The Orc from the Office by Kate Prior is a hilarious, steamy office romance that is a must-read for monster lovers. It’s book two in her Claws & Cubicles series, set in corporate America during the Dark Lord’s reign. I initially read them out of order, which I think is fine, but this one will make you want to read Lily’s story, which has a bit more background about how the Dark Reign came to be. (You can read my mini review for Love, Laugh, Lich here.) I reread them both recently, and they were just as enjoyable the second time around.
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The Orc from the Office by Kate Prior — Novella
🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
(you can find my rating and spice system here)
POV & Tense: Single POV, first person, present tense
Genre: MF Monster Romance
Tropes/Themes: Accidental Bonding, Fated Mates, Grumpy/Sunshine (she’s grumpy), Office Romance, Orc Mating Rituals, Orc Spa, Nerd, HR executive, IT Department, Caught watching monster porn at work), Teddy bear Orc, NSFW art, Just the tip, Touch her and die
Synopsis:
When Janice goes to war with a malfunctioning filing cabinet, the last thing she expects is to find herself mate-bonded to her orc co-worker, Khent. Monster Resources advises they keep their distance until the Blood Fever wears off. But as the fiercely independent Janice’s body becomes wracked with fever and the intensity between her legs grows, she seeks out and finds solace in Khent. This is not a good idea.
The Orc from the Office by Kate Prior (Claws & Cubicles Book 2)
My Review:
The concept of The Orc from the Office is fantastic. I love the whole idea of Orc mating starting when the female draws blood from the male, and that it happened accidentally as part of a workplace mishap is perfect. Janice’s voice is one of my favorite things about the novel. She’s hilarious and her internal monologue is filtered through a mindset of corporate jargon, which is brilliant. I just love Kate Prior’s sense of humor.
Single, Independent, and Not Looking for Love
Janice has been burned before and she won’t make that mistake again. She hates the idea of soulmates and finding someone to complete her, because she’s complete just the way she is, thank you very much. So finding herself accidentally mate-bonded to Khent throws her for a loop. It’s an inconvenience at first, but she can’t deny her growing attraction to the ten-foot-tall orc she wants to climb like a tree. One of my favorite things is watching Janice unravel throughout the course of the novel. There were many times I wanted to smack her as she sabotaged her own happiness, but her growth throughout the book is amazing.
Without thinking, without care, my hand goes straight to my legs to touch myself, to find some kind of relief. Distantly, Normal Janice is shouting something about rules and professional environments. I don’t know her anymore.
Flirting Through Computer Malfunction
Using computer malfunction/destruction as dirty talk is absolute A+. I love it. Janice is so evil. She knows what it does to IT Tech Khent, and she brings it. I love that these interactions reveal a new side to her character.
My smile widens. I’ve got him. “Believe me, I know all the ways to damage a computer.” The words come out of me almost in a purr, I sound so pleased with myself.
Khent goes very still for a moment. I don’t expect to hear him say, “Go on.”
Teddy Bear Orc
Khent is a great big teddy bear with a heart of gold. Orc Mating is sacred, yet he never pressures Janice. His priority is her comfort, regardless of his feelings. I’m such a softie for larger-than-life characters who are shy, introverted, and soft-spoken. Janice is outspoken and isn’t afraid to put others in their place, which compliments Khent’s quiet demeanor. He needs someone to stick up for him.
“Maybe I could be there for you,” he says, suddenly, snapping my thoughts away from death by dicking to something equally dangerous. Tenderness.
NSFW Art
The author also makes art and there is a gorgeous scene with Khent and Janice included in the book. It’s very NSFW, so if you’re reading in public be prepared to divert your screen (and bookmark it for later viewing). The art occurs at the 62% mark.
Final Thoughts:
The Orc from the Office is an experience. Janice is one of my favorite voice-y characters and it’s necessary to revisit this story often. Kate has just released book three, The Gargoyle from General Management, featuring Gwen from Monster Resources, and it’s a fantastic follow-up. Check out my review here.
The Claws & Cubicles Series by Kate Prior
Author Stalking (but not in a creepy way):
Kate Prior is an artist and author of many spicy romance books (monster and historical).
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~~If you like spicy books with orcs, check out my Orc Rec List ~~
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