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Population #2
Generation One
Abel should have let me die. Jack should have killed me.
Abel had no business resurrecting my corpse. Now I'm tormented by ghosts of monsters, including the one I've become, as I trudge through the hellscape that is Population. Only this time, I'm part of Abel's band of misfits trying to rebuild civilization.
Among the cheery idiots are alien allies and humans too stupid to live. None are so grating as Pia. Pretty and kind and gentle, she might be the worst among them.
But it doesn't change the fact that she's the reason I'm still here and that when my old gang catches up to me, they'll torture her to make me bleed.
Luckily, I'm a monster who won't let that happen. Even if I'm too torn up to touch her, I'm going to keep her alive.
Abel had no business resurrecting my corpse. Now I'm tormented by ghosts of monsters, including the one I've become, as I trudge through the hellscape that is Population. Only this time, I'm part of Abel's band of misfits trying to rebuild civilization.
Among the cheery idiots are alien allies and humans too stupid to live. None are so grating as Pia. Pretty and kind and gentle, she might be the worst among them.
But it doesn't change the fact that she's the reason I'm still here and that when my old gang catches up to me, they'll torture her to make me bleed.
Luckily, I'm a monster who won't let that happen. Even if I'm too torn up to touch her, I'm going to keep her alive.
ebook
First published November 12, 2020
216 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Stephens
76 books1,406 followersTop 10 USA Today Bestselling author Elizabeth Stephens writes books where beastly men—or sometimes just beasts—always get the girl.
A full-time hybrid indie and traditionally published author, Elizabeth is best known for her Supers in the City series (Montlake) and her indie works like The Bone King and the Starling and Dark City Omega. In all of her books, readers can expect diverse casts, epic world-building, quests with unexpected twists, and women of color being celebrated loudly, Black and biracial women in particular.
When she isn’t writing, you might find Elizabeth enjoying the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest or traveling and making adventures of her own with her husband, tiny humans, and doggo, King Louis.
A full-time hybrid indie and traditionally published author, Elizabeth is best known for her Supers in the City series (Montlake) and her indie works like The Bone King and the Starling and Dark City Omega. In all of her books, readers can expect diverse casts, epic world-building, quests with unexpected twists, and women of color being celebrated loudly, Black and biracial women in particular.
When she isn’t writing, you might find Elizabeth enjoying the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest or traveling and making adventures of her own with her husband, tiny humans, and doggo, King Louis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
July 29, 2024
July 29, 2024
Still so good! Elizabeth Stephens writes a story I just get so vested in. Her characters and plots are so compelling. No matter the actual crazy bonkers circumstances the stories are absolutely character driven and I love it. Happy reading!
June 4, 2022
4 1/2 "Redeeming" Stars!
I'm really not in the reviewing mood, but I loved this book. It was so just gritty and for me dark. This one had me completely vested and pulled on my heartstrings from the very beginning. Diego made me feel all the feels. Sadness, shock, heartbreak, rage, protective. I was rooting so hard for him. Pia was a BA! Population is no joke, y'all. Not for the weak. Happy reading.
Still so good! Elizabeth Stephens writes a story I just get so vested in. Her characters and plots are so compelling. No matter the actual crazy bonkers circumstances the stories are absolutely character driven and I love it. Happy reading!
June 4, 2022
4 1/2 "Redeeming" Stars!
I'm really not in the reviewing mood, but I loved this book. It was so just gritty and for me dark. This one had me completely vested and pulled on my heartstrings from the very beginning. Diego made me feel all the feels. Sadness, shock, heartbreak, rage, protective. I was rooting so hard for him. Pia was a BA! Population is no joke, y'all. Not for the weak. Happy reading.
August 9, 2021
I didn’t read the first two books as this was advertised as a SA. It is, but I found myself feeling lost when it came to the MMC here and the heavy presence of the MMC and FMC from the prior books. So, reader beware.
The MMC here is damaged… an antihero of epic shit. His inner thoughts are as heartbreaking as they are psychotic. He’s a victim, abuser, survivor all wrapped up in a childlike emotional package. The darkness and lack of emotional depth is understandable and pulls you in to empathize, but I think the author takes his lack of understanding, recognition so far that it stretches believable. I mean one doesn’t survive a wasteland for 30 plus years without gaining the ability to read basic human feelings and behaviors, but he seems to not be able to interpret any body language from anyone. His character is what makes this book. Not the plot. Not the romance. Not the writing. He’s the only thing that carries this story.
* This story is told from the MMC’s POV only. He has a stutter that’s reflective in the writing.
The FMC isn’t fleshed out and is introduced with smiles, looks, touches … and it all adds up to her being this sweet, dainty little thing. Suddenly, out of nowhere, she’s really just a warrior in hiding. I just didn’t get it - didn’t get her. She’s the cardboard cutout doll that the author seems to dress up to fit the scene.
There are multiple groups of bad guys that make the plot go round. The goal is to get to some safety setup by the aliens, but they’ll have to battle it out with all these bad guys first. The bad guy after the MMC is fine, but the bad guy group after the FMC makes zero sense. It’s like the author tried to make it as weird as possible - reincarnation that way? Really? Weird aside, it’s nonsensical. Example: the dad of these bad guys is right there, and he makes no attempt to talk his sons down… he’s not even involved in the big show down. Ehh, it’s a horrible plot point and even more horribly executed.
The alien world is interesting, but it’s almost non-existing in the plot other than the alien blood being healing. A lot of names and titles for alien stuff that’s not explained…not sure if it had already been explained in other books or not?
The writing here is half unbearable and half brilliant. The brilliant part is conveying the antihero MMC. I, as a reader, feel entrenched in his mind, and I appreciated that his speech issue was consistent. The unbearable part is everything else. No connection to the other characters. No sense of time and space in where and what the characters are doing - It’s like watching a scrambled TV with only the volume. The disjointed and fractured writing is so confusing. Sometimes, I’d have read an entire page and couldn’t even tell you what the hell was happening. The writing seemed to be the worst during action scenes.
Four stars for the MMC.
ONE star for everything else.
I will not be going back nor forward with this series… too much work for the read.
The MMC here is damaged… an antihero of epic shit. His inner thoughts are as heartbreaking as they are psychotic. He’s a victim, abuser, survivor all wrapped up in a childlike emotional package. The darkness and lack of emotional depth is understandable and pulls you in to empathize, but I think the author takes his lack of understanding, recognition so far that it stretches believable. I mean one doesn’t survive a wasteland for 30 plus years without gaining the ability to read basic human feelings and behaviors, but he seems to not be able to interpret any body language from anyone. His character is what makes this book. Not the plot. Not the romance. Not the writing. He’s the only thing that carries this story.
* This story is told from the MMC’s POV only. He has a stutter that’s reflective in the writing.
The FMC isn’t fleshed out and is introduced with smiles, looks, touches … and it all adds up to her being this sweet, dainty little thing. Suddenly, out of nowhere, she’s really just a warrior in hiding. I just didn’t get it - didn’t get her. She’s the cardboard cutout doll that the author seems to dress up to fit the scene.
There are multiple groups of bad guys that make the plot go round. The goal is to get to some safety setup by the aliens, but they’ll have to battle it out with all these bad guys first. The bad guy after the MMC is fine, but the bad guy group after the FMC makes zero sense. It’s like the author tried to make it as weird as possible - reincarnation that way? Really? Weird aside, it’s nonsensical. Example: the dad of these bad guys is right there, and he makes no attempt to talk his sons down… he’s not even involved in the big show down. Ehh, it’s a horrible plot point and even more horribly executed.
The alien world is interesting, but it’s almost non-existing in the plot other than the alien blood being healing. A lot of names and titles for alien stuff that’s not explained…not sure if it had already been explained in other books or not?
The writing here is half unbearable and half brilliant. The brilliant part is conveying the antihero MMC. I, as a reader, feel entrenched in his mind, and I appreciated that his speech issue was consistent. The unbearable part is everything else. No connection to the other characters. No sense of time and space in where and what the characters are doing - It’s like watching a scrambled TV with only the volume. The disjointed and fractured writing is so confusing. Sometimes, I’d have read an entire page and couldn’t even tell you what the hell was happening. The writing seemed to be the worst during action scenes.
Four stars for the MMC.
ONE star for everything else.
I will not be going back nor forward with this series… too much work for the read.
May 9, 2024
if book 1 was Angelfall fanfic then this must be inspired by Mad Max: Fury Road
While book 1 was a banger trainwreck hot mess, this was unfortunately more streamlined, and did I appreciate that? Hell naw
I'm here for the capital D drama and the OTT wtaf moments were few and far between here
which is too bad because the setting was two supertrucks in an alien dystopia with the good clan being chased by a) religious maniacs and b) the murderous rapist foster father gang leader who eviscerated the MMC
Reviewing the INSANE characters and setting, I can only say that this was a let-down.
Go big or go home
While book 1 was a banger trainwreck hot mess, this was unfortunately more streamlined, and did I appreciate that? Hell naw
I'm here for the capital D drama and the OTT wtaf moments were few and far between here
which is too bad because the setting was two supertrucks in an alien dystopia with the good clan being chased by a) religious maniacs and b) the murderous rapist foster father gang leader who eviscerated the MMC
Reviewing the INSANE characters and setting, I can only say that this was a let-down.
Go big or go home
November 16, 2020
High impact dystopian action saga. Generation 1 was jam packed with battle scenes. These battles were overshadowed by the internal war Diego battled in his head. It was unnerving to listen as Diego struggled to free himself from the evil influence of his former captor and torturer Jack. The intensity of the fighting flowed into the love story of Diego and Pia. In true Elizabeth Stephens style, Pia was a warrior goddess. I don’t think I can ever get enough of the way the author writes her characters. Strong, passionate, flawed, sexy... My only (minor) issue was a subjective one. I wanted more love scenes. The ones in the book were scorching hot!
November 27, 2020
I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Review along with more ARC reviews can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
This review contains SPOILERS of the previous two books. Read at your own caution.
Generation one picks from the first duology where this harsh world invaded by aliens filled with action and lots of violence makes humanity strive for survival. There is violence and the characters strive to fight against the aliens, even having said aliens on their side.
I enjoyed the small moments and how all characters were grounded and didn't rush into stupid decisions like some other characters I have seen done in other books.
The series has taken an interesting turn and I want to see where this will go, as it covers more couples and characters. It also deals with PTSD, trauma, and mental health so I strongly advise you to proceed with caution if you are interested.
Recommended for the unique set, the strive for survival, and the romance!
This review contains SPOILERS of the previous two books. Read at your own caution.
Generation one picks from the first duology where this harsh world invaded by aliens filled with action and lots of violence makes humanity strive for survival. There is violence and the characters strive to fight against the aliens, even having said aliens on their side.
I enjoyed the small moments and how all characters were grounded and didn't rush into stupid decisions like some other characters I have seen done in other books.
The series has taken an interesting turn and I want to see where this will go, as it covers more couples and characters. It also deals with PTSD, trauma, and mental health so I strongly advise you to proceed with caution if you are interested.
Recommended for the unique set, the strive for survival, and the romance!
February 20, 2022
Firstly I think Diego and pia were the wrong choice for the first of this next gen. Mikey would have been better as we already know his character. Diego was barely in book 2.
Also Diego is a pretty detestable character, he admitted to violently raping hundreds of women and then killing them. But because he saves Abel all is now forgiven? He's redeemed? No he's a low life scumbag but now he's my mc hero? I'm supposed to get behind him? I think this is why I never connected with him.
Likewise Pia, just comes across as a spoilt little girl. Her brothers do all those atrocious things and STILL she insists they're kept alive? Another character i cant connect or empathise with. I DONT LIKE THESE CHARACTERS!
additionally its slow, very slow, so far 36% in and im struggling to not dnf but I really want to read book 4 when it comes out in March so I'm persevering. But omg its boring n ploddy.
Ok finally finished, I struggled tbh. It didn't have the same pace as the previous books. The characters as per above are not particularly nice or people to root for. The plot is ploddy n drawn out. At times just plain silly. Like why with two notares travelling why didn't they have more security with them? Why did it seems a good idea to travel through population and pick up stragglers rather than travelling straight to Abels new territory and establishing herself there first then sending out teams to bring in new people? It was a really stupid plan.
So many issues with this book. Very disappointed
Also Diego is a pretty detestable character, he admitted to violently raping hundreds of women and then killing them. But because he saves Abel all is now forgiven? He's redeemed? No he's a low life scumbag but now he's my mc hero? I'm supposed to get behind him? I think this is why I never connected with him.
Likewise Pia, just comes across as a spoilt little girl. Her brothers do all those atrocious things and STILL she insists they're kept alive? Another character i cant connect or empathise with. I DONT LIKE THESE CHARACTERS!
additionally its slow, very slow, so far 36% in and im struggling to not dnf but I really want to read book 4 when it comes out in March so I'm persevering. But omg its boring n ploddy.
Ok finally finished, I struggled tbh. It didn't have the same pace as the previous books. The characters as per above are not particularly nice or people to root for. The plot is ploddy n drawn out. At times just plain silly. Like why with two notares travelling why didn't they have more security with them? Why did it seems a good idea to travel through population and pick up stragglers rather than travelling straight to Abels new territory and establishing herself there first then sending out teams to bring in new people? It was a really stupid plan.
So many issues with this book. Very disappointed
April 19, 2022
cannot for the life of me fathom how a book glorifying rape the way this does could ever be deserving of more than one star
January 23, 2023
3.5 stars
Unfortunately this one didn't work as well for me as the first book. That's probably due to expectations going in reverse. I wasn't expecting much from the first book, and I loved it, so I was expecting a lot from this book and...I didn't quite get it.
The characters weren't nearly as appealing to me, so I was obviously far less forgiving of 'love' coming way too quickly. And there just wasn't enough variation in the plot to have me as hooked. Still great writing, though!
Unfortunately this one didn't work as well for me as the first book. That's probably due to expectations going in reverse. I wasn't expecting much from the first book, and I loved it, so I was expecting a lot from this book and...I didn't quite get it.
The characters weren't nearly as appealing to me, so I was obviously far less forgiving of 'love' coming way too quickly. And there just wasn't enough variation in the plot to have me as hooked. Still great writing, though!
Read
November 13, 2020I received this as an ARC.
It's a boxset of the first three books but the previous books were do violent I'm not going to read this.
ARC.
It's a boxset of the first three books but the previous books were do violent I'm not going to read this.
ARC.
February 22, 2022
Huge disappointment
Diego is a horrible character, he admits to raping very violently n then killing hundreds of women yet cos he saved abel he's to be redeemed now? No he's a fucking rapist bastard, why would we want a pig like this as a hero?
Pia is an annoying boring little girl.
The plot was ridiculous- two notares travelling to a safe zone through population but virtually no official guards other than a handful stupid. Why didn't she go back to her new region first, sort that area out then put the word out it was a human safe zone?
Really silly plot which spoilt the book.
Diego is a horrible character, he admits to raping very violently n then killing hundreds of women yet cos he saved abel he's to be redeemed now? No he's a fucking rapist bastard, why would we want a pig like this as a hero?
Pia is an annoying boring little girl.
The plot was ridiculous- two notares travelling to a safe zone through population but virtually no official guards other than a handful stupid. Why didn't she go back to her new region first, sort that area out then put the word out it was a human safe zone?
