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thatgirlearlreads's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- 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? No
3.5
Pretty neutral on the book itself, but overall a good read that has enticed me to check out the rest of the series.
mandisugarcandy's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
sharpsilver's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.25
tashinasaurus_rex's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
heabooknerd's review
5.0
Did I just find a new favorite scifi romance series?! I was sucked into CONVERGENCE from the first chapter and loved everything about it -- from the way Olivia and Atarian meet, to the slow burn romance, to the interesting types of aliens, to the kickass heroine. Humans getting abducted by aliens is basically the bread and butter of scifi romance but I loved that Etta Pierce turns that trope around: Commander Thel Atarian has "acquired" Olivia Loxley because he needs help saving over 1,000 humans from an evil alien who is trafficking humans into sexual slavery. Yes to this spin on a classic trope!
CONVERGENCE does an excellent job of balancing the science fiction with the romance and I loved learning about the different alien species and their cultures. There's an attention to detail that is done really well without it feeling overly science-y and bogged down in the minutia. I also enjoyed seeing Olivia teaching Atarian and the others about human culture and how to interact with humans. Olivia gets a lot of new things thrown her way after her abduction and the way she adapts and works with it all just really shows her competence and determination. Once she realizes her greater purpose in exploring space and helping humans she's ready to embark on a ton of adventures. I found Olivia to be a really enjoyable character and I liked her resilience, strength, and compassion.
Atarian was also a fantastic character and I like that he's this tough special ops alien soldier who's also secretly a gentleman. The respect and care he shows to Olivia after he abducts her was written really well. He knows kidnapping her from Earth is wrong but it's the only way he can save hundreds of other humans; he makes the hard decisions but he does so with empathy and care. And when the mating urges start kicking in and he's trying to resist them...hello growly and possessive alien!
But the best part of CONVERGENCE is that Pierce knows what it means to write a slow burn romance. There was so much delicious sexual tension between Olivia and Atarian as they circle each other. It takes almost the whole book for these two to fully get together but it's so worth it! Between the chemistry and the tension and some sexy shenanigans along the way, you're just dying for these two to finally admit their feelings and give in. Pierce definitely puts the *burn* in slow burn.
I can't wait to read the rest of this series which I'll be starting right away because I need more of Olivia and Atarian and I can't wait to get the stories for some of the side characters. I'm looking at you Vin.
Content Warning: depictions of human trafficking and sex slavery (brief and not graphic); short on page torture scene (not the MCs)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:
“Why did you abduct me?” I asked in a calm, stern voice.
“Acquired,” he corrected in a shockingly smooth voice, rich with an uncurrent that rumbled like ancient Viking chants and drumbeats. It was primal and authoritative. I raised my brow, unphased.
“Kidnapped,” I rebutted.
“Acquired,” he said again, crossing his arms.
“Captured.”
- - - - -
“You told me that you were a pioneer, not a settler. You wanted adventure, to see the galaxy and all it has to offer. The look in your eyes, Olivia, souls… it was enough to move a man to poetry. I couldn’t force my pioneer to settle.”
A lump formed in my throat. I lifted his head up, biting my lip to keep my emotions in check.
“Thel…” I looked for the words that would best describe how I felt, blinking rapidly and worrying my lower lip as tears welled over my eyes. “No matter what adventures lay ahead, I still want an anchor for my ship.”
- - - - -
Halfway down the hall, I slid my tank top off and dropped it to the floor. I looked back at him with a thirsty stare. “Are you coming, Commander Atarian?”
He stood and prowled after me with a devilish glint in his violet eyes. “Not until you do, Dr Loxley.”
CONVERGENCE does an excellent job of balancing the science fiction with the romance and I loved learning about the different alien species and their cultures. There's an attention to detail that is done really well without it feeling overly science-y and bogged down in the minutia. I also enjoyed seeing Olivia teaching Atarian and the others about human culture and how to interact with humans. Olivia gets a lot of new things thrown her way after her abduction and the way she adapts and works with it all just really shows her competence and determination. Once she realizes her greater purpose in exploring space and helping humans she's ready to embark on a ton of adventures. I found Olivia to be a really enjoyable character and I liked her resilience, strength, and compassion.
Atarian was also a fantastic character and I like that he's this tough special ops alien soldier who's also secretly a gentleman. The respect and care he shows to Olivia after he abducts her was written really well. He knows kidnapping her from Earth is wrong but it's the only way he can save hundreds of other humans; he makes the hard decisions but he does so with empathy and care. And when the mating urges start kicking in and he's trying to resist them...hello growly and possessive alien!
But the best part of CONVERGENCE is that Pierce knows what it means to write a slow burn romance. There was so much delicious sexual tension between Olivia and Atarian as they circle each other. It takes almost the whole book for these two to fully get together but it's so worth it! Between the chemistry and the tension and some sexy shenanigans along the way, you're just dying for these two to finally admit their feelings and give in. Pierce definitely puts the *burn* in slow burn.
I can't wait to read the rest of this series which I'll be starting right away because I need more of Olivia and Atarian and I can't wait to get the stories for some of the side characters. I'm looking at you Vin.
Content Warning: depictions of human trafficking and sex slavery (brief and not graphic); short on page torture scene (not the MCs)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:
“Why did you abduct me?” I asked in a calm, stern voice.
“Acquired,” he corrected in a shockingly smooth voice, rich with an uncurrent that rumbled like ancient Viking chants and drumbeats. It was primal and authoritative. I raised my brow, unphased.
“Kidnapped,” I rebutted.
“Acquired,” he said again, crossing his arms.
“Captured.”
- - - - -
“You told me that you were a pioneer, not a settler. You wanted adventure, to see the galaxy and all it has to offer. The look in your eyes, Olivia, souls… it was enough to move a man to poetry. I couldn’t force my pioneer to settle.”
A lump formed in my throat. I lifted his head up, biting my lip to keep my emotions in check.
“Thel…” I looked for the words that would best describe how I felt, blinking rapidly and worrying my lower lip as tears welled over my eyes. “No matter what adventures lay ahead, I still want an anchor for my ship.”
- - - - -
Halfway down the hall, I slid my tank top off and dropped it to the floor. I looked back at him with a thirsty stare. “Are you coming, Commander Atarian?”
He stood and prowled after me with a devilish glint in his violet eyes. “Not until you do, Dr Loxley.”
jinxei's review
5.0
Look, I am absolutely in love with this series now. It has been about 48 hours. I am sleeping a minimal amount, unable to focus on work, and binging this series. I have dove into the extra bonus content on Etta Pierce's website, downloaded every companion available, and scrolled through all the art and inspiration pieces multiple times
The worldbuilding is extensive and the aliens are unique and have their own characteristics setting them apart from each other. The politics between not just humans and aliens but aliens and aliens is so layered and interesting. The worlds feel real, like a tangible place that I could only hope to glimpse.
Obviously, I know these first two are going to be my favorites. I am in love with Thel, to the shock of literally no one. But even if he stole the show, I still loved so many of the supporting characters and hope the additional books in the series are from their POV with their own HEA, but also with a little bit of information and glimpses of Thel and Olivia.
Was pitched this as "you're obsessed with aliens and Mass Effect and a specific ship, you need to read this." It was so much more than I could have hoped for. I haven't stopped talking about this series in days. I'm certain my friends and husband are ready to disown me.
The worldbuilding is extensive and the aliens are unique and have their own characteristics setting them apart from each other. The politics between not just humans and aliens but aliens and aliens is so layered and interesting. The worlds feel real, like a tangible place that I could only hope to glimpse.
Obviously, I know these first two are going to be my favorites. I am in love with Thel, to the shock of literally no one. But even if he stole the show, I still loved so many of the supporting characters and hope the additional books in the series are from their POV with their own HEA, but also with a little bit of information and glimpses of Thel and Olivia.
Was pitched this as "you're obsessed with aliens and Mass Effect and a specific ship, you need to read this." It was so much more than I could have hoped for. I haven't stopped talking about this series in days. I'm certain my friends and husband are ready to disown me.
shomarq's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
dbirch14's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5