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Border Worlds Saga #1
The Nourisher
This book contains male homoerotica.Drake Glauco, a successful lawyer, happily married to Jankin--the man of his dreams--has a perfect life…until he comes home one day to find his husband in the arms of another man. In the resulting argument, Drake storms out of his house only to be drugged and kidnapped by alien people smugglers! His perfect life is shattered as he uncovers the real reason for his kidnapping. He is to become an egg nourisher for a Priaxian incubator named Vernon!
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2011
21 people are currently reading
767 people want to read
About the author
Mark Alders
57 books211 followersI live in Melbourne, Victoria, in the land of Oz. According to my own Teenage mis-adventures, I am just an ordinary guy with a penis which likes to get me into trouble…a lot. I’ve seduced trees, copulated with watermelons, and had nice old ladies pick ants off my naked body. Yep, that’s me. Mark Alders. All round nice guy and with my brain firmly in my pants, exactly where it belongs!
So what about the here and now? Well, I am a mild, mannered post office worker by day. I have a mortgage to pay and a partner named Lee who I have been with for *cough* twenty one years *cough.* At night, my muse, the bitch, forces me into bondage and makes me sit at my computer and type out stories about men having sex with each other…all the time…over and over…in varying degrees of WTF, too!
I mean, I have stories out there about alien spiders needing humans to nourish their eggs, red-skinned aliens whose balls glow when they are sexually excited, beings who cock dock with their victims to drain them of their life force, and a young man who discovers puberty is just the start of his problems as he comes into ‘magolescence’ on his eighteenth birthday and his penis turns into a snake!
Ah, the life of a story teller. The fun never ends.
So what about the here and now? Well, I am a mild, mannered post office worker by day. I have a mortgage to pay and a partner named Lee who I have been with for *cough* twenty one years *cough.* At night, my muse, the bitch, forces me into bondage and makes me sit at my computer and type out stories about men having sex with each other…all the time…over and over…in varying degrees of WTF, too!
I mean, I have stories out there about alien spiders needing humans to nourish their eggs, red-skinned aliens whose balls glow when they are sexually excited, beings who cock dock with their victims to drain them of their life force, and a young man who discovers puberty is just the start of his problems as he comes into ‘magolescence’ on his eighteenth birthday and his penis turns into a snake!
Ah, the life of a story teller. The fun never ends.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
January 6, 2018
Ok, that was one really weird, quirky and sweet read and not at all what I expected. 😁 I mean the blurb of the book describes a mating between a spider and a human so what would you expect if you were in my position? Since I clearly don’t have arachnophobia and obviously because I’m into quirky reads, I decided to give it a go and man, I can’t be happier that I gave this a shot. 😊
Drake is happily married and a very successful lawyer. On the day of his wedding anniversary, he came back home and found his loving husband in the arms of another man in a compromised position. Drake was absolutely furious and stormed out of his house to cool his temper down. And instead of extinguishing his fury, he was captured and kidnapped by frog-like aliens called Boldien. And to top his misery, he learnt that he’s being sold to spider-like aliens called Priaxian. For what reasons, he didn’t know. Soon, he learnt that he’s to become an egg nourisher for a Priaxian called Vernon.
This book has so many surprising elements. For example, like the bedroom roles of Vernon and Drake .. wow .. I didn’t see that one coming. 😁 And I really didn’t think I’d be smitten with that innocent, naïve and loving spider Vernon. 😍 As far as insectlike protagonists go, he could be my favorite MC. 💙 Just sweet and loving and protective and endearing. 😘 And the plot has so much depth and interesting twists. Talk about an intergalactic conspiracy trying to enslave mankind and rule the whole universe? That was onehelluva original and fascinating concept. 👏 Loved it a lot. 😍 And I also loved the relationship concept between Vernon and Drake. They didn’t start off pretty well but it doesn’t mean that they aren’t soulmates. They are just perfect for each other. 💙 Ah, can’t wait to move on to the second book. I’m dying to know about the budding war between the good and the bad. 😌 And of course, more crazy adventures of Vernon and Drake. 😁👏 And to top that, the sex was weirdly satisfying and erotic. 😂 Yea … I know! A human and a spider but it worked guys! It just works! 😂😱👏
Favorite excerpts from the novel: 💗💜💗
” Quickly and oh, so willingly, I became inebriated with so much passion and so much pain that I couldn't hold out any longer. Before the vision share collapsed around me, I blew my load. The biggest load I had probably ever delivered in my life.”
“Yes, lover. That's what he was, a beautiful, magnificent, unselfish lover, one who would never cheat on me. That much I knew and with every fibre of my being, too.”
“It can't be any better than the song I hear from you when we are joined. The flow of your life blood, the beating of your heart, even the movement of your muscles as they help send you toward climax, all is beautiful from you.”
“What's mine is yours, my Drake, my love, my hope.”
“This was everything, my universe, my life, my soul. Being with Vernon on this level, sharing with him the extraction experience was what I now craved, more so than life itself. Here we were equal, both physically and emotionally.”
“A human and a Priaxian can be together. There was nothing inside me but a deep emotional sense of belonging, the first time I had ever felt such a thing. I was Vernon's and he was mine. We were truly a couple.”
