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Lords of Rathe #3
Mate of a Royal
LEGEND DEVERAUX was raised to rule. Son of the late king of Dark Magic, he is the youngest king Rathe has ever seen.
Haide wasn't raised at all. Born on Exile Island, where the royals of Rathe toss their most vile creatures, chaos isn't all she knows. It's
When their worlds collide, the king's ancient magic calls to her.
The bond ignites instantly, volatile, undeniable, dangerously wrong
She isn't the mate he expected. Her power is stunted by the cursed land that shaped her. Yet she sets fire to his veins, the only person who makes his fractured soul feel whole. So, Legend takes her to Rathe University to awaken what lies beneath her skin.
His brothers warn him against her. His people detest her very existence. He doesn't care. He wants her at his side, on her knees, and in his bed. She is his.
Then the murders begin. The gifted fall without warning Bloodlines vanish. And with every death, Legend's magic begins to die with them. Something ancient, violent is rising in Rathe, and every accusation points to the king's fated mate.
If she truly is his at all.
Haide wasn't raised at all. Born on Exile Island, where the royals of Rathe toss their most vile creatures, chaos isn't all she knows. It's
When their worlds collide, the king's ancient magic calls to her.
The bond ignites instantly, volatile, undeniable, dangerously wrong
She isn't the mate he expected. Her power is stunted by the cursed land that shaped her. Yet she sets fire to his veins, the only person who makes his fractured soul feel whole. So, Legend takes her to Rathe University to awaken what lies beneath her skin.
His brothers warn him against her. His people detest her very existence. He doesn't care. He wants her at his side, on her knees, and in his bed. She is his.
Then the murders begin. The gifted fall without warning Bloodlines vanish. And with every death, Legend's magic begins to die with them. Something ancient, violent is rising in Rathe, and every accusation points to the king's fated mate.
If she truly is his at all.
352 pages, Paperback
Published June 23, 2026
About the author
Meagan Brandy
46 books17.2k followersUSA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Meagan Brandy writes angsty, New Adult romance books with a twist. Starbucks is her best friend and words are her sanity.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
June 25, 2026
Born on Exile Island, Haide is ruthless and unhinged, a product of her brutal upbringing. She’s also, apparently, fated to Legend Deveraux.
When Legend forces her to return to Rathe with him, Haide wants nothing more than to escape back to the Island. Wary of both her and the supposed bond between them, Creed strikes a deal: help them, and she’ll earn her way home. But those plans quickly unravel when Haide becomes the prime suspect in a string of escalating murders and someone seems determined to frame her.
Meanwhile, the four crowned kings of Rathe make the questionable decision to reopen Rathe University. Officially, it’s to protect the gifted. Unofficially, it gives them the perfect cover to investigate the brutal murders plaguing the kingdom.
It’s been a while since we’ve been in Rathe, and I’d forgotten just how much I love these characters and this world. The Deveraux brothers are absolutely ruthless, and Legend is no exception. Yes, he’s a walking red flag, but there’s so much more beneath the surface than his sharp edges and questionable choices. From the very beginning, it’s obvious that Haide is his perfect match. She’s one of the few people capable of challenging him, and she gives as good as she gets.
What I somehow missed going into this book was that their story is a duet. Imagine my shock when I hit the final page and realized there wasn’t another chapter. 😳 I was completely dumbstruck when I hit the end!! I absolutely cannot wait for the conclusion to their story in Mate of a Monster. Haide and Legend are going to go scorched earth and I am here for it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): New Adult, Paranormal/Fantasy, Psychological Thriller
Ending: 🧗🏻♀️ {Cliffy}
Length: 📚📚📚
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 🤭🫣🥵🤬😳
Darkness: 🖤
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥1/2
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, Family Saga, Fated Mate, Forced Proximity, Heroine in Danger, Kidnapped/Captive, Rich Boy x Poor Girl
💫 Microtropes: Badass FMC, Boy Obsessed, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Growly, Hand Necklace, He Falls First, He Falls Harder, Lap Sitting, Pet Name (Little Menace/Monster), Sassy FMC, Scent Marking, Tragic Past
🔆 Character: Non-Human, Royalty, Student
💋 Kinks: Audience
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, Manipulation, MINE!, Touch-Her-and-💀
⛔️ Safety Squad: Unaliving, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page and in the past and/or present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: Rathe
📣 Type: Mate of a Royal is part of the Lords of Rathe series and ends on a cliffhanger.
⚠️ Warning: The hate-to-want-you in this one will give you whiplash and sticky thighs
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
When Legend forces her to return to Rathe with him, Haide wants nothing more than to escape back to the Island. Wary of both her and the supposed bond between them, Creed strikes a deal: help them, and she’ll earn her way home. But those plans quickly unravel when Haide becomes the prime suspect in a string of escalating murders and someone seems determined to frame her.
Meanwhile, the four crowned kings of Rathe make the questionable decision to reopen Rathe University. Officially, it’s to protect the gifted. Unofficially, it gives them the perfect cover to investigate the brutal murders plaguing the kingdom.
It’s been a while since we’ve been in Rathe, and I’d forgotten just how much I love these characters and this world. The Deveraux brothers are absolutely ruthless, and Legend is no exception. Yes, he’s a walking red flag, but there’s so much more beneath the surface than his sharp edges and questionable choices. From the very beginning, it’s obvious that Haide is his perfect match. She’s one of the few people capable of challenging him, and she gives as good as she gets.
What I somehow missed going into this book was that their story is a duet. Imagine my shock when I hit the final page and realized there wasn’t another chapter. 😳 I was completely dumbstruck when I hit the end!! I absolutely cannot wait for the conclusion to their story in Mate of a Monster. Haide and Legend are going to go scorched earth and I am here for it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): New Adult, Paranormal/Fantasy, Psychological Thriller
Ending: 🧗🏻♀️ {Cliffy}
Length: 📚📚📚
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 🤭🫣🥵🤬😳
Darkness: 🖤
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥1/2
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, Family Saga, Fated Mate, Forced Proximity, Heroine in Danger, Kidnapped/Captive, Rich Boy x Poor Girl
💫 Microtropes: Badass FMC, Boy Obsessed, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Growly, Hand Necklace, He Falls First, He Falls Harder, Lap Sitting, Pet Name (Little Menace/Monster), Sassy FMC, Scent Marking, Tragic Past
🔆 Character: Non-Human, Royalty, Student
💋 Kinks: Audience
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, Manipulation, MINE!, Touch-Her-and-💀
⛔️ Safety Squad: Unaliving, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page and in the past and/or present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: Rathe
📣 Type: Mate of a Royal is part of the Lords of Rathe series and ends on a cliffhanger.
⚠️ Warning: The hate-to-want-you in this one will give you whiplash and sticky thighs
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
October 15, 2023
Can't wait for Legend and Haide's story to release!
Read
January 29, 2026I was very lucky to receive an advance e-ARC to read of this book. I will admit I did not read the first two books in the series (as I didn’t know about them until I started reading). Took me a minute to catch on, but I got there.
This is a gritty, banter filled, angsty story with so much banter, a feral FMC, a smirking MMC and a mate bond. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed Haide as a FMC, because it’s rare you see a woman represented as so brutal. Like barbaric. But it grows on you. It’s a consistent pace, no dragging. There is magic, murders, and plots a plenty - plus the family dynamic of 4 king brothers.
I’m not rating because I need to go read the first two books, I feel a bit disconnected and I don’t want to hold that against the book because I read it out of order.
This is a gritty, banter filled, angsty story with so much banter, a feral FMC, a smirking MMC and a mate bond. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed Haide as a FMC, because it’s rare you see a woman represented as so brutal. Like barbaric. But it grows on you. It’s a consistent pace, no dragging. There is magic, murders, and plots a plenty - plus the family dynamic of 4 king brothers.
I’m not rating because I need to go read the first two books, I feel a bit disconnected and I don’t want to hold that against the book because I read it out of order.
February 1, 2024
FOAR and FOAF absolutely wrecked me before putting my pieces back together 😫 love all the Deveraux brothers and London. Looking forward to Legend and Haide’s story!
🤎🧸
🤎🧸
June 25, 2026
By the time I’m writing this review, I’ve read this book twice and I am no closer to understanding this book the second time around. I read it when it first came out and just recently re-read it to get ready for the second part of Haide/Legend’s duet, and I still don’t know what’s going on with the ending and can’t even begin to guess or come up with theories. The strength here is in the characters.
Content notes include deaths, murder, and violence.
I don’t think you actually need to read London/Knight’s duet before this one. It won’t help you to understand what’s going on here all that much. All you have to know is that we have the Deveraux brothers - Creed (oldest), Knight, Sinner, and Legend (youngest). They’re all Kings to the Stygian throne now, and they share the throne. This is not a why choose romance situation. Their best friend is a guy called Silver. They live in a magical land called Rathe and in the first book, they played hockey for some reason. They can cross over to the human world (where they found their first queen, Knight’s mate called London). London met Haide in a place called Exile Island and Legend has latched on to Haide and decided she is his mate. London’s best friend Ben was a human and is now a dragon. London and Haide are supposed to be friends now but they barely interact in this book, so I would say you don’t really even need to know their history all that much (which was mostly at the end of Fate of a Faux). And now we’re here in book three.
