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The House of Shadows
Not yet published
Expected 24 Mar 26
Welcome to the House of Shadows, where dark secrets, wicked magic, and dangerous mates thrive in the city of New Orleans.
I messed up my last heist.
Now caught by those I tried to steal from, I’m terrified that I traded one lifelong debt for another. Between the ruthless vampire, the arrogant wolf, the mysterious dragon, and the irritating fae assassin, the men of The House of Shadows have monsters brewing inside. And to make it worse, my presence means they must now choose to punish me or become my protectors forever.
Because I am being hunted.
The secret is out that I am not fully human, and that curse places a target on my back. The Crescent Coven wants me dead. The men need my special birthright to make them stronger. And I must learn how to tap into my legacy magic without fear holding me back.
I have to survive.
My only choice is to align with those more wicked and more cunning—and much more dangerous than the enemies I’ve come to know. But summoning the darkest parts of my soul comes with a price. And that cost might devastate us all if I can’t find a way to control it.
The House of Shadows is a steamy, medium-burn paranormal why choose romance featuring an additional story from A.L. Garr’s Romance With A Bite shared world. These stories were previously published under Carla Winters as The Blood Game, The Blood Curse, and The Blood Wars.
I messed up my last heist.
Now caught by those I tried to steal from, I’m terrified that I traded one lifelong debt for another. Between the ruthless vampire, the arrogant wolf, the mysterious dragon, and the irritating fae assassin, the men of The House of Shadows have monsters brewing inside. And to make it worse, my presence means they must now choose to punish me or become my protectors forever.
Because I am being hunted.
The secret is out that I am not fully human, and that curse places a target on my back. The Crescent Coven wants me dead. The men need my special birthright to make them stronger. And I must learn how to tap into my legacy magic without fear holding me back.
I have to survive.
My only choice is to align with those more wicked and more cunning—and much more dangerous than the enemies I’ve come to know. But summoning the darkest parts of my soul comes with a price. And that cost might devastate us all if I can’t find a way to control it.
The House of Shadows is a steamy, medium-burn paranormal why choose romance featuring an additional story from A.L. Garr’s Romance With A Bite shared world. These stories were previously published under Carla Winters as The Blood Game, The Blood Curse, and The Blood Wars.
504 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 24, 2026
22 people want to read
About the author
A.L. Garr
5 books10 followersA.L. Garr enjoys losing herself in fantasy worlds. She loves to write snarky, sassy characters of all ages, knowing that adventure, excitement, and love have no age limit.
Learn more about A.L. Garr and her other romance pen names at www.algarrbooks.com.
Learn more about A.L. Garr and her other romance pen names at www.algarrbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 5, 2026
Thank you to Nerd Fam and A.L Garr for an ARC of this book!
Katarina has spent the last 7 years of her live serving Witches and completing jobs for them. On what was supposed to be her final job, everything goes wrong for her. She is taken to the House of Shadows where she is taken prisoner and thrust into a world she never anticipated being thrown into.
I would rate this 3.75. It was a very very spicy why choose story. It was very fast paced, lots of spicy romance scenes. There was a lot of action packed scenes and mystery thrown in there. There was a lot of fun banter between the men of House of Shadows and Katarina. I also enjoyed the supernatural elements to the story as well. If you are a fan of spicy with supernatural elements, you would definitely like this story!
Katarina has spent the last 7 years of her live serving Witches and completing jobs for them. On what was supposed to be her final job, everything goes wrong for her. She is taken to the House of Shadows where she is taken prisoner and thrust into a world she never anticipated being thrown into.
I would rate this 3.75. It was a very very spicy why choose story. It was very fast paced, lots of spicy romance scenes. There was a lot of action packed scenes and mystery thrown in there. There was a lot of fun banter between the men of House of Shadows and Katarina. I also enjoyed the supernatural elements to the story as well. If you are a fan of spicy with supernatural elements, you would definitely like this story!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
DNF Review – House of Shadows by A.L. Garr
Thank you to the publisher and Nerdfam for providing me with an ARC.
I was genuinely excited to get my hands on this one because I absolutely love the why choose trope. It’s one of my favorite romance dynamics, and I’ve read a lot of books in this subgenre that hooked me from the very first chapter.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.
The premise initially caught my attention. The FMC is a thief tasked with stealing something extremely important for the coven that took her in, which set up what could have been a really intriguing story. However, as I continued reading, I struggled to connect with both the narrative and the main character.
The FMC’s internal voice and the heavy focus on lust early in the story made it difficult for me to engage with her character. I would have loved to see more meaningful interactions and character development between the FMC and the MMCs before the attraction ramped up. That emotional build is usually what makes why choose romances so addictive for me.
Another aspect that didn’t quite work for me was the way the FMC viewed herself as powerless or not special, even though she could communicate with a familiar she didn’t realize she had. That element felt a bit frustrating to read through.
I did actually like the MMCs individually, but as a group they felt a little too familiar almost like versions of archetypes I’ve seen many times before in other why choose stories. Because of that, I never fully connected with them or their dynamic with the FMC.
I also found myself repeatedly putting the book down and not feeling motivated to pick it back up, which is very unusual for me with this trope.
At the end of the day, this just wasn’t the right fit for my reading taste. That said, readers who enjoy fast-burn attraction and familiar why-choose dynamics may still have a great time with this one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5⭐ 5🌶️ - Digital Copy, Advance Read
Found Family, SPICY!!!!, BDSM, Polyamorous, Magic
The House of the Shadows is a spice forward romantasy that borders on erotica, in all the best ways. While there is a plot, the plot actually revolves around the spice. This was a fun read with magical elements that were entertaining to learn about. The spice scenes were well written. I didn't love Katarina as a character; there was something about her that had me struggling to really connect with her. The men were entertaining and their characters were well written. Aiden was my favorite as he had a great balance of goofy, serious, and pitch-black moments throughout the story.
Would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a spice forward paranormal story with not too much world/magic building in it.
Story Synopsis:
Meet the men:
Roman - Vampire: Head of the House of Shadows and in charge of running New Orleans for the vampires and all paranormal creatures.
Blaise - 1/2 Dragon shifter who can't shift: angry and closed off due to an extra-long life of being disconnected from his dragon
Dorian - Wolf Shifter who is fun and loving but very protective and will kill when the situation calls for it.
Aiden - Fae who, like Dorian, enjoys having fun and handles stress by cracking jokes. But he will kill those who threaten his family.
When the men of the House of Shadows catch Katarina trying to steal a neckless from a charity auction, they bring her to their house to interrogate her on why the witch coven has sent her. Believing she is merely a human who steals for the witches to pay off a debt, Katarina doesn't understand why these men would be drawn to her. But she is not what she has grown up believing she is and the more she is around the men, the more her true nature comes out.
Found Family, SPICY!!!!, BDSM, Polyamorous, Magic
The House of the Shadows is a spice forward romantasy that borders on erotica, in all the best ways. While there is a plot, the plot actually revolves around the spice. This was a fun read with magical elements that were entertaining to learn about. The spice scenes were well written. I didn't love Katarina as a character; there was something about her that had me struggling to really connect with her. The men were entertaining and their characters were well written. Aiden was my favorite as he had a great balance of goofy, serious, and pitch-black moments throughout the story.
Would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a spice forward paranormal story with not too much world/magic building in it.
Story Synopsis:
Meet the men:
Roman - Vampire: Head of the House of Shadows and in charge of running New Orleans for the vampires and all paranormal creatures.
Blaise - 1/2 Dragon shifter who can't shift: angry and closed off due to an extra-long life of being disconnected from his dragon
Dorian - Wolf Shifter who is fun and loving but very protective and will kill when the situation calls for it.
Aiden - Fae who, like Dorian, enjoys having fun and handles stress by cracking jokes. But he will kill those who threaten his family.
When the men of the House of Shadows catch Katarina trying to steal a neckless from a charity auction, they bring her to their house to interrogate her on why the witch coven has sent her. Believing she is merely a human who steals for the witches to pay off a debt, Katarina doesn't understand why these men would be drawn to her. But she is not what she has grown up believing she is and the more she is around the men, the more her true nature comes out.
February 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to A.L. Garr for an ARC!
This was a spicy good time! We follow Katarina, a thief for the Crescent Coven, who was tasked to steal a valuable necklace from Roman, the vampire head of the House of Shadows. During the heist, Katarina is caught and taken captive by Roman, Aiden (a fae), Dorian (a werewolf), and Blaise (a dragon shifter). Once their captive, Katarina weaves her presence into their world and their hearts; however, they all end up in the middle of a supernatural power battle for control over New Orleans. Katarina was a strong and feisty FMC. I loved seeing her come into her own, especially after learning some unknown aspects of her own past. And I can’t forget about her adorable, four-legged sidekick, Grim! As far as her men, I loved the character depth of each of them, especially that of Blaise. I loved watching his walls crumble as he let Katarina in more and more. This was also a high spice, quick burn romance. I loved the emotional depth of the spicy scenes and how they helped to further along the plot, especially the group scenes. This story was originally published as three different books under a different pen name, and I was able to tell where each of the books ended despite being integrated into one book. This didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book though. I will say that the book wrapped up a bit too quick in my opinion and there were some details that were glossed over and didn’t end up fully resolved. Overall, I had a great time with this one and would recommend it!
*Check TWs if needed!*
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to A.L. Garr for an ARC!
This was a spicy good time! We follow Katarina, a thief for the Crescent Coven, who was tasked to steal a valuable necklace from Roman, the vampire head of the House of Shadows. During the heist, Katarina is caught and taken captive by Roman, Aiden (a fae), Dorian (a werewolf), and Blaise (a dragon shifter). Once their captive, Katarina weaves her presence into their world and their hearts; however, they all end up in the middle of a supernatural power battle for control over New Orleans. Katarina was a strong and feisty FMC. I loved seeing her come into her own, especially after learning some unknown aspects of her own past. And I can’t forget about her adorable, four-legged sidekick, Grim! As far as her men, I loved the character depth of each of them, especially that of Blaise. I loved watching his walls crumble as he let Katarina in more and more. This was also a high spice, quick burn romance. I loved the emotional depth of the spicy scenes and how they helped to further along the plot, especially the group scenes. This story was originally published as three different books under a different pen name, and I was able to tell where each of the books ended despite being integrated into one book. This didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book though. I will say that the book wrapped up a bit too quick in my opinion and there were some details that were glossed over and didn’t end up fully resolved. Overall, I had a great time with this one and would recommend it!
*Check TWs if needed!*
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The House of Shadows is a compelling novel blending supernatural intrigue with a strong emotional core. Set against the evocative backdrop of New Orleans, the novel follows a young woman whose life is upended after a failed heist forces her into the House of Shadows - a sanctuary ruled by a powerful vampire and protected by a wolf shifter, a half-breed dragon, and a fae assassin. What begins as a desperate bid for survival evolves into a layered story of identity, trust, and unexpected connection.
Garr's world-building is one of the novel's standout strengths. The House itself feels alive, steeped with magic and danger. The pacing strikes a satisfying balance between action, mystery, romance, and character development, ensuring the story remains engaging. Each of the four male leads is distinct, morally complex, and layered with secrets. The chemistry with the heroine is electric and steamy, but Garr also gives space for emotional depth and trust-building. The romantic tension builds gradually, supported by emotional nuance and genuine character growth.
While the novel delivers on its promise of paranormal romance, it also offers deeper themes - found family, self-discovery, and the courage to confront one's past. The writing is accessible yet vivid. It is an engrossing, well-crafted paranormal romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy supernatural politics, slow-burn tension, and richly drawn characters.
The House of Shadows is a compelling novel blending supernatural intrigue with a strong emotional core. Set against the evocative backdrop of New Orleans, the novel follows a young woman whose life is upended after a failed heist forces her into the House of Shadows - a sanctuary ruled by a powerful vampire and protected by a wolf shifter, a half-breed dragon, and a fae assassin. What begins as a desperate bid for survival evolves into a layered story of identity, trust, and unexpected connection.
Garr's world-building is one of the novel's standout strengths. The House itself feels alive, steeped with magic and danger. The pacing strikes a satisfying balance between action, mystery, romance, and character development, ensuring the story remains engaging. Each of the four male leads is distinct, morally complex, and layered with secrets. The chemistry with the heroine is electric and steamy, but Garr also gives space for emotional depth and trust-building. The romantic tension builds gradually, supported by emotional nuance and genuine character growth.
While the novel delivers on its promise of paranormal romance, it also offers deeper themes - found family, self-discovery, and the courage to confront one's past. The writing is accessible yet vivid. It is an engrossing, well-crafted paranormal romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy supernatural politics, slow-burn tension, and richly drawn characters.
Review of advance copy received from Author
thank you to the nerd fam and a.l. garr for this arc!
⭐⭐⭐
this book was completely immersive. we really got into the world and every character's traits and personality over a fair amount of time: it wasn't rushed and it definitely wasn't too long. I really enjoyed the world building and how deeply connected you grow to be of all the characters we're following.
I really loved having multiple povs during the book, because each of them made me understand the plot better and have a wider perspective on what was going on. I have to admit, though, that at first, when getting to know everyone, I was a bit confused and overwhelmed with the amount of characters we have in the story, but, as it went on, this stopped being a problem, as I learned to love them all individually and understand them.
the writing is also very fast paced and easy to read. for me, having english as a second language, this was really easy to understand and follow: I was glad about it, cause usually I have a harder time reading fantasy novels because of the language that is used😭.
overall, i really enjoyed this book! the only thing that I feel is lowering my rating is the amount of spice contained in this book: I'm not one who deeply enjoys super spicy novels and this one had a lot of those scenes. this was just an aspect that wasn't entirely for me, but I can see many many people enjoying this type of story!
in conclusion, I'm giving in 3 stars and I would definitely read whatever a.l. garr comes out with next!
⭐⭐⭐
this book was completely immersive. we really got into the world and every character's traits and personality over a fair amount of time: it wasn't rushed and it definitely wasn't too long. I really enjoyed the world building and how deeply connected you grow to be of all the characters we're following.
I really loved having multiple povs during the book, because each of them made me understand the plot better and have a wider perspective on what was going on. I have to admit, though, that at first, when getting to know everyone, I was a bit confused and overwhelmed with the amount of characters we have in the story, but, as it went on, this stopped being a problem, as I learned to love them all individually and understand them.
the writing is also very fast paced and easy to read. for me, having english as a second language, this was really easy to understand and follow: I was glad about it, cause usually I have a harder time reading fantasy novels because of the language that is used😭.
overall, i really enjoyed this book! the only thing that I feel is lowering my rating is the amount of spice contained in this book: I'm not one who deeply enjoys super spicy novels and this one had a lot of those scenes. this was just an aspect that wasn't entirely for me, but I can see many many people enjoying this type of story!
in conclusion, I'm giving in 3 stars and I would definitely read whatever a.l. garr comes out with next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for this eARC!!
