Ruled By The Alpha: A Dystopian Omegaverse Anthology

5 reviews for Ruled By The Alpha: A Dystopian Omegaverse Anthology

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   Bridgett Goodin – November 4, 2022

   What a beautiful collection of Dystopian stories. If you like dystopian novels you’ll love these stories which keeps you on your toes. The characters are fantastic, heroic, and the book is a wonderful page turner. I roared through the pages of this book in two days because it was just that good. My favorite parts by far were the scenes between heroine and lover and book was satisfying and nicely written. Lots of drama, power struggles and as usual set in a beautifully world. I highly recommend this dystopian anthology.

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   Tima – October 20, 2022

   Reviews for stories as stated

   War Prize of the Beast by Alison Aimes
   5 stars

   Anara, the female omega lead, has been running fear from the alpha beasts who have recently landed on her planet and seem to be focused on tearing the world apart. Cheim, the male alpha lead, has only known unceasing rage but, when he captures Anara and touches her, intending to damage her, he’s shocked to find she brings him calm and peace as well as intense attraction. Now he just needs to convince her that he really has her best interests at heart.

   I adore this author’s work. This was an intense, erotic short story, well written in dual POV. I adored Anara’s character development, moving from fear of everything to being willing to push back against Cheim’s demands and then to attempting to fight with him against other enemies. I enjoyed Cheim’s protectiveness – so extreme, and cute, and sweet, whilst still aggressive. Their intimate interactions were erotic and yet integral to the story.

   Mastering the Alpha by Anna Fury
   5 stars.

   Alistair, the male alpha lead, is Neurodiverse and lives as a hermit security specialist conducting all his business online or by phone. Evangeline, the female omega lead, has been Alistair’s housekeeper since before the Awakening, when Alphas and Omegas emerged. Whilst the attraction has always been mutual, Alistair now cannot escape his awareness of Evangeline and her arousal in his presence. And now he’s going into rut and taking her with him…

   This short story is dual POV, well written, and intensely erotic, with highly emotionally charged scenes for both characters. I enjoyed the relationship development and the pleasure each took in the other through their bond. I was amused by Alistair’s intense dislike of the changes he could feel and see, and his desperate phone calls to his brother, Mitchell, for advice. This story is a companion to the author’s Alpha Compound series, though it stands completely alone.

   Lost by Hannah Haze
   4.5 stars

   Nafia, the female omega lead, is a huntress and glad to be included in her tribe’s hunting party. When chasing a calf, she and Hensta, the male alpha lead and her childhood friend, become separated from the rest of the party. Nafia has never wanted the traditional omega role, especially since many alphas seem to seed omegas and move on but Hensta tells her he’s been waiting for her and will stay with her…

   This short story is female lead POV, well written, and a sweet and sexy coming-of-age, friends-to-lovers story. I enjoyed Hensta’s patience and devotion to Nafia, and his willingness to wait until she was ready to choose him. I enjoyed Nafia’s independence and her determination to make her own choices.

   Ruin by D.E. Chapman
   4 stars

   Weston and Evelyn (Wes and Evie), the omega leads, have hidden their designation for years. In a world where alphas have control of all resources, they’re literally starving and never go into estrous because their bodies can’t support it. Yet they still struggle to survive because they’re supporting Evie’s seven year old twin sisters. Then Evie is betrayed as a rebel and beaten and strung up to die. When he goes out to look for her, Wes is found by Maddox, the male alpha lead, who quickly claims him. Finding Evie on their way out of the slums, Wes begs Maddox to save her. But now they to get Evie’s sisters out of the slums and a literal bomb has just gone off…

   This short story is tri POV, well written, and extremely fast paced. I enjoyed the genuine well-established though never spoken about romantic love between Wes and Evie. I appreciated Maddox’s self-confidence that let him enjoy Wes and Evie, both separately and together, and I enjoyed the expedited but genuine relationship development between the triad.

   Ruled by the Omega by L.V. Lane
   4 stars

   Imogen, the female omega lead, has worked hard to carve out and hold territory since alphas and omegas came into existence. She is supported by Aiden and Cooper, two of the male alpha leads, who are her regular sexual partners but whom she hasn’t claimed as mates. Rowan, the final male alpha lead, is senior in the hierarchy of another alpha’s pack and in charge of land to the north of them. When he sends information that the ex-bikie gang to the side of them is looking at a hostile takeover, Imogen is out of options. But Rowan wants her as part of the deal for protection for her people…

   This short story is female lead POV, well written, and an interesting erotic read, with the history between the male leads requiring negotiation. I enjoyed the relationship and character development between all parties and the intimate scenes were engaging and erotic. I understood Imogen’s choices and frustrations and appreciated that she made the best choices for her people as well as herself whilst still wishing for more, though Rowan made sure to offer the best he could.

   I received a complimentary copy from the authors and this is my voluntary honest review.

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   Consumer420 – October 20, 2022

   The fall of civilization how we know it has happened, humans are divided into classes of Alpha, Beta and Omega.
   1) Rage by Nora Ash- Addie is a female scientist in a male dominated world. AX2 is of her creation, the alpha rebuilt as a cyborg. AX2 is an earlier model who doesn’t have memories– still alone even amongst his kind, which there are only five. AX2 is angry with Addie, his creator and the one who took his memories and she is frustrated about being an accomplished female in a male dominated profession. Now with changes from her superiors to give the cyber alphas more of a choice because they still have sentience, she has to worry about five cyber alphas fighting over to mate with her which her male colleagues were quick to point out. If that happens, their whole project could be destroyed and the blame would be placed squarely on Addie’s shoulders. Both AX2 and Addie see each other as inhuman, but they seem to be fated mates. This story made me feel many different emotions and I will have to look for more by this author.
   2) War Prize of the Beast by Alison Aimes- Anara runs from an Omega tribe fleeing from a beserketh whose only purpose in life is to hunt and kill. She gets caught by one and she is sure death is imminent until he catches her scent, he decides to exert his dominance in a different way. Cheim’s prey floats away before he can do anything though. She teaches the beast a lesson in consent but she also learns she lets old assumptions and fears drive her. In places, this story made me laugh out loud as Cheim attempts to be what his mate wants while she floats just out of his reach. This was such a delightful story and a message that needs to be read.
   3) The Unexpected Visitor by Merel Pierce-Riden is banished from the city because he supports basic human rights. Syra is hungry, taking a great risk invading his camp especially since she was so close to her cycle which makes her presence more visible once it starts. It is imperative she come back from this mission with food. He catches her pilfering but let her go, and they established a trade. Primo sexual tension in this story and he is totally sexy because he is kind and waiting for her trust and consent because he likes HER as well, not just her genitalia. I loved this story, it stripped everything down to survival and base desires and still he wanted consent—my hero.
   4) Ruled by the Omega by L.V. Lane-Imogen is an omega leader in a post-apocalyptic world where she has to show she is more than a breeder. There is a virus which transforms Betas into Alpha and Omegas. Newly formed Alphas rip each other apart causing all sorts of carnage. Rowan has an anti-viral and wants to join forces to stand against Grimm’s camp, another faction warring for superiority. Rowan’s terms? Her. But she already has two alphas and no interest in a bond mate. Gods of creation, I love this author who crafts a steamy plot with three dimensional characters. I’d say more, but afraid I’d give away the story. Just read it.
   5) Lost by Hannah Haze-It is many years after the apocalypse. Omega Nafia wants to prove herself to the tribe as a hunter and is overjoyed when her father lets her join the hunting party instead of hanging back with the womenfolk. She finds herself lost from the hunting party with the aggravating alpha Hensta when she chases her prey too far. Their wanderings go on until dark when they have to set up camp, this is when they get to know each other and Hensta demonstrates what he is made of. This is like Prey meets Romeo and Juliet, except Nafia and Hensta have so much more sense than those kids.
   6) Taken by the Tanker by V.T. Bonds-Civilization as it is known ended a long time ago by the start of this story where dirt is a precious commodity on this world which the oceans have overtaken. Char is unfortunate to be an omega because omegas are blamed for the fall of man. Life is pretty sad for her and is about to get even worse when she is taken from her life of abject misery to the unknown when Hoss decides she is his mate. He thought he’d obtain a prized omega, he didn’t expect… you have to read it. I love the world building in this— pitch this to Netflix.
   7) Mastering the Alpha by Anna Fury -Evangeline works for Alistair a tech guru turn alpha after being administered The Awaken Virus. They have always been secretly attracted to each other, but after his change it is almost a living thing between them and hard to resist. He likes her as an assistant and she loves the job, both are trying to maintain professionalism. The story is of course steamy, but made me laugh out loud because Alistair is all business and has never considered a mate and says the wrong thing at the wrong time a lot. This story was charming—if only we all could work for Alistair.
   8) Under The Golden Moon by E.J. Frost-Kieran was a captain of her father’s house guard before she presented as an omega now she is forced to hand fast or lose her head for murder. Salvation comes in the form of Morgan, the long-remembered boy she played toy soldiers with under a sage bush. He has no title, but he is a natural son of Tuvarr Kierrell who does and provides a way out for Kieran. The story is not your usual Alpha/Omega couple and this Omega is anything but a shrinking violet. The world-building and writing are spot on, and I enjoyed the characters.I can’t wait to see more from this author.
   9) The Alpha’s Revelation by Marlowe Roy- Rosemary finds alpha Sampson injured and unconscious. Despite her fear she decides to help him and learns about her omega dynamic. She doesn’t want to accept that. She’s been living on her own for awhile, and why would she want an alpha? I feel that these two really needed each other and they found each other just in time. I just know they went on and lived happily ever after. I love that warm glow such a story gives me when one finds the person they did not know they were missing.
   10) Alpha’s Freak Show by Raevyn London- Jacob spots a sign for an Alpha Freak Show which features an omega, which are unheard outside of the palace. Jacob empties his savings to witness a captive omega— his omega which he did not know until he scented her— bound and nude on stage for everyone to see. While at the show, Jacob reveals to the ringmaster he is a rare true Alpha born of an Alpha and Omega and he is captured himself. The whole show was a lure to find what put the captured Omega into heat. Deliya and now Jacob are pawns in the ringmaster’s freak show. The author caught the character’s emotions well- despair, lust, hope—if the squeezing of my heart is any indication. I rooted for them both, and kept turning pages to see what happens.I was not disappointed.
   11) Ruin by D.E. Chapman- Evelyn lives in the low zone of the city and has little hope for the future for herself and her two sisters. Weston is her omega friend for years, which they both harbor a secret love but they cannot mate and give off their scents—the Alphas would find them! Maddox is next in line to lord over Whitshell and he wants to run things differently, not torturing the folks in the low zone for one. Maddox finds Weston in a dark alley one night when Weston goes to look for Evelyn when she doesn’t come home. This gritty story had me question, what would I do in such a situation? I gasped aloud in some places. I loved Evelyn– such a strong character in the face of adversity and her relationship with Weston was so sweet. How does Maddox fit into all this? You have to read to find out because I don’t want to give too much away.
   12) His Dark Touch by Flora Quincy-Tenora dreams of a world where there are Alphas to protect the Omegas from cruel Betas. Betas enslave Omegas in a number of tasks from prostitutes where they are throttled and beaten within an inch of their life to working in the forge picking up hot metal pieces too fine for tongs. They heal fast if given proper rest. They can even regenerate limbs! They cannot experience pleasure though, it’s considered a sin to be with an Omega. Tenora’s blood is special in that she can heal minds as well as bodies. We find out how special when she meets up with her alpha Magnus. During the story, I kept turning pages because I needed her to find her way out—no one should be subjugated. The ending was clever and original and I definitely want to see more from this author.

   All in all, a good read from some great authors. What you haven’t heard of them? Now you have and I for one, hope for many more stories. My suggestion, buy the book and settle in with your favorite cuppa for a delightful way to spend a day or two.

4. Rated 5 out of 5

   SweetnSpicy_bookworm – October 19, 2022

   5 Overall

   One of the things I love about anthologies is getting to read a variety of different short stories, and finding new authors I’ve never read before. This was definitely a mix of authors I already loved and ones I’d never even heard of, and whilst there were two stories I didn’t gel with completely and one that just wasn’t for me, the others I absolutely adored. Each story is different and individual, the spice levels vary from low to high (one is just erotica as far as I’m concerned ), and there’s a mix of dystopian sci-fi , contemporary, and fantasy, so there’s pretty much something for everybody.
   18+ read due to mature content and dark themes throughout.

5. Rated 5 out of 5

   D Palmer – October 18, 2022

   Nora Ash, Alison Aimes, Merel Pierce, L.V. Lane, V.T. Bonds, D.E. Chapman and oh so many more of my favorite Omegaverse authors are all located in this dystopian book. There are so many dark, delicious stories that are oozing with so much alpha dominance that I’m almost kneeling and submitting. These short stories were everything and so much more. Each alpha and omega’s story was unique and different bringing their own style of sexy, dark and panty fanning hotness!

   If you want to escape in this Omegaverse realm, then these stories are for you.