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Beasts of Gatamora #2
Shadowlands Omega
“I look forward to punishing you, Kiandah.”
“You’re a cruel lord.”
“A hero would have no chance with you, so for you, I will be the villain.”
After burning her church to the ground and throwing her family into the castle dungeons for their treason, Kiandah did not expect to be spared by Lord Yaron, the Berserker Lord who once vowed — and tried — to kill her.
But as Gatamora’s newest ascended omega, and a traitor besides, Yaron finds that Kiandah may be best placed to help him root out the source of the danger encroaching on his territory in the south island. Rumblings of a sinister sort have reached him…rumors of the undead and witches…
The only trouble will be keeping his distance. Shadow Lords do not take ladies, least of all peasants and criminals like Kiandah. But as her power over flame continues to grow stronger and the threat of the undead draws ever nearer, Yaron may have to choose — to succumb to her heat and save Gatamora together, or let it all burn.
“You’re a cruel lord.”
“A hero would have no chance with you, so for you, I will be the villain.”
After burning her church to the ground and throwing her family into the castle dungeons for their treason, Kiandah did not expect to be spared by Lord Yaron, the Berserker Lord who once vowed — and tried — to kill her.
But as Gatamora’s newest ascended omega, and a traitor besides, Yaron finds that Kiandah may be best placed to help him root out the source of the danger encroaching on his territory in the south island. Rumblings of a sinister sort have reached him…rumors of the undead and witches…
The only trouble will be keeping his distance. Shadow Lords do not take ladies, least of all peasants and criminals like Kiandah. But as her power over flame continues to grow stronger and the threat of the undead draws ever nearer, Yaron may have to choose — to succumb to her heat and save Gatamora together, or let it all burn.
528 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2024
185 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Stephens
74 books1,468 followersTop 10 USA Today Bestselling author Elizabeth Stephens writes books where beastly men—or sometimes just beasts—always get the girl.
A full-time hybrid indie and traditionally published author, Elizabeth is best known for her Supers in the City series (Montlake) and her indie works like The Bone King and the Starling and Dark City Omega. In all of her books, readers can expect diverse casts, epic world-building, quests with unexpected twists, and women of color being celebrated loudly, Black and biracial women in particular.
When she isn’t writing, you might find Elizabeth enjoying the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest or traveling and making adventures of her own with her husband, tiny humans, and doggo, King Louis.
A full-time hybrid indie and traditionally published author, Elizabeth is best known for her Supers in the City series (Montlake) and her indie works like The Bone King and the Starling and Dark City Omega. In all of her books, readers can expect diverse casts, epic world-building, quests with unexpected twists, and women of color being celebrated loudly, Black and biracial women in particular.
When she isn’t writing, you might find Elizabeth enjoying the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest or traveling and making adventures of her own with her husband, tiny humans, and doggo, King Louis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
March 16, 2026
4 ⭐️
I knew this book had me the moment the Berserker Shadow Lord ended up crawling for a kitchen girl Omega.
At that point I understood this book was not going to be subtle.
Shadowlands Omega leans fully into its chaos: Alpha/Omega instincts, dangerous power dynamics, political fallout, and a warlord who discovers the most destabilising event of his reign is falling for the one woman he cannot control.
Did it occasionally make me clutch my non-existent pearls? Yes.
Did I have an excellent time anyway? Also yes.
Let's unpack the chaos.
What Worked For Me
(aka: the reasons I kept reading “just one more chapter” at 2am)
Yaron: Berserker Warlord → Devoted Simp
Yaron begins this story as a merciless warlord who solves most problems with violence.
Then he meets Kiandah.
The warlord settings immediately begin malfunctioning.
What I loved most about his arc is that once he realises he wants her, he doesn’t spend half the book denying it. He commits with the energy of a man launching a military campaign.
He’s strategising how to win her family over.
He’s planning his approach to earning her hand.
He’s asking people how to cook so he can feed her.
The brutal Shadow Lord becoming domestic and emotionally vulnerable for one woman?
Inject it directly into my veins.
Kiandah: Power, but make it mercy
Kiandah was such an interesting heroine.
She’s powerful - literally capable of wielding fire - but she refuses to define strength the way Yaron’s world does. Her philosophy that choosing not to harm is its own kind of power adds a really compelling contrast to the brutal hierarchy around her.
She’s not naive or weak either. When she takes control of a situation, she commits.
And yes, the dynamic between her and Yaron includes moments where the feared Shadow Lord of the entire region is… not the one in charge.
Respectfully, we love to see it.
The character dynamics were chef’s kiss
The emotional tension between them works so well because they constantly misunderstand each other’s motivations:
• Yaron thinks he doesn’t deserve her
• Kiandah thinks he doesn’t want her
Meanwhile, the man is rearranging castle logistics, bonding her politically, and planning a future with her like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
The best part is that the story doesn’t trap them in these misunderstandings for half the book. They communicate. When something gets misread, they eventually talk it out instead of letting it fester into a 200-page frustration spiral.
It helps that they genuinely enjoy each other’s company, which made rooting for their HEA incredibly easy.
The dramatic irony? Delicious.
The emotional payoff hits
Once the story moves past the chaotic beginning, the emotional beats start landing really well.
Yaron confronting his guilt.
Kiandah slowly letting herself hope.
The shift from instinct to intentional love.
There are several moments later in the book where the tone softens into something genuinely sweet - which hits harder because of how intense everything was at the start.
What Didn’t Work For Me
(aka: the things keeping this at 4 stars)
The opening is… a lot
The early chapters are extremely intense.
The Alpha/Omega dynamics, the rutting, the violence, the emotional whiplash - it all happens very quickly, and the tone can feel chaotic before the story settles into its emotional core.
If you’re not already comfortable with darker romance tropes, the beginning may feel overwhelming.
The pacing felt inconsistent
The first half of the book moves fast - big developments, huge emotional shifts, intense scenes back to back.
Then later sections slow down significantly as the story shifts into emotional recovery and relationship development.
Neither section is bad on its own, but the contrast can feel a little abrupt.
Some worldbuilding could have been deeper
The Shadowlands setting is fascinating - the hierarchy, the Crimson Riders, the Red Moon Festival - but I occasionally wished we spent a little more time exploring the broader world.
There’s a lot of intriguing political and cultural detail that sometimes sits just out of reach.
Final Thoughts
Shadowlands Omega is the story of a warlord who can conquer armies but finds himself completely undone by one stubborn Omega.
It’s intense, dramatic, occasionally feral, and surprisingly heartfelt once the emotional arc settles in.
The romance works because both characters fundamentally change each other - Kiandah reshapes how Yaron understands power, while Yaron learns that devotion can be stronger than dominance.
Also, any book where a feared Shadow Lord ends up strategising how to win a woman’s heart like it’s a military campaign?
I’m going to have a good time.
Final Verdict
Dark fantasy romance with feral energy, political chaos, and a warlord who discovers love is the one battle he cannot win.
I’d gladly return to the Shadowlands.
Power. Politics. Devotion.
The crawling was only the beginning.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Dark fantasy romance
• Alpha/Omega dynamics
• Berserker warlord hero
• Powerful but compassionate heroine
• Enemies → obsession → devotion
• “Touch her and die” energy
• Power dynamic reversals
• War strategist learns how to court a woman
• Political stakes + romance
• Emotional redemption arc
• Protective, devoted hero
• “I will fight every Alpha for you” vibes
I knew this book had me the moment the Berserker Shadow Lord ended up crawling for a kitchen girl Omega.
At that point I understood this book was not going to be subtle.
Shadowlands Omega leans fully into its chaos: Alpha/Omega instincts, dangerous power dynamics, political fallout, and a warlord who discovers the most destabilising event of his reign is falling for the one woman he cannot control.
Did it occasionally make me clutch my non-existent pearls? Yes.
Did I have an excellent time anyway? Also yes.
Let's unpack the chaos.
What Worked For Me
(aka: the reasons I kept reading “just one more chapter” at 2am)
Yaron: Berserker Warlord → Devoted Simp
Yaron begins this story as a merciless warlord who solves most problems with violence.
Then he meets Kiandah.
The warlord settings immediately begin malfunctioning.
What I loved most about his arc is that once he realises he wants her, he doesn’t spend half the book denying it. He commits with the energy of a man launching a military campaign.
He’s strategising how to win her family over.
He’s planning his approach to earning her hand.
He’s asking people how to cook so he can feed her.
The brutal Shadow Lord becoming domestic and emotionally vulnerable for one woman?
Inject it directly into my veins.
Kiandah: Power, but make it mercy
Kiandah was such an interesting heroine.
She’s powerful - literally capable of wielding fire - but she refuses to define strength the way Yaron’s world does. Her philosophy that choosing not to harm is its own kind of power adds a really compelling contrast to the brutal hierarchy around her.
She’s not naive or weak either. When she takes control of a situation, she commits.
And yes, the dynamic between her and Yaron includes moments where the feared Shadow Lord of the entire region is… not the one in charge.
Respectfully, we love to see it.
The character dynamics were chef’s kiss
The emotional tension between them works so well because they constantly misunderstand each other’s motivations:
• Yaron thinks he doesn’t deserve her
• Kiandah thinks he doesn’t want her
Meanwhile, the man is rearranging castle logistics, bonding her politically, and planning a future with her like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
The best part is that the story doesn’t trap them in these misunderstandings for half the book. They communicate. When something gets misread, they eventually talk it out instead of letting it fester into a 200-page frustration spiral.
It helps that they genuinely enjoy each other’s company, which made rooting for their HEA incredibly easy.
The dramatic irony? Delicious.
The emotional payoff hits
Once the story moves past the chaotic beginning, the emotional beats start landing really well.
Yaron confronting his guilt.
Kiandah slowly letting herself hope.
The shift from instinct to intentional love.
There are several moments later in the book where the tone softens into something genuinely sweet - which hits harder because of how intense everything was at the start.
What Didn’t Work For Me
(aka: the things keeping this at 4 stars)
The opening is… a lot
The early chapters are extremely intense.
The Alpha/Omega dynamics, the rutting, the violence, the emotional whiplash - it all happens very quickly, and the tone can feel chaotic before the story settles into its emotional core.
If you’re not already comfortable with darker romance tropes, the beginning may feel overwhelming.
The pacing felt inconsistent
The first half of the book moves fast - big developments, huge emotional shifts, intense scenes back to back.
Then later sections slow down significantly as the story shifts into emotional recovery and relationship development.
Neither section is bad on its own, but the contrast can feel a little abrupt.
Some worldbuilding could have been deeper
The Shadowlands setting is fascinating - the hierarchy, the Crimson Riders, the Red Moon Festival - but I occasionally wished we spent a little more time exploring the broader world.
There’s a lot of intriguing political and cultural detail that sometimes sits just out of reach.
Final Thoughts
Shadowlands Omega is the story of a warlord who can conquer armies but finds himself completely undone by one stubborn Omega.
It’s intense, dramatic, occasionally feral, and surprisingly heartfelt once the emotional arc settles in.
The romance works because both characters fundamentally change each other - Kiandah reshapes how Yaron understands power, while Yaron learns that devotion can be stronger than dominance.
Also, any book where a feared Shadow Lord ends up strategising how to win a woman’s heart like it’s a military campaign?
I’m going to have a good time.
Final Verdict
Dark fantasy romance with feral energy, political chaos, and a warlord who discovers love is the one battle he cannot win.
I’d gladly return to the Shadowlands.
Power. Politics. Devotion.
The crawling was only the beginning.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Dark fantasy romance
• Alpha/Omega dynamics
• Berserker warlord hero
• Powerful but compassionate heroine
• Enemies → obsession → devotion
• “Touch her and die” energy
• Power dynamic reversals
• War strategist learns how to court a woman
• Political stakes + romance
• Emotional redemption arc
• Protective, devoted hero
• “I will fight every Alpha for you” vibes
March 27, 2024
I'm a simp for this series 😅❤️❤️
March 25, 2024
Rating:
4.7/ 5 ⭐️
3.5/5 🌶
As a huge fan of Elizabeth Stephan, I was thrilled to be an ARC reader for her latest book. From the first page, I was completely hooked and finished it in less than two days – it was impossible to put down!
This is the second book in the Beasts of Gatamora series, following Kiandah (FMC, Omega) and Yaron (MMC, Alpha, and more 😊). It does reference events in the first book, so I recommend starting there. This series has such a unique magic system, a gripping plot, and characters I absolutely adore. I don't want to give away spoilers before the April 18th release, but here's what I loved most:
This relationship is one of my all-time favorites! The way the power dynamic is shared between the characters is incredible, and their chemistry is off the charts. Plus, both MCs being over 30 was such a refreshing change!
I was singing 'I am not my hair' by India.Arie throughout the whole book! I love how Elizabeth weaves such relatable experiences for women, especially those around hair and societal beauty standards (😭I'm not crying, you are!!). It's magnificently done!
'Shadowland Omega' is perfectly paced, with a great mix of action, plot development, and (of course) spice! The spice level is spot-on – enough to keep you engaged without distracting you from the story. Be warned: you might need to find/wake up your significant other!😉😏
The story picks up right where 'Dark City Omega' left off, and the ending sets up the next book perfectly. This book has seriously raised my expectations for what I look for in a read and destroyed the structure of my current rating scale!
I can't recommend 'Shadowland Omega' highly enough. I'm so grateful I got to share my thoughts, and now I'll be desperately searching for another book that gives me the same 'book buzz' as this one.
4.7/ 5 ⭐️
3.5/5 🌶
As a huge fan of Elizabeth Stephan, I was thrilled to be an ARC reader for her latest book. From the first page, I was completely hooked and finished it in less than two days – it was impossible to put down!
This is the second book in the Beasts of Gatamora series, following Kiandah (FMC, Omega) and Yaron (MMC, Alpha, and more 😊). It does reference events in the first book, so I recommend starting there. This series has such a unique magic system, a gripping plot, and characters I absolutely adore. I don't want to give away spoilers before the April 18th release, but here's what I loved most:
This relationship is one of my all-time favorites! The way the power dynamic is shared between the characters is incredible, and their chemistry is off the charts. Plus, both MCs being over 30 was such a refreshing change!
I was singing 'I am not my hair' by India.Arie throughout the whole book! I love how Elizabeth weaves such relatable experiences for women, especially those around hair and societal beauty standards (😭I'm not crying, you are!!). It's magnificently done!
'Shadowland Omega' is perfectly paced, with a great mix of action, plot development, and (of course) spice! The spice level is spot-on – enough to keep you engaged without distracting you from the story. Be warned: you might need to find/wake up your significant other!😉😏
The story picks up right where 'Dark City Omega' left off, and the ending sets up the next book perfectly. This book has seriously raised my expectations for what I look for in a read and destroyed the structure of my current rating scale!
I can't recommend 'Shadowland Omega' highly enough. I'm so grateful I got to share my thoughts, and now I'll be desperately searching for another book that gives me the same 'book buzz' as this one.
April 16, 2024
This was so good!! I loved the characters and world-building and am so grateful to have received an advanced copy because I found it hard to put it down.
Kiandah and Yaron have a complex and layered relationship, and their banter is amazing. I love the push and pull between the two. They’re messy and complicated and perfect for each other. And Yaron being a tough alpha who also likes being called a “good boy” by Kiandah – well, it’s super swoon-worthy and spicy and fabulous.
The world-building is amazing, too, and how the story and world connect to the first book. I’m really curious to see where the overarching plot is headed, but most of all, I’m looking forward to another delicious romance because this series is dark dystopian swoon-tasticness!
Kiandah and Yaron have a complex and layered relationship, and their banter is amazing. I love the push and pull between the two. They’re messy and complicated and perfect for each other. And Yaron being a tough alpha who also likes being called a “good boy” by Kiandah – well, it’s super swoon-worthy and spicy and fabulous.
The world-building is amazing, too, and how the story and world connect to the first book. I’m really curious to see where the overarching plot is headed, but most of all, I’m looking forward to another delicious romance because this series is dark dystopian swoon-tasticness!
April 30, 2024
I’m so torn!!
Listen…I was struggling with this book. I don’t think k I’ve yelled so much at my Kindle before embarking on this journey of reading this book. Actually, no. I have yelled at others, and it’s not even the book itself that pissed me off. The story was quite good (of course). E. Stephens doesn’t miss for me when it comes to stories. HOWEVER, Kiandah—the Hh of this story? Baby, I’ve never nearly DNF’ed a story by this author before, but in the early stages, I honestly almost abandoned ship. Because if it’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a damsel in distress. And Kia is the epitome of the euphemism.
Forever running out into stupid situations armed only with her bleeding heart and nothing else. She’s brave to the point of being an idiot…I’m sorry, but she is. Every situation she got in was avoidable or made absolutely no sense given the circumstances. And then to try to have us believe that Lord Yaron, the stoic male we met in the first book, would bow to her is WILD. Her personality was way too inconsistent. She got the gumption to bring L.Y. to his knees, but in the next moment, can’t save herself from getting pig dookie thrown on her? Like, no. Just no. She’s all-powerful to wipe out a horde of mfs, but three seconds ago, you weren’t even fighting to save your own life, or the lives of your loved ones, yet begging some broad you just met—that prolly would have murdered you given a chance— not to take her own life? Dude, her priorities were too jacked up for my liking. She supposedly did everything from a place of love, but then when free someone who was a catalyst for the ruin of your family and the reason other innocents died?! Kia was a liability, and idk how Yaron could see her as anything but that. Her bleeding heart causes her to make idiotic moves that make no sense for a person as calculated as him to be willing to look past. So, their relationship was not really clicking for me. Kia had a lot of potential, but making her an idiot didn’t work and left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.
The last battle could have been so dope if I wasn’t so irritated with how Kia went from meek and basic to Flame Princess at neck-breaking and eye-rolling speeds. I love Yaron and really wish he would have gotten a more “realistic” mate.
I know I’m in the minority here, and though I liked this story better…Echo is still my fave Fallen Omega.
P.S.
I know the next story is about Noon and…gah I hate saying this but I’m gonna — Noon is not a POC. And though that shouldn’t matter, it does to me. In a sea of books where the female leads are all “fair maidens” this author has been the one I can count on for black heroine’s and great writing. So I’m kinda disappointed to see that we won’t be getting that in this next book(well the great writing will still be there). Am I gonna read it? Of course. But I’m kinda sad about that part.
Listen…I was struggling with this book. I don’t think k I’ve yelled so much at my Kindle before embarking on this journey of reading this book. Actually, no. I have yelled at others, and it’s not even the book itself that pissed me off. The story was quite good (of course). E. Stephens doesn’t miss for me when it comes to stories. HOWEVER, Kiandah—the Hh of this story? Baby, I’ve never nearly DNF’ed a story by this author before, but in the early stages, I honestly almost abandoned ship. Because if it’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a damsel in distress. And Kia is the epitome of the euphemism.
Forever running out into stupid situations armed only with her bleeding heart and nothing else. She’s brave to the point of being an idiot…I’m sorry, but she is. Every situation she got in was avoidable or made absolutely no sense given the circumstances. And then to try to have us believe that Lord Yaron, the stoic male we met in the first book, would bow to her is WILD. Her personality was way too inconsistent. She got the gumption to bring L.Y. to his knees, but in the next moment, can’t save herself from getting pig dookie thrown on her? Like, no. Just no. She’s all-powerful to wipe out a horde of mfs, but three seconds ago, you weren’t even fighting to save your own life, or the lives of your loved ones, yet begging some broad you just met—that prolly would have murdered you given a chance— not to take her own life? Dude, her priorities were too jacked up for my liking. She supposedly did everything from a place of love, but then when free someone who was a catalyst for the ruin of your family and the reason other innocents died?! Kia was a liability, and idk how Yaron could see her as anything but that. Her bleeding heart causes her to make idiotic moves that make no sense for a person as calculated as him to be willing to look past. So, their relationship was not really clicking for me. Kia had a lot of potential, but making her an idiot didn’t work and left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.
The last battle could have been so dope if I wasn’t so irritated with how Kia went from meek and basic to Flame Princess at neck-breaking and eye-rolling speeds. I love Yaron and really wish he would have gotten a more “realistic” mate.
I know I’m in the minority here, and though I liked this story better…Echo is still my fave Fallen Omega.
P.S.
I know the next story is about Noon and…gah I hate saying this but I’m gonna — Noon is not a POC. And though that shouldn’t matter, it does to me. In a sea of books where the female leads are all “fair maidens” this author has been the one I can count on for black heroine’s and great writing. So I’m kinda disappointed to see that we won’t be getting that in this next book(well the great writing will still be there). Am I gonna read it? Of course. But I’m kinda sad about that part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2024
5 "Burn, Omega, burn" Stars!
Elizabeth Stephens has done it again. No one else can take me on such a wild crazy ride and I absolutely love every minute of it. This was the ultimate enemies to lovers story. Almost right away, there was such a huge conflict between our main characters, I was sucked right in just to see how they would over come this. But not long later, the brutal, stoic, untouchable warrior Lord Yaron was literally brought to his knees by Kiandah, the loving, kind omega that has him burning for her.
This was a fast paced wild ride. I absolutely loved everything about this story. The world building and conflict was established in book one, Dark City Omega. This picks right up from the end DCO and takes it even higher. I won't give too much away. I will say this is on the dark side. No worries, not too dark because I don't like that. And also, the spice was SPICING!
If you are an Elizabeth Stephens fan, this one is a must read. It was on par with Lord of Population for me, which is my favorite. "Burn, Omega, burn"! Happy reading!
Elizabeth Stephens has done it again. No one else can take me on such a wild crazy ride and I absolutely love every minute of it. This was the ultimate enemies to lovers story. Almost right away, there was such a huge conflict between our main characters, I was sucked right in just to see how they would over come this. But not long later, the brutal, stoic, untouchable warrior Lord Yaron was literally brought to his knees by Kiandah, the loving, kind omega that has him burning for her.
This was a fast paced wild ride. I absolutely loved everything about this story. The world building and conflict was established in book one, Dark City Omega. This picks right up from the end DCO and takes it even higher. I won't give too much away. I will say this is on the dark side. No worries, not too dark because I don't like that. And also, the spice was SPICING!
If you are an Elizabeth Stephens fan, this one is a must read. It was on par with Lord of Population for me, which is my favorite. "Burn, Omega, burn"! Happy reading!
June 25, 2024
Meh, it was alright.
While I really enjoy the Taken series by this author, I don't think this series is for me.
While I really enjoy the Taken series by this author, I don't think this series is for me.
July 15, 2025
okieeeee so i loved the plot actually!! the plot was plotting…🤏🏾 it was a first time reading this type of dynamic but i didn’t mind it really :) i really like this world and where the story is going like im invested fr this story just went a bit slow at times but i still ate up even the slower moments :D i can’t wait for the next one XD
April 18, 2024
4.5
An alpha lord, who kneels like a good boy - yes please. I love when the captor becomes the captive. Yaron is hell-bent on protecting and avenging the alphas in his region. I just wasn’t expecting him to be bent over in his beastly form, and crawling to the omega he came to kill. The dynamic between them was a balance of power and dominance.
The second installment in the Gatamora series, did not disappoint. The aftermath of the first book is headed to the Shadowlands, and Yaron is tasked with punishing those who have aided his enemies. However, he doesn’t know if Kiandah is among the culprits.
I enjoyed Kiandah’s characterization. In this book, she is wrestling with her bond to family. Yaron’s leadership is enriched by her tenuous familial ties and full identity. Oh, and the inclusion of a woman’s relationship with her hair care completely took me out. I just loved the communication and acts of care between them. Yaron was in full command of his region willing to only bow for her. I’m smitten with how far gone he was for her.
This was also action packed with vibrant magic on the page. The lore continues, and I’m sat for the remainder of the series.
Purrs and Praise
*** I received a physical arc in exchange for my honest review**
An alpha lord, who kneels like a good boy - yes please. I love when the captor becomes the captive. Yaron is hell-bent on protecting and avenging the alphas in his region. I just wasn’t expecting him to be bent over in his beastly form, and crawling to the omega he came to kill. The dynamic between them was a balance of power and dominance.
The second installment in the Gatamora series, did not disappoint. The aftermath of the first book is headed to the Shadowlands, and Yaron is tasked with punishing those who have aided his enemies. However, he doesn’t know if Kiandah is among the culprits.
I enjoyed Kiandah’s characterization. In this book, she is wrestling with her bond to family. Yaron’s leadership is enriched by her tenuous familial ties and full identity. Oh, and the inclusion of a woman’s relationship with her hair care completely took me out. I just loved the communication and acts of care between them. Yaron was in full command of his region willing to only bow for her. I’m smitten with how far gone he was for her.
This was also action packed with vibrant magic on the page. The lore continues, and I’m sat for the remainder of the series.
Purrs and Praise
*** I received a physical arc in exchange for my honest review**
April 29, 2024
I'm totally here for the Beast of Gatamora and his Omega, and I have no idea what's happening in the plot of this book. The broader plot that's underpinning this series is kind of lost on me right now, and I felt dumb while I was reading it. I think it's a combination of not wanting to track such a world scale plot with twists and turns, and also the author not doing the best job of grounding what is happening in the story. There were a few times where I could tell I was supposed to be shocked or dismayed about what just happened, but honestly didn't know what the significance was because the side characters all blurred together. And the politics of everything are messy and complicated, and I just wanted to see Yaron and Kiandah together more. I loved every little bit of their dynamic, from his submission to her journey to separate herself from her family while still loving them.
There is a lot to like here, and I'm going to keep going with the series, but I don't understand what's going on.
There is a lot to like here, and I'm going to keep going with the series, but I don't understand what's going on.
April 21, 2024
That was hot.
An older FMC? A king on his knees? Twists? Turns? Spice? This book has it all. I devoured this book and know I will be re-reading time and time again. Elizabeth Stevens has a talent for creating rich and deep characters who you feel you know and love by the end of the book. An incredible love story that fits perfectly with the arcing plot is not an easy task to take on, but Stephen’s does it with precision and passion. I am already counting down the days until the next installment.
An older FMC? A king on his knees? Twists? Turns? Spice? This book has it all. I devoured this book and know I will be re-reading time and time again. Elizabeth Stevens has a talent for creating rich and deep characters who you feel you know and love by the end of the book. An incredible love story that fits perfectly with the arcing plot is not an easy task to take on, but Stephen’s does it with precision and passion. I am already counting down the days until the next installment.
April 23, 2024
This is for the girlies that love to make a strong man crawl for her. And the man who does it eagerly.
Love this continuation of the series. It deserves the hype and I can’t wait to continue the story.
Love this continuation of the series. It deserves the hype and I can’t wait to continue the story.
January 12, 2025
My boy Yaron is completely unhinged for Kiandah and I am so here for it!!
Major “touch her you die” “who hurt you?!??” Energy and I loved it! I loved all of it!
The audiobook was fantastic!
Major “touch her you die” “who hurt you?!??” Energy and I loved it! I loved all of it!
The audiobook was fantastic!
July 24, 2024
Personally I liked it better than the first! 4.5 stars.
January 1, 2025
“For you, I will be the villain, A hero would have no chance with you”
That’s it. That’s the tweet.
That’s it. That’s the tweet.
May 4, 2024
It’s a rare thing. For a reader’s favorite author to write a book that just isn’t for them as a reader. I never expected it with this series especially but here we are.
I really couldn’t figure out how to express my thoughts and feelings without some long diatribe and point by point spoiler heavy dissertation. So this is what I settled on.
I’ve been sitting on this review for a while because I just couldn’t process that an author whose work I enjoy so much wrote a book I honestly, hated. From the plot, not picking up from where book 1 left off, the way events that didn’t take place in page where glossed over, to the bare bones of information about the world, to the significant difference in Berserk and Omega behavior and attributes from the first book, to Kia hitting every one of personal pet peeves in FMC archetypes. So I will be honest and say that my lack of enjoyment in this book was based on a lot of personal preferences. But also this just didn’t read like the Elizabeth Stephen’s books I’ve read. And since I don’t have any interest in go point by point and discuss all the choices and examples of things that I didn’t like or that didn’t make sense based on things from book 1 (which I’m currently listening to on audio and it’s even freaking better than I remember) because that feels unnecessary. Will I remain a loyal Beast of Gatamore stan, without a doubt! Do I still think Stephen’s is one of the most gifted writers out, hell yes! Will I be pretending this book was never written for both my sanity and peace of mind, you bet your sweet peach!
I really couldn’t figure out how to express my thoughts and feelings without some long diatribe and point by point spoiler heavy dissertation. So this is what I settled on.
I’ve been sitting on this review for a while because I just couldn’t process that an author whose work I enjoy so much wrote a book I honestly, hated. From the plot, not picking up from where book 1 left off, the way events that didn’t take place in page where glossed over, to the bare bones of information about the world, to the significant difference in Berserk and Omega behavior and attributes from the first book, to Kia hitting every one of personal pet peeves in FMC archetypes. So I will be honest and say that my lack of enjoyment in this book was based on a lot of personal preferences. But also this just didn’t read like the Elizabeth Stephen’s books I’ve read. And since I don’t have any interest in go point by point and discuss all the choices and examples of things that I didn’t like or that didn’t make sense based on things from book 1 (which I’m currently listening to on audio and it’s even freaking better than I remember) because that feels unnecessary. Will I remain a loyal Beast of Gatamore stan, without a doubt! Do I still think Stephen’s is one of the most gifted writers out, hell yes! Will I be pretending this book was never written for both my sanity and peace of mind, you bet your sweet peach!
April 19, 2024
I was really excited for this next book but I think I over hyped myself over it. It was okay. The smut was okay.
The chemistry between Kiandah and Yaron felt kind of forced. Like he went from this intense hate to them being intimate and all of the sudden he practically loves her. I felt they didn’t have real conversations, in learning much about each other. Just things that normally make you love someone. Yeah we learn that Kiandah basically loved him before the book started but to be honest, that wasn’t really love. Maybe lust with a bit of respect.
I don’t know. I didn’t really vibe with Kiandah. Other than her love for family, being nice, and being dominate during sex, I felt she didn’t really have a personality.
I’m still curious and what to read the next books in the series. This one just didn’t hit for me completely. But it was a an okay read.
The chemistry between Kiandah and Yaron felt kind of forced. Like he went from this intense hate to them being intimate and all of the sudden he practically loves her. I felt they didn’t have real conversations, in learning much about each other. Just things that normally make you love someone. Yeah we learn that Kiandah basically loved him before the book started but to be honest, that wasn’t really love. Maybe lust with a bit of respect.
I don’t know. I didn’t really vibe with Kiandah. Other than her love for family, being nice, and being dominate during sex, I felt she didn’t really have a personality.
I’m still curious and what to read the next books in the series. This one just didn’t hit for me completely. But it was a an okay read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2024
Kiandah was definitely on some bald head hoe shit (jk) but Ive never been so sad to finish a book before.
February 13, 2025
“Don’t call me Lord, Kiandah.”
Let me lie to myself again that this is the short review, I'll do a detailed one later.
I start-stopped this book 3 times until a few days ago when I was finally able to get past the initial church burning chapters. Those chapters irritated me because the story was starting off with repetition; the burning from her perspective, the burning from his perspective and motivations.
Then we get to her family. I'll be the first person to say your day one family members over the boyfriend but good, golly, gosh, Golgotha, her willingness to ride for them (quite literally), no matter what, was annoying as fuck.
Then, you know in the back of your head if you come from a sizeable family you know there's the sporty one, the smart one, the joker, the beauty etc; Audet being the jealous princess was also so annoying but on brand for last born always gets what they want behaviour.
Another reviewer mentioned it, the whole who-needs-to-die-in-this-series part of the story was too much. I had honestly forgotten most of the characters and then, for example, I thought we'd left Noon free by the end of book 1, I'll go back and check but I thought I'd even guessed she'd have book 2, but now in this story she was captured???? By book 3 we need a legend of who is what, and a map of where we are and what this region has. Owenna was in book 1 but you'd not easily make the connection in this story.
Because that was another thing. There's technology but people don't use it in Shadowlands but the Northlands are all ipad people? Mentions of Kia not having a bra on then on another page she has pantaloons on were confusing.
Heh, the miscommunication trope between Kia+Yarron made me want to slap some people, but most of the time it was Kia. She acted way too naively at times for a 34 year old and instead of stopping, trusting her initial gut and talking to Yarron, she was galavanting into danger all in the name of I'm saving somebody. Ptho!
The femdom/power exchange dynamics between Kia+Yarron were a highlight of this story. Smut, but smut written for a black character e.g.
...in nipples that look inky and black in this light.was such a delight to read. The description in meals and even clothes having the option of batiks, not just general fabric, we're a delight to read. Hair being coiled, braids, a delight to read. Until the part where now it was being repeated over and over.
There's the chapter where we see Yarron The Lord of the land and it is beautiful. (Lashes of the whip chapter). There's the chapter where Kia gathers information via udaku (gossip)/shop negotiations and that was also so well written.
Anyway, I enjoyed some parts of this story, others I did not, but I still want more from the series.
April 16, 2024
Check trigger warnings on the author's website!
Omg this was 5 freaking stars!! Like, i really liked book 1, but I LOVED this book!! The main couple, the continued worldbuilding, and the action!??!!! Oh, I wasn't just seated. I was cemented to the chair!! I stayed up till 2am to finish this, like the pacing was so good.
Kiandah was such a sweet but strong character who really gained a lot of confidence throughout the book, which i loved while still getting jealous or insecure and reassuring herself. Also, i loved her familys dynamic despite all the crao they kinda put her through it all worked out in the end. I would've loved to see her practice her powers more but the moments she did use it were so cool and even when didn't use her powers, the reasons she gave really made sense with her personality. But omg Kia might be a softie outside the room but she's not inside the bedroom and that's all I'll say!!
Yaron was so crazy but in a loveable type of way. Like yes, he was giving psychotic but also calculating and like he was a few steps ahead of others. I really enjoyed reading his pov, especially since he really tried to act like he wasn't obsessed with Kia immediately. Also, he's definitely a "touch her, and you die" guy, like people did, in fact, die LOL, but he's a man of his word. And he was such a simp for Kia like she could literally sink a ship and he'd be like yeah needed to get rid of that anyway thanks honey.
Also, like the first couple, this couple definitely gets rough with each other, too, but their moments together are still very swoony or heartwarming! Also spicy!!! Like the sex scenes were chefs kiss like this author knows how to keep me ENGAGED.
The world building was so good like i enjoyed how much we got to see of the shadow lands while we didnt get to see as much of dark city since a majority of the story didnt take place throughout the city, i really enjoyed how everything was described. I also just think it's very funny that Shadow Lands is strictly horse and buggy country when tech definitely exists. I think that also helped set the mood.
I feel like one of my favorite moments was the unrealiable narrortor section!? Omg i literally had to reverse and reread.
I love the continuation of the zombie alpha army and the fates and trying to take them down. Im so interested to see what will happen in the next book cause the teaser had me like GASP!!
Im so excited for this series to continue, and i love it so much!! Like, im in this till the end!
*i received an ARC from the author for an honest review
Also, the nsfw art prints the physical comes with are amazing. Like im so grateful!
Omg this was 5 freaking stars!! Like, i really liked book 1, but I LOVED this book!! The main couple, the continued worldbuilding, and the action!??!!! Oh, I wasn't just seated. I was cemented to the chair!! I stayed up till 2am to finish this, like the pacing was so good.
Kiandah was such a sweet but strong character who really gained a lot of confidence throughout the book, which i loved while still getting jealous or insecure and reassuring herself. Also, i loved her familys dynamic despite all the crao they kinda put her through it all worked out in the end. I would've loved to see her practice her powers more but the moments she did use it were so cool and even when didn't use her powers, the reasons she gave really made sense with her personality. But omg Kia might be a softie outside the room but she's not inside the bedroom and that's all I'll say!!
Yaron was so crazy but in a loveable type of way. Like yes, he was giving psychotic but also calculating and like he was a few steps ahead of others. I really enjoyed reading his pov, especially since he really tried to act like he wasn't obsessed with Kia immediately. Also, he's definitely a "touch her, and you die" guy, like people did, in fact, die LOL, but he's a man of his word. And he was such a simp for Kia like she could literally sink a ship and he'd be like yeah needed to get rid of that anyway thanks honey.
Also, like the first couple, this couple definitely gets rough with each other, too, but their moments together are still very swoony or heartwarming! Also spicy!!! Like the sex scenes were chefs kiss like this author knows how to keep me ENGAGED.
The world building was so good like i enjoyed how much we got to see of the shadow lands while we didnt get to see as much of dark city since a majority of the story didnt take place throughout the city, i really enjoyed how everything was described. I also just think it's very funny that Shadow Lands is strictly horse and buggy country when tech definitely exists. I think that also helped set the mood.
I feel like one of my favorite moments was the unrealiable narrortor section!? Omg i literally had to reverse and reread.
I love the continuation of the zombie alpha army and the fates and trying to take them down. Im so interested to see what will happen in the next book cause the teaser had me like GASP!!
Im so excited for this series to continue, and i love it so much!! Like, im in this till the end!
*i received an ARC from the author for an honest review
Also, the nsfw art prints the physical comes with are amazing. Like im so grateful!
April 18, 2024
Shadowlands Omega by Elizabeth Stephens is book 2 in the Beasts of Gatamora standalone series. It takes place right after book 1, Dark City Omega, but with different characters.
This one follows a Berserker Lord out to unalive a traitor Omega but instead finds her skills useful. But keeping her alive means having to deal with her in heat. Yes, you read that correctly!
Shadowlands Omega was such a fun read. I absolutely loved the main characters. You would think the Berserker Lord had all the power, but definitely not! The Omega had him wrapped around her finger. So yes, it's a great enemies to lovers and had great spice.
The one thing you can always count on with this author is an HEA, but the tension and angst on the way will keep you on the edge of your seat! It had great pacing and action. I enjoyed every second of this omegaverse!
This one follows a Berserker Lord out to unalive a traitor Omega but instead finds her skills useful. But keeping her alive means having to deal with her in heat. Yes, you read that correctly!
Shadowlands Omega was such a fun read. I absolutely loved the main characters. You would think the Berserker Lord had all the power, but definitely not! The Omega had him wrapped around her finger. So yes, it's a great enemies to lovers and had great spice.
The one thing you can always count on with this author is an HEA, but the tension and angst on the way will keep you on the edge of your seat! It had great pacing and action. I enjoyed every second of this omegaverse!
August 17, 2025
This book was set in the same world as book 1, and had the same type of berserker/omega pairing, but wholly stood on its own.
Kiandah and Yaron meet when her family is accused of doing treasonous things against the rulers of their society. Yaron, an alpha ruler, has a duty to punish them, so he and Kiandah are immediately at odds. But Yaron? He's pretty quickly smitten with Kiandah. Lead partly by mating instinct, this man can't get enough of her.
Through their adversity, I love how these two connect. He wants and physically craves her, and she's intrigued by his power, by her role in his life, and by how this powerful man bows down for her. I think that was my favorite part of this book...how he just can't help but submit to her. At the beginning, I would never have guessed that, but I love his this author twisted this story into something forbidden and delicious.
Kiandah and Yaron meet when her family is accused of doing treasonous things against the rulers of their society. Yaron, an alpha ruler, has a duty to punish them, so he and Kiandah are immediately at odds. But Yaron? He's pretty quickly smitten with Kiandah. Lead partly by mating instinct, this man can't get enough of her.
Through their adversity, I love how these two connect. He wants and physically craves her, and she's intrigued by his power, by her role in his life, and by how this powerful man bows down for her. I think that was my favorite part of this book...how he just can't help but submit to her. At the beginning, I would never have guessed that, but I love his this author twisted this story into something forbidden and delicious.
April 21, 2024
As soon as you start reading this you are going to get sucked into this story! I loved the world building and especially loved the opening scene with Kiandah and her family. I had no idea where this story was going! I thought the alpha/omega relationships were unique and I loved the magic element too!
Kiandah and Yaron have this immediate and delicious chemistry…but also hate each other at the same time and this leads to some amazing banter! These characters are a little older, which I loved!
No spoilers but someone likes to be called a good boy and there is crawling involved!
I am really excited to see where this story goes! If you are someone who hasn’t read an omegaverse before and love dark fantasy definitely give this a read!
✨Genre/Tropes
🔥Dark Fantasy Romance
🔥Omegaverse
🔥Berserker Lord
🔥”Good Boy”
🔥Enemies to Lovers
🔥Forced Proximity
🔥Alphahole MMC
🔥She Makes Him Crawl
🔥She Has Magic
Kiandah and Yaron have this immediate and delicious chemistry…but also hate each other at the same time and this leads to some amazing banter! These characters are a little older, which I loved!
No spoilers but someone likes to be called a good boy and there is crawling involved!
I am really excited to see where this story goes! If you are someone who hasn’t read an omegaverse before and love dark fantasy definitely give this a read!
✨Genre/Tropes
🔥Dark Fantasy Romance
🔥Omegaverse
🔥Berserker Lord
🔥”Good Boy”
🔥Enemies to Lovers
🔥Forced Proximity
🔥Alphahole MMC
🔥She Makes Him Crawl
🔥She Has Magic
April 1, 2024
4.5 ⭐
Standalone (with tie in to first book), unique magic, great characters and exciting plot!
Beautiful storyline with characters over 30, a stunning and powerful woman of color FMC, a dynamic relationship and empowerment. This is my first book from this author and I am impressed! The plot pacing was great and kept me interested in whatever came next. I will be going back and reading Dark City Omega now for sure! I loved these characters, all of them. They each felt genuine and well developed. The spice was sprinkled in and it was spicy. This was a very unique alpha/omega style, and I enjoyed it when I typically don’t love alpha/omega stories. Well done. There’s treason, betrayal and lies too to get your heart racing and palms sweaty. Definitely a fun and enthralling read!
Standalone (with tie in to first book), unique magic, great characters and exciting plot!
Beautiful storyline with characters over 30, a stunning and powerful woman of color FMC, a dynamic relationship and empowerment. This is my first book from this author and I am impressed! The plot pacing was great and kept me interested in whatever came next. I will be going back and reading Dark City Omega now for sure! I loved these characters, all of them. They each felt genuine and well developed. The spice was sprinkled in and it was spicy. This was a very unique alpha/omega style, and I enjoyed it when I typically don’t love alpha/omega stories. Well done. There’s treason, betrayal and lies too to get your heart racing and palms sweaty. Definitely a fun and enthralling read!
April 22, 2024
Shadowlands Omega follows Yaron, berserker alpha of the Shadowlands whom readers first met in Dark City Omega, and Kandiah, a woman who presents as omega late in life and happens to be on of his cooks. Their relationship starts off very rocky as Yaron is hunting down her family and planning to kill all of them for transporting and potentially killing alphas in his domain and giving them to the vigilantes of Trash City. However, when Yaron realizes Kandiah’s omega status, he immediately wants her for himself.
Elizabeth Stephen’s strength in this story lies in her mysterious fantastical world and her strong female main characters. I found this world intriguing and I kept reading wanting to find out more. Also Kandiah is a badass who isn’t going to let an alpha berserker and ruler get in the way of what she wants and saving her family.
However, I did feel that this book missed its mark as compared to the first installment of this series. Kandiah and Yaron’s dynamic confused me. In the bedroom they had a bit of role reversal with Kandiah dominating Yaron. Which completely goes against their biological urges as omega and alpha. While I find the idea of a dominant omega intriguing, I wish this could have been explained better. I wanted more insight into why Kandiah wanted to dominate and likewise for Yaron’s character. I also felt that their relationship was very insta-lust to insta-love. Them falling in love didn’t make sense to me especially with how brutal and awful he was to her family. I wish there had been more development on their relationship.
Overall, I was a bit disappointed in this book especially considering how much I liked Dark City Omega. I found myself getting bored and wanting to read other books i stead of finishing this one. I’m holding out hope that I will enjoy book 3 better than this one.
Elizabeth Stephen’s strength in this story lies in her mysterious fantastical world and her strong female main characters. I found this world intriguing and I kept reading wanting to find out more. Also Kandiah is a badass who isn’t going to let an alpha berserker and ruler get in the way of what she wants and saving her family.
However, I did feel that this book missed its mark as compared to the first installment of this series. Kandiah and Yaron’s dynamic confused me. In the bedroom they had a bit of role reversal with Kandiah dominating Yaron. Which completely goes against their biological urges as omega and alpha. While I find the idea of a dominant omega intriguing, I wish this could have been explained better. I wanted more insight into why Kandiah wanted to dominate and likewise for Yaron’s character. I also felt that their relationship was very insta-lust to insta-love. Them falling in love didn’t make sense to me especially with how brutal and awful he was to her family. I wish there had been more development on their relationship.
Overall, I was a bit disappointed in this book especially considering how much I liked Dark City Omega. I found myself getting bored and wanting to read other books i stead of finishing this one. I’m holding out hope that I will enjoy book 3 better than this one.
April 14, 2025
Franchement ce tome 2 me guérit du TRAUMATISME qu'était le tome 1. Yaron le good boy c'est vraiment tous les tropes que j'aime dans un seul homme. L'histoire est toujours aussi brouillonne mais avec un couple comme ça on pardonne tout !
February 28, 2026
4.75 for the second book in the series. This was so good (if you are into Omegaverse) and I liked this one even better than the first!! The plot was really good and again… majorly spicy in that gritty/messy way that this author does best…
Shadowland Omega 9.5/10
Dark City Omega 9/10
Shadowland Omega 9.5/10
Dark City Omega 9/10
April 19, 2024
This was another fantastic novel by Elizabeth Stephens. I received an Advanced Review Copy with the understanding I would leave an honest review.
As with many of Stephens' books, this story was multifaceted and had great character depth and growth. I particularly enjoyed the nuances of guilt the story portrayed and the ability for individuals to do both "bad" and "good" acts and yet redeem themselves in the end by protecting those they love.
I also really enjoyed that Yaron had the praise kink - often we only see women in heterosexual couples with praise kinks in many traditional romance novels, so it was a fun contrast to have this badass lord begging for praise and treats from a "commoner."
I will say I was somewhat confused by the quasi-"dream" sequence at the end that operated as a psych-out to the reader. It was fun, but I'm not sure it played out cleanly or was entirely necessary.
I can't wait for the next one!
As with many of Stephens' books, this story was multifaceted and had great character depth and growth. I particularly enjoyed the nuances of guilt the story portrayed and the ability for individuals to do both "bad" and "good" acts and yet redeem themselves in the end by protecting those they love.
I also really enjoyed that Yaron had the praise kink - often we only see women in heterosexual couples with praise kinks in many traditional romance novels, so it was a fun contrast to have this badass lord begging for praise and treats from a "commoner."
I will say I was somewhat confused by the quasi-"dream" sequence at the end that operated as a psych-out to the reader. It was fun, but I'm not sure it played out cleanly or was entirely necessary.
I can't wait for the next one!
March 21, 2026
All I can say is I hope ES finishes this series soon.
April 23, 2024
I loved the worldbuilding in Shadowlands Omega, it’s dark, foreboding, and somehow cottagecore at the same time. I didn’t read the first book in this series, but this one made me want to go back and read Dark City Omega.
Things I liked:
-Fast moving, adventure filled plot
-Yaron and Kiandah’s sexy, messy, angsty, miscommunication-ridden romance
-A bald, Black, femdom heroine
-Themes about learning to set healthy boundaries
-Kiandah explaining gender inequality to poor privileged Yaron
Things I didn’t:
-Kiandah and Yaron weren’t great strategists. Both main characters made a bunch of obvious mistakes while in the middle of an epic war that were painful to read.
-I don’t like romances with class differences where the working class character has internalized a sense of inferiority. I was annoyed when 3/4 into the book Kiandah still can’t believe a fancy pants Lord would want poor little her. Read the room, girl!
Overall, I enjoyed this romantasy and plan on reading more of the series.
CW/TW: violence, death, torture (mostly off page), attempted rape
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Things I liked:
-Fast moving, adventure filled plot
-Yaron and Kiandah’s sexy, messy, angsty, miscommunication-ridden romance
-A bald, Black, femdom heroine
-Themes about learning to set healthy boundaries
-Kiandah explaining gender inequality to poor privileged Yaron
Things I didn’t:
-Kiandah and Yaron weren’t great strategists. Both main characters made a bunch of obvious mistakes while in the middle of an epic war that were painful to read.
-I don’t like romances with class differences where the working class character has internalized a sense of inferiority. I was annoyed when 3/4 into the book Kiandah still can’t believe a fancy pants Lord would want poor little her. Read the room, girl!
Overall, I enjoyed this romantasy and plan on reading more of the series.
CW/TW: violence, death, torture (mostly off page), attempted rape
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
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