What a fun story. This is like Night at the Museum meets booktok. A gargoyle wakes after a 1,000 years when mayhem breaks out in the museum and he must protect his heart song. The problem? Anna is shell shocked that A. HES ALIVE and B.she doesn’t believe she is his heart song. Our gargoyle has limited time to sway her, and Anna puts herself in danger trying to figure out this “unique” museum. The stars end on a cliffhanger, so I’m anxiously awaiting book 2.

This book weaves a captivating story with just a touch of fantasy that feels natural and refreshing. The characters are well-developed, facing challenges that feel both real and magical. The setting is vivid without overwhelming the story, adding just enough wonder to keep things intriguing. The plot flows smoothly, balancing emotional depth with exciting moments. It’s a thoughtful, engaging read that stays with you long after the last page.

Heartsong is a delightful little monster romance. It blends elements of mystery with coziness in the best way possible. Heartsong was written to pull on your heartstrings. The characters are loveable and I love how they are on equal playing fields when it comes to the cultural exchange between their people. I think that the book is the right blend of substance and plot. You are on the edge of your seat. I know I personally made several predictions of where the storyline would go and went back and forth between right and wrong.

Anna Kincaid works at a speciality museum curating gargoyle statues. This private collection is owned by an eccentric couple who give Anna all she readily needs to take care of their beloved statues. This includes proper insurance for her debilitating migraines. Frey is an ancient statue, one who Anna is particularly fond of. However, when a museum break in occurs and Anna accidentally touches him, he awakens claiming to be Anna's fated pairing- his heartsong. Anna must hide Frey's existence from everyone to avoid getting arrested for thievery.

I wanted to love this, the beginning was very promising, but this one just wasn't for me. I just don't think I connected with this style of writing. I'll be holding off on posting a review on other sites until after the release date due to the rating.

Things I liked
-Who doesn't want to be swept off their feet and into a gargoyles arms and then flown off into the sky.
-I enjoyed the collective mind aspect of the gargoyles.
-Captain the cat
-It's clear the author did research and used that while writing.
-The cover of the book is gorgeous.

Things that weren't for me
-Anna. I couldn't connect with her and kind of disliked her. I disliked her reaction to Frey. Give this man...er...gargoyle a break. He's been cursed/sleeping for a thousand years. He has nothing and no one and he is in a time he doesn't know. Give this man a break and show some sympathy and compassion girl.
-Writing style.
- The lack of different scenes. I feel like we spend so much of our time in the museum or her apartment which just caused me to lose interest.

Monster romance lovers, this is how you write a gargoyle book.
This was an easy five stars for me. Heartsong is a modern urban fantasy/monster romance with rich mythology, a reluctant fated mate dynamic, and a storyline that pulled me in from the very first page. I’ve read a fair number of gargoyle romances, but this one stands out because the history and magical origins of the gargoyles weren’t just mentioned, they were carefully built, woven into the plot, and made central to the stakes of the story.
The world building was genuinely compelling. The mythology behind the curse, the fae, the druids, and the way the gargoyles became stone all felt intentional and layered. You can tell the author put time into creating something immersive, which I deeply appreciate in a subgenre where lore is often handwaved.
Anna, the FMC, is relatable and smart , she’s a history nerd, which ties perfectly into her new job at the museum where the gargoyle statues are held. One statue in particular has always caught her attention, and of course, he ends up being her fated mate. This is a reluctant fated mates story, so if you love that tension of “there’s no way this is real” with one character pushing back hard at first, you’ll eat this up.
Frey is exactly what I want in a monster MMC: broody, intense, fiercely protective, and deeply out of his element in the modern world. But he never feels cartoonish. He’s tender and patient in ways that make the dynamic between him and Anna genuinely sweet, and very, very steamy. Expect on-page spice to heat up around 60% in, and it definitely earns a 3/5 chili pepper rating (equal spice to plot ratio).
There’s a central mystery woven throughout, with a bad guy whose identity kept me guessing. I loved how the author dropped breadcrumbs without making anything too obvious. The pacing was solid and I was hooked the entire time and didn’t skim a single word. I genuinely could not put this book down.
Content warnings:
• Stalking (by the villain, not the love interest)
• Battle scene violence
• Detailed on-page consensual intimacy.
Big emotions, character growth, and interpersonal challenges are core to the story, but they’re handled with care.

The ending delivers a satisfying HEA and also leaves the door open for future books in the world, something I am very excited about, especially given the intriguing hints about the fae, druids, and other cursed beings. If you’re a fan of Ruby Dixon, moody winged monsters, or myth-heavy romance with emotional payoff and spice, Heartsong should be on your radar.

I have no notes for the author on this one, it is excellent!

Editing feedback:
In Chapter 26-
"He took a bit of the lubricant, coating himself over the condom as he kissed her plush lips..."

This seems like an error- This happens just after Anna takes an emergency contraceptive and they had just discussed how Anna did not have any condoms and hadn't thought about it.

My GR Review link is posted below!

I really liked it - it's a sweet, cozy read with enough of spice as a reward. Frey is a top tier male. He is so driven to be worthy of his mate that he tries to find ways to be useful. Imagine a huge sexy man waiting for you with dinner ready every time you come home from work. YES. He’s instinctually protective, passionate and a caring partner.

Monster romance? Sign me up! This was such a fun read, and can't wait for more by this author! Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this e-arc.

cute
slow burn but then super spicy 🔥🥵
loved the characters. Appreciated the curvy body type & and the chronic pain rep. Loved the writing style.
will definitely read more by this author.

What a story! Every time I thought I knew what was going on or made some guesses based on the storyline, I'm thrown for a loop in the best of ways. Frey and Anna were such a duo that you can't help but fall in love with. Both stubborn and strong willed but drawn to each other with affection and love all the same! I'm excited to see what comes next !!

I am convinced S.E. Wendel is putting something in her books because HOW is this story so so lovely?

Our main characters, Anna and Frey, were so multifaceted. They are flawed in their own ways, and reeling from past experiences that have shaped their resistance to become dependent on one another. The growth of their bond and relationship is a significant part of this story, and it was so enjoyable to read. Even the side characters were fleshed out and were woven into the plot in meaningful ways.

The world-building was comprehensive and intriguing. This book does a great job of setting up the series, and several questions are left unresolved that I'm sure will be explored as the series continues. I am excited to see what Wendel does with the world she has created.

I can't put into words how much I love the author's writing style. I can only think to describe it as fluid, her thoughts and scenes weave together really well. Between the dynamic story-telling and thoughtful character internal dialogue, it is easy to be immersed in the story and connect with its characters. I will always have a soft spot for a pathetically down-bad male main character, and nobody is doing them like Wendel. I wouldn't necessarily consider Frey pathetic, but he is oh so down bad and I loved every second of it!

This was really good! I loved that it was unapologetic in it's ridicliousness, but also in how romantic it was. It has such a core of love and respect, and I really enjoyed it!

Thank you Netgalley and Harpercollins publishers for this ARC.

Heartsong is a monster romance book between a human woman and a guardian (grotesque). Anna starts a new job at a museum with unusual sculptures of gargoyle/grotesque statues. Anna is intrigued by one of the statues and can’t help but stare and spend extra time by it. One night the museum is breeched and Anna is caught in the middle of a robbery. She uses the statue for protection and touches it making it come to life. Frey (MMC) and Anna must now navigate together in the world. Why is Frey here? Why is Anna special? Who is spying on them? I loved this story and I loved our main couple.
There was a lag in the middle of the book that I found a little hard to push through. Once I got through the story picked up pace and we were back in action. I’m excited to read about the next couple in the following book.

Heartsong by S.E. Wendel leans more towards fantasy in a modern setting than the contemporary romance I usually read, but I enjoyed the lore and world building. Frey is a gargoyle that has been trapped in stone for centuries and Anna is employed at a local museum. When Anna touches Frey he wakes up from his stone sleep and realizes that she is his soulmate and the key to ending his curse.

This book was instant lust/love on Frey’s part, but it takes awhile for Anna to realize she feels the same. I enjoyed the character growth and how they both had to learn to compromise. I can potentially see myself reading this again, which puts it at 4/5 stars for me. There was a good mix of plot to spice with open door scenes that were pretty detailed, so I’d put it at about 3/5 on my spicy scale.

Thank you, Avon and Harper books, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All thoughts and options are my own.

Date Finished
07/22/2025

GUYS! This cover is just so cute. I am in love with it and the character art. It is just so fun. A very well-written romance book with monsters thrown in.

This was a pretty good book! I don't read a lot of monster romance, but I enjoyed this book. I did think that the middle was a bit slow, but otherwise, the story kept me engaged! I also don't love insta-love/insta-lust, but if you enjoy that trope, then you would likely enjoy this book. I thought the storyline was interesting, and I liked the main character as well. Overall, I mostly liked this book, and would recommend it to readers who like insta-love monster romances.

Overall a nice monsterish romance, nothing too serious but enjoyable. First in a series (there is a prequel though) and the next couple is introduced. I am excited to find out their story as well. Would recommend

Pros:
- migraine rep consitently throughout the book, no immediate magical cure
- spicy scenes were nice, not cringey, and there even if acouting for a bigger dick which I thought fit the modern setting nicely
- I liked the museum setting and the backstory
- though our MMC is quite the alpha and wants to protect and kinda control her, our FMC does not give in and stands her ground
- MMC that cooks and cleans

Cons:
- a lot of telling and not showing, a lot of info dumping especially in the beginning which could have been more organically sewn into the story
- mate relationships are always a bit tough on the believability of the love between the characters, while they had some time to get to know each other, it still did not feel like they really did. His motivation was often his clan and that together (I presume) they could repopulate their kind? It was not always there but gave some IPB vibes, though there is no breeding in this one.

Thanks to netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book.
Will post review in late January

I took a chance and read something that I normally would not pick, and I am so incredibly glad that I did!

This book had me giggling and kicking my feet at the pure cuteness of the MMC and his unintended innocence. While he is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with, his demeanor and ignorance of modern social norms is so enjoyable to read. This book is unlike anything I have ever read, and I couldn't put it down. It has easily found its way into my top 5 favorite books.

I have never read a S.E. Wendel hook and been disappointed. I love the pacing. It’s a good mixture of plot and romance. But also who doesn’t love a historian fmc with chronic pain.

Heartsong by S.E. Wendel

Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC. This review is my own and may contain spoilers.

Pretty classic romance book, not too dark. A partial third act breakup.

Heartsong was about a human, Anna, basically stumbling across her Heartsong aka soulmate Frey, a guardian (looks like a gargoyle). Think gargoyles ish, druids, Fae but modernized. I liked the pairing, compared to other monster/magick books it’s interesting. The folklore, information about Wales and what I presume is Welsh was interesting and unique.

Pacing wasn’t great (for me), it wasn’t a slow burn but also wasn’t a full out romance throughout either. Though there was commitment at 50-60% maybe a bit further in.

It isn’t a book I’d read again but I’m curious about her similar works.

A great story of a sweet historian finding the one who sweeps her off her feet... quite literally. It was such a great read