So much fun, despite the sometimes ridiculous and unrealistic plot!
The book is all over my goodreads feed right now, so I’ll keep it short.
Synopsis: 2So much fun, despite the sometimes ridiculous and unrealistic plot!
The book is all over my goodreads feed right now, so I’ll keep it short.
Synopsis: 2 political rivals crash with their plane somewhere in the Finnish wilderness, only to discover that they’re being hunted by some mysterious terrorists who want to kill them. It’s a bit like Castaway or Seven Days, Seven Nights, only that it’s a lot colder.
To start with the ridiculous parts: yes, I agree with those of you who pointed out the inconsistencies in their outdoor survival woes, but I decided to ignore them and enjoy the ride. I’d never start questioning Indiana Jones either, and that’s the frame of mind you need to be into to fully enjoy it.
I loved the banter, and all the Britishness when it comes to politics. And I cheered when Harry gave THE SPEECH at the parliament.
Side note: isn’t it lovely when a book gets you so invested that you get involved as if it’s real life?
The story around Harry’s marriage was awfully convenient though, so I can’t make myself rate it with more than 4 stars - still, it’s a lot of fun. Escapism at its best, and I really wish we have more politicians like these two, because a lot of the scheming around them hits close to home (how it doesn’t matter what policies or principles you have, as long as you feed the social media outrage to stay relevant).
Absolutely recommend it - can be read as standalone, but I’d recommend reading The Unlikely Heir first....more
This. Was. Lovely. And it made me all kinds of emotional.
Remember Tristan, Frankie‘s triplet brother with cerebral palsy, meaning that his legs don’t wThis. Was. Lovely. And it made me all kinds of emotional.
Remember Tristan, Frankie‘s triplet brother with cerebral palsy, meaning that his legs don’t work properly, and he has to use canes? And he’s deaf from birth, only able to hear with hearing aides? Not a main character to read often about, right?
This is his book. And while his handicaps might seem to make it unlikely for this to be a “happy” book, it actually is very lighthearted, without making light of it, if that makes sense.
Some folks pretended to ignore my mobility issues altogether, which I daresay helped the person feel like they were paying me a compliment—hey, you’re one of us! This cunning plan, though, painted disability in a negative light, something shameful, something to pretend not to see. And made for very awkward conversations at the bottom of a staircase.
Tristan is remarkably funny, even if he knows all too well what he can and can’t do. And when he meets Dominic (Lysander’s little brother) for the first time, and Dominic (in a very bratty and inconsiderate way) behaves badly towards him, Tristan is deeply hurt and humiliated.
Dominic is 21, and what you would call a trust fund baby, spoiled and a typical American frat boy who messed up so badly in California where he lives with his mum, that he’s sent away to London for a while to “touch grass” until things cool down at home. But he’s… nice. A very good man under all his blustering, and when he knows he fucked up (like with Tristan), he tries to make amends. He’s like a Labrador who knows he was wrong to do what he did and now tries everything to make things better.
And yes, I was in doubt at the beginning if he can redeem himself, but it worked so well. What a redemption arc, it was a joy to see him grow up, even if it all takes place in the course of a few weeks!
I can’t even describe what makes them both so special, and why Tristan and Dom work perfectly as a couple. They feel so real, and getting both their POVs made me root for both of them, up to the point at the end of the book where my heart broke for both of them and I shed a tear or two (never fear, there’s no third act breakup or some other bullshit drama).
I loved it. It’s not perfect, but i tend to be generous with my rating when a book gives me all the feels, and this one definitely did.
Because he made me feel safe. Not like protection from muggers or disease. Nor like mapping out a secure future, a career, finances, welfare. But the best kind of safe. The hidden, secret inner safety we all craved. The one allowing us to expose our fears, vulnerabilities, desires, my horrid legs, and, yes, even my arsehole. And the security of knowing that, for the next few hours, at least, someone held me close.
I think it can be read as a standalone, but to fully enjoy all the characters, you should read book 1 first.
Oh and special shoutout to Frankie, who’s a true bridezilla while planning his wedding ...more
If there’s ONE author that can write codependency/pining/mindless desire in a way that makes you want to read EVERY SIMy favorite from this series ❤️
If there’s ONE author that can write codependency/pining/mindless desire in a way that makes you want to read EVERY SINGLE MINUTE, it’s this one. What a ride...more
You either LOVE this one (and yes, I mean LOVE with capital letters) or you won’t like it at all.
If you’re reading this book (or thinking about readinYou either LOVE this one (and yes, I mean LOVE with capital letters) or you won’t like it at all.
If you’re reading this book (or thinking about reading it) you’ve probably read the first six books and you don’t need me to tell you who Valor and Doyle are.
In this book, we don’t have a crime case to solve - it’s focusing entirely on their wedding, giving theses two - and the series - an ending that will leave us all in a happy place.
What I love about these two, who are so real in my head as if I’d known them personally for years: they’re not perfect. But they’re perfect for each other.
Aslan is the more likable of the two - easygoing and flirty, good natured, but with a darker side, still occasionally struggling with his addiction to alcohol. In this book, we don’t get to see these darker parts. Az is the solid rock to Quaid’s spiralling mess, the one person who can ground him when he’s on the verge of a meltdown.
Because yes, I can understand how some of you aren’t happy with Quaid. He’s a mess. He has a wedding to plan, and he’s not the most chill person to be around on his best days - now imagine him trying to organise the event he’s been dreaming about all his life. Because deep down, before meeting Aslan, he’s given up on his own happy ending, convinced that he’s not worthy of happiness, or love, and that - if he’s lucky- he’ll end up settling for a more or less loveless, convenient partnership.
So yes, Quaid is groom-zilla, a hot mess, firing wedding planners and snarling at everyone and everything. He’s on the verge of a breakdown, making himself sick. And it’s just heartmelting to see how Az helps him, all in a way that isn’t cheesy, OTT dramatic. There’s no breakup, and the only tears that are shed are the ones on their (definitely NOT Christmas themed) wedding day.
And shoutout to some of the best side characters ever written- Graham “The Ring Bearer” who finally found somebody who can beat him in chess. And most of all, Ruiz, who’s character development makes me hopeful irl, too: his transformation from a bigoted homophobe to a genuinely good man, who opened his eyes and didn’t like the person he’s become, and who makes amends to people he has wronged in the past - kudos. I really loved him in this book and hope to see glimpses of him in the future spinoff-books.
Is the book perfect? No, because you don’t really have a “plot” - we all know from the start that their wedding will be nothing short of magical. Will I rate it with 5 stars? Absolutely. Because I’m so genuinely happy for them, and I want to believe that even persons who are far from perfect are able to find their soulmate, and live their HEA.
All in all a worthy ending to one of my favorite series ❤️
And now excuse me while I listen to Skillet's "Anchor" and bawl my eyes out......more
Remember me saying that a series with porn star MCs probably isn’t my jam? Well, I was wrong.
This. Was. Beautiful.
Yes, I know, it’s probably not a typRemember me saying that a series with porn star MCs probably isn’t my jam? Well, I was wrong.
This. Was. Beautiful.
Yes, I know, it’s probably not a typical “porn star” plot, but it still counts - Mal/Malibu, the guy with the anxiety disorder, and who has a few side hustles working as a camboy and as an escort, has a new client: Hendrik, a wealthy - and blind - man who hires him as a companion for 6 months. Mal can’t resist so much money, and he moves in with Hendrik, only to realise that this quickly turns out to be the first real relationship he’s ever had.
They fall for each other, and their relationship is beautiful and felt very natural. I loved how Hendrik learned to deal with his blindness, and above all, I loved Malibu, that beautiful, kind man who suffered such a severe trauma as a teenager. And fuck you, Mal’s mum, and every person who thinks this kind of “treatment” is ok.
You don’t need to read book 1 for this, but you should, because that’s where we meet Mal for the first time.
Absolutely recommend this one. Not sure if I’ll go for the next book right away, I have to check Kati’s review first and I don’t think she’s read it yet ...more
Again, adorable. And probably even a bit cuter than book 1.
Book 1 ended with a HFN, with Alex still in the closet, but planning on coming out in the fAgain, adorable. And probably even a bit cuter than book 1.
Book 1 ended with a HFN, with Alex still in the closet, but planning on coming out in the foreseeable future. Book 2 begins with Eli and Alex visiting Eli’s family for Christmas.
And the entire book is… adorable. I know I’m repeating myself, but it’s literally impossible not to swoon and get all kind of fuzzy feelings when you read this book. Yes, they’re young. No, there’s no real smut. Yes, it’s not realistic to see them overcome all the things that get thrown at them.
“Are you done with your breakfast?” Eli asks. Alex tries to look at his plate without displacing Eli’s hands. “Not really, why?” “I need to lie on top of you for a few minutes and have feelings. Can we come back to breakfast later?” “Absolutely. Can we do the lying thing naked?” “We literally just had sex.” “And?” Alex says. That’s a valid point.
I laughed, giggled, even cried a bit, and I cheered them on. I loved not only Alex and Eli, I adored Cody and James, and Jeff, Matts and Rushy and Kuzy, Eli’s parents, his abuela and Jessica the PR rep.
And Hawk and Bells ofc.
And as with every book that gives me all the feels, I’ll rate it with 5 stars. It’s like a warm hug, like drinking hot chocolate on a winter day. Definitely a series I’ll come back to when I need some comfort reading....more
Lovely small-town romance between a hockey player and a franco-Canadian chef - way better than book 1 ❤️
Firstly: no, it’s not necessary to read the prLovely small-town romance between a hockey player and a franco-Canadian chef - way better than book 1 ❤️
Firstly: no, it’s not necessary to read the previous book before this one, but it doesn’t hurt to know of Vinnie and Nolan (and JC). And if you’re into audiobooks: both books are narrated by NJR, who - as you might know- could read me the phone book and I’d still listen to him.
Here, it’s one of the few times I’ve had an (albeit small) issue with him: while Riley, the hockey player, is American, Jean-Claude’s (aka JC) main language is French, and he speaks English with a French accent. I struggled a tiny bit with it in the beginning, but after a while I got used to it and even loved it. So for once, NJR gets 4.5 instead of 5 stars for his narration ...more
A though subject to read about, peppered with bits of a truly special and beautiful romance.
Let’s start with the murder mystery. Everything involving A though subject to read about, peppered with bits of a truly special and beautiful romance.
Let’s start with the murder mystery. Everything involving kids and teens is really hard for me to read. I don’t know about you, but when I read a book (at least a good one), the story and the characters become real for me. The characters, the drama. And in a murder mystery, the victims usually are more than mere faces on blurry pictures, they become real people. And if they’re kids, my heart breaks for them even more. Add to that a truly despicable serial killer, and it gets really tough for me, that’s why I had to take breaks while listening to the audiobook.
That didn’t make it a bad book, on the contrary - I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and I was fully invested in finding the killer.
Again, the mystery kept me on my toes, even though the “big mystery arc” spanning across the books is still a very confusing one.
As for the romance… it’s so good, I don’t even know where to begin. I actually bought the ebook, just to be able to mark some things that tugged at my heartstrings.
Larkin is so… heartbreaking. He’s so broken in many ways, and the way his mind works is described beautifully. No idea if HSAM is represented correctly, but it feels so… real. Relatable. You remember Lieutenant Commander Data from Star Trek/TNG? Larkin is his human equivalent, only with a LOT of emotions that he keeps bottled up tightly.
And Ira Doyle is… pure perfection. Just imagine all the ingredients to bake yourself THE perfect man, and you’d get Ira. Patient, smart, funny, and yes, broken, too, but in a different way from "Evie" Larkin.
Let me illustrate what I mean with a few of my favourite quotes:
“Tell me something about yourself. That I don’t know yet.” Doyle let go, leaned back in his chair. “I’m not that interesting.” “You don’t believe that.” Doyle smiled, his face—his entire body—lighting up. “I kept the very first voicemail you left me. I listen to it, sometimes. When I need to hear your voice. ‘This is Detective Everett Larkin, Cold Case Squad. The time is 9: 07.’”
…
“Could it be that in seeking himself, in pushing aside the veil, Larkin glimpsed a treasure that looked a little bit like calluses and cardamon and whiskey and pyrite? And that he wasn’t a nobody—because on Wednesday, April 1, at 4: 56 p.m., Doyle had kissed him and Larkin hadn’t been gray, but was instead a rainbow. His treasure made him feel like a somebody. His treasure made him feel like this was a tried-and-true partnership. In art and investigation. In life and death. In love. Larkin’s treasure was Ira Doyle. And his heart had simply been waiting for his mind to catch up.”
…
“Have you been in love.” “Sure.” “How’d it end.” There was a pause before Doyle answered, “It hasn’t started.”
…
“I’m not sure how easy it will be, given that we’ve set a precedent for working together professionally, but in eighteen years, I’ve never been happy having HSAM. Until now. Because I don’t ever want to forget how you make me feel.” “That’s arguably one of the most romantic things anyone’s ever said to me.” “I have my moments,” Larkin answered, his voice still its ever-consistent monotone.
I’m so looking forward to reading more of them - or more accurately, to listen to the audio, because - again - Kale Williams is the one who gives even more life to the characters. Even the author starts the book with a dedication to her narrator (at least I think she means him, seeing that the name isn’t a very common one):
”For Kale. Thank you for elevating this series to something more.”...more
I’ve been looking forward so much to Daman and Warrin‘s book. Daman, the moody, often bitchy brother, who’s far frAlmost, but not quite a 5 star read.
I’ve been looking forward so much to Daman and Warrin‘s book. Daman, the moody, often bitchy brother, who’s far from a social butterfly. And Warrin, the Russian ice dragon prince, formerly betrothed to Kyo (see the previous book) who is about to wed Daman to cement an alliance between his clan and the nephilim, preparing for the war that’s about to begin.
Their relationship was everything I’ve hoped for. It developed just at the right pace, and gave us time to get to know the Daman behind his prickly demeanor, and Warrin, who dedicated his entire life to his clan - until Daman, the first choice he made himself, and for himself.
Nevertheless, the buildup felt a bin drawn out - and seems to follow a pattern in these books. You have a lot of pining, relationship and sex up until around 70%.
Then, they fight. And they almost die. And I cry. And then I cry some more because I’m so happy they somehow survive anyway.
What I absolutely LOVED this time around: Daman and Envy (almost) bringing down Lucifer’s son ...more
Books like these are the reason I read. I laughed, I swooned, and was frustrated and tense. It completely drew me in.
No idea how an author manages to Books like these are the reason I read. I laughed, I swooned, and was frustrated and tense. It completely drew me in.
No idea how an author manages to write a series like this one, and then other books that are just meh for me. But with Quaid Valor and Aslan Doyle she definitely created one of the realest couples I’ve ever read about.
Both are flawed - Aslan with his history of being an alcoholic, and his PTSD after having had to shoot a child (who was a murderer and was about to kill somebody, but was a child nevertheless). And Quaid with his deep insecurities when it comes to self worth, who obsesses about food and who would probably have an eating disorder if Aslan wouldn’t look after him.
Sounds less than thrilling if you don’t “know” them, but trust me, it is. Because the one constant in their lives is their love and their support for each other, and this love is so beautiful, that you as a reader want to bask in it, and you’re grateful to have it in your life, even if it’s only by proxy.
Every book of this series ends on a happy note, and this one is no different: throughout the entire first half of the book, Aslan (who never before Quaid was one to commit himself to another person) tries (and botches) to propose to Quaid. And while every other man would see why Aslan is so nervous in romantic settings (like a fancy restaurant, or fireworks), Quaid is too insecure for that and works himself up because he suspects that Aslan has some terrible news for him.
I bow to Riley Nash. What an incredibly talented author, and what an unusual series ❤️
Because yes, the characters in his book really have to fight forI bow to Riley Nash. What an incredibly talented author, and what an unusual series ❤️
Because yes, the characters in his book really have to fight for their HEA. First Victor and Ethan, where Victor is a swim champion who’s been abused by his coach. Then Gray and Jason, Gray being a friend of Victor, a lawyer who can’t forgive himself that he didn’t realise what Victor went through. Then Oliver, who’s one of Gray’s clients, and Jackson, a prisoner on the run whom he gets trapped with in a tunnel.
And now, finally, Alek, the son of Victor’s abuser. Cole, Gary’s relationship phobic ex husband. And Benji (who’s involvement in the previous plots I won’t reveal, as it might count as a spoiler).
It’s heartbreaking. It’s beautiful. It’s funny even. And it’s hard to read at times, for example when Alek reveals how he tried to end his life just to get away from his father.
“If being in love means that the hurt you feel with them is better than the happiness you feel without them, then I’m afraid I might be well and truly lost. The kind of lost where no amount of running and breaking will ever turn me back into the man I was before.”
And it all comes together, bits and pieces of strings being tied up so we get one big, beautiful ending for this series.
And even though I’m not usually a fan of mmm romances, it felt natural and inevitable for these three men to come together.
”it feels like ripping open my chest to let them see how deeply and irrevocably they’ve become intertwined with every part of me, each breath and beat of my heart. I know my soul is safe with them, and only them.”
I’ll definitely come back to this series, and the characters will stay with me for quite a while.
Beautiful. Go read it, and start with book 1 if you haven’t read it yet....more
Absolutely adorable. The feelgood-est feelgood book I’ve read for a long while.
Those who follow my reviews know that I’m not usually one to go for YA. Absolutely adorable. The feelgood-est feelgood book I’ve read for a long while.
Those who follow my reviews know that I’m not usually one to go for YA. But this… the writing style was so refreshing. It’s written in 3rd person pov, switching from one to another (we don’t just get the one ramblings from the main characters, but from some side characters, too). The dialogues are a bit dorky at times, in a way that feels very life-like.
The main characters are Alex Price, who’s the youngest NHL team captain ever, a true talent on ice, and very closeted. He meets Eli, an 18yo college freshman with a disability (he occasionally has seizures and has a guide dog who warns him before they’re about to happen). Eli is a figure ice skater, and openly gay.
The book itself it free from any unnecessary drama. It’s so lovely to be part of their lives, seeing them navigate all the ups and downs of their budding relationship. In some ways, it reminded me of “Heartstopper”.
I won’t go into details - the whole book is a vibe. I honestly can’t wait to read more about them and the entire world this author has created.
And for those who haven’t read other reviews and who haven’t seen this quote 1000 times already, here it is, the probably most quoted part that HAS to make you smile: “And on the eighth day,” Cody intones, eerily similar to the pastor at Cody’s church back home, “the Lord made hockey asses. And Eli felt one. And it was good.” “Hallelujah,” Eli agrees.
Sweet and low drama grumpy/sunshine nerd/jock romance
On one side of the ring we have THE NERD, Braxton. He’s handsome (because of course he is), wSweet and low drama grumpy/sunshine nerd/jock romance
On one side of the ring we have THE NERD, Braxton. He’s handsome (because of course he is), wears a lot of black, rides a motorcycle and his father is in prison. And he’s the grump in this story, especially when it comes to THE JOCK , Tyson. Tyson plays lacrosse in the college they both attend, and they both plan to graduate in computer sciences.
I loved the playfulness between them, and the verbal sparring that didn’t cease even when they finally became a couple. And I loved that we didn’t have to deal with any manufactured breakup drama, seeing as both of them had their share of growing up to do (they’re 21, but we all know that that doesn’t mean you’re an adult, especially when it comes to standing up to your family).
I listened to the audio narrated by J.F. Harding, and while he did a well enough job, I had trouble keeping his “voices” apart. And somehow I never forgot that there’s someone reading me a book, if you know what I mean. Exceptionally good narrators make you forget about that, they become one with the characters and the only thing in your head is the character currently speaking. I’m not sure if you understand what I want to say tbh ...more
Holy shit. Best murder mystery/romance I’ve read in a long while.
I’m still trying to sort through my thoughts after finishing it.
Let’s get to the firsHoly shit. Best murder mystery/romance I’ve read in a long while.
I’m still trying to sort through my thoughts after finishing it.
Let’s get to the first thing that I absolutely loved, but that got me a bit to get used to: Everett Larkin, who works in the Cold Case unit, is… something else. He’s suffering of Hyperthymesia, which - if you google - is the rare ability to recall nearly all past experiences in great detail. The causes of HSAM are currently unknown, but here, it seems to have its origins in a former head trauma. And you might say - that’s great, he’s the perfect cop, always taking everything in, never forgetting any detail, always analysing, processing, remembering. And the way the story is told, we’re in his head all the time, cataloguing, remembering, noticing details others would overlook. Every date, every time stamp makes him remember, his busy brain jumping around and making connections where others would see white noise.
So as you can see, it’s not just awesome. It’s a blessing and a curse. He’s remembering everything, reliving every detail, every traumatic, messy experience, every fight with his husband.
Because yes, he’s married. And his husband Noah isn’t a villain, but they’re not good together, both trying, but being toxic for each other nevertheless. And even though I really want to see Larkin and Doyle together, my heart broke a bit for Noah, too. He really tries, but he’s just not good with (and for) Larkin.
And there’s Ira Doyle. I KNOW, RIGHT???? Of all names, why another Doyle when we already have another awesome cop-couple, Valor & Doyle? But while both Doyles are cops, they’re different enough: Ira Doyle is an artist, specialised on reconstructing faces, or drawing accurate images of people from the description of others alone.
Ira is warm and charming where Larkin is not, has a warm voice where Larkin speaks with almost no infliction. And he instinctively knows how to deal with Larkin, touching - and awakening- him underneath his efficient, almost emotionless shell.
I can’t even begin to describe how their budding relationship moved me, and how my heart broke for how lonely Larkin was despite being married.
If you’re expecting smut - this is not it. It’s very slow burn, but their relationship develops just at the right pace to be believable and real.
The mystery had me on my toes: I’m usually pretty good with finding out who the murderer is, but here I think I found out at the same time Larkin did.
So good.
And the last paragraph???? Are you kidding me????
What I also LOVED was the narration by Kale Williams. It’s told from Larkin’s (3rd person) pov, and Larkin’s voice is - as mentioned - a bit toneless, at least usually. And he speaks (and thinks) quite quickly, so I really had to pay attention to what he said and thought. But once I got used to it, I realised that the voice Kale chose to give Larkin fit him perfectly.
So good. Really. I’m still reeling and can’t wait to start listening to book 2.
Thank you, Kati, again one of your recs managed to blow me away ...more
Where to start when, after plowing through three books, you want to write a review without spoilers for those whWorthy finale to a captivating series.
Where to start when, after plowing through three books, you want to write a review without spoilers for those who haven’t read it yet.
I think I’ll focus on the characters, and on the world building in general.
The world building is… fascinating. Not fully fleshed out, but using enough well known elements of fae lore to seem familiar. And still, new and fresh in a way I’ve rarely encountered until now: the fae and their way of thinking are inhuman and sometimes cruel in a playful way, if that makes sense. We have a huge variety of species with very different appearances, but even more different customs. What I loved: there’s a certain open-mindedness about it. Just take the warrior fae with their bloody caps who “renew” them by drenching them in the blood of their enemies. Most of the other fae (and humans) think it’s gross, but they respect the warrior fae’s customs. Or the practice of eating your prey. That’s… ewww...more
Wow. This blew me away in the best way possible ❤️
You might have noticed that it took me a few days to get through (after FINALLY being able to get haWow. This blew me away in the best way possible ❤️
You might have noticed that it took me a few days to get through (after FINALLY being able to get hands on an ebook, thanks to my friends here), but not because I was bored. It just felt like a book I didn’t want to read without giving it my full attention, and I lacked those moments lately, even if I couldn’t stop thinking about the book and its characters.
It’s the story of newly divorced, 36yo Kurt, who tries to “get back in the saddle again”. And Orion, the mysterious young man who seems to know things about him no stranger should know.
I won’t spoil the plot, because if you’ve already read it, you’ll know it anyway - and if not, you should go in blindly, and get yourself caught up in the slightly spooky atmosphere of Hillock Beach, where not everything and everyone is as they seem at first sight.
Despite the touches of paranormal activities, I loved the realism of it, the way the characters were imperfect, but lovable.
Thank you so much, Snjez, for making me pick it up, it’s really turned out to be one of my favourite reads this year ❤️
Some spoiler-free quotes I loved: Orion and I were completely different. Because I’d always played it safe. I’d always been safe. But self-imposed safety came with sacrifice, I’d learned. Opportunities lost. Chances not taken. Desires unfulfilled.
(…)
Sunday morning, I got up with the sun, and my jog on the beach felt slightly less painful than last time. And by less painful, I mean I only wanted to die myself, unlike my prior runs where I wanted to take others down with me. Mainly the perky runners I passed who actually had enough air in their lungs to say ‘Good morning’ while I loped along like an asthmatic werewolf with two lame feet.
More than 20 hours of listening to a hot human/alien romance without being bored - that’s really a feat, don’t you think?
Firstly, let’s all give it upMore than 20 hours of listening to a hot human/alien romance without being bored - that’s really a feat, don’t you think?
Firstly, let’s all give it up to Zane Daniels, who - again- managed to pull me into this book, so much in fact, that I felt like real life is the intrusive force here, pulling me away from my book. Even during the (very long) sex scenes, he managed to toe that fine line between acting it out and overacting. So yes, definitely thumbs up for the audio!
As for the book: the prequel (which you should read before starting this one - it’s mainly a huge orgy, but you need a lot of things you learn there to fully understand what’s going on here) ends with the humans stranded in Nira being sold to Zercy, the Kríe king.
Here, we have several plot lines: a human rescue team crashes on Nira, too, only to be abducted by the same Kríe who sold the former team to Zercy, intending to “trade” them to get back Noah, one of the scientists whom one of the Kríe mercenaries has fallen in love with.
Then we skip back a year and learn what happened to the first human team, mainly focusing on Alec, their captain. Alec has stirred the personal interest of Zercy and has been claimed as his personal pet.
And in the course of that year until the rescue team landed, Alec and his team not only learn a lot about the Kríe ways and what they’re fighting against, but Alex gets to know - and eventually fall in love with - Zercy.
So as you can imagine, when the rescue mission finally happens, nothing goes as planned…
There’s A LOT of sex in this book, I think this author is quite well known for her extensive and very explicit writing. And what easier way to explore every possible kink when you have huge, purple, very sensual aliens? But what I loved most is the care she put in developing not only the main characters and their relationship, but the secondary characters and the world building - like the steampunk vibe that surrounds all the Kríe tech, or the intense way in which Nira interacts with the beings in this planet.
Can’t wait to read more about Noah and Gesh, or the Bailey and his mysterious merman (prince Nen?), or Garret and the Tohrí warrior (the flying Legolas-looking people) ...more
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