NOT ALL SOULMATES MEET BY CHANCE. SOME ARE HUNTED.
Aurora's life has taught her one thing for sure: the other shoe always drops. The first time was when she was sixteen–sure, she cheated death, but it came with strange new habits that aren't her own and terrible coping strategies. So when Ronan comes crashing into her life, a sexy, sarcastic, shamelessly flirtatious dream of a man wrapped in a leather jacket–she holds her breath. Yet, as he continues to prove to her that he is utterly devoted, an obsession that feels too deep to be an illusion, she softens and begins to accept that maybe good things really can just happen. Then the ships arrive. A ruthless species as old as the stars themselves have carved sound into a weapon and descended upon the earth. They haven't just arrived, however, they've returned. Through their invasion, Aurora learns three things for certain: First, the other shoe always drops. Second, the man she loves isn't who he says he is. Third, and most importantly, this has happened before. Now, trapped in an ancient game by a god that is hellbent on making her forget she was ever playing, Aurora is determined to win this time. They say the universe will send you the same lesson over and over until you learn it, but what if that lesson hunts you?
“I've been searching for you for so long.”
THE STARSEED is the first installment in the Vicious Echoes series—a cosmic expansion of the Scorpion and the Frog fable. By combining real starseed community lore, conspiracy theories, and a magic system that just might be science, this series explores an alternative reality to the one we've been taught to believe. It is a warning for the consequences of transhumanism and AI worship, explores the spiritual role of physical death in a dualistic universe, and above all else, an epic journey through love, betrayal, and addiction. It's a little bit SciFi, a little bit fantasy, and a whole lot of romance. And a little monster spice, of course.
First I’ll start with that I received this book as an ARC and OMG. I feel like I went through an incredible roller coaster of emotions reading this book. It caught me immediately with the banter between the main characters as well as making me fall in love with the MMC just to find out he’s a monster. The absolute giddy girly laughs that came from me in the first half of this book had my husband side-eyeing me from the couch! Then in part two there’s a flash back and I fell in love with the MMC all over again just to find out he’s REALLY a monster. I’m obsessed with how all the plot lines intermingled and everything had a meaning but you never see the twists coming! The way Voss wrapped real life current day with also millions of years and lifetimes and fantasy was absolutely incredible and heartbreaking all at the same time. I DEVOURED this book I couldn’t stop myself 😭 I absolutely need the next book ASAP.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a super fun (not dark imo) romance to read! The main character is not very likable but she has a unique character across lifetimes. Most things were explained well. I did not expect it to turn into lol. Part two was too long in my opinion because I just wanted it to end so I can get back to current day but will have to wait for the sequel 🫡
This book really caught me off guard. The story line is truly amazing and very unique. The concept and world building in this book spoke to my soul. I cannot wait for book two to see how this story ends. If you are looking for something refreshing please pick this one out and enjoy!!
wow this book was a breath of fresh air! I’ve read so many sci fi romance novels and this one is pretty unique compared to what’s out there. I’m not a huge fan of fated mates so this was really great to read.
The world building is complex and is gradual. The aliens are truly alien and I love that! The book has 2 parts and I don’t wanna spoil it but part 2 really had me in my feels and ended on a cliffhanger!
Ronan and Aurora were so sweet together but I really wanted to see more of the dark romance in the sequel. I’m excited to see what else this author has in store for us!
I loved this book! The world building was an original, intriguing mix of contemporary, science fiction, mythology and conspiracy theory. The characters were multidimensional, a beautiful mix of flaws and softness. Even when you really wanted to dislike one of them, you understood why they were doing what they were, and even sympathized with them.
This really is two full books worth of story, so buckle up! The universe building in this is raw and tender at the same time. A love so intense, it leaves no room for endings.
ARC READ: (contains some spoiler content) As a HUGE Gilmore girls fan (I’ve watched the entire series at least 10 times) I was HOOKED from the prologue! (The scorpion and the frog is one of my favorite scenes from GG). Early 2000’s television aside, I was immediately drawn into aurora’s story. Intrigue right off the bat within the first 20 pages is always a good sign for me. This story was easy to settle into from the beginning, feeling very natural and realistic, making it easy to connect with the characters from the start.
“Ronan” and “Auroral” left my cheeks hurting from smiling so much as I read the beginning of their story. The slow burn, the flirting, and yearning, all of it was beautifully written. The transition from every day reality to sci-fi was brilliantly seemless. I’ve never read a sci-fi story quite like this (in the best way) and I could not have enjoyed it more. If the world was going to be erased like an etch-a-sketch and remapped, I wouldn’t be mad about experiencing it all with A Throne pre-discovery of deception. And there are so many beautiful little gems woven into the story, like Ronan’s favorite color being purple only to find out 100 pages later that Aurora’s love aura radiates as the color purple (swwoooooonnnnnn).
Part 2 was… magic. It was so brutally beautiful and tied so many pieces of the overall story together in ways that left me putting the book down to recover from, rethink, and wonder how I didn’t see it coming. And the ending?!?! THE ENDINGGGGGG!
This was an intricate, well thought out work of art. Spice, betrayal, intrigue, adventures, love. “I will always look for you. I will find you in every lifetime”. But there’s also so much heart break, betrayal, deceiving, and villainy. Gasped were gusped. Curses were murmured. There were so many twists that I didn’t see coming that kept me engaged, i DEVOURED all 700+ (kindle) pages in less than 3 days.
Overall the characters, plot, background, world building were all done really well. Not too tedious or drawn out, but enough detail to really create an image. There were so many comical references, relatable moments, and emotions that were experienced during this read. 4.8/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
ARC review Thanks to the author for letting me ARC read! This is my honest review.
Listen. I've read some SciFi books, fantasy books, romance books, dark romance books, and a LOT of monster romance books. This is a whole other level. First of all I was sucked in immediately by the prologue but even if I wasn't, I was invested within the first 30 pages. Aurora is so fun to read and I had so many genuine laugh out loud moments. I loved that we met the MMC almost immediately and launched into the romance. I also love just how much on page interaction they have AND YET its a slow burn. You seriously get an AMAZING feel for them and their dynamic. Honestly one of my favorite relationship build uos I've read in a while. I was surprised that it was actually kind of a mystery for a little bit, that was a cool element. When the spice hits, it HITS. LEAVES NO NOTES. Then the world goes to hell in a hand basket and the twists get twistier by the chapter and I was just in AWE. We move from contemporary romance with mystery/paranormal vibes to SciFi but the transition is so GOOD. The world building is off the charts. Part Two was such an unexpected turn but man it's beautiful and magical and filled with fantasy and scifi and romance. Getting to fall in love twice in the same book is such a cool concept. The writing style change to a more noble tone was a really cool touch, and it was where we got to see the origins of a lot of things that happen in part one. There are so many easter eggs tying the plot together that makes it feel like solving a puzzle while falling in love. The spice is somehow SPICIER but beautiful and full of emotion. I will never recover from the ending of this book, high key I cried, and I need the second one as soon as possible! Overall this book was an easy world to get sucked into, rich world building and lore, and absolutely lovable characters. Despite everything, Ronan is my new book boyfriend and I'm not sure if another MMC will be capable of taking his place.
The Starseed was one of those books that pulled me in much faster than I expected. I went in thinking I was getting a dark sci-fi romance, but I ended up finding a story that balanced mystery, emotional tension, and romance in a way that kept me wanting "just one more chapter."
One of my favorite parts was how the relationship developed. The chemistry was there from the beginning, but it wasn't rushed. There was enough emotional push and pull to make the romance feel earned, and I appreciated that the characters had depth beyond just their attraction to one another. The world-building was also a pleasant surprise. It introduced enough science fiction and fantasy element to feel immersive without becoming overwhelming or difficult to follow. Everything unfolded naturally, allowing the mystery to build alongside the romance. I also enjoyed that the story wasn't afraid to explore darker themes while still keeping the emotional core front and center. There were several moments where I genuinely didn't know what was going to happen next, and those twists kept me invested until the very end.
If I had one small critique, it would be that there were moments where I wanted even more detail and exploration of the world because it was so interesting. That's more of a compliment than a complaint. It left me wanting to spend more time in the universe.
Overall, this book is a great pick for readers who enjoy slow-burn tension, morally complex characters, sci-fi blended with fantasy, and romance that carries real emotional weight. It was engaging, atmospheric, and memorable.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
**I received an eARC of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**
I love books that explore moral questions, like what even is humanity anyway?
4 stars!
I enjoyed that this book’s FMC was a flawed human. She struggles with alcoholism but the author doesn’t morally shame her for her behavior, we just get to know her as she is. And Ronan loves her as she is, so I found it very human.
I wouldn’t consider this an instaromance, even though as you start the book you might wrongly assume it is. I don’t think it’s possible to appreciate them as a couple until you read the whole book. My opinion. Their love for each other spans time and space!!! Just … go with it.
The fact that the alien race was all clones was interesting, how can you make a well defined, DEEP male character that’s a clone???? But the author pulls it off. There were multiple times I was really questioning Ronan’s use of illusions, I questioned who the real architect was behind the different choices he makes and I wanted to hate him throughout the book. But somehow you still don’t…
I enjoyed getting to know Ronan, but this is definitely a book and a character you can’t get to know without reading the whole book.
The story weaves together a “he falls first” very dark romance and sci-fi, maybe a villain arc? And even so, I was giggling kicking my feet reading it. There are some plot twists… no spoilers… and I was glued to think book while reading it.
This book was just ok for me. It was over 600 pages and a lot happened. There were plot twists and surprises.
Spoilers.. . . .
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Spoilers. . .
.Big spoilers I spoil the ending . .. . Spoilers. . . .
The hero is 22 million years old. His species is dragon alien clones that have a "sphere" which contains their soul. They get a new clone body when it is needed. If someone crushes your sphere, you die.
The heroine is human. We eventually find out she has had many different lives and she and the hero have met before and fallen in love.
He is a Throne, one of the 12 leaders of his people. He owns planet Earth. Every 10,000 years Earth gets destroyed by natural causes. He and his people put the humans in stasis for a few centuries and wake them up when the planet is fixed.
A lot of stuff happens but she and the hero end up separated because she is actually a Priestess who leads the Lyra aliens. She says they can't be together because her people need her. But she married him anyway.
This book perfectly blends science fiction, romance, and adventure into a story that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The banter between the characters was one of my favorite parts—it felt natural, witty, and made the relationships so much fun to follow.
I also loved the unique twist on the soulmate concept. It felt fresh and different from anything I’ve read before, adding so much emotional depth to the story without feeling predictable.
The world-building was incredible. The creatures were genuinely unique, and the advanced technology gave me strong Atlantis vibes in the best possible way. Every new discovery made me want to keep reading to see what secrets would be revealed next.
If you’re looking for a sci-fi romance with fantastic chemistry, clever dialogue, immersive world-building, and an original take on soulmates, I can’t recommend The Starseed enough. It’s absolutely worth picking up!
The slow burn, yearning and banter infused progression of Ronan and Aurora is worth every second. Ronan says little things here and there that you wouldn't think much of that end up meaning more than you thought. Part one is the progression of this alongside some world and relationship building. Part two throws you a bone you didn't know you needed but explains more than you thought possible. Watching it all come together left me in shock and then immediately, why didn't anyone see that coming? I definitely still have questions, so I can't wait to read what's next.
Fav Quotes
“Even the dullest stars serve a greater purpose in the cosmos. If for nothing other than a smile, it is at least one more than you would have had without them.”
“Gentleness is not the inability to commit violence, Damascus. It is the choice not to.”
I’ve come to find that the universe has a way of repeating itself until it’s heard.”
This would be if “I’ll love you in every lifetime,” turned into obsession. And obsession became madness. Perhaps even turned into a threat.
This book…. Was a lot. It was very complex, but not in a bad way. More like, pulling on a string from a sweater and watching the pattern unravel, weave by weave.
I do believe, at its core, this is a love story. A story sidelined by tragedy, cliches, and encompassed in an operatic space fantasy setting.
I can’t even put into words, what this book is about, or go into how some things could be improved. Which there is. All I can really process, is how the author improved through out the book, and how much passion they put into this project. I am a bit, you could say, star-struck 😉😂. I do believe that this author could achieve great things, and I am beyond ecstatic for the next book.
I’d like to thank the author for the opportunity to read the advanced copy and leave an honest review!
This book was truly an original. While you have some tropes represented, the author was able to blend them in an intriguing and unique way which made them seem fresh and new. I was glued to the book once Aurora met Ronan, and got whiplash from all the different plot twists that came in such quick succession. Each time I thought I had a handle, the author changed it again. As such, I can't really give a detailed review without spoiling much of the book. What I can say, is that reincarnation is heavily themed in the book. There are two parts, each connected, but also independent from each other. The ending is obviously a cliff hanger, but I will gladly wait to find out what happens as the characters are so well written.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I found myself absolutely falling head over hills for this book, It had me hooked from the very begining. I am not gonna lie I was a little hesistant going in to this book, but it was truly fantastic, and not at all what I thought it would be. The story was written perfectly, the characters where written fantastically, the plot, the world building all of it just flowed in so well together. there were so many details that you found the further in the book you went and it was just so neat. It was like a roller coaster but in a great way there was so many twist and turns and just when you think you know whats going on it switches it on you. The whole book had me intrigued from the beginning and it help me through. I was absolutely so surprised with this book, you have to grab it and read it you wont regret it its truly awesome.
The book drew me in immediately, and the characters were so well written. The world-building was phenomenal too.
I love how the relationship developed and the plot thickened. You never quite knew what would happen next.
It was split into two parts and both were fantastic. I got part way through and realised it was 700 pages, which almost had me stopping, but I'm so glad I read on.
Tropes: slow-burn, enemies/friends to lovers, alien, touch her and die, he'd burn the world down for her. Morally grey (very dark grey, maybe even black), soulmates.
It does end on a cliff-hanger which devastated me because I need a sequel immediately! 6 stars (1 extra in case you lose one)
This is the kind of book that you don't forget. Once you've finished reading it, you feel at a loss
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wow, what a unique story! Pulled me in from the very beginning with the witty banter between the MCs and their connection. Then the twists and turns started and I really couldn't put it down! The first half of the book is set in "present day" while the second half is set in the past, I enjoyed both of the story lines- I liked that the second half of the book felt like a flash back and the very end of the book tied the past and present story lines together on a major cliff hanger. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sci-fi/fantasy mixed with their dark romance and I am already eagerly waiting for book #2!
I received an advance copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review.
The start of this book starts off like a romance, and I was initially confused because romance isn't something I would have asked to review. That being said, the book is long. Like really long. I don't know if it would have been better if it were trimmed down, or made into two shorter books. I really struggled with this one. While I enjoyed the concept and found the premise to be unique, I found part 1 to move too slowly for my tastes. Part 2 however had so much happening and so many plot twists. Overall, I enjoyed the book but wish it were shorter.
I received this as an ARC. Here is my honest review.
I loved this book. This is my first read from this author. I'm delighted to have found them.
The flirting between the two main characters was exactly my kind of flirting. (Teasing, banter, hints, slow burn.) So I very much enjoyed the development of their relationship.
It was an effortless read. The story flowed. The writing style was great. Enough mystery to keep me reading without feeling overwhelmed with the secrets. Overall it was just an amazing book.
Omg what an amazing story and it is so well written as well. I need more. I really need Damascus and Aurora (Everen) to have their happily ever after or at least some form of and HEA. Part 2 doesn't pick up right where part 1 left off so don't expect it 2 there's definitely a major plot twist in part 2 especially at the end.
Not my usual themes and style but I really LOVED their love! I think the fact that it was slow burn really helped slow everything down a little because for me, it was very different to what I would usually read, so I needed the time to just take it all in.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
WOW!! Absolutely absolutely wild ride. This book pulls you in from the very beginning and holds you there throughout the entire book! One of the best books I've ever read!! I have got to have the next book ASAP!!
This book has a lot of twists and turns you don't know who you can trust. But ronan/Damascus will do anything for the love of his life. Even destroying the place she loves. The book is a must read and it will leave you with a Clif hanger at the end.
This book was amazing! I love the world and characters. The story is enthralling. I absolutely cannot wait until the next one!! I was able to read an advanced copy of this book.