Foundling

Monstrous World #6

by S.E. Wendel

She wasn’t supposed to survive…

Far down the line of succession, Leita was perfectly unremarkable amongst her powerful family. That was, until the line was extinguished in a single night. Now the last of the royal fae, Leita must wear the crown she stole and break her people of their subsistence on magic.

Surrounded by suspicious courtiers and a capital in ruins, Leita's only solace is a seer's promise—that her dream of love and a family will someday come true.

Everyone wants him dead…

All Attalus Princeps wants is to live—not the simplest thing when his eldest brother is the cruel king of dragons. Being the affable, carefree one of his many siblings has kept Attalus alive; no one bothers plotting with or against him, and that’s just fine.

Except, now someone has. Or, that’s what the king thinks, and there’s no reasoning with him. Flight is a wounded Attalus’s only hope. But the fates must have a sense of humor, for even as he lays dying, the life he knew reduced to ash, he finds himself exactly where he needs to be. With her.

A love forged in fire and fate…

Leita isn’t what the faelands needs but all it has. This dragon claiming to be her mate isn’t what she imagined nor wished for. But she’ll have what she was promised, and no fae, no ancient magic, not even an enraged dragon king will take it from her.


Fans of Grace Draven, Ruby Dixon, and SJM will love this epic, steamy monster romance story! Check the author's website for content and trigger warnings. Mature content intended for readers 18+.
Book 6 stands on its own but will best be enjoyed after Faeling.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Romantasy, Fiction, Fae, Dragons

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2026

About the author

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

Reviews

[Book Worm · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[Lindsey_reads_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

First all, I LOVE HER BOOKS! Thank you so much for having me on your team for the past 3 years! You are now my most read indie author!

It was so cozy to go back into this world. I love standalone interconnected series, and this one is a favorite. I love fated mates, Leita and Attalus are beautiful together. Have you seen Her art for the book??!! OMG, divine!

It’s a first meet-instant bond. Attalus is a shameless flirt with Leita. She is scared of losing more people in her life, but with Attalus worshiping her, she lets him in. They both have troubles and fears to work through but it’s a beautiful story.

Wendel is amazing with the romance of bonding two characters and building their relationship with trust, friendship, love and intimacy. I eat up her books, I swoon at the banter and flirting.

Leita’s blush reignited. “If I told you I was, would you fly far, far away?” “No,” he replied, “I’d just have to try harder to persuade you into a bed.” ….. “You are a vexing creature,” she sighed. “So I’m told,” he chuckled.

[Faith | bookswith_faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars to the latest installment of monstrous world series! i adore these books, and each couple is so lovable and special, with Leita and Attalus being no exception!
this book follows our dragon shifter MMC who is nearly killed by his family, only to be miraculously saved by our FMC and his subsequent mate, and new fae queen, Leita.
this book had political intrigue, an exciting adventure, healing trauma, adorable animal companions, and swoony romance that will have you drooling.
Leita faces many challenges of taking over the old evil queen’s reign, while navigating an unexpected (sort of?) mate bond on top of it. her character arc was so fantastic.
i loved Attalis’s devotion to his mate, and sweet yet hilarious personality. hot dragon in a kilt? i’m sold.
Slinky was the CUTEST, and i absolutely loveeeddd Thalia, her relationship with Leita was everything. their silly dialogue was big highlight for me.
thank you to the author for the ARC, all opinions are my own

[feliciaslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ⭐️
ARC review

Foundling is the newest entry to the monstrous series and i had a great time reading this book. This time around we follow a fae queen fmc and a charming dragon mmc.
Attalus (mmc) is funny, playful, and overall a charming character that is going to make you love him within a heartbeat. And Leita (fmc), who’s the quite opposite of attalus, is realistic, loyal, and determined to make the right choicefor her people, yet having walls around her for protecting herself from getting hurt. Our girl has been through it.

I love the contrast between these two characters. Attalus who’s very charismatic and Leita who’s a little more feisty. Attalus sure had to put some work into eventually breaking down Leita’s wall for her trust. And once they get past that point, they fall for each other fast and hard. The protectiveness, the tension, the love between Leita and Attalus was palpable. I adore them so much!!
And as in true S.E. Wendel style, we have two cute animal companions on the team and I loved them so much. Thalia and Slinky has my heart 🥹

A big thank you to Sarah for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. All of my feelings and thoughts are my own 🫶🏻

Tropes:
🪽 fantasy monster romance
🐉 grumpy x sunshine (reverse)
🪽 fated mates
🐉 caretaking
🪽 pierced mmc
🐉 cute animal companions

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I literally downloaded goodreads again for this. SE you are KILLING me here. I’ve never read an author like this that can write not one, not two, but SEVEN compelling romances with some of my all-time favorite world building AT THE SAME TIME?!? I am dying to know what comes next in this world! Seriously, she hasn’t had a miss yet!

