The Magic of Untamed Hearts

Wild Magic #3

by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

After several years stuck as a ghost, Sky Flores learns to reconnect with the living again with the help of her handsome neighbor in this lush romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Witch of Wild Things.

Like her sisters, Sage and Teal, Sky Flores has a touch of magic, and it’s caused nothing but heartache. Not only did she disappear into the woods years ago and reappear with no rational explanation, she’s also more comfortable talking to animals than to people. Different and misunderstood, Sky is shunned in the small town of Cranberry.

Sky’s neighbor, Adam Noemi, has his own problems. After being laid off from a prestigious newspaper, Adam, ever the ambitious reporter, needs a big headline to redeem his career. Enter Sky, a girl with a story that news outlets have been chasing for years. Sky agrees to grant Adam an exclusive interview on one that he befriend Sky, in a very public way, to prove to everyone in Cranberry that she’s not an outcast.

As Sky shares her experiences with Adam, something much bigger than a simple agreement begins to grow between them. But for love to take root, Adam will have to take a leap towards a life that defies expectations, and Sky must open her heart – full of flora and fauna and mystical energies – to his curious mind.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Adult, Contemporary Romance, Magic, Latinx

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2026

About the author

Raquel Vasquez Gilliland is a Mexican American poet, novelist, and painter. She received an MFA in poetry from the University of Alaska, Anchorage in 2017. She’s most inspired by fog and seeds and the lineages of all things. When not writing, Raquel tells stories to her plants and they tell her stories back. She lives in Tennessee with her beloved family and mountains. Raquel has published two books of poetry. Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything is her first novel.

Reviews

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars Thanks to BookBrowse and Berkley for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Publishes January 13, 2026.

I have to be more careful when requesting books. Here again I ended up with the third book in a series. I guess it was ok as a stand alone, but not having read the first two books I feel like I was missing a lot. For that reason I can only give it 3 of 5 stars.

This book centered on Sky - they youngest of three sister's - all with a special gift. For Sky it is the ability to communicate with animals. And she is returning after an 8 year absence.

This book is fiction, fantasy and sexy romance all rolled up together. Maybe a bit heavy on the 'romance' aspect. But an easy read all the same.

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consent + communication during sexy time is HOT AF!

This is a sweet and tender book with lovely autism and latine rep, a swoony romance, and unique witchy vibes in a contemporary setting!

But what really stole the show for me was the sexy times! They were so real, raw, and HEALTHY AF. I loved that they communicated needs and wants and comforts and continually checked in on consent. The intimacy and connections these scenes create is top tier!

This is book three in a set of interconnected standalones. I read this book first and I don’t feel like I missed anything. It stands on its own, but I’m very excited to read the other sister’s books now!

The autism rep was spectacular and made me feel so seen! I loved that there were so many aspects of Sky’s behavior that I could relate to—her overthinking, big emotions, researching the crap out of things she wants to be better at. I appreciated that it was presented in a natural way seamless way, it felt like I was commiserating with a friend rather than pointing out all the ways the FMC is different.


Whats to love…
- autistic + latine FMC
- Red haired (my fav) + sober MMC
- neighbors-to-lovers
- self-discovery and self-acceptance themes
- found family (with a family forward aspect)
- interconnected standalone but can be read out of order (I did!)
- LOTS of animal companions
- This book will make you hungry (aka food is incorporated in a lovely way!)
- THE SPICE! - sweet and sexy and healthy AF

Whats not to love…
- Overall the pacing was just a bit off. This was slow to start and I wasn’t invested till about the 30% point. Once we were there though? 10/10 And then in the end the 3rd act conflict felt a bit rushed.

🌶️ - open door sprinkled throughout and a pretty important part of the self-discovery theme!

4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this final book in the Wild Magic series that focuses on Sky, the youngest Flores sister who spent 8 years of her life in an undead state missing in the forest and only recently came back to the land of the living at the end of book two when her family rescued her.

Considered the town freak, Sky is lonely and only wants to find a love like both her sisters have. Unfortunately they seem too busy with their own lives to show up for Sky and so Sky finds herself buried in work at the library archives and spending her Friday nights bringing her elderly neighbor William dinner.

Enter Adam, the man Sky grew fond of while she was living as a ghost, only in real life Adam is less than dreamy. Adam himself is struggling though after being let go from his journalist job with the NYT and now living back home with his grandfather who they suspect has early dementia.

Sky strikes a deal for the two to pretend to be friends in exchange for Sky's honest story about what happened to her. What follows is a sweet friends to lovers story that gets complicated by a side of anonymous online texting and some deceptions.

While I wasn't a fan of the third act break up in this story, I loved watching Sky come into her own. I also really enjoyed that the author writes Sky as being undiagnosed autistic (which is really apparent and makes her all the more relatable to me).

A great end to the series that I'm going to be sad to say goodby to. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Angelina M. Lopez, Alexis Daria or Natalie Caña. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Stacee · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the previous book, I was so excited to get to Sky's story and this was exactly what I wanted for her.

I loved Sky. She is unapologetically herself and while she does shrink herself at the beginning, she knows what she wants and works towards getting everything. Adam is surprisingly gooey under a very crunchy shell. These two have animosity and sweetness and a whole ton of chemistry.

Plot wise, it's good. There are a few moving parts and some things felt like an afterthought, but I recognize maybe it was so show how scattered Sky was at certain points. The conflict was short lived and I really wanted more from the epilogue as it felt rushed.

Overall, this was such a good story and I easily could have read 500 more pages of Sky and the animals.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Sky, the youngest of three witch sisters, has been in a magical coma for eight years. During that time, she wandered her small town in ghost form and became infatuated with her neighbor’s grandson, Adam. She suddenly wakes up at age 24, and now 26, Sky struggles to make friends and is seen as the town’s “weird” girl, with few people believing her story.

This was such a cozy, cottagecore, small-town romance. Sky’s magical gift allows her to communicate with animals, which only adds to how different she seems to everyone else. She’s also neurodivergent and struggles with social interactions. Adam is the kind, patient man who truly sees her and takes the time to understand her, all while navigating his own personal journey. Sky’s differences were handled beautifully and she was portrayed in such a raw, honest, and deeply compelling way. Both her and Adam’s conversations about how she sees the world, their communication and their fears and hopes really grounded the relationship and made it feel earned.

This is the third book in the series, and I hadn’t read the first two going in. That said, the worldbuilding was very accessible, and I never felt lost within this magical world. I do think I would have had a deeper understanding of Sky’s family dynamics if I’d read the earlier books, but the background and context provided here were more than enough to fully engage with the story. I’d probably recommend reading the first two books beforehand, but it’s not absolutely necessary. The writing was lush and whimsical, and the pacing worked well throughout, perfectly matching the cozy, atmospheric tone of this witchy slow-burn romance. I was expecting a bit more payoff from the church cult mystery. The reveal felt slightly underwhelming and somewhat faded into the background by the end, but this didn’t detract for my enjoying the story.

Overall, this was a whimsical, ethereal, low-stakes romance set in a cozy small town, featuring a witchy, neurodivergent FMC and a strong focus on character development. Readers looking for a gentle, magical romance with heart and depth will really enjoy this one. I know I’ll be going back to read the first two books in the series!

This one is out January 13th, 2026!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[SelkieReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book for the most part.
I didn’t read the previous books from this author, I read this as a standalone.
Unfortunately, for me, I don’t think it necessarily worked as a standalone because I feel like there was a lot of nuance I wasn’t privy to.

I did enjoy the lore of this book as someone who was born and raised in Virginia. Massachusetts gets a lot of the attention when it comes to the Salem Witch trials, but Virginia has history of its own.

The family dynamics in this book were really difficult to read sometimes because there is a ton of trauma, neglect, and abuse if I’m honest.

For me the main reason this isn’t a five star is the spice was quite frankly too spicy. And it was kind of offputting for the rest of the vibe of the book. It was the equivalent of a Fifty Shades of Grey clip in the middle of a reading rainbow episode. The book has a hole is super feel good, low stakes, sweet…. And then the sex scenes were long, explicit, and frequent once they started.
It just didn’t fit. They feel like they’re supposed to be in another book or that they were forced additions.
I don’t know how to explain other than that

[Stephanie (stephreadsallthebooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Berkley Romance for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

ARC Review: The Magic of Untamed Hearts by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Pub Date: January 13

Sky Flores was a ghost for many years - she's back in the land of the living now but is an outsider. She'd rather spend time with animals than with people and has never really been able to make friends outside of her sisters since returning. The only other person she's spent some time with? Her grumpy elderly neighbor, whose grandson has been laid off as a reporter and is now staying with him. Adam has always intrigued Sky and she eventually agrees to him writing a story about her, but only if he agrees to pretend to be her friend so the locals stop looking at her as such a freak. But will Adam believe her about what happened?

I liked the relationship between Adam and Sky and thought they had a lot of chemistry and great banter. But what I loved arguably more is the relationship between Sky and her sisters - even as their lives have changed and they have different priorities, you can really sense the love there and I loved seeing how they showed up for each other.

I loved the anonymous pen pal trope and the reveal (and that it didn't go on too long!). This romance itself wasn't super trope heavy which honestly I love.

While I did enjoy this, I think neither of the sequels in this series have lived up to the first book for me - both relationship wise but even more so with the external plot. The first book had a really good balance between the two and a whole lot of angst and I think I find myself chasing the feelings I had during my reading of the first book. I still really do like the books but I've had to sort of adjust my expectations because the external plot is really lacking and the only focus is the relationship between the two main characters.

[Kate | bookishkatelizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Magic of Untamed Hearts by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland is the 3rd and final book in the Wild Magic series. I would recommend reading the books in order to avoid spoilers.

This book is so beautifully written, which makes sense after I learned that Raquel Vasquez Gilliland is a Mexican American poet. It absolutely shows!

The tone of this series is heavier than I anticipated; the characters are dealing with serious topics. I recommend checking trigger warnings before reading.

Each of the Flores sisters have a magical gift or curse depending on how you look at it. Sky, the youngest Flores sister, can communicate with animals. Not only can she hear them, but they can sense her emotions as well and visit her during times of distress.

Sky has had an odd life… she was trapped in a tree for 8 years. When we meet the Flores sisters in book 1, she is unknowingly in the tree. 2 years later, no one believes her story and she is seen as the town pariah. People are vile to her and she is very lonely.

Sky finds herself working with her neighbor’s grandson, Adam, a struggling newspaper reporter, to tell her story. The book focuses on the developing relationship between them and Adam’s struggle to believe Sky’s unbelievable story when he has always relied solely on facts.

While I didn’t love everything about this book, I did enjoy the engaging writing. The author’s note explains some of the plot decisions behind Sky’s character; her experiences made more sense after reading. This series also reminds me of how lucky we are to have nature; the Flores sisters show a deep respect and gratitude for wildlife. I struggled with the Outcast heroine/ Town hero trope. It is hard to watch people be cruel and the hero gets credit for the bare minimum, human decency.

Read if you like:
✨ Books with magical realism
💕 These romance tropes: Outcast heroine/ Town hero, age gap, neighbors to lovers
🙊 The microtrope “apologize to her”
❤️‍🩹 Healing Sisterhood

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @berkleyromance for the free copy; all thoughts are my own. #berkleypartner #berkleybookstagram #berkleyromance

[Jenée Duran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley Romance, and NetGalley for letting me read this as an eARC!

This book was very cute. It is a quick contemporary read with some magical elements to it and Latine representation--and let me tell you, could I relate to Sky's meddling Latine elders! I really enjoyed the Latine representation in this novel; between the food, interspersing Spanish with English, and incorporating a little bit of the brujeria tradition, this book was felt a little like coming home. It's so wonderful to see yourself reflected in characters of books, especially in one that's so body positive, one of acceptance of who you are, and one that doesn't shame Latine women for their sexuality.

Following Sky and Adam coming together was a fun journey and I really enjoyed that they were each other's matches on the dating app they were using without even knowing it. I'm really glad they got it together in the end. As a Latine woman who also has two sisters, I loved seeing the sister dynamic in this book between Sage, Teal, and Sky.

What you see is what you get with this book--a fun, spicy, heartwarming, quick read that is a great palate cleanser, especially if you're between novels with a lot of world-building (which I was when I started this book). This book made me smile and I definitely would recommend it to a friend. Four stars from me :)

[Marisol M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series Info/Source: This is third book in the Wild Magic series. I got a copy of this to review on ebook from NetGalley.

Thoughts: This was a well done continuation of this series. I enjoyed reading about Sky's story. My favorite book in this series remains the first book, but I enjoyed this one as well. You really feel for Sky and all that she's been through; I thought her autism was well represented too.

Sky has a touch of magic; she can talk to animals. Unfortunately, with her long absence, she is more comfortable talking to animals than people, and the people of Cranberry town have not been kind to her. She feels like a burden on those around her. Sage and Teal have both moved on with their lives but still feel like they have to baby Sky. Sky is doing okay though; she has her job at the library and a couple of friends. She wants more and is trying to put herself out there. After some horrible experiences in an online dating app she finally clicks with someone online. Simultaneously, she keeps running into Adam. He was horrible to her in high school and is now the big time famous reporter (who seems to be down on his luck). Him and Sky have one thing in common, his father who is struggling with onset dementia. As Adam and Sky end up spending more time together via Adam's father, they start to find out that they have more in common than they previously knew.

This was a cute story and I enjoyed it. I was excited to finally get Sky's story, and she is by far the most timid of the sisters. I really felt for her and her feelings of loneliness, not fitting in, and of being a burden on those around her. I enjoyed watching her grow and find her footing throughout the story.

Sky has autism and this is represented throughout the story; she is sensitive to certain sensation and fabrics, has trouble with natural conversation and reading cues but she is trying to own it. I thought Gilliland did a great job representing this throughout the story. Sky is a high functioning individual who just needs to interact with people and things a bit differently. Adam comes off as a bit of a jerk initially, but I grew to enjoy his character more as the story progressed. The two end up having excellent chemistry together.

This story felt a bit slower than the previous two books. Sky had a mystery of a secret coven that she was trying to unravel but that was very much in the background and kept being forgotten throughout the story. There just didn't seem to be as much to drive this story forward as there were in the first two books. I also love the Flores family, but they seem very scattered in this book. They do come together at times, but Sky felt very much on her own because she was very much on her own for a lot of the book. All the other members of the Flores family had valid but different priorities (new baby, new business, etc).

This was easy to read and cute and funny. I enjoyed it and think it was a decent close to this series about these magical sisters.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I liked this and thought it was a quick, cute, and fun read. It was a bit slower than the previous two books and I didn't click with Sky as a character quite as well. However, I did like learning more about Sky and watching her grow and get her happiness. I would recommend this series to those who enjoy paranormal magic with a cozy feel; all of these books have an emphasis on family and finding happiness. I will definitely keep an eye out for Gilliland's future books.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

This is the third book in the Wild Magic series, and I truly loved this installment. This story follows Sky, the youngest Flores sister, and Adam, the journalist she used to visit during the eight years her spirit wandered outside of her body. Now that Sky has finally awakened from her long sleep thanks to her sisters, she must learn how to live in the world again. That isn’t easy for her. She struggles to connect with people the way her sisters do, doesn’t understand why the town labels her a “freak” for talking to animals, and longs to feel understood and accepted. Sky believes that befriending Adam, a respected figure in town, might help change how others see her but sometimes fate, and a meddling aunt, have plans of their own.

I absolutely adored Sky as a character. She is undeniably naïve, but if you’ve read the first two books (which I highly recommend), you’ll understand why. After spending eight years protected by the primal gods while her spirit was separated from her body, that innocence makes complete sense. The plot felt distinct from the earlier books, focusing more on Sky’s personal journey of self-discovery and acceptance, and not just romance. This story is about understanding who you are after trauma, not who you once imagined yourself to be and learning to heal even when you didn’t realize you needed it. And, of course, there is romance.

Gilliland’s writing style is lyrical and easy to follow, and the pacing was steady throughout. The magical and whimsical elements were never rushed, allowing the atmosphere of the story to fully shine. The slow-burn romance fits the narrative perfectly, giving both the MFC and MMC the space to grow individually while discovering what was developing between them. The character growth felt organic and well-earned all the way to the final page.

Sky is a neurodivergent character, and the representation was handled beautifully. She is raw, flawed, and deeply compelling. Her struggles with social cues, idioms, and indirect communication felt authentic, and I loved that she values honesty over skirting around difficult topics. The conversations between Sky and Adam about their fears, desires, and vulnerabilities felt genuine and emotionally grounded. Their relationship grows from friendship into something deeper and more intimate, and it was incredibly satisfying to watch them learn how to love each other while respecting one another’s independence.

The chemistry between them was strong, and the spice level was well done. I especially appreciated Adam’s patience and care, particularly as Sky navigates unfamiliar territory in their relationship. Seeing the Flores sisters continue to grow and understand one another better added another emotional layer to the story. William, Adam’s grandfather, was a standout side character whose banter often had me smiling.

Overall, this was a wonderful conclusion to the Flores sisters’ stories. While I would happily read more books centered on them, this ending felt satisfying and complete. I have no doubt I’ll be eagerly picking up whatever Gilliland writes next.

I want to thank NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to review this book.

[Gabrielle Armstrong Velazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Berkeley for the free book!

If you grew up wanting to do midnight margaritas like in “Practical Magic” and fantasizing with abilities like the ones in “Como Agua Para Chocolate,” this book is for you!

Tropes
- [ ] Anonymous pen pals
- [ ] Ancestral magic or curse
- [ ] Magical realism
- [ ] Small coastal town
- [ ] Old people friends
- [ ] Talk with animals
- [ ] Broken sister relationship
- [ ] Sleeping beauty in the woods
- [ ] Neurodivergent rep
- [ ] Protective “who hurt you” MMC (page 145)
- [ ] Howling at the moon
- [ ] A cute little bear called Lily

When Sky Flores wakes up in the woods after an 8-year slumber, the last thing she remembers was being a teenager and learning about her ability to communicate with animals. But when she returned, no one believed she had in fact been asleep (she didn’t tell them her body was safe in an oak tree and she was all but a ghost wandering around) and she was promptly nicknamed the freak of the town.

The Flores women have magical abilities that come from generations ago, according to Sky, from the gods themselves. But for two years now, Sky has felt as forgotten and overlooked as when she was ghost and no one could see her. Adding insult to injury, the people in her town were constantly jeering at her or manipulating her for a quick laugh.

In walks Adam, her grumpy neighbor’s (he reminded me of the old man from the “Up” movie) and they make a deal: he’d interview her, and publish her real, unfiltered story, so he could get back into journalism and in exchange, he’d act as if they were friends, so as to improve her reputation in the town.


~ My takeaways ~

I loved the Latine representation, and the subtle weaving of different myths and legends of other marginalized groups—not just Latine.

That first chapter reeled me in so hard!! I was wholly enveloped in Sky’s spell to guarantee an orgasm with this dude. The author really has a knack for capturing readers’ attention.

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve wished for two superpowers: being invisible and communicating with animals. I found both in this book and especially the animals one is something very close to my heart. I’ve always preferred animals to humans 🐻 🐱 🐶 🐴 🦆 🐦 🐘

Sky’s always struggled with belonging. I found this funny because the book I previously read featured an FMC struggling with the same thing (Eleanor from “The Haunting of Hill House”). Whenever Sky spiraled and expressed her loneliness and frustration at her inability to connect or “be as the people are” to paraphrase Ariel, it H U R T. Been there!!

The sub-plot gave vibes of mystery and suspense and I loved how it contributed to Sky’s own growth as a woman in her own family. At times I wanted to slap Adam because of his tendency to not communicate properly but he came through in the end; he was very attentive. Also this book? Very spicy! I found it refreshing that the FMC, although sexually inexperienced, was very clear and vocal about sexuality. It even caught the MMC off guard 😆. But yes be prepared to blush intensely, grab at your pearls and fan your face, and cry a little bit.

[Ashley - The Tattered Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧📖𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖🎧

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝑀𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸 𝑜𝒻 𝒰𝓃𝓉𝒶𝓂𝑒𝒹 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 ʙʏ ʀᴀǫᴜᴇʟ ᴠᴀsǫᴜᴇᴢ ɢɪʟʟɪʟᴀɴᴅ

𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs

𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🌶🌶 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻

✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨

ᴀ ᴍɪsᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴏᴏᴅ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴅɪsɢʀᴀᴄᴇᴅ ʀᴇᴘᴏʀᴛᴇʀ ғᴏʀᴍ ᴀ ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄ ʙᴀʀɢᴀɪɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙʟᴏssᴏᴍs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴛᴇɴᴅᴇʀ, ᴛʀᴀɴsғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʀᴜsᴛ, ʜᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇʟᴏɴɢɪɴɢ.

𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:

ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀʜ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ & ʙᴇʀᴋʟᴇʏ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝑀𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸 𝑜𝒻 𝒰𝓃𝓉𝒶𝓂𝑒𝒹 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 ɪs ᴀ sᴏғᴛ, ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ-ᴅʀɪᴠᴇɴ ᴘᴀʀᴀɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀɴs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ʜᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ, sᴍᴀʟʟ-ᴛᴏᴡɴ sᴄʀᴜᴛɪɴʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛ ʙʀᴀᴠᴇʀʏ ɪᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇs ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ sᴇᴇɴ. sᴋʏ ғʟᴏʀᴇs ʜᴀs ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴇxɪsᴛᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀʀɢɪɴs—ᴍᴀʀᴋᴇᴅ ʙʏ sᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ, ᴡʜɪsᴘᴇʀᴇᴅ ʀᴜᴍᴏʀs, ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴇᴀʀs ʟᴏsᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴ ɪɴᴇxᴘʟɪᴄᴀʙʟᴇ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴇғᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄᴏᴍғᴏʀᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀɴɪᴍᴀʟs ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ. ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴀᴍʙɪᴛɪᴏᴜs ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴀʟɪsᴛ ᴀᴅᴀᴍ ɴᴏᴇᴍɪ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀs ʜᴇʀ ʟɪғᴇ, ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʙᴇɢɪɴs ᴀs ᴀ ᴍᴜᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ʙᴇɴᴇғɪᴄɪᴀʟ ᴀʀʀᴀɴɢᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ sʟᴏᴡʟʏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇs sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ғᴀʀ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ɪɴᴛɪᴍᴀᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʀᴏғᴏᴜɴᴅ.

ᴛʜɪs sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴜɴғᴏʟᴅs ɢᴇɴᴛʟʏ, ᴘʀɪᴏʀɪᴛɪᴢɪɴɢ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴘʟᴏᴛ ᴛᴡɪsᴛs. ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ɪs ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴘᴀᴛɪᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴀs ᴀᴅᴀᴍ ʟᴇᴀʀɴs ᴡʜᴏ sᴋʏ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ɪs ʙᴇʏᴏɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛs ᴛᴏ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍ, ᴀɴᴅ sᴋʏ sʟᴏᴡʟʏ ʀᴇᴄʟᴀɪᴍs ʜᴇʀ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ᴀᴍᴏɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪᴠɪɴɢ—ʟɪᴛᴇʀᴀʟʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ.

ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs:
sᴋʏ ɪs ᴀ ɢᴇɴᴛʟᴇ, ᴡᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀᴏɪɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏsᴇ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ ғᴇᴇʟs ᴏʀɢᴀɴɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ sʏᴍʙᴏʟɪᴄ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ғʟᴀsʜʏ. ʜᴇʀ ɢʀᴏᴡᴛʜ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴇʀs ᴏɴ ʀᴇᴄʟᴀɪᴍɪɴɢ ᴀɢᴇɴᴄʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ ʀᴇǫᴜɪʀᴇ sʜʀɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ. ᴀᴅᴀᴍ’s ᴀʀᴄ—ғʀᴏᴍ ᴄᴀʀᴇᴇʀ-ᴅʀɪᴠᴇɴ ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇʀ ᴛᴏ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴏᴏsᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅʟɪɴᴇs—ɪs ᴇǫᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴇʟʟɪɴɢ. ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘ ᴅᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘs ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʀᴜsᴛ, ᴄᴏɴsᴇɴᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴜᴛᴜᴀʟ ʀᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛ, ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ғᴇᴇʟ sᴀғᴇ, sɪɴᴄᴇʀᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴀʀɴᴇᴅ.

ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ & ᴛᴏɴᴇ:
ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴀ sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴ, ᴛᴇɴᴅᴇʀ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴛʀᴏɴɢ ᴄᴏᴛᴛᴀɢᴇᴄᴏʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄᴀʟ ʀᴇᴀʟɪsᴍ ᴠɪʙᴇs. ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴏɴᴇ ɪs ᴡᴀʀᴍ, ᴡɪsᴛғᴜʟ, ᴀɴᴅ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛʟʏ ʜᴏᴘᴇғᴜʟ, ғᴏᴄᴜsɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ɪɴᴛɪᴍᴀᴄʏ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʜɪɢʜ ᴅʀᴀᴍᴀ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ ᴇɴʜᴀɴᴄᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴘᴏᴡᴇʀɪɴɢ ɪᴛ.

🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛʟʏ sᴜɪᴛs ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ’s ʟᴜsʜ, ɪɴᴛʀᴏsᴘᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴛᴏɴᴇ. sᴋʏ’s ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ɪs sᴏғᴛ ᴀɴᴅ sʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ᴅɪsᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴀᴛ ғɪʀsᴛ, ᴍɪʀʀᴏʀɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ɪsᴏʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀᴡᴏʀʟᴅʟʏ ᴅᴇᴛᴀᴄʜᴍᴇɴᴛ, ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴀᴅᴀᴍ’s ᴘᴇʀsᴘᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇs ᴡᴀʀᴍᴛʜ, ᴄᴜʀɪᴏsɪᴛʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ sᴛᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅɪɴɢ. ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴇxᴄᴇʟs ᴀᴛ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʏɪɴɢ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs—sʜᴀʀᴇᴅ sɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇs, ʜᴇsɪᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴄᴏɴғᴇssɪᴏɴs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴs—ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴅᴇᴇᴘʟʏ ɪᴍᴍᴇʀsɪᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴅ sᴏᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ.

𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝐸𝓁𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈:
✨sᴍᴀʟʟ-ᴛᴏᴡɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✨ᴍᴀɢɪᴄᴀʟ ʀᴇᴀʟɪsᴍ
✨ʙᴀʀɢᴀɪɴ x ғᴀᴋᴇ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅsʜɪᴘ
✨ᴄɪɴɴᴀᴍᴏɴ ʀᴏʟʟ ᴍᴍᴄ
✨ᴍɪsᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴏᴏᴅ ʜᴇʀᴏɪɴᴇ
✨ʜᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ ɪsᴏʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
✨ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ-ɪɴғᴜsᴇᴅ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ

𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝑀𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸 𝑜𝒻 𝒰𝓃𝓉𝒶𝓂𝑒𝒹 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 ɪs ᴀ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟʟʏ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ, ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ɢᴇɴᴛʟᴇ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛ ғᴏʀ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴᴇʀs ᴡʜᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ sᴏғᴛ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ, ɪɴᴛʀᴏsᴘᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ʜᴇʀᴏɪɴᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙʟᴏᴏᴍ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴋɪɴᴅɴᴇss ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴀᴛɪᴇɴᴄᴇ. ɪᴛ’s ᴀ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴄʜᴏᴏsɪɴɢ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, ʀᴇᴄʟᴀɪᴍɪɴɢ ɪᴅᴇɴᴛɪᴛʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ғɪɴᴅɪɴɢ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ɪᴛs ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ.

ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
++++++++++
TROPES:
—witches
—autistic, latin FMC
—animal communication Magic
—slow burn
—found family
—cooking for loved ones love language
—Fake friendship
—Golden boy MMC XTown pariah FMC
—animal companions
—neighbors-to-lovers
—who did this to you?
—consent queen & king

READING NOTES:
—slow start
—hit me hard emotionally—well done
—sympathized heavily with FMC

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Magic of Untamed Hearts snuck up on me, stunning me right into love. When beginning this book, I had no idea the impact it would have upon me. It's not just one of the best books I read in 2025, it's one of my all-time favorites. A book I *know* I will return to time and time again.

This is the story of Sky, who fell into a magical coma that led to her living as ghost for years until returning to her body. Now she must learn to live again. All while being outcast by her town and overlooked by the only family she has left. Sky remains untethered in life as she was in 'death.'

I so deeply felt Sky's loneliness, alienation, and longing. She's a wonderfully warm and vulnerable heroine I happily embraced, as I saw so much of myself in her. Here is character yearning to live but not quite sure how. Not after all she experienced. Fear becomes a debilitating enemy; for example, she closes herself off from her sisters, believing they are leaving her behind, severing (at least temporarily) much needed lines of communication. And I got it. I truly, truly did. To confront could be to verify her deepest worries. To realize the fear she is unwanted, a mere hindrance. Evidence lined up in a way that was hurtful, and she responded by protecting herself. All she has felt is hurt. And so her only defense is to guard her own heart. She's looked at by the town as a witch, as this othered being who is to ridiculed rather than embraced. And yet she still longs for so much more, as she did when she became a living ghost. Dreams kept her going in her ghostly living. One of them was her burgeoning teenaged infatuation of Adam, her neighbor's grandson. When she came back to life she caught words spoken by him that added to that pile of growing hurt. Until years later he's back, and this time, he's paying attention to the girl, now woman, whose disappearance shook a town. This time, he hears her side of the story. This time, she finally begins to feel seen.

I adored the bonding between Sky and Adam. Although she's back in the living, Sky remains invisible, until Adam begins to see her. It emboldens her to reach for those one-time dreams she harbored. To open her heart to all its vulnerability and hidden truths. To share parts of herself she never dare share before. Sky is able to put aside her fear and strive to find her place again, to find community, to find herself. Whether it's the cranky old man next door who becomes like a grandfather, or it's telling her grandmother how she truly feels, or it's tentatively reconnecting with sisters and allowing her heart to be fully seen. Adam becomes her support until she is able to stand on her own and boldly go forth her path. In turn, getting to know Sky has Adam seeing the world in colors he's never experienced. She shines so brightly, so uniquely and welcomes Adam into viewing the world as he knows it in such a different, unexpected way. There is an authenticity in mere experience that alights in both Sky and Adam due to the bond, and then love, blossoming between them. It all starts with wanting a pretend friend, and suddenly something far more real develops. Something far more impactful.

Not say there won't still be some major angst along the way, but if it does, you will desperately wish Sky to hang onto her newfound self. To love herself, to live for herself, to dream again. To not let it set her back.

From beginning to ending I felt so utterly protective of Sky. I want her to be loved, by family, by friends, by neighbors, and by Adam. By herself. Loved in every way possible. Just as she rightly deserves. Sky's journey brought tears, anguish, elation and comfort. It broke me, it healed me, it inspired by to always be authentically myself.

This is a work of beauty! Thank you Berkley Romance for the eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

[Andrea Rittschof · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Magic of Untamed Hearts, Raquel Vasquez Gilliland gives us an authentic and loving finale to the trilogy of the gifted sisters of Cranberry. From the very beginning, you know Sky has had challenges in her life, she already was a ghost for years after her fall and the townspeople of Cranberry never let her forget that she’s different and not wanted. Sky no longer feels like anyone is on her side including her very own sisters, who have disconnected from her due to events in their own lives. The story is intriguing because its one many people are familiar with, not being able to connect to others even when yIn The Magic of Untamed Hearts, Raquel Vasquez Gilliland gives us an authentic and loving finale to the trilogy of the gifted sisters of Cranberry. From the very beginning, you know Sky has had challenges in her life, she already was a ghost for years after her fall and the townspeople of Cranberry never let her forget that she’s different and not wanted. Sky no longer feels like anyone is on her side including her very own sisters, who have disconnected from her due to events in their own lives. The story is intriguing because its one many people are familiar with, not being able to connect to others even when you are trying.
I love the dynamic between Sky and Adam. Sky is very honest, with no filters and she doesn’t allow Adam to treat her badly. For her, it’s harder when Adam treats her kindly because she has to learn to open up and trust him. And for Sky, trust is hard. Adam also has learning to do, to not run away when things are difficult and to learn to communicate his true intentions to Sky. I love the magic of their connection and I also love the dynamic Sky has with her sisters once she reveals the disconnect and they begin talking again.
If you like loving books about being yourself and authentic communication, this book is for you. If you loved the first two books about Sage and Teal, you will love getting Sky’s story. It is a beautiful romance about trust and communication, authentic and loving in tone. I love the happy ending.
ou are trying.
I love the dynamic between Sky and Adam. Sky is very honest, with no filters and she doesn’t allow Adam to treat her badly. For her, it’s harder when Adam treats her kindly because she has to learn to open up and trust him. And for Sky, trust is hard. Adam also has learning to do, to not run away when things are difficult and to learn to communicate his true intentions to Sky. I love the magic of their connection and I also love the dynamic Sky has with her sisters once she reveals the disconnect and they begin talking again.
If you like loving books about being yourself and authentic communication, this book is for you. If you loved the first two books about Sage and Teal, you will love getting Sky’s story. It is a beautiful romance about trust and communication, authentic and loving in tone. I love the happy ending.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 🐻🐻🐻🐻🦊 (4.5/5 🌟)

I am very honored to have received this eARC from Berkley Romance! I am so excited to read the last book in this series.

Sky returning to the Land of the Living was interesting because as magical as it is, there are darker sides. She’s the town outcast and has an extremely small circle of people that she interacts with. The townspeople talk about her behind her back, to her face, and go as far as accusing her of witchcraft and enacting horrible, demeaning pranks on her. What’s amazing, though, is that no matter how mean people are, she remains SO kind-hearted and sweet. There were a few people that got what was coming to them and that was pretty satisfying! I also liked how she described her time of being “missing.”

Adam was interesting as we saw short snippets of him in the previous books and I ended up enjoying his character. He definitely seemed like he could have been shallow but I was pleasantly surprised. He was a gentleman, incredibly grounded, and acknowledged when he was wrong along with mending things. He cares a lot about his grandpa too, which I found endearing. I liked that his whole character wasn’t just someone who hit a snag in his career and was looking for a way back into the big city. He had layers and I really liked where the author took his backstory.

Their romance and friendship was SO sweet. While they make a deal for an exclusive interview in exchange for friendship, there is a genuine connection between them. Sky is rightfully traumatized at people interacting with her so it was nice to see her grow in that aspect with Adam. I also loved seeing Adam’s mind open up to the world of magic and to see how much Sky makes him laugh. Seeing them become flustered with the other, being oblivious to the romantic tension, and building their connection just felt so satisfying.

I enjoyed Sky's whimsical outlook and attitude about life. She has such a fun sense of humor and I found myself laughing at a lot of the things she says. Going deeper, her view on life is also really unique. She has frustrations on feeling like there is so much about life that she doesn't know about as she went missing for almost a decade. Her fear of being seen as incapable by others, especially her sisters, was so sad to see. I understand why she does some of the things that she does based on her mindset.

There are a lot of other things I loved that I don't have room for lol like Sky's animals, her rebuilding a connection with her sisters, the witch history, and her friendship with William. I do wish the witch history aspect was explored a bit more. It sounded interesting and I felt like we barely scratched the surface with it (here's me hoping there can be a 4th book to dive deeper into it lol). Overall, this feels like a great conclusion to the series! I'm definitely still going to skim them, it's easily one of my fave book series.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rep: Latine/x, autistic FMC, Chicana/Mexican American, Indigenous; bipolar SC; SC with postpartum depression; FMC with PTSD

Thank you so much to @berkleyromance and @Netgalley for the free copy!

The Magic of Untamed Hearts is Book 3 in a series, but don’t worry—you can absolutely jump in here without reading the previous books. Any necessary context is provided seamlessly. This was my first time reading Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, and it definitely won’t be my last. I loved her writing so much that, despite how complete this story felt on its own, I fully plan on going back to read the first two books centered on the other Flores sisters, Sage and Teal.

I wasn’t expecting to relate to Sky as deeply as I did, but her experience of feeling like an outcast—and like life has moved on without her—hit hard. Sky’s life has essentially been on pause after “losing eight years of full-on life due to a long-ass, supernatural hibernation,” and this book explores what it means to re-enter a world that didn’t stop while you did.

While Sky’s experience is rooted in magical realism rather than illness, it strongly reminded me of life with ME/CFS. That sense of living death, of watching people and time move forward while you remain stuck, and of no longer feeling like you belong to your own age group—too young and too old at the same time—was portrayed in a way that felt painfully familiar and deeply validating.

One of the things I loved most was watching Sky slowly find her voice. Her relationship with her elderly neighbor was especially tender, as was her journey toward finding and asserting her place within her family—particularly with her sisters and her nephew. Her fake “friendship” and then a developing romance with Adam—her neighbor’s grandson and the town darling recently laid off from his job—was layered and gripping.

Sky’s bond with magical animals was another highlight, as was her work as a librarian (always a win for me). The story also weaves in magical realism, an intriguing subplot involving the investigation of a matriarchal cult, and strong themes around belonging and identity.

Overall, this book was incredibly powerful—especially for anyone who has experienced disruption, loss of time, or the feeling of being left behind by life.

CW: divorce, sanism, sexism, bullying, trauma, PTSD, depression, near-death experience, sexual harassment, dementia, parental abandonment, neglect, adultification, verbal abuse, death of a parent, postpartum depression, alcoholism, coma, heart attack, caretaking, sexual content

[Alena]

The Magic of Untamed Hearts is the third and final book in the Wild Magic series, which follows the Flores Sisters. Technically, it can be read as a standalone, but in this case, I think it's better to read the first two books to gain a better understanding of Sky. 

The Flower women have supernatural powers. Sky's power lies in animals: she can sense their emotions, and they are drawn to her. Right now, she feels alone and that the only ones who understand her are the animals, not her family. After going missing in the woods in a sort of magical coma for eight years, now that she's back, she feels like she doesn't fit in and is the town freak. 

Sky is so relatable. She says what she thinks, feels deeply, and sometimes doesn't know how to express it. She doesn't feel loved, except by the animals. She just wants to fit in, for her sisters not to underestimate her, and to find a guy who is her other half. Sky is in a vulnerable place. She has a lot of insecurities and feels like she's wasted a lot of time and experiences that she now needs to make up for. 

Also, it's a diverse story with lots of representation. The Flores are Latinas, Sky is autistic, Adam, the MMC, when he felt he could become an alcoholic like his father, chose to be completely sober and has been for several years, the big Flores sister has postpartum depression, the neighbor has symptoms of dementia, among others.

It's short and cute, with a focus on personal growth and romance. It's spicy, based on communication and consent, and trying new things without shame. They started as friends, but their attraction grew every day until they started to explore something more. 

It's fun, with witty moments and lots of banter between Sky and Adam, but also between Sky and her sisters. Her sisters now have other priorities, but they never abandoned Sky. They have to talk to resolve a couple of miscommunications, but once they do, it's a strong bond. 

I adore Sky's skill with animals. She lives in a small town near a forest, so she attracts different kinds of wild animals (my only complaint is that it would make sense to me for Sky to be vegan, and she's not, because you don't eat the animals you live with). There's also a lot of delicious Mexican food and desserts.

Overall, it's witty, with a touch of magic, personal growth, sisterhood bond, and healthy romance. 

Thanks so much to @berkleypub, @berkleyromance, and @acebookspub for the free lovely book

Read it if you like:
Sisters!
Magical Realism
Cute Animal
Diverse Reads

[Allie Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars.

In this third installment of the Wild Magic series, Raquel Vasquez Gilliland delivers the long-awaited story of the youngest Flores sister.

After being rescued from her ghost life by her family, Sky is back to the Land of the Living - except it seems that nobody wants her there? No one in town believes her tale of being dead/a ghost for years, her body hidden in Cranberry State Park for safekeeping, and her affinity for animals makes her an outcast among society. Even her family, whom Sky was excited to reconnect with, can't make time for her, and Sky is feeling adrift. The only person Sky considers a friend is her elderly neighbor, William, whom she has dinner with on Friday nights. When Sky shows up to William's one night for dinner and Adam, William's grandson, is there, Sky is confronted with her old feelings for Adam, and the new disdain he has for her...

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one. I was SO excited for it, as I was intrigued by the crumbs we got of Sky and Adam in the other sisters' books, but I wasn't feeling their story. Sky was all over the place in this one, which made it hard for me to read. With her being a ghost for years, it makes sense why she wouldn't be emotionally mature as an adult in this book, but she felt very chaotic and emotionally unstable. (I kind of guessed she was neurodivergent throughout the book, and reading the Author's Note clarified that Sky had undiagnosed autism, so maybe that also played into the messiness of her emotions within the story? I also hated thinking that Sky needed therapy knowing that she disdained Western practices and medical ideas, so that added to my conflicted feelings about her as a character as well).

I also wasn't sold on Sky and Adam's relationship. Their feelings seemed largely based in lust, which may work for some readers, but for me, it was a disappointment. It just seemed like they went from "enemies" to "kind of friends" to lovers so quickly. And Adam had a couple of red flags that I couldn't ignore!

Some things I did enjoy: the connection between all three Flores sisters, the animal interactions, the settings of the beach and the forest, and the ending. (The ending was cute!)

I hope others find this one fulfilling! Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced copy of the e-book (all opinions are mine)! I requested this through Berkley’s Influencer Hub for Underrepresented Voices as it features autistic representation.

I absolutely adored this story! This is book 3 in the Wild Magic series and I do recommend reading the first 2 before this one. I think building up Sky’s character through the first 2 books made this book even more special.

I thought the pacing was perfect and it lent itself to the low stakes but magical and whimsical vibes of the book. There was adventure but it was more character focused than plot focused. If you know me you know I love stories that lend themselves to Appalachian culture and this was a really great representation of the heart of Appalachian folklore and magic.

The romance was lovely and I thought Adam and Sky were perfectly matched. I enjoyed getting to know Adam and his grandfather and what they added to the family focus of this series (don’t worry, the women of the Flores family were still around and I loved them too). Adam was as charming as he was complex.

My very favorite thing about this book was Sky’s character. I think we all appreciate seeing ourselves reflected in what we read and for those of us who are neurodivergent these opportunities are sometimes scarce. I thought Sky’s character was a beautiful representation of being an autistic woman in a world that can sometimes feel like it wasn’t made for you. I loved the author’s note at the end and that Sky wasn’t diagnosed in the story. This made it even more special for me especially as someone who was also diagnosed later in life. I felt every struggle and perceived misstep Sky felt she made and hurt with her.

I only wish we could carry on with this series, there’s so much more I want to know! I highly recommend checking the Wild Magic series out for a lot of heart, sisterly love, magic, whimsy, and romance.

Thanks again to Berkley for the advanced copy of the e-book! Catch this story when it releases January 13th.

[WhenDoTheyKiss? · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to Berkley Romance for the free book!

The Magic of Untamed Hearts by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland turned me into a puddle of tears, but in a good way! It’s the third book in the Wild Magic series, and focuses on the youngest sister, Sky Flores, whose gift is being a witch of criaturas. Sky was in a magically preserved sleep for eight years, and appeared as a ghost to her older sister Sage whenever she was emotional. Now reunited with her body, Sky is trying to make up for lost time. And that’s not easy when close-minded people in your small town actively bully you for being different.

Despite all of her mistreatment, Sky continues to seek connection — with her sisters, her grandmother, aunt, and if it will make the town accept her — her grumpy neighbor’s grandson. Adam is the town golden boy, so if they’re seen together as fake friends, Sky in exchange will let Adam write the true story of how she disappeared and survived. The story might help Adam regain his journalism career, and show people that Sky is an actual person beyond the “crazy woman who speaks with animals.”

If I could have inserted myself into this book, I would first give Sky a big hug. THEN, I would go after every person who hurts her, including Sage and Teal (they get it together eventually), to even the score. Sky is a better person than I am because I would definitely ask my animal friends to help me get revenge. My favorite moment is Sky introducing Lily, a bear, to William (the grumpy neighbor) and Adam. William takes one look at Lily, says he’s seen enough and is going to bed. We also see Sky communicate with a tiger shark, a hawk, and coyotes. I really loved the magical realism in this book, and the rest of the series. As always, whenever a trilogy ends, I’m sad but I’m excited to see what Raquel writes next.

fake friends to lovers
latina FMC
FMC with undiagnosed ASD
moderate steam
WDTK? Ch. 19

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having not read the first two books in this series I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I very much enjoyed The Magic of Untamed Hearts. This was easily read as a standalone. Now that my interest is piqued, I may still go back and read the other two novels.

What I enjoyed most in this magical contemporary romance was the representation of neurodivergence in the main character. Some of the ways in which she is bullied and ostracized rang true for me to the point of tears. That feeling of never fitting in and never being able to trust when people are nice, because you could just wind up the butt of a cruel joke. Gilliland amplifies this by making her a witch who inexplicably disappears for 8 years, making her the "town freak" in even crueler ways, but the cruelty of people faced with someone they don't understand still rings true. I loved her relationship with her older neighbor next door, and the way the MMC comes to accept her for who she is an hard but believable road. I am sure for fans of the series the appearance of her sisters is also fun, but as the youngest and the most difficult, I could also relate to how the FMC feels like her sisters have moved on without her and she is only a bother. The family resolution is in many ways as central to the story as the romance.

As a white woman who values logic and evidence, the most challenging part of the book is indeed the magic. However, rather than a fault, this is clearly intentional on the part of the author. By rooting the magic's origin in indigenous stories of Gods and nature in contrast to western empirical thinking is supposed to challenge those assumptions and lead the reader to critically think about why they believe what they believe. How much proof should we required before believing someone else's experience? This is the very question the MMC also has to come to terms with, and it is done beautifully.

[Payton Box · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review - received an ebook from the publisher, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’ve been obsessed with Sage, Teal, and Sky since I first read Witch of Wild Things, and I was so excited when Teal’s book came out, but I have been mostly waiting for Sky’s book. I related so much to Sage and her role as the eldest sister, but I also relate to Sky and how her insecurities about being a burden and being the one who always reaches out, it was like some of Sky’s character was literally pulled from my head. All of these books have been so emotional, so well-written, and just beautiful stories that honor ancestry, families, love, an the earth that I adore and so rarely see in a lot of the books I’ve read.

Sky, who was in a coma like ghost thing for 8 years, is struggling with making friends and connections in a town where they all see her as a source of of entertainment and not as a real person. It’s so sad reading about her being afraid to date, go out to dinner, and overall fear of her safety just because she doesn’t fit in the town’s view of normal. I think this book does a great job at reminding how closed-minded small towns can be, especially when we see so many accepting and open-minded small towns, but in this series, I think focusing on the reality of small towns was a perfect choice to add external conflict to the story that controls Sky’s actions and mindset for so long.

Adam and Sky are so cute, both over text and in person, they made me smile more time than I could count, and we’re literally so adorable as they figured out how to be the best partner for each other. I loved seeing Adam learn about Sky’s gifts, and finding joy even when he couldn’t fully understand or comprehend everything yet. The shark scene was by far my favorite.

I am so sad this series is over, but I have to say I cannot wait to see what comes next!

[Pj Ausdenmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing you have to do with this book is suspend disbelief. Once that's accomplished, what follows is a satisfying conclusion to this trilogy that tells the stories of the three Flores sisters, complex women with secret magical powers.

I've been eager to read Sky's book since she was first mentioned earlier in the series. How could I not be curious about a girl who falls from a cliff at sixteen and is not seen again until she magically reappears at twenty-four? How is that possible? Where has she been? Was she really "living" as a ghost caught in the in-between all that time?

Sky is depicted exactly as I would expect of one who lost eight formative years. Struggling to find her place within her family, the community at large, and an unexpected friendship with Adam, she's a complicated character who embodies both old-soul wisdom and inexperienced naivete. Couple that with what is most certainly undiagnosed neurodiversity and you have a woman who is unapologetically authentic, if at times awkward and a bit cringey. I found her to be believable, relatable, and someone I couldn't help but root for.

Adam is certainly not a perfect hero but he just might be perfect for Sky...if he can unpack his own emotional baggage. I appreciated the time the author took with him as well. Both he and Sky have a believable growth arc that gradually unfolds as their friendship slowly transitions into sizzling chemistry and deepening feelings.

If you're in the mood for spicy romance, family dynamics, coming-of-age stories, magical elements, and hard-won happy endings, give this one a try. It can stand on its own but I think it's much more meaningful - and enjoyable - if the trilogy is read in order.

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased opinions

[Lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think 2025 is just the year I perpetually screw up and keep continually reading books out of order. In case you’re wondering that’s exactly what happened with me when reading The Magic of Untamed Hearts. I just saw a pretty cover and super interesting synopsis on NetGalley and I said, say less!

Now don’t get me wrong I’m not blaming the author or the story itself for my mess up. But I definitely think I would’ve enjoyed and understood parts of the story more if I read the other two books. So that’s why for now my star rating is at 3⭐️. I fully plan to go back and read the first two and then do a re-read of this. So if you see future Lexies review marking change that’s why. So in the meantime take my advice read about Sky’s sisters first then come back here. Trust me you won’t regret it. But hey on the bright side I can’t wait to go back and start from the beginning.

Now in regards to The Magic of Untamed Hearts. I have to give some massive love to Sky. She is truly the most relatable and remarkable FMC. Plus she is great representation for people who are autistic. Watching Sky stumble and struggle with being misunderstood at times was heartbreaking. But then throughout the novel watching her grow and accept herself plus be unconditionally loved by her family and our MMC was so emotionally rewarding. I think a lot of people reading this will find her journey so relatable and healing and I can’t wait for people to experience it.

Overall, like I mentioned I enjoyed this but was still smudge confused at times. But I love Raquel’s writing and story telling and I can’t wait to go back and read her other books. And of course without hesitation I fully recommend this book

[jenswhitenoise · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You know what doesn't lie, though? Objects. The myriad of things people surround themselves with and use and collect...the objects in his home told the truth." -Sky

"I want someone to prioritize me so deeply, to remember me so consistently, that I never feel like a stranger in my own skin when I'm around them." -Sky

Sky & Adam. The third book in the Wild Magic series did not disappoint. I love the magical realism of this series, the secrets the family has to keep, the way they interact with each other and the world around them. In the first two books we saw the two sisters, Sage and Teal, at odds, and attempts at reunification. Now Sky comes back into the pictures and the sisters need to learn once again to be a trio and to act like sisters - not parents to Sky. Sky's reintroduction into the world, learning interpersonal skills and nuances was so exciting (after the first two books!). Seeing her do this with her neurodiversity was painful at times because you could feel her doubting herself.

I love how although each books focuses on one sister, the other sisters, family, and in-laws are also present so we can really see the relationships change and evolve.

While this can be read as a standalone, reading the books of this series in order brings a better understanding of what happened to Sky, where she was, and how she was found. The magic of the family is mostly explained in the first book and brings so much depth to the other two books.

I don't know if another book is planned for this series, but I'd love one more to see where they all are in a few years.

I received a complimentary eARC and my review is voluntary. Thank you to the author and Berkley Publishing Group.

"I don't wanna live that way anymore. Convincing myself that magic...that things that cannot be explained...can't exist. You know?" -Adam

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, The Berkley Influencer Hub for Underrepresented Voices and PRH Audio, for the gifted e-ARC and ALC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

I have not read the previous books in this series. I was requesting books that were LatinX (OwnVoices) with Berkley, and just checked off this one. Even though it’s part of a series, I didn’t feel lost. This one focuses on Sky, the youngest sister, and her trying to acclimate back in the real world. It took a little bit to understand the magic. Once we got more background, though, it was a really interesting world! I loved that she could communicate with animals.

The romance was sweet and cute. This book was a lot steamier than I thought!! Keep that in mind when going in; there’s a lot of spicy moments. I do wish the communication between Adam and Sky was a little better, but that’s okay.

My biggest issue with this book was Sky and how unrealistic she was. She came back to the living world after eight years. Of course, everyone has moved on with their lives, and everyone has questions. I hated that she went through terrible things. I think she expected way too much from her immediate circle. They will have questions, and they already have lives without her. It was unfair of her to throw fits about it and throw herself pity parties. It’s going to take a minute to fit her back into their lives!

Overall, I thought this was a cute book. I enjoyed the magical elements and the romance. I wish that Sky were more open and communicated more with those around her. I will be going back to read the previous books in this series!

[Megan (megs_bookblog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Magic of Untamed Hearts by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Narrator: Elena Ray
Rating: 3.5 stars
Pub date: 1/13

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for my advanced copy and to PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

Sky Flores has always felt a little out of place in her small town. Between her mysterious past (which she spent as a ghost) and her ability to connect with animals, Cranberry never really knew what to do with her. After years of being disconnected, she’s trying to find her footing again, even though the town still isn’t on her side.

Then there’s Adam Noemi, a laid-off journalist desperate for a big story to get his career back on track. Sky’s story is exactly what he’s been looking for, so they make a deal: an exclusive interview in exchange for publicly befriending her, which starts a relationship that’s way more romantic than either of them expected.

This was such a cozy story! Watching the connection between Adam and Sky grow was honestly so fun, especially with the added twist of them unknowingly matching on a dating app. I also loved the sister dynamic between Sky, Sage, and Teal, and I’m sad to see the end of their story since this is the third and final book in the series.

This book was great on audio! The narrator did an amazing job bringing the story to life.

Overall, this is exactly what it promises: a quick, spicy, heartwarming read that made me smile. Perfect if you’re between heavier books and just want something comforting and fun.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for the ARC of this title. It was so lovely to float back into the Wild Magic world created by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland. The first two books were wonderfully magical, while being very relatable, romantic, and steeped in culture and folklore. I was excited to see how Sky would acclimate to being back in the world of the living.

Having been held in between worlds by the old gods for eight years, Sky Flores has a lot to catch up on, not the least of which is the man she was very attracted to while she was a ghost. But when Sky meets Adam in the real world, she finds it hard to believe her attraction could be both reciprocated and deserved. Meanwhile, Adam is struggling with his own efforts to come out of a stupor of drink, ambition, and women that has basically destroyed his life. They find each other during a time of transition and aren't sure they can trust their feelings, much less their future.

I struggled a bit with Sky's character, but I think that was the author's point. What felt like naivety was actually more of a neurodivergence. The spicey scenes were the biggest challenge for me because they felt slightly awkward. But again, that was the intention of the author, and ultimately I appreciated the inclusivity of the perspective. I feel it is because the world and the characters Gilliland created is so rich and welcoming that Sky's story simply adds another beautiful layer.