Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Cordelia is a witch living with her aunt when a werewolf, Bishop, kidnaps her under her father’s orders. It turns out that not only is Cordelia a witch but she also has secondary werewolf traits. I was enjoying the story up until Cordelia arrives at her father’s estate where his pack resides. The story is set in a magical Victorian England when women in general are considered “property” of their father/husband and that carries over into the pack hierarchy as well. I struggled with the relationship between Cordelia and Bishop - I found their chemistry lacking (Laos not a fan of insta love/lust). I liked the concept of magical creatures with secondary powers/traits but needed that area to be developed further. I wish we saw Cordelia grow into her witch/lycan powers more. Overall, I enjoyed the concept but didn’t enjoy the execution. I am intrigued enough to see where the story goes in the next book. If you enjoy werewolves, witches, and historical paranormal romance, give this one a try.

2.5 ⭐ this book follows our FMC, Cordelia, a sensible half-witch/half-werewolf (lycan) who is thrown into werewolf society when a previously unknown threat to her life is discovered. In comes our MMC, Bishop- a broody werewolf who is second in command to the Alpha of the Albion pack. He saves her from this threat and takes her back to the pack, where she is forced to navigate a world that is completely different to everything she has ever known.

This book was... okay. In regards to paranormal romances, the fact that it takes place in Victorian England is that main thing that sets it apart from other books in the genre. I loved this aspect of the book, and it was interesting and exciting to see how the author integrated pack-norms with the societal norms and expectations of the time. I also really loved Cordelia as a character. She was reasonable and observant, and she actually ADMITTED and APOLOGIZED when she was wrong or went too far!! She was not stubborn and came to conclusions (ones directly related to the plot) faster than any FMC in a romantasy I've read in a long time. This I appreciated. However, I found the plot line to be a bit jumbled at times overall, especially towards the end. It felt like the author wanted to do a lot with this book, and said, why the hell not, and threw everything in. While I appreciated the fast pace and action packed ending, the pacing altogether felt off to me.

Either way, I enjoyed this book, and if you are looking for a paranormal romance with a Victorian twist, this is the book for you. Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

*3.5 Stars

This book had me captivated very early on. I loved the gothic victorian era vibes mixed with the supernatural, the pacing was excellent, and there were some pretty surprising twists.

I thoroughly enjoyed how level-headed and analytical Cordelia was, and all her decisions were so well-thought out so there was no unnecessary drama. I think she may be one of the least cringy heroines I have read in a while. I also adored the banter between Bishop and Delia!

Honestly, my biggest complaint and the reason I didn’t rate this higher was because the ending just felt incomplete to me and didn’t feel like I got my full HEA. I think maybe it needed an epilogue to really wrap it up. Also, after all the dry humping and hot foreplay and dirty talk, to then leave her as a virgin was just a tragedy!

Overall though, still a pretty fun read!

I love paranormal fantasy books! And this one was no exception. The romance. Was also so good in this book.

"Witch of the Wolves" by Kaylee Archer is a paranormal romance novel featuring witches and werewolves. I really enjoy the strong world-building, well-developed characters, and the engaging plot filled with magic and romance. I found the story predictable, but it's a satisfying read for fans of the genre.

Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer!

This one held my interest all throughout the book. I love how both worlds of witches and werewolves collide. A very interesting take that I've not read yet!

It was very fast paced filled with lots of action. I had a great time reading this one. Looking out for book 2, can't wait to see how things continue on.

Thank you NetGalley for this e-ARC

Thanks NetGalley for an ARC of "Witch of the Wolves". Cordelia is a strong character to base the novel around as she has purpose in her work and craves independence for her life. She seems a proper, brought-up young lady and yet runs close to the line in her work and in her inner dialogue of being more than she seems. It was refreshing that Cordelia seems to have a good grasp on her powers when we are introduced to her and as events unfold. I appreciated how the novel starts right in the middle of the action as Cordelia is making a delivery from the apothecary she works at run by her aunt as she notices she is being followed by Bishop Danvers.

The set up of witches in this world and how they interact with other otherworldly creatures is really ripe for more inspection in novels following this one. I am interested in how the novel will progress after the ending as there is definite room for Cordelia's powers as both a witch and lycan to be explored.

I appreciated the fast pace of this novel, but I also think this is one of the reasons that many of the characters feel very flat-- there just isn't time for the characters to be more fleshed out. Especially with characters like Silas and Beryl, the flatness of the characters kept me from being as invested in how their actions affected the main characters. These two especially felt very one-note.

Especially with the role that Cordelia's aunt plays in this book, I wish there would have been more interaction between the two early in the novel before Cordelia goes to Trevelyan. As well, later in the book in conversation, Cordelia shares a story about how she interacted with another coven. and it made me wish that the reader had a better grounding of the witch world before we spent a majority of the time with wolves. This was why the first several chapters were so strong for me because the reader has such a strong sense of who Cordelia is as a character and her everyday life and I wished the rest of the novel had followed that level of specificity in terms of character development and world-building.

Not for me, but your mileage may vary!

Cordelia Levine lives a comfortable, quiet life with her Aunt Lenora in Victorian era London her entire life until one day, a chance encounter with a stranger catapults her into a series of dangerous situations where Cordelia must navigate unburied family secrets, deadly new foes, and the pull of Bishop Danvers, a man whose secrets threaten the fragile new life she's been thrust into.

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Based on the blurb for this book, I went into it thinking it would be in a modern setting, but I found out quickly that it was set in a Victorian London and not one of today. I typically shy away from books in that time period due to the social norms, so I just wanted to mention that in case that helps you make your decision either way. I also noticed that this was described as being for fans of ACOTAR and Of Blood and Ash, which are both set high fantasy worlds. For this book, the story begins and ends in Victorian England, FYI.

Pros:

-Actually sharp and smart FMC: I found that I liked Cordelia a lot as a reader. She is a young woman, not a girl and the author really gives her credit for that. She's not just book smart, she's observant and emotionally intelligent in situations where she really needs to be. Even though she's thrown into very jarring, new to her situations, she does her best to do what she needs to survive.
-Unique setting from many current popular fantasy books: Even though I typically shy away from books set in this era, I felt the author addressed issues that I find with that time period in general. Issues like the misogyny then are addressed in ways that make sense blended in with the supernatural elements.

Cons:

-Comically evil antagonist: This one may apply to less folks, I found this element made the story less compelling. The main antagonist is brutish but not very intelligent. It makes it a little difficult to believe that they are a competent foil to the heroes.
-Not much world building: I found that much of the back story is told through monologue, but the actually story happens in exactly two locations, so fans of new destinations through a story may be disappointed.

Personal Preferences:

-MMC: This character didn't resonate well with me. There is nothing wrong with him per se, but overall Cordelia is the more dynamic and interesting character.
-Romance: Because of the statement above, the romance was less compelling for me.
-Interpersonal relationships: Virtually every character outside of Cordelia in this story (which told through her perspective) is completely new to her. I understand that there is stock in twists and turns in many fantasy books, but I found this to be really jarring in this book. Cordelia very literally has no idea who to trust, because she's known every character less than a week and the entire story wraps up in that time. I would have liked to have more background for everyone to sort of ground me in the setting.

Overall I'm glad I got to read something outside of my wheelhouse, but this series probably isn't for me. Fans of Gail Carriger's Soulless and werewolf fantasy books in general may get more mileage out of Witch of the Wolves than I did.

Thanks for the opportunity!

Unfortunately I DNF about 20% in. I tried for weeks but it just didn’t catch my interest.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I loved it!! This book was really a breath of fresh air. Both Cordelia and Bishop are top tier MCs. I loved Bishop right away…. A MMC who is kind?? Kind to everyone, not just the FMC?? Obsessed. Cordelia’s inner monologue was awesome. Just the right amount of badass and knowing when to step back and shut up. The sense of self preservation in this book was so refreshing!

There were several plot twists and I felt like they were very well done. All surprising but nothing too unbelievable!

Can we appreciate that the fight between Silas and Bishop was a good fight??? Not just “oh the hot, huge, deadly, perfect young wolf destroyed the alpha and didn’t even break a sweat”…. I just really loved the whole vibe of Bishop.

