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kerebdis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mx_manda's review against another edition
4.0
The lengthiest Mate Index book to date, this is also—in my opinion—the strongest one of the batch. Watching Sander's writing abilities and story telling style evolve over the year has been enjoyable to witness. Though still plagued with the editing issues that often accompany indie-published work, they are a minor distraction that do not muddle the meaning of the story or derail the reader. (But seriously, S.J., if you need another proof reader to catch typos, I will happily be your gal.)
Finally, we get a story told from the POV of the Agraak—one of the big villains of the Mate Index universe. We have previously known them as oily toad men with a taste for hyper-aggression and rape. With the exception of an Agraak merchant and her mate we met in a previous story, they have all been nasty pieces of work. But. It turns out that the majority of the Agraak are not the issue, but rather the upper echelons of Agraak society, those most removed from the natural state of their species. In this story we follow Kaede, a male of noble birth who shuns the expectations of his class and goes on a personal mission to help those most in need: the humans in the dreaded breeding facility and the Arobi slaves. When Intergalactic Union forces are taken by surprise during an exercise to free human breeders, a female human soldier needs to be safely taken from the city and stashed in the swamps until rescue can be coordinated. No one is better suited than he is, and of course he accepts the task.
Frankie would do anything to find out what happened to her twin sister Alisha, one of the 100 women the Budo tricked into becoming breeding slaves for the Agraak. Because of the restrictions Earth has placed on single young women, she goes to great lengths to enlist as a man and maintain that ruse. Finally reaching Agraadax, Frankie finds herself in a situation she wasn't fully prepared to navigate. Soon she finds herself on the run in the Agraadax swamp with a male who is the opposite of what she was prepared to expect from the planet's inhabitants.
This is a good solid read all around; it's hard for me to find much to quibble about. We get a heroine who is strong and determined but also vulnerable. We get a hero who is principled, strong, has feelings other than anger or lust, and who doesn't look to solve everything by going into SMASH mode. Because of the length, this one burns a little slower than previous installments, which only adds to the satisfaction of seeing the two get together. There is an insta-attraction element at play, but both are level headed individuals with agendas they have their sights on. All of the characters were pretty well handled, even the super self-absorbed and vapid noble ranks in the dome city. Lots of adventure and a clear plot that is more polished than the earlier installments in the series round this off.
This is one to read—and can be read as a stand-alone without too many problems. It's worth spending an evening or two with.
It took until book 9, but we finally know what became of the other 89 human women from the first Mate Index book, and their story arc officially gets resolved.
The bonus short story at the end is also really sweet. I was heartbroken knowing what happened to Alisha, and she could not have been rewarded with a better mate. Those swamp-dwelling Agraak? Total sweethearts.
Finally, we get a story told from the POV of the Agraak—one of the big villains of the Mate Index universe. We have previously known them as oily toad men with a taste for hyper-aggression and rape. With the exception of an Agraak merchant and her mate we met in a previous story, they have all been nasty pieces of work. But. It turns out that the majority of the Agraak are not the issue, but rather the upper echelons of Agraak society, those most removed from the natural state of their species. In this story we follow Kaede, a male of noble birth who shuns the expectations of his class and goes on a personal mission to help those most in need: the humans in the dreaded breeding facility and the Arobi slaves. When Intergalactic Union forces are taken by surprise during an exercise to free human breeders, a female human soldier needs to be safely taken from the city and stashed in the swamps until rescue can be coordinated. No one is better suited than he is, and of course he accepts the task.
Frankie would do anything to find out what happened to her twin sister Alisha, one of the 100 women the Budo tricked into becoming breeding slaves for the Agraak. Because of the restrictions Earth has placed on single young women, she goes to great lengths to enlist as a man and maintain that ruse. Finally reaching Agraadax, Frankie finds herself in a situation she wasn't fully prepared to navigate. Soon she finds herself on the run in the Agraadax swamp with a male who is the opposite of what she was prepared to expect from the planet's inhabitants.
This is a good solid read all around; it's hard for me to find much to quibble about. We get a heroine who is strong and determined but also vulnerable. We get a hero who is principled, strong, has feelings other than anger or lust, and who doesn't look to solve everything by going into SMASH mode. Because of the length, this one burns a little slower than previous installments, which only adds to the satisfaction of seeing the two get together. There is an insta-attraction element at play, but both are level headed individuals with agendas they have their sights on. All of the characters were pretty well handled, even the super self-absorbed and vapid noble ranks in the dome city. Lots of adventure and a clear plot that is more polished than the earlier installments in the series round this off.
This is one to read—and can be read as a stand-alone without too many problems. It's worth spending an evening or two with.
It took until book 9, but we finally know what became of the other 89 human women from the first Mate Index book, and their story arc officially gets resolved.
Spoiler
Sadly, just under 1/3 of them are dead, discarded for being poor breeders or so badly broken by the process that they're no longer functioning incubators. That was hard to read and realize how many have died over the 5 years since they were taken.The bonus short story at the end is also really sweet. I was heartbroken knowing what happened to Alisha, and she could not have been rewarded with a better mate. Those swamp-dwelling Agraak? Total sweethearts.
beckiebookworm1974's review against another edition
5.0
The best so far and this instalment felt far superior to its predecessors I honestly wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did mostly I think because of it centring around the Agraak and let’s face it they haven’t exactly endeared themselves. But I really enjoyed it a lot. This story takes place on Agraadax and here we have the fallout from the intergalactic council and its many charges levelled against the Agraak. I found this a deeply emotional experience and the fate of the human breeders is showcased here in such stark brutal reality.
Frankie Martins joined the intergalactic forces on the account of her twin sister. She was one of the original females stolen by the Agraak and used for breeding. With her fate, unknown Frankie is determined to discover what happened to her be it good or bad and it’s with this in mind that she disguises herself as male and enlists.
Kaede is of the noble class but not of their mind. He hates what his people have become and works tirelessly to address the little things he can do. He also stealthily assists in a secret rebellion even going as far as to infiltrate a breeding facility incognito to record atrocities and he is horrified at what he discovers hidden inside the walls.
When the intergalactic forces arrive to seize all human females from the planet by order of the council chaos ensues and Frankie’s disguise Is compromised. With Agraadax descending into war fleeing into the swamps with Kaede as her protector is her only option but as the two descend deeper into the swamps they find themselves unexpectedly connecting despite it initially being the last thing either was looking for.
Kaede is all quiet reserved male I liked that about him. He’s also protective and possessive and once he begins to unwind with Frankie he’s a complete sweetheart. I definitely loved the primality of their physical intimacies and these two sure had plenty of chemistry together. Frankie is a very strong female who knows what she wants she is definitely capable and isn’t a drama queen I liked how comfortable she was in her own skin it was refreshing. I appreciated that she judged others by their own actions giving Kaede the benefit of the doubt in regard to his species and their vile actions.
This story has a revolution of the lower masses rising up and taking back control from their noble overlords. The majority of Agraak don’t agree with what their nobles have been doing but have had little voice. Well, now they take back control aided by the swamp tribes who had withdrawn aeons ago from the sparkling dome cities.
We learn the fate of Frankie’s sister and my heart broke for her ordeal and suffering and we also spend time with Frankie’s squad and they were such an interestingly diverse bunch. I’m also loving the fact that we are getting future stories from them as well. This really was a fantastic read that I enjoyed immensely and that small inclusion at the end warmed and helped heal my heart.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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katskinner's review against another edition
5.0
Family means everything. That’s why Frankie is going to such extreme lengths to find her sister, hoping she will be safe and happy. If only she knew that in doing so, she would find her own happiness.
THE BLURB
Frankie’s sister was kidnapped years ago, rumours that she’s been forced into breeding alien babies alongside hundreds of other human women. Frankie doesn’t want to believe it, but she’s not about to sit around and wait for her sister to reappear. She’s going to rescue her herself. She goes undercover as a soldier in the Intergalactic Peacekeeper’s fleet. She’s changed everything about herself, including hiding her gender with pheromone sprays. No one know’s she’s a woman, including her closest companions and team.
Kaede is dedicated to the cause of helping those less fortunate than him. He’s spent years discreetly helping others, earning trusts and connections. When he finally get’s the opportunity to investigate the breeding facility outside of the city, he can’t miss his chance. He plans to find out what really is going on there, and help stop the injustice.
He just doesn’t expect to end up protecting the small human female…
TONE OF THE BOOK
Heart of the Agraak is fairly neutral to heavy toned; there is plenty of tension in the story to keep you hooked. If you were after a light-hearted read then The Heart of the Agraak will not be suitable.
This book calls back some of the seriousness of earlier novels in the series with its reference to some sensitive topics. As a reader you will explore encampments that house kidnapped women, used unwillingly to breed. You will read about topics of rape. You will read about gore, such as bloody handprints.SERIES SYNOPSIS
Heart of the Agraak is the sixth major book in The Mate Index series, with a few novellas dotted in between.
The novel is 265 pages long, making it approximately the same length of a standard romance (at 300 pages average).
The novel features a short section from the view point of a new couple. You can read more about the series on The Mate Index Series Review page.
REVIEW
Heart of the Agraak drifts back to some of the more gory details that were seen in the first few chapters of the first novel. Why? Because this novel much of the world plot line and tension that’s been seen in various novels will come to a head. After all, the title of the novel even implies an insight into “the enemy” that’s been hounding all the heroes so far in the series.
This novel is ripe with tension; everything from romantic interest right through to civil unrest. Heavy action scenes dot the entire novel, and I believe its the most heavy-fighting novel in the series so far. And the action is great! You can clearly imagine the monsters that stalk the characters throughout the swamps and the city.
The world building excels, being one of the books in the series with more culturally diverse and in-depth looks at how different the aliens are from humans. I loved how even the Agraak aliens differ depending upon their socio-economic status in society, varying from uptight nobles to humble villagers.
FINAL WORD
Heart of Agraak is an important novel in The Mate Index series, and one that shouldn’t be missed. It closes a world story-arc that’s covered five books as well as introduces several characters that will feature in later novels. It’s heavy action, thrilling and a brilliant read.
tweetatweet1's review against another edition
5.0
WOW! This author made me love a hated Agraax. In the past story I couldn’t fathom the Agraax to be kind. She did it. I loved Kaede and Frankie! The world building was fabulous. Seriously I would like to sit down and talk to this author about how she comes up with these things. I feel like this was her best yet. I highly recommend this book.
amanda_p's review against another edition
4.0
The lengthiest Mate Index book to date, this is also—in my opinion—the strongest one of the batch. Watching Sander's writing abilities and story telling style evolve over the year has been enjoyable to witness. Though still plagued with the editing issues that often accompany indie-published work, they are a minor distraction that do not muddle the meaning of the story or derail the reader. (But seriously, S.J., if you need another proof reader to catch typos, I will happily be your gal.)
Finally, we get a story told from the POV of the Agraak—one of the big villains of the Mate Index universe. We have previously known them as oily toad men with a taste for hyper-aggression and rape. With the exception of an Agraak merchant and her mate we met in a previous story, they have all been nasty pieces of work. But. It turns out that the majority of the Agraak are not the issue, but rather the upper echelons of Agraak society, those most removed from the natural state of their species. In this story we follow Kaede, a male of noble birth who shuns the expectations of his class and goes on a personal mission to help those most in need: the humans in the dreaded breeding facility and the Arobi slaves. When Intergalactic Union forces are taken by surprise during an exercise to free human breeders, a female human soldier needs to be safely taken from the city and stashed in the swamps until rescue can be coordinated. No one is better suited than he is, and of course he accepts the task.
