The 8th Rank

Big Bad Magic #1

by Rose Sinclair

An enchanted wolf familiar. A noble rebel. And a magic-fueled race to stop the murder of a queen.

Haunted by his missing memories, Mal wants answers. This Big Bad Wolf only knows he’s been wrongfully made a villain. When a magic mirror shows Robin Hood is searching for him, Mal hopes this man might be his long-lost home.

Mal must stitch together the pieces of his reclaimed past to find out who Robin was to him. All signs point to Robin being his childhood friend, but Mal is interested in being more than just friends now. Thankfully, Mal’s magical talents make him a valuable resource for any cause. And he’s willing to dedicate himself to one man: Robin Hood.

Reunited in a hidden forest, Mal learns his desires to get closer aren’t so unrequited after all. With the kingdom overrun with chaos, it puts Mal and Robin’s relationship to the test. Can they overcome the obstacles in their path to find their happily ever after?

Get ready for fairytale to collide The Eighth Rank is the first in the spellbinding Big Bad Magic series. This fantasy novel features a cursed hero in search of redemption in a friends to lovers romance, ending with a happily ever after.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Romance, Retellings, Ebooks

171 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 17, 2021

About the author

Rose Sinclair is an trans bi community leader who started with a blog in 2013. The biggest noise maker they spearheaded was a protest in 2015 that made GLADD step up for the wider LGBTQIA+ community, paving the way for future acceptance of those communities and on-screen TV representation. Before becoming a full-time writer, they popularized several community terms, and set up a decentralized support system with a “Dear Abby” style approach. They are the author of HELLO WORLD, organizer of community projects such as UNBURIED FABLES, and now write a steamy BIG BAD MAGIC SERIES.

Reviews

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

2.75 stars

The premise of this book was so clever, but for me, it failed in the execution. The author took bits and pieces of dozens of fairytales and it was interesting to see how Sinclair reassigned the different roles and pulled out certain bits of the tales to twist into a new story. The world building was minimal at best, but I could have overlooked that if this story had more development.

And that’s where this book lost me. It was underdeveloped to the point of not always making sense. While the characters were interesting, I spent the entire novel feeling like I was just getting the bare surface of the story. Time jumps made the story feel stilted. Dialogue that should have been clever fell flat. The relationships between the characters were uninspired and lackluster. So much action and so many characters were jammed in that it felt jumbled and piecemeal. I wanted more from this, and with every turn of the page, it failed to deliver.

Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.

[Maddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is definitely the strangest fairy tale retelling I have ever read. While it is the 1st book in a series, it felt like there should have been at least 5 or 6 books before it to fully understand what is going on. Right from the beginning the reader is thrown into the middle of..something. I am still not totally sure what. Mal as a character is extremely unlikable. He is short-tempered, has definite anger issues and is like a cat in heat, checking out every guy who comes his way while allegedly being in love with Robin. I don't understand him at all. The muddle that is the plot is not helping. So many characters, so many fairy tales that are mashed all together. The ending was just.. bizarre. Honestly, the whole book is rather bizarre. While I figured out the main plot points eventually, the story still left me mostly confused and pondering how high one must be to read this and understand it. I thought it was leveling out and becoming better with the big fight and conflict resolution, but then the ending happened and I was thrown right back into the "wt* is happening" land. I usually love fairy tale retelling, but I am afraid this one is too mashed up even for me.

**I was provided an ARC of this book from the GRR for an honest review**

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had so much promise. I loved the cover andI love the idea of a world where all the different fairytale characters inhabiting the same place, fairytale retelling are almost always a win for me. Unfortunately, this one was not. I don’t know if it was me or the writing style but this felt jumbled and confused. I never really knew what was going on, and even when the amnesia aspect was overcome it still felt that. Too much going on with too little worldbuilding.

[RavenAngels]

When you put all the fairytales into a blender and spill it over some pages.
Then you'd end up with a book like this I imagine.

[Madhu MaBookYard - · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairytale Retelling, Friends to Lovers,a Quest to recover missing memories, a Queen to defeat and a Curse to figure out. This book managed to include so many tropes and plot points.
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My Rating : 2.5/5. 🌟🌟✨
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First, the book starts with Mal and his missing memories. Jonathan and Sophie helps him,gives him a place to stay and then proceeds to leave everything behind to go on a quest to solve the missing memory mystery.There are magic, witches, evil Red Queen right hand woman and then the book becomes a complete chaos. There is Prince Charming helping them stay at the castle,random dreams that manifests on a mirror? And Cards (like soldiers) who are controlled by magic and colour? After about 30 percent of the book, the pacing, the plot and the characters got confusing and random. Even though we know Robin and Mal are end game,I didn’t feel the chemistry between them when they met again. There was comradeship, but not the tension I was expecting.It could also have been because there was a rescue and escape happening. The magic and the world wasn’t explained completely and it was confusing even at the end. All the characters introduced were just left and there was no closure when it came to the plot, story and the characters. The only thing I got from the ending was, Mal was obviously the ‘Chosen One’ and Robin cares more about the band of people than talking to Mal. The book and the concepts had so much potential, but the execution lacked to get it across.
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Thank you GRR for the gifted review copy!
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Book 52 - February 2022 / Arc / GRR
Tags : Fairytale Retellings,Friends to Lovers

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the books where I have to say, this is really hard to rate.

On one hand the combination of different fairytales was absolutely great. I loved it to find bits and pieces of the different stories, to guess which fairytale comes next. It was an absolutely great idea and world.

So, why only 3 stars?
Because I had real troubles connecting with the story and the characters. It was well written but the pacing was a bit off for me which lead to me finding no real pleasure in parts of it.

So all in all definitely worth a try due to the different take on fairytales .... and maybe the pacing problem was just me

[Diane Dannenfeldt · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - just could not get into it. The mashup of so many different fairy tales rolled into one, confused me. This book just wasn't for me.

I rec'd a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews & this is my honest opinion

[Arnav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: The 8th Rank: A Friends To Lovers Gay Fairytale Romance (Big Bad Magic Book 1)

Review:

I recently had the pleasure of reading "The 8th Rank: A Friends To Lovers Gay Fairytale Romance" and found it to be a captivating and enchanting read. The story revolves around the protagonist, Mal, who is betrayed by his own magic and is left with no memories of his past. As he embarks on a journey to uncover his true identity, he discovers that Robin Hood is searching for him, igniting hope that this man might hold the key to his lost memories.

The author skillfully weaves together elements of friendship, love, and adventure in this romantic twist on classic fairy tales. The development of the relationship between Robin and Mal is beautifully portrayed, with stolen moments hinting at a deeper connection. The obstacles they face throughout the story only serve to strengthen their bond, making their love all the more powerful.

What I particularly enjoyed about this book is how it takes familiar fairy tale themes and adds a fresh, queer twist to them. The exploration of queer love in a magical setting adds depth and complexity to the storyline. The author's writing style is engaging and keeps you hooked from start to finish, leaving you eager for more.

I rate "The 8th Rank: A Friends To Lovers Gay Fairytale Romance" 4.5 out of 5 stars. The only reason it doesn't receive a perfect score is because there were a few instances where the pacing felt slightly uneven. However, this did not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romantic fairy tales with a twist. It offers a delightful blend of magic, adventure, and heartfelt emotions. I eagerly anticipate diving into the next book in the series to see where Robin and Mal's journey takes them next.

Happy reading!

[Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this story a lot-- an intriguing prologue, lost memories, magic, intrigue, and romance. I think the ideas are great, and the world building has potential, but for me, there were some rough edges. The narrator's tone slides from a kind of archaic/formal to almost too modern (he's consulting with a mysterious, deeply formal sage figure about magic one moment, then being annoyed by thoughts of the "hopeless straight guy" whose face he wants to "smush" against his the next). At first, I couldn't quite make up my mind how I felt about the way readers got information about the world the characters inhabit: it felt a bit confusing, especially at first, and there were plenty of things that just seemed assumed but weren't really clear: I think perhaps, that that was meant to mirror the protagonist's amnesia and confusion? But as events, characters, and everything else just snowballed, everything started to feel a bit more organic: overwhelming, sometimes, but by design. Overall, this felt like a story with a lot of potential, and while I found parts frustrating, I was definitely invested in it until the end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leandre Botha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mal and Robin are perfect for each other. I loved all the characters and the storyline as well. This was a very clever re-telling of all the classic fairytale stories that we were told. It brought all the stories to wonderland and plays out the defeat of the Queen of Hearts very differently than to what we were told. I loved coming apon the old tales and remembering them as I read the book. Rose Sinclair completely retold them all and it was facinating and intruiging. There is a lot of potential in this series and can also use a lot more description and clarification, because I was confused at a few parts during the story, but even with that the story captured your attention as well as your imagination and does not let go. I could bot stop reading, wanting to see what happens next. Very good combination of intruig, suspense, action, drama as well as romance. I loved how everything played out and can not wait to see what happens. Rose Sinclair well done on a very creative start to a new series.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mal is haunted by his loss of memory and is determined to prove he is not a villain. With the help of Jonathan and Sophie, he sets out on a quest to find the missing queen which he thinks will trigger his memory as well. Along the way, he is provided with.the opportunity to use a magic mirror. He sees Robin Hood searching for him. He is not sure what Robin is to him but he knows he wants more than the friendship it appears he did have.


What an intriguing tale! There are so many familiar pieces from books, legends and fairy tales. It will be a challenge to find them all. There needs to be more something in the relationship between Mal and Robin, a bit more chemistry perhaps. The plot was captivating and did take a few unexpected turns. I look forward to the next book set in this world.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book, I enjoyed the world of fairytales being mashed together into wonderland, and knowing this is a series gives me hope for clarity. As a girl who was obsessed with Robin Hood (not the fox one though sorry), I loved this retelling/rehashing. MM is always a win for me. As my first dip into fantasy, I appreciated how this was written into quick short bursts of information that was actually easy for me to follow. In the past when reading fantasy I easily get lost and have to reread information or whole chapters again. I had hoped for more of "Wolf Among Us" vibes (that brilliant TellTale game I still long for a sequel of), but I was satisfied with this read. More spice and probably a little more background information would have made this a 5-star read, but a promising start, will see what the rest of the series continues on like.

[Miriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Review Copy of this book.

What did I just read? Honestly the premise of the story is really interesting and I did like some of it, but I think it was just way too much for a single book. It was like every fairy tale/story I grew up with was mashed up into a single story. There were so many characters that I couldn't keep up with what was going on. Even when I got to the end I was still really confused. The parts that were just Mal and Robin were pretty good and I think if the story had been more of that it could have been really good, but there was just so much going on the base story got more than a little lost. It would still be interesting to see if the next story smooths out the rough edges a bit and makes it a bit less confusing.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mal and Robin's Story . . .

Mal is an enchanted wolf familiar who has lost his memories. He is blamed for something but needs answers. A magic mirror shows Robin Hood is searching for him and perhaps he can get answers from him and find out what their relationship may have been.

Finding Robin, it seems Mal’s instincts had been correct about what they may have meant to each other. As the kingdom is caught up in chaos, Mal and Robin’s relationship will be strongly put to the test. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles in their path to find their HEA? Will Mal’s memories return? Will he get the answers he needs to make things right?

[LC · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 8th Rank is a MM book by Rose Sinclair that takes all of the different fairytales and weaves them together into one intertwined world. This story had it all, love, magic, an evil queen, new friends, enemies, and magic induced memory loss. I love to read fast, but this story had a way of slowing me down. Ms. Sinclair builds such a large world in this book that a slower read was helpful to get some of the details straight in my head.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale and am super excited for the second installment. I really want more of Mal and Robin! I’m no author, but I forsee quite a few books in the future for this world. 😊

[Raven and Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

What an odd book. This is a mishmash of several popular fairy tales, myths, stories and legends all in one. Our hero is meant to be the big bad wolf and he is working with Robin of Sherwood to rescue the Queen and stop Red Riding Hood. Like I said…an odd book with an interesting premise. I am not sure if I liked how they were all squashed together. The jury is still out on that one. I got a little lost trying to keep up. It all seems to be happening in a game of chess or cards aka Alice in Wonderland. Normally I am a huge fan of fairytale retellings but this one isn’t going to something I follow up on.

[Janessa Paun · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, the premise and promise on it were very promising. But, unfortunately the execution didn’t match up to what I was hoping for. I just felt like it wasn’t really well written and the “romance” of it was weak. Also, I wanted him to end up with the other guy, , so I was just disappointed for the majority of it. But, I did really like the set-up of the political system in this book and wish that it had been explored more. But unfortunately, the main focus was Mal trying to regain his memories while the kingdom is being overwhelmed with chaos that he and Robin Hood are trying to fix during the birth of their relationship.

[Stephen Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say, I am an avid reader of fantasy and magical fantasy style stories, simply because I like to delve into other worlds that get my imagination fired up. The 8th Rank certainly didnt disappoint in this regard. The author produced a work of art in this book as it was completly hypnotic from the get go. The rather poetic style at the beginning of the book simply luls you into a great magical fantasy story with more than its share of romance. I wont gve anything away but it was intriguing and brilliantly written! Cant wait to read more from this author.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge Robin Hood story fan, so imagine my delight when Robin shows up here along with a much maligned and misunderstood Big Bad Wolf who has lost his memory. As these two reunite, we long to learn the full backstory and we follow them as they join forces to prevent a royal assassination. There is great world building here, you'll recognize all of your favorite fairy tale settings set just slightly off kilter and you will root for Robin and Mal to get the HEA they so deserve. This is a new author for me and I can't wait for more.

[Rachwithheadinabook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written

I firstly want to say this book is filled to the brim with fables and fairy tale characters from all sorts of times. As a premise it is intriguing and quite interesting. The writing and characters are well thought out.
I however didn't get on with it, I didn't want to DNF, as I was given an ARC copy for an honest review so I persevered, I was confused at the end so had to re-read it, but that didn't help me. This is just my opinion and as previously state it is well written.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love everything Rose writes, just to start out with. I loved the premise and characters in the 8th Rank and the romance element really pulled at my heartstrings. It did take me a little longer to get into it than it usually does, but I still absolutely enjoyed the story. I'm definitely excited about the sequel, because (no spoilers), the hinting of that made me read so fast that I had to pause and go back because I was getting so excited lol.

Another beautiful book with a great message and fantastic characters.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm. Unfortunately, this was a disappointment. The premise is interesting, and I was keen to read it, however the plot was fairly confusing, convoluted and...boring. The characters aren't not well developed or particularly interesting. There is just too much happening - the setting isn't clear, the language isn't consistent, and there's a lot happening with too many fairytale/legend elements thrown into the one story.
I really tried to enjoy this, but it just...didn't happen.

[Kkhmonrai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this unique and engaging fairytale mish-mash. It was a little hard to follow sometimes, but all the characters made it interesting. A little more cohesion would have made for easier reading, but I still enjoyed it overall. This author is new to me. and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

[Belinda Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful foray into fantasy

This hit all the right notes for fantasy.
Amazing world building filled with danger, drama and action.
There were new friends, enemies and evil to be defeated.
Loved the connection between Mal and Robin.
It was so great to see them get to know one another and fight through their obstacles.

[Denise GremoryKohta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit too confusing for me. I got the premise of the fairytale not being to true story but it felt like a puzzle with the pieces forced to fit. With it being in only one person’s point of view you don’t really get the whole picture. Maybe as we get more of the series the confusion will clear.

[Sarah Mitcham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Fairytale Romance.

MM, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Fairytale Romance. Twists and turns throughout with a mix of Fairytale, Legends and Nursery rhyme characters interwoven throughout the story. A complicated plot due to the sheer number of characters featured, I'm left scratching my head feeling rather bemused by it all.

[Janet Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new to me author, I would definitely go looking for more by her. Loved the world building. Loved Mal and Robin! It was full of danger and action, loved that! Overall, a really good read! The story was really well written, highly recommend. I am voluntarily leaving a review form an advanced copy that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.

[kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 8th Rank is an interesting take on fairy tales. While there was a lot of world building done here at times it felt a bit bogged down. As this is the first in a series that might let up in future books.
Get ready for tons of twist and turns in this story.
Bad guys wrongly accused. Old friends who are so much more than that.
I'm curious enough and look forward to the next installment.

[Rebecca Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mal ❤️ Robin

This was a romantic/twisted version of the fairytales we know & love!
Robin & Mal go through so much for Mal to recover his memory and so many obstacles but their love is strong enough to overcome them!
This version is very enjoyable and I can’t wait to read the next book on their series! 😀😀❤️❤️

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is missing some of his memories and he needs to find the answers. He will meet Robin Hood who it seems is a friend and maybe even more. They will need to find the answers but also save the life of the Queen. How will they get on? Will they realise they love each other? Can they save the Queen? See where you are taken