Kaylee Archer’s debut novel Witch of the Wolves arrives as a bold entry into the crowded Victorian romantasy landscape, delivering a story that blends supernatural intrigue with genuine emotional stakes. Set against the backdrop of gaslit London and sprawling Gothic estates, this first installment introduces readers to Cordelia Levine, a witch whose carefully constructed life unravels when she discovers she’s not just magical—she’s also the daughter of a werewolf Alpha.
The premise crackles with possibility. Cordelia has spent years working at her aunt Lenora’s apothecary, secretly serving London’s supernatural underground while honing her considerable magical abilities. She’s sharp-tongued, fiercely independent, and entirely unprepared when Bishop Daniels appears at her door. The werewolf’s mission seems straightforward at first: retrieve the Alpha’s daughter and bring her to the Pack estate of Trevelyan. What unfolds instead is a tangled web of political machinations, dark family secrets, and an attraction neither protagonist wants but can’t quite resist.
Victorian Setting With Supernatural Teeth
Archer demonstrates particular skill in world-building, crafting a Victorian England where witches, werewolves, half-demons, and necromancers exist in careful balance with unsuspecting human society. The Levine witches operate their business as a front, the supernatural community conducts its affairs in shadows, and Pack politics mirror the complexities of aristocratic power struggles. The author’s attention to period detail shines through in descriptions of clothing, social customs, and the constraints placed upon women—both human and supernatural.
The Pack estate of Trevelyan emerges as almost a character itself, a sprawling Gothic fortress that perfectly captures the novel’s atmosphere of danger wrapped in allure. Stone corridors echo with secrets, windowless rooms confine rebellious wolves during their transformations, and the rigid hierarchy of Pack life creates tension at every turn. Archer understands that setting isn’t merely backdrop but an active force shaping character choices and plot development.
However, the world-building occasionally stumbles under its own ambition. The introduction of multiple supernatural factions—witch cabals, sorcerer societies, werewolf Packs—sometimes feels rushed. Readers are asked to absorb considerable lore about magical systems, Pack dynamics, and family histories without always receiving adequate context. The revelation of Cordelia’s grandmother Beryl and the Levine Cabal arrives late in the narrative, feeling somewhat underdeveloped given its significance to the plot.
A Heroine Worth Rooting For
Cordelia Levine stands as the novel’s greatest strength. She’s intelligent without being insufferable, capable without being invincible, and her internal conflicts feel genuinely earned. When she discovers her father is the Alpha Silas Stockwell—a werewolf who views her primarily as breeding stock to produce powerful heirs—her anger and confusion ring authentic. Cordelia doesn’t immediately accept her new reality, nor does she crumble beneath it. Instead, she strategizes, observes, and adapts while maintaining her core identity.
The exploration of Cordelia’s dual nature as both witch and lycan provides rich thematic material. Unlike male werewolves who transform, female offspring inherit only secondary traits: enhanced senses, physical resilience, and an inexplicable pull toward wild spaces. Archer uses this biological quirk to examine questions of identity and belonging. Cordelia isn’t fully witch, isn’t fully werewolf, but something uniquely herself—a metaphor that resonates beyond its supernatural trappings.
Her relationship with magic deserves particular mention. Cordelia approaches spellcraft with scholarly dedication and pragmatic consideration. She’s willing to learn darker magic if circumstances demand it, but she doesn’t pursue power for its own sake. This measured approach to supernatural ability creates interesting contrasts with both her aunt Lenora’s philosophy and her grandmother Beryl’s more ruthless methodology.
Bishop Daniels: The Complicated Captor
Bishop Daniels walks a precarious line between romantic hero and morally ambiguous figure. As Silas’s heir and second-in-command, he’s caught between duty to his Pack and his own carefully laid plans to overthrow the tyrannical Alpha. When tasked with retrieving Cordelia, he approaches the assignment with his characteristic cold efficiency—until the witch proves far more complicated than expected.
Archer crafts Bishop as deliberately inscrutable. He’s described as “brilliant, bold, and ruthless,” a werewolf who earned his position through a combination of strategic thinking and controlled violence. Yet beneath this carefully maintained facade lies something more nuanced. His interactions with Cordelia reveal glimpses of unexpected kindness: ensuring she has books to read, providing her with a weapon when she requests one, and treating her with respect despite her captive status.
The romance develops through a series of charged conversations and stolen moments rather than instant attraction. Both characters recognize the pull between them while acknowledging the impossibility of acting on it under current circumstances. When Bishop promises Cordelia freedom, she believes him—not because she’s naive, but because his track record of keeping promises to those under his protection speaks louder than his role in her abduction.
The tension reaches its peak when circumstances force them into a marriage neither wants. Archer handles this development with admirable care, acknowledging the problematic nature of forced proximity romance while using the situation to deepen character understanding. Bishop’s determination to honor Cordelia’s autonomy despite external pressures distinguishes him from typical forced marriage heroes, though some readers may still find the power dynamics troubling.
Supporting Cast and Pack Politics
The werewolf Pack comes alive through well-drawn secondary characters. Julius Danvers, Bishop’s cousin and closest ally, provides steady support and genuine friendship. Oliver offers quiet wisdom and unexpected depths. Claude and his son Felix represent the Pack’s potential for loyalty and tragedy. Even antagonists like Henry Cain and Silas Stockwell feel three-dimensional rather than cartoonishly evil—their motivations stem from Pack politics and personal ambition rather than mustache-twirling villainy.
The female characters beyond Cordelia merit particular attention. Marjorie, Tabitha, and Ann—women bound to Trevelyan under deeply problematic circumstances—possess their own agency and secrets. Archer doesn’t shy away from depicting the exploitation inherent in their situations while also granting them dignity, skills, and crucial roles in the plot. Tabitha’s tragic backstory, in particular, serves as damning evidence of Silas’s cruelty and underscores the stakes of Pack leadership.
The introduction of Cordelia’s grandmother Beryl and the Levine Cabal adds layers of complexity, though this subplot feels somewhat rushed. The revelation that Cordelia’s family runs a powerful witch organization comes late and demands significant adjustment of previously established history. While it opens intriguing possibilities for future books, within this volume it occasionally feels like a deus ex machina rather than organic development.
Pacing and Plot Structure
Witch of the Wolves follows a fairly traditional paranormal romance structure: abduction, captivity, growing attraction, external threat, forced marriage, explosive climax, and uncertain resolution. Within this framework, Archer demonstrates strong pacing instincts. The opening chapters efficiently establish Cordelia’s world before upending it. The middle section at Trevelyan balances political maneuvering with character development. The final act delivers action and emotional payoff in equal measure.
However, the novel suffers from occasional information dumps, particularly regarding Pack hierarchy, magical systems, and family histories. These explanatory passages sometimes stall narrative momentum. The plot also relies on several convenient coincidences—Cordelia happening to have just the right magical abilities for specific situations, allies appearing at crucial moments, revelations arriving precisely when needed.
The climactic confrontation, while exciting, introduces new elements (including Beryl’s Cabal and their devastating magic) that might have benefited from earlier groundwork. The resolution leaves multiple threads deliberately unresolved, setting up future installments but potentially frustrating readers seeking more closure.
Themes of Agency and Power
Beneath its romantic trappings, Witch of the Wolves grapples seriously with questions of female autonomy in worlds designed to deny it. Cordelia exists at the intersection of multiple power structures: Victorian society that treats women as property, Pack culture that values daughters only as breeding stock, and family legacy that views her as either tool or weapon.
Her struggle throughout the novel centers not on accepting her fate but on reclaiming choice in a situation designed to eliminate it. When Silas declares she will marry Bishop and produce heirs, Cordelia’s resistance stems from principled objection to being property rather than dislike of Bishop himself. This distinction proves crucial to the novel’s thematic coherence.
Archer also examines different models of leadership through Silas and Bishop. Silas rules through fear, violence, and rigid control. Bishop envisions something different—a Pack where loyalty stems from respect rather than terror, where those under his protection possess genuine freedom. Whether he can achieve this idealistic vision while wielding the power necessary to challenge Silas creates ongoing tension.
The treatment of the women at Trevelyan—servants forced into sexual service—adds darker shading to these explorations. Archer doesn’t exploit these circumstances for titillation but presents them as evidence of systemic rot that new leadership must address. Bishop’s promise that they’ll have true choice about staying or leaving after his ascension represents practical application of his leadership philosophy.
Writing Style and Craft
Archer writes with clarity and confidence, crafting prose that serves the story without calling excessive attention to itself. Her dialogue sparkles, particularly in scenes between Cordelia and Bishop where verbal sparring reveals character depths. The author demonstrates particular skill with internal monologue, capturing Cordelia’s analytical mind and wry humor without slipping into navel-gazing introspection.
The sex scenes, while relatively restrained by current romantasy standards, pulse with genuine chemistry. Archer understands that anticipation and emotional connection create more heat than explicit detail. The progression from antagonistic proximity to reluctant attraction to mutual desire feels earned rather than rushed.
Descriptions balance period detail with accessibility, creating vivid sense of place without overwhelming readers with Victorian minutiae. The magical system, while not exhaustively explained, follows consistent internal logic. Spellcasting depletes a witch’s well of power, dark magic carries consequences, and different supernatural species possess distinct advantages and limitations.
Occasional rough patches appear—repetitive phrases, explanatory dialogue, modern sensibilities in period characters—but these represent minor stumbles rather than fundamental flaws. The narrative voice remains engaging throughout, carrying readers through exposition and action sequences with equal competence.
Where the Series Goes From Here
Witch of the Wolves ends with Cordelia and Bishop married, the Pack scattered, Trevelyan burned, and multiple antagonists still threatening. This deliberate choice positions the book as series opening rather than standalone romance. Readers seeking complete resolution may feel frustrated, while those eager for continuing adventures will appreciate the setup.
The sequel The Wolf Queen’s Curse promises to explore Cordelia and Bishop’s efforts to rebuild the Pack while confronting both Beryl’s Cabal and other supernatural threats. Questions about Cordelia’s full magical potential, the fate of various Pack members, and the couple’s evolving relationship remain tantalizingly open.
Final Thoughts
Witch of the Wolves succeeds more than it stumbles, delivering an engaging blend of paranormal worldbuilding, Gothic atmosphere, and romantic tension. Cordelia Levine emerges as a heroine worth following through multiple volumes, and her relationship with Bishop Daniels promises compelling development ahead. While the novel occasionally buckles under the weight of its own ambition and relies on familiar genre conventions, Archer demonstrates enough skill and originality to distinguish her work from countless similar offerings.
Readers who enjoyed the power dynamics and supernatural politics of From Blood and Ash or the witty banter and magical intrigue of A Discovery of Witches will find much to appreciate here. Those seeking perfectly resolved standalone romance should look elsewhere, but anyone willing to commit to a series will discover a promising start to an expansive paranormal saga.
The Victorian setting provides fresh flavor to werewolf romance, Cordelia’s dual nature as witch and lycan offers unexplored narrative possibilities, and the Pack’s internal conflicts create genuine stakes beyond romantic will-they-won’t-they. Archer has crafted a solid foundation for future installments while delivering enough satisfaction in this volume to justify the investment.
Similar Reads You Might Enjoy
If Witch of the Wolves captured your interest, consider these comparable titles:
- From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout: Features similar themes of heroine with hidden power, captor-to-lover romance, and political intrigue in fantasy setting
- A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness: Combines witches, forbidden romance, and academic protagonist in historical-adjacent paranormal world
- The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec: Norse mythology-inspired tale featuring powerful witch navigating dangerous supernatural politics
- Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco: Italian-set paranormal romance with strong-willed witch heroine and morally complex demon love interest
- Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin: Enemies-to-lovers witch romance set in historical-inspired fantasy world with religious persecution themes
- House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas: Urban fantasy with multiple supernatural species, complex worldbuilding, and slow-burn romance
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab: Though not strictly romance, features similar themes of agency, identity, and supernatural bargains across centuries
Witch of the Wolves establishes Kaylee Archer as an author to watch in the Victorian paranormal romance space, delivering enough originality and emotional resonance to stand alongside genre favorites while carving out its own distinctive territory.
