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Sennenwolf #1
West of Jaws
“The only thing dumber than convincing the imminent Male Alpha of Velm to help me find Oko would be falling in love with him along the way."
Helisent West of Jaws is a powerful witch with a penchant for combative shouting and hoarding brandy. Then there’s Samson 714 Afador, an uptight (possibly brooding) wolf who’s in line to lead Velm as its Male Alpha. When the pair meet in a seedy tavern in a city named Luz, it’s clear they have little in common.
Aside from a shared enemy named Oko.
Driven by private motives, the pair strike a deal to hunt down Oko—but trouble quickly follows. In the magical world of Mieira, wolves and witches share a gory past laden with conflict. Not even the peaceful, hedonistic nymphs have forgotten about the bloodshed of the War Years.
Despite this, what starts as a tense partnership between the witch and the wolf soon blossoms into friendship and something more—something layered with curiosity, and delight, and fear. Something that starts to involve a dangerous amount of trust.
As the pair close in on Oko, their discoveries begin to point to a single conclusion. One that will change life in Mieira forever. One that will force Helisent and Samson to ask—what’s worth more, finding Oko or fighting for each other?
West of Jaws is an adult romantasy from indie author Capes. Sex and the City meets The Witcher.
Helisent West of Jaws is a powerful witch with a penchant for combative shouting and hoarding brandy. Then there’s Samson 714 Afador, an uptight (possibly brooding) wolf who’s in line to lead Velm as its Male Alpha. When the pair meet in a seedy tavern in a city named Luz, it’s clear they have little in common.
Aside from a shared enemy named Oko.
Driven by private motives, the pair strike a deal to hunt down Oko—but trouble quickly follows. In the magical world of Mieira, wolves and witches share a gory past laden with conflict. Not even the peaceful, hedonistic nymphs have forgotten about the bloodshed of the War Years.
Despite this, what starts as a tense partnership between the witch and the wolf soon blossoms into friendship and something more—something layered with curiosity, and delight, and fear. Something that starts to involve a dangerous amount of trust.
As the pair close in on Oko, their discoveries begin to point to a single conclusion. One that will change life in Mieira forever. One that will force Helisent and Samson to ask—what’s worth more, finding Oko or fighting for each other?
West of Jaws is an adult romantasy from indie author Capes. Sex and the City meets The Witcher.
507 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2023
36 people are currently reading
2675 people want to read
About the author
Capes
10 books52 followersCapes likes romance, fantasy, things with metaphysical ends, nature, the color red, and slow fashion. She writes to make sense of the world; she reads to forget it. She’s very happy you’ve found her work. Please, indulge yourself!
Capes’s stand-alone fantasy, The Unburied Queen, was shortlisted for the 2022 Foreword INDIES.
The first book in the Sennenwolf Series, West of Jaws, has also been shortlisted for the 2023 Foreword INDIES. It was part of LoveReading's January 2024 Indies We Love list.
Capes’s stand-alone fantasy, The Unburied Queen, was shortlisted for the 2022 Foreword INDIES.
The first book in the Sennenwolf Series, West of Jaws, has also been shortlisted for the 2023 Foreword INDIES. It was part of LoveReading's January 2024 Indies We Love list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
October 22, 2022
There’s a witch and a wolf traveling together through a magical world. On top of that we are promised ‘Sex and the City’ and ‘The Witcher’ vibes. I was so excited for this book!
There were some things about it that I liked, but overall, despite its undeniable potential, it wasn’t for me.
One thing I appreciated the most was Samson’s views regarding same sex marriages. Humans could learn a thing or two from wolves in that matter.
I liked Samson’s backstory - a family mystery, a difficult relationship with his father and brother, a broken heart, what’s not to like?
Helisent was intriguing too, maybe because we haven’t learned her story until the second half of the book. These two formed an unusual alliance in a world where wolves and witches don’t trust each other.
Sounds amazing, right? So why didn’t it work?
Unfortunately there was no epic worldbuilding nor writing that keeps you on your toes that I remember from The Witcher. It reminded me more of The Lego Movie - funny at times but mostly simple and full of silly names. It made perfect sense in The Lego Movie, here it was not as charming.
I struggled with connecting with the MCs. It’s supposed to be “an adult comedic romantasy “ but the chemistry was lukewarm at best. On top of that Samson had this one little flaw that I couldn’t turn a blind eye on - he smoked like a chimney. I know it’s personal, but I can’t be attracted to a smoker, even a book smoker.
Liking Helisent was even more problematic. I have to admit, we were warned in the blurb about her “questionable relationship to brandy”. However there’s nothing “questionable” here, this is downright alcoholism. I can’t get myself to find it funny if someone needs brandy with their breakfast, or romantic, if their love interest serves them said brandy.
To sum up, if an extensive amount of cigarettes and alcohol doesn’t scare you off, go ahead, you may enjoy this book more than I did.
Thank you NetGalley and TL Adamms for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
There were some things about it that I liked, but overall, despite its undeniable potential, it wasn’t for me.
One thing I appreciated the most was Samson’s views regarding same sex marriages. Humans could learn a thing or two from wolves in that matter.
I liked Samson’s backstory - a family mystery, a difficult relationship with his father and brother, a broken heart, what’s not to like?
Helisent was intriguing too, maybe because we haven’t learned her story until the second half of the book. These two formed an unusual alliance in a world where wolves and witches don’t trust each other.
Sounds amazing, right? So why didn’t it work?
Unfortunately there was no epic worldbuilding nor writing that keeps you on your toes that I remember from The Witcher. It reminded me more of The Lego Movie - funny at times but mostly simple and full of silly names. It made perfect sense in The Lego Movie, here it was not as charming.
I struggled with connecting with the MCs. It’s supposed to be “an adult comedic romantasy “ but the chemistry was lukewarm at best. On top of that Samson had this one little flaw that I couldn’t turn a blind eye on - he smoked like a chimney. I know it’s personal, but I can’t be attracted to a smoker, even a book smoker.
Liking Helisent was even more problematic. I have to admit, we were warned in the blurb about her “questionable relationship to brandy”. However there’s nothing “questionable” here, this is downright alcoholism. I can’t get myself to find it funny if someone needs brandy with their breakfast, or romantic, if their love interest serves them said brandy.
To sum up, if an extensive amount of cigarettes and alcohol doesn’t scare you off, go ahead, you may enjoy this book more than I did.
Thank you NetGalley and TL Adamms for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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March 24, 2023West of Jaws is an adult romantasy pitched as Sex in the City meets The Witcher. The story follows Helisent, a witch, and Samson, a future alpha wolf, both of whom are searching for Oko. Oko is the mutual enemy and has answers to both Helisent and Samson's questions.
The book starts off with a slow pace, the scene is set as we get to understand Helisent and Samson's cultures and roles in their community. As the story progresses, the pace picks up, especially when they start travelling.
This book reminded me of Witches Steeped in Gold, Son of the Storm and Raybearer but with shapeshifting. The reader would be happy to know that a Glossary and information about the world are included, this helps to understand the terminology and picture the world in vivid detail. There is adventure, mythical creatures such as nymphs and a quest that involves danger. With a dual POV, the reader will be captivated by the witches' magic, the wolves' influence and the richness of the world.
A majority of the book is spent focusing on Helisent and Samson travelling, but they come across different characters and scenarios. Be prepared for an ending that will shock, surprise and satisfy you. Fans of forced proximity, adventure, witches, shapeshifting wolves as well as magic will definitely enjoy this book.
Thank you MTMC Tours and the author for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book starts off with a slow pace, the scene is set as we get to understand Helisent and Samson's cultures and roles in their community. As the story progresses, the pace picks up, especially when they start travelling.
This book reminded me of Witches Steeped in Gold, Son of the Storm and Raybearer but with shapeshifting. The reader would be happy to know that a Glossary and information about the world are included, this helps to understand the terminology and picture the world in vivid detail. There is adventure, mythical creatures such as nymphs and a quest that involves danger. With a dual POV, the reader will be captivated by the witches' magic, the wolves' influence and the richness of the world.
A majority of the book is spent focusing on Helisent and Samson travelling, but they come across different characters and scenarios. Be prepared for an ending that will shock, surprise and satisfy you. Fans of forced proximity, adventure, witches, shapeshifting wolves as well as magic will definitely enjoy this book.
Thank you MTMC Tours and the author for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2022
West of Jaws
by Capes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
——————
‘His kindness is like a cold wet thing my hand touches when reaching into the shadows. Very unexpected and highly unpleasant.’
———
The above quote is pretty much the level of hilarious banter throughout this new, first in the series, fantasy world by author Capes.
.
I was gifted an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and I’m thrilled to let you all know that this is sure to become another of those viral series because of the incredible world building, hilariously witty, likeable characters and a story that has you hooked and needing to know more.
.
