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The Vrix #3
The Hunter
The Tangle devours all, but he won’t let it take her.
Each of Telok’s scars is a story—a battle hard fought, a beast stalked and slayed, a danger overcome. They are the marks of a hunter, a warrior. A survivor. But the deepest of those wounds are unseen, dealt by the loss of friends and family he could not protect.
He cannot take anyone else into his hearts, cannot bear to have another thread severed. And he has shielded himself for many years…until Lacey.
Intelligent, confident, humorous, and beautiful, she captivated Telok from the moment he first beheld her fiery hair and sparkling green eyes. Everything inside him demands that he conquer her. That he claim her as his mate.
But Lacey is not made for his world. She is human—small, soft, and weak. And in the Tangle, she is prey.
So when she joins him on a long trek into the jungle, Telok finds himself coming undone. To guard his hearts, he must stay away. Yet to protect Lacey, he must hold her close, stoking his need for her into a frenzy.
With all the Tangle determined to take Lacey from him, can Telok keep her safe? Or will his hearts be dealt a fatal blow?
Each of Telok’s scars is a story—a battle hard fought, a beast stalked and slayed, a danger overcome. They are the marks of a hunter, a warrior. A survivor. But the deepest of those wounds are unseen, dealt by the loss of friends and family he could not protect.
He cannot take anyone else into his hearts, cannot bear to have another thread severed. And he has shielded himself for many years…until Lacey.
Intelligent, confident, humorous, and beautiful, she captivated Telok from the moment he first beheld her fiery hair and sparkling green eyes. Everything inside him demands that he conquer her. That he claim her as his mate.
But Lacey is not made for his world. She is human—small, soft, and weak. And in the Tangle, she is prey.
So when she joins him on a long trek into the jungle, Telok finds himself coming undone. To guard his hearts, he must stay away. Yet to protect Lacey, he must hold her close, stoking his need for her into a frenzy.
With all the Tangle determined to take Lacey from him, can Telok keep her safe? Or will his hearts be dealt a fatal blow?
451 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2026
About the author
Tiffany Roberts
52 books5,626 followersTiffany Roberts is the pseudonym for Tiffany and Robert, a husband and wife writing duo. The two have always shared a passion for reading and writing, and it was their dream to combine their mighty powers to create the sorts of books they want to read. They write character driven sci-fi and fantasy romance, creating happily-ever-afters for the alien and unknown.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
September 17, 2026
Yes, another freaky deaky spider monster romance, ladies! 🙂↕️
I’ve been WAITING for this to come out!!
This is Telok’s and Lacey’s story. These two had to overcome a few hurdles before they finally got together.
I’ve said it before and I‘m saying it again — these spider aliens YEARN for their women like crazy!! And that’s the reason I‘m a sucker for this series!
I’m very glad that Cole got his happy end too! I was very worried about that in the previous books. But Tiffany Roberts did not disappoint! In fact, Cole and Sophia were one of my biggest highlights in this book. Their relationship was so sweet.💕
I also really liked Ayali, Zesh and Ess. Their whole dynamic cracked me up every time. 🤣
And I’m still reeling from that one sex scene💀💀 wtf was that? I was laughing in disbelief for the whole thing! Lacey being stuck on Telok‘s dick mid combat was not on my bingo card for this book. 🤣
Anyways, I hope against all hope that Tiffany Roberts will revisit this universe at some point. 🥲 I can’t stand spiders irl but these alien dudes are just something else.
Safety:
- h not a virgin; no info about H but probably a virgin? At least that’s how I interpret it 😌
- no OM/OW drama
- No cheating or sharing
- No 3rd act breakup
- HEA
I’ve been WAITING for this to come out!!
This is Telok’s and Lacey’s story. These two had to overcome a few hurdles before they finally got together.
I’ve said it before and I‘m saying it again — these spider aliens YEARN for their women like crazy!! And that’s the reason I‘m a sucker for this series!
I’m very glad that Cole got his happy end too! I was very worried about that in the previous books. But Tiffany Roberts did not disappoint! In fact, Cole and Sophia were one of my biggest highlights in this book. Their relationship was so sweet.💕
I also really liked Ayali, Zesh and Ess. Their whole dynamic cracked me up every time. 🤣
And I’m still reeling from that one sex scene💀💀 wtf was that? I was laughing in disbelief for the whole thing! Lacey being stuck on Telok‘s dick mid combat was not on my bingo card for this book. 🤣
Anyways, I hope against all hope that Tiffany Roberts will revisit this universe at some point. 🥲 I can’t stand spiders irl but these alien dudes are just something else.
Safety:
- h not a virgin; no info about H but probably a virgin? At least that’s how I interpret it 😌
- no OM/OW drama
- No cheating or sharing
- No 3rd act breakup
- HEA
September 18, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice
I can't believe the series is over. I have found so much enjoyment from the Vrix series and the Spider's Mate series. I have been waiting for this book since I finished book two, and I was not disappointed.
I read the book in record time, and Lacey and Telok had to be the two who carried a lot more pain and past trauma than the others in the series, I would say. The banter and jabs between these two at times could be so amusing and funny, and other times sad, but it makes way for a really fun read. There is a storyline in the book, but honestly, I think it plays second to the relationship and spice, which might leave people a little sad if you are after a more story-focused read.
There is a lot of action and drama in the story, and an already fleshed-out world from the past books. I would have loved more story and for it to have gone in a different direction. I felt there were far too many of the same moments of travelling, and it needed more going on, but honestly, I could not be mad or sad about it due to the fact I really loved the book and the series as a whole.
I totally enjoyed the banter and seeing this found family and growth, and most of all, the spice. It's butterfly-worthy sort of spice. I love the world that the book is set in and the characters. I did not like the fact it's over, and the ending left me a little sad as I wanted more.
I think the book at times lacked depth, but overall, a quick, funny read with spice.
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Spice
I can't believe the series is over. I have found so much enjoyment from the Vrix series and the Spider's Mate series. I have been waiting for this book since I finished book two, and I was not disappointed.
I read the book in record time, and Lacey and Telok had to be the two who carried a lot more pain and past trauma than the others in the series, I would say. The banter and jabs between these two at times could be so amusing and funny, and other times sad, but it makes way for a really fun read. There is a storyline in the book, but honestly, I think it plays second to the relationship and spice, which might leave people a little sad if you are after a more story-focused read.
There is a lot of action and drama in the story, and an already fleshed-out world from the past books. I would have loved more story and for it to have gone in a different direction. I felt there were far too many of the same moments of travelling, and it needed more going on, but honestly, I could not be mad or sad about it due to the fact I really loved the book and the series as a whole.
I totally enjoyed the banter and seeing this found family and growth, and most of all, the spice. It's butterfly-worthy sort of spice. I love the world that the book is set in and the characters. I did not like the fact it's over, and the ending left me a little sad as I wanted more.
I think the book at times lacked depth, but overall, a quick, funny read with spice.
September 18, 2026
YESSSS this is what I was looking for from this couple. Telok and Lacey argued like cats and dogs because he was so afraid of being too close to another person her could lose. Telok was grumpy, dominant, possessive, stoic, and strangely hilarious. Lacey was sunny but fiery, with a lot of insecurity about her scars and being abandoned. Their trek together gave them the chance to take risks and embrace what was really important. Plus Telok was hot AF. Like, where’s my spider monster?? I was surprised by the direction some of the story took, and it was still lovely.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: death, violence, battle against animal pack, animal attacks, blood, gore, injury descriptions, fatphobia, body dysmorphia, PTSD symptoms, survivors guilt, past violent death of family, childhood trauma, past child abuse, past parent alcoholism, past parent gambling, grief, mentions of mass death from spaceship crash, hunting, stalking, past war, accidental exhibitionism, epilogue pregnancy, past botched surgery
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: death, violence, battle against animal pack, animal attacks, blood, gore, injury descriptions, fatphobia, body dysmorphia, PTSD symptoms, survivors guilt, past violent death of family, childhood trauma, past child abuse, past parent alcoholism, past parent gambling, grief, mentions of mass death from spaceship crash, hunting, stalking, past war, accidental exhibitionism, epilogue pregnancy, past botched surgery
September 19, 2026
I have read a lot of books by this couple. Some are really terrible. Some are great. This one falls somewhere in the middle, but closer to terrible.
First, it's long. Super duper long. Like jaw cracking when you yawn because you're tired long. Honestly it's too long when the leads have been identified and active in all five previous books. The plot is a quest kinda deal with a number of the spider dudes and humans treking out to look for some strong painkilling plant to bump up their waning supply. Along the way they run into a sub-spider group that's trying to kill off a bunch of deadly creatures and take out the leader. They join forces and go after the deadly creatures.
