Never remember, never look back, and do not trust the wolves…The triple goddesses made a huge mistake. They chose me, a human with memory issues, who was locked in a dungeon (because she got stabby with a shifter’s foot), to enter the deadliest set of trials designed to make new alphas for the three Crone, Maiden and Mother. Only one shifter from each pack survives…and it can’t be me.
There has never been a human in the Folkland…and I’ve just become the bait for the royal heirs. Blackfire from the Crone Pack, Orion from the Maiden Pack, and Reed from the Mother Pack have figured out that keeping me close will lure the other chosen out for them to kill so they can win.
They hate me because I’m human, and I hate them because if I don’t do what they want, their alpha will kill my own family—my sister.
But the heirs keep saving my life, caring for me, and acting possessive, growling that I’m theirs.
What the wolves don’t know is my monster visits me in my dreams, a gargoyle who looks at me like I’m his and whispers that I’m from oblivion.
My monster says the world will tremble when I’m unleashed. When I remember.
And what if it does?
USA TODAY Bestselling Author G. Bailey returns with a new series. Touched by Oblivion is a shifter romantasy for fans of humans who find themselves in close proximity to growling shifter males who are unhinged for their woman. You will find tropes like—High stakes, Hidden identity, Slow burn, Why choose, Forbidden romance, Forced proximity, Enemies to lovers, Fated mates, and Arranged marriage throughout this series.
G. Bailey is a USA Today bestselling author of books that are filled with everything from dragons to pirates. Plus, fantasy worlds and breath-taking adventures. Oh, and some swoon-worthy men that no girl could forget. G. Bailey is from the very rainy U.K. where she lives with her husband, two children and three cheeky dogs.
Touched by Oblivion is the first book in the The Fouth Pack Series and G. Bailey did it again.
What an amazing way to start a new series. Our FMC, Meredith Crone, is a human orphan with no memories prior to the age of eight. Our girl is full of trauma, her body covered in scars and burn marks, but her heart is filled with pure love and devotion. I undoubtedly fell in love with her. The way she fiercely protects the ones she loves - even while hurting and suffering from her own choices - makes her one of my favorite FMCs.
Now, our brave girl stabs a shifter’s foot to defend her best friend, and to pay the price for such a “monstrous” act, she is chosen to take part in the deadliest trials. These trials take place on a mythical island over six months, where the next bride or groom for the alpha heirs is chosen. And what a trial this was - but you’ll have to read it to find out what happens.
And what can I say about these dark, traumatized, psycho shifter heirs…
💀 Prince Reed, our white wolf and heir to the Maiden Pack - the least dark of our evil boys. A sweet, broken psycho who just wants to be truly loved.
💀 And in her dreams, a devilishly beautiful monster - the enigmatic Gargoyle - promising eternal love and answers to her past while waiting for her to remember him.
Tannith, her BFF and heart sister “by the strings of fate,” is another character I absolutely love. They are each other’s person, and their bond is fierce and beautiful. The path this character takes throughout the book is unique, and I love her to pieces. And Elizabeth - the evil prince’s sister - has definitely earned her place in this story. I’m very curious to see what she will bring in the future.
The world-building is incredible. We’re introduced to three different packs: the Crone Pack, who control fire; the Maiden Pack, who control water; and the Mother Pack, who control earth - one pack for each of the three goddesses who created the wolves. The magic system is unbelievably good.
This is an amazing slow-burn story, full of pain and trauma, where cruelty rules and survival is possible - but the cost and sacrifice to her soul may be almost too much to bear. Will it be worth it? That’s what I’ll be desperate to know while waiting for the next book.
What an amazing work, as always, G. Thank you for this incredible ARC opportunity. Once again, I’ve fallen in love with the unique world you created. And what an exceptional beginning this was.
Tropes to expect: - Shifters - Hidden Identity - Why Choose - High Stakes - Forced proximity - Magic Trials - Enemies to Lovers - She's Married (but doesn't know about it) - They are all Unhinged
My word Touched by Oblivion was one hell of a start to this series. Orphan Meredith is drawn into a violent game of the hunger games involving wolves - Blackfire, Orion & Reed to help her friend/made family - Tannith. Only she couldn't be saddled with 3 more difficult guys all of which are a product of the packs they came from. Add to that a Gargoyle who haunts her dreams for most of this book all the leading to a jaw droppingly great cliff-hanger ending that was so bloody brilliant. I can't wait to get my hands on book 2 now.
-Reverse harem possibly? Multiple men tell her that she is theirs.. but no actual real spice in the book.
Trials. I had no idea this book was full of trials.
My opinion is that I love the FMC’s loyalty to her best friend. She’s loyal and empathetic. But, and yes there is a but.. she sometimes does or says dumb and annoying things in this book that make you want to roll your eyes.
This is a multi pov and without saying too much looks like it will be a RH series. This book didn’t have any spice really. If you’re looking for something super spicy this won’t be it. I think it was a good read.
So entertaining and dramatic asf. Barely RH, slow burn, but I was hooked the whole time. I need the second book immediately! 😩
Spice level – 0.5🌶️ Characters – Sometimes in RH I can’t even tell the love interests apart, but in this one I actually could. Each MMC had his own personality and vibe, and the FMC was both kind and strong and annoying here and there. Plot – So much fun. The trials lowkey gave Hunger Games energy in the best way.
This is an emotionally uplifting novel about learning to love your body no matter how damaged. Having four men love you when you are embarrassed about your body emphasizes how we criticize ourselves more harshly than others.
I am not a fan of Reverse Harem. Ultimately, most of these stories have little personality differences between the harem, simple plots, and a lack of creativity. But they are hard to avoid nowadays, and I might be missing a real gem if I avoid them all. My first question is always “Is this worth reading?” Well, let’s see.
*THE WORLD-BUILDING:* *___________________________* There are signs to worry about. The FMC lives in a world dominated by werewolf clans. Humans are either enslaved or placed into reservations. Growing up as a displaced orphan who was abused and scarred would normally leave emotional scars and personality disorders. I know this, and I don’t see anything but an overactive mouth and inability to recognize authority. As a formerly emotionally damaged person, I can understand anger and resentment and refusal to follow authority (think about slaves defying their masters in private), but I cannot relate to her. She’s snarky and too quick to speak her mind without thinking.
The plot revolves around an infrequent competition between potential leaders that supposedly makes the packs better, after only the strongest survive. This is another *Animal Farm *where tyranny rules. I can only hope that the real reason for the competition is a correction of the wilder instincts. Considering what I see in our country’s ruler, I want to read about the rulers learning to live as the poorest do instead of mimicking some sympathy. Bring on the trials!
THE ROMANCE: ______________________ The nice thing is that all the men have some distinguishing parts. They are not deep characters, but they don’t need to be. One is an insta-love, one is a mysterious insta-bond, one is the surly and possibly enemies-to-lovers, and one immediately wants to eat her. Or kill her.
I think the story is about 75% plot/25% romance, but the romance is the point of the plot. Sex is not the point here, but it did feel steamy. I think the part that made me soften the most was that only the FMC cared about her scars, and I felt that the romance helped her see herself as lovely and valuable.
*THE HAREM:* _______________________ Prince Reed, Maiden pack, white hair with blue eyes. Has immediate soul-binding attraction to her. Instalust with a side of “perhaps learn that males should be on their knees for all women.” His review of her, uh, assets, is the usual obsession, and I wish the author didn’t fall into that overwritten pattern. But I understand: he is controlled by his wolf’s instincts, which are lust and violence. Thus, I see why he was picked.
Blackfire (aka. Fire Pet): Crone pack, actively undermining his alpha uncle, if it weren’t for the pesky magic brand preventing any physical attack. With his wolf mask, he makes me think of Zoro. Orion: tall, blond, and handsome heir to the Mother Pack. Claims first dibs on killing her. Mysterious gargoyle man: not a wolf. Bites her and wants to take her away from the wolf shifters. ________________________ More Characters: Tannith: her BFF, hostage and turned into a small baby drake. Elizabeth Hallows: half-breed from the Mother pack, who apparently murdered the alpha.
Touched by Oblivion is a grim, seductive descent into a world ruled by ancient goddesses, blood-soaked trials, and predatory pack politics. From the first page, G. Bailey weaves a story steeped in shadows — one where humanity is fragile, memory is a curse, and love is anything but safe.
At the center of the story is a human girl with fractured memories, dragged into a brutal selection trial designed to crown the next alpha rulers of the shifter packs. Chosen by the Triple Goddesses — Maiden, Mother, and Crone — she is locked away, trained through violence, and treated as both weapon and weakness. In Folkland, humans are prey, and she is surrounded by creatures who despise her existence… yet cannot afford to let her die.
The three pack heirs — Blackfire, Orion, and Reed — are as dangerous as the world they rule. Cold, cruel, and bound by legacy, they keep her close out of strategy, not mercy. What follows is a slow-burn spiral of resentment, obsession, and forbidden attraction, where hatred blurs into hunger and protection comes at a terrible cost.
Threaded through the narrative is a haunting presence — a monster that visits her dreams, whispering truths she cannot remember and promising devastation once her past is revealed. This looming mystery gives the story a distinctly gothic edge, making every quiet moment feel heavy with impending ruin.
✨ What makes it shine in the dark:
A bleak, oppressive atmosphere that never lets the reader feel safe
Morally grey characters driven by power, prophecy, and desire
Slow-burn romance steeped in tension, cruelty, and reluctant dependence
Mythic undertones that hint at something ancient, wrathful, and inevitable
⚠️ Worth noting: This is very much a foundational first book — secrets are withheld, answers are delayed, and the heroine’s true nature remains shrouded in shadow. Readers looking for immediate resolution may struggle, but those who love long-game storytelling will feel the pull.
🖤 Final Thoughts Touched by Oblivion is not a comforting read — it is dark, brutal, and deliberately unsettling. It invites readers into a world where survival demands sacrifice and love is forged through pain. For fans of gothic romantasy, shifter politics, and stories that linger like a curse long after the final page, this is a haunting and compelling beginning.
Gem Bailey has blown my freaking mind. Touched by Oblivion was epic! It had everything I love about a good dark romantasy.
I liked Meredith from the start. She's a snarky book girlie with a quirky personality. I respected her loyalty, I liked her dark sense of humor, and who doesn't have an obsession with cake? Mere is like the book version of me; I couldn’t help but relate to her. The ride-or-die friendship she had with Tannith was fantastic. I loved their banter. The MMCs were walking red flags. God knows I love a psycho MMC. Gem did an incredible job with them. I had so many mixed emotions. I simultaneously liked and hated them. They were jerks, but at least Mere gave as good as she got, especially Orion. Haha! After some time, feelings were starting to change. They all liked Mere (especially Reed with his puppy energy), but it was obvious that they couldn’t be trusted. Ugh!
The world-building was pretty good. It was set in a paranormal world where magic and mythology mixed. There were wolf shifters with elemental magic, the triple goddess was very much involved, and there were gargoyles! All of it's set during a deadly trial. I eat this stuff up! I thought I knew what the story was about. I had no idea. Something besides the trials was obviously going on, but I couldn’t figure it out. The entire time, I was trying to puzzle out the oblivion angle. Gem gave us hints, but nothing concrete.
OMG! Those last few chapters were shock, awe, and devastation, and that's really saying something when compared to all the other crap that went down earlier in the book. I couldn't catch my breath because I kept gasping. Eyes wide, jaw dropped, type of shock. I'm hooked now. I highly recommend making this your next romantasy.
Oh my dear lord. What promise, what horrible execution
The premise was good, but that was it.
I read the whole thing, and there are many books much much better than this one that I have DNF because of less, but the story line was amazing.
This was written like a 6th grader - it was rushed, horrible editing issues, annoying and poorly written FMC.
The MMC POV were the only good parts, mostly because there weren’t enough of them to really find inconsistencies, ramblings that made no sense, and cliches all over.
The FMC has an obsession with cake that is almost cut and pasted every few chapters to show her as “quirky” - but it reads just dumb.
She cries a lot, but her BFF says she is inspired by her because she is tough and doesnt cry? The FMC comments about how funny she is, but she really isn’t. She is bratty and does everything she shouldn’t, and it is so predictable that you know she is going to do something silly… because she literally does the opposite of everything anyone tells her to do or not to do.
This needs a re-write…. Not edit, complete re-write.
I am rating 2 stars and not 1 because of the storyline, but it was a struggle to get through and I skipped a lot.
This reads like a pay-by-chapter app book; and honestly, some of those a written much much better
I've been asking G. Bailey to have a longer length story since Starlight Mates and she finally served it on a platter!
Meredith has gaps in her memory and is thrown into shifter trials designed to eliminate everyone except the strongest heirs of the Crone, Maiden, and Mother packs. It's quick-paced and the political tension between the packs gives the story more weight.
The male characters: Blackfire, Orion, and Reed each bring a different kind of intensity: one dangerous, one strategic, one unwillingly drawn to her. And then there’s the figure who keeps appearing in her dreams...
I love a narrative built around a capable heroine who hasn’t discovered her full potential. She reminds me of Evie (from her Runes of Truth), although she doesn't love bacon like Evie did. 🤣
Touched by Oblivion sets up a promising duology. I’m interested to see how the next book expands on what this one starts.
Genre: Fantasy
Tropes: MFMM (maybe another m too?) Enemies to lovers Shifter-verse (wolves) Shifter politics Fated mates Enemies to lovers Hidden Identity Forced Proximity
I was so lucky to be part of Gems ARC team and let me tell you she DID NOT dissapoint. She is THE QUEEN of Why Choose and this is beautifully written even if it came from dark time. This story follows Meredith Crone a no-name human orphan, with memory issues who gets thrown in a dungeon for getting stabby with a shifters foot. BIG NO-NO. She is then chosen to be in the deadliest trials that are meant to bring out the Alphas for the three packs. No Human has ever been entered. She is forced into competeing through threats to her only family. Her sister. The world building in this is fantastic. We get a glimpse of the heirarchy and how low the humans are really compared to shifters. There is three insanely gorgeous very unhinged MMCs who hate her, yet continue to protect her. If you love: Found Family Forced Proximity Deadly Games & Trials Forbidden Romance Unhinged MMCs No Bull FMC Fated Mates High Stakes Hidden Identity Animal Sidekick (with a twist) Why Choose Slow Burn
Meredith is a strong female character with an unfiltered mouth! I loved her devotion to her one-and-only friend Tannith, her fearlessness (even when she is afraid), her all-consuming desire for cake, and her drive to be more than just her past trauma. There are 3, no, 4 male characters who may become more than just acquaintances: Reed, Blackfire, and Orion are the wolf heirs and, then, there is the mysterious gargoyle Zyran. The plot moves smoothly and at a decent pace allowing the reader to learn about the characters and their background without doing an info dump. The concept is unique, even though it does feature individuals forced into trial after trial. At least the trials don't drag on endlessly on page. There's also a cliffhanger that makes me anxious to read the next in the series. This is a great start to a new series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
G. Bailey wastes no time throwing readers headfirst into a world of mystery and magic in the gripping first installment of her series. Three heir wolf shifters, each gifted with unique powers, are baffled when a HUMAN is chosen by their goddesses to undergo a sacred test meant for future pack leaders. All she wants is to save her friend—so why are they so irresistibly drawn to her? Bailey’s character development shines, breathing life into each figure with emotional depth and complexity. The storyline is a thrilling roller coaster of unexpected alliances, evolving relationships, and the ever-present question: who can you really trust? This book is a wild, addictive ride from start to finish I cannot wait to see where the next book in the series Bonded by Wolves takes us!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this book so much! I loved the trials and the guys! How each is so unique even with their magic. I love Blackfire and how mysterious he is but somehow soft with her. I loved Orion and how he sees her all of her when the others haven't yet seen her. And still falls for ever for being so strong when they all thought she was weak when she's everything but weak! I love how strong Meredith is even all that she's went through she's still willing to sacrifice everything for her best friend. I love how she's so innocent yet broken from the trauma but yet so strong for living through all of it. This book was so emotional I cried at the ending so much I'm still in shock. My heart went from my throat to the floor and shattered in so many pieces! I can't wait for the next book because this series is starting to turn into my new favourite!
Touched by Oblivion was a great read. This slow burn paranormal romance is filled with magic, mystery, suspense, trials, great friendships, memory loss, trust issues, sacrifice, banter and so much more. I don't want to give too much away because I think this is a story that readers will enjoy but I will say that I enjoyed Meredith's characters a lot and I'm looking forward to more of her. When it comes to the MMC's in the story, their characters are ones that will have you with mixed feelings, but I will say that I'm looking forward to reading how everything will develop between them. That cliffhanger ending was everything and that alone left me looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I can't wait to find out what happens next.
First in The Fourth Pack series, Touched by Oblivion is a paranormal enemies to lovers romance with deadly trials, magic, uncovering lost memories, plenty of angst and banter. Meredith, Blackfire, Orion, Reed, and a mysterious dream figure all entrap you within this story waiting on the edge to see what’s next. Sometimes I’m out for a story that leads straight to the heat, this is one of the stories where I’m loving the slow burn with all the push and pull of angst and fire! It edges you so perfectly, cresting one hill to drop down and start again. The characters all have their own flame to add to the pit, and the next book only seems to promise just how hot that bonfire is going to get!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Book 1 of The Fourth Pack Series. 'A shifter romantasy for fans of humans who find themselves in close proximity to growling shifter males who are unhinged for their woman.' *sigh*
The characters drove the storyline and they were very compelling and complex and complicated and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and exciting and action packed and fast paced. World building was excellent and impressive. Looking forward to more from this world. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book really took me by surprise! I absolutely loved it and cannot wait for book 2.
Meredith is an awesome character, she had me laughing so much with her unhinged conversations with Tannith and her obsessionwith cake. Her interaction with the 3 heirs and her monster also had me invested. I liked that she wasn't falling into insta love with them. That she kept them at arms length, protected her heart (there is good reason why).
The parts about pulling threads had me thinking of a different book that I have read before. But all in all, this book will have you sucked in from the get go and you will struggle to put it down.
The world-building is phenomenal. We get a clear look at the shifter hierarchy and just how far below humans really are. Touched by Oblivion totally grabbed me from the very first page! The mix of mystery, lost memories, and wolf shifters kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The tension between the heroine and the powerful, insanely gorgeous & wildly unhinged MMCs who hate her… yet can’t stop protecting her is intense and absolute perfection. made it impossible to put down. this slow-burn romance had me hooked from start to finish I’m dying to see what happens next in the series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book grabbed my attention and held onto it from the very beginning. Well written world building and character development. Great first book in what will no doubt be another addicting series.
Who doesn’t love a smart mouthed and sassy MMC who loves her best friend more than life itself?! And when that bff is turned into an equally snarky animal “sidekick”? Priceless.
I can’t wait to see just how “burn the world to get her back” the guys turn out to be, and hopefully the amount of groveling holds true to Reed’s “men should be on their knees for women” thoughts perfectly. 😜
As soon as I read the blurb for Touched by Oblivion I knew I needed to read the story. This book 100% does not disappoint. The characters are wonderfuly written and the world building is beautiful. This is a beautiful story of self discovery, love, friendship, and growth. It is full of whitty banter, broody bad-boys, and strength. The only slight spoiler I will give is the cliffhanger really got me and I cannot wait for more. I highly recommend this book for all fantasy, paranormal, and romance readers...you will not be disappointed ❣️
This is the first book in the The Fourth Pack Series and what a way to start the series. I could not put this book down, it is full of danger suspense and challenges Meredith must face to survive. The story is unpredictable, throw in twists and turns and I could not stop reading. I loved that the author gives you clues to Meredith's past, but nothing is revealed until the end. Loved the cliffhanger and cannot wait for the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’ve never read a book by G Bailey that I haven’t loved. Her stories pull you in immediately and don’t let go until you’ve finished. Meredith is damaged and naive but sassy and strong at the same time. Her relationship with the heirs is slow burn but I’m looking forward to seeing how they build in the next book. I can’t wait to learn more about her Monster and who he really is. I have a feeling Meredith is going to surprise us all in the next book and I can’t wait to see how her story turns out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another book that proves why G.Bailey deserves a spot on your shelf. If you love strong FMCs and protective touch her and die MMCs, especially in a world that blends humans and wolf shifters, this book is for you!
The writing was engaging from the start, with plenty of tension through trials, enemies to lovers moments, bickering and constant questioning of who to trust. I loved the multiple POVs as well as the mix of past and present chapters.
I was hooked straight away and couldn’t put it down, my only complaint is the cliffhanger. Now I’m just impatiently waiting for the next book!
Wow, what a story. Meredith Crone, a human, and her best friend Tannith find themselves in a set of trials set by the Goddesses with three brooding wolf Alpha heirs. As they spend more time together they battle their feelings, but not all is as it seems and a strange gargoyle appears to Meredith in her dreams. With a cliffhanger ending that is heartbreaking and surprising, this dark story is one that is full of drama and suspense and has many twists and turns. It certainly keeps you on the edge of your seat. I can't wait to find out what happens next.
I enjoyed this story. Lots of drama, danger, hilarious inner monologues and very crazy wolves. Enjoyed how one simple and a bit crazy human with a horrible past is thrown to the wolves and faces a wolf challenge and is expected to live. Gotta say the danger and trouble everyone faces was wild. Some secrets are hinted at and cannot wait to see what happens in the next one since our main characters survived the trials. But you know things are going to get more crazy then this first book was. Loved it.
Merediths story has you hooked from the blurb and page one. You know something happened to her when she was younger and that it's to protect her but not exactly what and why. The whole book you will be hoping to get that info. As she gets dragged in to Fokland trials to find the best alphas to rule as a human and wolves that seem cruel yet protect her the whole way through that you will root for tgem to come together. The ending gives you some answers and so many more questions that you can't help but hope that next book is here. I definitely need more.
This is a slow burn paranormal romance is filled with magic, mystery, suspense and so much more. I don't want to give too much away because I think this is a story that readers will enjoy but I will say that I enjoyed Meredith's characters a lot and I'm looking forward to more of her. When it comes to the MMC's in the story, their characters are ones that will have you with mixed feelings, but I will say that I'm looking forward to reading how everything will develop between them. Can't wait for the next book.
Stop what you are doing, and read this. Now this is just going to live in my head, rent free until the next book is released!! Loved the twists and turns, the trials and how sassy the FMC is, she is amazing!!! I’ve already preordered the next book, and counting down for it 😄
I’m a fan of this author already and love her books, this is an amazing book, I loved how it’s different from other wolf shifter themes.
This is another fantastically written book by G. Bailey, which had me hooked from the very first page. The story follows three wolf shifter heirs, each with unique powers. But chaos ensues when the goddesses select a human to participate in deadly trials designed to produce new alphas for the three packs. The characters are exciting and interesting, and they bring emotional depth to the story. The way the dynamics between them evolve is also gripping. I can't wait to find out what happens next in the sequel!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
loved it !!! a great start for this new series !! love Meredith !! the males ? nope !! this is their story... a fast paced action packed rom/drama.... the trials... the goddesses picked her.. a human with memory issues... and the males Reed, Orion and Blackfire are fighting the pull ... to be alpha you must win... or die... she dreams of another... who is he ? and the cliffhanger ... yeah....
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.