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Secret Darling #2
Knot Who She Claims
All my life, I thought surviving Eros Academy would be the hardest thing I’d ever do.
I was wrong.
The war is no longer a distant threat lurking beyond our borders. It’s here, and it’s taken me captive.
Kidnapped by the Noths and dragged deep into enemy territory, I have two choices—wait for rescue or save myself.
I choose violence.
Eros Academy taught me how to fight, how to survive, and how to kill. For the first time in my life, all those lessons might actually keep me alive.
Unfortunately, staying alive is only half the battle.
While I’m fighting my way home, my mates are tearing the kingdom apart searching for me. And when the war finally reaches its breaking point, we’re all forced onto the front lines.
Which means becoming Teddie again.
The disguise that once protected me now threatens everything.
Because secrets don’t stay buried forever.
Not my identity.
Not the truth about the war.
And definitely not the lies my mother, the Queen, has spent years hiding.
Alpha Team X has always been willing to kill for me.
The question is what happens when they discover who I really am.
And whether any of us will survive long enough to find out.
Knot What She Seems is a non-shifting, contemporary omegaverse that takes place in a world different from our own, where most of the countries are ruled by monarchies. In this book, you can expect knotting, nesting, heat, ruts, and possessive alphas who worship the ground their omega walks on. This books contains no MM, no FF, and no OW drama. It is part two of a duet.
I was wrong.
The war is no longer a distant threat lurking beyond our borders. It’s here, and it’s taken me captive.
Kidnapped by the Noths and dragged deep into enemy territory, I have two choices—wait for rescue or save myself.
I choose violence.
Eros Academy taught me how to fight, how to survive, and how to kill. For the first time in my life, all those lessons might actually keep me alive.
Unfortunately, staying alive is only half the battle.
While I’m fighting my way home, my mates are tearing the kingdom apart searching for me. And when the war finally reaches its breaking point, we’re all forced onto the front lines.
Which means becoming Teddie again.
The disguise that once protected me now threatens everything.
Because secrets don’t stay buried forever.
Not my identity.
Not the truth about the war.
And definitely not the lies my mother, the Queen, has spent years hiding.
Alpha Team X has always been willing to kill for me.
The question is what happens when they discover who I really am.
And whether any of us will survive long enough to find out.
Knot What She Seems is a non-shifting, contemporary omegaverse that takes place in a world different from our own, where most of the countries are ruled by monarchies. In this book, you can expect knotting, nesting, heat, ruts, and possessive alphas who worship the ground their omega walks on. This books contains no MM, no FF, and no OW drama. It is part two of a duet.
558 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2026
About the author
Katie May
125 books2,753 followersKatie May is a romance writer of numerous genres! She writes everything from horror to fantasy to contemporary. #whychoose
She has a gorgeous tabby cat who she adores, and she’s obsessed with coffee and horror movies.
She has a gorgeous tabby cat who she adores, and she’s obsessed with coffee and horror movies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
July 14, 2026
It took awhile for this sequel to be released, and I'm pretty disappointed. The whole book was a bit of a mess imo, but the last 15 chapters were insultingly bad. The ending was all over the place and rushed. After loving the first book, this had me hating pretty much every single character (except sometimes Colter and occasionally the silly but not-that-interesting psycho mate, Kylian). Spoilers below. This turned into a bit more of a rant review than I intended, but I couldn't stop lol
Starting with a positive - I liked that Brylee saved herself from the Noths at the beginning (mostly). That was pretty badass and satisfying for her character development. After that, everything went downhill.
The grand reveal about how Brylee was Teddie in disguise was so underwhelming, and it occurred pretty early in the book. Ridge just suddenly sensed the truth somehow and knew it because he saw Teddie's face on his death bed (dumb) - it was stupid and anticlimactic. Brylee then told Kylian and the other one with glasses (forget his name) like 2 chapters later, and their reaction was to be mildly mad at her for deceiving them. I HATED how the guys were mostly just angry and hurt by Brylee hiding it from them and "betraying" their trust. SHE was the one apologizing and groveling for the first half of the book, and that is NEVER something that I want to read in a book. The male main characters were fully bullying Brylee when she was pretending to be a guy all throughout book 1, and yet somehow, she is the one groveling for their forgiveness in this book after they quite literally beat the shit out of her. I just really was ticked off by how that was handled, and it was a major plot point from the duet, so hard to come back from that for me.
Now looking at the actual plot outside the romance - this book was not equipped to handle a medieval type of monarchy/nobles/serf caste system (but with modern technology) with a plot revolving around a magical war (that mostly relied on biological warfare, on both sides) between fictional countries. It was not really well thought out, and it felt like this war was just introduced so that Brylee had an excuse to go to military school in book 1. Brylee's parents being villains (but then kind of forgiven at the end of the book) just felt a bit out of a stretch to try to breathe more life into this plot (unsuccessfully), but I guess that is a standard trope in fantasy why choose books (god forbid a FMC has loving parents). The conclusion of the war and the diseases was incredibly rushed because it felt like the authors didn't know what to do with it. I was not satisfied at all with the ending with Brylee's parents, the war with the Noths, and all of the diseases miraculously being cured (honestly unclear if the Harpax disease ever actually was cured. was that addressed or did I accidentally skim over it?).
I was so annoyed at how the story ended for Brylee. The prep for her confrontation with her mom was more dragged out than the confrontation itself. The queen got to die a hero with no one knowing the truth of the literal THOUSANDS of innocent people she killed. Neither the king or the queen got the ending they deserved. Brylee never got any credit for solving the war, saving her brother, curing these diseases, etc., and she also spent the whole book apologizing to her alphas for tricking them in book 1, and I just felt a little irritated by her lack of a spine. Everything seemed to work out perfectly for Teddie despite him doing literally nothing for two full books (like yeah he was dying, but OK...Brylee saved the entire country, I think?). I actually don't even know if Brylee saved the country because I don't know what happened after her parents were killed and Teddie was crowned king and she went into heat at the mall. But anyways, I'm so glad Teddie is a king and Brylee is a foot soldier that continues to be bullied and cannot hang out with her friends for long enough to back out of a driveway before going into full on heat.
