The Wren in the Holly Library (The Oak & Holly Cycle, #1)

by K.A. Linde

She stole from a monster – now she must pay the price . . .

'Action-packed and full of steam' – Geneva Lee, author of Filthy Rich Vampire

Set in an alternate day New York filled with monsters, The Wren in the Holly Library is a dark, spicy urban fantasy loosely inspired by Beauty and the Beast. Perfect for fans of V. E. Schwab and Leigh Bardugo.

Street thief Kierse should have known something wasn’t right. Now she’s trapped in a library — with a monster. She can’t run. She can’t hide. And this man – this being, filled with terrible power and darkness — is well within his rights to kill her.

By trespassing, Kierse has broken the fragile peace treaty between monsters and humans. But instead of killing her, Graves does the unexpected: he offers her a job. A chance to find out who she really is.

Kierse has always known she’s different. That she can do things a little better, a little faster. And there’s that sense she has when danger is only a breath away. But if the old tales are true, there are worse things in the world than monsters.

Like a threat more ancient than legend. Like Graves. Or like Kierse herself . . .

From bestselling author K. A. Linde comes the start of an addictive dark romantasy series where monsters live among humankind, and ancient secrets threaten to destroy everything . . . Discover the next book in the series, The Robin on the Oak Throne.

Tropes include . . .
- Forced proximity
- Enemies to lovers
- Now you work for me
- Celtic mythology
- Heists
- And they were roommates
- Touch her and die
- Tortured hero

^{The Wren in the Holly Library was a No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller w/e 13/07/2024}

• ISBN10: 1035044943
• ISBN13: 9781035044948
• Publish Date: 14 August 2025 (first published 4 June 2024)
• Publish Status: Forthcoming
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Tor Bramble
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Monsters roam the streets, and only one carefully crafted pact keeps the peace. Enter Kierse. She’s a talented thief who may be poised to break the treaty - if she’s not careful accidentally.

What started as an ordinary heist quickly transformed into something more dangerous. However, it could be exactly what Kierse needs, as this revelation may just change her life forever.

My Review:

The Wren in the Holly Library is a compelling and intriguing start to a new series, The Oak and Holly Cycle. I went into this book/series completely blind, and I'm so glad I did! There is no way I could have predicted what I found within these pages.

In truth, there's a little bit of something for everyone here. We've got the romantic plot, legends, lore, books, magic, artifacts, friends, secrets, and I could go on and on. Given the title, I was hoping that the library theme would be a stronger element, but it felt small in comparison to everything else.

However, if that's my biggest complaint, I need to shut up! But seriously, The Wren in the Holly Library is a fun read. Kierse's journey to understand who/what she is proves to be more drastic than anticipated, and the repercussions will probably be the foundation for the next novel (expected in June 2025).

I wish we had more time to explore the world's political situation. I know we saw the basics - monsters, humans, the obvious tension. There's got to be more, as evidenced by the nuanced relationship Graves had with his contemporaries. I hope future installations will reveal even more.

Highlights:
Romantasy
Legends & Lore
Books, Magic, Artifacts

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