A review by theladysparks
The Alpha of Bleake Isle by Kathryn Moon

5.0

 

Lord Ronson Cadogan can stall no longer. He needs an omega and he needs an heir.

Settled on the obvious perfect choice, and determined to see his fate through, Ronson can't afford to wait for the next ceremony to claim what he is owed. If only he was more excited about the match.

Mairwen Posy knows precisely who the Alpha of Bleake Isle will choose, and it certainly isn't her. In fact, it's so predictable it's almost boring.

Resigned to her fate of disappearing into the background, Mairwen takes the role of observer, distracting the ache of being left out with the entertainment of dragonkin society's unfolding stories.

All is as expected, until the sudden twist in a familiar plot sends Mairwen in the least likely direction, right into the arms of the alpha.

"Chosen, claimed, always meant to be mine."

Kathryn Moon has once again delivered a book that I find myself absolutely obsessed with. A romantasy in the vein of Bridgerton with dragon shifters and omegaverse dynamics but with a twist that you will find charming and impossible to put down. This book is such a sweet romance where we have a hard-edged alpha falling for the omega that has been overlooked and is seen as a wallflower and the two of them growing and blossoming into two wonderful people who are fantastic together.

Mairwen is seen by Dragonkin as less than, underestimated and overlooked and because of that she is used as currency basically between her parents and a suitor. Ronson is the alpha of the island who has decided that this selection would be the one that he finally finds himself an omega and hopefully secure an heir. The two literally collide unexpectedly and everything from there on out is a magical experience.

I loved reading through Mairwen's growth and how she gained her confidence in a way that drove home that she always had this power and beauty but it was everyone around her who overlooked. Ronson's love for Mairwen is probably one of my favorite things about this book and how down bad he is for her. I think if you looked up the definition of that phrase in the dictionary, there would be a photo of him right there.

I spent the entire time in this book either grinning from ear to ear or finding it relatable in the aspects of how other people talk about and view Mairwen's appearance as a larger-bodied person. I am so glad that this is the beginning of a series because I think the world-building is so cool and so unique and I am very excited to read more books featuring Dragonkin.

- historical romantasy
- bridgerton esque vibes
- dragon shifter beings
- omegaverse dynamics (but also different)
- he is down bad for her
- political intrigue
- midsize fmc