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bunrab's review
2.0
Despite some adult language, I'd have to call this a juvenile novel for the simplistic characterizations and silly romance subplots. I mean, alien woman on a spaceship brings boyfriend home to meet parents before committing to a relationship? Really?
jenbsbooks's review
3.0
I requested a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I was happy I was able to borrow the Kindle copy as well (text included in KindleUnlimited) but I didn't refer to it much. The narrator had a very strong accent (matching the UK setting) and I liked it a lot ... although sometimes the women's voices were a bit silly, as unfortunately is often the case when men voice women and vice versa. Some of the text was a bit silly itself, and I think the audio amplified that somewhat. If I had to hear Kyra sigh "Oh Torbey" one more time! And the statement "their loved ones" was repeated over and over (far away from their loved ones, back to their loved ones, missing their loved ones, wondering what their loved ones were thinking).
This did have a language/sex/violence heads up (on the audiobook request, I don't see it on the Amazon page, as I sometimes do). It definitely delivered on all three.
Now - for the story itself. It kept my interest, even though the premise of the "zoo" was actually quite minor (unlike a book I read a while back with that premise, [b:The Cage|16071187|The Cage (The Cage, #1)|Megan Shepherd|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1414088833l/16071187._SY75_.jpg|21864995] which also had humans/teens taken by aliens to be showcased in a outer-space zoo). That concept really brings up some food for thought (book club type material) on the justifications for animal zoos here on Earth (we are treating them well, re-creating their environment, oh-they had families?, we might actually be saving them because left in their natural environment they might end up killing each other). Another point to ponder nearer the end ... as alien existence becomes know, it affects religion, negating it (God couldn't have created ALL that out there) which again could create a lot of discussion and thought.
I'm not sure if our alien characters were really described (I'll admit, listening while multi-tasking it is possible I get distracted and miss something here and there. I know the pilot Rex was "humanoid, but I pictured him like Rocket from Guardians of the Galaxy). Most of the aliens seemed very much like humans. They talked and acted too familiarly (it wasn't so much they could speak English, but in phrases and thoughts and calling the females "women" and grabbing a beer. I just would have expected things to differentiate them more. I guess I don't think humans, being so similar, would even be an attraction in their zoo. It was interesting to hear about some of the other creatures they collected.
The story skips around, following the main alien Torben, then featuring a few of the villagers, then it would hop back to Earth and talk about how those left behind were handling things. Then there were a lot of general scenes not featuring one of the lead characters, but giving back story and alternate action. We see the POV of some minor characters all the way through to their deaths!
This did have a language/sex/violence heads up (on the audiobook request, I don't see it on the Amazon page, as I sometimes do). It definitely delivered on all three.
Now - for the story itself. It kept my interest, even though the premise of the "zoo" was actually quite minor (unlike a book I read a while back with that premise, [b:The Cage|16071187|The Cage (The Cage, #1)|Megan Shepherd|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1414088833l/16071187._SY75_.jpg|21864995] which also had humans/teens taken by aliens to be showcased in a outer-space zoo). That concept really brings up some food for thought (book club type material) on the justifications for animal zoos here on Earth (we are treating them well, re-creating their environment, oh-they had families?, we might actually be saving them because left in their natural environment they might end up killing each other). Another point to ponder nearer the end ... as alien existence becomes know, it affects religion, negating it (God couldn't have created ALL that out there) which again could create a lot of discussion and thought.
I'm not sure if our alien characters were really described (I'll admit, listening while multi-tasking it is possible I get distracted and miss something here and there. I know the pilot Rex was "humanoid, but I pictured him like Rocket from Guardians of the Galaxy). Most of the aliens seemed very much like humans. They talked and acted too familiarly (it wasn't so much they could speak English, but in phrases and thoughts and calling the females "women" and grabbing a beer. I just would have expected things to differentiate them more. I guess I don't think humans, being so similar, would even be an attraction in their zoo. It was interesting to hear about some of the other creatures they collected.
The story skips around, following the main alien Torben, then featuring a few of the villagers, then it would hop back to Earth and talk about how those left behind were handling things. Then there were a lot of general scenes not featuring one of the lead characters, but giving back story and alternate action. We see the POV of some minor characters all the way through to their deaths!
thistlechaser's review
1.0
So many authors of self-published books try to trick you into buying their books. They make up a fake publisher, they do everything they can to try to hide that they're self-publishing. The latest new trick they seem to be doing is listing an editor next to the author's name. They probably think that it will fool some people into buying the book, thinking it will be edited better.
This one listed an editor. This one was, like so many self-published books are, full of typos, grammar issues, spelling mistakes, etc.
If the author can't be bothered to edit the book, why should I bother to read it?
This one listed an editor. This one was, like so many self-published books are, full of typos, grammar issues, spelling mistakes, etc.
If the author can't be bothered to edit the book, why should I bother to read it?
sharongrigg's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting premise however a bit let down in the presentation. I felt the romance overtook the sci-fi. The regular use of 'the man/woman' for named characters was frustrating and unnecessary. Okay overall but could definitely have done more with the main storyline.
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