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The Bonding Trials #1
Denied
Dear Sienna,
Congratulations! I am delighted to offer you the opportunity to participate in the Bonding Trials.
You have been matched with the Cohen pack.
In order to be accepted as a pack omega, you must progress through the four stages of the Bonding Trials and win the formal approval of your alpha pack.
1. Scent marking
2. Nesting
3. Heats
4. Mating ceremony
Should an omega not meet the standards expected, they may be returned to the Omega Hub. Should this occur, you will be offered another opportunity to participate in the trials at a later date.
In exceptional circumstances, a pack may decide to Deny an omega.
This means that you will no longer be permitted to come into contact with alpha packs. You will be stripped of your omega status and must leave the City to live amongst the beta population.
Please be reassured that no omega has been Denied in the history of the Omega Hub.
We’re delighted to welcome you to the Bonding Trials and wish you the best of luck with your mating process.
Kind regards,
Ollena Hayward
Head of the Omega Hub
Congratulations! I am delighted to offer you the opportunity to participate in the Bonding Trials.
You have been matched with the Cohen pack.
In order to be accepted as a pack omega, you must progress through the four stages of the Bonding Trials and win the formal approval of your alpha pack.
1. Scent marking
2. Nesting
3. Heats
4. Mating ceremony
Should an omega not meet the standards expected, they may be returned to the Omega Hub. Should this occur, you will be offered another opportunity to participate in the trials at a later date.
In exceptional circumstances, a pack may decide to Deny an omega.
This means that you will no longer be permitted to come into contact with alpha packs. You will be stripped of your omega status and must leave the City to live amongst the beta population.
Please be reassured that no omega has been Denied in the history of the Omega Hub.
We’re delighted to welcome you to the Bonding Trials and wish you the best of luck with your mating process.
Kind regards,
Ollena Hayward
Head of the Omega Hub
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2023
About the author
Evelyn Flood
18 books579 followersEvelyn Flood is addicted to books.
She writes in different subgenres including contemporary romance, reverse harem, mafia, fairytales and omegaverse - but you'll always find a main course of angst with a side dish of uncontrollable sobbing in every book she writes.
She used to be a tea drinker, but developed an addiction to coffee and can now be found at the nearest coffee shop when she should be writing.
On weekends she likes to dance and drink espresso martinis.
Find her on Facebook in her readers group, The Evelyn Flood Collective.
She writes in different subgenres including contemporary romance, reverse harem, mafia, fairytales and omegaverse - but you'll always find a main course of angst with a side dish of uncontrollable sobbing in every book she writes.
She used to be a tea drinker, but developed an addiction to coffee and can now be found at the nearest coffee shop when she should be writing.
On weekends she likes to dance and drink espresso martinis.
Find her on Facebook in her readers group, The Evelyn Flood Collective.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 304 reviews
July 30, 2023
This Pack Darling wannabe is really odd.
There’s no smut, except for two very tamed scenes. But this book has plenty of other kind of fetishes.
The obsession to describe over and over how thin the main character is getting and how much she’s losing weight went so far it felt obscene. All she ate in this book was a bowl of soup and a piece of apple, and I know because the book made sure you’d notice. She’s constantly feeling sick, with no energy to the point that she can’t even walk. The way it’s described, it felt almost pornographic. Anorexia porn.
Another weird kink was how she was always filthy? Like, to the extreme? I don’t know, it was weird.
Or how the cartoonish female villain liked to torture her. It felt like we should be getting off on her suffering and pain. It made me really uncomfortable.
I understand we are supposed to like the four alphas but I’m not sure how, when they present themselves so weak and unreliable. They aren’t even mean to her, they are just forgetful and too self-centered to notice if she needs something as basic as clothes, a room, food… Even when they said they wanted her, they treated her as if they had other priorities. Not mean, just indifferent, which is way worse imo.
And she kept whining about them ignoring her but when they tried to do something for her, she’d get mad at them and refuse. She was infuriating in her contradictions. And they were infuriating in their weakness.
But the worst for me was when they asked her what she wanted to do for her imminent heat, and after a few days to think about it very carefully, she decided she didn't want to be with them, so the alphas bought a medicine she could inject to pass out during her heat.
Days later, when she’s finally in heat, she “changes her mind” and prefers the alphas to help her instead of taking the drug. But one of the alphas says she can’t really consent and “forces” the medicine on her instead. When she wakes up days later, she’s mad at him for betraying her and refusing her once again, and even the other three alphas are also mad at him.
What the fuck?
She couldn’t consent. He did the right thing.
Did I miss something??
This was so bad for my mental health. I shouldn’t read the next one… 🤡
There’s no smut, except for two very tamed scenes. But this book has plenty of other kind of fetishes.
The obsession to describe over and over how thin the main character is getting and how much she’s losing weight went so far it felt obscene. All she ate in this book was a bowl of soup and a piece of apple, and I know because the book made sure you’d notice. She’s constantly feeling sick, with no energy to the point that she can’t even walk. The way it’s described, it felt almost pornographic. Anorexia porn.
Another weird kink was how she was always filthy? Like, to the extreme? I don’t know, it was weird.
Or how the cartoonish female villain liked to torture her. It felt like we should be getting off on her suffering and pain. It made me really uncomfortable.
I understand we are supposed to like the four alphas but I’m not sure how, when they present themselves so weak and unreliable. They aren’t even mean to her, they are just forgetful and too self-centered to notice if she needs something as basic as clothes, a room, food… Even when they said they wanted her, they treated her as if they had other priorities. Not mean, just indifferent, which is way worse imo.
And she kept whining about them ignoring her but when they tried to do something for her, she’d get mad at them and refuse. She was infuriating in her contradictions. And they were infuriating in their weakness.
But the worst for me was when they asked her what she wanted to do for her imminent heat, and after a few days to think about it very carefully, she decided she didn't want to be with them, so the alphas bought a medicine she could inject to pass out during her heat.
Days later, when she’s finally in heat, she “changes her mind” and prefers the alphas to help her instead of taking the drug. But one of the alphas says she can’t really consent and “forces” the medicine on her instead. When she wakes up days later, she’s mad at him for betraying her and refusing her once again, and even the other three alphas are also mad at him.
What the fuck?
She couldn’t consent. He did the right thing.
Did I miss something??
This was so bad for my mental health. I shouldn’t read the next one… 🤡
June 15, 2023
Why are so many omega books about the abuse of the girls? Why does their mates have to abuse them for them to become stronger.
Another thing that really bothered me is the resentment after the heat. She repeatedly told them that she wasn’t ready for them to join her. Requested another solution. And when she changes her mind, while being mindless with lust, and they repspect her inital wishes to be sedated, she hates them? I would honest say that’s the only damn thing i liked about them. That they respected her initial wish to not ride the heat out with them. Because if they gad, despite her initial wish, she could have also turned around and said “they took advantage of her, and took her at her word when she wasn’t in her right mind.” How do i know? Because we’ve seen it happen in other omega books. So, damned if you and damned if you don’t apparently. That was their only redeeming quality and now she hates them?
The only likeable characters were side characters. Ollena, her parents, sister, her friend jess. Tristan’s dad and his mom. Characters that we barely saw anything of, were more likeable than the main cast.
Another thing that really bothered me is the resentment after the heat. She repeatedly told them that she wasn’t ready for them to join her. Requested another solution. And when she changes her mind, while being mindless with lust, and they repspect her inital wishes to be sedated, she hates them? I would honest say that’s the only damn thing i liked about them. That they respected her initial wish to not ride the heat out with them. Because if they gad, despite her initial wish, she could have also turned around and said “they took advantage of her, and took her at her word when she wasn’t in her right mind.” How do i know? Because we’ve seen it happen in other omega books. So, damned if you and damned if you don’t apparently. That was their only redeeming quality and now she hates them?
The only likeable characters were side characters. Ollena, her parents, sister, her friend jess. Tristan’s dad and his mom. Characters that we barely saw anything of, were more likeable than the main cast.
July 6, 2023
So here's the thing, I love me an angsty omegaverse but a big part of me feels like this was telling me it was angsty but it wasn’t convincingly angsty. Don't ask me to explain, that's just how I feel lol.
Other than that, I am upset. There's two specific plot points that irked me to no end and I'm still frustrated thinking about it:
-The Cohen pack treating Sienna like shit WHEN THEY KNOW SHE'S THEIR SOUL BONDED. Uh hello? It's one thing for them to treat her like crap if they DIDN'T know that she's their fated mate. But for them to neglect her the way they did? Knowing who she is to them? That COMPLETELY shits on importance of soul bonded mates. If that bond is so special, how could it be POSSIBLE for them to treat her that way?!
-The Heat. No one wins there. Basically when Sienna was of sound mind, she declined the pack's help in her heat. They understood and found an alternative for her and she accepted. But of course when the heat sets in and she's BEGGING for them to fuck her and they hold true to her lucid request? She gets SO upset with them all for denying and betraying her. Honestly a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. That was shitty.
-Also don't get me started on the MM relationship in this.
Overall, book was kinda shallow, everyone is stupid, but I couldn’t put it down and immediately jumped to book two.
Other than that, I am upset. There's two specific plot points that irked me to no end and I'm still frustrated thinking about it:
-The Cohen pack treating Sienna like shit WHEN THEY KNOW SHE'S THEIR SOUL BONDED. Uh hello? It's one thing for them to treat her like crap if they DIDN'T know that she's their fated mate. But for them to neglect her the way they did? Knowing who she is to them? That COMPLETELY shits on importance of soul bonded mates. If that bond is so special, how could it be POSSIBLE for them to treat her that way?!
-The Heat. No one wins there. Basically when Sienna was of sound mind, she declined the pack's help in her heat. They understood and found an alternative for her and she accepted. But of course when the heat sets in and she's BEGGING for them to fuck her and they hold true to her lucid request? She gets SO upset with them all for denying and betraying her. Honestly a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. That was shitty.
-Also don't get me started on the MM relationship in this.
Overall, book was kinda shallow, everyone is stupid, but I couldn’t put it down and immediately jumped to book two.
June 17, 2023
This one of those books where Instead of going to the parents or council about the situation or seeking help they make all the wrong choices, don’t communicate, hide the situation, and completely destroy an innocent girls life. Honestly there is absolutely no redemption for any of them. Jax is the only one that can stay. Fuck ‘em all.
The way they got played by a young beta woman is hilarious. The men are so naive it was ridiculous. The author doesn’t explain how the matches get picked. I found the whole ceremony law bizarre. There were all these people on their side offering to help them and every single one of them played dumb and refused to ask for help. Fucking infuriating. The omega gets denied by the pack and she gets kicked out, banned with no help, no money, no clothes. Just shoved to the other side.
It was well written edited well plot was good. my mind just couldn’t get over the weird law and the reality of how it makes absolutely no sense but I enjoyed it. The MFC was strong and I’m so glad she didn’t give into them.
The way they got played by a young beta woman is hilarious. The men are so naive it was ridiculous. The author doesn’t explain how the matches get picked. I found the whole ceremony law bizarre. There were all these people on their side offering to help them and every single one of them played dumb and refused to ask for help. Fucking infuriating. The omega gets denied by the pack and she gets kicked out, banned with no help, no money, no clothes. Just shoved to the other side.
It was well written edited well plot was good. my mind just couldn’t get over the weird law and the reality of how it makes absolutely no sense but I enjoyed it. The MFC was strong and I’m so glad she didn’t give into them.
June 23, 2023
DNF at 69% when the FMC Sienna ended up in the
All the tropes and characters in this book just frustrated me - other woman drama, blackmail drama, forbidden MM drama, and the list goes on. Everyone was immature and refused to properly communicate, and the laws in the dystopian society were completely arbitrary and not explained at all.
I couldn't handle any more and had to quit. I won't be checking out the rest of the books in this series.
Romance:
All the tropes and characters in this book just frustrated me - other woman drama, blackmail drama, forbidden MM drama, and the list goes on. Everyone was immature and refused to properly communicate, and the laws in the dystopian society were completely arbitrary and not explained at all.
I couldn't handle any more and had to quit. I won't be checking out the rest of the books in this series.
Romance:
June 22, 2023
This book was massively problematic in representation, and I thought omegaverse was better than this. The choice the author made to represent the MM relationship was tone deaf at best and harmful at worst.
To preface: I wanted to love this book. I love reading bully, angst and dark books. They're my favorite.
!SPOILERS AHEAD!
The MM relationship between the two guys in the pack was set as directly oppositional to the HEA of the straight relationship, and
In this OV world, lgbtqia+ relationships are frowned upon, (not why I read omegaverse, but I digress) so the relationship between two of the guys in the pack was kept secret from the rest of their pack because they were afraid of the backlash. Once the relationship came out they were met with:
A) anger that they didn't tell earlier - fucking gross. Nope. Nope. Nope.
B) a general 'put-out-ness' that the guy's relationship was now getting in the way of them having their fated mate, Sienna.
If there was a single moment in which Jax or Tristan grieved that their two pack mates whom they supposedly care for, were in a 4 year loving relationship that they felt they had to HIDE FROM THE WORLD, it was brief and quickly buried with self pity.
When Sienna, (the packs FATED MATE) found out, she reacted exactly the same.
Both of these 'coming out' moments were followed with APOLOGIES from the guys too, which made me feel so disgusting. (Take note, this interaction wasn't addressed ever, repeated later, and was between characters we are supposed to like/respect)
Not only that, the only scene between the two guys on screen was a blowjob that Sienna walked in on (this is how she learned) and the entire experience was framed with the last chapter (from Sienna's POV) saying this:
(As she walks down the hall to find one of the guys) 'And I really, really wished I hadn't.'
Then we followed with the two guys in the room and all that was happening was some same sex love.
THAT is how the one scene between the two guys is FRAMED for us readers. Then they chase her down (after one of the guys looks disgusted that she saw them together) And explain everything and tell her they're sorry and THIS LITTLE NUGGET I ALMOST MISSED:
WHAT?
WHAT WAS HE ABOUT TO OFFER?
This is followed by Sienna's self righteousness, something like, No, no it's not a problem to me, I'm just mad you didn't trust me. (why would they?) and:
Uh... isn't this a chance? I don't understand, but way to make it about you. Run and hide from your fated mates relationship, make them chase you, and not once slow down and go, shit, maybe this is hard for them. Maybe they didn't share it with me because they're actually worse of than I am.
Here's a quote, for reference, when the pack lead finds out that Sienna saw Logan and Gray together:
Anyway. I'm horrified at the good reviews in which no one is noting this. Frankly dissapointed.
There's so many other issues, plot holes, and nonsensical shit.
The council holds a meeting to determine if our FMC, the omega in the pack's care, is being abused (because she ended up in hospital nearly dead because they ignored her awful wound - which one of them saw. Also, she's 18 and they must be like 24 per my estimate)
So instead of going to the meeting, Sienna freaks out and hides, and her alphas (alleged abusers) go instead of her.
SO to the council, this is what happens:
There is a very sick, very unhappy omega that they placed with 4 alphas who have previously publicly humiliated her. When holding a meeting, that omega DOESN'T SHOW UP, but instead the 4 alphas show up and tell them, nah don't worry. Everything's fine. (One, they shouldn't have come. Two. If they had come, they absolutely should NOT have been allowed in the room while Sienna was being asked about abuse FROM THEM TOWARD HER).
But anyway, after a bit of back and forth, the council goes: sure, sounds good, go right on home to her, wherever she is.
(Also, the DAD of one of the alphas IS ON THE PANEL LOL. Interviewing HIS OWN SON on abuse toward an omega who ISNT FUCKING PRESENT. But that's okay right, because he looks pretty disappointed in his son.)
A week or so later, that omega turns up to her final trial ALONE. The alphas DONT show up, but do apparently leave NOTE saying, hey guys, changed our mind, we don't want her, [Spoiler for cliffy ending] And the council goes... okay. Sure. Screw the fact we were willing to make an exception a week ago when the OMEGA DIDN'T SHOW UP (and maybe was chained to a bed with a black eye) now we're happy to riding on a LITERAL NOTE held by the packs public EX FUCKING GIRLFRIEND.
Makes total fucking sense.
Finally, our FMC, the 18 year old (by only three months) omega, makes her singular rational decision in asking NOT to go through heat with her mates WHILE STILL CAPABLE OF MAKING AN INFORMED DECISION. Then ends up IN HEAT (because they left her alone to plead her abuse case without her) and she ends up begging for them to bang her.
And the pack lead also makes his SINGULAR RATIONAL DECISION and gives her the injection to knock her out. Because that's what she wanted. And he probably doesn't want to bang his (withered, sick, battered, tired, BARELY OF AGE) mate WHEN SHE'S LITERALLY TOLD HIM SHE DOESN'T WANT HIM TO BANG HER.
And then he's vilified for that, too.
YAY!
And all of these were decisions that the author made. If she wanted to vilify Tristan at the end, why not just say Sienna said she wanted to bang them, and then have Tristan give her the injection anyway because he panics? Then we can vilify him without vilifying the consent of a battered barely-adult omega in a hormonal haze.
Why not just lean into the other blackmail point so that the guy's relationship didn't have to be the enemy? That was a choice.
The list of issues could go on forever, though, Pack lead finding out their soul mate was going to be trafficked and then forgetting to tell anyone about that for a day or two. Being happy to hide that from her??? So much more.
All the last parts were just extra, because if it was nothing else, it was the representation of the lgbtqia+ relationship that honestly made me feel the need to share this review. The other reviews were so GREAT and I was left feeling weirdly gaslit and let down in a space (omegaverse) that I believed was truly safe regarding this topic.
Check your privilege.
Check your roots - do you know where Omegaverse came from?!?
We can do better.
To preface: I wanted to love this book. I love reading bully, angst and dark books. They're my favorite.
!SPOILERS AHEAD!
The MM relationship between the two guys in the pack was set as directly oppositional to the HEA of the straight relationship, and
In this OV world, lgbtqia+ relationships are frowned upon, (not why I read omegaverse, but I digress) so the relationship between two of the guys in the pack was kept secret from the rest of their pack because they were afraid of the backlash. Once the relationship came out they were met with:
A) anger that they didn't tell earlier - fucking gross. Nope. Nope. Nope.
B) a general 'put-out-ness' that the guy's relationship was now getting in the way of them having their fated mate, Sienna.
If there was a single moment in which Jax or Tristan grieved that their two pack mates whom they supposedly care for, were in a 4 year loving relationship that they felt they had to HIDE FROM THE WORLD, it was brief and quickly buried with self pity.
When Sienna, (the packs FATED MATE) found out, she reacted exactly the same.
Both of these 'coming out' moments were followed with APOLOGIES from the guys too, which made me feel so disgusting. (Take note, this interaction wasn't addressed ever, repeated later, and was between characters we are supposed to like/respect)
Not only that, the only scene between the two guys on screen was a blowjob that Sienna walked in on (this is how she learned) and the entire experience was framed with the last chapter (from Sienna's POV) saying this:
(As she walks down the hall to find one of the guys) 'And I really, really wished I hadn't.'
Then we followed with the two guys in the room and all that was happening was some same sex love.
THAT is how the one scene between the two guys is FRAMED for us readers. Then they chase her down (after one of the guys looks disgusted that she saw them together) And explain everything and tell her they're sorry and THIS LITTLE NUGGET I ALMOST MISSED:
"And Gray and I... we have some things to work out. But if it's a deal breaker for you--."
WHAT?
WHAT WAS HE ABOUT TO OFFER?
This is followed by Sienna's self righteousness, something like, No, no it's not a problem to me, I'm just mad you didn't trust me. (why would they?) and:
"You thought I'd hate you? Then you really don't know me at all, Gray. You never gave me the chance to show you otherwise?"
Uh... isn't this a chance? I don't understand, but way to make it about you. Run and hide from your fated mates relationship, make them chase you, and not once slow down and go, shit, maybe this is hard for them. Maybe they didn't share it with me because they're actually worse of than I am.
Here's a quote, for reference, when the pack lead finds out that Sienna saw Logan and Gray together:
"Sienna saw us. Together."
Jax whistles, and I fight the urge to sink my head into my hands. "What the hell, Gray?"
"I'm sorry!" He raises his hands defensively. "We got carried away. She just walked in."
Anyway. I'm horrified at the good reviews in which no one is noting this. Frankly dissapointed.
There's so many other issues, plot holes, and nonsensical shit.
The council holds a meeting to determine if our FMC, the omega in the pack's care, is being abused (because she ended up in hospital nearly dead because they ignored her awful wound - which one of them saw. Also, she's 18 and they must be like 24 per my estimate)
So instead of going to the meeting, Sienna freaks out and hides, and her alphas (alleged abusers) go instead of her.
SO to the council, this is what happens:
There is a very sick, very unhappy omega that they placed with 4 alphas who have previously publicly humiliated her. When holding a meeting, that omega DOESN'T SHOW UP, but instead the 4 alphas show up and tell them, nah don't worry. Everything's fine. (One, they shouldn't have come. Two. If they had come, they absolutely should NOT have been allowed in the room while Sienna was being asked about abuse FROM THEM TOWARD HER).
But anyway, after a bit of back and forth, the council goes: sure, sounds good, go right on home to her, wherever she is.
(Also, the DAD of one of the alphas IS ON THE PANEL LOL. Interviewing HIS OWN SON on abuse toward an omega who ISNT FUCKING PRESENT. But that's okay right, because he looks pretty disappointed in his son.)
A week or so later, that omega turns up to her final trial ALONE. The alphas DONT show up, but do apparently leave NOTE saying, hey guys, changed our mind, we don't want her, [Spoiler for cliffy ending] And the council goes... okay. Sure. Screw the fact we were willing to make an exception a week ago when the OMEGA DIDN'T SHOW UP (and maybe was chained to a bed with a black eye) now we're happy to riding on a LITERAL NOTE held by the packs public EX FUCKING GIRLFRIEND.
Makes total fucking sense.
Finally, our FMC, the 18 year old (by only three months) omega, makes her singular rational decision in asking NOT to go through heat with her mates WHILE STILL CAPABLE OF MAKING AN INFORMED DECISION. Then ends up IN HEAT (because they left her alone to plead her abuse case without her) and she ends up begging for them to bang her.
And the pack lead also makes his SINGULAR RATIONAL DECISION and gives her the injection to knock her out. Because that's what she wanted. And he probably doesn't want to bang his (withered, sick, battered, tired, BARELY OF AGE) mate WHEN SHE'S LITERALLY TOLD HIM SHE DOESN'T WANT HIM TO BANG HER.
And then he's vilified for that, too.
YAY!
And all of these were decisions that the author made. If she wanted to vilify Tristan at the end, why not just say Sienna said she wanted to bang them, and then have Tristan give her the injection anyway because he panics? Then we can vilify him without vilifying the consent of a battered barely-adult omega in a hormonal haze.
Why not just lean into the other blackmail point so that the guy's relationship didn't have to be the enemy? That was a choice.
The list of issues could go on forever, though, Pack lead finding out their soul mate was going to be trafficked and then forgetting to tell anyone about that for a day or two. Being happy to hide that from her??? So much more.
All the last parts were just extra, because if it was nothing else, it was the representation of the lgbtqia+ relationship that honestly made me feel the need to share this review. The other reviews were so GREAT and I was left feeling weirdly gaslit and let down in a space (omegaverse) that I believed was truly safe regarding this topic.
Check your privilege.
Check your roots - do you know where Omegaverse came from?!?
We can do better.
June 15, 2023
I don't understand the reviews. These Alphas were professional martyrs, always the victims if their own making. 4 powerful alphas are outmatched by one beta and her powerful father. I couldn't find any redeeming quality in the men. There's not enough groveling in the world to make up for the ignoring, allowing, and then letting the abuse continue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up.
What an angsty clusterfuck!
What an angsty clusterfuck!
July 26, 2023
3.2 stars
It took me an eternity to finish reading this one because first, I was busy, and second, I was having a bad case of preemptive angst overload with the subject matter 😅😅. My overimaginative emotions felt this was going to be as gutwrenching harsh and brutal as Pack Darling: Part One. And so, I was both anticipating and dreading it. And so, I was stuck in limbo, lol.
So verdict? Yes, it has very similar vibes to the great Pack Darling: Part One. A neglected Omega, dumb-who-think-they-are-being-smart Alphas, OW drama (psychotic levels), political clusterfucks, life threatening situations... all very angst worthy situations. EF has a very nice writing style, with obviously a carefully crafted plot, with just the right twists to wring readers' hearts to tears. Overall, I found it a great story and I do have high hopes that its conclusion (in Devoted) will be more satisfying than the imperfect Pack Darling: Part Two.
That said, all was not rosy, hence the middle rating. While the plot was enticing, the execution was a little less so. It lacked that little something for the drama to really spark and punch you deep, like Pack Darling: Part One did. I think part of it was because the choice of the author to give the povs of all leads. While it helped explain the behaviours of the Alphas to the reader, it removed some mystery about why Sienna was being treated as such. If we had been treated mostly with Sienna's uncomprehension and hurt, the angst would have been more effective. Second issue, I think, is that the characters lacked a little depth, esp. the boys. Things felt more plot twist driven than emotionally driven. We were told of their hurt in few lines but not enough to really feel it.
And from my perspective, the characters were too young. Sienna is 18. While the guys are like 24. All fucking immature. I can excuse Sienna, because basically she is just out of school. And actually, she showed she had some backbone and I can see how hormonally, an Omega would be all over the place (again the writing should have digged deeper into that golden angsty vein!). Though, plothole alert, why does she lack much curiosity to discuss hard things with them, once she is clued in on the blackmail? That utter lack of communications need baffled me. I am trying hard to suspend my disbelief, and put that on account that the laws had her stuck between a rock and a hard place, so she was more in a resigned mode.
But the guys! They were at really another level of immaturity. Nice and proper, not much asshats, but so green 😬. They pretend to be Alphas, but they were more like the proverbial Betas. All talk and little concrete action. No strategy before acting. I am not saying Alphas in Omegaverse cannot be weak. They can and they must. But they can't be clueless and passive in my books!! Else, they do not qualify as Alphas. And I am not even reproaching them for falling to the Erikksons' blackmail (though if they were real adults they wouldn't have, but I can try to live with that for the sake of the angst). No, my big contention with them is their utter cluelessness on how to care for an Omega, nevermind a fated Omega that they deliberately (albeit unwillingly) hurt publicly and privately. My very first strike against them is when they discovered her wound was not healing well. They are all concerned and make her rest. And guess what? No one thought to come to check on her until like 12 hours later 🙄😬😤. And she is supposed to be their super fated one. What did they learn in their fucking 'Alpha compound'??? To strut around, chest forward, claiming they are Alphas? Anyways, does basic common sense and empathy not exist in their dense minds? Definitely boys, not men. Definitely not ready to care for an Omega. And I will not waste time saying how their efforts to counter the Erikksons came across as virtually non-existent!
It may be surprising, but for the other 'big angst' moment (), I do not at all see why they are all being angsty and hurt about it. I totally approve his decision. Because all along that had been Sienna's wish, until the very end when she was in the throes of said heat. How could Tristan have known that she was not just hormonally reacting and that she was really giving consent when, 99% of the time before that she was saying she wanted to be medicated? That was very unfair on Tristan to be hated by Sienna and the others because of that. The supposed pleading by Sienna was not even effectively written down to feel any despair. It was all a needless (and contrived) plot drama point imho 🙄.
The cliffhanger was perfect though. A worthy homage to Pack Darling: Part One. I feel for Sienna. And I am stoked for the final book. But I do rant on the non-sensicality of their world that would accept a written note as Denial 🙄. Any worthy Council would have sought a face to face confirmation prior to falling into that trap.
Though I may not look like it, I did enjoy the drama and the plot (I just have to let some steam off from the irritating character dissonance 😅). All in all it was quite tame angst (I had imagined much worse), but still pretty enticing. I do have high hopes for the final book. I still believe the dumb Alphas will up their game and develop some brain cells. And I still believe the grovel plot will be better than Pack Darling: Part Two. I do have one big wish beside that though. I know it is only a fictitious world, and mostly a romance, but I feel that the political part (of having such archaic laws to the disfavour of Omegas) need to be at least touched upon, even in a few lines, because much of the drama in this book was authorised to happen because of these nonsense laws.
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My review for Book 2: here
P.S. I am finding the cover tacky. I am not a fan of pink hair 😅.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2023
Not bad but I don't think I can forgive these guys or that they can be redeemed. It's the same problem I had with pack darling part two. I guess I'm spiteful cuz I firmly believe there's some things you shouldn't and can't come back from. I'm probably not the target audience but I will try book two and update this if it convinces me.
April 7, 2024
★4/5! NAHHH WTF WAS THAT ENDING? Sienna baby you deserve the world. Jax, Tristan, Grayson and Logan GO TO FUCKING HELL. Alicia omfg i pray she dies a painful death SLOW AND PAINFUL!!! the anger i felt reading this book oh. my. god.
January 10, 2024
January 2024
Kindle edition
Stuff your kindle freebie
Alphabet challenge - D
The selection for D on my kindle is pretty grim, Devil, Dead, Death etc, Dark covers or cartoony covers. Picked this one solely for the pink hair. I did not enjoy this one. It was miscommunication, one poor decision after the other and the one suffering for it was Sienna. Instead of owning it or packing up, they clung to their inheritance. As soon as they knew about the traffickers they should've fessed up. They didn't and this one ended as per the title. It was BS, archaic, and four grown ass men allowed themselves to be blackmailed by a beta and his psycho daughter. The only romance happening in this book was Logan and Gray M/M. This was a rage skim read. I won't be continuing.
Kindle edition
Stuff your kindle freebie
Alphabet challenge - D
The selection for D on my kindle is pretty grim, Devil, Dead, Death etc, Dark covers or cartoony covers. Picked this one solely for the pink hair. I did not enjoy this one. It was miscommunication, one poor decision after the other and the one suffering for it was Sienna. Instead of owning it or packing up, they clung to their inheritance. As soon as they knew about the traffickers they should've fessed up. They didn't and this one ended as per the title. It was BS, archaic, and four grown ass men allowed themselves to be blackmailed by a beta and his psycho daughter. The only romance happening in this book was Logan and Gray M/M. This was a rage skim read. I won't be continuing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2024
This is one of the best OmegaVerse books I have ever read
This review is for the duet books - Book 1 Denied - Book 2 Devoted
so probably some minor Sp!olers
Note before we start this is a BRFSR (book read for a specific reason). I know it is not the cup of tea of everyone, but I am a coffee girl, so Fck yeah it is my jam.
⚜Genre: Omegaverse Romance
⚜Theme: Second-Chance RH Paranormal Romance
⚜Targeted audience: New Adults/ Adults
⚜Characters: Alphas, Omegas, Betas
⚜Representation: MMFMM, Bi
⚜TW: abuse, neglect, attempted murder, trafficking
⚜ tropes: fated mates, hurt, grovel, OW drama (not cheating)
⚜ POV: first person, multiple
⚜ spice 1/2🌶 book 1 🌶 🌶book 2 (yep, not a lot of spice in this one which I loved because it allowed the plot to flow
⚜ rating: overall 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟although I wanted more grovel in book 2 but I am satisfied
⚜standalone: as a duet yes. Book 1 ends at a cliffhanger obviously
⚜Ending: HEA
what I loved about this book are the females (obviously not the OW), Sienna and Jess who are best friends
Sienna the main FL is a kind submissive Omega who, like all Omegas, dreams of her home with her pack. She is excited to learn that not only was she matched with the strongest pack, the Cohens, but they were also her Fated Bonds, a rare occurrence in their world.
After the hurt and betrayal they put her through, she did not give in to their apologies. As a matter of fact, she was willing to die from separation rather than get back with them. She fought them at every turn. If it weren't for her best friend, Jess, she wouldn't have allowed them to save her life. And even after that, she did not take it easy on them.
I enjoyed the cute delicious revenge she bestowed on them too.
Jess, though a side character, was everything I wanted in a best friend. that friend that when they see you hurt will bring the shovel and the body bag. She is a spitfire and a wildcat. I absolutely loved the way she put the pack in their place, how she supported her best friend, and how she also got her HEA.
The pack, Tristan, Jax, Logan and Gray, oh lordy! For a strong fearless Alphas, they really were stupid. Tristan, as the pack leader, kept making one wrong decision after the other, and they, like sheep, followed him, untill it was too late and they lost their Omegas.
As I said, this book is read for specific reasons. As the hurt/grovel junkie I am, it was perfect for me
This review is for the duet books - Book 1 Denied - Book 2 Devoted
so probably some minor Sp!olers
Note before we start this is a BRFSR (book read for a specific reason). I know it is not the cup of tea of everyone, but I am a coffee girl, so Fck yeah it is my jam.
⚜Genre: Omegaverse Romance
⚜Theme: Second-Chance RH Paranormal Romance
⚜Targeted audience: New Adults/ Adults
⚜Characters: Alphas, Omegas, Betas
⚜Representation: MMFMM, Bi
⚜TW: abuse, neglect, attempted murder, trafficking
⚜ tropes: fated mates, hurt, grovel, OW drama (not cheating)
⚜ POV: first person, multiple
⚜ spice 1/2🌶 book 1 🌶 🌶book 2 (yep, not a lot of spice in this one which I loved because it allowed the plot to flow
⚜ rating: overall 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟although I wanted more grovel in book 2 but I am satisfied
⚜standalone: as a duet yes. Book 1 ends at a cliffhanger obviously
⚜Ending: HEA
what I loved about this book are the females (obviously not the OW), Sienna and Jess who are best friends
Sienna the main FL is a kind submissive Omega who, like all Omegas, dreams of her home with her pack. She is excited to learn that not only was she matched with the strongest pack, the Cohens, but they were also her Fated Bonds, a rare occurrence in their world.
After the hurt and betrayal they put her through, she did not give in to their apologies. As a matter of fact, she was willing to die from separation rather than get back with them. She fought them at every turn. If it weren't for her best friend, Jess, she wouldn't have allowed them to save her life. And even after that, she did not take it easy on them.
I enjoyed the cute delicious revenge she bestowed on them too.
Jess, though a side character, was everything I wanted in a best friend. that friend that when they see you hurt will bring the shovel and the body bag. She is a spitfire and a wildcat. I absolutely loved the way she put the pack in their place, how she supported her best friend, and how she also got her HEA.
The pack, Tristan, Jax, Logan and Gray, oh lordy! For a strong fearless Alphas, they really were stupid. Tristan, as the pack leader, kept making one wrong decision after the other, and they, like sheep, followed him, untill it was too late and they lost their Omegas.
As I said, this book is read for specific reasons. As the hurt/grovel junkie I am, it was perfect for me
October 22, 2023
A true roller coaster of emotions felt for Sienna, her life with pack wasn’t great & the ending. Like what! They going to do my girl Sienna, like that after everything she went through, Arghhh upset to say the least! First book I have read, of this author, can’t wait to read the 2nd book to this series. I hope to see if I have closer with the happy ending that Sienna deserves.
June 13, 2023
Hey Sienna, we’re going to give you four absolutely gorgeous Soul Bonded who smell like the best type of snack. Then we’ll throw in your perfect home, tailor made and ready for you to put those omega skills to work that you’ve spent the last five years perfecting. Oops – forgot to say, none of it is real. Your Bonded will hate you and you won’t be able to stay. Actually, you might be forced to leave everything you’ve ever known and never talk to any of your family and friends again too. Sorry about that.
Despite how everything that follows may sound, I promise you that I LOVED this book and highly recommend it.
Rejected mates is my favorite trope, followed closely by bully/hate-to-love/enemies-to-lovers. Holy hell did Denied deliver the goods. I am utterly wrecked by this story. It hurts so good, even if I catch myself tearing up and feeling like I need a cheerful palate cleanser to go on (instead, I’m listening to the playlist - cheat code, if you want to prolong the pain, check it out).
I never do this, but the angst is at epic proportions. If cliffhangers give you anxiety, if you need even the slightest bit of resolution before a book’s end, wait a couple weeks until the duet is complete. This book is 100% pain. If you are like me and love this level of torture, don’t wait. I promise it is worth it.
Evelyn did a fantastic job bringing Sienna’s anguish to life. I felt every moment of her unrelenting pain and the death of her soul. It left me ugly crying. You will hate the guys. Honestly, I don’t think they deserve Sienna. In my eyes, nothing can justify their treatment of her. The grovel better be epic in book two because a soul bond will not be enough to earn her forgiveness (and she deserves more than that).
There is almost no spice. This is a story of how to ruin your soul mate bond by ignoring the one made for you, actively pushing her away, and knowingly causing her physical pain under the misguided notion of saving her.
If you liked the pain of rejected mates found in Pack Darling, this is for you. Tenfold.
I cannot wait to see how the Cohen pack attempts to heal the damage they caused in book two.
Genre: Contemporary Omegaverse
Tropes/Features: Rejected mates, soul bonded fated mates, high angst, emotional damage, bully/neglect, OW drama (includes physical contact in the presence of omega), heat trauma, blackmail
Narrator: Multi 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: Why choose with MM, neglect of omega – almost no spice
Book Type/Ending: Book one of The Bonding Trials Duet, cliffhanger ending
TW/CW: Listed in book, please read
Despite how everything that follows may sound, I promise you that I LOVED this book and highly recommend it.
Rejected mates is my favorite trope, followed closely by bully/hate-to-love/enemies-to-lovers. Holy hell did Denied deliver the goods. I am utterly wrecked by this story. It hurts so good, even if I catch myself tearing up and feeling like I need a cheerful palate cleanser to go on (instead, I’m listening to the playlist - cheat code, if you want to prolong the pain, check it out).
I never do this, but the angst is at epic proportions. If cliffhangers give you anxiety, if you need even the slightest bit of resolution before a book’s end, wait a couple weeks until the duet is complete. This book is 100% pain. If you are like me and love this level of torture, don’t wait. I promise it is worth it.
Evelyn did a fantastic job bringing Sienna’s anguish to life. I felt every moment of her unrelenting pain and the death of her soul. It left me ugly crying. You will hate the guys. Honestly, I don’t think they deserve Sienna. In my eyes, nothing can justify their treatment of her. The grovel better be epic in book two because a soul bond will not be enough to earn her forgiveness (and she deserves more than that).
There is almost no spice. This is a story of how to ruin your soul mate bond by ignoring the one made for you, actively pushing her away, and knowingly causing her physical pain under the misguided notion of saving her.
If you liked the pain of rejected mates found in Pack Darling, this is for you. Tenfold.
I cannot wait to see how the Cohen pack attempts to heal the damage they caused in book two.
Genre: Contemporary Omegaverse
Tropes/Features: Rejected mates, soul bonded fated mates, high angst, emotional damage, bully/neglect, OW drama (includes physical contact in the presence of omega), heat trauma, blackmail
Narrator: Multi 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: Why choose with MM, neglect of omega – almost no spice
Book Type/Ending: Book one of The Bonding Trials Duet, cliffhanger ending
TW/CW: Listed in book, please read
June 23, 2023
Cliches
Cliches
Cliches
I was hoping to read something NEW and creative but this story reeks of other authors’ work.
I get that truly we just recycle most ideas but it was as if this author took all the sad and tragic parts of all the omegaverse books she read, tossed them together and called it a book.
I rolled my eyes so much they may be permanently stuck.
She made this book so sad that you will cry obviously bc nobody can refuse to cry while reading this hot mess tragedy of a story.
But at the same time, it was so so dumb.
There were so many ways this story could have veered to take the tragic turns that it did.
But the comical approach here was laughable.
The premise of being blackmailed by some scumbag doof of a beta councilman and these alphas just falling over and playing dead? Stupid.
The premise of meeting your soul bond and then kissing another woman bc of said blackmail? Stupid.
And then the author just tucks these life changing tidbits into the story. Like. Being away from your soul bond will cause death. 🫣 And they are rare but oh hey, the fmc’s parents are soul bonds. But nobody knows anything about them but fyi you die if you get parted.
So. Effing. Stupid.
This book was a mess.
Cliches
Cliches
I was hoping to read something NEW and creative but this story reeks of other authors’ work.
I get that truly we just recycle most ideas but it was as if this author took all the sad and tragic parts of all the omegaverse books she read, tossed them together and called it a book.
I rolled my eyes so much they may be permanently stuck.
She made this book so sad that you will cry obviously bc nobody can refuse to cry while reading this hot mess tragedy of a story.
But at the same time, it was so so dumb.
There were so many ways this story could have veered to take the tragic turns that it did.
But the comical approach here was laughable.
The premise of being blackmailed by some scumbag doof of a beta councilman and these alphas just falling over and playing dead? Stupid.
The premise of meeting your soul bond and then kissing another woman bc of said blackmail? Stupid.
And then the author just tucks these life changing tidbits into the story. Like. Being away from your soul bond will cause death. 🫣 And they are rare but oh hey, the fmc’s parents are soul bonds. But nobody knows anything about them but fyi you die if you get parted.
So. Effing. Stupid.
This book was a mess.
June 24, 2023
I want to say this is my first Omega and Alpha book and I'm not even sure I understand what that fucking means. HOWEVER, I do understand how annoying this whole goddamn clusterfuck was. No one and I mean NO ONE acted like normal fucking people. All of these lies and subterfuge was unnecessary. Every single one of the Cohen pack and then Si towards the end had the right to be stupid, but holy shit were they abusing that privilege! I get it, I fucking GET it; if they weren't stupid, we wouldn't even have a story, but I just feel like it could've gone another way cuz now I'm rooting for nobody.
My brain hates my eyes for reading this shit, but my masochistic part wants to see what the fuck the next book brings, cuz no fucking way can it get worse. I wasn't interested in any of the cocks, or the cunt. They had no fucking chemistry, no personality. They all came out like words on a paper, leaving us to figure out who the fuck they are, and the mediocrity of it all left me flailing in the kiddie pool.
My brain hates my eyes for reading this shit, but my masochistic part wants to see what the fuck the next book brings, cuz no fucking way can it get worse. I wasn't interested in any of the cocks, or the cunt. They had no fucking chemistry, no personality. They all came out like words on a paper, leaving us to figure out who the fuck they are, and the mediocrity of it all left me flailing in the kiddie pool.
June 19, 2023
Incredible! “Denied” reminds me of why I fell in love with Evelyn Flood’s writing.
“Denied” is one of the most tense, angst-filled books I’ve read this year. Sienna, an omega, is put through the wringer with her potential pack. Matched to the lucrative and high-profile Cohen pack, Sienna goes into the Bonding Trials hopeful with what her future has in store. Unfortunately, the Cohen pack has a secret that will ultimately tear them apart.
Sienna has a lot more patience than I have, I’ll tell you that much! I was surprised as how forgiving she was, and was relieved when she finally stood up for herself. Like I said previously, this book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time; I can’t wait to see what happens in book two! Each of the alphas needs to work hard to gain Sienna’s trust and forgiveness, and I have faith that Flood can write a redemption arc that will have me pleased.
“Denied” is one of the most tense, angst-filled books I’ve read this year. Sienna, an omega, is put through the wringer with her potential pack. Matched to the lucrative and high-profile Cohen pack, Sienna goes into the Bonding Trials hopeful with what her future has in store. Unfortunately, the Cohen pack has a secret that will ultimately tear them apart.
Sienna has a lot more patience than I have, I’ll tell you that much! I was surprised as how forgiving she was, and was relieved when she finally stood up for herself. Like I said previously, this book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time; I can’t wait to see what happens in book two! Each of the alphas needs to work hard to gain Sienna’s trust and forgiveness, and I have faith that Flood can write a redemption arc that will have me pleased.
June 11, 2023
Denied by Evelyn Flood is the first in the duet The Bonding Trials. First off - your heart will rip in two throughout this whole book. Sienna is an Omega, who gets selected for the Bonding Trials and is matched with the Cohen Pack. Things do not go as planned. There are some bad people who don't want Sienna to make it through the trials. Sienna is a strong, tough FMC. I'm not sure how I feel about the Cohen Pack. I'm sure they would be great Alpha's without all the secrets, but they just made it so hard for Sienna. Some TW to watch out for. There is a huge cliff hanger at the end. HUGE. My heart broke again. I really need book two ASAP.
November 13, 2023
2,5 ⭐
It doesn't really have a strong base and the characters felt completely flat unfortunately. BUT the ending actually left me hanging, so I'll definitely read the second book just to know what happens
It doesn't really have a strong base and the characters felt completely flat unfortunately. BUT the ending actually left me hanging, so I'll definitely read the second book just to know what happens
June 28, 2023
Well, that was brutal. I can't imagine how Si could ever forgive these whimpering, fucking pathetic worms that are her supposed "Soul Bonds".
June 20, 2023
eh
I genuinely don’t understand why this book has to be so dark and depressing without there truly being any real dark and depressing actions. I have no idea how she will ever forgive this pack and without her soul and life literally tied to them - there’s no way it could actually happen.
I genuinely don’t understand why this book has to be so dark and depressing without there truly being any real dark and depressing actions. I have no idea how she will ever forgive this pack and without her soul and life literally tied to them - there’s no way it could actually happen.
January 1, 2024
This duology is essentially a group of guys making stupid choices a woman not knowhing why they are making stupid choices, but knows they are stupid. The second part is mostly the guys realizing their stupidity and how it affects the girl, her being angry for a while, but everyone hugging it out in the end.
Maybe I'm just a little tired of reading OV books where the O female has to prove herself worthy of the group through a test of some kind. If I didn't realize that before I started these books, I sure do now. The author does have some original ideas, the failing health of the O due to separation that is not due to heartbreak, but is actually a physical condition. The best friend is great in these books, too.I don't know if those things are enough to win it over for me, so it's a three star rating because I know that a big part of my disappointment in these novels was due to my irritation with the perceived misogyny in these books since the Os all seem to be female. It's not a matter of dominance or submission that I had a problem with, but the need to prove oneself worthy through a socially constructed trial that I disliked. Which may seem weird considering the theme of the series, but please note the moment of realization stated above for clarification.
Maybe I'm just a little tired of reading OV books where the O female has to prove herself worthy of the group through a test of some kind. If I didn't realize that before I started these books, I sure do now. The author does have some original ideas, the failing health of the O due to separation that is not due to heartbreak, but is actually a physical condition. The best friend is great in these books, too.I don't know if those things are enough to win it over for me, so it's a three star rating because I know that a big part of my disappointment in these novels was due to my irritation with the perceived misogyny in these books since the Os all seem to be female. It's not a matter of dominance or submission that I had a problem with, but the need to prove oneself worthy through a socially constructed trial that I disliked. Which may seem weird considering the theme of the series, but please note the moment of realization stated above for clarification.
June 15, 2023
the guys are losers kinda but i ate the drama up
August 1, 2023
Honestly, this could have been a five star read but Sienna annoyed me in the end. They did fucked up things the entire time to her and the one time she gets truly mad at them, I’m confused. She straight up said she didn’t want to be with them in her heat and said she wanted another solution. Then came the time and while she’s mindless with lust, she wants them. But they won’t give her what she wants because she already told them she wasn’t ready to be with them. Wth!
Out of eveything she could have been pissed about, that was not it. Good for them for sticking to their guns!
Out of eveything she could have been pissed about, that was not it. Good for them for sticking to their guns!
January 20, 2024
❤️ Favorite
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I am speechless. Full RTC, I need to pick up book 2 right away.
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I am speechless. Full RTC, I need to pick up book 2 right away.
October 13, 2024
Loved the angsty premise. These boys sure messed up and need to do some heavy groveling. These characters felt juvenile and emotionally immature to me. I couldn’t fully connect because it felt sort of YA.
July 9, 2023
inconsistencies
The premise of this book doesn’t make a ton of sense. The idea is that there’s some kind of wall around a city that houses omegas, alphas, and some betas. The beta community is on the outskirts beyond the wall where rejected omegas go. Now in this book omegas are loved and cherished and it doesn’t sound like they’re a dime a dozen, so why is it if one is rejected they wouldn’t go in the system again. If they’re not super common would you not want to hold onto them? It didn’t make sense that a rejected omega would be shunned past the wall for not “completing or failing the trials” and it’s weird that the omega would get only one chance to cry off… idk it bothered me that the omega said she didn’t want to bond then went into heat wanted to bond and because the pack was respectful and said no, after the heat ended she made a humongous stink about how they didn’t bond her. So we’re not rewarding consent? Personally that’s garbage unless you want to set this book up as dub con which isn’t in the trigger warning.
Also I think this book should’ve had better alpha readers . Some phrasing didn’t make sense. Like when the OW had a bright pink face mask on and the author said she resembled a flamenco? Did she mean flamingo? Because flamenco is a type of dance and in the context it made no sense.
It didn’t make sense that the guys didn’t feel the side effects from the bond strain. If it was so bad for the omega how come they weren’t as affected…
There’s potential but there’s a lot of garbage to wade through, when I made the mistake of starting book 2 before book 1 I realized that the second book plopped her straight into the woods and it all didn’t make sense. So when this book ended I realized that the way book 2 picks up it still doesn’t give any depth to how she got in the woods, how she knew someone was after her. This book wasn’t well thought out
The only pro is her best friend and the cover. That’s it
The premise of this book doesn’t make a ton of sense. The idea is that there’s some kind of wall around a city that houses omegas, alphas, and some betas. The beta community is on the outskirts beyond the wall where rejected omegas go. Now in this book omegas are loved and cherished and it doesn’t sound like they’re a dime a dozen, so why is it if one is rejected they wouldn’t go in the system again. If they’re not super common would you not want to hold onto them? It didn’t make sense that a rejected omega would be shunned past the wall for not “completing or failing the trials” and it’s weird that the omega would get only one chance to cry off… idk it bothered me that the omega said she didn’t want to bond then went into heat wanted to bond and because the pack was respectful and said no, after the heat ended she made a humongous stink about how they didn’t bond her. So we’re not rewarding consent? Personally that’s garbage unless you want to set this book up as dub con which isn’t in the trigger warning.
Also I think this book should’ve had better alpha readers . Some phrasing didn’t make sense. Like when the OW had a bright pink face mask on and the author said she resembled a flamenco? Did she mean flamingo? Because flamenco is a type of dance and in the context it made no sense.
It didn’t make sense that the guys didn’t feel the side effects from the bond strain. If it was so bad for the omega how come they weren’t as affected…
There’s potential but there’s a lot of garbage to wade through, when I made the mistake of starting book 2 before book 1 I realized that the second book plopped her straight into the woods and it all didn’t make sense. So when this book ended I realized that the way book 2 picks up it still doesn’t give any depth to how she got in the woods, how she knew someone was after her. This book wasn’t well thought out
The only pro is her best friend and the cover. That’s it
June 21, 2023
Edited to add- stars have the possibility of going to 4 or 5 depending on the next book. It’s dependent for me personally on how they make things up to her. I’m petty and hold grudges against fictional characters.
None of the Cohen pack deserves her. None. Tristan is the worst, I absolutely hate him. I don't see how he could come back or ever grovel enough or defend ANY of his horrible, terrible decisions. He shouldn't be the pack leader, or a council leader, bc his decision making skills are negative 1000. If he was stuck in a box, he would pick the wrong way out and end up bleeding to death from too many cardboard cuts.
Jax and Logan were maybe redeemable, but the last 5 chapters turned them into highly doubtful. Also don't see Gray doing much redeeming either. He was so horrible to her from the beginning that I also hates him. Some people may be able to forgive him for his reason for being such a bleep bleep bleep, but it actually makes me dislike him even more. He's so scared of (spoiler) that he is actively cruel to her and willing to completely destroy her life and take away any possible future she could have had. He's nothing but a cruel coward that only cares about himself, she's not that only one he's hurting too.
I will also be joining the I Hate Alicia club I've seen mentioned in other reviews, with a side of adding Tristan and Gray to that list.
None of the Cohen pack deserves her. None. Tristan is the worst, I absolutely hate him. I don't see how he could come back or ever grovel enough or defend ANY of his horrible, terrible decisions. He shouldn't be the pack leader, or a council leader, bc his decision making skills are negative 1000. If he was stuck in a box, he would pick the wrong way out and end up bleeding to death from too many cardboard cuts.
Jax and Logan were maybe redeemable, but the last 5 chapters turned them into highly doubtful. Also don't see Gray doing much redeeming either. He was so horrible to her from the beginning that I also hates him. Some people may be able to forgive him for his reason for being such a bleep bleep bleep, but it actually makes me dislike him even more. He's so scared of (spoiler) that he is actively cruel to her and willing to completely destroy her life and take away any possible future she could have had. He's nothing but a cruel coward that only cares about himself, she's not that only one he's hurting too.
I will also be joining the I Hate Alicia club I've seen mentioned in other reviews, with a side of adding Tristan and Gray to that list.
April 26, 2024
Fuck them. Fuck Tristan, Jax, especially Grayson and Logan. Fuck Alicia, fuck David Erikkson. Fuck those misogynistic laws.
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