What do you think?
Rate this book
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 books15 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 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 😍😍
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.
May 13, 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.
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!!
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
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!! ❤️❤️❤️
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.
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!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was lucky enough to receive a physical ARC of Shield by Moira Wilde (releasing February 24), and I absolutely devoured this book in two days.
Shield is a why choose fantasy romance done really well. Many reverse harem books lean heavily on spice (which is totally fine), often at the expense of plot and world-building. This book strikes a perfect middle ground- romance, banter, tension, and yearning exist alongside the story instead of competing with it.
As book one in a series, the world-building is thoughtfully paced. Rather than overwhelming information dumps, the world unfolds naturally and is easy to follow.
The FMC, Haven, is a compelling and principled heroine. Alongside her grandmother, she provides a literal safe haven for abused women and girls in the kingdom of Legacia, where women are treated as disposable and abuse is not only normalized but expected. To survive, Haven has spent her life hiding her powerful shield magic—magic that, if discovered, would force her into service as a living weapon meant to be used and drained for the benefit of men.
When fate intervenes and Haven’s abilities are discovered by the four strongest members of the king’s guard, she becomes their “shield.” What follows is a journey that quickly reveals her magic is far more complex and formidable than anyone anticipated. Along the way, the group faces dangerous magical creatures that test their strength, magic, and loyalty.
The story expands further when their path leads to the rival kingdom of Rymar, where Haven meets two additional key figures—a prince and a general. Rymar stands in stark contrast to Legacia, most notably in how women are treated with dignity and respect. These differences create powerful tension as loyalties are again tested, beliefs are challenged, and fate continues to tighten its grip.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is the multiple POVs. The story is told from Haven’s perspective as well as from each of the six MMCs. This adds tremendous depth to every character and keeps the pacing interesting.
Despite having six bonded love interests, the book is surprisingly light on spice. There’s one scene midway through that doesn’t even include the FMC, and a brief scene near the end. Instead of relying on explicit content, the romance is driven by yearning, devotion, and tension, especially through the MMC POV chapters. It was incredibly tasteful and still managed to make my jaw drop more than once.
I also deeply appreciated that Haven never compromises her morals or her self-worth. Some of the guards will absolutely need to grovel in the next book, and I am looking forward to it.
Five stars without hesitation. I’m so grateful to have been trusted with an ARC, and I cannot wait to continue this series. ✨⚔️🛡️🐉
I was lucky enough to receive a physical ARC of Shield by Moira Wilde (releasing February 24), and I absolutely devoured this book in two days.
Shield is a why choose fantasy romance done really well. Many reverse harem books lean heavily on spice (which is totally fine), often at the expense of plot and world-building. This book strikes a perfect middle ground- romance, banter, tension, and yearning exist alongside the story instead of competing with it.
As book one in a series, the world-building is thoughtfully paced. Rather than overwhelming information dumps, the world unfolds naturally and is easy to follow.
The FMC, Haven, is a compelling and principled heroine. Alongside her grandmother, she provides a literal safe haven for abused women and girls in the kingdom of Legacia, where women are treated as disposable and abuse is not only normalized but expected. To survive, Haven has spent her life hiding her powerful shield magic—magic that, if discovered, would force her into service as a living weapon meant to be used and drained for the benefit of men.
When fate intervenes and Haven’s abilities are discovered by the four strongest members of the king’s guard, she becomes their “shield.” What follows is a journey that quickly reveals her magic is far more complex and formidable than anyone anticipated. Along the way, the group faces dangerous magical creatures that test their strength, magic, and loyalty.
The story expands further when their path leads to the rival kingdom of Rymar, where Haven meets two additional key figures—a prince and a general. Rymar stands in stark contrast to Legacia, most notably in how women are treated with dignity and respect. These differences create powerful tension as loyalties are again tested, beliefs are challenged, and fate continues to tighten its grip.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is the multiple POVs. The story is told from Haven’s perspective as well as from each of the six MMCs. This adds tremendous depth to every character and keeps the pacing interesting.
Despite having six bonded love interests, the book is surprisingly light on spice. There’s one scene midway through that doesn’t even include the FMC, and a brief scene near the end. Instead of relying on explicit content, the romance is driven by yearning, devotion, and tension, especially through the MMC POV chapters. It was incredibly tasteful and still managed to make my jaw drop more than once.
