Once again I find myself torn between enjoying the main couple and wishing there hadn't been so much filler within the story. The plot drug at times and I found myself not caring about pack politics or the propriety of what should or shouldn't happen next. I really wanted Bishop, the MMC, to rip Cordelia's clothes off and give her a proper schtupping 😂😏 and I do believe Cordelia wouldn't have minded one bit. 😉

Cordelia was a bit cheeky for this age, and I mean the Victorian age, but her saucy attitude both helped win over several characters while spicing up the rest of the book and I loved that about her, so take what I say next with a grain of salt. Her constant questioning, especially to the male population, would have been deemed unladylike, but for all intents and purposes of this fictional world, it did help keep the pace moving, as a lot of the actual plot was a bit sluggish. Again, I loved her entire vibe and thank goodness for Cordelia because I loved her character from start to finish.

I also loved the moments when Bishop and Cordelia were on the page together, I just wish the plot would have turned there more often than not. I would have loved to learn more about Bishop's actual background and perhaps understood exactly how he grew so fast within the ranks of the werewolves. Even one chapter from his point of view would have been insightful, giving some thoughts on his motives or insights, but wishes won't make it happen. As it stands, <i>Witch of the Wolves</i> is an intriguing mix of the paranormal and Victorian worlds. 

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press the advance review copy and all opinions are my own.

I really wanted to love Witch of the Wolves. The premise was intriguing, and I was excited to read a historical romantasy, especially knowing this is a debut. There were definitely some enjoyable elements. The atmosphere had promise, and a few scenes caught my attention.

However, I struggled with the pacing. The plot felt stagnant for long stretches, and it was hard to stay engaged. The writing style sometimes felt contradictory, and the dialogue often seemed out of place, which made it difficult to connect with the characters.

I gave it a fair shot and finished the book, but ultimately, it just wasn’t for me. That said, I admire new authors for putting their work out there, and I hope to see Kaylee Archer’s voice grow in future stories.

Thank you NetGalley and St, Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Witch of the Wolves, I am a slow reader and I could not stop with this book. The character development was good, they were complicated in a way that worked very well for the story. I can not wait for the next book.

The action alome will keep you hooked. Things go sideways in the best way possible. I need the second book already

4.5⭐'s rounded up
2.5 🌶

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an early copy of this debut novel by Kaylee Archer!

This book was so fast paced and gripped me immediately. I absolutely loved our FMC and MMC and the character development that goes on as well as the banter and yearning. I got severe whiplash within the last 100 pages from all the plot twists and secrets being reveled that I didn't know who to trust, and I couldn't put it down. The ending was satisfying and defiantly set the stage for book 2, which I need like yesterday. I highly recommend this book!

With its Gothic Victorian London back drop this first book in a new Paranormal slow burn Romantasy series is going to be the next book obsession!

Tropes and what to expect:
-Vampires
-Werewolves
-Sassy and strong FMC
-Handsome and brooding MMC
-Class A Banter
-Found Family
-Forced Proximity
-Forbidden Romance/Love
-Enemies to Lovers
-Arranged/Forced Marriage
-Slow Burn/Yearning
-Epic Betrayals

Our FMC Cordelia Levine, is a 23 year old witch living in London with her aunt when our MMC Bishop Danvers, a 28 year old werewolf is sent by her estranged father, Silas Stockwell, Alpha of the Albion Pack, to kidnap her when her home becomes under siege by a suspected coven. When Cordelia arrives at the pack estate Trevelyan, filled with male werewolves and supernatural female maids, she learns that she is not only a witch from powerful bloodlines, but also a Lycan, the daughter of a werewolf who has inherited werewolf secondary traits.

After arriving at Trevelyan, Cordelia must uncover the long buried secrets of her and her parents past while also learning the secrets of her dual heritage. Cordelia quickly learns that everyone at the estate has secret agendas including her father and Bishop, the man her father has assigned to watch/take care of her, and everyone seems to be lying. While trying to fight for her freedom and uncover her fathers true intentions for her, Cordelia develops friendships with some of the younger wolves as well as the servants. She even starts to develop a closeness with her captor Bishop. Will Cordelia find out what her fathers true intentions are for her? Will she escape with her freedom and her life? Will Bishop help/save her?

I cannot wait for everyone to read this book when it publishes on 9/30/2025!

Things I loved about this book: the historical setting, the main romance, the worldbuilding. Things I didn't care for as much: the story takes a particularly dark turn that feels like it wars with the sweetness of the romance playing out in the background, resulting in a few stark instances of tonal whiplash. Difficult to say if there's a sequel on the way, but it also feels like the ending sets up a stronger next book as well.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Unfortunately, I had to dnf this book very early on, the writing style was just not for me.

The inner monologues from the main characters pov were just way too long and drawn out. There was no “show, don’t tell”, everything was explained as if the reader was incapable of putting things together themselves. The moment that the fmc described her long lost father was a “perfumer from France” and that’s why she had a heightened sense of smell (over and over again), then mentioned werewolves were a part of this society, the reader knew she was part werewolf. We didn’t need our hand held through the “ah-ha” moment.

I think I would have really enjoyed this book if I hadn’t spent 90% of the first 30 pages inside the fmc head and listened to her go on and on about things that were very obvious. Unless the intended audience was 14 year olds (which I hope is not the case), then we don’t need everything explained to us like we’re children.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins for this arc, all opinions are my own.

This book drew me in from the beginning. I loved the FMC, so smart. The MMC is definitely a new favorite of mine. Plot twists were done expertly and I am sincerely hoping for a second book.

I loved the paranormal romance with old Victorian vibes. I love the chemistry between the main characters. Pacing felt a little wacky in a few spots. I would've loved more details on her powers and her being such a powerful lycan- it didn't feel like there was much magic being performed/showing of her powerfulness.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
I’m new to the fantasy genre and this was my first one.
Loved it sooo much 😍😍😍
Cordelia a half witch/half werewolf gets kidnapped and Bishop the werewolf/man is the one that kidnaps her. What Cordelia doesn’t know is her father is the Alpha werewolf and has come for her.
Loved Cordelia and Bishops romance slowly evolving 😊

I REALLY enjoyed this book. I was captured from the beginning pages. Cordelia is my kind of FMC - strong, brave, doesn't need a man (even in Victorian England)! I enjoyed Cordelia and Bishop's banter. And boy is it action packed. Definitely worth the read!!!

I'll have to admit.. I always take pause when I see something is a werewolf story. I've never been much of a werewolf girly, but this book meant a lot more to me than just "werewolf story". The setting, Cordelia as a character, and the plot kept me entertained the entire book and I found myself drawn to find out what happens next.

⭐️⭐️ Witch of the Wolves

This one didn’t quite work for me. The premise—a witch caught between loyalty to her coven and a forbidden bond with the wolves—sounded amazing, but the execution fell flat.

The pacing dragged in places, and the world-building felt surface-level, leaving me craving more depth and atmosphere. The romance leaned heavily on insta-love, and the characters often felt one-dimensional, making it hard to connect emotionally.

There were some intriguing moments and flashes of tension, but overall, it lacked the spark I was hoping for.

Omg. I love this book because it’s so filled with mystery and supernatural. This book reminds me a bit of the show called Supernatural. I like the werewolves theme in this book. This is an amazing book that I have read. I want to thank Netgalley and the Author for letting me read this book.

Although I enjoyed the concept of this story, I have so many questions. I know this story is Cordelia’s POV, but I feel like we needed some more back story. Overall, this was fast paced so it was easy to get through. I will read the next book because I’m committed to getting the full story.

I enjoyed this one, it was medium to fast paced. I got hooked into the story pretty early and it held my attention the rest of the way. The only problem I had was trying to remember who everyone in the Pack was and who was on what side. Cordelia and Bishop had good chemistry/ insta lust/sexual tension. I'm definitely going to continue the series and I already can't wait for the next book!

I want to say I really appreciated getting a copy of this arc early. This book has very good potential as I am an avid fantasy reader and loved the premise of this book. Sadly for me the writing style for me was the downfall. I personally had a hard time reading it just did not flow as easily for me as some other books. I will still give the book three stars because I loved our main female character and I will continue with the series because this book did spark my interest. I would definitely give it a try !

Set against a vividly imagined Victorian backdrop, Witches of the Wolves whisks you into a world where magic isn’t just power—it’s blood, legacy, and war. Cordelia Levine thought she was simply a gifted witch hiding in plain sight, working at her aunt’s apothecary in London. But when she's suddenly abducted by Bishop Daniels, her world cracks open with truths about her lineage, her power, and a future she never agreed to.

As it turns out, she's not just a witch—she’s also the daughter of an Alpha werewolf. And her father has plans for her… plans that involve mating her off to Bishop to secure pack politics. Cordelia wants no part of it. But the deeper she gets into the power struggles of the Pack, the more tangled her feelings become—and the more dangerous her destiny reveals itself to be.

This book is fast-paced, full of tension, and packed with just the right amount of spice. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Cordelia and Bishop is a slow burn, full of push-and-pull chemistry that never feels forced. I especially loved that Bishop stays strong and grounded while still respecting Cordelia’s independence—no over-the-top alpha male nonsense, just a believable emotional arc.

There’s a lot of action and intrigue crammed into a short amount of time, which kept me turning pages but also made me crave more—especially in terms of world-building. I wanted a deeper dive into the supernatural politics and pack dynamics, but I have high hopes that the sequel will flesh things out further.

Cordelia is a standout protagonist—fiery, fierce, and never a damsel. And the secondary characters hold their own, adding emotional weight and richness to the story. I appreciated the dark undertones and themes of control, freedom, and identity, though I’d advise checking content warnings for elements like death, abuse, and explicit content.

This ended up not being a book I enjoyed. While I do think that the story is a fun adventure, I don’t think I am the target audience, as wolf court and wolf pack stories aren’t up my alley. While I do like the twist where the wolves have magic abilities, it wasn’t different enough for me as a standout story and Cordelia wasn’t my favorite FMC.

I loved this book. It felt very original and passionate! I can not wait to continue with the series. Love this author and writing style. The writing was easy to follow and seemed to flow naturally.