Her heart is closed, safe behind walls of ice. Can a berserker alien with a dark past shatter her defenses? Brilliant chemist Leena guards her heart with a sharp tongue and steely focus on her work. A battle-happy jock would be the last traveling companion she ever picked - even if he was human. One of the alien warriors? Not a chance. But there's more to Axtin than his green skin and interesting stripes. His strong arms will protect her from attackers, but as her emotions start to thaw, who will save her from him?
Axtin only finds peace in his endless fights against the Xathi after the destruction of his homeworld. The galactic rift that brought the war to Ankau simply means a new battleground, nothing more. But when he's forced to guard the spirited Leena from the dangers all around, can he learn to care for something deeper?
Axtin is the second book in the science fiction romance series Conquered World. Each book is a stand-alone romance with alpha male alien warriors and women who don't put up with their nonsense. No cheating, no cliffhangers, HEA guaranteed!
WELP. this was alright. not anything crazy to write home about but i dig it a lot more than book one. at least the characters were a bit more believable and less off putting.
If you follow the review of the previous book, you will know that I read this book with the idea of getting my questions answer. I just got more disappointment. The h is your garden variety “kill-me-know-stupid,” Thankfully she rehabilitated herself in the last 30% of the book. As for my questions, I got some answer, not as many as you will spect, and not worth another abrupt ending. The only good thing about this book is Axtin. Not looking forward to the next book.
Seriously impressive world building and storyline depth, battle scenes are definitely better written than any other smut I’ve come across 😂 and I mean that genuinely as a compliment. Spicy isn’t too wild but definitely is spicy bits!!
I received an ARC edition of this book from the author.
You need to read the first book in the series Vrehx to understand the background for this story.
I didn't particularly care for Leena. She came across as too cold and standoffish for my tastes (though she does have her reasons). She almost seemed stubborn for stubborn sake. Axtin was bit easier for me to like, and as Leena warms to him we see a different side to her. I do wish I knew a bit more about Axtin's people, other than him being green I'm not sure I really got an alien vibe from him. I'm looking forward to seeing more of some of his shipmates in coming stories.
The Xathi are certainly proving to be a nightmarish villain in this series. It will be interesting to see how the fighting continues in the coming books.
As fascinating as the first Conquered World novel was, I expected a lot from this sequel. My expectations were unmet. They're still on the strangely poisonous and predatory planet. The insectoid Xathi are still marooned there and still attempting to make a virtue out of necessity by conquering, enslaving and/or eating the human population. General Rouhr's mixed species alien crew - the guys who blew the hole in the universe that let all the bad actors in - is still just as stranded, and now determined to aid the humans. It helps that Vrehx is now mated to the human Jeneva, but this is Axtin's story, and he's fixated on Leena, the human chemist/hermit/cactus. Why, I don't know. They snap and snipe at each other until they end up having sex. Why, I don't know. The MacGyvered stink bombs that helped defeat the Xathi in the first book figure prominently in this one, and the mission to share the newly manufactured ammo goes badly wrong. A whole lotta human refugees get mixed up in the middle of it, there are lots of tear-jerker scenes with aliens terrorizing kids, experimenting on some adults while snacking on others, and betting violently obliterated by Axtin and his crewmates. All the violence makes Leena lose her sh*T, and Axtin too suffers his share of PTSD, but in the end they're together, so.... All told, there's little that makes sense and less that furthers the series story arc, and I wish the author had slowed it down a bit and constructed a more coherent story.
When Leena and her sister were taken aboard the alien ship Vengeance, it was to hide from the Xathi. Now Leena has been asked to help create a chemical weapon to use against them, and Axtin will escort her to the lab. Traveling through the dangerous forest, dealing with angry mobs, fighting with alien bugs, they’ll have to do it all. And they’ll have to deal with the feelings they inspire in each other too.
Leena is a woman who uses anger to hide the hurt inside, and to keep people at a distance. Axtin is a male who uses extreme behaviour to hide the trauma of his past. He takes risks and enjoys it. Put two strong willed people together, and sparks will naturally fly. Put two hurting people together, and they might just help each other deal with it.
There is no happily ever after in this book. It’s part of an ongoing series, so the overarching background story is incomplete, while the romance between the hero and heroine is very much a ‘happily for now’. That’s not a bad thing though. The world in which the series takes place, is under attack, it would be unrealistic to expect a happily ever after under those circumstances.
This book needs to be read as part of the series, you can’t really skip any books, or read this before the first, because that background story is often front and centre. Because of that, I recommend this book to lovers of sci-fi series with ongoing storylines, and sci-fi romance fans.
Leena and Axtin are...something else. Leena doesn't know how not to push people away (for reasons) and Axtin is knee deep in his joy of fighting (and hopefully defeating) the Xathi. They're oil and water and somehow they manage to make things work. (Mostly because I think they look at all that verbal sparring as foreplay, but that's just my opinion.)
Leena is focused and she comes across as abrasive more often than not. Including to her sister, which makes for some fun family dynamics. Trying to find a cure for the disease that will slowly kill her and Mariella is her sole purpose and she doesn't really care who she angers/alienates in the process as long as she gets results.
Which makes her SUPER fun at parties, I'm sure.
Axtin is good at taking out bad guys and rushing into the fray to protect his fellow soldiers. Turns out he's also pretty darn good at protecting Leena, too. You know, when she'll let him.
Displaced aliens on a dangerous world, hive-minded aliens who want to subjugate everything in their path, and a whole lot of sparring between the sheets. These aliens are meeting their matches in the humans they're trying to help and I'm here for that.
I thought I would not like the couple from the glimpse I had in the first book, but I did. After the author shared her personal struggle I started to change my opinion of her. There were a few things that needed to be worked out or I didn’t buy. The fact that she had her on state of art lab and she needed to get data from another run down place? Not buying that they didn’t have the smart phone, and cloud storage. For that matter what about the humans calling other federation about alien invasion. If human came there and others lived on planet, there must have a trade and exchange route. Where are the air travel vehicles. Others: her sickness, not buying that they wouldn’t have cure or treatment. Or scanners, etc. The sound weapon. Suddenly it effects humans? Sorry not what happened in first book. Even if it did, what about ear plugs? And what the hell were they waiting for? Invitation? The would have developed tanner and perfume bombs already and made them, dropped off to settlers. Did not buy the all aliens suck mob. No way they would not know of others and differences
Brilliant Chemist Leena's heart is closed behind a wall of ice and her sharp tongue. So the battle happy berserker with a dark past Axtin with his green striped skin would be the last travelling companion she would've ever picked. But there is much more to him as he uses his strong arms to protect her from attackers causing her heart to start to thaw. Axtin only finds peace fighting against the Xathi since they destroyed his homeworld and so fighting them on Ankau just means that he does the same fight somewhere else. But when he is forced to protect Leena from the dangers all around can he learn to care for someone else?
I really enjoyed this story with the shut-off and determined Leena on the one side and the protective Axtin on the other. They definitely butt heads for a while until they found a middle ground and then a compromise to accept each other and their viewpoints. It was great to see them appreciate the other's strengths and be able to help each other. I was so glad to see Leena have some happiness in her life as he was far too uptight at the start of this series. Well written, easy to read and understand. Contains some sexual content.
Axtin🐺🔪🔫 is a green Valorni, a super warrior in the war against the Xathi🐜, a hive minded, ruthless, insectoid race who capture and eat humanoids, then destroy their planet.
He is based aboard the spaceship Vengence, along with human women and Vrehx, from book one in this series. The book can be read as a stand-alone.
Leena💃💋 is one of the human women on the Vengence. She is a scientist, currently working to find a cure for a disease she and her sister, Mariella have. Leena💃💋 is also working on development of chemical biological weapons defense against the bugs🐜.
She and Axtin🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 are assigned to travel across country to a city where Leena💃💋 once had a lab. She hopes to retrieve her research. Axtin🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 is her reluctant bodyguard. Will the forced closeness bring the two wildly different beings into a relationship?
Adult Alpha Alien XXX Romance. There are many scenes of fighting🔪🔫💥 in this book. It's an adventure! It's a love💘 story! The ending seemed drug out to me.
I am not one for DNF'ing a book, but the start of this was weird. Choppy. Like it dropped you in the middle of the action with people you already knew & recognized. I know it's the 2nd in a series but, jeez, give a girl some lead in, would ya? Remind me why I cared enough to continue the story.
I found the heroine Leena unlikable & cold. I know the blurb said she was cold and eventually thawed, but there was nothing about her to make me sympathetic or care anything about her. She was just an angry, bigoted, mean beotch and the TSTL rant followed by hysterical thing with the crying kid hologram? Just made me dislike her more.
As for Axtin, I don't remember him from BK 1 either so I thought his thought & actions were also impulsive & emotionally immature. He was supposed to be a seasoned warrior but came across more like a teenager. A green and purple teenager. With space weapons....
Maybe if you read this and picture everyone as 20 or younger their thought & actions will make more sense and you can enjoy the story.
I couldn't stand Leena on the first book. I had found her cold and bossy. Got to understand the why's of her being closed off around people. Axtin is impulsive and ready to jump into battle. Leena is as impulse and runs blindly into any situation. Although both are knuckleheads, their compassion made me love them. The book reminded me of people's many prejudices; forgetting we're all one race: human. Regardless of compassion towards any other species, people more than often tend to show their ugly side.
The forest at night was beautiful to imagine. But the action... !!! I LOVED THE ACTION! Yeah, yeah. I know it's a sci-fi romance novel; but the action was exciting and kept me on edge. Definitely loved the story. I haven't checked out if this series is on Audible as well. Not stopping to check. I'm on book 2 ready for next.
The action was... Freaking awesome! I don't care how spiders are good for nature's balance. Giant spiders with a thinking mentality mind just gotta be exterminated.
Edit: I was wondering at first, if others wished the book was larger too. Then noticed some low or poor reviews on Goodreads. Apparently, this is not an erotica PRN; or has no detailed sex scenes. In other words, there's a plot and a moral to the story about working together to fight a common enemy. The romance is there, and I loved how Leena and Axtin worked out their own issues. So, if you're looking for porn and not a plot, there is the erotica section.
Let me start off by saying that this book has a truly unique plot. In 2000 books, I’ve read in my lifetime, I’ve never read anything like it. Having said that, most of the books did not have a lot of plot development. They happened every few books or so. The couples would meet and fall in love within 2 to 3 days and suddenly they’re all life partners which I find extremely hard to believe and doesn’t allow you to get to know the characters as fully as You could/should. So I hope she works on that. This book set could’ve been so much more than it was. As I previously mentioned, the plot was unique, and I would have loved to see more of it In all of the books. My chapter review is below. Negative means little to no plot development and plus equals plot development. And the plus and minus mean there was a little bit of plot development, but not a lot. Are you confused?
- 1 to 8 + Book 9, 10, 11, 12 - book 13, 14 +15 +- book 16, 17 + book 18
These 2 characters were yin and yang . Leena had her demons and inner turmoil And although we saw the gruff, dry humoured Axtin in book 1. But his story showed a depth to him that I didn't think was there. This plotline continued the war, adding some more twists and unfolded the romance between 2 people who were vastly different. It was everything I enjoyed in a space opera. Pace, angst, suspense, sadness, love, steam. So enjoyed Leenas strength and smarts. And so the plot thickens. Although I didn't enjoy the depth of this book as much as book 1, I'm still invested Piers excelled with his narration and accents as in the previous book. Although Axtin's voice sounded a little like arni Schwarzenegger
What a wonderful sequel to the series! It had lots of excitement and danger around every corner. Leena was very challenging to Axtin, with her stubbornness and closed-offishness but he knew what he wanted. She felt the need to protect her heart as well as the hearts of others and wouldn't let her walls down, but Axtin eventually won her over. I loved Axtin so much! He was a powerful character. Protective and brave, sexy and sweet. The ending was my favorite part and I can't wait to see what's next. If you love sci-fi romance than snatch this series up and go for it.
Axtin is the second book in the science fiction romance series Conquered World and its exciting as book one in the series Vrehx , its action packed and amidst all the horror of a planet under attack by a malicious force a romance is born. Will the sexy green skined berserker be able to thaw independent leena's ice cold heart? Scientist Leena cant stand somethings and at this momemt its the alpha male warrior Axtin that has her hackles up by treating her as she is fragile and needs protecting....in Axtin's case its overprotecting.....
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book.
I liked the characters in the book . Nobody too over the top ,no one too lax . I'm not a big fan of the bug aliens . I mean how do they build/ manufacture equipment and space ships with pinchers instead of fingers ? Yeah , I know . I need to remember that this is a science fiction , fiction being the key word ! Lol... Anyway...I did enjoy the book . I won't have a problem reading the further adventures of the soldiers of the Vengeance and the humans they protect .
Wow I’m so glad I stumbled upon this author! Thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m loving this series! These books are shorter in length than what I normally read but the story lines keep me gripped! Excellent use of pace and everything always rounds off nicely. Huge alpha males and plenty of action- fighting and well as plenty of steam! These books give me ALL the feels - go read them! Now!
Only made it to 34% the heroine like the first book was a witch with a capital B! My advice to the author you have decent stories but tone down the holier than thou attitude in your heroines and they would probably be more enjoyable. Also, if people were really as nasty as she makes them out to be the aliens should just let the others kill em all off cause seriously some xenophobic people in this book. Sorry but I just couldn't continue on reading
She's a new author to me. I'm very happy I gave this series a chance. The book was very well written. The characters are.well thought out. They don't deviate from the pajamas that the author has set for them. It is written so well you are never Jared From the story. I'm really enjoying this book and look forward to reading others in the series.
I really enjoyed this book. The whole story was longer, more detailed and intriguing. The main couple were great together. I love the way we get to know more people and see them interact with old characters. I hate when authors forget that we knew them too! I am on board with this series. All the way.
This is an awesome book. The main characters Axtin and Leena both have fears they have to conquer. They both are very strong, but are not without insecurities that they must overcome. The fight scenes are intense leaving you on the edge of your seat. It’s not an easy book to put down, so don’t start before bed thinking you’ll just read a chapter or two.
I love the characters in this book. Axtin and Leena were perfect for each other, after she stopped getting on his nerves. She got on my nerves as well but I knew she had a genetic disorder. I hope she comes up with something to stop the bugs eventually because she is stubborn enough to do it. The next book in the series should be as interesting with her sister.
I always find the author's writing a little stiff when I start one of these books, and it takes a little while to get into her flow. Once I do, I really enjoy the stories. Particularly for how real the characters are in their interactions, and true to the original personalities they were given. Liked this offering from Axtin and Leena.
I did not really read this. It was too ridiculous... I kinda felt like I was reading a teenagers go at an fiction story... I usually at least skim read the book but I gave up... I think it maybe ok for teenagers but not enough character and plot building for me... Sorry... I will skip the rest of the series.
This book is just as great as the first one? A touching romance with action, drama, dangerous alien bugs, survival, passion, and hot steamy scenes that leaves you saying ahh with awesome characters. A must buy and so ready to read the next book in the series.
Hard headed and argumentative describes Actin and Leena however they both have huge hearts. It takes every bit of their strong wills to survive the Xanti and rescue a group of humans. Excellent story.
I didn’t expect to see this couple get together, but they are perfect for each other. I enjoyed reading about their journey and am happy they and Calixta are now a happy family.
This second book of the series ups the horror of the predator aliens on this planet. It's up to our characters to find a way to defeat them and in the process find their true love.