Wow!! So although this wasn't totally what I'd expected and wanted, it finished very strong and promises to be a thrilling series!
So why not a five?
For a story about werewolves and witches, i've expected more magic and more sexy werewolf action. Instead what I get is more political scheming and major crime boss/mafia vibes, which is really not my thing.
I understand much of the book was a setup to explain the history and build the lore as the mystery slowly unravels, so some of the slow parts are definitely forgiveable.
However, the book really shines in its darkness and sizzles off the page. Although Cordelia and Bishop's romance was Insta-love, their chemistry actually felt natural to me, and I found myself enjoying them.
I really loved all the characters here, and they made a great ensemble to carry the story along.
The mystery unraveled at a fast pace and finished to a thrilling conclusion, making me look forward to what happens in the next book, which I'm hoping will get deeper into the magic and more werewolf action. Nicely done!

If you’re looking for a quick read I would definitely pick this book up. Cordelia who has grown up thinking she is a full witch suddenly discovers she’s half werewolf as if her life isn’t complicated enough her father is an alpha to the Albion pack with a hot second in command. Sparks begin to fly between the two as Cordelia navigates the ways of the pack. The only thing I didn’t care for was her witchy side was completely ignored once she found out about her werewolf side. It could’ve made for a better story to have her struggle to reconcile both sides of her powers and not just one

This book was actually pretty different than what I was expecting—in a good way. It has a Victorian setting, which made for a really cool backdrop to all the paranormal stuff going on. I loved that vibe; it gave the story a kind of gothic feel that worked really well.

Cordelia was such a cool character. She’s smart, determined, and just a total badass. I love reading strong female leads like her. From the beginning, I was into Bishop too. Tall, handsome, broody—I mean, that’s always a win for me.

There was a lot of world-building and magic introduced throughout the book, but it was explained in a way that made sense. Sometimes paranormal books can get confusing with all the different elements, but this one kept things clear while still being creative.

My favorite part by far was Cordelia’s inner monologue and her banter with the other characters. She’s got this quick wit that really made me laugh in some moments.

If I had to point out something I didn’t love, it would be that the romance kind of took a backseat. There was definitely tension and chemistry, but I wanted a little more development there.

All in all, though, it was a fun paranormal read with a unique setting, great characters, and a cool magical world.

Witch of the Wolves is a captivating paranormal fantasy with just the right mix of magic, tension, and slow-burn intrigue. Kaylee Archer delivers an atmospheric story that pulls you in from the first chapter and keeps a steady pace through a world full of secrets and supernatural charm.

Pros:
• Strong world-building: The mystical setting, witchy lore, and wolf dynamics all felt vivid and well-crafted.
• Compelling heroine: The main character was relatable and resilient, with a clear arc of growth and self-discovery.
• Atmosphere: Moody, magical, and just the right touch of eerie—great for fans of darker fantasy tones.
• Solid pacing: The story flowed well and kept me turning the pages without dragging.

Cons:
• Some character relationships could’ve used more depth: A few dynamics felt underdeveloped, especially secondary characters.
• Occasional predictability: Some plot points were easy to see coming, though still satisfying.
• Moments that felt rushed: A couple of key scenes could’ve been expanded for more emotional impact.

Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read and a strong start to what feels like a promising series. I’m excited to see where the story goes next!

She lives with her aunt after her mom passed until Bishop comes to get her for her father. Her father gives her to Bishop. But neither want that originally. Can the pack survive her father and his enforcers as well as her missing grandmother?

3/5 stars⭐️

This book had a lot of potential and some really enjoyable elements. The setting was vivid, and I loved the blend of dark magic, witches, and wolves with a romantasy twist. I liked the side characters and some of the found family aspects of the story. I’ve been on a werewolf reading binge lately and this scratched the itch!

That said, the romance didn’t quite land for me. It felt rushed and oddly timed, especially considering it launches right after a moment where Cordelia should have been experiencing shock and intense emotions. The emotional flow didn’t feel natural, and it made the romance hard to believe. Bishop was also difficult to connect with at first, since we know very little about him beyond being shy and smart.

Cordelia had strong moments as a character, there were times where she felt mature, capable, and insightful, but her characterization didn’t always feel consistent. At times, her choices or reactions felt out of sync. I would have loved to see more scenes that built authentic connection between the characters to help their relationships feel more earned.

Still, this was a quick and entertaining read with a lot of promise. Readers who enjoy fast-paced fantasy and don’t mind an insta-love type romance will enjoy this. I’ll be curious to see how the characters and world develop in future books.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I had such a fun time with this book! I was prepared for paranormal romance but surprised to dig in and find it was a historical as well! This was a fun read, with well-fleshed-out characters and interesting enough world-building and politics to hope this will be a series. Bishop and Cordelia were so fun to root for! I’d love to see more from this author.

I truly enjoyed the vibe and atmosphere of this story. The combination of witches and wolves in a historical setting was a cool combination, and it didn't feel forced together awkwardly. The banter between Cordelia and Bishop was top-notch and kept me entertained and giggling throughout. The world-building was easy to understand, and the oack politics and overall supernatural arc made for a very interesting and entertaining romance.

I had such a good time with this one! It’s got all the vibes gothic, magical, a little bit dark, and a slow-burn romance that actually works. Cordelia is the kind of heroine I root for: smart, stubborn, and not afraid to throw a little sarcasm around. Bishop grew on me fast, and their chemistry was spot on. The pacing got a bit chaotic toward the end, but honestly, I was hooked the whole way through.

3.75 stars

Biggest stand out was the historical setting and aspects mixed with the werewolf/monster tropes and plot. A really fun take on two romance classics. Love how they're melded together but the combo doesn't feel forced!

4 stars. I really enjoyed this book. I have not read many books combining witches and wolves especially as the main characters. A very solid paranormal romance.

Witch of the Wolves features Cordelia who is a young witch living with her aunt when she gets kidnapped on the orders of her alpha father. Cordelia’s unique heritage born from a powerful witch mother and an alpha werewolf father make her valuable to everyone. The story begins with the action of her kidnapping and continues throughout the entire book.

I really enjoyed the romance in this book. It definitely is featured heavily. Cordelia and Bishop have amazing banter and are very flirtatious with one another. Their flirting is very descriptive which I enjoyed. However, some people may not enjoy such explicit communication. Their romance also seems at times to not make sense given the short period of time since meeting one another and the context of the beginning of their relationship. Regardless, none of this bothered me. I still enjoyed reading it and was loving the progression of their relationship.

I felt like the pacing was good throughout the book, keeping the action going throughout the entirety of the book. The plot felt unique and I was not able to predict what was going to happen, particularly the ending of this book. I enjoyed some of the themes that were featured in this book including female empowerment and encouraging sexual expression.

Again, very solid paranormal romance. I do plan to continue this series and would gladly read from this author again.

I was looking forward to reading this based on the description because I was expecting a fun, sexy paranormal romance but that was not what this was.

There were parts of this book that I enjoyed. I became invested in the characters, especially several of the side characters and it drew me in and kept me wanting to continue reading. I also think there is good potential for the magic system and world building and hope to see more of an exploration of that in the next book.

I was originally going to give this book either 3 or 3.25 stars but the pacing near the end was rushed and a little sloppy. My main issues were plotholes that seemed to invalidate the entire plot of the book as well as the FMC being described as a strong badass and yet doing almost nothing to change her circumstances throughout the book.

Overall, I wasn’t too blown away however I am interested in continuing the series in order to know what happens to the characters next and to hopefully see an expansion on the world building.

Cordelia is a witch hiding in plain sight in London, living a quiet life with her aunt—until she’s kidnapped by a pack of wolves and thrust into a forced marriage with Bishop, the brooding and protective future alpha. He’s grumpy; she’s fierce. Cordelia is a total badass who refuses to be silenced or controlled, standing firm in her beliefs no matter the stakes. This is a story packed with supernatural tension, strong-willed characters, and a fiery clash of wills.

I absolutely loved this fantasy romance. The world building and the pack politics in this book were so incredibly intricate. With a strong hero to villain trope, while balancing a fantastic enemies to lovers relationship with forced proximity/marriage, this story has it all! Betrayal, murder and tons of magic! We have a strong and sassy FMC, with a broody and quiet FMC, I fell in love with this found family story line. Hoping for the next book soon!

3.5 I really enjoyed the setting of it being in Victorian England that’s what immediately drew me in that, and we love a witchy werewolf, paranormal romance. I enjoyed the action scenes and felt that it helped enhance the storing, but by the end of it I just still wish that it had a bit more. I definitely still recommend for paranormal romance lovers, especially if you enjoyed that dark reimagining that came out in 2009 oh you know the one lol.

★★★☆☆ (and that’s being generous since this is a debut novel)

First, a huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.

The premise had potential: a powerful witch from a legendary bloodline stepping into her magic and facing dark forces, with wolves and romance woven into the mix. What’s not to love? Sadly, the execution fell flat. The magic system was underdeveloped at best, with our supposedly elite witch heroine relying on vague “blur spells,” generic knockbacks, and the occasional fireball. For someone from such a prestigious magical lineage, her abilities felt disappointingly basic and unconvincing.

The FMC herself came across as incredibly naive, both in terms of her magical skill and emotional maturity. The romance was a case of instant obsession. After barely a week together, we’re talking about forever? It read more like rushed fan fiction than a believable love story.

There were also some clear attempts to weave in feminist themes but here, it felt forced and heavy-handed, rather than empowering or organic. It seemed like the book was trying too hard to make a statement.

By the time I reached the end, I had to push myself to keep going. Witch of the Wolves had an intriguing concept, but between the shallow world-building, cringey dialogue, and underwhelming romance, it just didn’t live up to the promise.

I hope the author finds stronger footing in future works.

Whew! this was quite the read! It was an entertaining experience that took me on a journey of love between a witch and a werewolf! This is the first book in this series and I’m excited for the next one to come out! I found the storyline to be really unique and interesting. Set in the Victorian era, a witch and a werewolf romance develops. This book is dark, tense, adventurous, mysterious and emotional! It is a fast paced read, filled with lovable characters.

It came with a clear thesis and had effective visuals. I did want to see more of the world building develop, but I think that will happen in the next book of this series. I really had fun reading the entire book. It left me wanting more, that’s for sure! I think that the main characters and the minor characters all stood out, while reading this. This enemies to lovers paranormal romance came with a slow burn, spice, and twists and turns you don’t see coming! Overall, I give this a solid 4 out of 5 stars rating!

I think readers who like to read books set in the Victorian era that contain paranormal spicy romance would enjoy this book. Content warnings include death, misogyny, explicit sexual content, torture, abuse, and murder.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Kaylee Archer and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on September 30, 2025!

This book was amazing 👏 I didn't want it to end I was so zoned in on the store line to see what was going to happen next and Cordelia and Bishop were the were top notch. I truly hope there's a 2nd book I'd love to know what else happens or becomes of the pack.

My opinion: I add a trigger warning ⚠️ list because some points can be triggered like domestic violence, abuction without consent (drugged/chloroform), bondage, bound.

Kaylee your story was a pleasure to get to read as my first ARC book and I cannot wait to read more of your books. Keep reaching for the stars and passion. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity.

Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer is a fast-paced romantasy that completely hooked me from page one. I started it just a day ago and couldn’t put it down. It had everything I love in a book: romance, paranormal elements, a bit of sci-fi intrigue, and a slow burn that kept me yearning for more.

Cordelia was a standout character for me. I loved her personality right away, she’s brave, layered, and incredibly witty. The book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. One moment I was laughing, the next I felt heartbroken. There was love, betrayal, twists I didn’t see coming, and just when I thought things were wrapping up, BAM! Another plot twist pulled me right back in.

I do wish there had been a bit more spice, maybe a LOT more lol but it still gave me just enough to keep things deliciously tense, and I’m definitely going to be waiting (impatiently) for book two.

If you’re into paranormal romance with a strong heroine, emotional highs and lows, and a story that won’t let you go, Witch of the Wolves should be on your radar!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kaylee Archer, and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun witch and werewolf paranormal romance. I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect. I will say that there is not much world-building, setting descriptions, or character depth. It does, however, have an interesting plot line. I was hoping for more of a Victorian setting, but we don’t get that as much as I would have liked. I did enjoy the characters, especially Cordelia, Bishop, Julius, Felix, and Tabi. There is a decent amount of spice in this one. I didn’t realize it was an adult novel. The characters felt younger. I can’t wait to see what’s next for these characters in book 2. If you are looking for a quick and fun paranormal romance, then pick this one up. If you enjoyed the Witch and Hunter duology or the Crimson Moth duology, this book may be for you. I highly recommend. Please check TWs.