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Border Worlds Saga #2
The Soldier
Drake Glauco, now a successful nourisher and happily joined to Vernon, comes to realize it's time for a Priaxian/human alliance to come to fruition. The joy he has experienced too great for it to not be used to benefit all mankind. The mutual need too important. With each passing day, Drake and Vernon's symbiotic relationship grows just as much as the hatchlings inside the egg the Priaxian carries as the hope for his species. But trouble stirs in the dark places of the galaxy. A once sleeping giant, an enigmatic race known as the Herdsmen, stirs. Their awakening brought about by many events, including trespassing into their territory. The result of them becoming known is devastating for all the sentient species, especially for humans. The Herdsmen have developed a taste for mankind's flesh. Can Drake and Vernon negotiate an agreement with the Herdsmen before it's too late? Offer some alternative to the slaughter that will result if they enter human space. Or will their plans to dominate the galaxy obliterate all in their path, including their allies? All hope once more falls on Drake…and a mysterious Priaxian soldier who communicates to him in his dreams.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2011
12 people are currently reading
224 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 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 3, 2018
DNF at 62%
It’s time to call a spade a spade. After pausing this book for over 3 months, I finally accepted that I won’t be able to continue reading this book. While I truly and really really enjoyed the authenticity and refreshing interspecies love story from book one, the second book fell short for me. This book was too focused and heavy on intergalactic politics which I obviously have no interest in and I didn’t get as much of my two beloved MCs from book one in this story. That being said, just for the sake of finishing a book, I might pick this one up again one day. 😁 For now, this gets the automatic 2.75 stars as it’s my standard procedure for all the books I DNF.
2.75 stars
⭐️⭐️🌟
It’s time to call a spade a spade. After pausing this book for over 3 months, I finally accepted that I won’t be able to continue reading this book. While I truly and really really enjoyed the authenticity and refreshing interspecies love story from book one, the second book fell short for me. This book was too focused and heavy on intergalactic politics which I obviously have no interest in and I didn’t get as much of my two beloved MCs from book one in this story. That being said, just for the sake of finishing a book, I might pick this one up again one day. 😁 For now, this gets the automatic 2.75 stars as it’s my standard procedure for all the books I DNF.
2.75 stars
⭐️⭐️🌟
September 6, 2015
This the the second in the Borders of Worlds Saga. We have more characters joining Vern and Drake on their adventures in saving the universe. It is fun and interesting to see more about the culture of Priaxians. The conflict heats up even more in this sequel to The Nourisher. Most of this one is the group running from conflict to conflict but that makes it fun and impossible to put down. I'm so looking forward to the next in the series.
November 23, 2011
This was a fantastic follow up to the first book in the series. I continue to adore Vernon, and I love all the new characters that were introduced in this book too! I think it's amazing the whole world that Mark Alders created in this series, and I love how complex everything is, the nonstop action, and hot sex of course. Great read...now I am eagerly awaiting the third (and final??) book in the series!
May 29, 2016
More like 3.5 stars
We continue the story of Drake who's the human nourisher of the Priaxian spider (and big sweetheart) Vernon. The incubation is going well but there are constant threats from other alien species.
I was confused some of the time trying to keep all the factions clear in my head. I did enjoy learning about the soldier/servant caste system...
We continue the story of Drake who's the human nourisher of the Priaxian spider (and big sweetheart) Vernon. The incubation is going well but there are constant threats from other alien species.
I was confused some of the time trying to keep all the factions clear in my head. I did enjoy learning about the soldier/servant caste system...
January 13, 2018
Exciting Adventure in Space!
Space wars bring me a lot of joy as they're nostalgic for me. The first show I was ever "interested in" with more than a passing fancy as the original Star Trek where I always wanted to be the one "to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before." [I love you, William Shatner!) Mark Alders managed to go above and beyond any battle The Enterprise ever engaged in while chronicling the adventures of Drake and his Priaxian partner Vernon. I literally read half of this while holding my breath!
More players are added into the game in The Soldier with The Herdsmen coming in as the real Big Bads who are controlling the Aurorans -who control The Boldiens- and the Priory of Priaxia for their own agenda. I was surprised by the addition of Ranjay to the mix though I suppose I should have seen it coming since he had to be somewhere, right? The likelihood he'd been killed when his parents were still considered a threat/valuable was slim. I found myself hoping he'd surprise me by the end of the work; I'm not really disappointed he didn't since it adds another piece to the playing field for the final book in the Borders of Worlds Saga.
