If she escapes and lives, his kingdom will be destroyed. If she stays and dies, his heart will be demolished.
Sold by her stepfather to Duke Ivrael of the Caix, a race of fae-like aliens, Lara Evans’ biggest fear is realized. Now, she will stop at nothing to save her sister Izzy from a fate worse than death.
But Ivrael sees the Evans sisters as key to saving his dying civilization. He believes he can use Lara and Izzy to prove his theory that technology and magic can coexist—and to overthrow the kingdom’s current cruel ruler.
As their mutual distrust gives way to dangerous attraction, both find their plans unraveling. With Izzy’s fate approaching, Lara must decide between betraying the duke and saving her sister. And Ivrael will either have to sacrifice the sisters to save his world... or risk everything.
If you loved the spicy aliens of Ice Planet Barbarians, the court intrigue of Cruel Prince, and the morally grey hero of Fourth Wing, The Alien’s Cruel Starfrost Domain is your next addicting read.
Scroll up and one-click this hot new alien romantasy!
USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times bestselling author Margo Bond Collins is a former college English professor who, tired of explaining the difference between "hanged" and "hung," turned to writing romance novels instead. She now writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and science fiction romance. Sometimes her heroines kiss aliens, sometimes they kill monsters. But they always aim for the heart.
“If you loved the spicy aliens of Ice Planet Barbarians, the court intrigue of Cruel Prince, and the morally grey hero of Fourth Wing, The Alien’s Cruel Starfrost Domain is your next addicting read.” that is such a wild way to sell a book stop omg BE SERIOUS 💀
4.5⭐️ This book combines a couple of my favorite genres together. Aliens who are basically fae?! What? Yup, and it works. In my opinion, a great fantasy book about fae always involves political intrigue and this has loads of it. It also has a favorite trope of mine, enemies to lovers, although I would say enemies who are lovers to be more accurate in this story. Ivrael and Lara have loads of chemistry despite not wanting it for their own reasons lol. Ivrael is a villain- as far as how much a villain, or if he can be redeemed, time will tell. The world building is detailed and unique but with the fae fantasy elements I enjoy reading. Lara is a strong female character who has been through more than her share of trauma which continues in this story. My only complaint is the timeline jumping. While critical information is shared during these moments in the book it felt confusing at times. Overall, a riveting book that I recommend and I look forward to the next book in the series.
Lara is ripped from her ordinary life when her stepfather sells her to an alien nobleman from a world frozen in magic and deceit. Trapped under the rule of Ivrael, a calculating Icecaix duke with his own desperate agenda, Lara has to navigate the dangers of a cold and ruthless alien court while plotting her escape and protecting her younger sister, Izzy, from the same fate. But Lara’s connection to this strange world runs deeper than she ever imagined. As Lara uncovers the truth about herself and her ties to the Icecaix’s fading magic, she finds herself caught in a high-stakes battle for survival. Ivrael needs her to save his dying world, even if it means sacrificing everything, including her freedom. Yet, as the tension between them rises, so does the dangerous pull of their mutual attraction. Lara has to confront not only Ivrael’s plans but the terrifying potential within herself. Cliffhanger ending - to be continued in "The Alien’s Vicious Starflash Manor." Alien-human dark sci-fi, with a side of romance, exploring political intrigue, betrayals, awakening, power, resilience, impossible choices, freedom, morality, humanity, survival, and sacrifice.
What a great start to a new series. The whole situation that Ivrael and his people are in is quite interesting. The idea of magic dwindling as a result of some past event really sets the stage for a slow revelation of many plot details. Dangerous aristocracy, political intrigue, and a hidden plan to “fix things” all swirl together in this unique plot involving Lara from earth and eventually her sister Izzy. I must say, it is those openly dark and morally gray characters that are the most interesting. I can’t wait to see where the next novel goes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Enjoyable read, with popular thropes in a semy original version. This book ends on a cliffhanger!
I'm having a bit of a hard time reviewing this book. On the one hand, I found the book and story very enjoyable. The writing was solid, and the storyline was easy to follow. There is some humor to be found in between the lines, and some side characters are a delight. The MMC is obsessed with the FMC but can't act on it, so there is a lot of pining going on. On the other hand, the plot was so clear to see that it had little to no surprise elements for me. At some points, the word choices and reactions became repetitive, which for me made the story tiptoe in becoming dull. While there is lots going on in the story, there are only a few "big" things happening, and all end in the same way, the grey MMC saving the FMC. Now, I do feel the need to point out that my last few reads were packed with action, and that might have made my opinion form this way. Because I do see lots of potential for how this story will continue.
So again, this was a story I did enjoy, but I do hope the action picks up in book 2! This book was my first time reading anything of Margo and an ARC at that. I would like to thank Margo for giving me this opportunity, and I'm pretty sure I'll grab book 2 as soon as it comes out.
Allow two days for this dark, steamy, contemporary, interstellar, paranormal, age-gap, forbidden-enemies-to-lovers, cruel alien romantasy that starts during winter in northern Texas, featuring BDSM, best-friends, betrayal, a broken family, dragons, drugs, fae, magic, satire, science-fiction, and spies. 4 1/2*.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you love enemies to lovers with a hot alien that can frost your petunia and melt it with his look and his hands and everything then you will want to read this first book In the series. I loved it and can’t wait to read the next.
The Alien’s Cruel Starfrost Domain is a part one in the Empire of Frost and Flame duet. It was a bit challenging read since the backstory takes awhile to reveal itself. It makes for a tense plot with political intrigue sprinkled throughout. It also leads you to a love/hate relationship with the Duke. Lara, our abused abductee is trying to navigate her new life all the awhile trying to escape and protect her sister. I’m not usually happy with cliffhanger endings but it works here. Can’t wait till book two is released.❤️
Wow! Slightly darker than some of Margos other books but no less enjoyable.
Ivrael is clever, cunning and following his all important plan to save the magic and bring the prince down. Lara is the key to his plan - torn from the human world and bought into Starfrost manor.
The suspense this book yielded was 10/10, I was constantly wondering what would happen and all my guesses were actually wrong. The build up to those explosive final chapters was perfect.
***ARC*** Do not like to read the burbs on ARC’s so I can go in not knowing anything. I really enjoyed this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ great story building that made me want to read the next book to find out more of Lara and her sister Izzy future. Will Ivrael and Lara’s attraction 🌶🌶 change his plans for the sisters. I guess I’ll have to wait until the next book.
Lara Evans, a human, was sold by her step-father to an alien Caix, her ending up a servant for cruel Lord Ivrael Eluwyn. The planet is so cold, she wakes each day bruised and shivering on the hard flagstones in the fireplace hearth. She gets up early to shovel out the ashes and restart the kitchen fire. Kila, a Starcaix raya who refuses to be called a “pixie”, wakes and crawls off her shoulder as she moves her wings to work out her own kinks. Adefina walks in and warns Lara to hurry because “he” will be angry if his breakfast is late. They all know what that means! And supposedly their fate would have been even worse if they were sold to one of the other groups of the Icecaix to be played with, used up, then left outside to freeze to death. At least Duke Ivrael just ignores them once they complete their tasks. The only thing lethal to all of the Caix is iron… and at least Lara can hold iron. One day she may use it to kill her captor if her sister is ever put at risk.
What Lara doesn’t realize is that Ivrael has a plan to start a war, and he will need the Evans sisters, Lara and Izzy, to die so he can gain the crown and the throne. But from the start, he has to fight against feelings compelling him to beg for her forgiveness and telling her his plans. He secretly watches her and wants her. He feels more and more possessive of her and desires her for his mate. So he has to become stronger. She belongs to him, but he can never have her that way or both of them will die. Yet the attraction continues to grow stronger. And in the meantime, Lara’s sister Izzy is approaching 18 and will be sold to Ivrael to begin his plan. Will Lara still try to betray Ivrael to save her sister’s life? Has she been developing feelings for him as well? Will Ivrael continue with his plans to sacrifice both sisters in his attempt to save his world? And so many other things could happen to interfere with Ivrael’s obsession.
This book was extremely fascinating. It also has a bunch of triggers. Once her mother passed, her stepfather, didn’t know what to do with Lara, and with a week before her 18th birthday, he sells her to Lord Ivrael Eluwyn, a frost alien, elven nobleman. She is forced to work in the kitchens and is totally unknowing of the plan that her “Lord” who is also a Duke, is currently working on to save his planet as their magic is declining. Kila, is a Starcaix raya, although she looks like a pixie to us, don’t call her that. Adefina is in charge of the kitchen and the three of them work together. Since they are pretty much ice elves, it is pretty much too cold for Lara. To most of the other staff, Lara and Kila are looked down upon to the point that I worried that someone was going to harm them. As I read more, I found that Ivrael is a dichotomy he can be kind/cruel, with the latter being more often. He is icy and hot (lol), and he does a bunch of stuff that Lara should just hate him for it. But, there is some kind of connection between them that is just fascinating. Lara has been there for almost a year and her younger sister will be turning 18 soon. She wants to save Izzy as she knows her stepfather is going to sell her to Ivrael. Starfrost Manor, Ivrael’s seat of power is on the borderlands with fire lords. I don’t know how the author fit everything into the book. It is a bit bouncing around in the beginning but that is because of the exposition, but other than that, the book is awesome. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
LARA was sold by her step father to the Caix, to Duke Ivrael of the Ice Court. IVRAEL is planning on saving his world by starting a war. To do that he needs to sacrifice the Evans sisters—Lara and her sister Izzy. He acquired Lara but it didn't go like he thought. He took a liking to her. She is his, mate. He knows something about the sisters that matches him. Then Baron Svalkat.b comes to spy. But he also is very wary since the Baron has peculiar taste and likes earth women. But rumor is he leaves them broken. He needs to make sure he is kept away from Lara. The Baron is there for something and on a hunt he is questioned about the magic surrounding his land, his AI and the firelords. He finally manages to set up a meeting with his contact from the firelords. The agreement with this firelord is to find others of like mind and work together. But as typical the firelords want much more. But he's played his game a long time so he'll figure it out when the time comes. In the meantime he needs to protect LARA and eventually her sister. LARA knows her time is running out. Her sister will turn 18 soon. She needs an escape route. Then his ex lover shows just when he finds that the royal Jonyk will be arriving to host a summit meeting with the firelord royal. His time is running out. He needs something from LARA and eventually her sister and he needs it now. Will he get what he needs? Will he need to carry out the planned project knowing what the outcome will be? A fascinating and very cold story (brrrrr) that enthralls the reader.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Margo Bond Collins delivers a thrilling mix of intrigue, romance, and high-stakes survival in The Alien’s Cruel Starfrost Domain. This isn’t just an alien abduction story—it’s a pulse-pounding journey of defiance, sacrifice, and slow-burning desire set in a world where magic and technology are at war.
Lara Evans is a heroine with fire in her veins, unwilling to break even after being sold to Duke Ivrael of the Caix, a dangerously powerful alien race. Her sole mission is to save her sister, Izzy, no matter the cost. But Ivrael is no ordinary captor. Torn between his duty to his dying world and his growing need for Lara, he is the very definition of a morally gray antihero—calculating, intense, and impossible to ignore. Their chemistry crackles, shifting from distrust to something far more dangerous.
What makes this book stand out is its intoxicating blend of politics, power plays, and sizzling tension. The stakes are impossibly high—Lara’s freedom means Ivrael’s kingdom falls, but if she stays, she risks losing herself. Collins builds a world both haunting and mesmerizing, with a courtly intrigue that rivals The Cruel Prince and the kind of brooding, possessive hero that fans of Fourth Wing will devour.
If you love fierce heroines, ruthless but redeemable aliens, and a romance tangled in deception and desire, The Alien’s Cruel Starfrost Domain will leave you breathless. I’m already dying for the next book in the Empire of Frost and Flame series!.
I loved reading this enemies to lovers story. I think they, in a way ,are still enemies. I really liked Lara. She has been dealt a poor hand when it comes to her step-father. Who in their right mind would sell his own stepdaughter. I love that she stays true to herself. She has the ability to make people feel worthy. Is compassionate and is a quick thinker. I liked the friends she made at the manor. Duke Ivrael. I think he is one of those people you love to hate. He has a mission and doesn't want any distractions. But then there's Lara. He can't quite seem to get her out of his mind. His touch her and die just added to the dilemma. Uanna adds a good twist to the story. I loved the hint of the fairy tales with the story line. Cinderella, Peter Pan, Snow white to name a few. I would love to say they had a HEA ending, but alas their is a very good cliffhanger for this book. I loved the flow of the book. Edge of your seat action. I also liked that the romance didn't come until later into the story. Who would want to even be friends with someone who bought you. Can't wait for the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Imagine being sold by your stepfather to an Alien Duke with no rhyme or reason. At the age of 18; Lara's stepfather sold her to Duke Ivrael of the planet Caix. Lara has no idea why her stepfather would do this or why Ivrael was adamant about having her when she turned 18.
Being subjected to living on a planet too cold for any human to live; Lara works as a servant in the Duke's kitchen. Ivrael has plans for Lara, but he is bidding his time until her sister comes of age. Ivrael feels that by sacrificing the sisters it will help the problem his planet is experiencing with magic and ultimately will help him overthrow the current ruler of his kingdom.
This was definitely a true enemy to lover's story. Lara loathes Ivrael because he is cruel and heartless but unbeknownst to Lara, Ivrael is secretly pining for her even though he has plans to kill her. Lara hates the fact that she desires Ivrael as well. No matter the disrespect, humiliation and abhorrent treatment Lara is disgusted with herself for even feeling an ounce of attraction for Ivrael.
Ivrael is planning something big, and Lara won't rest until she discovers his plot. Unfortunately, the truth maybe more than she can handle.
The Alien’s Cruel Starfrost Domain is the first book of the Empire of Frost and Flame series and opens the door to an intriguing blending of Sci-Fi/Fantasy romance. MFC Lara Evans has been sold by her stepfather to Duke Ivrael of the Caix, fae like aliens who have visited Earth often, and become part of human mythology. MMC Ivreal needs Lara and her sister Izzy’s bloodline to further his plans to save his dying world and for that THEY must die. What he doesn’t plan on is the attraction he feels towards Lara, and fights often to contain, for in another time she would have been claimed as his mate instead of being a servant in his household and centerpiece to his plans. Enemies-to-lovers, a morally gray male lead, intrigue, dangerous plotting, secrets, and a darkly imaginative convergence of technology and magic crafts a highly engaging story where difficult choices will have to be made and characters who bring forth an abundance of varied emotions finds a story that is not quite a fairy tale, told in dual POV. Readers will certainly be eager for it’s continuation in book two, and I can’t wait!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
For lovers of the Romance genre, this book is a real treat to whet your appetite.
Written in the first person, we are immediately introduced to Lara, who initially compares her own life to that of Cinderella - yes, the same one from the fairy tales - and how their lives have similarities, but without the happy ending.
Lara works as a servant to Duke Ivrael of the Caix, a cold man - in every sense, since they live on an icy planet.
She was sold to the Duke by her own stepfather, and the only thing Lara has in mind is finding a way to save herself and her sister Izzy.
Ivrael bought the sisters for a very simple reason (for him): to save the planet. And even though he feels a certain attraction to Lara, she is there for a purpose, and he will not ruin everything.
Between two people so determined and with such divergent goals, the plot unfolds slowly and interestingly, with all kinds of magic and revelations of mysteries, betrayals and desires that only make the couple closer and closer, even though that is the last thing they want.
Cliffhanger. Slow burn ARC received through Booksprout in exchange for an honest review
The Alien’s Cruel Starfrost Domain is the first book of the Empire of Frost and Flame series. It is a blending of Sci-Fi/Fantasy romance. It is a story of fae like aliens world that a human must navigate. This book does have a cliffhanger. So waiting on the next book. Lara has been sold by her stepfather to Duke Ivrael of the Caix. She is a servant in his household. It has the Cinderella vibe. Lara is fighting her attraction to the man that bought her. She doesn’t know about his plans for her. Ivreal needs Lara and her sister Izzy’s bloodline to save his dying world. Now he has Lara in his household as a lowly servant. He must ignore her so that he can carry out his plans. As soon as Lara’s sister turns 18, he will purchase Izzy. His saving his word is more important than his attraction to Lara.
The Alien's Cruel Starfrost Domain is the first in a new series. It has a slow start and halfway through I still don’t have all the backstory. There is an attraction between Lara who was sold by her stepfather to Ivrael, an alien who lives on a ice planet. He doesn’t take advantage because he plans to sacrifice her and her sister Izzy to save his world. Ivrael treats Lara so poorly for a year that I don’t think her attraction to him is plausible. She is wearing the same sweater, jeans and sneakers that she wore when she was sold. He is so focused on ignoring her that she is neglected. I am intrigued by Ivrael’s plot to save his world which kept me reading. That part of the story is very interesting and I look forward to reading more. I consider this book more of a dark fantasy with very little romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It was bad enough when her stepfather sold her to the fae like alien Duke Ivrael of the Caix, but when she finds out he plans to buy her sister too, Lara Evens will begin planning her escape. Ivrael needs both sisters in order to prove that technology and magic can coexist on his world. But will he be able to sacrifice the woman he has come to care for, and her younger sister? Or will he lose everything?
Political intrigue, a little steam, violence, unexpected twists in the plot, and a cliffhanger that leaves you eager to read the next book. Fascinating and unique characters that find themselves attracted to each other but both of them know that a relationship is doomed before it can even begin. The author of this book has created an exciting new world which I found quite intriguing. I'm looking forward to the next book already, and I highly recommend this book to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book that I received from Book Sprout.
The Alien’s Cruel Starfrost is suspenseful and most certainly a page turner of an alien romance. This book is fantastically written, well balanced and beautifully executed by Margo Bond Collins. Margo Bond Collins continues to show what an incredible author she is with each book that I have read by her so far. I absolutely enjoyed reading this book from start to finish and I didn’t want to set the book down until I read the last page of the book. This book was completely captivating from start to finish. The Alien’s Cruel Starfrost follows the story of Lara and Ivrael. I absolutely enjoyed getting to know these two main characters and seeing their story unfolding throughout the book. I’m so looking forward to read the continuation of Lara and Ivrael’s story in the next book. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone to checkout and give it a read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
“I promise you’ll get more than you bargained for.”
Lara is betrayed by her guardian, but that pales in comparison to the frozen purgatory she finds herself living in.
Ivrael has a plan, some might even say his goal is worthy, but do the ends justify the means?
This book is the first part of a multi book series. It introduces an intriguing world, and the people and cultures that exist on it, allowing the readers to bond with several characters, but it stops short of "ever after", happily or otherwise, and instead feels like it reaches the end of season one, and dangles hopes (and perhaps promises) for what we can expect in season/book 2.
This is a story about learning to survive in an alien culture, trying to figure out who the hood guys and bad guys in your world are, and tucked in between major moments are little glimpses of what makes a person special, and life challenging.
This Alien Invasion Science Fiction is splendid. Lara Evan was sold to Duke Ivrael of the Caix (a fae-like extraterrestrial) by her stepfather just before her eighteenth birthday. The Duke plans to sacrifice Lara and her younger sister, Izzy, to overthrow the current ruler of his kingdom. Lara has other thoughts.
Most of the story centers on the Duke and his plots; however, glimpses of Lara and the magnetic attraction between them are prevalent. These character's movements fall within narrowly defined knowledge. It appears they are but pawns to a greater power. The story begun in this book is far from finished. Nevertheless, it is entertaining and creates a yearning for more.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Haunting. Romantic. Scary. Tragic. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
I loved this start to the Empire of Frost and Flame series - excellent worldbuilding, characters and a nail biting plot! Ivrael’s determination to save his planet turns him into a cold, unfeeling monster who is ready to sacrifice anyone and anything to see his plans through to the end. Lara is no pushover though and her strength and courage as she navigates her new circumstances garners Ivrael’s reluctant respect and admiration. She is determined to find a way to save her sister from a similar fate of slavery to the Icecaix. A completely absorbing read with so much delicious tension between Lara and Ivrael that my stomach was in knots from the anxiety I was feeling! I can’t wait for book 2 to see what happens next! I received a copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have never been so fascinated by a book as this. I really couldn't put this book down. It gnawed at me and I must honestly admit that I was annoyed by Lara's naivety. But she was only 18 years old and obviously didn't know the world that well yet. But still I sat up, almost screaming when something happened again. And then there was Ivrael Eluwyn, High Duke of the Ice Court, Lord of Starfrost Manor, in the Empire of the Caix. Yes, that was an introduction. That man drove me crazy. He's deadly, I won't forget that scene with that finger. I'm really not going to tell you, just read it yourself. The story is beautiful, the twists that kept you on your toes every time. Unforgettable. But this book just wouldn't leave me alone. Fascinating, amazing, beautifully written and I really can't wait for the continuation of this story. Highly recommended
This was an interesting dark romance story to read that starts a series. It's a mix of an alien dark romance and a fantasy dark romance story that was enjoyable to read. Lara and her sister Lizzy go from one bad situation to another when their stepfather sells them to Duke Ivrael of the Caix. Duke Ivrael plans to use and sacrifice the sisters to overtake the crown. Ivrael was a perfect dark villain/hero who starts to consider his plans as he gets to know Lara, but can Lara trust him? What occurs was an engaging story with twists and turns as the sisters try to stay alive on Caix. The characters were engaging, the romance steamy with the darkness in this genre and the story captured me with all the intrigue. I'd volunteer to read and review this copy I'd received.
Can chemistry outweigh evil intent? I want Ivrael to change, I want him to give up his murderous plans. Lara deserves something good in her life but she seems to go from bad on earth to worst on Trasq. The world building is intricate. Little by little Trasq comes to life icy and so cold. And the aliens in their different forms IceCaix, StarCaix, and Firelords beautiful and scary. The story plays out piecemeal in the background as we see Lara acclimating to her new environment. At the end of this installment we know some of Israel’s plot but not exactly, what’s to come? I can’t wait.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a very indepth story. Ivrael purchases Lara on her 18th birthday as part of a plan he has to save his world. All he needs is Lara's sister on her 18th birthday to complete his plan. While waiting on the sister's 18th, Ivrael shows how evil he really is. The only thing that I didn't like about this book is it ends on a cliffhanger and you must get the next book(s) in the series to find out what happens. I don't like cliffhangers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sold to Duke Ivrael by her stepfather and finding herself on another planet, Lara is determined to find her way home back to Earth and her sister. Duke Ivrael has plans for Lara that could save his world but destroy Lara. But Lara keeps surprising him and he fights the attraction he feels for her. With many twists and turns, surprises and fairy tale references, this slow burn romance has everything you need to keep you literally sitting on the edge of your seat as you read it. It is left on a slight cliff hanger and I can't wait for book 2 to come out and find out what happens next.