Anyways, Leita and Attalus are my second favorite couple so far (after Ravenna and Vallek) but only just. They have the tropes, they have the steam, but best of all, they have two things I am very interested in: a new age for their queendom and the rebirth of the fae, and a future half fae half dragon kiddo coming sometime in the future. I’m praying for an iridescent dragon with butterfly wings here. Seven year old fantasy obsessed me is screaming at the prospect.

I adore SE’s work and will read anything she puts out. I wish her every success and hope she someday gets as big as Sarah Maas, she well deserves it.

[Drey Blackbeak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sosososososo good no sé si mi *favorito* de la saga, pero top 3 (o top 2) 100%

Me ha encantado Leita, me ha encantado Attalus, me ha encantado Thalia, me ha encantado Slinky, me ha encantado todo. SE Wendel sirviendo, como siempre.

[Ashley Keeton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite in the series, but I still really enjoyed it.

[Morgan · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I love this world so much, and have come to the decision that this series is a Romantasy comp for the Paranormal Romance series IAD.

Rtc
⭐4.5
🌶️3
Dual 3rd person POV

[Quilted.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this one I’m not even joking it probably is now my favorite which I am as shocked as you are to have it go against a orc romance lol. Leita was never supposed to be queen but after her entire royal family is wiped out in one night she suddenly becomes the last of the fae royal line. Now she has to wear the crown protect her people and figure out how to survive with enemies surrounding her. Then she meets Attalus a dragon shifter prince who is trying to stay alive under his cruel brother’s rule. When fate brings them together neither of them are prepared for the connection that follows. I completely fell in love with Attalus! The way wendel writes her characters it is really hard not to love them. Immediately. You had me at dragon shifter prince and fae queen. I absolutely adore this author and i am always so thankful to be part of her street team. If you haven’t read her work yet you are seriously missing out! The Monstrous Worlds series is one of my favorite monster romance series. This book is Intended for 18+ as a warning.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a perfect ending to a perfect series. There wasn’t a single moment where I wanted to put the book down. I love their relationship and seeing how they change to make each other better.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just didn’t really feel the romance in this one. H was committed the whole time and h went from scared of committing to willing to go to war overnight. It made no sense why H would love her, and it seemed like h was more enamored with the idea of a family and partner rather than H. I'm so disappointed bc I was so excited at the thought of a dragon fae romance book.

Plot:
- h, Leita, is a fae far down the line of succession who is perfectly unremarkable among her powerful family until the whole royal line is wiped out in a single night
- as the last of the royal fae she wears a crown she stole and has to break her people of living off magic, surrounded by suspicious courtiers and a capital in ruins
- her only comfort is a seer's promise that her dream of love and a family will someday come true
- H, Attalus Princeps, is the affable, carefree brother of the cruel king of dragons, and he has stayed alive by being harmless, since no one plots with or against him
- the dragon king decides someone is plotting against him and blames H, and there's no reasoning with him, so H flees badly wounded
- H takes shelter in a cave in the fae lands, where he ends up with h, and she now has a dragon claiming to be her mate
- h swears no fae, no ancient magic, and no enraged dragon king will take what she was promised from her
- h leaves H alone in the cave for a while
- the poison in H's body makes him badly sick while she's gone
- h comes back horrified that she almost lost him
- h takes H to the castle and works out how to deal with the dragons

[Lissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of Foundling. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A huge thank you to S.E. Wendel for selecting me to be part of the ARC team for Foundling. This is actually my first-ever ARC, which makes this one especially meaningful to me. I've read and enjoyed all of the previous books in the Monstrous World series, so getting the opportunity to read and review a new book in a world I've already come to love before its release made the experience even more special.

One of my favorite things about S.E. Wendel's Monstrous World series is how connected each book feels. Every story gives us a new couple, but the characters and pieces of the larger world continue to weave in and out of each other's stories. Foundling continues that while also giving us another glimpse at the bigger mystery developing underneath everything.

