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Dauur Mates #1
Queen of Twilight
BOOK UPDATED/EDITED/EXPANDED ON: August 1st 2020
Abducted from Earth and dropped on an alien planet, Inoxia finds herself the accidental guardian of a six year old girl. As a single woman in her thirties whose only worries are the plants in her greenhouse this is a monumental challenge. The two of them aren’t alone for long when two hulking, neon aliens with quills on their heads and color changing eyes happen upon them.
As a Darkborn Dauur, Aquilian has spent his life being seen as a curse by his people. The fact that he is also a twin doesn’t help matters at all. With the deck stacked against him, he spends most of his time in the forest where there are no judgemental eyes. While on the hunt for a rare medicinal bloom, Aquilian finds himself trapped within a dome with some of the ugliest creatures he has ever met. Even worse is the fact that one of them happens to be his mate.
Although Ettrian is a Lightborn Dauur, he hasn’t always lived an easy life. Growing up as a twin in a society that believes them to be unlucky, the male has had his share of stares and gossip. When he is abducted from the forest and taken to an alien lab to be tested on, Ettrian is told to do something unthinkable. After being reunited with his twin, the male is shocked to find that Aquilian has located their mate. The only problem? She is the most hideous creature he has ever laid eyes on.
With everything around them coming undone, can this unconventional family pull together to create their own happily ever after?
This is a M/F/M romance.
This is rated for those who are 18+ years old.
This book may contain some triggers, and may not be suitable for all readers. If you have triggers this may not be the book for you. There is a slight series cliffhanger, but the couple and story is complete itself.
Disclaimer: This book comes after Ecstasy from the Deep that was published in From the Depths anthology. It is not important to read Ecstasy from the Deep before this book, but they share the same world. Humans in this world have already been invaded and dealt with the aftermath of that invasion. You will be able to read more about that in our extended version of Ecstasy from the Deep!
Abducted from Earth and dropped on an alien planet, Inoxia finds herself the accidental guardian of a six year old girl. As a single woman in her thirties whose only worries are the plants in her greenhouse this is a monumental challenge. The two of them aren’t alone for long when two hulking, neon aliens with quills on their heads and color changing eyes happen upon them.
As a Darkborn Dauur, Aquilian has spent his life being seen as a curse by his people. The fact that he is also a twin doesn’t help matters at all. With the deck stacked against him, he spends most of his time in the forest where there are no judgemental eyes. While on the hunt for a rare medicinal bloom, Aquilian finds himself trapped within a dome with some of the ugliest creatures he has ever met. Even worse is the fact that one of them happens to be his mate.
Although Ettrian is a Lightborn Dauur, he hasn’t always lived an easy life. Growing up as a twin in a society that believes them to be unlucky, the male has had his share of stares and gossip. When he is abducted from the forest and taken to an alien lab to be tested on, Ettrian is told to do something unthinkable. After being reunited with his twin, the male is shocked to find that Aquilian has located their mate. The only problem? She is the most hideous creature he has ever laid eyes on.
With everything around them coming undone, can this unconventional family pull together to create their own happily ever after?
This is a M/F/M romance.
This is rated for those who are 18+ years old.
This book may contain some triggers, and may not be suitable for all readers. If you have triggers this may not be the book for you. There is a slight series cliffhanger, but the couple and story is complete itself.
Disclaimer: This book comes after Ecstasy from the Deep that was published in From the Depths anthology. It is not important to read Ecstasy from the Deep before this book, but they share the same world. Humans in this world have already been invaded and dealt with the aftermath of that invasion. You will be able to read more about that in our extended version of Ecstasy from the Deep!
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2020
119 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Octavia Kore
11 books213 followersBorn in the Sunshine State, Hayley and Amanda are cousins who have come together to write under the name Octavia Kore. Both share a love for reading, a passion for writing, and the inclination toward word vomiting when meeting new people. Ecstasy from the Deep (From the Depths Anthology version) was their very first published work. Hayley and Amanda are both stay-at-home-parents who squeeze in time to write when they aren’t being used as jungle gyms or snack dispensers. They are both inspired by their love for mythology, science fiction, and all things extraordinary. Amanda has an unhealthy obsession with house plants and Hayley can often be found gaming in their downtime.
Both authors are part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and as such tend to write LGBTQIA2S+ characters.
Both authors are part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and as such tend to write LGBTQIA2S+ characters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
dnf
February 2, 2021DNF 59%
I think the story is a bit rushed and some of the character choices aren't that believable- even considering its an adult sci-fi romance.
*FYI book has been edited and revised since my initial review below*
I think the story is a bit rushed and some of the character choices aren't that believable- even considering its an adult sci-fi romance.
*FYI book has been edited and revised since my initial review below*
August 10, 2020
DNFed at around 40%
Rushed. That would be the word I would use to describe this book.
The reviews for this had quite a few people gushing about how well the author handled trauma, and I was interested to see why... and I have no idea what they were talking about. Maybe I just didn't get to that part yet. but what I saw was nonsensical at best.
Within hours of meeting, (and not able to communicate at all) The MC's ass is slapped and she MOANS. With ZERO romantic advances or inklings before hand from either party. Excuse me, that's not how that works. Just a random ass slap from a perfect stranger you are afraid of, completely out of the blue, is not a moan inducing event.
Then, after spending...I think it was 2 days with them, and actually starting to get to know them, one of them brushes a hand against her by accident in passing and she FREAKS THE HELL OUT and has a panic attack, flashing back to her ex abusing her. What the fuck?
I just wanna shake authors like this and be like "You know you control this world right? you can make situations happen... you can create believable scenario to achieve the effect you want. You can craft situations that would fit to the response you want your characters to have. No? You dont wanna do that? mkay. Welp, It's your book."
Rushed. That would be the word I would use to describe this book.
The reviews for this had quite a few people gushing about how well the author handled trauma, and I was interested to see why... and I have no idea what they were talking about. Maybe I just didn't get to that part yet. but what I saw was nonsensical at best.
Within hours of meeting, (and not able to communicate at all) The MC's ass is slapped and she MOANS. With ZERO romantic advances or inklings before hand from either party. Excuse me, that's not how that works. Just a random ass slap from a perfect stranger you are afraid of, completely out of the blue, is not a moan inducing event.
Then, after spending...I think it was 2 days with them, and actually starting to get to know them, one of them brushes a hand against her by accident in passing and she FREAKS THE HELL OUT and has a panic attack, flashing back to her ex abusing her. What the fuck?
I just wanna shake authors like this and be like "You know you control this world right? you can make situations happen... you can create believable scenario to achieve the effect you want. You can craft situations that would fit to the response you want your characters to have. No? You dont wanna do that? mkay. Welp, It's your book."
December 13, 2022
This is a sci-fi-fated mates poly romance where our heroine Inoxia finds herself along with her human six-year-old charge kidnapped by persons unknown and placed in a controlled environment on a strange new alien planet. This unfamiliar world is called Dimosia and is home to the Dauur. Aquilian and Ettrian are twins one lightborn and the other darkborn ostracised by their village on account of the stigma attached to being darkborn this has greatly affected their lives. On Dimosia matings happen in threes so they need a mate that accepts both of them equally and when they discover their fated mate in a human what begins as shock and initial disgust soon becomes much more.
I am usually a fan of these authors' work and I did mostly enjoy this but it’s also not my favourite though I still rate them highly as authors and will continue to read their books. Despite saying that this was still very imaginative with some excellent ideas.
The heroine is definitely a tad TSTL making rash decisions and her behaviour is also sometimes inconstant with some of her past explained trauma. I was also slightly confused initially regarding the language barriers and the later sun father explanation didn’t solely satisfy me. Yes, It was plausible but the offered reasoning did come slightly too late in the game as I was already wondering on the whys. So yes it cleared it up but It also felt like after the fact and that it should have been addressed in greater detail much earlier than it was.
I liked the inclusion of Kareen and the developed bond between her Xia and her two new potential fathers and found the male's reaction to her so sweet and especially adorable. There are actually some really sweet moments and sentiments included in this story.
The romance here turned out to be rather a sweet one despite Initially being rather horrified and disgusted by their new alien mate's somewhat strange appearance they seem to get over it fairly swiftly and almost immediately Aquilian and Ettrian are then all in despite there also being certain obstacles placed in the path to there future happiness. I did though at times get the sense this was more about them being fated mates than any initial instant attraction and that did bother me a bit.
There was also a fair bit of information dump but to be fair this was the first story in a series so it was essentially setting the scene for the world so I do get that. It was also well written and for me definitely had more positives than negatives. It also drops breadcrumbs for future stories to come and overall this was an intriguing start to the series as a whole.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/63435390
April 26, 2023
3.75
I enjoyed this book in that it had some unique ideas. The Dauur were interesting and their connection with nature was cool.
I felt like there were some holes in this story - primarily dealing with the alien culture. I’m hoping the next book clarifies.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: attempted SA, medical torture, abduction and captivity
I enjoyed this book in that it had some unique ideas. The Dauur were interesting and their connection with nature was cool.
I felt like there were some holes in this story - primarily dealing with the alien culture. I’m hoping the next book clarifies.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: attempted SA, medical torture, abduction and captivity
March 28, 2020
There is a lot to like in this fresh SFR from Octavia Kore.
In prose that flows well, this story is told from 3 points of view—Xia, our human FMC, and Aquilian + Ettrian, twin Dauur MMCs, a new and rather novel race in the SFR genre. Elements of this tale skirt or buck the SFR formula, lending a nice unpredictability to exactly how this story would play out.
✦ The heroine is a touch older than standard—in her early 30s instead of a 20-something—and acquires an adopted child she has to figure out how to parent in the middle of her upheaval. Nothing quite like a side of instant motherhood to go with your alien abduction. She is rather TSTL with baffling/contradicting motivations at times, but I enjoyed Xia as a character for the most part. The way she worked through interacting with her new environment was really satisfying and had a nice organic feel—the pacing of developments in this book is a strong point and well done, nothing felt rushed and nothing dragged for the sake of it.
✦ There is a fated mate component at play, but the MMCs are not super keen to immediately seal it. They do find Xia rather repulsive at first, but come around as the bond does its thing despite all of the obstacles it has to work around.
✦ There is no instantaneous and easy communication between the MMCs and the FMC, though there was supposed to have been—.
✦ The Dauur are humanoid but still a very different species than we are in many ways, both in looks and how their bodies function. Really, how they hear—and therefore communicate and interact with their world— is one of the more unique ideas I've seen in a long time. I get super excited when aliens are actually...alien. The Dauur are not "underwear models" with a few soft scales or different colored skin or some horns.
✦ Mars Needs Women isn't quite in play here—at least not where the Dauur are concerned—but exactly how the human women are being utilized is still vague and uncertain. I'm hoping to see more of the antagonist's species and their story in the future...including how what it appears they've done is actually furthering their objective.
This installment ends on a HFN—— with a lot of questions still unanswered and a big lead in to the second book. All told, this adds up to an enjoyable Sci-Fi romance reading experience—that isn't too dark— that has me interested in finding out what happens next.
TW/CW: Torture and physical abuse/harm to a child
In prose that flows well, this story is told from 3 points of view—Xia, our human FMC, and Aquilian + Ettrian, twin Dauur MMCs, a new and rather novel race in the SFR genre. Elements of this tale skirt or buck the SFR formula, lending a nice unpredictability to exactly how this story would play out.
✦ The heroine is a touch older than standard—in her early 30s instead of a 20-something—and acquires an adopted child she has to figure out how to parent in the middle of her upheaval. Nothing quite like a side of instant motherhood to go with your alien abduction. She is rather TSTL with baffling/contradicting motivations at times, but I enjoyed Xia as a character for the most part. The way she worked through interacting with her new environment was really satisfying and had a nice organic feel—the pacing of developments in this book is a strong point and well done, nothing felt rushed and nothing dragged for the sake of it.
✦ There is a fated mate component at play, but the MMCs are not super keen to immediately seal it. They do find Xia rather repulsive at first, but come around as the bond does its thing despite all of the obstacles it has to work around.
✦ There is no instantaneous and easy communication between the MMCs and the FMC, though there was supposed to have been—.
✦ The Dauur are humanoid but still a very different species than we are in many ways, both in looks and how their bodies function. Really, how they hear—and therefore communicate and interact with their world— is one of the more unique ideas I've seen in a long time. I get super excited when aliens are actually...alien. The Dauur are not "underwear models" with a few soft scales or different colored skin or some horns.
✦ Mars Needs Women isn't quite in play here—at least not where the Dauur are concerned—but exactly how the human women are being utilized is still vague and uncertain. I'm hoping to see more of the antagonist's species and their story in the future...including how what it appears they've done is actually furthering their objective.
This installment ends on a HFN—— with a lot of questions still unanswered and a big lead in to the second book. All told, this adds up to an enjoyable Sci-Fi romance reading experience—that isn't too dark— that has me interested in finding out what happens next.
TW/CW: Torture and physical abuse/harm to a child
April 16, 2020
For people who are saying this is well written...😳
This story has so much potential but needs extensive editing. I usually overlook some mistakes here and there but this book was all over the place. Was it horrible? No. In fact, I would love it and rate a 5 stars if it was edited more and details were added to certain parts. Not gonna lie, I couldn’t finish the whole book because I was irritated and there are other things out there to read.
There were so many problems with flow and I found myself confused several times. Let’s take the beginning for example: how did Xia get kidnapped with a child running away into the forest from a community event? Why didn’t Ettrian make a bigger deal out of being experimented on by aliens??? And then put in a dome???? Which him and his brother accepted because neither freaked out right away????? And how did aquilian come in be in the dome, where a house in a tree was that they felt automatically comfortable in??????? This book gave way too much detail to insignificant things but then completely jumped over the important stuff. I got tired of asking myself “what?” or “did I miss something?”
I’d totally read this book again because it has so much potential and an interesting storyline that isn’t the same tired alien romance novel. It just needs revisions.
This story has so much potential but needs extensive editing. I usually overlook some mistakes here and there but this book was all over the place. Was it horrible? No. In fact, I would love it and rate a 5 stars if it was edited more and details were added to certain parts. Not gonna lie, I couldn’t finish the whole book because I was irritated and there are other things out there to read.
There were so many problems with flow and I found myself confused several times. Let’s take the beginning for example: how did Xia get kidnapped with a child running away into the forest from a community event? Why didn’t Ettrian make a bigger deal out of being experimented on by aliens??? And then put in a dome???? Which him and his brother accepted because neither freaked out right away????? And how did aquilian come in be in the dome, where a house in a tree was that they felt automatically comfortable in??????? This book gave way too much detail to insignificant things but then completely jumped over the important stuff. I got tired of asking myself “what?” or “did I miss something?”
I’d totally read this book again because it has so much potential and an interesting storyline that isn’t the same tired alien romance novel. It just needs revisions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2020
An author I follow suggested this book, but I find myself wondering if she really read it before she suggested it to her readers.
The writing was decent in some places and not so much in others. The plot was all over the place and the heroine was TSTL. I hate when books have main characters make ridiculous decisions just to advance the storyline. This storyline was all over the place.
At first I was going to DNF at 50% but decided to keep going because I was hoping it would get better. It didn't. I understand it's a first book for this author but it really needed more development on the plot and characters. Not much world-building in this one either.
Disappointed and will be wary of other author recommendations in the future. I get trying to help someone who is just starting out, but I really don't think the author who recommended this actually read it all the way through. Let's just say I won't be too eager for the next book or books from this author. Should actually be more of a 2.5 star but I never give less than a 3 star review.
The writing was decent in some places and not so much in others. The plot was all over the place and the heroine was TSTL. I hate when books have main characters make ridiculous decisions just to advance the storyline. This storyline was all over the place.
At first I was going to DNF at 50% but decided to keep going because I was hoping it would get better. It didn't. I understand it's a first book for this author but it really needed more development on the plot and characters. Not much world-building in this one either.
Disappointed and will be wary of other author recommendations in the future. I get trying to help someone who is just starting out, but I really don't think the author who recommended this actually read it all the way through. Let's just say I won't be too eager for the next book or books from this author. Should actually be more of a 2.5 star but I never give less than a 3 star review.
April 14, 2020
This book description and cover art had a lot going for it and I was pretty excited, but if it can't hold my attention while I am on the treadmill then no, dnf at 18%.
It was a lot of info at the beginning and it was a choppy delivery, I kept getting the brothers mixed up so the flow from their POV wasn't easy to follow.
The main girl, Xia, had a young inner voice that put me off and she was gung-ho for sex with these 2 strangers like right away- making excuses for her behavior too soon.
I have read insta-love and have my own issues with it, but this was super fast. The brothers getting into a fist fight over their "mate" was my end point.
It was a lot of info at the beginning and it was a choppy delivery, I kept getting the brothers mixed up so the flow from their POV wasn't easy to follow.
The main girl, Xia, had a young inner voice that put me off and she was gung-ho for sex with these 2 strangers like right away- making excuses for her behavior too soon.
I have read insta-love and have my own issues with it, but this was super fast. The brothers getting into a fist fight over their "mate" was my end point.
August 11, 2020
Not bad for a first book these authors read as if they have experience with some dark stuff. I hate when you read a book and there is no trauma after some really horrible stuff happens, these authors know how to show the trauma these events can cause.
ETA for reading updated version: I loved the new additions especially explaining why xia moans when Ettrian spanks her ads. As a Sub I totally get this! When she has flashbacks I can relate as someone with PTSD sometimes it is as simple as someone grabbing you the same way you were abused.
ETA for reading updated version: I loved the new additions especially explaining why xia moans when Ettrian spanks her ads. As a Sub I totally get this! When she has flashbacks I can relate as someone with PTSD sometimes it is as simple as someone grabbing you the same way you were abused.
April 1, 2020
Good book with great storyline. However it needs to be a little longer with some of the plot points explained a little more in depth. Felt some items were glossed over too quickly. This could easily have been expanded to a 300+ page book instead of the 216 pages that it was. Overall though I was still able to follow along and enjoy the story. I always love a storyline that contains characters that at first find each other ugly and repulsive. :-)
March 28, 2020
Queen of Twilight has beautiful world building and wonderful characters with big personalities. The Dauur are an alien species that I've honestly seen nothing like before. I've read a lot of SciFi Romance and they're truly unique. This author also has a talent for writing a villain you can really hate. Prepare yourself want to kill that vindictive alien scum yourself.
This is Octavia Kore's first solo publication and I honestly can't wait for more. This writing duo has definitely set themselves up for more stories to come.
This is Octavia Kore's first solo publication and I honestly can't wait for more. This writing duo has definitely set themselves up for more stories to come.
April 8, 2020
New to me authors, but they do not disappoint! These were fresh ideas that I have not seen in the scifi romance genre. The book does have some darkness to it, but what do you expect in a scifi setting? If it didn't I would have been rather bored. I hope they continue to write! Also the spanking? Sign me up! Yes please, I love dominant and possessive men!
January 3, 2022
2.5 stars
Least favorite of all these author's current books. Was rather hard to get around the whole "twins share a mate" alien culture here, the story was odd and felt rushed, AND there was a lot of medical torture that occurred that I really, really didn't like. It was still a decent enough read, but compared to their other books?? This one wasn't that good.
Least favorite of all these author's current books. Was rather hard to get around the whole "twins share a mate" alien culture here, the story was odd and felt rushed, AND there was a lot of medical torture that occurred that I really, really didn't like. It was still a decent enough read, but compared to their other books?? This one wasn't that good.
June 25, 2021
Good book
I have not previously read books from the rest of the series. This book is making me want to read the venora series also. This book had such a interesting beginning. I am so glad Xia and Kareen got their happy ending. Can’t wait to see what happens to Mina at the end. Good writer
I have not previously read books from the rest of the series. This book is making me want to read the venora series also. This book had such a interesting beginning. I am so glad Xia and Kareen got their happy ending. Can’t wait to see what happens to Mina at the end. Good writer
August 8, 2020
Great read
This was a great start to this series. I had read the book about the war, Ectasy From the Deep, and it helped to have some backstory but it wasn't necessary. This was definitely well written and I loved the characters and felt for Aquillan. But I'm glad that Did a was so strong and saw nothing but goodness and beauty in him. Can't wait for the next book in this series.
This was a great start to this series. I had read the book about the war, Ectasy From the Deep, and it helped to have some backstory but it wasn't necessary. This was definitely well written and I loved the characters and felt for Aquillan. But I'm glad that Did a was so strong and saw nothing but goodness and beauty in him. Can't wait for the next book in this series.
September 10, 2020
Tasty
This story is definitely one that shows beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. This unique group has to find their way together or they will lose everything to the outside evil forces that have put them together for a dark purpose.
This story is definitely one that shows beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. This unique group has to find their way together or they will lose everything to the outside evil forces that have put them together for a dark purpose.
April 17, 2020
Twin brother struggle to find the life mate they have always deserved. One woman hurt and betrayed from a previously relationship opens her heart to the possibility of a whole new family. But can she get over the twins outer appearance? Highly recommend, and will be reading more from this author.
January 5, 2021
4
1 Star = DNF.
2 Star = Finished. Didn’t really enjoy.
3 Star = Finished. Story was neither good nor bad.
3.5 Star = Finished. Story was good. Will maybe pick up next in series if there is one.
4 Star = Finished. Enjoyed story & will definitely pick up next in the series!
5 Star = Bloody Loved it! ♡
1 Star = DNF.
2 Star = Finished. Didn’t really enjoy.
3 Star = Finished. Story was neither good nor bad.
3.5 Star = Finished. Story was good. Will maybe pick up next in series if there is one.
4 Star = Finished. Enjoyed story & will definitely pick up next in the series!
5 Star = Bloody Loved it! ♡
March 9, 2021
All the babies
First time reading a book from this author got to admit that it captured me by the 4th chapter. Love the multiple pov and the continuous storytelling. Can't wait to read more. JL
First time reading a book from this author got to admit that it captured me by the 4th chapter. Love the multiple pov and the continuous storytelling. Can't wait to read more. JL
November 1, 2020
Good
This book was the first one I read by this author and it ended up being quite good. It had plenty of things I love: an alien world, aliens that look like aliens (including the fun bits of ya know what I mean, romance and a dash of suspense and action. I really loved all the details and unique touches this author brought to life in creating this world and it's inhabitants. This throuple or menage while having 2 ma!we and a female is centered solely on the fema!e of the relationship ( so no m/m in case you are wondering) but that doesn't mean There isn't creativity and spice. Another one of my favorite moments in This book has to do with a pool and freckles but I'll leave it at that. This story does end with an adorable HE A for our main couple and a kind of suspenseful opening to what will possible be our next couple/throuple/menage and I can't wait for that book. Good book would recommend.
This book was the first one I read by this author and it ended up being quite good. It had plenty of things I love: an alien world, aliens that look like aliens (including the fun bits of ya know what I mean, romance and a dash of suspense and action. I really loved all the details and unique touches this author brought to life in creating this world and it's inhabitants. This throuple or menage while having 2 ma!we and a female is centered solely on the fema!e of the relationship ( so no m/m in case you are wondering) but that doesn't mean There isn't creativity and spice. Another one of my favorite moments in This book has to do with a pool and freckles but I'll leave it at that. This story does end with an adorable HE A for our main couple and a kind of suspenseful opening to what will possible be our next couple/throuple/menage and I can't wait for that book. Good book would recommend.
November 19, 2020
Pleasantly Surprised
I'm always hesitant to try a new author but I decided to give Queen of Twilight a shot. I was pleasantly surprised. It was well written with a nice world. I was disappointed that this wasn't more of a romance. I would say this is more of a scifi book with a touch of romance. Also, while this is a stand alone from her other books there is a bit of a cliffhanger.
I'm always hesitant to try a new author but I decided to give Queen of Twilight a shot. I was pleasantly surprised. It was well written with a nice world. I was disappointed that this wasn't more of a romance. I would say this is more of a scifi book with a touch of romance. Also, while this is a stand alone from her other books there is a bit of a cliffhanger.
November 21, 2020
Surprisingly Entertaining
The cover intrigued me as well as the description. Wow, I didn't count on the story being so good. The world building was well done as well as the character development. The story was an entertaining departure from typical books. I can't wait to read the next story.
The cover intrigued me as well as the description. Wow, I didn't count on the story being so good. The world building was well done as well as the character development. The story was an entertaining departure from typical books. I can't wait to read the next story.
December 8, 2020
Absolutely AWESOME😁
This is one heck of a story and well worth reading 😃. Exciting from the first page and just getting better by the chapter 😉. Intensely moving, wonderfully different with incredible aliens that are very easy to love 😍. Thanks so much Octavia, your stories are AWESOME and I plan on reading more 🤓.
This is one heck of a story and well worth reading 😃. Exciting from the first page and just getting better by the chapter 😉. Intensely moving, wonderfully different with incredible aliens that are very easy to love 😍. Thanks so much Octavia, your stories are AWESOME and I plan on reading more 🤓.
April 8, 2020
This book had just the right amount of dark for me. I prefer a book with more story than sex and these authors gave me that, which was impressive for a first novel much less their first time writing in first person. I look forward to reading more from them and watching them grow!
June 7, 2020
To insanity and beyond
Xia is done with men. Her ex ruined her heart and her chances of adopting the daughter she always wanted. Done. Seeing him at the May Day festival didn't make her any happier. Being crowned the May Queen to his King was salt in the wound. Especially since he thinks this is the opportunity to work his way back. Well, that worm can go curl up and die. When he ignores the 4th or 5th no, she leaves. Well, runs, but can you blame her? A voice shouting her name, something hits her legs, and then night night. When she wakes up things are so much different than she was worried about. Giant aliens with quills and dayglow skin? Ok. Sure. But a lack of speech is making things really difficult. And to make matters more challenging, the little girl she'd hoped to adopt got sucked to wherever here is with her.
Aquillian and Ettrian are twins. One darkborn, one lightborn. Twins are seen as a curse, darkborns doubly so. Mating in pairs is how Dauur bond to a female. Twins have to bond to the same female and no one will accept Aquillian. Believing himself to have doomed his brother to the same lonely existence he is has made him depressed. But the hideous little aliens he finds himself trapped under this odd some with are taking his mind off that. When Ettrian finds them, he's acting strangely, and hiding secrets. And he can suddenly hear. Something Dauur aren't capable of. What the heck is going on here?
Spoilers ahead.
This is an odd book. Definitely read The Vanora book first. Possibly wait for all of them to be done before reading this one. There's plot threads, characters, and a lot of details that make a bit more sense if you've read the other first. Then again, some of the mentions are a bit of a spoiler on where that series is headed. I liked the Dauur in that they were very in tune with nature. Almost fae like. They communicate through a mental bond, vibrations and color patterns on their skin and shifting eye colors. It gets complex trying to figure it all out from a human's viewpoint. They literally communicate with their environment, including the trees they live in. Think smart homes of the future, but completely natural. They see the short, soft, pointy nosed and drab humans as hideous at first. Which is rather hilarious. No immediate fawning over the beautiful human as in the usual sci-fi trope. Which added to the communication issue makes the challenge before them rather hard. Ettrian is given a task. A horrible, disgusting task. He is told to mate and impregnate the adult female or the kit will be killed. As children are to be protected at all costs, he has to find some way to woo Xia, hide this from Aquillian, help raise a kit and figure out this whole hearing thing before everyone suffers. The Tachin from Vanora series are serious buttholes. There's a few warnings I want to list. Xia discovers a local flower doesn't calm her like it does Dauur. Basically it's Spanish fly. It leads to a scene of dubious consent. She's already expressed an attraction but she's also clearly impaired. There's a scene some may consider spoilery to share but I also feel a heads up is in order for more sensitive readers. Tachin experiment. They don't care about consent. Females in the facility are impregnated (pretty sure most are surgical) but at least 1 is through an attempt to outsmart the Tachin. There are babies to be rescued who have no parents. So, yeah, definitely heads up.
As with the other series I have questions.
*Acquiring new test subjects is difficult due to a spoiler alert mentioned for the other series. Wasting their lab rats doesn't seem prudent.
*We get less info about the Sun God deity than we did about Una from other series.
*Is Venora or Demois (probably misspelled that) the planet or the satellite? An inhabitable moon? And how did both develop to sustain life?
*If the Venium developed space travel, why did they not visit Demois before this?
*The Venium have 2 "moons". Clearly 1 is actually Demois. No other celestial body is mentioned so close to these 2.
*From Demois they can tell that the body in the sky is another planet, because they can see the water. That wasn't mentioned in Venora series, how visible their moon(s)/was-were. And we lost a moon somewhere lol.
*The deadline originally given was 1 day. A week goes by with not a peep from the Tachin. They're under a dome, it's not like they couldn't easily track them down.
*Why the Darkborn prejudice if it occurs so very often? Why haven't they formed their own villages if they're shunned and killed in their own? Living in harmony with the planet is great. But you have to be alive to do that.
*The invasion of the Gurtex is 6yrs ago but the war is already over. Timelines conflict.
I am sorry of circling after reading these 2 books by Ms Kore. The information contrast between the 2 series feels odd. Like 1 should have been finished before the other. Release the Venora and then the Dauur, or the Dauur and then the Venora as a prequel series.
Xia is done with men. Her ex ruined her heart and her chances of adopting the daughter she always wanted. Done. Seeing him at the May Day festival didn't make her any happier. Being crowned the May Queen to his King was salt in the wound. Especially since he thinks this is the opportunity to work his way back. Well, that worm can go curl up and die. When he ignores the 4th or 5th no, she leaves. Well, runs, but can you blame her? A voice shouting her name, something hits her legs, and then night night. When she wakes up things are so much different than she was worried about. Giant aliens with quills and dayglow skin? Ok. Sure. But a lack of speech is making things really difficult. And to make matters more challenging, the little girl she'd hoped to adopt got sucked to wherever here is with her.
Aquillian and Ettrian are twins. One darkborn, one lightborn. Twins are seen as a curse, darkborns doubly so. Mating in pairs is how Dauur bond to a female. Twins have to bond to the same female and no one will accept Aquillian. Believing himself to have doomed his brother to the same lonely existence he is has made him depressed. But the hideous little aliens he finds himself trapped under this odd some with are taking his mind off that. When Ettrian finds them, he's acting strangely, and hiding secrets. And he can suddenly hear. Something Dauur aren't capable of. What the heck is going on here?
Spoilers ahead.
This is an odd book. Definitely read The Vanora book first. Possibly wait for all of them to be done before reading this one. There's plot threads, characters, and a lot of details that make a bit more sense if you've read the other first. Then again, some of the mentions are a bit of a spoiler on where that series is headed. I liked the Dauur in that they were very in tune with nature. Almost fae like. They communicate through a mental bond, vibrations and color patterns on their skin and shifting eye colors. It gets complex trying to figure it all out from a human's viewpoint. They literally communicate with their environment, including the trees they live in. Think smart homes of the future, but completely natural. They see the short, soft, pointy nosed and drab humans as hideous at first. Which is rather hilarious. No immediate fawning over the beautiful human as in the usual sci-fi trope. Which added to the communication issue makes the challenge before them rather hard. Ettrian is given a task. A horrible, disgusting task. He is told to mate and impregnate the adult female or the kit will be killed. As children are to be protected at all costs, he has to find some way to woo Xia, hide this from Aquillian, help raise a kit and figure out this whole hearing thing before everyone suffers. The Tachin from Vanora series are serious buttholes. There's a few warnings I want to list. Xia discovers a local flower doesn't calm her like it does Dauur. Basically it's Spanish fly. It leads to a scene of dubious consent. She's already expressed an attraction but she's also clearly impaired. There's a scene some may consider spoilery to share but I also feel a heads up is in order for more sensitive readers. Tachin experiment. They don't care about consent. Females in the facility are impregnated (pretty sure most are surgical) but at least 1 is through an attempt to outsmart the Tachin. There are babies to be rescued who have no parents. So, yeah, definitely heads up.
As with the other series I have questions.
*Acquiring new test subjects is difficult due to a spoiler alert mentioned for the other series. Wasting their lab rats doesn't seem prudent.
*We get less info about the Sun God deity than we did about Una from other series.
*Is Venora or Demois (probably misspelled that) the planet or the satellite? An inhabitable moon? And how did both develop to sustain life?
*If the Venium developed space travel, why did they not visit Demois before this?
*The Venium have 2 "moons". Clearly 1 is actually Demois. No other celestial body is mentioned so close to these 2.
*From Demois they can tell that the body in the sky is another planet, because they can see the water. That wasn't mentioned in Venora series, how visible their moon(s)/was-were. And we lost a moon somewhere lol.
*The deadline originally given was 1 day. A week goes by with not a peep from the Tachin. They're under a dome, it's not like they couldn't easily track them down.
*Why the Darkborn prejudice if it occurs so very often? Why haven't they formed their own villages if they're shunned and killed in their own? Living in harmony with the planet is great. But you have to be alive to do that.
*The invasion of the Gurtex is 6yrs ago but the war is already over. Timelines conflict.
I am sorry of circling after reading these 2 books by Ms Kore. The information contrast between the 2 series feels odd. Like 1 should have been finished before the other. Release the Venora and then the Dauur, or the Dauur and then the Venora as a prequel series.
February 12, 2021
DNF
I stopped at 49%. BDSM, I can handle, and is really not that bad. What made me stop was the fact she complained of her ex being abusive, degrading, and manipulating, yet she was okay with spankings and being choked right after being almost raped by one of the mates. I understand the circumstances, I guess, but the characters don't make logical sense to me, and the flow was bizarre. Ettrian was the only one able to understand her, sort of, and Aquillian didn't understand her at all. Then Ettrian gets an upgrade, goes unconscious, and Aquillian (who doesn't have a translator, and neither does Xia) can suddenly talk to her just fine with an explanation of "It's a gift from the Sun Father to understand our mates if they are born of other clams." They start being able to talk to her, but it was just an unreasonable time frame with a switch flip of fluency. I never understood the plot either, or even where they are. Are they on a ship? The weather makes it seem like they are on their planet, but I'm confused over the that kidnapped Xia. And then they are inside an enclosure, so I'm confused on how there's weather.
Good premise, needs work, and I cannot say this can be read as a standalone. I need background info on what's going on.
I stopped at 49%. BDSM, I can handle, and is really not that bad. What made me stop was the fact she complained of her ex being abusive, degrading, and manipulating, yet she was okay with spankings and being choked right after being almost raped by one of the mates. I understand the circumstances, I guess, but the characters don't make logical sense to me, and the flow was bizarre. Ettrian was the only one able to understand her, sort of, and Aquillian didn't understand her at all. Then Ettrian gets an upgrade, goes unconscious, and Aquillian (who doesn't have a translator, and neither does Xia) can suddenly talk to her just fine with an explanation of "It's a gift from the Sun Father to understand our mates if they are born of other clams." They start being able to talk to her, but it was just an unreasonable time frame with a switch flip of fluency. I never understood the plot either, or even where they are. Are they on a ship? The weather makes it seem like they are on their planet, but I'm confused over the that kidnapped Xia. And then they are inside an enclosure, so I'm confused on how there's weather.
Good premise, needs work, and I cannot say this can be read as a standalone. I need background info on what's going on.
March 31, 2022
Every single time, Kore dreams up a new and fascinating alien race with it's own language, tradition, behaviour and culture.
It gets my mind reeling with all sorts of fun possibilities for plot and romance, and then..
The writing itself sucks the life out of me.
Characters tell each other things they already know for the sake of clueing in the audience. Important details and relationships are tacked in the middle of the end of sentences in ways that feel incredibly stilted and unnatural. Sentences therefore run too long or too choppy. In their thoughts, characters deliver information the audience needs, but this too feels unnatural and tacked on as an afterthought.
All in all i love every blurb and summary of Kore's books, but i don't like any of her actual works. It is such a shame that an author capable of coming up with new and interesting alien societies time and time again is unable to convey those interesting aspects through her writing.
It gets my mind reeling with all sorts of fun possibilities for plot and romance, and then..
The writing itself sucks the life out of me.
Characters tell each other things they already know for the sake of clueing in the audience. Important details and relationships are tacked in the middle of the end of sentences in ways that feel incredibly stilted and unnatural. Sentences therefore run too long or too choppy. In their thoughts, characters deliver information the audience needs, but this too feels unnatural and tacked on as an afterthought.
All in all i love every blurb and summary of Kore's books, but i don't like any of her actual works. It is such a shame that an author capable of coming up with new and interesting alien societies time and time again is unable to convey those interesting aspects through her writing.
March 24, 2022
Definitely will like a sequel! Since we get to see Mina waking up!
And wanna they explain why future children are born with wings! If they will be all of them.
And wanna they explain why future children are born with wings! If they will be all of them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2023
This Book is good, you immediately get into the story.
Not bad for the first story I read of these authors.
Not bad for the first story I read of these authors.
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