The Thren's Fated: A Dark Sci-Fi Alien Romance

by E.K. Datura

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2026

About the author

E.K. is an author of science fiction and fantasy romance. She loves writing about weird aliens and polyamorous relationships. When not writing she spends her time at Renaissance Faires, playing DND with her friends, and cuddling her husband and cats. Her non-dark romance (and main) pen name is E.K. Darnell.

Reviews

[Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one 😭It seemed right up my alley! I really did enjoy the first few chapters setting things up and the station! The world-building was fun and I liked the different alien species! The writing as good and easy to read.

Screl was okay, but I feel like I never actually got to know him. I think that's what really fell short for me, I wished for MORE! This is the "to me a reader" section, the book was good! But, FOR ME, lacking in what I wanted.

More moments between Screl and Lena that weren't just banging and him leaving or her falling asleep. The ending had more of what I wanted, but by the time I got there I was not rooting for them like I should have and I was skimming lines to get the gist. And more on Thren's culture. And I'll say it again, moments for them. Just interactions of their personalities coming together and clashing, and seeing them gravitate toward each other outside of intimacy.

That being said, I'm done whining lol. I see the good bones of this story and the author has a writing style I enjoyed, so I'll keep my eyes open for their next book!

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This story is dual POV, well edited, and a dark, fated mates, abduction, sci fi romance between Lena, the female human bartender with medicated anxiety, and Screl, the male reptilian humanoid diplomat lead from a culture with a primal chase tradition. I enjoyed the accuracy of the depiction of Lena’s anxiety’s manifestation and sympathised with her struggles. I enjoyed the way she (eventually) seized the opportunity for a new life. I empathised with damage inflicted by both characters’ parents. I enjoyed the emotional support they provided for each other. I enjoyed Screl’s personal development regarding consent and boundaries as the story progressed. I enjoyed the balance that the characters provided for each other. I applauded the certainty with which the characters embraced a child free ending.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Screl is a matador waving red flags like confetti and I am the bull who can’t stop chasing them. Because, WOW!

Datura gives US everything here: darker romance with maybe some light drugging-for-compliance and so many tentacles and a bifurcated tongue PLUS 2 peens (that have mini tentacle fringe of their own!), touch her and die, fated mates, bondage and DVP and breeding with no intent to breed. Like this is the kink menu I would choose.

Also, there is a fantastic story about a human adrift and alone, spiraling in self-doubt and anxiety, with an inner voice that constantly tells her she’s not worth it. Lena is all of us at our weakest and most vulnerable. And Screl, with his OTT jealousy and sedation tentacles and devotion QUIETS that voice.

Screl’s dad is a giant asshole and racist, and that’s the source of most of the drama. But is that going to stop them from finding their HEA?

Thanks so much to the author for the review copy!

[Kate Brasington · Rating 5 out of 5]

🛸🛸Book review🛸🛸

What is something Kate loves?? Alien romances, alien romances with multiple appendages and fated mates and Thren’s fated delivers that and SO MUCH MORE.
The FMC is in her 30’s, travels to an alien planet for work and a change of scenery, deals with intrusive thoughts that are a trauma response from growing up with a horrible mother and doesn’t expect anybody to find her attractive let alone love her. And what does she find on this new planet?? Her mate who is OBSESSED WITH HER so much that he kidnaps her 🤣
I loved the banter between the two MCs and the spicy scenes they were 😮‍💨 plus there’s a little bit of primal play in this book which is immaculate!
If you are looking for a dark sci-fi romance Thren’s Fated will be perfect to pick up! This book is now available on KU!

[Becky L Bauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The start was rough, but this book makes you go on a rollarcoaster of self loathing, learning self worth, dealing with cultural and species differences, for two adults these two fated were very much like chickens with their heads cut off, this is definitely a partial misunderstanding trope and enemy’s to lovers, fated mates. Without giving away much, you have our fmc who’s a mature women, beautiful, but beat down by human society that the words becomes her own inner voice of self hatred and low self worth if any, the mmc comes in as a self indulgent big shot, alpha male kinda but really he’s over come with his species natural need to be with their fated which doesn’t happen often, if yo7 want something that will throw you for a loop every other page this is the one for you

[Kelsey Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

alien romance for the win

Love love loved this! Lena felt like such a relatable character with her hopes of a better life on Henios than she’d had on Earth. Screl was honestly so adorable and I just wanted to squish his face most of the time but I was definitely yelling at the book at some points like “bro just tell her the truth!” I loveeee a male who goes to “extreme” lengths to defend his mate’s honor and Screl definitely didn’t shy away from that. The spicy scenes were delicious and quite inventive since Screl has tentacles and extra appendages. Screl made a couple of impulsive moves that brought a bit of heat down on him and just the Threns in general but everything works out for the best. This was such an amazing read.

[Macy Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right off the bat, all the characters have a place and a reason to be there. Also I was a bad reader and read it all in one sitting and didn’t sleep. So the story was addictive to say the least. I’m not into dark romance of any sort, but this wasn’t too dark, while there was scenes of blood there are more than plenty scenes of spice to cancel out the brief mention of gore. 🌶️🌶️ Some scenes do get rather interesting to say the least. There are a lot of characters, each one is important for the plot of the story. All the aliens in the book were each unique with was another great chance to the sci-fi universe building. I also enjoyed the Interludes where I got to see inside his brain (MMC).

[ReedRyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Thren are a species of lizard like creatures with tentacles emerging from their backs. They love on a planet across from a space station.

Lena is an over 40 Bartender in the worst workplace of her life. Her boss is helping her mean intrusive thoughts grind her into dust
On a whim, she applies to a trip to a promising space station, across from the thren world.

A thren takes an interest in her.

Kidnapped and h0r4y, Lena must grapple with being desired, but also alone with her thoughts.

A powerful look at insecurity, libido and creative intercourse 😇

[DarkDigital Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

LENA JUST WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM HER BARTENDING JOB AND BOSS, SO TOOK A TRIP TO ANOTHER PLANET THEN HE FOUND HER, KIDNAPPED HER, SHE IS HIS FATED.

AND NOW? SHES HORNY AND AS NEEDY AS IS HE.
ALSO HE'S A DOUBLE MEMBERED ALIEN PRINCE POSSESIVE ALPHA WITH TENTACLES. SO THERES ALSO THAT!

HOW WILL SHE EVER RETURN HOME TO MALES WHO DON'T CARE?

DARK, SEDUCTIVE, SWEET AND SAVOURY ALIEN SMUT RIGHT HERE. FROM A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE TO DARK SWEET LOVE.

I EXPECTED NOTHING LESS FROM EK DATURA.
SHE IS BASICALLY MY GO TO FOR ALIENS AT THIS
POINT.

[Sofia Gajewski mamaqueleeromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh… I’m all in when you have an obsessive, morally gray alpha alien. Yeah, I know how that sounds 🤭.
I couldn’t put this book down. I loved the universe and how everything worked there.
In many ways, the FMC and her intrusive thoughts represent a lot of people, and I really appreciate that the author included that in the story.
The story is sometimes dark, but the connection between Lena and Screl is so unique that it really brightens everything. The spice is so good, too.

Thank you to the author for this ARC copy. This is my voluntary and honest review.

[Nita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this It had so much more depth than I was expecting. Not in a convoluted way but in such a way that it gave me more emotions that I was expecting. I was very pleasantly surprised with how everything worked out and the spice was good that's for sure but so was the plot so win-win.

[DemetraP · Rating 4 out of 5]

He likes tying her up and giving her pleasure.

He has two sets of genitals and tentacles.

I took off 1 star because he should have explained sooner that SPOILERS

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She is his fated mate.

[Archives of Jina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review soon!

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok reviewing a bit after reading because idk I'm like totally good and vibing for one week then have a massive emotional crash the next 😅

ANYWAY

This was SO GOOD!

🪐 Dark ALIEN Romance
🪐 Tentacles
🪐 Age gap (but...whose technically older?)
🪐 LOTS of tentacles
🪐 a spot of primal play
🪐 He TRIES to communicate

I ate this up in literally a day as soon as I got the arc. I LOVED it. Highest recommendation! Love the FMC is in her 30s. Love the ATTEMPTS at communication. No miscommunication trope here! Just....an MMC who is ....learning....which ends up being much more hilarious than stressful.

Had me cracking up as I read, but you still get the dark romance genre and the tropes and .....types of smut that tend to go with that.

Adored! I arc read it and honestly want to snag a paperback for my shelf 😂