I also deeply appreciated that Haven never compromises her morals or her self-worth. Some of the guards will absolutely need to grovel in the next book, and I am looking forward to it.
Five stars without hesitation. I’m so grateful to have been trusted with an ARC, and I cannot wait to continue this series. ✨⚔️🛡️🐉
March 9, 2026
Dnf for now
Idk maybe it's my current mood right now.
I do realize it's a debut book for this author and I want to make it clear that the writing was more than fine as well as the premise of the story.
The problem that I had was several things mainly being the world building and the OTT cruelty of all men against all women In this world. We are told that the shields are needed to protect the men at war & they burn out and die within 3 months. The shield women are brought in at various ages but not sent to the front of bsttle until 18 but are trained still & basically treated like dog shit, raped, assaulted etc they aren't even fed properly. They get bland, kinda burned oatmeal while the soldiers get a non stop buffet of delicious food all day long.
We are told that the men are forced to allow this harsh treatment (this would be the 4 main guys of the eventual harem) of the FMC & shields in general i suppose since this "toughens" them up as they can't be coddled as they are needed & the one MMC, Teal gets attached because of his empathy. So they sit & do nothing while another guard tries to SA the main FMC. She is then punished for trying to defend herself.
So basically there are zero laws for protection for females with powers who are needed by soldiers- this makes zero sense btw but there are also zero laws for non powerful females as well, like at all.
Not only tgat but even top soldiers as the 4 top mmcs are, they are basically powerless and can face a court martial if they run late, so they risk cutting thru an evil forest to make time to get to their post in time.
My question is why? Why are these men even trying to remain loyal to such an evil system to begin with? Not only are tgey loyal to it they are actively participating in it by being ott cruel in it towards the FMC.
Now on to the FMC. Didn't understand why tgey didn't just hide the body of the guy in the beginning but oh well.
But she is ott powerful. So much so that its beyond ridiculous. She can queue power that's touched her previously. She can also pull items to her from other places, so she can pull a pillow & blanket from her bedroom while sitting in a dungeon put, leave a note for her grandma at her house while sitting in that same pit & get a reply 15 minutes later, along with some medicine.
Again, with powers like that how was she ever caught. Idk. I need higher stakes i guess. I just felt like something was missing from the story. It wasn't bad though. Like I said it could've just been my mood.
Idk maybe it's my current mood right now.
I do realize it's a debut book for this author and I want to make it clear that the writing was more than fine as well as the premise of the story.
The problem that I had was several things mainly being the world building and the OTT cruelty of all men against all women In this world. We are told that the shields are needed to protect the men at war & they burn out and die within 3 months. The shield women are brought in at various ages but not sent to the front of bsttle until 18 but are trained still & basically treated like dog shit, raped, assaulted etc they aren't even fed properly. They get bland, kinda burned oatmeal while the soldiers get a non stop buffet of delicious food all day long.
We are told that the men are forced to allow this harsh treatment (this would be the 4 main guys of the eventual harem) of the FMC & shields in general i suppose since this "toughens" them up as they can't be coddled as they are needed & the one MMC, Teal gets attached because of his empathy. So they sit & do nothing while another guard tries to SA the main FMC. She is then punished for trying to defend herself.
So basically there are zero laws for protection for females with powers who are needed by soldiers- this makes zero sense btw but there are also zero laws for non powerful females as well, like at all.
Not only tgat but even top soldiers as the 4 top mmcs are, they are basically powerless and can face a court martial if they run late, so they risk cutting thru an evil forest to make time to get to their post in time.
My question is why? Why are these men even trying to remain loyal to such an evil system to begin with? Not only are tgey loyal to it they are actively participating in it by being ott cruel in it towards the FMC.
Now on to the FMC. Didn't understand why tgey didn't just hide the body of the guy in the beginning but oh well.
But she is ott powerful. So much so that its beyond ridiculous. She can queue power that's touched her previously. She can also pull items to her from other places, so she can pull a pillow & blanket from her bedroom while sitting in a dungeon put, leave a note for her grandma at her house while sitting in that same pit & get a reply 15 minutes later, along with some medicine.
Again, with powers like that how was she ever caught. Idk. I need higher stakes i guess. I just felt like something was missing from the story. It wasn't bad though. Like I said it could've just been my mood.
February 25, 2026
New to me author and I picked this up on a whim.
Haven kills a man while defending a young girl, and everything spirals from there. Four men arrive to take her away after discovering she’s a Shield. A rare woman born with the ability to protect warriors in battle. In this world, Shields and women in general are treated as disposable, valued only for what they can offer men. Haven knows exactly what that means for her future, and none of it is good. But she’s hiding secrets and these men are about to learn just how wrong their assumptions are.
Haven reminds me a bit of Arden from Stella Brie’s The Rowan and Alyssa from Cassie Cole's Pyromancer series. She’s strong and resilient, but not in a loud or showy way. It’s the kind of strength built from surviving, adapting, and refusing to break no matter how many times the world tries to grind her down. Haven thinks before she reacts, she protects even when she’s terrified, and she carries a quiet, steady determination that makes you root for her instantly
We’re first introduced to the four men who take her, and their actions and inactions may make you hate them a little. They come off more ungrateful than anything. (I mean how many times can someone save them and not get a "thank you". 😅) They’re distinct enough to tell apart, though Teal and Pierce do blur together at times.
-Grayson is the colonel to the King's guard. Grade A jerk.
-Flynn is the womanizer. Unrelenting on his pursuit of Haven. But only as a bed partner.
-Teal seems gentle...though there’s clearly more beneath it.
-Pierce is an observer and guards his feelings.
Then we meet Remy and Zane, who were way more likable. They were a refreshing change after dealing with the four walking headaches who came before them.
I really wish the fated mate reactions had been explored more. It’s a massive turning point in this world and the fallout could have hit so much harder. Hopefully the next book gives us the groveling and introspection this moment deserves.
In the end, the story hooked me with its world‑building and a likeable FMC who’s impossible not to root for. Looking forward to continuing this series.
Tropes:
-MMFMMMM (yes there is mm)
-Enemies to lovers
-Forced proximity
-Slow burn, slow build
-Magic
-Shifters
-Bullying
-Heroine that might be hiding something
-Chosen one
Triggers:
-Attempted r**e & a**ault
-Torture
Haven kills a man while defending a young girl, and everything spirals from there. Four men arrive to take her away after discovering she’s a Shield. A rare woman born with the ability to protect warriors in battle. In this world, Shields and women in general are treated as disposable, valued only for what they can offer men. Haven knows exactly what that means for her future, and none of it is good. But she’s hiding secrets and these men are about to learn just how wrong their assumptions are.
Haven reminds me a bit of Arden from Stella Brie’s The Rowan and Alyssa from Cassie Cole's Pyromancer series. She’s strong and resilient, but not in a loud or showy way. It’s the kind of strength built from surviving, adapting, and refusing to break no matter how many times the world tries to grind her down. Haven thinks before she reacts, she protects even when she’s terrified, and she carries a quiet, steady determination that makes you root for her instantly
We’re first introduced to the four men who take her, and their actions and inactions may make you hate them a little. They come off more ungrateful than anything. (I mean how many times can someone save them and not get a "thank you". 😅) They’re distinct enough to tell apart, though Teal and Pierce do blur together at times.
-Grayson is the colonel to the King's guard. Grade A jerk.
-Flynn is the womanizer. Unrelenting on his pursuit of Haven. But only as a bed partner.
-Teal seems gentle...though there’s clearly more beneath it.
-Pierce is an observer and guards his feelings.
Then we meet Remy and Zane, who were way more likable. They were a refreshing change after dealing with the four walking headaches who came before them.
I really wish the fated mate reactions had been explored more. It’s a massive turning point in this world and the fallout could have hit so much harder. Hopefully the next book gives us the groveling and introspection this moment deserves.
In the end, the story hooked me with its world‑building and a likeable FMC who’s impossible not to root for. Looking forward to continuing this series.
Tropes:
-MMFMMMM (yes there is mm)
-Enemies to lovers
-Forced proximity
-Slow burn, slow build
-Magic
-Shifters
-Bullying
-Heroine that might be hiding something
-Chosen one
Triggers:
-Attempted r**e & a**ault
-Torture
February 5, 2026
This was such a good and quick read, and I enjoyed it way more than I honestly thought I would! I was a bit skeptical going in with it being a why choose/reverse harem that is MMFMMMM, but that absolutely did not take away from the story, and it was written very well! This is book one in the series, and the world building is very well paced. We are not overloaded and confused, and it is very easy to follow.
Our FMC Haven is living her life with her grandmother in a poor town working to protect women that are running from abuse in the kingdom of Legacia where women are treated as disposable and abuse is normalized. In Legacia, if women have shield magic they are required to work for the Guard aka military to protect. Haven's grandmother has kept her magical abilities a secret to protect her from being taken by the Guard until an incident occurs and her magic is exposed.
Haven is taken by four of the king's guard. They are the strongest unit, and she is to be trained to become their shield. And here starts the journey that is led by fate. Haven's magical abilities are enhanced and revealed and she is tested constantly. What I love about Haven is that she is fierce, she doesn't back down from these men who think that they are above her, and she doesn't compromise her morals or her self-worth throughout this entire journey.
Along the journey, fate once again intervenes and points her in the direction she is supposed to go which introduces her to two more men, a prince and a general, from a rival kingdom, Rymar. Things here are not as Haven expected them to be. Haven has a much higher purpose than she ever realized.
The story is told from multiple point of views, all six of the main characters share their perspectives, which sometimes can be overwhelming, but I really actually liked it and felt like the story flowed really well. I expected there to be a lot of spice, but that was not the case. there were two spicy scenes in this book, one about halfway and the other close to the end.
I definitely can't wait to get my hands on the second book to see how this journey continues! Thank you to the author for providing me an early copy to read!
Our FMC Haven is living her life with her grandmother in a poor town working to protect women that are running from abuse in the kingdom of Legacia where women are treated as disposable and abuse is normalized. In Legacia, if women have shield magic they are required to work for the Guard aka military to protect. Haven's grandmother has kept her magical abilities a secret to protect her from being taken by the Guard until an incident occurs and her magic is exposed.
Haven is taken by four of the king's guard. They are the strongest unit, and she is to be trained to become their shield. And here starts the journey that is led by fate. Haven's magical abilities are enhanced and revealed and she is tested constantly. What I love about Haven is that she is fierce, she doesn't back down from these men who think that they are above her, and she doesn't compromise her morals or her self-worth throughout this entire journey.
Along the journey, fate once again intervenes and points her in the direction she is supposed to go which introduces her to two more men, a prince and a general, from a rival kingdom, Rymar. Things here are not as Haven expected them to be. Haven has a much higher purpose than she ever realized.
The story is told from multiple point of views, all six of the main characters share their perspectives, which sometimes can be overwhelming, but I really actually liked it and felt like the story flowed really well. I expected there to be a lot of spice, but that was not the case. there were two spicy scenes in this book, one about halfway and the other close to the end.
I definitely can't wait to get my hands on the second book to see how this journey continues! Thank you to the author for providing me an early copy to read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I can't believe how much I loved this book. I received it 2 days ago from the author's PR firm, paused my current read, and devoured this one. This is a reverse harem MMMMMMF so I expected so much spice that it would take away from the plot. That never happened. This feels like Throne of Glass did the first time I read it. Here's a little spoiler-free info:
Haven is an "ordinary" female living in Grimswood. She has a shielding ability- meaning magic can't harm her or anyone she is touching. Because of this, she is supposed to be conscripted to the military to protect the guards (see also: men). Women in this realm are treated horribly. Second class doesn't even begin to describe it. They are constantly under attack by men and live in near-constant fear for their personal safety. Haven discovers she has even more magical talents than she thought- at a really inopportune time. It saves her life, but also gets her taken by The Guard because she never volunteered for service.
In walks Fate (figuratively) and Haven develops an unwanted attachment to her 4 guards, followed by 2 even bigger deal guards while on the road.
There is a lot of magical discovery and battles. There was only one spicy scene before the last few chapters and the first one didn't even directly involve the FMC. It's a slowburn with a really interesting plot and skips a lot of the usual tropes, ie. they get to the inn and there's enough beds for everyone. What??! The first 4 guys are compelling but the last 2.....ahhh omg yes!
There were a few times when I thought the writing moved on from things a little too quickly but then it would circle back, almost like the author felt like that was the natural thought process for Haven since she was discovering things about herself but also having to repeatedly roll with it to save her own life.
I don't usually write this much about a new book but this one has the potential to be a really big deal in the romantasy world in 2026. Really hoping the quality continues on for the next 2 books because I am all in.
Haven is an "ordinary" female living in Grimswood. She has a shielding ability- meaning magic can't harm her or anyone she is touching. Because of this, she is supposed to be conscripted to the military to protect the guards (see also: men). Women in this realm are treated horribly. Second class doesn't even begin to describe it. They are constantly under attack by men and live in near-constant fear for their personal safety. Haven discovers she has even more magical talents than she thought- at a really inopportune time. It saves her life, but also gets her taken by The Guard because she never volunteered for service.
In walks Fate (figuratively) and Haven develops an unwanted attachment to her 4 guards, followed by 2 even bigger deal guards while on the road.
There is a lot of magical discovery and battles. There was only one spicy scene before the last few chapters and the first one didn't even directly involve the FMC. It's a slowburn with a really interesting plot and skips a lot of the usual tropes, ie. they get to the inn and there's enough beds for everyone. What??! The first 4 guys are compelling but the last 2.....ahhh omg yes!
There were a few times when I thought the writing moved on from things a little too quickly but then it would circle back, almost like the author felt like that was the natural thought process for Haven since she was discovering things about herself but also having to repeatedly roll with it to save her own life.
I don't usually write this much about a new book but this one has the potential to be a really big deal in the romantasy world in 2026. Really hoping the quality continues on for the next 2 books because I am all in.
February 25, 2026
⭐ 1 Star – Deeply Disappointed
I really struggled to get through Shield by Moria Wild. I couldn’t stand the FMC or any of the MMCs, and that’s a huge problem in a character-driven story. I tried pushing through the ebook but was so frustrated that I switched to the audiobook hoping it would improve the experience. It didn’t. If anything, it made things worse.
To give credit where it’s due, Soren Grey does a solid job narrating the FMC. Unfortunately, Dani California really dropped the ball here. He voices six MMCs and they all sound exactly the same. There’s zero differentiation, which is especially frustrating in a harem/reverse harem story where distinct personalities are crucial. On top of that, his audio volume constantly fluctuates, making it impossible to stay immersed. If you’re going to have multiple MMCs, either use multiple narrators or at least attempt distinct voices. This was just painful to listen to.
As for the story itself… yikes. Who writes an all-powerful, supposedly badass FMC and then constantly has her treated terribly and threatened with SA every other chapter? It’s exhausting. And the MMCs? They treat her like absolute garbage for 90% of the book. The hot-and-cold, toxic, “alpha-dominant” nonsense just felt like nonstop fuckboy energy with no real growth or redemption.
And once the whipping chapter happened? That was it for me. There was absolutely no coming back from that. Nothing could redeem those MMCs after that point. I genuinely hated 5 out of the 6 MMCs, and I have never been this mad at a group of love interests before. They somehow just kept getting worse as the story went on.
I wanted to like this book. I really did. But so much of it gave me the ick that I’m honestly baffled by the positive reviews. This one was just not it for me.
I really struggled to get through Shield by Moria Wild. I couldn’t stand the FMC or any of the MMCs, and that’s a huge problem in a character-driven story. I tried pushing through the ebook but was so frustrated that I switched to the audiobook hoping it would improve the experience. It didn’t. If anything, it made things worse.
To give credit where it’s due, Soren Grey does a solid job narrating the FMC. Unfortunately, Dani California really dropped the ball here. He voices six MMCs and they all sound exactly the same. There’s zero differentiation, which is especially frustrating in a harem/reverse harem story where distinct personalities are crucial. On top of that, his audio volume constantly fluctuates, making it impossible to stay immersed. If you’re going to have multiple MMCs, either use multiple narrators or at least attempt distinct voices. This was just painful to listen to.
As for the story itself… yikes. Who writes an all-powerful, supposedly badass FMC and then constantly has her treated terribly and threatened with SA every other chapter? It’s exhausting. And the MMCs? They treat her like absolute garbage for 90% of the book. The hot-and-cold, toxic, “alpha-dominant” nonsense just felt like nonstop fuckboy energy with no real growth or redemption.
And once the whipping chapter happened? That was it for me. There was absolutely no coming back from that. Nothing could redeem those MMCs after that point. I genuinely hated 5 out of the 6 MMCs, and I have never been this mad at a group of love interests before. They somehow just kept getting worse as the story went on.
I wanted to like this book. I really did. But so much of it gave me the ick that I’m honestly baffled by the positive reviews. This one was just not it for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews