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Altered
They survived the invasion.
They survived captivity.
Survival, it turned out, was only the beginning.
When a group of human women and their alien allies crash onto an uncharted planet, freedom finally seems within reach. The world is beautiful—blue skies, calm waters, and a sun that feels almost familiar. For the first time in years, there are no cages. No guards. No screams in the dark.
But trauma doesn’t end just because the chains are gone.
As they struggle to build a life on an alien world, old wounds refuse to heal. Grief festers. Guilt poisons love. And the children—born of violence and desperation—begin to change in ways no one fully understands.
What was meant to be a refuge becomes something far more complicated.
Altered is the next book in the Dark Star Warriors series, revealing the hidden beginnings of a world shaped by survival, loss, and the quiet emergence of something dangerous—something that will one day change everything.
They survived captivity.
Survival, it turned out, was only the beginning.
When a group of human women and their alien allies crash onto an uncharted planet, freedom finally seems within reach. The world is beautiful—blue skies, calm waters, and a sun that feels almost familiar. For the first time in years, there are no cages. No guards. No screams in the dark.
But trauma doesn’t end just because the chains are gone.
As they struggle to build a life on an alien world, old wounds refuse to heal. Grief festers. Guilt poisons love. And the children—born of violence and desperation—begin to change in ways no one fully understands.
What was meant to be a refuge becomes something far more complicated.
Altered is the next book in the Dark Star Warriors series, revealing the hidden beginnings of a world shaped by survival, loss, and the quiet emergence of something dangerous—something that will one day change everything.
114 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 31, 2026
About the author
M.L. Cook
36 books144 followersMary (M.L.) Cook is retired, with hours and hours to write. She was born and raised in Indiana. Although she’s lived in several other states, her heart lies in the Hoosier state.
Worlds come alive. Characters stand over her shoulder. Sometimes they wake her at night. All of them want to have their stories written. No matter how she thinks the story should go, it goes according to how the character decides it should. They all write their own stories.
Sometimes you can find Mary wandering the magical lands of Azeroth. If you happen to find someone who goes by Didntdream, say hello. Or perhaps it will be one of those days when she’s casting spells with her Orc, Loktoria. Either way, make her day and give her a shoutout.
Worlds come alive. Characters stand over her shoulder. Sometimes they wake her at night. All of them want to have their stories written. No matter how she thinks the story should go, it goes according to how the character decides it should. They all write their own stories.
Sometimes you can find Mary wandering the magical lands of Azeroth. If you happen to find someone who goes by Didntdream, say hello. Or perhaps it will be one of those days when she’s casting spells with her Orc, Loktoria. Either way, make her day and give her a shoutout.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 6, 2026
Altered is the second book in the Dark Star series, and just like the first, I really enjoyed it. The story pulls you in with its mix of emotion and tension, and I kept turning the pages to see what would happen next. A compelling and well-written read, I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys sci-fi.
Displaying 1 of 1 review