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Calluvia's Royalty #5
Dearly Despised
He wasn’t supposed to want the enemy…
His family brutally murdered and his throne stolen, Prince Warrehn has planned his revenge for twenty years.
When he returns to reclaim his throne, all he wants is to punish the usurpers: the woman who killed his family, and her son, Samir, who has grown up to be as beautiful and as poisonous as his mother. He knows Samir can’t be trusted, but Warrehn can’t seem to stay away from him. It’s a goddamn disaster.
Samir never thought he’d have to play the part of the villain. Unfortunately, protecting his mother means being part of her plans to keep Warrehn from the throne, which only makes Warrehn despise him more.
But when he and Warrehn are thrown together in circumstances beyond their control, they have to learn to put up with each other. Samir has never been the object of such intense hatred—and such intense passion. Warrehn unsettles him and makes him behave like another person entirely, someone Samir barely recognizes: someone desperate and shameless.
He knows this thing between them is hopeless. They have no future together when Warrehn and his mother are determined to crush each other. He loves his mother, but his attraction to Warrehn is like a powerful drug, consuming him and changing him in ways he hasn’t expected. What will Samir do when he has to choose? Can love win over hatred and their parents’ messy, toxic past?
His family brutally murdered and his throne stolen, Prince Warrehn has planned his revenge for twenty years.
When he returns to reclaim his throne, all he wants is to punish the usurpers: the woman who killed his family, and her son, Samir, who has grown up to be as beautiful and as poisonous as his mother. He knows Samir can’t be trusted, but Warrehn can’t seem to stay away from him. It’s a goddamn disaster.
Samir never thought he’d have to play the part of the villain. Unfortunately, protecting his mother means being part of her plans to keep Warrehn from the throne, which only makes Warrehn despise him more.
But when he and Warrehn are thrown together in circumstances beyond their control, they have to learn to put up with each other. Samir has never been the object of such intense hatred—and such intense passion. Warrehn unsettles him and makes him behave like another person entirely, someone Samir barely recognizes: someone desperate and shameless.
He knows this thing between them is hopeless. They have no future together when Warrehn and his mother are determined to crush each other. He loves his mother, but his attraction to Warrehn is like a powerful drug, consuming him and changing him in ways he hasn’t expected. What will Samir do when he has to choose? Can love win over hatred and their parents’ messy, toxic past?
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2022
195 people are currently reading
2008 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 635 reviews
June 3, 2022
"if i can’t have him, no one can."
✦ how does AH keep doing it? i don't understand. why are her stories so addictive?? i swear, if i pick up a book by AH, i can't put it down until i finish it.
✦ enemies to lovers, forbidden love, forced proximity. yes yes and yes.
"after all, it was possible to be obsessed with a man you hated and despised. people said losing someone one hated passionately was as difficult as losing someone one loved — and as difficult to move on from."
✦ possessiveness, obsessiveness, jealousy, codependency. all that good shit.
✦ the way both Warrehn and Samir deluded themselves into thinking it was still the drugs lmao. clown behaviour.
"it was annoying how pretty he was when he was angry. Warrehn wanted to wrap his hands around that pale, lovely neck and strangle him, for turning him into an obsessive, possessive fool who couldn’t stop wanting him even if he’d been betrayed."
✦ the MF part of the story took me by surprise, but i ended up mostly enjoying it. y'all know i live for toxic couples in books, so... however, i do think the side couple had way too much page time. i would have definitely preferred the epilogue to be different too.
✦ Ksar: *shows up for two minutes*
me: *still screaming*
✦ to sum up, i enjoyed this a lot, but who's surprised. i'm always super excited for this author's releases, and always end up reading them in one sitting, because they're just that addictive. that really says all there is to say about AH's writing.
✦ how does AH keep doing it? i don't understand. why are her stories so addictive?? i swear, if i pick up a book by AH, i can't put it down until i finish it.
✦ enemies to lovers, forbidden love, forced proximity. yes yes and yes.
"after all, it was possible to be obsessed with a man you hated and despised. people said losing someone one hated passionately was as difficult as losing someone one loved — and as difficult to move on from."
✦ possessiveness, obsessiveness, jealousy, codependency. all that good shit.
✦ the way both Warrehn and Samir deluded themselves into thinking it was still the drugs lmao. clown behaviour.
"it was annoying how pretty he was when he was angry. Warrehn wanted to wrap his hands around that pale, lovely neck and strangle him, for turning him into an obsessive, possessive fool who couldn’t stop wanting him even if he’d been betrayed."
✦ the MF part of the story took me by surprise, but i ended up mostly enjoying it. y'all know i live for toxic couples in books, so... however, i do think the side couple had way too much page time. i would have definitely preferred the epilogue to be different too.
✦ Ksar: *shows up for two minutes*
me: *still screaming*
✦ to sum up, i enjoyed this a lot, but who's surprised. i'm always super excited for this author's releases, and always end up reading them in one sitting, because they're just that addictive. that really says all there is to say about AH's writing.
![Profile Image for moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645500038i%2F37448930._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
May 24, 2022
Samir smiled crookedly. "In an amusing turn of events, I feel very much anchored right now. With your cock."
Warrehn's lips twitched.
"The world must be ending," Samir murmured with a smile, his thumb touching Warrehn's mouth.
Warrehn immediately stopped smiling.
"Nope, too late—I saw that!" Samir said, waggling his eyebrows. "The smile!"
✧ this had so much potential to be five stars bc i loved Warrehn and Samir together. the one issue i had was
✧ Rohan being on the phone with Warrehn while Warrehn was fucking Samir and Rohan realizing it was everything. 😩🤣
✧ MY BB KSAR SHOWED UP AND THE WAY I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH I MISSED HIM UNTIL HIS ONE SECOND APPEARANCE. this man owns my heart and soul. <3
✧ for the epilogue, i had hoped
══════════════════════════════════
update: apr 2022
pls excuse me while i'm tryna finally catch up on the news that were announced this month BUT MAY 20?? so many books are releasing on my birth month and i ain't complaining 🤪
Warrehn's lips twitched.
"The world must be ending," Samir murmured with a smile, his thumb touching Warrehn's mouth.
Warrehn immediately stopped smiling.
"Nope, too late—I saw that!" Samir said, waggling his eyebrows. "The smile!"
✧ this had so much potential to be five stars bc i loved Warrehn and Samir together. the one issue i had was
✧ Rohan being on the phone with Warrehn while Warrehn was fucking Samir and Rohan realizing it was everything. 😩🤣
✧ MY BB KSAR SHOWED UP AND THE WAY I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH I MISSED HIM UNTIL HIS ONE SECOND APPEARANCE. this man owns my heart and soul. <3
✧ for the epilogue, i had hoped
══════════════════════════════════
update: apr 2022
pls excuse me while i'm tryna finally catch up on the news that were announced this month BUT MAY 20?? so many books are releasing on my birth month and i ain't complaining 🤪
May 20, 2022
🙏 this CANNOT be the end 🙏
From what I know, this is the last book of Calluvia and I low-key forgot about that because HOW-WHAT-I 😩😩😩✋✋✋😩😩 UNACCEPTABLE.
Thank god I still have the Master's series.
Rating: 3.75 stars ✨💫❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
(Lol I accidentally wrote Warrin Everytime I spelt out Warrehn's name sooooo 👉👈💀💀 only the legends will know my meaning)
I have nothing to say other than
🤌🏼 so addicting 🤌🏼
✋ Warrehn's grumpy moodiness made the thread of my heart tremble ✋
🤌🏼 Did I MENTION addicting-🤌🏼
😳 The slap scene 😳😳😳😳🥵🥵🥵
🥺 Warrehn and Samir's Cuddle Session 🥺
💜 I feel like this is relevant and discussed in every AH's book but I just low-key love how freeing some of her books are. The relationship doesn't matter if it's toxic, or unhealthy or way too possessive or anything above the line of “normal relationship”, what mattered was both parties loved the dynamic nonetheless. the 'toxic' possessive and all the above made the relationship and love even more stronger in their eyes. I don't think I'm explaining it well but the meaning behind AH's books reflected how the love between the MC's was theirs and only theirs, so who fucking cares about public opinion. Just my take on it. Even the bad guys get HEA and fuckkk if I don't love it more because of it.
Sorry, but that sentence is just TOO GOOD🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣✋✋✋✋✋👄👄
The best part of this book?
*sighs in bliss* was Castien Fucking Idhorn. One sentence. One paragraph. One mention of him and yet not a single scene of his apprerance fucking UNRAVELED me and I'm not okay and I love my cold, SMART and fucking EVERYTHING cunning baby so much. I screamed at the end and laughed out loud like an absolute maniac because that plot twist has me falling off my bed because it was soooooooo Castien.
My KING. I BOW BENEATH YOU.
🏁 What I didn't like 🏁
∆ I didn't really like some of the shit Samir said to him, it broke my heart because I knew how broken Warrin's heart already was and Samir saying shit, not realizing the consequences of his digs fucking hurt. → but that shit got healed when he FINALLY stood up for Warrin 😩😩
∆ dudeeeeeeeee. The whole Emyr shit? Kinda dig it (and only because of Emyr) but the SEX SCENE-✋✋✋ I had to read that with one eye closed and skimmed the whole scene and cringed and wanted to die. Who am I? I don't know. I low-key just can't read MF anything anymore 💀💀💀
∆ dude. E and D's pov for the Epilogue? SERIOUSLY. 😶😶😐😶😶😶😶😶
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
initial reaction:
is this an MM or an MF? 👁️👄👁️ someone lemme know 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Update: April 20, 2022: YA'LLLLLLL!!!!! WE HAVE A GORGEOUS COVER AND A RELEASE DATE!!!!!!?🙊😩😩😩😩😩😩❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️ May fucking 20 ppl! I literally reread Prince's Master two weeks ago and it looks like another reread is upcoming!!
Warren started off SO strong but he was just too whiny for my taste 🤭🥲 but it's Alessandra and why does it kind of break my heart to know this is the last book of Calluvia??? (Oct 9, 2021)
From what I know, this is the last book of Calluvia and I low-key forgot about that because HOW-WHAT-I 😩😩😩✋✋✋😩😩 UNACCEPTABLE.
Thank god I still have the Master's series.
“I can’t have him, no one can.”
Rating: 3.75 stars ✨💫❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
(Lol I accidentally wrote Warrin Everytime I spelt out Warrehn's name sooooo 👉👈💀💀 only the legends will know my meaning)
He had tried, just to prove to himself that he could, and he never slept well, his bed too empty and cold. He had felt like a kid unable to sleep without his favorite plush toy.
I have nothing to say other than
🤌🏼 so addicting 🤌🏼
✋ Warrehn's grumpy moodiness made the thread of my heart tremble ✋
🤌🏼 Did I MENTION addicting-🤌🏼
😳 The slap scene 😳😳😳😳🥵🥵🥵
🥺 Warrehn and Samir's Cuddle Session 🥺
People said losing someone one hated passionately was as difficult as losing someone one loved—and as difficult to move on from.
💜 I feel like this is relevant and discussed in every AH's book but I just low-key love how freeing some of her books are. The relationship doesn't matter if it's toxic, or unhealthy or way too possessive or anything above the line of “normal relationship”, what mattered was both parties loved the dynamic nonetheless. the 'toxic' possessive and all the above made the relationship and love even more stronger in their eyes. I don't think I'm explaining it well but the meaning behind AH's books reflected how the love between the MC's was theirs and only theirs, so who fucking cares about public opinion. Just my take on it. Even the bad guys get HEA and fuckkk if I don't love it more because of it.
“Sorry, but your hole isn’t that good.”
Sorry, but that sentence is just TOO GOOD🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣✋✋✋✋✋👄👄
The best part of this book?
*sighs in bliss* was Castien Fucking Idhorn. One sentence. One paragraph. One mention of him and yet not a single scene of his apprerance fucking UNRAVELED me and I'm not okay and I love my cold, SMART and fucking EVERYTHING cunning baby so much. I screamed at the end and laughed out loud like an absolute maniac because that plot twist has me falling off my bed because it was soooooooo Castien.
“He’s allegedly the best mind adept on the planet,” Warrehn said flatly. “And I’m supposed to believe he wasn’t able to access those blocked memories?”
Rohan snorted. “My thoughts exactly. I think he’s telling the truth about the mind traps, but he may not be telling us everything he knows.”
My KING. I BOW BENEATH YOU.
🏁 What I didn't like 🏁
∆ I didn't really like some of the shit Samir said to him, it broke my heart because I knew how broken Warrin's heart already was and Samir saying shit, not realizing the consequences of his digs fucking hurt. → but that shit got healed when he FINALLY stood up for Warrin 😩😩
∆ dudeeeeeeeee. The whole Emyr shit? Kinda dig it (and only because of Emyr) but the SEX SCENE-✋✋✋ I had to read that with one eye closed and skimmed the whole scene and cringed and wanted to die. Who am I? I don't know. I low-key just can't read MF anything anymore 💀💀💀
∆ dude. E and D's pov for the Epilogue? SERIOUSLY. 😶😶😐😶😶😶😶😶
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
initial reaction:
is this an MM or an MF? 👁️👄👁️ someone lemme know 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Update: April 20, 2022: YA'LLLLLLL!!!!! WE HAVE A GORGEOUS COVER AND A RELEASE DATE!!!!!!?🙊😩😩😩😩😩😩❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️ May fucking 20 ppl! I literally reread Prince's Master two weeks ago and it looks like another reread is upcoming!!
Warren started off SO strong but he was just too whiny for my taste 🤭🥲 but it's Alessandra and why does it kind of break my heart to know this is the last book of Calluvia??? (Oct 9, 2021)
May 30, 2022
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️/5 Stars for story one between our guys.
Negative infinity ⭐️’s for story two between dearest mother and clone dad.
I said what I said. 🤷🏻♀️
Every author is going to miss the mark occasionally. It happens. And while I have definitely loved some AH books way more than others, I have never been as disappointed as I was with this one. She is still my Queen of the Obscene. But I feel let down. 😢
No it wasn’t the one m/f sex scene. Or it wasn’t JUST that. Though I could have done without it. If it was only that, I would have scratched my head and said, “Well, that was weird,” and carried on.
It was that she devoted SO much of the plot to the mom. Multiple chapters from her POV. Chapters that could have been spent…I don’t know…with the two supposed main characters of the book? The final nail in the coffin was the epilogue. We all know AH doesn’t do great endings. It’s her thing. To make us want more. To feed our addiction. With this one we get a full on epilogue. I was so excited! She had heard our prayers. Then it turns out even the EPILOGUE is about the mom and clone dad. WTF? 😵💫
So, I’m feeling blue. What I got of the guys I loved. It was her usual fare. Possessive, hot and needy. Defying all logic but it doesn’t matter. The things that make me read her. But there simply wasn’t enough of them. 😭
I’ll still follow her to the ends of the earth. She would have to write a LOT more books like this before I’d quit her. My addiction is that bad. But this sadly wasn’t for me.
Crying David Tennant gif to be possibly inserted later.
Negative infinity ⭐️’s for story two between dearest mother and clone dad.
I said what I said. 🤷🏻♀️
Every author is going to miss the mark occasionally. It happens. And while I have definitely loved some AH books way more than others, I have never been as disappointed as I was with this one. She is still my Queen of the Obscene. But I feel let down. 😢
No it wasn’t the one m/f sex scene. Or it wasn’t JUST that. Though I could have done without it. If it was only that, I would have scratched my head and said, “Well, that was weird,” and carried on.
