It has been three months since Haru and the brothers returned from their winter vacation in Japan, and Haru’s relationship with Aiden is blossoming beautifully. Icing on the cake, they’re moving into a new, luxurious apartment, and Haru is more content and happy than ever. Well, except for one thing—his second stepbrother Noah.
Noah’s hot and cold attitude toward Haru is beginning to annoy Haru. One minute the brother is nice and caring, and the next, he turns into a prick and picks on Haru, even demanding a kiss daily. When a handsome new face comes into Haru’s life, which the brothers don’t like, Noah erupts into a possessive demon and turns Haru’s world upside down.
Haru’s story is a BL (Boys Love) harem romance. The uke (Haru) will gain his hunky alpha men (semes) one at a time as his story progresses.
Haru’s Story (Stepbrothers BL Harem) 1 - Haru to Aiden 2 - Aiden to Haru 3 - Noah to Haru 4 - Mason to Haru
Bella Chan is the alter ego name of Alexia Praks for her sometimes cute and smutty, sometimes dark and twice as smutty, and sometimes fun, adventurous with a lot of magic and mayhem and thrice as smutty mm romance (Yaoi, BL).
In the romance realm, Bella thinks anything goes as long as there’s love involved—be it contemporary, historical, fantasy, paranormal, or a combination of any of these.
Apart from writing and occasionally losing herself in her own dream realm, she loves self-cultivation, is fascinated by Chinese metaphysics, and spends her spare time watching anime and TV dramas and, of course, reading books and manga.
Just fair warning: it’s my most emotional review. It’s a rant.
***
It’s hard to say something positive about this book. I have finished it, and that’s something. Other book, other story, and I wouldn’t bother. I would just stop in the middle and then try to forget of its existence (dramatic, I know). But I have kept reading, for some reasons. I’m giving it not the lowest rating possible, for some reasons... One, the writing style is quite good and entertaining enough. Two, the idea for the story - the Shrine Maiden thing - is interesting. And three, this was my first harem romance and I’d been curious how it’s going to play out. Yeah, it has been disappointing, so far. And damaging for my psyche. (Just joking. Kind of.)
And what’s SO BAD about it? A lot of things, actually. I’ll say quite bluntly that, most of the time, Noah to Haru is a shitshow. The brothers’ behavior, Noah’s especially, is toxic and it’s being allowed, and rarely acknowledged by characters. It’s like Haru is saying, “Ah, Noah is so abusive but he loves me so much and cares about me so much and he just wants to protecc me... So he’s forgiven cause I love him so much I can’t be mad at him more than two weeks. In a matter of fact, ME, HARU, I’m SO SELFISH because my brothers were going through a hard time and I didn’t even ask, I just sulked cause Noah forced himself on me, and though I enjoyed it very much (I always do), he shouldn’t do that before saying he loves me first and, MAYBE asking for my consent... Wait, consent, who cares about that? It’s not important when my body enjoys this forced pleasure so much...” . That’s Noah to Haru in a nutshell. And, even worse than that, is using the Shrine Maiden... curse? (seems like a curse to me...) magic? ... as the cause of everything. The ‘cursed’ brothers have no control over themselves when it comes to Haru. It’s his smell or something, like with animals, y’know. Like a heat. 🙄 They’re exhausting him sexually, not minding poor Haru is tired, because he enjoys it, he comes several times, it’s all right. Haru says it’s all good, so no problem. Nada. Everything is right in the world. But it’s so selfish, each ‘love’ scene is selfish, because one time is never enough for these alphas. The other time, creepy Mason stars kissing Haru when he’s sleeping. And they aren’t even dating. It’s not cute. Mason was my biggest hope but he’s as bad as the others.
So, what I’m saying is that the Shrine Maiden thingy is used as the excuse for all this toxic, abusive behavior. And sorry, fantasy or not, there’s is no excuse for that. No, it’s not hot. It’s not fun. It’s wrong and fucked up. And at the end Haru is absolving all of this, saying that Noah is an “idiot”. 👏🤝👍 Not nearly good enough for me. Btw, where are the trigger warnings, hmm? Dubious consent, cheating... kidnapping... sex exhaustion...
Now, let’s talk about sex scenes in this book. They’re selfish but also boring because very schematic, and ridiculous. Schematic? They’re always the same. Aiden does the same, Noah does the same. Mason will do the same...? Seriously, I can recite it from memory: super passionate kissing, nipple-play, first one then the other, blowjob, little ass-play but not too much, Haru can take everything, then condom or maybe not, depends on the mood, they won’t even mention it, it doesn’t matter, then penetration, slow at first, what a courtesy, then fast and furious, cause he can’t help himself, it’s too good, and then, let’s do it all over again. Like, ten times more. Is it enough? No? Wait, too much? He doesn’t care, Haru is enjoying it, Haru can take it. Haru comes more than three times in one go, and is always ready and steady for another orgasm. Haru always cums too. Ahh, youth. I’m still amazed. It’s the Shrine Maiden gen magic, certainly. See? Ridiculous. And some may say: but Haru is orgasming so many times, how can it be selfish? It is when someone is exhausted and maybe sore but their partner doesn’t even care. But then again, there’s a nice touch of asking in the morning if Haru feels sore. Real nice, thank you very much. And Haru, of course, after a minute of consideration, says, “Not at all. I’m fine”. MAGIC. It’s a fantasy read, all right.
* It’s an honest review—honest to my feelings and views, so not objective—and I admit that the author changed a bit dynamic in sex between Aiden and Haru in this book, making Haru not so passive. Like, Haru was doing something more than just lying there and taking it, but that was during, I guess, one sex session. Most of the time, it’s schematic. I was quite shocked that Aiden let Haru do... anything. But also nicely surprised. *
Yes, I am ranting quite a bit. I am reeling in amazement that someone is trying to sell it as love. ‘It’s allowed when there’s love in it’ yada yada. Well, that screams toxicity to me. Using someone as a sex toy. Love making, my ass.
Just needed to get it out of my chest. The first two books are okay, even fun at times, though Aiden is selfish in bed (Haru’s first time was so bad, ugh). I really don’t know if I’m going to read the fourth book. Mason still seems like he’s better than the others but if I’m going to get a repeat of Noah to Haru... No thanks, I‘ll pass.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Debating between 2 and 3 stars because wow these men push Haru around and force themselves on him. TW for dubious consent, cheating, kidnapping (ish?) and sex exhaustion.
Noah is a bully, he's an asshole to Haru because he wants him to himself. He then rips off Haru's towel and gives him a BJ without Haru's consent and even though he enjoyed it, he was upset and didn't speak to Noah for two weeks or even have sex with his boyfriend Aiden which just proves that that was noncon. He tricks Haru into giving him a "good luck kiss" but uses tongue which Haru didn't expect. He then kidnaps Haru, explains how he can't control himself and forces himself onto Haru (just kissing not SA) and they finally agree to have a poly relationship but that doesn't excuse his toxic behavior. He forced himself onto Haru and gave him a BJ without asking!!!!!!! Not okay. And the Mason was tickling him, started playing with his nipple and started giving him a hickey even though they aren't dating and then they made out, Mason knew what he was doing the moment he stared giving him a hickey but he is the sweetest and treats Haru better than Noah.
Haru drove me insane in this book because he never stands up from himself and let's people touch him and flirt (two gross side characters) and he's so gullible. Theres so many side characters that don't matter too.
And the authors writing was annoying and repetitive to the point where I wanted to throw my kindle
"Damn, but the boy was hot..." "Damn, but he was sexy..." "Fuck, but he was..." "Damn, but he was..." "Damn, but the boy felt perfect..." "Damn, but the mattress was so soft" "Damn, but his body..."
It got annoying real fast, I wish I highlighted all the times it popped up. I'm going to continue with the series but I'm really starting to get irritated with the lack of consent and repetitive writing.
I love step-brothers, possessiveness and polyamory. This series holds them all and after three books I'm dedicated till the end. The writing isn't the best as the author fixates on certain words and actions but it's possible to look past it and simply focus on the brothers. I do love reading about them and I look forward to the next book in the series.
Smart, collected Noah is a heaving mess of angst and anger trying to figure out what to do with all his feelings about Haru. Haru is confused, conflicted, and embarrassed about the way Noah picks on him. And then there's Sean, the guy Haru would like to be friends with if he could just get his overprotective stepbros to chill for a minute.
Dissapointing. This book was supposed to be about Noah but he was barely in it. Aiden still took up most of Haru's time when he already had him to himself in the first 2 books. Plus Mason easing his way in with Haru (i.e. kissing him while asleep) was disturbing. Also, there's a hint that there's supposed to be another guy smh...too many & unnecessary.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I wish there was more mason and haru sexy times lol some times it felt like aiden was the main in this book but we did have some mason time too . I can’t wait to see how the story progresses with haru being the shrine maiden! Thanks for an amazing story can’t wait for masons book !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
If you enjoy Asians and the love and loyalty of family, you will enjoy this story. It has elements of Japanese mythology woven throughout. Fun to read.