Attalus is charming, lovable, affectionate, and probably the character who won me over the most in this book. He's a dragon prince who has experienced a lot of loss and betrayal, and underneath his charm there's someone who genuinely wants a place to belong. I loved how readily he embraced his bond with Leita and how naturally he stepped into being her partner.

I especially loved Attalus as Leita's consort. Leita is the queen, and Attalus never seems threatened by that or concerned with proving that he's the more powerful person in their relationship. Instead, he takes the experience he gained from growing up as a prince and uses it to support her. Whether he's helping with her wardrobe, making improvements around the palace, or handling details of royal life that Leita hasn't necessarily paid much attention to, he takes pride in making her life easier. Some of those responsibilities could easily be viewed as traditionally domestic, but Attalus doesn't treat them as beneath him. He's secure in who he is, and I really enjoyed that about his character.

Leita, on the other hand, is fiercely independent, guarded, powerful, and very accustomed to handling things on her own. She's spent centuries protecting herself, and you can see how difficult it is for her to suddenly make room for someone else in her life. Where Attalus is much more willing to embrace their bond, Leita has to work through the walls she's built around herself.

And I'm not going to lie—she frustrated me sometimes. 😂 Leita has a tendency to operate from fear, especially where Attalus is concerned. Her instinct is to protect him at all costs, and while I understood where that came from, there were moments when protecting him crossed into taking away his ability to make his own choices. Attalus wanted to stand beside her and fight with her, not be kept out of harm's way, and I completely understood his frustration.

At the same time, that made watching Leita slowly open her heart to him even more satisfying. She has to learn how to trust someone enough to let him stand beside her instead of trying to carry and control everything herself. I also loved seeing her become protective of Attalus and watching their relationship develop into more of a true partnership.

Beyond the romance, I'm really intrigued by the larger story S.E. Wendel continues to build throughout this series. There are familiar characters, connections to previous books, and unanswered questions that make it clear there's more happening in this world than what we're seeing in any one couple's story. By the end of Foundling, I was already wondering where all of these threads are eventually going to lead.

Foundling was another really enjoyable addition to the Monstrous World series. I loved being back in this world, I really enjoyed Leita and Attalus together, and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where S.E. Wendel takes the larger story next.

[Beth’s Book Collection · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He'd let her chew him up if it meant wearing her mark."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶.5

What you'll find in this book:
• Messy Royals
• Fated Mates
• Touch Him/Her and Die
• Banter as Foreplay
• Grumpy/Sunshine
• He Falls First/Pathetically Down Bad
• She's Scary and He Likes It
• "You Talk Too Much"

Every time I read a book written by Sarah I feel like a broken record in the best possible way. This book, as I am sure will come to no shock of anyone familiar with this series, was absolutely amazing. I loved returning to this world, I was so easily re-immersed into a tale filled with a whole host of new characters and a few returning characters to provide a fresh story set in the kingdom of the fae. This book was everything I look for in a monster romance, the perfect balance of fantasy, magical, spice, great storytelling and of course monsters. Sarah continues to expand this world in a way that feels natural, providing us with newness to keep us hooked while still feeling the comfort of a familiar world and some familiar characters to return to.

Balancing the lore of the fae and the dragon shifters, this book allows us to learn more about dragon shifters, their hierarchy and a whole new kingdom to discover, while also learning more about the fae magical system. I enjoyed reading Leita and Attalus’ story. How a grumpy vs sunshine dynamic that takes a while to break down, and give the connection between them room to grow, gives us a love story that is hard fought for. With Leita and Attalus both having pasts that have left them scarred, it is so interesting to read as they learn more about each other as they learn more about themselves.

Leita is headstrong, fiercely independent and struggling to connect with the magic of the far after being away for so long. Determined to do what is right for her people after the promise of getting what she wants more than anything else if she does. Attalus is all banter, cracking jokes and forever jovial, he is the complete opposite to Leita in every way. He has that possessive side though that only comes out for Leita which I feel like rounds his character off really well. It is there differences that make them balance eachother so well, Attalus understands the pressure Leita finds herself under and is determined to be her pillar. Their relationship development was one of my favourite parts of the story, I loved how Leita especially at the beginning really was not Attalus' biggest fan but how this changes over the course of the book.

With an abundance of political intrigue and a numerous amounts of obstacles stacked in their way, the question becomes whether they can overcome it all by each others sides, or will the past that clearly haunts them both get in the way before they can really get started. I loved how Sarah weaves this journey together, with so many factors influences the state of play of events in a way that kept me hooked from start to finish and had me completing this in one sitting.

Thank you so much to S. E. Wendel for sending me an e-ARC to read and review early.

Author: S. E. Wendel
Series: Monstrous World
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: August 30th, 2026
Pages: 447

[thv · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ / 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I too would like a tall af dragon mate puhleaseeee 😭

I was in a mood of reading something fantasy given that it’s October and I went into this book with very low expectations and I’ve given myself a chance to like drop it if it’s not my cup of tea and surprisingly it was and I ate it up 🙂‍↕️🤭

Attalus & Leita

Attalus is a quadruple threat like this man is charming af, has wings, a tail and tall af 😭 actually there’s more so can’t even consider it as quadruple, just genuine threat. Attalus had this air of like everything is going to be okay like Attalus gives off such a vibe of like yeah I can depend on him 🙂‍↕️. Attalus was so charming eventho man was in his deathbed and still managed to satisfy her TWICE 😭🤤. I love that the second Attalus was introduced to her court he blended in so seamlessly like that man was ready to be prince consort🙂‍↕️. That man does not Leita is so complex yet so simple like I love her so much, I loved watching her navigate being a queen while also juggling her mate and trying to please her people. Leita is so funny as well, her writing to Ravenna had me laughing my ass off. They make such a good pair.

This is my first fantasy book in like a year or so and I gotta say I’m seeing the hype now. I don’t normally read third POV writing style and I also went in thinking lemme try reading two chapters and see if I like it and I actually did enjoy it at first it was a bit hard but I got the hang of it 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️. The plot was so good like I was sat down and I was also praying that it wasn’t a cliffhanger and it wasn’t 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️. I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t understand what was going on since there’s already 5 books in this series but there was a lil recap moment at the start of the book which was very helpful and these books are like interconnected standalones. I genuinely enjoyed reading this book and i loved the banter, the ups and downs, and I loved how they both are royalty and have overthrown kings and queens like so much similarities. Araxos coming after Attalus did feel like was odd and then it made sense and Leita had the chance to kill him but instead she chose to cure him was a good diplomatic choice and I also amused how the second Araxos mind cleared he instantly went to scolding them and apologising 😂. The spicy scenes omg jaw dropping like this is my first time reading fantasy smut and my jaw was on the floor 🤤 and the fact the man was pierced I was speechless 🤭.

I’m guessing the next book is Araxos and a fae that he has locked up under his castle which I’m already side eyeing lol.

10/10 would recommend

[lo | chapterswithlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

arc review ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

✉︎ there’s truly nothing like riding a dragon…

5 stars ★★★★★

𖦹 my review, very minor spoilers? | i loveeee this book! as soon as i heard dragon months ago, i was locked in! s.e. wendell’s books hold a special place in my heart. best monster romance author! i love these main characters, leita is so strong regardless of her past, she’s taken a position she never intended and has the world on her shoulders. i love the support we get from attalus towards her. he’s so thoughtful and charming. you can tell he has so much love for her. she’s closed off but she has good reason to be but once he starts breaking down her walls…. phenomenal. the banter is so enjoyable, attalus is such a FLIRT. he always knows what to say. i love the chemistry between them. he’s so attentive and dedicated to her. spice is so great, the last scene between them i was hoping we’d get and we did!!!! i was so excited to see that play out. leita is so driven and a force of nature. i love a strong, genuine female character. seeing her fight for her people is so inspiring. amazing world building and settings. the ending epilogue…. yes i am scared in the best way possible and yes i am counting down! i’d 100% recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a monster romance! all this character art that was created for this? some of the most beautiful work i’ve ever seen, can’t wait to buy some art prints! also i love the animal companions!! makes it so wholesome and the reveal from her unicorn thalia made my heart swoon!

