Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer delivers a sultry, spellbound tale of power, identity, and fated connection set in a richly imagined supernatural London.

Cordelia Levine lives a quiet life tending an apothecary in the human world, suppressing her magic and the secrets of her bloodline. But everything changes when a brooding werewolf named Bishop arrives to drag her back into the world she was hidden from. Turns out Cordelia is more than a witch. She is the daughter of a powerful Alpha and heir to a magical hybrid legacy that could tip the balance between rival packs.

What follows is a darkly romantic, fast-paced adventure through pack politics, family secrets, and the slow-burn tension between captor and captive. Bishop is a classic growly protector, and Cordelia is no damsel. Their chemistry crackles as the two face threats from outside the pack and within, all while Cordelia unravels the truth about her heritage and her heart.

Fans of ACOTAR or A Discovery of Witches will find much to love here. Archer blends paranormal fantasy and gothic romance with just the right mix of action and angst. Cordelia’s journey is just beginning, and I, for one, will be howling for book two.

This book was a delightfully quick read about supernaturals, more specifically, witches versus werewolves. The writing was well done, the dialogue kept me interested, and the vibes of the book were Gothic style Bridgerton meets Wednesday, if that's a thing.

Witch of the Wolves spans over a two week in book period, and normally this would frustrate me, but it actually managed to keep me entertained which had a lot to do with the way the author kept things interesting from the jump.

Overall this was a good read, and while it could have been lengthier, I do feel as if the plot/story/characters were fleshed out well.

"Caught between spells and savage beasts, Cordelia Levine must unravel the secrets of her dual heritage - half witch, half werewolf - and face her desire for the one creature who holds her future in his hands.

Cordelia Levine, a twenty-three-year-old witch hidden in the human world, leads a quiet life in London with her aunt, managing an apothecary for the supernatural. But her life is upended when a brooding and handsome werewolf, Bishop Danvers, kidnaps her on her estranged father's orders - the Alpha of the Albion Pack.

It is at Trevelyan, her father's estate, that Cordelia learns she comes from a long line of witches with secondary werewolf traits - a powerful and unique bloodline that must be protected from foreign packs.

Not everyone in the pack is happy about Cordelia's arrival, and as danger closes in, she wonders if the man who ripped her from her life could be the one to save it."

Oh, it's like Buffy fanfic where Oz and Willow had a kid!

My latest read was definitely a fun one—Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer. It’s a paranormal romance— the main character is a witch who finds out she is also half werewolf and is thrown into werewolf politics and power struggles. Her love interest is a hot werewolf who she is forced into an arranged betrothal with.

I liked the way the FMC was unusually reasonable for a romance protagonist. She judged the situations she found herself in and tried to take the most logical route forward rather than constantly flying off the handle. Not saying that it always worked out for her, but it was refreshing to read.

The romance was pretty slow burn with some good spice. I also enjoyed the Victorian era setting— it gave it a bit of bodice-ripping charm. It was an enjoyable read overall and if you are a fan of paranormal romance you should try it out! It comes out on October 14th!

Thanks Kaylee and St. Martin’s for the ARC

thank you to netgalley with providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review!

*1.5 stars*

i do typically enjoy werewolf novels but this one was not exactly my cup of tea. both the writing and the plot was extremely juvenile. there was no depth or complexity to any of the characters.

the romance was strange and forced onto the reader too quickly considering all of the extreme abuse that was taking place. it just did not make sense for the romance to happen as it did. mind you, this whole book took place in the span of a week.

this story was simply too basic and underdeveloped for my liking.

Witch of the Wolves has a unique setting, historical fantasy with various supernatural creatures, romance, and a FMC discovering her true heritage. I went into this with pretty high expectations, but found the writing to be a bit too one-dimensional and unoriginal for my liking. I never felt like the story or characters ever clicked for me and found the overall book very mediocre. Nothing brought Witch of the Wolves over from the "meh" side of the experience and I don't have any strong opinions about it. I think there is absolutely an audience for this and have seen that other readers adored the author's storytelling. Unfortunately, this was a a bit of a miss for me, but if it sounds like something you'd enjoy, definitely give it a shot!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy.

Didn’t excited me as much the beginning was great then at the middle it dragged so I have it 3 stars all together that’s the best I can give it

3.5 ⭐

Witch of the Wolves is a fast-paced paranormal romantasy with gothic vibes, witches, and werewolves. Cordelia always believed her father was human, but everything changes when she learns he’s actually the Alpha of the Albion Pack. Suddenly she’s thrown into a dangerous world of pack politics, secrets, and rules she never knew existed. On top of that, she can’t seem to ignore Bishop, her father’s second-in-command—broody, protective, and frustratingly magnetic.

I enjoyed this one more than I expected. Cordelia has the perfect blend of wit, stubbornness, and heart, while Bishop was pure broody alpha energy in the best way. Their slow-burn chemistry kept me hooked, though at times it leaned more toward reluctant allies than true enemies-to-lovers. I did wish there were more witchy elements woven into the story since the werewolf side took most of the spotlight. The worldbuilding also felt surface-level at times, but I’m hopeful the sequel will dig deeper into the mythology.

Even with those gaps, this was such an entertaining start to a new series. It’s dark, tense, emotional, and the forbidden romance had me flipping pages quickly. Definitely one for readers who enjoy gothic paranormal romance with a mix of spice and intrigue.

Tropes you’ll find:
🐺 Witches & Werewolves
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers (with some reluctant allies energy)
🔥 Slow Burn with spice
💍 Arranged Marriage twist
🕯️ Victorian gothic setting
🌑 Dark, emotional, and fast-paced

Thank you to NetGalley, Kaylee Archer, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read this one.

I loved it! I loved it! Please give it a try. It is an amazing book!

Recommend!

Thank you so much Kaylee Archer, St. Martin's and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in advanced; it has been on my radar for sometime and I find it an absolute privilege to review as an ARC.

Witch Of The Wolves is just jammed packed with intense rage!

Cordelia the FMC is so personable, intelligent and I just enjoyed her charter so much. Her power is unmatched and she is just an absolute force! Bishop the MMC just alert the swoon alarms. Cordelia and Bishop's chemistry was off the charts! I'm a complete sucker for forced proximity, and that slow burn 🔥 The storyline worked perfectly and I was eager to keep going to find out what will happen next!

This book is jammed packed with twists and turns, betrayal and heartache! I will definitely be reading the next book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I think this story has potential but I just wanted more. I felt like I needed some world building. I needed more description in the beginning. I needed more magic system information.

Cordelia is a seemingly normal witch living with her aunt until one day she is kidnapped by a strange (and alluring) werewolf named Bishop and taken to the alpha of the local pack, who, she learns, is her father. So suddenly she's half witch half werewolf, and to top it off the has rare traits that make her ideal for breeding. Her father, Silas, assures her he will not let that happen and he intends to keep her safe, but she quickly learns that nothing is as it seems and she can't trust anyone. She finds herself engaged to Bishop against her will and desperate to escape.

“Or?” I say when he trails off. “An‘either’ requires an ‘or.’ I presume you were about to threaten me. You need to finish or I won’t know whether or not I want to comply.”

First of all, I loved Cordelia from the very first chapter! She's snarky, quick-witted, and brave! Throughout this entire book she is betrayed repeatedly and yet takes it all in stride, doesn't lose her spark, and still continues to be kind (to those who deserve it). And the betrayals! I did see a couple of them coming but most had my jaw dropping in surprise/outrage. I'm gonna need book 2 ASAP.

And then there is Bishop Daniels - at first I wasn't sure what to think about him he's broody and stoic and was giving me whiplash there for awhile until we finally learned of his plan/motives for some of his more questionable actions. In the end, he's protective, loyal, and a total dream.

“I tell myself that I have to let you go, if that’s what you want, but then there’s this little voice that whispers wife, and whispers mate, and whispers mine, and I’m . . .” A sharp breath. “I’m afraid if you try to leave, I’ll stop you.”

The witch/werewolf lore was unique and kept me interested throughout, the tension and spice was *Chef's kiss*, and I enjoyed the book so much I binged it in less than a day!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

This book starts and you are off for the races quickly. I loved the way this book twists and turns along the entire way. I enjoyed the chemistry that our FMC and MC have in this book, their character development and they were just overall very well written. I loved the Victorian backdrop setting of this book, it was very fitting for the storyline. Looking for a new book boyfriend…well here you go right here with Bishop. I loved LOVED that this book was intermingling witches and werewolves and how we gave these two a forced prox to enemies to lovers, it was such a fun read. I’m being very vague on purpose but this is one that you want to have on your TBR.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Witches & Werewolves, Spicy Peppers 4/5, Dark, Enemies To Lovers, Twisty, Paranormal, Arranged Marriage, Forced Proximity, Secret Identity

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin

*A slow burn paranormal romance with lots of Alpha male energy*

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars

Witch of the Wolves is a Victorian era paranormal romance about a witch and a werewolf, and all of the chaos in between. Cordelia is a witch who is independent, resourceful, and confident. She lost her mother and grandmother, but she has learned a lot from her aunt about magic. Her father is just a story about a man who made perfume, until she learns that he is something else entirely when she meets Bishop.

Bishop is a werewolf, and not just any werewolf. He is the right-hand man of the current Alpha, Cordelia's father, and in line to be the next Alpha. Bishop is secretive, precise, ambitious, and thoughtful. He has his own agenda, and when it is revealed Cordelia doesn't shy away.

Once Cordelia learns the truth about her parents and gets to know the pack, Cordelia enthusiastically supports Bishop and his plan. As the plot thickens and the stakes raise, a slow burn romance develops between Cordelia and Bishop. There is a good bit of yearning and passion, and of course some spice!

I really liked Cordelia. She was initially fooled, but this felt true to the time period of the book and her naivety due to her upbringing as well. She ended up being smart about her situation, resourceful, and cunning. She was not shy about things at all, and was confident in herself.

I would not really call this a true enemies to lovers romance, but it has some enemies to lovers vibes. I would have liked to see more build up of the witch vs werewolf part of the story *before* the events that start this book. That would have sold it more I think.

As for the plot, it moves pretty steadily and is mostly driven by the main characters. There are secrets, betrayals, plots and schemes, and little bits of magic. I was enjoying the book a good bit until near the end. There is a plot twist that, for me, kind of ruined the ending. It is a lot of information and other characters dumped in all at once. I think this revelation would have been better kept as the beginning of book two. There were already enough twists and reveals that book one could have ended before these events. This is where the 3.5 rating comes in.

You might enjoy Witch of the Wolves if you liked books like From Blood and Ash, A Fire in the Flesh, or Kingdom of the Wicked.

*Content Warnings*

This isn't quite a dark romance, but there are some dark themes. These include: graphic violence, torture, graphic death scenes, physical abuse, emotional abuse, murder, and sexual content. There is also a lot of misogyny, and gaslighting.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Kaylee Archer, and St. Martin's Press for this eARC!

Witch of the Wolves is scheduled for publication on September 30, 2025

Witch of the Wolves was such a fun, magical surprise! The idea of a witch who’s also half wolf had me instantly intrigued, and it absolutely delivered on the cozy-meets-wild vibes. I loved the way the story felt both whimsical and a little dangerous, like curling up by a fire while knowing something powerful is waiting just outside. It’s got all the autumn, witchy charm I adore with that extra twist that kept me turning pages.

The pacing felt easy to sink into, and I enjoyed how the world was built with enough detail to feel real without bogging the story down. There’s magic, there’s mystery, and there’s just the right amount of tension to keep things interesting. I found myself rooting for the main character right away—her mix of strength, vulnerability, and wolf instincts made her such a compelling lead.

Overall, this was an enchanting, comforting read with a unique spin on the witch trope that I didn’t know I needed. It left me feeling warm, cozy, and a little bit wild.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Such a fun read if you like Outlander, and ACOTAR you will like this book. It has a bit of mix but with werewolves so maybe a bit of The Wolf King.

I love the amount of supernatural character in here one being Necromancers which is one of my favorite. The writing is better than many of the top authors writing. I was very impressed, and looking forward to the 2nd installment.

-historical paranormal romantasy? thats a mouthful
-she's a witch with a twist, he's a werewolf shifter stud
-forced proximity babyyy
-the tension, the banter, the chemistry **yes please**
-touch her and die (literally jumps out a window to protect)
-the start of found family vibes, I hope

A witch with lycan senses? How cool! Cordelia was bold, feisty, honest and self-aware. I enjoyed her character and wanted to learn more about her capabilities. Bishop, on the other hand, is our strong and silent type. I was immediately intrigued. Hot. The mysterious gentleman thing was reallyyy working for me. Lemme keep peeling those layers.
Now, the side character dynamics are interesting and the relationships seem deep, but I needed more time with them to feel those connections and actually care about what might or might not happen.

Shortly in the beginning, we get into some action that sets the mood and tone right away. I was excited, but quickly realized I wanted more. So maybe we should slow down? I kept assuming things would be explained or shown more in-depth, but they never were. Bummer.
-world building, where?
-magic system, who?
There's a lot of telling and not much showing, if that makes sense.
'I cast a knock back spell'...Ok, but like how?
'Bishop went into the bedroom to shift' ...

There were a few shocks and twists that kept me focused, but at this point, I am way more interested in the character arcs than the plot, which won't deter me from reading book 2!

'I step closer. "You do find me attractive, yes? Desirable?" His nostrils flare, as if he is inhaling my scent, and his voice is rough when he says, "Very much." '


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc <3

DNF at 70%

This story started out strong! A witch who finds out she is half werewolf is imprisoned in a werewolf leir, forced to marry her father's second in command. Chemistry is off the charts and banter is excellent. Gives you beauty and the beast vibes.

However, this book is full on lust with multiple open door and detailed innuendo that took away from the overall plot. Overall character development is well done but the world building is lacking. The focus on the physical intimacy took over the story and I didn't want to finish.

Thank you to Macmillian for my #gifted eARC. All thoughts are my own.

I just finished Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer, and holy WOW, it was phenomenal ♡
From the very first page, the vivid imagery & Cordelia’s personality had me hooked.

Our FMC has her quiet London life upended when she is kidnapped, pulling her into a world of magic, danger, and a bloodline others would kill to control.

The family secrets had secrets, the tension was top notch, and the banter had me kicking my feet. That layered with witches and werewolves... oh my. This was the perfect blend of plot, spice, banter, and action. I couldn’t put it down.

Tropes you’ll find: enemies to lovers, paranormal high-stakes romance.
Perfect for fans of steamy paranormal fantasy with danger and fierce action.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved it!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin in exchange for an honest review.

I got really immersed in this book from the start and read it in one day, and this is what I think is the mark of a good book. I think it is well written, and even though apparently there is a dichotomy between devastating pain and mindless passion, I felt it made the character real. It is a defense mechanism for the human mind to unconsciously seek escape from crippling trauma in shocking behavior or mindless activity, or the mind would break.
Cordelia is young, and although she might be versed in witchcraft she is still learning and counting on the support and protection of her aunt, on her guidance and experience. She was sheltered from many painful truths and has almost no idea how duplicitous and cruel the world can be. She has great potential, but no time to develop it fully before she is faced with her own helplessness when she losses her freedom in a whirlwind of intrigue, grief, pain and betrayal.
Cordelia and Bishop's chemistry feels evident from their first interactions, and only avoiding spoilers makes me stop saying too much about the way she finally makes him see her.
So - a well written book, with intense action and edge-of the seat twists and turns, good dialogue and a credible plot. I will certainly want to read what's next!

I received an advance review copy from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily..