The chokehold the last half of this book had on me, I read it within an afternoon then proceeded to (lovingly) yell at the author over a Certain Character.

Really this is a great fantasy novel. The world building isn't so intense that you need to be fully awake and sitting with a notepad to keep track of everything which makes it all the more enjoyable. You can just read it for reading sake and enjoy it while you do.

I adored the representation in this novel. Plus-sized heroines, non-binary elves, and so much more. It just felt like such a wonderfully warm hug to read these characters and have them be so amazing. I am eager to find out more about the characters within, what happens to them after the book has completed (including those who aren't so savory) and just.. gah. So good.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read Of Wolves and Stags.

Unfortunately I’ve decided to DNF this one at 150 pages. The reason for this is just that I’m not connected to the writing style or any of the characters, and I found myself having to force myself through the pages I did read.

I will say, Dalia is definitely a character I would have enjoyed reading about when I was a teenager. As a curvier person myself, having some plus size rep would have been such a boon to me when I was younger, and the fact that Dalia is a softer more emotional main character would have been so relatable to me. However these days, while that rep is great to see, I just didn't connect with her at all and found her more reactive to the storyline rather than a proactive main character.

I also didn’t find that this book did anything new that I’ve not read before. I’d say this would be great for a younger audience as the writing style and characters read younger, but unfortunately for me it just didn’t excite me or draw me in. I also found that the romance seemed very insta-lovey. I know the two character knew each other for a few weeks but we didn’t really see their attraction develop at all because we skipped time quite often.

Overall I think a younger audience would definitely enjoy this and have a great time reading it, but unfortunately I’m just not the target audience here.

Of Wolves and Stags is an exciting, magical adventure with the right amount of complexity and world building. Chapter 1 had my curiosity peaked. By Chapter 2, my heart was pounding. By the end, my reading speed picked up so much so I could devour all the twists and reveals. The characters are diverse, realistic, and complete. Their backstories truly shape who they are. I love the ending and am so excited for a potential sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inked In Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I probably should have DNF'ed because reading this started me off on a huge reading slump. I didn't enjoy this book. It started off as a promising foray into a world where the magic system seemed intriguing, but around the 42% mark quickly became uninteresting, the writing overly precious and the characters unbearable. None of the characters are intriguing or have arcs that make them worth continuing on for, the tropes are cliched and uninteresting. I would have liked to actually enjoy this book but the FMC doesn't seem to have a critical thought in her head and there is very little about her that can be forgiven.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley but my thoughts and feelings are my own.

Rating 3.5 star rounded up to 4

Plot: Dalia Arrowood is a crystalline, a human that has received special abilities due to abuse from the elves that serve as the villains in this story.

What I loved:

I loved the LGBTQIA+ representation and what in this world would be the equivalence of an interracial relationship (non-binary elf and human).

I loved how realistic Dalia is as a main character. Unlike many of her counterparts in fantasy novels, she struggles and has to learn to defended herself. She doesn’t suddenly become so good she can take down entire armies overnight. The support she gets from Beth is unmatched because Beth believes in her and works her through her physical and mental struggles with learning to fight.

Lastly, I loved the magic system. The crystalline reminded me in some ways of a fantasy version of the X-Men in that people were experimented on and tested to their limits through torture and abuse to activate a power they had. The main difference here is that it is an entirely different race subjecting humans to the testing.

Things that could be improved:

Though the plot was interesting for the most part, there were some times where it was really hard for me to get through some chapters. The pacing dropped off quite drastically once Dalia makes her way with Glenn to their camp and it felt like a lot trudging through it.

Dalia, though interesting overall, had some glaring character flaws. I liked that she had them in general because it made her more interesting but there were times where I was like “girl come on.” She just blindly believed people too often, at times felt very self-deprecating (to the point of annoyance), and just allowed people to lie to her. She never questioned anything and just went along with what she was told though there was some glaringly obvious half-truths being told to her for over half the book.

The fact that she very clearly just wanted to believe a person she was interested in and never thought to question his motives or thoughts made it real suspicious. Plus when another of his group referred to a human being as an asset and she didn’t clock he was the same way bothered me. She did demand respect, which I loved especially in that moment but she should have also demanded the truth. Unfortunately this came quite a bit later.

Overall the book was an entertaining read and I would pick up the next one if there is one.

This book was highly enjoyable and the premise was fairly unique. I recognize I am not the target audience but I feel like this is a fantastic book for younger readers (teen) who want to get into fantasy. The story could have been beefed up for older audiences, but it's absolutely perfect for new fantasy readers.

I loved this book. The bond between sisters was so fierce yet that pull between self preservation and humanity got me. The character driven plot points were phenomenal. Seeing Dalias growth and character arc flourish was such a highlight for me.

The only thing I didn’t like this about this book, was that it ended! Because if there’s not another one…I swear to god…I need more of Drystan and how he got where he is. I need Glenn to take a long walk off a shirt cliff. I need to know what Fionn and Beth are going to do now. This is the perfect read to get you out of that slump!

Holy Wow!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

It took me a little to get into it, but once I was sucked in - wow!

That twist I did not see coming!

Please tell me there will be more!!

I just finished the ARC of this book. It started a little slow at first but I had to manage my expectations a bit and remember it is meant to be a YA novel.

However, when the plot picked up it developed fairly well. There was an interesting world-building and I am definitely intrigued. I want to read more about Dalia and this world. I liked the reminder that things are not always as they seem.

Tween me would have loved this book. I appreciated the LGBT representation - it seemed natural rather than forced. I wish there had been more descriptions of some characters because I had trouble picturing them.

This book was incredible. It kept me hooked and I loved the character development with all the twists. Even simple things I found so touching, such as valuing promises. This book can make you really think about whether you should settle and believe what people tell you, while it still manages to be fun and exciting. I would love to see more by this author as I already miss this world and the characters. Best debut novel I've ever read

Thank you, Netgalley, for this arc!
Always read the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.

First of all, this story is so beautifully written. It's so descriptive and easy to read. Every word was so magical that I instantly got pulled in the book.

It's also the first time I read a book with a plus-size heroine. And gosh, I really adore Dalia. She is such a sweetheart. She is soft and has this unique healing magic. She encounters so many dangers and cruel people on her quest, but she still stays that kind-hearted person. Bless her!

There were so many twists and turns in this book, which made me sometimes confused (and dizzy). But there was one twist that I saw coming. It was still an epic moment!

I truly enjoyed the ending of this book. It was beautiful! I think (and hope) there will be a sequel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this book!!

This was a very easy, fast paced read that had me hooked right from the start.

The FMC, Dalia, was a total breath of fresh air! I loved that the author showed you can be a strong woman, whilst also being gentle and kind and empathetic. It made her very relatable.

I loved that the book focused more on family and friendship than your typical romance, even though there were a few romantic elements.

The plot twists were great, and I really enjoyed learning more about each and every character.

I found the ending very satisfying, and I am crossing my fingers for a sequel!! Can’t wait to read more from the author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Inked in Gray Press for providing me with an ARC for this book.

*Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*

I could feel a reading slump coming on when I started this book, so that is probably one reason I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I was going to. And with that in mind, ignore my review if you enjoyed the book, and if you are on the fence about reading it…well, read some good reviews as well as mine to give you a better picture.

Overall, I did not love this book, it was very meh. Like I didn’t dislike it and I did finish it, it just took me ages to finish. It was extremely slow, like the beginning felt like an eternity, and even after it picked up speed towards the end, I still felt like it was pretty dull. I had some major issues the with characters, I felt like none of them were fleshed out, the FMC was sooo boring, and I didn’t really care about any of the side characters, at least no more than vague curiosity. The plot was interesting but not enough to carry the whole book. The ending was way too quick, for a book that was as slow as this one, I have no idea how the author managed to make the ending go by so fast. The revelations were kinda cool, but by that point, all I wanted was for it to end. Honestly, if I hadn’t already read a third of the book before deciding it wasn’t going to get better, I would have dnf’d it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inked in Gray Press for this ARC.

There were many good elements to this book, but ultimately the writing and the ending ruined it for me. The writing was too much tell and not enough show. It felt like they wanted all of these themes to be included and jammed them all together to make them fit, but nothing flowed. The ending had the most abrupt resolution while certain plot lines were just left absolutely dangling.

The concept was good, it just needed a better execution.

Dalia was the heroine I would have loved to read about and see myself in when I was a young teen. She was kind, empathetic, soft yet strong and (of course!) had magical powers (who could ask for more!?!). I definitely had to manage my expectations of the book as it is for a YA audience. But despite reading this as an adult, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and adventure Dalia went on.
I did have some nitpicky issues along the way... some spelling/grammar and occasionally the continuity of the events in certain parts that made me have to reread to understand what happened. But nothing major enough to detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.
I would definitely recommend this to younger readers!

Thank you NetGalley and Inked in Gray Press for allowing me to read and review an eARC of this book.

I absolutely loved this book from start to end and no notes! Dalia Arrowood is young woman who has magic that was forced upon her through a brutal process which made her a Crystalline. She escaped the torment when she was 7 years old and has been keeping a promise to her sister to remain hidden and keep her talents to herself for 10 years. That is, until she finds a man washed up on the shores near her village and she feels compelled to use her abilities to save him. This sets her on a path far from the safety of her hidden existence, for better or worse. Dalia joins the White Stags, a resistance group established to fight back against the oppressive elves, the ones responsible for making her a Crystalline. But of course, a shadowing figure from her past is hot on their trail as she joins the resistance group to fight for freedom and to keep the elves from finding the last cache of crystals needed to create more Crystalline, the living weapons the elves cherish so much.

Dalia is an amazing main character and I loved learning about the world she found herself in and the friends (and foes) she met along the way through her eyes. Ria did an amazing job of creating a unique fantasy world - of course it's going to share similarities with other fantasy worlds, but I personally have not read anything with a magic system like hers! I love that the magic in this world is based on crystals that were then used to create magical beings, but I hate the process that the elves went through to create humans with magical abilities! Dalia is a strong, plus size female main character. She spends her entire journey with people viewing her as a monster, a tool, and a weapon - but we can see from the first moment we really get a glimpse into her true nature that she's none of those things and is so much more than almost everyone sees her as. It's a truly emotional journey and I loved every second of it! They way Dalia comes into her own and accepts who she is and how she got there, along with those who have both helped and hindered her along the way is truly amazing. She is such a well thought out and rounded character.

This was a fairly fast paced story - I never felt like things drug on too long or that things were skipped over or sped past, it was truly perfect pacing for this book and this story. I do not want to spoil any of this book, but it's so hard to talk about without going into spoilers so I will just leave with saying - every single character we meet is interesting and as you learn more and more about what is going on in the story and what happened in the past the more I appreciate how well thought out this story was. Truly an amazing debut novel and if you enjoy romantasy books at all then this is one you need to check out! And I definitely would devour any continuation of this adventure and this world that Ria has built!

Of Wolves and Stags is a compelling read for fans of dark fantasy with a focus on character-driven storytelling. While the pacing may be slower for some, the intricate world-building, strong characters, and exploration of complex themes make it a rewarding experience for those who enjoy a deeper, more immersive fantasy novel

OF WOLVES AND STAGS is a heartfelt fantasy of belonging and self-discovery. Hunted for the magic in her heart, Dalia has hidden herself away in a quiet seaside town. There she waits for her sister who sacrificed herself so Dalia could escape torture. Without any guarantee her sister survived, she waits. And waits. And becomes accostomed to the mask she wears to hide amongst humans. But a chance encounter brings the threat of discovery and capture to her dooorstep and must chose between safety and joining the fight against her oppressors.

Ria Parisi has built a fascinating world of heart and intrique. A war between elves and humans with Crystalline (magic using humans) caught in the middle. The horror of discovering the magic is imbued into them by torturous elven experimentation. The swelling hope that humans are banding together in a fight for freedom. The twisting doubt when allies and foes hold more secrets than they share truths. Dalia, a healer and empathetic soul, gives the story it's emotionality. There is no guile in how she makes attachments and forms loyalties. She's got the heart of Samwise Gamgee - there's some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for.

I'm hooked for a sequel as I have many questions after such an epic ending. I had a few theories while reading - some right and many wrong - and can't wait for the surprises Ria has in store for Dalia in the next book.

Thank you Netgalley & Inked In Gray Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I requested this book based on it’s premise. I’ve been in a fantasy mood lately, and I thought the blurb on netgalley sounded so interesting! Unfortunately I didn’t end up loving this book as much as I had hoped.

What I liked about this book was the representation. There were non-binary characters, a plus-sized heroine and representation of queer relationships. None of this felt like tokenism and it fit nicely within the story. Fionn especially was such an interesting character and I would have loved to see more of them!

Unfortunately I didn’t connect with the story or our main character that much. The writing style and premise show a lot of potential, but the story feels repetitive and almost like it’s just hitting of the checks of plot points you need in a YA-fantasy. I do feel like this will find it’s audience, that audience just wasn’t me.

One other small problem I had, as someone who rides horses, I am BEGGING authors to stop putting multiple people on horses. I get that it’s the fantasy equivalent to putting two people on a bike or motorcycle and then they have to snuggle up and it’s all romantic, but there is absolutely no way a plus-sized woman and a warrior-man can fit on one horse. Having that much weight that far back might be damaging for the horses kidneys, not to mention that horses should only carry up to 20% of their own bodyweight. I get that this is a nitpickey complaint and I didn’t deduct any stars for it, but it is something that bugged me.

This is a debut novel, so I’m excited to see what this author comes up with next. I believe she has a lot of potential, and I will definitely check out her next work.

Thank you to Netgalley and Inked in Gray Press for providing me with an ARC for this book.