Whisper Wells by Ali Woods
Whisper Wells is the first in an upcoming series called "Legends of the Whisper Woods" by Ali Woods. It's a romantasy debut novel set in a world that feels contemporary (cars and cellphones exist) but beings of all kinds (witches, vampires, dragons, centaurs...) are real. Some magical beings have integrated into human society, but many live secluded within a vast woodland known as Whisper Woods. The two main characters are Caelan and Tor. Caelan is part-Shifter (but mostly human) and lives in a homestead on the edge of Whisper Wells, a small town that borders Whisper Woods. Tor is Fae and lives in the large city of Loqueaur. Caelan and Tor meet on a dating app and develop a meaningful friendship until a disappearance brings the two together on a journey into Whisper Woods.
The story is light and reminds me a little of the cozy fantasy books I've read. There is that mystery but nothing is too dark and the stakes are low overall. The spice level, however, is high! Caelan and Tor are smitten with each other from the beginning and the story mostly focuses on their developing relationship as they adventure through the various perils of Whisper Woods.
The story is also filled with a host of really great characters. Tor and Caelean are, of course, fantastic, but they also encounter a lot of other fun characters during their journey. Towards the end of the book, there is even some potential setup of Book Two with two of the supporting characters!
Whisper Wells is perfect for any m/m romance fans who are looking for a lighter, fluffier story with a quest-style plot and great characters. The book is enjoyable, smutty, and funny. The main relationship is charming and has a lot of depth and emotion along with the spice. The ending is satisfying and the setup for future books left me excited to read all upcoming additions to the series. I'm especially hoping for a future book about Seff!
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tropes/Tags: Achillean, queer, romance, romantasy, spicy, Fae, Werewolves/Shifters, Fated Mates, jealousy, protectiveness, found family
If you liked this I think you will like Whisper Wells: I think fans of Lily Mayne's "Monstrous" series will enjoy this. It reminded me a little of Soul Eater but with a cozy fantasy background instead of a sci-fi dystopia background.
Whisper Wells will be available on Kindle Unlimited on April 3, 2024 and is currently available for pre-order!
This book was made available to me in advance thanks to BookSirens! I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for this review. The above are my honest feelings on the provided book.
