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Ragoru Romances #1
White: Emala's Story
Before Arie and her mates, there was Emala.
Before the Order fell, there was a Master who governed over it and all of the citadel
Raised in a gilded cage, Emala was given everything she wanted from the very day that the Master rescued her mother from execution. Born of a maternal lineage in which human brides were mated to the clannish northern Ragoru triads, Emala grew up listening to her mother’s stories of the Ragoru though she never expected to follow in her mother’s footsteps. She didn’t fantasize about a triad of mates to shower adoration on her, but a simple life in a village far away from the Master’s watchful eye. Though she knows nothing of surviving outside of the grand manor, when the Master comes to her with an impossible offer on her twentieth birthday, Emala dares to risk it all to find her way to freedom. Even if it brings the order down on her head.
When she is saved by a Ragoru and finds shelter with his triad through the winter, she discovers a possible love that could mend old wounds and may promise her the happy ever after that she always wanted.
White is a Ragoru Beginnings Romance with undercurrents of Snow White in its narrative.
Before the Order fell, there was a Master who governed over it and all of the citadel
Raised in a gilded cage, Emala was given everything she wanted from the very day that the Master rescued her mother from execution. Born of a maternal lineage in which human brides were mated to the clannish northern Ragoru triads, Emala grew up listening to her mother’s stories of the Ragoru though she never expected to follow in her mother’s footsteps. She didn’t fantasize about a triad of mates to shower adoration on her, but a simple life in a village far away from the Master’s watchful eye. Though she knows nothing of surviving outside of the grand manor, when the Master comes to her with an impossible offer on her twentieth birthday, Emala dares to risk it all to find her way to freedom. Even if it brings the order down on her head.
When she is saved by a Ragoru and finds shelter with his triad through the winter, she discovers a possible love that could mend old wounds and may promise her the happy ever after that she always wanted.
White is a Ragoru Beginnings Romance with undercurrents of Snow White in its narrative.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 4, 2020
380 people are currently reading
1036 people want to read
About the author
S.J. Sanders
86 books1,009 followersS.J. Sanders is a mom of two toddlers and one adult living in Anchorage, Alaska. She has a BA degree in History, but spends most of her free time painting, sculpting, doing odd bits of historical research, and writing. While she has more research orientated writing under another pen name, her passion is sci-fi and paranormal romance of which she is an avid reader. After years of tinkering with the idea, and making her own stories up in her head, S.J has began to seriously pursue writing as an author of Sci-fi Romance utilizing her interests in how cultures diversify and what they would look like on a extraterrestrial platform to humans interacting with them and finding love.
She can be found on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Author-SJ-Sa...
And follow her blog at https://sjsandersromance.wordpress.com
She can be found on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Author-SJ-Sa...
And follow her blog at https://sjsandersromance.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
August 13, 2022
Caution: Potential Spoilers...
This book would have been 3 stars except there were too many inconsistencies, which pulled me out of the story because they REALLY began to annoy me. Towards the end, it was as if the author just gave up and wanted to end the story.
Ex 1: Korash's fur is described as being black at the beginning, but at the end he had white fur.
Ex 2: Emala has been poisoned. Her mates think her dead. Mishar's face lay on her chest. Her heart is beating. Wouldn't he hear that??! However it was Vordi who noticed her heart beating when he nuzzled her neck.
Ex 3: The Huntsman apparently just gives up after a non-stop search during the winter. It does not fit his character for him to give up reacquiring the girl he's apparently waited on for YEARS, the one he had a plan for. After an incredibly brief "fight", there is no sign of him or his people. (I'm sure he'll probably show up in a future book, but as far as this book goes he just disappears from the story.)
Ex 4: If her mates were really that worried about the Huntsman, why did they stay for 3 winters? If she was that valuable to them, why keep her (and their possible offspring) in danger? Especially, when it is made clear to Emala that they know where she is.
Ex 5: Emala, who was pretty innocent in the ways of the world, suddenly knows what herbs to take to prevent conception? How? Did her mates know? Why would they? Did she meet a female Ragoru? Wouldn't their biology be different? Even so, the female Rugoru's are apparently only fertile during the Withering Days because their babies are born at the end of spring. So, why would the female Ragorus need herbs?
UGH! There were too many instances of events and actions not being very well thought out. And this really distracted me from the book.
I will not be reading any more from this series.
This book would have been 3 stars except there were too many inconsistencies, which pulled me out of the story because they REALLY began to annoy me. Towards the end, it was as if the author just gave up and wanted to end the story.
Ex 1: Korash's fur is described as being black at the beginning, but at the end he had white fur.
Ex 2: Emala has been poisoned. Her mates think her dead. Mishar's face lay on her chest. Her heart is beating. Wouldn't he hear that??! However it was Vordi who noticed her heart beating when he nuzzled her neck.
Ex 3: The Huntsman apparently just gives up after a non-stop search during the winter. It does not fit his character for him to give up reacquiring the girl he's apparently waited on for YEARS, the one he had a plan for. After an incredibly brief "fight", there is no sign of him or his people. (I'm sure he'll probably show up in a future book, but as far as this book goes he just disappears from the story.)
Ex 4: If her mates were really that worried about the Huntsman, why did they stay for 3 winters? If she was that valuable to them, why keep her (and their possible offspring) in danger? Especially, when it is made clear to Emala that they know where she is.
Ex 5: Emala, who was pretty innocent in the ways of the world, suddenly knows what herbs to take to prevent conception? How? Did her mates know? Why would they? Did she meet a female Ragoru? Wouldn't their biology be different? Even so, the female Rugoru's are apparently only fertile during the Withering Days because their babies are born at the end of spring. So, why would the female Ragorus need herbs?
UGH! There were too many instances of events and actions not being very well thought out. And this really distracted me from the book.
I will not be reading any more from this series.
September 6, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5
🌶️/5
January 9, 2020
Emala fell short for me
I love all of SJ Sanders books but this well fell short for me based on the lead heroine. Now i know this book is based off Snow White but the gullibility and inability to learn from mistakes is what made me despise Emala as a character. She is a character you want to like but from her actions make her so unlikable! Hopefully it gets better as the series goes on since i loved all her other books .
I love all of SJ Sanders books but this well fell short for me based on the lead heroine. Now i know this book is based off Snow White but the gullibility and inability to learn from mistakes is what made me despise Emala as a character. She is a character you want to like but from her actions make her so unlikable! Hopefully it gets better as the series goes on since i loved all her other books .
January 26, 2025
I’ve had this on my TBR forever, and decided to give it a go since I just read Ragoru and enjoyed it. Emala doesn’t exactly shine in Red, but there was obviously some trauma response stuff going on. Her life sucked, like most people who live in a dystopian world. Between the grooming, her mother being abused, and watching her mother slowly waste away, she was understandably having a hard time. I know others have said she’s naive, but who wouldn’t be naive after being groomed? Mishar was such a softie but protective. Vordri honestly was probably the most sensible character in the book. Sure, he was abrasive and murdery when he met Emala, but how could he react differently when humans have always been a threat? Korash was also sweet and I liked seeing him grow into himself and his true role in the triad.
Spice: 2/5
Triggers: miscarriage, forced abortion, death, beheading, fall, kidnapping, captivity, references to SA of side characters, mentions of mass murder, references to abuse, grooming (mostly off page), references to suicide, poisoning, hypothermia, pregnancy
Spice: 2/5
Triggers: miscarriage, forced abortion, death, beheading, fall, kidnapping, captivity, references to SA of side characters, mentions of mass murder, references to abuse, grooming (mostly off page), references to suicide, poisoning, hypothermia, pregnancy
January 15, 2020
so this is my first book by this author. It is an alien romance with traces of fairytale retelling in it. Humans obviously never change in their prejudices.
January 23, 2020
Ahhh a Ragoru series!!! Yes! :D And another one (Ragoru Romance) mentioned in the author notes, yay!
I liked this one. I'm not sure I liked it as much as Red and the other Ragoru book, mainly because the heroine seemed to be... I don't know, a bit simple-minded? Still enjoyable regardless. Some things I missed from the previous books though:
1. the angst surrounding differences in their culture - if I remember correctly, it's normal for the females to choose the males.
2. the hangups around colour - wasn't black supposed to be a bad sign among the Ragoru, and didn't that cause some angst among Red's triad? Here that's completely ignored.
I'm guessing these things were absent because Koshar or whatever his name is is from the North clans, but I need some more info. Also Mishar and Vorshak or something would not have those same values. So Idk. Basically I need more, so I'm very much looking forward to the series.
I liked this one. I'm not sure I liked it as much as Red and the other Ragoru book, mainly because the heroine seemed to be... I don't know, a bit simple-minded? Still enjoyable regardless. Some things I missed from the previous books though:
1. the angst surrounding differences in their culture - if I remember correctly, it's normal for the females to choose the males.
2. the hangups around colour - wasn't black supposed to be a bad sign among the Ragoru, and didn't that cause some angst among Red's triad? Here that's completely ignored.
I'm guessing these things were absent because Koshar or whatever his name is is from the North clans, but I need some more info. Also Mishar and Vorshak or something would not have those same values. So Idk. Basically I need more, so I'm very much looking forward to the series.
April 30, 2020
I did enjoy the story, but after meeting her in Red, Emala's character in White seemed flat in comparison to her previous portrayal. The pacing was erratic and especially rushed at the beginning, where the events that set the story into action happened in two short chapters. Because of this, we didn't get to explore Emala's relationship with her mother, the main conduit of the plot, or stepfather, the villain, even though he only makes an appearance during one of the very first chapters.
I liked learning more about the Ragoru, and I'm excited to continue reading the stories set in this world. Nonetheless, this story deserved more pages and development than it got. The resolution of the conflict was sadly unsatisfying.
I liked learning more about the Ragoru, and I'm excited to continue reading the stories set in this world. Nonetheless, this story deserved more pages and development than it got. The resolution of the conflict was sadly unsatisfying.
May 19, 2020
Pretty solid.
Im not gonna lie, had to fight to get through some other stories by S.J.
This due to the drag, somewhat un-appealing personalities of lead gals, and all. the. errors.
But this was not bad. I like the concept of post-apocalyptic snow-white esque tale. Eish there was more of the mates, considering there was like.....half a bookish? But not a ton of...Relationship building. Cause hon, i dont care how open you are, THOSE BOYS would need some gettin' used to.
Not bad, finished in a day. Pretty good quarantine time passer.
3 I-am-more-than-willing-to-explore-me-a-triad....yaknow-....forscience stars☆
Im not gonna lie, had to fight to get through some other stories by S.J.
This due to the drag, somewhat un-appealing personalities of lead gals, and all. the. errors.
But this was not bad. I like the concept of post-apocalyptic snow-white esque tale. Eish there was more of the mates, considering there was like.....half a bookish? But not a ton of...Relationship building. Cause hon, i dont care how open you are, THOSE BOYS would need some gettin' used to.
Not bad, finished in a day. Pretty good quarantine time passer.
3 I-am-more-than-willing-to-explore-me-a-triad....yaknow-....forscience stars☆
February 14, 2023
i usually am a big fan of SJ sanders books, but why did the fmc in this story need to be so gullible??? It made me so annoyed and i could barely finish the book
November 11, 2024
4/5 ⭐️s
I thought the ending was a bit rushed, but I adored Emala and her mates!
Spice: 1.5/5 🌶️
I thought the ending was a bit rushed, but I adored Emala and her mates!
Spice: 1.5/5 🌶️
July 29, 2021
This book tells the story of Emala a young woman who is supposed to marry her step father after the death of her mom on her 20th birthday. Since he is not a good man she tries to escape from him. Her way leads her to a tribe of Ragoru, an alien species that looks a lot like werewolves, and soon she realizes that they are not the monsters humans say they are.
I loved to read another „Ragoru“ book. This was again an amazing book. The story was good and it was great to read Emalas story, since we already met her in the book before. However since we already know her I kind of expected her life to be much more miserable then it was told in this book. I mean of course it is bad that this terrible man wants to marry her but it seems he never treated her bad. He did treat other people bad and he probably wouldn’t have treated her nice but still I guessed it would have been worse.
As for the characters I love them. Emala is way too trusting and naive but that makes her more realistic, since no one is perfect. Her mates were so adorable, each in their own way and I dearly loved to witness their time together. They were so precious with each other.
So overall this was great. It was quite short, especially compared to the first book but it was still amazing. I am looking forward to read more stories in this world.
I loved to read another „Ragoru“ book. This was again an amazing book. The story was good and it was great to read Emalas story, since we already met her in the book before. However since we already know her I kind of expected her life to be much more miserable then it was told in this book. I mean of course it is bad that this terrible man wants to marry her but it seems he never treated her bad. He did treat other people bad and he probably wouldn’t have treated her nice but still I guessed it would have been worse.
As for the characters I love them. Emala is way too trusting and naive but that makes her more realistic, since no one is perfect. Her mates were so adorable, each in their own way and I dearly loved to witness their time together. They were so precious with each other.
So overall this was great. It was quite short, especially compared to the first book but it was still amazing. I am looking forward to read more stories in this world.
May 16, 2020
Not gonna lie, Emala was a dumb bitch for a hot second near the end, but I guess she kind of had to be if the author wanted to maintain the Snow White retelling she was going for.
I enjoyed this one as well and I'm glad the author decided to continue in the world. I can't wait to read all the others she plans on writing.
I enjoyed this one as well and I'm glad the author decided to continue in the world. I can't wait to read all the others she plans on writing.
February 2, 2023
the structure of the story seemed a bit off... It started very slow and detailed and ended rushly. Although I loved both the concept, characters and story.
November 10, 2024
just no
June 28, 2023
Enjoyed so much
I am enjoying this world so very much.
I don’t know what took me so long to get here but now that I am I don’t want to leave.
Emala, we meet her briefly in Red. She is Kyx’s mother and this is her story which she superficially speaks about in Red.
The writing is amazing, I’m not sure what kind of magic S.J. Sanders is cooking but I’m here for it. The way we are not only pulled into the story but held there by interest, curiosity, and love is just *chefs kiss*.
I normally have a hard time getting in to stories about characters I already know are happy because we met them in another book. This one wasn’t difficult to get into at all. It flowed with ease.
I am enjoying this world so very much.
I don’t know what took me so long to get here but now that I am I don’t want to leave.
Emala, we meet her briefly in Red. She is Kyx’s mother and this is her story which she superficially speaks about in Red.
