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.

Dalia is an orphan who waiting for her sister to find her, as she promised. But when she gets a chance to use her special powers as a Crystalline to save an innocent man, she uses them despite the danger to herself.

This book started off a little slow for me but as I read on, it was difficult to put down. I felt like Dalia was very trusting of everyone she met which was a little annoying. It felt like there will be a sequel as there were a couple loose ends at the end as well.

Thank you NetGalley and Inked in Gray Press for the ARC copy of “Of Wolves and Stags” by Ria Parisi. I really enjoyed this book! It is a super fast read, YA Fantasy is always a hit or miss but this one was written very well. I am curious to see where this series goes and if Dalia will continue to explore her current love interest or will switch it up and turn into a long lost friend to lovers situation. 🤔 I will definitely be looking forward to reading more books from this author!

Ria Parisi did something amazing here! Such rich storytelling, I could barely put it down! I loved the characters and the journey, and can’t wait to see what they do next!

This book had some real potential but never really grabbed my full attention. I liked some of the characters more than others, like Fionn and bethana, but the MC and the various guys around her didn't really interest me as much.
I found about halfway through I started power reading, just to get to the end, because I wanted to know what happened, but I was getting a bit fed up reading a lot of fighting scenes and some of the predictable romance stuff.
Overall it wasn't the best book, but if you're into fighting, magic and a bit of romance, there's no harm in giving it a go.

"Of Wolves and Stags" by Ria Parisi is a captivating fantasy novel that weaves together themes of identity, freedom, and resilience. The story follows Dalia Arrowood, a Crystalline—a living weapon born from cruel elven experiments—who has spent a decade concealing her powers to honor a promise to her sister. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she rescues a human resistance fighter, propelling her into a quest alongside a diverse group aiming to secure humanity's last hope: a hidden cache of magical crystals.

Parisi's world-building is both intricate and immersive, painting a vivid picture of a realm where magic and conflict intertwine. The characters are richly developed, each bringing unique perspectives and depth to the narrative. Dalia's journey from isolation to empowerment is particularly compelling, offering readers a protagonist whose struggles and growth resonate on multiple levels.

The novel masterfully balances action-packed sequences with introspective moments, allowing readers to fully engage with the stakes of the resistance's mission and the personal battles each character faces. Themes of trust, sacrifice, and the search for belonging are explored thoughtfully, adding layers of meaning to the adventurous plot.

"Of Wolves and Stags" is a testament to Parisi's storytelling prowess, delivering a tale that is both thrilling and emotionally resonant. Fantasy enthusiasts will find themselves engrossed in this richly crafted world and eagerly anticipating what lies beyond.

I wanted to love this book. I soooo badly wanted to love it but I just couldn’t.
A story of a naive girl who trusts people far too easily and because of it ends up being manipulated 80% of the book.
Forced romantic feelings where there was zero chemistry which soon jumps to another person almost immediately despite having not seen the other person since they were 7.
I felt there was such little growth for Dalia in the story and because of it, following her dialog and inner thoughts was frustrating. I feel like she ended the story being the same type of person she was at the start.
Their storyline held potential and the writing itself is good, just the development wasn’t there. It didn’t feel well plot out or thought through.
If there’s a sequel, it’s probably not something I’d bother to pick up.
The really only positive I loved was the representation. A nonbinary character made my heart swell. The main character is plus size though I feel it was only stated once and then quickly forgotten about.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ria Parisi & Inked in Gray Press for the oppurtunity to review this ARC!


Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: March 25th, 2025


If you love:

Enemies to lovers vibes
Chosen one
Found family

then, Of Wolves and Stags might just be the perfect read for you!

Synopsis:

Dalia Arrowood is a Crystalline. A living weapon created by brutal elven experiments. For ten years now, she has kept a promise to her sister: to stay hidden and to never use her powers, in order to stay safe. But safety has a way of feeling like a cage, and when she finds a human resistance fighter dying on the shores of her village, she makes the choice to break her promise. This choice not only exposes her to the world but allows her to join his ragtag group in their fight to find the only hope the humans have of winning their freedom—the last cache of magical crystals. The race to this goal will not be easy, as a shadowy figure from Dalia’s past hunts them and she must learn to navigate a world set to see her as either one of two things: a weapon to be used or a monster to be feared.

Review:

Of Wolves and Stags is the kind of book I would have truly adored as a young teenager. It's everything I would've eaten up and asked for in a fantasy/romantasy read. It's fast-paced, full of action, and with twists that feel fully emotionally wrought and resonant, I found this book quite enjoyable and I absolutely adored Dalia. I truly wish I has a Dalia character when I was growing up. She's strong, genuine and so sweet.

I would say, without a doubt, that this book is best enjoyed by younger YA readers. Parisi does an amazing job with world building, pacing and has an undeniable gift for blending magic, romance, and heart-pounding adventure. This book could be a standalone, but I hope there's more to Dalia and friends in the future! Rai Parisi - incredible job!

This book was a fun read but had this underlying darkness about it, as if a storm was brewing in the distance. What I enjoyed most about this story was Dalia’s journey of self discovery. In the beginning she comes off as mysterious and unsure of herself. She meets Glenn (we don’t like Glenn for many reasons) and then they set off on their own adventure. When she reaches camp she begins to form friendships with the most unlikely of people. Here you see her personality begin to peak through. She is strong willed, funny and most of all optimistic despite the circumstances, this is apparent with her feelings towards Glenn. In the end she takes her life back into her own hands and finds her way “home.”

Genre: Fantasy
Tropes:
- Found Family
- Enemies to Lovers
- Self discovery/ Reclaiming her life
- Morally grey
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ (closed door & kissing)

Thank you NetGalley and Ria for this opportunity to review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a quick easy read, with a small band of main characters and a simple main plot line. It is definitely a young adult read, with crush level sweet romance and fairytale vibes - hero triumphs in the end after a struggle to achieve their goal, all while teaching morals about forgiveness and understanding. There are a few loose ends that don't get answered in the end, and when she re-unites with her sister she doesn't ask many questions, after "learning" that lesson earlier. While I would have put it down to three stars for an adult book with these missing pieces at the end, for a young adult read - the main plot was completed, so I've left this review at 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Of Wolves and Stags is an easy, gentle, YA fantasy. It’s fast paced, and easy to understand and be immersed in.

Things I loved;
🌟 a soft FMC in a bigger body, whose kindness and gentleness is at the heart of who she is and every decision she makes. It’s a breath of fresh air to have an FMC who doesn’t become hardened but keeps her soft heart.
🌟 diverse representation in a wide cast of characters. POC, LGBTQIA, body diversity. It’s a great range of characters.

Things I liked less;
📖 lack of subtlety in the writing style - everything is on the page, we as readers aren’t left to interpret anything ourselves as it’s all just on the page.
📖 the plot twists, while fun, were fairly obvious and it was easy to see them coming
📖 info dumping background information to speed up a plot jump. It would be great if lots of the background and back stories could be fed to us throughout the book whereas it felt like there were just a few chapters that dropped a heap of background.
📖 not much info on the withering, or the gods they refer to lots, or the magic system itself.

Overall, it reads as a very young adult book, but I think it will be really enjoyed by fans of Powerless, The Halfling Saga, and Fourth Wing.

And I’m grateful to have had the chance to read and review before publishing!

4.5/5 Stars

I want to thank Netgally and Inked in Grey Press for the ARC copy.

I've been following Ria for years on Instgram through the Star Wars community and I got to see her work on this book through posts, I was super excited for it and as a debut it's wonderful! The story flows and can serve as a standalone but I do hope there is more in this universe.

Dalia is our FMC and in this world magic is something that is used as a weapon so slightly different from most YA fantasy, she find Glenn washed up and has to use her magic to save him thus setting off change of events.

Glenn serves as the somewhat primary romance but the romance isn't what fuels the story, the trying to stop the evil Elves is.

Ria includes some LGBTQ+ characters, a non binary elf that is in a relationship with a woman, even Dalia falls under the ACE spectrum (demisexual) due to her having no interest in getting into relationships but forming a connection with Glenn over time. Dalia is also plus sized. I feel any other author or in other fantasy stories when they try to involve LGBTQ+ characters makes it feel too modern or forced but this book really integrates that stuff really well that it feels like these things are an everyday ok thing in this world.

I would have loved to give this book 5 stars but unfortunately it does fall into stereotypes. I go more into this in my GoodReads review as it does involve spoilers.

Overall this book was a great read, I finished it in maybe 3 hours, I trucked through it and finished it around 12:30am because I needed to see how it finished. I would definitely recommend this to others and I do hope we see more of this world or of Ria as an author.

4.25 / 5 ⭐
Spice Level: ❤️

Of Wolves and Stags follows the journey of Dalia as she tries to find her sister while hiding her true nature. This debut novel from author Ria Parisi was highly engaging and kept me reading.

Like any good romantasy book, we have a morally grey main love interest. For most of the book I went back and forth on my feelings about him. While I wasn't always sure about the love interests, I adored Dalia immediately. She's witty and truly comes into her own and she strengthens herself and becomes more confident.

"I was looking for you. For So Long."

The pacing was fast without rushing and while some of the twists I was able to predict, there were a few that caught me off guard. The side characters were really likable and I hope to see more of them in the future.

I really enjoyed this novel and can't wait to jump back into the world of Wolves and Stags.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it.

I didn’t love this book, the plot line was alright just nothing special. I didn’t really feel connected to any of the characters or the story. It just kind of fell flat.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

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......