Knotorious Omega

by Shasta De Leon

Kelya is an omega on the run. She travels around the world, using aliases, taking an unhealthy amount of scent blockers, and robbing the men she seduces. Her past finally catches up to her in the form of Tony Racine, a private detective hired by her terrible former pack to track her down. Kelya needs to think fast—accept his offer or die trying to stay away.

Tony isn’t the only one looking for Kelya, and with her constantly ignoring her omega needs, her time is up. Will Tony be able to prevent her from being caught by her own crimes, succumbing to her affliction, or even just slipping through his grasp again, all before he's able to finish this job? It may be harder than he expected after realizing his own heart is on the line, slowly wearing down the more time he spends with the femme fatale.

This is an M/F, Alpha/Omega omegaverse romance with enemies to lovers, cat-and-mouse, stalking, knotting, and caretaking.

Knotorious Omega has fast-pacing, twists and games, yearning, adult spice, all-or-nothing stakes, and bold, morally gray characters.

Genres: Omegaverse, Spicy, Romance, Forced Proximity

388 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2026

Reviews

[Ash]

Genre: Adult Omegaverse Romance
Spice: 3/5🌶️

The Catalog: F/M omegaverse, omega on the run x private detective alpha, adventures in Puerto Rico, notorious femme fatale FMC, “bloodhound” alpha, chronic omega illness, sick/care of convenience, cum pants cunnilingus, interesting omegaverse dynamics, past trauma, fighting as foreplay

CWs: domestic abuse, designation abuse, parental abuse, sexual violence, gun use, financial abuse

Kink: restraint, suspension, rope play (shibari), dominance, gun play

Pack Dynamics:
α Ω
Tony (α): the private eye bloodhound alpha desperate to scent his mark
Keyla (Ω): the notorious omega vixen running from her past

Synopsis:
Kelya has been jet-setting across the world, stealing from alphas to fund her adventures, leaving a trail of destruction and notoriety in her wake. Tony, a private detective, has been tracking her down but the lines of professionalism have been blurring the more his bloodhound nature becomes obsessed with knowing Keyla’s scent.

Thoughts:
First, I admittedly don’t read much F/M single pair omegaverse as that relationship type isn’t my preferred pairing for omegaverse. BUT I really enjoyed the interesting and unique omegaverse dynamics Shasta wove into this story. Tony is a “bloodhound” alpha, which means that he has a supernaturally good sense of smell. This added a lot the story and made his obsession with cat-and-mousing with Kelya really fun and instinct driven. As for Keyla, she’s fighting the side effects of the “nesties,” her term for a bond-sickness condition that you are absolutely going to want to read about!

The way these character’s unique biologies played into both the overall plot and the kinky parts of their relationship was really masterful and fun. If you enjoy shibari and rope Doms, you’re going to love these two knotty minxes. I def enjoyed the dynamics at play.

Kelya is also just a really fun omega. I love a FMC that swindles and schemes, and making her an omega that preys on alphas really tickled my fancy. I love that Tony is also amused (and attracted) to this, and doesn’t fault her or try to change her. He’s a wonderfully supportive alpha and I love a man that supports women’s rights AND wrongs.

Their romance is one that starts as hunter and prey, evolves into a sex partnership of need and convenience, and somehow ends in a really heartfelt reckoning for these characters as they overcome their fears and past trauma.

[Karen Sorg]

I love Kalya. She is so bad, but so where her parents and alphas. I love Tony the bloodhound and glad there are new things to learn about in the Romanasty and Omegaverse. I really enjoyed this book. The danger, hate, problems and then the love. I cannot wait until the next one.

[Anniereads]

This was good fun
It was a nice change of pace for the omega to be independent and a bit naughty and promiscuous.
I really enjoyed Tony as a character too
Some of the decisions didn't really fit with the characters and I'd love a book about Sam Miguel and their pack.
But overall a good read

[elif]

the way that i read this in one sitting needs to be studied.

[Jillyn]

This was a beautiful story about two lonely people escaping toxic situations & they find each other & help one another heal. This book really captured how complicated emotionally it is to leave abusive relationships. I loved the character arcs.

[Diane Mckelvie]

This is the 2nd of Shata’s books I’ve had on ARC so thank you again, and thank you BookSirens

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Okay… Keyla and Tony. WHAT was that?! 😂🔥

I flew through Knotorious Omega because this book moves! It’s fast-paced, spicy, and has that “I probably shouldn’t be this invested, but here we are” kind of energy.

The cat-and-mouse dynamic between Keyla and Tony was SO much fun. Add in the forced proximity and all that tension between them, and you already know things are going to get messy. 👀 Their chemistry was definitely giving what it needed to give!

I really enjoyed the push and pull between them, and watching their relationship develop while neither of them seemed particularly interested in making life easy for the other. 😂

And the spice? 🌶️🌶️🌶️✨
A solid 3.5/5 for me—enough to bring the heat without completely overshadowing the romance.

Overall, this was such a fun, quick, addictive omegaverse read. If you’re a fan of F/M romance, forced proximity, cat-and-mouse tension, and a healthy dose of spice, definitely give this one a try!

4 stars from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now excuse me while I go stare into the distance and pretend I’m not thinking about Keyla and Tony. 😂📚🔥

[Baby Got Books]

I loved this. One of my new favorite omegaverse. We had a bit of mystery, angst, tragic backgrounds and chasing across beautiful locales. Oh and my favorite taking mediocre alpha males for a literal ride and then fleecing them robin hood style. One such male Kelya steals his dog and rehomes it after observing how mistreated it was.

I am surprised and impressed that the author was able to add a few new things I haven't seen into their personal omegaverse lore/world. Here we got the bloodhound as an off shoot designation for alphas that the character Tony was. Very rare almost mythic genetic variation gives the alpha almost superhuman scenting powers plus a bite that may or may not have extra consequences. This added a little more connection for both characters as more singularly misunderstood people even within their own designations. Neither Tony or Kelya fit into the world as it demanded they do and find themselves just trying to make it day by day taking joy and purpose wherever they can grasp it.

I don't want to give away the whole story but the hired PI Tony is paid by some bad alphas (they were seriously the worst and are going on my bad ex's list) to find runaway omega Kelya who is a bit of a Carmen San Diego vibe fliting from one popping locale to another seemingly at random. She is the epitome of yolo.

These two had amazing banter and chemistry. They aren't perfect and don't even pretend to be which makes their interactions so fun and honest.

Oh and the shibari aspect in it was well used as not only a sexual tool but added an emotional dynamic also that I rarely see used.

The ending was kind of wild and crazy. A few things I did not see coming but damn I loved the way it all played out.

I have read everything from this author and have followed them since they started publishing and I must say that I can really tell the improvement in their writing on many levels. This was a wonderful story and one of my new favorite omegaverse.

[Shan]

*Knotorious Omega* is a fast-paced omegaverse romance packed with tension, twists, and morally gray characters. The Caribbean setting gave the story a really fun atmosphere, while the enemies-to-lovers and forced-proximity dynamics kept things moving.

I especially liked the push-and-pull between Kelya and Tony. Kelya is a complicated protagonist with a lot of baggage, and watching her slowly navigate trust, vulnerability, and healing made her character interesting to follow. Tony’s determination to track her down while becoming increasingly invested in her created plenty of conflict.

The story has high stakes, plenty of twists, and a strong cat-and-mouse feeling that made it easy to keep turning the pages. If you enjoy morally gray characters, complicated relationships, caretaking, and a heroine constantly trying to stay one step ahead, this one definitely has a lot to offer.

[Christi]

📖: Knotorious Omega | Shasta De Leon

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5|🌶️🌶️🌶️

**arc review**

Well that FMC certainly ended up in some knots. Although this is an omegaverse so there is a decent amount of smut, it was mild compared to some omegaverses. There was also no boyfriends becoming boyfriends. Definitely wasn’t an issue and didn’t take away from the story.

I feel like if you’re new to omegaverse or what to see if you might like it, this would be a great book to start with.

There is action, tension, a few twists, and good chemistry. I liked the characters and the different aspects of this omegaverse. It was also easy to understand. The side characters were also interesting and I almost want more with them.

[Homesick Martian]

One of the things I liked most about The Knotorious Omega is that it still gives you everything you expect from an Omegaverse book, but it does something a little different with the formula.

Kelya is an omega on the run, traveling the world completely alone, which is already unusual in a world where omegas are generally expected to belong to and depend on a pack. She's also a thief with a pretty fantastic system: meet an alpha, sleep with him, rob him, move on. I loved her immediately.

Kelya is clever, stubborn, morally questionable in a way that makes her interesting, and very clearly running from something much bigger than her latest mark. She's determined to stay independent even when basically every part of the world she lives in tells her an omega shouldn't be and can't be (including her shitty family.)

Then there's Tony.

Tony is an alpha, but he's also a bloodhound. This was new to me, but it's a subtype with an insanely powerful sense of smell and the ability to track someone over enormous distances. He has his own complicated history with pack dynamics, so neither character comes into this relationship with particularly simple feelings about bonding, belonging, or what a pack is supposed to look like. That ended up being one of my favorite parts of the book.

