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Heartsong by S.E. Wendel



A Heartfelt Monster Romance with Deep Emotion, Slow-Burn Longing, and Welsh Magic

This was my first book by S.E. Wendel, and after hearing such great things about her monster romances, I was so excited to dive inand Heartsong absolutely delivered on the monster front!

Frey, a gargoyle (technically a grotesque) brought to life, is exactly my kind of monstrous MMC, possessive, a little stubborn, a bit clueless, but incredibly sincere and eager to please. His dedication to winning over his mate, Anna, was genuinely heartwarming. His POV made the book shine; seeing just how hard he was trying, even when Anna kept pushing him away, had me completely in my feelings.

Anna, on the other hand, brought a heavy dose of angst I wasn’t entirely expecting. Their relationship is very much a slow and emotionally rocky journey, one step forward, two steps back. At times, I did find myself frustrated with her reluctance, but I also appreciated how deeply layered her character was. The depiction of her chronic migraines was raw and unflinching, adding depth and realism to her struggles. Her backstory made her guarded nature feel authentic, and her strength in making the best of tough circumstances made her easy to root for, even when I wanted to shake her a little.

When Anna finally comes around? Absolutely worth the wait. That moment of emotional payoff felt so satisfying, especially knowing how much Frey had endured to get there. And seeing him happy? It was everything.

The Welsh-inspired magic, the gargoyle lore, and the hints at a bigger world and future stories are incredibly intriguing. I love that Frey’s clan is still out there, trapped in stone, and that this book is just the beginning. The set-up for future installments already has me impatient for more, and I’ll definitely be continuing the series, and checking out Wendel’s Monstrous World series, too!

If you love monster romances, fated mates, slow-burn tension, and mythology blended with modern settings, this is one to pick up. Just be prepared for a bit of repetition, Anna’s hesitations do linger, and the middle of the book slows down with quite a few “we’re not ready for this” scenes. That said, the emotional payoff and unique world make the journey well worth it.

Tropes: Monster Romance, Fated Mates, He Falls First, Rejected Mate, Slow Burn
Bonus Points: Chronic illness rep, heartfelt POVs, and the real scene-stealer, Captain (no notes, 10/10, the best character, end of discussion).


 


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