𑣲 synopsis | the old fae queen ruled in madness. driven by power, she executed her entire bloodline in order to prevent her being overthrown. in faeling, we meet leita, the last unknown survivor of the family massacre the queen orchestrated. she’s discovered while hiding out, and she’s forced into the war against her will. she has no choice but to help defeat her aunt and free the faelands from a horrid ruler. she learns that if she takes the throne, she will find her mate and be blessed with a family. the seers promise isn’t the only thing that will happen when she becomes queen. leita must reconnect with the magic and save the people who have suffered at the hands of her aunt. on her journey of checking in with surrounding towns, she comes across an injured dragon, who happens to be her mate. our carefree dragon price, attalus is accused of a crime he did not commit and ends up injured. days of flying have landed him in a cave, half dead and weak. by the time he awakens, he’s shocked at where he is and who he finds, but is one hundred percent on board. together, can they figure out how to save attalus from the dragon king and how to get leita to reconnect to the lands she once knew?

☼ read if you like |

- fae queen x dragon prince
- fated mates
- touch him/her and die
- he falls first
- TAIL PLAY
- banter as foreplay
- he has a forked tongue

𐀔 favorite quotes and scenes |

- “While Leita might've thought she possessed stronger sense of right and wrong, when it came to Attalus, her morals were secondary at best.”

- "You hold my leash in one hand," he rumbled, "and my hearts in the other."

- "What a warrior Queen you'll make, agae. Defending the land in your righteous fury. Ride me into battle. We'll make the earth tremble with fear and envy both, Queen and consort together."

- “Every fae, from the palace to the city to the hinterlands, needed to understand that Leita was his mate, and before anyone thought again to harm her, they would have to contend with him.”

➯ sarah, thank you for arc! i am so honored to get the chance to read and review this! you never fail to bring a smile to my face while reading something you put so much love into creating!

[Bonnie Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the aftermath of overthrowing the old, evil queen’s reign, Leita the new fae queen, is trying her best to win over her people and reconnect with the faelands. While traveling the fae countryside she’s shocked to come upon a raging wildfire and an injured dragon in the middle of it. Attalus has fled his homeland under the threat of false accusations by his brother, the dragon king. When he lands in the faelands, he expects to succumb to his injuries, not be saved by a beautiful fae queen. When Leita and Attalus understand that they are fated mates, they have to start making some hard decisions that will affect their growing trust and the future of the faelands forever. 💜

First of all, I’d like to say thank you to my queen S.E. Wendel for allowing me to be a part of the Foundling ARC team!! 🙌🏻 I love the Monstrous World series and these books so much! 💜 Now let’s get into it!

This is a very emotional but still very fun monster romance book.✨ S.E. Wendel always impresses me with her lovely descriptive writing style. Whether it’s about scenery, characters, or emotions, it’s just fantastic! 🙌🏻 While there are some heavy themes as Leita is dealing with centuries’ worth of trauma and distrust, there are some classic romantasy themes here too:

✨Fated mates
✨Grump x Sunshine
✨Opposites attract
✨Cutie animal companion

I love Attalus 😍 He’s charming and funny, but he’s serious about his mate and sensitive to her needs. I like Leita even if some of her decisions surprised me. But throughout the book, S.E. Wendel does a great job of reminding us that she was making these decisions from a place of trauma. My #1 favorite character in this book is hands down Slinky! 🙌🏻 The sassy little marten is so freaking adorable and funny! She deserves the world!! 😂 I’m so excited for this series to continue (Epilogue II had me absolutely SHOOK)! 🫪

This book has it all—romance, spice, fantasy, action, and characters you'll be obsessed with. If you love romantasy, you’ll love this book! 💜✨Foundling is releasing on August 30th!✨

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dragon with wings, scales, and a tail that does deliciously naughty things? Say less 👀

Attalus is a light-hearted, playful sunshine with supportive and touch-her-and-die energy, making him absolutely perfect for Leita.
And Leita? She’s been through it… I mean, her walls have walls. These two lost souls finding their found family was so beautiful!

Their nicknames for each other? Between Thalia, Leita’s unicorn and resident “Mama Mare,” Attalus calling Leita his doe, and Leita referring to him as her lizard… I was swooning and cracking up 😂

I also loved the pure dragon-and-treasure energy… his hoard, his love of jewels and soft fabrics, and of course, his kilt. You know, for the tail!

🦎 “One day soon, you’ll lay here for me in all your jewels and silver. I want to see you rival the moon and glow just as bright.”

Add in the adventure, danger, plenty of tension, found family, and some delicious spice, and this made for another exciting addition to the Monsters series… and I’m already impatiently waiting for the next book!

