Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Mintar #1

The Librarian and the Beast

Rate this book
Beni has lived a charmed existence in Dunvar Citadel, but one that is coming quickly to an end. When she loses her position as transcriber in the citadel library to a newcomer, she knows that is only a matter of time before the council will insist that she marry. Although she dreads the idea of being one of many wives to her husband, her more immediate and pressing concern is her replacement—a man who is conspiring with the chancellor to weed out non-essential fiction that distract the women workers within the citadel.

In attempt to save the books, Beni herself ends up requiring saving when she falls into a river. Her savior, however, is far beyond anything she ever could have imagined. The Mintar is far from human in appearance and social niceties, he isn’t even particularly friendly, yet he promises to return her safely home. All that is required is a pretense of mating to keep the other males of his clan from courting her. That is certainly no hardship as far as she is concerned, especially not with so much in the village to keep occupied, alien scrolls to explore, and an opportunity to do what she loves. What she doesn’t plan on is falling in love with the stoic male who doesn’t want a mate.

Faltz carries the scars on his body and heart from losing his parents as a calf. Females are frightened by his appearance and he doesn’t consider himself worthy of having a mate and family when his parents died saving him. Caring for a lost human is an annoying inconvenience, but he is determined to see it through and get the feisty female home safely...even if that means deceiving his queen and entire clan by pretending a mating with her. When pretense turns into truth, Faltz’s honor is tested when he is forced to face one fact...when she leaves, how would he continue without her?

Book contains graphic sex and violence

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 2020

479 people are currently reading
694 people want to read

About the author

S.J. Sanders

86 books1,007 followers
S.J. Sanders is a mom of two toddlers and one adult living in Anchorage, Alaska. She has a BA degree in History, but spends most of her free time painting, sculpting, doing odd bits of historical research, and writing. While she has more research orientated writing under another pen name, her passion is sci-fi and paranormal romance of which she is an avid reader. After years of tinkering with the idea, and making her own stories up in her head, S.J has began to seriously pursue writing as an author of Sci-fi Romance utilizing her interests in how cultures diversify and what they would look like on a extraterrestrial platform to humans interacting with them and finding love.

She can be found on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Author-SJ-Sa...

And follow her blog at https://sjsandersromance.wordpress.com

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
386 (37%)
4 stars
324 (31%)
3 stars
211 (20%)
2 stars
71 (6%)
1 star
32 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
Profile Image for Viv “BookVixen” Gutierrez .
1,597 reviews473 followers
August 12, 2020
DNF. And this is why...

Thankfully didn’t get too deep into this book, waste a whole lotta time only to discover this putrid mess:

“Even her little dalliances at The Club were starting to get tiring. They were all impatient, clumsy mouths and fumbling hands to go with swollen egos... Now she couldn’t even dredge up the enthusiasm to meet with any one of her lovers at the establishment—especially not as of late. Who knew that after seventeen men over the last year since she reached age of majority that she would be tired of it already?”

Annnnnnndddddddd, I’m out!
Profile Image for Andrea.
2,138 reviews1 follower
July 28, 2020
3.5

Predictable but fun- I'm always down to read about a sci-fi alien romance about two characters from different walks of life coming and growing together.

--On KU of your a fan of the genre.
Profile Image for Jessie.
263 reviews38 followers
August 2, 2020
It was an alright read. I didn’t completely hate the insta-love. The plot was strong and realistic. OMG,the h was hilarious. She’s everything I want in a heroin. No doormat here. This story was unique in that it blended futuristic off planet society with 1800 western “malady” culture. Interesting worldbuilding. In society, there was a 3 to 1 women to man ratio. Men were basically kings. It takes you back to the Stone Age when women were viewed less than their male counterparts. It’s to my understanding that this story takes place in another planet not earth because it mentions other alien species, Mintar and Ragou (wolf people). Interesting indeed. Then we have the mintars and human compatibility to create mini mintars. Like what!!!!
Profile Image for Gabbibuu.
406 reviews13 followers
July 10, 2020
I always look forward to new books from Sanders'.
Reading Huntress, the book where we initially meet Beni and Faltz, I fell in love with them. And this is their story! It was simple, but Sanders' writing and storytelling keep getting better with each book. Plus, it turns out we are getting another Mintar book next year (Bakin's!).
Profile Image for Brutally Honest.
495 reviews32 followers
August 6, 2020
Beni was a delight and I loved how she had to pursue Faltz. This story was cute with a bit of suspense thrown in at the end.
3 reviews
September 6, 2020
I really wanted to like this book. The sample was striking, but a little odd due to the off-putting behavior of the heroine. But I rolled the dice on discovering a new author and hoped I would be in for an afternoon of enjoyable binge reading.
It’s an interesting plot that faltered due to the eye rolling weirdness of the heroine. The heroine rotated between having the common sense of a tweenager and being DTF alarmingly fast. The book made abundantly clear that the heroine had a ton of sex before she ever met the book’s hero so I guess that gave the plot a “green light” for the two main characters to physically get together as fast as possible. The era of the world is hard to place since the characters use both modern day slang and mentions restaurants and museums, old world references such as scrolls and Queens and gods, and futuristic innuendo like home worlds. If you’re looking for a human/alien-ish romance book with a plot line full of seduction, eroticism, and two characters that that overcome battles and personal challenges to be with each other, then pass on this book.
Profile Image for Lula Pantoofle.
1,011 reviews40 followers
September 23, 2021
So we have Beni, the valiant librarian trying to save all the ladies novels from being chucked out by the new evil librarian. Being the clever thing she is, she sets up a secret library in a dangerous place. Not very clever really.

She gets captured by a weird horse dude who promises to return her to her peoples after they have a fake romance.

It was all ok up to this point, then it just dragged out and got a bit boring. The alien horse sex was a bit hard to understand and didn’t really float my boat. I liked that Beni was an experienced, independent young lady but i did find her a bit annoying.

I feel like the book needed a bit more editing
1,352 reviews12 followers
May 23, 2021
Wonderful story

Loved this so much. How honour is not a visible thing and appearances can be deceptive. Beni is headstrong but with the best intentions. She thinks of others and has a rational side behind the flights of fancy. Faltz has had a hard life but has always strived to do the right thing. He needs softness and she needs calm. Can the two realise they are each other's anchors in time?
Also looking forward to Tabby and Bakin!
Profile Image for Leslie.
2,113 reviews25 followers
March 7, 2021
Huh. Well. That was certainly interesting. So... different species of aliens colonized the same planet... I still don’t quit have my head wrapped around the biology involved in the Minar... some things are very much out of place, and, hygiene? Anyway. I’ll suspend my disbelief because I enjoyed the characters. I do love a grumpy old hero.
Profile Image for Ava.
1,120 reviews1,726 followers
January 30, 2021
This was really interesting in the beginning! But unfortunately, it just got so boring.
I feel like once they started fake dating, it was just not interesting to me anymore :(
Profile Image for LolaLovesRH.
289 reviews31 followers
April 11, 2022
Was compelled to write this review in answer to another reviewers by the name “Viv, BookVixen.” Who basically shamed the fmc for not being a virgin in her review.

I see that I can’t reply to you “Viv”, but the fact that you tagged your review with “used heroine.” disgust me and is giving MISOGYNY!!!

This is my response if I would have been “allowed” to respond:

“Eww this review is giving misogyny. “Used heroine,” in your tag, what a gross way to word it. You are one those people who are fine with their H being manwhores but heaven forbid the h not be a virgin. It’s 2022 get over yourself, look for the virgin h tag if you must and keep away from these books and let people like me with an open mind enjoy them. Literally doesn’t go into deep detail about her dalliances with other men, and even if it did so what? She’s a grown woman, and she wasn’t in a relationship with any of those men!!! Lover doesn’t imply monogamous relationship with them, and it was a sex club? They were clearly not there for a relationship.”

Anyway, this book was refreshing in that the h was more sexually experienced than the H. It helped move the book along and in my opinion because fmc was so open she accepted the H much sooner. I personally loved her character and loved the H too. It was a pretty good read.

What Viv, fails to see is that Beni is an admirable character for being so sexually liberated in such a strongly patriarchal society. The human men in this society take on multiple wives once they marry and Beni may very well have ended up the third or 2nd wife to a man. Heaven forbid she doesn’t save herself for that kind of relationship *insert eye roll here*

The Mentaurs themselves are very open about sex and what not, the H may have not been as experienced but he accepted Beni for who she was. One may even say he was impressed by her confidence. Also Beni was very loyal to the H after meeting him, and not that I would have minded but we don’t see Beni sleep with any men other than the H. Her dalliances were spoken in past tense.

Sexually experienced h
Possibly virgin H
Profile Image for Dee.
251 reviews
July 12, 2020
I enjoyed this book. It will make an excellent series. Beni is saved by Faltz when she get swept away by storm. He is a broading honorable male that has sworn to get her back home. Beni is not your typical damsel in distress. When it comes to the male species she has a curiosity that gets her into much trouble, but she has met her match with Faltz. I can't wait to read more within this mintar world.
Profile Image for Blakeley.
38 reviews2 followers
August 20, 2020
Charming

I am absolutely in love with Sanders's unique earth. This story was amazing from start to finish and I can't wait for another installment of this world. Sanders's writing continues to improve in leaps and bounds with every book she releases but I still find myself wishing she had a better editor. While the mistakes and missing or extra words are not enough to take you out of the story I do find them mildly irritating.
Profile Image for TP.
1,039 reviews48 followers
August 30, 2020
This was a quick and fun read.
Sadly predictable and at the end the plot lost suspense, the author didn’t deliver a good plot thread there but a simple one that she stretched out while going into unnecessary details.
Profile Image for LuDena .
2,413 reviews4 followers
July 23, 2020
Fun

This is a very entertaining read set in the world of the Ragoru . The lead couple is Awesome .
Profile Image for Mika.
255 reviews31 followers
July 9, 2020
Okay

As always with this author this story was written beautifully, intelligently and with as much realism as one can achieve in a sci fi romance. I always appreciate that and the amount of world building that must have been done to make that realism possible.

The characters were interesting and likable, the world building was great. I very much liked the FMC and that she was an adventurous, brave, sexually liberated, confident and body positive woman. And I’m a sucker for a broody monster boi.

So why the four stars?

*Spoilers*

I am not a fan of all romances ending with pregnancy. I get why it matters in this particular world with the tribe’s numbers being so low. But the character clearly stated she didn’t want kids anytime soon in the beginning and I know people change their minds, but one doesn’t need offspring to be happy and fulfilled in a relationship and I wish they would have waited longer for her to really be ready for kids.

One minor pet peeve I’ve noticed with this author is that many character’s “voices” sound the same or similar and it is clear with the technical terminology that the author is highly educated, however it doesn’t make sense for every character to be that bright, if that makes sense. We have a midwife talking about the anatomy of a fetus using very technical and scientific verbiage and from what I understood she didn’t seem to possess the educational background to support the use of such vocabulary. It took me out of the story for sec.

Other than that I loved it. Very few authors (apart from Tiffany Roberts who are sci fi romance gods) write monster romance as eloquently, steamily, romantically or realistically.


Side note: Her covers are always gorgeous and I adore them
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
320 reviews7 followers
August 8, 2020
River's catch

Beni was saving books that the new transcriber was determined to eliminate. The books that women liked to read. Women reading was frowned upon anyway. So, Beni and Taby decided to set up a hidden library. But on the way back, a rain storm caused Beni to be shifted over the bridge and down the river. When she finally could make it to the bank, she was hopelessly lost. Then someone touched her shoulder to see if she was dead. Nope, still alive! But the being who touched her wasn't human. He was a mintar. He told her to go back to her mind and pointed her towards home. He thought she would be caught and sold as a slave if not raped and killed. That's what strange humans did to women. And she knew it, so she followed him. Faltz kept telling her to go back pointing her the way. But she kept following him until he gave up. Mintars were strange people and they kept human mates. And she knew she felt like she could trust him. He was honorable, more honorable than most men in her town. He promised her that he would find a way to get her back home. But for now, she would have to pretend to be his mate. Along the way, she realized that she didn't want to pretend anymore. She wanted to be his mate for real. You will have to read the book to find out what happens when and how they changed. This is a guard happily ever after ending and of course, an adult readers story. Not much sex, but enough. I really enjoyed reading this book and recommend it highly.
Profile Image for JML.
1,294 reviews24 followers
July 15, 2020
4 & 1\2fabulous 🌟's

I really like S.J. Sanders books she does a wonderful job at world building and creating characters that are vibrant, sexy and so much fun to read about. Beni is a librarian who loves books and is hoping to become the next transcriber of books so that she can preserve not only history but the novels of fiction she loves. But alas she doesn't it's given to a male who hates books and wants to gets rid of anything he seems unworthy. One night on a mission with her best friend Tabby to save her beloved books she is swept away in a rain storm down a dangerous river. Beni barely survives her ordeal and when she wakes she's rescued by Faltz who is a Mintar. Faltz has the upper torso of a human male and a second torso more similar to that of a horse. He is a skilled hunter in his tribe and when on a mission to hunt food for his people he comes across Beni. He promises Beni to get her back home. They come up with a plan to pretend a mating so that no one else will bother her. What they don't see happening is their instant attraction and very hot passion. It is so much fun to read about how this couple comes to realize how much they come to love one another. All kinds of obstacles try to keep them apart but love triumphs . I can't wait to read another book in this series. Totally recommend💖💖💖💖
Profile Image for Jen.
602 reviews10 followers
October 8, 2021
Maybe it's time to give alien romance a break because none of them are doing it for me anymore (or at least, the ones I'm picking up are doing anything).

This is probably more of a 2.5 stars for me since I just didn't care.

I appreciated the quick burn in this because that was what I needed at the moment, but then it got kind of destroyed by failure to communicate and then when Beni and Faltz separately decide to communicate, Beni is kidnapped out of nowhere and I just didn't give a shit. And that's not even going into how the Mintar who kidnapped her didn't even get a mention in the book until well after the kidnapping. That is to say, Again, all this at the end of the book because actually none of it matters aside from having Faltz come in dramatically to rescue Beni because Romance.

I mean, it wasn't bad, but I don't think certain parts were executed very well so I ended up annoyed and skimming most of the end.
Profile Image for Wendy.
895 reviews172 followers
May 4, 2022
I like the world building and I like Beni and how open she is. I have read many, many a book where the outgoing damsel has to win over the grumpy damaged hero. But this may be the first one where she convinces him to have sex right off the bat. Without winning him over or dealing with the relationship part first!

If course now you are 33% into the book and you know how a mintar and a human have sex. So… are you invested enough to see how the story ends? 😆

You know who would be into this… Chicks who love horses a bit too much and people who like reading about sex with almost animals but not quite.. because this dude has a horse’s body and his junk works like a horse’s but it looks like an alien’s… all covered in fun bumps and ridges.

Virgin rating:
Innocence of virgin hero: 3/5
Innocence in losing it: 1/5 - he doesn’t tell her! I hate that!
Build up to losing it: 2/5
Hotness of losing it: 4/5
Busted touching himself: no
POV of losing it: female
Profile Image for Nancy Reads Romance.
1,106 reviews34 followers
July 11, 2020
This book was originally written as a serial during the spring of 2020 and is now in book form. I waited for the book because I prefer to read in book form. Beni was a transciber in the citadel. Someone has come to replace her and he is a threat to the books held in the library, so Beni and her friend, Tabby, decide to set up a secret library. In the process of secreting the books away across the river a thunderstorm comes and sweeps Beni away. Mintaurs are creatures of legend to Beni. She's quite surprised when she meets one in the flesh! (I loved reading this story after learning about the Atlavans!) Faltz has promised to return Beni to her home, but meanwhile they are forced to play as a mated pair to protect Beni. You can imagine how complicated this gets! This story was definitely an adventure and had some twists and turns. A magical and unexpected romance! Loved it! 4.5 stars
Profile Image for Romance.
1,128 reviews9 followers
August 25, 2020
Mixed feelings about the heorine Beni. She seems strong and confident and then at a time she should exhibit strength (deep into the book) she doesn’t. She lays down and sleeps. I won’t say much (no spoiler) but there’s a point in this same situation where she seems to deflate and the bad guy doesn’t do anything either. Seemed off. It is a HEA.

I think having sex with the hero Faltz before they have a relationship...not sure if the author is trying to break school marm librarian stereotypes or what exactly. She seemed loose in her affection and she is cringeworthy crass in language often. She is in a meeting with the queen of Faltzs species and talks about sex with Faltz but her language is at times unrefined for such a situation. It’s like she has tourettes. Just loved Faltz tho...Sweet and honorable.
Profile Image for Kelly.
510 reviews1 follower
July 4, 2022
4.5*

Such a lovely read within this world that S.J. Sanders has created. I thought Beni could be a bit over the top, but honestly that is realistic to me based on the people I know. I really liked how the fake dating/marriage trope was turned into fake mates for the book. I thought it was done really well, and I found the plot very interesting. I thought it was the perfect mixture of sass, humor, steam, world-building, and action. The only reason I gave it 4.5 instead of 5 stars is because of the whole semi-nonconsenual kidnapping/breeding aspect. However, it is stated that if the women show that they absolutely do not wish to be there they are let go (but I think that is very subjective and they still kidnap unwilling women in the first place). Overall, it was still a really good read. I will pick up more in the series.
Profile Image for T.J. Starling.
Author 7 books2 followers
September 16, 2020
This was an interesting and exciting read. It was well paced and set out in a logical way. Beni is a realistic and very entertaining heroine who doesn't take "no" for an answer. The book plays with your emotions a little, as you watch the two dance back and forth around each other and the sex scenes come rather quickly and abruptly, but I wasn't complaining.

A well-written book, quick read, great character development, and world-building.

While I don't usually enjoy the brooding, ever angry love interests in some of these books, I do appreciate that he's shown to change and grow as a person and through his connection with Beni.

Good read, highly recommend for those who like unusual pairings, interesting worlds, and steamy, steamy romance.
Profile Image for Edit.
1,588 reviews19 followers
October 26, 2021
3.5 stars

I liked it better than I thought that I will... I am not that of a big fan of alien smut, but I like fantasy and sci-fi, however I loved the post apocalyptic scene and the characters. Sure, it has its faults but also an enjoyable read.

* Hero(s) - 3/5
* Heroine(s) - 4/5
* Secondary Characters - 4/5

* Plot - 3/5
* Romance/Steam - 3/5 (some of the smut was confusing, as in "which limb is where?!" but that might be because english is not my native language and I needed to sort it out in my head first so I can get on with what is going on in the scene)
* Drama/Conflict/Angst - 3/5

* Writing Style - 4/5
Profile Image for Megmund.
183 reviews24 followers
January 26, 2022
This was *ok*. A fun, short read though at times it dragged. The writing was the biggest hang up, it was slow and very blunt. The dialogue felt very jarring and robotic. The world building was *ok*, pretty surface level, I never felt like I got a feel of either the human or Mintar cultures. The plot was *ok*. There was no plot for the first 80% of the book, then we are suddenly thrown conflict that felt empty and forced. The main characters were *ok*, their chemistry was *ok*.

A very *ok* read. I enjoyed it, but not one I would necessarily recommend
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.