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The Middle Sea #2
The Sorcerer's Alpha
They’re lost in the wilderness. And there’s only one tent.
When a routine mission goes horribly awry, expert wilderness scout Marut finds himself solely responsible for protecting one of the powerful court sorcerers. Marut is suspicious of magic and more comfortable with horses than people, but he comes to begrudgingly respect Sycamore as they flee for their lives.
Lost in a strange and wild country and forced into close quarters, Marut and Sycamore develop an unexpected and unsettling intimacy during the long and treacherous journey home. Because Sycamore isn't only a sorcerer, he's also an omega, and he has needs Marut is irresistibly tempted to fill.
But Marut’s first loyalty is to his kingdom, and the war they’ve fled from isn’t over. As they’re plunged back into the conflict, Marut is torn between serving his people and saving the man he’s grown to love.
When a routine mission goes horribly awry, expert wilderness scout Marut finds himself solely responsible for protecting one of the powerful court sorcerers. Marut is suspicious of magic and more comfortable with horses than people, but he comes to begrudgingly respect Sycamore as they flee for their lives.
Lost in a strange and wild country and forced into close quarters, Marut and Sycamore develop an unexpected and unsettling intimacy during the long and treacherous journey home. Because Sycamore isn't only a sorcerer, he's also an omega, and he has needs Marut is irresistibly tempted to fill.
But Marut’s first loyalty is to his kingdom, and the war they’ve fled from isn’t over. As they’re plunged back into the conflict, Marut is torn between serving his people and saving the man he’s grown to love.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2022
43 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
August 20, 2022
A fantastic magical adventure! I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. I really liked that it is set over three distinct parts. Without giving anything away, the first part is jam packed with adventure, horse riding, earth magic, and sharing a tent. The second part gives "how wonderful life could be if..." vibes. The third brings the first two parts together. The epilogue was a perfect wrap.
December 10, 2022
The good
+ Only one tent
+ Sycamore's trust in Marut
+ Marut not being wary of Sycamore's magic, because he trusted Sycamore
+ Sycamore enjoying Marut's quiet presence, and Marut not feeling pressured to speak
+ Sycamore becoming this and Marut not blinking an eye, because his Sycamore would never hurt him
+ How fucking smitten Marut was
+ Marut with kids
+ Marut with horses
+ Marut going to rescue Sycamore, and thinking I should totally bring his horse, he'd like that
+ The way Sycamore announced . What a dork
+ The cover
The neutral
o There was no moment of revenge against . He got away with everything he did (and even got as a bonus)
The bad
- Sycamore was sure they were going to bond, but decided the immense pain later would be worth it now. However, he never once asked Marut about his feelings on the matter. He just decided, on his own, that it would be worth it leaving each other in the future and also breaking Marut's heart
-
Quotes
x Marut spotted him and smiled with his entire face, the bond flooding with happiness. Sycamore loved him more than anyone had ever loved another person in all the history of the world.
x "I don't think I'll survive being this happy."
These two were so gone for each other. Their mutual trust was amazing, and the fondness was obvious. This one didn't quite wow me as much as the first book, but I still enjoyed it a lot. I'd recommend the series, and I'll be reading the next one too.
+ Only one tent
+ Sycamore's trust in Marut
+ Marut not being wary of Sycamore's magic, because he trusted Sycamore
+ Sycamore enjoying Marut's quiet presence, and Marut not feeling pressured to speak
+ Sycamore becoming this and Marut not blinking an eye, because his Sycamore would never hurt him
+ How fucking smitten Marut was
+ Marut with kids
+ Marut with horses
+ Marut going to rescue Sycamore, and thinking I should totally bring his horse, he'd like that
+ The way Sycamore announced . What a dork
+ The cover
The neutral
o There was no moment of revenge against . He got away with everything he did (and even got as a bonus)
The bad
- Sycamore was sure they were going to bond, but decided the immense pain later would be worth it now. However, he never once asked Marut about his feelings on the matter. He just decided, on his own, that it would be worth it leaving each other in the future and also breaking Marut's heart
-
Quotes
x Marut spotted him and smiled with his entire face, the bond flooding with happiness. Sycamore loved him more than anyone had ever loved another person in all the history of the world.
x "I don't think I'll survive being this happy."
These two were so gone for each other. Their mutual trust was amazing, and the fondness was obvious. This one didn't quite wow me as much as the first book, but I still enjoyed it a lot. I'd recommend the series, and I'll be reading the next one too.
September 15, 2022
This book has basically all of my top tropes/elements and delivered perfectly on all of them: fantasy setting; characters from different backgrounds; closeness developing through peril, caretaking after injury, and forced proximity; a magical bond that connects you to your partner; and a forbidden relationship that makes the characters reevaluate what’s really important to them in life.
Marut and Sycamore are both very closed-off people by default, so it took me some time to warm up to them (and the book), but once I did, I was fully invested. The relationship develops slowly, but in a way that makes perfect sense for the characters and feels necessary instead of frustrating. I found myself wanting them to take their time, and enjoyed watching trust and vulnerability grow between them in small increments.
The worldbuilding in this series is incredible. So much thought has been put into the various cultures, down to differences in diet, clothing, and social protocols, and the settings are vivid and easily imagined. I love the South Asian influence, especially because it feels informed by real history and isn’t just the typical European fantasy setting with different clothing. The magic is creative and well-explained, and the action scenes are compelling.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy romance. It can be read as a standalone, for anyone who might not be interested in the first book in the series.
Marut and Sycamore are both very closed-off people by default, so it took me some time to warm up to them (and the book), but once I did, I was fully invested. The relationship develops slowly, but in a way that makes perfect sense for the characters and feels necessary instead of frustrating. I found myself wanting them to take their time, and enjoyed watching trust and vulnerability grow between them in small increments.
The worldbuilding in this series is incredible. So much thought has been put into the various cultures, down to differences in diet, clothing, and social protocols, and the settings are vivid and easily imagined. I love the South Asian influence, especially because it feels informed by real history and isn’t just the typical European fantasy setting with different clothing. The magic is creative and well-explained, and the action scenes are compelling.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy romance. It can be read as a standalone, for anyone who might not be interested in the first book in the series.
Read
September 23, 2022I've been cringing away from omegaverse for years. First read some in the BBC Sherlock fandom (where I think it may even have originated), and it was not the thing I jumped for but I wasn't put off, either, especially not when a writer subverted the trope in some way. But then came mpreg, and I ran screaming.
If any book could have sold me on mpreg I think it could have been this. It's so well written. Marut the alpha soldier and Sycamore the omega wizard are full-fledged people with believable inner lives, and though there's an element of Gosh You Smell Good insta-love, their growing respect and liking for each other fuel the attraction until even I, omegaverse skeptic, was dying for Sycamore to go into heat. I was even willing to avert my gaze from Marut's surrogate siring of children on an old friend, an omega married to someone who can't knot him & make babies (eek). But then came the dread conversation in which Marut and Sycamore imagine making babies together, and that was it for me.
I couldn't give this a star rating because for me it winds up being a run-screaming-negative-5000-stars, but that would be a me problem, not a book problem. Anyone who runs across this review and likes omegaverse with magical elements: read The Sorcerer's Alpha, it's really terrific.
If any book could have sold me on mpreg I think it could have been this. It's so well written. Marut the alpha soldier and Sycamore the omega wizard are full-fledged people with believable inner lives, and though there's an element of Gosh You Smell Good insta-love, their growing respect and liking for each other fuel the attraction until even I, omegaverse skeptic, was dying for Sycamore to go into heat. I was even willing to avert my gaze from Marut's surrogate siring of children on an old friend, an omega married to someone who can't knot him & make babies (eek). But then came the dread conversation in which Marut and Sycamore imagine making babies together, and that was it for me.
I couldn't give this a star rating because for me it winds up being a run-screaming-negative-5000-stars, but that would be a me problem, not a book problem. Anyone who runs across this review and likes omegaverse with magical elements: read The Sorcerer's Alpha, it's really terrific.
September 23, 2022
Tags: omegaverse, inconvenient heat, ageless fantasy realm, sorcerer, strong silent type, surviving in the wilderness, political / war, a horse named Bunny
This was excellent. The omegaverse aspects were seamlessly integrated into the political / war / adventure plot. I loved strong quiet Marut and how he called his horse Bunny and took such good care of the sorcerer.
Overall would definitely recommend.
This was excellent. The omegaverse aspects were seamlessly integrated into the political / war / adventure plot. I loved strong quiet Marut and how he called his horse Bunny and took such good care of the sorcerer.
Overall would definitely recommend.
February 13, 2025
Read February 2023
2.5 stars = pretty good
The writing is very good. The descriptions are vivid, painting a clear and detailed picture. The characters felt real.
What caused me to skim & skip through this:
🇹🇭🇪 🇸🇹🇴🇷🇾
For 90% of it, I felt
Ｔｈｅ Ｐｌｏｔ：
The country of Chedi is at war with the Skopa. They're fighting over the land that borders their two countries, which is currently in the hands of the Chedoy. The Skopoy started the war, after somehow finding out there's gold in the hills.
Marut is part of a scout team, sent to collect
Sycamore, a sorcerer at the King's palace in Banuri, the capital city.
He's taken to White Valley where in a desperate effort, an army camp was set up to hold the border. They soon learn that the Skopoy are using magical constructs (beasts), to wipe out the Chedoy army.
In the battle against the Skopoy, many die:
The entire army stationed at the border, along with all of Marut's team. This included Marut's friends, who were like family to him. They willingly sacrificed themselves, to allow Marut and Sycamore to escape.
That's the beginning of the
🛑 Some Spoilers Below 🛑
Sycamore inadvertently uses his magic to transport them to the Khentii Steppe, a harsh land of snow and freezing cold. They're many weeks/months away from Banuri, where they need to go. Getting back there is a third of the story. During this time, they struggle to survive, draw closer together, eventually bond, and interact with the people living there.
😢 What I felt sad about:
Sycamore's first duty is to the king of Chedoy. For a long time, he refuses to even think about a relationship with Marut. Even after they've bonded.
During his first heat, he allows Marut to help him get through it (minimal interaction). Then for the next several heats, he secludes himself away. He does this to prevent bonding with Marut. Eventually, Sycamore allows Marut to help him with his heats.
45% mark:
If his next heat came on without warning, if they were alone on the steppe when it happened, he would need to be detached and businesslike. Only their bodies could be involved. Marut wasn’t his to care for or keep.
64% mark: (still no connection)
Sycamore shrugged. “I’ll go into confinement tomorrow, I imagine. Or the day after.”
“All right.” Marut waited for Sycamore to say something further about this matter. When nothing came, he said, “I suppose I’ll need to find somewhere else to sleep for the duration.”
70% mark:
He went into heat once more that winter, intending to take careful note of every moment, every inflection of Marut’s voice, every careful touch of Marut’s hands, to inscribe the memories so deeply in his mind that he would never be able to forget.
77% mark:
😢 They didn’t speak of what would happen in Banuri, and Sycamore clung fast to the sweet peacefulness of these final days together.
😢 If this was the last time, Sycamore wasn’t going to waste it on sorrow.
😢 Sycamore pressed himself up on one elbow to look down at Marut’s face. He stroked his fingers over Marut’s cheekbone and deliberately opened the bond to share everything he was feeling: his crushing sorrow, his resignation, his love that the ancient poets would have wept to speak of. His joy for the months they’d had together. He would cherish these memories for the rest of his life.
⇆ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗖𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀｡
😢 81%: They might never see each other again, not so much as a glimpse in passing.
😢 83%: Marut was a selfish man, noble in no way, and what he wanted, more than anything else in the world, was for Sycamore to have chosen him. For Sycamore to have decided that Marut was worth breaking every bond of honor for.
Marut was not selfish and he deserved to be chosen first!
👏 93%. Sycamore FINALLY does the right thing.
They should have stayed in Twin Rams. That was clear to him now. He loved Chedi and always would, but he loved Marut more. If he couldn’t have Marut, then Chedi couldn’t have him.
At the 96% mark, they're now
❤️ Marut stood then and kissed him, his hands holding Sycamore’s face. Thank you, he was saying through the bond, and Sycamore said it back to him: thank you for giving me the courage to choose you. Thank you for showing me the way.
❤️ After months of modulating his emotions, trying to master his feelings for Sycamore so they wouldn’t overwhelm him, he was glad to let love swallow him. He could love Sycamore now with no edge of sorrow. He would never have to say farewell to Sycamore again.
The last 10% was the best part, but man did it take forever to get there! This felt like 70% fantasy and 30% romance. Book 1 was better, due to it having a more satisfying romance with less angst. For the most part, I prefer feel-good romances. I'll tolerate some sadness, if it's short in duration.
😭 Book 3 was a DNF, because it was even sadder!
While I really like how C.K. writes, I hope to someday read a happier story.
2.5 stars = pretty good
The writing is very good. The descriptions are vivid, painting a clear and detailed picture. The characters felt real.
What caused me to skim & skip through this:
🇹🇭🇪 🇸🇹🇴🇷🇾
For 90% of it, I felt
Ｔｈｅ Ｐｌｏｔ：
The country of Chedi is at war with the Skopa. They're fighting over the land that borders their two countries, which is currently in the hands of the Chedoy. The Skopoy started the war, after somehow finding out there's gold in the hills.
Marut is part of a scout team, sent to collect
Sycamore, a sorcerer at the King's palace in Banuri, the capital city.
He's taken to White Valley where in a desperate effort, an army camp was set up to hold the border. They soon learn that the Skopoy are using magical constructs (beasts), to wipe out the Chedoy army.
In the battle against the Skopoy, many die:
The entire army stationed at the border, along with all of Marut's team. This included Marut's friends, who were like family to him. They willingly sacrificed themselves, to allow Marut and Sycamore to escape.
That's the beginning of the
🛑 Some Spoilers Below 🛑
Sycamore inadvertently uses his magic to transport them to the Khentii Steppe, a harsh land of snow and freezing cold. They're many weeks/months away from Banuri, where they need to go. Getting back there is a third of the story. During this time, they struggle to survive, draw closer together, eventually bond, and interact with the people living there.
😢 What I felt sad about:
Sycamore's first duty is to the king of Chedoy. For a long time, he refuses to even think about a relationship with Marut. Even after they've bonded.
During his first heat, he allows Marut to help him get through it (minimal interaction). Then for the next several heats, he secludes himself away. He does this to prevent bonding with Marut. Eventually, Sycamore allows Marut to help him with his heats.
45% mark:
If his next heat came on without warning, if they were alone on the steppe when it happened, he would need to be detached and businesslike. Only their bodies could be involved. Marut wasn’t his to care for or keep.
64% mark: (still no connection)
Sycamore shrugged. “I’ll go into confinement tomorrow, I imagine. Or the day after.”
“All right.” Marut waited for Sycamore to say something further about this matter. When nothing came, he said, “I suppose I’ll need to find somewhere else to sleep for the duration.”
70% mark:
He went into heat once more that winter, intending to take careful note of every moment, every inflection of Marut’s voice, every careful touch of Marut’s hands, to inscribe the memories so deeply in his mind that he would never be able to forget.
77% mark:
😢 They didn’t speak of what would happen in Banuri, and Sycamore clung fast to the sweet peacefulness of these final days together.
😢 If this was the last time, Sycamore wasn’t going to waste it on sorrow.
😢 Sycamore pressed himself up on one elbow to look down at Marut’s face. He stroked his fingers over Marut’s cheekbone and deliberately opened the bond to share everything he was feeling: his crushing sorrow, his resignation, his love that the ancient poets would have wept to speak of. His joy for the months they’d had together. He would cherish these memories for the rest of his life.
⇆ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗖𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀｡
😢 81%: They might never see each other again, not so much as a glimpse in passing.
😢 83%: Marut was a selfish man, noble in no way, and what he wanted, more than anything else in the world, was for Sycamore to have chosen him. For Sycamore to have decided that Marut was worth breaking every bond of honor for.
Marut was not selfish and he deserved to be chosen first!
👏 93%. Sycamore FINALLY does the right thing.
They should have stayed in Twin Rams. That was clear to him now. He loved Chedi and always would, but he loved Marut more. If he couldn’t have Marut, then Chedi couldn’t have him.
At the 96% mark, they're now
❤️ Marut stood then and kissed him, his hands holding Sycamore’s face. Thank you, he was saying through the bond, and Sycamore said it back to him: thank you for giving me the courage to choose you. Thank you for showing me the way.
❤️ After months of modulating his emotions, trying to master his feelings for Sycamore so they wouldn’t overwhelm him, he was glad to let love swallow him. He could love Sycamore now with no edge of sorrow. He would never have to say farewell to Sycamore again.
The last 10% was the best part, but man did it take forever to get there! This felt like 70% fantasy and 30% romance. Book 1 was better, due to it having a more satisfying romance with less angst. For the most part, I prefer feel-good romances. I'll tolerate some sadness, if it's short in duration.
😭 Book 3 was a DNF, because it was even sadder!
While I really like how C.K. writes, I hope to someday read a happier story.
July 28, 2022
Initially, I thought I might DNF this book
It opens with the sorcerer, Sycamore and a team of soldiers headed to try to help their men fighting at the border. And while things did get a bit gruesome, it was neither dwelt on or described in great detail. Once Sycamore and Marut are lost, the war is still present but in the background while they try to find their way back home, stay alive, and work through Sycamore’s heat.
Though the romance remained light and sweet, there was a lot… more in this book (as compared to the first one). There was a lot more movement and what felt like higher stakes. I think it really helped to delve into both MCs characters and their budding relationship as well as further building our understanding of this world and the various peoples and customs.
And when some seemingly inevitable things happen, I loved how the author handled the time between those scenes and the solution. I’m really curious about how the overarching plot continues in the next book.
I also liked that there was a bit of a role reversal between Sycamore and Marut. The confident, experienced, prepared to be detached omega and the hesitant, not-inexperienced but shier alpha.
It opens with the sorcerer, Sycamore and a team of soldiers headed to try to help their men fighting at the border. And while things did get a bit gruesome, it was neither dwelt on or described in great detail. Once Sycamore and Marut are lost, the war is still present but in the background while they try to find their way back home, stay alive, and work through Sycamore’s heat.
Though the romance remained light and sweet, there was a lot… more in this book (as compared to the first one). There was a lot more movement and what felt like higher stakes. I think it really helped to delve into both MCs characters and their budding relationship as well as further building our understanding of this world and the various peoples and customs.
And when some seemingly inevitable things happen, I loved how the author handled the time between those scenes and the solution. I’m really curious about how the overarching plot continues in the next book.
I also liked that there was a bit of a role reversal between Sycamore and Marut. The confident, experienced, prepared to be detached omega and the hesitant, not-inexperienced but shier alpha.
July 1, 2022
So the problem with Brokeback Mountain being like the first big mainstream gay movie is that when you say something is like Brokeback Mountain people think you mean it's gay. This really misses the true core of the movie and the short story its based off of, its about two people who fall in love outside of the restrictive confines of their everyday life and no matter how much they want for it not be the case, this love is only accessible outside of their "real" lives. This novel is like Brokeback Mountain both in that yes it is gay but also it is about that kind of love. That particular type of forbidden romance is quite compelling because the driving conflict quickly becomes: do we walk away from everything we've ever known for love?
This book feels like a departure from its predecessor because of how much more conflict it has. I don't mean this as a dig at The Emperor's Omega, like I said in my review it was a very sweet book but you're never on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen next. Whereas I couldn't put this book down.
The way Sycamore's omega identity is written is an interesting subversion to the genre conventions. More often than not omegas are allegorical women, which I don't mean as a dig at the genre, this can lead to feminist commentary that would be difficult to write about an actual woman. However, Sycamore has this almost trans-masculine air to him, he is for the most part perceived as a non-omega man and at various points in the story is outed or has to out himself as an omega.
Yet, this is not a story about how Sycamore needs to stop being ashamed of being an omega nor is it one about he secretly would love acting on his more feminine omega urges and being pregnant. Sycamore starts the story as a self-assured (and sexually active!) person who is not so much ashamed of being an omega as much as he considers it no one else's business. His omega nature is a huge part of his character but not something that needs to be overcome or changed, it's just a fact about him.
Because of this we get an Alpha character who is sensitive and caring and really good with children. It's somewhat unique in this genre to have this kind of dynamic at play where the omega gets to be the jaded experienced one.
I truly enjoyed this book from start to finish and would recommend it even to someone who was not particularly interested in ABO/Omegaverse content. It is an amazingly well executed romance novel that I would argue in some ways transcends the sub-genre it may find itself confined to.
This book feels like a departure from its predecessor because of how much more conflict it has. I don't mean this as a dig at The Emperor's Omega, like I said in my review it was a very sweet book but you're never on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen next. Whereas I couldn't put this book down.
The way Sycamore's omega identity is written is an interesting subversion to the genre conventions. More often than not omegas are allegorical women, which I don't mean as a dig at the genre, this can lead to feminist commentary that would be difficult to write about an actual woman. However, Sycamore has this almost trans-masculine air to him, he is for the most part perceived as a non-omega man and at various points in the story is outed or has to out himself as an omega.
Yet, this is not a story about how Sycamore needs to stop being ashamed of being an omega nor is it one about he secretly would love acting on his more feminine omega urges and being pregnant. Sycamore starts the story as a self-assured (and sexually active!) person who is not so much ashamed of being an omega as much as he considers it no one else's business. His omega nature is a huge part of his character but not something that needs to be overcome or changed, it's just a fact about him.
Because of this we get an Alpha character who is sensitive and caring and really good with children. It's somewhat unique in this genre to have this kind of dynamic at play where the omega gets to be the jaded experienced one.
I truly enjoyed this book from start to finish and would recommend it even to someone who was not particularly interested in ABO/Omegaverse content. It is an amazingly well executed romance novel that I would argue in some ways transcends the sub-genre it may find itself confined to.
did-not-finish
April 13, 2023DNF @ 37%. No rating.
This wasn't my cup of tea. The writing is really, really nice and it was the main reason I read as far as I did. The words flowed very nicely and I liked the way the author described things.
Unfortunately, the MCs personalities were very bland (especially Marut), there was no chemistry between them and the plot moved way too slowly. It's basically a travelling-through-wilderness adventure but the MCs act like travel acquaintances who just happen to be sharing a tent and going in the same direction. There was very little bonding happening, they rarely had personal conversations and although a hurt-comfort scenario was included, this didn't provide the bonding and UST that I hoped it would. The personalities and the friendship bond between the MCs horses were more interesting and had more development than that of the humans in the story, which isn't what I want in a romance.
To the author's credit, the exploration of the fantasy world and the worldbuilding were done really well. As I said, the writing was very enjoyable and I liked that fantasy world. But I didn't like the romance progression.
What ultimately made me DNF was that omegaverse isn't my thing. I knew it wasn't but I don't like shifter books either and I loved the author's subtle take on shifters in True North (the shifter aspect was just used to create a unique premise but it didn't matter for the rest of the story). But when the MC goes into heat, suddenly there's lots of discussion about cycles, bonding, mpreg, knotting and other things that I'd rather not have in my smut scenes. I thought the omegaverse aspects would also be very subtle but that wasn't the case so I'm going to politely part ways with this story.
But if you're a fan of slow-burn omegaverse fantasies, I highly recommend this one because the writing was great!
This wasn't my cup of tea. The writing is really, really nice and it was the main reason I read as far as I did. The words flowed very nicely and I liked the way the author described things.
Unfortunately, the MCs personalities were very bland (especially Marut), there was no chemistry between them and the plot moved way too slowly. It's basically a travelling-through-wilderness adventure but the MCs act like travel acquaintances who just happen to be sharing a tent and going in the same direction. There was very little bonding happening, they rarely had personal conversations and although a hurt-comfort scenario was included, this didn't provide the bonding and UST that I hoped it would. The personalities and the friendship bond between the MCs horses were more interesting and had more development than that of the humans in the story, which isn't what I want in a romance.
To the author's credit, the exploration of the fantasy world and the worldbuilding were done really well. As I said, the writing was very enjoyable and I liked that fantasy world. But I didn't like the romance progression.
What ultimately made me DNF was that omegaverse isn't my thing. I knew it wasn't but I don't like shifter books either and I loved the author's subtle take on shifters in True North (the shifter aspect was just used to create a unique premise but it didn't matter for the rest of the story). But when the MC goes into heat, suddenly there's lots of discussion about cycles, bonding, mpreg, knotting and other things that I'd rather not have in my smut scenes. I thought the omegaverse aspects would also be very subtle but that wasn't the case so I'm going to politely part ways with this story.
But if you're a fan of slow-burn omegaverse fantasies, I highly recommend this one because the writing was great!
September 2, 2022
Even better than the first. Only downside is,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2022
Ahhhhhhhhhh 🥰🥰🥰 I'm not sure what it is about this author's style that works for me so damn well, but I have adored each of their books so far and this one is no exception. It was slow like sweet molasses but not in a way that made me impatient, more like a way that had me savoring every drop, every page. Just as with their other books, Marut and Sycamore's love story didn't follow typical romance tropes - which, by the way, I normally love - but wove around each other in a complex dance that felt real and precarious and magical and true. I could have read about them forever, but also felt blissfully satisfied and complete with the story by the time it ended. This author remains a one-click for me, and I'm thrilled to see that they have another book set in this world in the works already. ALL the stars from me!
June 24, 2022
This superb love story has it all - sorcery, epic adventure, kingdoms, war, danger, and the deepest of loves. Sycamore is a palace sorcerer, specializing in earth-related magic, who spends most of his time indoors in a comfortable life, using his magic to protect the kingdom. Taken from his parents at a young age, he is loyal to the king without question. In a rare order from the king, he is tasked with going to one of the front lines to help battle an enemy that is using powerful magic creatures to defeat his people. Marut is a scout who is assigned to escort and protect Sycamore. At first connection, alpha Marut notices that Sycamore is an omega, rare among the population. As they spend time together, a strong attraction grows. Does duty take precedence over love and is there a future for them? This well-written romance is tender, poignant, well-paced, sensitive to the reader's emotions, and it will be memorable.
August 4, 2022
sweet and cathartic
So wholesome and healing, with beautiful writing, it built slowly and gradually into a very intense book. Two people disconnected in life - both lost their family at a young age in different ways, and either lost or never had a found family. At the same time they are grappling with duties and loyalties which they have never before questioned. The issues of exploitation reminded me a lot of The Fifth Season - with an emphasis on the happy island interlude.
So wholesome and healing, with beautiful writing, it built slowly and gradually into a very intense book. Two people disconnected in life - both lost their family at a young age in different ways, and either lost or never had a found family. At the same time they are grappling with duties and loyalties which they have never before questioned. The issues of exploitation reminded me a lot of The Fifth Season - with an emphasis on the happy island interlude.
March 4, 2023
Ah see this was perfect for me, and I think confirmed my previous suspicions about the author - namely that I love how she writes but didn’t love the story set ups of the last two books. This one hits all the right notes for me: ornery and powerful omega (yes please), gentle woodsmen, dangerous adventure, the weather as a character, great sacrifice, and a great slow (ish) burn. Still cute as hell with two smart, besotted idiots - which seems to be Kerr’s signature style.
December 6, 2022
The start was a little slow but once I was in, I was IN. I love the style and the softness that comes from this book ♥️
November 12, 2024
[i scrabble at sycamore and marut’s door like a stray puppy] adopt me. please
edit: just read the deleted scenes and, like, yeah: this omegaverse book might be the pinnacle of romance
edit: just read the deleted scenes and, like, yeah: this omegaverse book might be the pinnacle of romance
February 9, 2025
AAAAH this was wonderful I loved it so much. So excited to now dig into this author's catalogue.
August 19, 2022
I have a terrible habit of starting a fantasy series from the second or third book. I thought it wouldn't be an issue here since it's omegaverse but boy was I wrong. There's a lot of context missing that made me confused but I still enjoyed this a lot. My favorite parts:
✅ Slow burn omegaverse where the alpha and omega are cautious and tiptoe around each other. A rarity if you ask me.
✅ The beautifully illustrated cover. They say not to judge a book by its cover, but damn.
✅ Sycamore the omega was a badass. It felt like his sorcerer abilities was not expounded on a lot, but I still liked him.
✅ Marut the alpha was such a gentleman. Stoic yet sweet. Their interactions were the best.
✅ I liked the description of various landscapes and people. And I liked that many of them were inspired by South Asian history.
Things I was not so found of:
I didn't really understand what happened to Marut's other Scout mates. How did Marut and Sycamore get transported to another region while his friends perished?
Also there was no real enemy here. King Aditya was lackluster at best.
Still, this was a pretty sweet omegaverse.
✅ Slow burn omegaverse where the alpha and omega are cautious and tiptoe around each other. A rarity if you ask me.
✅ The beautifully illustrated cover. They say not to judge a book by its cover, but damn.
✅ Sycamore the omega was a badass. It felt like his sorcerer abilities was not expounded on a lot, but I still liked him.
✅ Marut the alpha was such a gentleman. Stoic yet sweet. Their interactions were the best.
✅ I liked the description of various landscapes and people. And I liked that many of them were inspired by South Asian history.
Things I was not so found of:
I didn't really understand what happened to Marut's other Scout mates. How did Marut and Sycamore get transported to another region while his friends perished?
Also there was no real enemy here. King Aditya was lackluster at best.
Still, this was a pretty sweet omegaverse.
January 13, 2023
I have so many wonderful things to say about this wonderfully cozy book. I know the stakes are high, and at some point the theme was survival for both Marut and Sycamore. The main focus for me through out was the development of their feelings for each other.
I have to preface by saying i love a/b/o, but it’s hard to find it well done in mainstream m/m. I guess there are many version of the trope, and the beauty of it is the creativity the author chooses in their story. I personally don’t care for insta love.
The way that the 2 MCs here came together here was so organic that i could feel their feelings and tension built up slowly in their perilous journey (home). All the obstacles they faced together during the first part added to their growing emotion towards each other. Although there were dangerous things looming over head, Ms Corey balanced the action well against the focus on the MCs through out. All the tropes i love is here, and all the element of a good love story in this book hit all my buttons. i love the slow burn, i love the beautiful prose, i love the longing and the pining and the realizing that in the end, they belong together.
Not to mention just, they way Ms Corey writes??? Have mercy. At some point (many points, in fact) I had to stop and reread many passages describing the landscapes, the settings, and the pretty writing. And i knew, i knew where the inspiration came from the moment i read it. It’s such a joyful experience where the author sucks you into a world and make you visualize the landscape so well that you long to just be there with the characters.
I cant say enough about the narrative voice… both character has such a distinctive personality. I love Marut and his quiet ways, the subtle actions he display as he come to care for Sycamore. I love Sycamore confidence when he realizes what he’s capable off and how kind he is. I adore the way they had time to get to know each other and you can tell just by their interactions that there are more understanding in the later sequences, their motives and their longing. I’m so happy that they got that time to explore their feelings more despite being stuck together at the beginning. I’m biased towards slow burn because i think all the excitement when two MCs with chemistry dance around each other is 75% of the fun.
I also really enjoy the way Ms Corey sets up this world. it’s wonderful and magical but also still retain elements that connect us back to real world inspiration. I especially appreciate the non-existent info dump. The way she weave information with the story itself rather than give all the rules and the set ups factually.
Another notable thing i adore so much!!!! was the magic aspect. I absolutely love !!!!!! the way magic !!!!! is depicted in this world. Especially with Sycamore. I love that his particular brand of magic is connected to the earth. I’ve always felt that’s how magic should be, not uncontrollable and precise, but it’s a sentient being, like if a person is in tune with nature, and magic is the conducting force that connects the two. And i got to see that!! i love it when Sycamore speaks with the earth as if they’re old friends, or old acquaintances. That made me think if he stayed in one place for a longer period of time, would he have other interesting interactions with it ? So cool!
Anyway this review is a mess and i basically just listed all the stuff that i like. But lemme tell you this book yanked me out of a reading slump and i am forever thankful. This made me remember why i love reading and gave me all the things that i love wrapped in a wonderful 310 pages.
I have to preface by saying i love a/b/o, but it’s hard to find it well done in mainstream m/m. I guess there are many version of the trope, and the beauty of it is the creativity the author chooses in their story. I personally don’t care for insta love.
The way that the 2 MCs here came together here was so organic that i could feel their feelings and tension built up slowly in their perilous journey (home). All the obstacles they faced together during the first part added to their growing emotion towards each other. Although there were dangerous things looming over head, Ms Corey balanced the action well against the focus on the MCs through out. All the tropes i love is here, and all the element of a good love story in this book hit all my buttons. i love the slow burn, i love the beautiful prose, i love the longing and the pining and the realizing that in the end, they belong together.
Not to mention just, they way Ms Corey writes??? Have mercy. At some point (many points, in fact) I had to stop and reread many passages describing the landscapes, the settings, and the pretty writing. And i knew, i knew where the inspiration came from the moment i read it. It’s such a joyful experience where the author sucks you into a world and make you visualize the landscape so well that you long to just be there with the characters.
I cant say enough about the narrative voice… both character has such a distinctive personality. I love Marut and his quiet ways, the subtle actions he display as he come to care for Sycamore. I love Sycamore confidence when he realizes what he’s capable off and how kind he is. I adore the way they had time to get to know each other and you can tell just by their interactions that there are more understanding in the later sequences, their motives and their longing. I’m so happy that they got that time to explore their feelings more despite being stuck together at the beginning. I’m biased towards slow burn because i think all the excitement when two MCs with chemistry dance around each other is 75% of the fun.
I also really enjoy the way Ms Corey sets up this world. it’s wonderful and magical but also still retain elements that connect us back to real world inspiration. I especially appreciate the non-existent info dump. The way she weave information with the story itself rather than give all the rules and the set ups factually.
Another notable thing i adore so much!!!! was the magic aspect. I absolutely love !!!!!! the way magic !!!!! is depicted in this world. Especially with Sycamore. I love that his particular brand of magic is connected to the earth. I’ve always felt that’s how magic should be, not uncontrollable and precise, but it’s a sentient being, like if a person is in tune with nature, and magic is the conducting force that connects the two. And i got to see that!! i love it when Sycamore speaks with the earth as if they’re old friends, or old acquaintances. That made me think if he stayed in one place for a longer period of time, would he have other interesting interactions with it ? So cool!
Anyway this review is a mess and i basically just listed all the stuff that i like. But lemme tell you this book yanked me out of a reading slump and i am forever thankful. This made me remember why i love reading and gave me all the things that i love wrapped in a wonderful 310 pages.
January 4, 2023
3.75⭐️
This was a completely different story that what its predecessor showcased. This was both parts action packed (in the parts where there was military conflict) and slow (when the Sycamore and Marut are traveling or stuck on the mountain/steppes. The love between the 2 MC's was of a different sort too. In the case of Kenosi and Suriya in the Emperor's Omega there was more of a courting and the 2 of them knew they were to be married in the course of their time together. They were also completely different in character to the MC's in this book, which is obvious, but I think it also had to do with their stations in life and the circumstances of their meeting. In this book Marut and Sycamore were of course from different stations in life what with Sycamore being a sorcerer to Marut's Scout in a patrol. And they were both deprived of family at an early age and were both lonely. Marut at least had friends and people from his life that he cared for while for Sycamore his King and his duty for his country overshadowed everything.
I loved the flow of the story in The Emperor's Omega better but I think I loved the way Marut and Sycamore fell in love better. Though the plot was so so, the MC's were the crowning glory in this story. While the previous book was a friends to lovers arranged marriage trope this was a forced proximity, only one bed trope. And in my opinion it was done well. Marut spoke very less in the book but I felt he communicated very well with Sycamore even without using his words.
The conflict in this book was less the war and more the choice the MC's had to make between choosing each other or choosing their country. I appreciated the fact that neither of them were swept away with their love for each other and immediately decided to run away from all of their duties and their past. The way Sycamore came into his powers too was depicted well though a bit abruptly for my tastes. There wasn't enough foundation laid for me to understand the magic system used here. Maybe it will be elaborated in the book/books(hopefully) to come.
Both books in the series were great in my opinion. But for me I loved The Emperor's Omega just a teensy bit better than The Sorcerer's Alpha. Mostly because of the pacing and a little because I found Kenosi and Suriya a cuter couple. Is it slightly superficial? Yes. But I can't help how I feel. But in terms of the portrayal of the love and devotion that the MC's have in the books I think this one takes the cake. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see how else this author is going to make me fall in love with her characters.
This was a completely different story that what its predecessor showcased. This was both parts action packed (in the parts where there was military conflict) and slow (when the Sycamore and Marut are traveling or stuck on the mountain/steppes. The love between the 2 MC's was of a different sort too. In the case of Kenosi and Suriya in the Emperor's Omega there was more of a courting and the 2 of them knew they were to be married in the course of their time together. They were also completely different in character to the MC's in this book, which is obvious, but I think it also had to do with their stations in life and the circumstances of their meeting. In this book Marut and Sycamore were of course from different stations in life what with Sycamore being a sorcerer to Marut's Scout in a patrol. And they were both deprived of family at an early age and were both lonely. Marut at least had friends and people from his life that he cared for while for Sycamore his King and his duty for his country overshadowed everything.
I loved the flow of the story in The Emperor's Omega better but I think I loved the way Marut and Sycamore fell in love better. Though the plot was so so, the MC's were the crowning glory in this story. While the previous book was a friends to lovers arranged marriage trope this was a forced proximity, only one bed trope. And in my opinion it was done well. Marut spoke very less in the book but I felt he communicated very well with Sycamore even without using his words.
The conflict in this book was less the war and more the choice the MC's had to make between choosing each other or choosing their country. I appreciated the fact that neither of them were swept away with their love for each other and immediately decided to run away from all of their duties and their past. The way Sycamore came into his powers too was depicted well though a bit abruptly for my tastes. There wasn't enough foundation laid for me to understand the magic system used here. Maybe it will be elaborated in the book/books(hopefully) to come.
Both books in the series were great in my opinion. But for me I loved The Emperor's Omega just a teensy bit better than The Sorcerer's Alpha. Mostly because of the pacing and a little because I found Kenosi and Suriya a cuter couple. Is it slightly superficial? Yes. But I can't help how I feel. But in terms of the portrayal of the love and devotion that the MC's have in the books I think this one takes the cake. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see how else this author is going to make me fall in love with her characters.
March 18, 2023
Fantasy forced proximity!
This is a VERY simplistic overview - When everything goes wrong, Marut’s assignment as escort for Sycamore turns into a fight for survival and leads to a whole lot of unexpected feelings.
I absolutely loved this story of survival and forbidden love. Marut and Sycamore have a really beautiful connection that slowly develops over the course of the story. They’re two very different men from completely different worlds (figuratively speaking), and it’s a one-in-million-chance that they cross each other’s paths and find their destinies (if you will) intertwined. This book has a forced proximity trope and I loved it! These two were really sweet together and it’s lovely seeing Marut’s heart grow soft for Sycamore. The author could’ve made him your typical “me stoic man, me no have emotions” type, but he has layers and depths and I loved how he was written. Of course, Sycamore was wonderful too!
Thankfully the book is dual POV, so we get to see how Marut and Sycamore see each other, as well as their inner thoughts. The contrast was interesting. Especially with a character like Marut who is quiet and keeps to himself.
Just a few more things - I loved the magic system and learning about Sycamore’s abilities, there were some really fun side characters, and there were some great tense moments. I also enjoyed the world building that we got as these guys travelled around.
I will say - I can totally see why someone wouldn’t like this book or could find it boring. There is a LOT of traveling as the guys are essentially (but not quite, I’m oversimplifying) on the run and constantly on the move. I didn’t mind it at all because I loved the guys getting to know each other and the mood that the setting/situation created. There is an interesting plot, but a ton of focus on the MCs and their relationship.
This book stands alone from the first book, but I do recommend both (read in any order.) I was definitely excited to read this book because I liked the first book so much. Oh, and just fyi that there’s no focus on pregnancy in this book unlike the first. I’m looking forward to reading the next book!
This is a VERY simplistic overview - When everything goes wrong, Marut’s assignment as escort for Sycamore turns into a fight for survival and leads to a whole lot of unexpected feelings.
I absolutely loved this story of survival and forbidden love. Marut and Sycamore have a really beautiful connection that slowly develops over the course of the story. They’re two very different men from completely different worlds (figuratively speaking), and it’s a one-in-million-chance that they cross each other’s paths and find their destinies (if you will) intertwined. This book has a forced proximity trope and I loved it! These two were really sweet together and it’s lovely seeing Marut’s heart grow soft for Sycamore. The author could’ve made him your typical “me stoic man, me no have emotions” type, but he has layers and depths and I loved how he was written. Of course, Sycamore was wonderful too!
Thankfully the book is dual POV, so we get to see how Marut and Sycamore see each other, as well as their inner thoughts. The contrast was interesting. Especially with a character like Marut who is quiet and keeps to himself.
Just a few more things - I loved the magic system and learning about Sycamore’s abilities, there were some really fun side characters, and there were some great tense moments. I also enjoyed the world building that we got as these guys travelled around.
I will say - I can totally see why someone wouldn’t like this book or could find it boring. There is a LOT of traveling as the guys are essentially (but not quite, I’m oversimplifying) on the run and constantly on the move. I didn’t mind it at all because I loved the guys getting to know each other and the mood that the setting/situation created. There is an interesting plot, but a ton of focus on the MCs and their relationship.
This book stands alone from the first book, but I do recommend both (read in any order.) I was definitely excited to read this book because I liked the first book so much. Oh, and just fyi that there’s no focus on pregnancy in this book unlike the first. I’m looking forward to reading the next book!
January 3, 2023
Really good writing
The first thought - this is so much better than the first book lol
I really liked the writing in the first book, but found the characters and the story pretty boring, but I decided to give the second book a shot, and I'm glad I did! It was a pleasure to read. Well paced, compelling characters and amazing chemistry.
I'd say this book has a quiet sort of fire when it comes to romance, it's warm and bright, but doesn't burn you as a reader. I normally like lots of arguments and intense emotions in the books I read, but this book totally got me with its sweet intensity and amazing storytelling. And while the first book was also sweet - in my opinion it made the story kind of boring. But not here!!! The author managed to mix sweet and real with interesting. I also loved that nothing felt forced in this book; the characters were complex and the cultures were different and not overly glorified which kept things real.
I loved reading the transition of characters turning from strangers into companions.
I think my favorite part was the first one because of how it set the mood and how much it made me care about the couple. Other parts were great too, but I think they owe the first part a lot for helping set the ambiance up.
The only thing that I personally could do without - magic. I think it not having rules made things a bit too complicated and made me question logic of a few things. But whatever, thankfully this didn't come up until late in the book.
Looking forward to the next book!
The first thought - this is so much better than the first book lol
I really liked the writing in the first book, but found the characters and the story pretty boring, but I decided to give the second book a shot, and I'm glad I did! It was a pleasure to read. Well paced, compelling characters and amazing chemistry.
I'd say this book has a quiet sort of fire when it comes to romance, it's warm and bright, but doesn't burn you as a reader. I normally like lots of arguments and intense emotions in the books I read, but this book totally got me with its sweet intensity and amazing storytelling. And while the first book was also sweet - in my opinion it made the story kind of boring. But not here!!! The author managed to mix sweet and real with interesting. I also loved that nothing felt forced in this book; the characters were complex and the cultures were different and not overly glorified which kept things real.
I loved reading the transition of characters turning from strangers into companions.
I think my favorite part was the first one because of how it set the mood and how much it made me care about the couple. Other parts were great too, but I think they owe the first part a lot for helping set the ambiance up.
The only thing that I personally could do without - magic. I think it not having rules made things a bit too complicated and made me question logic of a few things. But whatever, thankfully this didn't come up until late in the book.
Looking forward to the next book!
maybe-to-read
June 29, 2023***Why a maybe***
I tend to want to read books more if the cover shows people with different skin-tones. Blame my age but I adore the fact that book covers don't do the whole 'adjusting the colours on someone who is clearly Caucasian' any more.
But man... Omegaverse. Again I'm old and to me this feels like such a fanfiction trope (at least when it is a romance between men, paranormal romances is a whole other thing). And even then there were only a handful of stories that made it work in such a way that it felt natural and not a way to have babies in a world without women. Most of the stories seems to treat the omega as a stand-in for women, and a very caricature of one to say the least.
Smarter people than me have written about why women would write about a world with only men. And to be fair I don't know if that is the case in this story. Still glancing at the reviews most of the high stars seem to be from young people (under 25) and while I'm very glad this story resonate with people (LOOK AT THE COVER) I just don't know if I would after years of reading this trope.
Also, and this makes me truly an old grumpy biddy, I'm not a fan of using a trope as a way to pull people in. Especially in the blurb!
I tend to want to read books more if the cover shows people with different skin-tones. Blame my age but I adore the fact that book covers don't do the whole 'adjusting the colours on someone who is clearly Caucasian' any more.
But man... Omegaverse. Again I'm old and to me this feels like such a fanfiction trope (at least when it is a romance between men, paranormal romances is a whole other thing). And even then there were only a handful of stories that made it work in such a way that it felt natural and not a way to have babies in a world without women. Most of the stories seems to treat the omega as a stand-in for women, and a very caricature of one to say the least.
Smarter people than me have written about why women would write about a world with only men. And to be fair I don't know if that is the case in this story. Still glancing at the reviews most of the high stars seem to be from young people (under 25) and while I'm very glad this story resonate with people (LOOK AT THE COVER) I just don't know if I would after years of reading this trope.
Also, and this makes me truly an old grumpy biddy, I'm not a fan of using a trope as a way to pull people in. Especially in the blurb!
''They’re lost in the wilderness. And there’s only one tent.''Stop it.
November 28, 2023
A very chill fantasy, sweet romance, decent world building that wasn’t too involved. Issues wrapped up quickly.
It’s easy to follow, well-written, I enjoyed it quite a bit. I just can’t with the slick and the knotting. Ick. I mean, everything about alphas and omegas kind of grosses me out, but I hate to say it… this book made it grow on me. And could they not have come up with a better word than slick?
That said, this was the least icky alpha-omega book I’ve read so far. And the sweetest. Probably helped not to have a “pack”. Yuck.
And, I’ll be totally honest, this was recommended as a great book that has a specific element. I was intrigued. I hadn’t heard of this yet. It was totally sweet when the subject came up; it’s nice to have a fantasy world in which this can happen. But… I was left with more questions lol. Like, I guess I don’t NEED to know the how or any specifics, but dammit have any books detailed the process from start to finish?? Like, ok, conception I don’t really care about and just leave it up to omega-ness, but… ugh fine, how does birth work????
I digress - I actually really appreciated Sycamore’s ambivalence to having a child, and he didn’t really find the joy in children until his got a little older when their personality developed.
It’s easy to follow, well-written, I enjoyed it quite a bit. I just can’t with the slick and the knotting. Ick. I mean, everything about alphas and omegas kind of grosses me out, but I hate to say it… this book made it grow on me. And could they not have come up with a better word than slick?
That said, this was the least icky alpha-omega book I’ve read so far. And the sweetest. Probably helped not to have a “pack”. Yuck.
And, I’ll be totally honest, this was recommended as a great book that has a specific element. I was intrigued. I hadn’t heard of this yet. It was totally sweet when the subject came up; it’s nice to have a fantasy world in which this can happen. But… I was left with more questions lol. Like, I guess I don’t NEED to know the how or any specifics, but dammit have any books detailed the process from start to finish?? Like, ok, conception I don’t really care about and just leave it up to omega-ness, but… ugh fine, how does birth work????
I digress - I actually really appreciated Sycamore’s ambivalence to having a child, and he didn’t really find the joy in children until his got a little older when their personality developed.
November 28, 2022
Really good fantasy romance, great worldbuilding, very good writing, and Sycamore is a very likeable main character. I liked the ending also, how they come to terms with decisions to make. Standalone, only very slight nods to a character from the previous book
I did enjoy it a little bit less than The Emperor's Omega though: part was just my expectations, this is a lot more plot and action rich than the low-conflict previous book which was not what I was in the mood for (but I am not holding it against the book). I also had some difficulties connecting to Marut which seemed a bit undervelopped, or too perfectly stoic and accepting of everything.
I did enjoy it a little bit less than The Emperor's Omega though: part was just my expectations, this is a lot more plot and action rich than the low-conflict previous book which was not what I was in the mood for (but I am not holding it against the book). I also had some difficulties connecting to Marut which seemed a bit undervelopped, or too perfectly stoic and accepting of everything.
June 23, 2022
Arguably one of the best omegaverse stories I've read in a long while. The illustrated cover is also a sight for sore eyes.
Sign me up for more serious narratives that use ABO as a trope not a compass like this, please.
[Spoiler] However, I had to knock a star off because of one untied loose end: the long-necked wizard alpha who was in pursuit of the two heroes in the first act *never* made an appearance again, despite the ominous set up. I would understand if either Sycamore or someone at the badlands made passing comments about him to explain his lack of presence in the third act, but he was never even mentioned. Furthermore, weren't the Skopoy wizards needed to "rein" the earth monsters, giving their first appearance in White Valley? It felt almost as if the author forgot about this character in the second half of the book.
Sign me up for more serious narratives that use ABO as a trope not a compass like this, please.
[Spoiler] However, I had to knock a star off because of one untied loose end: the long-necked wizard alpha who was in pursuit of the two heroes in the first act *never* made an appearance again, despite the ominous set up. I would understand if either Sycamore or someone at the badlands made passing comments about him to explain his lack of presence in the third act, but he was never even mentioned. Furthermore, weren't the Skopoy wizards needed to "rein" the earth monsters, giving their first appearance in White Valley? It felt almost as if the author forgot about this character in the second half of the book.
June 30, 2022
Interesting and well written. It had adventure and romance along with magic and love. These were two good MCs, each from a very different role in the world of this mythical kingdom, a wizard who is cosseted by the king and a horseback scout for the endless war conflicts.
I liked their relationship, both the physical and emotional parts, which were very nicely written. The book’s theme of our connection to the earth had me wanting to go outside and touch the ground, so, good job, author! There is a nice HEA, a good payoff from some of the sadness early on. The cover is eye catching and drew me into reading this different type book. I enjoyed it!
I liked their relationship, both the physical and emotional parts, which were very nicely written. The book’s theme of our connection to the earth had me wanting to go outside and touch the ground, so, good job, author! There is a nice HEA, a good payoff from some of the sadness early on. The cover is eye catching and drew me into reading this different type book. I enjoyed it!
June 18, 2022
I loved this….the world building was so vast and interesting but didn’t take up too much space in the book, there was an actual diverse (!!!!!!!!!!!) and well rounded cast of characters which I think is honestly rare in omegaverse sometimes.
the growth of marut and sycamore’s feelings for each other and their relationship evolving throughout was just so. it’s all about love in the end.
I’m very excited for the third book :)
the growth of marut and sycamore’s feelings for each other and their relationship evolving throughout was just so. it’s all about love in the end.
I’m very excited for the third book :)
July 4, 2022
What a story!
These books are set in the same world but this one was pretty much a stand alone story, but the quality of the storytelling is very much the same. Murat and Sycamore had a slow burn love that you were able to watch develop into something as the story went on and it was quite a story. Quite a bit of action and intrigue happening interspersed with slower parts that really fleshed out the world.
These books are set in the same world but this one was pretty much a stand alone story, but the quality of the storytelling is very much the same. Murat and Sycamore had a slow burn love that you were able to watch develop into something as the story went on and it was quite a story. Quite a bit of action and intrigue happening interspersed with slower parts that really fleshed out the world.
September 19, 2022
Beautiful
This is the second book I’ve read by Corey Kerr and I’ve loved both of them. Her descriptive prose is beautiful and I found myself wanting to read every word to better appreciate her word play. This book would be great to listen to on audible for this reason.
The story is captivating and I enjoyed the magic. I have already preordered the next book so I can read it when it comes out.
This is the second book I’ve read by Corey Kerr and I’ve loved both of them. Her descriptive prose is beautiful and I found myself wanting to read every word to better appreciate her word play. This book would be great to listen to on audible for this reason.
The story is captivating and I enjoyed the magic. I have already preordered the next book so I can read it when it comes out.
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