Title: HeartsongAuthor: S.E. Wendel
Series: War of the Underhill #1
Pages: 392
Publication Date: March 29, 2024
Publisher: AVON BOOKS
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Paranormal
Synopsis:
San Francisco, Present day
A gargoyle warrior unprepared for the modern world…
Fifteen hundred years ago, Frey and all his kind were cursed by the vicious fae queen, their magick stolen and their bodies rendered stone. It has been a hellish existence, frozen in time as the world changes around them. A proud warrior ready for a mate, Frey rages against his stone prison, but with every year that passes, hope slips away that the curse will ever be broken.
That is, until he and some of his kin are placed in an odd little museum. And she walks through the door.
A modern woman not ready for a medieval male…
Anna Kincaid has just gotten back on her feet. After struggling with student debt, chronic migraines, a serial-dater mother, and Bay Area rent for years, she’s finally landed a job that will help with all of it. It feels too good to be true—full health care with dental and helping manage a museum full of exquisite artifacts? Her heart and history degree are thrilled, but something about the museum is…odd. The owners are a mysterious, if kind couple who call the collection the clan. And the collection is…well, monstrous. Huge, savage-looking statues from the late Celtic period.
Magick stolen can be reclaimed, and curses cast can be broken…
When the museum is stormed by masked commandos one night, it isn’t even the weirdest thing to happen. No, she could wrap her head around organized art theft—what defies belief is one of the big gray behemoths springing to life to save her. And that he flies off with her. And when he tucks her into his big body and growls mate. Fans of Lisette Marshall, SL Prater, and the Gargoyles Disney show will love this monster romance novel. Title includes several heavier themes as well as open-door spice.
This blog uses affiliate links for some book recommendations, and if you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission. Thanks for supporting this little bookish corner of the internet!
My thoughts on Heartsong:
I knew I wanted to read Heartsong from the moment I saw the gorgeous cover. By the time I finished the blurb, I was hooked. I love a sexy paranormal romance with fated mates and a swoon-worthy MMC, which made this the perfect tread for me!
Both Anna and Frey have interesting backstories that very much define them. A migraine sufferer with an unstable upbringing and tentative healthcare throughout her life, Anna is hurting in more ways than one. I can understand why she’s so careful with her trust and feelings considering what she’s experienced, and it made her relationship with Frey so special.
I absolutely loved Frey, and if you like strong, ancient, cursed warriors who fall first and fall hard, you’ll love him too. He is so devoted to Anna, and he is not afraid to show it. To him, their bond is everything, and he proves it to her over and over, which is great, because it takes some time to win the more resistant Anna over. Their romance is positively swoon-worthy, from the gentle and thoughtful ways he takes care of her to the sexy and passionate things he says and does. My word, Frey is the kind of MMC that makes you melt!
I really enjoyed this suspenseful and romantic read. The characters are great, the found family vibes are fabulous, the stakes are high and suspenseful, and the love story is gorgeous. I did wish for a different outcome with Anna’s mother, but other than that I loved the story, and I’m looking forward to continuing the series. There was a twist that made me eager for the next love story and to find out what happens when certain characters find our MCs. Plus, I have to know what happens to the other Guardians still suffering under the curse! Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- He falls first
- Fated mates
- forced proximity
- found family
Memorable Quotes from Heartsong:
“I willingly give up the day if it means nights with you.”
“I would stay with you, my Anna. For as long as you allow.”
Guilt was a suffocating companion,
“You are my north star, Anna. My . . . my home.”
Fantastic and persuasive review! I definitely need to give this story a read.
Thank you! I hope you like it if you get a chance to read it. 😊