The epilogue was also confusing as fuck. The way the last chapter was written led me to have to recite out loud all of their children names because I kept mixing them up with the children of Teddie/Caran, Harper/her mates, Brock (is that his name? literally who gives a fuck about this guy and his pack...he was in this duet for like 5 pages...why is he in the epilogue)/his mate, and the Noth princes (don't remember their names)/their mate. Why am I learning about the children of these secondary characters on the final few pages? I do not care.
Anyways, I loved book 1. I didn't like this book. It was also plainly boring, and I had to really push myself to keep reading past 60%. Considering how excited I was for this book, this was a let down (which was surprising for these two authors, both of whom I usually really like).
Starting with a positive - I liked that Brylee saved herself from the Noths at the beginning (mostly). That was pretty badass and satisfying for her character development. After that, everything went downhill.
The grand reveal about how Brylee was Teddie in disguise was so underwhelming, and it occurred pretty early in the book. Ridge just suddenly sensed the truth somehow and knew it because he saw Teddie's face on his death bed (dumb) - it was stupid and anticlimactic. Brylee then told Kylian and the other one with glasses (forget his name) like 2 chapters later, and their reaction was to be mildly mad at her for deceiving them. I HATED how the guys were mostly just angry and hurt by Brylee hiding it from them and "betraying" their trust. SHE was the one apologizing and groveling for the first half of the book, and that is NEVER something that I want to read in a book. The male main characters were fully bullying Brylee when she was pretending to be a guy all throughout book 1, and yet somehow, she is the one groveling for their forgiveness in this book after they quite literally beat the shit out of her. I just really was ticked off by how that was handled, and it was a major plot point from the duet, so hard to come back from that for me.
Now looking at the actual plot outside the romance - this book was not equipped to handle a medieval type of monarchy/nobles/serf caste system (but with modern technology) with a plot revolving around a magical war (that mostly relied on biological warfare, on both sides) between fictional countries. It was not really well thought out, and it felt like this war was just introduced so that Brylee had an excuse to go to military school in book 1. Brylee's parents being villains (but then kind of forgiven at the end of the book) just felt a bit out of a stretch to try to breathe more life into this plot (unsuccessfully), but I guess that is a standard trope in fantasy why choose books (god forbid a FMC has loving parents). The conclusion of the war and the diseases was incredibly rushed because it felt like the authors didn't know what to do with it. I was not satisfied at all with the ending with Brylee's parents, the war with the Noths, and all of the diseases miraculously being cured (honestly unclear if the Harpax disease ever actually was cured. was that addressed or did I accidentally skim over it?).
I was so annoyed at how the story ended for Brylee. The prep for her confrontation with her mom was more dragged out than the confrontation itself. The queen got to die a hero with no one knowing the truth of the literal THOUSANDS of innocent people she killed. Neither the king or the queen got the ending they deserved. Brylee never got any credit for solving the war, saving her brother, curing these diseases, etc., and she also spent the whole book apologizing to her alphas for tricking them in book 1, and I just felt a little irritated by her lack of a spine. Everything seemed to work out perfectly for Teddie despite him doing literally nothing for two full books (like yeah he was dying, but OK...Brylee saved the entire country, I think?). I actually don't even know if Brylee saved the country because I don't know what happened after her parents were killed and Teddie was crowned king and she went into heat at the mall. But anyways, I'm so glad Teddie is a king and Brylee is a foot soldier that continues to be bullied and cannot hang out with her friends for long enough to back out of a driveway before going into full on heat.
The epilogue was also confusing as fuck. The way the last chapter was written led me to have to recite out loud all of their children names because I kept mixing them up with the children of Teddie/Caran, Harper/her mates, Brock (is that his name? literally who gives a fuck about this guy and his pack...he was in this duet for like 5 pages...why is he in the epilogue)/his mate, and the Noth princes (don't remember their names)/their mate. Why am I learning about the children of these secondary characters on the final few pages? I do not care.
Anyways, I loved book 1. I didn't like this book. It was also plainly boring, and I had to really push myself to keep reading past 60%. Considering how excited I was for this book, this was a let down (which was surprising for these two authors, both of whom I usually really like).
July 1, 2026
⭐️ 3.5 Stars 👌
Tropes, spice, steam, specs, etc., listed at the bottom.
I really enjoyed this duet! The only reason it’s rated 3.5 stars is because I was so disappointed by the ending.
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
Tropes, spice, steam, specs, etc., listed at the bottom.
I really enjoyed this duet! The only reason it’s rated 3.5 stars is because I was so disappointed by the ending.
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
June 29, 2026
Umm… 2.5 stars. This was a bit of a mess tbh. I really liked book 1 and was excited for this one but it was all over the place. Overall the plotline felt overly complicated and under resolved.
And Brylee, outside of her mates, was criminally disrespected by her kingdom and her brother.
And Brylee, outside of her mates, was criminally disrespected by her kingdom and her brother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2026
After the first book, I was not expecting this one to be so different. I loved that the FMC stopped fighting the scent match and most of the book was with her and her mates loving each other. I loved the extended ending. But…There is almost no humor, told from all POV. The storyline was dragged out and flooded with unnecessary details. The way it all came together towards the end seemed anticlimactic and fell flat for me. The spice was so repetitive that I even skimmed through it. It felt like a different author wrote each book.
June 28, 2026
3.5 pretty good stars
This 2nd and final book of Brylee's story was pretty good, but the ending was rushed and honestly pretty confusing with huge plot holes.
This 2nd and final book of Brylee's story was pretty good, but the ending was rushed and honestly pretty confusing with huge plot holes.
July 24, 2026
great overall
The first book builds up in what world our heroine lives in, her hidden identity, and the relationships, this one throws you straight into the action. There is never a moment where the story slows down and twist after twist keeps coming. Lore drops every other chapter.
