An Urban Fantasy Novel (War of the Alphas Book 1)

This book really kept my interest all the way through. I stayed up all night long reading. It is now 8am. The ending made me want to cry like a Mashed Cat! Why Sara, why! I'm hoping it will not be so when I start the next book. (Can't explain what I'm talking about without giving away spoilers). Just know that it doesn't end with a cliffhanger. The characters make you love them one minute and hate them the next. For those of you who haven't read the first two series that go with this book, don't worry. Neither have I. And it made all the sense in the world. At first I was hesitant to start it but Ms. Reine did a great job wring it as a standalone.

I absolutely was in love with this book from page one. I have been a fan of Reins for several years and was looking forward to a new stand alone series.

Deirdre like every other being is reborn after the events of Genesis (events from The Asscention Series Book 7 "Sins of Eden" http://www.the store.com/Sins-Eden-Ascension-Book-7-ebook/dp/B00MXEGCKS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426802111&sr=8-1&keywords=sins+of+eden).

As someone who was like every other human for the the first 10 years of her life, she is not most definitely not like the rest of her kind now. She doesn't even know what her kind is since she can't shift. She has all the qualities of a shifter, even if they are a bit diluted compared to the rest of the shifters, both new and old. She just can't turn into an animal and she doesn't know why. After being promised to help her discover what her animal is she agrees to go under cover to take down the rebil group that wants to destroy the current shifter Alpha. But is she willing to go against the person she is to find her animal?

The only thing I have to say negatively about the book is that it is supposed to be a stand alone series, however there are very subtle hints and some not so subtle hits to happenings from other books. I think a small companion novella or a prologue at the beginning if the book about genesis would help to explain some of the confusion without a reader needing to go through 14 someodd books to figure out what it was. As someone who has followed all the works by Reine it wasn't an issue for me, but I think there will be some confusion to newer readers.

I did not like this book and had i known it was a serial, i would not have read it! ESPECIALLY with the cliff hanger ending.
******* SPOILER ALERT ******** READ OR NOT ******* YOUR CHOICE ***********
We know Deirdre wants to know what her shape shifter could be, but to become a junkie? even undercover, are you that desperate? At the beginning of the story, she was ok, but the further it gets, i start disliking her. Then we have Gage, a time bomb waiting to explode, sent undercover as well by Rylie. she knows his story, but let him go anyway. I think there was a lot of unnecessary killing involved, but that's just me. Both Alphas, Stark and Rylie, neither deserves any respect. Did not like either of them. as for the ending, what happened with Gage, was TOTALLY WRONG!! Yes, this is an Urban Fantasy, but it is extremely dark and bloody, with a lot of violence involved. and others may like it, i didn't. From what i can see the story continues with 3 more books, for me , it ends here.

I say this every S.M. Reine book I read. EVERY ONE. And I'm going to say it this time. There comes a point in every one of her books where I have to quietly put the book down and walk away because WTF, MAN! WHY YOU KILLING ME LIKE THIS?!?!

*gives everyone the crazy eyes*

Soooo... Deirdre has a few issues. Not being able to shift really seems like the least of her worries at the moment. She has a nightmare on her tail, a power hungry alpha with the ability to compel giving her a second look, and friends who might not be friends but maybe they are and it's all a little confusing when you look at it from the outside.

It's not really confusing. It's complicated and tangled and Deirdre is torn between hating Rylie for her part in her division from the other shifters and wanting to help out because Stark is kinda batshit crazy at times.

Nobody likes a batshit crazy alpha, man. Actually, some people do. Which is a big part of the problem. With so many disenfranchised rallying to Stark's cause and Stark's willingness to do WHATEVER is necessary to reach his endgame, Deirdre is in a bad place.

Given that this is a S.M. Reine series, I can pretty much guarantee that bad place will only get worse before too long.

*whimpers*

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Each time I think I'm done with this world, I keep getting sucked back in! This new series is set after the events of the previous series that essentially re-wrote the world. People who were "mundane" previously, woke up as a werewolf or a vampire or some strange and unusual "gaean species." This has, obviously, changed the world dramatically. This new world is filled with two growing factions - those who support the alpha (Rylie) and those who support a new terrorist who wants to replace the alpha (Everton). Deirdre is a foster kid who was raised in a system that couldn't really support her. She was transformed into a shifter who cannot shift (an omega).

While running from an "moon sick" wolf (doing some awesome free running on the way), she attracts the attention of Rylie and her pack. Deirdre is recruited for an undercover mission to infiltrate Everton's camp because she can easily sell the idea of wanting a new regime. She's even given a partner in crime, a big and unpredictable pack shifter. These two get into all sorts of trouble along the way, but ultimately are successful in infiltrating Everton's camp.

This book begins a really interesting new series that I can't wait to dive into. It satisfies my need for more of my favorite characters while still giving me some completely new and wonderful characters to throw into the mix. This world is completely unique and captivating, something I've come to expect from this author no matter what series I read.

This is definitely not a romance book. It's not categorized right. It's actually very depressing with no HEA. I read the whole series. There are no happy endings or heroes. It's all anti-heroes and villians (I'm not talking the good sarcastic awesome kind either). It's very tragic and depressing. If you read it do not get attached to any characters. I kept reading because I thought the hero would start caring for the heroine and redeem himself--he didn't. He doesn't ever care for her. And the supposed herione kind of redeems herself in the last book. Kind of. All the crap she's done--I did not like her. Nor the supposed hero. I didn't like any of the characters. From the beginning the hero physically and emotionally abuses her and tries to kill her many times. He does succeed too.

Definitely not a romance. No HEA.

Disclosure: This was my second read of Omega as it was included in a four book gift from the author including the newest in the series, PAS. I decided to reread just to remind myself of the story so far. I stick with the review below. This current copy isn't loanable as it is just for review.

Disclosure: I received this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

But, hey! This was another Sara Reine adventure! How could I not love it? Yet another series is grown from the Six Moon Summer beginning. How it is possible Ms. Reine can be so prolific? She's the alpha writer!

I have to admit to being a bit lost at first. What in the world is an Omega shifter? But that is, indeed, what the question of the book is. Even though we get to see Rylie for a bit, this story isn't from her point of view. Now we get to see what has happened to the world since it ended and started again. Yet evil still exists and causes all kind of problems. Our Omega shifter must learn to deal with it all and figure out where she fits in.

This was not my favorite of all the books, but it was fun to revisit old friends and see that there is still hope of more story yet to come.

I have been a fan of SM Reine since her first series about Elise and James. While I have loved many of her books since, none held me quite the way series did. Until now. Omega is still in the world of the supernatural, but deals with the aftermath. Ten years past the rebirth of the world, a new world filled with supernatural beings that didn't exist before and the rules and laws have changed. Deidre is a shifter who can't shift. No longer human but not considered a true shifter by other shifters, Deidre has no place in the world. In her limbo state she has learned to survive but it is neither happy or healthy for her to stay the way she is. What she couldn't know is what she considered her greatest weakness, her inability to shift, may just hold the key to saving the world from a new type of bad guy, one neither heaven nor hell could have thought up. A few players from other books come into play in Omega and having read the other books sheds greater insight on where they are coming from, but it is not necessary to understand or enjoy this book, a first in what looks to be a great series. I highly recommend this book to fans of SM Reine, and of shifters in general. This is a new twist on how the most mighty seems to be the weakest.

Originally posted on February 5, 2016.
*I received a free eARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Yes, I know this is extremely late.

Omega is about Deidre Tombs, a shifter who can't shift. That is the reason why others fear her (she's different), why the pack rejected her and kickstarted her life of living in multiple different places (such as an orphan living in different foster homes ect). She's had a tough life because of this, however, she suddenly becomes one of the most important people to the pack Alpha, Rylie Gresham, because of her ability to not be compelled by Everton Stark. Thus her journey begins.

My favourite part of this novel is Deidre. Why? Because she may be an Omega, one of the weakest shifters, but she isn't a damsel in distress nor is she seeking acceptance while being eager to prove her worth. Deidre isn't one to get into stupid situations and need to be saved. She isn't helpless or weak or submissive. Nope. She's actually a badass character who can hold her own. She sees everything clearly, more than any of the other characters. She lured a killer werewolf away from innocents and risked being killed herself, and all she had was a gun that she knew wouldn't stop him! She isn't easily swayed to either side of this war, nor is she completely sure of herself either. She is strong, skilled, and she gets back up every time she's thrown down. But she still gets hurt, she still has feelings, she still makes mistakes. And most of all? She see things how they are. She knows Stark is a bad guy, and that he's going about things in a bad way, but she realizes that his cause isn't all that bad. Helping the rejected and making sure everyone has a place? Yeah, that's awesome! And she also sees that while Rylie is a good Alpha, she has made mistakes that can't be undone. Rylie doesn't see the pain and hurt she's caused, while Stark only wants to hurt and kill those who hurt him and others. Deidre sees this. She isn't dumb or under any illusions, and that makes her someone very important. I definitely think she'll take action on her own sometime throughout this series. Until then, she's doing pretty good.

I enjoyed the romance. It was more of a sub plot, and both characters weren't sure if it would really lead to anything, but it filled a void for the time so they kept at it. They knew it wouldn't fix or help things, and this isn't a book where love is stronger than everything else. It was just nice to see Deidre have something in such a dark time. That said, the ending broke my heart just a bit. It was obvious they wouldn't be a forever couple, and that Gage's self-hate ran too deep for them to ever really be truly happy together, but I didn't think it would end so soon. Especially in that way.

The writing was great too. The author knows how to keep the flow going and how to keep us on our toes and how to mess with our emotions. I felt so bad for Deidre a lot of the time, but there were also some points where I was mad at her (view spoiler), and some points where I just wasn't entirely sure how to feel. Stark was another character that made me feel mixed emotions. I don't like him, not at all. But there were certain times where we saw a glimpse of something else, and then I'd start to wonder why he's so invested in taking down Rylie and killing people to make a point.

Overall, I love this book. I love this author. And you should definitely read Reine's books.

I don't normally give negative reviews but I feel it's necessary here. The ending of this book is heartbreaking. The heroine becomes a murder and honestly it's not even in self defense. Her friend/boyfriend is suicial and ultimately she kills him minutes after having sex with him. She is physically abused multiple times throughout the book. Not only that but she is forced to do drugs to try to find out what her shifter animal is. Not sure what kind of messages this author is trying to send but I won't be reading the second book. Per the reviews it continues to be just as dark as this one was.

We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination. - Nelson Mandela

I stood up as best I could to their disgusting stupidity and brutality, but I did not, of course, manage to beat them at their own game. It was a fight to the bitter end, one in which I was not defending ideals or beliefs but simply my own self. - George Grosz

Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things. - Winston Churchill

Twenty years ago, everyone died. Everyone. Man, woman and child, none were saved. And yet, once the Genesis Void passed, people returned – though not all. And those who did rise from their deaths returned to a world where myth and legend live, and you could very well awaken to find that you are a fairytale character. Sidhe and vampire, demon and were, all walk an Earth where humans are no longer the dominant species.

But massive change leads to mass confusion, and housing, feeding and providing care for the newly mythical brings about a razor sharp divide between the ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have Nots’ – and as Winston Churchill pointed out, “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” And Deirdre Tombs is miserable since she returned. For though she is purportedly a were – she heals swiftly and moves quickly – she cannot change. And since she cannot change, she isn’t trusted to live in ‘Sanctuary’ – the safe, exclusive world created for and by ‘true’ shapeshifters. Shuffled from decrepit foster home to skid row group house, she is beaten and abused, hated and feared. Now, she lives in a condemned building with her friend, an Asanbosam Vampire, and works for a Nightmare. Literally. But when ‘moon-sickness’ begins to flow through the were population, Dierdre is recruited by the very people who turned her away, who left her to the cruelties of the socialized foster system – a very broken, very vicious foster system. Of course, the system wasn’t only cruel to Dierdre – and Everton Stark is determined to make Rylie Gresham, werewolf Alpha, pay for the pain and deprivation of the many when Rylie made sure that ‘her’ wolves lived in peace and plenty.

When Rylie offers Dierdre a chance to learn what she is, which she has longed for all of her life, in return for infiltrating Stark’s group, she accepts the challenge. But now is when things get fuzzy. For the lines between good and bad, truth and lies, begin to blur . . .

Set in the world of Preternatural Affairs, the OPA holds minimal place within the story, yet looms over the scene, sure to be felt in later books in the series. PA is still my favorite of all Sara’s work, and this new series, War of the Alphas, expands the idea in a wildly creative manner. One warning – when you open this book, be sure that you do so early in the day, and have nothing else to do. The ‘smart’ side of my brain kept saying, “Go to bed, nutcase!” The obsessive part? Well, she won – I finished it at four this morning!

I received this book from Sara in exchange for a realistic review. Goooo ME!!! Sara is one of my favorite authors (and a wonderful person, btw) and she has reached another level of WOW in this new series!

I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

This is the first book I have read by S M Reine but it certainly won't be my last and I will be actively looking for others that they have written.

10 years ago Genocide happened. Deidre Toombs died. She was 10 years old. The next day she was reborn as a shifter, but a shifter that cannot shift, an Omega. Ridiculed and rejected by other shifters, refused entry into Sanctuary she spent her childhood in group homes being bullied but she learned to survive. A feisty, independent loner who would love to find out what "animal" she is. Deidre has one thing that no one else has, she is able to resist being compelled to commit acts against her will. A madman, Stark, wants to become Alpha. To do this he has to get rid of Riley Gresham the current Alpha. He has the ability to compel people to do his bidding by ordering them with his voice.

Riley Gresham learns of Deidre's ability and promises Deidre entry into the Sanctuary and aide to find out what sort of "animal" she is if Deidre infiltrates Starks forces and prevents him from carrying out his plan. To help her Riley sends Gage with her, a Berserker and a shifter. A man with ghosts and problems of his own.

This is a great urban paranormal read. It grabbed me from the beginning and I read it in almost one sitting. I like it that Stark is a really repelling character, one that you can't wait for Deidre to get the better of. Rooting for both Deidre and Gage every time they were in conflict with him, hoping that they get the upper hand. The idea that he could win had me sitting on the edge of my seat willing Deidre and Gage on, holding my breath and groaning out loud when things don't go quite how I wanted them to.

The tension built throughout the novel until the explosive confrontation at the end.

I can't wait until the next instalment.

A book I would recommend.

**I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review
It's been 10 years since everyone died and many of them were reborn. Most of those reborn were now OTHER, like shape shifters and vampires. Deidre was one such person that was reborn as a shape shifter. She has many of the attributes, but unfortunately, she can't actually shift. This makes her an Omega and an outcast. Yet somehow she's found herself an MVP between two alphas: the Alpha in charge of all shifters and the Alpha that is forming an uprising to become the Alpha in charge.
As soon as I started reading this book, I was totally drawn in. Deidre has been given the short end of the stick since the beginning of her "new" life. She's just trying to survive with what's been given to her when she's suddenly thrust in this war. During the entire novel, you can't help but feel for her. By her lot in life, she should be on the side of the rebels, but dreams of a better life and morals draw her in to helping the current Alpha, even at the risk of her life. Either way, you want her to survive and come out on top. I can't wait for the next one in this series.
I would highly recommend anyone that's a fan of urban fantasy.

I enjoyed this book very much. It's the first book in SM Reine's War of the Alphas series, which takes place 10 years after the events in the Ascension series.

Deirdre is an Omega, a shapeshifter that can't shift. She has suffered for being that. She's become a bad-ass in the process. I LOVE her. She is amazing. Being an Omega has one advantage - she's immune to the mind control of Alphas. When evil Everton Stark decides to become THE Alpha and overthrow Rylie Gresham, Rylie asks Deirdre to go undercover in Everton's den. Also going with her is Gage, a berserker who can't control his temper.

Lots of twists and turns and a bit of a cliffhanger ending. It's darker than some of her other books. It had me turning the pages to find out what happened next.

**SPOILER ALERT***

I was hoping for a romance between Deirdre and Gage, but that doesn't appear to be possible. I think they would have made a cool couple.

***END SPOILER ALERT***

Romance took a bit of a backseat to the action, and that was cool. I do hope there's someone out there for our Omega Deirdre. ;)

Can't wait to read Beta!

Omega is the first in a new paranormal series by S.M. Reine. I am always looking for new series to read and this looked interesting.

There were things I liked. The world building was interesting and has a lot of potential. After that the book was a big disappointment. I never got a handle on the characters. While Deirdre was interesting the other characters surrounding her never rang true. That left the plot limping along without much support.

I did see the end coming. It is a cliff-hanger that does not solve anything just sets up the next book. I will give book 2 a try to see if the series get better. It does have potential it just is not realized in book one.

SM Seine brings readers a spin off series from the world of the Ascension. Omega is the first book in the War of the Alphas series and features Deidre, a shapeshifter that is unable to shift. Readers who are familiar with the Ascension series already know about Genesis and how normal mundane people die and wake as werewolves, vampires and other creatures. This heroine has a problem, she's a shifter but she doesn't know what animal she is supposed to be. Seine continues to blow the minds of readers who love her writing and style.

I have read a few of the Ascension books and liked them very much. I was excited to hear that there would be a spin off series that would feature some of the characters from the Ascension world. Deidre is a really strong character. Reine was able to make her status as an Omega seem like a badge of honor for this character. She used it to her advantage though she desperately wanted to know what was wrong with her and how to fix it. Deidre wasn't too sure whether to trust Rylie, the alpha or to side with Everton, the usurper. It was interesting to see how Reine made that choice play out and how it will affect the rest of the series.

The world building in this series is pretty amazing. It takes the world of Ascension and somehow magnifies the players and tensions. In the Ascension series you got that feeling of urgency, but it wasn't as prevalent as it was here. The reader is treated to a series that could potentially stand on it's own but Reine does mention things that have happened in the past. I don't think it's necessary to back track and read the whole series, but it might be wise to read the last couple of books, just to get the necessary background.

Bottom Line:

For me there has to be a reason for a spin-off. If it's really just a continuation of a previous series under a different name, I'm not that interested. With War of the Alpha's the Ascension world is a factor but certainly not the whole ball of wax. Reine has created a distinctly different set of characters and circumstances to set this series apart from her previous books. I loved Deidre and her tough attitude. She was a warrior in a lot of ways and I liked the way Reine wrote her. Looking forward to seeing if this series lives up to the last. A great first book!

Welcome to the latest series set in Reine’s world of Shifters, Godslayers, Demons and magic.

Some housekeeping first. Do you need to have read the previous books to understand what is going on here? It can’t hurt. Although this is set in the brave new world after the genesis, there are some points which you will probably miss out on a little bit, if you don’t know about the intricacies of the world before. As I have read the previous books,it is difficult for me to un-know all that information, but I think that the author does an OK job of giving sufficient information for those who might not know this world.

And so to the book itself. These characters are strong individuals. And, although Dierdre is referred to as an Omega, by no stretch of the imagination could she be described as weak. She is very much a kick ass character, reminiscent of Elise Kavanagh, and that is one of the real high points of this book.

