Knot Playing Fair: Book Two

by Ember Blaze

Six broken people walk into a Michelin-star restaurant…
Unfortunately, that's not the opening line of a joke. It's my life.

With my marriage in tatters, I've fallen into the arms of a misfit pack of damaged men trying to do the right thing. They took me in, gave me a safe place to land, and helped me through my heat when my shipment of black market blocker pills fell through.

But even though Zalen, Emiel, Byron, and Luca want nothing more to do with the street gangs that defined their early lives, it seems that gang life isn't finished with them yet. When the ghosts of their pasts start to haunt my present, I have to choose whether to run, or stand and fight for the life I'm trying to build.

I'm surrounded by people keeping dangerous secrets. But before we can have any kind of a future together, we'll have to put the past to rest.

Too bad the past has other ideas.

-o-o-o-

Knot Playing Fair is a reverse harem 'whychoose' non-shifter omegaverse duology with a male and female omega at the center of the pack, along with lots of steamy M/F and M/M scenes. Grab your copy of Book Two, and fall in love with Mia's men today.

Genres: Omegaverse, Romance, Polyamory, Found Family, Why Choose, Paranormal, Fantasy

545 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2025

About the author

Ember Blaze is either three toddlers in a trench coat, or the new reverse harem omegaverse pen name of USA Today Bestseller R. A. Steffan. If you figure out which, let her know. In the meantime, enjoy growly alphas, sweet omegas, and hawt pansexual lovin’—all with a heaping side order of consent, because that shit’s important.

Reviews

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this one right after the first book as I wanted to continue the series. I had to set it aside for a bit during a super stressful time as I felt like reading something else, but after the worst of the stress was over I quickly picked it back up and finished reading it. I think I enjoyed this one even more than the first book. In this book the pack is really coming together and it was wonderful to see.

This was a great sequel. After the reveal at the end of book 1 I was eager to see how things would progress and I really liked the direction things took. There's a lot of focus in this book on the pack coming together and the characters developing and connecting even more with each other. I really liked learning more about the characters and especially seeing the characters who didn't think they could be part of a pack realize they can and start healing a bit was wonderful to see. I liked seeing the pack really form and them all grow closer.

I just wish this book was even longer as I still felt like I wanted more. I also would've liked a bit more about Byron and Zalen. I felt that while they had plenty of personality I wanted to see their pasts and personalities get explored more. I also felt they stayed the least interesting of the characters and I liked reading about the other characters more. I really liked seeing the healing for both Luca and Emiel, those parts were probably my favorite. I also liked seeing how Mia and Nat dealt with everything, I just wanted them to have to deal and talk about what happened a bit more a sit felt a bit too easy at times, but then again I did really like seeing how that all played out and were they ended up.

To summarize: This was a great sequel and wrapped up this story well. I liked reading more about the characters and seeing them all grow closer. There is a bit of a suspense plot line that wasn't my favorite, but it important for kickstarting some of the character development. I liked seeing all the character relationships develop and it really felt like the pack came together in this book. I just wished it was even longer as I wanted even more and there were some parts I would've liked to see explored more. I really liked the healing and changing the characters did in this one and I liked how the character related plot lines all played out. I don't read a lot of omegaverse, but I really love the books this author writes in this genre.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought Emiel was Black but when Tony’s stepfather confronted Zalen he said, “I’ll bring the police down so hard on your Black ass that you’ll wish you never heard of me.” It turns out they are both Black and Luca may be Chinese if the criminal who called him a Chink is correct. None of this is significant to the plot but if it is going to be mentioned, it would be appreciated if it could be made clear earlier in the story so I can envision the characters more realistically.

These were ordinary people if you don’t take their sexuality into account. Their society has a hierarchy where Alphas are dominant, Betas next and Omegas last. Omegas, both male and female, are the only ones who can procreate. (My mind boggles at males conceiving)

There are various issues but the primary one is having the six people who are living together overcome their neuroses and agree to form a pack. The author did an excellent job delving into their insecurities and the struggles they lived with.

[Jennifer Beam · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my fav; NO TRIGGER WARNINGS

The first book was just boring. Nat’s POV was unsettling at the end of the book. It didn’t feel like any of the main characters had any chemistry and that Mia was the driving force and sort of selfish.


