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Desperate Disguise #4
Hidden Within the Secret Heart
Trapped between two worlds and safe in neither…
Crane escaped justice, and now he’s hunting me through the High Priestess’s court. I’m trapped in the Divine Residence, spirit-linked to a knight I don’t trust, and the newest plaything to the most powerful woman in the fae realm. I can’t refuse her demands, can’t stop manifesting in the Garden when I go to bed, and can’t reveal that my mating marks have been put to sleep… or that I’m human.
To make matters worse, the novices tormenting me in the Black Tower have gone eerily silent. They’re planning something and I’m afraid I won’t survive their retribution.
On top of that, the leaders of the Black Guard have sworn to protect me while I’m in the the fierce Lord Commander Rider, the charming Lord Quill, and the beautiful Talon. But I can’t forget how they turned their backs on me when I needed them most in the Gray, and it’s difficult to remember what I should and shouldn’t know about them to keep my secrets.
Everything is getting more complicated, and I yearn for the one person who makes me feel safe, who I can trust. Ash. Except he’s been banned from the Divine Residence and I’ve no way of getting to him.
It’s too soon for it to all fall apart. If I can’t survive the novices’ revenge, the High Priestess’s games, and the predator hunting me, my sacrifice to save my brother will have been for nothing…
*Hidden Within the Secret Heart is the fourth book in a fantasy romance series with a determined heroine and hot dangerous men. This romantasy is a slow burn, steamy, girl disguised as a man story that takes place in a magical world of kingdoms and shadowy monsters and is filled with fast-paced action.*
Crane escaped justice, and now he’s hunting me through the High Priestess’s court. I’m trapped in the Divine Residence, spirit-linked to a knight I don’t trust, and the newest plaything to the most powerful woman in the fae realm. I can’t refuse her demands, can’t stop manifesting in the Garden when I go to bed, and can’t reveal that my mating marks have been put to sleep… or that I’m human.
To make matters worse, the novices tormenting me in the Black Tower have gone eerily silent. They’re planning something and I’m afraid I won’t survive their retribution.
On top of that, the leaders of the Black Guard have sworn to protect me while I’m in the the fierce Lord Commander Rider, the charming Lord Quill, and the beautiful Talon. But I can’t forget how they turned their backs on me when I needed them most in the Gray, and it’s difficult to remember what I should and shouldn’t know about them to keep my secrets.
Everything is getting more complicated, and I yearn for the one person who makes me feel safe, who I can trust. Ash. Except he’s been banned from the Divine Residence and I’ve no way of getting to him.
It’s too soon for it to all fall apart. If I can’t survive the novices’ revenge, the High Priestess’s games, and the predator hunting me, my sacrifice to save my brother will have been for nothing…
*Hidden Within the Secret Heart is the fourth book in a fantasy romance series with a determined heroine and hot dangerous men. This romantasy is a slow burn, steamy, girl disguised as a man story that takes place in a magical world of kingdoms and shadowy monsters and is filled with fast-paced action.*
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
March 8, 2026
I finished this book, and I immediately cancelled my preorder for book 5. I really really liked this series during the first 2 books, but it has become abundantly clear to me that the author has no idea what to do to move this story forward. She doesn't even know how many books in the series. Her newsletter said that the story is just "too big," but honestly, it's not. This book is about 200 pages of inner monologue that you can completely skim. There is no romantic progression. There is no plot progression - just a bunch of random classes and mini fights that do not feel relevant to the larger story. The FMC barely spends time with any of the MMCs. The reader learns nothing. The characters learn nothing. The cliffhanger is the EXACT ending that happened at the end of book 2 (literally the SAME - it's just recycled plot at this point). The author is just going in circles and nothing is moving forward. I also hate every scene in the Garden at this point. Sir West was honestly the only character who I found remotely interesting in this book. I read the first 2 books in less than 24 hours, but it took me almost a week to read this book (and I'm a fast reader). This was so boring. It was so repetitive. Honestly, you can skip books 3 and 4 of this series because they read like little novellas or bonus content. Absolutely NOTHING happened. I'm really disappointed particularly because this book took 1 full year to come out. As of right now, I have no desire to continue this series because I don't have faith that the author knows what she's doing with this story.
Also, how long is it going to take the real Sawyer to escape the great kingdom? How will Sage even know when he has done so? We are completely losing the plot here. All of the characters lost me in this book.
Also, how long is it going to take the real Sawyer to escape the great kingdom? How will Sage even know when he has done so? We are completely losing the plot here. All of the characters lost me in this book.
Review of advance copy
I did not recieve an ARC i am just in a diffrent timezone and therefore finished the book earlier than goodreads wants to accept. :)
Without trying to be mean, because i wanted to love this book i really did. This book was a clusterfuck and not in the good way. How is it that we are four books deep, we have no viable relationship with any of the guys, hell we are making negative progress actually. No plot points got resolved, we are not closer to finding out anything. We get one minor reveal and essentially nothing of note happens. Theres just more and more subplots being introduced, one more forced than the other.
I am inclined to say, if there was an achievement for how little progress can be made in two books, the recent installments defnitely win it.
It is such a shame really, i loved the first two, then the third fell really flat and unfortunately the fourth seems to follow suit. Safe to say i will not be continuing the series because i dont see any possible resolution without atleast 10 books in the series. I read somewhere that the author herself doesnt really know how many books its going to be and unfortunately it shows. The pacing just does not make sense at all.
Without trying to be mean, because i wanted to love this book i really did. This book was a clusterfuck and not in the good way. How is it that we are four books deep, we have no viable relationship with any of the guys, hell we are making negative progress actually. No plot points got resolved, we are not closer to finding out anything. We get one minor reveal and essentially nothing of note happens. Theres just more and more subplots being introduced, one more forced than the other.
I am inclined to say, if there was an achievement for how little progress can be made in two books, the recent installments defnitely win it.
It is such a shame really, i loved the first two, then the third fell really flat and unfortunately the fourth seems to follow suit. Safe to say i will not be continuing the series because i dont see any possible resolution without atleast 10 books in the series. I read somewhere that the author herself doesnt really know how many books its going to be and unfortunately it shows. The pacing just does not make sense at all.
March 4, 2026
Waste of a Read
Literally nothing changed from the last book. I don't even mind cliffhangers but stuff has to actually happen in the story for it to work. I was waiting for this to come out because I was interested in where the story goes but this book killed any interest.
Literally nothing changed from the last book. I don't even mind cliffhangers but stuff has to actually happen in the story for it to work. I was waiting for this to come out because I was interested in where the story goes but this book killed any interest.
March 28, 2026
I won't be reading the next book. I enjoyed book one, but since then, nothing has happened. It's been dragged out wayyyyy too long without any development, any reveals, any growth, any anything. Massive disappointment.
March 4, 2026
Don't bother. This series started off with promise but it's clearly a dud. The author must think so too, seeing as she's putting out new series at the same time. Nothing happens, there's no plot movement. 2 books where NOTHING happens? Please. The author clearly doesn't know what to do with this story and is floundering.
March 5, 2026
I am really disappointed with this author and the lack of direction and progress in this story. This is book four, and she seems unsure of where she's taking her characters. She wrote 396 pages of words to say nothing of consequence. Sadly, I won't be finishing this series.
March 4, 2026
Disappointed
I waited an entire year for this book, I was so excited, and it was pretty much the same thing that happened in the 3rd book. I'm seriously disappointed.
I waited an entire year for this book, I was so excited, and it was pretty much the same thing that happened in the 3rd book. I'm seriously disappointed.
March 4, 2026
Sooo.. slow.. same book over and over..
It's so slow paced, it's the same conflict and the same character. No character building. Just boring.. no changes no plot updates.. same story as last book worded differently.
It's so slow paced, it's the same conflict and the same character. No character building. Just boring.. no changes no plot updates.. same story as last book worded differently.
March 3, 2026
I’m feeling sad and irritated.
This whole book was pure torture. This is book 4/5 and there is still more questions. Judging by how short these books are, I’m wondering how are we going to get all of the answers to the many problems in just the 5th book.I started this book at 7am and now I’ve finished it at 1pm. I love the storyline. I hate the ongoing stories without any solutions or clarity in site. Or maybe I’m just impatient. I’ve waited a year to be disappointed.
This whole book was pure torture. This is book 4/5 and there is still more questions. Judging by how short these books are, I’m wondering how are we going to get all of the answers to the many problems in just the 5th book.I started this book at 7am and now I’ve finished it at 1pm. I love the storyline. I hate the ongoing stories without any solutions or clarity in site. Or maybe I’m just impatient. I’ve waited a year to be disappointed.
March 3, 2026
Will admit, yet another book that felt like nothing freaking happened.
This series is dragging so bad it's almost painful... but it's also so good I keep coming back to it like an abusive ex. It's insane how much these books frustrate me but also completely captivate me.
This series is dragging so bad it's almost painful... but it's also so good I keep coming back to it like an abusive ex. It's insane how much these books frustrate me but also completely captivate me.
March 6, 2026
2.5 Stars
Gahhhh another book and again barely any forward momentum to the plot until the usual cliffhanger. 😩
These books aren’t necessarily good but I eat them up each time because it’s a chaotic mess of tropes I usually love. I’m praying the next book delivers some explosive reveals or actual developments in the relationships because I’ve waited long enough!
Gahhhh another book and again barely any forward momentum to the plot until the usual cliffhanger. 😩
These books aren’t necessarily good but I eat them up each time because it’s a chaotic mess of tropes I usually love. I’m praying the next book delivers some explosive reveals or actual developments in the relationships because I’ve waited long enough!
March 4, 2026
Book 4 ends in same place as previous books.
Honestly, this book ends in the same place as the previous book.
We are in book 4, the FMC still knows nothing, is still hiding as a boy in 1 realm and has learned nothing about how to use her magic at all.
All 4 MMC’s are still clueless, self-sabotaging idiots.
The enemies have learned nothing, human or fae.
It’s been some 1200 pages of writing where I know as munch now about the castle, magic, shadow, garden, the world, and the antagonist/plot as I figured out halfway through book 1.
The world building would be interesting if the plot moved forward. Next installment is a year out.
Waste of time to be honest. Wait till the author is done with the series before wasting your time.
Honestly, this book ends in the same place as the previous book.
We are in book 4, the FMC still knows nothing, is still hiding as a boy in 1 realm and has learned nothing about how to use her magic at all.
All 4 MMC’s are still clueless, self-sabotaging idiots.
The enemies have learned nothing, human or fae.
It’s been some 1200 pages of writing where I know as munch now about the castle, magic, shadow, garden, the world, and the antagonist/plot as I figured out halfway through book 1.
The world building would be interesting if the plot moved forward. Next installment is a year out.
Waste of time to be honest. Wait till the author is done with the series before wasting your time.
March 4, 2026
The first three books were great, so my expectations for this one were high. Unfortunately… nothing actually happens.
We’re on book FOUR and the plot is still barely moving. At this point we’re just waiting for people to figure out who she is. That’s it. That’s the plot.
And the FMC and MMC are still not even in a relationship. In the fourth book. How is that even possible?
It’s not slow burn anymore, it’s just… slow.
Will I read the next book? Probably. But at this pace we might all need the patience of saints because it feels like the end of this series is about ten years away.
We’re on book FOUR and the plot is still barely moving. At this point we’re just waiting for people to figure out who she is. That’s it. That’s the plot.
And the FMC and MMC are still not even in a relationship. In the fourth book. How is that even possible?
It’s not slow burn anymore, it’s just… slow.
Will I read the next book? Probably. But at this pace we might all need the patience of saints because it feels like the end of this series is about ten years away.
March 15, 2026
Holy!
Spoiler Alert! Don’t read further if you haven’t read the book yet!
Wow! Just WOW! It felt like forever before this book was released and she STILL didn’t reveal her secret! Ugh. I was really hoping she would have told one of them at least but, she didn’t… this book had more attention of her in the garden as a female fae than at the Black Tower although we did get some good action happening at the black tower in this book. I just feel like it was just a super small percentage of the book.
The ending of the last one, had her seeing a vision of the only guys at the Black Tower (the only ones nice to her), dying from a poison. No one knew they had been poisoned and would have missed it, if she didn’t jump out of the bath from the guys room, and raced to the clinic. The amount of chaos in the clinic, no one was listening to her until she decided to take matters into her own hands, by grabbing the poison remedy and forcing Kit to drink it, before Payne voluntarily drank his poison remedy. Everyone is super confused, they fought Shadow bears… not vipers. There’s talk of the shadow bear hunters mobilizing their forces to hunt, when before each shadow fought for themselves only. It’s wondered if they were a decoy, so smaller shadows could unknowingly bite them. Then, on the novices second rotation, Sawyer/Sage is assigned clinic duty. It is much lighter than mucking the stalls. Reef the Doctor, basically refuses to teach Sawyer/Sage and makes him clean the clinic daily. Thankfully, and unthankfully, Payne, and Kit are still in the clinic healing from the fight so they start to put pieces together and realize that Sawyer/Sage isn’t getting a fair shot at learning as Reef the Dr only shows Garridan, another Novice how to suture etc… this was a mistake, because Reef took both Novices out into the Gray to meet a travelling merchant, who was bringing medical supplies. Stupid men thought they could check the medical supplies, testing the purity of the medication, OUT IN THE OPEN IN THE GRAY! It had disaster written all over it, but Sawyer/Sage being only a Novice, couldn’t say anything. Plus, it would just look like he/she was complaining. Not once does Sawyer/Sage complain but the men at the black tower are still salty over him/her coming through the ring during night, which is when the shadow beasts are most active. (I don’t understand why 99% of the men at this stupid black tower treat him/her like it was their lives she put in danger when he/she came through the ring in the dark of night in the first book, when none of them were there to help. Only Ryder, Quill and Talon if I remember correctly came and saved Saywer/Sage. Additionally, Lord Commander Ryder allows all the novices to treat Sawyer/Sage like a bug under their shoe, physically, and mentally bullying him to the point where they thought they could rape him, this of course happened in the previous book, but the bullying Never stopped in this one, even though the lords/captains are seeing a boy who doesn’t complain, ever, doesn’t talk back, follows orders and is reliable. The lords, All know what’s happening. The bullies think Sawyer/Sage is getting special treatment, because he doesn’t complain nor does he fight back, but he isn’t getting special treatment, not for being small, or quiet, he keeps proving himself each and every day even though the bullies boast about doing worse to him/her since he doesn’t cow down. He just keeps on trucking. When the Dr was inspecting the medical supplies, of course a bunch of shadow beast dog like creatures show up, and launch themselves at them all. The travelling merchant gets hurt, and Garradin, the idiot, just stands there in a stupor, even though he’s quite a bit bigger than Saywer/Sage. He just stands there in a daze. Not helping. Sawyer manages to get the merchant, and Garradin in the cart where he does his best to protect them both. He came up with the idea to use a lid from one of the medical barrels as a shield. His long sword is useless in a close fighting quarters. Dr Reed was a former guard so he’s good with a sword and helps Payne keep the dog like creatures off them until the Lords came. Thankfully, Sawyer held off his own dog like creatures until more help arrived. If Payne hadn’t been there and volunteered to go to the ring with them. It would have ended differently.
The fae garden, Sage is confined to the bedroom she was regulated too, along with her new guard West. He’s very quiet and has a really good resting biatch face. He never shows his emotions so Sage can’t tell if he’s sympathetic to her or if he would run and tell her secrets to the queen? I can’t remember the exact name they used but it’s essentially the same position. She saw Sage as a broken thing, and is making sure she can mate her off to those she’s chosen for her since she can sense her power. Thankfully she can’t tell what it is, and the gift for foresight is more of a curse than a gift as they all say when Sawyer has to tell how he knew her friends were poisoned. Sage had Zinnia put her marks to sleep so it helps with her sex drive as the marks just make her arousal worse the more time she holds off on mating. Everyone is searching for her attackers that got away. Unfortunately, the queen hosts a ball in her honor and makes her dance with all the “eligible bachelors” of her choice. Unfortunately, one of the dancers turns out to be one of her old attackers and drew her away from the ballroom, where they planned to finish the job of forcing a mating on her. Her guardian West arrives just in time, along with Ryder, Talon, Quill and Ashe. It broke me to read Ashes rejection to her. The reader knows he’s doing it to protect her but all he manages to do is make her question her worth in the world. No one cares about her besides her brother Sawyer. Not even Detective Yarrow, the one investigating her original assault. He basically implied she asked to be attacked because she keeps showing up at the garden and he didn’t believe she told them she wasn’t interested. Shocker!
Spoiler Alert! Don’t read further if you haven’t read the book yet!
Wow! Just WOW! It felt like forever before this book was released and she STILL didn’t reveal her secret! Ugh. I was really hoping she would have told one of them at least but, she didn’t… this book had more attention of her in the garden as a female fae than at the Black Tower although we did get some good action happening at the black tower in this book. I just feel like it was just a super small percentage of the book.
The ending of the last one, had her seeing a vision of the only guys at the Black Tower (the only ones nice to her), dying from a poison. No one knew they had been poisoned and would have missed it, if she didn’t jump out of the bath from the guys room, and raced to the clinic. The amount of chaos in the clinic, no one was listening to her until she decided to take matters into her own hands, by grabbing the poison remedy and forcing Kit to drink it, before Payne voluntarily drank his poison remedy. Everyone is super confused, they fought Shadow bears… not vipers. There’s talk of the shadow bear hunters mobilizing their forces to hunt, when before each shadow fought for themselves only. It’s wondered if they were a decoy, so smaller shadows could unknowingly bite them. Then, on the novices second rotation, Sawyer/Sage is assigned clinic duty. It is much lighter than mucking the stalls. Reef the Doctor, basically refuses to teach Sawyer/Sage and makes him clean the clinic daily. Thankfully, and unthankfully, Payne, and Kit are still in the clinic healing from the fight so they start to put pieces together and realize that Sawyer/Sage isn’t getting a fair shot at learning as Reef the Dr only shows Garridan, another Novice how to suture etc… this was a mistake, because Reef took both Novices out into the Gray to meet a travelling merchant, who was bringing medical supplies. Stupid men thought they could check the medical supplies, testing the purity of the medication, OUT IN THE OPEN IN THE GRAY! It had disaster written all over it, but Sawyer/Sage being only a Novice, couldn’t say anything. Plus, it would just look like he/she was complaining. Not once does Sawyer/Sage complain but the men at the black tower are still salty over him/her coming through the ring during night, which is when the shadow beasts are most active. (I don’t understand why 99% of the men at this stupid black tower treat him/her like it was their lives she put in danger when he/she came through the ring in the dark of night in the first book, when none of them were there to help. Only Ryder, Quill and Talon if I remember correctly came and saved Saywer/Sage. Additionally, Lord Commander Ryder allows all the novices to treat Sawyer/Sage like a bug under their shoe, physically, and mentally bullying him to the point where they thought they could rape him, this of course happened in the previous book, but the bullying Never stopped in this one, even though the lords/captains are seeing a boy who doesn’t complain, ever, doesn’t talk back, follows orders and is reliable. The lords, All know what’s happening. The bullies think Sawyer/Sage is getting special treatment, because he doesn’t complain nor does he fight back, but he isn’t getting special treatment, not for being small, or quiet, he keeps proving himself each and every day even though the bullies boast about doing worse to him/her since he doesn’t cow down. He just keeps on trucking. When the Dr was inspecting the medical supplies, of course a bunch of shadow beast dog like creatures show up, and launch themselves at them all. The travelling merchant gets hurt, and Garradin, the idiot, just stands there in a stupor, even though he’s quite a bit bigger than Saywer/Sage. He just stands there in a daze. Not helping. Sawyer manages to get the merchant, and Garradin in the cart where he does his best to protect them both. He came up with the idea to use a lid from one of the medical barrels as a shield. His long sword is useless in a close fighting quarters. Dr Reed was a former guard so he’s good with a sword and helps Payne keep the dog like creatures off them until the Lords came. Thankfully, Sawyer held off his own dog like creatures until more help arrived. If Payne hadn’t been there and volunteered to go to the ring with them. It would have ended differently.
The fae garden, Sage is confined to the bedroom she was regulated too, along with her new guard West. He’s very quiet and has a really good resting biatch face. He never shows his emotions so Sage can’t tell if he’s sympathetic to her or if he would run and tell her secrets to the queen? I can’t remember the exact name they used but it’s essentially the same position. She saw Sage as a broken thing, and is making sure she can mate her off to those she’s chosen for her since she can sense her power. Thankfully she can’t tell what it is, and the gift for foresight is more of a curse than a gift as they all say when Sawyer has to tell how he knew her friends were poisoned. Sage had Zinnia put her marks to sleep so it helps with her sex drive as the marks just make her arousal worse the more time she holds off on mating. Everyone is searching for her attackers that got away. Unfortunately, the queen hosts a ball in her honor and makes her dance with all the “eligible bachelors” of her choice. Unfortunately, one of the dancers turns out to be one of her old attackers and drew her away from the ballroom, where they planned to finish the job of forcing a mating on her. Her guardian West arrives just in time, along with Ryder, Talon, Quill and Ashe. It broke me to read Ashes rejection to her. The reader knows he’s doing it to protect her but all he manages to do is make her question her worth in the world. No one cares about her besides her brother Sawyer. Not even Detective Yarrow, the one investigating her original assault. He basically implied she asked to be attacked because she keeps showing up at the garden and he didn’t believe she told them she wasn’t interested. Shocker!
March 7, 2026
These books are quick reads, sure. But we're as far into the plot at the end of book 4 as we were at the end of book 2. I wish something substantial would happen.
She does read a book and find out something about her fae-touched abilities and why she can manifest in the Garden. But really no other plot movement.
She does read a book and find out something about her fae-touched abilities and why she can manifest in the Garden. But really no other plot movement.
March 14, 2026
Another great installment in this story. I'm salivating for the next book. This series is addicting!
The slow, slow burn as she builds trust and intimacy with each MMC is so satisfying. And the constant tension of "will she be caught/will her secret be revealed?" had me turning pages faster and faster.
The slow, slow burn as she builds trust and intimacy with each MMC is so satisfying. And the constant tension of "will she be caught/will her secret be revealed?" had me turning pages faster and faster.
March 10, 2026
Buddy Read- 2 stars is generous for this tome- this is more of the same but with even less action (sex) or forward momentum in the story. Reading this is a necessary evil at this point, 4 stories in, but we are going to follow it through to the end!
Its annoying in the indecision of all the characters, as they all live different lives between the Gray and the Garden. Its just plain annoying, yet still addictive and easy to read.
I highlighted a few glimmers of humor:
"Maybe I should retreat to my bedroom and leave him with Lord-Even-Less-Chatty, Sir West. The two of them could glare at each other all night."
and
"With a grunt, his gaze shifted to Talon, who gave him a tight nod. Male communication at its finest."
Highlight and Spoiler:
"I closed my eyes and my heart ached to be in Ash’s arms again. Talon and Quill had satisfied a need, and as much as I was attracted to them, desired them, maybe even craved them, I didn’t feel the depth of comfort and safety I did with Ash.
Father, if I could resume what I had with Ash, I could get through anything. With Ash, at least my nights would be safe."
I was so annoyed with her longing for ASH so I was actually rooting for some kind of betrayal so we could have SOME kind of emotion. That's pretty rare for me :)
Spoiler- it happened. Not what I would have expected but hey, it's really my fault for expecting better at this point.
Its annoying in the indecision of all the characters, as they all live different lives between the Gray and the Garden. Its just plain annoying, yet still addictive and easy to read.
I highlighted a few glimmers of humor:
"Maybe I should retreat to my bedroom and leave him with Lord-Even-Less-Chatty, Sir West. The two of them could glare at each other all night."
and
"With a grunt, his gaze shifted to Talon, who gave him a tight nod. Male communication at its finest."
Highlight and Spoiler:
"I closed my eyes and my heart ached to be in Ash’s arms again. Talon and Quill had satisfied a need, and as much as I was attracted to them, desired them, maybe even craved them, I didn’t feel the depth of comfort and safety I did with Ash.
Father, if I could resume what I had with Ash, I could get through anything. With Ash, at least my nights would be safe."
I was so annoyed with her longing for ASH so I was actually rooting for some kind of betrayal so we could have SOME kind of emotion. That's pretty rare for me :)
Spoiler- it happened. Not what I would have expected but hey, it's really my fault for expecting better at this point.
March 18, 2026
This whole series is rage bait. There is NO PLOT PROGRESSION. No progression in romantic interest no nothing. There’s such a lack of consistent progress throughout the whole series it genuinely feels like rage bait. This whole series could’ve been two books max. It feels like the author has no clear goal in mind for the series cause why is it book 4 and we’re in the same place as book one
March 12, 2026
“Hidden Within the Secret Heart,” by Tessa Cole
This series honestly still has me hooked. In this book the FMC is stuck deep in the High Priestess’s court in the fae realm, trying to survive political games, enemies hunting her, and the fact that she’s hiding a massive secret about who she really is. She’s trapped in the Divine Residence, spirit-linked to a knight she doesn’t fully trust, while powerful fae figures start pulling her deeper into their schemes. One of my favorite parts of this series is the reverse harem dynamic. The Black Guard guys are all very different personalities, but they all circle around her in this protective, tension-filled way that makes every scene interesting. There’s also a lot of military-style training and guard hierarchy, which I love in academy-type stories. It gives the book this structured tension where everyone is constantly watching each other. The world itself mixes fae politics, shifters, magic, and hidden identities, and the FMC constantly has to keep up the act that she belongs there even though she’s secretly human. The “secret girl disguised among powerful fae” trope is honestly one of my favorites.
5 out of 5 stars. My only tiny complaint is that the slowburn is starting to feel extremely slow. I love the tension, but I’m getting to the point where I’m like… okay please just let them figure it out already. Even if the slowburn is torturing me a little, the characters and world still have me completely invested.
-Reverse Harem
-Slowburn
-Shadow Daddy
-Military Training
-Shifters
-Fae
-Hidden Identity/ Secret Girl
Thank you for the ARC, Booksprout.
This series honestly still has me hooked. In this book the FMC is stuck deep in the High Priestess’s court in the fae realm, trying to survive political games, enemies hunting her, and the fact that she’s hiding a massive secret about who she really is. She’s trapped in the Divine Residence, spirit-linked to a knight she doesn’t fully trust, while powerful fae figures start pulling her deeper into their schemes. One of my favorite parts of this series is the reverse harem dynamic. The Black Guard guys are all very different personalities, but they all circle around her in this protective, tension-filled way that makes every scene interesting. There’s also a lot of military-style training and guard hierarchy, which I love in academy-type stories. It gives the book this structured tension where everyone is constantly watching each other. The world itself mixes fae politics, shifters, magic, and hidden identities, and the FMC constantly has to keep up the act that she belongs there even though she’s secretly human. The “secret girl disguised among powerful fae” trope is honestly one of my favorites.
5 out of 5 stars. My only tiny complaint is that the slowburn is starting to feel extremely slow. I love the tension, but I’m getting to the point where I’m like… okay please just let them figure it out already. Even if the slowburn is torturing me a little, the characters and world still have me completely invested.
-Reverse Harem
-Slowburn
-Shadow Daddy
-Military Training
-Shifters
-Fae
-Hidden Identity/ Secret Girl
Thank you for the ARC, Booksprout.
March 11, 2026
*Why Choose
*Fantasy
*Multi-1st-PoV
*Fae
*Shadow Monsters
*FMC in disguise
*FMC thinks human
*Established Harem (4)
*Slow building
*Mid Burn
*Book 4 / ?
Answers need to come out!!
I am really enjoying this series and how Sage is showing her strength of character and that actually half the time she’s wayyyy better than the boys 💪👸
The men are still confounded as to why they’re drawn to Sawyer and feel the strong urge to protect them, it’s creating tension and confusion and those feelings also apply to sage in the garden although and with her desire spikes its lead to some 🔥🌶️ moments!
Sage finds more information on what she potentially is and her powers, and finally Crane is held to account 👏👏which moves that element of the story on however we’re still not quite the wiser as to why Her Brilliance is obsessed with her. But the biggest thing for me is I feel I’m now at the stage of argggggh they need to know she’s a girl and who she is now!!! Otherwise it feels/could in the next one feel a bit stagnating without moving forward 🫤
Hoping for a bit more progress on the next book to match the potential this story really holds 😄 will absolutely continue to read the series!
*Fantasy
*Multi-1st-PoV
*Fae
*Shadow Monsters
*FMC in disguise
*FMC thinks human
*Established Harem (4)
*Slow building
*Mid Burn
*Book 4 / ?
Answers need to come out!!
