Zoey Draven

Nothing against the author… but didn’t finish

I LOVE Zoey Draven novels. I’ve been reading them for years from the Horde Kings on Dakar to the Luxarians, her characters have always made me stay up way too late binging.

But this book? These characters?

I’m giving 5-stars because I fully realize these are my own hang ups and have nothing to do with the quality of writing from the author.

If you have enjoyed her work before and the other books in the series, you should read this.

I just show more need to say this for my own peace of mind. So, spoilers.

Kalder and Erina are not good for each other. This did not read as a romance but a toxic, manipulative relationship. In fact, the characters felt extremely realistic. From Erina’s optimism to Kaldur’s cynicism, and I think if it had been a strictly opposites attract type of romance I might have been into it, but this was like being the person watching your go through an abusive relationship. And make no mistake, what Kaldur did and how he behaved was a page straight from the abuser’s handbook.

It’s established early that they are mates and he knows and she doesn’t. You can get that much from the synapsis. What it doesn’t tell you are the ways in which he manipulates and disrespects Erina. Erina who is kind of just a “pants”character, meaning the reader can just slip into her and imagine themselves as Erina. She is the dreamer, wide eyed and naive as that’s drilled into the reader. However through Kaldur’s emotional manipulations she becomes jaded. Him and everyone around her—except like 3 older ladies—are pretty awful. From her kinda brother to her not at all friend, it’s clear early that she had no one.

And yet, she makes hard decisions. She sacrifices her comfort to help others. She gives chance after chance to someone who has not only not earned those chances, but directly scorned them.

I got about 70% of the way through this before I had to step away. When Kaldur arrived in the storm and tried to kidnap her and she went with him to save another woman from his rage? She put herself in harms way to soothe a man’s emotions so other’s wouldn’t be hurt, I nearly lost it. And the nail that drove it home was him manipulating her to stay with him by using the only two people she loved: I’ll help them if you stay here.

Nah. That’s not love. That’s manipulation. That’s coercion.

Maybe the last 30% somehow redeemed him, but I doubt it. Overall, this book his way too close to home for me. But again, that’s not the author’s fault.

I think the author was very true to the character’s she created. Very true to how abuser’s behave and how the women in those relationships deal with things. But I don’t read about aliens with wings, horns, and knots put into realistic situations of domestic abuse. I read to immerse myself in a world that’s foreign to my own, not a mirror into it. show less

a great installment!!!

loved:
⚜️mina! great heroine!
⚜️wrune is good too, though like i said in my book 4 review: all of these heroes are basically the same. i liked his back story - it caused tension for a bit but not so long that it dragged (like in book 2, that guy was so difficult) i loved his apology to mina when he realized he was being an idiot, it’s what book 4 NEEDED to have but didn’t. just a good, real apology, where the hero realizes he’s messed and really promptly show more makes amends. it wasn’t really a grovel or anything, but his sincerity in that moment was better than if he’d begged for forgiveness like a sap.
⚜️i loved that they got married quickly - finally another tassimara ceremony! - and then they didn’t fight each other for long. these two realized they were mates very quickly, and that’s basically all i’m asking for from these books! if it’s established that a couple is meant to be fated i really don’t want to have to read 500 pages of romantic conflict. gimme that good lovin and give it to me quick!
⚜️i enjoyed the human element here - the layers of abuse going on inside the mountain was really interesting and i like how that wrapped up in the end with the new human settlement.
⚜️the natural checks and balances system is so neat, and i wish the author would somehow push it even further. we hear a lot about kakkari, but not so much of the god (drakkari?? i don’t even remember his name)
⚜️i do wish this author would be more experimental in the sex scenes. book 5 in the series and i don’t think she’s written any positions other than missionary and cow girl show less

This is an emotional rollercoaster that completely captivated me. Enira, a lowly human keeper, has secretly loved the powerful Kaldur for years. When it’s revealed that she’s his blood mate, I thought their love story would unfold beautifully. But Kaldur cruelly rejects her, shattering Enira’s heart. The angst and heartbreak are real; I felt every moment of Enira’s pain. Kaldur eventually realized his mistake, and his fight to win her back kept me hooked. The redemption arc is done show more perfectly, and while the journey is tough, it’s deeply satisfying. The writing is filled with emotional depth, and I couldn’t put this book down. Fans of angsty romance and complex characters won’t want to miss this one. show less

Exceptional

If someone was to ever ask me if I would tear up at an alien romance, a horde one at that, I would have laughed. Except, I did. Exceptional world building, a strong cast of characters, and a compelling story. I didn't want the story to end. I didn't see "horde" when I saw Seerin. Instead, I saw a man caught between the politics and what was expected of him and his chance to truly be free and to be loved. With Nelle, I saw a woman that truly was a starling and was never meant to show more experience life alone. She was always meant to shine bright.

I cannot recommend this enough. This is even better than the first book. I hope the author continues with this series. And for anyone that is on the fence about "sci-fi " romance then I implore them to see beyond the appearances because it truly was that good. show less