Wolftamer by Maggie Rapier delivers the conclusion of the romantic fantasy duology Magpie the Wolf. I loved book one, from the pirates to the magic, and was excited to dive in. While I struggled with the first half, the second half grabbed me as the danger increased. I closed the book with a smile and recommend this duology for lovers of fantasy and romance.
by Maggie Rapier
Series: The Magpie and the Wolf Duology #2
Genres: Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm *affiliate
Legends don't die.
Saoirse and Foalan's quest for freedom turns into a battle for the fate of their entire world, in this aching and lush conclusion to the Magpie and the Wolf duology.
Faolan has escaped death. Twice.
After a lifetime chasing freedom and legends, he was finally on the brink of becoming one himself when it all went up in flames. Stranded on the Isle of Lost Souls, bound by an oath he did not make, Faolan is plagued by dreams of drowning and a past he swore never to revisit. The pirate in him wants nothing more than to raise hell and run away—but with no ship, and no way to untether his wife, Saoirse, from the land she’s pledged herself to, Faolan is trapped.
And everyone knows who tamed the Wolf.
When their sinister rival King Maccus unveils an ancient godly relic—one with the power to unbalance their entire world—Faolan knows the game has changed. There’s only one person who can hunt down the missing relics before Maccus can, and the Wolf of the Wild will do anything to protect his wife.
Even if that means leaving her behind.
Wolftamer begins right where Soulgazer left off, and it’s important to read these in the order of their release. If you like a high-stakes adventure with danger, magic, and a swoon-worthy romance, this duology is for you. Fair warning, our hero will most likely annoy you for the first half of Wolftamer, but redeems himself, so hang in there.
Saoirse and Faolan find themselves trapped on the Island of Lost Souls after the events of book one. They are attempting to help the people there even as Saoirse takes on her responsibilities as a Soulgazer. Faolan is flawed, and the author highlights every one as he struggles to find his place among Saoirse’s strengths and new role. For her part, she sees the wolf’s struggles, and when the enemy appears, she sends Wolf on a mission. In doing so, he finds himself.
The world-building and overall story, from the magic to the characters, held me spellbound. I struggled with Faolan during the first half of the book and wanted to throw my copy against the wall more than once. He struggles with his place in the scheme of things. I felt Saoirse was struggling, and he needed to man up. When he journeys, we first see recklessness and slowly character growth that redeems him in my eyes.
The second half of Wolftamer was positively addictive, and I loved both Saoirse and Faolan from their bravery to their passion for each other. Secondary characters like Brona, Nessa, Aidan, Lorcan, and Kiara added to the tale and were instrumental in the plot. I admit to crying over some scenes, and don’t even get me started on the soul stones. Ri Maccus and his thirst for power made him the perfect villain. Saoirse has endured a lot in her lifetime, and Maccus deals her some ruthless blows.
While Wolftamer didn’t quite hold the magic that Soulgazer did for me, what it did was give me a conclusion that left me well satisfied. I highly recommend the overall duology for its poetic prose, unique world, and rich characters if you are looking for a swoon-worthy adventure on the high seas.
About Maggie Rapier
Born in the South with a healthy streak of wanderlust, Maggie is an incurable romantic who loves nothing more than wordplay and witchcraft—except, perhaps, her sourdough starter. When she’s not marketing French antiques or writing about moody girls and sexy pirates, you can find her wandering in the woods with her partner, and a basket in hand.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
Glad this conclusion to the duology worked for you! It’s good you were able to get past the first half, that’s often where I will end up DNFing a book. Great review!
Rachel at Waves of Fiction
Happy the ending was a satisfying one!
Sarah @ Sarah's Book Solace
High-stakes adventure with romance and magic? Sign me up! Sorry to hear the beginning was a struggle, I feel like I’ve been reading a lot of books lately where the beginning felt so hard for me to get into, but eventually I got hooked.
Sophia Rose
I always get muttering and annoyed as characters go through growth troubles, but in the end, when the story really comes through with a well-fought satisfying ending, its worth it.