The Mating Trials: The Alpha

by Anastasia Daniels

Genres: Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Romance, Paranormal, Omegaverse, Romantasy, Werewolves

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 29, 2026

About the author

Anastasia Daniels has been writing since the third grade when she penned her first story about a leprechaun who lost his pot of gold. Her tales may be a bit spicier now, but her passion for crafting fantasy romances that ignite the imagination and tug at the heartstrings has only grown stronger.

When she’s not lost in fantasy realms or penning her next snarky heroine, you can find Anastasia binge-watching The Office (for the millionth time), advocating for year-round Pumpkin Spice, or diving into her latest BookTok obsession.

For more information please visit her website at:
www.AnastasiaDaniels.com

Reviews

[ℛℰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t want to own you. I want to stand beside you. You burn so brightly. I just want to be close enough to feel your heat

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ °❀⋆.ೃ࿔

Thank you so much love notes PR and author Anastasia Daniels for sending me the e-ARC

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆

🐺 fated mates
🗡️ obsessed MMC
🐺 I waited for you
🗡️ snarky FMC
🐺 trials(OBV)

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.

This is not my first book for Anastasia. My first was hidden guardian and it was a five star read for me ! I loved it toooooo much so I was soooo much excited to read her new book. For our case here for me unfortunately I loved hidden guardian more but this doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy no it was entertaining and a fun time!! The trials were really interesting . I loved reading about them. I don’t think that I have ever read about trials that help you find your fated match/ mate/ twin flame before so I was intrigued. I liked how the FMC reasons for not wanting a mate was real and I can 100% agree with them. The idea of a person losing himself or being owned is really scary and I myself would be scared too in her situation.

All in all it was a fun quick read

[Madison · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed this up until the end of year one. I thought Embers reasoning for not mating with Thorn a little pathetic. She could have easily communicated how she felt about leaving her brother because I’m sorry but Thorn is literally THE GREENEST FLAG EVER. There was no way he was going to make her leave her little brother.

I was heartbroken for Thorn because he proved to be one of the good ones and he did not deserve that.

They then go a whole year without seeing each other until the mating trials again the following year. In that time Ember has obviously changed her mind and she’s hoping she’ll see Thorn again.

The drama was unnecessary in year two with “the widows”. I skipped through to the end because it got a little boring. It just felt like filler because we had the drama in year one with the other alphas and obviously year two needed something as well.

Gutted because I did love the beginning of this story.

Thank you to the author for the ARC.

[Calypso✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Okay this was actually way more fun than I expected. The whole Mating Trials concept immediately hooked me. I love anything with competition, survival, and forced proximity chaos, and I couldn’t put it down.🐺

🖤Ember was easy to root for. She was independent, stubborn and wanted to choose when things happen for herself. She had her own plans, her own fears, and I like that she chose herself first before choosing love.🥹

Thorn completely won me over.🤭I loved that he wasn’t just this fearless Alpha. He had doubts, fears, and so much pressure on his shoulders.❤️‍🩹 It made him feel like a real person instead of just another broody werewolf hero. I absolutely adored him so much!🫠

The chemistry between Ember and Thorn was hot!❤️‍🔥I love them watching them fighting for each other. The Tension? Chef kiss! 🤌🏽The book world was also a pleasant surprise. It was easy to follow while still leaving me curious to learn more about this universe.

The trials themselves were probably my favorite part. Some were intense, some were clever, and all of them kept the story moving. I just wish we had a bit more time to really sit in each one because a few felt like they ended a little too quickly.😫

⭐️Overall, I could not put this book down. It was entertaining, easy to get into, and had just the right amount of romance, tension, and chaos. Definitely a solid read if you like fated mates and a good competition for your soulmate.🙌🏽

Thank you to the Author Anastasia Daniels and LoveNotesPR for the opportunity to read this ARC!❤️

[Amber-thereadingrushmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love the premise of this one. It had wolf shifters, fated mates, gothic castle vibes, and mating trials sounded like a recipe for an addictive paranormal romance.

For me, though, the execution didn’t quite live up to the concept.

The biggest issue was that the plot felt underdeveloped. The idea of the mating trials had so much potential, but I wanted more tension, stronger world building, and a greater sense of atmosphere. I also struggled to connect with the characters because there wasn’t enough development to make me emotionally invested in their journey.

This is definitely an open-door romance, and the second half becomes much spicier than the first. If you’re looking for a plot light, spice heavy shifter romance, this may be exactly what you’re after. Personally, I prefer a slower burn where the romance builds alongside a stronger story and richer character development.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad read, but it wasn’t the right fit for my reading preferences. I enjoyed the premise more than the execution, and I’d still be interested in reading more from the author in the future because the concept itself was intriguing.

[Madi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright, where do I sign up for the mating trials?! What a lovely and fun way to find your fated mate. This story was fast paced and exciting, and I am ready for more! An all white and red haired wolf fall in love?? Makes for a beautiful picture and spicy storyline. I read this in one sitting on a steamy day at the pool, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

“My hands remain on the back of his neck, afraid he’s tethering me to the here and now, and if I let go, I’ll fall into the darkness.”

“Gods, he tastes like winter wind over warm pine, sharp and earthy, and mine.”

“I didn’t wait for fate to hand me a possession, I’ve waited for you. All of you.”

✨✨✨

Thank you so much to Anastasia Daniels and Love Notes PR for the ARC and the opportunity to review.

✨ fated mates
✨ wolf shifters
✨ spicy, sensual trials
✨ from different packs
✨ virgin vs alpha
✨ he’s obsessed, she’s stubborn

Shifter romance isn’t my usual go to, but this was a fun read and was a really good palette cleanser in between some heavier fantasy stories.

I liked the premise, and I feel like the idea of wolves finding their mates during these trials isn’t something I’d read before. The concept actually immediately had me interested, and I thought that the trials were well thought out, involving things like scent and taste. I do wish that they were a little longer though in their chapters so that I could really understand the atmosphere, sometimes I felt like they moved a little too fast.

I liked that what I thought would’ve been the ending, wasn’t though, and kept me guessing towards the end on how things were going to work out. For the most part too, I did really enjoy the characters, I felt like Ember had valid reasons for being stubborn around the mating ceremonies and her worries on losing herself to a mating bond were ones I could understand, that felt realistic. And Thorn was obsessive but not overbearing, which I loved. I do wish we’d seen more of his back story though and why he ended up as Alpha of the Aurora pack, just to give him a bit more context in his defence.

Overall it was a fun and quick read that had a satisfying conclusion and honestly reignited my love for a good shifter romance!

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Julieann · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 / ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2 / 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

To make a long review short(ish) this book is not good. In my mind, the bar is set pretty low with shifter romances to begin with; they're either fantastic or absolutely ridiculous, no in-between. Unfortunately, this story manages to limbo into the later category.

I want to start by saying that a title like 'The Mating Trials' implies that there is a series of challenges that the characters must endure and overcome to come out victorious. That is not the case in this story. "Victory", in this instance, is getting a mate. The "trails" can best be described as ultra horny speed dating. The most challenging part of the trails is the overall awkwardness and trying not to get mated/assaulted against your will in the conclusionary "Chase" at the end of the "trials".

There is no-world building, no lore, weak and inconsistent writing, the characters had no personality other than the FMC was always scared and yet somehow "fiery" and the MMC was an alpha. There were Gods that were briefly mentioned but we get no information about them other than they created the wolf shifters and they frown upon unmated individuals. The majority of the story takes place in the 'Ancient Castle'. No, that's not a nickname, that's literally what it's called. There's also a 'Sacred Tree'. *sigh*

There is constant inconsistencies in the writing where I couldn't definitively tell if the characters were in human or wolf form. Also, during this entire story, all the characters are naked, all the time. There are exactly two scenes where the characters are covered up. I understand the logic behind it, they're wolf shifters; clothing is bound to get destroyed because of said shifting. However, every time there was a serious or vulnerable scene, when I remembered that they were in the buff, it immediately took me out of the story.

I could go on and on about all the other issues of this book but it's just redundant at this point.

[Aria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mating Trials by Anastasia Daniels is a solid paranormal romance with an interesting premise and some compelling moments, but it didn't fully captivate me the way I hoped it would. The concept of mating trials is intriguing and gives the story a clear structure, and there are definitely moments where the tension and chemistry shine.
The romance builds at a reasonable pace, and Daniels creates some interesting dynamics between the characters. The paranormal elements are present and the stakes feel real, which keeps you reading even when the story isn't hitting all the marks.
However, the book felt a bit predictable at times, and some of the characterization didn't reach the depth I was looking for. The pacing had some uneven moments that slowed things down when I wanted more momentum. The writing is good, but it didn't stand out enough to make this a standout read for me.
The Mating Trials is a decent paranormal romance entry that fans of the genre will likely enjoy, especially if you're into trials-based plots and romantic tension.

[Nikki Bogard · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCUSE ME… why did no one prepare me for the chaos that is the Mating Trials?! 😳🐺

The tension? INSANE. The stakes? HIGH. The chemistry? Absolutely off the charts.

Ember wanted absolutely nothing to do with finding a mate, while Thorn was running out of time after TEN YEARS of coming up empty. The push and pull between them had me yelling at my book because the tension was SO GOOD.

And Thorn? A possessive Alpha who would do anything for his mate? Yeah… I folded. 🫠

I loved that the trials weren’t just there for show. Every challenge kept me on edge, and I never knew what was coming next. Add in danger, sizzling chemistry, emotional moments, and enough spice to leave me blushing, and I was completely invested.

This world has so much potential, and now I need the next book because I have QUESTIONS and I’m not ready to leave these characters behind. Someone please hand me book two immediately!

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this story. If it says “shifter” I’m on board. And this was a really unique way of telling this story, and I loved it for that. Wolves living in caves and staying in their natural forms fit the most part. I thought that was pretty cool. I found Ember and Thorn to be a great pair. I loved the back and forth. Everything about this was great. It was intriguing and kept me turning the pages.

[Taylor McClendon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from the author, and I thought the book had a great premise, but very poor delivery unfortunately. The writing is very immature and the plot was not well-developed. I can see the vision of the plot and the world, but there was no character development or depth behind it. This book feels like a first draft to me and has a lot of room for improvement!

[Devin Farnham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute quick book! I’m not super into werewolf shifters but this book definitely keep me interested! If you need something shorter to read and like books with trials of love this book is for you! I would give it 🌶️🌶️ for spice! With things heating up more at the end!

[Pixel Sowelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

so much promise in the beginning and then it just, doesn't deliver at the end?

[Gabby Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the arc 🫶🏼

This story was so fun and exactly what I asked for in a shifter romance! It was easy to follow and kept you right on that edge until the very end!

If you like:

Wolf Shifters
Fated Mates
Hot Trials
And a gothic castle?

Read this!

[Alanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was meh. I did not particularly care for it that much. It was kind of anti-climatic and just there was no chemistry. It moved too slow and too fast all at once. I finished it, but didn't really care about it.

[Ada’s Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review | The Mating Trials: The Alpha by Anastasia Daniels | 3.5⭐️

I finished it in just a couple of hours and honestly could’ve kept reading more. It was such a bingeable read! 📖✨The trials kept things moving, and I really LOVED the whole concept of it since I've never seen it done before. It made the story feel different from your typical wolf shifter romance.

Thorn??? Biggest green flag EVER. 🥹 This man spent ten years searching for his mate and still never tried to force Ember into anything. He respected her choices, gave her space, and just wanted her to choose him because she wanted to. Love a secure alpha. 🐺

LORD, I WOULD HAVE WENT WITH HIM IN A HEARTBEAT! 💓

Ember… girl. 😭 I understood why she was scared. She’d spent her life raising and protecting her younger brother, so the idea of leaving him made sense. But PLEASE just communicate! There were so many moments where one honest conversation would’ve solved everything, and I wanted to shake her a little.😩

I also really enjoyed the trials themselves. The scent and touch trials were probably my favorites, and I liked that each challenge felt a little different instead of it being repetitive.

The only thing that held it back for me was some of the drama. I like the first half becuase it was with other alpha's but the second half felt a bit unnecessary, and I was hoping for a little more from the villains and overall plot.

Also, Ember’s younger brother threw me off at times becuase he either felt younger than his actual age at times or older.🤔

Overall, though, this was a really entertaining paranormal romance with a unique premise, a lovable golden retriever alpha, plenty of tension, and enough action to keep me turning the pages. Thorn absolutely stole the show for me💚

[Simone | simonesbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ Rating: 3.75 rounded up to 4 stars.

✨ The Vibe
Werewolves, fated mates, mating trials, pack politics, a protective Alpha, and enough spice to keep things interesting.

This is the kind of book you pick up when you're in the mood for a quick, fun shifter romance that doesn't take itself too seriously and keeps the pages turning.

📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
Every year, eligible wolves travel to the ancient castle to participate in the Mating Trials and find their fated mates.

For Ember, the trials are anything but exciting. After everything she's survived, finding a mate could mean losing the independence she's worked so hard to build.

For Thorn, the Alpha of his pack, the stakes are equally high. After ten years of participating in the trials without finding his mate, his position as Alpha is beginning to weaken.

As the hundredth Mating Trials begin, both Ember and Thorn have everything to gain—and everything to lose.

🖤 My Reading Experience
I love a good werewolf story. Honestly, the moment I saw mating trials, fated mates, and Alpha wolves, I was sold. Thankfully, this book delivered exactly what I was hoping for.

Was it groundbreaking? No. Was it fun? Absolutely.

One thing I really enjoyed was the length. Most of my fantasy reads are massive books that require a serious commitment, so it was refreshing to pick up something that could easily be finished in a day.

It's fast-paced, easy to read, and perfect for when you're looking for a quick escape. I was rooting for Ember and Thorn almost immediately.

Ember is strong in ways that matter. She has survived a lot on her own, she's fiercely protective of the people she loves, and I especially loved the relationship with her younger brother. His sass alone made him one of my favorite side characters.

Then we have Thorn. *sigh* I am a simple woman. Give me a big, scary Alpha who is secretly patient, respectful, protective, and completely gone for his mate, and I'm happy.

Thorn could have easily fallen into the stereotypical overbearing Alpha role, but instead, he consistently showed respect for Ember's boundaries and choices. He was protective without being controlling, and honestly? We love to see it.

Also, the wolf instincts? Chef's kiss.

💭 What Didn't Fully Work for Me
Because the book is fairly short (around 240 pages), some things naturally move very quickly. The romance leans into insta-love territory, there are a few cheesy moments, and the worldbuilding isn't explored in great depth.

Personally, I didn't mind too much because I knew what kind of story I was picking up, but readers looking for a deeply developed fantasy world may want to adjust their expectations.

The story also has a bit of a high-school bullying feel at times, which isn't normally my favorite thing. It helped move the plot forward, but it wasn't an aspect I particularly loved.

I was also hoping for a little more setup for future books. Dove is getting the next story, which sounds fun, but she largely disappears from the narrative after arriving at the trials. Because of that, I didn't feel quite as invested in her future romance as I might have if we'd spent more time with her.

The same goes for some of the other supporting characters. There were definitely a few personalities that caught my attention, and I would've loved to see them explored a little more.

🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Werewolf shifters
- Fated mates
- Alpha MMC
- Fast-paced romance
- Touch her and die energy
- Spice (🌶️ 2.5/5)

💔 Emotional Impact
Emotional damage level: 2/10.

This was mostly a comfort read. I was here for the wolves, the romance, and watching Thorn completely fall apart over his mate.

🫶 Final Thoughts
Overall, I had a really fun time with Mating Trials: The Alpha. It's a quick, entertaining read that delivers exactly what it promises: werewolves, fated mates, romance, and plenty of chemistry.

Would I have liked more worldbuilding and character development? Sure. Did that stop me from enjoying myself? Not at all.

If you're looking for a cozy, low-commitment shifter romance with a lovable Alpha, a heroine worth rooting for, and enough spice to keep things interesting, this is definitely worth checking out.

📢 Disclosure: Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.


⚠️ SPOILER SECTION — Continue at Your Own Risk!

Seriously.

Spoilers ahead.

🐺

🐺

🐺

Okay.

The biggest thing I kept thinking about after finishing the book was the decision to have Ember reject Thorn after the first Mating Trial.

And honestly? I completely understand why the author chose to do it. It added emotional weight, gave Ember agency, and created another obstacle for the couple to overcome.

That said, I think this is where the story lost a little momentum for me. Once the first trial ended, I felt like we'd already reached what could have been the emotional climax of the book. Going through a second trial felt somewhat repetitive because we were essentially revisiting many of the same conflicts and dynamics, particularly the bullying.

Since I already knew Ember and Thorn would eventually choose each other, some of the tension disappeared for me. Personally, I think I would've preferred one of two directions:

Either a longer, more intense first trial that ended with them choosing each other... Or having them mate after the first trial and spending the rest of the story exploring Ember's adjustment to pack life, her new role, and the challenges that came with it.

That would've kept me on edge a little more. But that's purely personal preference. I completely understand why the story went the direction it did, and I can see how other readers might enjoy the additional emotional journey. It just wasn't quite as impactful for me as the first trial itself.

[Yoru · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a really nice book! I've gotta be a bit nitpicky as it's a first I'm reading from this author but very interested in her writings now, and will definitely recommend it to anyone wanting a wolf shifter mating romance with a kick-ass (but still young, with qualities and flaws that come with it) female lead, with smutty scenes!🥰😏

Firstly, the start was really nice, quite engaging and interesting, with enough information that we don't feel lost but not too much that we have to read 4 or 5pages of description of the world building (which is 100% not my cup of tea and disengage me from my interest of the story real quick usually. Especially if that happens more than once. So very pleased the storybuilding of Mating Trials at the start is not like that!)

The fact that they both have great qualities AND big flaws, make them great characters imo! (Whether I'm super annoyed by those flaws or not is another matter (yes I was, very much so sometimes😅🤣🫠), same with the fact that some of those qualities 100% got my "partner check list" approval eheheh xD (oh my god, don'tget me started with that🤤😍)

Ah but there's something that disturbed me greatly, and it was around the start :
Around 9% of the book (I read the ARC via BookFunel) there's this sentence : "I partially shift my head and neck to human form to yell [...]"....huh, well, lemme tell you, that sounds weird af xD. Slighty huh well, disgusting ? To picture. And, when I read, I imagine the things that is happening in the book yk so to see that I'm like mmmmmmmmh yeah weird af lol you could have done the telepathy link while in wolf form thingy or another thing, so they somehow understand each other as wolves irl do (with wolves noises, scent and body language) but oh well.... I was crossing fingers that there'll be no romantic scene with that kind of shift, so my head isn't filled with weirdly disgusting pictures lol and lemme reassure you, all is good. It is actually the only sentence that hint that they discuss while in wolf that way. So all good for me. Still, at 9%, that was kind of a jumpscare yk 🤣😅

(WARNING: slight spoilers! From here on:)

Another thing is, the first time the priest "warn" Thorn, I felt like... that was kinda stupid. Like, it sounds like the priest is accusing him of being picky and indecisive, and that the gods have shown him a mate for super long and they have grown impatient of his indecisiveness lol when in fact it'll be the first (after 10yrs) that he'll see his future mate at all lol. Definitely a weird threat yk. Doesn't make much sense to me you know...

Also, I still don't understand why Thorn didn't like at least exile (as he didn't want to kill) the stupid agitators. Like they contributed nothing, they only undermined him and his authority.
Let them survive in the harsh winter alone and see how it is to be "Alpha" and have responsibilities but no skills loool. So stupid imo that he kept them.
But I guess, I still more time, and so, more books eheheh, to understand a bit more how the Alpha world, and their rules, works...

For the rest, It was really great and I would still recommend it greatly!
My favorite trial is definitely the Scent one!!! Omg it sounded so damn hoooooot🔥🔥🔥😍🤤🔥🔥😍 I've got a thing for scent so that trial is MADE for me lol I mean, one of the main things I love about my partner is his scent🥰 and that whole scene? Holy Wet Panties ! *fan herself and swoon* got me all hot and bothered lemme tell ya 😏😏

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book. #thematingtrials #thenerdfam

ARC provided by TheNerdFam in exchange for an honest review

[Raquel Garces · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this through Love Notes PR which I am forever grateful for.


It wasn't ''blow my mind'' amazing but it also wasn't terrible either. I've read worse.

What I liked;

It was about wolf shifters, fated mates, had trials. The dynamic between Ember and her brother was heartwarming and the concept of the Mating Trials had potential.

The back story of the main female character, Ember, was tragic but I wish there had been more about it. She lost her parents during an Alpha challenge and was left to care for her younger brother.


The problems;

What I didn't quite understand was why she didn't receive any help in this situation. She was seriously injured but also left as an outcast.

The mating trials happened every year and any wolf 18 and over were eligible/required to travel to the location and participate.

Sounds cool?

Again, I was slightly confused when it was mentioned that some returned after a year of finding a mate. Were mates not for life? What was the point of finding a ''mate'' if it could be temporary?

Thorne was an Alpha who had attended 10 mating trials, so I was confused on his age. Was he 28? was he older? younger? It wasn't exactly clear. There was pressure for him to find a mate because apparently all other Alpha's were mated except him.

The trials were, rudimentary. They involved a Howling trial, Taste, Smell, Touch, and a Chase.

Each wolf howled. Ok...cool...It seemed like only Ember and Thorne were actually affected by each others song, no one else seemed to have the same reaction.

Taste, Smell and Touch all happened with blindfolds on to try to ''learn'' your mate.

The Chase was the final trial where the females were told to reach a ''sacred tree'' while the males chased them down. If they were caught, they were mated, but the first to get to the tree, could pick whoever they wanted. So...why the Chase in the first place if you knew who you wanted and could just stand there and wait?

By the way, everyone was naked, the entire time. Yes that's normal for shifters but it was weird in the sense that they lived in caves while the ''humans'' were modern society. If they were shifters, why weren't they also living among the humans?


Ember brought her 8 year old brother along. EIGHT!! Around wolf shifters who were trying to mate. I did not like that at all. There were times were he would seem older, maybe 14, and that would have made way more sense than 8. 8 was just way too young to be in that sexually charged environment.

Ember and Thorne had several weird interactions at first. She kept saying she only went because it was required and she didn't actually want a mate, but then her attraction to Thorne made her kind of want to be his mate.

Minor twist; Ember was a virgin and apparently that's unheard of at the trials and when she was cut and her blood was spilt, it drove all the males mad but only a few attempted to do anything.

Like I said, it wasn't amazing but it wasn't terrible either.

[123_Romantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️
2🌶️

Thank you to the author for an e-arc of this book!

This is short (240 pages) and quick read if you enjoy wolf shifters and a romance competition.

Ember is eligible for her first year of the Mating Trials. Once a year, all unmated wolves from all the northern packs gather to participate in trials meant to find their mates and produce the strongest offspring. These trials rely on a wolf’s biggest sensory senses: sound, scent, taste, and cultivating at the end with the chase to feed their need of hunt.

Ember is not looking for a mate. She has a little brother that relies on her and if she finds a mate from another pack, she’ll have to leave him behind and they have been each other’s rocks since their parents died 5 years ago. Her goal is to make it through the trials without being claimed.

Thorn is an Alpha entering in his 10th trial. He’s the only unmated Alpha, but he doesn’t just want a warm body to produce heirs, he’s waiting for his true mate, and believes in the trials process. He doesn’t care how long it takes to meet his true mate, even if he’s being threatened for challenge from all sides due to being unmated.

When one is desperate for their one true mate and the other is desperate to avoid it at all costs, what will happen when their worlds finally collide?

I enjoyed the concept of this book. If anything, its biggest fault was it is too short and could use some more world building and development. It’s a super quick and easy read and was a good time to read no question, but it flew through most of the trials and we didn’t really get to see a ton of character development all around. I would have really liked to get to know more about the different wolf packs. And one thing that confused me was about Ember was her parents’ deaths. It happened during the last Alpha challenge 5 years ago, but I’m confused if they were part of the challenge or were the ones challenged or if they just got caught in the crosshairs of it? Again, more development of the characters and the world would have helped push the stars up for me.

Thorn is definitely a green flag MMC. At the end of the day, no matter what, he wants his mate to CHOOSE him and he won’t force anything on them. And we see that plenty of times in here.

There is lots of sexual tension for sure and there is spice 🌶️ I was hoping for more but it satisfied me. Since it was a short book, it didn’t feel drawn out forever. It is more insta-love but I think for the world and the aura of their society, it makes sense.

This is going to be book 1 of an interconnected series per the author. The next book is going to focus on Ember’s friend, Dove. I will continue to read this series but hope the author dives more into the world building!

[Erin Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.25-3.5 / 5 🌟
🌶️/ 5
The Mating Trials is a fun shifter romance with quick pacing! I read in over a rainy morning

Upon turning 18, shifter law require all unmated wolves in the northern region from Alaska to Maine to participate in the annual Mating Trials. Intended to identify fated mates for strong offspring, the trials involve testing mates for compatibility with the song of the howl, scent, touch, taste, and ends in a race to the Sacred tree for wolves to claim their mates or for the fastest female to pick her mate.

“His scent, a mix of pine and winterberry. It smells like solstice. Like sitting around the fire…it smells like a memory I thought I’d lost”

This is Ember’s first year she is eligible to participate and she does not want a mate, because it means being forced to leave her brother behind to join her Mate’s pack. He is her only family left after they lost both parents unexpectedly in a Challenge.

She smells like “cedarwood and jasmine”

Thorn is the Alpha in Alaska’s aurora pack, and it’s his 10th mating trial looking for his fated mate. He won’t settle for less, even if that means potentially losing his alpha status in his pack.

A virgin wolf is said to make a great devoted mate, setting off every male primal instinct and Ember now has a target on her back.

I was in the mood for a shifter romance, and this book absolutely delivered all the vibes in a quick, entertaining read. I really enjoyed the premise of the trials, I thought it spoke well to the wolves senses and created plenty of action and conflict. I was definitely rooting for Ember and Thorn throughout the story. That said, the brevity of the book (around 240 pages) naturally led to a fast pace, which leaned into insta-love and some cheesy moments while sacrificing some worldbuilding and character development. Still, I appreciated that Ember pushed against fate in support of her family and came across as a strongwilled, capable FMC. If you’re looking for a fast-paced shifter romance novella with trials and plenty of tension, I think you’ll really enjoy this one. The storyline kept me entertained the whole way through, and I’d definitely read this author again.

🐺 virgin FMC x alpha MMC
🐺 wolf shifter romance
🐺 fated mates
🐺 trials
🐺 touch her and die

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted books.
#thematingtrials #thenerdfam"

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I would like to thank the author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I greatly appreciate the chance to experience this story before its release.

The Mating Trials is a fast-paced, easy read that is perfect if you’re looking for something light and engaging between heavier books. While the world-building is relatively minimal, the information provided about the mating trials and the surrounding lore creates a strong foundation and leaves plenty of room for further exploration in future installments of the series.

What I found particularly interesting was the unique take on werewolf society. Unlike many popular werewolf romances that focus heavily on pack politics, alpha dynamics, or modern-day settings, this story presents a different way of life and social structure for its characters. The concept of the mating trials adds an interesting layer to the romance and creates a setting that feels distinct from many other books in the genre.

The story follows both the FMC and MMC through dual POVs as they navigate the seasonal mating trials, whether they are participating for the first time or returning for another chance. The dual perspectives work well, allowing readers to understand each character’s motivations, emotions, and decision-making processes. I found it easy to connect with both main characters because the author gave them enough depth and emotional development to make their journeys feel meaningful.

While some of the side characters could have benefited from additional development, the overall structure of the story suggests there is ample opportunity for them to be expanded upon as the interconnected series continues. The author leaves enough unanswered questions and unexplored aspects of the world to make me curious about where future books will take both the characters and the larger story.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with this book and found it to be a fun, quick read with likable main characters, a refreshing take on werewolf romance, and plenty of potential for future stories. I would give The Mating Trials 4.5 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to readers looking for an entertaining paranormal romance that can be enjoyed in just a few sittings. Lastly, there is spice and I would give it 3.5 out of 5 on the spice level.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of this book. I am leaving an honest review.
This book had an interesting premise. Wolf shifter groups live all around, but all travel (when of age) to a central location for mating games to find a mate. However, there were a few things that made this different.
1) The shifter groups lived almost feral and almost caveman-like (or simplistic if you prefer that). They went around naked, lived in caves, or in other natural fortifications, and hunted for food. I'm not sure I really cared for this. It came across a little backwards, especially when we got to the next point.
2) The central location is a castle. The only actual building, it seems, has a library, furniture like actual beds, yet all these shifter groups live without? Just didn't make sense.
3) They walk around in nudity yet are required to dress for the initial dinner and then make an outfit as part of a trial to show resourcefulness? What would be the point if it's contrary to their normal life?
4) In many cases the mate choices would go and live together for a short term before breaking up and going their separate ways, which made the mate trials seem more like a get-together to show off for one another in hopes of finding someone rather than an opportunity at a fated mate

There was spice which at points was off-putting because the only thing I could think of was how often the characters would be covered in grime and not really have a good hygiene history so that was always in the back of my mind as things were going on cause like - not exactly my cup of tea to be covered in who know what and then someone putting their mouth all over it (bleh).

I also got annoyed with the FMC always using her brother as a shield for not going after her own happiness. Like, why couldn't she just say "my brother comes with me" and let that be a rule for her?

It had some good foundations for the world with different wolves from different areas and what that could look like. The trials themselves an attempt to bring together mates. I would have liked to know more about why some had buildings or more advanced structures (treetop living), and others did not. I liked where it went towards the end with our main characters fighting for each other. It pulled me in to root for them, and I would have liked to see a lot more of that throughout the book.

[Gabby Fitzgibbon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mating Trials was such an addictive read and completely delivered on the fated mates wolf shifter romantasy vibes I was hoping for. From the very beginning, the storyline pulled me in, and I really loved how emotionally driven the backstories were. The book did a great job of balancing action, romance, and heartache in a way that kept me invested the entire time.

Ember and Thorn had amazing chemistry. It was spicy enough to keep things exciting without completely overtaking the plot, which I appreciated. And as someone who absolutely loves the “touch her and die” trope, Thorn’s protectiveness of Ember and her purity had me hooked. One of my favorite moments was Thorn deciding to let Roman join his pack because it showed such a softer, more compassionate side to his character. I love a good sappy yet fierce Alpha.

I’ll admit, the miscommunication trope throughout the second half drove me a little crazy at times, but in a weird way it made the payoff even more satisfying once everything was finally out in the open and they completed their mating bond. That emotional release was worth the frustration. That being said, I did notice a few inconsistencies that pulled me out of the story for a moment. In the beginning of chapter 7, Thorn mentions Olcan disrespecting “her and her brother,” but only a few lines later he questions whether Roman is her son because she’s a virgin. Then later on Roman is referred to as her “little companion” before immediately being identified as her brother. Those moments had me backtracking to make sure I hadn’t missed something.

I also felt like the pacing in the second half became rushed compared to the strong buildup in the first half. The beginning took its time developing the world, the characters, and the tension, but then suddenly everything moved so quickly toward the ending. Don’t get me wrong, the ending was fire, emotional, and definitely spicy… I just wish some of the events leading up to it had been given a little more room to breathe. Overall though, I still really enjoyed this story and ended up giving it 4 stars. I’m definitely excited to see what the author writes next.

Rated: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book.

[Adele Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5/5
Spice: 3/5
Tropes/themes: werewolves, fated mates, trials, paranormal, virgin FMC

Every year all eligible wolves (single and of age) attend the mating trials where they have the opportunity to find a partner. The trials are more to help match wolves, like listening to their wolf song, smelling their scent blindfolded, using touch to see if you are mates. The last trial is more of a 'fight to the death' situation.

It is Ember's first time at the trials, and she brings with her no desire to mate and leave her brother behind alone. Ever since they lost their parents in an alpha challenge gone wrong, Ember is wary of alphas and unwilling to leave her brother. She is also a virgin and doesn't know what she's getting herself into.

Thorn is an alpha who has failed to find a mate at the trials after many years and his standing as alpha is being called into question without a mate to strengthen his position and further his line.

As Ember and Thorn attend each trial, they are immediately drawn to one another. They have many obstacles: Ember has other males interested, Thorn's pack is sabotaging him, and Ember doesn't know if she's ready for an alpha mate.

Overall, this was a good story: interesting, exciting, some great tension and yearning. There was not a lot of character development. We didn't get to the bottom of either main character - all issues were pretty surface level. There was a small arc with Ember, but I wasn't entirely invested in her character because I didn't know her well emotionally. There was a whole scene where the only thing she has left of her mother, the seashell, is broken and she runs away with the pieces. I expected there to be a flashback of her mother, some kind of insight into her feelings. But the next scene isn't even about her and it's never addressed again. That would have been a great opportunity to further the reader's understanding and buy-in to that character.

Pretty good, pretty short read.

[Ashy Khaira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going into this book, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I ended up having a lot of fun with it. The concept immediately pulled me in, and it gave me strong Hunger Games vibes with a paranormal twist. Throw in the mating trials, supernatural politics, and plenty of spice, and it made for a story that was difficult to put down.

One of the biggest highlights for me was Thorne. He was easily my favourite character, and I found myself looking forward to every scene he was in. Ember, on the other hand, was much harder for me to connect with. She reminded me of another FMC who constantly frustrated me, and while I understood some of her internal struggles, they often became repetitive enough that they took me out of the story.

The book started off incredibly strong and had me completely captivated. However, as I kept reading, it began to feel like too much time was spent on the same conflicts. The first half was largely focused on Ember debating whether or not she even wanted a mate, while the second half revolved around her trying to fend off the widowed mates from the Aurora Pack following the events that occurred in the year between the two mating trials. Although those plot points were important, I found myself wishing they had moved a little quicker to keep the momentum going.

That being said, I really enjoyed the overall premise. The idea of the 100th Mating Trials introducing additional challenges and higher stakes made the competition feel fresh, and the world-building kept me invested throughout. It blended action, romance, spice, and paranormal elements into something that felt like a supernatural version of The Hunger Games, and I had a great time reading it despite a few pacing issues.

Overall, this was an entertaining read with an engaging concept, memorable characters, and enough twists to keep me hooked. If you enjoy spicy paranormal romance with survival game elements, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mating Trials by Anastasia Daniels

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 Stars)

I was in the mood for a fun shifter romance, and The Mating Trials delivered exactly that. I flew through this in just a few hours and still wanted more!

🐺 What to Expect
• Wolf Shifter Romance
• Fated Mates
• Mating Trials
• Alpha MMC × Virgin FMC
• Dual POV
• Touch Her and Die
• Fast-Paced Romance

The premise immediately hooked me. Every unmated wolf must compete in the annual Mating Trials to find their fated mate, but Ember wants nothing to do with it. Choosing a mate would mean leaving behind the only family she has left—her brother. Thorn, meanwhile, has spent years searching for his fated mate and refuses to settle for anything less.

One of my favorite parts of this book was Thorn. He is the definition of a green flag. Despite believing Ember is his mate, he never forces her hand and always gives her the freedom to make her own choice. Even better, Ember chooses herself first, and I absolutely loved that about her.

The trials themselves were a lot of fun and kept the story moving with plenty of action, tension, and romance. I also enjoyed the fresh take on werewolf society. Instead of focusing solely on pack politics, the mating traditions and lore gave the world its own unique identity.

Because it's a shorter novel, the pacing is very quick, which does mean some insta-love and less time for world-building or side character development. I would have loved to spend more time with these characters and learn even more about the world, but it never took away from my overall enjoyment.

If you're looking for a fast, entertaining paranormal romance with lovable characters, exciting trials, and a swoon-worthy alpha who actually respects the FMC's choices, I definitely recommend giving this one a read.

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for providing an ARC for review.

[Natacha Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

EN: It took me a while to get into the story, I admit, but I’m not really used to the whole wolf-shifter thing.
The book spans two years and two mating ceremonies (I really dislike that term in Portuguese), and Ember is determined to leave without a mate.
Ember has come of age, so she is participating in these challenges for the first time. Thorn, on the other hand, is an alpha from another pack, and this is his tenth year looking for a mate.
They are complete opposites in what they’re looking for and have an age gap, yet they share the same determined spirit.
I really liked the characters—especially the fact that they never lost their true selves throughout the book. Thorn repeatedly demonstrates why he is an Alpha, while Ember learns to let herself rely on someone else (just a little, though—this girl has a fiery spirit).
It left me very curious to read more in this genre and to explore more of the author's work.


PT:
Demorei a entrar na história, admito, mas também não estou muito habituada a isto de wolf shifters e assim.
Este livro é dividido em 2 anos, 2 cerimónias de acasalamento (não gosto nada deste nome em português), e está determinada a sair sem ninguém.
Ember atingiu a maioridade, pelo que vai participar pela primeira vez nestes desafios. Já Thorn, é um alpha doutra matilha, e é o seu 10º ano à procura de uma companheira.
Completamente opostos no que procuram, com uma diferença de idades, mas o mesmo espírito determinado.
Gostei muito dos personagens e, principalmente, de nunca mudarem a sua essência ao logo do livro. Thorn mostra diversas vezes o porquê de ser um Alpha, e Ember aprende a deixar-se depender (um bocadinho, pois o fogo desta moça é gigante) de outra pessoa.
Fiquei muito curiosa em ler mais coisas deste género, e de conhecer mais da autora.

[Krista Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any exciting and quick read diving into a world full of shifters and two wolves who just want to find their mate.

You follow the FMC, who has finally gotten old enough to enter the annual mating trials, and after the loss of her parents, has been the caretaker for her young brother and had to fend for herself. She’s not sure if she is really ready for a mate, especially if it will take her away from her home as the trials is made up of packs all across the northern part of the continent, but she doesn’t really have a choice. Since it’s the 100th anniversary, the trials will cover all the senses plus a ball for them to figure out their mate. In comes a broody alpha, whos looking for only his fated mate and thus this will be his 10th trial because he refuses to settle for anything less. All set in a gothic castle, the pair much each navigate their own hurdles and self doubt and hopefully find someone they were fated to mate with, maybe even each other.

I really liked the MMC, and how even though he could somewhat tell right away who his mate was, he let her have the space to decide and be ready for this on her own, especially after her secret was revealed to everyone at the opening of the trials. I also really enjoyed all the trials and obstacles the pair had to face to get to each other and the element of a bit of a chase. The FMC is strong for all she survived on her own and clearly cares deeply for those she loves like her little brother (whose sass makes him one of my faves) and I was glad with her ending after everything that happened. Overall this was quick and fun read, my rating 4/5!

Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!

[BookishBee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the NerdFam for this eARC!

I was super excited about this book; the concept of Werewolves and trials pulled me in.
The beginning was really well done; I found myself pulled in to know all about the tragic backstory and dynamics of the different packs. However, I found the background really lacking, and I wanted to know more about what happened to Ember's parents, but we got a small summary that did not really tell why her parents died, just the incident it occurred in.
When we get to the Mating trials, I found it went by really quickly, with each chapter flying by and not much flow between scenes. At times I felt like I was reading a summary report of what occurred and really wished we got a bit more details between each trial. I loved that Ember refused any mates at the end of year one, as it would allow her to grow a bit more and come to terms with the trauma she was carrying.
I hoped we would get some story between year 1 and year 2; however, we jump right back into the mating trials, with Ember ready to leave her home to be with Thorn, but no backstory on how she came to that decision.
I read the second part fairly quickly as it was a lot of repeat from year 1, but with more sabotage. The spice was really well written in the book; even though I cringed at some of the wording of it, I would rate it a 2.5/5 on a spice scale.

Overall, I was really excited for this book; however, I really wish it was longer so that there was more space to fill in the time jumps and give more descriptions and backstory. If you are looking for a quick shifter romance, I would recommend this book; I believe I finished it in about 2 hours.