Stags

by Jove Chambers

Like most ancient rites celebrated in the current time, the rut weekend is a mix of the old ways and donuts.

Sure, it’s a sex rite. One weekend of no-holds-barred deerkin running in a field—stags and does getting busy under the midnight moon. But it’s also held at a nice convention center with a complimentary breakfast buffet in the morning.

The three female deerkin who meet at the orientation presentation are quite vocally adamant that they aren’t there to find a man.

Tawny wants a baby.

Eiren wants an adventure.

Rora just wants to be wanted.

So, the three will run with the stags in the wild wind, run and hope to be caught by some man-buck with antlers and a broad chest and a deep voice.

At least one of them will accidentally run into a wolf.

And despite what they claimed to want, they’ll all walk out of the convention center entangled with a man in some way, shape, or form. Whether it’s happily, or ever after, or something else entirely…

Not for readers who dislike open door love scenes, age-gap content, breeding kink, primal kink, biting, tail play, or antler sparring.

Genres: Shapeshifters

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2025

About the author

Jove Chambers is the dark romance pen name for USA Today Bestselling author V.J. Chambers.

Under the name V.J. Chambers she writes mysteries, thrillers and horror.

Under the pen name Val St. Crowe she writes sci-fi and fantasy.

She lives outside Shepherdstown, WV with her husband, son, and their kitty cat.

Reviews

[kymagirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Instinct starts the chase, but love decides the ending.

At the Cypress Center’s annual rut, deerkin gather for a weekend of primal tradition. But not everyone is just looking for a quick run through the woods. Tawny, Eiren, and Rora each arrive with different hopes and deeper wounds. One wants a baby. One wants freedom. One just wants to be chosen.

They meet bucks Athos and Stockton, and wolfkin Lyall, each carrying baggage, bruised egos, and quiet hopes. What starts as raw attraction turns into something more complicated. Every pair is forced to face what it means to be vulnerable, to take risks, and to want more than instinct alone can give.

Tawny is guarded and sarcastic, using control to keep people out. Athos hides behind cynicism, believing he has no value beyond service. As they face their fears, their bond deepens into something real, built on mutual respect, support, and a shared sense of purpose.

Eiren is impulsive and emotionally distant, using chaos to protect herself. Lyall is isolated and controlling, battling his own instincts. As they begin to understand their fears and how they project them, their dynamic shifts into a messy but intentional connection rooted in trust and honesty.

Rora starts timid and full of self-doubt, convinced she’s not worth loving. Stockton, shaped by past rejection, is trying to prove he’s enough. Together, they learn to value themselves and each other. What begins with hesitation grows into a safe, steady partnership.

This story explores love, identity, self-worth, healing, shame, and emotional growth. It’s about facing what scares you, choosing someone on purpose, and holding on even when it's messy. It’s hot, vulnerable, and surprisingly tender.

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

The spice was fun but I think it could have been way better as separate books focusing on each couple. We have three main female characters and like 3-4 male ones and since the tones are pretty similar, I found it really difficult to tell the voices and characters apart.

I'll also say that while the premise was interesting, with prey animals and predator animals living in the same society, the angsty dramatic situations the characters find themselves in kind of grated on me. There was a lot of self conscious worrying and anxiety and aversion to relationships and it was a bit tiring watching the characters being in their own heads the whole time.The girls needed to look at themselves and figure out what they actually wanted from life and a relationship and the guys needed to get over their own issues and commit.

[Anastey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you BookSprout, and Jove Chambers for sending me this advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This books was really hard to get into. Way too many characters for a 300 page book, and they spend most of the time in their heads being insecure and pushing people away.

I really liked the chapters with Eiren and the wolf character Lyall the best. Those felt like they had the most emotion and fire to them. The rest weren't memorable at all.

Overall the spice was fine, but it was hard to get over the constant long winded anxiety monologues.

[DemetraP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stags by Jove Chambers. This book is scorching hot.

The plot is that deerkin go into heat or rut every fall. So they rent out a convention center near a forest. Consent is key. Women wear red earrings if they don't want to be br3d, and wear white earrings if they want c@m inside them to get pregnant.

The men have antlers. The women have deer tails.

There are 3 women so you have different stories going on in one book.

My favorite is the deer kin woman who finds a wolf kin in the woods. He has a wolf tail. She likes fear. He likes her fear but always checks for consent.

[ajscenic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the idea of focusing on different types on animals instead of the obligatory wolves. This was a good read which focuses on three different females. This was fun with great dialogue and amusing situations. I liked the individual stories, but I feel that you either need to make the book longer to focus on one couple per book.
Overall this was a good read and great characters.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Does, Three Stags,Plus a Lone Wolf

We meet Rora, Tawny and Eiren as they attend the initiation event for the rites, a deerkin event where stags chase does and mount them - consensually, of course. These three have their troubles, bonding over males and their own negative self-worth feelings. This story is three stories in one, with a unique vibe that I enjoyed. An interesting read.

[Andi Downs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read about three Does who are on a journey to meet their mates during their Rite weekend. Great book for an afternoon read and a little different in its characters. :D
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.