Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: The Baby Question
SERIES: Tangled Tentacles & Assassins To Order
AUTHOR: JP Sayle & Lisa Oliver
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 114 Pages
RELEASE DATE: May 22, 2023
BLURB:
How many babies are too many in the world of Tangled Tentacles and Assassin’s?
Come join the fun as we step back into the world of krakens and their mates, finding out just how Markov and Cassius coped with an unruly kraken and the shock of pregnancy in An All-Knowing Kraken.
How Magnus upsets the apple cart by not following along with his mate’s expectations in Magnus’s Way.
What happens when two unsuspecting mates who head off to the mall and end up with an unexpected gift in Marvin’s Little Miracle?
Will Victor and Azim finally decide if they want to join in the fun of baby making in Victor’s Dilemma?
Last but not least, how will Teilo and Nico react when invited to a party with a difference in Baby Shower Delights?
We hope you enjoy this catch up with our boys from Tangled Tentacles and Assassin’s to Order. The authors advise to get the best out of this book, read the other in the series first.
REVIEW:
To have babies or not to have babies? That is the question. The Thalassa brothers believe they are the last of their kind. Nature has provided them with mates, and a baby boom has erupted. But do all couples want babies? There’s the extended family, too – the assassins. The people who never believed they’d have a life outside of cages and killing.
This book is a spin-off to the Tangled Tentacles and Assassins for Hire series, and knowledge of these books is necessary to get the full reading experience. I have read all the novels in both series and can heartily recommend them as standout stories, with pride of place on my shelf.
The Baby Question contains five short stories of couples who did not get pregnant at the end of their individual tales but whose stories continued in the background of future novels.
At first, I expected a bunch of tales containing the hilarious antics of preschool children. Then I read the blurb properly and realized that this was better. It delves into a world where, just because everyone else was getting pregnant, was it suitable for XYX now or later, if at all?
An All-Knowing Kraken. This story features Markov and Cassius (Kraken/Shark), and one of them discovers they are pregnant. However, in the novel – Markov – something happened to Markov and his Kraken, which allowed the Kraken to have his own voice. Since then, the Kraken has become somewhat of an oracle for all the others – one that keeps secrets – much to the frustration of Markov and Cassius. These two are not ready to become parents, but they must get used to the extraordinary event on the horizon.
Magnus’s Way. This story features Kelvin and Magnus (Kraken/Cat) and the imminent birth of their baby. It is a story of what is right for them. Traditionally Kraken deliveries take place in a pool surrounded by relatives. However, Magnus (the cat) is pregnant and wants privacy, pointing out that he is more than a baby carrier and that the Kraken way isn’t the only way.
Marvin’s Little Miracle. Featuring Marvin, who stole everyone’s heart in earlier novels, and Ajani from the Assassins series (Wolf mix/Gorilla). Marvin has no idea he is pregnant until the surprise birth. Imagine the chaos that causes! What I love about Marvin is how he is so innocently idealistic while telling someone to fuck off all in the same breath.
Victor’s Dilemma. A Kraken/Vampire tale featuring Victor and Azim, who believe they don’t want kids, but examine their feelings because of the peer pressure of everyone else getting pregnant. This is a tale I think a fair few will identify with – children aren’t for everyone.
Baby Shower Delights. Featuring the all-cat trio of Ben, Nico, and Teilo from the Assassins series. If I had to pick a fav, this would be it. With babies popping out all over the place, the three are invited to a belated baby shower. All Nico and Teilo have known is a cage and how to kill. That is until Ben came to the rescue and introduced them to ice cream. Ben guides them through the whys, do’s, and don’ts of shopping for babies, which is hilarious. Teilo wants to buy everything, Nico hates shopping, wanting to stab any toy that makes a noise, yet is indulgent to Teilo’s enthusiasm. Nico’s comments are the ones I identified with the most.
I loved every story as each gives a different view of babies, pregnancy, and birth, with some astute observations. And while all births and babies are special, it would have been nice to have a finishing tale of Markov’s and Cassius’s to go full circle. Their surprise pregnancy is documented, but their birth is a footnote, which is a shame because this one is particularly unique in the Kraken world – I felt left out.
RATING: 
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