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Battle Born #1
Crusader
Ashley comes home after a long day and finds a spaceman searching her apartment. Before she can call for help, or run like hell, the intruder stabs her and leaves her for dead. Desperate for freedom, Bandar, a battle born soldier, travels to Earth. His find Daniel Kane, brilliant geneticist. It’s believed that Daniel can unleash the magic locked inside the battle born. Bandar’s search leads to Daniel’s daughter, Ashley, just in time to save her life. Bandar is so captivated by the fragile human that his need to protect and possess her threatens his mission. Ashley awakens miraculously healed and filled with questions. Bandar is gorgeous and heroic, but she doesn’t believe a word he says. This isn’t the first time she’s run across aliens and now she knows it won’t be the last. She agrees to help him unravel the secrets surrounding her father’s work. Ashley has always believed her father was murdered and now she has a chance to learn the truth. But it’s hard to trust Bandar when the brush of his fingers makes her entire body tingle. Their volatile attraction could fulfill her wildest fantasies or open the door for planetary invasion. Note to This book contains detailed descriptions of sizzling passion only suitable for mature readers. From Battle Born is a spinoff of my Shadow Assassins series. However, it’s not necessary to have read the earlier books to enjoy these new stories. All of my books are cross-genre romances. They blend elements of science-fiction, fantasy, and paranormal romance. The Battle Born books will lean a bit more toward sci-fi, but there will still be plenty of steamy romance. Enjoy!
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2015
118 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Cyndi Friberg
78 books160 followersPassionate Sci-Fi with a touch of danger and a whole lot of sass.
Cyndi has written about rock stars, vampires, and cat shifters, but she's currently focused on outer space. Her stories are fun, fast-paced, and seriously hot. She has made the USA Today Top 100, and every book in the Outcasts series landed on Amazon's Top 100. She is currently working on Shadowborn Rebellion, a spin-off series set in the Outcasts universe.
Cyndi has written about rock stars, vampires, and cat shifters, but she's currently focused on outer space. Her stories are fun, fast-paced, and seriously hot. She has made the USA Today Top 100, and every book in the Outcasts series landed on Amazon's Top 100. She is currently working on Shadowborn Rebellion, a spin-off series set in the Outcasts universe.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 15, 2016
The first book in the Crusaders series by Cyndi Friberg. So Ashley Kane comes home to find someone there and gets stabbed. Another person pops in and gets rid of her attacker and beams her to medical. Seems like Ashley's father's research is in demand. But her father is dead and Ashley doesn't have any of it. Bandar is a Battle Born. Apparently, his people thought it was okay to capture women, rape them, and take their babies. Those babies were known as Battle Born.
So this is apparently a spinoff series and I guess you really need to read the other series to truly understand all that was going on. I wasn't totally lost but I did feel like something was missing. The romance portion was okay for me. It wasn't a total bust though and I think I will continue the series. It didn't really end on a cliffhanger exactly but there are unresolved issues that need to be tackled.
So this is apparently a spinoff series and I guess you really need to read the other series to truly understand all that was going on. I wasn't totally lost but I did feel like something was missing. The romance portion was okay for me. It wasn't a total bust though and I think I will continue the series. It didn't really end on a cliffhanger exactly but there are unresolved issues that need to be tackled.
August 10, 2015
Overall, this was a decent read but if you are looking for light and easy – then this is not a book for you. There is an extensive amount of background information and details in this book – different raced of aliens, abilities, cultures, social structures and politics as well as significant amount of genetic manipulation information. Having a scientific background, I usually don’t have an issue with science fiction being science-heavy, but with so much information seeded through what is really not a long book, on numerous occasions I had to put it down just to process what I have read. Unfortunately, for me, that not only interrupted the flow of the story, but also somehow tilted the Sci-Fi/romance balance of the book more toward Sci-Fi. The other thing that would not allow me to give higher rating is main characters – there is something about more Ashley and a bit less Bandar, that left me emotionally detached: It was like “Yes, they are ok, but I don’t see us becoming friends, and I am not disappointed “As a couple, they just did not pull me in or left a lasting impression. Will I continue with the series? Not sure at the moment (and I hate that indecisive state).
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May 31, 2022
I‘ve read this series out of order with huge time gaps in between, it’s exciting, and hot and filled with a fascinating new universe. Ashley accepted Bandor‘s courting pretty quickly but trust took a lot more time which worked well. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
April 12, 2019
Note to self
I didn't even finish the sample. The emphasis is on physical with no much regard to the facts. I don't think this book will be the right one for me.
I did try a second time but I couldn't finish this time either. There's a thread of revulsion I can't get rid of. Revulsion for the portrait of women as brainless vaginas. It doesn't matter what it's happening, they are wet and ready for sex.
There's no plot, at 60% nothing really happened. Backstory is ridiculous above all as it doesn't pan out to the MC's reaction. So it's damn boring to boot.
Yeah even free I can't recommend it.
I didn't even finish the sample. The emphasis is on physical with no much regard to the facts. I don't think this book will be the right one for me.
I did try a second time but I couldn't finish this time either. There's a thread of revulsion I can't get rid of. Revulsion for the portrait of women as brainless vaginas. It doesn't matter what it's happening, they are wet and ready for sex.
There's no plot, at 60% nothing really happened. Backstory is ridiculous above all as it doesn't pan out to the MC's reaction. So it's damn boring to boot.
Yeah even free I can't recommend it.
July 4, 2016
Interesting start of a series!
A little bit confusing (as the same heroine says!) with all the name frying around, but still intriguing!
Looking forward to the next one!
A little bit confusing (as the same heroine says!) with all the name frying around, but still intriguing!
Looking forward to the next one!
October 24, 2017
Crusader (Battle Born Book 1) Kindle Edition
by Cyndi Friberg
I received this book via the author for review purposes
“Magic is just technology we don't understand yet.” Arthur C. Clarke
Ms. Friberg clearly took that quote one step further, imagining if Magic and Tech lived side by side, with magic being the sought after that our aliens, the battle born, use technology to emulate.
The battle born and the other men of Rhodia are the center of a war that has been going on for centuries. Battle born, meaning they are the children of Rhodyte men who take them away as concubines, slaves and whores. Some are born with magical talents, but so weak, that they cannot measure up to the original planet of Billari, which kicked the Rhodyte off to a far less hospitable planet.
One faction of the Rhodyte and Battle Born have been zipping about the universe looking for a way to organically obtain magic while other factions use mass amounts of tech. There are a number of factions and motives, but the author makes it easy to keep them straigh.
AS in most Sci-Fantasy romance novels, there is the soulmate (in this case true mate) concept and it usually takes the forefront. Ms. Friberg does not do that. The Sci-Fantasy (I use fantasy because of the magic bit and it is referred to as magic) takes precedence. In fact, her battle scenes and answers to everything that is necessary for long, long term voyages through space is answered – be it a type of Trek replicator that isn't really and what happens when changes in speed, angle and so to people wandering the halls.
While the battle scenes are handled well, the sexual tension and romance are handled just as well. Those scenes are sexy without the new 'dark' meaning badly handled BDSM thing that is taking over the romance world because of 50 Shades. Our military hero is dominant, make no mistake, and he is possessive but he also has the key characteristic of a dominant, male or female, he is intensely protective of his true mate. He is also infinitely patient with her coming to grips with the concept that is not common in her experience.
Our heroine also has an easy and difficult, polar opposite, reactions to discovering aliens are real. She had seen them as a child and was deemed a total nutball by her mother. She spent months at a time in an institution.
The military characters are handled well, with an understanding that not every service person in the galaxy is some kind of SEAL, that most of their time is waiting between battles, that gathering information is as important a mission as attack.
The only complaint I have is the shuttling between residences – many on the Earthside bases, several on the ship, hotels and so on.
Well Done! The book is Book Nerd approved. Readers be aware there is another series ahead of this one but all books act well as stand alones.
4 out of 5.
by Cyndi Friberg
I received this book via the author for review purposes
“Magic is just technology we don't understand yet.” Arthur C. Clarke
Ms. Friberg clearly took that quote one step further, imagining if Magic and Tech lived side by side, with magic being the sought after that our aliens, the battle born, use technology to emulate.
The battle born and the other men of Rhodia are the center of a war that has been going on for centuries. Battle born, meaning they are the children of Rhodyte men who take them away as concubines, slaves and whores. Some are born with magical talents, but so weak, that they cannot measure up to the original planet of Billari, which kicked the Rhodyte off to a far less hospitable planet.
One faction of the Rhodyte and Battle Born have been zipping about the universe looking for a way to organically obtain magic while other factions use mass amounts of tech. There are a number of factions and motives, but the author makes it easy to keep them straigh.
AS in most Sci-Fantasy romance novels, there is the soulmate (in this case true mate) concept and it usually takes the forefront. Ms. Friberg does not do that. The Sci-Fantasy (I use fantasy because of the magic bit and it is referred to as magic) takes precedence. In fact, her battle scenes and answers to everything that is necessary for long, long term voyages through space is answered – be it a type of Trek replicator that isn't really and what happens when changes in speed, angle and so to people wandering the halls.
While the battle scenes are handled well, the sexual tension and romance are handled just as well. Those scenes are sexy without the new 'dark' meaning badly handled BDSM thing that is taking over the romance world because of 50 Shades. Our military hero is dominant, make no mistake, and he is possessive but he also has the key characteristic of a dominant, male or female, he is intensely protective of his true mate. He is also infinitely patient with her coming to grips with the concept that is not common in her experience.
Our heroine also has an easy and difficult, polar opposite, reactions to discovering aliens are real. She had seen them as a child and was deemed a total nutball by her mother. She spent months at a time in an institution.
The military characters are handled well, with an understanding that not every service person in the galaxy is some kind of SEAL, that most of their time is waiting between battles, that gathering information is as important a mission as attack.
The only complaint I have is the shuttling between residences – many on the Earthside bases, several on the ship, hotels and so on.
Well Done! The book is Book Nerd approved. Readers be aware there is another series ahead of this one but all books act well as stand alones.
4 out of 5.
October 7, 2017
*** I am voluntarily reviewing an Advanced Reader Copy of this book***
I was not sure about taking on this book at first, SciFi is not my favorite genre, but I was looking g for something different and this book came at the right time for me. I enjoyed the premise of the book and that was well well developed. Bandar and Ashley are well written, interesting characters, and the chemistry between them is undeniable. What I struggled with were all this side stories. I understand this is the first book in 14 book series, I'm not sure if there was prequel that I missed. But reviewing on this book alone, some of those side stories "muddied the water". I would definitely read some of the other books in the series, I am curious about how this ends for all.
I was not sure about taking on this book at first, SciFi is not my favorite genre, but I was looking g for something different and this book came at the right time for me. I enjoyed the premise of the book and that was well well developed. Bandar and Ashley are well written, interesting characters, and the chemistry between them is undeniable. What I struggled with were all this side stories. I understand this is the first book in 14 book series, I'm not sure if there was prequel that I missed. But reviewing on this book alone, some of those side stories "muddied the water". I would definitely read some of the other books in the series, I am curious about how this ends for all.
March 6, 2021
Definitely enjoyed this. Aliens, strange happenings, protection detail for a woman who doesn't know what it is they want from her... lots of intrigue here. I love a solid "leave the girl for dead" rescue op, it makes for an exciting start and the twists and turns here just don't stop. Bandar and Ashley make a great team, whether it's their sexual attraction or him protecting her from harm. The arguments were part of the fun.
I did get the sense the world already had been built before this (the earlier series, no doubt), but enough was shared that I didn't flounder for lack of prior knowledge. Since Ashley didn't have a clue about the alien culture or their business on Earth, the relevant parts were discussed.
I did get the sense the world already had been built before this (the earlier series, no doubt), but enough was shared that I didn't flounder for lack of prior knowledge. Since Ashley didn't have a clue about the alien culture or their business on Earth, the relevant parts were discussed.
May 24, 2018
This book was artfully crafted and uniquely designed to pull you into the pages where secrets and fairytales live and dreams come true for those who believe!
This book was enchanting, enthralling and endlessly entertaining where alpha males are on the hunt for the time forever mate! I'm recommending this book and series for your own personal library to enjoy anytime you want!
One of Greatest Fans,
Lena deLeon
lenadeleon2004.ld@gmail.com
This book was enchanting, enthralling and endlessly entertaining where alpha males are on the hunt for the time forever mate! I'm recommending this book and series for your own personal library to enjoy anytime you want!
One of Greatest Fans,
Lena deLeon
lenadeleon2004.ld@gmail.com
June 15, 2018
Needs an editor
Good introduction to battle born dilemma and what appears to be another story arc of nefarious criminals. Pretty impressed by how easily the presence of aliens was accepted by h, considering what she had experienced. H was compassionate and not overly arrogant, which is also a nice change. Now that battle born sons have a glimpse of freedom and family, matters will surely heat up. Editing needs to occur as errors were rather distracting.
Good introduction to battle born dilemma and what appears to be another story arc of nefarious criminals. Pretty impressed by how easily the presence of aliens was accepted by h, considering what she had experienced. H was compassionate and not overly arrogant, which is also a nice change. Now that battle born sons have a glimpse of freedom and family, matters will surely heat up. Editing needs to occur as errors were rather distracting.
June 24, 2017
Good
I feel as if I'm missing vital information about this world. Perhaps I missed a previous series? I like Bandar. He is a sweet soul who wants a life away from basic slavery. Ashley is right. They can't just storm Earth and steal females. That will start a war. Very good plot and story line. I will continue the series. I'm worried a out Chandar.
I feel as if I'm missing vital information about this world. Perhaps I missed a previous series? I like Bandar. He is a sweet soul who wants a life away from basic slavery. Ashley is right. They can't just storm Earth and steal females. That will start a war. Very good plot and story line. I will continue the series. I'm worried a out Chandar.
April 24, 2018
3.5
Pros: This was an entertaining book with interesting back story and characters. I kept turning the pages to see what would happen with the heroine and hero next.
Cons: The pacing lagged in a couple of places, and this book needed proofreading. There were several missing or repeated words and typos (e.g. the hero offering to give the heroine a "foot message" instead of a "massage").
Pros: This was an entertaining book with interesting back story and characters. I kept turning the pages to see what would happen with the heroine and hero next.
Cons: The pacing lagged in a couple of places, and this book needed proofreading. There were several missing or repeated words and typos (e.g. the hero offering to give the heroine a "foot message" instead of a "massage").
April 27, 2018
Great story
The first story of this series, it was very good. This is actually the second time I've read this book. The characters in it were awesome. I can't remember if I have read the next one, yet. I look forward to reading it now.
The first story of this series, it was very good. This is actually the second time I've read this book. The characters in it were awesome. I can't remember if I have read the next one, yet. I look forward to reading it now.
February 29, 2020
Interesting science fiction story where aliens are trying to contact Earth in the hope of finding the missing link to help them gain their mystical powers back. Described like that it sounds a little bizarre but it was quite enjoyable.
September 9, 2020
The "Battle Born" concept intrigued me and the book was a very good read. Ashley knew about aliens. Had seen them and been labeled crazy. Bandar's arrival put paid to that in her own mind. What a wild ride they go on in their mission. I can't wait to read the next book.
April 5, 2023
A really good book!
A woman finds an alien in her house! Then things really get interesting. Her mother ahas put her in mental institutions for over a year because she told her mother she saw an alien.
A woman finds an alien in her house! Then things really get interesting. Her mother ahas put her in mental institutions for over a year because she told her mother she saw an alien.
November 12, 2023
Crusader
The Battle Born men are looking for the best female so they can get back their magic. They are in a situation that causes them to be only a soldier and they wish to have a more open opportunity. Can Earth women be that opportunity or will it fail? Recommend this book.
The Battle Born men are looking for the best female so they can get back their magic. They are in a situation that causes them to be only a soldier and they wish to have a more open opportunity. Can Earth women be that opportunity or will it fail? Recommend this book.
October 25, 2016
Outstanding
Excellent book well written, action packed excellent start to this series. The H/h are fantastic together. Sex off the charts hot.
Excellent book well written, action packed excellent start to this series. The H/h are fantastic together. Sex off the charts hot.
February 3, 2016
If I could give 0 stars I would , I was board shitless all I've read is info who is who race of alien/and roles they have and very little romance there will be about 5 pages of action is there captured etC but then it's chapter after chapter of the same who's who's who and she's wants him then she doesn't It was repetitive, boaring and way way way to much information on EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING in the universe it's book 1 of the battle born but you get everyone's previous book history in it , the ending was a shit cliffhanger and the it go into epilogue couldn't be bothered to read that as I just wasn't invested enough or give a shit at the outcome will I buy future books from this author no I won't
August 2, 2015
Great New Series
Cyndi Friberg has started a great new series that I will follow religiously in the future. I hope book two will come out soon. Bandar and Ashley are great characters together, as well as the supporting cast. Great plot, with alot of extra subplots. A sure winner.
Cyndi Friberg has started a great new series that I will follow religiously in the future. I hope book two will come out soon. Bandar and Ashley are great characters together, as well as the supporting cast. Great plot, with alot of extra subplots. A sure winner.
March 23, 2017
Was a good read. I really enjoyed reading how the characters faced trouble and how they over came it. I found it interesting the way the author came up with this battle born story. I like the idea and now history is repeating itself.....it bring truth into the story. I cant wait to read the next book to see what in store for the battle born sons. I hope that they get a happy ending.
March 29, 2017
Wasn't too sure I would like this series but gave it a try anyway. Really pleasantly surprised to find the story excellent and enjoyable. If you enjoy reading futuristic sci-fi romance with a paranormal twist then you will love this series. I can't wait to read the next instalment of the Battle born series.
July 6, 2016
I get through 7 chapters trying to keep reading. I just didn't like the flow of the story. There also some writing mistakes. There is one series I like of her's. This one just didn't work for me. I won't be reading anymore in this series.
July 29, 2018
Great start but lots of information to take in. I rushed through the names and strange words and just tried to enjoy the story. I'm sure I'll pick up the rest in the next book. Some great scenes and some great melding of fact and fiction.
February 19, 2016
Cool
Was looking for something new and found this had lots to do today Lol nothing got done. Thank you Cyndi Friberg for a great afternoon. ENJOY I did . Happy Reading
Was looking for something new and found this had lots to do today Lol nothing got done. Thank you Cyndi Friberg for a great afternoon. ENJOY I did . Happy Reading
April 26, 2016
1.5 Stars
June 10, 2016
Enjoyed it enough to immediately buy the next one:)
June 15, 2016
Enjoyed very much 4.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews