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An Orki War Bride Tale #2
Finding Her Heart
Annabell Roe’s life has been filled with tragedy.
People call her the woman of woe, and everyone knows not to get too close. No one wants to fall victim to her curse.
It is a lonely, unhappy life for Annabell, who has lost hope of a future where she is loved.
That is, until the Orki come.
Intent on seeing justice done for the atrocities visited upon the land and its people, the indominable creatures prove to be unlikely heroes for Annabell and others who suffered at the hands of the raiders who came before them.
In an Orki warrior named Doki-ni, Annabell meets a man who can’t be swayed by the rumors and superstition that surrounds her.
They say the Orki are invincible, that they cannot die.
Can he withstand the fatality of her curse and be the love she’s waited for all her life?
~*~*~
This is a fantasy story featuring scenes with intimate interactions and power exchange, with orc-like aliens set in a world ruled by violence. If you like tame romances, this story is not for you. Please read responsibly.
People call her the woman of woe, and everyone knows not to get too close. No one wants to fall victim to her curse.
It is a lonely, unhappy life for Annabell, who has lost hope of a future where she is loved.
That is, until the Orki come.
Intent on seeing justice done for the atrocities visited upon the land and its people, the indominable creatures prove to be unlikely heroes for Annabell and others who suffered at the hands of the raiders who came before them.
In an Orki warrior named Doki-ni, Annabell meets a man who can’t be swayed by the rumors and superstition that surrounds her.
They say the Orki are invincible, that they cannot die.
Can he withstand the fatality of her curse and be the love she’s waited for all her life?
~*~*~
This is a fantasy story featuring scenes with intimate interactions and power exchange, with orc-like aliens set in a world ruled by violence. If you like tame romances, this story is not for you. Please read responsibly.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2021
71 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Isoellen
12 books850 followersIsoellen is just your average, Gen-X'er who drinks too much coffee. Her first romance story was written in 1977 at 8 years old after seeing the movie Star Wars. She knew even then that a rogue on the wrong side of the law was a better mate than the boy on the hero’s journey.
The worlds she creates are violent and sensual, but her characters always find beauty in the decay and romance with intimacy. True love and happily ever after’s are guaranteed.
She is currently working on the 4th book in the 12 Sectors Series, Redeeming Her Alpha.
The worlds she creates are violent and sensual, but her characters always find beauty in the decay and romance with intimacy. True love and happily ever after’s are guaranteed.
She is currently working on the 4th book in the 12 Sectors Series, Redeeming Her Alpha.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 16, 2021
3.5 Second Chance Orki Romance Stars...
This is the second book in the Orki War Bride series. It happens alongside the events of the first book. I do think that if you didn't read the first one you might struggle to understand what's happening, with the raider attack on the village and who the other human woman the Orki's take might be.
This is Doku-ni and Anna's story. It's a second chance love story, Orki style. I love that this delves more into and shows us the intensity and wanting the Orki's have towards finding, cherishing, protecting, and loving their redress brides. They never die, they spend their whole life fighting, waiting, hoping to find their bride. There will ever only be one.
Anna, who is supposedly cursed with woe, had been orphaned and is now also a widow, feeling that death and despair follows her but leaves her alive to have to deal with it by herself. When she was younger, she was courted by an Orki to be his bride, but her family refused and even more shame was brought upon the family. But Anna never thought it was a bad thing, she secretly wanted to be his bride, and always hoped one day he would come back for her.
After the raiders attack her village, kill off all the men, and kill and rape most of the women, the Orki's show up to make the raiders pay the price for breaking the peace. Anna is happy and relieved because she knows the Orki have honor and would never hurt them, then she sees him, Doku-ni, and she knows her all white Orki come for her again.
I liked this one. Again it's a lowkey omegaverse, because the human brides don't really realize that their bodies are being changed and that they are going into heat. Things are a little reversed then what you usually see because Anna was all for becoming a bride. She had wanted it and dreamed about it. There was a lot of intensity with Doku-ni getting Anna to understand and accept just what she is, and really what he now is to her. It takes almost losing everything for Anna to understand and accept the depth of Doku-ni's feelings and affection, and how he will make sure to protect, love, and take care of her forever, literally!!
I did struggle with some of the writing. There were many confusing parts because Doku-ni didn't speak in the beginning and then when he could, many times it was in riddles. I also got a little miffed that Doku-ni got mad at Anna for trying to help the other woman from the Hungeries' attack. I understand his reasoning, but I felt like you can't just expect someone to change who they've been their whole life at the snap of your fingers. So that's why this was rated a little lower for me, but still so good, and I can't wait for the next one!!
Even though this is an ARC review, I will always shoot you straight. I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Orki War Bride series. It happens alongside the events of the first book. I do think that if you didn't read the first one you might struggle to understand what's happening, with the raider attack on the village and who the other human woman the Orki's take might be.
This is Doku-ni and Anna's story. It's a second chance love story, Orki style. I love that this delves more into and shows us the intensity and wanting the Orki's have towards finding, cherishing, protecting, and loving their redress brides. They never die, they spend their whole life fighting, waiting, hoping to find their bride. There will ever only be one.
Anna, who is supposedly cursed with woe, had been orphaned and is now also a widow, feeling that death and despair follows her but leaves her alive to have to deal with it by herself. When she was younger, she was courted by an Orki to be his bride, but her family refused and even more shame was brought upon the family. But Anna never thought it was a bad thing, she secretly wanted to be his bride, and always hoped one day he would come back for her.
After the raiders attack her village, kill off all the men, and kill and rape most of the women, the Orki's show up to make the raiders pay the price for breaking the peace. Anna is happy and relieved because she knows the Orki have honor and would never hurt them, then she sees him, Doku-ni, and she knows her all white Orki come for her again.