Frankie would do anything to find out what happened to her twin sister Alisha, one of the 100 women the Budo tricked into becoming breeding slaves for the Agraak. Because of the restrictions Earth has placed on single young women, she goes to great lengths to enlist as a man and maintain that ruse. Finally reaching Agraadax, Frankie finds herself in a situation she wasn't fully prepared to navigate. Soon she finds herself on the run in the Agraadax swamp with a male who is the opposite of what she was prepared to expect from the planet's inhabitants.
This is a good solid read all around; it's hard for me to find much to quibble about. We get a heroine who is strong and determined but also vulnerable. We get a hero who is principled, strong, has feelings other than anger or lust, and who doesn't look to solve everything by going into SMASH mode. Because of the length, this one burns a little slower than previous installments, which only adds to the satisfaction of seeing the two get together. There is an insta-attraction element at play, but both are level headed individuals with agendas they have their sights on. All of the characters were pretty well handled, even the super self-absorbed and vapid noble ranks in the dome city. Lots of adventure and a clear plot that is more polished than the earlier installments in the series round this off.
This is one to read—and can be read as a stand-alone without too many problems. It's worth spending an evening or two with.
It took until book 9, but we finally know what became of the other 89 human women from the first Mate Index book, and their story arc officially gets resolved. Sadly, just under 1/3 of them are dead, discarded for being poor breeders or so badly broken by the process that they're no longer functioning incubators. That was hard to read and realize how many have died over the 5 years since they were taken.
The bonus short story at the end is also really sweet. I was heartbroken knowing what happened to Alisha, and she could not have been rewarded with a better mate. Those swamp-dwelling Agraak? Total sweethearts.
Finally, we get a story told from the POV of the Agraak—one of the big villains of the Mate Index universe. We have previously known them as oily toad men with a taste for hyper-aggression and rape. With the exception of an Agraak merchant and her mate we met in a previous story, they have all been nasty pieces of work. But. It turns out that the majority of the Agraak are not the issue, but rather the upper echelons of Agraak society, those most removed from the natural state of their species. In this story we follow Kaede, a male of noble birth who shuns the expectations of his class and goes on a personal mission to help those most in need: the humans in the dreaded breeding facility and the Arobi slaves. When Intergalactic Union forces are taken by surprise during an exercise to free human breeders, a female human soldier needs to be safely taken from the city and stashed in the swamps until rescue can be coordinated. No one is better suited than he is, and of course he accepts the task.
Frankie would do anything to find out what happened to her twin sister Alisha, one of the 100 women the Budo tricked into becoming breeding slaves for the Agraak. Because of the restrictions Earth has placed on single young women, she goes to great lengths to enlist as a man and maintain that ruse. Finally reaching Agraadax, Frankie finds herself in a situation she wasn't fully prepared to navigate. Soon she finds herself on the run in the Agraadax swamp with a male who is the opposite of what she was prepared to expect from the planet's inhabitants.
This is a good solid read all around; it's hard for me to find much to quibble about. We get a heroine who is strong and determined but also vulnerable. We get a hero who is principled, strong, has feelings other than anger or lust, and who doesn't look to solve everything by going into SMASH mode. Because of the length, this one burns a little slower than previous installments, which only adds to the satisfaction of seeing the two get together. There is an insta-attraction element at play, but both are level headed individuals with agendas they have their sights on. All of the characters were pretty well handled, even the super self-absorbed and vapid noble ranks in the dome city. Lots of adventure and a clear plot that is more polished than the earlier installments in the series round this off.
This is one to read—and can be read as a stand-alone without too many problems. It's worth spending an evening or two with.
It took until book 9, but we finally know what became of the other 89 human women from the first Mate Index book, and their story arc officially gets resolved.
The bonus short story at the end is also really sweet. I was heartbroken knowing what happened to Alisha, and she could not have been rewarded with a better mate. Those swamp-dwelling Agraak? Total sweethearts.
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