Wolfseeker

by Amy Pennza

I had a plan: finish college, escape my suffocating parents, and never look back. But everything changed the day I went for a jog and lost four hours of my life. Now the tiniest annoyances send me into rages, certain scents drive me wild, and I’m craving my steaks practically raw.

Then Jesse van der Meer shows up like he was sent by the universe to explain everything. He pulls back the curtain on a hidden world and teaches me how to live inside a body that doesn't feel like mine anymore. Somewhere between the secrets he shares and the heat that builds between us, I stop being afraid of what I'm becoming.

I should have paid more attention to why he came looking for me in the first place.

Just when I start to feel comfortable in my new skin, I discover that it’s not just Jesse’s world that has secrets. The man I’ve fallen for has been hiding a few of his own. As something dangerous closes in on us both, I'm left wondering which is more reckless; trusting him with my life, or trusting him with my heart.

Knowing what I know now, I'm not sure I have a choice either way.

Genres: M M Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Gay, BDSM, Shapeshifters

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2026

About the author

Amy Pennza is a USA Today Bestselling Author of steamy fantasy romance. After becoming a lawyer because everyone insisted writing wasn’t a “real job,” she stubbornly wrote anyway—and is delighted to have proved them wrong. She’s grateful to spend her days crafting dirty, swoony books about magic, swords, and unforgettable characters. She lives in the Great Lakes region with her husband and five children.

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Reviews

[Megan [Cottage Vibes] · Rating 4 out of 5]

MM Romance
Werewolves
4 Stars ⭐️


I was on the fence about this book when I started it because the setup felt like it took forever to get anywhere but as it went on, I realized I’ve never read a shifter book like this before and I grew to love it. Plus it’s so hot 🥵🥵 It has a plot but it’s borderline erotica and I devoured it. So, when this starts we meet Caleb, a 20 something college boy who plays football and seems to be a regular guy. However, he starts having weird symptoms like blacking out randomly only to find himself 4 hours from home, salivating over raw meat and being unable to control his temper which he’s never had an issue with before. It gets so bad he has to quit the football team because he’s having trouble controlling himself. One night he starts beating someone from his team up when he’s intercepted by a huge man named Jesse. It’s Jesse’s job as an alpha werewolf to seek out new wolves and teach them how to control their beast before their beast controls them. Since this is a world where the supernatural is hidden from humans, Jesse helps Caleb come to terms with being turned plus teaches him how to be a werewolf. The reason this book is so smutty is because when a person is turned into a werewolf, anger is the predominant emotion running through them and the only way to combat that is through lust and sex.

I absolutely loved these two characters and felt this book was different from most shifter books I’ve read before. I cannot think of any shifter book I’ve read where the human was turned into a werewolf. If anyone is turning, it’s usually a fated mate bond making someone immortal or vampires but this was unique because not only was Caleb a new werewolf but he had never shifted before and had no idea how to talk to his wolf. Werewolves in this world have gifts passed down from the wolf that sired them and one of Jesse’s gifts was teaching new pups the way of the werewolf. So not only does Jesse help Caleb learn to control his beast, he teaches him how to shift and they run together as wolves. It’s just a very rare thing to see in a book like this and it made their relationship special and not just sex. While Jesse was teaching Caleb, their wolves imprint on each other further strengthening their bond. So the more I read the more invested I became.

As the story went on, the world opened up more and when it ended I realized this is going to be trilogy. I know it says so on the cover but I had no idea if it was going to be the same couple and I was thrilled when it ended with a HFN and a plot that I very much wanted to keep reading about.

I’d been wanting to read this author’s MMF trilogies for a while now but I am so psyched to see a MM romance instead. If this releases on audiobook with a narrator I like, I will purchase it immediately. 🥵

Thanks netgalley for the arc!


#The52BookClub-A 3 syllable word in the title

[Romancing the Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't use the word I want to here in the public, professional book review space. Actually, you know what? I can. It's my review. This book was so slutty, and I absolutely loved it.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Wolfseeker by Amy Pennza

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Wolfseeker Trilogy, Book 1.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle. 🆓️ on KU.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Paranormal romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Shifter romance, MM, spice as the plot, age gap.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Caleb is barely making it through his senior year of college. He's tired & angry all of the time, quits football and can't seem to figure out what's wrong with himself. Until he meets the mysterious Jesse, who tells him the truth: He's becoming a werewolf. And he needs guidance to make sure he makes it through the process.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I haven't read a book like this in awhile. A book that's so unapologetically spicy (I think it borders on erotica, but hey) that it feels just genuinely fun to read it.

Caleb was a bit of a himbo and extremely naive. Jesse was full of secrets, broody and pushy. The 100+ year age gap really worked for them.

The underlying plot wasn't entirely complicated - though it's moving really well into book 2 - so the book felt like it read incredibly fast. The pacing and tone were expertly done. And listen, as someone who read 1,000+ romance books, there were two specific spice scenes in this book that made me have to step away from my kindle because my brain almost melted.

I'm in for this series. Give me another two books of MM wolf shifter smut, PLEASE!

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 4.5/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting book. It's unlike any other werewolf book I've read and had some unique elements to the paranormal aspect. There was almost a thrillerish body horror vibe going on in the beginning because Caleb was experiencing all this shit that he couldn't understand, and it was really well done. I honestly loved the writing and, in the end, I fucking loved the MCs, too.

The first few interactions between the MCs (both sexual and non) felt a little uncomfy with Jesse's use of his wolf authority/power. It had a very dubcon feel to it imo, but I wonder now that I've finished it if I would feel the same when I went back and reread it. Either way they definitely started out more antagonistic than I thought they would and I didn't super like it while it was happening.

But! Things got waaaay better as the book went on. I feel like both of their true personalities came out gradually and I became more attached to them over time - especially Caleb! I think he was in such survival mode at the start that I didn't get to experience his true cheeky, bratty, sassy self until around 30% in. But once it kicked in I was here for it. And that's about the same time that I stopped feeling like Jesse needed to shove his wolf authority straight up his ass. I still had an overall harder time with Jesse but I do think he proved himself by the end.

The sexual dynamic was phenomenal, even though I felt a little weird about it at the start. Jesse van der Meer has a straight up dirty fucking mouth and we're grateful for it. Honestly, I don't usually highlight too much from spicy scenes but I absolutely did with this book. And Caleb's bratting was really fun (after that 30% mark; before it felt a little bratty in the unfun way). I don't have too many notes on the smut except that I hope that every kink that was mentioned gets some page time over this series.

I was very into the plot - once I actually understood what it was. I feel like a lot of the time when I've read fantasy or paranormal stories recently, I am less impressed with the plot than the relationship, but here I thought it was great. I'm genuinely interested in where things go from the ending, and the bit of the world that was shown was pretty cool. I hope it lives up to it once we get to see more. There were two beautifully done scenes that I will be thinking about for some time, that were integral to the plot and that used the supernatural elements really well imo. Fingers crossed for more of those.

If we were going by how I feel at the end of the book, I would give this maybe 4.5 stars, but there were definitely times in the beginning that I didn't love so I think a solid 4 works. This is the first book I've read by this author and I would definitely read more. I think her other series are MMF so maybe not her back catalog, but I'm super excited for more in this series!

Pet names: sweetheart, baby, babe, college boy, baby boy, sir, Mr. van der Meer

Once word had gotten out that I’d repeated ninth grade, those assholes had never let me forget it. But that extra year—and the size and strength it brought—had been an asset on the field, so the teasing was good-natured. People liked you when you could help them. They were willing to overlook a lot as long as they could get something from you they couldn’t get anywhere else. That, more than anything, was the lesson I’d take away from college.

No matter what I said or did, Jesse van der Meer was going to get his way. And, damn, that fucking did it for me.

“You’re a mouthy one, aren’t you? That’s okay. I don’t mind turning this pretty ass red when the situation calls for it. But I need a color, sweetheart. Otherwise, you’ll pull up your pants like a good boy, and you can go the rest of the day without the orgasm you’re seconds from begging for.”

“To answer your question, Mr. van der Meer, I don’t consider myself vers. I am, in fact, a dedicated butt slut.”

“And you’re something else.” When he didn’t elaborate, I looked up and met his wolf-bright eyes. “What?” I whispered. “Mine.”

“Only good boys get to come, Caleb. And right now, you’re being very bad.” My balls tightened. Shit, did I have a daddy kink, too? Why the hell not? The more the merrier.

“This belongs to me. And when I decide to use what’s mine, I’m not going to be rushed.” I rubbed a slow, deliberate circle around his rim, and his breath stuttered, a soft moan easing past his lips. I shook my head. “Make all the sexy, slutty sounds you want, baby boy. It won’t change my mind. I decide when this hole gets filled, and I hate to break it to you, but I’m going to be a bastard about it. I want you crawling on your hands and knees. I want you heeling at my command, my leash on your dick and tears in your eyes because you need it so, so bad. I want you so desperate that you’re crying for it. I want to watch your hole clench around nothing while you beg me to fill it.” I brought my mouth to his ear. “So, no, baby. You don’t get my cock just because you’re pretty and you want it. You get it when I say you can have it.”

The people in his life had offered him nothing but judgment and rejection. He’d had twenty-three years to learn he couldn’t trust anyone. It might very well take another twenty-three to undo all that damage. But I was up for the challenge.

He put up a good front with his smart mouth and tough exterior. But his hard shell was so thin in places I could see the bruises underneath.

“Mark me, sir. Write your name on me.”

Easing back, I trailed my fingers down his armpits to his sides. He sucked in a breath, then released a breathless giggle. I knew my smile was wicked. “Oh, we could have some serious fun with that.” He sobered. “Tickle me, and I’ll mule kick you.”

“You’re more than good enough, Caleb. You are everything good.”

“I’m never going to get used to your mouth.” He picked a piece of grass off my shirt. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so crude. I cordially invite you to drill my ass.”

“What do you want to do next?” “Everything,”

*
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Safety (may contain spoilers)

SA/rape: I felt like the first encounter (maybe the second one as well) were definitely dub con. I felt like Jesse used his wolf authority thing pretty fucking unethically here in a way that made me a little uncomfortable tbh.

Other person drama: They go over Caleb's sexual history in some detail but mostly because he's describing how he was able to rebel against his religious parents. That part was kind of ok. But it felt like there was more time spent on Jesse's sire than I'd have liked. It was important to Jesse's backstory but it did leave Caleb feeling jealous and insecure for a little bit so I didn't love it.

[davdashaaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very hot and genuinely interesting 🔥
The only tragic thing is that this is just the first book in a trilogy and only this part is out right now 😭 I desperately need to know what happens next.

Thankfully, it doesn’t end on a brutal cliffhanger, so I survived 😌

The story honestly gave me manga/manhwa vibes — but in the best possible way. Dramatic, intense, emotional, a little over-the-top sometimes, but super entertaining and easy to get into.

The book felt light despite all the action and tension, and the romance was both sweet and very spicy 🥰❤️‍🔥
The chemistry worked really well, and the pacing made it super easy to binge.

Overall it was fun, addictive, hot, and surprisingly cozy at times.
I’m definitely reading the next books as soon as they come out 🔥

[justreads0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read. Caleb and Jesse had amazing chemistry and the storyline kept me interested the entire time. There were some moments where I cried and other moments where I didn’t know what to expect. This was definitely a fun read and it does end on a cliffhanger so I’m excited to see what happens next!! This was my first read by Amy Pennza and it did not disappoint.

[Kate V · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF.

Wolfseeker was a disappointment for me and just started to piss me off. I love a fated mates but Jesse used the accidental bond to force compliance in a really off putting way in my opinion. Caleb was a hot mess in a childish way. I couldn’t get behind this story.

[Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edit, about a month after reading the book: I am still mad at myself for not checking if the other two parts were out. I am now impatiently waiting🧍‍♀️
————————-
This was the pinnacle.

I FOUND IT

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This is unquestionably well-written, and entertaining. Newly made rogue werewolf Caleb - hot and a hot mess - bonds with the older, wiser (at least seemingly) Jesse. A promising set-up! Alas…it was a bit too smutty for me 😅

What’s wrong with smut, you say?! Nothing! I love a good smutty scene (or three). But it overwhelmed at times. Ultimately, I wanted the characters and their relationship to develop and evolve more beyond the physical. Especially with a "fated mates" story, when the bond is established from the beginning. It cannot be a substitute for tangible connection and communication. While there were some genuinely touching, fun and interesting elements, both the romantic arc and werewolf intrigue were rushed. Since this is the first in a trilogy, I hoped for more paranormal world-building, and more romantic push/pull with no (at least not yet) love declarations.

YMMV on the insta-ness of lust and love; my views are not universally shared. And I do think there is an engrossing story to be told, so I will definitely look into the rest of the series.

[Doriane I Thefantasyofdoriane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une romance paranormale sans prise de tête et c'est exactement ce que je recherchais en me lançant dans cette lecture.

On suit Caleb, jeune étudiant de 23 ans, qui depuis quelques mois, se sent bizarre. Depuis qu'il s'est réveillé soudainement dans la forêt, sans aucun souvenir de ce qu'il s'est passé, son corps a changé et sa tête aussi.
Et alors que Caleb est en train de commettre une erreur contre son gré, Jesse, jeune homme brun avec son physique parfait, débarque et le sauve in-extremis de cet accident. Jesse va alors prendre Caleb sous son aile et lui expliquer la vérité sur son état changeant.

c'était si bien. très hot, mamamia. On est donc sur des loups-garous avec une relation sub/dom avec des petits côtés BDSM. j'ai adoré.

j'ai adoré également Caleb dès le départ dont l'histoire m'a touchée. J'ai hâte d'en apprendre encore plus sur Jesse ainsi que sur le monde des loups-garous, ce dernier se dévoilant progressivement vers la fin. Une fin, qui d'ailleurs, annonce un superbe tome 2 !

[Kez Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Caleb and Jesse's chemistry and bond, their interactions were loaded with lust and tension, and I like how they challenged each other.
This was a unique shifter romance, with Jesse helping Caleb understand his new life as a werewolf and helping him navigate all the changes, desires and dangers.
It has hurt/comfort, age gap, dom sub dynamics, and an intense mate bond.
I liked the balance of plot and spice, and how the ending introduces an intriguing mystery and mission for the next book.

[Gigi]

MC is too young for me. He’s still in high school.

[Wet and Reading · Rating 1 out of 5]

Halfway done and I’m really bored and bummed. I was so looking forward to this book. It’s a DNF. 😔

[Layy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️’s

I’m not really sure how to feel. There were just a few things that didn’t work for me, as a reader, that left me confused. Let’s get into my thoughts.

• I will forever struggle with a “fated mates” trope where the author uses that as a cop out to not give us the foundation of a relationship. I want to see and feel these characters fall in love, ON page. When the “I love you’s” came, I rolled my eyes. It wasn’t believable. Was there lust? Infatuation? Sure, but romance? I found it lacking.

• I feel like too much was rushed at the end. At first, it was such a super slow start that I had to push my way through. Once we got to the nitty gritty, where Jesse and Caleb finally exchanged WORDS, it felt like we were kinda.. stuck? The plot just didn’t move. Most of it was Caleb dealing and leaving his homophobic and religious parents, them f*cking six ways to Sunday, and Jesse keeping an “awful secret”. Killing off the one who sired Caleb happened way too fast, and then this “awful secret” came out of nowhere. Everything just felt beyond rushed where I said “wtf” more often than not.

• There were subtle hints about a gift. I just, once again, feel like the build up to the final scene could have been so different, if there was more thought and planning into the great reveal. Again, it all just happened way too fast. It felt like the author was really trying to sell a “spicy MM romance” that we had more smut than actual plot but now we’re left with a cliffhanger for a book 2? So is the plot actually important or was getting d*cked down more important?

• Don’t get me wrong. The spice and humor in here were definitely the redeeming qualities. I laughed at the banter and jokes between the MC’s and was blushing and smiling so hard at some of the spice in here 🥵 but at some point, it was like.. okay? We get it… are we going to move along with the story? If this was purely meant to be a smutty MM werewolf novella, you would have zero complaints from me. But the book wasn’t marketed as such and if you’re trying to tell a story, maybe filling the book with tons of smut and rushing the plot wasn’t the way to go?

Overall, this book was okay. I didn’t hate it and I didn’t love it. If you don’t care that the plot was rushed and you’re reading for the smut, you’ll like it.

[AbbieReads3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it was so fun and made me cry at how emotional it was at some points (which I love in a book) I love a good shifter romance and this one was perfect and full of mystery! I loved the kinky relationship between Caleb and Jesse and I’m so excited for the next book which I think I will like even more based on that ending! Caleb’s backstory broke my heart, he really needed Jesse who loved and treasured him so much!

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately I had to DNF at 32%. The world building was not done well and I found myself unsatisfied with too much of the story. Caleb was a bit of a mess but I could forgive him for that … he’s just had his life turned upside down. But then Jesse comes into the picture and is supposed to help teach and guide him but it seems he can only do that thru sex. 🙄 Yeah, no. I’m all about fated mates, it’s one of my favorite subgenres but this just wasn’t it.

[Amanda Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and filthy one-sitting kind of read.
It had some plot but HELLA f*ckin 🤣

It had a slower pace at the beginning and then BOOM smash smash smash smash shift smash

It was a vibe read with some interesting k!nk and I wasn’t made in the slightest. It is a shifter book, not OV, so take that as you please.

It’s not deeply emotional, but it has some fun twists.

4 ⭐️
4 🌶️

[Cia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a 3.75, but I rounded it up to four because I thought it had a lot of very interesting elements to it that I’ve never really seen in a werewolf/shifter book before that I really appreciated.

I’ve never read a werewolf book where the werewolves are immortal. They have advanced healing, and sometimes they have longer lifespan, but I’ve never read one where they are immortal in the way that vampires usually are. And in this story, vampires aren’t immortal, which I found very interesting as well. There were no pack dynamics, so no alpha, beta, omega, and no shifting on a full moon, which I also found very interesting!

Instead, werewolves had a gift alongside being able to shift into a werewolf and heightened senses. And there was a council of werewolves, but no set werewolf packs, which is again, something I’ve never read in a werewolf book before. In fact, at first glance, this would not come across as a werewolf book. But I like that this book is doing something different. Of course, what I’ve liked to see more typical werewolf dynamics? Absolutely! But I enjoyed that this was something different and something that I’ve never seen before and I applaud the author for doing something that that’s unlike any other werewolf/shifter book I’ve read.

I also really enjoyed the two main characters. Jesse is definitely one that grows on you as the story goes on. I wasn’t a huge fan of him at first, and I thought he was gonna kind of be a little bit of a pushover/a bore, but I really enjoyed his dry sense of humor as the story went on and his devotion and his love of education/teaching that was a really fun element in his and Caleb’s dynamic. And I really liked Caleb. I found myself really enjoying his point of view chapters because I liked his sarcasm in the pros, I liked that he didn’t fully embrace becoming a werewolf at first. I like that he was focused on school and wanting to finish his education and he had things that he wanted to do that he was afraid he wasn’t gonna be able to do after becoming a werewolf.

I also found myself very intrigued by the mate dynamic in this book. Jesse is not the one who sired Caleb, but because their mates, he does still have somewhat of a pull over Caleb, which is against something I’ve never really seen in another werewolf book. I like that there was this element of distrust between them specifically on Caleb‘s end because he wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to disobey Jesse and I like how that worked into their relationship. I like that Jesse kept secrets from Caleb in what he thought was his best interest, because it really showed that he was a flawed character that didn’t always make the best choices despite him being as old and wise as he is.

And I like that Caleb wasn’t a pushover! He was very stubborn and at times a little exasperating, but he followed his instincts and his gut and he did what he thought was right and best for himself and I really admire that. I do wish we had gotten just a little more from other characters besides Caleb and Jesse. This book spends the majority of its time with just the two main characters, so we don’t really see them interacting with anyone else, and it feels a little slow and isolating. And while I can appreciate the author wanting to build up their relationship, I still wanted to know more about how Caleb is at school and if there are any other werewolves that Jesse is close to. I just wanted to see a little bit more of the world that was being built up in this book outside of Caleb and Jesse’s relationship.

And unfortunately, I think the reason why I’ve read this 3.75 stars is because my biggest disappointment in this book is Caleb and Jesse‘s romance. There was so much sex in this book, especially early on, and while I didn’t mind it at first because I thought it was a very interesting way to introduce that dynamic into their mate bond, their relationship for a solid heavy portion of the book was just sex. And so when shit hits the fan later on in the book, they’ve only spent one week with each other, and Jesse is already telling Caleb that he loves him. It doesn’t feel real, because why would he be in love with him after just fucking for a week straight? And the book was so well written and did such a good job of building them up as characters, that rushing the relationship just brought the quality down for me just a tiny bit.

After shit hits the fan, their relationship slows down, and I found myself really enjoying that time together. I think we finally see them on equal footing, which really showcases them as a couple in the best way. Their banter is really fun, they’re very sweet with each other, and you can see them building up a bond and actually falling in love. And I just wish the offer would have waited for these big love confessions until after this big confrontation had happened and waited for them to be in France. It would have made more sense to watch them actually fall in love without sex before they said I love you.

Because when they say, I love you to each other, it doesn’t feel earned it doesn’t feel natural, it feels like they’re only saying that because their mates and not because they’re actually in love with the other one because of who they are as a person. And I just found that to be very disappointing because the buildup could’ve been so great, had the author just slowed down a little bit.

Also: Jesse is such a dirty talker (not that Caleb or I were complaining about that 🤭😛), so while there are a lot of sex scenes that can sometimes feel like there’s a bit too many of them, they’re very nice to read about 🙂‍↕️

Anyway, I really did enjoy my time with this book, and I’m definitely going to check out the next one when it comes out. The somewhat of a mysteries/cliffhanger that we were left on in this book definitely has me intrigued for the next one, and I hope we get to see more of this world be built upon in the next book!

[Faiza BEGUM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caleb and Jesse’s connection is absolutely electric. The tension between them is palpable, their dynamic a perfect mix of challenge and desire. I loved watching them push each other’s boundaries while simultaneously learning to trust and care for one another.

This shifter romance is refreshingly unique, with Jesse guiding Caleb through the chaos of suddenly becoming a werewolf. He helps him navigate the overwhelming changes, the intense urges, and the dangers that come with this new life. Their relationship is full of depth, blending elements of hurt/comfort, a noticeable age gap, dom/sub dynamics, and an incredibly powerful mate bond.

The story strikes a wonderful balance between plot and passion. It’s both thrilling and deeply emotional—I laughed, I swooned, and I even found myself tearing up at certain moments. Caleb’s past is heart-wrenching, and seeing Jesse’s unwavering care and devotion toward him made the emotional highs hit even harder. Their kinky yet tender relationship felt authentic and layered, and the story ends on a note that teases an exciting, suspenseful next chapter.

Caleb’s life before meeting Jesse is difficult—23, living with unsupportive parents, trying to juggle college, and holding onto the few cherished memories of his late grandmother. His sudden changes—unexpected strength, uncontrollable rages—make him question everything about himself, and Jesse’s timely arrival feels almost like fate. At first, Jesse remains somewhat enigmatic, gradually revealing who he is and how deeply intertwined their fates are.

The pacing keeps you hooked, with action and romance interweaving seamlessly. Their bond intensifies naturally under the pressures they face, and the story gives just the right mix of humor, care, and sensuality to balance the tension. Jesse’s patience and gentle support allow Caleb to adjust at his own pace, which only makes their connection more satisfying.

I’m beyond excited for the next book—if this first installment is any indication, the stakes and passion are only going to rise for Caleb and Jesse. Their journey is just beginning, and I can’t wait to see where it takes them.

[Abigail Beckwith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's "Wolfseeker" by Amy Pennza. It's the first novel in the Wolfseeker Trilogy.

["I had a plan: finish college, escape my suffocating parents, and never look back. But everything changed the day I went for a jog and lost four hours of my life. Now the tiniest annoyances send me into rages, certain scents drive me wild, and I’m craving my steaks practically raw.

Then Jesse van der Meer shows up like he was sent by the universe to explain everything. He pulls back the curtain on a hidden world and teaches me how to live inside a body that doesn't feel like mine anymore. Somewhere between the secrets he shares and the heat that builds between us, I stop being afraid of what I'm becoming.

I should have paid more attention to why he came looking for me in the first place.

Just when I start to feel comfortable in my new skin, I discover that it’s not just Jesse’s world that has secrets. The man I’ve fallen for has been hiding a few of his own. As something dangerous closes in on us both, I'm left wondering which is more reckless; trusting him with my life, or trusting him with my heart.

Knowing what I know now, I'm not sure I have a choice either way."]

These two were adorable as hell! Even with all of the angst (some between them, a lot in their world, and then a lot between them, and then a lot more in their world). They were devoted to each other right away, but neither of them really understood why, the strength of it, or accepted it.

It was a rollercoasted, a well crafted one, from one strong emotion to the next. Following them fall in love while figuring out their relationship, Caleb's secrets, and Jesse's secrets.

We were left on a cliffhanger (series--HEA for the couple) and I honestly can't wait for the next one (hope it's also MM).

Trigger Warnings: emotionally and psychologically abusive parents, manipulation, conversion camps, homophobia, violence, and more.

#wolfseeker #wolfskeertriology #amypennza #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

[David Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wolfseeker pulled me in right away, especially with Caleb’s character and the internal struggle he faces.

Caleb is a 23 year old college student living under very strict Christian parents, and that part of his story really hit for me. The expectations, the pressure, and the quiet conflict of trying to figure out who you are while feeling like you are not allowed to be that person felt very real.

After losing four hours and blacking out, Caleb wakes up different, and from there everything starts to spiral in ways he cannot understand. That is where Jesse comes in.

Jesse is dominant, controlled, and immediately knows what is happening to Caleb. The shift into the werewolf world is fast, and the mate bond between them clicks almost instantly. I did not expect the spice to come in as early as it did, but it felt tied to the plot and the connection between them rather than just being thrown in.

The chemistry between Caleb and Jesse is intense right from the start. There is a strong pull between them that never really lets up, and you can feel how deeply they connect, even when things become complicated.

Jesse does keep secrets, and when those come to light, it hits hard. The trust between them breaks in a way that feels justified, and watching that slowly rebuild added a lot to the emotional side of the story. Just when things start to settle, everything shifts again and raises the stakes even higher.

I really liked the world Amy Pennza created. The mention of other creatures beyond werewolves makes it feel bigger, like this is just the beginning of something more, and it definitely left me curious about where the series is going next.

The spice is strong and very well written, woven into the relationship in a way that enhances the connection rather than overpowering it.

There is also an interesting take on the age gap. Caleb is 23, but Jesse fought in World War One, which adds another layer to his character and perspective.

There is a HEA, but it clearly sets up more to come, and I am completely hooked to see where this goes next.

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was one I was really excited for and it certainly delivered. There are some fantastic twists that you might not see coming and the ending, wow! That just tells us the intensity is going to stay with Caleb and Jesse if not find itself ratcheted up!

Caleb is human. At 23 he is living at home, attending College and desperate to get out. The only fond childhood memories he has are of his deceased grandmother, his parents are simply awful and his backstory is heartbreaking. His current moment story is a little heartbreaking too especially when we, as readers, are fairly certain we know what is happening to him, what the sudden rages, newfound strength and more mean. Fortunately for Caleb, or so it appears, Jesse happens to be in town.

To begin with Jesse is mysterious, we learn a little about him as he has to explain to Caleb what is happening and theorize as to why but it is only as we get deeper into the story that we really begin to understand who Jesse is, why he is so important and what he will come to mean to Caleb, and vice versa.

A lot happens in this story, the pace is a great one, the action comes fast and furious but so does the connection between Caleb and jesse, their is a very kinky relationship but a very real one too and since circumstances have forced them together their bond grows stronger and stronger. I loved the pace, I loved the balance between learning more, with them both, about the life lived by werewolves, born and turned. I loved the way in which Jesse wanted to help and support Caleb, gave him the time and space he needed to process, as much as he could. I also loved those gentle, caring, sweet and even funny moments which created a lovely balance to the story.

Can't wait to see where Book 2 is going to take this pair and what challenges are going to be thrown at them.

[Isabel Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a 3.5 star read for me. This book does something genuinely refreshing with the werewolf/shifter genre, werewolves here are immortal, there are no pack dynamics or full moon shifting rules, and vampires actually aren't the immortal ones. It's a creative reimagining that sets it apart from anything else I've read in this space, and I really appreciated the author's willingness to try something different.

The two main characters are a highlight. Jesse's dry humor and devotion grow on you, and Caleb's stubbornness and determination to hold onto his identity after becoming a werewolf made him easy to root for. Their dynamic is genuinely interesting, particularly the element of distrust Caleb carries around Jesse's pull over him as his mate. That said, the story spends so much time with just the two of them that the world outside their relationship feels a little underdeveloped, and I wished we'd gotten more glimpses of Caleb's life at school or Jesse's connections to other werewolves. My biggest issue was with the pacing of their romance.

The early portion of the book leans very heavily on physical intimacy, so when love confessions come after only a week together, they don't feel fully earned. Ironically, the slower, quieter moments later in the book are where their relationship truly shines, their banter, sweetness, and genuine bond are all on display, and it left me wishing the emotional buildup had been given more room to breathe from the start. Despite this, I enjoyed my time with this book and I'm looking forward to seeing where the next one goes.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't read much Amy Pennza in the last few years and I am excited to be back!!!
The spice is spicy....and loooooong.
The character development....yes
The world building....slow at first and then (Italian hand...you know the one)
I wasn't sure about Caleb at first. He kinda seemed annoying but he grew on me. Jesse is great and I hope we learn more about what he has been up to over the past century.
There were a couple repetitive "ticks" in the first half of this book that almost had me going out of my mind. She kept writing "since August" over and over...like we get it. Something happened to him last August. It could have been referred to in a variety of ways but it was always August. She also kept writing Aiden Cross as his full name every time she referred to him. It was really weird and stiff to read. Most people would double name him once and then refer to him as Aiden or Cross after that. It happened 18 times. She does call him Cross a number of times but the "Aiden Cross" and "Nathan Brooks" were too many.
Anyway, lots of room for more story and world building. There are vampires, witches and fae in this world so I'm hoping the next story really takes us somewhere fun.
We left on a Happy For Now (HFN) and no big cliff hanger but definitely an unfinished storyline I totally saw coming when that rogue was described with so much detail and appreciation for looks :)

[Allison Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing it's the first book in a series helps when it comes to being patient with how a story devleops, as things are usually going to be a little murky for a while as we learn how the world operates.

I liked that it's a contemporary setting, as I always find them easy (for obvious reasons) to relate to and enjoy that descriptions are always needed for what things look like... a forrest is a forresst, a path is a path type of thing.

I enjoyed the magic/rules that were established about the werewolves. Refreshing was what I thought as i haven't read anyting that has werewolves as immortal. I liked the pacing, and the disruption to my own preconcieved notions of mate bonding and relationship dynamics.

Some things got resolved quickly, but again, being a first book I can understand that there's a plan and I'm more than happy to move along it as I enjoy Pennza's writing style and trust her process.

I liked the relationship dynamics of Jesse and Caleb. I liked that I experienced different emotions while reading and that they weren't all happy, rainbows.

I'm invested in knowing what is next and, even though, the book ended on a clifhanger it's not one where I'm biting my nails in desperation. I will re continuing to read the series.

[Bruno Britos · Rating 2 out of 5]

sadly this was not it.

First the good things, they were really hot, the spicy scenes were great and i was really linking it them. Also always great to see a werewolf story.

Sadly this is what i most liked, because the resto of the book (the story were not great)

The story has 2 main things, oh lets find the rogue who turned you (it was solved in 1 chapter) and the council cant find you (happens and solved in 2 chapters) thats it, the resto of the book is just smut, which i liked it but it was too much sex to very little story and conection with the characters.

They barely know each other and already are on top of each other, they barely talk about different thinks and donjt have a lot of chemestry. I understand that they are mated but still felt like very insta love.

also He knows what is furries because of the internet but not Twilight?

"my main purpose is hunting rogues and the wolves they sire" Jesse says
"the wolves they sire?" Caleb said
He was smart.

What? you just told him, its not like it was a confuse sentence honey kkkk

Not great and dont care enough to read the other books.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when I go into a book thinking it will be a cute smutty read and end up flabbergasted by the end, and that is
exactly what Wolfseeker did.

I am not normally a fan of insta-love tropes but the exception to that rule is werewolves/fated mates. Pennza did this particular trope extremely well as it was a mix of insta-love vs ‘I’m a brat who's going to fight it anyways until I am all in’.

The blossoming relationship between Jesse and Caleb was really heartwarming to watch and felt true to a real relationship. They go through their ups and downs but ultimately come out stronger on the other side. The storyline is engaging and has your attention throughout the entire book. This story keeps you guessing as you think you know where the story is going to go before it goes in the complete opposite direction.

This book brings the spice in the best way possible. The spice in this book is intentional and used to show the growing relationship and dynamic between the two characters.

The ending of this book has me wishing that the next two books in this trilogy were already in my hands as I am dying to know the rest of Jesse and Caleb’s story.

[ElfElm Publishing · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Wolfseeker" was a full-on werewolf love story. Hunky college football player/slight himbo Caleb gets turned into a werewolf by a rogue and meets teacher/wolf hunter (wolfseeker) Jesse, another werewolf that mentors him in the ways of the wolf. Caleb is sassy and made me giggle out loud a few times.

Their relationship starts a bit rocky, as the fated mates and dominance/shifter hierarchy made consent seem not so consensual. But it got a lot better and their characters fit more as they actually got to know one another.

This book DOES have plot, but there's also a LOT of smut intermingling with said plot, so it's very nearly erotica. On the cusp, if you will. And we're not talking swoony spice, this is kinky dom/sub smut. These guys are always ready to go, if you know what I mean ;)

The supernatural world opens up a lot as the story progresses, and we learn that not only are werewolves a thing, but there are actually vampires, witches, etc. It's interesting worldbuilding, and I would read more in this universe! I'm a sucker for a paranormal romance!

Tropes: M/M, fated mates, age gap, paranormal, shifters, werewolves, superpowers, smut, kink

Thanks for the ARC! :)

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the first in the Wolfseeker Trilogy and Pennza has provided the reader with a fast paced, heart racing (and often heart wrenching) story full of intrigue and just the right amount of humour.
Caleb and Jesse’s relationship is one of intense emotions. There is instant connection between their wolves and that connection continues to strengthen throughout the book. The intensity of the spice between these two characters is not for the faint hearted. It is explicit and definitely not vanilla. Yet Pennza’s writing elegantly conveys the complex emotions of desire and the depth of love between Caleb and Jesse. Their bond and Caleb’s trust in Jesse is definitely put to the test, but their love ultimately triumphs.
The story ends in a bit of a cliff-hanger but since it is a trilogy that is to be expected. And like most people who read Pennza’s work I await with great anticipation for the next book in the series.
I received a free advanced review copy from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kirsten (shadow.mommy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of MM romance and werewolves I think you will enjoy this book, because I certainly did. I liked that as a paranormal romance, it kept things simple as far as werewolf lore went. Everything was explained in a way that made sense and is pretty in line with how werewolves operate in other stories. I really dislike it when paranormal books introduce super complicated lore or don't explain things well at all. I appreciated that Caleb and Jesse were mates but not FATED mates because honestly I'm tired of that trope. I loved their banter with one another-it was really sweet and showed how they work well as a couple. Not to mention, their bed chem is OFF THE CHARTS. Jesse has probably the filthiest mouth of any character I've ever read. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case your kindle spontaneously bursts into flames. Overall, this was an enjoyable MM werewolf romance and I can't wait to read the next one in the series!
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Ashley -Goldstarreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a fun read. It was an interesting take on werewolves and mate bonds. Caleb is just an ordinary college student or he was until he woke up on a hiking trail having lost 4 hours of time and not a memory to what happened. Then he had weird symptoms and no explanation and so much anger. As his life is falling apart, he meets Jesse who opens a whole new world to him and says he’ll help him control his beast and teach him all about his new life. And at the same time, they fall into bed together because Caleb’s wolf claimed Jesse’s as his mate. But there is danger lurking, that is what brought Jesse to Caleb, he’s hunting a rogue wolf. There is more danger beyond that too but Jesse isn’t sure when to spill all his secrets. This story was a fun and sexy read. Caleb and Jesse are hot AF. Well written and amazing world building, the take on werewolves is different from the usual and I loved it. I hope for more in this world, the story leaves off for another book and I’m so excited to see more of it.