I actually really like the characters. Something Meagan Brandy and Amo Jones always does well with their individual books is make me care about their characters, and it’s the same with this book. Legend is the youngest of his brothers and his main magical powers is regulating emotions. If a crowd becomes unruly, he can calm them all down so they chill out. It’s an interesting power and a very manipulative one if you think about it. Legend is what I would describe as pathetically in love with Haide. The man YEARNS for her like his soul will give out if he’s not near her. Knight fought every step of the way against his mate bond with London, but not Legend. Legend is ready to give his heart and soul to Haide. Whatever Haide wants from him, he will give it. Haide, however, does not believe him.
Haide grew up on Exile Island (I still don’t love that name but I guess we’re committed to it now). It’s where everyone magical gets thrown to live in…exile…and people there can’t die. Or at least not easily. What’s the psyche of a girl who grew up killing for sport, and being killed in turn, but knowing that she can always come back to life? She’s never been to school and if she has any dormant magic in her, maybe all that time on the island has affected her in some way. I think being a product of Exile Island is also affecting the mating bond tie between her and Legend? OBVIOUSLY this is a romance book so I’m not doubting they have a mating bond or that they’re not endgame. Clearly, they’re it for each other. But HOW. We see instances where Haide feels some kind of tie to Legend, but it’s not in the same as what we saw between London and Knight.
This book was being promoted as dark academia, and…I guess? It does take place at a school (Rathe U) and if the dark part is more in the murders that keep happening (aside from the ones Haide accidentally keeps doing), sure. I don’t know why anyone thought it was a good idea to stick a girl who has never had an education before straight into a magic school. Especially, when they don’t even know if she has powers or not. She’s also used to killing people who don’t stay dead and come back to life. Suffice it to say, her attending school goes very poorly.
The timeline of this book is strange in one regard that does bug me. I thought the guys JUST announced that they were opening up the school, but the next minute they threw Haide in there and it’s like everyone has been attending classes this whole time? That was weird and I don’t think it’s a part of the mystery of this series, just something that wasn’t caught in editing.
The actual mystery is that there’s a serial killer on the loose and no one knows who it is and how they’re doing it. The most compelling suspect is Haide, expect Legend isn’t letting anyone question her. This gets on Creed’s nerves. He hates Haide and lets her know this every moment they’re in the same room together. Something has obviously gone awry with the mating bond between Legend and Haide because why does she feel next to nothing about it, and Legend seems to be getting more and more tired in her presence and losing access to his powers? Creed has gone into big brother mode and does not think Haide is good for Legend.
I think something happened when Legend went to Exile Island to get her. She’s the only one who should be able to come and go from the Island freely, but how was Legend able to do it? Did it come with a price? The ending of this book throws me off so bad. Did it split his soul? Maybe it wasn’t Haide that was draining him on Rathe, but whatever he left behind (unknowingly) on the Island? We’ll find out with the next book.
The audiobook is going to bit hit or miss with folks. Aubrey Vincent returns as the FMC and I feel so indecisive about her. I like her in small doses because her acting leans more into a sarcastic or sardonic type of narration that can be a bit grating if I listen to her too much. Corvin King is new to this series and voices Legend and I think he plays the pathetic little yearner well. This is dual narrated but both the audio narrators play the opposite gender voices well enough and I don’t really have any complaints about them in that regard.
As a longtime fantasy reader, I wouldn’t say the worldbuilding is particularly strong with this series. You just have to kind of go with the flow because there’s a lot that doesn’t make sense and I doubt will make sense even with more books. Like, why does Haide have to carry a book around that can open portals but they also have to learn how to portal between places? Why does the book only show her spells when it thinks she ought to know it? What kind of schooling are they actually getting in that school? How does this world handle having four Kings rule work differently than one ruler? We simply don’t know. The light and dark magic stuff still confuses me. We don’t even know what happened with the hockey team and if any humans find it weird the team vanished in the midst of the chaos of the last book and this one. I’m still waiting on an answer about Ben and how he’s just now seemingly a dragon (permanently?).
I guess what we will get an answer on are the murders that keep happening and who’s causing them. And what the deal is with the mating bond between Haide and Legend. Everything else? Up in the air.
I’m assuming all the brothers eventually will get their own books, and we got titles awhile back in the authors’ facebook groups but haven’t heard anything since. If we do get books for Creed and Sinner, what about Silver. Give me a m/m book! But if the authors are sticking with the mating bond stuff I guess that wouldn’t work since Silver has been hanging out with them for years and nothing seems to have come between him and the guys? Or I don’t know, bring back Ben and let him be a dragon shifter and let him and one of the brothers get together.
I am confused about the world in general, but I liked the characters. I like the relationship between Legend and Haide. They’re hot together. I like how in love Legend is with Haide and how Haide does kind of like him but also has better things to do. She needs space to think about it and process, I think, because why would she fall for some man who says he has a claim on her? She really doesn’t even know him yet. So, I get where she’s coming from. I can’t wait to jump into the next book, Mate of a Monster, to find out what happens!
Content notes include deaths, murder, and violence.
I don’t think you actually need to read London/Knight’s duet before this one. It won’t help you to understand what’s going on here all that much. All you have to know is that we have the Deveraux brothers - Creed (oldest), Knight, Sinner, and Legend (youngest). They’re all Kings to the Stygian throne now, and they share the throne. This is not a why choose romance situation. Their best friend is a guy called Silver. They live in a magical land called Rathe and in the first book, they played hockey for some reason. They can cross over to the human world (where they found their first queen, Knight’s mate called London). London met Haide in a place called Exile Island and Legend has latched on to Haide and decided she is his mate. London’s best friend Ben was a human and is now a dragon. London and Haide are supposed to be friends now but they barely interact in this book, so I would say you don’t really even need to know their history all that much (which was mostly at the end of Fate of a Faux). And now we’re here in book three.
I actually really like the characters. Something Meagan Brandy and Amo Jones always does well with their individual books is make me care about their characters, and it’s the same with this book. Legend is the youngest of his brothers and his main magical powers is regulating emotions. If a crowd becomes unruly, he can calm them all down so they chill out. It’s an interesting power and a very manipulative one if you think about it. Legend is what I would describe as pathetically in love with Haide. The man YEARNS for her like his soul will give out if he’s not near her. Knight fought every step of the way against his mate bond with London, but not Legend. Legend is ready to give his heart and soul to Haide. Whatever Haide wants from him, he will give it. Haide, however, does not believe him.
Haide grew up on Exile Island (I still don’t love that name but I guess we’re committed to it now). It’s where everyone magical gets thrown to live in…exile…and people there can’t die. Or at least not easily. What’s the psyche of a girl who grew up killing for sport, and being killed in turn, but knowing that she can always come back to life? She’s never been to school and if she has any dormant magic in her, maybe all that time on the island has affected her in some way. I think being a product of Exile Island is also affecting the mating bond tie between her and Legend? OBVIOUSLY this is a romance book so I’m not doubting they have a mating bond or that they’re not endgame. Clearly, they’re it for each other. But HOW. We see instances where Haide feels some kind of tie to Legend, but it’s not in the same as what we saw between London and Knight.
This book was being promoted as dark academia, and…I guess? It does take place at a school (Rathe U) and if the dark part is more in the murders that keep happening (aside from the ones Haide accidentally keeps doing), sure. I don’t know why anyone thought it was a good idea to stick a girl who has never had an education before straight into a magic school. Especially, when they don’t even know if she has powers or not. She’s also used to killing people who don’t stay dead and come back to life. Suffice it to say, her attending school goes very poorly.
The timeline of this book is strange in one regard that does bug me. I thought the guys JUST announced that they were opening up the school, but the next minute they threw Haide in there and it’s like everyone has been attending classes this whole time? That was weird and I don’t think it’s a part of the mystery of this series, just something that wasn’t caught in editing.
The actual mystery is that there’s a serial killer on the loose and no one knows who it is and how they’re doing it. The most compelling suspect is Haide, expect Legend isn’t letting anyone question her. This gets on Creed’s nerves. He hates Haide and lets her know this every moment they’re in the same room together. Something has obviously gone awry with the mating bond between Legend and Haide because why does she feel next to nothing about it, and Legend seems to be getting more and more tired in her presence and losing access to his powers? Creed has gone into big brother mode and does not think Haide is good for Legend.
I think something happened when Legend went to Exile Island to get her. She’s the only one who should be able to come and go from the Island freely, but how was Legend able to do it? Did it come with a price? The ending of this book throws me off so bad. Did it split his soul? Maybe it wasn’t Haide that was draining him on Rathe, but whatever he left behind (unknowingly) on the Island? We’ll find out with the next book.
The audiobook is going to bit hit or miss with folks. Aubrey Vincent returns as the FMC and I feel so indecisive about her. I like her in small doses because her acting leans more into a sarcastic or sardonic type of narration that can be a bit grating if I listen to her too much. Corvin King is new to this series and voices Legend and I think he plays the pathetic little yearner well. This is dual narrated but both the audio narrators play the opposite gender voices well enough and I don’t really have any complaints about them in that regard.
As a longtime fantasy reader, I wouldn’t say the worldbuilding is particularly strong with this series. You just have to kind of go with the flow because there’s a lot that doesn’t make sense and I doubt will make sense even with more books. Like, why does Haide have to carry a book around that can open portals but they also have to learn how to portal between places? Why does the book only show her spells when it thinks she ought to know it? What kind of schooling are they actually getting in that school? How does this world handle having four Kings rule work differently than one ruler? We simply don’t know. The light and dark magic stuff still confuses me. We don’t even know what happened with the hockey team and if any humans find it weird the team vanished in the midst of the chaos of the last book and this one. I’m still waiting on an answer about Ben and how he’s just now seemingly a dragon (permanently?).
I guess what we will get an answer on are the murders that keep happening and who’s causing them. And what the deal is with the mating bond between Haide and Legend. Everything else? Up in the air.
I’m assuming all the brothers eventually will get their own books, and we got titles awhile back in the authors’ facebook groups but haven’t heard anything since. If we do get books for Creed and Sinner, what about Silver. Give me a m/m book! But if the authors are sticking with the mating bond stuff I guess that wouldn’t work since Silver has been hanging out with them for years and nothing seems to have come between him and the guys? Or I don’t know, bring back Ben and let him be a dragon shifter and let him and one of the brothers get together.
I am confused about the world in general, but I liked the characters. I like the relationship between Legend and Haide. They’re hot together. I like how in love Legend is with Haide and how Haide does kind of like him but also has better things to do. She needs space to think about it and process, I think, because why would she fall for some man who says he has a claim on her? She really doesn’t even know him yet. So, I get where she’s coming from. I can’t wait to jump into the next book, Mate of a Monster, to find out what happens!
September 5, 2026
I would like to thank Entangled Publishing. LL and Maegan Brandy and Amo Jones for gifting me this ARC.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Well, talk about animosity to angst to anguish!! What an emotional journey filled with turmoil and constant surprises. Another strong MFC, Haide, on her way to power, only to be countered by Legend her badass mate. Their attraction is dare I say, a little unhinged? Are they mates? I guess we will have to wait and see….. Just when you think you know what is happening, another twist, and the plot pivots you in an entirely different direction. Based on the cliffhanger Maegan & Amo left us on, I highly suspect the next book will leave us with such much awaited answers to this amazing dark fantasy romance series.
For more depth and understanding I would start with the first book in the series and move to the second before starting this book. You may be able to catch on, but to really grasp the complexity and integrated storylines, you need the past from the previous book.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Well, talk about animosity to angst to anguish!! What an emotional journey filled with turmoil and constant surprises. Another strong MFC, Haide, on her way to power, only to be countered by Legend her badass mate. Their attraction is dare I say, a little unhinged? Are they mates? I guess we will have to wait and see….. Just when you think you know what is happening, another twist, and the plot pivots you in an entirely different direction. Based on the cliffhanger Maegan & Amo left us on, I highly suspect the next book will leave us with such much awaited answers to this amazing dark fantasy romance series.
For more depth and understanding I would start with the first book in the series and move to the second before starting this book. You may be able to catch on, but to really grasp the complexity and integrated storylines, you need the past from the previous book.
September 29, 2026
🎧 Dual Audio
I had a feeling this was going to be Haide and Legend's story! Ugh, so good. The way he is claiming her this whole book was chefs kiss. We love a man who knows exactly what he wants 🙌🏻 And Haide is such a boss! She is a straight up independent woman who doesn't need anything Legend is selling her. I love the switched dynamic between the two of them. Of course we get the other brothers with Legend, and I am dying for Creed to get a taste of his own medicine!
Fantastic audio and so worth it. I am usually a duet listener and I loved it so much!
I had a feeling this was going to be Haide and Legend's story! Ugh, so good. The way he is claiming her this whole book was chefs kiss. We love a man who knows exactly what he wants 🙌🏻 And Haide is such a boss! She is a straight up independent woman who doesn't need anything Legend is selling her. I love the switched dynamic between the two of them. Of course we get the other brothers with Legend, and I am dying for Creed to get a taste of his own medicine!
Fantastic audio and so worth it. I am usually a duet listener and I loved it so much!
June 14, 2026
Legend + Haide
-dark academia
-romantasy
-forced proximity
-touch her & d!e
-he falls harder
-predator x predator
welp. in true amo fashion the ending has me screaming WHAT THE FUCK??? while simultaneously, in true meagan fashion, it has me asking WHYYYYY??? sooo. i guess you could say…were in the right track 🙂🙃😆 but seriously these two came in crazy like a hurricane & NEVERRRR let up & the plot twist cliffhanger has my jaw dropping!!
-dark academia
-romantasy
-forced proximity
-touch her & d!e
-he falls harder
-predator x predator
welp. in true amo fashion the ending has me screaming WHAT THE FUCK??? while simultaneously, in true meagan fashion, it has me asking WHYYYYY??? sooo. i guess you could say…were in the right track 🙂🙃😆 but seriously these two came in crazy like a hurricane & NEVERRRR let up & the plot twist cliffhanger has my jaw dropping!!
September 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 STARS!
Ohhh I have been waiting to get back into the Lords of Rathe world, and Legend and Haide did NOT disappoint. This book was dark, chaotic, addictive, and exactly the kind of romantasy I eat up.
Legend Deveraux is the youngest King of Rathe, powerful, possessive, morally gray, and completely unprepared for the woman fate decides belongs to him. Then there’s Haide, who was raised on brutal Exile Island and is basically survival instinct wrapped in attitude. She has no reason to trust Legend, his world, or this supposed mate bond between them and she definitely doesn’t make anything easy for him. 😂
But Legend? That man falls HARD. Everyone around him is questioning Haide, warning him about her, and eventually blaming her when gifted people start dying and his own magic begins weakening. Meanwhile, he’s basically standing there like, that’s my mate and you’re going to have to go through me first. That obsessive loyalty was probably one of my favorite parts of their relationship.
I loved Haide because she isn’t some delicate heroine who suddenly fits perfectly into the royal world. She’s fierce, suspicious, feral at times, and shaped by everything she had to do to survive Exile Island. Watching her get thrown into Rathe University while everyone is trying to figure out exactly what she is and what she might be capable of kept me glued to the pages. Add in the murders, disappearing bloodlines, dark magic, family drama, secrets, and the constant question of whether their bond is really what it seems, and I was HOOKED.
And of course Meagan Brandy and Amo Jones had to leave us with THAT ending. 😭 I closed this book with approximately a million questions and absolutely no patience for waiting on the next one.
If you love touch her and ☠️, he falls harder, forced proximity, fated mates, morally gray possessive kings, dark academia vibes, dangerous heroines, magic, mystery, and plenty of tension, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Legend + Haide = absolute chaos, and I loved every second of it. 🖤👑🔥
5/5⭐️
Ohhh I have been waiting to get back into the Lords of Rathe world, and Legend and Haide did NOT disappoint. This book was dark, chaotic, addictive, and exactly the kind of romantasy I eat up.
Legend Deveraux is the youngest King of Rathe, powerful, possessive, morally gray, and completely unprepared for the woman fate decides belongs to him. Then there’s Haide, who was raised on brutal Exile Island and is basically survival instinct wrapped in attitude. She has no reason to trust Legend, his world, or this supposed mate bond between them and she definitely doesn’t make anything easy for him. 😂
But Legend? That man falls HARD. Everyone around him is questioning Haide, warning him about her, and eventually blaming her when gifted people start dying and his own magic begins weakening. Meanwhile, he’s basically standing there like, that’s my mate and you’re going to have to go through me first. That obsessive loyalty was probably one of my favorite parts of their relationship.
I loved Haide because she isn’t some delicate heroine who suddenly fits perfectly into the royal world. She’s fierce, suspicious, feral at times, and shaped by everything she had to do to survive Exile Island. Watching her get thrown into Rathe University while everyone is trying to figure out exactly what she is and what she might be capable of kept me glued to the pages. Add in the murders, disappearing bloodlines, dark magic, family drama, secrets, and the constant question of whether their bond is really what it seems, and I was HOOKED.
And of course Meagan Brandy and Amo Jones had to leave us with THAT ending. 😭 I closed this book with approximately a million questions and absolutely no patience for waiting on the next one.
If you love touch her and ☠️, he falls harder, forced proximity, fated mates, morally gray possessive kings, dark academia vibes, dangerous heroines, magic, mystery, and plenty of tension, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Legend + Haide = absolute chaos, and I loved every second of it. 🖤👑🔥
5/5⭐️
June 30, 2026
The Queens are back and better than ever! I was beginning to think we weren’t going to get anymore books in this series. But the wait was worth it, for what they delivered.
Legend Deveraux is the youngest king in Rathe’s history, carrying the weight of a kingdom and a powerful bloodline. Haide is his complete opposite. She was raised on Exile Island, a place built on cruelty and isolation. She isn’t polished, she isn’t accepted, and she is definitely not the mate anyone expected for the king—including Legend himself.
Their immediate bond is tested by everything working against them. Legend's family doesn’t trust her, and his people don’t want her. The closer Haide gets to the throne, the more dangerous her existence becomes.
Haide was easily my favorite part of the story. She walks into a world that already hates her and refuses to shrink herself to make anyone comfortable. Watching her uncover the truth about her power while navigating a kingdom that sees her as a threat kept me turning pages.
The fantasy elements build a solid foundation around the romance. You get dark magic, ancient threats, political tension, and a murder mystery that grows more dangerous as gifted citizens begin dying. It strikes a great balance between the relationship and the broader plot. If you love fated mates, forbidden attraction, and a heroine everyone underestimates, you'll want to add this to your TBR.
Legend Deveraux is the youngest king in Rathe’s history, carrying the weight of a kingdom and a powerful bloodline. Haide is his complete opposite. She was raised on Exile Island, a place built on cruelty and isolation. She isn’t polished, she isn’t accepted, and she is definitely not the mate anyone expected for the king—including Legend himself.
Their immediate bond is tested by everything working against them. Legend's family doesn’t trust her, and his people don’t want her. The closer Haide gets to the throne, the more dangerous her existence becomes.
Haide was easily my favorite part of the story. She walks into a world that already hates her and refuses to shrink herself to make anyone comfortable. Watching her uncover the truth about her power while navigating a kingdom that sees her as a threat kept me turning pages.
The fantasy elements build a solid foundation around the romance. You get dark magic, ancient threats, political tension, and a murder mystery that grows more dangerous as gifted citizens begin dying. It strikes a great balance between the relationship and the broader plot. If you love fated mates, forbidden attraction, and a heroine everyone underestimates, you'll want to add this to your TBR.
June 23, 2026
The best part of this book is that it was co-written by two phenomenal authors. Individually, they shine at their craft, but together, it was difficult to tell who had written what. That is perfection when reading a co-authored book.
Legend and Haide were imperfectly perfect. They are chaos and vicious words, snarls and teeth, and messy and raw. To one half, they are perfect for each other, for the other half, there is denial, yet, when together they just vibe with the other, even when it’s laced with sarcasm and mean words.
I have waited a long while to get to Legend’s story and Legend is here to say his peace. He is defiant to his family when he genuinely believes in something, while his family is just looking out for him. Haide is a lost little bird, transplanted into a situation that is not normal to her, so she defaults to her ‘factory reset’ setting of knife, defend and fight. Slowly, she begins to feel that Legend may be her mate, if she even knew what that was supposed to feel like.
I’m skipping to the good stuff, the MASSIVE hangover to be had at the end. Oh.Em.Gee! Ladies, I seriously cannot wait for Mate of a Monster (available for pre-order now)! Legend, Haide, and the crew have me jonesing for the next words from any of these characters and what you actually meant by that last sentence. Congratulations on a job well done!!
Legend and Haide were imperfectly perfect. They are chaos and vicious words, snarls and teeth, and messy and raw. To one half, they are perfect for each other, for the other half, there is denial, yet, when together they just vibe with the other, even when it’s laced with sarcasm and mean words.
I have waited a long while to get to Legend’s story and Legend is here to say his peace. He is defiant to his family when he genuinely believes in something, while his family is just looking out for him. Haide is a lost little bird, transplanted into a situation that is not normal to her, so she defaults to her ‘factory reset’ setting of knife, defend and fight. Slowly, she begins to feel that Legend may be her mate, if she even knew what that was supposed to feel like.
I’m skipping to the good stuff, the MASSIVE hangover to be had at the end. Oh.Em.Gee! Ladies, I seriously cannot wait for Mate of a Monster (available for pre-order now)! Legend, Haide, and the crew have me jonesing for the next words from any of these characters and what you actually meant by that last sentence. Congratulations on a job well done!!
September 4, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5
Legend and Haide are absolute feral chaos and I LOVED it. 🖤🔥 He’s a powerful, possessive King of Rathe, and she’s the deadly, stubborn girl from Exile Island who would rather fight her fated mate than fall for him. 😂 Between their insane chemistry, Rathe University, disappearing magic, murdered gifted, and Haide being thrown straight into the middle of it all, I was HOOKED. The obsession, banter, secrets, and tension were everything—and that ending?! RUDE. 😭🔥
Legend and Haide are absolute feral chaos and I LOVED it. 🖤🔥 He’s a powerful, possessive King of Rathe, and she’s the deadly, stubborn girl from Exile Island who would rather fight her fated mate than fall for him. 😂 Between their insane chemistry, Rathe University, disappearing magic, murdered gifted, and Haide being thrown straight into the middle of it all, I was HOOKED. The obsession, banter, secrets, and tension were everything—and that ending?! RUDE. 😭🔥
September 20, 2026
This is the 3rd book in the series and I haven't read the first 2. I didn't have any trouble reading and now I do want to read the first 2 books! This was a really good romantasy with lots of twists and turns that I really enjoyed! Now to read the first 2 books and wait for a 4th book in the series! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.
Read
February 29, 2024I just know this is gonna be a another 5 ⭐️ (to be reviewed later)
June 24, 2026
THE QUEENS OF EMOTIONAL CHAOS ARE BACK!
A king born from dark magic. A girl forged in exile where survival is the only law. And a bond that should not exist but absolutely refuses to be ignored. This book is dark academia fantasy romance chaos with a mate bond, a morally gray king, a predator vs predator dynamic, and banter that had me stressed and cackling at the same time. Amo Jones chaos + Meagan Brandy emotional angst is the most dynamic recipe!
Legend Deveraux is one of the newly crowned Kings of Rathe, born into a world dripping in dark magic, power, and ruthless legacy. Haide, on the other hand, is from Exile Island where survival is the only law, power is a rumor, and “ungifted” basically means you either learn to fight or you die. So when Legend shows up claiming she is his fated mate and drags her into Rathe University, it is already unhinged from the start.
And Haide? She is not going quietly. She is feral in the best way, all claws and teeth and survival instinct, rejecting a bond she refuses to believe in even while it hums under her skin like a lie she cannot quite outrun. Legend, meanwhile, is already way gone. Possessive, obsessed, unrelenting. The kind of hero who looks at her like she is both his ruin and his religion and decides he does not care which one wins.
Their dynamic is pure volatility. Predator meets predator. Every interaction is tension, resistance, and that slow, maddening pull toward something neither of them is emotionally equipped to handle. And layered into all of that is a kingdom unraveling. Murders are happening, accusations are flying, and suddenly Haide is not just a girl out of place, she is a suspect in something far bigger and far more dangerous than she understands.
The world itself feels like a pressure cooker. Rathe University, the royal politics, the brotherly suspicion from Creed, the shifting magic system, everything is working against them while also forcing them into closer and closer proximity. It is dark academia wrapped in fantasy chaos, laced with mind games, secrets, and the kind of tension that makes you forget to breathe for a second.
And I have to say it, Haide completely stole the show for me. She is not softened for anyone. She is brutal, defensive, sharp-edged in a way that feels almost uncomfortable at times, but also incredibly compelling. A girl built by violence and survival, now suddenly thrown into a world where she might be something more than what she was made to be. Watching her slowly crack open to that possibility, while still refusing to be controlled by it, was everything. SHe’s the kind of heroine Amo and Meagan excel at creating.
Legend is just as intense in the opposite direction. He does not ask for space in her life, he takes it. But not in a way that feels hollow or performative. It is that dangerous, magnetic pull of someone who recognizes something in her that no one else does and refuses to let go, even when everything is telling him to.
Together, they are explosive. With so much going on around them too. Magic, murder, political tension, shifting alliances, and emotional stakes that keep climbing until everything finally snaps.
Also, if you are new to this world, read Fate of a Royal first. I think it helps a lot for world building.
Tropes / What to expect:
• Fated Mates / Mate Bond
• Mate Rejection
• Enemies to Lovers
• Predator x Predator Dynamic
• Dark Academia Fantasy
• Forced Proximity
• Morally Gray Royal Hero
• Feral, Survival-Driven Heroine
• Touch Her and Die Energy
• Mystery
• Royal Family Drama
• Banter Heavy / Angsty Tension
• Slow Burn
• Cliffhanger Ending
• Dark Magic / Fantasy Politics
A king born from dark magic. A girl forged in exile where survival is the only law. And a bond that should not exist but absolutely refuses to be ignored. This book is dark academia fantasy romance chaos with a mate bond, a morally gray king, a predator vs predator dynamic, and banter that had me stressed and cackling at the same time. Amo Jones chaos + Meagan Brandy emotional angst is the most dynamic recipe!
Legend Deveraux is one of the newly crowned Kings of Rathe, born into a world dripping in dark magic, power, and ruthless legacy. Haide, on the other hand, is from Exile Island where survival is the only law, power is a rumor, and “ungifted” basically means you either learn to fight or you die. So when Legend shows up claiming she is his fated mate and drags her into Rathe University, it is already unhinged from the start.
And Haide? She is not going quietly. She is feral in the best way, all claws and teeth and survival instinct, rejecting a bond she refuses to believe in even while it hums under her skin like a lie she cannot quite outrun. Legend, meanwhile, is already way gone. Possessive, obsessed, unrelenting. The kind of hero who looks at her like she is both his ruin and his religion and decides he does not care which one wins.
Their dynamic is pure volatility. Predator meets predator. Every interaction is tension, resistance, and that slow, maddening pull toward something neither of them is emotionally equipped to handle. And layered into all of that is a kingdom unraveling. Murders are happening, accusations are flying, and suddenly Haide is not just a girl out of place, she is a suspect in something far bigger and far more dangerous than she understands.
The world itself feels like a pressure cooker. Rathe University, the royal politics, the brotherly suspicion from Creed, the shifting magic system, everything is working against them while also forcing them into closer and closer proximity. It is dark academia wrapped in fantasy chaos, laced with mind games, secrets, and the kind of tension that makes you forget to breathe for a second.
And I have to say it, Haide completely stole the show for me. She is not softened for anyone. She is brutal, defensive, sharp-edged in a way that feels almost uncomfortable at times, but also incredibly compelling. A girl built by violence and survival, now suddenly thrown into a world where she might be something more than what she was made to be. Watching her slowly crack open to that possibility, while still refusing to be controlled by it, was everything. SHe’s the kind of heroine Amo and Meagan excel at creating.
Legend is just as intense in the opposite direction. He does not ask for space in her life, he takes it. But not in a way that feels hollow or performative. It is that dangerous, magnetic pull of someone who recognizes something in her that no one else does and refuses to let go, even when everything is telling him to.
Together, they are explosive. With so much going on around them too. Magic, murder, political tension, shifting alliances, and emotional stakes that keep climbing until everything finally snaps.
Also, if you are new to this world, read Fate of a Royal first. I think it helps a lot for world building.
Tropes / What to expect:
• Fated Mates / Mate Bond
• Mate Rejection
• Enemies to Lovers
• Predator x Predator Dynamic
• Dark Academia Fantasy
• Forced Proximity
• Morally Gray Royal Hero
• Feral, Survival-Driven Heroine
• Touch Her and Die Energy
• Mystery
• Royal Family Drama
• Banter Heavy / Angsty Tension
• Slow Burn
• Cliffhanger Ending
• Dark Magic / Fantasy Politics
September 14, 2026
Mate of a Royal completely caught me off guard in the best possible way. Meagan Brandy and Amo Jones have created a story that feels wild, dangerous, emotional, and impossible to predict. Their collaboration is remarkably smooth, to the point where the two writing styles disappear into one cohesive voice. The world feels expansive without losing focus on the characters, and there is always another secret, threat, or unanswered question waiting around the corner.
Legend and Haide are an absolutely chaotic pairing, and that is exactly why they work so well. Haide has spent so much of her life surviving that trusting anyone does not come naturally to her. She is sharp, defensive, and ready to fight before she ever considers lowering her guard. Legend, meanwhile, has no interest in pretending their connection does not exist. His certainty creates an incredible contrast with Haide’s resistance, and I loved watching them challenge each other. Their chemistry is intense, their conversations are entertaining, and neither one is willing to make things easy.
I especially loved how fiercely Legend stands behind Haide when the people around him question their connection. He is willing to push back against his own family because he believes in their bond, even when doing so comes with consequences. Haide was also a standout for me because she is not written as someone who needs to be softened or rescued. Her defenses have been built through years of survival, and watching her slowly question those defenses while trying to understand her feelings for Legend gave their relationship plenty of emotional depth.
The mysteries throughout the story kept me completely invested. There are so many things happening beneath the surface involving Haide, Legend, Creed, their bond, and the world surrounding them. Every time I thought I had an idea of where the story was going, another revelation changed everything. The emotional moments hit just as hard as the action, and there were times when I was frustrated, heartbroken, and desperate for answers all within the same chapter. Then came the ending, which left me staring at the page and wondering how I am supposed to wait for the next book.
Overall, Mate of a Royal was an addictive romantasy filled with magic, danger, complicated relationships, secrets, and plenty of emotional turmoil. Legend and Haide are such a fascinating match because they are both strong, stubborn, and slightly unhinged in completely different ways. I also thought Meagan Brandy and Amo Jones worked beautifully together, creating a story that feels seamless and immersive. After that ending, I have far too many questions and absolutely need to know what happens next
Legend and Haide are an absolutely chaotic pairing, and that is exactly why they work so well. Haide has spent so much of her life surviving that trusting anyone does not come naturally to her. She is sharp, defensive, and ready to fight before she ever considers lowering her guard. Legend, meanwhile, has no interest in pretending their connection does not exist. His certainty creates an incredible contrast with Haide’s resistance, and I loved watching them challenge each other. Their chemistry is intense, their conversations are entertaining, and neither one is willing to make things easy.
I especially loved how fiercely Legend stands behind Haide when the people around him question their connection. He is willing to push back against his own family because he believes in their bond, even when doing so comes with consequences. Haide was also a standout for me because she is not written as someone who needs to be softened or rescued. Her defenses have been built through years of survival, and watching her slowly question those defenses while trying to understand her feelings for Legend gave their relationship plenty of emotional depth.
The mysteries throughout the story kept me completely invested. There are so many things happening beneath the surface involving Haide, Legend, Creed, their bond, and the world surrounding them. Every time I thought I had an idea of where the story was going, another revelation changed everything. The emotional moments hit just as hard as the action, and there were times when I was frustrated, heartbroken, and desperate for answers all within the same chapter. Then came the ending, which left me staring at the page and wondering how I am supposed to wait for the next book.
Overall, Mate of a Royal was an addictive romantasy filled with magic, danger, complicated relationships, secrets, and plenty of emotional turmoil. Legend and Haide are such a fascinating match because they are both strong, stubborn, and slightly unhinged in completely different ways. I also thought Meagan Brandy and Amo Jones worked beautifully together, creating a story that feels seamless and immersive. After that ending, I have far too many questions and absolutely need to know what happens next
June 25, 2026
“You think you hate me now? Wait until you love me.”
Fantasy. A genre that’s usually not my thing. But when the Queen Duo of Meagan Brandy and Amo Jones pen a romantasy book, there’s zero hesitation. I’ll dive in blindly because their writing is just that incredible.
Okay, Mate of a Royal, just WOW! What in world did I read and when can I have more?!? Days later and I’m still speechless. Legend and Haide held me hostage, hypnotizing me by their journey that felt like I was walking through fire with them. Mate of a Royal is unyielding and unrelenting … and oh my was I slayed!
I won’t divulge the plot of this tale that I’m still trying to wrap my head around days later. Prepare to go on the enchanting and death-defying adventure of a lifetime with these fated mates as you encounter one surprise or shock after another. I just knew that I needed Haide and Legend’s story after meeting them in first duet of this series.
I could instantly feel the deep connection between the hero and heroine. I had the biggest girl crush on Haide, a hunter and warrior princess who’s the perfect match for Legend, the all alpha king. Their chemistry blazes and burns, so energizing and enticing, a pulse that pounds the pages. The cat and mouse games and cut-throat dialogue were my undoing. Oh mylanta! The banter was definitely bantering.
Mate of a Royal, you completely captivated and claimed this non-fantasy reader. I had no choice but to succumb to this extraordinary story of fated mates, alternate realms, twists and turns, devastating danger, and all the feels. Mate of a Royal is brilliant, breathtaking and devastatingly beautiful. IT’S EVERYTHING! I’m aching for more.
💋💋💋💋💋💋 but worth all the bold and burning kisses
➡️ https://amzn.to/4v0CxjI
Reviewed on behalf of Bookalicious Babes Blog
Fantasy. A genre that’s usually not my thing. But when the Queen Duo of Meagan Brandy and Amo Jones pen a romantasy book, there’s zero hesitation. I’ll dive in blindly because their writing is just that incredible.
Okay, Mate of a Royal, just WOW! What in world did I read and when can I have more?!? Days later and I’m still speechless. Legend and Haide held me hostage, hypnotizing me by their journey that felt like I was walking through fire with them. Mate of a Royal is unyielding and unrelenting … and oh my was I slayed!
I won’t divulge the plot of this tale that I’m still trying to wrap my head around days later. Prepare to go on the enchanting and death-defying adventure of a lifetime with these fated mates as you encounter one surprise or shock after another. I just knew that I needed Haide and Legend’s story after meeting them in first duet of this series.
I could instantly feel the deep connection between the hero and heroine. I had the biggest girl crush on Haide, a hunter and warrior princess who’s the perfect match for Legend, the all alpha king. Their chemistry blazes and burns, so energizing and enticing, a pulse that pounds the pages. The cat and mouse games and cut-throat dialogue were my undoing. Oh mylanta! The banter was definitely bantering.
Mate of a Royal, you completely captivated and claimed this non-fantasy reader. I had no choice but to succumb to this extraordinary story of fated mates, alternate realms, twists and turns, devastating danger, and all the feels. Mate of a Royal is brilliant, breathtaking and devastatingly beautiful. IT’S EVERYTHING! I’m aching for more.
💋💋💋💋💋💋 but worth all the bold and burning kisses
➡️ https://amzn.to/4v0CxjI
Reviewed on behalf of Bookalicious Babes Blog
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Holy cheese balls Batman?! What did I just read?
So I have been in a massive book slump since like April - I haven't even picked up a book in all of May & the couple books I picked up before this one in June I never even finished. But we all know I that I love Meagan's books & she's an Auto-Buy author for me & I also love Amo's dark romances. And I fell in love with the Lord's of Rathe and have been dying for Mate of a Royal for yearssss. So I was excited when this book hit my Kindle! And now you're telling me I need to wait for the next one after how this one ended?!
So first - while it isn't necessary I HIGHLY recommend you read Fate of a Royal duet before diving into Mate of a Royal - each duet follows different MC's but they tie in together.
Mate of a Royal follows Legend Deveraux who is one of the newly appointed kings of Rathe with his brothers. A royal born in a world of dark magic. And Haide who was born on exile Island where the most vile creatures are banished from the kingdom, with no powers, no laws only death. So when they collide - and their bonds snap in place it is volatile and wrong but Legend only sees her, despite his magic dying. And to top everything off - a string of murders start happening all around the kingdom and all accusations point to her.
Seriously, WHAT?! So first, I LOVED being back in Rathe & now I may need to reread the Fate of a Royal duet AND Mate of a Royal - to immerse myself back in the whole world. But this book was a crazy whirlwind that had me in a chokehold. I felt all the emotions while reading this book, I love the dark & twisted world of Rathe, the magic & these characters & I cannot wait for the next in the series to see how everything plays out.
4.5 ⭐ out of 5⭐.
So I have been in a massive book slump since like April - I haven't even picked up a book in all of May & the couple books I picked up before this one in June I never even finished. But we all know I that I love Meagan's books & she's an Auto-Buy author for me & I also love Amo's dark romances. And I fell in love with the Lord's of Rathe and have been dying for Mate of a Royal for yearssss. So I was excited when this book hit my Kindle! And now you're telling me I need to wait for the next one after how this one ended?!
So first - while it isn't necessary I HIGHLY recommend you read Fate of a Royal duet before diving into Mate of a Royal - each duet follows different MC's but they tie in together.
Mate of a Royal follows Legend Deveraux who is one of the newly appointed kings of Rathe with his brothers. A royal born in a world of dark magic. And Haide who was born on exile Island where the most vile creatures are banished from the kingdom, with no powers, no laws only death. So when they collide - and their bonds snap in place it is volatile and wrong but Legend only sees her, despite his magic dying. And to top everything off - a string of murders start happening all around the kingdom and all accusations point to her.
Seriously, WHAT?! So first, I LOVED being back in Rathe & now I may need to reread the Fate of a Royal duet AND Mate of a Royal - to immerse myself back in the whole world. But this book was a crazy whirlwind that had me in a chokehold. I felt all the emotions while reading this book, I love the dark & twisted world of Rathe, the magic & these characters & I cannot wait for the next in the series to see how everything plays out.
4.5 ⭐ out of 5⭐.
August 22, 2026
The girl at the convention said, "I'm warning you, it's really steamy." To which I replied a simple, "good!" (Note: It wasn't!)
The asterisk to this review is she didn't tell me it was book 3 of a 4 book series so there was a great deal of character development and that occurred outside the book. Thus what I got was mostly exposition without context.
Repetitive patterns
That said, if you know Robert Jordan's tugging of braids and smoothing of skirts then welcome to "framing her in my arms!" That's right, you can't stand near a woman in this series unless you trap her in your outstretched arms. Once you notice this then you can't unnotice it.
About the steamyness (mild spoilers below)
There is little steam. Perhaps if you're unadventurous or consider eating pussy exotic you'll get a wiggle from this one. The sex scenes are less than 2-3 pages of medium font content and frankly I don't think you can get in all the parts of a good sex scene in there from the emotional buildup, foreplay, sex, orgasms, dialogue, and aftermath.
The Good
What I will say is there was a hint of mystery as to the MFC. Is she true? Is she poison? These are the things that kept me turning the page.
EDIT: 8/25/2026
Upon further reflection I lowered my rating to a 1 star. In thinking more about this book I realized I couldn't accurately land on what the setting of this world was like. Is it fantasy (dragons, magic, oh my!) Is it urban? (Helicopters and phones were mentioned at one point). There's a school but it's referenced as a "U" like MagicU which makes it sound 90's but is it? If I was to learn all this in the prior two books it shows how weak of a novel this is that throughout it's pages it can't once paint a picture of the realm outside the "hell island" to which the narrative flows.
Also the language of the MFC may be inconsistent. At one point she says, "bet" like semi-modern slang from 2024 which can be offputting when the rest of the tone reads differently.
The asterisk to this review is she didn't tell me it was book 3 of a 4 book series so there was a great deal of character development and that occurred outside the book. Thus what I got was mostly exposition without context.
Repetitive patterns
That said, if you know Robert Jordan's tugging of braids and smoothing of skirts then welcome to "framing her in my arms!" That's right, you can't stand near a woman in this series unless you trap her in your outstretched arms. Once you notice this then you can't unnotice it.
About the steamyness (mild spoilers below)
There is little steam. Perhaps if you're unadventurous or consider eating pussy exotic you'll get a wiggle from this one. The sex scenes are less than 2-3 pages of medium font content and frankly I don't think you can get in all the parts of a good sex scene in there from the emotional buildup, foreplay, sex, orgasms, dialogue, and aftermath.
The Good
What I will say is there was a hint of mystery as to the MFC. Is she true? Is she poison? These are the things that kept me turning the page.
EDIT: 8/25/2026
Upon further reflection I lowered my rating to a 1 star. In thinking more about this book I realized I couldn't accurately land on what the setting of this world was like. Is it fantasy (dragons, magic, oh my!) Is it urban? (Helicopters and phones were mentioned at one point). There's a school but it's referenced as a "U" like MagicU which makes it sound 90's but is it? If I was to learn all this in the prior two books it shows how weak of a novel this is that throughout it's pages it can't once paint a picture of the realm outside the "hell island" to which the narrative flows.
Also the language of the MFC may be inconsistent. At one point she says, "bet" like semi-modern slang from 2024 which can be offputting when the rest of the tone reads differently.
June 23, 2026
Mate of a Royal centres on Legend Deveraux, one of Rathe’s new kings, born into a world of dark magic, and Haide, a fierce survivor from the lawless, deadly Exile Island. When their paths cross, the mate bond snaps into place—volatile, forbidden, and undeniable—even as Legend’s magic fades and Haide becomes the main suspect in a string of murders shaking the kingdom.
The story is gritty and packed with sharp banter, featuring a brutally strong heroine and an obsessive, possessive king. Haide, labelled as “ungifted,” is dragged from exile to Rathe University, where she resists the bond with everything she has, even as the chemistry between them boils over. Accused of siphoning magic and hunted by Legend’s brother, she must fight for survival and for the truth, while discovering powers she never knew she had.
Fast-paced and filled with magic, murder, and royal family drama, the book delivers constant twists and explosive tension. The emotional stakes soar, especially in the final chapters, leaving you reeling from the revelations and desperate for the next instalment. This is a scorching, wild ride of a fantasy romance that keeps you guessing—and gasping—until the very last page.
September 16, 2026
I really enjoyed getting pulled back into the world of Rathe with Mate of a Royal. This one follows Legend Deveraux, a newly crowned king, and Haide, a girl from Exile Island whose life is completely different from the world of royalty and powerful magic. When Legend discovers that Haide is his mate, neither of them is exactly prepared for what that bond is going to mean.
I really liked Haide as a heroine. She has a tough edge to her because of everything she's had to survive, and I appreciated that she didn't immediately fall into line just because Legend was a king. She questions things, pushes back, and wants to understand what is happening to her instead of simply accepting everyone else's version of the truth.
Legend is definitely the possessive, obsessive, morally-grey type, and his reaction to finding his mate is intense. Their relationship has plenty of push and pull because Legend wants to protect and claim Haide, while Haide is determined not to lose herself in the process. That made their chemistry and tension one of my favorite parts of the book.
I also enjoyed that there was more going on than just the romance. The mystery surrounding the deaths of gifted people, disappearing bloodlines, Haide's unexplained abilities, and Legend's weakening magic kept me curious about what was really happening. I especially liked the contrast between Rathe and Exile Island and how Haide's past slowly becomes more important to the bigger story.
The ending definitely made me want the next book. There are still questions left hanging, but I'm very curious to see where Legend and Haide's story goes from here.
I really liked Haide as a heroine. She has a tough edge to her because of everything she's had to survive, and I appreciated that she didn't immediately fall into line just because Legend was a king. She questions things, pushes back, and wants to understand what is happening to her instead of simply accepting everyone else's version of the truth.
Legend is definitely the possessive, obsessive, morally-grey type, and his reaction to finding his mate is intense. Their relationship has plenty of push and pull because Legend wants to protect and claim Haide, while Haide is determined not to lose herself in the process. That made their chemistry and tension one of my favorite parts of the book.
I also enjoyed that there was more going on than just the romance. The mystery surrounding the deaths of gifted people, disappearing bloodlines, Haide's unexplained abilities, and Legend's weakening magic kept me curious about what was really happening. I especially liked the contrast between Rathe and Exile Island and how Haide's past slowly becomes more important to the bigger story.
The ending definitely made me want the next book. There are still questions left hanging, but I'm very curious to see where Legend and Haide's story goes from here.
August 12, 2026
⭐ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
📖 Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Dark
📄 Format: audiobook & physical
💭 Quick Summary:
This book is about Hadie from Exile Island and Legend Deveraux, the youngest king of Rathe. He brings her to Rathe from Exile Island, but she is pure chaos, where she quickly learns that unlike in Exile Island, in Rathe once you die, you don’t come back to life. Additionally, Legend’s brothers have a hard time accepting that Haide is Legends' mate, especially as murders begin targeting the gifted. Legend’s magic starts to fade as Haide comes into her powers and becomes the prime suspect, forcing them to uncover the ancient darkness rising within Rathe before it destroys them both.
✨ Overall Thoughts:
This is the first book in the second duet from Fate of a Royal & Fate of a Faux.
I LOVED this book (almost more than the first two). I ATE it up in less than 24 hours!!
I could not get enough of this magical world and the dynamics between the Deveraux brothers. I enjoyed the change of heart Haide has for Legend, from trying to kill him to kinda feeling something for him. AND THEN THAT ENDINGGGG (omg) what the WHAT?!! I was bamboozled at the end with their interaction.
💖Tropes:
- Fated mates
- Touch her and die
- Dark academia
- Forced proximity
🗣️Favorite Quotes:
“Hope you’re ready for what comes next, little menace”
“The queen has arrived, and as you can see, she bites”
“...They knew I need this, a F*ing warrior…” “You guys done?... Would you share?”
📖 Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Dark
📄 Format: audiobook & physical
💭 Quick Summary:
This book is about Hadie from Exile Island and Legend Deveraux, the youngest king of Rathe. He brings her to Rathe from Exile Island, but she is pure chaos, where she quickly learns that unlike in Exile Island, in Rathe once you die, you don’t come back to life. Additionally, Legend’s brothers have a hard time accepting that Haide is Legends' mate, especially as murders begin targeting the gifted. Legend’s magic starts to fade as Haide comes into her powers and becomes the prime suspect, forcing them to uncover the ancient darkness rising within Rathe before it destroys them both.
✨ Overall Thoughts:
This is the first book in the second duet from Fate of a Royal & Fate of a Faux.
I LOVED this book (almost more than the first two). I ATE it up in less than 24 hours!!
I could not get enough of this magical world and the dynamics between the Deveraux brothers. I enjoyed the change of heart Haide has for Legend, from trying to kill him to kinda feeling something for him. AND THEN THAT ENDINGGGG (omg) what the WHAT?!! I was bamboozled at the end with their interaction.
💖Tropes:
- Fated mates
- Touch her and die
- Dark academia
- Forced proximity
🗣️Favorite Quotes:
“Hope you’re ready for what comes next, little menace”
“The queen has arrived, and as you can see, she bites”
“...They knew I need this, a F*ing warrior…” “You guys done?... Would you share?”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2026
Interesting dark romance
I enjoyed this first part of the romance of Haide and Legend. I had a hard time getting into the story and some of the world building felt choppy and disconnected to me but that might have been because I did not read the first two books versus an issue with the writing. Haide is a lesser gifted who was born on Exile Island. The place where the gifted are banished for punishment and where you can be hurt but not die permanently. Legend is Stygian, born of dark magic and one of the four crowned kings of Rathe. Knowing Haide is his mate, he collects her from Exile Island and announces she’s his queen and fated mate. But all is not well in the kingdom. There are murders and unrest. To keep the people safe, the kings reopen Rathe U and everyone is sent there including Haide so she can learn her powers. Not all the other kings are convinced Haide is Legend’s mate because the bond is weird and is perhaps harming Legend. They are also concerned that Haide may be responsible for the murders. Even knowing where Haide is from and what she probably suffered, her character was hard to like because she is so angry and violent. Legend on the other hand was easier to like but I wanted him to be a bit more assertive especially with his brothers. Both Haide and Legend were rigid enough to make it hard to see them as a couple. The mate part almost seemed forced. The cliffhanger ending was interesting though. I’m not sure if my feelings about that ending make me want to read the next book or not. 3.75 stars.
I enjoyed this first part of the romance of Haide and Legend. I had a hard time getting into the story and some of the world building felt choppy and disconnected to me but that might have been because I did not read the first two books versus an issue with the writing. Haide is a lesser gifted who was born on Exile Island. The place where the gifted are banished for punishment and where you can be hurt but not die permanently. Legend is Stygian, born of dark magic and one of the four crowned kings of Rathe. Knowing Haide is his mate, he collects her from Exile Island and announces she’s his queen and fated mate. But all is not well in the kingdom. There are murders and unrest. To keep the people safe, the kings reopen Rathe U and everyone is sent there including Haide so she can learn her powers. Not all the other kings are convinced Haide is Legend’s mate because the bond is weird and is perhaps harming Legend. They are also concerned that Haide may be responsible for the murders. Even knowing where Haide is from and what she probably suffered, her character was hard to like because she is so angry and violent. Legend on the other hand was easier to like but I wanted him to be a bit more assertive especially with his brothers. Both Haide and Legend were rigid enough to make it hard to see them as a couple. The mate part almost seemed forced. The cliffhanger ending was interesting though. I’m not sure if my feelings about that ending make me want to read the next book or not. 3.75 stars.
September 4, 2026
This book 1 of a duet is so SO good. There is chemistry so hot that I would actually describe it as VOLATILE (in the best way in my opinion). Murder mystery mixed with dark magic? Perfection. I am in awe of these authors for creating the epitome of dark academia but with tension completely dialed up to the maximum throughout this entire book. If you want to be flipping the pages at high speed and become addicted to this world, look no further than this entire series.
Our MMC Legend is ruthless and could not be more imposing if he tried. The premise is that he travels to where our FMC Haide is on Exile Island and drags her to Rathe University with the bombshell that they are mates. This sets up for the perfect forbidden attraction * I don't want to want you*. aspect that is truly one of my favorite elements to read in a book, it just makes the tension CONSTANT. I will say Haide is one of the most well written FMCs. Her survival instinct engrained into her from her upbringing so she is fighting Legend tooth and nail this entire ordeal. She is snarky, witty, threatening, and will not relent and shrink herself for him nor anyone else in this judgmental climate. I do sympathize with her that she is dragged into this high society and exposed to constant scrutiny but I was cheering when she started learning more and more about how powerful she is.
This was the perfect set up and I can't wait until the second book, I have no idea where this could be going AT ALL.
Our MMC Legend is ruthless and could not be more imposing if he tried. The premise is that he travels to where our FMC Haide is on Exile Island and drags her to Rathe University with the bombshell that they are mates. This sets up for the perfect forbidden attraction * I don't want to want you*. aspect that is truly one of my favorite elements to read in a book, it just makes the tension CONSTANT. I will say Haide is one of the most well written FMCs. Her survival instinct engrained into her from her upbringing so she is fighting Legend tooth and nail this entire ordeal. She is snarky, witty, threatening, and will not relent and shrink herself for him nor anyone else in this judgmental climate. I do sympathize with her that she is dragged into this high society and exposed to constant scrutiny but I was cheering when she started learning more and more about how powerful she is.
This was the perfect set up and I can't wait until the second book, I have no idea where this could be going AT ALL.
September 7, 2026
An exciting start to the second duology of this world, following two new main characters with burning tension and a bond no one believes.
You follow the next brother in the royal family, Legend and the exile they allied with and became Londons friend in the previous book, Haide. Haide just wants to return to her life but legend will not leave her alone and even follows her back to her world because he claims they have a mate bond and he will never leave her alone. But with more deaths popping up in the kingdom and Haide starting to feel the pull herself, she decides to go back to helping them and attend the university to train her powers and learn to master them. But not everything is as simple as it seems and there is a plot afoot that could break them apart and prove what all his siblings are saying that their bond is not true.
I really enjoyed the hunter and hunted tension in this book and the way Legend chased her until she finally let him catch her. There were also similar prejudices that Haide faced like London only this time it’s from being an exile and not accepted easily by their society. I enjoyed seeing her start to form friendship and trust those around her but also her pull to go home and see her former allies/maybe friends from exile, the only place she’s ever known. With a big twist at the end, I can’t wait to see where this story heads next! My rating 4.2/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
You follow the next brother in the royal family, Legend and the exile they allied with and became Londons friend in the previous book, Haide. Haide just wants to return to her life but legend will not leave her alone and even follows her back to her world because he claims they have a mate bond and he will never leave her alone. But with more deaths popping up in the kingdom and Haide starting to feel the pull herself, she decides to go back to helping them and attend the university to train her powers and learn to master them. But not everything is as simple as it seems and there is a plot afoot that could break them apart and prove what all his siblings are saying that their bond is not true.
I really enjoyed the hunter and hunted tension in this book and the way Legend chased her until she finally let him catch her. There were also similar prejudices that Haide faced like London only this time it’s from being an exile and not accepted easily by their society. I enjoyed seeing her start to form friendship and trust those around her but also her pull to go home and see her former allies/maybe friends from exile, the only place she’s ever known. With a big twist at the end, I can’t wait to see where this story heads next! My rating 4.2/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ok so i need everyone to DROP WHAT THEY’RE DOING because Mate of a Royal just did something to me and i haven’t recovered 😮💨
there are books that pull you in gently — and then there’s this one, which grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go.
a king born into dark magic. a girl forged on exile island where there are no laws, no powers, only death. a mate bond that snaps into place between two people who were never supposed to find each other.
his magic is dying because of her. and he still can’t look away. 🖤
✦ feral FMC who was built different ✦ smirking, possessive MMC who only sees her ✦ banter so unhinged i was cackling ✦ angst that made me physically stressed ✦ murder accusations thrown into the mix because WHY NOT ✦ that ending. THAT ENDING.
⚠️ highly recommend reading the Fate of a Royal duet first — different MCs but the same world and the way it all ties together is chef’s kiss — you’ll thank me later
i’m hanging on by a thread and i need someone to talk to me about this immediately 📖🔥
Things to know
Touch her & die, dark academia fantasy, he falls harder, predator meets predator, morally gray king, forced proximity, ends in a cliffhanger, violence, gore, murder, blood, blood play, hunter / prey dynamic, bully romance, off-page discussions of massacre, and sex on the page
there are books that pull you in gently — and then there’s this one, which grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go.
a king born into dark magic. a girl forged on exile island where there are no laws, no powers, only death. a mate bond that snaps into place between two people who were never supposed to find each other.
his magic is dying because of her. and he still can’t look away. 🖤
✦ feral FMC who was built different ✦ smirking, possessive MMC who only sees her ✦ banter so unhinged i was cackling ✦ angst that made me physically stressed ✦ murder accusations thrown into the mix because WHY NOT ✦ that ending. THAT ENDING.
⚠️ highly recommend reading the Fate of a Royal duet first — different MCs but the same world and the way it all ties together is chef’s kiss — you’ll thank me later
i’m hanging on by a thread and i need someone to talk to me about this immediately 📖🔥
Things to know
Touch her & die, dark academia fantasy, he falls harder, predator meets predator, morally gray king, forced proximity, ends in a cliffhanger, violence, gore, murder, blood, blood play, hunter / prey dynamic, bully romance, off-page discussions of massacre, and sex on the page
July 29, 2026
I got this one at a librarian conference - it was being handed out for free and the bookseller passing it out said it was a dark academia fantasy. She may have said romantasy.
The first page of the book has a trigger warning (after a warning for possible spoilers in the trigger warning) which was:
“Mate of a Royal is a dark, possessive romance featuring a reluctant pair of fated mates. However, the story includes elements that might not be suitable for all readers including, violence, gore, murder, blood, blood play, hunter / prey dynamic, bully romance, off-page discussions of massacre, and sex on the page. Please be mindful before diving in.”
I’m not sure I would classify it as a dark academia like the bookseller at the conference did. The trigger warning is on point though ( except there isn’t really a lot of “blood play”).
All of this to say is this is quite the boundary pushing Romantasy. Definitely possessive. Blurs lines of consent - but intentionally. It moved way too fast in parts and often used language way too casually. There were many parts I did not understand what was going on (which could be because I did not read the first two books in the series) and characters seemed to just appear and disappear. Transitions felt missing. But I got to the end and it had a hook and now I want to read the prequels and sequel.
The first page of the book has a trigger warning (after a warning for possible spoilers in the trigger warning) which was:
“Mate of a Royal is a dark, possessive romance featuring a reluctant pair of fated mates. However, the story includes elements that might not be suitable for all readers including, violence, gore, murder, blood, blood play, hunter / prey dynamic, bully romance, off-page discussions of massacre, and sex on the page. Please be mindful before diving in.”
I’m not sure I would classify it as a dark academia like the bookseller at the conference did. The trigger warning is on point though ( except there isn’t really a lot of “blood play”).
All of this to say is this is quite the boundary pushing Romantasy. Definitely possessive. Blurs lines of consent - but intentionally. It moved way too fast in parts and often used language way too casually. There were many parts I did not understand what was going on (which could be because I did not read the first two books in the series) and characters seemed to just appear and disappear. Transitions felt missing. But I got to the end and it had a hook and now I want to read the prequels and sequel.
September 29, 2026
I didn’t realize that this duet was part of a series, with the first two books being the first duet. I was worried that would hinder my understanding, but it wasn’t too bad, thankfully. Some of the events are discussed to bring you up to speed, and it was enough to get you through. I would recommend reading the first two books prior to going into this one.
I have read series where there are interconnected books and have had no difficulty diving in without reading the first interconnected series/book. I found this duet was lacking that and is probably one that would be better reading in order. I’m assuming there was more world building in the first duet since this was lacking some of that. It was fairly easy to figure things out, but it would have been nice to have those details.
In saying that, I don’t know if I will read the first duet. It wasn’t the lack of connection to the characters, they did that on their own. I did not like any of them. The story was OK. The university was not really necessary. There’s a murder mystery too. It easily could have been a solo novel.
My struggle is that the ending was kind of interesting and I would like to know what happens. I may read the next to find out what happens, we shall see.
Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC | Entangled: Amara for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
I have read series where there are interconnected books and have had no difficulty diving in without reading the first interconnected series/book. I found this duet was lacking that and is probably one that would be better reading in order. I’m assuming there was more world building in the first duet since this was lacking some of that. It was fairly easy to figure things out, but it would have been nice to have those details.
In saying that, I don’t know if I will read the first duet. It wasn’t the lack of connection to the characters, they did that on their own. I did not like any of them. The story was OK. The university was not really necessary. There’s a murder mystery too. It easily could have been a solo novel.
My struggle is that the ending was kind of interesting and I would like to know what happens. I may read the next to find out what happens, we shall see.
Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC | Entangled: Amara for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
Did Not Finish
July 15, 2026No rating because I DNF’ed around 150 pages in. I was told this book could be read as a standalone but was often left confused about the plot, so in good faith can’t figure out if reading the other books in the series would fill the gaps, or if it is 10 tropes at once loosely connected. My main recommendation is to only read this book if you have read the previous two and enjoyed them.
The book is also extremely fast paced. I even felt like at one point a whole chapter was missing because of how far the plot jumped, only for it to happen again. I was frequently flipping back pages to see if I missed something only to prove nope, it just kinda escalated out of nowhere.
Some of the banter and inner monologue read corny to me when it was supposed to be serious. Lots of death, lots of violence, but didn’t feel like there was too much weight to it - but that could’ve just been the point up to where I stopped reading. At one point it felt like Haide had more interactions with Creed than Legend, but it seemed like that was about to change around when I stopped.
Ultimately, my confusion for the world and plot won out and I’m putting down the book. I think it definitely has the makings of a fun book, but I needed the rest of the series to fully enjoy.
The book is also extremely fast paced. I even felt like at one point a whole chapter was missing because of how far the plot jumped, only for it to happen again. I was frequently flipping back pages to see if I missed something only to prove nope, it just kinda escalated out of nowhere.
Some of the banter and inner monologue read corny to me when it was supposed to be serious. Lots of death, lots of violence, but didn’t feel like there was too much weight to it - but that could’ve just been the point up to where I stopped reading. At one point it felt like Haide had more interactions with Creed than Legend, but it seemed like that was about to change around when I stopped.
Ultimately, my confusion for the world and plot won out and I’m putting down the book. I think it definitely has the makings of a fun book, but I needed the rest of the series to fully enjoy.
September 20, 2026
Thank you Entangled Publishing for the ARC of the release of the special edition for Mate of a Royal. All opinions are my own.
4.25/5
I have not read the first two books in this series and I didn't feel lost at all. The important information was explained again and the characters from the first book were not introduced in a way that would make you feel like you were missing the inside joke!
I am a sucker for a strong FMC. Haide was just that. We are literally dropped in on her killing people on an island (don't worry you can't die on this island!) and just being a badass fighter. She comes across Legend who claims her as his mate and the rest is pure perfection.
It was definitely a slow burn hate to love to hate story. There was no love lost between these two for most of the book while they fight their feelings. That said, Legend was still very protective, which I love. I hate you but no one else can be mean. Legend is royalty and of course his brothers are protective and don't like Haide. It creates a lot of extra tension that I just ate up!
There is a cliffhanger that has me dying to read the conclusion! I wanted to strangle Legend through my kindle and then gasped with the final revelation!
4.25/5
I have not read the first two books in this series and I didn't feel lost at all. The important information was explained again and the characters from the first book were not introduced in a way that would make you feel like you were missing the inside joke!
I am a sucker for a strong FMC. Haide was just that. We are literally dropped in on her killing people on an island (don't worry you can't die on this island!) and just being a badass fighter. She comes across Legend who claims her as his mate and the rest is pure perfection.
It was definitely a slow burn hate to love to hate story. There was no love lost between these two for most of the book while they fight their feelings. That said, Legend was still very protective, which I love. I hate you but no one else can be mean. Legend is royalty and of course his brothers are protective and don't like Haide. It creates a lot of extra tension that I just ate up!
There is a cliffhanger that has me dying to read the conclusion! I wanted to strangle Legend through my kindle and then gasped with the final revelation!
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