I liked this one. Again it's a lowkey omegaverse, because the human brides don't really realize that their bodies are being changed and that they are going into heat. Things are a little reversed then what you usually see because Anna was all for becoming a bride. She had wanted it and dreamed about it. There was a lot of intensity with Doku-ni getting Anna to understand and accept just what she is, and really what he now is to her. It takes almost losing everything for Anna to understand and accept the depth of Doku-ni's feelings and affection, and how he will make sure to protect, love, and take care of her forever, literally!!
I did struggle with some of the writing. There were many confusing parts because Doku-ni didn't speak in the beginning and then when he could, many times it was in riddles. I also got a little miffed that Doku-ni got mad at Anna for trying to help the other woman from the Hungeries' attack. I understand his reasoning, but I felt like you can't just expect someone to change who they've been their whole life at the snap of your fingers. So that's why this was rated a little lower for me, but still so good, and I can't wait for the next one!!
Even though this is an ARC review, I will always shoot you straight. I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2021
This is the second in Isoellen's Omegaverse series about human(oid) women and the Orkis who take them as brides; it does work as a standalone (indeed, the worldbuilding is clearer and more detailed than in the first book). While Omegavere isn't explicitly named, all the usual tropes (heats, slicks, fated mates, purring) appear. Here, we get Annabell Roe, shunned by her close-knit community for the apparent "curse" that causes those around her to die. Resigned to a lonely, limited life, she instead finds herself in the adventure of a lifetime when someone from her past saves her from marauding raiders. Trigger Warnings for Rape and Violence (and, no, the MMC doesn't perpetrate them).
I recommend this highly (with a few caveats), particularly for those who enjoy Omegaverse erotica that isn't too harsh, but still features possessive Alphas. Doku-ni is über-protective of and laser-focused on his Anna; she is, indeed his entire world.
That said, since we only get the MFC's POV, the strength of this story is really Annabell, and in her the author has created a memorable character. It's impossible not to empathize with the loss of all her youthful hopes and dreams -- buried under years of disappointment, self-recrimination, and isolation (this last resonates strongly during the pandemic). I particularly appreciated that she's older than most generic MFC's and, thus, more stoic, down-to-earth, and realistic than we usually find. And I enjoyed watching her blossom as she slowly realizes that she does not, in fact, have to settle for the half-life she was resigned to; rather, she can and will find the happiness she deserves. This book employs the "second-chance" trope in numerous ways.
I also really enjoyed the worldbuilding (for one caveat, see below). Although the book is set on a "planet far away," the given circumstances are all based on ours. There are nods to 17th century "witches" ("othered" women who lived on the fringes of society, and were hated and feared because of it); off-grid communities fleeing the stresses and strains of a corporatistic, materialistic society; state-sanctioned greed and corruption that turn men into vicious instruments of war; and tensions between indigenous and settler peoples clearly modeled on US Western history.
I do, however, have four concerns:
1) Although the prose is visceral and captures in evocative detail Annabell's rich inner life, it's highly repetitious (we hear of her relationships with her family several times with little new information until the end and no one needs to faint quite this often), filled with typos (including missing words, incorrect prepositions, and misplaced commas that meant I had to re-read whole sentences), and confusing (often lacking in transitions between paragraphs, for example).
2) I personally believe that the world-building is unnecessarily complex -- I'm not sure, in fact, what the Orki origin story gets us in terms of character or theme.
3) I didn't like Doku-ni's dismissal of .
4) I really didn't like the twist with .
4 stars. The author's voice is heavily influenced by fairy tale and fable, and may not be to all tastes (nor will the MC's unusual style of communication). That said, the story's rich characterizations and complex construction of the imaginary world make it worth it. I suspect that the next book will feature the young woman we hear about in the beginning. I do hope, however, that the formatting will change: the two columns were difficult to read.
I recommend this highly (with a few caveats), particularly for those who enjoy Omegaverse erotica that isn't too harsh, but still features possessive Alphas. Doku-ni is über-protective of and laser-focused on his Anna; she is, indeed his entire world.
That said, since we only get the MFC's POV, the strength of this story is really Annabell, and in her the author has created a memorable character. It's impossible not to empathize with the loss of all her youthful hopes and dreams -- buried under years of disappointment, self-recrimination, and isolation (this last resonates strongly during the pandemic). I particularly appreciated that she's older than most generic MFC's and, thus, more stoic, down-to-earth, and realistic than we usually find. And I enjoyed watching her blossom as she slowly realizes that she does not, in fact, have to settle for the half-life she was resigned to; rather, she can and will find the happiness she deserves. This book employs the "second-chance" trope in numerous ways.
I also really enjoyed the worldbuilding (for one caveat, see below). Although the book is set on a "planet far away," the given circumstances are all based on ours. There are nods to 17th century "witches" ("othered" women who lived on the fringes of society, and were hated and feared because of it); off-grid communities fleeing the stresses and strains of a corporatistic, materialistic society; state-sanctioned greed and corruption that turn men into vicious instruments of war; and tensions between indigenous and settler peoples clearly modeled on US Western history.
I do, however, have four concerns:
1) Although the prose is visceral and captures in evocative detail Annabell's rich inner life, it's highly repetitious (we hear of her relationships with her family several times with little new information until the end and no one needs to faint quite this often), filled with typos (including missing words, incorrect prepositions, and misplaced commas that meant I had to re-read whole sentences), and confusing (often lacking in transitions between paragraphs, for example).
2) I personally believe that the world-building is unnecessarily complex -- I'm not sure, in fact, what the Orki origin story gets us in terms of character or theme.
3) I didn't like Doku-ni's dismissal of .
4) I really didn't like the twist with .
4 stars. The author's voice is heavily influenced by fairy tale and fable, and may not be to all tastes (nor will the MC's unusual style of communication). That said, the story's rich characterizations and complex construction of the imaginary world make it worth it. I suspect that the next book will feature the young woman we hear about in the beginning. I do hope, however, that the formatting will change: the two columns were difficult to read.
July 15, 2021
4 smut-scale stars!
This is the second book in the Orki War Bride series and features Anna and her Orki. This was an extremely erotic omegaverse story that had a very poetic undertone to it. I really had no idea what was going on for the first 25% of the story but the writing was pretty and kept me hooked. I had a lot of questions throughout the whole tale and while not all of them were answered, I think it was designed to be that way. There were a lot of emotions and feelings in here that seemed to represent the trials of life and how one moves forward. The intimacy in here jumped right off the page and almost made me feel embarrassed like I was a voyeur. This tale was super unique and the delivery was beautiful.
I loved Anna and her Orki's connection and the omegaverse world and culture that Isoellen built was interesting. It definitely was a different kind of read for me but I think Isoellen wrote the whole non-human/human thing well. If you like omegaverse, smut, an interesting world and a story about two halves that make a whole then give this a try!
This is the second book in the Orki War Bride series and features Anna and her Orki. This was an extremely erotic omegaverse story that had a very poetic undertone to it. I really had no idea what was going on for the first 25% of the story but the writing was pretty and kept me hooked. I had a lot of questions throughout the whole tale and while not all of them were answered, I think it was designed to be that way. There were a lot of emotions and feelings in here that seemed to represent the trials of life and how one moves forward. The intimacy in here jumped right off the page and almost made me feel embarrassed like I was a voyeur. This tale was super unique and the delivery was beautiful.
I loved Anna and her Orki's connection and the omegaverse world and culture that Isoellen built was interesting. It definitely was a different kind of read for me but I think Isoellen wrote the whole non-human/human thing well. If you like omegaverse, smut, an interesting world and a story about two halves that make a whole then give this a try!
July 25, 2021
Spoilers ahead, 2.5*
A tale of Annabelle, known through her town as a woman of woe and the Orki warrior who'd eventually claim her as his.
What I liked
The devotion of the Orki
Seeing Annabelle finally come into her own
The interesting aspects of the world
The waarg
What I didn't like
Annabelle's mother's"appearance" it threw me off Everytime
Lack of communication between the mcs which is honestly to be expected as they don't even speak the same language but wow it got a bit annoying
The writing style..... Whoa I can't remember if book 1 was written in a similar fashion but boy did I stumble through this one
All in all I'd read this author again
A tale of Annabelle, known through her town as a woman of woe and the Orki warrior who'd eventually claim her as his.
What I liked
The devotion of the Orki
Seeing Annabelle finally come into her own
The interesting aspects of the world
The waarg
What I didn't like
Annabelle's mother's"appearance" it threw me off Everytime
Lack of communication between the mcs which is honestly to be expected as they don't even speak the same language but wow it got a bit annoying
The writing style..... Whoa I can't remember if book 1 was written in a similar fashion but boy did I stumble through this one
All in all I'd read this author again
July 20, 2021
And the series continues with Finding Her Heart, book two in the Orki War Bride series. Another outcast gets her Orki Warrior and a chance at true love and a new life. This is a fantastical and somewhat dark story running concurrently to Finding Her Luck, book one. Some of my questions were answered within this story. I am sure as we move through the books, we will get all the answers about this world along with all the super sexy times we can handle and get to enjoy some very interesting anatomy on our Orki warriors *wink *wink
My heart just broke for Annabell Roe. She just exists day to day, a grown woman who has had to bear the burden of her life's circumstances. Branded a woman of woe by her family and her community. Alone.. always alone. But I still had a lot of respect for her and loved her stubbornness and inner strength. I really understood the way Isoellen wrote this h. At some times she seemed a little bordering on the cusp of reality and childish, but I can totally see how you can be so alone and suffer so many disappointments and tragedies in life that you would end up that way. Kind of living in your own world.
Whether you are new to Omegaverse, or Orc romance or have been reading them for some time, Isoellen will definitely draw you in with her unique story telling skills. I highly recommend!
My heart just broke for Annabell Roe. She just exists day to day, a grown woman who has had to bear the burden of her life's circumstances. Branded a woman of woe by her family and her community. Alone.. always alone. But I still had a lot of respect for her and loved her stubbornness and inner strength. I really understood the way Isoellen wrote this h. At some times she seemed a little bordering on the cusp of reality and childish, but I can totally see how you can be so alone and suffer so many disappointments and tragedies in life that you would end up that way. Kind of living in your own world.
Whether you are new to Omegaverse, or Orc romance or have been reading them for some time, Isoellen will definitely draw you in with her unique story telling skills. I highly recommend!
February 22, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
This was ok..it was a little dark at the start and it was a bit confusing,until you get into it…I enjoyed parts of the story as I found it interesting,but found other parts I found boring..
but I am liking this authors writing and will read other books of hers 😊
This was ok..it was a little dark at the start and it was a bit confusing,until you get into it…I enjoyed parts of the story as I found it interesting,but found other parts I found boring..
but I am liking this authors writing and will read other books of hers 😊
July 14, 2021
The writing and editing of the ARC version of the manuscript was mostly clean, with the occasional typos. Hopefully that will be fixed in the retail version. The authorial voice was a little hard for me, reminding me of the choppy cadence of a lot of modern poetry. However, that is just a matter of personal preference, as I do not typically enjoy modern poetry. The world building was interesting, with the combination of high tech sci-fi elements with all the elements of a primitive agrarian fantasy novel. It was different than any other Orc romances I have read in that respect, which I liked. The characterization was competent, with the heroine being very sympathetic. The hero was more of a cipher, since we did not get any of his Point of View, I believe. The development of the romantic relationship was great, containing high heat and some kink play. The heat level was four chili peppers. The plot was exciting and full of action and danger, which meant the pacing flew by. This novel had a medium amount of angst on the part of the heroine and sky high stakes throughout, which tends to be one of my preferred narrative structures for a romance novel. This novel used the Kidnapped Bride trope and the Fated Mates trope. The world building, plot and pacing were all four stars. The characterization and development of the romantic relationship were also four stars. I therefore gave this novel a combined rating of four stars. This novel ended on a Happy Ever After ending instead of a cliffhanger ending, so that was a big plus. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy monster romances and omegaverse elements, since there were quite a few omegaverse influences in this novel. I look forward to reading the next book in this series when it releases. I will probably buy myself a keeper copy of this novel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 26, 2021
A fun adventure!
This was a fun adventure and a slow burn romance. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole evolution of the story and smiled and laughed several times throughout... but felt overall it was slightly disjointed. A lot of time was spent on the beginning setting up characters who ended up being relatively minor and then there were a few parts that I felt were taken straight from book 1 and then near the end there's a scene where she falls ill (I won't say more so no spoilers) that just feels so disjointed. I had to go back and read it several times to understand what the heck was happening.
To sum up, I enjoyed it and will buy the 3rd when it comes out, but I can't say it was my favorite read by this author.
This was a fun adventure and a slow burn romance. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole evolution of the story and smiled and laughed several times throughout... but felt overall it was slightly disjointed. A lot of time was spent on the beginning setting up characters who ended up being relatively minor and then there were a few parts that I felt were taken straight from book 1 and then near the end there's a scene where she falls ill (I won't say more so no spoilers) that just feels so disjointed. I had to go back and read it several times to understand what the heck was happening.
To sum up, I enjoyed it and will buy the 3rd when it comes out, but I can't say it was my favorite read by this author.
September 2, 2021
I really really tried to like this one but just like the first it fell very flat. The inner dialog that lasts nearly 3/4 of the way through the book was exhausting and when he does have a way to communicate, its with grunts, wait for it, that she interprets. Its caveman porn. There is no romance or love build. Maybe in the characters head? No emotional connection and the weird way she talked to her dead mom's voice out loud, constantly, had me screwing up my face so much. Like...... The actual writing wasn't bad. The story telling was just not there. The world it self gives interest.
July 15, 2021
Too confusing
This book heavily relied on the first book. This book was not the best. There are some spoilers here (so keep moving ). She would let him choke her a punishment even though she is pregnant (ugh). You do not get the Orki's point of view. This book is very choppy. All you know about him is that he did not get favor with the bride's family. So he punished himself by putting on some type of shock collar. You won't know this until close to the end!!!! This book was just poorly out together and told.
This book heavily relied on the first book. This book was not the best. There are some spoilers here (so keep moving ). She would let him choke her a punishment even though she is pregnant (ugh). You do not get the Orki's point of view. This book is very choppy. All you know about him is that he did not get favor with the bride's family. So he punished himself by putting on some type of shock collar. You won't know this until close to the end!!!! This book was just poorly out together and told.
July 15, 2021
Felt like nothing new really happened. If you read book.one you have read this....
Didn't enjoy it as much as the first book
Didn't enjoy it as much as the first book
August 19, 2021
Confusing and Boring
I love the author's other series but this one drags and drags. Probably because it's 90% description and very little dialogue. There's only so long you can be in a character's head before you start skipping chapters to get to anything that might be interesting, and that was really only the last quarter of the book. That 25% should have been the bulk of the book, not something tacked on the end. I'll be skipping any more if this series. The 12 Sectors series is leaps and bounds better.
I love the author's other series but this one drags and drags. Probably because it's 90% description and very little dialogue. There's only so long you can be in a character's head before you start skipping chapters to get to anything that might be interesting, and that was really only the last quarter of the book. That 25% should have been the bulk of the book, not something tacked on the end. I'll be skipping any more if this series. The 12 Sectors series is leaps and bounds better.
June 2, 2021
This was a DELICIOUS second book in Isoellen’s Orki War Brides series.
Look, orcs are hot. You know it, I know it, that guy over there denying it knows it, and he’s just lying because he knows he doesn’t measure up.
This series is a prime cut of deeply yummy orcs, and the world building is SO SO GOOD. Essentially space Amish develop after their ancestors find a habitable planet called Dorcus. The Orki are the (sort of) original inhabitants of the planet. Most humans live in very modern cities, but out heroine was raise in the Humble Life, and so a handful of villages have sprung up on lands granted to them by the Orki. The villagers get to live in peace as long as the Peace Laws are followed, key among them being stay *out* of Orki lands.
Annabell Roe is the Woman of Woe because so much tragedy has haunted her life, the most recent being the death of her husband. She is now a widow shunned, and it’s this shunning that initially saves her life when the marauders come, looking for “pretty ones”.
Then the Orki come, because the marauders broke the Peace Laws. Annabell and a few others are taken as war brides by the Orki, and Annabell is reunited with an Orki who has been mourning the loss of her for ten plus years.
I won’t say more, because both books in the series are so worth the read, and need it to have true justice done to the story. There is so much sweet longing, as much or more than the truly beautiful, primal sex scenes, and Isoellen possesses a gift for prose that makes you want to point at the page and excitedly say “This!! This is what I have been feeling all along, and finally finally I have the words to articulate it!”
I love this series! I cannot wait for this to be officially published (I read a rough draft on wattpad) so I can have my own personal copy to highlight and love.
Look, orcs are hot. You know it, I know it, that guy over there denying it knows it, and he’s just lying because he knows he doesn’t measure up.
This series is a prime cut of deeply yummy orcs, and the world building is SO SO GOOD. Essentially space Amish develop after their ancestors find a habitable planet called Dorcus. The Orki are the (sort of) original inhabitants of the planet. Most humans live in very modern cities, but out heroine was raise in the Humble Life, and so a handful of villages have sprung up on lands granted to them by the Orki. The villagers get to live in peace as long as the Peace Laws are followed, key among them being stay *out* of Orki lands.
Annabell Roe is the Woman of Woe because so much tragedy has haunted her life, the most recent being the death of her husband. She is now a widow shunned, and it’s this shunning that initially saves her life when the marauders come, looking for “pretty ones”.
Then the Orki come, because the marauders broke the Peace Laws. Annabell and a few others are taken as war brides by the Orki, and Annabell is reunited with an Orki who has been mourning the loss of her for ten plus years.
I won’t say more, because both books in the series are so worth the read, and need it to have true justice done to the story. There is so much sweet longing, as much or more than the truly beautiful, primal sex scenes, and Isoellen possesses a gift for prose that makes you want to point at the page and excitedly say “This!! This is what I have been feeling all along, and finally finally I have the words to articulate it!”
I love this series! I cannot wait for this to be officially published (I read a rough draft on wattpad) so I can have my own personal copy to highlight and love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2021
DNF @ 67%
This one was repetitive with the endless voice of the heroines dead mother speaking to her in her head and even her responding aloud to her. It was confusing and nonsensical to me. I didn't find much interesting and gave up.
This one was repetitive with the endless voice of the heroines dead mother speaking to her in her head and even her responding aloud to her. It was confusing and nonsensical to me. I didn't find much interesting and gave up.
July 17, 2021
The start of this book was long and drawn out. The terror in the village equally drawn out. I really like this author and will certainly read more of her work. This book though, was disappointing compared to the other Orki book in the series. A part of my dislike is how little time is spent with Annabelle and her Orki mate. Plus the hungeries attack felt confusing to me, I couldn't tell what was real or a dream for Annabelle.
April 7, 2022
This is the last book I'm reading in this series. I don't care if there are more books. This was a very disappointing second book. It almost felt like a different writer wrote this book simply based on how much the writing quality deteriorated. This was rough to read due to the awful prose and numerous grammar issues. Also Annabell. Oh Annabell. We'll get to her.
⭐️ Childhood friends that later reunite as adults is one of my catnip tropes. This didn't exactly fit that trope but the second chance vibes were there. I melted for how Doku-ni pined for Annabell Loyal king Doku-ni.
⭐️ The romance was somewhat cute? I know that's not much of a compliment but this book had major issues with the shallow and rushed romance so... Let's just say that when it was good, it was good. The spicy scenes were good. But when it was bad, it was sooooo bad. Like when we spend time with Annabell... Annabell and Doku-ni had chemistry but there wasn't much to the relationship other than lust and some cute moments.
⛔️ Annabell made me want to DNF. So many times. Doku-ni doesn't appear until so we are left solely with Annabell until that time. Annabell alone is about as interesting and as pleasant as a bucket of trash. The whole talking to her mother in her head thing got annoying so fast. If there is an award for the most frustrating protagonist, I would submit Annabell for it. This girl was so whiny about her life. I get that she has major ✨trauma✨ but girl was also a raging selfish idiot too. I hated almost every second I spent with her in the first half of the book 😭
Annabell does become less annoying in the second half of the book. But her most defining personality trait of being completely self-absorbed doesn't improve much. The worst part about Annabell was how her character arc overshadowed the whole book. This book felt more like her therapy session than a romance. Poor Doku-ni was barely even a character because this was the Annabell Show. He doesn't talk for most of the book so Annabell spends the majority of the time monologuing and whining and working through her trauma. Marketing this book as a romance is a scam 🙃
Annabell was often insufferable in her desperation to be loved. I honestly don't think it would have mattered if it wasn't Doku-ni who loved her because she was so love starved for any love. This is one of the few books I wished had a POV from the perspective of the love interest. Anything to spend less time with Miss "Everything Revolves Around Me" Annabell. And end of rant.
⛔️ The technical writing was so bad. I was fixing sentences in my head while reading. For f--k's sake, please get an editor.
⛔️ This felt too much like a repeat of the first book. A lot of similar events happened. I understand this story happened during the same time as the events in the first book, so there would be some overlap, but there was too much repetition. If the IPB books can rehash the same timeline for the couples for like 10 books and still make it interesting for each book, then it can be done. There was a lack of creativity here.
💯 This scene was unintentionally funny and made me laugh.
This book was just so underwhelming since the first book had potential. I expected the second book to be an improvement, not worse than the first book. There were so many issues with the characters and romance. But since I didn't hate the romance, I was generous and gave this 2 stars. I would pass on this book because it isn't worth reading. The romance was so bland and forgettable. There are so many better orc romance books out there.
⚠️ TW: Graphic descriptions of violence and gore. Mentions of decayed corpses. Unsettling descriptions of mass amounts of insects. Deceased partners. Deceased parents and siblings and nieces and nephews. Mentions of off-screen rape. Childhood trauma. Asphyxiation. Slut shaming.
⭐️ Childhood friends that later reunite as adults is one of my catnip tropes. This didn't exactly fit that trope but the second chance vibes were there. I melted for how Doku-ni pined for Annabell Loyal king Doku-ni.
⭐️ The romance was somewhat cute? I know that's not much of a compliment but this book had major issues with the shallow and rushed romance so... Let's just say that when it was good, it was good. The spicy scenes were good. But when it was bad, it was sooooo bad. Like when we spend time with Annabell... Annabell and Doku-ni had chemistry but there wasn't much to the relationship other than lust and some cute moments.
⛔️ Annabell made me want to DNF. So many times. Doku-ni doesn't appear until so we are left solely with Annabell until that time. Annabell alone is about as interesting and as pleasant as a bucket of trash. The whole talking to her mother in her head thing got annoying so fast. If there is an award for the most frustrating protagonist, I would submit Annabell for it. This girl was so whiny about her life. I get that she has major ✨trauma✨ but girl was also a raging selfish idiot too. I hated almost every second I spent with her in the first half of the book 😭
Annabell does become less annoying in the second half of the book. But her most defining personality trait of being completely self-absorbed doesn't improve much. The worst part about Annabell was how her character arc overshadowed the whole book. This book felt more like her therapy session than a romance. Poor Doku-ni was barely even a character because this was the Annabell Show. He doesn't talk for most of the book so Annabell spends the majority of the time monologuing and whining and working through her trauma. Marketing this book as a romance is a scam 🙃
Annabell was often insufferable in her desperation to be loved. I honestly don't think it would have mattered if it wasn't Doku-ni who loved her because she was so love starved for any love. This is one of the few books I wished had a POV from the perspective of the love interest. Anything to spend less time with Miss "Everything Revolves Around Me" Annabell. And end of rant.
