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Minotaurs of Protheka #1

The Minotaur Captain's Mate

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My whole life I have been the property of evil beings.
Until the love of a minotaur freed my soul.

I'd lived under the shadow of Dark Elf oppression on the alien planet of Protheka for so long that my spirit was almost broken until I found Romas.
He was the survivor of a shipwreck.
I nursed him back to health.
He was an honorable warrior. Savage, fierce, and yet filled with great tenderness.

My heart became his. My body soon followed.

But my beloved had a price on his head. And now the Dark Elves have come to collect it.
To collect their debt, they decide to take me from my beloved.
And that is their fatal mistake.
IBecause if you're going to take this bull by the horns then you need to be prepared for...

The wrath of my Minotaur mate.

Author's Note: This is a full length fantasy monster romance novel with an alien minotaur who towers over his human mate. Protheka is not a happy world, and certain situations may be too much for readers. But there is a HEA at the end!

182 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 24, 2022

219 people are currently reading
209 people want to read

About the author

Celeste King

308 books276 followers
Celeste King is the author behind the Worlds of Protheka, a collection of interconnected series that promise dark fantasy, intense romance, and washboard abs. When it comes to her stories, there are sure to brooding alphas, sassy humans, and plenty of spice to look forward to.

With the ever growing fantasy worlds, the 'what ifs' are endless, and that is what excites her the most. Even she doesn't know just how far these characters will go, but she's gladly along for the ride.

You can always find her fearlessly diving into an adventure (in this world or another), typically with her husband, and partner in crime, at her side.

She helps keep the excitement alive for the rest us with each of her Prothekan works, where there are no heroes coming to save you and being kidnapped...isn't so bad when your captor is this hot.

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5 stars
153 (44%)
4 stars
105 (30%)
3 stars
57 (16%)
2 stars
22 (6%)
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7 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Profile Image for Jac K.
2,517 reviews490 followers
Read
October 14, 2022
DNF @ 26%
The cover was giving me I Married a Lizardman vibes, but I’m not feeling it. I feel lost within the “world” the story takes place in… and I’m not connecting with the writing style. Everything has a formal feel without any emotions rather than flowing like natural conversations... but I'm jumping ship quite early, so it might improve. 🤷‍♀️
Profile Image for Cindy Mooney.
229 reviews26 followers
June 27, 2022
This was a great story, I took a star off because they used the phrase "pink trench" to say vagina too many times. The hardest of hard passes for me.
Profile Image for Hannah Boyd.
744 reviews27 followers
October 4, 2022
it was pretty cute.
Steam-2.5/5, more so towards the end where it gets a little more detailed.
Profile Image for Honest Mabel.
1,252 reviews40 followers
January 26, 2023
DNF

I have tried with these protheka books but the author is good but I am not particularly a fan. So she may be for you but she isn’t for me.
Profile Image for Karen Nastasio.
2,661 reviews19 followers
July 1, 2022
This book was brilliant the main characters Romas and Alyssa kept you cheering that they would defeat the dark elves and win the day. Alyssa Cooper is a human living in Black Skillet Cove settlement where nobody bothers them because they are so far away and on the coast line until a dark elf named Luzius comes calling and no one is safe and nobody knows what he wants and her father tells her to hide and so with her best friend Elayne they head to the caves and on there way they find a Minotaur lying on the beach her friend runs but Alyssa stays to help him and tells him he will be safe in the caves and that she will bring more food and water. When she returns home all her family and friends are in the town square and the dark elf Luzius tells them what his plans are and when he sees Alyssa she is taken to have a meal with and not long after he try’s to take me by force so I stabbed him and ran to Romas who she saved on the beach and now the whole village minus a few that tried to stand up to him are moving to some caves to dig for a relic’s that he wants. Romas is the captain of Sojourner and a Minotaur trader and is on his way back home when they are attacked by a fire tortoise controlled by a dark elf and Romas knows they cannot defeat it so he orders his crew to abandon the ship while he stays on board to give them a chance to escape it will be an honorable death and it works but when his ship is destroyed he is thrown clear and washes up on some beach with a gorgeous human female standing over him. Now she gives him water and something to eat and then shows him to the caves where he will be safe and tells him she will be back with more food. Later she returns and she is more gorgeous than before and Romas knows he wants her to be his wife and then she tells him about the dark elves in the village and he knows there is trouble coming but he can save her if she will stay with him but she returns to her family and when they see smoke Romas knows it’s too late to save them but he will try for her his Alyssa. How does it all turn out for everyone, can Romas and Alyssa save them all in time and if so what will happen to them after it’s all over. To get these answers and so much more this is a must read book. Loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
48 reviews
June 25, 2022
This is the second book I’ve read from Celeste King. It is just as good as the previous book I read about Nagaland. Again, we are on the planet Protheka, but this time the story centers on the Minotaurs and the humans. Minotaurs sailing the seas seeking to make new trade partners. Unwittingly, they fall into a elven trap and their ship is torn apart; few Minotaurs survive the savage ocean waves.

We are next transported to the human village of Black Skillet Cove. Although in the shadow of the Dark Elves (aka Orthani), the village lies on the outskirts of their influence. Rarely do the humans see the Dark Elves, so their village has been fairly safe to live in.

Alyssa happens upon a male Minotaur, facedown on the beach. She realizes he isn’t dead and finds him shelter in a nearby sea cave. Historically Minotaurs and humans don’t get along so it is unusual for Alyssa to easily offer to help Romas.

Unexpectedly, a group of Dark Elves comes into the village. They seem to be seeking something and force the humans to dig for it. The cruel treatment by the dark elves makes every human lose hope.

The remainder of the story dives deep into the preparations, planning and stealth needed for Romas and Alyssa to try and rescue the humans. It is a riveting series of events. Once you think you know what’s happening, something pops up changing the story’s flow.

The romance between Alyssa and Romas is a sweet, smoldering fire. They slowly dance around their feelings while they plan the rescue. This is for mature audiences so be aware of that (which was a bonus in my opinion). There is a HEA for Alyssa and Romas. Yet, there are also some sad moments, they are dealing with dark elves after all.

I recommend the Minotaur Captain’s Mate without reservation. Fantastic story with romance intertwined.
Profile Image for Rebecca Grove.
3,492 reviews26 followers
June 28, 2022
Romas is a Minotaur and was the Captain of his ship. He had been on a trading negotiation trip with Orthani trade minister but the Dark elves only offered a horrible deal. On the way home, Romas ship was attacked by a giant fire-tortoise due to Dark elf sorcery. Romas sent most of his crew to the lifeboats and stayed to cover their escape. The tortoise destroys the ship and Romas is sure that he will die with honor. Instead, he finds himself washed ashore on the coast being checked out by a young human woman. At first he blames her for his condition but he quickly learns that she was just trying to help. Alyssa takes him to a sea cave to hide from the dark elves who rule her land. He is fascinated by his feelings towards Alyssa. He knows they have nothing in common but he is very protective of her.

Alyssa is a beautiful human woman who lives under the rule of the dark elves. Her village isn't very prosperous because the elves demand a high tribute. Now a dark elf is visiting her village and her parents tell her to hide away from town. Rumors have it that dark elves will take pretty girls for their own desires so young women hide when they are around. Alyssa and her friend are searching the beaches outside of town to see what washed up in a storm. To Alyssa's surprise, they find a body washed up on shore. It is man shaped but it has horns. Alyssa believes it is a minotaur even though she thought they were only legends. The dark elves tell horror stories about them. Alyssa is concerned about him so later that night she brings him food and water. He wakes up and she finds him a place to hide safely. When she goes back to the village, she learns that more dark elves have come and they are going to force her people to mine for them. Can Ramos help them?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Olivia (to infinity & books).
203 reviews8 followers
May 6, 2023
back when I was first getting into the monster romance genre, I did lightly skim through this and I never really finished it nor remembered it. So, I chose to properly read it now due to being more familar with the tropes 😊.

This is my first time reading from Celeste King, she’s a big monster romance author and I feel I’ll be turning to her stories more often when I need my fix for loyal, sexy monsters 🥹.

This is the first book in the ‘Minotaurs of Protheka’ series. Each book is a standalone, so don’t fear that you need to read in order. I just prefer to read in order of release 😊. We follow Romas, a captain of a ship, on his way back to his home when a fire tortoise causes him to ship wreck on the beach. Washed up and near death he is saved by a human named Alyssa. She takes him to a cave she knows will be safe for him to recover. The two develope feelings quickly and become attracted to one another. Romas is protective and grateful to Alyssa for all she’s done for him. Meanwhile the dark elves own pretty much everything and they come to the village to take over.

I had a nice time with this book, the story was investing enough and I really liked the Romas and Alyssa romance. It got steamy between them and I was happy with the ending. I think I will be reading more from Celeste again, I am tempted to continue this series or even try her series on the elves. 😏❤️.

4/5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Denise.
3,722 reviews
June 24, 2022
Alyssa lives with her family in the village of Black Skillet Cove on Protheka. Though they are mainly left alone, the village is a protectorate of the dark elves of Orthani and must pay them tithes. They are allowed no weapons except those used for hunting. When any dark elves visit the village, Alyssa and her friend Elayne make themselves scarce. This is how they find an unconscious minotaur on the beach one day. Elayne runs, Alyssa stays long enough to examine the handsome beast. She later returns with food and water and, once properly introduced, takes Romas to a nearby cave where he can bathe and shelter. Little does she know how much this strange minotaur is going to come to mean to her and how lucky her village is she found him.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
2,361 reviews12 followers
June 24, 2022
I'm loving reading about Protheka and its inhabitants and this beginning story about Romas and Alyssa is an engaging and enjoyable read. Romas a Minotaur trader sea captain's ship the Sojourner gets attacked by a fire-tortoise that's controlled by the Dark Elves. Defending his ship so most of his crew can escape Romas is thrown in the water as his ship is destroyed. Alyssa lives in a coastal village that is abuzz with the Dark Elf arrival. She decides to explore the sea caves with her friend Elayne when they find Romas beached on the shore. What occurs afterward kept me engaged. I found both characters likable, the storyline engaging, the romance steamy, and the action arresting which made this an enjoyable ARC to read. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Profile Image for Leanne Bryson.
5,184 reviews22 followers
July 1, 2022
I cannot get enough of the different worlds and creatures of Protheka and Celeste King is phenomenal at weaving these worlds together. Be thankful all these books are available to read for free with your Kindle Unlimited subscriptions. This starts the minotaurs's tales. After Captain Roma's ship is destroyed in a fierce fight, he makes it to land at Black Skillet cove. Alyssa finds him on the beach and although she has been told minotaurs are fierce, violent monsters, she is not afraid of Roma. In fact, she hides him, tends his wounds, and feeds him. As they spend more time together, feeling grow and she tells him about human life under the Dark Elves at their camp. This book has great pace, well written, steamy, action packed, and so much more. I love this series!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.7k reviews359 followers
June 25, 2022
Alyssa and the Minotaur Captain . . .

Alyssa sees something lying on the beach close to her village. She discovers the injured creature is a Minotaur, something she hadn’t known actually existed outside of stories and myths. Romas was an honorable warrior who had survived a shipwreck in a fight with the Dark Elves on Protheka. Alyssa took him to a cave for shelter and tended to him until he returned to health. But when the Dark Elves come after him, will his new mate allow them to take away the one she loves and who has captured her heart? And will they be able to save the humans in the village when the Dark Elves cruelly force them to look for something they want to get their hands on?
Profile Image for St. Quiche.
169 reviews3 followers
June 28, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It was a nice change of pace to read an action-romance book with a Minotaur and a human instead of just smut lol. The world is very intriguing, and I know there are many more books set in this world with many more monster races, but even just reading this one book you can feel how large the world is. The romance was very sweet, it is a little insta-love so if that’s not your thing please beware. Both of them are so well-suited for each other and you are always rooting for them. The spice was pretty low, 2.5/5 but that’s not why we’re reading these. It’s just a treat we even get some spice lol. Definitely recommend if you want a monster romance that isn’t just straight dub-con smut lol.
Profile Image for Flavia Karina.
714 reviews3 followers
June 24, 2022
This book begins the stories of a new creature in the world of Protheka. We've already had light mentions of minotaurs in previous books.
It is the story of Alyssa, a human who has a better present than many of the other women in Protheka, she has certain freedoms, and grew up in a loving family. For Romas, everything revolves around honor and he has a high sense of duty. In this case the evil ones are the dark elves. I like how always depending on the story the evil resides in different creatures. Highlighting that what is good or bad does not depend on the outside, but on the essence of each one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for kymagirl.
6,216 reviews90 followers
June 24, 2022
Romas (H), a minotaur sea captain and trade negotiator, ends up shipwrecked after a magicked fire-tortoise attacks his ship. Alyssa (h), a young human woman, is shocked to find a minotaur washed ashore near the remote seaside village she live in. She befriends Romas despite the rumors that she's heard about what minotaurs do to humans and hides him in a sea cave. As they spend more time together, their feelings for one another grow and their relationship takes a hot and steamy turn. Romas and Alyssa will have to work together to battle an enemy who has descended on the village before they can reach their HEA. Lovely minotaur romance with plenty of action and adventure. Really loved Romas!
Profile Image for Nina Diab.
5,285 reviews51 followers
June 24, 2022
I loved this book. I rarely get to read minotaur novels, and one by this author in the world of Protheka was a treat! Great world building. I loved the characters. Romas is shipwrecked and Aly saves him and helps secret him in a cave to recover and figure out what he will do next. I really liked how their relationship began in friendship and wasn't an immediate heated chemistry that they were or were not trying to avoid. Danger from dark elves brought them even closer. This story was exciting and fast-paced. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait until book two! 5 stars.
Profile Image for Emily Lindsey.
Author 4 books21 followers
June 29, 2022
I love a good Minotaur story!

I was captivated by this love story! Alyssa is not a typical village girl, and you just kind of feel like there are big things in store for her. The Minotaur captain really couldn't help himself with her. The story is interesting, I know it's part of a series, but I just jumped in here and I wasn't lost at all. There are some really wonderfully described fight scenes. I viscerally hate the Dark Elf people. They're so daaahhk, you now? Oh, and Alyssa and her Minotaur have some equally well written sexy time scenes too.
306 reviews
October 8, 2022
Spoiler alert. Sort of a cliff hanger. It was a great story but does end up leading into another with you believing that our hero who is happily married & expecting a baby will have to leave to take his wife’s best friend somewhere to help her get rid of an evil charm before his child is born. So I’m just saying it was a good story but as I said leads into more & leave unfinished business I’m undecided about the getting the second as I guess it will just continue to draw you into another then anther till you’ve reached the end of the series
Profile Image for La'Jacinth.
1,912 reviews
November 10, 2022
Adventure anyone?!?

Romas and Alyssa were survivalist. In a world not of their own making, they found each other. Romas thinking all his men were dead didn't feel worthy and Alyssa just there,they forged a love for each forst as individuals then as lovers.

Romas realized rather quickly that he would have to sacrifice himself to save Alyssa and Alyssa realized that the only way to beat the dark elves is to fight to the death.

Celeste always brings the realization that noone is beyond redemption or karma...and love happens when we focus on others and not ourselves.
Profile Image for Sydnee Walsh.
1,269 reviews30 followers
June 26, 2023
Alyssa is a human with a beautiful exterior. This makes it so she needs to hide where the dark elves come to their village. She is also an explorer with her friend Elayne since they were kids. This exploring brings them to Romas.
Romas is a Minotaur. He has washed up onto the beach by their human village. He is a sea captain. Not long after they find him the dark elves come to cause major trouble and death to some.
These two need to work together and rescue her fellow villagers to find their HEA. A human woman and a male Minotaur against fifty or so dark elves. What could go wrong.
3,258 reviews20 followers
June 24, 2022
Bloody Battles but a Beautiful Ending

A new Protheka race, the Minotaur, are introduced to this world in this book. Romas, a Minotaur sea captain, shipwrecks on the island where Alyssa lives. Unfortunately, dark elves have also taken an interest in Alyssa’s village, which bodes well for no one. The battle scenes were dramatic and bloody, and they really got my heart racing. There’s some dark parts in this story, but it ends well in the end - a highly enjoyable read.
Profile Image for katrina.
993 reviews70 followers
July 15, 2022
Action, romance and well fleshed out characters

I enjoyed the way the author portrays her female characters in her books. They are strong fiery unique and Kickasxxx The men are certainly rough and lovable caring and the love stories are slow burn but filled with inferno. I’m really enjoying the different worlds the author puts out the characters are well fleshed out With Depth and definition.
Profile Image for Trixie.
5,185 reviews
June 25, 2022
The FMC Alyssa is definitely the hero in the story, supported by her Minotaur mate, Romas. There is certainly a lot of action, coming from our minotaur captain who is quite a warrior himself. It's an enjoyable read, and I wonder what the amulet would play in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for China Brinson.
261 reviews17 followers
June 29, 2022
Wonderfull add to this world

The Minotaur Captain's Mate was a wonderful add to this world. I enjoyed the development of this couples relationship. I enoy how King can develop different experiences for this world. Not one book is the same, not one situation is the same, or the development of any relationship throughout this world. Just hooked!!
Profile Image for Roxy Reads.
651 reviews4 followers
July 24, 2022
first time

This was my first time reading Celeste king and it was a different adventure I liked that Alyssa and elayne liked to adventure but I loved when Elayne thrift she was protecting Alyssa from Romas wanted more explanation on the Minotaur gravesite and also why were the humans yhere
Profile Image for Serena.
165 reviews12 followers
October 27, 2022
A Captain

I enjoyed this world. A world where humans somehow got transported to and lived along Dark Elves, Orcs and Minotaurs. I like Romas, he’s level headed and passionate and Alyssa is strong willed and willing to do what’s right. Definitely recommend this to read if you like Minotaurs!
1,849 reviews3 followers
June 30, 2022
Brave, Cunning and Resourceful!

Wow! The Minotaur Captain’s Mate is one of Celeste King / Ava Hunter’s best! It is a tense, gritty, hot, can’t put down novel. Love that Alyssa is such a strong, curious, compassionate heroine.
Profile Image for Jane Elizabeth .
4,342 reviews5 followers
July 9, 2022
😁😁😁1/2

The story was pretty solid. I actually enjoyed it, but the editing needs more work. Quite a few grammatical errors. I really hate not giving good reviews so I hope they do better on the next story. I am looking forward to reading it!
Profile Image for Candy.
301 reviews3 followers
July 18, 2022
READ IT IN ONE DAY

I enjoyed the main characters. The pace of the story was great. I didn’t hit any boring spots. It was easy to picture Minotaurs sailing on ships. The cover illustration needs to show human facial features as he was described in the book. Thank you!
3,323 reviews30 followers
October 6, 2022
The Minotaur Captain's Matr

Alyssa comes across a Minotaur washed up on the beach and her bff Elayne tells Alyssa to leave him there for safety. Alyssa goes back and brings him water and food. Roma finds Alyssa fascinating and the adventures commence.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews

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