Now, this book is very violent. Not just fantasy violence – but real person on person stuff. And it is described in an unflinchingly brutal manner which is required to get across the nature of Everton Stark. Whilst sometimes a little difficult to read, I think it was necessarily so.

Additionally, the differing views of the actions taken by Rylie as Alpha, when she has previously been portrayed as one of the good guys was an intriguing element to this story.

Overall, this was a great introduction to the new series. I am curious as to what Dierdre’s animal is going to be. I have my suspicions. It remains to be seen if I am right, but I suspect that whatever it is, the manner of its reveal will be impressive.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Omega is about Deirdre Tombs, a shape shifter whose form is a mystery which makes her an omega in a pack. This also means she’s not much of a threat to Everton Stark, the man attempting to take down Riley Gresham. So she might just be Riley’s best chance at taking Everton down for good. This book is yet another installment in the Descentverse which span serveral series that can be read on their own or together. I really love the sheer amount of books set in this universe. While this series is certainly stand alone I would highly recommend starting with a different series simply because this one does rely on some background knowledge of who Riley is, and how she came to be who she is in their world. If you have read Reine’s other series and you’re wondering if this one is worth your time, I would say yes. If you are looking for a new book and haven’t read any of Reine’s work before you should know the stories are rather dark. She also publishes pretty often and many of her books are available for free to help you get started.
Cons: For me I think Reine was a little heavy handed with the romance in Omega but given the events I suppose I get why. I think that’s it?
Pros: Reine once again did not let me down with that ending, she is never afraid to go all the way and her stories don’t end with a cute little bow of happiness. As much as I think Riley has grown into a character I can like, it was nice to hae the story put on new characters considering how long we’ve been following Riley’s story. I’m very much looking forward to solving the mysteries of both Everton’s and Deirdre’s animal forms. Everton is such a good bad guy, I honestly want Deirdre to kick his ass so bad, I can’t wait. Please let that happen. I read this book in one shot, so I’m not sure if that is a testament to how short the book ir or how good it is, but I was certainly engaged the entire time. Looking foward to jumping into the next book in the series which is currently on my kindle and waiting for me now.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have come to expect an intriquing premise and solid writing from S.M. Reine. Omega was no exception.

Deirdre Tombs has struggled since her rebirth as a shifter who can't shift. She is called an Omega which is the lowest position in the pack. Deirdre is considered a danger since her animal is unknown. She has been tossed around for ten years since her rebirth. The Alpha of the werewolf pack, Rylie Gresham, needs Deirdre's help to infiltrate a rival Alpha, Everton Stark's pack who is bent on dominance and destruction. Everton uses compulsion to make shifters carry out his orders. Deirdre is the only one immune to his power. Will Deirdre be able to help Rylie? Can an Omega rise in the ranks, or will Deirdre always be at the bottom of the pack?

Deirdre is determined to overcome her Omega status. She works hard and is unwilling to be the punching bag for anyone with more power. Deirdre's perseverance despite adversity made her a stronger character. Everton is powerful with the ability to control other shifters and the charisma to attract people to his cause. Despite his sadistic tendencies, I thought Everton was an interesting character and look forward to learning more about him. If you are looking for a well written, action packed, paranormal urban fantasy, then give Omega a try.

After Genesis everything was different. The world ended and that was recreated and not everyone came back. Some that did come back didn’t come back the same. The world is now full of different types of gaegans. Deirdre is a shifter but can’t actually shift and doesn’t know what her animal is supposed to be. They call her an Omega which is not a compliment. She has had to fight and survive for 10 years since Genesis and now this. One more complications she just doesn’t need.

Gage is a mystery. Deirdre meets hi when visiting Rylie Gresham and he insists he go with her undercover into Starks operation. Deirdre starts falling for Gage and is really surprised to find out what type of shifter he is. Great chemistry between these two!

SM Reine series are some of my favorites. She writes great series and when they end it’s not really the end another series starts that introduces new characters without giving up the storyline that has been going on for so long or losing other beloved characters which is why Reine is one of my favorite authors. It is important to read her other works before starting these series if you want the full stories but each series can be read without the other and you will still love it.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to get into this story after my absolute obsession with the Descent and Ascension series. This story was a great continuation of that (and other) series written by this fantastic author. While you could read this as a stand-alone book, you would miss out a whole lot of back-story if you're starting from here. With so much back-story, the storyline may be a bit confusing to the new reader. It ends on quite a cliffhanger (a bit of a peeve of mine). All in all, a great return to this wonderfully creative world.

As a shifter who can’t shift, Deirdre has been alone her whole life. When people find out that she’s an Omega, they either target her or avoid her like the plague. Caught up in a rogue killing sprees, Deirdre suspects more than a loss of control is the cause. To find out the truth, she’s sent undercover. But things are worse than anyone ever suspected. A new alpha has come to town, determined to claim everything as his own and destroy anyone who tries to stop him. With the power to control any shifter, he might be able to do it. Only one thing stands in his way...Deirdre.

Omega hooked me from the very beginning! There’s something very compelling about Deirdre. As much as I liked her off-beat character, I loved the world building even more! Some of the descriptive scenes really made the book come alive. Not only were all the characters unique, the many plot twists kept me glued to the pages. Even though I enjoyed Deirdre, there were times I didn’t understand her, something just a little bit off that kept me from empathizing with her completely. I’m still shocked at the slight cliffhanger ending. I was waiting for some of the characters to redeem themselves, and it didn’t happen. Part of me hates the ending, while the other part of me really hopes that Mrs. Reine can fix it in the next book. I can’t wait to find out what happens in book two Beta!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book in a new series. If you've never read SM Reine you have to read her Descent Series and her Ascension Series. This is a continuation from the last book in the Ascension series Sins of Eden.
It's ten years after Genesis. When the world ended and then came back. A lot of people who came back are shapeshifters, sidhe, fae, or vampire. This about Deirdre Tombs and how she survived after the end of the world as a shapeshifter who can't shift. She's Omega, the weakest in a pack.
Deirdre does repos for a nightmare demon called Gutterman. When on her last job she is seen by the people she is doing the repo on, so now Gutterman can't use her anymore. So he's sent a hit man after her. This is where she meets Rylie Gresham. Rylie needs her to go undercover in a pack who's Alpha, Everton Stark is trying to take over Rylie's position. Rylie sends her in with Gage Cicierone, also a shifter. They need to find out how many followers he has and his plans for the take over.

This was, for me, like her other books. I couldn't put it down, Read it all in once sitting.
Sara is by far one of the best Urban Fantasy authors ever.

I can not recommend this book highly enough. I am looking forward to the next book later in April.

I was given an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to get into this story after my absolute obsession with the Descent and Ascension series. This story was a great continuation of that (and other) series written by this fantastic author. While you could read this as a stand-alone book, you would miss out a whole lot of back-story if you're starting from here. With so much back-story, the storyline may be a bit confusing to the new reader. It ends on quite a cliffhanger (a bit of a peeve of mine). All in all, a great return to this wonderfully creative world.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book which is a start of a new series by S M Reine. In this book you get to see both sides and you can decide who you love or hate not you typical shifter story. You have a Omega who can't shift. S M Reine is a great storyteller able to make the characters come alive on the pages so you are able to react accordingly to the situation whether you love or hate them. Can't wait to read the next book in the series...….

I received Omega in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Omega takes place 10 years after the end of the Ascension series. Honestly, I didn’t think about what happened to people outside of the main characters. I’m not surprised that S.M. Reine not only thought about it, but created a whole new series centered around it.

Omg, this book is amazing. It tugged at my heart, had me bawling my eyes out and yelling at my kindle when i got to the end. I need the next book NOW! It was so great to see where Rylie and some of the characters were at years down the road and to see how the sanctuary has grown and meet the some new characters. I cant wait for the next book!

I received this as a free read from the author...It's one sh**storm after another that keeps a reader on the edge wondering if there's anything good in store for the characters. The reader is in a constant state of "Holy sh**! What's coming next? Deirdre tries to stay true to herself in a world that is against what she may be. She's in a consistent battle with who she really is and the role she accepted. The characters are well written, interesting, have depth, insanely crafted, delve in to the readers sympathies and create true tension in and out of the pages. The choices climb in difficulty and in violence for Deirdre and she's constantly in no win situations. Very good read, well written and played out. It leaves you feeling just as incomplete as the characters with their flaws. Can't wait for the next!

It is 2025, ten years after the apocalyptic event that left a large portion of the human population not so human any more. Shifters, witches, sidhe (faeries), even vampires have become prominent members of the population, transformed by the event known as Genesis. Normal humans still view these Gaeans with suspicion, and even among Gaeans there is a hierarchy.

Deirdre Tombs, a shifter who cannot shift, is at the very bottom of it. An Omega. For the ten years since Genesis, she’s lived in group homes for unwanted Gaean children, until she was kicked out the system and into public housing. She worked in repossession until she had a run-in with a man named Everton Stark, who plans to change the world...

...read the rest of this review at UndergroundBookReviews(dot)com

I received Omega in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Omega takes place 10 years after the end of the Ascension series. Honestly, I didn’t think about what happened to people outside of the main characters. I’m not surprised that S.M. Reine not only thought about it, but created a whole new series centered around it.

Omg, this book is amazing. It tugged at my heart, had me bawling my eyes out and yelling at my kindle when i got to the end. I need the next book NOW! It was so great to see where Rylie and some of the characters were at years down the road and to see how the sanctuary has grown and meet the some new characters. I cant wait for the next book!

This series must be read in order. This is the first book. I can't wait to read Beta next!

Deirdre woke up after Genesis alone. Her father never came back. She came back as a shifter unable to shift. This has left her reviled and mostly alone. No one really wants an unkown animal shifter around. Until she proves herself special. She is the only shifter able to ignore Stark's compulsions. That makes her unique and valuable. Will the Pack accept her now? Does she want them to?

***This series is suitable for adult readers who enjoy a bit of tragedy in their paranormal romance action adventures with plenty of intrigue and loads of suspense :)

This book was unexpected. Surprising and different in concept & world creation. I liked the development of characters , especially the main heroine and even her antagonist, as well as side characters. I liked the unusual and interesting concept of Genesis-an event that changes the world into one full of paranormal people and creatures, rather than humans being an he norm.

I wish that the Genesis concept hadn't been rushed in the beginning explanation, and I would have liked a few more pieces of information in several cases.
All said it was a fast paced, well written and edited book. I'll be reading the next one now!

A new Reine series that overlaps the Seasons of the Moon, Cain Chronicles, and the Ascension series. Although you could get through this novel without reading these series, I don't recommend it. There is so much backstory and world-building, that you should read at least one of the above-mentioned series to truly appreciate this book. I like that this book is set in the future and I enjoyed the mystery of the MC's shifting dilemma. Stark and Gage are intriguing as well. The cliffhanger ending will definitely encourage me to read the next one! For S.M. Reine fans.

Sara's first book in her new trilogy is leaving me so freaking excited for the next book! I love everything she writes they are always testing limits in the paranormal world and keep you craving more and more of what she writes and Omega does not disappoint!

I've read some reviews that mention new readers are confused about some of the characters involved, so I would like to add I always recommend when reading any of Sara's book's to jump over to her website for the recommended reading order. I personally love all her books and she has a fan for life in me!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to get into this story after my absolute obsession with the Descent and Ascension series. This story was a great continuation of that (and other) series written by this fantastic author. While you could read this as a stand-alone book, you would miss out a whole lot of back-story if you're starting from here. With so much back-story, the storyline may be a bit confusing to the new reader. It ends on quite a cliffhanger (a bit of a peeve of mine). All in all, a great return to this wonderfully creative world.

I haven't read any other series by SM Reine, but I understand this is a spin-off from earlier story lines. As a newcomer to Reine, I have to say that I'm impressed. The world building is great, unique, and tragic. A mysterious, world-wide attack (called "Genesis") wipes out the planet, but many of those who die return as supernatural beings. 'Omega' follows the story of Deirdre, a dormant shapeshifter who's a victim of a flawed government system. But what happens when a terrorist group led by a brutal, cruel, but enigmatic leader set out to overthrow that system? What is the lesser evil here? This is the question at the core of this story, for many of the characters, as Deirdre herself infiltrates the group on behalf of the ruling Alpha.

Midway through the book, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. The opening, while interesting and exciting, followed the synopsis of the book to the point where I was ready to get past all the 'business' and get to the unknown, uncharted parts of the story. It took us a little while to get to that point, but once we did, it's an adventure in uncharted territory. I applaud Reine for playing with the traditional sci-fi/post-apocalyptic/vaguely romantic mold, giving us a story that unfolds on its own terms and leaves us guessing exactly what's going to happen. There's some great set-up for the rest of the series, and it's worth exploring for the great, complicated tension between Deirdre and Stark alone.

Bottom line: if you like to be surprised by a story, if you like complicated but realistic romances, and if you like well-written scenes, I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of 'Omega' in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The beginning of OMEGA wasn't easy to get through. I was pretty lost until things started to be explained and the world started becoming a little more clear. If I had known that some of the characters were shared with a previous series of S.M. Reine's I probably would have read that series to catch up on the world building that I thought was missing in OMEGA.

I loved the mystery that was Deirdre. She nor anyone else knows what type of shifter she is and I spent the whole book waiting for her to shift or SOMETHING. OMEGA is labeled as an urban fantasy so there isn't a lot of romance but there is a bit of a love triangle between a good guy protector and the bad guy that seems to only want to use Deirdre. I wasn't exactly rooting for either of them, but I of course liked Gage better as a person.

I really disliked the ending of OMEGA. In fact just thinking about it now has me flabbergasted and wondering why I would even give book two a chance. I don't get it and I was left with a feeling of 'WTF?'. I'm hoping I misread the situation somehow and it will end up being very different from what was said happened. Wishful thinking maybe, but I enjoyed the rest of the book enough that I want to give book two a chance.

* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

his series must be read in order. This is the first book in the series.

This is an awesome Post-Apocalyptic paranormal Urban Fantasy. It has a unique storyline and a great plot filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing as to what would happen next. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series and anything else by Ms. Reine.

This book is suitable for adult readers only!

I was excited to return to this universe and get to read about Rylie again. This book really felt like a rebuilding of the universe. Getting to know Deirdre and what drives her as an "omega", the new bad guy, what the world is like etc. I can't wait for what comes next as she continues to become a stronger character and gets herself involved more and more.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I received this book from Netgalley.

Okay, so here's the thing. How come I've never read Sara Reine before? Because seriously? I loved the book. As in stayed up stupidly late to finish it. It's the first in a new series, but it's an offshoot of another series. Totally didn't matter. I didn't feel like I was at a loss at all.

I really liked the concept of the world with Genesis and the fae and the way it worked out. I thought the political stuff was fascinating, and I'd like to see more of the larger political arena. Is Rylie totally in charge of the USA or are there more factions?

I like Deirdre's character. She wasn't stupid, she was strong as a character, but not necessarily physically as strong as she'd want to be. She never backed down, never gave up. She did what she had to do. She was constantly struggling between survival and morality and her actions were guided by that struggle.

I thought Stark was a great bad guy. Driven by his own demons and his own sense of right and wrong, he brutally and ruthlessly goes after his plan to change the world. He's clearly got secrets, and one of them may be just what sort of shifter Deirdre is. She changes, or thinks she does, and he may have witnessed it. So that's a question for the next book.

I didn't see the end coming. Maybe I should have, but I was shocked. Reine isn't afraid and she takes an incredible risk with that end. but it's perfect.

The book is grim and harsh. The characters are believable. Gutterman was awesomely cool and it makes me wonder why Deirdre's fear is water, and also why, when she wakes up in the creek, she's not more freaked out. Questions . . . Questions . . .

I've already downloaded Betas to read. I'm going to be reading a lot more of Reine's books.

Omega is my favorite book thus far. I read it in just a few days it was that excellent. The book introduced a new "shifter" Deirdre and takes place/picks up ten years after the last ascension plot ended. Characters from the ascension series are part of Omega (think wolves) and reading it is like having the excitement of finding a new friend, while still having the comfortable familiarity of old pals. Very good storyline that does not dull at all, it is sharp and cleverly written from start to finish.

I received a free copy of this book on my kindle from the author in exchange of a review. This series is the aftermath of the Genesis caused by Rylie and gang from another series. Wow this book was crazy. It was really interesting and am eager to see where this series is headed as a whole. Even though Everton Stark is the bad guy I kind of like him and interested to hear more of his back story. A great intro to a new series.

I found this book referred on facebook and what s find it was! I love the story line, it had me hooked after a couple of pages. I feel for Gage and Deidre our own weird version of Romeo and Juliet. I am excited to find out what Deidre will turn into, since her animal is still a mystery.

I received an ARC of "Omega" in exchange for an honest review.

I found myself loving Deirdre.....she's smart, strong willed and Rylie Gresham's "hope" to defeat Everton Stark in his quest to become the only Alpha....
I can't wait to read the next book in this new series!

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ I really liked this story. It felt like I was right in the middle of a major undercover operation and it was a tough woman that was taking all the risks instead of a man. Deirdre is street wise, strong, but not super powers strong. Deirdre is a very credible character and I could very easily translate this story into real life. It was that good.

Omega took my breath away. I couldn't read it fast enough. It had all the same type of characters that Sarah is famous for with the great action from strong female characters. If you love the wolves from past books you will get a huge surprise with who is a big part of this book.

Gritty and violent, this story takes you on a ride and doesn't let go. I have read the rest of the series and I kept reading because the events and emotions are so tragic. This is war and it's not pretty.

Not my kind of story. I prefer Ilona Andrews.

Mature content

SM Reine is such a talented author, from the beginning of this book I was drawn in and hooked. There is so much going on and everything keeps you biting your nails to learn what happens next. The ending was not expected and of was completely shocked by it. Next up Beta!

This was a fun change for the books I've read by Reine. I've mostly read her YA series and this was much more mature. That being said- I did very much enjoy this book. It was fun to meet new characters and see olders ones a little bit later in their lives.

Omg, this book is amazing. It tugged at my heart, had me bawling my eyes out and yelling at my kindle when i got to the end. I need the next book NOW! It was so great to see where Rylie and some of the characters were at years down the road and to see how the santuctuary has grown and meet the some new characters. I cant wait for the next book!

Gritty and violent, this story takes you on a ride and doesn't let go. I have read the rest of the series and I kept reading because the events and emotions are so tragic. This is war and it's not pretty.

Not my kind of story. I prefer Ilona Andrews.

Mature content

SM Reine is such a talented author, from the beginning of this book I was drawn in and hooked. There is so much going on and everything keeps you biting your nails to learn what happens next. The ending was not expected and of was completely shocked by it. Next up Beta!

This was a fun change for the books I've read by Reine. I've mostly read her YA series and this was much more mature. That being said- I did very much enjoy this book. It was fun to meet new characters and see olders ones a little bit later in their lives.

Omg, this book is amazing. It tugged at my heart, had me bawling my eyes out and yelling at my kindle when i got to the end. I need the next book NOW! It was so great to see where Rylie and some of the characters were at years down the road and to see how the santuctuary has grown and meet the some new characters. I cant wait for the next book!