💫 Foundling (Monstrous World, 6) by S.E. Wendel
Monster Romantasy | Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine | Fated Mates | One Cave | Royal intrigue | Animal Friends | 251 pp | 4.5⭐
📌 Release Date: August 30th

💫 Favorite Quote:
“You hold my leash in one hand,” he rumbled, “and my hearts in the other.”
________________________________________

Thank you to S.E. Wendel for the opportunity to read and honestly review this eARC! All thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

[Anastasia A · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Moderately spicy

- omg THE HORNS ARE SENSITIVE
- I REPEAT THE HORNS ARE SENSITIVE
- Thank you so much SE Wendel for doing sensitive horns, and tails and wings omg
- she's a bit of a black cat who doesn't know what she's missing
- he's a charismatic dragon man who likes to bake his scales in the nude
- a set of very cute and deadly sidekicks
- really lovely prose
- swwwwwwoooonnnyyy romance
- good pacing
- great plot
- interesting magic of the forest, wars and disputes between clans and races
- world building of your dizziest daydreams

I just love this. What an absolute testiment to beautiful romance between differing races, a reluctant monarch finding her footing, and a true mate that very much completes her. The prose is so lovely, I love the use of old languages, cultures and learning that their differences are to be respected. Character development is always SE Wendel's biggest strength, not that many things aren't a true strength of hers, but MAN oh MAN does it shine in this one. The set up between them feel insurmountable, and Attalus is absolutely stunning as a character that so many women would throw themselves at... with the exception of spiky Leita. She has the most incredible arc. I'm floored at how beautiful it is, how much she and the magic of the Fae lands grow, how she coaxes life into her people. I adore the cultural aspects of the Wendelverse, and respect that these entire worlds feel so genuine and relatable, despite being cooked up in that beautiful blonde head of hers. I love this book. You will, too.

[Denise O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leita and Attalus’s story will tear your heart apart and put it back together again, what they go through I just wanted to savour every moment reading this it just gave me all the feels ✨

𝕋𝕠 𝕊𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕖.𝕋𝕠 𝕃𝕚𝕧𝕖.𝕋𝕠 𝔽𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥

Leita carries a heavy burden, she’s now the Queen of the Fae something she never really dreamed of becoming she’d rather be in the wildlands with Thalia her loyal unicorn companion, it’s been centuries since she has been with her kind. She’s also waiting for her promised Azai and yearning for a life she wanted.

Attalus is a fugitive on the run from his family after being accused of tying to poisoned his brother. He’s kind no nothing but of blood and fire and now he’s in his own battle to survive. He’s a royal on the run.

When he meets Leita he’s curious about her, he flirts madly at her and for Leita she finds him insufferable at first cursing the fates for giving her a Dragon mate but as the story goes they share a lot more in common and she realises she would risk everything for him 💕💕and when they are together it’s just them, all their cares and worries melt away!

This was definitely an ultimate fantasy read for me, the world building, the emotional depth between Leita and Attalus, the yearning, the protectiveness, the happy moments, the shared vulnerability and the deep love they have for each other, it was just pure joy to read and for Attalus, she was his greatest treasure 💕💕

[my_throne_of_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this world so much and we finally got our dragon romance! I have been so excited for this and this story did not disappoint!
Leita has been forced to wear a crown she never wanted. But as the last royal fae she has no choice. Attalus just wants to live his life but then his brother, the cruel king of dragons, accuses him of treason so now he must flee. After he fled he crashes in the woods where he meets her. Leita instantly realises he is her mate so she helps him out. But when the kingdom is still in ruins having a dragon mate isn't at all what she imagined. She must do what she has promised and no one will stop her.
I really loved Leita so much. As she spent years on her own or with Thalia (her unicorn) she isn't used to the royal life. So when she meets Attalus and he is taken with her she wants to keep him at a distance. Seeing how they are mates that doesn't work for very long. Their chemistry is so intriguing to see develop, Attalus's faster than Leita but they both get there. I loved seeing them work together. The best part was also Thalia and Slinky as I so love some good animal companions and these two were the best! The world building in these stories are so amazing I adore it so much.
Thanks to SE Wendel for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll start off by saying thank you so so much S.E. Wendel for the arc to this book, I’m truly honored, these opinions are my own.

Now I’ve loooooved this series for a while now and with each book I swear I have a new favorite couple in it but Foundling might just take the cake. Leita and Attalus were AH-MAZING together. They were so perfectly balanced by each other and their story was delightful. And the dynamic of her being just a tad feral and bossy and him being totally in to it *chefs kiss*

When thinking of what to make/pair for this book I truly wanted something fun, spicy, and addicting (like the MMC):

🪎Dragon Fire Cookies🪎

- Sugar cookie base

- Swirled with a gochujang caramel of sorts

- Enjoyed with a glass of wine from the Royal reserves or your own stash

If you like banter as foreplay, grumpy x sunshine, fated mates, MMC soo down bad, she’s scary but he likes it, forked tongues, airborne antics, and messy royals then I think we both can agree that you should be reading Foundling.

(This is a special note for S.E. Wendel and only her: GIRL, that last epilogue!?! Despicable, how am I supposed to wait patiently for the next book when you drop all that! I need answers and I need the next book, please and thank you)

Rating:
Stars: 4.6/5
Spice: 3/5

[Cirphia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A frustratingly independent Fae Queen finds her mate in a charismatic Dragon Princeling.

I don't even know where to start: I was so excited for this book and couldn't be happier to receive an ARC copy!
The whole monstrous world series has an amazing overarching plot and it always makes me so happy to meet characters from previous books.

Foundling follows the new Fae Queen Leita who tries to make a change for her people after centuries of tyranny.
Meanwhile Attalus is accused of trying to poison the Dragon King, his older half brother.
When he flees from his own execution, he finds himself in the faelands, where Leita is currently trying to form a connection with its magic.

They banter, annoy each other and try to find common ground. Leita wished for nothing more than a mate of her own, but is an arrogant dragon prince really what she needs?

I really enjoyed this book! The dynamic between Attalus and Leita was really fun to read and I love where they end up.
Attalus and Leita are both headstrong and stubborn. But while Attalus really tried to make the relationship work, Leita annoyed me. I cheered her on to finally let go of her fear and let Attalus help her.
I feel like this book could have been a little bit longer to give them a bit more time to resolve their problems after the battle and the conspiracy plot.

Epilogue II makes me so excited!

[Kats · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foundling is the 6th instalment of the Monstrous World series by S.E. Wendel, which is one of my all time favourite monster romance series.

This story features Leita, a fae who was sent into hiding in her youth as the former Queen sought to destroy anyone from her family line to avoid giving up her crown. But with the Queen now gone, Leita desperately needs to rekindle her connection to the magic of the faelands.

Attalus is a shifter, son of the King of dragons and when he is accused of attempting to kill his father finds himself on the run from a band of dragons hunting him down.

When these two meet there is immediate connection, but also the most enjoyable banter and sass. Leita is strong willed and feisty, Attalus is confident, sometimes cocky and most definitely falls first and hard. Both utterly charming and irresistible and willing to go to the ends of the world for each other. But it's not all easy romance, there are political maneuvers in play and danger to Leita's people.

The overarching story from the Monstrous World series continues on from Faeling, and it's always lovely to revisit this world and the characters and learn a little bit more each time. It's impossible to choose a favourite from the series because each book is fantastic, but I will save a special spot for these two who went through so much.

[Kellie Nylund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

It’s very exciting to see the Monstrous world expand with each new book and this one does a wonderful job of showing how the Faelands start the rebuilding and some more history of how it began. Leita is an amazing FMC because you see how her past affects her decisions when it comes to love ones and how she rules Faelands now that she’s the last of the royal bloodline. Attalus is a very caring a to Leita and does try to protect her and make her happy. We do get to know the dragons of this world a little bit and setting up what might be the next book in the timeline. As always we have wonderful animal companions (Thalia, Leita’s bonded unicorn, and Slinky, Attalus’s marten) that add to story with some funny and sassy moments.

I highly recommend checking Foundling out and the rest of the books in the Monstrous World Series. I do highly recommend reading at least reading Sweetling (book 3) and Faeling (book 4) before reading this one to get the more of how the Faelands were before the defeat of Queen Amaranthe.

[Bookfairymel · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s nothing that could make me hate this series. I’ve been in love since I read Halfling and they honestly just keep getting better and better. I’m also glad we got to see a Dragon MMC this time! I really love the diversity of the MMCs and I love getting to see more the Fae and Faelands connecting with Leita. I loved Leita from the last book; I could tell she was a fighter who really just wanted a place to land and family to care for. Being alone for so long would harden anyone’s heart, especially after the grief and loss she’s been through. But Attalus was determined to shown her she wasn’t alone anymore. They both longed for the same things, family, partnership and a place to belong, whether that be home or each other.

