Queen B’s Decree: I love a gargoyle romance. I squealed when I found out I was getting this one, about a modern human woman who accidentally wakes up a long-sleeping gargoyle—FATED MATES!
Anna is pretty hesitant at first, and who can blame her? A gargoyle woke up and tells me we are soulmates. So I can empathize with her, to a point. But she is a little too selfish and self-serving for me. Are you seriously going to tell me you’re totally fine with just letting some gargoyle stay hostage in your small apartment and never think about him needing some space or fresh air? My midwesternness could never, talk about a terrible host.
And Frey is this protective sweetheart, but I felt—like Anna does, honestly—that much of his feelings were of the magical “fated mate soul bond making me love you” kind of feelings. He’s only awake when she’s asleep basically, so there wasn’t enough bonding or relationship development for me to trust it.
I think, truly, that this book suffered from the First Book in a Series dilemma (trademark pending), as there was so much back story to learn, and there wasn’t enough romance to overcome the pacing. I’m still interested in book two though, so I’ll be keeping my eyes out.
Book: Heartsong by SE Wendel
Series: War of the Underhill #1
Genre: Fantasy
Plot Devices/Tropes: fated mates, forced proximity