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About This Book
Warning: This book is not suitable for sensitive readers. Please do not buy this book if you have triggers to sensitive situations.
Black Ops Lieutenant Maddox Larsen is missing. Not only is he missing, his entire team is missing. Their reality has been yanked from beneath them, replaced with a sadistic, twisted doctor eager to find just what the limitations of a soldier’s body and mind are. Unfortunately, Maddox and his men are not alone, there are others like them locked in this nightmarish facility. They barely survive torture, abuse, and drug induced changes of their DNA. Their needs have become simple: Food, Fight, Fornicate. Maddox exceeds all expectations and becomes the model by which all other males in the facility are measured. These males are no longer men, or even human for that matter. They are Variant. But now they’re free, and they're angry. Their target? Those who made them what they are today.
Nina struggled most of her adult life just to survive. She made the fateful decision to marry her high school sweetheart right after graduation — now she’s his favorite punching bag. He interrupts her when she finally seizes a chance to run from him, and almost kills her. She loses consciousness, awakening to a nightmare worse than she ever imagined. She’s at the mercy of five predatory, aggressive males, all locked in a prison cell with her. Sold to a medical facility as a reward for their test subjects for good behavior, her hell has only just begun. Eventually the most volatile of them claims her, giving her a slight reprieve. But then he disappears, leaving her in the hands of all the others. He better hope he’s dead, because now she’s free and if she discovers he intentionally left her behind, her wrath will make the monster that created them seem like their best friend.
Warning: If you have any triggers at all, please do not buy this book. This book shows the violence and abuse required to turn highly trained soldiers into killing machines with no thought of right and wrong. This book shows the plight of the women who are given to them as ‘rewards’ for good behavior. While the first few chapters are dark, this story ultimately becomes a tale of survival, revenge, and ultimately love, that will always eventually overcome all.
Warning: This book is not suitable for sensitive readers. Please do not buy this book if you have triggers to sensitive situations.
Black Ops Lieutenant Maddox Larsen is missing. Not only is he missing, his entire team is missing. Their reality has been yanked from beneath them, replaced with a sadistic, twisted doctor eager to find just what the limitations of a soldier’s body and mind are. Unfortunately, Maddox and his men are not alone, there are others like them locked in this nightmarish facility. They barely survive torture, abuse, and drug induced changes of their DNA. Their needs have become simple: Food, Fight, Fornicate. Maddox exceeds all expectations and becomes the model by which all other males in the facility are measured. These males are no longer men, or even human for that matter. They are Variant. But now they’re free, and they're angry. Their target? Those who made them what they are today.
Nina struggled most of her adult life just to survive. She made the fateful decision to marry her high school sweetheart right after graduation — now she’s his favorite punching bag. He interrupts her when she finally seizes a chance to run from him, and almost kills her. She loses consciousness, awakening to a nightmare worse than she ever imagined. She’s at the mercy of five predatory, aggressive males, all locked in a prison cell with her. Sold to a medical facility as a reward for their test subjects for good behavior, her hell has only just begun. Eventually the most volatile of them claims her, giving her a slight reprieve. But then he disappears, leaving her in the hands of all the others. He better hope he’s dead, because now she’s free and if she discovers he intentionally left her behind, her wrath will make the monster that created them seem like their best friend.
Warning: If you have any triggers at all, please do not buy this book. This book shows the violence and abuse required to turn highly trained soldiers into killing machines with no thought of right and wrong. This book shows the plight of the women who are given to them as ‘rewards’ for good behavior. While the first few chapters are dark, this story ultimately becomes a tale of survival, revenge, and ultimately love, that will always eventually overcome all.
518 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 3, 2020
335 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Sandra R. Neeley
68 books885 followersI write Paranormal, SciFi and Fantasy Romance. Why, you may ask? Romance, because who doesn’t love a good romance, and the lack of reality in the story lines - because, well, normal is highly overrated. I’m 55, I have two kids, one 32 and one 12 (yes, God does have a sense of humor), one grandchild, one husband, and a menagerie of animals. Literally, too damn many things that eat wandering around our property. I love to cook, and I am a voracious reader, though since I started writing I don’t get as much time to read as I once did. I am a homebody and prefer my writing/reading time to a crowd. I have had stories and fictional characters wandering around in my head for as long as I can remember. I started letting them out into the real world and surprisingly, people have loved them. I am a Self-Published Author, and I like it that way because I can decide what and when to write. I am by no means a formal, polished, properly structured individual and neither are my stories. But people seem to love the easy emotion and passion that naturally flow from them. A bit of a warning though, there are some “triggers” in them that certain people should avoid. I’m a firm believer that you cannot have light without the dark. You cannot fully embrace the joy and elation that my people eventually find if you do not bear witness to their darkest hours as well. So please be sure to read the warnings supplied with each of the synopses about my books before you buy them. I've got three series published at this time, Avaleigh's Boys - PNR, Whispers From the Bayou - Fantasy PNR, Haven - a SciFi, and three more in process. I’m a bit sarcastic, scathing actually, and a smartass to boot, so if I offend you, it is most likely not intentional. But be prepared because it probably won’t be the last time. I’m always glad to hear from readers; those who have followed me from the beginning, and those who have just found my people. So feel free to look me up and say hello, or just follow along; either way, I’m glad to have you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
March 10, 2024
Genetically modified super soldiers!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙🖤💚💜❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍🌎
Character development: 😔😅😂🤣
The Hero: Maddox (a.k.a. One, a.k.a. Lethal) - he was special forces in the military and good at his job, but when his superiors started giving his unit orders to do some terrible things, like take out another unit and blame it on their enemy, then Maddox refused to follow orders and beat his commander to death. He was court martialed and sentenced to death, though they gave him a choice to instead be sent to a black site experimental facility where men like him were sent when the government could no longer trust them or when they had crossed the line into near insanity.
The heroine: Nina - she grew up in Louisiana with an alcoholic father and a strong Korean mother. When she was seventeen, after her father died, she wanted to get out from under the tight control her mother held over her, so she married a guy named Bryant. Most of the residents in town were racist and it turned out Bryant was the worst of them. He was controlling and abusive and she had enough.
The Story: One day Nina leaves work early and goes home to quickly pack some clothes and get the money she had saved up, planning to leave Bryant and skip town. Only she didn’t know that one of her co-workers called Bryant at his work and told him that she left work. Bryant was through with her and knocked her out calling his friend Caul to help get rid of Nina. It turned out that the two friends and a few other guys had been kidnapping minority women from nearby towns for a while and selling them to some military guys who give them as gifts to military prisoners who toe the line.
The top-secret facility turned out to be much worse than purported. It was in fact a research facility where scientists were working with splicing DNA and drug concoctions in an attempt to create super-soldiers. The men who were imprisoned there were subjected to torture, abuse and terrible experiments till they became near animalistic and only thought of their basic needs, violence, and sex.
I have been really into the genetic experiments or super soldier type books lately. Though they usually do follow a similar storyline. That of the torturous experiments, in a research facility, where they are imprisoned and often abused by the people in charge. That is fine though since most differ in the way the story goes. This one was different in that they captured women to give as gifts. I liked Nina from the start since she was strong enough to try to get away from her abuser, even though she ended up worse off than before. I also liked how this one differed from many of the others when they got away from those holding them.
I liked the fact that Maddox claimed Nina as his as soon as he finally got her as one of his rewards, but of course once he let it be known that he claimed her, the scientist started using Nina against him to get him to comply more. Until Maddox’s squad did so well that they were sold to a man in Columbia. The scientist told Maddox that Nina would be given to another squad leader since it worked so well with him. This is the part that I really liked in the book, because I hoped it wouldn’t be long before squad A killed the new owners and went after Nina. Though it didn’t happen at all like I thought it would. I always like unpredictability in a story, so I was happy about that, and it turned out that I really liked the path the story took.
I loved how One (Maddox) was the total alpha male of his squad and even over all the other squads, and I loved how he knew Nina was his and stayed the course on her being his even despite the fact that they were separated for a long time, while she was still being used and abused in that same facility. The story was much better than I expected, and I definitely plan to read more of this series.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙🖤💚💜❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍🌎
Character development: 😔😅😂🤣
The Hero: Maddox (a.k.a. One, a.k.a. Lethal) - he was special forces in the military and good at his job, but when his superiors started giving his unit orders to do some terrible things, like take out another unit and blame it on their enemy, then Maddox refused to follow orders and beat his commander to death. He was court martialed and sentenced to death, though they gave him a choice to instead be sent to a black site experimental facility where men like him were sent when the government could no longer trust them or when they had crossed the line into near insanity.
The heroine: Nina - she grew up in Louisiana with an alcoholic father and a strong Korean mother. When she was seventeen, after her father died, she wanted to get out from under the tight control her mother held over her, so she married a guy named Bryant. Most of the residents in town were racist and it turned out Bryant was the worst of them. He was controlling and abusive and she had enough.
The Story: One day Nina leaves work early and goes home to quickly pack some clothes and get the money she had saved up, planning to leave Bryant and skip town. Only she didn’t know that one of her co-workers called Bryant at his work and told him that she left work. Bryant was through with her and knocked her out calling his friend Caul to help get rid of Nina. It turned out that the two friends and a few other guys had been kidnapping minority women from nearby towns for a while and selling them to some military guys who give them as gifts to military prisoners who toe the line.
The top-secret facility turned out to be much worse than purported. It was in fact a research facility where scientists were working with splicing DNA and drug concoctions in an attempt to create super-soldiers. The men who were imprisoned there were subjected to torture, abuse and terrible experiments till they became near animalistic and only thought of their basic needs, violence, and sex.
I have been really into the genetic experiments or super soldier type books lately. Though they usually do follow a similar storyline. That of the torturous experiments, in a research facility, where they are imprisoned and often abused by the people in charge. That is fine though since most differ in the way the story goes. This one was different in that they captured women to give as gifts. I liked Nina from the start since she was strong enough to try to get away from her abuser, even though she ended up worse off than before. I also liked how this one differed from many of the others when they got away from those holding them.
I liked the fact that Maddox claimed Nina as his as soon as he finally got her as one of his rewards, but of course once he let it be known that he claimed her, the scientist started using Nina against him to get him to comply more. Until Maddox’s squad did so well that they were sold to a man in Columbia. The scientist told Maddox that Nina would be given to another squad leader since it worked so well with him. This is the part that I really liked in the book, because I hoped it wouldn’t be long before squad A killed the new owners and went after Nina. Though it didn’t happen at all like I thought it would. I always like unpredictability in a story, so I was happy about that, and it turned out that I really liked the path the story took.
I loved how One (Maddox) was the total alpha male of his squad and even over all the other squads, and I loved how he knew Nina was his and stayed the course on her being his even despite the fact that they were separated for a long time, while she was still being used and abused in that same facility. The story was much better than I expected, and I definitely plan to read more of this series.
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June 18, 2021
Wow, what an epic and intense read...probably not for everyone but still amazing.
Parts of it reminded me of
so if you're a fan I'd highly recommend.
This book can be divided into 3 main parts:
Parts of it reminded me of
so if you're a fan I'd highly recommend.This book can be divided into 3 main parts:
September 6, 2023
Damn that was good. I almost gave it 5 stars. I really wanted to. It was soo close. But there were some minor pacing issues and inconsistencies that held me back. And, while this started out feeling very original, it ended up feeling like a version of the New Species series, so I had to dock some points for that. I loved that series though, so saying it’s similar isn’t a bad thing.
The trigger warnings from the author should be heavily heeded. This isn’t one of those instances where past trauma is simply hinted at. It’s there and in your face. And the hero IS an uncontrolled beast initially, so even though he might be a bit gentler about it than the other drugged and altered soldiers, initially he uses the woman as a thing to slake his needs on and doesn’t have the mental capacity to see her as a person. Over time, after his mind heals, he does change and his thoughts and reactions become much more human and caring. Well, caring in his own way at least. LOL
Also, be aware that there is another man and other women in this book. I know some people are picky about that. The MMC uses some other women before he’s given the FMC. And later in the story, the FMC hooks up with another man who helps her get over her trauma during a time when she thinks the MMC is dead. A lot of plot and character development happens before the main characters find their way back to each other.
This book spans a long time—I’d guess maybe 3 years. There’s a brief glimpse at their lives before; then all the captivity, torture, training, and abuses; then escape/rescue; then recovery; then learning to live their new lives; then another period of tragedy, recovery, and change before the end finally stabilizes and looks to the future for all of the men and women who’ve been rescued. There’s a lot of side characters in this story who deserve books of their own.
The trigger warnings from the author should be heavily heeded. This isn’t one of those instances where past trauma is simply hinted at. It’s there and in your face. And the hero IS an uncontrolled beast initially, so even though he might be a bit gentler about it than the other drugged and altered soldiers, initially he uses the woman as a thing to slake his needs on and doesn’t have the mental capacity to see her as a person. Over time, after his mind heals, he does change and his thoughts and reactions become much more human and caring. Well, caring in his own way at least. LOL
Also, be aware that there is another man and other women in this book. I know some people are picky about that. The MMC uses some other women before he’s given the FMC. And later in the story, the FMC hooks up with another man who helps her get over her trauma during a time when she thinks the MMC is dead. A lot of plot and character development happens before the main characters find their way back to each other.
This book spans a long time—I’d guess maybe 3 years. There’s a brief glimpse at their lives before; then all the captivity, torture, training, and abuses; then escape/rescue; then recovery; then learning to live their new lives; then another period of tragedy, recovery, and change before the end finally stabilizes and looks to the future for all of the men and women who’ve been rescued. There’s a lot of side characters in this story who deserve books of their own.
November 8, 2020
WOW! This story was FANTASTIC! It's very dark and it's long, but don't let that deter you. (There's significant trigger warnings on this book, by the way, so take that into advisement.) There were times I wasn't sure where exactly it would end up. And there was one point where Neeley ripped my heart out and stomped on it. Yes, I cried... it's that good! I was drawn in by the main male character, Lethal. He really grew on me. And the plight of Nina just grabs ahold of your heart and doesn't let go. If you are a fan of Laurann Dohner's New Speciies series then you need to buy this book ASAP! The Variant species that Neeley has created in this story is amazing and I'm hoping for many more books. Personally, I fell in love with Two. I want his story next! :) I would give this book 10 stars if I could! 5 stars
November 7, 2020
This was a new to me author and from the blurb alone I knew this would be an amazing book that I wouldn't forget in a long while. Dark, military and experiment government projects are some of my favourite things to read about.
With the way 2020 has been and everyone on edge waiting for the US vote count, this book is the perfect excuse to escape into your head and dream of how some of the content might be a reality in the future (if it's not already). This book will make your mind boggle in an more enjoyable way than real life is right now.
