Marc

The Touch of Sentience #2

by Imogen Knowed

A Sentient Permanent Marker Romance

Alice is nothing if not accommodating. So when her new ruler—like the “measuring” kind, not the “is in charge of stuff” kind—boyfriend, Gage, asks her to give life to his “best friend” from the junk drawer, she does what any reasonable girlfriend would: she shoves a marker inside herself and lets it move in with her.

Now Alice and Gage have to learn to live with their new boyfriend Marc, whose sharp wit and penchant for drawing on stuff might get them all in a bit of trouble.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal Romance, LGBT

110 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2026

About the author

Imogen Knowed is a queer, AuDHD girly who hyperfocuses on creating fake people in her head. Instead of letting them stay in there, she writes them down for others to meet. She spends her days programming video games and her nights reading and writing smut. When she’s not writing smut or making video games, she’s hanging out with her family and pets (aka her “pack”).


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https://www.instagram.com/imogenknowed/
https://www.threads.net/@imogenknowed

Reviews

[Maddie]

why was this one lowkey deep

[Keira]

please more please
i need gage and mark to fuck

[Milou]

2ish stars ⭐️

I deeesperately wanted weird-funny because I had a shit day but instead I got… this? It’s weirdly both a lot more existential and insanely more smutty (to the point I started skimming), where I just wanted a giggle. So that could be a me problem, I suppose. I loved the first book because of Gage being a total dummy and the hilarity of the situation, but Marc is very existential from the start and he’s supposed to be a ‘Zaddy’ (literal quote) and I guess that’s just not my vibe when I read weird girl fiction. Oh well!

[Remy Wells]

I love this series! It reminds me what it actually means to be human!

[Katie]

These men are going to have to find employment soon

[maddie alldredge]

Idk.. it should simultaneously have a lower and a higher rating than the first of its kind? The first book was like ha ha we’re having fun with the ridiculousness of the curse (blessing?) and its creation(s)

This one……… was all whoa whoa we gotta think about this some more (even tho Alice did NOT think about anything I don’t think ever).. it’s all “what are the consequences of creating sentient life?” And in between spice it became a story about identity, free will, responsibility, and what it actually means to be human.

Idk guys

[Leila van der Kraan]

3.75⭐️

Not as wholesome as the first and also a bit more schmutty. Love it!

[Faith Herbers]

my god

[Miranda]

Marc writing Gage's name on his hand was actually kinda cute. Otherwise this book as weird as fuck once again.

[Zushi Satoru]

4⭐

I am FLABBERGASTED because why did this book got DEEP?? Like it's actually kinda good and relatable and I did not see that coming bahaha.

Okay but first of all I was NOT expecting this to become an MFM (and expanding lmao), this time we get a new hunk zaddy who is literally inked his whole body with FMC's image and is trying so hard to hold together two absolutely unstable partners while also quietly dealing with his own imposter syndrome and existential crisis?? Gold.

We also get a peek into our FMC's personal issues with her family and a lil glimpse into her own struggles which added so much more depth and it kinda helped made a lot more sense to her character in the first book. And the found family moments between the "objects" turned human?? So wholesome and heartwarming I was so here for every second of it.

The potential in this series is SO real and I genuinely think if this was written as a full length book with a deep psychological character study it could be something really special. So good and so fun will be reading every book coming.

[Shreya]

Looking for more of my reviews? Want to contact me? Check out my blog! Shreya Reads, Reviews, and Writes

⭐5

TROPES YOU'LL LOVE:
🖊️Grumpy x Sunshine x Sunshine
🖊️MMF
🖊️Sword Crossing
🖊️Novella
🖊️Sentient Object Romance
🖊️Why Choose
🖊️Midas Touch Gone Wrong (or right!)
🖊️Himbo MMC
🖊️Daddy MMC
🖊️Standalone (ish)
🖊️Car Spicy Time
🖊️All the holes

--💟💟--

If you thought GAGE by Imogen Knowed was good, wait until you read MARC! Following a month after Gage's conception, our dear Alice brings to life Marc, Gage's friend in the drawer. Marc's tall artist/writer whose figure screams "professor you want to f*ck", but he's got more on his mind than being perfect for Alice.

