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Enchanted Occasions #2.5
Best Beast
Being invisible makes it really hard to get laid.
When half-human Kai Schiffer steps into the Interstices—the post-creation gaps between realms—his supernatural half kicks in and he literally disappears unless…well, don’t ask.
But in a stroke (heh) of good fortune, Kai finally has a chance to show his face (and other parts, stars willing) to his long-time crush Jovan Kos—Interstitial Law Enforcement agent, wolf warrior, occasional berserker, and best man at their mutual best friends’ Imbolc wedding.
Jovan, who’s half in love with Kai already, is grateful his best man duties are light enough that he can focus all his attention on Kai. After all, with Enchanted Occasions Event Planning handling the Olesson-Pakulski wedding, what could possibly go wrong?
When half-human Kai Schiffer steps into the Interstices—the post-creation gaps between realms—his supernatural half kicks in and he literally disappears unless…well, don’t ask.
But in a stroke (heh) of good fortune, Kai finally has a chance to show his face (and other parts, stars willing) to his long-time crush Jovan Kos—Interstitial Law Enforcement agent, wolf warrior, occasional berserker, and best man at their mutual best friends’ Imbolc wedding.
Jovan, who’s half in love with Kai already, is grateful his best man duties are light enough that he can focus all his attention on Kai. After all, with Enchanted Occasions Event Planning handling the Olesson-Pakulski wedding, what could possibly go wrong?
4 pages, Audiobook
First published January 1, 2021
88 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Russell
54 books413 followersE.J. Russell –grace, mother of three, recovering actor–writes romance in a rainbow of flavors. Count on high snark, low angst and happy endings.
Reality? Eh, not so much.
Reality? Eh, not so much.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
January 5, 2021
2.5
Nice story, wrong time ... maybe ... or it's only not my kind of crazy. Pleasurable but nothing I was able to connect to and while it's a stand-alone there is introduction of that world, so I felt a bit lost and confused about realms, species and rules.
Nice story, wrong time ... maybe ... or it's only not my kind of crazy. Pleasurable but nothing I was able to connect to and while it's a stand-alone there is introduction of that world, so I felt a bit lost and confused about realms, species and rules.
May 18, 2022
Super cute story, with tons of imaginative characters! I know what I can expect from E.J. Russell, and I was not disappointed by Best Beast. It's a fun premise, with the wedding and opposites attract romance.
Audio perfectly performed by Kirt Graves, I can listen to him anywhere, any time, and any place!
an audiobook copy of Best Beast was provided to me for the purpose of my honest revew, all opinions are my own
Audio perfectly performed by Kirt Graves, I can listen to him anywhere, any time, and any place!
an audiobook copy of Best Beast was provided to me for the purpose of my honest revew, all opinions are my own
July 21, 2022
Ah, the prequel to this mysterious grand disaster. As seen by the best men. It was cute. And appropriately disastrous, even if the couple was happy. Really liked it!
September 13, 2021
2.5 stars.
First of all, I really loved the MCs' romance. They're awesome, attentive to each other, and great to their friends, and their story ends beautifully. I loved them.
I think the author missed a key point. But I'll put that at the end of this review.
Second, some of my dislike is because I grew up with sticoms, have grown less tolerant of them over the years to the point where they're annoying to repulsive. So, obviously, I didn't like the wedding obstacles herein. But also, I knew the motivation of the perpetrator, and to me it was weak sitcom nonsense. Another one is, why did the bride, who's supposed to be badass, choose a terrible person as her maid of honor and, AND, allow b.0.h's buddies to be bridesmaids? A real badass bride would never. And, I guess some of what they do was supposed to be funny, but cruelty to credulous people is just mean, full stop. On top of the motivation? Sitcom nonsense.
Sigh.
Lastly, I was hoping the author would stop making Kai's invisibility a thing that would stop them being together (from Kai's POV). This is endemic in Romance, that looks are important. That's B.S. If you bundle attractive appearance into the must-have of love, you don't understand what long-term love is. We all change as we age, even if we start out gorgeous. Most of us are average, so do the math. We read romances to feel seen, in one way or another, and this tripping over invisibility as if it would stop physical actions is nonsense. Jovan thought so. But the author never has Kai confront that assumption. It's a lost opportunity, a failure, and it disappoints me.
First of all, I really loved the MCs' romance. They're awesome, attentive to each other, and great to their friends, and their story ends beautifully. I loved them.
I think the author missed a key point. But I'll put that at the end of this review.
Second, some of my dislike is because I grew up with sticoms, have grown less tolerant of them over the years to the point where they're annoying to repulsive. So, obviously, I didn't like the wedding obstacles herein. But also, I knew the motivation of the perpetrator, and to me it was weak sitcom nonsense. Another one is, why did the bride, who's supposed to be badass, choose a terrible person as her maid of honor and, AND, allow b.0.h's buddies to be bridesmaids? A real badass bride would never. And, I guess some of what they do was supposed to be funny, but cruelty to credulous people is just mean, full stop. On top of the motivation? Sitcom nonsense.
Sigh.
Lastly, I was hoping the author would stop making Kai's invisibility a thing that would stop them being together (from Kai's POV). This is endemic in Romance, that looks are important. That's B.S. If you bundle attractive appearance into the must-have of love, you don't understand what long-term love is. We all change as we age, even if we start out gorgeous. Most of us are average, so do the math. We read romances to feel seen, in one way or another, and this tripping over invisibility as if it would stop physical actions is nonsense. Jovan thought so. But the author never has Kai confront that assumption. It's a lost opportunity, a failure, and it disappoints me.
September 28, 2022
Wonderful! I loved reading about the disastrous wedding!
This prequel is an absolute gem. It answers the questions I'd had in Nudging Fate about just what went down at the wedding to sink Andy's wedding planner employer's reputation.
Well here we find out, in all the hilarious fun and deliberate sabotage, along with a super cute romance too.
This prequel is an absolute gem. It answers the questions I'd had in Nudging Fate about just what went down at the wedding to sink Andy's wedding planner employer's reputation.
Well here we find out, in all the hilarious fun and deliberate sabotage, along with a super cute romance too.
October 29, 2025
Possibly one of the very rare occasions where a proposal at a wedding is okay...? (Don't do this.)
This was all over the place. I was also convinced for a while that something had happened to Radka because of her lack of appearance. It made no sense throughout especially with her supposedly outgoing and stubborn personality, regardless of what was said about the other members of the family/extended family. They were being downright awful so I thought that the evil intent extended beyond Ole but with her too. Glad to find out that wasn't necessarily the case. Loved that the resulting wedding truly was what Radka and Ole wanted.
Anyway, I felt sad about all the interference and mean-spirited everything going on here, especially towards Ole. He just wanted to do what was best and what might please Radka the most throughout and it was sweet.
Concept was great and sad with Kai as well. Really liked how things worked out in the end.
This was all over the place. I was also convinced for a while that something had happened to Radka because of her lack of appearance. It made no sense throughout especially with her supposedly outgoing and stubborn personality, regardless of what was said about the other members of the family/extended family. They were being downright awful so I thought that the evil intent extended beyond Ole but with her too. Glad to find out that wasn't necessarily the case. Loved that the resulting wedding truly was what Radka and Ole wanted.
Anyway, I felt sad about all the interference and mean-spirited everything going on here, especially towards Ole. He just wanted to do what was best and what might please Radka the most throughout and it was sweet.
Concept was great and sad with Kai as well. Really liked how things worked out in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
Best Beast is a novella set in the Enchanted Occasions universe, filled with mythical creatures of all types intersecting on Earth and other realms via portals. It is a prequel to the main series and enjoyable as a standalone. Please be aware that I only had the audiobook, and therefore had no spellings for any of the many unusual names or races of supernaturals that are used in this story. However, I did do significant research to get names as correct as possible.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
Best Beast is a novella set in the Enchanted Occasions universe, filled with mythical creatures of all types intersecting on Earth and other realms via portals. It is a prequel to the main series and enjoyable as a standalone. Please be aware that I only had the audiobook, and therefore had no spellings for any of the many unusual names or races of supernaturals that are used in this story. However, I did do significant research to get names as correct as possible.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
March 10, 2021
Well it was a disaster but the EO staff did nothing wrong. Shitty family, fake friends and an ex that won't get the message. I felt sorry for Kai being invisible but they were a sweet pairing and I liked how everyone made it through. Ole getting waxed was horrible, I really hope they do get revenge. Focuses more on Kai and Jovan, with EO in the background.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2025
It was okay. The romance was pretty lackluster. I can’t think of a more mismatched pair. I have no idea what they’re supposed to enjoy about one another.
The story that was taking place around them, the wedding and all of its shenanigans, was amusing.
The story that was taking place around them, the wedding and all of its shenanigans, was amusing.
November 29, 2023
Listened to the audiobook. Great narration and a really interesting world. I haven't read any others in this series but that wasn't much of a problem. I really liked the MCs.
May 11, 2022
**Audiobook Review**
Another extraordinary, imaginative tale from the very fertile mind of EJ Russell, my go-to “otherworldly” author. Kai is a half-human who presents as invisible on this side of the veil that separates our world from his. He has a major crush on Jovan, a law enforcement agent, wolfen-warrior, and “best beast” at their mutual best friend’s wedding. What Kai doesn’t know is that Jovan is also crushing on him, but like Kai, he believes the crush can go no further than that and friendship will be their only future path.
As stated in the blurb: What could go wrong with a wedding planned by Enchanted Occasions Event Planning? Well, as I listened to this story, I learned that plenty could go wrong—and did! There were mishaps with the bride and the groom, misunderstandings, magical happenings, and a very spiteful and undermining bridesmaid.
Throughout the two days of this story, both Kai and Jovan needed to intervene to try to make the wedding happen, and while doing so, the two friends spent a lot of time together. Listening to them realize the truth of their friendship and attraction to each other gave me the “warm fuzzies” I was hoping for. (No pun intended toward Jovan’s hairy self.)
EJ Russell most definitely took the time to inform readers about the universe and its characters as the story advanced. So, although I haven’t read other stories in the series and I would have liked to know more about this world before listening, I got the big picture through the author’s well-thought out descriptions and explanations.
This audio version was performed by Kirt Graves, one of my favorite narrators. Unfortunately, I was not always able to hear a clear distinction in the main characters’ voices here, so I could not determine who was speaking without paying close attention to the content of what was said. Some of the secondary characters also sounded quite similar, and there were so many crowd scenes that I often had to stop to try to sort out which character was speaking.
But on the whole, I enjoyed Best Beast and my introduction to this world. There’s a sweet friends-to-lovers romance with humor and magic, a bridesmaid I loved to hate, a groom whose heart was laid bare in more ways than one, and a very happy ending for both the bride and groom and for Kai and Jovan. I recommend this for those who’d enjoy being witness to a paranormal romance blooming amidst wedding chaos in a new and interesting universe.
Note: I received a review copy through GRR Reviews.
Another extraordinary, imaginative tale from the very fertile mind of EJ Russell, my go-to “otherworldly” author. Kai is a half-human who presents as invisible on this side of the veil that separates our world from his. He has a major crush on Jovan, a law enforcement agent, wolfen-warrior, and “best beast” at their mutual best friend’s wedding. What Kai doesn’t know is that Jovan is also crushing on him, but like Kai, he believes the crush can go no further than that and friendship will be their only future path.
As stated in the blurb: What could go wrong with a wedding planned by Enchanted Occasions Event Planning? Well, as I listened to this story, I learned that plenty could go wrong—and did! There were mishaps with the bride and the groom, misunderstandings, magical happenings, and a very spiteful and undermining bridesmaid.
Throughout the two days of this story, both Kai and Jovan needed to intervene to try to make the wedding happen, and while doing so, the two friends spent a lot of time together. Listening to them realize the truth of their friendship and attraction to each other gave me the “warm fuzzies” I was hoping for. (No pun intended toward Jovan’s hairy self.)
EJ Russell most definitely took the time to inform readers about the universe and its characters as the story advanced. So, although I haven’t read other stories in the series and I would have liked to know more about this world before listening, I got the big picture through the author’s well-thought out descriptions and explanations.
This audio version was performed by Kirt Graves, one of my favorite narrators. Unfortunately, I was not always able to hear a clear distinction in the main characters’ voices here, so I could not determine who was speaking without paying close attention to the content of what was said. Some of the secondary characters also sounded quite similar, and there were so many crowd scenes that I often had to stop to try to sort out which character was speaking.
But on the whole, I enjoyed Best Beast and my introduction to this world. There’s a sweet friends-to-lovers romance with humor and magic, a bridesmaid I loved to hate, a groom whose heart was laid bare in more ways than one, and a very happy ending for both the bride and groom and for Kai and Jovan. I recommend this for those who’d enjoy being witness to a paranormal romance blooming amidst wedding chaos in a new and interesting universe.
Note: I received a review copy through GRR Reviews.
May 12, 2022
Enchanting & Entertaining! Fabulous Story & Listen🎧 4.5 Stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Best Beast
An Enchanted Occasions Story
By: E.J. Russell
Narrated by: Kirt Graves
E.J. Russell takes you on a wild ride into her fascinating “Enchanted Occasions” world, a world filled with imaginative and equally fascinating paranormal beings. This novella sized book packs a punch and a whole lot of story. I adored the two lead characters, Kai Schiffer and Jovan Kos, Kai is half human but his other half takes over when in the supernatural world, making him invisible to others, with only one exception, he becomes visible for a doomsday situation. Jovan is an Interstitial Law Enforcement agent and a wolf warrior/berserker but currently he is the best man for his friend Ole, who is marrying Radka. Enchanted Occasions event planning is handling the affair so you can expect some bizarre situations and SNAFU, but beyond that there are more than usual mishaps. I loved the chemistry between Jovan and Kai, so happy they got spend time together and Jovan got to actually see Kai. This is a fast paced and cleverly plotted story, there is plenty of drama, humor and witty dialogue, twists and turns, heartfelt emotions and some steamy romance. E.J Russell, thank you for another entertaining story.
🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, E.J. Russell cast the perfect narrator to bring her story and characters to life. Kirt Graves is a talented narrator and a versatile voice artist. He is awesome at covering the roles of all the different characters, giving each their own distinct voice, making it easy to follow along and tell who is who. His portrayal of the characters is spot on and he is believable in every role he plays. He sets the perfect tone for the story, handles to witty dialogue with ease and handles the humor effortlessly. He also captures all the character’s emotions and projects them into his performance and has you feeling every single one. Kirt Graves is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another amazing listen.
Best Beast
An Enchanted Occasions Story
By: E.J. Russell
Narrated by: Kirt Graves
E.J. Russell takes you on a wild ride into her fascinating “Enchanted Occasions” world, a world filled with imaginative and equally fascinating paranormal beings. This novella sized book packs a punch and a whole lot of story. I adored the two lead characters, Kai Schiffer and Jovan Kos, Kai is half human but his other half takes over when in the supernatural world, making him invisible to others, with only one exception, he becomes visible for a doomsday situation. Jovan is an Interstitial Law Enforcement agent and a wolf warrior/berserker but currently he is the best man for his friend Ole, who is marrying Radka. Enchanted Occasions event planning is handling the affair so you can expect some bizarre situations and SNAFU, but beyond that there are more than usual mishaps. I loved the chemistry between Jovan and Kai, so happy they got spend time together and Jovan got to actually see Kai. This is a fast paced and cleverly plotted story, there is plenty of drama, humor and witty dialogue, twists and turns, heartfelt emotions and some steamy romance. E.J Russell, thank you for another entertaining story.
🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, E.J. Russell cast the perfect narrator to bring her story and characters to life. Kirt Graves is a talented narrator and a versatile voice artist. He is awesome at covering the roles of all the different characters, giving each their own distinct voice, making it easy to follow along and tell who is who. His portrayal of the characters is spot on and he is believable in every role he plays. He sets the perfect tone for the story, handles to witty dialogue with ease and handles the humor effortlessly. He also captures all the character’s emotions and projects them into his performance and has you feeling every single one. Kirt Graves is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another amazing listen.
May 19, 2022
This was a lot of fun to listen to. It's actually my first book from this series but I'll definitely be going back to read/listen to the previous books.
Kai and Jovan have become really good friends over the past couple of years as they joined their best friends for movie and game nights. It didn't matter that Kai was invisible to everyone whilst in the Interstices, a bond grew between them along with quite a big crush, on both sides. When on Earth's side, Kai is fully visible and the two have the chance to be together, fully, for the first time. What ensues after, when it comes to the wedding of their best friends, is absolute chaos! It reminds me of a comedy caper where everything that can go wrong, does go wrong but from the influence of others.
It's such an entertaining story, both from the relationship aspect and the overall plot of the story. Kai and Jovan are from different worlds and are seen as outsiders even by their own people but together, there is attraction, happiness and love. The wedding is just, insane. No one is safe from the groom to the musician, all happening but not for the reasons I was expecting.
I really enjoy E.J's writing style as she brings characters and the supernatural to life.
Kirk's narration is spot on throughout the story. The voices provided match the the character personalities and I found myself laughing along while listening to all the goings on that they endure.
Kai and Jovan have become really good friends over the past couple of years as they joined their best friends for movie and game nights. It didn't matter that Kai was invisible to everyone whilst in the Interstices, a bond grew between them along with quite a big crush, on both sides. When on Earth's side, Kai is fully visible and the two have the chance to be together, fully, for the first time. What ensues after, when it comes to the wedding of their best friends, is absolute chaos! It reminds me of a comedy caper where everything that can go wrong, does go wrong but from the influence of others.
It's such an entertaining story, both from the relationship aspect and the overall plot of the story. Kai and Jovan are from different worlds and are seen as outsiders even by their own people but together, there is attraction, happiness and love. The wedding is just, insane. No one is safe from the groom to the musician, all happening but not for the reasons I was expecting.
I really enjoy E.J's writing style as she brings characters and the supernatural to life.
Kirk's narration is spot on throughout the story. The voices provided match the the character personalities and I found myself laughing along while listening to all the goings on that they endure.
November 3, 2021
With the whole Enchanted Occasions world starting off after the "disastrous Olesson-Pakulski wedding" it was always clear that it was quite the story and the interest was there. This short tells just what happened at that wedding! Unexpectedly the wedding itself wasn't off because of Enchanted Occasions, but actually sabotage and a crazy family. But the main characters, Jovan and Kai, are there to protect the wedding of their best friends and help out the Enchanted Occasions staff any way they can.
The story was lot of fun and the things that went wrong hit the right balance of sad (they nailed those insecurities just right) and hilarious (they never made it too heartbreaking and had some ridiculous happenings). It was just too bad that as a short it missed out on two things; the characters and the ending. While this story focuses on Kai and Jovan it would have been nice to see a bit more interaction with the Enchanted Occasions staff since they are important to the rest of the series. As well, the story end straight at the end of the wedding. While it is true the story was about the wedding, it was also about Kai and Jovan, and their story wasn't just the wedding. It felt that the ending was a bit abrupt as such and I would love to see the pair later on to know what all happened.
The story was lot of fun and the things that went wrong hit the right balance of sad (they nailed those insecurities just right) and hilarious (they never made it too heartbreaking and had some ridiculous happenings). It was just too bad that as a short it missed out on two things; the characters and the ending. While this story focuses on Kai and Jovan it would have been nice to see a bit more interaction with the Enchanted Occasions staff since they are important to the rest of the series. As well, the story end straight at the end of the wedding. While it is true the story was about the wedding, it was also about Kai and Jovan, and their story wasn't just the wedding. It felt that the ending was a bit abrupt as such and I would love to see the pair later on to know what all happened.
August 2, 2025
Close friend of the bride, half-human Kai Schiffer just wants the wedding to go smoothly. They’ve hired Enchanted Occasions Event Planning to facilitate the day in the inter-dimensional Vegas realm but nothing seems to be going right. Kai is invisible in this dimension, much to the chagrin of the glowering best man / law enforcement officer, Jovan Kos, who has never laid eyes on Kai despite having a crush on him for years. With the bridesmaids wreaking havoc, the bride and groom’s families being difficult, the temperamental head chef, and some uninvited guests, it’s going to be a very memorable wedding!
Similar to Nudging Fate (Enchanted Occasions #1), this supernatural romance prequel had a very farcical feel with lots of madcap events and people behaving outrageously. It’s a shorter story and I think the sheer amount of characters—the bridal party, the Enchanted Occasions staff, the bride and groom’s families, and interlopers—made it hard to keep track of everyone. The romance and the world-building were constantly interrupted by the next crazy occurrence so it felt a little rushed and patchy. Overall, there were some fun, playful, and sweet moments, but I felt this was a confusing introduction to a genuinely enjoyable series. 🎧 Kirt Graves always does a good job, and he certainly tried his best with the myriad character voices.
