I received an advance listener copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I completed loved this audiobook and was obsessed with it. I did not want to stop or for it to be over.
For the audiobook portion I loved the variety of voices for the main characters and the side characters it really brought the whole book to life.
I absolutely loved the world built and the characters. Talon is a nonbinary cursed werewolf, Scythe is the last witch of the woods. They both have had a rough life and ended up only having a sister they cared about. There’s a lot of tension between Scythe and Talon as they dislike each other but are equally secretly obsessed with one another after their meeting in Of Melodies and Maledictions. It is a slow burn for them to admit their feeling but definitely not slow on the spice.
There is such a good story. Talon found their sisters missing and went back to the woods to find Scythe to assist finding them. I love the dynamic that Scythe hardly leaves her woods, and when she does is to only the nearby towns and for very little time, so when she leaves with Talon to save their sisters she is experiencing the world as the story progresses along with the reader. We slowly see them both start to care for one another, but don't admit it. While it is always frustrating (at least to me) when characters don't want to admit how they feel it is totally worth it when they do. 😍🥰
Near the end of the book there is like a full chapter (possible longer) that had me bawling. I was not prepared for all the emotions.😭😭
I did not want to stop listening to it and every time I had to pause to be responsible I was very upset. I am curious if we will get other Standalones in this same world, I would love to see a few of the side characters get their own book. Overall I absolutely loved and enjoyed this book!