Really silly plot which spoilt the book.
November 21, 2020
We follow Diego and Pia's story right after books 1 and 2. While it's a different couple, the storyline will make better sense with reading the previous books. I LOVED books 1 and 2 with all the action and just this amazing Kane and Abel chemistry and relationship that for me, I was missing this in this one. It's a 1 book story for this couple so it's expected that I'm not as invested in them compared to Abel and Kane. I did like the plot though and the grittiness in the book.
March 21, 2022
DNF
I liked the first book, but this book was just awful! I plan on reading the final book of the series and I hope its way better than this one.
I liked the first book, but this book was just awful! I plan on reading the final book of the series and I hope its way better than this one.
May 12, 2022
Bad boys are better
I love the broken ones they always bury themselves into my heart so fast and so easily. The plot was even better in this book and I have a feeling it’s going to be kicked up a notch in book 3. I absolutely love the writing style in this series, Im not sure what it’s classified as. But I like that the characters have these conversations with themselves and sort of with the reader. I love how even though both characters in this book are technically human Diego is basically alien to the concept of humanity. It’s clever. This was not as angsty but the spicy moments we get are incredibly sexy. I think one of my favorite things about romances where one of the characters is broken is how incredibly sweet those stories end up being. Pia is no Abel, but then who is? She holds her own though. I don’t love her but I never felt like she didn’t deserve Diego which is a win. I can’t wait to get to the drama that seems in store in book 3. It’s giving fighting fate vibes and I love that for me lol.
I love the broken ones they always bury themselves into my heart so fast and so easily. The plot was even better in this book and I have a feeling it’s going to be kicked up a notch in book 3. I absolutely love the writing style in this series, Im not sure what it’s classified as. But I like that the characters have these conversations with themselves and sort of with the reader. I love how even though both characters in this book are technically human Diego is basically alien to the concept of humanity. It’s clever. This was not as angsty but the spicy moments we get are incredibly sexy. I think one of my favorite things about romances where one of the characters is broken is how incredibly sweet those stories end up being. Pia is no Abel, but then who is? She holds her own though. I don’t love her but I never felt like she didn’t deserve Diego which is a win. I can’t wait to get to the drama that seems in store in book 3. It’s giving fighting fate vibes and I love that for me lol.
November 22, 2020
This story is a 2020 favourite for me. I was gripped from the very first page and cannot wait for the next book in this series.
Diego & Pia’s story is brutal. It’s ugly and painful and so beautifully raw - I loved it!! It’s the kind of book that makes you wonder what you would do to survive.
Packed with action, love and friendships that everyone hopes for. I absolutely loved it!
I received an arc of this book.
Diego & Pia’s story is brutal. It’s ugly and painful and so beautifully raw - I loved it!! It’s the kind of book that makes you wonder what you would do to survive.
Packed with action, love and friendships that everyone hopes for. I absolutely loved it!
I received an arc of this book.
November 19, 2020
Get ready for a raw and gritty ride
This book picks up where book 2 left off, and man, oh man...what a ride! Diego is a bit of a sociopath who you grow to love as he learns to grow. Definitely read the first two books before reading this one!
This book picks up where book 2 left off, and man, oh man...what a ride! Diego is a bit of a sociopath who you grow to love as he learns to grow. Definitely read the first two books before reading this one!
November 14, 2020
Love this book! This story is twisted and redemptive.
Highly recommend that you read books 1 and 2 before this one, but that is no great hassle as they are amazing as well.
Highly recommend that you read books 1 and 2 before this one, but that is no great hassle as they are amazing as well.
March 17, 2021
almost gave up in the middle, because the narrative voice was just too choppy for me to make much sense out of it at times.
however, i do appreciate the fact that the hero’s stutter never went away or was magically “cured” or whatnot.
however, i do appreciate the fact that the hero’s stutter never went away or was magically “cured” or whatnot.
December 20, 2020
Book 3 in the Population series is even more fantastic than expected. Although it could be read as a standalone, I feel you'd get much more out of it by reading the previous two books first.
I love how damaged Diego is. Not physically, although Stephens writes the grisly wounds well, but mentally and emotionally. I could feel the character arc coming from page one (victim to Hero). Initially I thought that Pia was so innocent she made a great juxtaposition with Diego but things aren't always as they appear. The dystopian world building in this series is a fascinating blend of sci fi and urban fiction. I'll admit, I got a little complacent following Abel's character growth in the previous books and forgot how crazy and savage the people of Population have to be to live. For some reason I assumed Pia and Luke were always Kane's people. You know what assuming makes? What a wonderfully twisted pair Pia and Diego are. With the boss fight with cannibal Jack coming, will our favorite dysfunctional family win?
**Trigger warning for female abuse in a variety of forms and Mad Max style insanity**
"'I love you,' I blurt, and it comes without consequences - without any physical consequences. Just one perfect sentence. One lonely truth."
I love how damaged Diego is. Not physically, although Stephens writes the grisly wounds well, but mentally and emotionally. I could feel the character arc coming from page one (victim to Hero). Initially I thought that Pia was so innocent she made a great juxtaposition with Diego but things aren't always as they appear. The dystopian world building in this series is a fascinating blend of sci fi and urban fiction. I'll admit, I got a little complacent following Abel's character growth in the previous books and forgot how crazy and savage the people of Population have to be to live. For some reason I assumed Pia and Luke were always Kane's people. You know what assuming makes? What a wonderfully twisted pair Pia and Diego are. With the boss fight with cannibal Jack coming, will our favorite dysfunctional family win?
**Trigger warning for female abuse in a variety of forms and Mad Max style insanity**
"'I love you,' I blurt, and it comes without consequences - without any physical consequences. Just one perfect sentence. One lonely truth."
March 27, 2021
In order to truly follow and understand the psychological turmoil and sewage that is Diego, I would highly recommend reading Saltlands otherwise nothing will make sense and you won’t make it past the first chapter; hell! the few pages in the chapter.
It is not a read for the squeamish. It is very violent and brutal, just like Saltlands, maybe more? however, Diego has to unlearn years of abuse and essentially brainwashing from a person who had so much influence and control over him. He’s no innocent by any means and he’s done things I’d rather not recount. But ES finds a way to humanize him some, has him redeeming himself by performing unintentional selfless deeds. She even finds him a lover, Pia, that sees past all the bad and deplorable both physical and emotional. I also found myself laughing a few times with introduction of Constanzia and her crew. That was a welcomed distraction mixed in with the violence.
And I liked that Abel and Kane and even Mikael were consistent in their character developments and involvement with trying to rescue folks from population.
I say give it a chance, stick with the story and Diego’s evolvement. He makes up for the all bad eventually.
I enjoyed it. I appreciated it more from second reading with the Box set version (bks 1-3)that I received as an ARC.
I will definitely have to give book 3 another go, but at another time, likely when bk 4 is about to be released.
It is not a read for the squeamish. It is very violent and brutal, just like Saltlands, maybe more? however, Diego has to unlearn years of abuse and essentially brainwashing from a person who had so much influence and control over him. He’s no innocent by any means and he’s done things I’d rather not recount. But ES finds a way to humanize him some, has him redeeming himself by performing unintentional selfless deeds. She even finds him a lover, Pia, that sees past all the bad and deplorable both physical and emotional. I also found myself laughing a few times with introduction of Constanzia and her crew. That was a welcomed distraction mixed in with the violence.
And I liked that Abel and Kane and even Mikael were consistent in their character developments and involvement with trying to rescue folks from population.
I say give it a chance, stick with the story and Diego’s evolvement. He makes up for the all bad eventually.
I enjoyed it. I appreciated it more from second reading with the Box set version (bks 1-3)that I received as an ARC.
I will definitely have to give book 3 another go, but at another time, likely when bk 4 is about to be released.
February 22, 2022
I feel like I have been waiting for this book to be finished for a long time and I wasn't disappointed. If anything I was sad when I finished it, but not without the author teasing about the next book, that I will be impatiently waiting for.
It was truly enjoyable reading this story through the eyes of the Lahve, which gives you a better understanding of who and what he is. I loved the interactions he had with the humans and how he tried to decipher everything they said and did. It was even more entertaining when those interactions got misconstrued and he took things said and done quite literally. On the same note, his internal monologue also gives you insight on his life before encountering humans and why he may be confused at times. Over the course of the book you can start seeing the change in the Lahve as he starts to understand humans more and accept this new world as it is and his new role in it.
Before, his entire life depended on him being impartial and neutral, until he met Candy. It's like there's suddenly something he can gain from his life besides his duty as Lahve. And as his interest in Candy grows, he begins blurring the lines between his duty as Lahve and his own desires.
Because of Candy's past, their story seems to take the route of a slow burn, but once sparks started flying, things burned HOT and it was defintely worth the wait. Like, definitely worth the wait....especially for the Lahve...about 3000 years of waiting to be exact. You'll see what I mean. Lol.
Needless to say I highly recommend this book and the entire series. If you enjoy romance, action, aliens, dystopian future with a little bit of blood and trauma along the way, then this is definitely a awesome choice.
This was a fantastic read and once again I will be impatiently awaiting the next book.
It was truly enjoyable reading this story through the eyes of the Lahve, which gives you a better understanding of who and what he is. I loved the interactions he had with the humans and how he tried to decipher everything they said and did. It was even more entertaining when those interactions got misconstrued and he took things said and done quite literally. On the same note, his internal monologue also gives you insight on his life before encountering humans and why he may be confused at times. Over the course of the book you can start seeing the change in the Lahve as he starts to understand humans more and accept this new world as it is and his new role in it.
Before, his entire life depended on him being impartial and neutral, until he met Candy. It's like there's suddenly something he can gain from his life besides his duty as Lahve. And as his interest in Candy grows, he begins blurring the lines between his duty as Lahve and his own desires.
Because of Candy's past, their story seems to take the route of a slow burn, but once sparks started flying, things burned HOT and it was defintely worth the wait. Like, definitely worth the wait....especially for the Lahve...about 3000 years of waiting to be exact. You'll see what I mean. Lol.
Needless to say I highly recommend this book and the entire series. If you enjoy romance, action, aliens, dystopian future with a little bit of blood and trauma along the way, then this is definitely a awesome choice.
This was a fantastic read and once again I will be impatiently awaiting the next book.
November 29, 2020
Generation One An Alien Invasion Sci-Fi Romance (Book Three)
By Elizabeth Stephens
This review contains a few spoilers from the first 2 books of the series. It would be better to have read the first 2 books to fully understand and appreciate the connections and references made in this book.
I was given an ARC in exchange for my free and honest opinion.
Left for dead by his former gang, Diego is robbed of his sought after death by the “Corpse” he cut down/rescued also known as Abel. As the new Notare Abel’s goal is to find and save as many Humans and Others as to populate her newly acquired land of Notare Elise. His constant companion as the group travels is the voice of his old gang leader, “Jack” who adds his commentary as Diego resurrects back to a more humane society. Witnessing healthy relationships doesn’t fit into Diego’s world view. In this third book Ms. Stephens ventures back into Population, the wild and dangerous territory that made Diego the man he has become. He learns how to “feel” for people one connection at a time and he slowly learns how to express himself in spite of his “cursed” stutter. His first baffling connection is “Pia” a small woman he can’t see surviving in Population. Battle scenes are fast, brutal, and believable throughout their journey. I especially enjoy the interspersing of recognizable song lyrics that pop up at the funniest times. When the bedraggled caravan arrives at their destination you have a feeling that there is more to come. It isn’t a cliffhanger, but you want another book to lengthen your time in this strange world where Aliens and Humans of different ethnicities and races are coming together to create a home for “Generation One.”
By Elizabeth Stephens
This review contains a few spoilers from the first 2 books of the series. It would be better to have read the first 2 books to fully understand and appreciate the connections and references made in this book.
I was given an ARC in exchange for my free and honest opinion.
Left for dead by his former gang, Diego is robbed of his sought after death by the “Corpse” he cut down/rescued also known as Abel. As the new Notare Abel’s goal is to find and save as many Humans and Others as to populate her newly acquired land of Notare Elise. His constant companion as the group travels is the voice of his old gang leader, “Jack” who adds his commentary as Diego resurrects back to a more humane society. Witnessing healthy relationships doesn’t fit into Diego’s world view. In this third book Ms. Stephens ventures back into Population, the wild and dangerous territory that made Diego the man he has become. He learns how to “feel” for people one connection at a time and he slowly learns how to express himself in spite of his “cursed” stutter. His first baffling connection is “Pia” a small woman he can’t see surviving in Population. Battle scenes are fast, brutal, and believable throughout their journey. I especially enjoy the interspersing of recognizable song lyrics that pop up at the funniest times. When the bedraggled caravan arrives at their destination you have a feeling that there is more to come. It isn’t a cliffhanger, but you want another book to lengthen your time in this strange world where Aliens and Humans of different ethnicities and races are coming together to create a home for “Generation One.”
October 9, 2022
Alien April 2022
4.5⭐️
HOLY FUCKING SMOKES. It's possibly even darker, more gritty and with even more horrendous situations than book 1.
CW Suicide ideation.
This book, as a romance, took me so far out of my boundaries with the MMC. There are some things that went on between him and Pia that really did stretch me. But what made me buy it was being shown, through his inner monologues, how he ended up the person he was.
I'm no expert (far from it) but Diego is what I understand a sociopath to be - someone more likely to be made* by unfortunate circumstances and experiences into a person who carries out atrocities rather than a psychopath - someone who was more likely to be born* with the will and need to carry them out without m/any outside influences.
The fact that by the end I was all in for him getting his HEA, and willing to if not forgive necessarily, but certainly to disregard his past actions, is 100% due to how the author wrote his character. I felt an enormous amount of empathy for his struggles, and it clearly was a struggle for him an a neverending basis. He is clearly suffering from trauma despite being the villain in the story of so many of his fellow humans in Population, and by the end of this book even though he has turned a page he has not totally changed. His new found relationship gives him the strength to fight against them, but doesn't cure his demons, or in fact his extreme stutter - again which I was incredibly impressed with in terms of how it was presented to us.
There was no magical vagina in this romance... (lost rest of review)
4.5⭐️
HOLY FUCKING SMOKES. It's possibly even darker, more gritty and with even more horrendous situations than book 1.
CW Suicide ideation.
This book, as a romance, took me so far out of my boundaries with the MMC. There are some things that went on between him and Pia that really did stretch me. But what made me buy it was being shown, through his inner monologues, how he ended up the person he was.
I'm no expert (far from it) but Diego is what I understand a sociopath to be - someone more likely to be made* by unfortunate circumstances and experiences into a person who carries out atrocities rather than a psychopath - someone who was more likely to be born* with the will and need to carry them out without m/any outside influences.
The fact that by the end I was all in for him getting his HEA, and willing to if not forgive necessarily, but certainly to disregard his past actions, is 100% due to how the author wrote his character. I felt an enormous amount of empathy for his struggles, and it clearly was a struggle for him an a neverending basis. He is clearly suffering from trauma despite being the villain in the story of so many of his fellow humans in Population, and by the end of this book even though he has turned a page he has not totally changed. His new found relationship gives him the strength to fight against them, but doesn't cure his demons, or in fact his extreme stutter - again which I was incredibly impressed with in terms of how it was presented to us.
