Toxic

by Karina Kantas

Lexi isn't your normal Malok. She craves adventure and freedom from the mundane life forced upon her. 100 years ago, the first drop of acid rain fell. Maloks fled to the mountains, building a new way of life—a desolate life—a life Lexi knows all too well.

Lexi has a plan, her ticket out of this miserable existence, becoming a ranger. Aron, her partner, believes she’s not strong enough to fight alongside him. Lexi will stop at nothing, no matter what the danger, to achieve her independence, even if that means defying him.

Amidst everything, Marcus, Lexi’s childhood best friend makes a sudden return. Before she can rejoice in a reunion, her happiness is crushed when she sees Mae, the bully that had terrorized her in her teens. Marcus was aware of the mental abuse Lexi had suffered and yet the person she loved and the person she hated the most, stand before her, together.

148 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 12, 2019

About the author

Karina Kantas originates from the UK but has lived in Greece most of her life.

Karina is a prolific author and publishes in the fiction genres of MC thrillers, fantasy, horror, comedy, romance, erotica, dystopian and thriller, dark romance, and mafia thrillers.

She writes thought-provoking/dark flash fiction when her imagination is working overtime.
Karina is the host of Behind The Pen TV show, which streams on platforms that cover over 100.000.000 homes.
She has her own radio show, Author Assist, on the Artist First Radio Network. She is a bookTuber, podcaster, and award-winning filmmaker.
Karina Kantas also runs Author Assist, which offers coaching, mentoring and exclusive packages to writers and publishers.

**coming soon**
IN TIMES OF VIOLENCE ADULT EDITION

Titles to date:

The OUTLAW series
In Times of Violence Urban thriller YA
Huntress Dark MC romance
Lawless Justice Vigilante MC thriller
Road Rage Dark MC Romance

Collections:
Heads & Tales Flash and short fiction.
Undressed Flash, poetry, prose
A Flash of Horror Flash fiction

Stone Cold YA horror
Toxic Dystopian sci-fi erotica
Broken Chains Dark mafia romance

Illusional Realityduology
Book 1 Illusional Reality YA fantasy/ PNR
Book 2 The Quest supernatural fantasy

Audiobooks
Stone Cold YA Horror
Illusional Reality YA fantasy PNR

Reviews

[Nikki]

Lexi seeks the independence of becoming a Ranger. Her boyfriend Aaron is not supportive of her dream, but then he has not really been working in her favor since their relationship began. His selfishness will not allow for their relationship to grow. And though they have been together for a while, she dreams of someone else.

Marcus left Lexi years ago. They were childhood friends. Best friends. But he has to leave to better himself. There was something more there. Something that they were too young to explore. Fifteen years later, Marcus returns and sets Lexi on fire.

Good short read.

[Barbara Brostek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Dystopian Adventure!
This is the first book I've read from Karina Kantas and I loved it. Her story is full of action, adventure, love, and life in a Dystopian world. Great characters and world building for a short story. I look forward to reading more from her. Enjoy!

[Elizabeth Horton-Newton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read several Electric Eclectic Books and these novelettes have provided a vast array of genres and authors. They break the mold once again by presenting the same story in both an adult erotic version that’s steamy hot and a touching, romantic read. I decided to read the adult version first. Written by author Karina Kantas, this is a no holds barred sensual exploration of passion in a dystopian society.
One hundred years in the future after the world has been changed by acid rain, a Malok named Lexi is straining against the rules of the new society. Lexi hungers for action and decides becoming a Ranger is her way out of her dull life. But her live-in boyfriend Aron doesn’t believe she is strong enough to take on the role of a fighter against the Outcasts. That group has been banned from the Malok’s mountain base, Mount Elta.
Aron loves her, but he treats her like a child, and she chafes under his attempts to control her. They have an intense sexual relationship, but Lexi is often distracted by the memory of a young friend who left years earlier, Marcus
When Marcus suddenly reappears, Lexi is thrust back into her feelings for him. But their reunion is spoiled by the simultaneous arrival of a girl who bullied her in her youth, Mae. When it appears Marcus and Mae are a couple Lexi is heartbroken. She resists Marcus’s attempts to speak to her privately because she feels betrayed. It is only when tragedy strikes the Rangers that Lexi is forced to see things the way they truly are.
This is more than a sexy love story; this is a book about a world changed by disaster and people separated by their responses to overwhelming change. There are two societies, each seeking to utilize a resource for their own needs, and willing to fight to the death to remain in control.
Lexi is a strong young woman and represents the courage and independence of today’s women. She is lusty, brave, challenging, and daring. Although she is young, she knows what she wants and despite occasional reservations, she doesn’t hesitate to pursue her dreams.
I think the characters could be more developed in a longer book and hope Kantas will take the story further. I’d love to know more about the Outcasts and the Outland where they are forced to live.
I recommend this as a quick read that dips into the possible disasters of a future society where our refusal to address negative environmental behaviors leave the world desolate and poisoned.

[Wesley Britton · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this short, tight dystopian novella, author Karina Kantas touches on some hot button bases with extremely economical storytelling.

The core of the feminist story is the coming-of-age of a girl named Lexi who is living with a controlling boyfriend named Aron. While they have hot sex, and readers of the Adult Edition of this tale will get to experience a long, vivid description of that hot sex, Lexi’s growing independence and distaste for her restrictive life as a Malok in the mountains sends her on the road to becoming a Ranger, one of the fighters being trained to battle the Outcasts, quasi-humans who live underground and compete with the Maloks for control of the addicting and life-supporting Terra plant.

At the same time Lexi is affirming herself, the man of her childhood dreams returns to be the new leader of her people. An old foe of Lexi’s, a woman named mae, is by his side and Lexi assumes the two are a couple. So one subplot to the saga is Lexi slowly learning the truth about her would-be suitor with whom, ah, back to that hot sex thing. Almost.

The final third of the book, and I’m not providing any spoilers here, sends all the main characters into a violent and vicious battle with the Outcasts where Lexi discovers many truths about herself, her future, and the most important people in her life.

So, in one fast-paced adventure, readers get a feminist champion, some erotic, sensory passages, a futuristic society with a spartan culture, an extended vicious battle—what more could you ask for in a read that can be completed in one evening? How about a happy ending? How about the author’s promise to give us a second volume so we can follow the fates of the warriors we got fascinated by in volume one?

If you like your reading fast, furious, and unrestrained, Toxic is well-worth an evening of your time. I gather there’s a milder version of the book that might appeal to readers not accustomed to rough and ready fiction, but I can’t speak to it. I like being entertained by sex and violence and interesting characters in an interesting world.


This review first appeared at BookPleasures.com on April 20, 2021:


https://waa.ai/m3x2

[Mannat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story revolves around Lexi and her hunger to be a strong human in this dominated society. She lives with her boyfriend Aron who takes care of her like a child and loves her unconditionally but he never liked her to be a Ranger because he thinks that she can't handle the pressure and the pain.
In this while she met her childhood love Marcus but Marcus and Mae are in relationship with each other which haunts Lexi. But Lexi is so much rigid enough to be a strong Ranger.
Will she be able to do her duty as a Ranger?
Will she be able to forget Marcus?
Can she prove herself before Aron?

Toxic is not really a simple story of love and relationship. It's more than a love story, it's full of erotic scenes which sensitise the book. The description of the scenes feels more like real. It's a short read of 65 pages but I expect more from the book as I loved the narration. I don't want it to be finish so early. The characters narration can be more which make the plot more understandable and easy. Rather than this everything is perfect. The cover is so attractive and matches with the book theme. If the letters could be bigger then it would be wonderful. In short a erotic read which makes the book more intriguing.

[SIDDA RAVITEJA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mind-Blowing! Definitely A Netflix Replacement.

I have at no other time perused an Electric Eclectic book. What a perfect shock! This brief tale has more activity, life, love, war, lesbianism, and paranormal in it than a full book. In only 65 pages Karina Kantas in a real sense held me, hostage, to this astonishing book. I totally adored it. She has a very much evolved tragic world, her person is totally finished up. Nothing was passed on to risk. You felt like you were living in that world and you were Lexi, basically I did. I energetically suggest this book. In the event that you might want to plunk down, unwind, and leave your reality for several hours this book is intended for you! I never acknowledged how engaging an elegantly composed brief tale could be! I will look for additional. Credit to Karina Kantas.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An Electric Eclectic Book!

I have never before read an Electric Eclectic book. What a neat surprise! This short story has more action, life, love, war, lesbianism, and paranormal in it than a full novel. In just 65 pages Karina Kantas literally held me captive to this astounding book. I absolutely loved it. She has a well developed dystopian world, her character are completely filled out. Nothing was left to chance. You felt like you were living in that world and you were Lexi, at least I did. I highly recommend this book. If you would like to sit down, relax, and leave your world for a couple of hours this book is for you! I never realized how entertaining a well written short story could be! I will be watching for more. Kudos to Karina Kantas.

[Ash J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I like how it talked about the earth and people in the future and what life might be like during those times. It was really thought provoking and left me wondering for awhile after I finished the book. In addition, some of the scenes in the book were totally hot and steamy. The author also included a nice little love story with a happy ending, which are my favorite kind of stories. I received this story for free as an ARC copy and am leaving a voluntary and honest review.