Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
An alternate cover for this ASIN can be found here.

Kaliope James had heard the tales of Axel the Black and his nefarious crew. His name struck fear in the hearts of men, both good and evil. She never dreamed that she’d meet him face to face as he traded his own airship to save her life…

Chaos Factor Series, Book 1

21 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 14, 2014

Loading interface...
Loading interface...

About the author

Elle Clouse

13 books31 followers
Elle has been writing fantasy and science fiction romance for years and an avid participant in the NaNoWriMo. Her first novel, Stealing the Wolf Prince, is a 2016 RONE Award Winner for Fantasy & Science Fiction.

Elle is happily married to a martial arts instructor. She’s also the mother of two small boys and is constantly talking her husband out of adopting a new pet. She knits and stamps in her spare time as well as feeds a latte addiction.

Visit her blog @ elleclouse.com

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
18 (32%)
4 stars
18 (32%)
3 stars
13 (23%)
2 stars
3 (5%)
1 star
3 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Kitty Muse Book Reviews.
159 reviews9 followers
March 11, 2014
Kali is a second-string opera singer, happily involved with her life on the stage. Axel the Black is a pirate of the air, a free spirit whose way of life does not afford him the luxury of another’s love. Two more opposite souls couldn’t possibly exist.
Yet here they are, thrown together through the actions of a cruel and greedy ship’s captain. From two different worlds, they have to rely on each other’s abilities, and learn mutual trust in a very short time.
A daring escape and a fight for freedom later, they find that they are still prisoners, but now in a different form. The question they have to ask themselves is, will love remain unrequited?

So much action in such a brief story! I was swept along with Ms. Clouse’s prose. There was kidnapping, mayhem, battles, explosions, rescues, treachery—everything I could ever ask for in a – romance? Well, that’s me. Kali was a tremendous example of a strong female character, but not so independent that she can’t find herself falling for the gallant Axel.
Readers will find themselves crying, “More! More!” at the end of this story. I know I was. Good job, Ms. Clouse!
Profile Image for Renea Mason.
Author 22 books1,038 followers
February 17, 2014
Elle Clouse's Unrequited is a romantic steampunk tale and even though short, doesn't lack for action, romance and vivid imagery. This promising start leaves you eager to find what else she has up her sleeve.
Profile Image for Jada Ryker.
Author 25 books47 followers
August 13, 2016
Action-Packed Short Story

Opera singer Kali James is kidnapped from her dressing room by a disreputable pirate. Kali is shocked when the pirate barters her life for Axel Black's famous airship, The Raven.

"Axel Black was tall and dark like the tales said, but it was more than his long hair and weathered trench coat. He radiated darkness and danger from his eye patch to his steel tipped boots. Black wasn’t just a title, it was part of his being. When his eye met hers, she looked into the soul of a man who fought hard for his gains and didn’t take anything for granted."

Since she doesn't know Axel, Kali wonders if she's been captured as a pawn in a deeper game between the evil pirate and Axel Black.

Unrequited, by Elle Clouse, is a wonderfully exciting steampunk romance short story. Ms. Clouse deftly reveals hidden depths in Kali and surprising facets in Axel. The author uses her short medium to maximum advantage, taking the reader on a wild ride with unexpected twists.



Profile Image for Jessica Dubridge.
2 reviews1 follower
February 12, 2014
The beautiful opera singer Kali James and dashing yet dangerous air pirate Axel Black are brought together through trickery and intrigue in Elle Clouse’s steampunk romance Unrequited. This fast paced short is full of stunning imagery and masterful prose. How will Kali handle the situation she finds herself thrust into? And after meeting the infamous Axel, will he prove to be handsome hero or dastardly captor. Find out by reading Unrequited!

Five out of Five stars
Profile Image for Aubrey Wynne.
Author 59 books424 followers
March 23, 2014
Unrequited is an entertaining and easy read by Elle Clouse. The heroine, Kali, is an opera singer kidnapped by pirates. They are hoping to use her as bait to lure the infamous Axel the Black. When the dark and sexy Axel appears, sparks fly between the two. Great action, fun secondary characters and the must have HEA. If you need a distraction and enjoy steam punk, this should be right up your alley.
Profile Image for Melonie Morningstar.
28 reviews1 follower
March 16, 2014
Only thing wrong with this story is that it left you wanting more. I can't wait for another amazing story.
Profile Image for Ishabelle Torry.
Author 21 books17 followers
September 14, 2014
Unrequited is a cute short story featuring an opera singer named Kali, who captures the interest of a notorious pirate, Axel. Kali becomes bait for Axel when his archenemy takes her hostage for revenge, and to steel Axel's airship. Short and sweet, and loaded with action, this tale by Elle Clouse is a quick fun read guaranteed to leave you content. Note: This story has a part two, which cleverly, tells the same story, but from Axel's POV! Genius!
Profile Image for Victoria.
148 reviews4 followers
July 15, 2014
A short and sweet story. This fun steampunk romance will quickly grab your attention with its non-stop action. I would love to see the author expand on the backstory of Axel & Beltran's ongoing feud or write future plots engaging all characters in other adventures.
Profile Image for Brittany Goodman.
859 reviews124 followers
December 23, 2016
Good...

