I enjoyed reading this book mainly for the sweet shifter/mage boys, but also for its impressively unique premise and the light, whimsical vibes.

 

The structure could definitely have been sharper; the plot felt like it was meandering towards the middle without enough intrigue to keep the pace up. It picked up towards the end though, with a satisfying comeuppance and enough mystery to entice me to carry on with the series. I was hooked on the shifter traditions and the culture of the mages and would be excited to learn more about the lore of this unique world.

 

I enjoyed reading from the different perspectives throughout the book. All the voices were distinct; the love interests were incredibly sweet boys in their own ways, while Wren the main character was refreshingly feisty and a bit of a grump.

 

The pining was great throughout, with no miscommunication bullshite (because that would be out of character for these kind-hearted boys) and a lot of chemistry between the love interests. The *spicy scenes were very well-executed in isolation, but the leadup felt rushed considering the slowness of the slow burn. I know it’s all technically leadup in a slow burn romance, but it seemed like the scenes were written and then just spliced in towards the end.

 

This was a really entertaining read with authentic dialogue and a mysterious, winding plot. I would highly recommend this book for fans of light fantasy romance, particularly the likes of Ava Reid and Kathryn Moon.

Thank you to BookSirens and Essie Suter for the opportunity to read and review this book for free!