The only thing I was missing was world building. I wanted more!

Such a good first book of the series. I can’t wait for more!

This book was very mid-tier. I did not see anything I had not already seen in other werewolf, shifter, or witches’ stories. I am a huge fantasy and paranormal reader, so I was expecting so much more from a debut book. I wanted unique magic systems, something different about werewolf packs and hierarchy; something to make this book stand out. What I got instead was the fmc barely using magic at all and a typically evil alpha ruler at the top of hierarchy and the mc that needs to step in and challenge him to save the pack. Further, I did not really get why the fmc and mc fell in love. I just didn’t feel it from them. She was all over the place with her feelings, going hot and cold especially after her aunt died and she jumps into bed with the man she ‘hates’ but then starts crying after? The characters were all over the place and bland.

The author tried to give a twist at the end, and it was ok, nothing earth shattering but by then I had already made up my mind on the story. I liked the fact that it was set in the Victorian era and wished we saw more of that instead of spending most of the time with the pack. The vibes were there, the mystique, the writing was alright also. I wanted to give it more but at this time it’s a 3 star read. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

Grade
3/5 ⭐ overall
3/5 💗 romance
3/5 🌶️ spice

This is such a fun book. WITCH OF THE WOLVES is the first in a planned series about a forced marriage between a witch and a werewolf. The romance trope works as expected: the witch and the werewolf start as enemies and end as partners. Author Kaylee Archer has written a book filled with powerful entities, sworn enemies, fatal attractions and really bad evil doers. Set in a Victorian or even Steampunk setting, the world building is good and could have been even more generously described. The various supernatural creatures are by turns awesome and complex. I could not put the book down and wished the next one was available. I received my copy from the publisher through Netgalley.

I loved this book. Atmospheric, evocative, suspenseful, amazing romance. Will be highly recommending this book once it comes out in the fall!

All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links

The Worst Duke in London by Amalie Howard: I’ve been diving into Amalie Howard’s books & the way she writes chemistry is sensational. In this one, we have a penniless Duke, a deception plot, & an animal-loving, resourceful heiress who could run the world. The narration by Mary Jane Wells was fantastic! 4.5 ⭐️.

Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer. I loved the premise of this one: Cordelia’s a witch who realizes that her father is alive & a werewolf. She accompanies a handsome werewolf stranger to live among the pack. Secrets, betrayals, lies abound & Cordelia has to decide who she can trust in a world that keeps being ripped out from under her feet. While the premise has snap, crackle, & pop, it doesn’t totally live up to its potential for me. Despite the fact that I did enjoy it, I don’t know that I’ll read book 2. 4 ⭐️️, out 09/30. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

The Midnight Pack by Jasmine Kuliasha. There’s a murder mystery & cryptid mystery investigator Jericho is on the case. The real danger though, is the insta-love between Jericho & Ben. I won’t belabor it but the execution of this Urban Fantasy book really doesn’t work for me. The story & the romance feel surface-level. 2.5 ⭐️️, 05/27. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

I received this ARC from NetGalley/St. Martin's Press & I enjoyed this book so much, it was fast-paced & kept you interested throughout! I gave this book a solid 3 stars leaning more up than down. I wanted a little more from the book, as far as more world-building and a little bit more depth; it felt a bit rushed & as if I was missing a few steps along the way... yet I was still intrigued & truly enjoyed the story all of the way through.
I loved the magical aspect of witches, wolves & other mystical creatures, the action, the bit of angst. A lot happens in a little amount of time & I like how the mmc still held strength through his softness & didn't completely just simp out & end up weak, the mmc & fmc both held strong together. Had the story spent a bit more time building up the characters this could've had the potential to really get my emotions to fly off the handle. My feelings were saddened but not crushed. This story was really so much fun, I really enjoyed reading this & the author did a great job, thanks for the cliffhanger because now I absolutely need to know what happens next!!
If you like witches, werewolves, Betrayals, action, family secrets, arranged forced marriage, this is the book for you. Have fun with it & just enjoy the ride.
Thank you so much for this ARC I truly appreciate the opportunity to indulge in this magical world and I cannot wait for book 2!

I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it, either.

Werewolf books are one of my weaknesses, and I wanted this to be more than it was. There's a lot of talk of the werewolf stuff, but we very rarely witness any werewolf as a wolf. Some in the beginning, a decent amount in the end, but for the majority, there isn't a lot of it. Plenty about the laws and such, though, so maybe I'm being picky.

I like that it didn't feel too much like ACOTAR, even though that's one of the comp titles. People might like that fact or they might dislike it. To me, it's a plus. But on the other hand, it shows that ACOTAR is being thrown around as a comp title a lot these days, which I find misleading for most titles it's attached to. Maybe there are some similarities, but I didn't find them, not even in the vibes.

The pacing is interesting. A lot happens in roughly a week. The first 50% is slow, despite things happening. The second half is where it caught my interest and I began reading it faster and looking forward to picking it up. Around this point is when something really awful happens, which should be bothering Cordelia a lot more, and yet... it's forgotten about when convenient (i.e. for the spicy scenes that follow immediately after). I think any of these moments could have been moved around to different moments rather than being all clustered together. The grief would likely feel more genuine that way since we'd have time to focus on it. This is a pet peeve of mine in romance novels because grief and trauma are so difficult to write at the same time as a romance needs to progress.

A couple little things for me:
1. They kept calling Cordelia a lycan and implying that's really amazing and a big deal, but we don't actually get a good answer as to what that is? And why it's special? Hopefully that answer comes in a future book (is there going to be a sequel?) but like... why wasn't she demanding some answers? She had a strong personality, so if she wanted to know the truth, she would have pushed for it.
2. I'm not a fan of the term "zombies" being used in a Victorian era novel.

ARC Review ... may contain spoilers

Witch of the Wolvers gets off to a rushed start, and the FMC’s inner monologue tends to be repetitive but once the story finds its stride, it becomes hard to put down.

The forced proximity that slowly morphs into an enemies-to-lovers arc ... Easily one of my favorite tropes, and it's done well here. The chemistry between Cordelia and Bishop is undeniable, and Bishop completely steals the spotlight. Alpha energy with a soft side? Yes, please. Total book daddy. 😍

What didn’t sit right with me was how often Cordelia’s power was reduced to her “breeding potential.” It gave me the ick—not because of the story itself, but because it reflects a very real and persistent misogyny that still exists in many cultures.

And speaking of misogyny: her father, Silas, is a walking red flag. His sudden reappearance and attempt to control her life felt not just manipulative, but rooted in toxic masculinity.
I wanted to throat punch him every time he showed up on the page.

One other issue I had: some major moments in the plot—things that should’ve had real emotional or narrative weight—were glossed over so quickly, they barely landed. It made the pacing feel uneven in places, especially when the stakes were high.

Still, there's a lot to love here. it’s an intense and addictive read with so many betrayals and twists! I'm definitely invested enough to keep going with the series.

Cordelia is a 23 year old witch living in London with her Aunt. The rest of her family gone. The witches do not take husbands and they have a strong sense of independence. Until her father sends Bishop Daniels, the hot and smart warewolf, to bring her to him.
Cordelia knew she came from powerful witches but how do the werewolves come into play too?

I liked this story enough. It does feel very like much like “entry level” fantasy. Similar to some of the very popular fantasy series of TikTok. I do wish some parts of it had been a bit more fleshed out and other parts could have been wrapped up more quickly.
It ended with a lot of questions still open so I’m wondering if it will become a series down the road.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever read about magic in such a clinical, unenthusiastic way before this. She casts a toss ‘em back spell; he gets tossed back. The chase continues. He grabs her, she finds her magic stores are depleted. Drat for now she thinks. This is not an exact quote but the spirit of the work is quite similar.

The voice of the story is unappealing. Many parts seem like diary entries instead of a novel. There is a clinical eye, devoid of feeling and spurred by facts or perhaps logic and sequence that give the FMC what might come off as an autistic POV. Not a mark against the work; just an observation.

I’m not sure I would recommend this one. The genre is pretty saturated and this is a below average piece. It lacks that pull; the readability that keeps you up all night turning pages that many of its kind possess.

This book was near because it was set during regency times and had a supernatural elements to it. You don’t see that very often.