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domesticatedbrat's review against another edition
arc review✨
Contemporary, monstrous fantasy is a budding genre with intriguing potential. The Orc Boss adds to this growing list of titles, as an organized crime romance featuring ‘kidnapping of convenience’ (more of THAT trope please) and a hilarious back-alley-meet-cute (more of that too, while we’re at it). Lark’s voice is, of course, quite funny. This is a fairly lighthearted read with size-difference, one-bed, and tracking devices (it’s me again, shamelessly begging for tropes). I am grateful for the opportunity to experience her debut!
As other reviewers noted, I had some thematic & content-based concerns centered on representation of marginalized groups. When I sent these notes to Lark, she was exceptionally receptive & responsive. In fact, she made extensive revisions based on feedback from ARC readers & sent a new copy of the book as a result. I truly admire her for striving to take responsibility & make necessary changes. It is an unfortunately rare approach to difficult conversations.
Thoroughly excited to see what else Lark has in store
Contemporary, monstrous fantasy is a budding genre with intriguing potential. The Orc Boss adds to this growing list of titles, as an organized crime romance featuring ‘kidnapping of convenience’ (more of THAT trope please) and a hilarious back-alley-meet-cute (more of that too, while we’re at it). Lark’s voice is, of course, quite funny. This is a fairly lighthearted read with size-difference, one-bed, and tracking devices (it’s me again, shamelessly begging for tropes). I am grateful for the opportunity to experience her debut!
As other reviewers noted, I had some thematic & content-based concerns centered on representation of marginalized groups. When I sent these notes to Lark, she was exceptionally receptive & responsive. In fact, she made extensive revisions based on feedback from ARC readers & sent a new copy of the book as a result. I truly admire her for striving to take responsibility & make necessary changes. It is an unfortunately rare approach to difficult conversations.
Thoroughly excited to see what else Lark has in store
moxxireads's review against another edition
4.0
This book was about a Fae named Skye and an Orc named Ansel.
Skye works a job she is great at, but doesn’t love. Her boyfriend of 8 years has dumped her and uses her for booty calls. In her attempt to rebuild some self esteem and get over the boyfriend she decides to get under some one else. After meeting a hookup on an app she decides to meet up with him in a shady area to get serviced
Skye works a job she is great at, but doesn’t love. Her boyfriend of 8 years has dumped her and uses her for booty calls. In her attempt to rebuild some self esteem and get over the boyfriend she decides to get under some one else. After meeting a hookup on an app she decides to meet up with him in a shady area to get serviced
morningcalm's review against another edition
5.0
Skye is trying to get over her ex by hooking up with a stranger, but a case of mistaken identity gets her kidnapped by an Orc mob boss instead!
This book just tickled me
This book just tickled me
archivesofjina's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
If you love an angsty read then this book is 100% for you. This would also be a great beginner Mafia or Monster Romance if you’re new to either sub-genre.
It was a well written, concise and I enjoyed all the characters for the most part. I’m personally not the biggest fan of angst, and the couple especially the FMC made me want to rip my hair out. The FMC is filled to the brim with insecurities and it was enjoyable to watch her overcome them but I feel like it took too long to get there. The MMC was so frigging sweet and very “her pleasure before mine” type of guy although he also drove me nuts with his lack of communication.
It isn’t a very dark book so when you see Mafia, don’t think it will be. There is some on page torture, and death but it’s not super descriptive or drawn out. Very tame in terms of being a monster romance as well. I sometimes forgot I was even reading about monsters but I enjoyed seeing monsters in a real world, every type of job kind of setting (minus the mafia).
I have one major thing about the book I want to touch upon. I really enjoyed the conversations around Orc immigration and the discrimination they face from Fae. In this world Goblins and Demons also face discrimination and all the work they had to put to find a place in America, plus keep their families fed. It felt very close to home as a BIPOC, I found it extremely relatable. But, with that being said I really wish there was some sort of scene where the FMC, who is a Fae, came to terms with her own privileges by being a Fae. I feel like she often referred to herself as not bigoted, and very progressive in terms of Orcs, Goblins and Demons. It felt a little too “I’m an ally”. Too much like “I can’t be racist because I have a Black friend or Latine friend, etc etc”. Maybe I’m reading too much into it but felt very parallel with our own world regarding White people and BIPOCs. Wish that there was more development there with our FMC regarding this. A sensitivity reader felt needed here if we are going to be writing something into a book that actually takes place in America but with monsters. I felt very uncomfortable 🤷🏽♀️
Thanks again to Lark Green for the Arc!! All opinions are my own.
EDIT: The author took my criticism extremely well and made changes to the book. I haven’t reread it yet but when I do I’ll create a second edit!
It was a well written, concise and I enjoyed all the characters for the most part. I’m personally not the biggest fan of angst, and the couple especially the FMC made me want to rip my hair out. The FMC is filled to the brim with insecurities and it was enjoyable to watch her overcome them but I feel like it took too long to get there. The MMC was so frigging sweet and very “her pleasure before mine” type of guy although he also drove me nuts with his lack of communication.
It isn’t a very dark book so when you see Mafia, don’t think it will be. There is some on page torture, and death but it’s not super descriptive or drawn out. Very tame in terms of being a monster romance as well. I sometimes forgot I was even reading about monsters but I enjoyed seeing monsters in a real world, every type of job kind of setting (minus the mafia).
I have one major thing about the book I want to touch upon. I really enjoyed the conversations around Orc immigration and the discrimination they face from Fae. In this world Goblins and Demons also face discrimination and all the work they had to put to find a place in America, plus keep their families fed. It felt very close to home as a BIPOC, I found it extremely relatable. But, with that being said I really wish there was some sort of scene where the FMC, who is a Fae, came to terms with her own privileges by being a Fae. I feel like she often referred to herself as not bigoted, and very progressive in terms of Orcs, Goblins and Demons. It felt a little too “I’m an ally”. Too much like “I can’t be racist because I have a Black friend or Latine friend, etc etc”. Maybe I’m reading too much into it but felt very parallel with our own world regarding White people and BIPOCs. Wish that there was more development there with our FMC regarding this. A sensitivity reader felt needed here if we are going to be writing something into a book that actually takes place in America but with monsters. I felt very uncomfortable 🤷🏽♀️
Thanks again to Lark Green for the Arc!! All opinions are my own.
EDIT: The author took my criticism extremely well and made changes to the book. I haven’t reread it yet but when I do I’ll create a second edit!
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