice her to the god Vyrus to avoid his ire. Sorrow chafes against this fate and often tries to escape with her loyal wolf companion, Pablo, by her side. One day, her stepfather comes to her with a deal; he won't sacrifice her to Vyrus if she instead marries King Matthias of Asmar, her one-time best friend that abandoned her after her accident when she needed him the most. Sorrow must make a choice; marry the man who betrayed her, or die.
I enjoyed this book, however there were certain things that took me out of the book a little bit. I did really enjoy the worldbuilding and the lore snippets we got in the epigraphs at beginning of the chapters detailing the relationships between the gods Vyrus, Evella and Eusis. I really enjoyed how their feud shaped the planet that the characters lived on, and the inclusion of the metals that were created by the gods, such as Vyrium. That very much gave me Mistborn vibes which I really enjoyed. The magic system was also really interesting; people can be blessed by the goddess Evella with powers and are called Anomalies, and some people can be blessed with more than one gift, making them Deviants. These powers can come in many different forms, but they require training to master, or else the power can consume the bearer from the inside, causing them to go insane and rip themselves, and anyone else around them, apart. This aspect was really interesting to read about and I really wanted it to be explored more, especially when it came to Sorrow's training. It seemed like she spent a lot of time avoiding training, even though she knew that would kill her, and then suddenly mastered her power after the first few tries. I hope in the sequel there's more exploration of Sorrow's abilities and her training with them.
Sorrow as our main character was such an interesting character to read from. She truly didn't let her disability define her, and while she could be so incredibly stubborn, to the point that I was rolling my eyes at points, her background made it totally understandable as to why she'd be that way. Her lack of communication with Matthias about certain details of the plot was so annoying though. Miscommunication is one of my pet peeves in books, and her not telling Matthias everything and even denying it to people who knew was just so irritating, so that did make me not like her as much. However she was still a strong MC and I enjoyed reading from her perspective. The stand out characters in this were Pablo (obviously, he's an icon) and Glesni. I would totally devour a book about Glesni's past and her and Keya finding love; their relationship was my favourite in the whole book! Glesni was just such a badass and I loved every time she was on the page. The whole cast of characters were so diverse as well which I really enjoyed. Skye's character was one I really liked, and I wanted to go to war for her at times when certain characters would make horrible comments about her.
I think my main dislike from this book was the writing style if I'm honest. I found it quite choppy, with us skipping forward at random points and things not being described in the most fleshed out way. Like sometimes I'd have to go back and reread sections to work out what was happening as certain sections weren't described as well as I wanted. This may just be a me issue, but I did find that it took me out of the book in places. Also the romance wasn't the most believable to me. Second chance romance isn't usually my jam, and here I did find that the romance was quite fast paced and that Sorrow got over her resentment of Matthias quite quickly, even before she found out the real reason why he abandoned her after the accident. As this was a second chance romance I can see why the romance kicked in quite quickly, as there is some history there, but I think I wanted a bit more yearning.
Overall I still really enjoyed this one and am excited to see where the sequel takes us. And if Sarah Gallego wants to write a Glesni backstory book I'll be so hyped! If you're looking for a book with a second chance romance, marriage of convenience and a strong main character that doesn't take any crap, this is definitely the book for you!
3.5 stars!
Heart of the Wolf Queen follows Sorrow who, after a traumatic accident stole most of her sight, leaving her with partial blindness, has been locked away in a tower by her stepfather, the King of Drufaera, in order to sacrifice her to the god Vyrus to avoid his ire. Sorrow chafes against this fate and often tries to escape with her loyal wolf companion, Pablo, by her side. One day, her stepfather comes to her with a deal; he won't sacrifice her to Vyrus if she instead marries King Matthias of Asmar, her one-time best friend that abandoned her after her accident when she needed him the most. Sorrow must make a choice; marry the man who betrayed her, or die.
I enjoyed this book, however there were certain things that took me out of the book a little bit. I did really enjoy the worldbuilding and the lore snippets we got in the epigraphs at beginning of the chapters detailing the relationships between the gods Vyrus, Evella and Eusis. I really enjoyed how their feud shaped the planet that the characters lived on, and the inclusion of the metals that were created by the gods, such as Vyrium. That very much gave me Mistborn vibes which I really enjoyed. The magic system was also really interesting; people can be blessed by the goddess Evella with powers and are called Anomalies, and some people can be blessed with more than one gift, making them Deviants. These powers can come in many different forms, but they require training to master, or else the power can consume the bearer from the inside, causing them to go insane and rip themselves, and anyone else around them, apart. This aspect was really interesting to read about and I really wanted it to be explored more, especially when it came to Sorrow's training. It seemed like she spent a lot of time avoiding training, even though she knew that would kill her, and then suddenly mastered her power after the first few tries. I hope in the sequel there's more exploration of Sorrow's abilities and her training with them.
Sorrow as our main character was such an interesting character to read from. She truly didn't let her disability define her, and while she could be so incredibly stubborn, to the point that I was rolling my eyes at points, her background made it totally understandable as to why she'd be that way. Her lack of communication with Matthias about certain details of the plot was so annoying though. Miscommunication is one of my pet peeves in books, and her not telling Matthias everything and even denying it to people who knew was just so irritating, so that did make me not like her as much. However she was still a strong MC and I enjoyed reading from her perspective. The stand out characters in this were Pablo (obviously, he's an icon) and Glesni. I would totally devour a book about Glesni's past and her and Keya finding love; their relationship was my favourite in the whole book! Glesni was just such a badass and I loved every time she was on the page. The whole cast of characters were so diverse as well which I really enjoyed. Skye's character was one I really liked, and I wanted to go to war for her at times when certain characters would make horrible comments about her.
I think my main dislike from this book was the writing style if I'm honest. I found it quite choppy, with us skipping forward at random points and things not being described in the most fleshed out way. Like sometimes I'd have to go back and reread sections to work out what was happening as certain sections weren't described as well as I wanted. This may just be a me issue, but I did find that it took me out of the book in places. Also the romance wasn't the most believable to me. Second chance romance isn't usually my jam, and here I did find that the romance was quite fast paced and that Sorrow got over her resentment of Matthias quite quickly, even before she found out the real reason why he abandoned her after the accident. As this was a second chance romance I can see why the romance kicked in quite quickly, as there is some history there, but I think I wanted a bit more yearning.
Overall I still really enjoyed this one and am excited to see where the sequel takes us. And if Sarah Gallego wants to write a Glesni backstory book I'll be so hyped! If you're looking for a book with a second chance romance, marriage of convenience and a strong main character that doesn't take any crap, this is definitely the book for you!
February 22, 2026
Thank you to Second Sky for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Sorrow Villente is no princess waiting to be saved. When a devastating accident partially blinded her, Sorrow was locked away at the top of a tower in the wilderness, offered up as a sacrifice to the gods. But Sorrow refuses to die quietly. Only she knows a dark magic burns inside her. With her fiercely protective wolf, Pablo, she spends every moment plotting her escape. And yet when she finally breaks free, Sorrow is captured immediately… by the one man she never expected to see again. Long ago, Sorrow and Matthias were inseparable. Tall and devastatingly handsome, with sparkling green eyes, the sight of him still sends her heart racing. Then she remembers the truth. When she needed him most, Matthias walked away. He didn’t just abandon her. He betrayed her. And he hasn’t come to rescue her. Matthias is the ruler of a distant land, where monsters lurk in mist-shrouded forests. To save his kingdom, he needs an alliance with Sorrow’s family – one that can be sealed only by marriage. Sorrow must marry the man who broke her heart… or die.
Sorrow is the kind of FMC I adore. She’s sassy, she’s determined, and she’s also massively stubborn. Despite all she has endured, there is this flame inside her that burns so brightly - the strength of her spirit. Add in the fact she has a wolf as a companion and she is someone to watch for sure. I really enjoyed seeing her growth over the course of the book, the way she allowed herself to flourish when she realised that she could do such a thing, that she was not chained by harsh expectation. She never let her lack of sight stop her and as someone with chronic illnesses myself, I could empathise with her the moments things grew too much and so admired her for continuing on. She’s a girl after my own heart and I cannot wait to see where she goes!
Matthias had me in two minds for a while. He seemed so kind and gentle, but then other times felt so secretive and evasive that I wasn’t sure where I stood with him. Thankfully I was proved wrong with any suspicions I had because he is such a sweetheart. He has a massive weight on his shoulders which means he doesn’t always necessarily do the things he should. But he has a heart of gold and wants the best for those he loves. Let’s just say that where we leave him has me very worried!
