Unnatural

The Wrong Alpha, Book 1

By: Alessandra Hazard

Narrated by: Devlin Wylde

Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

A planet at war. Two alphas forced into a political marriage. Attraction that defies all reason and logic.... Or does it?

The Kingdom of Pelugia and the Republic of Kadar have been at war for decades. Peace isn’t popular, but the planet can’t survive without it.

Forced to marry an enemy prince for the sake of peace, Senator Royce Cleghorn doesn’t like his husband, his alpha scent, or his damned pretty blue eyes. More than anything, Royce hates what Haydn makes him become: a primitive alpha cliché, who’ll do anything to mark his territory, even if that territory is his alpha husband. Royce likes omegas; he isn’t into alphas, no matter how pretty their eyes are. It’s just a weird territorial instinct. It has to be.

Prince Haydn has always tried to be the perfect alpha his father wants him to be. He’s the heir to the throne. He’s a war general. He isn’t supposed to bare his throat to an enemy alpha - and it isn’t supposed to feel so good. Everyone knows a marriage between two alphas is a recipe for disaster. He isn’t supposed to crave his husband - their marriage is just a political arrangement, nothing more.

But when disaster strikes and loyalties are tested, which bond will be the strongest: their marriage, or their allegiances?

This book is set in an omegaverse world similar to contemporary Earth, and it contains mating cycles, two men obsessed with each other, and a happily ever after. While mpreg exists in this world, it's only mentioned.

©2020 Alessandra Hazard (P)2021 Alessandra Hazard

Reader sounds like a grandfather

I love this book. Book was far better than the audio. Reader sounds like a grandfather with a monotone voice.

With a twist

Really enjoyed listening to this book. I love arranged marriage and this one didn't disappoint. I love the way they developed a friendship. It definitely took a different twist than what I expected.

I really enjoyed the narration.

UNNATURAL - LOVED IT!

I purchased the book when it was released and as soon as the audio was released I snapped it up! Great book and great audio!

Thrilled to see this on Audible!

Since I was expecting Ms. Hazard’s next audiobook to be Straight Guys Book 3, imagine my surprise that it was Unnatural! Out of her other two series apart from Straight Guys, The Wrong Alpha series is a major favorite of mine. If you’ve read or are familiar with her Calluvia series, there is a character or two that will be familiar to you, although the story does deal with a completely different planet. It is an ABO universe and although the male O’s can become pregnant, there isn’t any mpreg on-page. The ABO’s revolve around the moon cycle that they were born in, with some Alpha’s being able to shift into their animal form. Since neither of the MC alphas are the shifting kind, that’s something that’s more background information for Book Two. Hayden, an Alpha Prince from one kingdom finds himself in a political marriage with a Senator from another kingdom to unify for peace. The Senator, Royce, claims outwardly to be a Beta, but is inwardly something else. Since it’s a well known fact within their world that Alpha-Alpha pairings just do not work out, you can see where the issues arrive. If you’re a fan of the guys in her Straight Guys series and their obsessive behavior, you will definitely love the obsession that grows between Royce and Hayden and the steaminess that ensues. Alessandra Hazard sure knows how to burn up those pages! I think this is my first audiobook with Devlin Wylde and his voice was perfect! I actually like him more than Joshua MacRae, even though I did have to speed up narration to 1.3x for it to be more comfortable for me to listen to. Highly recommend!

I love the narrator

The narrator really made this book for me. There are a lot of complaints but for me the narrator really got the role, loved it!!

Great voice

Loved the book already, the amazing reading made it even better. Pace slight slow but I think it fits the story. Five stars!

Narrator takes himself way too seriously

The narrator has a deep voice which is fine but he puts on too much of the deep gravely nonsense and it just seems fake. Also pronounces Alpha as Alfer and it is driving me crazy! How do you get a job as a voice actor when you can’t pronounce words correctly?

Haydn is a sweetheart

I love Alessandra Hazard’s books (read all of them, some more than five times), so I got all the 4 audiobooks that are available (at the moment).
My favorite one in this series is Feral, but it was nice to see Haydn and Royce’s story.
Haydn is a sweetheart, and I really have trouble thinking of him as a “vicious” general (Death Bringer). He’s capable enough, I know that, but it’s still difficult for me to see him like that.
Royce turns into an Alfa caveman, and is really interesting to see them in the beginning, with all the scenting marking and possessiveness (so hot!!!).
It’s not instalove, but we can feel some (sexual) tension since the very beginning.
I really recommend this series.

wow that's a deep voice

I listened to this book after reading book 2 (twice). I like the story quite a bit, although not as much as book 2. Hayden didn't always seem as sharp and strategic as you would expect from a General in the army. He'd make a good high school social studies teacher. He wasn't stupid. He didn't do stupid things. but he wasn't planning ahead either.

In book 2 we get to know the king better and understand what a truly horrible man he is, which makes Hayden's behavior around his father make more sense, but it sometimes just comes off as weak here.

The narrator's voice is so low that, I kid you not, it made my car speakers buzz with the bass. I had to switch to headphones. At times his pacing plodded a bit. I turned up the speed to 1.10 and enjoyed listening more.

With a voice that low, his female characters don't sound especially natural, but there aren't very many female characters, and those that are don't have many lines. I didn't find it problematic.

Would I listen to it again? Yes, if only to prepare to listen to Feral when it comes out. That story is HOT, and there is a sense of urgency that is often missing in this book. This book does explain the political situation on the planet--which is assumed knowledge in book 2, so some things make more sense to me now.

So. 4/5 stars over all. Recommend. I hope Feral is out soon.

Love love love more more more

Omg Alessandra you are the writer of my heart!! Your romances are just my absolute favorite!! I connect with the MCs and I feel the need the love the addiction!! Ughhh and Devlin Wylde omg he’s just as good as Joshua if not better! Love the both. Great picks! Please please please more!!! I’ve read all the books already and can’t wait to hear them all now!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼NEED MORE!! I’m addicted!