Author: Enola M. Douglas

Series: Jewels of the Ninth Kingdom

First Published: 10 June 2025

“The best stories don’t have endings. They grow. They change. And everyone involved gets to write them.”   

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own. Thank you so much to Enola for sending a copy my way!

Escape doesn’t always mean freedom…

When Princess Reiyana unexpectedly presents as an Omega at age twenty, her future is no longer her own. Once a Beta with dreams of love and adventure, she is now a political prize—coveted by Alphas across the Nine Kingdoms.

But two half-brothers change everything.

Prince Kaelendrin and Prince Alarik of Asadia enter the royal tournament to claim her hand. Their strength and charm awaken something forbidden within Reiyana, unraveling not only her carefully guarded heart but also the beliefs she’s clung to her entire life.

Determined to reclaim control of her fate, Reiyana plots her escape. But betrayal leaves her stranded in a world where power is reserved for the chosen few—and no position is more perilous than that of an Omega. Now, she must navigate dangerous alliances, confront hidden truths, and embrace the desires she’s long denied—before her destiny is decided for her.

The character art of Whisked Away is what made me to request an ARC. I am so glad I did because I’ve found a new favourite. This story has the perfect balance of lush, complex fantasy world-building with a swoony, sweet omgeaverse. It’s a combination that I am obsessed with. Queue the book hangover!

Princess Rei felt content in her life as a beta. She planned to marry her childhood sweetheart and travel the world with him on his ambassadorial duties. Her plans and choices are taken from her when she presenxwts late as an Omega. Now she is a bargaining chip. Her parents throw a tournament in her honour, inviting all the eligible Alphas of the land where the prize will be her hand in marriage. Prince Kaelen and Alarik of Asadia are late entries to the tournament. They are captivated by Rei and do what they can to ensure they win each challenge. Kaelen’s charm and Alarik’s strength call to something deep inside Rei, which threatens to unravel her heart and the unwavering beliefs she has about alphas and omegas. Determined to reclaim control, Rei plots her escape, but a betrayal leaves her stranded. Will she remain anonymous while finding refuge in this new world?

Rei’s life—and most importantly—her freedom changes in an instant the moment she presents late an omega. My heart breaks for her as she struggles with this new identity. She is now a political prize. She’s no longer Rei but Aethonia’s Omega Princess. You can feel how suffocated she feels with this turn of events and how she’s lost her sense of self. Rei makes a snap decision to reclaim her freedom. Things go pear-shaped at several points, even after finding sanctuary. Thankfully, she finds herself two worthy Alphas who show her that being an omega isn’t something to be ashamed of and doesn’t mean she has to lose her identity.

Kaelen is our golden prince and heir to the Asadian throne. He’s impulsive and stupidly charming. Being a Sunborn Alpha—which is like a top-tier alpha—he knows his claim to the throne is secure. Kaelen is determined to chase every adventure before settling down and becoming king. Thankfully, his brother, Alarik, is there to help oversee the various council meetings while also keeping him out of trouble. It was a joy to see how this road trip gets Kaelen closer to the common people. It piques his interest in his royal duties, despite his dislike of political mind games.

And then there is Alarik. He’s our reserved, spare prince. This is something he’s constantly aware of as his title translates to lesser prince which doesn’t help his feelings of inadequacy. He loves Kaelen and struggles with how he used to resent his brother. It doesn’t help that people in court have manipulated him and thrown his status back in his face. Alarik’s life would be easier without Kaelen as he would be the heir, but he has devoted his life to serving and protecting his brother. Alarik still struggles with the guilt of his past resentment, despite his fierce loyalty. My heart melted as we saw Alarik learn his worth and realize that he’s allowed to take up space in this world.

This book highlights everything I love and adore about romance books. We have these three people who are struggling under the weight of their family and country’s expectations. They are treated more like chess pieces rather than people. It’s no surprise that beneath the extravagant luxury, they are lonely. People seem to focus solely on their titles and don’t see the individuals underneath. It’s through their budding relationship that they find a space place to heal from their past hurts. They have breathing room to be themselves without all the burdens of being royal. I swooned at how Kaelen and Alarik courted Rei. They help her embrace her omega but help to shatter the stigmas she has about omegas. Kaelen and Alarik, constantly pitted against each other by their court, find help from Rei in communicating and overcoming their childhood trauma. This is an MFM. Kaelen and Alarik are half-brothers and nothing sexual happens between them, but they don’t have any issues sharing Rei. The romance here is deliciously slow burn and explodes into one of my favourite heat scenes.

I didn’t know what to expect from the plot, likely something in the style of Bridgerton that focused on a gossiping society and the drama that nobility creates, but this took a dark turn. Rei makes a split-second choice to claim her freedom. Even though it doesn’t feel 100% right, she’s dreading losing her independence. And with this, Rei finds herself caught in an underground trafficking ring where omegas are being taken to be sold to the highest bidder. Thank the gods our girl Rei fights her way to freedom. She ends up rescued by a Talharen family. This nomadic family helps Rei hide as she makes her way to Asadia and the Princes who intrigue her. She doesn’t want to head straight home and risk her ex finding her. Thankfully, the Princes follow her trail as they have an uneasy feeling. They end up escorting Rei and the Talharen caravan to Asadia.

Honestly, Whisked Away has some of the best world-building I’ve read in any fantasy book. We gain detailed insights into the various customs, resources, and languages of the countries we encounter.I can’t wait for the rest of the books in this series to discover more of the world. You can see some inspirations Elona has taken from our world and the way she’s woven them together creates something truly magical.

Safe to say, Whisked Away will be on my top reads of 2025 because I cannot stop thinking about it. I need the sequel ASAP. Fingers crossed it will be released later this year. I need to know what’s happening with the missing omegas. If you are a long-time fantasy romance reader who’s been interested in trying an omegaverse, I think Whisked Away is the perfect pick for you. And—on the flip side—if you are a fan of omegaverse who’s not sure where to start with fantasy romance, this is 100% the book for you.