The Secret Omega

Goldenrod #3

by Emily North

Hetty Nigrum has a secret.

There’s a ghost inside her. Boisterous and brave, it’s particularly loud about one person—the calm, honorable alpha who would never want an insignificant beta like her.

So, she's resolved to a life spent only in his orbit, loving him from afar. That is until her ghost began demanding more…

Noah Sage is resigned to a life of sacrifice.

But he’s not happy about it. It doesn’t help that everyone in his life is constantly letting him down. The only person he can bear to be around is Hetty, his family’s faithful servant.

But there’s something different about the quiet beta lately—she’s become so defiant and fiery. Tempting.

A storm is coming.

As the outside world starts seeping into Goldenrod’s cracks, will Hetty and Noah cling to the intricate façades they’ve spent their entire lives crafting or embrace an uncertain and dangerous future?

The Secret Omega is the third book in the Goldenrod series, and tells of a forbidden romance in a collapsing dystopian world.

393 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2024

About the author

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Reviews

[Staceyann2007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up for book 3 of the omegaverse goldenrod series! Emily North is such a great writer. I liked how this book had cameos from characters from the first two books and how this one took a different spin being from the POV of a beta. I enjoyed it and am excited for the next one already!

[Kimberly Rahr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book! I loved Hetty’s story. I always thought she was more and wanted to know more about her.

[Megan Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so glad we finally got to hear Hetty’s story. Since the first book, I’ve known there is something more to her (only because anyone who has dealt with Stella so many years has to be made of strong stuff, lol.) This book took us on a journey through her relationship with her gran, Noah, and her struggles as a weird beta. I loved watching her development and her HEA. Also, the overarching story was thrilling and I feel like it’s about to come to a head. Ready for the next one!

[CiCi | bookameme · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was brilliant!

Quote:📖
A beta’s life in Goldenrod can be summed up with one word: deceptive.

Thoughts: 💡
I love Emily North and this series! Seriously, every single one. This particular story is my favorite kind of omegaverse novel. Idk, I’m always obsessed with the “inconsequential” dynamic in these circumstances, aka the dynamic that gets overlooked. So from the moment the betas were brought into the picture in book one, I was curious. There was very little information shared about them and they didn’t receive much consideration. So getting inside the mind of one of these characters was deeply fascinating to me.
As for the relationship between Noah and Hetty, 👏👏👏. It was so good. This was the perfect kind of Forbidden Love, the world is against them, struggling to deal with it themselves kind of story. The perspectives provided a lot of insight into past characters, even the villains, and called so many topics into question. Nothing in this story was black or white it was all shades of grey and the characters had to look within to figure out how to make their place in the world. I loved the way that Noah and Hetty had to figure themselves out before really diving into their relationship. Now, I’m personally a fan of groveling so I would have loved to see a little more, however there was a tiny bit and it was enough to satisfy me.

Fun Bits:
⚜️ They Fight It
⚜️ He Loses It
⚜️ She’s Not Going To Take It Anymore
⚜️ Several Spicy Scenes, Eventually
⚜️ Someone’s Gonna Get Burned At The Stake

✨Note:✨Standalone interconnected romance, with a plot through the whole series.

Full Content Warning:⚠️
Classism, Violence, Forced Servitude (essentially slaves), Physical Assault, Sexual Harassment, Drugged, Brief and vague mentions of minor characters being sexually assaulted, death, death of parental figures, brief descriptions of torture and captivity

Stats:📊
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Characters: 💙💙💙💙💙
Dystopian MF Omegaverse: Rejected Mates, Forbidden Love, Alpha/Beta, Different Social Classes, Societal Collapse, Hidden Secrets, Grief/ Loss & Healing, Slow Burn 📘
First Person, Present Tense, Dual POV

[Jalesa Kraus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Noah and Hetty’s story. While I did not expect all the crazy things that happened throughout the story, it kept me on my toes and I could not wait to find out what was going to happen next and how Noah and Hetty were going to handle their love for each other when they had been told over and over that what they were feeling was against their order. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

[Kristen Shockey · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review- this by far has been my favorite of this series so far. It is a quick enjoyable read while still exploring social class structure and how it is viewed from each side. The politics of the order, the secrecy of matings outside of social class and also the outside perspective of Rill are kind of heavy topics explored in a way that feels light and easy to read. I love Hetty. Hetty was a more relatable FMC who fought for the one she loves and what she believes is right. Great teaser for Orion's story included at the end.

[Mrs T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst I enjoyed the first two books in the Goldenrod series immensely, book three was a bit more intriguing (in a good way) as our main FMC is, for all intents and purposes, a Beta.

I enjoyed the solid story, building on the dystopian world and the changes that are being faced by Hetty and Noah and I really enjoyed the snippets involving the characters from the first two books too.

Kept me engaged and is a good strong, interesting addition to the series 👏.

[Kalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise but the world building was not world building for me. Maybe I’m not an urban fantasy girlie?? Idk

[Ashley Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Was so happy to go back to Goldenrod. Hetty and Noah were a fun couple to follow on this adventure. Glad Noah finally figured out what he wanted lol 😝

I enjoy Emily’s writing style. It’s easy to get absorbed into the story and everything that is going on!

If you’re looking for an intro into omegaverse, this series is for you!

[Vi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ Received as an Arc for an Honest review.

I have been eating this series up since I first got my hands on the first one and every time the next book came, I would immediately get it.

Safe to say, I still love this series.

I honestly liked the way the premise of this story went. I really enjoyed this love story. I think my favorite is still Elizabeth’s and Rill’s, but this one was also so good. I do like that even if a lot of the focus is on the romance and the saving, we still get back to the bigger problem about this story- the pigeons- every time, which I’m happy about. Because just like the rest, we got further along into the upcoming war that’s bound to happen.

The only reason I’m giving it 4.5 is basically a nick-picky thing. There was a side plot (Cass) that was brought that didn’t seem like it added much to the overall plot and I’m just wondering if it was necessary. To me, he didn’t add much to the plot to further it along.

Apart from that, loved everything about it.

[The Arcist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Emily hits it out of the park with characters every time. Admittedly I did not care for Noah as a bbf but not for anything in particular. Hetty was just so good and I really didn't expect that in the beginning.

The story development and the constant plot movement/twists has really made this series so fun and interesting to follow.

I'm anxiously awaiting Orion's story and to see what happens in the next installment.

I received this book as an ARC but am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

[AnnJaleesa Mellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had the honor of being on Emily's ARC team since book 1. I can't tell you how much I enjoy this series. It was my first glimpse into the Omegaverse, and I'm so glad I came across it.

The Secret Omega follows a beta maid, Hetty, and the alpha of her house, Noah. Alphas and betas are forbidden to be together by decree of the Order. Plus, Noah has known Hetty his whole life. It isn't until she calls to him that they realize Hetty is no ordinary beta.

There is something just so.... Delicious.... About the well-dressed, stoic, obedient alpha, going absolutely feral over his mate.

If you enjoy Omegaverse novels, or if you haven't read any and want to start, I highly recommend this series!

[Alex B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the best in the series so far! The book follows Hetty, a beta maid in the Sage household. Unlike the rest of Goldenrod, she was never removed at 15 to work for another family. Noah Sage, the middle son who is the honorable, noble alpha who sacrificed his future mate to become Administrator of Order. For years Hetty has been in love with Noah, but as a beta she was forbidden from being with him. One night, there is a power outage and the two collide in a passionate moment that is gone as soon as it started. But regardless of how adamant they are to stay away from each other, forces keep pulling them together until they stop ignoring the little voices in their heads and embrace them.

[Kristine Dougherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another must read book by Emily North. This is the 3rd book in the series and I couldn’t put it down. It follows Hetty a beta that has a secret. As the world that the community of Goldenrod is crumbling, Hetty’s world is also changing. The journey for Hetty and Noah is filled with twists and turns that ultimately lead them to a new life.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hetty, the female lead, is fortunate because, when she was 15 years old, she was able to remain with her grandmother rather than being assigned to a totally separate location to her family, as is common for betas. But now the world is changing, and it looks like it’s getting worse…

Noah, the male alpha lead, has been tasked with the role of Administrator, which is theoretically a paperwork role but he hasn’t been able to find any paperwork from the previous Administrator and he’s certain that their world is about to collapse. The one constant in his life is Hetty’s support. But he’s starting to feel ways about Hetty that are physically inappropriate for an alpha to feel about a beta…

With pressure on them from all directions, as the insular world they were raised in collapses and they’re forced to deal with the outside world, as well the revelations of who and what Hetty is, it’s a struggle to find a path to a relationship.

This story is dual POV, well written, and continues a dystopian omegaverse romance series. I enjoyed the strength of the non-romance plot. I admit that I don’t LIKE many of the characters populating this series but I acknowledge that they are appropriate for the world they live in. I enjoyed Hetty’s character development and the way her perspective on the world shifted. I admired how she pushed past the many barriers inhibiting her to feel confident to express herself. I empathised with Noah’s feelings of being stuck. I enjoyed watching him find himself, though I thought Hetty forgave him for being a jerk too easily. I enjoyed seeing characters from previous stories and watching their lives continue. I’m looking forward to the next story.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this novel something unexpected and new within the Omegaverse. One of the highlights of it was the careful planning that the author took in creating a world. The society within the story was stratified with Alphas and Omegas being in the top tiers. The betas were second-class citizens and were relegated to serving status. An upcoming conflict with others illustrates it very well.
Another excellent creation was each of the characters. Noah is a reluctant head of a city and Hetty starts off the story being an apparent beta. Hetty catches Noah’s romantic attention. It was an unexpected turn of events. Both main characters are memorable. There is a wide range of personalities and even a douchebag thrown in to keep it all real.

