Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Species Traitor #1

Species Traitor

Rate this book
2021 RONE Awards Nominee for Time Travel/Science Fiction

A Science Fiction Dystopian Novel

My name is Ava Mendoza, and I am a species traitor.

They came hoping to find a new home after their own planet was destroyed, but Earth was dying as well, and most humans saw their arrival as an invasion. Now, two decades later, the Veilorians have been banished to the District, a fenced-in area on the outskirts of the last known livable land on Earth. Most people do their best to pretend they don’t exist, but not everyone. There are humans, like my cousin, who see them for what they are. Despite the threat of disownment, she married a Veilorian, and now she, too, lives in the District.

Even before I met Finn, I was determined to stand up for what was right, but from the moment I laid eyes on him, we had a connection I’ve never experienced before. But with the election of a new and radical mayor on the horizon, tensions are high, and people are calling for change. They want to make my cousin’s marriage illegal and punish any human who goes into the District, but I refuse to back down from this fight. No matter the cost.

376 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2020

172 people are currently reading
354 people want to read

About the author

Kate L. Mary

88 books796 followers
I'm a mom of four, Air Force wife, and author of adult and young adult dystopian, post-apocalyptic, and science fiction. I love intense world building and character driven stories that feature strong female leads - as well as a side of romance - and any end of the world scenario. Zombies, aliens, a distant future where people have no clue how the world ended in the first place, you name it, I will create a story there!

Having lived in a lot of different places after more than a decade as an Air Force wife, I love setting my books in cities I've actually lived in to give them authenticity. I've resided in: Indiana, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, and Oklahoma but am currently back in my home state of Ohio where I live with my husband, four kids, two dogs, and three cats.

When I'm not writing, you can find me by my pool (in the summer), getting lost in some binge-worthy show or at a play with my husband, patronizing one of the great restaurants in my small town of Troy, Ohio with my family, or traveling. I want to see everything and make a point of visiting a new place every year!

Some of my favorite books are The Hunger Games, Pride and Prejudice, The Host, and The Stand. My favorite movies are Aliens, Jaws, Signs, Say Anything, Everything Everywhere All At Once, and The Greatest Showman.

Awards:

Outliers
Winner in the 2018 Kindle Books Awards for Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fiction
B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree
Finalist in the 2018 Wishing Shelf Book Awards For Adult Fiction
Top 10 Finalist in the Author Academy Awards for Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fiction
Cover Finalist in the 2019 RONE Awards from InD'tale Magazine

When We Were Human
2015 Children's Moonbeam Awards Silver Medal winner for Young Adult Fantasy/Sci-Fi Fiction
2016 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner for Young Adult Science Fiction

Tribe of Daughters
Winner in the 2020 RONE Awards for Time Travel/Science Fiction
Bronze Medal Winner in the 2019 Readers' Favorite Book Awards for Science Fiction
Honorable Mention in the 2018 SPR Book Awards

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateLMaryauthor

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kate-...

Website: http://KateLMary.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zombieautho...

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Kate-L.-Mary/e...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kate-L.-Mary...

Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
146 (54%)
4 stars
74 (27%)
3 stars
32 (12%)
2 stars
8 (3%)
1 star
6 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
Profile Image for Bex (Beckie Bookworm).
2,530 reviews1,598 followers
May 15, 2020
thumbnail_ST teaser 3

Species Traitor is a hard-hitting story that is a mish-mash of sci-fi, Dystopian and romance.
The Veilorians home-planet is gone and they have ventured to earth in their ships as refugees from the stars.
Looks-wise they are very similar to humans, just a larger stature and exotic eyes set the two species apart.
Ava was three when these visitors arrived now 22 years later they are housed in the district a five-mile square plot of land on the edge of the congested and overcrowded city.
Hatred and Malice towards the aliens is widespread, humans treating them appallingly, controlling and corraling them, keeping them confined to the district little more than prisoners.
This is despite there peaceful and friendly nature and the fact that they have done absolutely nothing to deserve this attitude and heinous treatment from humans.
The humans even resent the small space they are currently occupying on the overcrowded and scorched landscape.
So when Ava cousin elopes and marries a veilorian it brings shame down on her family.
Ava refuses to cut ties visiting her in the district where she now resides with her new husband.
But with a new mayor running for office with a radical and bigoted agenda it's looking precarious and dangerous for the Veilorians and anyone who may be associated with them.
This primarily is a plot-driven story with a slow-burning attraction and romance at its centre.
Ava finds herself fascinated by a half-human, half-Veilorian male called Fin, unfortunately, Fin hates humans with a passion and makes no secret of it.
This is told solely from Ava's POV and it was uniquely different in so many ways.
It is well written with fantastic world-building and vibrant characters.
An easy page-turner that managed to capture my imagination with its sheer brilliance.
honestly "Species Traitor" blew me away and what a marvellous introduction to this author it was.
I will definitely be checking out more of this authors work.
My only complaint was the way it ended just because I'm impatient like that and need book 2 like immediately.
I highly recommend this book it was fantastic.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Species Traitor: A Science Fiction Dystopian Novel.

thumbnail_ST teaser 2

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
Profile Image for Mikky.
980 reviews282 followers
November 16, 2020
Originally posted at:


My Rating: 3 and a half stars

* I received a free copy of the audio book of this novel from Audiobooks Unleashed. All opinions in this review are my own.

This book is too reminiscent of the real world and I would like more fiction than reality in my books, thanks! On a more serious note, the world-building was so, so, so good. The best part was that the info-dumps were minimal. Everything was introduced as it became relevant.

I think there have been a handful of characters that I despise like I did Dean. He was a bigoted, petty, thirsty lil' b*tch who deserves h*ll to be rained on him for his misdeeds. I was just annoyed that it took Ava 7 hours into the audio book for her to realize that something was off with him considering what he was telling her was contrasting with his actions.

Ava was frustratingly naive and dense at crucial times and it did detract quite a bit from the story. Though I liked how she fought for what she perceived as right and how strong her moral compass was. I also applaud her for jumping into a fight knowing she'll lose to protect someone she believes should have a right to live free. The most frustrating thing about her though was her turning a blind eye on Dean's actions for SO long. I swear there were moments where I thought my eyes would permanently roll to the back of my head and get stuck there.

Finn was very standoffish and stubborn in his dislike of humans from the beginning. I didn't adore him right off the bat but he did grow on me, almost like a fungus some would say. What I can tell you is that he did not, in any way, deserve to be part of a love triangle featuring Dean. There's just no competition there. I found the love triangle pointless in this story because there was already so much going on in the background that we didn't need drama being added to the story.

The ending was so disappointing. I was aware that it would end in a cliffhanger, but that cliffhanger was so annoying. Even if I didn't know I would have seen it coming from a mile away. I haven't gotten this fired up over a novel in a long time! I usually read to relax and let me tell you that the last thing on my mind was relaxing while I was listening to this novel at 11pm. I don't even know if I want to read the second book in this series at this point in time.



The Audio Book:

The narration was great! All the characters were distinguishable from each other and there were no weird noises in the background.
Profile Image for TJ.
3,293 reviews282 followers
November 24, 2020
4.5/5.0

Freaking good dystopian sci-fi! Ava’s actions were a bit TSTL at times but other than that... Man, it’s a story that’s hard to put down!
Profile Image for Mandy Reads Indie.
1,988 reviews91 followers
March 6, 2020
Ever since Mary asked her readers what she should write next, and gave us this story as an option, I had been eager to finally get the full story. Thankfully she finished it and it was everything I knew it would be.

I remember Mary saying this story would be so much more than just a love story. And it was. It was beauty and raw emotions. It was heartbreaking to the point of tears. But Mary crafted a glorious bandaid in the form of words and amazing characters to mend my heart over and over again. I was absolutely addicted to this book; to Finn and Ava. And I was desperate for it when I wasn’t able to be in it. Spellbinding is what I should be calling it. Utterly spellbinding.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book and cannot wait to get my hands on the next one. We were left with uncertainty in our hearts and fear of what will happen next. I only pray Mary doesn’t make us wait too long. 5 All the Stars!!
Profile Image for Vettech.
529 reviews14 followers
February 16, 2020
Species traitor is a very deeply emotional read, for me it was anyway. Ava Mendoza is the heroine riveting depiction of what our world would be like if aliens from another planet were to actually show up. Not just to visit, but to escape their dying world. What happens next had the novelty of having "visitors" permanently staying turn in a really bad direction. It got to the point where any human that associated with "them", were labeled Species Traitors!

This was much more than a sci-fi-dystopian-romance for the reader. This tale played on every emotion you can think of. My mind was a whirlwind of emotional turmoil......you see I always root for the under-dog. I really loved all the characters. Ava and Finn brought the two worlds together working as a team to combat the bullying/bigotry. I absolutely recommend this great book . Author Kate L. Mary has become one of my very favorites!
104 reviews
March 7, 2020
Great start to new series

Great writing as always from this author. Strong heroine trying to survive in a damaged world . This story combines aliens and humans struggling to fight the evils of a crazy scaremongering government. Looking forward to more !!
Profile Image for Oksana.
111 reviews8 followers
February 17, 2021
This book is a good mix of sci-fi, dystopian, and romance genres. At times it felt a bit too realistic for fiction, but otherwise, it was an enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
2,913 reviews90 followers
September 4, 2020
A friend sent this book to me, and I have no idea why I hadn't read this story by this author since I had read her before. Maybe it's because I don't normally gravitate to "alien" stories. *BUT DAMN THIS BOOK WAS GOOD!* If you like Dystopian stories, this is for you. If you like alien/sci-fi stories this might be for you. And if you love romance, this one will be for you. It's slow to build, but the love story is there. I cannot wait to read the next... waiting on my kindle.
Profile Image for Nicole Dunton.
1,419 reviews36 followers
January 26, 2021
Thoughts On Plot: This is a rare book that sucked me into the story from the very first sentence. It doesn't really shock me that much though. This is one of my favorite authors. She has an incredible talent for writing very well. She has a unique twist on things. This book is no exception.
Thoughts On Characters: Ava is just such an amazing character. She does the right thing regardless of the cost. When her entire family cut her cousin off, she stuck by her cousin's side. It's awe-inspiring. I loved the cousin as well. She was a feisty girl who had a good head on her shoulders. I didn't really care for Finn at first, but he grew on me.
Notable Points in Book: Book ends with a cliffhanger. The book contains minor references to sex.
Rating On Narrator: Heather Firth- 5 stars
Thoughts on Audiobook: This is not the first book that I've listened to that's narrated by Heather Firth. She's an amazing narrator. She's one of my favorites actually.
Suggestions For Author: Write more like this!!!!
Would I recommend?: Yes
Similar To: Delirium by Lauren Oliver, but with Aliens
Profile Image for Brook Kleppetsch.
212 reviews2 followers
January 2, 2021
*I was gifted this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are completely my own. *

Species Traitor is a sci-fi novel set in a dystopian world, with just enough teasers of romance to keep me needing more. Years ago, an alien spaceship landed on Earth after their planet was destroyed. Searching for a haven in the universe, the Velorians came to Earth hoping to merge their communities and create a better world for all. Unfortunately, their efforts were quickly thwarted by the humans, who could not see them as anything besides alien invaders and proceeded to hold them prisoner in a small community on the edge of the city.

What I liked:

- [ ] I always like a strong MFC, even though I found Ava’s common sense lacking at times.
- [ ] The world building is fantastic and unlike anything I’ve read before. The plot is completely unique, and gripped me from early on when sci-fi is out of my comfort zone.
- [ ] The romance in this book was definitely a slow burn, with enough teasers to keep me always wanting just a little more.
- [ ] The bond between Ava and her cousin was a really amazing sisterhood that they both clearly needed in the face of the conflict they were facing.
- [ ] The plot twists were mostly unexpected and kept me wanting to keep reading.

What I didn’t love:
- [ ] The whole beginning part of the love triangle; I didn’t care for either guy at first, but quickly decided which I liked better.
- [ ] Towards the ending, the main relationship between Ava and (——) felt a little too insta-love for me. I understand that the precarious situation they were in could lead to heavy emotions, but it felt too fast to me.
- [ ] I WANTED SOME STEAM 🔥 I understand the YA aspect that the author was able to maintain, but how about a deleted scene for us paranormal romance fans, huh? 😉
Profile Image for David Wiley.
9 reviews
January 31, 2021
Recommend!

I always enjoy a good young adult series and this one doesn't disappoint. The political environment is all too believable and a relatable "what if". I look forward to continuing the series and would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys young adult dystopian books
Profile Image for J. Marie.
129 reviews8 followers
June 27, 2020
It’s like a sci-fi/dystopian soap opera. The drama never stops.

World-building? 4.5 stars
Where does their food come from they essentially live in a city dome that’s bursting at the seams? Why are the only job options essentially Mirror cleaning outside the dome, trash detail outside the dome, or one of the very few rich people jobs [i.e. doctor or politician]?

Character development? 4 stars
The development of Dean, Finn, & Lena was pretty great.
In the very beginning, the chemistry between Ava & Finn is STRONG. By the end, it felt a bit stale in some parts to me.
Side note: I get so angry when a character is wrongly betrayed by family. Won’t do any spoilers, but ugh. Character, you suck.

Overall plot? 4 stars
Intricate. Always twisting and going deeper. This is not a quick, fun, easy-read romance. I didn’t know that going in, and it wasn’t what I was looking for at the time, but the story is pretty well written and thought out.
Profile Image for April.
836 reviews
July 31, 2020
By showing the dark side of humanity, Species Traitor through fiction, explores bigotry that can be applied to current events. I really enjoyed it although there is more character development than action. If you're a critic of the dreaded cliffhanger you'll need to be aware this book ends in one. However, book 2 is already available.
Profile Image for Jan.
187 reviews5 followers
April 22, 2020
Ok - I can't come up with a synopsis that doesn't give the plot away and doesn't sound like a duplicate of Kate's blurbs for this book.

I liked it. A LOT. It's really, really, REALLY good.

I suggest that ya'll buy this book and read it for yourself.
Profile Image for BookishWeeb Olivia.
350 reviews31 followers
December 23, 2020
Species Traitor is a futuristic mash of SciFi and Dystopian with a splash of romance added in. There's lots of worldbuilding in the author's writing style, and well-developed characters. I easily found myself immersed in the storyline. Looking forward to the author's next books!
Profile Image for Scarlet.
351 reviews9 followers
November 2, 2020
I received this book via a promo code and this is my voluntary review. Having recently completed the Outliers series which is also based in this Universe I was excited to catch up with another group of heroes from Sovereigns lost twin city, Polis. Here we join Ava, Ione, and Finn and her cities slow creep towards annihilating the alien refugees from Veil even at the cost of their own demise. Not a fan of Apocalypse/Dystopian genres??? This is more like a Science Fiction. If you liked Syfy's Defiance or the Netflix show Star-Crossed you are going to LOVE this series. It's the end of the world and they know it but the main trait that humans seem to have clung to through the centuries is their fear, hate and prejudice. Ione has just married an alien, even at the risk she knows means she will be disowned by her parents, and means her new life will be spent in imprisonment in the District with Rye. Ava refuses to abandon her cousin, despite the growing civil unrest but this story is kicked into high gear when the political powers change and do everything they can to make Ione's marriage illegal, and the mixed Veilorian&human children are Veronica Water's biggest fear, that humans, given their declining birthrates and ill health from radiation, small genetic population and limited space, will be outbred by these alien visitors. The fear of outsiders is something we know only too well, and instead of immigrants or people of another race, in this tale they are children from a different solar system. Thankfully Ava does not share their views, despite that she still finds herself facing opposition from within the District as half-human Veilorian Finn does not like humans, and dislikes his cousin's marriage to Ione. His attraction to Ava, takes them both by surprise. Torn between human District Guard Dean, and her growing feelings for Finn, Ava knows the time is coming soon for her to choose a side. Secrets revealed about her family history reveals that she's got more skin in this game than she ever imagined before. Her father had been branded a species traitor long before she looked into Finns Citrine eyes and felt her heart skip a beat. I won't go into much more detail but this book was soooo good I immediately purchased the ebook boxset so I could read Species Savior. Heather Firth and Kate L Mary are a magic combo that could keep me lost in imaginary worlds for weeks.
Profile Image for Cranky - The Book Curmudgeon.
2,091 reviews154 followers
February 8, 2020
5 CRANKY STARS


This is one of my favorite authors and she hasn’t let me down this time either. A new series starts in a futuristic earth that has been decimated by war, atomic bombs and climate change. The population lives in small communities spread around the earth; or so they think but no one has been in contact with these other communities in years. They use solar panels for power since there is an abundance of sun which is a major source of the radiation outside of the city. Unfortunately, this sounds like a scenario that could come true. It’s a very well written tale that starts with an alien spacecraft landing during a meteor shower.


Fast forward twenty-two years and the aliens are living among the citizens still. Well, if you call having to live in a walled off compound with almost no rights, living. Some of the humans have mated with the aliens (who look humanoid). However, they is a change in elected office taking place and the prejudices that plague the human race are rearing their ugly heads. Thus, our title, Species Traitor. Any human seen entering the compound or, heaven forbid, marries one of the aliens is considered a Traitor to the human race. Even though the aliens could make everyone’s lives easier with their knowledge of technology, the humans will have no part of it.


This is a story that will make you rethink your thoughts and values. Prejudice is slowly wiping out the human race, but no one will admit it. The few who know the truth are labeled and ostracized and thrown in jail. Spellbinding story that I couldn’t put down.
Profile Image for United Indie Book Blog.
4,683 reviews85 followers
March 6, 2020
That ending though...😱😱😱
I have enjoyed several books by Kate l. Mary and with each one she is able to draw me in from beginning to end with the world she creates. With Species Traitor, she takes dystopian/sci-fi and really makes you think about the world we live in.
I enjoyed Ava and her strong, caring, wanting to change the world attitude. I’m scared for her and I’m not sure what is going to happen. Finn was a surprise for me, I wasn’t sure I would end up liking him but watching his growth really has made him a favorite character for me.
I’m not going to give anything away but know you will be hooked and that ending is harsh.
Review by Raychel
234 reviews5 followers
March 6, 2020
Another piece of artistry from Kate L. Mary. A well crafted story, and study, of what makes up "humanity". This combination of dystopian and alien sci-fi examines tolerance and acceptance of differences between two humanoid species who are forced to live together.

Engaging and thoughtful, it left me thinking and wondering about a lot of "what ifs". The characters are well developed and the readers can't help but empathize with their plights.

My only complaint is that it ends on a cliffhanger. I'm not a fan of those, but I truly cannot wait for book 2 in this series. Don't miss out! Pick it up today!
Profile Image for Red.
502 reviews7 followers
February 3, 2020
The first thing I will say is that there are NO ZOMBIES in this book! But…there are some bad guys, and you'll never guess who they are…or, yes, you probably will. This is a Sci-fi Dystopian novel, that hints of more to come. The protagonist is a strong female (as in all of Kate's books) that doesn't really think things through to conclusion before she acts. As I'm sitting here, looking to the world like I'm sleeping, since I haven't moved for over an hour, my body and mind are screaming out to her, "NO!!! Don't do that!!" And, as per her character, she doesn't listen. Oh, well. Kate L. Mary has sent my mind reeling as I read Species Traitor. I see words, simple words like tall and wastelands, and hints as to things that really make me excited.
Profile Image for Sofia.
860 reviews23 followers
October 21, 2020
i got this book for free in storyorigin in exchange for a honest review, to tell the truth i am already familiar with the writting of Kate L. Mary, and i just can say it didnt disapoint me ^____^ i went deep and strong in this story, i started this morning and after getting the kids back from school i finished, i am in pain for the next book on the story.

in this story aliens come to "earth", but they dont come to invade us, they are in search in a new place to live, and instead of accepting them to live with the rest of the human population, they are made to live inside a "prision", where the aliens cant come out, but humans can go inside (actually the humans use this place as a coming of age where they go to pass the time) uhmmm but love is a funny thing, some humans and this aliens falls in love and want to get married... and then babies are born, half human and half alien ahh :) loved this book, and i cant recomend it enough 5 stars ;) please give us more Kate L. Mary <3
733 reviews4 followers
October 25, 2020
Species Traitor

Ava is a stubborn character who will not bend if she believes the government is wrong. You can easily see Polis and the District in your mind as described. The world and characters are almost real making you think of the possibility. This is a two book series so make sure you have them both as this is one you can't stop reading.
Profile Image for Shannie.
643 reviews
March 6, 2020
Another awesome book by Kate. I have to say Ava is somewhat naive & does stupid things. Can’t wait to read the next book tho.
Profile Image for InkDrinker12.
36 reviews1 follower
March 9, 2020
So good!

This book was fantastic! I can’t wait for the next one! Kate L. Mary did it again! This one is definitely a favorite! 💜💜
1,040 reviews3 followers
April 3, 2020
Love it!

Kate once again delivers to us another excellent start to a world she has chosen for us to see. Ava and Finn are attempting to find a life together against all odds and Kate ends this with the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. Nice move, Kate. Anxiously awaiting book two!
4 reviews
April 20, 2020
Brilliant!!

Loved this book. Couldn't put it down!! I am extremely excited for the next one in the series. I can't wait to see what happens next!
247 reviews3 followers
September 20, 2020
Species Traitor (A Science Fiction Dystopian Novel) by Kate L. Mary and narrated by Heather Firth is the start of another fantastic series for this duo! I loved this one! Highly recommend if you enjoy sci-fi with a mix of romance and dystopia, or are a fan of Kate’s work.

What’s it about? The story revolves around Ava, who is a human, and Finn, who is half-alien and half-human. Ava only wants to see her cousin who lives in The District as she is married to a Veilorian (aliens). Tensions are rising as new political candidates rise to power and humans struggle to live for various reasons. The story unfolds as the book progresses with no repeat dialogue. You get a good amount of fairly fast-paced action, great world building, great characters (good and bad), a bit of mystery, friends and enemies, family dynamics, and plenty more that will keep you glued to the book. You’ll be rooting for Ava and the Veilorian’s by the end. It does end in a cliffhanger as there is another book in the series.

The narrator, Heather Firth, does a fabulous job. She’s become one of my favorite narrators. Her voices are perfect, has a great pace, and adds to story.

I see a review mentions too similar to what’s happening in the real world- yes you may feel there are some parallels, but that could be said about many books. Overall, I highly recommend as it’s a great story and I can’t wait to hear the ending.

Parental guidance/trigger warnings: branding, violence/hatred against the aliens and species traitors, death, hunger, pregnancy, kissing and sex indicated (not graphic), and other like situations that would arise in a dystopian society. Language used: Fx11, Sx21, damn x7, hell x44.
Profile Image for Alisa.
475 reviews6 followers
March 18, 2020
So good

This is definitely not my usual read but Kate L. Mary wrote it so I had to pick it up. I'm so glad I did. I can't wait to find out what happens next. Without giving anything away, this book had the ability to really make you question the things that happen around you, what would you stand up for, what would you stand for. Definitely worth your time.
14 reviews
March 13, 2020
Best read ever!

Couldn't put it down had to read it straight through.. Can't wait to read the next book in line, it will be great.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.