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jpnlkt's review
DNF-ed. I didn't like it. I was hoping for a little bit of romance before the fucking. But naw, they just wanna fuck, and somehow that makes them fated mates? bleh
areniamar's review
4.0
Sweet couple with a lot of spice
Ugh I am so stupidly in love with Zerne! I was expecting him to be a more antagonistic MC who would be reluctant to love but it turns out that the years of isolation frag did mellow him out. So what we got instead was a really sweet and shy monster god and he was just so freaking adorable I can’t handle it.
He and Diana worked well as a couple and I loved that their dynamic centered around her teaching him things. She was patient and thoughtful with him, for the most part, so that was great.
This loses a star for me, however, because a lot of their relationship growth revolves around sex. And don’t get me wrong, I read steamy books all the time and I love it—I’m glad this book had a lot of it—but I wish that there had been more “normal” stuff to grow their relationship. He was supposed to teach her things for her dissertation but we never see that, so we don’t get those sort of mundane/normal relationship moments which would have made their connection feel stronger.
I was also a little confused by the Uncanny Society. I don’t think it was explained very well and I had trouble figuring out what exactly it was. I received a free copy of this book and am reviewing it voluntarily.
Things to note: no cheating, no violence, pretty safe read overall
Ugh I am so stupidly in love with Zerne! I was expecting him to be a more antagonistic MC who would be reluctant to love but it turns out that the years of isolation frag did mellow him out. So what we got instead was a really sweet and shy monster god and he was just so freaking adorable I can’t handle it.
He and Diana worked well as a couple and I loved that their dynamic centered around her teaching him things. She was patient and thoughtful with him, for the most part, so that was great.
This loses a star for me, however, because a lot of their relationship growth revolves around sex. And don’t get me wrong, I read steamy books all the time and I love it—I’m glad this book had a lot of it—but I wish that there had been more “normal” stuff to grow their relationship. He was supposed to teach her things for her dissertation but we never see that, so we don’t get those sort of mundane/normal relationship moments which would have made their connection feel stronger.
I was also a little confused by the Uncanny Society. I don’t think it was explained very well and I had trouble figuring out what exactly it was. I received a free copy of this book and am reviewing it voluntarily.
Things to note: no cheating, no violence, pretty safe read overall
missybooklover's review
5.0
This is 100% what I needed to read today! I loved this book so much it hits so many of my favorite genres, monsters, paranormal, age gap, spice, and best of all romance! I couldn’t put this book down when I started to read it; he was cursed to stay in his cave for the rest of his life or until his soulmate found him.
I have received an ARC of this book, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have received an ARC of this book, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
embrightreads's review
4.0
Ill-Fated Mate was a really fun book to read. I liked that it was a paranormal romance but was also "historical". Historical in that it referenced history, but it was fake history. I mean, it was sort of based off of real civilizations or places from history, but also it was not real. Anyway.
Our FMC is a paranormal archeologist and she's super smart, and pretty and like generally very awesome. Which was great. She was a 10/10.
Our MMC is an onyx skinned baddie with a hefty wingspan and a soft spot for smart girls in cargo shorts.
Basically He has been cursed/entombed in a mountain top for eons and only his "soul's mate" can free him from the curse. It's all very sleeping beauty honestly.
There are references to Nordic and Greek Gods, ancient civilizations, cool archaeological expeditions, and sex.
I read it quickly, was never bored, was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed it immensely. I think the only reason I didn't give this book a full five stars is because it was like, sticky sweet in certain parts and I thought the ending was a little dumb.
If you finally get to be un-entombed after literal thousands of years, why would you have a long distance relationship and stay in the mountain you were trapped in?!
make it make sense. minus one star.
Our FMC is a paranormal archeologist and she's super smart, and pretty and like generally very awesome. Which was great. She was a 10/10.
Our MMC is an onyx skinned baddie with a hefty wingspan and a soft spot for smart girls in cargo shorts.
Basically He has been cursed/entombed in a mountain top for eons and only his "soul's mate" can free him from the curse. It's all very sleeping beauty honestly.
There are references to Nordic and Greek Gods, ancient civilizations, cool archaeological expeditions, and sex.
I read it quickly, was never bored, was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed it immensely. I think the only reason I didn't give this book a full five stars is because it was like, sticky sweet in certain parts and I thought the ending was a little dumb.
If you finally get to be un-entombed after literal thousands of years, why would you have a long distance relationship and stay in the mountain you were trapped in?!
make it make sense. minus one star.
totielizalde's review
5.0
This book follows Diana and Zerne. The first one is a folklorist, and the second, the god of ill fate. What happens when she finds her name carved in a mountain and goes to investigate?
A passionate love story.
I got this book as an ARC and I promise, I read it SO FAST. It’s incredibly well written, and the spicy scenes are
A passionate love story.
I got this book as an ARC and I promise, I read it SO FAST. It’s incredibly well written, and the spicy scenes are
emilyrose_isreading's review
3.5
A short and pretty smutty romance about a folklore(?) academic and a god. I feel like parts definitely could have gone into more depth, like there isn't too much detail however in terms of vibes this is an enjoyable book.
heabooknerd's review
4.0
ILL-FATED MATE gave me the soft boi monster I didn't know I needed! Zcerneboch, God of Ill Fate, has been cursed to never leave his mountain home until he finds his soul's mate and after a vision of a beautiful woman, Zerne thinks he's finally found her. I loved how sweet and caring Zerne was, all he wanted was someone to love and he absolutely worshiped the ground Diana walked on. Diana doesn't know what to think of Zerne at first but she can't deny her attraction to him and how much she enjoys spending time with him. This was definitely insta-love and I don't mind that, but I do wish we had seen some more interactions between Zerne and Diana that didn't involve sex. I'm looking forward to book 2 after the big hint Monroe dropped at the end.
Content Warning: recent death of a parent
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Favorite Quotes:
Gods above, she was sensual and irresistible. He may be a god, but this woman had him completely at her mercy.
- - - - -
Zerne shuddered as Diana placed her hand over his thudding heart. No one had ever touched him there until she came to him, and now he would give anything to have her keep her hand right where it was for all time.
Content Warning: recent death of a parent
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:
Gods above, she was sensual and irresistible. He may be a god, but this woman had him completely at her mercy.
- - - - -
Zerne shuddered as Diana placed her hand over his thudding heart. No one had ever touched him there until she came to him, and now he would give anything to have her keep her hand right where it was for all time.
ladyinvelvetx's review
4.0
I am voluntarily leaving a review as I received this as an ARC e-book.
This book was advertised as a “steamy monster romance” and has the following tropes:
- Monster romance
- Fated mates
- Forced proximity
- Virgin hero
I must say I haven’t read too many “monster” romances so I was delighted to be chosen to be arc reading this. Fated mates is one of my favorite tropes. I’ve never read a Virgin hero book before, but, my god. I think I found a new kink
This book was advertised as a “steamy monster romance” and has the following tropes:
- Monster romance
- Fated mates
- Forced proximity
- Virgin hero
I must say I haven’t read too many “monster” romances so I was delighted to be chosen to be arc reading this. Fated mates is one of my favorite tropes. I’ve never read a Virgin hero book before, but, my god. I think I found a new kink
magnafeana's review
3.0
All right. This is a solid 3.5 ⭐️ rounded down, in my opinion.
I’m a little dismayed by the lack of character building and world building. I do enjoy being thrown into the meat of the story, but I also like when we receive explanations sprinkled throughout the action rather than info-dumps.
I didn’t feel connected with our MCs because, well, I hardly knew them. We had their info-dumps of backstory without any present-day drama.
I was dismayed the whole Eris is the Villainess Taken Seriously trope happened again. Wouldn’t a folklorist know that Eris is allegedly mischievous and is essential a Real Housewife of Greek Hill who likes to start drama?
Granted, this romance takes place over a week, so I understand why our FMC believes Eris. Had the FMC and MMC been together longer, I would say they don’t deserve to be together if a god of chaos who instigates chaos manages to change their minds on the other.
This was still a solid read. A steamy romance but not a love story. No OM/OW drama, but the insta-love/insta-lust is there and isn’t my cup of tea. But it is what it is!
If you like insta-love god romances? Recommend this to you.
I’m a little dismayed by the lack of character building and world building. I do enjoy being thrown into the meat of the story, but I also like when we receive explanations sprinkled throughout the action rather than info-dumps.
I didn’t feel connected with our MCs because, well, I hardly knew them. We had their info-dumps of backstory without any present-day drama.
I was dismayed the whole Eris is the Villainess Taken Seriously trope happened again. Wouldn’t a folklorist know that Eris is allegedly mischievous and is essential a Real Housewife of Greek Hill who likes to start drama?
Granted, this romance takes place over a week, so I understand why our FMC believes Eris. Had the FMC and MMC been together longer, I would say they don’t deserve to be together if a god of chaos who instigates chaos manages to change their minds on the other.
This was still a solid read. A steamy romance but not a love story. No OM/OW drama, but the insta-love/insta-lust is there and isn’t my cup of tea. But it is what it is!
If you like insta-love god romances? Recommend this to you.