There was no magical vagina in this romance... (lost rest of review)
January 24, 2021
Beauty and the violent, stuttering Beast
In order to truly follow and understand the psychological turmoil and sewage that is Diego, I would highly recommend reading Saltlands otherwise nothing will make sense and you won’t make it past the first chapter; hell! the few pages in the chapter.
It is not a read for the squeamish. It is very violent and brutal, just like Saltlands, maybe more? however, Diego has to unlearn years of abuse and essentially brainwashing from a person who had so much influence and control over him. He’s no innocent by any means and he’s done things I’d rather not recount. But ES finds a way to humanize him some, has him redeeming himself by performing unintentional selfless deeds. She even finds him a lover Pia, that sees past all the bad and deplorable both physical and emotional. I also found myself laughing a few times with introduction of Constanzia and her crew. That was a welcomed distraction mixed in with the violence.
And I liked that Abel and Kane and even Mikael were consistent in their character developments and involvement with trying to rescue folks from population.
I say give it a chance, stick with the story and Diego’s evolvement. He makes up for the all bad eventually.
I enjoyed it. I appreciated it more from second reading with the Box set version (bks 1-3)that I received as an ARC.
I will definitely have to give book 3 another go, but at another time, likely when bk 4 is about to be released.
In order to truly follow and understand the psychological turmoil and sewage that is Diego, I would highly recommend reading Saltlands otherwise nothing will make sense and you won’t make it past the first chapter; hell! the few pages in the chapter.
It is not a read for the squeamish. It is very violent and brutal, just like Saltlands, maybe more? however, Diego has to unlearn years of abuse and essentially brainwashing from a person who had so much influence and control over him. He’s no innocent by any means and he’s done things I’d rather not recount. But ES finds a way to humanize him some, has him redeeming himself by performing unintentional selfless deeds. She even finds him a lover Pia, that sees past all the bad and deplorable both physical and emotional. I also found myself laughing a few times with introduction of Constanzia and her crew. That was a welcomed distraction mixed in with the violence.
And I liked that Abel and Kane and even Mikael were consistent in their character developments and involvement with trying to rescue folks from population.
I say give it a chance, stick with the story and Diego’s evolvement. He makes up for the all bad eventually.
I enjoyed it. I appreciated it more from second reading with the Box set version (bks 1-3)that I received as an ARC.
I will definitely have to give book 3 another go, but at another time, likely when bk 4 is about to be released.
March 11, 2021
I give this book a solid 4.5 stars. I subtracted .5 stars due to the subject matter and its ability to be hard to digest, i.e., this book was hard to take. This review involves neither pros nor cons, but wonderment. There are damaged people and then there are people so damaged that it is hard to believe that they could ever recover. Diego was one of them. How the writer managed to penetrate and embody his persona is beyond me…unless she was Diego or experienced Diego. Diego’s inner monologue and inner dialogue between he and Jack were beyond belief. I wonder what experiences and life events lead the author to write so convincingly about such a person. Secondly, the characters themselves breathed life into the book: Jack from “Saltlands”, the 70s-truck-driving-singing-female warriors and the Dixie brothers who wanted to impregnate their sister to bring back their mother are listed among the cast of characters. Lastly, the twist in which the ever-innocent Pia embroiled Diego topped all. This book kept us guessing until the very end. Kudos to the author to be able to write such a novel and captivate the readers. However, if readers are looking for a non-gut wrenching, easily palatable book. This is not it.
April 1, 2022
Could not put down!
I cannot get enough of the dark villian Diego, in post alien apocalyptic world. He is a Damaged Brutal Strong Protective human that can destroy any alien. I loved his inner demon dialogue and eventually his strength to overcome. What he has gone through and survived shaped him into a voracious fighter.
Saving Abel nearly cost him his life by the hand of his abuser and also began an unknowing journey towards redemption.
Diego meets his match in Pia. She faces him head on, and Diego can’t understand why she would ever want a scarred freak like him. There interaction had my heart in my throat. The author did such a great job with the physical connection and prior trauma.
I highlighted this word in the book “Resilient”- I keep going back to it, and I feel that is why I connect and adore this series. The humans in Abel’s crew that survived population are resilient and keep on living . They may be harden but one thing they know how to do is survive, love, find moments of happiness, and have hope.
I look forward to reading more of Constanzia and her merry band of fighting woman mercenaries. Also Hoping Mikey finds happiness too.
I cannot get enough of the dark villian Diego, in post alien apocalyptic world. He is a Damaged Brutal Strong Protective human that can destroy any alien. I loved his inner demon dialogue and eventually his strength to overcome. What he has gone through and survived shaped him into a voracious fighter.
Saving Abel nearly cost him his life by the hand of his abuser and also began an unknowing journey towards redemption.
Diego meets his match in Pia. She faces him head on, and Diego can’t understand why she would ever want a scarred freak like him. There interaction had my heart in my throat. The author did such a great job with the physical connection and prior trauma.
I highlighted this word in the book “Resilient”- I keep going back to it, and I feel that is why I connect and adore this series. The humans in Abel’s crew that survived population are resilient and keep on living . They may be harden but one thing they know how to do is survive, love, find moments of happiness, and have hope.
I look forward to reading more of Constanzia and her merry band of fighting woman mercenaries. Also Hoping Mikey finds happiness too.
May 11, 2022
4.95 ⭐️
3 🌶
5 🏰
Trope: Post-apocalyptic, Aliens, Scarred hero, Beauty-and-the-beast
OMFG I thought NOTHING could beat the first book but I've been proved wrong! I had to put Monster in the Oasis on hold after reading the first chapter (because of life 🙄), but when I picked it back up again last night, I couldn't put it down!
Honestly, I have no words but to say I LOVED EVERY BIT OF THIS BOOK! I'm absolutely frothing this series so hard.
I want to write out an elaborate and in-depth review, but I can't because right now my brain is mush and I'm itching to start the next book. So to summarise I'll just say: READ IT!
.05 ⭐️ off because the ending felt abrupt and I wanted more (maybe that's just me being greedy lol)
Few TWs: mention of rape, murderous thoughts (at every page turn), mention of torture
3 🌶
5 🏰
Trope: Post-apocalyptic, Aliens, Scarred hero, Beauty-and-the-beast
OMFG I thought NOTHING could beat the first book but I've been proved wrong! I had to put Monster in the Oasis on hold after reading the first chapter (because of life 🙄), but when I picked it back up again last night, I couldn't put it down!
Honestly, I have no words but to say I LOVED EVERY BIT OF THIS BOOK! I'm absolutely frothing this series so hard.
I want to write out an elaborate and in-depth review, but I can't because right now my brain is mush and I'm itching to start the next book. So to summarise I'll just say: READ IT!
.05 ⭐️ off because the ending felt abrupt and I wanted more (maybe that's just me being greedy lol)
Few TWs: mention of rape, murderous thoughts (at every page turn), mention of torture
November 16, 2020
Oh how I missed this raw, gritty, violent but passionate world. I have waited so long for this book and the adventure to continue and man did it ever. I had forgotten how much I liked the style in which the previous books were written but all it took was to read the first page of Generation 1 for it to all come flooding back to me. It’s just so gritty and emotional without being so emotional; if you know what I mean(not sure how that is even possible). And then there is Diego! What can I even say. Scarred, bad and psychologically messed up, yet I loved him. Elizabeth deciding to write this from his POV just added an additional depth to the story. This book is a must read and I can’t wait for the next one.
February 28, 2022
5⭐️
OH. MY. GOODNESS. elizabeth simply does not miss!! this series just keeps getting better and better. i will not lie - i was nervous for this one since it’s all told from the guy’s POV, but on god, if it had not been, the story would not have been the same.
diego is by far one of my favorite book characters. this man endured SO MUCH freaking trauma and made it on the other side. pia is the perfect woman for him, and the plot twist about her?!? was not expecting that at all. as with the first book, the action & violence in this is really well written. i was intrigued and felt like i was right in the story, experiencing it all.
PLEASE CHECK CW/TW for this!! this story is HEAVY, stay safe loves <3
*i received an ARC of this book*
OH. MY. GOODNESS. elizabeth simply does not miss!! this series just keeps getting better and better. i will not lie - i was nervous for this one since it’s all told from the guy’s POV, but on god, if it had not been, the story would not have been the same.
diego is by far one of my favorite book characters. this man endured SO MUCH freaking trauma and made it on the other side. pia is the perfect woman for him, and the plot twist about her?!? was not expecting that at all. as with the first book, the action & violence in this is really well written. i was intrigued and felt like i was right in the story, experiencing it all.
PLEASE CHECK CW/TW for this!! this story is HEAVY, stay safe loves <3
*i received an ARC of this book*
January 24, 2023
Leave it to Elizabeth Stephens to take a stereotypically irredeemable character and make us fall in love with him. There were multiple times where I had to put this book down and just think for a second… like what was she thinking when she wrote Diego? He had to be really difficult to write, definitely check your TWs before reading his story..
One critique of ES’s writing style I have after reading both books 1 and 2 is that the MC’s love interest isn’t the most robust in terms of characters. I found that I felt like Kane from book 1 was a little lack luster as the book went on, and Pia in book 2 just didn’t have a ton of personality.. but I still liked both characters and the way they balance the crazy MC’s.. because her MC’s are always a little unhinged and I’m here for that.
One critique of ES’s writing style I have after reading both books 1 and 2 is that the MC’s love interest isn’t the most robust in terms of characters. I found that I felt like Kane from book 1 was a little lack luster as the book went on, and Pia in book 2 just didn’t have a ton of personality.. but I still liked both characters and the way they balance the crazy MC’s.. because her MC’s are always a little unhinged and I’m here for that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2024
I will never ever understand why brutality and rape against women have become such a hot trope topic. I just don’t get it. And the amount of praise I see in reviews dumbfounds me. I like dark, but to a degree. When it’s paired with a rapist and a barely legal virginal girl, I will never get behind that. Why is it so prevalent in books today? What happened to Kari Arthur, Illiona Andrew’s? When a books sole plot is an inexperienced teen getting with a guy who loves to rape and take a girls virginity, that’s the sole plot, how does anyone enjoy that? I truly do not understand. Yes, it’s fantasy. But it has an agenda. Especially in today’s society.
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