Book Review: Wolfsbane by Franklyn S. Newton

One cold winters' eve a bookish witch is closing her apothecary, when a dashing lycanthrope pack leader knocks on the door, looking to speak to her. But as the moon rises, their meeting takes a turn that requires her magical expertise.

GENRE: Sapphic Urban Fantasy Short Story

PURCHASE LINK: Universal Link

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Franklyn Newton (they/she) has been writing on and off since their teens, largely inspired by the sci-fi & horror movies that wormed into their brain when they left the tv on at night. They enjoy writing about transhumanism, the struggle for bodily autonomy and finding love. They’re based in the south of England and run a two-person book club with their partner, reading brick-sized sci-fi novels and comparing notes. Synthetic Sea is their first novel. (@Franklyn_Newt)

Review

This is a very short but delightful read. You can just cozy up with a cup of tea and finish this in one sitting.

Romances can be a hit or miss for me. I think it ultimately boils down to the characters, and the author managed to get me to care about Tabi and Mads with just 17 pages' worth of words, which is quite an accomplishment if you really think about it. Short story authors are just so underrated!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️

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If you'd like to check out Franklyn S. Newton's other works, their queer cyberpunk novel Synthetic Sea releases this April 12!

In the distant future of planet cracking, VR distraction, and corporate greed, grieving private detective Ryoma LeBeau takes what seems to be a simple job on the opulent casino planetoid of Scylla. Captivated by a chance meeting with the cybernetic musician Guin, he finds himself drawn to the smoky anachronistic lounge bar where they perform. But it seems there's a lot more to both Guin and this case and Ryoma can't help but pull at the threads of mystery leading him to the depths of conspiracy and memory.

Inspired by Philip K Dick novels and Ghost in the Shell, Synthetic Sea is a cyberpunk noir entwined with queer romance.

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Hi! I'm Marie, a Filipino fantasy author and book reviewer currently based in the UK. I’m the co-author of The Prophecies of Ragnarok, a Norse myth new adult urban fantasy trilogy, and I also have several short stories published in anthologies and literary journals.

If you'd like to get started with our series, I'd like to recommend Nameless Queen, which is a retelling of the myths involving Hel, the Norse goddess of death and the queen of the underworld. It stands alone and also has a glossary at the back for the Norse myth stuff.

All things end, and all must die.

But death is not always the end.

When Geiravor Lokisdottir was stripped of her name and cast out of Asgard, torn from her family and the life she had known, she thought she’d lost it all. But in the shadows of Niflheim she discovers the path to her destiny, and what it truly means to be queen.

You can find more info about me and my books, and also subscribe to my newsletter for more content, here. And if you like what I do, please also consider supporting me on Ko-fi! 🩷 https://ko-fi.com/mariesinadjan

Also check out my latest release, Among Thorns and Stardust, an anthology of science fiction fairytale retellings featuring classic fairytales like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, and more! ✨ My story Just A Byte is a cyberpunk retelling of Snow White, with elements of the lesser-known fairytale Snow White and Rose Red.