Orok Monroe: Half-giant. Rawball defensive tank on the Philadelphia Hellhounds. Follower of Urzoth…only Orok’s tired of following the god of aggression.
Alexo Warden: Cheerleader. Human? A dancer with a stadium’s worth of secrets.
When Orok saves Alexo at a bar, fans go feral for the star athlete protecting the pint-size dude-in-distress. The Hellhounds propose that Orok and Alexo start a PR relationship to put a positive spin on Orok’s god. Orok is set to refuse and renounce Urzoth—but that wouldn’t let him see Alexo again.
So, like a sap, he agrees.
As Orok tries to drop the fake part of their fake-relationship, Alexo’s dangerous truths emerge. To save him, Orok will have to sacrifice far more than his divine association.
The Fake Divination Offense by Sara Raasch is a magical romance, using the trope of the fake relationship to build a believable relationship and characters that wow in the sequel in her magic & romance series.
I love Orok right from the beginning, partly because of his earnestness but also his anxieties and need for connection. While he struggles with not depending on others, Orok is super supportive and caring of Alexo. And what is wonderful is seeing the ways that caring for Alexo eases Orok’s anxieties, romance giving him stability.
One of the elements I also really like is the way mental health is celebrated as necessary but also taking care of it can be a different type of strength. I love the way the author celebrates less traditional ways to show strength, especially the physical aspects. I also like how strong a character Alexo is as we learn about his background and his secrets.
If you like your romance with magic, a fantasy style sport and a couple that are both needy but loving, this novel is for you. Both Orok and Alexo learn that it’s okay to be strong in non-traditional ways, to speak up about their needs and end up with a very real relationship that is very loving. I love the way Sara Raasch writes her characters and celebrates being diverse and different. This is truly a magical romance.
Rating: 5 out of 5 chains
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