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djinnduffy's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
4.0
I want to start by saying that this book gave me some pretty strong white savior vibes, in that the white FMC comes to this foreign, less-developed, post-colonized, and struggling world with her new ideas and technology and SINGLE-HANDEDLY saves the lizard people and their community from starvation and ruin by using her tools and her cleverness. She is literally framed by multiple characters as the saving grace of the people, chosen and blessed by the spirits to show them a new way of living and helping them thrive.
I do think the alien people were well-developed, intelligent, empathetic characters. I enjoyed them a lot. I just also think there were some elements of this book that some folks may understandably take issue with.
That said, this was a well-written book with a tender romance and complete plot separate from the romance itself. It was spicy, it was sweet, I didn’t want to put it down. This was my first book by Regine Abel, and I would definitely read more from her. I really liked both of the main characters and the way their relationship grew through the story. They felt like real people to me, especially Olix, the MMC. I’d recommend, but with some caveats.
I do think the alien people were well-developed, intelligent, empathetic characters. I enjoyed them a lot. I just also think there were some elements of this book that some folks may understandably take issue with.
That said, this was a well-written book with a tender romance and complete plot separate from the romance itself. It was spicy, it was sweet, I didn’t want to put it down. This was my first book by Regine Abel, and I would definitely read more from her. I really liked both of the main characters and the way their relationship grew through the story. They felt like real people to me, especially Olix, the MMC. I’d recommend, but with some caveats.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Xenophobia and Slavery
The CWs are specifically re: the fact that the alien species we come to know and love were historically oppressed and enslaved, which is why they are all so opposed to farming. They are currently liberated and self-supported in the story, but their history is a major plot point and referred to often.ashleycmms's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Slavery, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood and Xenophobia
Minor: Pregnancy
ednam0dewannabe's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Blood
Moderate: Violence, Colonisation, Xenophobia, and Racism
Minor: Slavery and Pregnancy
mx_virg's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
Spicy scale: 2.5/5
I wasn't expecting so much story and farming details from an alien romance. Which wasn't bad, just not what I was expecting. I would have preferred more focus on the romance, which was super sweet. No big miscommunication or misunderstandings, I liked having two earnest and honest heroes who wanted to make the relationship to work.
The colonialism vibe is strong though. A white human coming to save the underdeveloped aliens, this will probably be repeated in the rest of the series. The point of the Prime Mating Agency is to match mates to Prime planets, planets whose inhabitants have some intelligence but who haven't yet the technology for space travel. So each book will be about a woman coming to a "wild" world, bring with her new technology. But on the other side, she has to integrate herself to this new world, the goal is not to convert a whole species to a new way of life.
The ending was underwhelming. A good part of the story was focused on the issues of the lizard people, and its conclusion was no more than a footnote. One or two extra chapters would have been nice. Or focus more on the romance and the heroine adapting to her new planet. The book is half romance, half sci-fi, but doesn't have the space to explore both in a satisfying way.
I wasn't expecting so much story and farming details from an alien romance. Which wasn't bad, just not what I was expecting. I would have preferred more focus on the romance, which was super sweet. No big miscommunication or misunderstandings, I liked having two earnest and honest heroes who wanted to make the relationship to work.
The colonialism vibe is strong though. A white human coming to save the underdeveloped aliens, this will probably be repeated in the rest of the series. The point of the Prime Mating Agency is to match mates to Prime planets, planets whose inhabitants have some intelligence but who haven't yet the technology for space travel. So each book will be about a woman coming to a "wild" world, bring with her new technology. But on the other side, she has to integrate herself to this new world, the goal is not to convert a whole species to a new way of life.
The ending was underwhelming. A good part of the story was focused on the issues of the lizard people, and its conclusion was no more than a footnote. One or two extra chapters would have been nice. Or focus more on the romance and the heroine adapting to her new planet. The book is half romance, half sci-fi, but doesn't have the space to explore both in a satisfying way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Colonisation, Blood, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Xenophobia and Pregnancy
solacelight's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment, Slavery, Violence, and Racism
Minor: Xenophobia and Pregnancy
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