The Soldier got a full 5 stars out of me courtesy of the massive amount of players brought out -no one was left forgotten either!- for the upcoming war between those in the Borders of Words treaty and The Herdsmen along with their allies. I loved Mara -the captured warrior of Priaxia- as well as Wyatt -the hero of his people who'd hatched the last egg only to lose his symbiotic partner to the plague which devastated Priaxians natural nourishers- as both of them brought in a dignity, a grace, and a sense of timelessness to those caught up in this war which was lacking courtesy of the youth of all the players to date.
I absolutely cannot wait to find out how everything works out for my precious Vernon and his human Drake Glauco!
Space wars bring me a lot of joy as they're nostalgic for me. The first show I was ever "interested in" with more than a passing fancy as the original Star Trek where I always wanted to be the one "to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before." [I love you, William Shatner!) Mark Alders managed to go above and beyond any battle The Enterprise ever engaged in while chronicling the adventures of Drake and his Priaxian partner Vernon. I literally read half of this while holding my breath!
More players are added into the game in The Soldier with The Herdsmen coming in as the real Big Bads who are controlling the Aurorans -who control The Boldiens- and the Priory of Priaxia for their own agenda. I was surprised by the addition of Ranjay to the mix though I suppose I should have seen it coming since he had to be somewhere, right? The likelihood he'd been killed when his parents were still considered a threat/valuable was slim. I found myself hoping he'd surprise me by the end of the work; I'm not really disappointed he didn't since it adds another piece to the playing field for the final book in the Borders of Worlds Saga.
The Soldier got a full 5 stars out of me courtesy of the massive amount of players brought out -no one was left forgotten either!- for the upcoming war between those in the Borders of Words treaty and The Herdsmen along with their allies. I loved Mara -the captured warrior of Priaxia- as well as Wyatt -the hero of his people who'd hatched the last egg only to lose his symbiotic partner to the plague which devastated Priaxians natural nourishers- as both of them brought in a dignity, a grace, and a sense of timelessness to those caught up in this war which was lacking courtesy of the youth of all the players to date.
I absolutely cannot wait to find out how everything works out for my precious Vernon and his human Drake Glauco!
January 6, 2018
Further exciting adventures for Drake and Vernon. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first but it was no less exciting as our intrepid heroes bouncy around the galaxy with their merry band of cohorts.
This installment was a bit repetitious in places and like the first book really needs professional editing.
I did however move straight onto The Incubator because I must know what happens to everyone!!
This installment was a bit repetitious in places and like the first book really needs professional editing.
I did however move straight onto The Incubator because I must know what happens to everyone!!
August 4, 2016
Considering how quickly I inhaled 'The Nourisher', book one in this series, I'm actually surprised it's taken me a few weeks to get to this next book. Believe me when I say that it's in your best interest to read these books in order. There is so much backstory and setting the stage, plus the world building that occurs in the first book, that in my opinion you'll be completely lost if you try to skip the reading order.
I was thrilled that the author picked the story up, essentially, right from the end of the previous book. Vernon and Drake are at home on Priax getting ready to leave, along with Jankin and Taseem, to head to Earth for Drake to modify the Border Worlds treaty. Drake is determined to get an alliance between humans and Priaxians for humans to become nourishers so the Priaxians do not die out as a species. Since Vernon and Drake discovered that the Priaxians’ non-sentient mammalian nourishers native to Priax had been systematically destroyed by enemies hoping to conquer Priax, the only available nourishers in the galaxy are humans. Drake wants his fellow humans to experience the incredible symbiotic relationship that he and Vernon have. Of course, as I've discovered with these two main characters, nothing ever goes as planned.
On their voyage to Earth they are chased by a ship from the Cult of Starfall, a prominent galactic organization that wishes Priax and all Priaxians dead. Much like in my review of the first book in this series, there is much I can not say as it would be spoilers. Just know that there is a disenfranchised group on Priax going by the name of the Priory who wish to cause a revolution and change the caste system. This is something that could cause more damage than good, not just to Priax but to many other species, but Vernon and Drake have to get to the bottom of it. The information they discover is far worse than they had ever imagined, involving the Herdsmen, a species who has always been isolationists but now out of anger are set to destroy and yoke all the other species in the galaxy.
Another exciting addition to the series with action, adventure, space battles, hot sex, new revelations, betrayals, and more political machinations than I could shake a stick at. I'm so excited to see what the final book will bring!
I was thrilled that the author picked the story up, essentially, right from the end of the previous book. Vernon and Drake are at home on Priax getting ready to leave, along with Jankin and Taseem, to head to Earth for Drake to modify the Border Worlds treaty. Drake is determined to get an alliance between humans and Priaxians for humans to become nourishers so the Priaxians do not die out as a species. Since Vernon and Drake discovered that the Priaxians’ non-sentient mammalian nourishers native to Priax had been systematically destroyed by enemies hoping to conquer Priax, the only available nourishers in the galaxy are humans. Drake wants his fellow humans to experience the incredible symbiotic relationship that he and Vernon have. Of course, as I've discovered with these two main characters, nothing ever goes as planned.
On their voyage to Earth they are chased by a ship from the Cult of Starfall, a prominent galactic organization that wishes Priax and all Priaxians dead. Much like in my review of the first book in this series, there is much I can not say as it would be spoilers. Just know that there is a disenfranchised group on Priax going by the name of the Priory who wish to cause a revolution and change the caste system. This is something that could cause more damage than good, not just to Priax but to many other species, but Vernon and Drake have to get to the bottom of it. The information they discover is far worse than they had ever imagined, involving the Herdsmen, a species who has always been isolationists but now out of anger are set to destroy and yoke all the other species in the galaxy.
Another exciting addition to the series with action, adventure, space battles, hot sex, new revelations, betrayals, and more political machinations than I could shake a stick at. I'm so excited to see what the final book will bring!
November 12, 2012
Same thing that applied to The Nourisher applied here, as does my review from the first book: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
To add a few things unique to this book: Sern and Braken's relationship was cute but lacked depth - but since they're secondary characters, I won't count it against them. The whole book reads like those sci-fi movies from the seventies/eighties featuring bad CGI, stiff hairdos, and over-the-top villains without actually having any of those. Maybe it's the constantly escaping from one enemy to another enemy thing.
Again, some very unrealistic things: For sentient races that are so advanced, our heroes seem to be escaping remarkably easily from their various states of imprisonment. For sentient aliens who have invented weapons of mass destruction and space travel, their prisons are about as secure as an outhouse shack.
All of this lends a very B-grade movie feeling to the whole book. If you're looking for a novel that reads like a sci-fi comic book, you've hit pay dirt here.
May 1, 2011
to come....
Very fast paced, action packed adventure...continues where the first book ends - off on a mission Drake and Vernon get down and dirty with the Priory and the Aurorians.
We learn more about Praxians and some secrets come to light. With war looming....who's the enemy and who is friend?
Very fast paced, action packed adventure...continues where the first book ends - off on a mission Drake and Vernon get down and dirty with the Priory and the Aurorians.
We learn more about Praxians and some secrets come to light. With war looming....who's the enemy and who is friend?
January 25, 2013
The continuing tale of Vernon and Drake. I liked this story but not as much as the first one. I truly cannot believe the vivid imagination of this author though! Wow, he must be quite interesting to spend an evening with. The world he has created is pretty ingenious. Onward to book 3 in the series.
October 6, 2016
The story gets a heck of a lot more complicated in this book. There's a lot more intrigue and a lot more things going on.
I'm really enjoying how cuddly the relationship Drake and Vernon have with each other.
I'm really enjoying how cuddly the relationship Drake and Vernon have with each other.
April 10, 2011
Great world building and I love Drake & Vernon.
February 6, 2013
The sequel continued where the first book left off and was just as amazing.
Drake and Vernon have as strong a relationship as ever and enjoyed the brief rest just living and loving in Vernon's nest, but the Queen now needs them along with Jankin and his wife to go back to earth to negotiate the treaty between the two worlds.
Along the way, trouble catches up with them and their original plans turn into another string of dangerous adventures when they learn of intrigue and betrayal that leads to allying with an unlikely group. But scariest of all, they learn that the war they are gearing up for is now the least of their worries. A new danger has arisen in an isolationist race that are now determined to enter the fray. They have a taste for human flesh and a technology beyond what the other races have ever seen.
This one is that well blended plot of tender, but passionate romance between Vernon and Drake, intrigue and action as they work to stay alive and keep everyone else alive too. It was fun to meet new characters and even more unique world building with a new race introduced and deeper explanation of the Priaxian culture.
This solid sequel just cemented even more how much I enjoy Vernon and Drake and their adventures. That ominous ending of 'safe for now with dark clouds on the horizon' had me purchasing the third book almost immediately.
Drake and Vernon have as strong a relationship as ever and enjoyed the brief rest just living and loving in Vernon's nest, but the Queen now needs them along with Jankin and his wife to go back to earth to negotiate the treaty between the two worlds.
Along the way, trouble catches up with them and their original plans turn into another string of dangerous adventures when they learn of intrigue and betrayal that leads to allying with an unlikely group. But scariest of all, they learn that the war they are gearing up for is now the least of their worries. A new danger has arisen in an isolationist race that are now determined to enter the fray. They have a taste for human flesh and a technology beyond what the other races have ever seen.
This one is that well blended plot of tender, but passionate romance between Vernon and Drake, intrigue and action as they work to stay alive and keep everyone else alive too. It was fun to meet new characters and even more unique world building with a new race introduced and deeper explanation of the Priaxian culture.
This solid sequel just cemented even more how much I enjoy Vernon and Drake and their adventures. That ominous ending of 'safe for now with dark clouds on the horizon' had me purchasing the third book almost immediately.
May 30, 2012
I´m glad I´m the type of reader that can´t leave a story unfinished.
After struggling with The NourisherI´m happy I gave Mark Aldersanother chance.
The Soldier was so much better.
Fast, way too fast and with so much going on.
I am not going to pretend I can remember every race´s name or every character, tho Brake and Sern made an impression, I can just say that by reading the Saga you will let your imagination go wild.
It´s amazing how as a reader I get to forget Vernon is a huge 8 legged spider when he is with Drake. I mean, the intimacy these two share, I can´t get my head around it.
I´m also glad I have The Incubator ready on my kindle, because the ending of The Soldier left so many questions open, I was not going to be able to wait too long to read the third book in the Saga.
Thank you Mark, for sharing The Nourisher with me back in March, I was missing out on some great sci fy.
After struggling with The NourisherI´m happy I gave Mark Aldersanother chance.
The Soldier was so much better.
Fast, way too fast and with so much going on.
I am not going to pretend I can remember every race´s name or every character, tho Brake and Sern made an impression, I can just say that by reading the Saga you will let your imagination go wild.
It´s amazing how as a reader I get to forget Vernon is a huge 8 legged spider when he is with Drake. I mean, the intimacy these two share, I can´t get my head around it.
I´m also glad I have The Incubator ready on my kindle, because the ending of The Soldier left so many questions open, I was not going to be able to wait too long to read the third book in the Saga.
Thank you Mark, for sharing The Nourisher with me back in March, I was missing out on some great sci fy.
July 6, 2015
I thought book #1 of the saga was fast paced and action packed, but book #2 is a rollercoaster ride from "they're doomed" to "thank goodness, they made it". And of course my favorite... "how the heck did they pull THAT off?" :)
Situations keeps moving forward and so many ripples in the pond after the first... and second stones are thrown.
I continue to find the closeness and love between Vernon and Drake fascinating... and so will you.
Highly recommended.
==============================
1st read - Feb 15, 2012
2nd read - Jul 4, 2015
Situations keeps moving forward and so many ripples in the pond after the first... and second stones are thrown.
I continue to find the closeness and love between Vernon and Drake fascinating... and so will you.
Highly recommended.
==============================
1st read - Feb 15, 2012
2nd read - Jul 4, 2015
March 15, 2011
The second part of this Saga starts where first ended. The plotted adventure was easy readable and enjoyable. The main male couple, Vernon and Drake, were sweet together. Anyway this was easy funny read.
April 15, 2014
This is why I don't read space sagas. I want to get to the end and I start comparing everything to Star Trek. I try not to but I do. There are now way too many bad guys and double crossing and aliens for me to keep straight.
Someone, somewhere just tell how this ends.
Someone, somewhere just tell how this ends.
November 10, 2020
In this second part of the series we find out more about the world Vernon and Drake live in and about the danger they are in. What I don´t like about this book is the role Drakes ex-husband plays in all this.
March 24, 2013
This was a great story, lots of action and sexy men. I liked the first story better but this had just as much entertainment value, oh and hot nakedness *G*
September 12, 2015
I got bored
November 22, 2018
Rating: 3 stars.
December 12, 2011
MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
I LOVE THIS SERIES
I LOVE THIS SERIES
August 13, 2013
really hot. like this author a lot
September 8, 2015
Not as good as the first book.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews