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Claimed by the Orc King
A fated mates monster romance featuring an orc king, a portal to a brutal fantasy realm, and a heroine who refuses to kneel.
This beautiful trade paperback edition features a deluxe jacket with silver foil on the front and a full-color interior illustration.
Thena came to FantastiCon to survive the weekend with minimal human interaction and maximum sarcasm. She didn’t plan on catching the attention of a seven-foot orc painted in war green—or the way her pulse stutters when he looks at her like she’s already his.
Viggo Klausson isn’t a cosplayer. He’s the High Chieftain of the Eastern Orcs, stranded in the human world while searching for the mate fate promised him. The moment he scents Thena, the bond snaps tight.
Then a portal drags her into Korule—a fractured kingdom where women are rare, power is carved in blood, and claiming a mate can start a war.
Thena refuses to become anyone’s prize. An ancient magic awakens inside her, and suddenly she’s not just the king’s fated mate.
She’s dangerous.
Viggo may be steady. He may be patient. But when enemies circle, he does not hesitate to bare his teeth.
He found his mate.
Now he has to earn her.
This beautiful trade paperback edition features a deluxe jacket with silver foil on the front and a full-color interior illustration.
Thena came to FantastiCon to survive the weekend with minimal human interaction and maximum sarcasm. She didn’t plan on catching the attention of a seven-foot orc painted in war green—or the way her pulse stutters when he looks at her like she’s already his.
Viggo Klausson isn’t a cosplayer. He’s the High Chieftain of the Eastern Orcs, stranded in the human world while searching for the mate fate promised him. The moment he scents Thena, the bond snaps tight.
Then a portal drags her into Korule—a fractured kingdom where women are rare, power is carved in blood, and claiming a mate can start a war.
Thena refuses to become anyone’s prize. An ancient magic awakens inside her, and suddenly she’s not just the king’s fated mate.
She’s dangerous.
Viggo may be steady. He may be patient. But when enemies circle, he does not hesitate to bare his teeth.
He found his mate.
Now he has to earn her.
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
May 24, 2026
This had a fun premise, but when I hit the first Harry Potter reference at 3%, I knew I should probably DNF it. Alas, I read the whole book and it did not get better. I think the overarching problem of this book is it feels like it should have come out at least a decade ago with the multiple HP references, and all the bioessentialist heteronormative nonsense (though there was at least one gay orc couple but they didn't have a Bond). There were just way too many references, and the vast majority of them felt unnatural. This didn't do anything to help how absolutely annoying I found the main character. She had so much angst over being a Tall Girl (2019) and was convinced no one on earth loved her, but the way this filled her narrative was just so over the top and aggravating to read.
I should have DNFed this, but since I didn't, please let this review save some other people from the mistake of picking this book up.
I should have DNFed this, but since I didn't, please let this review save some other people from the mistake of picking this book up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Surprisingly Fun Romantasy Adventure
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💛💚🖤
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋😀😍😎
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration
Main Characters and Plot Overview
Thena is a modern woman with a panic disorder who has spent much of her life trying to avoid conflict and keep everyone around her happy. She attends FantastiCon to help her friend Brenda with her fantasy booth, despite the crowds already pushing her anxiety to its limits. Then she spots Viggo Klausson and assumes he is an incredibly convincing Orc cosplayer. The attraction is immediate, but Thena has no idea that he is actually the High Chieftain of the Eastern Orcs.
Viggo has spent two years stranded in the human world, traveling from one comic convention to another because he hopes to find his fated mate somewhere in the human world and he can fit in at the conventions. The moment he scents Thena, he knows he has finally found her. Things move quickly after that, especially when a portal opens and pulls them both into Korule.
Their journey through the mountain forest gives the story plenty of time to develop the relationship while also introducing the larger conflict. Viggo has to get Thena safely to the city, but his brothers warn him that he needs to claim her before they arrive because the scarcity of women in Korule means other Orc males will be drawn to her. Meanwhile, another faction is hunting them, led by an Orc connected to General Balder and the disturbing experiments involving broken mate bonds and corrupt bonds.
Thena’s refusal to simply accept her fate becomes a major part of the story. Even after the bond begins developing between her and Viggo, she wants to return home and refuses to see herself as anyone’s prize. I appreciated that she wasn’t simply swept into the Orc world without resistance, although some of her choices tested my patience.
Highlights and Limitations
What surprised me most was how much I enjoyed the fantasy elements. I went into this expecting something closer to a straightforward monster romance, but this felt much more like romantasy. The fractured kingdom of Korule, the different Orc factions, the magic, the portals, and the history surrounding the corrupted bonds gave the story considerably more substance.
I also liked that there was more plot than spice. The villains and the threat surrounding General Balder kept the story moving, and I was genuinely interested in finding out what would happen next. The idea that some Orcs were willing to use corrupt bonds because they were desperate for mates added a darker element that worked well with the fantasy setting.
Thena was more complicated for me. I understood why her panic disorder and years of people pleasing made her determined to maintain control over her own life. However, I sometimes struggled to reconcile that version of Thena with the woman who would immediately throw herself into fights when Viggo or her friends were threatened. She repeatedly stands up to Viggo and his brothers, and there were several moments where I thought some of her characteristics were at odds.
Her insecurity also became frustrating. She admits how lonely her life has been and how much she hides from other people, yet she spends so much time convincing herself that she isn’t good enough to be Viggo’s mate. I wanted her to recognize her own worth sooner instead of repeatedly fighting the bond for reasons that sometimes felt circular.
Some of the pop culture references, including the Harry Potter references that have apparently bothered some other reviewers, didn’t really bother me. For me, they fit well enough with Thena’s modern background and her experience at FantastiCon.
Narration
Vivienne LaRue was a definite highlight for me. Her voice is clear, feminine, and sounded like a good fit for Thena’s age and personality. I especially liked how she handled Thena’s more vulnerable moments without making them feel overly dramatic.
Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick brought a deeper, masculine presence to Viggo that worked well for the Orc king. The contrast between the two narrators helped distinguish the characters and made the audiobook easy to follow during the alternating perspectives.
Final Thoughts
I ended up enjoying Claimed by the Orc King more than I expected. The combination of fated mates, Orcs, magic, portals, political conflict, and a dangerous journey through Korule gave me much more story than I was anticipating. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Thena’s arrival in Korule wasn’t simply about becoming Viggo’s mate. Her connection to the ancient magic suggested that she had a much bigger role to play.
Thena’s constant resistance and self-doubt kept me from completely falling in love with the romance, but Viggo’s determination to protect her and the larger mystery surrounding the bonds kept me invested. I also appreciated that the book took time to build its fantasy world instead of making the romance the only thing happening.
Overall, this was a fun surprise for me. I went in expecting an Orc romance and got a much more involved romantasy adventure with a fated-mate storyline at its center. I definitely enjoyed the magical elements and the stronger story-to-spice balance, and I would be interested in continuing the series to see where Korule and its characters go next.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💛💚🖤
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋😀😍😎
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration
Main Characters and Plot Overview
Thena is a modern woman with a panic disorder who has spent much of her life trying to avoid conflict and keep everyone around her happy. She attends FantastiCon to help her friend Brenda with her fantasy booth, despite the crowds already pushing her anxiety to its limits. Then she spots Viggo Klausson and assumes he is an incredibly convincing Orc cosplayer. The attraction is immediate, but Thena has no idea that he is actually the High Chieftain of the Eastern Orcs.
Viggo has spent two years stranded in the human world, traveling from one comic convention to another because he hopes to find his fated mate somewhere in the human world and he can fit in at the conventions. The moment he scents Thena, he knows he has finally found her. Things move quickly after that, especially when a portal opens and pulls them both into Korule.
Their journey through the mountain forest gives the story plenty of time to develop the relationship while also introducing the larger conflict. Viggo has to get Thena safely to the city, but his brothers warn him that he needs to claim her before they arrive because the scarcity of women in Korule means other Orc males will be drawn to her. Meanwhile, another faction is hunting them, led by an Orc connected to General Balder and the disturbing experiments involving broken mate bonds and corrupt bonds.
Thena’s refusal to simply accept her fate becomes a major part of the story. Even after the bond begins developing between her and Viggo, she wants to return home and refuses to see herself as anyone’s prize. I appreciated that she wasn’t simply swept into the Orc world without resistance, although some of her choices tested my patience.
Highlights and Limitations
What surprised me most was how much I enjoyed the fantasy elements. I went into this expecting something closer to a straightforward monster romance, but this felt much more like romantasy. The fractured kingdom of Korule, the different Orc factions, the magic, the portals, and the history surrounding the corrupted bonds gave the story considerably more substance.
I also liked that there was more plot than spice. The villains and the threat surrounding General Balder kept the story moving, and I was genuinely interested in finding out what would happen next. The idea that some Orcs were willing to use corrupt bonds because they were desperate for mates added a darker element that worked well with the fantasy setting.
Thena was more complicated for me. I understood why her panic disorder and years of people pleasing made her determined to maintain control over her own life. However, I sometimes struggled to reconcile that version of Thena with the woman who would immediately throw herself into fights when Viggo or her friends were threatened. She repeatedly stands up to Viggo and his brothers, and there were several moments where I thought some of her characteristics were at odds.
Her insecurity also became frustrating. She admits how lonely her life has been and how much she hides from other people, yet she spends so much time convincing herself that she isn’t good enough to be Viggo’s mate. I wanted her to recognize her own worth sooner instead of repeatedly fighting the bond for reasons that sometimes felt circular.
Some of the pop culture references, including the Harry Potter references that have apparently bothered some other reviewers, didn’t really bother me. For me, they fit well enough with Thena’s modern background and her experience at FantastiCon.
Narration
Vivienne LaRue was a definite highlight for me. Her voice is clear, feminine, and sounded like a good fit for Thena’s age and personality. I especially liked how she handled Thena’s more vulnerable moments without making them feel overly dramatic.
Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick brought a deeper, masculine presence to Viggo that worked well for the Orc king. The contrast between the two narrators helped distinguish the characters and made the audiobook easy to follow during the alternating perspectives.
Final Thoughts
I ended up enjoying Claimed by the Orc King more than I expected. The combination of fated mates, Orcs, magic, portals, political conflict, and a dangerous journey through Korule gave me much more story than I was anticipating. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Thena’s arrival in Korule wasn’t simply about becoming Viggo’s mate. Her connection to the ancient magic suggested that she had a much bigger role to play.
Thena’s constant resistance and self-doubt kept me from completely falling in love with the romance, but Viggo’s determination to protect her and the larger mystery surrounding the bonds kept me invested. I also appreciated that the book took time to build its fantasy world instead of making the romance the only thing happening.
Overall, this was a fun surprise for me. I went in expecting an Orc romance and got a much more involved romantasy adventure with a fated-mate storyline at its center. I definitely enjoyed the magical elements and the stronger story-to-spice balance, and I would be interested in continuing the series to see where Korule and its characters go next.
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Did Not Finish
April 18, 2026at first i wanted a fun break, then it swiftly became a hate-read, then it became absolutely unbearable and i had to put it down. two pop culture references a page, juvenile insults bc the protagonist is "quirky," references to "lady parts" and other painful millenialisms... had to protect my peace
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Claimed by the Orc King by Roxy Taylor
Fated and Bound series #1. Romantasy. Monster orc romance. Series cliffhanger. Slow burn.
At 6’2”, Thena struggles with self confidence while also dealing with panic attacks. She will avoid people and crowns whenever possible. While she’s at FantastiCon, Thena is approached by the coplayer Orc King. He declares her as his and follows her into the basement when she runs. She finds out the orc is not a cosplayer.
Viggo Klausson is the High Chieftan of the Eastern Orcs and he’s overjoyed at finding his fated mate. He just needs to convince her to bond with him before any other unbound mate can steal her away from him.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook performed by Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick and Vivienne LaRue in alternating POV chapters. Both create a performance that brings the characters to life with vivid emotions and tension that grows. The two voices are significantly female and male sounding giving the varying chapters clear separation of POV without needing to be labeled. LaRue has over 100 titles in her credits and that’s evident in the seamless performance. Fitzpatrick’s voice is gruff and easily envisioned as the orc king.
First in a trilogy. Partial cliffhanger.
I was impressed with Thena and her ability to fight, and keep up with the orcs. She becomes an Amazon on their lands. Yes, she still has panic attacks, but she’s more in control, even as a “prisoner”. She’s strong and unwilling to just stand by or submit.
Thena is a warrior and traveling to the orc world clearly leans on her strengths.
I also enjoyed all the throwaway and subtle 80’s references.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
Fated and Bound series #1. Romantasy. Monster orc romance. Series cliffhanger. Slow burn.
At 6’2”, Thena struggles with self confidence while also dealing with panic attacks. She will avoid people and crowns whenever possible. While she’s at FantastiCon, Thena is approached by the coplayer Orc King. He declares her as his and follows her into the basement when she runs. She finds out the orc is not a cosplayer.
Viggo Klausson is the High Chieftan of the Eastern Orcs and he’s overjoyed at finding his fated mate. He just needs to convince her to bond with him before any other unbound mate can steal her away from him.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook performed by Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick and Vivienne LaRue in alternating POV chapters. Both create a performance that brings the characters to life with vivid emotions and tension that grows. The two voices are significantly female and male sounding giving the varying chapters clear separation of POV without needing to be labeled. LaRue has over 100 titles in her credits and that’s evident in the seamless performance. Fitzpatrick’s voice is gruff and easily envisioned as the orc king.
First in a trilogy. Partial cliffhanger.
I was impressed with Thena and her ability to fight, and keep up with the orcs. She becomes an Amazon on their lands. Yes, she still has panic attacks, but she’s more in control, even as a “prisoner”. She’s strong and unwilling to just stand by or submit.
Thena is a warrior and traveling to the orc world clearly leans on her strengths.
I also enjoyed all the throwaway and subtle 80’s references.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
May 30, 2026
This book is borderline impossible to finish. I had to push through HARD. It started off fine, but quickly delved into unbearable pretty quickly.
The main character’s personality revolved around her height and stature. It was giving the imposed version of “I’m so smol and tiny yet fierce”, just insert smol with tall and there ya have it. We were reminded every chapter about how life was so much more difficult for her being a tall woman. She also suffers from panic disorder, and the solution to her panic disorder is… smelling the person she loves. Aaah yes, I too love when my panic attacks are stopped mid-swing when I take a giant whiff of my boyfriend. Panic attack gone, poof!
It felt very ignorant to reduce panic attacks and panic disorder like that.
The male love interest was extremely bland and didn’t HAVE a personality aside from wanting Thena (the FMC). A lot of the side characters seemed more fleshed out, but not by a whole lot more.
My main gripe is that this author used similes and references to other media (Goonies, Star Trek, Harry Potter) instead of actually using her OWN words to describe places, creatures, and settings. Every other sentence was a simile. Seriously. One or two media references and shout outs is cool (minus the Harry Potter one in this day and age), but this book is RIFE with them.
There is also NO PLOT. Literally none! This book is nearly 400 PAGES of vibes and some sex sprinkled in. The only thing I DID like was the physical representation of a mating bond, that was cool. But that’s all that was cool. As much as I wanted it to be, this book was not for me at all. Thanks to NetGalley for ARC access.
The main character’s personality revolved around her height and stature. It was giving the imposed version of “I’m so smol and tiny yet fierce”, just insert smol with tall and there ya have it. We were reminded every chapter about how life was so much more difficult for her being a tall woman. She also suffers from panic disorder, and the solution to her panic disorder is… smelling the person she loves. Aaah yes, I too love when my panic attacks are stopped mid-swing when I take a giant whiff of my boyfriend. Panic attack gone, poof!
It felt very ignorant to reduce panic attacks and panic disorder like that.
The male love interest was extremely bland and didn’t HAVE a personality aside from wanting Thena (the FMC). A lot of the side characters seemed more fleshed out, but not by a whole lot more.
My main gripe is that this author used similes and references to other media (Goonies, Star Trek, Harry Potter) instead of actually using her OWN words to describe places, creatures, and settings. Every other sentence was a simile. Seriously. One or two media references and shout outs is cool (minus the Harry Potter one in this day and age), but this book is RIFE with them.
There is also NO PLOT. Literally none! This book is nearly 400 PAGES of vibes and some sex sprinkled in. The only thing I DID like was the physical representation of a mating bond, that was cool. But that’s all that was cool. As much as I wanted it to be, this book was not for me at all. Thanks to NetGalley for ARC access.
August 16, 2026
The narration in this was good! My critiques and rating are based on the writing…
The biggest shock from this book was the ratio of spicy scenes vs actual plot. I love a forced proximity trope and fated mates — and that’s what originally attracted me about this book.
There was WAY more plot than I expected judging by the title. I thought the story and adventure was good, but I had hoped for more of a steamy book overall. It also felt very long.
There were also a lot of references throughout the book (which I truly don’t mind) but I think this book would’ve benefitted by removing 2 out of every 3 of them. Eventually it felt like every paragraph ended with a pop culture or 80s reference. If the editing would’ve removed a lot of that I think it’s a great plot and concept otherwise.
Thank you for the gifted ARC and the ALC
The biggest shock from this book was the ratio of spicy scenes vs actual plot. I love a forced proximity trope and fated mates — and that’s what originally attracted me about this book.
There was WAY more plot than I expected judging by the title. I thought the story and adventure was good, but I had hoped for more of a steamy book overall. It also felt very long.
There were also a lot of references throughout the book (which I truly don’t mind) but I think this book would’ve benefitted by removing 2 out of every 3 of them. Eventually it felt like every paragraph ended with a pop culture or 80s reference. If the editing would’ve removed a lot of that I think it’s a great plot and concept otherwise.
Thank you for the gifted ARC and the ALC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this. The MMC is more of a steady presence and I found it to be a nice balance for the FMC who is a bit more chaotic. She gets stuck in her own head a lot and makes many sarcastic remarks and humorous references. But he has a way of pulling her back. There are many cultural differences to overcome and they both make enough mistakes, but it was interesting to watch them grow.
General breakdown is Fated mates, political intrigue, touch her and 💀, portal fantasy
Not only does the writing itself flow well, but the narrators did a really good job here. Both brought this story to life.
Thank you to Netgalley, Tor Publishing, and Macmillan Audio for the ebook and audio. All opinions are my own.
General breakdown is Fated mates, political intrigue, touch her and 💀, portal fantasy
Not only does the writing itself flow well, but the narrators did a really good job here. Both brought this story to life.
Thank you to Netgalley, Tor Publishing, and Macmillan Audio for the ebook and audio. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐ 2/5
Audiobook Narration: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Spice Level: 🌶️ 6/10
I came *dangerously* close to DNFing this one. Unfortunately, NetGalley had become my captor because I wanted to quit, but my ratio said absolutely not. 😂 The narrators were fantastic, the spice was fun, and there were pieces of this story I genuinely liked, however getting through Thena's POV was a struggle.
My biggest issue was the sheer number of pop culture references. And these weren't references that made a twenty-something FMC feel twenty-something. I'm in my 40s, and some of them felt dated to me. At times, I had almost secondhand embarrassment listening to her monologe and dialogue. Like... are your pants on fire, you liar. Cringe.
But it wasn't just that the references were dated. They were constantly used in place of actual description. Instead of describing a creepy hallway and allowing me to picture it, it's basically an "Addams Family hallway". This happened over and over again, and it kept me from ever feeling immersed in the fantasy world. When the book wasn't relying on something I was already supposed to recognize, descriptions often didn't go much further than telling me something was beautiful. Korule had the potential to be a really interesting setting, but I never felt like I actually knew what this world looked or felt like.
Unfortunately, removing the pop culture references wouldn't have completely fixed Thena for me either. I found her incredibly contradictory. She'll be angry with Viggo for "kidnapping" her while her own internal monologue acknowledges that she wanted to go through the portal. She knows she's attracted to him. She knows she likes him. She knows there's a bond between them. And yet we spend so much time in her head while she fights everything anyway. After a while, I just wanted her to stop arguing with herself.
Viggo was one of the brighter spots. He's attentive and protective, especially in the beginning, and I liked seeing him struggle to communicate and explain things to Thena. There was at least a little character growth there. Unfortunately, as the story progressed, so many of their interactions became sexual that I never felt like their actual relationship developed enough.
And that's probably my biggest issue with the romance: I believed the sexual attraction, but I didn't believe the romance.
The spice itself, though? Pretty good! I'd put it around a 6/10, and those scenes were honestly some of the more enjoyable parts of the book. I just wish we'd gotten more emotional intimacy between them to go along with it.
The larger fantasy plot didn't pull me in enough to compensate, either. Between the limited worldbuilding and so much time spent with Thena internally fighting the bond, I never became particularly invested in the conflict, and the ending was fairly predictable.
That said, I can see other readers having a completely different experience with this book. There's a fun premise here. You've got orcs, portals, fated mates, protective MMC energy, and plenty of spice. If Thena's humor and constant references work for you instead of giving you secondhand embarrassment, you may have a much better time than I did. I actually think I could have enjoyed this book quite a bit more if the references had been toned WAY down and more of that space had gone toward worldbuilding and developing the relationship.
The audiobook narration, however, gets an easy 5 stars from me. Both narrators were excellent and genuinely helped me finish a book I was struggling with. I would happily listen to either of them narrate another book—and considering how close I came to DNFing this one, that's saying something.
ARC audiobook provided by Macmillan Audio and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I do love me a good Orc romance, especially when they’re quick, spicy, and easy to binge. Unfortunately, this one felt a little too long for me, I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been shorter and moved a little faster. The audiobook as a whole was really great, I loved the narrators, they were amazing!
Ok, so Thena was… a lot. 😂 She spends what feels like 90% of the book fighting the mate bond, and by the time she finally gives in, it almost felt more like she was accepting it because she had to rather than because she genuinely wanted to. Viggo had his alpha-male moments too, but honestly, some of them felt so out of character that they pulled me out of the story. I just didn’t always buy that side of him. And then there was Thena deciding she absolutely HAD to see the town, despite knowing the potential risks, and somehow putting other people in danger because of it. Girl. 😩 What really got me was that she seemed to understand the dangers at one point, only to completely forget why those same things were dangerous later.
I also struggled a little with how easily she accepted the whole alternate-reality situation. Like… you just discovered that Orcs are real, you’re living in an entirely different world/space-time situation, and we’re not having at least ONE “what the actual hell is happening?!” moment?! 😂 Maybe that’s just me, but I definitely needed a little more disbelief and processing there.
There were definitely things I enjoyed, and I’ll always have a soft spot for an Orc romance,
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
Ok, so Thena was… a lot. 😂 She spends what feels like 90% of the book fighting the mate bond, and by the time she finally gives in, it almost felt more like she was accepting it because she had to rather than because she genuinely wanted to. Viggo had his alpha-male moments too, but honestly, some of them felt so out of character that they pulled me out of the story. I just didn’t always buy that side of him. And then there was Thena deciding she absolutely HAD to see the town, despite knowing the potential risks, and somehow putting other people in danger because of it. Girl. 😩 What really got me was that she seemed to understand the dangers at one point, only to completely forget why those same things were dangerous later.
I also struggled a little with how easily she accepted the whole alternate-reality situation. Like… you just discovered that Orcs are real, you’re living in an entirely different world/space-time situation, and we’re not having at least ONE “what the actual hell is happening?!” moment?! 😂 Maybe that’s just me, but I definitely needed a little more disbelief and processing there.
There were definitely things I enjoyed, and I’ll always have a soft spot for an Orc romance,
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Audio review
Portal fantasy romance featuring orcs and fated mates seems like it would be exactly my speed, and for the most part, I enjoyed it. This was a fast-paced read with a snarky and funny FMC, an enormously protective and jealous MMC, and all the “stranger in a a strange land” shenanigans that you could want in a portal fantasy.
There are a few notes that didn’t hit as well for me - I didn’t like that queer orcs aren’t able to have a bonded mate. This sort of othering and marginalization isn’t something I appreciate, even when the FMC doesn’t like it either. There’s also some HP references early in the book that have me questioning where the author stands.
All that said, the narration was a joy. Vivienne LaRue gives Thena so much exasperated pep while Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick makes our orc king into a growly OTP alpha in the most hysterical ways.
Thanks so much to MacMillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are honest and shared voluntarily.
Portal fantasy romance featuring orcs and fated mates seems like it would be exactly my speed, and for the most part, I enjoyed it. This was a fast-paced read with a snarky and funny FMC, an enormously protective and jealous MMC, and all the “stranger in a a strange land” shenanigans that you could want in a portal fantasy.
There are a few notes that didn’t hit as well for me - I didn’t like that queer orcs aren’t able to have a bonded mate. This sort of othering and marginalization isn’t something I appreciate, even when the FMC doesn’t like it either. There’s also some HP references early in the book that have me questioning where the author stands.
All that said, the narration was a joy. Vivienne LaRue gives Thena so much exasperated pep while Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick makes our orc king into a growly OTP alpha in the most hysterical ways.
Thanks so much to MacMillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are honest and shared voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and the author for a copy of this book.
I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. It was just ok. I think that Thena's kneejerk reaction to push against Viggo *constantly* even when it was monumentally stupid finally wore me down. I did like the opening premise where Orcs from another realm are dropped into a ComicCon-type convention and everyone assumes it's cosplay.
I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. It was just ok. I think that Thena's kneejerk reaction to push against Viggo *constantly* even when it was monumentally stupid finally wore me down. I did like the opening premise where Orcs from another realm are dropped into a ComicCon-type convention and everyone assumes it's cosplay.
September 24, 2026
This was such a fun time! Claimed by the Orc King is monster romance at its guiltiest-pleasure best: an entertaining portal-fantasy adventure, a formidable orc king, and a heroine who can hold her own. It’s over-the-top, steamy, and delightfully easy to get swept up in. The audiobook was fabulous, too, and made the whole adventure even more fun. I loved it!
Did Not Finish
September 20, 2026Claimed by the Orc King — Roxy Taylor
DNF at 45%
Format: ALC / Audiobook
ALC via: NetGalley
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Narrators: Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick & Vivienne LaRue
Publication Date: November 2, 2026
Unfortunately, I’m DNFing this one at around 45%. The premise sounded completely up my alley orc king, fated mates, portal fantasy, magic, political intrigue but the execution just did not work for me.
One of my biggest issues was the writing itself. There are so many metaphors, comparisons, and references used to explain situations or describe what the characters are feeling, and a lot of them just did not land for me. It started to feel like every scene needed some kind of clever comparison or pop-culture reference attached to it. I even counted around five references in one chapter alone. There are also quite a few Harry Potter references throughout, and after a while it became distracting instead of funny. Rather than helping me picture the scene or understand the emotion, a lot of those comparisons pulled me completely out of the story.
I also really struggled with Thena as the FMC. She is a taller woman who has spent a lot of her life feeling like she doesn’t quite fit in, which could have made her being dropped into this completely different orc world really interesting. Instead, I never felt like that part of her character was explored in a way that made me connect with her.
I completely understand that her main goal is getting home. If I were suddenly dragged through a portal into another world, I would probably want the exact same thing. My issue was more with the fact that she rarely seemed willing to listen to anyone who was actually trying to help her survive while she was there. She doesn’t know this world, its customs, its dangers, or how anything works, but she constantly pushes back against the people who do. Because of that, she didn’t come across as smart or capable to me. She often came across as reckless, stubborn, and unwilling to take in information that could actually help her.
And honestly, I felt bad for Viggo. I actually liked him quite a bit. He is trying to protect her, explain things to her, guide her through this world, and give her space even though he believes she is his fated mate. It felt like almost every attempt he made to help her was immediately thrown back in his face. Their relationship became this constant cycle of arguing about the bond, Thena refusing to hear him out, and Viggo trying again. By 45%, it had become repetitive instead of entertaining.
I also liked Viggo’s brothers and several of the other members of his tribe, and I think there was a genuinely interesting fantasy world underneath everything. Unfortunately, I just could not get past the writing style, the overwhelming number of references and comparisons, and how Thena was written.
Since I’m stopping at 45%, I obviously can’t speak to how her character develops later or how the story ultimately ends. I can only review the portion I read, and at this point I was no longer enjoying the experience enough to continue.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
DNF at 45%
Format: ALC / Audiobook
ALC via: NetGalley
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Narrators: Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick & Vivienne LaRue
Publication Date: November 2, 2026
Unfortunately, I’m DNFing this one at around 45%. The premise sounded completely up my alley orc king, fated mates, portal fantasy, magic, political intrigue but the execution just did not work for me.
One of my biggest issues was the writing itself. There are so many metaphors, comparisons, and references used to explain situations or describe what the characters are feeling, and a lot of them just did not land for me. It started to feel like every scene needed some kind of clever comparison or pop-culture reference attached to it. I even counted around five references in one chapter alone. There are also quite a few Harry Potter references throughout, and after a while it became distracting instead of funny. Rather than helping me picture the scene or understand the emotion, a lot of those comparisons pulled me completely out of the story.
I also really struggled with Thena as the FMC. She is a taller woman who has spent a lot of her life feeling like she doesn’t quite fit in, which could have made her being dropped into this completely different orc world really interesting. Instead, I never felt like that part of her character was explored in a way that made me connect with her.
I completely understand that her main goal is getting home. If I were suddenly dragged through a portal into another world, I would probably want the exact same thing. My issue was more with the fact that she rarely seemed willing to listen to anyone who was actually trying to help her survive while she was there. She doesn’t know this world, its customs, its dangers, or how anything works, but she constantly pushes back against the people who do. Because of that, she didn’t come across as smart or capable to me. She often came across as reckless, stubborn, and unwilling to take in information that could actually help her.
And honestly, I felt bad for Viggo. I actually liked him quite a bit. He is trying to protect her, explain things to her, guide her through this world, and give her space even though he believes she is his fated mate. It felt like almost every attempt he made to help her was immediately thrown back in his face. Their relationship became this constant cycle of arguing about the bond, Thena refusing to hear him out, and Viggo trying again. By 45%, it had become repetitive instead of entertaining.
I also liked Viggo’s brothers and several of the other members of his tribe, and I think there was a genuinely interesting fantasy world underneath everything. Unfortunately, I just could not get past the writing style, the overwhelming number of references and comparisons, and how Thena was written.
Since I’m stopping at 45%, I obviously can’t speak to how her character develops later or how the story ultimately ends. I can only review the portion I read, and at this point I was no longer enjoying the experience enough to continue.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
September 3, 2026
not the Harry Potter references in 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sometimes a book doesn’t need to be a literary masterpiece to be a really damn good time.
Claimed by the Orc King may not be winning any awards for literary complexity, but honestly? It does exactly what it sets out to do, and it does it very well.
The writing is easy-flowing and uncomplicated, which made this a really enjoyable read. The characters are surprisingly well developed, and I genuinely enjoyed watching their personalities come through. And then there’s the banter. So much witty, ridiculous banter! There were plenty of moments where I found myself laughing because the whole situation was just so over-the-top that it bordered on satirical.
And yes, some of the "Earth" references feel dated. There were definitely moments where I thought, Okay, we get it… 😂 But at the same time, those references are clearly part of the appeal and speak directly to the audience this book is written for. They give the story a particular kind of cheeky, tongue-in-cheek humour that fits the overall tone.
I think that’s really the key to this book: it isn't meant to be for everyone. And that's okay.
This is an unapologetically silly, spicy, entertaining fantasy romance that knows exactly what it wants to be. If you're looking for deep literary prose, intricate political world-building, or a serious examination of orc society, you may want to look elsewhere. 😂 But if you're looking for something fun, easy to read, character-driven, and delightfully ridiculous, this could absolutely be your book.
For me, it hit the sweet spot between "this is ridiculous" and "I am completely entertained by this."
Sometimes you just need the right book at the right time - and Claimed by the Orc King is definitely the right book for the right reader.
Thank you to Roxy Taylor and NetGalley for a complimentary ARC and I am offering this honest and fair review voluntarily.
Claimed by the Orc King may not be winning any awards for literary complexity, but honestly? It does exactly what it sets out to do, and it does it very well.
The writing is easy-flowing and uncomplicated, which made this a really enjoyable read. The characters are surprisingly well developed, and I genuinely enjoyed watching their personalities come through. And then there’s the banter. So much witty, ridiculous banter! There were plenty of moments where I found myself laughing because the whole situation was just so over-the-top that it bordered on satirical.
And yes, some of the "Earth" references feel dated. There were definitely moments where I thought, Okay, we get it… 😂 But at the same time, those references are clearly part of the appeal and speak directly to the audience this book is written for. They give the story a particular kind of cheeky, tongue-in-cheek humour that fits the overall tone.
I think that’s really the key to this book: it isn't meant to be for everyone. And that's okay.
This is an unapologetically silly, spicy, entertaining fantasy romance that knows exactly what it wants to be. If you're looking for deep literary prose, intricate political world-building, or a serious examination of orc society, you may want to look elsewhere. 😂 But if you're looking for something fun, easy to read, character-driven, and delightfully ridiculous, this could absolutely be your book.
For me, it hit the sweet spot between "this is ridiculous" and "I am completely entertained by this."
Sometimes you just need the right book at the right time - and Claimed by the Orc King is definitely the right book for the right reader.
Thank you to Roxy Taylor and NetGalley for a complimentary ARC and I am offering this honest and fair review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ALC Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
From the beginning it had me laughing. I thought it was fun dynamic to include someone whose identity had been defined by her stature. Navigating her whole life around the way society had deemed her most noticeable trait was her height. Then throwing her into a situation where it was the least notable thing about her.
A main character with flaws is such an important aspect to a great story. The inclusion of anxiety and panic attacks was a great surprise. I loved how they were introduced. That being said, I couldn't get a handle on the FMC's character and as the story continued I became increasingly disconnected from her. The potential of her panic attacks lost their realistic feel and felt more like a prop, than an actual illness/disorder.
There are some truly unique moments and ideas here. The physical manifestations of the bond, the historical connections/traditions, and the power structures. However the way the author decided to push the story forward lost me. The choices being made... the actions being taken... I can see the purpose in them, but for me it detracted from the story instead of deepening it.
I really liked both of the narrators and it kept me listening through the choices the author made to move the story forward. I got as far into this story as I did because of their talent.
In the end, my dislike of the FMC isn't actually her it's the literary choices the author made that moved it to disliking the story instead. DNF at 70%. I will not be continuing this series.
I WILL be looking for more books with these narrators though. Fantastic.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC!
From the beginning it had me laughing. I thought it was fun dynamic to include someone whose identity had been defined by her stature. Navigating her whole life around the way society had deemed her most noticeable trait was her height. Then throwing her into a situation where it was the least notable thing about her.
A main character with flaws is such an important aspect to a great story. The inclusion of anxiety and panic attacks was a great surprise. I loved how they were introduced. That being said, I couldn't get a handle on the FMC's character and as the story continued I became increasingly disconnected from her. The potential of her panic attacks lost their realistic feel and felt more like a prop, than an actual illness/disorder.
There are some truly unique moments and ideas here. The physical manifestations of the bond, the historical connections/traditions, and the power structures. However the way the author decided to push the story forward lost me. The choices being made... the actions being taken... I can see the purpose in them, but for me it detracted from the story instead of deepening it.
I really liked both of the narrators and it kept me listening through the choices the author made to move the story forward. I got as far into this story as I did because of their talent.
In the end, my dislike of the FMC isn't actually her it's the literary choices the author made that moved it to disliking the story instead. DNF at 70%. I will not be continuing this series.
I WILL be looking for more books with these narrators though. Fantastic.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thena has panic attacks, social anxiety, and is tall enough to give any guy a complex. Well, except for the extremely large green actor dressed like an orc at Fantasticon. But when they kiss and the world literally shakes, she is claimed as mate and dragged through a portal to another world. Turns out Viggo wasn't just dressed as an orc, he actually is one, and a chieftain no less. But in this world, women still have the choice and her own self-doubts have her fighting the bond at every turn. If given the chance, will she choose to return home or accept her fate with a future she never dreamed of?
This was a fun escape fun my usual genres, and it was interesting to escape to another world. Although I found the main character to be annoying, with her references to pop culture (some of them familiar, some not), Viggo and most of the secondary characters made up for it. I listened to the audiobook version of this book and the narrators did a good job of keeping my interest. Their voices were clear and easy to follow and have life to the characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook through Netgalley. The opinions are my own.
This was a fun escape fun my usual genres, and it was interesting to escape to another world. Although I found the main character to be annoying, with her references to pop culture (some of them familiar, some not), Viggo and most of the secondary characters made up for it. I listened to the audiobook version of this book and the narrators did a good job of keeping my interest. Their voices were clear and easy to follow and have life to the characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook through Netgalley. The opinions are my own.
November 5, 2026
Entertaining urban fantasy read. The story starts out in the current human world at an event called fantasti con ( kinda like comic con). Our FMC meets the chieftain orc who’s been searching for his mate for years.
I won’t give away all the details because it would ruin the plot.
Then this story jumps into the orcs world. The world building is good but not overly complicated. The FMC always has some funny or smartass off the cuff comment. Since everyone in try’s to tell her what to do she’s mouthing off frequently.
The FMC has a fear panic disorder. But she’s defiant, really strong.. like 6ft 2 inches and 280lbs. Long golden curly hair. She doesn’t give in.
The only kind of weird thing about this book is that most of the spicy scenes they basically have full on combat. She’s throwing things at him, punching him, slapping, and then them getting spicy. Kinda weird.. but I think the author is trying to show that their personalities matched well.
Overall the conclusion was good. This could be read as a complete standalone. Not sure if there will be more books from the other characters because we see some of the other characters a lot in this book.
I won’t give away all the details because it would ruin the plot.
Then this story jumps into the orcs world. The world building is good but not overly complicated. The FMC always has some funny or smartass off the cuff comment. Since everyone in try’s to tell her what to do she’s mouthing off frequently.
The FMC has a fear panic disorder. But she’s defiant, really strong.. like 6ft 2 inches and 280lbs. Long golden curly hair. She doesn’t give in.
The only kind of weird thing about this book is that most of the spicy scenes they basically have full on combat. She’s throwing things at him, punching him, slapping, and then them getting spicy. Kinda weird.. but I think the author is trying to show that their personalities matched well.
Overall the conclusion was good. This could be read as a complete standalone. Not sure if there will be more books from the other characters because we see some of the other characters a lot in this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received the physical ARC from the publisher but this book was not for me. They have angry sex, toxic relationship, and no romance. The woman in it is brought to this new world of Orcs and all sorts of creatures. The orc that claimed her has told her that until she claims him back, the other male orcs will want her, so for her safety and his people's safety, she needs to stay safe in his castle. She's like, yeah, no, you can't tell me what to do. So guess what? She leaves the safety of the castle (multiple times with bad things happening each time) and eventually gets kidnapped by the bad guy. Shocking! Onto the orc. You would think since he needs her to claim him back that he would woo her in some way so she falls for him. Nope. No romance whatsoever. Just them getting mad at each other, her throwing things at him, and then they have sex, and then realize, oh, that solved nothing and we are still mad. Weird. And there is no way I am believing she is a virgin after reading their first time together.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This book was such an interesting read! It takes place in an alternate universe (from a portal in Earth) and the moment they get there, our FMC Thena finds out she’s in danger unless she accepts the bond with her fated mate Viggo! Right off the bat, I loved Viggo’s brothers Gist and Valder, because the banter between them and Viggo is so good! When they get to their land, we meet Viggo’s sister Aesthyr and she’s so funny! I really like that the conflict is our story was external ( outside of accepting the bond) and SHIT GOES DOWN!! It’s crazy but in the absolute best way. I’m hoping that we’ll get books for the siblings, especially Valdar and Aesthyr! I had such a good time with this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An interesting premise and something that was really good in the execution. I really was intrigued by what was going to happen from page to page and it made me want to keep on reading. Small personal issues with certain way tropes are done are the only reason that I rated 4 stars. I dislike some ways that the "no one can love me" trope is done. It was one of the better done ones but still not to my taste.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This was a fun spicy read. The plot was intriguing, the MC was annoying but hilarious, and the Orcs were great. The amount of creative jokes the author managed in her writing was actually impressive. I felt like I was taking notes
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you @NetGalley and @ MacmillanAudio for the ALC. I enjoyed this book, but at times the main character Thena got on my nerves. Viggo is a real Orc at a Cosplay convention and everyone thinks its a costume. Yet when he meets Thena he realizes she is his fated mate. The tension and fighting was really good. I will read book 2. Loved Viggo.
September 23, 2026
Did Sam bully me into reading this? Yes. Was it still a good read? Also, yes. It’s like a better ice planet barbarians.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well... I mean.... Idk... It was okay. I finished it and there were parts I liked but at the end I definitely had questions and as a vibes reader that is a tad unusual for me to be like "wait what?".
I liked how it started off and the whole "portal" concept but for me things quickly got questionable afterwards. I did enjoy how the FMC was very tall and sassy. Her retorts carried the book for me.
Give this book a try if you like-
orcs
virgin fmc
portal romance
unusual fated mate/bonding rules
I guess you could give this a go when you're doing your chores and you just wanna zone out while a chick gets railed by and orc
I liked how it started off and the whole "portal" concept but for me things quickly got questionable afterwards. I did enjoy how the FMC was very tall and sassy. Her retorts carried the book for me.
Give this book a try if you like-
orcs
virgin fmc
portal romance
unusual fated mate/bonding rules
I guess you could give this a go when you're doing your chores and you just wanna zone out while a chick gets railed by and orc
October 20, 2026
I really loved the relationship between Thena and Viggo. I’m always a sucker for a grumpy, protective MMC who is completely gone for his girl, and Viggo definitely delivered. I loved watching their relationship develop as Thena tried to figure out this strange new world and what the bond between them actually meant. There’s plenty of banter, some sweet moments, and a whole lot of chemistry!
The magic system was probably one of my favorite parts! I went in expecting a fun monster romance, but there was so much more going on with the worldbuilding, political intrigue, and Thena’s own awakening powers. I loved that she wasn’t just along for the ride as Viggo’s mate, but had her own place in the bigger picture.
The side characters were such a fun addition, too, and I especially loved seeing the relationships develop beyond just the main couple. There was a really nice balance of romance, magic, humor, and plot that kept me invested.
The magic system was probably one of my favorite parts! I went in expecting a fun monster romance, but there was so much more going on with the worldbuilding, political intrigue, and Thena’s own awakening powers. I loved that she wasn’t just along for the ride as Viggo’s mate, but had her own place in the bigger picture.
The side characters were such a fun addition, too, and I especially loved seeing the relationships develop beyond just the main couple. There was a really nice balance of romance, magic, humor, and plot that kept me invested.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Libro.fm for the complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review.
I should have DNF but I hate finished this book.
Our FMC Thena’s entire personality is that she is tall and a virgin because nobody genuinely likes tall women, especially those with social anxiety and panic disorders. She meets her fated mate, an Orc named Viggo, at an event with cosplaying, nearly has sex with him a basement, tries to escape him, then gets in a portal with him? Then spends the entire book knowing that her unbonded presence in his world is dangerous, but her all knowing human brain said she’s smarter than the hundred+ year old orc KING of the region. She then wants him but says she isn’t good enough for him, then has sex with him but won’t bond him, then wants to get a portal back to earth where she actually hates her life but wants to leave him because she thinks it’s she isn’t good enough for him, so she partially bonds but not fully and BLAH BLAH BLAH.
I wanted to love the monster smut but bro… her FMC was insufferable. The MMC is a grunter that doesn’t know how to use her worlds.
He had a vibrating second dick and it wasn’t even that hot of a sex scene.
DID I MENTION THAT SHES A VIRGIN?
I should have DNF but I hate finished this book.
Our FMC Thena’s entire personality is that she is tall and a virgin because nobody genuinely likes tall women, especially those with social anxiety and panic disorders. She meets her fated mate, an Orc named Viggo, at an event with cosplaying, nearly has sex with him a basement, tries to escape him, then gets in a portal with him? Then spends the entire book knowing that her unbonded presence in his world is dangerous, but her all knowing human brain said she’s smarter than the hundred+ year old orc KING of the region. She then wants him but says she isn’t good enough for him, then has sex with him but won’t bond him, then wants to get a portal back to earth where she actually hates her life but wants to leave him because she thinks it’s she isn’t good enough for him, so she partially bonds but not fully and BLAH BLAH BLAH.
I wanted to love the monster smut but bro… her FMC was insufferable. The MMC is a grunter that doesn’t know how to use her worlds.
He had a vibrating second dick and it wasn’t even that hot of a sex scene.
DID I MENTION THAT SHES A VIRGIN?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is definitely like Dr Pepper. It’s not going to be for everyone, but apparently I’m the target demographic.
This was a 4.5⭐ for me, and I’m SO glad I didn’t read the Goodreads reviews first and just went in for myself. I had so much fun with this book. The banter, the completely outside the box thinking, the references, all of it worked for me.
What surprised me most was how thoughtful it was underneath all the chaos. The FMC is living with a chronic illness and uses humor to cope, while also seeking therapy and medication. She’s complex, self aware, and fighting the pull of the mate bond while trying to figure out her own power and what she actually wants.
I also loved the commentary on friendship, especially her growing realization that some of the people around her may value what she can give them more than they value her. The way she recognizes how draining it is to constantly have people take from you, then filters that realization through her self deprecating humor, was surprisingly thoughtful.
And I loved seeing a larger structured FMC. We still don’t get nearly enough women with bigger bodies depicted as the romantic lead without their size becoming the entire story.
I also wouldn’t really call this monster smut. I keep seeing the “monster smut connoisseur” criticism, but I think expectations might be part of the divide here. This isn’t straight to business. There’s intense tension and a medium burn before you get the payoff. If you want monster romance with banter, tension, actual character development, and a larger structured FMC, this might be exactly your flavour.
The female narrator, Vivienne LaRue, was FIRE. She absolutely nailed the humor and personality of the FMC and made an already fun character even better.
The whole thing felt a little like Thor and Hulk meeting Valkyrie in *Ragnarok*. Slightly unhinged, ridiculously fun, but with more thought underneath it than you initially expect.
Basically, this was a joy ride, and now I’m feral for book two.
And apparently I’ll be cheering this book on until release day because I think some of these early reviews are doing it dirty. If anyone has a prerelease copy they’re willing to part with, send them my way. I will happily buy it from the author and keep promoting this one because I genuinely think it deserves more love than it’s getting.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
This was a 4.5⭐ for me, and I’m SO glad I didn’t read the Goodreads reviews first and just went in for myself. I had so much fun with this book. The banter, the completely outside the box thinking, the references, all of it worked for me.
What surprised me most was how thoughtful it was underneath all the chaos. The FMC is living with a chronic illness and uses humor to cope, while also seeking therapy and medication. She’s complex, self aware, and fighting the pull of the mate bond while trying to figure out her own power and what she actually wants.
I also loved the commentary on friendship, especially her growing realization that some of the people around her may value what she can give them more than they value her. The way she recognizes how draining it is to constantly have people take from you, then filters that realization through her self deprecating humor, was surprisingly thoughtful.
And I loved seeing a larger structured FMC. We still don’t get nearly enough women with bigger bodies depicted as the romantic lead without their size becoming the entire story.
I also wouldn’t really call this monster smut. I keep seeing the “monster smut connoisseur” criticism, but I think expectations might be part of the divide here. This isn’t straight to business. There’s intense tension and a medium burn before you get the payoff. If you want monster romance with banter, tension, actual character development, and a larger structured FMC, this might be exactly your flavour.
The female narrator, Vivienne LaRue, was FIRE. She absolutely nailed the humor and personality of the FMC and made an already fun character even better.
The whole thing felt a little like Thor and Hulk meeting Valkyrie in *Ragnarok*. Slightly unhinged, ridiculously fun, but with more thought underneath it than you initially expect.
Basically, this was a joy ride, and now I’m feral for book two.
And apparently I’ll be cheering this book on until release day because I think some of these early reviews are doing it dirty. If anyone has a prerelease copy they’re willing to part with, send them my way. I will happily buy it from the author and keep promoting this one because I genuinely think it deserves more love than it’s getting.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
August 22, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Claimed by the Orc King by Roxy Taylor
Claimed by the Orc King is the first book in the Fated and Bound series! Thank you so much to Titan for sending me an advanced PHYSICAL arc!
Thena is just living her life - an introvert who has somehow found herself helping her “friend” at FantastiCon. Typically, she would much rather be in the safety of her own home, editing photos, watching 80s nostalgia and hiking whenever she finds the time. Instead, she is organising her flighty not-so-friend in preparation to photograph one of the BIGGEST cosplayers in the industry. Armed with sarcasm and a no-nonsense attitude, she hopes she will get through the day without her panic disorder rearing its ugly and persistent head.
Her plans definitely did not include a 7-foot cosplayer, painted green and built like a Norse god, swords and all, to sweep her off her feet and whisk her through a portal into a world she had only ever read about. Only, Viggo Klausson is NOT a cosplayer, he is not even human. Viggo is the High Chieftain of the Eastern Orcs. With the help of his brothers, Valdar and Grist, he has spent the past two years searching the human world for his mate. As an Orc his presence on earth isn’t exactly subtle, however amongst the nerds, geeks and cosplayers in the Convention circuits, he instantly rises in notoriety to his commitment to the costume. When he scents Thena, at FantistiCon, he knows immediately that she is the one he has been searching for. She belongs to him. However despite the instant attraction between them, Thena wants no part in “destiny” or the supposed “mating bond” they share.
Now, stranded in another world, she has no choice but to accompany Viggo and his brothers across the Kingdom to the city of Dar Besh - the seat of Viggo’s kingdom, with the goal of finding the mage who is her only hope of returing back to her world. However, it isn’t long until an ancient power awakens inside her - which complicates matters further. Now, she must come to grips with the new world she finds herself in, the powers she has inherited and the malevolent Orcs who threaten Viggo’s kingdom - and now want her. And worse of all, she begins to realise that despite fighting her attraction for the handsome chieftain, there may be more to a “mate bond” than he initially surmised.
But Thena has no desire to let others decide her destiny - will she find a way to return to the human world and leave the man she has grown to love behind, or will she find a new home by his side?
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. This book features: . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
💚 Orc x Human Romance
💖 Fancy 🍆 Equipment
💚 Forced Proximity
💖 Fated Mates
💚 Isekai (Portal Romance)
💖 Touch Her and Die
💚 Touch HIM and Die
💖 Political Court Intrigue
💚 Complex Worldbuilding
💖 MAGIC
💚 NUMEROUS 80s Popculture References
💖 Heavily Matriarchal Society
💚 LGBTQIA+ Representation
💖 Badass Valkyrie/Amazonian Warriors
💚 Panic Discorder Representation
💖 Determined, Independent FMC
💚 Downbad, Protective MMC
💖 Complex Side Characters
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. Potential Triggers . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
💚 Quasi-Kidnapping
💖 Attempted Kidnapping
💚 War Violence
I had the absolute BEST time reading this and feel so lucky that I was able to get my hands on it SO early. This book was an immediate 5-star read, on vibes alone - finding its niche within the monster romance isekai genre. It is RIFE with 80s - 2000s pop culture references and similes - she is a fangirl who finds herself in every geek-girls dream situation; using humour and sarcasm to describe the unfamilar circumstances she finds herself in.
Thena has never felt like she fits in anywhere. As a woman over 6ft, she has always felt like a spectacle, leading to the belief that she would never find a place or person to call her own. To make matters worse, her life has been dictated by her panic disorder and people-pleasing tendencies; this often leads to people taking advantage of her kindness. Despite this, she is fierce and independent. I loved everything about Thena. She is the type of character who makes you feel seen and heard. Thena shows that you can be soft, feminine and loveable, even if you don’t fit into what societies expectations of these characteristics.
Viggo is my favourite kind of MMC. He is IMMEDIATELY downbad- obsessed for Thena. He gave off BIG Tormund Giantsbane (GoT) vibes at times, which I found delightful. He left his kingdom to find his mate and on finding her, she became his whole world. In addition to being a big, gruff cinnamon bun, he can also be extremely cheeky and somewhat cocky at times, which I found delightful. And I need to take a moment to acknowledge the IMMENSE and interesting equipment 😏🍆
The relationship between Viggo and Thena was full of tension and angst. Thena’s initial resistance to their bond made the buildup and slow-ish burn of their relationship all the more delicious. The connection between them is very typical of the genre - with some similarities between omegaverse-type scent/mate bonds (which as an omegaverse reader, I found delightful!). The balance between spice and worldbuilding, is definitely more plot-driven opposed to smut-heavy. This felt vital to the book, given the worldbuilding and magic system. BUT, when it did get hot it was HOT 🥵 The miscommunication trope does take the front seat in this book. Typically I HATE it, but for this book it really worked in building the relationship, understanding and intimacy between these characters.
The side characters in this book were lush and felt like much more than just “side characters” to the story. Viggo’s siblings Valdar, Grist and Aesthyr were the BEST additions to the story. Valdar is very much so the himbo - comedic relief this book needed to break the tension and severity. He is the jokester, who on occasion could be (delightfully) grating on Viggo and Thena’s nerves. However at heart is has the best intentions and wants the best for his brother and now his sister-in-law. Grist is far more reserved of Viggo’s brothers. He is quiet and thoughtful. And while Valdar is more of the “muscle” he is the “brains” of their trio. I loved seeing his connection with Thena as it develops throughout the book - as her first friend in this strange world. I also LOVED his mate Jordynn. Aesthyr is the fierce, Valkyrie-esque Commander of Viggo’s orc army. I loved her from the MOMENT she was introduced and loved every scene she was in. As a matriarchy-heavy world, she is fiercely loyal in protecting Thena and encouraging and supporting her autonomy. Her legion of badass female warriors, including Styx (the sassiest) had me squealing in delight at every interaction.
Claimed by the Orc King is perfect for fans of Ice Planet Barbarians, Brides of the Moon Blade Clan and Game of Thrones. It is lush with worldbuilding, a unique magic system, fleshed-out and lovable side characters and full to bursting with pop culture references. If you love a sassy, independent, no-nonsense FMC and a downbad, obsessed Orc MMC, this book is perfect for you. The vibes are immaculate. I cannot wait to find out what happens in book 2 - and after incessantly bugging Roxy, I do know whose book is next in the series 🤭
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. Playlist. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
💚War of Hearts by Ruelle
💖 The Reason by Hoobastank
💚 Good Enough by Evanescence
💖Autumn in Stillness by Violin Sky
💚Blood in the Wine by Aurora
💖The Frozen Planet by Hans Zimmer, Adam Lukas, James Everingham & Aurora
💚Work Song by Hozier
💖Iris (cover) by Chris Lanzon
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. Fave Quotes. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
💚 “I needed to be alone in my solitary life where I didn’t have to mask who I was.”
💖 “I have searched for you from one end of this world to the other. I would have continued searching for you until my last breath.”
💚 “There is only you for me,” he growled against my lips. “There is only me for you”
💖 “If you only ask, I will touch you for eternity, Thena. You will never have to give away any part of yourself that you do not want to. All you ever have to do is be exactly who you want to be. No one will ever use you again”
💚 “I’m broken,” “ I am broken as well” he said “That is why it must be you. Together, we are whole”
💖 “I loved him. Fuck. I did. I loved him and I was sorry. Sorry for fighting him every step of the way. Sorry for mocking what he felt, what he knew to be real. Sorry for not seeing it for what it was, what I could have been, until it was too late”
💚 “Hold on, ghra. I am coming”
Claimed by the Orc King by Roxy Taylor
Claimed by the Orc King is the first book in the Fated and Bound series! Thank you so much to Titan for sending me an advanced PHYSICAL arc!
Thena is just living her life - an introvert who has somehow found herself helping her “friend” at FantastiCon. Typically, she would much rather be in the safety of her own home, editing photos, watching 80s nostalgia and hiking whenever she finds the time. Instead, she is organising her flighty not-so-friend in preparation to photograph one of the BIGGEST cosplayers in the industry. Armed with sarcasm and a no-nonsense attitude, she hopes she will get through the day without her panic disorder rearing its ugly and persistent head.
Her plans definitely did not include a 7-foot cosplayer, painted green and built like a Norse god, swords and all, to sweep her off her feet and whisk her through a portal into a world she had only ever read about. Only, Viggo Klausson is NOT a cosplayer, he is not even human. Viggo is the High Chieftain of the Eastern Orcs. With the help of his brothers, Valdar and Grist, he has spent the past two years searching the human world for his mate. As an Orc his presence on earth isn’t exactly subtle, however amongst the nerds, geeks and cosplayers in the Convention circuits, he instantly rises in notoriety to his commitment to the costume. When he scents Thena, at FantistiCon, he knows immediately that she is the one he has been searching for. She belongs to him. However despite the instant attraction between them, Thena wants no part in “destiny” or the supposed “mating bond” they share.
Now, stranded in another world, she has no choice but to accompany Viggo and his brothers across the Kingdom to the city of Dar Besh - the seat of Viggo’s kingdom, with the goal of finding the mage who is her only hope of returing back to her world. However, it isn’t long until an ancient power awakens inside her - which complicates matters further. Now, she must come to grips with the new world she finds herself in, the powers she has inherited and the malevolent Orcs who threaten Viggo’s kingdom - and now want her. And worse of all, she begins to realise that despite fighting her attraction for the handsome chieftain, there may be more to a “mate bond” than he initially surmised.
But Thena has no desire to let others decide her destiny - will she find a way to return to the human world and leave the man she has grown to love behind, or will she find a new home by his side?
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. This book features: . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
💚 Orc x Human Romance
💖 Fancy 🍆 Equipment
💚 Forced Proximity
💖 Fated Mates
💚 Isekai (Portal Romance)
💖 Touch Her and Die
💚 Touch HIM and Die
💖 Political Court Intrigue
💚 Complex Worldbuilding
💖 MAGIC
💚 NUMEROUS 80s Popculture References
💖 Heavily Matriarchal Society
💚 LGBTQIA+ Representation
💖 Badass Valkyrie/Amazonian Warriors
💚 Panic Discorder Representation
💖 Determined, Independent FMC
💚 Downbad, Protective MMC
💖 Complex Side Characters
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. Potential Triggers . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
💚 Quasi-Kidnapping
💖 Attempted Kidnapping
💚 War Violence
I had the absolute BEST time reading this and feel so lucky that I was able to get my hands on it SO early. This book was an immediate 5-star read, on vibes alone - finding its niche within the monster romance isekai genre. It is RIFE with 80s - 2000s pop culture references and similes - she is a fangirl who finds herself in every geek-girls dream situation; using humour and sarcasm to describe the unfamilar circumstances she finds herself in.
Thena has never felt like she fits in anywhere. As a woman over 6ft, she has always felt like a spectacle, leading to the belief that she would never find a place or person to call her own. To make matters worse, her life has been dictated by her panic disorder and people-pleasing tendencies; this often leads to people taking advantage of her kindness. Despite this, she is fierce and independent. I loved everything about Thena. She is the type of character who makes you feel seen and heard. Thena shows that you can be soft, feminine and loveable, even if you don’t fit into what societies expectations of these characteristics.
Viggo is my favourite kind of MMC. He is IMMEDIATELY downbad- obsessed for Thena. He gave off BIG Tormund Giantsbane (GoT) vibes at times, which I found delightful. He left his kingdom to find his mate and on finding her, she became his whole world. In addition to being a big, gruff cinnamon bun, he can also be extremely cheeky and somewhat cocky at times, which I found delightful. And I need to take a moment to acknowledge the IMMENSE and interesting equipment 😏🍆
The relationship between Viggo and Thena was full of tension and angst. Thena’s initial resistance to their bond made the buildup and slow-ish burn of their relationship all the more delicious. The connection between them is very typical of the genre - with some similarities between omegaverse-type scent/mate bonds (which as an omegaverse reader, I found delightful!). The balance between spice and worldbuilding, is definitely more plot-driven opposed to smut-heavy. This felt vital to the book, given the worldbuilding and magic system. BUT, when it did get hot it was HOT 🥵 The miscommunication trope does take the front seat in this book. Typically I HATE it, but for this book it really worked in building the relationship, understanding and intimacy between these characters.
The side characters in this book were lush and felt like much more than just “side characters” to the story. Viggo’s siblings Valdar, Grist and Aesthyr were the BEST additions to the story. Valdar is very much so the himbo - comedic relief this book needed to break the tension and severity. He is the jokester, who on occasion could be (delightfully) grating on Viggo and Thena’s nerves. However at heart is has the best intentions and wants the best for his brother and now his sister-in-law. Grist is far more reserved of Viggo’s brothers. He is quiet and thoughtful. And while Valdar is more of the “muscle” he is the “brains” of their trio. I loved seeing his connection with Thena as it develops throughout the book - as her first friend in this strange world. I also LOVED his mate Jordynn. Aesthyr is the fierce, Valkyrie-esque Commander of Viggo’s orc army. I loved her from the MOMENT she was introduced and loved every scene she was in. As a matriarchy-heavy world, she is fiercely loyal in protecting Thena and encouraging and supporting her autonomy. Her legion of badass female warriors, including Styx (the sassiest) had me squealing in delight at every interaction.
Claimed by the Orc King is perfect for fans of Ice Planet Barbarians, Brides of the Moon Blade Clan and Game of Thrones. It is lush with worldbuilding, a unique magic system, fleshed-out and lovable side characters and full to bursting with pop culture references. If you love a sassy, independent, no-nonsense FMC and a downbad, obsessed Orc MMC, this book is perfect for you. The vibes are immaculate. I cannot wait to find out what happens in book 2 - and after incessantly bugging Roxy, I do know whose book is next in the series 🤭
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. Playlist. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
💚War of Hearts by Ruelle
💖 The Reason by Hoobastank
💚 Good Enough by Evanescence
💖Autumn in Stillness by Violin Sky
💚Blood in the Wine by Aurora
💖The Frozen Planet by Hans Zimmer, Adam Lukas, James Everingham & Aurora
💚Work Song by Hozier
💖Iris (cover) by Chris Lanzon
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. Fave Quotes. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
💚 “I needed to be alone in my solitary life where I didn’t have to mask who I was.”
💖 “I have searched for you from one end of this world to the other. I would have continued searching for you until my last breath.”
💚 “There is only you for me,” he growled against my lips. “There is only me for you”
💖 “If you only ask, I will touch you for eternity, Thena. You will never have to give away any part of yourself that you do not want to. All you ever have to do is be exactly who you want to be. No one will ever use you again”
💚 “I’m broken,” “ I am broken as well” he said “That is why it must be you. Together, we are whole”
💖 “I loved him. Fuck. I did. I loved him and I was sorry. Sorry for fighting him every step of the way. Sorry for mocking what he felt, what he knew to be real. Sorry for not seeing it for what it was, what I could have been, until it was too late”
💚 “Hold on, ghra. I am coming”
November 3, 2026
Claimed by the Orc King was everything I hoped for and more. Thena was a strong, sassy character that I connected to in both a physical and spiritual/emotional way, and her relationship with Viggo was a violent, passionate pairing that made me feel things and question every step of the way. Buckle up because this review is a long one - no outright spoilers here but if you haven't read the story, be warned that I'm vaguely talking about things beginning to end.
I'll start with Viggo. Big, strong, emotionally stable shm3x warlord & chieftain orc Viggo. The man you are. I need some character artwork immediately because WHAT!? How did this fictional, fantasy creature so closely depict my own journey into the most loving relationship with a man I have ever experienced post-trauma and a life of making myself smaller to fit in. He was patient (and not...hehe), kind, willing to learn and adjust to what Thena needed physically and emotionally. OIh and a pretty sick-a$s warrior ya know? All-around fantastic fella.
Thena honestly made me crazy, yet at the same time was relatable in a way that had me smirking to myself and shaking my head because I was frustrated with her decisions every step of the way. She crashed into a dangerous new world refusing to try to understand their laws, traditions or customs and then was surprised when she received pushback or disagreement with her choices or approaches to situations completely out of her control? Irritating to say the least. BUT she's such a strong-willed woman with a tough past that also I understood in an unexpected way. I experienced continuous whiplash with her self-sabotage, back-and-forth reasoning and subdued acknowledgement of the bond. Her true feelings for Viggo and the underlying want to stay in a world that values her rather than return to her empty life on earth was noted more than once and she kept leaning like she knew ultimately that her fate and future was in Korule and she WANTED it, but then her fear of imperfections and lack of self-confidence at the last second skewed her perspective and she balked at every. single. thing. It was exhausting. However, as someone who has spent their life giving everything and getting nothing in return just to wade through a world that felt like I had to fight for things that were never mine just to survive and protect myself because ultimately, I was all I had - I get it. I worked harder, tried harder, loved harder too. And finally finding someone who loves and respects you for who you truly are is a jarring experience to say the least, and it requires give and take from both sides which was very much expressed throughout this story. Fortunately, she came around and put not only herself first for the first time, but she also fought for everything and everyone around her. Also, her quippy comebacks were hilarious! For example, "you giant piece of toilet paper." Like, what? Dry comedy gold. The constant references to 80's pop culture ran thick and I loved every second because I could understand and relate to all of them. Fantastic. A real winner for us elder millennials.
The plot was kind of your typical fantasy realm at the brink of war with the FMC at the mast for changing the fates and coming into her true powers. But the world that the author created was vast, beautiful and unique and had some really freaking cool creatures that made it that much more interesting. The Skyggr, are you kidding me? I WANT MORE.
The spice spiced, I'd probably put it at a solid 3/5 on my scale. There are plenty of scenes, it's graphic and it's rough (go Thena!) but also sensual and very push-and-pull between her and Viggo. It definitely builds into the plot and their relationship, not overly done and was well placed.
The bad-a$s strong, intelligent, stunning and unique female orc community had me in a chokehold. The glowing tattoos the orcs had were also pretty freaking cool. I was not a fan of all the buildup around female orcs basically running Korule and being the most feared, crazy incredible warriors and still having a male chieftain and heavily male-run "government", but I'll give this one a break because we love Viggo and he is a very aware and considerate feminist.
Ultimately I had an absolute friggen blast reading this. Even with the emotional whiplash, the characters are loveable and definitely experience positive growth alongside the plot. I enjoyed being able to relate to a big-boned, feisty and STRONG woman who didn't allow love or fate to decide her future, rather, she fought for what she believed in and made those decisions when she felt they were right for her. A solid 4.5 star read for me, and I cannot wait to see what else is to come from this author! Thank you Bramble/Tor and Storygram Tours for sharing a copy for review.
I'll start with Viggo. Big, strong, emotionally stable shm3x warlord & chieftain orc Viggo. The man you are. I need some character artwork immediately because WHAT!? How did this fictional, fantasy creature so closely depict my own journey into the most loving relationship with a man I have ever experienced post-trauma and a life of making myself smaller to fit in. He was patient (and not...hehe), kind, willing to learn and adjust to what Thena needed physically and emotionally. OIh and a pretty sick-a$s warrior ya know? All-around fantastic fella.
Thena honestly made me crazy, yet at the same time was relatable in a way that had me smirking to myself and shaking my head because I was frustrated with her decisions every step of the way. She crashed into a dangerous new world refusing to try to understand their laws, traditions or customs and then was surprised when she received pushback or disagreement with her choices or approaches to situations completely out of her control? Irritating to say the least. BUT she's such a strong-willed woman with a tough past that also I understood in an unexpected way. I experienced continuous whiplash with her self-sabotage, back-and-forth reasoning and subdued acknowledgement of the bond. Her true feelings for Viggo and the underlying want to stay in a world that values her rather than return to her empty life on earth was noted more than once and she kept leaning like she knew ultimately that her fate and future was in Korule and she WANTED it, but then her fear of imperfections and lack of self-confidence at the last second skewed her perspective and she balked at every. single. thing. It was exhausting. However, as someone who has spent their life giving everything and getting nothing in return just to wade through a world that felt like I had to fight for things that were never mine just to survive and protect myself because ultimately, I was all I had - I get it. I worked harder, tried harder, loved harder too. And finally finding someone who loves and respects you for who you truly are is a jarring experience to say the least, and it requires give and take from both sides which was very much expressed throughout this story. Fortunately, she came around and put not only herself first for the first time, but she also fought for everything and everyone around her. Also, her quippy comebacks were hilarious! For example, "you giant piece of toilet paper." Like, what? Dry comedy gold. The constant references to 80's pop culture ran thick and I loved every second because I could understand and relate to all of them. Fantastic. A real winner for us elder millennials.
The plot was kind of your typical fantasy realm at the brink of war with the FMC at the mast for changing the fates and coming into her true powers. But the world that the author created was vast, beautiful and unique and had some really freaking cool creatures that made it that much more interesting. The Skyggr, are you kidding me? I WANT MORE.
The spice spiced, I'd probably put it at a solid 3/5 on my scale. There are plenty of scenes, it's graphic and it's rough (go Thena!) but also sensual and very push-and-pull between her and Viggo. It definitely builds into the plot and their relationship, not overly done and was well placed.
The bad-a$s strong, intelligent, stunning and unique female orc community had me in a chokehold. The glowing tattoos the orcs had were also pretty freaking cool. I was not a fan of all the buildup around female orcs basically running Korule and being the most feared, crazy incredible warriors and still having a male chieftain and heavily male-run "government", but I'll give this one a break because we love Viggo and he is a very aware and considerate feminist.
Ultimately I had an absolute friggen blast reading this. Even with the emotional whiplash, the characters are loveable and definitely experience positive growth alongside the plot. I enjoyed being able to relate to a big-boned, feisty and STRONG woman who didn't allow love or fate to decide her future, rather, she fought for what she believed in and made those decisions when she felt they were right for her. A solid 4.5 star read for me, and I cannot wait to see what else is to come from this author! Thank you Bramble/Tor and Storygram Tours for sharing a copy for review.
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