A Walrus & A Gentleman

Sanguis et Fauna #3

by Emmaline Strange

Ragnar Ambrose is a simple guy with simple tastes. He enjoys the predictable solitude of his life as a lighthouse keeper, and though he's been unlucky in love, he's content with his quiet routine of collecting oceanographic data, knitting, tending the lighthouse, and of course, maintaining his reputation as the town's local cryptid. He's a gruff Walrus shifter, who prefers being alone to being the butt of a thousand family jokes. He likes his lonely life.

It's peaceful. He understands it. And above all, it's quiet.

Enter Kellan West, an exuberant artist determined to use his prestigious summer painting fellowship at Ragnar’s lighthouse as a fresh start. A survivor with a heavy past, Kel has only one rule: don't get attached. He's only here for the summer, so why indulge his crush on the scowling lighthouse keeper? Anyway, he has art to produce, and local mysteries to unravel. When the mysterious creature known as the Selkie King saves Kel from drowning, he simply has to learn more.

What he learns proves to Kel he'd been right along: trust is a mistake, and everyone has a secret.

A WALRUS & A GENTLEMAN is a high heat, low angst forced proximity romance novella.

Content warning: mentions of past abuse

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, M M Romance, Shapeshifters, LGBT, Paranormal, Queer

178 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2021

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I just four star a book about a walrus shifter?! You’re fucking right I did!

An adorable-beyond-measure story of a grumpy walrus shifter/ renaissance man/lighthouse keeper, who bakes his own bread, knits his own sweaters and is lonely for love; paired with a sweet as pie, shy artist who is learning to trust again after an abusive relationship. This could not be any cuter, funnier or more heartwarming.

This isn’t a perfect book, it suffers from some indy issues and needs a good editor and a trip to Ireland for some authenticity. I can forgive the sometimes clunky writing i.e. using text short forms like TBH and AF in the narrative not the dialogue *shudder*. As well as some of the weird choices by the author i.e. why not just make Ragnar Irish and why are these two Americans in an Irish lighthouse yet the adjacent town seems more New England-esque? That and the somewhat cringey sex scenes dropped this down a star. However this idea is quite original and the narrative is very engaging, quirky and whimsical.
Special mention for the cover art: you all know my feelings on good and bad covers, I’d hang this shit on my wall it’s so campy and wonderful!
So I recommend this short novella to cleanse your pallet, it’s the nicest little sorbet!
🦭 <—pretend this is a walrus.

[Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Review:
This was SO CUTE! The romance was so cute and sweet. I genuinely believed their feelings. I smiled at their adorable little emotional moments. The first kiss was perfect. There are other super sweet moments I want to talk about, but that would ruin them for anyone who hasn’t read the book yet so… *SPOILER* When Kel told Ragnar he was beautiful in his walrus form, that was so touching. When Ragnar saw the title of the art—gahhhh that one made me tear up. *END SPOILER*

I loved the cryptid angle too. How Ragnar became a local legend (though people referred to him as a selkie and didn’t know it was him), and how he actually went with it and had fun with it. You also don’t see a lot of books about walrus shifters.

The lighthouse setting was lovely. (I read one book set in a lighthouse, and suddenly I’m interested in every book I find that takes place in a lighthouse and downloading lighthouse lots for The Sims 3, but I digress.)

Overall, just a very cute m/m grumpy/sunshine romance with some adorable moments that gave me the smiley, teary-eyed (in a good way) feels!

*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2022 // Format: Ebook via TTS*

Recommended For:
Anyone who likes super cute m/m paranormal romance, uncommon shifters (a walrus), secluded lighthouse settings, uncomplicated stories, and grumpy/sunshine pairings.

Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight

[Rebecca Crunden]

Some part of me had always believed in fairy tales, and that part of me had fluctuated in strength and size over the years. Recently, it seemed only to shrink and fade further away, but I knew it was still there, whether or not I would ever admit it.

*HAPPY SHIPPING NOISES*

Everything about this was just ROMANCE and CUTE and GRUMPY LIGHTHOUSE GRUMPS and COSY JUMPERS and BE STILL MY HEART. ☆_☆

Gosh, this is a truly fun and romantic read! Perfect for those who like soft, sweet fairy tales set on windy islands with gruff, bearded lighthouse keepers who are undone by their perky, overly caffeinated cinnamon roll bfs.

☆ Blog | Twitter ☆

[juli✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝟛.𝟝 - 𝟛.𝟟𝟝


A cute as fuck story about a walrus shifter finding love with a human artist in a lighthouse.


I mean … enough said ✨

[•° Whimsy Fairy °• · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every second of this, it was perfection.

[Shelba · Rating 2 out of 5]

This starting out really great for me, but by the end it had me more than a little irked.

For starters, why have two Americans and plot them down in the middle of nowhere in a lighthouse in Ireland? Why not make them Irish? Why not have it at a lighthouse in the US?

The premise of having a family of shifters where every family member shifts into completely different species is… interesting. I’m not quite sure I understand why the author flip flopped between having Ragnar refer to his walrus half as his fauna (always italicized) and his Alpha (never italicized, always capitalized). It’s not as though it’s omegaverse, and so walruses have pack dynamics?

Should Ragnar not have a boat? Even for the sake of appearances? Would people not think it’s strange that there is one person just randomly stuck out on an island with no independent means of getting to mainland? After all, the lack of a boat is one thing that tips off Kel, and I would assume that Ragnar’s replacement isn’t also conveniently an aquatic shifter.

I feel bad for Greta, having to put up with these two idiots. Lack of communication/miscommunication is a really irritating trope for me, and I think Greta would agree with that. And of course, what better way to wrap up the book than with these two idiots hopping transatlantic flights in the opposite directions to see each other? Ever hear of a phone? Email?

And for the cherry on the cake, you have Ragnar flying back to Ireland (even though they both plan to live in the US), Kel awaiting Ragnar on a island he has no way off of, and where Ragnar no longer works. Then they kick in the door, startling Ragnar’s replacement, sweep right in and go fuck on the poor guy’s bed, while he is probably shitting himself downstairs.

Regardless of how this book panned out for me, it was going to be my last time reading Emmaline Strange. Two books, and both of them littered with typos. I don’t want to have to reread a sentence two or three times to try and make sense of what the author is trying to say.

There was something about the false innocence of the question that he me back him off half a step.

[Hot Mess Sommelière ~ Caro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read: not enough walrus energy.

--------

Walrusses are smart, gorgeous, sleek creatures.

Their beards are fantastic! They all have very nice whiskers, even the babies!

They have (albeit somewhat large) vampire fangs!

There is a noble, pensive air around them.

I could watch walrus videos 24/7 and never be bored. I LOVE marine mammals, especially the big beautiful ones.

[b.andherbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ragnar Ambrose isn't thrilled sunshine artist-in-residence Kellan is moving into the lighthouse he tends for three months. Ragnar is morose, a loner, and loves enjoying all his spare time making local legend come to life as a walrus shifter, known as the Selkie King.

But, Kellan and his love for coffee, the light, and so sunshine brings new life to Ragnar, but they'll have to work through Kellan's mistrust and Ragnar's own secrets to find their HEA.

I just loved this. So atmospheric (please take me to this Irish island stat), Ragnar KNITS his own sweaters and blankies, can make bread!!, and will special order a coffee maker for you, besides boarding up your windows and rescuing you from drowning. Kellan was also so sweet and I hated that he had been so hurt by his ex, and I was glad Ragnar showed up for him finally in an epic grovel.

Love this world, cannot wait to read more. I will say, the lack of lube in a few scenes made me go ouch but the characters chose it together, so ymmv.

Content notes: Ragnar is a white Irish cis man who shifts into a walrus. Kellan is a white American cis man who paints and is an artist for a living. Discussion of emotional abuse in a relationship (past), danger (Kellan almost drowns), toxic family (Ragnar's shifter family who he barely has a relationship with anymore because they don't think his walrus is noble enough??)

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.

This cover is perfection

This book is basically perfection — a cozy shifter romance between a grumpy lighthouse keeper / walrus and a sunshiney artist? Yes please!

So cute. So warm. Makes you want to curl up w a hand knit blanket, drink some tea, and have bareback sex over the railing of a remote lighthouse.

I would LOVE more cozy sci-fi romances like this and Yuri & the Yeti.

CW: abusive ex; unkind family

Steam: 4/5

From 2025 reread:
I love this book so much. An absolute comfort to revisit.

[Jen (mrs-machino) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was sweet, with just enough depth to keep it from being saccharine. An artist with relationship baggage meets a walrus shifter lighthouse keeper who’s always been a loner. I loved the progression of the relationship and mutual grand gestures.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Walrus and a Gentleman is the second book from author Emmaline Strange, and the first one I have read from her. If you are looking for a grumpy/sunshine pairing, with some alpha shifter aspects and steamy times plus a very sweet ending, I would recommend giving this one a try!

Ragnar is a walrus shifter and a bit of an embarrassment to his family, so he lives by himself and minds the local lighthouse. He might have also become a bit of a cryptid with the locals who have made him into a local legend. Enter Kel - sweet, talkative, light Kel, an student who is staying at the lighthouse for the summer for a major art project. Although the two clash at first, things start to warm up - and then really heat us as the two fall for each other over the summer.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I love the setting, the small town, Greta at the bar, and Ragnar and Kel slowly coming together in a bit of a forced proximity type of setting. I adored the ending so so much, it was some of the middle that I was a bit more unsure of?

I feel like I got to know Kel pretty well for the most part, but Ragnar and his shifter side felt a bit more mysterious throughout the whole story. Like it was somewhat....vague? With why Ragnar was a walrus, why the mating bite (like - side effects? Purpose?), and what the "rules" were, I guess. (It's a thing with me, OK? When it's the first book in a shifter/paranormal series, I want to know what the rules/mythology of that paranormal element is!)

Also, Ragnar was a grumpy grump, which I am all for, but also sometimes I felt like it was almost TOO much - especially with Kel's relationship/trauma past, and I wish that things had been discussed more, or Kel could have sought some therapy and healing for his past, and maybe that Ragnar could have calmed the F down a bit more quicker too. Because Ragnar kinda retained his grumpy self throughout the whole story, it just made me worry for Kel lol

Overall, this book definitely held my attention and I really enjoyed it. You don't see too many stories with walrus shifters and I love that he was so open with Kel once secrets were out. (Also wish we had gotten to read more of those things happening, rather than just being told about it after the fact.) So yes, I would definitely recommend this story!

I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[❀ Jess ( Semi hiatus ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see why a lot of my Goodreads friends enjoyed this book, I did too! I was a little hesitant to read this because a review mentioned that Ragnar wasn’t a good match for Kal because of Kal’s abusive ex and it made me worry that Ragnar was gonna’ be a jerk but that’s not the case! In fact, Ragnar is my favorite of the two MCs. 🥺

I loved when the MCs got together and Ragnar was so open with his affection. LOVED his alpha’s side of being possessive and wanting to claim his mate. Perfect grumpy cinnamon roll. Annnnddd, as weird as it was I really liked the Walrus shifter idea, I’m a sucker for stories that have an MC who feels like they aren’t good enough or are lesser than others and in this case Ragnar’s family made him feel that because he was a Walrus 🥺

What I really wasn’t a big fan of, some parts of the story felt repetitive and the time progression didn’t really flow well imo.

ALSO, the ending! Sure it sets the tone of being together forever but like, I wanted more! 😭 I wanted to SEE them settled together.

[Dan Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantasy romance novella that knows what you want and gives it to you in ways you didn’t know you needed. It’s a quick read, and the balance of sweet and spicy is just right. Don’t get me wrong—this book is packed with heat, so stay away if that’s not your bag, but the sweetness is what gets to you. This WALRUS SHIFTER romance has Only One Bed, forced proximity, and a lovely twist on the Alpha trope.

But honestly what I love the most about it is the writing. The voices are fresh and clear, modern but with a timeless quality. Many little moments of the prose work together to knit a cozy Irish sweater like the one in the book, just the thing to keep you tearing through it as the wind howls outside your window.

[Kelan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was amusing and more enjoyable than I thought it would be with a title like that. The ending was a little ridiculous and unnecessary, but the rest of the book was nice, and the reveal toward knowing the secret didn't occur how it usually does. I actually had a sense of who the characters were, and the world was even given some idea of how the powers work, which I appreciated.

[K]

100% an it’s-not-you-it’s-me DNF. The slower pace and very vibey feeling wasn’t working for my headspace and once I fell out of it, I couldn’t re-engage. Prob deserves five stars for all the cable knit sweater rep alone, though.

[Reibekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't try to use a system. This was a fun time and I got out of it what I expected.

[SnooRegrets · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, albeit a a bit too short for the deep themes it tried to tackle.

[Danielle Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

You had me at lighthouse!

This is a very enjoyable read, with a unique take on shifters, and grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort tropes.

Kellan West, Kel, is an art student with a summer fellowship at a lighthouse on a small island in Ireland. Ragnar Ambrose is the solitary lighthouse keeper and secret walrus shifter.

This book has a take on shifters that is interesting and which I haven’t seen before. Instead of having, say, a family of bear shifters, each member of a shifter family has a unique animal (fauna) side which is unknown until the child hits maturity. It made me think more of a Harry Potter patronus than typical shifter lore.

The book starts with the grumpy/sunshine roles seemingly established. However, as we get to know Ragnar and Kel, you start to wonder which is which. Underneath his scowl, Ragnar is a big softy who longs for his once in a lifetime mate. Once Kel starts to relax, his sunny facade starts to crumble, and his anxiety and insecurity as a result of the past abuse he has suffered come forth.

For me this book got stronger as it went along. The first third didn't flow easily and the passage of time was difficult to follow. For me the lighthouse was the draw to this book, and I would have liked to have had more description of the lighthouse and the island. Also, more about Kel adapting to life in a lighthouse, e.g. running up the stairs to his bedroom would have been no easy thing to start off with. Considering Kel was there to paint the island, there is a surprising lack of detail about it, except that it is small. I have no idea of what kinds of plants grow there or what birds and animals are to be found.

The story really picks up once Kel and Ragnar start communicating with each other. The dialogue and interactions are fantastic, and Kel’s inner monologue is hilarious. All that snuggling in bed is delightful!

There are really only three characters in this book so there is an intense focus on the main characters. I enjoy this ‘quiet’ sort of book, where there isn’t a large cast of supporting characters or a lot of action or drama to drive the plot. I like that it allows a lot of time for the characters and relationship to develop. I did feel like I got that with this book, but that it could have gone deeper on both counts. Kel especially was very conflicted as his time on the island came to an end, and I felt that we needed to hear from him as he worked through his feelings. We only got Ragnar’s POV during the period that Kel was preparing for his exhibit, and so for me it felt like the HEA was rushed.

All in all, I liked both characters and I believed in the relationship. Emmaline Strange was a new author to me, but I would certainly recommend this book and be interested in other titles.

**I received an arc of this book from the author, for an honest review in return.**

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love that cover.

Interesting take on shifters. Instead of known kinds of animals that stay in families, your "fauna" is random and unknown until puberty. Ragnar's family are snooty about their animals—and rarely embrace their animal sides—and when he pops out a walrus in a family full of sleek, fashionable fauna, he decides to move overseas and tend a lighthouse for decade. He lives alone, rarely goes into town, barely says a word, and delights in being the local cryptid. He has the occasional hook up when he feels the urge or there's an opportunity presented. He likes his life the way it is.

Did I mention he's a knitter—the perfect introvert hobby for those chilly nights? Be still, my crafty heart.

Kellan is a beautiful and quiet man full of practiced smiles, PTSD, never-ending polite chatter, and a walled off heart. Due to a past abusive romantic relationship, he's sworn to never get attached and love again. Letting people get close leads to being hurt and caged, and he'll never allow that to happen a second time. An artist, Kel applies for an exclusive opportunity to summer at a remote Irish light house to complete an ocean study that will become an art exhibit. When he is granted the opportunity of a lifetime, he's under the impression he'll be living in a little cottage on the island. He finds out this isn't the case—he's to stay in a tiny claustrophobic room in the lighthouse with the surly keeper who seems to hate him. A pity, because Kel thinks the guy is very attractive and would be fun to have a summer fling with.

What happens when grumpy and sunshine are forced to live in a tiny lighthouse together and Ragnar's walrus won't stop wanting to love on and protect Kel? And what if Ragnar isn't actually opposed to the idea either, as impractical as it is?

Overall, really liked this one. Would visit this universe again.

TW/CW: domestic abuse in past that is relived on page in flashbacks and dialogue

[EQUUS · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest I didn't know what to expect when I agreed to read an ARC of this book but since it came on a recommendation from a great author and friend I decided I'll give it a try although it's not my preferred trope. I'm so happy I didn't miss this one, , because this author is one of the nicest surprises of the year for me and I read a lot. I won't repeat the blurb, I never do, unless is absolutely necessary. First chapter didn't "reel me in" so to speak but after that I couldn't put it down. I would have read the whole thing in one sitting, but life and sleep got in the way.
The quality of writing is so above average that I don't even know where to begin. What stood out the most for me was the subtle and realistic way the author wrote the natural progression of the relationship with depth and attention to the detail that I'm sure everyone can relate to, without being overly dramatic. The way these two men connect, adapt and find in each other just what they need despite being so different is moving without any sugary sweetness - which I hate by the way. I like shifter stories, but this one so stands out! A walrus would have never crossed my mind. What a great idea and execution, not to mention that it's based on not very well known folk lore. The humor is a most welcome added bonus and so is Greta - a very strong and well written side character.
Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that this story is steamy!
I'll come back to this author without a doubt. Following.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, entertaining, trope-filled read about a twinky artist who spends a summer on a remote Irish island with a gruff lighthouse keeper who also happens to be a walrus shifter. It forms part of Strange's Sanguis et Fauna AU. The romance runs hot and cold for most of the book, but the few sexy times are real sexy. Although I did enjoy it, my main issue with it is that it isn't fleshed out well enough, they spend a lot of time on that island alone together, but it was a lot more tell than show. That said, the universe has expanded since this book and the full-length novel was great, so I can't complain too much.

[Courtney Bassett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endearing and cute

I do so love a grumpy/sunshine pairing, and this grump was EXTRA grumpy! The walrus shifter aspect was unusual and fun, and I loved seeing him gradually soften and open up.

Kel (the sunshiny artist) had some issues of his own after a bad ex experience, and I felt like his jumpiness and fears were very realistic. But love (and trust built over time) conquers all!

This was a new author to me and I was pleased with the quality of both editing and writing. I’ll be reading more from them.

[Janet Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this down!! The story flowed beautifully, had a really good pace. Ragnar enjoys being alone but he’s not lonely. Kel arriving on the island kind of intrudes on Ragnar’s solitude. I loved how Ragnar was gruff but also kind! I adored both men so much!! Overall, this was really well written, highly recommend. I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received.

[fadadoslivross]

DNF AT 5%

Queria muito ler esse livro por conter vários elementos que gosto, mas a escrita não estava legal pra mim e em dois capítulos já tava sentindo raiva dos personagens e da narrativa. Acho que os elementos não combinam, e me senti distante dos protagonistas, não ligava pra eles, e parecia que a maneira que era escrito não acrescentava pra história. Uma pena mas não vou me forçar a ler!

[Juniper · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite part of this story is Ragnar, who is hands down just a great character. He’s gruff but kind, reserved yet playful, and he’s built a life for himself that allows him to be all of himself, on his terms. I liked his “fauna” side and I respected how much he tried to be there for Kel, and that even when he got it a little bit wrong he tried to fix it right away. Kel is an interesting character as well: he’s survived some horrible things, and the marks of those things go deep into his psyche and sometimes cause him to lash out at Ragnar. For someone so hyper aware of his own boundaries (which is a good thing, don’t get me wrong) he’s weirdly unconcerned with anyone else’s (not such a good thing). His weird kleptomania with Ragnar’s things would be adorable if it didn’t extend to his first response to suspecting Ragnar was a selkie, which was looking for his skin. You know, like the legends, where selkies couldn’t escape whoever owned their skins? A legend he’s well aware of but brushes off his misgivings about, because he’s somehow entitled? Yuck, Kel. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think he’s a bad person, at all, I just wish he’d been held a bit more accountable, even if only by himself, for some of his decisions. Overall, however, I really enjoyed this story: it’s a great blend of supernatural and romance. I also just loved the tiny community on the mainland, who’ve embraced the legend of the Selkie King in their own, reserved yet caring way. Greta is a gem, and I loved her as a friend to both Ragnar and Kel. I loved that the guys got their happily ever after, and the mechanics of getting it were the perfect blend of heat, sentiment, and a bit of absurdity-- it totally worked for them.

*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Natalie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

ebook, KU - 5/5, this was just adorable. Grumpy knitter walrus shifter in forced lighthouse proximity with sunshiny yet sensitive artist; scorching hot sex; trans-Atlantic grand gesture - what’s not to love?!? Thanks to Paige for her great review, I would never have read this if not for her and I’m so glad I did!

[M.E. Aster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Walrus & A Gentleman is a delightful shifter romance that was a joy to read!

For such a short story, Strange packs the pages full of angst, character building, and so much more. I felt like I had known Kel and Ragnar for ages by the end of it, and at the same time I wanted more of this adorable couple.

A true sunshine/grump trope with some trauma thrown in coupled with a perfect HEA, this book was sweet and steamy. I highly recommend it to any fans of romance!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, idiots to lovers with one bed - what else could you ask for 💁🏻‍♀️
A little cringy at times, but enjoyable! Please tell me where I can sign up to be the next lighthouse keeper of this cute Irish island please

[Chloë [at the cottage] · Rating 4 out of 5]

My high rating DESPITE the romantic plot being rife with miscommunication/non-communication says enough - this was darn lovely. But ohhhh is the lack of communication strong in this one. I have never wanted to smack two people upside the head more!

Come for the walrus, stay for two traumatized souls finding peace with one another.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grumpy/sunshine shifter novella between a bright painter and a grumpy lighthouse keeper who happens to be a walrus shifter . I really enjoy this authors writing style . Steam , mates and a happily ever after.