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Deridia #3
Thrall
Slow.
Useless.
Failure.
Ness had always tried to do as the masters told her, tried to fulfil her expected purpose within the time allowed. She was a thrall and nothing more. Every pain was a lesson, every hurt was for her betterment. And someday, perhaps, she could earn honour enough to serve the Narada in a household.
But when the masters tire of her repeated failures to produce the allotment required of her, she is chosen, not for the death she expects, but to serve as payment to a people she has never seen, whose ways are strange and utterly impossible for her to accept.
Taken in by a man who claims that he is not her new master, she is troubled when he does not comprehend the defective nature of the thrall he has been given, and how unworthy she is to be in his service.
And, perhaps even more concerning, his persistent belief that she is no slave at all.
---
The fingers at her chin were gentle as they coaxed her face upward. His fingers were thick and blunt at the ends, lacking in sharp claws or other obvious natural weaponry. But there was strength there as well, and she did not doubt how much harm he could inflict if he so chose.
He said nothing, only looked, and though it was difficult with him so close to her, she managed to keep from glancing up at his eyes directly. She would prefer not to be hit again by the master if she could at all help it.
“Well?” the master asked, his voice tinged with impatience. “Do we have an accord?”
“Olivar,” this Bendan entreated again. “We cannot possibly bring her with us.”
“Yes,” the man objected, rising to his feet. “We can. You may consider her a part of my share.”
He was going to take her? She would be... his?
---
(Please note that this is the second in the Third Series. While reading them in order is suggested, each novel can stand alone.)
Useless.
Failure.
Ness had always tried to do as the masters told her, tried to fulfil her expected purpose within the time allowed. She was a thrall and nothing more. Every pain was a lesson, every hurt was for her betterment. And someday, perhaps, she could earn honour enough to serve the Narada in a household.
But when the masters tire of her repeated failures to produce the allotment required of her, she is chosen, not for the death she expects, but to serve as payment to a people she has never seen, whose ways are strange and utterly impossible for her to accept.
Taken in by a man who claims that he is not her new master, she is troubled when he does not comprehend the defective nature of the thrall he has been given, and how unworthy she is to be in his service.
And, perhaps even more concerning, his persistent belief that she is no slave at all.
---
The fingers at her chin were gentle as they coaxed her face upward. His fingers were thick and blunt at the ends, lacking in sharp claws or other obvious natural weaponry. But there was strength there as well, and she did not doubt how much harm he could inflict if he so chose.
He said nothing, only looked, and though it was difficult with him so close to her, she managed to keep from glancing up at his eyes directly. She would prefer not to be hit again by the master if she could at all help it.
“Well?” the master asked, his voice tinged with impatience. “Do we have an accord?”
“Olivar,” this Bendan entreated again. “We cannot possibly bring her with us.”
“Yes,” the man objected, rising to his feet. “We can. You may consider her a part of my share.”
He was going to take her? She would be... his?
---
(Please note that this is the second in the Third Series. While reading them in order is suggested, each novel can stand alone.)
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 2017
About the author
Catherine Miller
25 books126 followersI am an American by birth and situation, whose heart forever remains in Great Britain. I derive much inspiration from my holidays abroad, and my writing is heavily influenced by the delights of the English and Scottish countryside. My author's journey began in several reimaginings of The Phantom of the Opera where I explore happier endings for our beloved Erik-- hopefully aided by my degrees in psychology. I have a love for fantasy and paranormal romance, as well as the pleasure of a thrilling murder mystery... each of which have begun to creep into my writerly pursuits. When I am not consumed with a novel, I enjoy lavishing affection on my two cats, and working in historical costume design.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 18, 2017
A nice addition to the series but not my favorite. Mostly I think because you didn't really know the hero as well except that he was a nice guy. He did seem to fall in love with the heroine without much reason. There was a lot of time given to her thinking as a freed slave learning to be free which sort of overwhelmed the story. Also because she was so much a damaged person, it seemed a bit unrealistic that he loved her so soon. Still I'm ready for more stories in the series.
September 10, 2017
I am a fan of this series and was happy to read another slow burning romance in this world.
Our heroine is Ness. We are deep in her point of view. We slowly see her get acculturated to being not a slave and having a self and value.
The hero is kind and he has to adjust as well.
This is a very sweet romance. I like the pace. However, more details of the non humans and the culture would have made of a stronger read but overall a pleasure.
Our heroine is Ness. We are deep in her point of view. We slowly see her get acculturated to being not a slave and having a self and value.
The hero is kind and he has to adjust as well.
This is a very sweet romance. I like the pace. However, more details of the non humans and the culture would have made of a stronger read but overall a pleasure.
June 3, 2020
Omg.. It dragged soooo much. So slow. From sweet to too much. I skimmed like a mad woman. Nothing important happened.... So. Review Will come with some ranting😖😩
December 3, 2018
I enjoy this series a lot and thought the cover was haunting. It has been staring at me from the TBR collection on my Kindle for far too long. Miller digs deep into the psyche of a young woman who is a life-long slave, but who is suddenly not. It is a giant mental adjustment, and much of the book's narrative is spent on this journey. If you are into gentle giant heroes, this book will appeal to you greatly. I thought the story dragged a bit, but the change in attitude experienced by Ness is profound, if a bit rushed at the end. Great side characters, but I wanted more tension on the political side of the equation. I will definitely keep reading this series.
Trigger warnings for physical and sexual abuse.
3.5 rounded to 4 stars.
Book source: Kindle Unlimited
Trigger warnings for physical and sexual abuse.
3.5 rounded to 4 stars.
Book source: Kindle Unlimited
October 26, 2017
This book is the best of the series. Without a doubt.
The hero is sweet, and driven by his heart. He does the right thing, sometimes impulsively. His tenderness to the heroine, and sadness at the way she has been treated is heartbreaking. The relationship they build is beautiful, as is the way the hero is so careful to avoid taking advantage of her.
This is a book I have no doubt that I will reread many, many times!
The hero is sweet, and driven by his heart. He does the right thing, sometimes impulsively. His tenderness to the heroine, and sadness at the way she has been treated is heartbreaking. The relationship they build is beautiful, as is the way the hero is so careful to avoid taking advantage of her.
This is a book I have no doubt that I will reread many, many times!
December 11, 2024
This was such a beautiful love story, such a slow burn and I’m glad for it
Ness’s healing journey wouldn’t have felt real if the love story had been rushed
Not spicy, more like the scene was glazed over kind of- and I’m glad for that too, because as much as I love smut, the whole vibe of the story would have changed
Ness’s healing journey wouldn’t have felt real if the love story had been rushed
Not spicy, more like the scene was glazed over kind of- and I’m glad for that too, because as much as I love smut, the whole vibe of the story would have changed
September 11, 2022
This is a really unusual series but it is very good.
The author has you right in the head of Ness. It is very clever things you think that are said that are perfectly normal and her perception of it is an eye opener.
We start the book with Ness, who is born into the life of a thrall.
In a previous book, there was a race who was coming to tye colony to take tye humans as slaves.
We join the book as the ones who had refused to flee, gave been captured and brought to very used as slaves.
The humans are bred to make more slaves. Ness, the heroine, is a child born of a previous generation of captured people.
There are no details but Ness herself has been put through the breeding process.
It is gratifying to see, Max, mentioned in the previous book get his comupence at the start of this book.
The Hero is really sweet.
The couple from book 1 pop up.
HEA.
The author has you right in the head of Ness. It is very clever things you think that are said that are perfectly normal and her perception of it is an eye opener.
We start the book with Ness, who is born into the life of a thrall.
In a previous book, there was a race who was coming to tye colony to take tye humans as slaves.
We join the book as the ones who had refused to flee, gave been captured and brought to very used as slaves.
The humans are bred to make more slaves. Ness, the heroine, is a child born of a previous generation of captured people.
There are no details but Ness herself has been put through the breeding process.
It is gratifying to see, Max, mentioned in the previous book get his comupence at the start of this book.
The Hero is really sweet.
The couple from book 1 pop up.
HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2017
Incredibley imaginative, such a lovely departure from "space opera" type of alien romance. Actually, all three have been great. I hope Ms. Miller continues on with this series. All three are quite different but not, confusing wording there, but I don't know how else to say it. This one is a lovely slow burn kind of romance and so, so sweet, but takes on a serious subject which is relevant in today's society as well. I wish more human men acted this way towards the women they love. We get a great cameo (update) from Prim, heroine of Mercy, the first book, which I loved and I hope to learn more about all of our heroines as this series continues. By the way, there is nothing wrong with space operas, like them on occasion myself, but sometimes you want something just a little (a lot!) deeper and this really satisfies.
October 13, 2017
So. Freaking. Good! There is nothing else I can say, other than READ THIS SERIES!! Seriously...it's that good. Great build up between the main characters in all these books. Loved all three. Go forth and catch all the feels.
December 8, 2020
This book summed up in a gif:
Well we get about 90% in and we're still getting the "I'm not worthy" monologues from the h.
I get indoctrination is a bitch and she can't change her mentality overnight- but it was repetitive and I got tired of her insistent thoughts that she didn't deserve anything good..ever.
Well we get about 90% in and we're still getting the "I'm not worthy" monologues from the h.
I get indoctrination is a bitch and she can't change her mentality overnight- but it was repetitive and I got tired of her insistent thoughts that she didn't deserve anything good..ever.
September 24, 2017
I loved the romance, the characters, and the world building. Another great book in a great series.
January 23, 2018
Despite the dark themes presented in the story, Thrall is light on content.
The love interest Olivar is sweet, and potentially interesting in character, but overall that of his person and even of his very people is very scant on detail. His appearance alone I mostly had to conjure up on my own, what little given slowly in canon confirming his non-human status is scant at best, and my imagination may have taken some liberties on it's own to fill to make him more physically interesting.
Personality wise, his is very endearing, but as a whole he doesn't grow very much as a person. Most of it comes from his learning how to communicate with Ness in order to prove to her that she isn't a thrall, but a person. There's a hint of some further goal that Olivar wishes to accomplish someday, but it's barely even given a thought by the end of the story.
Ness, on the other hand as a former slave changes slowly, and then shockingly all at once. As a former victim of rape one would think her coupling with Olivar would have been less sudden, but as I have never myself been a victim of such a tragic circumstance, I can't say this with complete confidence. Her grappling with the way Olivar's society works in opposition to how she was told how the world is and has always been was compelling and makes up the majority of the novel, but as interesting as this introspection was I wish I had the chance to learn more about the character as she was learning about herself. In conclusion Ness has thrown away the ideals of her masters. She loves Olivar. She loves his people because they aren't like the Narada. She likes . But...that's it. Perhaps I'm being selfish here, as already the book is nearly 400+ pages long already, but I can't help but want more! More time with Olivar and Ness getting to know each other alone would have been lovely, and the final chapter could have been far more impactful had Ness spent more time among his people.
Despite my criticisms I did enjoy this story. It was nice, and I'll forever be indebted to it's author for, yet again, creating a feel-good alien-human romance when so often such dalliances are too focused on sex and violence. But there was so much potential here to be had that simply...didn't happen. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series should the author ever choose to create another, but it's in the hope that the romance will be all the more toe curling, the world given all the depth it deserves, and it's characters allowed more character then what "Thrall" had to offer.
The love interest Olivar is sweet, and potentially interesting in character, but overall that of his person and even of his very people is very scant on detail. His appearance alone I mostly had to conjure up on my own, what little given slowly in canon confirming his non-human status is scant at best, and my imagination may have taken some liberties on it's own to fill to make him more physically interesting.
Personality wise, his is very endearing, but as a whole he doesn't grow very much as a person. Most of it comes from his learning how to communicate with Ness in order to prove to her that she isn't a thrall, but a person. There's a hint of some further goal that Olivar wishes to accomplish someday, but it's barely even given a thought by the end of the story.
Ness, on the other hand as a former slave changes slowly, and then shockingly all at once. As a former victim of rape one would think her coupling with Olivar would have been less sudden, but as I have never myself been a victim of such a tragic circumstance, I can't say this with complete confidence. Her grappling with the way Olivar's society works in opposition to how she was told how the world is and has always been was compelling and makes up the majority of the novel, but as interesting as this introspection was I wish I had the chance to learn more about the character as she was learning about herself. In conclusion Ness has thrown away the ideals of her masters. She loves Olivar. She loves his people because they aren't like the Narada. She likes . But...that's it. Perhaps I'm being selfish here, as already the book is nearly 400+ pages long already, but I can't help but want more! More time with Olivar and Ness getting to know each other alone would have been lovely, and the final chapter could have been far more impactful had Ness spent more time among his people.
Despite my criticisms I did enjoy this story. It was nice, and I'll forever be indebted to it's author for, yet again, creating a feel-good alien-human romance when so often such dalliances are too focused on sex and violence. But there was so much potential here to be had that simply...didn't happen. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series should the author ever choose to create another, but it's in the hope that the romance will be all the more toe curling, the world given all the depth it deserves, and it's characters allowed more character then what "Thrall" had to offer.
September 30, 2017
So I finished this a few days back and have been stewing about it. On the one hand I like the author's world and mix of cultures. On the down side I'm starting to feel like the heroines are pale imitations of the first in the series Prim. Here Ness spends 98% of the book trying to overcome her slave mentality and then in the last 2% suddenly . I didn't buy it. And Olivar was a disappointment. Turns out he had love at first sight and that was it, not much growth there. I hope if the author continues, that she changes her format a little and gets creative.
October 28, 2017
Loved!
This was an exceptional series. Each a unique love story with such well crafted characters. Different species, cultures, finding common ground, acceptance, growth and live. Science fiction and romance beautifully written.
This was an exceptional series. Each a unique love story with such well crafted characters. Different species, cultures, finding common ground, acceptance, growth and live. Science fiction and romance beautifully written.
May 15, 2021
Incredible
I wasn't sure what to expect in a book where the MC had grown up as a slave all her life. Would she be perpetually subservient & difficult to empathize with?
Imagine my surprise at discovering her quiet strength as she slowly embraced her new life, new identity, her wants and needs and the beautiful, delicate way she reconciled her conflicting feelings.
I absolutely loved the male MC, I never imagined I'd see one where he was tender, kind and yet not diminished in his strength or competence.
The way he was able to deal with someone who'd gone through nothing but abuse was incredible, loving yet not imposing.
The romance was incredible as well. Such incredible skill by the author to flesh out so much of the feeling and bring it to life for the reader.
This book was a delight, a breath of fresh air. It was bittersweet to get to the end, a good ending, but sad to leave these two.
It can be read as standalone but the setting for the world starts in the first book "Mercy", and [SPOILER] some of the characters from the first book make an appearance in this one.
The romantic scenes were handled quite well, not fade to black but very light mention of the process with the emphasis on feelings (tangy at most --RFS heat guide).
I wasn't sure what to expect in a book where the MC had grown up as a slave all her life. Would she be perpetually subservient & difficult to empathize with?
Imagine my surprise at discovering her quiet strength as she slowly embraced her new life, new identity, her wants and needs and the beautiful, delicate way she reconciled her conflicting feelings.
I absolutely loved the male MC, I never imagined I'd see one where he was tender, kind and yet not diminished in his strength or competence.
The way he was able to deal with someone who'd gone through nothing but abuse was incredible, loving yet not imposing.
The romance was incredible as well. Such incredible skill by the author to flesh out so much of the feeling and bring it to life for the reader.
This book was a delight, a breath of fresh air. It was bittersweet to get to the end, a good ending, but sad to leave these two.
It can be read as standalone but the setting for the world starts in the first book "Mercy", and [SPOILER] some of the characters from the first book make an appearance in this one.
The romantic scenes were handled quite well, not fade to black but very light mention of the process with the emphasis on feelings (tangy at most --RFS heat guide).
May 31, 2024
Good…
I’ve been trying to figure out what it is that bothers me so much about the writing style of this book. All the books from the 1st to this one. Now I finally understand.Catherine Miller uses no contractions. It makes the writing, especially the dialogue sound stilted. Instead of isn’t she puts is not. The writing is a slog to wade through. The story is decent though. Ness, unable to fulfill her duties as a thrall gets bartered off to fulfill a debt instead. She meets gentle giant Olivar, and begins the long arduous process of deprogramming from the teachings the Narada have instill in her all her life. I loved Ness, and Olivar was incredibly sweet. But let’s be honest, the amount of abuse Ness was subjected to would take much more than a couple of months to move past. I’d like to add some trigger warnings for this book, there are scenes in this book that are very hard to read through. If you’re sensitive to sexual violence I suggest giving this one a pass.
I’ve been trying to figure out what it is that bothers me so much about the writing style of this book. All the books from the 1st to this one. Now I finally understand.Catherine Miller uses no contractions. It makes the writing, especially the dialogue sound stilted. Instead of isn’t she puts is not. The writing is a slog to wade through. The story is decent though. Ness, unable to fulfill her duties as a thrall gets bartered off to fulfill a debt instead. She meets gentle giant Olivar, and begins the long arduous process of deprogramming from the teachings the Narada have instill in her all her life. I loved Ness, and Olivar was incredibly sweet. But let’s be honest, the amount of abuse Ness was subjected to would take much more than a couple of months to move past. I’d like to add some trigger warnings for this book, there are scenes in this book that are very hard to read through. If you’re sensitive to sexual violence I suggest giving this one a pass.
September 16, 2017
"There you are"
This was a hard read ,it was interceptive in many ways . The saying " No matter ,where you go there you are ", holds true .
Ness is a slave in total mind set.. She take her chains with her where ever she goes.Freedom means nothing...to a mind enslave by fear . She has been trained to think and expect brutality as way of life . Never allowed love,touch or speech without her Masters approval and thinking for self ,out of the question.Olivar is determined to free Ness body,soul, and spirit ... His only weapon loving tenderness. A pice of the puzzle is filled in this third book,Prim and Rykkon are in a chapter with Ness and Olivar . Can't wait for the fourth book,each book could be a standalone. There just has be one more book in series,so many questions to be answered .
This was a hard read ,it was interceptive in many ways . The saying " No matter ,where you go there you are ", holds true .
Ness is a slave in total mind set.. She take her chains with her where ever she goes.Freedom means nothing...to a mind enslave by fear . She has been trained to think and expect brutality as way of life . Never allowed love,touch or speech without her Masters approval and thinking for self ,out of the question.Olivar is determined to free Ness body,soul, and spirit ... His only weapon loving tenderness. A pice of the puzzle is filled in this third book,Prim and Rykkon are in a chapter with Ness and Olivar . Can't wait for the fourth book,each book could be a standalone. There just has be one more book in series,so many questions to be answered .
April 26, 2022
I just... ummm... yeahhh...
I feel like the concept is solid but some major whittling down of the manuscript would be needed before I had the patience to stick with the story. It took 110 pages to get past day one in the life of Ness, which normally I love (I adore long books) but nothing substantial is happening. The author tried to convey the fear and confusion a slave would experience by having her life upended, but with no real stakes. There was too much of nothing happening to keep me engaged, and even though the subject matter was exactly what I was looking for in a read, the writing itself was not.
I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy a lot of detail. You will have no problems imagining what Ness is thinking or feeling in any given moment. 🙂👍
I feel like the concept is solid but some major whittling down of the manuscript would be needed before I had the patience to stick with the story. It took 110 pages to get past day one in the life of Ness, which normally I love (I adore long books) but nothing substantial is happening. The author tried to convey the fear and confusion a slave would experience by having her life upended, but with no real stakes. There was too much of nothing happening to keep me engaged, and even though the subject matter was exactly what I was looking for in a read, the writing itself was not.
I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy a lot of detail. You will have no problems imagining what Ness is thinking or feeling in any given moment. 🙂👍
January 13, 2018
I once wanted to write this exact plot in an online role playing game, and I've liked every book in this series, so I was especially predisposed to enjoying this one.
I have to admit that, though it makes sense for her character, being in Ness's head is kind of exhausting. I wasn't certain why none of Olivar's people exhibited even a hint of impatience with her.
Olivar himself is a sweet, perfect cinnamon roll. I would have liked to know why he fell for Ness, because it wasn't super clear. I did love watching her slowly think of him first as a master, and then as her friend, and then as someone she loved. The ending was perfect and sweet, and gave me just enough time to roll around in the happy feels.
I wish the author had a social media page. I want to like it and pimp her books far and wide, because a beta hero in SFR is such a rare thing and I want her to know that at least someone out there is appreciating her efforts to write them!
I have to admit that, though it makes sense for her character, being in Ness's head is kind of exhausting. I wasn't certain why none of Olivar's people exhibited even a hint of impatience with her.
Olivar himself is a sweet, perfect cinnamon roll. I would have liked to know why he fell for Ness, because it wasn't super clear. I did love watching her slowly think of him first as a master, and then as her friend, and then as someone she loved. The ending was perfect and sweet, and gave me just enough time to roll around in the happy feels.
I wish the author had a social media page. I want to like it and pimp her books far and wide, because a beta hero in SFR is such a rare thing and I want her to know that at least someone out there is appreciating her efforts to write them!
April 3, 2026
Ness is a cast off slave, and Olivar is the nicest guy ever to have lived.
He takes her in and convinces her that she has value. They fall in love.
The book handles the potential power imbalance well. At no point do you feel that Olivar is taking advantage of Ness. Alas, this is done through extreme kindness and patience.
It leaves the story feeling pretty passionless.
I was also a bit disappointed that for all the pages about Ness having a purpose and finding value… she never really figures out her role in new community.
He takes her in and convinces her that she has value. They fall in love.
The book handles the potential power imbalance well. At no point do you feel that Olivar is taking advantage of Ness. Alas, this is done through extreme kindness and patience.
It leaves the story feeling pretty passionless.
I was also a bit disappointed that for all the pages about Ness having a purpose and finding value… she never really figures out her role in new community.
April 2, 2021
Enjoyed
I really enjoyed this book by Miss Catherine Miller. To me each book in the series improved along the way.
Ness is give to Olivar as payment for items purchased. He could have refused but didn't. Ness has no understanding of a free life. Born into servitude she only knows of compliance and pain. These two have to become something more to each other before their lives cans become clear. I'm hoping Miss Miller will do more with this series. So many possibilities.
I really enjoyed this book by Miss Catherine Miller. To me each book in the series improved along the way.
Ness is give to Olivar as payment for items purchased. He could have refused but didn't. Ness has no understanding of a free life. Born into servitude she only knows of compliance and pain. These two have to become something more to each other before their lives cans become clear. I'm hoping Miss Miller will do more with this series. So many possibilities.
July 2, 2021
Where do I start?? This book was so beautiful! I cried with Ness over her past hurts and over her feelings of being so unworthy of love and devotion. And I cried as she slowly came to accept her worth and as she learned to accept Olivar’s love, and the friendship of the others around her. I also loved Olivar’s character! His kindness, gentleness, and patience as he helped Ness realize her value. Their love story was so pure and sweet. I can’t wait to read the other books in this series!
January 30, 2024
I've read some reviews that were not so satisfied with this one.
I can't agree. I liked the story. The way the characters dealt with the trauma and grew together felt real. I really liked the softness of their relationship. What transpires between the several races so reminds of the current political issues and I wish we could take the wisdom of such books out into the real world, slap it into the faces of people to make them realise their faults, idiocy and crimes.
I can't agree. I liked the story. The way the characters dealt with the trauma and grew together felt real. I really liked the softness of their relationship. What transpires between the several races so reminds of the current political issues and I wish we could take the wisdom of such books out into the real world, slap it into the faces of people to make them realise their faults, idiocy and crimes.
March 15, 2024
This series is actually getting better as the series progresses. In the first story, we follow the survivors of a spaceship crash. The second story follows the part of the group that escapes to find a new place to live. This third story follows the horrendous Narada who found the survivors of the second half of the ship that crashed (the ship broke apart) and have enslaved them. Reading about their enslavement was intense. INTENSE. The FMC has only known slavery as the humans are bred and the babies then taken to be raised as slaves. It's literally all they know as they are forced to live under ground in the cold and often dark (brought out occasionally to see the sun as they found out that the humans get sick if they aren't exposed to the light). This story follows one of the slaves, a thrall, as she is given as payment to a species that trade weapons with the Narada. It was truly sad yet engrossing to see her try to reconcile the world outside of the dark, miserable one she was born in. The romance is slow burn and the MMC, as with the other Miller H's, is incredibly sweet and caring.
Side note: I've noticed a trend in her stories that women, in particular the FMCs, are oppressed by the males (of whatever species). HOWEVER, it's also the males who help them heal. I liked that it wasn't one-sided "male bashing" but showing that some people can tear you down but you can't judge everyone by that measure. That there are just as many people who will build you up.
Side note: I've noticed a trend in her stories that women, in particular the FMCs, are oppressed by the males (of whatever species). HOWEVER, it's also the males who help them heal. I liked that it wasn't one-sided "male bashing" but showing that some people can tear you down but you can't judge everyone by that measure. That there are just as many people who will build you up.
November 16, 2025
I like the author's worldbuilding and despite the slow burns and plots, I find these stories interesting. IMO, the slow burns are a nice change from many of the SFR out there that are far quicker. I appreciated that it took Ness time to realize she was not a thrall anymore and her own person. Jumping into a relationship right away would have been uncomfortable.
May 11, 2021
The books in this series are the literary equivalent of hygge. They are all super slow burns of somewhat shy, timid strangers getting to know each other and bit by bit falling in love. This is my favorite one in the series, with such a caring, patient male protagonist.
July 16, 2022
The world and premise is interesting. Overall I enjoyed the story, however the
August 18, 2022
I enjoyed this book, though there are a few more criticisms. Still many grammatical errors. I didn’t like how it was mostly written with Ness’s thoughts of worthlessness. It was overwhelming and I would have liked a little more action. Description of characters left something to be desired. It was hard picturing them in my head.
The story was sweet but dragged terribly and needed more substance.
The story was sweet but dragged terribly and needed more substance.
February 11, 2023
Ugh this was so cute I loved both MCs. The one random question I had was do the narada know about recessive genes because they are going to have some problems if they don’t and I do wish there was an epilogue and that they defeated the narada
February 16, 2024
So sweet
Slow burn romance! Ness has been rescued by Olivar. They slowly learn what it means to be free to be your own person and more importantly love.
It’s so good! You’ll love this book! The world building is amazing.
Slow burn romance! Ness has been rescued by Olivar. They slowly learn what it means to be free to be your own person and more importantly love.
It’s so good! You’ll love this book! The world building is amazing.
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