The Lure of Wolves and Whispers
On sale
7th July 2026
Price: £22
Genre
A darkly addictive romantasy debut about a girl who sacrifices everything to buy the dangerous magic that could save her sister – the first in a trilogy perfect for fans of The Foxglove King and Throne of Glass.
On the mist-shrouded Isle of Eireann, buying magic comes with a price.
But when her beloved older sister is gravely injured, Maeve risks everything to buy the forbidden magic that might save her. In exchange, Maeve trades her life to a ruthless and dangerously alluring rebel leader. Bound to do his bidding, Maeve finds herself thrown into a deadly competition to become the next queen and stand beside a prince rumoured to be more brutal than his tyrannical father.
With the isle on the brink of war, trust and survival come at a terrible cost-one that will tear Maeve’s world, and her heart, in two.
What would you sacrifice to survive?
TROPES
Enemies-to-lovers
Morally grey FMC
Slow-burn romance
Deadly trials
On the mist-shrouded Isle of Eireann, buying magic comes with a price.
But when her beloved older sister is gravely injured, Maeve risks everything to buy the forbidden magic that might save her. In exchange, Maeve trades her life to a ruthless and dangerously alluring rebel leader. Bound to do his bidding, Maeve finds herself thrown into a deadly competition to become the next queen and stand beside a prince rumoured to be more brutal than his tyrannical father.
With the isle on the brink of war, trust and survival come at a terrible cost-one that will tear Maeve’s world, and her heart, in two.
What would you sacrifice to survive?
TROPES
Enemies-to-lovers
Morally grey FMC
Slow-burn romance
Deadly trials
Reviews
A relentless ride through a land sundered by poison and rebellion, Connolly's The Lure of Wolves and Whispers is as raw, compelling, and as unflinching in the face of horror as its protagonist. The delicious slow-burn romance is the cherry on top of a masterfully-woven debut
[A] pulse-pounding romantasy debut. . . . Maeve's candid narration amplifies the tale's emotional impact, while subtle, effective worldbuilding adds texture. Political intrigue, high-stakes action, and a steamy love triangle between white-cued characters combine for a twisty, electrifying trilogy launch
This trilogy opener infused with Irish lore is a fast-paced, bloody story of cruelty, fear, and the fragile power of hope. The action begins on the first page and holds strong through the end. The characters are complex, and the romantic tension is steamy. . . A sizzling, high-stakes debut launching a series that readers will greedily devour
The Bachelor meets Throne of Glass in this atmospheric, slow-burn romantasy . . . The story is well-paced and readers will be kept on their toes as the plot shifts between the tasks of the competition, life in the castle, and Maeve's rebellious activities. A promising debut; hand to readers who enjoyed Lauren Roberts's Powerless and Shelby Mahurin's Serpent & Dove