Brylee shines more as an individual character. She's smart, stubborn, and refuses to wait around for someone else to save her. Reading about her fighting for herself made me like her more. Most books I’ve read, we have the heroine clam up and suddenly forget her fighting instincts, and has the big bad alpha come save her. Not Brylee. She takes control silently, but fiercely. She is the queen that this world needs. The turnout was still good at the end, and that’s all I would say about that.
We truly learn a lot about this sickness that took over the nation and who started it first. Huge major reveal and poor Brylee. While the first book is in the school, this book is out in the battlefield mostly with revelations, the war, and political affairs. Another point is, Brylee’s love interests really stick out. Of course we have the typical Alpha mojo going on, but their loyalty, protectiveness, and determination to find Brylee made every reunion and interaction beautiful. And you know, I’ve always questioned the triplets that we discover more in this book 🤔
*MAJOR SPOILERS*
The guys going after them for justice is great. But I felt like they were mentioned a lot for them to not really be the major problem. Of course it’s the main trauma for Brylee with alphas, but them being taken out easily was I guess understandable. Another thing I wanted to mention was Sam. His death was really sad. That twist along with being Carran’s brother was shocking. Sam was part of the wrong crowd that did help Teddie in the long run, but his own guilt in turning Brylee over to the enemy ate at him, to the point of suicide, was really, and I mean, really heartbreaking. I thought he was gonna go through repentance like Carran, and make up with Brylee. I felt for him. No one should go through those feelings alone.
*SPOILER END*
So, I want to warn ⚠️ readers that this book does deal with heavy topics. Heroine does deal with trauma and there are some parts in the book that could heavily imply or say stuff that can be sensitive to people. So, fair warning.
Overall, this book completes the storyline as a duet, and it is perfect for readers who enjoy reverse harem omegaverse with hidden identities, military academies, royal, quite a bit of action, trauma, and a tough heroine. Definitely worth reading 🙌
The first book builds up in what world our heroine lives in, her hidden identity, and the relationships, this one throws you straight into the action. There is never a moment where the story slows down and twist after twist keeps coming. Lore drops every other chapter.
Brylee shines more as an individual character. She's smart, stubborn, and refuses to wait around for someone else to save her. Reading about her fighting for herself made me like her more. Most books I’ve read, we have the heroine clam up and suddenly forget her fighting instincts, and has the big bad alpha come save her. Not Brylee. She takes control silently, but fiercely. She is the queen that this world needs. The turnout was still good at the end, and that’s all I would say about that.
We truly learn a lot about this sickness that took over the nation and who started it first. Huge major reveal and poor Brylee. While the first book is in the school, this book is out in the battlefield mostly with revelations, the war, and political affairs. Another point is, Brylee’s love interests really stick out. Of course we have the typical Alpha mojo going on, but their loyalty, protectiveness, and determination to find Brylee made every reunion and interaction beautiful. And you know, I’ve always questioned the triplets that we discover more in this book 🤔
*MAJOR SPOILERS*
The guys going after them for justice is great. But I felt like they were mentioned a lot for them to not really be the major problem. Of course it’s the main trauma for Brylee with alphas, but them being taken out easily was I guess understandable. Another thing I wanted to mention was Sam. His death was really sad. That twist along with being Carran’s brother was shocking. Sam was part of the wrong crowd that did help Teddie in the long run, but his own guilt in turning Brylee over to the enemy ate at him, to the point of suicide, was really, and I mean, really heartbreaking. I thought he was gonna go through repentance like Carran, and make up with Brylee. I felt for him. No one should go through those feelings alone.
*SPOILER END*
So, I want to warn ⚠️ readers that this book does deal with heavy topics. Heroine does deal with trauma and there are some parts in the book that could heavily imply or say stuff that can be sensitive to people. So, fair warning.
Overall, this book completes the storyline as a duet, and it is perfect for readers who enjoy reverse harem omegaverse with hidden identities, military academies, royal, quite a bit of action, trauma, and a tough heroine. Definitely worth reading 🙌
June 27, 2026
I absolutely loved this book!!!! it was everything I hoped it would be! The continuation from that insane cliffhanger at the end of book one was so well done, and I loved seeing Brylee fully embrace her newfound strength instead of shrinking back. She really came into her own, and it was so satisfying to watch.
Ridge and Kylian getting revenge on the triplet alphas for betraying Brylee was pure gold. And Kylian making her an actual crown out of their teeth and bones? Chef’s kiss. That was such an iconic moment and perfectly fit the vibe of the story.
My only complaint is that the ending came way too soon! I wanted so much more. I would’ve loved to see Brylee’s journey with trying to get pregnant, how Ted and Caran found their way back to each other, and how Stefan and his brothers were cured and eventually found their mates. There are still so many stories left to tell, and I wasn’t ready for it to end.
This series has easily become one of my favorites, and it’s definitely one I’ll be rereading! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ridge and Kylian getting revenge on the triplet alphas for betraying Brylee was pure gold. And Kylian making her an actual crown out of their teeth and bones? Chef’s kiss. That was such an iconic moment and perfectly fit the vibe of the story.
My only complaint is that the ending came way too soon! I wanted so much more. I would’ve loved to see Brylee’s journey with trying to get pregnant, how Ted and Caran found their way back to each other, and how Stefan and his brothers were cured and eventually found their mates. There are still so many stories left to tell, and I wasn’t ready for it to end.
This series has easily become one of my favorites, and it’s definitely one I’ll be rereading! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2026
perfect ending
I LOVED this duet! I was so excited when they announced book 2’s release date!
I was very curious as to what the sequel would look like, would they be returning to school? How will things end with her brother? Will mommy dearest lose her mind when she discovers her daughter has been impersonating her son? So many questions!! Book 2 answers them all and then some!
While I’m happy it’s only a duet and I don’t have to wait for another book to get my happy ending, I’m still sad it’s over 🖤
I LOVED this duet! I was so excited when they announced book 2’s release date!
I was very curious as to what the sequel would look like, would they be returning to school? How will things end with her brother? Will mommy dearest lose her mind when she discovers her daughter has been impersonating her son? So many questions!! Book 2 answers them all and then some!
While I’m happy it’s only a duet and I don’t have to wait for another book to get my happy ending, I’m still sad it’s over 🖤
July 7, 2026
This was such a let down compared to the first book. Firstly the writing style was really jarring compared to book 1. Some chapters had really flowery, ott inner dialogue which was nothing how Book 1 Brylee sounded. Then it just felt like she had been built up to become this amazing omega in her own right, fighting her biology, negotiating peace - just to be reduced to a simpering stereotype in the closing chapters who just stood on the sidelines.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2026
Knot Who She Claims is the conclusion to the Secret Darling duet. I adored the cheeky borderline rom-com style of book one but the shift to fast-paced & action-packed in book two wasn’t really for me.
Overall, I enjoyed this duet but was hoping for a more satisfying conclusion.
P.S. I’m booing Teddy
Overall, I enjoyed this duet but was hoping for a more satisfying conclusion.
P.S. I’m booing Teddy
June 27, 2026
Finally
I literally set a reminder to make sure I read this as soon as it came out. I read book one at the end of last year and have been biding my time until this one came out. Such a feel good (and spicy ) series. Found family, plenty of spice and a real and honest badass fmc.
I literally set a reminder to make sure I read this as soon as it came out. I read book one at the end of last year and have been biding my time until this one came out. Such a feel good (and spicy ) series. Found family, plenty of spice and a real and honest badass fmc.
August 10, 2026
This was so, so annoying especially because the first book was so entertaining.
July 6, 2026
The ending of this book/series absolutely infuriates me.
It pissed me off. I ended up just skimming the last 15% of the book, trying to find deeper purpose for the last pages that could have been edited out.
It was a hurried end and it ruins both books for me.
Like the ending of GoT where Daenerys suddenly becomes the antithesis of everything her character has accomplished and built. So disappointing.
It pissed me off. I ended up just skimming the last 15% of the book, trying to find deeper purpose for the last pages that could have been edited out.
It was a hurried end and it ruins both books for me.
Like the ending of GoT where Daenerys suddenly becomes the antithesis of everything her character has accomplished and built. So disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2026
3.25 stars. I found book one more interesting, but this did a decent job of telling the second half of Brylee and her pack’s story, with some action, spice and political intrigue. One major plot point was never fully explained or resolved, which was disappointing (though there was a tiny hint that it may be touched on in a future book set in the same world). Unfortunately this sequel lost its way a few times with boring repetition and drawn out parts, and was bloated as a result (400 pages would’ve been sufficient). I felt the characters weren’t as fully developed as I’d have liked, too. But the sweet epilogues helped get this one over the line.
June 28, 2026
5-STAR OMEGAVERSE MASTERPIECE ALERT!
🚨 5-STAR OMEGAVERSE MASTERPIECE ALERT! 🚨
📖 Review: Knot Who She Claims (Secret Darling Duet, Book 2) ✍️ By Katie May & Ann Denton
OMG, THEY’VE DONE IT AGAIN! 🤩🎉 When these two powerhouse authors come together, absolute magic happens! I have been on absolute pins and needles waiting to satisfy the brutal cliffhanger from book one, and let me tell you—this conclusion was worth every single second of the wait! 😭🙌
I live on the East Coast, and the second that Kindle edition dropped, I was READY. ⏰ I woke up at 4:30 AM, read for an hour, tried to nap, and realized there was absolutely no way I could function in the real world. I literally called in sick to work just to hunker down and devour this book to my heart’s content! No regrets! 🛌❌💼 Only pure bookish bliss.
🎢 The Vibe: A Theme Park of Thrills
If you thought book one was intense, Knot Who She Claims takes us through a literal theme park full of wild rides, breathless thrills, and non-stop action! 🎡🔥 Princess Brylee and her gorgeous "Scent Matched Alpha Mates"—Kylian, Colter, Luka, and Ridge (our fiercely protective de facto alpha leader)—are back, and the high-stakes tension is dialed up to a thousand.
🎭 The Plot: No Damsel in Distress Here!
We pick up right where the chaos left off. As a quick refresher for this brilliant world of Hypso:
The Stakes: Brylee’s twin brother, Theodore Castor (Teddie), is battling Karkinos, a terminal illness where the only know, cure is in enemy territory and their mother the Queen is not interested in obtaining it. 💔
The Disguise: To prevent the monarchy from destabilizing, Brylee has been pulling double duty—posing as Teddie at the brutal alpha military training grounds of Eros Academy, while simultaneously tackling her own training at Darling Academy. She was able to get enrolled, all with the help of Teddie’s loyal mate and Omega, Caren he helped get it all set up including the disguise.
The Mission: The only cure lies deep within the territory of their sworn enemies, Nóthos, who have been at war with Hypso for what feels like forever. Can there be peace? Can we find a cure for Teddie so that Brylee can stop pretending and be a normal girl with her mates?
Book one ended with Brylee being kidnapped, but if the villains thought they were getting an easy target like before, they thought wrong! 💅 Brylee proves she is NO damsel in distress. Her simultaneous training at both academies taught her invaluable lessons, and she is smart, sharp, and ready to fight back! 🛡️💥
Of course, we also get appearances from Brylee’s roommate and BFF, Harper! 👯♀️ Can’t forget this ultimate ride-or-die bestie—we love a supportive queen! I'm all about girl power!
🌶️ The Steam: DAMN. 🔥🤩🔥
Okay, can we talk about the spicy scenes?! I don’t think there was much of any steam in book one (the slow burn was agonizing in the best way possible), but DAMN, book 2 gives us ALL the good-good! 🥵 collective groans, knotting, nesting, heat, and ruts—the payoff with Alpha Team X is absolutely top-tier. These possessive alphas worship the ground she walks on, and the chemistry is explosive! 🌋
👑 The Big Questions: Will There Be Peace Can we get the cure for Teddie?
