Wolfseeker

Wolfseeker Trilogy #1

by Amy Pennza

I had a plan: finish college, escape my suffocating parents, and never look back. But everything changed the day I went for a jog and lost four hours of my life. Now the tiniest annoyances send me into rages, certain scents drive me wild, and I’m craving my steaks practically raw.

Then Jesse van der Meer shows up like he was sent by the universe to explain everything. He pulls back the curtain on a hidden world and teaches me how to live inside a body that doesn't feel like mine anymore. Somewhere between the secrets he shares and the heat that builds between us, I stop being afraid of what I'm becoming.

I should have paid more attention to why he came looking for me in the first place.

Just when I start to feel comfortable in my new skin, I discover that it’s not just Jesse’s world that has secrets. The man I’ve fallen for has been hiding a few of his own. As something dangerous closes in on us both, I'm left wondering which is more reckless; trusting him with my life, or trusting him with my heart.

Knowing what I know now, I'm not sure I have a choice either way.

Genres: M M Romance, Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Fantasy, Romance, Gay, Werewolves

Unknown Binding

About the author

Amy Pennza is a USA Today Bestselling Author of steamy fantasy romance. After becoming a lawyer because everyone insisted writing wasn’t a “real job,” she stubbornly wrote anyway—and is delighted to have proved them wrong. She’s grateful to spend her days crafting dirty, swoony books about magic, swords, and unforgettable characters. She lives in the Great Lakes region with her husband and five children.

Sign up for Amy’s newsletter and get a FREE book!
www.amypennza.com/subscribe

Reviews

[Megan [Gemini Season] · Rating 4 out of 5]

MM Romance
Werewolves
4 Stars ⭐️


I was on the fence about this book when I started it because the setup felt like it took forever to get anywhere but as it went on, I realized I’ve never read a shifter book like this before and I grew to love it. Plus it’s so hot 🥵🥵 It has a plot but it’s borderline erotica and I devoured it. So, when this starts we meet Caleb, a 20 something college boy who plays football and seems to be a regular guy. However, he starts having weird symptoms like blacking out randomly only to find himself 4 hours from home, salivating over raw meat and being unable to control his temper which he’s never had an issue with before. It gets so bad he has to quit the football team because he’s having trouble controlling himself. One night he starts beating someone from his team up when he’s intercepted by a huge man named Jesse. It’s Jesse’s job as an alpha werewolf to seek out new wolves and teach them how to control their beast before their beast controls them. Since this is a world where the supernatural is hidden from humans, Jesse helps Caleb come to terms with being turned plus teaches him how to be a werewolf. The reason this book is so smutty is because when a person is turned into a werewolf, anger is the predominant emotion running through them and the only way to combat that is through lust and sex.

I absolutely loved these two characters and felt this book was different from most shifter books I’ve read before. I cannot think of any shifter book I’ve read where the human was turned into a werewolf. If anyone is turning, it’s usually a fated mate bond making someone immortal or vampires but this was unique because not only was Caleb a new werewolf but he had never shifted before and had no idea how to talk to his wolf. Werewolves in this world have gifts passed down from the wolf that sired them and one of Jesse’s gifts was teaching new pups the way of the werewolf. So not only does Jesse help Caleb learn to control his beast, he teaches him how to shift and they run together as wolves. It’s just a very rare thing to see in a book like this and it made their relationship special and not just sex. While Jesse was teaching Caleb, their wolves imprint on each other further strengthening their bond. So the more I read the more invested I became.

As the story went on, the world opened up more and when it ended I realized this is going to be trilogy. I know it says so on the cover but I had no idea if it was going to be the same couple and I was thrilled when it ended with a HFN and a plot that I very much wanted to keep reading about.

I’d been wanting to read this author’s MMF trilogies for a while now but I am so psyched to see a MM romance instead. If this releases on audiobook with a narrator I like, I will purchase it immediately. 🥵

Thanks netgalley for the arc!


#The52BookClub-A 3 syllable word in the title

[davdashaaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very hot and genuinely interesting 🔥
The only tragic thing is that this is just the first book in a trilogy and only this part is out right now 😭 I desperately need to know what happens next.

Thankfully, it doesn’t end on a brutal cliffhanger, so I survived 😌

The story honestly gave me manga/manhwa vibes — but in the best possible way. Dramatic, intense, emotional, a little over-the-top sometimes, but super entertaining and easy to get into.

The book felt light despite all the action and tension, and the romance was both sweet and very spicy 🥰❤️‍🔥
The chemistry worked really well, and the pacing made it super easy to binge.

Overall it was fun, addictive, hot, and surprisingly cozy at times.
I’m definitely reading the next books as soon as they come out 🔥

[Romancing the Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't use the word I want to here in the public, professional book review space. Actually, you know what? I can. It's my review. This book was so slutty, and I absolutely loved it.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Wolfseeker by Amy Pennza

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Wolfseeker Trilogy, Book 1.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle. 🆓️ on KU.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Paranormal romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Shifter romance, MM, spice as the plot, age gap.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Caleb is barely making it through his senior year of college. He's tired & angry all of the time, quits football and can't seem to figure out what's wrong with himself. Until he meets the mysterious Jesse, who tells him the truth: He's becoming a werewolf. And he needs guidance to make sure he makes it through the process.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I haven't read a book like this in awhile. A book that's so unapologetically spicy (I think it borders on erotica, but hey) that it feels just genuinely fun to read it.

Caleb was a bit of a himbo and extremely naive. Jesse was full of secrets, broody and pushy. The 100+ year age gap really worked for them.

The underlying plot wasn't entirely complicated - though it's moving really well into book 2 - so the book felt like it read incredibly fast. The pacing and tone were expertly done. And listen, as someone who read 1,000+ romance books, there were two specific spice scenes in this book that made me have to step away from my kindle because my brain almost melted.

I'm in for this series. Give me another two books of MM wolf shifter smut, PLEASE!

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 4.5/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting book. It's unlike any other werewolf book I've read and had some unique elements to the paranormal aspect. There was almost a thrillerish body horror vibe going on in the beginning because Caleb was experiencing all this shit that he couldn't understand, and it was really well done. I honestly loved the writing and, in the end, I fucking loved the MCs, too.

The first few interactions between the MCs (both sexual and non) felt a little uncomfy with Jesse's use of his wolf authority/power. It had a very dubcon feel to it imo, but I wonder now that I've finished it if I would feel the same when I went back and reread it. Either way they definitely started out more antagonistic than I thought they would and I didn't super like it while it was happening.

But! Things got waaaay better as the book went on. I feel like both of their true personalities came out gradually and I became more attached to them over time - especially Caleb! I think he was in such survival mode at the start that I didn't get to experience his true cheeky, bratty, sassy self until around 30% in. But once it kicked in I was here for it. And that's about the same time that I stopped feeling like Jesse needed to shove his wolf authority straight up his ass. I still had an overall harder time with Jesse but I do think he proved himself by the end.

The sexual dynamic was phenomenal, even though I felt a little weird about it at the start. Jesse van der Meer has a straight up dirty fucking mouth and we're grateful for it. Honestly, I don't usually highlight too much from spicy scenes but I absolutely did with this book. And Caleb's bratting was really fun (after that 30% mark; before it felt a little bratty in the unfun way). I don't have too many notes on the smut except that I hope that every kink that was mentioned gets some page time over this series.

I was very into the plot - once I actually understood what it was. I feel like a lot of the time when I've read fantasy or paranormal stories recently, I am less impressed with the plot than the relationship, but here I thought it was great. I'm genuinely interested in where things go from the ending, and the bit of the world that was shown was pretty cool. I hope it lives up to it once we get to see more. There were two beautifully done scenes that I will be thinking about for some time, that were integral to the plot and that used the supernatural elements really well imo. Fingers crossed for more of those.

If we were going by how I feel at the end of the book, I would give this maybe 4.5 stars, but there were definitely times in the beginning that I didn't love so I think a solid 4 works. This is the first book I've read by this author and I would definitely read more. I think her other series are MMF so maybe not her back catalog, but I'm super excited for more in this series!

Pet names: sweetheart, baby, babe, college boy, baby boy, sir, Mr. van der Meer

Once word had gotten out that I’d repeated ninth grade, those assholes had never let me forget it. But that extra year—and the size and strength it brought—had been an asset on the field, so the teasing was good-natured. People liked you when you could help them. They were willing to overlook a lot as long as they could get something from you they couldn’t get anywhere else. That, more than anything, was the lesson I’d take away from college.

No matter what I said or did, Jesse van der Meer was going to get his way. And, damn, that fucking did it for me.

“You’re a mouthy one, aren’t you? That’s okay. I don’t mind turning this pretty ass red when the situation calls for it. But I need a color, sweetheart. Otherwise, you’ll pull up your pants like a good boy, and you can go the rest of the day without the orgasm you’re seconds from begging for.”

“To answer your question, Mr. van der Meer, I don’t consider myself vers. I am, in fact, a dedicated butt slut.”

“And you’re something else.” When he didn’t elaborate, I looked up and met his wolf-bright eyes. “What?” I whispered. “Mine.”

“Only good boys get to come, Caleb. And right now, you’re being very bad.” My balls tightened. Shit, did I have a daddy kink, too? Why the hell not? The more the merrier.

“This belongs to me. And when I decide to use what’s mine, I’m not going to be rushed.” I rubbed a slow, deliberate circle around his rim, and his breath stuttered, a soft moan easing past his lips. I shook my head. “Make all the sexy, slutty sounds you want, baby boy. It won’t change my mind. I decide when this hole gets filled, and I hate to break it to you, but I’m going to be a bastard about it. I want you crawling on your hands and knees. I want you heeling at my command, my leash on your dick and tears in your eyes because you need it so, so bad. I want you so desperate that you’re crying for it. I want to watch your hole clench around nothing while you beg me to fill it.” I brought my mouth to his ear. “So, no, baby. You don’t get my cock just because you’re pretty and you want it. You get it when I say you can have it.”

The people in his life had offered him nothing but judgment and rejection. He’d had twenty-three years to learn he couldn’t trust anyone. It might very well take another twenty-three to undo all that damage. But I was up for the challenge.

He put up a good front with his smart mouth and tough exterior. But his hard shell was so thin in places I could see the bruises underneath.

“Mark me, sir. Write your name on me.”

Easing back, I trailed my fingers down his armpits to his sides. He sucked in a breath, then released a breathless giggle. I knew my smile was wicked. “Oh, we could have some serious fun with that.” He sobered. “Tickle me, and I’ll mule kick you.”

“You’re more than good enough, Caleb. You are everything good.”

“I’m never going to get used to your mouth.” He picked a piece of grass off my shirt. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so crude. I cordially invite you to drill my ass.”

“What do you want to do next?” “Everything,”

*
*
*
*
*


Safety (may contain spoilers)

SA/rape: I felt like the first encounter (maybe the second one as well) were definitely dub con. I felt like Jesse used his wolf authority thing pretty fucking unethically here in a way that made me a little uncomfortable tbh.

Other person drama: They go over Caleb's sexual history in some detail but mostly because he's describing how he was able to rebel against his religious parents. That part was kind of ok. But it felt like there was more time spent on Jesse's sire than I'd have liked. It was important to Jesse's backstory but it did leave Caleb feeling jealous and insecure for a little bit so I didn't love it.

[Amanda Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and filthy one-sitting kind of read.
It had some plot but HELLA f*ckin 🤣

It had a slower pace at the beginning and then BOOM smash smash smash smash shift smash

It was a vibe read with some interesting k!nk and I wasn’t made in the slightest. It is a shifter book, not OV, so take that as you please.

It’s not deeply emotional, but it has some fun twists.

4 ⭐️
4 🌶️

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this advanced copy!

[Kate V · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF.

Wolfseeker was a disappointment for me and just started to piss me off. I love a fated mates but Jesse used the accidental bond to force compliance in a really off putting way in my opinion. Caleb was a hot mess in a childish way. I couldn’t get behind this story.

[justreads0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read. Caleb and Jesse had amazing chemistry and the storyline kept me interested the entire time. There were some moments where I cried and other moments where I didn’t know what to expect. This was definitely a fun read and it does end on a cliffhanger so I’m excited to see what happens next!! This was my first read by Amy Pennza and it did not disappoint.

[In Letters Plain · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Well-written and entertaining. Newly made rogue werewolf Caleb - hot and a hot mess - bonds with the older, wiser (at least seemingly) Jesse. A promising set-up! Alas...it was a bit too smutty for me 😅

What’s wrong with smut, you say?! Nothing! I love a good smutty scene (or three). But it overwhelmed. I wanted to see the characters and their relationship develop and evolve separately. Especially with a "fated mates" story, when the bond is established from the beginning. While there were some genuinely touching, fun and interesting elements, both the romantic arc and werewolf intrigue felt rushed. Since this is the first in a trilogy, I hoped for a slower burn, with more push/pull, and additional paranormal world-building.

YMMV on the insta-ness of lust and love; my views are far from universal. And I did find this engrossing, so I will definitely look into continuing the series.

[Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edit, about a month after reading the book: I am still mad at myself for not checking if the other two parts were out. I am now impatiently waiting🧍‍♀️
————————-
This was the pinnacle.

I FOUND IT

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately I had to DNF at 32%. The world building was not done well and I found myself unsatisfied with too much of the story. Caleb was a bit of a mess but I could forgive him for that … he’s just had his life turned upside down. But then Jesse comes into the picture and is supposed to help teach and guide him but it seems he can only do that thru sex. 🙄 Yeah, no. I’m all about fated mates, it’s one of my favorite subgenres but this just wasn’t it.

[Wet and Reading · Rating 1 out of 5]

Halfway done and I’m really bored and bummed. I was so looking forward to this book. It’s a DNF. 😔

[Doriane I Thefantasyofdoriane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une romance paranormale sans prise de tête et c'est exactement ce que je recherchais en me lançant dans cette lecture.

On suit Caleb, jeune étudiant de 23 ans, qui depuis quelques mois, se sent bizarre. Depuis qu'il s'est réveillé soudainement dans la forêt, sans aucun souvenir de ce qu'il s'est passé, son corps a changé et sa tête aussi.
Et alors que Caleb est en train de commettre une erreur contre son gré, Jesse, jeune homme brun avec son physique parfait, débarque et le sauve in-extremis de cet accident. Jesse va alors prendre Caleb sous son aile et lui expliquer la vérité sur son état changeant.

c'était si bien. très hot, mamamia. On est donc sur des loups-garous avec une relation sub/dom avec des petits côtés BDSM. j'ai adoré.

j'ai adoré également Caleb dès le départ dont l'histoire m'a touchée. J'ai hâte d'en apprendre encore plus sur Jesse ainsi que sur le monde des loups-garous, ce dernier se dévoilant progressivement vers la fin. Une fin, qui d'ailleurs, annonce un superbe tome 2 !

[Kez Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Caleb and Jesse's chemistry and bond, their interactions were loaded with lust and tension, and I like how they challenged each other.
This was a unique shifter romance, with Jesse helping Caleb understand his new life as a werewolf and helping him navigate all the changes, desires and dangers.
It has hurt/comfort, age gap, dom sub dynamics, and an intense mate bond.
I liked the balance of plot and spice, and how the ending introduces an intriguing mystery and mission for the next book.

[Gigi]

MC is too young for me. He’s still in high school.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

This book had me completely engrossed. The characters are imperfect and learn quite a bit about each other and how to make their relationship work. The spice is top notch! The story itself was engaging and made me want to continue reading. Overall solid book that I would read again and will certainly be continuing the series.

[Layy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️’s

I’m not really sure how to feel. There were just a few things that didn’t work for me, as a reader, that left me confused. Let’s get into my thoughts.

• I will forever struggle with a “fated mates” trope where the author uses that as a cop out to not give us the foundation of a relationship. I want to see and feel these characters fall in love, ON page. When the “I love you’s” came, I rolled my eyes. It wasn’t believable. Was there lust? Infatuation? Sure, but romance? I found it lacking.

• I feel like too much was rushed at the end. At first, it was such a super slow start that I had to push my way through. Once we got to the nitty gritty, where Jesse and Caleb finally exchanged WORDS, it felt like we were kinda.. stuck? The plot just didn’t move. Most of it was Caleb dealing and leaving his homophobic and religious parents, them f*cking six ways to Sunday, and Jesse keeping an “awful secret”. Killing off the one who sired Caleb happened way too fast, and then this “awful secret” came out of nowhere. Everything just felt beyond rushed where I said “wtf” more often than not.

• There were subtle hints about a gift. I just, once again, feel like the build up to the final scene could have been so different, if there was more thought and planning into the great reveal. Again, it all just happened way too fast. It felt like the author was really trying to sell a “spicy MM romance” that we had more smut than actual plot but now we’re left with a cliffhanger for a book 2? So is the plot actually important or was getting d*cked down more important?

• Don’t get me wrong. The spice and humor in here were definitely the redeeming qualities. I laughed at the banter and jokes between the MC’s and was blushing and smiling so hard at some of the spice in here 🥵 but at some point, it was like.. okay? We get it… are we going to move along with the story? If this was purely meant to be a smutty MM werewolf novella, you would have zero complaints from me. But the book wasn’t marketed as such and if you’re trying to tell a story, maybe filling the book with tons of smut and rushing the plot wasn’t the way to go?

Overall, this book was okay. I didn’t hate it and I didn’t love it. If you don’t care that the plot was rushed and you’re reading for the smut, you’ll like it.

[AbbieReads3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it was so fun and made me cry at how emotional it was at some points (which I love in a book) I love a good shifter romance and this one was perfect and full of mystery! I loved the kinky relationship between Caleb and Jesse and I’m so excited for the next book which I think I will like even more based on that ending! Caleb’s backstory broke my heart, he really needed Jesse who loved and treasured him so much!

[Kristen ⭐️ (beansbooktrove) · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPICY wolfy fun

[I live in your walls (real) (go check) · Rating 4 out of 5]

But also like i have no idea when book 2 is happening

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the plot twist but I kinda wish it’d been a cliffhanger there!

[MagentaSparkles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got to about 40%. Just not feeling it right now. I'm sure the rest of the book is Amy's regular spicy goodness.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars
If you’ve read anything by Amy Pennza before, then you know that you’re in for a fun read with slightly unhinged characters and lots of spice. Wolfseeker is no different.

I would say that this is just a really easy book to read. It’s paced well, holds your interest, and has the right amount of action, spice, and humor to keep you entertained.

I have some gripes about character and relationship development, which feels lacking. I don’t mind instalust or fated mates tropes, but it would work much better if the characters were more developed and the relationship less one dimensional.

The plot and world-building are fine, but I would have liked a bit more background to get a sense of where the overall story is going. The story ends just as we are introduced to the wider world and, what I assume will be, the larger story arc. Without the context, it’s hard to have too much excitement for the next book and where the story is headed.

Overall, I’d say Wolfseeker is an imperfect but fun, enjoyable book. It is worth the read and I will likely continue the series.

[Chasity Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

The chemistry is NOT there between these characters. I know Jesse is ancient but usually with these "immortals" that are old as dirt, they don't act like they're old as dirt. I kept picturing Jesse as a 75 yr old man because he was acting and speaking like a 75 yr old man. Idk, kinda gross. I'm not one to complain about insta-love or rivals not being rivals for a long enough time. In fact, I love insta-love. However....Caleb balked for 1.5 seconds and then melted for Jesse. Either he should've resisted more or not at all because it felt like a weird switch up. Didn't happen organically. The spice/dirty talk felt cheap. I don't know how else to describe it. Spice for the sake of spice is what it was. Dirty talk and kinks can be done SO WELL it doesn't have to sound cheap, and when it is done well and backed up with great characters and plot...I mean that's a 5 star book, obviously. But I was not in this story at all, the bdsm fell flat coupled with the fact that Jesse was acting his age 🥴 just wasn't working for me.

[Cia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a 3.75, but I rounded it up to four because I thought it had a lot of very interesting elements to it that I’ve never really seen in a werewolf/shifter book before that I really appreciated.

I’ve never read a werewolf book where the werewolves are immortal. They have advanced healing, and sometimes they have longer lifespan, but I’ve never read one where they are immortal in the way that vampires usually are. And in this story, vampires aren’t immortal, which I found very interesting as well. There were no pack dynamics, so no alpha, beta, omega, and no shifting on a full moon, which I also found very interesting!

Instead, werewolves had a gift alongside being able to shift into a werewolf and heightened senses. And there was a council of werewolves, but no set werewolf packs, which is again, something I’ve never read in a werewolf book before. In fact, at first glance, this would not come across as a werewolf book. But I like that this book is doing something different. Of course, what I’ve liked to see more typical werewolf dynamics? Absolutely! But I enjoyed that this was something different and something that I’ve never seen before and I applaud the author for doing something that that’s unlike any other werewolf/shifter book I’ve read.

I also really enjoyed the two main characters. Jesse is definitely one that grows on you as the story goes on. I wasn’t a huge fan of him at first, and I thought he was gonna kind of be a little bit of a pushover/a bore, but I really enjoyed his dry sense of humor as the story went on and his devotion and his love of education/teaching that was a really fun element in his and Caleb’s dynamic. And I really liked Caleb. I found myself really enjoying his point of view chapters because I liked his sarcasm in the pros, I liked that he didn’t fully embrace becoming a werewolf at first. I like that he was focused on school and wanting to finish his education and he had things that he wanted to do that he was afraid he wasn’t gonna be able to do after becoming a werewolf.

I also found myself very intrigued by the mate dynamic in this book. Jesse is not the one who sired Caleb, but because their mates, he does still have somewhat of a pull over Caleb, which is against something I’ve never really seen in another werewolf book. I like that there was this element of distrust between them specifically on Caleb‘s end because he wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to disobey Jesse and I like how that worked into their relationship. I like that Jesse kept secrets from Caleb in what he thought was his best interest, because it really showed that he was a flawed character that didn’t always make the best choices despite him being as old and wise as he is.

And I like that Caleb wasn’t a pushover! He was very stubborn and at times a little exasperating, but he followed his instincts and his gut and he did what he thought was right and best for himself and I really admire that. I do wish we had gotten just a little more from other characters besides Caleb and Jesse. This book spends the majority of its time with just the two main characters, so we don’t really see them interacting with anyone else, and it feels a little slow and isolating. And while I can appreciate the author wanting to build up their relationship, I still wanted to know more about how Caleb is at school and if there are any other werewolves that Jesse is close to. I just wanted to see a little bit more of the world that was being built up in this book outside of Caleb and Jesse’s relationship.

And unfortunately, I think the reason why I’ve read this 3.75 stars is because my biggest disappointment in this book is Caleb and Jesse‘s romance. There was so much sex in this book, especially early on, and while I didn’t mind it at first because I thought it was a very interesting way to introduce that dynamic into their mate bond, their relationship for a solid heavy portion of the book was just sex. And so when shit hits the fan later on in the book, they’ve only spent one week with each other, and Jesse is already telling Caleb that he loves him. It doesn’t feel real, because why would he be in love with him after just fucking for a week straight? And the book was so well written and did such a good job of building them up as characters, that rushing the relationship just brought the quality down for me just a tiny bit.

After shit hits the fan, their relationship slows down, and I found myself really enjoying that time together. I think we finally see them on equal footing, which really showcases them as a couple in the best way. Their banter is really fun, they’re very sweet with each other, and you can see them building up a bond and actually falling in love. And I just wish the offer would have waited for these big love confessions until after this big confrontation had happened and waited for them to be in France. It would have made more sense to watch them actually fall in love without sex before they said I love you.

Because when they say, I love you to each other, it doesn’t feel earned it doesn’t feel natural, it feels like they’re only saying that because their mates and not because they’re actually in love with the other one because of who they are as a person. And I just found that to be very disappointing because the buildup could’ve been so great, had the author just slowed down a little bit.

Also: Jesse is such a dirty talker (not that Caleb or I were complaining about that 🤭😛), so while there are a lot of sex scenes that can sometimes feel like there’s a bit too many of them, they’re very nice to read about 🙂‍↕️

Anyway, I really did enjoy my time with this book, and I’m definitely going to check out the next one when it comes out. The somewhat of a mysteries/cliffhanger that we were left on in this book definitely has me intrigued for the next one, and I hope we get to see more of this world be built upon in the next book!

[Venessa W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️


What do you mean that 350 pages flew by, just like that? Like what? It has taken me longer to read a hundred-page book, you know? Just sayin'. Compliments to the author.
For this book, I'll list everything I freaking loved (I disliked nothing):

- It was such an easy read, like, it was so easy to turn those damn pages. This is something I find AMAZING. And by this, I don't necessarily mean that the writing is simple and dull or anything, but the author, Amy, writes in such a way that you are following along flawlessly. No questions like; wait, what? Huh? What is this supposed to mean? What happened? etc, because everything was crystal clear.

- Caleb is amazing, my cutie patootie boy. LOVE him. His personality, his looks, his absolutely everything. What an amazing character.

- Uhm, Jesse? I'll call him sir, too, if he'll allow me, because HI, SIR. Damn. Love him and his dominant, yet so, so, so sweet and caretaking side. Could Caleb and Jesse be a better couple?

- Which brings me to the next part I love: Jesse and Caleb as a couple. I had a NOSEBLEED. Cuteness, sexiness overload, I had to wipe the sweat away, it was so hot and endearing at the same time.

- There's a lot of relationship and world-building, which means it had a great mix of plot while still keeping the characters' relationships progressing in a way that felt realistic. (Mind you, it's insta mates, so realistic when keeping that in mind.)

- I love fated mates, and it was written perfectly here, okay.

- Interesting perspective for a wolf/werewolf and fated mates story. Fun!

- Thank you, dear author, for not dragging out the slight "torture scene" of Caleb's worst fear, there in the end, truly appreciated that LMAO. No bullshit, no additional drama with lots of talking forth and back, just straight to business and I LOVED THAT.

- Thank you also, for a very reasonable "cliffhanger", that makes you excited for what happens next without feeling like you stopped in the middle of something finally getting good. The next book will truly feel like one is following one's favorite couple on a new adventure. Can't WAIT.

That will be all. Thanks and bye. Loved this book, highly recommend! Will be checking out more from this author.

[Faiza BEGUM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caleb and Jesse’s connection is absolutely electric. The tension between them is palpable, their dynamic a perfect mix of challenge and desire. I loved watching them push each other’s boundaries while simultaneously learning to trust and care for one another.

This shifter romance is refreshingly unique, with Jesse guiding Caleb through the chaos of suddenly becoming a werewolf. He helps him navigate the overwhelming changes, the intense urges, and the dangers that come with this new life. Their relationship is full of depth, blending elements of hurt/comfort, a noticeable age gap, dom/sub dynamics, and an incredibly powerful mate bond.

The story strikes a wonderful balance between plot and passion. It’s both thrilling and deeply emotional—I laughed, I swooned, and I even found myself tearing up at certain moments. Caleb’s past is heart-wrenching, and seeing Jesse’s unwavering care and devotion toward him made the emotional highs hit even harder. Their kinky yet tender relationship felt authentic and layered, and the story ends on a note that teases an exciting, suspenseful next chapter.

Caleb’s life before meeting Jesse is difficult—23, living with unsupportive parents, trying to juggle college, and holding onto the few cherished memories of his late grandmother. His sudden changes—unexpected strength, uncontrollable rages—make him question everything about himself, and Jesse’s timely arrival feels almost like fate. At first, Jesse remains somewhat enigmatic, gradually revealing who he is and how deeply intertwined their fates are.

The pacing keeps you hooked, with action and romance interweaving seamlessly. Their bond intensifies naturally under the pressures they face, and the story gives just the right mix of humor, care, and sensuality to balance the tension. Jesse’s patience and gentle support allow Caleb to adjust at his own pace, which only makes their connection more satisfying.

I’m beyond excited for the next book—if this first installment is any indication, the stakes and passion are only going to rise for Caleb and Jesse. Their journey is just beginning, and I can’t wait to see where it takes them.

[Manuela Molteni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading an Amy Pennza book always feels a little bit like knowingly walking into emotional trouble while grinning about it, and Wolfseeker absolutely continues that tradition. At this point, I trust her completely when it comes to delivering intense MM relationships packed with chemistry, vulnerability, and enough heat to fog every available surface, all without ever losing elegance or emotional depth.

But Wolfseeker felt different from her previous books in the best possible way.

Beneath the unapologetically smutty, bordering-on-erotica goodness Amy Pennza is famous for, there is a much sharper emotional and social undercurrent running through this story. Caleb’s transformation happens without his consent, leaving Jesse to guide him through a terrifying new reality, and the dynamic between them becomes both protective and deeply complicated. Caleb’s innocence clashes beautifully with Jesse’s secretive, brooding nature, creating a relationship full of tension, tenderness, and emotional imbalance that constantly keeps you invested.

What surprised me most, though, was how openly the book tackles themes of bigotry and repression. The references to religious conversion camps and the lingering belief that being gay is somehow something to “fix” add a painful realism beneath the paranormal elements. The stigma surrounding queer athletes is also woven naturally into Caleb’s story, giving the book an emotional weight that feels more direct and unapologetic than in some of Pennza’s earlier works.

And yet, despite those heavier themes, the book remains incredibly entertaining. The pacing pulls you in immediately, the chemistry is scorching, and the emotional connection between the characters feels raw and authentic. Amy Pennza knows exactly how to balance vulnerability, desire, angst, and humor without losing the addictive energy that makes her books impossible to put down.

Also, this is Amy Pennza we’re talking about, so naturally Wolfseeker launches a new trilogy and leaves me emotionally obligated to continue immediately. Jesse and Caleb are only getting started, and honestly? Hello book two, here I come.

[Abigail Beckwith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's "Wolfseeker" by Amy Pennza. It's the first novel in the Wolfseeker Trilogy.

["I had a plan: finish college, escape my suffocating parents, and never look back. But everything changed the day I went for a jog and lost four hours of my life. Now the tiniest annoyances send me into rages, certain scents drive me wild, and I’m craving my steaks practically raw.

Then Jesse van der Meer shows up like he was sent by the universe to explain everything. He pulls back the curtain on a hidden world and teaches me how to live inside a body that doesn't feel like mine anymore. Somewhere between the secrets he shares and the heat that builds between us, I stop being afraid of what I'm becoming.

I should have paid more attention to why he came looking for me in the first place.

Just when I start to feel comfortable in my new skin, I discover that it’s not just Jesse’s world that has secrets. The man I’ve fallen for has been hiding a few of his own. As something dangerous closes in on us both, I'm left wondering which is more reckless; trusting him with my life, or trusting him with my heart.

Knowing what I know now, I'm not sure I have a choice either way."]

These two were adorable as hell! Even with all of the angst (some between them, a lot in their world, and then a lot between them, and then a lot more in their world). They were devoted to each other right away, but neither of them really understood why, the strength of it, or accepted it.

It was a rollercoasted, a well crafted one, from one strong emotion to the next. Following them fall in love while figuring out their relationship, Caleb's secrets, and Jesse's secrets.

We were left on a cliffhanger (series--HEA for the couple) and I honestly can't wait for the next one (hope it's also MM).

Trigger Warnings: emotionally and psychologically abusive parents, manipulation, conversion camps, homophobia, violence, and more.

#wolfseeker #wolfskeertriology #amypennza #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

[David Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wolfseeker pulled me in right away, especially with Caleb’s character and the internal struggle he faces.

Caleb is a 23 year old college student living under very strict Christian parents, and that part of his story really hit for me. The expectations, the pressure, and the quiet conflict of trying to figure out who you are while feeling like you are not allowed to be that person felt very real.

After losing four hours and blacking out, Caleb wakes up different, and from there everything starts to spiral in ways he cannot understand. That is where Jesse comes in.

Jesse is dominant, controlled, and immediately knows what is happening to Caleb. The shift into the werewolf world is fast, and the mate bond between them clicks almost instantly. I did not expect the spice to come in as early as it did, but it felt tied to the plot and the connection between them rather than just being thrown in.

The chemistry between Caleb and Jesse is intense right from the start. There is a strong pull between them that never really lets up, and you can feel how deeply they connect, even when things become complicated.

Jesse does keep secrets, and when those come to light, it hits hard. The trust between them breaks in a way that feels justified, and watching that slowly rebuild added a lot to the emotional side of the story. Just when things start to settle, everything shifts again and raises the stakes even higher.

I really liked the world Amy Pennza created. The mention of other creatures beyond werewolves makes it feel bigger, like this is just the beginning of something more, and it definitely left me curious about where the series is going next.

The spice is strong and very well written, woven into the relationship in a way that enhances the connection rather than overpowering it.

There is also an interesting take on the age gap. Caleb is 23, but Jesse fought in World War One, which adds another layer to his character and perspective.

There is a HEA, but it clearly sets up more to come, and I am completely hooked to see where this goes next.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Wolfseeker" by Amy Pennza is an MM romance featuring werewolf mates, dominance and submission, and a 100+ year age gap (The best kind IMO).

In this book, Caleb is dealing with confusing changes to his mind and body that have occurred in the months since he woke up on the ground with hours of his memory missing.

But when his violent urges come to a head, he's saved/kidnapped by Jesse. Jesse who looks like a college student, but has the presence of someone much older. Someone that tells Caleb that they're both werewolves, immortal, and mated.

Ratings:
Overall: 5/5 hearts - Honestly, this book is everything I look for in my romance. It's paranormal, kinky, filthy, and with just enough angst to make my heart ache a little before giving me a happy ending that leads into the rest of the planned series.

Peppers: 5/5 - The spice starts early and stays HAWT. Around 50% of this book is spice.

Spice: 5/5 - OMG ya'll. The spice is amazing. Dominance and submission is a big theme in the book and that leads to some amazing spice that is more than a little kinky.

Plot: 5/5 -
- Storyline: I loved the pacing and how the storyline seemed to morph and change as the book went on. Every time a hurdle would be cleared, there was another one lined up and I loved the constant tension that kept me flipping page after page.

- Characters: The two main characters are great. Different enough to be a nice contrast, but both with past trauma that helps them bond. Ancillary characters are all used to better highlight the personalities of the MCs rather than creating a big cast of characters that the reader falls in love with. And I think that works extremely well here.

- Writing: It's amazing, of course. This isn't my first read by Amy Pennza and I was pleased to see that the quality, tension, flow, and artistry is just as present here as previous works.

Page Count: 352
Time to Read (Estimate): 5 hours