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Hidden Planet #1
Destroyer
A hair-raising ambush.
A malfunctioning ship.
A distant, uncharted part of the Universe.
Calexa Acura and her crew of misfits are lost, and their ship is in desperate need of repairs. When a massive spacecraft appears in their radius, they're helpless to resist its magnetic pull.
The terrifying ship is bigger than any craft she's seen in her life, and somehow, she doubts its occupants will turn out to be the friendly sort.
First Encounters are always better when they're amicable, but if necessary, Calexa and her crew will fight.
It's what they've always done.
Destroyer is a full-length science-fiction romance novel (95,000 words), and the first book in a new series. It contains violence, swearing, explicit sex scenes, and aliens!
Warning and minor spoiler alert (for those who don't like surprises): this book includes MFM (male/female/male with "two" heroes). I wanted to let you know in case that's not your jam, but if it is, read on!
Oh, and it's definitely recommended for readers aged 18 and over.
A malfunctioning ship.
A distant, uncharted part of the Universe.
Calexa Acura and her crew of misfits are lost, and their ship is in desperate need of repairs. When a massive spacecraft appears in their radius, they're helpless to resist its magnetic pull.
The terrifying ship is bigger than any craft she's seen in her life, and somehow, she doubts its occupants will turn out to be the friendly sort.
First Encounters are always better when they're amicable, but if necessary, Calexa and her crew will fight.
It's what they've always done.
Destroyer is a full-length science-fiction romance novel (95,000 words), and the first book in a new series. It contains violence, swearing, explicit sex scenes, and aliens!
Warning and minor spoiler alert (for those who don't like surprises): this book includes MFM (male/female/male with "two" heroes). I wanted to let you know in case that's not your jam, but if it is, read on!
Oh, and it's definitely recommended for readers aged 18 and over.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2017
960 people are currently reading
592 people want to read
About the author
Anna Carven
59 books1,252 followersAnna 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
May 9, 2018
With this book, Anna Carven has moved away from her Kordolian, gray skinned mercenaries and introduced the magnificent violet and black (and tailed) Verdhu. These warriors, who have rejected technology, find themselves on a massive, sentient ship, and are soon joined by some hapless humans. The fact that the species have never encountered one another makes for an interesting beginning.
Although I thought there were some pacing issues and repetitiveness, I was thoroughly drawn into the tenuous situation human Calexa and Verdhu Ares were trying to maneuver. Saying too much will give away plot surprises, but I felt this book was darker, with a harder edge than Carven's Dark Planet Warrior series. However, I like the way Carven uses indomitable human spirit as a touchpoint for both the Verdhu attraction and an essential plot catalyst.
I am more than intrigued with where Ares and Calexa were left in their HFN situation and there are a host of secondary characters who will move the over-arching story line forward. Can't wait!
Book source: Kindle Unlimited.
Although I thought there were some pacing issues and repetitiveness, I was thoroughly drawn into the tenuous situation human Calexa and Verdhu Ares were trying to maneuver. Saying too much will give away plot surprises, but I felt this book was darker, with a harder edge than Carven's Dark Planet Warrior series. However, I like the way Carven uses indomitable human spirit as a touchpoint for both the Verdhu attraction and an essential plot catalyst.
I am more than intrigued with where Ares and Calexa were left in their HFN situation and there are a host of secondary characters who will move the over-arching story line forward. Can't wait!
Book source: Kindle Unlimited.
February 2, 2020
Weird and boring!
First of all, DO NOT read the blurb. There is a major spoiler in there, which has mostly no bearing on the story. It ruined the book for me since I was constantly looking for that not-so-little tidbit that the author had already made known!
Now for the weird part - that is again the said spoiler!
As for the boring part, I couldn't wait for the book to end. The romance was lacking, and by that I mean it was pretty much non-existent; and then they suddenly develop feelings during an actual war! And let's not forget the many chapters - and I mean entire CHAPTERS - dedicated to declaring said sudden feelings during the WAR! Right in the middle, when others were fighting and dying!
The writing was not to bad, but it lost points for world-building - it felt incomplete. Overall, this could have been better.
First of all, DO NOT read the blurb. There is a major spoiler in there, which has mostly no bearing on the story. It ruined the book for me since I was constantly looking for that not-so-little tidbit that the author had already made known!
Now for the weird part - that is again the said spoiler!
As for the boring part, I couldn't wait for the book to end. The romance was lacking, and by that I mean it was pretty much non-existent; and then they suddenly develop feelings during an actual war! And let's not forget the many chapters - and I mean entire CHAPTERS - dedicated to declaring said sudden feelings during the WAR! Right in the middle, when others were fighting and dying!
The writing was not to bad, but it lost points for world-building - it felt incomplete. Overall, this could have been better.
April 6, 2018
This was a good book. Writing on point, loveable characters and secondary characters, and a fascinating alien world. I particularly enjoyed the second half of the book. Especially the twist that came last. I also loved their monologues and dialogues. I thoroughly enjoyed how the heroine was portrayed. She was very strong with a deeply hidden vulnerable core which she only showed to hero. Still this book was bloody long!
I eagerly look forward to more books from this series.
Recommended.
I eagerly look forward to more books from this series.
Recommended.
March 21, 2019
3 Stars - some of the best guilty pleasure books I've read recently have been centered around aliens or dragons. And I can say that I do enjoy Anna Carvens aliens. Hidden Planet book 2? Yes please!
December 17, 2017
Pulled in from the beginning, ready for more
It's a dark gritty universe with each interaction delivering the possibility of enslavement, major injury or death. Even though they're from vastly different worlds and cultures, the bottom line for the heroine, hero and their colleagues is that what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.
Love the main characters as well as most of the secondary. Strong women, alpha men and a lot of mystery. And the villains, this group of the primary villains definitely deserve their ending.
Will be interesting to see if the next book continues with the current couple or shifts to a different hero and heroine. I'm up for either.
Just touched the surface of this universe. So many questions requiring more time with all the characters, can't wait. So many hints and small reveals at the very end that inspire me to reread the earlier story and re- interpret actions and comments.
Definitely recommend this story to anyone wanting non-stop action, interesting characters and complex world building. This story is why the author is an auto buy for me.
It's a dark gritty universe with each interaction delivering the possibility of enslavement, major injury or death. Even though they're from vastly different worlds and cultures, the bottom line for the heroine, hero and their colleagues is that what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.
Love the main characters as well as most of the secondary. Strong women, alpha men and a lot of mystery. And the villains, this group of the primary villains definitely deserve their ending.
Will be interesting to see if the next book continues with the current couple or shifts to a different hero and heroine. I'm up for either.
Just touched the surface of this universe. So many questions requiring more time with all the characters, can't wait. So many hints and small reveals at the very end that inspire me to reread the earlier story and re- interpret actions and comments.
Definitely recommend this story to anyone wanting non-stop action, interesting characters and complex world building. This story is why the author is an auto buy for me.
December 17, 2017
Update: Author added Ménage warning to Amazon blurb. Thank you Ms. Carven!
Original review:
What. The. F*#&.
I am a HUGE Anna Carven fan but this book seriously angered me. I love romance but I specifically stay away from ménage books and I don’t like being tricked into one on a technicality. There is no mention in any of the blurbs about this being a three-way and it makes it feel even worse because there wasn’t any way to know it was coming.
The story was really interesting until it got to the clone weirdness and spiritual divergence at the end. It would have felt so much better for the destruction of the Dagger to have returned Ares’ consciousness to one body, but instead the story took a hard right into WTF territory.
Authors: PLEASE put warnings in your blurbs when you have potentially disturbing kinks in your books. Write what you want, but at least let us know first. I don’t do love triangles, I don’t do cheating, I don’t do “sharing”, and I don’t do ménage.
Original review:
What. The. F*#&.
I am a HUGE Anna Carven fan but this book seriously angered me. I love romance but I specifically stay away from ménage books and I don’t like being tricked into one on a technicality. There is no mention in any of the blurbs about this being a three-way and it makes it feel even worse because there wasn’t any way to know it was coming.
The story was really interesting until it got to the clone weirdness and spiritual divergence at the end. It would have felt so much better for the destruction of the Dagger to have returned Ares’ consciousness to one body, but instead the story took a hard right into WTF territory.
Authors: PLEASE put warnings in your blurbs when you have potentially disturbing kinks in your books. Write what you want, but at least let us know first. I don’t do love triangles, I don’t do cheating, I don’t do “sharing”, and I don’t do ménage.
August 9, 2018
This one was ok for a while, then it just lost me. I have always like science fiction but this went on too long, became a little repetitious and then ended up as a kind of menage thing with the hero and his clone (that had his consciousness.) And our heroine doing them both- or the same alien once. Or something in-between.
Whatever.
Actively dislike this sort of schtick, but if that is your thing.....
Very disappointed after the joy I have had from so many of this author's books in the Dark Planet series.
Whatever.
Actively dislike this sort of schtick, but if that is your thing.....
Very disappointed after the joy I have had from so many of this author's books in the Dark Planet series.
December 15, 2017
This was so original and REFRESHING! Romance that builds gradually (but not too slowly, it was brilliantly paced) with aliens who actually felt like ALIENS. I love how none of it seemed contrived to me like a lot of these books that involve being stranded with many other women. I also like that they had male crew as well as strong female crew. It all just really flowed well!
This was so original and REFRESHING! Romance that builds gradually (but not too slowly, it was brilliantly paced) with aliens who actually felt like ALIENS.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS KINDA:
I love how none of it seemed contrived to me like a lot of these books that involve being stranded with many other women. I also like that they had male crew as well as a strong female crew, including some passenger females. It all just really flowed well! I was on the edge of my seat for a good 90% of this book (the last 10% was a huge relief and surprising)! I can’t stress how original this story felt to me. It was the perfect blend of alien and familiar. I can’t wait for the rest of the series!!
This was so original and REFRESHING! Romance that builds gradually (but not too slowly, it was brilliantly paced) with aliens who actually felt like ALIENS.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS KINDA:
I love how none of it seemed contrived to me like a lot of these books that involve being stranded with many other women. I also like that they had male crew as well as a strong female crew, including some passenger females. It all just really flowed well! I was on the edge of my seat for a good 90% of this book (the last 10% was a huge relief and surprising)! I can’t stress how original this story felt to me. It was the perfect blend of alien and familiar. I can’t wait for the rest of the series!!
July 4, 2022
This is an intense sci-fi story that is heavy on the plot and intrigue and light on the romance and sex.
When a big bad-ass alien with a deadly tail tries to communicate with a human mercenary with a big gun, he discovers that some women fight back, and leave bruises. A slow-burn romance based on mutual admiration starts. Lots of crazy cyborg-like adjustments ensue, and there are many bad guys with bad attitudes evolved for centuries.
The ending starts off as expected, and then throws a curveball, resulting in the menage tag. Note that there are a couple of brief sexy scenes, but this is not a smut-fest.
I will be reading the next one. Note that both teams have lots of players on their rosters, so there will be opportunities for several more stories.
When a big bad-ass alien with a deadly tail tries to communicate with a human mercenary with a big gun, he discovers that some women fight back, and leave bruises. A slow-burn romance based on mutual admiration starts. Lots of crazy cyborg-like adjustments ensue, and there are many bad guys with bad attitudes evolved for centuries.
The ending starts off as expected, and then throws a curveball, resulting in the menage tag. Note that there are a couple of brief sexy scenes, but this is not a smut-fest.
I will be reading the next one. Note that both teams have lots of players on their rosters, so there will be opportunities for several more stories.
January 6, 2019
Wonderful start to a new series. I will read the next one for sure.
January 3, 2018
4.75 stars
December 29, 2017
I'm going to give this 3 maybe 3.5 stars because this is the first book in a new series and a lot of world build type set up stuff needs to happen but I didn't enjoy nearly as much as Anna Carven's Dark Planet Warriors series starter.
March 27, 2018
3.5 stars
Well. This was way better than I expected to be honest. This is not really your typical alien abduction romances - which I expected when I picked up a book with this kind of cover.
Instead I got a rather intriguing crew of misfits, that where lead by a woman with mechanical enhancements and a really interesting background story.
This crew meets the Vradhu, a few aliens, that are trapped on a huge foreign ship, which has bonded with their hunter.
Since this IS a romance book everyone should know, that the hunter and the leader will fall in love with each other, but how it happens was quite a bit intriguing to me - first and foremost, because the leader is is not your typical female protagonist of alien romances. She is prickly and badass and quite gutsy. Life goals.
A strog female lead is everything to me, without such a character the book - as good as it may be - will always be falwed in some kind of ways.
In this case it happens that the book wasn't the best, it was longwinded and first half was way better than the second half in my opinion, but it has got a strong, kickass female lead and I fucking enjoyed that! She wasn't always that trong, since she got pretty mushy with the H at the end, but I'll take it.
The other surprise was the H. Because very often, when I stumble upon a book with a great female heroine - the H tends to be bland and boring and not on equal footing than her. As if the author decided she would put every tought about character depths and development in the female lead.
in this case, we also get quite a badass male protagonist, he is no non-sense, dedicated and very determined.
Despite the longass prologue (a thing I hate) and some serious longwinded passages, the book was entertaining and supenseful and had two very interesting, very strong porotagonists, that I quite enjoyed.
Well. This was way better than I expected to be honest. This is not really your typical alien abduction romances - which I expected when I picked up a book with this kind of cover.
Instead I got a rather intriguing crew of misfits, that where lead by a woman with mechanical enhancements and a really interesting background story.
This crew meets the Vradhu, a few aliens, that are trapped on a huge foreign ship, which has bonded with their hunter.
Since this IS a romance book everyone should know, that the hunter and the leader will fall in love with each other, but how it happens was quite a bit intriguing to me - first and foremost, because the leader is is not your typical female protagonist of alien romances. She is prickly and badass and quite gutsy. Life goals.
A strog female lead is everything to me, without such a character the book - as good as it may be - will always be falwed in some kind of ways.
In this case it happens that the book wasn't the best, it was longwinded and first half was way better than the second half in my opinion, but it has got a strong, kickass female lead and I fucking enjoyed that! She wasn't always that trong, since she got pretty mushy with the H at the end, but I'll take it.
The other surprise was the H. Because very often, when I stumble upon a book with a great female heroine - the H tends to be bland and boring and not on equal footing than her. As if the author decided she would put every tought about character depths and development in the female lead.
in this case, we also get quite a badass male protagonist, he is no non-sense, dedicated and very determined.
Despite the longass prologue (a thing I hate) and some serious longwinded passages, the book was entertaining and supenseful and had two very interesting, very strong porotagonists, that I quite enjoyed.
May 11, 2022
5 stars
Another great story from Anna Carven. This one is the start of a new series, and I really enjoyed it, I found it somewhat different to the mainstream alien romances. Looking for to reading the second book in this series
Another great story from Anna Carven. This one is the start of a new series, and I really enjoyed it, I found it somewhat different to the mainstream alien romances. Looking for to reading the second book in this series
December 9, 2020
Can I just say that sentient spaceships creep the hell out of me.
I felt a little lost at first as there was so much world building to do here. We meet Ares on his planet with his fellow warriors where they are lead into a trap and taken up to the ship.
We then meet Calexa and her crew of mercenaries. She is a strong warrior woman who won't take shit from anyone. When their ship gets flung out into the unknown they meet up with the sentient ship and get taken into it...literally.
Ares meets Calexa and the adventure begins...took a while for the romance to start and the ending kind of freaked me out.
I felt a little lost at first as there was so much world building to do here. We meet Ares on his planet with his fellow warriors where they are lead into a trap and taken up to the ship.
We then meet Calexa and her crew of mercenaries. She is a strong warrior woman who won't take shit from anyone. When their ship gets flung out into the unknown they meet up with the sentient ship and get taken into it...literally.
Ares meets Calexa and the adventure begins...took a while for the romance to start and the ending kind of freaked me out.
March 20, 2019
Brilliant!
If you are looking for a strong human female lead then this book is perfect! I loved the history and culture and of course the romance woven between the lines. This is not a book I would classify as smut. The story isn't focused or about mating and bonding instead it's about a myth in the making and the fight for survival as a Merc ship of mostly humans ends up accidently making first contact.
If you are looking for a strong human female lead then this book is perfect! I loved the history and culture and of course the romance woven between the lines. This is not a book I would classify as smut. The story isn't focused or about mating and bonding instead it's about a myth in the making and the fight for survival as a Merc ship of mostly humans ends up accidently making first contact.
January 22, 2019
4.25 stars
December 17, 2017
Wow!
This book is amazing, I sat up through the night reading it and at five this morning when I finally tried for an hour's sleep I could not stop thinking about this story and these amazing characters.
But then AC creates the most amazing characters in all her books. I love her h's they are strong and quirky in a way that I know ordinary woman are. No matter how over the top strong her H's it's the women that hold all the power and I adore that especially in the very scary worlds AC creates.
This world is different from the Dark warrior books, but just as vivid and colorful. I loved the different twist on technology vs primitive and how there needs to be a happy medium for life to work.
Ares had me a little worried at the beginning but in true AC style he redeemed himself so wonderfully that once again I am completely in love with AC's powerfully written Hero, he might make me side eye him even though my heart belongs to The General! And Calexa is the perfect match to him, she's feisty and unbelievably strong, I can not wait to see more of this world and the people in it!
This book is amazing, I sat up through the night reading it and at five this morning when I finally tried for an hour's sleep I could not stop thinking about this story and these amazing characters.
But then AC creates the most amazing characters in all her books. I love her h's they are strong and quirky in a way that I know ordinary woman are. No matter how over the top strong her H's it's the women that hold all the power and I adore that especially in the very scary worlds AC creates.
This world is different from the Dark warrior books, but just as vivid and colorful. I loved the different twist on technology vs primitive and how there needs to be a happy medium for life to work.
Ares had me a little worried at the beginning but in true AC style he redeemed himself so wonderfully that once again I am completely in love with AC's powerfully written Hero, he might make me side eye him even though my heart belongs to The General! And Calexa is the perfect match to him, she's feisty and unbelievably strong, I can not wait to see more of this world and the people in it!
July 29, 2020
Oh. I wasn’t ready for this book. What I thought I was going into was a dry trope-laden book.
But, this book seriously gives poetic justice to the alien genre. Poetic justice! I love how the author puts her words. I’m not usually the one to read a book word for word. But damn I read every single sentence. No skimming, like usual.
I love the drama. Love the high stakes. And grittiness. The way the other characters are set-up (not too much focus but just enough to keep me guessing and wondering if they’ll ever get books too)
Love that the plot doesn’t stray at all. This book had me hooked in one-sitting. Couldn’t put it down.
Sure, it might be cheesy at times. But it was properly set-up so I couldn’t even be mad. Did I say poetic justice? Ok. It’s real good guys.
I’m giving this book 5 stars!
But, this book seriously gives poetic justice to the alien genre. Poetic justice! I love how the author puts her words. I’m not usually the one to read a book word for word. But damn I read every single sentence. No skimming, like usual.
I love the drama. Love the high stakes. And grittiness. The way the other characters are set-up (not too much focus but just enough to keep me guessing and wondering if they’ll ever get books too)
Love that the plot doesn’t stray at all. This book had me hooked in one-sitting. Couldn’t put it down.
Sure, it might be cheesy at times. But it was properly set-up so I couldn’t even be mad. Did I say poetic justice? Ok. It’s real good guys.
I’m giving this book 5 stars!
January 20, 2018
It's so frustrating when a promising story fails to deliver.
When Calexa's spaceship is captured by an enormous alien ship, she's initially terrified by the violet-skinned being who seems to be its captain. Ares, a Vradhu Hunter, is himself a captive of the Hythra...a massive derelict -- abandoned by its long-ago builders -- and he's desperate to escape as well. However, the Hythra and her inhabitants have other ideas (think Roach Motel -- they go in, but they never come out), and Calexa and Ares must learn to trust each other if they're ever to find a way to escape.
Ok -- where to begin....
There's an extensive prologue -- which should have been my first clue. When the world-building is as lengthy and complex as it is here, it should be wrapped into the story. Then, there's all the Whoo-Woo associated with the Hythra and its spooky crew of ghouls -- and all of their back-story. It goes on and on and on....and on....and on....all very weird, and not making tons of sense.
Just when you're thinking that the story will move forward -- OK, now they'll escape --HA! Not so fast. Either more creepy beings emerge to ensure that Ares can't leave, or his Extreme Makeover goes to the next level. And the momentum just dies.....
And...speaking over makeovers...There's an important development that gets minimal attention until the end of the story, when it's finally brought into play -- but by then, it's such a letdown! There were such incredible possibilities that are squandered: the contrasts between our older and our younger selves, and how each of these personas contribute to a relationship....GAH!!! And a question for the ages -- if you're having sex with the Doublemint Twins, is it really a threesome....???
Yes, the action sequences are done very well -- but they can't move an inert story forward by themselves.
And..this is the first in a new series, but I just don't think I care enough about the characters to want to read any subsequent books.
When Calexa's spaceship is captured by an enormous alien ship, she's initially terrified by the violet-skinned being who seems to be its captain. Ares, a Vradhu Hunter, is himself a captive of the Hythra...a massive derelict -- abandoned by its long-ago builders -- and he's desperate to escape as well. However, the Hythra and her inhabitants have other ideas (think Roach Motel -- they go in, but they never come out), and Calexa and Ares must learn to trust each other if they're ever to find a way to escape.
Ok -- where to begin....
There's an extensive prologue -- which should have been my first clue. When the world-building is as lengthy and complex as it is here, it should be wrapped into the story. Then, there's all the Whoo-Woo associated with the Hythra and its spooky crew of ghouls -- and all of their back-story. It goes on and on and on....and on....and on....all very weird, and not making tons of sense.
Just when you're thinking that the story will move forward -- OK, now they'll escape --HA! Not so fast. Either more creepy beings emerge to ensure that Ares can't leave, or his Extreme Makeover goes to the next level. And the momentum just dies.....
And...speaking over makeovers...There's an important development that gets minimal attention until the end of the story, when it's finally brought into play -- but by then, it's such a letdown! There were such incredible possibilities that are squandered: the contrasts between our older and our younger selves, and how each of these personas contribute to a relationship....GAH!!! And a question for the ages -- if you're having sex with the Doublemint Twins, is it really a threesome....???
Yes, the action sequences are done very well -- but they can't move an inert story forward by themselves.
And..this is the first in a new series, but I just don't think I care enough about the characters to want to read any subsequent books.
February 25, 2018
This story started out pretty great. It had so much going for it and then coming to the end when we should be getting explanations and closure things started to go downhill. Then the ultimate betrayal, the clone wakes up and the hero also lives (what?!) Then for no reason we have a menagerie de clone. Then some talk about twins that had no bearing on the story as far as I could tell. I really was hoping for more explanation into this new world but maybe it would come with the next book. (Sigh)
January 8, 2018
I lost interest so many times, and had to force myself to read to the end, and when I got there, I was underwhelmed. I think this will be my first, and last book, by Ms Carven. Her writing style just isn’t for me.
March 26, 2021
It was easy to put down but I finished it.
I skimmed a bunch.
I skimmed a bunch.
December 17, 2017
The beginning of another great series
Cal has had a rough go. From slave to merc to captured by unknown aliens in what appears to be a whole new galaxy. One jump to protect her cargo, passengers she just knew we're going to be trouble, and now the ship that captured hers is a crew divided. What appears to be 2 species together just happens to be 2 species at severe odds. Purple guys, pretty purple guys, were captured as well and trying to get away. Luckily for them her girls came with a ship. Bad news for her, they want her ship. Meanwhile the blue people running about are no Vegas show for fun and entertainment. They fight dirty, lack morals and keep trying to poison everybody. Oh, and the ship that they're all on? Yeah, it's sentient and has an attitude, too! It wants to possess Ares, the head pretty purple guy, even though he's determined to leave. Even as he becomes more metallic his will never wavers. He has a backup plan in motion, one that stuns everyone. And becomes quite a handful for Cal.
I'm not sure, exactly, where this series is going but I like it. I loved the Dark Planet series. So much. I don't know if this one will follow the same repeated timeline to show everyone involveds thinking and story. That remains to be seen. But this was a hell of a beginning and kept me riveted. So much so that I was reading up to the trailers before the new Star Wars movie tonight. And I finished it on the way home lol. Oh, and if this is your 1st Anna Carver book go back and read her Dark Planet series. Strong women paired with strong guys in long odds but willing to fight for what's right, add in some epic space battles and it makes for some great books. These aren't insipid bodice ripping romances. They have heart.
Cal has had a rough go. From slave to merc to captured by unknown aliens in what appears to be a whole new galaxy. One jump to protect her cargo, passengers she just knew we're going to be trouble, and now the ship that captured hers is a crew divided. What appears to be 2 species together just happens to be 2 species at severe odds. Purple guys, pretty purple guys, were captured as well and trying to get away. Luckily for them her girls came with a ship. Bad news for her, they want her ship. Meanwhile the blue people running about are no Vegas show for fun and entertainment. They fight dirty, lack morals and keep trying to poison everybody. Oh, and the ship that they're all on? Yeah, it's sentient and has an attitude, too! It wants to possess Ares, the head pretty purple guy, even though he's determined to leave. Even as he becomes more metallic his will never wavers. He has a backup plan in motion, one that stuns everyone. And becomes quite a handful for Cal.
I'm not sure, exactly, where this series is going but I like it. I loved the Dark Planet series. So much. I don't know if this one will follow the same repeated timeline to show everyone involveds thinking and story. That remains to be seen. But this was a hell of a beginning and kept me riveted. So much so that I was reading up to the trailers before the new Star Wars movie tonight. And I finished it on the way home lol. Oh, and if this is your 1st Anna Carver book go back and read her Dark Planet series. Strong women paired with strong guys in long odds but willing to fight for what's right, add in some epic space battles and it makes for some great books. These aren't insipid bodice ripping romances. They have heart.
August 31, 2018
A new group of honorable, fierce aliens who find humans (or at least one certain human) irresistible. Honestly, a lot of that irresistibility comes from their willingness to fight for what they believe in. And how they keep pushing even against impossible odds.
Humans, man. You gotta love 'em.
Simply put, Calexa is as human as a person can get. And by that, I mean she's spunky and doesn't back down from a fight and she listens to her gut when it tells her to do something. Even when the something it's telling her to do is to save the big, brooding, kinda scary alien dude from a horde of not-so-nice other aliens.
Ares, on the other hand, is very not human. Well, wait. He has the honorable thing going for him. So, there's that. I guess I'm trying to say he's even more inhuman than his cohorts since the living ship bonded to him and is busy doing some very weird things with his physiology. No worries, big guy. Everybody likes wings.
And a tail. *thumbs up to that*
As an aside, I'd like to point out I'm always excited to end up on a literary adventure aboard a (kind of) derelict space ship. Fill it with a few bloodthirsty aliens and I'm ALL IN. Basically, this book hit all my hot buttons (well, except for the amnesiac vampire thing, but I didn't really go into this book expecting that, so I'm cool. I'm cool. Oh, and I guess there wasn't an incident where our couple got snowed in and had to share body heat, but AGAIN...that's kinda a specific THANG I like so...where was I going with this? I have no idea.) so I'm coming away from it a very happy reader.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Humans, man. You gotta love 'em.
Simply put, Calexa is as human as a person can get. And by that, I mean she's spunky and doesn't back down from a fight and she listens to her gut when it tells her to do something. Even when the something it's telling her to do is to save the big, brooding, kinda scary alien dude from a horde of not-so-nice other aliens.
Ares, on the other hand, is very not human. Well, wait. He has the honorable thing going for him. So, there's that. I guess I'm trying to say he's even more inhuman than his cohorts since the living ship bonded to him and is busy doing some very weird things with his physiology. No worries, big guy. Everybody likes wings.
And a tail. *thumbs up to that*
As an aside, I'd like to point out I'm always excited to end up on a literary adventure aboard a (kind of) derelict space ship. Fill it with a few bloodthirsty aliens and I'm ALL IN. Basically, this book hit all my hot buttons (well, except for the amnesiac vampire thing, but I didn't really go into this book expecting that, so I'm cool. I'm cool. Oh, and I guess there wasn't an incident where our couple got snowed in and had to share body heat, but AGAIN...that's kinda a specific THANG I like so...where was I going with this? I have no idea.) so I'm coming away from it a very happy reader.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
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September 30, 2023I thought this was pretty fascinating and unique. I had the warning about the twist and just kinda wished it was Maki instead. Lol. I really liked the first half of the book, especially when Ares and Calexa fought each other and there was that hesitancy and mistrust. He was so bad ass and all powerful at different points and I don’t think we ever really saw that to its full potential. The events toward the end were cool (fall of the Dagger) and also some I was a little on the fence about. To be honest, I thought there were lots of untapped opportunities. Both Ares and Calexa were very likeable and it was a warm feeling slow burn, though some of the timing on some parts were a little weird. Read trigger warnings if you are sensitive to some taboo romance things. If you aren’t, try to skip the trigger warnings as much as you can or it will mess with your head in anticipation/waiting for the shoe to drop while you are reading. I kinda wish I hadn’t read the blurb here that spoiled it for me, but I guess she added that later due to reader feedback. It’s hard to keep surprises in your story, be original and also keep the masses happy, I guess.
January 5, 2019
Really, I would like to give this is 4.5 instead of a 4. When will I ever be able to? Anna Carven is one of my favorite scifi romance writers. Her Dark Planet Warriors series is one that I've enjoyed reading time and again. I was really excited to see that she had a new series to read. I was not disappointed at all.
So, Calexa and her crew get stranded somewhere on the other side of the universe. She and her crew get sucked into a ship where they meet several different aliens and 2 different species.
Ares, a Vradhu, is one of those aliens. He's bonded with the ship and is trying to keep his people safe from their enemies, who are also on that ship. Calexa manages to fight Ares to a stand-still and then protects him from enemies.
There are all kinds of surprises in this story. People who go into this thinking that it's going to be like the DPW series are going to be disappointed. It's a completely different series and a completely different feel. The twists and surprises had me on the edge of my seat and rushing through the pages to see what's going to happen next. I love Ares and I think that Calexa is pretty awesome too. The two of them together are breath-taking and I am expecting great things from this series and to love it as much as I like DPW.
So, Calexa and her crew get stranded somewhere on the other side of the universe. She and her crew get sucked into a ship where they meet several different aliens and 2 different species.
Ares, a Vradhu, is one of those aliens. He's bonded with the ship and is trying to keep his people safe from their enemies, who are also on that ship. Calexa manages to fight Ares to a stand-still and then protects him from enemies.
There are all kinds of surprises in this story. People who go into this thinking that it's going to be like the DPW series are going to be disappointed. It's a completely different series and a completely different feel. The twists and surprises had me on the edge of my seat and rushing through the pages to see what's going to happen next. I love Ares and I think that Calexa is pretty awesome too. The two of them together are breath-taking and I am expecting great things from this series and to love it as much as I like DPW.
December 19, 2017
Destroyer (Hidden Planet Book 1) is a rich story
I loved Anna Carven's Dark planet stories, so saying that she got me hooked on her rich story lines and complex characters. I was so happy to hear of this new series she was starting. This is a great beginning to a new series. Just what Ares experienced is epic in the land of storylines it was so satisfying. You feel you got a real, full and meaty story with his life so drastically changed as well as Calexa's. He seemed to be the focus which is so unusual. As the female is normally the focus. I love Calexa's toughness, strength and determination. We get a very small glimpse of her life before Ares, hints and small snippets but not enough for us to be sad for her, but enough to know even as a child she was a BA! She is more of a challenge and match for Ares. Read this first installment you won't regret it. I can't wait for Book 2.
I loved Anna Carven's Dark planet stories, so saying that she got me hooked on her rich story lines and complex characters. I was so happy to hear of this new series she was starting. This is a great beginning to a new series. Just what Ares experienced is epic in the land of storylines it was so satisfying. You feel you got a real, full and meaty story with his life so drastically changed as well as Calexa's. He seemed to be the focus which is so unusual. As the female is normally the focus. I love Calexa's toughness, strength and determination. We get a very small glimpse of her life before Ares, hints and small snippets but not enough for us to be sad for her, but enough to know even as a child she was a BA! She is more of a challenge and match for Ares. Read this first installment you won't regret it. I can't wait for Book 2.
January 11, 2024
Destroyer by Anna Craven fell short of expectations, and as a reader familiar with the author's other series, this one felt like a departure from her usual style. The introduction of the twins element seemed abrupt and disconnected, making it difficult to engage with the story. Unfortunately, I couldn't even finish the book, and it lacked the coherence and appeal found in Craven's other works. A two-star rating reflects the disappointment in this departure from the author's usual standard.
January 14, 2018
Great world building!!
Awesome story and great world building by the author. I'm intrigued enough to start looking for the next in the series!!
Awesome story and great world building by the author. I'm intrigued enough to start looking for the next in the series!!
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