Tag Archives: fantasy

Hide Nor Hare by Alice La Roux (Hunt Prey Love Book #7)

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TITLE: ⟫ Hide Nor Hare
AUTHOR: ⟫ Alice La Roux

SERIES: ⟫ Hunt Prey Love Book #7
RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Madoc

After dedicating years to tracking down infamous jewelry thief, The Ghost, my mother’s illness forces me to admit defeat.

Three years later, working as a PI, I’m hired to track down a missing young shifter who stole from his Warren and vanished.

I expect to find a runaway led astray. Instead, I discover a beautiful man living a suspiciously ordinary life.

We all have secrets, but the more I learn about Blue Aubin, the clearer everything becomes.

He’s my Fated Mate. He’s also the one who got away.

Blue

I’ve finally put roots down and built a life for myself. I have a job, friends, a home.

Away from the High Leap.
Away from The Warren.
Away from the people who use me like another tool in their quest for power.

Paying for my freedom in blood, sweat and tears, I can’t go back. I won’t.

There’s just one problem…No one escapes The Husk.

Join us for Heat, Prey, Love, an omegaverse collaboration where prey shifters take center stage with a whole lot of heat and love. We can’t wait for you to devour these stories.

REVIEW: ⟫ I should preface this by saying that I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, although that doesn’t seem to make any difference as I wasn’t confused by anything.

This is the second Alice La Roux book that I have read today (insomnia sucks) and although it was a ‘quick’ read, it was pretty engrossing and entertaining. There were some things I struggled with – I didn’t understand why Blue didn’t do a runner as soon as he found out about Madoc, although the sex was obviously out of this world! I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and way of telling a story and was able to immerse myself with no difficulty. I am off to see what else they have to offer!

Broken Bond by J.L. Cross (Claimed in Blood Book #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ Broken Bond
AUTHOR: ⟫ J.L. Cross

SERIES: ⟫ Claimed in Blood Book #1
RATING: ⟫ 1.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ I was rejected at the altar. Now the most dangerous mafia heir in the city claims I’m his.

Julian Vescari was supposed to vanish after being cast aside—Hollow, ruined, unworthy of love. Instead, fate delivers him into the arms of Enzo Romano, the brutal heir to the Romano crime family.

Enzo Romano doesn’t ask. He takes. He burns cities for loyalty, carves fear into his enemies, and when he learns Julian carries his heir, nothing will stop him from keeping what he claims. Not rival families. Not blood feuds. Not Julian’s desperate fear of chains disguised as devotion.

But in a world built on power, survival, and whispered betrayals, being bound to Enzo is both protection and prison. The dockside runs red with Veyra blood, secrets crawl in the marble halls of the Romano mansion, and Julian must decide. Is he Hollow still? Or is he strong enough to stand beside the wolf who claimed him?

🔥 Broken Bond is a dark, high-heat MM mafia omegaverse romance featuring:

  • A rejected mate turned reluctant heir-bearer
  • A ruthless mafia alpha who kills for devotion as much as power
  • Mpreg, protective possessiveness, family intrigue, and found strength in fire
  • Themes of survival, blood oaths, and a bond forged where enemies circle


For readers who love dark omegaverse, mafia dynasties, and broken omegas who rise fiercer than fate—this book will leave you breathless.

One Hollow.
One heir.
One bond that could burn a city to the ground.

👉 Start reading Broken Bond today and discover the dark omegaverse romance everyone’s talking about.

Content Warning: Broken Bond is a dark MM mafia romance featuring violence, abduction, explicit intimacy, power imbalance, and mpreg. This story includes mature themes and is intended for 18+ adult readers only.

REVIEW: ⟫ The premise grabbed me and I was ready for darkness, alphas and omegas and a mafia background. Unfortunately, this book didn’t live up to my expectations – I think I understand what they were trying to achieve with the style of writing – very spare and stark, although descriptive. Unfortunately, somewhere amidst all of that, the actual meat of the story got lost. Or maybe there just wasn’t any – everything was very surface, including the relationship between Julian and Enzo.

Having finished reading it, I still couldn’t tell if they even cared about each other, let alone found love. To a large extent, Julian being an omega didn’t even figure in the story – the fact that he was jilted at the altar meant that he was called a number of derogatory names and cast out, no longer fit for society, but there was no real explanation as to why. I just found myself with more questions than answers by the time I had finished reading, but I wasn’t interested enough to hope that the second book in the series might hold some answers. I can’t see me reading more by this author which is a shame because I really did love the idea.

Velvet Chains by River Winters (Lockswell Boarding House Book #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ Velvet Chains
AUTHOR: ⟫ River Winters

SERIES: ⟫ Lockswell Boarding House Book #1
RATING: ⟫ 2.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Velvet Chains is a dark omegaverse romance steeped in trauma, obedience, and the brutal unraveling of conditioned submission.

Charlie was raised inside the Lockswell boarding house—trained to be desirable, compliant, and silent. An omega shaped for service. For sale. For survival.

When Vincent, a calculating and emotionally restrained alpha, agrees to his friend’s rental request, he isn’t sure what to expect. But Charlie’s fractured dignity and quiet defiance begin to stir something deeper—something Vincent isn’t prepared to feel.
What begins as a transaction turns into something far more dangerous.

Master/slave dynamics thread through this story of ownership and undoing, where power is never taken—it’s offered. And healing doesn’t come softly. It comes with rules, restraint, and the kind of care that hurts before it heals.

This is a mm dark omgaverse romance novel. No mpreg is involved. It centers around a alpha/beta/omega world where blood type defines the label for where someone lives and how they get to live.

REVIEW: ⟫ I think I understand what this book was trying to do but unfortunately it didn’t succeed. I was thinking that I must have missed a previous book because of Adrian and Moore, but I don’t think that’s the case. Lockswell was scary enough but there was a lot of telling us about the horrors that Charles has suffered rather than showing us. Even the relationship he built with Vincent felt too surface – Vincent didn’t actually do very much to save Charlie, and I somehow thought the betrayal would have had more far-reaching effects. I loved the premise of the story but didn’t enjoy the execution which is a real shame.

As previously noted by another reviewer, there were numerous spelling and grammatical errors which did not effect the rating I gave the story but think should be mentioned. I don’t think I’ll look out for any more in this series as I didn’t enjoy this story enough.

Obliterated by N Boeyer (Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: 1nf3ction #3)

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TITLE: ⟫ Obliterated
AUTHOR: ⟫ N Boeyer

SERIES: ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season 1: 1nf3ction Book #3
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ MAX

They fear me. Worship me. Call me an abomination.

I’ve earned my freedom a dozen times in The Pit, but I keep going back. Because violence is my church, and blood is the only thing that makes me feel alive.

Then he arrives. Pretty. Fast. New. A golden-haired boy with ocean eyes and no clue how this island works.
He doesn’t belong here, and he’s going to get himself killed. Just like all the other wide-eyed fools who think survival is about hope instead of brutality.
So why the fuck can’t I stop watching him? Why do I keep stepping in? Why does the monster in me go quiet when he’s near?

He’s everything I never wanted.
And everything I’d burn this whole godsdamned island for.

KIERAN

My mother is dead.

I followed her last instructions to the letter: get on the boat, get to the island, survive. Her final words still echo in my head—Live, Kieran. Live.
But Ibitha doesn’t want me. I have no papers, no useful skills, nothing to offer… except a pretty face. And here? That’s enough to get you owned. Now I pour drinks in a brothel I never chose, counting down the days until my debt’s repaid. Until I’m free.

Then he notices me. Max. A legend carved in blood and bone.
I should fear him, everyone does. He looks at me like I’m already his. Like he’s made up his mind. Like I’m something he plans to keep. And the most dangerous part? A piece of me wants that. Wants him.

But you don’t fall for someone like Max.
You survive him. Or you don’t.

OBLITERATED is a full-length MM romance as part of the 1nf3ction multi-author post-dystopian zombie apocalypse series. While all the stories take place in a shared world, each book can be read as a standalone.

Expect violence, obsession, biting banter, sword fights, broken boys, morally grey messes, and two lovers who’d rather kiss in a pit full of zombies than say “I love you” out loud.

REVIEW: ⟫ Oh my, yes!! This was brutal, gory, bloody and also incredibly romantic at the same time. Kieran has made his way to Ibitha, a place that’s meant to be a safe haven in these troubled times. The first person he meets is Max – who promptly slams him against a wall and threatens his life. Not the most auspicious start, but when he learns more about Max he can’t help but fall for him.

Max is – well, a monster. Part of what I loved about this story was that the author was unapologetic about just how brutal Max was. The man was a killing machine, with more than a few hints of sociopathic tendencies. He was also a big kid who thought a zombie alligator was fun, somehow built a family and inspired fear and loyalty in others. This was a RIDE!! I was seriously not sure how they were going to get their happily ever after and was utterly engrossed for the whole book. I have really been enjoying the books set in the Mayhem verse and especially when it leads to me finding a new author to read.

I would say there is far more gore and bloodiness than there is romance/sex – think Walking Dead but with slightly more romance if that helps – but as long as that doesn’t squick you out, I think this is one that many people will enjoy. There were some really sad moments that made me sniffle and I’m still not sure I forgive the author for one in particular (you’ll know what I’m talking about once you’ve read the book) but I am going to see if there is more written by them that I can read!

Rotten by Bree Wiley (Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: 1nf3ction Book #2)

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TITLE: ⟫ Rotten
AUTHOR: ⟫ Bree Wiley

SERIES: ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season One: 1nf3ction Book #2
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Surviving is all I’ve ever known.
Abandoned young, I was left to fend for myself in a place ruled by fear and control. Silver runs everything—rations, medicine, currency—and those like me, carriers of the infection, are treated less than human.

Everyone I love is gone.
All that’s left is my sister, but she vanished into Zone T years ago, and I won’t stop until I find her. Even if it means stepping onto his boat.

An eye for an eye.
They call him the Ferryman. A monster with a bird of prey, tasked with bringing criminals across the river. Those who board his vessel never return.

But he’s not what I expected. There are secrets behind his quiet stare and a history soaked in blood. His gentle touch draws me in deeper than I meant to go. The closer I get to the truth, the more he unravels parts of me I thought were long dead.
The Ferryman wants to claim my soul, but I don’t know if I could ever be his.
All I am is…rotten.

Rotten is a full-length MM dark dystopian horror romance as part of the 1nf3ction shared world collaboration. Each book is a standalone containing themes and situations not intended for readers under the age of 18. Both characters are consenting adults. This story features a mute, morally grey cinnamon roll, Greek mythology themes, a talking crow too smart for her own good, and a guaranteed HEA.

REVIEW: ⟫ Okay, I had absolutely no idea what I was letting myself in for with this one – I don’t think I’ve read any Bree Wiley before. The story begins in the middle of some gnarly action and just kept going! This was such a ride – my heart broke for both Charon and Hector, what they had been through and were still going through. The plot was fascinating and horrifying at the same time – humanity can truly be monstrous and unfortunately I could well see the things that happened in the story happening in reality. The zombies are the background – what’s at the forefront is just how people keep going during these horrific times. Finding love amidst all of that seems next to impossible and yet Charon and Hector were both brave enough to allow themselves to be vulnerable with each other.

I would suggest reading the warnings listed in the back because like I said, a lot of this I just wasn’t ready for, but this was an excellent addition to the series and I will be looking out for more books by Bree Wiley.

Ash on the Tongue by Lee McCormick (Mayhem Manuscripts Season one : 1nf3ction Book #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ Ash on the Tongue
AUTHOR: ⟫ Lee McCormick

SERIES: ⟫ Mayhem Manuscripts Season One : 1nf3ction Book #1
RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Humans were always monsters, the rain just gave them an excuse.

Aubrey

The infected didn’t break me. They didn’t capture me for experiments and use me like an object. Humanity made me into the monster I am.

I’m reckless because it makes me feel alive, careless because I’m addicted to pain. And I’m dangerous because I’ve got nothing left to live for.

Nothing, until I meet a raider who seems to see right through me… who demands I do the one thing I said I’d never do again.

Let him in.

Phoenix

My mother left me to die on streets flooded with crimson rain. From the time I was born, all I’ve known is betrayal.

Now all I know is my pack. We take what we want when we want. We survive and we thrive because we know humans are as bad as the infected, and in this world, you eat or get eaten.

When I find a man who seems like he’s got a death wish… I know he’s mine. His reluctance makes me crave him. His defiance makes me burn like the fire in his eyes.

I’ve never wanted anything the way I want him. I need to know if his blood runs as red as the rain.


Ash on the Tongue is a Dual POV MM dystopian dark romance, and part of the 1nf3ction multi-author series. It features a man broken by the world around him and a raider who thrives on his chaos. Expect dark situations, high heat, and two men willing to burn down the world to keep what’s theirs.

REVIEW: ⟫ Whoa, I was not expecting this! A whole new world, where crimson rain has effected humanity in many different, horrendous ways and the discovery that often the monsters are human.

Both Phoenix and Aubrey were just walking red flags – they had been through so much individually, and the world in which they lived wasn’t set up for soft or kind. But somehow, the two of them together managed to look beyond the external scars and the things they had done to survive to the person underneath. This was beautiful – also dark as heck, occasionally made me gasp (seriously, read the warnings because I didn’t have cannibalism on my bingo card for reading romance), brutal and yet there was an underlying desperate need for family, connection and love. I seriously loved reading this one and am looking forward to reading more in the series. I haven’t really enjoyed reading McCormick’s collaborations with R S McKensie so it felt really good to return to their books and find myself turning pages with anticipation for what they were coming up with next. Yeah, this series could be seriously good – fingers crossed for the second book in the series!

Red On His Lips by J. Tomala (Blood on His Lips Book #1)

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TITLE: ⟫ Red On His Lips
AUTHOR: ⟫ J. Tomala

SERIES: ⟫ Blood on his Lips #1
RATING: ⟫ 3/5

BLURB: ⟫ “So, are you a witch?”

“It depends,” Lars said, leaning just that little bit closer.

Valerian had thought the boy was timid, afraid even, but that wasn’t the case at all. Or maybe Valerian had lost his edge over the last fifty years and didn’t look scary anymore.

“On what?”

“Do you need a witch?” Lars asked pointedly, stressing the you.


The last things Valerian expected to see on the random inspection of his brothel was a wild, pretty thing with blood on his lips. And for some reason, he can’t look away from the boy or leave him there.

The solution to this is to take him home, give him a job, and call him into his parlor every night, pretending he’s only there to elevate Valerian’s boredom. They say the boy is a witch, and when Valerian looks at him in the candlelight, he believes it. How else could he explain his impulsive behavior? His growing attachment to Lars, the feelings blooming in his chest?

Lars should hate Valerian Wilk, after all he’s ended up in the vampire’s brothel, because his stepfather owed him money. But as soon as Valerian Wilk walks into the room, something inside him awakes, tells him to get closer to the man. Mouthing off to the owner of the brothel pays off for him. He’s bundled up and taken to Wilk’s townhouse to be his gardener, but that’s not all he does. Every evening, he sits with Lord Wilk in the parlor and talks to him. Soon he starts looking forward to these hours when they can be alone, and his feelings for the handsome vampire grow and deepen.

But Lars is a mortal witch and Lord Wilk a powerful immortal vampire. Would he even want someone like Lars at his side and in his bed?

This is the first book in the ‘Blood on his lips’ series, but can be read as a standalone title.

REVIEW: ⟫ There was a lot to enjoy about this book – the vampire lore was very interesting and well done. However, as my first read from this author, it just didn’t grab me. There were time jumps – to allow for one of the male reads to age up appropriately – but apart from maybe a character making mention of months or years passing, there was little indication that any time had passed. The relationship between Valerian and Lars was very insta-love but not in a passionate way. It’s difficult to describe and maybe that’s my problem – there seemed to be no reason why they fell for each other. We never find out if part of Valerian’s attraction to Lars is because of his witch blood; the fight against bad vampires was short, didn’t feel particularly clear and was anticlimatic. I wanted to enjoy this more than I did which is a shame because I can’t see myself reaching for book two. Obviously YMMV but this one didn’t work for me at all.

Omega Captive of the Golden Dragon by Wendy Rathbone (Alpha Dragons #3)

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TITLE: ⟫ Omega Captive of the Golden Dragon
AUTHOR: ⟫ Wendy Rathbone

SERIES: ⟫ Alpha Dragons #3
RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ I’m a set-omega and I’ve been sold by my wolf pack to the dragons as a breeder.

My name is Caylen. I’m a wolf shifter whose inner beast is missing. This means I cannot shift. As a set-omega, my pack can’t scent me and I’m officially a non-member. Worse, I have lost all rights and can be sold to the highest bidder.

Dragons are wealthy but omega-poor. To keep their population stable, they have become the biggest set-omega importers and pay the most for breeders.

My fate is in the hands of strangers. I’m afraid but refuse to show it.

On the auction block, someone bids for me with pure gold amid gasps and wonder. What does that even mean? What will happen to me?

MM romance, shifter, dragons, omegaverse, mpreg, first time, size difference, past trauma, rescue, HEA.

Note: This is book three of the Alpha Dragon series but is a standalone read.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was an interesting read based on the premise – a ‘set’ omega is one that cannot or does not have an inner beast. When Caylen presents as such, he knows that he will be sold from his pack and pre-empts the action of his parents.

He is bought at auction and transported to a place of utter isolation to live with an Alpha Dragon who is not only damaged, but wants nothing to do with him. The way in which both Varik and Caylen have suffered was pretty heart-wrenching. Varik in particular has been treated abominably by the people he should have been able to trust with his life and obviously is struggling with paranoia and fear. I did enjoy the relationship that built between the two of them – sleeping in front of the fire sounded so relaxing and seemed to be completely what they needed to let their guards down and see how alike they were. I really enjoyed the relationship between Variksan and Caylen – the respect between them, their desire for an honest connection was a pleasure to read.

I did feel like the second half of the story was rushed – from the time they committed to each other, it felt a bit like a summary of their life rather than reading their story. It’s hard to describe any of this without spoilers and the situation they were in was pretty unique, so I was really wondering just how they were going to reach some kind of happily ever after and ‘normal’ life. The writing style was very easy to get into and the story was well told in general – just a little light at the end.

I received an ARC from GRR.

His Mate by Allegiance by Mel Aitches

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TITLE: ⟫ His Mate By Allegiance
AUTHOR: ⟫ Mel Aitchess

SERIES: ⟫ Lunetti Pack #3
RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ M M mafia shifter PNR with a bite (and a knot).

Rocco is being punished and he doesn’t like it. He probably shouldn’t have stalked the police chief’s son, but he’d been bored and no one ever should’ve noticed. His powers as an air witch skilled in illusion are too valuable for the Elemental Mayhem MC to let him go, so they’ve forced him into this sham of a wedding. They’re lucky the wolf shifter is so hot or he’d never go along with it. All bets are off once he can prove he was betrayed.

Emilio spent the last fifteen years away from New Trinity City refining his crafts—street art and assassination—but he’s still loyal to the Lunetti Pack. Unlike his traitor father. He’d do anything for his Alpha. Even marry a witch he’s never met. Coming home for his arranged marriage is the perfect excuse to hunt the source of the dangerous weapons entering the city. He has every intention of being a widower within a year, until he realises his fiancé is his fated mate. How is he supposed to arrange an unfortunate accident for his husband with his wolf whining about forever in his ear?

His Mate By Allegiance is an MM mafia shifter paranormal romance. It features arranged marriage, fated mates, shadow hands, and other paranormal play, including knotting. There is no mpreg in this world.

REVIEW: ⟫ Rocco and Emmy were absolutely amazing together – they are both possessive and stalkerish, keeping themselves away from their pack and MC because of things in the past. The story was fast paced and interesting, with the MC and Pack having to work together against the threat of outsiders wanting to destabilise the area.

With this going on in the background, Rocco and Emmy managed to have an unusual courtship, with lots of banter, sexual tension and deep feelings developing. I loved the descriptions of Emmy’s art; I thought Rocco’s family was so funny and sweet, and I really enjoyed visiting with all of these characters again. Very pleased I read this and looking forward to the next in the series. I received an ARC from BookSirens.

Fitch by N.R. Walker (Wylde Street Boys Book #2)

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Fitch – N.R. Walker

TITLE: ⟫ Fitch
AUTHOR: ⟫ N.R. Walker

SERIES: ⟫ Wylde Street Boys #2
RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Dominic Lowing knows stress. He lost his father to a stress-fuelled heart attack, and his own fast-paced career as a lawyer has done little to help. But he knows which coping mechanisms work for him: diet and exercise, of course. And a very active particular sex life.

Fitch Lamont has been working his corner on Wylde Street for two years. Not exactly the direction he saw his life going, but he’s a glass-half-full kind of guy. He has a roof over his head, enough food to eat—sometimes—and two best friends that make it all worthwhile.

When Dominic encounters a rent boy who ticks all his boxes, he decides to make it a regular encounter. But then their arrangement, their personal lives—and feelings—collide in unexpected ways.

Fitch found more than a client in Dominic; he found safe arms and a kind heart. And maybe, if he could let his guard down long enough, he might realise he found his future too.

REVIEW: ⟫ Having read book one in the trilogy, I was interested in Fitch and his relationship with Dominic so I was looking forward to reading this. However, there were a number of things that I didn’t enjoy in this story – the sex was on more than one occasion painful for Fitch but he ‘pushed through it’ for Dominic because he wanted to please him. This bothered me because it wasn’t part of their Daddy/Boy dynamic and seemed borderline abusive to me. I understand that Dominic was ‘overcome’ by desire but it became a pattern that bothered me.

This was very much a retelling of the first book but from Fitch and Dominic’s perspective, which left me feeling a lot like I’d already read all of this and not feeling their connection/relationship. I am very much interested in Kynan which is book three so I will finish the trilogy but I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first.