Celebrate Small Business Month with our most popular business-only savings Shop Savings Guide>
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$6.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

AJ Sherwood
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

A Mage's Guide to Human Familiars (R'iyah Family Archives: Volume Book 1) Kindle Edition

by AJ Sherwood (Author), Katie Griffin (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 4,006 ratings
One mage, Bel Adams – needs a familiar, gun shy about being rejected by one again.

One familiar, Nico di Rossi – Army Ranger, needs a change of pace and a new purpose in life.

Plus one familiar, Garen Dallarosa– Secret Service, needs his ex-lover Nico back.

One second chance – all for the taking.

Tags:
Mages, BOGO familiar, familiars as bodyguards, familiar bond, M/M/M, second chances, workplace romance, fated mates, magical shenanigans, Garen is part gargoyle, Bel part demon, Nico is a golden retriever in human form (though not literally), idiots in love, seriously I don't know what to do with them, Bel loves Garen just because he wants to love him, possessive behavior, not a single degree of chill from any of them, Nico is not allowed caffeine, Nico loves swords, Wicky is his supplier, lightsaber sounds, competency kink, Garen cannot be moved, he moves when he wants to, evil cults strangely don't clean up after themselves, absolutely no one's surprised, Nico thinks a magically booby-trapped cave is a theme park, cuz he cray cray, Demon Grandpa is also cray cray and approves
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 3
    R'iyah Family Archives: Volume
  2. Print length
    372 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    November 5, 2021
  6. File size
    3.4 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
Hydrate & focus with every sip Shop now

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 3 books in this series.
This option includes 3 books.

Customers also bought or read

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  2. Adopt a Vampire
    Just released
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
  11. Grave Situation
    Just released
    Kindle Edition
    $6.99
  12. Ruins (Wings 'N' Wands Book 1)
    Kindle Edition
    $5.99
  23. Hellfire&Bowties
    Kindle Edition
    $3.99
  25. The Wolf's (Un)Lucky Fae
    Kindle Edition
    $5.99
  27. The Wish: Wishing for Mates
    Kindle Edition
    $2.99
Next page
Loading...
Popular Highlights in this book
What are popular highlights?
Previous page
  1. When you think about how huge the earth is, and how it’s just a tiny ball circling a sun, which in turn is a miniscule speck in the universe, it’s pretty easy to rationalize eating an entire box of donuts.
    Highlighted by 457 Kindle readers
  2. “You know, I just realized this, but when you order a pizza, you’ve basically become an NPC giving an adventurer a fetch quest with the promise of money upon completion.”
    Highlighted by 359 Kindle readers
  3. Wicky lifted his head, blinking a little and getting one brown eye open. “I can do all things through spite, which strengthens me.”
    Highlighted by 306 Kindle readers
Next page

Product details

  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 4,006 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
AJ Sherwood

AJ Sherwood

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

AJ Sherwood believes in happily ever afters, magic, dragons, good men, and dark chocolate. She often dreams at night of delectable men doing sexy things with each other. In between writing multiple books (often at the same time) she pets her cats, plays with her dogs, and attempts insane things like aerial yoga.

She currently resides in Michigan with aforementioned dogs and cats. Being in snow country gives her the excuse to stay inside and watch bl dramas, which suit her perfectly.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4,006 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers enjoy this book's roller coaster ride of action and humor, with plenty of laughs and witty banter throughout. Moreover, the storyline features satisfying twists and turns, while the characters fit well together and the world-building is solid. Additionally, the writing style receives positive feedback, with one customer noting the nice custom typography at chapter headings.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

EnjoymentStorylineCharacter developmentReadabilityHumorPacingSweetnessWriting style
142 customers mention "Enjoyment"142 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, describing it as a fun roller coaster ride with plenty of laughs and playful sections.

"As usual under this name the author writes crazy fun books with sweet funny characters. Very interesting plots with well thought out magical twists...." Read more

"This was very interesting and a great start to a series. It was a little slow in places but the world building was solid...." Read more

"...That covers the romance side, but this book also has a fun and interesting cast of secondary characters, lots of magic, magical troubles, and fun..." Read more

"...Also, the humor strikes me as so much funnier. The Three narrators for this books were great...." Read more

124 customers mention "Storyline"115 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, appreciating its magical elements and interesting world-building, with one customer noting its satisfying twists and turns.

"...Very interesting plots with well thought out magical twists...." Read more

"...Not a kitchen sink story, but lots of satisfying twists and turns. Bel Adams is a demon-eyed mage, valued for his deep dive analysis...." Read more

"...fun and interesting cast of secondary characters, lots of magic, magical troubles, and fun Star Wars references. It also has a great HFN...." Read more

"...Loved the way the story unfolded to bring them together. **Nico is a national treasure.** The side characters were also excellent." Read more

95 customers mention "Character development"92 positive3 negative

Customers love the characters in the book, noting their distinct personalities and how well they fit together. One customer particularly appreciates the polyamorous representation.

"As usual under this name the author writes crazy fun books with sweet funny characters. Very interesting plots with well thought out magical twists...." Read more

"...the romance side, but this book also has a fun and interesting cast of secondary characters, lots of magic, magical troubles, and fun Star Wars..." Read more

"...was wonderfully covered, you get to meet all 3 boys and their distinct personalities. Loved the way the story unfolded to bring them together. **..." Read more

"...The three characters in this book are so distint and full of their own personalities that when they come together each of them shine in their own..." Read more

45 customers mention "Readability"45 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an outstandingly great start to a new series and one of AJ Sherwood's best works.

"This was very interesting and a great start to a series. It was a little slow in places but the world building was solid...." Read more

"Really great start to a new series. I love the humor used...." Read more

"...Yes, it does end on a HEA, but it's an open-ended "after" that allows for future books...." Read more

"This was a surprisingly sweet start to the series...." Read more

40 customers mention "Humor"40 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, particularly its witty banter and snarky writing style, with several mentioning laugh-out-loud moments.

"...Super fun, very funny, fast paced writing with an really interesting premise...." Read more

"...Thank you! People please enjoy! I love books that make me laugh out loud! Snark is so addictive!" Read more

"...was "spot on," and not only eminently believable, but written so well that I *cared* what happened to them...." Read more

"...Luckily the dialogue and mysteries were interesting enough that I didn't give up when, at over 60 of a 300 plus page book, there was still will we..." Read more

37 customers mention "Pacing"31 positive6 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, noting its solid world-building, with one customer highlighting the perfect amount of delayed gratification.

"...It was a little slow in places but the world building was solid. Loved Grandpa, hope he comes around more." Read more

"...They brought the characters to life and helped me understand who they are on a different level...." Read more

"...storyline is engaging, the characters feel fleshed out, and the pacing is just right." Read more

"10/10 highly recommend! Great storyline and editing. Strong but relatable characters, very entertaining and funny, but with heart and SEXY SEXY..." Read more

30 customers mention "Sweetness"30 positive0 negative

Customers find the book sweet, describing it as a snarky romantic heaven with a delightful tongue-in-cheek vibe.

"...The characters are fun, too. It’s a nice, simple, spicy palate cleanser." Read more

"...It's fluffy and and sweet and that's all it is. The angst isn't really angst. You have a mage that's part demon...." Read more

"This book was pure unadulterated fun. From sweet Bel to Nico (aka the Energizer Bunny) to protective Garen, I love them all...." Read more

"...It's a sweet, sexy read!" Read more

28 customers mention "Writing style"24 positive4 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, noting its well-crafted scenes and seamless wordbuilding, with one customer highlighting the nice custom typography at chapter headings.

"...Also, the humor strikes me as so much funnier. The Three narrators for this books were great...." Read more

"This is a well written book. The story line is great and easy to follow. Love all the adventure and the characters are great as well. A must read!!!" Read more

"...and not totally serious. There was some nice custom typography at the chapter headings. Looking forward to more in this series...." Read more

"I really loved the storytelling in this book...." Read more

A Mage’s Guide to Human Familiar’s
5 out of 5 stars
A Mage’s Guide to Human Familiar’s
A Mage’s Guide to Human Familiars by A J Sherwood R’iyah Family Archives series #1. M-M-M romance fantasy with mages, familiars, and swords. Bel Adams needs a new familiar and ends up calling army Ranger, Nico di Rossi who was bored, bored, bored with his regular job. Nico gladly leaves the army to be with the mage. But his training is advance deployment and needs training to stay closer to Bel so his prior lover Garen Dallarosa is borrowed from the Secret Service to train Nico to be a body guard. The three find they work effectively and efficiently together fighting magical problems. A mage getting a familiar story. But more, the story totally goes off the rails in humor and throw-away comments. I enjoy the heck out this story as humor, puns and ridiculous are totally my jam. The three do a good job of solving problems too with the help of Demon Grandpa. I can’t imagine where this will possible go, but I’m very sure it will be entertaining, romantic, and full of giggles for me. “A coffee offering. All hail the coffee offering.”
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • tgtuc
    5.0 out of 5 stars Crazy fun
    Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    As usual under this name the author writes crazy fun books with sweet funny characters. Very interesting plots with well thought out magical twists. There are a few more graphic racy scenes than I am comfortable with but I just skip over them just like I do when reading hetero sex scenes.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • M L Etchison
    5.0 out of 5 stars One Lump Or Two?
    Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    R’iyahFamily1

    Mages, and demons, and familiars, oh my!

    Not a kitchen sink story, but lots of satisfying twists and turns. Bel Adams is a demon-eyed mage, valued for his deep dive analysis. His concentration when working requires the intelligence of a human familiar - one who can safeguard and protect.

    His magic calls Nico di Rossi, an army ranger on active duty. They fit magically except for one teensy problem; Nico is an offensive badass. He needs training to orient to a defensive role. So, Nico calls in Garen, a former army buddy who works for the Secret Service, and has bodyguard mode down pat.

    Since they all work for the government, it is relatively easy to get transfers working ( just tons of paperwork), except Garen’s boss really doesn’t want to lose him. With Bel being a first-responder mage, it should be a sure thing that his safety comes first in priority. But, he has to prove a magical link to Garen to keep him.

    Fun!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Buttr_pcan
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Start To A Series
    Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This was very interesting and a great start to a series. It was a little slow in places but the world building was solid. Loved Grandpa, hope he comes around more.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Mkaye
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Mage’s Guide
    Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This was a great book! The main character is a mage who summons a familiar, who then adds a friend, and they all become lovers. That covers the romance side, but this book also has a fun and interesting cast of secondary characters, lots of magic, magical troubles, and fun Star Wars references. It also has a great HFN. I can’t wait to read more!
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Wilsy7501
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lighthearted, Fun and Highly Entertaining
    Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I have read this book in both Digital and Audiobook forms and both options were highly entertaining. The three characters in this book are so distint and full of their own personalities that when they come together each of them shine in their own right.

    Bel has insecurities and a big sense of responsibility, Nico has massive energy and enthusiasm, and Garen has a huge protective streak and patience. These all work together to create a cohesive team for their job and a cohesive partnership within ther personal lives and budding relationship. When they all come together is is amazing in it's intensity and quite lovely and steamy.

    Like a lot of this authors books there are a lot of action and humor and energy involved so that the lower steam elements aren't completly noticible, plus the tension between the characters keeps things interesting.

    For the Audiobook version:

    I often find that audiobooks can push certain things about books forward when compared to reading the digital or physical versions. For some reason the pacing and vocal inflections can bring a character to life and bring different feelings into other parts of books. Also, the humor strikes me as so much funnier. The Three narrators for this books were great. They brought the characters to life and helped me understand who they are on a different level. The only thing I struggled with is that one of the narrators didn't seem to have the right sound for a character which threw me a bit because he did a great job.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Eric
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great MMM book!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I loved these characters and the story. Sometimes MM+ can be hard to read but this was wonderfully covered, you get to meet all 3 boys and their distinct personalities. Loved the way the story unfolded to bring them together. **Nico is a national treasure.** The side characters were also excellent.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Slippery Vowels
    4.0 out of 5 stars This was a good read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    A.J. Sherwood is fast becoming one of my favorites. Absolutely love her work and so far, outside of one book, I have enjoyed everything. Looking forward to more books from her. Definitely looking at #2 in the series as my next read.
    Helpful
     Report
  • L. Greene
    5.0 out of 5 stars 30 books in this series wouldn't be enough
    Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I absolutely love these characters and this world. The storyline is engaging, the characters feel fleshed out, and the pacing is just right.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • María Je
    4.0 out of 5 stars Entretenido y agradable
    Reviewed in Spain on December 12, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Es una lectura muy fácil. Se hace muy ameno leer el libro porque las historias convergen a un punto feliz en el que los personajes se unen tal como esperas.
    Me ha gustado bastante.
    Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great new series
    Reviewed in France on November 7, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this triad, plenty of plot action and pretty low-angst. I look forward to reading more of their adventures! Lots of fun.
    Report
  • Laura
    5.0 out of 5 stars sweet, fun and absolutely adorable
    Reviewed in India on November 21, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This has just become my favourite comfort read. The guys are so sweet and fun, the story is gripping and there’s this irresistible feel good vibe leaping from the pages. This book is like a big warm hug when you’re down and low.
    Report
  • Bibliophiler Booknerd
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome story
    Reviewed in Germany on September 23, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Ich mag AJ Sherwoods Geschichten eh super gerne und wie cute waren bitte Bel, Garen und Nico?! Ich bin in love. Ich kann es kaum erwarten bald weiterzulesen. Magie, Liebe, Action und Humor - count me in 🥰❤️
    Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Really Fun MMM PNR
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 5, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    4.5⭐

    When young mage Bel, with his demonic eyes that see *everything*, summons a human familiar for the second time, Nico gets sucked across the country. Bored with his Army career and ready for a change, Nico is intrigued by being summoned as a familiar and his protective instincts kick in for Bel. But he knows he's going to need training, so he asks his old friend and ex-lover, Secret Service agent Garen to come and help.

    Nico and Garen never stopped loving each other, but they could never make it work before. But now there is also Bel to consider. Could the cute yet powerful mage be just what they needed, rather than an extra complication?

    This is a really fun MMM contemporary near-fantasy PNR with magical first responders battling monsters and magic and 2 veterans protecting their young mage.

    I really enjoyed the contrasting characters: the highly intelligent and powerful, but anxious and previously heartbroken, Bel; the hyperactive golden retriever cinnamon roll, Nico; and the steady and protective, part Gargoyle, Garen. And I loved the way they get together as a triad.

    One thing that wasn't explained in this was why they could put any trust in the magic choosing Nico, given Bel's first familiar was such a disaster.

    In this you'll find: MMM PNR; 3 gay MCs; some spice; ~10 year age gap; a young mage heartbroken by being rejected by his first familiar; 2 ex-boyfriends who still love each other but couldn't make their relationship work; a former Army Ranger; a former Secret Service agent; forced proximity and only 1 bed; fated/magic chosen; quick falling in love; a sassy demon grandfather; battling ROUS and magical curses; found family; and a HEA.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report