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The Ancients' Bargain #2
In Iron Stars
[Second book in a series of queer paranormal romances, but does not require the first book to understand. Can be read as a standalone.]
Her love is lethal. That's an immutable truth Saoirse's had to contend with since she nearly killed the love of her life eighty years ago.
Sirens have a biological imperative to empathically bond with their partner. It's supposed to be a soft melding of nervous systems, intertwining two people as one, but people like Saoirse, a khavira, have a genetic defect that make that bond fatal to their partners. Love just isn't possible for her. She accepted that a long time ago, distracting herself with her work as an Inquisitor. So she's a bit at a loss of what to do when her boss tells her she'll be escorting her ex to a research station through uninhabited mountains. It takes over a month roundtrip. That's over a month with Iza, the woman who once was Saoirse's entire world.
And perhaps worse yet, Iza's going with her husband.
[ instant-attraction but not insta-love, poly FFM, trans MtF lead, interracial Black-Asian-Latino triad, forced proximity, complete triangle romance, STEM romance, researchers and engineers, explicit open door romance]
Her love is lethal. That's an immutable truth Saoirse's had to contend with since she nearly killed the love of her life eighty years ago.
Sirens have a biological imperative to empathically bond with their partner. It's supposed to be a soft melding of nervous systems, intertwining two people as one, but people like Saoirse, a khavira, have a genetic defect that make that bond fatal to their partners. Love just isn't possible for her. She accepted that a long time ago, distracting herself with her work as an Inquisitor. So she's a bit at a loss of what to do when her boss tells her she'll be escorting her ex to a research station through uninhabited mountains. It takes over a month roundtrip. That's over a month with Iza, the woman who once was Saoirse's entire world.
And perhaps worse yet, Iza's going with her husband.
[ instant-attraction but not insta-love, poly FFM, trans MtF lead, interracial Black-Asian-Latino triad, forced proximity, complete triangle romance, STEM romance, researchers and engineers, explicit open door romance]
466 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 10, 2024
5 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
V.T. Hoang
8 books24 followersLook who came to cry...
V. T. Hoang is a Viet trans man who writes queer romance that hurts, but he'll forever write happily ever afters.
V. T. Hoang is a Viet trans man who writes queer romance that hurts, but he'll forever write happily ever afters.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 20, 2025
Free on Amazon 20-22 February! Books 1-3!
FFM poly fantasy romance (female siren, transfem vampire, male wolf-shifter)
Saoirse, Carver's sister from book 1, gets her story. Full RTC, onto book 3!
MC Names: Saoirse, Iza, & Cas
Tags: Anachronistic fantasy series, can be read as a standalone, FFM poly, MTF trans vampire & demon/halfblood siren/fullblood wolf-shifter triad, Korean MC, Black (Irish-Moroccan) MC, Latino MC, scars, fuck or die, forced proximity, snowed in, lethal love, second chance, insta-attraction, interracial, STEM, science jokes, agent/bioengineer/electrical engineer triad, scared to try again, ska music & bad wine, established relationship adds a third, bondage, D/s elements, praise kink, blushing, Viet-American author, trans author, POC author, POC rep
FFM poly fantasy romance (female siren, transfem vampire, male wolf-shifter)
Saoirse, Carver's sister from book 1, gets her story. Full RTC, onto book 3!
MC Names: Saoirse, Iza, & Cas
Tags: Anachronistic fantasy series, can be read as a standalone, FFM poly, MTF trans vampire & demon/halfblood siren/fullblood wolf-shifter triad, Korean MC, Black (Irish-Moroccan) MC, Latino MC, scars, fuck or die, forced proximity, snowed in, lethal love, second chance, insta-attraction, interracial, STEM, science jokes, agent/bioengineer/electrical engineer triad, scared to try again, ska music & bad wine, established relationship adds a third, bondage, D/s elements, praise kink, blushing, Viet-American author, trans author, POC author, POC rep
December 4, 2024
WOW I loved this book even more than the first one!! I’m always reluctant to start the next book in series like this because I don’t want to move on from the couple I loved so much in the first book, but this one was SO worth it. I had no idea what to expect with Saoirse’s story but it was so beautiful ❤️
January 24, 2025
Let me start by saying I don’t read poly books very often. I don’t really enjoy them for a variety of reasons, but after how amazing book one of this series was, I knew I had to read book two. And I wasn’t disappointed.
This book is FFM (female siren, trans woman vampire, male lycan). The first thing I have to say is the way VT Hoang writes women is a breath of fresh air. The lack of misogyny, the strong females, the diversity of personalities was enough to make this book a favorite. Then add in the amazing romance and the intricate and compelling plot and you have an easy 5 star read.
Soairse is a siren who is has a disease (for lack of a better term) that makes it so she can’t properly have a mate the way that sirens need to. She almost killed a past love when she tried to fully bond with her and she’s stayed single ever since, feeding her siren appetite with hookups. I knew from book one that Soairse was going to have a story that ripped my heart apart and this book definitely didn’t disappoint.
Iza is a vampire and Soairse past love that was almost killed. She still loves Soairse, but she found happiness and love with someone else. She’s happily married and a brilliant scientist.
Cas is a wolf shifter who has his own troubles. He’s absolutely devoted to Iza, but Soairse piques his interest. He’s also a scientist and incredibly smart. I loved that he was both strong and soft at the same time. His gentleness with Iza was really endearing.
The three of them have to travel to a blighted site for research purposes and their journey there is fraught with issues. They’re snowed in, attacked, stalked, have to face off with enemies. The entire time, the attraction and love between Iza and Soairse is very much alive, but both are extremely respectful of Iza and Cas’s marriage. Cas is very intrigued by and attracted to Soairse, but, again, respectful of his marriage.
The plot is definitely heavy in this book. The world building continues to be amazing. Information isn’t dumped on you, it’s trickled throughout which made me very easy for me to grasp. The various characteristics of the supernatural beings is unique and compelling. The romance is very organic and heartfelt. I never once question the bond and growing love between these three characters.
This is an amazing second book in a series. I am so excited for more!
This book is FFM (female siren, trans woman vampire, male lycan). The first thing I have to say is the way VT Hoang writes women is a breath of fresh air. The lack of misogyny, the strong females, the diversity of personalities was enough to make this book a favorite. Then add in the amazing romance and the intricate and compelling plot and you have an easy 5 star read.
Soairse is a siren who is has a disease (for lack of a better term) that makes it so she can’t properly have a mate the way that sirens need to. She almost killed a past love when she tried to fully bond with her and she’s stayed single ever since, feeding her siren appetite with hookups. I knew from book one that Soairse was going to have a story that ripped my heart apart and this book definitely didn’t disappoint.
Iza is a vampire and Soairse past love that was almost killed. She still loves Soairse, but she found happiness and love with someone else. She’s happily married and a brilliant scientist.
Cas is a wolf shifter who has his own troubles. He’s absolutely devoted to Iza, but Soairse piques his interest. He’s also a scientist and incredibly smart. I loved that he was both strong and soft at the same time. His gentleness with Iza was really endearing.
The three of them have to travel to a blighted site for research purposes and their journey there is fraught with issues. They’re snowed in, attacked, stalked, have to face off with enemies. The entire time, the attraction and love between Iza and Soairse is very much alive, but both are extremely respectful of Iza and Cas’s marriage. Cas is very intrigued by and attracted to Soairse, but, again, respectful of his marriage.
The plot is definitely heavy in this book. The world building continues to be amazing. Information isn’t dumped on you, it’s trickled throughout which made me very easy for me to grasp. The various characteristics of the supernatural beings is unique and compelling. The romance is very organic and heartfelt. I never once question the bond and growing love between these three characters.
This is an amazing second book in a series. I am so excited for more!
January 4, 2025
But in a world of deterministic systems, they were inevitabilities, and that was close enough to fate for her." p. 466
I made a note in the book before immediately diving into the next instead of reviewing. All it reads is: "25-28.12. 5 stars"
This was fantastic. I believe my first MFF poly romance and it was exquisite. I have shied away from reading books other than MM romance in past years since I've been burned by so much misogyny and bad writing - not here! After reading book 1 I knew I couldn't skip this one. I knew Hoàng would make these characters come alive, not make them feel like just a mix of tropes and traits but actual characters who I care about. This is well-edited, well-rounded, well-written and just all in all it's an adventure. The communication and love between these characters is real as are the worries and I loved getting to see how their relationship continues to bloom in the following novels!
Recommend – especially the nerding out was a delight!
NSFW infos:
- Night wolf shifter married to (dominates)
- mtf trans vampire who has had "feminizing therapies that had given her a female figure despite being born biologically male"ex-fiancée of (switch)
- Siren who needs sex to survive (submissive, likes pain and bondage)
October 31, 2024
This was better than the first one imho. I loved the sillyness of the characters and the friends to loves dynamic. Books depicting realistic polyamory where people communicate and support each other is my real kink. Absolutely loved this, and Cas is the best boi.
December 30, 2024
I love Hoàng’s world building, characters, and writing, however this book didn’t quite work for me purely because I don’t like insta-attraction which essentially the main characters experience and act upon from the get go.
Obviously Saorise and Iza’s deep history made them inevitably drawn to each other and the nature of Hoàng’s sirens meant Saorise is naturally alluring, but I was hoping to see some tension and chemistry build between Saorise and Cas instead of it instantly being there. By 25% despite all characters being concerned about crossing boundaries, especially Cas and Iza’s marriage, all parties seemed equally emotionally invested in each other, and were physically affectionate and having sex.
Obviously Saorise and Iza’s deep history made them inevitably drawn to each other and the nature of Hoàng’s sirens meant Saorise is naturally alluring, but I was hoping to see some tension and chemistry build between Saorise and Cas instead of it instantly being there. By 25% despite all characters being concerned about crossing boundaries, especially Cas and Iza’s marriage, all parties seemed equally emotionally invested in each other, and were physically affectionate and having sex.
June 26, 2025
honestly i’m kind of obsessed with this little book series. it’s a fun mix of complex social-political plotline and lighthearted queer paranormal romance which is frankly just up my alley. i think this one dives a little more into the relationships than the first one did, probably bc this character isn’t lowkey allergic to affection. overall fun read, good trans rep as always, and surprisingly good autism rep too.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews