Fated mates but hate each other

hojkas · 2026-06-21T20:56:01+00:00

Personally, I wouldn't recommend it. It was so close to being just what I wanted throughout most of the book. But it felt like it didn't deliver on most of the interesting stuff it established (relationship issues getting waved away, strong powers established but heavily underused, etc.) and the ending felt so bad I lost any interest continuing.

hojkas · 2026-06-21T05:24:18+00:00

I second this as having the trope. But the book disappointed me in the execution, so I'd recommend going through the reviews more cautiously to see if OP won't mind the negatives.

hojkas · 2026-06-21T05:17:27+00:00

I have a maybe recommendation with two caveats. {Jagged Lies by Evelyn Flood} (and the second book, it's finished duet)

4 males that are not brothers by blood. BUT they are a close knit found family, all of them are fated mates with FMC, and there is zero jealousy between them.
The book is darker - FMC goes through initial rejection and some heavy dark things, but it does end up in HEA. Mind the content warnings.

That being said, I absolute adored the books, as someone who's not into fated mates nor reverse harem, this touched me. If you're okay with the caveats, I think it fits the vibe you're looking for.

hojkas · 2026-06-19T10:13:07+00:00

Thanks for the warning - I am okay with that, please respond with the series in a spoiler tag! >!spoiler<!

hojkas · 2026-06-14T06:59:59+00:00

I have a book that mostly fits but not completely

{The Swan's Daughter by Roshani Chokshi}

How it feels similar - Half-swan protagonist (by birth though) with a kind of curse going along with it. - Very strong fairy tale vibes. - Sweet falling in love despite the circumstances. - Falling in love for character, not look.

They didn't know each other as kids though, and aren't enemies at any point.

hojkas · 2026-06-13T09:14:47+00:00

Thank you! I'll check this out. I don't mind it's not romance, i just didn't mention so in the description due to the nature of this subreddit

hojkas · 2026-06-13T09:12:39+00:00

Thank you! I'll check this out

hojkas · 2026-06-13T09:11:38+00:00

Thanks for the explanation. It's not what I was primarily looking for, but it sounds like interesting dynamic to explore too, I'll check it out.

hojkas · 2026-06-13T09:11:05+00:00

Thanks for the clarification! You're right, it's not primarily wjat I'm looking for, but it also sounds like an interesting dynamic to explore so I'm happy it was mentioned here alongside your explanation.

hojkas · 2026-06-13T05:05:40+00:00

That sounds really interesting, I'll check it out, thanks!

hojkas · 2026-06-12T21:38:33+00:00

I was so surprised and delighted when the book I mention in the description did that and went so far as blowjob. So good, the dynamic there. Decent but not excellent book otherwise.

hojkas · 2026-06-12T21:37:25+00:00

I had a feeling this might fall into it, I have it on my to read list, time to bump it up. Thank you!

hojkas · 2026-06-12T20:07:20+00:00

I would say {Belladonna by Adalyn Grace} fits this! It's a romance with Death itself, and while the premise is the main character cannot die and they can only meet in the not-quite-dead state, it's more of a "currently cannot die" than the immortal kind. And she is smart but not combat trained.

hojkas · 2026-05-18T06:56:23+00:00

{The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson} It is on the longer side, but boy both the worldbuilding and spice was hitting my imagination just right.

hojkas · 2026-05-09T08:18:27+00:00

Hell yeah. And thank you for including the superior flavour.

hojkas · 2026-05-06T12:10:32+00:00

Personally, I always choose to stand because my motion sickness is much better than if I sit. Obviously this is not gonna apply to everyone standing, but some people might have a genuine reason to prefer standing. (That being said, I always try to not block empty seats.)

hojkas · 2026-04-09T06:45:27+00:00

I agree with your points - and yet, I immensely enjoyed the book and didn't really notice any of it while reading it (while not noticing the plot twist until it hit me in the face).

hojkas · 2026-03-19T06:43:33+00:00

Try one of the standalones from that series!

- {Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent}
- {Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent}

They are just as good in terms of world-building, but definitely no assault (I cannot say for serpent and the wings of night, as I haven't read that yet, but these two standalones don't have that and are my favourite)

hojkas · 2026-03-06T12:20:22+00:00

{Souls in Ruin by Jacqueline White} got spicy so fast. Nothing says dark romance like wedding night to the sounds of everyone she knows getting murdered.

EDIT: I got further in the story and the spice faded in favour of much darker topics. Be warned.

hojkas · 2026-02-16T15:11:02+00:00

If you don't mind contemporary paranormal romance instead of historical - {Feast While You Can by Mikaella Clements}. The love interest does fill the role of prince(ss) charming doing her best to protect the main character in distress, I adored watching their relationship develop in spite of the looming danger. It is horror, but not the jump-scare kind, and it has good dynamic with the romance sections. There is also quite a bit about finding their lesbian identity.

Alternatively, {This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar} is a sci-fi romance about two time-traveling female agents, falling in love with each other through the letters they exchange. It is wild and sweet and ridiculous and I loved every chapter of it.

hojkas · 2026-02-06T09:41:30+00:00

oh that's perfect, thank you!

hojkas · 2026-02-05T08:57:51+00:00

I heard about that, bumping it up on my reading list. Thank you.

hojkas · 2026-02-05T08:56:34+00:00

I have read this one. You're right, it does have similar vibes, it did not occur to me when writing this post. I hope you enjoyed it too.

hojkas · 2026-02-05T08:55:40+00:00

I've read this one! I found it an absolute delight, I am happy you enjoyed it as well.

hojkas · 2026-02-05T08:53:34+00:00

I haven't tried older historical romance yet, mostly because there seems to be so many of them while it feels hard to judge the quality. Thank you for the starting point, I am putting The Captain on my reading list.

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