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Magic and Romance #2
The Fake Divination Offense
Orok Half-giant. Rawball defensive tank on the Philadelphia Hellhounds. Follower of Urzoth...only Orok’s tired of following the god of aggression.
Alexo Cheerleader. Human? A dancer with a stadium’s worth of secrets.
When Orok saves Alexo at a bar, fans go feral for the star athlete protecting the pint-size dude-in-distress. The Hellhounds propose that Orok and Alexo start a PR relationship to put a positive spin on Orok’s god. Orok is set to refuse and renounce Urzoth—but that wouldn’t let him see Alexo again.
So, like a sap, he agrees.
As Orok tries to drop the fake part of their fake-relationship, Alexo’s dangerous truths emerge. To save him, Orok will have to sacrifice far more than his divine association.
Alexo Cheerleader. Human? A dancer with a stadium’s worth of secrets.
When Orok saves Alexo at a bar, fans go feral for the star athlete protecting the pint-size dude-in-distress. The Hellhounds propose that Orok and Alexo start a PR relationship to put a positive spin on Orok’s god. Orok is set to refuse and renounce Urzoth—but that wouldn’t let him see Alexo again.
So, like a sap, he agrees.
As Orok tries to drop the fake part of their fake-relationship, Alexo’s dangerous truths emerge. To save him, Orok will have to sacrifice far more than his divine association.
13 pages, Audible Audio
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
Sara Raasch
26 books7,907 followersSara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then — her friends still cock concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures. Her debut YA fantasy, SNOW LIKE ASHES, the first in a trilogy, came out October 14, 2014 from Balzer + Bray. It does not feature her hand-drawn pictures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 792 reviews
Did Not Finish
May 9, 2026Yeahhh no. Dnf at 30%.
I’m genuinely disappointed because I LOVED book 1 in this series! But tell me why Orok (the MC) was so obsessed with a man that he never so much as had a proper conversation with—even 30% of the way in!! Also, why is he so damn angry??
I was hoping for a cute fake-dating sports romance with plenty of spice. Instead, the MC, Orok, keeps giving me the ick. Their fake relationship makes ZERO sense. Also, the fake dating “dates” haven’t even happened on the page for the readers but were mentioned in passing?? Wtf!? The MC himself reads as a repetitive, angry person. He growls and acts closed off but internally whines all through the first third of this book.
Why he feels a sense of ownership toward Alexo, I have absolutely no clue. These two DON’T EVEN SPEAK. I can’t tell you a single thing about Alexo (the MMC) other than that Orok ogled him in a slimy way that made my nose wrinkle when he was in his booty shorts cheerleading uniform. 😑
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio. What a shame because I really was looking forward to loving this, but it’s a no from me, dawg.
━━━━ ⊱⋆⊰ ━━━━
Book 1's review here:
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards
I’m genuinely disappointed because I LOVED book 1 in this series! But tell me why Orok (the MC) was so obsessed with a man that he never so much as had a proper conversation with—even 30% of the way in!! Also, why is he so damn angry??
I was hoping for a cute fake-dating sports romance with plenty of spice. Instead, the MC, Orok, keeps giving me the ick. Their fake relationship makes ZERO sense. Also, the fake dating “dates” haven’t even happened on the page for the readers but were mentioned in passing?? Wtf!? The MC himself reads as a repetitive, angry person. He growls and acts closed off but internally whines all through the first third of this book.
Why he feels a sense of ownership toward Alexo, I have absolutely no clue. These two DON’T EVEN SPEAK. I can’t tell you a single thing about Alexo (the MMC) other than that Orok ogled him in a slimy way that made my nose wrinkle when he was in his booty shorts cheerleading uniform. 😑
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio. What a shame because I really was looking forward to loving this, but it’s a no from me, dawg.
━━━━ ⊱⋆⊰ ━━━━
Book 1's review here:
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards
March 12, 2026
Sara Raasch I fear you've lost me with this one. I unfortunately have no idea what this book was trying to be. It's a sports romance where hardly any sports actually happen. The stakes are way too high for this to be a typical rom com (with the whole demonic human sacrifice cult subplot) but also every problem was so easily solved or glossed over that you can't really call this action/thriller either.
We spent a decent portion of the book building up some future face-off between Orok and his former teammates in the playoffs. But then that team didn't even make the playoffs. A random team never mentioned before does. Okay, we'll just leave that unresolved. Surely, though, there will be some consequences for Orok being late to the playoffs for plot reasons, right? No! They actually won off-page! Life is good. Okay, but you may ask: Orok spends most of the book agonizing over leaving his religion. Surely there's some satisfying tension and resolution followed by catharsis with this major part of his character, correct? That's generally how storytelling works, yes? Nah, he just said no more god and his overzealous religious parents were immediately and uncharacteristically okay with it. What is the point!!!!!
Two stars for these issues alone. Other personal gripes I had that don't impact my rating but that I want to bring up:
1. I hated Orok and Bel together. What in the TikTok billionaire boyfriend was this? This is the closest an author can come to reinventing the omegaverse without impregnating someone.
2. The karaoke. God!!!!! Stop singing!!!! You're telling me young gay people in 2026 unironically sang Journey, Taylor Swift, and a heartfelt duet of My Heart Will Go On? Be so incredibly serious with me I know there's a deeply heterosexual millennial under that Scooby Doo cartoon villain mask you CANNOT do this to me.
We spent a decent portion of the book building up some future face-off between Orok and his former teammates in the playoffs. But then that team didn't even make the playoffs. A random team never mentioned before does. Okay, we'll just leave that unresolved. Surely, though, there will be some consequences for Orok being late to the playoffs for plot reasons, right? No! They actually won off-page! Life is good. Okay, but you may ask: Orok spends most of the book agonizing over leaving his religion. Surely there's some satisfying tension and resolution followed by catharsis with this major part of his character, correct? That's generally how storytelling works, yes? Nah, he just said no more god and his overzealous religious parents were immediately and uncharacteristically okay with it. What is the point!!!!!
Two stars for these issues alone. Other personal gripes I had that don't impact my rating but that I want to bring up:
1. I hated Orok and Bel together. What in the TikTok billionaire boyfriend was this? This is the closest an author can come to reinventing the omegaverse without impregnating someone.
2. The karaoke. God!!!!! Stop singing!!!! You're telling me young gay people in 2026 unironically sang Journey, Taylor Swift, and a heartfelt duet of My Heart Will Go On? Be so incredibly serious with me I know there's a deeply heterosexual millennial under that Scooby Doo cartoon villain mask you CANNOT do this to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2025
I’m… devastated. I hate reviewing ARCs so poorly. This book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026. Orok getting his own book was supposed to be AMAZING, not… whatever happened here.
I think I started grimacing 7% of the way in, and never stopped. It never got better, just got a whoooole lot worse. I don’t even know what could have saved this book aside from a full rewrite. Something where the mc isn’t literally growling and repeating his italicized “mine” over and over just 10% into the book. The characters are so flat it was embarrassing to read. The love interest’s story felt VERY cheaply reminiscent of another book/character, but failed to deliver any of the emotional weight it needed. Everything was just a mess. I’m a mess. I set everything aside to read this and it was so bad I don’t even know if I can follow it up with anything else. Sara Raasch is (was?) an auto-read author for me but if I’d read this before any others, I don’t think I’d ever pick up another of her books.
I think I started grimacing 7% of the way in, and never stopped. It never got better, just got a whoooole lot worse. I don’t even know what could have saved this book aside from a full rewrite. Something where the mc isn’t literally growling and repeating his italicized “mine” over and over just 10% into the book. The characters are so flat it was embarrassing to read. The love interest’s story felt VERY cheaply reminiscent of another book/character, but failed to deliver any of the emotional weight it needed. Everything was just a mess. I’m a mess. I set everything aside to read this and it was so bad I don’t even know if I can follow it up with anything else. Sara Raasch is (was?) an auto-read author for me but if I’d read this before any others, I don’t think I’d ever pick up another of her books.
April 3, 2026
Once again very cute, very sweet, very sexy. Some parts of the story started to feel a little bit too over the top as it went on. But overall this is exactly what I wanted: a funny, entertaining fantasy romcom. I do prefer the first book but only because it’s a set up/relationship dynamic that’s I prefer.
Full review to come closer to release date (because apparently I only read my ARCs super early or super late)
Full review to come closer to release date (because apparently I only read my ARCs super early or super late)
May 19, 2026
i'm REALLY sad that i didn't like this! the first book was so good - the plot was plotting, the tension was tensioning, it was both fun and sweet.
however, this one is really boring. the relationship is very much love at first sight, and the tension feels manufactured. there's plot in here, but it failed to grip my attention enough for me to care. because both the plot and the romance felt boring/lackluster to me, i didn't enjoy this one much.
however, extra star goes to the seb and thio moments.
**thank you to Bramble for the ARC copy**
however, this one is really boring. the relationship is very much love at first sight, and the tension feels manufactured. there's plot in here, but it failed to grip my attention enough for me to care. because both the plot and the romance felt boring/lackluster to me, i didn't enjoy this one much.
however, extra star goes to the seb and thio moments.
**thank you to Bramble for the ARC copy**
May 22, 2026
"... that’s what friends do: help each other breathe.”
---------------------
If you hear me screaming, I promise it's from excitement
---------------------
If you hear me screaming, I promise it's from excitement
Read
May 1, 2026Gay sports romance but make it fantasy! This was a fun, often frothy gay romance set in a magical world with a very protective and somewhat possessive athlete and the cute cheerleader he falls head over heels for. This has some ties to book 1 in the series and gets into some of the trauma both characters have in their past. Their relationship begins as a PR stunt but quickly turns real. It's sexy, sometimes silly, but also heartfelt. The audio narration is great! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
April 29, 2026
Very sad to say that this book just did not land for me. I absolutely loved book 1, this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026, but it fell completely flat for me.
I personally could not stand Oroks inner monologue. It was cringey, repetitive and hard to follow. The story felt way too heavy and out of pocket. I genuinely can’t believe this is the sequel to Rival Wizards, the tone and the writing just felt soooo different. Sad to say this just gave me the ick.
I personally could not stand Oroks inner monologue. It was cringey, repetitive and hard to follow. The story felt way too heavy and out of pocket. I genuinely can’t believe this is the sequel to Rival Wizards, the tone and the writing just felt soooo different. Sad to say this just gave me the ick.
June 6, 2026
Well that was a fun ride 👀🥵
At first, I was not sure I was liking the narration of this book, but as I slowly got into it, the more I fell in love with the characters, the story, and even the narrator.
Orok is the sweetest giant with a horrible past and he made me feel so many emotions for him. In comes this tiny, sparkly gem of man, Alexo, and things start to go a little sideways — in the best way.
This was most fun, but had a little bit of worldbuilding, especially to hit on some of the emotional aspects!
Overall
4 ⭐️
2 🌶️
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC !
At first, I was not sure I was liking the narration of this book, but as I slowly got into it, the more I fell in love with the characters, the story, and even the narrator.
Orok is the sweetest giant with a horrible past and he made me feel so many emotions for him. In comes this tiny, sparkly gem of man, Alexo, and things start to go a little sideways — in the best way.
This was most fun, but had a little bit of worldbuilding, especially to hit on some of the emotional aspects!
Overall
4 ⭐️
2 🌶️
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC !
November 12, 2025
3.5/5 stars
(I rounded it up, though)
Thank you to TOR/Bramble for allowing me to read this book so far in advance in trade for an honest review.
I have to be honest and say that this is, regretably, my least favorite of her adult books so far. I found the discussion of religious deconstruction rather interesting, but it fundamentally gets lost behind a lot of the bells and whistles of the story for me. It was just a little bit all over the place if I am being transparent. I think it tried to tackle just a little bit too much for a "rom-com".
I will also be honest and share that this particular flavor of...erm... sexual dynamics isn't one that I am a fan of personally. That doesn't make it BAD, it just makes it to where it wasn't for me and made a lot of the book somewhat hard to get through. Just not my preferred dynamic. If you're into what's going on here, you'll probably love it. I am just not big on the whole "possessive manly man protects small feminine twink/size difference" thing.
Also, she definitely explains what Rawball is and how it works, but I still absolutely have no clue. I tried my best, okay? I just don't think I am meant to understand sports, fantasy or not. I thought I had a chance at it due to my understanding of D&D... but I've got nothing. Maybe one day I will get it.
Overall, it was mostly enjoyable. There are some AMAZING jokes in this and I enjoyed the cameos from Seb and Thio a ton!
(I rounded it up, though)
Thank you to TOR/Bramble for allowing me to read this book so far in advance in trade for an honest review.
I have to be honest and say that this is, regretably, my least favorite of her adult books so far. I found the discussion of religious deconstruction rather interesting, but it fundamentally gets lost behind a lot of the bells and whistles of the story for me. It was just a little bit all over the place if I am being transparent. I think it tried to tackle just a little bit too much for a "rom-com".
I will also be honest and share that this particular flavor of...erm... sexual dynamics isn't one that I am a fan of personally. That doesn't make it BAD, it just makes it to where it wasn't for me and made a lot of the book somewhat hard to get through. Just not my preferred dynamic. If you're into what's going on here, you'll probably love it. I am just not big on the whole "possessive manly man protects small feminine twink/size difference" thing.
Also, she definitely explains what Rawball is and how it works, but I still absolutely have no clue. I tried my best, okay? I just don't think I am meant to understand sports, fantasy or not. I thought I had a chance at it due to my understanding of D&D... but I've got nothing. Maybe one day I will get it.
Overall, it was mostly enjoyable. There are some AMAZING jokes in this and I enjoyed the cameos from Seb and Thio a ton!
May 22, 2026
Right so Oroks mother who experiences religious psychosis daily for his entire life is suddenly just okay with Orok’s decision to leave the church because a boy, mind you a DEMON boy, like a direct descendent of the Deity in direct opposition of her beloved church, wrote some letters to her about her son whom she has known his entire life yet some how doesn’t actually know him at all since she was so moved by these fuck ass letters?????
But Seb, who almost died multiple times, who was forced to damn near kill Orok to save both of them, who spent his entire academic career and beyond trying to figure out a way to ensure that whatever happened to him and Orok never happens to anyone again, who spent half his life with her AND his own family literally antagonizing and bullying him for something they didn’t understand nor try to understand, but she will actually just never forgive him? What’s worse is after she finds out about what happens at Camp Merethyl she DOUBLES DOWN On her actual hatred of Seb???
So basically you are saying an extremely catholic/christian mom will shun her son’s atheist friend but will celebrate the litterally great great great grandson of Satan because he said something nice about her son?????????
PLEASE do not piss me off!
This happened so close to the end but It made me put the book down and not want to finish it because like, what. the. fuck.
The writing was just okay, the humor and banter was just okay, but the decisions the author made actually infuriated me.
she did my boy Orok so dirty with this one. Turning him into this mindless, angry, grunting, beast over Bel. And for what reason? I get the reference but how dare you make him give me the ick??? Yea he’s a “jock” but he came across as a character with a lot of emotional depth in book one. In book two he is turned into a meat head who can only grunt mine mine mine in his head? Pls he deserved better.
I also wish their relationship has a little more tension. From start to end it was “no your so strong” “no you are” “no you are the strongest person I’ve ever met” “no how can you say that when you are so much stronger me” and just sapped all over each other and kinda pissed me off the whole time.
SO disappointed with this one. Which sucks cuz Book 1 was my fave book of 2025
But Seb, who almost died multiple times, who was forced to damn near kill Orok to save both of them, who spent his entire academic career and beyond trying to figure out a way to ensure that whatever happened to him and Orok never happens to anyone again, who spent half his life with her AND his own family literally antagonizing and bullying him for something they didn’t understand nor try to understand, but she will actually just never forgive him? What’s worse is after she finds out about what happens at Camp Merethyl she DOUBLES DOWN On her actual hatred of Seb???
So basically you are saying an extremely catholic/christian mom will shun her son’s atheist friend but will celebrate the litterally great great great grandson of Satan because he said something nice about her son?????????
PLEASE do not piss me off!
This happened so close to the end but It made me put the book down and not want to finish it because like, what. the. fuck.
The writing was just okay, the humor and banter was just okay, but the decisions the author made actually infuriated me.
she did my boy Orok so dirty with this one. Turning him into this mindless, angry, grunting, beast over Bel. And for what reason? I get the reference but how dare you make him give me the ick??? Yea he’s a “jock” but he came across as a character with a lot of emotional depth in book one. In book two he is turned into a meat head who can only grunt mine mine mine in his head? Pls he deserved better.
I also wish their relationship has a little more tension. From start to end it was “no your so strong” “no you are” “no you are the strongest person I’ve ever met” “no how can you say that when you are so much stronger me” and just sapped all over each other and kinda pissed me off the whole time.
SO disappointed with this one. Which sucks cuz Book 1 was my fave book of 2025
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2026
If you enjoy:
🌈 one man who looks like he could bench-press a carriage but is secretly a cinnamon roll
🌈 one tiny menace with enough sass to level an empire
🌈 “touch him and die” energy so intense it should be classified as a weapon
🌈 and a romance so swoony it made me kick my feet like a Victorian maiden with zero survival instincts
then congratulations, this book was specifically crafted to ruin your life 🙂↕️
First of all, the gentle giant/feral pocket-sized disaster dynamic? Elite. Utterly unmatched. One of them could crush a wall with his bare hands, and the other could destroy a person with a single cutting remark and perfectly arched eyebrow. Together, they are my favorite flavor of chaos 👏🏼
And the protective energy? OBSESSED. The “touch him and die” vibes were so strong that I half expected someone to get vaporized on the spot for breathing too close. Nothing says romance like staring at your beloved as though you’re ready to commit several felonies in his honor.
But beneath all the banter, flirting, and mutual yearning that had me screaming into a pillow, this story has so much heart. I loved the exploration of what happens when you’ve spent your entire life performing the version of yourself that your religion, family, and society demanded, only to realize that maybe, just maybe, those expectations were never yours to carry in the first place. The character growth? Stunning. The emotional payoff? Absolutely delicious.
And the romance? Dear lord. The chemistry was so potent I could feel it through the pages. Tender, funny, and deeply romantic in that “I would destroy the world but also gently hold your hand” kind of way. But also show you the BEST time behind closed doors 😏 I love them. I love them so much.
Also, seeing more of Thio and Sebastian felt like running into your two favorite chaotic friends at brunch and immediately demanding all the gossip. Yay for these two nuggets!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be over here swooning, sobbing, and threatening anyone who dares touch these characters 💅🏼📚🔮
And forever thankful to Bramble for the gifted arc 🥹🥹🥹
🌈 one man who looks like he could bench-press a carriage but is secretly a cinnamon roll
🌈 one tiny menace with enough sass to level an empire
🌈 “touch him and die” energy so intense it should be classified as a weapon
🌈 and a romance so swoony it made me kick my feet like a Victorian maiden with zero survival instincts
then congratulations, this book was specifically crafted to ruin your life 🙂↕️
First of all, the gentle giant/feral pocket-sized disaster dynamic? Elite. Utterly unmatched. One of them could crush a wall with his bare hands, and the other could destroy a person with a single cutting remark and perfectly arched eyebrow. Together, they are my favorite flavor of chaos 👏🏼
And the protective energy? OBSESSED. The “touch him and die” vibes were so strong that I half expected someone to get vaporized on the spot for breathing too close. Nothing says romance like staring at your beloved as though you’re ready to commit several felonies in his honor.
But beneath all the banter, flirting, and mutual yearning that had me screaming into a pillow, this story has so much heart. I loved the exploration of what happens when you’ve spent your entire life performing the version of yourself that your religion, family, and society demanded, only to realize that maybe, just maybe, those expectations were never yours to carry in the first place. The character growth? Stunning. The emotional payoff? Absolutely delicious.
And the romance? Dear lord. The chemistry was so potent I could feel it through the pages. Tender, funny, and deeply romantic in that “I would destroy the world but also gently hold your hand” kind of way. But also show you the BEST time behind closed doors 😏 I love them. I love them so much.
Also, seeing more of Thio and Sebastian felt like running into your two favorite chaotic friends at brunch and immediately demanding all the gossip. Yay for these two nuggets!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be over here swooning, sobbing, and threatening anyone who dares touch these characters 💅🏼📚🔮
And forever thankful to Bramble for the gifted arc 🥹🥹🥹
May 9, 2026
First of all, thank you to Tor and Bramble for the opportunity to read this book so early 🥹 This was perfection.
Osric deserves literally everything good in this world, and it was so powerful to be able to experience all of his emotions, insecurities, and hesitation from his POV. He is a character that exudes strength, and it was such a juxtaposition to hear what is happening in his brain. It also made me think about how people can perceive interactions, due to insecurities and the way people think they’re coming across vs. how they actually come across.
I truly loved the way she portrayed religion in this one. As someone who has my fair share of religious trauma for growing up in a church, I think she really nailed how much guilt you can have surrounding just wanting to follow your own way and move forward. But also having to appear a certain way for reasons that aren’t necessarily right.
ALSO. The way she got into the actual fundamentals of Rawball was a masterpiece. I can really tell that this was FUN for the author to write, because it was incredible to read. Boooo Chimeras!!!
Thank you again! This was incredible.
Osric deserves literally everything good in this world, and it was so powerful to be able to experience all of his emotions, insecurities, and hesitation from his POV. He is a character that exudes strength, and it was such a juxtaposition to hear what is happening in his brain. It also made me think about how people can perceive interactions, due to insecurities and the way people think they’re coming across vs. how they actually come across.
I truly loved the way she portrayed religion in this one. As someone who has my fair share of religious trauma for growing up in a church, I think she really nailed how much guilt you can have surrounding just wanting to follow your own way and move forward. But also having to appear a certain way for reasons that aren’t necessarily right.
ALSO. The way she got into the actual fundamentals of Rawball was a masterpiece. I can really tell that this was FUN for the author to write, because it was incredible to read. Boooo Chimeras!!!
Thank you again! This was incredible.
June 18, 2026
This was an okay book, it was a little obsessive for my taste, lol. Definitely 3.5🌟 but rounded up because I love this author. However, it took a while for me to get into this story, they just seemed really whiny to me.
June 8, 2026
I love them. They are too cute for words.
Read
March 25, 2026Unfortunately this second installment of this series really didn’t work for me. I caught myself mostly skimming, so soft dnfing for now.
The first book was so fun and freaking hilarious? I feel like I’m doubting my entire experience of book 1 now bc this felt too saccharine and from what I read, not nearly as funny. The romance was also very insta adoration. Probably because the MMC is working through some things but it just wasn’t compelling to me. The whole set up of book 1 was also much angstier. The meet cute here is though karaoke… I got le ick. :(
This was a bummer, highly anticipated one for me.
The first book was so fun and freaking hilarious? I feel like I’m doubting my entire experience of book 1 now bc this felt too saccharine and from what I read, not nearly as funny. The romance was also very insta adoration. Probably because the MMC is working through some things but it just wasn’t compelling to me. The whole set up of book 1 was also much angstier. The meet cute here is though karaoke… I got le ick. :(
This was a bummer, highly anticipated one for me.
June 4, 2026
I think I might have liked this more than the first book. Orok and Alexo are just flat our adorable and perfect for each other. One wants to own completely, and one wants to be completely owned. A perfect match. Right away they have this wonderful chemistry - so when they are forced together because of some crazy circumstances, they fit together like puzzle pieces.
Part of this story is actually pretty heartbreaking because Orok knows he's prone to codependency, so in order to counter that he flips way to the other end of the spectrum and becomes aloof and distant, not one to share his feelings. Its hard for him to find that balance and it keeps him from getting close to others. Between this and the religious trauma, it gets pretty deep and emotional for a cute 'RomCom.'
One other fantastic element to this story is the amazing friendships that are solidified and new ones that are made. You get to see a lot of Seb and Thio which leads to a lot of hilarious moments, and you get to meet a whole team of new characters that are surrounding Orok and Alexo. So many lovable characters. Such a great read.
Urban Fantasy MM
Emotional RomCom
Religious Trauma
VERY Protective MC
Giant Cinnamon Roll
Size Difference
Fake Dating
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Part of this story is actually pretty heartbreaking because Orok knows he's prone to codependency, so in order to counter that he flips way to the other end of the spectrum and becomes aloof and distant, not one to share his feelings. Its hard for him to find that balance and it keeps him from getting close to others. Between this and the religious trauma, it gets pretty deep and emotional for a cute 'RomCom.'
One other fantastic element to this story is the amazing friendships that are solidified and new ones that are made. You get to see a lot of Seb and Thio which leads to a lot of hilarious moments, and you get to meet a whole team of new characters that are surrounding Orok and Alexo. So many lovable characters. Such a great read.
Urban Fantasy MM
Emotional RomCom
Religious Trauma
VERY Protective MC
Giant Cinnamon Roll
Size Difference
Fake Dating
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
April 29, 2026
ARC from Macmillan audio
Release: May 19th 2026
Omg this was such a fun, kinky and hilarious MM romance with dashes of fantasy. I ate this up ! love my Beauty and Beast duo they were so hot together 🤪❤️🔥📚
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release: May 19th 2026
Omg this was such a fun, kinky and hilarious MM romance with dashes of fantasy. I ate this up ! love my Beauty and Beast duo they were so hot together 🤪❤️🔥📚
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Soft DNF at 48%, solely due to the narrator. I listen to so many audiobooks and rarely run into this but this narrator is doing too much and it makes it really hard to connect with the story. The first spicy scene made me uncomfortable with some of the choices the narrator made-- I really wanna know what happens though so I'll have to eyeball read this when it comes out.
I also want to add that the way the narrator does characters from the previous book (mainly Seb) feels so far from the Seb of The Entanglement of Rival Wizards' audiobook that it really annoyed me because I loved that book.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC!
I also want to add that the way the narrator does characters from the previous book (mainly Seb) feels so far from the Seb of The Entanglement of Rival Wizards' audiobook that it really annoyed me because I loved that book.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
the longest sigh in the world. okay, I think four books is enough, that's enough Sara Raasch for me.
when you think about how in the first Christmas Prince book, she wouldn't even say the word dick during the sex scenes, and how we've come (hehehe) so far, though? inspirational. growth. love to see it.
"Just a pile of rocks on the stage while the instrumentals for 'Sweet Caroline' play on" made me laugh aloud pretty hard.
when you think about how in the first Christmas Prince book, she wouldn't even say the word dick during the sex scenes, and how we've come (hehehe) so far, though? inspirational. growth. love to see it.
"Just a pile of rocks on the stage while the instrumentals for 'Sweet Caroline' play on" made me laugh aloud pretty hard.
May 27, 2026
Devastated
I genuinely think this might be one of the most disappointing reads I’ll have all year because the expectations I had for this book were INSANE.
You guys already know how obsessed I am with The Entanglement of Rival Wizards. I loved that book so much that I had already preordered TWO special editions of Orok’s book before release because I was THAT excited for it. The second this released, I dropped everything on my TBR to start it immediately.
And now I’m sitting here genuinely confused about what happened.
The Fake Divination Offense follows Orok, the half-giant defensive player for the Hellhounds, and Alexo/Bel, a human cheerleader hiding dangerous secrets. After Orok saves him during an incident at a bar, the team pushes them into a fake dating PR relationship to improve Orok’s public image while he struggles with his faith, his team, and the growing obsession he develops toward Alexo.
At least… that’s what the book is SUPPOSED to be.
Because somehow this managed to be a fake dating sports romance where the fake dating barely happens on page and the sports barely matter either. We spend so much time being told things are happening instead of actually experiencing them. The dates are glossed over, the emotional development feels skipped, and despite the stakes supposedly being huge, almost every conflict resolves itself way too easily or off-page.
And that’s my biggest issue with this book:
nothing felt earned.
Orok and Alexo barely even TALK for a huge portion of the beginning, yet Orok is already obsessively attached and ready to sacrifice everything for him. I never understood WHY. The emotional connection was never developed in a believable way for me, so instead of finding it romantic, it honestly came across kind of cringy and weirdly possessive at times.
And Orok himself…
God, I hate saying this because I was SO excited for him, but he genuinely gave me the ick multiple times throughout this book. Half the time he’s growling, angry, internally whining, or obsessively repeating the same thoughts over and over again. It became incredibly repetitive. There’s only so many times I can read the same possessive internal monologue before I start losing my mind a little.
Another huge issue for me was the way this book was marketed versus what we actually got from Alexo’s character.
Maybe this is just me, but all the promo and buildup around this book made it seem like Alexo was going to be this chaotic, dominant, sassy, manipulative demon of a character. Like genuinely someone who would match Orok’s energy and challenge him in an intense way. I was expecting tension. Brattiness. A push and pull dynamic. Someone a little dangerous or morally messy.
And then… we got none of that?
The disconnect between what I expected and who Alexo actually was completely threw me off while reading because the character I had built in my head from all the marketing simply did not exist on page. He felt surprisingly passive and whiny for most of the story and their dynamic never developed into the fiery matchup I thought we were being promised.
Which honestly made the romance even harder for me to connect to because I kept waiting for this explosive chemistry and instead it just never fully materialize in the way I expected.
Which is devastating because book one had so much charm, chemistry, humor, and emotional payoff. This one felt like it was trying to juggle twenty different plotlines at once and somehow none of them landed in a satisfying way. The religious conflict, the team dynamics, the playoffs, the fake dating, Alexo’s secrets, Orok leaving his god, the cult subplot… EVERYTHING felt underdeveloped or conveniently resolved.
There were entire plot points being built up for chapters that either disappeared, got solved in two seconds, or ended with absolutely no payoff whatsoever. I kept waiting for the emotional catharsis to finally hit and it just… never came.
And honestly? I think that’s why this review feels so dramatic for me 😭 because this wasn’t some random book I picked up casually. This was one of my MOST anticipated reads of the year. I went into this expecting another comfort read and instead spent most of the book confused.
The ONLY reason this is getting three stars instead of two is because seeing Seb and Thio again genuinely made me so happy. Every time they were on page I immediately remembered why I loved this universe in the first place. They carried so much of the emotional enjoyment for me because otherwise I think this would’ve been an even rougher experience.
I’m just sad, honestly.
Sad.
Confused.
Disappointed.
And still trying to process how a book I was SO certain I was going to love ended up feeling like such a mess for me.
I genuinely think this might be one of the most disappointing reads I’ll have all year because the expectations I had for this book were INSANE.
You guys already know how obsessed I am with The Entanglement of Rival Wizards. I loved that book so much that I had already preordered TWO special editions of Orok’s book before release because I was THAT excited for it. The second this released, I dropped everything on my TBR to start it immediately.
And now I’m sitting here genuinely confused about what happened.
The Fake Divination Offense follows Orok, the half-giant defensive player for the Hellhounds, and Alexo/Bel, a human cheerleader hiding dangerous secrets. After Orok saves him during an incident at a bar, the team pushes them into a fake dating PR relationship to improve Orok’s public image while he struggles with his faith, his team, and the growing obsession he develops toward Alexo.
At least… that’s what the book is SUPPOSED to be.
Because somehow this managed to be a fake dating sports romance where the fake dating barely happens on page and the sports barely matter either. We spend so much time being told things are happening instead of actually experiencing them. The dates are glossed over, the emotional development feels skipped, and despite the stakes supposedly being huge, almost every conflict resolves itself way too easily or off-page.
And that’s my biggest issue with this book:
nothing felt earned.
Orok and Alexo barely even TALK for a huge portion of the beginning, yet Orok is already obsessively attached and ready to sacrifice everything for him. I never understood WHY. The emotional connection was never developed in a believable way for me, so instead of finding it romantic, it honestly came across kind of cringy and weirdly possessive at times.
And Orok himself…
God, I hate saying this because I was SO excited for him, but he genuinely gave me the ick multiple times throughout this book. Half the time he’s growling, angry, internally whining, or obsessively repeating the same thoughts over and over again. It became incredibly repetitive. There’s only so many times I can read the same possessive internal monologue before I start losing my mind a little.
Another huge issue for me was the way this book was marketed versus what we actually got from Alexo’s character.
Maybe this is just me, but all the promo and buildup around this book made it seem like Alexo was going to be this chaotic, dominant, sassy, manipulative demon of a character. Like genuinely someone who would match Orok’s energy and challenge him in an intense way. I was expecting tension. Brattiness. A push and pull dynamic. Someone a little dangerous or morally messy.
And then… we got none of that?
The disconnect between what I expected and who Alexo actually was completely threw me off while reading because the character I had built in my head from all the marketing simply did not exist on page. He felt surprisingly passive and whiny for most of the story and their dynamic never developed into the fiery matchup I thought we were being promised.
Which honestly made the romance even harder for me to connect to because I kept waiting for this explosive chemistry and instead it just never fully materialize in the way I expected.
Which is devastating because book one had so much charm, chemistry, humor, and emotional payoff. This one felt like it was trying to juggle twenty different plotlines at once and somehow none of them landed in a satisfying way. The religious conflict, the team dynamics, the playoffs, the fake dating, Alexo’s secrets, Orok leaving his god, the cult subplot… EVERYTHING felt underdeveloped or conveniently resolved.
There were entire plot points being built up for chapters that either disappeared, got solved in two seconds, or ended with absolutely no payoff whatsoever. I kept waiting for the emotional catharsis to finally hit and it just… never came.
And honestly? I think that’s why this review feels so dramatic for me 😭 because this wasn’t some random book I picked up casually. This was one of my MOST anticipated reads of the year. I went into this expecting another comfort read and instead spent most of the book confused.
The ONLY reason this is getting three stars instead of two is because seeing Seb and Thio again genuinely made me so happy. Every time they were on page I immediately remembered why I loved this universe in the first place. They carried so much of the emotional enjoyment for me because otherwise I think this would’ve been an even rougher experience.
I’m just sad, honestly.
Sad.
Confused.
Disappointed.
And still trying to process how a book I was SO certain I was going to love ended up feeling like such a mess for me.
May 23, 2026
How does Sara Raasch manage to blow me away with every book of hers that I read? How?!? She deftly combines epic fantasy world building, humour, emotional character arcs and a brewing bubbling plot that just races towards the end.
Orok and Alexo’s story was a unique reading experience for me. I was pulled in my the cheeky humour laced with a struggling Orok’s need for belonging and I stayed for the connection and adventure Orok and Alexo went on, which is the opposite of any trope or miscommunication romance plot line and as far from predictable as you can get
Orok definitely falls first but they both fall hard. The way Bel defends Orok is seriously pump your fist in the air and cheer kind of moment. I also loved how brave Bel is how resilient and he needs Orok’s inherent optimism - life is tough now but life can change and we won’t stop trying. It’s a great message!
I loved the Hellhounds - what an awesome team! The way they rally around Orok! Also why is his mom so crabby and whiny- ugh I was truly bugged and his dad needs to do lore for him, I’m so glad he has Bel now
He also has Seb and Thio! I think one of my favourite parts is the evolving relationship between Orok and Seb and how Seb teaches him self acceptance. We all need someone in our lives like Seb 🙌🏻
This is definitely at its core a Fantasy Rom Com but it’s so much more. If you’re looking to be thoroughly entertained and also emotionally moved, pick this book up asap.
Orok and Alexo’s story was a unique reading experience for me. I was pulled in my the cheeky humour laced with a struggling Orok’s need for belonging and I stayed for the connection and adventure Orok and Alexo went on, which is the opposite of any trope or miscommunication romance plot line and as far from predictable as you can get
Orok definitely falls first but they both fall hard. The way Bel defends Orok is seriously pump your fist in the air and cheer kind of moment. I also loved how brave Bel is how resilient and he needs Orok’s inherent optimism - life is tough now but life can change and we won’t stop trying. It’s a great message!
I loved the Hellhounds - what an awesome team! The way they rally around Orok! Also why is his mom so crabby and whiny- ugh I was truly bugged and his dad needs to do lore for him, I’m so glad he has Bel now
He also has Seb and Thio! I think one of my favourite parts is the evolving relationship between Orok and Seb and how Seb teaches him self acceptance. We all need someone in our lives like Seb 🙌🏻
This is definitely at its core a Fantasy Rom Com but it’s so much more. If you’re looking to be thoroughly entertained and also emotionally moved, pick this book up asap.
May 25, 2026
I do not believe The Fake Divination Offense was written by the same person who wrote The Entanglement of Rival Wizards. I am not being dramatic. You cannot convince me otherwise.
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I have a special edition pre-ordered. And I am genuinely, deeply disappointed.
The Orok in this book is not my Orok. The gentle, thoughtful, sensitive half-giant we glimpsed in Rival Wizards, the one I was so excited to finally spend a whole book with, is simply not here. In his place is a man who is angry, possessive, and operating on a vocabulary of approximately one word: mine. He growls constantly. He stalks Bel back to his house. He has met this man twice and is completely unhinged about it, and not in a fun way. Bel, for his part, is equally feral after the same two interactions. I don't know what happened. I need answers.
What could have been a rich, layered exploration of trauma, healing, and acceptance is instead paper-thin. Emotions glossed over in favour of possession, every plot thread that promised a real emotional payoff landing completely flat.
And the tropes. For a sports romance, there is astonishingly little sport. I finished this book still unable to tell you what Rawball is, how it's played, or what any of the positions do. I know they have cheerleaders. The fake dating conceit amounts to roughly one date before it's essentially abandoned, and then Orok is kissing Bel in a car after the aforementioned stalking incident, so.
Where did he go? Where is the Orok I was promised? What was this book? I just want to know what happened.
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I have a special edition pre-ordered. And I am genuinely, deeply disappointed.
The Orok in this book is not my Orok. The gentle, thoughtful, sensitive half-giant we glimpsed in Rival Wizards, the one I was so excited to finally spend a whole book with, is simply not here. In his place is a man who is angry, possessive, and operating on a vocabulary of approximately one word: mine. He growls constantly. He stalks Bel back to his house. He has met this man twice and is completely unhinged about it, and not in a fun way. Bel, for his part, is equally feral after the same two interactions. I don't know what happened. I need answers.
What could have been a rich, layered exploration of trauma, healing, and acceptance is instead paper-thin. Emotions glossed over in favour of possession, every plot thread that promised a real emotional payoff landing completely flat.
And the tropes. For a sports romance, there is astonishingly little sport. I finished this book still unable to tell you what Rawball is, how it's played, or what any of the positions do. I know they have cheerleaders. The fake dating conceit amounts to roughly one date before it's essentially abandoned, and then Orok is kissing Bel in a car after the aforementioned stalking incident, so.
Where did he go? Where is the Orok I was promised? What was this book? I just want to know what happened.
May 26, 2026
SARA RAASCH IS MY RELIGIOM
June 8, 2026
I enjoy Sara’s books. They are cute and fast-paced. I definitely preferred the first book in this series more than the second. This one was very insta-lovey. The romance went from 0 to 100 really fast. I did enjoy the audiobook and recommend it. The Nightmare Before Kissmas remains my favorite of her books. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an arc of this book.
May 22, 2026
I love Sara Raasch, but this was a huge miss for me! And the audiobook is really not that good.
The narration made an already chaotic book significantly harder for me to connect with. Every character who was not explicitly written as physically intimidating had this incredibly squeaky, almost helium-like voice that made many of the interactions feel cartoonish rather than emotionally grounded. Humour is obviously subjective, but for me, it completely undermined the more serious and vulnerable scenes. The spicy scenes in particular were rough to sit through because the delivery turned them unintentionally awkward instead of intimate. I'm sad, ngl! But we can't love every book🤷🏻♀️
The narration made an already chaotic book significantly harder for me to connect with. Every character who was not explicitly written as physically intimidating had this incredibly squeaky, almost helium-like voice that made many of the interactions feel cartoonish rather than emotionally grounded. Humour is obviously subjective, but for me, it completely undermined the more serious and vulnerable scenes. The spicy scenes in particular were rough to sit through because the delivery turned them unintentionally awkward instead of intimate. I'm sad, ngl! But we can't love every book🤷🏻♀️
June 3, 2026
4.5/5 stars
The Fake Divination Offense is an MM fantasy romcom and the sequel to The Entanglement of Rival Wizards. Professional rawball player and half-giant Orok has just transferred teams and is ready to officially renounce his allegiance to Urzoth, the god of aggression, after losing his faith years ago. But when he publicly saves human cheerleader Alexo from an aggressive creep, team leadership proposes a PR relationship to improve both the team’s image and that of Orok’s god, who has been getting a lot of negative press. Orok reluctantly agrees, if only because it gives him a chance to get closer to Alexo. However, Alexo has a dangerous secret of his own—one that complicates matters when their fake relationship starts becoming something real.
I thought this book was great, and I ended up liking it even more than the first book, despite giving them both the same rating. It’s D&D meets sports romance, featuring an athlete x cheerleader fake-dating storyline that becomes so much more thanks to a wild mid-book twist. Despite the hilariously over-the-top premise, it really worked for me. I especially appreciated that the book didn’t spend too much time on the fake aspect of the relationship. Both men are immediately attracted to each other, honest about their feelings, and refreshingly free of unnecessary angst. They fall fast, accept it, and simply have to deal with the hand they’ve been dealt.
I liked both Orok and Alexo. Orok’s possessiveness felt completely consistent with who he is, shaped by his upbringing, childhood trauma, and the role he has been forced to play throughout his life. How could he not be? At his core, Orok is a caretaker and protector, and that comes through clearly in both his words and actions. I loved seeing that side of him in his relationship with Alexo as well as in his interactions with Seb and, by extension, Theo. I was also pleasantly surprised by and thoroughly appreciated the amount of page time Seb and Theo received. Meanwhile, Alexo was a delightful femme twink whose deep, dark secret opened the story up to far more possibilities than I expected. Was it a bit much? Absolutely. Did I mind? Not at all.
With a ridiculous premise, lovable characters, and a surprisingly twist, The Fake Divination Offense completely worked for me.
The Fake Divination Offense is an MM fantasy romcom and the sequel to The Entanglement of Rival Wizards. Professional rawball player and half-giant Orok has just transferred teams and is ready to officially renounce his allegiance to Urzoth, the god of aggression, after losing his faith years ago. But when he publicly saves human cheerleader Alexo from an aggressive creep, team leadership proposes a PR relationship to improve both the team’s image and that of Orok’s god, who has been getting a lot of negative press. Orok reluctantly agrees, if only because it gives him a chance to get closer to Alexo. However, Alexo has a dangerous secret of his own—one that complicates matters when their fake relationship starts becoming something real.
I thought this book was great, and I ended up liking it even more than the first book, despite giving them both the same rating. It’s D&D meets sports romance, featuring an athlete x cheerleader fake-dating storyline that becomes so much more thanks to a wild mid-book twist. Despite the hilariously over-the-top premise, it really worked for me. I especially appreciated that the book didn’t spend too much time on the fake aspect of the relationship. Both men are immediately attracted to each other, honest about their feelings, and refreshingly free of unnecessary angst. They fall fast, accept it, and simply have to deal with the hand they’ve been dealt.
I liked both Orok and Alexo. Orok’s possessiveness felt completely consistent with who he is, shaped by his upbringing, childhood trauma, and the role he has been forced to play throughout his life. How could he not be? At his core, Orok is a caretaker and protector, and that comes through clearly in both his words and actions. I loved seeing that side of him in his relationship with Alexo as well as in his interactions with Seb and, by extension, Theo. I was also pleasantly surprised by and thoroughly appreciated the amount of page time Seb and Theo received. Meanwhile, Alexo was a delightful femme twink whose deep, dark secret opened the story up to far more possibilities than I expected. Was it a bit much? Absolutely. Did I mind? Not at all.
With a ridiculous premise, lovable characters, and a surprisingly twist, The Fake Divination Offense completely worked for me.
May 29, 2026
Oooh I loved this! Oh the sensitive, feels too much, huge guy with the projection of a brute but the most kind hearted soul! And the dainty, but strong and sassy cheerleader who just wants to be himself. Oh oh oh. My heart. This book was BURSTING with emotion, and stress and devotion and strength. Orok and Belle feel SO much that sometimes my heart and head hurt because I have BEEN there and I know exactly how it feels. I also feel deeply and am anxious about that, so this was so relatable. I love the magic and the twists and even though I have no idea what Rawball is, it sounds so fun. I loved all the dynamics at play and how strong and tender the romance is. I was stressed and also having so much fun the entire time. There is a lot of good mental health discussions and rep here. I love love the characters and the banter!
Note: The audiobook for this is so good and does such a fantastic job bringing Orok's very unique character and mental gymnastics to life.
Thanks to the publisher for a ALC; my thoughts and review are my own.
Note: The audiobook for this is so good and does such a fantastic job bringing Orok's very unique character and mental gymnastics to life.
Thanks to the publisher for a ALC; my thoughts and review are my own.
May 23, 2026
I’d give this somewhere between a 3 and a 4. Which is a shame because I loved the first one and was really excited for this one! I think honestly the mix of tropes here just isn’t my thing, largely the obsession trope. I just find it kinda cringy and gross. Plus the villain was too predictable.
June 12, 2026
I think this book is successful in some of its goals and I applaud anyone who writes niche sex scenes, but the whole thing is hampered by the fact that Alexo isn't really a character in his own right, just an object/obstacle for Orok, so the whole thing falls flat.
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