Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

When Darkness Falls

Rate this book
Miya plans a break from work, but first she has to survive her latest piloting job. Which is sure to kill her… unless she breaks the hot alien prisoner out of the cargo hold.

Miya was supposed to be enjoying a well-deserved holiday on a sunny resort planet. But instead of sipping alien cocktails in her new bikini, she is stuck in her pilot seat transporting some edgy soldiers and their mysterious cargo to a backwater system.

The fact that said cargo is a guy with looks that set her heart racing and a voice that gives her tingles in all the right places is no consolation. Maybe because the sexy alien is a prisoner so dangerous they keep him caged, cuffed, and under guard. Or perhaps because he keeps claiming everyone is going to die unless Miya sets him free.

Yeah, sure. Like she would fall for that. This is going to be one boring, uneventful space trip on her perfectly safe ship… Right?

When Darkness Falls is a standalone sci-fi romance about a sassy human pilot and an enigmatic alien who’s tough only on the outside and deadly to her… undies. Join Miya on a space adventure filled with steamy moments, some jump scares, and a hearty dose of humor on the way to the guaranteed HEA. For mature readers only. For content warnings, please refer to the author's website.

278 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2023

94 people are currently reading
265 people want to read

About the author

Marian Pattechat

9 books81 followers
Marian is an avid fan of fantasy, science fiction, and horror books.

She started writing (in secret) novels in those genres when she was nine, and began adding a pinch of romance to her creations when the need for a Prince Charming hit her eventually.

Nowadays, her literary muse bugs her in the wee hours with steamy romance ideas combined with a hearty dose of humor. Armed with a glass of her favorite crème de menthe, Marian enjoys writing (no longer in secret) about sassy heroines and cinnamon roll heroes who discover new worlds – and love – together.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
137 (35%)
4 stars
144 (36%)
3 stars
94 (24%)
2 stars
13 (3%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for RLbooks (in and out).
1,008 reviews488 followers
Read
November 26, 2024
I’m not sure what I’d rate this, probably a 2.5 but I’m leaving it unrated.

The start was promising and the stakes quickly become very high. The romance was not satisfying for me though and far more lust-focused than a romantic connection. I thought maybe there’d be a fated mate bond to perhaps explain some of that away, however there’s not. Usually I’m all for choosing your person, but why did the H so immediately want the h and why did the h want more when she was constantly perving on him (her own words)? Also, they end up being unclothed for a chunk of this story and it was a little hard to fathom, though could explain why the hormones were flying.

They start off with him a prisoner and her as the pilot of the ship wondering why he’s so dangerous. Then she’s saving him to save herself and on a path of improbable fight for survival on the dangerous planet they escape to. There’s some Pitch Black craziness happening, along with some non-native dangers. The h tries to help (when she’s not oddly giggling) and unsure of where they stand (makes sense given their lack of true relationship building). The H is protective, intensely focused (usually on her), powerfully competent, and strangely risk taking in certain circumstances. I just couldn’t seem to click with this one. A couple of steamy scenes are later in the book too fyi.

The ending wraps up post-crazy planet escape and is a HEA of them planning their next steps, following last tying off of loose ends on the H’s part, but it again, just didn’t give me that satisfied/happy feeling it was meant to. This read just wasn’t for me unfortunately but may work for others as a fairly quick sci-fi read with a badass H, a h who does stand up for herself, and a lot thrown at them all at once.

Written in third person, single POV of h. No ow drama or om drama (though h gets propositioned by a soldier who she promptly shoots down), and both are experienced (some small details mentioned by both).
Profile Image for Kay H.
807 reviews67 followers
November 1, 2024
It was fun. It was campy. Don't take it too seriously. Bonus points for the epilogue actually giving the timeline some space to breathe and not being 1.7 seconds after the end of the last chapter.
Profile Image for Archives of Jina.
575 reviews206 followers
August 10, 2024
An absolute book slump cure. It was funny, hot, action packed and the flirting/tension back and forth??? Omfg. Also, sexy times in zero g? 10/10
Profile Image for Dr susan.
3,092 reviews51 followers
December 21, 2023
Enjoyable romantic sci fi adventure

Miya is an entertaining narrator and character. The author warned of horror elements (which I don't like), but it was horror-lite. There is graphic violence (although most of it is inferred) with an associated body count. Therak running around nude most of the book was....interesting. There is graphic sex and a probable Happily Ever After. I look forward to more science fiction romances from this author.
Profile Image for Erica G..
262 reviews8 followers
November 9, 2024
I couldn't put this book down! I finished it in less than a day!
I instantly fell in love with Miya <3 and for Therak a few chapters later!
Perfect read if you're looking for a spicy human/alien romantic adventure! The twist and turns kept me on the edge of my seat and are so well written!
Do yourself a favor and add this fun read to the top of your TBR!
Profile Image for Kassybetweenpages.
554 reviews60 followers
March 9, 2024
This was such an entertaining read, it is a little on the darker side. (as in a lot of death happening). I was enthralled by the action, humor, and spice that was woven in.
Miya and Therak together are unstoppable.
Profile Image for S Lynn.
140 reviews1 follower
June 20, 2024
This is an excellent example of why it is important not to pre-judge a book based on its cover. I didn’t have high expectations for the writing based on the rather basic cover and I was wrong! This book is soooo good! A snarky pilot pairs with an alien assassin (retired) to escape dangerous situation after dangerous situation. It was funny, fast-paced, and really enjoyable to read.

It is a standalone space fantasy without much backstory or world building. BUT the beauty of this book is that you don’t need a lot of information about this world, the characters, etc because this is like a snapshot story of when the two MCs meet and the story is focused on their survival and HEA. I am often critical of books without much backstory, but this author just makes it work. I was completely drawn into the story and didn’t even need to know the MMC’s backstory (we don’t even know his species/planet) or any other details to really appreciate the story. This is the type of book where you focus on the story rather than the world and it’s easily five stars.
Profile Image for Sadie Forsythe.
Author 1 book287 followers
July 29, 2024
First off, that cover is a travesty. Just saying.
This was cute. It's kind of alien insta-love meets Riddick. The H and h run around surviving whatever randomness pops up, finally have an evening together to consummate their love, then a happily ever after in the form of an epilogue. It's not overly spicy. There's some humor here and there. And the writing is pretty good. I'd read another Pattechat book.
Profile Image for Kaitlyn &#x1f319; &#x1f987;.
328 reviews
July 21, 2024
I'd rate this book a 3 to 3.5. It was an easy read and well-executed for its shorter length. The author did a good job developing characters and relationships within a limited timeframe, making them feel somewhat believable. Overall, it was a solid standalone novel.
Profile Image for •° Whimsy Fairy °•.
548 reviews3 followers
March 19, 2025
The perfect mix of romance, humor, and action

I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this book! It was goofy, sweet, and full of heat! I also appreciate the way that Marian Pattechat writes humorous protagonists and their love interests! Overall, an excellent read!
Profile Image for DiiDii.
50 reviews1 follower
November 26, 2023
I received an eARC of this sci-fi romance, and here is my honest review:

THE STORY: Miya is a pilot working on a space station. She is just about to go on vacation when she is tasked with transporting a group of soldiers to another system. What is supposed to be a routine job goes hairy when she discovers their cargo is a dangerous prisoner, and someone doesn’t want him getting to the ship’s final destination. To survive, Miya just might have to break the alien out of his cage and trust the tall, dark, and stabby Therak with her life.

THE CHARACTERS: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. The duo of Miya and Therak is hilarious, from Miya’s inner monologues to her conversations with Therak. I love a strong FMC; though afraid, Miya goes and does what’s necessary for what she believes in. Therak is an enigma of an alien that is hard to read at first, and I enjoyed how the reader gets to uncover the mystery of his character along with Miya (the book is written in her POV only). I won’t say more about the MMC so I don’t spoil other readers’ fun, other than he’s perfect for Miya and grows on you before you know what hit you!

THE HEAT: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ . There aren’t many intimate scenes (three or four if you count some foreplay), but the build-up to them is worth the wait. Therak and Miya together are explosive, and he has some tricks up his sleeve that I did not see coming!

THE WORLD BUILDING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I enjoyed the description of the characters’ adventures immensely. The atmosphere, the dangers, the action, some spooky moments – it’s gripping storytelling. Add in Pattechat’s trademark humor, and you’ve got a great mix!

THE VERDICT: A special blend of romance, mystery, action, spooky elements, and humor with lovable characters. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!
Profile Image for Courtney.
374 reviews8 followers
December 29, 2023
“Such a tiny and fragile thing,” he was saying softly, as if to himself. “Yet you’re more dangerous to me than any alien I’ve ever encountered. What will I do with you, sapphire?”

When Darkness Falls is an action packed hit. This book perfectly matched up an unlikely duo and let you come along for the ride of their lives! It’s full of twists and turns and I couldn’t put it down! It gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!

Miya and Therak have no business being this kickass together. Marian is a genius when it comes to writing out banter and this book is full of it. I loved being able to read their internal thoughts while everything was playing out. You really feel like you’re the third wheel in the books. Their banter goes from annoying to flirty and it’s so much fun to watch! You can really see these two struggle to keep their feelings in check before they finally give in.

Miya is sarcastic, witty, courageous, and not afraid to fight for what she believes in. She’s also super confident in her abilities and I love that in a FMC! We stan our strong independent queens! Meanwhile, Therak is an alpha predator turned cinnamon roll when he starts falling for Miya. Plus the man is always naked and *ready*. He very much likes to take care of his sapphire. 🥵

I really loved the different settings as well! There’s a lot of world building packed into this book. Even the little details of Therak’s home-world harems or the human settlement’s purpose on Xera are explained. Truly no stone is left untouched when it came to the world building!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Between pages.
374 reviews7 followers
May 4, 2024
Listen! The shower and the zero gravity scene!? Hot! Both laced with humour and oh so intimate play... sexy as fuck! Also! Therak! You man!? He can undress and pleasure Miya with telekinesis. I'm here to enjoy those goodies of sci-fi romance.

Therak and Miya are giving me a Desperado kind of vibe. You know, the scene where Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas were walking hand in hand while behind them was a full-blown explosion. That kind of badass vibe these two were giving me. And for some reason, this megagull monster Miya has named reminded me of Helldiver Shriekers but a massive and more vicious version of it.

The obstacle that meets them in every way is exhilarating, laced with humour, and a little playful nip here and there. And when the time has finally come for Therak to claim his sapphire, there was nothing that held him up, you know why? Because this badass pilot is as eager to claim her Therak as much as he does. As of this month, this book is genuinely one of my most enjoyable reads.

There was no part of this that was boring or felt like the story was dragged or had filler scenes. Everything was smoothly enjoyable. I devoured this book in one sitting. I had planned to slow-read this weekend, but nope! Miya and Therak wouldn't let me put their story down.😊
Profile Image for TheReaderVert .
817 reviews32 followers
June 30, 2024
🌑🎆

Ok Sci fi fantasy read reminiscent of the 2000 Vin Disel Sci film Pitch Black. A trapped mysterious baldheaded enhanced (alien) assassin. A talented gutsy leader female pilot. Danger of an unknown planet with two suns and dangerous birdlike predators make the background for this romance romp. Even though the sex scenes were slow going there was some building tension and smaller acts along the way of the adventure. Two beings in a Sci fi setting falling in love was promised and it's what we get
Profile Image for Diana Wolf.
192 reviews53 followers
January 28, 2024
cute story

Very cute story with action. And ~action~. If you don't know what I mean this is not for you.

Miya was cute and competent and Therak was scary competent with a side of beefcake.
98 reviews1 follower
December 26, 2023
I loved this book! They instantly had s thing for each other but didn't fuck until later (which was frustrating but worth it) MMC was obsessed with FMC and she was just such a loveable charecter. I expected it to be just plain smut but it had a really interesting plot which made the smut even better!
Profile Image for Baby Got Books.
306 reviews23 followers
July 23, 2024
Definitely action adventure romance. Pitch black Vin Diesel vibes. Love a girl who's very sexually confident and is more the initiator for sex.
Profile Image for Leslie.
2,114 reviews25 followers
December 18, 2023
Basically, it’s a Chronicles of Riddick rip off with way too much telekinesis, horrible dialogue like “We must merge, the universe demands it!” And a plucky, but ditsy, girl running around in lingerie.
Profile Image for Jona.
141 reviews
Read
June 11, 2025
Cero dudas de que a la autora le gusta Pitch Black porque hay un montón de cositas que me recuerdan a esa película. Por supuesto este libro tiene mucho más humor y más escenas calientes.

Es una historia donde no hay a penas un minuto de calma. Desde el ataque inicial que une a nuestros protagonistas los pobres tienen que estar salvándose el culo de un montón de problemas que atentan contra sus vidas.

Aunque está narrada en tercera persona leemos toda la historia desde el punto de vista de Miya sin saber qué piensa Therak, ni qué sucede más allá de lo que ella ve. Tranquilamente podría estar en primera persona.

Ambos protagonistas me han gustado por separado, en especial por lo divertida que es ella y lo adorable que es él, pero juntos son una bomba. Es de esas pocas veces que puedo notar realmente fuerte la tensión sexual y tengo ganas de que de una vez puedan tener una "fusión sensual".

Amé la expresividad en los ojos de Therak, cada pequeño gesto que le dedicaba a Miya y la confianza plena que tiene en sus capacidades. También cómo Miya no se deja acobardar y lo mucho que disfruta ser piloto.
Profile Image for TeetotheTee.
23 reviews1 follower
November 25, 2024
LOVE LOVE LOVE. Definitely have this book as a comfort read. Funny, adventurous and spicy-what more can I ask for? Actually I wish it was longer so I can read more of Miya and Therak! I was very upset at myself for finishing the book so fast because I could not stop reading. Miya is so relatable, I always ask myself when reading a book if I would be friends with the FMC and let me tell you-I think Miya and I can be besties! Her confidence is refreshing and the fact that she is plus size and knows she looks good is amazing! Y'all read this book please, I need Miss Marian Pattechat to write more books. I just recently discovered she released another book "Right on Time" and I screamed and almost injured myself running to KU and currently reading.
Profile Image for Kayce B.
504 reviews10 followers
November 17, 2025
While some of the dialogue was a little meh, overall it was a cute and fun pretty quick story. I enjoyed Therak being the overly protective, clearly smitten in that silent way, alien assassin. Amusing that homie is rocking some serious wood as just like a natural state of being, first time I’ve come across that. I appreciated that Miya was way out of her league against the mercs and not suited to handle the giant fauna on the planet but wasn’t totally hapless and was able to help where she could in her own way. The full damsel in distress gets old.
Spice was okay, nothing mind blowing, but well written.
Profile Image for Ruby Dalegendaryreader.
723 reviews17 followers
June 28, 2024
Got this in the Stuff Your Kindle Day and no regrets!

We follow Miya, who's a pilot and got impromptu hired to deliver a cargo, and she discovered she's transporting an assassin prisoner. When they got boarded, she got no choice but to team up with the said prisoner.

It's very quick, fast-paced and not much world building so I just read this for funsies and just vibes. I wasn't really invested with the main characters or the development of their relationship, because it was a bit insta-lusty lol.

It's a great palate cleanser, for sure.
731 reviews7 followers
July 24, 2024
An alien MMC with extraordinary abilities and a dislike of clothing allows himself to be captured by the intergalactic military while being pursued by extralegal mercenaries. The FMC, an innocent civilian pilot, gets caught in the crisis when her vacation is interrupted by the military escort needing a pilot to transport the prisoner. They’re attacked en route and barely escape with their lives, but trouble follows them to the surface of the barely-habitable desert planet they land on. The MMC is a bit cold and mysterious, but always comes through when there’s fighting to be done.
Profile Image for Alan.
131 reviews10 followers
September 17, 2024
3.5/5

Holy space cows!

Cute, smutty, and charming, this book got some genuine chuckles out of me throughout reading.

I got this book for free from a Stuff Your Kindle event, and there isn't much substance here, but this isnt exactly a book for the plot, ammiright or ammiright *badum tss*. The world building and alien races created in the limited space of the book were interesting though!

If you want some hot but also cute and exciting alien adventures with some cheesy, but fun humour, I'd pick this up!
Profile Image for Honest Mabel.
1,252 reviews41 followers
July 17, 2024
it was okay

I was just annoyed and kind of like ugh gross over the pet name sapphire. Literally it was just dumb and kept pulling me out of the book. Bad choice. It was cheesy in the not good way but annoying and definitely an annoyed groan was made every time it popped up.

It also could have used more pages for stuff. She is observant but they had no real problems or anything and she just magically understands his moods and eye colors etc. 🙄
Profile Image for Emilie Ocean.
Author 13 books38 followers
August 4, 2024
Simply brilliant!

Another amazing sci-fi novel by Marian Pattechat. When Darkness Falls is simply brilliant! It is easy falling in love with Therak, the mmc, and relating to Miya, the fmc. The plot is well structured with plenty of surprises and sweet moments. The romance between the protagonists is a slow-burn that had me reading and turning the pages faster than ever. This novel is spicy, sweet, enthralling, and so much more!!
Profile Image for Maaren.
1,473 reviews10 followers
September 23, 2024
The story if Miya and Therak was fun, entertaining, witty and hot! I loved seeing their love blossom and the action/horror elements fit really well and had me at the edge of my seat. As a small scaredy cat, I was also glad the horror moments weren't too much and the author was able to write the story in a way that didn't have me running and screaming.

I really enjoyed the slow burn romance, it felt good and realistic. And once the two of them got together, whoa, it was so good!! And I found myself giggling multiple times over the clothing or the lack of it as it provided a lot of interesting twists in the story.

The ending felt good too and I was happy to see Miya and Therak happy. I will definitely be reading from the author more, this was absolutely lovely.
Profile Image for Kamiye.
259 reviews8 followers
October 25, 2025
3/3.5

If Pitch Black (yes, the movie) and alien romance had a baby, you would get When Darkness Falls.

I liked the plot. FMC pilot stranded on a planet with a hot alien. BUT make it night, and monsters are popping up from everywhere.

I was not a fan of the "let's walk around naked during the whole book. The chemistry between the MCs seemed a bit off for me.

However, it was still a fun and light read.
Profile Image for Molly Serra.
19 reviews
February 1, 2026
loved it

This book was fun to read! I enjoyed how the characters push past typical archetypes into something more unique. Therak- the cunning assassin who's also deeply caring and thoughtful. Miya, the fatalist, brave pilot who throws caution to the wind several times to save Therak. They fit together so well, I was rooting for them the whole time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.