After reading, more like devouring, Eliana Lee’s omegaverse duology and standalone I started following her on social media. I saw that she was working on an upcoming project with another author and wanted to check out their work so I could support them both in the upcoming months. Similar to Lee’s omegaverse, Emilia Emerson/Rossi has a duology and a standalone set in the same world with overlapping characters. For the purpose of this review I’ll be discussing both books in the duology: Forbidden Part One and Forbidden Part Two.

In Forbidden Part One we are introduced to our characters and a very tumultuous political system where alphas have stripped omegas of almost all their rights. There are many aspects of the politics and governing body that were very triggering to read due to our real world political climate, but thankfully all of our main characters are part of the rebellious alliance that is trying to dismantle this system and bring justice to omega’s.

Our FMC omega has experienced a lot of trauma, and so have her future alphas. It was hard to watch as she relived some of these experiences in dreams or flashbacks while her new alphas sat by helplessly until she was able to trust them. They gained her trust slowly and through repetitive positive actions that reinforced their genuine intentions. Each alpha was able to break down his own walls and explore their own trauma through the comforting connection they shared with their omega.

Our omega deals with body image issues, food issues, and initially has an aversion to sex or pleasuring themselves. While not all of these issues are resolved (because that would be unrealistic to how working through trauma looks in real life) we do see our omega progress throughout the story. This book does end on a cliffhanger that threads into part two, but don’t worry. Part two does deliver a happily ever after. Eventually. 

Unfortunately in order to arrive at that happy place in Forbidden Part Two, we the reader and our newly beloved characters have to go through absolute hell on earth first. I cried my way through most of the chapters in this book. The trauma and emotional turmoil was a physical presence in the room with me, hovering possessively (and not in the hot way) while I made my way through this story. I had to push through and remind myself I was promised a HEA, but holy moly was it a rough book to read.

I should also note that these books were long in addition to being slightly triggering. I did find myself skimming a lot of this book and just reading dialogue sections at times so that I could avoid some of the inner monologues of the pain and confusion while our characters were suffering.

Thankfully this book wraps up by piecing our characters back together, and I attempted to piece myself together right along with them. I’m not sure how well I accomplished that task on my own, but I am excited to start the third book in this series, which is a standalone that features an omega we met in this duology.

This story was a wild emotional ride, and while I do really love seeing characters cared for after a traumatic event, this novel definitely pushed closer and closer to my personal reading boundaries. I’m tempted to classify this story as a dark omegaverse romance due to some of the themes that were present, and extremely challenging to get through. On the positive side there was great representation for Dom/sub and BDSM dynamics, excellent cooking and baking scenes, and a fearsome alpha who has a wicked collection of romance novels. 

I wouldn’t recommend this particular omegaverse duology to anyone who is new to this genre, but if you want something that will pull at your heart strings, make you equal parts horrified, pissed off, and cheering for the ending then definitely consider picking these books up.

After reading, more like devouring, Eliana Lee’s omegaverse duology and standalone I started following her on social media. I saw that she was working on an upcoming project with another author and wanted to check out their work so I could support them both in the upcoming months. Similar to Lee’s omegaverse, Emilia Emerson/Rossi has a duology and a standalone set in the same world with overlapping characters. For the purpose of this review I’ll be discussing both books in the duology: Forbidden Part One and Forbidden Part Two.

In Forbidden Part One we are introduced to our characters and a very tumultuous political system where alphas have stripped omegas of almost all their rights. There are many aspects of the politics and governing body that were very triggering to read due to our real world political climate, but thankfully all of our main characters are part of the rebellious alliance that is trying to dismantle this system and bring justice to omega’s.

Our FMC omega has experienced a lot of trauma, and so have her future alphas. It was hard to watch as she relived some of these experiences in dreams or flashbacks while her new alphas sat by helplessly until she was able to trust them. They gained her trust slowly and through repetitive positive actions that reinforced their genuine intentions. Each alpha was able to break down his own walls and explore their own trauma through the comforting connection they shared with their omega.

Our omega deals with body image issues, food issues, and initially has an aversion to sex or pleasuring themselves. While not all of these issues are resolved (because that would be unrealistic to how working through trauma looks in real life) we do see our omega progress throughout the story. This book does end on a cliffhanger that threads into part two, but don’t worry. Part two does deliver a happily ever after. Eventually. 

Unfortunately in order to arrive at that happy place in Forbidden Part Two, we the reader and our newly beloved characters have to go through absolute hell on earth first. I cried my way through most of the chapters in this book. The trauma and emotional turmoil was a physical presence in the room with me, hovering possessively (and not in the hot way) while I made my way through this story. I had to push through and remind myself I was promised a HEA, but holy moly was it a rough book to read.

I should also note that these books were long in addition to being slightly triggering. I did find myself skimming a lot of this book and just reading dialogue sections at times so that I could avoid some of the inner monologues of the pain and confusion while our characters were suffering.

Thankfully this book wraps up by piecing our characters back together, and I attempted to piece myself together right along with them. I’m not sure how well I accomplished that task on my own, but I am excited to start the third book in this series, which is a standalone that features an omega we met in this duology.

This story was a wild emotional ride, and while I do really love seeing characters cared for after a traumatic event, this novel definitely pushed closer and closer to my personal reading boundaries. I’m tempted to classify this story as a dark omegaverse romance due to some of the themes that were present, and extremely challenging to get through. On the positive side there was great representation for Dom/sub and BDSM dynamics, excellent cooking and baking scenes, and a fearsome alpha who has a wicked collection of romance novels. 

I wouldn’t recommend this particular omegaverse duology to anyone who is new to this genre, but if you want something that will pull at your heart strings, make you equal parts horrified, pissed off, and cheering for the ending then definitely consider picking these books up.

This review is intended for audiences over the age of 18. Please check the trigger warnings for this novel before continuing. I will try not to include major spoilers. Review trigger warnings: brief discussion of rape.

This novel deviated from Tessier’s other books set in this world in a few different ways. The first was the length of the novel itself, which was a few hundred pages shorter than its predecessors. Our characters were also derivatives from the norm by introducing a MMC who was not a Lord, and a FMC who was a powerhouse and extremely confident in herself.

Out of all the FMC’s from Tessier’s novels so far, this one seemed to be the strongest and most self aware, which was refreshing. Our MMC, while not being a Lord himself, is still part of the world by working directly under Tyson and carrying out his dirty, demented assignments.

While all of these novels deal with some sort of taboo topic(s), this story centers a step brother and sister who have an undeniable lust hate relationship. They’ve orbited one another since they were teenagers, and have built a routine that doesn’t even make sense to them, let alone the people in their lives.

Due to the length of this story it focused more on the character’s relationships and less on any actual plot. In my opinion, this made the catastrophic ending so much more explosive because it seemingly comes out of nowhere. This novel had a very explicit, traumatic rape scene that held nothing back. We watched as our FMC and MMC work through that experience and trauma together at the conclusion of the novel, which we as the reader desperately needed to provide any sense of closure.

I’m torn about how I feel on this one. I found myself highlighting so many quotes that really hit home, and a lot of this novel felt very cathartic for me as a reader. It’s hard to say I loved something when that something includes the FMC being raped on the page. I’m thankful that I read this story because it did connect with me in certain ways, but I would hesitate to recommend it to others because of how retraumatizing the last few chapters may be. Proceed with extreme caution, and, as always, check the trigger warnings.

Please check trigger warnings before starting this novel. 

I feel like I have been following this author since I discovered booktok and dark romance. With my recent one month subscription to Kindle Unlimited I decided it was time to try out one of their newer releases. I’ll admit I was a little hesitant to start this one after realizing there were a lot of religious discussions and plot points, but once I got into this story there was no turning back. 

The inspiration for this story centers around someone being trapped in a bell tower within a church. A tale as old as time, with a very dark and gothic twist. The setting and overall tone of this story were immediately palpable from the first few pages. While the wider scope of the setting takes place on a college campus, our main characters are living in the shell of an old abandoned, apparently haunted, church. If I had to describe this setting it would be a twisted, gothic, Wednesday Addams, paint it black rendition conjured up in your nightmares. 

I’ve noticed a pattern with some dark romances, where in order for the dynamics to work the main female character needs to be a bit naive to the world around them. While that isn’t always the case, in this novel our FMC was leagues beyond just a sheltered soul who didn’t understand how to interact with other humans. She had no formal education or even a familial upbringing to acquaint herself with. Because of her past she relies heavily on the truths provided to her by our three male main characters, who all have some semblance of ulterior motives.

When it came to the dark romance aspect of this book the lines defining consent were a bit hazy in the beginning. Thankfully they weren’t so questionable that I wasn’t able to enjoy the relationships in this why choose adventure as they evolved. I think a big part of the consent issue stemmed from our FMC being so out of touch with human nature, and not knowing what is or is not appropriate. The question becomes does she understand what is happening to her, and does she have the mental capacity to say no in the beginning? I don’t have answers for that, but I did appreciate that as she developed as a character, and as these relationships continued, boundaries were drawn and respected by all parties. 

While I was reading this it was very easy for me to define good, evil and morally gray characters based on their actions and their roles in society. Our three MMC’s were not good people. They were killers who would do whatever it took to stay at the top of their food chain. The author’s note in the beginning of the story even warns that we the reader shouldn’t necessarily be rooting for them, and the author even questioned if this book should exist for others to read. 

I, for one, am glad there is a story out in the world that expresses some of my deepest fears and darkest desires. The commentary on separation of church and state, which naturally leads into a discussion on women’s autonomy, were difficult to read because of the very real threat that exists in our own society. In some ways, realizing I’m not alone in these fears was also a cathartic experience. I’m sure there will be a group of readers who vehemently oppose the premise of this novel, and if I had read this book before I began deconstructing in 2020, I probably would have put this book down relatively quickly in disgust from what I perceived as a warped view of religion.

There was one point around the 70% mark in the book where I did find myself extremely frustrated with the choices made to progress the plot. Do these choices ‘make sense’ for our character? Sure. But was I the reader groaning and rolling my eyes the entire time? Sure was. I had been enjoying the story with commentary on politics, religion, corruption, ways people were silently fighting back, and the downright wild sexy times, and felt like this section of the novel completely threw me out of the otherwise natural flow of events. 

I think part of me likes this book so much because I know a much younger version of myself would have hated it. And I think this reading experience is a concrete way to prove to myself that I am capable of change and growth in my thoughts and ideas of the world around me in ways that are positive not only for myself, but for my community. I think this is a very polarizing subject that you’re either going to love, hate, or fall somewhere in the gray zone. Which very well might be the point all along.

Dare I say I liked this book better than From Blood and Ash?! It probably had something to do with the draken (dragons). I didn't mind that this follows a bit of a JLA pattern, in terms of plot/characterization, mostly because it soothes my anxiety to get a brand new story with a sense of already knowing what's going on. While that may not be for everyone, I cannot wait to continue this series.

I know I’m not the only person who hates reading an unfinished series. I just want to binge read the entire story as quickly as possible. But here we are. Book 2 in the Flesh and Fire series by JLA, with no release date for book 3 in sight.

When I reviewed the first book in this series I said it was my favorite from this world/universe, partly because of the drakens. However, as time has passed and I’ve had a chance to read many different stories and interpretations of Hades or Gods of the Dead or Underworld, I think it has more to do with Ash/Nyktos being one of the main characters. I personally find a lot of intrigue around the discussion of the afterlife, and love the juxtaposition between the rulers of the dead and their often hidden kind and gentler sides.

I could go on and on about why I find stories set in some sort of Underworld fascinating, but I’m not sure this is the right review for that discussion. More than ever with this book I noticed JLA’s pattern of storytelling. I’m not sure if it’s intentional that Sera and Poppy are living almost identical fates. Is this to match up to the prophecy becoming fulfilled in the future? The plots seem so similar that at times while reading I wished I could go back and reread Poppy’s books to see, to the page, how closely they align.

While this repetitive nature of the story might bother some readers, as I discussed in my review of book 1, I don’t mind it in this context. I hope, and believe, that this pattern exists to further the relationship between Sera and Poppy’s destinies intertwining, and it also relieves a bit of my anxiety while reading if I know what to expect, to some degree.

There is something about the scenes with water that always become my favorites. I won’t look into that too personally, but in the first novel the lake scene was a standout, while this time it was an underground pool. The heat and overall chemistry between Ash and Sera was palpable. The wanting they both shared for each other, as we the reader watched it morph into something new, and the characters individually moving through so many emotions as a result of the actions of those around them was a tangible entity in the room with me.

Some of those emotions included not so veiled discussions of anxiety, breathing techniques to ward off panic attacks, and brief reflections on suicide. All of which I thought were handled appropriately. The book also includes resources and help hotlines on the final page, which I thought was incredibly responsible and inclusive for those who may need it.

I kept experience a-ha moments while reading this book where I thought I knew what was coming, or thought I had figured out ways to save a certain someone. I could have sworn, more than once, that as soon as I flipped the page I’d see my ideas come to fruition, but they never did. I’m even more curious now to see what will happen in book 3, especially regarding some other ‘made’ creatures who I had expected to meet by now. Either way, I’m hooked and down bad for this series, and will be waiting however long it takes for the next one.

I have some conflicting feelings about this novel and whether I want to continue with the series. I think out of sheer curiosity I will, but the plot overall hasn't been my personal favorite. While I do love the very dark romance vibes in this omegaverse, with our characters all being moral shades of grey, there was a little too much military presence in the story for me to be able to relax into it. This sort of alpha male complex works well in an omegaverse, obviously, but we didn't get enough of the found family or comfort vibes I search for in this genre. I think I'm having trouble combining the dark romance aspects I enjoy in other series like The Lords, and having those mix with an omegaverse world where I've come to expect a lot of comfort running parallel to trauma and healing. I'm hoping these will evolve in book 2, and that it's just more of a slow build.

I will try my best to include as few spoilers for this series or the From Blood and Ash series as possible, but please proceed with caution. This review is mostly an emotional overview from a fan who has been with these characters since their debut.

We have reached the finale to a prequel series, which means it hardly feels like a finale at all, but it is no less bittersweet. Since the very first book with Sera and Ash I knew I felt a special connection to them. This story quickly rose in the ranks as a favorite with the introduction of Daddy Nyktos, drakens, and a mortal woman who wasn’t afraid to stab death in the chest. Repeatedly. 

I have been a fan of JLA and her work for so long that I have trouble recalling which books I’ve reviewed, and which I have not. I remember reading JLA books as early as 2011 (Obsidian, I’m looking at you). I think it’s only fair that I try to do my due diligence with this review, and give my honest thoughts overall. 

No writer is perfect, though as readers we may wish them to be. When it comes to JLA I often struggled with certain aspects of her writing. On one hand the parallels between Sere and Ash and Poppy and Cas helped ease my anxiety while reading. The flow and plot beat of the first novels in each series was so strikingly similar it was not a struggle to guess what might happen on the next page. I think after finishing this finale JLA managed to tie things up in a way that made this repetition appear intentional, based on who Sera and Poppy are to one another. 

There are also moments while reading where I might cringe a bit internally. Whether it was from naming an important location Lasania and then having a character joke about said name reminding them of pasta, or Sera and Ash’s occasionally cringe worthy dialogue during their more steamy, intimate scenes together. This series is by no means perfect, but it will always be one of my favorites despite some of its flaws.

All of these novels are long, and after the torturous events of the previous novel that left me flayed open like a bundle of raw, exposed nerves, this story felt like it went on forever. And not in a bad way. We got to watch as these characters worked through years worth of trauma together, as they began plotting how to build a stable life together, and we watched as Sera grew into the Primal she was always meant to become. 

Every time I felt like we were finally getting a moment of peace in this novel it would be interrupted in savage and heartbreaking ways. Because of this I think the final battle fell a little flat. It happened so fast, with at least one good twist with Sera using her powers in a way I hadn’t anticipated but probably should have, and before I knew it everything was over. There had been such a huge, devastating moment a few chapters before when Sera lost control that the final battle felt almost insignificant, despite it being the entire goal of the book.

It was wild as a reader knowing how their story would end, and waiting to see how time would play a role in the events of this novel. Would we skip years into the future, or weeks, or months, and see what we knew would inevitably play out? Or would we be stuck in the present day with Sera and Ash, having to piece the puzzle together ourselves and fill in the gaps until we catch up with Poppy.

In this finale we eventually got a mix of both. A majority of the novel takes place in the here and now, but we do get a few flashes forward in the last two to three chapters. They were nowhere near what I would have loved to see in this novel. I am yearning to see Sera and Ash as parents. To watch them dote over their twin boys, to see how those boys’ powers grow as they do, and to watch their friends embrace their new family. I’m hopeful that in the future, once JLA is finished with Poppy and Cas’ story, which should eventually meet back up with Sera and Ash, that JLA will go back and give us a few snippets of the twins growing up with their parents before Poppy’s story truly begins again.

Finishing this series set so many things in motion within my own mind. It left me whirling, wanting to immediately pick up the original series and find all the easter eggs hidden throughout. So much more of the original series makes sense now, and so much will be even more heartbreaking to reread. Having now seen some of those characters as children, or having spent time with their parents before their birth, and knowing the eventual outcome of their lives is probably the closest I”ll ever come to feeling like a god (or a Fate) myself. 

As a writer I wonder how JLA crafted these two stories? Did she know about Sera and Ash before she created Poppy and Cas? I have so many questions I’d want to ask from a writing standpoint, but that’s definitely not the point of this review. How does one review the finale to a prequel series without completely spoiling both stories in the process? Finishing a series is such a bittersweet moment. I hope I’ve conveyed all the churning emotions I’m feeling. I’m even more excited to reread Poppy and Cas, while looking for hints of beloved characters who were influenced and created by Sera and Ash.

I was pleasantly surprised with the ending of this book. There was a lot of world building and info dumps, which initially made me think this would get a lower rating, but I was surprised with where the story went and really excited to see how it might be expanded on. It was nice to escape into this fantasy world for a few hours. Excited for the next installment!