Cursed, mated, and in for the fight of their lives… to hate him. This is so not how he wanted to start his day.
Ian Armitage never intended to take Nate as his mate. The Hawthorne family can’t be trusted. Ian knows that better than anyone. The fact that he’s lusted after the way-too-gorgeous man for years? Totally irrelevant. Ian’s just doing what is necessary to protect his pack. This whole mating arrangement has nothing to do with love and never will. That’s his story and he’s sticking to it.
Nate and Ian will have to work together if they have any hope of staving off the pack’s enemies and averting disaster. That’s assuming they can stop arguing (and keep their hands off each other) long enough to save the day…
The Alpha’s Warlock is an explicit M/M paranormal romance featuring a snarky warlock, a brooding alpha werewolf, knotting, enchanted socks (long story), and a guaranteed happily ever after.
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I really enjoy this whole series. Eliot writes snarky, not always so nice guys, who I still root for and want them to get their HEA. She tends to write a bit steamy with hot alphas who meet their match in their mates.
Hello new series I’m obsessed with: it’s nice to finally meet you.
I have had this title on my TBR for ages and I don’t know what was stopping from starting this before now. I’m so glad I did.
I absolutely, shamelessly, loved “The Alpha’s Warlock”. Damaged and emotionally unstable magic users with baggage, heaps of trauma and desperate need to be loved and super protective, possessive alpha-type men who only want to love the other is just my kind of jam. That and a nicely sketched out plot and world-bulding, with a whole lot of hilarious banter and super, super hot growly sex? Yes, please, I’ll take doubles.
I adored both of the MCs: Nate was hilarious and I literally laughed out loud at some of his most ridiculous antics and insults. And that, coupled with the fact that he’s so broken and insecure that feels just whack you on the head at the most unexpected times, made him such a likable MC. Ian was, seriously, swoony: he’s rude and reckless and possessive and also such a sweetheart. Together they made sparks fly and, them being terribly horrible at communicating aside, I loved their relationship so much.
And also because of this book (and its seriously hot sex scenes with knotting, a first for me *blushes*) I’m seriously considering going back on my self-made promise that mpreg is be a bit too much for me and I should not try it. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more of this kind of story and relationship (*cough* knotting *cough*) even if I don’t manage the upgrade in the omegaverse.
This was a fairly short book, but it didn’t feel rushed at all: the ending was satisfying and sweet and even though I kind of wish the next book was still about Nate and Ian, I’m very happy with it.
Grayson did a good job of creating a werewolf story that doesn’t rely on alpha tropes to build characters. I had fun listening to Nate and Ian try to navigate their way around a difficult situation. The narrator’s character voices were a nice addition to the story too.
This was my first book by Grayson, but it definitely won’t be my last. Time to go book shopping…
This series is going directly to my must-read list! It has the perfect balance of humor and angst that I wanted to read at that moment (since I’m writing this review a few months later and I’m already reading and loving Captive Mate (Mismatched Mates Book 2)). And I can assure that It’s not common for me to find a book where my expectations match the content.
It’s the perfect choice for enemies-to-lovers fans like me who ,from time to time, want to read something less angsty with unforgettable characters. I can’t wait to read more about Nate and Ian and to see how their relationship keeps growing despite all the issues in their past.
There’s nothing I love better than a snarky MC. This book definitely held my interest… maybe way too much. Sleep suffered, but it was so worth it. Witty and punny and all the best things in one story.
Fun and fast read. Can’t wait for the next.
I really enjoyed this book and am excited about future books in the series. The writing is crisp with great snark and humor. It is told from a first person POV and it is fun riding around in Nate’s head.
This shifter story changes up the narrative on shifters a little bit so that takes some getting used to. In most other shifter books they have the ability to smell when people are lying as well as lots of other emotions. These shifters evidently don’t have that power which is a bummer as it would have dramatically altered the story if they did.
Nate is a warlock who was abused at the hands of his father for years. The book begins with his kidnapping as someone else is now trying to use and abuse him for his power. He escapes and finds himself in the territory of a wolf pack he avoids as much as possible needing their help to avoid dying.
Ian is the right hand to his brother Matthew, the alpha of the Armitidge wolfpack. When Nate shows up nearly dead, the surly wolf has to take one for the team and mate with Nate in order to save his life. Since they both despise each other we can tell this is going to go swimmingly!
As the tension mounts and Nate and Ian are fleeing from something they don’t understand it becomes clear that there are forces bigger than them that will need to be dealt with.
The story arc moves at a great place. We get a lot of background on Nate since the story comes from his POV. There’s a lot of breaking the 4th wall kind of commentary which is highly amusing. At several points in the book my heart was ripped out and I was on the verge of tears for this poor, abused, neglected soul. We don’t get as much character background on Ian so it’s harder to parse his feelings and motivations.