This was a HUGE book (yay!), and so much happens within, especially with so many different moving parts to it, I really can't say much else without ruining the journey for anyone. But be prepared to be put through a gamut of emotions over and over again for multiple characters/parts of the overall picture. Seriously this book will stick with you for a long, long time and I can't wait to see what happens next!!!
With the way 2020 has been and everyone on edge waiting for the US vote count, this book is the perfect excuse to escape into your head and dream of how some of the content might be a reality in the future (if it's not already). This book will make your mind boggle in an more enjoyable way than real life is right now.
This was a HUGE book (yay!), and so much happens within, especially with so many different moving parts to it, I really can't say much else without ruining the journey for anyone. But be prepared to be put through a gamut of emotions over and over again for multiple characters/parts of the overall picture. Seriously this book will stick with you for a long, long time and I can't wait to see what happens next!!!
Read
March 30, 2024DNF at 47%
Too long with a lot of info dumping.
Too long with a lot of info dumping.
Read
February 25, 2021Oh boy. I ..... wow. I'm going to try and get through this review, but honestly, this is one of those "what the hell did I just read" kind of books. I'll start by saying that this is NOT a romance book. I would not consider it that at all. I think the TW the author gives is quite appropriate, although if not there already, I'd for sure add dubious consent as well as other key phrases/words.
Have you read the New Species series by Laurann Dohner? Because this book reeks of it. Of course not word by word, but we're talking animal DNA altered humans, hidden "medical" facilities, being rescued, big compound for rescued subjects. Do you know the name of the leader of the New Species ? Justice. The name of the "Variant" (as they have chosen to be called) representative is Law. That right there is a prime example. But ok, let's get passed that.
Don't read this next bit if you don't want a condensed version of the so called romance part.
Ok, fine, moving on. There are waaaaaaay too many pages that were not necessary one bit, because it's either pointless details or it's just repetitive content. Having 3 men in love with one woman, two just waiting for the chance to pounce is just ridiculous in a book to me. Columbia - that's in New York. Oh she meant COLOMBIA then. Like, where are the beta readers, editors, proofreaders ?
I know Neeley can get a little dark, hello Not A Dragon's Mate, but this was cringey at times. There is no sense of time, who knows how long it's been since they were taken or here or there. I just can't say I enjoyed this read, but I also can't say I full out disliked it, hence - no star rating. Will I read the next one? More than likely since I do like reading her books, but if it's more of the same, I may have to give a pass to this particular series.
Have you read the New Species series by Laurann Dohner? Because this book reeks of it. Of course not word by word, but we're talking animal DNA altered humans, hidden "medical" facilities, being rescued, big compound for rescued subjects. Do you know the name of the leader of the New Species ? Justice. The name of the "Variant" (as they have chosen to be called) representative is Law. That right there is a prime example. But ok, let's get passed that.
Don't read this next bit if you don't want a condensed version of the so called romance part.
Ok, fine, moving on. There are waaaaaaay too many pages that were not necessary one bit, because it's either pointless details or it's just repetitive content. Having 3 men in love with one woman, two just waiting for the chance to pounce is just ridiculous in a book to me. Columbia - that's in New York. Oh she meant COLOMBIA then. Like, where are the beta readers, editors, proofreaders ?
I know Neeley can get a little dark, hello Not A Dragon's Mate, but this was cringey at times. There is no sense of time, who knows how long it's been since they were taken or here or there. I just can't say I enjoyed this read, but I also can't say I full out disliked it, hence - no star rating. Will I read the next one? More than likely since I do like reading her books, but if it's more of the same, I may have to give a pass to this particular series.
December 12, 2020
A little disappointed in the authorization
The don't mind a little darker romance occasionally but this just didn't do it for me. The main characters just seemed so disconnected I just couldn't find any basis for a love story here. Other than the animal mate factor and maybe Stockholm syndrome for the woman. The second half was better than the beginning but still no great moments of relationship development for our main characters. There was more romance building between Nina and Akers than the main character. I normally like this author but this is not her best work. Her characters just didn't flow and mesh in this book like her others. It was okay. Don't think I will read anymore of this series.
The don't mind a little darker romance occasionally but this just didn't do it for me. The main characters just seemed so disconnected I just couldn't find any basis for a love story here. Other than the animal mate factor and maybe Stockholm syndrome for the woman. The second half was better than the beginning but still no great moments of relationship development for our main characters. There was more romance building between Nina and Akers than the main character. I normally like this author but this is not her best work. Her characters just didn't flow and mesh in this book like her others. It was okay. Don't think I will read anymore of this series.
June 25, 2021
Three books in one
This book was wayyyyyy longer than it needed to be for a whole lot of reasons.
The first 30% (ish) was a book pretty much by itself. The the second book should have ended around 75 or 80%, once you get there i think you will know what I mean. Then the last bit of the book is a whole other third story. It was a but overwhelming and I kinda wish this had been presented as a fully realized trilogy or something instead on one really long drawn out book. It was just too long when formatted like this.
Another reason it was too long was a lot of exposition. There are some sections that are choked with it and it bogged down the whole thing.
The kinda good news is that I found the premise interesting. It wasnt the most unique thing I've ever read but it had a lot of unexpected intricacies that I did like. The plot was kinda muddled because it read like three different books smushed together though.
The characters were interesting, sort of. During the first part of the book I was really liking the characters but the longer the book dragged on the less I cared about the FMC. Even though it was a pretty extreme situation in the middle it turned into this weird slice of life thing. Which I don't care for, but some people do like that. Then toward the end it took a whole other turn and I was done with the characters. I'm all fir character development but I think it was a little nutty.
If I was only rating the first section it probably would have been 5 stars but the next two "books" that were tacked on after I didn't care for.
This book was wayyyyyy longer than it needed to be for a whole lot of reasons.
The first 30% (ish) was a book pretty much by itself. The the second book should have ended around 75 or 80%, once you get there i think you will know what I mean. Then the last bit of the book is a whole other third story. It was a but overwhelming and I kinda wish this had been presented as a fully realized trilogy or something instead on one really long drawn out book. It was just too long when formatted like this.
Another reason it was too long was a lot of exposition. There are some sections that are choked with it and it bogged down the whole thing.
The kinda good news is that I found the premise interesting. It wasnt the most unique thing I've ever read but it had a lot of unexpected intricacies that I did like. The plot was kinda muddled because it read like three different books smushed together though.
The characters were interesting, sort of. During the first part of the book I was really liking the characters but the longer the book dragged on the less I cared about the FMC. Even though it was a pretty extreme situation in the middle it turned into this weird slice of life thing. Which I don't care for, but some people do like that. Then toward the end it took a whole other turn and I was done with the characters. I'm all fir character development but I think it was a little nutty.
If I was only rating the first section it probably would have been 5 stars but the next two "books" that were tacked on after I didn't care for.
November 22, 2020
Do Not Pass this By!
I have followed this author for some time and have read all of her books, enjoying each one. This book, however, is in a league all it’s own and I consider it one of the top 5 books I have read this year.
This story is as brutal and honest you can get with a “what-if”. With the phenomenal world-building and fully fleshed out characters you become fully immersed in a mind-boggling tale of betrayal, rage, vengeance, justice, love and redemption. You experience the fear, pain, anguish, hope, happiness and wonderment alongside the characters. You share their terror and agony. You grieve with them, cry and laugh with them. Their triumph is yours alongside their accomplishments and their comfort and some semblance of peace bring it all home. I get the sense this is just the beginning of the Variant world and hope this is the case; after 400+ pages I still wasn’t ready to put this book down.
