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The Cake Chaos Chronicles #1
Mates and Other Obstacles to Accidentally Saving The World
All I wanted for my birthday was a cake. Instead, I’m a snake… on a quest.
Yep, an honest-to-scales, snake. Did I mention I hate snakes?
Apparently not everyone does, because when my birthday explodes along with the bar, I’m stolen by a smoking hot shifter to his bear lair against my will.
I was supposed to be keeping a low, low profile before heading back to my secret human village. Instead I’m on a magical quest with Ward who claims we have a Fated Mates situation.
A what now?
I didn't sign up for that. Or the uncontrollable shifting. Or his Goddess spritzing a rampaging shifter problem across the realm. Somehow I end up the only person who can find her relics because I maybe, accidentally, ate the first one. Though I don’t think they’re in the one bed we end up in. Which is probably a good thing since they don’t seem to fix my snake problem, they only make me stranger.
The quest wouldn’t be so bad if the whole continent wasn’t determined to separate my soul from my body. Even if I don’t trust him, sticking with Ward is the only chance I have to not be a snake and stop the realm from being torn apart by claws and fangs. What choice do I have? I’ll need to find a whole bucket of courage with some trust on the side to try out this mate thing and maybe save the Harrowlands.
Yep, an honest-to-scales, snake. Did I mention I hate snakes?
Apparently not everyone does, because when my birthday explodes along with the bar, I’m stolen by a smoking hot shifter to his bear lair against my will.
I was supposed to be keeping a low, low profile before heading back to my secret human village. Instead I’m on a magical quest with Ward who claims we have a Fated Mates situation.
A what now?
I didn't sign up for that. Or the uncontrollable shifting. Or his Goddess spritzing a rampaging shifter problem across the realm. Somehow I end up the only person who can find her relics because I maybe, accidentally, ate the first one. Though I don’t think they’re in the one bed we end up in. Which is probably a good thing since they don’t seem to fix my snake problem, they only make me stranger.
The quest wouldn’t be so bad if the whole continent wasn’t determined to separate my soul from my body. Even if I don’t trust him, sticking with Ward is the only chance I have to not be a snake and stop the realm from being torn apart by claws and fangs. What choice do I have? I’ll need to find a whole bucket of courage with some trust on the side to try out this mate thing and maybe save the Harrowlands.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 9, 2025
99 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Emma Eden
5 books35 followersEmma Eden’s favorite food is drama, which she indulges in with every single one of the characters she’s written over 15 years of scribbles.
That’s why only fantasy worlds and strong heroes can contain her most outrageous, fun, silly and romantic impulses. The women she writes are complex messy beasts in worlds you’ll never want to leave. She brings this “big shark energy” and Happily Ever Afters to every one of her books.
When she’s not cooking up words, she’s cooking soup, burning baked goods and avoiding the sun.
You can read her thoughtful ramblings by signing up for her newsletter and ignoring her on socials.
Let’s be moon magic besties!
That’s why only fantasy worlds and strong heroes can contain her most outrageous, fun, silly and romantic impulses. The women she writes are complex messy beasts in worlds you’ll never want to leave. She brings this “big shark energy” and Happily Ever Afters to every one of her books.
When she’s not cooking up words, she’s cooking soup, burning baked goods and avoiding the sun.
You can read her thoughtful ramblings by signing up for her newsletter and ignoring her on socials.
Let’s be moon magic besties!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
October 29, 2025
MLC kidnaps his newly found mate, Evie. She grew up human, thought she was human, and then found out she wasn't (during her kidnapping).
Some things that stood out to me:
+ Out of the two Evie ends up being the bigger, more powerful shifter. She kicks ass (awkwardly).
+ female dragon, male rider and they protect each other
+ the story really didn't take itself too seriously. very lighthearted, but not too silly
+ she...ate the relics
+ chocolate cake
Maybe I don't read too many fated mates/ shifter romances, because the book didn't manage to surprise me with it's plot. Not complaining because I still had a great time, just don't expect the twists to be twisting too much. This book shines through it's characters, the banter and the one and only toad shifter I've encountered so far. That thing he did with his tongue? Impressive.
Some things that stood out to me:
+ Out of the two Evie ends up being the bigger, more powerful shifter. She kicks ass (awkwardly).
+ female dragon, male rider and they protect each other
+ the story really didn't take itself too seriously. very lighthearted, but not too silly
+ she...ate the relics
+ chocolate cake
May 18, 2025
This is my first ARC book and I was very excited to have gotten asked to do this review! I really enjoyed this story. Evie has the cutest sassy personality and gives quirky but relatable female main character energy. Ward is a strong and protective guy with quite literal “fuzzy teddy bear” energy. Watching their not so typical love story unfold and learning about the magical world they live in was entertaining. If you enjoy fantasy and romantic comedies, you should check out this book. I’m excited to see what’s next in the Cake Chronicles and hope to see stories about some of the side characters in the future as well. Thank you so much to Emma Eden for this opportunity to read and review your story. Mates and Other Obstacles to Accidentally Saving The World out now!!
May 5, 2025
First off, I’m so thankful to have been chosen to be an ARC reader!
This book was a wild ride of laughs and swoons. Ward has been such a refreshing character after reading nothing but dark broody MMCs. And Evie was just a bundle of hilarity and fun. The story had a lot of adventure and I never really knew where it was going to lead me next! I admit though there were some parts that confused me but I was able to figure it out along the way. If you’re looking for a romantasy that’s lighthearted and comical this is for you!
This book was a wild ride of laughs and swoons. Ward has been such a refreshing character after reading nothing but dark broody MMCs. And Evie was just a bundle of hilarity and fun. The story had a lot of adventure and I never really knew where it was going to lead me next! I admit though there were some parts that confused me but I was able to figure it out along the way. If you’re looking for a romantasy that’s lighthearted and comical this is for you!
July 4, 2025
This book has so much wasted potential! I wish it had been fleshed out and edited a bit more before it was published.
The world building was simply not described well enough for the reader to understand and visualise it. Which world are we in, how and why did it get separated from the human world, how does the portal dividing the two work, how did the machine wielding humans get here, what did they want to achieve, what's the shifters' life span, are Ward's and other shifter rulers' territories part of the Elf kingdom or separate, why and how did they kill the old gods, what are elves in relation to the shifters etc etc, ...
basically the author just throws information at you while not rooting any of said information into the worldbuilding to paint the whole picture which was really irritating.
There was also not enough character development in my opinion. What bothered me the most was that Evie and her sister never have a proper talk about their conflict which was the root of Evie's insecurities. I feel like such a big betrayal and an important piece of backstory should have been resolved by the end...
That being said, Evie and Ward were cute, I liked Noth and it was a fun read if you ignore the lacking characterisation and worldbuilding 😅
The world building was simply not described well enough for the reader to understand and visualise it. Which world are we in, how and why did it get separated from the human world, how does the portal dividing the two work, how did the machine wielding humans get here, what did they want to achieve, what's the shifters' life span, are Ward's and other shifter rulers' territories part of the Elf kingdom or separate, why and how did they kill the old gods, what are elves in relation to the shifters etc etc, ...
basically the author just throws information at you while not rooting any of said information into the worldbuilding to paint the whole picture which was really irritating.
There was also not enough character development in my opinion. What bothered me the most was that Evie and her sister never have a proper talk about their conflict which was the root of Evie's insecurities. I feel like such a big betrayal and an important piece of backstory should have been resolved by the end...
That being said, Evie and Ward were cute, I liked Noth and it was a fun read if you ignore the lacking characterisation and worldbuilding 😅
May 5, 2025
To sum up the story: I'd Choose The Bear.
This is my first ARC review and what an adventure! This fantasy romcom follows Evie, who, on her birthday, unfortunately gets dragged into the most wild adventure she didn't ask for. Between being told that she is a mate to a bear shifter and figuring out her uncontrollable snake shifting ability, she reluctantly goes on a quest to fix everything. And all she wanted was cake.
I adored this read because of how much this book had me laughing out loud. The characters are so unique and the found family development makes the heart grow fonder. Ward is a wonderful MMC that makes the saying, "I choose the bear," ring true. Evie is exactly what you expect for a realistic person being tossed into this magic adventure. What makes it unique is how their thoughts and feelings are relatable to every day relationships.
Eden's writing was enjoyable and easy to follow, so it was perfect for a fun and funny quick read. Her world was very cozy and I was immersed in the world she built.I highly recommend for those who love fantasy, romance, and cozy reads.
Thank you Emma Eden for the opportunity to read this ARC!
This is my first ARC review and what an adventure! This fantasy romcom follows Evie, who, on her birthday, unfortunately gets dragged into the most wild adventure she didn't ask for. Between being told that she is a mate to a bear shifter and figuring out her uncontrollable snake shifting ability, she reluctantly goes on a quest to fix everything. And all she wanted was cake.
I adored this read because of how much this book had me laughing out loud. The characters are so unique and the found family development makes the heart grow fonder. Ward is a wonderful MMC that makes the saying, "I choose the bear," ring true. Evie is exactly what you expect for a realistic person being tossed into this magic adventure. What makes it unique is how their thoughts and feelings are relatable to every day relationships.
Eden's writing was enjoyable and easy to follow, so it was perfect for a fun and funny quick read. Her world was very cozy and I was immersed in the world she built.I highly recommend for those who love fantasy, romance, and cozy reads.
Thank you Emma Eden for the opportunity to read this ARC!
May 6, 2025
This book? Chef’s kiss doesn’t even cut it—it was a five-course literary feast with a side of sass and a dollop of spice. I live for a good quest, and this one had me strapped in from page one. Toss in Ward's irresistible touch-her-and-die energy (swoon) and Evie’s razor-sharp, sass-dripping humour, and you’ve got story perfection.
The side characters? Iconic. Like a chaotic found-family reunion with weapons and attitude. The pacing never missed a beat—whether swords were clashing or just vibes and banter flying, I was invested. The jokes had me giggling like a gremlin at 2AM and the world-building? So good I could practically smell the magic in the air.
And let’s not forget the spice. Oh, the spice. Let’s just say you’ll want a fan handy—maybe even a cold shower. Blushes in bookworm.
But the real MVP? Cake. Yes, actual cake. Evie knows what’s up. Cake is sacred, and so is this book.
The side characters? Iconic. Like a chaotic found-family reunion with weapons and attitude. The pacing never missed a beat—whether swords were clashing or just vibes and banter flying, I was invested. The jokes had me giggling like a gremlin at 2AM and the world-building? So good I could practically smell the magic in the air.
And let’s not forget the spice. Oh, the spice. Let’s just say you’ll want a fan handy—maybe even a cold shower. Blushes in bookworm.
But the real MVP? Cake. Yes, actual cake. Evie knows what’s up. Cake is sacred, and so is this book.
May 2, 2025
I am so happy I was able to become one of the ARC readers because this was a great story. The fantasy was fun and easy to understand. A large cast of interesting characters without losing focus on the MCs and their quest. And multiple well-deserved spicy scenes. A HEA from start to end. If there are any more books of this series made or a adio a will definitely buy. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I was a bit confused about a couple of parts, like the swift change of her not being interested in information on Shifters to happily asking, the Soul drinking crossbow, and why the sister's instant dislike of the elf king.
I hope the next books involve Evies, sister and/or friend. Maybe Maggie and Noth, but it will have to go deeper into his friendship with Ward as it was kinda hard to understand how they were friends. All and all, great story i recommend.
I was a bit confused about a couple of parts, like the swift change of her not being interested in information on Shifters to happily asking, the Soul drinking crossbow, and why the sister's instant dislike of the elf king.
I hope the next books involve Evies, sister and/or friend. Maybe Maggie and Noth, but it will have to go deeper into his friendship with Ward as it was kinda hard to understand how they were friends. All and all, great story i recommend.
May 8, 2025
So I signed up for this ARC after reading the blurb and thinking what the actual hell?! Like what?!!! 🤨🧐
I began reading this, and was quite literally giggling throughout it. I honestly was expecting this to be a weird book but the humor and chaos was epic!!
So Evie is human, she’s chilling at a bar for her birthday with her backstabbing sister and her best friend. When of course out of no where comes a bear…. An honest to God 🐻. He’s tearing the bar down, he’s after his mate. Who happens to be human Evie….. only Evie accidentally turned into a snake 🐍 and of course people are terrified of her and trying to get away. This begins the accidental fated mates story of Evie and Ward…
I would say this is a fantasy novel with shifters and magic all rolled into one. There’s even a toad 🐸 shifter 🫣 They end up on a quest to collect the godess relics to stop to call to the shifters making them insane….
The books insane at this point; but we’re just going with it. The authors whole theme is What. The. Hell. 😂😂
But it’s okay, because it’s well written madness and insanity. Definitely the weirdest Romcom I’ve ever read but at least it’s good and 5 🌟worthy. Ohhh and did I mention there’s spice 🌶️ as well!!! Oh yes!!! He’s soooo big it doesn’t fit without work. 🫣😳 but when it does fit 🔥 💥
Highly recommend if you need a good laugh!! 😂
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I began reading this, and was quite literally giggling throughout it. I honestly was expecting this to be a weird book but the humor and chaos was epic!!
So Evie is human, she’s chilling at a bar for her birthday with her backstabbing sister and her best friend. When of course out of no where comes a bear…. An honest to God 🐻. He’s tearing the bar down, he’s after his mate. Who happens to be human Evie….. only Evie accidentally turned into a snake 🐍 and of course people are terrified of her and trying to get away. This begins the accidental fated mates story of Evie and Ward…
I would say this is a fantasy novel with shifters and magic all rolled into one. There’s even a toad 🐸 shifter 🫣 They end up on a quest to collect the godess relics to stop to call to the shifters making them insane….
The books insane at this point; but we’re just going with it. The authors whole theme is What. The. Hell. 😂😂
But it’s okay, because it’s well written madness and insanity. Definitely the weirdest Romcom I’ve ever read but at least it’s good and 5 🌟worthy. Ohhh and did I mention there’s spice 🌶️ as well!!! Oh yes!!! He’s soooo big it doesn’t fit without work. 🫣😳 but when it does fit 🔥 💥
Highly recommend if you need a good laugh!! 😂
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️
May 10, 2025
This is my first arc, and thank you to the author for selecting me to be an arc reader!
There’s plot, there’s twists, and there’s spice- but this story really lacked world building and that grab-you-by-the-throat development, both world and characters alike. I found it difficult to keep up with the storyline due to insufficient world building and in-depth character development. I loved the characters themselves, but it seemed like many popped around in this book without forming any real connection to the story.
There were many action- packed twists in this book, however every time I found myself hyping up for a magic moment, groundbreaking revelation, or heart-wrenching twist… It felt like an “easy way out” was always on the next page. In other words, the major events in this story always seemed to end exactly how you’d expect, or with minimal action that usually has a reader frantically trying to reach the next chapter. I really found myself underwhelmed with a lot of the major events.
The love story between the two main characters is swoon-worthy and slightly spicy- which is what had me continue with this read! I loved Evie and Ward’s cutesy banter in particular- the author has really captured the rom-com side of this story. However, a bit more backstory with these characters would have had me 100% hooked!
The overall story is amazing, and the characters are deeply loveable! I just think the story needs to slow down a bit, and allow the reader to digest some of the finer details of this world.
There’s plot, there’s twists, and there’s spice- but this story really lacked world building and that grab-you-by-the-throat development, both world and characters alike. I found it difficult to keep up with the storyline due to insufficient world building and in-depth character development. I loved the characters themselves, but it seemed like many popped around in this book without forming any real connection to the story.
There were many action- packed twists in this book, however every time I found myself hyping up for a magic moment, groundbreaking revelation, or heart-wrenching twist… It felt like an “easy way out” was always on the next page. In other words, the major events in this story always seemed to end exactly how you’d expect, or with minimal action that usually has a reader frantically trying to reach the next chapter. I really found myself underwhelmed with a lot of the major events.
The love story between the two main characters is swoon-worthy and slightly spicy- which is what had me continue with this read! I loved Evie and Ward’s cutesy banter in particular- the author has really captured the rom-com side of this story. However, a bit more backstory with these characters would have had me 100% hooked!
The overall story is amazing, and the characters are deeply loveable! I just think the story needs to slow down a bit, and allow the reader to digest some of the finer details of this world.
May 15, 2025
I absolutely devoured this romcom fantasy like Evie did her beloved cake!
This book had me laughing and swooning the whole way through. Evie is the quirky human with confidence the size of a peanut when Ward shows up in her life with one word to change everything between them: mate.
The journey of searching for each of the relics was so enjoyable, but I especially loved seeing Evie grow into herself even more, becoming confident in who she is as the story progresses. Other than the characterization, the writing was so lovely, and the pacing was excellent!!
Pick up this book if you love:
😆 so much humor
🐍 shifters
🌶️ spiiiiiice
💁🏻♀️ quirky heroines
✨ magic
This book had me laughing and swooning the whole way through. Evie is the quirky human with confidence the size of a peanut when Ward shows up in her life with one word to change everything between them: mate.
The journey of searching for each of the relics was so enjoyable, but I especially loved seeing Evie grow into herself even more, becoming confident in who she is as the story progresses. Other than the characterization, the writing was so lovely, and the pacing was excellent!!
Pick up this book if you love:
😆 so much humor
🐍 shifters
🌶️ spiiiiiice
💁🏻♀️ quirky heroines
✨ magic
May 5, 2025
Thank you so much Emma Eden for letting me read your work! Let me just say the title is exactly what this is! RomCom ✔️
Fantasy ✔️ Mates ✔️ you get spice thrown in, there’s comedic relief and banter, and twists! And boy if you know me you’ll know I love twists especially this one.
Evie and Ward are so cute together and their connection really grows as the story goes along because those first few pages are fast! Both characters are well written and fleshed out so you can really immerse yourself into the story and it feels genuine. Even the side characters are well developed so the continuing books don’t have to heavily rely on Evie and Ward to carry on since it ends on a Happily Ever After ending. Now saying that in the ARC was a link for a bonus short story/Novella and that was VERY eye opening! I’m super excited to see how that all plays out!
Thank you again for this ARC opportunity! Please check out Mates & Other Obstacles to Accidentally Saving the World and her other prequel book - Marrying a Druid and Other Magic Accidents - and read all about Dane & Ruby’s love story.
Fantasy ✔️ Mates ✔️ you get spice thrown in, there’s comedic relief and banter, and twists! And boy if you know me you’ll know I love twists especially this one.
Evie and Ward are so cute together and their connection really grows as the story goes along because those first few pages are fast! Both characters are well written and fleshed out so you can really immerse yourself into the story and it feels genuine. Even the side characters are well developed so the continuing books don’t have to heavily rely on Evie and Ward to carry on since it ends on a Happily Ever After ending. Now saying that in the ARC was a link for a bonus short story/Novella and that was VERY eye opening! I’m super excited to see how that all plays out!
Thank you again for this ARC opportunity! Please check out Mates & Other Obstacles to Accidentally Saving the World and her other prequel book - Marrying a Druid and Other Magic Accidents - and read all about Dane & Ruby’s love story.
May 8, 2025
I was an ARC on this one, and it was more enjoyable because a friend of mine got to be ARC, too, and it was amazing! Buddy-ARC reading! Anyways, Thank you, dear author, for this funny and amazing book. (The spoiler warning is because I have my FAVOURITE Quote of the book)
This book mixes fantasy and romance with comedic elements. I simply had the feeling that I play a campaign in DnD sometimes. The book is a good read (pun intended), and I personally finished quickly (I don't read fast).
The characters were very likable, and I enjoyed their interactions with eachothers!
I really enjoyed the plot ☺️ ESPECIALLY when it comes with a touch of spice! 🌶. The fact that we have two surprise animal elements 🐍 🐻 made my day! Also, the dual pov (God, I love dual povs!)
My personal fav tropes of the book:
● Fated Mates
● He falls first
● Found Family WITH a splash of light kidnapping.
● One BED
● Touch her and D*E!
(it also has 🎂)
Favorite Quote of the Book:
•●• "Please, please let me worship you as you deserve.” •●•
Evie, she is a very well-written FMC, and sometimes, I got lost in her role, like I was her... can't explain it.
Ward, you can kidnap me any time you want!
This book mixes fantasy and romance with comedic elements. I simply had the feeling that I play a campaign in DnD sometimes. The book is a good read (pun intended), and I personally finished quickly (I don't read fast).
The characters were very likable, and I enjoyed their interactions with eachothers!
I really enjoyed the plot ☺️ ESPECIALLY when it comes with a touch of spice! 🌶. The fact that we have two surprise animal elements 🐍 🐻 made my day! Also, the dual pov (God, I love dual povs!)
My personal fav tropes of the book:
● Fated Mates
● He falls first
● Found Family WITH a splash of light kidnapping.
● One BED
● Touch her and D*E!
(it also has 🎂)
Favorite Quote of the Book:
•●• "Please, please let me worship you as you deserve.” •●•
Evie, she is a very well-written FMC, and sometimes, I got lost in her role, like I was her... can't explain it.
Ward, you can kidnap me any time you want!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2025
This was my first big shifter book, I have read some in the past but none where it was a predominant factor in the story but I absolutely LOVED this book. I had so much reading it and immersing myself in the world of the Harrowlands. This story follows Evie our lovely 30 year old quirky character who finds out that she is in fact not a human but a...Snake? Lizard? Dragon? and also King Ward who happens to be a gigantic bear shifter. As if the man himself wasn't massive at nearly 7 feet tall, he terrifies all who meet him-except Evie. That's her Teddy Bear, no one messes with him. These two discover they are mates but she has some sister and ex-boyfriend drama that is causing her to doubt everything in her life. But you know, it is not everyday you break a man's rib because he's reallllly good with his hands. The whole story follows their quest to find Goddess relics in order to fix the other shifters in the world that are basically in a rage fueled trance. We meet some hilarious characters and some who deserved the ass-kicking they were handed. I cannot recommend this enough especially if you want a hilarious slow-burn read.
dnf
December 29, 2025DNF 5%
Maybe i just dont like quirk and whimsy...
