Shifter Omegaverse AU

Because Canon Sucks

by D.C. Emerson

Milo has been through a few ups and quite a few downs the past two years, but they and their beta pony don’t let anything keep them down for long. Not grief, not a cheating ex, and not even quite literally being knocked off their feet by a handsome alpha shifter. Especially not that last one, even when they miss their chance to get the tall ginger giant’s number. Thankfully, it seems like fate, or something, wants to give them another chance.

Rowan has all but given up on dating, and even making friends seems beyond him. At least he gets to work with his favorite, and only, brother-in-law and see the rest of his family when they have the time. For years, that’s been enough for him and his alpha hawk but everything changes when a bright, and very loud, shifter crashes into his life.

Shifter Omegaverse AU is a MX fanfiction style novel, based on the Canon short story written by AM Rose for the multi author series: Because Canon Sucks. In Canon, Milo and Rowan miss out on their happy ever after, so we decided to give them not one, not two, but eleven happy endings, in eleven different alternate universes. ⁣

Genres: M M Romance, Shapeshifters

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2026

About the author

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

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

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

Reviews

[labibliofille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifter Omegaverse AU was such a sweet story full of care, love, growth, and more. This is longer and more character than plot based, but I still loved my time in this AU.

While I loved how the romance blossomed between Milo and Rowan, it almost felt like it took a back seat to Milo's journey figuring himself out and accepting who he is (maybe that's just me). I also feel like some of the inner monologuing or narration explainations were longer-winded and took me out of the conversation or whatever was happening in the plot at the moment.

Please be aware there are some tough conversations around grief in this one. The depictions are beautiful and raw and I really appreciated the care taken around such a challenging topic for many. Please check your TWs/CWs before giving this one a read as it's a major theme throughout. You know you best.

[Jessica Swan]

Thank you to the author for the ARC.

DNFing this early on because I thought I was ready to read this but I guess I wasn't. I'm very heavily grieving right now and I thought I could handle reading about someone else's but I don't think I can. I may try this again once I feel a bit better. But yeah absolutely NO fault to this book or the author or anything like that. I'm very grateful I was sent a copy of this. It's just not the right time for me mentally and that's okay. I'll give this a shot again in the future.

[Aleja · Rating 5 out of 5]

MM romance | Shifter omegaverse | Red-Tailed Hawk Alpha x Pony Beta | Genderqueer MC | Touch Adverse MC | Friends to Lovers | Opposites attract | Chaotic/Stoic | Grief & Loss | Fated Mates | Slow Burn | Green Flag Couple | Nicknames: Baby & Sweetheart | Hurt/Comfort | Chosen Family | Sex toys


Okay, esta historia ha sido de las más bonitas y conmovedoras que he tenido el placer de leer en lo que va del año! 😭😭😭💖💖💖 Esta es mi primera vez leyendo a este autor y definitivamente no será la última!

Rowan y Milo son tan jodidamente adorables juntos, esperé con muchas ansias ese epílogo desde el primer momento en que se conocieron😭💖. Sinceramente, no tengo muchas palabras para describir lo mucho que me gustó este libro, su historia y estos dos personajes a los que vengo conociendo cada vez más con cada universo alterno que voy leyendo de ellos🥹.

Tengo que decir que ambos protagonistas me han encantado por igual, cada uno, con sus excentricidades, me ha llegado al corazón de una manera que no sé explicar.

Milo, sin dudas, fue con quien conecté de una manera más visceral y sincera debido al duelo que estaba pasando. Después de haber perdido a tres de mis familiares y saber exactamente lo que es vivir un duelo, puedo decir que lo que siente Milo en todo momento es justo como uno se puede llegar a sentir. Por otro lado, amé el personaje de Rowan; creo que no había leído antes a un personaje con aversión al tacto, pero es que en este libro está tan bien explicado que llegas a conectar por completo con él y empatizas demasiado con su situación.

〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️

Okay, this story has been one of the most beautiful and deeply moving books I’ve had the pleasure of reading so far this year! 😭😭😭💖💖💖 This is my first time reading this author, and it definitely won’t be my last!

Rowan and Milo are so freaking adorable together, and I was anxiously waiting for that epilogue from the very moment they first met😭💖 Honestly, I don’t have enough words to describe how much I loved this book, their story, and these two characters whom I’ve gotten to know better and better through every alternate universe I’ve read🥹

I must say I loved both protagonists equally; each one, with their own eccentricities, touched my heart in a way I can't quite explain.

Milo was undoubtedly the one I connected with on a visceral and deeply honest level because of the grief he was going through. Having lost three of my own family members and knowing exactly what it's like to navigate grief, I can safely say that what Milo feels throughout the book is precisely how one can feel. And I absolutely adored Rowan’s character; I don't think I’ve ever read a character with touch aversion before, but it is so beautifully explained in this book that you completely connect with him and empathize deeply with his journey.

