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Tribute #1
Sacrifice
Awaiting execution on a foreign planet, Anna Lee has nothing left to lose — until Commander Rehz Akran offers her a chance to escape her fate. Anything is better than death, but when her training for Akran’s mysterious mission begins, the brutality is hard to take . . . especially since Anna has no idea what the workouts, beatings, and endless sexual demands are preparing her for.
Rehz Akran doesn’t deal with failure. He’s determined that his last trainee will survive her immersion in an unimaginably alien world and return alive — even if it means she’ll hate him forever. He needs to stay detached, but his new recruit makes that impossible. Soon he’s willing to defy his own training for a chance to forge a true connection with Anna.
It’s Rehz’s job to teach Anna to survive as a Tribute. And if she does, it’s his task to help her overcome the trauma of the experience. But this time he isn’t doing it to save his planet. This time he’s doing it for love.
Word 33,000; page 125
Rehz Akran doesn’t deal with failure. He’s determined that his last trainee will survive her immersion in an unimaginably alien world and return alive — even if it means she’ll hate him forever. He needs to stay detached, but his new recruit makes that impossible. Soon he’s willing to defy his own training for a chance to forge a true connection with Anna.
It’s Rehz’s job to teach Anna to survive as a Tribute. And if she does, it’s his task to help her overcome the trauma of the experience. But this time he isn’t doing it to save his planet. This time he’s doing it for love.
Word 33,000; page 125
125 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2015
14 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Kate Pearce
169 books1,853 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kate Pearce was born in England in the middle of a large family of girls and quickly found that her imagination was far more interesting than real life. After acquiring a degree in history and barely escaping from the British Civil Service alive, she moved to California and then to Hawaii with her kids and her husband and set about reinventing herself as a romance writer.
She is known for both her unconventional heroes and her joy at subverting romance clichés. In her spare time she self publishes science fiction erotic romance, historical romance, and whatever else she can imagine. You can find Kate on katepearce.com.
She is known for both her unconventional heroes and her joy at subverting romance clichés. In her spare time she self publishes science fiction erotic romance, historical romance, and whatever else she can imagine. You can find Kate on katepearce.com.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 40 reviews
August 8, 2015
This was pure smut; kinky alien smut and I really enjoyed it.
I even enjoyed the story, insane as it was. The alien monsters are seriously terrifying. Facing them is certainly not what I thought they were being trained for, I definitely didn't imagine that at all.
If you fancy a smutty read in a sci fi world without too much plot to burden you, then this might be for you.
**Review copy Provided by Netgalley**
I even enjoyed the story, insane as it was. The alien monsters are seriously terrifying. Facing them is certainly not what I thought they were being trained for, I definitely didn't imagine that at all.
If you fancy a smutty read in a sci fi world without too much plot to burden you, then this might be for you.
**Review copy Provided by Netgalley**
September 3, 2015
*Reader discretion advised. This title contains the following sensitive themes: Dubious Consent, Non-Consent, Explicit Violence, Heavy Kink
For fans of a darker sex filled dystopian kind of romp. Think Hunger Games-meets-Alien-meets Elysium. The first 50% of this 125-page read consists of what is called “training” the remaining is the soul shattering reality of what is real.
Many will read Sacrifice solely for the sex (M/F, M/M and M/M/F) and that’s just fine. I however went into this read knowing nothing. Was a bit shocked and then became an invested reader. The emotional vulnerability of these characters is a heady thing. Sure the sexy bits do what they intend to do, titillate the darker erotica fan, but it’s the emotions that are introduced that will keep you coming back for more.
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For fans of a darker sex filled dystopian kind of romp. Think Hunger Games-meets-Alien-meets Elysium. The first 50% of this 125-page read consists of what is called “training” the remaining is the soul shattering reality of what is real.
Many will read Sacrifice solely for the sex (M/F, M/M and M/M/F) and that’s just fine. I however went into this read knowing nothing. Was a bit shocked and then became an invested reader. The emotional vulnerability of these characters is a heady thing. Sure the sexy bits do what they intend to do, titillate the darker erotica fan, but it’s the emotions that are introduced that will keep you coming back for more.
Follow us on
KT Book Reviews
June 26, 2015
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Sometimes, it can be fun to read a spicier Sci Fi - something more about interactions than space battles, people rather than spaceships. Sacrifice, however, was so poorly written that not only was I not having fun, I was completely bored and trying really hard not to snicker in derision with each page turn. Characters, plotting, pacing, world building, even the supposedly kinky scenes were flatter than the bugs on my car's windshield - and just as messy.Story (such as it is): There's a planet. A girl from Earth is trapped there and falsely imprisoned but so full of righteousness, that even though she's sentenced to death, she merrily beats up everyone who comes near her (and kills them, too). Then a big hulky alpha male arrives one day, offers her a pardon from her sentence if she will 'do whatever he says without question'. She of course says yes, he treats her inexplicably bad all for a 'tough love' for some tribute she will have to undertake with an alien and survive. All to save his world. Cue anime tentacle rape monster (that is implied but never described).
The first half of the book was the 'training' - preparing her to survive being a tribute to the aliens (which our alpha male is not allowed to tell her anything about, of course). This includes being caged, treated like a dog, forced sex, and swordfighting. When the tribute happens mid-book, it's skipped over nearly completely though she's supposedly there for a week and it's very traumatic. The next half of the book is moping, maudlin, and vanilla sex but only if she wants it.
The first problem with the book is that what little we were given about the tribute makes absolutely NO SENSE to her training. It was so pointless and anticlimatic - especially since the second half of the book is so boring. Because there is no worldbuilding, we have no idea why no one believes in a place called Earth or why she's claiming to be from there. No idea why the tribute is done other than because the aliens say so. Why no one seems interested in doing anything about it. How ANY of the training helped her 'survive' and what exactly she survived. It was all just so random.
Because the writing is so flat, it feels like the author banged this out on her computer one afternoon as an outline and then never flushed out worldbuilding, story, or characters . The sentence structures are short and sloppy, almost staccatto. It's hard to get into a rhythm for the plot or characters as a result. All told, I think this book took a total of 30 minutes to read - it was that loosely written.
As with all the scenes, the 'kinky' parts in the beginning were so egregiously underwritten as to be completely unerotic and certainly not titillating. It was far too, "I like them big, come get me handsome and make me howl.' type of action that was demeaning in a way not intended. We had as much depth in the sex scenes as a backyard porno movie. It wasn't even written well enough to be distasteful.
So, yes, sometimes sci fi can be something fun when in the hands of a good writer. And other times, it's just bad - really, really, bad. I want those 30 minutes back. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
August 13, 2015
The aliens will leave the people of Mitan alone as long as they have a tribute.
I was curious about this trilogy and pleased to have the opportunity to review it.
I was drawn into the story from the first word. We are not told why Anna Lee stowed away on space ship or how she ended up on the wrong planet, being mistaken for an intergalactic criminal, and ending up in the Mitan prison system. As a convicted criminal she is made an offer. Take part in the training programme or be executed. She agrees to be trained but she doesn't know what she is being trained for.
We are not told either and instead we have to go through the training with Anna: humiliation, beatings, non-con, and no explanation about the programme eventually see her broken and willing to comply, and then once she realises she is part of the tribute, she realises she has made a deal with the devil and perhaps she should have chosen death to begin but if she survives a week with them she will be set free.
Of course attraction springs into her life as she realises she has feelings for her trainer Akran. Akran is himself a survivor of the tribute programme and struggles with his attraction to Anna, he is haunted by his time with the aliens, reluctant to believe that he can have something new with Anna.
This is the first book in a trilogy and so it does feel in some places like an introduction to the two books that follow this one but it is a good introduction to the series.
I don't normally read non-con/dub-con or any other kind of con but this felt very different. Anna Lee is a badass (think Sarah Connor In Terminator) and can survive anything - assults, beatings, torture and tentacles. The odd things is that she is very 'matter of fact' about what she goes through, almost detached and de-sensitised and because the full horror of her training doesn't really filter through until she meets the aliens.
There is lots of sex in the story, generally used as a training device in order to prepare the tributes for their encounter with the aliens. I felt that in some way the emotions of the people involved didn't really come through the sex scenes. We know when Anna was tired or in pain because the text told us that but we don't really get shown how she feels not to the degree I would expect in a story classified as erotica. I felt that this is a good sci-fi novel with lots of sex scenes rather than being a good erotic novel with a sci-fi setting.
This worked for me and is probably why I liked the story despite the non-con. I enjoyed the writing. It is engaging from the get go and the reader realises there is a bigger picture, something going on behind the scenes but we are kept guessing. We don't get to see much of the aliens in this book. Hopefully that will be in the other books.
All in all it is a good story and I am looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.
Book provided courtesy of Netgalley.
I was curious about this trilogy and pleased to have the opportunity to review it.
I was drawn into the story from the first word. We are not told why Anna Lee stowed away on space ship or how she ended up on the wrong planet, being mistaken for an intergalactic criminal, and ending up in the Mitan prison system. As a convicted criminal she is made an offer. Take part in the training programme or be executed. She agrees to be trained but she doesn't know what she is being trained for.
We are not told either and instead we have to go through the training with Anna: humiliation, beatings, non-con, and no explanation about the programme eventually see her broken and willing to comply, and then once she realises she is part of the tribute, she realises she has made a deal with the devil and perhaps she should have chosen death to begin but if she survives a week with them she will be set free.
Of course attraction springs into her life as she realises she has feelings for her trainer Akran. Akran is himself a survivor of the tribute programme and struggles with his attraction to Anna, he is haunted by his time with the aliens, reluctant to believe that he can have something new with Anna.
This is the first book in a trilogy and so it does feel in some places like an introduction to the two books that follow this one but it is a good introduction to the series.
I don't normally read non-con/dub-con or any other kind of con but this felt very different. Anna Lee is a badass (think Sarah Connor In Terminator) and can survive anything - assults, beatings, torture and tentacles. The odd things is that she is very 'matter of fact' about what she goes through, almost detached and de-sensitised and because the full horror of her training doesn't really filter through until she meets the aliens.
There is lots of sex in the story, generally used as a training device in order to prepare the tributes for their encounter with the aliens. I felt that in some way the emotions of the people involved didn't really come through the sex scenes. We know when Anna was tired or in pain because the text told us that but we don't really get shown how she feels not to the degree I would expect in a story classified as erotica. I felt that this is a good sci-fi novel with lots of sex scenes rather than being a good erotic novel with a sci-fi setting.
This worked for me and is probably why I liked the story despite the non-con. I enjoyed the writing. It is engaging from the get go and the reader realises there is a bigger picture, something going on behind the scenes but we are kept guessing. We don't get to see much of the aliens in this book. Hopefully that will be in the other books.
All in all it is a good story and I am looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.
Book provided courtesy of Netgalley.
November 25, 2015
I really struggled with how to rate and review SACRIFICE. I love fantasy romance and I am pretty willing to step out and try new worlds but I have to reluctantly admit that Pearce traumatized me with this one. I didn't go into this story with any particular expectations; however there was no way to be truly prepared for what I experienced in this very quick read. After I finished this one I went back and read some other reviews and no one else seemed to have be as negatively affected as I was. That leads me to believe that I am simply not tough enough to have enjoyed this one.
I found the 'training' traumatizing. It was in no way erotically titillating or arousing for me. When it is revealed what the trainees are being prepared for and their actual presentation-it was just too much for me. Even a little Jack & Coke and a session of Netflix didn't stave off the nightmare of a writhing mass of aliens. I've freely admitted that I'm a chicken and finishing this story right at bedtime wreaked havoc with my delicate sensibilities!
I have decided on a three out of five start rating. The story is not in any way poorly written. It's descriptive and Pearce did give a story that impacted me as a reader. It was just traumatic instead of pleasurable. I really didn't get a sense of real love from the characters. It just felt like the characters were doing whatever necessary to survive and cope with the horror of their reality. All this meant was that trainers that survived the degradation and abuse now have to put new trainees through their same hellish existence.
I have review copies for books two and three so I am hoping that the series will be less traumatic as I work my way through them! Surprisingly enough I would like to read more from Pearce, she has a good sized backlist. I think that I simply picked the wrong series to start with. They are all erotic but do not seem to all be this dark.
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
You can find more from me at
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
I found the 'training' traumatizing. It was in no way erotically titillating or arousing for me. When it is revealed what the trainees are being prepared for and their actual presentation-it was just too much for me. Even a little Jack & Coke and a session of Netflix didn't stave off the nightmare of a writhing mass of aliens. I've freely admitted that I'm a chicken and finishing this story right at bedtime wreaked havoc with my delicate sensibilities!
I have decided on a three out of five start rating. The story is not in any way poorly written. It's descriptive and Pearce did give a story that impacted me as a reader. It was just traumatic instead of pleasurable. I really didn't get a sense of real love from the characters. It just felt like the characters were doing whatever necessary to survive and cope with the horror of their reality. All this meant was that trainers that survived the degradation and abuse now have to put new trainees through their same hellish existence.
I have review copies for books two and three so I am hoping that the series will be less traumatic as I work my way through them! Surprisingly enough I would like to read more from Pearce, she has a good sized backlist. I think that I simply picked the wrong series to start with. They are all erotic but do not seem to all be this dark.
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
You can find more from me at
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
October 5, 2015
Anna Lee is awaiting execution on a foreign planet. When given the choice to face death or a mysterious mission....she picks the mission and waits on pins and needles to find out exactly what she signed up for.
Rehz Akran is assigned to train Anna and since he knows what might happen on her secret mission; he is ready to do anything and everything to get her ready.... whether Anna appreciates it or not.
Together Rehz and Anna start a relationship that if Anna does not fully participate in, can leave her dead. Will Anna make it out of her mission with her life and her heart intact? Read and find out!
I received this book as an ARC from Net Galley for my honest review
Welcome to the world of a very dark romance. This book is not for the faint of heart and you may not agree with everything that happens between Anna and Rehz.. but one thing you cant deny is that it is a good book.
Kate Pearce creates a world that draws you in makes you want to read more and more. If I had to compare it to anything I would say it reminds me of 'La Femme Nikita' or 'Point of no Return' with a sci-fi twist.
When it comes to the characters Rehz gave off this attitude of having to be cruel to be kind. He wanted Anna to be ready and while he may have done some questionable things he definitely sacrificed himself multiple times to keep her safe. I actually loved Anna's character because she refused to give up. She never let anyone mistreat her without letting them know that she could give as good as she got.
Overall this was a really good book, it is selling for 2.96 on Kindle Amazon and I think that is a good price. I have already read books 2 & 3 and am patiently waiting to post my review. Great job Pearce, nothing wrong with stepping out of the box and daring to be different!
Rehz Akran is assigned to train Anna and since he knows what might happen on her secret mission; he is ready to do anything and everything to get her ready.... whether Anna appreciates it or not.
Together Rehz and Anna start a relationship that if Anna does not fully participate in, can leave her dead. Will Anna make it out of her mission with her life and her heart intact? Read and find out!
I received this book as an ARC from Net Galley for my honest review
Welcome to the world of a very dark romance. This book is not for the faint of heart and you may not agree with everything that happens between Anna and Rehz.. but one thing you cant deny is that it is a good book.
Kate Pearce creates a world that draws you in makes you want to read more and more. If I had to compare it to anything I would say it reminds me of 'La Femme Nikita' or 'Point of no Return' with a sci-fi twist.
When it comes to the characters Rehz gave off this attitude of having to be cruel to be kind. He wanted Anna to be ready and while he may have done some questionable things he definitely sacrificed himself multiple times to keep her safe. I actually loved Anna's character because she refused to give up. She never let anyone mistreat her without letting them know that she could give as good as she got.
Overall this was a really good book, it is selling for 2.96 on Kindle Amazon and I think that is a good price. I have already read books 2 & 3 and am patiently waiting to post my review. Great job Pearce, nothing wrong with stepping out of the box and daring to be different!
April 18, 2021
A little strange but hot at the same time.
May 4, 2020
So it was quite fortuitous that I picked up this short story/novella on Halloween, because if you'd told me it included aliens and tentacles and all sorts of sordid, creepy stuff before I'd started, I would have put it in the horror basket. In my brain, tentacles and creatures that have them looked a little something like this:
I've never in all my born days looked into the anime tentacle sub-culture, but I imagine that this book would fit within its realm quite well.
The premise of the book was interesting and quite different to anything else I've read before. The idea of a human being on an alien planet and being incarcerated and then indentured to the tribute program working for Rehz Akran piqued my interest. Especially when the alien planet's humanoid inhabitants didn't recognise that Earth existed.
Rehz was an interesting character, he did the most deplorable things to our protagonist, Anna Lee (whose names are used interchangeably throughout the story - which irritated me to no end), and while Anna doesn't know why, the reader is lead to believe that there's a higher purpose for all this 'training'.
While I'm on the topic of training... I need to say, this book is not about training. It's about taking a sex slave and abusing her (and other trainers did the same to men as well). And not just a little abuse, no, this is full on non-con. It is hour upon hour of being filled... not just with male body parts, but also various fake versions too. It's about physical and mental torture at its most cruel. Anna is made to submit to Rehz, to hand over her extremely strong will, along with her body and do these things because Rehz says so... without knowing why.
Now, this probably sounds like I have an issue with the non-con... in fact, I don't, but I do have a problem with the book, just not with this part.
The part that I thought let down the rest of the book was the time period of the 'tribute'... once I'd come to terms with what the tribute scheme actually was and why they were training these 'tributes' the way they were... well... I was intrigued. How was this going to play out? Was I going to have my first tentacle sex scene reading experience? I had no idea.
And I still don't!
This is my problem with it. The seeming climax (pun totally intended) was brushed over so quickly, with so few details that it was an epic let down.
If you trawl for dub/non-con and other dark kink readers, you had best deliver. Don't dangle this thing in front of your readers and then skim over it so lightly that it was almost as if that event didn't even exist... get down and dirty. Step so far over that line that there's no uncertainty about how far you're willing to go.
Ultimately, I bought into the somewhat shallow story line and wanted to know what happened in that scene that was skimmed over. I, as an avid reader of LGBTQ romance and erotica, found the varied sexual partners and combinations of partners quite refreshing. But, some of the sex scenes were rather dull and seemed repetitive.
I did like the ending, despite its someone vanilla tinge compared to the rest of the book. I am intrigued to know what happens next. I will be trying out book 2.
Oh, and if you've read all the way through this and you're still not aware that this book is not for children or people who have weak dispositions, then here's the trigger warning... just in case you missed all that above!!
**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
I've never in all my born days looked into the anime tentacle sub-culture, but I imagine that this book would fit within its realm quite well.
The premise of the book was interesting and quite different to anything else I've read before. The idea of a human being on an alien planet and being incarcerated and then indentured to the tribute program working for Rehz Akran piqued my interest. Especially when the alien planet's humanoid inhabitants didn't recognise that Earth existed.
Rehz was an interesting character, he did the most deplorable things to our protagonist, Anna Lee (whose names are used interchangeably throughout the story - which irritated me to no end), and while Anna doesn't know why, the reader is lead to believe that there's a higher purpose for all this 'training'.
While I'm on the topic of training... I need to say, this book is not about training. It's about taking a sex slave and abusing her (and other trainers did the same to men as well). And not just a little abuse, no, this is full on non-con. It is hour upon hour of being filled... not just with male body parts, but also various fake versions too. It's about physical and mental torture at its most cruel. Anna is made to submit to Rehz, to hand over her extremely strong will, along with her body and do these things because Rehz says so... without knowing why.
Now, this probably sounds like I have an issue with the non-con... in fact, I don't, but I do have a problem with the book, just not with this part.
The part that I thought let down the rest of the book was the time period of the 'tribute'... once I'd come to terms with what the tribute scheme actually was and why they were training these 'tributes' the way they were... well... I was intrigued. How was this going to play out? Was I going to have my first tentacle sex scene reading experience? I had no idea.
And I still don't!
This is my problem with it. The seeming climax (pun totally intended) was brushed over so quickly, with so few details that it was an epic let down.
If you trawl for dub/non-con and other dark kink readers, you had best deliver. Don't dangle this thing in front of your readers and then skim over it so lightly that it was almost as if that event didn't even exist... get down and dirty. Step so far over that line that there's no uncertainty about how far you're willing to go.
Ultimately, I bought into the somewhat shallow story line and wanted to know what happened in that scene that was skimmed over. I, as an avid reader of LGBTQ romance and erotica, found the varied sexual partners and combinations of partners quite refreshing. But, some of the sex scenes were rather dull and seemed repetitive.
I did like the ending, despite its someone vanilla tinge compared to the rest of the book. I am intrigued to know what happens next. I will be trying out book 2.
Oh, and if you've read all the way through this and you're still not aware that this book is not for children or people who have weak dispositions, then here's the trigger warning... just in case you missed all that above!!
**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
August 4, 2019
Title: Sacrifice
Series: Tribute series Book #1
Stand Alone Title: yes
Author: Kate Pearce
Genre: Sci-fi/Romance
Blurb: Awaiting execution on a foreign planet, Anna Lee has nothing left to lose—until Commander Rehz Akran offers her a chance to escape her fate. Anything is better than death, but when her training for Akran’s mysterious mission begins, the brutality is hard to take . . . especially since Anna has no idea what the workouts, beatings, and endless sexual demands are preparing her for.
Rehz Akran doesn’t deal with failure. He’s determined that his last trainee will survive her immersion in an unimaginably alien world and return alive—even if it means she’ll hate him forever. He needs to stay detached, but his new recruit makes that impossible. Soon he’s willing to defy his own training for a chance to forge a true connection with Anna.
It’s Rehz’s job to teach Anna to survive as a Tribute. And if she does, it’s his task to help her overcome the trauma of the experience. But this time he isn’t doing it to save his planet. This time he’s doing it for love.
Reader discretion advised. This title contains the following sensitive themes: Dubious Consent, Non-Consent, Explicit Violence, Heavy Kink
Thoughts: This is one of those books I should have read and reviewed a while back, but kept putting it off. Now, I see why…this book is out there….not just ‘hey, this is something a little different from what I normally read’, but something wwaaayyyy out there. Honestly, after the first chapter I was done. The ‘themes’ (if you read above for the discretions) include ‘non-consent’ and ‘heavy kink’. To that, just let me say – understatement. It is not just non-consent, it is straight up rape and as a reader I have read kink and this is so far beyond that. The book is also listed as ‘erotica’….and uhnm, no. Sorry, not erotica at all. I wouldn’t even be so kind as to call it ‘smut’. It is way beyond smut. It’s like the Hunger Games – only the games involve forced sex and violent beatings.
The thing is, by the time you start this book – then you need to know what the hell is going on! It’s like a horror movie…you have to keep watching just to see what happens! Then when you find out about the aliens…even that isn’t what you expect!
I give the author props, she has an imagination. I can honestly say, I have never read anything like it.
It wasn’t really my cup of tea, personally. However, I can’t say anything bad about the book itself…it was creative, well-written, interesting and original.
I feel a little traumatized after reading it, but what can I say? The book will stick out in my mind anyway…LOL
Rating: C
Series: Tribute series Book #1
Stand Alone Title: yes
Author: Kate Pearce
Genre: Sci-fi/Romance
Blurb: Awaiting execution on a foreign planet, Anna Lee has nothing left to lose—until Commander Rehz Akran offers her a chance to escape her fate. Anything is better than death, but when her training for Akran’s mysterious mission begins, the brutality is hard to take . . . especially since Anna has no idea what the workouts, beatings, and endless sexual demands are preparing her for.
Rehz Akran doesn’t deal with failure. He’s determined that his last trainee will survive her immersion in an unimaginably alien world and return alive—even if it means she’ll hate him forever. He needs to stay detached, but his new recruit makes that impossible. Soon he’s willing to defy his own training for a chance to forge a true connection with Anna.
It’s Rehz’s job to teach Anna to survive as a Tribute. And if she does, it’s his task to help her overcome the trauma of the experience. But this time he isn’t doing it to save his planet. This time he’s doing it for love.
Reader discretion advised. This title contains the following sensitive themes: Dubious Consent, Non-Consent, Explicit Violence, Heavy Kink
Thoughts: This is one of those books I should have read and reviewed a while back, but kept putting it off. Now, I see why…this book is out there….not just ‘hey, this is something a little different from what I normally read’, but something wwaaayyyy out there. Honestly, after the first chapter I was done. The ‘themes’ (if you read above for the discretions) include ‘non-consent’ and ‘heavy kink’. To that, just let me say – understatement. It is not just non-consent, it is straight up rape and as a reader I have read kink and this is so far beyond that. The book is also listed as ‘erotica’….and uhnm, no. Sorry, not erotica at all. I wouldn’t even be so kind as to call it ‘smut’. It is way beyond smut. It’s like the Hunger Games – only the games involve forced sex and violent beatings.
The thing is, by the time you start this book – then you need to know what the hell is going on! It’s like a horror movie…you have to keep watching just to see what happens! Then when you find out about the aliens…even that isn’t what you expect!
I give the author props, she has an imagination. I can honestly say, I have never read anything like it.
It wasn’t really my cup of tea, personally. However, I can’t say anything bad about the book itself…it was creative, well-written, interesting and original.
I feel a little traumatized after reading it, but what can I say? The book will stick out in my mind anyway…LOL
Rating: C
July 12, 2015
Wow, I'm not sure how to write this review. The book should really come with a warning because this is not everyone's cup of tea. The majority of the book is brutal. The violence is way beyond what I was prepared for and it was rather shocking. Now that all being said it has to be noted that it really did fit the story of the book. It was understandable within the confines of the story but I'm not sure that it needed to be so very brutal to convey the extreme nature of the story. I will say that I'm torn between a 3 and 4 star review because I really did enjoy the ending very much and I think had it not ended the way that it did that I would be rating this even lower than I am.
July 7, 2015
Short, very hot and definitely out of this world. 99% of the sex is humanoid & humanoid (only one of the characters if from Earth) but you have to have an open mind about the rest.
September 8, 2015
Be warned, this is a dark read with dubious consent. Includes M/F, M/M and M/M/F. Anna Lee has two options death or training for a mission she knows little about and the training is brutal, workouts, beatings and endless sexual demands. This was an excellent beginning to a new series. The characters are great, lots of emotion and suspense, they really draw you into the story. The story is fast paced and will keep you hooked from beginning to end. Looking forward to more.
May 3, 2020
Look, this is non-con. Intensely non-con. The description did not prepare me for ... any of it, really.
But it’s well written, and oddly enough I enjoyed it. Pearce made some really great choices throughout the book. I’m glad it’s as short as it is - there’s no way I could handle a full novel of this.
I think if you’re able to detach from the reality of this book, you’ll find fun smut and a quick, satisfying read. If you actually think about what you’re reading, well....
But it’s well written, and oddly enough I enjoyed it. Pearce made some really great choices throughout the book. I’m glad it’s as short as it is - there’s no way I could handle a full novel of this.
I think if you’re able to detach from the reality of this book, you’ll find fun smut and a quick, satisfying read. If you actually think about what you’re reading, well....
October 6, 2016
3.75* surprisingly engaging dark erotic story. Interesting world building with strong sexual themes. Novella length but author does a good job of creating fairly rounded characters and an intriguing storyline. I've already read #2 and will be following up with the 3rd. Also a really good dark villain who is evil and sadistic.
October 2, 2015
- Pretty brutal (lots of non-con)
- So many dicks in space. Who knew?
- Not sure I bought the HEA, but this is Kate Pearce, so I just went with it.
- So many dicks in space. Who knew?
- Not sure I bought the HEA, but this is Kate Pearce, so I just went with it.
June 10, 2021
WARNING !!! TRIGGER !!! WOW, truly WOW !
I want to give this a negative 5* but other than it being "rape" adjacent, it's not such a bad story. This review is hard to write. Love the authors writing style. It was a well written, compelling story that grabs the readers attention right from the start. ( ya either scream and throw your e-reader across the room ) or remember, Kate Pearce wrote it, and struggle through the (scream and throw your e-reader across the room) parts and realize KP has a wonderful and a little bit crazy mind.
Remember I warned you :P
I want to give this a negative 5* but other than it being "rape" adjacent, it's not such a bad story. This review is hard to write. Love the authors writing style. It was a well written, compelling story that grabs the readers attention right from the start. ( ya either scream and throw your e-reader across the room ) or remember, Kate Pearce wrote it, and struggle through the (scream and throw your e-reader across the room) parts and realize KP has a wonderful and a little bit crazy mind.
Remember I warned you :P
April 7, 2025
Definitely not what I was expecting.....reminded me a bit of the old school Beauty series.
I wouldn't think it'd be off the mark too far with interacting with a species of aliens totally different from humans. More than likely, it wouldn't go so well for us.
Some of the plot structure was goofy, however (like why would an octopus type of species live underground?), and why would they want to "examine" so many of our species year after year?
I wouldn't think it'd be off the mark too far with interacting with a species of aliens totally different from humans. More than likely, it wouldn't go so well for us.
Some of the plot structure was goofy, however (like why would an octopus type of species live underground?), and why would they want to "examine" so many of our species year after year?
July 4, 2018
Honestly, there was more heterosexual sex in this book than I wanted to see. I was warned. I'm not sure what I expected.
There were some good bits, and the story sucked me in, but the male MC was whiny, and there were no tentacles.
Disappointing.
There were some good bits, and the story sucked me in, but the male MC was whiny, and there were no tentacles.
Disappointing.
June 3, 2021
I stopped at chapter 5. I felt the story was going nowhere. The woman went through being treated like a sexual tool. Even though she's a fighter. I felt there was no development, good or bad. I got tired of reading bad treatment of the female.
April 17, 2018
DNF for me.
September 4, 2021
A quick and easy read. Very steamy. Good science fiction too.
August 1, 2024
Like the premise.
December 31, 2024
This book is very explicit. You have been warned.
This alien romance is something else.
7/10 But now I need to finish the series.
This alien romance is something else.
7/10 But now I need to finish the series.
September 17, 2015
Review can be read at It's About The Book
Anna Lee has a chance to avoid a death sentence. She agrees to take her last chance to live without fully knowing the consequences of her choice. She is expected to fully submit to her trainer, Commander Rehz Akran. Rehz knows it’s not wise to feel anything for the trainees. He’s doing his best to keep them alive even if he disagrees with the methods he’s required to use. Anna is being trained, along with several others, to do something that will keep the entire populous of the planet safe. She’ll be a hero. If she manages to survive. Rehz has to figure out how he feels about falling in love with a hero when he is incapable of seeing his own heroics.
I found this story both intriguing and ridiculous, but one thing was for sure: I was riveted. I could not put this story down. I honestly can’t tell you why I even picked it up in the first place. A dubious consent scenario involving a tentacle monster is not what I’d say is, “my thing.” But, I found myself itching for the next installment as soon as I was done with this.
This story does very much contain a lot of sex. So much so that it became a little bit tedious, and a lot of it pinged a bit toward rape fetish for me. Anna is not the only character subjected to inescapable sex. Rehz has experienced everything Anna experiences and is still subjected to the whims of his boss, Palk. Let me just say that Palk is creepy.
The parts of the story I found intriguing centered around Rehz’s inability to see himself in a clear light. His whole career was based upon training people to survive an unimaginable situation. The training methods he was forced to use were not pleasant. Rehz carried with him a lot of guilt. Coupled with that he’s experienced the unimaginable. All the trainers are themselves survivors of the training. Rehz has no ability to relate to a person who hasn’t experienced the level of horror he has. Anna had to convince Rehz he was good enough to form a relationship with her.
Overall I do think this story was riveting but not what I would say is expertly crafted. Personally, I think story trumps craft, especially in this case. I needed the next part of this story when I was done. So maybe I didn’t find the horrifying monsters that horrifying, nor did I particularly enjoy all the sex that was crammed into the story, but I found the plot to be wildly entertaining. If you’re looking to be entertained this is a great story.
Anna Lee has a chance to avoid a death sentence. She agrees to take her last chance to live without fully knowing the consequences of her choice. She is expected to fully submit to her trainer, Commander Rehz Akran. Rehz knows it’s not wise to feel anything for the trainees. He’s doing his best to keep them alive even if he disagrees with the methods he’s required to use. Anna is being trained, along with several others, to do something that will keep the entire populous of the planet safe. She’ll be a hero. If she manages to survive. Rehz has to figure out how he feels about falling in love with a hero when he is incapable of seeing his own heroics.
I found this story both intriguing and ridiculous, but one thing was for sure: I was riveted. I could not put this story down. I honestly can’t tell you why I even picked it up in the first place. A dubious consent scenario involving a tentacle monster is not what I’d say is, “my thing.” But, I found myself itching for the next installment as soon as I was done with this.
This story does very much contain a lot of sex. So much so that it became a little bit tedious, and a lot of it pinged a bit toward rape fetish for me. Anna is not the only character subjected to inescapable sex. Rehz has experienced everything Anna experiences and is still subjected to the whims of his boss, Palk. Let me just say that Palk is creepy.
The parts of the story I found intriguing centered around Rehz’s inability to see himself in a clear light. His whole career was based upon training people to survive an unimaginable situation. The training methods he was forced to use were not pleasant. Rehz carried with him a lot of guilt. Coupled with that he’s experienced the unimaginable. All the trainers are themselves survivors of the training. Rehz has no ability to relate to a person who hasn’t experienced the level of horror he has. Anna had to convince Rehz he was good enough to form a relationship with her.
Overall I do think this story was riveting but not what I would say is expertly crafted. Personally, I think story trumps craft, especially in this case. I needed the next part of this story when I was done. So maybe I didn’t find the horrifying monsters that horrifying, nor did I particularly enjoy all the sex that was crammed into the story, but I found the plot to be wildly entertaining. If you’re looking to be entertained this is a great story.
September 8, 2015
Awaiting execution on a foreign planet, Anna Lee has nothing left to lose—until Commander Rehz Akran offers her a chance to escape her fate. Anything is better than death, but when her training for Akran’s mysterious mission begins, the brutality is hard to take . . . especially since Anna has no idea what the workouts, beatings, and endless sexual demands are preparing her for.
Rehz Akran doesn’t deal with failure. He’s determined that his last trainee will survive her immersion in an unimaginably alien world and return alive—even if it means she’ll hate him forever. He needs to stay detached, but his new recruit makes that impossible. Soon he’s willing to defy his own training for a chance to forge a true connection with Anna.
It’s Rehz’s job to teach Anna to survive as a Tribute. And if she does, it’s his task to help her overcome the trauma of the experience. But this time he isn’t doing it to save his planet. This time he’s doing it for love.
Review:
Whoa Momma!
I know Kate writes some pretty sexual things, but this just maybe the smuttiest thing I have ever read by her. I will forewarn there is a LOT of dubious and non-consensual sex going on in this book plus a lot of different configurations. It is an interesting concept with the native life forms and the people having to make "tributes", so they can study them or the people will be destroyed. I am not sure how to rate this one, I love Kate but the sex seemed to take over whatever plot there is. If you are looking for a book high on the kink factor, then I would recommend it.
3Stars
*Received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.*
Rehz Akran doesn’t deal with failure. He’s determined that his last trainee will survive her immersion in an unimaginably alien world and return alive—even if it means she’ll hate him forever. He needs to stay detached, but his new recruit makes that impossible. Soon he’s willing to defy his own training for a chance to forge a true connection with Anna.
It’s Rehz’s job to teach Anna to survive as a Tribute. And if she does, it’s his task to help her overcome the trauma of the experience. But this time he isn’t doing it to save his planet. This time he’s doing it for love.
Review:
Whoa Momma!
I know Kate writes some pretty sexual things, but this just maybe the smuttiest thing I have ever read by her. I will forewarn there is a LOT of dubious and non-consensual sex going on in this book plus a lot of different configurations. It is an interesting concept with the native life forms and the people having to make "tributes", so they can study them or the people will be destroyed. I am not sure how to rate this one, I love Kate but the sex seemed to take over whatever plot there is. If you are looking for a book high on the kink factor, then I would recommend it.
3Stars
*Received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.*
September 4, 2015
I can't say that I like Sacrifice all that much. The story of a woman plucked from a prison for a special training program is definitely not for the faint of heart.
The training program is ruthless. Involving savage combat training and brutal non-consensual sexual demands, the trainees have no idea what they are preparing for. The fist half of the book was hard for me to keep reading due to the severity of what the heroine endured. But I kept at it because a) it was a NetGalley ARC so I needed to finish and review and b) I've enjoyed other more pleasant writing by Ms. Pearce, giving me c) hope that it would all come together in a way that I could appreciate.
In the end, it was the lack of a decent plot that kept me from enjoying the book. It was mostly about sex and very little was of the satisfying variety. I didn't hate it, but I probably would not recommend it.
I wonder if the Tribute series as a whole is a better reading experience. Perhaps the plot becomes better developed over the course of all three stories? I hope so. In the past, I have enjoyed Ms. Pearce's historical romance, so I would love to see her cross over to Sci Fi romance.
NetGalley ARC.
The training program is ruthless. Involving savage combat training and brutal non-consensual sexual demands, the trainees have no idea what they are preparing for. The fist half of the book was hard for me to keep reading due to the severity of what the heroine endured. But I kept at it because a) it was a NetGalley ARC so I needed to finish and review and b) I've enjoyed other more pleasant writing by Ms. Pearce, giving me c) hope that it would all come together in a way that I could appreciate.
In the end, it was the lack of a decent plot that kept me from enjoying the book. It was mostly about sex and very little was of the satisfying variety. I didn't hate it, but I probably would not recommend it.
I wonder if the Tribute series as a whole is a better reading experience. Perhaps the plot becomes better developed over the course of all three stories? I hope so. In the past, I have enjoyed Ms. Pearce's historical romance, so I would love to see her cross over to Sci Fi romance.
NetGalley ARC.
September 8, 2015
This book is hard to describe; the sex was definitely hard kink -- even dehumanizing in many ways. But it was obvious that while the treatment was harsh it was also obviously targeted and never intended to cause lasting physical damage. The reasons given in the end were terrible but seemed, at first glance, to make a certain awful sense. The romance between Anna and Rehz was a difficult sell, only made possible by how much Rehz hated what he had to do, was more than willing to give Anna whatever she needed to deal with her situation and how he went to the mat for her every time. My only wish was that something more could have been explained about how no one accepted that she came from an entirely different planet and why no one had tried to come to a less horrific understanding with the alien species they are required to make Tributes to.
Netgalley gave me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
Netgalley gave me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
September 23, 2015
Even being warned this story was pretty dark, I only hesitated slightly on
purchasing it. I have enjoyed everything I had read previously by Kate Pearce and this was no exception.
Despite the author and everyone under the sun flashing a warning banner about the content, I can honestly say it didn't really bother me too badly. I've read dark books where you are not only drawn in but FEEL every emotion and horror the main character experiences which leaves you completely drained and emotionally ruined. Yes, I was drawn into the story and felt a connection with the characters but not at that intensely deep, scarred for life level.
This story was definitely not light nor for the faint of heart but I enjoyed it overall. Interesting plot and I really had no clue until the reveal exactly what everyone was being trained for and it certainly was not what I expected.
purchasing it. I have enjoyed everything I had read previously by Kate Pearce and this was no exception.
Despite the author and everyone under the sun flashing a warning banner about the content, I can honestly say it didn't really bother me too badly. I've read dark books where you are not only drawn in but FEEL every emotion and horror the main character experiences which leaves you completely drained and emotionally ruined. Yes, I was drawn into the story and felt a connection with the characters but not at that intensely deep, scarred for life level.
This story was definitely not light nor for the faint of heart but I enjoyed it overall. Interesting plot and I really had no clue until the reveal exactly what everyone was being trained for and it certainly was not what I expected.
November 29, 2015
Holy Moly! This story really pushed the edge of the envelope. Humanoid tributes are offered for "study" in exchange for peace with the tentacled aliens originally occupying the planet. The tributes undergo brutal physical and sexual training designed to prepare them for this ordeal and offer them a chance at surviving it. And, unbelievably, a love story is thrown in for good measure. It was disturbing and horrifying and...hot! I felt like a rubbernecking gawker at an accident. I shouldn't look (read) but I couldn't seem to stop. I loved it. I can't wait to see how things turn out in the next two books in the series.
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