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Feral #2
Despair
Taken.
Brutalized.
Claimed.
My mate became mine during a heinous experiment designed to punish her for her disobedience. The scientists who locked me in a cage and stole my humanity gave her to me to ravage. To break.
But she is far more than a warm body to distract me from my torment.
She is mine.
They took everything from me - but I won’t let them do the same to her. She fears me, but there is nothing I won’t give to save her.
Even my own life.
Despair is the second book in Nora Ash’s suspense-filled Omegaverse serial, Feral.
Please note: This series gets dark, and it gets dirty. If you don’t enjoy your romance scorching and your alphas rough & dominant, give this book a pass.
Brutalized.
Claimed.
My mate became mine during a heinous experiment designed to punish her for her disobedience. The scientists who locked me in a cage and stole my humanity gave her to me to ravage. To break.
But she is far more than a warm body to distract me from my torment.
She is mine.
They took everything from me - but I won’t let them do the same to her. She fears me, but there is nothing I won’t give to save her.
Even my own life.
Despair is the second book in Nora Ash’s suspense-filled Omegaverse serial, Feral.
Please note: This series gets dark, and it gets dirty. If you don’t enjoy your romance scorching and your alphas rough & dominant, give this book a pass.
118 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2018
361 people are currently reading
802 people want to read
About the author
Nora Ash
44 books1,254 followersI am Nora Ash, and I write a plethora of different romance books. Some of them are really dirty, some of them are only kinda-dirty, some are paranormal, some are contemporary… Basically, I have a rampant imagination and no way of controlling it, except from just writing down whichever idea pops into my head at the time.
The one thing my books always have in common, though? A great story and a guaranteed HEA.
If you’re ever in doubt about what you’re about to read, have a look at my book page. It has a flame rating for each series, so you know what you’re getting yourself into!
I’m originally from the cold North (AKA Scandinavia) but these days I live in rainy England with my amazing fiancé and our two pesty cats. When I’m not writing, I’m probably reading, watching Real Housewives of Wherever (reality tv it’s my shameful addiction) or hiking in whatever bit of woodland I can find.
Three fun facts about me
I once ran away with a traveling circus
I’m bilingual. Almost-kinda trilingual, but my Spanish is terri-bad these days.
I’m a decent rider (English style only, though)
You can (and definitely should!) keep in touch with me via my newsletter or by joining my Facebook group.
The one thing my books always have in common, though? A great story and a guaranteed HEA.
If you’re ever in doubt about what you’re about to read, have a look at my book page. It has a flame rating for each series, so you know what you’re getting yourself into!
I’m originally from the cold North (AKA Scandinavia) but these days I live in rainy England with my amazing fiancé and our two pesty cats. When I’m not writing, I’m probably reading, watching Real Housewives of Wherever (reality tv it’s my shameful addiction) or hiking in whatever bit of woodland I can find.
Three fun facts about me
I once ran away with a traveling circus
I’m bilingual. Almost-kinda trilingual, but my Spanish is terri-bad these days.
I’m a decent rider (English style only, though)
You can (and definitely should!) keep in touch with me via my newsletter or by joining my Facebook group.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
October 26, 2021
Better storyline than book 1
The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧
Romance: 💋💋💋💋
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📘
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 👨🏻👱🏻♀️🧔🏻👱🏼♂️
The heroine: Lillian - she got a job at a scientific research company that was trying to engineer super-soldiers, though she didn’t know that at the time. When she found that they were torturing the soldiers she tried to escape with one of them and was caught.
The Hero(es): Zach (a.k.a. 351) - he knew from the first time he saw Lillian that she was his Mate. He is an Alpha and the scientists have been giving him a drug cocktail that made him feral. He claimed Lillian as his mate during an experiment when they were both drugged.
The Story: The scientist begin using the mate bond to force 351 to do what they want. They begin testing how far he will go to ensure Lillian’s safety by torturing her.
This book wasn’t any longer than the first book in the series, but this one didn’t have quite as many sexy times and had more story. I liked the way the story went in this one. It told more of the time in captivity and what they went through each day.
The last book was told from Lillian’s POV, but this one was told primarily by Zach’s POV, with a few chapters in Lillians. So there were two narrators and both were good.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧
Romance: 💋💋💋💋
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📘
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 👨🏻👱🏻♀️🧔🏻👱🏼♂️
The heroine: Lillian - she got a job at a scientific research company that was trying to engineer super-soldiers, though she didn’t know that at the time. When she found that they were torturing the soldiers she tried to escape with one of them and was caught.
The Hero(es): Zach (a.k.a. 351) - he knew from the first time he saw Lillian that she was his Mate. He is an Alpha and the scientists have been giving him a drug cocktail that made him feral. He claimed Lillian as his mate during an experiment when they were both drugged.
The Story: The scientist begin using the mate bond to force 351 to do what they want. They begin testing how far he will go to ensure Lillian’s safety by torturing her.
This book wasn’t any longer than the first book in the series, but this one didn’t have quite as many sexy times and had more story. I liked the way the story went in this one. It told more of the time in captivity and what they went through each day.
The last book was told from Lillian’s POV, but this one was told primarily by Zach’s POV, with a few chapters in Lillians. So there were two narrators and both were good.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
March 23, 2021
Not much improvement from the first book to be honest, still not enough world building,still rushed. Even more rape and noncon scenes although was a good thing we got H pov this time around.
Not interested to continue this one.
Not interested to continue this one.
November 28, 2021
More emotional than book 1, and we get a few chapters with the H POV so we finally know what the h looks like. The book is only 120 pages long, and honestly there is no reason why this needed to be a series, just authors greed!
Spoilers
She has blue eyes and shes beautiful.
The H claims the h as his mate, his mark is on her. This allows the evil scientist to start their brutal experiments on the H like a lab rat. He lets them torture him without a fight to protect his mate. Best part about this book was his purring to sooth the h, I loved his tenderness towards her when they were safe in their cell.
His pain was heartbreaking, but they finally break out. Ends in a horrible cliffy.
On to book 3.
Safety
Safe
No cheating
Non dub con.
Spoilers
She has blue eyes and shes beautiful.
The H claims the h as his mate, his mark is on her. This allows the evil scientist to start their brutal experiments on the H like a lab rat. He lets them torture him without a fight to protect his mate. Best part about this book was his purring to sooth the h, I loved his tenderness towards her when they were safe in their cell.
His pain was heartbreaking, but they finally break out. Ends in a horrible cliffy.
On to book 3.
Safety
Safe
No cheating
Non dub con.
August 31, 2018
Why did it take so long to escape a somewhat secured prison/lab when you have at your disposal a little army of huge angry men ready to fight to their last breath?
June 20, 2018
5 Explosive Stars for Feral: Despair!
Despair is aptly named! Wow! I was completely engrossed in this book! I honestly felt the despair of both Lillian and test subject Alpha 351. After finishing book one of the Feral Serial on a cliffhanger, we learn what happens to Lillian and her mating with Alpha 351!
This second book really stepped up its game! The story is gritty, intense, emotionally raw and yet still crazy hawt! Nora Ash did a fantastic job with the plot and mood of book two. While it only spans over a period of a week, you get the sense of how long that one week of torcher felt for both characters and really, there was not light at the end of the tunnel. The moments I enjoyed most was when the drugs 351 was injected with were wearing off and you got snippets of the man behind the Feral Alpha! We even learn 351’s real name!
I loved the intensity of this book and the connection/bond that was created between Lillian and 351! I’m still blown away with how invested I am with these two characters! I can’t wait for Book 3!
Despair is aptly named! Wow! I was completely engrossed in this book! I honestly felt the despair of both Lillian and test subject Alpha 351. After finishing book one of the Feral Serial on a cliffhanger, we learn what happens to Lillian and her mating with Alpha 351!
This second book really stepped up its game! The story is gritty, intense, emotionally raw and yet still crazy hawt! Nora Ash did a fantastic job with the plot and mood of book two. While it only spans over a period of a week, you get the sense of how long that one week of torcher felt for both characters and really, there was not light at the end of the tunnel. The moments I enjoyed most was when the drugs 351 was injected with were wearing off and you got snippets of the man behind the Feral Alpha! We even learn 351’s real name!
I loved the intensity of this book and the connection/bond that was created between Lillian and 351! I’m still blown away with how invested I am with these two characters! I can’t wait for Book 3!
June 26, 2018
Full review to come when the last book releases.
I already know its getting a star knocked off. Its just ridiculous to release this in 3 parts and have the reader wait 5 months for the entire story.
I already know its getting a star knocked off. Its just ridiculous to release this in 3 parts and have the reader wait 5 months for the entire story.
June 26, 2023
This follow up is so much more engaging than the first book so that's saying something.
We get MMC's POV in this and I think I absolutely adore this tortured man. The man can't help his instincts but is trying his best ;_; His humanity is coming through a little more but thanks to the experiments, he's still feral and growly.
FMC is a little less annoying in this one, but barely so.
I'm so curious to see where this is going to go from here.
Solid 4 star rating.
Aaaaand I'm jumping into book 3 now.
We get MMC's POV in this and I think I absolutely adore this tortured man. The man can't help his instincts but is trying his best ;_; His humanity is coming through a little more but thanks to the experiments, he's still feral and growly.
FMC is a little less annoying in this one, but barely so.
I'm so curious to see where this is going to go from here.
Solid 4 star rating.
Aaaaand I'm jumping into book 3 now.
April 22, 2020
I read this so long ago I can't remember all the details! I do remember breezing through this middle installment and feeling emotionally tormented at what the heroine and hero were put through. I want them out of the research facility and together so badly! I immediately moved on to the next book.
December 30, 2018
OK, so it's getting even worse than book 1, Obsession. It ends with an even bigger and more dramatic cliffy, and I really can't see where the plot is going...
Hopefully, book 3 will sum this all up...
Hopefully, book 3 will sum this all up...
September 20, 2021
This series has a very inventive storyline, but the execution is definitely lacking, in my opinion. I don't have much of a desire to pick up the last book in the series, even though Despair ended on somewhat of a cliffhanger. I just have no interest. The characters are so average and bland. But I like to complete the series that I start, so at some point I'll probably finish the last book, despite my lack of interest. It's very short and shouldn't take me long to complete.
I didn't enjoy this story, but that doesn't mean it's a terrible book. In fact, it was pretty well written, and if I had connected to the main female lead, I probably would have liked this more.
I think if you enjoy omegaverse, but don't necessarily like extremely dark romance, and prefer your omegaverse stories to never go beyond dub-con, then you'll appreciate this book more than I did.
I didn't enjoy this story, but that doesn't mean it's a terrible book. In fact, it was pretty well written, and if I had connected to the main female lead, I probably would have liked this more.
I think if you enjoy omegaverse, but don't necessarily like extremely dark romance, and prefer your omegaverse stories to never go beyond dub-con, then you'll appreciate this book more than I did.
June 15, 2018
Alpha Male🐺🍆🌋 Sci-fi Hard Core Dark Romance.
Lillian💃, the lone woman scientist in an experimental lab, has inadvertently signed herself up for a lifetime of being Alpha 351's mate. The scientists keep drugging him until he becomes an incoherent animal, rutting and fighting on purely animalistic instincts.
Lillian💃 is also given a drug to make her receptive to him.
351🐺🍆🌋💪 is so rough, he bites her neck and leaves his claiming mark for all to see. Then, inside her chest, Lillian💃 feels the pull and tether of the mating bond. It is real.
351🐺🍆🌋💪 is a huge, extremely handsome Alpha Male humanoid, he was once a Navy SEAL. The drugs the scientists keep giving him are taking away his humanity. They are trying to make super soldiers out of the Alphas.
Maybe by giving them a mate, they can coerce the Alphas to fight, knowing their mates are held captive.
ARC Received for a Voluntary and Honest Review.
I liked the book very much but it could have used a short summary in the beginning of what happened in the first book.
In many ways it's a depressing book, a book about man's inhumanity to man in the future. It's as if humans down through history learned absolutely nothing about how to treat others the Way they would like to be treated. Saying it's for science doesn't excuse torture tactics.
The Alphas are exploited, and treated like animals, as less than human, less than sentient.
Sexual scenes are explicit.
This book ends in an exciting cliffhanger! The next book📑 is Feral: Torment!
Lillian💃, the lone woman scientist in an experimental lab, has inadvertently signed herself up for a lifetime of being Alpha 351's mate. The scientists keep drugging him until he becomes an incoherent animal, rutting and fighting on purely animalistic instincts.
Lillian💃 is also given a drug to make her receptive to him.
351🐺🍆🌋💪 is so rough, he bites her neck and leaves his claiming mark for all to see. Then, inside her chest, Lillian💃 feels the pull and tether of the mating bond. It is real.
351🐺🍆🌋💪 is a huge, extremely handsome Alpha Male humanoid, he was once a Navy SEAL. The drugs the scientists keep giving him are taking away his humanity. They are trying to make super soldiers out of the Alphas.
Maybe by giving them a mate, they can coerce the Alphas to fight, knowing their mates are held captive.
ARC Received for a Voluntary and Honest Review.
I liked the book very much but it could have used a short summary in the beginning of what happened in the first book.
In many ways it's a depressing book, a book about man's inhumanity to man in the future. It's as if humans down through history learned absolutely nothing about how to treat others the Way they would like to be treated. Saying it's for science doesn't excuse torture tactics.
The Alphas are exploited, and treated like animals, as less than human, less than sentient.
Sexual scenes are explicit.
This book ends in an exciting cliffhanger! The next book📑 is Feral: Torment!
December 16, 2021
Where book 1 was only one POV this book is from Lillian and 351's POV. Rating this 18+ due to multiple non-con scenes.
Now that Lillian and 351 are mated they are thrown into a cell together. 351 has a need to protect his new mate so he must go along with cruel experiments or they will hurt Lillian. Though still terrified of 351 she is beginning to trust him as he isn't as feral as she thought him to be and he tries to protect her constantly. After a particularly brutal test and promise of an even more brutal test to come 351 is able to plan an escape but though he gets Lillian out he is shot.
Another short and dirty read. anxious to see how this series will end.
Now that Lillian and 351 are mated they are thrown into a cell together. 351 has a need to protect his new mate so he must go along with cruel experiments or they will hurt Lillian. Though still terrified of 351 she is beginning to trust him as he isn't as feral as she thought him to be and he tries to protect her constantly. After a particularly brutal test and promise of an even more brutal test to come 351 is able to plan an escape but though he gets Lillian out he is shot.
Another short and dirty read. anxious to see how this series will end.
January 6, 2025
I did end up reading book 2. I don’t know—these books are like 100 pages long, so it wasn’t a big deal to find out what happened next.
I’m not sure what to say. I have the same comments for this book as I do for the first book in the series. But I don’t know if I really care enough to read the final book.
Also, the new weird spicy words of the day are “pink inners” and “splayed nether lips.” 😂😂😂
I’m not sure what to say. I have the same comments for this book as I do for the first book in the series. But I don’t know if I really care enough to read the final book.
Also, the new weird spicy words of the day are “pink inners” and “splayed nether lips.” 😂😂😂
August 3, 2018
It was rather boring and unsatisfying but a fast read.
December 7, 2023
This story is so good..it is the 2nd in this series and is left on a cliffhanger and now I need to rush to the 3rd part 🥰..
(It does have quite a lot of knotting btw)
January 18, 2023
Beautiful….. but 🫣🫣🫣
February 22, 2022
In the desperate situation and beautiful things grow within it.
Feeling sad and heartache of their tortures, I am desperate to see what they hold in the next book.
Feeling sad and heartache of their tortures, I am desperate to see what they hold in the next book.
October 3, 2024
1.25 stars⭐️ forget my review of the first book. This is bad
Read
June 18, 2018To be honest... I don’t know what I’m feeling right now. I wish the author just ending the book just like that. I’m not going to rate this book because I hated it yet loved it... so I can’t decide how to rate it.
June 18, 2018
DELICIOUSLY DARK!!!
Title: Despair
Series: Feral
Author: Nora Ash
Designation: Book 2 of Serial, Short Novella(Approximately 100 pages), Not a Standalone, Cliffhanger Ahead #omegaversefiction #hotalphas #erotic #romance
My Rating: Five Sinfully Sexy Stars*****
Oh my! Here we go again! Okay, I'll be the first to admit that Omegaverse Fiction is one of my favorite guilty pleasures, and no one does it better than Nora Ash! Without a doubt, Ash pens the most deliciously naughty Omegaverse Fiction EVER and her latest sinfully sexy release Despair, the second installment in her new Feral serial, is no exception. Ash grabbed me in the first chapter and kept me on the edge of my seat with a death-grip on my ereader while my heart fluttered wildly in my chest! Heavens to Betsy, by the time I got to the last page, I was sweating bullets and struggling for my next breath - AGAIN! And talk about cliffhangers! Noooooo - kill me now! Ash ended this book with the great granddaddy of all cliffhangers! I almost had a coronary, but I loved every word! You better believe I immediately checked to see if the preorder was up for the third book of the series, Torment, and thank goodness it was! Needless to say, I one-clicked like a crazy woman! No one writes dark, erotic Omegaverse romance quite like Nora Ash. I've been a fan for years and race to purchase every new release and Ash didn't disappoint in Despair. But be forewarned, Omegaverse Fiction is not for the meek of heart! For folks unfamiliar with the term, Omegaverse is a subgenre of fan fiction in which canine-type characteristics are given to human characters, including alpha/beta/omega designations, strong themes of dominance, submission, possession, and usually contains knotting, marking, & biting during sex. Typically, it also includes the strong use of 'soul mates' with the concept of sex or mating as a biological imperative for both males and females. It varies greatly with each author, but I've always found Ash's work in this particular fandom to be fascinating as well as titillating. I guess you can tell I really like Ash's work; now let me tell you why!
Despair is a dark, gritty, imaginative, riveting, seductive, fast-paced, well-crafted, easy-to-follow erotic romance with strong Omegaverse elements. The narrative is beautifully written with a clearly designated his and her first-person perspective from the female protagonist, bioanalyst research scientist Lillian Dorne, and yes, we also get a point of view from the male protagonist, Alpha Test Subject 351. The dialogue is smart, snappy, gritty, well-executed, and flows effortlessly. But the piece de resistance of every Ash story is her cast of always unique and intriguing characters. One of the things I love most about Ash's writing is her ability to create harsh, gruff, growly, possessive, and unapologetically bad to the bone heroes/antiheroes, blessed (or cursed, depending on your perception) with an overabundance of attitude, testosterone, and alpha pheromones, yet still somehow make them sexy, engaging, irresistible, and endearing. Ash's Omegaverse stories are very much character driven, as is most Omegaverse Fiction, meaning the characters are the primary component or what I like to call 'the driving force' of the story. And folks, this may be erotic romance that curls your toes, but it's not fluff. Ash always balances her steamy storylines with lots of danger, drama, angst, suspense, conflict, and enough plot twists to keep you guessing. And at the heart of every single book, you'll always find a heartwarming love story, which brings me to the lovely, hardworking research bioanalyst Lillian Dorne and former Navy Seal now known as Test Subject 351, but in this installment we do learn his real name is Zach Barnes. I was immediately drawn into the story by these two characters. It's sometimes difficult to get a good grasp on a story after only one or two installments, but it's obvious there's a strong connection between kindhearted Lillian and the imprisoned feral test subject alpha. The intelligent, ambitious, yet somewhat naive Lillian had no idea what she was getting into when she accepted a job working for her mentor and idol, Dr. Simon Axell, as a bioanalyst on a government-sanctioned biodefense project. Dr. Axell was an alpha himself, but he was also a respected, world-renowned scientist who'd conquered his primitive urges for the good of mankind - or so she thought. Unfortunately, Lillian was soon to receive a rude awakening about the not so good Dr. Axell and SilverCorp. Sigh... I just love when an unlikely heroine finds her courage and decides to champion the long-suffering hero. We still don't know much about Zach's backstory, but actions speak louder than words and his prove him to be brave, loyal, caring, protective, and willing to do absolutely anything to protect his new mate. I loved Lillian and Zach, and their story will capture your heart! I sobbed like a baby!
After a failed attempt to rescue one of the imprisoned test subjects, Lillian has become a prisoner herself. She's no longer a research bioanalyst, nor a savior, but a victim of the same heinous experiment as Test Subject 351. Her actions have cost her everything she's worked for, and her worst nightmare has become reality. The thing she vowed would never happen, has happened. She's been claimed by an Alpha, but not just any Alpha... she's been claimed by Test Subject 351. And it seems the malevolent Dr. Axell, the man in charge of the project, has big plans for Lillian. Sadly, the tables have turned. Test Subject 351/Zach Barnes must now find a way to protect and save his new mate Lillian, but at what cost? Will Lillian and Zach find a way to escape and expose the truth of the heartbreaking atrocities perpetrated by the immoral Dr. Axell and SilverCorps? Or will their attempt cost them everything - including their lives? I guess we'll have to wait and see! Oh my! I can hardly wait for Book 3: Torment!
Did I like this book? No, I LOVED it! Would I recommend it? You bet, and I am but only for adult readers. It does include violence and explicit sex, some with dubious consent. If you've never read Omegaverse fan fiction, don't knock it till you've tried it! If you enjoy paranormal/fantasy/science fiction romance with elements of BDSM, you'll probably love this story, but these Alphas are not shifters, they're human with an overabundance of testosterone and alpha pheromones. And be forewarned, it's dark, dirty, and hot, hot, hot! I definitely advise against reading in polite company! It might be a little uncomfortable. Lol... Will I read this author again? OMG! Yes! And finally, was I entertained? Completely! Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!
Title: Despair
Series: Feral
Author: Nora Ash
Designation: Book 2 of Serial, Short Novella(Approximately 100 pages), Not a Standalone, Cliffhanger Ahead #omegaversefiction #hotalphas #erotic #romance
My Rating: Five Sinfully Sexy Stars*****
Oh my! Here we go again! Okay, I'll be the first to admit that Omegaverse Fiction is one of my favorite guilty pleasures, and no one does it better than Nora Ash! Without a doubt, Ash pens the most deliciously naughty Omegaverse Fiction EVER and her latest sinfully sexy release Despair, the second installment in her new Feral serial, is no exception. Ash grabbed me in the first chapter and kept me on the edge of my seat with a death-grip on my ereader while my heart fluttered wildly in my chest! Heavens to Betsy, by the time I got to the last page, I was sweating bullets and struggling for my next breath - AGAIN! And talk about cliffhangers! Noooooo - kill me now! Ash ended this book with the great granddaddy of all cliffhangers! I almost had a coronary, but I loved every word! You better believe I immediately checked to see if the preorder was up for the third book of the series, Torment, and thank goodness it was! Needless to say, I one-clicked like a crazy woman! No one writes dark, erotic Omegaverse romance quite like Nora Ash. I've been a fan for years and race to purchase every new release and Ash didn't disappoint in Despair. But be forewarned, Omegaverse Fiction is not for the meek of heart! For folks unfamiliar with the term, Omegaverse is a subgenre of fan fiction in which canine-type characteristics are given to human characters, including alpha/beta/omega designations, strong themes of dominance, submission, possession, and usually contains knotting, marking, & biting during sex. Typically, it also includes the strong use of 'soul mates' with the concept of sex or mating as a biological imperative for both males and females. It varies greatly with each author, but I've always found Ash's work in this particular fandom to be fascinating as well as titillating. I guess you can tell I really like Ash's work; now let me tell you why!
Despair is a dark, gritty, imaginative, riveting, seductive, fast-paced, well-crafted, easy-to-follow erotic romance with strong Omegaverse elements. The narrative is beautifully written with a clearly designated his and her first-person perspective from the female protagonist, bioanalyst research scientist Lillian Dorne, and yes, we also get a point of view from the male protagonist, Alpha Test Subject 351. The dialogue is smart, snappy, gritty, well-executed, and flows effortlessly. But the piece de resistance of every Ash story is her cast of always unique and intriguing characters. One of the things I love most about Ash's writing is her ability to create harsh, gruff, growly, possessive, and unapologetically bad to the bone heroes/antiheroes, blessed (or cursed, depending on your perception) with an overabundance of attitude, testosterone, and alpha pheromones, yet still somehow make them sexy, engaging, irresistible, and endearing. Ash's Omegaverse stories are very much character driven, as is most Omegaverse Fiction, meaning the characters are the primary component or what I like to call 'the driving force' of the story. And folks, this may be erotic romance that curls your toes, but it's not fluff. Ash always balances her steamy storylines with lots of danger, drama, angst, suspense, conflict, and enough plot twists to keep you guessing. And at the heart of every single book, you'll always find a heartwarming love story, which brings me to the lovely, hardworking research bioanalyst Lillian Dorne and former Navy Seal now known as Test Subject 351, but in this installment we do learn his real name is Zach Barnes. I was immediately drawn into the story by these two characters. It's sometimes difficult to get a good grasp on a story after only one or two installments, but it's obvious there's a strong connection between kindhearted Lillian and the imprisoned feral test subject alpha. The intelligent, ambitious, yet somewhat naive Lillian had no idea what she was getting into when she accepted a job working for her mentor and idol, Dr. Simon Axell, as a bioanalyst on a government-sanctioned biodefense project. Dr. Axell was an alpha himself, but he was also a respected, world-renowned scientist who'd conquered his primitive urges for the good of mankind - or so she thought. Unfortunately, Lillian was soon to receive a rude awakening about the not so good Dr. Axell and SilverCorp. Sigh... I just love when an unlikely heroine finds her courage and decides to champion the long-suffering hero. We still don't know much about Zach's backstory, but actions speak louder than words and his prove him to be brave, loyal, caring, protective, and willing to do absolutely anything to protect his new mate. I loved Lillian and Zach, and their story will capture your heart! I sobbed like a baby!
After a failed attempt to rescue one of the imprisoned test subjects, Lillian has become a prisoner herself. She's no longer a research bioanalyst, nor a savior, but a victim of the same heinous experiment as Test Subject 351. Her actions have cost her everything she's worked for, and her worst nightmare has become reality. The thing she vowed would never happen, has happened. She's been claimed by an Alpha, but not just any Alpha... she's been claimed by Test Subject 351. And it seems the malevolent Dr. Axell, the man in charge of the project, has big plans for Lillian. Sadly, the tables have turned. Test Subject 351/Zach Barnes must now find a way to protect and save his new mate Lillian, but at what cost? Will Lillian and Zach find a way to escape and expose the truth of the heartbreaking atrocities perpetrated by the immoral Dr. Axell and SilverCorps? Or will their attempt cost them everything - including their lives? I guess we'll have to wait and see! Oh my! I can hardly wait for Book 3: Torment!
Did I like this book? No, I LOVED it! Would I recommend it? You bet, and I am but only for adult readers. It does include violence and explicit sex, some with dubious consent. If you've never read Omegaverse fan fiction, don't knock it till you've tried it! If you enjoy paranormal/fantasy/science fiction romance with elements of BDSM, you'll probably love this story, but these Alphas are not shifters, they're human with an overabundance of testosterone and alpha pheromones. And be forewarned, it's dark, dirty, and hot, hot, hot! I definitely advise against reading in polite company! It might be a little uncomfortable. Lol... Will I read this author again? OMG! Yes! And finally, was I entertained? Completely! Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!
June 17, 2018
Being trapped in a cage with a feral Alpha, who is now her mate, isn't exactly what Lillian signed up for. Now she is forever bound to #351, aka hot, huge, former Navy SEAL, recent death row inmate, and current military research subject. In the previous book, her a-hole boss shot Lilian and #351 up with drugs to bring on their heat and make them so wild that #351 would give Lilian a mating bite.
Even though this is a serial, you don't need to read the previous book to understand or enjoy this one. It all makes sense. Of course, the first book is also good, so you might as well read it, too. The theme is dark, forced submission to a feral Alpha in an Omegaverse, so just know that's what to expect--along with the scorching writing and engaging story.
Even though this is a serial, you don't need to read the previous book to understand or enjoy this one. It all makes sense. Of course, the first book is also good, so you might as well read it, too. The theme is dark, forced submission to a feral Alpha in an Omegaverse, so just know that's what to expect--along with the scorching writing and engaging story.
June 9, 2019
Wow.
What a dragged out mess of a story. This is NOT a complete book. It’s a serial. This is part 2 of a three part story. Each part is not a complete story. It’s basically one story sold in pieces.
I am be VERY clear on what you are actually paying for as the blurb never stated this. Had it done so I NEVER would have bought it.
Having said that, the story is interesting if at a very slow pace. It doesn’t seem to go anywhere except in the last ten pages or so. As soon as there is some kind of development the story ends. Had this been one complete book I might have liked it, but as it is I don’t.
I will never purchase from this author again, as I see this is how she does her writing/business. I will finish part three and then never look back.
What a dragged out mess of a story. This is NOT a complete book. It’s a serial. This is part 2 of a three part story. Each part is not a complete story. It’s basically one story sold in pieces.
I am be VERY clear on what you are actually paying for as the blurb never stated this. Had it done so I NEVER would have bought it.
Having said that, the story is interesting if at a very slow pace. It doesn’t seem to go anywhere except in the last ten pages or so. As soon as there is some kind of development the story ends. Had this been one complete book I might have liked it, but as it is I don’t.
I will never purchase from this author again, as I see this is how she does her writing/business. I will finish part three and then never look back.
June 15, 2018
Great Omegaverse
Great sequel to book one. I'm excited to find out what happens next. It'll be great to see what life is like for alphas and omegas outside the compound.
One thing I need to ask is why can't Omegas be as badass as their Alphas. How come in omegaverse tropes, the omegas arent strong ruthless fighter like in some PNR?
Great sequel to book one. I'm excited to find out what happens next. It'll be great to see what life is like for alphas and omegas outside the compound.
One thing I need to ask is why can't Omegas be as badass as their Alphas. How come in omegaverse tropes, the omegas arent strong ruthless fighter like in some PNR?
July 9, 2018
It
An easy read. The relationship between the two did not see a lot of progress. Some parts had afew pov's that were hard to follow
An easy read. The relationship between the two did not see a lot of progress. Some parts had afew pov's that were hard to follow
June 17, 2025
This review is for the trilogy as a whole (I'll be addressing all books, SPOILERS BELOW) :
Personally it's my belief that the three books should have been a single book. Why? because currently they each read like disjointed, half baked stories that end on cliffhangers when they could have been one cohesive novel. While some parts were strong (like the smut) other parts felt more like a trauma bond more than a romance.
Moving on from that.. THIS BOOK NEEDED TRIGGER WARNINGS. This book includes graphic rape scenes as well as abuse and torture. I wasn't expecting that at first and it threw me for a loop since I was anticipating more of a dark romance.
Now for the story, we follow omega lab worker Lillian, a naive and annoyingly idealistic heroine and dogooder. She's there to aid but finds out she's really fascinating the rape and torture of other inmates. After she tries to bust out the alpha experiment 351 and fails, she chooses to stay on as a lab rab and omega mate for the doctor's sick breeding program.
THOUGHTS:
- Lillian annoyed me. Honestly I rolled my eyes any time she was monologuing repetitively to herself and how she handles certain situations. She believes everything she is told and does not question obvious abuse. She feels a bit bad about working with enslaved prisoners but gets over that real quick. When she sees a woman brutally raped her reaction is trying try to help by giving her cloth and then being all "they signed up for this so if they're ok it's fine" and like never thinks about it again. GIRL WHAT?? U just saw a horrible thing and your first instinct was not to run and never look back?? dumb. Then when she's caught, she basically has the chance to go to prison or stay in a test subject and she begs to stay ... knowing what the women there are going through. seriously?? Then all of a sudden she goes all cold hearted and uses another woman's desperation to find 531 and leaves her to die?? I really did not see her devotion to a guy who treated her badly.
- then we have the romance. I wanted to love 531 / Zach but he kind of comes across as a hollow shell .... like I get it he is drugged up but he barely seems to care about or love Lillian or even think about her aside from in base sexual terms. it was kind of a downer because I wanted to see them bond and a love story to grow ... but all we get is him basically being an animal and slave to his instincts. I get it, she's his mate... but I don't feel any connection aside from that.
- While some of the smut was hot in theory .... he raped her. MULTIPLE times. BIG ICK. SUPER UNCOMFORTABLE IMO. their first few times are NOT consensual and cause her immense pain. look I love crazy smut but REALLY? having a woman be taken against her will screaming in pain, raw from overuse and dealing with an alpha with a dick the size of a Pringles can???? HECKIN' YIKES. not hot.
- Then we have the end of the books and without spoiling too much there's a load of new characters introduced, a bunch of deaths and 531 is WORSE off than he started so the whole thing feels like depression city with a side of Stockholm.
- having the female lead decide to give up the use of her body and embrace being raped because "he needed it" made me roll my eyes so hard.
- maybe I'm just negative but having the whole thing ending on a "she takes care of him like a child" type note did not make the romance land. it just made me kinda depressed because she has to do this or she'll suffer because of the mate bond. ugh.
- lastly, rape as a punishment?? yeah I get it the guys were horrible creeps who deserve to die ... but the heroine inflicting rape on them as punishment didn't sit well with me. just cut their socks off and let them bleed out of something. there was no reason for her to do that IMO
Personally it's my belief that the three books should have been a single book. Why? because currently they each read like disjointed, half baked stories that end on cliffhangers when they could have been one cohesive novel. While some parts were strong (like the smut) other parts felt more like a trauma bond more than a romance.
Moving on from that.. THIS BOOK NEEDED TRIGGER WARNINGS. This book includes graphic rape scenes as well as abuse and torture. I wasn't expecting that at first and it threw me for a loop since I was anticipating more of a dark romance.
Now for the story, we follow omega lab worker Lillian, a naive and annoyingly idealistic heroine and dogooder. She's there to aid but finds out she's really fascinating the rape and torture of other inmates. After she tries to bust out the alpha experiment 351 and fails, she chooses to stay on as a lab rab and omega mate for the doctor's sick breeding program.
THOUGHTS:
- Lillian annoyed me. Honestly I rolled my eyes any time she was monologuing repetitively to herself and how she handles certain situations. She believes everything she is told and does not question obvious abuse. She feels a bit bad about working with enslaved prisoners but gets over that real quick. When she sees a woman brutally raped her reaction is trying try to help by giving her cloth and then being all "they signed up for this so if they're ok it's fine" and like never thinks about it again. GIRL WHAT?? U just saw a horrible thing and your first instinct was not to run and never look back?? dumb. Then when she's caught, she basically has the chance to go to prison or stay in a test subject and she begs to stay ... knowing what the women there are going through. seriously?? Then all of a sudden she goes all cold hearted and uses another woman's desperation to find 531 and leaves her to die?? I really did not see her devotion to a guy who treated her badly.
- then we have the romance. I wanted to love 531 / Zach but he kind of comes across as a hollow shell .... like I get it he is drugged up but he barely seems to care about or love Lillian or even think about her aside from in base sexual terms. it was kind of a downer because I wanted to see them bond and a love story to grow ... but all we get is him basically being an animal and slave to his instincts. I get it, she's his mate... but I don't feel any connection aside from that.
- While some of the smut was hot in theory .... he raped her. MULTIPLE times. BIG ICK. SUPER UNCOMFORTABLE IMO. their first few times are NOT consensual and cause her immense pain. look I love crazy smut but REALLY? having a woman be taken against her will screaming in pain, raw from overuse and dealing with an alpha with a dick the size of a Pringles can???? HECKIN' YIKES. not hot.
- Then we have the end of the books and without spoiling too much there's a load of new characters introduced, a bunch of deaths and 531 is WORSE off than he started so the whole thing feels like depression city with a side of Stockholm.
- having the female lead decide to give up the use of her body and embrace being raped because "he needed it" made me roll my eyes so hard.
- maybe I'm just negative but having the whole thing ending on a "she takes care of him like a child" type note did not make the romance land. it just made me kinda depressed because she has to do this or she'll suffer because of the mate bond. ugh.
- lastly, rape as a punishment?? yeah I get it the guys were horrible creeps who deserve to die ... but the heroine inflicting rape on them as punishment didn't sit well with me. just cut their socks off and let them bleed out of something. there was no reason for her to do that IMO
April 2, 2025
📚Overall: 4/5
+ super fast omegaverse read, dual POV, mates, alpha MMC imprisoned as a test subject, Analyst scientist MFC top secret gov project, dark romance SCARY CLIFFHANGER!!
🥹Fluff: 3/5
+ fated mates but they’re drugged from from lab tests so not super fluffy
✨World building/ Fantasy: 2/5
+ omegaverse- reality but with different rules
⚔️Action: 4/5
+ fighting, torture, battle, gore, death
🤧Sad: 4/5
+ human testing, torture, abuse, inhumane, manipulation, sexism but didn’t cry
😁Humor: 1/5
+ no funny moments
😮💨Smut: 5/5
+ CNC, knotting, NC, chains
😈Spicy chapters: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8
********SPOILERS BELOW********
Notable Scenes & Quotes:
He’s so strong they always have to tranq him
I wish we could get 351’s real name it’s sad he’s still a number test subject
Omg they literally have the chest soul tether mating bond like in ACOTAR
He can literally calm her with a rumble in his chest or a bite on their mate mark
Ok he’s kind of talking now and she’s able to warn about the possibility of a kid and he is able to communicate if she fully submits he doesn’t need to assert dominance
Fuck these men scientists they’re all sexist assholes who see these people as lab rats
The way he completely wraps her up and covers her body from anyone seeing her🥺
He just wants to protect her and can’t from these assholes
Dr. Axel ordered they can’t wear clothes?! Gloria’s nick name Dr. Pervert for him is accurate
wtf why are they tazeing her?! Fucking fuck
Oh my fucking god he took so much voltage to prevent her from getting hurt😭
Jesus they had these woman mating 3 alphas a day to try to make a bond?!
The beta doctor looks guilty over his old colleague, being a test subject in the alpha notices and he’s surprised that the alpha doctor hurts her but can’t help
His name is Zach Barnes
They chained her up and sent 5 feral alphas into the room with her?!?! Zach needs to save her!!!
He saves her but they’re going to increase to 10 feral alphas?! This is fucked
OH MY GOD THE BETA IS HELPING!!!! Thank fuck
Holy shit the breakout!!
Shoutout beta Kenneth for the assist and hell yeah Zach for his breakout plan
OH MY GOD ZACH IS SACRIFICING HIMSELF FOR LILLIAN!! He took two fucking bullets 😭
IS HE DEAD?!?!
+ super fast omegaverse read, dual POV, mates, alpha MMC imprisoned as a test subject, Analyst scientist MFC top secret gov project, dark romance SCARY CLIFFHANGER!!
🥹Fluff: 3/5
+ fated mates but they’re drugged from from lab tests so not super fluffy
✨World building/ Fantasy: 2/5
+ omegaverse- reality but with different rules
⚔️Action: 4/5
+ fighting, torture, battle, gore, death
🤧Sad: 4/5
+ human testing, torture, abuse, inhumane, manipulation, sexism but didn’t cry
😁Humor: 1/5
+ no funny moments
😮💨Smut: 5/5
+ CNC, knotting, NC, chains
😈Spicy chapters: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8
********SPOILERS BELOW********
Notable Scenes & Quotes:
He’s so strong they always have to tranq him
I wish we could get 351’s real name it’s sad he’s still a number test subject
Omg they literally have the chest soul tether mating bond like in ACOTAR
He can literally calm her with a rumble in his chest or a bite on their mate mark
Ok he’s kind of talking now and she’s able to warn about the possibility of a kid and he is able to communicate if she fully submits he doesn’t need to assert dominance
Fuck these men scientists they’re all sexist assholes who see these people as lab rats
The way he completely wraps her up and covers her body from anyone seeing her🥺
He just wants to protect her and can’t from these assholes
Dr. Axel ordered they can’t wear clothes?! Gloria’s nick name Dr. Pervert for him is accurate
wtf why are they tazeing her?! Fucking fuck
Oh my fucking god he took so much voltage to prevent her from getting hurt😭
Jesus they had these woman mating 3 alphas a day to try to make a bond?!
The beta doctor looks guilty over his old colleague, being a test subject in the alpha notices and he’s surprised that the alpha doctor hurts her but can’t help
His name is Zach Barnes
They chained her up and sent 5 feral alphas into the room with her?!?! Zach needs to save her!!!
He saves her but they’re going to increase to 10 feral alphas?! This is fucked
OH MY GOD THE BETA IS HELPING!!!! Thank fuck
Holy shit the breakout!!
Shoutout beta Kenneth for the assist and hell yeah Zach for his breakout plan
OH MY GOD ZACH IS SACRIFICING HIMSELF FOR LILLIAN!! He took two fucking bullets 😭
IS HE DEAD?!?!
June 15, 2018
Review Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
“Definitely despair, desperation, dread, and more darkness”
I received an Advance Reader Copy for DESPAIR (Feral, Book #2) written by Nora Ash and voluntarily reviewed this book. We see Subject 351 gradually becoming even more feral before Lillian’s eyes, thanks to the institute’s intensified drug treatments, but there still is plenty of compassion alive in Lillian for her to begin to bond emotionally with him. But then the once-mentor Dr. Axell gives the green light for his team to test Subject 351, once he is inextricably bonded to 351 as a mate meanwhile, and they begin to push other things in their arsenal onto the pair to achieve their goal of creating the ultimate super-soldier. In fact, he is not the only Alpha to be trialed in the same manner. Their time together in his cell now involves a lot more pain and healing in recovery from their new unrelenting and inhumane testings ordered to test their bond strength, but it is during the rare and fleeting moments of lucidity when the drugs wear off that 351 realizes that his only vital duty left is to keep his mate as safe as he can while he finds a way to break her out of there, uncaring if it is the last thing he will do. Lillian has been mentally holding herself back, trying to distance herself from her role now on the flip side behind the bars, as well as trying to stay emotionally uninvolved from this gruff and brutally mistreated ex-soldier. But her heart simply cannot help but start to feel an even greater pull to him, even though they were forced to be mated under artificial conditions, especially witnessing the evidence of all he goes through in order to protect her, his mate.
Staying tuned with much anticipation now for TORMENT, the last book of this serial to find out how this will all end!
“Definitely despair, desperation, dread, and more darkness”
I received an Advance Reader Copy for DESPAIR (Feral, Book #2) written by Nora Ash and voluntarily reviewed this book. We see Subject 351 gradually becoming even more feral before Lillian’s eyes, thanks to the institute’s intensified drug treatments, but there still is plenty of compassion alive in Lillian for her to begin to bond emotionally with him. But then the once-mentor Dr. Axell gives the green light for his team to test Subject 351, once he is inextricably bonded to 351 as a mate meanwhile, and they begin to push other things in their arsenal onto the pair to achieve their goal of creating the ultimate super-soldier. In fact, he is not the only Alpha to be trialed in the same manner. Their time together in his cell now involves a lot more pain and healing in recovery from their new unrelenting and inhumane testings ordered to test their bond strength, but it is during the rare and fleeting moments of lucidity when the drugs wear off that 351 realizes that his only vital duty left is to keep his mate as safe as he can while he finds a way to break her out of there, uncaring if it is the last thing he will do. Lillian has been mentally holding herself back, trying to distance herself from her role now on the flip side behind the bars, as well as trying to stay emotionally uninvolved from this gruff and brutally mistreated ex-soldier. But her heart simply cannot help but start to feel an even greater pull to him, even though they were forced to be mated under artificial conditions, especially witnessing the evidence of all he goes through in order to protect her, his mate.
Staying tuned with much anticipation now for TORMENT, the last book of this serial to find out how this will all end!
December 16, 2018
This is the 2nd installment of the FERAL Series by Nora Ash and as with the first book, I LOVED IT!!
Superbly written, a little under 100 pages, Ash managed to cram it full of just the right amount of darkness, suspense and heat. It will make you cringe but not lose your stomach contents.
Unlike the first book, this one has a dual POV that made me love it all the more. We get to know 351 on a more personal basis and “just a feral Alpha” he is NOT.
Subject 351 has claimed Lillian as his (albeit reluctant) mate. Now Dr Axel and Dr Urwin keep them imprisoned and push them both to their limits to test how far 351 will go to keep his mate safe, all in the attempt to create the perfect soldier. Thought you hated the Dr’s in the first book, it comes nothing close to how you will feel about them now – Grrr, makes me want to leap into those pages and jab them with a hot poker.
A name is revealed and help comes from an unexpected source, or is it a trap?
As with Obsession, Despair ends in a cliff-hanger and what a doozy. Even knowing this, I would not have turned down the offer to read/buy it, as it only builds the anticipation for the next book.
Feral: Torment, book 3, is due to be released in August 2018 and I CANNOT WAIT!
I received an ARC of this book (but will most definitely also be purchasing it) and this is my honest review.
Superbly written, a little under 100 pages, Ash managed to cram it full of just the right amount of darkness, suspense and heat. It will make you cringe but not lose your stomach contents.
Unlike the first book, this one has a dual POV that made me love it all the more. We get to know 351 on a more personal basis and “just a feral Alpha” he is NOT.
Subject 351 has claimed Lillian as his (albeit reluctant) mate. Now Dr Axel and Dr Urwin keep them imprisoned and push them both to their limits to test how far 351 will go to keep his mate safe, all in the attempt to create the perfect soldier. Thought you hated the Dr’s in the first book, it comes nothing close to how you will feel about them now – Grrr, makes me want to leap into those pages and jab them with a hot poker.
A name is revealed and help comes from an unexpected source, or is it a trap?
As with Obsession, Despair ends in a cliff-hanger and what a doozy. Even knowing this, I would not have turned down the offer to read/buy it, as it only builds the anticipation for the next book.
Feral: Torment, book 3, is due to be released in August 2018 and I CANNOT WAIT!
I received an ARC of this book (but will most definitely also be purchasing it) and this is my honest review.
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