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babudarabu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Classism
Minor: Death, Drug use, Gore, and Blood
katiekeske's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
If you like a sweet, cinnamon roll that is a little awkward and feels like an outcast in society then you'll enjoy this one, too. Especially if you like aliens that are actually alien-like in appearance and culture.
The heroine is also capable, funny, and loyal. I liked her and her little dog Snaps.
I can't wait to read more in this series!
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death and Drug use
spuki's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death and Violence
puddicure's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Anyway. As a preface to my full review: I’m a lesbian who withers at awkward comedy, and ‘miscommunication as a plot device,’ at least in a romanic context, usually gives me hives. As a result, I can only stomach romance in small doses, usually in dramatic contexts, and preferably, slathered in the more palatable sauce of genre fiction.
So when I checked out this audiobook from Hoopla, I expected very little, especially with the way the summary describes her love interest as “awkward, adorable, and alien as hell.”
What I found here was a veritable delight of shockingly good scifi. Like, I cannot emphasize enough how skillfully Aguirre fleshes out this little corner of the galaxy, the aliens that live there, and the tech at their disposal, all without dropping a ton of technical terms on you at once. Both Beryl and the reader are reminded time and time again, and to comedic effect, that this is an alien planet and an alien culture; and to the credit of the log line, that DOES make her new alien beau come across as quite awkward, mostly because he genuinely doesn’t understand and/or misunderstands a lot of the intent in her behaviors and turns of phrase. (While I’m on the subject: in the first few chapters, where the language barrier is dealt with via alien tech, was the moment I sat up and said out loud: “oh. This is good.” And it sets up SO many good jokes.)
Now onto the part of the story the summary doesn’t really touch on: the ceremony for being able to become mates is, basically, the fucking hunger games. And Beryl is a tiny human competing against other aliens who all have natural weapons to deter giant predators. It absolutely rules.
I won’t go too much into it, because I don’t want to spoil the delightful experience, but hive intrigue and politics also start to come into play, and it really cranks up the stakes.
Lastly, I have an audiobook specific compliment for the voice the narrator does for Snaps- their delivery really punches up his limited dialogue, and made me even more endeared to him than I would normally be. He’s a very good boy.
As far as if I’ll read the sequel…eh. The character they introduced who is the main character of the sequel didn’t get enough screentime for me to really care much about him. I might listen someday in hopes of these characters showing up, though.
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Drug use, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
To start: this is erotica. Hot, graphic alien/human sex is had multiple times in the book. Kidnapping: Beryl is mistaken for someone else, and that accidental kidnapping is the backbone of this story premise. Violence: I mentioned the hunger games aspect of the Choosing. People die in this competition. Only one or two are lingered upon, to my memory. Several are injured. Drugs: There is a party late in the book where alien party drugs are being used.ednam0dewannabe's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Classism
Moderate: Death and Kidnapping
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, Drug use, Gore, and Death of parent
wilybooklover's review
5.0
The plot is a bit wacky and the alien culture more or less practices eugenics, with some harrowing tests involved in the process. The relationship remains sweet and understanding and low-angst all while they face these trials together, which is one of my favourite things to read.
I loved how alien Zylar was. He's not at all humanoid — closer to a giant bipedal insect. He doesn't have anything like human genitalia (which makes the sex scenes interesting, and perhaps not for everyone). He's adorably formal and awkward. The alien culture is suitably strange and a little bit terrifying.
Oh, and there's a talking dog who gets some of the funniest lines. I adored every page of this.
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
greystory's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The first part of the book was pretty hilarious and had a great amount of sci-fi rom-com vibes but things start to get serious and take a somber turn about half way through. There's still some comedic bits to help lighten the mood, sweet and tender moments, and an eventual, hopeful, mostly happily ever after. The end was pretty satisfying, all the things considered.
I greatly enjoyed so much in this book - the character growth, meeting different characters, the world of Barath and the city of Srila, the complex and brutal sociocultural rules. I really hope we get to see some of the characters again and I look forward to diving into this world further in the next two books.
I do want to share two very important warnings:
1. SA Warning:
2. Violence/Death Warning:
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
thenerdybookwitch's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Misogyny, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Drug use, and Gore
notthatlibrarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty and Kidnapping
jmcordero's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Violence
Minor: Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Slavery, Torture, Excrement, and Abandonment