A Bond of Blood: A Science Fiction Romance

by E.K. Darnell

The life of Irina Eriadnus hangs by a thread on Oblivion, the desolate penal satellite. With execution hanging over her head, desperation fuels her resolve, as much as knowing that her crimes were justified. Her escape plan is simple: seduce a guard, steal a shuttle, and flee to Athea—the clandestine city on Bora S9 where fugitives vanish into the shadows.

Yet fate laughs at her audacity. A plasma storm veers her shuttle off course, crashing onto an unknown alien world. Irina awakens, bewildered and battered, in a nest of fur and twigs.

And there, towering over her, stands Yelzin—a creature both fearsome and tender, a fanged smile on his snout. Clawed hands, red eyes, and massive wings complete the frightening look, though something about him is… sweet, gentle. Yelzin helps her survive the crash and in return, Irina unravels his loneliness—the ache of the solitary Strinee.

As the days blur together, their bond strengthens. Yelzin’s touch mends her spirit, and Irina glimpses the heart beneath his furry chest. But the Coalition’s relentless pursuit looms. Must she leave behind the one who has become her solace? Or can she escape the Coalition’s clutches for good?

A Bond of Blood is a sci fi alien romance with a HEA. See the author's website for content warnings. Coalition Universe series Book 1.

Genres: Science Fiction, Romance, Aliens, Ebooks

161 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2024

About the author

E.K. is an author of science fiction and fantasy romance. She loves writing about weird aliens and polyamorous relationships. When not writing she spends her time at Renaissance Faires, playing DND with her friends, and cuddling her husband and cats.

Reviews

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

Yelzin was such a sweetie pie and I adored him. He was all lonely and sad with not great self esteem. Irina was somewhat morally gray, but for good reasons so I was behind her 100% (even though I’d still be behind her if she was a villain). She was lonely and desperate for safety, but had a protective streak that kept her from a relationship with Yelzin. They had good chemistry and a sweet relationship.

Spice: 3/5

Triggers: dubcon (aphrodisiac ingestion), SA (not by MC), violence, gore, unmedicated surgery, loneliness, imprisonment, vehicular crash, references to child SA and abuse, references to poverty

[Lunawolfwy · Rating 4 out of 5]

E.K Darnell has done it again! She is so talented in bringing worlds together with lust, passion & of course everlasting love!

This novella is perfect for the sci-fi fan that also appreciates a little spiciness!

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. Irina, the female human lead, is a convicted criminal due to be executed for exposing corruption, in the middle of escaping when her spaceship is disabled and she ends up crashing onto a non-integrated planet.

Yelzin, the male bat humanoid lead, is surprised by a spaceship crashing in his territory and dismayed to find a “child” alone. Taking her back to his nest to allow her to heal, he’s surprised when she demands to return to her ship.

When Irina finds a translator in the wreckage, communication commences and Yelzin is shocked when she tells him she’s mature. But he’s got no way of getting her off his planet, nor does the plant life seem suitable for her digestive tract. Is there a way for Irina to survive? Yelzin has been along for years because he hates the lack of ongoing relationship customary in his culture; whilst he’s deeply attracted to Irina, she also plans to leave…

This novella is dual POV, well written and edited, and a complex introduction to a sci fi world, with a bittersweet romance. I enjoyed the detail of the world and political situation. I empathised with Irina’s survival focus, and appreciated the care for Yelzin and his people. I enjoyed her character development. I enjoyed Yelzin’s empathy and genuine care for Irina, even before he felt attraction to her. I enjoyed the relationship development. I appreciated the sympathetic acknowledgment of both their past histories. I enjoyed that the romance finished happily with an overarching plot left open for exploration.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story of a human women trying to escape a death sentence and a beastly bat-like alien was exciting and delightful. This sci-fi romance was high stakes, exhilarating, and a steamy good time. Irina is a human who stumbled upon information she wasn’t supposed to and found herself in jail. After being sentenced to death she manages to escape only to crash land on an uncharted planet. After being unconscious she wakes to find a bat-like alien taking care of her. Yelzin lives a very lonely life and is shocked to see a human on his planet. He dedicates all his time to caring for the human and when she wakes and tells him she must figure out a way off planet he is sad but not surprised. All of Yelzin’s past mates left him and so he accepts that this female will also leave him but that truth because harder the longer he spends time with her. As Irina waits to be able to send out a message she spends her days being taken care of and getting to know the sweet alien. Despite his fearsome appearance his is so gentle and she can’t help but imagine what life would be like with him. Yelzin and Irina get closer but when communication is finally available Irina must make a difficult decision. I absolutely loved Yelzin’s character. His protectiveness, gentleness, and care were so sweet. The fact that he took in Irina without a second thought was so endearing. We also got to see a more feral side of Yelzin and that was definitely spicy. Irina is stuck in such a messy situation. Not only that but then she has to make a difficult decision to try and protect what she has found on the planet. I suggest this quick read if you enjoy alien romance, interesting anatomy, older characters, blood play, interesting planet, and a really sweet sci-fi story.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely a short, sweet and SPICYYYYYY novella. This was so good, that I devoured it so quickly!

E.K. Darnell definitely knows how to write really good sci-fi spicy novellas and this was definitely one of them.

Keep them coming because I will devour them!!!! 😂

This definitely flowed well, nothing felt rushed, the romance blossomed so well between the main characters and the spicy scenes were 😘😘

I can't wait to see what's next for this universe because it will definitely be well worth it!!!

I received this as an ARC (yes, my review is a bit late 😅) and this is my honest opinion.

[DarkDigital Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG my first ever dive into the alien romance world! And I am addicted as if I was Irina and Yezin blood!?

Irina - angered the coalition of the world and ended up in a penal colony off world. Her execution was imminent and she wants out of this life. All she did was spread some knowledge about certain events?

Yezin - a bat alien known as Sline finds this child alone in a crashed ship! What kind of parents leave their young unattended? Oh wait she’s a grown woman!? MATE

Will they stay together or will Irina be forced to leave and face her death? This is an amazing story and the way the characters are portrayed melts my heart!

[Regina Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was a beta reader for this book and received an early copy from the author, but my opinions are my own.

Fern Gully vibes, with vampires.

I love E. K. Darnell's style. The atmosphere is so rich, the characters are relatable, and the relationships are so compelling. I enjoyed this thoroughly. Yelzin is the caring, beautiful, batty love I didn't know I needed. What an absolute sweetheart.

After reading (again) I still want to know more about the world this is set in. I eagerly await more in the series!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is a truly beautiful story. The first chapter I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it but after that it was difficult to put down. It’s a sweet slow burn that is low on angst but has a lovely story.

I felt for both main characters and I just wanted to hug Yelzin throughout. You can’t help rooting for both Yelzin and Irina

The story is written in the third person but has a lovely narrative voice

I don’t know how anyone who likes romance could fail to love this whether they normally like sci-fi romance or not.

Definitely one to put on your tbr list

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I do not read alien/monster romance a ton. However, you know the author did a fantastic job when you just want to hug the alien bat and want him to be happy. I loved Yelzin. I thought he was a wonderful character and would love to see more of him. I think Irina is a super interesting character, having been given the death penalty, a crime that was justified. I find their world so interesting, and I am so excited to return to this world in the second book.

🛸Sci-Fi
🛸Blood Play
🛸Size Difference
🛸First Contact
🛸FMC over 40
🛸Sweetest Alien Man

[Kelsey Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought that a bat like alien would end up being one of the most romantic, sweetest MMCs I’ve read but Yelzin sure proved that wrong. The Coalition sounds like an actual nightmare and I really hope Irina and Yelzin can bring them down. There were so many times in this that I was so heartbroken for Yelzin and I definitely cried a few times. The spicy scenes in this were fantastic, I mean really fantastic. This was honestly such a beautiful love story and I can’t wait to read The Perfect Ruby next.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irina, an anti-Coalition activist who appears to have been wrongfully imprisoned and sentenced to death, escapes and crash-lands on a planet inhabited by the Strinee, a bat-like alien species. She is rescued by Yelzin, a gentle and caring creature who is looking for a lasting connection. The romance is sweet, the spice is spicy, and the author is really setting up this universe with an overarching plot that continues in the next book. The author makes a point of advertising a child-free HEA. I really enjoyed this story!

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for an alien romance where the alien is…well alien in appearance A Bond of Blood is the book for you! The FMC Irina finds herself crash landed on an alien planet following her escape from a prison facility. Yelzin, possibly one of the sweetest MMCs I’ve read, rescues her from the wreckage and takes care of her while she heals. His batlike appearance is unexpected at first, but Irina finds herself attracted to the gentle, sweet Strinee and I can absolutely see why. They’re adorable together and there are some fun spicy moments too. This is the first book in The Coalition Universe. I found myself both intrigued and horrified by the Coalition and can’t wait to see what’s next.

[A. Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, quick read and another solid novella from EK Darnell who is owning this sci-fi/alien/romance space!

Lovely world building with an interesting political backdrop to the human-alien romance, with a vampire element too.

The characters are relatable despite the circumstances (human escaped from prison and alien that looks like a bat!). But lots of sweet and spicy moments even with the differences.

[Precious C Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this story and it is one of the best Scifi romance I've read. I love the way the scenes flowed into one another and there was no rushed scenes. I am also chill with the fact that it's a happy ending, and the love that blossomed between a human and an alien is just so amazing. There no freaked out moment except when it was for pleasure and it was not overwhelming and overbearing to read. It's a charming page turner and I highly recommend it to lovers of Science fiction and romance.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little alien vampire romp. It’s super cute, I like the main characters and enjoyed the non-humanoid alien spice. It’s different but enjoyable. It’s got a bit of backstory and lore that I believe connects to some of the authors other works, but isn’t needed to understand. Fun and sexy novella, I was able to finish it in a night. I found the writing enjoyable and easy to digest. Main love interest is really sweet.

[Robby Mehls · Rating 5 out of 5]

As my first real sci-fi romance I couldn’t have asked for a better book that A Bond of Blood! An exciting world with everything I want from a sci-fi world (evil government and the rebelling people trying to free the galaxy from oppression-what’s not to like) combined with a powerful FMC and a unique MMC all add up to a fun spicy novella that left me wanting more. Luckily there’s a prequel and a sequel coming out soon lol. A fast fun read that’s also nice and spicy. A+

[spidermse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well who knew a bat-like alien could be so darn sweet? I loved Yelzin so much. But my poor heart broke for him when he talked about how lonely he was. He had me giggling when he thought Irina was a child and wanted to carry her everywhere. Classic alien and human misunderstandings.

Irina was such an interesting character, too. Loved that she was in her 40s and had escaped a prison ship. I hope that she continues her fight against the Coalition and takes them down.

I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series!

[Helene · Rating 2 out of 5]

The relationship between these two characters go from a messed up parent-child relationship to sexy times with what is basically a huge bat. The descriptions of the intimacy made me cringe, as it felt more or less like beastiality rather than what I think the author was aiming for, which would be monster smut. I had to DNF this thing, even though I tried to get through it. The descriptions of the environment were really good, and the imagination of the planet is really good.

[Nini · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
I got an arc, but my rating/review are my own!

The book is written in 3 person but I thought for so long it was 1 person 🫣🫣 it was really well written 💕
I didn't like some dialogue with the characters, it was too childish I think😭😭

Tropes
☆there's only one nest
☆ge takes care of her when she's sick
☆he got wings
☆forced proximity
☆blood play
☆primal mating urges

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

I uh…. really liked this novella 👀

It’s short, sweet, and sexy.

Also the writing was really well done and super easy to read. Really flowed well.
I would totally read more about these characters.

[Makenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read and a good one too! This sci-fi alien romance was better than I thought it’d be and I was caught up in the story right away. There are some triggers and plenty of spicy scenes, and I was glad to find there’s a happy ending as well. I’d love to see a follow up story for them!

[JLH12345 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a beta reader, but my opinions are my own.

I loved the writing style, the world building, and the characters in this novella. The MMC was such a sweetheart that I fell in love with him. This was a fun read with great spice. I can't wait to read more from this author!

[عاليه 🎀 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is wonderful. Yelzin is a perfect gentleman and so so sweet and honestly I can’t even write a proper review because this novella has made me lovesick and I will now cry myself to sleep. Five stars, I recommend.

[D.L. Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel as definitely outside of my usual reading choices. For that reason, it took me a while to get into the story. But, once I did, I found the love story between Yelzin and Irina endearing. I also liked that they were truly different species but, at the same time, I struggled with their anatomical compatibility. However, that’s a personal pet peeve.

The story was fast paced and well written. It was an enjoyable read.

[Bella Reves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never before would I have considered a seven-foot bat-like alien to be sexy. But after A Bond of Blood, you can find me in the garage building a rocket ship, because I need to get to Yelzin's planet immediately.

The plot? Fantastic. I'm in awe of E.K.'s world-building! I want more, asap! The characters? Yelzin is perfect, a giant cinnamon roll who made me cry, I just want to hug him! Irina is great, and their chemistry is delightful. The spice? Wow. Monster-romance lovers, you will adore this one.

The only thing I'm disappointed about is that I read it too fast, and now I have to wait for book 2 :(

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome alien short novella. Love Irina and Yelzin together. Finding your mate while escaping from alien prison!!

[Bethany Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.65

[Daenerys Targaryen · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for in depth scifi books like Cottonwood or Project Hail Mary, then this is not it. Very short book. Ending wasn't that good.

[LizKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I downright adored this book! It was cute from beginning to end and I read it in one sitting because this story had me so invested.
Cannot wait to check out more books by this author.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yelzin and Irina

An interesting start to a new series! The story was well-crafted and well-written. It's a novella, so you're not getting 100s of pages of world-building--which is fine by me. There's enough to understand the universe it takes place in. Things move quickly.

Yelzin melted my heart! I love that he was actually an alien. He wasn't just a blue-skin alien that acts like a human. He looked and functioned differently than humans. I really loved that Irina wasn't a fresh-faced dewy-eyed just out of high school barely-adult girl. She was a bonafide adult woman! lol

It's definitely worth the time to read.

Disclosure: I received a free ARC of the book.