4.5 smart, sexy lawyer and cooing, gullible and lovely spider stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Drake is happily married and a very successful lawyer. On the day of his wedding anniversary, he came back home and found his loving husband in the arms of another man in a compromised position. Drake was absolutely furious and stormed out of his house to cool his temper down. And instead of extinguishing his fury, he was captured and kidnapped by frog-like aliens called Boldien. And to top his misery, he learnt that he’s being sold to spider-like aliens called Priaxian. For what reasons, he didn’t know. Soon, he learnt that he’s to become an egg nourisher for a Priaxian called Vernon.
This book has so many surprising elements. For example, like the bedroom roles of Vernon and Drake .. wow .. I didn’t see that one coming. 😁 And I really didn’t think I’d be smitten with that innocent, naïve and loving spider Vernon. 😍 As far as insectlike protagonists go, he could be my favorite MC. 💙 Just sweet and loving and protective and endearing. 😘 And the plot has so much depth and interesting twists. Talk about an intergalactic conspiracy trying to enslave mankind and rule the whole universe? That was onehelluva original and fascinating concept. 👏 Loved it a lot. 😍 And I also loved the relationship concept between Vernon and Drake. They didn’t start off pretty well but it doesn’t mean that they aren’t soulmates. They are just perfect for each other. 💙 Ah, can’t wait to move on to the second book. I’m dying to know about the budding war between the good and the bad. 😌 And of course, more crazy adventures of Vernon and Drake. 😁👏 And to top that, the sex was weirdly satisfying and erotic. 😂 Yea … I know! A human and a spider but it worked guys! It just works! 😂😱👏
Favorite excerpts from the novel: 💗💜💗
” Quickly and oh, so willingly, I became inebriated with so much passion and so much pain that I couldn't hold out any longer. Before the vision share collapsed around me, I blew my load. The biggest load I had probably ever delivered in my life.”
“Yes, lover. That's what he was, a beautiful, magnificent, unselfish lover, one who would never cheat on me. That much I knew and with every fibre of my being, too.”
“It can't be any better than the song I hear from you when we are joined. The flow of your life blood, the beating of your heart, even the movement of your muscles as they help send you toward climax, all is beautiful from you.”
“What's mine is yours, my Drake, my love, my hope.”
“This was everything, my universe, my life, my soul. Being with Vernon on this level, sharing with him the extraction experience was what I now craved, more so than life itself. Here we were equal, both physically and emotionally.”
“A human and a Priaxian can be together. There was nothing inside me but a deep emotional sense of belonging, the first time I had ever felt such a thing. I was Vernon's and he was mine. We were truly a couple.”
4.5 smart, sexy lawyer and cooing, gullible and lovely spider stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
July 28, 2013
2.5
This was incredibly bizarre. Yet oddly enthralling in that same sense. I wish I could've marked it up more for being so imaginative but there were so many things I felt were iffy about this book.
Problems:
•The unnatural dialogue
•The writing wasn’t bad, just not to my style. The MC’s “voice” was just too casual to my liking
•The name Vernon. Okay I know this isn’t a legitimate reason, but HELLO. VERNON DURSLEY. Does the name Vernon not come with negative connotations?
•Vernon and Drake (was Drake’s name ever used? I can’t even remember) fell in love waay too quickly. I don’t have anything against interplanetary love or anything, but seriously, to fall in love in such a small amount of time? Usually I would let this go, because I generally don’t care, but honestly, I think it’s easier to suspend your disbelief when it is anatomically possible for the twopeople (creatures?) to get it on.
There were a few other things which I won’t go on to name… But anyway.
Apart from that, I found incredibly charming for some reason, and very engrossing. Very engrossing. It makes for a very interesting read. I'm not sure if I would recommend it to you, or just mark as a "take interest" for you to see if it appeals to you.
This was incredibly bizarre. Yet oddly enthralling in that same sense. I wish I could've marked it up more for being so imaginative but there were so many things I felt were iffy about this book.
Problems:
•The unnatural dialogue
•The writing wasn’t bad, just not to my style. The MC’s “voice” was just too casual to my liking
•The name Vernon. Okay I know this isn’t a legitimate reason, but HELLO. VERNON DURSLEY. Does the name Vernon not come with negative connotations?
•Vernon and Drake (was Drake’s name ever used? I can’t even remember) fell in love waay too quickly. I don’t have anything against interplanetary love or anything, but seriously, to fall in love in such a small amount of time? Usually I would let this go, because I generally don’t care, but honestly, I think it’s easier to suspend your disbelief when it is anatomically possible for the two
There were a few other things which I won’t go on to name… But anyway.
Apart from that, I found incredibly charming for some reason, and very engrossing. Very engrossing. It makes for a very interesting read. I'm not sure if I would recommend it to you, or just mark as a "take interest" for you to see if it appeals to you.
September 6, 2015
This was not a book I expected to be all cute and cuddly. Seriously, 8-foot spiders? Who thinks cute and cuddly? It wasn't ALL cute and cuddly but Vernon ends up being just that. He is such a sweetie:) Poor Drake is sometimes so clueless but he does recognize that. This story also surprised me in another way. I don't usually like 1st person. It's a failing of mine:( Couldn't help liking this one. I must say Mark is always taking his readers on strange but fascinating journeys. I am really looking forward to the next in the series:)
April 5, 2011
I am amazed. If I had been told I would love a story with a human falling for a giant alien spider, I would have never believed it. But the author made me a believer! Every little detail about Vernon, from his soft hairs to his cooing, made me see what a wonderful creature he was. And on top of that he is a wonderful, smart, caring and sensual being.
When compared to him, Drake Glauco, the narrator, was less interesting and I have to confess that sometimes he was a bit too loud or too bitter or too sarcastic, I can't explain. It was as if his words failed to express this incredible bonding, this miracle, but it was moving to see how he accepted his role as a nourisher and he formed this connection with someone so different. I appreciated very much that the author showed that Drake was willing to bond with Vernon outside of their incubator/nourisher relationship and when Vernon told him "I thought you'd never ask", he melted me. To see that Drake didn't need for Vernon to create the illusion of a beautiful lover moved me to tears. For a spider!!!
The world building is awesome and very detailed. I liked to learn about the different alien species, their worlds, their trades, their powers and what's happening to the Priaxians and their species got me really concerned. Whenever I thought of Vernon carrying the eggs, I just wanted to enter the book and protect him. I'll be reading more of this series because there are so many things to be explored yet.
When compared to him, Drake Glauco, the narrator, was less interesting and I have to confess that sometimes he was a bit too loud or too bitter or too sarcastic, I can't explain. It was as if his words failed to express this incredible bonding, this miracle, but it was moving to see how he accepted his role as a nourisher and he formed this connection with someone so different. I appreciated very much that the author showed that Drake was willing to bond with Vernon outside of their incubator/nourisher relationship and when Vernon told him "I thought you'd never ask", he melted me. To see that Drake didn't need for Vernon to create the illusion of a beautiful lover moved me to tears. For a spider!!!
The world building is awesome and very detailed. I liked to learn about the different alien species, their worlds, their trades, their powers and what's happening to the Priaxians and their species got me really concerned. Whenever I thought of Vernon carrying the eggs, I just wanted to enter the book and protect him. I'll be reading more of this series because there are so many things to be explored yet.
February 18, 2011
Drake Glauco is a happy man. He loves his life. He loves his job. He loves his husband, Jankin, who is the man of his dreams. Today Drake and his beautiful husband celebrate their anniversary. When he walks in he finds Jankin with a breathtaking man on their way to getting naked. His heart stalls and when it starts up again, angry words are exchanged before Drake walks out in to the awaiting Boldiens.
If finding his husband cheating isn’t good enough to crap on his day, Drake now finds himself kidnapped, smuggled off earth, stripped of all his possessions with no way of escaping. Oh how the mighty have fallen. When he wakes up on Priax he realizes that he has been sold. He has only his base knowledge of Priaxians to go off of and none if it is good, if the stories of the disappearances are true.
Vernon has been chosen to be the carrier of the next generation of Praiaxians. Drake Glauco is the honored nourisher who is chosen to help Vernon. Will Drake agree to be Vernon’s nourisher or doom the next Priaxian generation to death? Can Drake trust Vernon to help him find answers to mounting questions and get back to earth and Jankin? As problems accumulate and enemies reveal themselves will Vernon and Drake be able to protect each other, reveal the conspiracy and avert a war?
Okay, in all honesty I was cringing on the inside when I found out one of the aliens was a spider. If a spider invades my house I will capture and release – squealing like a girl and dancing a jig all the way. (Very embarrassing.) BUT I am also one of those naggy scifi-ers that complain when all aliens are humanoid and I was willing to overlook my aversion to arachnids in hopes of having a true sci-fi read.
HOLY FREAKING COW! The whole nourisher experience with the paranormal twist was awesome. Not what I expected at all! Vernon was fantastic! My most favorite gadget was the Flying Leaf. The nerd in me saw stars. It was brilliant! Talking about the writing, Vernon was rescuing Drake and I could see this four meter spider creep and slide through the tunnels. Hair raising and awesome all at the same time.
This gave me everything that I crave. Fantastic writing. A twist of something original. Spies. Conspiracies. A chase or two. Explosions. Nasties that I can boo. Characters that I can fall in love with. Oh, and let’s not forget the cool gadgets. I kept saying “wow” throughout the story, sneaking clips of reading while at work because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Now I have to wait in agony for book two to come out. *stomping around*
Before I close, I have to say that regardless of what happened, I still hate Jankin. I thought about feeling a smidgeon of compassion for him and I cannot bring myself to do it. Call me black hearted, I don’t care. There are always other ways.
*clearing throat* I should have trusted…*rubbing the back of neck* *cough* I should have known that that which comes from the desk of Alders would be a great f*cking ride! (I know…you told me so.)
If finding his husband cheating isn’t good enough to crap on his day, Drake now finds himself kidnapped, smuggled off earth, stripped of all his possessions with no way of escaping. Oh how the mighty have fallen. When he wakes up on Priax he realizes that he has been sold. He has only his base knowledge of Priaxians to go off of and none if it is good, if the stories of the disappearances are true.
Vernon has been chosen to be the carrier of the next generation of Praiaxians. Drake Glauco is the honored nourisher who is chosen to help Vernon. Will Drake agree to be Vernon’s nourisher or doom the next Priaxian generation to death? Can Drake trust Vernon to help him find answers to mounting questions and get back to earth and Jankin? As problems accumulate and enemies reveal themselves will Vernon and Drake be able to protect each other, reveal the conspiracy and avert a war?
Okay, in all honesty I was cringing on the inside when I found out one of the aliens was a spider. If a spider invades my house I will capture and release – squealing like a girl and dancing a jig all the way. (Very embarrassing.) BUT I am also one of those naggy scifi-ers that complain when all aliens are humanoid and I was willing to overlook my aversion to arachnids in hopes of having a true sci-fi read.
HOLY FREAKING COW! The whole nourisher experience with the paranormal twist was awesome. Not what I expected at all! Vernon was fantastic! My most favorite gadget was the Flying Leaf. The nerd in me saw stars. It was brilliant! Talking about the writing, Vernon was rescuing Drake and I could see this four meter spider creep and slide through the tunnels. Hair raising and awesome all at the same time.
This gave me everything that I crave. Fantastic writing. A twist of something original. Spies. Conspiracies. A chase or two. Explosions. Nasties that I can boo. Characters that I can fall in love with. Oh, and let’s not forget the cool gadgets. I kept saying “wow” throughout the story, sneaking clips of reading while at work because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Now I have to wait in agony for book two to come out. *stomping around*
Before I close, I have to say that regardless of what happened, I still hate Jankin. I thought about feeling a smidgeon of compassion for him and I cannot bring myself to do it. Call me black hearted, I don’t care. There are always other ways.
*clearing throat* I should have trusted…*rubbing the back of neck* *cough* I should have known that that which comes from the desk of Alders would be a great f*cking ride! (I know…you told me so.)
April 2, 2011
I have fallen in love with a spider and a lawyer who has a clothes allergy.
Vernon and Drake were abso-frickin'-lutely adorable. The thing I loved the most about them was that they were so affectionate with each other. I really believed in their love.
A spider that makes cooing noises when you rub his belly and scratch him under the chin...but is vicious when his man is threatened. Awesome.
And let us not forget Drake. Drake was unbelievably kind, caring and brave. He doesn't think he's all that special but all he wants to do is help people. That's pretty special.
It's hard to review this because giving a run-down of the plot would give alot of spoilers.
Thing I liked the most: Drake falls in love with Vernon, not despite his being a spider but Vernon's being a spider is one of the things Drake loves about him. I thought that was gorgeous.
Vernon and Drake were abso-frickin'-lutely adorable. The thing I loved the most about them was that they were so affectionate with each other. I really believed in their love.
A spider that makes cooing noises when you rub his belly and scratch him under the chin...but is vicious when his man is threatened. Awesome.
And let us not forget Drake. Drake was unbelievably kind, caring and brave. He doesn't think he's all that special but all he wants to do is help people. That's pretty special.
It's hard to review this because giving a run-down of the plot would give alot of spoilers.
Thing I liked the most: Drake falls in love with Vernon, not despite his being a spider but Vernon's being a spider is one of the things Drake loves about him. I thought that was gorgeous.
March 31, 2011
I really liked this book. I don't usually read this genre, but the worlds and beings were very detailed and I found myself loving the main characters. The relationship between Drake and Vernon was beautiful. I liked the way Mark made the love they found more about their personalities and character, than about appearance. The analogy "Don't judge a book by its cover" really applies here. It really is about what is on the inside that counts.
The storyline was truly unique as well. A male spider like alien being is an egg incubator for the future generation and a human male nourishes the egg. There is space travel, alien fighting and kidnapping and a lot of trying to get home. Along the way, there is hurt and love and laughter. Overall a very good book and I am looking forward to more in this series.
The storyline was truly unique as well. A male spider like alien being is an egg incubator for the future generation and a human male nourishes the egg. There is space travel, alien fighting and kidnapping and a lot of trying to get home. Along the way, there is hurt and love and laughter. Overall a very good book and I am looking forward to more in this series.
March 18, 2011
Quick, fast paced story with lots of spaceships and alien fighting! Oh, and don't forget the huge, hairy alien spider.
Vernon is such a sweetie. He was always taking care of Drake and keeping him safe. It was funny how Drake would totally flip out when things got sticky, but Vernon was always there as calm as he could be. Love those two!
Can't wait to see how Drake is going to keep all his promises to the Priaxians, Jankin, and the Auroran Resistance and save the rest of the world from the Auroran wasp people!
Vernon is such a sweetie. He was always taking care of Drake and keeping him safe. It was funny how Drake would totally flip out when things got sticky, but Vernon was always there as calm as he could be. Love those two!
Can't wait to see how Drake is going to keep all his promises to the Priaxians, Jankin, and the Auroran Resistance and save the rest of the world from the Auroran wasp people!
November 23, 2011
I was a bit skeptical about this book at first, because one of the characters is a spider! EEK! Well, Vernon is pretty much the most adorable, sweetest, bad ass spider I've ever read about. I absolutely LOVED this book. It was a very refreshing read. It had an imaginative, complex sci fi world, nonstop action, and 2 main characters that I adored. I loved Drake and his voice as the story was from his POV.
I can't wait for the sequel and many more books after that (I hope!)
I can't wait for the sequel and many more books after that (I hope!)
February 22, 2011
Ahhhh man only Mark Alders could get me to love a spider. I mean in real life they're disgusting and I can't stand them ewwww, but in this book I just fell in love with Vernon. I could totally hang out with Vernon and Drake. Once again there is so much going on for me to explain the book, just read it you won't be disappointed. Excited for the next book to come out.
April 1, 2011
I loved it. It was crazy imaginative. I loved Drake he was a great narrator and really brought the story to life.
August 27, 2016
I don't read sci-fi much because it's usually over my head, but I like this first book of Borders of World Saga. It's a love story of Drake and Vernon (a big spider). The sex was hot and although there was a lot of world building, I was able to keep up and understand. More Vernon!
I'm just starting to read m/m without an f and I really enjoyed this story.
I'm just starting to read m/m without an f and I really enjoyed this story.
February 18, 2011
Wow, very vivid world created in this book. Fast paced and full of adventure for Vernon and Drake! Very interesting interactions between them as well. I just might be in love with Vernon myself....
April 24, 2011
My rating: 3.5 stars
When I read the blurb for this book, my first thought was: Oh, no, another kidnapping story with kidnapee falling in love with his captor. Ninety nine percent of the time, these stories don't work for me because I just can't suspend my disbelief. Add to this the fact that that one of the protagonists is 4-meter-tall spider-like alien and I though this will never, ever work.
Well, I was wrong.
Why it worked? What, exactly, worked?
1. Drake was given a choice to leave shortly after the arrival to Priaxia. He chose to stay. He was familiar with aliens so Vernon wasn't exactly a huge surprise for him (although he IS huge). Drake also suffers from mild Messianic complex, even if he is kind-hearted. He is a lawyer after all. XD He participated in the realization of treaty which brought great benefits to the human kind. Saving entire race? Of course, he will do it.
2. Vernon is a doll. No, really. He is so well written that you forget that he is actually a spider. He is a sweetheart. All four meters of him.
3. Sex scenes. If you shuddered at the thought of bestiality, don't worry. Mark Alders found a unique, perfect solution. Well, well done. In the name of full disclosure, there is one short scene that might be slightly uncomfortable or some readers, but I didn't mind. The descriptions were vague and, frankly, I saw it as . :D
4. World building and action. High entertainment value and humor (My favorite line: If you can't have sex with it, eat it.)
What didn't work?
1. Insta-love. Drake falls for Vernon after maybe two days and after eight years of what he believed was the real love. Fascination, response to Vernon's immeasurable kindness - I could buy. Love? No.
2. Character of Drake. He comes across as fickle. He thinks one thing and two minutes later - he changes his mind. He has this episodes of low self-esteem (Why, oh, why am I a feeble human?!) and then he promises the alliance to the alien race, absolutely certain that he can pull it off.
3. Inconsistencies. Example: Vernon can speak to Drake's mind and only to Drake's mind due to the extraction process. He can't talk to the others - Drake has to talk to the space port control. In the later part of the novel, Vernon mind-talks to everyone.
The book is entertaining in spite of it's flaws and I will most definitely pick up the sequel. Read it. Vernon rocks.
When I read the blurb for this book, my first thought was: Oh, no, another kidnapping story with kidnapee falling in love with his captor. Ninety nine percent of the time, these stories don't work for me because I just can't suspend my disbelief. Add to this the fact that that one of the protagonists is 4-meter-tall spider-like alien and I though this will never, ever work.
Well, I was wrong.
Why it worked? What, exactly, worked?
1. Drake was given a choice to leave shortly after the arrival to Priaxia. He chose to stay. He was familiar with aliens so Vernon wasn't exactly a huge surprise for him (although he IS huge). Drake also suffers from mild Messianic complex, even if he is kind-hearted. He is a lawyer after all. XD He participated in the realization of treaty which brought great benefits to the human kind. Saving entire race? Of course, he will do it.
2. Vernon is a doll. No, really. He is so well written that you forget that he is actually a spider. He is a sweetheart. All four meters of him.
3. Sex scenes. If you shuddered at the thought of bestiality, don't worry. Mark Alders found a unique, perfect solution. Well, well done. In the name of full disclosure, there is one short scene that might be slightly uncomfortable or some readers, but I didn't mind. The descriptions were vague and, frankly, I saw it as . :D
4. World building and action. High entertainment value and humor (My favorite line: If you can't have sex with it, eat it.)
What didn't work?
1. Insta-love. Drake falls for Vernon after maybe two days and after eight years of what he believed was the real love. Fascination, response to Vernon's immeasurable kindness - I could buy. Love? No.
2. Character of Drake. He comes across as fickle. He thinks one thing and two minutes later - he changes his mind. He has this episodes of low self-esteem (Why, oh, why am I a feeble human?!) and then he promises the alliance to the alien race, absolutely certain that he can pull it off.
3. Inconsistencies. Example: Vernon can speak to Drake's mind and only to Drake's mind due to the extraction process. He can't talk to the others - Drake has to talk to the space port control. In the later part of the novel, Vernon mind-talks to everyone.
The book is entertaining in spite of it's flaws and I will most definitely pick up the sequel. Read it. Vernon rocks.
May 22, 2011
Excellent, just flipping excellent. Man, I want a Vernon!
October 2, 2012
This book did what I thought was the impossible--made spiders adorable. For that alone it earns a star. Vernon is smart, sweet, and absolutely loveable. And I'll give Drake kudos for being open-minded about the whole unplanned interspecies' sexual relations. Amazing job at making the reader accept what on face value seems implausible.
All that aside, there's intrigue, impending doom, some bad guys and even a few who aren't all bad.
