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katiekeske's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
I did not enjoy this book. Well, I did enjoy the first part while they were in captivity, but the scene where they finally see each other again at the meeting with the Queen infuriated me and ruined it for me. I hate when love interests don't communicate with each other. When the drama is all due to them not explaining what they are thinking or feeling, I just can't stand it.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexism, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Stalking, Torture, and Trafficking
Minor: Sexual harassment
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