I would caution that people take the author’s trigger warning seriously. This book is an emotional roller coaster, with scenarios not meant for the squeamish or those who may have real-life experience in the base ugliness of what some humans are capable of.
I have followed this author for some time and have read all of her books, enjoying each one. This book, however, is in a league all it’s own and I consider it one of the top 5 books I have read this year.
This story is as brutal and honest you can get with a “what-if”. With the phenomenal world-building and fully fleshed out characters you become fully immersed in a mind-boggling tale of betrayal, rage, vengeance, justice, love and redemption. You experience the fear, pain, anguish, hope, happiness and wonderment alongside the characters. You share their terror and agony. You grieve with them, cry and laugh with them. Their triumph is yours alongside their accomplishments and their comfort and some semblance of peace bring it all home. I get the sense this is just the beginning of the Variant world and hope this is the case; after 400+ pages I still wasn’t ready to put this book down.
I would caution that people take the author’s trigger warning seriously. This book is an emotional roller coaster, with scenarios not meant for the squeamish or those who may have real-life experience in the base ugliness of what some humans are capable of.
November 13, 2020
Amazing...
This was such an amazing story. Some parts were difficult to read, but necessary to the overall story. I eventually fell in love with these characters and their bond to each other. I loved the community that they all built to find a way to have a life after being in captivity.
The relationship between “One” and Nina was a product of them being in a horrendous situation and just trying to survive. I loved that Nina didn’t feel insta-love for “One”. She knew his claiming her put an unwanted spotlight on her; when all she wanted was to stay invisible.
The journey of One/Lethal and Nina being separated and then eventually reunited with many obstacles were very heartfelt. I enjoyed their finding their way back to each other. Although, Nina’s relationship with One was different as it evolved into something more meaningful with Lethal.
I look forward to reading more on the rest of the Variant squad members and hope they find love. I also look forward to their captor getting what he deserves. I highly recommend this book!
This was such an amazing story. Some parts were difficult to read, but necessary to the overall story. I eventually fell in love with these characters and their bond to each other. I loved the community that they all built to find a way to have a life after being in captivity.
The relationship between “One” and Nina was a product of them being in a horrendous situation and just trying to survive. I loved that Nina didn’t feel insta-love for “One”. She knew his claiming her put an unwanted spotlight on her; when all she wanted was to stay invisible.
The journey of One/Lethal and Nina being separated and then eventually reunited with many obstacles were very heartfelt. I enjoyed their finding their way back to each other. Although, Nina’s relationship with One was different as it evolved into something more meaningful with Lethal.
I look forward to reading more on the rest of the Variant squad members and hope they find love. I also look forward to their captor getting what he deserves. I highly recommend this book!
November 27, 2020
Phenomenal!
This was a very long book. But worth every minute of it. I've read other genetically modified humans series. Unfortunately they start after they are rescued/escaped. Then you are told in general terms what/how it happened in either flashbacks or memory form. I always felt like something was missing. Not this book. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE *TRIGGERS* WARNING! This book starts at the beginning of the treatments, torture, abuse, and rape. For me that creates the WHOLE picture of what these people went through. So you can hopefully understand where each person now will choose to do to survive after their rescue. I myself suffers from PTSD. I am a rape survivor. Books like this, even though it's fiction, gives me hope that I too can continue my path to find more coping skills. Every single individual deals with trauma differently. But please heed the trigger warning if you also are a trauma survivor. Aside from that, EXCELLENT story. Can't wait for the next one!
This was a very long book. But worth every minute of it. I've read other genetically modified humans series. Unfortunately they start after they are rescued/escaped. Then you are told in general terms what/how it happened in either flashbacks or memory form. I always felt like something was missing. Not this book. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE *TRIGGERS* WARNING! This book starts at the beginning of the treatments, torture, abuse, and rape. For me that creates the WHOLE picture of what these people went through. So you can hopefully understand where each person now will choose to do to survive after their rescue. I myself suffers from PTSD. I am a rape survivor. Books like this, even though it's fiction, gives me hope that I too can continue my path to find more coping skills. Every single individual deals with trauma differently. But please heed the trigger warning if you also are a trauma survivor. Aside from that, EXCELLENT story. Can't wait for the next one!
September 30, 2022
I don't usually review books I dnf, but this one I had to say something. I don't understand how this has so many 5 stars, because while this isn't the worst book I've ever read, it's certainly on the list.
I genuinely don't think this ever saw an editor. Because no editor worth their salt would ever give this the go ahead.
The story had potential. I was actually really interested based on the summary. I kept hoping that it would get better, but kept getting worse.
The pov jumps around from character to character almost every other sentence, leaving the reader completely lost as to who is saying and thinking what. New characters are introduced and thrown away. The FL isn't seen or mentioned for over 50 pages. How is your story a dark romance if the characters never actually appear in the book.
And then the same things are repeated over and over again. We don't need to see the same conversation 7 times. You do not need to beat your readers over the head for them to get the point. I don't need to hear a throwaway character's entire backstory.
This book was just awful.
I genuinely don't think this ever saw an editor. Because no editor worth their salt would ever give this the go ahead.
The story had potential. I was actually really interested based on the summary. I kept hoping that it would get better, but kept getting worse.
The pov jumps around from character to character almost every other sentence, leaving the reader completely lost as to who is saying and thinking what. New characters are introduced and thrown away. The FL isn't seen or mentioned for over 50 pages. How is your story a dark romance if the characters never actually appear in the book.
And then the same things are repeated over and over again. We don't need to see the same conversation 7 times. You do not need to beat your readers over the head for them to get the point. I don't need to hear a throwaway character's entire backstory.
This book was just awful.
December 23, 2020
Wow!
I’m stunned. This book was soooooooo dark in the beginning. When you read the trigger warnings, pay attention and listen. I’m hoping this abrupt-ish ending signals more to come. Maybe a series? My only complaints about this book is that the main female character seemed to have super powered pheromones that weren’t explained if I remember correctly, and that she was able to overcome such insane unimaginable abuse, but was able to have somewhat healthy and loving sexual relationships so quickly without any post-traumatic meltdowns or freezes, especially considering her partner(s). These things make the story a little less believable, but I was pretty immersed in it even with these few issues. This author is one of my favorites, and I almost always pre-order her books.
I’m stunned. This book was soooooooo dark in the beginning. When you read the trigger warnings, pay attention and listen. I’m hoping this abrupt-ish ending signals more to come. Maybe a series? My only complaints about this book is that the main female character seemed to have super powered pheromones that weren’t explained if I remember correctly, and that she was able to overcome such insane unimaginable abuse, but was able to have somewhat healthy and loving sexual relationships so quickly without any post-traumatic meltdowns or freezes, especially considering her partner(s). These things make the story a little less believable, but I was pretty immersed in it even with these few issues. This author is one of my favorites, and I almost always pre-order her books.
September 15, 2024
A brutal beginning and trauma-causing experiences between almost all the major characters but the story is very compelling. I truly wanted to know more about so many of the characters we meet in this book.
Nina, the main female character, is amazing and definitely worth reading this very long novel to find out more about her. What she goes through and does with those experiences hit me in all the feels. I cried real tears at certain points in her story.
Pay attention to the trigger warnings but if you can deal, this book is so good!
Nina, the main female character, is amazing and definitely worth reading this very long novel to find out more about her. What she goes through and does with those experiences hit me in all the feels. I cried real tears at certain points in her story.
Pay attention to the trigger warnings but if you can deal, this book is so good!
November 19, 2020
Absolutely loved and can't wait for next in this series
I was in a reading slump and this kick me out of it. This is a new author for me and so glad I found her. This book hold no punches. It started put fast and just kept going. It's brutally raw in some places yet the story will bring you back down to a somewhat calm. I will definitely recommend this to others.
Cant wait for the next installment.
I was in a reading slump and this kick me out of it. This is a new author for me and so glad I found her. This book hold no punches. It started put fast and just kept going. It's brutally raw in some places yet the story will bring you back down to a somewhat calm. I will definitely recommend this to others.
Cant wait for the next installment.
June 25, 2022
2.50 stars for the effort. Kind of reminded me of Breeds series except an intensive backstory of it. The attention to details is good but at the same time, I'm thinking, "Was this necessary?"
Unnecessary lengthy- if this is because it's an introduction, I definitely think it could be done in a better way. E.g. introduced 6 people with vivid descriptions. No way I'm remembering that. They didn't even came out again right after that introduction. Maybe two or three people.
Warning of 'read only if you don't have trigger.' I have triggers but the book didn't trigger any of them for me. Maybe it's just me.
The story itself was interesting and intriguing. At the first part it was kind of lacking in emotion but mostly because of how it's narrated. It started out with military men being kidnapped and forced into an experiment that made them forget their past and have animalistic qualities. Another part of this, because the qualities that is dominant in the male's were basically sex and kill, they were given females. The females were also kidnapped and used for only this purpose.
Maddox Larsen, a former Lieutenant was caught up in this experiment along with his team. They were referred to as Squad A with him as their Alpha. They forgot their names and they were called as One, Two, Three...etc.
Nina was given to them as a reward but Maddox known as One took a liking to her and claimed her as his. Unfortunately, they were separated and Nina was left to suffer after the reprieve of being claimed by only One (oh sht, this was a pun).
Now you think this story is done with just that we gonna go still deeper in it, it's just getting started.
Unnecessary lengthy- if this is because it's an introduction, I definitely think it could be done in a better way. E.g. introduced 6 people with vivid descriptions. No way I'm remembering that. They didn't even came out again right after that introduction. Maybe two or three people.
Warning of 'read only if you don't have trigger.' I have triggers but the book didn't trigger any of them for me. Maybe it's just me.
The story itself was interesting and intriguing. At the first part it was kind of lacking in emotion but mostly because of how it's narrated. It started out with military men being kidnapped and forced into an experiment that made them forget their past and have animalistic qualities. Another part of this, because the qualities that is dominant in the male's were basically sex and kill, they were given females. The females were also kidnapped and used for only this purpose.
Maddox Larsen, a former Lieutenant was caught up in this experiment along with his team. They were referred to as Squad A with him as their Alpha. They forgot their names and they were called as One, Two, Three...etc.
Nina was given to them as a reward but Maddox known as One took a liking to her and claimed her as his. Unfortunately, they were separated and Nina was left to suffer after the reprieve of being claimed by only One (oh sht, this was a pun).
Now you think this story is done with just that we gonna go still deeper in it, it's just getting started.
March 10, 2024
KEEP YOUR EXPECTATIONS F**KING LOW, LADIES! THIS WASN'T ROMANCE, AND THE HEROINE WAS INDECISIVE AND OUR POOR MALE LEAD'S LIMELIGHT WAS STOLEN BY ANOTHER GUY. You're welcome, I just summarised this entire long-ass story for you that barely even featured our MCs together while she was with some other guy. And if you think that's what I only got from reading this book, well, let's just agree that this girl's sour about not getting the captivity romance she wanted. It started off so good, and the remaining 80% of the story? Was absolute shit.
I'm just so pissed by how everything went wrong!!
Again, this is a personal preference, so if you're here for the sci-fi military part of the story, don't mind me. You can skedaddle out of here. If you're here for the romance, boy, did I DISLIKE the heroine, and just when we finally got a half-Asian heroine...she was so lackluster and just...sad. And weak. I know she survived captivity and endless rape, but post-rescue, she was a mess.
Were my expectations too high?! I don't fucking know. This book was frustrating!
NINA and MADDOX/ONE were both captives of some evil science experiment. Maddox was the beastly, super soldier experiment, while she was the pussy reward for the males. There was A LOT OF RAPE in this story, so please be aware, though it's not described in details - thank Goodness! Nina and Maddox's interactions were limited to VERY UNINTERESTING CAVEMEN moments where he just fucks her, and she wasn't even turned on, even if he protected her by claiming her as his.
Hello, romance! BLehhhh.....
Ironically, 'claiming her' puts Nina under the evil Dr's eyesight, and when the Dr. sold Maddox and his team, he lied to Nina that she was deliberately abandoned by her protector. So, yes, for very long, she believed that and had doubts. When she was rescued, I don't blame her for falling INTO, NOT FOR, Acker who saved her. I liked Acker, but at the same time I wanted him OUT of the picture. Seriously, he's the one getting the romance of his life with the female lead, and our poor Maddox was so determined to find his 'mate' as he called Nina, while she lives in paradise, albeit recuperating.
WHY COULDN'T THE AUTHOR HAVE MADE HER HEALING HAPPEN WITH MADDOX/ONE?! Instead, she was fucking the other guy while Maddox pined for her. THIS HAD HEARTBREAK 101 WRITTEN ALL OVER THE PAGES.
RIP to Acker, sorry you died bro, but I'm also not sorry that the MCs might have gotten their HEA. I didn't want to stick around and see her anymore, Nina WAS AN EYESORE. Even if Nina and Maddox became an item, it wouldn't feel real. The story barely even showed progress between them, and that's NOT LOVE - maybe just an obsession or possession, or just one person using the other as an emotional buffer. IT WASN'T REAL or SINCERE.
OVERALL this was a shitty captive-sci-fi-romance. Don't even pick this for the romance, it wasn't worth it. I adored Maddox's dedication, possessiveness and protectiveness towards Nina, but Nina, Nina...she didn't deserve him. She hurt Maddox endlessly and blamed him for something out of his control...I don't know, she didn't seemed very...smart - at least, not when it comes to her emotions. She may be good at bookkeeping, but her character was very...BORING.
In the first place... a woman having been rescued from human-trafficking and a boatload of traumatic rape/PTSD shouldn't even have room in her heart to be falling in love. She needed to heal her fucking mind and soul first before she could be human again.
I'm just so pissed by how everything went wrong!!
Again, this is a personal preference, so if you're here for the sci-fi military part of the story, don't mind me. You can skedaddle out of here. If you're here for the romance, boy, did I DISLIKE the heroine, and just when we finally got a half-Asian heroine...she was so lackluster and just...sad. And weak. I know she survived captivity and endless rape, but post-rescue, she was a mess.
Were my expectations too high?! I don't fucking know. This book was frustrating!
NINA and MADDOX/ONE were both captives of some evil science experiment. Maddox was the beastly, super soldier experiment, while she was the pussy reward for the males. There was A LOT OF RAPE in this story, so please be aware, though it's not described in details - thank Goodness! Nina and Maddox's interactions were limited to VERY UNINTERESTING CAVEMEN moments where he just fucks her, and she wasn't even turned on, even if he protected her by claiming her as his.
Hello, romance! BLehhhh.....
Ironically, 'claiming her' puts Nina under the evil Dr's eyesight, and when the Dr. sold Maddox and his team, he lied to Nina that she was deliberately abandoned by her protector. So, yes, for very long, she believed that and had doubts. When she was rescued, I don't blame her for falling INTO, NOT FOR, Acker who saved her. I liked Acker, but at the same time I wanted him OUT of the picture. Seriously, he's the one getting the romance of his life with the female lead, and our poor Maddox was so determined to find his 'mate' as he called Nina, while she lives in paradise, albeit recuperating.
WHY COULDN'T THE AUTHOR HAVE MADE HER HEALING HAPPEN WITH MADDOX/ONE?! Instead, she was fucking the other guy while Maddox pined for her. THIS HAD HEARTBREAK 101 WRITTEN ALL OVER THE PAGES.
RIP to Acker, sorry you died bro, but I'm also not sorry that the MCs might have gotten their HEA. I didn't want to stick around and see her anymore, Nina WAS AN EYESORE. Even if Nina and Maddox became an item, it wouldn't feel real. The story barely even showed progress between them, and that's NOT LOVE - maybe just an obsession or possession, or just one person using the other as an emotional buffer. IT WASN'T REAL or SINCERE.
OVERALL this was a shitty captive-sci-fi-romance. Don't even pick this for the romance, it wasn't worth it. I adored Maddox's dedication, possessiveness and protectiveness towards Nina, but Nina, Nina...she didn't deserve him. She hurt Maddox endlessly and blamed him for something out of his control...I don't know, she didn't seemed very...smart - at least, not when it comes to her emotions. She may be good at bookkeeping, but her character was very...BORING.
In the first place... a woman having been rescued from human-trafficking and a boatload of traumatic rape/PTSD shouldn't even have room in her heart to be falling in love. She needed to heal her fucking mind and soul first before she could be human again.
November 17, 2023
What I like about the book:
The story is not told from one character's perspective but from different ones. We are talking about an omniscient narrator, which makes the story more interesting. It's not limited to a single person's beliefs, feelings, and thoughts.
In general, the story is about Nina and Maddox. We follow their transformation throughout the story and can see what they think of each other. Also, we have some participation from circumstantial characters, which opens the scene. Because of this, we can see the Variant world in its totality.
Another thing I like is that the protagonist, Nina, finds her inner strength. She starts as a victim, but in the end, she learns to stand up for herself. How to provide for her if the need arises. Also, initially, her relationship with her husband is more than toxic, and she could have followed that pattern, but her subsequent relationships are healthy. She knows what she wants and what to give. It doesn't matter if we are talking about Maddox in a more intimate approach or his team in a working one.
And it could have been really easy because Maddox is a possessive man. But he understands she is her one person, and he helps her thrive instead of protecting her from everything. He makes her strong instead of useless. It's refreshing to read a story where the protagonist builds and earns her place in a group of testosterone-charged men. They see her courage and strength better than a 'normal' man. It makes you wonder if all it takes for women to be recognized is to change the DNA of men.
What I didn't like:
What I was not too fond of about the book is that the story is sometimes predictable. There are moments when we know what has to happen for Nina and Maddox to be together. I wanted to know how Sandra R. Neeley would resolve them. Because it is something you have been waiting for chapters on end, and when it finally happens, it leaves you feeling dissatisfied.
Because it's something so easy, there is no surprise. Nina and Maddox didn't have to fight or make a difficult choice. The problem was solved for them. So, the book is a little weak there, but overall, it is a good book.
To whom do I recommend this book?
This book is perfect for fans of sci-fi romance and movies like Project Geminis. Readers who like a little smut and withstand violent themes. It is ideal for readers who love strong female protagonists who stand alongside their men and stand out in a male world.
The story is not told from one character's perspective but from different ones. We are talking about an omniscient narrator, which makes the story more interesting. It's not limited to a single person's beliefs, feelings, and thoughts.
In general, the story is about Nina and Maddox. We follow their transformation throughout the story and can see what they think of each other. Also, we have some participation from circumstantial characters, which opens the scene. Because of this, we can see the Variant world in its totality.
Another thing I like is that the protagonist, Nina, finds her inner strength. She starts as a victim, but in the end, she learns to stand up for herself. How to provide for her if the need arises. Also, initially, her relationship with her husband is more than toxic, and she could have followed that pattern, but her subsequent relationships are healthy. She knows what she wants and what to give. It doesn't matter if we are talking about Maddox in a more intimate approach or his team in a working one.
And it could have been really easy because Maddox is a possessive man. But he understands she is her one person, and he helps her thrive instead of protecting her from everything. He makes her strong instead of useless. It's refreshing to read a story where the protagonist builds and earns her place in a group of testosterone-charged men. They see her courage and strength better than a 'normal' man. It makes you wonder if all it takes for women to be recognized is to change the DNA of men.
What I didn't like:
What I was not too fond of about the book is that the story is sometimes predictable. There are moments when we know what has to happen for Nina and Maddox to be together. I wanted to know how Sandra R. Neeley would resolve them. Because it is something you have been waiting for chapters on end, and when it finally happens, it leaves you feeling dissatisfied.
Because it's something so easy, there is no surprise. Nina and Maddox didn't have to fight or make a difficult choice. The problem was solved for them. So, the book is a little weak there, but overall, it is a good book.
To whom do I recommend this book?
This book is perfect for fans of sci-fi romance and movies like Project Geminis. Readers who like a little smut and withstand violent themes. It is ideal for readers who love strong female protagonists who stand alongside their men and stand out in a male world.
May 28, 2022
left me wanting to reread New Species
TBH the idea was good, my main problem is with the execution. I get wanting to do some world building, but the amount of dialogue dedicated to establishing The Alliance was too much.
I really didn’t need to read the general’s whole thought process and the intricacies about the protocols and everything he was establishing, a simple show of The Alliance would’ve been enough. Show me, don’t tell me.
The amount of references to rape got tedious. We get it, it was an extremely shitty situation, but you don’t have to tell me about every time this woman gets abused, a couple times is enough, you can let me know the abuse is a daily occurrence without telling me every time it happens.This author wanted us to feel how these people were abused by their captors, but it wasn’t poignant, it was boring.
There’re waay better books featuring this subject, with more romance, and better plot and writing style. Like New Species by Laurann Dohner and Breeds by Lora Leigh.
I won’t continue reading the series, and since this is my second Sandra R. Newley book and I found the same things I disliked in both, I won’t be reading this author again. I truly don’t recommend her work, it’s very all tell and almost no show, and 30-40% of the content could be easily edited out as it’s just tedious.
TBH the idea was good, my main problem is with the execution. I get wanting to do some world building, but the amount of dialogue dedicated to establishing The Alliance was too much.
I really didn’t need to read the general’s whole thought process and the intricacies about the protocols and everything he was establishing, a simple show of The Alliance would’ve been enough. Show me, don’t tell me.
The amount of references to rape got tedious. We get it, it was an extremely shitty situation, but you don’t have to tell me about every time this woman gets abused, a couple times is enough, you can let me know the abuse is a daily occurrence without telling me every time it happens.This author wanted us to feel how these people were abused by their captors, but it wasn’t poignant, it was boring.
There’re waay better books featuring this subject, with more romance, and better plot and writing style. Like New Species by Laurann Dohner and Breeds by Lora Leigh.
I won’t continue reading the series, and since this is my second Sandra R. Newley book and I found the same things I disliked in both, I won’t be reading this author again. I truly don’t recommend her work, it’s very all tell and almost no show, and 30-40% of the content could be easily edited out as it’s just tedious.
December 15, 2023
Bleak for a romance
I didn’t really know what to make of this book by the time I was finished. Maybe the author needs a better editor, because there are a few obvious proofreading issues—for example, there’s an incorrect usage of quotation marks when a new paragraph starts in the middle of a single speaker’s monologue, and the author thinks y’all is spelled “ya’ll”. But the biggest issue I think is that this book was long, and it didn’t need to be as long as it was. A lot of camp logistics, building projects, and details like packing duffels, unloading supplies, getting into/out of helicopters, could have been glossed over, but they were dragged out. Some scenes were repetitive—for example, the General’s explanation of how he got the money to start the Alliance, the explanation of what was done to the test subjects’s DNA, and the introduction speeches to each new rescued squad. The FMC spends the majority of the book with the OM, and the end of their romance is a tearjerker moment that sends her into the arms of the MMC, with whom sadly I didn’t feel she had the same chemistry. Also, this is just my opinion, but I don’t think every story about trauma needs to end in the FMC becoming a badass warrior assassin (*cough* Feyre/Nesta) in order to be worthy of the MMC. Let girls be soft! (Thank you for coming to my TED talk.)
I didn’t really know what to make of this book by the time I was finished. Maybe the author needs a better editor, because there are a few obvious proofreading issues—for example, there’s an incorrect usage of quotation marks when a new paragraph starts in the middle of a single speaker’s monologue, and the author thinks y’all is spelled “ya’ll”. But the biggest issue I think is that this book was long, and it didn’t need to be as long as it was. A lot of camp logistics, building projects, and details like packing duffels, unloading supplies, getting into/out of helicopters, could have been glossed over, but they were dragged out. Some scenes were repetitive—for example, the General’s explanation of how he got the money to start the Alliance, the explanation of what was done to the test subjects’s DNA, and the introduction speeches to each new rescued squad. The FMC spends the majority of the book with the OM, and the end of their romance is a tearjerker moment that sends her into the arms of the MMC, with whom sadly I didn’t feel she had the same chemistry. Also, this is just my opinion, but I don’t think every story about trauma needs to end in the FMC becoming a badass warrior assassin (*cough* Feyre/Nesta) in order to be worthy of the MMC. Let girls be soft! (Thank you for coming to my TED talk.)
October 20, 2025
Amazing Story!
Though this book was difficult to start I’m glad that I stuck with it. It is a multi-layered and complicated storyline that once it started to take off it definitely became a thing of beauty in flight. While at times it was a very complicated story it also played very much to the emotions even making me cry at one point when one of the principle characters dies and the love of his life is left to deal with it. Thankfully, there is very much a kind of happily ever after while leaving the story open to further sequels (which I’m very happily going to explore!). Definitely a book to read but please be watchful of very obvious triggers. I don’t often lend credence to those as most trigger warnings in these types of stories seem superfluous and silly but this book has some very obvious and serious dark elements to it that could distress someone who comes from a background of psychological, emotional or physical abuse. Sadly, those are needed to emphasize the tragic origins of the characters in this story and the impact of all that was lost in their transition. Not to discount them but as a “Reader Be Warned” that they are there. Otherwise, a very good story.
Though this book was difficult to start I’m glad that I stuck with it. It is a multi-layered and complicated storyline that once it started to take off it definitely became a thing of beauty in flight. While at times it was a very complicated story it also played very much to the emotions even making me cry at one point when one of the principle characters dies and the love of his life is left to deal with it. Thankfully, there is very much a kind of happily ever after while leaving the story open to further sequels (which I’m very happily going to explore!). Definitely a book to read but please be watchful of very obvious triggers. I don’t often lend credence to those as most trigger warnings in these types of stories seem superfluous and silly but this book has some very obvious and serious dark elements to it that could distress someone who comes from a background of psychological, emotional or physical abuse. Sadly, those are needed to emphasize the tragic origins of the characters in this story and the impact of all that was lost in their transition. Not to discount them but as a “Reader Be Warned” that they are there. Otherwise, a very good story.
September 7, 2021
This was an extremely charged book- it had all the ingredients for a perfect special ops turned genetically enhanced soldiers with specific animal-like enhancements. The backstory is thrilling and captivating, reads so much like a secret military science experimentation gone wrong, where now said experiments seek nothing but retribution for all the wrong doing. Then there's the story's specific focus on the male and female main characters. Their story is nothing short of a gut wrenching tale, filled with so many atrocities. Both endured inhumane violence, together and then apart. I had a minor issue (ok maybe not so minor, but I got over it) because at one point we have a third person involved in their love story which wasn't much of a love story at that point, but to us who love Alpha/Omega fated mates, know that no other third party should EVER be involved. I guess the fact that this book is NOT Omegaverse allows me to get pass that one fact, but it was very difficult for me. The one thing that does help me is that by the end of the book there is no doubt that they belong together and were always meant to be together.
April 27, 2024
Great premise, okay delivery. There were a lot of editing errors, like repeated sentences/words. It also seemed like the author couldn't decide whether the men could speak in complete sentences. Later in the story, they struggle to understand basic concepts with one-word responses and grunts, but then immediately organize a complex governance system and hack into a computer (while speaking normally in full sentences).
It made it a little hard to track that they thought of themselves as One, Two, etc., but the author would switch back and forth to using their names. At the 40% mark, they all picked brand-new names. The FMC was ok but a little flat. It would have gone a long way to improving the story if some explanation had been offered as to why they chose her over the hundreds of other women other than a brief mention about Maddox/One/Lethal liking her smell (when it was also noted that he liked the smell of the other women he was with as well). It made their initial relationship and the entire premise feel feeble. Especially the fact that the other guys had any passion or motivation to go after her at all.
Overall, it just fell a little flat.
It made it a little hard to track that they thought of themselves as One, Two, etc., but the author would switch back and forth to using their names. At the 40% mark, they all picked brand-new names. The FMC was ok but a little flat. It would have gone a long way to improving the story if some explanation had been offered as to why they chose her over the hundreds of other women other than a brief mention about Maddox/One/Lethal liking her smell (when it was also noted that he liked the smell of the other women he was with as well). It made their initial relationship and the entire premise feel feeble. Especially the fact that the other guys had any passion or motivation to go after her at all.
Overall, it just fell a little flat.
June 30, 2021
Like New Species, but better
This book does not start well — I almost returned it without reading it because the first chapter or two just features an entire town of caricatures of sexist and racist human beings. But then it gets much better as the author focuses on the victims and survivors of experimental labs. The characters are interesting and much more fully developed than those in the somewhat similar “New Species” series. They feel like real people. The story does get bogged down a couple of times with too much detail about community planning and building for the survivors, but overall it’s a gripping and interesting story. It is brutal at times though, sometimes more than it seems it needs to be to tell the story (I’m thinking of a particular scene associated with the heroine’s rescue). So if you have triggers regarding sexual abuse or human trafficking, as the author warns, steer clear of this series. Otherwise be prepared for a sometimes tough read with a satisfying ending.
This book does not start well — I almost returned it without reading it because the first chapter or two just features an entire town of caricatures of sexist and racist human beings. But then it gets much better as the author focuses on the victims and survivors of experimental labs. The characters are interesting and much more fully developed than those in the somewhat similar “New Species” series. They feel like real people. The story does get bogged down a couple of times with too much detail about community planning and building for the survivors, but overall it’s a gripping and interesting story. It is brutal at times though, sometimes more than it seems it needs to be to tell the story (I’m thinking of a particular scene associated with the heroine’s rescue). So if you have triggers regarding sexual abuse or human trafficking, as the author warns, steer clear of this series. Otherwise be prepared for a sometimes tough read with a satisfying ending.
December 7, 2025
There is so much wrong with this book idk where to start...
- book could have been half as long. so many unnecessary scenes and conversations and boring parts i didn't care about
- having Two not rape any of the girls undermines the idea that they were drugged and had 'no choice'. Just makes me hate all the characters that participated and not have any sympathy for mmc
- we were given nothing to like about Nina's time with One to want to see them get together again later in the book
- youre telling me that a girl brutally raped for YEARS just so easily is able to accept the males who did that too her (yes i get they were drugged but see point about Two above)? nooo I dont think that's how trauma works..
- Ackter acts so inappropriately with Nina when she arrives getting like trauma bonded to this girl then is in love with her in like a week?
- Plot just completely spirals into random scenes and plot points
- raped for years and has sex later and not once is birth control addressed yet fmc doesn't get pregnant somehow
- writing felt very juvenile
- book could have been half as long. so many unnecessary scenes and conversations and boring parts i didn't care about
- having Two not rape any of the girls undermines the idea that they were drugged and had 'no choice'. Just makes me hate all the characters that participated and not have any sympathy for mmc
- we were given nothing to like about Nina's time with One to want to see them get together again later in the book
- youre telling me that a girl brutally raped for YEARS just so easily is able to accept the males who did that too her (yes i get they were drugged but see point about Two above)? nooo I dont think that's how trauma works..
- Ackter acts so inappropriately with Nina when she arrives getting like trauma bonded to this girl then is in love with her in like a week?
- Plot just completely spirals into random scenes and plot points
- raped for years and has sex later and not once is birth control addressed yet fmc doesn't get pregnant somehow
- writing felt very juvenile
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2022
I read Alpha by Tiya Rayne and loved it, in FB this book was recommended as very similar plot.
😮.. i started reading it and it is so dark. h is r-word left and right for years by countless men for YEARS.
H gets shipped off (they have few weeks together) and h is raped some more for years.
50% in and i am at OM part and am like.. wtf.. where is this book heading 😑 why bring in OM and love triangle? .. and also the countless POV... and how H and h are at the same compound and never somehow meet.. uhh.i dont like it
55% H finally hears that h is same place, he searches her and h is kissing and happy with OM and H is like " she is happy i leave her be"
58% H and h have STILL not met. Sex scene with OM on page, while H roars outside (H has been celibate)
F that
I wanted a posessive primal book, not love triangle!!
h is too used up.. i could cope with the rapes, but OM was nope.
Dnf
😮.. i started reading it and it is so dark. h is r-word left and right for years by countless men for YEARS.
H gets shipped off (they have few weeks together) and h is raped some more for years.
50% in and i am at OM part and am like.. wtf.. where is this book heading 😑 why bring in OM and love triangle? .. and also the countless POV... and how H and h are at the same compound and never somehow meet.. uhh.i dont like it
55% H finally hears that h is same place, he searches her and h is kissing and happy with OM and H is like " she is happy i leave her be"
58% H and h have STILL not met. Sex scene with OM on page, while H roars outside (H has been celibate)
F that
I wanted a posessive primal book, not love triangle!!
h is too used up.. i could cope with the rapes, but OM was nope.
Dnf
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2020
Variant Beginnings
Oh man this was such a moving story. Lethal and Nina were just so realistic and raw. Nina was such a tough strong woman that made me cry and laugh with her. Lethal was a force to be reckoned with, his strength of love was awesome. He was tough, scary and so heartfelt. One of the best stories I've read and I read a lot. The world building for the Variant's was mind blowing. The one thing I can say about certain things in life are always the same. There will always be people who are bullies/mean girls, you name it. If your different no matter what the difference is, then there is going to be someone or a group of someone's who will pick on that. I highly recommend this book. I can't wait to read more about the Variants. If you have any triggers you might want to think before you read. In the end they still got their HEA which I personally loved.
Oh man this was such a moving story. Lethal and Nina were just so realistic and raw. Nina was such a tough strong woman that made me cry and laugh with her. Lethal was a force to be reckoned with, his strength of love was awesome. He was tough, scary and so heartfelt. One of the best stories I've read and I read a lot. The world building for the Variant's was mind blowing. The one thing I can say about certain things in life are always the same. There will always be people who are bullies/mean girls, you name it. If your different no matter what the difference is, then there is going to be someone or a group of someone's who will pick on that. I highly recommend this book. I can't wait to read more about the Variants. If you have any triggers you might want to think before you read. In the end they still got their HEA which I personally loved.
November 18, 2020
OMG! Must read
Warning! There are situations that are possible triggers for those who have suffered abuse both of mental and physical nature.
This story is about Squad A(lpha) and the female that came into their lives. The men were elite military black ops. They were stolen from their lives. They were stripped not only of their memories and who they were, but of their human status by the manipulation of their DNA with apex predator DNA. Tested. Tortured. Trained. Sold.
He was a Lieutenant and Squad Leader of an elite black ops team of five. Then he was One and Squad Leader of Squad A. Then Nina was brought to him and used to control him. He was sold and sent off without Nina. One was freed and became Lethal . Lethal never forgot Nina and searching.....read how they survived and conquered all that was thrown their way.
Warning! There are situations that are possible triggers for those who have suffered abuse both of mental and physical nature.
This story is about Squad A(lpha) and the female that came into their lives. The men were elite military black ops. They were stolen from their lives. They were stripped not only of their memories and who they were, but of their human status by the manipulation of their DNA with apex predator DNA. Tested. Tortured. Trained. Sold.
He was a Lieutenant and Squad Leader of an elite black ops team of five. Then he was One and Squad Leader of Squad A. Then Nina was brought to him and used to control him. He was sold and sent off without Nina. One was freed and became Lethal . Lethal never forgot Nina and searching.....read how they survived and conquered all that was thrown their way.
September 29, 2021
Confusing ..🙄😖
Firstly I love Mrs Neely Haven series and downloaded the 5th book in the series ..been waiting for it.
This series started off good, then confusing and way to long. I get the 1st book needs to be more informative for the next books in the series however for myself I started to skip thru pages because there was too much information. I didn’t like how the story proceeded after the rescue, for the main female character 🤭 it was confusing ..I was hoping the male lead would end up with another female .. I was more interested with the happenings of the other characters in the story, who were also rescued …hopefully the books proceeding this one will enlighten us, because I’ve already downloaded it. I agree with a reviewer that commented this book should’ve been a trilogy ..captured ..freedom ..redemption.
Firstly I love Mrs Neely Haven series and downloaded the 5th book in the series ..been waiting for it.
This series started off good, then confusing and way to long. I get the 1st book needs to be more informative for the next books in the series however for myself I started to skip thru pages because there was too much information. I didn’t like how the story proceeded after the rescue, for the main female character 🤭 it was confusing ..I was hoping the male lead would end up with another female .. I was more interested with the happenings of the other characters in the story, who were also rescued …hopefully the books proceeding this one will enlighten us, because I’ve already downloaded it. I agree with a reviewer that commented this book should’ve been a trilogy ..captured ..freedom ..redemption.
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