What do you think?
Hidden Realms #1
Fractured Doors and Forgotten Gods
Riley
Trying to keep my familiar out of the meat display while shopping is the hardest part of my day… until someone drops a god right into my humdrum existence.
Torin, a massive man claiming to be a god, is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. He insists on learning English through adult graphic novels, believes the pizza delivery guy is an assassin, and thinks he can kick a subway into submission (talk about adding a bit of spice to my life, which has been sadly lacking since I left the Magical Interference Unit).
The handsome and strangely charismatic god drags me (literally) right into his problems, starting with a creature who wants to tear my head off, yet I find myself following along with his whims.
He knows something is wrong when Doors to another realm begin to open up, allowing an ominous power to get a foothold in our world… but I’m afraid this quirky god and I might be the only ones keeping this world from ending.
Oh joy.
Torin
I never expected that simply stepping through a Door into Riley’s world would introduce me to so many amazing curiosities, like pizza and burritos! Oh, and a pesky human who really should recognize that I’m a god of war and love—emphasis on the love.
But there’s more to Riley than meets the eye; why else would their special forces place me with a man who can borrow magic from others? My attempts to woo this mystifying human are thwarted at every turn (I doubt that has anything to do with me tossing him on a horse or taking over his bed).
As Riley and I grow closer, I realize that he might be the very person needed to save this realm… because what is coming for them is beyond anything they can comprehend… one even worse than the atrocity called an “escalator.”
Fractured Doors and Forgotten Gods is the first book in a series that has a continuing storyline.
Trying to keep my familiar out of the meat display while shopping is the hardest part of my day… until someone drops a god right into my humdrum existence.
Torin, a massive man claiming to be a god, is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. He insists on learning English through adult graphic novels, believes the pizza delivery guy is an assassin, and thinks he can kick a subway into submission (talk about adding a bit of spice to my life, which has been sadly lacking since I left the Magical Interference Unit).
The handsome and strangely charismatic god drags me (literally) right into his problems, starting with a creature who wants to tear my head off, yet I find myself following along with his whims.
He knows something is wrong when Doors to another realm begin to open up, allowing an ominous power to get a foothold in our world… but I’m afraid this quirky god and I might be the only ones keeping this world from ending.
Oh joy.
Torin
I never expected that simply stepping through a Door into Riley’s world would introduce me to so many amazing curiosities, like pizza and burritos! Oh, and a pesky human who really should recognize that I’m a god of war and love—emphasis on the love.
But there’s more to Riley than meets the eye; why else would their special forces place me with a man who can borrow magic from others? My attempts to woo this mystifying human are thwarted at every turn (I doubt that has anything to do with me tossing him on a horse or taking over his bed).
As Riley and I grow closer, I realize that he might be the very person needed to save this realm… because what is coming for them is beyond anything they can comprehend… one even worse than the atrocity called an “escalator.”
Fractured Doors and Forgotten Gods is the first book in a series that has a continuing storyline.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2026
About the author
Alice Winters
71 books2,927 followersAlice Winters started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to turn her ideas into written words. She loves writing a variety of things from romance and comedy to action. She also enjoys reading, horseback riding, and spending time with her pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
June 7, 2026
Only Alice could create this type of brilliant mayhem
I have absolutely no clue where this series is going to go, but I fully intend to enjoy every step of the journey.
This book is pure bonkers, it's got the creative world building I expect from anything Alice writes, it's funny and also touches the heartstrings in multiple ways.
Riley is your typical reluctant 'hero' type and Torin firstly appears to be an archetypal 'himbo' god but his twin powers of love and war demonstrate there's more than first meets the eye.
With a fabulous set of secondary characters, I loved Mickey and his bunch of multi talented undead, as well as Riley's familiar, and an intriguing plot that didn't go where I thought it would, I'm totally sold on this new series.
I have absolutely no clue where this series is going to go, but I fully intend to enjoy every step of the journey.
This book is pure bonkers, it's got the creative world building I expect from anything Alice writes, it's funny and also touches the heartstrings in multiple ways.
Riley is your typical reluctant 'hero' type and Torin firstly appears to be an archetypal 'himbo' god but his twin powers of love and war demonstrate there's more than first meets the eye.
With a fabulous set of secondary characters, I loved Mickey and his bunch of multi talented undead, as well as Riley's familiar, and an intriguing plot that didn't go where I thought it would, I'm totally sold on this new series.
June 25, 2026
This was a HUGE miss for me from one of my favorite MM writers. Something about the book felt disorganized and incomplete. There wasn’t enough world building or characterization. 50% into the book and absolutely nothing of consequence has happened. I was so tired of reading about escalators, horses, pizza, and sex jokes instead of an actual plot. Then, sex gets thrown in out of nowhere. So out of the blue!
The seeing through the cat/familiar’s eyes was cool until the book decided to show Torin’s dick through its eyes and it was all sorts of yuck. Specially since our MC Riley was upset that the cat fell asleep instead of seeing more of the action. Gave me all the icks. Poor animal.
The necromancer side character was cool and I would love to read his book.
Overall, this book needed a lot more marinating of ideas and a good editing session to cut down the repetition and filler content.
The seeing through the cat/familiar’s eyes was cool until the book decided to show Torin’s dick through its eyes and it was all sorts of yuck. Specially since our MC Riley was upset that the cat fell asleep instead of seeing more of the action. Gave me all the icks. Poor animal.
The necromancer side character was cool and I would love to read his book.
Overall, this book needed a lot more marinating of ideas and a good editing session to cut down the repetition and filler content.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2026
4.5 stars
I had such a good time reading this book! So many laugh out loud moments, overt the top situations, with very likable characters, all of what you expect from Alice Winters.
Definitely in for book 2 especially after the plot twist at the end of book 1!!
Highly recommend the audio, Greg Bordeux is terrific.
I had such a good time reading this book! So many laugh out loud moments, overt the top situations, with very likable characters, all of what you expect from Alice Winters.
Definitely in for book 2 especially after the plot twist at the end of book 1!!
Highly recommend the audio, Greg Bordeux is terrific.
June 4, 2026
Fractured Doors and Forgotten Gods is an MM paranormal romance! Torin is a God of Love and War and he comes to this dimension, through a door. He is intercepted by the Magical Police Force who want to know who he is and what he is doing in their world. The issue is that Torin doesn’t speak the language.
Cut to- Riley getting groceries with his familiar when is suddenly arrested and taken to the precinct. He meets an old friend who insisted this was the only way she could get him there. They insist he has to talk to this stranger but he doesn’t want too, he left the team years ago and is now a librarian. He, reluctantly, meets up with the tall AF, beefy God- who throws him at this giant wild creature.
Soon they are forced together and as they go on, their attraction grows, and a real danger threatens their world.
I really loved this book! I mean, I always like an Alice Winter’s book but this was so much fun. Honestly l, it reminded me a bit of a funnier version of Hailey Turner’s “A Ferry of Bones and Gold”. It definitely had that vibe. Torin is a bit of a HIMBO, who mostly thinks about sex and is baffled as to why the peasant doesn’t want to sleep with him! Riley is a bitter, sarcastic cutie who loves making Torin uncomfortable.
And a special note for Mickey who is my spirit character!!! I swear his absolute laziness and lack of remorse for it is amazing!!!! The funniest thing! I love that he is a necromancer who uses his powers to not have to do ANYTHING! 💀😭
Cut to- Riley getting groceries with his familiar when is suddenly arrested and taken to the precinct. He meets an old friend who insisted this was the only way she could get him there. They insist he has to talk to this stranger but he doesn’t want too, he left the team years ago and is now a librarian. He, reluctantly, meets up with the tall AF, beefy God- who throws him at this giant wild creature.
Soon they are forced together and as they go on, their attraction grows, and a real danger threatens their world.
I really loved this book! I mean, I always like an Alice Winter’s book but this was so much fun. Honestly l, it reminded me a bit of a funnier version of Hailey Turner’s “A Ferry of Bones and Gold”. It definitely had that vibe. Torin is a bit of a HIMBO, who mostly thinks about sex and is baffled as to why the peasant doesn’t want to sleep with him! Riley is a bitter, sarcastic cutie who loves making Torin uncomfortable.
And a special note for Mickey who is my spirit character!!! I swear his absolute laziness and lack of remorse for it is amazing!!!! The funniest thing! I love that he is a necromancer who uses his powers to not have to do ANYTHING! 💀😭
June 29, 2026
Another great series opener by Alice Winters!! The entire audio had me laughing and engaged. I love how Riley gave zero shits about Torens godly status. He gave him plenty of snark regardless. And Toren's English was even better revenge! Can't wait for more of this story!!
September 13, 2026
As a fairly big fan of Ms. Winters, I’ve gotten to the point that I don’t even read the book summary before clicking the “Buy” button. PLUS, this was the first book in a new series. What more can you ask for???!!!
Unfortunately, I don’t really know what happened with this book, but it just wasn’t for me (and you have NO idea how much it pains me to say that). Now….important distinction here…a mediocre book by Ms. Winters can be a great book from many other authors.
The problem that I seemed to have with this book in particular was that the entire setting and this “new world” being created felt extremely chaotic and very disjointed. That then made the story itself much more difficult to get into.
There is still the crazy…over the top…zaniness that we have all come to expect from her books, but there were also way too many things going on at once.
Torin and Riley are funny and likable characters and it is extremely easy to root for them, but it doesn’t help the chaotic mess that they somehow find themselves in the middle of.
Yes, I DO realize that this is only the first book in the series. I am more than willing to give the series another chance when Book 2 in this series comes out. And I have faith and I know that some of the issues bothering me at this particular point are going to make complete sense.
You never know, today’s issues might have all been my fault. You never know when certain things that are going on in your head can sometimes change your perceptions of everything you are reading. You just never know.
I guess the test will be when Book 2 comes out :)
Unfortunately, I don’t really know what happened with this book, but it just wasn’t for me (and you have NO idea how much it pains me to say that). Now….important distinction here…a mediocre book by Ms. Winters can be a great book from many other authors.
The problem that I seemed to have with this book in particular was that the entire setting and this “new world” being created felt extremely chaotic and very disjointed. That then made the story itself much more difficult to get into.
There is still the crazy…over the top…zaniness that we have all come to expect from her books, but there were also way too many things going on at once.
Torin and Riley are funny and likable characters and it is extremely easy to root for them, but it doesn’t help the chaotic mess that they somehow find themselves in the middle of.
Yes, I DO realize that this is only the first book in the series. I am more than willing to give the series another chance when Book 2 in this series comes out. And I have faith and I know that some of the issues bothering me at this particular point are going to make complete sense.
You never know, today’s issues might have all been my fault. You never know when certain things that are going on in your head can sometimes change your perceptions of everything you are reading. You just never know.
I guess the test will be when Book 2 comes out :)
June 2, 2026
Another banger from Alice!
I will always be amazed at how Alice is able to write such hilarity whilst giving characters such genuine depth. So often you have to choose between laugh out loud humour and powerful characterisations but you never do with Alice’s books, which is why I absolutely adore them. Torin and Riley are absolutely hilarious. I honestly couldn’t figure out who was funnier (Torin with all his antics as he discovers Earth and its peculiarities or Riley with his reactions to said discoveries and general exasperation with Torin at times). Beyond that amusement though are two people who have a lot more going on that you’d think at first glance. My heart honestly ached for Torin and all he’s been through. That was softened by all the ridiculousness that was Torin learning about somewhere entirely foreign to him. It’s that balance that makes the book so good. You have the silliness and sarcasm balanced against these moments of sincere and sometimes painful reality. As usual the plot also served to keep me on my toes. It’s fast paced without feeling rushed and keeps you waiting for what happens next without losing the fun bits in between. The secondary characters were on point as well - Mickey has a special place in my heart and I’m hoping we get to see even more of him in coming books. I am so excited for more from this series and getting to learn more about these characters and their antics!
I will always be amazed at how Alice is able to write such hilarity whilst giving characters such genuine depth. So often you have to choose between laugh out loud humour and powerful characterisations but you never do with Alice’s books, which is why I absolutely adore them. Torin and Riley are absolutely hilarious. I honestly couldn’t figure out who was funnier (Torin with all his antics as he discovers Earth and its peculiarities or Riley with his reactions to said discoveries and general exasperation with Torin at times). Beyond that amusement though are two people who have a lot more going on that you’d think at first glance. My heart honestly ached for Torin and all he’s been through. That was softened by all the ridiculousness that was Torin learning about somewhere entirely foreign to him. It’s that balance that makes the book so good. You have the silliness and sarcasm balanced against these moments of sincere and sometimes painful reality. As usual the plot also served to keep me on my toes. It’s fast paced without feeling rushed and keeps you waiting for what happens next without losing the fun bits in between. The secondary characters were on point as well - Mickey has a special place in my heart and I’m hoping we get to see even more of him in coming books. I am so excited for more from this series and getting to learn more about these characters and their antics!
June 8, 2026
4.5/5. Fuck me, that was A LOT. You are immediately dropped into the chaos, and you never quite manage to find a break in it. It’s nonstop from start to finish, and it’s fucking good. So good. And that li’l twisty-twist? Immaculate. Picasso 🤌 This is gonna be one hell of a fucking ride, and I’m here for all of it. It’s rife with the typical shenanigans from this author, but I feel like each new release has gone deeper, had more and more going for it than just the snark and banter and heart we’re all used to enjoying. Idk how to explain it. It just be what it be and do what it do and I love it.
June 3, 2026
Allliiiiiicccce Wiiiinteerrrrssss!!! I was over the moon to see she has a new series out. Staying up late reading this book, I had the best night ever. It made me so damn happy.
Winters is my favorite writer and a master of the slow-build joke. I laughed out loud many times. I’ve never laughed harder at a book than when Mickey made Tommy get the wheelbarrow. The whole concept of a lazy necromancer was so brilliant.
And between the laughs - sometimes during - I was having my heart tugged, feeling the sadness and loneliness of the MCs, and melting at their romance. All the side characters were great. Riley and Kit’s magic connection made all the situations they encountered mind-bendingly interesting.
Winters is my favorite writer and a master of the slow-build joke. I laughed out loud many times. I’ve never laughed harder at a book than when Mickey made Tommy get the wheelbarrow. The whole concept of a lazy necromancer was so brilliant.
And between the laughs - sometimes during - I was having my heart tugged, feeling the sadness and loneliness of the MCs, and melting at their romance. All the side characters were great. Riley and Kit’s magic connection made all the situations they encountered mind-bendingly interesting.
Review of advance copy received from Autore
I have so many thoughts, so many emotions, but the first thing I want to scream is GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOK NOW! The story was captivating: a god from another realm and a magical man forced to host him and teach him about Earth, while at the same time trying to find out who is opening doors from other realms, doors with weird and very powerful magic, and a man who wants to destroy the world.
There were mane revelations that left me like woah I did not see that coming. Everything was a surprise, the plot never dragged, it was action filled, and a bit more steamy than other Alice Winters books. It was perfect and I will reread it in audio as soon as possible. I need to hear Torin being obsessed with pizza and start learning english using smutty books. I want to experience them slowly falling in love, even if they won't admit to that just yet. But the feelings are there!
The side characters were, in Alice Winters fashion, full of personality and often hilarious. Like Mickey. I love that there's a bonus short story about him because I need to know more. Give the lazy man a Boyfriend, a big buff Boyfriend who can carry him around.
I need the next book right now!! I need more!
There were mane revelations that left me like woah I did not see that coming. Everything was a surprise, the plot never dragged, it was action filled, and a bit more steamy than other Alice Winters books. It was perfect and I will reread it in audio as soon as possible. I need to hear Torin being obsessed with pizza and start learning english using smutty books. I want to experience them slowly falling in love, even if they won't admit to that just yet. But the feelings are there!
The side characters were, in Alice Winters fashion, full of personality and often hilarious. Like Mickey. I love that there's a bonus short story about him because I need to know more. Give the lazy man a Boyfriend, a big buff Boyfriend who can carry him around.
I need the next book right now!! I need more!
September 12, 2026
Nah…that wasn‘t it.
I mean, it wasn‘t BAD, just not as good as I hoped it would be. Based on the desciption I had no doubt that I would enjoy this book, so I had been looking forward to starting it for a while. I‘m not new to the author either, as I really like her „Medium Trouble“ series.
But as much as I hate to say it, this book got on my nerves, or more like a certain GOD got on my nerves.
The humor didn‘t work out for me at all. After about every third word coming out of Torin‘s mouth was „s*x“, I soon found myself rolling my eyes every time he spoke. For real, how often DID he mention it? I‘m too afraid to start counting…
At first it was kind of entertaining to see him trying to work out an elevator or a tram, and fumbling with modern technology, but that soon got old too.
Riley on the other hand was okay for the most part.
Well…except for one thing.
I hope that doesn‘t come across the wrong way, but at first I was really intrigued to learn about his blindness. I had never read about a blind protagonist before, so I was curious how it would be portrayed. BUT when his only way to see is though his cat familiar‘s eyes, and he does SEE Torin naked while they get intimate with each other at one point or another, that borders more on „weird“ for me. That poor familiar‘s eyes…
What might have irked me the most (aside from Torin) was the progression of the romance. The „getting together“ part, which is mostly what I‘m here for when it comes to romances, was over way too fast for my taste.
I liked Torin and Riley‘s dynamic at the beginning of the story, so I would‘ve preferred to see more of that.
What remained afterwards was an okay fantasy plot, but unfortunately that won‘t be enough for me to continue with this series.
I think I‘ll stick to my good old ghostie romance (Medium Trouble) for now… :)
I mean, it wasn‘t BAD, just not as good as I hoped it would be. Based on the desciption I had no doubt that I would enjoy this book, so I had been looking forward to starting it for a while. I‘m not new to the author either, as I really like her „Medium Trouble“ series.
But as much as I hate to say it, this book got on my nerves, or more like a certain GOD got on my nerves.
The humor didn‘t work out for me at all. After about every third word coming out of Torin‘s mouth was „s*x“, I soon found myself rolling my eyes every time he spoke. For real, how often DID he mention it? I‘m too afraid to start counting…
At first it was kind of entertaining to see him trying to work out an elevator or a tram, and fumbling with modern technology, but that soon got old too.
Riley on the other hand was okay for the most part.
Well…except for one thing.
I hope that doesn‘t come across the wrong way, but at first I was really intrigued to learn about his blindness. I had never read about a blind protagonist before, so I was curious how it would be portrayed. BUT when his only way to see is though his cat familiar‘s eyes, and he does SEE Torin naked while they get intimate with each other at one point or another, that borders more on „weird“ for me. That poor familiar‘s eyes…
What might have irked me the most (aside from Torin) was the progression of the romance. The „getting together“ part, which is mostly what I‘m here for when it comes to romances, was over way too fast for my taste.
I liked Torin and Riley‘s dynamic at the beginning of the story, so I would‘ve preferred to see more of that.
What remained afterwards was an okay fantasy plot, but unfortunately that won‘t be enough for me to continue with this series.
I think I‘ll stick to my good old ghostie romance (Medium Trouble) for now… :)
Did Not Finish
July 28, 2026It pains me to say this because I genuinely love Alice’s work and have read most of her books, but her newer series just aren’t connecting with me.
The humor feels too focused on sexual and over-the-top jokes (more than usual), and I found myself struggling with the lack of world-building and context. I’m disappointed, and I’m honestly not sure if I’ll continue with these newer books. 😭
The humor feels too focused on sexual and over-the-top jokes (more than usual), and I found myself struggling with the lack of world-building and context. I’m disappointed, and I’m honestly not sure if I’ll continue with these newer books. 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2026
new series???
When Riley got a call from his past employer to look after a god he didn’t realize how his life will change.
I really enjoyed this story it’s different from the other books Alice has but the same humor.
Reading Torin getting used to the new world he is in so funny we do need the book where torin learnt English.
Hopefully there is another book.
When Riley got a call from his past employer to look after a god he didn’t realize how his life will change.
I really enjoyed this story it’s different from the other books Alice has but the same humor.
Reading Torin getting used to the new world he is in so funny we do need the book where torin learnt English.
Hopefully there is another book.
May 24, 2026
I was cracking up right from the very beginning.
Poor Riley, lands himself a baby sitting gig and well suffice to say, a whole load of chaos follows.
I adored Torin, he made me laugh. Torin and Riley’s banter was funny and entertaining.
I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
Poor Riley, lands himself a baby sitting gig and well suffice to say, a whole load of chaos follows.
I adored Torin, he made me laugh. Torin and Riley’s banter was funny and entertaining.
I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
June 2, 2026
That was an insane ride and I LOVED it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Alice Winters has become my number one comfort author- both reading with audio and eyeballs. I was so excited to receive this arc! Especially diving into a whole new world of hers.
One of my favorite things about Alice’s stories is the found family aspect- I love it! And Fractured Doors did not disappoint. Especially seeing characters who had become very isolated and guarded, like Riley, start to open up to his people again. And then sweet Torin- well can’t say too much without spoiling some things.
While they had each other, the side characters played a massive role in their story. And that leads us to Mickey! One of the funniest characters Alice has written. And that bar is high!
Actually, I was laughing out loud while reading most of this book! Torin being in a new world mixed with Riley’s dry humor, the perfect combo and it was so enjoyable.
While I was laughing the whole time, there were definitely a few tears too! Such a good balance of humor and emotion, as usual.
There were so many twists towards the end! I need book two IMMEDIATELY!
* as a note- I have been in somewhat of an eyeball reading slump and I devoured this arc! And I’m already ready for the audio reread! I can’t wait to hear Greg doing these voices! Thank you for this arc!
Alice Winters has become my number one comfort author- both reading with audio and eyeballs. I was so excited to receive this arc! Especially diving into a whole new world of hers.
One of my favorite things about Alice’s stories is the found family aspect- I love it! And Fractured Doors did not disappoint. Especially seeing characters who had become very isolated and guarded, like Riley, start to open up to his people again. And then sweet Torin- well can’t say too much without spoiling some things.
While they had each other, the side characters played a massive role in their story. And that leads us to Mickey! One of the funniest characters Alice has written. And that bar is high!
Actually, I was laughing out loud while reading most of this book! Torin being in a new world mixed with Riley’s dry humor, the perfect combo and it was so enjoyable.
While I was laughing the whole time, there were definitely a few tears too! Such a good balance of humor and emotion, as usual.
There were so many twists towards the end! I need book two IMMEDIATELY!
* as a note- I have been in somewhat of an eyeball reading slump and I devoured this arc! And I’m already ready for the audio reread! I can’t wait to hear Greg doing these voices! Thank you for this arc!
July 30, 2026
Awesome story and an awesome audio, lovely narrated by Greg Boudreaux.
Full of humour, also not short of emotions, and with wonderful main and secondary characters. Yes, it sure is ridiculous, a kind of humour that is not everyone's cup of tea, but I honestly loved every second of it! 🥰
Hopefully there'll soon be an audio version for book 2 available. 🎧🤞🏻
Full of humour, also not short of emotions, and with wonderful main and secondary characters. Yes, it sure is ridiculous, a kind of humour that is not everyone's cup of tea, but I honestly loved every second of it! 🥰
Hopefully there'll soon be an audio version for book 2 available. 🎧🤞🏻
Did Not Finish
June 8, 2026DNF at 46% | 8th Jun 2026. What happened here? i had high hopes. It got very irritating with the constant mentions of just how much off page sex they’re having, while the story isn't engaging enough for me. Had to rewind several times just to hear properly. i realised this wasn't going to be my thing. We have a god of love even. Alice, why are we doing FTB all of a sudden??
Riley is an ex magical policeman whose power lets him borrow other people's magic. He's called back for a case involving an isekai-ed God & mysterious doors openings. Riley also isekai into the Torin’s world.That's basically the plot.
It had some good parts i guess:
✦Riley is actually blind, and sees the world through his Kit’s eyes. Quite a unique dynamic here.
✦This God is so different from Loch, obviously. He’s a lot king-like, calling Riley “peasant” and is all growly. But his nonstop attempts to get Riley into bed despite being repeatedly rejected is very Loch like! Then again, he's the God of War and Love, hence the insta lust .
✦Torin’s utter confusion with modernity is hilarious!!😃 Loved how his 1st reaction is always to destroy stuff. LMAO learning English from a sex book. 💀
✦In this world some mages can have familiars and Riley has an adorable kitty. Loved Kit.
✦Narrated by Greg Boudreaux.
i definitely have issues which dampened my mood:
♦️There’s 1 sex scene. At 41%. Again, Greg did all the heavy lifting. It was.. whatever. It’s a blink and a miss and then FTB with only mentions of all the best copious amounts of said FTB sex they had!!!! Man i hate it when that happens!!
♦️How did this old God know about about what an “office” is but not electricity, cars, etc?
♦OP info: There’s 1 point where Torin meets Riley’s succubus boss and the pair seemingly leave “to do the business” but nothing happens as he’s only interested in Riley. And 1 time, Riley had to borrow said succubus power which made his friends feel horny for him. They’re not at all otherwise interested, but it got Torin all jealous hehe.
Human mage x God, strangers→lovers, isekai, insta lust, blind MC, forced proximity, FTB.
Riley is an ex magical policeman whose power lets him borrow other people's magic. He's called back for a case involving an isekai-ed God & mysterious doors openings. Riley also isekai into the Torin’s world.That's basically the plot.
It had some good parts i guess:
✦Riley is actually blind, and sees the world through his Kit’s eyes. Quite a unique dynamic here.
✦This God is so different from Loch, obviously. He’s a lot king-like, calling Riley “peasant” and is all growly. But his nonstop attempts to get Riley into bed despite being repeatedly rejected is very Loch like! Then again, he's the God of War and Love, hence the insta lust .
✦Torin’s utter confusion with modernity is hilarious!!😃 Loved how his 1st reaction is always to destroy stuff. LMAO learning English from a sex book. 💀
✦In this world some mages can have familiars and Riley has an adorable kitty. Loved Kit.
✦Narrated by Greg Boudreaux.
i definitely have issues which dampened my mood:
♦️There’s 1 sex scene. At 41%. Again, Greg did all the heavy lifting. It was.. whatever. It’s a blink and a miss and then FTB with only mentions of all the best copious amounts of said FTB sex they had!!!! Man i hate it when that happens!!
♦️How did this old God know about about what an “office” is but not electricity, cars, etc?
♦OP info: There’s 1 point where Torin meets Riley’s succubus boss and the pair seemingly leave “to do the business” but nothing happens as he’s only interested in Riley. And 1 time, Riley had to borrow said succubus power which made his friends feel horny for him. They’re not at all otherwise interested, but it got Torin all jealous hehe.
Human mage x God, strangers→lovers, isekai, insta lust, blind MC, forced proximity, FTB.
June 4, 2026
This book made me laugh out loud more than a couple of times! I had so much fun reading this one! Riley and Torin were so good -and hilarious- together. I also really liked the other characters. Mickey is so weird but sweet and funny and I really hope to see more of Riley's unit. That Riley didn't want to ride anything and loved the subway is in hindsight also pretty funny. The worldbuildig is great and I feel like we only saw the tip of the iceberg while reading this story. The same goes for the magic and I just can't wait to see what happens next!
June 28, 2026
As always is the case with the delectable Alice Winters, we have a sarcastic, embitterred man who happens to possess magic. A cocky god with a sad backstory, and a zany cast of side characters. This is another one of hers that i devoured as quickly as possible. Love the banter, the purposeful misunderstanding and false information spread. between Torin and Riley. Torin is a God of Love and War but should really be a God of Chaos for how much of it he causes. Can't wait for the second book.
June 6, 2026
4.5 stars
June 13, 2026
This book is everything I've come to expect from this author: fun, sarcastic, chaotic, and completely ridiculous.
June 2, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
Fractured Doors and Forgotten Gods by Alice Winters is the first book in her new Hidden Realms series. It is sort of a cross between a fantasy and an urban fantasy, as they spend time in both the human and godly realm, with lots of magic and some suspense as well.
I think this story really pulls together in the end with some interesting revelations and sets things up quite well for the series. The start was a bit rocky for me (and again, this is just my personal sense of humor), but it settled in well as the story continued. I ended up really liking Riley and Torin together and think there is a lot of great potential for the rest of the series.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
Fractured Doors and Forgotten Gods by Alice Winters is the first book in her new Hidden Realms series. It is sort of a cross between a fantasy and an urban fantasy, as they spend time in both the human and godly realm, with lots of magic and some suspense as well.
I think this story really pulls together in the end with some interesting revelations and sets things up quite well for the series. The start was a bit rocky for me (and again, this is just my personal sense of humor), but it settled in well as the story continued. I ended up really liking Riley and Torin together and think there is a lot of great potential for the rest of the series.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
June 7, 2026
Fractured Doors and Forgotten Gods by Alice Winters
🩵 Magic Wielder x God of Love & War
🩵 Forced Proximity
🩵 Size Difference
🩵 Opposites Attract
🩵 Urban Fantasy Romance
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Humour: 🤭🤭🤭.5
Intimacy: 🫂🫂🫂🫂
Angst: 🥺🥺🥺
First person dual pov 👀
Content Warnings
On page: blood, gore, threat, violence, injury, grief, panic attacks, death, hospitalisation, medical content, horror themes and descriptions, the undead, sexual content
Mentioned: war, mass death, infidelity, depression, suicidal thoughts
🩵 Magic Wielder x God of Love & War
🩵 Forced Proximity
🩵 Size Difference
🩵 Opposites Attract
🩵 Urban Fantasy Romance
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Humour: 🤭🤭🤭.5
Intimacy: 🫂🫂🫂🫂
Angst: 🥺🥺🥺
First person dual pov 👀
Content Warnings
On page: blood, gore, threat, violence, injury, grief, panic attacks, death, hospitalisation, medical content, horror themes and descriptions, the undead, sexual content
Mentioned: war, mass death, infidelity, depression, suicidal thoughts
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2026
Perfection!
This book was absolute perfection and an amazing start to a new series. I can’t believe I have to wait for the next book after everything that happened in this book. Alice Winters is a genius and the humour in her books is perfect for me. As soon as she releases a new book I am on it because they are just so good. This book was so much fun to read with some very interesting magic and crazy revelations. There was also a whole new cast of fun and unique characters to fall in love with who were all fantastic! Riley is a delightful main character who has retired from a life of chaos and problem solving and is now just trying to live out a peaceful existence with his familiar and yet keeps getting dragged into new things. His most recent problem is Torin who is a god with zero knowledge of this from our earth who keeps demanding a horse. I loved these two together, they were so funny but also sweet. Watching Riley mess with Torin about how earth functions is a delight and seeing Torin experience the joys of food that is not good for you is equally delightful. I don’t think I’d be able to pick a favourite part of this book if I had to because it was just such a fun journey that I was very happy to be on and very sad about it ending. Though if I had to pick a favourite side character it would 100% be Mickey who is as wonderful as he is sleepy but he totally deserves the sleep because he is brilliant! Mickey was such a fun surprise in this story and now I need more of him and his crew in my life immediately because they were perfect! As for the actual story and all the bad dark mysterious things that were happening, I was very intrigued by the magic and where everything was going. There was definitely a moment where things were said that it clicked and I was even more excited because it is something I love reading about that I haven’t seen very often! The action in this book was just as good as the rest of this book and all of Alice Winters’ books. I was kept on the edge of my seat in anticipation, excited to see where things were going and I can’t believe I have to wait to find out more. I have very quickly fallen in love with everything about this universe and now I can’t wait for book 2 so that I can devour that too!
This book was absolute perfection and an amazing start to a new series. I can’t believe I have to wait for the next book after everything that happened in this book. Alice Winters is a genius and the humour in her books is perfect for me. As soon as she releases a new book I am on it because they are just so good. This book was so much fun to read with some very interesting magic and crazy revelations. There was also a whole new cast of fun and unique characters to fall in love with who were all fantastic! Riley is a delightful main character who has retired from a life of chaos and problem solving and is now just trying to live out a peaceful existence with his familiar and yet keeps getting dragged into new things. His most recent problem is Torin who is a god with zero knowledge of this from our earth who keeps demanding a horse. I loved these two together, they were so funny but also sweet. Watching Riley mess with Torin about how earth functions is a delight and seeing Torin experience the joys of food that is not good for you is equally delightful. I don’t think I’d be able to pick a favourite part of this book if I had to because it was just such a fun journey that I was very happy to be on and very sad about it ending. Though if I had to pick a favourite side character it would 100% be Mickey who is as wonderful as he is sleepy but he totally deserves the sleep because he is brilliant! Mickey was such a fun surprise in this story and now I need more of him and his crew in my life immediately because they were perfect! As for the actual story and all the bad dark mysterious things that were happening, I was very intrigued by the magic and where everything was going. There was definitely a moment where things were said that it clicked and I was even more excited because it is something I love reading about that I haven’t seen very often! The action in this book was just as good as the rest of this book and all of Alice Winters’ books. I was kept on the edge of my seat in anticipation, excited to see where things were going and I can’t believe I have to wait to find out more. I have very quickly fallen in love with everything about this universe and now I can’t wait for book 2 so that I can devour that too!
July 15, 2026
Absolute must read
I’m not going to bore you with an overview. You can scroll down for that. What I will tell you is that this book is so funny, so smart, so sexy, and so unbelievably enjoyable that you won’t be able to put it down.
The world building is fantastic without being overly complicated. The author describes people in places in such a way that you can picture it in your mind, but it’s not overly flower or dramatic. She really allows you to create the world and the spaces in your head well also giving you a solid foundation from which to work.
Torin & Riley bounce off of each other in such a natural, humanistic way that you’ll forget that you’re reading about a God and a magic user human. Maybe because I’m snarky too, the humor in the book just captured moments perfectly.
Torin’s joy of discovering the human realm is countered beautifully by Riley‘s mischievous explanations and teasing torment. Parts of the book or laugh out loud funny. The supporting characters are just as interesting, especially Mickey.
I love that the author didn’t do what was expected for the ending. It would’ve been so easy, but she deftly handles the cliffhanger with a somewhat surprising twist.
The sex scenes are spicy without being over the top. I hate it when authors of M/M use absolute nonsense to describe sex or the feelings that come with it. There’s no “waterfalls of pleasure” or “white hot molten pleasure” and I’m so thankful for that.
I can’t wait to read the second book but I’m also sad because I don’t want that to be the last book.
I’m not going to bore you with an overview. You can scroll down for that. What I will tell you is that this book is so funny, so smart, so sexy, and so unbelievably enjoyable that you won’t be able to put it down.
The world building is fantastic without being overly complicated. The author describes people in places in such a way that you can picture it in your mind, but it’s not overly flower or dramatic. She really allows you to create the world and the spaces in your head well also giving you a solid foundation from which to work.
Torin & Riley bounce off of each other in such a natural, humanistic way that you’ll forget that you’re reading about a God and a magic user human. Maybe because I’m snarky too, the humor in the book just captured moments perfectly.
Torin’s joy of discovering the human realm is countered beautifully by Riley‘s mischievous explanations and teasing torment. Parts of the book or laugh out loud funny. The supporting characters are just as interesting, especially Mickey.
I love that the author didn’t do what was expected for the ending. It would’ve been so easy, but she deftly handles the cliffhanger with a somewhat surprising twist.
The sex scenes are spicy without being over the top. I hate it when authors of M/M use absolute nonsense to describe sex or the feelings that come with it. There’s no “waterfalls of pleasure” or “white hot molten pleasure” and I’m so thankful for that.
I can’t wait to read the second book but I’m also sad because I don’t want that to be the last book.
June 2, 2026
I'm pretty sure I've said a version of this a time or two about Alice Winters, but I'm saying it again- I'm in awe of the way her mind works. To come up with the characters and situations she does, I honestly don't know how she does it. To a certain extent she seems to have a formula for her couples- one is usually the more calming influence, yet still having a little bit of a "wild" side, while the other one is crazy/funny/wacky/over-the-top outlandish. Even if they seem completely opposite, they always balance each other out. And even if the couples may be formulaic (and I'm not saying this is a bad thing at all, I actually love this about her writing), the stories are always unique and one-of-a-kind.
And that holds true for Riley and Torin and their story.
The story was engaging and fun, as well as mysterious and intriguing. And of course, I was left wanting more!
The secondary characters definitely deserve mentioning, especially Mickey. I love how the side characters always add so much to her stories, there's usually one or 2 that you want to see get their own book/s, and my man Mickey is for sure a character I know we'd all love to see have his own adventures- if he can stay awake long enough, that is.
Fractured Doors and Forgotten Gods is a really good start to a new series. I'm anxious to get back into this world, to find our what's coming next for Riley and Torin. That's a lot to learn, after some surprising revelations!
And that holds true for Riley and Torin and their story.
The story was engaging and fun, as well as mysterious and intriguing. And of course, I was left wanting more!
The secondary characters definitely deserve mentioning, especially Mickey. I love how the side characters always add so much to her stories, there's usually one or 2 that you want to see get their own book/s, and my man Mickey is for sure a character I know we'd all love to see have his own adventures- if he can stay awake long enough, that is.
Fractured Doors and Forgotten Gods is a really good start to a new series. I'm anxious to get back into this world, to find our what's coming next for Riley and Torin. That's a lot to learn, after some surprising revelations!
July 19, 2026
Fractured Doors and Forgotten Gods was a fun start to Alice Winters' new Hidden Realms series. It blends fantasy and urban fantasy, moving between the human world and the realm of the gods while mixing magic, action, humor, and suspense. The story follows Riley, whose quiet life is interrupted when he's pulled back into working with his former magical unit and unexpectedly tasked with looking after Torin. Their odd-couple dynamic provides plenty of entertaining moments, especially early on, before the plot shifts into a more serious, action-packed direction.
As the story unfolds, Riley and Torin must stop a powerful force threatening both realms, despite neither of them being at full strength. I really enjoyed the suspense, the large-scale battles, and the twists, especially as more of Riley's past and Torin's world were revealed. The ending also does a great job of setting up future books in the series.
My biggest criticism is the world-building. Riley's unique magic, which lets him borrow other people's abilities through touch, is creative and well explained, but other aspects of the world feel underdeveloped. The Magical Interference Unit, the broader magical society, and certain magical items are introduced without much explanation, leaving me with quite a few questions. Even so, the engaging plot and satisfying twists kept me invested, and overall I found it to be an enjoyable and promising start to the series.
As the story unfolds, Riley and Torin must stop a powerful force threatening both realms, despite neither of them being at full strength. I really enjoyed the suspense, the large-scale battles, and the twists, especially as more of Riley's past and Torin's world were revealed. The ending also does a great job of setting up future books in the series.
My biggest criticism is the world-building. Riley's unique magic, which lets him borrow other people's abilities through touch, is creative and well explained, but other aspects of the world feel underdeveloped. The Magical Interference Unit, the broader magical society, and certain magical items are introduced without much explanation, leaving me with quite a few questions. Even so, the engaging plot and satisfying twists kept me invested, and overall I found it to be an enjoyable and promising start to the series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First in series (Hidden Realms). Urban fantasy. Close proximity. Dual POV.
Riley doesn’t work for the Magical Interference Unit anymore, but is suddenly saddled with a man that proclaims he is the God of Love and War. Torin is from another realm and has to contend with a sassy human that doesn’t want to sleep with him while helping save their world.
What starts as a fish out of water story with a seemingly arrogant god paired with an unsympathetic human slowly turns into a god that recognizes the teasing but barrels forward nonetheless and a man that comes to care for the god he is supposedly annoyed by. I would have liked a little more world building regarding the supernatural elements of the universe and the knowledge of other realms, but this story was still compelling and entertaining. Yes, the usual antics and hilarity in this author’s stories is present, but there is a depth to Riley and Torin as is revealed in learning about their pasts and struggles they have worked to overcome. Both are sympathetic and likable characters that question the quickly growing feelings they have while never hesitating to jump into danger together. I appreciated that both Riley and Torin are powerful, yet intelligent and caring, and I am deeply invested in this series (with a shout out to a new fav secondary character in Mickey). 4.5 rounded up
Riley doesn’t work for the Magical Interference Unit anymore, but is suddenly saddled with a man that proclaims he is the God of Love and War. Torin is from another realm and has to contend with a sassy human that doesn’t want to sleep with him while helping save their world.
What starts as a fish out of water story with a seemingly arrogant god paired with an unsympathetic human slowly turns into a god that recognizes the teasing but barrels forward nonetheless and a man that comes to care for the god he is supposedly annoyed by. I would have liked a little more world building regarding the supernatural elements of the universe and the knowledge of other realms, but this story was still compelling and entertaining. Yes, the usual antics and hilarity in this author’s stories is present, but there is a depth to Riley and Torin as is revealed in learning about their pasts and struggles they have worked to overcome. Both are sympathetic and likable characters that question the quickly growing feelings they have while never hesitating to jump into danger together. I appreciated that both Riley and Torin are powerful, yet intelligent and caring, and I am deeply invested in this series (with a shout out to a new fav secondary character in Mickey). 4.5 rounded up
June 6, 2026
As I do with every Alice Winters book, I found myself laughing out loud in public as I attempted to read this discreetly lol
Riley is a former magical police officer turned librarian whose former colleagues drag back into their world when a god walks though a magical doorway and they have no idea how to deal with him or speak his language. He wants nothing to do with his former employer or Torin but finds himself paired with him regardless. Torin is completely baffled by Riley and the human realm. He is hilarious in the way he learns English and his obsession with pizza.
Riley’s genet familiar named Kit is adorable with a very sassy personality who we discover is more than they first appear. I love Kit and they definitely feel like a third person in the relationship but not in a weird/bad way.
The plot gets genuinely creepy in places which caught me off guard given how funny the first few chapters are. I did feel the middle drags a bit but Winters does use some of it to set up plot points for book two, but honestly minor complaints in what is a very interesting and funny story. Book 1 ends on a HFN for the relationship and a cliffhanger for the larger plot. 4 stars and I'm already annoyed I have to wait for book 2.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Riley is a former magical police officer turned librarian whose former colleagues drag back into their world when a god walks though a magical doorway and they have no idea how to deal with him or speak his language. He wants nothing to do with his former employer or Torin but finds himself paired with him regardless. Torin is completely baffled by Riley and the human realm. He is hilarious in the way he learns English and his obsession with pizza.
Riley’s genet familiar named Kit is adorable with a very sassy personality who we discover is more than they first appear. I love Kit and they definitely feel like a third person in the relationship but not in a weird/bad way.
The plot gets genuinely creepy in places which caught me off guard given how funny the first few chapters are. I did feel the middle drags a bit but Winters does use some of it to set up plot points for book two, but honestly minor complaints in what is a very interesting and funny story. Book 1 ends on a HFN for the relationship and a cliffhanger for the larger plot. 4 stars and I'm already annoyed I have to wait for book 2.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
June 25, 2026
nice twists but ultimately not for me
Rating: 3.5🌈
Even with a nice twist at the end, Fractured Doors and Forgotten Gods (Hidden Realms #1) by Alice Winters was a story that just didn’t connect with me.
There’s many stories from this author I’ve found absolutely entertaining and some are in my reread piles, but the main characters, their dynamics between themselves and even those who they are forced into working with are such that I don’t enjoy reading their scenes or didn’t think their relationships felt believable.
Issues like a lack of communication of major issues, especially when Riley’s “secret” he’s not telling anyone/has told anyone smacks of martyrdom. The other issue is that Torin, the god swings emotionally from irritating arrogance to impulsive toddler to sexual being to instant love partner, all without a credible relationship built between the couple.
The story has some interesting mythical creatures, fantasy familiars and the twist plays into another mythology that will play out into the second book.
But I’m not sure Winters has made me care enough about the characters to go further with the series.
Still deciding.
Cover design by Natasha Snow Designs
Hidden Realms
Fractured Doors and Forgotten Gods #1
Timeless Doors and Captured Gods #2 - July 9,2026
Rating: 3.5🌈
Even with a nice twist at the end, Fractured Doors and Forgotten Gods (Hidden Realms #1) by Alice Winters was a story that just didn’t connect with me.
There’s many stories from this author I’ve found absolutely entertaining and some are in my reread piles, but the main characters, their dynamics between themselves and even those who they are forced into working with are such that I don’t enjoy reading their scenes or didn’t think their relationships felt believable.
Issues like a lack of communication of major issues, especially when Riley’s “secret” he’s not telling anyone/has told anyone smacks of martyrdom. The other issue is that Torin, the god swings emotionally from irritating arrogance to impulsive toddler to sexual being to instant love partner, all without a credible relationship built between the couple.
The story has some interesting mythical creatures, fantasy familiars and the twist plays into another mythology that will play out into the second book.
But I’m not sure Winters has made me care enough about the characters to go further with the series.
Still deciding.
Cover design by Natasha Snow Designs
Hidden Realms
Fractured Doors and Forgotten Gods #1
Timeless Doors and Captured Gods #2 - July 9,2026
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