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Solar Breeding Agency #1
Bred by Fafnir : An Alien Romance
Humanity is desperate, scattered amongst the stars at the mercy of the planets that will have us, but mostly we have nothing. No hope, no prospects, nothing. Poverty, crime, disease, we’re the running joke among the highly advanced alien species that surround us. We’re desperate, all of us, but we’re not entirely without worth… without use. Humans are still good for cheap labor and entertainment, oh and breeding. Human women are great for breeding.
That’s where the Solar Breeding Agency comes in. For a hefty fee and a dowry paid to our families, an alien in need of a surrogate can buy us. When my mom starts skipping meals to sneak more food onto my sister’s plates, my dad buried in an unmarked grave… I’m not left with a ton of options. But when I’m paired with a dangerous, berserker alien known for the visceral way he kills and rumored to be suffering with an incurable affliction called war madness, my prospects are dimming by the second. Good thing I only need to lie down and be bred. That shouldn’t be too hard, right? But what if it feels better than I expected? What if I end up liking the rough way he handles me? The way he allows no one else near. What if when our time is up and he has the baby he requires, he doesn’t let me leave? What if I don't want to go?
Bred by Fafnir is the first installment in the standalone Solar Breeding Agency series. Filled and stuffed to the brim with possessive alien mates, spicy alien… parts and a darker, grittier take on the genre.
That’s where the Solar Breeding Agency comes in. For a hefty fee and a dowry paid to our families, an alien in need of a surrogate can buy us. When my mom starts skipping meals to sneak more food onto my sister’s plates, my dad buried in an unmarked grave… I’m not left with a ton of options. But when I’m paired with a dangerous, berserker alien known for the visceral way he kills and rumored to be suffering with an incurable affliction called war madness, my prospects are dimming by the second. Good thing I only need to lie down and be bred. That shouldn’t be too hard, right? But what if it feels better than I expected? What if I end up liking the rough way he handles me? The way he allows no one else near. What if when our time is up and he has the baby he requires, he doesn’t let me leave? What if I don't want to go?
Bred by Fafnir is the first installment in the standalone Solar Breeding Agency series. Filled and stuffed to the brim with possessive alien mates, spicy alien… parts and a darker, grittier take on the genre.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2025
203 people are currently reading
580 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
December 15, 2025
Something iffy about the writing
I kept getting thrown out of the story by these weird and off phrasings. I highlighted the worst ones but there are still many I let go...
I'll add them at the end. I would love to get native English speakers' opinions.
As for the book itself... I think I would've liked it more if it didn't have the fated mates trope.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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I kept getting thrown out of the story by these weird and off phrasings. I highlighted the worst ones but there are still many I let go...
I'll add them at the end. I would love to get native English speakers' opinions.
As for the book itself... I think I would've liked it more if it didn't have the fated mates trope.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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June 12, 2025
no because why did I genuinely just love this.
also, I want a lizard lion pet.
also, I want a lizard lion pet.
August 30, 2025
Mr Tumnus but hot & with PTSD
December 3, 2025
Expanding my alien universe. Ice planet still is #1
November 26, 2025
This alien breeder for hire romance had more depth than I expected. I was entirely invested not only in the evolution of Fafnir and Lenora’s breeding agreement to more situation but the bigger issue of mental health, war, PTSD and tragic loss.
His determination to continue to live and fight generations of “tradition” for her and their future was inspirational and her tenacity to bring about change for not only him but his entire people was heart wrenching.
Come for the breeding and alien peen, stay for the emotional journey!
His determination to continue to live and fight generations of “tradition” for her and their future was inspirational and her tenacity to bring about change for not only him but his entire people was heart wrenching.
Come for the breeding and alien peen, stay for the emotional journey!
May 30, 2025
Let me preface this by saying this is the first book I’ve ever been an ARC reader for. Everything else has been fully published.
I’ve read a LOT of books in my years. Some with amazing plots but littered with pov switch ups, spelling errors and grammatical flops. My hopes were set low lest they be dashed but my god! This book blew me out of the water. It was better than a lot of other, well established books I’ve read or listened to recently. Yes there were some very slight spelling errors and sometimes the dialogue felt more rigid than flowy in some parts but I think I caught more of both of those with the ACOTAR series than this book. They were all pretty par for the course things. I think every book has a couple choppy bits of dialogue and it’s honestly not even that they were choppy but just more so felt a little off. Had me going back to reread it because the cadence I expected it in didn’t align with how it was delivered, I guess.
I have quite literally DNFed books for one too many treasonous counts of “what the fuck are you even saying” or heinous spelling errors. So mind me when I say it didn’t take away from the book at all. Hell, I’ve been in a physical book reading slump for months now and for weeks in a reading altogether slump. I one shotted this book. Started it during my workday and finished it before bed, even eating and reading. It was THAT good.
The story was immersive and so magically descriptive, I couldn’t resist being captivated. I LOVED the character dynamics between Fafnir and Lenora. I loved how *real* Lenora tended to be. It felt believable, there was the perfect amount of change and growth in the two. I loved orrgerex (sp?) becoming an unwitting friend to the couple, and Elat becoming aunty. I loved the homage to how the world treated the aids epidemic and how difficult it is to bring a people together in recognizing, acknowledging, and treating mental health issues not as a disease but as a brokenness that can be healed.
The world setting was beautiful and believable too, if one is already truly acquainted with alien romance novels (ranging from horrible to mind blowingly amazing). It wasn’t too far out there, there weren’t clear moments that didn’t make sense. The author did a wonderful job detailing in just the right amount with enough references that the movie in my mind as I read it was… magical. Ethereal at times. Breathtakingly gorgeous at others. But descriptive and vivid and *there*. I didn’t have to imagine, she painted the perfect picture and it just appeared in my mind.
Even the sex scenes and building the romance felt natural and believable. While they were steamy they weren’t grotesquely so (coming from a real s m u t lover who prides myself on reading the filthiest smut one can consume… I know grotesque and I know GOOD smut, trust, this is the latter). I loved the happy ending before the end of the book and the happier ending epilogue. The way the conflict wasn’t ridiculous and unbelievable but matched the storyline and felt native to it, built around it was also really good. Some books just implant a foreign conflict to the story and it doesn’t work, it leaves you doubting it and you know it was just plot filler. This book does a good job at believable and appropriately scaled conflict. The world isn’t ending and she doesn’t have to save it, but she WILL save *her* world :’) ❤️😮💨
I might go back and re read this within the next 2 months which is a year too soon than I tend to re read, simply because it was THAT good. I truly loved everything about this book and cannot wait for the entire six book series. My god, if she turns this into a ruby dixon situation I will be set for the next 10-20 years. And I would buy and read diligently.
The last thing I’ll say is I haven’t been able to read physical books in a long time because of bad hand surgeries. So o do tend to refer to my ebooks as physical books when distinguishing between audiobook and ebooks. I’ve basically stopped buying real physical copies but genuinely will end up buying the entire set of these because they’re worthy of being my trophy copies. I love, love, LOVED. This book and can’t recommend reading it and hopefully the rest of the books when they’re out, enough.
What a HIT for a first book, Penelope. Thanks for the most beautiful creative writing I’ve read in awhile.
I’ve read a LOT of books in my years. Some with amazing plots but littered with pov switch ups, spelling errors and grammatical flops. My hopes were set low lest they be dashed but my god! This book blew me out of the water. It was better than a lot of other, well established books I’ve read or listened to recently. Yes there were some very slight spelling errors and sometimes the dialogue felt more rigid than flowy in some parts but I think I caught more of both of those with the ACOTAR series than this book. They were all pretty par for the course things. I think every book has a couple choppy bits of dialogue and it’s honestly not even that they were choppy but just more so felt a little off. Had me going back to reread it because the cadence I expected it in didn’t align with how it was delivered, I guess.
I have quite literally DNFed books for one too many treasonous counts of “what the fuck are you even saying” or heinous spelling errors. So mind me when I say it didn’t take away from the book at all. Hell, I’ve been in a physical book reading slump for months now and for weeks in a reading altogether slump. I one shotted this book. Started it during my workday and finished it before bed, even eating and reading. It was THAT good.
The story was immersive and so magically descriptive, I couldn’t resist being captivated. I LOVED the character dynamics between Fafnir and Lenora. I loved how *real* Lenora tended to be. It felt believable, there was the perfect amount of change and growth in the two. I loved orrgerex (sp?) becoming an unwitting friend to the couple, and Elat becoming aunty. I loved the homage to how the world treated the aids epidemic and how difficult it is to bring a people together in recognizing, acknowledging, and treating mental health issues not as a disease but as a brokenness that can be healed.
The world setting was beautiful and believable too, if one is already truly acquainted with alien romance novels (ranging from horrible to mind blowingly amazing). It wasn’t too far out there, there weren’t clear moments that didn’t make sense. The author did a wonderful job detailing in just the right amount with enough references that the movie in my mind as I read it was… magical. Ethereal at times. Breathtakingly gorgeous at others. But descriptive and vivid and *there*. I didn’t have to imagine, she painted the perfect picture and it just appeared in my mind.
Even the sex scenes and building the romance felt natural and believable. While they were steamy they weren’t grotesquely so (coming from a real s m u t lover who prides myself on reading the filthiest smut one can consume… I know grotesque and I know GOOD smut, trust, this is the latter). I loved the happy ending before the end of the book and the happier ending epilogue. The way the conflict wasn’t ridiculous and unbelievable but matched the storyline and felt native to it, built around it was also really good. Some books just implant a foreign conflict to the story and it doesn’t work, it leaves you doubting it and you know it was just plot filler. This book does a good job at believable and appropriately scaled conflict. The world isn’t ending and she doesn’t have to save it, but she WILL save *her* world :’) ❤️😮💨
I might go back and re read this within the next 2 months which is a year too soon than I tend to re read, simply because it was THAT good. I truly loved everything about this book and cannot wait for the entire six book series. My god, if she turns this into a ruby dixon situation I will be set for the next 10-20 years. And I would buy and read diligently.
The last thing I’ll say is I haven’t been able to read physical books in a long time because of bad hand surgeries. So o do tend to refer to my ebooks as physical books when distinguishing between audiobook and ebooks. I’ve basically stopped buying real physical copies but genuinely will end up buying the entire set of these because they’re worthy of being my trophy copies. I love, love, LOVED. This book and can’t recommend reading it and hopefully the rest of the books when they’re out, enough.
What a HIT for a first book, Penelope. Thanks for the most beautiful creative writing I’ve read in awhile.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2025
While I am no stranger to the Romantasy genre, I have not read many books in the alien or sci-fi niche of it. I saw it being promoted on a Facebook Reel, and decided to take a chance on this as what I expected to be a quick paced and light smutty read. I was right, I was wrong, and I was very pleasantly surprised.
So I do not know how it stacks up to other Alien Romance or breeding reads, but it had well executed romantasy tropes of forced proximity/contract relationship, dark grumpy MMC and stubborn sunshiney FMC, big scary man is actually a thoughtful sweetie, etc etc.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU! I WAS NOT PREPARED, for a keystone theme in this book to PTSD. More specifically, PTSD that war veterans experience. This is not a trigger warning, if anything it is a heartwarming urge to recommend this book to so many people who don't even read romantic novels.
As a military spouse myself, I have seen and heard of many soldiers dealing with the unsavory experiences that follow them home after deployments. I have also seen the misunderstanding and lack of support given to those and veterans suffering. Mars captured this so acutely- where the community commends their actions for victory, benefits from their bravery, but then ostracizes and condemns their inescapable behavior upon return. The author was able to succintly capture this in the plot, along with how PTSD can also affect the immediate family. I was absolutely impressed by the portrayal of frustration and determination and raw experience of this in the characters and plot.
Yes, there was smutty sex scenes, but there was also guidance for seeking support and the hope for success in treatment. In only a few lines and paragraphs, the distinction between an incurable disease with inescapable symptoms and the struggles of a mental illness with hope through perserverance and love was made. I admired the author for packing in so much meaning in the experience of her father as well, and thought it was beautifully woven into the character's motivations and as a source of empathy for FMC as well as determination to help the MMC.
Sincere respect to the author for being able to incorporate such themes and depth into a fast paced plot.
So I do not know how it stacks up to other Alien Romance or breeding reads, but it had well executed romantasy tropes of forced proximity/contract relationship, dark grumpy MMC and stubborn sunshiney FMC, big scary man is actually a thoughtful sweetie, etc etc.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU! I WAS NOT PREPARED, for a keystone theme in this book to PTSD. More specifically, PTSD that war veterans experience. This is not a trigger warning, if anything it is a heartwarming urge to recommend this book to so many people who don't even read romantic novels.
As a military spouse myself, I have seen and heard of many soldiers dealing with the unsavory experiences that follow them home after deployments. I have also seen the misunderstanding and lack of support given to those and veterans suffering. Mars captured this so acutely- where the community commends their actions for victory, benefits from their bravery, but then ostracizes and condemns their inescapable behavior upon return. The author was able to succintly capture this in the plot, along with how PTSD can also affect the immediate family. I was absolutely impressed by the portrayal of frustration and determination and raw experience of this in the characters and plot.
Yes, there was smutty sex scenes, but there was also guidance for seeking support and the hope for success in treatment. In only a few lines and paragraphs, the distinction between an incurable disease with inescapable symptoms and the struggles of a mental illness with hope through perserverance and love was made. I admired the author for packing in so much meaning in the experience of her father as well, and thought it was beautifully woven into the character's motivations and as a source of empathy for FMC as well as determination to help the MMC.
Sincere respect to the author for being able to incorporate such themes and depth into a fast paced plot.
November 8, 2025
3.75⭐️ I would have given it 4 but there were some editing/typo errors that I couldn't let go.
Overall, it was a fun read! I am going ro give the next one in the series a try. If you are in the mood for a short, sweet, and unserious monster/alien romance, then I'd suggest trying this one out.
some general vibes: interstellar bride program, ice Planet Barbarians, Hercules, Tarzan, brides of kylorr, cambric creek
Things I Liked:
- 🍆🍆
- 🥵
- The mental health representation was done pretty well! I enjoyed the talks about ptsd and panicking.
- the fmc was strong in her own way, without having to do a whole training montage and be "not like other girls".
- the alien society she was set in wasn't terribly misogynistic, had a woman elder
Things I didn't like:
- the plot was a bit thin here and there
- definitely some consistency issues
- a few spelling errors/typos throughout
- seemed like we skipped over most of the pregnancy, which was a big time leap. (11 months!) it felt like weird pacing.
Overall, it was a fun read! I am going ro give the next one in the series a try. If you are in the mood for a short, sweet, and unserious monster/alien romance, then I'd suggest trying this one out.
some general vibes: interstellar bride program, ice Planet Barbarians, Hercules, Tarzan, brides of kylorr, cambric creek
Things I Liked:
- 🍆🍆
- 🥵
- The mental health representation was done pretty well! I enjoyed the talks about ptsd and panicking.
- the fmc was strong in her own way, without having to do a whole training montage and be "not like other girls".
- the alien society she was set in wasn't terribly misogynistic, had a woman elder
Things I didn't like:
- the plot was a bit thin here and there
- definitely some consistency issues
- a few spelling errors/typos throughout
- seemed like we skipped over most of the pregnancy, which was a big time leap. (11 months!) it felt like weird pacing.
May 29, 2025
Received an arc for an honest review✨
I love a good alien x human read & this one was no different. However the emotional journey & the healing that they were both receiving was truly special. Grumpy/sunshine but mixed with a touch them & get the wrath was fantastic. This was a fantastic read & I’m ready to explore the rest of the galaxy with this series!
I love a good alien x human read & this one was no different. However the emotional journey & the healing that they were both receiving was truly special. Grumpy/sunshine but mixed with a touch them & get the wrath was fantastic. This was a fantastic read & I’m ready to explore the rest of the galaxy with this series!
June 7, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and what I thought was going to just be a cute, stock-standard alien/monster romance actually left me pleasantly surprised!
Don't get me wrong, it is very cute, but it doesn't follow the typical 'abused FMC' I've read in so many other books of the same genre. It was addictive! The dystopian/futuristic element, the merge between the two different species and cultures, the healing for the MMC, the little ways he shows he cares early on, and ghad daymn, the spice 🔥
Perfection! I can't wait to read the next installment!
Don't get me wrong, it is very cute, but it doesn't follow the typical 'abused FMC' I've read in so many other books of the same genre. It was addictive! The dystopian/futuristic element, the merge between the two different species and cultures, the healing for the MMC, the little ways he shows he cares early on, and ghad daymn, the spice 🔥
Perfection! I can't wait to read the next installment!
June 14, 2025
Minus a few editorial errors, I loved this book! Its such a cute story with a good amount of spice.
August 27, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
August 31, 2025
Such a fun monster romance read!
September 21, 2025
great alien breeding romance
This is one of the best of this genre I���ve read. Love the characters and the steam. Hot hot hot
This is one of the best of this genre I���ve read. Love the characters and the steam. Hot hot hot
October 9, 2025
Mountain alien ptsd? IPB dupe? The world may never know
May 28, 2025
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Lenora and Fafnir are the cutest couple ever. The grumpy x sunshine beginning slowly morphing into her trying to heal him of his mental health condition had me laughing and crying. This is so much more than a simple alien x human love story. I really hope this becomes a series because I need so much more of this world.
Lenora and Fafnir are the cutest couple ever. The grumpy x sunshine beginning slowly morphing into her trying to heal him of his mental health condition had me laughing and crying. This is so much more than a simple alien x human love story. I really hope this becomes a series because I need so much more of this world.
June 25, 2025
Overhyped & underwhelming.
It’s pretty typical of a book to be a flop when there is evidence that it’s not been proofed or edited and this is no exception.
There’s an insane amount of literacy errors in the writing of this book, you’re confronted with the first one from 1% in on the Pronunciation Guide.
The story itself had potential but ended up being a frustrating and inconsistent blend of bland characters and poor storytelling.
I thought it was the writing style but upon reflection, it wasn’t. There were characters written in that disappeared, characters that held no weight or purpose, scenes that didn’t have anything of value, most interactions between the MCs were insubstantial and they barely had any meaningful dialogue.
The steamy scenes were ‘meh’ at best.
The only thing I enjoyed reading was the scenes with the ‘Lion Lizard’ and there were not nearly enough scenes for this book to garner any more than a 1 star from me 🤣
It’s pretty typical of a book to be a flop when there is evidence that it’s not been proofed or edited and this is no exception.
There’s an insane amount of literacy errors in the writing of this book, you’re confronted with the first one from 1% in on the Pronunciation Guide.
The story itself had potential but ended up being a frustrating and inconsistent blend of bland characters and poor storytelling.
I thought it was the writing style but upon reflection, it wasn’t. There were characters written in that disappeared, characters that held no weight or purpose, scenes that didn’t have anything of value, most interactions between the MCs were insubstantial and they barely had any meaningful dialogue.
The steamy scenes were ‘meh’ at best.
The only thing I enjoyed reading was the scenes with the ‘Lion Lizard’ and there were not nearly enough scenes for this book to garner any more than a 1 star from me 🤣
June 10, 2025
Apparently I'm the outlier here but I ended up DNFing around 60%.
Maybe it's just me, but while I found the premise interesting, the story kind of bored me. Leonora is supposed to be sassy and independent but she's just boring and bland and a bit whiny IMO. Fafnir is supposed to be this super alpha alien berserker but he's kind of bland too? I thought the alien mounts were probably the coolest thing but aside from that and the decent smut there wasn't anything noteworthy to keep me reading. Also, it feels super insta love for a couple that hasn't bonded, has nothing in common and barely talks
Maybe it's just me, but while I found the premise interesting, the story kind of bored me. Leonora is supposed to be sassy and independent but she's just boring and bland and a bit whiny IMO. Fafnir is supposed to be this super alpha alien berserker but he's kind of bland too? I thought the alien mounts were probably the coolest thing but aside from that and the decent smut there wasn't anything noteworthy to keep me reading. Also, it feels super insta love for a couple that hasn't bonded, has nothing in common and barely talks
August 1, 2025
Beyond 5-stars for this sweet, spicy, and surprisingly suspenseful alien romance! From its fast pacing, to its rich, immersive world full of just as complex characters, this book has all the makings of a genre favourite. Add in a generous sprinkle of action and just a dash of angst and this book easily lands with the best of them in the alien fated mates category. For those that need them, trigger warnings are included at the end of this review.
With little options for her kind amongst the stars, a very human Lenora decides becoming an alien surrogate is better than watching her family suffer in poverty any longer. What she doesn’t expect, however, is a giant, surprisingly gentle male whose need for a legacy battles with the incurable madness plaguing his people. Becoming fond of the other isn’t part of their contract though, and with the very real possibility of Fafnir losing himself before their time is up, they need to decide if being together is worth the hard work and struggle, or if that effort will be the very thing that pushes them to their end.
This book is duel POV, character-driven, and oh-so-spicy. Its bloody action scenes are as important as its quiet, comforting moments, creating a story that feels fully-rounded and complex. To say I loved and enjoyed reading it is the biggest understatement in the universe.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Minor spoilers ahead.
This book includes: blood and gore ranging from the mention of preparing animals for a feast to in-depth battle scenes including dismemberment (on page), a lowkey predatory breeding agency that offers compensation to poverty-stricken people, even if it doesn’t treat those people badly (on page), not being able to afford life-saving medical care (off page), a scene where a pet harms a small animal (it survives; on page), in-depth discussions of a family member committing suicide and another finding them (off page), in-depth discussions of PTSD (on page), discussions of a family member having Alzheimer’s (off page), death of a parent (off page), tearing and pain during spicy scenes (all consensual; on page), pregnancy and its symptoms including morning sickness (on page), childbirth (on page), and very possessive characters (on page).
With little options for her kind amongst the stars, a very human Lenora decides becoming an alien surrogate is better than watching her family suffer in poverty any longer. What she doesn’t expect, however, is a giant, surprisingly gentle male whose need for a legacy battles with the incurable madness plaguing his people. Becoming fond of the other isn’t part of their contract though, and with the very real possibility of Fafnir losing himself before their time is up, they need to decide if being together is worth the hard work and struggle, or if that effort will be the very thing that pushes them to their end.
This book is duel POV, character-driven, and oh-so-spicy. Its bloody action scenes are as important as its quiet, comforting moments, creating a story that feels fully-rounded and complex. To say I loved and enjoyed reading it is the biggest understatement in the universe.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Minor spoilers ahead.
This book includes: blood and gore ranging from the mention of preparing animals for a feast to in-depth battle scenes including dismemberment (on page), a lowkey predatory breeding agency that offers compensation to poverty-stricken people, even if it doesn’t treat those people badly (on page), not being able to afford life-saving medical care (off page), a scene where a pet harms a small animal (it survives; on page), in-depth discussions of a family member committing suicide and another finding them (off page), in-depth discussions of PTSD (on page), discussions of a family member having Alzheimer’s (off page), death of a parent (off page), tearing and pain during spicy scenes (all consensual; on page), pregnancy and its symptoms including morning sickness (on page), childbirth (on page), and very possessive characters (on page).
November 2, 2025
I totally dig the cover, and am 100% the audience for this one! I got this copy for free in the Monster SYK a few days ago, and I love overdone breeding agency romances like these. Unfortunately, it is the writing that fell through for me.
I thought I was in the minority, not liking the way it was written, but as I read more reviews, the more mistakes I spotted when I went back to read it. By 70%, I realized it was just getting worse and going nowhere.
The world-building is wishy-washy. MMC doesn't know what a noodle is, but he knows what nirvana is kinda wishy-washy. Strange words used, and sometimes misused completely. I can't spend the entire day listing it all down.
The FMC changes names from time to time. From Lorena to Lenora. There is also a 4-page expo-dump about the MMC's struggles with alien madness and the characters overall are just very surface-level. Their motivations are strange, and FMC just picks fights out of the blue. I tried to power through but ultimately failed.
I'm not sure if this is the author's first language or not, but surely if someone self-publishes, it would be looked over more thoroughly to avoid these kinds of very avoidable mistakes like...forgetting the FMC's name or using appropriate words.
Wishing the author well on her next books.
I thought I was in the minority, not liking the way it was written, but as I read more reviews, the more mistakes I spotted when I went back to read it. By 70%, I realized it was just getting worse and going nowhere.
The world-building is wishy-washy. MMC doesn't know what a noodle is, but he knows what nirvana is kinda wishy-washy. Strange words used, and sometimes misused completely. I can't spend the entire day listing it all down.
The FMC changes names from time to time. From Lorena to Lenora. There is also a 4-page expo-dump about the MMC's struggles with alien madness and the characters overall are just very surface-level. Their motivations are strange, and FMC just picks fights out of the blue. I tried to power through but ultimately failed.
I'm not sure if this is the author's first language or not, but surely if someone self-publishes, it would be looked over more thoroughly to avoid these kinds of very avoidable mistakes like...forgetting the FMC's name or using appropriate words.
Wishing the author well on her next books.
July 10, 2025
Total Rating: 3.5⭐️
Heat Rating: 2.5/5 *
Spice Rating: 2/5 **
Romance Rating: 3.75/5
Review Summary
This was a cute read. The main couple are interesting and their romance is sweat, I would say it’s closer to insta love than a developed romance. The sci-fi element isn’t bad but it’s in the background, definitely not the focus of the story. There’s a bit of conflict but mostly things resolve themselves easily. Also, I have no idea why this is marketed as a dark gritty take on the genre. I guess some of it is vaguely dark, but I wouldn’t even categorize this as grey romance.
I would say the biggest drawback of this book is the writing. Some of the phrasing of certain sentences is weird, and hard to follow. There are a bunch of spelling mistakes including some characters having the wrong name written in for them. Also, one of my pet peeves is when we move quickly between spaces without adequate description. For example, in the beginning Lenora goes from her planet to space and we don’t see any of it, so the lack of transition is jarring and makes it hard to place ourselves in the story.
Tropes
- Alien romance
- Arranged marriage
- Pregnancy
~~~
*Amount of smut
**Content of smut / dirtiness
Heat Rating: 2.5/5 *
Spice Rating: 2/5 **
Romance Rating: 3.75/5
Review Summary
This was a cute read. The main couple are interesting and their romance is sweat, I would say it’s closer to insta love than a developed romance. The sci-fi element isn’t bad but it’s in the background, definitely not the focus of the story. There’s a bit of conflict but mostly things resolve themselves easily. Also, I have no idea why this is marketed as a dark gritty take on the genre. I guess some of it is vaguely dark, but I wouldn’t even categorize this as grey romance.
I would say the biggest drawback of this book is the writing. Some of the phrasing of certain sentences is weird, and hard to follow. There are a bunch of spelling mistakes including some characters having the wrong name written in for them. Also, one of my pet peeves is when we move quickly between spaces without adequate description. For example, in the beginning Lenora goes from her planet to space and we don’t see any of it, so the lack of transition is jarring and makes it hard to place ourselves in the story.
Tropes
- Alien romance
- Arranged marriage
- Pregnancy
~~~
*Amount of smut
**Content of smut / dirtiness
August 21, 2025
sexy, funny, definitely a must read!
Bred by Fafnir completely surprised me in the best way. From the start, I was drawn in by both the main and secondary characters, who felt lively and distinct, and the pacing of the plot kept me turning pages without ever dragging. The sex scenes were not only steamy but also delightfully playful, with the classic “he’s too big, it’ll never fit” trope executed perfectly.
But what truly set this book apart for me was something far deeper: its handling of PTSD. As the spouse of a combat veteran, as well as many friends who also struggle with PTSD, this subject is very close to my heart. Too often, it’s glossed over or mishandled in fiction. Here, Penelope Mars treated it with honesty, compassion, and respect. The stigma, the shame, and the misunderstandings surrounding it were not ignored, but instead explored in a way that felt authentic and impactful.
I haven’t been this affected by a story in years — especially one I hadn’t expected to strike such a personal chord. Yes, I loved the characters, the story, and the heat, but it’s the thoughtful representation of trauma and healing that will stay with me. For that, I’ve become a lifelong supporter of this author.
Bred by Fafnir completely surprised me in the best way. From the start, I was drawn in by both the main and secondary characters, who felt lively and distinct, and the pacing of the plot kept me turning pages without ever dragging. The sex scenes were not only steamy but also delightfully playful, with the classic “he’s too big, it’ll never fit” trope executed perfectly.
But what truly set this book apart for me was something far deeper: its handling of PTSD. As the spouse of a combat veteran, as well as many friends who also struggle with PTSD, this subject is very close to my heart. Too often, it’s glossed over or mishandled in fiction. Here, Penelope Mars treated it with honesty, compassion, and respect. The stigma, the shame, and the misunderstandings surrounding it were not ignored, but instead explored in a way that felt authentic and impactful.
I haven’t been this affected by a story in years — especially one I hadn’t expected to strike such a personal chord. Yes, I loved the characters, the story, and the heat, but it’s the thoughtful representation of trauma and healing that will stay with me. For that, I’ve become a lifelong supporter of this author.
December 13, 2025
A fun, quick monster/alien romance with a sci-fi setting.
Our heroine finds herself needing cash to help her family. An alien breeding agency provides the perfect solution, and she only has to endure living with an alien stranger for a year before she can be reunited with her family. Of course, when she meets Fafnir, her partnered alien, more than just sexual chemistry begins to develop between the two... even though Fafnir is haunted by a dark past and bleak future.
What I loved: This book delivers on what it promises. If you go into this after looking at the cover and title expecting anything besides smutty alien romance with a dash of breeding kink... well that's on you. Its one of my favorite genres!
Why only four stars: This book could have used one more round of copy/line edits. I don't like to harp on that stuff, but it was consistent enough to be distracting.
Comp Titles: All I wanted was sushi and I got abducted by aliens instead; Spider's Mate Trilogy
Who would like this book: Alien romance fans, especially if you are looking for a quick, low-stakes read.
Our heroine finds herself needing cash to help her family. An alien breeding agency provides the perfect solution, and she only has to endure living with an alien stranger for a year before she can be reunited with her family. Of course, when she meets Fafnir, her partnered alien, more than just sexual chemistry begins to develop between the two... even though Fafnir is haunted by a dark past and bleak future.
What I loved: This book delivers on what it promises. If you go into this after looking at the cover and title expecting anything besides smutty alien romance with a dash of breeding kink... well that's on you. Its one of my favorite genres!
Why only four stars: This book could have used one more round of copy/line edits. I don't like to harp on that stuff, but it was consistent enough to be distracting.
Comp Titles: All I wanted was sushi and I got abducted by aliens instead; Spider's Mate Trilogy
Who would like this book: Alien romance fans, especially if you are looking for a quick, low-stakes read.
May 31, 2025
This book had all the makings of the standard "human marries alien out of desperation, they fall in love, happily ever after" trope.
But it went so much further.
Yes, there is a desperate human female who has to essentially sell herself to a rich alien for the money to keep her family alive. But the depth of the characters was so much more than I expected!
Fafnir's ongoing battles with PTSD, which is mistaken for madness in his culture and leads to being outcast and killed. Lenora's desire to help him, and his entire race, to understand the nature and possible treatments for the disorder is heartwarming, and her passion to save her family is endearing. Fafnir's protectiveness isn't overbearing, and his struggle to overcome what he sees as being broken is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.
Overall, very well done. I admire the care taken with the introduction of the mental health issues. I can't wait to read the next installment!
I received an advance copy, but this is an honest review!
But it went so much further.
Yes, there is a desperate human female who has to essentially sell herself to a rich alien for the money to keep her family alive. But the depth of the characters was so much more than I expected!
Fafnir's ongoing battles with PTSD, which is mistaken for madness in his culture and leads to being outcast and killed. Lenora's desire to help him, and his entire race, to understand the nature and possible treatments for the disorder is heartwarming, and her passion to save her family is endearing. Fafnir's protectiveness isn't overbearing, and his struggle to overcome what he sees as being broken is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.
Overall, very well done. I admire the care taken with the introduction of the mental health issues. I can't wait to read the next installment!
I received an advance copy, but this is an honest review!
June 20, 2025
ARC COPY RECIEVED
I will come back and edit this to add more because my review had an error the first time so it’s gone!!
I would like to start this review off with just saying wow!! just wow. I usually read monster romance to laugh and giggle at the idea. Though this time I found myself actually enjoying this book for another reason. I feel that this book is a major improvement in the monster romance genre. One of the big gripes. I had with other monster romance books were that they made the female lead, extremely weak and pathetic. As well as making a lot of the situations they’re in basically rape. This book doesn’t do that. This book made the monster and the female leads romance mutual.
I also very much enjoyed the subplot(?) where the MC points out some misguided ideas about conditions the monsters suffered through and helped correct them. It added much more to the story than just smut!!
All in all, I found myself pleasantly surprised with this ARC I received. It’s a worthy fun read and i’m excited to read the rest of the series!
I will come back and edit this to add more because my review had an error the first time so it’s gone!!
I would like to start this review off with just saying wow!! just wow. I usually read monster romance to laugh and giggle at the idea. Though this time I found myself actually enjoying this book for another reason. I feel that this book is a major improvement in the monster romance genre. One of the big gripes. I had with other monster romance books were that they made the female lead, extremely weak and pathetic. As well as making a lot of the situations they’re in basically rape. This book doesn’t do that. This book made the monster and the female leads romance mutual.
I also very much enjoyed the subplot(?) where the MC points out some misguided ideas about conditions the monsters suffered through and helped correct them. It added much more to the story than just smut!!
All in all, I found myself pleasantly surprised with this ARC I received. It’s a worthy fun read and i’m excited to read the rest of the series!
May 29, 2025
I absolutely loved this story. Fafnir is the kind of male I would totally love to have. He is big and unsure and thinks he cannot have a future because of the madness that affects his people. But he wants a child anyways so he goes and gets one with a breeding partner. He is a wounded soldier that just wants the end to be joyful. It breaks my heart just reading how he is ready to grab one thing for himself but know he will wander after he gets it.
That is until he gets his mate Lenora. She is willing to be a breeder to give her mom and sisters a chance. She will help them and live with what being a breeder. But hey she gets a shock when she meets Fafnir then she gets a life. The laughs and the cries are ones you join in. I got a few shocks and some fighting moments with the characters. I wanted to slap a few and hug a bunch.
I wanted more of this series. So much more. This was my first time with this author and I don’t regret a single moment.
That is until he gets his mate Lenora. She is willing to be a breeder to give her mom and sisters a chance. She will help them and live with what being a breeder. But hey she gets a shock when she meets Fafnir then she gets a life. The laughs and the cries are ones you join in. I got a few shocks and some fighting moments with the characters. I wanted to slap a few and hug a bunch.
I wanted more of this series. So much more. This was my first time with this author and I don’t regret a single moment.
June 16, 2025
I've been solidly in my "Monster Smut" Era since reading the Duskwalker Series. I had read a handful of contemporaries in a row, so it was time to get back to the weird!
Bred by Fafnir is book 1 in what is supposed to be a 6 part series. *So far, there is only this book*.
Set in some dystopia future where humans are useless for everything except cheap labor and wildly enough, their wombs. Apparently, humans are universal incubators, capable of conception from any alien species. Of course surrogacy comes at a cost and cooking an alien "bun in the oven" is the ticket out of poverty. Lenora snags the opportunity as her families meal ticket and is quickly assigned to Fafnir, giant Half horse *ahem EVERYWHERE* alien.
If you love "too much of a good thing" Fafnir is your guy! Double the schlong, double the fun. And possibly a prolapse.
All in all, it was a cute story. Good spice. Biggest complaint was the poor editing. You know its bad if I can find the typos.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶.5
Bred by Fafnir is book 1 in what is supposed to be a 6 part series. *So far, there is only this book*.
Set in some dystopia future where humans are useless for everything except cheap labor and wildly enough, their wombs. Apparently, humans are universal incubators, capable of conception from any alien species. Of course surrogacy comes at a cost and cooking an alien "bun in the oven" is the ticket out of poverty. Lenora snags the opportunity as her families meal ticket and is quickly assigned to Fafnir, giant Half horse *ahem EVERYWHERE* alien.
If you love "too much of a good thing" Fafnir is your guy! Double the schlong, double the fun. And possibly a prolapse.
All in all, it was a cute story. Good spice. Biggest complaint was the poor editing. You know its bad if I can find the typos.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶.5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2025
First time ARC reader here!!
Set in a time where humanity is no longer the superior population, Lenora's family is struggling to survive. To provide for her family, she signs up to be a breeder for the Solar Breeding Agency where she gets hand-picked by Fafnir.
This was one of my first ever paranormal romances, so I wasn't super sure what to expect. I will say that this book surpassed what I thought it would be. There was a little bit of a grumpy/sunshine element between Fafnir and Lenora, which I loved.
Although I love me a good little pure smut read, my favorite thing about this book was that the plot had a little more substance to it. Lenora was still processing some of her own trauma and was able to help Faf start his healing journey as well.
Overall, I am super happy with this book, and I can't wait to watch the series continue to grow.
Set in a time where humanity is no longer the superior population, Lenora's family is struggling to survive. To provide for her family, she signs up to be a breeder for the Solar Breeding Agency where she gets hand-picked by Fafnir.
This was one of my first ever paranormal romances, so I wasn't super sure what to expect. I will say that this book surpassed what I thought it would be. There was a little bit of a grumpy/sunshine element between Fafnir and Lenora, which I loved.
Although I love me a good little pure smut read, my favorite thing about this book was that the plot had a little more substance to it. Lenora was still processing some of her own trauma and was able to help Faf start his healing journey as well.
Overall, I am super happy with this book, and I can't wait to watch the series continue to grow.
June 6, 2025
Beautiful gritty love story with a strong FMC and compassionate MMC! The first half of this book had me swooning! Grace Goodwin's 'Interstellar Brides Program' meets Ruby Dixon's 'Ice Planet Barbarians'. About 2/3 into the book the plot gets thick. It leaves the comfy cozy romance side and goes deep into your heart strings, making it the perfect fit for plot and spice based readers creating a good blend of the two. The animal companion relationship is perfection. ❤️ The comedic moments have perfect timing making the story even more relatable. I highly recommend this story. Fafnir is swoon worthy fighter and Lenora is a natural firstborn daughter, they were always meant to be. ✨️ I did receive an ARC copy of this story, but whole heartedly believe if you love the aforementioned authors you will enjoy this new series as well!
June 6, 2025
I loved this new spicy alien romance!!!
I adored “Bred by Fafnir” by Penelope Mars. In one sitting, I devoured this first book in ‘The Solar Breeding Agency’ series. Mars embraced all my favorite tropes: an over-the-top jealous and possessive MMC, representations of PTSD and mental health, size differences, an alien MMC with horns, hooves, and a tail, fated mates, a fascinating chimera familiar, and a resilient FMC who risked her safety for her soulmate, along with humorous and thoughtful cultural exchanges. Mars crafts a rich universe, intricate plot, and well-developed characters, infused with ample spice and angst! I'm eagerly anticipating the subsequent books, particularly Melody's story! I appreciated how pregnancy was woven into the plot rather than merely included in the epilogue. I always relish the "Mars needs women" trope, and this book executed it splendidly! I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys steamy alien romances!
I adored “Bred by Fafnir” by Penelope Mars. In one sitting, I devoured this first book in ‘The Solar Breeding Agency’ series. Mars embraced all my favorite tropes: an over-the-top jealous and possessive MMC, representations of PTSD and mental health, size differences, an alien MMC with horns, hooves, and a tail, fated mates, a fascinating chimera familiar, and a resilient FMC who risked her safety for her soulmate, along with humorous and thoughtful cultural exchanges. Mars crafts a rich universe, intricate plot, and well-developed characters, infused with ample spice and angst! I'm eagerly anticipating the subsequent books, particularly Melody's story! I appreciated how pregnancy was woven into the plot rather than merely included in the epilogue. I always relish the "Mars needs women" trope, and this book executed it splendidly! I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys steamy alien romances!
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