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Fog of War: An Intersolar Halloween Romance
When my alien best friend invites me to the Festival of Souls, I don’t expect for it to be a mash-up of the Day of the Dead, battle royale, and a you-know-what kind of show. Okay, that makes it sound worse than it is, but still! My introverted heart can only take so much.
And it nearly pitter-patters right out of my chest when I meet one of the champions that’s going to battle for a mate. Paladus Ferulis looks cold from afar but has a gremlin’s sense of humor. I secretly wish I could drown in his purr, even if I know he’s untouchable.
But my world is turned upside down in an instant. Thrown to the battlefield, injured and terrified, I can only hope that someone will save me. Will Paladus fight for me? Or will I fall into the hands of a true devil?
***
This is a spicy standalone Halloween novella in the Intersolar Union world set in a time after Earth has joined the Union. You do not need to be familiar with the world to enjoy this story.
And it nearly pitter-patters right out of my chest when I meet one of the champions that’s going to battle for a mate. Paladus Ferulis looks cold from afar but has a gremlin’s sense of humor. I secretly wish I could drown in his purr, even if I know he’s untouchable.
But my world is turned upside down in an instant. Thrown to the battlefield, injured and terrified, I can only hope that someone will save me. Will Paladus fight for me? Or will I fall into the hands of a true devil?
***
This is a spicy standalone Halloween novella in the Intersolar Union world set in a time after Earth has joined the Union. You do not need to be familiar with the world to enjoy this story.
84 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2025
4 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Etta Pierce
17 books301 followersI'm a hopeless academic and science fiction romance author. I write intelligent women, complicated men, and slow burn steam! My first series, the Intersolar Union Series, is ongoing with many more series and books planned for the future. Strap in for the long haul, guys, I'm here to stay and crank out some good romantic fiction!
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 16, 2025
4.5 stars
I will never get over Etta’s world building and unique alien biologies. Gabbie and her bestie, Leopha, went to an alien traditional celebration that ends in convergences, but not intending to participate in the mock battles. Gabbie wasn’t super interested in being the center of attention, but her humanness made her a bit of a spectacle. Her initial chemistry with Paladus was awesome and though there was some trauma that let to more for them, they rolled with it and found their HEA.
So….. how do I sign up for this alien planet festival for next year?
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: nonlethal violence, blood, bone breaking, fall from height, unwanted pursuit, unwanted touching, threat of SA, mate bond under duress, fertility festival involving public sex,
I will never get over Etta’s world building and unique alien biologies. Gabbie and her bestie, Leopha, went to an alien traditional celebration that ends in convergences, but not intending to participate in the mock battles. Gabbie wasn’t super interested in being the center of attention, but her humanness made her a bit of a spectacle. Her initial chemistry with Paladus was awesome and though there was some trauma that let to more for them, they rolled with it and found their HEA.
So….. how do I sign up for this alien planet festival for next year?
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: nonlethal violence, blood, bone breaking, fall from height, unwanted pursuit, unwanted touching, threat of SA, mate bond under duress, fertility festival involving public sex,
October 13, 2025
This was a cute quickie but I am ambivalent about it being set in the future of a world where the main series still hasn't resolved the outcome.
October 19, 2025
When will it be my turn to be rescued by a hot alien 😭😭
November 17, 2025
Short and sweet.
I was thrown by it being set 60 years into the future of the current series.
I was thrown by it being set 60 years into the future of the current series.
October 31, 2025
I went in to this just wanting a quick Halloween-themed alien romance novella (which it is, of course) but I was really impressed with this.
It's the first I've read from Etta Pierce and it's part of a wider series so I was a little worried I wouldn't follow it, but she does a great job of world building quickly for a novella without info dumping.
I loved the alien festival with Halloween vibes that combines battles and mating. And the way that Paladus didn't hesitate to come to Gabbie's rescue when she was unwillingly dragged into the battle.
There's a clear spark between the two and I was thrilled with the quick but believable development of their romance, which didn't feel too insta-lovey, given the circumstances they meet in!
I can’t wait to dive into more Etta Pierce books!
It's the first I've read from Etta Pierce and it's part of a wider series so I was a little worried I wouldn't follow it, but she does a great job of world building quickly for a novella without info dumping.
I loved the alien festival with Halloween vibes that combines battles and mating. And the way that Paladus didn't hesitate to come to Gabbie's rescue when she was unwillingly dragged into the battle.
There's a clear spark between the two and I was thrilled with the quick but believable development of their romance, which didn't feel too insta-lovey, given the circumstances they meet in!
I can’t wait to dive into more Etta Pierce books!
October 21, 2025
3.5 rounded 4
I stumbled upon this book while doomscrolling on Instagram. The colors on the cover caught my eye. It's a really pretty cover.
This is a really short book (novella). It was my first book by this author. There is a whole series centered around the same world. You don't need to read them to understand this one (I didn't, at least not yet as of October 2025).
I liked the vibe. The plot was pretty simple, but it does the job. Big scary alien X Human FMC. In my book, it's a win.
I stumbled upon this book while doomscrolling on Instagram. The colors on the cover caught my eye. It's a really pretty cover.
This is a really short book (novella). It was my first book by this author. There is a whole series centered around the same world. You don't need to read them to understand this one (I didn't, at least not yet as of October 2025).
I liked the vibe. The plot was pretty simple, but it does the job. Big scary alien X Human FMC. In my book, it's a win.
December 3, 2025
3.75✨ (rounded to 4 for GR)
2🌶️
EP graced us with another standalone Halloween novella in the Intersolar Union universe this year. I'm addicted to the way Etta Pierce writes aliens. And alien romance. The worldbuilding is so digestible yet so interesting, although with a shorter read like this, it's hard to fully develop, which ultimately can make the pacing feel fast.
Quit Your Waning remains EP's GOAT in terms of Halloween alien romance that delivers exquisite spooky vibes with an MMC to match ;)
2🌶️
EP graced us with another standalone Halloween novella in the Intersolar Union universe this year. I'm addicted to the way Etta Pierce writes aliens. And alien romance. The worldbuilding is so digestible yet so interesting, although with a shorter read like this, it's hard to fully develop, which ultimately can make the pacing feel fast.
Quit Your Waning remains EP's GOAT in terms of Halloween alien romance that delivers exquisite spooky vibes with an MMC to match ;)
October 23, 2025
This book was a pleasant surprise. It is the perfect Halloween read. Short and sweet.
Gabbie was easy to like. She was accepting of everyone and wanted to learn more about them. As she went through the festival, I felt like I was with her learning as she did. When things got out of hand, Paladus really came through for us. He was the perfect MMC. I just wish I got more time with them together. This could have easily been a longer book.
Gabbie was easy to like. She was accepting of everyone and wanted to learn more about them. As she went through the festival, I felt like I was with her learning as she did. When things got out of hand, Paladus really came through for us. He was the perfect MMC. I just wish I got more time with them together. This could have easily been a longer book.
November 11, 2025
This story takes place in the same universe as the Intersolar Union and Over the Moon series but it is set 60 years after those events so this is a complete standalone, but if you have read those books then you just know more about the different aliens and convergence.
Gabbie is invited by her friend and coworker Leopha, a venandi, to attend the Festival of Soul on Aescipoli. Gabbie is the first human to ever attend and gains a lot of attention, especially since humans look like venandi’s muru dolls that they worship. The festival is a fertility festival with a mock battle that gives clans a chance to find potential mates with convergence. What she doesn’t expect though is to be dragged into the battle and find herself a mate.
It’s always a good day when a new book in the Intersolar Union world is released. I was hooked on Gabbie's story from the beginning. She is a woman who doesn’t go on adventures normally but this time she lets her friend drag her along, and finds true happiness for the first time. I really liked her and how she embraced this new experience. The Festival of Soul seemed like a fun festival with all its costumes but intense with its battles and mating. It was just a cool festival, especially from a human perspective.
Paladus Ferulis was a male who is being forced by his family to participate in this mock battle with the expectation he will mate with another clan member, even if he doesn’t want to. Instead he finds himself captivated instantly by Gabbie and when he realizes she is in danger he jumps to save her, and claim her. Because this is just a short novella, we don’t get a lot of backstory on either Gabbie or Paladus, but they still felt like well fleshed out characters with great personalities.
Their relationship is an instant love/ accidental mating situation. While their mating is a tense situation due to the circumstances, it was still really enjoyable because we got to see the spark between them before that happened. While we don’t get to see a lot of their relationship afterwards, I still enjoyed the brief epilogue and what their future held.
Overall, this was a fantastic short novella. I love that we got a story that is set in the future of this world and that humans and aliens are integrated now. I would love to read more novellas/novels like this.
TW: public sexual acts; attempted forced mating; mating to save her life; injuries and blood;
Gabbie is invited by her friend and coworker Leopha, a venandi, to attend the Festival of Soul on Aescipoli. Gabbie is the first human to ever attend and gains a lot of attention, especially since humans look like venandi’s muru dolls that they worship. The festival is a fertility festival with a mock battle that gives clans a chance to find potential mates with convergence. What she doesn’t expect though is to be dragged into the battle and find herself a mate.
It’s always a good day when a new book in the Intersolar Union world is released. I was hooked on Gabbie's story from the beginning. She is a woman who doesn’t go on adventures normally but this time she lets her friend drag her along, and finds true happiness for the first time. I really liked her and how she embraced this new experience. The Festival of Soul seemed like a fun festival with all its costumes but intense with its battles and mating. It was just a cool festival, especially from a human perspective.
Paladus Ferulis was a male who is being forced by his family to participate in this mock battle with the expectation he will mate with another clan member, even if he doesn’t want to. Instead he finds himself captivated instantly by Gabbie and when he realizes she is in danger he jumps to save her, and claim her. Because this is just a short novella, we don’t get a lot of backstory on either Gabbie or Paladus, but they still felt like well fleshed out characters with great personalities.
Their relationship is an instant love/ accidental mating situation. While their mating is a tense situation due to the circumstances, it was still really enjoyable because we got to see the spark between them before that happened. While we don’t get to see a lot of their relationship afterwards, I still enjoyed the brief epilogue and what their future held.
Overall, this was a fantastic short novella. I love that we got a story that is set in the future of this world and that humans and aliens are integrated now. I would love to read more novellas/novels like this.
TW: public sexual acts; attempted forced mating; mating to save her life; injuries and blood;
December 25, 2025
I only wish it were longer!! Gabbie is a bookish heroine with a hidden streak of adventure, and I loved experiencing the Festival of Souls through her eyes (and her adventure pants). Paladus is dutifully following his family's wishes, but his heart isn't in it, and Gabbie immediately brings out his teasing, bratty side. I loved Leopha and her chaotic puppy energy, and I hope we can revisit this cast of characters!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews