amyiw's review
3.0
Scifi fluff romance.
This is really good until the middle where they don't kill the a-hole. And surprise surprise, he comes back to haunt them and cause great injury. Really? I literally was yelling out loud, while driving and listening to this through headsets and my daughter was like, 'what?'. "Kill him! argh!", "kill him already! argh!". 'what Mom?' daughter respondes. She knows I am listening to a book but is really wondering. Usually I'm laughing or sighing but not talking out loud. So here I am explaining that they are not killing the bad guy, no they try to take him with them and when they cannot... they don't kill him, leaving him to do very bad thing again. Argh!
So this is at the 1/2 way point and it is a spoiler but... I'm leaving it as maybe others won't be as disappointed knowing ahead that something totally stupid is about to happen.
So 80% in now and just for this stupidity, I will not be able to love this.
This is really good until the middle where they don't kill the a-hole. And surprise surprise, he comes back to haunt them and cause great injury. Really? I literally was yelling out loud, while driving and listening to this through headsets and my daughter was like, 'what?'. "Kill him! argh!", "kill him already! argh!". 'what Mom?' daughter respondes. She knows I am listening to a book but is really wondering. Usually I'm laughing or sighing but not talking out loud. So here I am explaining that they are not killing the bad guy, no they try to take him with them and when they cannot... they don't kill him, leaving him to do very bad thing again. Argh!
So this is at the 1/2 way point and it is a spoiler but... I'm leaving it as maybe others won't be as disappointed knowing ahead that something totally stupid is about to happen.
So 80% in now and just for this stupidity, I will not be able to love this.
leesarpel's review
5.0
This Galactic Gladiators book to breaks the formula of the first few, and it’s the more enjoyable (for me) for it.
Blaine Strong has plenty of demons and trauma to deal with. He’s a tortured hero who thankfully doesn’t take it out on anyone…except maybe himself. Saff Essikani, however, takes no guff from Blaine, and calls him on his self-destructive impulses. Both characters are strong and likable, competent and wounded. Saff has some ugly things of her own to overcome, and she and Blaine have to lean on each other to overcome them. They’re very good together, in bed, in the fight ring, or traveling together on not-camels.
The action and pacing are fantastic as usual, and this would make a great feature film. I don’t like that there’s teaser material for the next book in the series as this one.
Blaine Strong has plenty of demons and trauma to deal with. He’s a tortured hero who thankfully doesn’t take it out on anyone…except maybe himself. Saff Essikani, however, takes no guff from Blaine, and calls him on his self-destructive impulses. Both characters are strong and likable, competent and wounded. Saff has some ugly things of her own to overcome, and she and Blaine have to lean on each other to overcome them. They’re very good together, in bed, in the fight ring, or traveling together on not-camels.
The action and pacing are fantastic as usual, and this would make a great feature film. I don’t like that there’s teaser material for the next book in the series as this one.
redhairedashreads's review
4.0
Series: Galactic Gladiators #5
Rating: 4 stars - It was really good
Space Marine Blaine Strong is struggling to overcome his time as a slave in the underground fighting rings. The drugs they gave him have made him more aggressive and now he struggles to control himself. When the House of Galen is attacked he fights with the gladiators to take down their enemies and rescue the humans. Along the way he admits his feelings for the beautiful and dangerous Saff Essikani.
“Sometimes things look bad, impossible even, but you have to believe things will get better and keep moving toward it.”
This was an action packed adventure with a very hot couple. I really enjoyed this book. Blaine is struggling to deal with what was done to him in the fighting rights. Saff is the only one who gets through to him and really understands how much he is struggling. She helps him embrace the fact he will never be the same man again. I really liked Blaine and do wonder if we will see more human men in future books since we know more were taken.
“He kissed her like he needed her to live. Needed her to breathe. Like he could find all the answers inside her.”
Saff was a beautiful and deadly woman. I really liked her. She was sold to the arena and has earned her freedom but the scars from her past still remain. These two had great chemistry and were a kickass couple. I couldn’t get enough of either of them, especially when they were fighting together.
I really can’t wait to dive into the next book because things are really ramping up against the slavers. We are getting closer to finding the location of the fight rings and the rest of the humans but it gets more dangerous with every new piece of information. I love the mixture of romance and danger in this series. Hackett really knows how to mix the two and create an amazing world and characters.
This review was originally posted at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
Rating: 4 stars - It was really good
Space Marine Blaine Strong is struggling to overcome his time as a slave in the underground fighting rings. The drugs they gave him have made him more aggressive and now he struggles to control himself. When the House of Galen is attacked he fights with the gladiators to take down their enemies and rescue the humans. Along the way he admits his feelings for the beautiful and dangerous Saff Essikani.
“Sometimes things look bad, impossible even, but you have to believe things will get better and keep moving toward it.”
This was an action packed adventure with a very hot couple. I really enjoyed this book. Blaine is struggling to deal with what was done to him in the fighting rights. Saff is the only one who gets through to him and really understands how much he is struggling. She helps him embrace the fact he will never be the same man again. I really liked Blaine and do wonder if we will see more human men in future books since we know more were taken.
“He kissed her like he needed her to live. Needed her to breathe. Like he could find all the answers inside her.”
Saff was a beautiful and deadly woman. I really liked her. She was sold to the arena and has earned her freedom but the scars from her past still remain. These two had great chemistry and were a kickass couple. I couldn’t get enough of either of them, especially when they were fighting together.
I really can’t wait to dive into the next book because things are really ramping up against the slavers. We are getting closer to finding the location of the fight rings and the rest of the humans but it gets more dangerous with every new piece of information. I love the mixture of romance and danger in this series. Hackett really knows how to mix the two and create an amazing world and characters.
This review was originally posted at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
fresholivebread's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This one is great, too. MMC is a tortured ex-space marine trying to reconcile his new world/darkness, and FMC is the kick-ass gladiator in this one. They go really well together - physically/emotionally, and it's one pairing where they are equally matched. They're both also extremely alpha, and it's very entertaining to see them clash in all ways. She's also an empath of who helps him embrace himself fully, in a tough and no-nonsense way. The roughness and the rawness of their love scenes are 🥵
nikkisbooknook's review
5.0
Flying Spacemonkeys! We are back with my favourite Gladiators again. This time it is the Amazonian like Saff and the recently rescued and still recovering from drug withdrawal Blaine.
Saff is clearly one of the gang, they see her as sister in arms, capable and equally deadly as they are. She is the best net fighter of them all and she can probably put them all on their collective a$$, should she feel like it! Blaine, however, still sees her as a female, someone to protect, cherish and adore. He's slowly recovering from the drugs the underground fighting bosses loaded him up with and his control is a bit or miss and he's terrified of hurting Saff or any of the others.
House of Galen is left reeling from an attack and when the madness settles down they realise that some of the recently rescued females have, once again, been taken. Blaine and Saff go looking for them and some of the things Blaine is forced to do in order to not blow their cover, stick in his throat.
There is plenty happening in their book. It was great to see "Blue" was still in the care of House of Galen and I can't wait to see what happens with him in the future. It was also great having Raiden and the other still in supportive roles, they are family to Saff and it's only right they would be involved! Onwards and upwards to the next!!!
Saff is clearly one of the gang, they see her as sister in arms, capable and equally deadly as they are. She is the best net fighter of them all and she can probably put them all on their collective a$$, should she feel like it! Blaine, however, still sees her as a female, someone to protect, cherish and adore. He's slowly recovering from the drugs the underground fighting bosses loaded him up with and his control is a bit or miss and he's terrified of hurting Saff or any of the others.
House of Galen is left reeling from an attack and when the madness settles down they realise that some of the recently rescued females have, once again, been taken. Blaine and Saff go looking for them and some of the things Blaine is forced to do in order to not blow their cover, stick in his throat.
There is plenty happening in their book. It was great to see "Blue" was still in the care of House of Galen and I can't wait to see what happens with him in the future. It was also great having Raiden and the other still in supportive roles, they are family to Saff and it's only right they would be involved! Onwards and upwards to the next!!!
monkeysbecausewhynot's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ddot25's review
4.0
So good, as usual. I really liked that the gladiator in this was female, now I wish there were more. Saff and Blaine were sexy as hell together. I am also enjoying the ongoing storyline that Hackett has kept up with. I seriously cannot wait for Nero's book! I love me tall, dark and silent and a little brooding to top it all off! Definitely check out this book.
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