Reviews

Xora by Olivia Riley

Only show reviews with written explanations

lyndsireads's review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced

3.75

zombiezami's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

4.0

Enjoyable!

Content Warnings

The slow burn was enticing, microtension employed skillfully, and the outward and inward plots were engaging. Truly there's nothing to complain about in this book. That said, it'd be nice seeing more exploration of

the cross-species bigotry that was touched on. Or exploration on loyalty.

Its absence didn't take away from the story at all; it was simply a missed opportunity.

Even so, this is a good read. Best to read after Heart's Prisoner or some of the nuance will be missed.

Content Warnings

courtney_saba's review

Go to review page

4.0

So... This was great. Better than Heart's Prisoner? No. But it was great.

I know this author wrote 2 other books after Heart's Prisoner, but I only read the first bc it was superb and I haven't gotten around to reading the followups yet. There was something so magical and enthralling about that first book that now I'm comparing all the author's subsequent books with it and I'm left a bit wanting.

I love Olivia Riley's vrisha aliens. I have a bit of a demon kink and she gives it to me in a palatable form of alien without the religious connotations (tho I don't mind when this is a thing, but an alien that looks like a giant red demon? This author has a demon kink, too, guaranteed). Xora here was fantastic. Better than Xerus? Nope. Grace was great. Better than Lana? Nope. I've come to the realization that this author made a brilliant first book in this universe and the rest will only pale in comparison. Shame, but still enjoyable.

This one was sort of unoriginal in that I've read this type of series of events before in other romances. 2 people, stuck together, an alien who has a heightened sense of smell, one of them is hurt and the other nurses them back to health, the eventual giving in, bit of a forbidden romance. Riley tho can seriously write. I can't deny that. And she wrote more sexy times in this one than she did previously, which was appreciated. One plot hole tho: Xerus scratched the hell out of Lana during their one on page sex scene. Why didn't Xora do the same to Grace?

Also, this author doesn't write great epilogues. I wanted a good ending, but they tend to end abruptly.

Overall, this one was a great addition to her alien universe. I'll read more from this author. But I feel like I'll be disappointed every time bc nothing can top Heart's Prisoner.

Happy reading, Goodreads fiends.

whosevita's review

Go to review page

4.0

3.5 stars
Why do Olivia Riley books have the most ATROCIOUS covers imaginable. It doesn't reflect the quality of her work at all :"(

This was good. I really liked the world building of an all ocean planet with underwater city sectors. If I would be the only one to work in an underwater station thousands of feet deep, I would probably lose my mind. Luckily our female lead is way more resilient than me. And luckily she also has a hot Vrishan warrior to keep her company