The second book was slightly better but it just wasn’t for me. I don’t like the concept of male omegas giving birth, just bc they are omegas. Also, there are NO TRIGGER warnings and with all the trauma that is rampant in this book (which felt a bit overkill) you really should consider adding it.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Emiel, Mia, Luca, Byron, Zalen and yes spoiler alert Nat. I knew after book one with Byron's and Nat's escapades, he would be included somehow into the pack by book two. To be honest, I was glad it was done fairly early on but I am once again disappointed in the relationship outcomes. We have Emiel and Luca connecting emotionally with each other due to tragic shared pasts, with allowing Mia to be included as well as the three being connected intimately but usually with Emiel and each separately. Then the next connection is with Byron and Luca, in a possessive nature for the alpha and with Luca having intimate needs being met. I had believed by Byron's behaviour, he would develop an emotional attachment to Mia, as everyone kept saying his behaviour changed and he was falling in love with her, but I didn't connect with that nor witnessed that sort of emotion from his character at all. The only one I believe he fell in love with truly was (spoiler alert) Nat. For some reason, those two seemed drawn to each other, they seemed by the end of the book (suggested or implied) spent a lot of time together intimately and even when it came to moments of touch or emotional support, (for example, the loss of the Michelin star) Byron comforted and held Nat, while Nat held Luca, who in turn comforted Mia. Even Mia, stated to Zalen she believed Nat had Byron could have something special. Although I believe Byron, to be attracted to both genders, I believe Nat was not. Nat loved Mia but he was not in love with her or attracted to her. I also believe he cared for Luca, but was not in love with him as well, thouugh they enjoyed their intimate contact. I also believe that Mia's strongest relationship in the pack was with Emiel. Zalen, truthfully, seemed to love everyone but not in love with anyone. I believe Julie was his first and only love and that is okay. It just seems strange to have this pack of misfits coming together to make a chosen family just to still have such division at the end of the book. The only shared intimate time with all of them was during the second heat in book two at the near end and even then, Zalen did not truly participate as a shared partner. No true love stories and connections in this series. Just a wife that is an omega, needing alphas (although I did like the idea the omega's were unable to enjoy intimacy without alpha's pheromones being part of this omegaverse, as it would make sense) being married to a beta closeted husband that needed to fit into society's standards. Mind you, there is a twist at the end on the parental front but I'll leave that be. All in all, I am disappointed, no true emotional connection between the mfc and the alpha/omega male/beta husband. Just a bunch of poly relationships within a pack emotionally and intimately. I feel Luca, Emiel, Mia and Zalen, or Luca, Nat and Byron, or Emiel and Mia alone, or Byron and Nat alone might have made better stories within a longer series than this messy group where nothing seems to fit. It could have allowed the characters to connect with each other as friends and helping one another to identify their issues to help each other move forward with potential pack mates and used the gang issue for continuity throughout the series. Book one was hard to read but the premise of book one seemed interesting enough to try for the second only to be far worse. I wish I stopped at the first book and left the series at that as it was not so bad. Sometimes a cliff hanger is better than the disappointment that follows.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

~4.5 stars rounded up. Not quite sure how to rate this yet as still unsure about book one's rating.

But I can say for sure i enjoyed this one just slightly less and that all really comes down to one plot line I thought would play a bigger role wrapping up a lot sooner than I expected. It wasn't bad or anything but it through me out of the book long enough that I was consciously aware how much book was left which messed with my expectations a bit since I thought it would be a bigger plot for longer and instead other things took a longer path than I expected. But it was still and enjoyable book.

[Alayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This duet of books was different than others Omegaverse books I've read. The author did a great job with character and relationship development, while still keeping the storyline quite spicy. There was a good blend of story development and character development. The background characters were all loveable as well. The author did a wonderful job explaining past trauma and the struggle the characters still had dealing with it. They didnt gloss over hard subjects or immediately forget about their trauma for an instant happy ending.

[Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an expansion of the first where we finally get a bit more personality between the characters, but still lacking in what everyone looks like.

A bittersweet piece of learning all your dreams aren’t what you wanted when you finally realized them. While not letting fears stop you from moving on and creating a better life.

There were bits that will make your brain blank out and try to shake itself to refocus.

[Katy Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping and emotional

The finish to this duet was worth the wait. This was like an oasis amid the desert of books I’ve been reading recently. I was sobbing throughout, and absolutely loved the way Mia’s and Luca’s story comes to an end. Each character was so fleshed out, the spice was ‘chef’s kiss’ and I’m leaving very, very satisfied. 10/10 definitely a buy.

[Daynesha Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many feels

This book was amazing. I don’t know what I was expecting going in but it gave me everything and more. I usually don’t like multi part books but this was so worth it. I was locked in from the beginning. The good, bad, happy, sad ,exciting and everything in between. If there was ever a book I’d want to be stuck in this is it.

[Tara Copeland · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot is wrapped up very early in and then it’s just lots and lots of open door sex scenes and characters behaving in ways that are pretty inconsistent with how they’ve been. It wrapped up with a happy bow but it was wrapping up for a very very long time.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started to lose me a little around halfway through and it took me forever to finish because I honestly just didn’t want to continue it. I thought about dnfing it a couple of times but am ultimately glad I saw through to the end.

[Boo · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed

Was an OK read. The big main part kind of happened early on the ending and the rest just kind of was just a pack, figuring out how to be a pack. So not too bad, but it did feel like it was dragging out for me.

[Charlotte Subbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This story begins where book 1 ends, with Nat questioning his choices. There is excitement, and some adventure. We see the family learn to be a pack in a different way. I liked this series, it kept my attention.

[B. J. Z · Rating 1 out of 5]

Call me a buzzkill but I don’t think “chink” and “faggot” being used repeatedly is acceptable. I could ignore the editing errors, but not the offensive word choices that served no purpose. Also, there are inconsistencies in the omega anatomy that are never explained which left me confused.

[Sylvia Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Duet!

I enjoyed both books so much! Ember Blaze weaves a great tale and knows how to write a wonderful story. I know this is definitely going to be a reread for me.

[Chaotic Nexus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awesome

This is a cute little story. It would've been better if it had been more action-packed, but it was still decent.

[Praeci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holy trauma porn. This duet was a lot. Arguably, too much.

[Teryl]

Why is the author all the sudden wanting us to like Nat so much? Why are we getting so many chapters with his POV? Don’t feel like finishing.

[Jordie · Rating 3 out of 5]

TBR

[Karol · Rating 4 out of 5]

i Loved the book it was really good i just think that it was a little slow paced for me but overall it was really good