Oh For Mates Sake Book Review: A Neglected Delta's Rocky Road to Happiness

"Oh For Mates Sake" (by JM Snap) is a Werewolf novel that follows in the steps of Clover Basket, a future Delta who gets cold treatment from members of her pack. Even her fated mate, Denny, has not an ounce of respect for her or her feelings. Eventually, she'd have to look for happiness outside the pack she grew up in, but would she succeed?

Spanning 89 chapters, this tantalizing book has been read more than 1.2M times, with 132K faithful followers.

If you're a Werewolf novels fan, you can't go wrong with "Oh For Mates Sake"! 

Author Introduction

JM Snap is a renowned author of compelling fantasy stories, mostly dealing with fairies, demons, werewolves, dragons, and similar creatures. Among the most acclaimed novels under that name, we have to mention those in the famed "The Doctor" series (of which "Oh For Mates Sake" is a spin-off), including "Dr. Luna," "The Vampires Promised Bride," and "Taming Her Beastly Mate," among so many others! You can find out more over at the author's website.

Theme

The story in "Oh For Mates Sake" explores some of the most common forms of psychological abuse, especially from family members and purported friends. Bullying, especially on account of aspects that the victim is not able to control, becomes a nuclear theme that permeates throughout this short novel's pages.

As a matter of fact, while most other novels of the same genre are wont to introduce this dilemma just as a starting plot device only to forget about it within two or three chapters, JM Snap seems bent on prolonging the female lead's suffering by having her experience betrayal after betrayal with no end in sight, placing her in a seemingly unescapable predicament throughout a good portion of the narrative.

Characters

The main characters in "Oh For Mates Sake" are arguably Clover and Denny. Let's take a quick minute to describe them in a bit more detail:

Clover Basket

Clover Basket is the archetypal "damsel in distress," albeit without a matching "prince savior" anywhere on the horizon. She was orphaned after her father was felled during the infamous Dark War, and we all know how pack members usually behave around orphans!

Despite the otherwise horrendous treatment she receives, Clover shows an overly good-willed demeanor.

Dennis Hart (a.k.a. Denny)

Denny is the Alpha of the Sulfur pack and the male lead in "Oh For Mates Sake.." As mentioned earlier, he's supposed to be Clover's mate, but he expressly shows preference towards another woman named Andrea, with whom he consistently flirts.

From the onset, Denny seems largely unsympathetic towards Clover and her bullying issues. Not only that, but he actively works towards having her ejected from the pack, even when, simultaneously, he tries to appease her with fake apologies.

Point of View

The entirety of the novel is narrated from Clover's viewpoint, granting us a privileged view into her own mind and thoughts.

Plot

Clover is set to be the Delta of the Sulfur pack, though that runs contrary to the wishes of pack members, who don't skimp on deriding her at every possible turn.

The plot begins with Clover witnessing a sexual encounter between her future Alpha, Denny, and his "true" love, Andrea, as well as the short conversation they maintain afterwards, in which Andrea asks Denny when he'd announce their relationship.

At this juncture, the only person who could conceivably show some semblance of support for Clover stabs her in the back, leaving her truly alone. His father, Alpha Scott, already hates her guts just as much (if not more) than the rest of the pack.

However, as readers uncover the secrets behind Clover's true heritage and powers, the hopes for a better outcome to her sad quandary start rising. There's also a chance that she might yet find the person that would make her whole, though that person would most likely not come from the Sulfur pack.

Hot Chapters

These are, to the best of our recollection, some of the most memorable chapters in the story.

Chapter 9

Denny and Alpha Scott both caught Conrad, once Clover's one-night stand, as he was kissing her passionately. Immediately, a very tense scene would ensue, which also involved other important characters in the story - to wit: Jude and Joey. In the midst of their discussions, it would be revealed that Conrad was actually an Alpha - namely, "Alpha Sion" - who would subsequently call Clover his mate in front of everyone.

Chapter 10

In this chapter, it is disclosed that Sion harbored feelings for Clover (unbeknownst to her) upon meeting her for the first time as Conrad. Later on, he asks if he can hold her, but she refuses, arguing that he can't be trusted just yet and that she's still unsure about their purported mate bond. 

Writing Style

The writing style in "Oh For Mates Sake" is not unlike any other modern-day werewolf novel, showcasing the usual Luna/Alpha dynamics we've all been accustomed to expecting. It is, for the most part, cut-and-dried, so readers won't have to search for hidden meanings or fill any gaps. In other words, this is a novel that's instantly gratifying to read.

Concluding Remarks

"Oh For Mates Sake" offers far more than meets the eye. It's a very enticing novel full of nail-biting twists that'll guarantee to glue you to your gadget's screen.

From a storytelling perspective, it doesn't add anything particularly new to the Werewolf genre, but it holds up quite nicely against some of the most critically acclaimed titles of this particular literary style.

Another great "W" for this novel concerns its length. Oftentimes, web novels can get way too long for their own good, with each chapter moving further away from the initial premise they were built upon. Here, readers have access to merely 89 chapters (albeit chockful of worthwhile scenes) as well as a coherent and concise story that doesn't lose focus or get unnecessarily spread out. In short, it's a novel that respects the readers' time.

In our estimation, "Oh For Mates Sake" is a must-read for people who appreciate short but sweet Werewolf tales!

Frequently Asked Questions

1.Is "Oh For Mates Sake" part of "The Doctor Series"?

"Oh For Mates Sake" takes place in the same universe as "The Doctor Series," though it's more of a spin-off than an actual title within the franchise.

2.Is "Oh For Mates Sake" safe for children?

This novel is intended for audiences 16+. No children should approach this work as it's filled with strong language and graphic sexual content.