Doubting Fate

Fate Beyond the Binary #1

by D.C. Emerson

If Cameron knows one thing, it’s that nothing is as easy as it seems. Between being born into an abusive household and falling into an abusive relationship in college, love hasn’t been easy. His adopted parents and sister have done their best to prove that wrong, but as far as Cameron is concerned, finding a mate is off the table, quite possibly forever. He knows better than most that fate is never a guarantee at happiness.

At least, that’s what he thinks until he stumbles into an incredibly handsome, kind alpha at the airport. Cameron had never allowed himself to imagine what his fated mate would look like, let alone feel like, but Emory feels like home in a way that challenges everything Cameron has ever thought about fate.

Emory never wanted to run the family business. He grew up assuming his cousin would take the reins and he would be able to work and play and love on his own timeline. Then his cousin, the rightful heir, left and his father died, leaving him as not only the head of the company, but the head of the family.

Nothing in his life has gone to plan, and yet he keeps making them, including the last minute plan to fly to Anchorage for an emergency work trip. When a snowstorm threatens to upend his plan, he ends up running into his fated mate in line at the service desk, threatening to change all his plans forever.

Doubting Fate is book 1 in the Fate Beyond the Binary series. It is a MM with demiboy rep shifter omegaverse romance, featuring a very reluctant omega octopus shifter and an overworked alpha lion.

Genres: Omegaverse

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2026

About the author

D.C. is an avid board gamer and rock climber who lives on the East Coast of the United States but loves to travel to places near and far as often as they can.

D.C. has always identified as queer, but during the pandemic they came out as nonbinary (they/them pronouns) to family and friends. This book was part of that process, and they have loved exploring different genderqueer identities like their own through their writing, reading, research, and countless hours watching reels and videos on social media.

Their biggest hope in writing queer fiction is to provide at least one other person out there with characters and story lines that they can recognize themselves, or their friends and loved ones in.

Reviews

[martina (the life of a chaotic reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

this was very cute, but also very boring.
too boring, actually.
i held on only to see them shift and while it was satisfying, it was way too damn late

[Billy ⋆｡･☽･⋆* (semi-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ☆ rating.

Storyline 10/10
Main characters arc 10/10
World building 10/10
Tens across the board.

What a wonderful book. I laughed, I smiled, I was fascinated, I cried (2 times - one for Emory, and one for the ending), I felt so much for what the Mcs went through, and throughout this book I felt the warmest cozy queerest loving blanket. I'm absolutely invested in Omegaverse now. D. C. Emmeson's writing is phenomenal, they know how to write characters with immense depth. The main characters and the side characters are all so real, everything about this book felt so real to me... well except, maybe, the a/b/o dynamics part... You know what, scratch that, even that part felt real.
One of my favorite parts was how unapologetically queer this book is. Simply remarkable, the author makes it look so easy, so natural, it's beautiful and very appreciated.
So well written, everything's so well structured. Another thing, the jokes landed, the humour is really really good. I got the references, I got my heart broken for Cameron and then delicately put back together from the mesmerizing and devotional love the mcs shared for one another and their families. Cameron's family, Pa, Ba, and the wonderful snarky Shay, moments were beautiful.
I'm absolutely in love with Cameron and Emory. But also, I'm in love with every secondary character, because everyone is so interesting and real. It's layered, it's elevated, it's wonderful. This to say that I couldnt possibly pick a favorite character. In the wise words of Pockê Monn: "Gotta catch 'em all". (< not in the creepy aquarium collector kind of way. You know what I mean!).

I will definitely continue with this gorgeous series. Recommend this to all the folk that enjoys reading omegaverse books. D C Emmerson is the author to follow!

[Kez Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really unique take on omegaverse, and I've never read one with a lion and octopus shifter before.
It had a sweet meet cute at the airport, and although there is the fated mate bond and insta lust, it takes the time for them to date and connect, and explore their pasta, family customs and expectations which felt very human and relatable.
I loved that Cameron got a sweet and caring mate, and that he found the courage to stand up for himself against the rude relatives. Emory was supportive and patient, and I liked how accepting he was and willing to adapt to Cameron's needs and preferences.
This had a very diverse cast, and explores sexuality and genders alongside shifter cultures. Excited for more in this series.

[Brit ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg! This was so different than most omegaverse books I’ve read and I loved it!! Definitely a very slow burn especially in OV standards.

Cameron is an omega octopus shifter who has been through so so much. He is cautious and hesitant to open himself up because of his trauma. While Emory is alpha lion shifter who just wants to know Cameron.

My heart ached for Emory and Cameron. I wanted to make everything easier for them. They both wanted to be mated so bad but many things were stopping them or causing delays. Their timeline was perfect for them though and gave Cameron the time he needed.

I am so excited for this series and I can’t wait to read more!!!

[Julie Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Positively adorable!!

This story had me laughing after literally one sentence, and from the moment Cameron met his fated made, Emory, at an airport as they’re both trying to leave town, I was just giddy and full of gooey feelings! 🥰

This is an omegaverse with animal shifters that explores gender and sexuality, identity and acceptance, and dealing with past trauma and accepting that fate had a plan and that it could be a good plan. Cameron has been through a lot, and Emory was just so sweet and understanding and I absolutely adored how much he cared for his mate from the get-go. While they struggle a bit to connect, mainly through texting, at the start of their relationship, Emory soon enough enters an unexpected rut several months earlier than expected, which propelled their relationship forward 🔥 Even whilst taken over by animalistic needs, Emory was absolutely amazing towards Cameron and his identity as a demiboy and how that affects him in a sexual relationship, which I loved to see. I feel like these chapters also really brought them closer to each other emotionally, which I loved to see.

We also get some overbearing and over-opinionated family members, and how the two young mates deal with that. Seeing Cameron stand up for himself was great, and I loved how Emory went after him, defying what some of his relatives clearly expected of him as an alpha and leader of the family. He was just so sweet to Cameron throughout the whole book and I can’t stop gushing about it!! 🥰

One of my favourite moments was when Cameron was hiding in shifter form and Emory sat and talked to him, assuaging his worries and learning more about his mate, bringing them even closer. I also absolutely adored when they shifted for each other to see did the first time—I could feel all the love and adoration and acceptance, and I legit could not stop smiling!! Also: the coconuts!!! I just can’t even with the coconuts!! 🥥

I’m so excited to see where we go next in this universe. The found family in several side characters was so great, and there are multiple characters whose stories I can picture being up next or at some point, and I’ll be patiently waiting for the next book in this series!! 😊


Many thanks to D.C. Emerson for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, but ultimately it wasn’t my favorite. I genuinely empathized with Cameron and Emory; they’ve both endured immense hardships, and I’m glad they found each other. However, their plot felt repetitive after a while. There was an emphasis on their relationship being challenging despite being fated mates. Which I love, relationships are journeys filled with ups and downs, but the writing didn’t capture that essence effectively. It felt dense and more telling rather than showing. Since the plot revolves around their busy schedules preventing them from getting to know each other, there wasn’t as much dialogue as I would have preferred. Instead, the characters’ thoughts and explanations dominated the narrative. I had anticipated this when I noticed it is a 350+ page book with only 15 chapters. The book simply felt longer than it was. The ending was better, but I didn’t connect with the characters as deeply as I usually do, so overall, it was an average read. However, I did enjoy Christopher, Ronan, and Jo, and I’d love to explore more books featuring them! I also loved Cameron’s dad’s and his sister. They were so comforting and supportive.

⭐️3.75
🌶️2
💧4
😂2

🦁🐙💼🕴️🏙️😔👗🎀🎆💌🥰👨🏻‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏻👨🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻🏳️‍🌈

📍New York

❤️mm
❤️omv(ao)
❤️lion shifter x octopus shifter
❤️fated mates
❤️demiboy rep
❤️pansexual rep
❤️adopted mc
❤️trauma
❤️slow burn
❤️ceo mc
❤️family drama
❤️nonprofit worker mc
❤️knotting
❤️rut
❤️hea

Always check content warnings before reading!

I received this book as an ARC.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐
2 🌶️

The sweetest slow burn! Octopus Cameron has got to be my favorite shifter to exist. I am in love with him.

D.C. had such an interesting take on fated mates. I loved their airport meet cute. I loved the emotional build to their relationship. Just because they were fated didn't mean they jumped all in.

My one and only thing I wish I could have read more of their sweet tender moments with each other instead of being told xyz happened. I did miss that piece of their relationship.

I absolutely loved D.C's omegaverse and can't wait for more of them!

[Julie Underhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doubting Fate by D. C. Emerson is the first book in their Fates Beyond the Binary series. It is the story of two shifters from different backgrounds who meet at an airport, discover they are fated mates, and the long road they take to finally falling in love and being together. Cameron Klein is an octopus shifter. His birth parents were horrible and he was taken away from them and adopted by his loving seahorse fated mates Ba and Pa, along with his alligator shifter sister Shay. Emotional scars were left from those early days and were made worse by his time dating Thomas in college who inflicted even more abuse and made him question who he was. He got away from him and was slowly rebuilding his life by working at a nonprofit and discovering his softer side as he decided he was a demiboy and was exploring that. Emory Rexford was a lion shifter, the head of his pride, and CEO of his family shipping company which was quite large and had offices around the world. He did not want to be in charge of it especially after his father died, but his cousin, Jonathon, who was supposed to take it over, left the family suddenly and no one knew where he was. Emory’s life was nothing but work as problems kept popping up every day that he had to deal with and they left him with little time to do anything else. His best friends Christopher and Ronan also worked at the company and tried to help out when they could. Emory was going to Anchorage to solve a problem there and Cameron was going home to see his family when they both got stranded at the airport. Emory smelled Cameron while they were in line waiting to get new flights and realized that he was his fated mate, someone he wasn’t expecting to find. They both recognized this but had to leave so they agreed to look at their schedules and meet when they got back. Unfortunately, Emory had so many meetings that they couldn’t meet until two weeks later and they admitted they had looked at each other’s social media and decided to start over to learn about each other. Cameron was skittish because he was worried that Emory would be like Thomas and often thought about what he would do so he would go in on himself. But they wanted to give each other a chance as fated mates and hoped they would be happy and after he told Emory about Thomas they decided to wait to mate until they loved each other. The story continues as they sporadically date due to Emory’s schedule, but they continue to learn more about each other with some fun times such as trying to guess what their shifter forms are, having a few rough times, Cameron getting to know Christopher and Ronan and finding friends in them, and Cameron slowly letting Emory know about his demiboy status and Emory telling him he really likes it. The company has a gala that Cameron is not totally comfortable with but then Emory goes into his rut and reluctantly lets Cameron help him through it with some very hot love scenes. Then Emory’s mother insists that they come to visit the family on their estate so Cameron can be vetted which turns into a disaster with the aunts, but Cameron finally stands up to everyone and declares his love for Emory which has Emory saying I love you back to him. This leads to their mating and meeting Cameron’s family who love Emory and they go on to their happy ending. I really enjoyed this book. Cameron had a hard life emotionally and carried this with him. Being with Thomas didn’t help and Emory had his work cut out for him to help Cameron see that he was important and could be his real self with him. Emory always put work first which was hard, but he didn’t want to disappoint his family. Luckily Christopher and Ronan helped him with that and also to see that Cameron was the most important thing to him. Jonathan played a part in the story as he returned and some of Emory’s family were quite mean, especially to Cameron. But that forced him to stand up for them and to declare their love. There were several fun scenes while they were getting to know each other as well as when they shifted and played in the tub or pool and you get to know their shifter sides too. I also liked how there were many different kinds of shifters involved in the story and how they all got along and helped each other. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like stories involving shifters who unexpectedly find their fated mates and have many things get in their way before they are finally able to mate and start the rest of their lives together.

[Laura Loves 2 Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Doubting Fate is Book 1 in the Fate Beyond the Binary series and features an MM, demiboy-rep shifter omegaverse romance between a wildly reluctant omega octopus shifter and an overworked alpha lion. Yes, you read that correctly—and it’s every bit as delightful as it sounds.

Considering this is D.C. Emerson’s first full-length novel, I honestly wish I could give it more than 5 stars. One of my favourite things about Emerson’s writing is the thoughtful and diverse representation. I always come away feeling like I’ve learned something new, which makes the reading experience even richer.

I am completely obsessed with Emory and Cameron. Saying this book made me feel all the emotions is a massive understatement. This might genuinely be one of the most adorable, wholesome, heart-melting books I’ve read in a long time. There were several moments where I wanted to physically hug the book because it was just that cute. Dramatic? Maybe. Accurate? Absolutely.

The worldbuilding was fantastic. With so many different shifter species and their unique traits, it was incredibly fun learning about how each one works and seeing those little details woven into the story.

Emory absolutely broke my heart at times. He’s the CEO of his family’s company, stretched impossibly thin and constantly stressed, all while hating the position he’s in. By the end of chapter two I already had a deep dislike for most of his family—seriously, give the man a break! A few of them redeem themselves later, but the frustration I felt on Emory’s behalf was real. I was fully ready to jump into the book and defend him… though considering they’re lion shifters and I’m just a human, that probably wouldn’t go well.

Cameron’s story is equally emotional. He has an abusive past that makes trusting people—especially in romantic relationships—very difficult. My heart hurt so much for him. Thankfully, his relationship with his adoptive parents (who he calls Ba and Pa – how stinkin cute is that) and his sister Shay adds so much warmth and love to the story.

Their meet-cute at the airport is incredibly sweet. They immediately recognise each other as fated mates, but what I really loved is that the story doesn’t rush into instant mating or insta-lust like many omegaverse books do. Instead, Cameron and Emory take their time. They date, talk, and actually get to know each other. Watching their trust, respect, and affection grow felt natural and deeply satisfying.

One of my favourite parts of the book was seeing how patient Emory is with Cameron. He understands that Cameron has trauma and never pushes him beyond what he’s ready for. It was incredibly sweet to watch him slowly earn Cameron’s trust. That said, I was also fully on board with Emory’s urge to hunt down the people who hurt Cameron. Cameron is also totally understanding and supportive of the amount of pressure Emory is under at work as the companies CEO and from his relentless family members (I am still angry at them) and just wants to help make Emory’s life that little but less stressful.

And I cannot talk about this book without mentioning Cameron’s coconut octopus. This little menace is hilarious. The mental image of Cameron sitting there with a coconut on his head still makes me laugh.

I also loved the side characters—Shay, Christopher, Jo, and Ronan—and I really hope we get to see more of them in future books.

Overall, this was sweet, emotional, funny, incredibly wholesome and a little spicy. If you enjoy shifter romances with great worldbuilding, heartfelt character growth, and a couple you can’t help but root for, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Colleen (colleenreads40) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doubting Fate is the first book in D.C. Emerson’s Fate Beyond the Binary series. Here’s what you can expect from Cameron and Emory:

🐙 MM shifter omegaverse romance (no mpreg)
🐙 Third person dual point of view
🐙 Guaranteed happily ever after
🐙 Open door spice
🐙 Slow-burn
🐙 Lion and octopus shifter
🐙 Reluctant fated mates
🐙 Unexpected rut
🐙 Gay, pansexual, and demiboy representation

Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note this list of warnings may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading.
⚠️ Past, off-page parental (birth parents, not current, adoptive parents) and ex-partner abuse (not the main characters), with multiple references to the abuse, a few brief examples given, and the mental, emotional, and physical impacts shown
⚠️ Main character mentions, discusses, and overcomes transphobia
⚠️ Discussion of an untreated omegaverse disease, “shifter pox,” which leads to medical complications and sterility
⚠️ Villainous character displays ableism, anti-adoption sentiment, and transphobia towards the main character

I’ve been looking forward to this story since I read the prequel novella (not required reading to enjoy Doubting Fate), Gaming Fate. I really like the unique and almost cozy omegaverse the author has created. They do a great job at building their world and explaining its nuances through the characters’ inner monologues. I like how many different types of shifters there are, and the unique traits they carry with them into their human side. One of my favourite parts of this book was when Emory and Cameron shifted together for the first time! This is definitely a slower burn romance, and due to their circumstances, Emory and Cameron sometimes do things a little bit out of order (unexpected rut, say less). The week they spend at Emory’s house was frustrating and I just wanted to protect Cameron with my whole heart, but in the end it brought them closer. One of the things I liked the most about this story is that even though Cameron and Emory were fated, they didn’t instantly ride off into the sunset. They actually took the time to get to know each other and date, something you don’t see in a lot of fated mate romances. I really appreciated that relationship development. Another aspect of this story was Emory’s friends and the friendships they developed with Cameron. I thought those were very special, and I hope we get to see his friends again in future installments! The spice was excellent with all the care, swoon, and heat I’ve come to expect from D.C. Emerson’s work. Looking forward to what’s next!

I received an advanced review copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will say, I am not an omegaverse reader so I was a little hesitant with this story but I love the author's other work so I thought I would give it a shot and I am so glad I did! I laughed, I cried, I giggled and kicked my feet, it was everything I could want.

Cameron and Emory meet in an airport trying to get flights and realize immediately who they are to each other. However, Emory is the CEO of his family's company and spread so thin and so stressed that he doesn't have time to breathe and he hates being the boss. Cameron has an abusive past and has trouble trusting people, especially in a romantic relationship.

So, my absolute favorite part of this whole story is hands down (tentacles down?) Cameron's octopus. OMG he is so hilarious!! Emory's lion is also funny but I really adore the octopus so freaking much. Their reactions to Cameron and Emory's...less than smooth moves cracked me up over and over. I also did adore Cameron's family and Emory's friends.

Watching Emory care for and slowly build Cameron's trust in him was so sweet and accepting that Cameron had some things he needed to work through due to the abuse in his past. Though I was totally on board with Emory as far as wanting to hunt down those that hurt poor sweet Cameron. As someone who experienced abuse in childhood, I thought how the abuse in Cameron's past was handled very well and realistic for what the poor man went through.

And then Cameron helping Emory through rut (the rut? his rut? Again, don't know omegaverse so not sure) was also so sweet and SO SPICY, wow. After that, there were a couple more spicy scenes but not as long or descriptive as the first. And helping Emory deal with his work/family stuff and trying so hard to be a supportive partner even when it's really hard for him was also really sweet.

I love that the conflicts in the book weren't all just between the two main characters but also from other things in their life; having the family issues, work problems, etc. really added a lot to the story for me because it feels more realistic. That said, I wanted worse for Leslie.

I was worried the book would feel too long but it didn't to me, and I think all of it was needed to properly wrap up everything that was going on. I also loved how the story wraps up and I'm so looking forward to more in the series!

Thank you to the author for gifting me an eARC, all thoughts are my own.

[Katriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of DC's writing, I love how they always represent different sexualities, identities, and communities, and they always do it so well too. I love shifter books, and I love the fated mate trope, but I also love uniqueness and creativity and DC achieved all of that with this book.

Doubting Fate is book one in their new paranormal shifter series, Fate Beyond the Binary, and I think this was an absolutely incredible way to start of a new series.

I adored almost every single character in this book! Emory, Cameron, Christopher, Shay, Ronan, and Jo, were all fabulous and amazing, and I'm really excited to learn more about all of them. There is so much diverse representation within this book, from Cameron identifying as a demiboy, to Shay being demisexual, and Jo being non binary. Something else I really loved is how close of a friendship and bond Emory has with Ronan and Christopher, they hug each other, care for each other, cuddle together, and they all do that to show they care and to provide comfort and I thought their friendships were really beautiful.

Even when Emory was worried he was working too much, (which he was!) and when he felt he was neglecting his best friends, they still had his back and continued showing up for him, and I loved that.

Cameron is a sweetheart, he's so kind and adorable, and when he lets his octopus's energy out, he gets very sassy which I enjoyed reading too! The scenes with the coconuts were absolutely adorable!! Sometimes with shifter books there aren't many scenes of the characters as their animal, but DC packed this book full of various scenes of these characters being in their animal form and they were always described in great detail as well. Which for me took this from a good book to a great one!

Both of these characters have gone through a lot of heartache and hurt before they met each other, and even after meeting, they both have a lot to work through. Together they were able to find a way through the trauma, tough times, and rude aunts, and with additional help from their found family, were able to come out the other side even stronger because of all they had to go through.

I very much enjoyed this book and am very excited for book two!! I can't wait to get to know Ronan, Christopher, and Jo, better!

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

I generally liked this book, but it was so low-conflict it felt a little weird. As the summary describes, both Emory and Cameron are in somewhat tense situations when they meet, and they both have things to work through. Emory needs to figure out work-life balance, and Cameron needs to make sure his fated mate isn't terrible before he can even think about actually mating. The thing is, both of them are aware of their issues and trauma, and have been to therapy about them, so several issues that might become big problems in another book kind of fizzle out because the characters talk to each other about their issues as soon as it's humanly practicable, and are both incredibly supportive. It makes for a very hashtag-life-goals relationship, but doesn't really provide much conflict for the plot to hang on. Even external problems, like Auntie being a jerk, are solved quickly through some minor to moderate bravery on the part of the main characters (which allows some other characters to deal with the problem offscreen for them). 

That said! It was a nice, cozy read. I really enjoyed the worldbuilding - the author definitely considered in depth what this sort of omegaverse would look like in real life. The black bear shifters in Alaska need work accommodations for their pseudo-hibernation. There's a true crime documentary about a serial killer who targeted aquatic shifters he could lock in an aquarium. People who shift into different animals have different cultural expectations of mating and marriage, based on the natural animal's instinctive habits. There are both nonbinary people and nontrinary people. The list goes on - its great. 

If you're looking for a cozy omegaverse novel with minimal conflict, this is your book. If you like a little more conflict or adventure in what you read, you might find this a little dull. If you're looking for pure smut, this is probably not the book you want, though it does have some very good sex scenes. 

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so excited for D.C. Emerson’s Fate Beyond the Binary series! I’ve read the novellas that happened before this book and I was so excited to get the chance to read this book early. Cameron and Emory were super cute together right from their literal meet cute to the very end. I really liked that they didn’t immediately rush into a relationship just because they were fated mates, I think it was refreshing to see them actually get to know one another and still date despite the fact that they were fated. I enjoyed watching them get to know one another and learn each other’s flaws and history’s before committing to a lifetime together. I think that they fit really well together and I loved that Emory was willing to be patient with Cameron. I really liked how he didn’t try to push for more and whenever something happened he would try to help and be supportive without pushing any boundaries. I absolutely loved that Emory’s friends accepted Cameron into their little group and how comfortable they all were with one another because I love a good found family. I was a big fan of Cameron’s entire family and how supportive they were of him and his relationship with Emory. Cameron had been through a lot of things in his life and needed a little extra care and he got that from Emory which was so sweet. But he was also lovely and supportive towards Cameron’s stressful work life and family. They were both really understanding of one another in the best ways and while nothing crazy happened I really enjoyed how normal their relationship was and how much they cared for one another. Also D.C. Emerson is fantastic at writing shifter scenes/moments with the character's animal sides that are so adorable and I love them so much. Every time there’s a scene with characters in their shifted forms I just know it’s going to be cute and perfect!

Thank you GRR for the advanced copy of this book!

[ds321 · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet! But not cloying. Pulled me in from the very beginning. Cameron is an adorable, sweet omega who works for a non-profit. Emory is a gorgeous alpha who is CEO of a large company. If this book were basic, that would be the extent of their personalities, sufficient to set up a story. Fortunately, DC Emerson does not write basic. Cameron is professionally accomplished too. Emory has worries and insecurities. They are BOTH strong, sweet, assertive, vulnerable, passionate, reticent and have emotional baggage… and the wherewithal to carry it.

I loved seeing them get to know each other. And loved their choice TO get to know each other before jumping into a mating bond. And how that aligned - or didn’t - with their fantasies of meeting “the one.” Emotions, drama, habits and personality characteristics were realistic, fit the people and their relationships and situations, and functioned in service to the plot.

Cameron and Emory’s closest friends and family were real people, not cutouts there simply to frame the main characters or as foils for their behavior, and I’m very hopeful that they will have their own stories. I did guess a couple of plot developments, but only in ways that added to my enjoyment of the story. By that I mean a reaction of “*of course* that’s how this played out [happy teary sigh]” rather than “ugh… I can’t believe you made me slog through a bunch of manufactured drama to get me to the obvious.”

Last but absolutely not least: shifter representation was exceptional.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free for my honest review.

This book was middle of the road for me.

After reaching the end I can say I enjoyed the story and characters. The 2 MMC’s are very much in love and compliment each others personalities and temperaments.

I really liked the hurt/comfort aspect and the Alpha/Omega roles without the toxic masculinity part. I liked the Demiboy/fem/LACE parts of Cam and the appreciation that Emory has for it.
There is a very strong found family theme that has many sides with a nice juxtaposition of blood vs non blood family and how you are accepted into those circles with both MMC’s family dynamics.

I did feel like the pacing could have been a little better, the story felt long in the middle. While their conversations were important to their relationship growth, the bulk of the story telling felt very wordy and drawn out.
The story also felt super innocent. With the exception of the big spicy part, most of the physical intimacies were light kisses and gentle touches. Both MMC’s were almost bashful and overly cautious with each other, or maybe formal is the better term.

I loved their meet-cute and really loved the last parts of the book. It started really strong and ended really strong for me, I just had to take some breaks in the middle to get through.

I am looking forward to the next book, whoever the couple is, though I have a few ideas.

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are various trigger warnings for Doubting Fate. They are listed in the front of the book. They include things like mental; emotional and physical abuse; as well as transphobia, anti-adoption beliefs, and medical issues.
☆
☆
Other than Gaming Fate, a shifter novella from D.C. Emerson, I've not really read anything like this before. I'm still very new to omegaverse and shifters, but I'm interested in continuing this series and learning more. I'll also say that this is out of left field compared to the types of stories I usually read, but I really enjoyed the romance and the characters in this story.
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It was nice to see some different family structures and how Emory and Cameron's families responded to them being fated mates, as well as the different customs of their individual shifter cultures in respect of that. It was also intriguing to see Cameron and his family, and well as Emory and his family interacting with each other. I liked the way the bigotry and negative attitudes were dealt with within Emory's family too, to me it showed the level of love and care Emory's mother some of his aunts had for Cameron, even in just that first meeting.
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It was a pleasant surprise to find another demiboy character in one of Emerson's works too. As someone who identifies with that, it was lovely to see.
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Thank you to author D.C. Emerson or sending me an ARC copy of this book.

[Lucy Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would first like to thank the author, DC Emerson, for providing me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was way cuter than I was expecting it to be, and that’s saying something because I was already pretty excited to read this book. I absolutely fell in love with Emory and Cameron. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would like Emory just because of the way he was introduced, but he ended up being my favorite part of the story, and I loved how much he really cared for and about Cameron. The full cast of interesting characters outside of these two as well as the writing style of the story made me genuinely excited and interested in reading the next book.

One thing I thought was interesting in this that I feel like I’ve only seen a few other times in shifter romance novels is that both Emory and Cameron have different shifter animals. I’ve seen it happen before where they were different but both mammals or something of the like, but I’ve never read one where their animals were so completely different from each other and still made it work. I found that aspect of the story genuinely interesting to read about and see how it affected their developing relationship. The spicy level was a level 5.

Overall, I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 star rating. I super loved reading it and can’t wait to see what happens in the next one.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself smiling through this book as it was such a sweet story. Cameron has had a rough go in life until he found his adoptive family. While he has seen an amazing love story through his Pa and Ba, Cameron doesn’t fully believe in fated mates. Imagine his surprise when he meets his fated mate at the airport.

Emory has been thrust into a life that he didn’t see for himself. After his father passed away, and his cousin left the pride, Emory has vaulted to CEO of the family business. Work takes up all of his time, and he isn’t really looking for a mate, even though his mother is hoping that he will start. When he sees Cameron at the airport and realizes they are fated mates, he is a bit dazed that this is happening as they are both heading in separate directions.

I really enjoyed that it was different from most omega verse books because Cameron and Emory took time to get to know each other before mating. I really enjoyed watching their love and respect for each other grow, though that also made the book feel a little slow at times. I loved all of the side characters and hope that we see more of Shay, Christopher, Jo and Ronan in future books, even if not in this series.

[Sav · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book! One of my favorite parts of omegaverse romances is the exploration of gender identity and sexuality through the primary and secondary genders on the world. This kind of a universe was perfect for DC Emerson, an author with a knack for crafting unique romance stories inclusive of all aspects of the LGBTQIA+ umbrella.

I loved this unique shifter omegaverse and all the various animal types that existed within it. In this first book of the series, we meet Emory and Cameron, two shifters that are absolutely NOT looking for their mates. But after a chance meeting in the airport, these two discover their fated status and tentatively start to explore this new connection between them. The story is equal parts heartwarming and hilarious.

And I’m not just obsessed with the main characters. I loved Cameron’s family of quirky and loveable aquatic shifters, especially his fiercely protective sister. While Emory’s family is more complicated, I am obsessed with his group of friends. I’m assuming (or hoping?) that we get to see more of Ronan, and Christopher (maybe with Jo?? *eyes emoji*)

Overall, I loved this book. It was a great start to what is sure to become a great series!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for (Fate Beyond the Binary-1) Doubting Fate by D.C. Emerson


Wow, this was an interesting story. I have read plenty of omegaverse stories, but this one was new for me. I haven't read an octopus shifter. I found it quite fun and interesting to read. D.C. Emerson is an author I need to read more from. Cameron's life hasn't been easy, coming from an abusive home growing up. If that wasn't bad enough, he goes into a bad relationship in college. Maybe he isn't meant to find love. The family that became his adopted family has been trying to show him that it isn't true at all. Even with that, he just doesn't believe that finding his mate is in his future. Then there is Emory (The Alpha), who wanted so much more than running his family's business out of life. He was never supposed to take the business over; his cousin was. But that all changes when his father dies, and his cousin takes off. These two people needed each other so much. I loved the way D.C. Emerson built their relationship. These two men needed each other more than they ever thought. I can't wait to read the follow-up stories in this series.

Nicole Harvey

[Luqueerbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author.

It is such a really beautiful story, I totally loved it.

The worldbuilding is truly amazing, between all the species of shifters and their little special features, it is so fun and interesting to learn about each. Also, how for some they can even shift only parts of themselves without fully shift, that is so cool and leads to really cute scenes. It felt like a real world from the start and I could totally picture everything without feeling lost.

The characters are fantastic, especially the main of course but also Ronan, Christopher, Shay and the parents, even Jo who I didn't like at first and then became very interested once they came into the story. I would definitely read more of them.

Cameron, this precious soul, I fell hard for his character. How he deserves everything after all his hardhips. Emory is the biggest cinnamon roll ever, truly the big kitten meme and I wanted to hug him so many times because truly, life isn’t easy on him, on them both. Their story during the book was so beautiful and stunning and worth fighting for.

[Wren Rivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

An omega, who struggles to trust, and an alpha, who is drowning in a life he never wanted for himself, meet by chance changing both their lives forever. I haven’t read shifter romance in so long let alone one set in the omegaverse. And oh my gods I loved this book! The author did an amazing job and honestly I have too many things that I could ramble endless praise of this book for. So instead I’ll just pick one, the characters. The characters were so compelling and beautifully written, I adored them instantly. Their story was so heartwarming. While I will admit I cried right along with the characters in the more emotional parts, I laughed just as often at the humorous bits. I will say I was surprised by the “animal counterpart” choices for the characters, but not at all disappointed. It was one of the things that made this book so unique in my opinion. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. And If you are a fan of heartwarming romances based in the omegaverse I strongly recommend giving this book a go.

[Lula Brielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh em gee! Ok, I am somewhat familiar with the M/M Omegaverse but with one species, and usually werewolves. I didn't think I'd like this book because it features more than one species, the two protagonists for example are an Alpha Lion, Emory and an Omega Octopus, Cameron, respectively. Despite past trauma, the more I read, the more invested I became in their fated love story.

It may sound like a typical millionaire alpha lion CEO meet cute with an omega octopus who works for a non profit, but it's more than that. It's about accepting one selfa pronouns, genders, sexuality and finding that person who loves and accepts you for just the way you are. And if they do happen to be your fated mate, even better.

Family may get in the way in the process and even species traditions, but nothing can take away the love Emory and Cameron share. Initially confused with the difference of species, I found it didn't matter in this Omegaverse, and I'm looking forward to the second book because I have a feeling I know who the protagonists for that one may be!

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely not my first foray into the omegaverse but it definitely was a different journey.

I am a bit accustomed to omegaverse and fated mates being like two erotic magnets getting pulled together in whirlwind of slick and knots.

In this story by DC Emerson there is also that but the road leading there is a lot slower and more deliberate. Which was not only surprising but also brilliant.

In this story Cameron (an octopus shifter) and Emory (a lion) meetcute at the airport both not really expecting the draw of a fated mate. Hesitations and expectations mingle with their fated pull.

The story was told so consciously through great world building and good pacing. It features a great cast of characters and dynamics. I really loved submerging myself in this world.

It’s cuddly and sexy and I really want to have my own dancing octopus now.

It’s the first of a series called “Fate beyond the binary”. Will definitely read the rest when it comes out.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review
⭐4.75

This book had a really good, deep story without being too angst-y. Angst isn’t always my favorite so something like this with is great.
Emory and Cameron definitely have a hard earned ending. Both have their fair share of backstory pain and heartache which comes out in their relationship. It felt very real where your past definitely plays a part in the relationship.
I feel like I learn so much from D.C. Emerson’s books. There’s always such diverse representation that I am able to learn something new in each one. This one is no different and even had one that is helping me with my own journey. It gave me some new things to research and have new words to describe things I feel.
I really liked these two and am sad to move on from them. That being said, I am excited for the next book in the series!

[Indie-Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author.

This is a very solid omegaverse shifter story, with an interesting dynamic in pairing an octopus shifter with a lion shifter, which makes it unique. It also beats the norm of most omegaverse books in that it includes gender nonconformity in terms of Cameron being demiboy, and one of the side characters being nonbinary in both their first and secondary genders, AND also doesn't revolve around m-preg and breeding kink, like most omegaverse does (and I'm not anti m-preg or breeding kink - I enjoy it and consider it a staple of the omegaverse genre, but it's also nice to see diversity in the kind of people who'd live in alpha/beta/omega universes and who go against the norm.)

It took me a little while to get into the story, but I enjoyed the last 60% quite a bit.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author, and I love this book. This is an animal shifter/alpha/beta/omega type book. These fated mates meet at the worst location, the airport, but know they are meant to be together. I loved both MCs even though they had trauma in their pasts, they both knew fated mates is a life changing event. I liked that this was not an insta-love type romance. These 2 were fated but decided to date and get to know each other. I was very happy that all the main side characters were also supportive. I don’t want to give anything away but these 2 must go through quite a bit to get their HEA. This is such a sweet book, and I could not stop reading it.
Story 5, Spice 4
If you enjoy this book, I highly recommend reading the author’s other books.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carly Molinar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, witty, and emotional journey of healing and trust.

When an omega octopus shifter and an alpha lion shifter run into each other at the airport it’s fate. Literally. Immediatly realizing they’re fated mates, they set out on a journey that turns both their worlds upside down.

I absolutely fell in love with Emory and Cameron! They both had such depth and were charming and so so sweet together. Seeing their relationship unfold and as a result both of them grow stronger and heal was a joy.

Add in the absolute best moments with their octopus and lion, a wonderful found family, familial expectations, work obligations, and past traumas to work through and these two earn every single bit of their HEA.

What you’ll get:
•Lion Shifter/Octopus shifter
•Omegaverse
•Pan MC
•Demiboy MC
•Fated Mates
•Childhood trauma
•Abusive Ex
•Hurt/Comfort
•Lingerie
•Alpha Rut
•Found Family

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an advanced copy of this book, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
I am a fan of shifter – Alpha/Beta/Omega books and this fit perfectly in genre. The two MCs were not believers of fated mates but a small part of them wanted to be. Their story started as a meet cute at the airport but instead of an instant love, they took the time to get to know each other first. Which in itself is good however, it felt like it dragged along unnecessarily which slowed down the pace of the book. In turn, I did not connect as much as I wanted with the main MCs. But one of the things that I liked was that this is not your typical shifter book. It’s not every day that you picture a Lion and an Octopus getting together but it worked. The ending was good and I see potential for future books so I am excited about that.