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She is the last human. And she's mine.
The year is 3232. I prepare to descend upon humanity and take what my kind have taken for thousands of years: any female I please.
But the Earth I find is not the Earth I remember.
The humans are gone.
Their cities destroyed.
I mourn a lost species...
Until I find her.
A girl I name One.
One female left from billions.
One precious gift from a dying planet.
One I will make my own.
I will possess her.
I will protect her.
I will never let her go.
MINE is a standalone novel set in USAT Bestseller Loki Renard's new possessive alien sci-fi universe.
The year is 3232. I prepare to descend upon humanity and take what my kind have taken for thousands of years: any female I please.
But the Earth I find is not the Earth I remember.
The humans are gone.
Their cities destroyed.
I mourn a lost species...
Until I find her.
A girl I name One.
One female left from billions.
One precious gift from a dying planet.
One I will make my own.
I will possess her.
I will protect her.
I will never let her go.
MINE is a standalone novel set in USAT Bestseller Loki Renard's new possessive alien sci-fi universe.
151 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2019
1627 people are currently reading
984 people want to read
About the author
Loki Renard
254 books1,096 followersAmazon Top 100, USA Today bestselling, and #1 bestselling author in multiple Amazon categories, Loki Renard writes sizzling hot, occasionally dark and twisted stories of dominance, submission and discipline.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
June 5, 2021
Surprising and very good!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💋💋💋💋💋
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📘
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 👨🏻👱🏻♀🧔🏻👩🏻
The heroine: One - she is living on decimated earth. Since her mother dies when she was 10 years old, she has been alone. Though from time to time she has come across other women, they have always been determined to set out across the dessert and have died trying.
The Hero(es): Reaper - he is a Scythkin warrior. They are hatched from a clutch of eggs laid by a Matriarch and the others in their clutch are similar to brothers. His clutch was small since many of the eggs were destroyed, it is only himself and Tarkan. Small clutches like that don’t generally survive so it says much about them that they not only survived but became such superior warriors.
The Story: They Scythkin warriors have often traveled to earth and put on synthetic human skin to hide their 9 ft tall frames as well as their horns and razor sharp teeth. They are described as having a sharp dorsal fin and sharp edges that protect them and make them deadly.
Reaper and Tarkan are traveling to earth to enjoy a weekend of pleasure with the females of earth after putting in their time as warriors. However, upon arrival they find Earth has changed a great deal since they last visited over a thousand years ago. They find no signs of human life until they come across a lone female in a cave.
This story was quite different than what I expected. I expected the aliens to be much more humanoid than they were described, but after a while it not only didn’t matter to me, but by the end I found Reaper’s appearance to be quite brilliant. The story itself as well as the romance was great. I am reading Tarkan’s story next.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💋💋💋💋💋
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📘
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 👨🏻👱🏻♀🧔🏻👩🏻
The heroine: One - she is living on decimated earth. Since her mother dies when she was 10 years old, she has been alone. Though from time to time she has come across other women, they have always been determined to set out across the dessert and have died trying.
The Hero(es): Reaper - he is a Scythkin warrior. They are hatched from a clutch of eggs laid by a Matriarch and the others in their clutch are similar to brothers. His clutch was small since many of the eggs were destroyed, it is only himself and Tarkan. Small clutches like that don’t generally survive so it says much about them that they not only survived but became such superior warriors.
The Story: They Scythkin warriors have often traveled to earth and put on synthetic human skin to hide their 9 ft tall frames as well as their horns and razor sharp teeth. They are described as having a sharp dorsal fin and sharp edges that protect them and make them deadly.
Reaper and Tarkan are traveling to earth to enjoy a weekend of pleasure with the females of earth after putting in their time as warriors. However, upon arrival they find Earth has changed a great deal since they last visited over a thousand years ago. They find no signs of human life until they come across a lone female in a cave.
This story was quite different than what I expected. I expected the aliens to be much more humanoid than they were described, but after a while it not only didn’t matter to me, but by the end I found Reaper’s appearance to be quite brilliant. The story itself as well as the romance was great. I am reading Tarkan’s story next.
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November 9, 2019
Not what I was hoping for
Reaper and One
Spoilerish content.
This was a jumbled mess.
The two aliens at first say you have to get consent. But the first chance Reaper gets,he’s not giving her the option and is just taking. She’s obviously innocent and inexperienced. Doesn’t even have experience with other sentient beings since she was 10 years old. So instead of what could have been a loving scene, but just him being all about his needs.
Also, turns out the bond makes her fall in love with him.
So all the decisions and choices, to bond to her etc was all HIS needs and wants. She ends up thinking afterwards she loves him, but I just kept thinking about how no, actually she really doesn’t because it’s the chemical reaction.
He was very self centered.
She came off rather slow, borderline stupid. Even though she’d tell him she wasn’t stupid. And frankly, it had nothing to do with her lack of exposure. She really just came off slow and child like a lot. But I didn’t dislike her if that makes sense? I felt more sorry for her than anything. There was nothing in her control, not even who she fell in love with because he made that decision for her.
I HATE that the Earth was destroyed.
The story wasn’t very smooth. It was kinda jumbled. And there wasn’t enough back story into the H’s species to make them likable. If anything, knowing they are born from eggs like slithering blood sucking violent SLUG like larva who eventually transform into bipedal creatures was a major turn off!
And apparently he won’t be able to even have children with her. And she doesn’t want children.
Which honestly, considering what his type of young sounds lie, thank gosh.
But this book definitely makes it seem like humans are a lost species pretty much.
I did not feel the romance in this book. Just a AHole wanna be alpha. And a poor girl who ends up in a situation thinking she’s happy, the book wants you to think she’s happy, but if you really think about it, she might be...perhaps they grow on each other, but how much would she have fallen in love and liked him if NOT for the bond? I think the A didn’t realize how much he let out in the early part of the book with Tarkan explaining these things. And then later in the book you’re supposed to think it’s romance I guess.
I didn’t feel true romance in this. And overall, I didn’t come away from the book happy with it or feeling the love. Really, it was kinda bland and disappointing. Perhaps sTarkan’s story will be better.
These aliens looked somewhat alien.
Reaper and One
Spoilerish content.
This was a jumbled mess.
The two aliens at first say you have to get consent. But the first chance Reaper gets,he’s not giving her the option and is just taking. She’s obviously innocent and inexperienced. Doesn’t even have experience with other sentient beings since she was 10 years old. So instead of what could have been a loving scene, but just him being all about his needs.
Also, turns out the bond makes her fall in love with him.
So all the decisions and choices, to bond to her etc was all HIS needs and wants. She ends up thinking afterwards she loves him, but I just kept thinking about how no, actually she really doesn’t because it’s the chemical reaction.
He was very self centered.
She came off rather slow, borderline stupid. Even though she’d tell him she wasn’t stupid. And frankly, it had nothing to do with her lack of exposure. She really just came off slow and child like a lot. But I didn’t dislike her if that makes sense? I felt more sorry for her than anything. There was nothing in her control, not even who she fell in love with because he made that decision for her.
I HATE that the Earth was destroyed.
The story wasn’t very smooth. It was kinda jumbled. And there wasn’t enough back story into the H’s species to make them likable. If anything, knowing they are born from eggs like slithering blood sucking violent SLUG like larva who eventually transform into bipedal creatures was a major turn off!
And apparently he won’t be able to even have children with her. And she doesn’t want children.
Which honestly, considering what his type of young sounds lie, thank gosh.
But this book definitely makes it seem like humans are a lost species pretty much.
I did not feel the romance in this book. Just a AHole wanna be alpha. And a poor girl who ends up in a situation thinking she’s happy, the book wants you to think she’s happy, but if you really think about it, she might be...perhaps they grow on each other, but how much would she have fallen in love and liked him if NOT for the bond? I think the A didn’t realize how much he let out in the early part of the book with Tarkan explaining these things. And then later in the book you’re supposed to think it’s romance I guess.
I didn’t feel true romance in this. And overall, I didn’t come away from the book happy with it or feeling the love. Really, it was kinda bland and disappointing. Perhaps sTarkan’s story will be better.
These aliens looked somewhat alien.
November 21, 2019
Aliens and a wild one
A well written sci-fi alien/human interaction story. Alien warriors come to earth to party but what’s there doesn’t match their memories. One is found and an interstellar hunt commences. With destruction and so much carnage, can love lead to any changes?
A well written sci-fi alien/human interaction story. Alien warriors come to earth to party but what’s there doesn’t match their memories. One is found and an interstellar hunt commences. With destruction and so much carnage, can love lead to any changes?
March 9, 2021
This book was well written and plotted and I have read Loki Renard stories before and enjoyed them.
However this one I did not like or enjoy. I found the characters repulsive and annoying, both human and Scythkin.
So this will be the only one of this series for me I should think.
However this one I did not like or enjoy. I found the characters repulsive and annoying, both human and Scythkin.
So this will be the only one of this series for me I should think.
November 13, 2019
I tend to avoid this author, but she has really great story lines. Her descriptions usually grab me. And once they grab me I tend to forget why I avoid reading these books. I usually end up feeling some what let down at the end of the books. Because while she writes great stories with interesting backgrounds and creatures. She doesn’t spend a lot of time developing the relationship between the two MC’s they go from meeting to mating sometimes spanking to love. Love comes so fast and I’m always like “what?” When did they fall in love? They have hardly spoken to one another. Also, she has an element of domination or bdsm or humiliation or whatever else taboo fetish. And I just don’t care for that aspect. So I try to stay away, but then a new book will pop up and suck me in.
Reaper and his brother Tarken are coming to earth for a good time. Earth has been a pleasure playground of sorts for them. They treat it like a vacation spot. It has been many years since they have been to earth and they are ready to let loose. What they don’t expect to find is a post apocalyptic earth with no survivors, save one.
One has been fighting to survive her whole life. She is lonely and hungry and is quick to accept Reaper as her savior. One has a childlike quality that I found funny. She had an innocent way of thinking, not having been influenced by any other people. I liked One a lot. She was different.
I just wish One and Reaper had a few more scenes of getting to know one another before they were so in love.
Reaper and his brother Tarken are coming to earth for a good time. Earth has been a pleasure playground of sorts for them. They treat it like a vacation spot. It has been many years since they have been to earth and they are ready to let loose. What they don’t expect to find is a post apocalyptic earth with no survivors, save one.
One has been fighting to survive her whole life. She is lonely and hungry and is quick to accept Reaper as her savior. One has a childlike quality that I found funny. She had an innocent way of thinking, not having been influenced by any other people. I liked One a lot. She was different.
I just wish One and Reaper had a few more scenes of getting to know one another before they were so in love.
August 30, 2020
I liked the premise but wanted more and some things left me shaking my head.
It was interesting and a bit creepy learning about Reaper and his people...they are very alien that's for sure. I wanted more detail about the time-travel bits...I was scratching my head there. Also the fact that humans are the is quite baffling. It was heart-wrenching when the Earth like that.
Reaper and One are OK together but could have done without the
It was interesting and a bit creepy learning about Reaper and his people...they are very alien that's for sure. I wanted more detail about the time-travel bits...I was scratching my head there. Also the fact that humans are the is quite baffling. It was heart-wrenching when the Earth like that.
Reaper and One are OK together but could have done without the
December 9, 2019
Hatched🐺🍆⛲🔫🔪💪, Not Born!
Hot Alien Males🐺🍆⛲🔫🔪 don lousy disguises to capture the last human woman on 🌎Earth!
🌎Earth year 3232.
Reaper🐺🍆⛲🔫🔪💪, a huge, horned, fanged and armour plated 300 pound Scythkin male, has retired from the military and he and his bro Tarkan🐺🔫🔪 are ready to play! Being thousands of years old, it's been a long wait!
Reaper🐺🔫🔪💪 and Tarkan are brood mates. They were hatched from eggs🐣 and began their lives as larvae! EEEW! GROSS!
Only 🌎Earth is devastated , and no humans remain, except One💃. Is she the new Eve? She is the One spark of hope in a world of darkness.
Tarkan and Reaper🐺🍆⛲🔫🔪💪 find One💃, the last human woman left, and immediately take her back to their ship🚀, breaking the prime directive into bits!
This is a cute and sassy ADULT sci-fi novel, but at the same time, it made me think about possible futures for the 🌎Earth. There are a number of Explicit and Rough XXX scenes.
Hot Alien Males🐺🍆⛲🔫🔪 don lousy disguises to capture the last human woman on 🌎Earth!
🌎Earth year 3232.
Reaper🐺🍆⛲🔫🔪💪, a huge, horned, fanged and armour plated 300 pound Scythkin male, has retired from the military and he and his bro Tarkan🐺🔫🔪 are ready to play! Being thousands of years old, it's been a long wait!
Reaper🐺🔫🔪💪 and Tarkan are brood mates. They were hatched from eggs🐣 and began their lives as larvae! EEEW! GROSS!
Only 🌎Earth is devastated , and no humans remain, except One💃. Is she the new Eve? She is the One spark of hope in a world of darkness.
Tarkan and Reaper🐺🍆⛲🔫🔪💪 find One💃, the last human woman left, and immediately take her back to their ship🚀, breaking the prime directive into bits!
This is a cute and sassy ADULT sci-fi novel, but at the same time, it made me think about possible futures for the 🌎Earth. There are a number of Explicit and Rough XXX scenes.
November 1, 2019
Very interesting story of two aliens heading back to Earth after centuries away looking for a little fun with the female humans. But what they find is a desolate planet and what could very well be the last human in existence... a fiery redheaded female. Reaper is instantly taken with her and names her One, appropriately so. Tarkan assumes they’ll share her but when Reaper expresses his decision to keep her just to himself Tarkan makes a decision that will forever change their lives.
d-n-f
February 26, 2020I didn't make it very far past the "boo hoo we can't rape the Earth women because they have laws that protect the fleshy meat bags from that kinda thing now" part.
November 28, 2019
There was a lot of the unknown, some exciting battles and the last human to protect and possess. Reaper claims ownership and Tarkan wants his share but One is Reaper's. I enjoyed one scene in particular, the ecstasy plant attack! One has to make her choice but I kinda wished she would share with both aliens. The coming book highlights Tarkan where he will get his chance to have his own human, I can't wait!!! There was one downer, poor Earth is no more, sad, but it is only sci-fi fantasy.
Want to read
February 22, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/22/2020)! 🎁
February 14, 2022
I didn't really feel the romance. He was in the mood for any human, and she was human so she qualified.
June 10, 2020
So refreshing and somehow completely different, thrilling and captivating, interesting characters and first of all the story.
Wonderful and futuristically brilliant!
Wonderful and futuristically brilliant!
January 22, 2020
The year is 3232 CE Earth reckoning. Enter Reaper the first-born and Tarkan the second-and-only-other-born of their reptilian Scythkin clutch. After just finishing an earnest mission of blood, guts, and mayhem – the typical warrior assignment – it’s time for shore leave! And what better place than Earth? As Reaper had oft said, nothing in the universe’s time/space continuum was ever so f***able as Earth females. Soft, curvy, wet, squeezably tight, and free from anything biologically weaponized like themselves. As for most sapient species in the known universe, Reaper and Tarkan transcends the usual time line. Don’t even try to understand what that means other than they can transverse the plodding rate of time in general, thus being thousands of years old without feeling that age in their bones. (For example, it had been 1300 years since they had last been to Earth, but it felt like only several months had gone by!) They plan to cruise the planet’s bars and night clubs, looking forward to scoring with the women, while the two Scythkin wine and dine the unsuspecting females while Reaper and Tarkan were disguised as nine-foot Humans names Jim (Reaper’s chosen alias) and Eric McLargecock (Tarkan’s brilliant suggestion much to Reaper’s chagrin) except… when they get there, Earth is now a biological waste dump of a dystopia filled with horrifically mutated flora and fauna. No Human for thousands and thousands of miles.
Except for one, lonely female who has survived the nightmare in a cave but is facing a slow death due to lack of natural resources. Her fate is sealed when Reaper sees her… and Tarkan accidentally destroys her makeshift water distillery. Reaper names her One… as in the only One left. After that, all hell breaks loose when Reaper claims One, endangering his sibling relationship with Tarkan who wants to finally teach his older brother that just because he was the first to hatch doesn’t mean he always gets his way… and accidentally destroys Earth and everyone/thing with it into subatomic bits.
That’s not the end of the hot mess Tarkan initiated, but the Scrythikin knows he’ll be paying for that error for the rest of his (un)natural life.
And we still have the rest of the book to go!
Length and pace: Novel-length. Pace is strange. It isn’t the usual slow plodding at the beginning… Weeeell… It could be if you’re not into this rather strange yet singular sci-fi bent on the PNR. But it kept accelerating until I couldn’t put the book down. I was quite amazed with the refreshing quality of the storyline. It certainly wasn’t anything I had ever read before, and I thought I had read it all. I guess I hadn’t.
World-crafting: I was very, very impressed at the level of world-crafting that I had to read this book twice just to understand the enormity of this venture. We Homo sapien sapiens were responsible for the other species of sapient life in the universe, but for some reason, they evolved more quickly and was out there in space, traversing vast swathes of the known universe, fighting/claiming all natural resources on the planets. Well, at least that’s what the Scythkin did. Their clutches were meant to hatch enormous ranks of the best killing machines ever to have evolved, but now with Reaper and Tarken seeing the devastation of what had been known as Earth? Well, Reaper (as the leader of his two-warrior clutch as the rest of the eggs, as well as their mum, were killed prior to hatching. Sob!!) is now considering the violation of hard-fast rules that could turn him into a pariah, a new bounty for the bounty hunter, and Tarken doesn’t want that. Talk about complexity! I’m not sure if this is a universe I want to be flung into. Hardly, even at the promise of some very delicious alien meat. Yet I am enamored by this writer’s handle on what she had created because it just makes ecological sense in Earth’s ravished biospheres by known species that just… went… crazy and evolved into habitat-wrecking machines. And how the rest of the universe had reacted (or not at all) to the plight of Earth’s bipedal population. After all, most species look upon Earth as the Mother of all panspermia, and Her children must be protected. Then Tarken steals the show… (You just have to read that part.) I’m really amazed how much I was intrigued by this very singular universe.
Characters: You can’t help but to be very sympathetic towards… REAPER AND TARKEN!!! No, this isn’t a homosexual relationship. Far from it. It’s like: “Can’t we just have two men standing next to each other without someone writing an entire book of erotica involving these two??” is my most-uttered rebel yell. Yes, the book is strictly M/F but I am so intrigued by these two broodkin’s relationship in how they were pegged to be easily overcome and killed because only the strongest survived. These two bucked up against the norm and not only survived, because the most powerful, successful warriors the Scythkin military had. So in maneuvers and spy work requiring a very small number of commandos, these two were your team! But Scythkin brood brotherhood is not that easy to understand, as their superiors soon found out. This took the story on an unusual bent, far different than your usual PNR. (This is why I really like the sci-fi subgenre of the romance novel because there are still so many new subplots to be explored and developed! Who would have thunk?) I rarely see that in contemporary romance novels, more’s the pity.
Hero/Heroine connection: Despite the preference to examine Reaper’s/Tarken’s sibling relationship, let’s not leave our heroine out in the cold. I have a lot of sympathy for her. Loki Renard really did craft a very sympathetic person in that here is a woman — the last Earth female of that planet — is not just barely surviving. She’s actually dying because of loss of her natural resources. She has lost her mother who was the one that protected her, the one that taught her how to survive the cruel environment that was only becoming more and more deadly. One is so alone that she’s even forgotten her own name (as well as so much her mother taught her).
Continuity and editing: Well, what can I say? It could have used a clean-up editor. A proofreader will not do in these cases. I still would have liked a better understanding on how this universe’s non-Earth species traversed the time continuum. I’m thinking of Einstein’s theory of time relativity in which the traveler ages slowly (because of the use of faster-than-light travel) compared to any terrestrial sentient life forms. I still have to argue with some of Einstein’s thoughts because he was terribly depressed at his conviction that we might not be able to develop faster-than-light propulsion as his theories basically say we can't. I beg to differ because of the works of Dr. James F. Woodward at California State University at Fullerton (my alma mater!) who is now working with NASA. The research focuses on the "Mach Effect Gravitational Assist" drive, or MEGA impulse drive, in which the underlying method has been referred to as the "Woodward effect" by fellow scientists and space enthusiasts. It works on the principle that all the mass in the universe is connected, and mass on Earth is due to mass everywhere else, as explained by Dr. Heidi Fearn who has collaborated with Woodward since 2012. (“NASA Grant Supports Physics Researchers’ Interstellar Space Study” May 2, 2018, CSUF News Service) No wonder, in this universe written by Loki Renard, we were dragging behind in our space race with other species. Someone has been doing her research. I do appreciate that the writer found it necessary to spend that much time in story development.
Realism: As mentioned above, I was impressed that my suspense of disbelief was maintained and enhanced while reading. My only “speed bumps” were the problems with grammar, punctuation, and wordage, not because of concept. It is amazing how Loki Renard was able to describe such completely mind-blowing creatures and environments with the ease of a natural-born storyteller with bardic connections in her genes. This is why I follow her writings. I appreciate her ability to introduce me to new environments and species as if they could had been my next-door neighbors! I do have a bone to pick with Ms. Renard about One’s thought processes. There are so many times that One thinks like a deprived and undereducated woman, then she makes so many references to our modern-day time, utilizing on the syntax of our own context of the early twenty-first millennium. HUH??? For a woman who’s forgotten her own name, why isn’t she thinking like the person Loki is trying to convey? I consider this conveyance as poor writing technique on Loki’s part. She’s having One act like the reserved, deprived (NOT depraved!) adult with the social growth of a little child, then she uses words that someone who passed a few college-level biology courses, including Human anatomy! (Okay, I suppose if she read enough romance novels, she would pick up ideas here and there, BUT SHE HAD NO ACCESS TO THEM!) Makes no sense, especially for someone whose best friend was really a large spider that lived in a concealed cave!
Despite the above, I really enjoyed this book thought this book really needed a clean-up editor. Yes, there is an HEA (but not without a lot of hard work and heart-wrenching situations), but it is more like a HFN (happy for now). Your soul just aches that Tarken really hated seeing Reaper and One together. The younger-brother-by-mere-minutes was very envious of what his older brother has. Don’t worry! Loki puts Tarken out of his misery in the next novel!!
I recommend buying this book! Forget Kindle Unlimited! If you’re the type that likes to reread books with great storylines in them, then just buy it! As well as the following one because I read that one already, too, and enjoyed it immensely! (I’m in the middle of number three, so I’ll get back to you regarding my impressions on that one!)
Except for one, lonely female who has survived the nightmare in a cave but is facing a slow death due to lack of natural resources. Her fate is sealed when Reaper sees her… and Tarkan accidentally destroys her makeshift water distillery. Reaper names her One… as in the only One left. After that, all hell breaks loose when Reaper claims One, endangering his sibling relationship with Tarkan who wants to finally teach his older brother that just because he was the first to hatch doesn’t mean he always gets his way… and accidentally destroys Earth and everyone/thing with it into subatomic bits.
That’s not the end of the hot mess Tarkan initiated, but the Scrythikin knows he’ll be paying for that error for the rest of his (un)natural life.
And we still have the rest of the book to go!
Length and pace: Novel-length. Pace is strange. It isn’t the usual slow plodding at the beginning… Weeeell… It could be if you’re not into this rather strange yet singular sci-fi bent on the PNR. But it kept accelerating until I couldn’t put the book down. I was quite amazed with the refreshing quality of the storyline. It certainly wasn’t anything I had ever read before, and I thought I had read it all. I guess I hadn’t.
World-crafting: I was very, very impressed at the level of world-crafting that I had to read this book twice just to understand the enormity of this venture. We Homo sapien sapiens were responsible for the other species of sapient life in the universe, but for some reason, they evolved more quickly and was out there in space, traversing vast swathes of the known universe, fighting/claiming all natural resources on the planets. Well, at least that’s what the Scythkin did. Their clutches were meant to hatch enormous ranks of the best killing machines ever to have evolved, but now with Reaper and Tarken seeing the devastation of what had been known as Earth? Well, Reaper (as the leader of his two-warrior clutch as the rest of the eggs, as well as their mum, were killed prior to hatching. Sob!!) is now considering the violation of hard-fast rules that could turn him into a pariah, a new bounty for the bounty hunter, and Tarken doesn’t want that. Talk about complexity! I’m not sure if this is a universe I want to be flung into. Hardly, even at the promise of some very delicious alien meat. Yet I am enamored by this writer’s handle on what she had created because it just makes ecological sense in Earth’s ravished biospheres by known species that just… went… crazy and evolved into habitat-wrecking machines. And how the rest of the universe had reacted (or not at all) to the plight of Earth’s bipedal population. After all, most species look upon Earth as the Mother of all panspermia, and Her children must be protected. Then Tarken steals the show… (You just have to read that part.) I’m really amazed how much I was intrigued by this very singular universe.
Characters: You can’t help but to be very sympathetic towards… REAPER AND TARKEN!!! No, this isn’t a homosexual relationship. Far from it. It’s like: “Can’t we just have two men standing next to each other without someone writing an entire book of erotica involving these two??” is my most-uttered rebel yell. Yes, the book is strictly M/F but I am so intrigued by these two broodkin’s relationship in how they were pegged to be easily overcome and killed because only the strongest survived. These two bucked up against the norm and not only survived, because the most powerful, successful warriors the Scythkin military had. So in maneuvers and spy work requiring a very small number of commandos, these two were your team! But Scythkin brood brotherhood is not that easy to understand, as their superiors soon found out. This took the story on an unusual bent, far different than your usual PNR. (This is why I really like the sci-fi subgenre of the romance novel because there are still so many new subplots to be explored and developed! Who would have thunk?) I rarely see that in contemporary romance novels, more’s the pity.
Hero/Heroine connection: Despite the preference to examine Reaper’s/Tarken’s sibling relationship, let’s not leave our heroine out in the cold. I have a lot of sympathy for her. Loki Renard really did craft a very sympathetic person in that here is a woman — the last Earth female of that planet — is not just barely surviving. She’s actually dying because of loss of her natural resources. She has lost her mother who was the one that protected her, the one that taught her how to survive the cruel environment that was only becoming more and more deadly. One is so alone that she’s even forgotten her own name (as well as so much her mother taught her).
Continuity and editing: Well, what can I say? It could have used a clean-up editor. A proofreader will not do in these cases. I still would have liked a better understanding on how this universe’s non-Earth species traversed the time continuum. I’m thinking of Einstein’s theory of time relativity in which the traveler ages slowly (because of the use of faster-than-light travel) compared to any terrestrial sentient life forms. I still have to argue with some of Einstein’s thoughts because he was terribly depressed at his conviction that we might not be able to develop faster-than-light propulsion as his theories basically say we can't. I beg to differ because of the works of Dr. James F. Woodward at California State University at Fullerton (my alma mater!) who is now working with NASA. The research focuses on the "Mach Effect Gravitational Assist" drive, or MEGA impulse drive, in which the underlying method has been referred to as the "Woodward effect" by fellow scientists and space enthusiasts. It works on the principle that all the mass in the universe is connected, and mass on Earth is due to mass everywhere else, as explained by Dr. Heidi Fearn who has collaborated with Woodward since 2012. (“NASA Grant Supports Physics Researchers’ Interstellar Space Study” May 2, 2018, CSUF News Service) No wonder, in this universe written by Loki Renard, we were dragging behind in our space race with other species. Someone has been doing her research. I do appreciate that the writer found it necessary to spend that much time in story development.
Realism: As mentioned above, I was impressed that my suspense of disbelief was maintained and enhanced while reading. My only “speed bumps” were the problems with grammar, punctuation, and wordage, not because of concept. It is amazing how Loki Renard was able to describe such completely mind-blowing creatures and environments with the ease of a natural-born storyteller with bardic connections in her genes. This is why I follow her writings. I appreciate her ability to introduce me to new environments and species as if they could had been my next-door neighbors! I do have a bone to pick with Ms. Renard about One’s thought processes. There are so many times that One thinks like a deprived and undereducated woman, then she makes so many references to our modern-day time, utilizing on the syntax of our own context of the early twenty-first millennium. HUH??? For a woman who’s forgotten her own name, why isn’t she thinking like the person Loki is trying to convey? I consider this conveyance as poor writing technique on Loki’s part. She’s having One act like the reserved, deprived (NOT depraved!) adult with the social growth of a little child, then she uses words that someone who passed a few college-level biology courses, including Human anatomy! (Okay, I suppose if she read enough romance novels, she would pick up ideas here and there, BUT SHE HAD NO ACCESS TO THEM!) Makes no sense, especially for someone whose best friend was really a large spider that lived in a concealed cave!
Despite the above, I really enjoyed this book thought this book really needed a clean-up editor. Yes, there is an HEA (but not without a lot of hard work and heart-wrenching situations), but it is more like a HFN (happy for now). Your soul just aches that Tarken really hated seeing Reaper and One together. The younger-brother-by-mere-minutes was very envious of what his older brother has. Don’t worry! Loki puts Tarken out of his misery in the next novel!!
I recommend buying this book! Forget Kindle Unlimited! If you’re the type that likes to reread books with great storylines in them, then just buy it! As well as the following one because I read that one already, too, and enjoyed it immensely! (I’m in the middle of number three, so I’ll get back to you regarding my impressions on that one!)
November 9, 2019
This is a surprisingly sophisticated offering from Ms. Renard based on my previous experiences, and I enjoyed it quite a lot.
Set after the year 3200, humanity has finally fried the planet—I'm amazed it took that long—and there are only a handful of stragglers left. Our initially unnamed heroine is one of the few, possibly the last, and she is in rough shape.
Our heroes, Reaper and Tarkan, have come back to Earth after their most recent tour of duty on "the front lines." From a species that travels through time to engage enemy after enemy, they always return to the planet Earth to indulge in more carnal pursuits. Humans—especially females—are their favorites. Arriving 1200 years further ahead in the time line than it was during their last visit, they are horrified to find the planet greatly changed...and missing humanity. They immediately go on a search to figure out what happened and if things can be salvaged. They find a lone young woman, and things go off the rails from there.
This is a really funny story with commentary on the current direction our planet is headed if we do not get our global act together and work to find a solution. The description of the plastic "sand" at the bottom of where the oceans were alone is a pretty horrifying visual. Ms. Renard's commentary on humanity and our nature are so laugh-cry accurate. Oh, and the space puppies. Please, read this just for space puppies.
“Humans love dogs. It is literally the only thing the species ever agreed on.”
Reaper and Tarkan are such alien-aliens, yet they are lovable at the same time. It was hard not to be smitten with them. I will definitely be reading the next installment, which follows Tarkan and will hopefully have more appearances by Reaper and One.
Set after the year 3200, humanity has finally fried the planet—I'm amazed it took that long—and there are only a handful of stragglers left. Our initially unnamed heroine is one of the few, possibly the last, and she is in rough shape.
Our heroes, Reaper and Tarkan, have come back to Earth after their most recent tour of duty on "the front lines." From a species that travels through time to engage enemy after enemy, they always return to the planet Earth to indulge in more carnal pursuits. Humans—especially females—are their favorites. Arriving 1200 years further ahead in the time line than it was during their last visit, they are horrified to find the planet greatly changed...and missing humanity. They immediately go on a search to figure out what happened and if things can be salvaged. They find a lone young woman, and things go off the rails from there.
This is a really funny story with commentary on the current direction our planet is headed if we do not get our global act together and work to find a solution. The description of the plastic "sand" at the bottom of where the oceans were alone is a pretty horrifying visual. Ms. Renard's commentary on humanity and our nature are so laugh-cry accurate. Oh, and the space puppies. Please, read this just for space puppies.
“Humans love dogs. It is literally the only thing the species ever agreed on.”
Reaper and Tarkan are such alien-aliens, yet they are lovable at the same time. It was hard not to be smitten with them. I will definitely be reading the next installment, which follows Tarkan and will hopefully have more appearances by Reaper and One.
November 11, 2019
This was a fantastic story with alien male characters that are out of this world. Set in a post-apocalyptic Earth, a woman is surviving in a cruel harsh environment where every living thing seeks to consume anything in order to survive. Two alien males land on Earth and become the protectors of the last human alive, a woman. She vaguely recalls a time when the Earth was more civilized via her mother’s stories. This woman becomes the center of both aliens’ attention but only one becomes her mate. The world building was spectacular, vivid images of what an Earth would be like after a cataclysmic event. There is unexplained passion and attraction, intrigue and even betrayal… this was an exciting tale that kept me engaged through all the ups, downs and spirals.
December 9, 2019
Mine!
Oh man! What a great story! I made the mistake of starting this book at 8:00 at night. I did not get much sleep that night because I just couldn’t put this book down!
This is one of those books that it’s hard to talk about in detail without giving away things that I think are important to the plot and aren’t quite spoilers, but I’ll say that I loved the way the author handles the female character--she grew up almost feral with no community beyond her mother who died when she was about 10, and how someone like that might deal with suddenly interacting with aliens is pretty interesting to think about.
I am looking forward to more in this series--the blend of world building, characters, steamy interactions, and interesting situations in this book means I’ll be counting the days until the next book is released!
Oh man! What a great story! I made the mistake of starting this book at 8:00 at night. I did not get much sleep that night because I just couldn’t put this book down!
This is one of those books that it’s hard to talk about in detail without giving away things that I think are important to the plot and aren’t quite spoilers, but I’ll say that I loved the way the author handles the female character--she grew up almost feral with no community beyond her mother who died when she was about 10, and how someone like that might deal with suddenly interacting with aliens is pretty interesting to think about.
I am looking forward to more in this series--the blend of world building, characters, steamy interactions, and interesting situations in this book means I’ll be counting the days until the next book is released!
December 19, 2019
This is an interesting story. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
Reaper and Tarkan are excited to visit Earth on their break from war. They have been there before but this time Earth is almost a waste land. The humans look to be wiped out. They search for women and discover one. Reaper names her One and wants her to be his. She doesn’t know what to do at first. She has been on her own for so long. Will they figure things out?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Reaper and Tarkan are excited to visit Earth on their break from war. They have been there before but this time Earth is almost a waste land. The humans look to be wiped out. They search for women and discover one. Reaper names her One and wants her to be his. She doesn’t know what to do at first. She has been on her own for so long. Will they figure things out?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 23, 2023
I have been trying to read this book for three years. I’m only 24% in and it is so dry it could put the Sahara to shame. It’s dragging and boring and trying to be suspenseful over what happened to the planet, and the history of the MMC’s species but all I want is for it to get to the point! This author is a romance smutt writer. Occasionally this author is a little extreme with the erotica that I’m not a fan of. But this story is absolutely NOT grabbing my attention. I LOVE sci-fi and have always read it for nearly forty years of my life and a good sci-fi HAS to grab you from the first two pages. If it doesn’t it will never have a chance with readers as sci-fi is a difficult genre for people to grasp. But again this book which is a mix of sci-fi, and I can only assume erotica, is not going anywhere at all.
December 19, 2019
I love Loki's books, and this one is no different. I am a huge fan of alien books, and when I saw that she had written one, I knew I had to jump at it. Mine is a post apoplectic story where there is no earth left. What happened to it and all the humans? Who knows. But while Reaper and Tarkin are in the process of finding out, they come across one lone survivor.
One is not an average human, and that makes this story even more enjoyable. Nothing in this story is "normal." It is fast passed and intriguing. I highly recommended it.
November 1, 2019
The last few books I've read by Loki have been amazing. I loved book. Looking forward to some fun, Reaper and Tarkan are Earth bound. Once there, they realize something is wrong. Love, steam, intrigue, well written.
November 16, 2019
Only a few pages in. I see the dialogue is supposed to be funny, but it's not my cuppa tea.
December 9, 2019
Loved it
I love everything Loki writes and especially this book. I can not wait for the next book in the series and anything by this author.
I love everything Loki writes and especially this book. I can not wait for the next book in the series and anything by this author.
November 2, 2019
Loki Renard is one of the few (only) authors in this genre who explores themes that go beyond the merely erotic -- in part because many of her books are set in post-apocalyptic worlds, including The Hunter's Pet and Savages. While some of what she argues is either incoherent or nihilistic, in this particular book's case she has clearly taken as her concern climate change. Though we do not find out what happened to Earth (perhaps we will in the sequel), the descriptions of the planet that Reaper and Tarken land on bear this out:
While it's terrifying (as it should be) to read about the very real future our planet could be heading towards given our collective willed disbelief in climate change (it's amazing that people look to scientists to cure their cancer, but the moment scientists warn us about changing sea levels, these same people suddenly don't believe in science), it's jarring to read very authentic concerns juxtaposed with erotic BDSM sex scenes featuring a 9 foot alien with several orifices. I would probably find it off-putting if I weren't used to the fact that Ms. Renard's books vary wildly unevenly in tone. Here, she weds classic sci-fi (focusing on the fragility of our planet and human life) with soft-core erotica -- YMMV regarding how discordant a blend this is.
That being said, I do recommend this book. All three characters are likeable, care for each other, admit when they're wrong, and display growth. As someone whose personal kinks don't run to plural relationships, I was pleased that did not happen here. And I was really, really pleased that for once Ms. Renard does not indulge her . And, as always, we see Ms. Renard's trademark humor ("Evolution was having a very strange day when she designed the human. They truly are essentially walking meat snacks. Some time ago, a Scythkin brood party was strongly censured for using some as boil in bag party favors"). The reasons I'm not rating it more highly are that it was very repetitious (we heard over and over again about broodkin) and, in part because One didn't speak their language, there were long passages where characters were too much in their heads; this made the action very static at times (though it does contain a twist I didn't see coming). The book also needed more proofing.
3 1/2 stars. I do recommend it. For those who like erotica, it's present, detailed, consensual, and not harsh (except for one, really more funishments); for those who like sci-fic, there's world-building, alien/spaceship tropes, and end-0f-humanity themes. Ultimately, however, I'm not sure how well they blend...
Note: I adhere to the ratings system as laid out by Goodreads: 2 stars = it was okay; 3 stars = liked it; 4 stars = really liked it; 5 stars = it was amazing. I gave this book 3 1/2 stars because I liked the characters and the theme even though I thought it needed pruning. I do not think that every book I read is "amazing;" further, I think that it cheapens the rating system to always assign 4 or 5 stars. If a book really earns the 4 or 5 stars (and I realize that this is, to some degree, subjective), I'll give them -- but it certainly shouldn't apply to every book. YMMV, and everyone should enjoy/rate these books as they wish.
Additional Note: I did not receive this book as an ARC; I'm not another author who hosts or is hosted by other authors in this genre on our websites; and I'm not friends with the authors IRL, "friends" on this site, or friends on any social media site.
Much of the land where humans once lived is a charred mass. The oceans have boiled away to relative puddles. Sea level is several hundred feet below where it used to be. Where there was once several billion cubic miles of water, there are now only a few heavily salted lakes ringed with brightly colored sand.
While it's terrifying (as it should be) to read about the very real future our planet could be heading towards given our collective willed disbelief in climate change (it's amazing that people look to scientists to cure their cancer, but the moment scientists warn us about changing sea levels, these same people suddenly don't believe in science), it's jarring to read very authentic concerns juxtaposed with erotic BDSM sex scenes featuring a 9 foot alien with several orifices. I would probably find it off-putting if I weren't used to the fact that Ms. Renard's books vary wildly unevenly in tone. Here, she weds classic sci-fi (focusing on the fragility of our planet and human life) with soft-core erotica -- YMMV regarding how discordant a blend this is.
That being said, I do recommend this book. All three characters are likeable, care for each other, admit when they're wrong, and display growth. As someone whose personal kinks don't run to plural relationships, I was pleased that did not happen here. And I was really, really pleased that for once Ms. Renard does not indulge her . And, as always, we see Ms. Renard's trademark humor ("Evolution was having a very strange day when she designed the human. They truly are essentially walking meat snacks. Some time ago, a Scythkin brood party was strongly censured for using some as boil in bag party favors"). The reasons I'm not rating it more highly are that it was very repetitious (we heard over and over again about broodkin) and, in part because One didn't speak their language, there were long passages where characters were too much in their heads; this made the action very static at times (though it does contain a twist I didn't see coming). The book also needed more proofing.
3 1/2 stars. I do recommend it. For those who like erotica, it's present, detailed, consensual, and not harsh (except for one, really more funishments); for those who like sci-fic, there's world-building, alien/spaceship tropes, and end-0f-humanity themes. Ultimately, however, I'm not sure how well they blend...
Note: I adhere to the ratings system as laid out by Goodreads: 2 stars = it was okay; 3 stars = liked it; 4 stars = really liked it; 5 stars = it was amazing. I gave this book 3 1/2 stars because I liked the characters and the theme even though I thought it needed pruning. I do not think that every book I read is "amazing;" further, I think that it cheapens the rating system to always assign 4 or 5 stars. If a book really earns the 4 or 5 stars (and I realize that this is, to some degree, subjective), I'll give them -- but it certainly shouldn't apply to every book. YMMV, and everyone should enjoy/rate these books as they wish.
Additional Note: I did not receive this book as an ARC; I'm not another author who hosts or is hosted by other authors in this genre on our websites; and I'm not friends with the authors IRL, "friends" on this site, or friends on any social media site.
dnf-read-less-than-25-percent
January 3, 2023Not for me.
December 19, 2019
Just pass on it.
Let me start with saying that I feel like this book had potential... it did NOT measure up. Between the plot, the grammar and overall choppy writing, I would not recommend this book. I gave up at 60%.
The FMC has been on her own since she was ten but while she seems to have some kind of education by the way her inner monologues run, she’s a child. She was born of rape and is told by her mother before she dies to never trust men. Solid advice, apparently.
The “Hero/love interest” is not an “Alpha”. He’s a rapist. Literally. In the middle of doing a health exam (to find out if she can be forcibly bred) he literally thinks that he can’t keep control and instead of leaving he has “sex” with the FMC while she’s tied down and completely unable to communicate wether she wants this to happen or not.
I don’t understand why the brother had so much written perspective. He was not apart of the “romance”. I found him just as foul when he tried to abscond with the FMC and trick her into sex. He slightly redeems himself when he confronts his brother about gaining the FMC consent to be bred in such a way.
I couldn’t being myself to finish reading after up to that point.
The aliens themselves are described to be utterly horrifying to look at and some of the plant life that is described is so WHOLLY UNBELIEVABLE. A ginormous fly trap like plant that kills its prey by shutting its body down with ecstasy? Are you kidding me?
Let me start with saying that I feel like this book had potential... it did NOT measure up. Between the plot, the grammar and overall choppy writing, I would not recommend this book. I gave up at 60%.
The FMC has been on her own since she was ten but while she seems to have some kind of education by the way her inner monologues run, she’s a child. She was born of rape and is told by her mother before she dies to never trust men. Solid advice, apparently.
The “Hero/love interest” is not an “Alpha”. He’s a rapist. Literally. In the middle of doing a health exam (to find out if she can be forcibly bred) he literally thinks that he can’t keep control and instead of leaving he has “sex” with the FMC while she’s tied down and completely unable to communicate wether she wants this to happen or not.
I don’t understand why the brother had so much written perspective. He was not apart of the “romance”. I found him just as foul when he tried to abscond with the FMC and trick her into sex. He slightly redeems himself when he confronts his brother about gaining the FMC consent to be bred in such a way.
I couldn’t being myself to finish reading after up to that point.
The aliens themselves are described to be utterly horrifying to look at and some of the plant life that is described is so WHOLLY UNBELIEVABLE. A ginormous fly trap like plant that kills its prey by shutting its body down with ecstasy? Are you kidding me?
December 4, 2019
I enjoyed this book. It did seem a bit different from the author's usual writing. The story was great. The characters were extremely strange. This book is a bit alien abduction, plus post Earth apocalyptic and then some space opera with a bit more paranormal thrown in. It is the first in a series for this, primarily, standalone author with a little cliffhanger for one of the major characters. Sadly, there were a number of editing errors which was also not the norm for this author.
The sex scenes were not as sensual as in her other works that I have read. They felt a little sterile and matter of fact, but to some extent they are similar to other non-sex scenes described. The spanking and discipline elements do not come into the story until later in the second half of this book. I almost waited to write this review as the linked second book is out soon; and, the books may read better together as one.
I adore this author and have read 25 of her books so far and will continue to do so.
The sex scenes were not as sensual as in her other works that I have read. They felt a little sterile and matter of fact, but to some extent they are similar to other non-sex scenes described. The spanking and discipline elements do not come into the story until later in the second half of this book. I almost waited to write this review as the linked second book is out soon; and, the books may read better together as one.
I adore this author and have read 25 of her books so far and will continue to do so.
November 11, 2019
It was okay
It was okay but also confusing at times. Like when I was reading from Reaper's point of view and he used "I" and then the next sentence it would say "I told Reaper" so I was confused if it was Tarkin talking or Reaper talking or maybe the author get it mixed up. Anyway I really thought that I would love this book but I didnt. Plus the romance didn't seem real to me . Maybe because it is a short book and it is Insta love but Reaper seemed like he loved One because she was the first human he saw in thirteen thousand years and is the only human left, not because of who she is personally.
It was okay but also confusing at times. Like when I was reading from Reaper's point of view and he used "I" and then the next sentence it would say "I told Reaper" so I was confused if it was Tarkin talking or Reaper talking or maybe the author get it mixed up. Anyway I really thought that I would love this book but I didnt. Plus the romance didn't seem real to me . Maybe because it is a short book and it is Insta love but Reaper seemed like he loved One because she was the first human he saw in thirteen thousand years and is the only human left, not because of who she is personally.
December 7, 2019
1.5 STARS
I'm giving it this rating because it was a new idea but I couldn't get into the whole They'll never be able to reproduce with Human women and the difference between a dude 9 feet tall that's getting ready to grow again. Can you even imagine the size of this dudes one-eyed willie? I'll pass on that!
Annnnnnd. They're gonna try to breed the woman to get more women to build up the population so that they can keep their sexual partner pool full. Back to the 9 foot tall dude's naked parts. Uh NOPE! Made it about 40% and called uncle!
I'm giving it this rating because it was a new idea but I couldn't get into the whole They'll never be able to reproduce with Human women and the difference between a dude 9 feet tall that's getting ready to grow again. Can you even imagine the size of this dudes one-eyed willie? I'll pass on that!
Annnnnnd. They're gonna try to breed the woman to get more women to build up the population so that they can keep their sexual partner pool full. Back to the 9 foot tall dude's naked parts. Uh NOPE! Made it about 40% and called uncle!
May 4, 2020
Boooooo. This was a disappointment. It made it sound like it was be fated mates or something similar but it’s not. The earth have gone through some kind of mass extinction was interesting and some of the dialogue was witty. But Reaper treats One like a child. The whole spanking scene ... was that supposed to be hot? Because I found it disturbing. I didn’t feel the love at all in this book. I won’t be reading anymore by this author.
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