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Manufactured Mates #1
The Sterling Aqcuisition
He came to steal a patent. He stole a person instead.
In the Incorporated States of New America, everything has a price—including Dante Ashford's twenty-year career as Gensyn Corporation's most reliable operative. His latest assignment promises standard corporate espionage: infiltrate Sterling-Vance Industries, steal their forced bonding technology, extract before anyone notices the missing patents or bodies.
Enter Leo James, SVI's answer to the question "what if we gave someone a PhD in missing the point?" His idea of Omega management involves public street wrestling and the kind of psychological incompetence that makes his neighbors place bets on his daily humiliation.
His contracted Omega, Orion, has responded by weaponizing domestic compliance into an art form that's part rebellion, part seduction, and entirely wasted on someone who thinks dominance means hitting harder. He's brilliant, gorgeous, completely feral, and about to become the first human guinea pig for technology that will reprogram his mind while making him send thank-you cards afterward.
Dante's mission parameters definitely didn't include developing an obsession with saving someone who fights like a wildcat and kisses like he's trying to start wars. But watching Leo fail at breaking someone who was clearly made to be claimed properly is like witnessing corporate negligence on a personal level.
Now Dante's racing against experimental timelines, fighting his own conditioning, and learning that some bonds can't be manufactured in a lab—they have to be earned one stolen moment, heated argument, and desperate encounter at a time.
Some people are worth committing corporate treason for. Even if they bite.
Especially if they bite.
This is a non-shifter A/B/O Omegaverse novel with no MPreg and a guaranteed HEA.
Content Warnings: This book contains explicit sexual content, dubious consent scenarios, physical violence, captivity, human trafficking, medical experimentation, corporate abuse, surveillance, and Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamics with significant power imbalances. Intended for mature readers.
In the Incorporated States of New America, everything has a price—including Dante Ashford's twenty-year career as Gensyn Corporation's most reliable operative. His latest assignment promises standard corporate espionage: infiltrate Sterling-Vance Industries, steal their forced bonding technology, extract before anyone notices the missing patents or bodies.
Enter Leo James, SVI's answer to the question "what if we gave someone a PhD in missing the point?" His idea of Omega management involves public street wrestling and the kind of psychological incompetence that makes his neighbors place bets on his daily humiliation.
His contracted Omega, Orion, has responded by weaponizing domestic compliance into an art form that's part rebellion, part seduction, and entirely wasted on someone who thinks dominance means hitting harder. He's brilliant, gorgeous, completely feral, and about to become the first human guinea pig for technology that will reprogram his mind while making him send thank-you cards afterward.
Dante's mission parameters definitely didn't include developing an obsession with saving someone who fights like a wildcat and kisses like he's trying to start wars. But watching Leo fail at breaking someone who was clearly made to be claimed properly is like witnessing corporate negligence on a personal level.
Now Dante's racing against experimental timelines, fighting his own conditioning, and learning that some bonds can't be manufactured in a lab—they have to be earned one stolen moment, heated argument, and desperate encounter at a time.
Some people are worth committing corporate treason for. Even if they bite.
Especially if they bite.
This is a non-shifter A/B/O Omegaverse novel with no MPreg and a guaranteed HEA.
Content Warnings: This book contains explicit sexual content, dubious consent scenarios, physical violence, captivity, human trafficking, medical experimentation, corporate abuse, surveillance, and Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamics with significant power imbalances. Intended for mature readers.
474 pages, Paperback
Published August 20, 2025
52 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Gale Ian Tate
8 books110 followersGale writes the kind of mm dark/gray romance that makes you question your life choices in the best possible way. When not crafting morally questionable characters doing questionable things, she can be found buried in a book, rolling dice in yet another D&D campaign, or frantically crocheting while binge-watching whatever series has stolen her soul.
She is a gaming enthusiast, horror movie aficionado, and BL manhwa collector who believes the best stories live in those deliciously gray areas. Between wrangling her four kids and making elaborate to-do lists (that will definitely be ignored), she is always down to geek out over a good book rec or debate which problematic character deserves more love.
She is a gaming enthusiast, horror movie aficionado, and BL manhwa collector who believes the best stories live in those deliciously gray areas. Between wrangling her four kids and making elaborate to-do lists (that will definitely be ignored), she is always down to geek out over a good book rec or debate which problematic character deserves more love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 23, 2025
2.5 stars.
I want to clarify that this is a case of me, not the book.
As an omegaverse book, I found this story to be quite compelling. Set in a dystopian world that, while not extensively detailed, has a captivating worldbuilding that pulls you in and holds your attention. The author has clearly poured a lot of love and creativity into crafting this universe, which adds to the intrigue of the plot.
However, there were some aspects that I struggled with. The side characters felt somewhat flat; they were more like plot devices than fully fleshed-out individuals, which was disappointing.
The main character, Orion, is an omega and I liked him. He exudes intelligence, fierceness, independence, and a knack for fighting. His dark humor, especially when he’s feeling sassy, adds a delightful charm to his character. Orion endures a multitude of hardships throughout the story, and watching him emerge resilient and stubborn despite these trials was truly inspiring.
In contrast, my feelings toward Dante, the alpha, were not as positive. While the dynamic between Orion and Dante aligns well with typical omegaverse relationships, sadly I found it challenging to engage fully because of Dante's character. Unfortunately, I found him to be quite off-putting—his behavior often came across as unkind, and I felt he lacked sufficient character development. His treatment of Orion, both before and after falling in love, was something that made him such a red flag for me. This lack of growth and the way he handled situations frustrated me and made it difficult to connect with him.
Their relationship also left much to be desired for me. While there was undeniable chemistry between Orion and Dante, my distaste for Dante influenced my perception of their interactions. Every action and word from him felt like a warning sign, which only amplified my irritation.
In conclusion, this omegaverse story set in a dystopian environment is well-crafted and intriguing. However, I would have enjoyed it far more if I had been able to tolerate Dante’s character.
I want to clarify that this is a case of me, not the book.
As an omegaverse book, I found this story to be quite compelling. Set in a dystopian world that, while not extensively detailed, has a captivating worldbuilding that pulls you in and holds your attention. The author has clearly poured a lot of love and creativity into crafting this universe, which adds to the intrigue of the plot.
However, there were some aspects that I struggled with. The side characters felt somewhat flat; they were more like plot devices than fully fleshed-out individuals, which was disappointing.
The main character, Orion, is an omega and I liked him. He exudes intelligence, fierceness, independence, and a knack for fighting. His dark humor, especially when he’s feeling sassy, adds a delightful charm to his character. Orion endures a multitude of hardships throughout the story, and watching him emerge resilient and stubborn despite these trials was truly inspiring.
In contrast, my feelings toward Dante, the alpha, were not as positive. While the dynamic between Orion and Dante aligns well with typical omegaverse relationships, sadly I found it challenging to engage fully because of Dante's character. Unfortunately, I found him to be quite off-putting—his behavior often came across as unkind, and I felt he lacked sufficient character development. His treatment of Orion, both before and after falling in love, was something that made him such a red flag for me. This lack of growth and the way he handled situations frustrated me and made it difficult to connect with him.
Their relationship also left much to be desired for me. While there was undeniable chemistry between Orion and Dante, my distaste for Dante influenced my perception of their interactions. Every action and word from him felt like a warning sign, which only amplified my irritation.
