The Ruin's Revenge

Salt Planet Giants #3

by Sara Ivy Hill

Skarr giant Alrek was one of the lucky ones. He had a mate—the very last female of their kind. Now the widowed chief of a dying clan, he has only two hopes for the saving as many other species as possible from the same extinction…and exacting revenge on the invasive humans who caused it.

But then she walks into his territory. Tiny. Sweet-smelling. Infuriatingly human.

At first, he just wants her off his land, so he escorts her home. But the more time he spends with the fascinating farmer, the less he can imagine his life without her in it. Can he reconcile his painful past and embrace a former enemy? Or will his need for revenge ruin any chance for love to grow again?

The Ruin’s Revenge is a sweet and steamy size-difference alien romance about a grumpy giant and the tiny, sunshiney human woman who reignites his instincts.

Genres: Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Science Fiction, Aliens, Paranormal, Monsters, Fantasy

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 19, 2023

Reviews

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this might be my fave of this series. Alrek was all tortured, grumpy, and grief stricken and Raina was the sunshine he needed. He was able to give her support without attempting to change her neurodivergence. The love story was a faster burn than I was anticipating, but when ya know ya know. They were perfect together.

Spice: 4/5

Triggers: violence, gore, animal attack resulting in death, fire, spouse death (off page), purposeful vehicular crash and attempted murder, ableism (not from MCs), voyeurism

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A giant dilemma!



This was a decent romance with some compelling elements, especially the character of Raina. A grounded and intelligent farmer, she’s dedicated to healing the land through sustainable techniques like crop rotation and resting the soil—a lovely metaphor for personal renewal. Her backstory with Gregor, a jilted ex-fiancé who now wields financial leverage over her, adds a layer of tension that drives the plot.

When her harvester breaks and she’s left unable to bring her crops to market, Raina ventures into the mountains, desperate for another solution. There, she encounters the Skarr giants—beings forced out of their homelands by human expansion. Among them is Alrek, the brooding, guilt-stricken leader haunted by the loss of his mate and his perceived failure to protect his people. Their meeting sparks a slow-burning, emotionally loaded connection.

The emotional themes are strong: grief, obligation, resilience, and cross-cultural healing. However, I still struggle with the central romance dynamic. After two books in this series, the sheer biological incompatibility between giants and humans remains a hard barrier for me to suspend disbelief. Love doesn’t have to hinge on physical intimacy, and I respect the narrative effort to portray emotional connection beyond sexual logistics—but the explicit attempts to address that incompatibility felt more distracting than romantic. Personally, I’d rather leave the “how” to the imagination.

Overall, The Ruin’s Revenge offers a heartfelt narrative with lush world-building, but your mileage may vary depending on how much suspension of disbelief you’re willing to grant the giant-human pairing. The audiobook was narrated in multiple perspectives in solo narration by Soren Gray. He has a good voice that I enjoyed, though I am not really a fan of solo narration.

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[❤️Emma Book Lover ❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alrek was the all tortured, grumpy, grief stricken giant and Raina was the sunshine farmer and intelligent woman he needed apparently. Not one of my favorite tropes here but it was good enough to keep me invested.
Still lots of giant/ big size difference smut👀

[Averie]

This series is too iconic not to keep reading.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aw, this was a cute one! Absolutely loved all the knitting references and good cozy vibes. Raina and Alrek are both grumpy in their own way, but they make a good pair, and it seems like there's some set up to continue this series.

Still having such a hard time picturing how big the Skarr are in reference to a human! Maybe like, Thanos-sized????

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

a sweet, emotional return to a favourite series

I love this series, and this book was just as good as the other two. Cozy and sweet, but also truly spicy and page turn-y. I love the extreme size difference between the gentle giants and their human mates.

[Yvonne]

Lots of deep feelings with this one: hero is a widower with a tight grip on guilt and self-abnegation; heroine is neurodivergent, vulnerable in this harsh world, but so determined and indefatigable. I was invested in both the hero and heroine and in their journey. Loved the slight twist on the way they become mates. The romance felt a little rushed but I still fully bought these two as perfect for each other. Everything in this is so sensitively and thoughtfully handled, and I felt like there were real stakes involved.
I like this author and want to support her work…but I’ve realised the extreme size difference and literal puddles of fluids (!!) really aren’t for me — and I adored Robin Lovett’s “Alien Quarantine Rescue” series, which involved literal jugs (!!) of semen. Giants with penises the size of a human woman and post-coital cuddles in pools of fluids on the giant’s chest just don’t ring my bell. I like Sara Ivy Hill’s writing, this series isn’t for me; I’ll continue to follow her work and buy the non-giant stories!

[Sam Wescott · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite of the series mostly because I feel like both Raina and Alrec had more personality than the leads of the previous books. The ending was very satisfying and I really adored the assorted trials and triumphs of Jared.

Ultimately, I don’t think this style of erotica is for me. I loved how respectful the giants were, but this sort of fated mates, insta-love style of romance and lust kinda feels like an excuse not to have any chemistry. Personally, I don’t find big vows of desire to be hot if there’s no banter or sizzle. And while I am a fan of size difference, this extreme version of it precluded the sex acts I prefer my erotica to focus on.

So, still good, but not the kind of stuff I think I’ll be seeking out further. I’m always delighted by the extreme creativity in this genre though and happy for folks for whom this is extremely their shit.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story and characters to love

I always love that she doesn't try to make her characters fit, but instead they find creative solutions. The characters are so lovable too, even when they're grumpy

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review! I received an early copy of this book and this is my honest review.✨
…
“… But like a knitted scar, the join said that happened, but I wasn’t destroyed by it. That happened, but it was the middle of the story, not the end. Maybe the same was true of hearts…”
…
The Ruin’s Revenge is the third installment in the Salt Planet Giants series. I was so honored that I got to be an arc reader for this. I really love this series and this book in particular is my favorite so far! I give this ⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️!!!

It’s been one year since the events that unfolded in Bound to the Alien King and The Ballast’s Bride (these books happen concurrently)… and in that year the clan has gotten a little smaller. After Hinri and Mimma discovered another clan across the sea, some of the unmated males went to visit them. The hope was that some become mates and could produce offspring, slowly repopulating their species.

Alrek, the chief, is under a great amount of stress. With some of the males being gone, he’s had to pick up extra duties to ensure their clan is ready for winter. On top of that, he hears his Patrek, his brother, mating with Maja every morning and it pains him. The last Skarr female, Branicca, was his mate. She passed 7 years ago and he still mourns her. He despises the humans… blames them for her death and the havoc that destroyed their species. He tolerates Maja and Mimma for the sake of their Skarr mates, but hopes that’s the last humans he has to see. He doesn’t expect Raina to show up and upturn his entire life…

Raina is desperate to sell the carra roots she harvested in order to pay a debt and be free of a vile man who holds her livelihood at ransom. Alrek begrudgingly volunteers to help Raina and sets out for her farm. What he doesn’t realize is this female will help mend his broken heart, while showing him he’s ready to give life another chance. A life with Raina might just be his salvation.

This book felt like getting a giant hug. There was so much emotion and healing in this story and I loved it so much!

We’ve seen Alrek in the other books, but to get his backstory and why he’s so distant and grumpy really tugs at your heart. He mourns and feels responsible for the demise of his species. He even endures the pain of a broken tusk to remind himself of what’s happened.

Raina is a never ending fountain of optimism and seeing her shower Alrek in affection was so sweet. She’s a brilliant farmer and very creative! She does everything from the goodness of her heart. Even when things get scary she stays optimistic and determined.

Seeing her and Alrek work together was so interesting! They are complete opposites, but compliment each other perfectly. He soothes her when she’s gets overstimulated and she shows him there’s life worth living for.

[k · Rating 3 out of 5]

widowed giant hero - leader, stoic, burdened by pain and responsibility
human heroine - independent, hardworking, quiet in a purposeful sense, intelligent and forthright

This one worked less for me because it’s hard when the main characters meet as strangers in Novellas …. The pacing just felt very rushed. However plotwise I thought this one was more interesting! I give major props to this author for weaving in surprisingly complicated emotional and political concepts to very short novellas about giants… lmao

It just didn’t grip me overall as a story, was more predictable and I feel like the characters didn’t feel as fully fleshed out as the last one managed to do.

[Diana Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: 5
FMC: Raina
MMC(s): Alrek (Alrekell)
Tropes: Alien Planet, Fated Mates, Forbidden Relationship, Grumpy/Sunshine, Human Men are Terrible, Hurt/Comfort, Mars Needs Women, Neurodivergent Heroine, Pining, Revenge, Size-Difference, Touch her and PERISH, Widower Hero
> Reviewer add: Grumpy Exterior/Cinnamon Roll Interior, (Wishes he was) OM Drama, Giant Sized EVERYTHING
Perspective: Third, Dual
Plot or character driven: Both
Spicy scenes breakdown:
> Present? Yes
> Detailed? Yes
> Multiple, with only one character? No.
> Multiple, with both/multiple characters? Yes.
> Personal favorite? All of them.
> State of the joystick? It doesn’t fit. Does not.
> Anything else to note? See what I thought below.
Burn speed: Medium
Can this be read as a stand-alone: Technically, I guess you could. :/ But you don’t want to. You want the whole series. My Jedi Mind Tricks will totally work.
Re-Readability: HIGH
Content/Trigger Warnings/Enticements: See front of book.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book, and this is my voluntary, honest review.

“Maybe losing Brannica hadn’t ruined his. Maybe the bitter, broken half that still ached for what he’d lost and could never recover would knit with something fresh. Or maybe he was a morose idiot who was infatuated with the first single female he’d met in seven years.”

Alrekell is the grumpiest of the grumpy Skarr, and he is a widower. Raina is the sunshiniest of sunshines, and she ends up with more carra root than she knows what to do with, and Skarr love carra roots! She knows where the Skarr are, and goes to sell it to them, and there they meet. Meanwhile, Raina’s ex Greygor, (:P) is trying to ruin her work on soil conservation and get all her research for himself. (We don’t like him.)

Here’s what I love about this whole series: the Skarr (the giants and our heroes) are too big. It’s never going to fit. The human women can swing around these things like they are trees. There’s not yet any magic to make it fit, or to make the women Skarr sized, so intimacy and sex look a little different and I really love that. There’s less focus on PIV penetration, and more about the relationship and other physical acts that can happen when it’s just not going to fit.

And then we have this. Alrek is the grumpy hard exterior because he’s been hurt, he’s still mourning the loss of his mate (several years past). And here comes Raina, that he hates at first, but then he realizes she hasn’t done what he thought she did, and she’s genuinely, relentlessly kind to him. Like, Sara Ivy Hill is out here just reducing us to big, watery heart eyes over GIANTS. With GIANT SIZED ORGANS.

And olje live rent free in my head at all times.

I don’t even want kids and I’d undergo a spell to make sure these Skarr continue to grow and thrive. When she announced that the advanced copies were out I nearly broke my phone and squared up with Gmail TO DELIVER THE GOODS TO MY INBOX.

[Nevena · Rating 5 out of 5]

💚 “I can’t think of anything else when you’re near me.”
~~~
Raina is amazing! She’s strong, brave and resilient. And she’s also so compassionate, considerate, thoughtful and a genuinely good person. Even more, she’s a brilliant farmer, who not only cares for restoring the planet’s resources but also to help others learn how to do so, too. Raina is an absolutely phenomenal, sunshiny and lovely woman and I loved her so, so much!

Alrek is the clan leader of the giants from Skarr’s Hand and one very grumpy male. Moreover, he’s a widower who was once mated to the last female of their kind. He’s broken, he’s hurt and he still mourns the loss of his mate. But underneath his hard exterior is a male with a huge heart who truly cares for the well-being of his people. But the Skarr have lost so much, so Alrek also wants revenge for all the harm that has been done to them and everything they’ve lost. Despite everything he’s been through, Alrek is such a caring, thoughtful, helpful and gentle male and I couldn’t help but adore everything about him!

I absolutely loved everything that happened between Raina and Alrek! Raina needs money to keep her land and escape the clutches of her vile ex. And she has a huge harvest of cara roots. So, she embarks on a journey to Skarr’s Hand where she meets the clan’s chief. And Alrek was not very happy to find the tiny human on his land. I loved those two together! I loved the tension, the banters and all their interactions. Even more, I loved how compassionate and thoughtful Raina was towards Alrek’s loss and how gently she helped him through his healing journey. And as much as Alrek disliked humans, the more time he spent with Raina, the more he saw what an amazing woman she truly is. And when they couldn’t resist the undeniable need for one another, the passionate moments they shared were so hot. Yes, they had a massive size difference and intimacy didn’t seem to be possible. But where there is a will, there is a way. And I absolutely loved the creativity of those two. Raina and Alrek were absolutely perfect for each other and more than deserved to find happiness, love, healing and a safe space together!

In addition the storyline was spectacular! There’s a vile, vile man who only cares for profits and needed to be dealt with for good and it was done so… bloody magnificently. Good boy, Jared! Even more, I loved that we got to spend more time around all the giants from Skarr’s Hand. With everything happening, I was glued to the pages till the very end.

Overall, the story is another outstanding addition to the series! It’s filled with tension, drama, bits of humor, action, suspense, twists, danger, smoking-hot passion and remarkable characters.

I couldn’t put it down and absolutely loved every single page of it!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not going to lie, Alrek is a little bit of a mess when we first encounter him. He's still mourning his mate, but he's also weighed down by the fact that his people aren't going to last much longer since all the females have died out. Which isn't entirely true (as we found out in Hinri and Mimma's story), but Alrek is still sunk deep in depression.

Then a sweet human woman shows up on the clan's territory and things start to take a turn for the big guy. In a lot of ways, Raina is the answer to several of Alrek's problems. She has food (specifically the root vegetable the Skarr eat) to sell, she cares for the land in a way most of the humans Alrek has encountered don't, and she stirs him in more ways than one. Soon the big grump is escorting Raina back to her farm and hanging around to help her with some of the issues she's dealing with.

On Raina's end, she's sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place (no word play intended, but I LIKE IT!). She knows her farming method will work to restore the land, but she's running out of time to convince people. Mostly because the man she's renting from is a giant d-bag who does NOT have good intentions in any way, shape, or form. Alrek's help goes a long way toward getting her closer to her goal, but (and possibly more importantly) she also feels safe and accepted around him. And feeling safe leads to her being willing to try things she otherwise maybe wouldn't have. Wouldn't you know it, THINGS HAPPEN when these two get adventurous.

A truly terrible man who does not appreciate Raina at all, a couple of close calls, a few familiar faces, some creative fooling around, a male who needs a change of scenery before he realizes what he wants, and a lady who knows she can make a difference if she's just given the chance. GOOD STUFF!

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Mary E. Jung · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Doesn't Get Better Than This

To begin with, this book definitely deserves infinite stars. It hits every point perfectly and can't get any better. It's absolutely perfect!
I love these giants. I've been in love with them from the very first page of the first book. I've wanted Alrek's book since I first met him too. I did not know I needed this book as badly as I did until it got here. I desperately hoped Alrek would have a human of his own too. I was a little worried he'd find a giant gf but Sara Ivy Hill did not disappoint me in this grand and beautiful tale of love and redemption.
I usually take off stars because of the fmc. But SIH always writes amazing fmc and I think Raina is my favorite. For the longest time I kept hoping there'd be a fmc who loved the quiet. Who just preferred silence and solitude and peace like the Skarr. And we got that in this book. I feel like Raina sometimes. Not to her extent but I cry because the emotions are too great for me to handle alone, yet I need to be a lone to deal with them. I just need silence. I have always believed from the Beginning of this series that if I lived in a fictional world, I'd be in this one. The coo of the giants is probably the greatest aspect and it's something I'd absolutely need in a mate. If of course I was mated to any alien and not already married to the love of my life. Lol. But Alrek is the absolute perfect match for Raina just because of who and what he is and it made the story so natural and effortless. The words were so beautiful. I pretty much cried 90% of the time because of the journey and healing both characters went through. Honestly she couldn't have written a better couple, but I know she will because more books will follow. Everything was just so beautiful and I hope everyone will enjoy this book.

[Between pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Heartwarming Tale of Healing and Giants' Love

"The Ruins Revenge" is an absolute gem. The way the giants cooed to soothe their mate was endearing, adding a unique layer of tenderness to the story. And that little nickname Alrek gave for Raina?! It melted my heart 🫠.

Alrek and Raina's story beautifully unravels the journey of healing after seven long years of mourning. It's a testament to the power of love and resilience, and I found myself deeply invested in Alrek's emotional journey.

One of the standout aspects for me was the reversal of the Skarr courting ritual. It was a clever twist that added depth to the world-building. As for Gregor, well, he got exactly what he deserved. He was a slimy character who had it coming, and frankly, he didn't even deserve to be Jared's meal.

Raina, girl! what a smart and strong-willed character that I couldn't help but root for. Her wit and determination were truly admirable. The dynamics between Alrek and Raina, especially in the goodbye speech to Jared, were downright hilarious. The humor injected a perfect balance into the narrative, providing moments of levity amidst the emotional depth. Speaking of Jared, he's undoubtedly my favorite character. His presence in the story brought a unique charm and intrigue that kept me hooked.

Reading "The Ruins Revenge" felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold day. It provided comfort, joy, and a sense of satisfaction. Sara has crafted a story that lingers in the heart, reminding us of the healing power of love, humor, and resilience. This book is a definite must-read for anyone looking for a tale that tugs at the heartstrings while also delivering moments of delightful humor and steamy moments.

[Amy Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review
Once again Sara Ivy Hill creates another perfect read! I absolutely loved it from page one! This story is really fun and unique because it takes place on a vegetable farm and on the mountain where the Skarr giants live, about 90% of the story takes place outside in nature and I absolutely loved that!

I also loved the characters! Raina is a regenerative carra root farmer, she's strong, passionate, hard working and kind, as a farm brat myself I related to her. Alrek is such a fascinating hero, he's still completely devoted to his old mate who died 7 years ago and he really struggles with guilt and hope as he falls in love with Raina whom he's initially curt and grumpy to, but because we know why, he doesn't come off as a jerk which I thought was really well done. He's actually extremely sweet and mega protective. This couple is adorable together, and it's so perfect how he's vegetarian and she grows his favourite food!

The story is really good with a really despicable villain for Raina to need protection against and there's some really exciting and sad parts later on. There's also a semi wild animal 'pet' who adds a really great amount of foreshadowing but I couldn't for the life of me predict what or who it was going to be a problem for! Great writing, usually stuff like that is too obvious!

The steamy scenes are as usual very different and original as they have no hope of fitting together with the size difference and I love it even more than regular smut because it's so inventive (and messy)! It's sooooo good!

I can't rave enough about this series and it's still going strong with this 3rd installment, never a full moment, full of emotions and spice and danger, I'm so sad I'm finished it and can't wait for the next!

[Fay J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooh, this has all of the feels and I am not ashamed to say that I cried at this book. There is something compelling about someone who has suffered not only generally as part of a greater group but also personally and yet despite all that they cannot truly bring themselves to bring about pain. No matter that it would have been visited upon those who caused hurt in the first place. Everyone deserves to be loved and this truly shows that love comes in all shapes and sizes. Neither one is made to comform yet they fit together beautifully, this is the true art and magic of this author.
Alrek is pretty selfless really by putting his people before himself but maybe this because he doesn't know how to cope with his own loss. He is shattered by the death of his mate and focusing elsewhere allows him to continue to function. Getting revenge seems to bring a sort of closure yet you sense that this is not who he truly is. The caring and gentle male he is does come through it all and makes you fall for him, gruff exterior and all.
Raina, for want of a better description, is a farming genius. She genuinely wants to make a better world and show others how to help do so as well. She has such a depth of compassion and empathy that at times you wonder how she manages it. Yet, she too, has a past that hurt her and still could.

[Karen Nastasio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book pulled me in right from the start and held on right up until the very end and what and brilliant ride it was and it’s definitely pulled at the heart strings. Raina is a human scientist and farmer who is doing very well for herself but if she cannot sell her Cara Root crops her Ex will be back so she heads to the Skarr Hand to speak to there chief but he is rude a grumpy and escorts her off his lands and takes her home but there is something about him that has Raina attracted to him and wanting to know him better and to try and heal his pain. Alerkell (Alerik) was the last male too have a mate but now she is gone and he is left a widower and blame the humans for everything and when one shows up on his lands he decides to take her home but the compassion she shows and her need to help others has him intrigued by this tiny human and the longer they are together there eels start too surface and it is long before the burning desire and temptation has them coming together and boy was there some differences to overcome but there is always a way. There is so much more going on in this book such as roadblocks, danger, losses, evil money hungry Ex, death, compassion, strength, protection and above all learning to love again. This is definitely a must read.

[Rayne Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the entire book in one sitting, which kept me up till two a.m. the story is that good.
Alrek is a sweet grumpy giant who, understandably, is that way because of losing a mate many years earlier.
When he escorts Raina home to get her off his land, he ends up caring for her as well as protecting her when it matters most.
Sweet and happy Raina is perfect for him. When she knitted him a cosy for his broken tusk, it melted my heart. I couldn’t imagine a better match. It is clear they are fated mates.
He was protective, sweet, and watching him change and become more open, then ultimately heal emotionally was wonderful and entertaining.
The book is steamy, with the size difference making it a fun read like the other Salt Planet Giant books. There are sweet spots where Alrek had me laughing out loud with his actions or words.
It’s a great story and nice to see the continuation of the Salt Planet Giants.

[Caligirlkrys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alrek is a Skarr and chieftain to his people. He is a devoted widower and very grumpy and holds a major grudge against humans. Raina is passionate about her farm and restoring the land and doesn’t know how to interact well with people. In order to fulfill her dreams she needs to seek out the local Skarr for help. What started as an uneasy business relationship turned into so much more for these two. Despite their differences and their difficult pasts they find a way to connect. Alrek is such a gruff unhappy male but deep inside yearns to love and be loved and care for a mate. He grounds Raina and makes her feel safe. I loved how their personalities meshed so well. Despite their size difference they still find a way to have a loving and passionate relationship. This book was a fun quick read with a sweet HEA.

[My Metal Monster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 was amazing!!

I absolutely love this author and this series.
Alrek is the broken and mourning Chief of the local clan of giants. The clan is dwindling with no females left of their species, but new hope arrives when two human females join with their mates (the two previous stories).

Raina is a local farmer, she’s not like other humans in many ways, but especially because of how much she loves the land and dedicated her whole life to its restoration.

I won’t give too much away, but Alrek and Raina are my new favorite couple of this series. The patience, the kindness, empathy, passion, and love that the show one another is so breathtakingly beautiful.

Alrek expresses some heavy grief, please be warned if you are actively grieving to be aware of this.

The book was perfect, I laughed, I cried, I blushed, it’s everything you want in a romance with a wonderful HEA.

Enjoy!!

[La'Jacinth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only thing I don't like about this book is the fact that it ended too soon.

I had a thing for Alrec since the first book and was thrilled to see that he finally got his book. I am glad he was with a human woman, Raina, that understood his pain and plight and got that in time things get better. Althought Raina was in a dilemma, she didnt just play the damsel in distress she founght in her own way and thought and planned to get her life back...welll a better life with Alrec.

I found it hilarious that the Skar curse so differently and using the word salt is bad thing...lol.

I found the book refreshing, and very erotic and that having children in this group is not logistically possible but the relationships they form do bring goodness to the clan...and they find that there are other Skarrs beyond the mountaint.

I hop the Ms. Ivy write more - evern from across the sea.

[Tori Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one; I'm continually impressed by the depth of worldbuilding and intricacy of plots in this series, given that without it the smut alone would be well worth the price of admission. The romance felt a bit simpler than I would've liked, given that both characters had a good deal of baggage to work through that ended up being remarkably easy to drop when the opportunity arrived. But, hey, they both were able to find partners able to offer them precisely the kind of relationship they'd been looking for and thought would be impossible to achieve--I can't say I fault them for wanting to run into that open-armed. This was great, and I'm doing my part to convince my library to purchase more of this author's audiobooks, because at this point I want to read it all; here's hoping I get to do so soon.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“That’s it, you’re almost there,” he urged.
“You’re doing so well. Come for me, Raina.”

Soooo….praise kink…check.

The size difference is ridiculous… “Few humans want to wrestle a cock the size of their torso”…however, the ways they managed to enjoy each other were both realistic and creative. There was no “your body’s made to stretch” scene.

And Alrek, in spite of his grumpy nature, was so sweet and supportive.

“You can’t leave your territory!”
“You’re a a gyddyr, a guardian-mother. The land needs you. The creatures, too. Even the humans.”

“But you said ‘our den.’ You must want me to move to the Skarr sanctuary with you now that we’re mates.”

“Ah, little human. You’re thinking like your kind. Our ways are different. Females choose, their mates make it possible. We have a den in Skarr’s Hand, but we’ll make our nest here as long as it suits you.”

Sigh… support is so sexy.

[Arctic_Banshee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best of all three books to me. I loved the fmc because I could relate to her. A lot.

I kind of hate it when authors write neurodivergent mc’s and then try to make their idiosyncratic tendencies “cute”, but that doesn’t happen here. The character rang true, and a major theme in this book is not only acceptance of self, but also acceptance of others and of one’s past- the good and the bad.

And the mmc was grumpy but for really understandable reasons. He’s a widower, and the survivor’s guilt crushed him every day.

They were both spiky in their own ways, but sought to be better people.

And when the mmc finally lets go, by this time I was used to reading about the size-difference and just thought it was hot. I think also the author was more comfortable in her writing at this point and it showed.

Now I’m off to read the rest of this author’s books!

[Careliz Marin Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

The power of Love

This story was beautiful. And when you get to the authors note you get to see it from their perspective more clearly. Alrekell suffered much, alone with the weight of responsibilities not many can relate to. Raina allowed him to heal from the past and see life in the present. This story is all about Alrek, and his healing journey. I loved how we had a reprieve from the usual strong headed, brave, and stern FMC. Raina was a cup of fresh water, and she was the healing potion Alrek needed. If you're looking for a quick read, with a giant and a human full of love and tenderness then this is for you, happy reading!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Skaar are impressive in their size and how they take care of their mates. Alrek feels guilt and doesn't believe he should have a second mate or even have happiness. Raina is his little human, his pebble. Her life has been hard but she pushes on in her research and working her farm. Despite serious roadblocks, danger, and losses, Raina's farm is succeeding. It was so fun reading of Alrek and Raina's meeting, how they worked together overcoming whatever life threw at them and the spicy scenes were amazing.

[Shana W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book very quickly, unable to put it down once I started.  I love the writing, the characters, the action, the romance, the steam, and the world building.  The Skarr are such a fascinating species, from their physical description to their culture.  Raina is just what and who poor Alrek needs to heal and enjoy life again, while he is perfect for her, despite their size difference.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[BattleCatPants · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book.

I somehow completely lost track of this and didn't remember to leave a review until I got an ARC reminder for a different book.

But with that out of the way, I absolutely loved this book. I go to Sara Ivy Hill to get my size difference trope fix. The spice was perfect; the story was amazing; and honestly, I think this is my favorite in this series. I loved the dynamic between MCs. It differed slightly from the other books in my opinion, because of the MMC's history. I also felt the dynamic between the MCs and villain was a bit different than the previous books, which was both surprising and refreshing. He was a true villain through and through.

The MC's growth throughout the book was sweet and endearing. Raina was so strong and resilient, she was incredibly intelligent, selfless & fearless in her interactions with the Skarr. Her respect for the planet and drive to work toward restoring the damage done throughout the book was admirable. Although she didn't fit the mold of women at that time in her world, she found strength through her differences and thrived without sacrificing her morals.

I'd be remiss if I didn't say how Alrek shined, although he was grumpy, he had a heart of absolute gold. Even in his anger and hurt and guilt, he went above and beyond to help Raina.

5 out of 5, I definitely recommend this story!

PS: Don't skip the author's note at the end, it was super sweet.