Heart's Keeper

Dark World Mates #4

by Olivia Riley

An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.

Lana and Xerus return...and encounter a life-altering threat

Xerus: loyal, protective, swift, powerful. Named predomis--highest warrior among the vrisha--and guardian to his queen.

And Lana's one true mate.

Several years after Lazris, Lana has called the vrisha's world her home. After a long mission kept her and Xerus away, they finally return to Tryth, hoping to settle back into the life they had and spend each moment together.

But when the discovery of a galaxy-sized threat presents itself, and they learn of a dangerous empire seeking to hunt humans for its benefit, Lana and Xerus must work together to stop a major catastrophe and possible war, before it's too late.

As large of a problem that seems, Lana finds an even darker, more disturbing, complication within her own mate. Something that could sever their relationship completely and shatter the bond they had built since the beginning.

As they strive to save the human race from being hunted and killed, Lana fights to save the one who matters to her the most.

Heart's Keeper is the fourth book and final to the series and contains dark elements including violence and is meant for mature readers only. In order to have a complete understanding of characters and situations it is highly recommended that books 1-3 be read first in this order:

Heart's Prisoner
Dark's Savior
Shadow's Chosen

Genres: Romance, Science Fiction, Aliens, Science Fiction Romance, Space, Fantasy, M F Romance

184 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 27, 2021

About the author

Olivia loves the dark possibilities of space; of ferocious aliens and brave heroines. She writes sci-fi, horror, and fantasy.


Join her Newsletter:

https://mailchi.mp/2b73fde9127d/olivi...


Find more from her on social media:

https://linktr.ee/oliviariley.author

Reviews

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the final book in the series and I loved catching up with previous characters from prior books. This is a continuation of Lana and Xerus’s story from the first book which I was so pleased about I’ve always wondered how they got on when they returned to his home planet of Tryth.

This is set a few years later Lana and Xerus have been happy she’s his queen and he is her predomis they have been completing missions together and after returning from one such task Lana notices there is something off with her mate, he’s not acting his usual self and seems to lose time and at times even himself, his behaviour is also becoming increasingly erratic and at times even violent.
This coincides with the arrival of Xilya a Vrisha we have met previously she wants assistance helping the humans evade the hunters that are after them.
This is the start of a mission that Lana doesn’t really want but feels compelled to assist with the timing is especially bad with all that is going on with Xerus.

This was well written but was not my favourite from the series though I did enjoy it.
I think maybe because of Xerus being off his game and Lana having to do a lot of this alone it affected my overall enjoyment.
I wanted to see him all bad-ass and protective over his mate but I felt it was more the other way around here and it was Lana that was doing all of this.
Saying that this was emotional and touching and I did love seeing where these two were at now it just also felt slightly anti-climatic as well.

I still recommend and this has been a fantastic series that I have really enjoyed if you like Sci-fi alien romance this series is sure to be a big hit, it’s well written and imaginative with some great world-building.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Hearts Keeper.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

[Honest Mabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was okay at best

Honestly it was boring. It felt desperate and just ready to be closed. Opportunities were certainly missed. When it was the climax it was absolutely anticlimactic. I also found the ending to be so disappointing because it’s just a nice bow on it

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, I absolutely loved the previous books, but couldn’t get into this one at all. I felt no connection to the characters and felt like nothing happened throughout the book. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood for this. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Cee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is like an epilogue that ties up the loose ends to all the other books. Which is great! The problem is I didn't really care about the other couples and I didn't like the conflict that the main couple was going through. I was hoping for more teamwork, I guess.

[Ashton Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved seeing all the previous couples interact, and especially loved the scenes with Lana and Elise teaming up! The first 2/3 were slow and a bit difficult for me to connect with, but I did adore the ending. I’m excited to see what Riley comes up with next!

[Arielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to believe I've been reading this series since it started almost a year ago. I've been hooked since Heart's Prisoner came out last August. Olivia Riley has really improved as an author since then. It's been a really fun ride, and while I'm sad to see it end, I'm glad there is potential for another series to start!

Heart's Keeper is a wrap up to the Dark World Mates series. It features the heroes and heroines from the previous three books and serves as an epilogue for their stories, but the stars of the book are the ones from the very beginning - Lana and Xerus. This book follows a similar chapter structure to Heart's Prisoner in that the story is told through Lana's perspective, and the very last chapter is told through Xerus' perspective.

There is a reason for this. Throughout the story, Xerus has been acting strangely since he and Lana returned from a previous mission on another planet. He's been distracted, restless, and extremely irritable to the point of violence. It is later revealed that Xerus has the vrisha equivalent of PTSD, just before he nearly kills Lana during one of his violent episodes. His bizarre behavior puts their current mission of locating and stopping the hunters employed from the empire in the third book before they can find Earth and begin abducting humans en masse in jeopardy, and Lana is soon faced with a decision that could break the years of love and trust she and Xerus have built.

What I love about Heart's Keeper is the growth Lana has been given. We haven't seen or heard from either her or Xerus since Heart's Prisoner, although the incident in which they met is referenced throughout the second and third book. It has been several Earth years since the events of the first book - known by everyone as the "Lazris incident" - have taken place, and since then Lana has adapted seamlessly to vrisha culture and way of life. Lana is queen to the people in her haven, a small city within the mountainside. She's taken charge and shown she's not afraid to make difficult decisions including having Xerus locked in a cage when he becomes so violent it nearly compromises their mission.

Lana's assimilation into vrisha culture and life was so complete, when she finally meets another human Elise from Shadow's Chosen, it takes a moment for her to realize she spoke to her in vrishan instead of English. It takes even longer for her to realize that while they both start speaking to each other, none of the vrisha present can understand them as they were speaking English. It aligns with how long Lana has not only been queen, but also how long it had been since the Lazris incident, which provides excellent pacing for the novel.

I'm going to keep this review short, since the book itself doesn't feature new characters with spin-off stories of their own, and I may add on to this later, but this was definitely a 5/5 stars for me. I was saddened to see this series end, but there is potential for a new series to start in the future, and I hope to see more of the characters we've met along the way return!

[~♥*Marianna*♥~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn’t worth it for me. Like I said I couldn’t care less for the human women kidnapping plot and this book uses it too. Also, I didn’t find this book romantic. A distant and confused Xerus is no fun.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually give 5 review stars to books, but my God this series had me in a their grip from the first chapter. The story building, the characters, the imagination that went in creating this series was phenomenal. To say the least I am saddened to say goodbye to this series and their amazing characters. But oh well, like they say, everything good has an ending.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing and editing of the ARC version of the manuscript was clean, with no typos that I found and well constructed sentences. The world building was well done, with the details of Xerus’ illness being well described. The characterization was great, with both hero and heroine being sympathetic individuals with nuance. The development of the romantic relationship was sweet and tragic, with a happy ending. This couple met and fell in love in the first book in this series, so this last book in the series continued their story. The heat level was two chili peppers in this novel. The plot was excellent, full of action, danger, and high stakes. The pacing was consequently quick and gripping. There was a medium amount of well justified angst in this novel, which I enjoyed. The world building was four stars. The plot and pacing were both five stars. The characterization and development of the romantic relationship was four stars. I therefore gave this novel a combined rating of four and a half stars. This novel ended on a Happy Ever After ending instead of a cliffhanger ending, so that was a big plus. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy sci-fi romances with action filled plots and a distinct space opera feel. I look forward to reading the next series this author chooses to write, whether it is set in this universe or a totally new one. I will buy myself a keeper copy of this book.

I received a free advance review copy of this book, and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angela Plumeria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the chance to see more of Lana and Xerus in this book. So sweet and what a cool tie in to have all the characters in this last installment. If Olivia Riley writes another one with Lana and Xerus, I’ll be the first to read it! Also would love to see Xilya find romance, too! So great.

[H. T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this series! Fantastic world building.. or universe building. I plan to read the spin-off series next.

[Heather_Readsalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[أجمل زهرة]

What was special about this series for me ?
Of course, its variety. So I'm very disappointed with this one because it is a repeat of the first book.

[Melodious Midnight Melancholy「مروة」 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️s.

[JML · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing ending to a powerful series 💖

This book brings the entire story arc full circle. We go back to the couple the Dark World mates started off with Lana and Xerus.. They were compelling and beautifully written in the first book and only seemed to get better in this last one. It's been ten years since the disaster of the base 's destruction and Lana's disappearance. In that time Xerus and Lana have only fallen deeper in love with each other and their loyalty to one another is without question. But each mission they have completed has taken a bit of their souls. It's noticeable early in the story that something is off with Xerus it truly feels like he's suffering from a serious form of PTSD. Lana is beside herself because she realizes that the one thing she can't or won't live with out is her mate. She fears the absence of him more than anything else. The story that is really about how they navigate his sickness, try and save a human colony and keep their relationship strong. This hit all my emotional buttons and I found myself smiling and crying my way through the whole story. This is a truly mated couple that even just the thought of being separated for any length of time is painful for both. You will cry, but in the end you will smile with a feeling of satisfaction at the end. Another wonderful aspect is you get to see old friends and find out how their life have progressed as well. I loved this series and how terrific the world building was as well as the amazing characters. I loved how alien the males in each of the stories were and the female leads were compelling capable and was their males as something beautiful , other worldly and dangerous and chose to love them because of it. I honestly can't wait to see what this author comes up with next. I know I'll be reading it. Thank you for giving me a few hours of true getaway bliss! It's books like this that stir the soul and feed the imagination. Highly recommend💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the very first book in this series, though I had no desire to read #2 or #3. I was excited to get back to Xerus and Lana but I struggled getting into this book and eventually gave up. Maybe I would of been more engaged if I had read the other two, but something just didn't feel the same. I might not be in the right mood for this, maybe I'll try again.

[Caitlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xerus is my Favorite

Xerus really is my favorite alien mate from any of these romance stories. I was so worried for him and scared about the ending, but everything turned out all right because Olivia Riley loves her characters.

[Þórey Jónsdóttir · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3

[Liza Wiegand · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Spoilers Ahead*
It’s better to read the series in its proper order before reading this book.
Heart’s Keeper brings back Lana and Xerus (Heart’s Prisoner) and showed a brief glimpse of their life after leaving Lazris. Lana is now a Queen of her own Haven with Xerus as her Predomis at her side in Tryth (Vrisha’s home planet). They have just come back from a difficult mission and was just settling down when Xilya (Dark’s Savior) came and apprised Lana of what transpired after she escaped and rescued the human women from the clutches of the Xolis empire. After integrating into the Vrisha society, Lana had never expected to have any contact with her own people. But the need to protect the whole human race from a powerful empire drove her and a handful of warriors on a perilous mission.
With human DNA tracker and advanced communication machine, they set out to the peripheral planets inhabited by humans. With Xilya’s help they were able to communicate with Aly and Ryziel (Dark’s Savior) and the rebels from the Xolis empire. The scope of their mission seemed overwhelming for Lana, but what concerned her most was the change in her beloved’s demeanor. Xerus started exhibiting alarming phases of lucidity, and primal non cognitive.
In their search for the the hunters sent by the Xolis empire, they stumbled into Elise and Nezka (Shadow’s Chosen).
The book as usual, written by this author is full of action and emotional struggles. I love that the author finished the series in a hopeful note and not kept us all hanging. The only complain I have is that the Xerus I love in the first book seemed vastly diminished here.
All in all, this is highly entertaining read that I recommend for everyone to read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Spinneretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

We are back with Lana and Xerus as they decide to help the humans fight off the hunters who are searching for their females…

Having lived amongst the Vrisha for several years, a meeting with a female Vrisha (Xylia), leads Lana and Xerus on a mission to make sure the hunters sent by the Nillium don’t manage to kidnap any human females.
When Xerus starts to exhibit odd behaviour, it leaves Lana worried for her mate, even as she strives to aid the human Elise, and other friends, to rout the hunters once and for all.

This fourth is the series is NOT a standalone, because it features the main characters from each of the books, and will provide spoilers for them if you haven’t read them. In addition, it builds on the stories that have gone before.
It’s a fairly slow paced story, with a great deal of emphasis on the relationship between Lana and Xerus. His issues are health related, not relationship related, but form the backbone of this addition to the series- which ties up a number of loose ends that readers may have wondered about with regards to each of the books. It’s well worth reading if only for the fact that it does answer some of those questions I know I had.

It’s a very well written book, heavy on the sci-fi part of the sci-fi romance, and a thoroughly enjoyable read for fans of the genre, as well as those who read and loved the rest of the series.

[Madly Creative · Rating 5 out of 5]

This world is amazing

It’s been such a long time since the previous book, I didn’t even realize I knew this universe when I picked this up. So glad I found it! Perfect as a stand-alone, but I remember all the drama of the other books and how impressed I was with this world/series/author, and I would highly recommend going back and starting with #1 to anyone who is reading this. Never mind the fact that there are no typos, grammatical mistakes or misused words (well I didn’t find them anyway), it’s obvious this author is a strong writer. I can tell the difference from the many dashed off stories I’ve read lately by the thoughtful, well written and engaging way this book moves along. Not a mad rush to get to the sex scenes - there’s actual depth here. Thank goodness. My only complaint was the “behavior”, without giving too much away. It was a deliberate red herring and probably didn’t even need to be part of the story. Seemed a little soap opera-ish at the end and I was annoyed after all was said and done. But apart from that, the relationship matured and deepened from the first book in such a satisfyingly romantic way. I love the drama on the new planet. I love the resolution and this is all very fan-gushy but I’m afraid that’s where I am with this book. So glad to have found it!

[Avidchic reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've listened to everything by Olivia, and I have to say, although this is a standalone, I was glad I had heard all the other books as previous characters surfaced. it was exciting to hear how they fared and how they helped in a most exciting story at a wonderful pace. I loved returning to Lana and Xerus and how they had to go through yet another suspenseful, angst filled, emotionally, gut wrenching situation. I felt devastated for both of them, as truths and understanding were unravelled.
The world building and descriptions of the planets written by Olivia were just awesome.
This sci-fi series is unlike any others I have listened to.
Olivia goes about taking a trope that has been done before but has added depth to a plotline and detailed character building (especially book 1.)
the whole book was simply brilliant, and not only was I reminded of past events, I learned of new methods, culture, and characters.
The idea that Olivia puts forward in this novel is a parallel to what is needed in real life today.
I can see the many avenues that open up for more stories, and I hope we get more.
Maxine Mitchell is one of my all-time favourites as a narrator, and she does an awesome job with accents, tone, and inflections. I absolutely loved it.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart’s Keeper by Olivia Riley is a truly grand finale to her Dark World Mates series!
We the reader get to rejoin Lana and Xerus 10 years after the events that brought them together in Heart’s Prisoner, finding their love stronger and as fiercely passionate as ever.
But there is trouble on the horizon concerning Xerus as Lana has noticed him acting strangely after their recent return to planet Tryth from a mission.
As the story unfolds we learn the shattering reason for the behavior change in Xerus and its revelation elicited some very heart tugging, teary eyed moments for this reader.
Characters from previous books also make an appearance in the story as our couple takes on an even more important mission with them. Action and adventure dominate the narrative but collide with Lana’s concern for Xerus, filling the pages with nonstop nail biting thrills, while through it all Lana stands by her predomis!
Make sure to clear your calendar because you won’t be able to put this book down until the very last and final page. HEA

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[˚✧₊⁎ѕαи∂у⁎⁺˳✧༚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

wait… where’s more!?

Okay… I have gone through this series like water. 💦 This was a nice ending. Second series in this world by author. Finally had to get a day off to sleep.

I loved 🥰 encountering characters from previous books in this story. It added a special touch; and brought the overall story arc to a satisfying conclusion.✨ I must say, overall the narrators truly impressed me with their exceptional performances. They not only told the story effectively, but also conveyed a wide range of emotions brilliantly! 🥹 Their narration was absolutely spectacular!!

Is there more… ? So well written worlds. Previous book was even more enjoyable. I was a glutton for this series. Just click next, no bother with reviews. So many opportunities to create captivating stories with new characters introduced!! 😍 My only disappointment is… what’s next!? 😐 Edit: ✍️ apparently “Shade’s Embrace” it is 🎶

Yep, author must follow.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,25 stars

I really liked to see the characters from the previous books together in one and that they have encounters with each other but I didn’t like xerus to have a mysterious illness and that h didn’t want to a knowledge it at first …. She is a doctor and should know a early diagnosis is best for all. They were weak in this story in my opinion.

Feriens, nice but strange that they could communicate with them as the one we knew was abducted/saved from a very early age and knew no one like him, how did he know their language?
h and H were badass so that was great

Ryzkiel, cool they introduced their son but didn’t see or hear a lot about them

All in all a goodie wrap up a bit too utopian but good enough story development

Gonna start with xora, saw some good reviews so I am curious

[Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the last book in this series, and while I'm glad I picked it up, it was my least favorite of them all.

It went back to the couple in the first book, Lana and Xerus, and gave a lot of story about what happened after they rode off into the sunset together. I thought this was odd because they had a decent HEA/HFN in their own book, yet all of this story-telling and plot would have been nice to see after they left the human planet. I get that we needed the books in between to advance the plot.... but it just felt weird to go back to a couple that I felt I had closed the door on.

As always though, great writing, wonderful world building, and a fun new way to see all of the characters again, albeit briefly.

[Addison · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heart’s Keeper returns us to Lana and Xerus—and it’s got all the weight and weariness of a couple who’ve seen too much but still cling fiercely to each other. There’s something deeply moving about watching two people fight not just for a galaxy, but for their relationship, especially when the cracks begin to show. The stakes here are high, with intergalactic war looming and a haunting new threat emerging, but the emotional core is intimate and raw. It’s not always smooth—the pacing felt a bit uneven—but the emotional impact hits when it counts. Fans of Heart’s Prisoner will appreciate seeing their story come full circle.

[Chantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay… I cried.

So I highly recommend reading the books in order in the series to get the most enjoyment out of it. That being said, this lasted edition (one can hope for more to come!) was a bit slow on the uptake for me to get into. However as the story progresses it suckers you in like the previous books have and before you know it your emotionally invested and feeling all the things the characters are. That’s how good of an author and read this series is. Highly recommended!

[Rena · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF 76% Olivia Riley is undoubtedly a good writer but I was hoping for something a little more smutty, with a slower burn and more development.

I don't feel that this was as good as Heart's Prisoner which had exactly the right amount of everything. I would have liked to see more interactions between the two main characters to make the attraction, romance, and longing more believable.

Otherwise I have no criticisms and feel that anyone reading her work for the first time would be satisfied. A+ for editing. If there were errors, I didn't notice.

I just wanted more moreness lol.

[Jessica Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all of the previous books and always wondered what happened to Lana and Xerus. It was a good idea for all the characters to meet up and satisfying end to the series. I look forward to the authors next project.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.