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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I should have read the synopsis before starting.
I have nothing aganist it, I just did not want to read it but I did.
I have nothing aganist it, I just did not want to read it but I did.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Crazy ride(spoilers)
This book was really good. I really wish the trigger warnings were in the book and not on a website. I love how strong the main character is and badass but the end absolutely ruined me. Spoilers below v
I know the trigger warning is rape though I wish it specified that it was on page while it was happening as it may be triggering for some.
This book was really good. I really wish the trigger warnings were in the book and not on a website. I love how strong the main character is and badass but the end absolutely ruined me. Spoilers below v
I know the trigger warning is rape though I wish it specified that it was on page while it was happening as it may be triggering for some.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked the idea of this book but the execution was lacking. First, there are a lot of guys and I didn’t feel like we got enough of each to really get to know them. I liked the “enemies to lovers”/bullying but there was not enough grovel at all. Also, jasper was a bit to selfish and I felt he needed to cherish Talia more. I don’t feel like the first pack deserved her at all but that’s because I personally like it when the FMC is very desired/worshipped. And I feel like Talia’s trauma was brushed over, like it was nothing to her. Maybe she was meant to “heal” through it off page before the story, but it was described as being very awful and it doesn’t seem to have affected her much. I would have liked to see more growth here.
The dialogue and the way the book was written was strange. It’s repetitive but also jumps around a lot. Like Talia would be having the same inter monologue over and over again but we’d jump details somewhere and I’d have to go back and re-read the paragraph because I didn’t catch what changed.
Also the text was choppy to follow along with and dialogue a bit cheesy. It was a decent book (almost like it was still a draft) but had potential so be much more I think.
The dialogue and the way the book was written was strange. It’s repetitive but also jumps around a lot. Like Talia would be having the same inter monologue over and over again but we’d jump details somewhere and I’d have to go back and re-read the paragraph because I didn’t catch what changed.
Also the text was choppy to follow along with and dialogue a bit cheesy. It was a decent book (almost like it was still a draft) but had potential so be much more I think.
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I've never hated a male lead more than Devon, seriously I HATE HIM, and she is supposed to be with him and forgive him later? hell no
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Honestly this is one of the worst books I've ever read. It's basically a poorer and toxic version of Lola Rock's "Pack Darling". It seems Lola inspired a lot of authors with that book but unfortunatly I haven't read another "version of that story" that comes close to the original. Understandibly, as writing a good polyamorous bully and grovel story is defintely a hard thing to do. There is a thin line between acting like a jerk and acting like a toxic piece of garbage. The first can be forgiven as long as there is a good background story to understand why the person acted like they did - after all we are all just human and hurting others while being caught in ones own problems is (unfortunately) not that uncommon. However, I fear in "The Beta" that line was crossed so often in a very extrem way that there is actually no coming back... That is not the only issue with the story though.
I cannot recommend this book for the following reasons:
1) Flat characters with no real human emotions portrayed. Basically all the characters had no depth and were rather unnatural and unrealistic. Worst of all the female lead (FL). She is introduced as a "tough asshole" which is basically not believable throughout the story. She is a perfect Mary Sue - pretty and competent when it comes to domestic chores as well as in the martial arts. However, that competency is basically optional during the story development and gets "forgotten" when is suits the situation. Moreover, the FL has been raped and abused (more than once) but seems to be completely unaffected by it. I can only assume what a slap in the face this must be to readers who actually experienced something like this. There is no way someone can experience something like that and just be fine. The FL is not the only character that acts like a robot during the story. The FL's mother and fathers are basically strangers to normal emotions as well. Same goes for the male leads (ML). I guess the male Omega is the most normal of the main characters but even he is not acting naturally at all times: If the person you love is in the hospital then nothing in the world should stop you from visiting them and just wait it out at home! Moreover, the characters are partially so flat that you cannot distinguish them from each other. Two of the male leads (MLs) are basically interchangeable and have no real individual characteristical properties. I basically had the go back to the start of a chapter a few times to remind myself whose point of view I was reading about since they are all so similiar in their thoughts and actions.
2) A lot of description but no concrete proof or action. For example the male Omega is supposed to be an awesome fighter but there is not proof to that. Only the other MLs' thoughts about how great he is but we don't really experience any of that so it just feels like empty words.
3) No character development and no real relationship building. Apart from the FL and the male Omega there is basically no progress when it comes to the relationships between the characters. The other MLs are showing no interest in the FL apart from seeing her as some kind of sex toy or as a means to make their Omega happy. A few instances it seemed like there could be some real interest but it was basically forgotten or disproved a few paces later. There is no growth character wise - no improvement.
4) Boring story with little surprises. Even the "big surprise" of the story is basically foreseeable and not very original.
5) Toxic behavior is seen as normal. That is basically the worst of all. Nearly all the main characters and also side characters are portraying toxic behavior, like gaslighting etc. The mother of the FL is so focussed on Omega designation that it is disgusting. So you only care about your child's suffering in the context to their designation? Basically, if your daughter is a Beta then her being raped and abused is okay. If she is an Omega then of course she would deserve to be cared and loved for by her pack though. What is wrong with being a Beta? I really hate omegaverse stories where Beta are treated like worthless second class people. The fathers are basically supporting the mother so they are human trash as well. Worst of all are the Alpha MLs though. None of them are showing real compassion or at least a minimum of kindness towards the FL. Any traces of those are basically forgotten again and in some way everything is kind of twisted again so that it always seems to come back to their own feelings and needs or their male Omega's. They are so enamoured with their Omega that is is really ridiculous and even unattractive. They are more like fangirls than real mates - there is no equal partnership. Devon is the worst of all and basically a piece of toxic human excrement. He is constantly gaslighting the FL and shows absolutely no compassion when he comes to know of her past abuse. Instead he only cares about how that could affect his Omega. When the FL sacrifices herself for Devon's Omega (which is kind of a dumb move by the way) he doesn't even care whether she is alive or dead. He is not searching for her until much later and when he finds her (only because the villains are leaving her on his doorstep and not because he actually put in some effort to find her) he just dumps her at the hospital and leaves her by herself since she is too "broken" to be any good to his Omega now. WTF?! What kind of person does that? Even if he doesn't like her that is not normal. Any normal person would feel at least guilty and responsible for that. He is basically a sociopathic monster at this point - how in the world could he ever redeem himself after that? I assume the author was trying to go for a ML who is blindly devoted to his Omega and thought it would be an attractive characteristical trait. Unfortunately, that is not the case if he basically treats everyone else worse than trash and is cruel towards innocent people. Basically I'm really scared that some readers seem to think that is okay... How low is the bar? No one deserves to be treated like that!
There are probably some other points I could mention but I think you'll get the point. The main problem with the book is not poor writing per se but the portrayal of horrible behaviour as being "normal". To me that is a dealbreaker and it is not like I have triggers or something. I just can't accept that this is supposed to okay...
I cannot recommend this book for the following reasons:
1) Flat characters with no real human emotions portrayed. Basically all the characters had no depth and were rather unnatural and unrealistic. Worst of all the female lead (FL). She is introduced as a "tough asshole" which is basically not believable throughout the story. She is a perfect Mary Sue - pretty and competent when it comes to domestic chores as well as in the martial arts. However, that competency is basically optional during the story development and gets "forgotten" when is suits the situation. Moreover, the FL has been raped and abused (more than once) but seems to be completely unaffected by it. I can only assume what a slap in the face this must be to readers who actually experienced something like this. There is no way someone can experience something like that and just be fine. The FL is not the only character that acts like a robot during the story. The FL's mother and fathers are basically strangers to normal emotions as well. Same goes for the male leads (ML). I guess the male Omega is the most normal of the main characters but even he is not acting naturally at all times: If the person you love is in the hospital then nothing in the world should stop you from visiting them and just wait it out at home! Moreover, the characters are partially so flat that you cannot distinguish them from each other. Two of the male leads (MLs) are basically interchangeable and have no real individual characteristical properties. I basically had the go back to the start of a chapter a few times to remind myself whose point of view I was reading about since they are all so similiar in their thoughts and actions.
2) A lot of description but no concrete proof or action. For example the male Omega is supposed to be an awesome fighter but there is not proof to that. Only the other MLs' thoughts about how great he is but we don't really experience any of that so it just feels like empty words.
3) No character development and no real relationship building. Apart from the FL and the male Omega there is basically no progress when it comes to the relationships between the characters. The other MLs are showing no interest in the FL apart from seeing her as some kind of sex toy or as a means to make their Omega happy. A few instances it seemed like there could be some real interest but it was basically forgotten or disproved a few paces later. There is no growth character wise - no improvement.
4) Boring story with little surprises. Even the "big surprise" of the story is basically foreseeable and not very original.
5) Toxic behavior is seen as normal. That is basically the worst of all. Nearly all the main characters and also side characters are portraying toxic behavior, like gaslighting etc. The mother of the FL is so focussed on Omega designation that it is disgusting. So you only care about your child's suffering in the context to their designation? Basically, if your daughter is a Beta then her being raped and abused is okay. If she is an Omega then of course she would deserve to be cared and loved for by her pack though. What is wrong with being a Beta? I really hate omegaverse stories where Beta are treated like worthless second class people. The fathers are basically supporting the mother so they are human trash as well. Worst of all are the Alpha MLs though. None of them are showing real compassion or at least a minimum of kindness towards the FL. Any traces of those are basically forgotten again and in some way everything is kind of twisted again so that it always seems to come back to their own feelings and needs or their male Omega's. They are so enamoured with their Omega that is is really ridiculous and even unattractive. They are more like fangirls than real mates - there is no equal partnership. Devon is the worst of all and basically a piece of toxic human excrement. He is constantly gaslighting the FL and shows absolutely no compassion when he comes to know of her past abuse. Instead he only cares about how that could affect his Omega. When the FL sacrifices herself for Devon's Omega (which is kind of a dumb move by the way) he doesn't even care whether she is alive or dead. He is not searching for her until much later and when he finds her (only because the villains are leaving her on his doorstep and not because he actually put in some effort to find her) he just dumps her at the hospital and leaves her by herself since she is too "broken" to be any good to his Omega now. WTF?! What kind of person does that? Even if he doesn't like her that is not normal. Any normal person would feel at least guilty and responsible for that. He is basically a sociopathic monster at this point - how in the world could he ever redeem himself after that? I assume the author was trying to go for a ML who is blindly devoted to his Omega and thought it would be an attractive characteristical trait. Unfortunately, that is not the case if he basically treats everyone else worse than trash and is cruel towards innocent people. Basically I'm really scared that some readers seem to think that is okay... How low is the bar? No one deserves to be treated like that!
There are probably some other points I could mention but I think you'll get the point. The main problem with the book is not poor writing per se but the portrayal of horrible behaviour as being "normal". To me that is a dealbreaker and it is not like I have triggers or something. I just can't accept that this is supposed to okay...