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Lord of the Dark Sun
After her ship is attacked and her crew fatally wounded, Ariana awakens on a dark and distant planet where she is forced into slavery, and she soon finds herself powerfully drawn to a prince in a barbarian's body who is her only hope for survival. Original.
368 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 15, 2017
Read this a long time ago. I really enjoyed it.
February 8, 2021
This book is hot, hot garbage. I only made it handful of chapters in, which is surprising because I'm usually willing to stick it out for at least half the book before deciding to throw in the towel. But I already know I would only be punishing myself my reading further. There is so much bad stuff here like the internalized misogyny of the relationship between Ariana and Lissa which makes it clear women can only ever see each other as competition for men's attention and enjoy when bad things happen to each other. In fact all of the characters are paper thin and their emotions swing wildly within each scene with no explanation as to why. Also there is some gross race stuff going on here with how the men are described as dark, bestial, animals who live in a primitive language-less society where violence and might make right and how the lead male is better because he is the noble savage. Fucking yikes.
Also the one sex scene I read was boring and poorly written and ended with a closed door which is not what I am here for.
Also the one sex scene I read was boring and poorly written and ended with a closed door which is not what I am here for.
December 4, 2024
Genuinely one of my favorite reads this year! I thrifted this book and I honestly cannot believe how beautifully this novel was for $1 USD! The characters were easily loved and it almost felt so personable. Every emotion that was being told I truly felt.
June 2, 2025
I haven’t found many science fiction novels that combine the genre with romance well. When a story is able to, while also adding mystery, drama, and suspense with surmountable odds, it’s worth mentioning. Piel’s Lord of the Dark Sun offers what Romantic Times describes as “a rousing adventure with blistering sensual fire!” Sometimes science fiction stories are ruined by romance, and sometimes romance stories are ruined by science fiction. I agree with Romance Times because the adventures of this novel involve tantalizing characters from other planets who travel to distant planets, surprises and excitement, battle against races who try to dominate and oppress, and steamy tension between sexy characters.
Ariana of Valenwood, daughter of Arnath, King of the Ellowan acted as a Prime Representative of the Intersystem Council, had been captured. She had ventured to the outskirts of the Border Territory, too far, and she and the others on the ship regretted it. The inhuman Automon didn’t seem human, and yet was designed in human form. Six women from Ariana’s ship had been captured, and eventually, Ariana realized they intended to raise them to mate with barbaric men who slaved in caverns. As the men moved to claim Ariana, the largest wanted her for himself. Eventually, she would learn who the solid, muscled man with long dark hair was, but not before he stole her heart. Would she ever see her family and home planet again? Could she forget this hulk of a man if she did?
For readers who enjoy finding and experiencing a blend of science fiction and romance done well, Lord of the Dark Sun is one to pick up. I found mine in a used bookstore. Though published a while ago (Dec. 2002), an excellent story never expires.
Ariana of Valenwood, daughter of Arnath, King of the Ellowan acted as a Prime Representative of the Intersystem Council, had been captured. She had ventured to the outskirts of the Border Territory, too far, and she and the others on the ship regretted it. The inhuman Automon didn’t seem human, and yet was designed in human form. Six women from Ariana’s ship had been captured, and eventually, Ariana realized they intended to raise them to mate with barbaric men who slaved in caverns. As the men moved to claim Ariana, the largest wanted her for himself. Eventually, she would learn who the solid, muscled man with long dark hair was, but not before he stole her heart. Would she ever see her family and home planet again? Could she forget this hulk of a man if she did?
For readers who enjoy finding and experiencing a blend of science fiction and romance done well, Lord of the Dark Sun is one to pick up. I found mine in a used bookstore. Though published a while ago (Dec. 2002), an excellent story never expires.
April 2, 2017
When the heroine wakes up, she realizes that she and her travel companions have been captured by strange humanoid androids who throw them into a prison already holding hundreds of primitive men. Lost and afraid, she is claimed by what she can only call the leader of this animalistic group only to be stunned when a young man comes forth from the crowd to challenge for leadership. They battle and the heroine prays for the young man's success else she fears she'll be raped by the other man. When the challenger comes out with the victory, she is happy because in his eyes she can see he's a good man. Though they do not speak the same language the hero's body language and patience speak far more than words. With him, she feels safe and treasured. He does look upon her like a goddess and every tough is tender and loving and she falls deeply in love with him over the next coming months. But, she knows this prison of theirs is a death trap and that soon their tribe will be wiped out by their captors to prevent any rebellion. It's the hero and heroine that risk escaping their trap and they very nearly make it but in the process the hero sacrifices himself to see her be free.
Now, 10 years later, the heroine is still seeking out that beautiful boy who never gave her his name but whom she has loved fiercely every day of their parting. She is looking for a guide who can show her the way back to that ugly rock where she left her greatest love behind when she comes across the hero. He is arrogant and condescending and he very well be the only means she has of finding the boy again. Only, she learns from the hero that the prison she seeks has been destroyed and that.... the boy she speaks about has lived and stands before her a man. At first, she refuses to believe it. But in her heart, she knows it to be true.
Their reunion, both heart wrenching and long overdue is marred by the fact that while he knew who she was and where to find her, he never came for her after his escape. And that now, he is the commander of a rebel pirate ship at odds with her family's empire. Also, the fact that she is now his captive. But no matter how they try the love between them is all consuming. The passion that they once shared never went away and, as she soon learns, to him he built his life around her. He built his compound in tribute to her and every waking second was spent thinking about her and wanting her. But what has he to offer? He is a barbarian, born a slave and now a rebel. Still, the fact that their daughter lives on the heroine home world is once again the bonding that seals their fate. No matter what, they are destined to be together, to be a family despite the odds against them, despite the politics and the wars-they are true mates and nothing will ever separate them again.
I was captured by this story. The first part showed the heroine and hero as very young, naïve and innocent lovers who shared their hearts and bodies with an ease beyond their years. I was half expecting this to be the bulk of the story but much to my surprise, this was just a prelude to the main story. The hero, disguised from the reader at first, reveals his identity quickly enough and I was so happy to read that he had survived and escaped. I was also happy that the author didn't decide to change the love interest on us-instead opting to keep the savage boy as the hero. The hero and heroine had a very special love and I was super happy with the level of companionship and soul deep connection they shared. Despite all their differences, it just seemed to be pointless to fight it and they easily fell into the passionate love they once shared. How sweet it was for the hero to build his home around the heroine? His people revered her not only as the spark that ignited the rebellion but also because of the level of emotion the hero felt towards her. I will say, there were times in the story when the plot sort of drifted for me and I found myself wondering why certain scenes were written it. It was almost like a filter for the author to meet a certain number of pages and to me it dampened what would have been a stellar novel. As such, while I didn't love it, I was entertained and what's more, I was enchanted.
Now, 10 years later, the heroine is still seeking out that beautiful boy who never gave her his name but whom she has loved fiercely every day of their parting. She is looking for a guide who can show her the way back to that ugly rock where she left her greatest love behind when she comes across the hero. He is arrogant and condescending and he very well be the only means she has of finding the boy again. Only, she learns from the hero that the prison she seeks has been destroyed and that.... the boy she speaks about has lived and stands before her a man. At first, she refuses to believe it. But in her heart, she knows it to be true.
Their reunion, both heart wrenching and long overdue is marred by the fact that while he knew who she was and where to find her, he never came for her after his escape. And that now, he is the commander of a rebel pirate ship at odds with her family's empire. Also, the fact that she is now his captive. But no matter how they try the love between them is all consuming. The passion that they once shared never went away and, as she soon learns, to him he built his life around her. He built his compound in tribute to her and every waking second was spent thinking about her and wanting her. But what has he to offer? He is a barbarian, born a slave and now a rebel. Still, the fact that their daughter lives on the heroine home world is once again the bonding that seals their fate. No matter what, they are destined to be together, to be a family despite the odds against them, despite the politics and the wars-they are true mates and nothing will ever separate them again.
I was captured by this story. The first part showed the heroine and hero as very young, naïve and innocent lovers who shared their hearts and bodies with an ease beyond their years. I was half expecting this to be the bulk of the story but much to my surprise, this was just a prelude to the main story. The hero, disguised from the reader at first, reveals his identity quickly enough and I was so happy to read that he had survived and escaped. I was also happy that the author didn't decide to change the love interest on us-instead opting to keep the savage boy as the hero. The hero and heroine had a very special love and I was super happy with the level of companionship and soul deep connection they shared. Despite all their differences, it just seemed to be pointless to fight it and they easily fell into the passionate love they once shared. How sweet it was for the hero to build his home around the heroine? His people revered her not only as the spark that ignited the rebellion but also because of the level of emotion the hero felt towards her. I will say, there were times in the story when the plot sort of drifted for me and I found myself wondering why certain scenes were written it. It was almost like a filter for the author to meet a certain number of pages and to me it dampened what would have been a stellar novel. As such, while I didn't love it, I was entertained and what's more, I was enchanted.
September 15, 2013
Pretty epic for the last book of the series. And this is entertaining for a futuristic novel of complex proportions. Its many twists and turns made unable to predict what would usually happen next and I ended up barely putting it down and finishing anything. It has a depth to it that I find rarely in other books about life, love and other trivial things that others confound over. And I kind of like the idea of a love lasting through pains and obstacles, and finding trust and respect for each other.
February 4, 2011
An okay book, not sure why I had it on my bookshelf to read - the characters were okay, the plot a bit thin. But I had trouble suspending disbelief which you really need in a paranormal. While there were other books that came before this one, it stood on its own, I wasn't lost because of that. Not sure why the author choose to write this book the way she did, it came out in 2002 and the purple prose was distracting me.
April 30, 2016
A very long, indulgent novel. Lots of extra detail and scenes are included that aren't really needed. However over all we have some interesting main and secondary characters including animals :) Ari and Damen were fun, very light build to relationship and it stays this way. Good connection between the two.
April 15, 2008
Really good!!!!!!! A very, very sweet story!! Damen is one of the sweetest guys i have read about!!!!
August 29, 2013
I absolutely loved this one. I've read it numerous times to the point where the pages are starting to come out... Good science fiction romance and wonderfully written.
October 1, 2012
boring
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews