Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
An Orc crime Lord. A healer caught between family loyalty and a forbidden soulmate. The twisted threat forcing them to take a final stand.

In hiding from a powerful Fae Lord, an Orc warrior crashes through my front gate, blowing my disguise and triggering the loathed soulbond. I want him, will submit to him, whether I like it or not.

But despite being one of Seanna City’s Three crime bosses, Lord Cythro has honor. He swears to protect me—if I obey.

He’s controlling, possessive, and determined to keep me safe even if it means keeping me captive.

But my enemy circles, and the secrets of my hidden heritage rise up and threaten the peaceful life I’ve built.

It’s time to step out of the shadows.

Even if that means exchanging freedom for an Orc Lord’s chains.

For readers who want a story that unfolds in a richly imagined fantasy world where magical beings, political intrigue, and forbidden romance intertwine, the heroine’s journey marked by her struggle to protect her loved ones while being thrust into power struggles that challenge oppressive social norms.

PLEASE PLEASE TRIPLE CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS AND FOLLOW INTERNAL NAVIGATION TO THE ALTERNATE CHAPTERS IF YOU HAVE TRIGGERS. ALTERNATE CHAPTERS ARE IN THE BACK OF THE BOOK.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 6, 2024

78 people are currently reading
66 people want to read

About the author

Alisyn Fae

34 books61 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
42 (41%)
4 stars
29 (28%)
3 stars
19 (18%)
2 stars
5 (4%)
1 star
6 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for jennifer | offmyredcarpet.
578 reviews47 followers
July 29, 2024
3.5 // The content warning is woefully insufficient and needs the additions of on page rape of the FMC and a side character, implied rape of side characters, on page rape of the FMC with an object, incest, coercion, and contraceptive tampering added to it, among others. Non-con is not descriptive enough as that includes *any* type of behavior this is not consensual; not just sexual.

Really interesting story for this installment in the series. We get more of a peek into the world of the Fae. This one is very dark but the author gives readers an alternative to skip the dark chapters with alternate, lighter ones. I didn’t get much of a connection between the main characters but I still enjoyed them together. The twist of the story as we finally learn the lineage of the FMC’s family and why they are being hunted is fairly riveting. I found the way the author utilized multiple pov while volleying between first for the FMC and third for everyone else to be very clumsy. The transitions are just not smooth.

The ending was rushed and awkward. The FMC is rightly traumatized by her experience and it’s eluded to that she’s deceived via an illusion. No one corrects her experience, which I get the why of it, but that’s going to be interesting for a future installment that features her sister because the illusion will need to be unpacked. Or, I hope it is. But also ten years pass in the epilogue in this book. This part of the story is very messy and unclear. Maybe it will be cleared up when we get Leislah’s book. Still, I enjoy the series and think it worth a read if you like dark scifi fantasy romance.
Profile Image for Karen Nastasio.
2,661 reviews19 followers
March 18, 2024
This book was brilliant and I was hooked right from the very start and yes it has trigger warnings which was fantastic and easy for the read to skip those page but it never took away from the storyline I think it just made it better for me but thats me. Sajena and her family have been hiding as humans in the Fae world using magic and wards but when a fight breaks out between an Orc and a Fae they come crashing through there gates and breaking the spell which was keeping them safe and hidden and now Lord Cythro promises to keep them safe but can they trust him and there secrets but not given much choice they go with him for protection because he is 1 of the 3 Crime Lords of Seanna City but her attraction to him has her wanting to do anything just to be near him. Lord Cythro Oakhorde is a crime boss and when he gets into a fight with a Fae they end up crashing through gates and it soon turns out to be his soul bond mate and he will anything to protect her and her family and wonders why they are hiding as humans and the secrets that surround them but all he cares about is his mate. There is so much more to this story and the world building that takes you on a journey that I for one would like to stay awhile. Love it look forward to many more.
32 reviews
March 8, 2024
Great characters but darker than the previous books

This book was much darker than previous and I'd recommend a check of TWs.
There's an opt out chapter for these, which is generous.
I think overall the story was disjointed and it felt like there were some location and time jumps that were a bit confusing to follow. It was spicy but not particularly romantic, the MMC and FMC have lots of chemistry but I couldn't really see much connection beyond that and this is the loss of the star.
Otherwise I love this authors style and her characters are immortals with actual history - past loves, existing children. It's amazing how rare that is and I appreciate it.
25 reviews
March 6, 2024
This was a confusing book with alternate chapters and a not end at 85% ??

I'm a long time Emma Alisyn fan but I'm not sure about this book. It left me very unsatisfied and not a little disturbed by some of what happened with the h.
Profile Image for Merrin.
1,001 reviews52 followers
July 16, 2024
Way darker than previous installments in ways that I did not vibe with even a little bit. Characterizations were weak. Main female character is dumb as a box of rocks. Also her hemophilia conveniently appears and disappears just as quickly.
Profile Image for Denise.
3,805 reviews
March 5, 2024
Dark version. Very different from the first two stories as there is no sorting. Sajena, along with her mother and sisters, have been using glamour to hide as humans among the Fae. While Sajena has fae heritage from both sides, some of her sisters have fathers who are not fae. Their mother will not speak of who exactly fathered any of them. She also keeps secrets about her own heritage. Sajena is a healer, as is her mother. When a fight between Fae and Orc crashes through her wards and into her yard, everything changes for the family. The next thing she knows, Sajena and her sisters are living in an Orc household and Sajena is falling for the Orc lord - who is also, apparently, her bond male.

Cythro OakHorde has already lost one wife and he is not sure he wants to take a chance on another. But Jena is enticing and determined that she owes him for saving her family, even if he was the cause of the breaking of her wards which exposed her as Fae. Finding out his son is the father of one, about to be two, of Sajena's sisters also gives them a blood tie. Little does he know the trouble this unusual family is about to cause him.

There are alternate chapters for those who want to skip the dark. Read the triggers and decide which you want to read. Sajena's attitude and mental state make the most sense if you read the dark, but maybe you can just imagine what she went through and go with that. I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.
431 reviews2 followers
June 13, 2024
This is the first in the series I have read and I do think it holds up as a stand alone but I get the sense that I would be able to appreciate more of the world building if I had read the others first. The world building in this book is very good and does a good job of filling the gaps that I had not having read the prior books.

I love that this book has the option to skip over the darker pieces because they are definitely dark and very trigger heavy. I read both versions and I think the weight of some of those pieces definitely changed the overall tone. Not in a way that detracts from the overall story but in a way that definitely leaves it all feeling less heavy.

If you choose to skip the darker parts you won't miss any plot and the rest of the story will still make sense.

The dichotomy of Cythro and Sajena makes for an interesting dynamic and the subplot pieces make it slightly taboo but they all work well as a household. I liked that Eslana's viewpoint was added to this. I don't often find books with 3 view points where one of the characters isn't part of the romancing going on.
Profile Image for Darcy.
2,194 reviews24 followers
March 8, 2024
Let’s start off with saying this was an amazing story. I loved it. I read the darker alternate chapters. To me they were not that dark. Now it could be that I am use to reading darker stories but I will say it was all tastefully written. Yes, it does have darker moments and yes, just the thought of these darker moments could be a possible trigger for some. I absolutely loved that Emma Alisyn Fae included both versions in the story as this gives the reader so much freedom to choose. I absolutely loved Cythro and his huge personality with so much protectiveness. Then we have Sajena and she has this heart of gold but yet loves with a fierceness that is seen so easily. I loved their relationship and how they came together as a family. This story was extremely well written and developed. The flow of the story was beautiful. It kept me glued to it as we journeyed alongside these amazing characters. The ending was epic and I truly loved how it turned out. This is definitely a must read and doesn’t disappoint.
Profile Image for Kristin .
553 reviews
March 24, 2024
First off, I'd like to give kudos to author Emma Alisyn Fae. She has done something I feel should be a new trend. Yes, the book has trigger warnings BUT she took it 100 steps farther. She incorporated ALTERNATE CHAPTERS so the readers may choose. BRILLIANT, JUST BRILLIANT!!

I came into this series with this 3rd book. There was enough backstory that this reader didn't feel lost or confused at all. I read the "darker" version and it was tastefully done which impressed me. The plot flows at a wonderful pace. It grabs you and doesn't let go until unfortunately, you're at the end. The characters are well developed and are likable or not depending on if you like good guys or bad guys. The world building is phenomenal and you feel completely immersed.

I patiently await the next book BUT only because I have to. I want to read it now. I will however, go grab books 1 & 2 to read the series properly.

Two thumbs up and one click worthy.
Profile Image for Toni.
2,444 reviews23 followers
April 7, 2024
SAJENA lives in Seanna City. She's a healer. She's also a fae. Her, her mother and sisters have been in hiding from the fae for years. They use magic to cloak themselves. But tonight there is fighting between the orcs and the fae and they come through her magical wards. She fights but loses when one of the fae warriors grabs her to take her back to their territory. She is saved by ...
Lord Cythro. He is surprised to see a fae in his territory but even more so when he realizes they are the healers. Then understands they have hidden behind human masks. But the one he saved draws his interest. So here he is taking the whole lot of them to his place. But Sajena knows one think he doesn't...the yevserayya or fated. She is his. But will he be hers?
Now comes the battle...her independence vs the yevserayya vs orc stubborness. Who will win? Who will lose?
A cute story with a few chuckles thrown in.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,638 reviews14 followers
April 10, 2024
This is a very good story about life, love, pain and faith.
It follows Sajena, her family and how she meets the Orc Lord Cythro.
Sajena is fierce and extremely independent, which cause a lot of sparks as Cythro is very protective. Their dialogue was free flowing and I felt that it sparked on the page.
This is the first book I have read in this series and I didn’t feel that I had missed out by not reader the former books.
I thought that the author was very clever because she gave you the choice to reading the darker storyline or the option or re-routing to the lighter version on specific chapters. At least this was no-one misses out of reading this great story.
I read the darker version, which for me made more sense when you were reading about Sajena’s trauma in later chapters, however I understand why the lighter chapters are a great option if someone has triggers or just prefers the lighter version.
I thought this was a very good story. 5 stars!
174 reviews4 followers
April 17, 2024
So let's start with saying- I havent read books 1&2 as I was told this was a stand alone and didnt need to. So I don't know if reading the other books would have helped with world building and 'how things work'. I found it difficult to follow in the beginning. It didnt help with all of the character introductions all happening in the first few chapters and half of the names I cant pronounce so ended up going back and forth to try and work out who the MC's were.
There wasn't much emotional connection between the MC's but there certainly was a physical one (starts early on). I am a fan of darker content and spice. But I found myself off put by the forced 'displaying' in the first 3rd of the book.
I liked that the author included alternate chapters for people with TW's.
I did like the authors writing style so may go back and read books 1 and 2 and if these help to understand the first part of this book I will update my review.
219 reviews
May 16, 2024
This one is very different from the first two but I enjoyed it. It's very dark and goes into some dark, terrible topics and actions but the storyline was very well written.

Sajena and Cythro have so much chemistry and I'm so glad, even after everything that happened, they were able to work past it and have their happily ever after because it was well deserved. Even if it did takes years. But being immortal, there isn't really the concept of time, is there?

Please, please, please check trigger warnings before this. I also did appreciate that there were alternate versions of the much darker chapters where readers could still enjoy the story but not have to read the darkness if they didn't want to or just couldn't read them.
I read the darker chapters and I felt at the end of the darkness, Lord Pike definitely got what he deserved.

This was a great read, a great storyline and plot, the spice was definitely there, and the characters are amazing!
2,985 reviews19 followers
April 6, 2024
Sajena and her family have been hiding from a powerful Fae Lord all her life, but a skirmish between fae and Lord Cythro will shatter the protections they have built and put them all in danger of discovery. They will soon find out that even though Lord Cythro has moved Sajena, her mother, and her siblings into his home and vowed to protect them that the worst of the Fae Lords will find a way to capture her and the one sister they thought was safe.
The characters are all unique and wonderfully well written. The love story of Sajena and Cythro is not, however, all sunshine and roses. Magic, murder, bloody battles between rivals, and enough plot twists to leave me dizzy. There are warnings by the author about potential triggers that should be taken to heart, but I loved this book. I recommend this book to others.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Profile Image for Gwendolyn Thaggard.
767 reviews2 followers
April 3, 2024
Sajena, her mother, and sisters have been living as humans under glamour.
They must hide their identity to avoid being controlled, manipulated, and abused by male fae
Sajena and her mother are healers.
The family is placed under scrutiny when violence shows up on their doorstep and wipes out their glamour.
With their true nature exposed the family must choose the right protector.

There was an attraction between Jena and Cythro, that from what I read was due to the mate bond- on her end, Cythro had an affection for Jena.
I don't recall love being mentioned until the end of the book.
But they continuously fight like stubborn teenagers- mostly Jena again.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Carole.
2,188 reviews16 followers
April 8, 2024
Orc Lord is an entertaining dark fantasy romance that doesn’t hold back on the dark.
MFC Sajena along with her mother and sisters have been living in Lord OakHordes territory under a human glamour hiding their Fae origins until the day a battle between Orc and Fae comes to their front gate.
Quite the world the author has crafted here along with excellent writing that kept the action, twists, steam, intrigue and surprises at full force, and the romance that arises between Sajena and the Lord himself MMC Cythro on level ten high heat.
What a read!!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Angela.
3,648 reviews16 followers
March 7, 2024
Cythro and Sajena's story contains a very hot, older Orc Lord and a feisty healer Fae. Neither one wants to give up and submit, but some occasions call for a mutual surrender. This story has a few chapters that readers can choose either a lighter path or a darker one - these are clearly marked. I read both just to see the differences. What I liked about this particular story is finding out a little more about the politics behind the leaders. And let's face it, one character receives exactly what he sows so that was very satisfactory.
Profile Image for Raina.
4,230 reviews34 followers
April 7, 2024
I read the darker version of the book. I love that the author makes it very easy to choose if you want a lighter version of certain chapters but keeps the story the same. It really gives the reader a chance to skip triggers but still enjoy a great story. This is the third book of the series. This one is from Sajena’s pov. She is a female that wants to heal and help others. But she also will do what is needed to protect her family. Secrets and lies bring the danger to her door. Only one orc lord may be able to protect them. That is if she stops jumping into trouble.
1,196 reviews
March 12, 2024
Orc Lord (ARC) by Emma Alisyn Fae: 4 stars -
Sajena/Cythro. Genetics, twisted family relationships, loyalties, secrets, dangers, and bonds. A lot going on in this story, with some awful abuses. Good people/bad people.. Wraps up with a very nice HEA, and the promise of more answers in upcoming installments.
—PTators.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3,115 reviews18 followers
March 12, 2024
Wonderful Orc / Fae World!!

This was interesting as it allowed two versions - one a bit darker than the other. I went dark. Orc subjugate females, and Fae cannot lie. A bonding that should not be possible, and family and political issues.

An entertaining new world for the reader, not always fun for those living in it. Family , relationships, and war. Very entertaining.

***** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book *****
Profile Image for Andi Downs.
1,493 reviews13 followers
April 7, 2024
A longer read for me but just as enjoyable, as this author has given us such great characters and a fantastic tale filled with emotion, adventure and a couple who have overcome the obstacles in their path to reach that happy and safe end.
I've been reading and collecting this authors books, for a number of years and always gives us great reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jeanne Mead.
511 reviews4 followers
April 8, 2024
A romance begins against a backdrop of turf wars, hidden family secrets and political protocol that all intertwines to make a fascinating read with dark edges.
I appreciated the choice of alternate chapters which I chose to read.
Lord Cythro and Sajena had much to work through but patience woven with love and understanding made their relationship stronger.
Looking towards what may happen next.
Profile Image for Kimiye Kawashima-Triggs.
Author 1 book3 followers
April 10, 2024
Orc Lord is fast-paced and full of delicious spice! The characters are well developed and easily draw the reader into their world. A good blend of cross-species romance, adventure, steamy vivid spice, and twisted cruel and immoral acts, this book isn't for the faint of heart, but there are alternate soft versions of the most questionable chapters so the story can still be enjoyed without the grit and gore.
Orc Lord can be read as a standalone, without the previous two books in the series.
Profile Image for Leanne Bryson.
5,276 reviews23 followers
April 11, 2024
This was my first book by Alisyn Fae and this was just an OK read for me. The " Alternate Chapters" and the need to navigate were not all that interesting for me. I wasn't all that invested in the characters and overall as far as "dark" content is concerned, it was not all that. Overall a 2 1/2 star read for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
941 reviews1 follower
April 30, 2024
What a captivating tale of love, lust, power and secrets!  Just when you think you've uncovered everything, there's something else that just adds to the overall richness of the story.  It's epic! There's something so appealing to the chemistry and te romance between Cythro and Sajena that draws you in and makes you a part of the adventure. I loved every minute of it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jdotart.
109 reviews
May 12, 2024
I must say having alternative chapters for the truly disturbing bits is a very nice touch as this book is excellent but would definitely damage some people with severe trauma. Amazing comprises that shouldn’t detract from the story. The characters are well written though a tad infuriating at times haha! But all together this is supremely entertaining and handles trauma with understanding… fabulous job!.

4,576 reviews21 followers
March 4, 2024
I enjoyed returning to see to this wild world full of hot Orc and the women they find. And this time get to watch Lord Cythro fall for a Fae. But things are never easy and there is trouble and danger, and secrets. I found it did have some trigger warnings parts (small part that can skip) but the rest made me laugh. Fun characters and enjoyed the story.
Profile Image for Sandra Sanches.
711 reviews21 followers
March 5, 2024
First my praise goes to the author for creating alternative chapters for the dark parts with triggers, I enjoyed them,they give depht to the story.
A tale full of secrets,misteries and danger ,of powerfull villains ,strong alpha protective males and the females are feisty and brainy and far from being damsels in distress.
I enjoyed this story and curious to know more about this author!
Profile Image for Michelle Fortune.
1,719 reviews5 followers
March 17, 2024
Cannot wait for more

I loved each & every minute. I cannot wait to see where the next story will take us and who it will be. You get so engrossed that time just slips away. You feel like you are really there and sometimes wish you were. The details are fantastic in their goriness but fascinating as well. I read both versions so I could see what the differences were.
Profile Image for Lulu Williams.
281 reviews2 followers
April 8, 2024
Love this series . This book is dark steamy and a bit twisted.it kept me on my toes trying to figure out Al. The secrets being withheld. With our heroine battered and bruised our hero helps her heal and cope. She is a fighter a survivor.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews