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A review by vrstal
Omega's Gamble by Claire Cullen
5.0
5/5.
Omega's Gamble by Claire Cullen is a steampunk fantasy omegaverse with shifters, royalty, war, and a marriage of convenience.
The wordbuilding in this fantasy world was fascinating to me! We don't get to know all the secrets of the world of course, but plenty was brought up that I cannot wait to read this story in its entirety once the author releases them. We are introduced the royal marriage circuit, the consequences of failure, and the expectations that span across different kingdoms of the role of omegas and alphas. I've not really read a lot of steampunk and wasn't sure I'd like it, but the magitek aspect of this world along with alchemy-as-magic was honestly really cool. Not to mention airships! I could totally picture the world in my head, and part of the reference was Kul Tiras from World of Warcraft. If you get that reference, I suppose you are a nerd like myself. Also, there is a prophecy aspect to this, and now that I've put it together I am very excited to read the rest of this series.
The relationship between Darien and Raine was so good - slowburn, angst, marriage of convenience, hurt/comfort... I cried a lot, reading it. I felt so much for Raine, an omega who was hated and blamed for what he could not control, and the circumstances of his escape just being whatever he could accept despite it not being what he needed and deserved. Darien was doing things out of duty, and in a way, more focused on his own plight and assumptions of who Raine was that he does not trust him or help him until someone else points out things that are going wrong. Still even then he disregards the feelings of Raine until he is pointed out just how wrong what he is doing looks like. It is only when he is given the space to see Raine for who he is - another person, not as 'omega' or 'prince' - that he realizes just how special the man he has married is. While this is a slowburn and low heat, the touches and sweet words they share each other was amazing. I felt growth from Darien, and more importantly, the confidence Raine gains in his own abilities.
So if any of that interests you, I highly recommend!
"He eased onto his back, and Raine settled against his side. He cupped the omega’s cheek. “You did it, Raine. You saved the kingdom.” Raine held his gaze, content in his arms. “For you, Darien. I did it all for you.”
Omega's Gamble by Claire Cullen is a steampunk fantasy omegaverse with shifters, royalty, war, and a marriage of convenience.
The wordbuilding in this fantasy world was fascinating to me! We don't get to know all the secrets of the world of course, but plenty was brought up that I cannot wait to read this story in its entirety once the author releases them. We are introduced the royal marriage circuit, the consequences of failure, and the expectations that span across different kingdoms of the role of omegas and alphas. I've not really read a lot of steampunk and wasn't sure I'd like it, but the magitek aspect of this world along with alchemy-as-magic was honestly really cool. Not to mention airships! I could totally picture the world in my head, and part of the reference was Kul Tiras from World of Warcraft. If you get that reference, I suppose you are a nerd like myself. Also, there is a prophecy aspect to this, and now that I've put it together I am very excited to read the rest of this series.
The relationship between Darien and Raine was so good - slowburn, angst, marriage of convenience, hurt/comfort... I cried a lot, reading it. I felt so much for Raine, an omega who was hated and blamed for what he could not control, and the circumstances of his escape just being whatever he could accept despite it not being what he needed and deserved. Darien was doing things out of duty, and in a way, more focused on his own plight and assumptions of who Raine was that he does not trust him or help him until someone else points out things that are going wrong. Still even then he disregards the feelings of Raine until he is pointed out just how wrong what he is doing looks like. It is only when he is given the space to see Raine for who he is - another person, not as 'omega' or 'prince' - that he realizes just how special the man he has married is. While this is a slowburn and low heat, the touches and sweet words they share each other was amazing. I felt growth from Darien, and more importantly, the confidence Raine gains in his own abilities.
So if any of that interests you, I highly recommend!