#WhyChoose?

Consort of Secrets was my second time reading an Eva Chase novel. I hadn't read the prequel (Rose's Boys), but I'm happily getting that emailed to me now, so I can check it out.

Let's start with what I liked: I liked what Chase started to build with her concept of witches. In Rose's world, witches are women who carry a spark of magic. However, that magic isn't fully under their control (or even fully activated) until they formally "mate" with a consort, a male with a genetic connection to witches.

This genetic quirk is what gets Rose into her current predicament. If she doesn't connect with her consort by the age of 25, that magic spark, her magic potential, will expire, and she'll be little more than an ordinary human. Unfortunately for Rose, who's dangerously near 25, this means she pretty much has to marry the best of the sparing options out there.

I was pretty interested in this take on witches, and I'd like to learn more about it. It seems that there's a governing body as well as strict social guidelines and values that shape the way Rose is raised and educated. Unfortunately for me, there's not a ton of world-building. The plot was more focused on moving through the current action without as much cushion being provided to understand the social and governmental world of the witches.

That being said, I don't think the lack of world-building really affects the reader's ability to understand Consort of Secrets, but I think we'd be able to connect more with Rose's struggles if we knew about the basis behind them.

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Another bonus is that Chase is writing in the sub-genre, Reverse Harem. Basically, this means that Rose (and the reader) don't have to choose when faced with a variety of delicious male leads. Rose's "boys" aka her five closest childhood companions haven't seen her in 11 years, but that time apart has not dimmed their affection for her. Chase includes a variety of archetypes- the protective, sensible one (Seth), the intellectual/tech-nerd (Ky), artsy traveler (Jin), bad boy (Damon), and dependable backbone (Gabriel).

There's equal opportunity for readers to crush on whichever boy most fits your type.

Like her other series (The Dragon Shifter's Mates), the story is told through the female lead's point of view with various chapters dipping into the boys' minds. I've always been a fan of the mixed perspective method for telling stories, and I think it's a great tool for a story where so many characters are equally important. The little "sneak peeks" into the boys' minds help us get to know them more on an individual basis and to see their personal connections and feelings for Rose. Without them, I think it would be more difficult to connect with the men without them blending together.

Fair warning, this is not a slow burn romance.

Although it takes awhile for the romance to really kick in, once it does, it's off to a quick start. If you're not looking for scenes involving multiple partners, this book is not for you. If you're totally cool with a polyamorous main character, go for it! Considering I've followed the Anita Blake series since its beginning, so, needless to say, I'm not shocked or scared away by polyamory.

I liked that the novel isn't just about the romance. There's an actual plot revolving around Rose's upcoming marriage/consort ritual and the machinations of her decidedly wicked stepmother. I thought that there was enough surprise in the conflict (and villain reveal) to keep me hooked, and Chase leaves a clear opening for continuing with Rose and her boys for at least another book.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Consort of Secrets, and I'll totally check out the next book, so I can learn more about the witch world, Rose, and her lovely men.