In conclusion, this omegaverse story set in a dystopian environment is well-crafted and intriguing. However, I would have enjoyed it far more if I had been able to tolerate Dante’s character.
November 26, 2025
4**** stars
world building: 2 stars
When I read the first sentence of the intro to this book I was excited for this beyond measure! Sadly the rest of the intro failed to do what the author also couldn’t achieve throughout the story. Building a world I could envision. I had a lot of questions. There was another series where I complained about the same thing and people kept telling me it would all be explained as you go along book by book. Good for others when that works for them but this kind of storytelling just leaves me utterly unsatisfied. It’s absolutely fine to keep some things hidden, esp. if not everything that is public knowledge is true. But a status quo for me to build on would’ve been greatly appreciated. Just as an example: how did this new, dystopian world came to be? Does it encompass the whole world? How is this world working, how’s the majority of people living outside that small glimpse we’ve gathered? I was only seeing what the characters were seeing and experiencing.
I would’ve loved to have gotten all the answers AND THEN experience these characters’ journey navigating that world. Or maybe I was just not smart enough to pick up on all the subtle clues.
I could complain about some more stuff but I realize that’s only my disappointment speaking after being initially super hyped rather than the book being bad. The story of the captive and owned “feral” Omega Orion and the corporate spy, Alpha Dante, was thrilling and captivating. Haha but hell at times I was frustrated when seeing them hang on by only a thin thread instead of just following their nature’s calling, even though I got the reasons for that. Damn, really, at times they put me through the wringer and it was almost painful to watch.
But okay, I admit, the last part was very rewarding worth the pain (and the waiting) lol.
And while this world mostly follows the general rules for omegaverse I appreciated the differences too. it made for an interesting plot and things to discover. Also: the whole corporate language at any given time and for every little thing was hilarious. I think the author had a lot of fun writing that in particular.
Final Verdict: I was really invested here and had a damned good time reading it which (mostly) only got dampened by the lack of proper world building. I’m still looking forward to the next book.
***************
Manufactured Mates Series
Book 1 - The Sterling Acquisition - 4.0 stars
Book 2 - The Elysian Extraction - release 12/25
_______________
Adding this one for me to remember:
WHO THE FUCK WAS THAT???? And why was it not revealed. Their story has ended here.
world building: 2 stars
[…] one night with a feral Omega undid two decades of corporate conditioning. Gensyn’s efficiency experts would have thoughts about that cost-benefit analysis.
When I read the first sentence of the intro to this book I was excited for this beyond measure! Sadly the rest of the intro failed to do what the author also couldn’t achieve throughout the story. Building a world I could envision. I had a lot of questions. There was another series where I complained about the same thing and people kept telling me it would all be explained as you go along book by book. Good for others when that works for them but this kind of storytelling just leaves me utterly unsatisfied. It’s absolutely fine to keep some things hidden, esp. if not everything that is public knowledge is true. But a status quo for me to build on would’ve been greatly appreciated. Just as an example: how did this new, dystopian world came to be? Does it encompass the whole world? How is this world working, how’s the majority of people living outside that small glimpse we’ve gathered? I was only seeing what the characters were seeing and experiencing.
I would’ve loved to have gotten all the answers AND THEN experience these characters’ journey navigating that world. Or maybe I was just not smart enough to pick up on all the subtle clues.
I could complain about some more stuff but I realize that’s only my disappointment speaking after being initially super hyped rather than the book being bad. The story of the captive and owned “feral” Omega Orion and the corporate spy, Alpha Dante, was thrilling and captivating. Haha but hell at times I was frustrated when seeing them hang on by only a thin thread instead of just following their nature’s calling, even though I got the reasons for that. Damn, really, at times they put me through the wringer and it was almost painful to watch.
But okay, I admit, the last part was very rewarding worth the pain (and the waiting) lol.
“Congratulations, you own him now.”“Stop fighting and let me make you feel good, you beautiful, stubborn, perfect little brat.”
“This is weird.”
“What?”
“I should want to put distance between us right now. Should be planning my next escape attempt.” Orion’s voice carried genuine confusion. “But I don’t want to move.”
“Good. Don’t.”
And while this world mostly follows the general rules for omegaverse I appreciated the differences too. it made for an interesting plot and things to discover. Also: the whole corporate language at any given time and for every little thing was hilarious. I think the author had a lot of fun writing that in particular.
Final Verdict: I was really invested here and had a damned good time reading it which (mostly) only got dampened by the lack of proper world building. I’m still looking forward to the next book.
***************
Manufactured Mates Series
Book 1 - The Sterling Acquisition - 4.0 stars
Book 2 - The Elysian Extraction - release 12/25
_______________
Adding this one for me to remember:
“Copy that. Pulling back reinforcements for the all clear. Good luck, Dante.”
WHO THE FUCK WAS THAT???? And why was it not revealed. Their story has ended here.
August 27, 2025
I really enjoyed this, even more as the story went on. This author has been delivering really great stories for me lately. She has such a great mind and takes scenarios that have been written to many times already but she adds in something that makes her stories stand out. This one is no different.
A world that is run by corporations in a dystopian society. An omegaverse where omegas like Orion are bought under contract by alphas. Orion is an omega who is not going to confirm for his current owner. He’s been trying to escape for a year and during one capture is when Dante first sees him. Dante works for a corporation as an operative who acts as a consultant but is there to steal secrets from this other corporation. He is by the book always but once he sets his eyes on Orion everything changes.
I didn’t like the first few scenes between Dante and Orion because they were basically non consenting and I wanted Dante to be different than every other omega. Once they escape together things do change and that’s when I really started to enjoy this story.
This is a fast paced book and I was very into the dystopian world that the author created. I’m excited for the next book in this series!
ARC received for review
All my thoughts and opinions are my own
A world that is run by corporations in a dystopian society. An omegaverse where omegas like Orion are bought under contract by alphas. Orion is an omega who is not going to confirm for his current owner. He’s been trying to escape for a year and during one capture is when Dante first sees him. Dante works for a corporation as an operative who acts as a consultant but is there to steal secrets from this other corporation. He is by the book always but once he sets his eyes on Orion everything changes.
I didn’t like the first few scenes between Dante and Orion because they were basically non consenting and I wanted Dante to be different than every other omega. Once they escape together things do change and that’s when I really started to enjoy this story.
This is a fast paced book and I was very into the dystopian world that the author created. I’m excited for the next book in this series!
ARC received for review
All my thoughts and opinions are my own
Read
August 23, 2025No rating. Telling that "Acquisition" is spelled wrong on the GR page.
ETA: It's been fixed.
ETA: It's been fixed.
February 26, 2026
i need to burrow myself in this world for ten more books!! twenty!! more even!! i refuse to give it up you will have to pull it from my cold dead fingers because i am obsessed. in love with this world and its characters and the unique spin on omegaverse.
i need to give gale ian tate my first born to thank her and her brain for blessing me with this masterpiece!
i need to give gale ian tate my first born to thank her and her brain for blessing me with this masterpiece!
December 27, 2025
Thank you to the author for the ARC! All thoughts are my own.
This was so unique. Sci-fi and omegaverse??? I ate this up. I highly recommend this if you want a fast-paced story with a great plot and addictive romance.
This was so unique. Sci-fi and omegaverse??? I ate this up. I highly recommend this if you want a fast-paced story with a great plot and addictive romance.
September 5, 2025
When I hear the word 'omegaverse', a million things jump into my head. It makes me start off a book with stereotypes and assumptions to what this book will be. At first, I just had simple things like 'oh a soft omega' and 'something something huge lightsaber alpha', but this book went ahead and surprised the heck out of me.
Orion was tough! And I don't mean 'omega feisty'. I mean, fight for your life and hate anyone who tries to force your hand or life to be something you don't want it to be. I saw a lot of myself in this character if we were in the same position.
Now, Leo is a very interesting character. He came across, at first, as someone who was into societies rules but didn't want to hurt anyone. In the first quarter of the book, I was hoping the next book would be about him finding someone to love. But, then he had to spoil it all by doing something stupid like getting drunk and having a full mega-villain arc. He's one of the scientists trying to create a vaccine that would ensure that any rejecting omegas would be... well, lobotomised.
Here comes my first and only real critique of the novel. I had no idea what this workplace was doing until this point. Dante comes in, claiming to be some alpha from another company? Or a rival company? Something like that. I don't know where he worked. Then he joined and met Orion and most of the chapters were about the two of them. Don't get me wrong - I loved them together. But I was still confused as to what he was doing there and what his job was. I really wish this had been made clearer earlier. What was his past job? Who was he reporting into via text? And what was he doing there with Leo? Sure, we start to uncover some things as we go, but I feel like some more basics should be set up earlier.
Speaking of Dante - I really liked him! He was a great character and I liked how he enjoyed Orion's more difficult sides to his personality. He was tough but fair, and he had no issues pushing boundaries.
Altogether, I loved this book. It was one I couldn't put down, and I loved the push and pull of the two characters.
Orion was tough! And I don't mean 'omega feisty'. I mean, fight for your life and hate anyone who tries to force your hand or life to be something you don't want it to be. I saw a lot of myself in this character if we were in the same position.
Now, Leo is a very interesting character. He came across, at first, as someone who was into societies rules but didn't want to hurt anyone. In the first quarter of the book, I was hoping the next book would be about him finding someone to love. But, then he had to spoil it all by doing something stupid like getting drunk and having a full mega-villain arc. He's one of the scientists trying to create a vaccine that would ensure that any rejecting omegas would be... well, lobotomised.
Here comes my first and only real critique of the novel. I had no idea what this workplace was doing until this point. Dante comes in, claiming to be some alpha from another company? Or a rival company? Something like that. I don't know where he worked. Then he joined and met Orion and most of the chapters were about the two of them. Don't get me wrong - I loved them together. But I was still confused as to what he was doing there and what his job was. I really wish this had been made clearer earlier. What was his past job? Who was he reporting into via text? And what was he doing there with Leo? Sure, we start to uncover some things as we go, but I feel like some more basics should be set up earlier.
Speaking of Dante - I really liked him! He was a great character and I liked how he enjoyed Orion's more difficult sides to his personality. He was tough but fair, and he had no issues pushing boundaries.
Altogether, I loved this book. It was one I couldn't put down, and I loved the push and pull of the two characters.
September 4, 2025
Great story! The story takes place in a dystopian omegaverse, which is mostly controlled by corporations that set very strict guidelines on how people should live. One of our MC's, Dante, works for a large corporation and is sent to another corporation to essentially spy on them and steal any information on their omegaverse-based scientific data. Along the way, he meets Orion, a beautiful omega who has been chosen to be chemically altered into being compliant.
I adored the characters in this story, and not just the MC's. I feel that most of the side characters were also very well fleshed out, with distinct personalities, which I love. The world building is also great.
Overall: 4/5
Heat(pun intended): 4/5
*ARC review, my opinions are my own!
I adored the characters in this story, and not just the MC's. I feel that most of the side characters were also very well fleshed out, with distinct personalities, which I love. The world building is also great.
Overall: 4/5
Heat(pun intended): 4/5
*ARC review, my opinions are my own!
August 30, 2025
Dive into a richly developed world, full of corporate espionage and steamy omegaverse vibes. Authored by Gale Ian Tate, this book tosses readers headfirst into a world where patents and people are hot property. Where there’s systemic oppression of groups of people. Where there is a deep, ground-shaking conspiracy by those in power who will do anything to stay in power.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Sterling Acquisition delivers everything you didn’t know you wanted. This book has everything: corporate espionage, omegaverse politics, and biologically enhanced romance.
Readers pick up the story by meeting Dante Ashford, a veteran and highly skilled corporate operative (read: spy and sabateur) at Gensyn Corporation. His next high-stakes espionage assignment is to infiltrate a rival corporation, Sterling-Vance Industries, to steal cutting-edge technology they’re developing that will force resistant Omegas to bond to their controllers: the Alphas.
But you see, these corporations are more than just corporations as we think of them now. These corporations are the actual government. This book takes place in a dark future world, one that’s been overrun with corporate power. There’s no more separation between business interests and the governance of the people. The company town has gone nationwide. The whole country is divided into corporate power hubs.
People are Assets
One of the most closely guarded assets each corporation controls with complete authority over is an oppressed group of people: Omegas, who are disenfranchised to the highest degree. Dealing with these problematic issues with a deft hand, the Sterling Acquisition explores themes of bodily autonomy, corporate overreach, and the question of what loyalty is and who deserves it, in a surprisingly deep way while still being a high-heat, deliciously tense MM Omegaverse romance.
Steamy and Gloriously Ridiculous
Overall, the Sterling Acquisition is a steamy, gloriously ridiculous read, and I mean that in the best of ways. Fans of A/B/O tropes will love this story. If you enjoy dystopian fiction, you’ll enjoy getting pulled into this chillingly realistic future where alphas dominate, control over autonomy has been commoditized, and personal identity has been smashed into pieces.
What is Loyalty?
This book will prompt readers to imagine a world where loyalty is sold, emotions are inefficient and unwelcome, and love? Out of the question. Following Dante as he goes from seasoned corporate spy, someone who has been retained to be cold, professional, and detached, to something completely rebellious and operating outside the perimeters of his mission. All because he meets the most unmanageable Omega alive, someone brilliant, wild, and who absolutely refuses to be tamed: Orion.
Suddenly, Dante is bucking against his own conditioning—questioning his loyalty, choosing obsession, choosing risk, choosing connection even when he can’t quite understand why.
Genre Mix: Dystopian Corporate Horror.
The Sterling Acquisition is a dark, steamy, and emotionally charged ride that’s got surprising heart and tension. It blends elements from many genres and tropes. Imagine a dystopian future in a world where corporations have taken over the governance of the people, complete with chemical methods of control, and that’s the world in The Sterling Acquisition.
World-Building is TOP NOTCH
Holy world-building. I’m obsessed with the world created by Gale Ian Tate. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to tell us more about it. I want to explore all the realities of how corporate power has reshaped society but never want to live there! I want to see the history of how the United States crumbled, how the corporate powers that govern the areas around the country rose from those ashes. I want a whole story. Gensyn and Sterling Vance Industries are the key corporations that readers learn about in this book, but I imagine we’ll learn about more in subsequent installments.
The Alpha/Omega Element
How did all of this come about? Sometime in the past, a virus caused humans to develop Alpha/Omega presentation, and that also reshaped society completely. I would imagine humans developing Alpha/Omega presentations was a huge catalyst for the “Unraveling” as it’s called in the book. At least it would have helped to speed it along.
So now the world is full of people with these primal desires. Alphas, the more dominant of the dynamics, wrest power from the other designations. Once they are in power, they are going to fight to stay in power. They systematically oppress Omegas, they become, over time, completely subservient in their societal roles. What’s worse is they’re owned. They’re hunted, imprisoned, and their bodily autonomy is completely stripped from them.
The world is made of different powers: these corporate powers that have taken the idea of a company town and applied it to society as a whole. Different corporations have various ways of controlling their Omega populations. And no corporations fully trust one another. Enter corporate espionage, because what one corporation has, another wants to steal or sabotage.
The Struggle
The story develops around these struggles, with Dante, an Alpha, one of our MCs, arriving on scene as a corporate spy and getting immediately sucked into the struggles of our other MC, Orion, an Omega who has fought back, violently, from the suppression and imprisonment he’s subjected to by Sterling Vance, known as SVI.
Chaos Ensues
Things do devolve pretty quickly into chaos. Orion is in uncontrolled heat cycles, refusing to submit to Leo, his prison guard/keeper. He has been fighting, lashing out, and escaping on the regular for the past year. But the whole society is set up so he can’t actually succeed in getting away. And his time is running out.
SVI’s workers are busy perfecting a chemical lobotomy technology to bend Omega’s will to their captors. Orion is set to be Test Subject #1. And this is the technology that Dante is tasked with stealing and sabotaging.
And Then, There Were Feelings
Dante never intended to get personally involved, but he never expected Orion. Orion is an unplanned, inefficient element. Orion has put up fierce resilience for a year, and learning about his situation upends every expectation Dante came to SVI territory with. While his initial mission is a straightforward act of corporate sabotage, it evolves into something far more treacherous. Dante is wracked with a heady mix of obsession, conflict, and unexpected vulnerability that reshapes not only Dante’s mission but his entire world outlook and what he wants out of his existence.
Can’t Resist
Dante feels an uncontrollable pull toward Orion, whom he can’t get out of his thoughts. Once Leo asks Dante to help with his asset’s behavior modification techniques, Dante really can’t resist Orion at all. Orion fights his own body’s responses to Dante as violently as he does Leo’s advances, but there’s an underlying tension there, where Orion knows that Dante can help him, can give him what Leo cannot, and that tension ramps up so deliciously, it’s so good. As the stakes rise, he’s forced to battle his own conditioning and realize that the strongest bonds aren’t manufactured—they’re forged.
Themes and Social Commentary
Human Identity
The question of human identity is a central theme of the Sterling Acquisition.
This is a world where corporate control tries to control human relationships, pushing the boundaries and blurring the lines between personal autonomy and corporate authority. Corporations are all-powerful. They have all the rights. It’s very 1984, but instead of fascism, it’s capitalism at its absolute worst. Humans are nothing if they’re not efficient. Any variance in emotions is unwelcome. Even the Alpha/Omega elements that people have as part of their innate biology are ruthlessly suppressed. Alphas are not allowed to have ruts. Omegas are not allowed to have heats. These are biological imperatives in an Omegaverse. But these corporations have all the power to suppress humans in even their most private biology.
Manufactured Bonds vs. Real Connection
Another main aspect of the narrative lies in the question of whether forced bonding, used as a tool of control, is superior to an organically built emotional connection. How are shared moments that build trust and real bonds distrusted, but it’s ok to chemically alter the mind of Omegas to bend their will to the Alphas in charge?
The tangential question of why corporations would want to push forced bonding instead of relationships that are built on legitimate and real foundations immediately comes to mind as well.
One thing that helps the reader contextualize this is an understanding that corporations teach their populations to see Omegas as property, not people. If an Omega’s wishes are seen as inefficient and something to squash like a bug, chemical bonding makes sense. When seeing things from this mindset, it’s easier to see why there is a corporate push for forced bonding.
Dante, though, even with years of conditioning, starts to see the cracks in this corporate façade. The façade fully crumbles once he fully views Orion as a person, someone who is not property, not an asset. It’s only then that he can dare to ask himself the question: Who deserves loyalty, really?
Portrayal of Corporations
The Sterling Acquisition portrays a future that, subtracting the Alpha/Omega aspects, are frighteningly possible. Corporations and the top 1% essentially rule the US already, with powerful lobbies and laws that favor corporations over people. Labor laws only exist because of the massive struggle from workers, and with what’s currently going on politically, it’s horrifyingly easy to imagine a future where corporations are the actual governing entity. Imagine what sorts of things they could do if they were actually the ones making the laws? Corporations would take exploitation of labor forces to such an extreme. Just the idea leaves a pit of dread in my stomach.
Orion
Orion puts up fierce resistance. He’s fully defiant. He ferociously and steadfastly believes in his autonomy that has been ripped from him. Orion refuses to fall in line. He rebukes all attempts to suppress his iron will for freedom. His resistance pushes back at this corporate structure that reduces people to their function.
Dante
Dante is a corporate goon, who educates the reader on how to speak Corporate: language full of metaphors and euphemisms that gloss over and makes pretty what amounts to human subjugation and trafficking.
Asset management is bending Omegas to the will of the Alphas in charge. Asset transport is human trafficking. Behavior management is, well, it gets dicey.
Dante is there to steal Sterling Vance Industries' property. The fact that the world now sees Omegas as property isn’t his fault; it’s just the way things are. Until he realizes that all his corporate conditioning is wrong, that is.
Dante must navigate between deeply ingrained corporate duty and a growing feeling that he can’t abide by what the corporation he’s aligned with will do once he delivers Orion to them.
Falling for Orion means Dante must push against corporate conditioning that begins at birth for the Gensyn population. Each moment, whether it’s a heated argument or a stolen kiss, becomes another thing to analyze, who he thinks he is and has him questioning who it is he actually wants to be.
Recommend or No?
I think this book is the start of a great series, and if you’re at all a fan of Alpha/Omega dynamics. Give this a read, you will love it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Sterling Acquisition delivers everything you didn’t know you wanted. This book has everything: corporate espionage, omegaverse politics, and biologically enhanced romance.
Readers pick up the story by meeting Dante Ashford, a veteran and highly skilled corporate operative (read: spy and sabateur) at Gensyn Corporation. His next high-stakes espionage assignment is to infiltrate a rival corporation, Sterling-Vance Industries, to steal cutting-edge technology they’re developing that will force resistant Omegas to bond to their controllers: the Alphas.
But you see, these corporations are more than just corporations as we think of them now. These corporations are the actual government. This book takes place in a dark future world, one that’s been overrun with corporate power. There’s no more separation between business interests and the governance of the people. The company town has gone nationwide. The whole country is divided into corporate power hubs.
People are Assets
One of the most closely guarded assets each corporation controls with complete authority over is an oppressed group of people: Omegas, who are disenfranchised to the highest degree. Dealing with these problematic issues with a deft hand, the Sterling Acquisition explores themes of bodily autonomy, corporate overreach, and the question of what loyalty is and who deserves it, in a surprisingly deep way while still being a high-heat, deliciously tense MM Omegaverse romance.
Steamy and Gloriously Ridiculous
Overall, the Sterling Acquisition is a steamy, gloriously ridiculous read, and I mean that in the best of ways. Fans of A/B/O tropes will love this story. If you enjoy dystopian fiction, you’ll enjoy getting pulled into this chillingly realistic future where alphas dominate, control over autonomy has been commoditized, and personal identity has been smashed into pieces.
What is Loyalty?
This book will prompt readers to imagine a world where loyalty is sold, emotions are inefficient and unwelcome, and love? Out of the question. Following Dante as he goes from seasoned corporate spy, someone who has been retained to be cold, professional, and detached, to something completely rebellious and operating outside the perimeters of his mission. All because he meets the most unmanageable Omega alive, someone brilliant, wild, and who absolutely refuses to be tamed: Orion.
Suddenly, Dante is bucking against his own conditioning—questioning his loyalty, choosing obsession, choosing risk, choosing connection even when he can’t quite understand why.
Genre Mix: Dystopian Corporate Horror.
The Sterling Acquisition is a dark, steamy, and emotionally charged ride that’s got surprising heart and tension. It blends elements from many genres and tropes. Imagine a dystopian future in a world where corporations have taken over the governance of the people, complete with chemical methods of control, and that’s the world in The Sterling Acquisition.
World-Building is TOP NOTCH
Holy world-building. I’m obsessed with the world created by Gale Ian Tate. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to tell us more about it. I want to explore all the realities of how corporate power has reshaped society but never want to live there! I want to see the history of how the United States crumbled, how the corporate powers that govern the areas around the country rose from those ashes. I want a whole story. Gensyn and Sterling Vance Industries are the key corporations that readers learn about in this book, but I imagine we’ll learn about more in subsequent installments.
The Alpha/Omega Element
How did all of this come about? Sometime in the past, a virus caused humans to develop Alpha/Omega presentation, and that also reshaped society completely. I would imagine humans developing Alpha/Omega presentations was a huge catalyst for the “Unraveling” as it’s called in the book. At least it would have helped to speed it along.
So now the world is full of people with these primal desires. Alphas, the more dominant of the dynamics, wrest power from the other designations. Once they are in power, they are going to fight to stay in power. They systematically oppress Omegas, they become, over time, completely subservient in their societal roles. What’s worse is they’re owned. They’re hunted, imprisoned, and their bodily autonomy is completely stripped from them.
The world is made of different powers: these corporate powers that have taken the idea of a company town and applied it to society as a whole. Different corporations have various ways of controlling their Omega populations. And no corporations fully trust one another. Enter corporate espionage, because what one corporation has, another wants to steal or sabotage.
The Struggle
The story develops around these struggles, with Dante, an Alpha, one of our MCs, arriving on scene as a corporate spy and getting immediately sucked into the struggles of our other MC, Orion, an Omega who has fought back, violently, from the suppression and imprisonment he’s subjected to by Sterling Vance, known as SVI.
Chaos Ensues
Things do devolve pretty quickly into chaos. Orion is in uncontrolled heat cycles, refusing to submit to Leo, his prison guard/keeper. He has been fighting, lashing out, and escaping on the regular for the past year. But the whole society is set up so he can’t actually succeed in getting away. And his time is running out.
SVI’s workers are busy perfecting a chemical lobotomy technology to bend Omega’s will to their captors. Orion is set to be Test Subject #1. And this is the technology that Dante is tasked with stealing and sabotaging.
And Then, There Were Feelings
Dante never intended to get personally involved, but he never expected Orion. Orion is an unplanned, inefficient element. Orion has put up fierce resilience for a year, and learning about his situation upends every expectation Dante came to SVI territory with. While his initial mission is a straightforward act of corporate sabotage, it evolves into something far more treacherous. Dante is wracked with a heady mix of obsession, conflict, and unexpected vulnerability that reshapes not only Dante’s mission but his entire world outlook and what he wants out of his existence.
Can’t Resist
Dante feels an uncontrollable pull toward Orion, whom he can’t get out of his thoughts. Once Leo asks Dante to help with his asset’s behavior modification techniques, Dante really can’t resist Orion at all. Orion fights his own body’s responses to Dante as violently as he does Leo’s advances, but there’s an underlying tension there, where Orion knows that Dante can help him, can give him what Leo cannot, and that tension ramps up so deliciously, it’s so good. As the stakes rise, he’s forced to battle his own conditioning and realize that the strongest bonds aren’t manufactured—they’re forged.
Themes and Social Commentary
Human Identity
The question of human identity is a central theme of the Sterling Acquisition.
This is a world where corporate control tries to control human relationships, pushing the boundaries and blurring the lines between personal autonomy and corporate authority. Corporations are all-powerful. They have all the rights. It’s very 1984, but instead of fascism, it’s capitalism at its absolute worst. Humans are nothing if they’re not efficient. Any variance in emotions is unwelcome. Even the Alpha/Omega elements that people have as part of their innate biology are ruthlessly suppressed. Alphas are not allowed to have ruts. Omegas are not allowed to have heats. These are biological imperatives in an Omegaverse. But these corporations have all the power to suppress humans in even their most private biology.
Manufactured Bonds vs. Real Connection
Another main aspect of the narrative lies in the question of whether forced bonding, used as a tool of control, is superior to an organically built emotional connection. How are shared moments that build trust and real bonds distrusted, but it’s ok to chemically alter the mind of Omegas to bend their will to the Alphas in charge?
The tangential question of why corporations would want to push forced bonding instead of relationships that are built on legitimate and real foundations immediately comes to mind as well.
One thing that helps the reader contextualize this is an understanding that corporations teach their populations to see Omegas as property, not people. If an Omega’s wishes are seen as inefficient and something to squash like a bug, chemical bonding makes sense. When seeing things from this mindset, it’s easier to see why there is a corporate push for forced bonding.
Dante, though, even with years of conditioning, starts to see the cracks in this corporate façade. The façade fully crumbles once he fully views Orion as a person, someone who is not property, not an asset. It’s only then that he can dare to ask himself the question: Who deserves loyalty, really?
Portrayal of Corporations
The Sterling Acquisition portrays a future that, subtracting the Alpha/Omega aspects, are frighteningly possible. Corporations and the top 1% essentially rule the US already, with powerful lobbies and laws that favor corporations over people. Labor laws only exist because of the massive struggle from workers, and with what’s currently going on politically, it’s horrifyingly easy to imagine a future where corporations are the actual governing entity. Imagine what sorts of things they could do if they were actually the ones making the laws? Corporations would take exploitation of labor forces to such an extreme. Just the idea leaves a pit of dread in my stomach.
Orion
Orion puts up fierce resistance. He’s fully defiant. He ferociously and steadfastly believes in his autonomy that has been ripped from him. Orion refuses to fall in line. He rebukes all attempts to suppress his iron will for freedom. His resistance pushes back at this corporate structure that reduces people to their function.
Dante
Dante is a corporate goon, who educates the reader on how to speak Corporate: language full of metaphors and euphemisms that gloss over and makes pretty what amounts to human subjugation and trafficking.
Asset management is bending Omegas to the will of the Alphas in charge. Asset transport is human trafficking. Behavior management is, well, it gets dicey.
Dante is there to steal Sterling Vance Industries' property. The fact that the world now sees Omegas as property isn’t his fault; it’s just the way things are. Until he realizes that all his corporate conditioning is wrong, that is.
Dante must navigate between deeply ingrained corporate duty and a growing feeling that he can’t abide by what the corporation he’s aligned with will do once he delivers Orion to them.
Falling for Orion means Dante must push against corporate conditioning that begins at birth for the Gensyn population. Each moment, whether it’s a heated argument or a stolen kiss, becomes another thing to analyze, who he thinks he is and has him questioning who it is he actually wants to be.
Recommend or No?
I think this book is the start of a great series, and if you’re at all a fan of Alpha/Omega dynamics. Give this a read, you will love it.
February 25, 2026
This was so good! Well developed plot and character development, world building, and Orion isn't instantly compliant. I appreciate the changes Dante goes through mentally as he slowly breaks each protocol, until we end up with him finally admitting that he doesn't want to go back.
I love that although he needs Dante's help and he is attracted to him, Orion doesn't instantly fold and gets his revenge on Leo.
dual pov
3rd P
strict
violence
corporate abuse
"domestic" violence
I love that although he needs Dante's help and he is attracted to him, Orion doesn't instantly fold and gets his revenge on Leo.
dual pov
3rd P
strict
violence
corporate abuse
"domestic" violence
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2025
This book was brutal, but better than therapy, and since I was given an ARC opponent, also cheaper. I was looking forward something different, a little bit edgier, and man, I found it, and here I leave my voluntary review. Like I said, this book is brutal, it’s also beautiful. I don’t think it was meant as an exaggerated criticism of society, but… it is there. How people in charge and alphas are so convinced they’re right, they can absolutely plow through everything and everyone to get the results they want. And since they’re the ones in power, those being sold and abused can’t say or do anything, or can they? From the first moment, I loved Orion. He fights tooth and nail and everything in between. He’s incoming spirit is so strong and beautiful… no wonder Dante does what he does. I’m not saying it’s all beautiful and perfect, or that they are in the best relationship ever from the beginning, but their fighting spirits, their desire for more, for better, for something that nobody allows them to have, but they want, that’s what’s amazing. It took me a bit to warm up to Dante, because my boy Orion deserves the best of the best, and Dante isn’t it, at first, but he grows into being worthy of my precious Orion. And Orion chooses him, which is so powerful… I think that the power to choose being taken away, and having Dante and Orion fight for that inherent human right is what makes this such a powerful story, and better than therapy. Just read the TW at the beginning, and take care of yourself, because the author pulls all the punches, does not shy away from the brutal reality about abuse and manipulation, but it’s done for a very good reason. There is not gratuitous violence, it’s part of the story that needs to be told. And it hurts, but the end result is so worth it! I’m looking forward to book 2!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 2, 2025
Review for (Manufactured Mates-1) The Sterling Acquisition by Gale Ian Tate
I love Gale Ian Tate's writing style in her books. The world-building she does makes me want to be in the story and live it with these guys. I love Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamics. I love where there is a set power exchange. This book had it all. I wish they could have had the shifting in the story lol. But I still loved it. It was hard at times reading the hard part of the story, human trafficking, along with experiments done on the poor characters. I was biting my nails to see what was going to happen next in the story. The trauma was hard to read, but in the end, the work they put into a good ending made it all worth it.
I look forward to reading more of Gale Ian Tate's books in the future. She's worth the read.
Nicole HarveyI received an ARC for an honest review.
I love Gale Ian Tate's writing style in her books. The world-building she does makes me want to be in the story and live it with these guys. I love Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamics. I love where there is a set power exchange. This book had it all. I wish they could have had the shifting in the story lol. But I still loved it. It was hard at times reading the hard part of the story, human trafficking, along with experiments done on the poor characters. I was biting my nails to see what was going to happen next in the story. The trauma was hard to read, but in the end, the work they put into a good ending made it all worth it.
I look forward to reading more of Gale Ian Tate's books in the future. She's worth the read.
Nicole HarveyI received an ARC for an honest review.
August 22, 2025
This book blew my expectations out of the water. I love A/B/O and dystopia, but this perfectly blends them together in a seamless fabric. I cannot fully express how much I feel in love with the characters and world building, but I will try.
The main characters are wonderfully deep and intriguing. I found myself wanting to know more about them with every paragraph but also wanting the mystery to continue. Their individual and collective arc was incredibly satisfying and had my heart racing and soaring.
The world building is what really hooked me. I tend to find dystopian world building to either be too much too soon or not enough by the end of the book. This hits that elusive sweet spot where I can understand and follow but I also wonder what else is out there. The world is vast but what we have seen is tangible. The author did a wonderful job.
Overall, I am so glad I picked this up. I read it in the morning, through lunch breaks, and before bed and never got tired of it. Truly, my breakout read of this year.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main characters are wonderfully deep and intriguing. I found myself wanting to know more about them with every paragraph but also wanting the mystery to continue. Their individual and collective arc was incredibly satisfying and had my heart racing and soaring.
The world building is what really hooked me. I tend to find dystopian world building to either be too much too soon or not enough by the end of the book. This hits that elusive sweet spot where I can understand and follow but I also wonder what else is out there. The world is vast but what we have seen is tangible. The author did a wonderful job.
Overall, I am so glad I picked this up. I read it in the morning, through lunch breaks, and before bed and never got tired of it. Truly, my breakout read of this year.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 23, 2025
Absolutely loved this!!!! I fell in love with Gale's writing after reading the first two Neon Scars books. Phenomenal!
Now with The Sterling Acquisition, my love for her books keeps growing.
She has a knack of bringing you into the story setting with the first few lines, and those are the types of stories I crave. To be lost within whatever realm has been created, to absolutely adore the main characters and despise the "villainous" ones (looking at you, Leo 🤬).
So looking forward to the next one, plus the third Neon Scars!
I received an ARC from Book Sirens for my honest review.
Now with The Sterling Acquisition, my love for her books keeps growing.
She has a knack of bringing you into the story setting with the first few lines, and those are the types of stories I crave. To be lost within whatever realm has been created, to absolutely adore the main characters and despise the "villainous" ones (looking at you, Leo 🤬).
So looking forward to the next one, plus the third Neon Scars!
I received an ARC from Book Sirens for my honest review.
October 17, 2025
I have ZERO CHILL about how much I love this book. (I received a free copy. This is my honest, voluntary review.)
Seriously, I’ve been in a big ADHD-caused reading slump. Nothing has spoken to me. Until this book. It hooked me from page one, and I read it in one sitting until way too late at night. I could not put it down.
You know how some authors hold the reader’s hand too much, spoon feeding them all the information without trusting the audience to figure it out? Gale does not do that. We jump right into Dante’s POV, and the world just exists on the page. There’s no wasted paragraphs on dumps of exposition. You are just in the story, right there with Orion—our lovely, bitey, feral omega—sardonic corporate jargon and all.
Heed the author’s note and its warnings at the beginning of the book. This is a dark dystopian world where people are treated as commodities, not humans, and you see that in detail on the page. However, the themes of consent and bodily autonomy—two of my favorite topics—are so beautifully explored in the scope of this world.
Dante and Orion have to work for their HEA. They go from one tense situation to the next with very little reprieve, and it kept me turning page after page to the very end, needing to know how they got through the next thing the world threw at them.
If you love finding unique takes on omegaverse dynamics, or if you loved the world building in Lily Mayne’s Monstrous series and wanted those books to be even darker, pick up this book. And then join me on the edge of my seat, waiting for the sequel.
Seriously, I’ve been in a big ADHD-caused reading slump. Nothing has spoken to me. Until this book. It hooked me from page one, and I read it in one sitting until way too late at night. I could not put it down.
You know how some authors hold the reader’s hand too much, spoon feeding them all the information without trusting the audience to figure it out? Gale does not do that. We jump right into Dante’s POV, and the world just exists on the page. There’s no wasted paragraphs on dumps of exposition. You are just in the story, right there with Orion—our lovely, bitey, feral omega—sardonic corporate jargon and all.
Heed the author’s note and its warnings at the beginning of the book. This is a dark dystopian world where people are treated as commodities, not humans, and you see that in detail on the page. However, the themes of consent and bodily autonomy—two of my favorite topics—are so beautifully explored in the scope of this world.
Dante and Orion have to work for their HEA. They go from one tense situation to the next with very little reprieve, and it kept me turning page after page to the very end, needing to know how they got through the next thing the world threw at them.
If you love finding unique takes on omegaverse dynamics, or if you loved the world building in Lily Mayne’s Monstrous series and wanted those books to be even darker, pick up this book. And then join me on the edge of my seat, waiting for the sequel.
September 12, 2025
I was privileged to be a beta reader for this title. It was interesting to see the differences in that edition and the one released.
I am hoping that there is more of the history of the "event" that led to the current social dynamics in the future books.
Sexy, snarky, powerful play between the main characters made for a fun read read. Bonus for having a character for everyone to despise!
I am hoping that there is more of the history of the "event" that led to the current social dynamics in the future books.
Sexy, snarky, powerful play between the main characters made for a fun read read. Bonus for having a character for everyone to despise!
Read
September 3, 2025This omegaverse book is very different to the ones that I've read so far and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a gay omegaverse meets corporate dystopia but relationships/designatiions/claiming work a bit differently. That's all I can say without spoiling the book. You will just have to read it yourself. Orion and Dante's dynamics were intense and thoroughly entertaining, and I really fell in love with the characters. Definitely recommend and look forward to reading more books from this series or world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 29, 2025
MM Dystopian SF Action Romance
This is a book of two halves: both of them brilliant.
In the first part, Dante is an Alpha corporate spy and agent sent by Gensyn to steal SVI Biological secrets and an asset.
That asset is Omega Orion who is a twenty six year old virgin coming up for a year of being owned by Leo, who has been working on the biological system Dante has been sent to steal.
He's been muzzled, beaten, chained and starved but still refuses to submit to Leo.
In walks Dante and changes everything.
Leo hires him to train Orion but Dante offers him potential escape, even if it's being owned by another Alpha.
The second half is more of a Mad
Max adventure running through the badlands.
From the start we have dub con, consensual non con and our MCs fighting like cat and dog.
There's very high heat and steam level plus an element of BDSM but a steadily building romance.
The world building is terrific with a PKD type world of dystopic corporate enemies and manipulation.
During an 'asset transfer' journey we meet some terrific characters including Lilac, Granny Lu and Riot.
I loved this book and for me it's a discovery of a new and talented voice in LGBTQIAplus fiction, with grit, great dialogue and fast paced action.
The quieter scene with the pair watching an old film on an 'antique' DVD player is hilarious, especially for the commentary.
I love the diversity of the cast including a wheelchair bound powerful matriarch and more than one queer relationship at play.
I would love to read more and see Riot get his HEA.
A fantastic read.
This is a book of two halves: both of them brilliant.
In the first part, Dante is an Alpha corporate spy and agent sent by Gensyn to steal SVI Biological secrets and an asset.
That asset is Omega Orion who is a twenty six year old virgin coming up for a year of being owned by Leo, who has been working on the biological system Dante has been sent to steal.
He's been muzzled, beaten, chained and starved but still refuses to submit to Leo.
In walks Dante and changes everything.
Leo hires him to train Orion but Dante offers him potential escape, even if it's being owned by another Alpha.
The second half is more of a Mad
Max adventure running through the badlands.
From the start we have dub con, consensual non con and our MCs fighting like cat and dog.
There's very high heat and steam level plus an element of BDSM but a steadily building romance.
The world building is terrific with a PKD type world of dystopic corporate enemies and manipulation.
During an 'asset transfer' journey we meet some terrific characters including Lilac, Granny Lu and Riot.
I loved this book and for me it's a discovery of a new and talented voice in LGBTQIAplus fiction, with grit, great dialogue and fast paced action.
The quieter scene with the pair watching an old film on an 'antique' DVD player is hilarious, especially for the commentary.
I love the diversity of the cast including a wheelchair bound powerful matriarch and more than one queer relationship at play.
I would love to read more and see Riot get his HEA.
A fantastic read.
October 19, 2025
In The Sterling Acquisition, Dante is a corporate spy and alpha sent to gather intelligence at a rival company. His mission is quickly derailed when he happens to encounter Orion, a defiant omega who resists ownership. Dante seduces Orion with the promise of choices, even if not full freedom. Dante and Orion try to escape this end-stage capitalist dystopia, but they encounter a variety of characters who threaten their newfound freedom.
Far from being a submissive omega, Orion retains his fire and his rage at his the dehumanization of being regarded as an asset rather than a sentient being. Orion is the reason I liked this book so much. His humanity despite difficult circumstances and his ability to adapt and bounce back propel the story and eventually even thaw the alpha Dante. I have not encountered many omegaverse stories that I love, probably because omegas are often portrayed as submissive or mindlessly randy. This one hit different.
The world building is slow, with most of the clarification about the events that led to alphas and omegas occurring in the second and third acts, but it is rich and ripe for future stories.
Be mindful of triggers including a metric ton of dubious consent, depictions of domestic violence (not between MMCs), oblique mentions of child physical abuse, and a sadly believable capitalistic dystopia with corporate overlords.
Overall: 5/5 (I’d happily reread this)
Spice: 4/5 (multiple, open door)
An Omega who bites back: 10/5
Available Now on Kindle Unlimited!
Thanks for BookSirens and the author for this eARC. I received a copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Far from being a submissive omega, Orion retains his fire and his rage at his the dehumanization of being regarded as an asset rather than a sentient being. Orion is the reason I liked this book so much. His humanity despite difficult circumstances and his ability to adapt and bounce back propel the story and eventually even thaw the alpha Dante. I have not encountered many omegaverse stories that I love, probably because omegas are often portrayed as submissive or mindlessly randy. This one hit different.
The world building is slow, with most of the clarification about the events that led to alphas and omegas occurring in the second and third acts, but it is rich and ripe for future stories.
Be mindful of triggers including a metric ton of dubious consent, depictions of domestic violence (not between MMCs), oblique mentions of child physical abuse, and a sadly believable capitalistic dystopia with corporate overlords.
Overall: 5/5 (I’d happily reread this)
Spice: 4/5 (multiple, open door)
An Omega who bites back: 10/5
Available Now on Kindle Unlimited!
Thanks for BookSirens and the author for this eARC. I received a copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 7, 2025
I will legit kill, maim, and die for these characters
Spectacular world building, off the fucking charts chemistry, exceptional and gloriously witty banter that is honestly a comedic goldmine, a fascinating power play and dynamic that eventually evens out, quite realistic character and relationship development, all hail the power of biologically enhanced destiny
(there’s no way these two wouldn’t have fallen heads and fists over heels even without the help of biology), Omegas’ got the power, gotta love Lilac and all the other beautifully supportive side characters, yadadada my brain has reached slightly psychotic levels of gleeful mushiness and I can’t wait to snatch up a copy of book 2 and whatever else you decide to write, thank you for coming to my TEDtalk, I am writing this at 4:30am and desperately need to go to sleep so I can continue obsessing over these characters with a semi-functional and coherent brain, good nights ✌️
Spectacular world building, off the fucking charts chemistry, exceptional and gloriously witty banter that is honestly a comedic goldmine, a fascinating power play and dynamic that eventually evens out, quite realistic character and relationship development, all hail the power of biologically enhanced destiny
(there’s no way these two wouldn’t have fallen heads and fists over heels even without the help of biology), Omegas’ got the power, gotta love Lilac and all the other beautifully supportive side characters, yadadada my brain has reached slightly psychotic levels of gleeful mushiness and I can’t wait to snatch up a copy of book 2 and whatever else you decide to write, thank you for coming to my TEDtalk, I am writing this at 4:30am and desperately need to go to sleep so I can continue obsessing over these characters with a semi-functional and coherent brain, good nights ✌️
August 25, 2025
The Sterling Acquisition was a very fun ride! I couldn't help but speed through it. The beginning was gripping and even though I started off confused in certain aspects, I wanted to keep going.
I loved the main couple and their banter. The other characters were well fleshed out so I'm very excited to see more of them in the next books of the series.
The world this book was set in was very interesting. I loved reading about the different corporations and how they operated. There were moments though that the world building was lacking in certain spots or convoluted in other, but for the most part, I vibed with it.
There were also moments of repetition in the story that felt redundant, but overall, I enjoyed the story and am awaiting book two.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved the main couple and their banter. The other characters were well fleshed out so I'm very excited to see more of them in the next books of the series.
The world this book was set in was very interesting. I loved reading about the different corporations and how they operated. There were moments though that the world building was lacking in certain spots or convoluted in other, but for the most part, I vibed with it.
There were also moments of repetition in the story that felt redundant, but overall, I enjoyed the story and am awaiting book two.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 20, 2026
4.75* rounded to 5
Such a great (relatively mid-burn) enemies-to-lovers with a feisty omega and a corporate alpha who quickly becomes obsessed with him.
The spice was delicious. The gradual progress of the romance was beautifully done. And I loved the toxicity of the relationship, which remained consensual. Sounds weird, but the BDSM-like dynamic was my jam.
I only found the last 60-70 pages draggy. I honestly wanted the book to be over because after the twist at 70-80% I actually expected the MCs to treat each other... differently. But it was still amazing.
This was my first from the author and I'm definitely interested into her other darker books.
Such a great (relatively mid-burn) enemies-to-lovers with a feisty omega and a corporate alpha who quickly becomes obsessed with him.
The spice was delicious. The gradual progress of the romance was beautifully done. And I loved the toxicity of the relationship, which remained consensual. Sounds weird, but the BDSM-like dynamic was my jam.
I only found the last 60-70 pages draggy. I honestly wanted the book to be over because after the twist at 70-80% I actually expected the MCs to treat each other... differently. But it was still amazing.
This was my first from the author and I'm definitely interested into her other darker books.
August 28, 2025
In a time where corporations replaced governments and humans were classified, owned and traded, Dante came to Sterling Vance for corporation espionage. While there, he became entangled in the claiming of an Omega Orion who refused to submit to his owner. Orion is different, brave and beautiful in his defiance. Dante is stealthy, dominant and well trained. It's a Dystopian world with intrigue, adventure, passion and near death experiences that keep you on the edge. I received a copy of this through BookSirens and this is my voluntary opinion.
September 7, 2025
Okay- I wasn’t sure if I was gonna like this not gonna lie; I’m not usually a dystopian setting fan.
However! I actually liked this; I liked that the omega ended up with the power to bond rather than the alpha, and I enjoyed the banter.
I’m also hoping we get to see more of all the side characters as the series progresses!
I do however think there needs to be a bit more explanation of who people are… alphas, betas, omegas. Bezerkers, chimeras, isna, nulls etc. as it wasn’t always quite clear. Maybe a key at the start of the book or something?
But yeah, overall a pretty decent book!
*arc review*
However! I actually liked this; I liked that the omega ended up with the power to bond rather than the alpha, and I enjoyed the banter.
I’m also hoping we get to see more of all the side characters as the series progresses!
I do however think there needs to be a bit more explanation of who people are… alphas, betas, omegas. Bezerkers, chimeras, isna, nulls etc. as it wasn’t always quite clear. Maybe a key at the start of the book or something?
But yeah, overall a pretty decent book!
*arc review*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2025
The Sterling Acquisition by Gale Ian Tate was a very enjoyable read. At first I thought it was taking too long to really progress the story but that changed very quickly. Corporate Dystopia meets Omegaverse dynamics. I really loved reading it and the spicy parts were just perfect.
A Corporate Operative ( Dante) sent to obtain information disguised as a corporate exchange to help boost vaccine efficiency. An Omega(Orion) who was sold to an incompetent alpha(Leo). They never should have met but fate brought them together. The corporations that now run territories in what was the united states only care about power and money. There are several spicy scenes throughout. Each one getting hotter and more intense. Will they find a way to escape and just live in freedom or will they be caught and recalibrated to perform at optimum proficiency
The author does list trigger warnings at the beginning of the book so check those out. Give this book a try I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
I received this book as an advanced readers copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily
A Corporate Operative ( Dante) sent to obtain information disguised as a corporate exchange to help boost vaccine efficiency. An Omega(Orion) who was sold to an incompetent alpha(Leo). They never should have met but fate brought them together. The corporations that now run territories in what was the united states only care about power and money. There are several spicy scenes throughout. Each one getting hotter and more intense. Will they find a way to escape and just live in freedom or will they be caught and recalibrated to perform at optimum proficiency
The author does list trigger warnings at the beginning of the book so check those out. Give this book a try I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
I received this book as an advanced readers copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily
September 29, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was an insane in the best way. The corporatazaion of humans is fascinating. At times this book reads like a corporate spy novel, then an ABO romance and the lovers on the run.
The only reason it not 5 stars is it did drag a little in some areas.
This book was an insane in the best way. The corporatazaion of humans is fascinating. At times this book reads like a corporate spy novel, then an ABO romance and the lovers on the run.
The only reason it not 5 stars is it did drag a little in some areas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2025
I absolutely inhaled this book.
There's a great twist on A/B/O dynamics where biological genetic enhancements are used.
There's corporate espionage, political machinations, and a conspiracy headed by those in power to maintain it.
There's a great twist on A/B/O dynamics where biological genetic enhancements are used.
There's corporate espionage, political machinations, and a conspiracy headed by those in power to maintain it.
October 17, 2025
Absolutely fantastic. I think this is the most interesting take on O/b/a I've ever read before (and I've read a lot).
At first I thought this story would be lighter than her other horror book, because how could an - albeit dystopian - corporate landscape lend itself to a dark romance? But it got gritty at points, but that made it all the better.
Can't wait for the second book in the series!!
At first I thought this story would be lighter than her other horror book, because how could an - albeit dystopian - corporate landscape lend itself to a dark romance? But it got gritty at points, but that made it all the better.
Can't wait for the second book in the series!!
September 30, 2025
This was a refreshing side to omegaverse! Spicy and flavorful in character development and plot. It was wonderful! If you want something new to add to your shelves, come get it! △⃒⃘Lways love mpreg!
I received this arc for free, and leave this review voluntarily.
I received this arc for free, and leave this review voluntarily.
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