As always, I loved seeing Gage! He's honestly so Himbo coded, and he's just the sweetest, clueless man possible. Is he a freak in the sheets? Oh, definitely! But Gage knows himself, and he knows Alice, and Marc! That scene in the beginning of the story when Marc ignores Gage's welcome balloon and cupcakes made my heart clench for poor Gage, but luckily Marc redeems himself! I also loved Gage's relationship with Abby, Alice's dad, and Allen, Allice's aunt's husband, who are all also sentient objects. Seeing their relationships felt like I was at a family reunion...which technically Alice was at.

Marc, oh Marc. The way I wanted to go through the pages and hug this man! Marc may have swagger and daddy vibes, but he's under so much pressure to perform well for Alice and be the perfect man for her that he struggles to understand who he is and if he's enough. It's kind of similar to what Gage was going through in the first book. I was so happy when Marc opened up and realized that Alice just wanted him to be himself - our boy was always gonna be in charge, but she was okay with taking care of him too!

Alice, as always is stunning with her sarcasm and golden heart! I loved seeing her relationship with her mother improve, as well as seeing her entire family! I honestly can't wait to see if we get more stories of her families relationships (I mean, a clock watch?? A wrench? A Ferrari???). I need soooo many answers! I also felt both for Alice and her mom Diana, because now that I'm in that limbo age of not being too young but also not old enough, I understand both sides!

I found that this book had more plot than the last, so I think I enjoyed it more than Gage's book because there were things happening! The reunion itself was packed with content that alluded to Knowed's books and it just makes me more excited to read them all! I do hope we see more of Alice, Gage and Marc in future books (and maybe even their little babies!!!).

I know y'all are looking for the SPICE and Knowed didn't disappoint! The beginning started off with a BANG (quite literally) and omg I never thought I was into MM spice but holy crap Gage and Marc were just so hot! The way that Alice was sandwiched between them was the topping of their menage, and I think it was the best scene of the entire book! I enjoyed the Uber scene, but honestly, that first scene is the one I kept going back to. Marc's "good boy" to Gage? I melted! His "baby" to Alice. Swooned! And when Marc writes Gage's name on him? OMG I was sold on them! This throuple holds me in a chokehold that I'm obsessed with.

[Princesspint]

This is another powerful and emotionally charged read that delves deep into its characters' lives. Just like in "Gage," Knowed showcases her talent for crafting intricate personalities and exploring complex relationships with a remarkable level of insight and empathy. I was quickly drawn into Marc's world and found his journey to be both captivating and genuinely moving.
The narrative is rich with detail, and the author's ability to portray internal struggles and motivations is truly impressive. The writing style is fluid and engaging, making it easy to get lost in the story. While the pacing was mostly excellent, there were a few instances where the plot felt a tad slow, but these moments were brief and didn't detract significantly from the overall experience.
Ultimately, this is a fantastic follow-up (or standalone, depending on how you read it) that solidifies Imogen Knowed's reputation as a writer who isn't afraid to tackle challenging subjects with grace and depth. It's a highly recommended read for anyone who appreciates character-driven stories that resonate long after you've turned the final page.

[sycokittykat - Stefanie]

Daddy with an identity crisis

 When Gage asks for you to bring his friend from the junk drawer to life so he doesn't dry out you do the only thing you can and stick it in. 

The panic that Alice goes through trying to figure out what she wants from the marker is real and raw. However, it does wear off onto his personality as well. 

Daddy Marc comes to all sophisticated and grey streaked. Of course he is just as obsessed with Alice as Gage was but he also wants Gage to be his good boy. Daddy Marc is hot. 

The dinner outting on his first day however, was such a clusterfluck. Between everything being new and his perceived inadequacies Marc quickly spirals. Thankfully Abby is very understanding. 

The spice in this one is very hot. I do so love when the boyfriends become boyfriends while also doubling her pleasure.  Gage takes directions like a good boy and Alice is happy to help or take what is given. 

I can't wait to see what's next in this series.

[Veronica]

I can't believe I read the second one for this. Marc being an off-brand marker and having the wrong cap and feeling the a fraud because of that is another brilliant part of this sentient object lore. I do have questions I guess about certain parts of Alice being tattooed on him though. But I can't really question it because I was reading about a girl shoving things up her to make them human so...

Worst part: the "zaddy" thing. I didn't like that word usage and I think about that part a lot more than I would like to admit. It just kinda stuck with me in a weird way. I think that's when I became truly aware that I was reading a book (and the second one at that) with this plot but that was my choice of free will so I can't say much.

[Romance Read Along]

Keep reading

When this book starts out I didn't like Marc he was to detached and controlling. Then we learn its a front and he is actually an anxious conflicted mess inside, And I totally lock in! Again this book is as smutty as you expect. I will admit i skimmed that not insignificant section but the Masking is peak and the bathroom breakdown is epic! I will be recommending it in the future and reading more by this author.

[Piper James]

Amazing

I can never say enough good things about this author but oh my goodness this one was exceptional. The characters (although unique in origin) deal with the same types of struggles to be accepted and loved. Filled with humor, definitely inside thoughts, and simpy mmcs, this book is a treat and a delight

[Nita]

Marc

At first I thought Marc was going to be an asshole but I quickly saw that Marc was the complete opposite of a asshole He was very layered in I just loved him. And his relationship with Gage and Alice was so cute with his wants and needs to take care of them and his feelings of inadequacy of doing so.

[Karm Barter]

Well that was a book. It wasn’t first in the series but I wasn’t lost. It was a lot more serious than I had expected. There were some quip. I mean she was screwing a ruler and a marker. The family get together was wild.

[Cortnei]

I really enjoyed reading this and seeing how Marc turned out. It is interesting the personalitys they have and it is written so well that is exactly how I think he would be. I cant wait to see where this goes and im really invested in this.

[Michi]

boooooo marc, pompous & says baby way too much. also why did the writing style change completely??? gage was becoming a MAN okay? he barely had time to grow as a character before becoming a himbo-fied version of himself. zaddy was the nail in the coffin

[Vera]

These characters have grown on me in such a short time lmaoo 😭 I started reading Gage for fun and it actually got me hooked WHICH I DIDNT EXPECT. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK ASAP

If any of my real life friends see this: pls dont judge LMAO you havent seen me read or rate this

[BooksandAshes]

Cute, hit and full of smut!

[Nine]

Shut up 👀😬😮‍💨daddy Marc I didn’t know I needed you in my life till you came with a BANG 👀😮‍💨🌶️that is all 🤣

[Christine Renee]

I'm starting to think this is maybe not satire. But who cares. Spice was great!

[Heather Walker]

I want another.

Actually im wanting to know more.
I loved this and how vulnerable Marc was.
For it being a sentient romance it ready really well.
Its super funny as well.

[aDuckOnQuack432]

Yk what hell yeah

Atp fuck it, I have nothing to lose and these sweet short stories are always cute, waiting on the next one

[Charity ♡]

This one sounded better. Still wasn’t my cup of tea

[Jordan Rogers]

Given the first book, exactly what you’d expect. Absolutely unbelievable that it ends THE SAME WAY AS THE FIRST BOOK.

[Zoe]

Kinda ate

[Laia]

m'he llegit el segon llibre com si algú m'estigues apuntant amb una pistola al cap, pero qui la aguanta soc jo🏃🏼‍♀️‍➡️
el meme d'en bon esponja amb les handcuffs gegants? soc aquesta