This is a good story but I wanted more. It was just too short. Despite being short, the action was nonstop and the romance and language clean. Definitely worth reading.
I received this book free from one of the book subscription emails.
Profile Image for Nicole.
480 reviews12 followers
September 17, 2014
This story of unrequited love is an entertaining little read. There is a lot of action packed in these pages and the scene is quite vividly set, leaving you wanting to know more.
Profile Image for Tami .
1,123 reviews34 followers
July 23, 2016
A very short story. Steampunk is still new to me. I couldn't get into this.
Profile Image for Kim Pruitt.
312 reviews
February 26, 2018
Kali James is a opera singer who is about to become an unsuspecting kidnap victim of some wild and crazy pirate shit. She has no idea of the who's and why but ends up having the adventure of a life time!

We have two bad ass pirates that are fighting over the legendary Raven Starship, and a key. A key to what? Who knows, and who cares! Axel the Black and Beltrane are about to go toe to toe with Kali right smack in the middle of things. We are not sure why, but the encounter Kali experiences with Axel is down right magnetic. She doesn't know Axel, or so she thinks, and she is being used as a pawn. During her escapade with Axel, she falls for him, and although he tries to deny it, he likes her too, aww. This short story takes me back to why I love Pirates of the Caribbean so much. I know pirates are ugly and gross in reality but damn if that movie didn't make them hot and sexy! I can't help but to compare the two because I have never read a pirate book until now. Even though the story is quick and to the point, and it gives the feeling like we walked into the middle of a much bigger story, I really enjoyed it and was left wanting more! I can't wait to dive into the next chapter of this adventurous tale with The Raven and it's smexy captain Axel!!
Profile Image for SylviaV.
508 reviews3 followers
May 29, 2017
Free on amazon.com
The version I read on kindle was a short story of 21 pages. It was a terrific read and just enough to hook this reader with the story line. Well done. 4 stars.
Profile Image for Laura J..
400 reviews8 followers
July 22, 2017
short and sweet

Too short! But it worked. An opera singer and the pirate who admired her from afar meet when she's abducted by a rival pirate.
9,826 reviews107 followers
August 15, 2017
Different romance story that's short and sweet. Enjoyable first time read.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,327 reviews13 followers
May 1, 2018
Arrrrggghhh. Pirates!

Short and Sweet. This is a cute Novella about pirates and an opera singer. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.
Profile Image for Leslie.
1,432 reviews17 followers
June 9, 2018
Cute, but short.

It's a good beginning to a story but it's rushed. The characters need more time to develop, no one ever believes insta-love.
August 18, 2016
Uberreader's review of Unrequited by Elle Clouse
This is an extremely intense short story. It begins with the heroine waking from a drugged kidnapping and the action continues to pile on, with the arrival of the hero of the story. The action just gets more gripping once the primary characters are interacting. This reader can not wait to see where the next installment of this story goes.
I would like to thank Ms.Elle Close for the free ARC of this story that I received exchange for an honest and unbiased review
Profile Image for Jennifer Rials.
89 reviews
August 1, 2016
‘Unrequited’ is a steampunk novella told from the perspective of opera singer Kali. She is kidnapped to use as leverage by a pirate in order to steal the airship, The Raven, from legendary pirate, Axel the Black. My favorite part is when Axel arrives aboard his enemy’s ship. This is a two part story, the second ‘Requited’ is from Axel’s POV.
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Felicity Nichols.
260 reviews14 followers
August 17, 2014
Unrequited wrapped me in its arms within the first few sentences. I was drawn in Kali's world and my only complaint would be that I wanted more.

Axel portrays a drool worthy pirate and sunk right into my love of pirates. Clouse dragged me into her world and left me wanting to dig right into Requited. I hope to see more Steampunk from her! Great story!
89 reviews
July 31, 2016
GoodRead
This is a short read,full of surprises, adventure and action. A lot a going on. I don't do spoilers. I will say this is about a opera singer and a handsome pirate. Want more grab your copy, your favorite drink and turn the world off so you don't miss anything.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
1,098 reviews2 followers
August 4, 2016
This is a very short story. Captain Beltran had his men kidnap Miss James. She doesn't know an Axel. The Captain knows that Miss James has caught the attention of Axel. Will the Captain exchange Miss James in return for the Raven (an airship)?
823 reviews16 followers
June 5, 2016
DNF @ 71%

The characters are coming off like flat caricatures and I don't understand where the romance is coming from. I like the concept but don't care for the execution.
Profile Image for Jessica.
500 reviews57 followers
July 1, 2016
Not bad, just not that amazing for a novella 'glimpse'
Profile Image for Patricia Kiyono.
Author 37 books127 followers
May 2, 2017
This is a very short story, but it packs a punch. Since this is the first in a series I'm hoping to meet these characters again. I'm new to the world of steampunk, but Axel and Kali's story could make me a more frequent reader. Well written, with solid characters, this is a nice representation of the author's style.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.