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Alien Warlord Brides #1
The Warlord’s Captive
A female spaceship captain? That’s me. I shouldn’t have taken my vessel that route. I’m the captain of my ship. I’m the decision maker. Bad decision. I knew it was bad when the warlord appeared on the comms screen and pretty much said he wanted me to warm his bed. Now I’m avoiding pirates, warlords, and a clan war between alien warlords. Oh, and I’m trying to pay a debt off and save my crew’s life.
I’ve had dreams about her. She shouldn’t exist. This shouldn’t be a thing. But it is. She’s mine. My soul has marked her as such. I’m the captain of a warship. I’m a warlord from another planet. A human cannot be my soulmate. So why is fate bringing us together? Why is an antiquated arrangement used by my kind for eons determining that this human female is my mate. I don’t expect to seize her ship while she’s evading an attack.
Now, I’ve got to convince this fiercely independent sexy human that she’s the one. And try to keep her alive at the same time.
The Warlord’s Captive is a full-length sci-fi romance novel with an HEA and no cheating. It features alien horde battles and an enemies-to-lovers situation. If you like sexy alien warriors, an alien abduction and a fated mates romance, you’ll enjoy the sci-fi romance Alien Warlord Brides series.
I’ve had dreams about her. She shouldn’t exist. This shouldn’t be a thing. But it is. She’s mine. My soul has marked her as such. I’m the captain of a warship. I’m a warlord from another planet. A human cannot be my soulmate. So why is fate bringing us together? Why is an antiquated arrangement used by my kind for eons determining that this human female is my mate. I don’t expect to seize her ship while she’s evading an attack.
Now, I’ve got to convince this fiercely independent sexy human that she’s the one. And try to keep her alive at the same time.
The Warlord’s Captive is a full-length sci-fi romance novel with an HEA and no cheating. It features alien horde battles and an enemies-to-lovers situation. If you like sexy alien warriors, an alien abduction and a fated mates romance, you’ll enjoy the sci-fi romance Alien Warlord Brides series.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 17, 2022
241 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 6, 2023
A bit too cheesy for me - 2.5 rounded up
The first third of this book was great. It had intrigue, tragedy, and build up. Then… both MCs started acting unlike their character arcs indicated they would, and the side characters were even more off. It took me out of the story.
Spice: 2/5
The first third of this book was great. It had intrigue, tragedy, and build up. Then… both MCs started acting unlike their character arcs indicated they would, and the side characters were even more off. It took me out of the story.
Spice: 2/5
August 18, 2023
I stopped at 82% and have no interest in finishing
Okay 82% and we have no real idea what they look like other than gorgeous and have living armor and scales oh and hair. So really they are upgraded humans it seems.
82% and no sexy scenes nothing. But we do have the longest way to tell an anticlimactic story. So I lost interest and will NOT be completing this book nor will I read any more from her series. This is the second EXCEPTIONALLY boring and HUMAN ALIEN male story. I don’t see any need to make them aliens if they are just going to be 100% human in all thoughts, actions, or behaviors.
Okay 82% and we have no real idea what they look like other than gorgeous and have living armor and scales oh and hair. So really they are upgraded humans it seems.
82% and no sexy scenes nothing. But we do have the longest way to tell an anticlimactic story. So I lost interest and will NOT be completing this book nor will I read any more from her series. This is the second EXCEPTIONALLY boring and HUMAN ALIEN male story. I don’t see any need to make them aliens if they are just going to be 100% human in all thoughts, actions, or behaviors.
May 22, 2023
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I started this series on book 4, and enjoyed it so much I decided to go back and start with book 1. And I am so glad I did. These books are full of adventure, well written, the characters well developed. Cass Carlton is fast becoming one of my current favourite sci-fi romance writers, up there with Tana Stone, Zoey Draven and Miranda Bridges.
I started this series on book 4, and enjoyed it so much I decided to go back and start with book 1. And I am so glad I did. These books are full of adventure, well written, the characters well developed. Cass Carlton is fast becoming one of my current favourite sci-fi romance writers, up there with Tana Stone, Zoey Draven and Miranda Bridges.
January 22, 2023
The Warlord's Dream
Valeria is the Captain of her mother's ship she inherited along with the debt. The Warlord of his ship catches Valeria's ship as it tries to slip through the war zone. Can we say fated mates?
Valeria is the Captain of her mother's ship she inherited along with the debt. The Warlord of his ship catches Valeria's ship as it tries to slip through the war zone. Can we say fated mates?
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May 5, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/5/2023)! 🎁
February 6, 2023
Captain vs Captain
Valeria is almost free. Her inherited debts are almost paid off. This is the last run she makes where she has to hand over the commission. And it goes right through a war zone. But they're running silent. Should be ok, right?
Aedyn is so tired of the dreams. Mate dreams have given him a month of poor sleep. Which is bad enough but he's a lone ship limping through space trying to find the enemy without being destroyed first. And then his dream is being dragged from the wreckage and into his arms.
Spoilers ahead.
I seriously almost gave up on this book so many times. The first 40-50% is just the chapters going back and forth, nothing but their crumbling ships and Valeria complaining about her passengers. We don't get a full explanation about the planetary civil war. We don't understand what mates mean to these aliens - is it just marriage? Is it some deeper bond? I mean, they dream about their mates. It feels like there should be something special about it. Oh, and she just tucks into alien food without hesitation. No worries about allergies at all. They spend time together but most of it is off page so we don't see the bonding. So when they're saying the L word it feels really fast to readers. And why would Valeria have made the deal she did? Why didn't she use that tie to turn (no spoilers) into the authorities? They're slavers. She had to at least worry that she could have been used to pay off that debt. And that signal? Really? If the ship is destroyed they don't get paid. If the girl is killed they can't profit off her, and they don't get paid. It didn't make any sense for them to do that. Lowjack the ship? Sure. Make it emit a signal that basically turns it into a disco ball in the middle of a war zone? Idiocy. And both his mission and her freedom turned out to be non issues and solved in a matter of sentences. Also, I've had cracked ribs. Even wrapped you aren't thinking sexy times when it hurts to breathe. Let alone her broken arm. And being covered in bruises. No magic healing was mentioned so mild pain, aches, and problems taking deep breaths would have continued for over a week or more for those ribs. And pushing herself doing ship repairs would have exacerbated that. Considering the second time her ribs cracked it punctured a lung and required surgery... just no to anything that involved heavy breathing and a lot of movement.
Valeria is almost free. Her inherited debts are almost paid off. This is the last run she makes where she has to hand over the commission. And it goes right through a war zone. But they're running silent. Should be ok, right?
Aedyn is so tired of the dreams. Mate dreams have given him a month of poor sleep. Which is bad enough but he's a lone ship limping through space trying to find the enemy without being destroyed first. And then his dream is being dragged from the wreckage and into his arms.
Spoilers ahead.
I seriously almost gave up on this book so many times. The first 40-50% is just the chapters going back and forth, nothing but their crumbling ships and Valeria complaining about her passengers. We don't get a full explanation about the planetary civil war. We don't understand what mates mean to these aliens - is it just marriage? Is it some deeper bond? I mean, they dream about their mates. It feels like there should be something special about it. Oh, and she just tucks into alien food without hesitation. No worries about allergies at all. They spend time together but most of it is off page so we don't see the bonding. So when they're saying the L word it feels really fast to readers. And why would Valeria have made the deal she did? Why didn't she use that tie to turn (no spoilers) into the authorities? They're slavers. She had to at least worry that she could have been used to pay off that debt. And that signal? Really? If the ship is destroyed they don't get paid. If the girl is killed they can't profit off her, and they don't get paid. It didn't make any sense for them to do that. Lowjack the ship? Sure. Make it emit a signal that basically turns it into a disco ball in the middle of a war zone? Idiocy. And both his mission and her freedom turned out to be non issues and solved in a matter of sentences. Also, I've had cracked ribs. Even wrapped you aren't thinking sexy times when it hurts to breathe. Let alone her broken arm. And being covered in bruises. No magic healing was mentioned so mild pain, aches, and problems taking deep breaths would have continued for over a week or more for those ribs. And pushing herself doing ship repairs would have exacerbated that. Considering the second time her ribs cracked it punctured a lung and required surgery... just no to anything that involved heavy breathing and a lot of movement.
March 18, 2023
Great romantic sci fi adventure
The worldbuilding is good, especially since the bad guys don't win, but there is a mentioned high body count on the Yursk and some violence. Captive has more adventure than sex, which I prefer. And Valeria isn't a wimpy main character, which I also like. Valeria's crew is fun and interesting, adding great moments to the story.
The worldbuilding is good, especially since the bad guys don't win, but there is a mentioned high body count on the Yursk and some violence. Captive has more adventure than sex, which I prefer. And Valeria isn't a wimpy main character, which I also like. Valeria's crew is fun and interesting, adding great moments to the story.
January 16, 2025
Preview Thoughts (Chapters 1-3):
Sci-fi romance set in space always intrigues me, especially when an author delves into the creative challenge of Galactic world-building. In the early chapters of The Warlord’s Captive, we’re introduced to a disciplined war captain and an undisciplined transporter navigating the cosmos, though little is revealed about them so far. Given the genre, it’s easy to guess where the story might lead—mates destined for a love story. The anticipation lies in discovering how their paths will cross and what romance will blossom between them.
Final Review:
Despite its promising premise, The Warlord’s Captive lacks the tension and action that could have elevated it to the level of other standout titles in the genre, such as Ice Planet Barbarians or The Nira Chronicles. The "meet cute" between the protagonists feels fleeting with minimal action to drive the narrative forward. Even 80% into the book, the plot struggles to deliver the excitement and stakes that readers expect from a sci-fi romance.
While the romance had potential, the characters' interactions lacked the spark and chemistry needed to make their relationship compelling, leaving the passion and tension underwhelming. Most disappointing of all the plot never capitalized on its world-building or the possibilities of its setting. The first few chapters showed promise for both world-building and character development. Despite the moments of promise and intriguing ideas, it doesn’t commit to delivering the depth or excitement necessary to make it memorable.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Spice Level: 🌶️ 2/5
There’s mild spice, but it doesn’t make up for the lack of chemistry or emotional connection. The Warlord’s Captive has an interesting premise and potential for a strong series, but this first installment fails to deliver enough action, tension, or romance to stand out. A disappointing read for fans of sci-fi romance looking for a thrilling and passionate story.
Sci-fi romance set in space always intrigues me, especially when an author delves into the creative challenge of Galactic world-building. In the early chapters of The Warlord’s Captive, we’re introduced to a disciplined war captain and an undisciplined transporter navigating the cosmos, though little is revealed about them so far. Given the genre, it’s easy to guess where the story might lead—mates destined for a love story. The anticipation lies in discovering how their paths will cross and what romance will blossom between them.
Final Review:
Despite its promising premise, The Warlord’s Captive lacks the tension and action that could have elevated it to the level of other standout titles in the genre, such as Ice Planet Barbarians or The Nira Chronicles. The "meet cute" between the protagonists feels fleeting with minimal action to drive the narrative forward. Even 80% into the book, the plot struggles to deliver the excitement and stakes that readers expect from a sci-fi romance.
While the romance had potential, the characters' interactions lacked the spark and chemistry needed to make their relationship compelling, leaving the passion and tension underwhelming. Most disappointing of all the plot never capitalized on its world-building or the possibilities of its setting. The first few chapters showed promise for both world-building and character development. Despite the moments of promise and intriguing ideas, it doesn’t commit to delivering the depth or excitement necessary to make it memorable.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Spice Level: 🌶️ 2/5
There’s mild spice, but it doesn’t make up for the lack of chemistry or emotional connection. The Warlord’s Captive has an interesting premise and potential for a strong series, but this first installment fails to deliver enough action, tension, or romance to stand out. A disappointing read for fans of sci-fi romance looking for a thrilling and passionate story.
June 29, 2025
She is trying to make the best of a bad situation. Forced to pay off a debt that isn’t hers, she races through the stars with a small crew on a cursed spaceship. She’s almost paid off her mother’s debt when she takes one last desperate cargo and ends up in the middle of a war zone.
He had given up on ever finding a mate. Passed the age when the mate dreams began, at first he didn’t know what was happening to him. Vid dreams of a human with green eyes haunted his sleep to the point that he was about to lose his command. Desperate to get revenge on his enemies for the hundreds under his Command that had been lost, he chases every opportunity that might give him an edge… That chase leads him right to her.
I really appreciated how respectful and kind he was. There was no alpha asshole here. He is a commander with a lot of respect and a lot of responsibility and he still managed to be decent right from the beginning.
She is such a good representation of the epitome of a human female. She takes her responsibility seriously. She is dedicated to the people around her. She meets every fear with determination and bravery. She never loses hope, she never gives up, she never stops caring about the people on her crew.
He had given up on ever finding a mate. Passed the age when the mate dreams began, at first he didn’t know what was happening to him. Vid dreams of a human with green eyes haunted his sleep to the point that he was about to lose his command. Desperate to get revenge on his enemies for the hundreds under his Command that had been lost, he chases every opportunity that might give him an edge… That chase leads him right to her.
I really appreciated how respectful and kind he was. There was no alpha asshole here. He is a commander with a lot of respect and a lot of responsibility and he still managed to be decent right from the beginning.
She is such a good representation of the epitome of a human female. She takes her responsibility seriously. She is dedicated to the people around her. She meets every fear with determination and bravery. She never loses hope, she never gives up, she never stops caring about the people on her crew.
November 27, 2024
3.25⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️
1🌶
🚀Space battle
🚀Mate dreams
🚀Mmc and Fmc are captains
🚀Minimal spice
🚀Fmc has a secret
This was a fine little short sci-fi romance story.
The mmc wasn't very alien-ish to me, he was very human in his actions and looks( other than a skin tint and armoured scales) so if you like your aliens more human then this is for you.
The first half of this story was quite space-jargon heavy (for me) lots of talk about the ships and sheilds, and the distance it would to get to somewhere to do somethings and what operations can we shut down to conserve energy...and so on.
This is a 200 ish page story and our couple only meet around the 50% mark ,so if the first half could have been sped up and we got more time of them together then I definitely would have bumped this up to a 4⭐️ because it was very sweet when they do get together.
Overall, though, I did enjoy this and would be interested in picking up the next in the series 😊
1🌶
🚀Space battle
🚀Mate dreams
🚀Mmc and Fmc are captains
🚀Minimal spice
🚀Fmc has a secret
This was a fine little short sci-fi romance story.
The mmc wasn't very alien-ish to me, he was very human in his actions and looks( other than a skin tint and armoured scales) so if you like your aliens more human then this is for you.
The first half of this story was quite space-jargon heavy (for me) lots of talk about the ships and sheilds, and the distance it would to get to somewhere to do somethings and what operations can we shut down to conserve energy...and so on.
This is a 200 ish page story and our couple only meet around the 50% mark ,so if the first half could have been sped up and we got more time of them together then I definitely would have bumped this up to a 4⭐️ because it was very sweet when they do get together.
Overall, though, I did enjoy this and would be interested in picking up the next in the series 😊
March 28, 2023
If I wanted to be a space captain
Wow. I know more about changing oxygen levels and filters and people job on a ship than I ever wanted to know in my life.
The back and to chapters of them captioning their ship and the talk with crew members and down to the detail of what the heck they are doing from sensors and ships that can be look out till they are fixed and a whole lot of other mundane information on fictional ship and peoples jobs .......lost me . This was a non romantic geeks dream book .
Took to much time on those things and not actual main characters for this to work for me .Shame .Whole series I will now not read because your first intro into this new universe had left me feeling like I'm in quicksand of information not related to the actual story .🙁
Wow. I know more about changing oxygen levels and filters and people job on a ship than I ever wanted to know in my life.
The back and to chapters of them captioning their ship and the talk with crew members and down to the detail of what the heck they are doing from sensors and ships that can be look out till they are fixed and a whole lot of other mundane information on fictional ship and peoples jobs .......lost me . This was a non romantic geeks dream book .
Took to much time on those things and not actual main characters for this to work for me .Shame .Whole series I will now not read because your first intro into this new universe had left me feeling like I'm in quicksand of information not related to the actual story .🙁
December 11, 2023
2.5-3stars. Low ranking stems from lacking vs anything “bad” per-say. The story pacing lacked oomph. The main characters didn’t even meet till the book 40% mark. The book lacked spark. Hero and heroine circles around each other with actions motivated by lust that was neither expressed or actioned on. The two coming together briefly at the end of the book.
This is the first of what appears to be a new series for the author. As this is not Cass Carlton’s first publication I strongly suspect this is her style vs a learning curve. A quick noveleta of an idea dragged out into a book. It would have been nice if the author had flushed … well everything out more. The character development, the romance, the world building.
This is the first of what appears to be a new series for the author. As this is not Cass Carlton’s first publication I strongly suspect this is her style vs a learning curve. A quick noveleta of an idea dragged out into a book. It would have been nice if the author had flushed … well everything out more. The character development, the romance, the world building.
January 25, 2026
A slow burn that never quite caught fire, but I still finished it.
I didn’t dislike it, I just never felt fully pulled in. It’s a relatively short book, yet somehow it took me far longer to get through than expected. I kept setting it down, wandering off to other reads.
The pacing is the biggest hurdle in my opinion. The first 7/8 move at a crawl. I found myself drifting in and out of the story. Ironically, the ending swings in the opposite direction it’s rushed, compressed, and over quickly.
That said, something did keep me reading. The premise has promise. I wasn’t hooked enough to continue to book two, but I don’t regret finishing this one. It was pleasant enough, but not super memorable.
I didn’t dislike it, I just never felt fully pulled in. It’s a relatively short book, yet somehow it took me far longer to get through than expected. I kept setting it down, wandering off to other reads.
The pacing is the biggest hurdle in my opinion. The first 7/8 move at a crawl. I found myself drifting in and out of the story. Ironically, the ending swings in the opposite direction it’s rushed, compressed, and over quickly.
That said, something did keep me reading. The premise has promise. I wasn’t hooked enough to continue to book two, but I don’t regret finishing this one. It was pleasant enough, but not super memorable.
July 14, 2023
Awesome start to a series!
Ms. Carlton has penned a unique Sci-Fi alien romance. The plot unfolds smoothly and easily held my attention.
Valeria is an independent, determined captain of her own spaceship. She is working hard to pay off some debt and ends up in a war zone.
Aedyn is the captain of one of the war ships and takes Valeria's ship captive. Once seeing her, he realizes she is his mate.
The interaction between the two is highly entertaining and kept me reading to the point that my kindle's battery was running low due to the continuous reading!
I recommend this book for any sci-fi romance lovers!
Ms. Carlton has penned a unique Sci-Fi alien romance. The plot unfolds smoothly and easily held my attention.
Valeria is an independent, determined captain of her own spaceship. She is working hard to pay off some debt and ends up in a war zone.
Aedyn is the captain of one of the war ships and takes Valeria's ship captive. Once seeing her, he realizes she is his mate.
The interaction between the two is highly entertaining and kept me reading to the point that my kindle's battery was running low due to the continuous reading!
I recommend this book for any sci-fi romance lovers!
March 13, 2023
DNF
Took way too long to get into the actual plot of the book, made me lose interest completely and pretty quickly. The author doles out way too much information at once instead of focusing on the storyline itself.
Essentially the pacing was way WAY too slow and an edited shortened version might do alot better. As it was this failed to grab me, which is a pity as there were elements of a great story, it just needs to be told a bit more naturally.
Took way too long to get into the actual plot of the book, made me lose interest completely and pretty quickly. The author doles out way too much information at once instead of focusing on the storyline itself.
Essentially the pacing was way WAY too slow and an edited shortened version might do alot better. As it was this failed to grab me, which is a pity as there were elements of a great story, it just needs to be told a bit more naturally.
March 5, 2023
HEA and straight to the point
This book is a good quick read. It is straight to the point, with enough spice to keep it hot. The characters are well written and they make realistic decisions, for the most part…besides flying through a war zone…but hey we wouldn’t have a story if we didn’t have characters that made mistakes! I recommend the book for fans of space romance.
This book is a good quick read. It is straight to the point, with enough spice to keep it hot. The characters are well written and they make realistic decisions, for the most part…besides flying through a war zone…but hey we wouldn’t have a story if we didn’t have characters that made mistakes! I recommend the book for fans of space romance.
May 7, 2023
I preface this with I don’t often read alien romances, but I was looking for some thing different. This book left me with more questions than answers. It started out slow and then rushed through just one it was getting good. It’s a standalone quick read and I finished it in one night.
Not compelling enough to continue reading the series.
Not compelling enough to continue reading the series.
August 25, 2023
Loved It💫💫💫
A first for me from this author, very good. I loved that the heroine was a bad a$$ captain of her own ship. The hero was a total alpha. If you have not read this you may want to check it out, another thing I loved was they didn't jump into bed together when they first met.
A first for me from this author, very good. I loved that the heroine was a bad a$$ captain of her own ship. The hero was a total alpha. If you have not read this you may want to check it out, another thing I loved was they didn't jump into bed together when they first met.
Read
March 1, 2024This was very short, but had a really interesting conflict. He senses his mate drawing near, but doesn't believe it's possible because he's in the middle of a warzone. She's trying to sneak through said warzone to deliver her cargo to get paid so she can finally pay off the debt she inherited from her mother on time. I'll probably read the next one.
Read
July 29, 2025this is a slow burn and when I say they didn't even meet until afyer 30% that's how slow it is, with sexy time not until the very end.
its more a space opera than a romance tbh.
enjoyable but fairly average. world building is limited. characters around the two mcs are limited also.
overall I found it pretty limited, no challenge.
maybe a good holiday read but I've no desire to read book 2.
its more a space opera than a romance tbh.
enjoyable but fairly average. world building is limited. characters around the two mcs are limited also.
overall I found it pretty limited, no challenge.
maybe a good holiday read but I've no desire to read book 2.
January 16, 2023
It’s a cute romantic story
My first time reading this author and it was an enjoyable read. The lead characters were nice. There is low angst. The story read like a Sci-Fi. I wished that there were more plot interaction with the secondary characters to add depth.
My first time reading this author and it was an enjoyable read. The lead characters were nice. There is low angst. The story read like a Sci-Fi. I wished that there were more plot interaction with the secondary characters to add depth.
January 25, 2023
Good story. Not a lot of spice but It is a good, sweet, slow love story a out a woman who trying to get out from under her mothers debt who meets her destiny trying to take a short cut through a war zone.
February 2, 2023
Good.
Not too much heat or intimate scenes. More on the side of sci-fi with romance. But very good world building and fantastic characters. I think I could easily read this one again. :)
Not too much heat or intimate scenes. More on the side of sci-fi with romance. But very good world building and fantastic characters. I think I could easily read this one again. :)
March 4, 2023
Amazing!
This is one of the best romances I've ever read! Beautifully written and very captivating from start to end. I loved the slow burn and the action in the story was well spaced and fun to read. Loved it all!
This is one of the best romances I've ever read! Beautifully written and very captivating from start to end. I loved the slow burn and the action in the story was well spaced and fun to read. Loved it all!
April 8, 2023
Hard to finish
There's a few issues. The first is that the couple doesn't meet until halfway through the book. Secondly, I didn't care too much for the heroine, Valeria. Aeyden was boring.
But after the first half it does pickup and gets better.
There's a few issues. The first is that the couple doesn't meet until halfway through the book. Secondly, I didn't care too much for the heroine, Valeria. Aeyden was boring.
But after the first half it does pickup and gets better.
April 2, 2025
Good start on a series
This seems to be an interesting world. I like series where earth is out and about in the universe. I also liked that both main characters had strong wills and good character.
This seems to be an interesting world. I like series where earth is out and about in the universe. I also liked that both main characters had strong wills and good character.
January 24, 2023
Great book!!
I always love to try books for authors I haven't read before. This is a great book and an awesome author. Can't wait to go to the next one!
I always love to try books for authors I haven't read before. This is a great book and an awesome author. Can't wait to go to the next one!
January 31, 2023
Boring
Storyline sounded great, the characters were believable but then it was like reading any vanilla romance novel . I was very disappointed.
Storyline sounded great, the characters were believable but then it was like reading any vanilla romance novel . I was very disappointed.
didn-t-finish
April 6, 2023Didn’t have much background on words, species, ships or anything. Hard to keep track of it all.
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