The Mating Trials: The Alpha

by Anastasia Daniels

She never wanted a mate, he can't survive without one. Each mating season, every eligible mate must take the journey to the ancient castle and participate in the

Mating Trials

This is Ember’s first year eligible to participate in the trials.

But what is every female's dream, is her nightmare because finding a mate might mean losing everything she’s worked for.



Thorn’s been participating for ten years and has never found a mate.

Making him unworthy to his pack. When his position as Alpha is threatened,

Can he find a mate and survive the trials?



Welcome to Year 100 of the AnnualMating Trials

A Spicy Fated Mates Paranormal Romance Featuring Steamy Trials and a Possessive Alpha.

Perfect for fans of Twilight, ACOTAR, and The Wolf King.

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

286 pages, Paperback

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

[Madison]

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.

[Julieann]

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.

[Amber-thereadingrushmore]

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.

[ℛℰ]

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

[Kerri-louise Whitham Your_bookish_fantasy]

**𝓝𝓞 𝓢𝓟𝓞𝓘𝓛𝓔𝓡𝓢**
⚜️𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕠𝕗- The Mating Trials- the alpha


⚜️ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤-
(out of 5 stars, my rating scale is at the end)
* 📚 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 5
* 🌡️ 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲🌶🌶 / 5 -𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠
* Which books have I also given this same rating? (𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑦𝑙𝑒𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛)
5⭐️ Fourth wing / Bound by inked flame / Anathama / The Lies of Lena / Of silver and Curses
4.5⭐️ Bitten / The Female / Quicksilver / Bride / Lights Out / A Bargain so Bloody
4⭐️ Spellcaster / One Dark Window / From Blood and Ash / Phantasma / Butcher & Blackbird
3⭐️We Who Will Die / The Wolf King / Daughter of No Worlds / The Ex Hex


⚜️𝕂𝕖𝕪 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠:
* Genre- Paranormal Fantasy romance
* 📖 280 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
* Dual 𝗣𝗢𝗩
* 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲- 29 June 2026
* 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 or 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 driven? 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉ℯ𝓇
* 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 & 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗻𝗼- The mating trials standalone but interconnected book 1
* 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 on 𝗞𝗨? ✅𝒴ℯ𝓈
* 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗲- 𝓊𝓅 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒹ℴ𝓌𝓃 mostly fast
* 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲? ❌𝒮𝒶𝒹𝓁𝓎, 𝓃ℴ, 𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝓌ℯ𝓁𝓁 𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝓉ℯ𝓃 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝒹𝒾𝒹𝓃𝓉 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒹 ℴ𝓊𝓉 ℯ𝓃ℴ𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝒻ℴ𝓇 𝓂ℯ 𝓉ℴ 𝓇ℯ𝒸𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓃 𝓈𝒶𝓎 6 𝓂ℴ𝓃𝓉𝒽𝓈 𝓉𝒾𝓂ℯ.
* 𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? (Disability, plus size, mental health etc...)❌
* ℳℴℴ𝒹𝓈; 𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔, 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒚, 𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝑖𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍, 𝑺𝒂𝒅, 𝑯𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍, 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒇𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆.
* 𝒟𝒾𝒹 𝒾 ℯ𝓃𝒿ℴ𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈?✅
* 𝒲𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒾 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓃ℯ𝓍𝓉 𝒷ℴℴ𝓀 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓈ℯ𝓇𝒾ℯ𝓈?✅
* 𝒲ℴ𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒾 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 ℯ𝓁𝓈ℯ 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽ℴ𝓇?✅
* 𝖂𝖍𝖔 𝖜𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖉 𝖎 𝖗𝖊𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖙𝖔? Those who love a simple and quick shifter read that acts as a standalone in an interconnected world.


⚜️𝕊ℙ𝔼ℂ𝕀𝔼𝕊 𝕀ℕ 𝕊𝕋𝕆ℝ𝕐:
🌕𝑊ℴ𝓁𝒻 𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠


⚜️𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝔽𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕤:
🍆ᏦᏁᎾᎿᎿᎨᏁᎶ
🤍𝑉𝑖𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑀𝐶
🔥𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧
🥵𝒟𝒾𝓇𝓉𝓎 𝒯𝒶𝓁𝓀
😍IᑎՏTᗩ ᒪOᐯᗴ ᒪᑌᔕT
🙏𝐻𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡
👩‍❤️‍👨𝙵𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚜
🙅 𝕽𝖊𝖏𝖊𝖈𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝕸𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖘
💋𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸ℯ 𝒾𝓃𝒸𝓇ℯ𝒶𝓈ℯ𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 ℯ𝒶𝒸𝒽 𝒷ℴℴ𝓀
🌡𝕐𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝔸𝕟𝕘𝕤𝕥, 𝕋𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟

⚜️𝕋ℝ𝕆ℙ𝔼𝕊
😈𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕤 & 𝔹𝕖𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕪𝕒𝕝𝕤
🏆TᖇIᗩᒪՏ
🪧Pᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ Iɴᴛʀɪɢᴜᴇ
🧩𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒚
❔Wʜᴏ ᴅɪᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ?!
💈 ᗷᗩᑎTᗴᖇ
☠️𝕋𝕠𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕕...
🧨𝕊𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕪 𝔽𝕄ℂ
🤬 Feminine Rage
🐶 Underdog
💪𝒜𝓁𝓅𝒽𝒶 ℋℯ𝓇ℴ


📝Cliff Notes Review-
The Mating Trials had me completely hooked during the first half, thanks to the fated mates, gothic atmosphere, and one of the sweetest green-flag heroes I’ve read in a long time. Thorn absolutely stole the show with his patience, respect, and unwavering support, while the mating trials themselves were a fun twist on the usual shifter romance. I just wish the world-building had been deeper, the communication a little stronger, and the second half packed the same punch as the first. Despite a few frustrations, it’s still an entertaining paranormal romance that has me curious to continue the series.

“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”

🌍 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘:
The Mating Trials had so many things working in its favour before I even turned the first page. Wolf shifters, fated mates, a gothic castle setting, and a competition centred around finding your mate sounded like exactly the kind of paranormal romance I love. While I really enjoyed parts of it, especially the first half, I couldn’t help feeling that the story never quite reached its full potential.

One of the most heartbreaking parts of the story was the rejection. Thorn didn’t deserve the rejection he received after proving over and over again that he was kind, patient and trustworthy. I genuinely felt for him during that part of the book. But also I was annoyed because the reasoning behind it was stupid and therefore unbelievable to me. A simple conversation would have cleared everything up, that easy! -which in my opinion, is a plot hole.

I really enjoyed the concept of the mating trials themselves, although they’re probably not what the title leads you to expect. Rather than a series of dangerous or competitive challenges, they’re more focused on testing compatibility and attraction between potential mates. I particularly enjoyed the scent and touch trials, as each one explored a different aspect of the bond without becoming repetitive.

The world itself had plenty of interesting ideas, but I wanted much more from it. There are mentions of gods, traditions and the wider history of the wolf shifters, yet very little is explored in any real depth. The gothic castle setting creates a great atmosphere, but I was left wanting richer lore and a stronger understanding of how this world truly worked beyond the trials themselves.

The romance also develops very quickly. Considering the book’s shorter length, that’s understandable, but readers looking for a slower emotional build or extensive character development may find it a little rushed. I personally would have loved more time spent building the relationships before the emotional payoffs.

The pacing was a bit of a mixed bag. I absolutely flew through the first year of the trials and was completely invested. The second half, however, lost some of that momentum. The conflict introduced later, particularly involving the Widows, didn’t feel quite as compelling as the earlier drama with the rival alphas. It felt more like an obstacle added to keep the story moving rather than a natural progression of the plot.

🧝‍♂️ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:
The strongest part of the book for me was Thorn. He has to be one of the biggest green flags I’ve come across in a shifter romance. After searching for his mate for years, he could easily have become possessive or demanding, but instead he shows incredible patience and respect. He never pressures Ember into choosing him and gives her the space to make her own decisions. He simply wants her to choose him because she genuinely wants to, and I absolutely loved that about his character.

Ember was a little more complicated for me. I completely understood why she was hesitant to accept the bond. Having spent so much of her life protecting and raising her younger brother, it made sense that leaving him felt impossible. My frustration came from the lack of communication. So much heartache could have been avoided if she’d simply explained what she was feeling. Genuinely, one conversation would have sorted all the issues- but that would end the book so it was just cast aside hoping we would all pretend it wasn’t an option. Knowing Thorn’s personality, it was difficult to believe he wouldn’t have worked with her to find a solution. Instead, a lot of the conflict felt avoidable, which left me feeling more frustrated than emotionally invested.

I also found Ember’s younger brother a little inconsistent. At times he behaved much younger than his age, while in other scenes he seemed far older and more mature, making it difficult to get a clear sense of his character.

Some of the supporting cast also felt underused. I was particularly hoping we’d spend more time getting to know Dove, especially knowing she’ll be the focus of the next book. Instead, she fades into the background for much of the story, which meant I didn’t finish the book feeling especially invested in her upcoming romance. The same could be said for several side characters who showed glimpses of interesting personalities but never received enough page time to fully develop.

⏳ 𝕎𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕚 𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕠𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕?
No and I would to the right people rather than a blanket recommendation.

🪧𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
Overall, The Mating Trials was an enjoyable, easy-to-read paranormal romance with a lovable hero, an interesting premise and enough emotional moments to keep me turning the pages. I just wish the world-building had been richer, the conflict a little stronger, and some of the later drama tightened up. Even so, Thorn completely won me over, and I’m curious enough to continue with the series.


𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠;

𝕋𝕚𝕜𝕋𝕠𝕜
https://www.tiktok.com/@your_bookish_...

IᑎՏTᗩ
https://www.instagram.com/your_bookis...

 

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𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕤:
⭐️ DNF

⭐️⭐️
I managed to finish it but it was rubbish. I won't keep a physical copy and won't recommend it, but  it's a shame as the plot could have made a good book in another author's hands

⭐️⭐️.5
It was OK. I wish I didn't start this one as it didn't do it for me as I struggled to read it. It had an interesting premise that fell flat but I had to see what happened in the end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetitive writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail]
Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending it to all!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!

🔥⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥
This is my God level tier. The book must be perfectly memorable. Even after reading 50+ more books, I will remember character names and emotions along with the plot. If there is a special edition, then I need to own it! If there is a conversation on books- I'm talking about this!

 SPICE SCALE:
🌶️– segsual language and a little on-page action

🌶️🌶️– a lot of segsual language and some on-page open door action, may be occurring a couple of times

🌶️🌶️🌶️– a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently with 2/3 lurvers

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – super graphic and explicit, occurring 4 or more times, can be more grey and taboo themed.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – Kinks and Fet!shism, explicit and super graphic. It is likely to be tushy play, toys, playrooms, and more dark / taboo fantasies and realities.

[Calypso✨]

✨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!❤️

[Madi]

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.

[Aria]

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.

[Ada’s Book Review]

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💚

[Emily]

Alpha Thorne knows that he needs to find a mate, he has gone to every mating trial and has never found the connection he needs to have a lasting relationship with his potential mate. He is not one to jump in like some of the other wolves, he wants the real thing and this year he thinks he may have found it.

Ember is eligible for the mating trials, but while all other young ladies entering the fray are excited about the trials, Ember is not. Ember has responsibilities and plans to just do her best to stay unnoticed, her aloofness though raises interest and there is a scent that she has a hint of could it be her mate?

Intriguing, not quite what I thought it would be but I enjoyed it never the less. Had some twists I was not expecting and thoroughly enjoyed.

[jodie | theenchantedshelf_]

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: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Nikki Bogard]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Jas C]

Quick crack head read..
Ice planet barbarian vibes but make it omega💀

[Rosalie Klerkx]

Was is good? No
Was it well written? No
Was it an easy read and did it bring extactly what you hoped it would? Yes

[Gabby Lucas]

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]

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.

[Nicole]

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.

[Simone | simonesbookshelf]

⭐ 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]

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]

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]

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!

[Angela Kay]

This had a captivating premise... that gets lost in the woods.
i.e. I was having a good time until I wasn't. The title implies mating trials - but it was more like lustful speed dating, instead of well thought out challenges to finding a fated mate and that's fine! It really is, however; let's get something out of it...RIGHT?!

This is probably SPOILER-y from here****************

Trial example: Put your blindfold on and use your senses to sniff out your fated mate. *finds someone that smells good* "Okay, thank you; that concludes this trial". ..WHAT do you mean? Did I skip a page? This trial was only a few sniffs and the start of great banter! We get to the next trial, and the next, and it is the same damn thing! Personally, I felt this had many missed opportunities to be great. The last trial, "The Chase," makes the point of these other trials completely unnecessary. Any male can go after any female, whether she has chosen her fated or not. It comes down to who catches her and FORCES themself on her first. Deadpan - I would be laughing if I wasn't crying. Complete fucking anarchy. Bloody chaos.

No world-building. We have an 'Ancient Castle', a 'Sacred Tree', but no lore surrounding those things. Mention of some gods, but we only know they created the wolf shifters and frown upon unmated individuals.

Oh, and everyone is naked ALL the time. I get it, nakedness comes with shifting, but at times it felt like my brain was melting when I suddenly remembered during a fiery exchange between characters that these people are nude. Even for the sake of the story, my mind's eye did not know what to do with that. This made it difficult to take seriously when a character was in a heated debate and suddenly noticed "a hardening cock" or "pebbled nipples" - *rolls eyes* - for the life of me, I just cannot.



“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.”

Lines like this kept me plugged. This {did} have scenes that were so sweet and tender, enough drama that I wanted to know how it ended, but it's just surface-level intrigue with no structural depth.

Do I regret reading it? No, this was only 270 pages. I {did} have fun because it had a flashy start, but it just left me feeling empty later on once I really started thinking about it.

The author says in her note that she dreamed this. I think if she takes her time and fleshes out more detail for book 2, it could be a great story.

[Erin Kathleen]

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]

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.

[Gabby]

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: 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.