[Puppets & Paperbacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an ARC read

This is an MM shifter omega romance with spice. Make sure you know what that means before reading.

This is also part of the Because Canon Sucks Series. It is not necessary to read the books in order. It is also not necessary to read Canon, but doing so may provide a more fulfilling experience.

This story is long and sometimes the pacing made it feel extra long. It’s a slow burn like, slow burn slow burn, and we maybe don’t know what yearning is, but this may have yearning.

This is also a grief story and it’s heavy on the grief. Milo’s got a lot of grief about his aunt and Rowan has grief about his childhood and what he feels are his own personal hangups.

This of course is a HEA story and the ending is the absolute best. The last half of the book maybe the last two or three chapters really hook you with all the feels and all the love 🥹

This story does a wonderful job of exploring gender identities and we see that through Milo. Many applauds to the author for doing this because it explores the nuances of trying to identify yourself in binary system. There’s also gendered expression through clothing that is focused on, noticed, and talked about.

Rowan is the best MMC because he’s very aware of Milo’s gender and is the consent king. Always asking Milo what he wants to be refers to as and what he’s feeling today, he? She? Them? Ugh, Rowan is the best and Milo totally knows it too 😏

Rowan has touch aversion, not sure if that’s what it’s called? Rowan is touch sensitive? This is our first story with a character like this and it is done really well in this story. Milo helps Rowan explore sexuality through different modalities that have his touch sensitivity in mind.

As you can see both characters are great complements of each other. They build each other up, help each other not overcome their issues, but work through them so they can be accepted parts of who they are. They don’t require or assist with each other changing, but being more confident in who they are.

It’s a beautiful story.

[369Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️
Milo and Rowan do shifter AU!
In this book, it explores a lot about Rowan and Milo’s character traits and how they navigate their fated mates status. It was admittedly a little out there in terms of shifters, with Milo being a pony and Rowan being a hawk.

You’re going to get:
-shifter characters with their animals kind of having minds of their own
-non-binary Milo
-touch-averse Rowan
-character-centric plot

I liked to see some non-binary rep in this story, and I think it was really well done. It was great to see Milo explore their identity. The characters also had to navigate Rowan’s touch-averse dilemma. This was my favourite aspect of the book, as it was interesting and unique! That being said, it did kind of feel like these aspects of the characters were the main points of their characters, and the actual personalities of Milo and Rowan were a little lost on me here.

This is probably a personal preference thing for me, but I felt like in a lot of words, a whole lot of nothing happened in the story. If you’re someone that prefers character exploration and simple “slice of life” but in a magical shifter world, you’ll really like this!

[DLB2572 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifter Omegaverse AU

This version of Milo and Rowan took me a little while to get into. It felt a bit slow for me in the first few chapters. Im glad that I kept going with it though because it turned out to be an entertaining story.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

[angie_bookrecs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another BCS AU that goes down in my books as an absolute immaculate read.

I went into it expecting another fun little entry in this series. Instead, I got a story about grief, identity, acceptance, healing, and learning that being loved doesn't mean you have to change who you are.

Rowan and Milo absolutely stole my heart in this one.
Rowan's touch aversion was handled with so much care and compassion. Watching him navigate a world that constantly misunderstands him was heartbreaking, especially knowing how often he'd felt like an outsider, even within his own family. Every small step he took felt monumental, and seeing him choose therapy because he genuinely wanted to heal made me love him that much more.

Then there's Milo. Sweet, loving, chaotic Milo. Watching them explore their gender identity while carrying the crushing weight of grief for Anabelle was both beautiful and devastating. Their grief felt painfully real, and there were so many moments that had me sitting there with tears in my eyes.

These two were exactly what the other needed.

The way Milo instinctively understood Rowan's boundaries because of their aunt. The way Rowan became Milo's safe space when the grief threatened to swallow them whole. They never tried to "fix" each other. They simply loved each other exactly as they were, and that's what made this so special.

Watching both of their inner beasts pine for each other while the humans remained completely oblivious was adorable 🤭

Ray deserves the world's biggest hug for being the incredible friend he is, and Ethel was an absolute treasure, like always. I adored both of them from beginning to end.
And don't even get me started on Ruben and Ray because I was rooting for them long before anything was confirmed.

This book made me laugh, cry, swoon, and occasionally blush. Even the intimate moments never felt like they were there just for the sake of being spicy. Every single one represented another layer of trust, and another step in Rowan's healing. Another reminder that love isn't about perfection. It's about making space for each other.

The final chapters were so good. Watching Rowan finally begin healing his relationship with Ruben, seeing Milo welcomed by the family, and ending with both couples building a life together...it was everything I wanted 🥹

Now excuse me while I go hug some fictional hawks and ponies.

[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I quite liked this book. Rowan and Milo are both fun to read about, and they each had issues they were trying to work through. For the most part, their relationship was not one of those issues - they were sensibly cautious about getting involved initially, but once they got together, it was more a matter of figuring out how to make their relationship work rather than if it could work. Rowan's intense touch aversion was treated respectfully by both the author and Milo, and treated as something to work with and around rather than something Rowan needed to get over. I liked how Milo and Rowan ended up using creativity to help manage it. Rowan's issues with his family are also nuanced; no one is really the bad guy, but Rowan and Ruben's relationship is still fraught. Milo's grief is also intense, and deserving of the author's content warning - if you are grieving, you may want to leave this book for later. I appreciated that both Milo and Rowan end up going to therapy, which helps them manage their issues and goals.

I very much liked the way this book was a love letter to fanfiction. The author's notes were a fun little nod, and gave insight into their mindset when writing the story.

I did feel the book was not quite as advertised; given a title of Shifter Omegaverse AU, I was surprised the omegaverse part didn't play much of a role. The characters' secondary genders were almost irrelevant, in fact. The shifter part was extremely relevant, though, both culturally (different species of shifters have different mating practices and cultural behaviors) and personally (the characters' inner animals have their own opinions and share them liberally). (I actually find the inner animal thing a little annoying, but it's growing on me.) This book is set in the same universe as other books by the same author, however, in which the omegaverse part is more important, so I'll give that a pass. Overall, I liked this story and had fun reading it, and I'm considering reading more in the Because Canon Sucks series. 

[That One Romance Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intro:
This book is an MX romance between Rowan, a hawk shifter with an aversion to touch and Milo, a pony shifter exploring their identity


Tropes/Highlights:
-MX
-Dual POV
-Open Door
-Fated Mates
-Slow Burn
-Hurt/Comfort
-Chosen Family
-Low Angst
-Touch Aversion
-HEA


Likes:
-Descriptions of the animal counterparts/their behaviors
-Cute dates
-Meet-cuteish scene
-Classic nicknames
-Milo's quirky outfits/matching tassels
-Diverse representation
-Family plot
-No magical fix
-Such sweet characters
-Acronyms
-Ray/Ruben


Quotes:
-"Well, while he looked like he could definitely take on ten men in a fight, he also seemed really gentle. My gentle gorgeous ginger giant. My quadruple G. My 4G, if you will"
-"Milo, baby, you don't have to convince me"
-"Milo shouldn't have been surprised that Rowan's kisses were as fiery as his hair"
-"Perfect. His fated mate was absolutely, unequivocally, almost painfully perfect"
-"My hawk knew you were in pain, and he wanted me to fix it, touch stuff be damned"


This is book six in the Because Canon Sucks series and it was a very sweet book with great representation. Every time I read a book from Emerson, I learn something new. Case in point, I didn't know touch aversion was a thing and I really enjoyed the rep for it in this book. There wasn't a love cures all trope, the aversion is always there and I really enjoyed that aspect. I also loved the balance of relationships and complexities of the plot. Rowan has to balance his aversion for touch with finding out he has a fated mate, along with family issues. Milo has to balance finding his fated mate with a chasm of grief to wade through. These two were so tender and caring for one another and it was a very sweet read even though it caused a few tears. If you are in the mood for a slightly different take on shifter omegaverse with cute characters, an interesting plot, fun dates, low angst, great rep and learning to move forward after loss, then you should read this book.

[Katriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the pleasure of being a Beta reader for DC as they were writing this story and absolutely fell in love with their version of Milo, Rowan, Ray, and the rest of Rowan's chaotic but loving family. Now, being able to read the final product too is such a cool experience!

DC 's version of Milo and Rowan is a little heavier than the other AU books so far, the story discusses heavy topic matters that DC wrote about in a really respectful and beautiful way. When I Beta read this for them, I told them the grief part hit me like a sledgehammer but in a good way. I think everyone can relate to grief in some way, shape, or form, so being able to read a book where the grief is so relatable while also not being what the whole story, and character, is about was really nice to read.

I like reading books with real and heavy topic matters and that's part of the reason why I loved this book so much. The other reason why I love this book is the characters themselves! They are so cute and adorable I loved reading about their friend dates that slowly morphed into romantic ones. Plus, the way they genuinely cared about each other and checked in with one another was so sweet. For example, Rowan always asking Milo what their preferred pronouns are, and how Milo makes sure to not touch Rowan without Rowan first initiating it with them.

I've never read a book with a character with touch aversion before reading this and it was really fascinating and interesting to read about. I always love learning about new things, so that added to my joyful experience reading this book.

