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A review by archivesofjina
The Orc Boss by Lark Green
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!