𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦, 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴

when I first found out about this book I instantly became curious about it and as soon as I started to read it I was hooked and I hope you would like to give this history an opportunity as well ♡

⊹₊⟡⋆. About the book ⊹₊⟡⋆.

Our main character Dalia has lived a life where she has to keep a promise that involves hiding who she really is but, when Glenn suddenly appears in her life,everything will be turn upside down, finding herself tangled in a web of secrets,power struggles and choices that could change the fate of everyone around her.

⊹₊⟡⋆. What I loved ⊹₊⟡⋆.

♡ The magic system- quite interesting, I was really involved into learning more about the ancient crystals and how they are essential to the survival of the different factions, for me it added a lot of depth to the history

♡ The diversity- LGBTQ+ and plus size representation are donde super naturally and not just added.

♡ Worldbuilding- even tho it was a bit complicated to follow at the beginning it was worth it. It was very intriguing to get to know this world that the author have created where elves,humans and crystallines (people with special powers) are in conflict.

⊹₊⟡⋆. What could be different ⊹₊⟡⋆.

The pacing was sometimes slow and I have to admit that I didn’t like the sudden connection between Dalia and Glenn at the begging of the book, was a bit rushed for me, but I understood better later so it’s not really something that is bothering me at the end.

⊹₊⟡⋆. Tropes ⊹₊⟡⋆.

♡ Enemies to lovers vibes
♡ Chosen one
♡ Found family

⊹₊⟡⋆. so basically…⊹₊⟡⋆.

I sometimes got a little bit lost because there were some parts where the pace was slower and I was losing concentration of what I was reading but if you are looking for a captivating fantasy history with character development and an unique magic system you should definetly add this to your TBR ♡

Once again thank you to the author and to Netgalley for this 😊

The premise of this book had me itching to be approved for the ARC! Of Wolves and Stags was a good book. It wasn't great, but it was really good! The magic system was so interesting with the crystals! The world building was a tad bit complicated but by the end I understood everything. The character depth/development, to me, was on point. I loved how there were humans, elves, and crystallines. Not a concept many authors would choose. I've seen sooooooo many "fey vs human" but not a combo like this one. The body positivity and LGBTQ+ rep was wonderful. I definitely handed out some extra brownie points for those! The pacing was a little weird at times, but it didn't take away from the story for me. Just a teensy bit annoying. I am curious as to the fact that I've seen it described as YA (which I felt it was) and as Adult. The "marketing team" for this book needs to figure that out before pub date for sure. Lastly, I've not seen anything about this being a standalone, or a series, but this should very much at LEAST be a duology. There's gotta be more for these characters! Pub date is March 25th so in a little over a month this baby will be out in the world and I must say I HIGHLY RECCOMEND IT! OH! And the cover is STUNNING! Definitely a book that will be front facing on my shelves!

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is honest, unbiased, and completely my own.

Dalia is the Soft yet Strong FMC that I've been needing. She's genuine, sweet, and dreams of connection in a way that she's missed out on her whole life, and she deserves the world. I devoured this book, especially once I reached the halfway point. I couldn't go a moment longer without knowing what happened next, and while I don't regret that, I do wish that I'd savored it (though I promise you I will be doing a reread at some point because how could I not??). Now I'm left with a book hangover that only more Dalia and friends can fix......

Ria Parisi has crafted a world that is full of magic and mystery that is so emotionally grounded in reality that a mere mention of the Wolven Hunt being sighted near will have your heart in your throat.

Dalia Arrowood is a kind hearted girl living in Tidesend and concealing a secret about herself that if discovered would have her labeled a monster. Risking her safety and her secret being discovered to save the life of Glenn Cahill is the catalyst that sparks the adventure that Dalia could never have imagined.

The fighting between the Elves and the White Stags has been a fight that seems to be black and white, but when Dalia finds herself in the middle of the conflict a cloaked figure raises questions that turn Dalia’s world into varying shades of gray.

If you are looking for a romantasy story that will keep you on the edge of your seat I cannot recommend this book enough. This book will have you laughing, crying, and punching the air while yelling. This story checks all of the boxes, plus sized heroine, enemies to lovers, morally gray characters, lost memories and found family.

I take zero responsibility for sleep deprivation, this book will have you saying “Just one more chapter” until you realize that it’s 5am and you’re staring at the final words of the story.

Of Wolves and Stags follow Dalia as she hides in a small northern village while she waits for her sister to rescue her. Dalia has magic through elven experimentation and must stay hidden or risk the elves coming after her. But she’s tired of hiding and waiting after a long decade. When Glenn washes on her shoes, fatally wounded, she uses her magic to heal him and nurse him back to health. When she discovers he’s part of the rebellion resistance to the elves, she leaves her village with him to take control of her life. But betrayal and danger lurks around every corner and Dalia must figure out who to trust.

This was a really interesting, unique debut fantasy! The world the author created is full of life and so expansive—I’m hoping we get a sequel! The prose is lovely. The descriptions were gorgeous. The plot was very gripping, and I was hooked quite easily. And there’s a twist I didn’t see coming. I love when that happens, and it was a great twist imo. Loved the magic system and the reasoning behind why they have it. I also love Dalia’s magic and how she used it. The ending was so satisfying!!

I adored Dalia. She’s such a strong, relatable main character with a great arc. She goes through a lot in this novel and grows so much. It was very satisfying to see where she started to where she ended up. It was so nice to see her find true friends after sheltering herself for so long. The characters are all so distinct and complex and I really hope we get a sequel and get to see more of them. There’s also such great representation in this novel—such a joy to read about! Also loved the direction of the romance!

Overall, this is an excellent debut fantasy perfect for fans of magic, quests, and relatable, complex main characters!

Thank you to Inked in Gray Press and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

"Of Wolves and Stags" is the kind of book I would have absolutely adored as a young teenager. Fast-paced, full of action, and with twists that feel fully emotionally wrought and resonant, I found this book quite enjoyable. I would say, without a doubt, that this book is best enjoyed by younger YA readers (at the time of posting, this is tagged as YA in NetGalley but Adult in Goodreads); the language used is simple, the plot relatively uncomplicated, the twists spelled out, and the romantic subplots most similar to middle-grade books that I have read. It’s the sort of book I wish I had read when I was in my early teens: body-positive, inclusive, and deeply humanizing.

This book follows Dalia, an older teenage orphan residing in a small northern fishing village. Much of her past is lost to her, blocked in her memories, but she knows a few things: she is a Crystalline, a magic user, made through abuse by the ruling Elven government for the purpose of powering weapons. She knows she escaped from the Elven camp 10 years ago and has been in hiding since. She knows her older sister, a fire user who helped her flee the camp, told her 10 years ago to wait for her on the northernmost tip of the land. She knows her sister has not appeared since. Dalia’s life changes when she finds a young man on the beach, burned and dying, and uses her magic to heal him. Thus, kicks off her adventure: of rebel camps and Elven hunts, of mysteries solved and secrets revealed.

In a lot of ways, this book feels right in line with the YA books I remember reading when I was younger. The heroine with special powers approaches a new side of the world she has never seen before and, in doing so, uncovers secrets and plot twists and the mysteries of her own past. This being a lot of the book, it’s often a pretty typical read, though a good example of these kinds of plots.

Where this book really shines is in the secrets it reveals. I can’t get into too much detail here as much of this is revealed late in the book, but I’ll do my best to explain. As Dalia gets to know the people of the Stag’s camp, she uncovers plot twists about characters’ pasts and motivations. Rather than being merely shock value, I found these plot twists to be really effective examinations of guilt, complicity, greed, and power. For example, when Dalia meets someone who sees her, a magic user, only for their utility in a greater fight, she rightfully recognizes the dehumanization at play. However, rather than stopping there, she also begins to see the way an ally is similarly objectifying her: in the way that ally will not stand up for her, in the ally’s possessiveness and overall psyche. Though things like this could read as a plot twist for the sake of a plot twist, I found it to be a really strong exploration of how marginalization can be expressed even by those who legitimately care about you. The book is full of ideas like this that I think are especially effective for a YA audience.

Where this book fell short is in the ending, as well as some of the implications of the ending. First of all, while I don’t see any evidence that this book has definite plans for a sequel, the ending needs one. So much happens at the end with a good number of threads hanging loose, but, the way the ending is written, it is unclear if the loose threads are the sign of a sequel or ideas that will never be resolved. I hope the book will get a sequel to feel fully resolved. My second issue is with the way an enemy group is handled. I don’t want to get too deep into this as I don’t want to spoil anything, but a theme of this book is understanding what makes a person deserving of forgiveness. Towards the end of the book, there is a lot of trust placed in a person or group who, as written, does not deserve even a hint of trust or mercy. This is one of the plot threads that feels loose at the end, as I wanted to see why certain choices were made in regard to this person or group. As written, it feels strange and somewhat undercuts the stronger parts of the book.

In the end, I am giving this book 4 stars. I appreciated it for what it was as an adult reader, and really see the strengths this book has to offer the right audience. I recommend this book for YA audiences as it is the kind of book I would have really enjoyed at that age.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ria Parisi, and Inked in Gray Press for allowing me access to the e-arc.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I loved how kind Dalia, the FMC, was. That isn’t a trait you see in a lot of Romantasys. She is overly trusting, which can be a little frustrating to read. I also enjoyed the twists that I didn’t see coming. I thought the world was unique and interesting. It features crystallines, elves, and humans. Crystalines and elves are fighting to get access to the special crystals. Of course, they all want to use Dalia.

I would recommend it!

✨ Plus Size FMC
✨ Found Family
✨ Love Triangle

This book was captivating from start to finish! There was no unnecessary fluff- it was all action. I devoured this book so quickly as it never felt boring. Each page was filled with more and more information and interest.

The only downside was that I had hoped there would be an epilogue (Yes, I am greedy for more), just so we could see how Dalia adapts, and if anything becomes of the Wolves. What would an alliance entail?

My mind is left with 2 questions:
Who are the elves really?
Where did Fionn and Beth end up?

More importantly I couldn't help but draw a direct comparison to today's world of different races, hierachy, and prejudices we hold against each other. But once one accepts the other for who they truly are, and not based upon preconceived notions that are engrained upon us, so much goodness can come from it.

It also brings up the fact that, if something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. Finally it touches on leadership always having hidden agendas and being self serving. One person can corrupt many under the guise of being good. Others will follow until it is too late for them to realise how far down along the wrong path they have gone.

This book teaches us to be open to new people and experiences, but to remain questioning of authority and those in power. All hidden behind a fast paced, action packed story. It also shows that in the end true love prevails.

This really is a unique read. The plot and pacing were perfectly written and Ria had me captivated from the start.

I absolutely adored Dalia and throughly enjoyed following her throughout the story.

“Dalia Arrowood was finally home” 🥹🥹🥹

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Of Wolves and Stags by Ria Parisi is a masterpiece! This author is a genious! I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

A promise betwen two frightened sisters, to a journey that led Dalia through more than she ever thought possible.

Separated from her sister when she was only seven, Dalia was forced to flee and hide in Tidesend. Never to use her power, for she would be seen as a monster by humans, turned into a weapon by elves.
She spent all her life hiding and waiting, until one day a boy washed ashore, at the brink of death, unless Dalia used her healing ability. It could be the thing that save her or the beginning of her doom, depending on how you look at it.
The problem with her is she trusts people easily every single time and it irritates me. Other than that, I don't have much complain. The book is entertaining.
It's about finding purpose, a place to belong. I like the writing and I'm excited to see more works from the author.

Rating-
4/5 stars

Genre-
Fantasy

Age Rating For It-
13+ because there is some stuff in it like PTSD flashbacks, Medical experimentation, and trauma but nothing explicit in the romance area that is mostly all just kissing and some cuddling little things like that so for that it's a 13+.

Tropes-
High stakes
Treasure hunt (they get clues and stuff and use it to find something)
Found family
Revolution

Plot- 8/10
I really enjoyed the plot of the book and thought it was very unique because it wasn't just a basic fae plot. With the cruel fae rulers and the humans wanting their rule to stop, no, I felt the author took that concept and then advanced it and made it much more interesting and unique. Like, adding the crystalline and their whole backstory and way there were created just made the plot and storyline a lot more captivating than other books like this.

Romance- 3/10
I have no idea why, but I HATED, just HATED the mmc name. I honestly don’t know why, all the way, but the name Glenn was just a big no for me. I kind of disliked the guy so so fricken much, mostly just because of that, and I felt he could use some more depth too. The only reason the romance was more than a zero was because I liked how the romance turned out in the end. This may seem a bit harsh, and I honestly don’t understand why I disliked Glenn so much, but I just did so, so much and that is literally ¾ of the reason it got a 4 star.

Characters- 7/10
I really enjoyed the main character and a couple of the side character I really loved. I liked how the main character wasn’t just someone who was instantly this super confident person and just amazing at combat and everything. But, she was instead someone who had struggles and a past that made it hard for her to do a lot of the things that were asked of her, and because of that I felt it made her more relatable than some of the other characters we see in fantasy now a days.

Favorite Quotes-

“He didn’t look at her like everyone else did. Like something to be passes over, just some girl from a fishing village. No, he looked at her like she was someone.”

“We need you. I need you”

“I am her because I dream of a future where we can all be free. Elves. Humans. All of us. That is why I choose to fight.”

“I think if your laugh was the last sound I every heard, I’d die a happy man.”

“Dalia Arrowood was finally home.”

Things I loved-
The whole plot and storyline I really really enjoyed and the crystalline and how unique I felt they were in my opinion. I also really enjoyed how the book really showed how there are two sides to every story and that everything that happens and is happening, that you never know the full truth or every side of the story.

Things I didn’t like-
Glenn I cannot stress enough how much I just don’t like him for some reason I fully don’t even understand. I just hated him almost instantly like from the first time I met him, and it honestly may just be because his name was Glenn to be honest… But, I also felt some of the side characters we meet were very dry and were a little bit of a copy and past kind of thing going on but only some of them, not all, definitely but a good amount.

Would I Recommend This?-
Yes! Most definitely if I put aside the fact that the mmc was named Glenn and that some of the characters were a little dry than this book would be a total 5-star! And I’m sure it is a 5-star for a lot of people that don’t have some random hatred of the name Glenn or disagreed with my thinking of other stuff. So all in all, l I would absolutely recommend you check this book out and read it or at it to your tbr!

Overall-
So all in, this was a great and unique book (except for Glenn) and I would totally recommend everyone check out and read!


(this review was/will be posted on Goodreads and you can find the link to that below)

This was a really unique and interesting concept for a novel. I liked the dynamics between the humans, crystalines, and elves, and the world-building was great. Dalia was a really complex character, and I instantly liked her and was intrigued with her story. This was a really nice, relaxing read.

The author does a wonderful job of world building. The pacing is good, but slows down towards the middle, then picks up towards the end.

I liked the characters, but I thought a few things were a little too obvious. I was able to accurately guess certain things way earlier. That said, the ending took me by surprise.

Overall this was an enjoyable, clean YA fantasy read. The author is descriptive without bogging you down with too many details.