Their dynamic was adorable one minute and hot and electric the next. Attalus could be all smiles and then demanding, possessive mate the next. I loved them together, whether it be the amazing spice scenes with magic touches or the soft moments of him taking care of Leita or her humoring his flirting. I couldn’t get enough of them! I just wanted them to have their happy ending and for Leita to finally realize she wasn’t so alone anymore and that she could trust him. It was hard won, but we got there in the end, and I couldn’t have been happier!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did receive this as an ARC from the author

4.75 ⭐️

This world just continues to become one of my favorite places to visit and I always end the book anticipating my return.

Leita and Attalus are just *fun*

Their dynamic is playful yet intense, which lends itself to delicious banter. Their power dynamic is a learning curve for them both, which just allowed them to have some truly sweet moments that are unexpected. The way they are able to give support to one another really just shows they were fated to be. And the spice was as fiery as you would hope with a dragon shifter 🔥

The plot of this one I found very interesting because the far kingdom has been mentioned for books now so I was very pleased to see how the kingdom and magic functions. The dual court dynamics were fun to see play out as we work our way across the continent because I can feel us gearing up for something big on the horizon, but the attention to the detail in the books to lead there does not make any part feel like an oversight.

[Brittni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy fantasy monster romance that will have you cracking up and clutching your pearls!

Foundling is book 6 in the Monstrous World series, but it's my first S. E. Wendel book and I absolutely loved it! Following an orphaned Fae who must take on the heavy burden of being the new fae queen and a manwhore of a dragon prince who is running from his grief.

I LOVE Leita, she is so feisty and her initial reaction to the mmc is calling him a lizard which had me hollerin' 🤣 and Attalus is 100% without a doubt giving big time babygirl energy. He is such a goofy charmer and just wants to love on his surprise mate while she is completely furious about the situation.

There are several side characters that I immediately lived, including Thalia and Slinky. I would die for Slinky. This was such a fun read and I now plan to slowly collect the rest of the series because who doesn't love a good monster romance??

[Isa Newbury | reading_isa · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Thank you to the Author for the ARC; all opinions are my own.**

4.5 ⭐️
2.5 🌶

I think Attalus is my new favorite Monstrous World MMC. Foundling takes place roughly a year after the events of Faeling, and follows Leita as she tries to navigate her new role as Queen of the Fae and all that entails. She is scared and lonely and I think that her actions really reflect that later in the novel. Attalus is the perfect playboy to Leita's black cat exterior. He knows how to smile well and how to survive. And surviving is exactly how he and Leita meet. I loved that neither of them really fought the bond, that they talked things through and that Attalus was patient (well, as patient as a dragon can be) with her and she lets some of her walls crumble. The overall world of the MW novels is shifting and I am so excited to see where Wendel takes us next.

☆fated mates
☆dragon shifter prince x fae queen
☆magic
☆political intrigue
☆animal familiars

[Mina Reads All Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

S.E Wendel is one of my favorite monster romance authors and they continue to provide us with wonderful fantasy fairytale love. This is another installment in the Monstrous World Series that you do need a general knowledge of the past few books to get the full experience from this one but without having read the other books there is a summary that hits the important parts.
I love the fated mates aspect in this and in true princess fashion we have sidekick animals that steal the show. This is one of those cozy romances that have a bit of a slow burn to them and at almost 450 pages it took me awhile to get through but it was oh so worth it in the end. What keeps me coming back to this series is the way that Wendel writes her characters even though they are fantasy creatures they feel real in their emotions and struggles. We as readers can relate to them and feel for them in a way that makes us slightly obsessed as this is my new favorite couple in the monstrous world.

[Sandra Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to be able to ARC read Foundling by @sewendel. This is book 6 in the Monstrous World Series and follows Leita, our powerful and badass Fae Queen, and Attalus, our always flirty, sometimes incorrigible Dragon prince. He quite literally lands into Leita’s life, and declares they are mates. Leita isn’t having it, and the BANTER that ensues is just spectacular. I was kicking my feet, laughing, screaming, and crying reading their story. Reluctant mates? Say less! I can’t forget to mention Leita’s ever sarcastic, always protective unicorn Thalia, and Attalus’s adorable marten sidekick Slinky. They added so much joy to the tale. This is out now in print and ebook directly from S.E. Wendel’s site, and ebook through KU starting September 2nd. It is a standalone, but best to read after Book 4, Faeling.