This was not what I was expecting, and I loved it.

Our FMC is a magicless mage librarian working in the magical archives of an urban magical world in the future and engaged to a wizard she loves. With a twist of fate she is thrown back in time, and—in her attempts to find her way back to her original timeline—she finds herself in the company of grumpy, violent, and untrusting alpha werewolf just trying to protect his pack in a world full of treachery.

For some reason I was expecting this to be a modern urban fantasy, but it really isn’t. I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say it’s more fantasy than urban fantasy, with a paranormal romance edge. And it is actually very dark, with descriptive violence, and some very spicy spice. The plot it plotting, the FMC’s internal and external monologues are hilarious, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

The Dyslexic Reviewer - Spoil Free Reviews

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
POV: Multiple POV, 1st Person
Gene: Romantasy/Paranormal Fantasy
Triggers: Open door sex, Torture, Hostage, Violence, Attempted Sexual Assault, Physical Abuse
Read Time: 8-9 hours
Expected Publishing Date: 10/03/2025

What I loved about this book:
❤️ World Building - This book has a stunning world. I love the taste of the future we see in the beginning and how it interplays with the past. The worlding building is lush and beautifully done. You can tell that @littleliteraryfaery took the time to really make the world seem real.

❤️ The Characters - I love the characters in this book. Both Winter and Westley are deeply flawed in a way that so many of us are, they are relatable in that sense. Winter battles with insecurities and maybe a little imposter syndrome. While Westley lets his prejudice override what he sees in front of him. I loved reading about how they each learn to grow in this book, and I can see them growing in to the next book.

❤️ The Story - The story is original, it has the Wizard of OZ vibes, but it is completely it's own story. It is rich and well developed blending the future and the past well. It was one of those books that made me stay up WAY past my bedtime because I Just couldn't put it down!

What I thought could have been better:
🤔 Nothing! Though I would LOVE to read the ARC of the 2nd book but i don't see a way to sign up for that now (hint hint 😉)

Overall:
🔥 This book was FANTASTIC! You should pre-order it now so you have it as soon as you possibly can!

🐺Arctic Wolf Fact - Inspired by Westley:
Arctic wolves are smaller than grey wolves, They also have smaller ears and shorter muzzles to retain body heat. @wwf

🥰 Favorite Quote:
"After so many years spent pretending she was okay, saying I'm fine one more time would feel like a personal betrayal"

I got this book free from @netgalley for my honest review

What I loved about this book was that it constantly kept giving and in a way that encouraged me to want to find out what was going to happen. The story isn’t rushed but gives information in a way that makes the story easy to follow along with.

I’m also a bit of a sucker for when the guy shows interest first and it felt like Westley liked her much more from the get-go than Winter did. His interest felt almost immediate while she seemed to thoroughly dislike him for a third of the story.

While some parts were harder to read (I struggled with only one scene in particular and it was written very well — I just felt so bad for Winter!) I enjoyed the story overall and can’t wait to see how Winter and West progress in the future. I would love to see their reunification and how West will handle managing two packs.

Slow burn romance
Dual POV (FMC mostly)
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Cliffhanger

I was excited to start this and propelled through it with the engaging story. I definitely found some of the plot to be a bit disjointed but I do believe things will flesh out well in future installments. Some of this read like a fever dream but in a good way. About half way through we come to the queens palace which was giving heavy “Under the Mountain” vibes. IYKYK. That’s where the story really amps up in its explicit and twisted ways. However, I feel like the premise for going to see the queen was not well done. Our MMC knows the deranged nutjob who runs the place and still goes? And he barely tries to stop our girl and doesn’t genuinely warn her in anyway of what to expect. The story does not create a passion for his “mission” that warrants going to see this merciless queen. The FMC’s mission to see the queen was much more believable, because she wasn’t aware of the ruthlessness she would encounter. Sensibly, she meets the queen and is like.. I’m not asking her for a favor and get me out of here. Which begs the question why would Westley risk it? Why wasn’t he more up front? Can I move past this? Yes and I’m still excited for the next book!

ARC REVIEW
💫The Magicless Mage by B. L. Lewis💫

4.5/5⭐️
3.5/5🌶

First off, thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy!

The story of a time traveling Mage, werewolves, vampires, and a Witch Queen.

I absolutely gobbled this up! The tension, angst, and banter between MC's was too good! I really enjoyed the characters, and the world building was great. The storyline is very clever, and the twists took me by surprise.
My only complaint is there were times I felt like the content rambled on a little bit and could have been cut out.
Otherwise, if you're a fan of dark fantasy/romance, I highly recommend picking this up once it's published!

*Note: please read all trigger warnings before reading.*

5 ⭐️ 2 🌶️

SO UNHINGED AND SO FREAKING FUN 🤭

The time travel? The enemies to reluctant allies to kind almost lovers? The completely out of pocket remarks? The unhinged wizard of oz reimagining??? LOVED, no notes. I had such a fun time.

Plus I loved how B connected this to her debut book I read last year and loved. I cannot wait for book two and so excited that these are rapid releasing 🙂‍↕️

If you are looking for:
✨ a fun and unhinged read
🔮 witch x werewolf shifter
✨ time travel
🔮 angst + tension
✨ banterrrrr

Go pick up The Magicless Mage.

Thank you BL Lewis & NetGalley for this ARC 🖤

I loved the book. Highly recommend it. Loved how it has a nod to wizard of oz. I also loved that it had Mages/Witches/Wizards Werewolves, Vampires, Familiars, and time travel. It’s such a good cant wait for book 2.

I have no idea why this has been sold as a Wizard Of Oz fantasy retelling. Except for a few references in passing, this bares little to no similarity. This is, quintessentially, just a dark Omegaverse. And I apply the term "dark" generously here because it tries so hard to be edgy and provoking, it mostly comes off as corny instead. For instance, the main character's favorite color is deep red like the color of fresh blood. She goes on about it multiple times to the point where this is possibly the only thing I retain about her character. It's as edgy as a fourteen year old discovering the emo scene. Next, she'll want to drink coffee as black as her soul.

While we're at it, both main characters are vapid and lack depth. Their personalities flip flop however the plot needs them too. Winter, in particular, is impossible to grasp, much less root for. She keeps getting described by other characters as charming and a seductrice and I saw no proof of that on the page at any point. She's also the most brainless protagonist I've ever had the misery to read (perhaps she is the scarecrow?). It's shocking how little she thinks about any action she's about to make. It's even funnier because Westley keeps thinking she's playing 4d chess with him and manipulating him - but like, no, she genuinely only has one neuron hovering around an empty space like the old DVD logo. Though this is maybe because both main characters are way too horny to function.

I'll say, it's easy to read and super fast paced - though perhaps a little too much? It feels a little precipitated sometimes; neither the plot of the characters had any time to breathe and the chapters feels episodic at times.

Thank you NetGalley & B. L. Lewis for this AMAZING ARC ! I am obsessed. This was such a good read. I could not put it down. The way my jaw dropped when I got to the big twist 😱. What a cliffhanger to be left on. I cannot wait to read book 2 !

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

How is this only book one?? *The Magicless Mage* grabbed me from the very first chapter and refused to let me go. I went in expecting a fun, magic-meets-wolves fantasy, and ended up losing hours of sleep because I just *had* to know what happened next. Worth it. Every single page.

Winter is the kind of FMC I live for—fiery, clever, and unwilling to bow to anyone, even when the odds are stacked against her. She has that perfect blend of grit and vulnerability that makes you root for her instantly. And Westley? Don’t even get me started. The broody, morally-grey wolf who acts like he doesn’t care but secretly would raze kingdoms for her? Yeah. He ruined me. Their enemies-to-lovers slow burn was the perfect mix of banter, tension, and yearning—the kind that makes you scream into your pillow because they just *won’t admit it yet.*

And it’s not just them—the side characters and pack dynamics added so much depth and warmth, giving me those cozy found-family feels in the middle of all the chaos. Add in a gothic magical library, forbidden spells, and a deliciously twisty layer of time-travel, and you’ve got the kind of fantasy world I never wanted to leave.

The vibes that owned me:
✨ enemies → allies → lovers (slow burn, angsty, worth the wait)
✨ sharp banter & forced proximity
✨ strong, witty FMC who refuses to break
✨ broody wolf MMC with a soft center (my kryptonite)
✨ found family & pack loyalty moments that hit me right in the heart
✨ dark magic, time-bending twists, and sky-high stakes

Overall, this was an addictive and magical ride—equal parts fun, fierce, and emotional. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I cannot wait to dive into book two and see where Winter and Westley go from here!

This was an interesting idea, and I liked the darker Wizard of Oz angle. The pace is quick, which made it easy to get through, and I enjoyed picking up on the small Oz nods scattered in the story.

But the plot itself felt messy at times. The characters spend more time sniping at each other than actually talking, and a lot of twists get thrown in just to keep things moving. By the end, it felt more like setup for the sequel than a complete book on its own.

I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. The concept has promise, and I’d be curious to see if the sequel smooths out the flow and gives the characters more depth.

Witches & werewolves & vampires (oh my!)

Thank you so much BL Lewis for the arc of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed this, and your writing is ✨chefs kiss✨

Spooky season is coming friends, and this one has great bones for a crisp fall day read. It’s a dark Wizard of Oz inspired retelling with magical beings and a sexy twist

As book one out of three of the series, there’s just enough world building that you get a great picture, but it’s not overdone that it’s dense or dragging, and there were plenty of plot twists sprinkled throughout that makes you excited to find out what unfolds in book two

The banter between Winter and Westley is everything you want. They’re sassy, grumpy, sassy, headstrong, and the development in their relationship was so well done 🤌🏼🤌🏼

I also LOVED all the little references sprinkled throughout this book, it was so creative! Book one set us up for a great ride in book two and I’m really excited to find out what happens next!

If you're looking for a dark and dirty Wizard of Oz retelling, this is it! In the beginning,I was prepared for a 5-star book but, towards the middle there were so elements that I found weird and unnecessary. Overlooking those moments, this is a fast-paced, slooow burn with all sorts of magical beings: witches, werewolves, vampire. Did I mention time travel and Evil Queens?

Thank you net galley!

The slowburn? The tension? The want? Oh my sweet baby Jesus. I loved this so much.

The Magicless Mage is book one of The Wolf Queen Chronicles. This dark and twisty Wizard of Oz retelling has made the list of my top reads for this year! The unhinged MC’s are crave worthy, as is their intense banter and insane sexual tension (like I hate you so much but why do I want you so bad). My jaw dropped more than once at some of the dialogue, it is SO good! I love the entanglement of the modern era and how the various species (shifter, witch, vampire etc.) have adapted to being in the modern world. @littleliteraryfaery ATE and came back for seconds with this story! I cannot recommend it enough.

Be sure to check the full list of content warnings as there are dark themes and topics throughout this book (included but not limited to attempted SA, animal cruelty, blood/gore/violence, etc).

The application to be an ARC reader for this book (and book 2 👀) is still open, so RUN!!! Before they close!

The Magicless Mage by B.L. Lewis releases on October 3rd, 2025 and will be the PERFECT book to add to your fall TBR!

With this being book 1 I was expecting a drag/lull with world building etc that you never get but I didn’t feel one st all. The world building was brilliant and I’m happy there’s more books in this series (3 I believe)

The build up of chemistry is (hopefully) bringing the spice in the next few books - I feel the tension building!

Loved the different characters - witches / mages / vampires / familiars - love this.

And the ending 🙄 Jesus! But sets up book 2 so well!

I read this one in two days. I was hooked from the second I picked it up. This is my first read by this author but it will definitely not be my last!

I could not put this book down from the moment I started reading. Winter was such a fun, badass FMC smart, sassy, and just the right amount of unhinged in the best way. Westley, our broody werewolf, was the perfect match for her fire… and yes, he definitely falls first.

The pacing was spot-on never a dull moment, and the tension hit at all the right times. The side characters stood out just as much, and the world was so easy to picture. We’ve got witches, mages, wizards, vampires, familiars, time travel, hate-to-love vibes, and some delicious slow-burn chemistry.

Everything was written beautifully and the worldbuilding was super clear, I could follow the magic system, the supernatural politics, and the time-travel elements without ever feeling lost. There’s action, romance, humor, and just the right amount of dark twists to keep it interesting.

And that ending… perfection. It wrapped up just enough to feel satisfying, but still left me dying for book two.

If you like witty heroines, broody heroes, magical worlds, and a story that keeps you hooked start to finish, you need to read The Magicless Mage.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!
This book took me by surprise. Absolutely devoured it. It is unique and kept me intrigued throughout the entire book. I didn’t not want to put this down! I loved the FMC and MMC both so much and cannot wait to see how their story ends. Definitely recommend!

I have to say I was excited for this book from the blurb and the wizard of ox type retelling. But it fell short. The pacing was off. The world building was as if we should have already been here or know what we were looking at. The MCs were frustrating as they had no reason to continue to hate each other than to do it. I had high hopes and it just wasn’t for me unfortunately.