Maybe i just dont like quirk and whimsy...
August 31, 2025
Worldbuilding was almost nonexistent. So many questions that are not answered, about the world, about the kingdoms, about the magic... I gave up waiting for answers because none were forthcoming. Sometimes sentences made no sense, like this: “I sank into a puddle of mess” What the hell does that mean? Other times things seemed to happen only for plot convenience, like when Ward licks her thighs to heal them, but when she asks if he needed to do that, he doesn’t answer or explain anything. Was it supposed to make him look mysterious, or something? Since I have no idea how the magic works, that was very frustrating. Other times the magic was described as “summoning a structure” which made no sense, and sometimes Ward spoke the “structure” and sometimes he just waved. Sometimes, apparently, he just had to lick. I don’t know why, it’s never explained. It’s called “mathematical magic” as if that was enough explanation, but it wasn’t.
The characters were horrible people. Eevie came off as selfish and TSTL. Her sister was a b*tch. She slept with Evie’s boyfriend the day he left. It was unclear whether it was before or after he left, though, so I couldn’t really discount the sister cheating. Though Evie had a lot of issues with her self-worth because of that, so… Plus, the sister constantly put Evie down, questioned her life choices, and forced her own views and choices on Evie. The sister didn’t respect any of the boundaries Evie tried to put. Evie was constantly thinking badly about her sister’s choices, too. Evie’s friend, Fallon, wasn’t any better, since she sided with the sister most of the time and didn’t defend her “friend” at all and put Evie down a couple of times as well.
I was confused most of the time. I wasn't sure of what I was supposed to picture sometimes, because the descriptions were so weird, when there were any. The action is very confusing, and add to that the fact Evie is constantly shifting from snake to human, sometimes from one sentence to the next, and oftentimes without mentioning she had shifted. One sentence she had scales and the next, two legs and hair. At 40%, the plot felt like it wasn’t moving forward at all, and trying to piece it all together was giving me a headache, so I gave up.
The characters were horrible people. Eevie came off as selfish and TSTL. Her sister was a b*tch. She slept with Evie’s boyfriend the day he left. It was unclear whether it was before or after he left, though, so I couldn’t really discount the sister cheating. Though Evie had a lot of issues with her self-worth because of that, so… Plus, the sister constantly put Evie down, questioned her life choices, and forced her own views and choices on Evie. The sister didn’t respect any of the boundaries Evie tried to put. Evie was constantly thinking badly about her sister’s choices, too. Evie’s friend, Fallon, wasn’t any better, since she sided with the sister most of the time and didn’t defend her “friend” at all and put Evie down a couple of times as well.
I was confused most of the time. I wasn't sure of what I was supposed to picture sometimes, because the descriptions were so weird, when there were any. The action is very confusing, and add to that the fact Evie is constantly shifting from snake to human, sometimes from one sentence to the next, and oftentimes without mentioning she had shifted. One sentence she had scales and the next, two legs and hair. At 40%, the plot felt like it wasn’t moving forward at all, and trying to piece it all together was giving me a headache, so I gave up.
May 6, 2025
When I signed up for the ARC of Mates and Other Obstacles (100% due to the fun title) I had no idea I was signing up to read a story that is fun, amusing and heartwarming in the same vein as Kimberly Lemming's Mead Mishaps and A.K. Caggiano's Villains and Virtues.
Our protagonist, Evie, has been going through a rough patch. Her ex boyfriend messed her up emotionally and she's just turned 30. Her friend and sister drag her out of their hidden human village to a bar in the shifter lands to take her mind off things.
To her shock and dismay the druid running the bar announces she not actually a human, she's a shifter. And that's when Evie's life goes off the rails. She runs to the bathroom because she's feeling queesy and accidentally shifts for the first time. Into a snake (and she hates snakes!). And she freaks out everyone else in the bar when she slithers back from the bathroom. Immediately after that she's scooped up and carted off by a giant bear shifter who is loudly declaring that she's his mate? Surely things couldn't get worse...(they do).
Turns out, all the shifters in the land are having a hard time controlling their inner beasts and the bear shifter, Ward, can finally control himself how that his mate, Evie is nearby, so now she's got to go with him on a quick quest to the nearby temple, because there's a relic there that Ward is certain is the cause of all the problems.
Evie is in way over her head. She's not an adventurer! She's a clumsy, oddball introvert with questionable taste in men. She's sooo not ready for going on quests and even less ready to jump headlong into a new relationship!
I love how Evie and Ward's love story unfolds over the course of the story. Evie doesn't jump in head first just because they're fated mates. Ward has to earn her trust and her love. Fortunately, he's patient, because girlfriend has some serious relationship trauma from her rotten ex. The quests are fun and the little rag-tag band of shifters they pick up on their journeys are great. I had so much fun reading this ARC and I can't wait to read more adventures set in this universe!
Our protagonist, Evie, has been going through a rough patch. Her ex boyfriend messed her up emotionally and she's just turned 30. Her friend and sister drag her out of their hidden human village to a bar in the shifter lands to take her mind off things.
To her shock and dismay the druid running the bar announces she not actually a human, she's a shifter. And that's when Evie's life goes off the rails. She runs to the bathroom because she's feeling queesy and accidentally shifts for the first time. Into a snake (and she hates snakes!). And she freaks out everyone else in the bar when she slithers back from the bathroom. Immediately after that she's scooped up and carted off by a giant bear shifter who is loudly declaring that she's his mate? Surely things couldn't get worse...(they do).
Turns out, all the shifters in the land are having a hard time controlling their inner beasts and the bear shifter, Ward, can finally control himself how that his mate, Evie is nearby, so now she's got to go with him on a quick quest to the nearby temple, because there's a relic there that Ward is certain is the cause of all the problems.
Evie is in way over her head. She's not an adventurer! She's a clumsy, oddball introvert with questionable taste in men. She's sooo not ready for going on quests and even less ready to jump headlong into a new relationship!
I love how Evie and Ward's love story unfolds over the course of the story. Evie doesn't jump in head first just because they're fated mates. Ward has to earn her trust and her love. Fortunately, he's patient, because girlfriend has some serious relationship trauma from her rotten ex. The quests are fun and the little rag-tag band of shifters they pick up on their journeys are great. I had so much fun reading this ARC and I can't wait to read more adventures set in this universe!
May 10, 2025
If you've been searching for a fun fantasy read that will have you laughing out loud and constantly making you wish you had a shifter boyfriend as sweet (and lightly terrifying) as Ward, then look no further! Mates and Other Obstacles to Accidentally Saving the World is the perfect mix of romcom and cozy fantasy.
If you enjoyed Kimberly Lemming's That Time I Got Drunk and Accidently Saved a Demon, you'll love Emma Eden's new novel. Evie is human. Or at least, that was true until she turned into a snake and was kidnapped by a giant bear claiming she's his mate. Now they're being sent on a quest by the shifter Goddess where she may or may not have to eat some ancient relics, but the relics are guarded by crazed shifters, evil rulers, and literal nightmares.
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of this book! Genuinely had a lot of fun reading this and look forward to seeing what's next in the Cake Chaos Chronicles.
If you enjoyed Kimberly Lemming's That Time I Got Drunk and Accidently Saved a Demon, you'll love Emma Eden's new novel. Evie is human. Or at least, that was true until she turned into a snake and was kidnapped by a giant bear claiming she's his mate. Now they're being sent on a quest by the shifter Goddess where she may or may not have to eat some ancient relics, but the relics are guarded by crazed shifters, evil rulers, and literal nightmares.
