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A review by bunnerz
Knot Over You by Sarah Blue, Grace McGinty, Sabrina Day, Jarica James, Calliope Stewart, Merri Bright, Aisling Cousins, Flora Quincy, Juniper Kerry, M.J. Marstens
4.0
I had originally picked up the anthology because Merri Bright and a few other familiar reverse-harem/omegaverse authors were in the anthology.
Overall, it was an entertaining read, even though there were some issues with repeated chapters and the Kindle app thought the book had ended after Merri's short story when there was still one story left. I appreciated that these were all full short stories and weren't just incomplete sneak peeks of planned future releases.
---
Knot Mine by Jarica James
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: alpha-omega, reverse-harem, enhanced-humans
This was a Grove City Omegas short story that followed the FMC omega Dakota as she returned to her hometown of Brighton for her sister's wedding and ended up running into her exes. It was a extremely fast-burn second-chance story with lots of impulsive decisions. Most of the short story was their reuniting orgy. I would have liked more grovelling rather than immediate forgiveness and insta-lust.
--
Hidden Heart by M.J. Marstens
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: alpha-omega, reverse-harem, enhanced-humans
This was a fast-burn short story that followed the FMC omega-omega Lunella as she started her heat during her sister's wedding and had to retreat to the carriage house and ended up engaging with the alpha pack that was staying upstairs with her scent.
It was a fun smutty read, but honestly, adding more designations than just alpha-beta-omega was confusing. Designations such as alpha-alpha (who had double knots at both top and bottom), gamma-omegas (who couldn't reproduce), alpha-deltas (who only had one knot), and a few others were introduced. The ending with deciding to for her supposed HEA was a bit much, but the overall story was entertaining.
---
Their Sweet Omega by Maya Nicole
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: academy, alpha-omega, reverse-harem, enhanced-humans
This was Omega Match short story following the FMC omega MacKenzie/Kenzie as she met her pack match during a meet and greet hosted by her academy. There were some confusing plot holes, like the mention that Kenzie couldn't contact them after the meet and greet for reasons, but a few pages later, she said that she was in a group text with the men the whole time. Overall, it was a cute fast-burn story with trivial character development, but it ended very abruptly after the smut scene for a standalone story. I wasn't convinced of their HEA at that point.
---
In Luck by Hannah Haze
Rating: ★★★★☆
Tags: alpha-omega, reverse-harem, m-m-romance, enhanced-humans
This short story followed the FMC omega Anna as she ran into her boss Liam and his pack at the supermarket after leaving her housing during her heat to desperately buy some chocolate. It was a simple smutty read with enough character backstory to make sense. I was a little annoyed that M/M was introduced and hinted at, but none actually appeared in the story. There were also some grammar issues in the story, like "there is far too many choices" and not capitalizing the first word in a sentence of dialogue. However, it didn't detract too much from my enjoyment, and I would re-read this story again.
---
Earthquake Omega by Juniper Kerry
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Tags: magic, musicians, reverse-harem, m-m-romance, telepathy, alpha-omega
This short story followed the punk bar owner FMC Odessa when a natural disaster suddenly magically created ABO designations in the world. I wasn't a fan of this story - punk as a description wasn't super helpful for someone who wasn't into the scene, and the sudden magical alpha-omega personalities, insta-lust, and bonding were not real consent for a proper romance. Nothing was explained before each man rushed into a relationship with Odessa, and everything was literally blamed on their biology. While I understand that it was a new change upon all of them, I would rather there be some critical thinking and some attempt personal reflection when faced with new decisions.
---
Un-Packing Piper by Calliope Stewart
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: alpha-omega, reverse-harem, enhanced-humans, new-adult
This short story followed the FMC omega Piper as she agreed to an arranged marriage to allow her sister Paisley to pursue her dancing dreams at the Omega Conservatory. I found it a little hard to believe that, but Paisley's planned spin-off book would likely give more logical insight on the decision (hopefully). However, I probably won't check it out based on previous unsatisfying experiences with the author's books.
I also had issues with Piper being revealed as a virgin omega that needed everything explained, considering her education and that she was literally about to be married with all the expected consummation afterwards. Additionally, it was not very satisfying to have months pass without details of how Piper and the men spent the time getting to know each other as neighbors. There were also a few capitalization grammar issues, which seems to be an ongoing issue with this author based on my experience with other books, but those were minor compared to the issues I had with the plot and its pacing.
---
Lavender Moon by Sarah Blue
Rating: ★★★★☆
Tags: alpha-omega, sex-workers, reverse-harem, m-m-romance, enhanced-humans, new-adult
This short story followed the FMC omega Luna as she and her stepbrother (and his pack) finally revealed their attraction to each other and didn't let societal norms get in the way. It was an entertaining kinky smutty read with a virgin omega, and I enjoyed all the relationships in the story.
---
Last Chance Omega by Grace McGinty
Rating: ★★★★☆
Tags: alpha-omega, animal-sidekicks, enhanced-humans, mercenaries, bars, reverse-harem, academy, dystopia
This was a short story in Omega Lottery universe that followed the newly-revealed omega FMC Zaley and her reuniting with her ex-friends/lover from her childhood. While I was not a fan of US vs. Canada dystopian politics in the end, it was a fun smutty second-chance read.
---
The Bargain by Sabrina Day
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: alpha-omega, new-adult, shifters, m-m-romance, reverse-harem, enhanced-humans
This short story was a Hidden Omegas prequel that followed the FMC omega Nina as she sought to escape her planned bonding set up by her parents for her safety. The lack of consent for spanking during their intimacy wasn't really my cup of tea, and Nina was a little too overly bratty for my taste. Additionally, the background on the men was a little confusing since I don't recall the details from the first book of the series I read, but it seems like there will be another novel released that follows Nina and her adventures.
---
Omega's Climb by Aisling Cousins
Rating: ★★★★☆
Tags: alpha-omega, reverse-harem, post-apocalyptic, telepaths, enhanced-humans
This was a short story set in a post-apocalyptic world where Betas "oversaw" Omegas inside a wall while Alphas lived outside to defend them all against some monstrous Scourge. There wasn't much detail about what the Scourge were, but the FMC omega Nissa escaping the abusive betas and her new-found alpha pack were a good insight into the society. I would be interested in more novels in this universe.
---
The Mended Omega by Merri Bright
Rating: ★★★★☆
Tags: alpha-omega, reverse-harem, gods, magic, enhanced-humans
This was a short story set in the Lost Lines universe that follow the FMC omega Cilla who had been brutalized by a feral alpha and needed time and space to recover. It was a fun sweet read, a great addition to the universe, and I'm always down to read more from the author.
---
A Beta's Loves by Flora Quincy
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: sex-workers, alpha-omega, f-f-romance, menage, enhanced-humans
This short story was a smutty interlude at the opera between the beta courtesan FMC Sarah and her male alpha, set up by her female omega lover that detested and couldn't stand alphas. There were a lot of open-ended questions about their relationships, but I would be willing to explore more novels in the world even though historical is not really my cup of tea.
Overall, it was an entertaining read, even though there were some issues with repeated chapters and the Kindle app thought the book had ended after Merri's short story when there was still one story left. I appreciated that these were all full short stories and weren't just incomplete sneak peeks of planned future releases.
---
Knot Mine by Jarica James
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: alpha-omega, reverse-harem, enhanced-humans
This was a Grove City Omegas short story that followed the FMC omega Dakota as she returned to her hometown of Brighton for her sister's wedding and ended up running into her exes. It was a extremely fast-burn second-chance story with lots of impulsive decisions. Most of the short story was their reuniting orgy. I would have liked more grovelling rather than immediate forgiveness and insta-lust.
--
Hidden Heart by M.J. Marstens
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: alpha-omega, reverse-harem, enhanced-humans
This was a fast-burn short story that followed the FMC omega-omega Lunella as she started her heat during her sister's wedding and had to retreat to the carriage house and ended up engaging with the alpha pack that was staying upstairs with her scent.
It was a fun smutty read, but honestly, adding more designations than just alpha-beta-omega was confusing. Designations such as alpha-alpha (who had double knots at both top and bottom), gamma-omegas (who couldn't reproduce), alpha-deltas (who only had one knot), and a few others were introduced. The ending with deciding to
Spoiler
kidnap Lunella---
Their Sweet Omega by Maya Nicole
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: academy, alpha-omega, reverse-harem, enhanced-humans
This was Omega Match short story following the FMC omega MacKenzie/Kenzie as she met her pack match during a meet and greet hosted by her academy. There were some confusing plot holes, like the mention that Kenzie couldn't contact them after the meet and greet for reasons, but a few pages later, she said that she was in a group text with the men the whole time. Overall, it was a cute fast-burn story with trivial character development, but it ended very abruptly after the smut scene for a standalone story. I wasn't convinced of their HEA at that point.
---
In Luck by Hannah Haze
Rating: ★★★★☆
Tags: alpha-omega, reverse-harem, m-m-romance, enhanced-humans
This short story followed the FMC omega Anna as she ran into her boss Liam and his pack at the supermarket after leaving her housing during her heat to desperately buy some chocolate. It was a simple smutty read with enough character backstory to make sense. I was a little annoyed that M/M was introduced and hinted at, but none actually appeared in the story. There were also some grammar issues in the story, like "there is far too many choices" and not capitalizing the first word in a sentence of dialogue. However, it didn't detract too much from my enjoyment, and I would re-read this story again.
---
Earthquake Omega by Juniper Kerry
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Tags: magic, musicians, reverse-harem, m-m-romance, telepathy, alpha-omega
This short story followed the punk bar owner FMC Odessa when a natural disaster suddenly magically created ABO designations in the world. I wasn't a fan of this story - punk as a description wasn't super helpful for someone who wasn't into the scene, and the sudden magical alpha-omega personalities, insta-lust, and bonding were not real consent for a proper romance. Nothing was explained before each man rushed into a relationship with Odessa, and everything was literally blamed on their biology. While I understand that it was a new change upon all of them, I would rather there be some critical thinking and some attempt personal reflection when faced with new decisions.
---
Un-Packing Piper by Calliope Stewart
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: alpha-omega, reverse-harem, enhanced-humans, new-adult
This short story followed the FMC omega Piper as she agreed to an arranged marriage to allow her sister Paisley to pursue her dancing dreams at the Omega Conservatory. I found it a little hard to believe that
Spoiler
Paisley was willing to be a substitute bride at the altar to give Piper her HEA out of nowhereI also had issues with Piper being revealed as a virgin omega that needed everything explained, considering her education and that she was literally about to be married with all the expected consummation afterwards. Additionally, it was not very satisfying to have months pass without details of how Piper and the men spent the time getting to know each other as neighbors. There were also a few capitalization grammar issues, which seems to be an ongoing issue with this author based on my experience with other books, but those were minor compared to the issues I had with the plot and its pacing.
---
Lavender Moon by Sarah Blue
Rating: ★★★★☆
Tags: alpha-omega, sex-workers, reverse-harem, m-m-romance, enhanced-humans, new-adult
This short story followed the FMC omega Luna as she and her stepbrother (and his pack) finally revealed their attraction to each other and didn't let societal norms get in the way. It was an entertaining kinky smutty read with a virgin omega, and I enjoyed all the relationships in the story.
---
Last Chance Omega by Grace McGinty
Rating: ★★★★☆
Tags: alpha-omega, animal-sidekicks, enhanced-humans, mercenaries, bars, reverse-harem, academy, dystopia
This was a short story in Omega Lottery universe that followed the newly-revealed omega FMC Zaley and her reuniting with her ex-friends/lover from her childhood. While I was not a fan of US vs. Canada dystopian politics in the end, it was a fun smutty second-chance read.
---
The Bargain by Sabrina Day
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: alpha-omega, new-adult, shifters, m-m-romance, reverse-harem, enhanced-humans
This short story was a Hidden Omegas prequel that followed the FMC omega Nina as she sought to escape her planned bonding set up by her parents for her safety. The lack of consent for spanking during their intimacy wasn't really my cup of tea, and Nina was a little too overly bratty for my taste. Additionally, the background on the men was a little confusing since I don't recall the details from the first book of the series I read, but it seems like there will be another novel released that follows Nina and her adventures.
---
Omega's Climb by Aisling Cousins
Rating: ★★★★☆
Tags: alpha-omega, reverse-harem, post-apocalyptic, telepaths, enhanced-humans
This was a short story set in a post-apocalyptic world where Betas "oversaw" Omegas inside a wall while Alphas lived outside to defend them all against some monstrous Scourge. There wasn't much detail about what the Scourge were, but the FMC omega Nissa escaping the abusive betas and her new-found alpha pack were a good insight into the society. I would be interested in more novels in this universe.
---
The Mended Omega by Merri Bright
Rating: ★★★★☆
Tags: alpha-omega, reverse-harem, gods, magic, enhanced-humans
This was a short story set in the Lost Lines universe that follow the FMC omega Cilla who had been brutalized by a feral alpha and needed time and space to recover. It was a fun sweet read, a great addition to the universe, and I'm always down to read more from the author.
---
A Beta's Loves by Flora Quincy
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Tags: sex-workers, alpha-omega, f-f-romance, menage, enhanced-humans
This short story was a smutty interlude at the opera between the beta courtesan FMC Sarah and her male alpha, set up by her female omega lover that detested and couldn't stand alphas. There were a lot of open-ended questions about their relationships, but I would be willing to explore more novels in the world even though historical is not really my cup of tea.