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Beast in the Badlands
She dragged my half-dead body from the wreckage.
Should’ve left me there.
That’s what everyone says about Reapers—we’re feral, brutal, irredeemable.
But Emry didn’t flinch. Not when I growled. Not when I bled. Not even when I told her she was mine.
Now I’m healing in her ruins. Watching her patch up dying men while her own hands shake. Listening to her curse me out one minute and cry in the dark the next.
And the worst part?
I want her anyway.
I want to bury myself in her and burn the whole galaxy down around us. I want her off this dead rock and on my ship, snarling and claimed, marked so deep the stars remember it.
But she won’t leave. Not without a fight. Not without the civilians she still believes she can save.
Too bad.
I didn’t survive crashlanding in hell just to lose her to it.
She says I don’t own her. That she's not mine to keep.
She’s wrong.
And she’s going to enjoy how I correct her.
Read on for grumpy alien heat, stubborn human medics, battlefield obsession, and a war-torn protector who'd rather die than let her go. HEA Guaranteed!
Should’ve left me there.
That’s what everyone says about Reapers—we’re feral, brutal, irredeemable.
But Emry didn’t flinch. Not when I growled. Not when I bled. Not even when I told her she was mine.
Now I’m healing in her ruins. Watching her patch up dying men while her own hands shake. Listening to her curse me out one minute and cry in the dark the next.
And the worst part?
I want her anyway.
I want to bury myself in her and burn the whole galaxy down around us. I want her off this dead rock and on my ship, snarling and claimed, marked so deep the stars remember it.
But she won’t leave. Not without a fight. Not without the civilians she still believes she can save.
Too bad.
I didn’t survive crashlanding in hell just to lose her to it.
She says I don’t own her. That she's not mine to keep.
She’s wrong.
And she’s going to enjoy how I correct her.
Read on for grumpy alien heat, stubborn human medics, battlefield obsession, and a war-torn protector who'd rather die than let her go. HEA Guaranteed!
- GenresScience Fiction
170 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 14, 2025
210 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Athena Storm
185 books237 followersAthena Storm is the pen name for two authors who fell in love with writing science fiction romance as they fell in love with each other.
She's the Athena. And he's the Storm. Athena hopes that one day it won't be a boyfriend/girlfriend writing duo, but a husband/wife team. But she's not pressuring at all. Not one bit.
Science fiction is the biggest love for the writing duo, and they've been doing the writing for quite some time now, building a universe that readers can get lost and explore in. Filled with big bad alien warriors, sassy human women who give as well as they get, hilarious situations, and enough steam to melt stars!
The duo have created the Athenaverse, where all books in all series are tied together. You can start anywhere but once you do, you'll want to explore them all!
When they get married, they plan to continue writing science fiction romance forever. But again, no pressure on the marrying part. Not at all. (Not like writing Happily Ever After ALL Day won't give you any ideas on its own, right?)
She's the Athena. And he's the Storm. Athena hopes that one day it won't be a boyfriend/girlfriend writing duo, but a husband/wife team. But she's not pressuring at all. Not one bit.
Science fiction is the biggest love for the writing duo, and they've been doing the writing for quite some time now, building a universe that readers can get lost and explore in. Filled with big bad alien warriors, sassy human women who give as well as they get, hilarious situations, and enough steam to melt stars!
The duo have created the Athenaverse, where all books in all series are tied together. You can start anywhere but once you do, you'll want to explore them all!
When they get married, they plan to continue writing science fiction romance forever. But again, no pressure on the marrying part. Not at all. (Not like writing Happily Ever After ALL Day won't give you any ideas on its own, right?)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 22, 2025
Liked the couple a lot
I enjoyed the characters, and the story was interesting.
The prose were overwritten in some places--repeated similes along the lines of "cutting through like a knife," too many uses of feelings as nouns (the place smelled of antiseptic and desperation). However, there were some instances of writing I really liked too.
In some places, the Kindle formatting switches from line breaks between paragraphs to full breaks, which makes it look like each paragraph is happening in a time sometime later than the last. It never lasts terribly wrong but it was distracting.
But omg, the chemistry between Renn and Emery was so fun!
I enjoyed the characters, and the story was interesting.
The prose were overwritten in some places--repeated similes along the lines of "cutting through like a knife," too many uses of feelings as nouns (the place smelled of antiseptic and desperation). However, there were some instances of writing I really liked too.
In some places, the Kindle formatting switches from line breaks between paragraphs to full breaks, which makes it look like each paragraph is happening in a time sometime later than the last. It never lasts terribly wrong but it was distracting.
But omg, the chemistry between Renn and Emery was so fun!
October 29, 2025
It was just kind of boring and I didn’t believe the connection between the two leads. The romance moved too quickly while the storyline moved too slowly. Overall pacing just felt really off the entire time.
Loved the concept, but disappointed in the execution.
Loved the concept, but disappointed in the execution.
August 14, 2025
loved it. well written, richly detailed, exciting, dangerous, violence of war was well described as well as what the survivors and medics were going thru running out of supplies hope with no rescue in sight. emry is a stubborn human medic trying to keep the last of the planets survivors alive while the planet is ravaged by war. renn a reaper crashes and is badly injured but emry rescues him and treats his injuries. while she goes back and forth from med tent to hidden outpost treating renn, feelings develop and renn starts to realize she is his mate. but time is running out for everyone. renn cant get ahold of his crew for rescue and the factions at war are closing in ready to kill every last civilian alive. emry fights to keep everyone alive and refuses to leave anyone behind.
i loved renn's character. he is a tough warrior reaper yet once he realizes shes his mate he becomes more tender, softer and vulnerable something that was hidden all along until he met the mate fated for him. feelings he never thought he'd feel or experience change him fundamentally and while he continued to be the strong alpha blood thirsty warrior he always was ready and willing to protect emry at all costs, I loved that he found his more loving nature with emry.
emry was stubborn to the point of dumb at some points though refusing to give up when there was literally no hope of survival. instead of demanding to stay and keep patching up survivors until everyone was dead in a no win situation, she should have been working to find a way to get everyone off world. she really was blinded by her own fears and attachment to the planet to reality. luckily there's a happy ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
i loved renn's character. he is a tough warrior reaper yet once he realizes shes his mate he becomes more tender, softer and vulnerable something that was hidden all along until he met the mate fated for him. feelings he never thought he'd feel or experience change him fundamentally and while he continued to be the strong alpha blood thirsty warrior he always was ready and willing to protect emry at all costs, I loved that he found his more loving nature with emry.
emry was stubborn to the point of dumb at some points though refusing to give up when there was literally no hope of survival. instead of demanding to stay and keep patching up survivors until everyone was dead in a no win situation, she should have been working to find a way to get everyone off world. she really was blinded by her own fears and attachment to the planet to reality. luckily there's a happy ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 25, 2025
'Why is she here? Why am I alive? I should be dead— crushed under metal or lost in the void.
But instead, I’m staring at her, and that scent wraps around me like a memory just out of reach— something I've been chasing across countless stars, through battles and despair.
I’ve faced enemies that wanted to tear me apart, yet none have ever left me feeling this way— vulnerable, exposed.
Something shifts inside me— a flicker of warmth against all that coldness etched into my soul from years of violence and loss.
She’s mine.'
I loved this book. Great world building and wonderful characters. I loved both Emry and Renn. She was such a strong heroine; smart, skilled, brave, and able to hold her own. She recognized Renn as a reaper, and knew she should kill him before he woke up and killed her and anyone else. Yet she decided to help him and tend to his wounds instead. He recognized a pull to her immediately. Something he barely recognized, but couldn't deny.
This story was a fast-paced adventure. The story had suspense, danger, and action and I was hooked. I loved the dynamic between them and the way their relationship developed. A very fun read. 5 stars
But instead, I’m staring at her, and that scent wraps around me like a memory just out of reach— something I've been chasing across countless stars, through battles and despair.
I’ve faced enemies that wanted to tear me apart, yet none have ever left me feeling this way— vulnerable, exposed.
Something shifts inside me— a flicker of warmth against all that coldness etched into my soul from years of violence and loss.
She’s mine.'
I loved this book. Great world building and wonderful characters. I loved both Emry and Renn. She was such a strong heroine; smart, skilled, brave, and able to hold her own. She recognized Renn as a reaper, and knew she should kill him before he woke up and killed her and anyone else. Yet she decided to help him and tend to his wounds instead. He recognized a pull to her immediately. Something he barely recognized, but couldn't deny.
This story was a fast-paced adventure. The story had suspense, danger, and action and I was hooked. I loved the dynamic between them and the way their relationship developed. A very fun read. 5 stars
October 26, 2025
An intense read!
Athena uses exceptional imagery throughout this gritty sci-fi suspense. Her use of similes was unlike anything I've read before, and it was really cool and well done.
I liked Emry; she was stubborn and defiant but with softness, eventually.
Renn was also stubborn with eventual softness, and their love for each other held a somewhat combative edge to it, but they both seem to like it that way.
If I had to nitpick, the word "chaos" was used waaaaaayyyyy too much (used 86 times in the story, sometimes appearing in every other paragraph). It was enough for me to definitely notice but not enough to make me stop reading the story.
While the book was a standalone, I was introduced to other characters who have/will have their own stories and I'm very interested in reading them!
Athena uses exceptional imagery throughout this gritty sci-fi suspense. Her use of similes was unlike anything I've read before, and it was really cool and well done.
I liked Emry; she was stubborn and defiant but with softness, eventually.
Renn was also stubborn with eventual softness, and their love for each other held a somewhat combative edge to it, but they both seem to like it that way.
If I had to nitpick, the word "chaos" was used waaaaaayyyyy too much (used 86 times in the story, sometimes appearing in every other paragraph). It was enough for me to definitely notice but not enough to make me stop reading the story.
While the book was a standalone, I was introduced to other characters who have/will have their own stories and I'm very interested in reading them!
August 10, 2025
Nothing like having a crash landing and thinking your going to die and wake up to having been helped by your mate. Renn never thought he would ever find his mate he is a Reaper everyone avoids Reapers. Emry has been stuck on this planet in a middle of a war and trying to help all the wounded she can. Its a non stop mission and when she sees a ship crash land she can't help but go and see if she can help whoever may potentially be hurt. She never expected to be helping a Reaper. Emry never thought she would find herself attracted to a Reaper they are the most feared beings, and now one has crash-landed into her lap. This is full of non-stop action and it kept you guessing if they would be able to get out of that situation or even survive.
August 13, 2025
The power of staying.
This unexpected “meeting” of Renn and Emry was fortuitous. With all the stories about reapers and the coalition war, it was quite refreshing to see another side of both situations. Surviving on an abandoned war torn planet was the perfect setting. Watching impulsive and hot headed Renn figure out what is going on and what to do next revealed more depth to his character. I liked Emry as well-gritty, committed and truly wanting to help everyone set her up as a perfect counterpart to Renn. A satisfying read showing how vulnerability and compassion can be the spark to a greater connection.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This unexpected “meeting” of Renn and Emry was fortuitous. With all the stories about reapers and the coalition war, it was quite refreshing to see another side of both situations. Surviving on an abandoned war torn planet was the perfect setting. Watching impulsive and hot headed Renn figure out what is going on and what to do next revealed more depth to his character. I liked Emry as well-gritty, committed and truly wanting to help everyone set her up as a perfect counterpart to Renn. A satisfying read showing how vulnerability and compassion can be the spark to a greater connection.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 15, 2025
4 1/2 stars - good reaper fated mate romance story I'd read. Loved our characters Renn our reaper and Emry our human medic. Both are fighting to survive their hostile world. One-minute Renn is flying through an asteroid belt to plant a beacon, and next is a flashing light and his ship loses control. Plummeting down to the planet Renn crash lands and Emry finds him among the wreckage among the fighting sides. She drags him to an abandoned building to tend to him. What occurs afterward was an engaging story as the fated mate bond forms. There's action, drama, snippy comeback remarks, and romance in this copy I'd received and volunteer to read and review.
September 6, 2025
He is a reaper and she doesn't understand what that means. She knows that she found him injured and willing and determined to safe him and everyone else she encounters. She also doesn't want to leave the planet she volunteered to stay on. Her trauma alone makes you want to cheer for her determination and yet make her understand that sometimes letting go is needed. He is realizing at the most in opportune to find that she is his mate. There is so much chaos and mahem that those left behind are not all meant to continue. World changing, very descriptive adventure these two had. Loved it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 12, 2025
“Beast in the Badlands” by Athena Storm and Cara Stone
-A thrilling tale of two unlikely souls finding love when death is only a heartbeat away. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.
A crash landing in a war zone throws Emry, a determined human medic, into the path of Renn, a feared but magnetic Reaper. Their chemistry ignites amid danger, gunfire, and constant threats to their survival.
Packed with action, emotion, and sizzling heat, this romance blends battle grit with tender connection.
-A thrilling tale of two unlikely souls finding love when death is only a heartbeat away. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.
A crash landing in a war zone throws Emry, a determined human medic, into the path of Renn, a feared but magnetic Reaper. Their chemistry ignites amid danger, gunfire, and constant threats to their survival.
Packed with action, emotion, and sizzling heat, this romance blends battle grit with tender connection.
September 24, 2025
A new found respect for Renn and Emry
I enjoyed the love story between Renn and Emry. Renn is a Reaper and somehow is pulled to crash on this planet under warring forces. Emry is a human female medic who wants to save everyone that she can. Times are changing and getting worse on the planet. The Red Maw group is growing stronger and wanting to kill more. It felt short to me but I did feel the growing attraction between Renn and Emry from the beginning. There is a happy ending. Read On!
I enjoyed the love story between Renn and Emry. Renn is a Reaper and somehow is pulled to crash on this planet under warring forces. Emry is a human female medic who wants to save everyone that she can. Times are changing and getting worse on the planet. The Red Maw group is growing stronger and wanting to kill more. It felt short to me but I did feel the growing attraction between Renn and Emry from the beginning. There is a happy ending. Read On!
August 21, 2025
He Stayed
I have a,ways found the Reapers to be a fascinating race. In spite of their rather brutal history they also have a peculiar softness when they meet their mates. It takes a special kind of woman to love one and Emry was definitely the woman for Renn. Both were fiercely loyal, stubborn and a tad bit touched in the head, some would say reckless. Theirs was a clash of cultures and wills. I loved it.
I have a,ways found the Reapers to be a fascinating race. In spite of their rather brutal history they also have a peculiar softness when they meet their mates. It takes a special kind of woman to love one and Emry was definitely the woman for Renn. Both were fiercely loyal, stubborn and a tad bit touched in the head, some would say reckless. Theirs was a clash of cultures and wills. I loved it.
August 14, 2025
Thoroughly enjoying these shorts from Athena, and such enjoyable characters. Emry and Renn, with Emry pulling Renn from wreckage and then nursing him back to health. Renn isn't sure why, but he's determined to make her his.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 12, 2025
I enjoyed this book. Renn and Emry made an intriguing couple. Their unexpected attraction is a surprise neither expected but is undeniable none the less. Action, drama, emotion, tension, heat and intensity are skillfully combined into an easy to read romance that gets your pulse racing.
August 13, 2025
The authors have given us a heart pounding story that pulls us into the lives of Renn and Emry. The action filled story keeps us turning the pages with connection, denial, determination and steam.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 1, 2025
GOOD BOOK!
I liked Renn and Emry; they made a good couple. I rated the book 4 stars because there were more war battles than there was focus on Renn and Emry’s story. At times, I found it difficult to keep up with the battles and understand how they connected to Renn’s mission.
I liked Renn and Emry; they made a good couple. I rated the book 4 stars because there were more war battles than there was focus on Renn and Emry’s story. At times, I found it difficult to keep up with the battles and understand how they connected to Renn’s mission.
October 14, 2025
She's obsessed with staying with the last... maybe dozen survivors? For no reason besides it's her home. The fight is already over, none of the survivors get characterization of any type, and it feels like a paper thin motivation.
Also the smut is bad.
Also the smut is bad.
August 13, 2025
Arc review I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Wow very good Renn finds himself crashing on a outpost fight just to survive.
September 12, 2025
Wonderful alien romance
I So enjoyed reading this book. Great characters and amazing world. The fight to live in a war Zone was conveyed beautifully.
I So enjoyed reading this book. Great characters and amazing world. The fight to live in a war Zone was conveyed beautifully.
September 19, 2025
This book has so much potential! I loved the world building and the characters. I just felt the pacing was a bit off, and wish there was more.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews