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Feral and lethal, this alien gladiator wants only me…
Sylas is the planet’s most ruthless fighter, unmatched in the arena and feared by all who come up against him.
Until he meets me. The abducted human forced into servitude and far from home. He growls ‘mine’ and I am claimed by a seven-foot wall of scars and sinew.
There is more to Sylas than his chiselled good looks and proficiency with a sword. My proud gladiator is broken in more ways than I thought possible. And he won’t stop until I belong to him entirely, even if it means breaking his bonds with the arena.
But nowhere is safe for us, Sylas’s owners want him back, and my enemies are not far behind. To truly overcome the arena and the hell our escape unleashes, I’m going to have to do the unthinkable. I’m going to have to give Sylas my heart.
And hope he can protect all of me.
CAGED is the brand new sci-fi romance from USA TODAY bestselling author, Hattie Jacks, featuring her fabulous winged Gryn warriors in an all new setting. If you love fated mates, he falls first, touch her and regret it, nesting and size difference, then you’ll want to read CAGED.
Sylas is the planet’s most ruthless fighter, unmatched in the arena and feared by all who come up against him.
Until he meets me. The abducted human forced into servitude and far from home. He growls ‘mine’ and I am claimed by a seven-foot wall of scars and sinew.
There is more to Sylas than his chiselled good looks and proficiency with a sword. My proud gladiator is broken in more ways than I thought possible. And he won’t stop until I belong to him entirely, even if it means breaking his bonds with the arena.
But nowhere is safe for us, Sylas’s owners want him back, and my enemies are not far behind. To truly overcome the arena and the hell our escape unleashes, I’m going to have to do the unthinkable. I’m going to have to give Sylas my heart.
And hope he can protect all of me.
CAGED is the brand new sci-fi romance from USA TODAY bestselling author, Hattie Jacks, featuring her fabulous winged Gryn warriors in an all new setting. If you love fated mates, he falls first, touch her and regret it, nesting and size difference, then you’ll want to read CAGED.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2024
1325 people are currently reading
362 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
October 16, 2024
Mr Sylas was such a ragey Gryn and I freaking loved how he drooled whenever Alex stroked his wings. Like, how precious is that? Alex was all lonely and enslaved by a bounty hunter, but was a consummate survivor which made her a good match for Sylas. They had all the instalove going on with lots of “MINE” declarations and found their way through to their HEA. I’m enjoying the gladiator setting for this spin off series and I reeeaaaalllllyyyyy want Blayn’s book. I’m a sucker for super tortured MCs.
Spice: 2.5/5
Triggers: violence, gore, murder, captivity, slavery, animal attack, severe illness, drugging, abduction, frequent references to past involuntary medical experimentation, mentions of genocide, flashbacks, references to SA (not detailed)
Spice: 2.5/5
Triggers: violence, gore, murder, captivity, slavery, animal attack, severe illness, drugging, abduction, frequent references to past involuntary medical experimentation, mentions of genocide, flashbacks, references to SA (not detailed)
June 11, 2025
I just couldn't get into the book. I skimmed and skipped some...it didn't hurt the story.
I wanted more back story for Sylis and Alex. It just didn't grab me.
it was instalove for both.
I wanted more back story for Sylis and Alex. It just didn't grab me.
it was instalove for both.
Read
January 27, 2025DNF
I didn’t get very far into this book before I knew it wasn’t the book for me. I found it way too smutty for my taste. Don’t get me wrong, I like some of the books I read having some spice but there has to be a reason and there has to be an emotional connection first and I have to feel I connection to the characters. I felt none of that here. Without that I just wasn’t feeling the book.
This blip isn’t going to keep Mr trying more stories from this author. I want to try more after liking the previous one. But not this book.
Because it was an early DNF, I’m not grading it, feeling it’s not fair to the author.im sticking to my 75% read rule before giving the book stars.
I didn’t get very far into this book before I knew it wasn’t the book for me. I found it way too smutty for my taste. Don’t get me wrong, I like some of the books I read having some spice but there has to be a reason and there has to be an emotional connection first and I have to feel I connection to the characters. I felt none of that here. Without that I just wasn’t feeling the book.
This blip isn’t going to keep Mr trying more stories from this author. I want to try more after liking the previous one. But not this book.
Because it was an early DNF, I’m not grading it, feeling it’s not fair to the author.im sticking to my 75% read rule before giving the book stars.
May 17, 2025
A gladiator on a distant planet with a past that is a mystery event to him. A human woman abducted from her home and thrust into dangerous alien schemes. A chance encounter between them that lasts a moment but changes their lives forever... And I got to be in the front-row seat to watch their adventures unfold and their passion ignite! Good thing I had a fan handy :P This was a thrilling and spicy read involving action, nesting, some breeding, plot twists, and funny moments as well. My first book by this author, and definitely not the last!
September 19, 2024
Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Plot : ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters : ⭐️⭐️
Overall : ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a palette cleanser for me in between some pretty heavy reads I have been getting into and I read it in a day after receiving it. Easy to read but for me was absolutely not my taste. To me this is a "I really need some smut, I don't care about the plot" type of book so if that's your thing you'll love it!
If you want that instant love, they equally fall for each other but he falls first and hard, fated mates, extreme use of "Mine" and lots of growling, "touch her and die" from the very first minute he meets her, yep this is the book.
But for me it was too over the top to fully enjoy. I'm a sucker for the slowest of slow burns and this book rushed right into the burning passion within the first 30% of the story. That may be great for others though so if you enjoy that give Caged a go!
Plot : ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters : ⭐️⭐️
Overall : ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a palette cleanser for me in between some pretty heavy reads I have been getting into and I read it in a day after receiving it. Easy to read but for me was absolutely not my taste. To me this is a "I really need some smut, I don't care about the plot" type of book so if that's your thing you'll love it!
If you want that instant love, they equally fall for each other but he falls first and hard, fated mates, extreme use of "Mine" and lots of growling, "touch her and die" from the very first minute he meets her, yep this is the book.
But for me it was too over the top to fully enjoy. I'm a sucker for the slowest of slow burns and this book rushed right into the burning passion within the first 30% of the story. That may be great for others though so if you enjoy that give Caged a go!
July 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶🌶
🔥🔥
It was just okay. I got bored at times and found myself getting annoyed with the main characters.
We’re first introduced to Alex, a human slave working for a bounty hunter. Her job is basically to sneak around, steal things, and gather intel for her master. When she’s sent to the dome, where the gladiators fight, to steal a card, that’s when she runs into Sylas. Sylas instantly knows she’s his mate and decides he’ll do whatever the hell it takes to claim her. Meanwhile, Alex pretty much falls for him on the spot too and hopes to see him again.
Sylas has his own baggage. He was “farmed,” meaning they experimented on him to boost his abilities so he could fight in the arena and make them a ton of money. He constantly has these random flashbacks to another time in his life, but he has no idea what they mean. Alex ends up being the only one who can help him figure it out, and she thinks there’s way more going on behind those flashes than anyone realizes.
I thought the premise had a lot of potential, but honestly, the main characters just didn’t do it for me. Sylas, in my opinion, is kind of a wimp. He only stands up for Alex and basically ditches his friends the second she shows up. I wish he had shown more loyalty to them instead of dropping everything for her. His whole personality seems to revolve around Alex, which is fine to a point, but I completely lost respect for him.
And the insta-love? Way too damn instant. I wanted some tension, a bit more push and pull, but instead it turned into a love fest by like 30% in.
One thing Hattie Jacks always fucking nails, though, is the şmüt. I have zero complaints there. The spicy scenes are great, and Sylas’s dirty talk is hot as hell. Honestly, I kept reading just for that. 😏
⟣Tropes⟢
✅ Touch her and 💀
✅ Obsessive/JP MMC
✅ Fated Mates
✅ Dual POV’s (first person)
✅ Brëëding Kink
✅ Dirty talk 🥵🥵🥵
✅ Insta-Love
✅ FMC not Virgin & in her 30's 👏👏👏
✅ Monster 🍆🍆 (two is better than one)
✅ Gladiator
✅ He falls first
✅ Knotting
✅ 🔥 Fast Burn 🔥
✅ Chase/Primal
✅ MINE
✅ HEA, open plot
🌶🌶🌶
🔥🔥
It was just okay. I got bored at times and found myself getting annoyed with the main characters.
We’re first introduced to Alex, a human slave working for a bounty hunter. Her job is basically to sneak around, steal things, and gather intel for her master. When she’s sent to the dome, where the gladiators fight, to steal a card, that’s when she runs into Sylas. Sylas instantly knows she’s his mate and decides he’ll do whatever the hell it takes to claim her. Meanwhile, Alex pretty much falls for him on the spot too and hopes to see him again.
Sylas has his own baggage. He was “farmed,” meaning they experimented on him to boost his abilities so he could fight in the arena and make them a ton of money. He constantly has these random flashbacks to another time in his life, but he has no idea what they mean. Alex ends up being the only one who can help him figure it out, and she thinks there’s way more going on behind those flashes than anyone realizes.
I thought the premise had a lot of potential, but honestly, the main characters just didn’t do it for me. Sylas, in my opinion, is kind of a wimp. He only stands up for Alex and basically ditches his friends the second she shows up. I wish he had shown more loyalty to them instead of dropping everything for her. His whole personality seems to revolve around Alex, which is fine to a point, but I completely lost respect for him.
And the insta-love? Way too damn instant. I wanted some tension, a bit more push and pull, but instead it turned into a love fest by like 30% in.
One thing Hattie Jacks always fucking nails, though, is the şmüt. I have zero complaints there. The spicy scenes are great, and Sylas’s dirty talk is hot as hell. Honestly, I kept reading just for that. 😏
⟣Tropes⟢
✅ Touch her and 💀
✅ Obsessive/JP MMC
✅ Fated Mates
✅ Dual POV’s (first person)
✅ Brëëding Kink
✅ Dirty talk 🥵🥵🥵
✅ Insta-Love
✅ FMC not Virgin & in her 30's 👏👏👏
✅ Monster 🍆🍆 (two is better than one)
✅ Gladiator
✅ He falls first
✅ Knotting
✅ 🔥 Fast Burn 🔥
✅ Chase/Primal
✅ MINE
✅ HEA, open plot
October 21, 2024
4&1\2 fabulous🌟's for Caged🌟💖🌟
Oh how I've miss the Gryn warriors and now a group of them have been turned into Gladiators. This new arc is going to been fantastic! Sylas, is Gryn one of the most deadly in the Dome. He and 3 other Gryn Gladiators rule the fight scene. They were sold to the Dome after a failed uprising or were they? All of of these massive warriors have zero to little memories of a time before the dome, but each has buried trauma that haunts them. While Sylas is locked in solitary he catches a sent a sent that wakes something in him . His mate. Alex a human stolen from Earth several years ago being keep by a Harboso sho treats her poorly and uses her skills with electronics for shady purposes. While doing a job for him she encounters a male that will cha fed her life forever. Alex and Sylas escape together their mate bind strong but danger lurks around every corner and many never want the Gryn to regain their memories. And their willing to do anything to make sure they don't. Will Sylas and Alex ever be free ? Will their sole bond help save them? Read and find out! This series truly promises to be good the Gryn in the Dome have had some truly horrific experiences but love just might be what saves them all. I can't wait to read book 2. Totally recommend🌟🔥💖💖🌟🔥💖🌟🌶🌶🔥💖🌟💖🌟🔥
Oh how I've miss the Gryn warriors and now a group of them have been turned into Gladiators. This new arc is going to been fantastic! Sylas, is Gryn one of the most deadly in the Dome. He and 3 other Gryn Gladiators rule the fight scene. They were sold to the Dome after a failed uprising or were they? All of of these massive warriors have zero to little memories of a time before the dome, but each has buried trauma that haunts them. While Sylas is locked in solitary he catches a sent a sent that wakes something in him . His mate. Alex a human stolen from Earth several years ago being keep by a Harboso sho treats her poorly and uses her skills with electronics for shady purposes. While doing a job for him she encounters a male that will cha fed her life forever. Alex and Sylas escape together their mate bind strong but danger lurks around every corner and many never want the Gryn to regain their memories. And their willing to do anything to make sure they don't. Will Sylas and Alex ever be free ? Will their sole bond help save them? Read and find out! This series truly promises to be good the Gryn in the Dome have had some truly horrific experiences but love just might be what saves them all. I can't wait to read book 2. Totally recommend🌟🔥💖💖🌟🔥💖🌟🌶🌶🔥💖🌟💖🌟🔥
September 29, 2024
The Gryn are awesome and I was super excited to see another series with them as the featured species. I wasn’t disappointed with the story of this book at all. It was a quick fun read and was just what I needed after a stressful day to decompress.
Sylas is a big bad Gryn Gladiator and Alex a human slave. He’s rough, throws himself into the fray, and popular/notorious for how he fights in the games. She’s stuck with a master who mistreats her and yet is very resourceful. Their paths cross and from there they try to find their way to freedom both as individuals and together. They overcome the odds stacked against them for their HEA.
A few things I love about Hattie Jacks as a writer: The expanded universe, worlds, and species she creates and how they are interlinked. I love the humor she injects into her characters. Drooling IYKYK.
I received this as an ARC and this is my honest review.
Sylas is a big bad Gryn Gladiator and Alex a human slave. He’s rough, throws himself into the fray, and popular/notorious for how he fights in the games. She’s stuck with a master who mistreats her and yet is very resourceful. Their paths cross and from there they try to find their way to freedom both as individuals and together. They overcome the odds stacked against them for their HEA.
A few things I love about Hattie Jacks as a writer: The expanded universe, worlds, and species she creates and how they are interlinked. I love the humor she injects into her characters. Drooling IYKYK.
I received this as an ARC and this is my honest review.
December 15, 2024
December 2024
Enjoyable read.
Enjoyable read.
Read
November 20, 2024dnf
September 28, 2024
I really wanted to love this but it was just .... bland to me? I didn't connect to the characters (Sylas doesn't really have a personality aside from winged and gorgeous and Alex is just the generic sci-fi heroine in a tough spot) or the story and I feel like I've read this same plot a few times and that it's been done better. The smut was ok (not the best mind you and there's a lot of instant cumming / climaxing with like no effort). It's a serviceable alien romance but it wasn't for me.
November 1, 2024
Too little substance for attempts of world building
The book was ok. It wasn’t horrible. I don’t feel like the male character ever got passed “I have to love her, she’s my mate” and sexual lust to develop any kind of realistic relationship qualities.
I think attempts to build whole new universes are hard. But the author really didn’t do themselves any favors by barely addressing who or what things were.
I won’t be reading any of the next in the series
The book was ok. It wasn’t horrible. I don’t feel like the male character ever got passed “I have to love her, she’s my mate” and sexual lust to develop any kind of realistic relationship qualities.
I think attempts to build whole new universes are hard. But the author really didn’t do themselves any favors by barely addressing who or what things were.
I won’t be reading any of the next in the series
September 19, 2024
🔥 “Moons may fall and planets may wane, but you are mine forever, little feather.”
~~~
The Gryn are back and they’re more unhinged and feral than ever!!!
Alex is an amazing woman! She’s so understanding, patient, resourceful and compassionate. And she is also a sweet , gentle and caring soul. But, since being taken from Earth, her life hasn’t been easy. I loved that she didn’t back down from challenges and readily faced all the hardships thrown her way. Alex is an incredible, resilient and courageous woman and I loved her so, so much!
And then, there’s Sylas! He’s one fearsome, dangerous, brooding, growly and deadly male. Even more, he’s incredibly loyal, fiercely protective, strong, caring and honorable. And so deliciously possessive and obsessive! His life in the gladiator arena has been nothing but violent and everything that has happened to him has left him broken and scarred. Nevertheless, Sylas is a phenomenal male and I couldn’t help but adore every single thing about him!
I absolutely loved everything that happened between Alex and Sylas! Alex is sent to do a job at the gladiator arena when she faces one of the most fierce fighters of them all. And the moment the Gryn warrior sees the tiny human he knows she’s his and he’ll do everything to protect and care for her. I absolutely adored those two together! From the very beginning, their chemistry was off-the-charts and I loved every moment they spent together! Even more, I loved how caring, supportive, protective and understanding Alex and Sylas were with each other, together discovering sides of their characters they never thought existed. They were truly a perfect match in every way possible! And when they couldn’t resist the undeniable attraction and need, the passionate moments they shared were blazing hot and I couldn’t get enough of the knotty, passionate and romantic delight! But, being together is only the beginning, because there are dangerous enemies after both Sylas and Alex and they’ll need all the help and alliances they can get. Nevertheless, together they can overcome all! Alex and Sylas were amazing together and, after everything both went through, they more than deserved to find happiness, healing, freedom and love together!
Overall, the story is a remarkable start of the series! It’s filled with danger, suspense, non-stop action, drama, twists, secrets, violence, humor, romance, smoking-hot passion and incredible characters.
I couldn’t put it down and absolutely loved every single page of it!
~~~
The Gryn are back and they’re more unhinged and feral than ever!!!
Alex is an amazing woman! She’s so understanding, patient, resourceful and compassionate. And she is also a sweet , gentle and caring soul. But, since being taken from Earth, her life hasn’t been easy. I loved that she didn’t back down from challenges and readily faced all the hardships thrown her way. Alex is an incredible, resilient and courageous woman and I loved her so, so much!
And then, there’s Sylas! He’s one fearsome, dangerous, brooding, growly and deadly male. Even more, he’s incredibly loyal, fiercely protective, strong, caring and honorable. And so deliciously possessive and obsessive! His life in the gladiator arena has been nothing but violent and everything that has happened to him has left him broken and scarred. Nevertheless, Sylas is a phenomenal male and I couldn’t help but adore every single thing about him!
I absolutely loved everything that happened between Alex and Sylas! Alex is sent to do a job at the gladiator arena when she faces one of the most fierce fighters of them all. And the moment the Gryn warrior sees the tiny human he knows she’s his and he’ll do everything to protect and care for her. I absolutely adored those two together! From the very beginning, their chemistry was off-the-charts and I loved every moment they spent together! Even more, I loved how caring, supportive, protective and understanding Alex and Sylas were with each other, together discovering sides of their characters they never thought existed. They were truly a perfect match in every way possible! And when they couldn’t resist the undeniable attraction and need, the passionate moments they shared were blazing hot and I couldn’t get enough of the knotty, passionate and romantic delight! But, being together is only the beginning, because there are dangerous enemies after both Sylas and Alex and they’ll need all the help and alliances they can get. Nevertheless, together they can overcome all! Alex and Sylas were amazing together and, after everything both went through, they more than deserved to find happiness, healing, freedom and love together!
Overall, the story is a remarkable start of the series! It’s filled with danger, suspense, non-stop action, drama, twists, secrets, violence, humor, romance, smoking-hot passion and incredible characters.
I couldn’t put it down and absolutely loved every single page of it!
June 13, 2025
3.5 - could have been amazing.
I really really really had high hopes for this. I will continue the series because I loved so so much about this fresh world. I felt like I was dropped into a space opera movie with unique characters, a vivid scifi city, and a premise that could have rocked this world with a gladiator warrior enslaved by a evil force who chances a meeting with a slave human woman and recognizes by instinct his fated mate and another purpose to life other than the endless grind of battle to the death in the dome. He has memory issues and knows very little of his kind and history. But he knows she is his. I loved how strong and deadly he was. I love Alex and her snarky vacuum friend. It all started amazing. However this needed a lot of help to get it there. Typos, confusing and unclear concepts, a mucked up ending that really didn’t make a lot of sense brought down the rating for me. Also I had fun with the fact that interacting with his mate transformed the ruthless and powerful commander into a bit of a puppy but I felt at times it was taken too far into dumb territory. Even his speech at times was dumbed down like he was not intelligent at all. And the ending was building and building and I was expecting a real plot and conflict with revelations about the enemy but idk it all seemed like a nonsense mess in the end. Like if they are caged gladiators why do they have free run of the city? If he was captured and detained by the enemy in the end why was he drugged with a happy drug and let loose to roam back to his friends? Ugh just doesn’t make sense. I hope they get better from here because the author is wickedly talented
I really really really had high hopes for this. I will continue the series because I loved so so much about this fresh world. I felt like I was dropped into a space opera movie with unique characters, a vivid scifi city, and a premise that could have rocked this world with a gladiator warrior enslaved by a evil force who chances a meeting with a slave human woman and recognizes by instinct his fated mate and another purpose to life other than the endless grind of battle to the death in the dome. He has memory issues and knows very little of his kind and history. But he knows she is his. I loved how strong and deadly he was. I love Alex and her snarky vacuum friend. It all started amazing. However this needed a lot of help to get it there. Typos, confusing and unclear concepts, a mucked up ending that really didn’t make a lot of sense brought down the rating for me. Also I had fun with the fact that interacting with his mate transformed the ruthless and powerful commander into a bit of a puppy but I felt at times it was taken too far into dumb territory. Even his speech at times was dumbed down like he was not intelligent at all. And the ending was building and building and I was expecting a real plot and conflict with revelations about the enemy but idk it all seemed like a nonsense mess in the end. Like if they are caged gladiators why do they have free run of the city? If he was captured and detained by the enemy in the end why was he drugged with a happy drug and let loose to roam back to his friends? Ugh just doesn’t make sense. I hope they get better from here because the author is wickedly talented
December 28, 2024
It’s kind of boring. DNF 25%
The world is there. The bones are there.
Alex is a slave. Taken from earth by an alien Ixor. He has her stealing, or spying for him.
Sylas is a gryn alien. Which is a man with wings and claws. And two 🍆🍆 . He’s also a slave. His failed rebellion to free his people led to him being captured and now he’s forced to fight in the arenas day in and day out.
Alex is sent to the dome (arena) by ixor to gather intel about the place and she runs into sylas in his cage. He immediately starts shouting mate at her in his language. She leaves and returns to ixor.
Anyway ixor sends her back for more info and this time when she runs into sylas he kisses her, there’s an explosion and then he takes her somewhere safer and has sex with her. Calling her his mate. She just goes along with it…… puts up no excuses to what he’s saying or doing. None.
the MC is not personable. He’s very caveman in his thoughts. Mate and mine. Which are fine. But they need to be paired with some characterization. She’s not much better. Just “la la la I’m going to let this alien man do whatever he wants to me and be fine with it cause I’m stupid”
She literally has to crawl through the sewers to get into the dome both times and he just goes down on her and kisses her and does the Hanky panky? Nah.
Not even two dicks could save this book.
The world is there. The bones are there.
Alex is a slave. Taken from earth by an alien Ixor. He has her stealing, or spying for him.
Sylas is a gryn alien. Which is a man with wings and claws. And two 🍆🍆 . He’s also a slave. His failed rebellion to free his people led to him being captured and now he’s forced to fight in the arenas day in and day out.
Alex is sent to the dome (arena) by ixor to gather intel about the place and she runs into sylas in his cage. He immediately starts shouting mate at her in his language. She leaves and returns to ixor.
Anyway ixor sends her back for more info and this time when she runs into sylas he kisses her, there’s an explosion and then he takes her somewhere safer and has sex with her. Calling her his mate. She just goes along with it…… puts up no excuses to what he’s saying or doing. None.
the MC is not personable. He’s very caveman in his thoughts. Mate and mine. Which are fine. But they need to be paired with some characterization. She’s not much better. Just “la la la I’m going to let this alien man do whatever he wants to me and be fine with it cause I’m stupid”
She literally has to crawl through the sewers to get into the dome both times and he just goes down on her and kisses her and does the Hanky panky? Nah.
Not even two dicks could save this book.
September 27, 2024
Gleeful Goblin Review: I love that this author puts personality and quirks into even minor characters! It makes the world feel like it's not *just* the two main characters. So reading about characters like Ginka the baker, who is so wonderfully kind to our FMC Alex when she's basically alone and starving, it makes me smile. Alex has had to build up a lot of resilience during her captívíty but I like the fact that despite so much being stacked against her that she hasn't become bitter or jaded.
Poor Sylas, he makes my heart ache with how much past and current tráuma weighs on him. His desperation and hopelessness early on in the story when he has so little to look forward to or fight for was palpable. So when he connects with Alex all of a sudden it's like his world has color and vibrancy to it again after being muted and gray for ages. That shift in perspective towards hope for a better future (with Alex) even comes through in subtle ways, like how he thinks of her kisses: "Alex tastes like promise, and matíng, and the air high above Tatatunga after a rainstorm. She tastes like all my tomorrows have come around." This is an emotional and steam filled ride so buckle up! 5/5 Stars
Poor Sylas, he makes my heart ache with how much past and current tráuma weighs on him. His desperation and hopelessness early on in the story when he has so little to look forward to or fight for was palpable. So when he connects with Alex all of a sudden it's like his world has color and vibrancy to it again after being muted and gray for ages. That shift in perspective towards hope for a better future (with Alex) even comes through in subtle ways, like how he thinks of her kisses: "Alex tastes like promise, and matíng, and the air high above Tatatunga after a rainstorm. She tastes like all my tomorrows have come around." This is an emotional and steam filled ride so buckle up! 5/5 Stars
October 28, 2024
I want my own Sylas! ❣️
Sylas was so adorable! The perfect cutie pie, giant warrior, and deadly protector.
So, this was an awesome story in parts.
It has action parts, then changes to character story parts, a secluded island style romance part, and scattered moments of intrigue.
Sadly, most of these don’t blend together, despite all being relevant and necessary.
If you’re enjoying the action, and we suddenly go to the secluded island part, you can become confused and a bit disillusioned, especially when you’re not expecting it.
Plus, the lovey dialogue is a bit repetitive throughout. Less would have given more oomph to the bits included.
Lastly, was disappointed the first friend was forgotten at the end, and that we didn’t get a bit more info to the FMC’s backstory, and her future purpose.
You can only lounge around playing castaway for so long… She needs more depth and substance (she wasn’t even ‘housewife’ occupied).
The like-ability of the characters, world building, intrigue, and action, overcame all of these issues however, to make this an awesome story regardless.
Hopefully B2 builds on this, while keeping all the best bits.
Sylas was so adorable! The perfect cutie pie, giant warrior, and deadly protector.
So, this was an awesome story in parts.
It has action parts, then changes to character story parts, a secluded island style romance part, and scattered moments of intrigue.
Sadly, most of these don’t blend together, despite all being relevant and necessary.
If you’re enjoying the action, and we suddenly go to the secluded island part, you can become confused and a bit disillusioned, especially when you’re not expecting it.
Plus, the lovey dialogue is a bit repetitive throughout. Less would have given more oomph to the bits included.
Lastly, was disappointed the first friend was forgotten at the end, and that we didn’t get a bit more info to the FMC’s backstory, and her future purpose.
You can only lounge around playing castaway for so long… She needs more depth and substance (she wasn’t even ‘housewife’ occupied).
The like-ability of the characters, world building, intrigue, and action, overcame all of these issues however, to make this an awesome story regardless.
Hopefully B2 builds on this, while keeping all the best bits.
September 26, 2024
A new series and new Gryn Warriors. Sylas is the planets most ruthless fighter. He only knows death and destruction and he’s the best at it. Alex is a human woman who is enslaved to a notorious bounty hunter. Alex has pretty much given up hope that she would ever get back to earth or have freedom again.
Both Sylas and Alex are prisoners. and we’re accepting if their fate until the day their paths
crossed. Sylas knew at first sight that Alex was meant to be his and he was willing to burn the world down to have her. Alex never thought she would find a samba of happiness again especially in the form of a 7ft alien warrior.
Alex and Sylas had a few growing pains while on the run. Although perfect for one another. Sylas felt he wasn’t worthy of a mate because of the mistakes he made in the past.
With their enemies closing in on then Alex and Sylas fight tooth and nail for the HEA they rightfully deserve. If we’ve learned anything from the previous Gryn warriors; is that a Gryn will burn the world to for the opportunity to love, cherish and protect their mate.
Both Sylas and Alex are prisoners. and we’re accepting if their fate until the day their paths
crossed. Sylas knew at first sight that Alex was meant to be his and he was willing to burn the world down to have her. Alex never thought she would find a samba of happiness again especially in the form of a 7ft alien warrior.
Alex and Sylas had a few growing pains while on the run. Although perfect for one another. Sylas felt he wasn’t worthy of a mate because of the mistakes he made in the past.
With their enemies closing in on then Alex and Sylas fight tooth and nail for the HEA they rightfully deserve. If we’ve learned anything from the previous Gryn warriors; is that a Gryn will burn the world to for the opportunity to love, cherish and protect their mate.
July 13, 2025
I’m a fan of corny sci-if romance books (I lovingly refer to them as torso books because of the covers), but I had a lot of problems with this book and if it wasn’t so short I would have DNF’d it
1) the world building was basically non existent. I know basically nothing about the alien species, the technology, the culture, or the setting and it made the side characters indistinguishable from each other visually
2) the FMC and MMC were bland and had no chemistry. I don’t mind insta love or fated mates but it felt very superficial, mostly because the characters themselves are one note. The FMC displays her strength by being petulant and the MMC has absolutely nothing interesting to say other than “my mate” on repeat.
3) the plot felt very contrived. There was no time for things to build or develop and instead exposition was used for info dumping. There was also too many side characters that all magically loved the FMC even though she is very immature and entitled to peoples services and time.
1) the world building was basically non existent. I know basically nothing about the alien species, the technology, the culture, or the setting and it made the side characters indistinguishable from each other visually
2) the FMC and MMC were bland and had no chemistry. I don’t mind insta love or fated mates but it felt very superficial, mostly because the characters themselves are one note. The FMC displays her strength by being petulant and the MMC has absolutely nothing interesting to say other than “my mate” on repeat.
3) the plot felt very contrived. There was no time for things to build or develop and instead exposition was used for info dumping. There was also too many side characters that all magically loved the FMC even though she is very immature and entitled to peoples services and time.
September 24, 2024
I love the Gyrn. Being a gladiator is even better. Sylas is a troubled soul. I love how the secrets and mystery as to why he is in the arena are slowly explained.
I loved Sylas. His protectiveness of Alex was perfect. Just like all of the Gryn. Even though he does not know anything about his species, he goes by instinct. Even as so far as building a nest for Alex.
Alex was so patient, compassionate and caring with him. Her life after her abduction from Earth has been hard. I love that she stays true to herself.
Well written. The world building was very good. Lots of steam to the romance. The flow was good. Once I started I could not put the book down. Loved the HEA. This is a standalone for the couple, but there is a back story that is interesting .
I'm curious who will be next to be rescued from themselves.
I received a free copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my review.
I loved Sylas. His protectiveness of Alex was perfect. Just like all of the Gryn. Even though he does not know anything about his species, he goes by instinct. Even as so far as building a nest for Alex.
Alex was so patient, compassionate and caring with him. Her life after her abduction from Earth has been hard. I love that she stays true to herself.
Well written. The world building was very good. Lots of steam to the romance. The flow was good. Once I started I could not put the book down. Loved the HEA. This is a standalone for the couple, but there is a back story that is interesting .
I'm curious who will be next to be rescued from themselves.
I received a free copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my review.
October 2, 2024
What a brilliant story about a group of Gryn who have been captured to fight in the Dome in the city of Tatatunga, on the planet Trefa. Sylas is the best gladiator that they have in the dome, and he knows that there were others of his kind that he was with, but his memories have been suppressed, and when he meets his Eregri, or his fated mate Alex, who is a human female who was stolen from earth and enslaved on this planet. Alex and Sylas both have a lot to go through before they finally are free and allowed make the home together and have their young free from any kind of captivity. The story ends with them living in the village looking forward to Alex having the baby. This is the first book in the series, and I look forward to reading the next book.
I was given an advanced copy of this book to read and I am reviewing with my honest and fair opinion.
I was given an advanced copy of this book to read and I am reviewing with my honest and fair opinion.
September 25, 2024
loved it !! a great start for this spin-off/new series of the Gryn... love Sylas and Alex... this is their adventure story... a fast paced action packed drama... Alex has been abducted by aliens and sold as a slave to a brutal bounty hunter... Sylas and the other Gryn are enslaved to the Arena to fight or die there.. but, his story is different... his memories have been changed and he is lost and angry beyond measure... Alex goes into the Arena to steal some tickets for her master... and she meets Sylas.. it's a meeting that will change their lives forever... Freedom... so many twists and secrets revealed... so heart breaking , too !!! a must read for those that love the Gryn !!!
received an ARC, my honest review...
received an ARC, my honest review...
September 26, 2024
"Moons may fall and planets may wane, but you are mine forever, little feather"
Sylas is a gladiator that is broken from the memories of his past. All he knows is the rage and fight he has inside of him. Alex comes along, and wipes those notions from him and gives him another reason to live. She is his fated mate, and he wants to give all to her.
Alex is a runaway slave and she is a saucy and smart fmc. She doesn’t resist her attraction to Sylas, and it was so refreshing to see their relationship develop.
This book was spiiiiiicy! So if you enjoy that, this is your book. The scenes are amazing, and he has a surprise for you to read 😉
Overall, this book is amazing and you need to read it! 😍
Sylas is a gladiator that is broken from the memories of his past. All he knows is the rage and fight he has inside of him. Alex comes along, and wipes those notions from him and gives him another reason to live. She is his fated mate, and he wants to give all to her.
Alex is a runaway slave and she is a saucy and smart fmc. She doesn’t resist her attraction to Sylas, and it was so refreshing to see their relationship develop.
This book was spiiiiiicy! So if you enjoy that, this is your book. The scenes are amazing, and he has a surprise for you to read 😉
Overall, this book is amazing and you need to read it! 😍
September 28, 2024
Caged, and the return of the Gryn, proves wishes do come true! I am so thrilled to explore the next chapter in the Gryn’s saga! Sylas and Alex are another damaged couple brought together by fate. Their individual stories grabbed my heart, and I was cheering for them to get that happy ending, which they did, of course! Sylas was so lost, yet sweet, drooly in the funniest way possible, and a giant fluffy cuddle bug. Alex was the hope and light he so desperately needed. This new group of Gryn warriors are damaged, quirky, and so love and kindness starved. Their individual stories and personalities are already making me beg for more! I look forward to seeing where Hattie takes us on this journey. It is bound to be exciting!
October 2, 2024
This was good! I did like the Gryn series so this was a nice addition to the world.
I wasn't a big fan of the memory thing only because I ended up so confused. Like, first he was raised on a farm and arrested in an uprising. But then it was that he was captured while he was defending an out post. But then it was that he was captured as a baby, experimented on, then got away, then was captured by a different group.
And then in the end he tells her remembering isn't all that important anyways...
Like Sir, I'd like to know....
Anyways the story itself was fun though. And I liked the MMC. Maybe without the constant drooling which was weird 🤣. So is refering to his hands as "giant appendages".
I wasn't a big fan of the memory thing only because I ended up so confused. Like, first he was raised on a farm and arrested in an uprising. But then it was that he was captured while he was defending an out post. But then it was that he was captured as a baby, experimented on, then got away, then was captured by a different group.
And then in the end he tells her remembering isn't all that important anyways...
Like Sir, I'd like to know....
Anyways the story itself was fun though. And I liked the MMC. Maybe without the constant drooling which was weird 🤣. So is refering to his hands as "giant appendages".
March 23, 2025
What a great start to a new series. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest soon. Sylas and Alex were so cute together and he literally went from zero to full on nesting and mating within minutes of meeting her. I enjoyed the fact that the romance and action started really fast and it made for a great quick read.
The two of them had a bit of adventure and almost a little runaround while trying to get to know one another and find freedom. But, bliss, especially at the beginning doesn’t last and they soon found that they had to fight to stay together. I absolutely love that Alex went on a rescue mission to get her mate back and it made her a really strong female character that even the other gladiators respected.
Sylas could not get enough of her and I thought the nesting/mating instincts were cute and even him drooling when she rubs his feathers was adorable.
The two of them had a bit of adventure and almost a little runaround while trying to get to know one another and find freedom. But, bliss, especially at the beginning doesn’t last and they soon found that they had to fight to stay together. I absolutely love that Alex went on a rescue mission to get her mate back and it made her a really strong female character that even the other gladiators respected.
Sylas could not get enough of her and I thought the nesting/mating instincts were cute and even him drooling when she rubs his feathers was adorable.
April 30, 2025
Great beginning of a spinoff
We met the GRYN in the Sarkarnii series. They are the winged friends of those “Dragon males”. They are also a rare species who are strong warriors. However, these males have been kept as fighters for some very shady creatures.
This first book is about Sylas the leader of this group . He believes he deserves to be indentured because he led a failed coup. He would not even let the Sarkarnii Dragons free him and the others because he felt they were honor bound to fight until they died.
When he meets Alex, his fated mate he begins to want a better life with her. Soon facts come to light that begin to change their minds. Alex along with some other the feisty women help all of them see themselves as more than killing machines.
We met the GRYN in the Sarkarnii series. They are the winged friends of those “Dragon males”. They are also a rare species who are strong warriors. However, these males have been kept as fighters for some very shady creatures.
This first book is about Sylas the leader of this group . He believes he deserves to be indentured because he led a failed coup. He would not even let the Sarkarnii Dragons free him and the others because he felt they were honor bound to fight until they died.
When he meets Alex, his fated mate he begins to want a better life with her. Soon facts come to light that begin to change their minds. Alex along with some other the feisty women help all of them see themselves as more than killing machines.
September 22, 2024
“I thought I was alive, but I did not live until the moment fate found you for me, Alex.”
Beware,this Gryn will steal your heart!
Sylas is massive,easy to rage but oh so sweet for his mate,Alex is a slave ,used by a nasty bounty hunter.
She's sent to the dome to steal but finds a huge Gryn caged that calls her Eregri....
Well written with a captivating and often complex plot, characters that steal your heart and the magic touch of Hattie Jacks,this book got me hooked from the first word until the perfect ending.
And lets not forget the HOT steamy scenes, the scene when he chases her will blow your mind!
Beware,this Gryn will steal your heart!
Sylas is massive,easy to rage but oh so sweet for his mate,Alex is a slave ,used by a nasty bounty hunter.
She's sent to the dome to steal but finds a huge Gryn caged that calls her Eregri....
Well written with a captivating and often complex plot, characters that steal your heart and the magic touch of Hattie Jacks,this book got me hooked from the first word until the perfect ending.
And lets not forget the HOT steamy scenes, the scene when he chases her will blow your mind!
November 13, 2024
DNF - quit at 18%
I don’t really appreciate a MMC who doesn’t really seem to be all there in the head, he’s so consumed with violence & PTSD from whatever rebellion he led, that it makes him to violent to want to read about. I needed him to be smart enough to do more than get thrown in solitary for raging out against everyone, friends or enemies. I also needed more background world building as well as character development. I’ve got to be able to like the main characters.
At my age (63), life is way to short & my time is to important to force myself to read a book I'm not enjoying, especially when there are so many other books out there waiting to be read.
I don’t really appreciate a MMC who doesn’t really seem to be all there in the head, he’s so consumed with violence & PTSD from whatever rebellion he led, that it makes him to violent to want to read about. I needed him to be smart enough to do more than get thrown in solitary for raging out against everyone, friends or enemies. I also needed more background world building as well as character development. I’ve got to be able to like the main characters.
At my age (63), life is way to short & my time is to important to force myself to read a book I'm not enjoying, especially when there are so many other books out there waiting to be read.
March 10, 2025
4 star story - 1 star writing
This was a chore to read because of the way it was written. There are inconsistencies and plot holes and it was choppy and sentences were not structured correctly often enough for it to become obnoxious. Then add in the alien language. *sigh
But I really enjoyed the storyline! I'm going to continue the series (and hope the author finds a flow) because these are fun characters and the overarching plot is a good one.
The way the gryn drooled and spaced out whenever the FMC touched under his wings was hilarious and his nesting (and confusion over it) was adorable.
This was a chore to read because of the way it was written. There are inconsistencies and plot holes and it was choppy and sentences were not structured correctly often enough for it to become obnoxious. Then add in the alien language. *sigh
But I really enjoyed the storyline! I'm going to continue the series (and hope the author finds a flow) because these are fun characters and the overarching plot is a good one.
The way the gryn drooled and spaced out whenever the FMC touched under his wings was hilarious and his nesting (and confusion over it) was adorable.
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