goldensisyphus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
smut_church's review against another edition
3.0
Tenthil & Abella's love is so sweet! I really loved the end of their story. However, I found myself skimming quite a bit. There were pages and pages and pages of fight scenes with too many small & unnecessary details (in my opinion). The bigger world building was really nice but at points it just got to be too much for me (sooooo manyyyyy smalllllll detailllsssss). The setting is a pretty typical Sci-Fi setting. I was picturing Blade Runner 2049 the whole time.
Anyway, I read this book because I really wanted to read the next book in the series and didn't want to miss out on anything. Finally, I can move on to hunky Arc's story!!!
Anyway, I read this book because I really wanted to read the next book in the series and didn't want to miss out on anything. Finally, I can move on to hunky Arc's story!!!
geo_ix's review
4.0
4.5 stars!
I really enjoyed this! It was super close to a 5 star read for me but I think after all the action was gone it just didn’t end how I expected I guess. I think this was a little too long, it did drag slightly in some parts, but I think overall it had GREAT world building, and really really great action scenes. Honestly I don’t usually like action scenes they seem a bit clunky and badly written usually, but the final battle scenes in this were SO well written I could visualise every moment and it was just so well done.
I’m interested in the three eyed guy, and more of this world because it was so cool.
Maybe that’s why I was let down a little in the end? Because they
I really enjoyed this! It was super close to a 5 star read for me but I think after all the action was gone it just didn’t end how I expected I guess. I think this was a little too long, it did drag slightly in some parts, but I think overall it had GREAT world building, and really really great action scenes. Honestly I don’t usually like action scenes they seem a bit clunky and badly written usually, but the final battle scenes in this were SO well written I could visualise every moment and it was just so well done.
I’m interested in the three eyed guy, and more of this world because it was so cool.
Maybe that’s why I was let down a little in the end? Because they
Spoiler
leave and go back to earth together? It was nice she got to reconnect with her family, but I really liked that city lolportlandcat's review against another edition
4.0
A fun, fast-paced sci fi novel but also a pretty good romance!
twoflower77's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
Good spice and surprisingly good action
justinekorson's review against another edition
5.0
I started off with this novel first, even though I really wanted to skip to Shielded Heart because I heard great things about it, and I'm really glad I chose NOT to skip it. Tenthil and Abela's backstory's were both sad in their own way and the world building of these novels was fantastic. I loved reading about the city and all it's sci-fi elements. It really set the tone for the series as a whole and I was so ecstatic to read about their live's after everything that happened to them in Athros. It made the wait to read Shielded Heart even sweeter because I understood the world and the people/beings in it.
c0urtn3yy's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
To be honest, the world building & overarching storyline was really quite fantastic; & the variety of characters/species was impressive. I loved that they were both kidnapped from their homes & that he was this deadly assassin & it wasn't just another fated mates alien romance, but it also seemed like maybe romance was not the top priority IMO - which could be good, depending on what you're looking for. I wanted there to be more. I enjoyed how fiesty she was right away & appreciated the multiple escape attempts, but then all of a sudden it just switched or something & now she's in love. Maybe it was because most of their conversations were incredibly one sided so it just felt that way? Idk. & the spice was fine, but I thought that could've been better too. And their names!! Abella? I kept inadvertently calling her "abuela" instead - just what you want in a spicy romance novel, LOL. Tenthil also reminded me of "lentil". Couldn't get over it.
maxines_obsessions's review
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
3.0
lucy_18's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
torilovesheas's review against another edition
2.0
I’m so disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I wanted to. The premise was fantastic and I did truly enjoy the world building and setting. And of course this is Tiffany Roberts so the writing is smooth and the plot is fascinating and unique.
But this has one of my least favorite scenarios of all time: FMC that has zero idea how the world she’s in works or who’s considered good, bad, or corrupt but thinks she knows more than the person that is part of said city who TOLD HER not to try and brave it on her own so she tries to brave it on her own and, to no one’s shock, she gets chased down by bad guys and almost killed. There’s a difference between bravery and stupidity. And Abella was for sure the latter.
Tenthil didn’t have a real reason for wanting to be with her and I don’t feel like they really knew each other? I mean it switched SO QUICK from “I hate you and want to go back to earth” to “you’re my soulmate and I’m okay staying here with you”. Just not super great relationship development, which is maybe attributed to this being an earlier work. Because the relationship development in the Spider’s Mate Trilogy is phenomenal. Also there’s a few things that weren’t cleared up like….what is the void? What is the well of secrets? Are they….sentient? Are they real or did the Master make it all up? Is it just like…a religious thing?? Not really sure and it’s never cleared up.
Definitely my least favorite of their books. The premise was great but it fell short, unfortunately. :(
Audio narration was amazing on male voices and did great, distinct voices for each character but the way he did Abella’s voice was so cringe inducing. It was super whiny and high pitched? Didn’t love.
But this has one of my least favorite scenarios of all time: FMC that has zero idea how the world she’s in works or who’s considered good, bad, or corrupt but thinks she knows more than the person that is part of said city who TOLD HER not to try and brave it on her own so she tries to brave it on her own and, to no one’s shock, she gets chased down by bad guys and almost killed. There’s a difference between bravery and stupidity. And Abella was for sure the latter.
Tenthil didn’t have a real reason for wanting to be with her and I don’t feel like they really knew each other? I mean it switched SO QUICK from “I hate you and want to go back to earth” to “you’re my soulmate and I’m okay staying here with you”. Just not super great relationship development, which is maybe attributed to this being an earlier work. Because the relationship development in the Spider’s Mate Trilogy is phenomenal. Also there’s a few things that weren’t cleared up like….what is the void? What is the well of secrets? Are they….sentient? Are they real or did the Master make it all up? Is it just like…a religious thing?? Not really sure and it’s never cleared up.
Definitely my least favorite of their books. The premise was great but it fell short, unfortunately. :(
Audio narration was amazing on male voices and did great, distinct voices for each character but the way he did Abella’s voice was so cringe inducing. It was super whiny and high pitched? Didn’t love.