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trin's review against another edition
1.0
Reasons I should have known better than to read this book:
1. The title
2. The cover
Reasons I read this book anyway:
1. Aliens!
2. Many, many, many enthusiastic reviews said the depiction of the alien culture was really cool and from the opening chapters this appeared to be true.
3. ALIENS. The first step is admitting you have a bit of a xeno kink. The second step is...well, I wish it hadn't been reading this.
GIANT HONKING REASONS I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN NOT TO READ THIS BOOK BUT DIDN'T BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT INDICATED IN THE SUMMARY OR ANY OF THE REVIEWS I READ:
1. D/s. Extreme D/s. Public use of leashes and harnesses and all kinds of stuff that make me shudder -- and not in a pleasant sexy way -- to think about are employed.
2. Noncon. I say noncon instead of rape because the abuse isn't sexual, I guess, but Liam is chained up against his will. He is hunted down when he tries to escape. His free will is basically stripped away -- except he likes it because of course he's naturally submissive and OH MY GOD WHAT BAD FANFIC IS THIS
3. Slavery, basically, even if the author never cops to that. Just because you're like
doesn't make the slavery not slavery. I don't really care if your alien culture says it's okay. I don't feel okay about it.
4. Lines like:
"You need to be forced into that which is healthy for you"
and
“I would like to steal your control from you and force you to admit that even your body knows that it is mine, and it will react to me even over your own preferences"
GET AWAY FROM ME WITH THIS NIGHTMARE FUEL.
Look, I'm a big girl. I read a whackadoodle alien romance novel with a cover featuring a) a big purple guy with a tail and b) a scruffy naked dude whose neck looks sort of broken? I knew to some extent what I was getting into. Although admittedly, I did not think it would be this. This is so, so not my jam. I mean, good to know, right? I can definitely cross those kinks off the list. Buuuuuuuut I wish the summary for this book had been a little clearer. Or that I had been smarter and bailed once I realized the way this was going -- instead of grimly holding on in hopes that things would somehow get better for Liam. By my definition of "better," they didn't. The way Gala writes him, he would disagree, and hey -- who am I to kinkshame? If you like heavy D/s and vague sexual slavery, you will probably be super into this book, because on a prose level it's pretty well written and there is some interesting worldbuilding. But if you are not into those things...yikes.
I would have been safer reading a fic where Spock has some sort of weird flower penis or whatever. Lesson learned.
1. The title
2. The cover
Reasons I read this book anyway:
1. Aliens!
2. Many, many, many enthusiastic reviews said the depiction of the alien culture was really cool and from the opening chapters this appeared to be true.
3. ALIENS. The first step is admitting you have a bit of a xeno kink. The second step is...well, I wish it hadn't been reading this.
GIANT HONKING REASONS I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN NOT TO READ THIS BOOK BUT DIDN'T BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT INDICATED IN THE SUMMARY OR ANY OF THE REVIEWS I READ:
1. D/s. Extreme D/s. Public use of leashes and harnesses and all kinds of stuff that make me shudder -- and not in a pleasant sexy way -- to think about are employed.
2. Noncon. I say noncon instead of rape because the abuse isn't sexual, I guess, but Liam is chained up against his will. He is hunted down when he tries to escape. His free will is basically stripped away -- except he likes it because of course he's naturally submissive and OH MY GOD WHAT BAD FANFIC IS THIS
3. Slavery, basically, even if the author never cops to that. Just because you're like
doesn't make the slavery not slavery. I don't really care if your alien culture says it's okay. I don't feel okay about it.
4. Lines like:
"You need to be forced into that which is healthy for you"
and
“I would like to steal your control from you and force you to admit that even your body knows that it is mine, and it will react to me even over your own preferences"
GET AWAY FROM ME WITH THIS NIGHTMARE FUEL.
Look, I'm a big girl. I read a whackadoodle alien romance novel with a cover featuring a) a big purple guy with a tail and b) a scruffy naked dude whose neck looks sort of broken? I knew to some extent what I was getting into. Although admittedly, I did not think it would be this. This is so, so not my jam. I mean, good to know, right? I can definitely cross those kinks off the list. Buuuuuuuut I wish the summary for this book had been a little clearer. Or that I had been smarter and bailed once I realized the way this was going -- instead of grimly holding on in hopes that things would somehow get better for Liam. By my definition of "better," they didn't. The way Gala writes him, he would disagree, and hey -- who am I to kinkshame? If you like heavy D/s and vague sexual slavery, you will probably be super into this book, because on a prose level it's pretty well written and there is some interesting worldbuilding. But if you are not into those things...yikes.
I would have been safer reading a fic where Spock has some sort of weird flower penis or whatever. Lesson learned.
michellemoon's review against another edition
4.0
4.25
It's a very original story. The worldbuilding is top notch, and everything about this world is interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about John Solo's narration, but I don't hate it.
It's a very original story. The worldbuilding is top notch, and everything about this world is interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about John Solo's narration, but I don't hate it.
sugarpop's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
relaxing
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? No
5.0
pudding's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars
I'll be the first to say that BDSM is not typically my cup of tea. However this only had the themes of domination and submission. So if you're up for a different m/m sci-fi fantasy, then this is it. The author knows how to world build and does not skimp on the details or the fine nuances.
From what I can infer, the Rownt alien race is typically dominant in nature, and the rare find of a submissive is coveted by all. Liam is the human liaison between his military outpost and these shrewd peoples. He is the resident expert when it comes to trading with the Rownt and he develops a comaraderie with Ondry. Ondry recognizes Liam's true submissive nature and lays claim to him when he notices that he is being ill treated by his superiors.
At its full potential such a pairing can only serve to strengthen a Rownt's standing. But the submissive too, benefits from being revered and cared for. This coming together was sweet and intimate and tender as these two navigate their cultural differences and find something special in the other.
Unique in execution. Loved it. Want more of it.
I'll be the first to say that BDSM is not typically my cup of tea. However this only had the themes of domination and submission. So if you're up for a different m/m sci-fi fantasy, then this is it. The author knows how to world build and does not skimp on the details or the fine nuances.
From what I can infer, the Rownt alien race is typically dominant in nature, and the rare find of a submissive is coveted by all. Liam is the human liaison between his military outpost and these shrewd peoples. He is the resident expert when it comes to trading with the Rownt and he develops a comaraderie with Ondry. Ondry recognizes Liam's true submissive nature and lays claim to him when he notices that he is being ill treated by his superiors.
At its full potential such a pairing can only serve to strengthen a Rownt's standing. But the submissive too, benefits from being revered and cared for. This coming together was sweet and intimate and tender as these two navigate their cultural differences and find something special in the other.
Unique in execution. Loved it. Want more of it.
local_hat's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
kimberlymichelle's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I listened at 1.5 speed - Excellent narration.
Better than I expected.
I was so engaged by the two MCs discovery and sharing of their individual cultures and languages as a way to intimacy and sharing their personal fears needs and desires. Loving, respectful communication is sexy. So is consent and shame free pleasure.
The culture of the Rownt is so interesting that I want to read more stories set in this world.
Better than I expected.
I was so engaged by the two MCs discovery and sharing of their individual cultures and languages as a way to intimacy and sharing their personal fears needs and desires. Loving, respectful communication is sexy. So is consent and shame free pleasure.
The culture of the Rownt is so interesting that I want to read more stories set in this world.
hellishlyawkward's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting story, quite different. Taken up with a lot of detail and alien lore.
Liked both MCs. Love that Liam ended up with someone to care for him after how poorly he was treated in the past. Love how sweet Ondry is to him.
Liked the take on dom/sub relationships, liked that subs are valued and prized in the alien’s culture. Overall I found story a little slow, but was possibly just the narration. Enjoyable.
Liked both MCs. Love that Liam ended up with someone to care for him after how poorly he was treated in the past. Love how sweet Ondry is to him.
Liked the take on dom/sub relationships, liked that subs are valued and prized in the alien’s culture. Overall I found story a little slow, but was possibly just the narration. Enjoyable.
raynebair's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed how Lyn took the idea of D/S and turned it into a sci-fi alien species story. I was definitely in a different mindset when I read this. The miscommunication, the difference of expectations and the differences in what was acceptable and not acceptable between the Rownt and Humans had me captivated from the beginning. It did take me a while to make the connection that Lyn was trying to convey, but when I did, it all fell together and it worked. I really enjoyed this unique story.