In the first of what is to be a series, we are introduced to our main characters. Helisant - a funny, takes no shit, but thoroughly hiding deep hurt from her past, witch, and Samson - a stern faced, focused, alpha-to-be wolf, who is looking for his mother who mysteriously disappeared.
.
Despite it being unusual for a witch and Wolf to work together, they have a shared interest in finding the same witch, and so they start to journey together.
.
Months of travelling together, lots of challenges, and sharing themselves along the way makes for feelings neither of them expected.
.
Book one ends in a ‘NO YOU DID NOT JUST DO THAT TO ME?! HOW COULD YOU?! I NEED BOOK 2 RIGHT NOW!!’ 😂😬 So you KNOW that means it’s fantastic and you should definitely get it on your TBR list for when it’s released in Jan 23! I was yelling at the ending!
———
.
We’ve got the following:
.
•Hilarious banter.
•Great World Building.
•Forbidden love.
•Witch/Wolf
•Cliffhanger
•Sort of Secret Identity
———
Spice was pretty tame 🌶. It was more about the building of the main relationship in this book!
———
SO excited for book 2 (even though this one isn’t even released yet 🤣😭).
———
Thanks Capes/Netgalley for the ARC ❤️.
by Capes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
——————
‘His kindness is like a cold wet thing my hand touches when reaching into the shadows. Very unexpected and highly unpleasant.’
———
The above quote is pretty much the level of hilarious banter throughout this new, first in the series, fantasy world by author Capes.
.
I was gifted an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and I’m thrilled to let you all know that this is sure to become another of those viral series because of the incredible world building, hilariously witty, likeable characters and a story that has you hooked and needing to know more.
.
In the first of what is to be a series, we are introduced to our main characters. Helisant - a funny, takes no shit, but thoroughly hiding deep hurt from her past, witch, and Samson - a stern faced, focused, alpha-to-be wolf, who is looking for his mother who mysteriously disappeared.
.
Despite it being unusual for a witch and Wolf to work together, they have a shared interest in finding the same witch, and so they start to journey together.
.
Months of travelling together, lots of challenges, and sharing themselves along the way makes for feelings neither of them expected.
.
Book one ends in a ‘NO YOU DID NOT JUST DO THAT TO ME?! HOW COULD YOU?! I NEED BOOK 2 RIGHT NOW!!’ 😂😬 So you KNOW that means it’s fantastic and you should definitely get it on your TBR list for when it’s released in Jan 23! I was yelling at the ending!
———
.
We’ve got the following:
.
•Hilarious banter.
•Great World Building.
•Forbidden love.
•Witch/Wolf
•Cliffhanger
•Sort of Secret Identity
———
Spice was pretty tame 🌶. It was more about the building of the main relationship in this book!
———
SO excited for book 2 (even though this one isn’t even released yet 🤣😭).
———
Thanks Capes/Netgalley for the ARC ❤️.
January 6, 2023
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
When I read the blurb of West of Jaws I didn't know what to expect but I was very intrigued. I am happy to announce that I really enjoyed this book. I loved that the author dropped me right into the story instead of giving long background information about the world she created for this series. Because the first couple of chapters are very important in grabbing the reader's attention, and the author did a great job with that for this book. The main characters are "Helisent West of Jaws, a witch, and Samson 714 Afador, a wolf. He's in line to become the Male Alpha of Velm, she's a red witch with a questionable relationship to brandy." Both were unique imperfect characters.
Helisent didn't come across as very likable but I got used to her attitude and eventually understood why she was the way she was. Samson is more obedient in comparison to Helisent but I enjoyed seeing him become more rebellious further down the story. I ended up loving both of them and a couple of the awesome side characters. The character development was amazing, and I loved seeing Helisent and Samson going from strangers to friends to lovers. I appreciate the author taking the time to really show the growth they went through as friends/lovers and as individuals. This book was very fun and kept me interested from the start. It also had emotional, romantic, and action scenes. I love the world and characters the author Capes has created and I can't wait for the next book in the series.
When I read the blurb of West of Jaws I didn't know what to expect but I was very intrigued. I am happy to announce that I really enjoyed this book. I loved that the author dropped me right into the story instead of giving long background information about the world she created for this series. Because the first couple of chapters are very important in grabbing the reader's attention, and the author did a great job with that for this book. The main characters are "Helisent West of Jaws, a witch, and Samson 714 Afador, a wolf. He's in line to become the Male Alpha of Velm, she's a red witch with a questionable relationship to brandy." Both were unique imperfect characters.
Helisent didn't come across as very likable but I got used to her attitude and eventually understood why she was the way she was. Samson is more obedient in comparison to Helisent but I enjoyed seeing him become more rebellious further down the story. I ended up loving both of them and a couple of the awesome side characters. The character development was amazing, and I loved seeing Helisent and Samson going from strangers to friends to lovers. I appreciate the author taking the time to really show the growth they went through as friends/lovers and as individuals. This book was very fun and kept me interested from the start. It also had emotional, romantic, and action scenes. I love the world and characters the author Capes has created and I can't wait for the next book in the series.
November 1, 2022
I have so many emotions after reading this book. I am a huge fan if The Witcher so the expectation is really high in terms of plot complexity, word building and characterizations - I was not disappointed.
If you are not used to how epic fantasy visualizes the setting, scenes and characters through glossary of terms meant only for that book, then you will really be confused and may take some time to catch the intent of each word. It took me quite awhile too ('coz I refused to depend on the cute glossary of terms at the end of the book and just comprehend base on what I read). The descriptions are so ornate and humurous at times that it made it easier for me to understand the transitions from one scene to the other.
Albeit, the story between an impending Alpha Wolf and a powerful witch is not new, the author took his time to craft characters that has some personality. However, I am still contemplating how I feel about an alcoholic (and sometimes a junkie) witch and a chain smoker Alpha wolf. Classified as a romantasy, the build up was a little bit lukewarm - probably intended since there is book 2 coming up
Would I read the second book, sure why not. The ending got me grappling for what will happen with these two. Hopefully the anti climactic build up will be fulfilled on the sequel
If you are not used to how epic fantasy visualizes the setting, scenes and characters through glossary of terms meant only for that book, then you will really be confused and may take some time to catch the intent of each word. It took me quite awhile too ('coz I refused to depend on the cute glossary of terms at the end of the book and just comprehend base on what I read). The descriptions are so ornate and humurous at times that it made it easier for me to understand the transitions from one scene to the other.
Albeit, the story between an impending Alpha Wolf and a powerful witch is not new, the author took his time to craft characters that has some personality. However, I am still contemplating how I feel about an alcoholic (and sometimes a junkie) witch and a chain smoker Alpha wolf. Classified as a romantasy, the build up was a little bit lukewarm - probably intended since there is book 2 coming up
Would I read the second book, sure why not. The ending got me grappling for what will happen with these two. Hopefully the anti climactic build up will be fulfilled on the sequel
January 31, 2025
The enemy, of my enemy, is my friend. These words are the core of the story we find ourselves in with West of Jaws by Capes. This is an indie romantasy wherein a partnership between an alcoholic witch and a chain-smoking wolf is born. The main characters Helisent and Samson 713 Afador are our witch and wolf, respectively. One is a stubborn, sassy and difficult individual while the other is stoic, serious, and on track to lead his pack. You can guess which one is which. But the most enjoyable part of this not-too-unique partnership is the development of their relationship. Helisent is a “witch of the world”, in a sense. She has been in society and experienced more excitement and trauma than you can shake a stick at. Samson, on the other hand, is sheltered and has a different perspective on such core fundamentals, like trust.
While the two begin their journey based on mutual need, the build up to their relationship, if you can call it that, takes incredible time. When you have a character who dismisses the very idea of trust, and throw them in a situation where they really need to trust their partner, it can be a recipe for disaster and shenanigans all in one. As the story progresses, we are privy to perhaps not the true building of a relationship, as the sexual tension is displayed for all to see, but the development of a team, of sorts.
The banter, casual tossing around of swear words, and differing perspectives really drives home the fact that these characters could exist outside of this romantasy world. As a person who swears more often than perhaps they should, Helisent resonated with me because she speaks the way I like to think I would, were I in a situation like hers. Something as simple as dialogue can help break down the barrier between reader and character; reality and fantasy, by making it humourous and that much more realistic.
The beginning can feel as if it drags, however, while the world building and lay of the land is developed. Impatient readers may find themselves wanting to skip ahead, but in a fantasy world, you really need to stick to it, or you’ll be lost almost immediately.
Lovers of romantasy who are looking for a feisty witch and stoic wolf partnership should absolutely pick up a copy of West of Jaws by Capes. While it ends on a cliffhanger, a follow-up is coming. Potentially best enjoyed with a cigarette and glass of brandy.
While the two begin their journey based on mutual need, the build up to their relationship, if you can call it that, takes incredible time. When you have a character who dismisses the very idea of trust, and throw them in a situation where they really need to trust their partner, it can be a recipe for disaster and shenanigans all in one. As the story progresses, we are privy to perhaps not the true building of a relationship, as the sexual tension is displayed for all to see, but the development of a team, of sorts.
The banter, casual tossing around of swear words, and differing perspectives really drives home the fact that these characters could exist outside of this romantasy world. As a person who swears more often than perhaps they should, Helisent resonated with me because she speaks the way I like to think I would, were I in a situation like hers. Something as simple as dialogue can help break down the barrier between reader and character; reality and fantasy, by making it humourous and that much more realistic.
The beginning can feel as if it drags, however, while the world building and lay of the land is developed. Impatient readers may find themselves wanting to skip ahead, but in a fantasy world, you really need to stick to it, or you’ll be lost almost immediately.
Lovers of romantasy who are looking for a feisty witch and stoic wolf partnership should absolutely pick up a copy of West of Jaws by Capes. While it ends on a cliffhanger, a follow-up is coming. Potentially best enjoyed with a cigarette and glass of brandy.
January 14, 2023
From the moment I started reading West of Jaws by Capes, I was absolutely hooked by the plot. It follows a witch named Helisent West of Jaws and the future Alpha wolf, Samson 714 Afador, as they set out on a journey to find a mutual enemy. They are unlikely friends given their cultural differences and fears, but along the way as they discover more about each other they become friends and then lovers.
This book focuses first on plot and character development. The world building is organic, and at no point does it slow down the book. I loved all the quests and situations Helisent and Samson find themselves in, and their bickering and internal monologues are extremely entertaining. At no point does the plot drag, and I loved that even though there was a glossary you could still figure out the meaning of any words that were created for the story.
The only downside is that the story ends with a cliffhanger. The entire ending had me breathless and anxious for book two.
The characters in this book are spectacular. I think Helisent might be one of my favorite characters ever written. She’s snarky and independent, but throughout the story she begins to show her kind and vulnerable side. Samson begins as rigid in his beliefs, and driven by his fear of Helisent’s magic, but as he grows to trust her his walls also start to come down.
Together these two have some of the best banter. That leads quickly to a friendship and their romance is allowed to develop organically from there. This book is a slow burn with just a little spice, but so worth it for how it sets up the possibilities for their relationship for book two.
If you love fantasy romance and bantering couples (think ACOTAR or FBAA) this is a great option for you. I am confident in giving it a 5 star reading and a level 2 for spice. I can’t wait to see where this story goes in the sequel!
This book focuses first on plot and character development. The world building is organic, and at no point does it slow down the book. I loved all the quests and situations Helisent and Samson find themselves in, and their bickering and internal monologues are extremely entertaining. At no point does the plot drag, and I loved that even though there was a glossary you could still figure out the meaning of any words that were created for the story.
The only downside is that the story ends with a cliffhanger. The entire ending had me breathless and anxious for book two.
The characters in this book are spectacular. I think Helisent might be one of my favorite characters ever written. She’s snarky and independent, but throughout the story she begins to show her kind and vulnerable side. Samson begins as rigid in his beliefs, and driven by his fear of Helisent’s magic, but as he grows to trust her his walls also start to come down.
Together these two have some of the best banter. That leads quickly to a friendship and their romance is allowed to develop organically from there. This book is a slow burn with just a little spice, but so worth it for how it sets up the possibilities for their relationship for book two.
If you love fantasy romance and bantering couples (think ACOTAR or FBAA) this is a great option for you. I am confident in giving it a 5 star reading and a level 2 for spice. I can’t wait to see where this story goes in the sequel!
January 16, 2023
A witch and a wolf travel together in a magical world full of mayhem.
To be completely honest, it took me awhile to get into the story, there's just so many new words, concepts and characters introduced in the beginning and I was highly confused on where the plotline was going but I am so glad I warmed up to it. It's worth sticking it out, I promise.
Two very powerful beings, Helisent the witch and Samson the soon to be Alpha of Velm join forces to track someone down, each for their own personal reasons, vengeance and information. From months of travel and adventures, lust turns into forbidden love and the MCs start to open up to each other and reveal their secrets. I enjoyed reading from both povs, learning the ins and outs of their cultures and laws. The worldbuilding makes for great storytelling of this new world and its inhabitants.
My only problem would be that the build up to the romance was a bit lackluster amongst all the action, I wish it was dived into more so that when the cliffhanger came I would have been a bit more gutted but I understand this is just the beginning and there's time for build up in the next book. I'll be over here not so patiently waiting, I need more Helisent and Samson.
Thank you NetGalley and Capes for the ARC.
To be completely honest, it took me awhile to get into the story, there's just so many new words, concepts and characters introduced in the beginning and I was highly confused on where the plotline was going but I am so glad I warmed up to it. It's worth sticking it out, I promise.
Two very powerful beings, Helisent the witch and Samson the soon to be Alpha of Velm join forces to track someone down, each for their own personal reasons, vengeance and information. From months of travel and adventures, lust turns into forbidden love and the MCs start to open up to each other and reveal their secrets. I enjoyed reading from both povs, learning the ins and outs of their cultures and laws. The worldbuilding makes for great storytelling of this new world and its inhabitants.
My only problem would be that the build up to the romance was a bit lackluster amongst all the action, I wish it was dived into more so that when the cliffhanger came I would have been a bit more gutted but I understand this is just the beginning and there's time for build up in the next book. I'll be over here not so patiently waiting, I need more Helisent and Samson.
Thank you NetGalley and Capes for the ARC.
January 30, 2025
West of Jaws is an immersive fantasy novel with a unique writing style that shifts between multiple perspectives, adding depth to both the witch and the wolf’s characters. This narrative approach enhances their interactions and brings an engaging dynamism to the story.
The character development is exceptional. Helisent’s rebellious nature and sharp wit contrast beautifully with Samson’s stoic intensity, making their journey compelling. Each character is flawed yet relatable, which adds emotional weight to their struggles. Capes’s descriptive writing brings the world to life with vivid details, from bustling markets to magic-infused cities. The blend of poetic beauty and gritty realism enhances the atmosphere, making the setting feel tangible. The fast-paced plot, full of intrigue, romance, and suspense, keeps the reader hooked. The shifting alliances and underlying tensions ensure that there’s never a dull moment.
For fans of fantasy with rich world-building and complex characters, West of Jaws is a must-read.
The character development is exceptional. Helisent’s rebellious nature and sharp wit contrast beautifully with Samson’s stoic intensity, making their journey compelling. Each character is flawed yet relatable, which adds emotional weight to their struggles. Capes’s descriptive writing brings the world to life with vivid details, from bustling markets to magic-infused cities. The blend of poetic beauty and gritty realism enhances the atmosphere, making the setting feel tangible. The fast-paced plot, full of intrigue, romance, and suspense, keeps the reader hooked. The shifting alliances and underlying tensions ensure that there’s never a dull moment.
For fans of fantasy with rich world-building and complex characters, West of Jaws is a must-read.
January 13, 2023
TW: death of a sibling, physical violence, consensual sexual situations, substance abuse.
Diversity: characters with diverse physical appearances (vitiligo, POC), thick girl addoration, polyamory, queer love
"The only thing dumber than convincing the imminent Male Alpha of Velm to help me find Oko would be falling in love with him along the way."
Helisent West of Jaw is one of the last, or possibly the last, red witch with a questionable relationship with brandy. Her power is unmatched and she's looking for Oko to avenger her sister.
Samson 714 Afador is a wolf, and not just any wolf, the next Male Alpha of Velm. Being seen with a witch causes others to question his authority. Samson would also like to find Oko so he can learn about his mother's disappearance.
Can the unlikely pair work together? Helisent doesn't trust and she's cunning, Samson is skeptical of magic and doesn't trust witches. Will one betray the other?
This is the type of fantasy I love. The world building is amazing. As with most fantasy books it can be difficult in the beginning, but once the world building is complete, the plot takes over and it's hard to put down.
There's some spice towards the end with descriptive on-page s3x.
I love reading as the pair learn about the other's cultures and adapt to try to work together. But will they continue to keep secrets from each other or will they share the secrets to reach a common goal?
I can't wait for book 2.
Diversity: characters with diverse physical appearances (vitiligo, POC), thick girl addoration, polyamory, queer love
"The only thing dumber than convincing the imminent Male Alpha of Velm to help me find Oko would be falling in love with him along the way."
Helisent West of Jaw is one of the last, or possibly the last, red witch with a questionable relationship with brandy. Her power is unmatched and she's looking for Oko to avenger her sister.
Samson 714 Afador is a wolf, and not just any wolf, the next Male Alpha of Velm. Being seen with a witch causes others to question his authority. Samson would also like to find Oko so he can learn about his mother's disappearance.
Can the unlikely pair work together? Helisent doesn't trust and she's cunning, Samson is skeptical of magic and doesn't trust witches. Will one betray the other?
This is the type of fantasy I love. The world building is amazing. As with most fantasy books it can be difficult in the beginning, but once the world building is complete, the plot takes over and it's hard to put down.
There's some spice towards the end with descriptive on-page s3x.
I love reading as the pair learn about the other's cultures and adapt to try to work together. But will they continue to keep secrets from each other or will they share the secrets to reach a common goal?
I can't wait for book 2.
February 15, 2024
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway for my honest review. I enjoyed this title. It started out slow but finally I got engrossed in the story. Helisent one of the most powerful witches in the lands, and Samson the most powerful wolf prince in the land join forces to find a witch and a warlock who killed Helisents sister. The wolf prince is along because the same people have information he needs to help find his mother. Not a whole lot of action or a deeper plot to this one. Not exciting but a good read. The thing is it's one of those Cliffhangers that you need to read the next volume in the series to find out how it all ends. Written well. You may like it more than me. Give it a try.
February 15, 2023
I loved this so much, I love the term Romantasy and this definitely fits the bill, it’s Romantastic ! The characters, the chemistry, the world building, everything was just spot on for me, I’m so looking forward to more in the future
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 6, 2023
There aren’t many times when I say I’m obsessed with a book and mean it in the sense that it totally consumed me and has since held onto me with an iron-vibranium-carbon-hard-ass-rock grip, but BOY OH BOY did I sell my soul to West of Jaws.
My advice: go into this book blind. It’s a masterpiece and should be digested without prior expectations.
That being said . . . this book. How do I even explain the ways this book made me feel?!
Above all things, I am a reader who likes a little bit of Weird™️ in the books I read, and from the very start, Helisent and Samson’s story captured me with its quirkiness. The characters, the world, the language, the plot — all of it continually widened the gap and had me reading through an honest to god migraine because I couldn’t put it down.
The story is one of the most compelling I’ve ever read with such a fresh voice and unparalleled narrative. The ending has left me amply deceased, and I will not be breathing until the next book in the Sennenwolf series is released.
Capes, you just earned yourself a hardcore fan. God bless your brain, please let me live in it!!!
My advice: go into this book blind. It’s a masterpiece and should be digested without prior expectations.
That being said . . . this book. How do I even explain the ways this book made me feel?!
Above all things, I am a reader who likes a little bit of Weird™️ in the books I read, and from the very start, Helisent and Samson’s story captured me with its quirkiness. The characters, the world, the language, the plot — all of it continually widened the gap and had me reading through an honest to god migraine because I couldn’t put it down.
The story is one of the most compelling I’ve ever read with such a fresh voice and unparalleled narrative. The ending has left me amply deceased, and I will not be breathing until the next book in the Sennenwolf series is released.
Capes, you just earned yourself a hardcore fan. God bless your brain, please let me live in it!!!
October 13, 2022
The hero is the male alpha of Velm and the heroine is a witch. They decide to team up to hunt down a mutual enemy.
I like both major characters. It's steamy and sexy. The world building in the story is amazing. I like all the supernatural creatures that they meet along the way. It's very funny too. I love the sarcasm and the sass. A very fun book. Looking forward to reading book 2.
Thanks to the publisher for the arc.
I like both major characters. It's steamy and sexy. The world building in the story is amazing. I like all the supernatural creatures that they meet along the way. It's very funny too. I love the sarcasm and the sass. A very fun book. Looking forward to reading book 2.
Thanks to the publisher for the arc.
November 10, 2022
Helisent West of Jaws and Samson 714 Afador, an alcoholic powerful witch and a stoic soon-to-be alpha wolf come together to fulfill a common goal. Both powerful beings in their own right, they have to navigate their feelings for each other, the tensions between their species after a violent war, and personal vendettas to hunt down a witch named Oko, someone who has something Samson wants and who has been running from Helisent for years.
Filled with magic, wonder, realistic expectations, and a little bit of spice, I really, really, really enjoyed this book! I thought that the system of magic was incredibly interesting, and overall explained really well. I never felt like I was being infodumped on, and any questions that I really had about the world and the magic were answered relatively quickly. Helisent and Samson’s relationship was so interesting to me, and I loved the back and forth nature of it. I was never screaming at them to “just talk about the damn thing” because there was so much more conflict within their lack of trust for each other that made this riveting to read. I know this review is probably all over the place, but I’m pretty mad that I’m going to have to wait for the next book to read it.
Overall I did think this book lived up to it’s expectations as a cross between Witcher and Sex and the City.
Thanks so much to the publisher for providing me an ARC to read. All thoughts are my own.
Filled with magic, wonder, realistic expectations, and a little bit of spice, I really, really, really enjoyed this book! I thought that the system of magic was incredibly interesting, and overall explained really well. I never felt like I was being infodumped on, and any questions that I really had about the world and the magic were answered relatively quickly. Helisent and Samson’s relationship was so interesting to me, and I loved the back and forth nature of it. I was never screaming at them to “just talk about the damn thing” because there was so much more conflict within their lack of trust for each other that made this riveting to read. I know this review is probably all over the place, but I’m pretty mad that I’m going to have to wait for the next book to read it.
Overall I did think this book lived up to it’s expectations as a cross between Witcher and Sex and the City.
Thanks so much to the publisher for providing me an ARC to read. All thoughts are my own.
October 27, 2022
This was a great start to a new series.
I felt the plot started off a little slow but it eventually picked up and took off. It’s a lot of Character / World building information to take in, in the first part of the book and I did have to go back a couple of times to make sure I understood.
The world building was great but there was definitely a lot going on but it was information that was needed. I enjoyed all the different types of Magics and the different types of supernatural species we meet too.
The main story centres on a witch Helisent who is a no nonsense and doesn’t take anyones issues. Eventually we discover that she has been hurt in the past and that’s why she is the way she is. Then we meet our other main Character Samson, a Wolf who is a pack focused alpha to be who is looking for his missing mother.
They both team up to search for the same witch to get their answers. They of course have many adventures and challenges along the way.
I enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to the next because the ending I was not expecting and now I need answers.
Thank you to Netgalley and TL Adamms for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I felt the plot started off a little slow but it eventually picked up and took off. It’s a lot of Character / World building information to take in, in the first part of the book and I did have to go back a couple of times to make sure I understood.
The world building was great but there was definitely a lot going on but it was information that was needed. I enjoyed all the different types of Magics and the different types of supernatural species we meet too.
The main story centres on a witch Helisent who is a no nonsense and doesn’t take anyones issues. Eventually we discover that she has been hurt in the past and that’s why she is the way she is. Then we meet our other main Character Samson, a Wolf who is a pack focused alpha to be who is looking for his missing mother.
They both team up to search for the same witch to get their answers. They of course have many adventures and challenges along the way.
I enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to the next because the ending I was not expecting and now I need answers.
Thank you to Netgalley and TL Adamms for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2022
Let me start off by saying how immensely I enjoyed this book. It was so well written and compelling. The tone of Helisent’s narration was my favorite and Samson’s stoic attitude was also a delight.
The worldbuilding in this book is INTENSE. It’s so incredibly rich and woven that it carried a majority of my interest but it was a little bit of a barrier to entry in the first few chapters. There were so many new words and concepts and characters that it was a bit of a mindfuck but by chapter three I was completely immersed and starting to follow all of the individual threads of such a complex world.
I really enjoyed this book. It was completely unlike anything I expected but I will 100% be picking up the next as soon as possible. I feel so deeply for these characters and I’m invested in their story!
The worldbuilding in this book is INTENSE. It’s so incredibly rich and woven that it carried a majority of my interest but it was a little bit of a barrier to entry in the first few chapters. There were so many new words and concepts and characters that it was a bit of a mindfuck but by chapter three I was completely immersed and starting to follow all of the individual threads of such a complex world.
I really enjoyed this book. It was completely unlike anything I expected but I will 100% be picking up the next as soon as possible. I feel so deeply for these characters and I’m invested in their story!
December 18, 2023
I tried reading this a while ago but never got around to finishing it. I will have to agree with a couple of the readers in saying that this book was not really for me (at least not at this point in time). The plot wasn’t drawing me in, I couldn’t keep track of the characters, I didn’t care to continue. I think this is one of the stories that should still be given consideration to because of how detailed and well written it is. I will have to give it a shot at another time.
January 8, 2023
When I first read the blurb for this novel I was instantly hooked and so in love with the cover, it’s stunning!
Who doesn’t love witches and who doesn’t love wolves?
By slamming them together Capes has created a magical world with lovely detail, hilarious and relatable banter, an exquisite adventure across the fascinating lands of Velm and Mieira led by an unusual but interesting duo. The bonus of the promise of selkie shenanigans and vexing vampires in the blurb literally had my hands itching to have this book at all costs, I really love my mythical creatures!
Introducing Helisent, a witty, sassy and my way or the highway kind of gal…or shall I say bad ass Witch (I like her a lot) with a questionable thirst for brandy and a hidden past that she tries to suffocate with the drunk juice.
And Samson, a wolf who is in line to be the Alpha Male of Velm, obedient and strict who is living with a heavy shadow over his heart, searching for his mum who mysteriously disappeared.
Helisent and Samson unexpectedly find themselves coming together to hunt down a common enemy…another witch, in the hopes of fulfilling their missions.
The story as a whole was paced perfectly for me and not rushed which I really appreciated and could thoroughly enjoy with my copious cups of coffee. I particularly loved Samson’s development as he goes from "too tight at the neckline" son of the alpha to growing an extra skin of rebellion throughout the story which I really enjoyed. The fact that the author included scenes of heavy alcoholism and smoking, though Helisent’s alcohol usage was on the verge of being a little bit too much sometimes it made the characters a little bit more human and relatable. I understand that aspect may not be everyone’s cup of tea but who doesn't need a drink sometimes to forget about a bad day?
There was also a lot of new words and terms I had to get a grasp on which luckily, I did most of the time after a few sentences or a paragraph, but the helpful glossary at the back of the book facilitated me when I really had no idea. Also…there is a MAP at the front!
I REALLY DO LOVE A BOOK MAP 😊
The adventures and challenges throughout the story are very fun and engaging, many moments of myself going into pure panic mode and others of complete relief! PHEW! Also the world building just as much as the character building is strong and had me invested the whole time.
The ending had me excited yet screaming internally for the second book in the series! Legit need it right now please! A great first book to a series that I will 100% be reading!
Thank you so much to Capes and Netgalley for passing on an eARC for me to review, I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity.
Who doesn’t love witches and who doesn’t love wolves?
By slamming them together Capes has created a magical world with lovely detail, hilarious and relatable banter, an exquisite adventure across the fascinating lands of Velm and Mieira led by an unusual but interesting duo. The bonus of the promise of selkie shenanigans and vexing vampires in the blurb literally had my hands itching to have this book at all costs, I really love my mythical creatures!
Introducing Helisent, a witty, sassy and my way or the highway kind of gal…or shall I say bad ass Witch (I like her a lot) with a questionable thirst for brandy and a hidden past that she tries to suffocate with the drunk juice.
And Samson, a wolf who is in line to be the Alpha Male of Velm, obedient and strict who is living with a heavy shadow over his heart, searching for his mum who mysteriously disappeared.
Helisent and Samson unexpectedly find themselves coming together to hunt down a common enemy…another witch, in the hopes of fulfilling their missions.
The story as a whole was paced perfectly for me and not rushed which I really appreciated and could thoroughly enjoy with my copious cups of coffee. I particularly loved Samson’s development as he goes from "too tight at the neckline" son of the alpha to growing an extra skin of rebellion throughout the story which I really enjoyed. The fact that the author included scenes of heavy alcoholism and smoking, though Helisent’s alcohol usage was on the verge of being a little bit too much sometimes it made the characters a little bit more human and relatable. I understand that aspect may not be everyone’s cup of tea but who doesn't need a drink sometimes to forget about a bad day?
There was also a lot of new words and terms I had to get a grasp on which luckily, I did most of the time after a few sentences or a paragraph, but the helpful glossary at the back of the book facilitated me when I really had no idea. Also…there is a MAP at the front!
I REALLY DO LOVE A BOOK MAP 😊
The adventures and challenges throughout the story are very fun and engaging, many moments of myself going into pure panic mode and others of complete relief! PHEW! Also the world building just as much as the character building is strong and had me invested the whole time.
The ending had me excited yet screaming internally for the second book in the series! Legit need it right now please! A great first book to a series that I will 100% be reading!
Thank you so much to Capes and Netgalley for passing on an eARC for me to review, I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity.
October 12, 2023
*screaming*
What the f***?
This book is infuriatingly good.
There is a glossary in the back of the book, would have loved to see that before I finished (it’s fully on me for not realizing.)
There will probably be light spoilers to follow.
Okay so to start, I leaned into the idea of Sex and the City meets The Witcher too hard at the beginning to my own detriment. I think coming into it with a clear mind and no bias towards what world to expect would have been better.
I was so unsure of Helisent and Samson in the early chapters. These aren’t your everyday MC’s. Helisent is a rude bitch sometimes and a cuddly angel other times (especially if you’re a nymph), an alcoholic drug addict, cryptic and untrusting, cynical as hell, and overwhelmingly seems like she’d smell like a dirty penny. Samson is a tightwad, chainsmoker, judgmental, cold hearted meanie, and is he a wolf or human!?
But fear not! This all makes sense in the long run, everything falls into place, even the dirty penny smell. I was refreshed at actually having a chance to fall in love with these characters. It made me realize there is a big difference between the Author writing a character to convince me I love them, and writing a character worthy of falling in love with.
The world building wasn’t all set up in chapter 1. There is no welcome to Narnia this is how the magic system works and this is what everything looks like. It takes time, just like with the characters, to really get to know the place. And wow is the place unique. I had a hard time visualizing some of it in the beginning, but it fell into place quickly and again I fell in love.
The premise. The early chapters are really like “wait who are we going to see and why?” and by the time we’re on the journey it doesn’t matter because Samson and Helisent are so entertaining together that I don’t care what happens. And by the end of the book I don’t want them to achieve any of their goals because I don’t want the fun to stop.
Anyway, it may be intimidating in length for some. Doesn’t matter. If you like subversive women, stoic men, and witty characters in general, read the book. It is truly a unique experience. Read the book!!!
With all that said - THE ENDING!? Omg. How dare you, Capes. But also, you machiavellian genius, you hurt me so delectably. I’m straining to get my thoughts out into words so I can post a review and RUN to the second book. Beautifully painful ending, no satisfaction, no rest for the wicked I suppose. I loved it. Worthy of 5 stars, no bartering required.
Thanks to the Author and BookSirens for the ARC. It was my pleasure to read and review this amazing book!
What the f***?
This book is infuriatingly good.
There is a glossary in the back of the book, would have loved to see that before I finished (it’s fully on me for not realizing.)
There will probably be light spoilers to follow.
Okay so to start, I leaned into the idea of Sex and the City meets The Witcher too hard at the beginning to my own detriment. I think coming into it with a clear mind and no bias towards what world to expect would have been better.
I was so unsure of Helisent and Samson in the early chapters. These aren’t your everyday MC’s. Helisent is a rude bitch sometimes and a cuddly angel other times (especially if you’re a nymph), an alcoholic drug addict, cryptic and untrusting, cynical as hell, and overwhelmingly seems like she’d smell like a dirty penny. Samson is a tightwad, chainsmoker, judgmental, cold hearted meanie, and is he a wolf or human!?
But fear not! This all makes sense in the long run, everything falls into place, even the dirty penny smell. I was refreshed at actually having a chance to fall in love with these characters. It made me realize there is a big difference between the Author writing a character to convince me I love them, and writing a character worthy of falling in love with.
The world building wasn’t all set up in chapter 1. There is no welcome to Narnia this is how the magic system works and this is what everything looks like. It takes time, just like with the characters, to really get to know the place. And wow is the place unique. I had a hard time visualizing some of it in the beginning, but it fell into place quickly and again I fell in love.
The premise. The early chapters are really like “wait who are we going to see and why?” and by the time we’re on the journey it doesn’t matter because Samson and Helisent are so entertaining together that I don’t care what happens. And by the end of the book I don’t want them to achieve any of their goals because I don’t want the fun to stop.
Anyway, it may be intimidating in length for some. Doesn’t matter. If you like subversive women, stoic men, and witty characters in general, read the book. It is truly a unique experience. Read the book!!!
With all that said - THE ENDING!? Omg. How dare you, Capes. But also, you machiavellian genius, you hurt me so delectably. I’m straining to get my thoughts out into words so I can post a review and RUN to the second book. Beautifully painful ending, no satisfaction, no rest for the wicked I suppose. I loved it. Worthy of 5 stars, no bartering required.
Thanks to the Author and BookSirens for the ARC. It was my pleasure to read and review this amazing book!
December 3, 2022
This book reminds me of Nick Sorrentino and Paige Winterbourne from Bitten but in a high-fantasy setting like the Lord of the Rings –which was what appeals me to the book the most.
Helisent West of Jaws is a powerful witch who drinks in order to keep her violent past from haunting her conscience every second of the day. Samson 714 Afador is the next in line to be the Alpha of Velm who wants to better the world once he reigns. To achieve a common goal, they have to work together despite their differences.
Awesome and unique world-building that draws you in. The characterization was diverse and fun too. The problem was there were too many new and detailed elements for the world-building that sometimes it felt like an info dump. I truly appreciate the unique take on werewolf/shifter trope. The author definitely did a lot of research on werewolves and how natural wolves act so that the character won't just be another brooding man with the ability to shift but know nothing about actual wolves' customs like so many werewolf books have been. The author also created a unique magic system with an unordinary witch character. Truly enjoyed the novelty of this story!
The plot was suuupeerrr slowwww that I got bored sometimes. I felt like the first half could be skipped or fast-forwarded and it would not matter to the plot. The romance was a slow burn; it was definitely slow but the BURN was lacking for me. The chemistry felt more like a friendship than a passionate, forbidden love affair up until 3/4 of the book –which is totally not wrong or anything. I just personally felt like it would draw more readers to have the romantic tension built into a climax from the start. But hey, I think the experience differs for each person.
It'd be more awesome to emphasize the angst building during the last segment of the story, so when the plot twist at the end happened, readers would feel like their hearts are being wrenched out even more. I am not really a big fan of the amnesiac trope, or at least, I think if Helisent retained her memories, the story would be more angsty in my opinion. Because personally, I felt flat at the revelation at the end, which was a shame, because I was looking forward to how this book could hurt me. Especially because after reading around 400 pages, I felt like I have known Helisent and Samson for years. I just didn't think it was necessary to take both of their memories up to 4 years.
If you like to read a unique and out-of-the-ordinary werewolf x witch story, then you might like this book!
Helisent West of Jaws is a powerful witch who drinks in order to keep her violent past from haunting her conscience every second of the day. Samson 714 Afador is the next in line to be the Alpha of Velm who wants to better the world once he reigns. To achieve a common goal, they have to work together despite their differences.
Awesome and unique world-building that draws you in. The characterization was diverse and fun too. The problem was there were too many new and detailed elements for the world-building that sometimes it felt like an info dump. I truly appreciate the unique take on werewolf/shifter trope. The author definitely did a lot of research on werewolves and how natural wolves act so that the character won't just be another brooding man with the ability to shift but know nothing about actual wolves' customs like so many werewolf books have been. The author also created a unique magic system with an unordinary witch character. Truly enjoyed the novelty of this story!
The plot was suuupeerrr slowwww that I got bored sometimes. I felt like the first half could be skipped or fast-forwarded and it would not matter to the plot. The romance was a slow burn; it was definitely slow but the BURN was lacking for me. The chemistry felt more like a friendship than a passionate, forbidden love affair up until 3/4 of the book –which is totally not wrong or anything. I just personally felt like it would draw more readers to have the romantic tension built into a climax from the start. But hey, I think the experience differs for each person.
It'd be more awesome to emphasize the angst building during the last segment of the story, so when the plot twist at the end happened, readers would feel like their hearts are being wrenched out even more. I am not really a big fan of the amnesiac trope, or at least, I think if Helisent retained her memories, the story would be more angsty in my opinion. Because personally, I felt flat at the revelation at the end, which was a shame, because I was looking forward to how this book could hurt me. Especially because after reading around 400 pages, I felt like I have known Helisent and Samson for years. I just didn't think it was necessary to take both of their memories up to 4 years.
If you like to read a unique and out-of-the-ordinary werewolf x witch story, then you might like this book!
February 7, 2023
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
Helisent I loved her from the very first page. She's definitely not your usual character, she's got lots of flaws and one of them is her love for alcohol. There is a lot of trauma behind her drinking and you need time to actually understand her story which takes a while to unfold and learn everything.
Samson on the other hand, I had a bit of a hard time getting to like him because I felt him being a jackass similar to his dad based on his explanations, but you get to know him and see how different he is. As Helisent has a certain trauma that has gone through and his coping mechanism is smoking. Both characters in the story complement each other in their flaws - so different in general yet, so similar.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
The world-building was so beautiful for me. I loved each detail the author gave us, it was so rich, beautiful, and full of elements, I got lost reading about the world Helisent and Samson were traveling to, how rich and gorgeous everything was, and definitely something new and special.
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝/𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
I have to admit in the beginning I struggled to understand what was going on because there were new elements, new language, and new names, and the voice overall in the story was a bit hard to figure out who was speaking and who is who - but, once I got more familiar with the story I've actually enjoyed it a lot and especially when the pace caught up things went on so quickly and enjoyed their adventure. I can't exactly pinpoint what the plot twist was in the story, perhaps towards the end but the big event I felt it was a bit cut short and we were thrown at the end of the story - which leaves so many unanswered questions and I guess even more things for next book.
⮞ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞/TW ⮜
There are spicy scenes in the story, and some TWs such as alcohol drinking, smoking (since some people don't like it), physical abuse, and the death of a loved one. The spicy scenes in the book aren't overly detailed/smutty I felt they gave enough details to put your imagination to play but not enough to be raunchy.
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⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
Helisent I loved her from the very first page. She's definitely not your usual character, she's got lots of flaws and one of them is her love for alcohol. There is a lot of trauma behind her drinking and you need time to actually understand her story which takes a while to unfold and learn everything.
Samson on the other hand, I had a bit of a hard time getting to like him because I felt him being a jackass similar to his dad based on his explanations, but you get to know him and see how different he is. As Helisent has a certain trauma that has gone through and his coping mechanism is smoking. Both characters in the story complement each other in their flaws - so different in general yet, so similar.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
The world-building was so beautiful for me. I loved each detail the author gave us, it was so rich, beautiful, and full of elements, I got lost reading about the world Helisent and Samson were traveling to, how rich and gorgeous everything was, and definitely something new and special.
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝/𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
I have to admit in the beginning I struggled to understand what was going on because there were new elements, new language, and new names, and the voice overall in the story was a bit hard to figure out who was speaking and who is who - but, once I got more familiar with the story I've actually enjoyed it a lot and especially when the pace caught up things went on so quickly and enjoyed their adventure. I can't exactly pinpoint what the plot twist was in the story, perhaps towards the end but the big event I felt it was a bit cut short and we were thrown at the end of the story - which leaves so many unanswered questions and I guess even more things for next book.
⮞ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞/TW ⮜
There are spicy scenes in the story, and some TWs such as alcohol drinking, smoking (since some people don't like it), physical abuse, and the death of a loved one. The spicy scenes in the book aren't overly detailed/smutty I felt they gave enough details to put your imagination to play but not enough to be raunchy.
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November 25, 2023
Thanks to Book Sirens and the author for a free ecopy of this book. There’s a warning this is a cliffhanger, and an ARC of the next book is available, but I still wasn’t ready for the way this ends. It’s not a Flash Gordon, hanging-over-the-edge of death ending, but it is stunning. If you’re familiar with Cape’s Decagon series, you’ll understand when I say it has an ending more similar to that. Thank God, there’s a subsequent book coming soon!
In short, Helisent is a powerful witch and Samson is an alpha wolf, destined to be the next leader of the pack (which encompasses all packs in their world). His father is Clearbold, who is referred to multiple times as a leader of questionable morals. Nymphs feature prominently as hedonistic, easy-going and friendly creatures of the same world. All are described in humanoid forms. In time, we learn that Helisant uses glamour to hide her true self, but we never know exactly how she actually looks—only bits and pieces are revealed. It's a fascinating and clearly described world.
Samson is relatively sheltered, compared to Helisent, so although he has experienced a lot in the world, he has not experienced the same kinds of trauma and loss that Helisent has. She’s much more cynical and has some great go-to philosophies that I loved. Early on, witches learn that you cannot trust others, and Helisent learns this in a particularly cruel way. Therefore, she thinks, “...trust is what the weak cling to when their shaking hands can’t hold more.” She’s also a bad-ass and she won’t back off from a fight. When involved in a face-off against a strong wolf who seems intent on hurting her, she stands her ground. As he prepares to leave, she tells him to get lost, explaining to the reader, “...just wait until your enemy is about to leave, then shoo them. It’ll piss even a nymph off.”
While Helisent and Samson build a relationship based on shared need, and come to care for one another, it takes a long time to build trust. And it’s questionable whether they ever really do because Helisent doesn’t believe in it. There’s also a clear sexual tension between the two. Most of the book is spent wondering will-they-won’t-they, even though they both think it’s an extremely bad idea. The truth is, though, they make a great team.
I cannot wait to read the next book in this series! Unfortunately, I have another two ARCs in the queue and need to read and review those first. I’ll make the responsible choice and come back to this later, even if it kills me to wait.
In short, Helisent is a powerful witch and Samson is an alpha wolf, destined to be the next leader of the pack (which encompasses all packs in their world). His father is Clearbold, who is referred to multiple times as a leader of questionable morals. Nymphs feature prominently as hedonistic, easy-going and friendly creatures of the same world. All are described in humanoid forms. In time, we learn that Helisant uses glamour to hide her true self, but we never know exactly how she actually looks—only bits and pieces are revealed. It's a fascinating and clearly described world.
Samson is relatively sheltered, compared to Helisent, so although he has experienced a lot in the world, he has not experienced the same kinds of trauma and loss that Helisent has. She’s much more cynical and has some great go-to philosophies that I loved. Early on, witches learn that you cannot trust others, and Helisent learns this in a particularly cruel way. Therefore, she thinks, “...trust is what the weak cling to when their shaking hands can’t hold more.” She’s also a bad-ass and she won’t back off from a fight. When involved in a face-off against a strong wolf who seems intent on hurting her, she stands her ground. As he prepares to leave, she tells him to get lost, explaining to the reader, “...just wait until your enemy is about to leave, then shoo them. It’ll piss even a nymph off.”
While Helisent and Samson build a relationship based on shared need, and come to care for one another, it takes a long time to build trust. And it’s questionable whether they ever really do because Helisent doesn’t believe in it. There’s also a clear sexual tension between the two. Most of the book is spent wondering will-they-won’t-they, even though they both think it’s an extremely bad idea. The truth is, though, they make a great team.
I cannot wait to read the next book in this series! Unfortunately, I have another two ARCs in the queue and need to read and review those first. I’ll make the responsible choice and come back to this later, even if it kills me to wait.
December 19, 2022
🌶🌶/5 - When I started this book, I thought I would be reading something much lighter even though the blurb and other reviews called this series something like the Witcher, and I think that's somewhat true.. but also reminded me of a parody of 'The Witcher' at times?
A SHORT PREVIEW: When Helisent, a witch, and Samson, an alpha male wolf, join forces to hunt down and capture their longtime enemy Oko - they never expected to have feelings towards one another. But are things really ever that simple? Venturing through dangerous territories with even more dangerous beings lurking in the shadows, this evil-fighting duo must face making sacrifices of their own for the greater good.
MY THOUGHTS:
- Something the author does really well throughout this book is creating true emotion in their characters. You really feel every time someone is upset or angry and I loved that! Far too often we don't really feel those emotions in and gloss over into the plot.
- As a whole - West of Jaws does a decent job with world-building, but at the same time almost gives too much detail into things that don't really matter. It took me until about 30% into the book to have a good feel for the story past large amounts of detail. Which also means it was really hard for me to pay attention.
- Due to the main characters' own issues, I found it really hard to feel their connections - even though I completely understood their own personal emotions. To me, their personal angst outweighed their romantic connection making it hard for me to view this one as a romance? More than The Witcher series, it reminds me of The Song of The Marked series which absolutely got better over time? I think West of Jaws could be just like that, with Helisent and Samson's characters becoming easier to see as a couple in the next books.
- This is a longer read (507 pages), and if you like high fantasy - this would be an amazing series for you to delve into.
NOTES:
- LGBTQ+ representation and themes throughout
- Forced Proximity/ Forbidden love between species suspicious of each other
- TWS: alcoholism
- Cliffhanger ending
- Alternating POVs (I always like reading from a male character's POV! Too many romances are only from the females' POV and this one felt more genuinely like it was written with male perspectives rather than just a mans POV written by a woman.)
**I received this book as an advanced reader copy, but all reviews are my own. - SLR
A SHORT PREVIEW: When Helisent, a witch, and Samson, an alpha male wolf, join forces to hunt down and capture their longtime enemy Oko - they never expected to have feelings towards one another. But are things really ever that simple? Venturing through dangerous territories with even more dangerous beings lurking in the shadows, this evil-fighting duo must face making sacrifices of their own for the greater good.
MY THOUGHTS:
- Something the author does really well throughout this book is creating true emotion in their characters. You really feel every time someone is upset or angry and I loved that! Far too often we don't really feel those emotions in and gloss over into the plot.
- As a whole - West of Jaws does a decent job with world-building, but at the same time almost gives too much detail into things that don't really matter. It took me until about 30% into the book to have a good feel for the story past large amounts of detail. Which also means it was really hard for me to pay attention.
- Due to the main characters' own issues, I found it really hard to feel their connections - even though I completely understood their own personal emotions. To me, their personal angst outweighed their romantic connection making it hard for me to view this one as a romance? More than The Witcher series, it reminds me of The Song of The Marked series which absolutely got better over time? I think West of Jaws could be just like that, with Helisent and Samson's characters becoming easier to see as a couple in the next books.
- This is a longer read (507 pages), and if you like high fantasy - this would be an amazing series for you to delve into.
NOTES:
- LGBTQ+ representation and themes throughout
- Forced Proximity/ Forbidden love between species suspicious of each other
- TWS: alcoholism
- Cliffhanger ending
- Alternating POVs (I always like reading from a male character's POV! Too many romances are only from the females' POV and this one felt more genuinely like it was written with male perspectives rather than just a mans POV written by a woman.)
**I received this book as an advanced reader copy, but all reviews are my own. - SLR
January 30, 2025
Helisant West of Jaws is a witch, and a bombastic character. She’s quick-witted, sharp-tongued, and has a taste for brandy as well. She meets Samson 714 Afador in a tavern in the city of Luz. Samson will likely lead Velm one day as Alpha Wolf. The wolves and witches share a long and bloody history, and at first, the two are like oil and water. However, they discover they share an enemy in common. They come to terms on a deal to hunt for Oko, that shared enemy. It seems to be nothing more than a temporary alliance of convenience, but soon, they begin to develop deeper feelings for each other.
West of Jaws, by Capes, is a dark fantasy novel with strong lashings of romance. It might remind some viewers of The Witcher series, while others may find it reminiscent of works by Anne Rice.
Samson and Helisant are a comically mismatched pair. Seeing them play off each other is a great part of the fun in this lively and audacious work of fiction. Capes is a playful author who understands the dark fantasy genre well. She paints her characters in broad strokes and gradually reveals more about them and the realm they inhabit as the novel progresses. She also proves adept at world building, as the reader slowly comes to understand the complex, blood-drenched history that the witches and wolves share.
It's a foregone conclusion that Samson and Helisant are going to fall for each other, but watching them go from combative partners to potential love interests is a thoroughly enjoyable and fulfilling journey. These are both strong, capable characters, and also undeniably likeable. Helisant struggles with her drinking, and Samson with his dedication to his family’s legacy. What they eventually find in each other is someone who accepts without judgment. It’s something lacking in both their lives, though neither necessarily realizes it at first.
Dark fantasy is probably one of the more oversaturated of fiction genres, but this one stands out for all the best reasons. The depth of our central characters makes the reader instantly care about them, and emotional investment in what happens to them soon follows.
West of Jaws, by Capes, is a dark fantasy novel with strong lashings of romance. It might remind some viewers of The Witcher series, while others may find it reminiscent of works by Anne Rice.
Samson and Helisant are a comically mismatched pair. Seeing them play off each other is a great part of the fun in this lively and audacious work of fiction. Capes is a playful author who understands the dark fantasy genre well. She paints her characters in broad strokes and gradually reveals more about them and the realm they inhabit as the novel progresses. She also proves adept at world building, as the reader slowly comes to understand the complex, blood-drenched history that the witches and wolves share.
It's a foregone conclusion that Samson and Helisant are going to fall for each other, but watching them go from combative partners to potential love interests is a thoroughly enjoyable and fulfilling journey. These are both strong, capable characters, and also undeniably likeable. Helisant struggles with her drinking, and Samson with his dedication to his family’s legacy. What they eventually find in each other is someone who accepts without judgment. It’s something lacking in both their lives, though neither necessarily realizes it at first.
Dark fantasy is probably one of the more oversaturated of fiction genres, but this one stands out for all the best reasons. The depth of our central characters makes the reader instantly care about them, and emotional investment in what happens to them soon follows.
October 15, 2022
I give this a solid 3.5 stars. I have run into the problem of disliking any first book in a high fantasy series more often than I can count, usually because there is too much information given too quickly, so that the first chunk of the book is just explanations of how the world operates and is resultantly very dry and boring, or conversely there is too little explanation given at the start so that the reader finds out relevant information like halfway through the book. West of Jaws definitely falls in the latter category. When reading I felt as though it took forever to truly understand the cultures and magics that were heavily present and relevant to the plot, which detracted from my enjoyment a good bit. I’m also not too sure if I like the heavy focus on drugs and alcohol that the book takes on, but I got pretty used to it after a while and understood that their presence was important to the reader’s understanding of the characters and their mental/emotional state.
Though I found myself confused for a good while, the characters themselves made up for what I felt was lacking. Reading Helisent and Samson’s banter, being able to see their friendship unfold and their prejudices fade, made the chapters fly by. Also, I surprised myself with being much more interested in the overarching storyline of the series that was revealed in small pieces throughout the book, honestly much more than the plot of this book, which focused more so on the main characters seeking vengeance and answers. If it weren’t for the frustrating end when Helisent and Samson finally reach Oko, which I reread several times but still do not understand fully, I would be eagerly awaiting more out of this series. I’m a bit disgruntled at the ending, but I’m going to trust my instincts that tell me I always like later books more than the first of a fantasy series, and keep an eye out for the release of the sequel. Overall, I think this is a solid and unique adult high fantasy!
Thank you to the author and to NetGalley for this ARC ❤️
Though I found myself confused for a good while, the characters themselves made up for what I felt was lacking. Reading Helisent and Samson’s banter, being able to see their friendship unfold and their prejudices fade, made the chapters fly by. Also, I surprised myself with being much more interested in the overarching storyline of the series that was revealed in small pieces throughout the book, honestly much more than the plot of this book, which focused more so on the main characters seeking vengeance and answers. If it weren’t for the frustrating end when Helisent and Samson finally reach Oko, which I reread several times but still do not understand fully, I would be eagerly awaiting more out of this series. I’m a bit disgruntled at the ending, but I’m going to trust my instincts that tell me I always like later books more than the first of a fantasy series, and keep an eye out for the release of the sequel. Overall, I think this is a solid and unique adult high fantasy!
Thank you to the author and to NetGalley for this ARC ❤️
January 28, 2023
Rating: 3.5
Spice: 1
I have all sorts of thoughts about this book. It took awhile for me to get into it. Capes builds her complete own world and magic system, which is very cool, but there was so much information in the first 100 pages that it was a lot to keep track of and it took me out of the story a bit too much.
The plot overall is wonderful: a witch and a wolf, both powerful in their own rights, have to join forces to search for a common enemy. It follows their journey and the friendship, and we slowly learn the motives behind each. I found Samson to be more likeable than Helisent, especially the first half of the book. The knock against him? He's a smoker, which I honestly didn't think was necessary or fit his character, especially with his sensitivity to smell.
Helisent bothered me a lot for the first half of the book. She's basically an alcoholic, drug abuser who uses vices to cope. She's drunk for over half the book, borderline blackout. It makes for a very hot and cold temper. I didn't care for her, and reading Samson's character, I don't see how he would have entertained romantic feelings towards her either.
Now, the second half of the book, we get more backstory on Helisent and she shows more compassion and the reason for her hurt and distrust of others. I would have liked to see more of this throughout the book and had the alcohol make more of a selective point instead of it just making her an alcoholic. At the same time, I'm sure there is a reader out there who will be able to relate. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
The story started out plot driven for me (which I'm more about characters), but once we find out more about the backstories and the vulnerable sides of each character, it captured my attention much more easily and I began to root for them. I just wish it hadn't taken so long to get to this point. I think the author may have tried to stuff too many things into the book. By the end of the book though, I was invested!
* I received an ARC of this book for an honest review
Spice: 1
I have all sorts of thoughts about this book. It took awhile for me to get into it. Capes builds her complete own world and magic system, which is very cool, but there was so much information in the first 100 pages that it was a lot to keep track of and it took me out of the story a bit too much.
The plot overall is wonderful: a witch and a wolf, both powerful in their own rights, have to join forces to search for a common enemy. It follows their journey and the friendship, and we slowly learn the motives behind each. I found Samson to be more likeable than Helisent, especially the first half of the book. The knock against him? He's a smoker, which I honestly didn't think was necessary or fit his character, especially with his sensitivity to smell.
Helisent bothered me a lot for the first half of the book. She's basically an alcoholic, drug abuser who uses vices to cope. She's drunk for over half the book, borderline blackout. It makes for a very hot and cold temper. I didn't care for her, and reading Samson's character, I don't see how he would have entertained romantic feelings towards her either.
Now, the second half of the book, we get more backstory on Helisent and she shows more compassion and the reason for her hurt and distrust of others. I would have liked to see more of this throughout the book and had the alcohol make more of a selective point instead of it just making her an alcoholic. At the same time, I'm sure there is a reader out there who will be able to relate. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
The story started out plot driven for me (which I'm more about characters), but once we find out more about the backstories and the vulnerable sides of each character, it captured my attention much more easily and I began to root for them. I just wish it hadn't taken so long to get to this point. I think the author may have tried to stuff too many things into the book. By the end of the book though, I was invested!
* I received an ARC of this book for an honest review
February 4, 2025
West of Jaws by Capes is the first book in the new Sennenwolf series. It is a dark fantasy romance that follows the up-and-down relationship between Helisent West of Jaws, a sharp-witted witch, and Samson 714 Afador, a wolf that is the future of Vlem, where they both live. They are brought together to defeat a shared enemy, Oko, and slowly, their new alliance evolves into something more. The novel is set in the imaginary world of Mieira, and tensions between witches and wolves have always been high. This series starts by giving us plenty of adventure, romance, and mystery. As Helisent and Samson go about their journey, they realize there is more to uncover than they ever thought. Capes is successful in crafting a world where romantic fantasy lovers will thrive. The dynamic between the main characters is a highlight of the novel, as it evolves throughout the story. Their differences make for an entertaining, charming, witty storyline, and their character development is well-paced and expansive. Another strong point of the story is the creation of Mieira and how you can enter into it through the vast descriptions and histories. While the novel excels in character interactions and setting, the pacing sometimes wavers. Some sections feel slow, particularly in the buildup to key moments. However, the strong character arcs and tension-filled plot will keep any reader engaged. Additionally, the open-ended conclusion leaves plenty of room for the next book, making it a promising start to the series. West of Jaws delivers an enthralling mix of romance, fantasy, and adventure. Despite some pacing issues, the novel’s wit, chemistry, and immersive world make it compelling. I eagerly anticipate the next installment, and I rate this book a 4/5.
January 19, 2023
REVIEW
A Netgalley ARC, thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley
📖📖
When I started this book, I was kinda confused, I didn't understand anything, luckily there was a glossary at the back ,but even the glossary didn't have everything.
📖📖
I also didn't like Helisent because of her drinking habits ,but as I read on, I began to understand the world building and why Helisent drank so much(it was to dull the pain)
📖📖
Samson was okay I really liked, he was gentle and very serious, too serious sometimes, but he was okay
📖📖
What I loved most was how the characters acted their ages. Most times when I've tried to read an Adult Fantasy, I ended up disliking it because the characters might be in their late 20s or early 30s, they acted as if they were teens, it was not like this here, the characters were in their late 20s and early 30s and they acted their age
📖📖
I also loved that their Romance didn't overshadow the story. When I read Fantasy, I love the romance, but I also want the Fantasy to stand on its own. I got that here.
📖📖
This book was beautifully written, the world building was very good. It was also thrilling, I kept turning the pages just so I can understand the forces behind both MCs.
📖📖
I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait for the second in the series, this book ended on a cliffhanger. You should definitely add this book to your tbr.
A Netgalley ARC, thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley
📖📖
When I started this book, I was kinda confused, I didn't understand anything, luckily there was a glossary at the back ,but even the glossary didn't have everything.
📖📖
I also didn't like Helisent because of her drinking habits ,but as I read on, I began to understand the world building and why Helisent drank so much(it was to dull the pain)
📖📖
Samson was okay I really liked, he was gentle and very serious, too serious sometimes, but he was okay
📖📖
What I loved most was how the characters acted their ages. Most times when I've tried to read an Adult Fantasy, I ended up disliking it because the characters might be in their late 20s or early 30s, they acted as if they were teens, it was not like this here, the characters were in their late 20s and early 30s and they acted their age
📖📖
I also loved that their Romance didn't overshadow the story. When I read Fantasy, I love the romance, but I also want the Fantasy to stand on its own. I got that here.
📖📖
This book was beautifully written, the world building was very good. It was also thrilling, I kept turning the pages just so I can understand the forces behind both MCs.
📖📖
I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait for the second in the series, this book ended on a cliffhanger. You should definitely add this book to your tbr.
January 7, 2023
Helisent West of Jaws, a witch, and Samson 714 Afador, a wolf, don't have much in common. He's in line to become the Male Alpha of Velm, she's a red witch with a questionable relationship to brandy.
They strike up a partnership to hunt down Oko, a mutual enemy. All they need to do is survive a trip to Skull, the City of Ghosts… and then a run-in with a filthy bloodsucker, a prophecy-wielding selkie, a pack of wolves, and an irate phoenix.
As each hurdle brings Helisent and Samson closer to finding Oko, their discoveries begin to point to a single conclusion—one that will destroy the trust they've placed in each other and change their world forever.
I liked the premise of the story and it did not traverse the way I expected. I wished there were more details described about the world created. The story is told from Helisent and Samson’s perspective which was intriguing and made the story more engaging.
This story had the potential to be something more but somehow, fell short. The characters took their time to learn about each other and I loved watching their relationship grow. The ending made me want the sequel already.
They strike up a partnership to hunt down Oko, a mutual enemy. All they need to do is survive a trip to Skull, the City of Ghosts… and then a run-in with a filthy bloodsucker, a prophecy-wielding selkie, a pack of wolves, and an irate phoenix.
As each hurdle brings Helisent and Samson closer to finding Oko, their discoveries begin to point to a single conclusion—one that will destroy the trust they've placed in each other and change their world forever.
I liked the premise of the story and it did not traverse the way I expected. I wished there were more details described about the world created. The story is told from Helisent and Samson’s perspective which was intriguing and made the story more engaging.
This story had the potential to be something more but somehow, fell short. The characters took their time to learn about each other and I loved watching their relationship grow. The ending made me want the sequel already.
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