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of this book! Genuinely had a lot of fun reading this and look forward to seeing what's next in the Cake Chaos Chronicles.
May 10, 2025
I was a lucky Reader and got an ARC of this book!
And I loved it! It was so cute how MMC believed in MFC all the time. He supported and showed her that no matter what I love you and believe in you. It does not matter how you look like or what you do, you are strong and I love you. I loved this vibe and with the quest where they got to know each other and fall in love.
I also loved the side characters all of them was cute and have a perfect background. I really would enjoyed to read the story of the sister and friends. I am a sucker for a good romantacy!
Some of my favorite quotes from the book:
“A snake! I jerked forward, trying to see it. I hated snakes. What was supposed to live without legs?”
“This was the end—smashed between knife-sized teeth.”
““Do you have to lick my skin directly for this magic to make it better?” He gave me a sheepish look. I snapped my legs closed. “WARD?!”“
“Do not make me horny when I'm pinned to a dead monster, Ward, I said.”
And I loved it! It was so cute how MMC believed in MFC all the time. He supported and showed her that no matter what I love you and believe in you. It does not matter how you look like or what you do, you are strong and I love you. I loved this vibe and with the quest where they got to know each other and fall in love.
I also loved the side characters all of them was cute and have a perfect background. I really would enjoyed to read the story of the sister and friends. I am a sucker for a good romantacy!
Some of my favorite quotes from the book:
“A snake! I jerked forward, trying to see it. I hated snakes. What was supposed to live without legs?”
“This was the end—smashed between knife-sized teeth.”
““Do you have to lick my skin directly for this magic to make it better?” He gave me a sheepish look. I snapped my legs closed. “WARD?!”“
“Do not make me horny when I'm pinned to a dead monster, Ward, I said.”
May 21, 2025
This was a perfect palate-cleansing romp through a well-drawn world with hilarious characters. Fear not, though, it might be a cleansing read, smut lovers, but it is far from clean. The steamy scenes fog up the pages, and Ward is a 15/10 no-notes-needed book boyfriend.
Watching Evie move through the plot of the book as a human dropped into a world full of magic and magical creatures was great fun, but I do wish she wasn't such a disaster of a person at the beginning of a book. She's a Bella Swan-esque heroine, clumsy, aggressively unexceptional, and picks up way more leadership points at the end than we foresaw her having at the beginning. Thank goodness she's got a good sense of humor and a warm soul, or it would have been torturous reading. Could we not let the girl have one marketable skill? Not one?!
In the grand scheme of things, though, that and the non-innate magic system were my only sticking points. I laughed, I cried, and I had a ball from the Kool-Aid Bear kidnapping at the tavern all the way up to the HEA. I can't wait to see what kind of fun twists on the fantasy narrative await us in the next installment!
Watching Evie move through the plot of the book as a human dropped into a world full of magic and magical creatures was great fun, but I do wish she wasn't such a disaster of a person at the beginning of a book. She's a Bella Swan-esque heroine, clumsy, aggressively unexceptional, and picks up way more leadership points at the end than we foresaw her having at the beginning. Thank goodness she's got a good sense of humor and a warm soul, or it would have been torturous reading. Could we not let the girl have one marketable skill? Not one?!
In the grand scheme of things, though, that and the non-innate magic system were my only sticking points. I laughed, I cried, and I had a ball from the Kool-Aid Bear kidnapping at the tavern all the way up to the HEA. I can't wait to see what kind of fun twists on the fantasy narrative await us in the next installment!
May 16, 2025
This was a really fun one. Evie just wanted to have a fun birthday, but instead she ends up being a snake and getting kidnapped by a bear? A crazy adventure turns into a full blown quest for forgotten relics of the Godds.
On top of a dangerous quest, Evie also learns that Ward, the bear who kidnapped her, is also her mate, and they're both shifters who now need to save all of the shifters. No pressure, right?
On top of a dangerous quest, Evie also learns that Ward, the bear who kidnapped her, is also her mate, and they're both shifters who now need to save all of the shifters. No pressure, right?
May 9, 2025
I was captivated in the story within the first chapter and the rest was filled with laughter and swooning.
Evie is such a relatable character and seeing her change into who she is meant to be is beautiful and Ward giving her everything she needed and never doubting her for a second.
Evie and Wards relationship was refreshing seeing real relationship woes and the spicy is so nicely woven in.
I loved the adventure and found family. This book is easily a top 5 for 2025 and was so excited to be an ARC reader!
Evie is such a relatable character and seeing her change into who she is meant to be is beautiful and Ward giving her everything she needed and never doubting her for a second.
Evie and Wards relationship was refreshing seeing real relationship woes and the spicy is so nicely woven in.
I loved the adventure and found family. This book is easily a top 5 for 2025 and was so excited to be an ARC reader!
December 7, 2025
Spells✨️, spice🔥, & a dash of delightful chaos❤️🔥
I dove into "Attempted Murder & Other Ways to Seduce Your Mate" by Emma Eden as an ARC, not realizing how quickly I’d fall for its sharp humor, swoony tension, and magical mayhem. Within just a few chapters, I was already on Amazon ordering Eden's other book, "Mates & Other Obstacles to Accidentally Saving the World" because when a story is this unhinged and charming, you simply don’t want to leave it!
Both books stand beautifully on their own, yet together they form the kind of series that feels like curling up inside of a rom-fantasy fever dream: fated mates, high-stakes quests, sarcastic banter, and enough yearning to keep you wanting more. Eden’s writing hums with confidence as it leans into romantasy tropes with affection. You can tell Eden truly loves this genre and enjoys having fun with it.
What stood out most for me about these two books was how the humor and heat coexist with genuine heart. Beneath the jokes and spicy tension, there’s a tenderness about trust, vulnerability, and finding your person in a world that keeps trying to knock you sideways. The pacing is brisk, but the emotional notes always shimmer through the chaos.
It’s giving the vibe of Olivia Atwater’s whimsy mixed with Ali Hazelwood’s snark and a dash of Talia Hibbert’s warmth and bite. If you love your romantasy served with equal parts laughter, longing, and a healthy dose of chaos magic, Emma Eden’s "Cake Chaos Chronicles" should be at the top of your list - perfect cozy reads for any romantasy connoisseur.
I dove into "Attempted Murder & Other Ways to Seduce Your Mate" by Emma Eden as an ARC, not realizing how quickly I’d fall for its sharp humor, swoony tension, and magical mayhem. Within just a few chapters, I was already on Amazon ordering Eden's other book, "Mates & Other Obstacles to Accidentally Saving the World" because when a story is this unhinged and charming, you simply don’t want to leave it!
Both books stand beautifully on their own, yet together they form the kind of series that feels like curling up inside of a rom-fantasy fever dream: fated mates, high-stakes quests, sarcastic banter, and enough yearning to keep you wanting more. Eden’s writing hums with confidence as it leans into romantasy tropes with affection. You can tell Eden truly loves this genre and enjoys having fun with it.
What stood out most for me about these two books was how the humor and heat coexist with genuine heart. Beneath the jokes and spicy tension, there’s a tenderness about trust, vulnerability, and finding your person in a world that keeps trying to knock you sideways. The pacing is brisk, but the emotional notes always shimmer through the chaos.
