A review by bladebailey
A Wolf in the Garden by Allegra Hall

adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A sweet, contemporary romance with immense emotional intelligence and character study, A Wolf in the Garden takes this typically saccharine and straightforward genre and turns it into an intricately plotted urban fantasy with a masterfully designed second chance fated mates romance. Van and Ellie both struggle with their grief following the drowning death of his little sister and their subsequent separation, and Hall spends a great deal of time exploring the maturation of both characters and their romance as a whole. Every monrom explains the presence of monsters differently, but Hall's worldbuilding provides one of the strongest theories while also establishing a magic system in an entirely separate realm. Ellie's work as a professional landscaper/gardener and Van's vineyard set against the quaint, lush New Zealand island enriches the story, and we get so much fantastical monster fun. Also, this book is SPICYYYY. Think knots, full moon fun, and so much more. The series is just starting and I'm eager to see the side characters get their own HEA's (Cam, especially). 
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