⛔️ The technical writing was so bad. I was fixing sentences in my head while reading. For f--k's sake, please get an editor.
⛔️ This felt too much like a repeat of the first book. A lot of similar events happened. I understand this story happened during the same time as the events in the first book, so there would be some overlap, but there was too much repetition. If the IPB books can rehash the same timeline for the couples for like 10 books and still make it interesting for each book, then it can be done. There was a lack of creativity here.
💯 This scene was unintentionally funny and made me laugh.
This book was just so underwhelming since the first book had potential. I expected the second book to be an improvement, not worse than the first book. There were so many issues with the characters and romance. But since I didn't hate the romance, I was generous and gave this 2 stars. I would pass on this book because it isn't worth reading. The romance was so bland and forgettable. There are so many better orc romance books out there.
⚠️ TW: Graphic descriptions of violence and gore. Mentions of decayed corpses. Unsettling descriptions of mass amounts of insects. Deceased partners. Deceased parents and siblings and nieces and nephews. Mentions of off-screen rape. Childhood trauma. Asphyxiation. Slut shaming.
July 18, 2021
I love this author. She has an amazing narrative voice. She uses third person POV instead of switching back and forth first person. Personally, I think this is a more effect and powerful technique. I did not realize that this is the second book in the series and it revolves around the h. Because this is a shorter book the author concentrates on her personal growth. As the reader you can see where the h has false views of herself and her connection to H helps her see herself more logically and let herself heal and let go of her self hate. Also, the author has commentary on small righteous communities that fail to be righteous and accepting of their people. The h realizing how she wasn’t fair to her sister in law, allowing the prejudices of the community sway her opinion even though she herself was a constant victim of the community’s judgement speaks to the power of social pressures. The author does this commentary wisely as part of what pushes the plot further. Overall, this story is a warning of what happens when you allow others to color your self image and the image you have of your neighbor. To top this all off, you have some very steamy love scenes and a growing relationship with the h and the H. This is not an erotic novel. This is a novel. You get plot, sex and character growth. It is very well edited and it is in a space much higher than most romance novels I’ve been reading. I would like L to get her own story. I would like to understand her better but this story it’s wonderful. I cannot recommend this author and this book enough. I hope there are more stories coming.
July 12, 2021
In my opinion, I do believed that it is quite impossible for Isoellen to write a bad story. As always, Isoellen put her own twist in the Omegaverse and she made it her own. I love the first book and it shouldn't surprise me that I loved this book even more.
In "Finding Her Heart" Isoellen tells us the tragic tale of Annabell Roe the Woman of Woe and how she finally gets reunited with her choosen love Doku-ni, an Orki. Perhaps using the word "reunited" might not be too accurate, however, you need to read the book to understand why I chose that word. I have to say it did took me awhile to get used to the style of language written and spoken by Annabell and her sibling during the first few chapters. This is because I believed they're supposed to be Amish-like (as pointed by one of the reviewers), so their ways are pretty simple and archaic. However once we really get into the story with Annabell and Doku-ni, the writing is more contemporary.
Isoellen painted a vivid picture of the world she's building. It was like discovering a new world, the beauty and the ugliness of it. There was a scene in the book where the scene was akin to a horror movie, I grimaced at Isoellen's depiction of the Hungries ... such horrible creatures. Also during the beginning of the book, I could smell the foul stench of the marauders and the carnage they unleashed on the unsuspecting villagers.
A bit of a warning, Doku-ni likes to use breathe play to control and subdued Annabell. So if this is not your kind of thing, do proceed with caution. Personally, I love the sensual play between both H and h. No words of Alpha and omega were spoken but their dynamic is just the same.
Thank you Isoellen for another fantastically written book. Looking forward to more!
In "Finding Her Heart" Isoellen tells us the tragic tale of Annabell Roe the Woman of Woe and how she finally gets reunited with her choosen love Doku-ni, an Orki. Perhaps using the word "reunited" might not be too accurate, however, you need to read the book to understand why I chose that word. I have to say it did took me awhile to get used to the style of language written and spoken by Annabell and her sibling during the first few chapters. This is because I believed they're supposed to be Amish-like (as pointed by one of the reviewers), so their ways are pretty simple and archaic. However once we really get into the story with Annabell and Doku-ni, the writing is more contemporary.
Isoellen painted a vivid picture of the world she's building. It was like discovering a new world, the beauty and the ugliness of it. There was a scene in the book where the scene was akin to a horror movie, I grimaced at Isoellen's depiction of the Hungries ... such horrible creatures. Also during the beginning of the book, I could smell the foul stench of the marauders and the carnage they unleashed on the unsuspecting villagers.
A bit of a warning, Doku-ni likes to use breathe play to control and subdued Annabell. So if this is not your kind of thing, do proceed with caution. Personally, I love the sensual play between both H and h. No words of Alpha and omega were spoken but their dynamic is just the same.
Thank you Isoellen for another fantastically written book. Looking forward to more!
July 18, 2021
Because of the circumstances of her childhood, Annabel Roe has been know as the child of woe and later the woman of woe. Thus she has sort of been the outcast in her town. Having grown up with her father's stories and knowledge of the Orki, she has never been afraid of them even if everyone else seem to shun them. She's always dreamed of belonging to them and the one chance she had, her family discouragement and refusal made her give up that dream. But with the Orki 's arrival to deal with the broken treaty, will she finally be able to live that dream again?
In this second book of "An Orki War Bride Tale" series, you get to see the back story of what kicked off the initial conflict from book 1. However, that doesn't mean you need to read book 1 before you can read this one as they both can be standalone. The events in this book does occur in the same timeline as the first book though. Since the first book, I've been interested in the hungries so I am happy with what the author added in this book. It's till not enough in my opinion, but it's intriguing as heck though and I hope we'll get more as the series progresses. The Orki's culture is quite interesting from the glimpse we get of it. I think because the author has kept it mysterious, it causes a lot of us reader to find them crude. I've enjoy what I've read so I am looking forward to more.
In this second book of "An Orki War Bride Tale" series, you get to see the back story of what kicked off the initial conflict from book 1. However, that doesn't mean you need to read book 1 before you can read this one as they both can be standalone. The events in this book does occur in the same timeline as the first book though. Since the first book, I've been interested in the hungries so I am happy with what the author added in this book. It's till not enough in my opinion, but it's intriguing as heck though and I hope we'll get more as the series progresses. The Orki's culture is quite interesting from the glimpse we get of it. I think because the author has kept it mysterious, it causes a lot of us reader to find them crude. I've enjoy what I've read so I am looking forward to more.
September 20, 2021
This is the second book in the An Orki War Bride Tale series. The first book was fantastic, setting up a new world with orc-like beings and all kinds of cool SFR twists. I was very excited to read the second book and after finishing it, I see where the author went with this one. I sense more of a fairytale/folklore telling. Some of the language reminded me of Old English and I sensed the Allan Poe inspiration. The first book was not like this, at least not that I remember. I enjoyed how the story developed between the main characters- Annabelle and Doki-ni. He was everything I expected from an Orki warrior with his uber intensity when it came to all things Annabelle. He cared for her and looked out for her, even to the point where we hated him for being selfish and not caring about the other women around them. Annabelle has this very rich history of how she has suffered her whole life being the outcast where she went. She had an opportunity to be someone special- an Orki bride- and sadly she lost that chance because of her family. But her fairytale doesn't end there because she gets a second chance when Doki-ni comes back into her life. This time around there is no one to hold them back from fulfilling their destiny.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.
October 12, 2023
Las cinco estrellas más merecidas este año!!!
Es que este universo es tan vasto que me ahogo en las palabras para explicarlo
Tenía dudas sobre qué podría contar una secuela pero superó todas mis expectativas al conocer más sobre el pasado y el futuro.
Cómo pudo la autora imaginar tantos detalles? Me pierdo en la curiosidad de conocer a Isoellen en persona y ver el rostro de quien tendría una imaginación como esta además de desarrollar unos diálogos que te llevan a todo un mundo diferente
He encontrado pocos libros que me puedan ensimismar tanto pero que no lleven temas turbios de por medio así que puedo decir que si le quitas el erotismo te queda un universo fascinante de la conjunción de seres superiores y la vileza de los humanos.
Quedé sorprendida con el pasado de Anna pero a la vez algo tan simple de comprender conociendo cómo son los humanos y luego las pupas dieron la sensación tétrica de que la oscuridad de tragaba con cada línea leída
He tenido un tobogán de emociones leyendo y lo que más siento ahora es la necesidad del siguiente libro pero sin conocer si hay una fecha futura, me imagino mis siguientes días imaginando lo que podría ser un siguiente libro y reviviendo las líneas que ya he leído
Llegué a esta autora por una recomendación en Reddit y ha sido la mejor recomendación del año. Alguien merece un gran premio y gran abrazo
Es que este universo es tan vasto que me ahogo en las palabras para explicarlo
Tenía dudas sobre qué podría contar una secuela pero superó todas mis expectativas al conocer más sobre el pasado y el futuro.
Cómo pudo la autora imaginar tantos detalles? Me pierdo en la curiosidad de conocer a Isoellen en persona y ver el rostro de quien tendría una imaginación como esta además de desarrollar unos diálogos que te llevan a todo un mundo diferente
He encontrado pocos libros que me puedan ensimismar tanto pero que no lleven temas turbios de por medio así que puedo decir que si le quitas el erotismo te queda un universo fascinante de la conjunción de seres superiores y la vileza de los humanos.
Quedé sorprendida con el pasado de Anna pero a la vez algo tan simple de comprender conociendo cómo son los humanos y luego las pupas dieron la sensación tétrica de que la oscuridad de tragaba con cada línea leída
He tenido un tobogán de emociones leyendo y lo que más siento ahora es la necesidad del siguiente libro pero sin conocer si hay una fecha futura, me imagino mis siguientes días imaginando lo que podría ser un siguiente libro y reviviendo las líneas que ya he leído
Llegué a esta autora por una recomendación en Reddit y ha sido la mejor recomendación del año. Alguien merece un gran premio y gran abrazo
March 1, 2024
This book explained the triggering of the first heat, the Orki's way of life and traditions way better than the first. Andddd the pair had met previously which is why their relatively fast intimacy made more sense.
However, I noticed that the unnecessarily complicated language from the first book was even more used in this one. I hated the prologue. It didn't add anything since it was from the POV of the raiders and explained why they were so stupid to go across the Orki land. The writing style here was so bad. It was so difficult to understand what was being said and this prologue was not really necessary and why was it in the second book, but not the first?
Sentences need structure and verbs to make sense and the second part of a sentence after a comma has to be related to the first part(why not make a second sentence?).
Sentences like: Dancing in the lowest center circle, radiant with clean, brilliant, the community fire burned.
It often felt like words were forgotten and the structure shot to pieces.
However, I noticed that the unnecessarily complicated language from the first book was even more used in this one. I hated the prologue. It didn't add anything since it was from the POV of the raiders and explained why they were so stupid to go across the Orki land. The writing style here was so bad. It was so difficult to understand what was being said and this prologue was not really necessary and why was it in the second book, but not the first?
Sentences need structure and verbs to make sense and the second part of a sentence after a comma has to be related to the first part(why not make a second sentence?).
Sentences like: Dancing in the lowest center circle, radiant with clean, brilliant, the community fire burned.
It often felt like words were forgotten and the structure shot to pieces.
October 9, 2021
It’s surprising that this is the same author who wrote Her Broken Alpha. Extremely choppy writing and same plot as the first book after she reunites with her Orki. We never get to see inside the hero’s head although he does show his love through actions. You don’t learn much more about Orks in this story that wasn’t already revealed in the first book.
Anna’s self-imposed mommy issues were very tiresome. I also don’t understand why the hero would be so angry that she did what she did to help that other human out. Wouldn’t he want others to do the same if it was his woman in trouble? Don’t the other Orkis help those with redresses keep them safe when going through dangerous territory? Nothing was explained any further than the whole “individuality” thing that was mentioned in the first book.
It’s a good thing I read her other alpha series before this one or I would’ve avoided this author.
Anna’s self-imposed mommy issues were very tiresome. I also don’t understand why the hero would be so angry that she did what she did to help that other human out. Wouldn’t he want others to do the same if it was his woman in trouble? Don’t the other Orkis help those with redresses keep them safe when going through dangerous territory? Nothing was explained any further than the whole “individuality” thing that was mentioned in the first book.
It’s a good thing I read her other alpha series before this one or I would’ve avoided this author.
July 19, 2024
The beginning was difficult to read. All the death and hopelessness of it were suffocating. The world-building was so intriguing and a bit confusing. There were some parts that I couldn't understand. Nevertheless, it was a nice journey.
There was a bit of d/s dynamics between our main characters. Annabell Roe's Tale of Woe was so heartbreakingly beautiful. The story told us about the curse she carried on for years and how she was able to let go of it. Doku-ni's loyalty to his redress was notable. I was uncertain about how to feel about him. He was a bit of a control freak, just like any Orki who had met their redress. I think both the MCs complement each other.
There was more information about the world they live in in this book. I hope to read more of this in the future.
There was a bit of d/s dynamics between our main characters. Annabell Roe's Tale of Woe was so heartbreakingly beautiful. The story told us about the curse she carried on for years and how she was able to let go of it. Doku-ni's loyalty to his redress was notable. I was uncertain about how to feel about him. He was a bit of a control freak, just like any Orki who had met their redress. I think both the MCs complement each other.
There was more information about the world they live in in this book. I hope to read more of this in the future.
July 27, 2021
I really struggled to get into the story. I had to keep digging into my memory about what happened in the first book. Especially when it relates to certain things explained in book1 like where the Orcs came from, the milk etc. I also found the style of writing to be confusing. I can see that it has poetic undertones but I felt it took focus away from the story itself. And her mother’s voice…not sure why it’s even in there. Is it meant to depict her loneliness, her lack of self-worth…mental condition.? I don’t know. Found it distracting. I would have loved to hear more of Doku-ni POV. Perhaps I will read it again in the future and I may have a different perspective.
August 24, 2021
More Satisfying Than an Orki P3ni5
I identified with Anabell a little too much.
I loved how her inner turmoil manifested in mental arguments with her mother.
Her relationship with her parents and siblings, her failed marriage, and her learning the truth about her woe made me reflect on my own similar experiences/feelings.
The relationship with her Orki was sweet, at times. But I'm such a control freak that it drove me crazy when he was uncommunicative and heavy handed with controlling her actions.
I identified with Anabell a little too much.
I loved how her inner turmoil manifested in mental arguments with her mother.
Her relationship with her parents and siblings, her failed marriage, and her learning the truth about her woe made me reflect on my own similar experiences/feelings.
The relationship with her Orki was sweet, at times. But I'm such a control freak that it drove me crazy when he was uncommunicative and heavy handed with controlling her actions.
July 22, 2021
Woe is her
Anna lives off the grid. Everyone she loves has died at the hands of bad men from the city. They captured the women to do as they pleased. The bad guys made a big mistake, they trespass on Orki property. The Orki then in turn kill them all and stake a claim on the women. Anna is taken by an Orki she knew from her past. Doku-ni takes her as his war bride, his re-dress. Can Anna and Doku-ni have a HEA?
Anna lives off the grid. Everyone she loves has died at the hands of bad men from the city. They captured the women to do as they pleased. The bad guys made a big mistake, they trespass on Orki property. The Orki then in turn kill them all and stake a claim on the women. Anna is taken by an Orki she knew from her past. Doku-ni takes her as his war bride, his re-dress. Can Anna and Doku-ni have a HEA?
October 29, 2022
Just loved this book
I just loved this story, and I really enjoyed Isoellen Orcs and their world. This story however is Annas to tell. From a little girl she met the Orki and knew that one had asked for her hand but had been declined. Now years later after the evil men have been killed she is picked once more to be his redress. Join Anna and her mate though the journey in this absolute must read amazing story.
I just loved this story, and I really enjoyed Isoellen Orcs and their world. This story however is Annas to tell. From a little girl she met the Orki and knew that one had asked for her hand but had been declined. Now years later after the evil men have been killed she is picked once more to be his redress. Join Anna and her mate though the journey in this absolute must read amazing story.
April 3, 2023
Finding her heart is a world apart!
This is my second read through of this series! I hope there is a third about Lurann. I hope questions about succor will be answered. Will Lurann live as long as redress? If she only lives a human lifespan what will happen to the warriors? Will they die too? Also how will they defeat the hive? If they are bioengineered from the same genic material as the ri will it destroy them as well? Possibilities abound!
skmabry
This is my second read through of this series! I hope there is a third about Lurann. I hope questions about succor will be answered. Will Lurann live as long as redress? If she only lives a human lifespan what will happen to the warriors? Will they die too? Also how will they defeat the hive? If they are bioengineered from the same genic material as the ri will it destroy them as well? Possibilities abound!
skmabry
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