Will the ancient war with Nóthos ever end? With one problem after another and betrayal hitting from every single angle, you will be flipping page-after-page trying to see if a truce is even possible and if so, will Teddie get the cure in time? Can Brylee and her pack actually get their hard-earned Happily Ever After? 😭❤️ You need to read this final conclusion to find out!
📢 Final Thoughts & My Ultimate Wishlist 👇
This is a 5-star Omegaverse masterpiece. It has everything:
Unparalleled worldbuilding, ✅
Fierce reverse harem dynamics, ✅
Massive stakes, ✅
Strong morally gray, obsessed, over protective Alpha’s ✅
Loyal female bff ✅
Betrayal ✅
A sassy heroine who holds her own against the most vicious alphas in the kingdom. 🏆 ✅
Dear Katie May & Ann Denton: PLEASE tell me we are getting a spin-off series for the Nóthos princes?! 🙏👑 Because I promise you, I will be the absolute first in line to buy it!
🚨 5-STAR OMEGAVERSE MASTERPIECE ALERT! 🚨
📖 Review: Knot Who She Claims (Secret Darling Duet, Book 2) ✍️ By Katie May & Ann Denton
OMG, THEY’VE DONE IT AGAIN! 🤩🎉 When these two powerhouse authors come together, absolute magic happens! I have been on absolute pins and needles waiting to satisfy the brutal cliffhanger from book one, and let me tell you—this conclusion was worth every single second of the wait! 😭🙌
I live on the East Coast, and the second that Kindle edition dropped, I was READY. ⏰ I woke up at 4:30 AM, read for an hour, tried to nap, and realized there was absolutely no way I could function in the real world. I literally called in sick to work just to hunker down and devour this book to my heart’s content! No regrets! 🛌❌💼 Only pure bookish bliss.
🎢 The Vibe: A Theme Park of Thrills
If you thought book one was intense, Knot Who She Claims takes us through a literal theme park full of wild rides, breathless thrills, and non-stop action! 🎡🔥 Princess Brylee and her gorgeous "Scent Matched Alpha Mates"—Kylian, Colter, Luka, and Ridge (our fiercely protective de facto alpha leader)—are back, and the high-stakes tension is dialed up to a thousand.
🎭 The Plot: No Damsel in Distress Here!
We pick up right where the chaos left off. As a quick refresher for this brilliant world of Hypso:
The Stakes: Brylee’s twin brother, Theodore Castor (Teddie), is battling Karkinos, a terminal illness where the only know, cure is in enemy territory and their mother the Queen is not interested in obtaining it. 💔
The Disguise: To prevent the monarchy from destabilizing, Brylee has been pulling double duty—posing as Teddie at the brutal alpha military training grounds of Eros Academy, while simultaneously tackling her own training at Darling Academy. She was able to get enrolled, all with the help of Teddie’s loyal mate and Omega, Caren he helped get it all set up including the disguise.
The Mission: The only cure lies deep within the territory of their sworn enemies, Nóthos, who have been at war with Hypso for what feels like forever. Can there be peace? Can we find a cure for Teddie so that Brylee can stop pretending and be a normal girl with her mates?
Book one ended with Brylee being kidnapped, but if the villains thought they were getting an easy target like before, they thought wrong! 💅 Brylee proves she is NO damsel in distress. Her simultaneous training at both academies taught her invaluable lessons, and she is smart, sharp, and ready to fight back! 🛡️💥
Of course, we also get appearances from Brylee’s roommate and BFF, Harper! 👯♀️ Can’t forget this ultimate ride-or-die bestie—we love a supportive queen! I'm all about girl power!
🌶️ The Steam: DAMN. 🔥🤩🔥
Okay, can we talk about the spicy scenes?! I don’t think there was much of any steam in book one (the slow burn was agonizing in the best way possible), but DAMN, book 2 gives us ALL the good-good! 🥵 collective groans, knotting, nesting, heat, and ruts—the payoff with Alpha Team X is absolutely top-tier. These possessive alphas worship the ground she walks on, and the chemistry is explosive! 🌋
👑 The Big Questions: Will There Be Peace Can we get the cure for Teddie?
Will the ancient war with Nóthos ever end? With one problem after another and betrayal hitting from every single angle, you will be flipping page-after-page trying to see if a truce is even possible and if so, will Teddie get the cure in time? Can Brylee and her pack actually get their hard-earned Happily Ever After? 😭❤️ You need to read this final conclusion to find out!
📢 Final Thoughts & My Ultimate Wishlist 👇
This is a 5-star Omegaverse masterpiece. It has everything:
Unparalleled worldbuilding, ✅
Fierce reverse harem dynamics, ✅
Massive stakes, ✅
Strong morally gray, obsessed, over protective Alpha’s ✅
Loyal female bff ✅
Betrayal ✅
A sassy heroine who holds her own against the most vicious alphas in the kingdom. 🏆 ✅
Dear Katie May & Ann Denton: PLEASE tell me we are getting a spin-off series for the Nóthos princes?! 🙏👑 Because I promise you, I will be the absolute first in line to buy it!
July 11, 2026
This is my review for both books.
I like the undercover gender-swap premise, which is why I decided to read these books.
I like the undercover gender-swap premise, which is why I decided to read these books.
June 28, 2026
With a few exceptions, I liked this book a lot more than the first.
It picks up where book one left off, with Brylee abducted and imprisoned by the Noths. The lengths this girl went to in order to free herself had my jaw dropped. It could've been the most stupid choice that any kidnappee has ever made, or the most brilliant. Luckily it worked out, and kudos to Brylee's ovaries of steel to have the guts to go through with that plan. Honestly, I love an FMC who uses strategy over force, and especially when we see her thought process as she applies the lessons she's learned (in this case from both omega school and alpha school).
I'm always falling for the underdog MMC that the author doesn't like and only writes out of obligation, so it was a treat for a book to be the complete opposite for once. Absolutely adored Colter and I really liked Luca, and it was clear the authors felt the same way, because they got the lion's share of romantic moments and one-on-one time with Brylee. And I'm glad for that. The downside was that Ridge and Kyllion suffered from characterization neglect, leaving one boring and the other a little cartoonish. I also know absolutely nothing about this pack's backstory. How long have they known each other? Do they have living parents? Siblings? Who knows?
The ending was a little disappointing for me.
I also thought that Brylee should've received some public recognition from Teddie for all that she accomplished in his name. He didn't have to give up the crown for her, but he should've at least lauded her publicly for her bravery and tenacity. I did like that he went to work making changes so that future omegas would have more opportunities.
With the last scene, I'm hoping the subtext was that we would be getting stories for Harper and her harem and the three princes with their omega. That was hinted at, right?
It picks up where book one left off, with Brylee abducted and imprisoned by the Noths. The lengths this girl went to in order to free herself had my jaw dropped. It could've been the most stupid choice that any kidnappee has ever made, or the most brilliant. Luckily it worked out, and kudos to Brylee's ovaries of steel to have the guts to go through with that plan. Honestly, I love an FMC who uses strategy over force, and especially when we see her thought process as she applies the lessons she's learned (in this case from both omega school and alpha school).
I'm always falling for the underdog MMC that the author doesn't like and only writes out of obligation, so it was a treat for a book to be the complete opposite for once. Absolutely adored Colter and I really liked Luca, and it was clear the authors felt the same way, because they got the lion's share of romantic moments and one-on-one time with Brylee. And I'm glad for that. The downside was that Ridge and Kyllion suffered from characterization neglect, leaving one boring and the other a little cartoonish. I also know absolutely nothing about this pack's backstory. How long have they known each other? Do they have living parents? Siblings? Who knows?
The ending was a little disappointing for me.
I also thought that Brylee should've received some public recognition from Teddie for all that she accomplished in his name. He didn't have to give up the crown for her, but he should've at least lauded her publicly for her bravery and tenacity. I did like that he went to work making changes so that future omegas would have more opportunities.
With the last scene, I'm hoping the subtext was that we would be getting stories for Harper and her harem and the three princes with their omega. That was hinted at, right?
June 29, 2026
This was a 3.5 star the whole way through but those last few (epilogue) chapters were too sweet of a happy ending to go less than 4.
The plot holes I was able to ignore in book 1 were too much in book 2. Too many topics dropped (Sam, Pedro, the recording they wanted her to make, no one questioning anything until it was DIRECT IN THEIR FACE, what happened with the scientist??). & How is it that her omega scent takes over the entire academy grounds in 'heat' but they can F like rabbits in a war tent in the woods but no one knows she's there???
Book 1 had exactly 1 sex scene. The tension carried it through and there was actual Romance with them wooing her. This book was about every chapter. Too much IMO. Some of the combos were also a bit too much, like play those out in your mind.. A less than 6 foot girl with 4 over 6 foot dudes surrounding her, and everyone is able go hard all at once? There'd for sure be some bodily obstructions to that set up (*Killian & Colter scene). & The heat in this omegaverse was unique. Much more just an overhorny can't control myself 'heat' than a cyclical thing.. and seemed to go away after a good rut.
The complete lack of world building got to me. Book 1 we were in an academy right near eachother, it wasn't as relevant. But we traveled to the front lines, explored enemy territory, and I don't know even what season it is. Are we in the mountains? Did we go North? How far was it??
The coronation felt anti climatic. I was hoping/assuming it would go a different way than what was 'understood' to happen.. but all the characters seemed thrilled. No one needed extra kuddos apparently. Everyone got what they face value wanted.
The time jumps at the end were almost confusing, I don't think they actually added up to what the last chapter said it had been..and why did we need to go That far...but whatever, a HEA all around. Set up for side characters stories to maybe be told in another series.
The plot holes I was able to ignore in book 1 were too much in book 2. Too many topics dropped (Sam, Pedro, the recording they wanted her to make, no one questioning anything until it was DIRECT IN THEIR FACE, what happened with the scientist??). & How is it that her omega scent takes over the entire academy grounds in 'heat' but they can F like rabbits in a war tent in the woods but no one knows she's there???
Book 1 had exactly 1 sex scene. The tension carried it through and there was actual Romance with them wooing her. This book was about every chapter. Too much IMO. Some of the combos were also a bit too much, like play those out in your mind.. A less than 6 foot girl with 4 over 6 foot dudes surrounding her, and everyone is able go hard all at once? There'd for sure be some bodily obstructions to that set up (*Killian & Colter scene). & The heat in this omegaverse was unique. Much more just an overhorny can't control myself 'heat' than a cyclical thing.. and seemed to go away after a good rut.
The complete lack of world building got to me. Book 1 we were in an academy right near eachother, it wasn't as relevant. But we traveled to the front lines, explored enemy territory, and I don't know even what season it is. Are we in the mountains? Did we go North? How far was it??
The coronation felt anti climatic. I was hoping/assuming it would go a different way than what was 'understood' to happen.. but all the characters seemed thrilled. No one needed extra kuddos apparently. Everyone got what they face value wanted.
The time jumps at the end were almost confusing, I don't think they actually added up to what the last chapter said it had been..and why did we need to go That far...but whatever, a HEA all around. Set up for side characters stories to maybe be told in another series.
July 14, 2026
Honestly, I was disappointed by this one. There were moments that made me think I'd give it three stars like I did the first, but the last chunk of the book pushed it into 2-territory.
So much of it just felt rushed, like they were almost tired of writing it and just wanted it to be done. Truly, I think they should have made this a trilogy, which might have helped to eliminate some of the issues in Knot Who She Claims.
To begin with, things with her parents were resolved too cleanly yet somehow still messily at the same time.
With her guys, it felt like there was never really too much more forward movement. Sure, she made more in-roads with Ridge, but I just didn't get the development I wanted from the others. They were devoted, they played a role in supporting her and lifting her up, sure, but where did their relationships really... grow?
We do get a glimpse into the future, or should I say glimpses because those final chapters felt like they were all over the place. Denton and May wanted to give us a happily ever after, but it feels cheapened when everything is shared in a quick, surface-level way before you're jumping to the next point in time and digging into a new scene.
I really wanted to love this, but I just can't. Far be it from me to say there was too much s3x in an OV book, but it felt like there was more effort put into those scenes than there was in giving the actual story the attention it deserved.
So much of it just felt rushed, like they were almost tired of writing it and just wanted it to be done. Truly, I think they should have made this a trilogy, which might have helped to eliminate some of the issues in Knot Who She Claims.
To begin with, things with her parents were resolved too cleanly yet somehow still messily at the same time.
With her guys, it felt like there was never really too much more forward movement. Sure, she made more in-roads with Ridge, but I just didn't get the development I wanted from the others. They were devoted, they played a role in supporting her and lifting her up, sure, but where did their relationships really... grow?
We do get a glimpse into the future, or should I say glimpses because those final chapters felt like they were all over the place. Denton and May wanted to give us a happily ever after, but it feels cheapened when everything is shared in a quick, surface-level way before you're jumping to the next point in time and digging into a new scene.
I really wanted to love this, but I just can't. Far be it from me to say there was too much s3x in an OV book, but it felt like there was more effort put into those scenes than there was in giving the actual story the attention it deserved.
June 29, 2026
AMAZING chemistry. Still thinking about the plot holes
What a fun way to wrap up this duet! I was hooked from the beginning and had such a hard time putting it down. The characters were great, the chemistry was amazing, and the spice was HOT. There was enough action, romance, and intrigue to keep me invested the whole way through.
However!
I do wish we'd gotten more answers about some of the characters' motivations. Why did Brylee's exes do what they did? And, more importantly, what was the deal with her parents? Especially her mum. WHY? And how did her dad never question any of it? Very extreme actions with zero justifications!!
I was quit disappointed with how her parents' storyline ended. Another missed opportunity was that no one, not even her parents ever truly found out everything Brylee accomplished while pretending to be her brother. I kept waiting for that reveal since that was supposed to be the core of the story, and it never came!!!
Still, even with those unanswered questions, I really enjoyed the book. That final chapter definitely has me intrigued, and I really hope we get more books in this universe, especially one about the princes. I need those stories!!!
What a fun way to wrap up this duet! I was hooked from the beginning and had such a hard time putting it down. The characters were great, the chemistry was amazing, and the spice was HOT. There was enough action, romance, and intrigue to keep me invested the whole way through.
However!
I do wish we'd gotten more answers about some of the characters' motivations. Why did Brylee's exes do what they did? And, more importantly, what was the deal with her parents? Especially her mum. WHY? And how did her dad never question any of it? Very extreme actions with zero justifications!!
I was quit disappointed with how her parents' storyline ended. Another missed opportunity was that no one, not even her parents ever truly found out everything Brylee accomplished while pretending to be her brother. I kept waiting for that reveal since that was supposed to be the core of the story, and it never came!!!
Still, even with those unanswered questions, I really enjoyed the book. That final chapter definitely has me intrigued, and I really hope we get more books in this universe, especially one about the princes. I need those stories!!!
July 3, 2026
Good but disappointing end
I loved the first book, but this one just fell so short.
The end was rushed, heaps of loose ends untied - and just a total change in personality of the FMC between the 60-80% mark.
Harper was a great side character, but her character felt one dimensional despite heaps of “screen time”.
The Sam character was the same, and the narrative around him and his actions/behaviour just don’t match up once the story is wrapped up.
The epilogue and then the next epilogue feel like we have missed what could have been really lovely and read storytelling.
Feels we missed a lot.
**spoiler**
It doesn’t get tied up with who was responsible for the final fight scene at the end - two fires and then a revelation as to who the FMC thinks was behind everything, but then never explaining why she thought it was that person. No discussion with anyone after the fact to allow the reader to click pieces together. I am still sitting here with questions, the book feels incomplete and really was anticlimactic.
I loved the first book, but this one just fell so short.
The end was rushed, heaps of loose ends untied - and just a total change in personality of the FMC between the 60-80% mark.
Harper was a great side character, but her character felt one dimensional despite heaps of “screen time”.
The Sam character was the same, and the narrative around him and his actions/behaviour just don’t match up once the story is wrapped up.
The epilogue and then the next epilogue feel like we have missed what could have been really lovely and read storytelling.
Feels we missed a lot.
**spoiler**
It doesn’t get tied up with who was responsible for the final fight scene at the end - two fires and then a revelation as to who the FMC thinks was behind everything, but then never explaining why she thought it was that person. No discussion with anyone after the fact to allow the reader to click pieces together. I am still sitting here with questions, the book feels incomplete and really was anticlimactic.
July 2, 2026
I'm so disappointed! I loved book 1 so much! I fell in love with all the characters! This one left so many plot holes, was too long in some parts and short in others. I have so many questions. That I don't think will get answered. Brylee honestly pissed me off so much with all of the crying! I think she cried in almost every chapter. There wasn't much more relationship development and that kind of made me sad. I wanted the dates, I wanted the yearning. But it was just known they are mates and they all accepted.
Oh oh and the chapter flow was weird. Sometimes we would skip a few days, then a week, a month, 5 months, years. It was so hard to keep track.
Oh oh and the chapter flow was weird. Sometimes we would skip a few days, then a week, a month, 5 months, years. It was so hard to keep track.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did Not Finish
July 4, 2026DNF 64%
I am so disappointed. Knot What She Seems was so good, and I have been waiting for this sequel ever since that brutal cliffhanger. But now I'm over halfway through and I'm bored, frustrated with the writing, and just not excited about where the story is going.
This somehow managed to completely fumble the great scent-match setup from book one, which was one of the things I was most looking forward to. On top of that, none of the guys feel like they have distinct personalities anymore. They all blur together, and I don't feel connected to any of them individually.
The heat scene early on was legitimately terrible, and instead of pulling me into the story, it completely took me out of it. At this point, I'm just not invested in the plot anymore, and I have no real interest in reading the rest.
I am so disappointed. Knot What She Seems was so good, and I have been waiting for this sequel ever since that brutal cliffhanger. But now I'm over halfway through and I'm bored, frustrated with the writing, and just not excited about where the story is going.
This somehow managed to completely fumble the great scent-match setup from book one, which was one of the things I was most looking forward to. On top of that, none of the guys feel like they have distinct personalities anymore. They all blur together, and I don't feel connected to any of them individually.
The heat scene early on was legitimately terrible, and instead of pulling me into the story, it completely took me out of it. At this point, I'm just not invested in the plot anymore, and I have no real interest in reading the rest.
Read
July 5, 2026🔗2026 IG Listened to...
🔗2026 TT Listened to...
⚫️ Series: Secret Darling
⚫️ Omegaverse
⚫️ Reverse harem: mf / mfmmm
⚫️ Pace: medium (but with time jumps)
🚨 Make sure to read the trigger warnings
📚 Ebook
⚫️ Microtropes: Secret identity (female > male), war, betrayel, scent matches, funny, controlling parents, friendship
⚫️ The thing I liked less was the controlling mother part. I think that is of my slightly older age.
🔗2026 TT Listened to...
⚫️ Series: Secret Darling
⚫️ Omegaverse
⚫️ Reverse harem: mf / mfmmm
⚫️ Pace: medium (but with time jumps)
🚨 Make sure to read the trigger warnings
📚 Ebook
⚫️ Microtropes: Secret identity (female > male), war, betrayel, scent matches, funny, controlling parents, friendship
⚫️ The thing I liked less was the controlling mother part. I think that is of my slightly older age.
June 29, 2026
I sort of remembered reading the first one.. it was ok. this one i skim read, just to get to the end and that wasn't worth it. it wasn't good even must skim reading also i think the author forgot half the time she was writing omegaverse, there were just some weird and overlooked details common to the trope, so the author didn't understand the assignment. then there's just so, so, so many things that don't make sense, how the fmc is treated by her family, completely overlooked and brushed off by the brother she did everything for in the first place, why was he crowned?? being kidnapped AGAIN for no reason at all.. it was just a mess. not worth checking out, ending was lackluster.
July 2, 2026
This one lost me. The pacing was weird and everything felt rushed. I found myself losing interest around the 50% mark, and honestly some of the plot decisions kinda had me scratching my head.
It didn’t really feel like anything got properly resolved, all of the conflicts were just sorta shoved under the rug to push for an easy happy ending.
Not to mention her brother lowkey didn’t deserve the king title, like he didn’t do anything the entire time and our FMC did everythingggggggg with no acknowledgment? The second he got crowned and didn’t pass it off to her instead I knew I was checked out from the story.
It didn’t really feel like anything got properly resolved, all of the conflicts were just sorta shoved under the rug to push for an easy happy ending.
Not to mention her brother lowkey didn’t deserve the king title, like he didn’t do anything the entire time and our FMC did everythingggggggg with no acknowledgment? The second he got crowned and didn’t pass it off to her instead I knew I was checked out from the story.
July 1, 2026
3⭐️
I was SO excited for this book. I loved the first one, with Brylee dressing as her brother Teddie and going to the Alpha academy. The tension between her and her mates was palpable, the world was interesting, and as a whole I was very excited for the next book. Sadly, this fell flat for me. I was bored and just didn’t like the plot. Too much yet not enough happened, and there was little to no real tension and romance. It just felt rushed, and I was sad to miss those magical feelings that book one gave me.
I was SO excited for this book. I loved the first one, with Brylee dressing as her brother Teddie and going to the Alpha academy. The tension between her and her mates was palpable, the world was interesting, and as a whole I was very excited for the next book. Sadly, this fell flat for me. I was bored and just didn’t like the plot. Too much yet not enough happened, and there was little to no real tension and romance. It just felt rushed, and I was sad to miss those magical feelings that book one gave me.
August 4, 2026
Ended 2025 and started 2026 with this duet. Imagine my reaction when I saw that the final part was released!!
With that being said—I already knew the book was going to be good. It just didn't turn out as good as I'd hoped unfortunately.
The ending came off rushed and not resolved in a manner that makes sense. I also felt as though there was a bit more focus on smut scenes this time around. Which I have no problem with, however they came off as filler scenes/chapters.
I am however happy with how it ended! Even if we did lose someone too soon along the way.
With that being said—I already knew the book was going to be good. It just didn't turn out as good as I'd hoped unfortunately.
The ending came off rushed and not resolved in a manner that makes sense. I also felt as though there was a bit more focus on smut scenes this time around. Which I have no problem with, however they came off as filler scenes/chapters.
I am however happy with how it ended! Even if we did lose someone too soon along the way.
June 29, 2026
Haven’t finished this book but I’m knocking off some stars because I feel like Brylee was cheated. She won awards for her brother. She protected him. She fought AS him in battle. Why does he get to be king? What did he do to earn it other than being born male? Idk that doesn’t sit right with me. He’s weak. He couldn’t even protect his sister from his own omega. Also I don’t like how easily caran got away with what he did. Idk.
July 2, 2026
6 stars??
She’s the man on steroids? And make it deep and meaningful with a kick ass FMC and deliciously obsessive MMCs? Yes please!! This book was just as amazing as book 1 if not a touch better. Do yourself a favor and read these!! I’m really hoping we also get Harper’s story, and the Nothos prince’s story and Brock’s pack’s story….the list could go on! Katie and Ann are a dynamic duo and I need them to write more books together ASAP!
She’s the man on steroids? And make it deep and meaningful with a kick ass FMC and deliciously obsessive MMCs? Yes please!! This book was just as amazing as book 1 if not a touch better. Do yourself a favor and read these!! I’m really hoping we also get Harper’s story, and the Nothos prince’s story and Brock’s pack’s story….the list could go on! Katie and Ann are a dynamic duo and I need them to write more books together ASAP!
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