Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Dark Planet Warriors #8

Brilliant Starlight

Rate this book
Alternative cover edition of ASIN B073THB4B2

Abbey
We're back on Silence, orbiting the Dark Planet while my husband handles unfinished business on Kythia. For some reason, he seems a little bit tense. According to Tarak, Kythian politics can be complicated, especially when the entire Kordolian Empire has just been destroyed. I hope things don't get too complicated, because I don't want to be stuck here for too long. A warship isn't really the best place to raise a child.

Tarak
The only way to ensure Abbey and Ami remained safe was to bring down the Empire. It is done. Now it is up to the statesmen and scholars to rebuild our civilization from the inside out. I'm just here to provide the muscle, but above all, I'm here to keep my mate and my child safe. If anything or anyone dares to threaten them...
They know how I will respond.
The problem is that not all enemies can be taken down by force.

Warning: This book is a science-fiction alien romance. It contains swearing, violence, sensual sex scenes, and silver aliens with fangs. It's definitely recommended for readers aged 18 and over.

Brilliant Starlight is Book 8 in the Dark Planet Warriors series. It will make more sense if you've read the other books in the series beforehand, but that's probably not absolutely essential.

220 pages, ebook

First published July 8, 2017

553 people are currently reading
403 people want to read

About the author

Anna Carven

60 books1,254 followers
Anna Carven is a daydreamer. So much so that she's decided to make a living from it.

She has a penchant for big bad alpha heroes who reserve their secret soft gooey centers only for their fated mates and treasured little ones.

To stay in touch and find out about future releases, you can find her on Facebook, or join the mailing list.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annacarvenau...

Mailing list: http://eepurl.com/bQaHP5

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
1,299 (55%)
4 stars
674 (28%)
3 stars
310 (13%)
2 stars
46 (1%)
1 star
8 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
Profile Image for Celestine.
952 reviews132 followers
July 19, 2017
"So Tarak says he brought down the Empire on my behalf? That’s rather romantic, in a megalomaniacal kind-of way."

So this final book in the Dark Planet Warriors series (can I cry?), brings us full circle to Tarak and Abbey, who were the first Kordolian/Human pairing in the series. Tarak is the Biggest Bad of the meanest guys in the universe, and we get to see him operate largely through the filter that is Abbey's loving gaze. Seeing Tarak as a dad confounded by the appeal of a stuffed crocodile, and unabashedly indulging his infant daughter, is a true treat made all the funnier by the running mental commentary of Abbey. Sadly, life is not easy for the General - what with instigating a coup against the most powerful empire in the universe - and clean up is a b!^ch. Then on top of that Abbey becomes dangerously ill, forcing Tarak to face his past.

The adventure and details are interesting and exciting and Carven does a fantastic job of wrapping up threads related to our main characters. There are still a lot of questions hanging out there for details on the Kordolian society, its demise, and the future integration (ahem, domination) on Earth, and I think a spin-off series will be the perfect place to keep discovering more about these scary Kordolians and their fascinating attraction to human women.

Book source: Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Profile Image for Ivy Deluca.
2,382 reviews330 followers
September 29, 2019
The grand finale to the crackilicious Dark Planet Warriors series features Tarak and Abbey....again.

I'm not a huge fan of focusing on the same couple over multiple books, BUT I will say that these two have grown on me. HOWEVER, this reads like a book that started as a serial, because it is sooooo repetitive in sections, giving copious recaps of action that happened in the last chapter that simply aren't necessary in a well-edited novel. I can easily see this as a bonus for longtime readers, perhaps a newsletter? I don't know. There are a couple of interesting glimpses into what created the First Division Warriors and the completionist in me couldn't NOT read this book. I just think it could have been much shorter. But to end on a positive note, this whole series has been like crack for me - giving me some wild mood swings, but in the end I devoured it all, so there's that.

IF you absolutely loved Tarak and Abbey, you'll probably want to read this entry, but otherwise....eh. *shrugs*
Profile Image for Susani .
514 reviews96 followers
July 17, 2017
Nice continuation/completion of the series. Tarak remains one of my all time favorite Mars needs Women H's! Makes me want to go back and re-read book one ☺️
Profile Image for Cheesecake.
2,800 reviews512 followers
April 22, 2022
I loved this wrap up to Dark Planet Warriors, and I don't need to be sad, because there's plenty of spin off stories.
My only complaint is that it was a little too easy.

Tarak and Abby are circling the Dark planet onboard Silence, and dealing with the downfall of the Empire. Things are going well until Abby gets deathly ill. The virus carried but the nanos Tarak gave her has mutated!

I was a little afraid to read this during a pandemic, but the author manages to keep it interesting without totally stressing out the reader.

It got a little deus ex machina to save Abby, but I didn't mind. And their daughter was just so cute! One of my favourite plot moppets! I loved that they recovered info about Tarak's parents at the end too.

Anyways, safety was good of course.
Profile Image for Shanna Matheo.
372 reviews39 followers
September 10, 2017
This is one of my favorite Sfi-Rom series! And it's sad to see it come to and end. It should be so much more popular than it is. I mean what's not to love?! Super sexy, dark elf uber-alpha specimens of hard muscled sliver skinned aliens! Horns optional! lol There should be a line of women around the block clamouring to sign up for all this goodness! I will definitely be on the look out for the spin-off series!
Profile Image for Jenni.
6,444 reviews79 followers
August 26, 2025
4.5 stars

Brilliant Starlight by Anna Carven is a tension-filled, alien warrior romance tale that gets better and better. What ensues is mayhem, chaos, action, sexy, sizzling, tension, and much more. If you like sci-fi romance, then look no further.

Humans now back on earth find their lives turned upside down when the big bad Kordolians land some for the better, others for the worse.

Abbey's life is on the line, and the only way he can help her is to take her to the one place that is hell for him. the one place that made him a monster.

If they don't fix her, they will pay and should be scared because no-one crosses this hardened warrior, and no stands in the way from him and his mate. He will stop at nothing to protect his mate.
Profile Image for Kimberlee.
943 reviews46 followers
July 18, 2021
Five Brilliant Stars

First OMGoodness I want to cry! I love Tarak and Abbey from the beginning they have rocked my world. I just don't want their story to every end. EVER!! I know I screamed that but I can't help it.

I love those Division One Soldiers. Abbey and Tarak have been through so much but if this particular story must end at least we know where Tarak came from.

This has been a great story line to follow and I highly recommend to all my friends who love those hot alpha male aliens.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,909 reviews6 followers
July 21, 2017
More complex plot wise, but just as fun and silly as book one and three of the series. And I enjoyed it just as much. So why not a higher rating? The three books that I've read from this series have a 4 star enjoyability rating, but they're just too silly to rate any higher. ;)
Profile Image for Chappy.
2,214 reviews113 followers
December 16, 2018
What a great ending to the Dark Planet Warriors series. We come full circle, back to where it all began with Abbey and Tarak. Their "little monster" is adorable and is a symbol for a merging of species and a new hope for the Kordolians (who were slowly dying out).

Tarak proves again that he will stop at nothing to save his Abbey. They are each others salvation and it's really beautiful.
128 reviews
July 9, 2017
What? The end?

I absolutely love this series. I am so disappointed that this was the final book. As usual, the author did a great job. I love the different characters, scenarios, and action. Obviously Tarak and Abby are such strong amazing characters to warrant three books of the series. I can't recommend this series enough
Profile Image for Netanella.
4,746 reviews41 followers
December 2, 2021
The final book in the Dark Planet Warriors comes full circle with Abbey and the General as they struggle to contain a virus that threatens Abbey's life. It's all fun and games until the nanites start eating flesh.

Good times, and a good ending to a sweet little sci-fi romance series.
Profile Image for Amyiw.
2,823 reviews68 followers
December 16, 2019
It has a weak plot of Abbie's nanites starting to turn on her and nothing can be done by the doctors on starlight. OK I don't mind the nanites storyline only the way it was "solved" and lots of that just didn't make sense so just read over it. Cannot do anything for her yet it'll work like that. So they go back to the planet that Tarak was made on and all these memories come forward. We get to go into his past. We get to hear how much they miss their baby. Abbie is dying one minute and having sex in the healing bath the next.

With all the flip flip just to get the past out in the open... well, it was boring. One you are dealing with a already formed couple so the plot has to hold the story, it does not. At least not for me. They put some of the other women in the book but not enough to really care or see the future for them. They could have done a Kithia building story, struggle there but instead we just get to see the politics and told what happened and we get to go try to save Abbie. Nope, it wasn't interesting to me and not enough plot to make me like it. It was OK to see the others and to get some of Tarak's past though much we already knew.

Unnecessary to the series. Just a drawn out continuation after the end has already happened.
Profile Image for Holly.
1,767 reviews88 followers
September 20, 2021
I wasn't thrilled thrilled go back to Abbey and Tarak. I don't dislike them, but I didn't love them enough to want multiple books about them. I thought this was going to follow the groundwork that was started after the political upheaval in the previous books, but that wasn't the case. It was more of a reaffirmation of how great they are and didn't really advance the story arc. I'm bummed, because I really wanted more in terms of where things are now. I read the first book in the spinoff series and I haven't decided if I'll continue.
Profile Image for The Book Junkie Reads . . ..
5,017 reviews154 followers
February 10, 2020
Third time with Abbey and Tarek
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed: 02-09-20

The dark planet is not finished with our alpha couple from the Kordolian world. A parting gift had been left with Abbey and she will have to battle it mostly on her own while her loving alpha head strong mate watch from the outside.

This was a direction I was not expecting or even considers. Now that makes me wonder will the same happen to Riana because she to have some of her mates nanites. Well that’s neither her nor there we are discussing Abbey and Tarek. Her battle takes us to the world that holds no pleasant memories for the division one warriors. And it also leads them first to the man that started it all.

It was an interesting read. It was where you would find some answers but at the same time I did not feel it was a necessary part to continue on with the Kordolian of Earth.

Dual narration allows for more interpretation and enjoyment.
Profile Image for Ms. Cyn.
1,544 reviews
January 7, 2018
Heart wrenching and horror before HEA

Tarak and Abbey are just about to get their happily ever after when Abbey suddenly gets sick. Its always something with these two. Now they are off for another adventure and have to leave their daughter. That was pretty heart wrenching. Once they were on Xrax it was like a horror movie. There could have been more details of that horror show, but Abbey's experiences were an integral part of the story during that time. I love the changes taking place in this Universe and what their futures hold.
Profile Image for Amber White.
326 reviews13 followers
April 27, 2021
3.5 Stars!! I really liked Tarak and Abbey’s story. This is a pretty long standalone series with a somewhat continuous story arc throughout, but I wasn’t really interested in the other characters enough to read their stories. However, I was surprised when I realized that Anna wrote two more books about Tarak and Abbey after the first book in the series. There were a couple things that would have made a little more sense if I would have read book 2 and then books 4-7 but I was still able to see what was going on and their story was fairly easy to follow along without me having to read the other books. Very entertaining read!!
2,374 reviews20 followers
May 2, 2018
Excellent Series

The last book was just as great as all the previous ones. It has action, love, family, adventure, and it comes full circle to the place where the First division soliders were created just like, Tarak? There's plenty of romance and steamy hot steamy with awesome characters? Sorry to see the series end, highly recommended, but ready for the new series to start.
Profile Image for phoebess.
1,521 reviews98 followers
October 11, 2017
Brilliant ending to this series. See what I did there? I'm a genius. It was emotional, intense and full of awesome plot twists and subtle reminders how the whole series started. In Tarak's words, "A kuriak eventually returns to the hive."
Profile Image for Sometime.
1,718 reviews171 followers
May 12, 2018
This was a great end to the series. And I love that we came full circle and are back with Tarak and Abbey again.
Profile Image for Jennifer Erwin.
1,323 reviews14 followers
July 19, 2017
I have really enjoyed this series from Ms. Carven. I started book 1 with not really any expectations and this series has just swept me up into it and I really hated to see that this is the end. I am excited for the spin off though. I was not ready to say goodbye to this world.

Thank you for sharing Ms. Carven, and I look forward to the next journey you share with us.
Profile Image for Katrina.
711 reviews43 followers
July 16, 2017
4 shining stars
A great conclusion to a great series. I was delighted to read in the Author's note that there will be a spin -off series. So lookin forward to it!
Profile Image for Nancy.
346 reviews11 followers
August 4, 2017
This might have been my favorite of the DPW series. It was such a good blend of the characters leaving their past behind them and nothing but the future ahead. It was an entertaining read - and that is the purpose, to be entertained. Anna Carven created some really good characters that come to life in this book, especially little Ami. That character was written perfectly as the personalities of Abby and Tarak take root in this adorable child.
21 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2018
The end

The end wrapped up nicely. No serious cliffhangers. The series has been wonderful and this one was as well. It wasn't as fast paced as some others but was still very good. There are supposed to be some spin offs and I look forward to them.

Good series and morals learned as well.
103 reviews3 followers
August 23, 2021
Love this series, and this book is the perfect ending!

I have read a heaping ton of alien romances the past couple of years--some good, some terrible, some very dark and naughty--and a very select few that are worth remembering. The Dark Planet Warriors series is in the rare company of the latter category.
Brilliant Starlight is the conclusion of the original series, coming full circle to back Tarak and Abbey (where it all began)--making sure their HEA sticks this time.

Human female Abbey is young, independent, beautiful, strong, intelligent, brave, and loving--in short, everything we'd perhaps ever wish to be combined into one very well-adjusted package--and she just happened to catch the deep red eyes of a breath-takingly gorgeous silver- hued alien General who is simultaneously fierce and loving in the sort of perfect contradiction you could spend a lifetime being dazzled by.

The fact that he is all-male (unapologetically so) without ever displaying the deep character flaws that plague every single actual man I've ever met makes him as close to the ultimate alien romance Hero as I could imagine at this point.

No laziness, no obsession with money, no grabbing power just for the sake of having it, no cheating, no addictions (other than his beloved Abbey), no pathetic fear of responsibility, no attempt (or even whisper of need to) abandon his unborn child who he only loved more and more once she was born and began to show her personality. No whining about the horrid necessities of life, but getting on with the job because it needs done. Let's not forget that not only is he actually a skilled lover, but that pleasing his mate is a priority--both in and out of the sleeping pod. He isn't "whipped"--he's devoted...and human men don't have a clue what that means. To have someone that loves, desires, and protects you as fiercely as you do them, works as tirelessly to make your life better in every way possible as you theirs--and trusts you, knowing what you have together is the best thing you've ever had--well, to have that returned in a relationship would actually make this miserable life rather more bearable, wouldn't it?
But since we all know that kind of love and devotion only exists in fairy tales (or should I say, is only reciprocated in them) we have to content ourselves with finding a good one to immerse ourselves in. A story so good that (for a little while) the cold and dark reality of relationships is driven back...and this series succeeds in doing so. Love and acceptance is found in the form of the Big Bad who is devoted to his queen (and she to him), and they never once misuse the power they have over each other. THAT is a fairy tale worth cherishing.
6 reviews1 follower
March 2, 2018
Fantastic read

Absolutely fantastic series, a must read for any Alien romance fanatics...but start at book one...once you start reading you won't want to put it down. My congrats to Anna Craven, an Alien romance series without today's modern take on porn..which alot of books seam to rely on. Thanx.
Profile Image for Angela Charles.
662 reviews29 followers
December 6, 2018
This is a book that I have been waiting for. I love Abbey and I love Tarak. Their entire relationship is sweet. He does not make any apologizes for him being the way he is and Abbey understands that he is and will always be a protector. There is nothing Tarak will not do for his family and that is what makes him a great hero.

Abbey is slowly dying and instead of crying about it both of them are concerned about what is going to happen to their daughter. There are a lot of secrets that come out in this book and we get to know more about where Tarak came from and how the 1st Division came about.

There was a lot of action and a couple of new characters in which I am interested in learning about. Also I cannot wait to see more of Tarak as a dad. I think he needs another kid however I do not know how he will react to Abbey being pregnant and delivering another baby.
Profile Image for ♠ TABI⁷ ♠.
Author 15 books514 followers
December 10, 2021
'In helplessness, there's an odd kind of strength. It's the strength to endure, because you know that this too will pass, and eventually things will be different.'

So, while I'm a bit miffed that this was ONCE AGAIN about Tarak & Abbey . . . the world-building, y'all. And the introduction of a new character pretty-please give me a book about him thanks. Overall, a very entertaining series if you're able to look past repetition and some writing quirks that remind me half-fondly, half-irritatingly of Wattpad. And now, onto the spin-offs!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.