Could a Fae really satisfy an Omega shifter's heat? Would he risk his life for the chance to try?
As a soldier of the fae queen’s court, I’m free from the burden of any rules. But, as her consort, I’m bound by one strict limitation: I can have no lovers but the queen herself.
For most fae, that would be unbearable. For me, it’s not an issue. Just one night of my sickening duty to the queen was enough to drain me of any desire or capacity for love. I endure the role I never wanted, knowing my sacrifice serves a greater purpose–to gain the queen’s trust and bring her down from within, freeing the realm from her cruelty.
My thoughts are consumed with plotting her demise until I stumble upon a stunning Omega shifter, alone and at the mercy of her heat. She’s vulnerable without her pack, and she’s in agony. When I offer to find an Alpha for her, she panics. She clings to me, more afraid of her own kind than of a fae soldier, who are known for hunting her kind for sport.
If I do what she asks and I’m discovered, it could mean my death and the loss of hope for the realm. But the Omega is captivating, awakening a desire in me I thought had died. And she refuses to accept help from anyone else.
I’m faced with an impossible choice. Do I ignore her desperate pleas and abandon her to an uncertain fate? Or do I give in to something forbidden, risking not only my life, but the fate of the entire realm?
Consort is a Fae and Omegaverse Fantasy Romance written in the perspectives of both main characters (dual POV) Though Book 2 features characters from Speechless and Orphaned, the series was written as a stand-alone. This novel does end on a cliffhanger, but Book 2 will be released the same day as Book 1.
Content Warning: Consort contains darker themes of societal pressures regarding consent, including references to the SA of a non-appearing character. There is also a scene in which one main character faces a difficult decision about helping the other during an altered state, but there is no violence or ill-intent between them at any time or any on-page SA of any character.
Rachel is an editor turned author who loves Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, especially Omegaverse.
She's drawn to strong main characters who, despite any trauma or struggle, maintain their control over their bodies and minds and inevitably, end up on top.
Spice is a must, and it must not be typical. No boring stuff allowed.
I loved this Omegaverse story with Fae/Shifters! I was IN this story! There are some stories that I just listen to, this one I was engaged and needed to know what happens to these characters.
Durin is a young Fae who realizes that the noble Fae are not so noble. He promises himself that he will bring down those in power that misuse it. He tells no one of his plan, except for his best friend and illusionist Fae Farris. Once he exacts some of his revenge, the Queen takes him as her personal soldier and Consort, despite the fact that he hates everything about her.
Rue is a young wolf shifter who is late blooming into her Omega position. However, she has no interest whatsoever in being the mate for an Alpha. She most definitely does not want to be a mate to the Prime Alpha. So, she and her mother decide to hide her Omega scent for as long as possible. Maybe even until another Prime is in power. She and her mother find their way away from the pack, but cross paths with Durin, at least for a short time.
To all those who wanted to know more about Vaegon's origins and why he feels calmer around Andras, now is your chance to find out.
Consort is about Vaegon's parents, Rue, an omega shifter, and Durin, a noble fae. Their story doesn't start in the best possible way. Durin finds Rue in a moment of need, during her heat, but she doesn't have many memories of it, so when she realised Durin was there, she wasn't all that happy about it. Thinking he was a cruel noble who took advantage of her, sent him away abruptly.
Rue is extremely strong willed for an Omega. She thought she was going to present as a Beta, like her parents, but her world turned upside down when she presented as an Omega, especially because of the way Omegas were treated in her pack. She's extremely wary of Durin, because she doesn't know him that well. But when they get closer and she eventually realises she's pregnant, she starts to feel relaxed enough around him to form a connection with him, something that her Omega had already felt since her heat and made her trust Durin with it.
Durin is a young fae, who's younghood was spoilt by witnessing a noble killing an innocent Elf. He spent many years getting stronger, to avenge that poor elf, by killing Mitah, his murderer. When he does though, he finds himself 'imprisoned'. He is noticed by the Queen because of his powers, and she decides to keep him as consort, hence the title of this first book in the duology.
Durin's character development is the most stunning in this duology. If you check the covers of both books you can notice also how his face changes, from a young fae, with little to no knowledge of the realm, to a warrior in 'King', where with the help of other creatures of his realm - and not only his realm *cough* Vaegon's pack *cough* - he tries to get rid of the Queen. He starts off as a kind and naive fae, going out of his way to have his revenge. An act that's brutal, but doesn't impact his kindness and good heart. To then become a determined soldier, looking out to save his realm and protect his family and everybody who wants to live there happily.
There are many twists in this duology, about the Queen and her powers, about Vaegon and why he grew up in a different realm than his parents. Consort ends in a cliffhanger, so be ready to grab King, book 2 of the duology, for a satisfying ending and especially to see our old favourite stubborn Omega visiting from the human realm with her pack.
I want to thank Rachel Grey for the opportunity to beta read both Consort and King for my honest opinion about these books.
I am reviewing this as an ARC with Book Sirens. I love OV books and fae romantasy is high on my list of favorites as well. So, I was pretty excited to see a book with both. However, Consort falls kinda short. I think I simply had a different idea of what this book had to offer. However, the Fae elements and magic was very nice. Though, it’s not the spiciest I love the way Durin falls for Rue and their story is very cute. However, this book is more of a revenge plot than a romance one.
•Edits … lots of simple mistakes throughout the book. •When I think OV, I think steamy and knotty … you gotta bring the heat. •OV vibes are lacking overall. Considering the FMC, an omega, runs off at the beginning a lot of the OV tension and dynamics aren’t present here because of the lack of Alphas. •Cliffhanger! I knew of this going in …so I wasn’t too mad. •Basic writing … but also made it an easy read. •Miscommunication trope! I feel like dialogue between Durin and Rue is pretty minimal. There’s a lot of internal dialogue for each character. However, romance and intimacy is kinda missing so, there’s not a lot of relationship building. So, of course there’s going to be miscommunication. •Slow plot … feels like a lot of idle time and inner dialogue after the two first meet. At points I was skimming just to get to dialogue or action, however it seems like that will pick up a bit more in the second book.
But I’m also not compelled to read the next.
Read If You Like 💙 He falls first 💙 Revenge plots/Court intrigue 💙 Omegaverse 💙 the Fae and all their magic 💙 Magical realms
I’ve read a bunch of books by Rachel Grey; this one wasn’t one of my favorites, but it was good. I liked the entire omegaverse and inter species type of relationship thing. I think if the book was longer, and the relationships could have been built a little longer I might have vibed with it a little more. I liked the male consort plot of the book, because it was so unique. The characters were loveable, I just wanted more of them. 3 out of 5 stars.
An intriguing read, slow building, with interesting characters in Durin and Rue. Durin is a fae who becomes consort to a queen he is determined to take down. Rue, an omega shifter, flees her pack, and meets Durin when she's in heat. A magical read with fae, elves, kelpies and shifters. Great world building with plenty of drama and danger.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed this. It has drama, mystery, Fae schemes, plots to overthrow royalty, spice and mate bonds. Rue is an omega shifter on the run from her pack, and goes into an unexpected heat. Durin is a powerful Fae who is capturing for the Queen, forced to be her consort and is plotting her downfall. He stumbles across Rue in her heat, and their bond forms. I like the themes of revenge, rebellion and trying to escape roles set by others. Excited for part 2 of this duology.
Honestly, I didn’t know what I was expecting reading this. It was a super short read compared to what I’m used to, which I did truly like. I’m slowly dipping my toes into more omegaverse. Overall the story was good, the smut was good. The cliff hanger?? Makes me wanna read the next one to get answers.
I received an advance copy to review for free, thank you so much for the opportunity.
This book was OK at the beginning. It’s a dual POV. It has a couple spelling errors in some places. It is incredibly slow burning. It is incredibly slow getting to move like the story. Just seems to sit there. It’s got a little bit of worldbuilding, but it’s just really slow. We’re at the end of the first book there’s another book And it’s finally picking up speed. There is very little spice at all and it just not a book I would read again. I thought about DNF it several times because it just I couldn’t keep myself interested in it. That’s how slow it was written for some people who don’t like a lot of spicy scenes or like slow burning books. This may be a great book for them. I was not one of those people I was interested in the Fae and the shifter aspect. This did not hit any of the marks that I was hoping it would. I’m honestly just glad it’s over.
this book is good. i just don’t think i’m the target audience. i can recognize when a book is truly terrible or just simply not for me, which is why i don’t give ratings lower than 3★ so often or at all.
i went into this book only knowing that it’s an paranormal omegaverse romance where the main character has to be the queen’s only lover. i like going into books mostly blind because it makes the reading experience better for me. i’m not an omegaverse stan, but i’m still open to reading it (hence why i picked up this book in the first place).
after reading, though, i think anyone who truly loves fae, shifters, and the omegaverse should pick up this book. i don’t think this is for anyone who’s getting into or on the fence about this type of genre. there’s always a chance this book could make you love these themes if you don’t already, but it kinda reads as if you should know the kind of world it takes place in, even though there’s brief explanations of the appropriate terms throughout the book.
after reading the rest of the synopsis after finishing the book, i would say the synopsis gives away a lot of the plot :(. i'm glad i didn't read all of it before starting the book.
it took me some time to get into the story. about 37% is when it started getting interesting to me. i did find myself skimming the parts that got too slow for me.
i really like the sweet moments between rue and durin. i love how durin gives rue room to ease into his company. the amount of quotes i resonated with was really surprising as well. i related to a lot of how rue felt about trusting people.
while there is smut, there’s way less than i thought there would be. after reading the trigger warnings, i can understand why. if you want to know more about the smut, you’ll have to read my spoiler section because i don’t know how to review it without giving away spoilers.
when it comes to the characters, how durin acts in the story doesn’t line up with how he looks in the book cover which kinda threw me off. he’s kinda mysterious and powerful with a secret soft side that doesn’t give what’s on the cover. i don’t care too much about that tho, just thought i’d mention it so you know the cover doesn’t do durin justice. unfortunately, i don’t like rue :( i know her situation is terrible, but she’s almost too angry and indecisive to me. her tone and demeanor could just be how i imagined her to be. her inner thoughts were getting so agitating which i’m aware probably sounds so bad if you’ve read this book. i just wasn’t able to empathize with her which was surprising to me because i usually empathize with characters who go through terrible circumstances i’ve never experienced. i think when i’m not able to empathize with a character, that’s a sign of a storytelling issue. i think it would’ve been better to see her more afraid and fearful rather than so angry, at least in the beginning. again, i could’ve been imagining her to be more angry than she was, but i wasn’t getting many indicators that she wasn’t. she seems like fire inside of a water bubble. cool as she can be on the outside yet explosive on the inside. i did like durin’s friend, farris. the on-page shifting was so cool to read about!!
to mention the pacing, in my opinion, the pacing starts out fast, then medium, then slows during the last 30%.
overall, i thought i would like this story more than i did, but i didn’t hate it. i think this story can be very healing for some. parts of it were definitely healing for me. i just think the pacing of the book and the type of omegaverse written didn’t hit for me.
i received an advance review copy for free by rachel grey and booksirens, and i am leaving this review voluntarily. thank you so much for gifting me this arc :)
Rachel Grey’s Consort (Book 1 of Noble Reckoning) is a fascinating blend of forbidden love, dark intrigue, and intense chemistry. This Omegaverse Fae fantasy throws the reader into a world filled with perilous choices, forbidden desires, and the constant clash between duty and passion. The stakes are high, and the tension between the two leads makes this an unforgettable read.
The story introduces us to a fae soldier who is bound by the ruthless rules of the fae queen’s court, his life filled with the weight of a responsibility he never wanted. His existence is one of duty—sacrificing personal desires for the greater good as he secretly works to bring down the queen from within. His sacrifice is seemingly complete, but everything changes when he encounters an Omega shifter in the throes of her heat.
What I loved about this book was the immediate tension between the characters—our fae soldier, burdened with an overwhelming sense of duty, and the Omega shifter, vulnerable and desperate for help. The unexpected connection that sparks between them is electric, pulling them into a situation where all the rules are about to be shattered. I was immediately hooked by their dynamic: she’s terrified of her own kind, and he’s bound by the queen’s laws but undeniably drawn to her in a way he never expected.
The themes of forbidden love and the decision-making between loyalty and desire are explored with such emotional depth. Grey masterfully builds the tension between the characters as the fae soldier faces a life-or-death choice—does he risk everything to help the Omega and give in to a desire that could ruin his carefully laid plans?
The dual POV structure enriches the storytelling, offering insight into the minds of both characters. Their internal struggles are palpable, particularly the fae soldier’s torment between duty and his growing attraction to the Omega. His decision is impossible, but one thing is clear: the pull between them is undeniable, and I found myself completely invested in their journey.
The world-building is immersive, with a dark, twisted undertone that keeps you on edge. The conflict is not just between the characters, but also against a backdrop of oppressive societal expectations and the looming shadow of the fae queen’s cruelty. The stakes feel real, and it’s impossible to predict where their story will go next.
Consort is an intense, emotionally charged romance that will leave you breathless, and the cliffhanger ending ensures you’ll be counting the days until Book 2 arrives. This book is a must-read for fans of forbidden romance, complex characters, and Omegaverse dynamics. With its heart-pounding tension, layered characters, and rich world-building, Consort is a dark fantasy romance that delivers on every front.
Warning: The story deals with darker themes, particularly around consent and societal pressures, but there is no ill-intent or violence between the main characters. The exploration of these difficult topics is handled with care.
If you’re a fan of slow-burn, high-stakes romance with a fae twist, don’t miss this book.
What an interesting pairing, although it didn't hit as hard or good as a stereotypical omegaverse romance with full on primal/instinctive aggression play, dominance-submission, biting or severe knotting. Everything was toned down.
DURIN isn't the type of male I usually go for, but here, I'll bite. He was sweet, protective and like a knight in a shining armor. You can go ahead and roll your eyes, thinking he's too good to be true, and you aren't wrong. If I had to describe him in one word? Honorable. I mean, he's determined to rid their world of the cruel Queen whom he's forced to have sex with. Also, he's torn between his unwilling commitment to the realm whilst falling head over heels for the Omega whose heat he helped see through. The male's too greedy, and it's no surprise should he fall into a ditch of his own making.
RUE is too prickly for my taste, and not in the good way. She's so distrusting and seems like a mild shifter feminist. Not my type at all. Women have every right to stand up for themselves, to be appreciated for who they are and to know their own mind, but the way Rue was written to embrace the idea of "free-will" and "I'm more than just my body" came off like nails on chalkboard than it was endearing. I don't blame the girl for running away from her misogynistic pack of alphas who only want to rut her, but I also can't say I liked when she struggled to warm up to Durin 70% of the time, even though he was a harmless puppy. You get my drift. And even when they finally realized they were having a child together, their relationship was still lukewarm at best.
OVERALL this didn't feel wholesome like how I envisioned or have read from other omegaverse authors. It didn't hit the sweet spot, and I'm left on a cliff. Right now, I'm unable to purchase the digital e-book for Book 2 (it's unavailable in my country for Amazon), so I'm left hanging....and literally dying to know what's going to happen to Rue! Fingers crossed that I'll be able to get my hands on it and provide me closure with this story.
Despite my average rating, I don't mind recommending this to interested readers of the genre itself. It wasn't bad, though it's not something that will impress the f**k out of you.
and here I am, unable to get my hands on Book 2 (King), because I can't purchase the digital version on Amazon in my country. That suxx!
I had a bit of a time engaging deeply with the MC's but about halfway through, the story sucked me in and I was fully invested. The world building was fascinating and I did enjoy the author's descriptions of the different species and peoples of the world. I wish there'd been a bit more fleshing out of background characters, but it's a novella so I understand why there wasn't.
Durin and Rue, the MMC and the FMC respectively, were interesting in how their past experiences with other races informed their initial impressions of each other and challenged their preconceived biases. This is how real life happens but in my experience, most authors shy away from this obvious fact of life. With race being such a major factor in today's political landscape, it's nice to see authors take on the tough issues of the day without flinching or pulling of punches. She pulled it off beautifully as well. I was quietly impressed.