It was that she devoted SO much of the plot to the mom. Multiple chapters from her POV. Chapters that could have been spent…I don’t know…with the two supposed main characters of the book? The final nail in the coffin was the epilogue. We all know AH doesn’t do great endings. It’s her thing. To make us want more. To feed our addiction. With this one we get a full on epilogue. I was so excited! She had heard our prayers. Then it turns out even the EPILOGUE is about the mom and clone dad. WTF? 😵💫
So, I’m feeling blue. What I got of the guys I loved. It was her usual fare. Possessive, hot and needy. Defying all logic but it doesn’t matter. The things that make me read her. But there simply wasn’t enough of them. 😭
I’ll still follow her to the ends of the earth. She would have to write a LOT more books like this before I’d quit her. My addiction is that bad. But this sadly wasn’t for me.
Crying David Tennant gif to be possibly inserted later.
May 20, 2022
—-——— SPOILERS —————-
Okey I’m gonna start this review with mentioning how much I love Alessandra’s work. I’m addicted to a lot of her books, but this one lacked a lot of elements that makes her work so great and addictive. I’ll still be looking forward to her next publication. Can’t wait for the next book in the straight guys series, but this one was not for me. I felt angry, disgusted and this time I couldn’t find anything to rationalize certain events. I love AH her writing. This review is my point of view on this book and why I didn’t like it. I don’t mean to be cruel and I hope I don’t give off that vibe. I’m sure this book will be loved by so many other people, but sometimes a book is just not for you.
I honestly had high hopes for this one. I know the author struggled with a writers block and had to start from scratch (can’t imagine how hard that must have been), but when I read it was going to be an enemies/haters-to-lovers I was so freaking excited!! I immediately thought about ksar and seyn!! That book was a masterpiece!
From the beginning it was very clear to me that I was going to hate Samir’s mother. I could not stand her! Everything she said felt like a lie, everything she did was disgusting and immoral. She was selfish, insane, obsessed, cruel and manipulative. That was one hell of a villain, that’s for sure. I liked how she created a villain that I really couldn’t stand. I wanted her dead! I wanted her tortured! I just wanted to suffer for everything she had done and still considered doing. I also did not like reading her sex scene. Skipped it completely. I don’t really like mf romance/sex in mm books, but again that’s my opinion and someone else might think differently.
Samir… that’s one of the main issues I had with this book. Samir went along with everything (with the excuse it was the only option he had). I just didn’t like him. I think he should have been more horrified about the acts his mother committed and wanted to commit. And he should have opened his mouth more. He didn’t blink an eye when his mother talked about framing Warrehn for sexual assault, only concerned about the civil war it would unleash. UM HELLO?? What about framing someone for something you have been a victim of yourself??? Is that not worth being angry/disgusted about?? At the end of the book he learns what other vile acts his mother has committed, and the only thing he concerned himself about is how reckless it was!! He didn’t say a word about the crimes themselves!
I liked Warrehn. He was a massive, handsome grump. In the beginning he often put Samir in his place and every time he said the harsh truth, I was like “YES!! TELL HIM!! MAKE HIM FEEL FUCKING GUILTY, CAUSE HE SHOULD!!” I didn’t mind his cruelty and harsh words at all. It was deserved.
The second thing that had me disliking the book was how their physical relationship started. First wanting to abuse Warrehn feeling lonely in a hostile place. I just couldn’t understand how you could be okey with using someone in that situation. There was no connection between Samir and Warrehn, no sexual tension, no pining. I normally wouldn’t have cared about Samir’s mom drugging them so they needed each other. Warrehn obv was already attracted to Samir and he wanted him. But I never got that feeling from Samir. Admiring someone’s hands does not make you attracted to them and it does not make you want to have sex with them. There were no sexual thoughts from Samir about Warrehn. Therefore I couldn’t rationalize that these scenes were consensual. They felt forced. It also didn’t really help that suddenly it was about breeding, the breeder and becoming pregnant, etc. I understand that these were the effects of the drug, but they didn’t fit into this world. They made me feel uncomfortable.
After that I couldn’t really get into their relationship anymore. I missed the tension, the connection, the wanting (even if they hated each other). I missed a spark to make this relationship believable. The cuddles and intimacy didn’t do much for me anymore. Warrehn also fell in love way too quickly, considering he blamed it all on the drugs not that long ago (even if it hadn’t been the drugs for some time). I couldn’t understand where that love came from. It was suddenly there. I still did not like Samir and I couldn’t understand how Warrehn wanted to trust him.
I loved the little conversations with Rohan. There were not many, but you just know the bond between him and Warrehn is strong. ALSO KSAR APPEARED!! I can never get enough of ksar.
Then there is the ending… for the villain… that’s the last thing that made me dislike this book so much. How can such a vile person still get a happy ending? There was no redemption for her. She was evil and disgusting without a remorseful bone in her body. She did not deserve a happy ending. Not even a dubious one with a clone. She should have suffered. I’m sorry if I’m being harsh, but AH created a great villain. I hated her so much. SHE DID NOT DESERVE A HAPPY ENDING AND IT MADE ME RAGE!!
I still love the way Alessandra Hazard writes, even in this book her writing style really got to me. This time maybe not with the relationship, but she still managed to make my heart squeeze. I felt so much freaking sympathy towards Warrehn. He felt so lonely and lost, and I could feel that trough the pages. I really wanted to hug him. AH her writing really makes you feel. I love how desperate and needy her characters can get. How possessive and clingy they are and how they care for each other (sometimes in their own way). If the connection between them is right, these elements make for an amazing read.
As I said before, I’m still looking forward to her next publications. Sometimes a book is just not for you. And in this case this one wasn’t for me. I blame myself and my ridiculous high standards for love and romance.
Okey I’m gonna start this review with mentioning how much I love Alessandra’s work. I’m addicted to a lot of her books, but this one lacked a lot of elements that makes her work so great and addictive. I’ll still be looking forward to her next publication. Can’t wait for the next book in the straight guys series, but this one was not for me. I felt angry, disgusted and this time I couldn’t find anything to rationalize certain events. I love AH her writing. This review is my point of view on this book and why I didn’t like it. I don’t mean to be cruel and I hope I don’t give off that vibe. I’m sure this book will be loved by so many other people, but sometimes a book is just not for you.
I honestly had high hopes for this one. I know the author struggled with a writers block and had to start from scratch (can’t imagine how hard that must have been), but when I read it was going to be an enemies/haters-to-lovers I was so freaking excited!! I immediately thought about ksar and seyn!! That book was a masterpiece!
From the beginning it was very clear to me that I was going to hate Samir’s mother. I could not stand her! Everything she said felt like a lie, everything she did was disgusting and immoral. She was selfish, insane, obsessed, cruel and manipulative. That was one hell of a villain, that’s for sure. I liked how she created a villain that I really couldn’t stand. I wanted her dead! I wanted her tortured! I just wanted to suffer for everything she had done and still considered doing. I also did not like reading her sex scene. Skipped it completely. I don’t really like mf romance/sex in mm books, but again that’s my opinion and someone else might think differently.
Samir… that’s one of the main issues I had with this book. Samir went along with everything (with the excuse it was the only option he had). I just didn’t like him. I think he should have been more horrified about the acts his mother committed and wanted to commit. And he should have opened his mouth more. He didn’t blink an eye when his mother talked about framing Warrehn for sexual assault, only concerned about the civil war it would unleash. UM HELLO?? What about framing someone for something you have been a victim of yourself??? Is that not worth being angry/disgusted about?? At the end of the book he learns what other vile acts his mother has committed, and the only thing he concerned himself about is how reckless it was!! He didn’t say a word about the crimes themselves!
I liked Warrehn. He was a massive, handsome grump. In the beginning he often put Samir in his place and every time he said the harsh truth, I was like “YES!! TELL HIM!! MAKE HIM FEEL FUCKING GUILTY, CAUSE HE SHOULD!!” I didn’t mind his cruelty and harsh words at all. It was deserved.
The second thing that had me disliking the book was how their physical relationship started. First wanting to abuse Warrehn feeling lonely in a hostile place. I just couldn’t understand how you could be okey with using someone in that situation. There was no connection between Samir and Warrehn, no sexual tension, no pining. I normally wouldn’t have cared about Samir’s mom drugging them so they needed each other. Warrehn obv was already attracted to Samir and he wanted him. But I never got that feeling from Samir. Admiring someone’s hands does not make you attracted to them and it does not make you want to have sex with them. There were no sexual thoughts from Samir about Warrehn. Therefore I couldn’t rationalize that these scenes were consensual. They felt forced. It also didn’t really help that suddenly it was about breeding, the breeder and becoming pregnant, etc. I understand that these were the effects of the drug, but they didn’t fit into this world. They made me feel uncomfortable.
After that I couldn’t really get into their relationship anymore. I missed the tension, the connection, the wanting (even if they hated each other). I missed a spark to make this relationship believable. The cuddles and intimacy didn’t do much for me anymore. Warrehn also fell in love way too quickly, considering he blamed it all on the drugs not that long ago (even if it hadn’t been the drugs for some time). I couldn’t understand where that love came from. It was suddenly there. I still did not like Samir and I couldn’t understand how Warrehn wanted to trust him.
I loved the little conversations with Rohan. There were not many, but you just know the bond between him and Warrehn is strong. ALSO KSAR APPEARED!! I can never get enough of ksar.
Then there is the ending… for the villain… that’s the last thing that made me dislike this book so much. How can such a vile person still get a happy ending? There was no redemption for her. She was evil and disgusting without a remorseful bone in her body. She did not deserve a happy ending. Not even a dubious one with a clone. She should have suffered. I’m sorry if I’m being harsh, but AH created a great villain. I hated her so much. SHE DID NOT DESERVE A HAPPY ENDING AND IT MADE ME RAGE!!
I still love the way Alessandra Hazard writes, even in this book her writing style really got to me. This time maybe not with the relationship, but she still managed to make my heart squeeze. I felt so much freaking sympathy towards Warrehn. He felt so lonely and lost, and I could feel that trough the pages. I really wanted to hug him. AH her writing really makes you feel. I love how desperate and needy her characters can get. How possessive and clingy they are and how they care for each other (sometimes in their own way). If the connection between them is right, these elements make for an amazing read.
As I said before, I’m still looking forward to her next publications. Sometimes a book is just not for you. And in this case this one wasn’t for me. I blame myself and my ridiculous high standards for love and romance.
July 15, 2022
I know I say this whenever I read an Alessandra Hazard book but what the heck did I just read?? Sex spells, clones, toxic relationships, mommy issues... my head is spinning.
I'm going to say this very plainly: I love Alessandra Hazard because my body loves Alessandra Hazard's books, like on a primal level.
She write-y, me read-y.
Sure, her books are insane and often make no sense, but the SEX (!!) and her addictive writing style usually makes it worth it to me. I hate to say it, but I don't know if Dearly Despised lived up to the crazy.
On one hand, I truly love the "I've been drugged/poisoned/whatever-else and now we have to have sex to survive" trope. Like, I really love it. I didn't enjoy Warrehn but I did enjoy him with Samir. enemies-to-lovers is always amazing, but I struggled with the rest of the story.
WAY, waaayyyy too much time spent with coocoo mommy dearest. I mean, so much. She couldn't even butt out of the epilogue! I usually like how this author doesn't even try to make relationships make sense but they do anyway (??) but there were some major stumbling blocks here and some crappy things were said between the MCs. I just wanted more from this story, especially after how much I enjoyed the others in the series.
Still had that crack-tastic vibe, but not as strong as this author's other offerings, I'm afraid.
goodreads|instagram|twitter|tiktok
I'm going to say this very plainly: I love Alessandra Hazard because my body loves Alessandra Hazard's books, like on a primal level.
She write-y, me read-y.
Sure, her books are insane and often make no sense, but the SEX (!!) and her addictive writing style usually makes it worth it to me. I hate to say it, but I don't know if Dearly Despised lived up to the crazy.
On one hand, I truly love the "I've been drugged/poisoned/whatever-else and now we have to have sex to survive" trope. Like, I really love it. I didn't enjoy Warrehn but I did enjoy him with Samir. enemies-to-lovers is always amazing, but I struggled with the rest of the story.
WAY, waaayyyy too much time spent with coocoo mommy dearest. I mean, so much. She couldn't even butt out of the epilogue! I usually like how this author doesn't even try to make relationships make sense but they do anyway (??) but there were some major stumbling blocks here and some crappy things were said between the MCs. I just wanted more from this story, especially after how much I enjoyed the others in the series.
Still had that crack-tastic vibe, but not as strong as this author's other offerings, I'm afraid.
goodreads|instagram|twitter|tiktok
May 23, 2022
***3.75 rating***
"It was addictive, to be wanted. To be needed."
"He straddled Warrehn’s lap and kissed him needily. His, his, his."
Brief Summary:
Dearly Despised is the 5th book in the Calluvia's Royalty series. It is also the final book, which makes me sad if I am being honest. But, all good things must eventually end and so must this series which I have come to devour and enjoy.
This is the story of Eridan's brother, Warrehn and Prince Samir who we were introduced to briefly in book 3 and book 4. Warrehn is the long lost prince and the legitimate heir to the throne, so when he suddenly shows up alive he turn's Samir's world upside down. Samir had believed his whole life that he was destined to be king, well that is until Warrehn shows up and ruin's Samir and his mother Dalatteya's plans for the throne. No love is the lost between these families. There is much hatred, disgust, scheming, lies, betrayal and even desire for vengeance. However, there is also lust, sex, yes so much sex, neediness, codependency, jealousy, possessiveness and even love between the supposed enemies, Samir and Warrehn. Neither ever expected to be "entangled" with one another but life comes in all forms of surprises, with mothers and fathers as coconspirators and villains. But must Warrehn and Samir pay for the sins of their parents? or can this unlikely pair counter the odds stacked against them?
If you desire to read about enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity, dubious consent, unexpected plot twists, jealous and possessive lovers, then this is your book and Alessandra Hazard does not fail to deliver.
Thoughts on Dearly Despised:
If you have seen or read any of my reviews for this series or any book I have ever read by AH, then you know that I absolutely adore most books written by this author. However, after loving Prince's Master , I had high expectations for this book and while I enjoyed this to a degree, I did not love it as much as the fourth book. There is essentially two love stories in this book, no matter how twisted and toxic they are. One is MM and the other M/F. I did not enjoy the MF story, if I wanted to read MF I would read other authors, but I understand that AH wanted to tell
Dalatteya and Emyr's story. I, could have gone without reading it. I wanted to read more about Samir and Warrehn. They had crazy, outrageous, fun sex scenes and I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers aspect but I wish AH focused more on the main couple rather than Samir's mother love life. Warrehn and Samir's neediness and dubcon moments were what I enjoyed about this book along with the royal scheming and plot twists. It was rather shorter than I expected and again wish we had more scenes with the main couple rather than the MF scenes.
Overall, an alright story with fun sex scenes but I still think Prince's Master is far superior than this book. Maybe the comparison isn't fair but that's my two cents, do with it what you will.
"It was addictive, to be wanted. To be needed."
"He straddled Warrehn’s lap and kissed him needily. His, his, his."
Brief Summary:
Dearly Despised is the 5th book in the Calluvia's Royalty series. It is also the final book, which makes me sad if I am being honest. But, all good things must eventually end and so must this series which I have come to devour and enjoy.
This is the story of Eridan's brother, Warrehn and Prince Samir who we were introduced to briefly in book 3 and book 4. Warrehn is the long lost prince and the legitimate heir to the throne, so when he suddenly shows up alive he turn's Samir's world upside down. Samir had believed his whole life that he was destined to be king, well that is until Warrehn shows up and ruin's Samir and his mother Dalatteya's plans for the throne. No love is the lost between these families. There is much hatred, disgust, scheming, lies, betrayal and even desire for vengeance. However, there is also lust, sex, yes so much sex, neediness, codependency, jealousy, possessiveness and even love between the supposed enemies, Samir and Warrehn. Neither ever expected to be "entangled" with one another but life comes in all forms of surprises, with mothers and fathers as coconspirators and villains. But must Warrehn and Samir pay for the sins of their parents? or can this unlikely pair counter the odds stacked against them?
If you desire to read about enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity, dubious consent, unexpected plot twists, jealous and possessive lovers, then this is your book and Alessandra Hazard does not fail to deliver.
Thoughts on Dearly Despised:
If you have seen or read any of my reviews for this series or any book I have ever read by AH, then you know that I absolutely adore most books written by this author. However, after loving Prince's Master , I had high expectations for this book and while I enjoyed this to a degree, I did not love it as much as the fourth book. There is essentially two love stories in this book, no matter how twisted and toxic they are. One is MM and the other M/F. I did not enjoy the MF story, if I wanted to read MF I would read other authors, but I understand that AH wanted to tell
Dalatteya and Emyr's story. I, could have gone without reading it. I wanted to read more about Samir and Warrehn. They had crazy, outrageous, fun sex scenes and I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers aspect but I wish AH focused more on the main couple rather than Samir's mother love life. Warrehn and Samir's neediness and dubcon moments were what I enjoyed about this book along with the royal scheming and plot twists. It was rather shorter than I expected and again wish we had more scenes with the main couple rather than the MF scenes.
Overall, an alright story with fun sex scenes but I still think Prince's Master is far superior than this book. Maybe the comparison isn't fair but that's my two cents, do with it what you will.
October 20, 2024
REVIEW TO COME!!
June 28, 2023
Reread #3
I'm lowering my rating to 4 stars. Too much Dallateya for me this time around.
I kind of reread this tonight and I don't know how it actually happened.
Oh well. 😅
4.5 stars
Dear Alessandra:
You are a genius and I bow at the alter of your creativity.
This was worth the wait for me.
Now you have to know that when reviewing AH, you're not reviewing a literary masterpiece, but you are reviewing something so addictive than you can not put it down. You also just ignore the plot holes, the ridiculousness and whatever other stuff you may encounter...because it's AH. It's the law.
Now with this book, This is my review: I LOVED IT!
I finished it in one sitting, as is the law, cursed myself for reading too fast, as is the law, and then reread some parts again... mainly the sex scenes, as is the law.
I don't have anything more to say. Just read the damn book.
I took away half a star because of the epilogue though. I wanted more Warrehn and Samir, not who we got. I wanted a soft sexy scene of them in the future, something like closure.
Also KSAR HAS A CAMEO!
I'm lowering my rating to 4 stars. Too much Dallateya for me this time around.
I kind of reread this tonight and I don't know how it actually happened.
Oh well. 😅
4.5 stars
Dear Alessandra:
You are a genius and I bow at the alter of your creativity.
This was worth the wait for me.
Now you have to know that when reviewing AH, you're not reviewing a literary masterpiece, but you are reviewing something so addictive than you can not put it down. You also just ignore the plot holes, the ridiculousness and whatever other stuff you may encounter...because it's AH. It's the law.
Now with this book, This is my review: I LOVED IT!
I finished it in one sitting, as is the law, cursed myself for reading too fast, as is the law, and then reread some parts again... mainly the sex scenes, as is the law.
I don't have anything more to say. Just read the damn book.
I took away half a star because of the epilogue though. I wanted more Warrehn and Samir, not who we got. I wanted a soft sexy scene of them in the future, something like closure.
Also KSAR HAS A CAMEO!
May 21, 2022
Dear Ms. Hazard,
Please stop proving again and again and again that I am messed up. In the past, I have disillusioned myself that it was harmless self-indulgence till the toxicity and obsessiveness were limited to a single generation. But, what is my excuse for reading and loving this one?
Although, just like your awesome MCs I think I too am going to ignore my love for needy overdependent relationships and my overeagerness to read 'telepathic Merge' scenes till I am mentally capable to do so.....😝😝😝😝
Edit-Few few hours after I have finished it, I want to change my rating to 3, but the lead couple does not deserve a 3-star rating. I adore them but I hated the side characters especially the fact that we get 50+ pages for their parents and not enough for the lovely couple. And, as usual, the epilogue was disappointing.
Please stop proving again and again and again that I am messed up. In the past, I have disillusioned myself that it was harmless self-indulgence till the toxicity and obsessiveness were limited to a single generation. But, what is my excuse for reading and loving this one?
Although, just like your awesome MCs I think I too am going to ignore my love for needy overdependent relationships and my overeagerness to read 'telepathic Merge' scenes till I am mentally capable to do so.....😝😝😝😝
Edit-Few few hours after I have finished it, I want to change my rating to 3, but the lead couple does not deserve a 3-star rating. I adore them but I hated the side characters especially the fact that we get 50+ pages for their parents and not enough for the lovely couple. And, as usual, the epilogue was disappointing.
waiting-for-release
June 12, 2020I'm on the fence about Warrehn's story. On one hand, he seems interesting, on the other, not so much... I just have to see what the blurb will be and go from there.
May 22, 2022
I’d just like to start this review by saying I’m so sorry for being gone for so long. This year has been really hard for me school wise and mentally. The transition from Covid into “normal” was really abrupt and not something I was ready for. Going back to school was really hard for me. I suddenly forgot how to have social interactions and sitting in a classroom for 1-2 hours was mutinous and draining. Work was suddenly 10x harder and I was struggling to keep up with it. It was also my fist time doing a sport in high school and let’s just say, I wasn’t a very good student athlete. I felt lonely all the time and stupid because no longer could I just coast my way through it, I had to actually try, something I hadn’t done in two years. I saw all these people around me progressing and moving on from Covid and I still felt like I was still stuck in 2020. I really want to enjoy high school and being a teenager so I’m taking steps to work towards that. Anyways I’ve finished my AP test and my chemistry final so I can kind of take it easy for the rest of the year (even though I have a D in math 😵💫) BUT I’ve really missed all my friends on here and want to be more involved again. So umm here my review… there are some spoilers!!!
I wasn’t too excited to read about Warrhen but holy shit I enjoyed this. Samir won my heart though and he might be my favorite of Hazzard”s characters (after Julian and Luke of course). I loved the neediness and possessiveness and toxicity, ughhh it’s so good. I have to say I wasn’t to interested in the sub romance ingrained in the book like that was just toxic toxic and I didn’t enjoy as much and I was RAGING when they took up the epilogue. Also the whole clone thing was weird to me, because like it was him but not really? But overall I did really like it and finished it way tooo fast 😪😪
May 20, 2022
My favorite book in the series, I think, knocking off That Irresistible Poison.
Will review later, when the review won't be as spoilery!
Will review later, when the review won't be as spoilery!
June 14, 2022
"You're quiet," Samir said, looking back at him. "What are you thinking about?"
"You," Warrehn said honestly.
Samir's answering smile was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
we definitely ate with this one huh? this was amazing and just so gripping. i loved everything in here except for the mf moments. like ew no. there's something in alessandra hazard's writing that makes her stories so fucking addicting. i couldn't put this down. almost read it all in one seating if not for some errands. to me, the series may the not be the best best but for sure the most consistent. i'm not sure if this is the end or if there'll be more? bc no hints for the upcoming book/couple.
if i were to rank so far these books:
➵ that irresistible poison - 5 stars
➵ prince's master - 5 stars
➵ dearly despised - 4 stars
➵ that alien feeling - 4 stars
➵ once upon a time - 3 stars
May 21, 2022
3.5 Stars
I have some mixed feelings about this one. I rather wanted to push Samir's mother off a cliff. Repeatedly. But I liked Samir and Warrehn. I do wish that the story focused more on Samir and Warrehn, though, and less on Samir's mother's conniving machinations and I'm really not sure about that ending. I did not like that the focus of the ending was so I rounded down. I felt the ending was kind of a let down.
I have some mixed feelings about this one. I rather wanted to push Samir's mother off a cliff. Repeatedly. But I liked Samir and Warrehn. I do wish that the story focused more on Samir and Warrehn, though, and less on Samir's mother's conniving machinations and I'm really not sure about that ending. I did not like that the focus of the ending was so I rounded down. I felt the ending was kind of a let down.
May 20, 2022
RTC
Merged review:
This is the final book in the Calluvia series😭😭
Enemies to lovers
Possessiveness- neediness
Forced proximity
Jealousy
Mommy issues
Politics games
Forbidden love
Grumpy- sunshine
Trust issues
Part of a series, can read as standalone
I have been waiting for this book for ages, and I was really excited when AH announced its release date, because this series is one of my favorite series ever.
The plot and the characters are the trademarked Alessandra Hazard’s, hands down.
Warrehn’s character was the rude brute, wanted to take his revenge on his mortal enemies, while he is lonely and couldn’t find his place in his old home.
Samir is the beautify, the clever and polite politician, who lost his planned future, because of Warrehn.
This book is smooth and smoking hot, as I expected from the author.
However I loved the book, the epilogue was a real miss for me, especially that this was the last book in the series I really wanted a last peek of my favorite characters of the previous books. Or at last an epilogue with the main characters, this is the reason for the previous 4stars rating. In the hope of an upcoming short story with them I changed it to 5 stars😊
“They could have been something special, something great, if they weren’t the people they were. Maybe in another life, they would have been. “
“I should hate you,” Warrehn said, catching his fingers with his larger hand and kissing his knuckles one by one, his mouth hot and reverent.”
“I know you and your mother are up to something,” he said against Samir’s lips. “I know that. But…” He let out a frustrated sound and kissed him.”
Merged review:
This is the final book in the Calluvia series😭😭
Enemies to lovers
Possessiveness- neediness
Forced proximity
Jealousy
Mommy issues
Politics games
Forbidden love
Grumpy- sunshine
Trust issues
Part of a series, can read as standalone
I have been waiting for this book for ages, and I was really excited when AH announced its release date, because this series is one of my favorite series ever.
The plot and the characters are the trademarked Alessandra Hazard’s, hands down.
Warrehn’s character was the rude brute, wanted to take his revenge on his mortal enemies, while he is lonely and couldn’t find his place in his old home.
Samir is the beautify, the clever and polite politician, who lost his planned future, because of Warrehn.
This book is smooth and smoking hot, as I expected from the author.
However I loved the book, the epilogue was a real miss for me, especially that this was the last book in the series I really wanted a last peek of my favorite characters of the previous books. Or at last an epilogue with the main characters, this is the reason for the previous 4stars rating. In the hope of an upcoming short story with them I changed it to 5 stars😊
“They could have been something special, something great, if they weren’t the people they were. Maybe in another life, they would have been. “
“I should hate you,” Warrehn said, catching his fingers with his larger hand and kissing his knuckles one by one, his mouth hot and reverent.”
“I know you and your mother are up to something,” he said against Samir’s lips. “I know that. But…” He let out a frustrated sound and kissed him.”
May 25, 2022
3.5 stars
Entertaining but absurdly OTT plot. Hate-to-love. Rightful heir to the throne vs usurper. Machiavellian mother. Regicide. Revenge. Cloned dead king. Smutaganza.
I’m not a fan of the secondary m/f side plot and that effed up epilogue.
Entertaining but absurdly OTT plot. Hate-to-love. Rightful heir to the throne vs usurper. Machiavellian mother. Regicide. Revenge. Cloned dead king. Smutaganza.
I’m not a fan of the secondary m/f side plot and that effed up epilogue.
May 20, 2022
Massive Trigger Warning for SA against Warren.
This wasn’t the book to give the ‘bad guys’ a happy ending. After murdering his parents, then trying to have Warren and his three year old brother killed and ruining everything in Warren’s life; allowing there to be no redemption to Warren’s life and pain was not the play.
Not only did the author give the evil rapist a happy ending, but she didn’t even allow Warren to have a father who cared for him or his brother making it far more tragic.
This was honestly one of the worst books I have read, and I am no stranger to dark romance or dark themes. This one was simply unbalanced, allowing very bad deed to not only go unpunished but rewarded. It honestly seemed like the only person who didn’t do anything horrific was the only person constantly being punished in the story (Warren).
Which, I have to question why since he was the person I was most invested in after over three books with his tragic story in, making it seem like the people involved would at least get their dues. Sadly no. Everyone who wronged the tragic prince was simply rewarded with a happy ever after.
Needless to say, allowing a person who date rape their victim (after already killing his family) is just not a good look and the author lacked the ability to make the bad characters charismatic enough or their good traits shine enough for such grievous actions to unpunished.
Needless to say if you like characters who are evil with no redeeming qualities who constantly gaslight their victim and go not only completely unpunished, but get happily ever after a while the victim doesn’t get an ounce of what they had been working for, for the last three books towards… then yes, I would recommend this to you, as well as a therapist, because while liking dark themes or stories is fine; the writing in this is simply just bad taste. (Which hopefully the therapist would fix.)
This wasn’t the book to give the ‘bad guys’ a happy ending. After murdering his parents, then trying to have Warren and his three year old brother killed and ruining everything in Warren’s life; allowing there to be no redemption to Warren’s life and pain was not the play.
Not only did the author give the evil rapist a happy ending, but she didn’t even allow Warren to have a father who cared for him or his brother making it far more tragic.
This was honestly one of the worst books I have read, and I am no stranger to dark romance or dark themes. This one was simply unbalanced, allowing very bad deed to not only go unpunished but rewarded. It honestly seemed like the only person who didn’t do anything horrific was the only person constantly being punished in the story (Warren).
Which, I have to question why since he was the person I was most invested in after over three books with his tragic story in, making it seem like the people involved would at least get their dues. Sadly no. Everyone who wronged the tragic prince was simply rewarded with a happy ever after.
Needless to say, allowing a person who date rape their victim (after already killing his family) is just not a good look and the author lacked the ability to make the bad characters charismatic enough or their good traits shine enough for such grievous actions to unpunished.
Needless to say if you like characters who are evil with no redeeming qualities who constantly gaslight their victim and go not only completely unpunished, but get happily ever after a while the victim doesn’t get an ounce of what they had been working for, for the last three books towards… then yes, I would recommend this to you, as well as a therapist, because while liking dark themes or stories is fine; the writing in this is simply just bad taste. (Which hopefully the therapist would fix.)
May 22, 2022
Her writing makes it impossible for me to stop and highlight
May 22, 2022
2.5 rounded down
I... didn't love this one as much as I was hoping and my f-list did!
It was fine, but something about the plotting here felt a little lazy and phoned in, TBH. I *love* a good sex pollen trope, and I am HERE for smut, but I kind of just felt like we basically got a ton of smut and not much else. And then suddenly they're in love with each other, and I am definitely not reading this for healthy and realistic portrayals, but usually I can vibe with the intense feels in Hazard's books, and here I felt absolutely nothing for either of the characters. I can appreciate the sex pollen as an avenue to get them to hate sex, but we didn't really get nearly enough angsting over it, and it just seemed to quickly turn into regular sex... I don't know why, but I really didn't feel any chemistry or investment in them together. I also wasn't super excited about the weird emphasis on the evil mom and dad pairing--they were 0% of the reason why I read this book, and I honestly felt like the author put more effort into their relationship than the primary one. I mean *they* are the pairing that got the epilogue? I don't even like marriage/tied-up-in-a-bow epilogues and I still thought it was fucking weird to hear about the wedding of the main pairing from the evil parents who've escaped...
There was also a sort of weird semi-self-awareness of "omg this is so toxic" that I've noticed in a couple of Hazard's recent books. It wasn't quite as prevalent as the last one I read, but it's just kind of a weird choice and takes me out of the narrative. Yeah, we know, you literally only write fucked-up shit that absolutely is not healthy IRL, but you're also writing about alien planets--we get it, this is fantasy. But continuously having the characters be aware they're in a toxic dynamic only makes me be like... okay, if you know, then GTFO... IDK. Some of this author's books push all my buttons, and some don't. This was a bit of a miss for me, but I am very much in the minority, lol.
I... didn't love this one as much as I was hoping and my f-list did!
It was fine, but something about the plotting here felt a little lazy and phoned in, TBH. I *love* a good sex pollen trope, and I am HERE for smut, but I kind of just felt like we basically got a ton of smut and not much else. And then suddenly they're in love with each other, and I am definitely not reading this for healthy and realistic portrayals, but usually I can vibe with the intense feels in Hazard's books, and here I felt absolutely nothing for either of the characters. I can appreciate the sex pollen as an avenue to get them to hate sex, but we didn't really get nearly enough angsting over it, and it just seemed to quickly turn into regular sex... I don't know why, but I really didn't feel any chemistry or investment in them together. I also wasn't super excited about the weird emphasis on the evil mom and dad pairing--they were 0% of the reason why I read this book, and I honestly felt like the author put more effort into their relationship than the primary one. I mean *they* are the pairing that got the epilogue? I don't even like marriage/tied-up-in-a-bow epilogues and I still thought it was fucking weird to hear about the wedding of the main pairing from the evil parents who've escaped...
There was also a sort of weird semi-self-awareness of "omg this is so toxic" that I've noticed in a couple of Hazard's recent books. It wasn't quite as prevalent as the last one I read, but it's just kind of a weird choice and takes me out of the narrative. Yeah, we know, you literally only write fucked-up shit that absolutely is not healthy IRL, but you're also writing about alien planets--we get it, this is fantasy. But continuously having the characters be aware they're in a toxic dynamic only makes me be like... okay, if you know, then GTFO... IDK. Some of this author's books push all my buttons, and some don't. This was a bit of a miss for me, but I am very much in the minority, lol.
January 2, 2026
3.5**** stars
*lmaooo Damn, this was bad.
A drug that had these two princes, who despised each other with all their heart, horny out of their minds, jumping each other like mindless animals in heat? Really? Bahaha, well blame it all on the force of the drug. Warrehn and Samir, ladies and gents.
Anyhow. Trust this author to make this still addicting to read, no matter how dumb the plot.
Rounding up my rating for Dalatteya and Emyr, who are the pinnacle of fucked up. I’m glad AH included them in this book.
**************
Calluvia's Royalty Series
Prequel - At Your Service - 3.0 stars
Book 1 - That Alien Feeling - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - That Irresistible Poison - 4.25 stars
Book 3 - Once Upon a Time - 4.75 stars
Book 4 - Prince’s Master - 4.5 stars
Book 5 - Dearly Despised - 3.5 stars
*lmaooo Damn, this was bad.
A drug that had these two princes, who despised each other with all their heart, horny out of their minds, jumping each other like mindless animals in heat? Really? Bahaha, well blame it all on the force of the drug. Warrehn and Samir, ladies and gents.
Anyhow. Trust this author to make this still addicting to read, no matter how dumb the plot.
What Emyr had done to Dalatteya and her husband was sickening, but Warrehn wasn’t sure he would be any better if he had to watch Samir with another man. And it scared him. Maybe Dalatteya had been right, after all. Maybe the men of his family really were too toxic and obsessive.
Rounding up my rating for Dalatteya and Emyr, who are the pinnacle of fucked up. I’m glad AH included them in this book.
**************
Calluvia's Royalty Series
Prequel - At Your Service - 3.0 stars
Book 1 - That Alien Feeling - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - That Irresistible Poison - 4.25 stars
Book 3 - Once Upon a Time - 4.75 stars
Book 4 - Prince’s Master - 4.5 stars
Book 5 - Dearly Despised - 3.5 stars
May 24, 2022
This was hot and addictive and deliciously wrong. It’s Alessandra Hazzard after all. 🔥 🔥 🔥
“Get on your knees,” Warrehn repeated. “You will get on your knees and suck your king’s cock.” Samir flushed again, his lips parting. His gaze flicked down to Warrehn’s crotch. “You can’t make me,” Samir said, his pink tongue darting out to lick his full lips, as if he had no idea what he was doing to him.
Spoiler: There was a secondary MF romance, and that would normally piss me off. But it was toxic and deliciously wrong too, so I didn’t mind. Except the epilogue, I was disappointed there.
Was it perfect? No. I find this series is starting to get a little repetitive. There dynamic reminded me a lot of Ksar and Seyn. In a good way.
Will I read every single book anyway and beg for more? Yes, yes I will.
“Get on your knees,” Warrehn repeated. “You will get on your knees and suck your king’s cock.” Samir flushed again, his lips parting. His gaze flicked down to Warrehn’s crotch. “You can’t make me,” Samir said, his pink tongue darting out to lick his full lips, as if he had no idea what he was doing to him.
Spoiler: There was a secondary MF romance, and that would normally piss me off. But it was toxic and deliciously wrong too, so I didn’t mind. Except the epilogue, I was disappointed there.
Was it perfect? No. I find this series is starting to get a little repetitive. There dynamic reminded me a lot of Ksar and Seyn. In a good way.
Will I read every single book anyway and beg for more? Yes, yes I will.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2022
The end was a bit rushed I think, and sorta anticlimactic but overall I enjoyed it!
May 21, 2022
⭐︎
4.5 Stars Rounded Down
⭐︎
I wavered between rounding up or down with this, but ultimately rounded down mainly because of how rushed this was.
Now I flew through this. I love how engaging AH's books are and how sucked in I get in them. I read this is less than a day. Probably in about 8-ish hours, maybe less. That's always a plus to me, when books can suck me in to the story and couple so well.
Warrhen and Samir had amazing chemistry together, and they were fire together. AH's rarely has couples who don't have amazing chemistry together. I felt the desire and growing feelings they had for each other.
The sex was top notch, as usual, although for me I just wanted more of it. What felt so rushed about this is it felt like there weren't as many written out sex scenes with them as AH usually writes, and the transition from "hating" each other to being in love wasn't handled the best, and I just ended up wanting quite a bit more from them, because I felt like we didn't get enough, even with 200+ pages.
The was my main reasons for rounding down. As great as these two were together, as amazing as their chemistry was, we didn't get enough of them, and I just was left feeling a little bereft at the end.
My main reason for the .5 off is also because there was a little too much focus on Samir's mother and . She and him were almost like the more toxic version, the more shitty people as a whole version of Warrhen and Samir, it maybe took up a little too much attention in this book.
There were a few chapters from Samir's mother's POV, obsessing over him, and even an M/F scene with them. It wasn't long and fairly quick, but still. They felt like a secondary romance I didn't care about. I don't need M/F couples so heavily focused on in my M/M books. Now it wasn't to the point that it was that bad, but it was enough for me to notice, and just want to get back to Warrhen and Samir and not focus on these two.
I know it had to do with Warrhen and Samir's storyline, like I get that. But it still could have been more in the background than it was, is all I'm saying, and was the main reason for my giving .5 stars off. We even get bonus content at the end that is about them at the end instead of Warrhen and Samir, which I didn't care for. I only liked that content for the mention of our main couple.
So all that served towards me giving this 4.5 stars and rounding down.
But overall, I did love this a lot. The first half especially was hugely focused on our MC's, and I breezed through that, and I loved their chemistry together. I know AH had writer's block when it came to this story, but the time she took to get through that was worth it. Overall, this turned out very well and still had that AH charm she brings to her books, and that delicious smut (although I could have used even more ;)).
So I definitely recommend this, it still had a great main couple with all the delicious chemistry AH gives her main couples. And it is a very easy, fast read that is highly engaging.
Two thumbs up from me. Can't wait for the next installment in the Straight Guys series from this author, and whatever else the author might give us. Maybe the next Master's book, which should be fun as well.
Can't wait! 😘
I wavered between rounding up or down with this, but ultimately rounded down mainly because of how rushed this was.
Now I flew through this. I love how engaging AH's books are and how sucked in I get in them. I read this is less than a day. Probably in about 8-ish hours, maybe less. That's always a plus to me, when books can suck me in to the story and couple so well.
Warrhen and Samir had amazing chemistry together, and they were fire together. AH's rarely has couples who don't have amazing chemistry together. I felt the desire and growing feelings they had for each other.
The sex was top notch, as usual, although for me I just wanted more of it. What felt so rushed about this is it felt like there weren't as many written out sex scenes with them as AH usually writes, and the transition from "hating" each other to being in love wasn't handled the best, and I just ended up wanting quite a bit more from them, because I felt like we didn't get enough, even with 200+ pages.
The was my main reasons for rounding down. As great as these two were together, as amazing as their chemistry was, we didn't get enough of them, and I just was left feeling a little bereft at the end.
My main reason for the .5 off is also because there was a little too much focus on Samir's mother and . She and him were almost like the more toxic version, the more shitty people as a whole version of Warrhen and Samir, it maybe took up a little too much attention in this book.
There were a few chapters from Samir's mother's POV, obsessing over him, and even an M/F scene with them. It wasn't long and fairly quick, but still. They felt like a secondary romance I didn't care about. I don't need M/F couples so heavily focused on in my M/M books. Now it wasn't to the point that it was that bad, but it was enough for me to notice, and just want to get back to Warrhen and Samir and not focus on these two.
I know it had to do with Warrhen and Samir's storyline, like I get that. But it still could have been more in the background than it was, is all I'm saying, and was the main reason for my giving .5 stars off. We even get bonus content at the end that is about them at the end instead of Warrhen and Samir, which I didn't care for. I only liked that content for the mention of our main couple.
So all that served towards me giving this 4.5 stars and rounding down.
But overall, I did love this a lot. The first half especially was hugely focused on our MC's, and I breezed through that, and I loved their chemistry together. I know AH had writer's block when it came to this story, but the time she took to get through that was worth it. Overall, this turned out very well and still had that AH charm she brings to her books, and that delicious smut (although I could have used even more ;)).
So I definitely recommend this, it still had a great main couple with all the delicious chemistry AH gives her main couples. And it is a very easy, fast read that is highly engaging.
Two thumbs up from me. Can't wait for the next installment in the Straight Guys series from this author, and whatever else the author might give us. Maybe the next Master's book, which should be fun as well.
Can't wait! 😘
May 23, 2022
For the most part, I enjoy AH’s books. To date, this has been my least favourite, and is likely to remain as such.
I know AH struggled with writer’s block on this, that the whole story was thrown out and started over. I wish she had done the same with this.
This started off on on a good note, but it did start to sour for me rather early on.
AH’s use of random POVs throughout her books has always driven me nuts. The books I have enjoyed the most have been the ones with very few of these head jumps. This book was full of them, with Dalatteya having far more than I ever would have cared for.
Then there was the frequent use of “cunt”, a word I cannot stand, being used as an insult and as an anatomical descriptor.
Which brings me to another issue… the explicit MF sex scene. I read MM because I do not want to read MF scenes. I don’t want to read about breasts and clits and cunts. I definitely don’t want to read an explicit MF scene involving the mother of one of the MCs, who is also the antagonist in this book. I was not pleased with the Dalatteya POVs, but at the very least, the sex could have been fade-to-black.
I feel like Samir and Warrehn’s characters and relationship suffered in order to tell Dalatteya’s story. In the Afterword, AH even thanks a friend for encouraging her to write Dalatteya’s story (thanks a lot, Grace). I don’t want the focus of a MM story to be on a woman, and I don’t want it to be on the someone insane who has no problem killing anyone, including a 3 year old. If she wanted to much to tell Dalatteya’s story, it could have been done in its own book, and that way I could have never read any of this trash.
The epilogue. I hate epilogues in general. This epilogue cement the fact that this is not Samir’s story, it isn’t Warrehn’s story. It’s Dalatteya’s. The epilogue is told entirely from her POV, and she gets her HEA. And it’s bullshit.
I know AH struggled with writer’s block on this, that the whole story was thrown out and started over. I wish she had done the same with this.
This started off on on a good note, but it did start to sour for me rather early on.
AH’s use of random POVs throughout her books has always driven me nuts. The books I have enjoyed the most have been the ones with very few of these head jumps. This book was full of them, with Dalatteya having far more than I ever would have cared for.
Then there was the frequent use of “cunt”, a word I cannot stand, being used as an insult and as an anatomical descriptor.
Which brings me to another issue… the explicit MF sex scene. I read MM because I do not want to read MF scenes. I don’t want to read about breasts and clits and cunts. I definitely don’t want to read an explicit MF scene involving the mother of one of the MCs, who is also the antagonist in this book. I was not pleased with the Dalatteya POVs, but at the very least, the sex could have been fade-to-black.
I feel like Samir and Warrehn’s characters and relationship suffered in order to tell Dalatteya’s story. In the Afterword, AH even thanks a friend for encouraging her to write Dalatteya’s story (thanks a lot, Grace). I don’t want the focus of a MM story to be on a woman, and I don’t want it to be on the someone insane who has no problem killing anyone, including a 3 year old. If she wanted to much to tell Dalatteya’s story, it could have been done in its own book, and that way I could have never read any of this trash.
The epilogue. I hate epilogues in general. This epilogue cement the fact that this is not Samir’s story, it isn’t Warrehn’s story. It’s Dalatteya’s. The epilogue is told entirely from her POV, and she gets her HEA. And it’s bullshit.
May 27, 2022
3.5 a bit disappointed stars!! 😬 We have waited so long to get this book and I really loved both Warrehn and Samir.. even liked the weird reason why they got together ❤️ ❤️ despite their mutual distrust and hatred. What I didn't like was all the mom issues/POVs/toxic relationships and how much the other story just sucked the juice out of the main story. 🙄It was still a AH book so there was plenty of passion, steam, kink and possessiveness. But the ending was rushed and a complete fail for me at least. This had so much promise.... but it felt incomplete and shallow. 💔
May 23, 2022
3.75 stars ⭐️ Dearly Despised is the first book after ages I read straight through without halting it for a day or two. I'm not sure how AH does it, but she sure knows how to set a trap. I was imprisoned inside this book and couldn't get out till I finished reading it.
Of course, I liked Warrhen more than Samir. I felt inextricably linked to him because of his loneliness. I liked his grumpiness and how toxic and possessive his love for Samir was.
The only part of the novel that I didn't enjoy was Emyr and Dalettaya's ridiculous drama. I'm not a fan of reading MF sex scenes. That is why I started reading MM romances in the first place, and I don't like it when MF scenes are included in an mm, and it is not nice.
Of course, I liked Warrhen more than Samir. I felt inextricably linked to him because of his loneliness. I liked his grumpiness and how toxic and possessive his love for Samir was.
The only part of the novel that I didn't enjoy was Emyr and Dalettaya's ridiculous drama. I'm not a fan of reading MF sex scenes. That is why I started reading MM romances in the first place, and I don't like it when MF scenes are included in an mm, and it is not nice.
May 26, 2022
I never knew this day would come, I did not like a AH book. I needed some time to myself before I attempted this review.
Warrehn has been out of the picture for a while, he was mentioned in passing in several books but we don't really meet him, same with Samir.
I enjoyed the first 25% even though it got a bit repetitive, I was still interested in seeing how AH will spin it. Nonetheless I didn't enjoy how it went. Compared to the other books I feel as though this relationship wasn't fleshed out as much. I feel like the character didn't spend much time together without the sex. Their relationship just seemed like it was hurriedly thrown together, it didn't leave me enough time to really connect with the characters.
Hoping this is an outlier, I look forward to her other books.
Warrehn has been out of the picture for a while, he was mentioned in passing in several books but we don't really meet him, same with Samir.
I enjoyed the first 25% even though it got a bit repetitive, I was still interested in seeing how AH will spin it. Nonetheless I didn't enjoy how it went. Compared to the other books I feel as though this relationship wasn't fleshed out as much. I feel like the character didn't spend much time together without the sex. Their relationship just seemed like it was hurriedly thrown together, it didn't leave me enough time to really connect with the characters.
Hoping this is an outlier, I look forward to her other books.
May 25, 2022
The first book I’ve finished in months and of course it’s Alessandra Hazard 🤣
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