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Knot Their Toy #1-2
Knot Their Toy
It also contains exclusive bonus content. Nothing says welcome to your dream University like dead bodies and a warning to stay in my lane. It’s almost impossible to get into Winter Grove University, so when I’m accepted on scholarship, I know my life will change for the better. Or will it? When an alpha starts harassing me to join his pack, I’m left with no choice but to tell him I belong to another. The thing is, I name drop the richest, most notorious pack on campus. Dorian, Foster, and August aren’t happy when they find out, and the tension between us grows. These vile boys know how to hold a grudge, but when I’m forced to spend time with them, I can’t stop the connection that’s growing between us. With a killer closer than we thought, will I lose everything I’ve ever wanted or will I become the omega I never thought I could be?
The Knot Their Toy duet is an omegaverse whychoose romance with M/M, poly, and bullying.
The Knot Their Toy duet is an omegaverse whychoose romance with M/M, poly, and bullying.
584 pages, Paperback
Published July 9, 2023
About the author
A.J. Merlin
39 books2,208 followersAJ Merlin would rather write epic love stories than live them. I mean, who wants to limit themselves to only falling in love once? She is obsessed with dark fantasy, true crime, and also dogs. From serial killers to voyeurs all the way down to the devil himself, AJ's specialty is in writing irredeemable heroes who somehow still manage to captivate their heroines (and her readers).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 10, 2025
I think that these books were a very easy read because they were so low drama, and even the drama that did occur you could see it from a mile away and accurately foreshadow early on in the story. It's not a dark read by any means, and although there were a few questionable points in it, there was nothing that was irredeemable about the characters. That doesn't mean I don't still have qualms about it though.
I have to say that having both books together like this made it quite easy to read, however at the same time it made it easy to recall plot errors from one book to the next.
• In Vile Boys it's said that Mercy is from Ohio, and in Wicked Girl they continually say that she's from Chicago... now I know I'm not American or anything but I am quite certain that those are two separate places.
• In Vile Boys when Mercy meets Amelia she says that she has a very pleasant scent that intrigued her just as much as Dorian's scent did, then in Wicked Girl she said that the scent was nasty and suffocating.
• In Vile Boys it's said that Dorian's scent is cinnamon, birthday cake, and leather... then in Wicked Girl it says he smells like leather, cinnamon, and cloves completely removing the sweet birthday cake aspect to it.
I feel like there were definitely some plot holes (i use that term lightly) when it came to certain information as well.
• Like how the entire first half of Vile Boys several times Mercy would choke on Dorian's scent because she thought it smelled good, he thought she hated it based off of that reaction, and then never once was the misunderstanding rectified or brought up after they kinda got together
• How at the beginning of Wicked Girl Foster said that he got in a violent fight 2 years prior, that cracked his skull and that's how him and August met Dorian, but then later in the book it's said that the year before Foster got into a violent fight that left him with a head injury but doesn't like to talk about it... it's like it was alluded to that it was the same fight, but at the same time the details don't quite match which gave off the vibe that the author might have forgotten exactly what was previously said about it.
• In Vile Boys it was said Mercy needed medicinal shots to help with her headaches, but then in Wicked Girl even though she still got severe headaches the shots were never brought up again
• At one point it's said that Foster's mom is gonna press charges with police, then at another point it's said that Foster's parents are dead (like okay, if his mom did die, but that would've been in the course of their relationship which wasn't mentioned)
• Dorian and August are a year older than Mercy and Foster, so the two former graduated the year before the later, yet for some reason Mercy didn't know that August's parents didn't show up to his graduation even though she was dating and living with them since her first year (4 years)
• Several times in Vile Boys it was brought up that Foster was a sado-masochist and it was reiterated a bunch when they all got steamy together and both Dorian and August would tell him not to hurt Mercy, but there was never a point where that claimed sado-masochism was even shown... was a very irrelevant point to make when it never actually happened nor threatened to happen anywhere in either book.
• It's also very very wild to try and wrap your head around the fact that these characters are 18/19 years old and have already developed kinks involving pet play, dom/sub, safewords, and breeding... not ones that they're trying out to see if they like, already developed and practiced, and very heavily implied to have first carried out as minors (yuck)
Then there's the omegaverse aspect of these books, which was very very disappointing.
• If you took out the labels of alpha/beta/omega from these books then literally none of what happens in these books nor the interactions between characters would change. It felt very much like the omegaverse part of these books was an afterthought because they didn't do anything to enhance the plot or cause the characters to gain a deeper connection. Nothing about these books really had anything to do with omegaverse
• The characters did not possess any traits of their supposed designations other than the alphas being a bit more intense, but otherwise everyone was perfectly normal and the same
• The scents involved were more so just an added nicety rather than being a motivating factor, there was no scent matching or sympathies
• The heat lasted for maybe a day naturally or a few days with suppressants, and didn't seem to affect anyone at all, and there was no nesting whatsoever (not even a need for a single cozy blanket for comfort or instinct)
• There were no claiming or bonding bites, like they bit her sure, but it was more of a kinky sex thing rather than an omegaverse thing because it didn't tie them together in any way
• They idea of pack kept being thrown around with both the MCs and other characters, but without any sort of bonding or claiming aspects it more so was just them choosing to live with/date each other and that's it, no permanent ties to each other other than word alone that could be given and taken away whenever you wanted
Over all, this duet wasn't bad at all... just a lot of gaps and discrepancies in my opinion.
I have to say that having both books together like this made it quite easy to read, however at the same time it made it easy to recall plot errors from one book to the next.
• In Vile Boys it's said that Mercy is from Ohio, and in Wicked Girl they continually say that she's from Chicago... now I know I'm not American or anything but I am quite certain that those are two separate places.
• In Vile Boys when Mercy meets Amelia she says that she has a very pleasant scent that intrigued her just as much as Dorian's scent did, then in Wicked Girl she said that the scent was nasty and suffocating.
• In Vile Boys it's said that Dorian's scent is cinnamon, birthday cake, and leather... then in Wicked Girl it says he smells like leather, cinnamon, and cloves completely removing the sweet birthday cake aspect to it.
I feel like there were definitely some plot holes (i use that term lightly) when it came to certain information as well.
• Like how the entire first half of Vile Boys several times Mercy would choke on Dorian's scent because she thought it smelled good, he thought she hated it based off of that reaction, and then never once was the misunderstanding rectified or brought up after they kinda got together
• How at the beginning of Wicked Girl Foster said that he got in a violent fight 2 years prior, that cracked his skull and that's how him and August met Dorian, but then later in the book it's said that the year before Foster got into a violent fight that left him with a head injury but doesn't like to talk about it... it's like it was alluded to that it was the same fight, but at the same time the details don't quite match which gave off the vibe that the author might have forgotten exactly what was previously said about it.
• In Vile Boys it was said Mercy needed medicinal shots to help with her headaches, but then in Wicked Girl even though she still got severe headaches the shots were never brought up again
• At one point it's said that Foster's mom is gonna press charges with police, then at another point it's said that Foster's parents are dead (like okay, if his mom did die, but that would've been in the course of their relationship which wasn't mentioned)
• Dorian and August are a year older than Mercy and Foster, so the two former graduated the year before the later, yet for some reason Mercy didn't know that August's parents didn't show up to his graduation even though she was dating and living with them since her first year (4 years)
• Several times in Vile Boys it was brought up that Foster was a sado-masochist and it was reiterated a bunch when they all got steamy together and both Dorian and August would tell him not to hurt Mercy, but there was never a point where that claimed sado-masochism was even shown... was a very irrelevant point to make when it never actually happened nor threatened to happen anywhere in either book.
• It's also very very wild to try and wrap your head around the fact that these characters are 18/19 years old and have already developed kinks involving pet play, dom/sub, safewords, and breeding... not ones that they're trying out to see if they like, already developed and practiced, and very heavily implied to have first carried out as minors (yuck)
Then there's the omegaverse aspect of these books, which was very very disappointing.
• If you took out the labels of alpha/beta/omega from these books then literally none of what happens in these books nor the interactions between characters would change. It felt very much like the omegaverse part of these books was an afterthought because they didn't do anything to enhance the plot or cause the characters to gain a deeper connection. Nothing about these books really had anything to do with omegaverse
• The characters did not possess any traits of their supposed designations other than the alphas being a bit more intense, but otherwise everyone was perfectly normal and the same
• The scents involved were more so just an added nicety rather than being a motivating factor, there was no scent matching or sympathies
• The heat lasted for maybe a day naturally or a few days with suppressants, and didn't seem to affect anyone at all, and there was no nesting whatsoever (not even a need for a single cozy blanket for comfort or instinct)
• There were no claiming or bonding bites, like they bit her sure, but it was more of a kinky sex thing rather than an omegaverse thing because it didn't tie them together in any way
• They idea of pack kept being thrown around with both the MCs and other characters, but without any sort of bonding or claiming aspects it more so was just them choosing to live with/date each other and that's it, no permanent ties to each other other than word alone that could be given and taken away whenever you wanted
Over all, this duet wasn't bad at all... just a lot of gaps and discrepancies in my opinion.
June 6, 2024
I read this in probably 2 days and enjoyed almost every moment of it!!
I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as i did, but it is definitely one of my favorite books/series from the author!
There's 3 male characters and 1 female, with there being MM action and MFM stuff too. Its a really interesting dynamic too, especially how they all worked together and treated each other individually outside and inside intimate scenarios.
This is an Omega-verse book with everything you would expect of the genre (Alphas, Betas, Omegas, packs, knotting, heat and rut cycles etc) but most of the time all of this seemed really subtle and like background bits of detail that made the story more interesting. It seemed to focus a lot more on the characters and their behavior/personalities/relationships than anything else.
As much as i LOVED THIS SERIES i also really hated how it started and how the guys acted towards her. Was she wrong to name drop their pack for her own benefit? Yes, but it was to get a creep to leave her alone so...
That being said it definitely didn't warrant the HEAVY BULLYING that they put her through right in the beginning. There were lots of cohesion and manipulation, bets and mind games too. The line between them bullying her/harassing her and then teasing her were heavily blurred too. It was really hard to tell when all of their feelings started to change/when they started to care about her as a real part of their pack.
The serial killer bff was a cool plot for what i'm guessing was the first book, even if it was a little bit obvious. Loved how this made the boys in her debt too for saving them. Probably the moment they realized that they loved her and wanted to keep her.
Things got a little boring in the second half (book 2?) because they were dancing around admitting she was a real part of their pack. It took being threatened by another Alpha for them to man up and admit how they felt.
I also really liked how she spent more time with them all individually and getting to know them better. Was really sweet to see how they acted and all the different personalities when they weren't together and acting as a pack.
The ending was adorable and cute and such a fun/lighthearted way of wrapping the story up. All the characters are perfect for each other and i was so glad that they all eventually got their happy ending!!
I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as i did, but it is definitely one of my favorite books/series from the author!
There's 3 male characters and 1 female, with there being MM action and MFM stuff too. Its a really interesting dynamic too, especially how they all worked together and treated each other individually outside and inside intimate scenarios.
This is an Omega-verse book with everything you would expect of the genre (Alphas, Betas, Omegas, packs, knotting, heat and rut cycles etc) but most of the time all of this seemed really subtle and like background bits of detail that made the story more interesting. It seemed to focus a lot more on the characters and their behavior/personalities/relationships than anything else.
As much as i LOVED THIS SERIES i also really hated how it started and how the guys acted towards her. Was she wrong to name drop their pack for her own benefit? Yes, but it was to get a creep to leave her alone so...
That being said it definitely didn't warrant the HEAVY BULLYING that they put her through right in the beginning. There were lots of cohesion and manipulation, bets and mind games too. The line between them bullying her/harassing her and then teasing her were heavily blurred too. It was really hard to tell when all of their feelings started to change/when they started to care about her as a real part of their pack.
The serial killer bff was a cool plot for what i'm guessing was the first book, even if it was a little bit obvious. Loved how this made the boys in her debt too for saving them. Probably the moment they realized that they loved her and wanted to keep her.
Things got a little boring in the second half (book 2?) because they were dancing around admitting she was a real part of their pack. It took being threatened by another Alpha for them to man up and admit how they felt.
I also really liked how she spent more time with them all individually and getting to know them better. Was really sweet to see how they acted and all the different personalities when they weren't together and acting as a pack.
The ending was adorable and cute and such a fun/lighthearted way of wrapping the story up. All the characters are perfect for each other and i was so glad that they all eventually got their happy ending!!
February 6, 2024
I realize I'm likely in the minority here given the reviews for this book, but I'm struggling to finish this. I cannot stand mouthy heroines and this one doesn't shut up. She always has something snarky to say and it is beyond annoying.
The whole idea of the omega (in my estimation) is they are born naturally submissive and yet, every omegaverse I read seems to have a combative, mouthy omega. Completely ruins the trope for me. This book is no exception.
The whole idea of the omega (in my estimation) is they are born naturally submissive and yet, every omegaverse I read seems to have a combative, mouthy omega. Completely ruins the trope for me. This book is no exception.
July 12, 2025
Some of the hottest smut I’ve read paired with one of the dumbest, most annoying MFC ever.
June 11, 2025
Omg first hate read of 2025 and the reason why I will never touch omegaverse again (if I do the shit will have to be amazing)
I have this theory that the reason most of the recent romance books put out are trash is because the patriarchy is seeping in and authors are catering to a male gaze etc etc. this is not the place for a thesis but my god?
There is a difference between oh yeah we’re “enemies” and I wanna hunch and then it becomes love
If this was meant to be a bully romance where they are stupid and just fucking mean and rude because they have the emotional maturity of a five year old sure I can buy that but why is the transition so??? Out of nowhere
It was just ick after ick and NONE of the love interest actually does anything to make them seem worthy of a second glance.
The whole time I was reading I was waiting and hoping that she makes them grovel and beg for forgiveness and attention and worship her.
But they smell soo good.
As a poly relationship it’s a disservice to have only one pov throughout the story.
I could go on but there was nothing romantic about this book and I can’t even say it was raunchy to make up for it
The title should’ve been Their Toy (because she was) and I think you can only enjoy this if you turn off your mind and pretend it’s completely acceptable to behave like this
I have this theory that the reason most of the recent romance books put out are trash is because the patriarchy is seeping in and authors are catering to a male gaze etc etc. this is not the place for a thesis but my god?
There is a difference between oh yeah we’re “enemies” and I wanna hunch and then it becomes love
If this was meant to be a bully romance where they are stupid and just fucking mean and rude because they have the emotional maturity of a five year old sure I can buy that but why is the transition so??? Out of nowhere
It was just ick after ick and NONE of the love interest actually does anything to make them seem worthy of a second glance.
The whole time I was reading I was waiting and hoping that she makes them grovel and beg for forgiveness and attention and worship her.
But they smell soo good.
As a poly relationship it’s a disservice to have only one pov throughout the story.
I could go on but there was nothing romantic about this book and I can’t even say it was raunchy to make up for it
The title should’ve been Their Toy (because she was) and I think you can only enjoy this if you turn off your mind and pretend it’s completely acceptable to behave like this
September 4, 2023
I stumbled across this author while looking for an apocalyptic romance read. Her book Finders Keepers had been taken off print, so I reached out to her for a copy, and she was nice enough to send it to me. After reading it, I went ahead and just kept on the AJ Merlin train. I loved books one and two of Knot Thier Toy. The omega verse was told differently than any I have read until now. It was fast-paced, kept me entertained, and holy hot chili peppers. I don't want to give away any spoilers - but if you like morally grey(and a little praise kink) with your smuttiness - get it today :)
May 30, 2025
This book was... OK. I did finish it, but I definitely struggled, especially during the last one. There were so many inconsistencies and things that didn't really work. There were also editing/proofreading issues that should have been caught, as well, so I'm wondering if these were even edited by the author. Overall, the story was OK, but there definitely wasn't enough to be 2 books.
Editing-wise, there were multiple instances of missing/extra punctuation and misspelled works. Spellcheck is a thing and has been for over 20+ years. If it was a name or something that was spelled wrong, I get it. Names frequently pop up when spelled correctly, much less incorrectly. But when you have the word Sshe at the beginning of a sentence, it is hard to miss. I saw this type of thing a couple times.
Story-wise, there were so many inconsistencies, too. Was she from Ohio or Chicago? Was it one year or two when Foster was assaulted? So Foster was a sado-masochist, but it never featured or came up anywhere, not even once. What was the point of mentioning it?
I do wish that she actually cut off her mom, especially since she didn't show up for graduation. I would have thought she would have done so a couple years ago, since she found the pack. Plus, it has been 4 years, and none of the guys have met her mom? Yeah, that should be an eye-opener long before graduation.
Then we get to the omegaverse aspect. I kept thinking throughout the duet that it felt like the omegaverse thing was just crammed into a college story. Now that I have finished the book, that's exactly what it is. If you take out the OV part, it doesn't really change anything in the book at all. There is no background or world-building around it, either, so it was just superfluous. It didn't even have most of the features of OV, just them calling each other by designation and having scents. That's about it.
I will not read this book again, and I would not recommend it to others. There needs to be a lot more refinement to a book before it gets published, and this wasn't it.
Editing-wise, there were multiple instances of missing/extra punctuation and misspelled works. Spellcheck is a thing and has been for over 20+ years. If it was a name or something that was spelled wrong, I get it. Names frequently pop up when spelled correctly, much less incorrectly. But when you have the word Sshe at the beginning of a sentence, it is hard to miss. I saw this type of thing a couple times.
Story-wise, there were so many inconsistencies, too. Was she from Ohio or Chicago? Was it one year or two when Foster was assaulted? So Foster was a sado-masochist, but it never featured or came up anywhere, not even once. What was the point of mentioning it?
I do wish that she actually cut off her mom, especially since she didn't show up for graduation. I would have thought she would have done so a couple years ago, since she found the pack. Plus, it has been 4 years, and none of the guys have met her mom? Yeah, that should be an eye-opener long before graduation.
Then we get to the omegaverse aspect. I kept thinking throughout the duet that it felt like the omegaverse thing was just crammed into a college story. Now that I have finished the book, that's exactly what it is. If you take out the OV part, it doesn't really change anything in the book at all. There is no background or world-building around it, either, so it was just superfluous. It didn't even have most of the features of OV, just them calling each other by designation and having scents. That's about it.
I will not read this book again, and I would not recommend it to others. There needs to be a lot more refinement to a book before it gets published, and this wasn't it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2025
🖤Oh, little omega. You don't want to play this game with me. You're not going to win 🐱
This is an omnibus that has both Vile Boys and Wicked Girl. Both of these books were amazing. I love AJ's writing style. Her spice is also top-notch and hot 🔥🔥. I love all the horror aspects and nod to all the OG horror movies as I'm a huge fan of all horror. This was an interesting read as it was an Omegaverse mixed with horror bully.
Vile Boys:
This introduces the FMC Mercy and the MMCs Dorian, August, and Foster. Mercy attends a new college where she ends up getting bullied by all the MMCs. She name drops their pack, which ends up pissing them off. They start to bully and humiliate her, which she takes and gives back. I love their banter and sexual chemistry with each other. Especially the boys 😏🤭🥵. While this is all happening, dead bodies keep showing up around campus. They end up owning her for a period of time, but they all eventually get closer and get along. I loved all 3 MMCs and how their personalities differed from each other. Mercy wasn't weak and held her own against the boys. This ended on a HFN.
Wicked Girl:
This book took right off after the first one. This book focused more on their relationships and spicy times. Holy moly, this book was more spicy and hot 🔥🔥🔥🔥. I loved the MM scenes between the guys 💦🥵😏. I loved seeing their relationships strengthen. I hated Mercy's mother and I'm glad she got a found family of her own 🥹. My favorite guy was Foster. He was so snarky and I loved his little psycho self. Him and Mercy against the other two alphas were great. I loved the epilogue and happy to see them get their HEA.
This is an omnibus that has both Vile Boys and Wicked Girl. Both of these books were amazing. I love AJ's writing style. Her spice is also top-notch and hot 🔥🔥. I love all the horror aspects and nod to all the OG horror movies as I'm a huge fan of all horror. This was an interesting read as it was an Omegaverse mixed with horror bully.
Vile Boys:
This introduces the FMC Mercy and the MMCs Dorian, August, and Foster. Mercy attends a new college where she ends up getting bullied by all the MMCs. She name drops their pack, which ends up pissing them off. They start to bully and humiliate her, which she takes and gives back. I love their banter and sexual chemistry with each other. Especially the boys 😏🤭🥵. While this is all happening, dead bodies keep showing up around campus. They end up owning her for a period of time, but they all eventually get closer and get along. I loved all 3 MMCs and how their personalities differed from each other. Mercy wasn't weak and held her own against the boys. This ended on a HFN.
Wicked Girl:
This book took right off after the first one. This book focused more on their relationships and spicy times. Holy moly, this book was more spicy and hot 🔥🔥🔥🔥. I loved the MM scenes between the guys 💦🥵😏. I loved seeing their relationships strengthen. I hated Mercy's mother and I'm glad she got a found family of her own 🥹. My favorite guy was Foster. He was so snarky and I loved his little psycho self. Him and Mercy against the other two alphas were great. I loved the epilogue and happy to see them get their HEA.
June 23, 2025
Alright, let's talk about A.J. Merlin's Knot Their Toy!
If you're anything like me, you're already a huge fan of Merlin's writing, and this book absolutely delivers on all fronts. From start to finish, I was utterly engrossed.
This book is so good, with a fantastic blend of high tension and undeniable spice that kept me turning pages late into last night. The chemistry between the characters? Oh my goodness, it was palpable from their very first meeting and just continued to simmer and boil, eventually becoming off-the-charts!
Let's talk about the men, because wow. This pack of men were easily my favorite characters. Each one brought something unique to the table, with their own lovable traits that made them stand out. And while they might have their complexities (definitely not red flags in any way), they also have such captivating charm.
Mercy definitely had her struggles navigating Dorian, August, and Foster at first, but once things started to click, their dynamic became explosive in the best possible way.
Seriously, if you're looking for a read that will hook you from the first page and leave you completely satisfied, Knot Their Toy is it. This was an easy 5-star read for me, and I can't recommend it enough!
If you're anything like me, you're already a huge fan of Merlin's writing, and this book absolutely delivers on all fronts. From start to finish, I was utterly engrossed.
This book is so good, with a fantastic blend of high tension and undeniable spice that kept me turning pages late into last night. The chemistry between the characters? Oh my goodness, it was palpable from their very first meeting and just continued to simmer and boil, eventually becoming off-the-charts!
Let's talk about the men, because wow. This pack of men were easily my favorite characters. Each one brought something unique to the table, with their own lovable traits that made them stand out. And while they might have their complexities (definitely not red flags in any way), they also have such captivating charm.
Mercy definitely had her struggles navigating Dorian, August, and Foster at first, but once things started to click, their dynamic became explosive in the best possible way.
Seriously, if you're looking for a read that will hook you from the first page and leave you completely satisfied, Knot Their Toy is it. This was an easy 5-star read for me, and I can't recommend it enough!
June 27, 2024
Y’all color me shocked, because boy did I love this.
Bully romances aren’t really my thing, I think because I’m a giant baby and don’t like when people are being mean for no reason, but thankfully the bully aspect of book one doesn’t last too long, maybe till about 20-30% (don’t quote me on that, I could be wrong) and for the most part the guys did feel bad for some of what they did. I really enjoyed Mercy, and yes at times she did drive me a *little* nuts, but I think it just made her character, and character arc, more compelling. I enjoyed the dudes, though I wish they were a bit more distinct and not so similar when it came to their characters descriptions. Book 2 was really enjoyable and the 2 outside conflicts get resolved quickly so you’re not feeling terrible for Mercy too much bc she definitely gets her lick back.
Overall, really loved this and really loving a lot of Aj’s books, so excited to see what else she comes out with.
Bully romances aren’t really my thing, I think because I’m a giant baby and don’t like when people are being mean for no reason, but thankfully the bully aspect of book one doesn’t last too long, maybe till about 20-30% (don’t quote me on that, I could be wrong) and for the most part the guys did feel bad for some of what they did. I really enjoyed Mercy, and yes at times she did drive me a *little* nuts, but I think it just made her character, and character arc, more compelling. I enjoyed the dudes, though I wish they were a bit more distinct and not so similar when it came to their characters descriptions. Book 2 was really enjoyable and the 2 outside conflicts get resolved quickly so you’re not feeling terrible for Mercy too much bc she definitely gets her lick back.
Overall, really loved this and really loving a lot of Aj’s books, so excited to see what else she comes out with.
April 30, 2026
★ SERIES RECAP ★
ꕀ ✿ Overall Review
The Knot Their Toy series has two books in it, Vile Boys & Wicked Girl. I Picked this series up in 2023 and never gave it a true rating because I didn’t actually start reading books and rating them till later on in the year (or 2024) But I decided to repick this series up a few days ago and let me tell you guys I’m just as obsessed with it as I was when I first read it. Aj Merlin just writes the BEST books and I cannot put them down.
I dont know what it is about their writing style but I eat it up, I absolutely adore their writing style and my favorite character of this book is August 🫶💖
Give this series a try, I GUARANTEE you won’t regret it.
₊˚⊹౨ৎ ₊˚⊹ Ratings
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (4/5)
₊˚⊹౨ৎ ₊˚⊹ Tropes & Themes
- omegaverse
- MMMF
ꕀ ✿ Overall Review
The Knot Their Toy series has two books in it, Vile Boys & Wicked Girl. I Picked this series up in 2023 and never gave it a true rating because I didn’t actually start reading books and rating them till later on in the year (or 2024) But I decided to repick this series up a few days ago and let me tell you guys I’m just as obsessed with it as I was when I first read it. Aj Merlin just writes the BEST books and I cannot put them down.
I dont know what it is about their writing style but I eat it up, I absolutely adore their writing style and my favorite character of this book is August 🫶💖
Give this series a try, I GUARANTEE you won’t regret it.
₊˚⊹౨ৎ ₊˚⊹ Ratings
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (4/5)
₊˚⊹౨ৎ ₊˚⊹ Tropes & Themes
- omegaverse
- MMMF
March 14, 2026
Not great, not terrible. Not a traditional omegaverse society. Book one describes the university setting, the pack that bullies the FMC, and a bizarre series of murders. Book two dives into their budding relationships and touches on another bizarre mystery. I had a hard time liking any of the characters, but I did read most of it.
SPOILERS. I still don't understand why Foster was assaulted or the whole plot about Amelia's pack and her psycho cousin? There's a lot of self monologue, interspersed with slightly deviant sexual games. The alphas' focus on Foster creates more mm than I liked.
SPOILERS. I still don't understand why Foster was assaulted or the whole plot about Amelia's pack and her psycho cousin? There's a lot of self monologue, interspersed with slightly deviant sexual games. The alphas' focus on Foster creates more mm than I liked.
March 27, 2026
I really liked these books. Mercy and the boys were enjoyable to read. The tension and mysteries were easy to figure out in the books even though they tried to build suspense. But, honestly, it didn’t take away from the spice and overall story.
I dropped a star because there were MANY grammatical and spelling issues. At one point in book 1 Mercy is with two of the guys and the names swap from what positions they were in and what they were doing. And many random spelling errors or missing words in sentences.
Otherwise they were quick, enjoyable reads. I would say the light side of dark. But still fun.
I dropped a star because there were MANY grammatical and spelling issues. At one point in book 1 Mercy is with two of the guys and the names swap from what positions they were in and what they were doing. And many random spelling errors or missing words in sentences.
Otherwise they were quick, enjoyable reads. I would say the light side of dark. But still fun.
May 10, 2026
4 ⭐️ 3 🌶️
Loved the dynamic between these characters. Their growth, their personalities & their need to protect their pack.
The strength gained in the FMC (Mercy) was fabulous to read, the way she started out timid & scared, while also being mouthy.. to her transforming into a stronger version of herself, standing up for herself & her pack, and still staying mouthy to her “boys” aka the MMC’s.
August is dreamy… I love his softer side of Alpha male while also being dominant & strong.
Foster is “psycho”, but in the best possible way.
Dorian is the alpha leader in the pack, he’s bossy, dominant & demanding. But he’s so protective for his pack & looks out for them fiercely.
Loved the dynamic between these characters. Their growth, their personalities & their need to protect their pack.
The strength gained in the FMC (Mercy) was fabulous to read, the way she started out timid & scared, while also being mouthy.. to her transforming into a stronger version of herself, standing up for herself & her pack, and still staying mouthy to her “boys” aka the MMC’s.
August is dreamy… I love his softer side of Alpha male while also being dominant & strong.
Foster is “psycho”, but in the best possible way.
Dorian is the alpha leader in the pack, he’s bossy, dominant & demanding. But he’s so protective for his pack & looks out for them fiercely.
April 8, 2025
📚 START: 07/04/25
📚 FINISH: 08/04/25
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚REVIEW📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
It’s was good, decent book, thought when we was heading towards the end it kinda got a little dull and a little boring 🥱. But it was good, interesting characters that’s for sure..I mean I didn’t expect Zara to be a bloodin killer lmao. (So which we got the boys POV tho!)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚FAVE QUOTE📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
“So much that I considered sending August and Foster on a kitten-napping caper in the Midwest just so I could see you when I got back.” - Pg 344
📚 FINISH: 08/04/25
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚REVIEW📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
It’s was good, decent book, thought when we was heading towards the end it kinda got a little dull and a little boring 🥱. But it was good, interesting characters that’s for sure..I mean I didn’t expect Zara to be a bloodin killer lmao. (So which we got the boys POV tho!)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚FAVE QUOTE📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
“So much that I considered sending August and Foster on a kitten-napping caper in the Midwest just so I could see you when I got back.” - Pg 344
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2025
this is hands down my favorite AJ book and my favorite dark omegaverse. this is the book that got me started on my ov kick and will always be a favorite.
I own several editions of it.
I love the dynamics between the fmc and the mmcs. the powerplays and the feelings. this book is dirty, spicy, emotional, and dark in all the best ways.
I felt what the fmc was feeling as I read the book and the imagery was so amazing that I lived it.
if you love ov and dark romance then this is the book for you. you will not regret reading it. this book made me an absolute die hard fan for life
I own several editions of it.
I love the dynamics between the fmc and the mmcs. the powerplays and the feelings. this book is dirty, spicy, emotional, and dark in all the best ways.
I felt what the fmc was feeling as I read the book and the imagery was so amazing that I lived it.
if you love ov and dark romance then this is the book for you. you will not regret reading it. this book made me an absolute die hard fan for life
April 6, 2025
Really well written, sexy and dark. I love how sassy and still dominating the male beta is, and how the two alphas protect their beta and the fmc at all costs. I appreciate that the story is written in a way that I felt like both the beta and the omega were needed to make the pack whole for the two alphas. I've read stories before where it seems like the beta is more loved and cherished, and the omega is just there to produce babies.
FMC is partially deaf so she wears hearing aids
FMC is partially deaf so she wears hearing aids
November 9, 2023
This was such a great duet. I don’t like bully romances. But this author never takes it too far. And I have waiting for them to do something irredeemable and they never did. It was such a great omega verse, and I love the little extra prologue. I will miss these characters. Can’t wait for more from this author.
May 29, 2025
Cuando leí que era un bully romance estuve a punto de dejarlo, porque una cosa es ser gilipollas y otra es ser un criminal. Pero la verdad es que me gustó la evolución de los personajes masculinos, aunque he de decir que me habría gustado que se explorara más la relación que tienen entre ellos, ya que solo se ve en algunas escenas.
January 1, 2026
This is my 1st Omgaverse read and 1st book of AJ that I have read.
The plot was good - I feel like some parts could have been expanded more in detail in the beginning, with the more mysterious murders. Not going to spoil anything.
The steamy bits were really enjoyable. I love the dynamics of the 4 main characters.
I am so happy I found this on Kindle Unlimited.
The plot was good - I feel like some parts could have been expanded more in detail in the beginning, with the more mysterious murders. Not going to spoil anything.
The steamy bits were really enjoyable. I love the dynamics of the 4 main characters.
I am so happy I found this on Kindle Unlimited.
March 18, 2026
3.5
While I did enjoy both novellas and the characters, their dynamics inside the pack; I do feel like I am not suuuuper satisfied with the resolution so abrupt and a bit too easy ? While we get very lengthy slower moments in the plot.
Overall I think I was a good read but definitely not my favorite bully romance / whychoose / omegaverse ever 🤷♀️🫡
While I did enjoy both novellas and the characters, their dynamics inside the pack; I do feel like I am not suuuuper satisfied with the resolution so abrupt and a bit too easy ? While we get very lengthy slower moments in the plot.
Overall I think I was a good read but definitely not my favorite bully romance / whychoose / omegaverse ever 🤷♀️🫡
June 7, 2025
OMG, I binged this book by staying up late so needless to say I went into work with little to no sleep. Love the enemies to Lovers! This little Omega is one brave girl where she will jump in front of bullets, and a big ass bully to save her guys! Loved it!!!
July 3, 2025
Twilight but in the omegaverse
This is the version that twilight fans deserve now that were adults. There's even the mention of the infamous cafeteria scene. Even crappy Renae is in here hahaha. This was perfect
This is the version that twilight fans deserve now that were adults. There's even the mention of the infamous cafeteria scene. Even crappy Renae is in here hahaha. This was perfect
Did Not Finish
December 15, 2025This has fury content in it that I was not expecting. It’s referred to as pet play and the fmc wears a collar, cat ears, cat tail, and meows. I’m not into the fury/ pet play thing so it was a dnf for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2026
Not a huge fan of bully romance so that was not it for me as well as some of the spice just wasn’t my flavor. As far as plot goes there were some inconsistencies and I wish it had a bit more. I still enjoyed it, but it just wasn’t what I normally like in omegaverse. 🤷🏼♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2026
Not a bad story. Good characters. The bullying wasn’t too horrible. There was just enough groveling to be satisfying. A couple of ‘drama’ moments seemed unnecessary or just built up too much for the conclusion it got.
December 25, 2023
Loved everything about this book.
Character back stories, story line, SMUT, sexy parts. Great mix of all things nice.
Not traditional pack and omega storyline and LOVED IT.
Character back stories, story line, SMUT, sexy parts. Great mix of all things nice.
Not traditional pack and omega storyline and LOVED IT.
January 12, 2025
Huh. Could see the plot twists coming from miles away, only someone who wasn't paying the plot any attention could fail to pick up who the killer was. The second book was mostly the FMC doubting why the MMCs would want her. I also wasn't a huge fan of any of the MCs. So meh.
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