BloodLust (Rise of the Iliri, #1) in Reverse Harem Readers

Jul 31, 2017 Jennifer G rated it really liked it

Shelves: reverse-harem

Bloodlust is a fascinating book; part sci-fi, part fantasy, part political expose'. Sal is a rarity, a pure Iliri. The humans have taken over the planet in their quest for metals. They have cross-bred the Iliri making them pets and using them for their own purposes. They are treated worse than animals. Sal as a purebred can never fit in with humans. She stands out with her white skin, ears located more on the top of her had, as well as razor like teeth. She doesn't act quite human either, her se Bloodlust is a fascinating book; part sci-fi, part fantasy, part political expose'. Sal is a rarity, a pure Iliri. The humans have taken over the planet in their quest for metals. They have cross-bred the Iliri making them pets and using them for their own purposes. They are treated worse than animals. Sal as a purebred can never fit in with humans. She stands out with her white skin, ears located more on the top of her had, as well as razor like teeth. She doesn't act quite human either, her senses are better and she has an animal like streak. She's has always been a slave, but has a chance at a better life in the military, especially if she is chosen to be a member of the Black Blades, an elite force. The Blades consist of their Lieutenant Blaec, his First Officer Arctic, Shift, Razor, Zep, and the assassin Cyno. The Blades are an elite force with a secret; they all have Iliri blood. And they have found their Kaisae, a female to rule their pack.

This is a coming of age book of sorts. Sal has no knowledge of the Iliri and has always tried to be as human as possible. Blaec looks human and while he takes advantage of his Iliri traits, he has hidden his heritage. Cyno's Iliri side has left him nearly a wildman. Sal brings the group closer while also presenting new problems. She has personal relations with more than one of the men and a couple more seem interested. This is a reverse harem, so she will end up with several of the men. She makes the group stronger, better, but may end up destroying them if not careful.

I loved the world building and the history introduced into the story. The characters are complex, conflicted. Sal and Blaec most of all. It was frustrating, yet understandable. The dynamics, the warring instincts, the struggle for dominance, the fear over acceptance, the love; all of these issues balanced with military tactics and battles as well as the everyday discrimination struggles Sal faced made for a very entertaining book. The suspense near the end kept me up reading late into the night. I loved the book and look forward to more with Sal, Blaec, and the rest of the Blades. ...more

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Jul 12, 2018 Puna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: i-want-more, world-building

I didn't quite know what to expect when I started this book...it's been recommended to me multiple times by multiple people. But every time I read the synopsis I was still hesitant. It's not that I don't like scifi books but I'm very particular about them. I finally put it on my tbr list and then I finally got to read it.

It's a great book. The world building is thought out and intriguing . You can tell that Auryn took her time building this world. I also enjoy the Iliri. The story is very authen ...more

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May 03, 2020 Georgia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: loved-the-whole-series

I really loved this whole series and it lacked the slow moments a lot of books have that see me skipping pages. The heroine is badass and you see real growth in her throughout the series. I love she makes mistakes and stays relatively humble. This is definitely a steamy RH fantasy but has a strong storyline to back it up. The characters, storyline and world building were amazing!
This series would make for an interesting discussion about the rise and views regarding racism (specism in this series ...more

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Feb 07, 2018 Kewpified rated it it was amazing

Sal is an amazing bad ass character! Strong, smart and a natural born killer...oh wait I mean leader, lol. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next. I hope she learns more about her heritage and that the Black Blades continue to command respect after the big reveal at the end.

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Mar 10, 2021 Sammie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I wasn’t going to read this series as I’d seen a few bad reviews. But I am so glad I did. I loved it. It’s an amazing read. Not too much on the complex relationships, just enough for you to understand. The story is incredible. The characters are fleshed out and come to life. It’s not predictable. I laughed and cried and truly enjoyed it all.

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