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Outer Limits Quadrant #2
Doctoring Fate: A SciFi Alien Romance
Aliens desperately want what’s in her blood, and it’s up to him to get it—but all he wants is her heart.
Darcy has wanted to be a doctor for as long as she can remember. Working as a combat medic in the military and eventually entering medical school, it’s right within her grasp—until her exposure to a deadly toxin leaves her bedbound. Her world shrinks to a single room, one forgotten by the military, school, and her family.
Until the day General Amato comes knocking with the deal of a lifetime: the military’s blood nano Vaccine, a cure, in exchange for willing participation on a dangerous mission. They must travel straight into the unknown heart of the wormhole in search of the missing Sasha Robinson.
All goes surprisingly well until she and her team crash land on an alien world hellbent on killing them. Carnivorous flowers, ambulatory trees, fantastic creatures straight out of fairy tales… and two green-scaled lizardmen offering a helping hand?
Maddox is the Raxion planet’s ambassador, and he is given one crucial task: gain the stranded humans’ cooperation at any cost. His people are desperate to uncover the secret of Sasha Robinson’s mysterious blood nanos—what better opportunity than four marooned soldiers?
He’s used to this work, lived and breathed espionage and subterfuge since long ago. And to avoid another Carthas massacre, he is willing to do anything, even woo the beautiful human medic named Darcy.
Show her the local sights, appeal to her sense of adventure, maybe even steal a kiss… Falling in love with her wasn’t intended. And when the Raxion Prime General demands results, it all may come tumbling down.
The highly anticipated sequel to Engineering Fate, Doctoring Fate is book 2 in the Outer Limits Quadrant series. Each book features a new couple and a complete romance arc meaning it can be read as a standalone, but the series is best read in order. Doctoring Fate is a gritty alien romance with dark themes and a HEA. Content warnings are included in the beginning of the book.
Darcy has wanted to be a doctor for as long as she can remember. Working as a combat medic in the military and eventually entering medical school, it’s right within her grasp—until her exposure to a deadly toxin leaves her bedbound. Her world shrinks to a single room, one forgotten by the military, school, and her family.
Until the day General Amato comes knocking with the deal of a lifetime: the military’s blood nano Vaccine, a cure, in exchange for willing participation on a dangerous mission. They must travel straight into the unknown heart of the wormhole in search of the missing Sasha Robinson.
All goes surprisingly well until she and her team crash land on an alien world hellbent on killing them. Carnivorous flowers, ambulatory trees, fantastic creatures straight out of fairy tales… and two green-scaled lizardmen offering a helping hand?
Maddox is the Raxion planet’s ambassador, and he is given one crucial task: gain the stranded humans’ cooperation at any cost. His people are desperate to uncover the secret of Sasha Robinson’s mysterious blood nanos—what better opportunity than four marooned soldiers?
He’s used to this work, lived and breathed espionage and subterfuge since long ago. And to avoid another Carthas massacre, he is willing to do anything, even woo the beautiful human medic named Darcy.
Show her the local sights, appeal to her sense of adventure, maybe even steal a kiss… Falling in love with her wasn’t intended. And when the Raxion Prime General demands results, it all may come tumbling down.
The highly anticipated sequel to Engineering Fate, Doctoring Fate is book 2 in the Outer Limits Quadrant series. Each book features a new couple and a complete romance arc meaning it can be read as a standalone, but the series is best read in order. Doctoring Fate is a gritty alien romance with dark themes and a HEA. Content warnings are included in the beginning of the book.
478 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2022
116 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
About the author
Alexis B. Osborne
16 books469 followersAlexis lives in New York with her wife and step-son and a small horde of furry beings. She began her love affair with books at an early age, and began writing for fun in High School and College. She fell in insta-love with the strange and unusual at an early age. When she’s not reading or writing she can be found painting and making subversive cross-stitch. Her favorite fairy tale will always be Beauty and the Beast. Alexis loves all things fantastical, alien, and weird. She will never forget the gorgeous glory that was the late, great David Bowie.
Join her in the Facebook group Alexis Osborne’s The ‘verse for hot Alpha and Alien art and Bonus Content!
Don’t forget to sign up for Alexis B. Osborne’s Mailing List to receive New Release Alerts, Teasers, and Exclusive Bonus Content right to your inbox! Visit www.alexisbosborne.com
Alexis loves to hear from fans. To contact her please email her at alexisosborneromance@gmail.com
Join her in the Facebook group Alexis Osborne’s The ‘verse for hot Alpha and Alien art and Bonus Content!
Don’t forget to sign up for Alexis B. Osborne’s Mailing List to receive New Release Alerts, Teasers, and Exclusive Bonus Content right to your inbox! Visit www.alexisbosborne.com
Alexis loves to hear from fans. To contact her please email her at alexisosborneromance@gmail.com
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August 13, 2022This one's getting some mixed reviews on how the hero deceives the heroine. He does, but he's also extremely torn about it which is pretty obvious from the text. While I would have liked a bit more of a grovel for some of the admittedly shitty things he did, I still really enjoyed the story. The world building is, as always, excellent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2023
I really enjoyed the first installment. It was meticulous in its worldbuilding - cultures, characters, entire planets. This sequel definitely lived up to that.
But there were a number of things that made it feel flat to me. Or rather, I was personally irked with.
One, Darcy being that fckn dumb to not realize they can reverse engineer the nanotechnology. She’s nearly a doctor ffs. Even if it's not about the nanotechnology, but just like taking her blood, what another race could do with it? She suffered at the hands of Starfleet. She and many others were used as dispensable and then literally thrown away. She had a healthy understanding and weariness of that organization. So why is she so free with the Raxion? I get they didn’t imprison her or be super shitty at first. But come on, after years of being subjected to the bureaucratic bullshit with Starfleet, she just dives in head-first with these aliens not thinking about any potential ramifications? And it's after only like a week of knowing them??!
And she’s in love with Maddox after two weeks? And she completely forgives him for lying, manipulating, and then impregnating her? And yeah, he almost dies and she is still upset but then a few days later forgives him? And says she still loves him? Yikes.
Ok, I get the premise is that these greedy, manipulative, so human-like cultures with their avarice for power, that they’d likely take their blood anyway - but Darcy so easily capitulates. And being IMPREGNATED?! And being all protective of like a FEW DAY OLD zygote?!! Like, she’s a doctor FFS, she knows that ain’t even a damn embryo. It just boggled my mind she just accepted it and was all like “I’m gonna protect my baby uWu”
Like, girlfriend, you recognized they’re going to weaponize this child against you, and yet you did nothing? No escape plans? No abortion? No “I’m a damn doctor in a futuristic-ass world, I’ll operate and remove my damn uterus so I’m not an incubator for a child that will be basically dissected, weaponized, and all of our freedoms will be taken away”??
And Maddox - he knew first-hand the misery wrought by these cultures but yet was fine with impregnating a new species where his child would be sought after by these violent cultures? Who would reproduce knowing that laid ahead for their child? Fine, you say then the women would have been impregnated against their will? Idk man, you see how shitty these governments are - help sterilize all four humans?? Like, do something??
Ok, ugh.
Osborne did a fairly decent job with the medical side of things. Darcy is a medical professional and had to deal with some incidents. And the medical terminology and actual medical procedures were not mangled and so very wrong like they are in many novels. So, I did appreciate that aspect. And the worldbuilding.
But oof, this one annoyed me. And not in the “every sentient species will be a fucking menace” way.
But there were a number of things that made it feel flat to me. Or rather, I was personally irked with.
One, Darcy being that fckn dumb to not realize they can reverse engineer the nanotechnology. She’s nearly a doctor ffs. Even if it's not about the nanotechnology, but just like taking her blood, what another race could do with it? She suffered at the hands of Starfleet. She and many others were used as dispensable and then literally thrown away. She had a healthy understanding and weariness of that organization. So why is she so free with the Raxion? I get they didn’t imprison her or be super shitty at first. But come on, after years of being subjected to the bureaucratic bullshit with Starfleet, she just dives in head-first with these aliens not thinking about any potential ramifications? And it's after only like a week of knowing them??!
And she’s in love with Maddox after two weeks? And she completely forgives him for lying, manipulating, and then impregnating her? And yeah, he almost dies and she is still upset but then a few days later forgives him? And says she still loves him? Yikes.
Ok, I get the premise is that these greedy, manipulative, so human-like cultures with their avarice for power, that they’d likely take their blood anyway - but Darcy so easily capitulates. And being IMPREGNATED?! And being all protective of like a FEW DAY OLD zygote?!! Like, she’s a doctor FFS, she knows that ain’t even a damn embryo. It just boggled my mind she just accepted it and was all like “I’m gonna protect my baby uWu”
Like, girlfriend, you recognized they’re going to weaponize this child against you, and yet you did nothing? No escape plans? No abortion? No “I’m a damn doctor in a futuristic-ass world, I’ll operate and remove my damn uterus so I’m not an incubator for a child that will be basically dissected, weaponized, and all of our freedoms will be taken away”??
And Maddox - he knew first-hand the misery wrought by these cultures but yet was fine with impregnating a new species where his child would be sought after by these violent cultures? Who would reproduce knowing that laid ahead for their child? Fine, you say then the women would have been impregnated against their will? Idk man, you see how shitty these governments are - help sterilize all four humans?? Like, do something??
Ok, ugh.
Osborne did a fairly decent job with the medical side of things. Darcy is a medical professional and had to deal with some incidents. And the medical terminology and actual medical procedures were not mangled and so very wrong like they are in many novels. So, I did appreciate that aspect. And the worldbuilding.
But oof, this one annoyed me. And not in the “every sentient species will be a fucking menace” way.
July 26, 2022
I enjoyed this one, even though there was just soooo much f'ed up shit.
In this second book of the series the Starfleet sends a four person team to go through the black hole Sasha went through in book one after they receive a transmission that seems to show she survived, and even more shocking that perhaps there are aliens where she ended up. Darcy is the medic, who was basically bribed with the cure for her paralysis to join the "suicide" mission.
When the team makes it through, the Raxions who don't want to lose this chance at the humans and their technology, especially the healing nanos, rush to intercept them with the plan to win their cooperation through kindness and sharing. Maddox is the Raxion ambassador to the Galactic Council and he jump ins to ingratiate himself with the humans and maybe isolate one to get the nanos one way or the other. Darcy, who finally has another chance at life, and holds no loyalty to Starfleet, embraces all the new experiences she's having of Raxion culture and a certain sexy Raxion himself, Maddox.
I really enjoyed how Maddox and Darcy's relationship blossomed. I could see the wonders they saw in each other and how more and more their bodies also came alive and they were so drawn to each other. BUT...it was like watching a car wreck about to happen in slow motion. Even though Maddox truly wanted and cared for Darcy he had to put the future of his people above anything they might have together. Knowing what Darcy was gonna do, feel, and think when she found out all that had been done to her....all that has been orchestrated to beguile and deceive the naive human who just wanted to enjoy life before her future was taken away, still didn't stop my heart from being ripped out when the shit hit the fan.
This was so good. So emotional. The steam was off the charts with a dominant lizardman equiped with special junk that's always hard. The world building and story were top notch. Check the trigger warnings, there was some pretty fucked up shit that was done to Darcy and stuff that Maddox was forced to do to protect Darcy instead of her ending up a lab rat in a cage. And of course the greed of humans does not disappoint leading to some crazy twists and turns I never expected. I cannot wait for the next installment to find out what happens to poor Delilah.
In this second book of the series the Starfleet sends a four person team to go through the black hole Sasha went through in book one after they receive a transmission that seems to show she survived, and even more shocking that perhaps there are aliens where she ended up. Darcy is the medic, who was basically bribed with the cure for her paralysis to join the "suicide" mission.
When the team makes it through, the Raxions who don't want to lose this chance at the humans and their technology, especially the healing nanos, rush to intercept them with the plan to win their cooperation through kindness and sharing. Maddox is the Raxion ambassador to the Galactic Council and he jump ins to ingratiate himself with the humans and maybe isolate one to get the nanos one way or the other. Darcy, who finally has another chance at life, and holds no loyalty to Starfleet, embraces all the new experiences she's having of Raxion culture and a certain sexy Raxion himself, Maddox.
I really enjoyed how Maddox and Darcy's relationship blossomed. I could see the wonders they saw in each other and how more and more their bodies also came alive and they were so drawn to each other. BUT...it was like watching a car wreck about to happen in slow motion. Even though Maddox truly wanted and cared for Darcy he had to put the future of his people above anything they might have together. Knowing what Darcy was gonna do, feel, and think when she found out all that had been done to her....all that has been orchestrated to beguile and deceive the naive human who just wanted to enjoy life before her future was taken away, still didn't stop my heart from being ripped out when the shit hit the fan.
This was so good. So emotional. The steam was off the charts with a dominant lizardman equiped with special junk that's always hard. The world building and story were top notch. Check the trigger warnings, there was some pretty fucked up shit that was done to Darcy and stuff that Maddox was forced to do to protect Darcy instead of her ending up a lab rat in a cage. And of course the greed of humans does not disappoint leading to some crazy twists and turns I never expected. I cannot wait for the next installment to find out what happens to poor Delilah.
December 14, 2022
Am I loosing my mind? How was this allowed to happen? It kills me because Osborne is one of my absolute fav romance writers but the ending of this was mind-blowing in a bad way (as in, online romance forums dedicated to discussing it bad way)
This was extremely frustrating mostly because it was so good until the end. The end actually made me feel a little sick. Not in a kink-shaming way, but in the way that I find it horrifying that anyone would consider what happened to her as an HEA
SPOILERS
He tricked her, impregnated her against her will (by sticking her with a syringe filled with experimental hormone meds while they were having sex and then saying he accidentally pricked her with his claw). This went on for MONTHS. He didn't even tell her that they were recording and monitoring her bedroom 24/7 (including all the times they had sex and cuddled/talked).
After she found out and was so horrified/depressed she could barley get out of bed and couldn't even stand to look at him, he drugged her with a sedative so she would comply with his demands and be biddable in public. After an emergency happened at the event, he dragged her (still drugged and pregnant) into a dangerous situation in which he was shot. He almost died as a result of the injury and seeing him hurt made her realize she loved him anyway.
That's it. He did nothing. She just stopped being mad at him in the course of 15 minutes. The end. He's apologetic when he wakes up, but does NOTHING to rectify the situation. In the "HEA" epilogue THEY STILL LIVE UNDER THE PEOPLE WHO MADE HIM DO THIS TO HER. They didn't even MOVE. She just decided to be chill with her kid being a science experiment because "love". I'm shocked. And furious. It was a betrayal of the character. Of every woman who ever had to carry a baby against her will. I actually feel a little sick. Maybe it's what's happening in the world right now but I can't believe a woman would write something like this.
This was extremely frustrating mostly because it was so good until the end. The end actually made me feel a little sick. Not in a kink-shaming way, but in the way that I find it horrifying that anyone would consider what happened to her as an HEA
SPOILERS
He tricked her, impregnated her against her will (by sticking her with a syringe filled with experimental hormone meds while they were having sex and then saying he accidentally pricked her with his claw). This went on for MONTHS. He didn't even tell her that they were recording and monitoring her bedroom 24/7 (including all the times they had sex and cuddled/talked).
After she found out and was so horrified/depressed she could barley get out of bed and couldn't even stand to look at him, he drugged her with a sedative so she would comply with his demands and be biddable in public. After an emergency happened at the event, he dragged her (still drugged and pregnant) into a dangerous situation in which he was shot. He almost died as a result of the injury and seeing him hurt made her realize she loved him anyway.
That's it. He did nothing. She just stopped being mad at him in the course of 15 minutes. The end. He's apologetic when he wakes up, but does NOTHING to rectify the situation. In the "HEA" epilogue THEY STILL LIVE UNDER THE PEOPLE WHO MADE HIM DO THIS TO HER. They didn't even MOVE. She just decided to be chill with her kid being a science experiment because "love". I'm shocked. And furious. It was a betrayal of the character. Of every woman who ever had to carry a baby against her will. I actually feel a little sick. Maybe it's what's happening in the world right now but I can't believe a woman would write something like this.
July 24, 2022
Wow. So, the reason why I enjoy alien romance is because of the fact that authors have the opportunity to literally make the most perfect male specimen that has no predisposition toward the negative human male traits. But what does this author do with that opportunity? She makes an alien male who is worse than a human male.
I’m pretty sure that impregnating a woman against her will or without her consent is considered rape. And the fact that he dosed her with something to make this happen without her consent is even worse. Then he has the audacity to act like she was making things difficult when she was upset with the situation. Seriously, I had a hard enough time reading this because our guy is a fucking lizard, but throwing rape in on top of it all? What the fuck.
Also, why the fuck was Darcy so Fuxking stupid and naïve??? She literally went through something so awful in the past because she trusted too easily and now she’s doing it again???? I seriously don’t understand. She’s one of the worst female main characters I’ve read about in a long time. This is so disappointing because I literally LOVED Sasha from the first book in this series.
What a disappointment this book turned out to be. I should have just dnfed it but I wanted to give it the opportunity to redeem itself. It didn’t.
I’m pretty sure that impregnating a woman against her will or without her consent is considered rape. And the fact that he dosed her with something to make this happen without her consent is even worse. Then he has the audacity to act like she was making things difficult when she was upset with the situation. Seriously, I had a hard enough time reading this because our guy is a fucking lizard, but throwing rape in on top of it all? What the fuck.
Also, why the fuck was Darcy so Fuxking stupid and naïve??? She literally went through something so awful in the past because she trusted too easily and now she’s doing it again???? I seriously don’t understand. She’s one of the worst female main characters I’ve read about in a long time. This is so disappointing because I literally LOVED Sasha from the first book in this series.
What a disappointment this book turned out to be. I should have just dnfed it but I wanted to give it the opportunity to redeem itself. It didn’t.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2022
"When you put a babe in a female's arms, she has no free hands to stab you with."
Oh it's like that 😂
The lizardman and his lizardpeople do quite a few p r o b l e m a t i c things regarding impregnation and withdrawing her fancy blood, but tbh I didn't get too upset about it because she's kinda dumb. I wish she was as cool as the heroine in the first book but at least the smut is good
July 13, 2022
Really struggled with the forced pregnancy and the h not being cautious at all.
August 21, 2023
Yeeeaaahhhhh she forgave him way too quickly. Also, she was oddly trusting and naive for someone who had been effed over by her own government before.
Not horrible though and I'll read the next just to see.
Not horrible though and I'll read the next just to see.
June 29, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was even better than the last one imo. Strong fmc, interesting alien anatomy, deception, betrayal, and manipulation all added up to a book that I stayed up all night reading.
I joined Alexis B Osborne’s Patreon for the spicy character art and was delighted to get an advanced reader copy of this book as well <3
I joined Alexis B Osborne’s Patreon for the spicy character art and was delighted to get an advanced reader copy of this book as well <3
July 20, 2023
AARGGGHH this is so difficult to rate.
It's a very well written story. I was engaged, I enjoyed reading, it only lagged a little in places where the plot could have been tightened up a little, the characters were decently established - just all around, a good book.
The romance, however? The romance is ultimately not that satisfying because of the ending, much like the first book, and that makes it difficult because you enjoyed reading the book in general but ultimately feel unhappy with the final outcome. Once again, it's technically a Happily Ever After but ugh, events at the end put a damper on the "happy" part of that HEA.
The good:
BABY PET DRAGON! Just like on the cover!
The worldbuilding was good. Lots of little tidbits about Raxion biology and Raxion life, of course, but we also got to learn more about this alternative future life for humans and what that's like. We get a little bit about human history and how they left Earth and ended up around the galaxy. I love that shit.
Darcy and Maddox were interesting characters side by side. While it's clear to the reader from the beginning that Maddox has ulterior motives and is using Darcy, we also see Darcy is kind of self-centered and lacking some empathy towards others as a result of her becoming bitter and miserable for years during her illness prior to the mission. While I don't think Darcy's behavior is anywhere as cold as Maddox's level of manipulation, it was just interesting to have them paired together, neither one perfect. It also means it held a different layer of trauma for Darcy to have choice and autonomy taken away due to having experienced that already in her life.
I really liked Williams in the epilogue. No, wait, I really liked Williams in general and wish he had been included more in the book. He often felt like an afterthought compared to Gunner and Delilah and both of those were also more on the backburner once the book hits about 20% of the way in. He was a great character and I hope he pops up again in the 3rd book!
Delilah was an honestly cool character and I'm glad that book 3 is about her. I'm hoping whatever horrors await her aren't too bad. She was a genuinely good person with an intrinsic desire for language knowledge and was generally someone I could have seen myself wanting to be friends with.
Gunner is a misogynistic dick but his character ending is satisfying.
The "bad":
Despite the fact that it's 200 pages in before the two main characters hook up, it felt rather abrupt. If I was tracking time correctly, they'd only met 3 days ago by that point and it wasn't instalust - they only developed interest and feelings after meeting. It was like nothing at all for 150-160 pages then 40 pages of them rapidly growing interest over the span of like a day and a half and then BAM, carnal introductions. And then two weeks of them boinking constantly and living out a little domestic fantasy. It was just such a rapid turnaround there.
This one doesn't happen until 70% and on.
The ugly:
Spoiler from about 70% in about SA:
The book starts out with Darcy agreeing to the mission in exchange for a cure - the same nanos that Sasha had in the first book. The attitude and language around Darcy's life makes it clear that her life with her quadriplegia isn't one really worth living, and that's a shitty ass take.
Some of Darcy's misery at her life is understandable and outside of her control - family not visiting, the facility she's at sounds mediocre, not able to pursue her dream career - but others were things Darcy could have done for herself - like making friends and finding a purpose. Darcy admits she intentionally avoided interacting with anyone.
Darcy gets over the betrayal and manipulation way too fast. Yes, it was a high stakes scenario but it was still just too damned fast. Even knowing all the manipulation was going on as the reader, I was NOT ready for Maddox to be forgiven. Hells no. You can feel hurt and betrayed and deeply dislike or distrust someone without wanting to actively see them hurt or killed. It would have made more sense for the forgiveness to take time. A better idea would have been
It's a very well written story. I was engaged, I enjoyed reading, it only lagged a little in places where the plot could have been tightened up a little, the characters were decently established - just all around, a good book.
The romance, however? The romance is ultimately not that satisfying because of the ending, much like the first book, and that makes it difficult because you enjoyed reading the book in general but ultimately feel unhappy with the final outcome. Once again, it's technically a Happily Ever After but ugh, events at the end put a damper on the "happy" part of that HEA.
The good:
BABY PET DRAGON! Just like on the cover!
The worldbuilding was good. Lots of little tidbits about Raxion biology and Raxion life, of course, but we also got to learn more about this alternative future life for humans and what that's like. We get a little bit about human history and how they left Earth and ended up around the galaxy. I love that shit.
Darcy and Maddox were interesting characters side by side. While it's clear to the reader from the beginning that Maddox has ulterior motives and is using Darcy, we also see Darcy is kind of self-centered and lacking some empathy towards others as a result of her becoming bitter and miserable for years during her illness prior to the mission. While I don't think Darcy's behavior is anywhere as cold as Maddox's level of manipulation, it was just interesting to have them paired together, neither one perfect. It also means it held a different layer of trauma for Darcy to have choice and autonomy taken away due to having experienced that already in her life.
I really liked Williams in the epilogue. No, wait, I really liked Williams in general and wish he had been included more in the book. He often felt like an afterthought compared to Gunner and Delilah and both of those were also more on the backburner once the book hits about 20% of the way in. He was a great character and I hope he pops up again in the 3rd book!
Delilah was an honestly cool character and I'm glad that book 3 is about her. I'm hoping whatever horrors await her aren't too bad. She was a genuinely good person with an intrinsic desire for language knowledge and was generally someone I could have seen myself wanting to be friends with.
Gunner is a misogynistic dick but his character ending is satisfying.
The "bad":
Despite the fact that it's 200 pages in before the two main characters hook up, it felt rather abrupt. If I was tracking time correctly, they'd only met 3 days ago by that point and it wasn't instalust - they only developed interest and feelings after meeting. It was like nothing at all for 150-160 pages then 40 pages of them rapidly growing interest over the span of like a day and a half and then BAM, carnal introductions. And then two weeks of them boinking constantly and living out a little domestic fantasy. It was just such a rapid turnaround there.
This one doesn't happen until 70% and on.
The ugly:
Spoiler from about 70% in about SA:
The book starts out with Darcy agreeing to the mission in exchange for a cure - the same nanos that Sasha had in the first book. The attitude and language around Darcy's life makes it clear that her life with her quadriplegia isn't one really worth living, and that's a shitty ass take.
Some of Darcy's misery at her life is understandable and outside of her control - family not visiting, the facility she's at sounds mediocre, not able to pursue her dream career - but others were things Darcy could have done for herself - like making friends and finding a purpose. Darcy admits she intentionally avoided interacting with anyone.
Darcy gets over the betrayal and manipulation way too fast. Yes, it was a high stakes scenario but it was still just too damned fast. Even knowing all the manipulation was going on as the reader, I was NOT ready for Maddox to be forgiven. Hells no. You can feel hurt and betrayed and deeply dislike or distrust someone without wanting to actively see them hurt or killed. It would have made more sense for the forgiveness to take time. A better idea would have been
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August 14, 2022I just couldn’t forgive the H in this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2022
2 stars and I'm gonna tell you why.
So this morning I saw that this book had been released and got SUPER excited; I loved the first book. The idea that humanity is meeting other advanced races and sentient species for the first time, but is the more technologically advanced, is an interesting and rare approach. Usually humanity puts it's proverbial foot in it, and bites off more than they can chew. Book one has a few problems and a betrayal, but NOTHING like this book and honestly, I don't know how much I actually liked it.
For being such a smart person, Darcy is an idiot. She's so blinded by her hate (justified mind you) of Starfleet that she doesn't use her brain. There's no way humanity would send JUST a rescue force on what amounts to a suicide mission, even if it was only a four man squad. Darcy let herself be used, again; Starfleet played on her desperation. She didn't find it suspicious, at all, that this species was opening their arms to her and the others, without asking for anything. Darcy is aware of how valuable the nanos in her body are, and what she had to do to get them, but it didn't occur to her that she should maybe safeguard her body/blood a little more.
Maddox, where to start with his ass. I believe he wanted Darcy, and had strong feelings for her. I understand that he's in precarious position, but how easily he betrayed Darcy's (misplaced) trust and went along with the General's plan to use her and trap her is beyond me. If he really cared for her as much as he said, he would have done SOMETHING to safeguard her, even if that was to help her to escape and never see her again.
Though Darcy's options were limited, she forgave Maddox far too easily and I wish she had used her brain to put up more of a fight, or even attempt to make a plan. She just accepted that she was trapped and wanted to wallow in her misery instead. For a woman who was determined to live, it didn't really seem that way.
I'll read the next one but I'm honestly not sure I'll be purchasing them.
So this morning I saw that this book had been released and got SUPER excited; I loved the first book. The idea that humanity is meeting other advanced races and sentient species for the first time, but is the more technologically advanced, is an interesting and rare approach. Usually humanity puts it's proverbial foot in it, and bites off more than they can chew. Book one has a few problems and a betrayal, but NOTHING like this book and honestly, I don't know how much I actually liked it.
For being such a smart person, Darcy is an idiot. She's so blinded by her hate (justified mind you) of Starfleet that she doesn't use her brain. There's no way humanity would send JUST a rescue force on what amounts to a suicide mission, even if it was only a four man squad. Darcy let herself be used, again; Starfleet played on her desperation. She didn't find it suspicious, at all, that this species was opening their arms to her and the others, without asking for anything. Darcy is aware of how valuable the nanos in her body are, and what she had to do to get them, but it didn't occur to her that she should maybe safeguard her body/blood a little more.
Maddox, where to start with his ass. I believe he wanted Darcy, and had strong feelings for her. I understand that he's in precarious position, but how easily he betrayed Darcy's (misplaced) trust and went along with the General's plan to use her and trap her is beyond me. If he really cared for her as much as he said, he would have done SOMETHING to safeguard her, even if that was to help her to escape and never see her again.
Though Darcy's options were limited, she forgave Maddox far too easily and I wish she had used her brain to put up more of a fight, or even attempt to make a plan. She just accepted that she was trapped and wanted to wallow in her misery instead. For a woman who was determined to live, it didn't really seem that way.
I'll read the next one but I'm honestly not sure I'll be purchasing them.
October 11, 2022
This book is actually quite perfect 🤷🏽♀️
It has a great storyline, a strong ass fmc, a tough but cute and obsessed mmc, action, spice, and breeding, all in an alien solar system!
Darcy was bedridden after being exposed to a toxin while on active duty. She was betrayed by the military and forced to watch life pass her by. Until her old general came with an offer she couldn’t deny, even though she wouldn’t trust him further that she could throw him. He offered her the cure to her illness, nanos that would heal almost all ailments. Months later Darcy is on a 4 man ship on her way to a wormhole to look for Sasha (read the first book).
When on the other side of the worm hole Darcy and her crew navigate the alien planet of carnivorous flowers and walking trees. Until they run into aliens, lizardmen essentially.
Maddox is the youngest ambassador for his people the Raxions. He was tasked with the humans, getting them to acclimate to their people in hopes of gaining their cooperation and allowing them access to their blood to study their nanos. By any means necessary, including capturing the physical attention of one of the females, and he definitely has his eye on one.
Darcy and Maddox get closer and closer, feelings develop and possibilities flourish.
But can Darcy trust Maddox?
It has a great storyline, a strong ass fmc, a tough but cute and obsessed mmc, action, spice, and breeding, all in an alien solar system!
Darcy was bedridden after being exposed to a toxin while on active duty. She was betrayed by the military and forced to watch life pass her by. Until her old general came with an offer she couldn’t deny, even though she wouldn’t trust him further that she could throw him. He offered her the cure to her illness, nanos that would heal almost all ailments. Months later Darcy is on a 4 man ship on her way to a wormhole to look for Sasha (read the first book).
When on the other side of the worm hole Darcy and her crew navigate the alien planet of carnivorous flowers and walking trees. Until they run into aliens, lizardmen essentially.
Maddox is the youngest ambassador for his people the Raxions. He was tasked with the humans, getting them to acclimate to their people in hopes of gaining their cooperation and allowing them access to their blood to study their nanos. By any means necessary, including capturing the physical attention of one of the females, and he definitely has his eye on one.
Darcy and Maddox get closer and closer, feelings develop and possibilities flourish.
But can Darcy trust Maddox?
July 6, 2022
The reason I am leaving four stars on this book is very clear. The writing and the world building is phenomenal. I don’t typically enjoy slow burns, but this one was billed as a slow burn, so I knew what I was getting into when I decided to read it and I loved the first book in this world so much that I decided it was worth it. It really was! Even though I still love Sasha from the previous book a little bit more than Darcy, I loved the characters in this book a lot! The chemistry between Darcy and Maddox left me giddy, and I loved the level of spice. I didn’t find myself skimming like I sometimes do in long world building books. This book had the right balance of world explanations, political plot intrigue and romance to keep me turning the pages eagerly.
It was also unbelievably refreshing to read a book in which humans were not just vulnerable beings in the galaxy, but the twist of the blood nanos was a neat way to make them valuable and feared. I liked that a lot!
That being said, this book fell short of a five star for me because the main male character, Maddox, who I very much enjoyed for his complexities, does some unforgivable things which made it very hard for me to forgive, and which I thought Darcy, the main female character, forgave way too easily.
The one portion of the book was so angsty and I was so angry on behalf of Darcy that I was rooting for her to leave Maddox behind and end the relationship and if the book had ended with her free and not with him, I would have been happy. I have never felt that way about a couple in a romance novel that I liked.
I acknowledge that this may just be a me thing, though, and I did push through the angsty part of the novel and though I feel like Maddox was not redeemed
Enough to be with Darcy, I was still satisfied with the ending.
Overall, it did inspire an emotional rollercoaster and it was a book I was not able to put down. Despite how I felt about some of the actions by Maddox in the book, it was a really fantastic, and refreshing read.
I hope there are many more in this world!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It was also unbelievably refreshing to read a book in which humans were not just vulnerable beings in the galaxy, but the twist of the blood nanos was a neat way to make them valuable and feared. I liked that a lot!
That being said, this book fell short of a five star for me because the main male character, Maddox, who I very much enjoyed for his complexities, does some unforgivable things which made it very hard for me to forgive, and which I thought Darcy, the main female character, forgave way too easily.
The one portion of the book was so angsty and I was so angry on behalf of Darcy that I was rooting for her to leave Maddox behind and end the relationship and if the book had ended with her free and not with him, I would have been happy. I have never felt that way about a couple in a romance novel that I liked.
I acknowledge that this may just be a me thing, though, and I did push through the angsty part of the novel and though I feel like Maddox was not redeemed
Enough to be with Darcy, I was still satisfied with the ending.
Overall, it did inspire an emotional rollercoaster and it was a book I was not able to put down. Despite how I felt about some of the actions by Maddox in the book, it was a really fantastic, and refreshing read.
I hope there are many more in this world!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2022
It’s an okay book but I found it kind of slow and the female lead kind of weak (I just wanted to shake her sometimes). SPOILERS -- Darcy is a medic in SpaceFleet and Maddox is a Raxion Ambassador. Darcy and three other human’s crash land on an alien planet on their mission to rescue a human woman. Maddox saves Darcy and a fellow ship mate trapped on a planet. Darcy and the other humans have nano technology which are only given to soldiers. The Raxion and two other alien races want that technology and are willing to take it from the humans who have it in their bodies. It was interesting watching all of the machinations going on between everyone. What I liked the best was the world building, especially the description of the planet Darcy crash landed on.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 6, 2022
I consider this book to be one of the top five sci-fi romances that I have read yet this year. That is taking into account the fact that I have read over 500 so far, and it is early July. The world building was vibrant and fascinating, with the hero’s alien culture coming to life. This novel had some dark themes and heart wrenching angst that brought me to tears, but it also had some humor and lighter moments to break it up. There was plenty of political intrigue, action, and danger to keep the stakes high and the pacing quick. I definitely read this book in one sitting! The heroine was deeply sympathetic, and both hero and heroine were nuanced people with both strengths and weaknesses. The development of the romantic relationship was swoony, heart wrenching, and SIZZLING in turn. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series when it releases, and I HIGHLY recommend this lovely space opera romance.
I received a free copy of this book, and I am voluntarily writing this review.
I received a free copy of this book, and I am voluntarily writing this review.
July 19, 2022
Don't get me wrong, I loved the first one. Everything about it. This one? Guh. This chick is a big dumb-dumb. For a doctor, she's just not smart. So that ruined most of the book for me. That's all it takes to be annoying to me, someone who's incredibly naive and ignorant. But I get it, this character has a hard time interacting and dealing with things because of life circumstances, so she compartmentalizes in a lot of ways, and sometimes that's to the detriment of her putting-shit-together ability.
But was this bitch of a book beautifully written? You bet your socks it was. I loved loved loved the first book, it's in my 'reread forever' pile, and while I don't feel the same for the good doc--I think her book was a wonderful addition to the series and I can't dock the writing surrounding her.
I'm interested in the next one, of course, and am bummed at the vast wait. It's definitely a drag, but it will be nice to revisit this world with another species!
But was this bitch of a book beautifully written? You bet your socks it was. I loved loved loved the first book, it's in my 'reread forever' pile, and while I don't feel the same for the good doc--I think her book was a wonderful addition to the series and I can't dock the writing surrounding her.
I'm interested in the next one, of course, and am bummed at the vast wait. It's definitely a drag, but it will be nice to revisit this world with another species!
April 11, 2023
This book had a much slower build to it. The beginning and the middle of this plot was just very alright, not exciting but I also understand why it was sort of boring. The end is where it comes together with action. I was still pretty hooked on the story despite getting annoyed or bored here and there so would still recommend this one.
March 29, 2025
Ugh, this one was such a disappointment after the first heroine in the series... Darcy is a moron and her love interest is a wimp. I didn't like it. I hope the next one is better.
July 15, 2023
I want more Raxion books! Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and rate it 5 stars despite wanting to shake Darcy for being a bit dense at times for not considering that the real motive of their mission went well beyond searching for a missing marine (Sasha from Book 1). I also agree with many other reviewers that Maddox should have groveled MUCH MORE than he did to get Darcy back. Off to read Book 3!
July 13, 2022
Sooo good!!!
I was impatiently waiting for this book and it did not disappoint!!! Great world building, characters were well developed, no contrived drama, and the smexy times!!!! Whoa could he dirty talk!!🌶🌶🌶🌶👌🏽
I was impatiently waiting for this book and it did not disappoint!!! Great world building, characters were well developed, no contrived drama, and the smexy times!!!! Whoa could he dirty talk!!🌶🌶🌶🌶👌🏽
August 14, 2022
So good! This series is fun
September 27, 2022
This one took me a while to get through. I could see the fallout coming and I knew it would be devastating so I just wanted to avoid it! World building and characters are excellent, and I still like the unique flip of having humanity be the ones with more advanced technology (in some areas); it's a nice change from us being the "dumb hicks" of the universe in a lot of other stories.
Maddox was an interesting hero - he's certainly romantic enough, and comes to care for Darcy, but he's also highly motivated in his career and wants to make his boss, the Prime General, happy and prove that he's a good fit for the Ambassador position. This dedication to duty means that he does lie and deceive Darcy and the other humans, and I felt like I needed about double the groveling that we got in order for me as a reader to really forgive him.
Darcy was just as interesting a heroine, and more importantly, different from both Sasha (the previous heroine) and Delilah (the next heroine). She's got a take-no-bullshit attitude that I admired, though her blind spot with Maddox and stubbornness in ignoring the warnings of her crewmates led her to more heartbreak. She seems happy and settled at the end of the book, and I only hope that Maddox continues treating her like a queen. Spoilers for why I think he needs to continue groveling!
So, even with all of that, this is a very well-written book and brings something new to the SFR table, so that's why it gets 4 stars from me. Oh! and now I want a baby chamelleon (aka mini space dragon!).
Maddox was an interesting hero - he's certainly romantic enough, and comes to care for Darcy, but he's also highly motivated in his career and wants to make his boss, the Prime General, happy and prove that he's a good fit for the Ambassador position. This dedication to duty means that he does lie and deceive Darcy and the other humans, and I felt like I needed about double the groveling that we got in order for me as a reader to really forgive him.
Darcy was just as interesting a heroine, and more importantly, different from both Sasha (the previous heroine) and Delilah (the next heroine). She's got a take-no-bullshit attitude that I admired, though her blind spot with Maddox and stubbornness in ignoring the warnings of her crewmates led her to more heartbreak. She seems happy and settled at the end of the book, and I only hope that Maddox continues treating her like a queen. Spoilers for why I think he needs to continue groveling!
So, even with all of that, this is a very well-written book and brings something new to the SFR table, so that's why it gets 4 stars from me. Oh! and now I want a baby chamelleon (aka mini space dragon!).
September 18, 2023
You’re my home. My everything. Can you ever forgive me?”
⭐️⭐️.5
🌶
Summary
Darcy is a former Starfleet combat medic but after being exposed to a dangerous toxin she is paralyzed and can no longer leave her bed. After Sasha goes missing a transmission is sent out and Starfleet picks it up. Now believing that she somehow survived being sucked through a wormhole Starfleet wants to find out what happened. Darcy is recruited and given the chance to get her life back through the life changing blood nano’s. The team assembles and goes through the wormhole somehow surviving only to crash land on an unfamiliar alien planet.
Maddox is a Raxion Ambassador who needs to find the humans that crash landed on a Raxion Planet. His one goal and objective is to figure out if these humans have blood nanos like Sasha and if so how can the Raxions get there hands on them.
⚠️ Caution Spoilers ⚠️
My Thoughts
There are three species to note when reading the book and here are their descriptions. You have the Kursh who are bipedal lions with fur and tails! They are massive in height and considered more honorable out of the three. Then you have the Diggi’s who are bird like with feathers on their arms that can help them glide but not fly. They are also the species that values strength if they can take something from you they will because that meant you were too weak to have it. Last but not least is the Raxions which are legit lizard people. They are driven and the line for them is very blurred they want to do what is right for the most no matter how much pain that can cause. So we have a full animal kingdom of characters…literally.
I have to start by saying out of the series I hate the male character of this one the most! First off he's a lizard man and I just can’t really get behind that and the way he USES Darcy is unsettling to say at the least. Darcy is a scientist who was given a second chance at life with the blood nanos. All she has to do is go on a suicide mission through a wormhole and hopefully find Sasha. After crash landing and almost being smushed by moving trees (think LOTR) and eaten by plants she is “rescued” by Maddox. I also use rescue loosely as they are only helping the humans to create a false sense of trust to steal their blood to reverse engineer the blood nano’s.
Maddox just never felt authentic in his “love” for Darcy it all came from wanting what she could offer him. Then to top it off he TRICKS her into having sex to get her pregnant because his boss told him too. He didn’t even really give a genuine apology and she just took him back. I wanted to like her character but she was somewhat weak and did not stand up for herself which was night and day to the previous books MC.
This carries on when one of the human males Gunner who came along on the mission tries to abduct her and Darcy (another member) and sell them off! His failed sexual assault leads her to killing him and that honestly that was one of the only times she stood up for herself.
This book in the series fell really flat for me but I will read the third as the setup for that book seems much better!
What I Loved
• Baby her pet dragon that she raised
• Her killing Gunner - like finally girl
• Getting to go back to school to become a doctor
What I didn’t Like
• Maddox nothing can be said to convince me that he’s worth the time to like
• The fact that Gunner a fellow human kidnaps and tries to assault the only two women in the crew and then sell them off like what?!
• The story just went on to long for how screwed up the male love interest was
• The fact that she forgave him so easily like sis he didn’t even really try
⭐️⭐️.5
🌶
Summary
Darcy is a former Starfleet combat medic but after being exposed to a dangerous toxin she is paralyzed and can no longer leave her bed. After Sasha goes missing a transmission is sent out and Starfleet picks it up. Now believing that she somehow survived being sucked through a wormhole Starfleet wants to find out what happened. Darcy is recruited and given the chance to get her life back through the life changing blood nano’s. The team assembles and goes through the wormhole somehow surviving only to crash land on an unfamiliar alien planet.
Maddox is a Raxion Ambassador who needs to find the humans that crash landed on a Raxion Planet. His one goal and objective is to figure out if these humans have blood nanos like Sasha and if so how can the Raxions get there hands on them.
⚠️ Caution Spoilers ⚠️
My Thoughts
There are three species to note when reading the book and here are their descriptions. You have the Kursh who are bipedal lions with fur and tails! They are massive in height and considered more honorable out of the three. Then you have the Diggi’s who are bird like with feathers on their arms that can help them glide but not fly. They are also the species that values strength if they can take something from you they will because that meant you were too weak to have it. Last but not least is the Raxions which are legit lizard people. They are driven and the line for them is very blurred they want to do what is right for the most no matter how much pain that can cause. So we have a full animal kingdom of characters…literally.
I have to start by saying out of the series I hate the male character of this one the most! First off he's a lizard man and I just can’t really get behind that and the way he USES Darcy is unsettling to say at the least. Darcy is a scientist who was given a second chance at life with the blood nanos. All she has to do is go on a suicide mission through a wormhole and hopefully find Sasha. After crash landing and almost being smushed by moving trees (think LOTR) and eaten by plants she is “rescued” by Maddox. I also use rescue loosely as they are only helping the humans to create a false sense of trust to steal their blood to reverse engineer the blood nano’s.
Maddox just never felt authentic in his “love” for Darcy it all came from wanting what she could offer him. Then to top it off he TRICKS her into having sex to get her pregnant because his boss told him too. He didn’t even really give a genuine apology and she just took him back. I wanted to like her character but she was somewhat weak and did not stand up for herself which was night and day to the previous books MC.
This carries on when one of the human males Gunner who came along on the mission tries to abduct her and Darcy (another member) and sell them off! His failed sexual assault leads her to killing him and that honestly that was one of the only times she stood up for herself.
This book in the series fell really flat for me but I will read the third as the setup for that book seems much better!
What I Loved
• Baby her pet dragon that she raised
• Her killing Gunner - like finally girl
• Getting to go back to school to become a doctor
What I didn’t Like
• Maddox nothing can be said to convince me that he’s worth the time to like
• The fact that Gunner a fellow human kidnaps and tries to assault the only two women in the crew and then sell them off like what?!
• The story just went on to long for how screwed up the male love interest was
• The fact that she forgave him so easily like sis he didn’t even really try
July 11, 2023
Series: Outer Limits Quadrant #2
Rating: 2 stars - It was ok
Trigger Warnings: terminal illness; sexual harassment from a coworker; drugging; forced pregnancy and imprisonment; attempted sexual assault; human trafficking; forced medical examinations; extreme injuries that lead to brain damage and possible death;
I have mixed feelings about this book, which sucks. This review is going to have major spoilers because I can’t think of a way to talk about my issues with this book without spoiling things, especially since they can also be triggering for some people.
Overall, this was a huge disappointment after loving the first book so much. While I didn’t like this one, I will be reading the next one because I really liked Delilah and want to see what is happening to her.
Rating: 2 stars - It was ok
Trigger Warnings: terminal illness; sexual harassment from a coworker; drugging; forced pregnancy and imprisonment; attempted sexual assault; human trafficking; forced medical examinations; extreme injuries that lead to brain damage and possible death;
I have mixed feelings about this book, which sucks. This review is going to have major spoilers because I can’t think of a way to talk about my issues with this book without spoiling things, especially since they can also be triggering for some people.
Overall, this was a huge disappointment after loving the first book so much. While I didn’t like this one, I will be reading the next one because I really liked Delilah and want to see what is happening to her.
July 25, 2022
Doctoring Fate... If I were able to give half stars I would. This one for me rates 3.5 maybe 3.75 stars.
Well Darcy was a big 180 from the heroine in the first book of this series (Sasha).
Maybe that has to do with Darcy not getting the chance to really live and experience betrayal from others beyond the Starfleet. However, you would think after everything that happened and being stuck in a hospital with all her friends and family slowly drifting away it would kind of make Darcy more cynical and develop a tougher skin. But alas, Darcy seems to be a little to trusting, even to the Starfleet that caused her to be in the position she was in she thought she'd be free once she completed the mission. Not really once putting into consideration that they'd basically own her because of the blood nano Vaccine running through her system.
For the Raxion's they know the peace treaty between the 3 races is on thin ice. The Kursh only get involved in a situation if it will directly affect them. They've also been keeping secrets of the new human (Sasha) that they found. The little bit that the doctor was able to learn before the Kursh interfered only caused the other two race's curiosity to grow. So when a ship of humans land on their planet it's a race to obtain them, gain their trust, and try to figure out what it is that makes the Kursh so secretive of the human race.
Maddox is willing to do whatever needs to be done to protect his people and to prevent another war from breaking out. He's already lived through one bloodbath of a war, he doesn't want to see another happen in his lifetime. So when he's assigned to figure out the secret in the human's blood he thinks nothing of seducing one of the women, especially the when he can assuage his curiosity and the human medic's as well who seems too trusting.
One of my biggest complaints with this book...
Darcy had a vile of the vaccine and gave it to Maddox. I really wish we could've gotten to learn if the nanos stayed in his blood like they do the humans. I mean...you would think the Emperor would be all for having Maddox also in the lab and blood drawn like he intends for Darcy because Maddox is Raxion and their whole goal is to harvest the nanos, yes, but I'm sure they need to know how it affects their race. The book literally skips over everything that happens and never gives us any of the "science" behind what the vaccine does to Maddox once Darcy administers it.
I'm pretty excited for the next book in this series. We get to see the bird species (I can't remember what their race is called) and how they go about trying to figure out the secrets to the nanos in the human blood.
Well Darcy was a big 180 from the heroine in the first book of this series (Sasha).
Maybe that has to do with Darcy not getting the chance to really live and experience betrayal from others beyond the Starfleet. However, you would think after everything that happened and being stuck in a hospital with all her friends and family slowly drifting away it would kind of make Darcy more cynical and develop a tougher skin. But alas, Darcy seems to be a little to trusting, even to the Starfleet that caused her to be in the position she was in she thought she'd be free once she completed the mission. Not really once putting into consideration that they'd basically own her because of the blood nano Vaccine running through her system.
For the Raxion's they know the peace treaty between the 3 races is on thin ice. The Kursh only get involved in a situation if it will directly affect them. They've also been keeping secrets of the new human (Sasha) that they found. The little bit that the doctor was able to learn before the Kursh interfered only caused the other two race's curiosity to grow. So when a ship of humans land on their planet it's a race to obtain them, gain their trust, and try to figure out what it is that makes the Kursh so secretive of the human race.
Maddox is willing to do whatever needs to be done to protect his people and to prevent another war from breaking out. He's already lived through one bloodbath of a war, he doesn't want to see another happen in his lifetime. So when he's assigned to figure out the secret in the human's blood he thinks nothing of seducing one of the women, especially the when he can assuage his curiosity and the human medic's as well who seems too trusting.
One of my biggest complaints with this book...
Darcy had a vile of the vaccine and gave it to Maddox. I really wish we could've gotten to learn if the nanos stayed in his blood like they do the humans. I mean...you would think the Emperor would be all for having Maddox also in the lab and blood drawn like he intends for Darcy because Maddox is Raxion and their whole goal is to harvest the nanos, yes, but I'm sure they need to know how it affects their race. The book literally skips over everything that happens and never gives us any of the "science" behind what the vaccine does to Maddox once Darcy administers it.
I'm pretty excited for the next book in this series. We get to see the bird species (I can't remember what their race is called) and how they go about trying to figure out the secrets to the nanos in the human blood.
July 13, 2022
This is a fantastic book and you just get lost in the world that has been created. The whole thing just drags you in and you cannot help but become wrapped up with everything that is happening. You want action, romance, adventure and dirty dealings, it is all right here for you.
Here's the thing, Darcy wanted to be at the forefront of science and scientific research. She didn't have long to go before she completed her training to be a doctor. She thought that working for the Government would help her make a difference and she'd be protected. What happened as that she was made a kind of scapegoat and left to rot. Much like when the mission is so hush hush that if anything happens to you we'll deny it, basically that. It also means that to them she is also expendable. Who better to send on a potential suicide mission. They know she has no hope so they use the one thing they know will get her onside but what they cannot do is take away her cynicism nor can they erase what they have done to her, so in her thinking she is not their pawn, not any more. What happens when she gets through the wormhole is nothing like she imagined and there are aliens. Real ones and apparently mini dragons too! For some reason she cannot help but feel that this Raxion, Maddox will not hurt her. In truth she trusts him more than she does some of her fellow crewmembers. As for Maddox he is an Ambassador for his people and he has learnt something of these new aliens, humans. It seems that the women are agressive and he has been given the directive to capture them, although he was given the ominuous post script that his leader only really needs one of them, not the entire group. The more time he spends with Darcy though, the most she infiltrates ever part of his life. Knowing what has been planned for her by his people is there any future at all for them, that is if she returns his overwhelming feelings. They are not of the same race but then again should that matter?
Here's the thing, Darcy wanted to be at the forefront of science and scientific research. She didn't have long to go before she completed her training to be a doctor. She thought that working for the Government would help her make a difference and she'd be protected. What happened as that she was made a kind of scapegoat and left to rot. Much like when the mission is so hush hush that if anything happens to you we'll deny it, basically that. It also means that to them she is also expendable. Who better to send on a potential suicide mission. They know she has no hope so they use the one thing they know will get her onside but what they cannot do is take away her cynicism nor can they erase what they have done to her, so in her thinking she is not their pawn, not any more. What happens when she gets through the wormhole is nothing like she imagined and there are aliens. Real ones and apparently mini dragons too! For some reason she cannot help but feel that this Raxion, Maddox will not hurt her. In truth she trusts him more than she does some of her fellow crewmembers. As for Maddox he is an Ambassador for his people and he has learnt something of these new aliens, humans. It seems that the women are agressive and he has been given the directive to capture them, although he was given the ominuous post script that his leader only really needs one of them, not the entire group. The more time he spends with Darcy though, the most she infiltrates ever part of his life. Knowing what has been planned for her by his people is there any future at all for them, that is if she returns his overwhelming feelings. They are not of the same race but then again should that matter?
July 5, 2022
I really liked this book. Darcy due to her circumstances, was so driven to be free she seemed a bit reckless yet I connected with her on many levels. True surprise in this book was the MC, Maddox our intriguing lizardman. More often then not, alien heroes are usually very straightforward and can often underestimate humans, and in many cases, they tend to be agressive, rude, dominating and straigh to the point. Not our Maddox here. I loved how well he established his plan in new crisis and situation and found nonviolent approach to deliver his machinations and manipulation into fruition. It was such a stark contrast to what usually alien book heroes do, I found myself driven to keep reading any chance I got because I had to know what happens next! There were some things I would have changed a bit, maybe smoothed the pacing of some events as they happened a bit abruptly but overall it was well written, I really loved both Darcy and Maddox.
When talking about spice, I consider this book a medium burn, it fit with the story and gave it enough balance between plot and smut. Well described though more dirty languagewould have upped the whole experience.
Worst part is, it made such a good introduction to book 3 now I can't wait to see what happens next to our new heroine!
I highly reccomend this series for all our sappy sci-fi romance lovers!
I recieved an early copy and am leaving an honest review.
When talking about spice, I consider this book a medium burn, it fit with the story and gave it enough balance between plot and smut. Well described though more dirty languagewould have upped the whole experience.
Worst part is, it made such a good introduction to book 3 now I can't wait to see what happens next to our new heroine!
I highly reccomend this series for all our sappy sci-fi romance lovers!
I recieved an early copy and am leaving an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2023
Oh my stars
This book was great! I raged, yelled, and cried during this wild ride. I'm not super thrilled how Maddox and Darcy fell into their relationship. Also how quickly Darcy forgave Maddox, I just felt there should have been more of a talk and not instant forgiveness.
Darcy was great, I loved Sasha more. But Darcy is still a bad bitch in her own right. I noticed a lot of reviews says they don't believe how naive she is despite being a medic. We all know one person who is super smart when it comes to their field but lacking in better street smarts. I thought Darcy's character was believable and she felt real. Of course she had her faults but they were believable and didn't feel fake.
Maddox, I wasn't a fan of. He just seemed so one note. Too perfect but that's because he was trying to manipulate Darcy to like him. I just couldn't like him. He was a bit much.
I loved how the author handled the medical aspect of the story. It felt real and like the author had done research and didn't glance over things. They didn't bullshit and it was cool how they added more depth to the different races in the book by adding the medical side of it.
The spice was also well written and well balanced with plot!
Overall it was pretty great, I'm going to read book 3. I hope its better than this one.
This book was great! I raged, yelled, and cried during this wild ride. I'm not super thrilled how Maddox and Darcy fell into their relationship. Also how quickly Darcy forgave Maddox, I just felt there should have been more of a talk and not instant forgiveness.
Darcy was great, I loved Sasha more. But Darcy is still a bad bitch in her own right. I noticed a lot of reviews says they don't believe how naive she is despite being a medic. We all know one person who is super smart when it comes to their field but lacking in better street smarts. I thought Darcy's character was believable and she felt real. Of course she had her faults but they were believable and didn't feel fake.
Maddox, I wasn't a fan of. He just seemed so one note. Too perfect but that's because he was trying to manipulate Darcy to like him. I just couldn't like him. He was a bit much.
I loved how the author handled the medical aspect of the story. It felt real and like the author had done research and didn't glance over things. They didn't bullshit and it was cool how they added more depth to the different races in the book by adding the medical side of it.
The spice was also well written and well balanced with plot!
Overall it was pretty great, I'm going to read book 3. I hope its better than this one.
August 13, 2022
I really, really wanted to give this another star. I absolutely loved this book. The world building was great and so were the character dynamics. The thing that made me take off a star was the betrayal. The author was completely transparent about it which was nice. You knew it was coming the whole time. I could even understand why the ML did it. What threw me off, as did the first book although the betrayal was not as severe, was how easy it was for the FL to forgive the ML. Her reasoning was that he almost died. I get that. But you can be betrayed by someone you love and still love them but not trust them. Just because you love someone doesn’t me you have to immediately forgive them and trust them again if they did something to completely and utterly awful. Even if that person almost died. You can choose to work through the issues and mend the relationship but stuff like that doesn’t just go away. Trust that has been completely destroyed takes time to rebuild. Idk. That was just my take on it. I didn’t like how all the feelings and horror of it was just swiped away cause the ML almost died.
Other than that, no complaints. It was good. Definitely check the trigger warnings before reading though.
Other than that, no complaints. It was good. Definitely check the trigger warnings before reading though.
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