Half Wylde

Wylde #1

by Sabrina Blackburry

Half-blooded Wren escapes her old life among humans to go live with the fae. After a warm welcome, Wren slowly begins to accept herself for who she is, until she encounters a more sinister court that would rather see the child of their enemy dead.

*****

When an unexpected attack on the nearby village effectively renders Wren homeless, she encounters the wild and frightening Thain, who would take her to the Wyldes: the land of the fae creatures. As a half breed raised among humans, Wren was shunned for her non-human half and taught to fear the fae. Now that she's living among them, she has to face her fears and accept her own heritage in order to live among them. But as the mystery of her parentage begins to unravel, Wren might find herself in more danger than she could have ever imagined.

Book 1 of the Wylde Series

Genres: Fantasy

ebook

Published October 29, 2019

About the author

Sabrina Blackburry is the author of the Enchanted Fates series, which includes Dirty Lying Faeries and Dirty Lying Dragons. She has a love for morally gray characters, fated love with a touch of magic, and passionate women finding their place in the world. When she’s not writing, Sabrina enjoys adding plants to the collection on her front porch, sewing for the local renaissance festival, and hiking. She lives and works with her family in central Missouri.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Ro Szymkowiak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hit me with such a wonderful first paragraph, it drew me in immediately. I was completely fascinated with Wren, and even more fascinated in the beautiful diversity in the fae. I’ve never been more intrigued by a fae species than in Half Wylde, and despite the faeries being split into classic seasonal courts, I can firmly say that this series has originality. It was marketed as being for the reader’s who have enjoyed Sarah J Maas, and I’m inclined to agree- it definitely belongs on your TBR if you appreciate a strong heroine coming to terms with what makes her unique.

I have to say, I’m hopelessly in love with Schula, she was my favourite character, hands down. Thain is a very very close second though. Each character has their own story, their own personality, which I can appreciate over a cookie-cutter fae where everyone is broody and miserable. The descriptions had me conjuring up the most beautiful creatures in my head, a people full of life, and colour.

I appreciated that we got so much world building- some books leave you guessing as to what is going on, but Half Wylde slowly gave us all the pieces we needed, circling back to points made much earlier in the book until everything clicked into place. Each twist and reveal had me turning my phone over to breathe, and the ending made me desperate for a book two- I pray I don’t have to wait very long! I need more of these characters and I need more of this world. When this book comes out in May 2026, I need my own copy to add to my trophy shelf.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sabrina Blackburry for the ARC opportunity.

[Liz Rosales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for the e-arc. This was a fun read. I love how in the very beginning you are thrown right into action. It hooks you immediately. I feel like this was a refreshing take on fae. They are different from other fantasy books. The detail in the world building really stands out in this one especially around the courts. courts. Each court feels distinct and not just in name, but in atmosphere, hierarchy, values, and magical identity.

💫 Hidden heritage
💫 Court politics
💫 Fun sidekick 🐦‍⬛
💫 Found family
💫 Human raised and learning to navigate an unfamiliar world

[Kalie Moyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read this book on Wattpad😭 Sorry not sorry anyway, I actually genuinely really liked it. Usually Wattpad is just there for the smut but this one had a really good plot and characters. It was a nice short read to get me out of a reading slump and it gave MAJOR ACOTAR vibes. So if you loved ACOTAR as much as I did I suggest you check it out :) This book was not on Goodreads and I just added it so that kind of shows how underrated it is. Go check it out if it sounds good. Can’t wait to read the second one!

[Hannah Stepas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a wild ride 😏
Half Wylde hooked me from the very first sentence — the kind of opening that instantly tells you you’re in capable hands and stepping into something truly special.

At its heart, this is a story about growth, belonging, and reclaiming power. Wren, our FMC, begins as someone who has spent her entire life making herself small to survive in a village that barely tolerates her for being half-fae. Watching her journey into the Wyldes — physically and emotionally — and gradually step into her strength, identity, and heritage was deeply satisfying. Her transformation never feels rushed; it unfolds through hardship, friendship, and hard-won self-discovery.

One of my favorite elements was Wren’s unlikely friendships that form along the way. The bonds feel organic and *earned*, creating a warm emotional core that helps to balance the more dangerous aspects of the world. The cast surrounding her adds humor, loyalty, and heart without overshadowing her personal journey.

The romance is a true slow burn, featuring a deliciously morally gray MMC…beastly, some might even say. While I absolutely loved the tension and the dynamic, I wouldn’t have minded even more development on that front — this clearly feels intentional, so I’m very excited to see how this relationship evolves in future installments.

The vibe leans strongly indie in the best way: bold worldbuilding, unique lore, and a story that isn’t afraid to take its time establishing atmosphere. The courts of the seasons, secret heritage elements, and richly layered Wylde setting create a lush, immersive backdrop. Although the start of the journey at times felt slightly slow in pacing, sticking with it is more than worth it once the story gains momentum.

If you love morally gray characters, found family, hidden identities, and expansive fantasy worlds full of danger and mystery, this book delivers all of that with heart and bite.

For readers who loved Jaga and the Devil, Quicksilver, or One Dark Window, this will absolutely be your kind of story.

Thank you to Sabrina Blackburry and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Julia Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Half Wylde and I have to say, it completely hooked me from the very first pages! This is the kind of adventure that pulls you in with heart-pounding action, rich world-building, and characters you can’t help but root for.

What I loved most was watching Wren discover who she really is and what she’s capable of. Her growth feels authentic and empowering, and the adventure along the way is thrilling full of danger, magic and deep friend connections.

I’ll admit I was a little biased going in, my daughter’s name is also Wren, so I was already cheering for her! But even without that personal tie, this book is a total page-turner. Sabrina Blackburry’s writing is immersive and vivid, making the Wylde lands feel alive and wondrous.

If you enjoy fae fantasy with strong heroines, themes of identity and belonging, and just the right mix of adventure and heart (think fans of Sarah J. Maas, Raven Kennedy, Carissa Broadbent or Holly Black), pick this up! I’m already counting down to the next book in the series. Highly recommend, it’s a “yes, yes, yes” from me.

What a fantastic read. 5 stars! 🌟🧚‍♀️

[Audrey Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What works: The setting is a real gem. You can tell the author put a lot of care into making each seasonal court feel distinct, both in how they look and how people behave there. The mystery around Wren’s lineage does a nice job of pulling the story forward and kept me invested.

Characters: The characters shine, especially Schula, who feels like someone I would want to be friends with. I was here for every bit of mischief she wanted to get up to. I did find myself wishing for a bit more background on Eberon and Thain, though what we get hints at some interesting directions later on. There are also a few awkward patches in the dialogue early in the book, but they smooth out as the story goes on.

I especially had a moment of confusion when a character called Cosimo was mentioned around page 300, and couldn't remember, for the life of me, where he'd been mentioned before.

I thought it was a solid, breezy, fantasy with good world-building.

--Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.--

[Tanya Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wren has spent her life alone and scorned by the villagers. Her only companions are her adopted father, and the local witch. To everyone else, she is treated as dirt, or worse. Found as an infant, she is believed to be half human, half fae. When her village is attacked, her father is killed, and she is left to die, she is warned by the witch to flee. She ends up meeting a fae, who offers to take her into the Wylde so she can learn about her other half and possibly find out where she belongs. As she travels through Wylde with her new friends, she ends up finding more about her history, and who she really is.

This was a fun read. It is definitely slow burn, with a lot of adventure and action along the way. I am looking forward to reading the next book to see what happens.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad for the opportunity to read this book.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

I love this cover, it is so pretty and has wonderful vibes.

This was so very whimsical, especially when it came to the creatures. I really do always love me some magical creatures. Never be afraid to include more whimsical lil guys.

This is a political and very lore-driven book. And I really liked that about it. It definitely makes me want to continue the series, I want to see where it goes and how this story and its lore develops and unfolds more.

I liked these characters, but I did find myself getting confused because there were so many of them that felt like they were introduced at once.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half Wylde by Sabrina Blackburry is an interesting and fast paced fantasy which is a must read. The story follows Wren who is a half blood caught between the human world and the fae realm. The story has some interesting world building especially among the seasonal courts of the fae and has a strong theme of identity and belonging. The friendships are heart warming and add a lot of warmth among the tension and mystery of Wren's heritage.

[Emily Rider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just pure perfection! Read this on Wattpad, first book I've ever read on there, and I didn't ever want to put it down! Definitely underrated and already reading the second one! You can't help but just love the characters in this book, and their relationships with each other are just phenomenally written and will melt your heart.

[m · Rating 5 out of 5]

YALL DONT UNDERSTAND THIS BOOK WAS PERFECT IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL FOR SOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL TO BE SO UNDERRATED
literally everything about it was amazing from the friendships (schula you absolute icon) and the plot was so well constructed this book was gorgeous

[Felly Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything ACOTAR wishes it could be. The world building, the characters, the plotline! I couldn't put it down

[Angela Reiber · Rating 5 out of 5]

this whole series is beautiful. i’ve reread it countless times now. love love love.

[Marcos García · Rating 5 out of 5]

i was afraid of reading this book again, i read it when i was very young and i wasnt sure that i would like it the same, it has been one of my favorite since then, i can say that i loved it the same way, im grateful that i forgot some things, so i was still surprised in some of the plots. this book will forever be a 5 star.
it made me giggle the same way and i was going through a "bloqueo lector" and i knew this book was gonna take it away.

the end was kinda mid if im honest but maybe it was all the action that was before it, excited to keep reading ahah