I am really enjoying this series and how Sage is showing her strength of character and that actually half the time she’s wayyyy better than the boys 💪👸
The men are still confounded as to why they’re drawn to Sawyer and feel the strong urge to protect them, it’s creating tension and confusion and those feelings also apply to sage in the garden although and with her desire spikes its lead to some 🔥🌶️ moments!
Sage finds more information on what she potentially is and her powers, and finally Crane is held to account 👏👏which moves that element of the story on however we’re still not quite the wiser as to why Her Brilliance is obsessed with her. But the biggest thing for me is I feel I’m now at the stage of argggggh they need to know she’s a girl and who she is now!!! Otherwise it feels/could in the next one feel a bit stagnating without moving forward 🫤
Hoping for a bit more progress on the next book to match the potential this story really holds 😄 will absolutely continue to read the series!
August 10, 2026
🔗2026 IG Listened to...
🔗2026 TT Listened to...
⚫️ Series: Desperate disguise
⚫️ Secret identity (female - male), fantasy romance
⚫️ Reverse harem / very slow burn / with mm
⚫️ Pace: slow
🚨 Make sure to read the trigger warnings
📚 Ebook / braille
⚫️ Microtropes: Secret identity, abuse, bully, fae, humans, warlords, shadow beasts, friends, political, betrayel
⚫️ This 'female hidden as a male trope' is totally my yam. Although I am anxious to know what happens next, I'm also hoping for some kind off breaktrough. Because now I feel like the story (mostly romance wise) is going in circles. I hope we're getting somewhere in the next book(s).
🔗2026 TT Listened to...
⚫️ Series: Desperate disguise
⚫️ Secret identity (female - male), fantasy romance
⚫️ Reverse harem / very slow burn / with mm
⚫️ Pace: slow
🚨 Make sure to read the trigger warnings
📚 Ebook / braille
⚫️ Microtropes: Secret identity, abuse, bully, fae, humans, warlords, shadow beasts, friends, political, betrayel
⚫️ This 'female hidden as a male trope' is totally my yam. Although I am anxious to know what happens next, I'm also hoping for some kind off breaktrough. Because now I feel like the story (mostly romance wise) is going in circles. I hope we're getting somewhere in the next book(s).
March 6, 2026
I really enjoy the characters in this series and the different elements throughout. I preordered this and was disappointed because it felt like nothing happened in it. The plot feels like it was exactly where the last one left off just with a few new details added.
March 4, 2026
So good!
I love this series and can't wait for the next one. The changes between the world's and the suspense as to what is going to happen next is beautiful.
I love this series and can't wait for the next one. The changes between the world's and the suspense as to what is going to happen next is beautiful.
May 31, 2026
I honestly have no recollection of what i just read but it felt like a rewrite of book 2 & 3
March 4, 2026
Same ole Same.
Overall I think all the books have been very slow but still somewhat enjoyable but there is absolutely nothing worth remembering that happened in this book. I will probably read the 5th if it’s actually the last to finish the series but if there’s more I’m done with these books
Overall I think all the books have been very slow but still somewhat enjoyable but there is absolutely nothing worth remembering that happened in this book. I will probably read the 5th if it’s actually the last to finish the series but if there’s more I’m done with these books
March 4, 2026
Ugh.....I waited a year for very little progress! These books are becoming so drawn out I figured by book 4 at least one of the men would've discovered Sage's secret. Now I have to wait ANOTHER year and hope everything comes to a close in book 5, if not I give up.
March 5, 2026
This entire book could have been 3-5 chapters attached to the either the previous book or the beginning of the next one. Absolutely nothing of note happened and nobody made any progress in character growth except maybe West who had about 4 flashes of facial expression in the whole 364-page book.
March 5, 2026
No. Surely not. There’s no way that we have finished four out of (what seems to be) five books and they still don’t f*cking know that Sage is Sawyer?! If the next book is the last book, the pacing is going to be horrific. If it’s not, then what the hell is going on with this story?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2026
More like 1 star but I gave it an extra one just because it was easy and quick to read and I’ve read worse books. Whole book is just following a constant stream of running thoughts. Mind numbing, no story progress, oranges, swell.
March 18, 2026
I found the first 3 books interesting, but there was literally no plot progression in this book.
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