All that aside, there's intrigue, impending doom, some bad guys and even a few who aren't all bad.
July 11, 2016
4.5 Stars ~ I definitely enjoy a good science fiction story, a new-to-me author, and a storyline that involves mpreg. The description for ‘The Nourisher’ really intrigued me, mainly because it didn't say a whole lot and I like to be left guessing. The world building this author created was unique, fascinating, detailed but not too much to overwhelm me, and I couldn't seem to read fast enough.
Drake is a lawyer in a future time where aliens are known and come and go from Earth. Drake, in fact, does business with many different species and it's the reason he ends up kidnapped and delivered to the planet Priax. Drake is the architect of the Borders of Worlds treaty involving trade between all sentient life forms within the galaxy. The Boldiens had the monopoly on galactic trade before Drake became involved. Now the Boldiens have kidnapped and sold him to the Priaxians, a very large spider-like race, thus keeping the Boldiens as the masters of galactic trade.
"My name in your tongue is Vernon. And if you don’t help me, the egg I have been blessed with, the egg that is our next generation, will shrivel and die. If that happens the others will either kill me or send me out to the wastelands. Please, Drake, please be my nourisher. I was not responsible for your capture. I have only been chosen this season to carry the egg. You have been chosen to nourish it. I will make sure you are as comfortable as you can be, your every whim my command."
Wow. What do you do in this situation? Drake now has a symbiotic relationship with Vernon and he will have to nourish (provide semen) for Vernon's egg sac every day for the next four human years. Since Vernon and Drake are now in a symbiotic relationship, only Drake's sperm can nourish the egg. The nourishers the Priax have always used are a native mammalian species, non-sentient, on their planet but they've been dying out for years with no answers as to why. A conundrum for Drake to be sure. How can Drake allow an entire race to perish? A meeting with the queen reinforces what Drake has already learned but his request to go to Earth with Vernon so he can see his husband - the one he caught cheating on him - is granted.
As they spend more time together and do the extractions - which, by the way are done in a psychic vision share for Drake so he can get aroused seeing as staring at a large spider isn't going to do it - Vernon shows himself in the visions as looking more human and Drake can't help but be attracted. Even outside of the visions, Drake finds himself attracted to Vernon's character, his kind and compassionate nature with a touch of humor. Vernon is feeling the same things for his nourisher.
Due to the lack of detail in the description (which I loved!) there are a number of twists and turns that I can only vaguely refer to because I don't want to spoil this for anyone else. If you're a science-fiction fan then you understand how much can happen within the pages of a book. On their way to Earth a number of obstacles crop up to hinder their journey. More importantly, Drake learns of the long-ranging betrayal he had been subject to for years and the role he is expected to now play. More than a few alien races and human accomplices are involved, and Drake and Vernon are going to need to come up with a plan to make sure the Aurorans and the Cult of Starfall's end goal doesn't succeed.
There is so much intrigue, mystery, suspense, machinations, betrayal, greed, and power hungry aliens in 'The Nourisher' that I was fascinated by every page I turned. The love that grew between Vernon and Drake was truly remarkable and a beautiful thing to witness. I adored Vernon, almost from the beginning. Drake took a little longer for me to like. I thought as a very important man on Earth, the man who drafted this groundbreaking treaty, Drake should have been a little more useful. Granted, as he pointed out, being a weak, thin-skinned, and naked human up against larger and more dangerous aliens, he was definitely out of his league. The world building was phenomenal and I'm really looking forward to more. The ending clearly showed that there is still much action and adventure on the horizon for Drake and Vernon.
In a nutshell, I adored it. Thank you, Mark Alders, for such a fantastic beginning to a highly intriguing new series!
Drake is a lawyer in a future time where aliens are known and come and go from Earth. Drake, in fact, does business with many different species and it's the reason he ends up kidnapped and delivered to the planet Priax. Drake is the architect of the Borders of Worlds treaty involving trade between all sentient life forms within the galaxy. The Boldiens had the monopoly on galactic trade before Drake became involved. Now the Boldiens have kidnapped and sold him to the Priaxians, a very large spider-like race, thus keeping the Boldiens as the masters of galactic trade.
"My name in your tongue is Vernon. And if you don’t help me, the egg I have been blessed with, the egg that is our next generation, will shrivel and die. If that happens the others will either kill me or send me out to the wastelands. Please, Drake, please be my nourisher. I was not responsible for your capture. I have only been chosen this season to carry the egg. You have been chosen to nourish it. I will make sure you are as comfortable as you can be, your every whim my command."
Wow. What do you do in this situation? Drake now has a symbiotic relationship with Vernon and he will have to nourish (provide semen) for Vernon's egg sac every day for the next four human years. Since Vernon and Drake are now in a symbiotic relationship, only Drake's sperm can nourish the egg. The nourishers the Priax have always used are a native mammalian species, non-sentient, on their planet but they've been dying out for years with no answers as to why. A conundrum for Drake to be sure. How can Drake allow an entire race to perish? A meeting with the queen reinforces what Drake has already learned but his request to go to Earth with Vernon so he can see his husband - the one he caught cheating on him - is granted.
As they spend more time together and do the extractions - which, by the way are done in a psychic vision share for Drake so he can get aroused seeing as staring at a large spider isn't going to do it - Vernon shows himself in the visions as looking more human and Drake can't help but be attracted. Even outside of the visions, Drake finds himself attracted to Vernon's character, his kind and compassionate nature with a touch of humor. Vernon is feeling the same things for his nourisher.
Due to the lack of detail in the description (which I loved!) there are a number of twists and turns that I can only vaguely refer to because I don't want to spoil this for anyone else. If you're a science-fiction fan then you understand how much can happen within the pages of a book. On their way to Earth a number of obstacles crop up to hinder their journey. More importantly, Drake learns of the long-ranging betrayal he had been subject to for years and the role he is expected to now play. More than a few alien races and human accomplices are involved, and Drake and Vernon are going to need to come up with a plan to make sure the Aurorans and the Cult of Starfall's end goal doesn't succeed.
There is so much intrigue, mystery, suspense, machinations, betrayal, greed, and power hungry aliens in 'The Nourisher' that I was fascinated by every page I turned. The love that grew between Vernon and Drake was truly remarkable and a beautiful thing to witness. I adored Vernon, almost from the beginning. Drake took a little longer for me to like. I thought as a very important man on Earth, the man who drafted this groundbreaking treaty, Drake should have been a little more useful. Granted, as he pointed out, being a weak, thin-skinned, and naked human up against larger and more dangerous aliens, he was definitely out of his league. The world building was phenomenal and I'm really looking forward to more. The ending clearly showed that there is still much action and adventure on the horizon for Drake and Vernon.
In a nutshell, I adored it. Thank you, Mark Alders, for such a fantastic beginning to a highly intriguing new series!
January 15, 2016
I was actually pleasantly surprised with this book. I wasn't expecting much but the plot was actually quite interesting.
Drake gets kidnapped by some nasty froggy aliens and handed over to the Priaxians who are essentially huge sentient spiders...I was like WTF!!!
He becomes a symbiont to Vernon and must "donate" his sperm everyday to feed the egg he's carrying. You see, Vernon is an incubator and Drake has been become a nourisher. This intimate bond allows the pair to vision share and Vernon can appear humanoid in Drake's mind. Long story short, they fall in love but the story doesn't end there. There is a nefarious plot afoot and Vernon and Drake set upon a voyage that will reveal deep treachery and a brewing war.
Will definitely continue this series.
Drake gets kidnapped by some nasty froggy aliens and handed over to the Priaxians who are essentially huge sentient spiders...I was like WTF!!!
He becomes a symbiont to Vernon and must "donate" his sperm everyday to feed the egg he's carrying. You see, Vernon is an incubator and Drake has been become a nourisher. This intimate bond allows the pair to vision share and Vernon can appear humanoid in Drake's mind. Long story short, they fall in love but the story doesn't end there. There is a nefarious plot afoot and Vernon and Drake set upon a voyage that will reveal deep treachery and a brewing war.
Will definitely continue this series.
January 3, 2016
PANTS. ON. HEAD. RETARDED.
Okay, the *idea* of the story is spectacular!!! The execution... NOT. The idea of the characters was amazing, the actual depiction was uneven and jittery and... pants on head retarded!!! I wanted to slap people for being stupid and made entirely of logic fail. Several times a plot point is introduced and then maybe the character and the author both forgot about it, but I sure didn't, and I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE HECK THAT WAS ALL ABOUT! Also, I got mental whiplash from ever changing plot vectors with no substantiation. All in all, driven insane by irritation..... GRRRRRRR!!! Probably going to read something else for a while, but will read the rest of the series to see how it all turns out despite the intense frustration.
Okay, the *idea* of the story is spectacular!!! The execution... NOT. The idea of the characters was amazing, the actual depiction was uneven and jittery and... pants on head retarded!!! I wanted to slap people for being stupid and made entirely of logic fail. Several times a plot point is introduced and then maybe the character and the author both forgot about it, but I sure didn't, and I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE HECK THAT WAS ALL ABOUT! Also, I got mental whiplash from ever changing plot vectors with no substantiation. All in all, driven insane by irritation..... GRRRRRRR!!! Probably going to read something else for a while, but will read the rest of the series to see how it all turns out despite the intense frustration.
August 26, 2011
Days of Our Lives gone sci-fi.
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
dnf
August 21, 2013*looks at reviews, looks at book, looks at Strunk and White, looks at book, looks back at reviews with a puzzled face. DNFs*
April 17, 2011
Drake Glauco was having a bad day. Sure, we all have bad days, but in Drake’s case it involves finding his husband is cheating on him and then being kidnapped by aliens. He then finds himself as an egg nourisher to a giant spider-like alien named Vernon.
The giant spiders, the Priaxians, made The Nourisher something of a challenge to read since I run screaming from the room at the sight of a spider, but thankfully I persisted. Vernon, the Priaxian incubator whose egg Drake must nourish, is such a charming character that you cannot help but love him.
The storyline of Mark Alders’ sci fi adventure/romance is a thrill a minute, so I am looking forward to The Soldier, part two of the Borders of Worlds Saga.
The giant spiders, the Priaxians, made The Nourisher something of a challenge to read since I run screaming from the room at the sight of a spider, but thankfully I persisted. Vernon, the Priaxian incubator whose egg Drake must nourish, is such a charming character that you cannot help but love him.
The storyline of Mark Alders’ sci fi adventure/romance is a thrill a minute, so I am looking forward to The Soldier, part two of the Borders of Worlds Saga.
May 3, 2011
All I can say is that Mark Alders is a genius. Who would have thought that a big hairy spider could be so sweet, gentle and loving. I really liked and enjoyed this book. At times you actually forgot Vernon was a spider. It was wonderful watching the relationship between Drake and Vernon develop. What a great beginning to a series.
January 4, 2018
Great book! I love Vernon, and even though he is a spider, you want to cuddle with him. I am looking forward to #2 in the series.
March 21, 2013
Perfection!
November 14, 2012
It's hard to rate this book, since it (and its sequels) are a mixed bag. On one hand, Alders built an interesting world that's creative, to say the least of it. On the other hand, the prose pretty much broke it for me.
The prose feels simplistic, and has a YA feeling to it, which made me feel like I'm a teen all over again huddling down with the latest PG-13 book for well, 13-year-olds. The descriptions are very lacking, and a whole world can be explained within three sentences. Spaceships, gates, and species aren't described properly, so you only have a vague arthropodal impression of them.
The same problem with the setting leaks into the characters. Drake's reaction to being kidnapped, almost killed, and sold into what is essentially sex slavery is unrealistic, even for a book about alien spiders. And he goes from being unrealistically calm about the whole ordeal, to accepting and falling in love with Vernon within half a book? Well, okay.
Vernon is very lovable, admittedly, like many reviews have mentioned. Unfortunately, he is also the only character with any sort of personality, and even then it feels like he's just made out of tropes. A character tagged with tags like 'cute', 'fuzzy', 'innocent', and 'clueless' without any real substance or motivation to it.
It's not a bad book per se, if you just want to read a Sci-fi book featuring lots of intergalactic travelling. The book carves a place between erotica (I'm hesitant to call it MM...) and sci-fi, but does both poorly. You'll be better served with another book, unless you REALLY like your aliens.
The prose feels simplistic, and has a YA feeling to it, which made me feel like I'm a teen all over again huddling down with the latest PG-13 book for well, 13-year-olds. The descriptions are very lacking, and a whole world can be explained within three sentences. Spaceships, gates, and species aren't described properly, so you only have a vague arthropodal impression of them.
The same problem with the setting leaks into the characters. Drake's reaction to being kidnapped, almost killed, and sold into what is essentially sex slavery is unrealistic, even for a book about alien spiders. And he goes from being unrealistically calm about the whole ordeal, to accepting and falling in love with Vernon within half a book? Well, okay.
Vernon is very lovable, admittedly, like many reviews have mentioned. Unfortunately, he is also the only character with any sort of personality, and even then it feels like he's just made out of tropes. A character tagged with tags like 'cute', 'fuzzy', 'innocent', and 'clueless' without any real substance or motivation to it.
It's not a bad book per se, if you just want to read a Sci-fi book featuring lots of intergalactic travelling. The book carves a place between erotica (I'm hesitant to call it MM...) and sci-fi, but does both poorly. You'll be better served with another book, unless you REALLY like your aliens.
August 29, 2012
Good Heavens! The story line shouldn't have worked as well as it did, but it was action packed and sexy.
Drake was kidnapped by aliens outside his apartment when he stormed out after finding his husband Jankin with another man. He was sold by the original set of aliens to the Queen ruler of the planet Piraxia so that he could be a "nourisher".
As they tried to journey to earth to deal with Jankin and encountered multiple alien invader obstacles along the way, the action adventure was very creative. I applaud the author's imagination. He created an interesting world.
Drake was kidnapped by aliens outside his apartment when he stormed out after finding his husband Jankin with another man. He was sold by the original set of aliens to the Queen ruler of the planet Piraxia so that he could be a "nourisher".
As they tried to journey to earth to deal with Jankin and encountered multiple alien invader obstacles along the way, the action adventure was very creative. I applaud the author's imagination. He created an interesting world.
March 29, 2016
Loved it! How Mark is able to imagine his stories I have no idea, but the result was tender, funny, scary and fast paced with wonderful heros and shocking villains. Vernon is a beautiful character and I'd never thought I would readily accept a 4 metre high spider as a hero before, but he is and I do! Drake and Vernon make a lovely couple and their love for each other shone from the page. Who would have thought that love between a man and a giant spider could be so sweet? Mark Alders - that's who and he easily makes us see it too! Can't wait for the next book - I need more Vernon!
May 31, 2012
I'm giving this story a 5 star rating because Mark pulled off the impossible: He made a human and a giant spider-like alien fall in love. He not only made it believable, sensual, romantic AND took out the ewww factor, he also made it hot! The plot was so creative and unique. I thoroughly enjoyed every fantasy/sci-fi filled page. I'm not going to go into detail on how he did this. You'll just have to read it for yourselves. In the end, I became very emotionally invested in these two. I can't wait to read the next installment!
March 23, 2011
I know that we all like knowing why someone voted 1 stars, but since I can think at something positive to say about this book. I prefer to refrain my self and not elaborate, so that it's doesn't look like I flamme the book.
I can say however that even if you find one personage sympathetic, cute, etc, that's not sufficient to make a book interesting.
Stop reading after page 23.
I didn't like it.
I can say however that even if you find one personage sympathetic, cute, etc, that's not sufficient to make a book interesting.
Stop reading after page 23.
I didn't like it.
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