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Alphas #0.5
Origins
From Ilona Andrews—#1 New York Times bestselling author of Magic Shifts and the Kate Daniels novels—comes a stark, seductive tale of a world torn asunder by supernatural gifts and irresistible passions...
Karina Tucker is driving a van of children home from a field trip when an unplanned detour to a seemingly ordinary rest stop changes her life. There, she witnesses a world beyond humanity’s sight, of frightful powers and chaos, where she is in death’s grip... before an irresistibly dangerous male saves her—only to take her captive.
For she is a rare commodity in the shadowy realm she’s entered.
Karina soon finds herself caught in a violent civil war where those with inhuman powers strive to destroy each other without mercy. And it becomes all too clear that she must make a choice: submit and become a pawn, or take hold of her own destiny and fight for survival against impossible odds.
Alphas: Origins originally appeared in Angels of Darkness.
Karina Tucker is driving a van of children home from a field trip when an unplanned detour to a seemingly ordinary rest stop changes her life. There, she witnesses a world beyond humanity’s sight, of frightful powers and chaos, where she is in death’s grip... before an irresistibly dangerous male saves her—only to take her captive.
For she is a rare commodity in the shadowy realm she’s entered.
Karina soon finds herself caught in a violent civil war where those with inhuman powers strive to destroy each other without mercy. And it becomes all too clear that she must make a choice: submit and become a pawn, or take hold of her own destiny and fight for survival against impossible odds.
Alphas: Origins originally appeared in Angels of Darkness.
157 pages, ebook
First published April 19, 2016
565 people are currently reading
3955 people want to read
About the author
Ilona Andrews
145 books33.3k followersIlona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)
Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.
Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 486 reviews
September 14, 2019
Huh. I think I get why Ilona Andrews abandoned this starter to a new series. It has some pretty disturbing elements, and it’s got about a million surface details but nothing that really sticks. It’s like the proverbial river that’s a mile wide and an inch deep.
Karina Tucker is a widowed mother of a young daughter, Emily. While driving Emily and a few other kids home from from a field trip they make a quick stop at a building because Jacob HAS to use the restroom. It's an ugly, somehow menacing building (Karina! just send Jacob into the bushes with some tissues!).
And from there Karina (and Emily) are involuntarily pulled into a weird, deadly dimension. With lots of men - also menacing, but hot, so ... The few women are just there for backdrop. It's all about the alpha guys here.
Will Karina be able to overcome a bad start (seriously, a really, REALLY bad start) and control herdensity destiny? Will the rapey man have a good heart and Reasons for how he acts? Who cares?
I’d only recommend it if you’re an Ilona Andrews completist and not too picky about your urban fantasy.
Full review to come.
Content notes: Lots of language, violence, kidnapping, assault ... but no sex.
Karina Tucker is a widowed mother of a young daughter, Emily. While driving Emily and a few other kids home from from a field trip they make a quick stop at a building because Jacob HAS to use the restroom. It's an ugly, somehow menacing building (Karina! just send Jacob into the bushes with some tissues!).
And from there Karina (and Emily) are involuntarily pulled into a weird, deadly dimension. With lots of men - also menacing, but hot, so ... The few women are just there for backdrop. It's all about the alpha guys here.
Will Karina be able to overcome a bad start (seriously, a really, REALLY bad start) and control her
I’d only recommend it if you’re an Ilona Andrews completist and not too picky about your urban fantasy.
Full review to come.
Content notes: Lots of language, violence, kidnapping, assault ... but no sex.
June 1, 2016
Please note that I gave this book half a star. However, I gave it one star on Goodreads due to having to round up.
Book God #1:So we're in hiding now? Obsidian Blue has now threatened to find us and wipe us from the face of the Earth. I mean...I don't know what she wants us to do about it. It's not our fault that one of her favorite authors wrote about the hero running around claiming to own the heroine as well as having to read about him thinking about raping her every five seconds.
Book God #2: Stop talking so loudly! Seriously. I think I heard something.
Book God #1: And heck, I know she's mad that the world building was a joke and apparently saying things like alternate reality and aliens is kind of explaining things, but heck, look at the movie Prometheus, nothing made sense but people will still probably watch the sequel.
Book God #2 staring at Book God #1:Your logic in this situation is seriously awful.
Book God #1: Hey, apparently being threatened with rape can make a woman decide that she's in love with her captor. Or something. I don't know. And apparently talking about how the guy used to have sex with his former slave a few paces away from the heroine's daughter is a turn on? I don't know. Humans are odd.
Book God #2: Okay I'm out. I hear something. I think it's her.
Book God #1: Hey! come back!
I barely have the words right now to describe what this novella/book is. I have several authors on auto-buy status that I pre-order without a second thought. Ilona Andrews is/was one of those authors, but after reading her newest I went back and cancelled my orders on anything that is not the Kate Daniels series at this point. I don't even know how to explain this. This whole novella is just a set-up to a new series that I think the husband/wife team are planning on publishing in the near future I assume. I have no intention of reading one thing related to this world again.
The book starts off with Karina Trucker coming home from an outing with her daughter and other children. Karina is in a caravan of cars and pulls over after one of the little boys needs a bathroom right away. Stopping at a motel, she and the children feel like they stepped into a weird carnival. After being threatened by a man who appears to be turning into a monster, Karina does what she can to escape only to be offered a choice in the end. Let everyone including her daughter die, or agree to a deal where she becomes a slave that is fed upon by a Demon named Lucas. Karina and her daughter find themselves smack dab into a war that has been going on for thousands of years.
I was hoping, truly hoping that maybe Ilona Andrews would pull this one out at the end. Have Karina be a heroine standing tall on her own escaping from a life of being a slave with her daughter. This after she stabs the hero Lucas a thousand times in his neck would have been the best case scenario. If that had happened I would have given this book 5 stars. But no, instead, we get Karina, who up until almost the very end of the book is thinking of ways to escape with her and her daughter finding herself intrigued and seduced by Lucas who is a piece of crap.
Karina's backstory with her ex-husband and her former in-laws was a joke too. I hate it when authors do this thing when the widowed spouse is somehow a terrible human being so it makes it easier for the now live spouse to move on to another person. And since the person in question is Lucas, you know the person who has captured Karina and her daughter and who feeds on her one would think that her ex-husband has to still be better than him, but nope, you are wrong.
Lucas is disgusting. I am sorry, but there is no freaking justification for the way that this character is portrayed. And for the authors to make you feel sorry because he fell in love with a former slave that apparently turned the tables on Lucas because she was able to make herself feel stronger by being more aggressive in bed? I mean? Ugh.
Think about the power dynamics of this situation for a moment. Apparently Lucas is a breed of Demon that needs to feed on people considered donors. Though donors would imply that they actually donate themselves willingly. Nope, they have to to keep people that they feed upon as slaves because who wants to be slowly eaten to death?! No one. And yet I am supposed to look at Lucas with sad eyes and say yes, if only someone loved you sometime in your life you wouldn't be thinking about raping me every five seconds.
SHOVE IT LUCAS.
The other characters in this story are not given a lot to do in this story. They are either not really helpful (Henry) or threatening towards Karina if she doesn't do what they say (Daniel and Arthur). Oh and it was so much fun to have the character of Daniel around to also threaten Karina sexually.
The writing was not at all like Ilona Andrews. At least not a Ilona Andrews I have ever read. I have read every Kate Daniels book and the novellas related to that world. I checked twice the other day to make sure that this wasn't a self published book where someone had co-opted the name. This was graphic and clumsy and just off-putting. Sorry it doesn't make me "hot" to read about how Lucas thinks about raping Karina through the whole book. He stares at her half naked while she's unconscious and oh yeah we also get a scene where she is forced to be naked in front of him while she's bathing and she's scared he's going to rape her. I mean, come the hell on.
The flow of this about 135 pages (the rest was just excerpts from Kate Daniels and Of The Edge series) novella really didn't work for me. We have info dumps in between scenes of Karina trying to understand what is happening to her, begging to be allowed to see and than stay with her daughter, being fed upon by Lucas, and oh yeah having to be worried about being raped.
The world building was a mess the entire way through this book. We have Karina get slammed into a whole new world that I swear that they authors made up at the drop of a hat. This read like really bad fan fiction to me. I have no other words to describe it. And the info dumps via character is still one of my least favorite things ever in a book. You either set the world up properly or you don't. Having someone try to tell the hero and heroine everything in five minutes between running around from scene to scene irks the crap out of me. Trying to keep the characters straight and their particular species just made me roll my eyes. I needed a flow chart. Since I have no intention of reading anything else set in this world I stopped caring and just got to the end.
The ending just killed me. It made no freaking sense and on top of everything else we have super duper powers being instilled and I think at this point I just blacked out from rage. Oh and I guess Karina and Lucas are going to be a happy family or something. I don't know. The rage made me forget.
Book God #1:So we're in hiding now? Obsidian Blue has now threatened to find us and wipe us from the face of the Earth. I mean...I don't know what she wants us to do about it. It's not our fault that one of her favorite authors wrote about the hero running around claiming to own the heroine as well as having to read about him thinking about raping her every five seconds.
Book God #2: Stop talking so loudly! Seriously. I think I heard something.
Book God #1: And heck, I know she's mad that the world building was a joke and apparently saying things like alternate reality and aliens is kind of explaining things, but heck, look at the movie Prometheus, nothing made sense but people will still probably watch the sequel.
Book God #2 staring at Book God #1:Your logic in this situation is seriously awful.
Book God #1: Hey, apparently being threatened with rape can make a woman decide that she's in love with her captor. Or something. I don't know. And apparently talking about how the guy used to have sex with his former slave a few paces away from the heroine's daughter is a turn on? I don't know. Humans are odd.
Book God #2: Okay I'm out. I hear something. I think it's her.
Book God #1: Hey! come back!
I barely have the words right now to describe what this novella/book is. I have several authors on auto-buy status that I pre-order without a second thought. Ilona Andrews is/was one of those authors, but after reading her newest I went back and cancelled my orders on anything that is not the Kate Daniels series at this point. I don't even know how to explain this. This whole novella is just a set-up to a new series that I think the husband/wife team are planning on publishing in the near future I assume. I have no intention of reading one thing related to this world again.
The book starts off with Karina Trucker coming home from an outing with her daughter and other children. Karina is in a caravan of cars and pulls over after one of the little boys needs a bathroom right away. Stopping at a motel, she and the children feel like they stepped into a weird carnival. After being threatened by a man who appears to be turning into a monster, Karina does what she can to escape only to be offered a choice in the end. Let everyone including her daughter die, or agree to a deal where she becomes a slave that is fed upon by a Demon named Lucas. Karina and her daughter find themselves smack dab into a war that has been going on for thousands of years.
I was hoping, truly hoping that maybe Ilona Andrews would pull this one out at the end. Have Karina be a heroine standing tall on her own escaping from a life of being a slave with her daughter. This after she stabs the hero Lucas a thousand times in his neck would have been the best case scenario. If that had happened I would have given this book 5 stars. But no, instead, we get Karina, who up until almost the very end of the book is thinking of ways to escape with her and her daughter finding herself intrigued and seduced by Lucas who is a piece of crap.
Karina's backstory with her ex-husband and her former in-laws was a joke too. I hate it when authors do this thing when the widowed spouse is somehow a terrible human being so it makes it easier for the now live spouse to move on to another person. And since the person in question is Lucas, you know the person who has captured Karina and her daughter and who feeds on her one would think that her ex-husband has to still be better than him, but nope, you are wrong.
Lucas is disgusting. I am sorry, but there is no freaking justification for the way that this character is portrayed. And for the authors to make you feel sorry because he fell in love with a former slave that apparently turned the tables on Lucas because she was able to make herself feel stronger by being more aggressive in bed? I mean? Ugh.
Think about the power dynamics of this situation for a moment. Apparently Lucas is a breed of Demon that needs to feed on people considered donors. Though donors would imply that they actually donate themselves willingly. Nope, they have to to keep people that they feed upon as slaves because who wants to be slowly eaten to death?! No one. And yet I am supposed to look at Lucas with sad eyes and say yes, if only someone loved you sometime in your life you wouldn't be thinking about raping me every five seconds.
SHOVE IT LUCAS.
The other characters in this story are not given a lot to do in this story. They are either not really helpful (Henry) or threatening towards Karina if she doesn't do what they say (Daniel and Arthur). Oh and it was so much fun to have the character of Daniel around to also threaten Karina sexually.
The writing was not at all like Ilona Andrews. At least not a Ilona Andrews I have ever read. I have read every Kate Daniels book and the novellas related to that world. I checked twice the other day to make sure that this wasn't a self published book where someone had co-opted the name. This was graphic and clumsy and just off-putting. Sorry it doesn't make me "hot" to read about how Lucas thinks about raping Karina through the whole book. He stares at her half naked while she's unconscious and oh yeah we also get a scene where she is forced to be naked in front of him while she's bathing and she's scared he's going to rape her. I mean, come the hell on.
The amusement in Daniel's eyes crystalized into anger.
"If you want to intigriate yourself, there's a much easier way of doing it.
You can come over here right now and suck my cock.
That will put you into my good graces much faster than scrubbing the sink.
Karina glanced at Lucas. He cut a piece of steak, chewed with obvious pleasure, and threw her a look that said, Sit tight.
The flow of this about 135 pages (the rest was just excerpts from Kate Daniels and Of The Edge series) novella really didn't work for me. We have info dumps in between scenes of Karina trying to understand what is happening to her, begging to be allowed to see and than stay with her daughter, being fed upon by Lucas, and oh yeah having to be worried about being raped.
The world building was a mess the entire way through this book. We have Karina get slammed into a whole new world that I swear that they authors made up at the drop of a hat. This read like really bad fan fiction to me. I have no other words to describe it. And the info dumps via character is still one of my least favorite things ever in a book. You either set the world up properly or you don't. Having someone try to tell the hero and heroine everything in five minutes between running around from scene to scene irks the crap out of me. Trying to keep the characters straight and their particular species just made me roll my eyes. I needed a flow chart. Since I have no intention of reading anything else set in this world I stopped caring and just got to the end.
The ending just killed me. It made no freaking sense and on top of everything else we have super duper powers being instilled and I think at this point I just blacked out from rage. Oh and I guess Karina and Lucas are going to be a happy family or something. I don't know. The rage made me forget.
May 16, 2017
3.5 stars rounding up because I quite enjoyed it, and I should mention this is not something I thought I'd like.
Overall, I think it's a bit too rushed and so much of the world(s) is either hastily explained )without giving you a good grasp of the existence of these worlds) or not explained sufficiently, but I think if this series continues, it will definitely improve because the writing has all the markings of a pair of authors who know their audience and know what to deliver. They just need more room to expand on their ideas.
All through the read, I got the sense the Andrews wanted to test some limitations of the genre and take their stories down a darker path that's just as psychologically challenging as it's physically challenging. And one of the things they put to the test was the romance starting off with a kidnapping and imprisonment. I know... So then how would this ever be a"romance," right? I was unimpressed myself and had to make an effort to keep reading, but then the thing at end happened and it made me think well, that's interesting... maybe there is something here... I trust the Andrews enough to not royally screw this up, whatever the tenuous "this" is.
The tone for much of the story is tense with some humorous moments in between to break up the hostility, and sometimes there's sexual tension that borders on being unbearable due to the kidnapping and imprisonment, but both main characters have enough sense and chemistry and are grounded in reality enough to keep it from becoming too cringe-worthy. The strength lies in these two holding the story together, and for me it worked.
Other than that, I think this story is a fun read and I'm cautiously optimistic of this series' prospects, but maybe that's because I'm so used to these two authors by now that entering a new world of theirs and encountering hostile natives is just another adventure.
Full(er) review at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
Overall, I think it's a bit too rushed and so much of the world(s) is either hastily explained )without giving you a good grasp of the existence of these worlds) or not explained sufficiently, but I think if this series continues, it will definitely improve because the writing has all the markings of a pair of authors who know their audience and know what to deliver. They just need more room to expand on their ideas.
All through the read, I got the sense the Andrews wanted to test some limitations of the genre and take their stories down a darker path that's just as psychologically challenging as it's physically challenging. And one of the things they put to the test was the romance starting off with a kidnapping and imprisonment. I know... So then how would this ever be a"romance," right? I was unimpressed myself and had to make an effort to keep reading, but then the thing at end happened and it made me think well, that's interesting... maybe there is something here... I trust the Andrews enough to not royally screw this up, whatever the tenuous "this" is.
The tone for much of the story is tense with some humorous moments in between to break up the hostility, and sometimes there's sexual tension that borders on being unbearable due to the kidnapping and imprisonment, but both main characters have enough sense and chemistry and are grounded in reality enough to keep it from becoming too cringe-worthy. The strength lies in these two holding the story together, and for me it worked.
Other than that, I think this story is a fun read and I'm cautiously optimistic of this series' prospects, but maybe that's because I'm so used to these two authors by now that entering a new world of theirs and encountering hostile natives is just another adventure.
Full(er) review at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
April 21, 2016
What. The. Fuck.
I am on the record for being a huge fan of Ilona Andrews. They are my favourite authors and I have read almost all of their books. They are the only writers whom I also follow through their blog. I was over the moon when I received an ARC for Magic Stars (my first ARC ever!). In short, I love their work and have recommended them to everybody I know. So what the hell was this? This reads like a cheap and terrible version of IA fanfic, written by a different author.
I don't know what went wrong here. Ilona Andrews are known for their excellent world building, which also holds true for their short stories. Even a middle grade IA book is usually pretty enjoyable and better than many other urban fantasy books.
This story had a weird and messy start, too many things happening at once, everything felt rushed and the connections between the characters was also very awkward. Was this some sexy dubcon / master-slave relationship that was supposed turn into actual feels? Why did the hero begin to feel up the passed-out heroine, just to emphasize that the could "have her" but did not do it in the end because he was not a ~monster~? What the hell was going on there? I could not connect with any of the characters and the kid was annoying (and just to show the contrast, IA can write fucking AWESOME kid characters - George, Jack, Julie..). Just.. no. This was absolutely not up to the authors' usual standard.
This felt super clunky and the only good part was the final battle in the last quarter - this is where the old IA awesomeness came back and it felt more like their regular writing. Overall, I have the feeling that IA had to deliver something for the anthology Angels of Darkness, got stuck, and just finally went with the idea and did not have the time to revise or polish this up to their usual standard (or to totally scap it and go with something else, tbh).
If this had been a new author or somebody I had been on the fence about, I would have probably not continued reading their work. However, in this case I don't really care. Ilona Andrews are still some of my favourite writers and even the people you admire are allowed to have an off day (or short story, in this case). I was disappointed but in the end, this was only a short story for €2 and not a full length novel. I guess I also have to mention that this was originally published in 2011.. Despite all of this, my feelings about this story will not change my view about their total body of work and I am looking forward to the regularly sheduled programming.
October 7, 2016
Started off pretty funny with Karina driving six year-olds to a school field trip. They nail real-life kids bickering in the backseat of the car, which is so annoying and yet I remember doing the same thing as a little kid! They make a pit stop, bathroom break and all hell breaks loose. Karina and her daughter are plunged into an alternate world, where she is a precious commodity to a lethal fighter, Lucas. He's big, strong and seductive, but Karina doesn't like the balance of power between them when they first meet. He holds all the power over Karina and her daughter, and she has very few choices. Never fear, Ilona Andrews rarely writes a helpless female, and Karina was no exception!
There was immediate sexual tension between Karina and Lucas, an attraction that Karina fights, while she evaluates her situation. I can't wait to see how it all works out! I'm hoping Ilona Andrews writes a sequel soon!
There was immediate sexual tension between Karina and Lucas, an attraction that Karina fights, while she evaluates her situation. I can't wait to see how it all works out! I'm hoping Ilona Andrews writes a sequel soon!
June 27, 2017
A very gripping novella. I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire time. As usual the authors have their own unique take on "vampires". The characters and 'verse had the potential to be fascinating must-readsd, if and when the Gordons decide to expand on the world.
April 24, 2016
The action starts right away, which is a good thing for a novella of only 157 pages. Could be classed as SciFi, although it has a Urban Fantasy/PNR feel to it, similar to Andrews' Kinsmen novellas.
Good world building, as always. Strong female character. Despicable, strong, good-looking male character with a potential for romance. The usual tropes are coverd. Starts fairly dark, with a kidnapping and dubious consent. Develops into an interesting new world. I like Karina, Lucas and Henry and could come to really hate Arthur.
I would definitely buy a full length novel of this, if it was published.
Good world building, as always. Strong female character. Despicable, strong, good-looking male character with a potential for romance. The usual tropes are coverd. Starts fairly dark, with a kidnapping and dubious consent. Develops into an interesting new world. I like Karina, Lucas and Henry and could come to really hate Arthur.
I would definitely buy a full length novel of this, if it was published.
March 27, 2019
Aa much as I love the writing team that are the Andrews, I rarely branch out from their Kate Daniels series and try anything else. I decided this was the year I stopped being weird and tried something else of theirs.
I decided to start with Alphas: Origins. It is a shorter story, not set in the Daniels world and I thought it would be a good place to dive in and see that else these marvelous minds could do with a story and while this was original and I did like it, certainly not one of my favorites from these authors but still one that is worth the time to read, especially if you want something shorter that is still well written and entertaining.
I decided to start with Alphas: Origins. It is a shorter story, not set in the Daniels world and I thought it would be a good place to dive in and see that else these marvelous minds could do with a story and while this was original and I did like it, certainly not one of my favorites from these authors but still one that is worth the time to read, especially if you want something shorter that is still well written and entertaining.
December 21, 2015
3,3 bloodthirsty stars
Esta historia aparece en la antologia Angels of Darkness donde fue lo único que leí. Con más de 39000 palabras técnicamente no se consideraria una novella, y pasan muchisimas cosas en la segunda mitad a un ritmo vertiginoso que te hacen dar la impresión de ser más largo.
Karina es viuda, con un hija de seis años, viene de regreso de una excursión con otros niños de la clase en su auto, cuando se ve sumergida en medio de todo un mundo oscuro, violento y muy confuso. Y se ve forzada a hacer una elección (con énfasis en lo de forzada y poco en lo de elección), con secuencias a lo Tarantino.
Existen todos esos elementos que normalmente me hacen dejar botada una historia: un super macho posesivo, privar a una mujer de su libertad y coeccionarla a hacer una elección (incluidas llamarla esclava con variadas menciones de violación), y ocultarle información vital. Es la clase de libro que tan sólo una escritura atrapante logra retenerte hasta el final .
-->(y no, no es de vampiros)
Lo mejor: Karina, una mujer muy práctica con la cabeza bastante fria dadas las circunstancias ( a pesar de que ese insta-lust/sindrome de estocolmo que termina descarriando esa impresión, por mucho que te dan esa seudoexplicación de las hormonas y el veneno como para intentar darle sentido).
Leeré el próximo, sólo por curiosidad ;P
Esta historia aparece en la antologia Angels of Darkness donde fue lo único que leí. Con más de 39000 palabras técnicamente no se consideraria una novella, y pasan muchisimas cosas en la segunda mitad a un ritmo vertiginoso que te hacen dar la impresión de ser más largo.
Karina es viuda, con un hija de seis años, viene de regreso de una excursión con otros niños de la clase en su auto, cuando se ve sumergida en medio de todo un mundo oscuro, violento y muy confuso. Y se ve forzada a hacer una elección (con énfasis en lo de forzada y poco en lo de elección), con secuencias a lo Tarantino.
Existen todos esos elementos que normalmente me hacen dejar botada una historia: un super macho posesivo, privar a una mujer de su libertad y coeccionarla a hacer una elección (incluidas llamarla esclava con variadas menciones de violación), y ocultarle información vital. Es la clase de libro que tan sólo una escritura atrapante logra retenerte hasta el final .
Yes. It’s not like vampire movies, where the vampire bites the woman and she moans softly and comes all over herself. There’s no rapture involved. No climax. Just me chewing on you.”
-->(y no, no es de vampiros)
“You will find that we’re a violent, vicious lot. All of us hate Arthur, hate each other, hate who we are, what we are, why we are. This hate is so deep within us, it’s in our bones.
Lo mejor: Karina, una mujer muy práctica con la cabeza bastante fria dadas las circunstancias ( a pesar de que ese insta-lust
Leeré el próximo, sólo por curiosidad ;P
May 19, 2019
You think you’re normal, living an ordinary life and then you get thrown into the twilight zone where monsters are real and everything you knew about the world and life and who you are – none of that is real. Karina was a normal mom, on her way home with a van of children when an unexpected detour sent her world into chaos and terror.
Forced into a binding decision in order to save her life and protect her daughter’s, Karina had to learn to live amongst terrifying creatures and find a way to navigate this new reality. She was a solid character and it was hard not to emphasize with her situation. She didn’t let circumstances defeat her but she did her best to rise up and be strong for her daughter.
Lucas was your typical alpha and I liked him a lot. He was real and true to his nature. He didn’t give excuses for his actions but the harsh truth.
The plot-line was excellent and I enjoyed this story so much that when it ended I couldn’t believe it was over. I wish there were more books in this series.
Posted on Blog
January 2, 2017
I want to start the year with an Ilona Andrews book and this one didn't disappoint.
I want this to have its own series because it deserves so and the world building ( ohmygosh) is spectacular. I want to know more about this universe and I want to know more about the other characters.
May 24, 2022
Perhaps even 3.5*
Great start that reads like horror, quite captivating, and interesting sci-fi world. The weak points - ending feels rushed, romance seems rushed as well. It would have worked better if it had more time to develop, as it is - it smacks of Stockholm syndrome. Still - I would be keen to read more books in this series, interesting premise.
Great start that reads like horror, quite captivating, and interesting sci-fi world. The weak points - ending feels rushed, romance seems rushed as well. It would have worked better if it had more time to develop, as it is - it smacks of Stockholm syndrome. Still - I would be keen to read more books in this series, interesting premise.
August 14, 2018
Rating: 4 stars
This long story features Karina, an every day Mary Sue-ish heroine who gets sucked into a convoluted universe of mutants, only to learn she is a donor. What does that mean? You will need to read this wild ride of an explanation bursting at the seams with action, dysfunction, bad dudes--who are the 'good guys'-- that are sinisterly scary and a heaping space station sized plot and explanation of "what-the-heck-is-going-on". My hope is that this series will evolve and continue because the Andrews team have started this potential series with a kick-butt beginning.
This long story features Karina, an every day Mary Sue-ish heroine who gets sucked into a convoluted universe of mutants, only to learn she is a donor. What does that mean? You will need to read this wild ride of an explanation bursting at the seams with action, dysfunction, bad dudes--who are the 'good guys'-- that are sinisterly scary and a heaping space station sized plot and explanation of "what-the-heck-is-going-on". My hope is that this series will evolve and continue because the Andrews team have started this potential series with a kick-butt beginning.
December 5, 2017
An Ilona Andrews book I didn't really like that much......
........
The world MUST be ending.
........
The world MUST be ending.
June 29, 2023
Interesting world and characters, but the pacing seemed off and things weren't explained as well as I would've liked. Also, the romance felt forced and didn't fit with the story.
Even with the negatives, I liked the world a lot and would continue the series. Maybe Ilona Andrews will write more in this world someday.
Even with the negatives, I liked the world a lot and would continue the series. Maybe Ilona Andrews will write more in this world someday.
October 19, 2018
Origins offered a unique story with parallel universes, aliens and kick-ass shifters in a good vs evil situation. Andrews always impresses me with their vivid imagination and unique world-building. This novella is a prequel to the Alphas series with a paranormal romance vibe to it.
The story offers a romance, plenty of action and a satisfactory ending regarding our characters while setting things up for a series. Andrews delivered a dark tale that pulled me in with its science-fiction elements, off-world premise with unique magic and characters.
While this is a novella it had all the elements of a full-length story, and I devoured it in a single sitting. I found the war ridden planet and Karina's new digs interesting. The whole Matrix vibe was cool and left me craving more.
I wish it had been full length to allow the relationship to develop. There were a few chuckles about superheroes and watching Karina Tucker give attitude to a man three times her size was hilarious. We see transformation and growth from our heroine. We also bear witness to the changes she brings to those around her. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
The story offers a romance, plenty of action and a satisfactory ending regarding our characters while setting things up for a series. Andrews delivered a dark tale that pulled me in with its science-fiction elements, off-world premise with unique magic and characters.
While this is a novella it had all the elements of a full-length story, and I devoured it in a single sitting. I found the war ridden planet and Karina's new digs interesting. The whole Matrix vibe was cool and left me craving more.
I wish it had been full length to allow the relationship to develop. There were a few chuckles about superheroes and watching Karina Tucker give attitude to a man three times her size was hilarious. We see transformation and growth from our heroine. We also bear witness to the changes she brings to those around her. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
June 13, 2016
3/5; 3 stars; B
For a teaser to a new series, this novella gets the job done. I liked it well enough and am interested enough to see where these guys will takes this world. This book wasn't awesome but neither was it terrible. Some people wrote vituperative reviews that are practically longer than the book...there just isn't that much to get worked up about.
I always find I am a bit uncomfortable when introduced to a new world and often rate the first book in a series lower than the others because I am a bit befuddled and not invested in the characters yet.
Given that this "prequel" was published in an anthology 5 years ago, I am not sure when, if ever, there will be a series to follow. If there is, I am looking forward to checking it out.
For a teaser to a new series, this novella gets the job done. I liked it well enough and am interested enough to see where these guys will takes this world. This book wasn't awesome but neither was it terrible. Some people wrote vituperative reviews that are practically longer than the book...there just isn't that much to get worked up about.
I always find I am a bit uncomfortable when introduced to a new world and often rate the first book in a series lower than the others because I am a bit befuddled and not invested in the characters yet.
Given that this "prequel" was published in an anthology 5 years ago, I am not sure when, if ever, there will be a series to follow. If there is, I am looking forward to checking it out.
September 6, 2020
Karina Tucker is a very strong female character. She has overcome life difficulties with an effort of will. Now she is thrown into a science fiction nightmare with a daughter to protect. She must believe and act on impossible information and figure out multiple deadly situations. Pain is a primary factor in the beginning and through the middle of this tail but stress and strain also take there toll. Death is always around every corner so it must be time to make a chocolate cake.
November 25, 2016
I love this short story. I looked everywhere here and on the authors' website and I don't see that they are doing anything else yet with the rest of the series although this is named #0.5. Hurry please, I can't wait to see what happens next!
June 20, 2020
Short and fun
This is the only Ilona Andrews book I've read that isn't 5 stars. It was fun, I enjoyed it, but it didn't have the magic of Kate Daniels or the Innkeeper Chronicles or The Edge. Those books are outstanding and I would implore everyone to read them.
This is the only Ilona Andrews book I've read that isn't 5 stars. It was fun, I enjoyed it, but it didn't have the magic of Kate Daniels or the Innkeeper Chronicles or The Edge. Those books are outstanding and I would implore everyone to read them.
April 22, 2016
I love Kate Daniels, and the Innkeeper series is another favourite. Wasn't that interested in the The Edge books, or the Kinsmen series - to be honest, I wondered if they were written by the same people as they just didn't resonate as well. Then, there was this book.
What an unholy cluster fuck of a book. It was flat out disturbing in the lack of coherence and relatable characters. The whole thing just never made sense. I can believe in monsters and ghoulies and things that roam the night, but there has to be believable reactions and behaviours and there was none of that here. For people so good at building realistic alternate universes, this just seems like something thrown together with little care and no regard for characterisation. Really disappointed to be honest.
What an unholy cluster fuck of a book. It was flat out disturbing in the lack of coherence and relatable characters. The whole thing just never made sense. I can believe in monsters and ghoulies and things that roam the night, but there has to be believable reactions and behaviours and there was none of that here. For people so good at building realistic alternate universes, this just seems like something thrown together with little care and no regard for characterisation. Really disappointed to be honest.
May 7, 2018
2 years, 1 month
I'm not really sure what I think of this one, to be honest. I...dislike the fact that there is a child involved.
This short is referred to as "dark" but - IMO - in comparison to her Edge series, this one is a lot tamer. Certainly there is a little Stockholm Syndrome going on but not enough of it to really tick me off. Mostly, it felt uncomfortable in places - not enough page space to make it work seamlessly - but it's Ilona Andrews. She just doesn't do complete power imbalance relationships.
I'd read more of this if she returns to it.
I'm not really sure what I think of this one, to be honest. I...dislike the fact that there is a child involved.
This short is referred to as "dark" but - IMO - in comparison to her Edge series, this one is a lot tamer. Certainly there is a little Stockholm Syndrome going on but not enough of it to really tick me off. Mostly, it felt uncomfortable in places - not enough page space to make it work seamlessly - but it's Ilona Andrews. She just doesn't do complete power imbalance relationships.
I'd read more of this if she returns to it.
August 26, 2017
This novella was too short to fully develop the relationship between Lucas and Karina, but man did I enjoy this! I really don't know how Ilona Andrews does it - they create entire urban fantasy worlds that are so completely believable and yet so absolutely imaginative and unique. I would gladly read more books set in this world if they ever decide to write more of them.
September 19, 2017
I loved this novella from Ilona Andrews. It is not based in any of their other worlds, so we get to see a whole new world built by the Urban Fantasy Masters! I adored the story, but I had only one major issue with it... It was too short!!! I need MOOOOOORE!!!!!!
March 20, 2017
I'm not sure... I liked it and I have this idea in my head that Ilona Andrews can do no wrong, but I think maybe I will feel differently when it's a fully fleshed out story. Not entirely sure how else to feel about it.
August 21, 2018
1.5 stars.
Sorry to say I didn’t really like this one. The telling of it was confusing, there were too many mentions of the OW for such a short story, and the whole situation was messed up. This had potential, but there were a lot of loose ends at the end that added to me disgruntled state.
Sorry to say I didn’t really like this one. The telling of it was confusing, there were too many mentions of the OW for such a short story, and the whole situation was messed up. This had potential, but there were a lot of loose ends at the end that added to me disgruntled state.
August 2, 2018
The writing is as good as you would expect from Ilona Andrew's, and they managed to make me empathetic with all the characters in a relatively brief amount of time given the novella length of the piece. I found the world and the premise interesting and worthy of further development.
But the Stockholm Syndrome trope is not my cup of tea.
But the Stockholm Syndrome trope is not my cup of tea.
May 30, 2016
Ilona Andrews is my favorite urban fantasy author and the only question is WTH I didn't read this novella sooner...
LIKES:
✔ Fully developed. A lot of novels have less character growth and world building.
✔ Super powers of different kinds reminded me of X-Men or Steelheart. It's cool reading about awesome things they can do and you never know when new power is going to pop out.
✔ Kidnapping done right. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean the process, I mean about the psychology of the victim. Karina goes trough all the stages and we see quite clearly how Stockholm syndrome can develop and why...
✔ Strong heroine who is mature, mom, stable, down-to-earth, ...
DISLIKES:
✘ Over-whelming for a novella. There is so much world-building and info... I'm sorry it didn't get developed into a full book, this way it's squeezed a bit too tight.
✘ No humor I got used to expect from Ilona Andrews' books.
✘ How Karina's kid was treated. Basically they kept her drugged or subdued 'for her own good' for more then half the novel...
Origins gives us a big glimpse into a new world full of mutants and scary powers. It's nicely developed and offers a full story, so all Ilona Andrews' fans should read it. And I don't want to be alone in my desperate waiting for more. ;)
LIKES:
✔ Fully developed. A lot of novels have less character growth and world building.
✔ Super powers of different kinds reminded me of X-Men or Steelheart. It's cool reading about awesome things they can do and you never know when new power is going to pop out.
✔ Kidnapping done right. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean the process, I mean about the psychology of the victim. Karina goes trough all the stages and we see quite clearly how Stockholm syndrome can develop and why...
✔ Strong heroine who is mature, mom, stable, down-to-earth, ...
DISLIKES:
✘ Over-whelming for a novella. There is so much world-building and info... I'm sorry it didn't get developed into a full book, this way it's squeezed a bit too tight.
✘ No humor I got used to expect from Ilona Andrews' books.
✘ How Karina's kid was treated. Basically they kept her drugged or subdued 'for her own good' for more then half the novel...
Origins gives us a big glimpse into a new world full of mutants and scary powers. It's nicely developed and offers a full story, so all Ilona Andrews' fans should read it. And I don't want to be alone in my desperate waiting for more. ;)
April 28, 2016
This one is going to end up on my DNF shelf.
I'm okay with non-con, abduction and slavery in my dark reads, but I don't want it in my dystopian/ UF stories, especially not when Lucas seems destined to become a love interest at some point in the future.
Nope, moving on to better stories.
*Shakes head in disbelief; did I actually say that about an Ilona Andrews story?*
DNF @ 34%
I'm okay with non-con, abduction and slavery in my dark reads, but I don't want it in my dystopian/ UF stories, especially not when Lucas seems destined to become a love interest at some point in the future.
Nope, moving on to better stories.
*Shakes head in disbelief; did I actually say that about an Ilona Andrews story?*
DNF @ 34%
November 3, 2015
Ok what to say... Lord what not to say.. This book was fast moving and non stop! I will be tracking down Ilona Andrews to read more I'm praying this book is the start of a whole new series for me to fall in love with...
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