Jex thought she was an average, post-college girl—until she crippled a drunk and nearly incinerated a gas station. When her elemental powers manifest, she’s torn from her placid life and shoved into the war between good and evil. Forced to rely on new allies, including the sweetheart Captain of the Guards and her alphahole Valen, Jex must come to terms with her newfound ability before her enemies succeed in capturing her.
I am made of extremes.
Normalcy was key, before. I’d have a normal life, with a normal job, and a normal white-picket fence. That was before I crippled a drunk and torched a gas station.
As it turns out, normalcy lives in the average gray, but I do not. Instead, I am made of extremes. Of fire and water. Of light over darkness. Of good over evil. Well, mostly good over evil, apparently.
Now I have no choice but to embrace the not-normal before my world comes crashing down a second time—to piece myself back together with the family I found when I needed it, with the support of two men dragging me (kicking and screaming) to my full capability.
But the bad guys are coming, and they’re coming for me. He’s coming for me.
Ain’t that some shit.
Duality is the first book the The Duality Series, a contemporary fantasy romance (medium-burn M/F, slow burn reverse harem). If you like unique magic systems, sword fights and action sequences, sassy heroines, and bonfire-hot spice, then this book is for you.
TW: This book contains explicit sex and violence, and cheating as a tangential part of the story (not among the main characters). Detailed trigger warnings can be found on the "Books" tab of the author's website (spoiler warning).
I got this book as an ARC for an honest review. And honestly this book is in my top 5 favorite books of 2021! The sass of the characters had me smiling and laughing. And the spice 🥵🔥
This book got me out of a reading slump. It was definitely a book that I couldn’t put down.
I loved Ryan in the beginning, but Eli!! Omg Eli!!! And I’m excited to see Derek!
I plan on buying the physical book also to go in my library!
I am still recovering from the post book hangover. This book just absolutely knocked it out of the park. I like the fact that this is a romance book WITH fantasy and not a fantasy book WITH romance. An important distinction.
I am excited to see when the reverse harem bit comes in because it's not with this book. It's a good setup for a future harem and I don't know if I want Derek to bang me in a dirty bar bathroom, Ryan to tuck me into bed or Eli to punch me in the face and kiss it better.
I couldn’t finish this book. I DNF’d at 60% and I barely managed to get that far.
I hated the storyline. I hated the way FMC was basically kidnapped and held captive, even though it’s not so blatant as that. Her first instinct seems spot on, this place is a cult. Being all but forced to start a relationship with a man she doesn’t know and who hates her is just the kicker. Her entire life and all her actions are being dictated to her by strangers. Strangers who won’t let her leave. 🚩‼️🚩‼️🚩 Talk about red flags. The kicker is that she never tries to escape! She drank the koolaid way too fast.
I hated MMC. He was a jerk. There was nothing good about him. He had no redeeming qualities. Being told by other people that he’s a good, loyal, loving man means nothing when he’s only ever been a hateful piece of garbage from where I’m standing.
I hate the way this apparent “harem” is going to be formed. If there ever ends up being a harem we’re going to be swamped with internal harem drama. MMC in this book legitimately hates the other guy… along with everyone else it seems. Also, harems aren’t part of their culture, so I dunno where the harem idea is going to even come from.
Anyways. I’m not interested in finding out those answers. I don’t care. I don’t like the way this book is headed and I have no interest in continuing to torture myself with it.
The writing is giving wattpad. I just don’t like how the main character acts, especially towards other women. I only lasted 3 chapters, the writing specifically felt like it was written by a teenager in high school
First of all...GIRL WHY YOU DO ME DIRTY LIKE THAT?
*blows out a breath* ok so...this book is AMAZING. It's got some delicious spice and fantasy that you crave. The spice though...it just keeps getting hotter. I don't know how she does it but you just can't put it down. I need know what happens next.
The magic system is complex, but so far it's easy to comprehend. The characters are complex and not cookie cutter, each one has their own quirks and flaws and each time I just get drawn more and more into their stories. Twists and turns that you don't see coming, the END....BLOWN.
This book will pull you in, give you all the feels, and leave you wanting MORE. 10/10 would recommend. You won't regret it!
I am deceased, completely unwell, and cannot wait to come back for more with the next installment. Holy shït balls.
Still processing. But, our girl, Becca, is out here writing amazing material. Fantasy? Check. Relatable? Check. Steam AND Spice? Check. Check. Multiple love interests? CHECK. Slow burn? Check. Enemies to lovers? Check.
Y’all. This. Book. Honestly, coming off of a Tate James & Leigh Bardugo high, I think this is just what I needed. Right up my alley. The best of all the worlds. I’ll take more Saucy Fantasy, asap, please!
Alright, I'm torn because I wanted to like this more but for the characters being closer to 30 than 20 this felt a little too YA if you take sex scenes out.we have miscommunication, emotionally shutting down, and a lot of ignoring red flags.
Let's start with my biggest issue. Our main characters ability to not only be naive and not ask any questions while at the same time being annoyingly stubborn about other topics that don't matter. You don't have questions about the birth parents that you didn't know about, and didn't bring it up. But you are upset when you're paired with an extremely attractive and capable partner? You have no questions about the Keir, their motives, why the conflict began, but you are upset that people are making you work out and learn to shoot a gun? I actually agree with Eli when he thinks she's lazy and doesn't want to do anything that needs to be done. She complains and whines every step except when she should! She seems like a teenage character being immature and obstinate despite the fact that she is a 25 year old woman who had job, her own apartment, and at the beginning of this book admitted to sleeping with a married man. How does that translate to the character we end with at the end of this book. ALSO! Why would you not be suspicious of the tall dark hot guy? You see him multiple times, after and before you were kidnapped by the bad guys and it never once crossed your mind to mention it to the people who are keeping you safe, training you and dealing with your annoying personality?
Alright. Moving on. Eli. My guy can you be more of a cliche at times....broody, damaged, cares for everyone but her for some reason. Just stop with this emotionally stunted teenage boy behavior you are supposedly 26 years old! Grow up my guy.
Ryan- I was down with Ryan I'm the beginning because he seemed like a solid character and his POV showed he cared for others. Then he jumps into needy and overbearing in the span of a few chapters and the character completely changed.
Overall I rated this a 3 because the plot has promised despite the main characters best efforts to ruin it.
The only reason I could see as to why I would give this book a 4 is because I didn’t really like Ryan that much, and the only way and reason how I can explain it is to compare it slightly to a t.v. drama where people are made to live in a house together for a certain period of time and drama unfolds. Which in this case I wanted Jex to go with a certain guy and she was going for the other one, but there's a twist.
Beyond the spicy scenes and relationship drama, which were executed perfectly, I enjoyed the magical world Fogg created within the world we live in. The idea of having abilities, but not like magic where you cast a spell, it is something in your being, was a very spiritual approach to dealing with extreme emotions and the different qualities each person has, and whether they use those abilities for good or evil.
Book leaves off on a cliffhanger, but don’t worry, there is more to come for this world and the characters in it, the author told me!
This was a good fun read! Jex is a character who is sassy, funny and sarcastic in a realistic way I actually loved. She’s strong but also overwhelmed at all the things you think she would be. She feels like a friend I would I talk to all the time but could also kick your ass.
I liked Ryan but I am 💯team Eli!!!! Eli is delicious affffff. He’s got a dark, very naughty side that I desperately need to come out to play! So pissed they got cock blocked 😤
I knew “tall dark and handsy” would come back into the picture and I can’t wait to hear allll about him in book 2. 😈
Over all the storyline is good, tension is high, but I am a little sad with the lack of smut and follow through. Lots of edging, lots of sexual tension, Eli & Derek have amazing dirty talk 🥵 but then that’s it 😩 I prefer lots of smut in my reads 😅 I’m optimistic it picks up in the next books in this department !! 🙌🏻
City of bones if she got Simon and Jace. This was a wild ride and I was here for every single second. Everything that happened felt so realistic, I loved all the emotions the characters had to work through. We love a journey sequence. We love a slow burn. We loved it all.
For one I was bored, for two the heroines internal monologue sounded like an intelligent person. Her actions however were TSTL .
So never mind trying to run away thinking she was being initiated into a cult, suddenly ... I kid you not ... She says she would like to join the illuminate because it would be "fun" !!!!!
I'm not interested in reading this level of stupidity.
Duality is a reverse harem fantasy romance and is a fantastic first book for the series. It is fast paced with plenty of action, quick witted characters, and so much chemistry and tension between the main characters.
Jex finds out she has magical powers after someone tries to kidnap her and now has to try and find a way to control them while also navigating the new path her life is on, after her dad drops her off with the Clara and her family disown her. She is super sassy and funny, with sarcastic comments that had me in stitches.
The Men are all completely different, with one even being on the side of the bad guys but they all intrigue Jex and she can't stop herself from wanting them.
Ryan is the nice guy. He's captain of the Guards and totally smitten when it comes to Jex. And even though he knows she's paired to someone else, he can't stop thinking about her and decides to make her his.
Eli is the broody asshole. He and Jex are paired and share a unique connection, however he does everything he can at the beginning to push her away, training her beyond her limits and snapping at her continuously because he believes she's nothing but a liability.
And Derek. He's one of the bad guys, and even though you don't really see much of him in this first book, there is definitely chemistry between them.
And that cliffhanger!! Talk about leaving me needing to know more!! I can not wait to see where the next book will take us and if Jex can get a handle on her powers to save herself.
**I recieved a complimentary copy of the book for an honest review**
Where to start,
The heroine is unlike any other I've read about in a long time, sassy and quick witted; the banter between her and other characters was so good I cackled more than once. The story has great pacing, a unique magic system that is complex and intriguing but easy to understand. Amazing characters who suck you in and you just can't stop reading. I laughed a lot, cried, got angry and swooned.
The steamy scenes are 5/5 Chilli peppers hot. There is talk of some darker/rougher kinks but it's done in a safe and respectful way between the two characters. The steamy scenes always have the males characters making the heroine feel safe and able to stop at any time which is so good.
Eli. Mother f*cking ELI.
Don't get me wrong, Ryan is immaculate as well but there's just something about Eli that makes me want to punch his face while I jump his bones.
And then there's Derek. We only got a few small scenes with him but when I say I love and need this man I am not joking. I thought Eli was the bad boy for me in this story but he has NOTHING on Derek.
I'm holding out hope that the guys can put their differences aside because a steamy scene with those three and the heroine??? God save my soul.
I do not say this lightly when I say I NEED THE SECOND BOOK NOW. Like RIGHT NOW.
I cant remember the last time I finished a book in 48 hours but here I am contemplating my entire life because this book just wrecked me. There are some spicy 18+ scenes, and the tension in them is very well written. Also well written is the witty banter of the protagonist and one of the main love interests. Jex is the type of woman that modern literature needs. She's smart, she's witty, she's capable. She's also sarcastic, not afraid to enforce her own boundaries, and yet, she's also soft. She's allowed to cry when she's hurt and grieving, then talk herself up and move forward through the situation. She's allowed to be incredibly dynamic and express (excuse the pun) the duality of what being a woman in 2021/2022 is. The NEED to be both soft and emotional but also fierce and strong. The men are written in such a way that realistically paints....men. They can be animalistic and immature and yet, they're respectful of Jex and her needs and her boundaries.
I felt like Duality was kind of City of Bones vibe but with added spice, more emotionally complex characters, and a tiny tinge of a soulmate trope? If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.
Support indie authors and read this book immediately.
Umm Miss Fogg, can we discuss this maddening cliffhanger?!
**Only mildly spoilish... (the last line)**
I really enjoyed this book, just enough spice, mixed with an interesting magic system and rivalry that we're just getting started with. I found the main character Jex to realistic, and I loved that while she learned to control her powers and practice fighting skills she did not instantly become a perfect bad ass. She struggled, and flogs her way through it all, which is much more realistic!
I love that the steamy scenes touch on consent and make trust a big part, because you can have both force and consent.
I did find the reasons for her switching up partners was lacking a little.. some of it felt a little juvenile.. but I also liked that it was mostly her choice, and while she has a "pair" it's not forced, and she doesn't have the typical "I'm so drawn to this one person because of this bond I can't think straight" vibes. Well done!
I need to know what happens next and what interesting things may transpire with Tall, Dark and Handsy.
This was a ARC and I can’t wait for the next. So I hear this is a RH and I can see it setting up but no RH action yet. Don’t get me wrong. There is spice. The kitchen scene has me wanting more of that. Damn alarms!!
The book is awesome and had me hooked on the first chapter. I love the smartass sass that is Jex. Such witty retorts. The ending had my eyes wide. Like what kind of cliffy was that! Arrrggghhh! There lots of plot distractions that kept me guessing on things. I don’t know if that’s the right way to say that, but here we are.
Potential spoilers . . . I had my idea on whodunit but I was way wrong. I do give myself credit for not going for the obvious though. I had someone else in mind. I didn’t know Derek was who he was but know who he was part of. Trying not to say to much.
I’m upset now that I have to not only wait for this book to be released but have to convince Becca to send me the ARC on the next one because I’m an eager beaver.
I was part of the ARC team and yes my review is super late but I loved this book and damn was it good. The tension between Jex and Eli was awesome and the easy connection with Ryan was really fun to read. I really enjoyed the POV chapters from the other characters and can't wait to see more of then in the next book. Be aware this book does end on a cliffhanger that I didn't see coming and I can not wait to read book two. The magic system is awesome and I really appreciate that it wasn't a huge info dump and that we learn about it at the same pace as Jex. I'm really looking forward to learning more about the dualities, the Clara and the Kier in the next book. This book does cover some hard topics like abandonment & being disowned as well as some mental health topics & breakdowns. This is easily one of my top reads this year and will definitely be re reading to see if I can figure out the cliffhanger earlier on the second time through maybe I missed some hints.
This was a pretty solid start to this RH (menage?) considering it looks to be this author's first books so I have rounded up. This would have been 3 if I weighed it against other favs but it is a good start.
A few small plots holes, a few small inconsistent motivations but I was able to read past them. I would have liked some more descriptions of physically how characters look cause I have a pretty blank idea after just reading.
Not a super fleshed out magic system but again better than I lot I have read from more experienced authors.
I liked the FMC for the most part, she had a few good lines and moments. Good cliffy to tip you to the next book.
"Barely this side of Psychopath" I loved this book. I loved the witty banter, the sayings, the hidden clues, and the many little twists that were throughout the plotline. There were a couple of the spicy parts that had me blushing which is a hard feat from all the books I have read with the varying levels of spice. I can't wait for the next book so I can see if all of my little inklings are correct. I love Eli and all the possibilities that his presence suggests, and I do love a good love triangle. This definitely ends on a cliff hanger so reader be warned, but so do many of the greats.
Jex is a normal post-college girl just trying to make it in life. Or so she thought. When she cripples a drunk and nearly burns another business down, she's finding out that her world isn't what she thought, and she's about to be be thrown into a war she never thought possible.
This author is absolutely fantastic. With the writing being phenomenal, and the plot being unique and intriguing, this was a recipe for a sensational book. The steam was great and Jex is just a kickass character who brings the story to life. She's so relatable and she thinks like a real person would.
This literary work of art kept me up way past any sane bedtime. I finished the book in two sessions, about 254 hours. The characters are relatable and i would definitely be friends with them all. The combination of fantasy and reality are intoxicating. I've already pre-ordered the next book and I'm on my way to read other books by the author. Thanks to TikTok for putting this author in my life.
I loved everything about this book. It had action and romance. It was funny and the dialogue between the characters was hilarious! I would definitely read this again and recommend to anyone. It wasn’t that spicy but that is okay because this book laid the groundwork for the series and that is awesome. The cliffhanger at the end of the book just about killed me though!
I would have finished this sooner had I not caught pneumonia and the flu in the same month! But wow, such a good book. The spice was amazing, the story compelling. Excellent character development and I did not see the ending coming. Pretty pissed I have to wait until March for Duplicity to come out! Well done, Becca. Well done!
The experience of reading the book was thrilling. I went on a rollercoaster of emotions while reading. I'm so happy to have read this book- it got me back into reading for fun and not just for assignments.
I absolutely loved this book! Refreshing and new the characters were well written and the plot well thought. It really sucked me into its pages and it made want to read more and more and more! I really can't wait to see what the story will bring next!