It’s giving the vibe of Olivia Atwater’s whimsy mixed with Ali Hazelwood’s snark and a dash of Talia Hibbert’s warmth and bite. If you love your romantasy served with equal parts laughter, longing, and a healthy dose of chaos magic, Emma Eden’s "Cake Chaos Chronicles" should be at the top of your list - perfect cozy reads for any romantasy connoisseur.
June 29, 2025
So silly but so fun! Loved the FMC 🙌🏻
August 31, 2025
Somehow, kind of amazing
This book has a lot of problems, but I very much enjoyed it anyway.
There are some things that don't make sense, but the biggest flaw for me is characterization. Ward is centuries old, a powerful magic user, rich, handsome, fully muscled, and a king. He is competent, protective and loyal. Basically, he's perfect in every way, as long as you like your men a little violent.
Evie is incompetent in virtually every way possible, and lacks confidence in both her appearance and her ability to do anything except collect things. She does have determination, but I do not like that she got to 30 with no core competencies. Her backstory includes a bad ex and a vague job working at a bakery (but not cooking).
The quest story makes up for the poor characterization. The world is wild and she makes interesting friends and there is no way to predict what will happen next.
This book has a lot of problems, but I very much enjoyed it anyway.
There are some things that don't make sense, but the biggest flaw for me is characterization. Ward is centuries old, a powerful magic user, rich, handsome, fully muscled, and a king. He is competent, protective and loyal. Basically, he's perfect in every way, as long as you like your men a little violent.
Evie is incompetent in virtually every way possible, and lacks confidence in both her appearance and her ability to do anything except collect things. She does have determination, but I do not like that she got to 30 with no core competencies. Her backstory includes a bad ex and a vague job working at a bakery (but not cooking).
The quest story makes up for the poor characterization. The world is wild and she makes interesting friends and there is no way to predict what will happen next.
July 26, 2025
This was an action pack twisty rom-com story. The characters' cute side shined with the banter between Evie and Ward. Ward is definitely a green flag ML besides the kidnapping part, but that was more Ward's bear-mate instincts. However, I had some issues while reading. The world-building was lacking. I couldn't connect with the characters. The story didn't pull me in emotionally. There were some spots where I was struggling to tell between what was spoken aloud, through the mind link and internal thoughts. I felt like there could have been more character development. Especially both their mindset about how they view themselves.
Evie's sister and friend felt disconnected from the story. I didn't feel like they could have helped the story build more intensity at the end but it was just like "Oh yeah, we were kidnapped by the bad guy and were able to walk out to the battle but I don't have any power or anything to help with the fight. I'm just dead weight." I don't see the point in why they were kidnapped when Evie and Ward were already heading to the final battle location and the bad guy used Ward to try to control Evie, not the sister or friend.
I think this story is a bit of a rough gem that needs to be polished a bit more. Slow things down, and take the time to get deep into the emotions and the growth of the characters. It was an enjoyable story. Just the confusion at times and the rereading over parts to try to get a deeper understanding left me wanting more.
My Rating System:
1 star: Probably DNF - Lacks structure - Grammatical Errors - Boring characters
2 stars: Not a fan - Struggled to finish - Won't reread - Lacked personality - Lacked storyline
3 stars: Neutral - Underwhelmed - Nothing special - Like the book but we're still troubled by a few components
4 stars: Enjoyed - Concept unique - Dialogue felt real - Invested in characters - Missing cherry on top
5 stars: Creme de la creme - It's addictive - Emotional Impact - Highly Recommend - Feels like you are part of the book
Evie's sister and friend felt disconnected from the story. I didn't feel like they could have helped the story build more intensity at the end but it was just like "Oh yeah, we were kidnapped by the bad guy and were able to walk out to the battle but I don't have any power or anything to help with the fight. I'm just dead weight." I don't see the point in why they were kidnapped when Evie and Ward were already heading to the final battle location and the bad guy used Ward to try to control Evie, not the sister or friend.
I think this story is a bit of a rough gem that needs to be polished a bit more. Slow things down, and take the time to get deep into the emotions and the growth of the characters. It was an enjoyable story. Just the confusion at times and the rereading over parts to try to get a deeper understanding left me wanting more.
My Rating System:
1 star: Probably DNF - Lacks structure - Grammatical Errors - Boring characters
2 stars: Not a fan - Struggled to finish - Won't reread - Lacked personality - Lacked storyline
3 stars: Neutral - Underwhelmed - Nothing special - Like the book but we're still troubled by a few components
4 stars: Enjoyed - Concept unique - Dialogue felt real - Invested in characters - Missing cherry on top
5 stars: Creme de la creme - It's addictive - Emotional Impact - Highly Recommend - Feels like you are part of the book
October 20, 2025
Mates & other obstacles to Accidentally Saving the World
🌟🌟🌟🌟
As always I want to thank an author when I read an ARC or the first book in the series before their arc- because I believe it's so important to support one another and indie authors when we enjoy their work.
This is “ Mates & Other Obstacles to Accidentally Saving the World,” by Emma Eden!
I decided to read this book before I read the arc copy of her second book: “Attempted Murder & Other Ways to Seduce Your Mate.”
This was a funny rom-com fantasy quest story which is SO NOT WHAT I USUALLY READ! This book was SO funny, had a fun quest and overall I enjoyed it! 🐍🐻
Plot: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
“Mates & other obstacles to Accidentally Saving the World” has a really fun plot about a young woman named Evie, who finds herself in a precarious situation when she breaks out of the human village to visit a bar in the Harrowlands for her birthday. When she starts to feel ill, and suddenly explodes into a creature- a male bursts through the walls stating that she's his one and only. They whisk away to figure out who she is, and tackle a difficult problem that is plaguing all the citizens of the Harrowlands. This is a fun and spicy adventure as they go on a quest to save the world and to figure out their relationship.
Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Evie & Ward have such a lovely relationship. Evie is insecure, unsure of herself and not at all confident in her abilities or appearance. She learns to love herself, and to believe in herself through Ward’s constant appraisal and companionship. Ward is a Bear shapeshifter who happens to be the leader of his territory, he is sweet, thoughtful and gives his whole being into getting to know Evie, while also having doubts that he is good enough for her. Both of them go on this quest to save the realm, while also finding happiness and acceptance in each other.
Pacing: 🌟🌟🌟
The pacing and style of this book was super fast- this was more like a slice of life book. The story was told almost casually and they travelled quickly. While there were great plot points happening, the travelling and quest was almost second to the story of their relationship. It felt almost like there was too much going on, told too fast. I would have liked if they slowed the pace and made it 100 pages longer- or cut out some of the more unnecessary moments and kept it the same length! This was 368 pages, but it was a blur it went so fast!
Conclusion & Thoughts: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This book was fun, flirty and spicy. I genuinely would never have picked up this book if I didn't have the second book as an arc next and I think that branching out does me a lot of good. The book was witty while also silly, fun while addressing serious issues and it was told in such a funny and relatable tone. I enjoyed the book and I'm looking forward to the second one! ✨
Fave quote: ✨
“There is no half loving you for me. I have been patiently keeping the burn of a thousand suns from your view, so I didn’t scare you any more than I already have. The fibers of my soul shake with longing for you. I want you to take up as much space as you can, so I can, too. Please, please let me worship you as you deserve.”
🌟🌟🌟🌟
As always I want to thank an author when I read an ARC or the first book in the series before their arc- because I believe it's so important to support one another and indie authors when we enjoy their work.
This is “ Mates & Other Obstacles to Accidentally Saving the World,” by Emma Eden!
I decided to read this book before I read the arc copy of her second book: “Attempted Murder & Other Ways to Seduce Your Mate.”
This was a funny rom-com fantasy quest story which is SO NOT WHAT I USUALLY READ! This book was SO funny, had a fun quest and overall I enjoyed it! 🐍🐻
Plot: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
“Mates & other obstacles to Accidentally Saving the World” has a really fun plot about a young woman named Evie, who finds herself in a precarious situation when she breaks out of the human village to visit a bar in the Harrowlands for her birthday. When she starts to feel ill, and suddenly explodes into a creature- a male bursts through the walls stating that she's his one and only. They whisk away to figure out who she is, and tackle a difficult problem that is plaguing all the citizens of the Harrowlands. This is a fun and spicy adventure as they go on a quest to save the world and to figure out their relationship.
Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Evie & Ward have such a lovely relationship. Evie is insecure, unsure of herself and not at all confident in her abilities or appearance. She learns to love herself, and to believe in herself through Ward’s constant appraisal and companionship. Ward is a Bear shapeshifter who happens to be the leader of his territory, he is sweet, thoughtful and gives his whole being into getting to know Evie, while also having doubts that he is good enough for her. Both of them go on this quest to save the realm, while also finding happiness and acceptance in each other.
Pacing: 🌟🌟🌟
The pacing and style of this book was super fast- this was more like a slice of life book. The story was told almost casually and they travelled quickly. While there were great plot points happening, the travelling and quest was almost second to the story of their relationship. It felt almost like there was too much going on, told too fast. I would have liked if they slowed the pace and made it 100 pages longer- or cut out some of the more unnecessary moments and kept it the same length! This was 368 pages, but it was a blur it went so fast!
Conclusion & Thoughts: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This book was fun, flirty and spicy. I genuinely would never have picked up this book if I didn't have the second book as an arc next and I think that branching out does me a lot of good. The book was witty while also silly, fun while addressing serious issues and it was told in such a funny and relatable tone. I enjoyed the book and I'm looking forward to the second one! ✨
Fave quote: ✨
“There is no half loving you for me. I have been patiently keeping the burn of a thousand suns from your view, so I didn’t scare you any more than I already have. The fibers of my soul shake with longing for you. I want you to take up as much space as you can, so I can, too. Please, please let me worship you as you deserve.”
May 9, 2025
“Mates and Other Obstacles to Accidentally Saving The World” by Emma Eden is the first book in the “Cake Chaos Chronicles.” It is an adventurous romantasy comedy full of diverse characters, cakes, and creatures. It has a slow and 🌶🌶🌶 spicy romance between magical fated mates.
When Evie walks into Bar None, the last thing she expects is to slither kidnappily into the mouth of the bear and King of Harrowlands, Ward. Her mate. All she wanted was to eat cake and return to her collections, still working through emotional turmoil. Now, she’s on a quest to save herself and other shifters with Ward.
The vibe of the book, as well as the use of phrases including “quest”, “side quest”, and “questing,” made me feel like I was in a game of Dungeons and Dragons, and it was awesome!!
The creatures and kooky characters made for an amazing campaign, whether it meant facing down a Goddess, wolves, worms, and an annoying ex with a lemon face. The skirmishes themselves were well done and maintained the tone of a cozy romance.
Evie’s humor, sarcasm, and casualness made me laugh, and I found myself highlighting her banter and reading it to my spouse more often than not. Ward is temperate for a very protective Alpha Bear shifter. He feels the mate bond from the get-go and isn’t afraid of his love, devotion, and devilish thoughts, although he keeps them (semi)controlled, but on full display for us readers. He really is a teddy bear! 🧸
Both Ward and Evie deal with personal issues, fears, and doubts through the course of the book, and it was nice to see them be genuine about it to each other. There was no major miscommunication or heartbreaking act, allowing for a quality, cozy romance.
When I signed up to ARC this book, I knew it would be a palate cleanser for me. I love a romantic comedy, but it was something else to feel like I was in D&D, too! I fully plan to stick around the Keep with the rest of the party- I think I spy more romance in the future!
Emma Eden
When Evie walks into Bar None, the last thing she expects is to slither kidnappily into the mouth of the bear and King of Harrowlands, Ward. Her mate. All she wanted was to eat cake and return to her collections, still working through emotional turmoil. Now, she’s on a quest to save herself and other shifters with Ward.
The vibe of the book, as well as the use of phrases including “quest”, “side quest”, and “questing,” made me feel like I was in a game of Dungeons and Dragons, and it was awesome!!
The creatures and kooky characters made for an amazing campaign, whether it meant facing down a Goddess, wolves, worms, and an annoying ex with a lemon face. The skirmishes themselves were well done and maintained the tone of a cozy romance.
Evie’s humor, sarcasm, and casualness made me laugh, and I found myself highlighting her banter and reading it to my spouse more often than not. Ward is temperate for a very protective Alpha Bear shifter. He feels the mate bond from the get-go and isn’t afraid of his love, devotion, and devilish thoughts, although he keeps them (semi)controlled, but on full display for us readers. He really is a teddy bear! 🧸
Both Ward and Evie deal with personal issues, fears, and doubts through the course of the book, and it was nice to see them be genuine about it to each other. There was no major miscommunication or heartbreaking act, allowing for a quality, cozy romance.
When I signed up to ARC this book, I knew it would be a palate cleanser for me. I love a romantic comedy, but it was something else to feel like I was in D&D, too! I fully plan to stick around the Keep with the rest of the party- I think I spy more romance in the future!
Emma Eden
September 26, 2025
4★
High Holy Hells, this book was a rollercoaster from start to finish, and from every angle possible. Wow. Reading a lot of thick, worldbuilding-heavy books, I needed a little palette cleanser, and this was exactly it.
Now, could I tell you anything about what actually happened in this book? No, most likely not. Could I name more than three characters from this book? Also no. Could I dive into what the premise and idea of this book was? Past "hot bear guy," probably not. This book was all vibes and I ate it up in record time. I was able to just shut my brain off and enjoy.
As for the characters, I festered a love-hate relationship with most of them, except for maybe, like two? Our FMC (whose name I kept forgetting throughout the entire book, sorry) is a self-conscious trinket collector who is suddenly dragged into a fantasy adventure by being kidnapped by a hot bear shifter, and I'm not sure if I actually had an issue with her, or if I just related to her enough to low-key dislike her. Our MMC (or said hot bear shifter) is beyond description, really, because his entire personality is his love for his woman (as it should, tbh) and his fear of scaring her.
Really, my favorite character in this entire book has to be the wolf guy (whose name I also forgot, oopsie), who owns my heart and deserves the world. I could see myself becoming best friends with him, just as our FMC did. Dead serious. As for my least favorite character, Maggie takes all. I could not stand her from the very beginning (and that was before we even knew what she really did to our FMC). The entirety of the book, I couldn't understand how someone didn't just smack her. I would've, being in our FMC's place. More than once, for sure.
From the moment I began reading this book, I could tell I'd enjoy it. Some of the plot twists were a bit too predictable, but sometimes the plot smacked you in the face with something completely random and unexpected, and I was loving it. Overall, a great palette cleanser among more difficult books, this book is the Not Another Teen Movie of its genre.
High Holy Hells, this book was a rollercoaster from start to finish, and from every angle possible. Wow. Reading a lot of thick, worldbuilding-heavy books, I needed a little palette cleanser, and this was exactly it.
