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The Bonded Hearts #1
Shield
I was their captive. Now they’re my destiny.
In Legacia, women with shield power are magical weapons, used to protect men until we burn out … and die. When my power was exposed, four elite, ruthless guards—my own countrymen—dragged me away to serve them. They thought I’d be obedient. They were wrong.
When I finally escaped them, I didn’t find freedom; I found a prophecy. I’m Destiny’s champion, the warrior fated to unite the fractured realms. And the only way to fulfill the prophecy is to bind myself to six men—including the very guards who stole me from my home.
I hate everything about this fate. I refuse to be controlled. So why does my magic sing when they’re near?
I escape to enemy territory, only to find two new, forbidden men whose brutal protection comes with a heat that threatens to consume me.
Six men—my sworn enemies and my dangerous saviors—will stop at nothing to claim me. Destiny demands I accept them.
But I’m done being fate’s puppet. If I’m truly Destiny’s champion, I’ll forge my own path—before the coming war destroys everything I’m meant to protect.
The most dangerous thing in the realms isn’t a sword or a monster—it’s a woman who’s finally taken control.
For fans
A heroine who bows to no one
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Fate can be cruel
MMFMMMM
In Legacia, women with shield power are magical weapons, used to protect men until we burn out … and die. When my power was exposed, four elite, ruthless guards—my own countrymen—dragged me away to serve them. They thought I’d be obedient. They were wrong.
When I finally escaped them, I didn’t find freedom; I found a prophecy. I’m Destiny’s champion, the warrior fated to unite the fractured realms. And the only way to fulfill the prophecy is to bind myself to six men—including the very guards who stole me from my home.
I hate everything about this fate. I refuse to be controlled. So why does my magic sing when they’re near?
I escape to enemy territory, only to find two new, forbidden men whose brutal protection comes with a heat that threatens to consume me.
Six men—my sworn enemies and my dangerous saviors—will stop at nothing to claim me. Destiny demands I accept them.
But I’m done being fate’s puppet. If I’m truly Destiny’s champion, I’ll forge my own path—before the coming war destroys everything I’m meant to protect.
The most dangerous thing in the realms isn’t a sword or a monster—it’s a woman who’s finally taken control.
For fans
A heroine who bows to no one
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Fate can be cruel
MMFMMMM
392 pages, Paperback
Published February 24, 2026
About the author
Moira Wilde
3 books16 followersMoira Wilde has elevated procrastinating into an art form. You can usually find her with her nose in a book. A spicy book. One with a strong FMC and a grueling redemption arc for the man/men foolish enough to hurt her (but smart enough to want her back).
When she's not reading (or writing), she's corralling two, young, high-energy dogs. Who thought adopting TWO dogs was a good idea?
Moira's blameless husband will gladly provide the answer.
When she's not reading (or writing), she's corralling two, young, high-energy dogs. Who thought adopting TWO dogs was a good idea?
Moira's blameless husband will gladly provide the answer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 14, 2026
This fell into the Too Much trap. So many books have this problem these days. I’m not sure why.
I have a very pessimistic view of powerful men. I’m not stupid enough to give them the benefit of the doubt. But this whole oppression bit was too much even from my perspective.
Are there awful people out there? Definitely. Are there governments that systematically abuse certain citizens? Absolutely. But you’ll never get into a situation where 100% of the population falls into the evil category.
The MMCs are supposed to be the protagonists. This went too far. They aren’t morally grey or redeemable. They’ve been allowing/watching women get raped for years?? They’ve allowed innkeepers to use these shields as unwilling prostitutes?? These guys have been having sex with these women too. With a power imbalance like that, you can’t even claim consent. This is too much.
As far as I’m concerned, they deserve to die. I’m not super forgiving about rape. Or slavery.
This isn’t a dark romance, but even in the dark romance genre I wouldn’t consider these MMCs to be acceptable. Rape between main characters? Fine. Dark and twisted is something I can accept. This though? This is like pretending that complicity isn’t just as evil as perpetrating abuse. It’s not dark or kinky. It’s gross.
Sure the FMC points all these things out. But she keeps saving them. She escapes rape from 8 men, runs upstairs to unleash hell, but gets distracted by being horny? Are you kidding me??
I was doing ok up until that point. I thought I’d finish it, at least. But she confronts the lead MMC about the 8 guys who almost raped her, and he admits that he knew it was a possibility? Ex-fucking-scuse me?? THEN she once again saves his life, gets all mushy about him getting hurt, and then decides that one of the other MMCs is suddenly randomly her hero? Because he was willing to tell her the super secret fascinating story of his family getting killed? That was the whole story, by the way. “My uncle killed my family.” Well knock me over with a feather because that totally excuses the massive amount of abuse/rape that’s been going on. Wtf?
Then THEN they leave all 8 rapey guys alive, with their dicks and testicles intact. . Despite the fact that everyone has admitted that this happens all the time. Because we’re too honorable to kill unarmed men. I guess just oh fucking well for all the girls they’re gonna rape in the future?? What is even going on over here?
My pearls are clutched. I am scandalized.
Let me just tell you. That is saying something.
Dominant dude once again says she’s just serving a purpose. After she battles 100 assassins to save him and then randomly becomes a healer. Too much.
Next sentence:
“I’d spent too much time with these men. They were wearing down my defenses. And as odious as I’d first found them, now when I considered them, I saw flawed individuals, not monsters.”
Too fucking much.
Also, this FMC is the biggest Mary Sue of all Mary Sues. I don’t particularly mind that trope, but it’s very heavy handed here. Aren’t these guys supposed to be good at their jobs, at the very least? Why is she saving them 100% of the time?
I just can’t anymore.
I have a very pessimistic view of powerful men. I’m not stupid enough to give them the benefit of the doubt. But this whole oppression bit was too much even from my perspective.
Are there awful people out there? Definitely. Are there governments that systematically abuse certain citizens? Absolutely. But you’ll never get into a situation where 100% of the population falls into the evil category.
The MMCs are supposed to be the protagonists. This went too far. They aren’t morally grey or redeemable. They’ve been allowing/watching women get raped for years?? They’ve allowed innkeepers to use these shields as unwilling prostitutes?? These guys have been having sex with these women too. With a power imbalance like that, you can’t even claim consent. This is too much.
As far as I’m concerned, they deserve to die. I’m not super forgiving about rape. Or slavery.
This isn’t a dark romance, but even in the dark romance genre I wouldn’t consider these MMCs to be acceptable. Rape between main characters? Fine. Dark and twisted is something I can accept. This though? This is like pretending that complicity isn’t just as evil as perpetrating abuse. It’s not dark or kinky. It’s gross.
Sure the FMC points all these things out. But she keeps saving them. She escapes rape from 8 men, runs upstairs to unleash hell, but gets distracted by being horny? Are you kidding me??
I was doing ok up until that point. I thought I’d finish it, at least. But she confronts the lead MMC about the 8 guys who almost raped her, and he admits that he knew it was a possibility? Ex-fucking-scuse me?? THEN she once again saves his life, gets all mushy about him getting hurt, and then decides that one of the other MMCs is suddenly randomly her hero? Because he was willing to tell her the super secret fascinating story of his family getting killed? That was the whole story, by the way. “My uncle killed my family.” Well knock me over with a feather because that totally excuses the massive amount of abuse/rape that’s been going on. Wtf?
Then THEN they leave all 8 rapey guys alive, with their dicks and testicles intact. . Despite the fact that everyone has admitted that this happens all the time. Because we’re too honorable to kill unarmed men. I guess just oh fucking well for all the girls they’re gonna rape in the future?? What is even going on over here?
My pearls are clutched. I am scandalized.
Let me just tell you. That is saying something.
Dominant dude once again says she’s just serving a purpose. After she battles 100 assassins to save him and then randomly becomes a healer. Too much.
Next sentence:
“I’d spent too much time with these men. They were wearing down my defenses. And as odious as I’d first found them, now when I considered them, I saw flawed individuals, not monsters.”
Too fucking much.
Also, this FMC is the biggest Mary Sue of all Mary Sues. I don’t particularly mind that trope, but it’s very heavy handed here. Aren’t these guys supposed to be good at their jobs, at the very least? Why is she saving them 100% of the time?
I just can’t anymore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2026
Such a good one! And so many mmm that I loved 😍😍
June 8, 2026
There's enemies to lovers, then there's whatever the hell this was. I finished it. I did. Somehow.
Look, only 2 of the 6 deserve ANYTHING good to happen to them and if you read the book you know the exact 2 I'm talking about. The other 4? Jailtime. Death row. And our FMC does nothing but constantly protect them when 👏🏻 they 👏🏻 deserve 👏🏻 nothing 👏🏻. She forgave them WAY TOO FUCKING QUICK. In all actuality, after everything her country has put her and other women through, she should've NEVER forgiven them, let alone so quickly. And it sucks because I actually somewhat liked the fmc until that happened, but then lost every ounce of respect for her. I hope the good 2 kill the bad 4 in the next book (but I know that won't happen).
As far as the style goes, the writing read very plain and the dialogue and inner monologues were extremely repetitive.
Look, only 2 of the 6 deserve ANYTHING good to happen to them and if you read the book you know the exact 2 I'm talking about. The other 4? Jailtime. Death row. And our FMC does nothing but constantly protect them when 👏🏻 they 👏🏻 deserve 👏🏻 nothing 👏🏻. She forgave them WAY TOO FUCKING QUICK. In all actuality, after everything her country has put her and other women through, she should've NEVER forgiven them, let alone so quickly. And it sucks because I actually somewhat liked the fmc until that happened, but then lost every ounce of respect for her. I hope the good 2 kill the bad 4 in the next book (but I know that won't happen).
As far as the style goes, the writing read very plain and the dialogue and inner monologues were extremely repetitive.
April 27, 2026
If I had a magic power it would be the ability to reach into this book and throttle four of the six (yes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) MMCs.
I kept reading because I've longed to be taken on an adventure and haven't found many books lately that did it for me. This one did, but the characters were so aggravatingly horrible that I can't recommend it.
The FMC was born into a country that puts women as second class citizens. And women with powers? They're considered somewhere three or four levels below that.
"It wasn’t unheard of for a quad to share a woman. But that woman was never a shield."
For a shield (a woman with powers), being taken at 15 years old and thrown in the barracks with men who have been socialized to view them as objects for the release of their lust, anger, or boredom, is the norm. They're given the bare minimum from the clothing they wear, to separate eating halls with only bland porridge, and then after years of being raped and assaulted and beaten into submission until they do nothing more but fall to their knees and open their mouths on command, they're expected to use their shielding abilities to protect these men at the front lines, who then forget them the moment their powers burn out and they die. And a new woman is brought out and the cycle continues.
From their own conversations, this is something the MMCs have been through multiple times. They've had multiple women burn out and die for them and never once thought anything of it (except for the one who fell in love with one of them before she died, of course, but just the one woman).
The soldiers stay for free at any inn in the country, and we later find out that the culture of this place is that innkeepers recoup the lost costs of their room and board by selling the soldiers' shields to all the locals each night they stay. The shields are drugged and a line of local men wait outside their door and take their turns.
And the MMCs have known stuff like this happens, maybe not the specifics because they didn't care enough to ask, but they've definitely seen the aftermath of it, and have never done anything about it.
They know the girls in the barracks are raped and assaulted and claim to stop it when it comes to their sheilds (not the FMC though, they allow her to be nearly assaulted to test her), but they never glance once at any of the others.
They're all womanizers (even the other two from the other country), but one is especially abhorrent. This one gives a nice meal in exchange for the shields he sets his eyes on sleeping with him. He's disgusting and entitled about sex with her the entire book, and not once did he convince me that he saw the FMC as anything but someone he wanted to finally sleep with.
“Of course not. You’re just a man who uses his position of power to trade food for sex from hungry women. Practically a saint, really.”
“A woman shouldn’t have to fuck you to eat.”
The FMC makes comments about these things along the way, and normally you'd think these men could actually realize they've been hardwired by an entire system set up to allow these things to be done to women. They don't. They truly cannot comprehend why she thinks these things are bad. Sure, they hate what happened to the FMC (things they allowed to happen to her), but they do not care what happens to women beyond her, and that's true right up until the cliffhanger at the end.
Usually when presented with glaring character flaws like this, we can see the little moments that impact a character and change their way of thinking. We can see them dismantle systemic teachings piece by piece so that we can believe they've changed when they suddenly realize they want to be with and respect the FMC.
None of that happens here. They each go from resentment and/or derision, to immediate devotion, with no space between for any true growth.
And that brings me to the FMC.
This woman pulled skills out of her ass like Mary Poppins and her carpetbag. She's a nobody from nowhere but her grandmother hired tutors to teach her everything she'd need to be a queen because she had visions that she would become one. Yes, ettequite, schooling, politics, strategic planning, even fighting. She's an AMAZING fighter (swords, daggers, fists, etc.) out of nowhere. She has the regular women's shield abilities but like, stronger than everyone else's. She can heal herself super fast and then later she can heal OTHERS too. She can teleport objects to herself and back even if she's never seen them or where they're located before, she just needs a good description and BAM! Whatever she needs is in her hands. She absorbs any magic that hits her shield and can then use that same magic, meaning that by the end of the book she has at least 6 different offensive magics she can use and that's before she starts combining them.
And then I lost it (JUST LOST IT) when a glob of poisonous wyvern spit hit her shield and suddenly she had the ability to analyze its chemical makeup and magically reproduce it. I CANNOT.
This girl is the Superman of this world, in that the author made her so fucking OP she had to start making shit up (kryptonite) in order to tone her down. She spends hours holding up a vortex of fire and wind to protect them until morning and then days later is exhausted flinging her powers out a few times. Then she raises a wall of ice around a whole clearing and sets fire to over 20 creatures attacking them and is fine to continue traveling. But when she's merely picked up in the claws of a dragon she dangles there helplessly.
She saves everyone in this book, even herself. More than once. She even saves a baby and gives it a childless couple.
And this woman forgives them all by the end of this book (let's be real, it was by 3/4 of the way in) and it's not even the end of the series. 😭 Sure, she hems and haws about how they did her wrong, but she really doesn't care. They're hot and they grinned at her without derision once, so she's decided they're good people.
And don't get me started on the part where she's nearly drugged and raped and saves herself (yet again), then runs upstairs to confront the asshole MMCs for putting her in that position but gets stopped in her tracks by two of them fucking and GETS TURNED ON.
I'm gonna read the next book because damn if I'm not curious. But 4/6 of her guys could die in the next book and istg I'd raise my rating for each death.
I kept reading because I've longed to be taken on an adventure and haven't found many books lately that did it for me. This one did, but the characters were so aggravatingly horrible that I can't recommend it.
The FMC was born into a country that puts women as second class citizens. And women with powers? They're considered somewhere three or four levels below that.
"It wasn’t unheard of for a quad to share a woman. But that woman was never a shield."
For a shield (a woman with powers), being taken at 15 years old and thrown in the barracks with men who have been socialized to view them as objects for the release of their lust, anger, or boredom, is the norm. They're given the bare minimum from the clothing they wear, to separate eating halls with only bland porridge, and then after years of being raped and assaulted and beaten into submission until they do nothing more but fall to their knees and open their mouths on command, they're expected to use their shielding abilities to protect these men at the front lines, who then forget them the moment their powers burn out and they die. And a new woman is brought out and the cycle continues.
From their own conversations, this is something the MMCs have been through multiple times. They've had multiple women burn out and die for them and never once thought anything of it (except for the one who fell in love with one of them before she died, of course, but just the one woman).
The soldiers stay for free at any inn in the country, and we later find out that the culture of this place is that innkeepers recoup the lost costs of their room and board by selling the soldiers' shields to all the locals each night they stay. The shields are drugged and a line of local men wait outside their door and take their turns.
And the MMCs have known stuff like this happens, maybe not the specifics because they didn't care enough to ask, but they've definitely seen the aftermath of it, and have never done anything about it.
They know the girls in the barracks are raped and assaulted and claim to stop it when it comes to their sheilds (not the FMC though, they allow her to be nearly assaulted to test her), but they never glance once at any of the others.
They're all womanizers (even the other two from the other country), but one is especially abhorrent. This one gives a nice meal in exchange for the shields he sets his eyes on sleeping with him. He's disgusting and entitled about sex with her the entire book, and not once did he convince me that he saw the FMC as anything but someone he wanted to finally sleep with.
“Of course not. You’re just a man who uses his position of power to trade food for sex from hungry women. Practically a saint, really.”
“A woman shouldn’t have to fuck you to eat.”
The FMC makes comments about these things along the way, and normally you'd think these men could actually realize they've been hardwired by an entire system set up to allow these things to be done to women. They don't. They truly cannot comprehend why she thinks these things are bad. Sure, they hate what happened to the FMC (things they allowed to happen to her), but they do not care what happens to women beyond her, and that's true right up until the cliffhanger at the end.
Usually when presented with glaring character flaws like this, we can see the little moments that impact a character and change their way of thinking. We can see them dismantle systemic teachings piece by piece so that we can believe they've changed when they suddenly realize they want to be with and respect the FMC.
None of that happens here. They each go from resentment and/or derision, to immediate devotion, with no space between for any true growth.