A lot of the Omegaverse romance I've read centers around polyamorous pack relationships, with multiple alphas, maybe a beta thrown in for good measure and one omega. There's nothing wrong with that setup, obviously, but I really enjoyed getting a monogamous Alpha/Omega relationship here. Tony being a bloodhound and naturally inclined toward one partner made that feel like part of the worldbuilding instead of the book simply ignoring the usual conventions of the genre. It was just refreshing to see something different.

The relationship between Kelya and Tony also develops through more than attraction. There's a strong caretaking element, especially when Kelya becomes sick, and Tony's instincts start shifting from simply tracking her to genuinely wanting to protect and care for her. Now, this IS Omegaverse, so naturally "taking care of her" also involves a truly impressive amount of sex. The spice was SPICY, but it wasn't like a typical OV book where once you get to the sex- it's all sex.

I especially loved the inclusion of Shabari, because I don't see it used nearly as often in romance as some other forms of kink. More importantly, it didn't feel like it was included just for shock value or decoration. It becomes something Kelya genuinely enjoys and something that helps her feel calm and grounded.

Also, I am just putting this into the universe: if the author ever wants to release some NSFW bonus art of Kelya in the Shabari configurations described in the book, there is absolutely an audience for that. That would be me. I'm the audience.

For as sexy and funny as this book can be, though, there's also considerably more emotional weight than I expected. There are some genuinely upsetting dynamics surrounding Kelya, particularly involving control, autonomy, abuse, and the expectation that omegas should simply accept whatever their alphas decide is best for them. I don't remember if there were explicit TW's in the front (I should check), but there should be.

There were several characters I wanted to climb directly into the book and fight, including her mother. Especially her mother, because her mother fucking sucks.

I appreciate that the characters themselves aren't perfect and precious. Alphas are generally HUGE and super dominant and immediately take over. Omegas typically bat their lashes and move in. Kelya makes questionable decisions. Tony has his own baggage. Neither one is presented as some flawless romance archetype (especially OV archetypes), and that made them much more memorable to me. Truly, the typical OV archetypes are what they both run from.

Underneath all the biological Alpha/Omega instincts, Tony's relationship with Kelya ultimately works because he wants her to have something other people in her life haven't always given her: a choice. Something he never stops giving her, even when he finally catches her.

I also loved that he was Cajun and Louisiana ended up being one of the settings. As a Cajun myself, I am always thrilled when Louisiana shows up in fiction somewhere outside the usual "New Orleans represents the entire state" situation. There is a whole-ass *clap* Louisiana *clap* outside NOLA, people!

And the cover deserves its own mention because it is GORGEOUS. The prickly pear cactus wrapped in Shabari rope is beautiful on its own, but after reading the book and understanding the references, I loved it even more.

This ended up being one of my favorite ARCs I've received, like ever received. I've received hundreds so that says a lot.

It has all the familiar Omegaverse elements I love, while still feeling different from a lot of what I've ever read in the genre. The characters were memorable, the romance was unique, the spice was spicy but not overdone, and there was enough humor and emotional depth to keep it from ever feeling like the story existed solely to get from one sex scene to another.

I laughed. I cried. I got angry at fictional people. I cared about these characters.

Easy 5 stars from me!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Marian]

This ARC was gifted to me in exchange for my honest opinion. What a ride!! This is the first book I have read from this author and won’t be the last. Finished it in 2 days! Also check out the art of her characters she has on Instagram, it’s what it got me into applying for the arc. The mmc has slutty glasses and I’m weak. Also shibari (rope play) is mention and used in the book and I barely see it in novels. This is a m/f Omegaverse so if you don’t know what Omegaverse is then go ask google first.

What I love about Omegaverse is that while some things are common ground inside the genre, all authors add their own sprinkle of flavor into their worlds. Here we have a bloodhound alpha which is something I have never seen before (granted I’m not a super expert on Omegaverse) so we get a lot of focus on scents and bonds. We also get a new take on how omegas bond with their nests and what happens when the bonding is wrong. I loved the concept that when something affects the bonds it has health consequences (for both omegas AND alphas), it stressed me a bit but it drives the importance of how omegas should be treated in this world.

Anyways we follow Keyla an omega who is running away from her alphas. The PI hired to do this job is our bloodhound alpha Toni (the mmc with slutty glasses) who specializes in scents, he has been chasing her around several countries and is secretly obsessed to catch her scent. Our story starts in Puerto Rico with a newly arrived Keyla who panicked and bolted after finding the foreign scent of cypress on her stuff. While changing countries she uses her status of omega to prey on tourist alphas and get away with it (they think it’s cute). The idea of an omega preying on random alphas was new to me but it worked so well! This gets the attention of other people and Toni wants nothing of that, this wild omega is his to chase! Anyways we get a cat and mouse chase between the fmc and the mmc that is wild. Honestly I found their behavior slightly unhinged up until 50% ish of the book to be honest but it kept me glued to the pages since I wanted to know the motivations of both mmcs on why they were that way.

