A woman who betrayed her family
A rogue hiding a hairy secret
And a blackmail arrangement with unexpected consequences
After her stepsister marries the crown prince, Tasia is shipped out of the country to live with relatives she’s never heard of before. Blamed and scorned for her role in that debacle, Tasia struggles to make a new life for herself amongst a community that doesn’t care for outsiders. But even that is less nerve wracking than her weekly trips through the woods to deliver a basket of “goodies” to the sinister old woman known only as Grandmother.
Mitch helped a naive girl travel through the woods once before. After having his heart viciously yanked out and stomped on, he’s not doing that ever again. When Tasia comes along, all innocent smiles and no sense of self-preservation, he vows to stay far away. But she stumbles upon his furry little secret and he reluctantly agrees to play protector in exchange for her silence.
What seems like a simple arrangement soon becomes complicated as enemies from the past begin cropping up in unexpected places. When Mitch and Tasia stumble onto a villainous plot with far-reaching consequences they must choose between looking out for themselves or risking everything for faceless strangers. With lives–and possibly their hearts–on the line, how will two recovering villains decide what to do? And will their choices be compatible? Or just another betrayal?
Falling for the Wolf is a retelling that combines elements of Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella. Set after the events of each of these stories, this no spice romantasy is the 8th book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairy tales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending.
In this shadow tinged collection, familiar fairy tales tilt just slightly off their axis. The stories linger where old legends rarely pause, inside the thoughts of characters who usually stand at the edges of the light. The series, To Win a Dark Heart, follows figures shaped by curses, broken loyalties, and the kind of longing that thrives where magic and danger meet.
Each novella steps into a different corner of enchanted lore. You might cross paths with a witch who guards her solitude like a shield, or a fae whose heart has hardened after centuries of betrayal. Their worlds are textured with quiet forests, forgotten ruins, and spells that hum beneath every choice they make. The romance that grows within these pages leans more toward tension than sweetness, the kind that builds slowly as trust becomes more dangerous than any curse.
There is a constant thread running through the series, even as each story stands on its own. Every tale asks what happens when the so called villain is no longer reduced to a single role. When their motives, griefs, and fierce hopes are allowed room to breathe, the line between hero and monster begins to blur. That shift creates a mood that readers of dark romantic fantasy often crave, the feeling that something ancient and meaningful is unfolding just out of sight.
The author’s voice carries a quiet intensity, using atmosphere rather than spectacle to draw you deeper. The emotional pull comes from characters who are guarded yet vulnerable, powerful yet lonely, each of them navigating a world where magic is both temptation and threat.
For anyone who enjoys fairy tale retellings with a darker pulse, morally gray characters, low spice romantic tension, and immersive settings shaped by myth, this series offers an experience that feels both familiar and new. It hints at danger, desire, and the possibility that even the most guarded heart can be won, though never easily.
If you step into these stories, expect curses that tangle with fate, secrets that reshape old tales, and romances built on fragile trust rather than perfect endings. The shadows do not swallow everything. Sometimes they reveal what the light never could.
#1 · 2026Falling For the Trickster 
#2 · 2026Falling for the Doomed Bride 
#3 · 2026Falling for the Winged Witch 
#4 · 2026Falling for the Crystal Fae 
#5 · 2026Falling For the Pirate 
#6 · 2026Falling for the Mad King 
#7 · 2026Falling for the Sorcerer 
#8 · 2026Falling for the Wolf 
#9 · 2026Falling for the Enchantress 
#10 · 2026Falling for the Pied Piper 
#11 · 2026Falling for the Dark Mage 
#12 · 2026Falling for the Huntsman Share your experience with other Risingshadow readers.
What Risingshadow readers think about this book
I loved Mitch & Tasia in this mash up of Little Red Riding Hood & Cinderella! This story blends both fairy tales together into a very entertaining read full of interesting characters and a few twists along the way. The relationship between Mitch & Tasia was fun to see develop and the epilogue at the end was great.
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from the author through the To Win a Dark Heart ARC Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.
