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brooke4's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.9?
mspilesofpaper's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Claimed by the Horde King is the second instalment of the Horde Kings of Dakkar series, which is a paranormal romance series (or SciFi romantasy/erotica ... the lines are blurred) that follows the horde king Seerin of Rath Turivi, which had a small scene in the previous book. It isn't as fast-paced as the first book and dives deeper into the world-building but the overall plot is still relatively simple. You can still read the book on its own as the characters from the first book are only mentioned a few times, and always with enough information to understand their importance, but I think the upcoming books would require reading all previously published ones.
The following review might contain spoilers.
PLOT
Seerin was notified of decreased numbers in the kinnu herds and came to Nella's village to punish the hunters as humans on Dakkar are forbidden to hunt as they threaten the balance between "giving vs. taking". Nella is one of the hunters, though she goes after small animals, as she is forced to do it to be able to survive in her village as an outsider. Despite her awful position within the village, she still protects the others from being punished by Seerin and endures the whipping on her own. Seerin realises after three lashes that Nella is his fated mate, so he takes her with him (despite the will of his second-in-command) to his horde where she gets treated and heals. Throughout the book, Nella falls in love with the Dakkari and their lifestyle, and of course, falls for Seerin as well. While Seerin is also obsessed with her, he's also forced to make a decision: Nella or the horde.
WORLD-BUILDING & MAGIC
The reader learns a bit more about Dakkar and the Dakkari culture as Nella is more open-minded about it and is willing to integrate herself into the horde. In addition, the reader also learns that several Earth colonies on other planets are destroyed, which is the reason why the Uranian Federation bargained with the Dakkari King to allow settlement on the planet. While I thought that the settlement had been finished (as in "happened several decades ago"), Nella talks about her settlement with Seerin and it's very clear that it's still an ongoing process as she came to Dakkar as a baby (and is likely barely above 20 years now). Aside from the Dakkari culture, and the snippets about human history, there are also a few points mentioned about the main enemy of the Dakkari and their lifestyle (e.g., burrowing during the cold season to hibernate).
The overall world-building is still very superficial but it seems like the author is going to add more information with each book.
CHARACTERS
The two main characters are Nella and Seerin who are not as two-dimensional and lacking in depth as Luna and Arokan. Unlike Luna and Arokan, they have in-depth background stories that play a role in why they are who they are, so their past still influences their present (and likely their future).
Unlike Luna, Nella is actually interested in learning about Dakkari culture, makes an effort to integrate herself into the horde life, takes up two jobs and starts to learn the language as well. As she wasn't treated well in her village because of her peculiar character, she has no issue with eating as much as she can and doesn't share Luna's "oh no, I cannot eat because my village starves". As she is used to hunger and food scarcity, she even shows behaviour that I would have expected in Luna as well: hiding leftovers to save for later. I think her "peculiar behaviour" is just an undiagnosed form of neurodivergence because she's stimming when she's nervous (e.g., counting to three ("One, the thumping of my heart. Two, the rhythmic, deep croaks of the chitter bugs. Three, a branch snapping -")). She's very positive, optimistic, curious and stubborn. Occasionally, she's also anxious. Seerin is - compared to Arokan - a chatterbug. Yes, he has "alpha male" tendencies but he's more open-minded and makes an effort to get to know Nella. He's protective of his horde, which is one of the major obstacles in the book, and struggles to find common ground between being a horde king and having Nella.
Aside from them, there are several side characters as well. Among others, Seerin's best friend (and antagonist), a female Dakkari who becomes Luna's friend, the female's little son, her father, and her brother who's sweet on Nella for some scenes. Aside from them, there's also a chapter where the reader meets the other horde kings, the Dakkari King, and Seerin's mother.
ROMANCE
While it's very much a one-sided obsession on Seerin's side as he thinks that Nella is his fated mate, the entire romance is actually slow in development. He pushes her often enough and shows her that he's attracted to her (by being naked lol) but overall, both of them take their time to get to know each other before sex even happens.
In terms of the overall spiciness of the few scenes: 2.5 🌶️. The amount of scenes is very low and while the author uses explicit language, the scenes feel less explicit and graphic than the ones in the first book. (And compared to other paranormal novels, they are very mild.) They feel a bit repetitive as the author seems to use the same scheme for them.
TWs & CWs
For the TWs: hunger/starving, poverty, threat of rape (in the past), fantasy racism, whipping, unplanned pregnancy, mentions of prostitution
For the sexual CWs: oral and vaginal sex, fingering, vibrating knot, light choking
TL;DR
Paranormal romance with aliens that are inspired by the Dothraki. The story explores themes of belonging, duty and love, while the main characters navigate through their developing relationship, which is not wanted by everyone in the horde. The overall romance is a slow-burn that unfolds against the backdrop of horde politics and the MMC's past.
The following review might contain spoilers.
PLOT
Seerin was notified of decreased numbers in the kinnu herds and came to Nella's village to punish the hunters as humans on Dakkar are forbidden to hunt as they threaten the balance between "giving vs. taking". Nella is one of the hunters, though she goes after small animals, as she is forced to do it to be able to survive in her village as an outsider. Despite her awful position within the village, she still protects the others from being punished by Seerin and endures the whipping on her own. Seerin realises after three lashes that Nella is his fated mate, so he takes her with him (despite the will of his second-in-command) to his horde where she gets treated and heals. Throughout the book, Nella falls in love with the Dakkari and their lifestyle, and of course, falls for Seerin as well. While Seerin is also obsessed with her, he's also forced to make a decision: Nella or the horde.
WORLD-BUILDING & MAGIC
The reader learns a bit more about Dakkar and the Dakkari culture as Nella is more open-minded about it and is willing to integrate herself into the horde. In addition, the reader also learns that several Earth colonies on other planets are destroyed, which is the reason why the Uranian Federation bargained with the Dakkari King to allow settlement on the planet. While I thought that the settlement had been finished (as in "happened several decades ago"), Nella talks about her settlement with Seerin and it's very clear that it's still an ongoing process as she came to Dakkar as a baby (and is likely barely above 20 years now). Aside from the Dakkari culture, and the snippets about human history, there are also a few points mentioned about the main enemy of the Dakkari and their lifestyle (e.g., burrowing during the cold season to hibernate).
The overall world-building is still very superficial but it seems like the author is going to add more information with each book.
CHARACTERS
The two main characters are Nella and Seerin who are not as two-dimensional and lacking in depth as Luna and Arokan. Unlike Luna and Arokan, they have in-depth background stories that play a role in why they are who they are, so their past still influences their present (and likely their future).
Unlike Luna, Nella is actually interested in learning about Dakkari culture, makes an effort to integrate herself into the horde life, takes up two jobs and starts to learn the language as well. As she wasn't treated well in her village because of her peculiar character, she has no issue with eating as much as she can and doesn't share Luna's "oh no, I cannot eat because my village starves". As she is used to hunger and food scarcity, she even shows behaviour that I would have expected in Luna as well: hiding leftovers to save for later. I think her "peculiar behaviour" is just an undiagnosed form of neurodivergence because she's stimming when she's nervous (e.g., counting to three ("One, the thumping of my heart. Two, the rhythmic, deep croaks of the chitter bugs. Three, a branch snapping -")). She's very positive, optimistic, curious and stubborn. Occasionally, she's also anxious. Seerin is - compared to Arokan - a chatterbug. Yes, he has "alpha male" tendencies but he's more open-minded and makes an effort to get to know Nella. He's protective of his horde, which is one of the major obstacles in the book, and struggles to find common ground between being a horde king and having Nella.
Aside from them, there are several side characters as well. Among others, Seerin's best friend (and antagonist), a female Dakkari who becomes Luna's friend, the female's little son, her father, and her brother who's sweet on Nella for some scenes. Aside from them, there's also a chapter where the reader meets the other horde kings, the Dakkari King, and Seerin's mother.
ROMANCE
While it's very much a one-sided obsession on Seerin's side as he thinks that Nella is his fated mate, the entire romance is actually slow in development. He pushes her often enough and shows her that he's attracted to her (by being naked lol) but overall, both of them take their time to get to know each other before sex even happens.
In terms of the overall spiciness of the few scenes: 2.5 🌶️. The amount of scenes is very low and while the author uses explicit language, the scenes feel less explicit and graphic than the ones in the first book. (And compared to other paranormal novels, they are very mild.) They feel a bit repetitive as the author seems to use the same scheme for them.
TWs & CWs
For the TWs: hunger/starving, poverty, threat of rape (in the past), fantasy racism, whipping, unplanned pregnancy, mentions of prostitution
For the sexual CWs: oral and vaginal sex, fingering, vibrating knot, light choking
TL;DR
Paranormal romance with aliens that are inspired by the Dothraki. The story explores themes of belonging, duty and love, while the main characters navigate through their developing relationship, which is not wanted by everyone in the horde. The overall romance is a slow-burn that unfolds against the backdrop of horde politics and the MMC's past.
larissa_sz's review
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- 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
michahbella's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
dana_yamaguchi's review
3.0
“You call me a demon,” he said quietly, “because you believe I am stealing your soul away.
But I already told you, Nelle, that if I am a demon, then so are you.
Because you are stealing more of mine right at this moment.”
-Seerin of Rath Tuviri, from Claimed by the Horde King by Zoey Draven
But I already told you, Nelle, that if I am a demon, then so are you.
Because you are stealing more of mine right at this moment.”
-Seerin of Rath Tuviri, from Claimed by the Horde King by Zoey Draven
mnwakeford's review
4.0
Even better than the first book in the series
While I quite enjoyed the first book in this series, I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue reading the next books about the Horde kings of Dakkar. I'm glad I finally got round to the second book though, because this one is a lot better than the first. There are a lot of similarities in terms of the plot - a desperately hungry and downtrodden girl living in a human settlement on the alien planet of Dakkar who is taken away by a horde king after breaking one of their rules. I thought the characters in this story were better fleshed out, particularly Seerin, the "self-made" horde king, who grew up in the slums of the capital city, Dothir. There was just the right amount of angst and a very sweet and poignant love story at its heart. I enjoyed this one and will definitely be reading the next installment.
While I quite enjoyed the first book in this series, I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue reading the next books about the Horde kings of Dakkar. I'm glad I finally got round to the second book though, because this one is a lot better than the first. There are a lot of similarities in terms of the plot - a desperately hungry and downtrodden girl living in a human settlement on the alien planet of Dakkar who is taken away by a horde king after breaking one of their rules. I thought the characters in this story were better fleshed out, particularly Seerin, the "self-made" horde king, who grew up in the slums of the capital city, Dothir. There was just the right amount of angst and a very sweet and poignant love story at its heart. I enjoyed this one and will definitely be reading the next installment.
meggkey08's review
3.0
Better than book one but needed more of a grovel, and even then I don't think I would have forgiven the Horde King.
waferk's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
imreading's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
alisoun's review
3.0
I think my dude went too far and although the grovel was GOOD like idk if there's any coming back from that? The ooof combo of trauma from both of them plus the double denying he loves her? Nah man. I think he was done.
Nelle was great. I love a blunt (autistic coded?) FMC. Especially one that like to learn and ask questions.
Nelle was great. I love a blunt (autistic coded?) FMC. Especially one that like to learn and ask questions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pregnancy