Hockey Fights Have Never Been This Hot!
If you're anything like me, then a good rivals to lovers romance is nearly impossible to resist. Add hockey players, a double bi-awakening, secret relationship, and enough tension to power an entire arena, and Brutal Titan quickly becomes a novella you won't want to put down.
The North Shore Titans series continues to impress me with how much story E.V. Olsen manages to pack into each novella. Every couple feels unique, and each book brings a completely different dynamic to the team. If you enjoy quick reads with lovable characters and plenty of spice, this series is definitely worth picking up.
Meet the Couple
Jackson (MMC): Broody, cocky, and fiercely competitive, Jackson has the reputation of being the guy who never backs down from a fight. Underneath all that swagger, though, he's playful, funny, and surprisingly charming once he lets his guard down.
Killian (MMC): Just as competitive as Jackson, Killian is the quieter, more serious of the two. He's protective of the people he loves, fiercely loyal to his family, and every bit the alpha personality that Jackson is.
These two are like gasoline and a match.
What I Loved
Jackson and Killian's rivalry stretches all the way back to childhood hockey camp, where one fight sparked years of bad blood. Now they're playing for rival colleges, and neither of them misses an opportunity to get under the other's skin.
Their chemistry is immediate, even if neither of them realizes it at first.
The story opens with not one, but two hockey fights before the real chaos even begins. When both teams end up staying at the same hotel for the regional championships, things escalate in the best possible way. What starts as another attempt to settle the score takes a completely unexpected turn when Jackson realizes his latest fight with Killian is making him question a whole lot more than his competitive spirit.
From that moment on, the tension is absolutely off the charts.
I loved watching these two go from throwing punches to trying very hard not to admit what they were really feeling. The transition from rivals to lovers felt surprisingly natural, and the double bi-awakening added another layer of emotional depth to the story.
And yes, my fellow spicy book dragons... When Jackson discovers Killian is pierced, let's just say the temperature rises even higher.
The romance quickly shifts from heated rivalry to full-on "touch him and die" energy, and I was completely here for it. Watching these two fiercely protective men become just as protective of each other made their relationship even more satisfying.
The story also isn't afraid to throw in a few surprises. Just when I thought I knew where everything was headed, E.V. Olsen delivered a twist I genuinely didn't see coming. Seeing Killian step into the caretaker role after Jackson is attacked added a softer, more emotional side to both characters that balanced out all the tension and spice.
Even though this is a novella, it never felt rushed. There was plenty of humor, fantastic banter, explosive chemistry, and enough heart to make me completely invested in Jackson and Killian's happily ever after. As a bonus, fans of this couple can spend even more time with them in the adorable holiday novella, where both families finally get to meet. It was such a fun follow-up and made me love these characters even more.
The Verdict
If you're a fan of rivals to lovers romances with explosive chemistry, possessive heroes, hockey, secret relationships, and plenty of spice, Brutal Titan is an easy recommendation.
I loved seeing two stubborn rivals slowly realize there was a very fine line between hate and attraction, and once they crossed it, there was no going back. This novella had me laughing, swooning, and flying through the pages, and by the time I reached the end, I was already opening the next book in the series.
Happy reading, and remember my fellow spicy book dragons, before starting a book please check the tropes, and always check for trigger warnings. Nobody likes an unfinished book because the tropes aren't your cup of tea or having a bad reading experience because of unexpected trigger warnings.