This book said monsters, chaos, magic, and why choose… and honestly I was immediately on board. The House of Shadows is fast paced, very spicy, and packed with morally gray men who absolutely understood the assignment.
Between the ruthless vampire, arrogant wolf, mysterious dragon, and the fae assassin who spends half the time being irritating in the best way, the dynamics in this group were a lot of fun. The romance is definitely quick burn and the spice level is HIGH, so if you like your paranormal romance with plenty of tension and steamy scenes, you’ll have a good time here.
I really enjoyed watching the FMC start to come into her power as she learns more about her past and the magic tied to her birthright. Seeing her grow more confident and step into who she is was one of my favorite parts of the story. And I cannot talk about this book without mentioning Grim, her adorable four legged sidekick, because he completely stole my heart.
I will say the ending wrapped up a little faster than I would have liked. A few things felt glossed over and some plot points didn’t feel fully resolved. The romance also leans a bit into instalove territory, which might not work for everyone.
That said, I still had a really fun time with this one. It’s spicy, chaotic, full of monsters, and an easy binge if you’re in the mood for a why choose paranormal romance.
This book said monsters, chaos, magic, and why choose… and honestly I was immediately on board. The House of Shadows is fast paced, very spicy, and packed with morally gray men who absolutely understood the assignment.
Between the ruthless vampire, arrogant wolf, mysterious dragon, and the fae assassin who spends half the time being irritating in the best way, the dynamics in this group were a lot of fun. The romance is definitely quick burn and the spice level is HIGH, so if you like your paranormal romance with plenty of tension and steamy scenes, you’ll have a good time here.
I really enjoyed watching the FMC start to come into her power as she learns more about her past and the magic tied to her birthright. Seeing her grow more confident and step into who she is was one of my favorite parts of the story. And I cannot talk about this book without mentioning Grim, her adorable four legged sidekick, because he completely stole my heart.
I will say the ending wrapped up a little faster than I would have liked. A few things felt glossed over and some plot points didn’t feel fully resolved. The romance also leans a bit into instalove territory, which might not work for everyone.
That said, I still had a really fun time with this one. It’s spicy, chaotic, full of monsters, and an easy binge if you’re in the mood for a why choose paranormal romance.
March 12, 2026
If you’re looking for your next spicy romantasy, featuring all sorts of magic, vampire, wolf and dragon shifters, witches and of course plenty of romance and banter, check this one out!
You’re dropped into the life of the FMC, as she is setting up to run one last job as a thief for the witches who took her in and helped raise her after she lost everyone else in her life. When she gets caught trying to steal the necklace by a group of powerful men, instead of punishing her, they take her back to their home as their temporary prisoner until they can find out why the witches set her up to be caught. In a race against time, she must work with these new men she feels and unknown draw to, and understand the truth about why she’s so important to the witches and what their plans are for her and the rest of this new group she’s been forced into.
This book had multiple POVs which is slowly becoming one of my favorite ways to read a story. I enjoyed seeing how each of the men saw the FMC as she was introduced to their lives and how the bonds between them formed so quickly and they immediately became both protective of her and wanting her. There was a pretty good mix of chaotic plot lines and spice, and as the truth about the FMC continued to unravel, some of the mysteries of her life started to make more sense! Overall I enjoyed this book and look forward to picking up the next one! My rating 4.2/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
You’re dropped into the life of the FMC, as she is setting up to run one last job as a thief for the witches who took her in and helped raise her after she lost everyone else in her life. When she gets caught trying to steal the necklace by a group of powerful men, instead of punishing her, they take her back to their home as their temporary prisoner until they can find out why the witches set her up to be caught. In a race against time, she must work with these new men she feels and unknown draw to, and understand the truth about why she’s so important to the witches and what their plans are for her and the rest of this new group she’s been forced into.
This book had multiple POVs which is slowly becoming one of my favorite ways to read a story. I enjoyed seeing how each of the men saw the FMC as she was introduced to their lives and how the bonds between them formed so quickly and they immediately became both protective of her and wanting her. There was a pretty good mix of chaotic plot lines and spice, and as the truth about the FMC continued to unravel, some of the mysteries of her life started to make more sense! Overall I enjoyed this book and look forward to picking up the next one! My rating 4.2/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Author
House of Shadow by A.L Garr
After heist goes wrong, maddie finds herself captive to Roman, Vampire king and his group of enforcers. What will Maddie discover of her past, and how will these men affect her life?
Thanks to @algarr and @thenerdfam for this gift eARC.
This is a high spice why choose with graphic polyamrory and BDSM, and lots of morally grey men. So many delicious MMCs - a brief introduction bellw
Dorian - Loyal and possessive wolf boy
Aiden - Powerful blond Fae rake
Blaise - Dark and moody dragon shifter
Roman - Vampire King and everyone's Zaddy
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT... GRIM, our goodo boy animal companion ❤️
There is also a really great storyline, lots of chacter development and overcoming mental barriers and trauma. My Favourite character is actually a supporting role, but I dont want to spoil the story 🤐
Highlights
- Some really touching found family moments, the round table family dinner had me giggling
- Grim is just the bestest boy 🐕🦺
- Battle scenes are well placed and well paced.
Thoughts
- I felt like the book ended quite abruptly, like there's still some background and plot lines that could be unpacked?
Overall rating 4/5
#thenerdfam #whychooseromance #bookstagrammer #romantasy #fantasyreads
After heist goes wrong, maddie finds herself captive to Roman, Vampire king and his group of enforcers. What will Maddie discover of her past, and how will these men affect her life?
Thanks to @algarr and @thenerdfam for this gift eARC.
This is a high spice why choose with graphic polyamrory and BDSM, and lots of morally grey men. So many delicious MMCs - a brief introduction bellw
Dorian - Loyal and possessive wolf boy
Aiden - Powerful blond Fae rake
Blaise - Dark and moody dragon shifter
Roman - Vampire King and everyone's Zaddy
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT... GRIM, our goodo boy animal companion ❤️
There is also a really great storyline, lots of chacter development and overcoming mental barriers and trauma. My Favourite character is actually a supporting role, but I dont want to spoil the story 🤐
Highlights
- Some really touching found family moments, the round table family dinner had me giggling
- Grim is just the bestest boy 🐕🦺
- Battle scenes are well placed and well paced.
Thoughts
- I felt like the book ended quite abruptly, like there's still some background and plot lines that could be unpacked?
Overall rating 4/5
#thenerdfam #whychooseromance #bookstagrammer #romantasy #fantasyreads
Review of advance copy received from Author
Katerina has spent her life as an orphan in service to the Witches, carrying out their orders without question. On what is supposed to be her final job, everything goes wrong. Caught in the act by the formidable House of Shadows , she is taken prisoner and thrust into a dangerous power struggle she never intended to join.
As tensions rise in New Orleans, a battle brews between the Witches, hungry for greater power, and the House of Shadows, the city’s reigning authority. Trapped between these two forces, Katerina becomes an unwilling pawn in a supernatural conflict that threatens to erupt into all-out war.
This story delivers an engaging mix of witches, vampires, and werewolves, blending political intrigue with fast-paced action. The stakes feel real as alliances shift and loyalties are tested. Alongside the supernatural drama, there’s a thread of romance and a few steamy moments that add extra heat to the tension.
Overall, this is an entertaining and immersive read with compelling characters and plenty of magical intrigue. Fans of paranormal fantasy with a touch of spice will find much to enjoy. I would definitely recommend it.
As tensions rise in New Orleans, a battle brews between the Witches, hungry for greater power, and the House of Shadows, the city’s reigning authority. Trapped between these two forces, Katerina becomes an unwilling pawn in a supernatural conflict that threatens to erupt into all-out war.
This story delivers an engaging mix of witches, vampires, and werewolves, blending political intrigue with fast-paced action. The stakes feel real as alliances shift and loyalties are tested. Alongside the supernatural drama, there’s a thread of romance and a few steamy moments that add extra heat to the tension.
Overall, this is an entertaining and immersive read with compelling characters and plenty of magical intrigue. Fans of paranormal fantasy with a touch of spice will find much to enjoy. I would definitely recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a phenomenal read. Extra spicy with not one, but four morally gray men that would burn the world for their woman. The banter between the characters had me laughing out loud, and the love and devotion they all had for eachother had me swooning. I absolutely loved the found family aspect of this book (its probably one of my favorite tropes include a fantasy book). This author broke my heart in the first quarter of the book, which is something I'll never forgive (poor Pasha). The magic system was pretty interesting and I'm interested to see how Katerina's magic and abilities evolve. I assume there will be another installment to this story by the way it ended. The whole owing Sorinah a favor and then the abrupt ending to the book left that pretty wide open to possibilities. All-in-all, a great fantasy romance that I would recommend to those that love a little extra spice with their plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to The Nerd Fam and A.L Garr for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I honestly had a great time reading this book. it was my first shifter romance and why choose romance, so that was a super fun time!
This book is a VERY spicy read. it's definitely more romance over plot, but it's great if you're just looking for a good time. I read this book in 2 days, so you know it was an easy and fun read!
I would've loved to delve further into our main character and her background and backstory before she meets our MMCs. And I also would love to hear more from those MMCs and their respective stories. We do get some more and background, but I would've loved even more!
The character dynamics are super fun as well. this is a perfect example of found family within a book. The why choose was new for me and I liked that troupe more than I thought I would!
I'm super excited to dive into more of A.L Garr's works now!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I honestly had a great time reading this book. it was my first shifter romance and why choose romance, so that was a super fun time!
This book is a VERY spicy read. it's definitely more romance over plot, but it's great if you're just looking for a good time. I read this book in 2 days, so you know it was an easy and fun read!
I would've loved to delve further into our main character and her background and backstory before she meets our MMCs. And I also would love to hear more from those MMCs and their respective stories. We do get some more and background, but I would've loved even more!
The character dynamics are super fun as well. this is a perfect example of found family within a book. The why choose was new for me and I liked that troupe more than I thought I would!
I'm super excited to dive into more of A.L Garr's works now!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The House of Shadows had potential, but unfortunately it didn’t quite work for me. The premise and overall story idea were intriguing, but the execution fell a bit flat. The writing style made it difficult to fully connect with the story, and the pacing of the romance felt rushed.
The main characters seemed to fall in love almost immediately, which made the relationships feel forced. I usually love a spicy romantasy read, but even for me, the intimate scenes felt a bit excessive and sometimes distracted from the plot rather than adding to it.
There were definitely elements of the story that could have been compelling, but overall I found myself wishing the characters and their relationships had been given more time to develop. Readers who enjoy very fast-burn romance and heavy spice may still enjoy this one, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for an ARC of this book.
The main characters seemed to fall in love almost immediately, which made the relationships feel forced. I usually love a spicy romantasy read, but even for me, the intimate scenes felt a bit excessive and sometimes distracted from the plot rather than adding to it.
There were definitely elements of the story that could have been compelling, but overall I found myself wishing the characters and their relationships had been given more time to develop. Readers who enjoy very fast-burn romance and heavy spice may still enjoy this one, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What I enjoyed most is the length of the story. It's not over and done in an hour - this will take more time than that and features animal familiars, enemies-to-lovers, found families and secret pasts. The heroine (Katarina), is not a fainting female: she fights, steals and claws her way to where she can be successful. Her enemies: Roman (vampire prince), Dorian (werewolf alpha), Blaise (dragon shifter) and Aiden (Fae assassin) have joined together to form the House of Shadows. Her relationships with each as well as with the group as a whole twists and adds to the mystery of who she really is and why she was hidden for so long. Ultimately, its her relationships and the strength of her passions that bring out the best in each of them.
note: this was previously published in 3 stories under a different pen name.
4.5 stars
note: this was previously published in 3 stories under a different pen name.
4.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Author
thank you to the nerd fam and a.l. garr for this arc!
This book was completely immersive. We get to read about 5 different povs. we really got into every character and personality.
I like having multiple povs during a book, only i do think 5 is a bit too much for my personal liking. I have to admit, that it can be quite overwhelming having to learn and understand so many characters/povs.
The writing is fast paced and easy to read.
Really liked the different supernatural aspects to it. We get to see vampires, dragons, fae and wolfs which was done quite well.
Why my rating is lower is because the plot fell away because of the focus on all the characters and the amount of spice
It's definitely a standalone! So no commitment to a big series which is quite nice! Midway i did find it repetitive and wished the plot was faster.
This book was completely immersive. We get to read about 5 different povs. we really got into every character and personality.
I like having multiple povs during a book, only i do think 5 is a bit too much for my personal liking. I have to admit, that it can be quite overwhelming having to learn and understand so many characters/povs.
The writing is fast paced and easy to read.
Really liked the different supernatural aspects to it. We get to see vampires, dragons, fae and wolfs which was done quite well.
Why my rating is lower is because the plot fell away because of the focus on all the characters and the amount of spice
It's definitely a standalone! So no commitment to a big series which is quite nice! Midway i did find it repetitive and wished the plot was faster.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review // A dragon, a wolf, a vampire, and a fae...why choose? Why choose indeed. The spice spices, and the various array of personalities that our FMC, Katarina, gets to build a deep affection for are intriguing and all bring their own little something to the table. However, it was a little fast for me, but hey, this book never promised a slow burn and I can suspend disbelief for fantastical worlds.
I think for me, Katarina's choices and emotions all seemed almost ridiculously carefree for someone who has had to fend for themselves in harsh systems their whole life. It just didn't feel consistent with what we were being told about her character. Similarly, I found the tempo of the story beats to sort of ebb and flow leading to quite a haphazard ending, but I still would really like to see where these characters go.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC!
I think for me, Katarina's choices and emotions all seemed almost ridiculously carefree for someone who has had to fend for themselves in harsh systems their whole life. It just didn't feel consistent with what we were being told about her character. Similarly, I found the tempo of the story beats to sort of ebb and flow leading to quite a haphazard ending, but I still would really like to see where these characters go.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC!
March 16, 2026
If you like why choose and can’t get enough of all things paranormal, this is the story for you!
Immensely spicy, with thoroughly captivating morally grey men and a bad ass fmc who is learning she is a force to be reckoned with.
The bonds forged between these characters and the magical depths they explore as they take on this vicious coven of bloodthirsty witches and the threat they pose to their newly formed family, are truly astounding. And in between the sinister plot to take over New Orleans and run the city, and the individual back stories and traumas each of the main characters have faced, you get numerous spicy scenes to keep you hot and bothered and falling head over heels for these dangerous creatures.
AL Garr has done it again, and easily cemented herself as an auto buy author for me!
Immensely spicy, with thoroughly captivating morally grey men and a bad ass fmc who is learning she is a force to be reckoned with.
The bonds forged between these characters and the magical depths they explore as they take on this vicious coven of bloodthirsty witches and the threat they pose to their newly formed family, are truly astounding. And in between the sinister plot to take over New Orleans and run the city, and the individual back stories and traumas each of the main characters have faced, you get numerous spicy scenes to keep you hot and bothered and falling head over heels for these dangerous creatures.
AL Garr has done it again, and easily cemented herself as an auto buy author for me!
March 21, 2026
3.5 stars (rounded up)
Thanks to the author and NerdFam for the ARC!
This book has so many things I love:
Why choose
Animal companion
Fae, shifters, and vampires
However the main reason this wasn’t higher rated was the instantaneous and unexplained love between the main characters. There was little no build up then it lagged a bit in the middle. It would have been better to build up more of the romantic relationships first. Not that it didn’t need spice because attraction and love are very different - there was just no build up to the relationships and we are expected to believe they are all in love so fast with no reason behind it. Likewise, there was barely any time where the female main character was training, her magic or anything. The pacing was really off in how much time was given to some scenes and how little time was given to others.
Thanks to the author and NerdFam for the ARC!
This book has so many things I love:
Why choose
Animal companion
Fae, shifters, and vampires
However the main reason this wasn’t higher rated was the instantaneous and unexplained love between the main characters. There was little no build up then it lagged a bit in the middle. It would have been better to build up more of the romantic relationships first. Not that it didn’t need spice because attraction and love are very different - there was just no build up to the relationships and we are expected to believe they are all in love so fast with no reason behind it. Likewise, there was barely any time where the female main character was training, her magic or anything. The pacing was really off in how much time was given to some scenes and how little time was given to others.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is THICK
And so is…
Never mind.
If you ever read any of The Twisted Sister’s series and thought: this could use some spice! This book is for you!
Very much a why choose, be aware that this is a very spicy book wrapped around a mystery that unfolds nicely.
Multiple POV, you get the chance to know every main character with the exception of my favorite one, Grim, the FMC’s familiar. Grim is a dog (?) who finds Katarina on her 18th birthday. Could that be a sign?
Or the fact that they can communicate - does this mean Katarina isn’t fully human?
So many mysteries!
Let’s just hope they can keep their clothes on long enough to find out!
If you love harems of the reverse kind, animal familiar, witches and vampies and weres and sex demons- then make sure you add this to your tbr!
And so is…
Never mind.
If you ever read any of The Twisted Sister’s series and thought: this could use some spice! This book is for you!
Very much a why choose, be aware that this is a very spicy book wrapped around a mystery that unfolds nicely.
Multiple POV, you get the chance to know every main character with the exception of my favorite one, Grim, the FMC’s familiar. Grim is a dog (?) who finds Katarina on her 18th birthday. Could that be a sign?
Or the fact that they can communicate - does this mean Katarina isn’t fully human?
So many mysteries!
Let’s just hope they can keep their clothes on long enough to find out!
If you love harems of the reverse kind, animal familiar, witches and vampies and weres and sex demons- then make sure you add this to your tbr!
March 17, 2026
ARC Read
This was such a fun read! It follows Katarina, who’s basically working as a thief for a coven of witches to pay off her debt, but of course things go wrong on her final heist and she gets caught, and everything kind of spirals from there.
It’s very supernatural, fast-paced, and has a strong found family vibe, which I loved. The characters felt really multilayered and interesting, and the relationships (especially with the why choose dynamic) made it even more addictive. Also it’s insanely spicy, just a heads up.
The pacing is super quick, which made it easy to fly through, but it did feel a little rushed at times. I definitely found myself wishing we got more backstory on Katarina and the coven because there’s so much there that could’ve been explored more.
This was such a fun read! It follows Katarina, who’s basically working as a thief for a coven of witches to pay off her debt, but of course things go wrong on her final heist and she gets caught, and everything kind of spirals from there.
It’s very supernatural, fast-paced, and has a strong found family vibe, which I loved. The characters felt really multilayered and interesting, and the relationships (especially with the why choose dynamic) made it even more addictive. Also it’s insanely spicy, just a heads up.
The pacing is super quick, which made it easy to fly through, but it did feel a little rushed at times. I definitely found myself wishing we got more backstory on Katarina and the coven because there’s so much there that could’ve been explored more.
Did not finish
February 27, 2026DNF @ 56%
Sadly, I’m not enjoying this one as much as I thought I would. We’ve got a female thief believed to be human though with a psychic connection to a beast of a hound who is sent to steal an expensive necklace for the witch coven she’s trying to payback. Enter the owners of said necklace: a vampire, a wolf shifter, a fire fae, and a half-breed dragon shifter. They capture her, they’re drawn to her, and then chaos ensues. It was built up like a why choose I’d typically like, but I don’t know. It just didn’t hit? Seemed like such a fast burn with not enough build, so the dynamics came off a bit rushed. Could just be me being picky, but I wasn’t vibing this time.
Sadly, I’m not enjoying this one as much as I thought I would. We’ve got a female thief believed to be human though with a psychic connection to a beast of a hound who is sent to steal an expensive necklace for the witch coven she’s trying to payback. Enter the owners of said necklace: a vampire, a wolf shifter, a fire fae, and a half-breed dragon shifter. They capture her, they’re drawn to her, and then chaos ensues. It was built up like a why choose I’d typically like, but I don’t know. It just didn’t hit? Seemed like such a fast burn with not enough build, so the dynamics came off a bit rushed. Could just be me being picky, but I wasn’t vibing this time.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Super spicy, exciting and magical!!
I really loved this book 😍 It was the perfect why-choose paranormal romance with incredible MMCs that I loved all equally. Our FMCs is also a capable and smart woman with badass powers and an even cooler familiar.
While this book is very heavy on the romance and the spice (which I loved!), it doesn't take away from the plot that's still intricate and exciting!
This is a super fun read and I love that it's a standalone ❤️🔥
Thank you for the ARC provided by NerdFam and the author!
I really loved this book 😍 It was the perfect why-choose paranormal romance with incredible MMCs that I loved all equally. Our FMCs is also a capable and smart woman with badass powers and an even cooler familiar.
While this book is very heavy on the romance and the spice (which I loved!), it doesn't take away from the plot that's still intricate and exciting!
This is a super fun read and I love that it's a standalone ❤️🔥
Thank you for the ARC provided by NerdFam and the author!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The House of Shadows by A.L. Garr is a haunting, slow burn thriller that lingers long after the final page. Garr masterfully builds an atmosphere thick with tension, weaving together secrets, betrayal, and the unsettling weight of the past. The setting feels almost alive, adding to the creeping sense of dread that intensifies with each chapter. While the pacing is deliberate, it pays off in an emotionally charged and satisfying conclusion. A compelling read for fans of dark, character driven suspense.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Katerina has spent the last 7 years of her life as an orphan servicing the Witches no questions asked. On her so called final job, everything goes south as she is caught stealing something and brought to the House of Shadows as a prisoner.
The Witches are hungry for greater power and want to get rid of the House of Shadows who is the city’s current supernatural authority. I truly enjoyed reading this book. It was very engaging, fast-paced, action filled, lots of spice and drama. The book has a mix of witches, werewolves, vampires, and a dragon. Highly recommend.
The Witches are hungry for greater power and want to get rid of the House of Shadows who is the city’s current supernatural authority. I truly enjoyed reading this book. It was very engaging, fast-paced, action filled, lots of spice and drama. The book has a mix of witches, werewolves, vampires, and a dragon. Highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Themes:
Enemies to Lovers 🖤
Reverse Harem 🔥
Vampires/Wolves/Dragons/Fae 💙
Found Family ♥️
Review:
Thank you for the eARC! The book breaks barriers between romantasy vs erotica as the lust starts early on, but part of that is the plot so it worked for me. There is every type of guy you could imagine! I am partial to Blaise. ❤️ It was a very easy and fun read for people who enjoy spice, magic, shifts and plot. I have already recommended it to my friends and hope you read it too! ☺️
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Themes:
Enemies to Lovers 🖤
Reverse Harem 🔥
Vampires/Wolves/Dragons/Fae 💙
Found Family ♥️
Review:
Thank you for the eARC! The book breaks barriers between romantasy vs erotica as the lust starts early on, but part of that is the plot so it worked for me. There is every type of guy you could imagine! I am partial to Blaise. ❤️ It was a very easy and fun read for people who enjoy spice, magic, shifts and plot. I have already recommended it to my friends and hope you read it too! ☺️
Review of advance copy received from Author
You need to read this!!! I really enjoyed this one! The mix of vampire, wolf, dragon, and fae characters made the story fun and chaotic in the best way. I loved the enemies-to-lovers tension and the dark magical world in New Orleans. The mystery around the main character’s powers kept me interested the whole time. Overall a really entertaining paranormal romance and I’m excited to see where the story goes.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨THIS book right here will give you all the feels ✨🫶🏼✨ It had me giggling out loud and having to re-read parts twice because I couldn’t believe what was happening on page! The spice is DEFINITELY spicin’! 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ I give it a 4 on the spicy scale, it was just exquisitely written, had my toes curling ✨🫶🏼✨
Review of advance copy
I recieved this book as a arc thanks to nerdfam and author A.L. Garr. I am leaving this review on my own free will and 100% honestly.
I really enjoyed this book very much. I had felt really sorry for the fmc. And at first I was like oh no how is this going to play out but omg I am in love with it. I loved all the dynamics between characters and cherished the ending.
I really enjoyed this book very much. I had felt really sorry for the fmc. And at first I was like oh no how is this going to play out but omg I am in love with it. I loved all the dynamics between characters and cherished the ending.
Review of advance copy
It’s a 3.5 Star for me.
If you like the plot of the story to be the Spice, then this is a book for you!
A very spicy why choose story with shifters, vampires, witches and demons.
The action scenes were really well written, the multiple POV’s were really enjoyable.
Thank you to Nerd Fam and A.L Garr for an ARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Gave it to 55%. It's an easy paranormal read but the stakes don't seem to matter at all and there's no depth to any of these characters. It's just plot point after plot point with no emotional connection. A character is killed off but no one grieves. The sex scenes were short but everything else just doesn't seem like it matters.
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