Along the way, we get the very, very drawn out love story between Telok the spider guy and Lacey, the sort of blank-in-the-personality-department human girl. Added bonus and spoiler alert: Connor, the remaining unmatched human and only straight guy in the human group, meets his love as well. On a side note, it's a little bit of a bummer that Connor didn't get a book but he still gets his HEA. He was the one character in the entire series who truly evolved as a person. All the other characters stayed the same from start to finish.
So Lacey and Telok have been doing the "I'm attracted to you but don't think you're attracted to me" tropey dance for nearly the entire series. For me, that made this extra-long drawn out slow burn particularly frustrating and frankly hard to read. There are probably 200 pages of dragging will-they-or-when-will-they teaser convos between these two. That's at least 100 pages too many IMO. I am cool with a slow burn, but after 5 books, it was just too much. And I would really rather forget the bizarre $ex scene that included a fight with the evil creatures that included orgasms, lots of bodily fluids, and repeated exposure in front of many witnesses. So not hot. Definitely not spicy. Just a literal mess. I hated it.
The female lead gets tasked with some extremely juvenile behavior and is hard to like. She has a sad sack backstory and even that didn't make me like her any better. Early on, she gets mad at the male lead and destroys his stash of weapons in retaliation. This has to be one of the most ridiculous tricks the authors could have made up to ultimately bring these two in proximity. Imagine living a seriously subsistence life, and losing the very tools you need to survive because a childish girl had a temper tantrum about something you did. Whatever compelled Tiffany Roberts to use such an insane device blows my mind. A warrior like Telok would never understand something so unforgivable. Of course in this case he does but I sure struggled with it.
Anyway, they all set off to find this plant that Lacey needs to help her deal with her PMS and painful periods.
The male lead, Telok, spends nearly the entire book trying to control his $exual impulses and not go into the "mating frenzy" aa other male leads have. It just got boring. Too, too long before the deed was done. And I really didn't feel the chemistry at this point, not after Lacey and her incredibly childish and dangerous behaviors. Such a super responsible guy surely wouldn't want to be with immature person like Lacey. Guess I was wrong.
As this is the last book in the series, there won't be any other romances with spider guys and human women. There were a number of extra threads left dangling so it's possible there may be an extra book or so, maybe even a holiday one or something like that. I'm just hypothesizing of course. Guess it's possible.
First, it's long. Super duper long. Like jaw cracking when you yawn because you're tired long. Honestly it's too long when the leads have been identified and active in all five previous books. The plot is a quest kinda deal with a number of the spider dudes and humans treking out to look for some strong painkilling plant to bump up their waning supply. Along the way they run into a sub-spider group that's trying to kill off a bunch of deadly creatures and take out the leader. They join forces and go after the deadly creatures.
Along the way, we get the very, very drawn out love story between Telok the spider guy and Lacey, the sort of blank-in-the-personality-department human girl. Added bonus and spoiler alert: Connor, the remaining unmatched human and only straight guy in the human group, meets his love as well. On a side note, it's a little bit of a bummer that Connor didn't get a book but he still gets his HEA. He was the one character in the entire series who truly evolved as a person. All the other characters stayed the same from start to finish.
So Lacey and Telok have been doing the "I'm attracted to you but don't think you're attracted to me" tropey dance for nearly the entire series. For me, that made this extra-long drawn out slow burn particularly frustrating and frankly hard to read. There are probably 200 pages of dragging will-they-or-when-will-they teaser convos between these two. That's at least 100 pages too many IMO. I am cool with a slow burn, but after 5 books, it was just too much. And I would really rather forget the bizarre $ex scene that included a fight with the evil creatures that included orgasms, lots of bodily fluids, and repeated exposure in front of many witnesses. So not hot. Definitely not spicy. Just a literal mess. I hated it.
The female lead gets tasked with some extremely juvenile behavior and is hard to like. She has a sad sack backstory and even that didn't make me like her any better. Early on, she gets mad at the male lead and destroys his stash of weapons in retaliation. This has to be one of the most ridiculous tricks the authors could have made up to ultimately bring these two in proximity. Imagine living a seriously subsistence life, and losing the very tools you need to survive because a childish girl had a temper tantrum about something you did. Whatever compelled Tiffany Roberts to use such an insane device blows my mind. A warrior like Telok would never understand something so unforgivable. Of course in this case he does but I sure struggled with it.
Anyway, they all set off to find this plant that Lacey needs to help her deal with her PMS and painful periods.
The male lead, Telok, spends nearly the entire book trying to control his $exual impulses and not go into the "mating frenzy" aa other male leads have. It just got boring. Too, too long before the deed was done. And I really didn't feel the chemistry at this point, not after Lacey and her incredibly childish and dangerous behaviors. Such a super responsible guy surely wouldn't want to be with immature person like Lacey. Guess I was wrong.
As this is the last book in the series, there won't be any other romances with spider guys and human women. There were a number of extra threads left dangling so it's possible there may be an extra book or so, maybe even a holiday one or something like that. I'm just hypothesizing of course. Guess it's possible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2026
4.25
เล่มที่ 3 และเป็นเล่มสุดท้ายของซีรี่ส์ที่ spin-off จาก The Spider's Mate Trilogy Ensnared
พระเอกสามเล่มสามคนคือเพื่อนสนิทของพระเอก Trilogy ที่พูดถึงมะกี๊
แล้วววพวกนังต้องตกหลุมรักมนุษย์กันทู้กคนแบบไม่มีใครแตกแถว ทั้งที่ผู้หญิง species เดียวกันมีเยอะแยะ เออเอาเหอะ55555
เล่มนี้ก็ยังมีแพทเทิ่นที่คล้ายๆ สองเล่มก่อน มีความ predictable แต่จากสามเล่มเราชอบเล่มนี้ที่สุด
สองเล่มก่อนพระนางถูก isolated ด้วยน้ำป่าบ้าง ถ้ำถล่มบ้าง มันเลยแทบไม่มีบทตลค.อื่น แต่เล่มนี้พระนาง join hunting party เดินป่ากับแก๊งที่มีสมาชิกเป็นสิบ มีทั้งมนุษย์และแมงมุม มันเลยสนุกอ่า ตลค.มันคุยกันตลกมาก นข.ใช้ language barrier and culture difference ได้ถูกจังหวะดี
romance เล่มนี้ก็ไม่เลี่ยนเท่าสองเล่มก่อน ด้วยนิสัยพระเอกนางเอกด้วยแหละ grumpy x sunshine push&pull อยู่อย่าง
ที่เริ่ดคือพอพระเอก give in ปุ๊บ โบ้ม เดอะเบ๊ส สมกับความเก่บกด เส้กสีนแรกคือ comically surreal มากจนขำ แต่ผมไม่ติดนะเพราะทุกอย่างเกิดขึ้นได้บนโลกใบนี้555
เสียดายนิดที่อุตส่าห์เปนเล่มปิดจบจักรวาลแมงมุมแต่บทสุดท้ายดันแอบรวบรัดไปนิดดด but boy do i enjoy these characters A LOT through the whole book ให้พี่แมงมุมคนนี้ฮอทสุดเลยอ่า รองลงมาคือพี่พระเอก Trilogy หลัก
spice: 3.5
เล่มที่ 3 และเป็นเล่มสุดท้ายของซีรี่ส์ที่ spin-off จาก The Spider's Mate Trilogy Ensnared
พระเอกสามเล่มสามคนคือเพื่อนสนิทของพระเอก Trilogy ที่พูดถึงมะกี๊
แล้วววพวกนังต้องตกหลุมรักมนุษย์กันทู้กคนแบบไม่มีใครแตกแถว ทั้งที่ผู้หญิง species เดียวกันมีเยอะแยะ เออเอาเหอะ55555
เล่มนี้ก็ยังมีแพทเทิ่นที่คล้ายๆ สองเล่มก่อน มีความ predictable แต่จากสามเล่มเราชอบเล่มนี้ที่สุด
สองเล่มก่อนพระนางถูก isolated ด้วยน้ำป่าบ้าง ถ้ำถล่มบ้าง มันเลยแทบไม่มีบทตลค.อื่น แต่เล่มนี้พระนาง join hunting party เดินป่ากับแก๊งที่มีสมาชิกเป็นสิบ มีทั้งมนุษย์และแมงมุม มันเลยสนุกอ่า ตลค.มันคุยกันตลกมาก นข.ใช้ language barrier and culture difference ได้ถูกจังหวะดี
romance เล่มนี้ก็ไม่เลี่ยนเท่าสองเล่มก่อน ด้วยนิสัยพระเอกนางเอกด้วยแหละ grumpy x sunshine push&pull อยู่อย่าง
ที่เริ่ดคือพอพระเอก give in ปุ๊บ โบ้ม เดอะเบ๊ส สมกับความเก่บกด เส้กสีนแรกคือ comically surreal มากจนขำ แต่ผมไม่ติดนะเพราะทุกอย่างเกิดขึ้นได้บนโลกใบนี้555
เสียดายนิดที่อุตส่าห์เปนเล่มปิดจบจักรวาลแมงมุมแต่บทสุดท้ายดันแอบรวบรัดไปนิดดด but boy do i enjoy these characters A LOT through the whole book ให้พี่แมงมุมคนนี้ฮอทสุดเลยอ่า รองลงมาคือพี่พระเอก Trilogy หลัก
spice: 3.5
September 18, 2026
I am sooo disappointed and a little mad to be honest
This is the lowest score I have given to any book in this series and yet it was the one I was most looking forward too
The whole big build up of them being mean to each other (over multiple books) quickly dissipated after a swift conversation.... 'oh that's why you were horrible to me, okay let's be friends again!'
What!!
I was expecting mean banter throughout with little moments where they accidentally showed their true feelings, oh how I was wrong
And then the second half of the book....
Chapter 25 was the most cringiest, ick inducing I have ever read, and im an experienced monster romance reader.
I actually thought, has this been written as a joke, to laugh at us readers. These long standing characters should have experienced a way better first time. Makes me sad
It felt rushed at the end and felt uncared for, as is the author/s were just bored of it all and wanted it over with
What a disappointing end to a beloved series 💔
This is the lowest score I have given to any book in this series and yet it was the one I was most looking forward too
The whole big build up of them being mean to each other (over multiple books) quickly dissipated after a swift conversation.... 'oh that's why you were horrible to me, okay let's be friends again!'
What!!
I was expecting mean banter throughout with little moments where they accidentally showed their true feelings, oh how I was wrong
And then the second half of the book....
Chapter 25 was the most cringiest, ick inducing I have ever read, and im an experienced monster romance reader.
I actually thought, has this been written as a joke, to laugh at us readers. These long standing characters should have experienced a way better first time. Makes me sad
It felt rushed at the end and felt uncared for, as is the author/s were just bored of it all and wanted it over with
What a disappointing end to a beloved series 💔
September 19, 2026
This one was a bit of a disappointment for me. Which sucks because it was the one I was most looking forward to.
In the original Spider's Mate books, Lacey was the character I found most interesting and the dynamic between her and Telok was great. I was also intrigued by his sudden switch to coldness and her sadness and confusion around it.
This is why I was bummed when I started this book and she was an amalgamation of my least favorite FMC tropes. The "sassy" FMC who is actually just very immature. Adults don't wander alone into the dangerous jungle without saying anything. She put other people in danger and seemed to be the only human behaving this way. Later she breaks a bunch of his spears to get back at him for dragging her back to the village. She claims she didn't mean to break them and just didn't realize the (wooden) spears would break when thrown from like a million stories up in the air.
He's a hunter for the tribe, so this was a hardship for the entire community. Her response to this is like three seconds of guilt followed by some more "sassy" comebacks. She eventually does feel guilty but, again, she isn't 12 and should have the ability to predict the very straight forward consequences of her actions. Her character was such a huge departure from the mature, thoughtful, and realistic FMCs in the previous books and it eventually became exhausting to read.
The love to hate to love transition was also never really fleshed out. He liked her, abruptly decided it was too dangerous to care for her because people die (but those people were dead when he started liking her), then abruptly decided he liked her again. They start the book out constantly snipping at each other and then in the middle of a hunting trip (which she slowed everyone down on by insisting she attend and didn't tell anyone she was injured) they just start flirting with each other. It felt so unearned.
In the other books the couples all spend significant time away from the rest of the group (being lost, surviving a natural disaster, etc.), but Lacey and Telok were almost never alone for more than 30 mins until the 60% mark. After that they're alone basically long enough to have sex or sleep/bathe. It felt like the book was more about the other characters and their romance was kind of shoehorned in. As a result, the chemistry suffered and I just wasn't invested in the relationship.
Beyond that, the conflict in the book felt a little contrived. There we these animals they needed to hunt which, fine, but it was nowhere near as interesting as the conflicts between other Vrix in the previous books. I was so so so sooooooooooooooo hoping we'd get to see more of the creepy, underground Vrix (especially because their existence was hinted at in the Spider's Mate). But they are basically just briefly mentioned and then ignored totally by the plot.
The story was otherwise well written and the world building remained great which is why it gets three stars
In the original Spider's Mate books, Lacey was the character I found most interesting and the dynamic between her and Telok was great. I was also intrigued by his sudden switch to coldness and her sadness and confusion around it.
This is why I was bummed when I started this book and she was an amalgamation of my least favorite FMC tropes. The "sassy" FMC who is actually just very immature. Adults don't wander alone into the dangerous jungle without saying anything. She put other people in danger and seemed to be the only human behaving this way. Later she breaks a bunch of his spears to get back at him for dragging her back to the village. She claims she didn't mean to break them and just didn't realize the (wooden) spears would break when thrown from like a million stories up in the air.
He's a hunter for the tribe, so this was a hardship for the entire community. Her response to this is like three seconds of guilt followed by some more "sassy" comebacks. She eventually does feel guilty but, again, she isn't 12 and should have the ability to predict the very straight forward consequences of her actions. Her character was such a huge departure from the mature, thoughtful, and realistic FMCs in the previous books and it eventually became exhausting to read.
The love to hate to love transition was also never really fleshed out. He liked her, abruptly decided it was too dangerous to care for her because people die (but those people were dead when he started liking her), then abruptly decided he liked her again. They start the book out constantly snipping at each other and then in the middle of a hunting trip (which she slowed everyone down on by insisting she attend and didn't tell anyone she was injured) they just start flirting with each other. It felt so unearned.
In the other books the couples all spend significant time away from the rest of the group (being lost, surviving a natural disaster, etc.), but Lacey and Telok were almost never alone for more than 30 mins until the 60% mark. After that they're alone basically long enough to have sex or sleep/bathe. It felt like the book was more about the other characters and their romance was kind of shoehorned in. As a result, the chemistry suffered and I just wasn't invested in the relationship.
Beyond that, the conflict in the book felt a little contrived. There we these animals they needed to hunt which, fine, but it was nowhere near as interesting as the conflicts between other Vrix in the previous books. I was so so so sooooooooooooooo hoping we'd get to see more of the creepy, underground Vrix (especially because their existence was hinted at in the Spider's Mate). But they are basically just briefly mentioned and then ignored totally by the plot.
The story was otherwise well written and the world building remained great which is why it gets three stars
September 22, 2026
Telok! My love! He's the grumpy, protective spider alien of my dreams. There was so much delicious arguing and pining. I almost wish it would have gone on longer. Lacey was hilarious, but girl....you made some questionable choices throughout this story babe. I was shouting at her many times. Thank goodness she had a big, strong mate to protect her.
The ending was so stressful, though. I wasn't sure how it was going to end. And I was scared to read it and find out.
Thank you to the authors for giving us these beautiful stories and characters to obsess over!
The ending was so stressful, though. I wasn't sure how it was going to end. And I was scared to read it and find out.
Thank you to the authors for giving us these beautiful stories and characters to obsess over!
September 18, 2026
What a joke.
It's such a shame what this series became after Ensnared and Enthralled which were both fantastic books. The hope I had for this series! I will say it astounded me how progressively awful this series became with each subsequent book.
One small commendation: Cole's amazing carpentry skills! All he has is the equivalent of stoneage tools! A chaise lounge? Wow. And the turn around time!
Honestly, I was hate reading at this point, but it was so terribly cringy I couldn't finish. It's not worth it. There is no reason whatsoever for these characters to be so into each other. There's no build up. It's just inevitable.
At least this is the last one, and I can stop hoping for something reminiscent of the first 2 books. What a god damn shame.
It's such a shame what this series became after Ensnared and Enthralled which were both fantastic books. The hope I had for this series! I will say it astounded me how progressively awful this series became with each subsequent book.
One small commendation: Cole's amazing carpentry skills! All he has is the equivalent of stoneage tools! A chaise lounge? Wow. And the turn around time!
Honestly, I was hate reading at this point, but it was so terribly cringy I couldn't finish. It's not worth it. There is no reason whatsoever for these characters to be so into each other. There's no build up. It's just inevitable.
At least this is the last one, and I can stop hoping for something reminiscent of the first 2 books. What a god damn shame.
d-n-f
September 20, 202609/20/2026:
After some much-needed thought, I will DNF at 71%. I just can't reconcile certain things in order to keep moving 😅 Some of you are commenting about the mischaracterizations, and it's something I noticed myself, but I was willing to bypass it because I've been obsessed with this couple ever since I read about them. They were giving Jane and Tarzan, and I thought their story was going to be inspired in that regard, especially knowing how eager Lacey was to learn how to hunt. However, the real reason I'm dropping out was the mess I explained previously 👇🏼 which took me out of the story forcefully.
A correction in regard to my first review: I have read, in fact, some absurd things here and there, but novels were meant to have prominent comedy elements! Elements I'm not used to these authors writing about (I mean, they joke here and there, but we have never gotten something so over the top until now). I was taken aback by the whole thing because, based on the main trilogy, I feel like this particular series was meant or deserved to be so much more.
I can't deal with this switch-up, I can't 😂
P.S.: I'm not rating this one for obvious reasons!
09/19/2026:
But do you think we lost the plot? Because I think we kind of did. And are we going to talk about the thing, or are we just going to pretend it didn't happen? Because let me tell ya, I'm bewildered. I have read so many romance novels with spicy scenes, but nothing this absurd, you know? I just don't think it came across as intended, and it's all due to tone. While that read like a parody, Telok’s wounds were serious enough to have to be tended to, and after said thing happened, I couldn't take Telok's wounds or the subsequent conversation about dangerous creatures seriously.
I felt for Lacey, though. I felt her shame and awkwardness through the pages, which made it even worse, so... there’s that. It’s just that this couple has been the epitome of tension, and just when said tension was about to be resolved, that moment of intimacy was turned into a joke, robbing us and, Lacey at least, of anything remotely resembling a payoff. Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if it was their second or third time, but I just don't get what was trying to be achieved here. Was it eclipsing Lacey's scars with a more embarrassing moment? Or was it just comic relief? I just wasn't expecting any of it.
I feel like I need time before I can come back to this one. I might have to put my ideas in order and go from there 🤔
After some much-needed thought, I will DNF at 71%. I just can't reconcile certain things in order to keep moving 😅 Some of you are commenting about the mischaracterizations, and it's something I noticed myself, but I was willing to bypass it because I've been obsessed with this couple ever since I read about them. They were giving Jane and Tarzan, and I thought their story was going to be inspired in that regard, especially knowing how eager Lacey was to learn how to hunt. However, the real reason I'm dropping out was the mess I explained previously 👇🏼 which took me out of the story forcefully.
A correction in regard to my first review: I have read, in fact, some absurd things here and there, but novels were meant to have prominent comedy elements! Elements I'm not used to these authors writing about (I mean, they joke here and there, but we have never gotten something so over the top until now). I was taken aback by the whole thing because, based on the main trilogy, I feel like this particular series was meant or deserved to be so much more.
I can't deal with this switch-up, I can't 😂
P.S.: I'm not rating this one for obvious reasons!
09/19/2026:
But do you think we lost the plot? Because I think we kind of did. And are we going to talk about the thing, or are we just going to pretend it didn't happen? Because let me tell ya, I'm bewildered. I have read so many romance novels with spicy scenes, but nothing this absurd, you know? I just don't think it came across as intended, and it's all due to tone. While that read like a parody, Telok’s wounds were serious enough to have to be tended to, and after said thing happened, I couldn't take Telok's wounds or the subsequent conversation about dangerous creatures seriously.
I felt for Lacey, though. I felt her shame and awkwardness through the pages, which made it even worse, so... there’s that. It’s just that this couple has been the epitome of tension, and just when said tension was about to be resolved, that moment of intimacy was turned into a joke, robbing us and, Lacey at least, of anything remotely resembling a payoff. Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if it was their second or third time, but I just don't get what was trying to be achieved here. Was it eclipsing Lacey's scars with a more embarrassing moment? Or was it just comic relief? I just wasn't expecting any of it.
I feel like I need time before I can come back to this one. I might have to put my ideas in order and go from there 🤔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After ALL of that tension and yearning, THAT is what I wanted to read about. And we are REWARDED, in this book. I’m not sure why I’m capslocking (yelling) my review.
Anyway, this follows Lacey and Telok as they both finally confront the sordid feelings for one another. Both characters are great, and a deep dive into their personal histories as Telok confronts his fears. Lacey confronts her own personal demons and learns that she can be loved. Even Cole the asshole from the second book of the spiders mate trilogy finds his own happiness and I loved his growth over the last 5 books.
I have nothing bad to say about this. It was worth the wait and now I’m sad because I need to find something to fill this Vrix sized hole left in my heart.
After ALL of that tension and yearning, THAT is what I wanted to read about. And we are REWARDED, in this book. I’m not sure why I’m capslocking (yelling) my review.
Anyway, this follows Lacey and Telok as they both finally confront the sordid feelings for one another. Both characters are great, and a deep dive into their personal histories as Telok confronts his fears. Lacey confronts her own personal demons and learns that she can be loved. Even Cole the asshole from the second book of the spiders mate trilogy finds his own happiness and I loved his growth over the last 5 books.
I have nothing bad to say about this. It was worth the wait and now I’m sad because I need to find something to fill this Vrix sized hole left in my heart.
September 17, 2026
😽 - 🌶️🌶️🌶️
And just like that, we have come to the end of an era. My family and friends can attest that I never shut up about these books. My spider aliens have delved into my heart!
Lacey and Telok’s pairing has been teased just as much as, if not more than, Ahmya and Rekosh’s. I am happy they finally sorted their emo shit out, but I must admit I was a bit underwhelmed in their resolution. Maybe I wanted more banter, bratting, biting and fighting? Idk, their story turned sweet but that also felt almost out of character for them? It felt forced, I think. Also, knotted fighting and Telok doing Cirque du Soleil? Please no.
Still, Cole!!! Ahhhh!!! Good for you, buddy!!!
Fave couples🕷️:
🥇Ketahn and Ivy - you cannot compete where you cannot compare, they are the OGs💜
🥈Urkot and Callie - I love me some confident FMC and shy but assertive MMC💙
🥉Rekosh and Ahmya - They were endgame from the moment they laid eyes on one another and I was HERE FOR IT❤️
4. Telok and Lacey - so much potential but first ass play in any of these books so good on you, Telok💚
And just like that, we have come to the end of an era. My family and friends can attest that I never shut up about these books. My spider aliens have delved into my heart!
Lacey and Telok’s pairing has been teased just as much as, if not more than, Ahmya and Rekosh’s. I am happy they finally sorted their emo shit out, but I must admit I was a bit underwhelmed in their resolution. Maybe I wanted more banter, bratting, biting and fighting? Idk, their story turned sweet but that also felt almost out of character for them? It felt forced, I think. Also, knotted fighting and Telok doing Cirque du Soleil? Please no.
Still, Cole!!! Ahhhh!!! Good for you, buddy!!!
Fave couples🕷️:
🥇Ketahn and Ivy - you cannot compete where you cannot compare, they are the OGs💜
🥈Urkot and Callie - I love me some confident FMC and shy but assertive MMC💙
🥉Rekosh and Ahmya - They were endgame from the moment they laid eyes on one another and I was HERE FOR IT❤️
4. Telok and Lacey - so much potential but first ass play in any of these books so good on you, Telok💚
September 22, 2026
i loved this entire series so much, i’m sad it’s over.
September 20, 2026
Okay, I’m writing this review as someone who has been waiting for this book for YEARS. And when I say years, I mean YEARS. I’ve been here since the first book came out, since I was first introduced to the main characters, waiting for a book about Lacey and Telok.
And honestly? It was not good. Let me break it down.
The beginning of the book instantly hooked me. Lacey was in danger, bleeding in the woods, and I was like, OH MY GOD. It looked like one of those stories that starts in the middle of the chaos and then slowly reveals what happened. I thought we were about to get something angsty and dramatic.
So imagine my disappointment when I realized she was literally just out there because she had her period.
Don’t get me wrong, my own periods are shitty. My cramps get so bad I’ve literally vomited from the pain. But even I know that going into the woods when you can barely walk is an absolutely terrible idea. She could have stayed home in bed, and when Telok came over, we could have had basically the exact same interaction.
But no. She goes into the woods like a careless child because apparently the only character trait she has left from the early books is being stupidly stubborn.
And I was expecting SO much emotional neglect in this book. Imagine watching all your friends end up with their crushes, build families, and have people who love them while the person you love constantly treats you like you’re a pain in the ass.
You’re HUMAN. You were raised on Earth. You damn well know that when someone you love keeps treating you like they don't want you around, you're going to get depressed or start questioning yourself. Especially when you KNOW you love that person.
And we’ve already seen Lacey deal with this better in previous books. She actually put as much distance as possible between herself and Telok because she could see that he didn’t want her around.
But here she’s basically like:
“Aww, he doesn’t like me. What have I done? I guess I’ll just annoy him MORE and stick to him like glue!”
Especially the hunting part. That whole thing was absolute bullshit.
It was basically a flower-picking trip with no actual lesson learned. The whole reason Lacey wanted to join the group was because she wanted to hunt. She wanted to prove that she was strong and capable.
She was basically like, “I’m going hunting. What? You don’t believe me?”
And then later, when everyone misunderstands what she said and thinks she was going hunting, suddenly she’s like, “Nooo guys, don’t be silly! What kind of hunting?”
OG Lacey would NOT do that.
And honestly, I’m surprised I even have to point this out as a reader because I feel like the author should know her own character better than I do.
OG Lacey wanted to learn how to hunt because she wanted to be useful. She wanted to be part of something. She wanted to be able to take care of herself.
But then we get this version of Lacey where Cole basically tells her, “Hey, Telok wants to fuck you,” and she’s just like:
“OMG thank you for telling me! I never could have figured that out myself because he treats me like shit!”
Girl.
You literally came from Earth. You have enough experience with shitty men to know that a man can want you physically without wanting an actual relationship with you. You should be questioning this. You should be asking what Telok actually wants. You should be worried about getting hurt.
But nope.
Instead, she gets even MORE clingy without asking questions, clearing up misunderstandings, or actually talking to Telok.
And Telok is suddenly like, “Well, she’s clinging to me, so I guess I have to act like a horny teenager now!”
Like????
WE KNOW YOU WERE AFRAID OF YOUR FEELINGS. We know you have trauma. That was the whole point of your character.
So why are you suddenly acting all cozy just because you’re traveling together?
And that brings me to the characters in general.
Most of them felt completely flat. There were definitely some funny interactions, and I enjoyed those moments, but most of the characters felt like they were only there because the plot needed someone to be there.
Especially Cole’s girlfriend, whose name I genuinely can’t remember.
Her entire existence felt like:
Cole: “I don’t like spiders. I don’t like dudes.”
Author: “Fine. Here’s a random woman.”
And I’m sorry but I was laughing at my own expectations because Cole had more chemistry with literally ANY of the spiders than he had with his girlfriend.
Speaking of Cole, I also wasn’t really a fan of his redemption arc.
Yes, he was a nicer guy by the end of the book, and some of his moments actually made me like him. But then I remember how he was introduced in the earlier books and I’m just sitting there like...
???
This man literally saw women as breeding bags. He forced himself on Ivy even after she said no and only backed off because Kethan intervened.
That kind of mindset tells me everything I need to know about a character. If you don't value women beyond their ability to reproduce and you don't understand that “no” means no, that's not something I can just forget because you became nicer later.
And his explanation was basically:
“I was lonely. I was raised by a toxic father. Then I realized everything I believed was wrong.”
Okay, but somehow that realization happened after he discovered that a bigger spider could absolutely kick his ass if he tried anything again.
So basically:
“I have become a good man because there are now stronger creatures around me who would beat the shit out of me.”
Yay, I guess?
And you can REALLY tell the author was struggling to keep the story moving because everything was painfully slow.
By the time Telok got into his mating frenzy or whatever, I wasn't even paying attention anymore. He was acting almost exactly like Kethan and basically every other spider whenever they get freaky, so at that point I was just waiting for the scene to end.
Overall, I’d give it three stars, mostly because there were some cute moments and, at the end of the day, it was a Lacey and Telok book—which is something I’ve been waiting YEARS for.
But considering how long I’ve been waiting for their story, I expected so much more.
I wanted Lacey to actually feel like Lacey again. I wanted Telok’s emotional conflict to actually matter. I wanted their relationship to develop through misunderstandings, conversations, tension, and actual character growth.
Instead, I got a painfully slow story where everyone felt flatter than they used to, Lacey was weirdly clingy, Telok suddenly acted like a horny teenager, and Cole apparently unlocked morality after discovering that spiders are stronger than him.
Three stars. Mostly for Lacey and Telok existing.
And honestly? It was not good. Let me break it down.
The beginning of the book instantly hooked me. Lacey was in danger, bleeding in the woods, and I was like, OH MY GOD. It looked like one of those stories that starts in the middle of the chaos and then slowly reveals what happened. I thought we were about to get something angsty and dramatic.
So imagine my disappointment when I realized she was literally just out there because she had her period.
Don’t get me wrong, my own periods are shitty. My cramps get so bad I’ve literally vomited from the pain. But even I know that going into the woods when you can barely walk is an absolutely terrible idea. She could have stayed home in bed, and when Telok came over, we could have had basically the exact same interaction.
But no. She goes into the woods like a careless child because apparently the only character trait she has left from the early books is being stupidly stubborn.
And I was expecting SO much emotional neglect in this book. Imagine watching all your friends end up with their crushes, build families, and have people who love them while the person you love constantly treats you like you’re a pain in the ass.
You’re HUMAN. You were raised on Earth. You damn well know that when someone you love keeps treating you like they don't want you around, you're going to get depressed or start questioning yourself. Especially when you KNOW you love that person.
And we’ve already seen Lacey deal with this better in previous books. She actually put as much distance as possible between herself and Telok because she could see that he didn’t want her around.
But here she’s basically like:
“Aww, he doesn’t like me. What have I done? I guess I’ll just annoy him MORE and stick to him like glue!”
Especially the hunting part. That whole thing was absolute bullshit.
It was basically a flower-picking trip with no actual lesson learned. The whole reason Lacey wanted to join the group was because she wanted to hunt. She wanted to prove that she was strong and capable.
She was basically like, “I’m going hunting. What? You don’t believe me?”
And then later, when everyone misunderstands what she said and thinks she was going hunting, suddenly she’s like, “Nooo guys, don’t be silly! What kind of hunting?”
OG Lacey would NOT do that.
And honestly, I’m surprised I even have to point this out as a reader because I feel like the author should know her own character better than I do.
OG Lacey wanted to learn how to hunt because she wanted to be useful. She wanted to be part of something. She wanted to be able to take care of herself.
But then we get this version of Lacey where Cole basically tells her, “Hey, Telok wants to fuck you,” and she’s just like:
“OMG thank you for telling me! I never could have figured that out myself because he treats me like shit!”
Girl.
You literally came from Earth. You have enough experience with shitty men to know that a man can want you physically without wanting an actual relationship with you. You should be questioning this. You should be asking what Telok actually wants. You should be worried about getting hurt.
But nope.
Instead, she gets even MORE clingy without asking questions, clearing up misunderstandings, or actually talking to Telok.
And Telok is suddenly like, “Well, she’s clinging to me, so I guess I have to act like a horny teenager now!”
Like????
WE KNOW YOU WERE AFRAID OF YOUR FEELINGS. We know you have trauma. That was the whole point of your character.
So why are you suddenly acting all cozy just because you’re traveling together?
And that brings me to the characters in general.
Most of them felt completely flat. There were definitely some funny interactions, and I enjoyed those moments, but most of the characters felt like they were only there because the plot needed someone to be there.
Especially Cole’s girlfriend, whose name I genuinely can’t remember.
Her entire existence felt like:
Cole: “I don’t like spiders. I don’t like dudes.”
Author: “Fine. Here’s a random woman.”
And I’m sorry but I was laughing at my own expectations because Cole had more chemistry with literally ANY of the spiders than he had with his girlfriend.
Speaking of Cole, I also wasn’t really a fan of his redemption arc.
Yes, he was a nicer guy by the end of the book, and some of his moments actually made me like him. But then I remember how he was introduced in the earlier books and I’m just sitting there like...
???
This man literally saw women as breeding bags. He forced himself on Ivy even after she said no and only backed off because Kethan intervened.
That kind of mindset tells me everything I need to know about a character. If you don't value women beyond their ability to reproduce and you don't understand that “no” means no, that's not something I can just forget because you became nicer later.
And his explanation was basically:
“I was lonely. I was raised by a toxic father. Then I realized everything I believed was wrong.”
Okay, but somehow that realization happened after he discovered that a bigger spider could absolutely kick his ass if he tried anything again.
So basically:
“I have become a good man because there are now stronger creatures around me who would beat the shit out of me.”
Yay, I guess?
And you can REALLY tell the author was struggling to keep the story moving because everything was painfully slow.
By the time Telok got into his mating frenzy or whatever, I wasn't even paying attention anymore. He was acting almost exactly like Kethan and basically every other spider whenever they get freaky, so at that point I was just waiting for the scene to end.
Overall, I’d give it three stars, mostly because there were some cute moments and, at the end of the day, it was a Lacey and Telok book—which is something I’ve been waiting YEARS for.
But considering how long I’ve been waiting for their story, I expected so much more.
I wanted Lacey to actually feel like Lacey again. I wanted Telok’s emotional conflict to actually matter. I wanted their relationship to develop through misunderstandings, conversations, tension, and actual character growth.
Instead, I got a painfully slow story where everyone felt flatter than they used to, Lacey was weirdly clingy, Telok suddenly acted like a horny teenager, and Cole apparently unlocked morality after discovering that spiders are stronger than him.
Three stars. Mostly for Lacey and Telok existing.
September 29, 2026
Devoured this. Sad to see the Vrix ride come to an end, no pun included.
What I enjoyed:
*Pleasure-dom spider-man
*Green is my favorite color
*Seeing more vrix socieites
*Cole gets his HEA without dominating the book
*Poly spider-cules
*Lacey dealing with realistic body issues and having some agency in big action moments
*Perhaps one of the most unhinged sex scenes I've read in a while
What I did not enjoy:
*There were some pacing issues. Slow burn that is suddenly resolved with a quick conversation, slow burn again. There's been a buildup for many books, and it seemed like a switch flipped from lust to insta-love.
*I wish Lacey's character was a bit more developed and not quite so frequently manhandled
I hope we do return to Vrix-land in the future, perhaps exploring other Vrix socieites with different cultures, appearances, traditions based on different spiders. We have peacock spiders, jumping spiders, why not others? It'd flesh out the world quite a bit and would help differentiate the spider-MMCs.
What I enjoyed:
*Pleasure-dom spider-man
*Green is my favorite color
*Seeing more vrix socieites
*Cole gets his HEA without dominating the book
*Poly spider-cules
*Lacey dealing with realistic body issues and having some agency in big action moments
*Perhaps one of the most unhinged sex scenes I've read in a while
What I did not enjoy:
*There were some pacing issues. Slow burn that is suddenly resolved with a quick conversation, slow burn again. There's been a buildup for many books, and it seemed like a switch flipped from lust to insta-love.
*I wish Lacey's character was a bit more developed and not quite so frequently manhandled
I hope we do return to Vrix-land in the future, perhaps exploring other Vrix socieites with different cultures, appearances, traditions based on different spiders. We have peacock spiders, jumping spiders, why not others? It'd flesh out the world quite a bit and would help differentiate the spider-MMCs.
Read
September 19, 2026I dropped the previous books because they fell into the insta-love category for my liking, and obviously never having met Telok or Lacey before this, I thought I could enjoy the story. Unfortunately, The Hunter gave off the same vibes as the other installations, and didn't have the sense of intrigue, mystery or suspense like how Ketahn + Ivy's started. And yes, despite them being "enemies", the insta-lovey feels were still present.
I guess it's time to call it quits to this series. The first will always be my one and only favourite.
I look forward to a new world or series the author might create.
I guess it's time to call it quits to this series. The first will always be my one and only favourite.
I look forward to a new world or series the author might create.
September 17, 2026
4.5/5
I could tell they tried their best giving everyone their HEA but like… I wish it just wasn’t so typical the way it happened??? I’m only talking about cole’s subplot btw it just felt so bland with how they just so happen to have found ANOTHER random human and she happened to be a woman and his age? AND just her???
ALSO I can’t tell if i liked that i was laughing my trachea out that they were fucking and telok was fighting the monsters simultaneously like what was that 😭😭 every moment was an embarrassing one for Lacey, she couldn’t catch a break
I could tell they tried their best giving everyone their HEA but like… I wish it just wasn’t so typical the way it happened??? I’m only talking about cole’s subplot btw it just felt so bland with how they just so happen to have found ANOTHER random human and she happened to be a woman and his age? AND just her???
ALSO I can’t tell if i liked that i was laughing my trachea out that they were fucking and telok was fighting the monsters simultaneously like what was that 😭😭 every moment was an embarrassing one for Lacey, she couldn’t catch a break
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2026
What a disappointing book. And it was the one I had the highest hopes for. I thought that, being the last one, it would be the best of the lot. Telok had been my favorite from the start, and I expected his and Lacey’s story to be as fascinating as it was erotic. Even Urkot’s book—which I didn't think would be that great—completely outshone Telok’s. Thank goodness I didn't pay for it; I downloaded it for free. And even for free, it was too high a price.
October 5, 2026
Not-so-friendly reminder that STALKING especially when the person is UNCONSCIOUS and in a VULNERABLE position (i.e. there is no consent whatsoever) is 1) NOT VOYEURISM, which involves consent of all parties involved and 2) IS NOT FUCKING EXCUSABLE NOR A CUTE KINK.
I’m baffled you are normalising this, this is not dark romance, it’s supposed to be a romantasy. So sad how far down we’ve gone from the first book.
I’m baffled you are normalising this, this is not dark romance, it’s supposed to be a romantasy. So sad how far down we’ve gone from the first book.
September 18, 2026
gosh I have such sentimental feelings about this series! my first foray into monster/dark romance genres and now it’s done! <3
Did Not Finish
September 21, 2026I’m sorry I stayed up till to 2am to finish to just DNF after that horrible first time. It was so icky and more reminiscing of SA. Not well done and then for her to get immediately aroused again right after? Tell me a man wrote that section.
September 29, 2026
3.5/5⭐️
ughhh the yearning. the struggle. i love torture. green is my new fav color.
ughhh the yearning. the struggle. i love torture. green is my new fav color.
Want to Read
May 21, 2026Pre-Read
Cover drop!
I think that since both Lacey and Telok look exactly like how I pictured them, I'm a little underwhelmed by this one. And besides which, nothing can top Rekosh's expert weaving, let's be honest! However, just as Callie's outfit made sense to match Urkot since he was a delver, Lacey's obvious forest-nymph-inspired outfit matches the fact that Telok's a hunter. I do like other details of the cover though, including:
+ how Telok's front legs are wrapped around Lacey to show his possessiveness (because we did see some of that in The Delver)
+ the scratches on Telok's hide that are a testament to his character, as described many times
+ and, of course, Telok's awesome green colour!
Will be looking forward to this romance once it finally comes out! <3
Cover drop!
I think that since both Lacey and Telok look exactly like how I pictured them, I'm a little underwhelmed by this one. And besides which, nothing can top Rekosh's expert weaving, let's be honest! However, just as Callie's outfit made sense to match Urkot since he was a delver, Lacey's obvious forest-nymph-inspired outfit matches the fact that Telok's a hunter. I do like other details of the cover though, including:
+ how Telok's front legs are wrapped around Lacey to show his possessiveness (because we did see some of that in The Delver)
+ the scratches on Telok's hide that are a testament to his character, as described many times
+ and, of course, Telok's awesome green colour!
Will be looking forward to this romance once it finally comes out! <3
October 3, 2026
Well, here we are with the final book in the Vrix series, Lacey and Telok's book. My thoughts are, I thought it was ok. I don't know, as much as I wanted this to be a 4 or even 5 star book so bad, it just wasn't that for me unfortunately. For me, the internal anguish and miscommunication between the two was so stupid and unnecessary. Literally, if they'd just communicated instead of letting their negative thoughts consume them, we wouldn't have had to wait almost 300 pages for them to finally get together. I understand and sympathize with the fact that they had trauma and unhealed trauma makes for illogical thinking at times but come on!
Telok thinking he can't have a life with Lacey didn't make any sense to me considering he knows his friends are all happily mated to human women. Again, I know he had trauma from losing his family when he was kid but his woe is me unnecessary brooding about Lacey dragged on too long for me.
The writing of Lacey at the very beginning of the book, I didn't like. She was being overdramatic, childish and bitchy for no reason. He came to find her, saves her and she decides to repay him by breaking his spears because she doesn't like that he hogtied her to bring her back home. Mind you, she was being stubborn for no reason. I thought that move was incredibly childish and made no sense to me. Lacey from the previous books wouldn't have done something cruel. However, I will give credit, she took accountability, truly was remorseful, crafted him a new spear and apologized. I did like that and the fact that immature and bitchy Lacey didn't last long.
Telok being over the top the whole book. Look, a male character being possessive, dominant and a little jealous doesn't bother me. Depending on how it's written, it can work but the authors dragged this behavior out of Telok too long. The whole book to be exact. Because he didn't claim Lacey until almost 300 pages into a 443 page book, he was overly possessive, jealous and dominant the whole time. Every man Lacey was next to, he glared at, was jealous of or actually threatened, all because he was repressed, horny and thought they all wanted her and took his sweet time claiming her. He was rude to all of them. Telok being the most feral and grumpy of his friends is fine but again, the behavior dragged too long and started becoming annoying to me personally.
Lastly, I really didn't like the retconning of another human who just happened to be on the planet and survived just to give Cole a love interest. Sophia was cool and all but she served no purpose besides being there to be Cole's love interest. Cole is still not my favorite and that'll never change. I can acknowledge that he did change for the better and redeemed himself since he showed up in the second book in Ivy and Ketahn's series, however, once I don't like a character, I don't like them. Doesn't matter if they redeemed themselves. The authors obviously felt bad that he was the only human who didn't have anybody so they threw him a bone by magically having another woman randomly pop up in the last book in the series. I didn't like it but whatever.
As a whole, the book wasn't terrible but I do wish there were different writing decisions made. I wish Lacey and Telok would've communicated better from the beginning instead of internally angsting chapter after chapter. I damn well wish they would've cut back on Telok's over the top antics. He was starting to become unbearable. There absolutely were cute moments between them but all the other things kinda ruined me caring about the cuteness. The book also had a lot of careless grammatical errors that their editor very much missed. With all that being said, I will miss the Vrix. I never thought a day would come where I read about alien spiders and enjoyed it. This was a great true monster romance series and I would definitely recommend the entire 6 book series for readers interested in real monster romance or at curious about it. It's definitely one of the best monster series out right now.
Telok thinking he can't have a life with Lacey didn't make any sense to me considering he knows his friends are all happily mated to human women. Again, I know he had trauma from losing his family when he was kid but his woe is me unnecessary brooding about Lacey dragged on too long for me.
The writing of Lacey at the very beginning of the book, I didn't like. She was being overdramatic, childish and bitchy for no reason. He came to find her, saves her and she decides to repay him by breaking his spears because she doesn't like that he hogtied her to bring her back home. Mind you, she was being stubborn for no reason. I thought that move was incredibly childish and made no sense to me. Lacey from the previous books wouldn't have done something cruel. However, I will give credit, she took accountability, truly was remorseful, crafted him a new spear and apologized. I did like that and the fact that immature and bitchy Lacey didn't last long.
Telok being over the top the whole book. Look, a male character being possessive, dominant and a little jealous doesn't bother me. Depending on how it's written, it can work but the authors dragged this behavior out of Telok too long. The whole book to be exact. Because he didn't claim Lacey until almost 300 pages into a 443 page book, he was overly possessive, jealous and dominant the whole time. Every man Lacey was next to, he glared at, was jealous of or actually threatened, all because he was repressed, horny and thought they all wanted her and took his sweet time claiming her. He was rude to all of them. Telok being the most feral and grumpy of his friends is fine but again, the behavior dragged too long and started becoming annoying to me personally.
Lastly, I really didn't like the retconning of another human who just happened to be on the planet and survived just to give Cole a love interest. Sophia was cool and all but she served no purpose besides being there to be Cole's love interest. Cole is still not my favorite and that'll never change. I can acknowledge that he did change for the better and redeemed himself since he showed up in the second book in Ivy and Ketahn's series, however, once I don't like a character, I don't like them. Doesn't matter if they redeemed themselves. The authors obviously felt bad that he was the only human who didn't have anybody so they threw him a bone by magically having another woman randomly pop up in the last book in the series. I didn't like it but whatever.
As a whole, the book wasn't terrible but I do wish there were different writing decisions made. I wish Lacey and Telok would've communicated better from the beginning instead of internally angsting chapter after chapter. I damn well wish they would've cut back on Telok's over the top antics. He was starting to become unbearable. There absolutely were cute moments between them but all the other things kinda ruined me caring about the cuteness. The book also had a lot of careless grammatical errors that their editor very much missed. With all that being said, I will miss the Vrix. I never thought a day would come where I read about alien spiders and enjoyed it. This was a great true monster romance series and I would definitely recommend the entire 6 book series for readers interested in real monster romance or at curious about it. It's definitely one of the best monster series out right now.
September 21, 2026
Telok interested me the most since book one of The Spiders Mate Trilogy. His coloring, the references to him teaching the others how to hunt but no reference to him being older than the rest of the group, his fixation on Lacey being one of a kind in her coloring. Watching their relationship change through the last handful of books I knew I was going to be in for yearning this book and oh did they ever deliver.
"By the Eight, he longed to be enwrapped in this fragrance and never released. Longed to claim the female it belonged to, needed to claim her. She was meant to be his. " Telok - basically anytime he thought about Lacey.
Learning his backstory helped put into perspective the drastic change in behavior. It also answered all the questions left about why he is the hunter that he is.
“What the hell was that for?” Cole demanded as Okkor scurried past. “Bug,” Telok said. “There was not a bug on my head.” Telok shrugged, the gesture’s nonchalance belying his continued glare. “Oops.”
Watching him get jealous of every male, but specifically Cole who has such a brotherly relationship with Lacey was fantastic. Very, 'if I cannot have her no one can' all while being the only thing in his own way.
Lacey being in full on denial when that spider-man has done nothing but take care of her and stare at her longingly even if he was rough about it and denying himself, like GURL. She also had a pretty traumatic past so it is forgiven, but GURL.
Chapter 25. Chapter fucking 25. Oh. My. God. I knew it was coming, it was used for marketing. But OH. MY. GOD. It was late, I was in bed. I woke up my husband. I was giggling, kicking my feet, I gasped and reread twice. It was so hot, so funny, and SO WELL WRITTEN.
Cole, my sweet baby human showed off all that character development.
Some introductions have me on my knees begging for another series in this world, I am not prepared for my time in The Tangle to be over.
September 21, 2026
So this review may be taken with a grain of salt because 1. I’m still in a huge book slump with trust issues after The Land of the Beautiful Dead by R Lee Smith. (And if you want to know the reasons for that, it’s in my review for that book)
I went into this one excited but also cautious, because I don’t trust this author team. Some of their books are awesome, some of them I’ve had to dnf. The quality is not consistent. Even within this series.
SPOILERS
Like some other reviewers pointed out, the reason for Lacey to have gone off on her own in the beginning scene was just not reasonable. It boggled my mind that she would put herself in such a vulnerable position while bleeding in the middle of an alien jungle.
Being in a hot spring in a nearby cave? That would make plenty of sense because the heat would help the pain and the water would help the ick feeling to a point. Absolutely. But to have her go out alone and find some spring in isolation and just wallow like a June tick on a bloodhound? I SAY, NO. lol
The reasoning for Telok fighting the relationship.. well.. I think his ptsd would have manifested in other ways, not that particular way. Once again, the emotional stakes did not ring true.
The first time they have sex is so weird that it took away from the sexiness completely. No payoff to the tension we’ve experienced over so many books. Did a man come up with that scene idea? Because it seems like a man would come up with that shit. I get wanting to be original. I truly do. But some things should be respected. Have it happen the second time they have sex or something. Not the sacred first time!
I did finish the book and they were some cute parts. And I understand how a series may be difficult to wrap up as an author to the satisfaction of the fans. But it did seem like this one was kind of phoned-in.
Be that as it may, I give it 3 1/2 stars, because I’m glad this series exists, and even though it isn’t perfect, the world-building is great and the cultures of the different Vrix were interesting.
I went into this one excited but also cautious, because I don’t trust this author team. Some of their books are awesome, some of them I’ve had to dnf. The quality is not consistent. Even within this series.
SPOILERS
Like some other reviewers pointed out, the reason for Lacey to have gone off on her own in the beginning scene was just not reasonable. It boggled my mind that she would put herself in such a vulnerable position while bleeding in the middle of an alien jungle.
Being in a hot spring in a nearby cave? That would make plenty of sense because the heat would help the pain and the water would help the ick feeling to a point. Absolutely. But to have her go out alone and find some spring in isolation and just wallow like a June tick on a bloodhound? I SAY, NO. lol
The reasoning for Telok fighting the relationship.. well.. I think his ptsd would have manifested in other ways, not that particular way. Once again, the emotional stakes did not ring true.
The first time they have sex is so weird that it took away from the sexiness completely. No payoff to the tension we’ve experienced over so many books. Did a man come up with that scene idea? Because it seems like a man would come up with that shit. I get wanting to be original. I truly do. But some things should be respected. Have it happen the second time they have sex or something. Not the sacred first time!
I did finish the book and they were some cute parts. And I understand how a series may be difficult to wrap up as an author to the satisfaction of the fans. But it did seem like this one was kind of phoned-in.
Be that as it may, I give it 3 1/2 stars, because I’m glad this series exists, and even though it isn’t perfect, the world-building is great and the cultures of the different Vrix were interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2026
Love love loved the original trilogy, spin-offs were entertaining but definitely not at the same level, but this one took the mediocre cake. The world feels pretty wrung-out at this stage and the series definitely wasn't built for this kind of longevity, so I understand why this is the last book. The blurb accompanying the release definitely gave "wheezing all the way to the finish line".
I know it's hard to do new things, because you've already built a fan base that looooves the way things are. All my protective spider-guys that are allllways chomping at the bit to fuck FMC are blending together, and the internal dialogue gets repetitive. FMC allllways has to get pregnant, too, which is such a big eyeroll for me. You've done such a great job of incorporating all these different races, archetypes, sexualities, etc. but you can't imagine an FMC that doesn't want or can't have CHILDREN? Please, why try so hard to be inclusive but stop there?!
Cole got his HEA... people were absolutely dying to see this so good for them. Good for him.
Despite everything, I loved the stand-out scene where Telok dances for Lacey. Jumping spiders were very cool but I felt like it was a wasted opportunity. I wonder if the authors ever think in hindsight, that they should have done a winddancer and thornskull spin-off instead? Or maybe that three vrix spin-offs was more than they could handle in general...
I think the major problem here is the lack of a /good/ overarching theme. Again, they're spin-offs, but it's hard to lower my expectations when I've read the true glory of the Spider's Mate Trilogy.
I know it's hard to do new things, because you've already built a fan base that looooves the way things are. All my protective spider-guys that are allllways chomping at the bit to fuck FMC are blending together, and the internal dialogue gets repetitive. FMC allllways has to get pregnant, too, which is such a big eyeroll for me. You've done such a great job of incorporating all these different races, archetypes, sexualities, etc. but you can't imagine an FMC that doesn't want or can't have CHILDREN? Please, why try so hard to be inclusive but stop there?!
Cole got his HEA... people were absolutely dying to see this so good for them. Good for him.
Despite everything, I loved the stand-out scene where Telok dances for Lacey. Jumping spiders were very cool but I felt like it was a wasted opportunity. I wonder if the authors ever think in hindsight, that they should have done a winddancer and thornskull spin-off instead? Or maybe that three vrix spin-offs was more than they could handle in general...
I think the major problem here is the lack of a /good/ overarching theme. Again, they're spin-offs, but it's hard to lower my expectations when I've read the true glory of the Spider's Mate Trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2026
This is by far my most favorite series by Tiffany Roberts, together with The Spider’s Mate series. Going into this series, beginning with Ivy and Ketahn’s love story and ending with Lacey and Telok’s story, I never realized just how much I would fall in love with these characters and the world the authors created.
Watching the humans adjust to the new world they had awakened to, along with their fascinating Spider companions who would soon become their friends and life partners, was such an amazing journey.
In this book, I genuinely loved the banter and chemistry between Lacey and Telok. There were so many moments where I was either curled up laughing on the floor, kicking my feet and giggling like a little girl, or maybe both—especially the first time they did it. 😉😉 wink wink
Overall, I’m very happy with how everything ended, especially with Cole and his new wife/mate and the new family these characters have created. At the same time, I’m incredibly sad that this series has finally come to an end.
I was also slightly disappointed with the epilogue. I really hoped we would get to see more of the new babies, Ahnset meeting her nephew, everyone’s reactions to finally meeting Sophie, and the gathering of all the Vrix tribes. But maybe, if the authors ever decide to write one, we could get an extra epilogue that gives us some of those moments. 🤞
Overall, I absolutely loved this story and this entire series. These characters and their world have found a special place in my heart, and I know I’m going to miss them so much. ❤️
Watching the humans adjust to the new world they had awakened to, along with their fascinating Spider companions who would soon become their friends and life partners, was such an amazing journey.
In this book, I genuinely loved the banter and chemistry between Lacey and Telok. There were so many moments where I was either curled up laughing on the floor, kicking my feet and giggling like a little girl, or maybe both—especially the first time they did it. 😉😉 wink wink
Overall, I’m very happy with how everything ended, especially with Cole and his new wife/mate and the new family these characters have created. At the same time, I’m incredibly sad that this series has finally come to an end.
I was also slightly disappointed with the epilogue. I really hoped we would get to see more of the new babies, Ahnset meeting her nephew, everyone’s reactions to finally meeting Sophie, and the gathering of all the Vrix tribes. But maybe, if the authors ever decide to write one, we could get an extra epilogue that gives us some of those moments. 🤞
Overall, I absolutely loved this story and this entire series. These characters and their world have found a special place in my heart, and I know I’m going to miss them so much. ❤️
October 6, 2026
Telok, a Vrix hunter, has been a warrior since his youth. He bears more scars than any of his friends, but his deepest wound is the guilt of having led a powerful enemy into the heart of his family—an encounter that nearly cost him his life.
Years later, he stands as the bravest, most skilled, and most disciplined hunter of them all. Yet, he is also the loneliest and the grumpiest.
With the arrival of humans—specifically the females—Telok watches as his friends find mates; one has even started a family, and from afar, Telok yearns for the same.
Then there is Lacey, a human female. With her fiery hair and green eyes, she is spirited, cheerful, and stubborn. Yet, she too harbors scars hidden beneath her skin.
When Telok and Lacey join the others on a hunting expedition, having her nearby becomes a source of torment for him. Everything about her draws him in and calls to him. As other males begin to approach her, Telok’s mating instincts roar to life, and he finally claims her.
The problem, however, is his fear of losing her.
Tangle shows no mercy to the weak. Tangle takes away the ones we love. And Telok will move heaven and earth to protect his new mate.
-----
Both of their stories are heartbreaking. Telok and Lacey have suffered irreparable losses and are struggling to survive—not only in the world around them (Lacey, especially, as she navigates an entirely new reality) but also within themselves.
Their meeting of souls—despite belonging to different species—offers a powerful lesson in resilience.
5 stars
Years later, he stands as the bravest, most skilled, and most disciplined hunter of them all. Yet, he is also the loneliest and the grumpiest.
With the arrival of humans—specifically the females—Telok watches as his friends find mates; one has even started a family, and from afar, Telok yearns for the same.
Then there is Lacey, a human female. With her fiery hair and green eyes, she is spirited, cheerful, and stubborn. Yet, she too harbors scars hidden beneath her skin.
When Telok and Lacey join the others on a hunting expedition, having her nearby becomes a source of torment for him. Everything about her draws him in and calls to him. As other males begin to approach her, Telok’s mating instincts roar to life, and he finally claims her.
The problem, however, is his fear of losing her.
Tangle shows no mercy to the weak. Tangle takes away the ones we love. And Telok will move heaven and earth to protect his new mate.
-----
Both of their stories are heartbreaking. Telok and Lacey have suffered irreparable losses and are struggling to survive—not only in the world around them (Lacey, especially, as she navigates an entirely new reality) but also within themselves.
Their meeting of souls—despite belonging to different species—offers a powerful lesson in resilience.
5 stars
October 4, 2026
Este libro finaliza la trilogía de los Vrix y secuela de Spider Mate.
Inicié esta aventura buscando algo similar a la Saga Clecanians y cuando encontré esta historia la empecé súper escéptica, pero me llevé una súper sorpresa porque me intrigo muchisimo el primer libro, continue leyendo hasta terminarlos y le tome mucho cariño a los personajes, me gusta que tiene un balance entre el romance y la aventura y accion, es un ahistoria que habla de suoervivencia, amistar y amor, de valentia y superacion y me encanto. Guardare con mucho cariño cada libro.
Sobre The hunter la verdad es la pareja que mas esperaba, Telok es mi Vrix favorito despues de Kethan por supuesto haha, Telok es el serio, gruñon y frio si de esos que me encantan y Lacey es una belleza de chica, su historia me enamoro como las demas fue diferente y refrescante y mis niños me hicieron suspirar.
Me hubiera encantado un par de capítulos más donde todos se reencontraran y donde naciera su bebé, pero bueno, espero que la autora saque algún especial de esta maravillosa familia.
El cambio de "The tangle devours all" a "The tangle will never take you from me" me hizo patalear como colegiala, lo amoooo
Inicié esta aventura buscando algo similar a la Saga Clecanians y cuando encontré esta historia la empecé súper escéptica, pero me llevé una súper sorpresa porque me intrigo muchisimo el primer libro, continue leyendo hasta terminarlos y le tome mucho cariño a los personajes, me gusta que tiene un balance entre el romance y la aventura y accion, es un ahistoria que habla de suoervivencia, amistar y amor, de valentia y superacion y me encanto. Guardare con mucho cariño cada libro.
Sobre The hunter la verdad es la pareja que mas esperaba, Telok es mi Vrix favorito despues de Kethan por supuesto haha, Telok es el serio, gruñon y frio si de esos que me encantan y Lacey es una belleza de chica, su historia me enamoro como las demas fue diferente y refrescante y mis niños me hicieron suspirar.
Me hubiera encantado un par de capítulos más donde todos se reencontraran y donde naciera su bebé, pero bueno, espero que la autora saque algún especial de esta maravillosa familia.
El cambio de "The tangle devours all" a "The tangle will never take you from me" me hizo patalear como colegiala, lo amoooo
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