The action sequences are exciting and I found myself holding my breath at certain points. There are a couple of crisis points related to both relationship and suspense story. When things are finally worked out at the end we get another surprise which is going to lead into book two. I’m super glad I have book two sitting right here and ready for me to since into it!
Socks & Shacks
Oh my wolves, this is a fantastic book. I loved the humor, the people, the world-building; it’s all so magical. Also, I really need a new pair of socks, especially if they can have the Nate touch and if they come with an alpha like Ian. “He said my name like a sigh, like a prayer, like it was the sweetest thing he’d ever tasted.” Gah, how I love Ian and Nate, their bickering, surly endearments and most of all how they protect each other. I loved the adventure, thrills, surprises and the fun. I didn’t want this amazing book to end.
The Alpha’s Warlock by Eliot Grayson is the first book in the Mismatch Mate series. I was on the fence if it liked this story. There are some great things about this story and not so great.
Powerful Warlock cursed needs an Alpha to save him. That is how this story starts.
The only alpha who can save Nate the powerful warlock is Ian. The one person who hates Nate the most. He is second in command to the pack. They get married but their tempers make their bonding so turbulent. This is where I had a problem. Most of this book is these two quibblings back and forth. Truthfully, that got a little tiresome.
What I did like is the politics going around them. There is a ton going on. I loved that. The actual love story did not hold my interest but the story around them did. I cannot wait for the next book, I wanna see who falls in love next and how the pack recovers from what has happened in this book.
Four Twinkling Stars
I just finished this book and I wish the sequel was already out. I’m not ready to leave this world nor the characters I’ve come to adore.
Nate is a warlock whose never been able to trust anyone. Ian’s a werewolf who’s always been stand-offish. Through unfortunate circumstances, Nate and Ian are forced to mate. Their chemistry (and arguments) are intense. I love their banter and watching their relationship develop from “enemies” into a strong, loving couple.
Independent reviewer for Gay Romance Reviews, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Nate is a warlock, and getting kidnapped and cursed by the Shimball werewolf pack wasn’t in his plans for the day. When he manages to drag himself to tell the Armitage pack of the Shimball pack plans, mating the Alpha’s brother wasn’t in his plans either. But the only way to break the curse is to build a mate bond with an Alpha, so mate with Ian he does. There is just the minor detail that Ian hates Nate, and Nate has been attracted to Ian for such a long time. When the Shimball pack come for the Armitage pack, Ian has to keep Nate safe, even if it just gives him a chance to kill Nate himself!
I really REALLY enjoyed this!
Nate is quirky, and witty, and so bloody funny! Because the book is only told from his point of view, and in the first person, we get all of his wit and humour, but also, all of his terror at what his father did to him. His pain at realizing he might not be good enough for anyone. His reaction to the bond to Ian surprised him, and we get all of that. We get his dawning knowledge of what Ian has become to him.
The story moves along at pace in places, a little slower in others. The bigger picture, I think, isn’t clear yet, and I have no idea what that picture might be, but I look forward to reading more.
The only thing, for ME, why I didn’t give it 5 stars when I enjoyed it so much?
Single person person of view. Only Nate has a voice. I really REALLY needed Ian, at key points along the way, and I don’t get him. I needed to know what he felt about having to mate Nate, although there were clues to that early on. I needed to know if the mate bond affected him as much as it did Nate. I needed to know just what his brother’s betrayal means to him, and how much it hurts him. And I don’t get him!
BUT!
A great read, and the first I’ve read of this author. I like the way they spin the tales. I look forward to reading more, especially after the epilogue here!
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Loved the characters in this fun, fast-paced read! Don’t start it at bedtime because you’ll be up until you finish it!
Nate is a warlock. His father used him all his life to steal his magic until his death. Nate thought he was freed until a pack of werewolves kidnapped him and tried to steal his magic to annihilate the Armitage pack. He escaped and tried to warn the Armitage pack, but he’s also dying and only a mating with an Alpha can save him.
Ian is an alpha, but not the Alpha of his pack. He’s the second of his brother Matthew. When Nate show up at their door dying, Ian accepted the mating to save him.
Nate and Ian aren’t friends, they’re pretty much sure that they hate each other, but someone is out for their blood and pack and until they find a way to be save, they must deal with each other.
Hello New Favorite Series!
Alpha Warlock by Eliot Grayson was my first book by this author… How I missed his talent before, I don’t know!!!!
The book was from Nate’s POV. I adored him, he’s funny, smart and sassy. He’s also sensitive and a little bit fragile. He suffers of his loneliness and hop to belong to a family.
Ian seems to be the alpha archetype. Huge and rough. But Ian is more than that. He’s kind, smart, cultivate and sensitive. I was rooting for him from the beginning.
Their couple is an interesting match. They seem so different at first, and they are, but they’re also complementary.
The plot and story were interesting and captivating. I was hooked in the book from page 1 and I couldn’t put it down until the end. I read it in one straight.
I adored this book and I can’t wait to read more in this series