Similar to Nudging Fate (Enchanted Occasions #1), this supernatural romance prequel had a very farcical feel with lots of madcap events and people behaving outrageously. It’s a shorter story and I think the sheer amount of characters—the bridal party, the Enchanted Occasions staff, the bride and groom’s families, and interlopers—made it hard to keep track of everyone. The romance and the world-building were constantly interrupted by the next crazy occurrence so it felt a little rushed and patchy. Overall, there were some fun, playful, and sweet moments, but I felt this was a confusing introduction to a genuinely enjoyable series. 🎧 Kirt Graves always does a good job, and he certainly tried his best with the myriad character voices.
January 16, 2021
3.5 Stars
Really sweet story that made me laugh and warmed my heart but I had some trouble keeping all the names of places, people and magical terms in my head. It was a bit of an overload for me but I'm absolutely positive it was me and not the book because... yeah, just personal reasons. I also thought the ending was a bit abrupt but I loved seeing characters from the Enchanted Occasions world even if they're involvement was kept to a minimum.
I hope I don't sound negative because that is not at all how I felt about Best Beast. I would really love to see more of Jovan and Kai and their world. Just thinking about what a story with a Law Enforcement wolf warrior agent and and half-human with invisibility capabilities can get into makes me excited. What a fun series that could be!
I can't say this isn't a stand-alone but reading the other stories in the Enchanted Occasions world might be helpful to some.
TAGS
-- supernatural -- variety of supernatural characters -- very sweet -- made me laugh -- LOVED the MCs... Jovan and Kai -- great chemistry -- struggled with so many terms and names -- a bit of an abrupt ending -- wish it was longer
May 20, 2022
I listened to this in audiobook format, and I have to say first and foremost that Kirt Graves has been spot on every time I listen.
So, this was honestly just the thing I needed after reading quite a few heavy books. It was funny and whacky and full of a lot of hijinks. The whole thing circles around the romance between Kai and Jovan and the wedding they're trying to make sure goes smoothly.
Honestly, the entire thing was just adorable. It was chaotic and sappy and sweet, all wrapped into one with characters that make me more than just a little excited to check out the rest of the series. I already have the first book queued up on my kindle.
The romance itself was just so cute. It was really believable, even though we didn't get a lot of the build-up for it. The two main characters have known one another for a while, but that does nothing to diminish the build-up.
The story itself was chaos and fun, like I said. While the whole 'twist' was a little predictable, the way they got there made it wildly hilarious and so enjoyable to read.
I can't wait to delve into the rest of this particular universe!
So, this was honestly just the thing I needed after reading quite a few heavy books. It was funny and whacky and full of a lot of hijinks. The whole thing circles around the romance between Kai and Jovan and the wedding they're trying to make sure goes smoothly.
Honestly, the entire thing was just adorable. It was chaotic and sappy and sweet, all wrapped into one with characters that make me more than just a little excited to check out the rest of the series. I already have the first book queued up on my kindle.
The romance itself was just so cute. It was really believable, even though we didn't get a lot of the build-up for it. The two main characters have known one another for a while, but that does nothing to diminish the build-up.
The story itself was chaos and fun, like I said. While the whole 'twist' was a little predictable, the way they got there made it wildly hilarious and so enjoyable to read.
I can't wait to delve into the rest of this particular universe!
May 21, 2022
🎧Audiobook Review🎧
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️
Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️ ️️
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️
This was my first story in the "Enchanted Occasons" world by E.J. Russell and the novella worked well as a standalone.
The author created many fantastical paranormal creatures. I liked Kai and Jovan well, with Kai having the distinction of not always being visible. The two are invited to their best friend's wedding and it was really funny at times what sudden unexpected problems arose there. I really liked the two main characters, the chemistry between them was definitely right.
I liked the story, it was alternating, sometimes funny, sometimes with some drama and sometimes a steamy romance. Unexpected twists and turns make the book entertaining. A sweet story for in between.
Kirt Graves has a big part in this, who is a master at portraying the emotions of the protagonists super well, so that as a listener you find yourself in the middle of the story. It is always a pleasure to listen to Kirt Graves.
I requested a free copy of the audiobook and this is my honest opinion that I am volunteering
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️
Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️ ️️
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️
This was my first story in the "Enchanted Occasons" world by E.J. Russell and the novella worked well as a standalone.
The author created many fantastical paranormal creatures. I liked Kai and Jovan well, with Kai having the distinction of not always being visible. The two are invited to their best friend's wedding and it was really funny at times what sudden unexpected problems arose there. I really liked the two main characters, the chemistry between them was definitely right.
I liked the story, it was alternating, sometimes funny, sometimes with some drama and sometimes a steamy romance. Unexpected twists and turns make the book entertaining. A sweet story for in between.
Kirt Graves has a big part in this, who is a master at portraying the emotions of the protagonists super well, so that as a listener you find yourself in the middle of the story. It is always a pleasure to listen to Kirt Graves.
I requested a free copy of the audiobook and this is my honest opinion that I am volunteering
January 17, 2021
Beastly Brilliant
Oh my, the story behind the Olesson-Pakulski wedding is a Hel-of-a tale—including some nasty, spiteful, vile supernaturals—and one only EO could handle with a lot of help from the amazing duo, Jovan and Kai. It’s so incredible that I almost wish I could have seen it but really I’d much rather just bask in the love that Jovan and Kai have. They’re fantastic, magical and out of this world. I’m doomed, in the best way, as I fell head over feet for them. Funny, amazing, at times hair raising but always an adventure, EJ Russell know how to deliver an unforgettable experience.
Oh my, the story behind the Olesson-Pakulski wedding is a Hel-of-a tale—including some nasty, spiteful, vile supernaturals—and one only EO could handle with a lot of help from the amazing duo, Jovan and Kai. It’s so incredible that I almost wish I could have seen it but really I’d much rather just bask in the love that Jovan and Kai have. They’re fantastic, magical and out of this world. I’m doomed, in the best way, as I fell head over feet for them. Funny, amazing, at times hair raising but always an adventure, EJ Russell know how to deliver an unforgettable experience.
January 31, 2021
E J Russell's stories are absolutely enchanting. In Best Beast, she takes on Norse Mythology. The main characters are a wolf warrior/beserker, brother to Fenfir and a half Klabeutermann, an invisible being who only appears when the ship they care for is sinking. Together, they make a vow to see their friends Ole and Radka married. Despite interference from both families.
It's an amusing, quick read. I fell in love with Russell's talespinning in the Fae out of Water series. And she definitely does not disappoint in this new one.
It's an amusing, quick read. I fell in love with Russell's talespinning in the Fae out of Water series. And she definitely does not disappoint in this new one.
January 7, 2021
Great wedding prequel to Nudging fate. The best man, best beast Jovan falls for the brides best friend Kai, even though he is invisible. I like the idea of interstitial spaces between worlds. Psychotic bridesmaids, epic wedding food fights reminiscent of The Great Race, Vegas style Star Wars weddings with Princess Leia costumes and Han Solo celebrants had me grinning till the very end.
January 16, 2021
OMG! Absolutely Brilliant!
Did you read all the other Enchanted Occasions books and wondered just what the Olesson-Pakulski disaster was? Wonder no more. This is the with of that famous wedding catastrophe from the point of view of the two best men. And it's as entertaining as you could hope. A great read. I heartily recommend!
Did you read all the other Enchanted Occasions books and wondered just what the Olesson-Pakulski disaster was? Wonder no more. This is the with of that famous wedding catastrophe from the point of view of the two best men. And it's as entertaining as you could hope. A great read. I heartily recommend!
October 9, 2025
'Best Beast' (Enchanted Occasions #2.5) written by E.J. Russell, (Audible) narrated by Kirt Graves
A great addition to the Enchanted Occasions multi-verse. I've read* several of the books in this series and liked them a lot!
*(listened to on Audible, and Graves is a wonderful narrator!)
Great world-building, complex characters and entertaining plots, so I was happy to see this book which is a precursor to the rest of the series.
What an outrageous storyline, in the best possible ways! A delightful mix of silliness, magical beings, a berserker chef, a vindictive bridesmaid and her minions, a bat-shite-crazy witch of a grandmother, the usually competant wedding planners (who appear in further books), along with mis-communications galore, all fueled by intentional sabotage perpetrated by several miscreants for their own selfish reasons, not caring who goes down in a burst of metaphorical flames...maybe a few real ones, too! Lots of characters to keep track of, including several Cos-Play gamers references, which was fun; I've been there, done that, had fun, got the t-shirt, lol!
Also, there are many references to these world-builds, which made sense to me after having read multiple books in this series, to anyone who is unfamiliar with this stuff, I imagine it might be a bit confusing as there is SO much going on in this storyline that they might feel like they're caught up in a whirlwind!
Love the sass & the snark, plus the fact of an actual ongoing complex plot and it's not all just "Pokemon" (sex) filler; there's a for real storyline. Oh, but the sex scenes are pretty steamy, too; I like all the ways they interact with each other, not just in bed but generally, because it's obvious that they both have genuine feelings for each other and this isn't just a one-off, a "hump & dump" as they say, lol.
"Kai is invisible in this dimension, much to the chagrin of the glowering best man / law enforcement officer, Jovan Kos, who has never laid eyes on Kai despite having a crush on him for years.*
With the bridesmaids wreaking havoc, the bride and groom’s families being difficult, the temperamental head chef, and some uninvited guests, it’s going to be a very memorable wedding!"
(borrowed this bit from another reviewer, but forgot who...sorry; if you read this either remind me, or ask me to delete this part; it's all good)
*[NOTE: to clarify: Jovan has KNOWN Kai for years, as they are both friends of the bride-&-groom-to-be, he just hasn't been able to visually SEE him due to the way the muli-level world interfaces work on the kind of magical/human being that Kai is]
One little thing bothered me though: near the ending, when Kai and Jovan are having a private moment inside a broom closet trying to figure out what's next, not only for them and their budding feelings for each other but also trying to foresee whatever other disasters the devious and spiteful people that are trying to sabotage this wedding between their friends Ole and Radha, might try to do next. They get interrupted by yet another sabotaging bridesmaid who flings the broom closet door open! Because she can see Kai, who normally would be invisible to her in the interstices (neutral spaces that exsist between realms) but whose visual appearance signals that a disaster is imminent, she runs away screaming!
Given that Jai's becoming visable in this place is a sign of the-shite-hitting-the-fan scenario, like a ship sinking! So WHY are Kai and Jovan taking their damn sweet time dawdling and asking each other about their feelings? Yada, yada, yada... Put a sock in it (stfu), move your frikkin' asses and go find out what egregious trickery either, or both, of the sabateurs has gotten up to NOW!
Anyway...bit of an abrupt ending, prolly 'cause it's the lead-in to the first book in this series (which I already read all the books that come after) but would have appreciated more follow-through after the wedding disaster.
Love the books in this world and can't hardly wait for more!
A great addition to the Enchanted Occasions multi-verse. I've read* several of the books in this series and liked them a lot!
*(listened to on Audible, and Graves is a wonderful narrator!)
Great world-building, complex characters and entertaining plots, so I was happy to see this book which is a precursor to the rest of the series.
What an outrageous storyline, in the best possible ways! A delightful mix of silliness, magical beings, a berserker chef, a vindictive bridesmaid and her minions, a bat-shite-crazy witch of a grandmother, the usually competant wedding planners (who appear in further books), along with mis-communications galore, all fueled by intentional sabotage perpetrated by several miscreants for their own selfish reasons, not caring who goes down in a burst of metaphorical flames...maybe a few real ones, too! Lots of characters to keep track of, including several Cos-Play gamers references, which was fun; I've been there, done that, had fun, got the t-shirt, lol!
Also, there are many references to these world-builds, which made sense to me after having read multiple books in this series, to anyone who is unfamiliar with this stuff, I imagine it might be a bit confusing as there is SO much going on in this storyline that they might feel like they're caught up in a whirlwind!
Love the sass & the snark, plus the fact of an actual ongoing complex plot and it's not all just "Pokemon" (sex) filler; there's a for real storyline. Oh, but the sex scenes are pretty steamy, too; I like all the ways they interact with each other, not just in bed but generally, because it's obvious that they both have genuine feelings for each other and this isn't just a one-off, a "hump & dump" as they say, lol.
"Kai is invisible in this dimension, much to the chagrin of the glowering best man / law enforcement officer, Jovan Kos, who has never laid eyes on Kai despite having a crush on him for years.*
With the bridesmaids wreaking havoc, the bride and groom’s families being difficult, the temperamental head chef, and some uninvited guests, it’s going to be a very memorable wedding!"
(borrowed this bit from another reviewer, but forgot who...sorry; if you read this either remind me, or ask me to delete this part; it's all good)
*[NOTE: to clarify: Jovan has KNOWN Kai for years, as they are both friends of the bride-&-groom-to-be, he just hasn't been able to visually SEE him due to the way the muli-level world interfaces work on the kind of magical/human being that Kai is]
One little thing bothered me though: near the ending, when Kai and Jovan are having a private moment inside a broom closet trying to figure out what's next, not only for them and their budding feelings for each other but also trying to foresee whatever other disasters the devious and spiteful people that are trying to sabotage this wedding between their friends Ole and Radha, might try to do next. They get interrupted by yet another sabotaging bridesmaid who flings the broom closet door open! Because she can see Kai, who normally would be invisible to her in the interstices (neutral spaces that exsist between realms) but whose visual appearance signals that a disaster is imminent, she runs away screaming!
Given that Jai's becoming visable in this place is a sign of the-shite-hitting-the-fan scenario, like a ship sinking! So WHY are Kai and Jovan taking their damn sweet time dawdling and asking each other about their feelings? Yada, yada, yada... Put a sock in it (stfu), move your frikkin' asses and go find out what egregious trickery either, or both, of the sabateurs has gotten up to NOW!
Anyway...bit of an abrupt ending, prolly 'cause it's the lead-in to the first book in this series (which I already read all the books that come after) but would have appreciated more follow-through after the wedding disaster.
Love the books in this world and can't hardly wait for more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2025
It's just too much. Too many characters to keep track of, too many species, and too many powers/characteristics to remember from one page to the other.
On top of that the world building is just too fucking jam packed with "funny references" to mythology, food we eat in the countries of origin for said mythology, random location names, a play with languages to stay "authentic" to the mythology in question etc etc. And then (just to really hammer home how much this author loves all things "fantasy”) she also introduces a human cosplay event in the middle of this otherwise fully fantasy story and starts name-dropping several of the (arguably) best known characters from books/movies/games/shows etc.
It's too much. It's like a fanfic crossing over every single fantasy-esque fandom at once. In less than 200 pages.
The actual storyline suffered. And it suffered hard! The love story was flat and uninteresting, and I found both the main characters and the side characters either boring or outright ridiculous.
On top of that the world building is just too fucking jam packed with "funny references" to mythology, food we eat in the countries of origin for said mythology, random location names, a play with languages to stay "authentic" to the mythology in question etc etc. And then (just to really hammer home how much this author loves all things "fantasy”) she also introduces a human cosplay event in the middle of this otherwise fully fantasy story and starts name-dropping several of the (arguably) best known characters from books/movies/games/shows etc.
It's too much. It's like a fanfic crossing over every single fantasy-esque fandom at once. In less than 200 pages.
The actual storyline suffered. And it suffered hard! The love story was flat and uninteresting, and I found both the main characters and the side characters either boring or outright ridiculous.
December 22, 2022
I really appreciate this view into the wedding that "ruined" the reputation of Enchanted Occasions. Even though they were technically a side couple, I don't think anything could have sunk Ole and Radka's wedding. They were going to be happy, and they were going to be together literally no matter what. Even Kai and Jovan, who arguably had more doubts about their viability as a couple than anyone around them or the readers, seemed solid and sure of each other from the start. It would have been entertaining as hell to see more familiar and ex-husband drama, but it also makes the love story sweeter that the drama never really weighed down either of the couples. I would really like to see more of Kai and Jovan. It would technically be more of a mystery than a romance, and it would be cool to see a story that details undercover work. Overall, Best Beast was a fun, light-hearted read.
April 20, 2021
We all know what it's like to feel invisible, but for Kai, it's a reality much of the time. Being unseen is a hassle on the best of days, but when you're falling for someone who literately can't see you, life can get downright complicated. The fact that Kia is transparent, however, doesn't keep Jovan from falling in love with his gentle nature and soft humor and when he discovers that Kia can see past his own beastly nature to the genuinely good guy inside, he'll risk everything to build a life for both of them.
Although this story features men who are actually invisible and literately beastly, I think we can call relate to feeling like we hide part of who we are or are never truly seen by those around us. It's a magical moment when we find someone who knows us all the way down to our depths, sees every faucet of our being, and loves us anyway.
Although this story features men who are actually invisible and literately beastly, I think we can call relate to feeling like we hide part of who we are or are never truly seen by those around us. It's a magical moment when we find someone who knows us all the way down to our depths, sees every faucet of our being, and loves us anyway.
December 3, 2025
4.5/5 It took me a minute to realize this book was the infamous wedding that had such an impact on EO, and then it was a wild ride of alternating between me cackling at the ridiculous occurrences and spitting with anger at the conniving attendees who were making such a mess of everything.
I really enjoyed watching Kai and Jovan get to see one another for the first time, and I appreciated how much of their relationship was already established through their existing friendship even if Kai wasn’t visible.
It was so satisfying seeing Ola and Ratka get their HEA despite everything, along with Kai and Jovan. (And since this is a prequel, knowing EO does eventually get past this makes me feel a little better, though I wish people had cared about the truth.) I enjoyed the glimpses of Andy, Brooke, and the others.
I really enjoyed watching Kai and Jovan get to see one another for the first time, and I appreciated how much of their relationship was already established through their existing friendship even if Kai wasn’t visible.
It was so satisfying seeing Ola and Ratka get their HEA despite everything, along with Kai and Jovan. (And since this is a prequel, knowing EO does eventually get past this makes me feel a little better, though I wish people had cared about the truth.) I enjoyed the glimpses of Andy, Brooke, and the others.
May 10, 2022
Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 4
A bit different but I liked it.
I have to admit that the main reason I requested a review copy of this audiobook is because Kirt Graves performed it. I love everything I’ve ever listened to that he’s performed and this book was no exception.
I really enjoyed listening to this book; it’s the first one I’ve read by EJ Russell. It was a bit confusing in places because of all of the unusual character names and species. I’m not normally a fantasy reader which probably explains some of my confusion. I liked this enough that I plan to check out the other stories in this series.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 4
A bit different but I liked it.
I have to admit that the main reason I requested a review copy of this audiobook is because Kirt Graves performed it. I love everything I’ve ever listened to that he’s performed and this book was no exception.
I really enjoyed listening to this book; it’s the first one I’ve read by EJ Russell. It was a bit confusing in places because of all of the unusual character names and species. I’m not normally a fantasy reader which probably explains some of my confusion. I liked this enough that I plan to check out the other stories in this series.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
May 16, 2022
Best Beast is part of the Enchanted Occasions series, but can easily be read as a standalone. Kai and Jovan are interesting and likable characters who have to use all their wits to keep their best friends’ wedding from becoming a disaster. In the process, they also find love with each other. There is so much humor and sass throughout the book and the interactions with all the characters is really enjoyable. E.J. Russell is one of my favorite authors - the amount of intricate and fascinating details she weaves into her stories is phenomenal. I just adore her world building.
The audiobook was narrated by Kirt Graves who does a fantastic job. The audio was well produced and that, along with a smooth and dynamic performance, made this audiobook fantastic.
The audiobook was narrated by Kirt Graves who does a fantastic job. The audio was well produced and that, along with a smooth and dynamic performance, made this audiobook fantastic.
February 1, 2021
The story is entertaining and different but it is made near impossible to fully enjoy as I couldn’t figure out who/what most of the supernaturals were. This includes one particular term that was crucial to understanding a key element of the story. A glossary at the beginning would have greatly enhanced my ability to fully appreciate the story telling. And while it is a novella more background on the MCs would have also enhanced the story.
I did enjoy the book, even if the ending was a bit abrupt and would love to see more of these MCs in a full length book.
I did enjoy the book, even if the ending was a bit abrupt and would love to see more of these MCs in a full length book.
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