Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: War of the Underhill #1
Release Date: February 10, 2026
After years of barely scraping by Anna Kincaid is finally making progress in her life, she has a job at a museum that she loves and medical insurance which means she might be able to get her migraines under control. What she never expected was to have the museum attacked by masked men or to have the gargoyle statute she was hiding behind coming to life when she touched it and flying her away to safety. Nor did she expect the gargoyle to be so attractive, or that he would declare that she is his Heartsong”, which means she is his fated mate.
Frey is a Guardian, created over two thousand years ago from stone, blood and magick to protect the Druids in Albion. He was a great warrior and fought in the last battle against the Fae, who cursed his kind, by taking their magick and returning them to stone. He has spent years frozen in stone watching the world change and regretting never finding his mate, but when he ends up at the museum he feels something that he has never experienced, the feeling of his fated mate. When she touches him during a raid, he comes alive! He takes her to her home and tries to convince her that they are soulmates, but when morning comes, he turns back to stone, only to awaken when the sun goes down. Clearly the curse was not broken and Anna is in danger. What will it take to win her heart and break the curse for good?
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book by a new to me author, but I was quickly drawn into the story and enjoyed all the twists and turns! The story is fresh, interesting and I loved how the author incorporated Fae and mythical aspects into the story. I loved the relationship between Anna and Frey, each learning to trust the other and form a true soulmate bond. Anna is a very modern and relatable character, she is independent, suffers debilitating migraines, has a problem with trusting and accepting love, but it a very loyal person with a true heart of gold and Frey…he is just amazing. I did feel like the middle of the story dragged a bit and the ending felt a bit rushed, but overall, it was amazing and I can’t wait for the next installment! If you are a fan of fated mates, forced proximity, steamy romantasy – this book will check all the boxes for you! Highly recommended.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *
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