What do readers think of The Magic of Untamed Hearts by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland? Write your own review.

I looked forward to reading about Sky and Adam. It was a way to stop my mind racing after a long day at work. Then, one night, I started to read and the story took a turn into a very adult, sexual situation. To me, it seemed out of place with the rest of the book. I have not read the first 2 books so I'm not sure if they did the same thing. The story itself was a good story and I loved the response of the animals to Sky's moods.

Not having read the first two books in the Wild Magic series, I was completely unprepared for the third, The Magic of Untamed Hearts. However, I quickly fell under its spell and stayed up late to finish it. This book is fiction, fantasy and sexy romance all rolled into one very impressive narrative. Sky Flores and her sisters each have a unique, special power that enhances their lives, yet can arouse fear and apprehension in the "normal" people who surround them. Sky's special power is her ability to understand and communicate with animals. She appears to be autistic and has great difficulty interacting with other people. Others in the community don't understand her and she certainly cannot figure them out. The book is a delightful journey of self-discovery and confidence building. I think this book would be enjoyed by anyone who likes romance and fantasy. It's quirky, it's unpredictable and it's fun. Now I need to read the other two volumes in the series.

This was a fun easy read with vivid characters and a predictable ending. This could easily be characterized as a young adult book, except there are numerous explicit adult situation.

The story involves our heroine trying to reintegrate into her small town after disappearing for 8 years. Where has she been? Wandering the woods in a state between dead and alive, cared for by "old gods." We sre introduced to lots of interesting folklore, and insight into the experience of trying to fit in.

Gilliland’s Wild Witches series offers a captivating journey, though I found the first two books more engaging. Sky’s story has lower stakes, which, given her resurrection in the first book, may be intentional. The author’s self-awareness shines through in her characters, particularly in the honest portrayal of mental health, specifically neurodevelopmental and perinatal mood disorders in this story. Each book quaintly employs classic romance tropes, adding a fresh twist with elements of indigenous mythology, spirituality, and Catholicism. This blend creates a unique and artistic narrative, making the series a beautiful exploration of love and self-discovery.

Thanks to BookBrowse and Berkley for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Publishes January 13, 2026.

I have to be more careful when requesting books. Here again I ended up with the third book in a series. I guess it was ok as a stand alone, but not having read the first two books I feel like I was missing a lot. For that reason I can only give it 3 of 5 stars.

This book centered on Sky - they youngest of three sister's - all with a special gift. For Sky it is the ability to communicate with animals. And she is returning after an 8 year absence.

This book is fiction, fantasy and sexy romance all rolled up together. Maybe a bit heavy on the 'romance' aspect. But an easy read all the same.

The Magic of Untamed Hearts is a sweet, modern romance that at times makes you feel as if you've been transported to a simpler time of the past. Honestly, without the pop culture references, which is a downside for me in books, one might think that this is a period piece. I do like that a central theme in the book is communication and directness, which is a little off-put by the minuscule miscommunication trope that happens near the end.

On that topic, the pacing in the second half feels a little rush, and I really wish that the cult plotline was explored more throughout the book. I feel as though it was kind of forgotten after Sky and Adam begin their romantic relationship, and then the author just remembered to tie it up in the epilogue. I do appreciate however how this book slightly deviates from your classic romance novel, in that the protagonist is not completely insufferable. Though maybe a little over-quirky at times, Gilliland does an amazing job in conveying a main character with undiagnosed autism and makes you fall in love with Sky.

This is the third novel in Gilliland's Wild Magic series, telling the story of sister number three, Sky. This book is better than number two, but not as good as the debut novel. There are some great ideas present: a character that can communicate with animals and who is discovering that she is autistic, a hidden sisterhood of witches, hidden rooms in an old church, a love story and the reality of a family with many different personalities.

Sadly none of these pieces are brought to the depth they deserve. Instead there are chapters upon chapters of sex scenes and some (imho) cringy dialogue. The first novel concentrated more on Sage's story and gift, the second book really moved into the spicy sex scenes, and this book follows suit. The first three pages alone made it almost a DNF for me. I really wanted it to be like Sage's story and know more about the magic and what could be done with it. longed to hear more about the 'cult' and the secret rooms…

However, if you like spicy and spicy dialogue mixed in with a bit of several story lines then this series and book will work for you; it didn't for me. Thank you to Bookbrowse.com, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for ARC in exchange for a fair and honest

This book started off strongly with Sky being a fascinating character and her initially charming and intriguing and Adam being charming with an appreciation for Sky's idiosyncratic behaviors. However, about 2/3 of the way through I found myself flipping through pages looking for the next interesting interaction. This story had so much potential but left me feeling annoyed. Perhaps it would have resonated differently if I'd read the first two books of the series.