Now, could I tell you anything about what actually happened in this book? No, most likely not. Could I name more than three characters from this book? Also no. Could I dive into what the premise and idea of this book was? Past "hot bear guy," probably not. This book was all vibes and I ate it up in record time. I was able to just shut my brain off and enjoy.
As for the characters, I festered a love-hate relationship with most of them, except for maybe, like two? Our FMC (whose name I kept forgetting throughout the entire book, sorry) is a self-conscious trinket collector who is suddenly dragged into a fantasy adventure by being kidnapped by a hot bear shifter, and I'm not sure if I actually had an issue with her, or if I just related to her enough to low-key dislike her. Our MMC (or said hot bear shifter) is beyond description, really, because his entire personality is his love for his woman (as it should, tbh) and his fear of scaring her.
Really, my favorite character in this entire book has to be the wolf guy (whose name I also forgot, oopsie), who owns my heart and deserves the world. I could see myself becoming best friends with him, just as our FMC did. Dead serious. As for my least favorite character, Maggie takes all. I could not stand her from the very beginning (and that was before we even knew what she really did to our FMC). The entirety of the book, I couldn't understand how someone didn't just smack her. I would've, being in our FMC's place. More than once, for sure.
From the moment I began reading this book, I could tell I'd enjoy it. Some of the plot twists were a bit too predictable, but sometimes the plot smacked you in the face with something completely random and unexpected, and I was loving it. Overall, a great palette cleanser among more difficult books, this book is the Not Another Teen Movie of its genre.
May 16, 2025
This is a cute story with an interesting premise - our FMC is learning to love herself, curves and all, while also navigating the world of fated mates and shifting that has just been thrust upon her. There are magical quests, found family, lots of rescuing and a bit of spice, so it can cater to a lot of tastes.
I came to enjoy the relationship between Evie and Ward. There is a little bit of miscommunication in this book, which isn't a favourite trope of mine. They are both such wonderful people, and you join them both on a journey of self-acceptance - even Ward needs a bit of a helping hand with this. There is a mixed bag of accompanying characters. I still don't really know how I feel about Evie's sister and friend. They pop in and out of the story but I don't feel I really came to know them. Some of Ward's friends are clearer to understand, but also the secondary characters really felt secondary to Evie and Ward and I didn't fully make connections with them. This was a feeling I got throughout the book - I wanted more! I wanted more connection, more world building, more of each character.
I think I have a view of the world in this book, but at times the scenes got a bit muddy. The story moves fast and I sometimes felt that it moved too fast - I needed a bit more time with concepts or in places to fully grasp them. This may be a device to put us in the shoes of the main characters, who may not have clarity in the moment. But it left me a little confused at times. I think there is a real gem in this book, but it needs expanding a bit more to turly see it.
Overall, I liked Evie and Ward and I generally liked the world they live in. But I was left wanting more - not in the 'I could read this all over again' way but in the 'I need a bit more clarity' way. It was an enjoyable read though, I think it might develop into a series so I will be interested to see what comes next!
I came to enjoy the relationship between Evie and Ward. There is a little bit of miscommunication in this book, which isn't a favourite trope of mine. They are both such wonderful people, and you join them both on a journey of self-acceptance - even Ward needs a bit of a helping hand with this. There is a mixed bag of accompanying characters. I still don't really know how I feel about Evie's sister and friend. They pop in and out of the story but I don't feel I really came to know them. Some of Ward's friends are clearer to understand, but also the secondary characters really felt secondary to Evie and Ward and I didn't fully make connections with them. This was a feeling I got throughout the book - I wanted more! I wanted more connection, more world building, more of each character.
I think I have a view of the world in this book, but at times the scenes got a bit muddy. The story moves fast and I sometimes felt that it moved too fast - I needed a bit more time with concepts or in places to fully grasp them. This may be a device to put us in the shoes of the main characters, who may not have clarity in the moment. But it left me a little confused at times. I think there is a real gem in this book, but it needs expanding a bit more to turly see it.
Overall, I liked Evie and Ward and I generally liked the world they live in. But I was left wanting more - not in the 'I could read this all over again' way but in the 'I need a bit more clarity' way. It was an enjoyable read though, I think it might develop into a series so I will be interested to see what comes next!
May 8, 2025
I totally judge books by their firstlines, how witty or intriguing they are and this did not disappoint!
"Happy last birthday to me, I sang in my head as I unsuccessfully contained my utter freak-out over this place."
I enjoy a good romcom, and I love fantasy, and this combines the best of both worlds. The lighthearted comical tone of the writing was highly entertaining. I was genuinely chuckling outloud almost every page at Evie's entertaining inner and outer dialog and original insults.
Curvy girl and on the taller side, and I am here for it!. She is feisty, practical, pragmatic, and a little awkward -- so extremely relatable. I mean who wouldn't take up an opportunity to eat cake in the middle of a battle?!
Ward, our MMC is so tender, a gentle giant really, and he is so good to Evie. Their first time is just beautiful, undoing years of Evie's emotional abuse and self-sabotaging thoughts.
Although the main characters are fated mates, as per the title, it is not instalove, and there is genuine bonding and individual character growth during their journey.
🐍Cozy romantasy
🐍Shifters (and not your usual kind)
🐍Forced proximity
🐍Enemies to lovers (some light kidnapping)
🐍Curvy FMC
🐍Protective MMC who cooks!
🐍He falls first
🐍Entertaining banter and dialog
Thank you Emily Eden for the opportunity to read this ARC!
“Are you decent?” Noth called into the thick mist. “Hardly ever,”
"eyes flashing with all the menace of a teacup."
"My hair became a tissue for her copious tears."
"I swished my skirt back and forth, hoping it would revive my enthusiasm and stop my legs from shaking underneath."
"I rode around his thick neck and resisted the urge to spread out, so his skin touched every part of my body. I didn’t know how this shifter thing worked at all. That could be assault for all I knew."
"Happy last birthday to me, I sang in my head as I unsuccessfully contained my utter freak-out over this place."
I enjoy a good romcom, and I love fantasy, and this combines the best of both worlds. The lighthearted comical tone of the writing was highly entertaining. I was genuinely chuckling outloud almost every page at Evie's entertaining inner and outer dialog and original insults.
Curvy girl and on the taller side, and I am here for it!. She is feisty, practical, pragmatic, and a little awkward -- so extremely relatable. I mean who wouldn't take up an opportunity to eat cake in the middle of a battle?!
Ward, our MMC is so tender, a gentle giant really, and he is so good to Evie. Their first time is just beautiful, undoing years of Evie's emotional abuse and self-sabotaging thoughts.
Although the main characters are fated mates, as per the title, it is not instalove, and there is genuine bonding and individual character growth during their journey.
🐍Cozy romantasy
🐍Shifters (and not your usual kind)
🐍Forced proximity
🐍Enemies to lovers (some light kidnapping)
🐍Curvy FMC
🐍Protective MMC who cooks!
🐍He falls first
🐍Entertaining banter and dialog
Thank you Emily Eden for the opportunity to read this ARC!
“Are you decent?” Noth called into the thick mist. “Hardly ever,”
"eyes flashing with all the menace of a teacup."
"My hair became a tissue for her copious tears."
"I swished my skirt back and forth, hoping it would revive my enthusiasm and stop my legs from shaking underneath."
"I rode around his thick neck and resisted the urge to spread out, so his skin touched every part of my body. I didn’t know how this shifter thing worked at all. That could be assault for all I knew."
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