Book Review: Heart of the Wolf Queen by Sarah Gallego
ARC Review: Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky Books for an early copy of this book!
Published: April 2, 2026
Series: The Star-Crossed Gods #1
Genres: Adult // Fantasy, Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Open Door)
Quick Thoughts: Heart of the Wolf Queen was a fast-paced, easy read with a sweet second-chance romance and a lovable FMC-and-wolf duo. The simple worldbuilding and modern tone kept it from fully landing the gothic atmosphere it's marketed as, and the first half dragged for me. However, still worth picking up if you want something light and uncomplicated.
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Learn more about my rating & spice scales here.
What is Heart of the Wolf Queenabout?
Love could be her greatest weakness… or her deadliest weapon.
Sorrow Villente is no princess waiting to be saved.
When a devastating accident partially blinded her, Sorrow was locked away at the top of a tower in the wilderness, offered up as a sacrifice to the gods.
But Sorrow refuses to die quietly. Only she knows a dark magic burns inside her. With her fiercely protective wolf, Pablo, she spends every moment plotting her escape.
And yet when she finally breaks free, Sorrow is captured immediately… by the one man she never expected to see again.
Long ago, Sorrow and Matthias were inseparable. Tall and devastatingly handsome, with sparkling green eyes, the sight of him still sends her heart racing. Then she remembers the truth. When she needed him most, Matthias walked away. He didn’t just abandon her. He betrayed her.
And he hasn’t come to rescue her. Matthias is the ruler of a distant land, where monsters lurk in mist-shrouded forests. To save his kingdom, he needs an alliance with Sorrow’s family – one that can be sealed only by marriage.
Sorrow must marry the man who broke her heart… or die.
Heart of the Wolf Queen Review
I was really in the mood for a story that didn't ask me to follow too much worldbuilding or lore. Heart of the Wolf Queen fit the bill. It was fast-paced and had a simple plot. Overall, I liked what was here, but I kept wanting more.
Atmosphere & Setting
The atmosphere is marketed as dark and gothic, but I never quite felt that. The dialogue is modern and the descriptions of the setting and other things like character appearances don't really go in depth. The world and the magic system are simple to follow, but I think that comes at the expense of details that would have brought the story to life. The simplicity made everything feel a little flat.
Romance
The romance is a second-chance, childhood-friends-to-lovers dynamic. When it finally kicks off, it's really sweet and I liked Sorrow and Matthias together. That said, the first half of the book does little to establish Matthias as a character or show the two of them actively working through the fallout of his betrayal. Instead, they'd have an argument, he'd disappear on some royal duty for a while, then reappear, and the cycle would repeat. It didn't feel like we were building toward anything, just stalling until the plot caught up.
Characters
The lack of movement in the romance mostly had to do with Sorrow. She was frustratingly stubborn in a way that felt unjustified. Being guarded made sense given her history with Matthias, but she often acted against her own interests, which made it impossible to root for her. It's worth noting that Sorrow is losing her sight after an accident, and as a result she relies on Pablo, a wolf companion, to guide her. I loved this representation of a disabled FMC, and their dynamic added so much to the story.
I also enjoyed the found family element. The side characters each had their own backstories, personalities, and identities, which gave the story some depth. That said, I think Matthias needed more page time, or even a chapter or two from his POV, so we could get to know him better. He and his motivations are central to the political plot, and fleshing him out would have added a lot to the story.
So, should you read Heart of the Wolf Queen?
Overall, I'd still recommend this to those who want something fast-paced and uncomplicated, especially if you like stories featuring animal companions.
Check out this review on Goodreads or Storygraph.
Happy reading!
Kim
Heart of the Wolf Queen FAQ
Some of the answers may be spoilers if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution!
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Potential spoilers ahead ⚠️
Death/Violence
Animal cruelty
Grief (minor)
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Potential spoilers ahead ⚠️
Second chance romance
Childhood friends to lovers
Fake marriage
Touch her and die
Disabled FMC
Animal guide/companion
Political intrigue
Warring kingdoms
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Yes, Heart of the Wolf Queen is the first in The Star-Crossed Gods duology.
The second book, Throne of the Wolf Queen, comes out September 30, 2026.
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There is one spicy scene in Heart of the Wolf Queen in Chapter 35.
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Heart of the Wolf Queen is a 3 🌶️ or open door. That means readers are present for the scene but it’s not described in explicit detail. This includes using euphemistic language to describe the scene.