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Etherya's Earth #0.5

The Dawn of Peace

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Before the end of hatred, there was the dawn of peace…

Two immortals from warring species save each other’s lives as the conflict rages on.
Alrec, the hulking Vampyre warrior, spares her first.

Years later, Kilani, the fierce, uncompromising Slayer, returns the favor.

Stuck in her remote cabin, their bond grows as Kilani warily nurses her injured Vampyre, determined to deny her growing desire for the man with deep, knowing eyes and mesmerizing fangs.

And, of course, there’s only one bed…

The sizzling prequel to the Etherya’s Earth paranormal romance saga

This novella is brought to you by an author who adores her readers and always wanted to write a prequel for the series that launched her career. Written for both current and new readers, this steamy, heartfelt story has brand-new characters and a HEA.

Audible Audio

First published January 18, 2022

137 people are currently reading
897 people want to read

About the author

Rebecca Hefner

32 books1,237 followers
USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Hefner grew up in Western NC and now calls the Hudson River of NYC home. A huge Buffy and Star Wars fan, she loves an epic fantasy and a surprise twist (Luke, he IS your father).

Before becoming an author, Rebecca had a successful twelve-year medical device sales career. After launching her own indie publishing company, she is now a full-time author who loves writing strong, complex characters who find their HEAs.

Rebecca can usually be found making dorky and/or embarrassing posts on TikTok and Instagram. Please join her so you can laugh along with her!

You can find all of Rebecca's books here, along with content warnings: https://www.rebeccahefner.com/books

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
Profile Image for Kat.
Author 14 books604 followers
January 24, 2022
In this fabulous forbidden romance prequel in the Etherya’s Earth series, the vampires and slayers are at war as there is not yet peace in the timeline as we know it.

Kilani is an aristocratic female slayer who enjoys training in combat and butts heads with her controlling father who can’t understand her progressive ways and threatens that she must find a husband by the next harvest or he will banish her to the human world. (Nice, dad!)

When vampires attack, she grabs her sword and prepares to defend herself. Cue meet cute with Alrec, the hunky vampire warrior who is the enemy of the slayers. He spares her life and she runs away from her father to live in a remote cabin. She and Alrec meet up again five years later where she has a chance to save him, and ya know, tie him to her bed in the process because, yes please 😊. I absolutely adored this novella. Alrec and Kilani had such great banter and chemistry. I loved the forbidden romance and the only one bed trope. Wonderful steamy scenes ❤🔥and I always love seeing familiar characters from the series pop up (Miranda, Kennan!) in other books. I was aching for Alrec and Kilani to be able to find a way to be together. They so deserved it. And I loved Dog, who appeared at the very end! I am a huge fan of this series and can’t wait to see what comes next. Recommended for paranormal romance fans! 5/5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from the author for review purposes.
Profile Image for QuinnReads.
3,716 reviews205 followers
May 18, 2023
Breaking Traditions

Rebecca Hefner Etherya's Earth bk 0.5 The Dawn of Peace

Going in blind, as I do often do, I had no idea that I would be looking into Buffy and Angel's world before vampires, slayers, and demons decided that Sunnydale was the place to be. 😉

Alric and Kilani have a forbidden lovers story, if ever their was. This is Romeo and Juliet amplified, except no dual dramatic partings from their lives. They're immortal, after all. If course, they also have a more electrifying chemistry! 🔥 I really enjoyed this book, written and audio.

“For one night, let’s forget what we’re supposed to do and just feel. Can you do that for me, little one?”
-- Alric

I'm really glad I picked this up. I enjoyed Rebecca's contemporary books under a different pen name. I usually don't read fantasy, but I wanted to support an author I like. I will be diving into other books in this universe.

As I mentioned, I did a combo read and listen. The narrator is Zachary Zaba. I loved his voice for Alric, and he wasn't bad for Kilani.

Story: 4.5 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 1.6x
Profile Image for M.E. Aster.
Author 4 books51 followers
July 29, 2022
Hefner once again dominates the world of paranormal romance with this amazing novella!

Although short in length, this story packs all the punch of Hefner’s full length novels. Alrec and Kilani were both amazing characters that I instantly fell in love with. It was also fun to see younger versions of Kenden and Miranda as well.

The chemistry in this book was off the charts. Every time Alrec said “little one” I swooned. He was the perfect book boyfriend and seeing him win Kilani over was very enjoyable.

This is an amazing prequel and I highly recommend any fans of Etherya’s Earth read this novella!

*I was given an ARC of this book from BookFunnel and this is my honest, voluntary review.*
Profile Image for Christine.
26 reviews13 followers
February 2, 2023
ARC review: Dialogue between the characters in the beginning is very stiff and formal, especially considering they are “friends” and are doing this thing in secret together. But then their convo ends with a “See ya”. This happens throughout the book. The conversation will be fairly proper and formal between characters and then suddenly, it’s extremely casual and out of character. It comes out of nowhere and takes me by surprise every time. Some awkward diction that caught my eye: “chucked” “smattering” “fete” the last two are more awkward, only because they are so extremely formal and yet that formality is not a continuous thread throughout the entire book. I understand, dropping into super casual language with a friend or a lover, but even in those times, the diction is very formal until just suddenly it isn’t.

The insertion of background info is haphazard. Of the background info that is given, much of it seems forced and at times repetitive. Like we already understand that a vampyre can be killed in two ways…said directly by a vampyre to his enemy in a confrontation (which seems counterproductive imo). I want to say, I do understand that this is a prequel to a series that has already been written, but I felt the world building elements were rushed and skimmed over. There were things mentioned frequently like “the awakening“ but there was no explanation to what that was. We have an introduction to a character in the very beginning who we never see or hear from again throughout the rest of the book. Just because this is a prequel, doesn’t mean it should be short. There were so many things left out that would’ve helped the reader understand more. And this was a very short book – it progressed extremely quickly, and I didn’t know it was possible to wrap up a book that fast, but it happened. From enemies to lovers to parents in a few pages.


The prisoners commit suicide with ONE toothpick. Say what?

Timeline confusion…Chap three ends with he’s been dreaming of her for days but chapter 4 puts us right back at the mansion.

She is offered a cabin by her trainer/commander and she asks “Who built it?” It’s a completely irrelevant question that isn’t answered and is not important. This was repeated again with her musings about the couch in the cabin—was it built for a child or spouse? IT DOESN’T MATTER

Again—“No such luck, buddy” doesn’t fit the formality of all the language that proceeds it.

She mentions to Alrec that the poison must have circulated throughout his chest and side, where he was hit with the eight shooter bullets. That’s not how that works— unless that is how it works with this species, but that isn’t explained. It would be odd regardless, but if we are using background knowledge of the reader, then if poison enters the bloodstream, it circulates throughout the whole body… it doesn’t stay in one area.

With no inner monologue for these characters—especially her, it’s hard to understand the jump from Alrec being a prisoner tied to a bed to Kilani flicking his nipple in the woods.

Overall, I believe this book needed some beta readers to discover plot holes, diction issues, etc and I’m not sure if it got that treatment. The story could be good, but it’s hard to get past a lot of these issues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Khurram.
2,363 reviews6,690 followers
August 20, 2022
A very good book with likable characters and ot seem many more stories to come. A good story of strong warrior spirits finding each other.

Kilani and Alrec are on oppersite sides of the war of their species. Alrec is an honourable soldier in the Vampyr army. Kilani dispite natural skill and dedication is only a woman so not allowed to join the Slayer army or council. What could bring them together?

I like the balancing act of immortal but cought in tradition. As this is a prequel story the other characters are definitely going to be important in the later book.
Profile Image for Nadine Bookaholic.
3,727 reviews526 followers
June 8, 2022
The Dawn of Peace is a great way to either start the series if you haven't already or go back and see how it all began.

I loved this prequel to the Etherya's Earth Series! We are taken on a journey back in time when the Vampyres and Slayers are at war, but during this time Alrec and Kilani find love....a forbidden love.

Oh how I love this world that Rebecca Hefner has created. There once was a time where the Vampyre and Slayers lived in harmony but since the "Awakening" they have been at war.

Kilani is a badass woman that doesn't care that she is an aristocrat and wants to learn to fight and stand by the men defending their kind against the Vampyres, this is where she meets Alrec for the first time. Then five years later she finds herself helping him heal after he's been injured by Demons.

During the time they spend together they grow close, as close as two can get and they fall in love but can these two make it work? Only one way to find out...grab your copy today!

I highly recommend this book to those that enjoy Steamy Paranormal Romances, Inter-species Romances, or Forced Proximity Romances.

Happy Reading!!!


Find out more here ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewTDOP

the dawn of peace by rebecca hefner


Nadine's Obsessed with Books **I have voluntarily reviewed a Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books for the SmutHood Tour
**I own both a kindle and paperback copy
You can find me here:  https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
Profile Image for Andrea ☾  [is inconsistently consistant].
714 reviews104 followers
August 28, 2023
4 ⭐️ Vampyre & Slayer romance.

This was an amazing prequel novella. I'd never heard of this series, but this audiobook was free in Kobo so I picked it up. Now I want to read all about this world!

Kilani is amazing - seriously she's everything I always look for in fmcs: strong, confident and unwavering in her belief that she's exactly who she says she is despite everyone else's opinions. And Alrec?? Come on!

I know the rest of the series is not about them, but I'll take it!
Profile Image for Daphne Elliot.
Author 27 books1,231 followers
January 20, 2022
This was my first book in the series and will not be my last. I fell in love with the world of Etherya and I can't wait to see how the war between the Slayers and the Vampyres turns out.

Kilani is strong and fierce - choosing her own path and making her way in the world at war. Alrec is swoonworthy. And Dog - I love dog! I adore forced proximity and watching these two overcome their differences in a tiny cabin (with just one bed!) was so much fun.

Loved the heat, loved the feels and loved the world building. Can't wait for more!!!
Profile Image for Lilylou426 .
520 reviews37 followers
February 28, 2022
I absolutely love Rebecca's writing style! Her characters are always so well developed and relatable. This one took me less than a day to read and absolutely sucked me right into their world!
Profile Image for Merissa (Archaeolibrarian).
4,188 reviews119 followers
February 4, 2022
THE DAWN OF PEACE is a prequel novella in the Etherya's Earth series. It introduces us to the two main characters, whilst also meeting other main characters for the first time.

Kilani is a strong woman, a brilliant warrior, and relegated to organising functions at her father's request because women aren't allowed to join the army or have a mind of their own. Alrec is a Vampyire who has lost his whole family and swore to avenge them. These two meet in a meadow one evening when Alrec is there to raid the Slayer men. They fight and Alrec lets Kilani live. Sometime later, Kilani returns the favour, and mutual respect and trust begin to flourish between these two.

I loved this story! It was fast-paced but had enough attention to detail to keep me satisfied. The only trouble I have now is I want to read The End of Hatred again to see if they feature in that. The world-building is second to none, with plentiful descriptions and situations to keep everyone's attention.

If this had been the first book in the series I had read, it would definitely have pushed me to read more. Absolutely brilliant and definitely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Profile Image for Miki.
1,025 reviews41 followers
January 26, 2022
Oh it's good really, a bit too steamy for me but so so good. It's a new worldbuilding and it seems quite promising.
A long time ago, Vampyres and immortals Slayers lived in harmoning but something happened and as a result both species are at war....vampyres needs slayers's blood to survive but now they need to kidnap them for that which causes resentment and fear and hate on both sides.
However, while war is a huge trouble, they are others and for Kilani it's her father and the mysogyny of her world....more than a competent warrior she is prevented to fight and her father only wish for her is to marry or he does not need her.
After facing a vampyre worrior who does not kill her, she decide that world is not for her and to fight to stay who she is.

I loved how Kilani was strong minded but with a heart of gold. She is honorable and kind and her choice to stay free were courageous.I'm glad she at least got friend who helped her growing up.
Alrec is so loyal, he could never forget the female warrior he met on a raid.....and whe she in turn helps him he is really addicted...but he wants to do his duty as well..... however even if it's war time he refuses not to speak his heart ...that's courageous and i was glad he could find some support when he was not expecting it.


This is a prequel but it really makes me want to read more and it was so enjoyable. to recommend if you love steamy fantasy with strong female warrior who speak their mind.
Profile Image for BooksBooksandmoreBooks69.
1,974 reviews39 followers
May 4, 2023
At some point we needed to start at the beginning, to find out how the war started (I’m still waiting for Sathan and Miranda’s parents stories 😆) but this seems like a great place to start…..

Six years after the awakening (the awakening was the start of the bitter war between Vampyres and Slayeras) puts Miranda a mere fourteen years old and Sathan is King of the Vampyres.

Kilani teaches sword fighting to Miranda (but in secret as it’s not the done thing for a Slayera female to fight) Slayera women are gentlefolk, they have no place in the army nor on the council, a view Miranda and Kilani find archaic, but until the day women are given the same rights as the men, Miranda and Kilani will train in secret.

Alrec leads a raiding party to acquire more Slayers (their blood is what sustains the Vampyres) on the order of King Sathan, he’s not happy as it was only recently they had done a raid (but King Marsias decreed “if captured you are to take your own life”!) so here he is about to grab ten men…..

Alrec and Kilani meet when he raids her home. He’s astonished that a female slayer would stand up to him. And she really does give him a fight, and a few battle scars. But he leaves her after securing his goal, but she stays in his mind for longer than he’d like….
Second meeting has Kilani at an advantage, Alrec is badly wounded, she could kill him and there would one less Vampyre in Etherya. But she recognises him as the one she fought five years ago. Deciding on nursing him back to health rather than killing him, has Kilani wondering about her own sanity!

But Vampyre and Slayer are enemies, no one will welcome them into their camps. So they spend what little time they have together, before returning to their separate lives!

Will the Goddess let them reunite, or will her rules about Slayers and Vampyres not falling in love remain?

I loved this novella, considering it’s only 152 pages long, it packs plenty of information, it has a few twists and turns. And it has witty banter that I’ve come to know and love from this author.
And for those of you who have read the series, you’ll see a few familiar faces.

And if you’re a first time reader, welcome to Etherya, it’s a great series to read.

🦋


Profile Image for Isolette or (ICY).
502 reviews10 followers
February 9, 2022
I received this book as a arc. And I couldn’t put it down. The story the charters well explained. You feel you are their with them. Once I finished reading the story I had to listen to audiobook. And of course was even more blow away. I recommend this book . If your life is so busy you can’t read. Just listen to audio it will blow your mind.

Kilani was Capture until the vampire Alrec release her. Kilani knew she had to return the favor of a vampire. Kilani was a Warrior but her people didn’t accept her to continue to fight. Kilani had such strength and determination to be herself and to live her life the way she saw fit. So she left.

Alrec was a vampire who he help his people and fight and also to honor his parents death. Until that day her Caught Kilani since then he couldn’t stop think about her. Alrec was injured badly. He woke up to see who had save him. Until he saw those beautiful eyes and her Kilani.



Well you want to know what happen got to read it . I give it 5/5 Romance 🥵🥵🥵 Rebecca Heifer thank you so much for the beautiful adventures as well . It a honor being in your team and the audio was amazing thank you 😊
Profile Image for Zoe_isreading.
630 reviews61 followers
October 28, 2022
So, I actually listened to the audio book of this as I wanted to read but my eyes needed to rest - but I'm so glad I did as it was wonderfully done.

The Dawn Of Peace is a fantastic prequel to the Etherya's Earth Series. It's packed full of love, honour and of course vampyres and slayers. It's a steamy read, and you'll 100% love Alrec. He's witty, funny and definitely knows how to please Kilani.

Definitely read this if you're after a fantasy world with vampires and to completely escape the real world.
Profile Image for Amanda-Jean.
48 reviews2 followers
January 24, 2023
4.5 Stars

A short and spicy prequel

Kilani has been struggling with the traditions still being clung to in her Slayer community. When she meets a Vampyre and finds an unexpected connection, will their attraction be enough to keep them together?

I loved this story and these characters! It’s well written and very enjoyable. This is a spicy novella about these two unexpected enemies working together and finding love. I loved their sweet hea and I can’t wait to read more from this author. This prequel is easily read first with no prior knowledge of the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Maddie Murrow.
181 reviews11 followers
August 29, 2023
this book was eh. I got it for free on the stuff your earbuds day and it was the shortest one so I decided to start with it first. I mean it was cute at some parts, but so cheesy. Imagine forbidden love, but with vampires and vampire slayers. That was this book. And she still doesn’t like vampires when it is all set and done in the end. This book was just way too cheesy. There were times where i thought it would be good but then the vampire dude would say something that just gave me the ick. I just didn’t like this lol.
Profile Image for Felicia Tousey.
124 reviews3 followers
July 22, 2024
Rebecca Hefner is a new author for me. I was given this prequel as an arc to give an honest review. Rebecca's captivating writing style instantly gravitated me to the characters. Both Kilani and Alric are warriors from feuding sides - Slayers and Vampires. Alric saved Kilani's life then she returned the favor in this emotionally charged book. I loved how at first enemies they turned lovers. I finished the audiobook in one sitting as I wanted more and more of these two characters. Thank you Rebecca for the opportunity to listen to this fantastic audiobook.
Profile Image for Jordan Thomes.
11 reviews
February 19, 2023
WOW! I couldn’t put this one down and finished it in just one sitting. Although a short prequel, this book had it all. A strong, badass leading lady. A bold and enticing man to come along and change everything. Spicy and passionate lovemaking. Rebecca Hefner gave us everything in an epic portrayal.
Profile Image for Lili.
835 reviews48 followers
January 13, 2024
I liked the writing, but I have so many questions!

I'll just hold true judgment for the next book, since this prequel is more a love story novella than world building, and the incursion in this world has not really started - we just get the background of 2 former close nations now fighting in a bitter, senseless war, and very little is yet explained.

I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Debbie Eyre.
5,893 reviews116 followers
January 11, 2023
This is a great prequel about two warring races who seem hopeless to reconcile but maybe just maybe two can bring them together. It’s a well written quick read, intriguing, interesting, fun and a little steamy. I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series.
Profile Image for thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books).
2,811 reviews117 followers
June 11, 2024
Rebecca Hefner is definitely an auto read for me now, I love her writing, her stories and characters, this is a fabulous read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Krys.
278 reviews14 followers
September 28, 2024
I love everything about this book! I can't wait to read more books from this author! I totally recommend this book!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Mel.
153 reviews
September 19, 2025
A generous 4 ⭐️ Wish it was dual narration but enjoyable free listen, may even consider reading the others in the series
Profile Image for Erin.
364 reviews15 followers
February 4, 2023
It was ok. This being a prequel I was confused with some of the events that seem to happen before this book but are not fully explained in this one. The characters were alright but we could have used more time with them, together and separately. I'm not sure if I'll continue with this series.
Profile Image for Gabby Hughes.
Author 5 books6 followers
January 17, 2022
What a delicious read.
Not only am I in love with both Kilani and Alrec, Dog also stole my heart.
I really love how Kilani chooses her own fate instead of having it forced upon her.
Alrec is passionate about his life and when he loves, he never forgets.
Getting a glimpse at a younger Miranda and getting to hear from Latimus and Kenden was the cherry on top.
This easy-to-read page-turner pulls you in and takes you to a world where banter, friendship, love, courage, strengh are the rule.
Witnessing the growth of these two is a gift and I'll be reading this again for sure.
I received a free ARC copy of this book and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Amber.
273 reviews6 followers
January 23, 2023
Alric and Kilani 🔥

ARC review... I have a soft spot for feisty women and the men that fall at their feet. During a raid, Alrec, a vampyre, spares the life of Kilani, a slayer and his sworn enemy... After the raid Kilani flees to escape her father's ultimatum of find a husband or be banished to the human world. So with her middle finger in the air she leaves on her own. 5 years later she's still thinking about the Vampyre that spared her life and guess who's injured body washes up to shore? I can't tell you anymore. But this story was so dang cute. I will continue the series because now I'm curious for the rest. If you like the whole forbidden love, enemies to lovers, spicy cocktail then I think you should give it a shot. This is the prequel to The Etherya Earth series by Rebecca Hefner
Profile Image for Brianna Citino .
94 reviews2 followers
October 2, 2023
I really enjoyed this audio book! Enter a world where being a slayer is a different species. A world where slayers and vampires are now at war. Some wish for the peace of centuries ago and some wish to take out each other. This is a romance between two souls who should not be drawn to one another, but fate just can’t help pushing the two into each others arms! If you like vampires stories with a twist then this is definitely one to try.

“It would be a shame for you to be tethered to a man who didn’t understand your worth.”
Profile Image for Dylyn Harrison.
171 reviews
April 3, 2023
I received this book as an ARC but the opinions are my own.

This is a quick little fantasy prequel, but can be read as a stand-alone as prior knowledge wasn’t needed and everything wraps up nicely with a bow.

The vampire/slayer relationship was cute, and the spice in this book was GREAT… I listened via audiobook and didn’t love the male reader sometimes would be my only complaint. The use of the word “channel” during sex was 🤢.

This is a HEA story, and I like the female lead who’s like peace out misogynists I’m gonna go live in a cabin by the woods ✌🏼 until running into the vampire who spared her life five years prior.

I felt the story moved at breakneck speed, but it was a nice palette cleanser.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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