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The Golden Alicorns
When Nadia made a deal with a demon, she didn't expect it to place a huge roadblock in the way of her goals. Joining a guild, she hopes to fill the void of not having a real family. That's all she's ever craved. Unfortunately, with near death experiences, meddling gods, and the possibility of having more than one fated mate, the goal seems harder than ever to attain.
Can she keep her chin up and her rainbow hair shining bright, or will the darkness catch up with her?
This is a standalone fantasy reverse harem romance, previously published as a vella story, but with BONUS scenes only available in the ebook and paperback.
Can she keep her chin up and her rainbow hair shining bright, or will the darkness catch up with her?
This is a standalone fantasy reverse harem romance, previously published as a vella story, but with BONUS scenes only available in the ebook and paperback.
- GenresFantasyParanormal
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2023
83 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Banks
93 books837 followersCatherine Banks is an award-winning, USA Today Bestselling fantasy author who writes in several romance subgenres under multiple pseudonyms. She began writing fiction at only four years old and finished her first full-length novel at the age of fifteen. She is married to her soulmate and best friend, Avery, who she has two amazing children with. After her full time job, she reads books, plays video games, and watches anime shows and movies with her family to relax. Although she has lived in Northern California her entire life, she dreams of traveling around the world. Catherine is also C.E.O. of Turbo Kitten Industries™, a company with many hats including being a book publisher and store full of nerdy fun.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 29, 2023
This was a fun and very quick RH stand alone. Wish I could have natural rainbow hair like the heroine that’s for sure. The book opens in the middle of a ceremony where young adult supernaturals have their magic tested and are placed in according houses, very much like rushing a sorority/fraternity as each group has to vote for the other. From here the story takes off and she ends up becoming really close with her Golden Allocorn guild, even though her mates are part of a whole other group. Everything did feel a bit rushed, with some details left unexplored. Also a bummer this book ends at like 85%, kinda came out of nowhere though there are extended scenes-why they have to be extra scenes I do not know! Cute and fairly quick read!
November 17, 2023
2.5
This book was what it seemed a simple, fluff story. The only thing it didn’t deliver on was steam. The book presented itself as a rh paranormal romance book but it did not have any steam. The only steam was in one of the bonus scenes and was about 2 sentences long. There wasn’t even any fade to black style steam.
The pacing was super fast meaning there wasn’t much detail, back story, character development etc. Some of the pacing was pretty chaotic
This book was what it seemed a simple, fluff story. The only thing it didn’t deliver on was steam. The book presented itself as a rh paranormal romance book but it did not have any steam. The only steam was in one of the bonus scenes and was about 2 sentences long. There wasn’t even any fade to black style steam.
The pacing was super fast meaning there wasn’t much detail, back story, character development etc. Some of the pacing was pretty chaotic
July 26, 2023
Nice Read
I enjoyed the story. It was quick, interesting and well-written. I liked the playfulness of the gods and their relationship with our FMC.
I did however feel like I had missed some back story at times and a few events/facts were mentioned to then be completely overlooked which was a bit confusing and frustrating. It could have been a bit more developed especially regarding the world our characters live in.
I enjoyed the story. It was quick, interesting and well-written. I liked the playfulness of the gods and their relationship with our FMC.
I did however feel like I had missed some back story at times and a few events/facts were mentioned to then be completely overlooked which was a bit confusing and frustrating. It could have been a bit more developed especially regarding the world our characters live in.
June 12, 2023
Poorly written
This "novel" was very poorly written. I had to double check that it was, in fact, a standalone and not a spinoff due to the lack of information. There was no world building, no character development and no real relationship building.
This "novel" was very poorly written. I had to double check that it was, in fact, a standalone and not a spinoff due to the lack of information. There was no world building, no character development and no real relationship building.
June 7, 2023
2,5 stars
August 24, 2023
This is a standalone why choose fantasy book with a surprisingly low amount of spice. So if you are interested in trying a why choose book where the FMC doesn't pick between her romantic interests, but aren't interested in the idea of a lot of on page spice, this is potentially one to check out. While I will like more things I thought weren't as successful, I did enjoy this book, but with a little bit more editing, I think it could have been a much stronger story.
Ok, let's talk about what I liked in this book. The female main character (FMC) had some nice flash and spunk. She is magical, but has some limits on her magic related to a deal with a demon she made a child and she is possessed by that demon (but not controlled, except for her access to her magic). Her banter with her partner, Dart, was enjoyable and I generally liked her interactions with her guild and guildmates. Also her banter with the gods who showed up and the "boys" was also interesting.
Now for what was less successful in this book.