The writing is amazing, I’m not sure what kind of magic S.J. Sanders is cooking but I’m here for it. The way we are not only pulled into the story but held there by interest, curiosity, and love is just *chefs kiss*.
I normally have a hard time getting in to stories about characters I already know are happy because we met them in another book. This one wasn’t difficult to get into at all. It flowed with ease.
December 9, 2023
I like it
I could do without Emala being an idiot on two occasions. One I can dismiss to desperation and the second... well...
Okay, that was ridiculous. I hate the consequences of her stupidity, but you know what, I can respect that there were actual consequences. The craziness of that decision doesn't totally ruin my opinion of the story as a whole. However, I can see it being a major turn off for others. Can we have a tragedy happen because of something other than a MC being a moron?
On a plus note, you can bet all transgressors get their just desserts.
If not for Emala being... Emala, this would be a full five stars for me.
I could do without Emala being an idiot on two occasions. One I can dismiss to desperation and the second... well...
Okay, that was ridiculous. I hate the consequences of her stupidity, but you know what, I can respect that there were actual consequences. The craziness of that decision doesn't totally ruin my opinion of the story as a whole. However, I can see it being a major turn off for others. Can we have a tragedy happen because of something other than a MC being a moron?
On a plus note, you can bet all transgressors get their just desserts.
If not for Emala being... Emala, this would be a full five stars for me.
January 20, 2020
Great creature romance! Not shifters, not monsters, animal aliens just trying to live their lives. Why, why must there be bad guys? But there are, and so there are good humans to balance them out. Loved this story, so much feeling, such a detailed world. Love S J Sanders! Her stories are great!
January 11, 2020
Ragoru forever.....yes more
Really enjoyed this book and the whole concept.
Loved the whole difference between human and ragoru.
Please let us have a carry on series from these stories - even a spin off, can't get enough.
This writer has become one of my favorites due to the fact that her aliens or others are not just 6' plus humans, love love love her books.
Really enjoyed this book and the whole concept.
Loved the whole difference between human and ragoru.
Please let us have a carry on series from these stories - even a spin off, can't get enough.
This writer has become one of my favorites due to the fact that her aliens or others are not just 6' plus humans, love love love her books.
April 10, 2020
These creatures are so adorable I just can't.
I think I loved this triad even more than the first. Mishar and Vordri were so playful and adorable. I was suprised that the two blood brothers got along so well. Even though it had less of a plot than the previous this story was still hard to put down and oh so sweet. Honestly though it's a little unbelievable that every human male in this world is a murderous brute.
Korash didn't have enough qualities I would say. For example Mishar was a helpless flirt and playful. Vordri was playful, strict, and crafty. Korash just seemed to be the leader and that's was it no real skills to set him apart from the others. Even so I loved them all and they meshed so well together.
It was nice to understand Emala. Getting to know them made me want to reread the first book. And wouldn't you know it after all Emala's been through and how many times she got tricked she couldn't help but to do it again. Uggghhh.
What I love about these stories so much is the bond they all share. In the presents of their mate the males stop fighting each other over difference and focus solely on their female. And she equally loves them giving them all the love they need and her too in return. The playfulness in this story was so funny. I was constantly smiling and blushing with Mishar's flirting, Vordri's teaching, and Korash's acceptance.
I cannot pick a favorite but it would be between the two blood brothers. Mishar and his inability to speak but fierce determination not to make his non existent voice a disability made me proud. Vordri took longer to get to love but that's what was so intriguing he wormed his way into your heart and before you know it he became a big grizzly teddy bear.
The epilogue at the end had me reaching for the next story before I could write this review. I can't wait to know the band of brothers that helped Korash's triad.
I think I loved this triad even more than the first. Mishar and Vordri were so playful and adorable. I was suprised that the two blood brothers got along so well. Even though it had less of a plot than the previous this story was still hard to put down and oh so sweet. Honestly though it's a little unbelievable that every human male in this world is a murderous brute.
Korash didn't have enough qualities I would say. For example Mishar was a helpless flirt and playful. Vordri was playful, strict, and crafty. Korash just seemed to be the leader and that's was it no real skills to set him apart from the others. Even so I loved them all and they meshed so well together.
It was nice to understand Emala. Getting to know them made me want to reread the first book. And wouldn't you know it after all Emala's been through and how many times she got tricked she couldn't help but to do it again. Uggghhh.
What I love about these stories so much is the bond they all share. In the presents of their mate the males stop fighting each other over difference and focus solely on their female. And she equally loves them giving them all the love they need and her too in return. The playfulness in this story was so funny. I was constantly smiling and blushing with Mishar's flirting, Vordri's teaching, and Korash's acceptance.
I cannot pick a favorite but it would be between the two blood brothers. Mishar and his inability to speak but fierce determination not to make his non existent voice a disability made me proud. Vordri took longer to get to love but that's what was so intriguing he wormed his way into your heart and before you know it he became a big grizzly teddy bear.
The epilogue at the end had me reaching for the next story before I could write this review. I can't wait to know the band of brothers that helped Korash's triad.
January 6, 2020
Awesome
This book was awesome. I hadn't made the connection of the main character till the end. Now I have to re-read Red. Thanks SJ Sanders for another great book.
This book was awesome. I hadn't made the connection of the main character till the end. Now I have to re-read Red. Thanks SJ Sanders for another great book.
April 4, 2022
3.5 *
I had difficulty with Emala's story. I felt like the details of her story didn't match what I remembered from Red. I also felt like some of the plot choices didn't seem realistic. However, I really loved her sweet romance with Mishar, and then how she eventually won over Vordri. It was a very short and sweet romance, but it left me wanting more.
I had difficulty with Emala's story. I felt like the details of her story didn't match what I remembered from Red. I also felt like some of the plot choices didn't seem realistic. However, I really loved her sweet romance with Mishar, and then how she eventually won over Vordri. It was a very short and sweet romance, but it left me wanting more.
February 14, 2022
Too many inconsistencies and plot holes.
August 25, 2025
My GOD WAS THAT AWFUL
First of all, I attempted to read this book twice, I gave up at a very specific moment in chapter 4, when Emala asks a twelve year old girl whether her parents are home and she answers:
"Miss, you must be from the city. Most women in the farmlands don't have husbands. Some few are lucky enough, I'm guessing, but mostly there are just them breeding men who live in the village center. They do some work in the fields, but they're able to get days off from the fieldmaster if they're attempting to breed with a local woman. More babies grow up to be more laborers, you know? Doesn't seem fair to me. My brother is only four years older than me and he's able to legally qualify as a breeder. I have to work three times harder than him" she grumbled.
Excuse the s*** out of me, WHAT DID I JUST READ????
The woman asks if the adults are home and we get a very sudden and very uncomfortable AND VERY UNNECESARY LORE DROP INSTEAD. And let me tell you, this will be a pattern througout the whole book. The worldbuilding is not done by showing us the world but by characters literally telling us about it. The whole book is a tell not show.
Next, the characters. I did not care for a single one of them. None of them were described properly, the author attempted to give most of them a sad backstory but it ended up looking like it was written by a 13 year old edgelord on Wattpad. And it was always done by following the same pattern: Emala meets a person-person vomits up a lore dump mixed with a (supposedly) very sad backstory-Emala thinks how sad-we never hear about them again. Like with the maid, who tended to Emala's mother - they supposedly had a close bond, we know that because the maid said so, the maid is never mentioned again and it's not relevant to the story again. The twelve year old farm girl with the breeder spiel - same thing. It's like you could switch the characters from this story with some other random characters and it would change nothing in the story.
Next, the plot. *SPOILERS AHEAD*
There is practically none. Emala's mother's husband wants to have s** with Emala because....because. She runs away, gets kidnapped on her way by people who want to sell her on a slave market because *insert meaningles and disgusting lore dump*, they fall off the mountain (lol) and she rolls down under one of the Male Interest's feet. He thinks to himself "Cool, a female" and takes her to the rest of the dudes who say " Cool, a female" and they are a happy horny family but wait, the Huntsman are after her! Danger! But not really because they attack her once. AND LET ME TELL YOU- IT WAS SOOOO DUMB. The guys tell her to be careful and not trust anyone, Emala says "Okiedokie" and then a young defeceless girl knocks on the door to their cave and Emala is like "Oh nooo, COME ON IN, oh you give me an apple? GREAT, YUMMY" and the it turns out it was poisoned and she 'dies'. The way I lost faith in humanity while reading this y'all....But wait, she's not dead, it's the shi*** Snow White reference! Hooray! Oh no she lost, her baby? Saaaad ( but not really because we had like 5 sentences to get the info that she was pregnant to begin with so we are not sad cuz why would we be???). The author tells us that everyone is sad because she couldn't bother showing us so she has to tell us as always. But it's okay because now they have between 2 to 5 children (the epilogue was weirdly vague and inconsisten about that okay), and apparently the Huntsman gave up idk why, but the group should move because the Huntsman know their location. And they have known FOR OVER A YEAR, but they decide to move just now cuz...yeah.
Okay but listen, I've read plenty bad smutty books but sometimes their saving grace was the somewhat decent smut.
THAT WAS NOT THE CASE HERE. EVEN THE SPICE SUCKS.
The guys have two -you-know-whats. Great, except the don't use both of them. Ever. It even says that Emala got some ideas to use both of them next time-THERE IS NO NEXT TIME. DUDE.WHAT WAS THE POINT? OF ANYTHING IN THIS BOOK, REALLY? The characters mean nothing, and so doeas the plot, the smut, everyting.
I just finished the book and I was so pisses I made the account here so I could make myself feel better by writing this.
First of all, I attempted to read this book twice, I gave up at a very specific moment in chapter 4, when Emala asks a twelve year old girl whether her parents are home and she answers:
"Miss, you must be from the city. Most women in the farmlands don't have husbands. Some few are lucky enough, I'm guessing, but mostly there are just them breeding men who live in the village center. They do some work in the fields, but they're able to get days off from the fieldmaster if they're attempting to breed with a local woman. More babies grow up to be more laborers, you know? Doesn't seem fair to me. My brother is only four years older than me and he's able to legally qualify as a breeder. I have to work three times harder than him" she grumbled.
Excuse the s*** out of me, WHAT DID I JUST READ????
The woman asks if the adults are home and we get a very sudden and very uncomfortable AND VERY UNNECESARY LORE DROP INSTEAD. And let me tell you, this will be a pattern througout the whole book. The worldbuilding is not done by showing us the world but by characters literally telling us about it. The whole book is a tell not show.
Next, the characters. I did not care for a single one of them. None of them were described properly, the author attempted to give most of them a sad backstory but it ended up looking like it was written by a 13 year old edgelord on Wattpad. And it was always done by following the same pattern: Emala meets a person-person vomits up a lore dump mixed with a (supposedly) very sad backstory-Emala thinks how sad-we never hear about them again. Like with the maid, who tended to Emala's mother - they supposedly had a close bond, we know that because the maid said so, the maid is never mentioned again and it's not relevant to the story again. The twelve year old farm girl with the breeder spiel - same thing. It's like you could switch the characters from this story with some other random characters and it would change nothing in the story.
Next, the plot. *SPOILERS AHEAD*
There is practically none. Emala's mother's husband wants to have s** with Emala because....because. She runs away, gets kidnapped on her way by people who want to sell her on a slave market because *insert meaningles and disgusting lore dump*, they fall off the mountain (lol) and she rolls down under one of the Male Interest's feet. He thinks to himself "Cool, a female" and takes her to the rest of the dudes who say " Cool, a female" and they are a happy horny family but wait, the Huntsman are after her! Danger! But not really because they attack her once. AND LET ME TELL YOU- IT WAS SOOOO DUMB. The guys tell her to be careful and not trust anyone, Emala says "Okiedokie" and then a young defeceless girl knocks on the door to their cave and Emala is like "Oh nooo, COME ON IN, oh you give me an apple? GREAT, YUMMY" and the it turns out it was poisoned and she 'dies'. The way I lost faith in humanity while reading this y'all....But wait, she's not dead, it's the shi*** Snow White reference! Hooray! Oh no she lost, her baby? Saaaad ( but not really because we had like 5 sentences to get the info that she was pregnant to begin with so we are not sad cuz why would we be???). The author tells us that everyone is sad because she couldn't bother showing us so she has to tell us as always. But it's okay because now they have between 2 to 5 children (the epilogue was weirdly vague and inconsisten about that okay), and apparently the Huntsman gave up idk why, but the group should move because the Huntsman know their location. And they have known FOR OVER A YEAR, but they decide to move just now cuz...yeah.
Okay but listen, I've read plenty bad smutty books but sometimes their saving grace was the somewhat decent smut.
THAT WAS NOT THE CASE HERE. EVEN THE SPICE SUCKS.
The guys have two -you-know-whats. Great, except the don't use both of them. Ever. It even says that Emala got some ideas to use both of them next time-THERE IS NO NEXT TIME. DUDE.WHAT WAS THE POINT? OF ANYTHING IN THIS BOOK, REALLY? The characters mean nothing, and so doeas the plot, the smut, everyting.
I just finished the book and I was so pisses I made the account here so I could make myself feel better by writing this.
January 8, 2021
4 & 1\2 fabulous 🌟's for Emala's story
Korash, Vordri, and Mishar a Ragoru triad that has resigned itself to never know the love of a mate or the blessings of rogs \younglings. Tragedy brought these 3 males together and bonded them as a family. One hailing from the north and two brothers from the south. All three touched by loss so large it was almost an impossible good to fill until they meet Emala. Emala, has known love, loss and tragedy as well in her short life. Her mother's mates were murdered she was forced to marry another and produced her. AS Emala grew she watched her mother descend into madness further each year. Until Boehner 20th birthday her mother better her to flee for her step father was going to take her as his own. Force to flee with the knowledge her mother would be dead soon she races into the mountains where more danger awaits for such a gentle soul. Tragedy strikes again and that is where the triad find her. Their shared history and misfortunes bond them quickly together but it is the love and devotion they share that makes this book such a beautiful read. Once they learned to trust, love blossoms and takes root deeply in their souls. S.I Saunders knows how to spin a tale and capture you within its pages leaving always wanting more.. Terrific story!🌹💖🌹💖🌹💖🌹💖🌹🌹💖
Korash, Vordri, and Mishar a Ragoru triad that has resigned itself to never know the love of a mate or the blessings of rogs \younglings. Tragedy brought these 3 males together and bonded them as a family. One hailing from the north and two brothers from the south. All three touched by loss so large it was almost an impossible good to fill until they meet Emala. Emala, has known love, loss and tragedy as well in her short life. Her mother's mates were murdered she was forced to marry another and produced her. AS Emala grew she watched her mother descend into madness further each year. Until Boehner 20th birthday her mother better her to flee for her step father was going to take her as his own. Force to flee with the knowledge her mother would be dead soon she races into the mountains where more danger awaits for such a gentle soul. Tragedy strikes again and that is where the triad find her. Their shared history and misfortunes bond them quickly together but it is the love and devotion they share that makes this book such a beautiful read. Once they learned to trust, love blossoms and takes root deeply in their souls. S.I Saunders knows how to spin a tale and capture you within its pages leaving always wanting more.. Terrific story!🌹💖🌹💖🌹💖🌹💖🌹🌹💖
June 9, 2024
4.1⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emala 🫶 Mishar, Korash, & Vordri
I'm neck deep in my "discovering reverse harem" era right now and this was a beautiful little story after a series I just completed. The story was engaging and detailed but quick, which I enjoyed.
Mishar was the sweetest Ragoru mate!!! I kinda wish this was longer, just so I could read more about their one-on-one adventures through the forest.
Vordri, was honestly so funny to me, the way he didn't want Emala and was convinced she was casting some kind of spell on Mishar had me dying. He eventually mellowed out, but I loved their slight enemies-to-lovers vibes.
Korash, was a true leader, he provided a stability to their relationship and the story that I appreciated. I liked how strategically he revealed things (iykyk). In the end he was also a sweetie; his back story was so sad tho.
Emala, overall I really liked her, but there were two moments in this book where I wanted to beat her over the head with a stick! Ughhhhhh, I hope she learned her lesson in the end, bc geez she was an idiot sometimes. Regardless I loved how attached she became to Mishar in the beginning and eventually got Vordri to come around. Her love for all three was the cutest thing 🥹
Overall, great short read! Highly recommend if you're just starting out with RH and want a slower burn romance!
Emala 🫶 Mishar, Korash, & Vordri
I'm neck deep in my "discovering reverse harem" era right now and this was a beautiful little story after a series I just completed. The story was engaging and detailed but quick, which I enjoyed.
Mishar was the sweetest Ragoru mate!!! I kinda wish this was longer, just so I could read more about their one-on-one adventures through the forest.
Vordri, was honestly so funny to me, the way he didn't want Emala and was convinced she was casting some kind of spell on Mishar had me dying. He eventually mellowed out, but I loved their slight enemies-to-lovers vibes.
Korash, was a true leader, he provided a stability to their relationship and the story that I appreciated. I liked how strategically he revealed things (iykyk). In the end he was also a sweetie; his back story was so sad tho.
Emala, overall I really liked her, but there were two moments in this book where I wanted to beat her over the head with a stick! Ughhhhhh, I hope she learned her lesson in the end, bc geez she was an idiot sometimes. Regardless I loved how attached she became to Mishar in the beginning and eventually got Vordri to come around. Her love for all three was the cutest thing 🥹
Overall, great short read! Highly recommend if you're just starting out with RH and want a slower burn romance!
July 21, 2025
It wasn't a bad retelling, with the post-apo, science-fiction-y and fantasy vibes it was interesting.
I liked the three Ragoru, they were all distinct enough. Mishar was the sweetest guy around and I loved him, Korash was also sweet, but he needed some time to show this, Vordri was a bit of an ass, but he got over his mistrust and was a caring mate too.
I didn't like Emala, she didn't learn anything during the whole journey to her Ragoru. She was running away, getting kidnapped and her most cautious mate told her not to open the door to anyone, and that idiot opens the door, invites a stranger inside and eats an apple that they handed to her. Not a hundred pages earlier a guy tried to drug her with food/drink, how could someone be so gullible to fall for the same trick again?
Then what was with the huntsmen leaving the area, they lived for killing Ragoru and they didn't want to just kill them all? I know that the plot the way it went was closer to Snow White, but it wasn't believable and it took me out of the story a bit. The same with them staying for a year or two even though they knew that the huntsmen had found their den before, it didn't make sense that they didn't move away ass soon as the weather was good.
I liked the three Ragoru, they were all distinct enough. Mishar was the sweetest guy around and I loved him, Korash was also sweet, but he needed some time to show this, Vordri was a bit of an ass, but he got over his mistrust and was a caring mate too.
I didn't like Emala, she didn't learn anything during the whole journey to her Ragoru. She was running away, getting kidnapped and her most cautious mate told her not to open the door to anyone, and that idiot opens the door, invites a stranger inside and eats an apple that they handed to her. Not a hundred pages earlier a guy tried to drug her with food/drink, how could someone be so gullible to fall for the same trick again?
Then what was with the huntsmen leaving the area, they lived for killing Ragoru and they didn't want to just kill them all? I know that the plot the way it went was closer to Snow White, but it wasn't believable and it took me out of the story a bit. The same with them staying for a year or two even though they knew that the huntsmen had found their den before, it didn't make sense that they didn't move away ass soon as the weather was good.
September 26, 2020
If you loved the book Red, you'll LOVE this work.
It expands on the story of Emala and how she came to find her triad. Again, Sanders shows amazing detail to scenery, characters, and development.
While being a "retelling" of snow white in it's own right, Sanders manages to walk the line. It's easy to forget you're reading an adaption and the similarities are so subtle and mentioned in such a way that it takes you a moment to connect it to the beloved fairy tale.
While this book had less erotic scenes then Sanders' other works, I didn't mind at all. I found myself engrossed in the story even though I'm reading through this genre for the sexy time scenes. The romance is more pronounced than the sex scenes and you really feel the love of Emala and her Triad.
Beautiful story, worth every minute of reading!
It expands on the story of Emala and how she came to find her triad. Again, Sanders shows amazing detail to scenery, characters, and development.
While being a "retelling" of snow white in it's own right, Sanders manages to walk the line. It's easy to forget you're reading an adaption and the similarities are so subtle and mentioned in such a way that it takes you a moment to connect it to the beloved fairy tale.
While this book had less erotic scenes then Sanders' other works, I didn't mind at all. I found myself engrossed in the story even though I'm reading through this genre for the sexy time scenes. The romance is more pronounced than the sex scenes and you really feel the love of Emala and her Triad.
Beautiful story, worth every minute of reading!
September 5, 2022
These books are great, fight me
I've said it before and I'll say it again, these books are so imaginative and different and fun. I actually think I like this one more than Red, if only because Emala already knew about the ragoru's so we got to get to the fun stuff faster. I also think this book was paced a lot better. No part drags and everything hits its mark. There's not a ton of action like in Red but what is in here is great.
Emela is a little naive but you kind of let It go considering her past and how she grew up. She's not an idiot though and I appreciate that greatly.
This is a solid fantasy romance with alien wolf things that are really hot and flirty for some reason. And if you're into monster alien romances this will definitely be right up your alley. Five stars because what notes can I give?
I've said it before and I'll say it again, these books are so imaginative and different and fun. I actually think I like this one more than Red, if only because Emala already knew about the ragoru's so we got to get to the fun stuff faster. I also think this book was paced a lot better. No part drags and everything hits its mark. There's not a ton of action like in Red but what is in here is great.
Emela is a little naive but you kind of let It go considering her past and how she grew up. She's not an idiot though and I appreciate that greatly.
This is a solid fantasy romance with alien wolf things that are really hot and flirty for some reason. And if you're into monster alien romances this will definitely be right up your alley. Five stars because what notes can I give?
September 18, 2022
I went into reading this book thinking it was going to be a mental healing type book because of what I was told from Red, when Emala's story was brought up in that book.
I did not think it was going to be a lot deeper than that. I did not think we were going to get the males different character developments, I honestly didn't know all that I was getting from this book. Though I am so very surprised and it was so very good. I do think it's better than Red, like I would read this story again whereas Red I would not.
The Spice scenes in this book, 10 out of 10. Not too much spice but quite a bit more spice than I was expecting and its romantic spice.
Story? so good, I was wondering what sort of conflict was going to happen and honestly following a Snow White theme, it was beautiful.
I did not think it was going to be a lot deeper than that. I did not think we were going to get the males different character developments, I honestly didn't know all that I was getting from this book. Though I am so very surprised and it was so very good. I do think it's better than Red, like I would read this story again whereas Red I would not.
The Spice scenes in this book, 10 out of 10. Not too much spice but quite a bit more spice than I was expecting and its romantic spice.
Story? so good, I was wondering what sort of conflict was going to happen and honestly following a Snow White theme, it was beautiful.
January 18, 2020
What a thrilling story!
I love the synchronicity we see as this story develops! All three of the Rogaru triad are appealing - each in their own way, with their own strengths and abilities. My very favorite of Emala’s triad is Mishar. He’s a rescuer, the first to accept her, never has the doubts that Korash and the overprotective Vordri have. Emala has a dangerous, powerful, huntsman on her trail. He is evil, and relentless. Such an exciting story - I enjoyed it, and am intrigued by the build-up for the next story set in this world. I’m ready for more...
I love the synchronicity we see as this story develops! All three of the Rogaru triad are appealing - each in their own way, with their own strengths and abilities. My very favorite of Emala’s triad is Mishar. He’s a rescuer, the first to accept her, never has the doubts that Korash and the overprotective Vordri have. Emala has a dangerous, powerful, huntsman on her trail. He is evil, and relentless. Such an exciting story - I enjoyed it, and am intrigued by the build-up for the next story set in this world. I’m ready for more...
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