I thought DC did a wonderful job with Milo's self discovery and them trying to figure out what feels most right to them. I really appreciate how DC really made that an important part of the story and of Milo's journey on discovering themselves.

All in all, an absolutely fantastic book! Also, DC, I've loved these shifter books you've written so far! I cannot wait to see what you write next!

[Cozy Queer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book! So tender, sad and sweet.

Milo and Rowan meet as shape shifters in an Omegaverse alternate universe and their story is just adorable.

“You have got to get their number, man. Look at you. You‘re basically pining.“

I told somebody about it and said: the topics being touch averse and grief are big - in a really good way.

So I knew people have different feelings to being touched - but this story involving being touch averse was SO interesting, new to read and learn from. How it affects so many aspects and how it can be dealt with … wow, I was invested.

Milo grieves for a very close and important person. And I really appreciate the way it’s shown how they go through something very sad and some really good things in their life at the same time. That doesn’t equal it out, but it’s realistic. Not every moment is the same, it isn’t predictable … and still in their core they are this beaming personality for the people around. (Yes - I see the similarities to the author, who mentions their own grief in the book. And without knowing them personally I read their novels at the same time and feel inspired by different things.)

Speaking of mentioning: the novel is written as a fanfiction (it’s a multi author series with the same characters in different universes) and I just love to get notes to the chapters. You can read the short story canon for free by the way.

What else did I like?
Mutual pining in such a lovely and slow way.
How gender is explored.
That Milo and his best friend are so sweet with each other.
How working on your own topics for being able to interact better with others is constantly a part of the story.
How sex is done with fun and consent, in a positive and spontanous way, with stds in mind - even though they literally live in a different universum and are shape shifters.
Did this book make me cry in the best way? Yes.

I got an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review - thank you very much for that!

[Julie Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a journey this story was!!!

I plan to read all of the Because Canon Sucks books, but Shifter Omegaverse AU was the first one so far (I also read Canon just days before I started this one), and I absolutely loved the fanfic style of writing, I cuddling the chapter notes at the start of each story!! 🥰

Rowan is a touch averse alpha red/tailed hawk shifter, who really struggles with anxiety and overthinking. Milo is a beta pony shifter who’s had some major family losses and struggles with grief, alongside exploring his gender identity throughout this story, and we follow them from their meet-cute through navigating a friendship turned relationship, discovering they are fated mates, and navigating intimacy.

I got really emotional at various times throughout this story. I could really feel Rowan’s anxiety and overthinking, as I struggle with these as well, and it at times made it hard to keep reading, because I felt like I could feel his feelings, even though I’ve not necessarily been in the same situations. I also got emotional reading about Milo’s loss. I haven’t lost anyone as close to me as Milo has, but it still hurt!

I really enjoyed how Milo conducted themself around Rowan being touch averse, and enjoyed seeing their relationship and intimacy evolve, their creativity in the bedroom, and how the two of them explored being fated mates, both as humans and in their shifted forms!

Milo’s exploration of their gender and pronouns was exactly what I expected, being familiar with a lot of DC’s other work, and I thought it was really well executed! I love that Milo had such supportive characters around them, including a few surprise ones, and I just really enjoyed their journey, their fashion sense, and just everything, it was so enjoyable! 🥰

There’s a diverse cast of side characters, some I liked more than others. I found Rowan’s brother particularly annoying and felt like he often sort of bulldozed right over Rowan, but I know why it was that way, and his redemption arc and the two of them working on their relationship as brothers was good to see, and I liked how he advises Rowan regarding intimacy as a touch averse person. I absolutely adored Ethel!! Rowan’s brother-in-law was also such a good character to have supporting him, and I did like his sisters as well!

All in all, this was an emotional read, but it fit in really well with DC’s shifterverse, and I’m really excited to read the other AUs in Because Canon Sucks!💖



I received an eARC of Shifter Omegaverse AU from the author, DC Emerson. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omegaverse and shifter romances are two of my favourite tropes, so it's safe to say this was the AU for me!

One of my favourite things about this entire series is that, no matter how wildly different the setting becomes, Rowan and Milo always feel like Rowan and Milo.

Rowan is still quietly devoted, endlessly patient, and somehow manages to express his feelings through acts of care long before he ever says them out loud. Watching him instinctively ask Milo's pronouns, check in with them, and quietly make space for them to figure themselves out was incredibly heartwarming. Not to mention how carefully his touch adversion is deat with and respected (both by Milo and the rest of the characters, special shout-out to Troy).

Milo, meanwhile, remains an absolute force of nature. I genuinely think this might be one of my favourite versions of them, whether they're presenting Rowan with "evidence" for why they'd make a good partner, planning their future after approximately five minutes of dating, maki g me cry with the mere mention of Annabelle, or enthusiastically steamrolling every social interaction.

I also loved what this book did with Ray. Every AU gives him a slightly different role, but this might be my favourite version. Watching him build something so warm, supportive, and genuinely joyful made me just as invested in his story as I was in Rowan and Milo's.

Come for the omegaverse shenanigans, stay for one of the funniest versions of Milo yet, a Rowan whose love language is quietly taking care of the people he loves, and characters like Ray and Ruben who will completely steal your heart.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these two!

This book was so much fun to read and Milo in this story is exactly what I expect from Milo. I love how completely chaotic they were in this story from their bubbliness to their clothing. I really enjoyed the gender journey that Milo went on in this story and how Rowan supporting them through it. It made me happy seeing them feel comfortable around Rowan to start exploring and trying to figure things out again and also letting the people they’re familiar with know about it. This book also made me cry which I wasn’t expecting but I liked reading about how Milo was dealing (or not dealing) with their grief over Anabelle, the way Milo described their feelings in their head made me feel so sad for them and I’m really happy they realized that they have a whole support system with people who love them. As for Rowan, he’s not very grumpy in this book but he’s still very sweet. He has an aversion to touch which makes him feel distant from all the people in his life and makes him think he won’t find love until Milo smacks into his life. I really liked how slowly Milo and Rowan’s relationship built up in the story and how Milo understood Rowan’s aversion to touch right away and was able to make Rowan feel comfortable. I liked how well they both managed to compromise in their relationship to support one another. It was interesting seeing the ways that they comforted each other and met each other’s needs without breaking any boundaries or making either of them uncomfortable. This book was very sweet and a little sad but a nice addition to the series!

[Andie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is DC ever going to NOT make me cry with a book? It's not looking likely.

So in this story we follow Milo, a pony shifter who is dealing with a lot of grief and Rowan, a hawk shifter who feels "other"ed by those around him because of his aversion to touch.

I absolutely adored the main couple and how they held room for each other and took care of each other in their times of need, the communication they had, constantly checking in with each other, and how beautifully the relationship grew from friendship to something more. I thought the grief and anxiety were very well done and thoughtful and I felt like the touch aversion was done well also but I do not have personal experience with that so I defer to those with experience on that.

My only complaint is that I didn't love Ruben or the confrontation we finally got. Rowan finally tells Ruben everything that he has been holding back for YEARS and yes, while technically not Rubens fault, Ruben basically says "Sorry but like, I also had it bad." That's not an apology or even really acknowledging what Rowan said, even though Ruben should know how hard it was for Rowan to talk about it. And Rowan just forgives him. I don't know, I felt like Ruben is still a jerk and should have made more space for Rowan and his feelings before making it all about him again.

But it's a small nitpicky thing and overall, I had the best time with these characters and I love them so much.

Thank you to the author for an eARC to review, my thoughts are my own.

[Tiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review:
OK, when I first went into this book, I was worried because the last book I read from this author was fine but not my favorite. Reading the first chapter, it felt off. I ended up putting it down and restarting a week later. This time I enjoyed the first chapter, so I wonder if I’ve convinced myself that a book isn’t great when it just doesn’t like me, maybe I was skimming and didn’t realize it.

Anyway, this book was beautiful. So much representation: touch aversion, grief, genderqueer, and more. I absolutely loved getting to know these characters and watching them fall in love. Milo was a ball of sunshine, patient with Rowan, yet battling grief every day under the surface. It really shows that you don’t know what someone may be dealing with deep inside, or how far it goes. Rowan was a bit sure, lonely, working through his own problems, but really loved Milo with all his heart. I absolutely loved this fanfiction au aesthetic and can’t wait to read other authors’ takes on these characters.

Ratings:
⭐️5
🌶️3
💧3
😂3

Aesthetic:
🐦‍🔥🪶🦅🎠🦄👗🥺🍎🫱🏻‍🫲🏼☕️⚰️🎬🍿👨🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻👨🏻‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏻

Location:
📍?

Tropes:
❤️mc
❤️fated mates
❤️hawk shifter x pony shifter
❤️touch averse mc
❤️opposites attract
❤️grief
❤️strangers to friends to lovers
❤️black cat x golden retriever
❤️gender exploration
❤️genderqueer rep
❤️omv(ab)
❤️missed connection
❤️hurt/comfort
❤️slow burn
❤️found family
❤️voyeurism
❤️knotting
❤️hea

Characters:
Rowan
- Alpha
- Red tailed hawk
- Black cat
- Lonely
- 3 siblings
- Likes Milo

Milo
- Beta
- Pony shifter
- Golden retriever
- Sunshine
- Unprocessed grief
- Likes Rowan

Favorite Character:
Milo

Always check content warnings before reading!

I received this book as an ARC.

[Amanda Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed returning to Milo and Rowan in this alternate universe. It took me a little while to settle into this version of their story, but once I did, I couldn't stop reading.

I loved that this wasn't your typical shifter omegaverse. Having a Red-Tailed Hawk alpha and a Pony beta was such a refreshing change, and it made the world feel unique from the start.

What really stood out, though, was the emotional depth. Milo is navigating the overwhelming grief of losing their great-aunt, while Rowan is dealing with touch aversion and a lifetime of feeling disconnected from his family. Both of their struggles were handled with so much care and compassion.

Watching Rowan slowly learn to trust and choose healing for himself was incredibly moving. And Milo... my heart broke for them. Their grief felt so honest and raw, and there were several moments that had me tearing up. I especially loved that neither of them tried to "fix" the other—they simply became safe places for each other to exist exactly as they were.

The hurt/comfort, slow-burn romance, and chosen family vibes made this such a rewarding read, and seeing Milo and Rowan find happiness together was everything I wanted.

✨ Shifter omegaverse
✨ Friends to lovers
✨ Fated mates
✨ Slow burn
✨ Hurt/comfort
✨ Touch-averse MC
✨ Genderqueer MC
✨ Grief and healing
✨ Chosen family

An emotional, heartfelt take on Milo and Rowan that reminded me why I love these characters so much. I'm already looking forward to the next installment in the series.

[Lucy Larsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would first like to start this review by thanking the author for providing me with a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I always feel a little bit bad when my ARC review is not a 4 or 5 star rating because I know how much work it takes to write a book and how hard it is to ask others to read it and let you know their thoughts. While I didn’t dislike this book, it didn’t jump out to me as a super amazing book either. I’d say that I enjoyed it but not enough to really keep thinking about it or get excited and tell others about it. I can’t figure out if it’s because it’s a fanfiction take or if it’s just because I didn’t like it particularly.

I think, for me, the two main characters felt just a little bit flat. I feel like this particularly comes down to the fanfiction style of the story. There wasn’t as much exploration of the characters as I think I would expect from another style of book, so I didn’t enjoy that as much. However, I did enjoy the format of the story in that fanfiction style. The author chose to place author notes at the beginning of each chapter similar to AO3 or other fanfiction sites, and I did find that part super fun and enjoyable and made the formatting much more fun in that way.

Overall, I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 star rating for me. Still interesting and I did enjoy reading it but it didn’t really stand out to me personally.

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This version of Milo and Rowan's story goes a little bit darker in terms of mental health. Milo is living with the grief of the loss of their aunt a couple of years prior, and Rowan has a touch aversion which has, understandably, affected quite a large part of his life.
The two men couldn't be more different than they are here. Milo is larger than life, full of colour and love for their important people, though there aren't that many. Rowan is reserved, generally keeps most things to himself and has strained relationships with most of his family. It's a chance meeting that brings them together but that's all it takes for something to bond them together. It's a slow burn of the sweetest kind but both have got a lot going in regards to their mental health. The grief that Milo is living with has been building as it's been left, undealt with. The author notes, as a part of the fan fic method of writing, show just how important this part of the story is, and I don't know if that made it more emotional, but that part of the story really tugged on my heart.
An addition to the series that is different to what has come so far but no less worth reading. I like that we got a little bit more with Reuben this time, as he's normally fairly elusive, but here he manages a little bit of redemption, or at least a conversation with his brother 😏
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[LC · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been such a fabulous book!! In Because Canon Sucks, each author has given us their take on the original story. D.C. Emerson has given us a story based on the omegaverse, Rowan is an alpha and Milo as a beta. Their story in this world is full of grief and family dynamics. How could this story be fabulous then? Because there is beauty in how the author has written Milo’s grieving journey. There is also beauty in how they, the author, share their grief in the notes and the acknowledgments.

In each new story, I have loved Milo so much. In this book, I also fell in love with Rowan for his bravery. Rowan felt so different and distant from his family. Meeting Milo opened a door for him to see himself not as different but as lovable. In his own way, Rowan was able to help Milo as well. If I had to choose one thing to love about omegaverse books, it would be the fated mate aspect. I love the thought that there is one perfect other half of your soul out there. I love that this book brought me to tears and to laughter. It ended on such a high note that I wasn’t sad it was over. There will be more books to come in this series and more Milo’s and Rowan’s to fall in love with. Also, thank you D.C. Emerson for your chapter notes. I loved them! You had me giggling for some of them. I enjoyed getting to see your writing journey through them as well.

[Twilight · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫

𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑵𝒂𝒎𝒆: Because Canon Sucks: Shifter Omegaverse AU

𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔: hurt/comfort, alpha x beta, chosen family, grief

𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 5/5 ⭐️ | 𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 4/5 🌶️

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉: 📱— > ARC Read

𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“but…for you, baby, it’s worth it. I want you to be able to lean on my family if you want to because I just know they’re going to love you.”

“Milo grinned across the booth at Rowan, and he thought he finally understood the phrase “heart skipped a beat.”

𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: Firstly, I want to thank for the author for giving allowed me to ARC read. With that being said, all opinions are my own!
This was my first time ever reading an Omegaverse book and I have to say it was probably one of the best Omegaverse book to help dip my toes into this genre! Everything was explaining in a way for me that was super easy to understand.
Milo’s gender journey actually really resonated with me so much, all those feelings that Milo has felt was something that I seen myself in them constantly. Their grief healing journey was also so heartbreaking beautiful and had me tearing up 🥹
This story was the perfect sweet mix of hurt/comfort and now it’s getting so hard to pick a “favorite” book from these entire series because this one has yet again became another one of my favorites!

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

Shifter Omegaverse AU is a fan fiction-style novel that is part of the Because Canon Sucks! multi-author series. The series premise is that author A.M. Rose wrote a short fiction piece called Canon. In this origin story, Milo and Rowan have an unsatisfying resolution to their airport meet-cute. The books in the series are all then fan fiction takes on the short story, re-worked into 11 different genres, giving the characters their happy ending. This review is the shifter omegaverse version, and it really ran with the hurt/comfort angle. While you do not have to read Canon first to enjoy this book, it is available for free as a companion to the series.

I really liked this book. It is not a sweet and breezy read, though, so be prepared for a lot of introspection, communication, and plenty of trauma purging.

I read Canon before I read this one, and this AU stayed true to the awkwardness and melancholy vibe of the original short story, while adding a shifter-omegaverse twist that was fully embraced.

Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.

[Leandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shifter Omegaverse AU is the longest book in the AU series so far and also the one that deviates the most from the original canon. I really appreciated that D.C. Emerson didn't just adapt Milo and Rowan to a new setting but also introduced many original elements that became an integral part of the story.

In particular, Rowan's touch aversion and Milo's explicit grief added so much emotional depth to the characters and played a significant role throughout the book. These themes were handled with a great deal of sensitivity and care, making their journeys feel authentic and deeply moving.

Despite being the most different AU so far, it still captured everything I love about Milo and Rowan while offering a fresh perspective on their relationship. The emotional development between them felt natural, and watching them find their way to each other was incredibly rewarding.

Overall, this was another fantastic AU adaptation and one of the most unique installments in the series. Its emotional depth and willingness to explore difficult topics made it especially memorable.

---------------------------------------
Dual POV
Omegaverse (Alpha/Beta)
Shifter
Romance
Touch-averse
Grief
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Thank you to the author fot the ARC

[Kristen Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review (and thank you sooo much for the ARC!)
Wow, this one really hit me. Yes we have chaotic Milo again. Who I love dearly. But they are in the throes of grief. And I love a book that deals with grief and grief journeys. They have the best meet cute with Rowan and then again later on, and they know there is something special about Rowan because he seems to care about the little things, like what pronouns they would prefer, and he checks in to see if anything regarding that has changed. I think what I loved most about this book was the description of how each mmc sees their shifter in their headspace, so they are a part of them but also separate, and that also allows for Milo to visualize their grief too in a way that really hits well and honestly made me a bit teary eyed.
Rowan too has a bit of a harder time in this one, his relationship with his family isn’t great and he has an aversion to touch which makes things difficult. But not with Milo because they noticed right away and accommodated for it without him having to ask. Now if that’s not love I don’t know what is.
This whole book as them getting to know each other even though deep down they do more than they realize, their love story was so beautifully done and the extra story lines about grief and family just made it that much better.

[Chasary Mendez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because cannon sucks
Shifter Omegaverse AU By D.C. Emerson
I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of this book from the author.

So we meet Rowan and Milo once again.
This story has so many emotions. Ronan is a hawk shifter who’s doesn’t like to be touched. He has touch aversion. He’s quiet as well as he keeps to himself. He’s out in the theater when he sees a backpack and here comes Milo running back to get it. Ronan feels this pull towards Milo. But he also doesn’t believe he’s ready for a fated mate.

Milo is a horse shifter Milo’s stories a little heartbreaking. Dealing with grief and the loss of someone they love dearly. Milo is also dealing with what their sexuality. Milo loves to wear pretty dresses or clothing Milo is comfortable with. In this book you’ll read he they/them a lot.

What I truly enjoyed about this book is that Ronan and Milo understood each others feelings and boundaries. They truly are the most sweetest version in this one. They are fated mates even though they didn’t believe they would be.
The food lol always with food or fruits.

I can’t wait to see what else Ronan and Milo are up to next.
Because cannon Sucks is a fanfiction multiverse authors.

I love D.C. Emerson’s Writing. You’ll always get the tender moments funny and emotional ones as well.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of the multi-author Because Canon Sucks series. Each book is a standalone read and features a different couple. This is the story of Milo and Rowan. Both are suffering from loneliness. Milo is drowning in grief over the death of his great aunt Annabelle. At the same time, he is trying to deal with his identity struggles being genderqueer. Milo is also a beta pony shifter. Rowan is a hawk shifter who is severely touch averse. This makes him feel isolated from his family both physically and emotionally. It also impacts his social life and interaction. They meet by accident over a forgotten backpack while at the theatre. Their animals instantly recognize the other as their mate. Unfortunately, the human side of them don't get that same message. This is their story. Neither feels ready for a mate. They have a lot of grief and insecurity to work through first. I liked how Milo recognized Rowan's challenges and tried to make life easier for him. I also liked how Rowan supported Milo through his identify struggles and grief. The book is well written and easy to read. I enjoyed this book.

[Kata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I really enjoy omegaverse and shifter stories, so I went into this book thinking I wouldn’t have any issues with it.

Unfortunately, there were moments when I genuinely thought I wouldn’t be able to finish it. In my current mental state, reading about anyone dealing with grief is incredibly difficult.
Still, I really tried to look past that because, after all, it’s a D.C. Emerson book, and a shifter omegaverse at that.

In the end, I did finish it.
The characters were incredibly lovable.
Milo has such an entertaining personality, and Rowan’s struggle with touch aversion was portrayed with a lot of care.
I really appreciated how D.C. handled their individual challenges and allowed us to follow their growth throughout the story. I was also happy that they got the HEA they deserved.

But if I’m being completely honest, I still can’t say that I truly enjoyed this book. That honestly makes me sad because, as I mentioned above, it’s a D.C. Emerson book, and I usually love their stories.

Thank you for providing me with the ARC.
This is my honest opinion, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to read and review it.

[Carly (carly_reads_queer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, poignant, and utterly romantic take on fated mates.

Emerson writes some of the most unique and nuanced characters who breathe fresh life into the world of queer romance. Milo and Rowan were no exception. One chaotic, messy, audacious, grieving, genderqueer tornado meets one stoic, distant, touch adverse, lonely alpha. And together they just fit and help each other to heal along the way.

Raw, palpable vulnerability leapt off every page as both characters navigate and unpack their pain and realities. They could not have been more perfect for one another while still having to work every step of the way.

The chosen and bio family that surrounded them was so beautiful and earnest. It was amazing to experience. Add in the omegaverse and shifter aspects, and though a slow burn, some absolutely scorching spice with heavy tension and you have a fun, emotional, and satisfying read.

What you’ll get:
•Shifter Omegaverse Romance
•Red-Tailed Hawk Alpha x Pony Beta
•Genderqueer MC
•Touch Adverse MC
•Chaotic/Stoic
•Grief & Loss
•Therapy
•Fated Mates
•Slow Burn
•Green Flag Couple
•“Baby” & “Sweetheart”

[Denny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC.

I loved this version of Milos' and Rowan's story.
Milo is a chaotic beta pony shifter, Rowan a touch averse alpha hawk.

The story started kind of slowly, but I found Milos intuitive empathy fascinating. Rowan is kind of afraid but still fascinated by Milo, he does not know what draws him to this person, but he can't stop thinking about Milo.
Rowan has a complicated past, a lot of people, even in his own family do not really understand his nature and kind of bulldoze all over him. Even his best friend does not understand him fully, but he kind of opened the door in Rowans' mind I think, to receive love and affection outside of his family.

Milo just has a knack for knowing how to treat Rowan.

Them realising that they are more to each other, than originally thought is just adorably written.

I especially liked the confrontation at the end, it was a nice build up to it, and I think confrontations like this are inevitable when people are not considerate enough of their surroundings and the people in their lives.

Overall I enjoyed this version very much.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took me longer to get through then I would have liked, the first few chapters were kind of a slow go, but I think that had more to do with me not really being in the mood for some of the tropes in this book. I decided to push through bc I said I would read it and man oh man am I glad I did!! I actually ended up really enjoying this book. By about chapter 5 it has really sucked me in and I was hooked, I honestly read the last 75% of this book in less than 2 days bc I couldn’t put it down.

Rowan and Milo are perfect for each other! I adore the way they anticipate each other’s needs and help each other be their best selves. I love that they are there for each other through grief, and counseling, and everything in between. I also greatly enjoyed Ray and Ruben (iykyk) and Ethel!!

I never read much, if any, fan fiction but I did like the authors notes in the beginning of each chapter. I enjoyed the behind the scenes peeks into what they were thinking or what inspired each chapter.

I received this ARC from the author and these are my honest opinions!