- Probably the first thing that struck me was a shallowness in the worldbuilding. We get dropped into a setting where people with magic are in like a draft (think like the annual sports drafts where teams pick from new players) and our FMC is in line trying to get into a guild of her choice. It's unclear if that's just to get a job, if that's a forced thing, if she has other choices, etc. She gets into some conversation with the guy behind her in line and oogles the guys in front of her in line, and ends up getting into a guild different than the one she planned. We don't get much, if any, information on what the guilds are there for or what they do and we get just a little once she is in one.
- We have Thor and Loki in the story as well as some other gods. Our FMC is mostly familiar with the Norse pantheon, but at least one character is from another pantheon (but we don't get to know which). They just sort of drop in and out at will. I did like how Thor and the FMC's relationship got started, that was creative and fun, I just wish there was more either about the society's beliefs in gods or if it was overall polytheistic beyond the norse gods, etc.
- I could go on but I guess the last thing I'll say is that in some respects it's a bit like the author had a list of fantasy things they like (monsters, portals, demigods and gods, magic, fated mates, deals) and just tried to cram them all into the same story, maybe without fleshing out the world and how they would all comfortably fit together. Our FMC is poor and her dad is abusive and it seems she comes from a bit farther away, but we don't know if they are poor just to be poor, or is there a famine or something, or what. There isn't any real idea of the scope of the world, because everyone just portals everywhere (enough that they had to wait in a really long line). Things like that.
Like I said, overall, I found the story enjoyable enough and I finished it enough, but like one of the other reviewers said - it was almost like it was a spinoff of another series and we should know some of these things going in for it to make more sense. As a stand alone, I didn't think it fully delivered on the stand alone. But a solid 3 star read for me.
Ok, let's talk about what I liked in this book. The female main character (FMC) had some nice flash and spunk. She is magical, but has some limits on her magic related to a deal with a demon she made a child and she is possessed by that demon (but not controlled, except for her access to her magic). Her banter with her partner, Dart, was enjoyable and I generally liked her interactions with her guild and guildmates. Also her banter with the gods who showed up and the "boys" was also interesting.
Now for what was less successful in this book.
- Probably the first thing that struck me was a shallowness in the worldbuilding. We get dropped into a setting where people with magic are in like a draft (think like the annual sports drafts where teams pick from new players) and our FMC is in line trying to get into a guild of her choice. It's unclear if that's just to get a job, if that's a forced thing, if she has other choices, etc. She gets into some conversation with the guy behind her in line and oogles the guys in front of her in line, and ends up getting into a guild different than the one she planned. We don't get much, if any, information on what the guilds are there for or what they do and we get just a little once she is in one.
- We have Thor and Loki in the story as well as some other gods. Our FMC is mostly familiar with the Norse pantheon, but at least one character is from another pantheon (but we don't get to know which). They just sort of drop in and out at will. I did like how Thor and the FMC's relationship got started, that was creative and fun, I just wish there was more either about the society's beliefs in gods or if it was overall polytheistic beyond the norse gods, etc.
- I could go on but I guess the last thing I'll say is that in some respects it's a bit like the author had a list of fantasy things they like (monsters, portals, demigods and gods, magic, fated mates, deals) and just tried to cram them all into the same story, maybe without fleshing out the world and how they would all comfortably fit together. Our FMC is poor and her dad is abusive and it seems she comes from a bit farther away, but we don't know if they are poor just to be poor, or is there a famine or something, or what. There isn't any real idea of the scope of the world, because everyone just portals everywhere (enough that they had to wait in a really long line). Things like that.
Like I said, overall, I found the story enjoyable enough and I finished it enough, but like one of the other reviewers said - it was almost like it was a spinoff of another series and we should know some of these things going in for it to make more sense. As a stand alone, I didn't think it fully delivered on the stand alone. But a solid 3 star read for me.
July 21, 2023
Heavy on action and adventure, light on romance
I enjoyed this book. It was a fascinating blend of mythology, demon-ology, planetary hopping, and, of course magic and Guilds. An excellent fantasy book!
Our FMC, Nadia, is introduced in the beginning of the book. She’s finally “free” of her abusive father and dead set on joining one of the fighting and magic guilds. While waiting for her magic level to be revealed so the Guilds can make offers to her to join their ranks, she meets several new hopeful recruits; a trio of best friends (who end up to be revealed as brothers and demigods) and a fun and playful character named Dart who will go on to become Nadia’s partner and one of her best friends. When she chooses to join the Golden Alicorn Guild she meets their most powerful member, Silas (who is revealed eventually as one of her soulmates).
The book is filled with the missions that Nadia goes on with her guys. And fascinating revelations occur during the course of the book. It’s a fun read, full of adventure, I gave it 3 instead of 4, or 5 stars because it’s touted as a RH, but there is a very visible lack of “romance” in this book, and, unlike many RH there’s no sex or steamy scenes, like none! The book is fast paced though, and fun. And Nadia and her guys are really cool characters. But if you’re wanting a “typical” RH with steamy scenes and emphasis on romance, don’t bother reading this book. If you’re fine with action adventure stories without sex, then you’ll enjoy The Golden Alicorn. It’s definitely an action packed fantasy book. Just don’t expect anything really romantic to happen, and know that there is no sex or even steamy scenes in this book. It’s really just a book about Nadia’s journey to become the woman she was always meant to be, and definitely the least RH I’ve ever read.
I enjoyed this book. It was a fascinating blend of mythology, demon-ology, planetary hopping, and, of course magic and Guilds. An excellent fantasy book!
Our FMC, Nadia, is introduced in the beginning of the book. She’s finally “free” of her abusive father and dead set on joining one of the fighting and magic guilds. While waiting for her magic level to be revealed so the Guilds can make offers to her to join their ranks, she meets several new hopeful recruits; a trio of best friends (who end up to be revealed as brothers and demigods) and a fun and playful character named Dart who will go on to become Nadia’s partner and one of her best friends. When she chooses to join the Golden Alicorn Guild she meets their most powerful member, Silas (who is revealed eventually as one of her soulmates).
The book is filled with the missions that Nadia goes on with her guys. And fascinating revelations occur during the course of the book. It’s a fun read, full of adventure, I gave it 3 instead of 4, or 5 stars because it’s touted as a RH, but there is a very visible lack of “romance” in this book, and, unlike many RH there’s no sex or steamy scenes, like none! The book is fast paced though, and fun. And Nadia and her guys are really cool characters. But if you’re wanting a “typical” RH with steamy scenes and emphasis on romance, don’t bother reading this book. If you’re fine with action adventure stories without sex, then you’ll enjoy The Golden Alicorn. It’s definitely an action packed fantasy book. Just don’t expect anything really romantic to happen, and know that there is no sex or even steamy scenes in this book. It’s really just a book about Nadia’s journey to become the woman she was always meant to be, and definitely the least RH I’ve ever read.
June 23, 2023
Missing a huge chunk?
I feel like this got published without the first quarter of the story. The reader is dumped into the middle of a ceremony where the characters' magic is tested and they are placed into guild.
What's a guild? Dunno. They don't tell you.
What is the magic rating system? Dunno. They don't tell you.
What kinds of magic are there? Dunno. They don't tell you.
Is everyone part of a guild? Dunno. They don't tell you.
Then while the new recruits are being introduced in the dining hall, the door is kicked open and a man named Zachary walks in. How do we know this stranger is named Zachary? No clue. Apparently we just know it.
Next, the characters pick a mission and choose a level 5. What's a level 5? Dunno! Again, we are not told. Why are brand new recruits who haven't been in the guild for even 24 hours allowed to choose their own missions and just head out? Any guesses? Me either! Because surprise!, they don't tell you.
All the while the FMC is reacting to almost everything people ask her by shrugging. Girl is going to have traps of steel with all the shrugging she does. And when she isn't shrugging, she's rolling her eyes.
I need to DNF at 25%, sadly.
Not sure if the author reads the reviews on her books because I can't imagine being gutsy enough to publish something I worked hard on like this, and I personally feel like a bit of a dick giving someone one star. But I do hope if she sees this that she takes it constructively. This book needs WORK. The story concept is intriguing but omg it needs a serious editor who is also an experienced author or something along those lines.
I feel like this got published without the first quarter of the story. The reader is dumped into the middle of a ceremony where the characters' magic is tested and they are placed into guild.
What's a guild? Dunno. They don't tell you.
What is the magic rating system? Dunno. They don't tell you.
What kinds of magic are there? Dunno. They don't tell you.
Is everyone part of a guild? Dunno. They don't tell you.
Then while the new recruits are being introduced in the dining hall, the door is kicked open and a man named Zachary walks in. How do we know this stranger is named Zachary? No clue. Apparently we just know it.
Next, the characters pick a mission and choose a level 5. What's a level 5? Dunno! Again, we are not told. Why are brand new recruits who haven't been in the guild for even 24 hours allowed to choose their own missions and just head out? Any guesses? Me either! Because surprise!, they don't tell you.
All the while the FMC is reacting to almost everything people ask her by shrugging. Girl is going to have traps of steel with all the shrugging she does. And when she isn't shrugging, she's rolling her eyes.
I need to DNF at 25%, sadly.
Not sure if the author reads the reviews on her books because I can't imagine being gutsy enough to publish something I worked hard on like this, and I personally feel like a bit of a dick giving someone one star. But I do hope if she sees this that she takes it constructively. This book needs WORK. The story concept is intriguing but omg it needs a serious editor who is also an experienced author or something along those lines.
October 21, 2023
I rated this three stars because it simply wasn’t enough! I loved the characters and the world but I hated how short it was. I generally avoid standalones for this reason and this one was so short that it hardly counts as a standalone. It felt like a novella.
With that said I am honestly upset by the lack of conclusion with the demoness and Thor. There were some time jumps (that I despise in general) and some plot points that were not fully fleshed out due to the length of the novel. What the hell even happened to Thor at the end of the novel? I also don’t get the point of the whole contract with him as the plot point went absolutely nowhere. This is one of the things that dropped my rating. It mainly got its three stars because I loved the heroine and the potential of the world and the story overall.
I enjoyed it for what it was and If this author ever decides to expand this book into a fully fleshed out series I would be ecstatic to read it.
With that said I am honestly upset by the lack of conclusion with the demoness and Thor. There were some time jumps (that I despise in general) and some plot points that were not fully fleshed out due to the length of the novel. What the hell even happened to Thor at the end of the novel? I also don’t get the point of the whole contract with him as the plot point went absolutely nowhere. This is one of the things that dropped my rating. It mainly got its three stars because I loved the heroine and the potential of the world and the story overall.
I enjoyed it for what it was and If this author ever decides to expand this book into a fully fleshed out series I would be ecstatic to read it.
June 4, 2023
Great Standalone
I really enjoyed this standalone. It didn’t feel rushed in a way that most standalones are. It was in the fmc pov. I loved how all the mysteries surrounding her was slowly explained throughout the book. I was sad to see that the Guild she wanted didn’t choose her when she went through the process. I was confused about how her sister didn’t forgive her for leaving to join a guild. There wasn’t much explanation about her family so this was a surprise when it was revealed. Overall great book!
I really enjoyed this standalone. It didn’t feel rushed in a way that most standalones are. It was in the fmc pov. I loved how all the mysteries surrounding her was slowly explained throughout the book. I was sad to see that the Guild she wanted didn’t choose her when she went through the process. I was confused about how her sister didn’t forgive her for leaving to join a guild. There wasn’t much explanation about her family so this was a surprise when it was revealed. Overall great book!
June 3, 2024
Overall great read!
I really enjoyed reading this book! It was a combination of a few genres I like to read with the RH, romance, fantasy, and a bit of litrpg sprinkled in. The relationship between the characters didn’t have the forced conflict that I see all too often in romance novels which I greatly appreciate. And while I personally feel the author could have gone into more world building, more detailed lore building, and more in depth character building; the story was still satisfying without those things and it wasn’t needlessly repetitive.
I really enjoyed reading this book! It was a combination of a few genres I like to read with the RH, romance, fantasy, and a bit of litrpg sprinkled in. The relationship between the characters didn’t have the forced conflict that I see all too often in romance novels which I greatly appreciate. And while I personally feel the author could have gone into more world building, more detailed lore building, and more in depth character building; the story was still satisfying without those things and it wasn’t needlessly repetitive.
June 22, 2023
I really liked it but needed way more sexy scenes!
Like it was a Great story but I'd have loved to read a Lot more detailed sexy scenes, personally! I mean it's a RH, which I realize doesn't mean that group or single 'bedroom' action is automatically involved but I definitely look forward to those times. It was just a bit too tame for my tastes yet it was really well written.
Like it was a Great story but I'd have loved to read a Lot more detailed sexy scenes, personally! I mean it's a RH, which I realize doesn't mean that group or single 'bedroom' action is automatically involved but I definitely look forward to those times. It was just a bit too tame for my tastes yet it was really well written.
June 2, 2023
Couldn't put it down
Loved the story. I wasn't sure what to expect but I must admit I really enjoyed reading this book. No cliffhanger ending and interesting characters, although not much spiciness, it was captivating.
Loved the story. I wasn't sure what to expect but I must admit I really enjoyed reading this book. No cliffhanger ending and interesting characters, although not much spiciness, it was captivating.
June 7, 2023
Wonderful read!
Absolutely enjoyed this book! Would read another from this universe. The mythic gods, the personalities are fun and each one mentioned is perfection! I absolutely love demigods and mythic creatures!
Absolutely enjoyed this book! Would read another from this universe. The mythic gods, the personalities are fun and each one mentioned is perfection! I absolutely love demigods and mythic creatures!
December 29, 2023
Awesome book but far too short.
December 2, 2024
RH with no spice
This one is all action. It never slows down. There’s little character development and absolutely zero spice. Imaginative plot, interesting world, but NO SPICE!!
This one is all action. It never slows down. There’s little character development and absolutely zero spice. Imaginative plot, interesting world, but NO SPICE!!
November 30, 2023
DNF at 30%.
Actual rating: 1.5 stars
It reads as some sort of bad summary or I guess a first draft. Random ideas without a cohesive plot. It really needs a lot of work. It should not have been published with the unfinished way it was. Sounded promising.
Actual rating: 1.5 stars
It reads as some sort of bad summary or I guess a first draft. Random ideas without a cohesive plot. It really needs a lot of work. It should not have been published with the unfinished way it was. Sounded promising.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews