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abibea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Medical content, Confinement, and Medical trauma
hellxriver's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Confinement, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
lycaenide's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Characters: 8/10
While Alice was her own unique character, I found Luka to be less distinct. I loved that he had a different occupation and interests, but his actual personality wasn't especially distinctive. I still liked them both, though.
Atmosphere: 9/10
I really enjoyed the extra worldbuilding here! Seeing different housing, the forest, and different alien animals was great.
Writing: 8/10
The writing was still really solid.
Plot: 7/10
Disappointed that the premise - two people put together, don't speak the same language and have to become mates! - was only the start of the relationship. But it still had a good plot.
Intrigue: 6/10
Once they were together the stakes weren't really there. Yes there were other humans to rescue but this didn't have any emotional pull.
Logic: 8/10
Nothing majorly unlogical.
Entertainment: 8/10
I still had a good time reading this and will continue with the series.
Total rating: 7.71/10
Graphic: Torture and Confinement
Minor: Sexual assault and Medical content
katiekeske's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
I have read plenty of alien romances where cultural misunderstandings happen, and they can be humorous or overcome after the couple explains things to each other. I feel like these two never actually talk to each other about the misunderstandings between each other. The reader gets to see each character's thoughts and the reasoning behind different actions, but I wanted them to actually sit and explain it to each other.
I was looking forward to reading Luka's book because I love a smart, sweet hero. I like that he's a scientist, and the scenes with Alice at the nature reserve were nice. However, I don't like how these males become @ssholes once they have a mate. Just because he can smell his mate's arousal, doesn't mean he can just ignore whatever words are coming out of her mouth. I found it hypocritical when at one point this is explained about one of the classes the males take at husbandry school -"The males had also learned the importance of consent and how to harness your sexual energy and control that when no willing females were available." AND YET, there are scenes where she's telling him not to touch her and he says it physically hurts him not to. The vibes in this book just irk me. I don't like it. I like a strong, protective hero, but I want them to listen to the heroine, too. Words are important, not just the reactions a person's body has.
I liked Alice in the beginning, but then, especially after that meeting scene I mentioned, it all went down hill. The whole first part of the book it seemed like she was really into Luka and I was looking forward to them getting to know each other and getting to be together. Then it gets ruined and she waffles in her feelings.
I get what the author was trying to go for, but I just did not like it. I have read other books where the love interests meet in a prison or in captivity and then they fall in love while they're trying to escape, and I wished this book was more like those. I think I would have liked this book more if they had been in captivity for longer rather than having to deal with all the weird getting to know you stuff that takes place for the rest of the book.
I have also decided I just do not like the Clecanian culture. I was not super impressed with it when I read the first book, but after reading this one, I don't think I can read anymore of these books. It is supposed to be a matriarchal society, which I would normally be a fan of, but somehow the ways of this one are so toxic to me.
There is one side character that I really like named Rhaego because he seems so sweet and really wants a mate. Though, I worry that if a book is written about him it'll ruin his cinnamon roll essence to me.
Graphic: Confinement and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexism, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Stalking, Torture, and Trafficking
Minor: Sexual harassment
bwegz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Kidnapping, Confinement, Violence, and Physical abuse
Minor: Stalking
hannibanani29's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Torture
bookedupchick's review against another edition
3.5
Luka is a researcher studying infertility to figure out how to solve his planet’s problem. He finds out that some of his colleagues are illegally doing research on other species of women. Luka is thrown into a cell, drugged, and forced to be part of the experiments. Alice is abducted and brought to the facility. As soon as Luka sees Alice, he recognizes her as his true mate…
This is a slow burn, love at first sight, alien romance. Alice and Luka experience all the ✨tension✨. Alice resisted Luka’s attempts to woo and show affection because of negative past relationships. I can tell you I was screaming at Alice a good deal of this book 😆 Sometimes her resistance was a little too much for me 😂 but still a fun read!
Read this if you like ⤵️
👽 Paranormal Romance
🔥 Slow Burn
👩❤️👨 Fated Mates
👥 Forced Proximity
🕶 Stalker Romance
👊🏻 Touch Her And You Die
🔬 Scientists Fall In Love
🥰 MMC Hopeless Romantic
📚 Stand-alone Series
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
🌶🌶/5
Freeing Luka by Victoria Aveline
Clecanian Book 2
Graphic: Sexual content, Confinement, Kidnapping, and Stalking
smazzeo96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual content, Confinement, and Torture
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Rape, and Physical abuse
Minor: Pregnancy