The story was quick without leaving any glaring potholes, although I do wish Durin had engaged in some undercover work with some of the castle denizens. I think it could have made the evil of the castle dwellers clearer. As it was, they seemed evil for the Queen's sake and influence and while that was enough for the story's needs, I would have liked to have seen it regardless. Rue's issues as an Omega are more familiar to any reader of ABO dynamics infused worlds, although she's a strong character unwilling to bow to what's expected of her. The Alphas in her pack are emotionally and physically abusive creeps and she chooses to run rather than kneel. I could appreciate her reactions and imagine I would have reacted similarly, so she's an easy character to love and enjoy.
All in all, this book was well done, but beware the cliffhanger. Thankfully, Book 2 is in ARC readers hands, so you won't have to wait long for the next installment. The smuttier scenes are written plainly but not so in-depth your 16-year-old couldn't read it IMO. Parents might want to read it first and apply their own standards. However, it's mostly just a sweet romance between damaged characters who need love more than smut and the author makes that more than enough. I'm giving the book a B+.
I received an advance review copy of this novella for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Okay, so this book.... When I first started it, I was a little unsure how I would feel about it. It started out a little slower than I expected, but I'm so glad I continued on, because the emotions that it put me through and anxiety it gave me forced me to finish it in a few hours, lol.
This story follows Durin and Rue. Two unfortunate people, a fae and shifter that refuse to become victims to their circumstances, even in the messed up world where they typically are enemies. Rue, is a shifter that has always thought that she would be a beta in her pack. Though she hates the idea of having to give in to any male, she would rather that than be an omega due to the abusive actions of her pack leader, and him allowing other alphas free reign when needed. Unfortunately, that's exactly what she discovers she is. She confides in her mother, who comes up with the plan for them both to run, but things happen a lot faster when another alpha finds out that Rue has been hiding that she's an omega in the pack.
Durin on the other hand is fae. After seeing a shifter murdered for no reason when he's younger, he decides that he's not going to stand by and continue to allow the queen's men to terrorize shifters for fun. He trains himself every day to be able to end the cruelty, but when he takes out the queen's main warrior, the tables are turned and he's forced by the queen to be her consort instead. Despite the despair he feels, he looks on the bright side of the situation, considering he will have an easier time ridding the land of her.
The only thing holding up his mission is Rue. He happens to stumble across her in the middle of her heat, and helps her out as best as he can. It's not until Rue comes out of it, that she's untrusting of him, but Durin can't resist trying to get her to open up to him.
If you want a book with a good plot, and characters with a noble cause, plus some spiciness, but not too much... This is it.
CONSORT is the first book of two in the Noble Reckoning Duology and, boy, what it a good start!
Durin is a young fae - not noble and thankful for that small mercy. When he sees a noble fae mercilessly bully and kill a young shifter, he is enraged and works hard to hone his magic into a weapon, determined to enact vengeance on the shifter's behalf. He fulfils his vow but is made to pay in ways he never imagined.
During this time, Rue is trying to hide the fact she has just presented as an Omega. In her pack, that means she will be Alpha Mate and passed around for all the alpha's to share. Funnily enough, that's not a future she wants. So she does the unthinkable. She runs away, and her mother goes with her. They find a place to hide and life seems good.
Fate throws Durin and Rue together and he helps her through her heat, resulting in a pregnancy with Vaegon. If the name sounds familiar then check out Rachel Grey's Unnatural series and you'll find out why. Of course, life isn't easy and neither of them is in an ideal place, so prepare yourself for the cliffhanger because it's a doozy!!!
It isn't all about Rue and Durin though. There's a whole mystery in here too, with the Queen and her wicked ways. The world-building is phenomenal to get everything in and not leave you wanting.
This was a fantastic story that had me hooked from the first page. I really felt for both Rue and Durin and can't wait to see what happens next. Simply wonderful and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books! Jan 1, 2025
3.25 stars. Durin, the male common fae lead, has always been told how bad the noble fae are but, when he witnesses a noble fae torturing a wolf shifter for no reason, becoming strong enough to exact vengeance becomes the driving force of his life. Once he kills that fae, he is taken in front of the queen and she claims him as a consort whilst elevating him to noble status. Not seeing any way out whilst still wanting to oust her dark power, he acquiesces.
Rue, the female wolf shifter lead, thought she was old enough to be a confirmed beta but, when she awakens with slick between her legs, she knows she’s presented as an omega. With her pack’s Luna having recently chosen suicide over remaining with their Prime, Rue is desperate to escape and, with her mother’s help, they make their way into the unknown.
When Rue falls into her heat, Durin finds her and feels drawn to her, not just because of her pheromones. He returns to her over and over. But Rue’s old pack hasn’t given up searching for her and Durin’s time is split by his need to pursue the overthrow of the queen…
This story is dual POV, well written, and the first half of a dark fantasy romance. I enjoyed how both Rue and Durin were driven to change their circumstances. I enjoyed the way Rue’s mother supported her, and I enjoyed how they built a small world for themselves. I struggled with the amount of time the lead characters spent apart. I understand that this was in support of plot and world building but I didn’t enjoy it very much. If you like a well written plot-focused fantasy, this story may suit you well. It also ends in a cliffhanger, so I waited for the second half to be out before reading.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Y'all. I love me some wolf romance novels. I've always had a fascination with wolf shifters (Team Jacob here from my Twilight days) and I'm a HUGE fan of Fae novels as well. What caught my eye about this novel is the fact that both of my favorite worlds coming together. You're telling me a Fae and a Wolf Shifter get together? SOLD.
But this book is actually really good and very entertaining. The characters are great, the world is beautiful and intriguing, the writing is good and the plot keeps you interested.
The pack world is so much different than I've read before. All wolf shifter books I read have one Alpha, one Beta and Omega's are the shit on the bottom of the packs shoes. They're the lowest of the low. But this has a Prime Alpha, who is the head honcho but there's also other Alpha wolves, as well. Omegas are rare (but still weak) but are there to mate with the Alpha's.
Obviously, after I read this I found out this is like a prequel series to another series of the author (which obviously, I now will have to read) but I really like Durin and Rue. Their love story is definitely forbidden and started in an unexpected way but I can't wait to find out where it takes us in the second book. Especially with how it left off (with an absolutely cliffhanger).
Speaking of the cliffhanger, I love and hate cliffhangers, as we all do because the wait for the next book is just torture but I understand them. However, I felt this cliffhanger was just very abrupt. That's really my biggest negative I have to say about this book.
This is my first book by Rachel Grey but I'm definitely interested in picking up more books of hers.
Wow, what a story!! The blurb doesn't do it justice! Consort is told in dual POV of Durin and Rue. Durin is a fae and in this land of Faerie, the Queen rules and encourages a very cruel realm for the whims of her nobles. He witness a senseless act of violence from a noble fae and makes it his mission to bring down the nobility and the queen herself. After his first success, he gets brought before the queen and becomes her consort, much to his disgust. Rue is a shifter, but shifters in this world are not the typical ones I'm used to reading about. When Rue presents late as an Omega, she and her mother flee their pack due to the despicable practices of their leader. When she is out one day, her heat strikes her and Durin comes across her and their lives become intertwined.
This story had me hooked! There is so much more to it than the romance. There is revenge, defying fate, determination to change the status quo, and such growth. Durin has so much rage inside him that he has a whole 'no-f's-to-give' attitude except when it comes to Rue, where it becomes touch her and die. Honestly, they are so sweet together that I just melted. And Rue is so strong that she is not willing to go down without a fight. She'll do whatever she can to make the best of what hand she's been dealt. I loved every page of their story!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Best part about this book, in my opinion, was the world building and different types of fairies. Unfortunately the characters, story development, and relationships fell a bit flat.
Durin is the MMC, introduced at the beginning with his friend Farris who I actually thought might be another main and develop into MFM but he quickly disappears from the story. He's supposedly there but literally invisible.
Durin is fairly compelling for his part, though. I liked him and his motivations but movement on his storyline is slow going. I eventually didn't feel that invested in him.
Rue is the FMC and I just don't like her. She's "not that kind of omega" omega wolf. She starts out looking down on omegas with internalized misogyny that never really gets better. She doesn't feel very complex or developed, either.
And the two together didn't work for me. They share one heat which Rue doesn't even remember, interact a handful of times total over the course of the book, and supposedly fall in love. Their meetings were superficial and I just couldn't buy into their relationship.
Add into that all the time skips, lack of story movement, and only 1.25 spicy scenes and it totalled out to an about average read.
**This is an ARC review.** Out of respect for the author, waited to share my review. Thank you for the opportunity
'My magic may be weak now, but it will soon become lethal. Then, I’ll unleash it on those in power. No matter the cost to myself.'
I really enjoyed this book. Good world building and characters. I loved Durin and Rue. Though one is fae and the other a shifter, both are constrained in their own societies. Rue is hiding that she is omega to not be subject to the cruel alphas of her pack who would use and abuse her. The fae queen and nobles revel in violence and kill for sport and abuse their power. Durin wants to free his people from her cruelty and abuse. Being forced into her consort could bring him closer to that role no matter how much everything he is rebels against her. I loved how they both refuse to break, and are resolved.
I thought I'd be more drawn to Rue and her situation as I love omegas fighting against abuse and inequality, but I was completely taken in by Durin. His situation captivated me the most. I loved the way their relationship developed and they grew to trust and love each other. But the situation was still dangerous and I was riveted to find out what would happen. And that cliffhanger! Onward to King. 5 stars
Need a book that will rip your heart out at the end?! Then READ THIS NOW!! This story is about a girl named Rue who tries to escape a horrible fate in her pack. In trying to make her own destiny in the face of adversity, she meets Durin, a Fae. Durin also is facing his own battles trying to make the realm a better better place, free from the hate and corruption the current queen is encouraging. Rue and Durin's journey together is one of forbidden love, Spice, misunderstandings, danger and lots of Secrets.
What I love about the book: -Great FMC who's strong willed -The imagery is phenomenal -World building is great!!!!! -I really enjoyed how the theme of "There are still good people in a corrupt World" is explored. -I really love the scene of how The FMC Rue and Durin meet -The Fantasy world and different creatures are written about beautifully. -Can't forget about Farris and Durin Friendship, Love it!!
This book is a quick read, gets a bit complex at the end.
This book is tastefully written in the POV's of Durin and Rue
I really enjoyed this book. The author creates a rich magical land filled with many different kinds of creatures. The fae are the more powerful ones who answer to the Queen, who is evil. The shifters, elves, kelpies, etc. all have magic also but are treated as second - or third-rate citizens by the fae. Rue is a shifter who has been presented as an Omega for the Alpha of her pack to claim. She resists this designation, as the Alpha is evil and shares his mate with all other males in their pack. Rue is determined not to make this her fate, and she runs away. Durin is a kind-hearted fae whose power is coveted by the Queen. He hates having to use his power for her evil but plans to bring her down from the inside. Fate brings Rue and Durin together in this novel. I love each of their characters and their strong determination to do what is right. The world building is great. I am really looking forward to continuing the story with the next book. Thank you to BookSirens and the author for giving me a chance to read it.
Power Corrupts! In the land of Faerie reigns a corrupt Fae queen. The castle and the lands that surround it are grey and devoid of life; soldiers and nobles are free to exploit their cruel and evil intentions on the lesser fae. When Durin is confronted with this evil, he vows to put an end to the queen’s reign from within. The reader follows his journey to separate friend from foe, because, fortunately, not everybody at court is on the queen’s side. As a more or less separate story he finds himself with Rue and falls in love with her. He is struggling with the choice between his heart and his conviction that he must save his world. A wonderful telling of what moves a person to decide what to fight for. The world of Fae, shifters and all kinds of magic, the good and the bad. It does end on a shocking cliffhanger, but it’s not a long wait to be able to read the second half of Durin’s and Rue’s travels through life. Highly enjoyable, I loved it! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Consort is told in a dual POV by our two MCs Rue and Durin. Rue has recently become an Omega and is destined to become the Prime Alphas mate. Only problem is Rue has no desire to ever be his mate. She is repulsed by him and how he runs his pack, so instead of being mated, Rue and her mother run off for a new life. This is where Rue meets Dorin, a newly appointed noble fae and the Queens consort. Dorin has spent the last 4 years honing his heat magic in order to avenge a friend. Not only does he succeed but he has now gained the Queens attention.
Both Rue and Dorin are trapped in lives they didn't chose. They both want a better life.
There are definitely still lots of unknowns revolving around the and the seasons. I am definitely curious as to where this story will go.
Thanks you Rachel and Book Sirens for the digital copy. My thoughts and review are my own.
Rachel Grey's debut novel Consort, the first book in the Noble Reckoning series, offers an enchanting and refreshing perspective on the fae world that immediately draws the reader in and refuses to let go. The story revolves around the captivating journey of Rue, a strong-willed female shifter who bravely flees her pack in search of a different path. As fate would have it, her world collides with that of Durin, a powerful and enigmatic male fae driven by a noble quest to right the wrongs plaguing their realm. Grey masterfully weaves a tale brimming with vivid descriptions, richly developed characters, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, eagerly turning each page to uncover what happens next. Consort sets the stage for an epic adventure, leaving you craving more and eagerly anticipating the next instalment in this promising new series. Rachel Grey has undoubtedly made her mark in the fantasy genre with this spellbinding debut that will leave you utterly enchanted.
Durin is a soldier for the Fae queen and also serves as her reluctant consort, much to his dismay. He is not permitted to have any other lover. But his sacrifice of being with her will ultimately help his people, so he has no choice. When he discovers Rue, an Omega shifter who has gone into heat and is suffering, he wants to help her and offers to find an alpha to relieve her suffering. But she is determined to make her own choices in life and absolutely refuses to give in to the demeaning and abusive males in the pack. She only wants this Fae to help her through this. But with his “special” situation with the queen, he would be putting them both in great danger if his helping her that way was discovered. What choice will he make? Will he help her this once? Or is the risk too great for both of them? And would he be failing his people if he helped the Omega and lost the queen’s trust, destroying the chance of one day defeating her and freeing the realm from her cruel treatment of her subjects?
This is a mix of Fae and Omegaverse and I missed the Fae part, I thought it was only omegaverse. It threw me off and it confused me a bit because these are two very different genre's. That being said I loved Rachel Grey's other omegaverse series I read so I read it anyways and picked up the second book.
So this book follows a fae with heat abilities who ends up being the fae Queens consort and a wolf shifter who finds out she's an Omega who runs away from her pack. These two meet when she is in the throws of her first ever heat and he is able to glamour his anatomy to help her through the heat. But fae and shifters hate each other so when her heat ends she freaks out and runs scared.
It's an interesting plot and I think the characters are interesting. I love the authors writing style and the pace was amazing. I feel like the flow was off because of the meshed genres. It also left off with a pretty big cliff hanger for both characters. All in all it was a good story I just didn't love, love it. I look forward to finding out what happens next for these characters in the second book.
There are so many constraints in the land of Faerie where the Queen is not kind and the nobles that serve her are not kind either. Durin is wary and not happy with the way those who are not nobles are treated. He tries to resist and stay under the radar while trying to bring the system down, including the Queen. Unfortunately, he winds up coming to the attention of the Queen who makes him her consort, something he did not want. It is unfortunate that Durin meets Rue after this happens and at a time when she needs him to help her through a heat. Something forbidden for the consort of the Queen. They truly care about one another but there is danger in their connection from without. How can they navigate a ruthless realm to find their way to their HEA? What a good story and I am looking forward to reading the next story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thank you BookSirens and Rachel Grey. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is my first Omegaverse novel, and it was interesting. I had an idea of what I was getting into from the blurb, but it was way more intense and dark than I expected.
I did enjoy the two different POVs with Durin and Rue. They were well done, and I really liked both characters. Of the two MCs, Durin was by far my favorite, and his story felt like it had the most action.
Rue's part of the story was mostly sitting in one place with very little action for a good portion of the book.
The side characters were also fairly fleshed out, and enjoyable in their own ways. The magic and worldbuilding was also good, the pacing was steady, and there were some twists and turns that I didn't expect.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, and learning more about this fascinating world.
I was surprised that I could not find any TW/CW anywhere for this book. The main ones that I saw are The characters are negatively affected by these experiences, and there is a lot of trauma they will need to work through.