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Mate's Mark #4
Xeni
At Ljómur, surrounded by mates, we saw firsthand how fate could rewrite lives in an instant. We never thought it would claim us too.
Everything was perfect. Bash was my peace, my home, and the one person who saw through every layer I hid behind. Until the day I shattered it all. Four years ago, I sent him away without explanation and forced him to believe our love had been a lie.
Now our group needs Bash’s brilliant mind, and since the military believes I’m dead... I'm the perfect ghost to retrieve him.
When I agree to find him, I brace for hatred, rejection, protest, and tears. But all my practiced detachment and unbothered smiles don't prepare me for facing him again.
The Fates have dragged us back together, tearing open old wounds in a world on the brink of fallout. With the scars I bear and the secrets I keep, is it too late to reclaim what we lost? Or can a broken mate find his way back to the only heart that ever made him whole?
Everything was perfect. Bash was my peace, my home, and the one person who saw through every layer I hid behind. Until the day I shattered it all. Four years ago, I sent him away without explanation and forced him to believe our love had been a lie.
Now our group needs Bash’s brilliant mind, and since the military believes I’m dead... I'm the perfect ghost to retrieve him.
When I agree to find him, I brace for hatred, rejection, protest, and tears. But all my practiced detachment and unbothered smiles don't prepare me for facing him again.
The Fates have dragged us back together, tearing open old wounds in a world on the brink of fallout. With the scars I bear and the secrets I keep, is it too late to reclaim what we lost? Or can a broken mate find his way back to the only heart that ever made him whole?
536 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2026
About the author
G. Eilsel
22 books284 followersG. Eilsel started writing under this pen name in early 2024, publishing works in two genres she loves: eccentric novellas and MM romance.
Her writing puts a focus on sarcasm, snarky humor, sometimes horrible puns, and steamy scenes that'll make your momma blush. Expect heavy spice, in any sort of variety you're looking for-sweet, emotional, depraved, or downright questionable.
Some of her books are one-handed reads with minimal plot, others are more intricate stories that weave themselves through her brain and demand to be put on paper. Angsty and emotional, light and giggle-inducing, and everything in between can be found between the covers of her books.
She doesn't take herself too seriously, throwing pieces of her humor and quirky personality in her writing. If she can't live up to her title of a One-Handed author, then maybe she can at least make you smile.
Her writing puts a focus on sarcasm, snarky humor, sometimes horrible puns, and steamy scenes that'll make your momma blush. Expect heavy spice, in any sort of variety you're looking for-sweet, emotional, depraved, or downright questionable.
Some of her books are one-handed reads with minimal plot, others are more intricate stories that weave themselves through her brain and demand to be put on paper. Angsty and emotional, light and giggle-inducing, and everything in between can be found between the covers of her books.
She doesn't take herself too seriously, throwing pieces of her humor and quirky personality in her writing. If she can't live up to her title of a One-Handed author, then maybe she can at least make you smile.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
March 7, 2026
4.5***** stars
Yesss, baby. Gimme me all the hurt feelings, the anger, the yearning, the desperation, passion and second chances. My kind of romance.
I wanted Xeni’s story since he was introduced in book two. And damn did I get it. Xeni’s background story was heartbreaking. All the things he hid. So strong, so loyal. Damn.
It was really cool to go to a big city this time but I must say I had hoped we would return to the village a bit sooner. I missed all the guys there. And I can’t wait to see where “Aryn” is taking us next. The author promises another wild ride and I’m here for it!
*************
Mate's Mark Series
Book 1 - Ronan - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Elas - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Nyx - 4.25 stars
Book 4 - Xeni - 4.5 stars
Book 5 - Aryn - tbd
Yesss, baby. Gimme me all the hurt feelings, the anger, the yearning, the desperation, passion and second chances. My kind of romance.
“I don’t want you to go,” he whispers back, and I tuck him into my arms. “Not even to grab our food. I can’t stand the thought of not touching you right now.”
I wanted Xeni’s story since he was introduced in book two. And damn did I get it. Xeni’s background story was heartbreaking. All the things he hid. So strong, so loyal. Damn.
It was really cool to go to a big city this time but I must say I had hoped we would return to the village a bit sooner. I missed all the guys there. And I can’t wait to see where “Aryn” is taking us next. The author promises another wild ride and I’m here for it!
*************
Mate's Mark Series
Book 1 - Ronan - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Elas - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Nyx - 4.25 stars
Book 4 - Xeni - 4.5 stars
Book 5 - Aryn - tbd
February 24, 2026
oh my fucking wow.
it’s not a secret that i’m in love with this series, but 5 perfect books out of 5? now that’s a feat.
this author is definitely going into my trusted babies shelves after this.
i do love me a prickly, slightly antagonistic character that gets their redemption and we discover that they’re amazing underneath that protective armor, so i was ready to love xeni. no surprises there.
but no one prepared me for bash!!! wish i could be half as strong as him tbh.
at first, i was getting slightly unnerved about the detour we took from the overarching plot and i was scared that it was just filler, but damn once i got to 50% it perfectly made sense. we needed some time with these new characters and they all got together in the most amazing way.
this book is absolutely perfect from start to finish.
i only have one problem now and that problem is that i need the next book immediately.
also, if you’re my friend and you haven’t started this series, what the fuck are you doing. pick up ronan and start reading.
i read an arc blah blah blah
it’s not a secret that i’m in love with this series, but 5 perfect books out of 5? now that’s a feat.
this author is definitely going into my trusted babies shelves after this.
i do love me a prickly, slightly antagonistic character that gets their redemption and we discover that they’re amazing underneath that protective armor, so i was ready to love xeni. no surprises there.
but no one prepared me for bash!!! wish i could be half as strong as him tbh.
at first, i was getting slightly unnerved about the detour we took from the overarching plot and i was scared that it was just filler, but damn once i got to 50% it perfectly made sense. we needed some time with these new characters and they all got together in the most amazing way.
this book is absolutely perfect from start to finish.
i only have one problem now and that problem is that i need the next book immediately.
also, if you’re my friend and you haven’t started this series, what the fuck are you doing. pick up ronan and start reading.
i read an arc blah blah blah
February 11, 2026
4.25⭐️
The mysterious and grumpy Xeni gets his story told in book 4 of the Mate’s Mark series!
This book follows Xeni in his quest to get his mate back, after being separated by a tragic event. We dive deeper into Xeni’s past as we embark on a mostly-successful road trip with him. In this book we meet a ton of new characters, and learn a little more about the world!
You’ll also find fun content like:
-yearning
-second chance
-secrets and lies
-sacrifice
-fun anatomy and piercings 👀
-action and revenge
This is such an excellent series, and I was so excited to get into book 4! My favourite part of the book is the deep, aching love that Xeni and Bash have for each other. Their love is established early, and therefore the romantic plot line hits hard. There’s no doubt these two love each other. They’re so tender 🥲
In terms of plot, this book gave us something fresh and new. I feel like this series does a great job of making sure the plots of each book aren’t too similar. This one gave us a peek into a city, which was really interesting. Getting to know a little more about the city’s politics was cool.
Overall vibe? While the previous book was a mix between emotional pain and my heart bursting with warmth, this one had my heard beating with intensity (the angst!!) and piquing my interest more. It also felt like it had a slightly more serious tone than the previous book!
There are a lot of new characters, which was mostly necessary for this book. However, I found myself really missing the already large cast of characters established in books 1-3, and found it a little harder to connect with the new ones. That being said, there were two new characters that I was really curious about, and am excited to learn more about in upcoming books!
The overarching plot seems to be slowly be building in each book, and I can’t wait to get deeper into it! Each character has distinct and diverse personality, and I can’t wait to see how the new and older characters interact. 😍 Love this series!
The mysterious and grumpy Xeni gets his story told in book 4 of the Mate’s Mark series!
This book follows Xeni in his quest to get his mate back, after being separated by a tragic event. We dive deeper into Xeni’s past as we embark on a mostly-successful road trip with him. In this book we meet a ton of new characters, and learn a little more about the world!
You’ll also find fun content like:
-yearning
-second chance
-secrets and lies
-sacrifice
-fun anatomy and piercings 👀
-action and revenge
This is such an excellent series, and I was so excited to get into book 4! My favourite part of the book is the deep, aching love that Xeni and Bash have for each other. Their love is established early, and therefore the romantic plot line hits hard. There’s no doubt these two love each other. They’re so tender 🥲
In terms of plot, this book gave us something fresh and new. I feel like this series does a great job of making sure the plots of each book aren’t too similar. This one gave us a peek into a city, which was really interesting. Getting to know a little more about the city’s politics was cool.
Overall vibe? While the previous book was a mix between emotional pain and my heart bursting with warmth, this one had my heard beating with intensity (the angst!!) and piquing my interest more. It also felt like it had a slightly more serious tone than the previous book!
There are a lot of new characters, which was mostly necessary for this book. However, I found myself really missing the already large cast of characters established in books 1-3, and found it a little harder to connect with the new ones. That being said, there were two new characters that I was really curious about, and am excited to learn more about in upcoming books!
The overarching plot seems to be slowly be building in each book, and I can’t wait to get deeper into it! Each character has distinct and diverse personality, and I can’t wait to see how the new and older characters interact. 😍 Love this series!
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February 18, 2026
Ok, this is officially my favourite in the series so far. This book is INCREDIBLE.
Xeni has been a bit of a sexy mystery since the very beginning of the series. He’s sometimes a villain, sometimes a bit of an anti-hero, but always entertaining. I could not WAIT for his story and to finally get to see what kind of person his mate could be.
Boy, this did not disappoint. I don’t usually love second-chance romance but it was exactly what this story needed. The angst was angsting in the absolute best way and I wanted these two to reconcile soooo badly. G. Eilsel did an absolutely incredible job of writing this one. The emotion is so raw and you can really feel the heartbreak in both characters, but also completely understand their individual motives and feelings. Also I need to mention that the spice is absolute top tier. I had high expectations for Xeni and they were definitely met 🌶️
Lastly I’ll just say that the world-building in this series continues to amazes me. We’re drawn deeper into the world with each book and every new character and I just keep falling more in love with all of it. I can’t wait for the next one!
⭐ 4.75/5
🌶️ 3/5
Xeni has been a bit of a sexy mystery since the very beginning of the series. He’s sometimes a villain, sometimes a bit of an anti-hero, but always entertaining. I could not WAIT for his story and to finally get to see what kind of person his mate could be.
Boy, this did not disappoint. I don’t usually love second-chance romance but it was exactly what this story needed. The angst was angsting in the absolute best way and I wanted these two to reconcile soooo badly. G. Eilsel did an absolutely incredible job of writing this one. The emotion is so raw and you can really feel the heartbreak in both characters, but also completely understand their individual motives and feelings. Also I need to mention that the spice is absolute top tier. I had high expectations for Xeni and they were definitely met 🌶️
Lastly I’ll just say that the world-building in this series continues to amazes me. We’re drawn deeper into the world with each book and every new character and I just keep falling more in love with all of it. I can’t wait for the next one!
⭐ 4.75/5
🌶️ 3/5
March 7, 2026
I have LOVED this series so much and this one was no exception!!! This book HURT my heart in places more than the others, even sweet Nyx’s story, but the love between Bash and Xeni is so damn beautiful and worth everything it takes to get there!! And let me just say I am HERE for Cato’s story!!!! 👀👀 Also, I really hope we get the big winged golden boy’s story eventually!!!
HEA, unfinished overarching plot, STEAMY spice…monster/human, second chances, interesting *ahem* anatomy 🥵
I LOVE that outwardly Bash was the nerdier, calmer human but was actually more possessive and dominant and Xeni is the stronger, more take charge on the outside monster but actually Bash takes care of him. It was such a sweet and shmexy dynamic. The dance club scene had me absolutely kicking my feet!!! I LOVE the jealousy and possessiveness that comes with the fated mate trope!
HEA, unfinished overarching plot, STEAMY spice…monster/human, second chances, interesting *ahem* anatomy 🥵
I LOVE that outwardly Bash was the nerdier, calmer human but was actually more possessive and dominant and Xeni is the stronger, more take charge on the outside monster but actually Bash takes care of him. It was such a sweet and shmexy dynamic. The dance club scene had me absolutely kicking my feet!!! I LOVE the jealousy and possessiveness that comes with the fated mate trope!
Review of advance copy received from Autorin bzw. Autor
The way I anticipated this story ever since I first read about Xeni in this series.. his character immediately hooked me and I wanted to learn more about him so badly.
This read is on the heavier side, and the angst is real, so be prepared for some tears 🤧
Xeni is a monster and Sebastian (Bash) is human, and the both of them have a history together. One that held beautiful memories, but also very, very devastating ones as well 💔
The depths of this book are amazingly done, and the strength of both of these characters is almost endless. They went through so much and I’m just so happy that they have each other 🥹
I'm already excited for the next book 🥰
This read is on the heavier side, and the angst is real, so be prepared for some tears 🤧
Xeni is a monster and Sebastian (Bash) is human, and the both of them have a history together. One that held beautiful memories, but also very, very devastating ones as well 💔
The depths of this book are amazingly done, and the strength of both of these characters is almost endless. They went through so much and I’m just so happy that they have each other 🥹
I'm already excited for the next book 🥰
March 7, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Ahhhh!!! What a wild ride! This series has me in a chokehold. 😞 but now I’m all caught up and have to wait for next book! 😭 sadness.
Xeni is ✨babygirl✨ and I love him so much.
The stuff with his father was crazy!
Love how we continue to add more people to the ragtag found family ❤️
I am sat. 🪑 Patiently waiting for the next book.
Ahhhh!!! What a wild ride! This series has me in a chokehold. 😞 but now I’m all caught up and have to wait for next book! 😭 sadness.
Xeni is ✨babygirl✨ and I love him so much.
The stuff with his father was crazy!
Love how we continue to add more people to the ragtag found family ❤️
I am sat. 🪑 Patiently waiting for the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
amazing as usual. Xeni and Bash had a long road but I am so glad they had an hea. and that ending? cannot wait for the journey through the portal!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2026
5 Beautiful Mess Stars ⭐️— 4 🌶—
Read:17/02/2026
CONTENTS:
💗 MM Dytopian Monster Romance
❤️🩹 Second Chance
❤️🔥 High Heat To Slow Burn
👉 Fated Mates
😈 Monster x Human
👉 Forced Proximity
🥵 OTT Possessiveness
👿 MINE
🔥 Jealousy
💅 Touch Him & 💀
🔬Scientist x Medic
😍 Insatiable
🤲 “Needy thing”
❤️🔥 Lots Of Begging
🥵 Praise K¡nk
👍👍Horn Handles
🔃 Flip Fųck
😉 Piercings
😳 Lacy Pantiəs
🪞 Mirror Səx
🥹 “Perfect”
✌️ Døuble Pənətratiøn
🔥 Frøtting
💦 Cųm K¡nk
❤️🔥 Mark Me
🤧 "Princess" x "Darling"
🫂 Found Family
🤍 Disability Rep
🤫 Secrets
😖 Betrayal/Sacrifice
😭 Angsty
🫂❤️🩹 Hurt/Comfort
👉 HEA For The MCs
👉 HFN For The Story
This book is fucking amazing! 🙌
🎤⤵️
I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you, G. Eilsel for this gift. 🥰
Socials: https://linktr.ee/lionelle.swithens
Read:17/02/2026
CONTENTS:
💗 MM Dytopian Monster Romance
❤️🩹 Second Chance
❤️🔥 High Heat To Slow Burn
👉 Fated Mates
😈 Monster x Human
👉 Forced Proximity
🥵 OTT Possessiveness
👿 MINE
🔥 Jealousy
💅 Touch Him & 💀
🔬Scientist x Medic
😍 Insatiable
🤲 “Needy thing”
❤️🔥 Lots Of Begging
🥵 Praise K¡nk
👍👍Horn Handles
🔃 Flip Fųck
😉 Piercings
😳 Lacy Pantiəs
🪞 Mirror Səx
🥹 “Perfect”
✌️ Døuble Pənətratiøn
🔥 Frøtting
💦 Cųm K¡nk
❤️🔥 Mark Me
🤧 "Princess" x "Darling"
🫂 Found Family
🤍 Disability Rep
🤫 Secrets
😖 Betrayal/Sacrifice
😭 Angsty
🫂❤️🩹 Hurt/Comfort
👉 HEA For The MCs
👉 HFN For The Story
This book is fucking amazing! 🙌
🎤⤵️
I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you, G. Eilsel for this gift. 🥰
Socials: https://linktr.ee/lionelle.swithens
March 29, 2026
5 stars ☆⋆˙
Review:
This book was an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end. It’s a story about sacrifice, forgiveness, resilience, and the power of a second chance. No matter what obstacles were thrown at them, their bond never truly broke.
Xeni and Bash completely captured my heart. Watching their history unfold was both painful and beautiful. They’re stubborn, messy, and deeply flawed, but together they make something incredibly strong. The moments when they finally allowed themselves to be honest with each other felt like emotional release after so much tension.
Xeni…wow, beneath the sharp edges and defiance is someone fiercely loyal, protective, and capable of loving with everything he has. Bash, on the other hand, carries a quiet strength that made me admire him. Their dynamic is intense, sometimes frustrating, but deeply tender.
I honestly love how amazing this series has been. Five books in and it still feels fresh, emotional, and unpredictable. If you haven’t started this series yet, you’re seriously missing out. I already need the next book immediately.
Review:
This book was an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end. It’s a story about sacrifice, forgiveness, resilience, and the power of a second chance. No matter what obstacles were thrown at them, their bond never truly broke.
Xeni and Bash completely captured my heart. Watching their history unfold was both painful and beautiful. They’re stubborn, messy, and deeply flawed, but together they make something incredibly strong. The moments when they finally allowed themselves to be honest with each other felt like emotional release after so much tension.
Xeni…wow, beneath the sharp edges and defiance is someone fiercely loyal, protective, and capable of loving with everything he has. Bash, on the other hand, carries a quiet strength that made me admire him. Their dynamic is intense, sometimes frustrating, but deeply tender.
I honestly love how amazing this series has been. Five books in and it still feels fresh, emotional, and unpredictable. If you haven’t started this series yet, you’re seriously missing out. I already need the next book immediately.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my heart.
I fell for Xeni from the first time we met him and was dead sure I had once again fallen for a character that would break my heart and then never see again. The author told me he'd get his own book, though, (it wasn't a secret at that point, I was just not caught up on the series yet) and I was so relieved because oh my god yes, I wanted more of him. So much more.
And now I finally did, and what a story he had to share.
I've cried so many tears reading this, the pain almost unbearable at some points, having to remind myself that there will be a happy ending eventually, and that all of it will be worth it.
And it was worth it. And I know it'll be even more worth it when the series comes to an end. The ride there is and will be even more painful, but oh do I love it.
Xeni was full of angst, a dark past, self-loathing, and so much more, but it also had sweet moments, passion, and a lot of laughter, and while my heart was aching through most of it, I loved it so, so much.
My darling Xeni. I don't even have words for how much this book meant to me. It was everything (and more) I had been waiting for and less than a day after finishing it I already miss him.
I hope he'll forgive himself one day. He deserves to be happy and to believe he's loved. Hell, he deserves the world. And I know Bash will do everything to give it to him.
Which brings us to Bash, of course. I loved him. He's been through so much and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for him to finally learn the full truth. He deserved it so much, to know what actually happened, and to have his broken heart mended.
Darlings. Both of them.
Bash's group of friends was a lot of fun, too. I loved getting to know them, and they were such a nice company while I was missing the comfort of the gang still back in the village. I absolutely loved their loyalty and their banter and I think they will be such good people for Xeni to have around.
But yes, I did miss the village a lot. And returning to it together with Xeni in the end felt like coming home, but I also absolutely loved to get to see the life in the city, and to learn more about what's going on there.
Fantastic book. I'm already looking forward to rereading it, and I already can't wait for the next one in the series.
If you haven't read the Mate's Mark yet, now is the perfect time to start. Things are brewing and I think next step in this adventure is going to be something you don't want to miss out on.
I fell for Xeni from the first time we met him and was dead sure I had once again fallen for a character that would break my heart and then never see again. The author told me he'd get his own book, though, (it wasn't a secret at that point, I was just not caught up on the series yet) and I was so relieved because oh my god yes, I wanted more of him. So much more.
And now I finally did, and what a story he had to share.
I've cried so many tears reading this, the pain almost unbearable at some points, having to remind myself that there will be a happy ending eventually, and that all of it will be worth it.
And it was worth it. And I know it'll be even more worth it when the series comes to an end. The ride there is and will be even more painful, but oh do I love it.
Xeni was full of angst, a dark past, self-loathing, and so much more, but it also had sweet moments, passion, and a lot of laughter, and while my heart was aching through most of it, I loved it so, so much.
My darling Xeni. I don't even have words for how much this book meant to me. It was everything (and more) I had been waiting for and less than a day after finishing it I already miss him.
I hope he'll forgive himself one day. He deserves to be happy and to believe he's loved. Hell, he deserves the world. And I know Bash will do everything to give it to him.
Which brings us to Bash, of course. I loved him. He's been through so much and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for him to finally learn the full truth. He deserved it so much, to know what actually happened, and to have his broken heart mended.
Darlings. Both of them.
Bash's group of friends was a lot of fun, too. I loved getting to know them, and they were such a nice company while I was missing the comfort of the gang still back in the village. I absolutely loved their loyalty and their banter and I think they will be such good people for Xeni to have around.
But yes, I did miss the village a lot. And returning to it together with Xeni in the end felt like coming home, but I also absolutely loved to get to see the life in the city, and to learn more about what's going on there.
Fantastic book. I'm already looking forward to rereading it, and I already can't wait for the next one in the series.
If you haven't read the Mate's Mark yet, now is the perfect time to start. Things are brewing and I think next step in this adventure is going to be something you don't want to miss out on.
Review of advance copy received from Author
In Xeni, you'll experience some unexpected surprises, get to know and love some new character additions, and find some exciting set ups for subsequent books that I'm very much looking forward to. This series has held me fast since the moment I picked Ronan up, and Xeni did nothing but tighten that hold on my emotions.
These boys. I swear, I knew they'd break me. I knew it would hurt, but their journey was so much more, so much heavier, than I could have ever imagined. The absolute purity of their love for each other and devotion to building a life together despite everything being stacked against them. Then the utter rawness of being torn apart and the subsequent years of having to figure out living without their other half in a world where survival is already far from guaranteed. Xeni 's emotional inner monologues as he finally allows himself to go searching for his mate while knowing he won't be welcomed is gut-wrenching. Bash's confusion and devastation over the past and Xeni's reappearance years later is just as hard. Their commencing fight to try protecting themselves from more pain, while still being utterly devoted to each other and trying so hard to get back to themselves, while also still wrestling through all the outside forces that have never ceased their attempts to rip them apart, makes for an incredibly emotional read start to finish. The pain is so worth it though, because these two are beautiful, inside and out.
These boys. I swear, I knew they'd break me. I knew it would hurt, but their journey was so much more, so much heavier, than I could have ever imagined. The absolute purity of their love for each other and devotion to building a life together despite everything being stacked against them. Then the utter rawness of being torn apart and the subsequent years of having to figure out living without their other half in a world where survival is already far from guaranteed. Xeni 's emotional inner monologues as he finally allows himself to go searching for his mate while knowing he won't be welcomed is gut-wrenching. Bash's confusion and devastation over the past and Xeni's reappearance years later is just as hard. Their commencing fight to try protecting themselves from more pain, while still being utterly devoted to each other and trying so hard to get back to themselves, while also still wrestling through all the outside forces that have never ceased their attempts to rip them apart, makes for an incredibly emotional read start to finish. The pain is so worth it though, because these two are beautiful, inside and out.
February 19, 2026
I have been excited about Xeni since he first popped up and intrigued by his story since the end of Nyx. I knew his story was going to hurt a bit but I also knew it would endure me to him more and I couldn’t wait to read this.
The more we learned about Xeni the more his actions made sense. His use of sarcasm to hide, his want to be loved and accepted but always feeling like an outsider and his reluctance to let anyone see the real him, we get a better understanding of where this comes from and his sad story filled with parents who couldn’t be bothered and a father in particular who saw him as an image not a son. Fortunately he had a nanny to show him kindness.
Eventually Xeni learns love and an adult with Bash. Bash is a sweet scientist who blushes at most things Xeni related and loves Xeni wholeheartedly. I hated seeing them both so broken after coming back together. It was clear their pull to one another was strong but they needed that time to mend while being in each other’s orbit. Once they found their footing they were the cutest overly protective mates. I enjoyed the sweet moments like the random date under the stars and the ring.
As sad as some aspects of this story were I had a great time reading it. The side characters were great, especially Ego and I’m excited about what’s next!
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. 5
🤍ARC REVIEW💛
☑️ Trigger Warnings
The more we learned about Xeni the more his actions made sense. His use of sarcasm to hide, his want to be loved and accepted but always feeling like an outsider and his reluctance to let anyone see the real him, we get a better understanding of where this comes from and his sad story filled with parents who couldn’t be bothered and a father in particular who saw him as an image not a son. Fortunately he had a nanny to show him kindness.
Eventually Xeni learns love and an adult with Bash. Bash is a sweet scientist who blushes at most things Xeni related and loves Xeni wholeheartedly. I hated seeing them both so broken after coming back together. It was clear their pull to one another was strong but they needed that time to mend while being in each other’s orbit. Once they found their footing they were the cutest overly protective mates. I enjoyed the sweet moments like the random date under the stars and the ring.
As sad as some aspects of this story were I had a great time reading it. The side characters were great, especially Ego and I’m excited about what’s next!
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. 5
🤍ARC REVIEW💛
☑️ Trigger Warnings
March 5, 2026
Y'all I can not stress this enough - the series is INCREDIBLE. DON'T SLEEP ON THIS UNIVERSE.
I read Xeni yesterday, and honestly I feel like I need 5-7 business days to recover.
I apologize in advance for how scattered this review is going to be.
• fated mates
• monster/human
• second chance
• big time hurt/comfort
• lingerie
• insatiable for you
• ✨️💕princess 💕✨️
• found family
• dystopia world
• cw: patricide & self harm
If you have told me Xeni would become one of my favorite characters I would have told you "Liar." But damned if I didnt fall head over heels for Xeni. He and Bash were absolutely perfect and lord help me I LOVED THEM.
The feelings in this one were off the charts. The love that both the characters carried was all consuming and it practically bleeds off the page.
The story? Stunning. The plot? Engaging. The romance? Perfection. The angst? Angsty as hell.
This story was absolutely a five-star star read for me. And this series is maybe one of my favorites ever, even if each books seems to leave me feeling like I have been run over by a tractor.
Xeni releases 03/05 ✨️💕 you don't have time to read the entire series because these books are chonky. BUT definitely move this series higher up on your tbr! DO IT.
Aryn's book can't come fast enough. I wish I could have shown you my face during the last chapter of this book. G. Eilsel, we gotta talk.
I read Xeni yesterday, and honestly I feel like I need 5-7 business days to recover.
I apologize in advance for how scattered this review is going to be.
• fated mates
• monster/human
• second chance
• big time hurt/comfort
• lingerie
• insatiable for you
• ✨️💕princess 💕✨️
• found family
• dystopia world
• cw: patricide & self harm
If you have told me Xeni would become one of my favorite characters I would have told you "Liar." But damned if I didnt fall head over heels for Xeni. He and Bash were absolutely perfect and lord help me I LOVED THEM.
The feelings in this one were off the charts. The love that both the characters carried was all consuming and it practically bleeds off the page.
The story? Stunning. The plot? Engaging. The romance? Perfection. The angst? Angsty as hell.
This story was absolutely a five-star star read for me. And this series is maybe one of my favorites ever, even if each books seems to leave me feeling like I have been run over by a tractor.
Xeni releases 03/05 ✨️💕 you don't have time to read the entire series because these books are chonky. BUT definitely move this series higher up on your tbr! DO IT.
Aryn's book can't come fast enough. I wish I could have shown you my face during the last chapter of this book. G. Eilsel, we gotta talk.
March 19, 2026
Everything in this world is so masterfully created, it blows my mind! The characters, the world, the plot - it's just all so amazing!
Each book, each set of fated mates is exceptionally written. I always have to make sure I have a full weekend to dedicate to reading when G. Eilsel has a new book come out. I need a day to read and a day to recover! You go through all of the emotions with the Mate's Mark books - anger, happiness, fear, joy, sadness, love. You name it, and you will feel it.
By the time we get to Xeni's book, we've been with him for a bit and know that he has a story to tell. I'm just never really prepared for it when it's time. Xeni and Bash are the reason second chance romance is a trope. And, of course, the found family is chef's kiss.
Please read this series. They are all so good that you will not be disappointed! I can't wait until Aryn's book next.
Each book, each set of fated mates is exceptionally written. I always have to make sure I have a full weekend to dedicate to reading when G. Eilsel has a new book come out. I need a day to read and a day to recover! You go through all of the emotions with the Mate's Mark books - anger, happiness, fear, joy, sadness, love. You name it, and you will feel it.
By the time we get to Xeni's book, we've been with him for a bit and know that he has a story to tell. I'm just never really prepared for it when it's time. Xeni and Bash are the reason second chance romance is a trope. And, of course, the found family is chef's kiss.
Please read this series. They are all so good that you will not be disappointed! I can't wait until Aryn's book next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
As everybook before Xeni, his story completely captured me and had me hooked from the first page to the last. I couldn't put it down, not that I tried very hard, too. Ive been so eager for Xeni's story from the first time we got a peek at him in Elas's book and every peek at him after I just knew his story was gonna be one that would not only capture our hearts but show us a said truth and I was right. There was so much pain between Xeni and Bash that needed time to heal, but their love was always there never lost, just waiting to be brought back to life, and we got to read just that. This story will make you smile, bring a tear to your eyes, and help you believe that love can be one of the strongest ties of all.
Im so excited for the next book in The Mates Mark because I know without a doubt it will be an amazing addition to what is already a 5 star series
Im so excited for the next book in The Mates Mark because I know without a doubt it will be an amazing addition to what is already a 5 star series
March 7, 2026
4* Me repatea lo anteriormente mencionado de la pareja que "traiciona" y el otro que tiene que "perdonar" y solo por eso le bajo, es a título personal.
Hay presentación de muchos personajes nuevos, cambio de fondo por una ciudad en este mundo y los militares siguen siendo los malos, pero siendo este de un tinte mucho más personal lo cual me ha gustado mucho.
Los personajes siguen siendo lo mejor de esta saga, por lo tanto aunque no está siendo una saga de 5* para mí, desde luego que me muero por leer el siguiente libro que va a ser Aryn (más obviamente Cato).
Hay presentación de muchos personajes nuevos, cambio de fondo por una ciudad en este mundo y los militares siguen siendo los malos, pero siendo este de un tinte mucho más personal lo cual me ha gustado mucho.
Los personajes siguen siendo lo mejor de esta saga, por lo tanto aunque no está siendo una saga de 5* para mí, desde luego que me muero por leer el siguiente libro que va a ser Aryn (más obviamente Cato).
February 18, 2026
✨ARC REVIEW✨
Oh my word, how my heart has ached reading Xeni and Bash’s story! 🥹 This one definitely leaned on the heavier side of “hurt” in hurt/comfort, but the pain was so worth the HEA these guys fought so hard for and won! 🩷
If you haven’t read the Mate’s Mark series by G. Eilsel yet and you enjoy monster/human romance, a dystopian world, and the most lovable characters, add it to your TBR! 🤩
Reading Order:
💜 Ronan
💙 Elas
💚 Nyx
🩷 Xeni ~ Available March 5th
Oh my word, how my heart has ached reading Xeni and Bash’s story! 🥹 This one definitely leaned on the heavier side of “hurt” in hurt/comfort, but the pain was so worth the HEA these guys fought so hard for and won! 🩷
If you haven’t read the Mate’s Mark series by G. Eilsel yet and you enjoy monster/human romance, a dystopian world, and the most lovable characters, add it to your TBR! 🤩
Reading Order:
💜 Ronan
💙 Elas
💚 Nyx
🩷 Xeni ~ Available March 5th
April 11, 2026
This was alot better than the others and I enjoyed the plot. Poor Xeni deserves to be protected. Bash was a little mean but I understand.
March 10, 2026
I absolutely love this series. And this book didn’t disappoint. I loved Xeni and Bash’s story and loved all the spice🌶️!! Can’t wait for the next one.
Review of advance copy
Xeni by G. Eilsel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
⬆️ Ebook ARC
🔀 Dual First-Person POV
🎨 Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
📚 Book Four of the Mate’s Mark Series
📗 The story takes place a few weeks after Nyx ends (Book Three).
👉 Each book focuses on a different fated pair, but all connect in one beautiful overarching story. 💫
😏 Adult MM Dystopian Monster Romance
🌎👏 World-Building Set in Post-Apocalyptic Earth
📍 New Scenery - Finally We Go To Atlanta 🏙
👉 Medium Angst
❤️🩹 Hurt & Comfort
😢🤧 Tears & Heartbreak Moments
📖 Captivating & Impossible to Put Down
🌶 Deliciously Spicy Moments
🥷 Escape Missions, Action & Danger
🌫 Eerie Atmosphere & High Suspense 🤌
🔥Unique Hot Monsters
💀 Monster Rule x Human Resistance ✊️
🔮❤️🔥 Prophecy-Bound Fated Mates
💔 Broken Fated Mates
😐 Secrets & Sacrifice
🕊 Redemption Arc
🫂 Second Chances
🥹 Deep Emotional Reconnection
👀 Cameos (Loved it! 💖)
🩺 Medic x 🔬 Scientist
💔 Traumatized Monster x Heartbroken Human
👉 Needy Princess x Sexy Comic Nerd
💍 Workplace Friends to Fated Mates (past)
😏 Sassy x Shy 😳
👿 Possessive Mate (both sides)
👉 Touch Him and ☠️
😏🤓 Slutty Glasses
😏 Dydoe Piercing
🔥 Insatiable "Spoiled princess"
🎀 Lacy Slutty Panties
🔥 High Heat... (hot damn) 🥵
📈 Spice Level (Intensity, not frequency):
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
🌈 MCs:
🤍🩺👉 Xenesis "Xeni" (41, looks 20s • He/Him):
👾 Monster species: Cavese - manipulators with powers of persuasion.
🪖 Military rank: High-Commander Medic.
🩺 Has been a medic for twenty years at Ljómur, a secret research facility.
He was already stationed there when Bash arrived. 👀💗
But for the last two years, he’s been at the clinic on the military base, Glaston.
🌍 Part of the generation of monsters born on Earth.
🏙 Grew up in Atlanta.
🤍 One piercing white eye, the other hidden beneath an eyepatch, white pale skin, long white hair, lean build, long curling horns, and small pointed ears.
💫 Clever and determined, with an androgynous beauty… lithe, graceful and carrying a regal aura.
🏡 Now living in a village hidden in a forest with other monsters, mostly former military and humans. Some are escaped prisoners and most of them are mated.
🪖 The military believes he’s dead, which makes him perfect for his undercover mission: to seek help from Bash.
😏 He is confident, charming, seductive and a shameless flirt… he knows exactly how to get under people’s skin and loves to tease (such a brat 😏).
💝 The best three years of his life were spent with the sweetest, calmest and most intelligent human he’s ever known, Bash!
😭🤧 Has a past full of secrets, loss, and sacrifices made in silence. He broke Bash’s heart to protect him and shattered his own in the process.
💔 After four years of silence, Xeni returns to Atlanta not just for a mission, but to earn back the only person who ever saw through his masks… while facing old wounds and new dangers.
👣🧠🧫🔬👉 Sebastian "Sebby/Bash" Hale (late twenties • He/Him):
👣 Human.
🏙 Grew up in Denver, now living in Atlanta.
🔬 He was a brilliant scientist at Ljómur, where he studied how to open rifts between Earth and the parallel monster world.
🤎 Five foot ten, hazel eyes, darker chestnut skin, has piercings and sweet features paired with a shy blush.
🫠 Calm, loyal, protective, and deeply caring.
💔 Four years without Xeni left deep scars… but his heart never forgot him.
🤓 A total nerd, loves comic books and spends hours with his microscope and experiments.
🧠 He works now as an "ethical black-market scientist" (as he likes to call himself). Bending the rules to help the right people, but drawing a hard line at anything that could truly destroy lives.
🫂 He has a found family to take care of and protect.
He's the "leader" or the "head" of the group, because all of them rely on his opinion, is the less morally grey of the bunch. 😅
🖤 I love how chaotic and morally grey they are. They are more siblings than friends... they hustle, tease, argue, but protect each other fiercely.
⚠️ Content Warnings:
💫 Found Family - Ragtag Band of Misfits
👏 Fantastic Character Development
💯 Side Characters I Adore - Every Single One
🥰 Loved the Ending
😍 HEA for the MCs & HFN for the Overall Storyline
💭 My Thoughts:
📖 When G. tells us, "I needed a minute to breathe after this one"... I completely felt that!
🥹 Wow… Xeni completely consumed me. From the very first pages, I was holding my breath and rooting for these two broken souls to find their way back to each other. Their love is tender, aching and deeply earned.
❤️🩹 Oh my heart… Xeni feeling lonely and used… just broke me.
It’s breathtaking to see Xeni lower his walls, drop his mask> and finally show his true self to Bash and even to their closest friends. So moving, so tender… watching these two broken souls care for each other was completely heart-melting.
🤧 Watching Bash and Xeni navigate old wounds, secrets and intense feelings had me tearing up while also filling my heart at the same time!
🔥 The spicy moments? Oh yes… intense, naughty, kinky… hot damn. They fit each other so perfectly it’s breathtaking. They can’t resist the pull between them and the emotional stakes make every intimate moment even hotter.
And the way Bash reacts in Xeni’s presence… 😳😶🌫️ tongue-tied, all soft whimpers and little squeaks… 🤭 and sometimes the reverse! 😅😏 " Needy Princess"! 🎀
🌎 I also loved seeing the new places... such a perfect apocalyptic setting. The travels, the militarized city, the suspense, the secrecy, the survival, the escapes… that breathless feeling during high-tension moments in eerie scenarios... perfection.
G’s dystopian world keeps getting better and I can’t get enough of it. In my mind, it’s even more perfect than a movie… and honestly, it deserves one.
Absolutely beautifully written. 👏
🥰 The found family vibes are one of my favorite parts of the book. I adore all the characters. Each one adds depth, warmth and humor to this chaotic world.
And with every book, this series just keeps getting richer and more amazing! 🤩 I laughed so much at their shenanigans 🤭🤣 and oh my heart, cried buckets too 😭💔 over all of them... my sweet babies!
📚x🐻 The next book is Aryn (Book 5), the sweet bookworm and the gentle teddy bear, Cato. I can’t wait to see what chaos and heart-melting moments await! 💖🔥
💝 The book includes a pronunciation guide, an introduction to the series, a monster guide and even a map... one of my ultimate weaknesses!
▪︎FAV QUOTES▪︎
Me... 😭🤧
😏😂 Xeni been a cheeky brat!
👍 I’m definitely going to read this again.
💯 If you love MM fated mates, emotional healing, monsters, suspense and spicy romance Xeni is an absolute must-read.
😉 Thanks for reading hope this helps you out!
I received this book as a gift from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.
StoryGraph Review
Reviews On Goodreads
My Socials
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
⬆️ Ebook ARC
🔀 Dual First-Person POV
🎨 Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
📚 Book Four of the Mate’s Mark Series
📗 The story takes place a few weeks after Nyx ends (Book Three).
👉 Each book focuses on a different fated pair, but all connect in one beautiful overarching story. 💫
😏 Adult MM Dystopian Monster Romance
🌎👏 World-Building Set in Post-Apocalyptic Earth
📍 New Scenery - Finally We Go To Atlanta 🏙
👉 Medium Angst
❤️🩹 Hurt & Comfort
😢🤧 Tears & Heartbreak Moments
📖 Captivating & Impossible to Put Down
🌶 Deliciously Spicy Moments
🥷 Escape Missions, Action & Danger
🌫 Eerie Atmosphere & High Suspense 🤌
🔥Unique Hot Monsters
💀 Monster Rule x Human Resistance ✊️
🔮❤️🔥 Prophecy-Bound Fated Mates
💔 Broken Fated Mates
😐 Secrets & Sacrifice
🕊 Redemption Arc
🫂 Second Chances
🥹 Deep Emotional Reconnection
👀 Cameos (Loved it! 💖)
🩺 Medic x 🔬 Scientist
💔 Traumatized Monster x Heartbroken Human
👉 Needy Princess x Sexy Comic Nerd
💍 Workplace Friends to Fated Mates (past)
😏 Sassy x Shy 😳
👿 Possessive Mate (both sides)
👉 Touch Him and ☠️
😏🤓 Slutty Glasses
😏 Dydoe Piercing
🔥 Insatiable "Spoiled princess"
🎀 Lacy Slutty Panties
🔥 High Heat... (hot damn) 🥵
📈 Spice Level (Intensity, not frequency):
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
🌈 MCs:
🤍🩺👉 Xenesis "Xeni" (41, looks 20s • He/Him):
👾 Monster species: Cavese - manipulators with powers of persuasion.
🪖 Military rank: High-Commander Medic.
🩺 Has been a medic for twenty years at Ljómur, a secret research facility.
He was already stationed there when Bash arrived. 👀💗
But for the last two years, he’s been at the clinic on the military base, Glaston.
🌍 Part of the generation of monsters born on Earth.
🏙 Grew up in Atlanta.
🤍 One piercing white eye, the other hidden beneath an eyepatch, white pale skin, long white hair, lean build, long curling horns, and small pointed ears.
💫 Clever and determined, with an androgynous beauty… lithe, graceful and carrying a regal aura.
🏡 Now living in a village hidden in a forest with other monsters, mostly former military and humans. Some are escaped prisoners and most of them are mated.
🪖 The military believes he’s dead, which makes him perfect for his undercover mission: to seek help from Bash.
😏 He is confident, charming, seductive and a shameless flirt… he knows exactly how to get under people’s skin and loves to tease (such a brat 😏).
💝 The best three years of his life were spent with the sweetest, calmest and most intelligent human he’s ever known, Bash!
😭🤧 Has a past full of secrets, loss, and sacrifices made in silence. He broke Bash’s heart to protect him and shattered his own in the process.
💔 After four years of silence, Xeni returns to Atlanta not just for a mission, but to earn back the only person who ever saw through his masks… while facing old wounds and new dangers.
👣🧠🧫🔬👉 Sebastian "Sebby/Bash" Hale (late twenties • He/Him):
👣 Human.
🏙 Grew up in Denver, now living in Atlanta.
🔬 He was a brilliant scientist at Ljómur, where he studied how to open rifts between Earth and the parallel monster world.
🤎 Five foot ten, hazel eyes, darker chestnut skin, has piercings and sweet features paired with a shy blush.
🫠 Calm, loyal, protective, and deeply caring.
💔 Four years without Xeni left deep scars… but his heart never forgot him.
🤓 A total nerd, loves comic books and spends hours with his microscope and experiments.
🧠 He works now as an "ethical black-market scientist" (as he likes to call himself). Bending the rules to help the right people, but drawing a hard line at anything that could truly destroy lives.
🫂 He has a found family to take care of and protect.
He's the "leader" or the "head" of the group, because all of them rely on his opinion, is the less morally grey of the bunch. 😅
🖤 I love how chaotic and morally grey they are. They are more siblings than friends... they hustle, tease, argue, but protect each other fiercely.
⚠️ Content Warnings:
💫 Found Family - Ragtag Band of Misfits
👏 Fantastic Character Development
💯 Side Characters I Adore - Every Single One
🥰 Loved the Ending
😍 HEA for the MCs & HFN for the Overall Storyline
💭 My Thoughts:
📖 When G. tells us, "I needed a minute to breathe after this one"... I completely felt that!
🥹 Wow… Xeni completely consumed me. From the very first pages, I was holding my breath and rooting for these two broken souls to find their way back to each other. Their love is tender, aching and deeply earned.
❤️🩹 Oh my heart… Xeni feeling lonely and used… just broke me.
It’s breathtaking to see Xeni lower his walls, drop his mask> and finally show his true self to Bash and even to their closest friends. So moving, so tender… watching these two broken souls care for each other was completely heart-melting.
🤧 Watching Bash and Xeni navigate old wounds, secrets and intense feelings had me tearing up while also filling my heart at the same time!
🔥 The spicy moments? Oh yes… intense, naughty, kinky… hot damn. They fit each other so perfectly it’s breathtaking. They can’t resist the pull between them and the emotional stakes make every intimate moment even hotter.
And the way Bash reacts in Xeni’s presence… 😳😶🌫️ tongue-tied, all soft whimpers and little squeaks… 🤭 and sometimes the reverse! 😅😏 " Needy Princess"! 🎀
🌎 I also loved seeing the new places... such a perfect apocalyptic setting. The travels, the militarized city, the suspense, the secrecy, the survival, the escapes… that breathless feeling during high-tension moments in eerie scenarios... perfection.
G’s dystopian world keeps getting better and I can’t get enough of it. In my mind, it’s even more perfect than a movie… and honestly, it deserves one.
Absolutely beautifully written. 👏
🥰 The found family vibes are one of my favorite parts of the book. I adore all the characters. Each one adds depth, warmth and humor to this chaotic world.
And with every book, this series just keeps getting richer and more amazing! 🤩 I laughed so much at their shenanigans 🤭🤣 and oh my heart, cried buckets too 😭💔 over all of them... my sweet babies!
📚x🐻 The next book is Aryn (Book 5), the sweet bookworm and the gentle teddy bear, Cato. I can’t wait to see what chaos and heart-melting moments await! 💖🔥
💝 The book includes a pronunciation guide, an introduction to the series, a monster guide and even a map... one of my ultimate weaknesses!
▪︎FAV QUOTES▪︎
■ Yeah,” I say, pressing my face into his hair and breathing him in despite the pain. “My Xen. My peace.”
He cries harder as I scoop him into my arms. (Bash)
Me... 😭🤧
■ “Xeni!” he gasps, barking a startled laugh as he shoves at my chest.🫠
The shy innocence in his wide eyes takes me back in time, dragging me straight to the old Bash.
I can’t help it as I scoop him into another hug, burying my face in his neck just to feel him shiver. “Gods, I missed making you blush like that,” I tease. (Xeni)
■ “Then trust that you’ll always be perfect to me, Xen. Let me see you.” (Bash)
■ My hair falls around us like a veil from the rest of the world, shielding this moment for us. He’s beautiful underneath me. (Xeni)
■ “You know you’re a big guy, right?” he asks, his breath strained. “You act like a lapdog, but you are not small, princess.”
I twist to face him and toss him a wink. “Aw, don’t worry. You handle how big I am just fine, darling.” (Xeni)
😏😂 Xeni been a cheeky brat!
👍 I’m definitely going to read this again.
💯 If you love MM fated mates, emotional healing, monsters, suspense and spicy romance Xeni is an absolute must-read.
😉 Thanks for reading hope this helps you out!
I received this book as a gift from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.
StoryGraph Review
Reviews On Goodreads
My Socials
February 24, 2026
"As much as I’d tried to turn Atlanta into home, it couldn’t be. Not when my home was a person. I glance at Xeni. We’re so small against the endlessness, and that loosens something in my chest… something that’s been clenched for years. The ground beneath my feet is solid, real, and mine to walk. No orders, walls, or cages, just sky and space. Just us. Just home."
I was warned over and over again by the author that book four in the Mate's Mark series was going to rip me to shreds, and she was not being dramatic. At all. Xeni hurt.
I fell in love with Xeni the moment we met him in Elas, and I needed to know his story. I needed to know what drove him to hide his obvious sensitive side and be such a little d*ckhead. And find out I did. Hooooo boy, this book was a rollercoaster.
First off, the world building? Impeccable. As the reader you can clearly tell this story has been meticulously planned with every scene fleshed out perfectly. Every character and scene advances the MC's mission, and we're able to see the MC's grow and change because of those characters and scenarios. Sometimes character growth gets left behind in dystopian/action novels, so it was lovely to see it happen here.
The story flows perfectly from a romantic scene to an action scene, and so on. It's got the perfect balance of sweet and intriguing and I can clearly visualise every scene and location. It was also great to see a little more of the world further outside of the camps and villages, though I missed their little hidden village so much - it's just such a comforting little haven and all of my favourite characters are there, y'know. I would have liked to see Bash and Xeni get to spend a little more than just the last 4% of the book there, but I understand why most of their story had to happen outside the village.
To really understand the enormity of Bash and Xeni's situation and to understand how major the decisions Xeni made were, we had to go back to Ljómur, where it all started for them. Seeing the start of their relationship and how sweet and nurturing it was, made me realise that something truly shocking was about to happen. It had to - Eilsel never lets us have the sweet without absolute devastation. I just wasn't prepared for the twist it was about to take.
When Xeni began seeking Bash out in the city I thought "fated mates, their reunion will be beautiful and teary and they'll never want to let each other go", and I wasn't wrong... but also I wasn't right at all, either. There were definitely tears - from Bash, from Xeni... but mostly from me. And they certainly didn't want to let each other go, but my god they're both stubborn little arses.
I was so desperate for Bash and Xeni to reunite and rekindle their romance, it was actually pathetic.
Bash is truly something special. He went through hell when he was violently ripped away from his Mate and dumped in the city with nothing, and yet he still managed to claw his way back to a semblance of normality with a science-y job and as the leader of a rebel group. I think that's pretty impressive for someone who's just been betrayed by the one person who's supposed to love them unconditionally and protect them. Bash had so little time with Xeni before the betrayal, but their love burned so bright and I honestly don't know how he started to put his life back together and move on. I certainly wouldn't have been able to. I love that he didn't make anything easy for Xeni.
And Xeni, well, Xeni is my favourite little anti-hero. He's an absolute little sh*t. A princess with a hidden heart of gold, and a sharp little tongue, who frequently f*cks around and finds out. He works so hard to keep a tough exterior with sky-high walls, but underneath it all is just a man who wants to be loved. He missed out on so much warmth and love as a child, always on the outside, and it's so obvious now why he acts the way he does and pretends like nothing bothers him. It destroyed him to send away the only person who's ever loved him - to put so much strain on their bond and to never know if he'd get to see Bash again. I really, really felt for him.
When Bash and Xeni finally found their way back to each other I quite literally cried with relief. When Bash slipped that ring back on Xeni's finger under the trees, I cried. It was just such a hard-won happily ever after. And the steamy, spicy scenes? Ugh they were so good! I have a head cannon that Bash and Xeni have a free-use relationship. You can't tell me they don't - they're both insatiable.
I loved seeing them back at the village together, with Bash and his friends meeting Xeni's chosen family. They both deserve some well earned peace and quiet in a safe place. Honestly, if anything else bad happens to them I'm going to riot.
I also really loved that the series is coming full circle. We're not just getting told about the Fates and the Prophecy anymore, we're actively seeing this lore come to life. And the setup for Aryn and Cato's book? Beautiful. It better be next, or I'm gonna cry.
5/5 stars would read again 1000 times and recommend to absolutely everyone!
I was warned over and over again by the author that book four in the Mate's Mark series was going to rip me to shreds, and she was not being dramatic. At all. Xeni hurt.
I fell in love with Xeni the moment we met him in Elas, and I needed to know his story. I needed to know what drove him to hide his obvious sensitive side and be such a little d*ckhead. And find out I did. Hooooo boy, this book was a rollercoaster.
First off, the world building? Impeccable. As the reader you can clearly tell this story has been meticulously planned with every scene fleshed out perfectly. Every character and scene advances the MC's mission, and we're able to see the MC's grow and change because of those characters and scenarios. Sometimes character growth gets left behind in dystopian/action novels, so it was lovely to see it happen here.
The story flows perfectly from a romantic scene to an action scene, and so on. It's got the perfect balance of sweet and intriguing and I can clearly visualise every scene and location. It was also great to see a little more of the world further outside of the camps and villages, though I missed their little hidden village so much - it's just such a comforting little haven and all of my favourite characters are there, y'know. I would have liked to see Bash and Xeni get to spend a little more than just the last 4% of the book there, but I understand why most of their story had to happen outside the village.
To really understand the enormity of Bash and Xeni's situation and to understand how major the decisions Xeni made were, we had to go back to Ljómur, where it all started for them. Seeing the start of their relationship and how sweet and nurturing it was, made me realise that something truly shocking was about to happen. It had to - Eilsel never lets us have the sweet without absolute devastation. I just wasn't prepared for the twist it was about to take.
When Xeni began seeking Bash out in the city I thought "fated mates, their reunion will be beautiful and teary and they'll never want to let each other go", and I wasn't wrong... but also I wasn't right at all, either. There were definitely tears - from Bash, from Xeni... but mostly from me. And they certainly didn't want to let each other go, but my god they're both stubborn little arses.
I was so desperate for Bash and Xeni to reunite and rekindle their romance, it was actually pathetic.
Bash is truly something special. He went through hell when he was violently ripped away from his Mate and dumped in the city with nothing, and yet he still managed to claw his way back to a semblance of normality with a science-y job and as the leader of a rebel group. I think that's pretty impressive for someone who's just been betrayed by the one person who's supposed to love them unconditionally and protect them. Bash had so little time with Xeni before the betrayal, but their love burned so bright and I honestly don't know how he started to put his life back together and move on. I certainly wouldn't have been able to. I love that he didn't make anything easy for Xeni.
And Xeni, well, Xeni is my favourite little anti-hero. He's an absolute little sh*t. A princess with a hidden heart of gold, and a sharp little tongue, who frequently f*cks around and finds out. He works so hard to keep a tough exterior with sky-high walls, but underneath it all is just a man who wants to be loved. He missed out on so much warmth and love as a child, always on the outside, and it's so obvious now why he acts the way he does and pretends like nothing bothers him. It destroyed him to send away the only person who's ever loved him - to put so much strain on their bond and to never know if he'd get to see Bash again. I really, really felt for him.
When Bash and Xeni finally found their way back to each other I quite literally cried with relief. When Bash slipped that ring back on Xeni's finger under the trees, I cried. It was just such a hard-won happily ever after. And the steamy, spicy scenes? Ugh they were so good! I have a head cannon that Bash and Xeni have a free-use relationship. You can't tell me they don't - they're both insatiable.
I loved seeing them back at the village together, with Bash and his friends meeting Xeni's chosen family. They both deserve some well earned peace and quiet in a safe place. Honestly, if anything else bad happens to them I'm going to riot.
I also really loved that the series is coming full circle. We're not just getting told about the Fates and the Prophecy anymore, we're actively seeing this lore come to life. And the setup for Aryn and Cato's book? Beautiful. It better be next, or I'm gonna cry.
5/5 stars would read again 1000 times and recommend to absolutely everyone!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 rounded up
I'd like to thank Florence for immediately putting this on my radar. I don't really use social media so I hadn't known the author was already finished with Xeni's book, I thought it would be out much much later...So as soon as I saw it, of course I had to request an ARC myself.
Xeni was someone I found myself disliking and I was curious to see how the author would turn him into a likable chatacter in my eyes. This had all the makings of things I don't enjoy in my reads - second chance/flashbacks/heavy angst but I was SO pleasantly surprised my opinion of Xeni totally changed and by the end of it I loved him as much as I loved Bash ❤️
Florence was not exaggerating when she mentioned crying about every 5 pages, it was exactly that. The description of longing and pain were so visceral that I was feeling them myself so I would cry, things would calm down a bit and then something else would be said or mentioned to bring the tears right back. I got a headache from all the crying, I needed to rehydrate from all the tears! I was mentally exhausted by the end of if. But it made me really believe in their love and pain for each other.
The romance was great, I missed the OG characters and it took me a bit to wrap my head around all the new characters introduced in this book but i'm already looking forward to the next book
Overall, this was the perfect book to get me back into reading and I can't wait to see what new pairings are in store for us in the future. Hopefully some will be less angsty 😅
I'd also like to mention how nice it was to see " perceived OMD drama" on the TW/CW list, as someone who avoids books with too much of that it was great to know ahead of time. With that being said... I do have a little bone to pick.
Xeni is literally on his way to find Bash and when he needs help getting to the city
But to end this on a sweeter note, the scenes with the are so precious,what they say about each other left my heart feeling full and happy for them. ❤️
I couldn't have posted an honest review without including the spoiler, it has little impact on the whole story and was more of a pet peeve and something that seemed out of place with the rest. The book is a wild emotional ride and definitely worth reading if you enjoyed the other books in this series, just bring your tissues.
I'd like to thank Florence for immediately putting this on my radar. I don't really use social media so I hadn't known the author was already finished with Xeni's book, I thought it would be out much much later...So as soon as I saw it, of course I had to request an ARC myself.
Xeni was someone I found myself disliking and I was curious to see how the author would turn him into a likable chatacter in my eyes. This had all the makings of things I don't enjoy in my reads - second chance/flashbacks/heavy angst but I was SO pleasantly surprised my opinion of Xeni totally changed and by the end of it I loved him as much as I loved Bash ❤️
Florence was not exaggerating when she mentioned crying about every 5 pages, it was exactly that. The description of longing and pain were so visceral that I was feeling them myself so I would cry, things would calm down a bit and then something else would be said or mentioned to bring the tears right back. I got a headache from all the crying, I needed to rehydrate from all the tears! I was mentally exhausted by the end of if. But it made me really believe in their love and pain for each other.
The romance was great, I missed the OG characters and it took me a bit to wrap my head around all the new characters introduced in this book but i'm already looking forward to the next book
Overall, this was the perfect book to get me back into reading and I can't wait to see what new pairings are in store for us in the future. Hopefully some will be less angsty 😅
I'd also like to mention how nice it was to see " perceived OMD drama" on the TW/CW list, as someone who avoids books with too much of that it was great to know ahead of time. With that being said... I do have a little bone to pick.
Xeni is literally on his way to find Bash and when he needs help getting to the city
But to end this on a sweeter note, the scenes with the are so precious,what they say about each other left my heart feeling full and happy for them. ❤️
I couldn't have posted an honest review without including the spoiler, it has little impact on the whole story and was more of a pet peeve and something that seemed out of place with the rest. The book is a wild emotional ride and definitely worth reading if you enjoyed the other books in this series, just bring your tissues.
Review of advance copy received from Author
wow. i just… wow. i can’t say i have no words, because i have SO MANY words to describe xeni’s story: grim, tragic, painful, devastating, triumphant, illuminating, suspenseful, hilarious, rewarding, healing. among others. the truth is, this book was catastrophically heartbreaking, radiantly beautiful, and surprisingly humorous
how the hell does eilsel continue to weave the sorcery of her storytelling so seamlessly into a story with increasingly impactful effect? science should study it—i need answers
i have loved xeni ever since the moment this mysterious creature wandered into this series. there’s been an air of tragedy around him since the first moment we met him. up until this book he’s always come off as aloof at best, and arrogant at worst. well this book cracked open our complex little cavese, and bared his incredible soul to us, shining a light on every part of his life, from his childhood, to his estrangement from his mate, to his present-day attempts to mend fences, heal hurts, and become a better person
one of my very favorite things i discovered about xeni in this book. he is *funny*. my man is quick-witted, sarcastic, and a complete savage when it comes to roasting cato
bash is xeni’s other half. missing from previous books except in passing mentions, bash comes into this book as an absolute powerhouse. it takes a man with a strong constitution to wrangle xeni, and no one is up for the task like bash. he starts the book heartbroken and full of leftover anger, pain, and confusion over the way xeni broke his heart 4 years prior. he’s got a tough row to hoe to move past all of that, but the love these two have for each other is cosmic. they truly are two halves of the same soul, and bash’s soul has been reaching out for its missing piece for far too long
the stark truth here is that xeni’s journey towards healing is the most tragic and disturbing of this series so far. and rage-inducing. the absolute fury i felt on xeni’s behalf could fill the grant canyon to overflowing. there is some dark DARK themes explored here, so it’s important to read and respect the tw’s, because the author is absolutely not joking
xeni is the 4th book—and the midpoint—of the mate’s mark series. so much has already happened, but we still have a long way to go before all of our friends find their ultimate hea’s. we made even more friends n this book—ego, cato, and sakane are all very endearing humans, and i can’t WAIT to see what part they play in our little family’s happy ending. and sovran (who is a completely new monster we’ve heard of, but haven’t met before) bursts into this book like a tornado, and finding out WHAT he is… well… it’s a complete shock, and a guarantee that the fifth book is going to be INCREDIBLE. overall, it’s been a wild ride so far, and i expect it will only get wilder. i cannot WAIT to see what eilsel has in store for us next. this series is a huge undertaking, with so many characters in play, and so many stores to intertwine. so far, eilsel has done a masterful job of weaving all these threads together until they form this epic cast of characters, and an epic story you’re not going to forget for a long, long time. it’s a feat that honestly seems impossible, but eilsel makes it look easy
p.s. because i couldn’t leave without bringing it up—the plot is phenomenal, but also, because it’s eilsel, the smut is *flawless*
how the hell does eilsel continue to weave the sorcery of her storytelling so seamlessly into a story with increasingly impactful effect? science should study it—i need answers
i have loved xeni ever since the moment this mysterious creature wandered into this series. there’s been an air of tragedy around him since the first moment we met him. up until this book he’s always come off as aloof at best, and arrogant at worst. well this book cracked open our complex little cavese, and bared his incredible soul to us, shining a light on every part of his life, from his childhood, to his estrangement from his mate, to his present-day attempts to mend fences, heal hurts, and become a better person
one of my very favorite things i discovered about xeni in this book. he is *funny*. my man is quick-witted, sarcastic, and a complete savage when it comes to roasting cato
bash is xeni’s other half. missing from previous books except in passing mentions, bash comes into this book as an absolute powerhouse. it takes a man with a strong constitution to wrangle xeni, and no one is up for the task like bash. he starts the book heartbroken and full of leftover anger, pain, and confusion over the way xeni broke his heart 4 years prior. he’s got a tough row to hoe to move past all of that, but the love these two have for each other is cosmic. they truly are two halves of the same soul, and bash’s soul has been reaching out for its missing piece for far too long
the stark truth here is that xeni’s journey towards healing is the most tragic and disturbing of this series so far. and rage-inducing. the absolute fury i felt on xeni’s behalf could fill the grant canyon to overflowing. there is some dark DARK themes explored here, so it’s important to read and respect the tw’s, because the author is absolutely not joking
xeni is the 4th book—and the midpoint—of the mate’s mark series. so much has already happened, but we still have a long way to go before all of our friends find their ultimate hea’s. we made even more friends n this book—ego, cato, and sakane are all very endearing humans, and i can’t WAIT to see what part they play in our little family’s happy ending. and sovran (who is a completely new monster we’ve heard of, but haven’t met before) bursts into this book like a tornado, and finding out WHAT he is… well… it’s a complete shock, and a guarantee that the fifth book is going to be INCREDIBLE. overall, it’s been a wild ride so far, and i expect it will only get wilder. i cannot WAIT to see what eilsel has in store for us next. this series is a huge undertaking, with so many characters in play, and so many stores to intertwine. so far, eilsel has done a masterful job of weaving all these threads together until they form this epic cast of characters, and an epic story you’re not going to forget for a long, long time. it’s a feat that honestly seems impossible, but eilsel makes it look easy
p.s. because i couldn’t leave without bringing it up—the plot is phenomenal, but also, because it’s eilsel, the smut is *flawless*
April 10, 2026
“Ours was the kind of love you read about in sonnets and old books. It was the all-consuming sort that poets chase and cynics dismiss.”
How do you go on after reading something like this?????
I want to stay here in it and just breathe it all in. 🫠
I kept going back and rereading parts because my soul was just ripped out at every line.
“Sleep had been my only refuge, the one place I could pretend he was still beside me. The only time I didn’t want to die.”
Xeni… baby boy.. they could never make me hate you, baby. I saw him in Elas and knew I was in love. Was it the white hair? (I might have a white hair thing 🫣) Was it the damage you could see from a mile away? I’ll never know, but I knew I loved him immediately. Such a compelling and complex character. White eyes that have seen so much pain and destruction, but still hold such love in them. How he cared for August even after everything.. I just couldn’t stop myself from begging for his story. You could see the pain written on the page. So when I finally got to his book and it stripped all his walls away…. I cried. Let me tell you…
No other book has made me laugh and cry within the same page. This book was beyond perfect.
Xeni’s horrible past and the way he tried so hard to protect Bash. Because he knew what would happen if he didn’t. That part made my heart sink. I had to set the book down and bawl for a bit.
“‘My whole life, I’ve been a pawn,’ he says into the suffocating silence. ‘A piece in someone else’s game. I’m… used to being used, Bash.’”
The scars? As a person with that same abuse in my ledger.. I connected with him so hard that it physically hurt. He just wanted to be enough and have someone love him. So when he hurt the only person who ever loved him, I can’t even imagine what that does to a person.
“It doesn’t matter how much time went by, Xen. I never stopped loving you. How could I, when you’re carrying the other half of my heart?”
Bash, my beautiful man. Ooh how I feel for him. The angst he had over the heartbreak. I wanted to just wrap him up and tell him nothing would ever hurt him again. Every time I just wanted him to forgive Xeni, I knew in my soul that he couldn’t. I could feel his struggle deeply and my heart hurt for him. He is so smart and loyal. I just wanted him to feel whole again.
This was a ballad of beauty and pain. I doubt I’ll ever experience something like this again. I want to thank the author for letting me enjoy this absolute work of art.
That ending had me screaming! I can’t wait for the next book. 😍
100/5 ⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
This series is seriously just so good. I love the world building, and this time we get to see what life in the cities is like. I loved every side character we meet here, which helped fill the void of not getting much of our previous MCS.
This installment is EMOTIONAL. I read a ton of emotional books (like please make me cry i'll give you 5 stars) and this one is really top tier level writing on the emotions. It's written so that you really feel what the characters are feeling and these poor characters were going through it. The depth you get from Xeni and learning his backstory was amazing, I loved every second of it, and his and Bash's journey back to each other felt so real. The angst was realistic to me and I love that. I also thought both Xeni and Bash surprised me at times with how thier personalities shown through, which was fun since I already had so many thoughts on Xeni from previous books. It was nice to be pleasantly surprised.
Some notes: I read books for plot with the added bonus of steamy scenes, I think after Nyx this book felt like it had a few redundant sex scenes that were kind of boring me towards the end. It also had a personal pet peeve of mine: acrobatic-ish sex after a major injury. Both of these things did not effect the rating. lol Also, I was scared for the characters in previous books in certain situations, but this book I think I was just so tied up in all the emotions of it all, I just knew they'd be ok and so I was less stressed reading it than I was reading Elas. I also wish we got a little more of Aryn at the end there since he's the next book- with Xeni and Nyx I was already invested in the characters when thier books came about, not so much here. Also, Sovren, I had my theories and I was so so happy to see I was right at the end! He is going to be such a fun character to explore!
If you're at this point in the series, I definitely don't have to convince you to read it, you know you're going to. Come for the plot, stay for the emotions and prepare to get absolutely wrecked in the best way. Bring some tissues.
*I recieved an advanced copy of this from BookSirens and this is my honest review.
This installment is EMOTIONAL. I read a ton of emotional books (like please make me cry i'll give you 5 stars) and this one is really top tier level writing on the emotions. It's written so that you really feel what the characters are feeling and these poor characters were going through it. The depth you get from Xeni and learning his backstory was amazing, I loved every second of it, and his and Bash's journey back to each other felt so real. The angst was realistic to me and I love that. I also thought both Xeni and Bash surprised me at times with how thier personalities shown through, which was fun since I already had so many thoughts on Xeni from previous books. It was nice to be pleasantly surprised.
Some notes: I read books for plot with the added bonus of steamy scenes, I think after Nyx this book felt like it had a few redundant sex scenes that were kind of boring me towards the end. It also had a personal pet peeve of mine: acrobatic-ish sex after a major injury. Both of these things did not effect the rating. lol Also, I was scared for the characters in previous books in certain situations, but this book I think I was just so tied up in all the emotions of it all, I just knew they'd be ok and so I was less stressed reading it than I was reading Elas. I also wish we got a little more of Aryn at the end there since he's the next book- with Xeni and Nyx I was already invested in the characters when thier books came about, not so much here. Also, Sovren, I had my theories and I was so so happy to see I was right at the end! He is going to be such a fun character to explore!
If you're at this point in the series, I definitely don't have to convince you to read it, you know you're going to. Come for the plot, stay for the emotions and prepare to get absolutely wrecked in the best way. Bring some tissues.
*I recieved an advanced copy of this from BookSirens and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is Book 4 in the Mate's Mark Series. These stories are interconnected and absolutely have to be read in order. Each book follows a different couple who get a HEA but the overarching plot continues. These are also on the dark romance spectrum so check the CWs before heading in 🖤
🌶🌶🌶🌶
Oof I knew Xeni was gonna hurt. I thought I was prepared, but did my heart still get ripped out.....yepp it sure did 😫🥺
Xeni pops up most in Elas and we get little Easter eggs that there is alot more to him than he let's others see and then at the end of Nyx he drops the bomb that he has a mate already, and this mate is alive out in the world with possible answers on the rifts. This book Xeni goes out to try and find his mate Bash and try and convince him to come back to the village. Their "break up" was heart wrenching and the years that followed were literally torture for Xeni but Bash doesn't know about any of it. I will be giving NO spoilers here because the truth of everything unravels through the story. When Xeni does reach Bash though it is not a warm welcome and you can kind of understand it from Bash's point but your heart breaks for Xeni all the same. We get our First peek at the Architect, the Monster who orchestrated the war on earth and challenged the prophecy of mates, and dude sucks 😑 and OF COURSE G. Eilsel drops a bomb right at the end!
This was peek redemption arc for Xeni...we can all admit in Elas we wanted to chuck him out a window but he slowly started to work his way back into your heart and this story literally just made me want to wrap him up and snuggle him. Bash is of course perfect for Xeni because he wants to treat him like the princess he is 🥹 GUYS the spice in this one though 🔥🥵 absolutely spectacular *chefs kiss* the chemistry these two have just burns through the pages! It hurt and there was tons of angst but I loved every second of this book!
🌶🌶🌶🌶
Oof I knew Xeni was gonna hurt. I thought I was prepared, but did my heart still get ripped out.....yepp it sure did 😫🥺
Xeni pops up most in Elas and we get little Easter eggs that there is alot more to him than he let's others see and then at the end of Nyx he drops the bomb that he has a mate already, and this mate is alive out in the world with possible answers on the rifts. This book Xeni goes out to try and find his mate Bash and try and convince him to come back to the village. Their "break up" was heart wrenching and the years that followed were literally torture for Xeni but Bash doesn't know about any of it. I will be giving NO spoilers here because the truth of everything unravels through the story. When Xeni does reach Bash though it is not a warm welcome and you can kind of understand it from Bash's point but your heart breaks for Xeni all the same. We get our First peek at the Architect, the Monster who orchestrated the war on earth and challenged the prophecy of mates, and dude sucks 😑 and OF COURSE G. Eilsel drops a bomb right at the end!
This was peek redemption arc for Xeni...we can all admit in Elas we wanted to chuck him out a window but he slowly started to work his way back into your heart and this story literally just made me want to wrap him up and snuggle him. Bash is of course perfect for Xeni because he wants to treat him like the princess he is 🥹 GUYS the spice in this one though 🔥🥵 absolutely spectacular *chefs kiss* the chemistry these two have just burns through the pages! It hurt and there was tons of angst but I loved every second of this book!
March 8, 2026
Here For The Plot, Not The Couple
This series has been a lot of fun to read so far. The world building, plot and huge cast of unique characters is seriously impressive. That being said, the relationships have been hit or miss. Book one and book three have been my favorites so far. The couples and plot were great together and really pushed the story forward. This book though, I had to admit I struggled to finish it sometimes.
Xeni is a complicated character and I did enjoy learning more about his past and why he is the way he is. Bash was tough to get into as a character but his band of friends were interesting. I just never really connected with him and while I get why he was mad at Xeni at the beginning, I thought his push and pull was heartless and cruel. The amount of times we had to read about him longing for Xeni only to say it’s been days since he even acknowledged his existence was frustrating. And seeing as he was a character built up to be a nerdy scientist who will help everyone solve the bigger storyline, we never got to see him in that role.
Honestly I’m surprised I’m going to say this but the smut was too much. Once it started it was constant and by the end I was skimming over it. At least Xeni had a unique snarky personality and some big reveals as part of the story, Bash felt like he was there just to be a jerk at the beginning and hook up with Xeni every five pages.
The only reason this book gets three stars is because I did genuinely enjoy the plot and new characters. Im intrigued where this is going and I’m excited for the next book to move things along further. I just hope the couple is more well rounded and developed as characters with actual personalities.
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Second Chance, Fated Mates, Found Family, Dual POV, Human / Monster Pairing
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ 2/5 (the frequency is insane but the quality was meh)
Relationship: MM
This series has been a lot of fun to read so far. The world building, plot and huge cast of unique characters is seriously impressive. That being said, the relationships have been hit or miss. Book one and book three have been my favorites so far. The couples and plot were great together and really pushed the story forward. This book though, I had to admit I struggled to finish it sometimes.
Xeni is a complicated character and I did enjoy learning more about his past and why he is the way he is. Bash was tough to get into as a character but his band of friends were interesting. I just never really connected with him and while I get why he was mad at Xeni at the beginning, I thought his push and pull was heartless and cruel. The amount of times we had to read about him longing for Xeni only to say it’s been days since he even acknowledged his existence was frustrating. And seeing as he was a character built up to be a nerdy scientist who will help everyone solve the bigger storyline, we never got to see him in that role.
Honestly I’m surprised I’m going to say this but the smut was too much. Once it started it was constant and by the end I was skimming over it. At least Xeni had a unique snarky personality and some big reveals as part of the story, Bash felt like he was there just to be a jerk at the beginning and hook up with Xeni every five pages.
The only reason this book gets three stars is because I did genuinely enjoy the plot and new characters. Im intrigued where this is going and I’m excited for the next book to move things along further. I just hope the couple is more well rounded and developed as characters with actual personalities.
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Second Chance, Fated Mates, Found Family, Dual POV, Human / Monster Pairing
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ 2/5 (the frequency is insane but the quality was meh)
Relationship: MM
Review of advance copy
When I was reading August and Elas’s story, I hated Xeni. I didn’t feel any sympathy for him at all — not even later, when he helped them escape from Ljómur.
And although I started to soften toward him during Nyx and Reyes’s story, I still didn’t expect the kind of emotions his and Bash’s story would bring out of me.
Their story was terrible and heartbreaking, sometimes funny, and in many places incredibly sweet. Their jealousy was ridiculously hilarious, just like their reactions.
But not only their past — their present was painful too. When Xeni and Bash met again after four years, I was angry at Bash. I know Xeni made a huge mistake, but Bash’s behavior — and the desperation it caused in Xeni… ahhh, my heart broke. My chest actually tightened when Bash walked off with Cato…
The Cato–Xeni teasing and snarky comments were fantastic — I laughed like an idiot at those, just like I did at some of Sakane’s lines. My favorite from him: “Can… boys get pregnant from watching?” 😅
Things I also want to highlight:
Xeni’s father should have suffered so, so much more.
I absolutely loved reading about Bheera — the way Nelly spoke about her with so much love, and the way Bheera told her stories about little-boy Xeni 🥹
And Sovran… ummm hello 🥵 he’s getting a story too, right? Please, please, pleaaase 🥺🙏🏻
And yes, I know Xeni’s book is only just about to be released, but I’m already desperately waiting for the rest of the series. I can’t get enough of them. Leslie, I hope you know — and I’m sure people have told you — that you write incredibly well. The characters, the world-building, the way everything connects, how we see more and understand more with each book — and yet we’re still left with so many questions 😅
Long story short — because once again I talked way too much:
Thank you for the ARC 🤍
And although I started to soften toward him during Nyx and Reyes’s story, I still didn’t expect the kind of emotions his and Bash’s story would bring out of me.
Their story was terrible and heartbreaking, sometimes funny, and in many places incredibly sweet. Their jealousy was ridiculously hilarious, just like their reactions.
But not only their past — their present was painful too. When Xeni and Bash met again after four years, I was angry at Bash. I know Xeni made a huge mistake, but Bash’s behavior — and the desperation it caused in Xeni… ahhh, my heart broke. My chest actually tightened when Bash walked off with Cato…
The Cato–Xeni teasing and snarky comments were fantastic — I laughed like an idiot at those, just like I did at some of Sakane’s lines. My favorite from him: “Can… boys get pregnant from watching?” 😅
Things I also want to highlight:
Xeni’s father should have suffered so, so much more.
I absolutely loved reading about Bheera — the way Nelly spoke about her with so much love, and the way Bheera told her stories about little-boy Xeni 🥹
And Sovran… ummm hello 🥵 he’s getting a story too, right? Please, please, pleaaase 🥺🙏🏻
And yes, I know Xeni’s book is only just about to be released, but I’m already desperately waiting for the rest of the series. I can’t get enough of them. Leslie, I hope you know — and I’m sure people have told you — that you write incredibly well. The characters, the world-building, the way everything connects, how we see more and understand more with each book — and yet we’re still left with so many questions 😅
Long story short — because once again I talked way too much:
Thank you for the ARC 🤍
March 2, 2026
Two fated mates, Xeni and Bash, once torn apart by circumstance and the atrocious acts of the military, are brought together again when the group realizes they need Bash’s scientific expertise. But can Bash trust Xeni again after the circumstances of their separation? Can Xeni forgive himself and reforge a new life with the one person who loved and accepted him for who he is?
First, I do want to say that it’s important to read the content warnings for this book, as some elements (although well handled) can be triggering. The story holds some heavy things within its pages, and there were many moments that absolutely hit me in the feels. But I honestly really related to both Xeni and Bash with their scars, struggles, and fears. They had that perfectly imperfect vibe going, and I thought it really added to the overall series to tell their story. Also, for the record, Xeni is babygirl and I would die for him, period, end of story.
This story was so touching, and despite the heavier topics, so well done and satisfying by the end. Our beautiful MCs get to experience healing together in a way that feels earned, not rushed, and genuinely engaging to read. I thought the book struck a really good balance between the main characters’ relationship arc and the overarching plotline that spans the series. Some MAJOR things go down in this installment that shed light on previous books in the Mate’s Mark series and have me so excited to see what happens next.
Listen, I am a sucker for second-chance romances, and Xeni satisfied so many parts of me. The tender, worshipful love from Bash as he wrestles with forgiveness, paired with Xeni’s sass and slowly lowering defenses. The delicious spice. The new characters introduced. The plot twists. All of it made for an incredible read and left me even more excited for what comes next.
First, I do want to say that it’s important to read the content warnings for this book, as some elements (although well handled) can be triggering. The story holds some heavy things within its pages, and there were many moments that absolutely hit me in the feels. But I honestly really related to both Xeni and Bash with their scars, struggles, and fears. They had that perfectly imperfect vibe going, and I thought it really added to the overall series to tell their story. Also, for the record, Xeni is babygirl and I would die for him, period, end of story.
This story was so touching, and despite the heavier topics, so well done and satisfying by the end. Our beautiful MCs get to experience healing together in a way that feels earned, not rushed, and genuinely engaging to read. I thought the book struck a really good balance between the main characters’ relationship arc and the overarching plotline that spans the series. Some MAJOR things go down in this installment that shed light on previous books in the Mate’s Mark series and have me so excited to see what happens next.
Listen, I am a sucker for second-chance romances, and Xeni satisfied so many parts of me. The tender, worshipful love from Bash as he wrestles with forgiveness, paired with Xeni’s sass and slowly lowering defenses. The delicious spice. The new characters introduced. The plot twists. All of it made for an incredible read and left me even more excited for what comes next.
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