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Of Fangs and Shadows
Rome.
The city is at war. Daemons haunt the mortal realm, and the wolves of Rome have been called to battle.
Remus, known throughout the Empire as the Lone Wolf, lives a life of solitude, drowning the griefs of his past by hunting those who have ruined him. An unexpected turn of events throws Remus into the crosshairs of the Roman Pack.
Diane is a warrior of the Pack. One of the strongest she-wolves who can control the aether of her godsgiven bloodline. Something reawakens inside of her, a force of darkness with the ability to tear the realms apart, leading her to question all she’s ever known.
As their paths collide, Remus and Diane are forced to put their differences aside and work together, and they face obstacles that will bring them closer to the inevitable battle to save Rome from an enemy even the gods fear.
Remus must face the dark, twisted truths of his past, as Diane discovers more about who she is and what she is truly capable of.
All while battling the growing passion in their hearts.
A new adult fantasy romance set in and inspired by Ancient Rome. A story of guilt and forgiveness. A story of war and change. A story of two warriors, willing to sacrifice everything for love.
The city is at war. Daemons haunt the mortal realm, and the wolves of Rome have been called to battle.
Remus, known throughout the Empire as the Lone Wolf, lives a life of solitude, drowning the griefs of his past by hunting those who have ruined him. An unexpected turn of events throws Remus into the crosshairs of the Roman Pack.
Diane is a warrior of the Pack. One of the strongest she-wolves who can control the aether of her godsgiven bloodline. Something reawakens inside of her, a force of darkness with the ability to tear the realms apart, leading her to question all she’s ever known.
As their paths collide, Remus and Diane are forced to put their differences aside and work together, and they face obstacles that will bring them closer to the inevitable battle to save Rome from an enemy even the gods fear.
Remus must face the dark, twisted truths of his past, as Diane discovers more about who she is and what she is truly capable of.
All while battling the growing passion in their hearts.
A new adult fantasy romance set in and inspired by Ancient Rome. A story of guilt and forgiveness. A story of war and change. A story of two warriors, willing to sacrifice everything for love.
454 pages, Paperback
Published August 29, 2022
45 people are currently reading
2458 people want to read
About the author
Jessica J. Ayala
3 books92 followersJessica is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine and received her Master's Degree in Business Administration in 2022. Jessica has always been passionate about writing and has often found herself creating stories ever since childhood. When not writing, she can be found weightlifting, watching anime, playing video games, or wandering around a bookstore. She currently resides in Southern California, most likely listening to Epic music in search of creative inspiration.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
September 20, 2022
Happy Release Day!!! I am the author so I am definitely biased, however I wanted to share my love for this story - for Remus and Diane - and for writing. OFaS has been in heart and thoughts for the past 8 years (though I didn't start actively writing this book until 2 years ago) and now my little bad boy is out in the world. So incredible grateful for all I've learned and I cannot to continue to grow my career and passion as an author. Thank you!!!
March 28, 2023
"What are you doing to me, lotus? I find myself falling to my knees before you every passing day."
This is a two POV book, told by the POV´s of Diane and Remus.
With Diane we get a brave, strong female FMC who is a badass warrior and always has a snarky response. Remus is your typical brooding, dark haired, muscular MMC with a troubled history, you guys know the type and we all love them. I liked the chemistry between them, it´s a "he falls first" which I liked, although I would have wished for it to be a little bit more slow burn. Since this is a standalone that is probably hard to achieve but it is "kind of" there.
With side characters I liked Drusus. He always was a good friend to Remus and a great sister to Diane. He helped them both through everything that he could and I loved seeing him try to play matchmaker between them to.
Plotwise this is set in ancient Rome and is filled with roman and egyptian mythology. Werewolves, minotaurs, satyrs, daemons, harpies, pegasi and sirens. You name it, it´s all in this book. The centre of the book surrounds the werewolves, with both Diane and Remus being one. I absolutely loved the mythology aspect to the book, I am such a lover of anything and everything mythology, so everytime I see a book that is something else than greek mythology for once I just HAVE to get my hands on it. The pacing of the book felt fine, although some parts felt a little slow for me. The writing style can get quite poetic sometimes and I don´t think it really was for me. Also while some books suffer from info dumping, I would have loved to get a little more info in this one. Who is the order actually? What is their goal? Tell me!! I feel like it could have made the story much more entertaining and would have resulted in me caring more about it. Romance wise there are a few spicey scenes in here and the romance plot is pretty up front and tangled with the main plot, so I guess you could classify this as an Romantasy.
Overall it was a decent read with great mythology elements that felt pretty average to me.
trigger warnings: loss of loved ones, grief, torture, trauma
This is a two POV book, told by the POV´s of Diane and Remus.
With Diane we get a brave, strong female FMC who is a badass warrior and always has a snarky response. Remus is your typical brooding, dark haired, muscular MMC with a troubled history, you guys know the type and we all love them. I liked the chemistry between them, it´s a "he falls first" which I liked, although I would have wished for it to be a little bit more slow burn. Since this is a standalone that is probably hard to achieve but it is "kind of" there.
With side characters I liked Drusus. He always was a good friend to Remus and a great sister to Diane. He helped them both through everything that he could and I loved seeing him try to play matchmaker between them to.
Plotwise this is set in ancient Rome and is filled with roman and egyptian mythology. Werewolves, minotaurs, satyrs, daemons, harpies, pegasi and sirens. You name it, it´s all in this book. The centre of the book surrounds the werewolves, with both Diane and Remus being one. I absolutely loved the mythology aspect to the book, I am such a lover of anything and everything mythology, so everytime I see a book that is something else than greek mythology for once I just HAVE to get my hands on it. The pacing of the book felt fine, although some parts felt a little slow for me. The writing style can get quite poetic sometimes and I don´t think it really was for me. Also while some books suffer from info dumping, I would have loved to get a little more info in this one. Who is the order actually? What is their goal? Tell me!! I feel like it could have made the story much more entertaining and would have resulted in me caring more about it. Romance wise there are a few spicey scenes in here and the romance plot is pretty up front and tangled with the main plot, so I guess you could classify this as an Romantasy.
Overall it was a decent read with great mythology elements that felt pretty average to me.
trigger warnings: loss of loved ones, grief, torture, trauma
September 27, 2022
Updated rating to 3.5 (rounded up to 4)
Jessica J Ayala redefines the legend of Mars—the God of War—and his concubine, Rhea while also exploring the myth of their children, Romulus and Remus. Though lore suggests a rather brutal tale filled with the violation of a mortal and the birth and abandonment of twin sons, ‘Of Fangs and Shadows’ tells a different tale.
The birth of the fabled twins—Romulus and Remus—begins with love and adoration, rather than brutality and a lack of consent. In this inspired standalone, the twins are also not raised by wolves, but are wolves themselves.
Though wolves rarely travel outside of packs, Remus is a Lone Wolf. His pack—known as the defender of Rome and extension of Mars—is facing the effects of politicking and internal unrest. Rebellion is brewing, a rebellion that one could call a coup. And the Lone Wolf must learn he cannot stand in his convictions alone…
FMC, Diane, is his soon-to-be counterpart and unlikely ally. While Remus is powerful, Diane is also a force to be reckoned with. As she-wolf with a powerful magic derived from Mars himself, she’s the perfect match for the God of War’s son. Their relationship unfolds from a slow burn tension to building crescendo filled with intimacy, love, and spice.
Beyond the NA romance, the fantasy goes beyond shifters to tackle a centuries old war between daemons, gods, and mortals. There is ample action, mystery, and carnage. Unfortunately, the book was harder to follow than I expected. Of Fangs and Shadows is almost too much; it reads like a perfume that is too strong. The scent is still lovely, but overpowering.
All in all, this is a sound debut marrying Roman and Egyptian mythology. It includes aspects and tropes such as:
- Dual POV
- Enemies to Lovers
- Found Family
- One Bed
- Political Intrigue
- Rebellion
- Women Warriors
I am so very grateful to the author for an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend it for fans of romantic mythology retellings with strong heroines, misunderstood male love interests, and battles for the fate of the world.
Jessica J Ayala redefines the legend of Mars—the God of War—and his concubine, Rhea while also exploring the myth of their children, Romulus and Remus. Though lore suggests a rather brutal tale filled with the violation of a mortal and the birth and abandonment of twin sons, ‘Of Fangs and Shadows’ tells a different tale.
The birth of the fabled twins—Romulus and Remus—begins with love and adoration, rather than brutality and a lack of consent. In this inspired standalone, the twins are also not raised by wolves, but are wolves themselves.
Though wolves rarely travel outside of packs, Remus is a Lone Wolf. His pack—known as the defender of Rome and extension of Mars—is facing the effects of politicking and internal unrest. Rebellion is brewing, a rebellion that one could call a coup. And the Lone Wolf must learn he cannot stand in his convictions alone…
FMC, Diane, is his soon-to-be counterpart and unlikely ally. While Remus is powerful, Diane is also a force to be reckoned with. As she-wolf with a powerful magic derived from Mars himself, she’s the perfect match for the God of War’s son. Their relationship unfolds from a slow burn tension to building crescendo filled with intimacy, love, and spice.
Beyond the NA romance, the fantasy goes beyond shifters to tackle a centuries old war between daemons, gods, and mortals. There is ample action, mystery, and carnage. Unfortunately, the book was harder to follow than I expected. Of Fangs and Shadows is almost too much; it reads like a perfume that is too strong. The scent is still lovely, but overpowering.
All in all, this is a sound debut marrying Roman and Egyptian mythology. It includes aspects and tropes such as:
- Dual POV
- Enemies to Lovers
- Found Family
- One Bed
- Political Intrigue
- Rebellion
- Women Warriors
I am so very grateful to the author for an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend it for fans of romantic mythology retellings with strong heroines, misunderstood male love interests, and battles for the fate of the world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2022
Gorgeous take on the werewolf lore!
OFAS is a hearty meal for all Fantasy Romance lovers! It's a Standalone inspired by Ancient Rome and the Egyptian Mythology. While Our FMC, Diane, is a powerful she-wolf who's well known for her incredible strength and a beloved character among the pack, Remus is the broken hero who killed his sister and turned his back on the very same pack. After being cut off and branded as a traitor to all wolves, he's inhabited a life on his own and claimed the title of the Lone Wolf. Years following this incident, The Demon King has found a way somehow to roam the mortal lands once again and started killing people in his wake. Now the only creatures who can stop him are the wolves and so the hunt for the demons has officially started!
I loved Diana and Remus's relationship so much with all its witty banter, angsty slow burn and sexual tension. And seeing them empowering each other to fight their own demons one step at a time was so satisfying! (I adore relationships which allow the characters to heal and grow in fiction)
Honestly each one of Ayala's characters found their way to my head, and sometimes straight to my heart (especially my broken scarred Daddy Remus). No only was I reading for the intrigue and plot, I wanted to know what was happening with each character. Many of them felt like lifetime friends (looking at you Drusus and Cato). Their interactions with each other and continuous support felt so genuine and real and I really wished I would be part of their pack. Watching them grow before my eyes was beyond AWEsome. Many times I found myself smiling ridiculously at their hilarious lines while other chapters had me bawling my eyes out for their undying loyalty.
The writing style was so good! Not flowery or sophisticated but quick paced, enjoyable, and full of CHARACTER GROWTH. The story ended on a satisfying note that'll make readers let out a happy sigh!
Read this if you like:
✨NA Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Woman warriors and she-wolves
✨Touch him and I'll kill you
✨Found Family
✨Witty Banter
✨Dual Povs
✨Forced Proximity (to train together)
✨One Bed Trope
✨Slowburn Romance
✨Mortals, Deamons, Gods
✨Touches on grief, loss, & trauma
Simply put: This is the best werewolf NA I've read so far! Huge thanks to the author for gifting me a copy to read!
FIVE BOLD STARS 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
OFAS is a hearty meal for all Fantasy Romance lovers! It's a Standalone inspired by Ancient Rome and the Egyptian Mythology. While Our FMC, Diane, is a powerful she-wolf who's well known for her incredible strength and a beloved character among the pack, Remus is the broken hero who killed his sister and turned his back on the very same pack. After being cut off and branded as a traitor to all wolves, he's inhabited a life on his own and claimed the title of the Lone Wolf. Years following this incident, The Demon King has found a way somehow to roam the mortal lands once again and started killing people in his wake. Now the only creatures who can stop him are the wolves and so the hunt for the demons has officially started!
I loved Diana and Remus's relationship so much with all its witty banter, angsty slow burn and sexual tension. And seeing them empowering each other to fight their own demons one step at a time was so satisfying! (I adore relationships which allow the characters to heal and grow in fiction)
Honestly each one of Ayala's characters found their way to my head, and sometimes straight to my heart (especially my broken scarred Daddy Remus). No only was I reading for the intrigue and plot, I wanted to know what was happening with each character. Many of them felt like lifetime friends (looking at you Drusus and Cato). Their interactions with each other and continuous support felt so genuine and real and I really wished I would be part of their pack. Watching them grow before my eyes was beyond AWEsome. Many times I found myself smiling ridiculously at their hilarious lines while other chapters had me bawling my eyes out for their undying loyalty.
The writing style was so good! Not flowery or sophisticated but quick paced, enjoyable, and full of CHARACTER GROWTH. The story ended on a satisfying note that'll make readers let out a happy sigh!
Read this if you like:
✨NA Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Woman warriors and she-wolves
✨Touch him and I'll kill you
✨Found Family
✨Witty Banter
✨Dual Povs
✨Forced Proximity (to train together)
✨One Bed Trope
✨Slowburn Romance
✨Mortals, Deamons, Gods
✨Touches on grief, loss, & trauma
Simply put: This is the best werewolf NA I've read so far! Huge thanks to the author for gifting me a copy to read!
FIVE BOLD STARS 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
October 13, 2022
4.25 ⭐️
2.5 🌶
Ok this book took me by surprise!
It’s set in Rome, but with a reimagined world full of sirens, gryphons, Minotaurs & wolf shifters.
They even have Pegasus and the Egyptian jackal shifters make an appearance!
I haven’t read books with a lot of these magical creatures represented so it was unique & refreshing.
The main plot is about a demon king wanting to take over earth & rip open a portal to bring back his brethren - But at the heart of it all is a love story between a she-wolf with powers like no other & a Lone Wolf disgraced by his pack with a dark past.
The aspects that I really enjoyed about this story was that while it’s a love story, it’s focused on the MC’s seperate journeys as well & their story coming together is part of it - but not everything.
She grows with the help of him but ultimately on her own & vice versa which I really really liked!
They had great tension & banter - the slow burn & angst was there, along with tearing the world down for each other, & when the spice did finally happen it was FANTASTIC ❤️🔥
The first 25% of the book had me absolutely HOOKED! It was fantastic… then the next 20% floundered a little, I wanted more show, less tell, I wanted more interactions between the two MC’s so I could see their relationship grow & there was the odd bit of modern language that threw me off, along with some plot points I was genuinely confused about?
But by the time it hit the 40% mark everything started to kick off again & make sense, the pacing, the relationship building - it all came together perfectly! And that epic final battle was really well described, it didn’t feel rushed at all, which I can find those scenes sometimes do.
I rarely read stand alone’s so it was actually really nice to read a book that was all wrapped up with a happy ending!
Overall I would definitely recommend if you like a slow burn fantasy romance (stand alone) book!
I will be looking out for more work from this author in the future
2.5 🌶
Ok this book took me by surprise!
It’s set in Rome, but with a reimagined world full of sirens, gryphons, Minotaurs & wolf shifters.
They even have Pegasus and the Egyptian jackal shifters make an appearance!
I haven’t read books with a lot of these magical creatures represented so it was unique & refreshing.
The main plot is about a demon king wanting to take over earth & rip open a portal to bring back his brethren - But at the heart of it all is a love story between a she-wolf with powers like no other & a Lone Wolf disgraced by his pack with a dark past.
The aspects that I really enjoyed about this story was that while it’s a love story, it’s focused on the MC’s seperate journeys as well & their story coming together is part of it - but not everything.
She grows with the help of him but ultimately on her own & vice versa which I really really liked!
They had great tension & banter - the slow burn & angst was there, along with tearing the world down for each other, & when the spice did finally happen it was FANTASTIC ❤️🔥
The first 25% of the book had me absolutely HOOKED! It was fantastic… then the next 20% floundered a little, I wanted more show, less tell, I wanted more interactions between the two MC’s so I could see their relationship grow & there was the odd bit of modern language that threw me off, along with some plot points I was genuinely confused about?
But by the time it hit the 40% mark everything started to kick off again & make sense, the pacing, the relationship building - it all came together perfectly! And that epic final battle was really well described, it didn’t feel rushed at all, which I can find those scenes sometimes do.
I rarely read stand alone’s so it was actually really nice to read a book that was all wrapped up with a happy ending!
Overall I would definitely recommend if you like a slow burn fantasy romance (stand alone) book!
I will be looking out for more work from this author in the future
September 19, 2022
I absolutely adored this book! An NA fantasy romance with both Roman and Egyptian inspiration. Remus is a wolf shifter known to those who know him as the Lone Wolf. He’s cut off from the Roman Pack making him an outsider that isn’t to be trusted. Diane is a she-wolf warrior and able to wield aether and is well known for her incredible strength. When circumstances throw the two together the question is if they will be able to trust each other enough to work together? And can the fight their growing feelings?
I loved the journey that Remus and Diane go on through the book both together and individually so much growth happens for both of them. As invested as I was in Remus & Diane, I was also invested in the other members of the pack that formed this found family. Overall a wonderful debut fantasy novel 💗
Perfect for fans of:
- Found Family
- Slow burn romance
- NA Romantasy
- one bed trope/forced proximity
- open door romance
- “touch her and I’ll kill you”
I loved the journey that Remus and Diane go on through the book both together and individually so much growth happens for both of them. As invested as I was in Remus & Diane, I was also invested in the other members of the pack that formed this found family. Overall a wonderful debut fantasy novel 💗
Perfect for fans of:
- Found Family
- Slow burn romance
- NA Romantasy
- one bed trope/forced proximity
- open door romance
- “touch her and I’ll kill you”
March 8, 2024
I don’t know about this one. The story line was solid but it felt rushed and disjointed at some points.
March 30, 2024
Wow, the emotional rollercoaster this book put me in.
February 12, 2024
this book could be a great drinking game; take a shot every time you read the words “lone wolf” (you will be dead within five chapters)
September 25, 2022
Where do I start? Oh yeah…
5 STARS to this masterpiece!!!
Diane and Remus were such a breath of fresh air. Remus, my broken, scarred, baby daddy. I was obsessed with him before I even met him and he did not disappoint. He was strong, witty, broody, hot and such a warrior. He was a Lone Wolf but that didn’t deter him from being caring and helping his old pack. Diane, a boss ass bitch. She was strong with a ‘take no BS’ attitude, powerful and sassy. The dynamic between them was tension-filled, tender and full of banter. Their relationship developed so beautifully. There was a slow-burn but it was slow and steady. It didn’t make you want to throw the book LOL (I don’t usually like slow burns). When it happened, it HAPPENED 🌶😮💨🥵 I had to clutch my pearls a few times 🫠
The world-building was done beautifully. The pacing in the book was perfect. There were no flat moments and it also didn’t feel overwhelming with action-packed scenes. Jess did an amazing job writing her story. You can tell that she put her whole budu$$y into this book!!!!!!!!!! And I’m so fucking proud!!!
Last but not least, the wolf pack 🐺 I loved every single one of those bratty wolves!!! There were so many funny moments and my heart was so full. Drusus and Remus’s friendship was 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽
I smiled, laughed, gasped and cried.
10/10 would recommend.
5 STARS to this masterpiece!!!
Diane and Remus were such a breath of fresh air. Remus, my broken, scarred, baby daddy. I was obsessed with him before I even met him and he did not disappoint. He was strong, witty, broody, hot and such a warrior. He was a Lone Wolf but that didn’t deter him from being caring and helping his old pack. Diane, a boss ass bitch. She was strong with a ‘take no BS’ attitude, powerful and sassy. The dynamic between them was tension-filled, tender and full of banter. Their relationship developed so beautifully. There was a slow-burn but it was slow and steady. It didn’t make you want to throw the book LOL (I don’t usually like slow burns). When it happened, it HAPPENED 🌶😮💨🥵 I had to clutch my pearls a few times 🫠
The world-building was done beautifully. The pacing in the book was perfect. There were no flat moments and it also didn’t feel overwhelming with action-packed scenes. Jess did an amazing job writing her story. You can tell that she put her whole budu$$y into this book!!!!!!!!!! And I’m so fucking proud!!!
Last but not least, the wolf pack 🐺 I loved every single one of those bratty wolves!!! There were so many funny moments and my heart was so full. Drusus and Remus’s friendship was 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽
I smiled, laughed, gasped and cried.
10/10 would recommend.
March 9, 2023
“If they wanted something poetic, I would be sure to let my blade sing a song worthy of an encore.”
This was a really fun, unique read! I went in relatively blind, only having seen the author’s posts on Instagram and fallen in love with the aesthetics and character art — and I was pleasantly surprised to find a twist on the Roman mythology that I grew up loving.
The prologue was especially captivating, capturing the essence of Ancient Rome and the gods who ruled it from afar. After that, the language grew a little more modern, particularly the dialogue, which was somewhat jarring but didn’t persuade me from enjoying the story!
I loved both Diane and Remus’s parts, but especially Diane’s, and I really wish there had been more from her perspective and maybe more on her Egyptian lineage, which I thought was really cool. She was feisty but empathetic, passionate but kind, and the dynamic between her and the Pack brothers was the sweetest thing.
The story jumped around a bit, but the action rolled so well that I was riveted and couldn’t put the book down — it’s chunky, but turned out to be a two-sitting read for me!! Usually I like standalones, but this one left me itching for more. A fabulous debut!
“Darkness has a reputation of being something to avoid, but it can also be solace, a place of trust and intimacy. Bend the darkness to your will, Diane, and you will never fear it."
This was a really fun, unique read! I went in relatively blind, only having seen the author’s posts on Instagram and fallen in love with the aesthetics and character art — and I was pleasantly surprised to find a twist on the Roman mythology that I grew up loving.
The prologue was especially captivating, capturing the essence of Ancient Rome and the gods who ruled it from afar. After that, the language grew a little more modern, particularly the dialogue, which was somewhat jarring but didn’t persuade me from enjoying the story!
I loved both Diane and Remus’s parts, but especially Diane’s, and I really wish there had been more from her perspective and maybe more on her Egyptian lineage, which I thought was really cool. She was feisty but empathetic, passionate but kind, and the dynamic between her and the Pack brothers was the sweetest thing.
The story jumped around a bit, but the action rolled so well that I was riveted and couldn’t put the book down — it’s chunky, but turned out to be a two-sitting read for me!! Usually I like standalones, but this one left me itching for more. A fabulous debut!
“Darkness has a reputation of being something to avoid, but it can also be solace, a place of trust and intimacy. Bend the darkness to your will, Diane, and you will never fear it."
March 12, 2023
I swear the amount of quotes I underlined with the word ‘blade’ in it. I might be a little trigger happy lol. We can blame my scorpio side for always loving a teeny bit of violence.
Okay now to the part about the warrior women with fierce tempers? Yes yes and yessssssss toooo this!
Wow so much to unpack in this debut standalone. It was a ride full of suspense, mystic atmosphere and phenomenal world building. Seriously I think my favorite parts were when the author described the scenery and culture. I felt at ease, as if the author was calmly and slowly transporting me in time.
Diane and Remus were flawed and complex characters. Their journey from enemies to friends and ultimately to lovers was a tender and bittersweet journey. I feel so protective of them and their growth together. This story was too good, too sweet, too savory. The mystery there, yet not. Barely perceptible yet totally mind consuming.
My favorite part about creating new worlds is traveling through them. I felt like I explored the depths of this realm, I loved it, I saw the grass, the lands, the mountains. I was there amongst the people joining in the chaos and debauchery.
Okay now to the part about the warrior women with fierce tempers? Yes yes and yessssssss toooo this!
Wow so much to unpack in this debut standalone. It was a ride full of suspense, mystic atmosphere and phenomenal world building. Seriously I think my favorite parts were when the author described the scenery and culture. I felt at ease, as if the author was calmly and slowly transporting me in time.
Diane and Remus were flawed and complex characters. Their journey from enemies to friends and ultimately to lovers was a tender and bittersweet journey. I feel so protective of them and their growth together. This story was too good, too sweet, too savory. The mystery there, yet not. Barely perceptible yet totally mind consuming.
My favorite part about creating new worlds is traveling through them. I felt like I explored the depths of this realm, I loved it, I saw the grass, the lands, the mountains. I was there amongst the people joining in the chaos and debauchery.
October 2, 2022
5/5
With Roman and Egyptian influence and a splash of spice, you do not want to miss this amazing debut NA fantasy romance read!
📚Diane is the badass female character I’m always here for, and Remus has such a beautiful character development.
📚If you know me you know I love all things mythology, so when I found out OFAS had Roman AND Egyptian inspiration, I about screamed. The world building is *chefs kiss* and the pacing was so well done - there’s never a dull moment. This book will take you on such an emotional rollercoaster. I need more please and thank you!
✨I recommend if you’re looking for a NA fantasy romance, with great world building, character development, shapeshifters, and mythology.
✨Thanks so much to Jess for an arc and congrats again my friend!✨
With Roman and Egyptian influence and a splash of spice, you do not want to miss this amazing debut NA fantasy romance read!
📚Diane is the badass female character I’m always here for, and Remus has such a beautiful character development.
📚If you know me you know I love all things mythology, so when I found out OFAS had Roman AND Egyptian inspiration, I about screamed. The world building is *chefs kiss* and the pacing was so well done - there’s never a dull moment. This book will take you on such an emotional rollercoaster. I need more please and thank you!
✨I recommend if you’re looking for a NA fantasy romance, with great world building, character development, shapeshifters, and mythology.
✨Thanks so much to Jess for an arc and congrats again my friend!✨
February 3, 2023
Skimmed the 2nd half, could not get into this, I was so bored. The world building was good but the characters lacked depth.
February 13, 2023
3.5 rounded up!
March 21, 2023
Gaah omg I loved it so so much! This was brilliant, beautiful and epic as heck!
Read
July 26, 2023I could not get into this book. The writing isn’t super great and it was just hard to get into.
September 22, 2022
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC copy of OFAS and
let me tell you this book didn't disappoint. The world was so
unique. If you like fantasy with a side of history, you'll love
this OFAS.
I'm still thinking about this story and these characters.
To say I am OBSESSED with Remus and Diane would be an
understatement. Their connection, banter, tension, the build
up and all their interactions was wonderful to read.
I also loved the whole pack and the element of the found
family trope.
Fantastic world building, so many moments that had me
tearing up and some wanting to throw my kindle but under all
of that I was so here for these two and their swoon-worthy
romance.
* Ancient Rome influences
* Wolves and she-wolves
* Enemies to lovers
* Magic
* Found family
* Great tension and banter
* Spice my friends
* Twists, turns and reveals
* Forced proximity
Couldn't recommend this one more!
Congratulations Jess what an epic debut novel
let me tell you this book didn't disappoint. The world was so
unique. If you like fantasy with a side of history, you'll love
this OFAS.
I'm still thinking about this story and these characters.
To say I am OBSESSED with Remus and Diane would be an
understatement. Their connection, banter, tension, the build
up and all their interactions was wonderful to read.
I also loved the whole pack and the element of the found
family trope.
Fantastic world building, so many moments that had me
tearing up and some wanting to throw my kindle but under all
of that I was so here for these two and their swoon-worthy
romance.
* Ancient Rome influences
* Wolves and she-wolves
* Enemies to lovers
* Magic
* Found family
* Great tension and banter
* Spice my friends
* Twists, turns and reveals
* Forced proximity
Couldn't recommend this one more!
Congratulations Jess what an epic debut novel
May 10, 2024
4.5/5
Fast paced romantasy with wolves, found family, gods and supernaturals, wolves, and Ancient Rome vibes. Jessica does a wonderful job keep the reader on their toes with action and adventure from start to finish. The character development from MMC and FMC makes for a wonderful romance plot.
Can’t wait to read more from this author.
Fast paced romantasy with wolves, found family, gods and supernaturals, wolves, and Ancient Rome vibes. Jessica does a wonderful job keep the reader on their toes with action and adventure from start to finish. The character development from MMC and FMC makes for a wonderful romance plot.
Can’t wait to read more from this author.
September 20, 2022
Of Fangs and Shadows - 4.5/5⭐️
“You do not need to have all the answers, just the confidence in yourself that you will figure this out.”
eARC Review: This debut novel was a beautiful journey! Inspired by the Roman myth, Romulus and Remus, with a dash of Egyptian mythology thrown in, this fantasy romance novel (with spice!) will keep you on your toes.
Remus is a wolf-shifter known as the Lone Wolf after being exiled from his Pack. Diane is a she-wolf warrior with the ability to wield a powerful aether. The two must work together in the battle to save Rome from the daemons that have infiltrated the mortal realm. This is a slow-burn romance which pays off in the best way! Both of our main characters undergo an emotional journey of self-acceptance, having to fight internal (and external!) daemons. I enjoyed reading both Remus’ and Diane’s POV, but I felt a special connection to Diane’s character and her anxieties/internal struggles.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and am so grateful for the opportunity to read this eARC. Jess, I am so so proud of you and cannot wait to read your next novel!! 💕
“You do not need to have all the answers, just the confidence in yourself that you will figure this out.”
eARC Review: This debut novel was a beautiful journey! Inspired by the Roman myth, Romulus and Remus, with a dash of Egyptian mythology thrown in, this fantasy romance novel (with spice!) will keep you on your toes.
Remus is a wolf-shifter known as the Lone Wolf after being exiled from his Pack. Diane is a she-wolf warrior with the ability to wield a powerful aether. The two must work together in the battle to save Rome from the daemons that have infiltrated the mortal realm. This is a slow-burn romance which pays off in the best way! Both of our main characters undergo an emotional journey of self-acceptance, having to fight internal (and external!) daemons. I enjoyed reading both Remus’ and Diane’s POV, but I felt a special connection to Diane’s character and her anxieties/internal struggles.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and am so grateful for the opportunity to read this eARC. Jess, I am so so proud of you and cannot wait to read your next novel!! 💕
September 23, 2022
I absolutely loved this book! Remus and Diane are such a force to be reckoned with and the fact that this is a standalone made my heart happy so I didn’t have to suffer for a year before the next one came out! I am super grateful to have been part of the ARC group and read this. The slow burn and spice just made it that much better! It was a little hard to start for me but once I read a couple chapters I got so engrossed it wasn’t hard at all to finish! Definitely a Jessica J Ayla fan now!
Read
February 15, 2024great characters but not enough development between them.
September 20, 2022
A gorgeous NA fantasy romance standalone that had me hooked from the start. Lone Wolf Remus finds himself involved with Rome's Wolf Pack, and specifically with she-wolf Diane, on his quest to avenge his past. They will both have to work together to defend Rome from a common enemy.
-Slow Burn
-Found Family
-Shapeshifters
-Spice 🔥
-One Bed/Forced Proximity
-Quest for Revenge
I am OBSESSED with Remus and Diane, their banter and tension, the build up and pretty much their every interaction is 🔥🔥🔥 I also love the whole pack and found family, with a mighty soft spot for Marcus and Cato ❤️ and Drusus, actually 💥
Great world building, some moments that had me tearing up and wanting to throw the book across the room, two MCs both fighting their inner demons as well as their 'real life' enemies, and a swoon-worthy romance 💥
Strongly recommend. You do not want to miss the sexy specimens that are Remus and Diane🔥😏
-Slow Burn
-Found Family
-Shapeshifters
-Spice 🔥
-One Bed/Forced Proximity
-Quest for Revenge
I am OBSESSED with Remus and Diane, their banter and tension, the build up and pretty much their every interaction is 🔥🔥🔥 I also love the whole pack and found family, with a mighty soft spot for Marcus and Cato ❤️ and Drusus, actually 💥
Great world building, some moments that had me tearing up and wanting to throw the book across the room, two MCs both fighting their inner demons as well as their 'real life' enemies, and a swoon-worthy romance 💥
Strongly recommend. You do not want to miss the sexy specimens that are Remus and Diane🔥😏
dnf
January 26, 2023dnf at 34%. as someone who loves mythology, i really wanted to fall in love with this one, but it seems that it wasn't meant to be. apart from it feeling slow to me, i also felt like so much was happening but at the same time, nothing was happening. very nice ideas, but for some reason, the way everything was put together didn't intrigue me at all. Heck, I was more interested in Mars than any of the characters in the present timeline.
did-not-finish
December 18, 2023dnf @ 20%
I really wanted to like this one... It just felt very slow and very dense. I also had issues with the writing style, a little flowery. I may resurrect this one in the future to finish it, but its a DNF for now.
I really wanted to like this one... It just felt very slow and very dense. I also had issues with the writing style, a little flowery. I may resurrect this one in the future to finish it, but its a DNF for now.
September 25, 2022
“𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞.”
“𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞.”
“𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞. 𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”
“𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞. 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞. 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫.”
________________________
This book is an epic, stand alone, steamy, spicy, romantic, fantasy woven seamlessly into history and lore that follows a pack of wolf shifters, descendants of the God of War, who live to defend and protect the people and magical races of Ancient Rome. We meet and follow the POV of both Diane, a powerful She Wolf on the edge of completing her Rite, and Remus, the son of the former pack Alpha who has been shunned and exiled from the pack and is now known only as the Lone Wolf.
The book opens with Mars, the God of War, banishing the entire Daemon race from earth, and as we meet Diane, Remus, and the rest of the pack in the present day we soon find out that an Order exists with the sole end goal of bringing back the daemon king called the Ram. There is only one more thing that the Ram needs to retake the world as his own…the combined power of fire that Remus somehow possesses, and the power of shadows that Diane would do anything to hide. As the book progresses they find themselves thrust together as they rush to save Rome from the darkest evil their world has ever known and maybe find themselves and love in the process.
This book was absolutely incredible and truly checked off all the boxes in one stand alone story that somehow did not feel long or contrived whatsoever, and for being a debut novel I was SO impressed!!
Remus and Diane on their own are powerful, morally gray characters with secrets and dark pasts and I can honestly say I fell in love with them individually for who they were and the burdens they carried long before I wanted to see their romance develop. But when it did let me tell you it SERVED the romance up in scalding hot doses!! Their individual traumas/traumatic backstories were not needless and how it all came together in the grand scheme of the story was both poetic, devastating, and led to the best redemptive culmination. Watching them break and grow into strong people who could then be strong people for each other was beyond beautiful and as much as I loved seeing them grow together the fact that they had to find themselves before truly being able to find each other was excellent. Without a doubt they have 2 of the most incredible character arcs I’ve read this year!!
The setting was brilliant and I loved the concept of the Ancient Roman and Egyptian histories colliding with the fantasy world created for this story. The fusion of magical races (wolf-shifters, jackal-shifters, harpies, minotaurs, griffins, satyrs, etc.), against both Roman and Egyptian gods and mythology was just SO well done and really elevated the story and made it top notch.
The entire cast of characters…oh my goodness. There wasn’t a single one who I didn’t absolutely adore!! The way they were all just so deeply family translated perfectly off the page and I found myself as invested in each one of their stories as I was Remus and Diane’s. I just loved them all SO much!!
All in all this book was intense, it was fun, it was heartbreaking, it was beautiful, and it ultimately had the most satisfying ending. I can’t recommend this book enough.
Thank you so much to Jessica J. Ayala for sending me her book baby in exchange for my honest review. It was a honor!!
“𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞.”
“𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞. 𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”
“𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞. 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞. 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫.”
________________________
This book is an epic, stand alone, steamy, spicy, romantic, fantasy woven seamlessly into history and lore that follows a pack of wolf shifters, descendants of the God of War, who live to defend and protect the people and magical races of Ancient Rome. We meet and follow the POV of both Diane, a powerful She Wolf on the edge of completing her Rite, and Remus, the son of the former pack Alpha who has been shunned and exiled from the pack and is now known only as the Lone Wolf.
The book opens with Mars, the God of War, banishing the entire Daemon race from earth, and as we meet Diane, Remus, and the rest of the pack in the present day we soon find out that an Order exists with the sole end goal of bringing back the daemon king called the Ram. There is only one more thing that the Ram needs to retake the world as his own…the combined power of fire that Remus somehow possesses, and the power of shadows that Diane would do anything to hide. As the book progresses they find themselves thrust together as they rush to save Rome from the darkest evil their world has ever known and maybe find themselves and love in the process.
This book was absolutely incredible and truly checked off all the boxes in one stand alone story that somehow did not feel long or contrived whatsoever, and for being a debut novel I was SO impressed!!
Remus and Diane on their own are powerful, morally gray characters with secrets and dark pasts and I can honestly say I fell in love with them individually for who they were and the burdens they carried long before I wanted to see their romance develop. But when it did let me tell you it SERVED the romance up in scalding hot doses!! Their individual traumas/traumatic backstories were not needless and how it all came together in the grand scheme of the story was both poetic, devastating, and led to the best redemptive culmination. Watching them break and grow into strong people who could then be strong people for each other was beyond beautiful and as much as I loved seeing them grow together the fact that they had to find themselves before truly being able to find each other was excellent. Without a doubt they have 2 of the most incredible character arcs I’ve read this year!!
The setting was brilliant and I loved the concept of the Ancient Roman and Egyptian histories colliding with the fantasy world created for this story. The fusion of magical races (wolf-shifters, jackal-shifters, harpies, minotaurs, griffins, satyrs, etc.), against both Roman and Egyptian gods and mythology was just SO well done and really elevated the story and made it top notch.
The entire cast of characters…oh my goodness. There wasn’t a single one who I didn’t absolutely adore!! The way they were all just so deeply family translated perfectly off the page and I found myself as invested in each one of their stories as I was Remus and Diane’s. I just loved them all SO much!!
All in all this book was intense, it was fun, it was heartbreaking, it was beautiful, and it ultimately had the most satisfying ending. I can’t recommend this book enough.
Thank you so much to Jessica J. Ayala for sending me her book baby in exchange for my honest review. It was a honor!!
October 13, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive an e-ARC of this beautiful story about Remus and Diane and their effort to save the Olympian realm while also discovering love for themselves and each other. This book is also about family, friendship, camaraderie, and loyalty. The author does a wonderful job at capturing the pack’s close relationship with one another as well as the unique wolf/warrior spirit. Being part of the pack isn’t a job or a duty but a lifestyle and a place among family. You can really feel that throughout the story. I thought the magic system and integrating Roman and Egyptian culture was creative, interesting, and pretty well done. I thought the two POV’s were really done as well. I could hear Remus’ and Diane’s voices distinctly. My favorite part of the book was getting a sense of the pack, how they move and fight together, how they work together, and how much they truly love each other. I just thought that bond was executed really well. Eventually my emotional investment in the pack would make me cry gator tears at one point (no spoilers). The description and detail throughout the book is also something I enjoyed. It read like a movie and I could visualize everything clearly. There are moments of redundancy throughout the story that can be somewhat distracting but if you can get past that, you’ll enjoy it. There are many characters, so be prepared to keep up. I found myself forgetting who Atticus and Octavius was, for example. The pacing is a little slow and scenes are drawn out but they’re enjoyable overall. A couple things I thought the author could do better was capture the broodiness of Remus better. He never truly seemed that broody to me. I felt that he was sad and lonely and yearned to be part of the pack again from the very start which gave him little room to grow as a character in my head. I would say the same for his relationship with Diane. From the moment they meet there’s curiosity and sexual tension. I’ve seen some people mention the enemies-to-lovers trope, but again, I never really felt that enemies vibe. There was some caution from Diane, but I believe her initial intrigue and attraction for the lone wolf far outweighed that. So, for me it was never enemies-to-lovers. It was simply a gradual love story that I had expected from the start. The last thing and really the only thing that bothered me about this story were the sex scenes. While reading, I knew eventually I’d get to those scenes, like the story builds up to it. And they just weren’t what I expected them to be. Were they spicy? Yes. Were they exciting? Ehhh (shrugs). I guess I expected something more intimate and creative? I mean, Remus and Diane both posses unique powers from the Gods that they’re figuring out and experimenting with (together) throughout the whole story, so I guess I expected to see more of that in the sex scenes. There’s a little but I expected more. Not to mention that the rest of the story is so beautifully written with breathtaking description that awakens all your senses. And for me, the sex just didn’t read that same way and it was disappointing. Overall, I really liked the book and would recommend it to friends.
September 10, 2022
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review.
It all begins with a god and a daemon. It all begins when a god falls in love with a mortal and twins were born. Today, the descendant needs to fight against the daemon. Diana, the she-wolf, and Remus, the Lone wolf, need to team up to fight them. Will they be able to trust each other? Will the past come back to haunt them? Will they fight their attraction?
“You’ve made a monster out of me, Diane. I will now always crave your taste.”
Wow! This book blow my mind! The writing is so excellent that you would not believe it’s her debut novel. I love the world that Jessica built: a mix of Roman/Egyptian mythology with the shapeshifter. The descriptions are well done. You'll feel as if you were there. She also puts together a playlist for the book. The songs are really great and I like this kind of personal touch in a book. Reading the book is an emotional rollercoaster. You'll pass through all the emotions and believe me when I said all the emotions even fear. In some scenes, the author shredded my heart (When I asked her why. Her answer was Fate🙄.). The book had a great balance between the spice and the plot. The spice was perfect.
He was my night, the comfort of the dark, the solace among the stars. Our love had been forged by steel and fire, a story of fangs and shadows.
I fell in love with every character, not just the principal character. They are the perfect founding family. This is the first book in which I was truly afraid of their destiny😅. The FMC, Diana, is strong, but at the same time, she can be vulnerable with Remus and reach out to her family for help. They make each other stronger. Their sexual tension was high. I like Remus's humor with Diana. He makes me laugh all the time. Remus is faithful to his convictions and a little cocky. This broody man is my new book boyfriend with Cato, Drusus and Atticus. I also have a new daddy, Mars. He isn’t much in the book, but I like him too.
The author will keep surprising you through the 440 pages. The ending amazes me and the book is now on my list of the best books I read, in 2022 and on my list of favorite books. Of Fangs and Shadows will live rent-free in my head for a long time. Don’t forget to read the acknowledgments, it’s really sweet.
It all begins with a god and a daemon. It all begins when a god falls in love with a mortal and twins were born. Today, the descendant needs to fight against the daemon. Diana, the she-wolf, and Remus, the Lone wolf, need to team up to fight them. Will they be able to trust each other? Will the past come back to haunt them? Will they fight their attraction?
“You’ve made a monster out of me, Diane. I will now always crave your taste.”
Wow! This book blow my mind! The writing is so excellent that you would not believe it’s her debut novel. I love the world that Jessica built: a mix of Roman/Egyptian mythology with the shapeshifter. The descriptions are well done. You'll feel as if you were there. She also puts together a playlist for the book. The songs are really great and I like this kind of personal touch in a book. Reading the book is an emotional rollercoaster. You'll pass through all the emotions and believe me when I said all the emotions even fear. In some scenes, the author shredded my heart (When I asked her why. Her answer was Fate🙄.). The book had a great balance between the spice and the plot. The spice was perfect.
He was my night, the comfort of the dark, the solace among the stars. Our love had been forged by steel and fire, a story of fangs and shadows.
I fell in love with every character, not just the principal character. They are the perfect founding family. This is the first book in which I was truly afraid of their destiny😅. The FMC, Diana, is strong, but at the same time, she can be vulnerable with Remus and reach out to her family for help. They make each other stronger. Their sexual tension was high. I like Remus's humor with Diana. He makes me laugh all the time. Remus is faithful to his convictions and a little cocky. This broody man is my new book boyfriend with Cato, Drusus and Atticus. I also have a new daddy, Mars. He isn’t much in the book, but I like him too.
The author will keep surprising you through the 440 pages. The ending amazes me and the book is now on my list of the best books I read, in 2022 and on my list of favorite books. Of Fangs and Shadows will live rent-free in my head for a long time. Don’t forget to read the acknowledgments, it’s really sweet.
September 20, 2022
I was so excited to be a part of the e-ARC team for Of Fangs and Shadows, the debut novel by @book.baddie . OFAS is a NA stand alone fantasy romance inspired by ancient Roman mythology and the legend of Romulus and Remus.
I loved this premise and am a sucker for anything wolf related! I also really enjoyed the setting of this book and the incorporation of Ancient Rome and Ancient Egypt and the mythical creatures that stem from both. The magic system was also really unique, with she-wolves being able to manipulate the world’s magic and their male counterparts being able to shift into wolf form.
This book is dual POV featuring Diane and Remus. Diane is a bad ass warrior she-wolf, a cocky FMC who stands her ground, while Remus is a broody and violent but misunderstand MMC and wolf shifter with questionable morals. He is the lone wolf that left the Pack, the revered defenders of Rome, and is therefore not to be trusted. Throughout OFAS, however, the Pack uses Remus’s help in fighting the rising rebellion that is trying to bring a horde of powerful Daemons into the world.
OFAS had some spice and enough slow burn (but not too much), and also included other favorite tropes like enemy to lovers, forced proximity, found family, and “touch her and I’ll kill you”. I enjoyed the growth of the main characters throughout the book, who each had to break down the walls they’ve built up to let the other in. As typical for me, the side characters really stole the show, and I LOVED the Drusus and Remus bromance 🫶🏼
There was a lot going on this book with it being a stand alone, and there were a few subplots that I didn’t see the need for. OFAS is divided into three Parts and the end of Part 1 would have been a perfect cliffhanger ending, but instead was right in the middle of the book. Conversely, some parts of OFAS I thought were going to be drawn out and detailed as the height of conflict or self-journey and instead felt really rushed, like the last fight against the book’s protagonist, “The Ram”, and Diane’s Rite. The characters were working towards these things the whole time and ended rather abruptly; I wish they were fleshed out more!
If you love other NA romantasies, historical drama epics (think Gladiator and Ben-Hur), and books where the fate of the world is in the main characters’ hands, then please give Of Fangs and Shadows a read! I know I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to see what other stories are brewing in Jessica’s head 🥰
I loved this premise and am a sucker for anything wolf related! I also really enjoyed the setting of this book and the incorporation of Ancient Rome and Ancient Egypt and the mythical creatures that stem from both. The magic system was also really unique, with she-wolves being able to manipulate the world’s magic and their male counterparts being able to shift into wolf form.
This book is dual POV featuring Diane and Remus. Diane is a bad ass warrior she-wolf, a cocky FMC who stands her ground, while Remus is a broody and violent but misunderstand MMC and wolf shifter with questionable morals. He is the lone wolf that left the Pack, the revered defenders of Rome, and is therefore not to be trusted. Throughout OFAS, however, the Pack uses Remus’s help in fighting the rising rebellion that is trying to bring a horde of powerful Daemons into the world.
OFAS had some spice and enough slow burn (but not too much), and also included other favorite tropes like enemy to lovers, forced proximity, found family, and “touch her and I’ll kill you”. I enjoyed the growth of the main characters throughout the book, who each had to break down the walls they’ve built up to let the other in. As typical for me, the side characters really stole the show, and I LOVED the Drusus and Remus bromance 🫶🏼
There was a lot going on this book with it being a stand alone, and there were a few subplots that I didn’t see the need for. OFAS is divided into three Parts and the end of Part 1 would have been a perfect cliffhanger ending, but instead was right in the middle of the book. Conversely, some parts of OFAS I thought were going to be drawn out and detailed as the height of conflict or self-journey and instead felt really rushed, like the last fight against the book’s protagonist, “The Ram”, and Diane’s Rite. The characters were working towards these things the whole time and ended rather abruptly; I wish they were fleshed out more!
If you love other NA romantasies, historical drama epics (think Gladiator and Ben-Hur), and books where the fate of the world is in the main characters’ hands, then please give Of Fangs and Shadows a read! I know I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to see what other stories are brewing in Jessica’s head 🥰
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