And that brings me to the FMC.
This woman pulled skills out of her ass like Mary Poppins and her carpetbag. She's a nobody from nowhere but her grandmother hired tutors to teach her everything she'd need to be a queen because she had visions that she would become one. Yes, ettequite, schooling, politics, strategic planning, even fighting. She's an AMAZING fighter (swords, daggers, fists, etc.) out of nowhere. She has the regular women's shield abilities but like, stronger than everyone else's. She can heal herself super fast and then later she can heal OTHERS too. She can teleport objects to herself and back even if she's never seen them or where they're located before, she just needs a good description and BAM! Whatever she needs is in her hands. She absorbs any magic that hits her shield and can then use that same magic, meaning that by the end of the book she has at least 6 different offensive magics she can use and that's before she starts combining them.
And then I lost it (JUST LOST IT) when a glob of poisonous wyvern spit hit her shield and suddenly she had the ability to analyze its chemical makeup and magically reproduce it. I CANNOT.
This girl is the Superman of this world, in that the author made her so fucking OP she had to start making shit up (kryptonite) in order to tone her down. She spends hours holding up a vortex of fire and wind to protect them until morning and then days later is exhausted flinging her powers out a few times. Then she raises a wall of ice around a whole clearing and sets fire to over 20 creatures attacking them and is fine to continue traveling. But when she's merely picked up in the claws of a dragon she dangles there helplessly.
She saves everyone in this book, even herself. More than once. She even saves a baby and gives it a childless couple.
And this woman forgives them all by the end of this book (let's be real, it was by 3/4 of the way in) and it's not even the end of the series. 😭 Sure, she hems and haws about how they did her wrong, but she really doesn't care. They're hot and they grinned at her without derision once, so she's decided they're good people.
And don't get me started on the part where she's nearly drugged and raped and saves herself (yet again), then runs upstairs to confront the asshole MMCs for putting her in that position but gets stopped in her tracks by two of them fucking and GETS TURNED ON.
I'm gonna read the next book because damn if I'm not curious. But 4/6 of her guys could die in the next book and istg I'd raise my rating for each death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2026
JAIL. this book deserves jail time.
dare i bring up wattpad? the writing was extremely juvenile. like… scarily childish. it read as if it was a book written for middle schoolers and yet the content absolutely was not. men are abusing women and children left and right in this book. and in a very childishly written way??? it’s gross and strange. it makes me feel like the author was getting a kick out of it. and the world-building? forget about it. the only world-building was that men beat and rape women and children. that’s it. that’s all you get to know.
and the mmcs? GROSS! they let her be abused (they watch it happen actually) and then they DEFEND said abuse. one mmc says the fmc “disrespected” a guard and deserved to be whipped to near death by refusing be sexually assaulted?????? and the same one says his mom was “being dramatic” for leaving his dad after his dad beat on her and her daughter (and was likely going to rape his own daughter)????????? and then there’s one that says women are weak and needy. he says the fmc is the only exception and he views all other women this way???????????????
like genuinely what are we doing??? it’s fucking disgusting—there is absolutely NO way to come back from that. it’s giving boys will be boys. it’s giving, “i can change him.”
i don’t know how i thought this book would get better as i read. and after all that, the romance and relationships aren’t even earned!!!! “slow burn,” my ass. she likes these men for literally no reason at all!!!!! this book is giving big weirdo energy.
dare i bring up wattpad? the writing was extremely juvenile. like… scarily childish. it read as if it was a book written for middle schoolers and yet the content absolutely was not. men are abusing women and children left and right in this book. and in a very childishly written way??? it’s gross and strange. it makes me feel like the author was getting a kick out of it. and the world-building? forget about it. the only world-building was that men beat and rape women and children. that’s it. that’s all you get to know.
and the mmcs? GROSS! they let her be abused (they watch it happen actually) and then they DEFEND said abuse. one mmc says the fmc “disrespected” a guard and deserved to be whipped to near death by refusing be sexually assaulted?????? and the same one says his mom was “being dramatic” for leaving his dad after his dad beat on her and her daughter (and was likely going to rape his own daughter)????????? and then there’s one that says women are weak and needy. he says the fmc is the only exception and he views all other women this way???????????????
like genuinely what are we doing??? it’s fucking disgusting—there is absolutely NO way to come back from that. it’s giving boys will be boys. it’s giving, “i can change him.”
i don’t know how i thought this book would get better as i read. and after all that, the romance and relationships aren’t even earned!!!! “slow burn,” my ass. she likes these men for literally no reason at all!!!!! this book is giving big weirdo energy.
March 26, 2026
Everyone's praising this book, but I had a hard time with it.
First of all, let's talk about the writing. I struggled with it and this is how it went:
"I hate them. I hate those four men (even though they were kind of handsome.) "
WHY DOES THE AUTHOR ALWAYS PUT IT IN BRACKETS???
Let’s talk about the FMC. Shes supposed to be this badass unforgiving dominant girl but she forgave her men after they watched SIPPING COFFEE THAT SHE WANTED AN THEY KNEW IT, as she was almost raped, then whipped with poison and THEN left in a dark pit for a week.
Okay i love enemies to lovers but wtf is this. I only liked two men and they were the ones who we meet later and ACTUALLY act decent to her. The other four kept begging for forgiveness and I think the author wanted to give them like character development over the book but they are still assholes. Tell me why they thought women were below them and kept treating her like an object and they took advantage of poor girls to give them “pleasure” when they were the ones who took it?? Super gross bunch of crazy sadistic disgusting revolting assholes
First of all, let's talk about the writing. I struggled with it and this is how it went:
"I hate them. I hate those four men (even though they were kind of handsome.) "
WHY DOES THE AUTHOR ALWAYS PUT IT IN BRACKETS???
Let’s talk about the FMC. Shes supposed to be this badass unforgiving dominant girl but she forgave her men after they watched SIPPING COFFEE THAT SHE WANTED AN THEY KNEW IT, as she was almost raped, then whipped with poison and THEN left in a dark pit for a week.
Okay i love enemies to lovers but wtf is this. I only liked two men and they were the ones who we meet later and ACTUALLY act decent to her. The other four kept begging for forgiveness and I think the author wanted to give them like character development over the book but they are still assholes. Tell me why they thought women were below them and kept treating her like an object and they took advantage of poor girls to give them “pleasure” when they were the ones who took it?? Super gross bunch of crazy sadistic disgusting revolting assholes
February 25, 2026
Let me start by saying I was so unsure of how this fantasy book would play out being a reverse harem with MMFMMM characters. I enjoy those spicy books, but I’ve never read one as a fantasy, but i was pleasantly surprised!! This book gave me everything I wanted and more, and not only did we have the spice, the banter, the crazy tension, the edge of your seat, excitement, but it was done so very well and easy to follow! I fell in love with a female main character Haven because of her strength and her ability to not conform like everyone else she stood her ground. I thought it was a phenomenal story. I also really loved the magic that was portrayed within the story. I thought it gave it an extra element that I truly appreciated ! From the cover of the book to the inside story to the very last page, I was completely hooked. This book taught me to take a chance and even though you were unsure of the story start reading and I’m so very glad that I did. !! I cannot wait for a book 2 . I definitely want more of this story in this world. If you love fantasy books, I would highly recommend Shield!!
June 16, 2026
This book’s majority filled with the FMC trying to get 2/3 of the boys to change their misogynistic ways.
I got major ick at the end when the FMC had to mom-splain Grays ignorance like he’s a little boy.
If you enjoy that dynamic, you might like it.
Besides that, the pacing is way too fast.
Book one should have ended when FMC and the guards got separated. Could also have done with developing there relationships and characters more before the separation.
Opening book two with what cluster of info that happened in the last 30% would have been more entertaining as an expanded story of its own.
The main bones of the store are great. Had potential to be a decent fantasy.
The 6 MMCs:
Playboy
Dom
Quite one
The A hole leader (this one will annoy you)
Fear of being used for status
Devoted from day one.
I’ll probably read the next book if I remember and I’m bored.
I got major ick at the end when the FMC had to mom-splain Grays ignorance like he’s a little boy.
If you enjoy that dynamic, you might like it.
Besides that, the pacing is way too fast.
Book one should have ended when FMC and the guards got separated. Could also have done with developing there relationships and characters more before the separation.
Opening book two with what cluster of info that happened in the last 30% would have been more entertaining as an expanded story of its own.
The main bones of the store are great. Had potential to be a decent fantasy.
The 6 MMCs:
Playboy
Dom
Quite one
The A hole leader (this one will annoy you)
Fear of being used for status
Devoted from day one.
I’ll probably read the next book if I remember and I’m bored.
May 19, 2026
Reading some of these reviews, I nearly didn’t read this.
Seeing those, I believe this book would have done well with a well crafted preword by the author.
We have dark romance readers here who read quite hefty books, but find this X times worse.. Frankly I think this is much closer to women’s reality - deeply mysegenistic societiies where the ‘good guys’ are the ones who just don’t stand up for women but look away and then are negatively surprised when they get called out on their failings.
I find there is issues around insta lust, and a few other things typical for a new author, but these societal issues are not one of them, the female lead has a very clear grasp and voices her pov accordingly.
Would I prefer reading about an established matriarchy ? Sure, but this ain’t this book. It looks at how people (read: men) fail others (wimen) and let injustice perpetuate to avoid having to look too closely, forcing accountability - therefore supporting the faulty system in perpetuity.
I’m curious what happens in book 2, cause yeah some have a lot of growing up to do for sure..
I will say that the ‘incidents’ at the tavern I would also liked to have resolved with a final measurement, and I have questions why this was dome differently. I can see why this may get some people to stop reading at that point, but it kind of just shows again the pervasiveness of these deeply ingrained societal issues.
Seeing those, I believe this book would have done well with a well crafted preword by the author.
We have dark romance readers here who read quite hefty books, but find this X times worse.. Frankly I think this is much closer to women’s reality - deeply mysegenistic societiies where the ‘good guys’ are the ones who just don’t stand up for women but look away and then are negatively surprised when they get called out on their failings.
I find there is issues around insta lust, and a few other things typical for a new author, but these societal issues are not one of them, the female lead has a very clear grasp and voices her pov accordingly.
Would I prefer reading about an established matriarchy ? Sure, but this ain’t this book. It looks at how people (read: men) fail others (wimen) and let injustice perpetuate to avoid having to look too closely, forcing accountability - therefore supporting the faulty system in perpetuity.
I’m curious what happens in book 2, cause yeah some have a lot of growing up to do for sure..
I will say that the ‘incidents’ at the tavern I would also liked to have resolved with a final measurement, and I have questions why this was dome differently. I can see why this may get some people to stop reading at that point, but it kind of just shows again the pervasiveness of these deeply ingrained societal issues.
June 16, 2026
Idk how I feel about this one. I fully believe that romance stories can still work if one of the main characters initially starts out as prejudiced against the other, but there’s gotta be limits, like come on.
It’s not that they don’t see her as an equal, they literally don’t care about her well being outside of her ability to be useful to them. They don’t care at all that she almost dies, doesn’t eat, doesn’t sleep, and gets assaulted on their watch and when she points this out they blow her off. I’m sorry but that’s too much.
Pretty much unforgivable.
And even if it was, they only start caring about one singular woman because they are attracted to her for reasons other than how hot she is. Not one time do they demonstrate any behavior changes towards other women, it’s literally just her. Thats now how sexism (and all the other isms) work and it’s weird to suggest that we can seduce prejudiced people to magically make them empathetic.
It picks up in the last 30%, but the halfway mark was DRAGGING. Take a shot every time you read the phrase “She’s a shield” as a justification for crappy treatment towards women. You’ll die. Even the FMC can’t justify her attraction to these guys. She’s just attracted to them. Oh and fate says she NEEDS them? Yeah screw that. Throw them in jail and go get them when you need them. Why do you have to keep them around? Idk, it’s not like they are any good at protecting.
I love Haven, she’s entertaining, likable, and her magic is cool (if not waaaaay too overpowered). But aside from the two guys at the end, I don’t give a crap about any of the men, and I don’t think anything is changing that for me.
Questions i would need answered in the sequel:
1. How on earth does this stupid country maintain their population if all of the men hate women and so many of the women are drafted to die immediately?
2. Why did the other guards ever take Grayson seriously after hearing his ridiculous sob story about being abandoned by his mother? She literally invited him to come with them, he stayed behind and then hated all women forever. Did they seriously hear that and go, yep thats my boss, he’s really well adjusted and makes great decisions.
3. Are dragon shifters really not naked after they shift back? He walks about of the woods and has a whole conversation with the group, never specified if he was clothed or not. I like to imagine he was naked, that would be a pretty funny introduction to his reverse harem buddies.
4. Haven said at one point that her grandma got her tutors to teach her about court life. Why? And what on earth did they tell those tutors? “Pretend this barn child is a princess and teach her everything she needs to know about a country you and I have never been to because we are at war.” That seems impractical and just straight up impossible.
Anyway, I didn’t hate it but man did it have flaws. It gets preachy, the moral of the story hits you over the head with a sack of bricks over and over again, and it wasn’t really that fun to read. I don’t know that I’d recommend it.
It’s not that they don’t see her as an equal, they literally don’t care about her well being outside of her ability to be useful to them. They don’t care at all that she almost dies, doesn’t eat, doesn’t sleep, and gets assaulted on their watch and when she points this out they blow her off. I’m sorry but that’s too much.
Pretty much unforgivable.
And even if it was, they only start caring about one singular woman because they are attracted to her for reasons other than how hot she is. Not one time do they demonstrate any behavior changes towards other women, it’s literally just her. Thats now how sexism (and all the other isms) work and it’s weird to suggest that we can seduce prejudiced people to magically make them empathetic.
It picks up in the last 30%, but the halfway mark was DRAGGING. Take a shot every time you read the phrase “She’s a shield” as a justification for crappy treatment towards women. You’ll die. Even the FMC can’t justify her attraction to these guys. She’s just attracted to them. Oh and fate says she NEEDS them? Yeah screw that. Throw them in jail and go get them when you need them. Why do you have to keep them around? Idk, it’s not like they are any good at protecting.
I love Haven, she’s entertaining, likable, and her magic is cool (if not waaaaay too overpowered). But aside from the two guys at the end, I don’t give a crap about any of the men, and I don’t think anything is changing that for me.
Questions i would need answered in the sequel:
1. How on earth does this stupid country maintain their population if all of the men hate women and so many of the women are drafted to die immediately?
2. Why did the other guards ever take Grayson seriously after hearing his ridiculous sob story about being abandoned by his mother? She literally invited him to come with them, he stayed behind and then hated all women forever. Did they seriously hear that and go, yep thats my boss, he’s really well adjusted and makes great decisions.
3. Are dragon shifters really not naked after they shift back? He walks about of the woods and has a whole conversation with the group, never specified if he was clothed or not. I like to imagine he was naked, that would be a pretty funny introduction to his reverse harem buddies.
4. Haven said at one point that her grandma got her tutors to teach her about court life. Why? And what on earth did they tell those tutors? “Pretend this barn child is a princess and teach her everything she needs to know about a country you and I have never been to because we are at war.” That seems impractical and just straight up impossible.
Anyway, I didn’t hate it but man did it have flaws. It gets preachy, the moral of the story hits you over the head with a sack of bricks over and over again, and it wasn’t really that fun to read. I don’t know that I’d recommend it.
March 26, 2026
Sooo good and somehow so relevant in today's discourse
Loved ever bit of this read. There are so many lessons in character, true strength and integrity to be taken from this book and I was not expecting it. Too often I've read for the pleasure of a good story in which I can embody a kickass hero who despite the odds perseveres. So imagine my shock when rather than just invoking my imagination and excitement I was actually introspective of what makes someone a hero or worthy of that title. Not just as the main character but from all the characters perspective I found my self defining character and morality despite societal norms. It been a long time since a fictional book has gotten me to step back into reality of life and take lessons with it. Loved the the character dynamics the heroine is phenomenal. The pace of the book, story line, originality chefs kiss! All amazing congratulations Moira Wilde, I look forward to reading more from you.
Loved ever bit of this read. There are so many lessons in character, true strength and integrity to be taken from this book and I was not expecting it. Too often I've read for the pleasure of a good story in which I can embody a kickass hero who despite the odds perseveres. So imagine my shock when rather than just invoking my imagination and excitement I was actually introspective of what makes someone a hero or worthy of that title. Not just as the main character but from all the characters perspective I found my self defining character and morality despite societal norms. It been a long time since a fictional book has gotten me to step back into reality of life and take lessons with it. Loved the the character dynamics the heroine is phenomenal. The pace of the book, story line, originality chefs kiss! All amazing congratulations Moira Wilde, I look forward to reading more from you.
April 2, 2026
Absolutely amazing book! I read it in 10 hrs and devoured it. the FMC is such a badass and takes absolutely no shit. I personally love the desire to remind men that women are more than objects, that they are more than whats between men and how truly powerful we can be. as a woman who has been subjected to the darkest side of men, I truly hope the FMC finds her happiness in this world. She deserves it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2026
I really enjoyed this fast paced Dark Romantic Fantasy.
