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The Orc Commander and His Love: A Cozy Monster Fantasy Romance
M’trinuculo
Surviving as Commander of the First Order of the Blues means making hard choices, ones that could cost me everything. Every battle chips away at our numbers, our morale, and the hope I’m supposed to inspire. Now, I face my most impossible decision a human stowaway who’s made herself a part of my world—and my heart. Ella doesn’t belong here, but I can’t imagine sending her back to the bleak life she left behind.
Ella
I never imagined falling for an Orc commander with a duty to his people and a battle he can’t afford to lose. And now, he’s made a choice I can’t accept. If he thinks I’ll let him face his fate alone, he doesn’t know me as well as he thinks.
The Orc Commander and His Love is a 17,000-word monster fantasy romance novella filled with forbidden love, impossible choices, and the kind of connection that defies logic. This is Book Two of Four. Part of the larger Pleiades universe (Part Two and Three).
Read this after The Orc Commander and the Coffee Shop Girl.
Surviving as Commander of the First Order of the Blues means making hard choices, ones that could cost me everything. Every battle chips away at our numbers, our morale, and the hope I’m supposed to inspire. Now, I face my most impossible decision a human stowaway who’s made herself a part of my world—and my heart. Ella doesn’t belong here, but I can’t imagine sending her back to the bleak life she left behind.
Ella
I never imagined falling for an Orc commander with a duty to his people and a battle he can’t afford to lose. And now, he’s made a choice I can’t accept. If he thinks I’ll let him face his fate alone, he doesn’t know me as well as he thinks.
The Orc Commander and His Love is a 17,000-word monster fantasy romance novella filled with forbidden love, impossible choices, and the kind of connection that defies logic. This is Book Two of Four. Part of the larger Pleiades universe (Part Two and Three).
Read this after The Orc Commander and the Coffee Shop Girl.
78 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 24, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 29, 2025
I'm reviewing the 3 first parts after reading them in a row so I have already read part 3 while reviewing this one. I'll try not to give spoilers of part 3 and keep it low on other spoilers generally speaking.
I was a bit disappointed by how short the first part was but this time I was ready for it to be around 75 pages.
This part is the start of the battle M keeps talking about.
We see M struggling to keep his emotions aside, not sure that's what he wants to do anymore but needing to have a clear mind to lead his squad.
Ella gets an interest in alien laws and wants to help. She's as always true to her emotions and she wants to stay with M but doesn't want to burden him.
I'm a bit disappointed by the fact that Ella suddenly has a great friend despite saying in the previous part that she was utterly alone except for some ok roommates and colleagues — but who wouldn't miss her anyway.
I think the author added Steph either for the plot (to drive Artur away?) or to set up the second couple of their series (there are 3 parts of this series as I write this review, the 4th being about Steph and Artur).
This part made me feel like the author hadn't planned their story before publishing the first part so it made me question whether other facts would change which is why I rate it lower.
(I probably would have rated 3 stars if the 3 parts were all together, I feel like I'm rating big chapters instead of a whole book.)
The story itself is steadily going further.
I don't think it's an amazing story but it's not a bad moment either, I'm enjoying myself.I don't dislike the FMC and that's a rare enough occurrence that it's worth mentioning (I like the way she feels and express herself).
Is it worth reading though?
No idea.
I feel like I'm still waiting for the next chapter of their story.
But at least those parts are short so if you feel like you lost time it's not a lot of it.
I'd say to give the story a chance.
An alien orc and a human. One used to push their emotions aside, erase them, and one embracing them wholly. Our human likes writing and transmitting emotions.
Beauty is a strong theme too. Beautiful planets and beautiful arts are mentioned.
There's also a feel of fated mate. The way they're attracted to each other but can't fight it, a strong connection between them, not only physical but deeply emotional despite M's being used to bury them.
Personally I'll be waiting for part 4, I feel too involved now and I must admit I grew at least a bit fond of our couple (and the little robot too).
I was a bit disappointed by how short the first part was but this time I was ready for it to be around 75 pages.
This part is the start of the battle M keeps talking about.
We see M struggling to keep his emotions aside, not sure that's what he wants to do anymore but needing to have a clear mind to lead his squad.
Ella gets an interest in alien laws and wants to help. She's as always true to her emotions and she wants to stay with M but doesn't want to burden him.
I'm a bit disappointed by the fact that Ella suddenly has a great friend despite saying in the previous part that she was utterly alone except for some ok roommates and colleagues — but who wouldn't miss her anyway.
I think the author added Steph either for the plot (to drive Artur away?) or to set up the second couple of their series (there are 3 parts of this series as I write this review, the 4th being about Steph and Artur).
This part made me feel like the author hadn't planned their story before publishing the first part so it made me question whether other facts would change which is why I rate it lower.
(I probably would have rated 3 stars if the 3 parts were all together, I feel like I'm rating big chapters instead of a whole book.)
The story itself is steadily going further.
I don't think it's an amazing story but it's not a bad moment either, I'm enjoying myself.I don't dislike the FMC and that's a rare enough occurrence that it's worth mentioning (I like the way she feels and express herself).
Is it worth reading though?
No idea.
I feel like I'm still waiting for the next chapter of their story.
But at least those parts are short so if you feel like you lost time it's not a lot of it.
I'd say to give the story a chance.
An alien orc and a human. One used to push their emotions aside, erase them, and one embracing them wholly. Our human likes writing and transmitting emotions.
Beauty is a strong theme too. Beautiful planets and beautiful arts are mentioned.
There's also a feel of fated mate. The way they're attracted to each other but can't fight it, a strong connection between them, not only physical but deeply emotional despite M's being used to bury them.
Personally I'll be waiting for part 4, I feel too involved now and I must admit I grew at least a bit fond of our couple (and the little robot too).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2026
The Orc Commander and His Love – Tapon Santan
Winning a battle is impressive.
Convincing me it was earned is even harder.
I was pleased to return to M'trinuculo and Ella after the previous story. Their relationship remains warm, and there is genuine affection between them that makes it easy to root for their happiness, even if M is determined to hide behind suppressing his feelings like a Vulcan.
Unfortunately, this tale often hurried past the moments I most wanted to experience.
There are intriguing ideas here: orc society, its laws, the growing political tensions, and the promise of a larger conflict. Yet many of these threads are resolved so quickly that they never have the opportunity to breathe. The world feels as though it has much more to offer than we are allowed to see.
Ella, too, seemed almost impossibly capable. A human mastering enough Orc Law in less than a day to discover a loophole capable of halting an entire battle stretched my willingness to believe. Intelligence is admirable. Instant expertise is rather less convincing.
I also found myself wishing the story had greater confidence in its own world-building. Several times, just as I became invested in the politics, culture, or looming conflict, the narrative turned instead toward another intimate encounter. I have nothing against romance—or enthusiastic lovemaking, as my reading habits clearly demonstrate—but these scenes followed a familiar pattern and began to feel less rewarding than the questions the story had left unanswered.
That is perhaps my greatest criticism. The world interested me more than the bedroom.
Even so, there is enough warmth between M'trinuculo and Ella that I do not regret the journey. I simply hope future instalments spend a little more time exploring the fascinating universe surrounding them, rather than rushing back beneath the blankets.
There is the foundation of a wonderful saga here. I only wish it trusted its own world as much as it trusts its lovers.
Verdict: ★★★☆☆
An enjoyable return to familiar companions, though this old orc found himself wanting more laws, more history, more politics... and slightly fewer interruptions for undressing.
— Kalarak Hellgrip
(Also calling the bad guys Draenei was an eye brow raising choice)
Winning a battle is impressive.
Convincing me it was earned is even harder.
I was pleased to return to M'trinuculo and Ella after the previous story. Their relationship remains warm, and there is genuine affection between them that makes it easy to root for their happiness, even if M is determined to hide behind suppressing his feelings like a Vulcan.
Unfortunately, this tale often hurried past the moments I most wanted to experience.
There are intriguing ideas here: orc society, its laws, the growing political tensions, and the promise of a larger conflict. Yet many of these threads are resolved so quickly that they never have the opportunity to breathe. The world feels as though it has much more to offer than we are allowed to see.
Ella, too, seemed almost impossibly capable. A human mastering enough Orc Law in less than a day to discover a loophole capable of halting an entire battle stretched my willingness to believe. Intelligence is admirable. Instant expertise is rather less convincing.
I also found myself wishing the story had greater confidence in its own world-building. Several times, just as I became invested in the politics, culture, or looming conflict, the narrative turned instead toward another intimate encounter. I have nothing against romance—or enthusiastic lovemaking, as my reading habits clearly demonstrate—but these scenes followed a familiar pattern and began to feel less rewarding than the questions the story had left unanswered.
That is perhaps my greatest criticism. The world interested me more than the bedroom.
Even so, there is enough warmth between M'trinuculo and Ella that I do not regret the journey. I simply hope future instalments spend a little more time exploring the fascinating universe surrounding them, rather than rushing back beneath the blankets.
There is the foundation of a wonderful saga here. I only wish it trusted its own world as much as it trusts its lovers.
Verdict: ★★★☆☆
An enjoyable return to familiar companions, though this old orc found himself wanting more laws, more history, more politics... and slightly fewer interruptions for undressing.
— Kalarak Hellgrip
(Also calling the bad guys Draenei was an eye brow raising choice)
March 21, 2026
You mean to tell me there’s only one more book with these two?!?! I’m not emotionally prepared to leave them alone. If I could help Ellie find a loophole for M and the Blues I would.
Side note: Do you think we could have a couple of these emotion cleansing chambers and visualizing chambers to test out? I’d sign up for that experiment.
Again, such a neat concept on Orc’s being from other galaxies. The whole wormhole and time situation still makes me a little sad for Ellie.
Fine. I guess I’ll read book three and break my heart.
Side note: Do you think we could have a couple of these emotion cleansing chambers and visualizing chambers to test out? I’d sign up for that experiment.
Again, such a neat concept on Orc’s being from other galaxies. The whole wormhole and time situation still makes me a little sad for Ellie.
Fine. I guess I’ll read book three and break my heart.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews