Rejected Hollow: A Reverse Harem Shifter Academy Romance

by Maeve Mercer

Ironmoor Academy summoned me to reveal the beast in my blood.

Instead, its magic declared me empty.

At twenty-two, I thought the worst thing that could happen was receiving an invitation to my ex-boyfriend’s engagement party.

Then a black iron envelope burned my fingerprint, wrote my name across itself, and ordered me to report to an academy I had never heard of.

For shapeshifters.

The woman who raised me finally admits that my mother lied, people have been watching me since I was four, and refusing the summons isn’t an option.

So I cross the sea to Ironmoor looking for answers.

What I get is publicly classified as a Hollow—a shifter with no beast, no House and no place in their world.

Then the most powerful wolf at the academy scents me across a crowded hall.

Kaelen Vance, heir to Fenhall, is my fated mate. His body recognizes mine instantly.

And the next morning, he rejects me in front of everyone.

He says it’s the only way to keep me alive.

Unfortunately, my body doesn’t care.

Neither do the other men who begin circling closer.

Jax Rivera is a shameless jaguar who calls everyone gorgeous—but only calls me reina. He makes me laugh, kisses me like he’s starving and hides bruises he refuses to explain.

Silas Thorne is a scarred grizzly everyone else fears. With me, he makes himself smaller. Quieter. Safe. Until someone threatens me and I discover exactly what he has been holding back.

Ronan Ashgrave is Ironmoor’s forbidden dragon archivist. He knows more about my bloodline than he can tell me, wears gloves he never removes and pays in pain for every truth he lets me uncover.

They should have nothing in common.

Except me.

Because despite what the academy’s test says, impossible things keep happening around me.

Ancient carvings grow warm beneath my hand. Dangerous shifters become calm when I hum. Bonds form that should not exist. And somewhere inside me, something is beginning to wake.

The Council is watching.

My records have been altered.

An entire bloodline was erased forty-one years ago—and every answer I find makes the people in power more determined to control me.

Or kill me before I understand what I am.

They named me Hollow because they couldn’t see what was inside me.

They’re about to discover that empty and hidden are not the same thing.

Rejected Hollow is Book 1 in the Ironmoor Academy series, a spicy adult paranormal why-choose romance with an ongoing mystery and a possessive, damaged group of heroes. The series must be read in order.

Perfect for fans Zodiac Academy, Pack Darling, Blood Oath and emotionally intense rejected-mate romances.

Rejected Fated Mate • Why Choose Romance • Adult Shifter Academy • Hidden Bloodline • Chosen Bonds • Touch Her and Die • Found Family • Curvy FMC • Wounded Heroes • Forced Proximity • Hurt/Comfort • Possessive Shifters • Spicy

468 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2026

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rejected Hollow is an exquisitely magnificent breath of fresh air! I have not read a why choose academy story until now, and I was completely blown away by its wonderful down-to-earth FMC who is truly loved and cherished by the MMCs who are as challenging as they are entertaining. This beautiful beginning completely captured and then ran away with my heart. I have no hope of getting it back with all of the raw passion, wild adventure, and dangerous mystery that permeate every character and word of this amazing story.

Wren has always lived as though she is too much for the world around her. She never truly fit in like everyone else. No matter how hard she tried, she wasn't able to become a part of the status quo. When a strange letter turns her world upside-down, she must decide if it is possible for one such as her to finally find a place where she will fit in and feel at home. Everyone has a home they were always meant to be a part of, right?

Ironmoore is like nothing that she ever expected. Not even her dreams could have conjured up such a place filled with the type of students who walk its halls. Still trying to find her place, she is grateful for the few people she has found to call friends. Navigating the complex maze she calls a life, she is faced with life-altering decisions that leave her disoriented and exhilarated in the same breath. Can she dare to hope for a life that she can call her own and cherish beyond measure, or will she be forced to fit someone else's mold of who she should be?

Exploring her life at Ironmoore is so much more then she ever imagined. Can she truly find the courage to take the reigns of her life and make it completely hers without the opinions of others? One thing she is sure of is that she is in uncharted territory, and the mistakes and successes will be entirely her doing. After all, we all have to learn from experience, and the only way to gain experience is to try and sometimes fail. Everytime she falls, she refuses to stay down, and she will not allow those she holds in her heart to walk through trials without her beside them. Her loyalty is without question, but can she say the same about those around her?

This new series is a true marvel that I am very much looking forward to becoming a magnificent adventure. The potential is limitless, and I for one am excited for all of the possibilities that are coming our way. The sizzling romance, the wicked conflict, and the lethal danger have me dying on the edge of my seat for the next part of this incredible journey!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a academy setting that is just like this. It is a fantasy of fated mates and danger. I appreciated the chemistry between the characters and the banter.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

AI

[Shu · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

It’s a nicely paced book so far but a few questionable scenes. For being new to the magic world, Wren somehow knew how it worked? It was just mentioned she went to a few classes and researched in the archives/library but somehow knew a lot of information on shifters, Moonfever, and such like she grew up with it. She was (or thought) she was human then finds out she has some type of magic then easily accepts it. There wasn’t really a transition of human to magic/shifter that the reader really sees. There are time skips so readers don’t really read about the relationship buildup between the characters at first until after the middle of the book between two of her mates. Not much about any of the men’s past or life history besides mentions of family members. How did Silas become feral? What happened when he was in council custody? How does Oda not know Jax leaves the island monthly? Do the other students not have mate bonds? It looks like Wren and her men, are the only ones with mates out of the 300+ students. Wren has only one “best” friend besides the men but she doesn’t really hang out with her too/how this character is written into the scenes. Shouldn’t a close friend have more scenes rather than just a mention at breakfast or in the same class where they don’t even have interactions? Towards the end, Aldric and Oda somehow got to the great hall faster than Wren when she left before. Everything was set up and all the important people were there before she got there. I wished there was another scene in between this and the Pit so it made more sense. It’s just mentioned Aldric, Oda, and all the important council members were in the hall first when they were at the Pit after Wren left while she was running back. That and how it was mentioned all the students were at the dance/Great Hall then stated some were at the Pit too. So which was it? Will we get more Daniel and Chloe because they both need to see Wren with all her handsome men and I just know Chloe would be jealous. Is Wren’s father important to know about? A cliffhanger and still a lot of questions…

[Lolly Weichl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hooked me almost immediately because it took one of my favorite paranormal romance tropes and made it hurt.

The heroine arrives hoping to finally understand where she belongs, only to discover she's considered less than everyone around her. Instead of being welcomed into this new world, she's judged before she even has a chance to prove herself. That alone was enough to make me root for her.

What I loved most was her resilience. She spends most of the story being treated like she doesn't matter, but she never completely breaks. Every obstacle, every rejection, and every cruel assumption made me want her to succeed even more. Watching her slowly realize that other people's opinions don't define her worth was one of my favorite parts of the book.

And then there's the rejection.

Nothing gets under my skin faster than a rejected mate storyline when it's done well, and this one definitely delivered. The emotional fallout lingers over everything. Every interaction carries tension, unanswered questions, and the feeling that there is much more happening behind the scenes than anyone is willing to admit.

I also appreciated that the romance wasn't the only thing driving the story. There are secrets buried throughout the academy, mysteries surrounding the heroine's past, and enough unanswered questions to keep me turning pages. Every discovery seemed to open the door to something even bigger.

The academy setting worked really well because it created a world full of politics, hierarchy, alliances, and rivalries. Nobody felt completely trustworthy, which only added to the suspense. I never felt entirely certain where the story was headed, and that's part of what kept me invested.

What stood out most was the theme of belonging. At its heart, this is a story about a young woman trying to figure out who she is in a world determined to tell her who she should be. That emotional journey gave the story a lot more depth than I expected.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachel · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I enjoy taking the chance on new authors. Sometimes it pays off, and sometimes it doesn't. It paid off with Maeve Mercer. Rejected Hollow was a delightful read. The MFC had amazing growth. Wren made herself smaller for others and continuously apologized for just being. At Ironmoor, she found herself. She dealt with mean girls and played chess with a corrupt council, desperately trying to counter their moves, all while learning about magic and the laws of this new world. Wren's cleverness is how she makes it through the scrapes, and in doing so, it built up her confidence a bit. It was impressive.


There were so many good things about this book. I loved the academic setting. The classes and the training were atmospheric. There is even a library with a dragon. Come on. The romance was sweet. Four guys, each with their own baggage, including two of them being forbidden, while the other two show their care in every action they take. Everything isn't as it appears. Kaelen is really in a tough spot. Wren's Bond Night speech was epic. There were more than a few quotes in the book that really stuck with me. I adored Wren's friendship with Tasmin. They're ride or die for sure. The way Tasmin sticks by Wren's side is amazing. Things aren't resolved, and the final chapter tells me that things are going to be even more complicated going forward. I most definitely plan on reading the next book. Besides a few hiccups, Maeve Mercer did an excellent job. Rejected Hollow was amazing.

[Mei · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Wren has a gift for soothing animals and she leans into it after her fiancé cheats on her with her former best friend. Things get worse when she learns she isn’t fully human. She doesn't know a thing about shifters but she’s sent to a shifter academy where she discovers she has a fated mate and the first thing he says to her is that he’s rejecting her.

This book doesn't reinvent the academy formula. You get the mean girls, someone stealing her stuff, the bullying, the petty sabotage during fights, the secretive evil council, and the people who clearly know more than they’re saying. (Namely the mmcs) There’s the usual mix of cliques, power hierarchies, and the “new girl gets targeted” routine. But even with the familiar setup, it still manages to stay engaging.

You actually get a breather from the MMCs bullying the FMC. Most of them keep her cautiously at arm’s length because they’re either hiding something or trying to protect her. And thankfully, the mate who rejects her does it to keep her safe; he keeps proving his loyalty in quiet, consistent ways that feel more self‑sacrificing than cruel. If brooding MMCs are your thing, you’re getting three of them, each with their own flavor of angst.

Ends in a minor cliffhanger.

Tropes:
Paranormal
Rejected mates
Academy
Shifters
Curvy FMC
Chosen one
Mean girls

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Rejected Hollow. It was an emotional story full of heart and passion, and the world and character building was like nothing I’ve ever come across in any of the other paranormal academy books I’ve read before—and I’ve read plenty of other paranormal academy books. Seriously. I mean, c’mon.. shifter mates who can access their partner’s animal? Who doesn’t love that?!

One thing I really didn’t love, however, was how much of the book focused on the FMC’s body. I can appreciate the difficulty of trying to create a female character with insecurity and body issues while still maintaining an overall body positive vibe, but the amount of times how “soft” or “big/too big” or even “thick” and “curvy” her body is was mentioned just felt like too much for me.

And speaking of… while the MMCs did a great job of trying to ease all of the FMC’s negative body talk, I also wish we’d gotten more interactions and/or banter between the MMCs themselves. (I’m greedy, I know.) Can’t wait for the next book! 4 stars✨

** I received a free ARC of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Julie A · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading many shifter stories, this one is a nice change. I like the idea of the reverse harem setting. The author has taken the time to introduce us to the main characters and is trying real hard to not have us form too strong an opinion from the start. A bit more information on what exactly Ironmoor Academy is would have been helpful. The fact that the academy holds that much power over adults seems a little problematic. But, I guess you can't write a steamy explicit story using minors as your starring characters.

I find the reverse harem story line to be charming and somewhat overdue in the whole shifter genre. Having a myriad of different animal types being the shifters is also refreshing. (There are way too many wolf shifter novels out there!) I found myself reading way later than I should have stayed up, but it was riveting in places and kept my full attention. I can't wait to read the next books in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book (loved the cover) and, without reading a sample, I knew I wanted to read it. Then I thought, oh no I missed my opportunity to read it but luckily found another chance.

In the first sitting, I read half of it into the late hours and then first thing in the morning, I continued reading. I dove head first into this world.

All the main characters are trapped and unable to live their lives as they wish. There are parts that trigger fear, anxiety, and rage, so much rage. The unfairness of it all...

All I wanted was to save them.

The book has struggle, friendship, the beginnings of found family, discovery, secrets being revealed, and love.

It is....the beginning of something wonderful. I can't wait.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[HfbR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wren Hale has been raised by Marion since she was four years old, so when she receives a mysterious letter demanding she attend Ironmoor Academy for Shifters she realises that there’s much more to her past than she’s ever been told…..

Silas Thorne is a bear shifter, Jax Rivera a jaguar, Kaelen Vance is a wolf shifter and Ronan Ashgrave is a dragon. These four well imagined characters are the main men in the story, but it would have been good to have more on their individual background stories.

The excellent plot moved at a good pace, but there are a few anomalies that the editors missed. Maybe it’s just me being too fussy, but I enjoyed the story which is the important thing and I’ll be looking out for the next book in the series 🐈‍⬛.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this was my first read of this type of genre and I found it entertaining with the occassional eyebrow raise.

The socially awkward FMC is thrown into a realm she had no knowledge of and no real understand of who she will become.

We watch her on the journey of self-discovery along with her harem of protectors in an academy for shifters.

I enjoyed the story line and found myself reading through interested in what will happen next.

This book has magic, twists and I enjoyed how the character development drew me in to her world of emotions.

I recieved a free copy of this book from BookSprout in exchange for an honest review.

[Diane Karttunen]

When I picked up this book, I hadn't read a shifter story for a while. Every book I picked up had started to feel like a formula. I found Rejected Hollow to have a unique twist that had me reading from cover to cover - Chapter 2 had me hooked, connecting with the FMC through her internal monologue. I don't often pick up a series until it is completed because I dread having to wait for the subsequent books to complete the story line - this is one of those! Can't wait to read the next one and am adding Maeve Mercer to the list of authors I am following.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 of The Ironmoor Academy series, this is about Wren, Kaelen, Jax, Silas, and Ronan. I really enjoyed this story! Wren is never deterred, she proves everyone wrong while being caring, her men are complicated, one rejecting her for her safety, another a spy, the others through choice, and they all try to protect Wren anyway they can. We are given a slight cliffhanger, and I can’t wait to read the next book!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ashley Stroup · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story. It’s only the beginning I can wait to read the next book. The characters are fun to get to know. You laugh and cry with them. It’s a why choose with multiple guys, 1 rejects her outright for reasons I won’t say so you can read and enjoy the roller coaster ride to their (hopefully) HEA. Highly recommend!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Caroline Dudek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, good story, we start with knowing nothing just like the main character and then learn things about the world step by step. There is still much to discover and nothing is solved about both the female character and her mates. While there is foreshadowing at the end of the book it does not end on high tensions.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynn Partridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to a series that ends on a cliff hanger . Fast paced enough to hold your attention with enough twists to keep you guessing . Magic and mayhem and corrupted power abound.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.