Unveiled: Paranormal Shifter Romance: Monarchs of Magic

by Susan Mac Nicol

In the mist-shrouded Scottish Highlands, a centuries-old legend stirs to life when a mysterious town appears during a fierce storm.

Through the Mists of Time

Like a place in fables and fairytales, the town of Glengàill is filled with secrets and enchantments.

This remote area of the Highlands is home to two enigmatic wolf shifters. Connor, who rules his clan with primal strength and fierce loyalty, and Adrian, whose compassion and humour shines through to keep the clans balanced.

Kings of their packs, Connor and Adrian are bound by a destiny entwined with Glengàill's fate. This mysterious, magical village that appears during a fierce storm, is more than it seems, and danger lurks at its edges.

As the fog of time slowly lifts, the town's hidden beauty is revealed, and a powerful bond between the shifters and the town's lore is rekindled.

But Glengàill is bound and captive to a council who is determined to keep the townspeople and their magic for themselves.

Caught between their duty to their packs and the call of destiny, Connor and Adrian must protect Glengàill from forces that threaten to exploit its magic while grappling with their unexpected and conflicted feelings.

As the battle begins, both kings fight for Glengàill, and for each other, so all will not be lost in the mists of time.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

323 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2026

About the author

Susan Mac Nicol is a British novelist dedicated to the power of LGBTQ+ romance, fantasy, and paranormal fiction. With over forty published titles spanning contemporary emotion and dark fantasy, her stories centre on complex characters who discover strength in connection.

She's also an award=winning screenplay writer. Her work - Sight Unseen- based on her novel, has won ten awards to date.

When she’s not lost in fictional worlds, Susan actively connects with fellow romance enthusiasts, mentoring upcoming writers and celebrating diverse queer voices across global literature.

Reviews

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

UNVEILED is the first book in the Monarchs of Magic series, set in the Scottish Highlands. Connor is King of his pack, with roots deep in the Scottish soil. Adrian, on the other hand, has inherited his pack and comes from France. When a whole village turns up overnight on Connor's land, they have to work together to find out just what is going on.

I am so glad Brigadoon was mentioned in here! It's what sprung to my mind as soon as I read the blurb, and it only got stronger as I got into the story. The village is full of amazing characters that I can't wait to learn more about. However, for me, that came at the expense of the packs, the land, and where they lived. It never felt very clear to me just what their lodgings looked like. I know one was a castle and the other wasn't, but we only get a paragraph or so describing them. I also found the characters of the packs almost interchangeable and had to consciously think about who was whom and which pack they belonged to when they were speaking.

Connor and Adrian are both announced as protectors, dual guardians, but Connor spends most of his time protecting Adrian. The Veil and the Council were intriguing, but you don't learn that much about them here. That just means that I'm looking forward to reading more about them in future books.

This is a fast-paced story that just doesn't stop, so hold onto your hats! This is a great new world that I am invested in, and can't wait to see what comes next. 3.5 very good stars, rounded up to 4 where necessary.

** The same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian
Sep 29, 2026

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first paranormal story that I’ve read by Susan Mac Nicol and I enjoyed it. It took me a while to get into it and I think there are a few reasons. It’s the first book in a new series so there is world building that had to happen and there were a lot of moving pieces and characters. By the last third of the book, I couldn’t put it down. The romance is slow-burn and not yet a sure thing in this first in series story. While there isn’t a life-or-death type cliffhanger, there is definitely more to come for Connor and Adrian and I’m looking forward to reading the next one in this series.

An advanced copy of this book was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

[DebbieReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted my copy of this book, direct from the author and I thank Ms Mac Nicol for that!

Adrian and Connor are leaders, kings of their respective clans, and a village appears between them, overnight. And then, things start happening to the valley, to Connor and Adrian and the villagers are keeping secrets.

What I liked most about this, was the slow burn. Connor was fighting the bond forced upon them, and Adrian was going with it. But Once Connor makes his mind up, he's all in. And that shows, when Adrian finds himself in danger more times than I could count! I did find those times came thick and fast, often with very little breathing space and I would have liked time to catch my breath, and for Connor and Adrian to have some time to develop the relationship outside of the danger they were in. There was precious little of that.

I was confused in the beginning, how the villagers knew about what was happening to Connor and Adrian, and how Adrian knew things, that Connor didn't but things do become clearer as the book progresses. Clearer, but I'm still left with questions in my book brain that I can't get out, yet!

I liked the overall plot, about The Veil and The Council and what was happening, it was just thrown at you thick and fast, a bit too much.

I LOVED that this book is clean! I wasn't expecting that, at all. Maybe if the danger bits were a bit less, there would have been time for that, but in all honesty, I don't think this book needed it.

I enjoyed the supporting cast in the village, The Hatmaker and The Locksmith. I'd have liked a bit more about others, and about their gifts/powers. Not much is said about that.

This is book 1 in the series, and there is not a HEA, for a Happy For Now ending. The Council are still there, and I'm sure they will be back to get what they want. But for now, Connor and Adrian have a little breathing space!

All in all, an enjoyable read, that was just a tad fast paced.

4 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first paranormal I’ve read by Susan, though I’ve really enjoyed her contemporary romances. The world-building is detailed and complex – maybe too much so, as I found myself confused quite a bit as to who the good and bad guys are. Or maybe that’s the point, as Connor and Adrian are also in an almost perpetual state of needing to know more to save their world. There are mystics, and a conspiracy, bonding that leads to a mutual dependence by these two leaders (spoiler: it doesn’t always go smoothly), and a wide cast of characters that comprise the two wolf packs as well as the residents of a town transplanted from across the Veil. It was a great ride! Definitely recommend, but maybe if you don’t tolerate uncertainty well, you’d do better to wait until the series is finished.

[Deb Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mysterious village of Glengàill was one of my favourite aspects of this story. There’s something wonderfully magical about a hidden Scottish town appearing out of the mist, especially with its ancient secrets, supernatural lore, and a council determined to keep its power for themselves. I was drawn into the mix of Highland atmosphere, wolf shifters, and the fight to protect a place that clearly holds so much history.

Connor and Julien also make an interesting pairing, with their responsibilities as pack leaders adding another layer to their growing connection. I enjoyed the idea of two powerful shifters having to put their differences aside when something bigger than either of them is at stake. A fast-paced fantasy romance with plenty of mystery and a magical world I’d be happy to explore further!

I received a free ARC and this is my honest review.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great world building in a beautifully described location. The whole idea of the plot was particularly interesting, as were the various characters. After Connor and Adrian reluctantly accepted their new bond, a willingness to lay down their lives level of protectiveness developed, with unexpected abilities far beyond what wolf shifters could do. Sometimes Adrian being in mortal danger and Connor fighting for him felt a little repetitive as it happened so often There was so little time between deadly situations that there wasn't a real chance for them to develop a relationship that wasn't only about supporting each other outside these moments. I hope that they will have more time for some different bonding in the next episode. I'm really looking forward to the next book.

[Simera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of a new series based in Scotland and the focus is on Adrian and Connor both Kings of their packs. When a village appears out of no where they set together to figure it out. Old lore is rekindled and things may not be all the seem.
Great world building. Good maim characters, slow burn and trying to find the balance between duty and destiny.