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For the Love of Aliens #2
Seminal
I don’t play the role of the kidnapped princess very well.
And I really hate the fated mates trope.
Hello again, I’m Eve Wakefield, and I refuse to accept that I’m in love with an intergalactic moth prince.
No.
I don’t care how handsome he is, I don’t want to marry him.
I don’t care if his parents have a sentient spaceship capable of eating entire planets.
Love is earned, not swindled by pheromones.
I’m now trapped on a ship with an adorable cyborg bodyguard, a golden toilet, and relationship issues. There’s the prince I’m supposed to marry, the forest beast I fell in love with, and the never-wears-clothes police officer with tentacles. I’ve also got a mother-in-law who looks like a giant millipede, more macarons than I can eat, and plenty of red lace lingerie made from alien moth blood.
I’m living in luxury, but I will do anything to see Abraxas again.
Even if that means giving in and becoming a princess in a gilded cage.
There’s so much more to all of this than I first thought, and I should’ve known better than to judge a man whose gaze is enough to knock me to my knees.
Damn.
I might be wrong. I might be in love with more than one alien. I might also be dying.
And there’s only one person who can fix I need to be with Abraxas.
After that, I’ll worry about the possibility of becoming the next queen of the universe.
But let’s be honest I don’t miss being a caterer; being an alien queen is way more interesting.
seminal - adjective
an extremely important, often creative and unique, early stage influence that has a profound effect on the things that follow after
SEMINAL - book 2 of 3 in the For the Love of Aliens trilogy. This is a why choose/reverse harem alien romance. In this volume, we’ll continue to follow Eve as she finds herself falling in love anew, reaffirming her original love, and testing the waters (pun intended) of a third relationship.
And I really hate the fated mates trope.
Hello again, I’m Eve Wakefield, and I refuse to accept that I’m in love with an intergalactic moth prince.
No.
I don’t care how handsome he is, I don’t want to marry him.
I don’t care if his parents have a sentient spaceship capable of eating entire planets.
Love is earned, not swindled by pheromones.
I’m now trapped on a ship with an adorable cyborg bodyguard, a golden toilet, and relationship issues. There’s the prince I’m supposed to marry, the forest beast I fell in love with, and the never-wears-clothes police officer with tentacles. I’ve also got a mother-in-law who looks like a giant millipede, more macarons than I can eat, and plenty of red lace lingerie made from alien moth blood.
I’m living in luxury, but I will do anything to see Abraxas again.
Even if that means giving in and becoming a princess in a gilded cage.
There’s so much more to all of this than I first thought, and I should’ve known better than to judge a man whose gaze is enough to knock me to my knees.
Damn.
I might be wrong. I might be in love with more than one alien. I might also be dying.
And there’s only one person who can fix I need to be with Abraxas.
After that, I’ll worry about the possibility of becoming the next queen of the universe.
But let’s be honest I don’t miss being a caterer; being an alien queen is way more interesting.
seminal - adjective
an extremely important, often creative and unique, early stage influence that has a profound effect on the things that follow after
SEMINAL - book 2 of 3 in the For the Love of Aliens trilogy. This is a why choose/reverse harem alien romance. In this volume, we’ll continue to follow Eve as she finds herself falling in love anew, reaffirming her original love, and testing the waters (pun intended) of a third relationship.
429 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2023
722 people are currently reading
686 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Stunich
162 books14.4k followersC.M. Stunich is a self-admitted bibliophile with a love for exotic teas and a whole host of characters who live full time inside the strange, swirling vortex of her thoughts. Some folks might call this crazy, but Caitlin Morgan doesn't mind - especially considering she has to write biographies in the third person. Oh, and half the host of characters in her head are searing hot bad boys with dirty mouths and skillful hands (among other things). If being crazy means hanging out with them everyday, C.M. has decided to have herself committed.
She hates tapioca pudding, loves to binge on cheesy horror movies, and is a slave to many cats. When she's not vacuuming fur off of her couch, C.M. can be found with her nose buried in a book or her eyes glued to a computer screen. She's the author of over thirty novels - romance, new adult, fantasy, and young adult included. Please, come and join her inside her crazy. There's a heck of a lot to do there.
Oh, and Caitlin loves to chat (incessantly), so feel free to e-mail her, send her a Facebook message, or put up smoke signals. She's already looking forward to it.
Stalk me, please!
www.cmstunich.com
www.facebook.com/cmstunichauthor
www.twitter.com/CMStunich
I'm also on Goodreads, Spotify, Google +, Instagram, and Pinterest.
She hates tapioca pudding, loves to binge on cheesy horror movies, and is a slave to many cats. When she's not vacuuming fur off of her couch, C.M. can be found with her nose buried in a book or her eyes glued to a computer screen. She's the author of over thirty novels - romance, new adult, fantasy, and young adult included. Please, come and join her inside her crazy. There's a heck of a lot to do there.
Oh, and Caitlin loves to chat (incessantly), so feel free to e-mail her, send her a Facebook message, or put up smoke signals. She's already looking forward to it.
Stalk me, please!
www.cmstunich.com
www.facebook.com/cmstunichauthor
www.twitter.com/CMStunich
I'm also on Goodreads, Spotify, Google +, Instagram, and Pinterest.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
December 2, 2023
*3.5* Not as good as the first book, the FMC began to seriously grate on my nerves. I just wanted to be back in book one again. I missed Abraxas (hero in the first bk) and his ferocious, gentle ways. Although he does make an appearance in this one.
“There are many reasons for mating,” Abraxas continues, using long fingers to touch my hair. “Power. Offspring. Joining territories. Attraction. But there is only one noble cause that carries through the stars and follows the soul’s journey into the next life.” He leans down toward me and growls the word. “And that is love.”
After reading the first two books in this series, I feel like each of these would’ve been better with different FMC’s for each one, and not written as an RH. The writing was great, the world building excellent, and each of the alien characters were built so carefully with fabulous originality.
Aliens that look and act like aliens
Non-virgin fmc, 26/yrs old
A very unique hero
Character/relationship building
RH but she’s only w/one alien individually
Live-stream mating ceremony
Painful sex
Cliffhanger ending…and another man
I could’ve done without the repetitive plot point. Does the reason she has to be with each of these men need to be the same??
This book is dedicated to all of the Alien Smut Sluts out there. Throughout the book, the author refers to those of us that like reading stories like this, as A.S.S., which was overly done and not funny anymore after the 10th mention of it.
“There are many reasons for mating,” Abraxas continues, using long fingers to touch my hair. “Power. Offspring. Joining territories. Attraction. But there is only one noble cause that carries through the stars and follows the soul’s journey into the next life.” He leans down toward me and growls the word. “And that is love.”
After reading the first two books in this series, I feel like each of these would’ve been better with different FMC’s for each one, and not written as an RH. The writing was great, the world building excellent, and each of the alien characters were built so carefully with fabulous originality.
Aliens that look and act like aliens
Non-virgin fmc, 26/yrs old
A very unique hero
Character/relationship building
RH but she’s only w/one alien individually
Live-stream mating ceremony
Painful sex
Cliffhanger ending…and another man
I could’ve done without the repetitive plot point. Does the reason she has to be with each of these men need to be the same??
This book is dedicated to all of the Alien Smut Sluts out there. Throughout the book, the author refers to those of us that like reading stories like this, as A.S.S., which was overly done and not funny anymore after the 10th mention of it.
April 16, 2025
It only took two books but it is finally getting good😈
January 2, 2026
6 Star Read
♥️ This is a 6 star read! This series is going on my favorites list. The character building and worldbuilding have surpassed all my expectations. I love every single MC and side character… well except for the slug that ate a human whole and also the Queen and King. 🤣🤣
I am sad it’s only a trilogy because I’m not ready to leave this series 💔😩
“Wherever you be, I am. Remember that when you are alone or afraid, know that I will always come for”
♥️ This is a 6 star read! This series is going on my favorites list. The character building and worldbuilding have surpassed all my expectations. I love every single MC and side character… well except for the slug that ate a human whole and also the Queen and King. 🤣🤣
I am sad it’s only a trilogy because I’m not ready to leave this series 💔😩
“Wherever you be, I am. Remember that when you are alone or afraid, know that I will always come for”
July 9, 2025
A Layered Dive into Alien Romance and Identity.
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚💜❤️🤎
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😟🙁🤓😍🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration
This second installment in the series continues the immersive narrative established in Pheromone, presenting a richly constructed world where biological instinct collides with personal agency—and the consequences are as intimate as they are political.
---
🧍♀️ The Heroine: Eve’s Journey of Identity and Agency
Eve, a twenty-five-year-old caterer from Earth, serves as the emotional and ethical core of this narrative. Her arc hinges on displacement—first from her family, then from her chosen mate, and finally from her own bodily autonomy. Initially grounded in a relatable domestic life, Eve’s abduction catalyzes a psychological transformation that is subtle, conflicted, and layered with trauma response. Her yearning to find Jane is interwoven with survivor’s guilt, and her evolving relationship with Abraxas foregrounds notions of found family and healing.
Her attraction to Rurik—the moth prince who claims her through a pheromonal bond—introduces a potent metaphor: the tension between biological destiny and romantic consent. Her resentment toward Rurik isn’t merely about being “taken”; it reflects a deeper interrogation of what it means to be wanted for one’s biology versus one’s soul.
---
🧑🚀 The Heroes: Three Men, Three Mirrors
• Rurik, the moth prince, complicates the concept of “mate” with his dependency on Eve’s blood, transforming romantic craving into literal survival. His royalty status adds political weight to his actions, and his bargain with Eve—marriage in exchange for Abraxas’s return—places her in a morally ambiguous role as both pawn and queen-maker.
• Abraxas, the dragon-like recluse, anchors Eve’s desire for emotional safety. Their relationship—marked by quiet domesticity in a crashed jungle ship—evokes themes of mutual care and sacrificial love. His dying state and Eve’s decision to mate with him before being taken suggest a complex emotional tether rather than mere imprinting.
• Hyt, a tentacled lawman with an Earthling sister and a cowboy hat, adds tonal range and injects elements of humor and gallantry. His commitment to rescuing Earth-humans from grotesque commodification frames the narrative’s larger critique of interspecies exploitation and humanity’s fragility in a galactic hierarchy.
---
🧠 World Building and Narrative Architecture
The standout feature of this novel remains its meticulous world building. The author’s visual descriptions of moth-based biotechnology—particularly their living ships and blood lace traditions—are vivid and imaginative. The socio-political dynamics on Rurik’s ship, the delicately drawn locations such as the world station bar populated with human survivors, and the tactile specificity of alien anatomy all contribute to an atmosphere that is immersive without overwhelming.
Notably, the author’s ability to illustrate each environment while maintaining character focus showcases an elegant balance between setting and emotional stakes.
---
🔄 Structure and Emotional Resonance
The reverse harem framework, deviating from convention, is surprisingly effective due to its emotional grounding. Eve’s evolving guilt—feeling like she’s betraying Abraxas despite being physiologically bound to Rurik—echoes real-world dilemmas around polyamory, emotional fidelity, and trauma-informed love. The “fated mates” trope is interrogated rather than romanticized, lending the book a philosophical undertone: Is love a choice when biology demands otherwise?
While some readers may find the pacing leisurely, the granular scene work lends weight to character psychology. Eve’s internal monologue—particularly the wry but heartbreaking quote “I’m trapped on a planet nuking spaceship, without Abraxas, with a mothman who claims to be my soulmate, with a nice toilet, but no freedom, few choices, with a broken heart.” —encapsulates the emotional dissonance at play.
---
🎧 Audiobook Performance
Narrated in a dual-POV duet format, Patrick Zeller and Brooke Daniels deliver performances that significantly heighten the story’s emotional texture. Daniels imbues Eve with palpable vulnerability and strength, while Zeller distinguishes each male lead with purposeful vocal choices: southern drawl for Hyt, guttural reserve for Abraxas, and regal arrogance for Rurik. The technical execution is clean, with the narration complementing the emotional layers rather than overwhelming them.
---
🔚 Final Thoughts
This entry builds beautifully upon the foundations laid in the first book. Through bold world building, emotionally intelligent character work, and provocative romantic tension, the author offers a speculative reflection on choice, autonomy, and the bonds that defy biology. While some scenes linger longer than necessary, the emotional depth and immersive narration make this an audiobook worth experiencing for fans of character-driven science fiction romance.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚💜❤️🤎
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😟🙁🤓😍🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration
This second installment in the series continues the immersive narrative established in Pheromone, presenting a richly constructed world where biological instinct collides with personal agency—and the consequences are as intimate as they are political.
---
🧍♀️ The Heroine: Eve’s Journey of Identity and Agency
Eve, a twenty-five-year-old caterer from Earth, serves as the emotional and ethical core of this narrative. Her arc hinges on displacement—first from her family, then from her chosen mate, and finally from her own bodily autonomy. Initially grounded in a relatable domestic life, Eve’s abduction catalyzes a psychological transformation that is subtle, conflicted, and layered with trauma response. Her yearning to find Jane is interwoven with survivor’s guilt, and her evolving relationship with Abraxas foregrounds notions of found family and healing.
Her attraction to Rurik—the moth prince who claims her through a pheromonal bond—introduces a potent metaphor: the tension between biological destiny and romantic consent. Her resentment toward Rurik isn’t merely about being “taken”; it reflects a deeper interrogation of what it means to be wanted for one’s biology versus one’s soul.
---
🧑🚀 The Heroes: Three Men, Three Mirrors
• Rurik, the moth prince, complicates the concept of “mate” with his dependency on Eve’s blood, transforming romantic craving into literal survival. His royalty status adds political weight to his actions, and his bargain with Eve—marriage in exchange for Abraxas’s return—places her in a morally ambiguous role as both pawn and queen-maker.
• Abraxas, the dragon-like recluse, anchors Eve’s desire for emotional safety. Their relationship—marked by quiet domesticity in a crashed jungle ship—evokes themes of mutual care and sacrificial love. His dying state and Eve’s decision to mate with him before being taken suggest a complex emotional tether rather than mere imprinting.
• Hyt, a tentacled lawman with an Earthling sister and a cowboy hat, adds tonal range and injects elements of humor and gallantry. His commitment to rescuing Earth-humans from grotesque commodification frames the narrative’s larger critique of interspecies exploitation and humanity’s fragility in a galactic hierarchy.
---
🧠 World Building and Narrative Architecture
The standout feature of this novel remains its meticulous world building. The author’s visual descriptions of moth-based biotechnology—particularly their living ships and blood lace traditions—are vivid and imaginative. The socio-political dynamics on Rurik’s ship, the delicately drawn locations such as the world station bar populated with human survivors, and the tactile specificity of alien anatomy all contribute to an atmosphere that is immersive without overwhelming.
Notably, the author’s ability to illustrate each environment while maintaining character focus showcases an elegant balance between setting and emotional stakes.
---
🔄 Structure and Emotional Resonance
The reverse harem framework, deviating from convention, is surprisingly effective due to its emotional grounding. Eve’s evolving guilt—feeling like she’s betraying Abraxas despite being physiologically bound to Rurik—echoes real-world dilemmas around polyamory, emotional fidelity, and trauma-informed love. The “fated mates” trope is interrogated rather than romanticized, lending the book a philosophical undertone: Is love a choice when biology demands otherwise?
While some readers may find the pacing leisurely, the granular scene work lends weight to character psychology. Eve’s internal monologue—particularly the wry but heartbreaking quote “I’m trapped on a planet nuking spaceship, without Abraxas, with a mothman who claims to be my soulmate, with a nice toilet, but no freedom, few choices, with a broken heart.” —encapsulates the emotional dissonance at play.
---
🎧 Audiobook Performance
Narrated in a dual-POV duet format, Patrick Zeller and Brooke Daniels deliver performances that significantly heighten the story’s emotional texture. Daniels imbues Eve with palpable vulnerability and strength, while Zeller distinguishes each male lead with purposeful vocal choices: southern drawl for Hyt, guttural reserve for Abraxas, and regal arrogance for Rurik. The technical execution is clean, with the narration complementing the emotional layers rather than overwhelming them.
---
🔚 Final Thoughts
This entry builds beautifully upon the foundations laid in the first book. Through bold world building, emotionally intelligent character work, and provocative romantic tension, the author offers a speculative reflection on choice, autonomy, and the bonds that defy biology. While some scenes linger longer than necessary, the emotional depth and immersive narration make this an audiobook worth experiencing for fans of character-driven science fiction romance.
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April 6, 2024
Low 3 star for me. Sex scene after sex scene after sex scene. Can we get something else???
You keep saying shes pregnant but shes drank wine and whiskey twice, that baby is gonna come out with an ear on its forehead i guess
You keep saying shes pregnant but shes drank wine and whiskey twice, that baby is gonna come out with an ear on its forehead i guess
December 7, 2023
- the development with rurik wasnt as good as with abraxas.
- also i know cm stunich has an mm fetish but like… why force a hetero man into a gay relationship??? and his feelings aren’t even his free will either??? this book made me realize that i actually don’t like mating bonds in books because they’re never done right
- also i know cm stunich has an mm fetish but like… why force a hetero man into a gay relationship??? and his feelings aren’t even his free will either??? this book made me realize that i actually don’t like mating bonds in books because they’re never done right
May 6, 2024
Definitely middle book issues with this one. Things I found entertaining about the FMC in the first book became annoying very quickly in the second book. Overall, still a fun series.
June 15, 2024
I love these guys...
Hyt,
“The Falopex are renowned all throughout the Noctuida; I don’t blame you for lookin’ at my cock. It’s my best asset.”
Abraxas,
“Do not ever worry that your human nature is not enough for me. It drew me in, and it holds me. Female, you are the one I waited my entire life to meet. I did not choose hastily or in desperation; I chose you because you were right.”
Rurik,
“My mate,” Rurik says with a throaty voice, putting his hands on either of my arms as he leans down to kiss me. “I have always loved you, and I will always love you still. That is what it means to be chosen by the stars.”
