The Wren in the Holly Library (Deluxe Limited Edition): An Enemies-to-Lovers Romantasy in a Post-Monster-War New York City (Oak & Holly Cycle, 1)

I loved this book. Fantasy, dystopian setting, interesting magic, magical creatures, and a magical theif doing a heist. What's not to love? And in addition you get enemies-to-lovers, yearning and lots of lovable side characters. I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It keeps a fast pace and has lots of amazing action and fun heist scenes.

Monsters have come out of hiding, and the world is ever altered. When a desperate thief takes a job to steal a diamond from the library of one of NYC's wealthiest, she gets more than she bargains for. Turns out, the owner of said diamond is actually an ancient and powerful "monster." Instead of taking his vengeance on her, he makes a counter-offer that's too good to refuse. This was an interesting collaboration of a dystopian world with magic, monsters and elements of celtic folklore. Our heroine has had a rough life as an orphan, struggling to survive, along with her two best friends. The writing had a few issues from plot holes, unbelievable situations of seemingly miraculous recovery post-injury, and weakly written side characters. Likeable, sure - but felt more of an afterthought to the main story. Graves promises training as a bargaining chip to ensure her safety, but he deals in riddles, deception and an air of distrust - making it hard to truly LIKE him...nevertheless, While the beginning of the story was extremely entertaining, I began to get frustrated in the second half of the book. While there was diversity in monsters, we didn't really get much more than species-name-dropping with the exception of Vampires, Werewolves and a couple magic user types. I really would've loved more intensity in the danger, instead it fell flat. I was dismayed that any complications that our characters faced were too easily resolved, and the use of "Interludes" throughout the book felt a bit jarring from the story at hand, rather than to simply have multiple POV's written into the main story to fill in all the gaps I was eager for. Furthermore, the true significance of "the wren" in symbol and name isn't clearly explained, other than that there's an ancient history that references the title. I DID appreciate that this wasn't a Romantasy of just 🌶️S🌶️M🌶️U🌶️T🌶️ but that it actually had a story to it. That being said, there could've been a bit more built up & depth (no pun intended) to the relationship between MFC & MMC. By the end of the story, we end up with a LOT of unanswered questions....which our main heroine sets off to seek answers for - away from the manipulations of the quasi-love interest, the semi-triangle love interest(???), and different paths for characters who were set up to be more important to the MFC. The finale of a mysterious phone call to Graves by an unknown entity that teases readers to set up for the next book was a lazy way to rev up the next book. (Which of course, I had already pre-ordered when I bought this copy - so, because I'm not a quitter, I'll be reading it too.) I am a bit confused by the number of poor reviews I've perused. While the story did utilize familiar tropes, had a few plot holes, and ultimately could've been much longer with more details added - it felt more like a set up for the next book (another common thing in the Romantasy genre where the 1st book isn't as good as the next one(s) in the series. Was it THE BEST book I've ever read? Certainly not, but I'm happy with my purchase and will be glad to have this story (and the next) remain in my personal library.

This is a very good read. Wren is a thief in the Post_Monster_ War world. She is caught by a monster, Graves, when she tries to steal a jewel from his house. He tells her that he wants to make a deal with her so that she steals something for him. There is an interesting dynamic as they try to work together while each hiding things from the other. This will grab you at the start and not let you go. T It is a truly fascinating tale.

“The Wren in the Holly Library” has such a solid premise concerning the modern world after a war between men and monsters, where now both sides are learning to live together in the streets of New York City. There is a lot of lore about the monsters, a lot of interesting ideas about what these monsters do in the modern human world. The laws of magic were also super fascinating and inspiring! The main female lead had a really good start with her survival instincts and wits that have kept her alive in this dangerous place. The main male character was well-written and interesting, especially as he grew. I loved the touch of “Beauty and the Beast” that entered the story at one point; it made sense for the two main characters. The spice wasn’t over the top and I actually really enjoyed it. The sexual tension was well-done; it had me wanting more with these characters. But that’s where my praises kind of die. I really, really loved the beginning of the book and the plot it laid out for the readers. I was intrigued by the world and the characters. But I feel the story and its elements became too convoluted and tangled towards the end. Characters appear and then never show up again. There were basically two climaxes and both were anticlimactic. (SPOILERS) The big heist that was the WHOLE plot device that motivated the main characters fell completely flat. There was so much buildup only for the confrontation with the big bad mafia boss in the underworld to last a few pages. The focus suddenly shifts to the FMC and her newly discovered powers. The story really crumbled at that point for me. I was so involved, so ready for this big operation, and I was left so disappointed. Then everything felt a bit rushed and forced at the end, to the point I was rolling my eyes and wondering how the author was going to wrap it all up. I really wanted to love this book. The beginning had me hooked and I craved more. But the ending upended everything for me, personally. Overall, an interesting premise, intriguing characters, and a fascinating world. Just wish it had stayed focused all the way through!

The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde was a fun surprise. While it includes familiar supernatural elements like vampires and werewolves, the creatures in this world feel like something entirely new—more mythical than monstrous, which gave the story a fresh and intriguing vibe. It held my interest from start to finish. It wasn’t one of those Roman Empire-level obsessions where I couldn’t think about anything else, but I genuinely enjoyed it and always looked forward to picking it back up. There’s a touch of spice—just enough to match the moment without being overdone or distracting. It felt natural to the story and added depth to the characters’ connection. The book does include some content warnings, particularly around abuse. These are mentioned briefly and not explored in graphic detail, but it’s good to be aware going in. It doesn’t end on a dramatic cliffhanger, but you’re left with a clear sense of where the next book is heading. I’m not rushing to dive into book two, but I could absolutely see myself continuing the series when I’m in the mood for more magic, mystery, and slow-burning tension.

*Book Review - Spoilers Ahead* Summary: Set in a dystopian New York City where monsters emerged from the shadows 13 years ago, the main character Kierse survives the new world post Monster Treaty as a skilled thief. A simple job to steal a ring from the Holly Library, not knowing it’s the home of a monster, turns in to much more. What I liked: I really liked that the author gave us a strong, female lead who didn’t come across as “needing” a male to rescue or save her. Kierse is truly written as capable and skilled, which I really appreciate. I also really like the unique dystopian world of monsters the author has created as it’s a new spin on vampires, warlocks, witches, etc. I also really liked that even though the book is primarily written from Kierse’s perspective, we got brief sections written from the perspective of other characters (sections called “interludes”). What I didn’t like: That I don’t have the second book yet! 😂 Okay but seriously, I feel like the male lead Graves needed a little more depth or character development but I think we will probably get that in book two. I just wanted to know MORE about him so I could get a better feel for his character. That was truly my only complaint. Summary: I really enjoyed this book and I’m just dying for the second book. I love the characters and the world the author has built and the potential for a series from these characters/this world is truly endless.

I really enjoyed this one! I was a bit disappointed at the end, but it’s not the end of the story, so things could get better or worse. Either way I’m interested in reading the next book. The world was very cool. Monsters were revealed to the world, there was a monster war and the world was never the same. So as much as this really is a Fantasy, it had elements of a dystopian world. I loved the characters. Especially the two main characters, Graves & Kierse. The relationship between the two was tenuous in the beginning, but throughout the story things changed. Two broken people becoming whole when together. The romance developed gradually and there became trust. I need more of these two together! I really Ethan and Gen. But I will admit to feeling very irritated at Ethan at the end. Maybe it is just me. We shall see what happens in the next book. If you enjoy Romantasy, friends/found family and lots of action, you will enjoy this book!

4.5 ✨ In a world where monsters have free rein over NYC, Kierse, a skilled thief, breaks into the Holly Library and comes face to face with Graves, a supernatural that presents her with the opportunity to enter into a life altering bargain. The Wren in the Holly Library is an urban fantasy fiction story with monsters, a unique magic system, queer rep, and a focus on Celtic mythology. The authors dystopian portrayal of New York City was by far my favorite aspect - monsters have taken up residence and established gangs throughout the different NYC boroughs which gave this story a unique appeal. Kierse’s character was sharp, with a fierce loyalty to her friends, and moments of vulnerability I felt personally connected to. Her dynamic with Graves, the MMC, was enjoyable to read and I loved the mystery surrounding Graves early on into this story. The author gave me just enough to keep me going and I found myself up until 1AM reading on more than one occasion. The book was moderately paced until about the last 100 pages where there is a significant amount of action, reveals, and emotional impact. While I did enjoy the story overall, I found myself wishing I knew more about the magic, the lore, and the monsters. Given that it is a series, I do expect to see the author give us more background and build on the unique world she created in the next installment.

Libro arrivato danneggiato. Copertina esterna strappata e spigolo danneggiato da urto

Had some issues with the page numbers reading the sample so that gave me some anxiety but I said screw it and bought the book and I’m so glad! It was a great story, very well written! And finally a female character that doesn’t give up on her own hopes and dreams for some dreamy man!!

Es una edición preciosa. Ha llegado en perfecto estado. Deseando leerlo.