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⭐ Quick Verdict
⭐ My Rating: 4 ★
💭 Quick Take: A heartfelt queer fantasy romance with fake dating, a fiercely protective hero, and emotional depth that reads like the best kind of contemporary romance.
👉 Read If You Love:
- Protective heroes, fake dating, emotionally intelligent MMCs, fantasy worlds that feel approachable, strong friendship dynamics, slight suspense
🚫 Skip if:
- You don’t enjoy fantasy religion discussions or mentions of past verbal and physical abuse
Book Details
Release Date: May 2026
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Tropes: Fake Dating, Protective Hero, Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract
Steam Level: Medium
Part of a Series: Magic and Romance
What This Book Is About
Orok, a half giant still carrying the weight of his difficult past, is finally trying to move forward with his life when one karaoke night changes everything.
Alexo immediately captures his attention, but beneath Alexo’s charm is a history he’s desperate to keep hidden. When circumstances push the two into a fake relationship, their growing connection quickly becomes something very real.
As danger and secrets begin to close in, Orok finds himself willing to do anything to protect the people he loves.
My Review of The Fake Divination Offense
Sara Raasch absolutely slayed with this newest addition to her Magic and Romance series because Orok’s story delivered everything I wanted after meeting him in The Entanglement of Rival Wizards.
While this could technically be read as a standalone, I do think reading book one first gives this story so much more emotional depth because you already understand Orok’s painful history and, most importantly, his deeply loyal friendship with Seb.
What I loved most about this book is that while Orok’s trauma shaped who he is, this story isn’t about dwelling in that darkness – it’s about watching him finally find joy, love, and safety with someone who truly sees him.
And Orok? Completely gone for Alexo from the very beginning.
The juxtaposition between these two worked so well. Orok is physically intimidating as a half giant associated with the God of Strength, but Sara flips expectations in such a compelling way because his greatest strength is actually in how deeply he loves and protects the people closest to him.
Alexo, meanwhile, is smaller, guarded, and carrying secrets of his own. Watching him slowly find safety and acceptance with Orok made their romance incredibly satisfying.
Their fake relationship naturally evolves into something deeper the more time they spend together, but the real standout of this story is Orok himself. He is protective without being overbearing, emotionally aware without losing his strength, and so incredibly devoted to both his best friend and the man he falls for.
The chemistry between these two was fantastic, and the slight suspense surrounding Alexo’s past kept the pacing moving at just the right speed.
What Sara Raasch continues to do so well is write fantasy romances that feel emotionally grounded like contemporary romances. Her worlds never feel inaccessible, and her characters always feel deeply human and emotionally layered.
At this point, she has carved out such a fantastic niche for queer fantasy romance, and I genuinely cannot wait to see what she writes next.
What I Loved
- Orok as the ultimate protective hero with incredibly high emotional intelligence
- The chemistry and tenderness between Orok and Alexo
- The strong friendship focus, especially Orok’s bond with Seb
- Fantasy elements that enhance the story without overwhelming the romance
- The balance of humor, heart, and slight suspense
Things to Know Before You Read
- You’ll get a richer emotional experience if you read The Entanglement of Rival Wizards first
- Includes discussion of fantasy religion
- Mentions of past verbal abuse and implied physical abuse
- Fantasy setting, but the romance reads very accessible and contemporary in tone
Final Thoughts
This was such a satisfying continuation of the Magic and Romance series and exactly the kind of fantasy romance I love most – character-driven, emotionally rich, and completely centered on the romance.
If you’ve been waiting for Orok’s story, Sara absolutely delivers.
And if you’re someone who wants fantasy romance without getting bogged down in heavy world-building, this series continues to be one of the easiest recommendations.
I received an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
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