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The Second Awakening #1
Dead Wrong
Tobias Greene is dead. Or, at least, he was dead, before his ex-boyfriend woke him with news of his missing sister.
I wasn’t supposed to be here. Death should have been the end for me. A quiet erasure of all the terrible things I’d done in the almost thirty years of my first life. But then I was awake, and those memories came flooding back in, destroying the peace that had saved me in the crushing dark. To make matters worse, Bastien, the man I loved—and lost—was the one who tore me from Death’s icy grip. I couldn’t remember how things ended between us, but judging by the contempt in his eyes, I would guess it wasn’t pleasant.
Lynette was missing. My twin—my better half—vanished the night before she was to succeed our mother as Head of the Magi Council. I was the last one to be seen with her. Then I was murdered. Now, I had to piece together those moments leading up to my death if we were to have any chance of saving Lynette.
I wanted to forget the man I was in my first life. But with every step closer to Lynette, my past stalked ever closer. The hearts I’d broken. The lives I’d ruined. The men I’d left behind.
I thought I knew who I was, but I was wrong.
DEAD WRONG.
DEAD WRONG is a plot-driven, magical realism, harem-style M/M romance with plenty of action, lots of magical men, and just the right amount of spice.
I wasn’t supposed to be here. Death should have been the end for me. A quiet erasure of all the terrible things I’d done in the almost thirty years of my first life. But then I was awake, and those memories came flooding back in, destroying the peace that had saved me in the crushing dark. To make matters worse, Bastien, the man I loved—and lost—was the one who tore me from Death’s icy grip. I couldn’t remember how things ended between us, but judging by the contempt in his eyes, I would guess it wasn’t pleasant.
Lynette was missing. My twin—my better half—vanished the night before she was to succeed our mother as Head of the Magi Council. I was the last one to be seen with her. Then I was murdered. Now, I had to piece together those moments leading up to my death if we were to have any chance of saving Lynette.
I wanted to forget the man I was in my first life. But with every step closer to Lynette, my past stalked ever closer. The hearts I’d broken. The lives I’d ruined. The men I’d left behind.
I thought I knew who I was, but I was wrong.
DEAD WRONG.
DEAD WRONG is a plot-driven, magical realism, harem-style M/M romance with plenty of action, lots of magical men, and just the right amount of spice.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2025
29 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Alexander C. Eberhart
9 books254 followersA Metro Atlanta area native, Alexander has had a passion for writing from a young age. As he grew into his Queer identity, so did his works, and he is dedicated to bringing Queer stories to life in new and imaginative ways.
Alexander has penned over half a dozen titles, from Young Adult works exploring topics of Faith and Queer identities, to an Adult Urban Fantasy series, packed with magic and just the right amount of spice.
When not crafting quality Queer fiction, Alexander works for a local service company. He still lives outside of Atlanta with his husband and their children (dogs).
Alexander has penned over half a dozen titles, from Young Adult works exploring topics of Faith and Queer identities, to an Adult Urban Fantasy series, packed with magic and just the right amount of spice.
When not crafting quality Queer fiction, Alexander works for a local service company. He still lives outside of Atlanta with his husband and their children (dogs).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 7, 2025
I loved 99% of this book. The world building is fully fleshed out. The people and place names are accessible and pronounceable. There is a fun spin on magic. The characters are multi-faceted and diverse in appearance and temperament. The history and backstory of the world is quite rich.
Most importantly I am really loving the Egalia's Daughters: A Satire of the Sexes spin on the typical gender dynamic. This adds a really nice flavour and social commentary to gay male romance that is rarely utilised in the genre.
The sole con that snatched two stars from my review was the snippet of a scene that clearly alluded to there being mpreg in this universe. Mpreg is a controversial theme in gay novels. It is a theme like sexual violence that needs to be stated in the title or summary of the novel so readers are aware and consent to this. It does not matter if there is only a hint of this in what amounted to 3 paragraphs, as this is the beginning of a series, all themes from the entirety of the series must be declared to allow readers to make an informed decision. No one wants to get invested in a series only to discover a disliked theme midway through. It was a most unpleasant surprise and despite how fantastic this book is, I am torn on whether I will continue with this series if controversial themes continue to be included and not mentioned before purchasing.
Most importantly I am really loving the Egalia's Daughters: A Satire of the Sexes spin on the typical gender dynamic. This adds a really nice flavour and social commentary to gay male romance that is rarely utilised in the genre.
The sole con that snatched two stars from my review was the snippet of a scene that clearly alluded to there being mpreg in this universe. Mpreg is a controversial theme in gay novels. It is a theme like sexual violence that needs to be stated in the title or summary of the novel so readers are aware and consent to this. It does not matter if there is only a hint of this in what amounted to 3 paragraphs, as this is the beginning of a series, all themes from the entirety of the series must be declared to allow readers to make an informed decision. No one wants to get invested in a series only to discover a disliked theme midway through. It was a most unpleasant surprise and despite how fantastic this book is, I am torn on whether I will continue with this series if controversial themes continue to be included and not mentioned before purchasing.
September 8, 2025
He was glad when death claimed him as he wanted to be away from others. Unfortunately his ex boyfriend woke him back up with the news his sister was missing. They looked very cross with him and he knows he needs to find his sister while trying to right the wrongs he has done. See where it will all go
June 13, 2025
great debut
Great world building and depth, enjoyed a new take on familiar tropes. I do wish the blurb was more clear about it being an actual series, or just a shared series name with new couples, etc because it’s just a bit confusing. It does seem that this is a series series and will be continuing with the same group in the next books. There’s also mpreg in the universe, which isn’t mentioned really until one of the types of Magi is mentioned to be capable of mpreg, and of of the LI’s is that type of Magi, so I’m assuming there will likely be some form of mpreg in later books. Not personally my thing, but idk that I would discard the entire series over it, because it def was a decent read overall. Now know that it is a proper series, I assume the questions and development that were unanswered/lacking will likely be better explained in later books. I would say this is like 1 out of 5 chilies; there is no ‘present day’ spice or smut, and little snippets there are are from the past with Cirian or Bastien, but they’re very minor. Not a biggie, and now that I understand it’s a series, it def fits with the slow burn trajectory that’s going on. And in a dream/vision Tobias had of the future, it also looks like it might end up being more Poly that just a spoke-and-wheel type harem, which is intriguing, and def my preference in Why Choose. Hope B2 doesn’t take too long to come out, and def curious to know if it’s a duet, trilogy, etc, because there’s def lots of potential in this universe.
Great world building and depth, enjoyed a new take on familiar tropes. I do wish the blurb was more clear about it being an actual series, or just a shared series name with new couples, etc because it’s just a bit confusing. It does seem that this is a series series and will be continuing with the same group in the next books. There’s also mpreg in the universe, which isn’t mentioned really until one of the types of Magi is mentioned to be capable of mpreg, and of of the LI’s is that type of Magi, so I’m assuming there will likely be some form of mpreg in later books. Not personally my thing, but idk that I would discard the entire series over it, because it def was a decent read overall. Now know that it is a proper series, I assume the questions and development that were unanswered/lacking will likely be better explained in later books. I would say this is like 1 out of 5 chilies; there is no ‘present day’ spice or smut, and little snippets there are are from the past with Cirian or Bastien, but they’re very minor. Not a biggie, and now that I understand it’s a series, it def fits with the slow burn trajectory that’s going on. And in a dream/vision Tobias had of the future, it also looks like it might end up being more Poly that just a spoke-and-wheel type harem, which is intriguing, and def my preference in Why Choose. Hope B2 doesn’t take too long to come out, and def curious to know if it’s a duet, trilogy, etc, because there’s def lots of potential in this universe.
August 31, 2025
3.5 stars for me and here's why....
This book took a minute to get into and I can see why people couldn't finish.
There was A LOT to unpack in this book. It kind of bounced all over the place, but made sense at the same time. It's not strictly MM with one couple. It's the MMC, Tobias, being in relationships with 3 men at different times in his life, only to come together in the end in a weird way. I also feel that some things should have been mentioned in the content/trigger warnings page, like the mentioning of Mpreg. It's not a focal point, but it still should have been mentioned as it's a hard limit for some people.
Basically this book is a mystery within a fantasy world. Tobias is unalived and brought back to help find his missing sister. Throughout the story, his memories are flashing back in his mind and he's slowly trying to piece together his "first life" to navigate his "second life". Along the way, we discover the story is a lot more complicated than we thought. Now, Tobias and his new rebel friends and ex-lovers, must work together to defeat the evil and bring peace to their world so that all the species can be united once more.
I'm not sure if there is a second book, but I might read it if there is. After the ending, we definitely need one to get closure.
This book took a minute to get into and I can see why people couldn't finish.
There was A LOT to unpack in this book. It kind of bounced all over the place, but made sense at the same time. It's not strictly MM with one couple. It's the MMC, Tobias, being in relationships with 3 men at different times in his life, only to come together in the end in a weird way. I also feel that some things should have been mentioned in the content/trigger warnings page, like the mentioning of Mpreg. It's not a focal point, but it still should have been mentioned as it's a hard limit for some people.
Basically this book is a mystery within a fantasy world. Tobias is unalived and brought back to help find his missing sister. Throughout the story, his memories are flashing back in his mind and he's slowly trying to piece together his "first life" to navigate his "second life". Along the way, we discover the story is a lot more complicated than we thought. Now, Tobias and his new rebel friends and ex-lovers, must work together to defeat the evil and bring peace to their world so that all the species can be united once more.
I'm not sure if there is a second book, but I might read it if there is. After the ending, we definitely need one to get closure.
November 15, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It wasn’t perfect but then I never expect an author’s debut to be 100% on top form. My personal issues with the book, see below, were due to my own reading preferences.
As to the positives. There’s a lot of worldbuilding in this and I found the helpful glossary at the front setting out the different members of society to be most useful. This book is very plot driven and low spice which worked for me. I prefer emotional development and connection over instalust. It was clear who two of Toby’s partner’s would be, and the additional of our third was a nice surprise. It tied into all aspects of the different magic systems.
Of course, as with a lot of these types of books we had an evil family member - the mother - who everyone was terrified of and she happened to head up the magic council. I felt she was almost caricature like, and that could have been toned down, like we get it, she’s a complete bitch. Toby, being magically weaker, was very much stuck being, in effect, a magical prostitute, during his first life.
There is the immediate plot - find the missing sibling/stop evil mother, and then we have an overarching plot line. I enjoyed both, and they were interesting as well as linked together well.
Now, the negatives. I absolutely do not like single point of view. Especially when I have 4 x MCs. I don’t need it evenly distributed, I could have managed mainly Toby with a few chapters of the other x 3. It just would have helped get a wider world view especially with the overarching plot. I also dislike having flashbacks as a plot device. Pretty much every chapter had a past flashback for Toby. Now he did lose his memory due to the reincarnation, so it made sense, but it just kept pulling me out of the story. Finally, he broke up with his ex, who then brought him back to life, yet we don’t know why they broke up, and we don’t find out. It’s frustrating as his ex dislikes him, but why, and it just felt unfair on Toby to blame him still when he’s lost most of hus memories.
There was a nice little plot twist at the end that I kinda thought would happen but not the reasons why, which were a surprise.
Overall I’ll read the next one as I liked the overarching plot, I’m hoping there will be less flashbacks though as surely we have all the info we need?!
Oh, CW, there’s reference to mpreg. It doesn’t happen on page, but just a heads up as one of the magic user species is male only, so mpreg is how they reproduce.
I got this as an ARC from gayromancereviews.com and this is my own views. I love MM+ so I’m surprised I didn’t read this earlier. But I’m glad I did as I think it’s got a lot of potential.
As to the positives. There’s a lot of worldbuilding in this and I found the helpful glossary at the front setting out the different members of society to be most useful. This book is very plot driven and low spice which worked for me. I prefer emotional development and connection over instalust. It was clear who two of Toby’s partner’s would be, and the additional of our third was a nice surprise. It tied into all aspects of the different magic systems.
Of course, as with a lot of these types of books we had an evil family member - the mother - who everyone was terrified of and she happened to head up the magic council. I felt she was almost caricature like, and that could have been toned down, like we get it, she’s a complete bitch. Toby, being magically weaker, was very much stuck being, in effect, a magical prostitute, during his first life.
There is the immediate plot - find the missing sibling/stop evil mother, and then we have an overarching plot line. I enjoyed both, and they were interesting as well as linked together well.
Now, the negatives. I absolutely do not like single point of view. Especially when I have 4 x MCs. I don’t need it evenly distributed, I could have managed mainly Toby with a few chapters of the other x 3. It just would have helped get a wider world view especially with the overarching plot. I also dislike having flashbacks as a plot device. Pretty much every chapter had a past flashback for Toby. Now he did lose his memory due to the reincarnation, so it made sense, but it just kept pulling me out of the story. Finally, he broke up with his ex, who then brought him back to life, yet we don’t know why they broke up, and we don’t find out. It’s frustrating as his ex dislikes him, but why, and it just felt unfair on Toby to blame him still when he’s lost most of hus memories.
There was a nice little plot twist at the end that I kinda thought would happen but not the reasons why, which were a surprise.
Overall I’ll read the next one as I liked the overarching plot, I’m hoping there will be less flashbacks though as surely we have all the info we need?!
Oh, CW, there’s reference to mpreg. It doesn’t happen on page, but just a heads up as one of the magic user species is male only, so mpreg is how they reproduce.
I got this as an ARC from gayromancereviews.com and this is my own views. I love MM+ so I’m surprised I didn’t read this earlier. But I’m glad I did as I think it’s got a lot of potential.
December 27, 2025
As interesting as I found it there were a lot of times that the story lacked continuity.
Firstly although we got a lot of world building when it came to the magic caste system, we didn't got the basic ones. Is this a UF story? An AU one? Are we on earth? On an another planer? Are we in 2025? Are we in the 1800s? If we are in 2025 what is the technology like? I think there was a rotary phone mentioned at some point but I don't remember if there were cars or electricity, although bikes were mentioned... so that was all a bit of a mess for me to map the world out.
Secondly, I'm sorry but Tobias was TSTL! That or he simply lacked critical thinking skills. I get that he lived under his mother's cruel thumb but he was willfully obtuse and oblivious. And even after he decided to help the Rebellion he hindered more than helped.
Thirdly, it's my fault for not reading all the blurb and missed the "harem-style M/M romance" but why is it "harem-style M/M romance" and not simply MMMM romance? Especially since from the "visions" the other 3 men have bonds amongst themselves as well and not just with Tobias. What is not my fault is the implied-MPreg that came outta left field! I don't mind it but hello more missing world building!
And finally the lack of continuity in the story. Characters appear and disappear as needed, with almost no mentioning of them till the scene needs to be transitioned, like when Cirian saved Tobias from the Rebellion's tent, both Lynette and Bastien were hardly mentioned again till the two of them left the Chapel with the cardinal to go to the Green's chateaux. And of course the what I call "black hole scenes", which were every scene with Tobias's undying libido, right in the middle of things taking a turn for the worse. Tobias's libido is hale and whole and can't help but think with his dick! Couldn't the author find another way to tie the four men together than hit us over the head again and again with Tobias getting the fuzzies whenever he was in the room with one of them and his memories and/or visions of having slept with them.
You would also hardly figure out from the story that Lynette was Tobias's twin and not his older sister. Only towards the end there were some hints.
All and all this was a very interesting story, well written mostly, but it definitely would have been benefited by a good editor to ensure consistency.
Joel Leslie is a great narrator and he really brought his A game here, with different voices for all the characters that there was no mixing up who was talking when, he brought all the characters emotions to life. No notes.
Firstly although we got a lot of world building when it came to the magic caste system, we didn't got the basic ones. Is this a UF story? An AU one? Are we on earth? On an another planer? Are we in 2025? Are we in the 1800s? If we are in 2025 what is the technology like? I think there was a rotary phone mentioned at some point but I don't remember if there were cars or electricity, although bikes were mentioned... so that was all a bit of a mess for me to map the world out.
Secondly, I'm sorry but Tobias was TSTL! That or he simply lacked critical thinking skills. I get that he lived under his mother's cruel thumb but he was willfully obtuse and oblivious. And even after he decided to help the Rebellion he hindered more than helped.
Thirdly, it's my fault for not reading all the blurb and missed the "harem-style M/M romance" but why is it "harem-style M/M romance" and not simply MMMM romance? Especially since from the "visions" the other 3 men have bonds amongst themselves as well and not just with Tobias. What is not my fault is the implied-MPreg that came outta left field! I don't mind it but hello more missing world building!
And finally the lack of continuity in the story. Characters appear and disappear as needed, with almost no mentioning of them till the scene needs to be transitioned, like when Cirian saved Tobias from the Rebellion's tent, both Lynette and Bastien were hardly mentioned again till the two of them left the Chapel with the cardinal to go to the Green's chateaux. And of course the what I call "black hole scenes", which were every scene with Tobias's undying libido, right in the middle of things taking a turn for the worse. Tobias's libido is hale and whole and can't help but think with his dick! Couldn't the author find another way to tie the four men together than hit us over the head again and again with Tobias getting the fuzzies whenever he was in the room with one of them and his memories and/or visions of having slept with them.
You would also hardly figure out from the story that Lynette was Tobias's twin and not his older sister. Only towards the end there were some hints.
All and all this was a very interesting story, well written mostly, but it definitely would have been benefited by a good editor to ensure consistency.
Joel Leslie is a great narrator and he really brought his A game here, with different voices for all the characters that there was no mixing up who was talking when, he brought all the characters emotions to life. No notes.
September 14, 2025
I'll start this off by saying Alexander is a knew to me author and while this is his first debut into the adult M/M fiction world, he has written YA previously, which I have not read,(Yet.) After reading this incredibly intriguing book though, I'm most likely going to be looking into more of Alexander's work.
When I first read the blurb for Dead Wrong, I was intrigued yet concerned, mainly because when someone tries to put too many things or characters into the same book, often times the story gets muddled. I can happily say that didn't happen here! While there is A LOT that happens throughout this book, it all eventually made sense and felt natural to the events taking place during the course of the story.
I was not expecting the intricacy with the level of depth each character ended up having, not one character was one dimensional or felt lesser than the others. Each one felt whole and there was so much to learn about each of these characters, this felt much more than just two MC's, I could argue that the men who are technically side characters, are main characters in their own right as well.
I thought each character was fantastic and with the information that slowly got revealed about them as Tobi remembered his past added an extra layer of depth to all of them, which I found to be really interesting. This book is equal parts mystery, action, romance, and suspense all wrapped up together. I enjoyed reading all of the twists and turns that came about as the story progressed and the pacing of the story itself was so smooth!
While there IS some romance within the pages of this book, it is definitely more subtle. I can't say too much without spoiling the plot, but let me just say I feel as though there is more than one love interest...
I really enjoyed reading this book, I was completely immersed into this world right alongside Tobias, Bastien, Azrael and Cirian. The plot twist the Lynette was immensely shocking and I love when an author can be sneaky about what's going to happen, I did not see that coming at all. Very well done to you Alexander! All in all, a terrific way to start a brand new series and an amazing book to debut with. I'm very curious to see what's in store for these characters as they continue their battle against a certain someone... And I'm also wondering if eventually all of the characters will have a romance together? Or if they'll be individual couples? I'm very curious about that! (Also my favorite character is Azrael, he's so sweet yet fierce!)
When I first read the blurb for Dead Wrong, I was intrigued yet concerned, mainly because when someone tries to put too many things or characters into the same book, often times the story gets muddled. I can happily say that didn't happen here! While there is A LOT that happens throughout this book, it all eventually made sense and felt natural to the events taking place during the course of the story.
I was not expecting the intricacy with the level of depth each character ended up having, not one character was one dimensional or felt lesser than the others. Each one felt whole and there was so much to learn about each of these characters, this felt much more than just two MC's, I could argue that the men who are technically side characters, are main characters in their own right as well.
I thought each character was fantastic and with the information that slowly got revealed about them as Tobi remembered his past added an extra layer of depth to all of them, which I found to be really interesting. This book is equal parts mystery, action, romance, and suspense all wrapped up together. I enjoyed reading all of the twists and turns that came about as the story progressed and the pacing of the story itself was so smooth!
While there IS some romance within the pages of this book, it is definitely more subtle. I can't say too much without spoiling the plot, but let me just say I feel as though there is more than one love interest...
I really enjoyed reading this book, I was completely immersed into this world right alongside Tobias, Bastien, Azrael and Cirian. The plot twist the Lynette was immensely shocking and I love when an author can be sneaky about what's going to happen, I did not see that coming at all. Very well done to you Alexander! All in all, a terrific way to start a brand new series and an amazing book to debut with. I'm very curious to see what's in store for these characters as they continue their battle against a certain someone... And I'm also wondering if eventually all of the characters will have a romance together? Or if they'll be individual couples? I'm very curious about that! (Also my favorite character is Azrael, he's so sweet yet fierce!)
September 1, 2025
Dead Wrong, the first book in The Second Awakening series by Alexander C. Eberhart, was a book that instantly had me curious. I am always eager to dive into stories that mix genres I enjoy – in this case, fantasy, mystery, and romance – and I went in with high expectations. Unfortunately, Dead Wrong did not work for me in the way I had hoped.
I will be honest and say that I struggled from the start due to my inability to connect with the writing. While I am sure many will enjoy it, I found it was overwritten in such a way that there were redundancies in sentences that pulled me from what was happening. I was mostly able to overlook this, but it took far too long for me to understand the world. Each time I thought I understood, something new would be thrown in that had me changing the picture in my head. Due to this, I was constantly being pulled in and out of the story. This made it difficult for me to feel the level of connection I had hoped to experience, which impacted upon my enjoyment of the characters. In fact, it reached the point where I stopped caring and just wanted to see how the pieces came together.
All in all, while I can see this being a hit for many, it missed the mark for me. I feel this is very much a case of “it is me, not the book”, which means I will not be continuing with the series.
I will be honest and say that I struggled from the start due to my inability to connect with the writing. While I am sure many will enjoy it, I found it was overwritten in such a way that there were redundancies in sentences that pulled me from what was happening. I was mostly able to overlook this, but it took far too long for me to understand the world. Each time I thought I understood, something new would be thrown in that had me changing the picture in my head. Due to this, I was constantly being pulled in and out of the story. This made it difficult for me to feel the level of connection I had hoped to experience, which impacted upon my enjoyment of the characters. In fact, it reached the point where I stopped caring and just wanted to see how the pieces came together.
All in all, while I can see this being a hit for many, it missed the mark for me. I feel this is very much a case of “it is me, not the book”, which means I will not be continuing with the series.
September 6, 2025
Tobias Greene died but not for long. He knows he is now among the living again but his brain is fractured. His ex-boyfriend brought him back to life with the news that his sister is missing. Bastien, his ex, is responsible for his second life. Tobias knows they broke up but does not know why. The hunt for Lynette, his twin and better half, brings Tobias close to danger as well. With this new life, Tobias finds he is able to look back and see he was not the nicest man. He ruined lives, broke hearts and left many men behind. If he survives the danger he is facing now, maybe he can live a better life.
So much is happening. Lynette was to replace her mother as the Head of the Magi Council. With her missing, Lynette’s mother does not want to relinquish control. Tobias was never favored by their mother and was in fact, subject to severe emotional abuse at her hands. With his death and subsequent revivification, Tobias has a chance to try and make amends for his past actions. Dead Wrong has many unexpected twists and turns. A variety of characters are introduced leading to more than a few surprises. The ending left many strings dangling and many questions unanswered. I know we will all be anxiously awaiting The Second Awakening #2.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
So much is happening. Lynette was to replace her mother as the Head of the Magi Council. With her missing, Lynette’s mother does not want to relinquish control. Tobias was never favored by their mother and was in fact, subject to severe emotional abuse at her hands. With his death and subsequent revivification, Tobias has a chance to try and make amends for his past actions. Dead Wrong has many unexpected twists and turns. A variety of characters are introduced leading to more than a few surprises. The ending left many strings dangling and many questions unanswered. I know we will all be anxiously awaiting The Second Awakening #2.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
November 2, 2025
**********Contains Spoilers**********
This is the first book that I’ve read by Alexander C Eberhart and it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was a good start to The Second Awakening Series. I really liked immersing myself in this magical world that Alexander has created. I wish that the flash back scenes between Tobias aka Tobi and his love interests, Bastien, Cirian & Azrael would’ve shown a bit more of their pasts, and it would’ve made their connection that much more powerful/real. I thought the world building was on point.
Tobi definitely was a bit of an a*sehole in his first life but a lot of that was doing his mother’s bidding, so he feels like he has a lot to make up for during his second life. There was some twists that I definitely wasn’t expecting. I’m really looking forward to seeing how each of the magical connection between Tobi, Bastien, Cirian and Azrael strengthen during the next book and seeing them all work together to take on the bad person. I’m also going to be checking out more of Alexander C Eberhart’s books in the future. I’d definitely recommend this book, series and author to others.
******I received a complimentary copy of this book through GRR. I would still happily review this book even if I purchased it myself. My thoughts and feelings about this book are completely unbiased******
This is the first book that I’ve read by Alexander C Eberhart and it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was a good start to The Second Awakening Series. I really liked immersing myself in this magical world that Alexander has created. I wish that the flash back scenes between Tobias aka Tobi and his love interests, Bastien, Cirian & Azrael would’ve shown a bit more of their pasts, and it would’ve made their connection that much more powerful/real. I thought the world building was on point.
Tobi definitely was a bit of an a*sehole in his first life but a lot of that was doing his mother’s bidding, so he feels like he has a lot to make up for during his second life. There was some twists that I definitely wasn’t expecting. I’m really looking forward to seeing how each of the magical connection between Tobi, Bastien, Cirian and Azrael strengthen during the next book and seeing them all work together to take on the bad person. I’m also going to be checking out more of Alexander C Eberhart’s books in the future. I’d definitely recommend this book, series and author to others.
******I received a complimentary copy of this book through GRR. I would still happily review this book even if I purchased it myself. My thoughts and feelings about this book are completely unbiased******
November 15, 2025
Great world building
This is a new author to me and I was intrigued first by the cover and then by the blurb. There's a lot to unpack in Dead Wrong and it took a little while to get into it but I enjoyed it once I did.
The story is told in real time, and also in flashbacks of a sort because the revived Tobias has lost a lot of his memories and they slowly return throughout, which I thought was a clever way to convey information without it being an annoying info dump.
The blurb mentions this is a reverse harem-style and Tobias has three men in his life who are all important to him in different ways. There is no mention of mpreg in the blurb but there is a father here who has birthed his son, so if that isn't something you want to read, this maybe isn't for you.
The story kept me turning the pages, with the mystery behind Tobias' death, his horrible mother's iron rule, what part his sister plays in all this, his friends, the rebellion, all keeping my interest.
One thing to mention is that it could do with a proof read, as there were missing words and grammar errors, when the past tense suddenly changed into present tense multiple times, and I was pulled out of the story every time.
I have the next one to read now but I'm giving it a few days before I start, to catch my breath.
Three and a half stars.
This is a new author to me and I was intrigued first by the cover and then by the blurb. There's a lot to unpack in Dead Wrong and it took a little while to get into it but I enjoyed it once I did.
The story is told in real time, and also in flashbacks of a sort because the revived Tobias has lost a lot of his memories and they slowly return throughout, which I thought was a clever way to convey information without it being an annoying info dump.
The blurb mentions this is a reverse harem-style and Tobias has three men in his life who are all important to him in different ways. There is no mention of mpreg in the blurb but there is a father here who has birthed his son, so if that isn't something you want to read, this maybe isn't for you.
The story kept me turning the pages, with the mystery behind Tobias' death, his horrible mother's iron rule, what part his sister plays in all this, his friends, the rebellion, all keeping my interest.
One thing to mention is that it could do with a proof read, as there were missing words and grammar errors, when the past tense suddenly changed into present tense multiple times, and I was pulled out of the story every time.
I have the next one to read now but I'm giving it a few days before I start, to catch my breath.
Three and a half stars.
May 18, 2025
This was a unique story for me. I don’t read much urban fantasy, but I really enjoyed this because of the magical elements (easy to follow and understand the magical system and there weren’t weird or hard to pronounce words) and the bits of romance and spice we got along the way. I couldn’t tell this was a new genre for this author.
The bits I loved— almost every chapter starts with a flashback the relates to the current storyline in some way. So even though the chapters were a bit longer, if you need to pause your reading after the little flashback you can easily do that.
The MC has just been murdered and his mind and memories are fractured, slowly coming back to him as the story progresses. The author skillfully weaves the broken pieces back together masterfully, even throwing in some shocking plot twists I really didn’t see coming. This one was fast-paced mixed with some heart-warming moments— gentle forehead kisses, fun teasing, and beautiful friendships.
You will fall in love with the characters— even a side character or two. I’m still left with a few questions I hope get addressed in the next book (few books?). And that ending— it felt like it was over too soon. I hope I don’t have to wait too long to find out what happens next!
The bits I loved— almost every chapter starts with a flashback the relates to the current storyline in some way. So even though the chapters were a bit longer, if you need to pause your reading after the little flashback you can easily do that.
The MC has just been murdered and his mind and memories are fractured, slowly coming back to him as the story progresses. The author skillfully weaves the broken pieces back together masterfully, even throwing in some shocking plot twists I really didn’t see coming. This one was fast-paced mixed with some heart-warming moments— gentle forehead kisses, fun teasing, and beautiful friendships.
You will fall in love with the characters— even a side character or two. I’m still left with a few questions I hope get addressed in the next book (few books?). And that ending— it felt like it was over too soon. I hope I don’t have to wait too long to find out what happens next!
July 15, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
I was eager to read this book as soon as I heard “resurrected by his ex-boyfriend” and this story did not disappoint. In fact, it totally blew me away and I couldn’t put it down. Alexander C. Eberhart has created a fascinating and compelling urban fantasy that just kept me totally engrossed and on the edge of my seat. The book starts with a glossary that is helpful in setting the framework of the world building, but essentially there are four types of mages, each with their own magical abilities and role in society.
The story is a slow burn on the romance end, but Tobias is building a relationship with three men. This is a “harem-style” story, according to the blurb, so it appears this will be a poly story in some form, but the exact shape isn’t totally clear.
This is the first of a series, so we get to a natural stopping point here, but the story has more to go as the books continue. I am completely all in and cannot wait for the next installment.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
I was eager to read this book as soon as I heard “resurrected by his ex-boyfriend” and this story did not disappoint. In fact, it totally blew me away and I couldn’t put it down. Alexander C. Eberhart has created a fascinating and compelling urban fantasy that just kept me totally engrossed and on the edge of my seat. The book starts with a glossary that is helpful in setting the framework of the world building, but essentially there are four types of mages, each with their own magical abilities and role in society.
The story is a slow burn on the romance end, but Tobias is building a relationship with three men. This is a “harem-style” story, according to the blurb, so it appears this will be a poly story in some form, but the exact shape isn’t totally clear.
This is the first of a series, so we get to a natural stopping point here, but the story has more to go as the books continue. I am completely all in and cannot wait for the next installment.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
November 14, 2025
Dead Wrong has a really intriguing premise — a man who welcomed death, only to be dragged back into the world by an ex who clearly wants nothing to do with him. Tobias waking to find that his twin sister is missing sets the whole story in motion, and the mix of mystery, magic, and messy emotions kept me turning the pages.
Tobias is not an easy character, and that’s part of what made this interesting. He’s spent almost his whole first life hurting people, pushing them away, and making decisions that now come back to haunt him. Watching him try to piece together the hours before his murder, while also confronting the wreckage of his old relationships, gives the story a good emotional edge.
The magical realism and harem-style setup add plenty of tension, and there’s a solid balance of plot, action, and spice. I did find myself wanting a little more clarity around certain world-building elements, and occasionally the pacing felt rushed, but the overall concept and the characters’ tangled dynamics made it worth sticking with.
A dark, twisty resurrection story about facing who you used to be — and deciding who you want to be now. I’m curious to see where the series goes next.
I received an ARC copy and this is my honest review.
Tobias is not an easy character, and that’s part of what made this interesting. He’s spent almost his whole first life hurting people, pushing them away, and making decisions that now come back to haunt him. Watching him try to piece together the hours before his murder, while also confronting the wreckage of his old relationships, gives the story a good emotional edge.
The magical realism and harem-style setup add plenty of tension, and there’s a solid balance of plot, action, and spice. I did find myself wanting a little more clarity around certain world-building elements, and occasionally the pacing felt rushed, but the overall concept and the characters’ tangled dynamics made it worth sticking with.
A dark, twisty resurrection story about facing who you used to be — and deciding who you want to be now. I’m curious to see where the series goes next.
I received an ARC copy and this is my honest review.
September 4, 2025
Definitely not the wrong book to read!
First of all, don’t think that you will be able to guess where this twisty magical story is headed because Alexander C. Eberhart will fool the best of us. It’s a fun story that plays around with lots of tropes and plot lines. It does seem like the series will continue following the same group instead of a new couple in each book. At least that’s what I figure from the hints in the book because there are a lot of hints and various things left unanswered that I presume will come up in subsequent books. I hope we don’t have to wait too long for it!
Considering that one of the main characters is resurrected at the beginning of the book you might guess that this volume is rather slow burn (cold shoulder? Lol). We are given lots of bits that make me think that the rest of the series will get more action of THAT kind and I couldn’t be happier about that!
Read the warnings because there is a lot to this story, but then throw yourself into it and enjoy. I will definitely be reading this book again to pick up on all of what Mr Eberhart has packed in there.
First of all, don’t think that you will be able to guess where this twisty magical story is headed because Alexander C. Eberhart will fool the best of us. It’s a fun story that plays around with lots of tropes and plot lines. It does seem like the series will continue following the same group instead of a new couple in each book. At least that’s what I figure from the hints in the book because there are a lot of hints and various things left unanswered that I presume will come up in subsequent books. I hope we don’t have to wait too long for it!
Considering that one of the main characters is resurrected at the beginning of the book you might guess that this volume is rather slow burn (cold shoulder? Lol). We are given lots of bits that make me think that the rest of the series will get more action of THAT kind and I couldn’t be happier about that!
Read the warnings because there is a lot to this story, but then throw yourself into it and enjoy. I will definitely be reading this book again to pick up on all of what Mr Eberhart has packed in there.
June 16, 2025
I would have rated this book a 4 out of 5 but I had absolutely no idea it was a reverse harem.
I was expecting a nice mystery filled fantasy gay love story and I guess that is what I got but not how I expected it at all.
It is still a very beautifully written book and I must say Cirian and Tobias Sass are absolutely unmatched.
Honorable mention :
Bastien asks Tobias "Did you just whimper Tobias ?"
Tobias replies " No I didn't"
Bastien says "Tobias I think I know you well enough to know what your whimpers sound like"
BOOM SHAKALAKA YES LAWDD!!!!!!
And sweet sweet Azrael when he said "Thank you for choosing me Tobi, no one has ever chosen me before"
And don't get me started on the plot twists!!!!!!!!!!!!! I absolutely wasn't expecting that ending and I sincerely cant wait for the second book to come out (even though I know Ill hate it a little bit because its a reverse harem)
If you're looking for a mystery, magic realism urban fantasy MM reverse harem romance, this is the book for you......
I was expecting a nice mystery filled fantasy gay love story and I guess that is what I got but not how I expected it at all.
It is still a very beautifully written book and I must say Cirian and Tobias Sass are absolutely unmatched.
Honorable mention :
Bastien asks Tobias "Did you just whimper Tobias ?"
Tobias replies " No I didn't"
Bastien says "Tobias I think I know you well enough to know what your whimpers sound like"
BOOM SHAKALAKA YES LAWDD!!!!!!
And sweet sweet Azrael when he said "Thank you for choosing me Tobi, no one has ever chosen me before"
And don't get me started on the plot twists!!!!!!!!!!!!! I absolutely wasn't expecting that ending and I sincerely cant wait for the second book to come out (even though I know Ill hate it a little bit because its a reverse harem)
If you're looking for a mystery, magic realism urban fantasy MM reverse harem romance, this is the book for you......
September 2, 2025
3.5/5. Because bbs, it was a fucking mess. I mean, it was brilliant and I absolutely loved it, but it was a struggle to make it through the errors. It just needs some editing and proofing love. It wasn’t inconsistent or anything, just needs that bit of polish. We all know the stars don’t reflect my unwanted opinions… mostly. NOT HERE.
I really enjoyed the little things that I’m not sure were intentional or accidental (but they stood out to me either way) and I was here for their symbolism. Even if the author didn’t mean to, they hit. Like, “Power. Influence. Tradition. These are the hallmarks of Adored culture.” Did you MEAN to make the hallmarks of the Adored culture the PIT(s)? Clever, buddies. That’s just one example of subtle shit that made the whole thing.
I’m itchy for more. I love a good harem, and I haven’t had one this good since the divine Tal Frost’s series that I’ve still yet to recover from. They both give healthy poly relationship from the jump because you can FEEL it under all the starting-gate hiccups. I LOVE IT SO BAD THO 😩😍
I really enjoyed the little things that I’m not sure were intentional or accidental (but they stood out to me either way) and I was here for their symbolism. Even if the author didn’t mean to, they hit. Like, “Power. Influence. Tradition. These are the hallmarks of Adored culture.” Did you MEAN to make the hallmarks of the Adored culture the PIT(s)? Clever, buddies. That’s just one example of subtle shit that made the whole thing.
I’m itchy for more. I love a good harem, and I haven’t had one this good since the divine Tal Frost’s series that I’ve still yet to recover from. They both give healthy poly relationship from the jump because you can FEEL it under all the starting-gate hiccups. I LOVE IT SO BAD THO 😩😍
September 7, 2025
Dead Wrong is the first book in Alexander C. Eberhart's The Second Awakening series. A new world with an interesting magical hierarchy. The first chapters are a bit chaotic, despite having read the blurb and the glossary. The author is also heavy on the descriptions. Of everything. He's very good with plot twists once you get into the meat of the story.
There's been some complaint that the author didn't state mpreg. Some pearl clutching and "I wouldn't have read THAT, if I'd have known." Yes, there's mpreg. But this isn't a mm version of War and Peace. It was a mostly fun, quick read. A good mystery. There's snarky history between the MCs, and it is somewhat a slow burning romance. Non-romance?
The book does end on a cliffhanger. Which is good, because there's quite a few unfinished plotlines and questions.
Will I read book two? A strong maybe. I'd like to see where this goes.... but.... maybe a little less waxing poetic on the details.
I received an advanced copy from GRR and this is my review.
There's been some complaint that the author didn't state mpreg. Some pearl clutching and "I wouldn't have read THAT, if I'd have known." Yes, there's mpreg. But this isn't a mm version of War and Peace. It was a mostly fun, quick read. A good mystery. There's snarky history between the MCs, and it is somewhat a slow burning romance. Non-romance?
The book does end on a cliffhanger. Which is good, because there's quite a few unfinished plotlines and questions.
Will I read book two? A strong maybe. I'd like to see where this goes.... but.... maybe a little less waxing poetic on the details.
I received an advanced copy from GRR and this is my review.
September 10, 2025
This was an intriguing and engaging start to a fascinating new series, although I thought it could have used a little more world-building. I think (hope) maybe that will come along with Tobias' recovering memories. The characters are generally well-developed, although Tobias's mother seems a bit one-dimensional. Tobias is newly dead, or he was, before his ex-boyfriend brings him back to life because his sister has disappeared, and Tobias was the last one to see her. It's a unique and interesting story, as Tobias attempts to find his sister, recover his memories, and maybe be a better person in his second chance at life. The book has very little romantic heat which I hope changes in future books, but plenty of twists and turns to keep readers on their toes. The story also left me with questions, which again, I hope will be explored and answered in future books. Overall, a good start, but I am ready for more.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
August 5, 2025
Oh, my goodness. What did I read? This was great, but it needs a sequel. I’m pretty sure a sequel is planned, but when? When, when, when?
Okay, content warnings: murder/resurrection, violence including death in battle, multiple partners, mpreg. I may be forgetting something.
This was a style of magic I was not used to, and was not explored in detail. The power dynamics among the power types and other details within the power types make this a complex political story, especially as Tobias is remembering his place in it as we, the readers, are discovering how the society functions and disfunctions. I enjoyed the book for the political intrigue, the psychological aspects, and the bewildering world. I’m hoping that future books will bring more of the romance into play, as there is clearly romantic interest, but there are a lot of questions unanswered.
Okay, content warnings: murder/resurrection, violence including death in battle, multiple partners, mpreg. I may be forgetting something.
This was a style of magic I was not used to, and was not explored in detail. The power dynamics among the power types and other details within the power types make this a complex political story, especially as Tobias is remembering his place in it as we, the readers, are discovering how the society functions and disfunctions. I enjoyed the book for the political intrigue, the psychological aspects, and the bewildering world. I’m hoping that future books will bring more of the romance into play, as there is clearly romantic interest, but there are a lot of questions unanswered.
August 28, 2025
I REALLY liked this book. The world building is terrific, the writing is great, the story is interesting and different, it truly ticks all my boxes. The romance build up is slow in this first installment of a hopefully quickly released series, and there are many questions that remain unanswered (what happened between Tobi and Bastien? WTF Lenny??) which is exciting. Other reviews note that mpreg is alluded to, and while that's not my thing, it's such a minor part of this story that it didn't bother me. There were a few editing issues (tense switches from past to present in several places primarily), but it's so good it didn't distract me as it usually would. This is the author's first adult MM book, and while I rarely read YA, I'm planning to explore his backlist because based on this book I know it'll be worth it. If you like magic and urban fantasy, run out and get this one.
August 25, 2025
Dead Wrong is the first book in THE SECOND AWAKENING Series. Please read these trigger warnings before you start this book murder/resurrection, violence including death in battle, multiple partners, mpreg. I loved this so much even though it is different. I loved the characters and world building that went into this book. So much happens that I will reread the story to see what I might have missed the first time. I wish there had been more romance in the story. I can't wait for the next book in the series so I can have more answers to the questions I have. I would definitely recommend this book.
August 26, 2025
dead perfect
I absolutely adored this book!!! The world building is fascinating and these characters! Gah! I love Tobi, Bastian, Cirian, and Azreal so much! (Especially Azreal.) This story kept me on the edge of my seat as Tobias kept regaining memories and realizing he didn’t really want any more of them. He is getting a second chance to be different and be the person he would have been when not under his mother’s control. I can’t wait to see how this all turns out. I suspect that when this slow burn polycule finally catches flame, it is going to absolutely combust, in the best way possible.
I absolutely adored this book!!! The world building is fascinating and these characters! Gah! I love Tobi, Bastian, Cirian, and Azreal so much! (Especially Azreal.) This story kept me on the edge of my seat as Tobias kept regaining memories and realizing he didn’t really want any more of them. He is getting a second chance to be different and be the person he would have been when not under his mother’s control. I can’t wait to see how this all turns out. I suspect that when this slow burn polycule finally catches flame, it is going to absolutely combust, in the best way possible.
September 8, 2025
I understand this is a debut adult novel for this author and I have to say I was intrigued by the blurb. It did not disappoint - this is the most original take on the whole ‘necromancer romance’ tale - not that the main character is the necromancer in question…rather in need of the necromancer magic.
The world building did take a bit of patience to get through but once everything was in place and the magical class system and political leanings were clear I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s story writing. I loved the way Tobias character growth and the relationship with his harem were driven by recovering his memories and him coming to a true understanding of how his first life was toxic in a way he never knew before. Clever.
It's all there ready for book two - the increasing need for a new political direction, questioning the magical class hierarchy and the harem bonds deepening, so I'll definitely read it as / when it appears.
An ARC was provided by GRR. This is my honest opinion.
The world building did take a bit of patience to get through but once everything was in place and the magical class system and political leanings were clear I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s story writing. I loved the way Tobias character growth and the relationship with his harem were driven by recovering his memories and him coming to a true understanding of how his first life was toxic in a way he never knew before. Clever.
It's all there ready for book two - the increasing need for a new political direction, questioning the magical class hierarchy and the harem bonds deepening, so I'll definitely read it as / when it appears.
An ARC was provided by GRR. This is my honest opinion.
September 5, 2025
The world building and overall structure of this story is what sold me. There was so much going on and I was enraptured throughout. The characters were well-written, and I felt connected too. It was easy to get lost reading and forget about the rest of the world - which is always the sign of a good book to me.
I'm interested about the poly aspect and how it's going to work in the next book (books?). I think there's so much that could be explored with Tobias and Cirian and Bastien. Dynamics in relationships like these fascinate me and the past laid intrigue for the future so I just want to know more. It definitely laid the groundwork for me to keep reading what happens next!
I'm interested about the poly aspect and how it's going to work in the next book (books?). I think there's so much that could be explored with Tobias and Cirian and Bastien. Dynamics in relationships like these fascinate me and the past laid intrigue for the future so I just want to know more. It definitely laid the groundwork for me to keep reading what happens next!
September 10, 2025
This one was touch-and-go for me on whether I would finish it, but I kept going and it got significantly better by the end. There were still some parts that could have been shortened/simplified but the world is unique and interesting. I don’t LOVE the author’s writing style as I feel like there should be a firm one-use-of-“melancholia”-per-book rule but it also kind of goes well with this world so I’m conflicted. I think the next book would benefit from a thorough editing pass to tighten it up before release!
June 2, 2025
I really like the world-building and story line. I'm excited to read the next installment. There's one bit of criticism I would offer: it seemed like the tenses jumped around a bit near the end of the book. So maybe just a bit of editing would fix that.
Other than that, I feel like the character development was great. I was definitely surprised by a few things (in a good way) and I'm excited to see how these things develop in the next books.
Other than that, I feel like the character development was great. I was definitely surprised by a few things (in a good way) and I'm excited to see how these things develop in the next books.
September 15, 2025
An amazing variation on one of my favorite tropes - amnesia with Tobias trying to piece together exactly what happened between him and Bastien while remembering all too much of all the other things he did in his life and wishes he could forget. Unfortunately, he'll need to remember everything if they are to save his twin sister and put things right. Eberhart's usual blend of well conceived plot, excellent world building and great characters.
September 19, 2025
I loved the world-building, the magic, and the relationships—especially the poly ones. The story felt a bit scattered at times, but the characters truly captured my heart. As always, Joel Leslie’s incredible voice acting was a highlight and the reason I picked up this novel in the first place. I can’t wait for the next installment! That said, I really hope we’ll see some lovable good female characters next time, since this was one area that left me disappointed. :(
September 22, 2025
The story takes you on a wild ride of mayhem and suspense, with shocking twists of death thrown right in your face. Tobias is back from the dead—but not fully. His memories are broken, fragmented, or missing, pulling us into a journey full of tension and discovery. Along the way, several characters are given more depth, expanding the world and drawing us even further in. And of course, now we’re hooked and craving more!
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