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Goldenrod #1

The Golden Alpha

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The Order rules all in isolated homes, jobs, and, most importantly, mates.

Desperate to leave her unstable home, Camilla Maidenhair knows that her best chance at freedom is in the mate that the Order provides her.

But she never dreamed her fated mate would be brooding Wyatt, her best friend’s oldest brother, and heir to his family’s powerful hold on their tight-knit community.

For every alpha, there is an omega. His perfect match.

Wyatt Sage has lived his entire life in preparation for his mate. He knows what his family and the Order expect of him, and he has no intention of shirking his duties.

But is little Camilla Maidenhair strong enough to survive the intrigue that lays at the heart of their people’s existence?

What happens when it all comes crashing down?

As the dark secrets behind the Order and Goldenrod start to reveal themselves, Cami realizes there's more to Wyatt and his powerful family than meets the eye as Wyatt discovers just how far he'll go to protect his mate….

The Golden Alpha is a soft and steamy omegaverse romance with an alpha hero and strong-willed heroine, set in a suspiciously serene dystopia.

377 pages, Paperback

Published May 26, 2023

326 people are currently reading
1399 people want to read

About the author

Emily North

8 books29 followers
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5 stars
146 (27%)
4 stars
156 (29%)
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63 (11%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
Profile Image for Mikky.
988 reviews286 followers
dnf
March 3, 2024
DNF At 40%

Something about this story is just not meshing with me. Everything is either a secret or unnecessarily complicated. Both hero and heroine are kept in the dark on some mysterious plot/plan that everyone in power has to keep their society working the way it's been working for decades. It was weird and not something I care to want to unravel. So I'll be leaving this book alone at this point.
dnf-too-early-to-mark-it-read
December 18, 2025
Why so serious 🤡

If your virgin FMC's last name is pubic Maidenhair (mentioned 47 times ) and your fictional town's name is Glodencockrod (mentioned 111 times ), then you can't expect me to take anything seriously.



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Profile Image for Kate V.
1,866 reviews371 followers
June 9, 2023
4 - 4.25 stars!

The Golden Alpha is set in dystopian times and Emily has built a unique world with different yet similar Omegaverse characteristics. I enjoyed the story line, the romance, and the obstacles that both Cami and Wyatt had to endure. The twists, turns and revelations throughout this story kept it vibrant and engaging.

Cami is an Omega that finds herself in a new situation that she is wholly unprepared for yet takes in stride. Her inner Omega purrs and marks Wyatt as hers despite their class difference and Wyatt rises to the call even though it would be going against the path everyone else has set forth for him.

"You're my mate," he says roughly, like that's all the explanation that's needed. "What else do I need to know? I'd follow you past the fringe...over the fence...to the edge of the world, Cami."


But not everything is what it seems and Wyatt and Cami will have to learn to be one to conquer the dark forces that seek to tear them down. Will they be able to move forward together even when everything they thought they knew comes crashing down?

Cami was a wonderful character. She was witty, funny and had a mind of her own that she wasn't afraid to broadcast. I loved that she wasn't a doormat or meek but was also true to her Omega nature when it came to her mate. Emily wrote Cami with a perfect balance of strength, vulnerability and femininity.

Wyatt was an Alpha but not an OTT alpha male. He was powerful and possessive of Cami in the best ways and was dominating and caring. Wyatt appreciated Cami for more than just her Omega/mate status and I loved that he didn't reject Cami but stood at her side to stare down anyone that would seek to not legitimatize their connection.

I really enjoyed this story but the steam in here felt a little on the subtle side. I wanted more intimacy between the two of them. Omegaverse relationships and connections are rooted in their couplings and their steamy scenes felt a little short and rushed. I think a little more description or a couple more scenes between them where they get to know each other deeper would have been beneficial to their relationship development. However, I did really love Cami and Wyatt together and think they were a perfect match.

"I burn for you, my mate," I say, moving her hair to whisper in her ear. "Nothing brings me greater joy than seeing you like this in our nest surrounded by reminders of me."


The Golden Alpha ends on a HFN for the couple and cliffhanger for the story which seems like it will be carried through other romances. We get a look at the next two characters and I'm really looking forward to seeing their bond happen. Overall, a pretty good Omegaverse that I definitely will continue!
Profile Image for (old.enough.for.fairytales).
566 reviews374 followers
June 25, 2023
4.5 stars:

This book was such an enjoyable read for me. I love a good PNR and have really enjoyed the omegaverse subgenre, but this felt like a really unique and refreshing take on the types of omegaverse stories I’m familiar with. For starters, it’s set in a dystopian society (which is always a trope I thoroughly enjoy) which was such a cool setting for an omegaverse PNR! The Order is the mysterious governing body that dictates all aspects of life…I saw one reviewer describe this vibe as The Village meets The Handmaid’s Tale in an omegaverse setting and I could not agree more! While this story wraps up nicely, the epilogue def leaves you anxious for book two, which comes out later this year. It will feature a different couple and each book in this series can be read as a stand-alone.

Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Ve (ve_xo).
674 reviews112 followers
July 4, 2023
Enjoyed this one! PNR yes please! Perfect for lovers of Omegaverse, dystopian, and good ol' romance! Perfect pageturner for those that love a quick read.

First time I ever read an omegaverse story in a dystopian universe, I have to say this was super interesting! The wolf element almost became secondary to the story but not forgotten or dismissed.. We still see the inclusion of the lore in this divergent/handmaid tale universe.

I absolutely loved Cami! She is set in her ways but willing to hear you out. Not afraid to speak her mind and is super smart. Wyatt is our MMC, a powerful one! His kindness had me, but dont be fooled.. this does not stop him from being possessive and protective one bit!

I cannot wait to read more about this series! Huge thanks to the author for sending me a copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for TJ.
3,309 reviews295 followers
December 29, 2023
3.5/5.0

Well, this is an interesting mix. I’ll admit I was (and am still) not very cognizant of the whole “omegaverse” world… didn’t even know it existed until this book. So, my opinions are not deeply intelligent concerning the sub-genre as a whole - just this one little corner of a series.

After finishing the book and reading other reviews, I completely understand people’s problem with the “doormat” personality of the FMC in this story, but…. Isn’t that at least somewhat part and parcel to an omega personality? A pleaser, one who keeps all the more volatile personalities calm etc. etc.? So, if one chooses to pick up a book about an omega we can’t complain when they act like one! Admittedly, however, I was also REALLY frustrated that Camilla didn’t at least stand up for herself a little! A person can be submissive while still demanding respect and requiring consideration.

I thought the story, itself was a really interesting and uniquely creative one. Having a society with alphas, betas and omegas that is NOT shifter-related is a challenge in and of itself, but this new-to-me author did a fabulous job of creating a world where everything makes sense. It’s actually more dystopian than paranormal, with humans engineered to be bigger, stronger, “alpha”. Then, engineering others who can successfully live with and help procreate with those alpha humans. Not sure if all this is explained thoroughly in this first book (I read the next immediately after) but it does help a reader’s understanding as to why Camilla, Wyatt and the rest behave the way they do.

And, of course, there are some fabulous forewarnings, and plenty of intrigue that plays right alongside the romance aspect. So I’ll definitely be continuing this series!
Profile Image for Maria Elena | pagesofmaria.
796 reviews236 followers
July 4, 2023
Spice rating: 2 peppers

The Golden Alpha is an interesting book in the omegaverse. Though there wasn’t a lot of “wolfing out”, the community’s dynamic resembled a wolf pack’s structure and was fascinating to read about. I especially appreciated all the lore tied to the Golden Alpha and how this determined the hierarchy and the Order of the society of Goldenrod.

Rules, however, are meant to be broken, and the fact that every character—be they the main couple or the secondary ones—pushed against the roles they were given. This is something I especially liked about both Cami and Wyatt. Cami, because she still questioned the role of the omega in the alpha’s life, and tried to carve a reality for herself where she and Wyatt could coexist side by side and not with her having to always be a step back. Wyatt, because he fought against everything and everyone that wanted him to believe his feelings for Cami were somehow not right. The bond that slowly develops between them was beautiful. I really love the best friend’s brother trope in any romance, but paired to an alpha and an omega, it was impossible for me not to ship these two!

While the plot of the story progresses a bit slowly, there was enough mystery and banter to keep me entertained from start to finish. Speaking of endings, I’m very excited for the next book! I did not see the final plot twist coming, and while Cami and Wyatt’s story resolves perfectly in this book, the next one follows the threads of the plot to a new pairing, which promises to be explosive!

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Allison Hires.
62 reviews
Read
January 29, 2024
This is for Stacey who has begged me to read this book for months.

Skipping a rating because frankly I don’t even know how to rate this book and it wouldn’t really be fair.

It surprisingly had way less spice than I expected, it was definitely more plot/character driven than anticipated. I had fun reading it, but the “omegaverse” is not even remotely for me. I personally find the whole “alpha mating” and “omega nesting” concepts to be just cringy and difficult for me to handle. With that being said, if you are okay with those concepts and like omegaverse books, you’d probably enjoy this book. The plot was fun and kept me on my toes.

Not for me, but probably great for the right person.
343 reviews4 followers
June 25, 2023
I needed to go to bed....and this book wouldn't let me. Now I'm tired so bear with me here. I really like where this universe is going.

This book has this Handmaid's Tale/Divergent dystopian landscape undertone but in a way that is unique without being kitschy. I love that there is this endearing quality to the characters that makes you want to see how their journey will go. Emily writes great characters, always.

One thing I will say is that I expected a bit more grit with this series (esp with this cover 🥵), so I hope it's building to that. I felt like we got a fair amount of protectiveness from the MMC but possessiveness was a little light. Overall, I expected to get a little deeper into the base needs of this Alpha once the biological connection snapped in place. Granted I've not read Omegaverse stuff before but I thought they usually leaned a bit to the darker side of Booktok. I'm hoping the more feral MMC for book two will give me this depravity haha

I'm sticking with my 5 stars though. The book was entertaining and a page turner for me and shows great potential.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.
Profile Image for Staceyann2007.
427 reviews3 followers
October 21, 2023
4.75 rounded up. Okay, I am speechless after finishing this book. I loved it. I loved the characters, I loved the dual POV, I loved the dialogue. Had a few spicy scenes that were nicely done… these are a species with some animalistic instincts/tendencies and that was unfamiliar to me but I was here for it. I can’t wait for the next one!
Profile Image for Chiara | wordsbychiara.
704 reviews347 followers
July 4, 2023
Spice rating: 2 peppers

THE GOLDEN ALPHA was a completely new approach to the omegaverse subgenre, and I have to say I really enjoyed it! The "pack" structure fit seamlessly within this dystopian society the author created, and I really enjoyed the lore and the character relationships. This is definitely a book I’d recommend as a first approach to the omegaverse subgenre, or to those already familiar with it who want something a little softer, and a little different.

One of my favorite aspects of the story was the lore tied to the Golden Alpha. It was really fascinating to see how this society established itself in Goldenrod and why, but at the same time there were still so many questions left to be answered. Where did the alphas originate from? What exists beyond the fenced confines of the community? The author did a great job weaving that mystery throughout her romantic plot and making it relevant to Cami and Wyatt’s story. The mystery really helped keep my interest piqued!

The book’s biggest strength, however, were the characters. Something I often struggle with when it comes to omegaverse is the “submissiveness” of the female protagonists. It obviously comes from the wolf society hierarchy model, but it’s something that I have a hard time accepting and liking. Cami, however, was a breath of fresh air in this regard! While the instinct to be submissive to Wyatt is there from the moment the mating call happens, she struggles with those instincts even while she gives in to them, and she’s constantly questioning her role in society and in Wyatt’s life, and the sincerity of the feelings that are brewing between them. This definitely made it easier for me to appreciate her character. Wyatt, too, was an amazing “alpha” type. He definitely has the possessiveness and haughtiness that makes alphas so appealing, but I loved how soft he is with those he loves—especially the women in his life—and how he was always so respectful of Cami.

What really took me by surprise, however, was the little taste we got for the next book. I did not expect this particular omega to be getting her own book, but once a certain character was introduced, I was manifesting this possibility because the banter was just brilliant. So excited that I was right, and cannot wait to read it!

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Mrs T.
388 reviews1 follower
June 25, 2023
Cami is an Omega, in a town where Alpha's, Beta's and Omega's live segregated from the rest of society, living their lives by the Order, a set of rules dictated by their ancestors. Cami has had a hard upbringing and has a wild, free spirit.

Wyatt is the eldest Son of one of the highbrow families, he is expected to mate with the Daughter of another 'acceptable' family line. However, an Alpha can only mate with the Omega who calls to him, his fated.

When Wyatt protects his little sisters friend, Cami, it sets off her call to him and the events that then follow are both disturbing and delightful.

Not all is as it seems in Goldenrod, nor in Wyatts family, can they survive the deception and restraints they find themselves up against.

Set in a dystopian world, there is a very unique and refreshing take on circumstances surrounding the residents of Goldenrod. Cami's wild streak and questioning nature, belies her Omega status, yet draws Wyatts strength and Alpha nature to the fore. I love Cami, she never gives up and her man does good!

A cracking plot and characters sets up future stories in this world and I can't wait to read them.

This is my honest review in exchange for an advanced reader copy.
780 reviews11 followers
June 12, 2023
I loved it! The Golden Alpha is a well written roller coaster ride that wraps you up in the mystery of Goldenrod. Each chapter keeps you at the edge of your seat and you will be hard pressed to put it down. I was blown away at the ending. I am so glad that this is a series because each character is rich with detail that you fall in love with them all. Can’t wait for Elizabeth’s book!❤️❤️❤️
Profile Image for AnnJaleesa Mellen.
32 reviews3 followers
June 11, 2023
This is my first Omegaverse, as well as my first novel by Emily North, and it was FANTASTIC! I binge read this book in one sitting. The plot, character development, and spice in her novel were put together exceptionally well. I went into this book completely blind and I was not disappointed at all!
Profile Image for Catheryn.
1,374 reviews28 followers
March 17, 2024
I liked the plot to this one and the characters. I thought the world building was really interesting. But the pacing about killed me. I plot dragged in so many places. I made connections (not hard ones) that were pretty clear and then had to....wait.....for the other characters to put the pieces together. I want to continue the series, but I'm not sure I can survive another book like this.

The omegaverse rules in this world seemed it a bit odd. There were somethings that were not explained very well. Also, surprisingly a slow burn with very mild spice.
Profile Image for Kelly.
245 reviews
February 20, 2025
4.5 I didn’t know anything about this genre of books (dystopian, alphas, etc) but my sister recommended it to me so I gave it a try. I loved it! The writing was incredible, I loved the dual POVs, and I can’t wait for the next one to come out!
Profile Image for Angel.
39 reviews1 follower
July 2, 2023
Actual rating: 4.25

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Set in a mysterious dystopian world, alphas, betas and omegas live their entire lives in Goldenrod town according to the rules. The rules, aka the Order, dictate how one should live. Coming from an abusive home, Camilla placed all her hopes that she would be given a mate that could pull her out of her problematic family. But life was never easy and Camilla will learn just how difficult life could be when her mate happened to be the heir to one of the most powerful families in their isolated town. Their way of life was based on rules created to curb their natural instincts... but perhaps their instincts were the most unnatural.

This book was set in a world where people are born either as alphas, omegas or betas with each type having their purpose in life. In this world, people live out their entire lives based on their families' ranking on the social scale. Like calls to like and hence, it was a huge surprise when middle-class girl Camilla gets mated to Wyatt, the prestigious heir of a powerful family. Despite all the hardships and problems she faced, Camilla's character was consistent and did not waver. She was a great character; witty and was not afraid of letting others know her thoughts. I was thrilled to see that her omega nature did not bury her actual personality. She was a strong character with a rebellious streak but she knew to listen and respond to her true omega instincts in a way that did not make her appear weak-willed. I also enjoyed the fact that Wyatt was such an honest character. He stayed true to his principles and opposed those who stood in his way. What I truly enjoyed reading the most was how compatible they were. They believed in each other and did not hesitate to protect one another when the need arose.

What I did wish for, however, was further explanation or details about the world and how their systems work. It was such a unique and interesting concept with the omegaverse and dystopian themes going on and I wanted to know more about it. I was also hoping for more intimacy between our lead characters, both the sweet and steamy kind. The interactions between them were sweet but alas, were pretty short and I was hoping for more. I wanted to see their relationship develop further. Nevertheless, I truly enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Indira Wolf .
808 reviews91 followers
June 13, 2023
**I received an ARC of this novel through BookSirens, thank you a ton! This has not impacted my review in any way**

*NO SPOILERS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS REVIEW*

Well, this was something. I do not know if i want to cringe for the lack of feminism in this book or give into my secret desires to want to run in a wolf pack. But um...this book is clearly a bit different than I thought. I thought this would be a more in depth shifter romance, and um...well, it had werewolf based terms, alpha, omega, etc. but...i dont think anyone actually showed any wolfyness or other beast?

The writing was alright. Not too overwhelming, but it did have some description, enough to let me know what is going on inside the characters head and get a feel for their personality. I will say it felt like an advanced wattpad fiction, but not quite an introductory novel. I think the pacc was fine, just the events of the story seemed to be slow...? I do not know how quite to put it. There is mostly a clear villain in this book,gotta love someone to hate, and just interesting twists in this novel that kept me engaged

Though I am confused about the characters. Half the time I wasnt sure whether the female mc was going to be a stubborn, steel backed, fiery woman, or a woman who submits to anything the men want.. the author kept changing her tune, making it confusing to determine whether what the character did was typical or not of her place in this society. I will say this society was intriguing, if not a bit different than what I thought...

The main dude,wyatt. idk, i kinda of wish he had stuck with a more bad boi vibe. He is swoon material, but the second a woman walks into his life he goes soft....but i do like those protective types so rippp. I liked that the book switched between his pov and hers, it definitely helped the sequence of events.

Alright, I prattled on long enough. Remember, this is all my opinion. if you want your own, read the book when it comes out.
Profile Image for Chalice.
3,712 reviews111 followers
July 24, 2023
The couple: Wyatt and Camilla

Romance trope: omegaverse
Series: Goldenrod
Length: 377 pages

Plot: Cami didn't think that one afternoon out with her best friend would change her life, but in coming back from visiting the edge of their town, Cami ran into her friend's brother Wyatt, saw her father laid out, and called to her own alpha. Now she's about to be mated, but living in her new alpha's home proves to her that there's so much more happening under the surface of their society. She has more questions than answers, but she'll have to stay alive long enough to find out what's happening.

Commentary: I very much enjoyed this one! I've noticed that almost all of the omegaverse books released in the last year or two have been rh, and particularly rh where there is already an established mm relationship. It's become a bit of a template, and I really just want a good old-fashioned (haha) m/f omegaverse. This was that. This was the fated mates - one mate - nesting, knotting, bonding that I've been wanting. I felt like the characters were well-developed. I particularly liked how everyone, Cami included, thought that Wyatt was kind of "simple" and they just had no idea of what was going on with him. It was telling that nobody bothered to find out - that was actually representative of the way that nobody questioned anything in the community. I also loved that each other was separately dreaming of getting out of there, so they were actually perfect for each other. My one complaint was that the villain was very one-dimensional and, well, insane. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series though.

Next book in the series: The Alpha King
Profile Image for CiCi | bookameme.
869 reviews51 followers
June 15, 2023
The Villains Are Wack, But The Alpha Is Sweet


Quotes:📖
“It wasn’t built to keep the world out, I realize with growing horror. It was built to keep us in.”

“Camilla Maidenhair?” he asks with an incredulous grimace. “You’re the Sage heir. How does this make the rest of us look?”

“Something profound dawns on me. A feeling of certainty, perhaps? A conviction I've never known before? I would do anything for this omega, I realize. I would lay down my life for her.”

Thoughts: 💡
I enjoyed this book. It was exciting and the love story was very sweet. Several of the supporting characters were wack and give off major cult vibes. There is some mystery to it, but it’s not hard to guess what direction the book is going in; the surprise twists are how you get there. I’m really looking forward to more stories from this series.

Writing Mechanics: ✍️
The world building was on point and the characters were engaging and relatable. The grammar and syntax were commendable and made everything easy to read.

Fun Bits:
⚜️ Puts Her First
⚜️ Mates
⚜️ Crazy Secrets

Important Note:✨
This the first book in the series and can be read as a standalone. The epilogue is a teaser for the next book which releases in December, so if you don’t like things that feel like cliffhangers then beware.


Stats:📊
Spice Scale: 3 🌶️🌶️🌶️/ 5
Character Dev: 5 💙💙💙💙💙/5
Genre: Omegaverse Romance📕
Tropes: Wrong Side Of The Tracks, Sociological Experiment 📘
POV: Dual 👩‍❤️‍👨
CW: Violence, Forced Servitude⚠️
Profile Image for Kat.
55 reviews10 followers
July 18, 2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book is set in a little village called Goldenrod. It focuses on 2 main characters and is duel POV. Cami is a young omega that questions ‘The order’ and the rules that have been set in place, rather than following blindly as the majority of the others that reside in the village do. Because she does this.. she is not necessarily liked. 😬 She looks beyond the confines of the little village she lives and is curious about the outside world. What is beyond the trees? Wyatt is the alpha next in line to take over the important role as one of the top family’s in ‘the order’. He too looks at the mountains and dreams of the outside world. After saving Cami from a certain situation, her body invokes ‘the call’ leaving them both in a difficult situation.

I loved the character development of both the FMC and MMC. Wyatt is Camis best friends older brother. He is stubborn, protective and will make you gush. ‘My alpha’ god🥹. Cami is strong, independent and is larger than life. Despite Wyatt becoming her alpha, she tries her best to escape a fair few times from the confines of ‘Sage House’. I strive to be as brave as her.

I found the book exciting, steamy at times 🥵 and rather addicting. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and ate it up.

Overall, would I recommend this book to family and friends? The answer would be yes, depending on their genre preferences.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
90 reviews
June 26, 2023
This was a unique story! At this point, a lot of the world is still a mystery but it has me hooked wanting to learn more. The main characters in this story have limited understanding of what's outside of their village and as you are reading from their perspective, it is interesting to connect the dots as to what they are experiencing for the first time. I'm not sure what to think of the dynamics yet. While this book gets to a point where it can be paused and you can "patiently" wait for the next book to come out, a lot of answers remain unanswered. It appears that as the story continues we will get more of the back story and what happened in the world. This book is a really good start at creating a world and setting it up in a way that the understanding of the world develops at the same pace as the main character. It is well worth a read, especially if you enjoy dystopian and/or omegaverse but the universe and characters' stories are far from over. If you are impatient, wait for more books to come out because not enough questions have been answered to be satisfied with the current resolution. Consider this more of a "part 1" rather than a finished story. We will hopefuly see these main characters again and see how their story has continued.
302 reviews7 followers
June 28, 2023
Emily North does an amazing job building a world in a dystopian omegaverse. I love how she smoothly introduces her readers to the hierarchy of the Alphas and Omegas, the rituals they go through, and the wretched conditions in which they are living. Other books in this genre have a tendency to immediately cram the dynamics of the world into the first three chapters and then you have to spend the rest of the book trying to figure out how things interconnect, North peppers this information throughout the entire story making this a very easy and enjoyable read. There is a medium amount of suspense and a small amount of spice in this book.

My favorite type of main male character is broody and overprotective of his mate, and Wyatt definitely did not disappoint! I appreciated that he was not your average alphahole who is loud and unquestionably demanding, but more reflective and softer at the core. It did take me a little while to like Cami, but eventually she grew on me and by the end of the book I absolutely loved both Wyatt and Cami together!

I can not wait for the second book in this duo!!

I absolutely recommend this book to readers looking to break into the Omegaverse and Dystopian stories. If you are a romance reader of any genre I think you would enjoy this book!
391 reviews6 followers
Read
June 21, 2023
This was my first dystopian story. I suspect it may be my last. No criticism of the author. I was a little lost at the beginning, trying to determine "what" these characters were. At the end, I was still somewhat confused. Males have retractable fangs, but they are not vampires. Some can perform feats of magic, but they're not witches. They are human-like in appearance and emotional balance, but it took me a while to figure that out.

There are a lot of twists and turns throughout this story to keep the reader's interest. There are rules that are broken. The female protagonist is too low on the social scale, and the male protagonist is "special," according to his straight-laced mother. There are a number of interesting co-stars, inside and outside the male protagonist's family circle. There's a warm and fuzzy HEA, which leads into the next story, starring two of the strongest characters in this one.

The story is well-written with very few errors, considering how long the book is. If you like your romance "way out there," you'll enjoy this book. I do recommend it even if the genre is not my cup of tea.
Profile Image for Erica Barnes.
385 reviews7 followers
July 5, 2023
The Golden Alpha is kind of Divergent/Pleasantville/Aeon Flux but make it Omegaverse. With most Omegaverse style books, there is a lot of acceptance required when it comes to world building on the part of the reader. We are normally told and not shown. Emily North didn't do this at all. The reader is shown right from the beginning that there is something off about the world of Goldenrod and it should be questioned. I really liked that this book had that little mystery to it in addition to all the alpha and omega "stuff."

One of the parts I didn't like as much was how drawn out the plot got in the middle. Things started to drag, especially the relationship between Wyatt and Camilla.

Camilla was great. I really enjoyed her character. I liked Wyatt a little bit less but still felt he was a decent love interest for Camilla. Nearly everyone else in the story kind of sucked. They all had very murky ulterior motives.

The end of the story was interesting. It is making me want to read book 2 and see what happens with Elizabeth. Hopefully we get some Camilla/Wyatt cameos.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
3,050 reviews30 followers
November 23, 2023
3.5 stars. Cami(lla), the female omega lead, is shocked when her best friend’s brother saves her from her abusive father and triggers her mating call for him. Wyatt, the male alpha lead, is the eldest son of one of the highest ranked citizens in their enclave and the nominal heir. He’s flummoxed by Cami’s call but also determined to respect it - it’s why their enclave exists, after all.

But many people aren’t happy with a lower class girl matched with the ruling heir. And what are the secrets behind the establishment and running of their enclave? Why can’t they leave the boundaries?

This story is dual POV, well written, and an interesting, dystopian omegaverse romance. It skilfully combined a serene backdrop with conspiracy and threats to make an almost eerie setup - I acknowledge the author’s craft but admit I didn’t really enjoy it. I enjoyed Cami’s clear wish for the freedom to explore outside the fence. I appreciated Wyatt’s dawning awareness that she was worth sacrificing for and that he might really have to do that to keep her. I enjoyed the variety of secondary characters.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.
Profile Image for Coralie.
140 reviews1 follower
June 9, 2023
Starting with the positive, I think the author had a good plot and writing style. The reading was smooth and the story well paced with twists well placed.

This is an Alpha-Omega story, so I expected some show of male dominance and female meekness. But even though the female lead Cami is painted to be a little free spirited, and there is not much choice given to her freedom, I just despised the whole prostrative narrative towards the male and his family. This is not the first omegaverse story I read, but I found this one on the limitis of what I can accept. I'm not a relentless feminist that will push onto anything with a "women on top", but I'm a feminist who will definitely advocate any day for a free woman who can choose, be heard and matter… which I don't think I got in that story…

So I would recommend this story for people who like a story that is really male-dominant and females that are compliant.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
611 reviews7 followers
June 13, 2023
I’m not really sure what to write this book was very different from what I expected I guess but still good. I was confused thru the whole book even the ending where what they are is sort of explained. There was so much time spent on Cami and her “nesting” instincts. I would have liked more written about what was actually going on. I agree Wyatt’s mother was as crazy as a bedbug and Tansy was way past that but very little of the book really made much sense. The story needed more world building instead of just amorphous “oh this is just what the order demands” there was no real depth to the characters they were all rather flat and one sided with very little interaction between any of the characters. I think the story needs more backbone to really create an appealing world that I want to visit over and over again
ARC copy with voluntary review.
2 reviews1 follower
October 11, 2023
This is the book that turned me on to the Omegaverse series. North provided so much depth in her characters and the structured world that she built. Camilla was not the mate that was intended for Wyatt, but she was definitely the one that he needed. Wyatt fully accepted Cami and was protective of her, although she was great at holding her own as well. She was witty and had such strength. She provided him the courage to question the Order. Their scenes in their love nest were full of steam and there were twists throughout the story that made the book impossible to put down!
I love when the original story continues to develop through the other characters in the series. This ended on a cliffhanger and I'm so excited to follow the story of Elizabeth and discover more about their world.
Profile Image for Stefanie McLain.
242 reviews
June 25, 2023
Emily did a wonderful job of bringing a story that feels so familiar but totally new at the same time. If you like story’s such as divergent but want spice then this is just the book for you. Having the story broke up into three different parts gives a good way to tell the different parts of the story. Such as when Cami frost meets and falls for Wyatt, then all the trails of them coming together, followed by fight for them to stay together. They come together as mates and the spice on those scenes are low but fit so well. I can not wait to read more of their story and the stories of the other alphas and omegas.

I rate the plot of this book a 4 1/2 star and the spice a 2 pepper.
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