We're thrown into the story when our FMC unalives powerful man. In a land where women with her power (Shields) are sent to train and protect, she has kept her power in check for years. When The Guard shows up to take her to train, she has no choice but to go. There journey is not an easy one, and the true enemies to reluctant allies is strong.
I won't share more to avoid spoiling anything- but if you're looking for an epic romantasy with a badass FMC, fueled by raged, unique magic, bonds with SIX (yes, six!) MMCs- then this is the book for you!
We're thrown into the story when our FMC unalives powerful man. In a land where women with her power (Shields) are sent to train and protect, she has kept her power in check for years. When The Guard shows up to take her to train, she has no choice but to go. There journey is not an easy one, and the true enemies to reluctant allies is strong.
I won't share more to avoid spoiling anything- but if you're looking for an epic romantasy with a badass FMC, fueled by raged, unique magic, bonds with SIX (yes, six!) MMCs- then this is the book for you!
February 27, 2026
Are you actually kidding!? I don't want to wait for the next installment lol. That was so freaking good. Remy is my favorite! Zane
Swoon! The other four I'm w haven! That was an epic wild ride and I need answers Moira!!
Magic
Men are superior 🤢
Tough as nails fmc
Fated to six!
Falling kingdom
Women are nothing but shields to use and discard
Swoon! The other four I'm w haven! That was an epic wild ride and I need answers Moira!!
Magic
Men are superior 🤢
Tough as nails fmc
Fated to six!
Falling kingdom
Women are nothing but shields to use and discard
February 28, 2026
I loved everything about this book except the damn cliffhanger.
Wonderful magic system, politics, war, monsters, 6 bonded men all with their own personalities and flaws. Kingdoms, dragons, excellent world building. Entertaining. But the best part of this book is the heroine. Enemies to lovers with some of the men. Insta love with two of the men. But they knew about her for a year so it’s not annoying. I had such a fun time listening to the audiobook and the narrators were pretty fantastic. I can’t wait for book 2!
Wonderful magic system, politics, war, monsters, 6 bonded men all with their own personalities and flaws. Kingdoms, dragons, excellent world building. Entertaining. But the best part of this book is the heroine. Enemies to lovers with some of the men. Insta love with two of the men. But they knew about her for a year so it’s not annoying. I had such a fun time listening to the audiobook and the narrators were pretty fantastic. I can’t wait for book 2!
March 4, 2026
Thank you for pulling me out of my reading slump. This was exactly what I needed. A strong fmc who takes zero shit.
I really liked how realistic this was. If men had control like this IRL things would be just as awful, if not worse. I liked that it didn't shy away from that reality.
Hoping for some major groveling in the next one.
I really liked how realistic this was. If men had control like this IRL things would be just as awful, if not worse. I liked that it didn't shy away from that reality.
Hoping for some major groveling in the next one.
March 15, 2026
I swallowed this book in a day! It’s my first time reading a Rh building up. I didn’t mind how very low the smex is. The quick mm part was hot though. The next part is out in October and I’m already dying from waiting.
❗️MMFMMMM
❗️⚔️ MM
❗️ torture
❗️ mentions of grape and attempted grape
❗️ fantasy
❗️ fierce FMC
❗️ yearning
❗️ grovel
❗️ cliffhanger
❗️MMFMMMM
❗️⚔️ MM
❗️ torture
❗️ mentions of grape and attempted grape
❗️ fantasy
❗️ fierce FMC
❗️ yearning
❗️ grovel
❗️ cliffhanger
May 14, 2026
Action packed page turner
This book had me hooked from the first chapter.
Strong FMC who has to fight a whole world of BS just to exist. She chooses to fight even when the alternative would be the easier option even when facing fate.
Can’t wait for the second in the serious it does end on a cliffhanger.
This book had me hooked from the first chapter.
Strong FMC who has to fight a whole world of BS just to exist. She chooses to fight even when the alternative would be the easier option even when facing fate.
Can’t wait for the second in the serious it does end on a cliffhanger.
April 9, 2026
Loved it!
This was terrific.
I loved all the characters, and the world building.
I'd like more information about Haven's powers, and backstory about her mom, and grandmother.
Can't wait to see where this story goes.
Highly recommend!
This was terrific.
I loved all the characters, and the world building.
I'd like more information about Haven's powers, and backstory about her mom, and grandmother.
Can't wait to see where this story goes.
Highly recommend!
May 7, 2026
Honestly, some of these reviews almost made me skip the book, but I always give a story a fair chance based on the description, not other people’s opinions. Everyone reads differently. What I will say is that some readers seem to forget what an antagonist actually is. If you’re hating a character, that means the author did their job well. Just remember: every book needs an antagonist.
March 4, 2026
Shield
First off thank you to our author for allowing me to read this as an ARC!! Devoured this book!
I absolutely love Reverse Harems & this book is definitely up on the top of my list now, especially since their is some MM scenes within the harem 🤩
Haven is a badass who has shield abilities & you meet her after she has “unalived” a very powerful man in her grandmothers house! She gets carted away to train in the army with some very attractive men, it’s either that or prison, so what is a girl to do! She kicked a guard’s ass in the cafeteria and I only got a little satisfaction from that cause he deserved it!
Then you have Grayson, Teal, Pierce, & Flynn. Four handsome, grumpy, bruting members of the guard who Haven is assigned to “protect” in battle. She can’t stand them at first because of them she was taken from her grandmother, made to train in this military camp, and gets lashes from one of the other guards for defending herself. Needless to say they have their work cut out for them on winning her back.
Seriously such a fantastic book and I can not wait for more!! ❤️❤️❤️
First off thank you to our author for allowing me to read this as an ARC!! Devoured this book!
I absolutely love Reverse Harems & this book is definitely up on the top of my list now, especially since their is some MM scenes within the harem 🤩
Haven is a badass who has shield abilities & you meet her after she has “unalived” a very powerful man in her grandmothers house! She gets carted away to train in the army with some very attractive men, it’s either that or prison, so what is a girl to do! She kicked a guard’s ass in the cafeteria and I only got a little satisfaction from that cause he deserved it!
Then you have Grayson, Teal, Pierce, & Flynn. Four handsome, grumpy, bruting members of the guard who Haven is assigned to “protect” in battle. She can’t stand them at first because of them she was taken from her grandmother, made to train in this military camp, and gets lashes from one of the other guards for defending herself. Needless to say they have their work cut out for them on winning her back.
Seriously such a fantastic book and I can not wait for more!! ❤️❤️❤️
May 25, 2026
So good!
This was exactly what I was looking for to read! The storyline flowed so well! Read it in one day because it was so good. Ready for book 3 now.
This was exactly what I was looking for to read! The storyline flowed so well! Read it in one day because it was so good. Ready for book 3 now.
May 30, 2026
Adventure awaits
Fun read. There are a ton of characters to learn throughout the book but it's definitely worth it. They all have their own quirks and I've really come to love all of them. I'm extremely interested to see what book 2 will bring!
Fun read. There are a ton of characters to learn throughout the book but it's definitely worth it. They all have their own quirks and I've really come to love all of them. I'm extremely interested to see what book 2 will bring!
March 18, 2026
really interesting and love the FMC
Amazing. Fierce woman who doesn’t back down, is quite badass and interesting world building.
Devoured it in a day, and excited for the next!
Amazing. Fierce woman who doesn’t back down, is quite badass and interesting world building.
Devoured it in a day, and excited for the next!
March 23, 2026
MMCs are fine with rape for the first part of the book and acknowledge that they are aware most/all women in their vicinity are raped and let it happen. One of them a most to coercing women into sex and groped FMC.
April 26, 2026
Hooooooooboy, it’s a hard sell at the start, content-wise. The men SUCK but Haven is just amazing. Love her to bits. And then the contrast in the second half is just delicious. I love that Haven speaks up for herself and the other women in Legacia. I also really love the honesty that Pierce, specifically, is written with. He is consistently looking inward and acknowledging that Haven’s censure has been earned and that they are the villains. And I appreciate that his journey there isn’t finished yet. It wasn’t a complete 180–these assholes are in for a long and rough look in the mirror, and I find that I trust Moira Wilde to give that to us. I think this is the first book of hers I’ve read, so Shield is the only foundation for that trust, but I think it’s enough.
TW if you plan on reading: attempted SA, whipping/torture, and allusions to SA being very prevalent/commonplace/accepted in a deeply misogynistic society.
TW if you plan on reading: attempted SA, whipping/torture, and allusions to SA being very prevalent/commonplace/accepted in a deeply misogynistic society.
March 17, 2026
Very engaging characters and conflict. Read it in one sitting and enjoyed it, unlike the last 10 books I’ve had to DNF prior to this one. Rather a relief to find something worth reading.
June 17, 2026
‘shes not like other girls’ FINAL BOSS
also shes incredibly OP like?? why does she have so many powers? why does she have to many men? why is the relationship between the men not explored more? why do they dead only know her for days and are inlove? (idc abt the bond shit) also…WHY IS SHE STILL INTO THEM???
they literally tried to kill u, took u from ur home, broke ur rib, tried to kill u AGAIN, watched u almost get sa’d, watched u get WHIPPED by the guy who almost sa’d you, let you get thrown into the pit, woke u up from your coma PREMATURELY to force u to go to battle, refused to give u a weapon to fight for urself, blamed u for taking them off schedule bc u were in a literal coma, all of u are asshole…like the list GOES ON. like thats not even all they did honestly.
it just doesnt make any sense like whatsoever..😭
it was entertaining , yes.
but the book itself wasnt good at all lol.
and the four men are irredeemable.
zane and remy are okay.
ALSO SIX BONDED MATES??? HELLOOOOOO??? thats TEW much dingle for one gal imo.
also shes incredibly OP like?? why does she have so many powers? why does she have to many men? why is the relationship between the men not explored more? why do they dead only know her for days and are inlove? (idc abt the bond shit) also…WHY IS SHE STILL INTO THEM???
they literally tried to kill u, took u from ur home, broke ur rib, tried to kill u AGAIN, watched u almost get sa’d, watched u get WHIPPED by the guy who almost sa’d you, let you get thrown into the pit, woke u up from your coma PREMATURELY to force u to go to battle, refused to give u a weapon to fight for urself, blamed u for taking them off schedule bc u were in a literal coma, all of u are asshole…like the list GOES ON. like thats not even all they did honestly.
it just doesnt make any sense like whatsoever..😭
it was entertaining , yes.
but the book itself wasnt good at all lol.
and the four men are irredeemable.
zane and remy are okay.
ALSO SIX BONDED MATES??? HELLOOOOOO??? thats TEW much dingle for one gal imo.
April 27, 2026
Great story line
Loved the main heroine, she is brave, sarcastic, and smart. Many twists to the plot and a major cliffhanger. Can't wait for the next book to come out!
Loved the main heroine, she is brave, sarcastic, and smart. Many twists to the plot and a major cliffhanger. Can't wait for the next book to come out!
April 14, 2026
I really loved the storyline—it pulled me in pretty quickly and kept me interested the whole time. The first four MMCs? Absolutely fire 🔥 their chemistry and personalities had me hooked right away.
I will say, the book ended on a cliffhanger before I really had a chance to connect with the last two MMCs, which was a little frustrating. But honestly, it just made me even more ready for what’s coming next.
I’m definitely looking forward to the second book!
I will say, the book ended on a cliffhanger before I really had a chance to connect with the last two MMCs, which was a little frustrating. But honestly, it just made me even more ready for what’s coming next.
I’m definitely looking forward to the second book!
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