Tell me there is a book with a strong FMC who has a fearsome animal companion beside her and I am sold. This book is great, offering us a first hand account of someone with a disability and proving that anything they want to achieve is possible. I loved the unique magic system too, this idea that if you ignore the magic you’ve been blessed with it fights back. The way magic affected everyone individually was interesting to see as it added this extra depth to the world building - the fact it was unpredictable and couldn’t be as well controlled as people wished. Character wise, we see a lot of people coming and going which did lend a bit of confusion to me as I read. But, on the whole, we see mostly the same characters around the main duo which, for me, makes me easier able to focus on the plot and focused events than on everything on a wider scale constantly. I did like that whilst there was a romance undertone for the story, that wasn’t the sole focus of the book. Instead, it was solving mystery and preventing war. But the romance we got was a perfect second chance romance - one beginning in anger and frustration before gradually melting into something soft and tender. And the spice matched - something driven in softness and emotion that was so perfect for them both. The ending had my jaw dropped to the floor and my heart thundering in my chest. How am I meant to go on after that ending?!
Overall, Heart of the Wolf Queen is a stunning second chance romantasy that I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Second Sky for an advanced copy of this book.
Sorrow Villente is no princess waiting to be saved. When a devastating accident partially blinded her, Sorrow was locked away at the top of a tower in the wilderness, offered up as a sacrifice to the gods. But Sorrow refuses to die quietly. Only she knows a dark magic burns inside her. With her fiercely protective wolf, Pablo, she spends every moment plotting her escape. And yet when she finally breaks free, Sorrow is captured immediately… by the one man she never expected to see again. Long ago, Sorrow and Matthias were inseparable. Tall and devastatingly handsome, with sparkling green eyes, the sight of him still sends her heart racing. Then she remembers the truth. When she needed him most, Matthias walked away. He didn’t just abandon her. He betrayed her. And he hasn’t come to rescue her. Matthias is the ruler of a distant land, where monsters lurk in mist-shrouded forests. To save his kingdom, he needs an alliance with Sorrow’s family – one that can be sealed only by marriage. Sorrow must marry the man who broke her heart… or die.
Sorrow is the kind of FMC I adore. She’s sassy, she’s determined, and she’s also massively stubborn. Despite all she has endured, there is this flame inside her that burns so brightly - the strength of her spirit. Add in the fact she has a wolf as a companion and she is someone to watch for sure. I really enjoyed seeing her growth over the course of the book, the way she allowed herself to flourish when she realised that she could do such a thing, that she was not chained by harsh expectation. She never let her lack of sight stop her and as someone with chronic illnesses myself, I could empathise with her the moments things grew too much and so admired her for continuing on. She’s a girl after my own heart and I cannot wait to see where she goes!
Matthias had me in two minds for a while. He seemed so kind and gentle, but then other times felt so secretive and evasive that I wasn’t sure where I stood with him. Thankfully I was proved wrong with any suspicions I had because he is such a sweetheart. He has a massive weight on his shoulders which means he doesn’t always necessarily do the things he should. But he has a heart of gold and wants the best for those he loves. Let’s just say that where we leave him has me very worried!
Tell me there is a book with a strong FMC who has a fearsome animal companion beside her and I am sold. This book is great, offering us a first hand account of someone with a disability and proving that anything they want to achieve is possible. I loved the unique magic system too, this idea that if you ignore the magic you’ve been blessed with it fights back. The way magic affected everyone individually was interesting to see as it added this extra depth to the world building - the fact it was unpredictable and couldn’t be as well controlled as people wished. Character wise, we see a lot of people coming and going which did lend a bit of confusion to me as I read. But, on the whole, we see mostly the same characters around the main duo which, for me, makes me easier able to focus on the plot and focused events than on everything on a wider scale constantly. I did like that whilst there was a romance undertone for the story, that wasn’t the sole focus of the book. Instead, it was solving mystery and preventing war. But the romance we got was a perfect second chance romance - one beginning in anger and frustration before gradually melting into something soft and tender. And the spice matched - something driven in softness and emotion that was so perfect for them both. The ending had my jaw dropped to the floor and my heart thundering in my chest. How am I meant to go on after that ending?!
Overall, Heart of the Wolf Queen is a stunning second chance romantasy that I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Second Sky for an advanced copy of this book.
April 3, 2026
Heart of the Wolf Queen by Sarah Gallego is the kind of story that grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go. From early on, I found myself completely swept up in the world, the characters, and the slow-burning tension that kept me listening well past when I should have put my earbuds away.
What immediately sets this book apart is its disability representation. The FMC, Sorrow, is partially blind — and Gallego handles this with care and intention. Sorrow is never defined by her disability, nor is it glossed over. It’s simply part of who she is, woven authentically into her character and her experience of the world around her. Equally impressive is how the MMC, Mathias, handles it. He advocates for Sorrow in moments where it matters without ever undermining her strength or autonomy. That balance is difficult to strike, and Gallego nails it.
The second-chance romance at the heart of this story is absolutely swoon-worthy. The banter and flirting between Sorrow and Mathias is electric — the kind that has you fanning yourself one moment and clutching your chest the next. The chemistry feels earned, layered with history and tension that makes every interaction crackle.
On the Narration:
The audiobook narration is wonderfully immersive, pulling you deep into the world in a way that made the story feel alive. The narrator’s performance complemented the tone of the book beautifully, capturing both the emotional weight of the romance and the lighter, breathless energy of the banter between characters.
My one small note is that the early part of the book introduces a fairly large cast, and there were moments I wished I had a print copy nearby to reference who was who. This is less a criticism of the narration and more the nature of world-building-heavy fantasy in audio format — and it genuinely didn’t diminish my enjoyment. If your listening app supports chapter breakdowns, use them; they help with orientation as the story builds.
My Recommendation:
Heart of the Wolf Queen is a standout romantasy with representation that feels genuine, romance that delivers, and a story that lingers after the final chapter. I recommend it enthusiastically in any format — but the audiobook is a truly lovely way to experience it. If you’re a fan of second-chance romance, morally complex fantasy worlds, and leads with real, sparkling chemistry, this one belongs at the top of your list.
What immediately sets this book apart is its disability representation. The FMC, Sorrow, is partially blind — and Gallego handles this with care and intention. Sorrow is never defined by her disability, nor is it glossed over. It’s simply part of who she is, woven authentically into her character and her experience of the world around her. Equally impressive is how the MMC, Mathias, handles it. He advocates for Sorrow in moments where it matters without ever undermining her strength or autonomy. That balance is difficult to strike, and Gallego nails it.
The second-chance romance at the heart of this story is absolutely swoon-worthy. The banter and flirting between Sorrow and Mathias is electric — the kind that has you fanning yourself one moment and clutching your chest the next. The chemistry feels earned, layered with history and tension that makes every interaction crackle.
On the Narration:
The audiobook narration is wonderfully immersive, pulling you deep into the world in a way that made the story feel alive. The narrator’s performance complemented the tone of the book beautifully, capturing both the emotional weight of the romance and the lighter, breathless energy of the banter between characters.
My one small note is that the early part of the book introduces a fairly large cast, and there were moments I wished I had a print copy nearby to reference who was who. This is less a criticism of the narration and more the nature of world-building-heavy fantasy in audio format — and it genuinely didn’t diminish my enjoyment. If your listening app supports chapter breakdowns, use them; they help with orientation as the story builds.
My Recommendation:
Heart of the Wolf Queen is a standout romantasy with representation that feels genuine, romance that delivers, and a story that lingers after the final chapter. I recommend it enthusiastically in any format — but the audiobook is a truly lovely way to experience it. If you’re a fan of second-chance romance, morally complex fantasy worlds, and leads with real, sparkling chemistry, this one belongs at the top of your list.
April 2, 2026
What a great well written story!
The book is told solely from the protagonist Sorrows point of view and normally I can find single POV stories a bit flat but not this book. The depth to the characters was so good that even though the story was told only from Sorrows POV I felt really connected to all of them.
The world building was brilliant, but not too overcomplicated as I can really struggle with fantasy books that have really complex lore and world building . But I didn’t have that issue at all with this book.
Sorrow was injured as a youngster and as a result she is partially sighted. The FMC Matthias blames himself. But Sorrow doesn’t let her vision impairment hold her back with the help of her fluffy wolf companion Pablo she is quite the force to be reckoned with. Her sarcasm and feisty attitude was so good and drew me in at the start of the pretty slow burn second chance romance with Matthias. Matthias I fell in love with him pretty fast myself! Real touch her and die vibes but with a soft edge. It was very easy to like him.
So may side characters that were also very well written and has so much depth.
Sorrow hasn’t had it easy and was locked up by her step dad (after her mum died) who never liked her and eventually decided she should be there next human sacrifice but is saved by being betrothed to Matthias in his bid to save her from the lava!
Not only do we follow along on the will they won’t they with Sorrow and Matthias we also follow along on their mission to save their kingdom and the alliances from impending attack from the empress.
I won’t go into the plot too much because I genuinely believe going in semi blind is perfect especially for this book. The twist and turns in this book have you griped and wanting ‘one more chapter’ and then it’s suddenly 3am!
For slow burn, second chance, friends to lovers and lovers of Wolf companions you will love this book.
The book is told solely from the protagonist Sorrows point of view and normally I can find single POV stories a bit flat but not this book. The depth to the characters was so good that even though the story was told only from Sorrows POV I felt really connected to all of them.
The world building was brilliant, but not too overcomplicated as I can really struggle with fantasy books that have really complex lore and world building . But I didn’t have that issue at all with this book.
Sorrow was injured as a youngster and as a result she is partially sighted. The FMC Matthias blames himself. But Sorrow doesn’t let her vision impairment hold her back with the help of her fluffy wolf companion Pablo she is quite the force to be reckoned with. Her sarcasm and feisty attitude was so good and drew me in at the start of the pretty slow burn second chance romance with Matthias. Matthias I fell in love with him pretty fast myself! Real touch her and die vibes but with a soft edge. It was very easy to like him.
So may side characters that were also very well written and has so much depth.
Sorrow hasn’t had it easy and was locked up by her step dad (after her mum died) who never liked her and eventually decided she should be there next human sacrifice but is saved by being betrothed to Matthias in his bid to save her from the lava!
Not only do we follow along on the will they won’t they with Sorrow and Matthias we also follow along on their mission to save their kingdom and the alliances from impending attack from the empress.
I won’t go into the plot too much because I genuinely believe going in semi blind is perfect especially for this book. The twist and turns in this book have you griped and wanting ‘one more chapter’ and then it’s suddenly 3am!
For slow burn, second chance, friends to lovers and lovers of Wolf companions you will love this book.
March 31, 2026
thank you to second sky books for the proof copy🫶🏻
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4⭐️
✨second chance romance
✨arranged marriage
✨forced proximity
✨animal companion
✨disability rep
this is a pretty political read (which i do struggle with) with an engaging plot and the fast pace and world building helped a lot. the magic system was unique and i enjoyed that aspect of this thoroughly. i’d love to read more about this and the experiences of our magical vs non magical characters as well as touching more on the gods/goddesses aspect.
the romance starts off promising, with a second chance, ex-friends to lovers trope. our MMC did a bit of yearning and was genuinely super sweet, he really tried for a touch her and die vibe. but there was no growth in their relationship, one minute she hated him and the next she loved him which was a little sad. their relationship was sweet but just lacked something
i think in general our characters lacked the depth that makes you feel connected to them so i didn’t find myself obsessing over any of them. our FMC was a super layered character but again, we just didn’t get that depth to get to really know her. she’s sassy, strong and has her issues but i needed a bit more. but i did enjoy the found family and supportive network that our FMC develops. i LOVED her wolf friend though, thank you Pablo for being iconic
our villain was definitely giving bad guy vibes though and i did strongly hate that man with a passion. but this didn’t read as a ‘dark’ book like advertised
this was still a great debut novel and i hope to unravel more of the story behind our characters as well as finding out what happens after that ending. it was a cliffhanger done well that’s for sure!
-
4⭐️
✨second chance romance
✨arranged marriage
✨forced proximity
✨animal companion
✨disability rep
this is a pretty political read (which i do struggle with) with an engaging plot and the fast pace and world building helped a lot. the magic system was unique and i enjoyed that aspect of this thoroughly. i’d love to read more about this and the experiences of our magical vs non magical characters as well as touching more on the gods/goddesses aspect.
the romance starts off promising, with a second chance, ex-friends to lovers trope. our MMC did a bit of yearning and was genuinely super sweet, he really tried for a touch her and die vibe. but there was no growth in their relationship, one minute she hated him and the next she loved him which was a little sad. their relationship was sweet but just lacked something
i think in general our characters lacked the depth that makes you feel connected to them so i didn’t find myself obsessing over any of them. our FMC was a super layered character but again, we just didn’t get that depth to get to really know her. she’s sassy, strong and has her issues but i needed a bit more. but i did enjoy the found family and supportive network that our FMC develops. i LOVED her wolf friend though, thank you Pablo for being iconic
our villain was definitely giving bad guy vibes though and i did strongly hate that man with a passion. but this didn’t read as a ‘dark’ book like advertised
this was still a great debut novel and i hope to unravel more of the story behind our characters as well as finding out what happens after that ending. it was a cliffhanger done well that’s for sure!
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