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.