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Rut

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Elias is a viratrix. Which means he's supposed to be big, strong, and in control. He's two of those things... but being in control is the last thing he wants.
Especially when his colleague goes into heat, sending him and his best friend, Jordie--another viratrix who just happens to be his research assistant--into rut.

But it'll be fine. He just won't look at Jordie's muscular arms and alluring green tentacles. And he definitely won't let Jordie get close enough to find out his secret desires...

Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2022

40 people are currently reading
295 people want to read

About the author

Reese Morrison

29 books325 followers
Reese Morrison lives in Philadelphia with their partner, two precocious children, and intermittent housemates, guests, and homeless, queer teens. Their hobbies are volunteering on too many boards, planting gardens that they forget to water half-way through the summer, making up songs for their kids, and putting off writing their dissertation.

Reese and their partner both identify as genderqueer and are part of a vibrant community of queer and trans folks. They started writing because they were dissatisfied with the lack of trans and genderqueer characters in what they were reading and finally decided to do something about it. Many, but not all, of their books are kinky (for a whole range of kinks...) and they feel that it's important to represent a range of backgrounds, dis/abilities, gender presentations/ identities, and body types in their writing.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
Profile Image for BelleLovesRomance.
349 reviews276 followers
November 23, 2025
​⭐️ 4/5 — Older submissive alpha (who identifies as an omega) and younger doting dominant alpha? YES PLEASE. 😍 Both have been pining for each other for two years? I LIVE HERE NOW. 🏠🧘🏻‍♀️🗝️🛐

​🌶 4/5 — Tentacles sex? Seen it. 🥱 DP? Been there, read that. 💅🏻 But triple penetration with a combo of one 🍆 and two tentacles PLUS a sperm pouch??? YEAH, I SAT. I LISTENED. I LEARNED. 🧎🏻‍♀️🐙🎓🔥

💭 My Rambling 💭

Okay, listen. ✋🏻 I opened this book expecting a fun little sci-fi romp and instead, I was personally attacked by how sweet and emotionally charged this was. 🥹💞

Quote (Jordie to Elias):
“I want you to know how beautiful you are. You’re so sexy when you show what you want. You always say that gender shouldn’t hold anyone back. I want that for you, too.”

​⚠️ WARNING: EMOTIONAL DAMAGE IN PROGRESS ⚠️🤧💔

Quote:
“So you don’t connect with your body or your gender?” Jordie was still caressing him with soothing strokes. “You just exist separately from it? You’re just you?”
“Yeah.” He relaxed enough to tilt his head back onto Jordie’s shoulder. He hadn’t expected him to get it so well.
“And when we’re together?” Jordie kissed along his neck, making him tingle.
He could feel his muscles tightening again, but he spoke through it. He knew Jordie wouldn’t judge him, but part of him still feared the response. “I feel like a progenetrix.”
Jordie nibbled along the rim of his ear. “The loveliest progenetrix I’ve ever met.”
Elias had already done so much crying, and he wasn’t going to do it again, dammit.

​💭 EXCUSE ME WHILE I GO SOB IN THE CORNER 😭🚿 Elias is 46 years old—FORTY-SIX!!—and has spent his entire life in the closet, terrified to show his true self (a soft Progenetrix/Omega soul trapped in a big Viratrix/Alpha body). 🥺🏚️ The insecurity? The lifetime of unfulfilled needs? The fear of society judging him? PAIN. 🔪💔 And then Jordie just sees him and accepts him effortlessly? I am not strong enough for this. Protect Elias at all costs!!! 🛡️😭

💞​🏆 GET YOU A MAN WHO CAN DO BOTH: FRUIT PEELER BY DAY, MATING PRESS BY NIGHT 🍐🌞🍆🌙

Quote (Jordie's POV):
By the time evening came, Jordie couldn’t help but swing by the guanabana tree since it was only a little out of the way. Alright, it was a lot out of the way, but he picked a whole bag of the large, spiky fruits so at least he could say that he’d gathered them for everyone.
-
Jordie pulled out a sharp knife and cut open a nice, plump guanabana, gently easing the fat, black seeds from their pulpy bed before sliding it in front of Elias. It was a viratrix move, an I-can-provide-for-my-mate message. He was going to take care of his gorgeous progenetrix, and anyone who had an issue with it could take it up with him somewhere else.

Quote (Jordie's POV):
“I’m going to give you everything you need. Look at me, Ellie. You’re mine to take care of,” Jordie promised. “Mine to breed,” he growled.
“Is that what you want, sweetheart?”
Elias whimpered his arousal. Then he bent his head. Barely a nod.
“Words,” Jordie demanded again. “Words or I stop.”
Elias’s eyes flashed open, needy and begging. He gave the tiniest whisper, just a bare parting of his lips. “Yes.”
His gorgeous, sweet man. That was enough.

💭 Okay, raise your hand if you feel personally victimized by how perfect this man is. 🙋🏻‍♀️ Get a man like Jordie who doesn't just know your favorite fruit, but hikes "A lot out of the way" to climb a tree and get it for you. 🌳🍐🏃🏻‍♂️ AND serves it to you in front of everyone like, "Yes, this is my baby, I provide, deal with it." 😎💅 But then? BUT THEN? He drags you to the bedroom and absolutely rails you six ways to Sunday? 🚂💥🛐 The duality? UNMATCHED. 🤌🏻💋✨️ Jordie isn't just a green flag, he is the entire eco-friendly lawn. ⛳🌱🌿

🌶🥵🔥 ​RUT SEX AND TENTACLES GALORE 🍆🐙💦

Quote:
“Ellie.” Jordie sounded awed, still thrusting gently inside him with that glowing tendril. “You were meant for this.”
“Please, Jordie.”
“What do you want, Ellie?”
“Want you.” It was terrifying to say it, but he couldn’t deny it any longer. “Want you to fill me up.”
“Yes, baby. Like this?” Another slow flick of that tentacle inside his cock.
“Yeah,” he panted. “Please. Please, Jordie!”
“So good, baby. Gonna make you come for me.”
The tentacle that had been swirling around the rim of his ass pushed inside, so that he was filled in both places at once.

💭 The title is Rut. It is not a suggestion; it is a PROMISE. 🚨🤝🏻 When things kicked off, I had to put my e-reader in the freezer to cool it down. 🧊📱🔥 The physics alone? NASA needs to investigate. 🔭🚀🧐 Human men could never, and honestly? It’s rude that they don't even try to compete with this level of devotion (and anatomy 😏). 😤🍆🙅🏻‍♀️📉

​😵‍💫 CONFESSION: I NEED AN INSTRUCTIONAL DIAGRAM (OR A MAP) 🗺️ 📐❓

​💭 Sooo, the physics in this book had me fighting for my life. 🥊🥴 There were moments I had to pause the smut to mentally arrange limbs and tentacles like I was playing Tetris. 🧱👾 "Wait, if that goes there... then where is the other one?" 🤔 It kinda took me out of the moment because my brain was buffering, trying to figure out the geometry of it all. ⏳💻 Is this a book problem? Probably not. Is it a "Me having the spatial awareness of a potato" problem? ABSOLUTELY. 🥔📉😂

​🧬 QUIBBLE NO. 2: SIR, THIS IS A SMUT BOOK, NOT BIO 101 🌿💤📚

​💭 Look, I respect the scientific method. 🫡🔬 But there were moments where the plant talk got a little too… textbook. My eyes started glazing over like a donut. 🍩😵‍💫 I felt like I accidentally walked into a college lecture hall when I was looking for the strip club. 🏫💃🏻💀 When they started breaking down the cellular structure of the local flora? SNOOZE BUTTON PRESSED. 😴 I admit it—I skimmed. I am here for the biology of the bedroom, not the photosynthesis of the forest. Keep the chlorophyll, give me the tentacles. 🌳🙅🏻‍♀️🐙😌

✨️ Final Thoughts ✨️

I am sending a radio signal for my own alien boyfriend as we speak. 📻📡👽 If you need me, I’ll be staring at the sky waiting for the abduction beam. 🛸🔭👀

​Read this if you want your heart warmed, your brain turned to mush, and your dehydration levels critical. 💖🧠🫠🌊

-
Quotes: ⚠️ Spoilers ⛔️

Elias approached slowly. Head bowed. Tentacles curled inward around himself.
As deferential as he could possibly be.
It made Jordie want to rub his own tentacles all over him, stroking and grooming him until his scent was everywhere and everyone would know who Elias belonged to.
What the ever-loving fuck?
-
He’d expected the arousal that a progenetrix would bring out, but nothing had prepared him for the reaction to another viratrix man submitting to him.
-
“Damn, Ellie.” Jordie’s voice came in short, strained bursts. “Never felt like this before. Just want to… come all over you. That okay?”
Elias nodded around the tentacle filling his mouth, trying to express in every way that he could that it would be perfect. That it was just what he wanted.
He had a nickname. A real, true nickname that made him sound soft and small. And, he secretly pretended, adored.
“Fuck,” Jordie grunted. “Just need to… Oh, God. Gonna paint you with my cum.”
-
Jordie let his voice go throaty with his need. “I don’t want you to top, baby. Believe me, that’s the last thing I want. Not when you’re so perfect.”
Elias’s eyes flickered upward for just a moment, giving him a glimpse of hope and longing.
This was it. This was the ticket.
“I’m going to give you everything you need. Look at me, Ellie.”
Jordie didn’t know where the nickname had come from, just that it felt right. Something to connect them, to make the moment special.
-
“You were made for this, weren’t you?” Jordie cooed. “Made to take me. I’m gonna fuck you so hard,” he promised, punctuating his words with the grinding of his cock. “Give you everything you need.”
Elias moaned again, hips working in a subtle rhythm.
God, he was beautiful. So perfect, with his pleading eyes and that manly, rough-hewn face. He clung to Jordie like a progenetrix, and really, that right there should have told Jordie everything he needed to know from the beginning.
“I’m gonna fill you up so good. Make you forget everything but me.”
-
Jordie held him down, lacing his fingers through Elias’s and pinning them to the bed. He let his weight drop, forcing Elias’s legs open as their bodies pressed together. He wrapped one tentacle around Elias’s neck.
“Mine,” he growled. He needed Elias to feel it.
Elias was his.
-
“I want you to know how beautiful you are. You’re so sexy when you show what you want. You always say that gender shouldn’t hold anyone back. I want that for you, too.”
-
“God, you taste so good, baby. Look at you.” Jordie slithered in a tight circle around Elias’s tender head. “Maybe I’ll be begging instead of you.”
-
“How many more times do you think you can come tonight?” Jordie asked, the glowing tip of his tentacle brushing along Elias’s slit. “Just say the word and it can be as many times as you want.”
Elias whimpered.
“Fuck. Or as many times as I want,” Jordie panted. “How do you taste so good?” His neon tip dipped inside the narrow slit, and Elias watched Jordie’s eyes roll back at the taste.
-
Jordie was… He was inside him. Inside his cock.
He moaned. It was like being fucked, but a thousand times more intimate.
He had to see. The dark blue head glowed green, and then even that dimmed as the tendril slithered an inch down his long shaft.
“Fuck, baby.” Jordie was watching him with wide eyes, mouth hanging open. “You like that?” This time it wasn’t a coaxing command. It was pure awe.
They both watched as Jordie lengthened the slender tentacle, drilling deeper inside him.
Elias was being penetrated. So smoothly and intimately. Not even like a progenetrix but like… like his cock wasn’t even meant to fuck someone, but was instead another hole for Jordie to fill.
-
He tugged over the third box of food and extracted a few envelopes of what turned out to be little protein disks with a meaty, mushroom flavor.
He pressed a bite to Elias’s lips, still entranced by their motion. Honored that his mate was allowing him to feed him.
-
“Am I okay that you cling to me like the sweetest progenetrix? That you’re hungry to submit? That you suck my tentacles and take my cock like you were made for it? Or maybe the way that you let me hold you and feed you? Ellie, I wish I could make you see how beautiful you are.”
-
“Oh, fuck, baby.” Jordie gave him a look of adoration and awe. “I’m so proud of you. God, I’m a lucky man.” He stepped closer, thick cock bobbing in front of Elias’s face. “Gonna fuck your mouth, sweetheart.” His fingers tangled in Elias’s hair, yanking him into position. “Open.”
-
Then he pulled Elias up, covering his face with soft kisses and punctuating each one with sweet words. “So beautiful.” He raised one tentacle, pulling Elias’s neat row of coils to his mouth. “So perfect, these cute little feelers. Do you know how happy you make me?”
-
“You know that’s not what I’m asking. If I stay, will you be mine?”
Yes, he wanted to scream. He wanted to jump into Jordie’s arms. Pull him down onto the bed. Feel his heavy weight pinning him down. “Your what?”
“My everything.” Jordie said it so simply. “My mate. My husband. My progenetrix? Or my viratrix, I suppose, or something both or in between. Whatever you want to be.”
-
“Can’t get enough of you,” Jordie said, biting and sucking at Elias’s neck. Leaving marks and bruises. “I’m gonna breed you. Fill you up with my babies.” He rubbed Elias’s soft belly, like he was imagining a child there.
-
“How do you know my middle name?” It was a silly question, but he’d been wondering and everything else was too much. Too good and real to be true.
Jordie chuckled. “I know a lot of things about you, Ellie. But your middle name happens to be on your dissertation. I read the whole thing, you know, as well as your articles before I applied here. I can still see the font your name was written in. I couldn’t believe that I got to work with the illustrious Dr. Greton in this tropical paradise. And then I met you, and it only got better.”
Elias could feel his cheeks warming.
“So what do you say, my love?”
Elias could feel his eyes going wide.
“Mmmm… You liked that, did you?” Jordie pushed him back onto the bed, straddling his hips and touching him everywhere. “I love you, Elias Theodore Greton. And everybody’s going to know it.”
-
“Did you mean it?” Jordie asked.
“I did. I love you, Jordán Ignacio Martínez-Guzmán. And I don’t know why you’re crazy enough to want me, but if you do, I won’t say no.”
Jordie laughed. “You know my middle name.”
“I do.”
-

⚠️ Detailed spoilers below ⛔️

RC and MCs:
👽🐙 MM, strict top/bottom
👽🐙 Jordan Ignacio Martinez-Guzmán aka Jordie (age not specified, but in his late thirties) and Dr. Elias Theodore Greton aka Ellie 46yo
👽🐙 Jordie: Lab research assistant
👽🐙 Elias: Lab research lead
👽🐙 Jordie: Top, dom, viratrix (alpha), bronze green skin, muscular, midnight black hair with streaks of grey, soft belly
👽🐙 Elias: Bottom, sub, viratrix (alpha), but he desires to be treated like a progenetrix (omega), azure blue skin, slightly bigger than Jordie, brawny, shoulder-length hair

Genre, tropes, and microtropes:
👽🐙 MM alien sci-fi romance
👽🐙 Post-apocalyptic (Earth 200 years after an asteroid introduces alien DNA, creating four genders—male, female, viratrix (stronger with tentacles, dominant), and progenetrix (smaller with feelers, submissive).
👽🐙 Omegaverse-inspired
👽🐙 Alpha/Alpha on paper (both MCs are viratrix, dominant gender)
👽🐙 Alpha/omega in actuality (because Elias behaves more like an omega)
👽🐙 Younger alpha/older "omega"
👽🐙 Forbidden romance (same-gender, same reproductive role)
👽🐙 Gender fluidity/gender identity exploration (Elias)
👽🐙 Coworkers to lovers (younger mentor/older mentee)
👽🐙 Best friends to lovers
👽🐙 Age gap (almost a decade)
👽🐙 Workplace romance
👽🐙 Pining (Elias has been pining for Jordie for 2 years)
👽🐙 Gender dysphoria
👽🐙 Self-acceptance
👽🐙 Closeted MC
👽🐙 Possessive MC (Jordie)
👽🐙 Mine mine mine
👽🐙 Jordie hand-feeds Elias during rut
👽🐙 Elias has never been in a relationship before Jordie
👽🐙 Pet names: Baby, sweetheart, darling, love, my love

Safety info:
👽🐙 Angst: Medium to high
👽🐙 OPD: No
👽🐙 Cheating/sharing: No
👽🐙 Third act breakup: No
👽🐙 Ending: HFN
👽🐙 Epilogue: No
👽🐙 POV: Dual, 3rd person
👽🐙 Series structure: Standalone ("Rut" is the first book in "The Change" series, but it works as a standalone story with a complete arc. There's a later released book set in the same world titled "Tentacle Wonderland")

Spice and kinks:
Power dynamic, D/s dynamic, rut sex, tentacle sex, slime (dripping from the tentacles), slime as lube, frotting, cum play, breeding kink, dirty talk, tentacle sucking, stretching (with tentacle), cum as lube, sounding (with tentacle), sounding and anal sex at the same time (both by tentacles), outdoor sex (at the beach, no audience), blowjob, mild degradation (needy little slut), anal sex (dick and tentacle), mild chocking/breath play (with tentacle), throatfucking, DP (dick and tentacle), marking (cum), sperm pouch, triple penetration (dick and 2 tentacles)

CW/TW:
Explicit sexual content, gender dysphoria, overcoming societal taboos, insecurities
Profile Image for Alexandra.
210 reviews44 followers
November 23, 2025
Rating: 4 ⭐️

Too short. Definitely too short. Jordie and Elias deserved more pages, more sexy tentacles times, and more sweet loving moments together.

I finished Rut in one night, and I didn’t regret one bit.

For a novella, the characters were surprisingly well developed. I just wish we got more insight on Elias' pining for two years, and their friendship.

Loved the writing style, and how Reese Morrison wrote their sex scenes. Considering tentacles and other atypical shenanigans [sperm pouch 👋] were involved, it was tender and passionate.

❤️ All thanks to my precious Belle, whose review was the reason I started this book❤️
Profile Image for Drache.... (Angelika) .
1,522 reviews218 followers
April 1, 2025
Reread 04/2025
4,5 stars.
Tentacles... but so much more.
Loved it.
(Well, except the sex epilogue)
-------
Read 12/2023
4 stars.
So, this was fun! *blushes*
I'm a bit in awe as to how the author managed to write a
short novel that is basically a post-apocalyptic, alpha-omega, tentacles - romance with sweet moments and lots of sex, AND excurses on everybody's right to live their life the way they choose (in the book's case: 4 genders not defining a person), drawing parallels to queer and people's struggles irl.

"The thing is, evolution doesn't care what society thinks."
"Maybe gender is far more complex than the quaternary system".
Profile Image for Ro {semi-hiatus}.
275 reviews19 followers
December 3, 2023
this author is new to me and i'm so mad it's taken me this long to read one of their works. this book was fire emoji 1000. i've read my fair share of the non-shifter alpha/omega and several alien MM romances. those books didn't have special body parts though, just humanoids in different universes. i have been missssssing OUT. 🤭 this book was seriously sexy and seriously sweet.

Dr. Elias Greton is a 46 year old lead researcher at a base in the tropics, working with a team of 20 others. his favorite is his research assistant named Jordie. Jordie is younger than him and just starting out his career in scientific research. after two years of working together, spending each evening swimming and talking into the night, Jordie is offered a position in a lab at Princeton and has three weeks to accept the job, much to Elias' dismay. Elias is utterly taken with Jordie but shows no sign of his true feelings due to their similar reproductive roles. in a world of changelings where humans adapted to have tentacles or feelers, brightly colored skin, and are separated in a way that's akin to the Alpha/omega dynamic. both Elias and Jordie are viratrix— expected to mate with a progenetrix of either gender. however, when a colleague progenetrix goes into heat, it spurs both men into a rut and they end up banging it out with each other. neither realizes how deep the other's feelings go and so ensues the little dance around their attraction and desire for each other. with Princeton's offer looming around the corner and Jordie giving Elias everything he dreamed about, there's just enough tension to draw you in without pinging the angst button.

Elias' may be viratrix, but everything about him screams progenetrix and he longs to be one. Jordie feeds into that longing bcs he sees Elias and loves the way he is, so submissive and needy just like a progenetrix. Jordie's mouth is filthy and adorable all at once. the way he dotes on his Ellie and encourages him to embrace what he wants to be rather than what he thinks he has to be... ugh. just love it. the tentacle play and bedroom talk was delish af. i also loved that there wasn't a constant narrative about "the planes of his muscles as his hard body moved" type beat, but rather Elias is a thiccy with a soft belly and while that detail is noted, it isn't harped on.

Elias' insecurities about his sexual needs and personal identity are relatable but not suffocating. it's enough to sympathize with him but there's nothing whiny about it. instead, we get to witness his growing comfort with Jordie and it is divine when he loosens his inhibitions and accepts the love he's given. i just adored them. this book is half smut, half fluff and i ate it all the way up from start to finish.

i was happy to receive the arc from GRR but all thoughts are my own! x
Profile Image for Peppa.
1,179 reviews97 followers
June 12, 2024
„I want you to know how beautiful you are. You’re so sexy when you show what you want. You always say that gender shouldn’t hold anyone back. I want that for you, too.“

Jordie and Elias my beloved!!! This book really took me off guard, sci-fiction/ alien kind of stories aren’t my trope. So I didn’t know what to expect as I picked that up but I was more than positively surprised!

„Elias turned the words over in his head. My beautiful, beautiful darling.
He wanted them like a desert wanted water. Like plants wanted the sun.“


This was absolutely hot and tentacle porn was from the finest Holly hell!! But this wasn’t all, we got through Jordie and Elias told an amazing message of inclusivity, acceptance and self expression. The dynamic between them and how they find to each other was beautifully written. Jordie was such a sweetheart and got Elias back in all perspectives, it was beautiful to read how he helped Elias to get ride of his insecurities and how he supported and encouraged him to be himself.

Tropes:
🖤alpha/alpha dynamic
🖤 gender-fluid MC/gender identity
🖤age gap
🖤coworkers
🖤tentacle sex
🖤sounding & breathplay
🖤breeding kink (no Moreg)

Profile Image for ivanareadsalot.
795 reviews255 followers
November 19, 2023
I'd like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC .

This was such a sweet and veeeery sexy romance! Jordie and Elias were pretty adorable as a couple, and woooooooooooooooow were they ever hot as fk! I've not read anything by Reese Morrison before but this definitely won't be the last because I really enjoyed this story! Definitely looking forward to exploring more from this author's backlist as well as everything else to come!
Profile Image for Brooke.
835 reviews561 followers
November 14, 2023
⭐️ 4.5 stars ⭐️

Rut was tentacle porn at its finest.
The alien backstory gave an extra layer of depth to an otherwise mostly smut-focused plot, making this read all the more intriguing and entertaining.

I love how the author incorporates various forms of gender expression in their works, from trans to genderfluid.
Amazing message of inclusivity and acceptance, and we need more of it in this world.

Yes, this was hot alien-like smuttysmut, but the writing and the characters elevated it to so much more for me.
Sometimes smut just hits you right in the heart.

Tropes and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Alpha/omega dynamics
- Tentacles
- Non-binary/Gender-fluid MC (Elias doesn’t label it)
- Strict top/bottom w/ younger top
- Coworkers
- Age gap
- Frotting
- Mild choking and breath play
- Sounding w/ tentacles
- Breeding kink (no mpreg)
Profile Image for rebecca.
631 reviews22 followers
December 5, 2023
What a surprisingly beautiful but hot as fuck story.

My oh my. I was fanning myself throughout most of the book, that’s for sure. But that’s not all this book was - hot and smutty I mean. It was a truly beautiful and adorable love story between to male alphas with a touch of alien and a whole lot of acceptance for the various forms of gender expression.

This was such a lovely story.


- alpha/alpha dynamic
- incredibly sweet and beautiful romance
- hot as fuck with some fun kinks
- gender identity / gender fluid MC
- tentacles (and other fun body parts)
- HEA
Profile Image for Mug.
515 reviews121 followers
December 5, 2023
waitttt ellie is the CUTEST nickname for elias i’m 🥺🥺🥺🥺 i’m in love with their dynamic, the way jordie gave elias the space and encouragement to be his true self, the acceptance and adoration from jordie, and all the primal goodness you’d expect from a story based on ruts and tentacles😍

“‘I’m a viratrix.’ Jordie raised Elias’s hand to his lips and dropped a kiss his knuckles. ‘You can be whatever you want.’” 🥺🥺🥺😩😩😩

it’s giving a bit of insta love, even tho they’ve had a two year off page buildup, but certainly not a dealbreaker overall….like did i expect a book about alpha/omega dynamics with tentacles to be serving up a steaming hot plate of emotional impact???? no ma’am but was sat there with tears all the same😂 i might need to do a bit more sleuthing before picking up books bc, as a mood reader, picking out what i expect to be a silly goofy lil thing and then BAM i’m reading lines like:

“‘I love you, Elias Theodore Greton. And everybody’s going to know it.’” 😫😫😫

i’m UNWELL……like i came here for sluts (delivered), but also unexpectedly had my tear ducts attacked!!! like charlotte bringing up certain research topics to lowkey make sure elias knows she’s supportive of whatever he’s struggling with, the others all chiming in to agree, allowing elias to relax and slowly start to just be himself…..ugh so freaking cute🥺🥺😭😭 legit cried big tears plssss who told you you could hit me in the heart like this today!!???😭😭😭😭 the love and support elias recieved from everyone on the island, the casual inclusion, the normality of it all😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 i feel like screaming incoherently into the abyss like i have really just happy cried all over this book the whole time

“‘You should have told me you were going into heat, baby,’ he cooed. ‘I barely made it back here in time.’”

thank you, i’ve now discovered it’s possible to cry and be kicking your feet up giggling at the same time🤭🤭
Profile Image for ❀ Jess ( Semi hiatus ).
874 reviews97 followers
December 1, 2023
4.5 rounded up

I read some reviews that talked about this being tentacle smut and I can definitely see it,but aside from that it was VERY well written with likable characters and a nice message about gender/society expectations albeit delivered to us in a very alien way. I loved it!

The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star for me is because I prefer more emotional intimacy over sexual intimacy so I would’ve liked a little more time with them on-page after they became a couple and what their new day-to-day looked like, I skipped some of the smutty parts cos at one point it did feel like too much but I still loved it for what it was and will definitely be checking out this author’s other books!

•Source: GRR
•No others+HEA 🥰

✄┈┈┈┈
My ratings always reflect my enjoyment of the story. Just because it aligns or doesn’t align with my tastes does not mean it’ll be the same for you. Try reading it for yourself !
Profile Image for Anna.
2,016 reviews356 followers
November 27, 2023
I'M SO HAPPY THIS IS A FULL BOOK NOW.

So I liked this when it came out as a short story last year well enough but the fact that Reese has gone in and added a hundred some pages of more plot and character development and more smut brings me so much joy.

I really love this world that they have set up where there are four different genders and different pairings that are normalized and they still manage to create a gender non-conforming character. I am here for it. We love tentacle smut in this house and we love it even more when it comes with lovable characters and a good plot.
Profile Image for ⭐Toonasa⭐ •Romance Book Lovers' Haven•.
1,586 reviews296 followers
November 15, 2023
"Rut" is an intriguing, science-y, SPICY, omegaverse-like MM romance on an island, with slightly forbidden goodness & friends to lovers! I enjoyed this so much, Reese has once again blown me away with her attention to detail in world building! While this felt like a novella size, I did take my time in devouring my #ARC in around 5hrs. Loved Elias & Jordie (& others) !

If you thought "aliens!' at seeing the cover, you're not totally wrong. This is post-apocalyptic (technically contemporary) with tentacles & 4 genders– male, female, Viratrix (like alpha) & Progenetrix (like omega)! (Just read, you'll love the lore!) The tentacle smut is so hot too 🥵.

Elias is older, caring, thinker & sweet, lead researcher. Jordie is almost a decade younger, protective, possessive, fun & dominating & El's research assistant. They're both Viratrix. Elias thought his crush on J is inappropriate & futile, until an unexpected rut brings them together. The creativity, steamy scenes are balanced well with emotional punches, the arc of Elias's gender identity, the coming out are done good. I loved. Can't wait for more in this world! RTC.

**This story released previously too, but I read an expanded latest version.

Story Ratings:

POV: 3rd person, Dual POV
1) Overall Enjoyment—> 5/5
2) The Characters: 5/5
3) Top feels: 🥰🤭🥵🤩😉😭👀🥺😊🤯🙁😄🌱
4) Steamy scenes: 3.5/5
5) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 4.25/5
Angst: 2.75/5 (mostly feels 🥺)
Dark: 1.5/5
6) Creativity + world: 5/5
7) Plot arc: (Gender identity, friends to lovers) 4.5/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.6/5
Profile Image for Amanda.
2,457 reviews104 followers
August 4, 2022
Humans mutated with alien DNA and have tentacles it's fucking wierd but well written and I didn't hate it 😂

Omegaverse (no mpreg)
Profile Image for Lola.
183 reviews12 followers
November 23, 2025
3.75 stars

This was an unique exploration of gender and sexuality framed within an omegaverse type universe. Just from the setup alone, I was pretty into this book. There was a lot going on here (a lot of different tropes) but they fit together naturally and the story itself was very straightforward. This was my first from this author and I would 100% read more.

The basic plot is that two very good friends, both alphas (called viratrix here), end up being triggered/forced into rut. This ends up exposing that one of the men identifies more as an omega (called progenetrix here), and they spend their rut together. The rest is just navigating their relationship and the one man coming to terms with his identity. In this universe, the fact that they are two men is not the issue. The stigma is surrounding alpha x alpha pairings but also alphas who identify as omegas. Basically this addresses both homophobia and transphobia in a sci-fi setting. They are on a secluded island running a research expedition so all of this happens in forced proximity and in somewhat of a bubble (only about 20 other colleagues on the whole island).

There are other elements that feed into the "forbidden" feel because the omega MC is about a decade older and is the lead researcher while the alpha MC is his younger research assistant. There's also a bit of the "I don't want to ruin our friendship" bit going on, as well.

I really liked both of the MCs individually. The alpha is sunshiny and incredibly supportive and just absolutely obsessed with his omega and wants to feed him and take care of him and spoil him. The omega is calm and caring and a great leader (he hires the best for his team and gives people chances (often omegas) who are usually overlooked). Their sexual dynamic is really hot (very slight D/s) but it's also done in a way that's very affirming for the omega.

So, I loved the plot and loved the guys individually and together so why not a higher rating? Well, while there appears to be very real implications for what will happen when they expose themselves to the wider world, I found the omega to be kind of selfish. I do not have any personal experience with body dysphoria and I am not trying to comment on that part. It is very valid to not want to open yourself up to scrutiny for simply trying to exist as yourself. However, the alpha understood that and was letting the omega set the pace and make the decisions for how their relationship progressed and he ended up being pretty hurtful to the alpha. There were things he did not need to do in order to maintain their secret and give them time to work things out that he did anyway and were thoughtless. He's supposedly been pining for this guy for 2 years but then waffled a lot even when the alpha never did. It frustrated me and made me like him a lot less.

He also would not ask about the future. This is another example of grown ass men who cannot have even a single fucking conversation and it was driving me nuts. Lots of assumptions about what was going on without a single question asked to confirm. It just felt like the omega MC wasn't putting in the same effort and was willing to just let the other guy go and that was enough to really bring down my enjoyment.

There is a follow-up/connected story that features the alpha's little brother that seems like it'll explore some more sexuality/identity in this universe and I will check that one out and hope that there's a little more balance in the relationship.

Oh yea, forgot to mention - TENTACLE PORN! This was my first tentacle book. Won’t be the last. Also my first time with sounding. Feels like I leveled up in my smut game.

Nicknames: baby, sweetheart, love, Ellie

Elias approached slowly. Head bowed. Tentacles curled inward around himself. As deferential as he could possibly be. It made Jordie want to rub his own tentacles all over him, stroking and grooming him until his scent was everywhere and everyone would know who Elias belonged to. What the ever-loving fuck?


He felt small and helpless and weak, exactly like he’d dreamed. Not like a viratrix at all.


“I’m a viratrix.” Jordie raised Elias’s hand to his lips and dropped a kiss his knuckles. “You can be whatever you want.”


Did Jordie understand how hard this was for him, and how beautiful it made him feel at the same time?


*
*
*
*
*


Safety (may contain spoilers)

SA/rape: None

Other person drama: None
Profile Image for Jenna ✨DNF Queen✨Here, Sometimes....
435 reviews49 followers
April 12, 2024
This story was very clever and original, and incredibly hot!!

Im not ashamed to admit I devoured this in one sitting!

Jordie and Elias were absolutely FIRE together. The tension, the connection, the sexual chemistry (literally haha), and the emotional depth were really well done. In a world where it’s just not done for two males of their secondary genders to be together there were some significant hurdles for these two to get over, both socially and emotionally, and I think the way they came together in the face of those challenges was both believable and incredibly satisfying!

And it had that forbidden element that is so 🔥🔥🔥 Not to mention, tentaclessssssss

The underlying biology that made this so interesting and clever was soooo different and unique that it really needed more explanation and to be fleshed out more. I don’t want to go into too much detail because it would be easy to spoil what makes this whole “world” so clever. But as a biology nerd, I was very impressed with the explanation for how this all came about!

There was also some mixed messaging about the complicated gender situation. I almost feel like the author was trying to do too much here especially at the end when the narrative around self acceptance started to feel a bit forced and preachy. It pulled me out of the story arc and characters’ personal experience.

I wish the author had just let the story be the story…. It doesn’t need to become a parable, even if the topic is personally important to you . 🤷🏼‍♀️ The writing was quite strong and I felt I got the message without having to be told how I should get the message. As a reader I was absolutely loving it til about 70-80% and then it suddenly soured a little because it took on a teach/preachy tone which is a shame, so that brings it down from a solid 4 stars to a 3.
Profile Image for Ellie.
790 reviews78 followers
May 29, 2023
4 stars

Supremely hot and surprisingly sweet.

Representation: MC struggling with societal expectations around gender/presentation

This is a short erotic story about a viratrix* - Jordie, a research assistant - and another viratrix who wishes he were actually a progenitrix** - Elias, his 46yo supervisor. Their ruts are both triggered by a colleague going into heat and Elias' unconventional desire to submit complements Jordie's need to dominate, leading them down an unexpected path.

Elias has some secondary gender (presentation) dysphoria, which is really well-developed, and Jordie is wonderfully encouraging and accepting of him. It was heartwarming. I wasn't expecting such well-rounded content from such a short novel.

The author makes a fabulous use of tentacles (), and has this very dirty and slippery vibe which just worked perfectly.

I came here for the aforementioned tentacles but this story was very well-written and absolutely makes me want to check out the author's other works. The worldbuilding was intriguing and I'd happily read more content in this setting if there is any!

Sexual content: Explicit, horny.
Kink:

*viratrix: individuals who impregnate, and are strong and dominant
**progenitrix: individuals who procreate, and are smaller and submissive

NB: I don't know enough about the origins or the terms used in omegaverse to know whether this is an impactful renaming of what seems to be the same thing as an alpha/omega world.
Profile Image for ML.
1,602 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2022
This was SO hot!
Tentacle porn at its best!
Wowser 🔥🔥🔥
Profile Image for Sol.
240 reviews19 followers
November 17, 2023
As soon as I read the blurb from this book I was intrigued!
This story is set up in a post-apocalyptic world where humans are different, there are now like 4 genres and they have tentacles! Elias is a researcher doing work in an isolated island and mentoring other people, including Joridie. Elias and Jordie are both viratrix, they are supposed to be strong, big and dominant. However, Elias doesn't feel dominant and he has been harboring feelings for his mentee Jordie which he feels is wrong and unrequited. However, a complication comes in and they both go into heat/rut and discover that their feelings might be reciprocated. These two were so kind to each other and it gave me big feelings.
This was an amazing story that not only included pretty hot sex with tentacles and all the awesome stuff they can do but also you get some exploration into gender identity, gender dysphoria and what society expects as "natural and normal".
I can't wait for more books in this series.
Profile Image for Rachel Emily.
4,465 reviews378 followers
August 8, 2022
Ok well the world building in this was crazy good and well thought out and original feeling.

The chemistry between the two MCs was killer great and off the charts.

And the sexytimes was steamy and delicious. I love the concept of the new men needing to be the dominant male but Elias just wanting to totally do whatever Jodie told him to do.

Absolutely loved
This one!
Profile Image for Freya.
470 reviews93 followers
September 30, 2025
4⭐️ 4🌶️

📝 REVIEW & THOUGHTS:

Damn this was good. Had loads of fun reading this, one of the first times I encountered a nonbinary/gender fluid MC, and I can’t wait to read more of Reese’s works!

This book is adorably sweet and incredibly hot. Uhm. Tentacles. Omegaverse adjacent pheromones and rut? Yes, please!

Was this smut? Yes, but I feel like the characters were very well developed, especially for such a short story. Totally recommend it!

🏷️ TROPES & TAGS (possible spoilers):

Genre/subgenre: technically contemporary romance, but alien/sci-fi and omegaverse adjacent
Pairing: MM
POV: 3rd person, dual
Angst: low
Burn: fast
Vibe/mood: sweet, hot
Pet names: baby, babe, sweetheart, Ellie, darling, love
HEA: yes

Alpha/alpha but with alpha/omega dynamic
Gender fluid / nonbinary MC
Age gap (younger age not mentioned, I assume 30s/46)
Coworkers (one is subornate to the other)
Friends to lovers
Mutual crush
Tentacles

🌶️ SPICE & K!NKS (possible spoilers):

Strict top/bottom or versatile: top/bottom w/younger top
Heat: 7 scenes, high heat
Tentacles
Sounding
Breath play
Breeding kink (no mpreg)
Frotting
Anal
DP with tentacles
Gentle domination with eager submissive
Bondage (tentacles)
Praise
Mild degradation
Mild feminization (MC likes to feel like an omega-gender fluid MC)

⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS (possible spoilers):

Dubcon: no
Noncon: no
OM/OW: no
3rd act breakup: no
Feelings of shame for being genderfluid
Feelings of shame for being what we could consider “gay” in this world

💬 QUOTES (possible spoilers):

He felt small and helpless and weak, exactly like he’d dreamed. Not like a viratrix at all.

He had a nickname. A real, true nickname that made him sound soft and small. And, he secretly pretended, adored.

His sweet Elias wanted exactly what every instinct was driving him to give. Adoration and a fierce possessiveness surged through him. The brawny older viratrix was his.

“My beautiful, beautiful darling.” He stroked through soft strands of hair, curling it around his fingers. “Is this alright, Ellie?” He knew that it was. All he needed was for Elias to say yes.

“Yes, and we work on an island with twenty people. We can keep it a secret, or we can tell them.” Really? Jordie would do that? “I’m a viratrix.” Jordie raised Elias’s hand to his lips and dropped a kiss his knuckles. “You can be whatever you want.”

Did Jordie understand how hard this was for him, and how beautiful it made him feel at the same time?

“I love you, Elias Theodore Greton. And everybody’s going to know it.”


* Fyi about 🌶️ levels: I rate spice on a combination of quantity, quality, length, intensity and explicitness of the scenes. K!nks are listed separately and generally do not directly affect the steam level to keep it fair for non k!nky books.
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,076 reviews517 followers
December 6, 2023
A Joyfully Jay review.

3.5 stars


Rut is an omegaverse-style story set in a post-apocalyptic world. I found the world building here particularly interesting, as the story takes place in a world two hundred years after an asteroid hit Earth and killed most of the population. The asteroid brought with it alien DNA, so it changed the remaining humans, plants, and animals. In the case of humans, it caused a gender variation, creating a quaternary system, rather than a binary. In addition to being either male or female, people also are either viratrix or progenetrix. Viratrix are more the more dominant partner and have tentacles, while progenetrix are more submissive and have feelers. So while this isn’t a traditional omegaverse, there is very much that vibe here.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

Profile Image for Mandy Beyers.
Author 5 books88 followers
November 28, 2023
This universe is really interesting with the 200 years of evolution caused by an asteroid that Changed the world - adding tentacles to everything and causing humanity to go from a binary to a quartenary. The doubts that Elias goes through when deciding how to handle his wants and the strength that Jordie shows as they work through their issues make both characters feel real and their relationship is excellent! (Plus, tentacles - whew!)

Thank you to @gay.romance.reviews for my #eARC.
Profile Image for Anna.
2,016 reviews356 followers
Read
August 15, 2022
Kinky tentacle smut. That's what's this is and I'm not mad about it. Of course it's a Reese Morrison story so I was gonna read it, and I'm not at all surprised that they managed to create a full fantasy scifi world while also having a good 50% be sex scenes. They're just a great author like that 😂 This one is a short story and a super quick read but you actually get invested and the characters are memorable.
Profile Image for Trip .
907 reviews30 followers
June 14, 2024
I adored this story, the world building and the romance is beautiful. The gender discussions and all of the little details just grabbed me. Elias & Jodie compliment one another so well, the friends to lovers feels were perfect.

The swimming on the beach, watching the stars and meals together. Along with the job, the exploration and the scenery just comes to life. Not to mention the tentacles, the way explained and the evolution/adaptation aspect. Alpha & Omegas, but with a twist and their own terms.

The spice is amazing, with all of the passion and heated moments between them. Both in and out of their rut, these two just fit together so well. All of the affection and intimacy, the lingering looks and feelings throughout I just loved their relationship developing.

Overall it's an entertaining read with so much to enjoy and a well deserved happy ending for Jodie & Elias 💙

Profile Image for Elizabeth.
453 reviews84 followers
November 21, 2023
I was expecting Rut to be a steamy tentacle romance - and it was- but I was really impressed with the world building and emotion packed in as well! You can never go wrong with tentacles, but throw in a post-apocalyptic world, 4 genders and a hint of forbidden romance, and you've got a winner.

Elias is a researcher and a viratrix. His postdoc fellow, Jordie is also a viratrix. In this world, viratrixes aren't supposed to be attracted to other viratrixes. Elias and Jordie have crushes on each other but neither would ever act on their attraction due to the societal taboos, until they go into rut together. I really enjoyed watching them open up to each other and start to trust that their affection was mutual.

Rating: 3.75
Angst: 3/5
Steam: 3.5/5

I received a free copy of this book via GRR and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Jacquie Stewart.
2,633 reviews74 followers
August 5, 2022
Rut works well as a short but I'd love to see a longer version.

For something on the shorter side, there's a lot in here. Pinning, heats, worldbuilding and some steamy tentacle times. It really packed a lot in there.

I found the worldbuilding fascinating and really hope we get more in the series
Profile Image for m.
819 reviews70 followers
October 6, 2024
Surprise! Tentacles!

The Earth has been infused with alien DNA and The Change has created Alpha/Omega dynamics in men and women (with different terminology but for clarity I’ll use A/O).

Despite all the changes it’s still somewhat taboo for two Alphas to mate but when Elias and Jordie get thrown into a sudden rut thanks to their colleague’s unexpected heat they get through it together. Elias has always loved Jordie but kept it a secret for fear he’d be rejected not only by his postdoc but also the entire research team. After their super sexy 24 hour fuckathon, Jordie realises he wants more and pushes Elias to explore his gender expression since he acted like an Omega during sex.

I really liked this! The research and scientific feel to the story, gender questioning, fear of social rejection, Jordie’s growing desire to be “out”, the smut obvi, and the ending was satisfying.

Book 2 features an Omega with Alpha tendencies so I may pick that up eventually too ☺️
Profile Image for Ronie Reads.
1,559 reviews28 followers
December 15, 2023
Mx. Reese Morrison I like your style. Off to get more of your informative books
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