A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Entangled: Red Tower Books for the huge honor of reading this incredible book.

This is book two in the Oak & Holly Cycle series. It can be read alone, but it is best if read after reading book 1, The Wren in the Holly Library.

The story is fantastic. I love the world, K.A. Linde creates and how the story doesn't follow a predictable outcome. There are always amazing twists and turns. I love all the new characters and enjoy that we get back stories.

I enjoyed this book so much. I highly recommend this series and am so ready for book 3!

Wow Kierse is such a great character I absolutely love her. Graves is also an amazing character that is so troubled and it would be awesome to learn even more about his past. I loved this book and the slow burn between these two characters. The world building is also amazing in this and I love all the different types of monsters. The turmoil that is throughout this book is just so good, you get to see just how quick and smart Kierse really is. I highly recommend this book if you like monsters, magic, and a book filled with constant action.

This was my first book by K.A. Linde. I wasn't sure what to expect and went in blind. The plot was good but a little slow starting. Once I got into it, i couldn't put it down. Warlocks, vampires, werewolves and more in New York City. I loved the main characters but enjoyed the side characters and I am hoping to get more of their stories in the next book. Especially the history between Graves and Lorcan.

A very interesting take on a genre that can often feel and look very similar, The Wren in the Holly Library introduced a lot of different views on magic, class structure, and how the world would look if the things that go bump in the night emerged into the sun. The pacing was good, it never felt like it dragged and our view through the eyes of Kierce was exactly the right amount of information to keep me interested but also fill in the blanks of the world. World building was well done as well, without a lot of unnecessary exposition. I did this as a part of a read along with others and the prevailing opinion is that we are very satisfied and can’t wait to get our hands on the sequel!

Wow-this story absolutely floored me. It was such a unique idea, and I love all the unexpected twists and turns. The world and character building were both top tier. I always appreciate it when I can picture the landscape in my mind, but there isn't 40 pages of description that get too granular and hard to imagine. Wren in the Holly Library did an absolutely amazing job of giving ample details without being too much. The character descriptions were perfect too, but the character development was really where I was hooked. Watching the characters open up, and change was like growing with them. I found myself surprised by some of their realizations because it was written so well I didn't realize the characters missteps as they made sense to me at the time too.

It took me a few chapters to get into it, but once I hit the halfway mark it was almost impossible to stop turning the pages. I am officially a KA Linde fan!

I received a digital copy of the book from Entangled Publishing, with no requirement to review, but I loved this book so much I wanted to share a review (and I have already purchased a hard copy for myself plus pre-ordered Robin on the Oak Throne!)

This book has been on my TBR since the first pre-pub blurb I saw. I loved the urban fantasy setting and shades of morally gray. I can't wait to see what Linde has in store for us with The Robin on the Oak Throne and the new character dynamics it will bring.

It's been so easy to get absorbed into this wild little world where New York City is packed with monsters and secret magic folk just vibing alongside regular humans. You can't go wrong when a gifted thief falls for a dangerous monster. The whole gang underworld monster politics thing is is something l've never read before and I really enjoyed it. The characters were all really diverse, which is fun to read about but it did feel a bit overdone. The relationship between Kierse and Graves was the best part. Graves starts off all cryptic and broody, and the slow burn between him and Kierse was satisfying. The spicy scenes were a little cringe in parts, I won't lie, but still entertaining and didn't take away from how much I enjoyed the book overall. I already know I'm going to need The Robin on the Oak Throne the second it drops.

I got to read this book as a read along with all my favorite book friends with Entangled Insiders, it was the coolest book experience. It was like one big huge buddy read.

I loved how this book was written, it was detailed vividly like you were right there, and it made you love all of the characters, even the enemy, but at the same time it was not predictable.

This book is a great read for the book lovers who are looking to dip their toes into fantasy. Just the slightest touch of a magic system that is not too overwhelming and very intriguing, and will make any reader not want to put this book down. It was such a great read. I loved this book.

This book was full of monsters, a unique magical system, love, found family, thievery, and lots of mayhem.

The FMC really came into her power in this book, and decided nobody was going to save her so she was going to save herself. Such a powerful message.

The world building was so unique, it was so vivid like we were in the tunnels underneath New York City. I loved how the story was build around a library. It was perfect idea for this story.

You know the character building is so good, when you miss the characters when the story is over. I am not over Grave's and Kierse, and I will never be ready to let them go.

Review from first read in October 2024.

Kierse is a thief sent to steal something from Graves, seems simple enough. When Graves, the monster catches Kierse he is intrigued by her and makes her an offer to do a job for him. We are plunged into a world of monsters, humans, vampires, druids and werewolves. I enjoyed the development of this magical world that was filled with lore that helped build up the story. I thoroughly enjoy when a book has Easter eggs of things that show the future and give new understanding on a reread. I enjoyed the morally grey FMC who has a strong personal code and emphasis on found family. The growth of the bond between Graves and Kierse was fantastic and loved how they felt the most complete when they accepted the other completely. Cannot wait for a reread and for book two.

Read along review-

So many easter eggs and plot points I missed on the initial read. Loved the reread even more and cannot wait for book 2.

Why didn’t I read this amazing book sooner?!!!

To say I was hooked was understatement. Graves and Kierse were spectacular. Both stubborn, set in their ways but still there was something so special about them.
Two lonely souls united because of fate.

This book was written superbly and I loved the tiny tuny snippets of folklore and stories it told. Graves library…. GIMME PLEASE!
I loved the writing style, world building, secondary characters, pace and plot.
The climax had me on edge the whole time. It was fantastic!
I read this as a part of a read along (in FB) with entangle insider and let me tell you, it made the whole experience even better.
Can’t wait to do more of these and can’t wait to see all the trouble and shenanigans of Kierse and Graves.

-Heist, suspense, action and so much more.
-Gifted Human thief x Monster.
-Celtic mythology.
-Forced proximity.
-He’s her reluctant mentor.
-Safe, KU in some countries and highly recommended.
-TW.

I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for so long looking pretty and I finally had the excuse to read it when Entangled Publishing hosted a read a long. It was so much fun!

I’ll be honest I initially purchased this book due to the cool cover, name, and sprayed edges so I wasn’t sure what to expect going in.

I absolutely loved it! The unique world with magic and monsters set in a modern New York was fascinating. I loved slowly learning about the different types of monstrous and magical beings and slowly chipping away at the mystery that is our FMC Kierse.

The MMC Graves is also mysterious and alluring! I could not get enough of the chemistry between these two and the way they fought their growing attraction and fear to trust one another.

Thank you so much @entangledpublishing for the opportunity to do the read along for this book. It was such a fun experience and I look forward to book 2!!

3.5⭐️
Thank you to Entangled for the fun read-along.
This was a good read, but kind of slow and predictable for me, though I’m interested in where the next book takes us.

📚 Entangled Insiders readalong

I’ve wanted to read this book for a while and participating in this readalong finally pushed me into reading it. I had high hopes for this one, but unfortunately it didn’t quite live up to the expectations. I liked it, but didn’t love it.

The idea of the book sounded great, the aftermath of a monster war, monsters revealing themselves to humans and living in New York City, and a possibly unstable treaty between monsters and humans. The beginning of this book was great, but unfortunately things went downhill after that.

The FMC, Kierse, was an interesting character, she was a thief trying to steal from a monster, but got caught by the MMC, Graves. For me, Graves was quite boring and I wasn’t a huge fan of Graves and Kierse’s abrupt relationship development that felt like it came out of nowhere.

At times the plot felt quite sluggish and slow, but towards the end everything happened so fast and felt rushed, especially the big battle and reveal at the end. Also the plot kept jumping at times, one paragraph characters would be doing something and the next paragraph they’d be in a different place doing something completely different.

I’m kind of interested to see where the story goes next, but the next book is not high on my tbr.

So good! I read this as a read along with the publisher, so I already directly provided feedback. Loved the world building! Such a fun read. Can’t wait for the next one!

A whimsical adventure with monsters and a thief. I believe i enjoy a good story with a heist and a slow romance that sneaks up on them. It was slow but entertaining and i love the progress of not trusting each other to "i trust you"...."Good. Then kiss me again" swooning. I can't wait dive into the next book.

this was my second time reading this book! it was my favorite book of 2024! I absolutely loved this book. this story is so unique with a beauty and the beast undertone. It does not take over the entire story, but enhances it. Tension and Angst filled. This is a slow burn dark romantasy that you will fall in love with! I'm so excited for the next book! 10/10 Recommend

This book was just extremely easy to get lost in. I completely got lost in the story and I just loved getting to see these new characters come together. I just absolutely love this story and I just didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

*Enemies to Lovers
*Stolen/Hidden Identity
*Library/Forbidden Knowledge
*Morally Gray Love Interest
*Grumpy x Sunshine (with a twist)
*Forced Proximity
*He Falls First
*Magical Bargains/Deals with Consequences
*Rebellion/Revolution

This book is rich with romantic and fantasy tropes, perfect for fans of stories like Fourth Wing or ACOTAR. I devoured Wren in the Holly Library. It gave me all the dark fae, secret identity, slow-burn romance vibes I wanted. Wren is fierce, smart, and constantly walking a tightrope between survival and rebellion—and the love interest? Morally gray perfection. I found myself having a hard time putting this book down. I enjoyed the fae politics, and the tension and reveals were so worth it. If you love enemies to lovers, magical libraries, and fae bargains, this one’s for you. Definitely scratched my ACOTAR itch

When I tell you this read encapsulated me, I mean it. I read this with a "read-a-long", and it was so hard to put it down when the benchmark came. The story opens up after the monster war has led to a treaty. Kierse has abandonment trauma, has been surviving with her friends, and is a honed/talented pick-pocket. You follow Kierse as she takes on a new job (hiest), meets Graves (who is now her boss), and finds out who she truly is. Nothing or noone is as they seem. The cliff hanger, and questions left will have you begging for book 2. This romantasy/steam will have you swooning!

I absolutely loved everything about this book. From the very first page, K.A. Linde drew me into a richly imagined world that was dark, dangerous, and utterly enchanting. But what truly kept me turning the pages was the dynamic between Graves and Kierse. Their relationship was such a fun, slow-burn ride, full of tension, wit, and genuine emotion.

There were some twists I didn’t see coming, and I loved how the story balanced intrigue and magic with character development. It felt like the perfect blend of fantasy, mystery, and romance. The world itself was so unique, and I found myself wishing I could explore every corner of it. Especially the Holly Library, which felt like a character in its own right.
I can’t wait to see where the author takes us next.