Hyt,
“The Falopex are renowned all throughout the Noctuida; I don’t blame you for lookin’ at my cock. It’s my best asset.”
Abraxas,
“Do not ever worry that your human nature is not enough for me. It drew me in, and it holds me. Female, you are the one I waited my entire life to meet. I did not choose hastily or in desperation; I chose you because you were right.”
Rurik,
“My mate,” Rurik says with a throaty voice, putting his hands on either of my arms as he leans down to kiss me. “I have always loved you, and I will always love you still. That is what it means to be chosen by the stars.”
December 12, 2023
Will not be continuing the series. The FMC is just getting exhausting.
January 22, 2024
4.6 stars.
So. I definitely liked the first book better.
Abraxas is just a cute, ginormous, playful, vicious dragon baby…😂
And Rurik, while I like his dry, violent humor, just didn’t have the same chemistry with Eve that Abraxas did.
Also. All of the ‘oh no, I can’t, it’s so wrong..’ shit that Eve talks and thinks about all the time is getting kind of old.
And, unfortunately, I can already tell the last book isn’t gonna ease up on that front by any means. 🤷🏻♀️
I still really like the series though.
There’s a lot of good alien smut. The humor is fun, and distracts from that doubting that I hate.
And the ever changing setting and new characters is fascinating.
So. I definitely liked the first book better.
Abraxas is just a cute, ginormous, playful, vicious dragon baby…😂
And Rurik, while I like his dry, violent humor, just didn’t have the same chemistry with Eve that Abraxas did.
Also. All of the ‘oh no, I can’t, it’s so wrong..’ shit that Eve talks and thinks about all the time is getting kind of old.
And, unfortunately, I can already tell the last book isn’t gonna ease up on that front by any means. 🤷🏻♀️
I still really like the series though.
There’s a lot of good alien smut. The humor is fun, and distracts from that doubting that I hate.
And the ever changing setting and new characters is fascinating.
October 14, 2024
4.5 rounded up
I’m still super enjoying this series, but a major plot point was a bit repetitive.
Other than that, still laughing out loud. Still desperate for a happy ever after. Still need ANSWERS.
Spice: 5/5
Triggers, kidnapping, murder, cheating, forced marriage, abuse (off page), forced exhibitionism
I’m still super enjoying this series, but a major plot point was a bit repetitive.
Other than that, still laughing out loud. Still desperate for a happy ever after. Still need ANSWERS.
Spice: 5/5
Triggers, kidnapping, murder, cheating, forced marriage, abuse (off page), forced exhibitionism
May 5, 2024
Umm moth Prince? Yep I love it.
October 20, 2025
This continues to be such a vibe read.
Yea the fmc basically has zero sensical human brain cells and is at the point of just fucking around and literally finding out, but that’s the best part honestly. It’s funny to watch her become more and more alien peen drunk as the story unfolds 💀
When in doubt, mate it out.
I’m falling into book 3 as we speak.
Yea the fmc basically has zero sensical human brain cells and is at the point of just fucking around and literally finding out, but that’s the best part honestly. It’s funny to watch her become more and more alien peen drunk as the story unfolds 💀
When in doubt, mate it out.
I’m falling into book 3 as we speak.
May 21, 2025
Wowwww, I was so right, Rurik did SO much better in this one 😭🥰. Is Abraxas and Rurik TIED now??? Ughh, I can’t choose, I like both of them for their different personalities ❤️🔥. Also, I HAVE to take a break from this series (even though that was a SUPER tense/high stakes cliffhanger) cuz that was SO MUCH, and lots of tension and my poor heart can’t take anymore unfortunately 😭. And I check d and the last audiobook is something like FREAKING 24 HOURS!!!! 😭😭😭😭….. can’t wait for too long though…
October 27, 2025
3.5 stars
Eve/Rurik/Abraxas/Hyt
I like this, but why is it so long😩. I’m ready to move on to another book, but I really want to know what happens and I’m not opposed to spoiling it for myself🥴.
Eve/Rurik/Abraxas/Hyt
I like this, but why is it so long😩. I’m ready to move on to another book, but I really want to know what happens and I’m not opposed to spoiling it for myself🥴.
February 14, 2025
The female main character did rorik so dirty. This entire series feels like it’s lying to the readers. This isn’t a why choose at all? It seems like each book is focused on one guy but half of the book is just guilt over wanting more than one man
Also, the female main character was bad book one but in this one she’s just rude and awful. Even worse than book 1
Plus, the plot? We don’t know her. Cowboy octopus goes to find her to tell her about abraxus, then starts talking about annoying ai cyborg lady’s fallen people out of the blue. Then two seconds later while lamenting over the list of her first mate and feeling crazy guilt over her feelings for her second mate she just randomly decides to give octo-cop a handy? Wtf
Half of this book the FMC is like “I hate that instalove trope/i refuse to do this instalove shit, he needs to earn it like xyz…” like she didn’t do instalove with the first book falling for the dude in 3 days…..
And the writing. Quote: “I’m an alien smut slut. Alien Smut Slut. I’m an ASS!” 😒 She uses this term several times. More than three which is insane
Why did this book feel 20 million hours long? The only great thing about this book is the main male character’s audiobook narrator’s voice.
Also, the female main character was bad book one but in this one she’s just rude and awful. Even worse than book 1
Plus, the plot? We don’t know her. Cowboy octopus goes to find her to tell her about abraxus, then starts talking about annoying ai cyborg lady’s fallen people out of the blue. Then two seconds later while lamenting over the list of her first mate and feeling crazy guilt over her feelings for her second mate she just randomly decides to give octo-cop a handy? Wtf
Half of this book the FMC is like “I hate that instalove trope/i refuse to do this instalove shit, he needs to earn it like xyz…” like she didn’t do instalove with the first book falling for the dude in 3 days…..
And the writing. Quote: “I’m an alien smut slut. Alien Smut Slut. I’m an ASS!” 😒 She uses this term several times. More than three which is insane
Why did this book feel 20 million hours long? The only great thing about this book is the main male character’s audiobook narrator’s voice.
March 12, 2024
This is the most bizarre shit I have ever read in my life. But I liked it, so I guess that puts me on team A.S.S. (Alien Smut Slut), with Eve, Jane, and I am assuming, Tabi.
The characters were cool, and the stakes just keep getting higher, and she really does make the aliens TRULY alien and strange to us. And also, by gods do all the guys she ✨has✨ have a clause in their biology that say if you’re dying you fuck, or if you don’t fuck you’ll die? I guess you could call it forced proximity😂💀😂 My only issue is that I feel an RH was the wrong venue for these characters. It felt like over stuffing a pie, there was too many conflicting “flavours,” that just didn’t mix well together. I feel like each one should’ve been a good ol’ monogamous pairing.
Otherwise, overall a mindless, fun read that kept the reader engaged with laugh out loud moments, as well as spice that was truly, out of this world 😂🌍😂. The FMC is also kinda bitch, but we also kinda love her.
The characters were cool, and the stakes just keep getting higher, and she really does make the aliens TRULY alien and strange to us. And also, by gods do all the guys she ✨has✨ have a clause in their biology that say if you’re dying you fuck, or if you don’t fuck you’ll die? I guess you could call it forced proximity😂💀😂 My only issue is that I feel an RH was the wrong venue for these characters. It felt like over stuffing a pie, there was too many conflicting “flavours,” that just didn’t mix well together. I feel like each one should’ve been a good ol’ monogamous pairing.
Otherwise, overall a mindless, fun read that kept the reader engaged with laugh out loud moments, as well as spice that was truly, out of this world 😂🌍😂. The FMC is also kinda bitch, but we also kinda love her.
November 21, 2023
I read Pheromone and freaking loved it so much, but I didn’t write a review for it. I don’t remember why. Knowing me, I meant to and forgot. After I finished Seminal, though, I knew I had to write one because this series is absolutely phenomenal and I need people to get up and not sleep on it.
I don’t usually go for the alien romances where the aliens aren’t humanoid. I know, right? I wasn’t even a fan of Ice Planet Barbarians. There’s something about Stunich, however, that always makes me want to give any genre or trope a try. She’s a terrific writer with fabulous FMCs, an absolutely hilarious sense of humor, and I’ve always enjoyed how sex-positive her writing is. There’s no shame in Stunich’s game, folks.
Stunich has always had such a talent for writing dialogue and creating an amazing amount of sexual tension and chemistry between her love interests that even I, as someone who doesn’t get hot for non-humanoid aliens, was able to feel flushed and squirmy during the spicy stuff because the “alien” aspect of everything was almost the last thing I was thinking about–it was the snap, crackle, and pop of how intense everything felt between Eve and the aliens she’s falling for.
A lot of stuff happened in Seminal, but somehow the book didn’t seem rushed or crammed. That’s proof of good writing, pacing, and editing. Eve has a lot thrown at her, but there are MMCs and supporting characters to help absorb some of the exposition and some of the emotional blows. Poor Avril gets to bear the brunt of Eve’s reckless, stubborn, and sometimes careless behavior, but honestly she’s one of my favorite characters (and the inside jokes between Rurik and Eve about how they should go about killing her made me snicker continuously).
I love that Eve and Rurik both have some internal conflicts regarding the physiological manipulation that their bodies and minds are going through to make them compatible mates, but I love that Eve wants to find a way to free Rurik from the same fate as his father, too. Rurik truly wants to be a good mate and king, but there’s a lot of deprogramming to do there. Officer Hyt? Oh, you poor baby. And steady, protective, fierce, dedicated, loving Abraxas. I love him to the moon and to Saturn.
I can’t wait for Venery, which should be out soon. I never thought that I’d be so happy for a side project that took Stunich away from the F*ckboy Psychos series, but I am.
This review was written without any offer of compensation. All opinions, thoughts, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
I don’t usually go for the alien romances where the aliens aren’t humanoid. I know, right? I wasn’t even a fan of Ice Planet Barbarians. There’s something about Stunich, however, that always makes me want to give any genre or trope a try. She’s a terrific writer with fabulous FMCs, an absolutely hilarious sense of humor, and I’ve always enjoyed how sex-positive her writing is. There’s no shame in Stunich’s game, folks.
Stunich has always had such a talent for writing dialogue and creating an amazing amount of sexual tension and chemistry between her love interests that even I, as someone who doesn’t get hot for non-humanoid aliens, was able to feel flushed and squirmy during the spicy stuff because the “alien” aspect of everything was almost the last thing I was thinking about–it was the snap, crackle, and pop of how intense everything felt between Eve and the aliens she’s falling for.
A lot of stuff happened in Seminal, but somehow the book didn’t seem rushed or crammed. That’s proof of good writing, pacing, and editing. Eve has a lot thrown at her, but there are MMCs and supporting characters to help absorb some of the exposition and some of the emotional blows. Poor Avril gets to bear the brunt of Eve’s reckless, stubborn, and sometimes careless behavior, but honestly she’s one of my favorite characters (and the inside jokes between Rurik and Eve about how they should go about killing her made me snicker continuously).
I love that Eve and Rurik both have some internal conflicts regarding the physiological manipulation that their bodies and minds are going through to make them compatible mates, but I love that Eve wants to find a way to free Rurik from the same fate as his father, too. Rurik truly wants to be a good mate and king, but there’s a lot of deprogramming to do there. Officer Hyt? Oh, you poor baby. And steady, protective, fierce, dedicated, loving Abraxas. I love him to the moon and to Saturn.
I can’t wait for Venery, which should be out soon. I never thought that I’d be so happy for a side project that took Stunich away from the F*ckboy Psychos series, but I am.
This review was written without any offer of compensation. All opinions, thoughts, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
November 28, 2023
Obsessed with these men
I am IN LOVE with these characters, I love how Sassy the fmc is, and I LOVE how sweet the men are. The men are literally everything and I love how each one is sweet in their own way but also vastly different from one another. The way CM crafted these characters, was a work of art in itself.
What’s crazy is I couldn’t pick my favorite out of the bunch, we haven’t even really had a ton of moments between Hyt and Eve and I already know I’m going to be obsessed with his book. I just ugh words cannot explain how amazing each man was, I was never even annoyed with any of the men, it was more like I was upset with Eve for not immediately jumping these men upon sight and I myself am not a fan of fast burn, but would I blame Eve for jumping these men’s bones? Absolutely NOT. I love how CM paced the romance in this novel, while it has the fated mates trope it’s not insta love in the slightest. Because while the men, have fallen head over heels, there is quite a bit of denial from Eve at first. But even so I love how unashamed and quick to speak her mind Eve is, she doesn’t come off as b*tchy or anything just someone willing to be speak their mind and stick up for those who need it.
Though I did miss Abraxas a lot this book, Rurik was a freaken sweetie pie, I’m literally in love with our sweet Mothman, and I can only hope because the next book will focus on our Falopex that we will have a great deal of the MEN with Eve TOGETHER near the end. I’m also wondering if we will see some of these other characters in other novels. I usually don’t find myself intrigued with what’s going on with other characters outside of the main ones but CM’s writing has me that hooked. I can’t wait for the next book.
I am IN LOVE with these characters, I love how Sassy the fmc is, and I LOVE how sweet the men are. The men are literally everything and I love how each one is sweet in their own way but also vastly different from one another. The way CM crafted these characters, was a work of art in itself.
What’s crazy is I couldn’t pick my favorite out of the bunch, we haven’t even really had a ton of moments between Hyt and Eve and I already know I’m going to be obsessed with his book. I just ugh words cannot explain how amazing each man was, I was never even annoyed with any of the men, it was more like I was upset with Eve for not immediately jumping these men upon sight and I myself am not a fan of fast burn, but would I blame Eve for jumping these men’s bones? Absolutely NOT. I love how CM paced the romance in this novel, while it has the fated mates trope it’s not insta love in the slightest. Because while the men, have fallen head over heels, there is quite a bit of denial from Eve at first. But even so I love how unashamed and quick to speak her mind Eve is, she doesn’t come off as b*tchy or anything just someone willing to be speak their mind and stick up for those who need it.
Though I did miss Abraxas a lot this book, Rurik was a freaken sweetie pie, I’m literally in love with our sweet Mothman, and I can only hope because the next book will focus on our Falopex that we will have a great deal of the MEN with Eve TOGETHER near the end. I’m also wondering if we will see some of these other characters in other novels. I usually don’t find myself intrigued with what’s going on with other characters outside of the main ones but CM’s writing has me that hooked. I can’t wait for the next book.
February 8, 2025
I feel bad saying this, but the second installment of this series fell flat for me. The first book was comical, spicy, relatable (for alien romance), and excellent writing. The author continues with all of that except relatable. Unfortunately, my love for Eve significantly diminished with her treatment of Rurik and her choices throughout this book.
First, I felt that Eve was way too flip-flopping. I understand the author was trying to describe the intense emotions Eve was feeling, from being abducted and missing her family, among others, to feeling a strong connection with Rurik but doing her best to resist it. Yet Eve's decisions throughout the book constantly annoy me. I did not find her relatable in this book as I did in the first one.
Second, the story seemed more drawn out and a bit tedious in this book, too. I inevitably did not finish and did not plan to. I actually have no desire to see this series through to the third book. I'm at a point where I don't care enough about how this story ends to give it a shot. I think the fact that I felt Eve took on a sense of entitlement with everyone (that's how it came across to me) in her treatment of Rurik, Rurik's cultural differences, and the humans supporting her, it put a bad taste in my mouth.
First, I felt that Eve was way too flip-flopping. I understand the author was trying to describe the intense emotions Eve was feeling, from being abducted and missing her family, among others, to feeling a strong connection with Rurik but doing her best to resist it. Yet Eve's decisions throughout the book constantly annoy me. I did not find her relatable in this book as I did in the first one.
Second, the story seemed more drawn out and a bit tedious in this book, too. I inevitably did not finish and did not plan to. I actually have no desire to see this series through to the third book. I'm at a point where I don't care enough about how this story ends to give it a shot. I think the fact that I felt Eve took on a sense of entitlement with everyone (that's how it came across to me) in her treatment of Rurik, Rurik's cultural differences, and the humans supporting her, it put a bad taste in my mouth.
December 27, 2023
1.75
This book sadly didn't step it up from the first, it was nearly a DNF for me.
I just got so boooored. Eve starts off the book being so whiny, she's honestly no better than the Tabitha character she constantly hates on. None of the side characters seem to have any purpose for being in the story, and honestly I'm not sure I really like any of the characters?
Similar to the first book, the romance didn't have me very hooked. It also doesn't really feel like a reverse harem. It feels like each book is just being dedicated to a different guy? By the end of book 2 of a trilogy I'd expect to be making some progress on the harem aspect of things, but instead the guys still can't stand the idea of Eve being with the others, the 2 guys who are romantically involved have hardly had anything to do with each other, and the third guy has hardly been involved at all. I probably wouldn't mind it being slow build if everyone involved wasn't feeling so miserable about the whole situation?
These first two books felt so unnecessarily long, nothing is happening. I was holding out for Hyt to get involved because he was immediately my favourite but I just can't be fucked anymore 🤷♀️
This book sadly didn't step it up from the first, it was nearly a DNF for me.
I just got so boooored. Eve starts off the book being so whiny, she's honestly no better than the Tabitha character she constantly hates on. None of the side characters seem to have any purpose for being in the story, and honestly I'm not sure I really like any of the characters?
Similar to the first book, the romance didn't have me very hooked. It also doesn't really feel like a reverse harem. It feels like each book is just being dedicated to a different guy? By the end of book 2 of a trilogy I'd expect to be making some progress on the harem aspect of things, but instead the guys still can't stand the idea of Eve being with the others, the 2 guys who are romantically involved have hardly had anything to do with each other, and the third guy has hardly been involved at all. I probably wouldn't mind it being slow build if everyone involved wasn't feeling so miserable about the whole situation?
These first two books felt so unnecessarily long, nothing is happening. I was holding out for Hyt to get involved because he was immediately my favourite but I just can't be fucked anymore 🤷♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2024
3.5 stars
Other reviewers have basically said it all. There were many thing I both liked and disliked about this book:
Liked:
- The world building
- The writing style (despite what I don’t like, I think this is well written and engaging)
- The relationship with Rurik (which I was afraid wouldn’t recover after book 1)
- Abraxas ❤️❤️❤️
- The storyline itself
Disliked:
- Eve. She was what I disliked most about the first book and that hasn’t changed here. She is selfish, immature, and endangers those around her thoughtlessly. I got better at compartmentalizing her personality though so I could enjoy the book despite her.
- The “RH” aspect does not feel like a true ‘reverse harem’, it feels like a love triangle where everyone is resentful and jealous and it ruins the relationship potential for me.
Overal I DID enjoy this, and I will definitely plan to read the next one.
Other reviewers have basically said it all. There were many thing I both liked and disliked about this book:
Liked:
- The world building
- The writing style (despite what I don’t like, I think this is well written and engaging)
- The relationship with Rurik (which I was afraid wouldn’t recover after book 1)
- Abraxas ❤️❤️❤️
- The storyline itself
Disliked:
- Eve. She was what I disliked most about the first book and that hasn’t changed here. She is selfish, immature, and endangers those around her thoughtlessly. I got better at compartmentalizing her personality though so I could enjoy the book despite her.
- The “RH” aspect does not feel like a true ‘reverse harem’, it feels like a love triangle where everyone is resentful and jealous and it ruins the relationship potential for me.
Overal I DID enjoy this, and I will definitely plan to read the next one.
September 15, 2024
This one was a mixed bag, I would say maybe 3.4. I like Rurik’s character but a lot of things in his book are gross or nightmarish. Was hard to separate that from the romance aspects and the feeling that she really doesn’t have a choice. His parents are brutal and nonsensical in ways.
The stakes are a little too high now. She’s set to become an imperial queen and there is a threat to annihilate Earth. I am still mesmerized by Officer Hyt and Abraxas is still my favorite. I really enjoyed his POV chapter. That might be part of why this book was a bit unsatisfying. So much longing for Abraxas and too much of these long wedding tradition shenanigans. I just feel like this series may have been better without the royal wedding stuff.
Also it is why choose but the fmc Eve sure has to go through a lot of guilt due to the circumstances. It is also unique in that there is one romance focus per book and the other two are rarely around. Different dynamic than the usual reverse harem where there are usually more group scenes and there have been zero up until now. That’s not a deal breaker for me, I find it charming. I think mostly the situations that Eve is finding herself in are kind of anxiety laden, making it hard to relax enough to enjoy the love stuff.
I’m a finisher and invested in Hyt’s story at this point, so I will be continuing and hoping the next one is not as long and a bit better edited.
The stakes are a little too high now. She’s set to become an imperial queen and there is a threat to annihilate Earth. I am still mesmerized by Officer Hyt and Abraxas is still my favorite. I really enjoyed his POV chapter. That might be part of why this book was a bit unsatisfying. So much longing for Abraxas and too much of these long wedding tradition shenanigans. I just feel like this series may have been better without the royal wedding stuff.
Also it is why choose but the fmc Eve sure has to go through a lot of guilt due to the circumstances. It is also unique in that there is one romance focus per book and the other two are rarely around. Different dynamic than the usual reverse harem where there are usually more group scenes and there have been zero up until now. That’s not a deal breaker for me, I find it charming. I think mostly the situations that Eve is finding herself in are kind of anxiety laden, making it hard to relax enough to enjoy the love stuff.
I’m a finisher and invested in Hyt’s story at this point, so I will be continuing and hoping the next one is not as long and a bit better edited.
November 3, 2023
Holy. Stars. This was an incredible sequel in this series. It was so good to see how the relationship developed between Eve and Rurik and learning so much of the political environment of this universe/the Noctuida. I adored every one of the main characters. We don't get to see too much of Hyt yet and I wish that wasn't the case only because I would want him to have his 'own' book too like Abraxes and Rurik have had, and the only real outcome of book three will be all of them together and I don't want Hyt to be neglected. I can't wait to see how everything plays out in the last book.
---slight spoilers after this point---
For the first ~45% of the book I did want to fight Eve a little because she was driving me nuts with her lack of communication with Rurik. It was frustrating to read how she trusted him but didn't want him but did want him but it was 'all fake' or whatever. I understand it was a necessary plot point but man do I hate when people don't communicate. If she had been able to say out loud what she said in her head even once they could have been on the same page and working together way earlier. You can tell that Rurik really is a good guy and was doing everything he could to make Eve happy if she would just meet him half way but lord was she stubborn. I loved the way every 'mating' has been a result of saving each other and Hyt is no exception. I really hope we get another book/series for Jane and her pirate mate, and hopefully she gets her own RH too to live up to all her alien smut reading fantasies.
---slight spoilers after this point---
For the first ~45% of the book I did want to fight Eve a little because she was driving me nuts with her lack of communication with Rurik. It was frustrating to read how she trusted him but didn't want him but did want him but it was 'all fake' or whatever. I understand it was a necessary plot point but man do I hate when people don't communicate. If she had been able to say out loud what she said in her head even once they could have been on the same page and working together way earlier. You can tell that Rurik really is a good guy and was doing everything he could to make Eve happy if she would just meet him half way but lord was she stubborn. I loved the way every 'mating' has been a result of saving each other and Hyt is no exception. I really hope we get another book/series for Jane and her pirate mate, and hopefully she gets her own RH too to live up to all her alien smut reading fantasies.
April 29, 2024
Ohhhhh, Rurik. These stakes are pretty high. I mean, dang. You would think being abducted from Earth and dropped onto a black market planet was enough of a high stakes romance for one why choose reverse harem.
But no, Eve's been abducted again. She's on the ship that serves as the Vestalis home world, essentially? There's a lot to unpack there. But she's with Avril and Zero and Rurik on the ship. Zero has a new cyborg body. Avril is making the most of her new life as the Imperial Princess's handmaiden. She only orders clothing and food that she wants. She irritates the crap out of Eve and Rurik, and honestly, why shouldn't she?! She was abducted too, and by nature of her shitty circumstance she's condemned (or maybe relegated but still) to a life of service. Where the risk of a bad job review is death. And your bosses joke about killing you all the time. She deserves some macarons, whether Eve wants them or not.
Rurik is a very cool alien. Like a vampire mothman who can turn blood into a weapon or a video doorbell or a mind control device. I mean, come on. That is very cool. But overall, the species kind of sucks. Like some of the pitfalls of the species are rough. They can only survive on the blood of their one true mate once they've found them. If their mate chooses to leave them, and somehow gets away, they will die.
Sex or death seems to be a major theme in this universe that is the Noctuida. I don't hate it. I would like to read a cozy sci-fi why choose though. This series has sparked a NEED in me. For a cozy sci-fi why choose, and also for the final book in this trilogy. I have GOT to know how these babies are going to get out of this sticky....sticky mess!
But no, Eve's been abducted again. She's on the ship that serves as the Vestalis home world, essentially? There's a lot to unpack there. But she's with Avril and Zero and Rurik on the ship. Zero has a new cyborg body. Avril is making the most of her new life as the Imperial Princess's handmaiden. She only orders clothing and food that she wants. She irritates the crap out of Eve and Rurik, and honestly, why shouldn't she?! She was abducted too, and by nature of her shitty circumstance she's condemned (or maybe relegated but still) to a life of service. Where the risk of a bad job review is death. And your bosses joke about killing you all the time. She deserves some macarons, whether Eve wants them or not.
Rurik is a very cool alien. Like a vampire mothman who can turn blood into a weapon or a video doorbell or a mind control device. I mean, come on. That is very cool. But overall, the species kind of sucks. Like some of the pitfalls of the species are rough. They can only survive on the blood of their one true mate once they've found them. If their mate chooses to leave them, and somehow gets away, they will die.
Sex or death seems to be a major theme in this universe that is the Noctuida. I don't hate it. I would like to read a cozy sci-fi why choose though. This series has sparked a NEED in me. For a cozy sci-fi why choose, and also for the final book in this trilogy. I have GOT to know how these babies are going to get out of this sticky....sticky mess!
July 12, 2025
If you thought Pheromone was unhinged… Seminal said “hold my fermented alien drink."😅 This book picks up immediately after the chaos of book one, and it doesn’t give you a second to catch your breath. We’re fully locked in now, entangled in this totally bananas, yet weirdly compelling, world where nothing is humanoid, everything is intense, and the emotional whiplash is as real as the anatomical confusion. What really surprised me in this one was the emotional depth. Yes, it’s spicy and wild and probably something I shouldn’t read in public, but somehow Stunich manages to lace it all with tenderness and devotion. The MMCs start becoming more than just strange, sexy aliens, they feel more familiar (kind of like home) in a way, and you start to get it, even if your brain is still screaming, “WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?!” The spice was upped a bit from book one, but so were the stakes. The worldbuilding expanded in a way that felt both disorienting and exciting and a little confusing. I’m emotionally invested now and can't wait to start book three.
August 8, 2024
I had very little love for Rurik going into book two. Mainly, because I ADORE Abraxas. But I trusted the process, and I don't regret it. ;)
Even in the face of Eve's initial rejection, Rurik continued to put Eve's needs above his own. He acquiesced to her demands of keeping her first mate, although his position limited how he could go about it. He made great strides with me as soon as he made it clear she was his number one priority. Above his parents, above the Vestalis and their traditions, and above himself. I grew to love him as much as Abraxas.
Eve is the luckiest human ever. And then, on that cliffie, she gets even luckier. Man, what I wouldn't give to have even one human love me as much as she now has three aliens males!
Even in the face of Eve's initial rejection, Rurik continued to put Eve's needs above his own. He acquiesced to her demands of keeping her first mate, although his position limited how he could go about it. He made great strides with me as soon as he made it clear she was his number one priority. Above his parents, above the Vestalis and their traditions, and above himself. I grew to love him as much as Abraxas.
Eve is the luckiest human ever. And then, on that cliffie, she gets even luckier. Man, what I wouldn't give to have even one human love me as much as she now has three aliens males!
September 14, 2024
I'm finishing the Seminal audiobook and as a non native English speaker, I have to say that STUNICH's books are always a challenge for me !
Her writting is unique and incredibly hard for me ( maybe because she's singular and she really does an amazing research before writting) I read ( and listen) almost 200 books alongside the year and I have NO author to compare to her writting.
I'm here just to tell you everyone that I'll be reading the Kindle version ( yeah in sequence of the audio ) just to prepare myself for the release on October 8th .
CM Stunich although I'm not North American I have loads of family and friends alongside North America and it's my personal dream to meet you someday!!!!
Warm hugs from Brazil 🇧🇷!!!
Her writting is unique and incredibly hard for me ( maybe because she's singular and she really does an amazing research before writting) I read ( and listen) almost 200 books alongside the year and I have NO author to compare to her writting.
I'm here just to tell you everyone that I'll be reading the Kindle version ( yeah in sequence of the audio ) just to prepare myself for the release on October 8th .
CM Stunich although I'm not North American I have loads of family and friends alongside North America and it's my personal dream to meet you someday!!!!
Warm hugs from Brazil 🇧🇷!!!
August 18, 2024
Same issues I had with book one. If it was world-building, the romance and swoony aspects, creativity, or the MMCs alone, this would easily be a 5-star read. But certain things about the FMC (things she even identifies about herself ad nauseam, much to the detriment of herself and those she says she cares about) and repetitive phrases and monologue, I just have to be stingy with that last star.
I will say that I love how the MMCs respect her right to choice in the beginning but once she relents, they are fucking feral for her and possessive of her ALL THE TIME. Gentlemen until only the point they don’t have to be, and then all bets are off. YESSSSSS please.
I will say that I love how the MMCs respect her right to choice in the beginning but once she relents, they are fucking feral for her and possessive of her ALL THE TIME. Gentlemen until only the point they don’t have to be, and then all bets are off. YESSSSSS please.
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