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Valentine

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Everyone lured into Master Kalen's harem of humans is eager to play with their fairy captor or each other.

And then there's Rhys, who has little interest in bedroom activities unless it involves ropes and knots. He's been told he can't love and that something must be wrong with him if he's uninterested in sex.

Surely, a fairy who owns a harem would never understand such a thing even though he's willing to play on Rhys's terms. If Rhys is going to be trapped in a pocket realm for forty years, he might as well enjoy what he's allowed.

It's not like he has to marry the fairy with icy eyes and silvery hair.



This asexual M/M romance contains plenty of rope, forced marriage, a Norse trickster God, and a fairy who might understand Rhys after all. Mpreg exists in the fairy realm, but this book does not end with a pregnancy or a baby.

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 5, 2023

14 people are currently reading
497 people want to read

About the author

Julie Mannino

56 books142 followers
Author of the Alternate Earth Novels

Ace 🖤🤍💜
Autistic
Proud wog
Paragirl

I primarily write MM and fantasy/paranormal romance. If you like a trope or certain type, I've either got it or I'm working on it😊

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5 stars
71 (58%)
4 stars
14 (11%)
3 stars
23 (19%)
2 stars
9 (7%)
1 star
4 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Nick.
68 reviews2 followers
February 6, 2023
OMG THIS WAS PERFECT!

The luring with the flowers, the harem, and Kalen's (at first secret) everything I absolutely loved it! As an ace, it was great to see two different kinds of asexuals, (one neutral, one adverse) and the fact that Rhys was biromantic even if he preferred men more than women.

The King Nemyr sounded like a couple of people I've have the misfortune to know. The part with Kalen having control of his body for a change and the way he and Rhys grew in their feelings:😍

I've read some books where they kinda gloss over the ace's feelings or worse, they're "fixed" after they find the right person. Valentine wasn't like that. Despite the lack of actual sex, they do kinky stuff and theirs still plenty of steam. I wish there were more books like this. I enjoy heavy smut too in stories, but this was so realistic to me in terms of feelings and wants.

I don't want to give away all the plot secrets, but the overarching plot of this was 👌 and the world building was diverse and interesting. Since a demon from another realm was also here, I wonder if this means there will something written about that place. I'll be first in line to buy it lol.

Now I'm going to have a book hangover from this. I'll definitely be reading it again.
Profile Image for Adaline.
327 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2023
2/2.5 Stars.
I think the nicest I can say about this book is that it tried? I was very curious about the premise (asexual yet kinky MCs) but sadly it didn’t deliver.

The world building was a bit of a mess, the story with Loki was very random, and the kink was meh. There was no build up or tension during their scenes. I didn’t feel what they got out of them at all. I also seemed to miss how they fell in love? They go from enemies, to reluctant allies to in love. And it makes sense but I didn’t feel why?

I did love that they finally found someone that understood their sexuality and was respectful of it. That was quite cute.

Lastly the bad ones were very one dimensional and Very Bad.

All in all, I liked the premise but the execution was lacking.

Cw: check the blurb, but lots of asexual phobia. Also while there is no mpreg, there is a lot of focus on having to have a baby.
Profile Image for Lucas W Mayberry.
Author 3 books35 followers
August 17, 2023
A great romantic and thrilling adult fairy tale

When Rhys follows a row of purple flowers that seem to have an addictive affect on him when he touches them he finds himself sucked into a pocket dimension ruled over by Master Kalen a sex crazed fairy who owns a massive harem of naked human men who he performs a variety of kinky sex games on when he pleases. Thinking that every human desires sex it comes as a shock to Kalen that Rhys does not desire it and can do without. However he doesn’t mind a bit of kink just without the sex. Kalen becomes intrigued by Rhys and they soon develop an unbreakable bond. As they become closer it becomes apparent that Kalen may not be here on his own volition either. And with the introduction of an Asgardian God and a Demon this soon turns into a thrilling fantasy tale of action of epic proportions and suspense when Kalen has to unravel a family secret that could affect all of fairykind. I admit as a heterosexual male I did wonder what I was letting myself in for but after reading a couple of books in Julie Mannino’s Jack’s Day series and really enjoyed it I thought I would give this a try. And I loved it. It was probably due to ignorance. This is only the second book I’ve read that contains this amount of homosexuality smut but I was surprised by how normal it felt. Also I was thinking about the definition of asexuallity. Someone who is not attracted to anyone and doesn’t desire sex I thought wouldn’t make for a great plot device for an erotic romance story and would be very short. I was so wrong and I am glad about that. The smut aside this makes for a great fantasy tale with a dramatic fight at the end. I liked the introduction of Loki and I liked Rhys’s character as well. His sense of humour shone through and I chuckled at some of his one liners. It was a fast paced read and I fully recommend it to everyone.
Profile Image for C.G. Jaquish.
Author 9 books23 followers
February 10, 2023
Phenomenal

The newest book by one of my favorite indie authors. I've always loved the style and bluntness Mannino writes with but this book has my favorite storyline, including another cameo from loki, which I love. I also appreciate that the asexual characters in this book were written by an asexual, which helps me understand more about something I don't relate to from first hand knowledge. Ten out of ten and would definitely reccomend.
474 reviews10 followers
February 17, 2023
One thing I like about this author's work is that she deals with current issues even though the world is ancient, and full of magic, and true to itself across many books. In this case the issues include asexuality (feeling like sex is being forced on you by family and/or culture), and expectations of maintaining a bloodline causing all kinds of grief and anxiety. It's a good book - I recommend it!
Profile Image for Alex Dvorski.
11 reviews
February 7, 2023
Loved Every Bit

This story was everything I wanted it to be and everything that I never knew I needed!! Trust me that it’s almost, if not entirely, perfect.
334 reviews16 followers
April 23, 2023
A great romantic and thrilling adult fairy tale

When Rhys follows a row of purple flowers that seem to have an addictive affect on him when he touches them he finds himself sucked into a pocket dimension ruled over by Master Kalen a sex crazed fairy who owns a massive harem of naked human men who he performs a variety of kinky sex games on when he pleases. Thinking that every human desires sex it comes as a shock to Kalen that Rhys does not desire it and can do without. However he doesn’t mind a bit of kink just without the sex. Kalen becomes intrigued by Rhys and they soon develop an unbreakable bond. As they become closer it becomes apparent that Kalen may not be here on his own volition either. And with the introduction of an Asgardian God and a Demon this soon turns into a thrilling fantasy tale of action of epic proportions and suspense when Kalen has to unravel a family secret that could affect all of fairykind. I admit as a heterosexual male I did wonder what I was letting myself in for but after reading a couple of books in Julie Mannino’s Jack’s Day series and really enjoyed it I thought I would give this a try. And I loved it. It was probably due to ignorance. This is only the second book I’ve read that contains this amount of homosexuality smut but I was surprised by how normal it felt. Also I was thinking about the definition of asexuallity. Someone who is not attracted to anyone and doesn’t desire sex I thought wouldn’t make for a great plot device for an erotic romance story and would be very short. I was so wrong and I am glad about that. The smut aside this makes for a great fantasy tale with a dramatic fight at the end. I liked the introduction of Loki and I liked Rhys’s character as well. His sense of humour shone through and I chuckled at some of his one liners. It was a fast paced read and I fully recommend it to everyone.
Profile Image for Laura.
Author 16 books79 followers
March 3, 2023
If you go down in the woods today, make sure you don’t follow the purple flowers, or any other colour of flowers that you feel impelled to follow—and if a stranger appears and tries to stop you, listen him, unless you like the possibility of being drawn into a strange world of alternate sexuality. It’s doesn’t look good for Rhys, therefore, when he’s lured into the fairy harem of Master Kalen, where sexual ‘deviancy’ appears to be the norm—at first glance. A relationship grows between the two, and Rhys is taken deeper into a world with ways which he could never have imagined.

I’m not sure how well the story works as an allegory for anybody seen as deviating from the norm of their society. Certainly the amount of sexual behaviour which would be seen as deviant by some might put somebody off the idea of sex, but is that the same thing? By the same token, does Rhys’s lack of interest ‘in bedroom activities unless it involves ropes and knots’ equate to meaning that ‘he’s uninterested in sex?’ I suspect that there are many sex workers out there who’d tell you that it doesn’t. The same might be said of Kalen, who’s formed a bond of love with Rhys and is prepared to indulge his partner’s desires.

So far so good, but there’s a hidden agenda behind Uncle Nemyr’s desire for Kalen to produce an heir, in which he’s abetted by the demon Ahimoth. Add into the mix some Norse gods and werewolves and it all gets a bit over-complicated, despite the imagination that’s gone into it.

Finding a book which written by an asexual seemed a stroke of luck, as I’m at present writing about an asexual character, but I didn’t find what I was looking for. So the jury’s still out for me on this one.
Profile Image for Ava S..
55 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2023
Yes! Ace rep! I'm demi, and this hooked me from the second I read the blurb and realized what it was about. It was so much better with two Ace characters and I loved how their was so much steam with no sex. Finding a book with kinky aces is like finding a needle in a haystack. Don't get me wrong, I love smexy scenes in books, but this was awesome.

Kalen is the perfect dominant Ace twink. The bit where he flips off Loki, and Loki says "anytime, anywhere." Had me cracking up.

The endings still stuck with me. And of course, Loki made it all better, but it's still sad he's so disliked at home. No wonder he's always out. I'd be out too if I was treated like that.
It's a standalone(unfortunately because there will never be enough Kalen), but since he keeps helping others (basically doing what Theodora said to do in Loki's Price when he was far more selfish), he needs his own happy ending. 🥺

The little Easter egg with Blake and Igsy mentioned off hand really helps pull this authors books off.
Profile Image for Amanda.
Author 11 books37 followers
February 17, 2023
M/M fantasy romance

Overall, this book was fairly enjoyable, though a little sparse on description in many places (I personally enjoy very descriptive writing in fantasy, but this isn't a must have or everyone's cup of tea). I also appreciated the emphasis placed on consent and trust in kinky/BDSM type scenarios (it was a positive look into things that many often look at as negative). However, I did feel I had trouble connecting with Rhys and Kalen (and this isn't due to them being asexual). The beginning of the book just catapults the reader right into Rhys being lured to the pocket dimension without really giving much of background information on him to make a reader care much about him (though, there are some readers who prefer this kind of beginning). Also, the story didn't really feel too tense until the last 15% or so (though this could be because it might be better looked at as a romance with a secondary fantasy-esq plot).
9 reviews
February 16, 2023
Their relationship made me want to cry. It ended up being so sweet! I loved it. All the little sweet things and stuff they did 🥰
Yes, their was a phobia, but everything was tied up good at the end (haha, pun intended) and a hea. The epilogue was the icing.
Id enjoy a novel with Elira because she amazed me, but at least we'll get a Finn and Lark one. Finn stood out to me and I loved his attitude. Lark seemed a bit stiff in demeanor, but I have a feeling a certain redhead might turn him into a cinnamon bun haha
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
18 reviews
February 13, 2023
Asexuality isn't something I'm overly familiar with, but I feel like I understood the characters well from an outsiders pov. The author states being asexual, so it was interesting to read an ownvoice novel like this.
The overall plot, characters and world building were done very well too. I'd say this one to add to the pile of future retreads.
The concept of abundant males piqued my interest because if was different than the typical omega thing for mpreg worlds.
Profile Image for H.G. Ahedi.
Author 24 books54 followers
March 3, 2023
captivating and unique

When lured into Karen world, Rhys is faced by a difficult choice. He is a sex slave and there is no escape. Will he compromise with his values to gain his freedom?

I really liked Rhys and related with his struggles to survive.

Enjoyable kinky romance read.
Profile Image for D.David Croot.
492 reviews6 followers
March 4, 2023
romance and fantasy intertwine with modernness

romance and fantasy intertwine with modern issues at the core of what drives the plot.
Cleverly done.
Feels as though it definitely hits the mark for a certain kind of reader
And that’s to be applauded !!
Profile Image for S.A.McClelland S.A.McClelland.
Author 7 books9 followers
April 2, 2023
Romance

I wasn't sure what to expect. And this book did not disappoint. A good plot. Well written and easy to read it's definitely one to pick up and read .
99 reviews1 follower
April 8, 2023
It was pretty good. Exaggerated view of how the wold tends to enforce how sex is something that everyone wants (obviously that’s not the case). However, it fits well with the message of the book.
Profile Image for Aubrey Cleeves.
159 reviews13 followers
February 15, 2023
Valentine by Julie Mannino has a brilliant Romance with a lot of quirks and turns. The relationship between Kalen and Rhy felt organic and I enjoyed how they grew closer through the course of the book, and although they were challenged they stayed true to themselves and each other.

I really enjoyed the Norse mythology element. Being a lover of myths and history, I enjoyed seeing the representation of some of the gods here. The author kept them true enough to their heritage, personalities and customs and the representation of lesser gods was also cleverly done. Each had an interesting role to play and shaped the story. The more intimate scenes were nicely crafted and tastefully done, and they certainly had an unexpected element to them.

The book taught me alot about people and their identities and preferences, and I feel better about myself by having this deeper understanding. The author has an important message to share and it was greatly received from reading this book.
Profile Image for Pascal's scriptures.
170 reviews1 follower
Read
February 20, 2023
Interesting storyline

I enjoyed the story and the grammar was also good.
Rhys gets kidnapped and taken to a harem after being lured with flowers.
196 reviews5 followers
February 15, 2023
"Little Red Riding Hood" is a well-written monster / paranormal romance novel with a wide variety of different characters, lots of mystery / suspense and many unexpected plot twists. It is, in a way, an uncommon retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood". You get your paranormal 'dose' with the werewolves (who can't shapeshift) and the Fae, but also gods like Loki. The plot has some complexity, but is easy to follow. The book includes quite a few of, what would many consider, 'twisted' sex scenes where different species get intimate with each another. This is the primary sexual element of the story. This book is intended for mature audiences. The story includes interesting dialogue and lots of mystery. This adds depth to the plot and makes the reader eager to see what comes next. The author has done a great job in mixing different elements together. People who have attempted to write novels will understand. Aside from that, this book was an intriguing, entertaining read I enjoyed for a couple of days. Fans of books / movies like "The Twilight Saga" or "The Vampire Diaries" will find this read quite interesting and intriguing.
32 reviews
February 8, 2023
I've never read a novel with asexual characters before, so I gotta review this. I feel it dove in enough for me to get a better grasp on how it feels. The part when Kalen describes his feelings with the book (reading with different people) hammered it home.

With kink and no smexy time, it was still surprisingly hot. It allowed for their feelings to show better without lust taking over.

Nemyr was quite an interest character. I get that he had attraction to his wife, but at the same time, it was clear he loved her. It was shame he was willing to do such awful things, but he wouldn't be the first to do bad things for love and the desire to have a child.

Ahimoth was interesting too, because while he seemed all bad, what he said about what the Fallen won't do (it's too far in to spoil it) showed demons have morals too, and they view those like Nemyr as scum.

The end (definitely not writing that
Profile Image for Sydney.
7 reviews
May 13, 2023
Ok

The beginning was ok but the rest was disappointing. I was very excited for the asexual representation but was let down by a so so story.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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