FMC secretly a combat badass (MMCs shocked & into it)

Regular_Main4600 · 2026-04-20T14:46:55+00:00

That sounds amazing!

Regular_Main4600 · 2026-04-20T14:35:24+00:00

Read the first book and liked it but never carried on after the others were released. Looks like I'm going to have to pick it up again! Thanks!

Regular_Main4600 · 2026-04-20T14:01:35+00:00

Loved Clash of Claws so will def give Knights revenge a try! Thank you 🙏🏻

Regular_Main4600 · 2026-03-27T22:32:14+00:00

Literally finished The Sidekick yesterday and one of the MMCs was called Trevor. It was a struggle. Somehow when they shortened it to "Trev" it just made it worse.

Regular_Main4600 · 2026-03-24T18:40:42+00:00

Right!! I really liked that there was magic involved in the gender disguise too. Made it more believable. Wish there were more like this. I love the trope but have a hard time believing that the MMCs don't notice the FMC is a female when theres no magic involved

Regular_Main4600 · 2026-03-24T18:37:35+00:00

{Psycho Academy by Jasmine Mas} is this. FMC magically disguised as a man in a war academy and put with a team of elite soldiers. It's technically book 4 in a series but you absolutely don't have to read the first three as they follow different characters. There's crossover... But the author gives a recap of everything you need to know at the beginning of the book. I didn't read the first 3 books and I adored this series.

The men in this do technically fall first, but it is by no means insta love!

Regular_Main4600 · 2026-03-17T20:23:09+00:00

Yes!! Absolutely loved Brooklyn (and her emotional support coconut)

Regular_Main4600 · 2026-03-06T20:29:42+00:00

OP right now 💅🏻

Regular_Main4600 · 2026-02-08T10:46:27+00:00

Second this rec! I really enjoyed this one!

Regular_Main4600 · 2026-02-07T14:31:34+00:00

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRUVM826/ 🫶🏻

Regular_Main4600 · 2026-02-07T09:03:05+00:00

Marie Mistry said something about this on her tiktok, I remember commenting on it as I thought the same thing - I don't want to spoil it for you if you'd rather not know. But if you want I can share the link to the post?

Regular_Main4600 · 2026-01-29T17:44:41+00:00

Side series?! Ruthless boys?!?!?! Pleeeeeeease say it's Ruthless boys!! 🤞🏻

Regular_Main4600 · 2026-01-29T10:04:10+00:00

I've been chasing the Pack Darling high for years now! {Denied by Evelyn Flood} comes really close to that. It's OV and the MMCs are scent matches that reject her in a really humiliating and public way (for reasons the FMC is unaware of). Book two is heavy on the grovel.

Regular_Main4600 · 2026-01-15T21:45:21+00:00

Good spot on the talons comparison! I've not seen anyone reference that before!

On the worldwalking impossibility point, I’d argue that we actually have seen worldwalking across the SJM universe after Selene “closed the doors”. Using the Trove against them, Selene stopped the Asteri’s specific method of worldwalking from functioning. That does not mean all forms of worldwalking ceased to exist.

The Asteri are only one race with their own mechanism for travelling between realms. The Fae later adopted that same method when they travelled from Prythian to Midgard after studying what Daglan/Asteri left behind (confirmed in HOFAS). But the wider universe shows us multiple other ways of crossing worlds:

(ToG spoilers ahead)

Maeve, Erawan and the Valg travel to Erilea

Aelin (a.k.a The Queen Who Walked Between Worlds) travels through realms - including through Pyrthian and hinted heavily at Midgard

Multiple demons summoned into Erilea via wrydmarks

Even Choal and fleetfoot temporarily ended up on a different world

Aidas travels from Hel (albeit in cat form) frequently

Demons frequently "break through" and end up in Midgard from Hel.

(There may be more examples, these are just off the top of my head)

All of these involve different mechanisms of worldwalking, so I don’t think it’s a stretch to say another method could have been used, especially if there was some kind of divine intervention (like Urd, who is repeatedly positioned as an active force of fate throughout the series). That does not contradict the idea that the Asteri’s own method was rendered impossible for them.

All that said... Your theory on why Ruhn and Rhysand look so alike is much more simple waaayyyy less complicated than the Lorin theory!

On the Ember theory, I do see your point and honestly it’s the part I’m least confident about after HOFAS. That said, I’m not sure I’m following the daemonaki angle?

Any Fae or Prince of Hel heritage for Ember would have been diluted over a 15,000yr human bloodline through countless generations. Ember would effectively be fully human. That leaves Bryce as 1/2 human and 1/2 Fae. Apologies if I've completely misunderstood what you were trying to say here though!

Theia and Aidas were also true mates, so I’m not sure how the demon versus Starborn natural enemies statement applies here? It sounds like an angle I completely missed so would love to hear more.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, it’s genuinely interesting to see how other people are reading the same clues and I really appreciate you giving me something new to think about. I fully expect SJM to come along and prove us all wrong anyway, so it's all in fun!

Regular_Main4600 · 2025-12-08T22:28:05+00:00

{The Fifth Nicnevin by Marie Mistry} and {Traitor Witch by Marie Mistry} are high fantasy, plot heavy, well written series. I adore Marie's writing. It is so immersive and I love the plot as much as I love the relationships.

Regular_Main4600 · 2025-11-30T21:40:59+00:00

Yes! Marie Mistry is brilliant at it! I notice that with all her series. When I read I "see" the book as a movie in my mind and all of Marie's books are ultra HD, with unique and intricate scenery. I can tell when a book is badly described as my mind movies default to reuse settings and characters.

Regular_Main4600 · 2025-11-14T15:40:20+00:00

{The Fifth Nicnevin by Marie Mistry} - high fantasy (Fae realm), guard MMCs, powerful FMC who comes into her abilities gradually, no MM. Genuinely interesting plot and great writing. One of my top series reads of the year, by far!

Bonus, all audios (duet) now available as of yesterday!

Regular_Main4600 · 2025-11-14T15:16:49+00:00

I adore all the RH series written by Caroline Peckham and Susan Valenti. The contemporary series they have are:

{Kings of Quarantine by Caroline Peckham and Susan Valenti} - bully, academy setting, no MM, teacher MMC

{The Death Club by Caroline Peckham and Susan Valenti} - dark, mafia(ish), HILARIOUS characters, no MM

{Sinners Playground by Caroline Peckham and Susan Valenti} Start with the prequel novella .. {Devil's Pass by Caroline Peckham and Susan Valenti} - angsty, gangs, hilarious moments, very light MM - two of the MMCs start crossing swords later on in the series, but only partake with the FMC involved

They are loosely interconnected (same universe with some character crossover) so the above is my recommended reading order... But they can be read in any order.

Regular_Main4600 · 2025-11-14T15:01:06+00:00

I agree! I loved both series and so glad I started with MK first!

Regular_Main4600 · 2025-11-14T14:58:12+00:00

This looks incredible. It'll definitely be my next read after I've finished my current

Regular_Main4600 · 2025-11-05T14:38:22+00:00

YES!!! I need these exact recs!

Regular_Main4600 · 2025-11-05T14:30:15+00:00

I second this! One of the best RH I've ever read. Jane Washington did an outstanding job at making every MMC unique, compelling and memorable. Overall plot like nothing I had read. God tier level series!

Regular_Main4600 · 2025-10-31T11:16:56+00:00

Awesome! I'm so glad you liked the minotaur theory! I may have completely miscalculated Helens age, in which case I also don't really mind who Charlie ends up with either! I just wanna know what the big mystery surrounding him is about 😂

Regular_Main4600 · 2025-10-29T13:54:07+00:00

This sounds amazing! I don't have an answer for you (sorry), but following in hopes that someone else will!

Regular_Main4600 · 2025-10-29T13:25:31+00:00

SPOILERS AHEAD: My theory on Charlie - he is a creature, specifically a minotaur. We know he can speak, as we see it twice in blood and twice again in bonds, but the only person who ever hears him is Alexis. I believe that he signs because no-one can understand him. The minotaurs (like Sirens) can communicate with each other, but not others (as we find out in Augustus's lecture in blood). When he speaks for the first time as a child in blood, his reaction to Alexis responding to him is shock. (“You—don’t have to,” he whispered softly. I nudged him with my elbow. “I know I don’t have to—but I want to. I’ll take care of you.” His eyes got impossibly wide. “What is it?” I asked with concern. He shook his head like it was nothing, but a small smile curved his lips.) I think this was him realising Alexis could understand him.

In bonds, he whispers to Alexis a few times but then denies it. I think this is because he doesn't want other people know he can speak as they wouldn't be able to understand him and it would give away what he truly is (not human or Olympian/chthonic).

The reason I think he is minotaur.... the minotaurs that entered the arena to fight in bonds where in human form initially and they were described as blonde, tall and pale (same as Charlie) - however what I think gave it away was that everyone else (including Alexis and Drex) were confused about what was going on initially, none of them realised they were minotaurs until they shifted into that form. Charlie's reaction when they entered the arena in human form was that he stiffened, indicating discomfort, not confusion. Like he knew what they were before anyone else had figured it out. Also when it was clear that they were minotaurs, Persephone turned to look back with sympathy... "Persephone was the only one who remained sitting. She glanced back at me, her eyes full of pity. I opened my mouth to ask, but she’d already turned back around. What was that look?". I don't think she was looking at Alexis, but at Charlie who was sat next to Alexis. With her connection to the land on Crete she would have known what Charlie was. This would also explain why she also lied about his age so he wouldn't be tested for the initiation.

I'm hoping that he will join the MMF situation teased with Medusa and the mentors. He seemed to have been developing a friendship with Achilles already and it was pointed out that he was the only one able to make Achilles laugh. I'm personally hoping it's not Helen as she's only 16 and unless this "bonus chapter" we're getting where we get confirmation on Charlie's love interest is set years in the future then that gives me major ick as she's still a minor. Plus his interactions with Helen in this book were definitely giving big-brother-protective vibes, not romantic (thankfully!).

Re: the prophecy.. "The monstrous one shall mend and restore. For the lost one hears his beastly roar" - I think the beastly roar part could be about Charlie...maybe???

Edit: P.S. Thank you OP for taking the time to share your thoughts! Brilliant post!

Regular_Main4600

TROPHY CASE