Overall I loved all of the book, it has a different take on Omegaverse (at least for me) that felt fresh and I will definitely read more or the author’s books.

[ᴊᴇꜱꜱᴛʜᴇʙᴏᴏᴋᴅᴇᴍᴏɴ]

4.5⭐️

“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞. 𝐍𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬, 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. 𝐌𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞. 𝐌𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐬𝐞.”

okay first, this coverrrr. i absolutely love it. and its not even a people cover or character art but absolutely perfect and beautiful for this book.

this is a m/f omegaverse, and while that’s not something i usually like to read, i’m so glad i did bc the dynamic and relationship between Kelya and Tony worked so well. Tony being a bloodhound alpha was very intriguing and made his obsessiveness with Kelya one of my fav parts.

“𝐒𝐨 𝐠𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭? 𝐈’𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨.”

Kelya took what she wanted which i absolutely loved. and when you find out why she’s on the run and why she moved the way she does, you’ll also be rooting for her. the beginning does have scenes of Kelya having sex with other alphas before she meets Tony, so keep that in mind if that’s not something you’re a fan of.

Tony ended up being one of my new fav alphas with his slutty glasses and his ropes 🥵 he’s a bloodhound alpha who can smell scents better than regular alphas and a very strong bite. but even with all his strength, he lets Kelya know she’s in charge and is just obsessed with her and doesn’t want to change her.

“𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐛𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰. 𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐊𝐞𝐥𝐲𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞.“

thank you Shasta de Leon for an ARC of 𝑲𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑶𝒎𝒆𝒈𝒂 🖤






✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
A/O, M/F, 25 fmc / ??? mmc
cat & mouse, omega on the run, gun play, rope play/shibari, consensual alpha bark during sex, heat scene, bonding/bite marks, HEA, epilogue

[The Sewist's Bookshelf]

⭐ 4
🌶️ 4
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 2, 5, 9, 13, 18, 20, 22, 23, 26, 30, 31, 43, epilogue
❤️‍🔥 Swoon Factor: 2
👫 Kelya + Tony
📚 Tropes/Themes: MF Omegaverse, enemies to lovers, cat and mouse, stalking, obsessive MMC, shibari, morally gray, protective MMC, knotting
👀 Dual POV 1st person
💔 Content warnings: stalking, past abuse, attempted human trafficking, murder, violence, assault
🎀 Special editions: none

This story was... chaotically wild lol
Or maybe wildly chaotic, idk I spent a lot of the story saying wtf and actually doing every millennials fave emoji 😂

But it was good! I just did not expect everything that happened in this story at ALL. Also the third act drama was a little darker than I thought it would be.

I genuinely don't know where to start with this review. I think it would've been a different experience if I was more of an OV reader- I like OV a lot but really have to be in the mood for it, and I generally prefer MF OV as opposed to FMM+

I wonder if a lot of things that I didn't expect are due to me not being totally aware of OV lore about nesting, alpha bonds and other things I can't mention because they're spoilers. So if you're more widely read this might not be as chaotic to you lol.

But the story itself was really engaging. I held on for dear life as I flew through this in a few days, and while I usually find high spice books to be lacking in the swoony romance vibes, this did a good job of balancing the two.

That said I think sometimes the pacing was off, so it felt a little long, and the writing was a little stilted and repetitive at times, especially when explaining about bloodhounds.

Besides that this was a solid read that I definitely recommend. It's my first book by de Leon but I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.

[Queen Reviews]

I deeply and whole heartedly loved this book. The bond between these two was almost instant and electric. I loved everything about this book. The descriptions that were used, the way the characters interacted. The characters themselves, the world, everything. Keyla is everything that you wouldn't think an omega would be. She is out here living for herself while also doing exactly what she wants. I loved her character. I also loved how Tony seemed to fit her like a glove. He is such a good Alpha. I am so glad that we got an MF book in this world. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the banter and everything between them. The way that Keyla went about everything in this world was just amazing. The rage that we get to see from Keyla was definitely warranted. I love that the mistreatment of omegas in this world is taken so seriously. Enough that it punishes the alphas for their bad behavior. For a moment I was concerned with how things was going to end but alas in Shasta we trust!

The spice in this book was really good. Abundant but it was necessary. I never felt like it was too much. I give the spice a 4 out of 5. Overall, I really liked this story and these characters! I love this world with the rules that the author has created. Whether it is with the pack alphas or with a book like this with just a MF vibe. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys omegaverse. Heck if this is your first omegaverse, I think you would enjoy it. These characters are very compelling and I loved everything about them!

[Chloe]

Thank you to LoveNotes PR for the advanced copy of Knotorious Omega in exchange for honest review.

This is a high stakes, fast-paced omegaverse book perfect for anyone wanting a slightly darker romance in vibes, especially if you love an independent and wild-spirited main character.

Parts of this book I loved, and other parts just weren’t for me, unfortunately! I really enjoyed the setting and visual of the book, it was super immersive and really took me into the head of both Kelya and Tony.

The chemistry between the two characters was definitely there, and I felt like their physical relationship was written well - although it was v insta-lust and speedy in its development.

I didn’t love Kelya’s character throughout the book, she felt quite childish and pick me in her energy, and the way she flitted from place to place, sleeping with alphas and solo-living her life without any repercussions felt a little too convenient for me?

I did really enjoy the omegaverse elements, and found the cultural aspects really interesting to learn about in this setting. I’d have loved to see more of this on a smaller scale and even in Puerto Rico too, as it was highlighted but not in depth.

The latter half of the plot was super intense and fast-paced, and I wish we’d had more time with this instead of Kelya getting home with the Livingston pack and immediately going 0 to 100 in a few days, so I do think this could have been paced better.

I’d recommend this to any fans of the omegaverse, especially if you’re wanting something more dark-leaning and similar to Penelope Douglas vibes - but for me I wish it had been a little softer and more lighthearted.

[Sara-Catalina]

5/5

One of the best reads I had this year. I'm not usually reading books in the omegaverse, but God, I was so happy that I decided to give this one a try.

Knotorious Omega is such a fast paced book, I didn't even realize when I finished it. It was just that good.

Keyla and Tony. That's all. Keyla is badass on her own, but them together? I'm willing to broadcast it that I'm bi for them.

The cat and mouse dynamic between them was not only fun, it had me on the edge of my seat, or you know, almost falling off my bed at 3am. The tension between them was thick even though they didn't actually see each other face to face at first. She was already down bad for him and she didn't even see him. Didn't even meet him. Only his scent got her going and I ate this on every page.

The push and pull was done amazingly, they definitely made each other's lives harder, but I call it flirting. That was banter on high level. In my mind they were already like an old married couple. So yes, I enjoyed when Keyla just ran around from him.

The spice? Well, the spice in this book is everywhere. And I can say with no shame that I loved every single, dirty, little page. (I need to throw holy water at my kindle at this point, really.)

Overall, I recommend this book. No, I force you to read this book. It kept me up at night and I want to devour it again even though I just finished it recently.

A huge thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for this eARC, I'm off to hunt more books from Shasta De Leon.

[Ecm]

****Thank you to BookSirens and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like Knotorious Omega. The first 20% actually worked quite well for me. The setup was interesting, and I appreciated that it didn’t immediately feel like a typical omegaverse story. There was enough of a different angle to keep me curious and make me want to continue.

Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, the story started to lose me. The plot became increasingly chaotic, and I never felt like I had enough emotional grounding to become truly attached to the characters or their relationships. At one point, it almost turned into an escape/on-the-run romance, but then random spicy scenes kept appearing in between, and a lot of them felt disconnected from what was happening rather than adding anything meaningful to the story or the relationships.

The final chapters also left me more confused than satisfied. I started this expecting an omegaverse that would do something a little different, and technically it does, but I’m not sure all of those different elements ever came together in a way that worked for me.

There were definitely ideas here that I found intriguing, especially in the beginning, but in the end, I struggled to connect with both the characters and the direction the story took.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[jade ⋆₊˚ ᰔ]

thank you love notes pr + the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review ✧

♡ omegaverse
♡ cat + mouse
♡ morally gray fmc
♡ unconventional omega
♡ investigator x con woman
♡ enemies to lovers
♡ forced proximity
♡ high spice + knotting
♡ romantic suspense

i genuinely did not expect to be giving this five stars but i DEVOURED it!! it was so fun

Kelya was easily one of my favorite parts of this book. i loved how much she challenged things i’ve come to associate with the “typical omega” archetype. she’s independent, morally gray, angry, confident. watching her come into herself throughout the story and figure out what she actually wanted for her own life was so satisfying as well!!

her chemistry with tony was also SO good. like you’re telling me this man is following her across the country in transition lenses (come on be so fr) and somehow i’m supposed to find him sexy??? (spoiler alert?? somehow it worked??)

i think what ultimately made this such a five star read for me is that it knew exactly what kind of book it wanted to be. the synopsis tells you what you’re getting yourself into, and if you pick this up wanting a fun, spicy omegaverse romance with suspense, great chemistry + a slightly ridiculous premise, you’re probably going to have a very good time. i never needed it to be anything deeper than that because it was just genuinely FUN to read. sometimes that’s literally all i want from a book, and this one did it well ♡

[Cool Aunt Jacki]

READ THIS! I mean it, read this book.

I loved this book. Shasta de Leon writes in a way that is almost cinematic. I could easily imagine walking through the streets of Puerto Rico. The action sequences absolutely made sense. The tension truly stressed me out! The story is chronological, with no time jumps or days between scenes/chapters. That is rare anymore.

This MMC may be my new favorite. Tony acted with Kelya's best interest at every turn. And that character art?!?!? Holy hotness. Tough, tall, and blonde. Tony's thighs will save us all.

Kelya is a complex FMC, and she doesn't care who she takes down in her journey, provided they are alphas. Her story will progress throughout the book, so her decisions make more sense.

I knew from the marketing the author has been releasing over this past year that I was going to enjoy this. The character art is superb, and does a really good job of basically being a trailer for the first 20ish percent of the book. Again, cinematic.

Chapter 23 is one of the hottest things I've ever read, I may never find an equivalent.

And the romance? COME ON. Cat and Mouse, Hunter vs. Hunter (Kelya is NOT prey). These aren't tropes I normally read, but it was so good.

Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to arc read this.

[Yoshi V]

Knotorious Omega is a wild ride from page one. Our FMC, Kelya, is on the run from a past and life, she's not willing to submit to. Tony, the bloodhound Alpha hired to find her, is on her tail. When the two land in Puerto Rico, donde el sol 'ta que quema, so does their chemistry.

The cat and mouse chase/ push and pull from both main characters had me on the edge of my seat. Each chapter begs you to continue, as you figure where you're going next. The internal monologues had me laughing so hard and really grounded this story. It's themes of abuse, grief, and love- highlighting the complexities of the human experience.

Shasta not only weaves a delicious and alluring omegaverse world, but her storytelling is extremely vivid. While including what we all love and know about omegaverse, Knotorious felt like her playground, and VERY much hers. Everything the characters felt, you felt. When the story takes a turn for the worse, you're in the trenches as well. And when we reach the end, it leaves you wanting to sit in that world a little bit more.

A big thank you to the author, Shasta De Leon for allowing me the pleasure of ARC reading before release date!

Knotorious Omega is available tomorrow 9/01/26 on Kindle Unlimited and currently available for purchase for .99 cents on Amazon. Go get your copy!

[Leah Golder]

** I preface this by saying this was my first experience of an omegaverse book and I don’t think this genre is for me **

The premise of this was very very promising - omega on the run and big scary lone bloodhound alpha was paid to track her down and then they end up getting otherwise entangled… amazing!

However it all just fell very very flat for me. The plot became so muddled and over complicated with side characters and side plots that did nothing but confuse and muddy the main story. Rather than adding to the suspense and drama, they simply diluted it into something confusing and boring.

I didn’t feel connected to the characters at all. They felt very undeveloped and the lack of emotional grounding and connection between reader and character simply fed into the chaos of the plot. With the lack of developed characters, they became quite annoying and unlikeable and I found myself just reading the words to get to the next stupid decision and petty argument that ultimately would all lead to the same ending.

The vast difference in Tony’s actions and thoughts almost gave me whiplash. Whilst I wanted a morally grey alpha male who loves the chase but ultimately ends up finding a girl wronged and wants to burn the world to see those who broke her suffer, we got a drab stalker who felt angry our fmc wasn’t looking after herself so decides to give her a coke and then tie her up ??? At some points, we got a glimpse of the morally grey mmc of our dreams, but this was very quickly stripped away with his next weird commentary or obsession with knots.

Overall, I fear this genre isn’t for me and this book had a very chaotic and muddled plot that meant I felt lost most of the time, no character development and tropes that have been done so much and, unfortunately, a lot better.

Thank you love notes pr for the arc!

[ChlosterReads]

I received an ARC copy from the author.
I love omegaverse cause everyone writes it differently. I loved this take on it with Bloodhounds. Such a unique thing I've never seen anywhere.

Kelya had to grow on my at first. Reading the description I was expecting her a little more badass than she was (don't get me wrong, she's still badass). But she was a little oblivious. Girl just willingly walked into so many dangerous situations. I admired her will to live even if I didn't agree with how she went about it.

Tony was such an interesting character to me. Like I said I loved the Bloodhound aspect to him. A lone alpha and she's his obsession. Also, for a private eye, he really was just letting his scent just hang out there. If he used a descenter on himself would that mess with his scent tracking? These are the things I think about.

As awful as they were, I would have liked more on her old pack and her parents. The peeks into her past explained why she was the way she was, but I would have like more insight into why they were the way they are.

Also, I'm so glad Ash was okay! Me just screaming take him with you as they drive into the distance. I would love a little novella just about him and Matty. Just to check in on them. See how they're doing.

[Emmy Wong]

First let me acknowledge how much of a great pun the title of this book is because the fmc Kelya is known as the notorious omega for robbing alphas but somewhere along the way…she fell for one alphas knots. I’m not the biggest A/B/O (Omegaverse) fan because the plots can be so simple sometimes but this was anything but. From the start Kelya was a force to be reckoned with and she met her maker in Tony (though I do think his name is bland compared to Kelya). There’s so much funny banter as Tony sort of kidnaps her and Kelya tries to escape but ends up falling very hard. The funniest or most memorable thing was that at some point I started crying because I too fell so hard for Tony and Kelya, as individuals and fell in love with their beautiful relationship. A lot of the times I can’t take A/B/O romance seriously but they had me in my feelings. Tony actually has so much reverence for Kelya as opposed to her previous alphas and with Tony, Kelya fully gets to embrace her “inner omega” instead of hiding or being forced into it. The plot had me super excited and mixed in with the romance perfectly. I loved the climax and the ending it was just perfect and so heartwarming. I really enjoyed this and give it a 4.5/5

[Elle]

⭐️ 5/5 ⭐️

Wow wow wow.
One of the BEST books I’ve read this year!

Kelya is an unclaimed omega and has been on the run for the last 2 years, keeping away from her abusive alphas.
Tony, a lone Bloodhound Alpha, is a PI who has been hired and hunting down Kelya, taking notes and his sweet time.

They both have had a horrendous past, but are eventually drawn together once their paths start crossing as he gets closer to finding her.
I absolutely LOVED their chemistry, bond, slow burn relationship, it was so beautiful to see flourish and witness them just knowing what the other one needed.

I find this book comedic at times (in a good way) just with what they were like with each other and how sneaky Kelya was trying to do. The whole book was so eloquent and the plot was one of the best I’ve read in the omegaverse. I loved all the little bits of information about the different ailments they can get, how the hierarchy works, how bonds work etc. Wonderful.

Thank you SO much for letting me read this ARC copy - I loved every moment. I would love more books - maybe about a certain two characters in the epilogue? 👀
HEA 🫶🏼🖤

[Cyd Adger]

Spicy, steamy and intense chaos. And I loved it. This is not a sweet, cuddle-worthy book filled with flower bouquets and sweet whispers of nothingness. This is a book filled with want, wonder, need, and desires. I recommend reading this if you are ready for a crazy wild ride.

Keyla is an omega on the run, but not your ordinary runaway. She's a passionate, female-fatale, live-live-to-the-fullest. Someone who has to stay one step ahead and find joy in a life that is otherwise lonely and painful. And whats a little petty theft here and there. Tony is a man's man. He is what some may call obsessive. He's a reserved, recluse that rarely let's passion rule his life anymore. But a certain omega has him wanting to chase his dreams, and turn obsession into possession. Who better to do that, than the woman he's chased around for years, always one step behind, and a scent short.

I hope you're ready for this intense book. You'll be gasping at their antics, blushing at their actions, and laughing at their audacity.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[vicki.reads]

4.5🌟
3.5🌶️
Pub date: Sept 1 💕

This might just be my favorite omegaverse I've read this year 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.

➕
- An addictive and compelling MF OV romance. I devoured it in two days.
- I love the unique OV dynamics that Shasta wove into her story (scent change, bloodhounds, nest waning syndrome).
- Tropes:
🪢 Femme fatale / omega on the run x private investigator
🪢 Chronic illness rep
🪢 Past trauma
🪢 Rope play
- I adore the main characters. Kelya is vivacious, bright and clever. I love her fire despite all that life has thrown at her. Tony is a lone wolf who doesn't believe in love. Watching him fall for Kelya was just so moving.
- The Shibari/rope play was not only 🔥🔥🔥, it also beautifully tied in Kelya's emotional and physical state while highlighting her and Tony's bond.
- Shasta sent me on an emotional roller-coaster! I teared up at the confessions and squealed when badass Kelya came to play. The ending is so sweet!

Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for sending me an eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Parker parkers_bookshelves]

I just want to start with how thankful I am that I got a proof copy of this STUNNING story, I adore her.

Okay, onto the book!! Typically MF omegaverse isn’t my first choice I prefer the chaotic cozy style of a good OV why-choose. So I was pleasantly shocked by home much I came to love this one. I got very attached to the characters quite quickly. Reading and going through this cat-and-mouse chase with them was so much fun at each step. Tony is 1. super hot 2. super sweet (when he wants to be) and 3. a true “bloodhound” alpha. It’s his literal nose guiding this whole thing he is OBSESSED with her scent. Then we have our lovely Kayla our poor omega handling her case of the “nesties” all on her own. It’s something I’ve sort of seen in books but it’s never been made this big of a focus and honestly I loved it. It’s a sort of bind sickness she spends so long running from. She’s got all these prickly edges cause she’s had to... but now there’s a man who wants to spoil and care for her. It ends up so so sweet I truly loved it.

Thank you to Shasta de Leon for the ARC <3

[SJ]

This is definitely a unique take on an omegaverse that was surprising in the best of ways. It's fun with a wild cat and mouse enemies-to-lovers plot that had me thrilled and excited on the edge-of-my-seat. It's such a different take on this genre that I never knew what to expect, and I loved that so much.
Kelya is not your regular meek little omega that's so common in other omegaverses. She is such a morally-gray firecracker, and I loved her.
To say that Tony is obsessed may be an understatement. And he's also morally-gray!? I mean, yes, please. I got all the swoon and spice with such delicious balance throughout the story. There are dark themes but also dark humor that had me legit laughing out loud, so it was definitely a page-turner that kept me invested.

Tropes:
FM Omegaverse
Forced proximity
Cat and Mouse
Enemies-to-lovers
Stalking
Obsessed MMC
BA omega FMC
Kink
Morally-gray characters
Dual POV

Check TW

Thank you, Love Notes PR and Shasta De Leon, for the opportunity to read this book.

[Natalee Unhinged Reads]

The title alone gets this book brownie points. 😂

But I really appreciated that it starts out with a primer of sorts on Omegaverse tropes. I think most folks who have stumbled into the Omegaverse can remember their first time…and the inevitable WTF moment as they tried to figure out what the hell was going on. Given that this book also introduces some entirely new ideas, it was especially nice to have!

Knotorious Omega was truly a different spin on the genre. I loved the concept of the Bloodhound Alpha, and it’s also one of the only M/F Omegaverse books I’ve ever read. Maybe it’s because I haven’t read the genre that extensively, but I really enjoyed Keyla and Tony’s dynamic. It wasn’t an all-of-a-sudden switch that flipped for them. They really grew into their relationship, and it also made sense within the Omegaverse setup.

I would absolutely recommend this to my spice-inclusive folks! This author is definitely one to watch, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

3.5 ⭐️’s
3 🌶️’s

[Lauren Sabolcik]

5⭐ 5🌶️
📖Knotorious Omega by Shasta De Leon

~*Tropes*~
🌵Standalone Omegaverse
❤️Enemies to Lovers
🌵Forced Proximity
❤️Puerto Rican Setting
🌵Caretaking
❤️Morally Gray
🌵She Must Choose
❤️Professional Stalker
🌵Height Difference
❤️Protective Lone Alpha
🌵Omega on the run…
❤️He Falls First
🌵Shibari/Rope Play
❤️Femme Fatale/Private Eye
🌵Aftercare

~*My Thoughts*~
MCs: Kelya & Tony
🌵Kelya - sharp-edged from self-preservation
🪢Tony: meticulous, devoted, can’t help but follow her trail
*Shasta’s writing flows so easily - her depth of worldbuilding was unique, rich, and addictive - such a fantastic storyteller
*Loved the multi-layered omegaverse - dif. types of alphas & medical conditions
*I adored the aesthetics and themes of this book - all the tiny details created such a deliciously detailed story
*What I loved most about Tony is that he doesn’t even attempt to tame her…he embraces her feral, chaotic side
*Kelya - 💔 - with her history of trauma, this girl absolutely deserves to be spoiled by Tony - and he is MORE than willing to oblige 😜
*Explosive spice, raw emotions, and an absolutely gorgeous & messy story of growth
*I ADORE Kelya’s ultimate decision and the the complexity Shasta has written into the story from the start ❤️‍🔥💯❤️‍🔥
*The ending 🧑‍🍳🫦- absolutely LOVED lol so fun, so them

Monumental thank you to Shasta De Leon and Love Notes PR for the ARC! I will 100% be reading the rest of Shasta’s backlog 🫶❤️🫶

All thoughts and expressed are my own.