An excellent conclusion to this series, which is my first from these authors, but I doubt will be my last. This really checked all the box*ARC review*
An excellent conclusion to this series, which is my first from these authors, but I doubt will be my last. This really checked all the boxes and wrapped up all the loose ends, which I feel like is only fair after a reader has invested the time to read four books about these characters.
Speaking of, the characterization in this series is really what stands out. In general, I like a max of 4 men in my why choose books -- there are 5 in this one, but it was done exceptionally well. Each of the men have such a distinct character, personality and voice that you get to learn because they each get a solid amount of time as the narrator. The authors also highlight the same moment from different character perspectives, which is a nice touch. The men go through SO much in this series, and this book especially. Where they end up as characters at the end of the series is leaps and bounds from where they start in the first book. All of them have different journeys, but this installment is really about Pan and Asher. Happily, Asher's situation resolves in multiple ways, some of which took me by very positive surprise. While Asher is on board for their poly relationship, with Rosie at the center, in this book he learns a lot about his past and his abilities, with some not so subtle pushes from various characters. Pan has to do the opposite and figure out if he can give up his power and his ego to be a member of a family. (view spoiler)[ they both figure it out, obvs (hide spoiler)]
This book is really where we start to see the characters gel as a unit, as a family whose first priority is...all of them. This is certainly helped along by the group telepathy they develop through their mate bonds. This is one of my favorite plot devices ever, so I ate that UP. (view spoiler)[ Using the bonds to encourage the FMC while she does a public kink scene with one of the men was definitely next level though. LOVED. IT. (hide spoiler)] Additionally, I loved the development of relationships between characters that lend to the tightening of the overall family bond - especially Ben/Gavin, Asher/Gavin and Pan/Asher. The relationship between Remi and Asher gets some time and attention too, which is both sweet and sexy. The end result, helped along by the cozy feels epilogue, is a family, which is believable and didn't feel forced or like the authors just skipped ahead to the easy parts.
The only part of the book that felt a bit 'meh' to me was the final battle that the books have been leading up to all this time. While I did like that we very happily avoided the obvious 'lady with all the power has to sacrifice herself for her love' trope, it didn't seem like the showdown to end an apocalypse. A lot of the 'I've been plotting and planning for this!' points were just...handwaved away and didn't end up mattering at all. But truthfully, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. The villain wasn't what I was reading for.
As usual, the spice was excellent and creative since the scenes in this book are mostly group scenes. If you're after a book that is romantic, sweet sex with two partners at a time...this isn't the book for you (although I doubt you've read this far if that's your thing)....more
Absolutely incredible, her best yet and I've read them all. Longer review to come!Absolutely incredible, her best yet and I've read them all. Longer review to come!...more
Hands down my new favorite of this series. This is the level of strong, smart, opinionated, complex, sex positive, modern female4.5 stars *ARC review*
Hands down my new favorite of this series. This is the level of strong, smart, opinionated, complex, sex positive, modern female main character I have been looking for in omegaverse, specifically. She's a Physics PhD student, she's not shy, she's not a virgin, she doesn't back down, she asks for/demands what she wants, she does what others tell her she can't, and she leans on her female friend for support. Sophia is the highlight of this story IMO.
There's plenty to like in this story: +Interesting pack dynamics - 4 men, 3 alphas and 1 omega, who are not pack exclusive. They all date/have sexual relationships outside of the pack. +But also, the pack is going through some stuff, emotionally. They didn't lean on each other to work it out, they turned outward. I liked that while it was obvious the FMC was a love interest, they ALSO had some conversations with each other to fix their issues. It avoided one of my least favorite tropes (where a new love interest is a magic fix-it). +All of the alphas have an individual relationship with their pack omega, which are all featured and given time and attention. Again, I appreciated that a new love interest in the picture didn't shove already established relationships to the sidelines. +The spice in this game has solidly been stepped up from previous books. The sexual tension and detail level have gone UP. Just...it's good. Fanning yourself while reading good. +The third alpha isn't introduced until almost HALFWAY into the story. But I felt his introduction actually read really smoothly and naturally. He brought something completely different to the group dynamic and the storyline, and he didn't feel overly contrived.
Truly, the only thing I truly had an issue with was the larger conflict that causes them all to finally get their act together, especially Esra. I was willing to move past it because the conflict isn't especially drawn out and resolves quickly, but it did feel a bit hastily pulled together. I could have done with Esra getting yelled at for truly awful behavior and then him having to grovel instead. (I am generally Team More-Male-Grovelling though)
Overall, if you're new to Hannah Haze's books, I think this one is a GREAT place to start. Alternatively, if you're a seasoned ABO reader and are looking for a bit of something different within Omegaverse, I solidly recommend....more
If Emily writes it, I'm gonna read it. Immediately. Her books consistently have characters with depth and conflicting, sometimes messy, emotARC Review
If Emily writes it, I'm gonna read it. Immediately. Her books consistently have characters with depth and conflicting, sometimes messy, emotions, multi POVs so you're never left wondering what any of the main characters are thinking, fully wrapped up storylines, and excellent 5 star spice. Alcott Hall had all of these elements, and I loved it.
This book is a standalone story, but is a spinoff from a duology written in the same world. You don't need to read the duology beforehand, but it will definitely help with understanding the side characters in this book (who are actually quite important). [Note: the duology is excellent reading, I rated both of them 5 stars as well.] Heads up - It is a MMF polyamorous story - there are quite a few MM spicy scenes, and the men are fully in a relationship. Also, Emily is really good about trigger warnings - please heed them!
I was a bit hesitant going into this story, as our FMC in this book is a character in the duology - and she wasn't my favorite. However, my mind was quickly changed as she gains a lot of nerve and a LOT of perspective in this book. She has a short-lived opportunity to change her life, and she takes it - and has to learn how to assert herself, to pretty much every character in the book by the end. I loved that she was written as sheltered, but willing to question and be open-minded. Also, she's not scared of sex - she's a virgin, and so she's confused at times, but not squicked out. We love sex positivity here.
Our MMCs are so, so full of delicious angst and barely restrained sexual tension. Oooo I loved it. Charles and Warren are both so lovely, anf struggling with inadequacies for different reasons that they do overcome, but not without struggle and growth and some pushing from various characters. I loved that they showed vulnerabilities while also showing some possessive and dominant streaks too. The author also allowed these characters to have an emotional, loving relationship that wasn't just sexual or one that revolved around the female character - it was honored as an important.
There is some plot and some surprises to keep the story moving along, outside of our main characters falling for each other, having a lot of excellent sex and figuring out how this relationship is going to work for them. Honestly, I enjoyed that the plot points were fully wrapped up (as I mentioned, Emily does not believe in loose ends) but relatively quickly. Not dragged out, but not ignored. For me, it was the perfect balance.
Look - the spice is good. SO SO GOOD. There's some power dynamics (that shift around a bit throughout, so fun), public sex, threesomes abound, some praise and degradation, and a primal play scene (in a Regency romance!) Emily writes excellent, masterclass level spice. The scenes are all so unique and yet all consensual and positive, and there's alot of configurations at play here. Just...enjoy.
You won't regret picking this up and I doubt you'll be able to put it down once you start....more
About halfway through this book, I guessed the ending. I was right, overall, but as I read it turned out I was wrong about each and every plot twist, About halfway through this book, I guessed the ending. I was right, overall, but as I read it turned out I was wrong about each and every plot twist, character reveal and flashback that the author would take us down to get there. My Kindle was telling me ‘55 minutes left’ when I was supposed to go to bed last night, but I absolutely couldn’t put it down. For me, reveals of information that come throughout the book are my favorite type of surprises - I love realizing I didn’t have all the information and having to rethink what I have already read. This author offers that repeatedly throughout the story and I enjoyed the hell out of it.
This book also gave me 4 main characters that I really liked. Our FMC is strong and sassy, but still a bit naive, which worked for her overall character arc. The men in his story are high quality book boyfriend material. As this is a why choose story, the men are all potential love interests, but they are VERY distinct in this story. The author gave them all different personalities and strengths, as well as background stories and development to individualize them. I feel that often MMCs become the blond, the brunette, the black haired one and the scary mean black haired one without a lot of defining characteristics, but they were more in this story. (And truthfully, I loved them all.)
I think what also set this book apart for me is that as the plot developed, no character’s choices left me confused or annoyed. While I might not have had all of the information about a character’s background or emotions, I was able to empathize with everyone’s choices and decisions. Sometimes they went a bit extreme, TBH, but nothing that took me out of the story.
This book is a slow burn - the spice isn’t coming in until after the halfway point. BUT let me just say that the tension is delicious, and the spice is truly worth it when you get there. There is a detailed (!) heat scene that blew my mind (in a good way, 10/10).
It ends on a cliffhanger. You see it coming, but it’s still hard to stomach. I will be reading the next book on release day, more please!...more
I'm officially hooked on Amy Pennza's short paranormal series. These books are less than 200 pages, but somehow deliver better on characte*ARC review*
I'm officially hooked on Amy Pennza's short paranormal series. These books are less than 200 pages, but somehow deliver better on characters, tension and world building than some books more than double the length. I read this book, which is second in a series, without reading the first, and I had no difficulty following along at all. This story has just enough plot to make things believable and move things along, and just enough conflict to pull at your emotions. She also writes spicy scenes ... well. Very well. In this book, they start about 40% in and don't let up much. This book is heavy on D/S play, so if that's not for you, this book won't be either. ...more
110%, A+, one of my favorite books this year. *ARC review*
As a seasoned omegaverse reader, I was thrilled to see Emily stepping into this genre becaus110%, A+, one of my favorite books this year. *ARC review*
As a seasoned omegaverse reader, I was thrilled to see Emily stepping into this genre because I absolutely love her writing. This book is honestly everything I hoped for - a humanized omegaverse, a true ABO love story. Most of the omegaverse I have read are heavy spice with a bit of relationship building (which I also enjoy!) but this is more than that. All of the elements of an omegaverse are present - heats, scenting, knotting, etc - but Emily wrote them into a layered, character driven HEA romance.
Bear is the tattooed, burly, man bun having, glasses wearing, not traditional Alpha of my dreams. I love that his character growth is just as important to the story as Silas’s - he has to learn how to open himself up to love again, after his family was torn apart. I also felt like he gave the reader an alternate version of an Alpha - someone who knew he couldn’t be the leader of his pack and stayed true to himself and his needs. This way this man loves Silas, before he even knows Silas to be an omega, is unreal. From protective gestures to anticipating his needs to letting Silas lead to pancakes (iykyk) to respecting and loving Silas for his strength, Bear is perfect.
Silas has been through so much - and we think the opening of the book is a lot, but even more is revealed as the story goes on. Emily created a strong character who is also vulnerable and healing, with ALL of the emotions that comes with that, in a nonlinear way. He let himself be pulled along but did his own pushing, and I loved that about him.
This is a stunning, simmering slow burn of a romance. There is just so much pining and waiting, by the time you get to the spicy scenes, you are more than ready. And the spice is worth it. Emily is a master and the scenes are detailed and creative.
Overall, this book has a lot of elements to it and all of them are well done. While ostensibly this book is about characters escaping hardships and growing individually but learning to love with each other, there are also fantastic side characters with their own stories, relationship building outside of our two MMCs, smaller plot lines, AND a long ending that wraps up every part of the story. ...more
I saw this book in ONE singular TikTok and immediately downloaded when I heard 'sex based magic system' and then I read this description about the autI saw this book in ONE singular TikTok and immediately downloaded when I heard 'sex based magic system' and then I read this description about the author: "Alethea Faust is a writer of kinky, queer, erotic epic fantasy. Things you can expect to find in their works are risk-aware consensual kink, hard BDSM, non-toxic masculinity, kind and emotionally mature adults, and a lot of butt stuff." And yeah, that's made for me.
So I went into this book expected some well crafted explicit kinky sex scenes, with some magic. I did get that, but I also got so much more. This is SO GOOD. The magic system that the author has created is totally original, far reaching and well developed. It made me expand on my normal understanding of how magic is written into books and I loved it. Because the magic system is based on sexual contact, there is a lot of sex in the book, period. BUT the sex is the plot, and it's well written, sensual, and each scene delves into a new school of magic, which translate into a new area of kink. The way this author writes sex is *chefs kiss* level good. Example: there is a specific kink written into this book that isn't my thing, but the author wrote it so well that I enjoyed reading it, and TBH, it helped me further my understanding of why it IS a thing for others. Oh, you like some communication and consent? You've never read it as well done as it is here. [In that same vein, each chapter (yes, really) comes with a heads up about what is coming in that specific chapter so you can easily read the book while avoiding specific topics or kinks that you'd like to avoid.]
I also got a surprising amount of plot, which starts off what is clearly going to be a multi book series. The plot is slightly predictable, but it was dynamic enough to keep me want to keep reading and ignore my adult responsibilities. This book also gave me a happy found family vibe, and I'm already attached to all of the characters. There is certainly a core group of main characters, who were learn more about their back story and develop more throughout the story, but I enjoyed the peripheral characters too. Also, everyone is queer. EVERYONE.
This was such a different type of read to most of the romance recs I receive, and I couldn't be happier to have found it, especially because book 2 comes out next month! This book should be a) all over social media and b) a solid recommendation for anyone to branch out their reading past the usual romance....more
There is a lot I want to say, but overwhelmingly, you should absolutely read this book (AFTER reading the first one, of course). This is one of my favThere is a lot I want to say, but overwhelmingly, you should absolutely read this book (AFTER reading the first one, of course). This is one of my favorite reads of the year, and quickly became one of my favorite 'why choose' stories ever.
This story has so much going for it - a strong romantic story, a plotline that contains some true surprising twists and turns, 4 main characters that are well developed who are surrounded by intriguing side characters, and high quality spicy scenes. I loved book one of this duology but book two takes everything up several notches.
Some specific things that I loved: *Our female main character, Rosalie - as in the first book, she's a smart, perceptive, strong-willed woman. In this book we get to see her be possessive, vulnerable, confrontational and find out she is sexually experienced (*gasp*). I like that she was given such range and complexity. *The men - Y'alllllll these men. While they are all flawed, they are all worthy of being your next book boyfriend. They are grow when challenged, can apologize, and *spoiler* get real possessive of each OTHER once they work out they have some feelings. *Different relationships - Truly, there are multiple romantic relationships in this story. Each one develops at its own pace and has its own way of being. The three men each offer Rosalie something different, and the men have varied, complex relationships with each other as well. *Sword Crossing - This book is a solid five on Emily's sword crossing scale (see her TikTok). Not all reverse harem stories have MM relationships, but this one does and each one is given lovely space. The men in this book are slowly realizing (or finally admitting out loud) that they have feelings for each other that go beyond brotherly love and companionship. They have sexual relationships that don't involve the FMC at all, and they are...well done. *fans self* *Communication - As multiple romantic pairings develop, our characters talk multiple times about boundaries and how to make all of their relationships work. As the story nears the end, all 4 of them actually discuss how this is going to work moving forward - especially set in a Regency era, this was crucial for the story to flow well. Personally, I wouldn't have believed an ending without learning how the four of them could possibly get a HEA within a system that centers on protocol and respectability. *Reveals - Outside of the plot twists, the author dropped in some character reveals that took me by surprise, and were so much fun. When one of the men revealed that he had been lusting after his friend for years, I actually gasped. *Female focus - While this book is called second sons, there is a fair amount of time and space given to conversations about the way that women living in the Regency era were treated, and what their true options in life were. *THE SPICE - I mentioned this already, but ...it is so good. High quality AND high quantity. Well written, lots of tension, some surprises, and a surprising variety. You will enjoy it.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review....more
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