The pacing is a little variable. The first third of the story moves a tiny bit slowly. The last part is where the pacing accelerates markedly. It’s a little steamy but the story, I feel, focuses on the characters. It, also, focuses on world-building. It was one of the first novels that I’ve read by this author. It was a rewarding experience reading it.

[Amber Hoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Goldenrod Omegaverse series. I feel it is best to read the books in the series in order.

This series was my introduction to Omegaverse worlds, and is still my absolute favorite. Emily North does a beautiful job of continually developing the dystopian omegaverse that is Goldenrod. Usually by the third book in a series the universe starts to feel stale or same thing different characters, Emily North does a fabulous job keep that from happening. I loved all the crazy suspense and the forbidden love aspect of this story. There is a decent amount of suspense and spice with a strong plot.

I don't think there has been a main character in this series that I did not fall madly in love with, and Hetty and Noah are no different. I could not get enough of the stoic Alpha and loyal Beta.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has read the first two books in this series. If you love a good dystopian story, omegaverse story, or suspenseful romance story you definitely need to check out this series!

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privlege of being on the ARC team for a few of these books in the series and I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I mean I ate it up. As I have said in I think every review for this series, I am not that big of an omegaverse fan (I just have a tough time comprehending the world) but Emily North has me devouring this series and the world with gusto. I absolutely love the plot of Hetty and Noah's story. I thought the unique aspect of having Hetty as a beta really created intrigue and further plot development. Noah was a proper serious type of character (until he wasn't ifykyk 😏) that you don't often see in the world and Hetty was super sweet but a silent type of strong. I love how different all of the FMCs and MMCs have been in this series. Hetty and Noah were ooey gooey which was a nice break from the "ruggedness" of previous books. I loved seeing their growth as individuals and as a couple and how the world continues to develop and build as the series continues. I am absolutely eager for Orion's book now thanks to that preview.

[Jacquie Stubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC ebook and am honored to give it my honest review.

This is the third book in this series and I loved reading Hetty and Noah’s story. Hetty is sweet but silently strong, and Noah tries to be strong and serious, but when the two collide, well let’s just say I couldn’t put this book down!!!

This dystopian omegaverse, is about to get turned upside down with the intrusion from the outside world (the pigeons)and a Beta as the love interest!! It was great catching glimpses of the characters from the first two books. Now we need Orions story.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who has never read an omegaverse book.

[Read By Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn't read much omegaverse before finding myself in the town of Goldenrod, but let me tell you, Emily North has made me a fan. The story is incredibly well written and the little world she has created is intriguing. I find myself wondering what she is going to do next.

I absolutely loved Hetty since the first book and was super curious about how Noah and her story would be. I was not disappointed. Their story was epic and so well thought out and honestly shocked me at times.

Amazing, yet again!

[Salsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that we got to see Hetty's story. This book had such a different feel to it due to the fact that Hetty was a beta. There was a lot more outside dynamics to this pairing, and we got to see the characters progress so much too. Glad we got to see more of the characters from books 1 and 2 as well.

I loved hearing about goldenrod from the view of a beta, it really added to the dystopian feel of this world that the author created.

Can't wait to see Orion's story in the next book!

[Cathy Greco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love ❤️ this series. This book was the best of them❣️
The love between Noah and Hetty leaped off the pages. They are the best couple and this book was also very humorous. I laughed, alot. Emily North knows how to do Omegaverse 💯! I can't wait for the next one. Run and get this book and series. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Thank you Emily North for this awesome opportunity 💜.
This is my honest opinion

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 This was another great read in the series! I like that each book goes in a different direction -- so clever and well thought out! I also like that the characters from the previous books are still part of each new book. I loved Hetty as a character, and as always I enjoyed the writing style of the book. I can't wait to see what happens next!

[WebRip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful addition to the Goldenrod world

So glad I got ans ARC of this book, I couldn’t wait and I wasn’t disappointed.
For a non shifter book, there is still plenty of fantasy and intrigue, plus a couple of mysteries that still need solving. But we get to see Hetty and Noah and their relationship evolve and grow even though they both try to fight it. Can’t wait for the next one. As always Emily delivers a well written engaging and heartfelt story!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hetty and Noah have a forbidden romance that has plenty of secrets intertwined. It is a very well written, dual POV omegaverse romance. I loved the development in both Hetty amd Noah, each show amazing strides and growth. I found this couple to be very sweet.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike some of the other reviewers, this was not my favorite book of the series.

Noah was so conflicted and I really wanted more of a happy ending for Hetty.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was super excited for Hetty's story, but bummed I didn't enjoy it. I strangely found myself routing for her to end up with anyone else. That's when I knew I wasn't connecting with these two.

[Samantha King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great addition to the goldenrod series! I loved Hetty and getting to see her side of things being a beta. Definitely grew to liking Noah, but I loved his character development. And as always, Such good writing, world building and actual plot that it's hard to put down!!

[Hayat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rill was the best part of this book