Ignite

Inferno Force of the Drexian Warriors #1

by Tana Stone

Aliens are real, they happen to be gorgeous, and there’s no way I’d ever agree to be a tribute bride for them.

Now that everyone on Earth knows about the Drexians—and their need for human mates—women have been falling all over themselves to volunteer. But not me.

Oh, I’m eager to go to the holographic space station where human brides are taken for their fantasy weddings and honeymoons. But I’m there to work, not fall in love. If the captain of the ship will let me do my job.

The last thing I need is some cocky alien who questions my abilities. Even if he is a hot Drexian warrior who looks at me like I’m a snack.

Kalex may be acting captain of the new Love Boat being built on the outskirts of the galaxy, but that doesn’t mean he calls the shots. At least not when it comes to the design of the space station. That’s my job. A job he makes more difficult at every turn.

When things start to go wrong on the station, Kalex and I are forced to work together to save the station. But as tempers fly and sparks ignite, can we save the Boat and ourselves from the deadly Kronock plot?

This standalone sci-fi romance novel features steamy scenes on an alien space station, a smoking-hot Inferno Force captain who does not like to be disobeyed, and a guaranteed HEA. If you like feisty heroines, aliens with extra erogenous zones, and lots of adventure, you’ll love IGNITE, the first book in Tana Stone’s sci-fi romance Inferno Force of the Drexian Warriors series.

Genres: Aliens, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Paranormal, Fantasy

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2021

About the author

I love sexy aliens and independent heroines. I grew up on Star Trek: Next Generation and Star Wars (and I adore them equally). My favorite superhero is Thor (with Aquaman a close second because, well, Jason Momoa), my favorite dessert is key lime pie (okay, fine, all pie), and I still lament the loss of Firefly.

I live in North Carolina in the US and have one husband, two teenagers, and two neurotic cats. I sometimes wish I could teleport to a holographic space station like the one in my tribute brides series (or maybe vacation at the oasis with the sand planet barbarians). :-) When I'm not writing, I love to paddleboard, dive, travel, and read obsessively!

Want to hang out with me in my private Facebook group? Join on all the fun at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tanas...


Reviews

[Sweet and Salty Reviews by DD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a somewhat typical sci-fi read for me in the aspect of 1) tribute brides 2) humans the only ones able to breed 3) evil alien species out to ruin the new relations between them....BUT that is where the similarities end.

Stone lays out an enjoyable storyline some can relate too. Loss of a loved one, feelings of not being good/strong enough, and fear of any further losses. Zoey and Kalex story is emotional yet there are some insane sexual experiences I did not see coming. Even though there are some relatable series to this one, Stone's story telling is what makes it a good read for me.

Happy reading,
DD 💕

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steamy goodness but with some small plot holes.



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🖤💙💜❤️🩵
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 🙂🥰😎😄
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration

The Hero: Kalex - He is acting captain of the newest space station during its construction, his duty was to make sure the station was safe from an attack by the Kronok’s, their dreaded enemies. He can’t wait to get back to his battleship with the Inferno Force of the Drexian Warriors. He has been trying to adhere to Drexian military standards by requiring himself and his warriors wear their uniforms. When they are fighting in the far reaches of space, they are more lax with the rules and often walk around and fight shirtless. The station is nicknamed the island and is where human tribute brides are brought to meet and marry their warriors.

The heroine: Zoey - she is an astro-architect. Her current posting is on the new space station. She is helping to design different areas and features of the station. This was her first job as an architect in space. She was the first astro-architect in space. Her fiancé had died in battle and she didn’t like how people looked at her when they knew, so she kept that part of her life a secret on the space station. She plans to never marry.

The Story: Kalex thinks they would be better off if they have never found out that human women are compatible with Drexian warriors and they could get back to being focused on defeating the Kronos and making the galaxy safe for all. Though Kalex was attracted to Zoey from the first. He didn’t want to admit it, even to himself. He found himself imagining himself dominating her and fantasized about his desires for her. He knew she hated him, so knew there was no future for them.

I enjoyed this steamy alien romance. The intimate scenes between them were extremely hot and I was in the mood for the antagonistic and rough dominant play that they enjoyed. There was also a good side story about some anomalies in the security of the space station possibly being the Kronok’s initial attempts to attack the station. Though I did think that the way Zoey kept getting annoyed because Kalex didn’t keep her up to date at every minute about security concerns on the ship, she acted like it was needed for her job, but she was an architect, not a security consultant, so I thought she was just too fond of her own perceived importance.

This audiobook was told in multiple points of view and was narrated in duet narration by Aubrey Vincent and Adam Prugh. Adam Prugh has a nice deep voice, with a bit of a rough edge that I liked quite a bit. This was my first audiobook with him as a narrator and I enjoyed it. Aubrey Vincent has a nice voice and sounds natural and expressive as she narrates. I liked her voice as well.

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[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars ⭐️

I had read reviews on this latest series of Tana Stone’s Inferno Force Warriors, with some stating this story was not as good as the ones from the original series. I have to say I totally disagree. This is Tana Stone at her finest. Full on action, a grumpy Drexian Captain in Kalix and a very sassy female human in Zoey, and sparks fly every time they interact. I loved it. It does have a cliff hangar, with Jax missing, but his story is next.

[Book Snob Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew….these two. They were so explosive, that I can’t believe they didn’t blow up the damn space station they were on…seriously though, the heat. If you are with a Drexian Warrior they ruin you from wanting anyone else…is that fair to say? I think it is. Kalek is Captain on the ship Zoey is working on, she is the Astro-architect. And these two buttheads all the time, I feel like now we know it’s all that sexual chemistry they were trying to fight, because these two have an abundance of it.

Safe read, with a stubborn scorching couple, and their ship shenanigans. Great storyline, next book please…nowish would be great.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everything about this was a bit too underdeveloped. Never felt a connection to the characters or story.

[Shelley G · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fantastic start to a new spin off series of hot alien men finding their human mates and all the fun, drama, hassle, and struggles of getting to their happy ending.
here we have a captain who doesn't want the job guarding a new space station because he'd rather be fighting with his team of inferno force fighers and a human woman who is the first astro architect who has experienced the loss of a loved fiance and doesn't want to ever hurt like that again. they rub each other the wrong way and fight constantly bumping heads at every turn. then they discover they are highly attracted to each other and decide to have some no strings attached fun while keeping their sexual relationship on the down low.
throw in some enemy aliens who are trying to find a way to jump into the same space as the station, a bunch of excitement, drama, suspense plus the potential of the captain never finding his way back to the station from a wormhole and zoey finally admits to herself she is in love with Kalex the captain who miraculously gets sucked back into the wormhole to the station.
book one leaves us with a bit of a cliffhanger that leads into book two while ending book one and man I am stoked to read it as soon as it comes out. this is a must read series along with the others from this author.
I received an arc copy of this book and this is my honest voluntary review.

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ignited🎆 Kind of a Dud


ADULT Alpha Alien 👽Male Sci-fi Romance💕 and Adventure🚀. Hate to Love 💘. It fizzled when it should have sizzled 🔥....
Drexian Captain, Kalex🐺🍆⛲🔪🔫, is bored out of his mind doing duty being captain of the space station D-359💫 also known as the Island, while his new ship is being built. Even so, he misses the old Inferno Force ships when he and his fellow Drexian Warriors were fighting the Kronock🐍.

The tribute human bride program instituted when the Drexians saved 🌎 Earth from the Kronock 🐍has given way to human women💃💋 clamoring to become Drexian mates👰. The men 🐺🍆⛲🔪🔫are so tall and handsome, and so loving 💘and protective, what woman💃💋 could resist?

Human woman, Zoey💃💋 has been assigned to work with the Drexian scientists on the station.💫. She is an annoyance and a distraction to Kalex.🐺🍆⛲🔪🔫 When she skips over him in the chain of command to delay some of the construction on the space station, Kalex's annoyance with her comes to a head!

ARC Provided by Book Funnel🌀
I also got this ebook from Amazon 📚with KU.

This book ends in a cliffhanger. The novel uses the same tired characters from previous books over and over. I thought this was a new series, but it has mostly the same characters. Lots of dialogue, not much action. Disappointed.

[Spinneretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Zoey is the architect tasked with designing the new space-station for Drexian brides.
Kalex is the captain in charge of the space station, and Zoey is a pain in his behind.
The two of them butt heads at the best of times, but soon those passionate feelings take a romantic turn.

Zoey and Kalex both have a little trauma in their pasts that have led them to where they are, and it takes a little time for them to overcome it.
Kalex is a typical, controlling Drexian, but Zoey is no pushover. She’s a powerful woman who has had to fight to make her way in the world, and it makes for the perfect match.

While this is the first in the Inferno Force series featuring the Drexians, many of the side characters have appeared in the Tribute Bride series. It’s not necessary to have read those first, just a little more advantageous as far as setting the scene goes.

There is a little action in this book, a lot of romance, and plenty of adventure.

Recommended for those who love sci-fi romance.

[Trixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have a series starter where the humans are willing brides to our Drexian warriors. First in the lead but was not a candidate for a bride is our Inferno Force Captain, Kalex, partnered with our equally reluctant Astro-architect, Zoey. It was quite fun watching the sparks fly every time they meet but then the sparks ignited something inside. They both don’t want to be mated and are planning to return to their old post, will they allow the flame to grew or will it to die?

There being an Inferno Force involved, expect some action and danger and a great big love

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

missed opportunity

Had making for more laughs, emotional moments. Will not spoil read for others. Wished they had more real dialogue and emotional bonding. Basically they were hooking up then “fell in love”. Too quick to believe. But looking forward to next in series.

[Dru · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶.5
🔥🔥.5
🎧🎧🎧🎧 Dual Narration, Dual POV

DNF at 85%. I know, I nearly finished it, but I just couldn’t stay engaged. The story had a hard time holding my attention. It’s not a bad alien book by any means, but I found myself dragging through the chapters and ultimately lost the motivation to finish.

I even bought the audiobook to help me through it...nope.

[Harlequin Madness · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the storyline, and the world of the Drexians. My problem with this book is with the chatacter development. Once again, I read a book that has a FMC that is so unlikeable that I nearly did not finish the book. And while I liked the MMC, Kalex, at one point I was losing respect for him for continuing with Zoey regardless of her self-entitled actions.

For example, he’s going to her quarters to discuss some anomalous energy readings, thinking it may have to do with the construction aboard the station. They get waylaid due to a kiss and then doing the “dirty” so obviously it never comes up. The next day, she learns about these odd readings from someone else and then loses it because Kalex kept her in the dark about it and he should have kept her in the loop. And rather than let him come to her, since he has to ya know RUN a space station and all, she goes marching into the bridge to confront him. She never once stops to think that perhaps that was the reason he showed up at her door the night before. No, she just flies off the handle at him AND HE ENDS UP APOLOGIZING TO HER! I’m done.

There’s a few other examples of why I hate her so much, but it’s basically the same thing. Something happens, he tries to tell her but they up having sex so of course he doesn’t get the chance. She later finds out and WHAMO, she’s pissed at him for cutting her out of the loop. I ended up just skimming through so I could keep up with the storyline. But by the time I finished it, I really didn’t care about either character. Usually, I love to get updates on a couple in subsequent books. I can honestly say that I don’t give a shit if these two never show up in another book again.

Should you read the book? I guess that’s up to you. Some people don’t seem to mind FMCs like this, but I abhor them. So I’m not gonna recommend the book, you take my review for what it’s worth.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well that was disappointing. The synopsis says “When things start to go wrong on the station…” One thing went wrong, and it wasn’t even related to the alien enemy, it was just a workplace accident. “…we’ll have to work together to save the station.” They never worked together! Not once. She worked on the station’s construction and he was in charge of the station, so they crossed paths and talked a lot (and developed a casual sex relationship that grew into more), but the one alien incursion he handled himself and she was only peripherally aware of it.

I ended up skimming a lot cause I was bored and waiting for something engaging to happen, but it never did. It’s well written and a fine book, but I need more happening to the characters.

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not care for Kalex for about 1/2 the book.  Why would a woman want a man who sleeps with hookers?  It was annoying how much Kalex and Jax talked about sleeping with hookers - sometimes more than one woman at a time.  Yuck!  Who would want his dirty dick? The next book is about Jax...  I may skip it.  I would rather have Vekron's story.

Update:
I did not skip the next book and I am so glad I didn't. It was awesome!

[*˚Remnant Light ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3/5 stars**

Yeah so, I think I was supposed to read ''Tribute Brides of the Drexian Warriors #1-3'' beforehand. I had a feeling I was missing something. There were explanation and description of events that were so particular and precise that I just kept thinking there had to be books about it. I think that reading the Tribute Brides serie before Inferno will give a better ground to the story and comprehension. So I would probably recommend that.

[Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a great continuation of the great Drexian Warriors series. Im so glad this series is continuing as a spin-off for the Inferno force and this didn't disappoint for the most part. Really liked the changes they made to the whole tribute bride thing making it more conceptual which helps the Drexians not get so much blowback by being accused of kidnapping.
Anyway, i liked the dynamics between all the characters and how they set up the side characters for the other books, and the Love-hate dynamic between Zoey and Kalex Love-hate couples who fight then fall for each other as they are fighting (lol) are some of my favorites by Tana Stone (my favorite being Tori and Vrax from the Barbarians of the Sand Planet); however at times i did have a love-hate relationship with Zoey. She was great for the most part but at times she did get a little too competitive and kinda entitled.

****SOME SPOILERS BELOW*********
To elaborate about Zoey some more:

The things i liked about her:
I really liked her basic dynamic with Kalex and how they both frustrate each other and can't get enough of each other as well. Her headstrong personality was great at times and she had a great commitment to doing her job right. Also during the steamy parts, it was very fiery between them and a lot of that is do to them even fighting during sez and her awesome dirty talk with him lol.

Things i didn't like:
By her being too combative at times i mean that at some points like trying to do her job right she was great being combative but at other points, i was thinking shes crossing a line. Like She took her role as An Astro-Architect way too far like shes the same Rank as a ship Captain with that role. She felt like she could barge into anywhere in the ship even in military meetings just cause she was an Astro Architect. She acted like should know everything that goes on in the ship even from high-ranking military officers and the captain just cause shes a designer of buildings. She kept getting upset Kalex didnt tell her things that he shouldn't even have to cause they should olny be told to fellow military officers.
Also it felt like Kalex started none of the fights. Like She is the one who started all of them as i read and most of the time Kalex didnt even purposely provoke her or try and lash out but she kept getting angry at him.

Anyway, still she had good moments and still won me over by the end so i really most of their relationship. I still cant wait to read the next book as it was really set up great with this one.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now it's time for the Inferno Warriors who aren't looking for a bride to spar off against earth women.
Warrior alpha aliens whose lives are spent keeping the peace but for some it is in the front lines fighting an enemy who destroys worlds. Earth doesn’t know aliens exist except for the government. A deal was made, and women are given in exchange for protection.
This fun tale sees women and warriors come together to build a new space station that is supposed to be a fantasy place. There is much laughter and action to keep you occupied whilst enjoying this read.
Journey along as they learn to navigate a union together with lots of action in fighting the bad guys. I look forward to reading the rest of this sci fi romance series.

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm BACK bitches. Hopefully this becomes my new obsession

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all things Tana Stone, all her books are wonderful. This book did not disappoint! It's the first book in a new series and it's an enemy to lovers sci-fi alien Drexian warrior romance story that I fell in love with from the start. It's Jax and Zoey's story. He's the Drexian warrior assigned as acting captain to the Island. His being inferno force he's used to hunting the Kronk not dealing with construction and design issues of the building of the Island and he's not interested in putting in for a bride. Zoey is human and is the astro-arcthitect in charge of building the new space station Fantasy Island. It's very similar to the Love Boat but using the latest technology and designs. These two but heads from the beginning there's lots of verbal sparring, tension, twists, turns, action, all mixed in with passion and humor. There's even the return of Serge, I've loved him in all of the books he keeps me laughing. I loved the interactions between Zoey and Jax their great characters and it's a great series that I can't get enough of, and I can't wait for the next in the series. I highly recommend this book and all of Tana Stones books, you will love them all.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Erin Tanner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not aware there was a previous series that led to this series. Having not read the original series a lot of the details were vague and convoluted. Not sure I would actually call this a separate series based off of that.

I didn’t really believe the story line between Zoey and Kalex and it made it hard to care about their connection. Her sudden proclamation that she wanted to hook up with Kalex was not triggered by a believable event which made it feel forced and random.

I think the book was fine. It wasn’t awful and it wasn’t great. I likely won’t continue the series or recommend it as a read to others because there is better content to consume.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anger and frustration

This story is about and alien captain and an earth female who do nothing but argue with each other and cause nothing but frustration. These strong emotions draw them together. They are both guarding their hearts for different reasons. Will this relationship combust. Good read.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting

I’m so excited about this new series. I loved Kalex and Zoey, their relationship was so explosive and hot. And Serge is back annoying as ever. Great characters and lots of action with the expected awesome world building. Loved it.

[Kathleen Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting and sexy!

Fans Stone has another awesome alien romance! This is amazingly hot and sexy!! I loved the banter and attraction between this couple!

[Barbara Dunbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Acting Captain

Such a proven plot and the fighting between Zoey and Kalex is classic and ignitable! Of course Serve is his over the top self too.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very hot!

I loved Kalex and Zoey. They have great tension and energy between them. It makes amazing fireworks and it was quite enjoyable.

[Jacquelyn G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow and sweet

This was my first read by this author. I enjoyed the spunkiness of Zoey and how she had a serious backbone. In not a fan of the doormat heroines.

[⚜️ Lacey ⚜️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zoey rubbed me the wrong way. She was annoying.

[Coco.V]

🎁 Part of Sci-Fi Romance Winter Jubilee Collection which is FREE on Amazon today (12/29/2022)! 🎁

[Alejandra Guerrero · Rating 2 out of 5]

I deeply disliked Zoey. She’s an entitled shrew. She gets mad at him for things that are either outside his control or should not be shared with a civilian, and he ends up apologizing for it. And this happened so often, I just wanted him to throw her out of an airlock. One would think the first astro-architect in the history of humanity would be more sensible. Speaking of which, how did she become an astro-architect? Where the hell did she study? Shouldn’t the super important project of building a space station go to someone with at least some experience building space stations? Like the person who built the other one in the first place, or at least someone with NASA (if not a Drexian altogether, since all the technology is theirs), who would at least be aware of the chain of command, something Zoey blatantly disregards, over and over.

Also, she’s super hung up on her dead fiancè, to the extent that she has what amounts to a shrine to the guy in her quarters, yet one moment she decides it’s time for a fling when she hadn’t been remotely interested not only in men but sex in general for years. It felt forced that she became a vixen overnight. Especially when we didn’t see the “tension” building (this so-called tension is her being a total Karen and him not willing to put up whit her entitled ass). Likewise, he flips a switch and goes from “I hate this woman” to “I want to fuck her” in the span of a second. No conflict, no agonizing over lusting after a person they absolutely despise (that we were TOLD they despise, BTW). The whole “relationship” felt forced and artificial, and I felt no real chemistry between these two. Not to talk about his “darker desires”' and all the talk about hookers and how humans wouldn’t be able to take what he wanted to do to them. That was gross, and fortunately didn’t last more than a couple of chapters. 

Finally, the “danger” they have to “work together” to overcome turned out to be not that dangerous and he did everything while she ran. All she did was, once again, disregard the chain of command to ask a Drexian to help. The guy should have shut her down, but he didn't, which speaks volumes about the Drexian military. None of it good. I wonder what kind of fighters the Kronock are, to be defeated by these undisciplined guys, who seem to be led by their dicks. Seriously, the book ends with a HFN, and them fucking in the middle of a crisis (he's the captain, but he literally thinks “thank the fates the Inferno warriors are working on the rescue plan”, so he can fuck for hours. WTF, bitch! You are the superior officer here, and the warrior they're trying to rescue is under your command! I can't with these people).

[Preston and Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inferno Force of the Drexian Warriors is a spin-off from the Tribute Bride series, and picks up where that series left off, Drexians are large muscled humanoid aliens with bronze skin who’ve spent their lives battling the enemy aliens called the Kronock. There had been a secret treaty with Earth for the past 30 years where the Drexians have been granted permission to abduct human females in exchange for protection against the Kronock. However, things have changed in this spinoff, and now Earth is very much aware of aliens and offer volunteer brides instead of abductions. This series begins with the Drexians building a secondary space station similar to “The Loveboat” called “Fantasy Island” where they are mated (married) to their Drexian warriors. The war with the Kronock is still ongoing.

Written in first person perspective (I love that the author changed her writing from third person for this series), Ignite is book 1 in this series and follows Drexian Kalex and his human mate Zoey. I was introduced to the author with this book, then went back to read the Tribute Bride series where everything started, before returning to the Inferno Force spin-off. Zoey is an astro architect contracted from Earth to work on the new space station. She had zero intentions of volunteering to be a bride. Kalex is acting Captain of the Island. We met him in the last book of the Tribute Bride series as a member of Brok’s inferno force team. Kalex had zero intentions of wanting a bride, and was impatient to leave the island and return to battle with his brothers. The two start off despising each other. Kalex is too consumed with being a warrior to settle down with a mate and Zoey’s husband died two years prior, so she is adamant about not wanting a long-term relationship. Their sexual frustrations with each other builds until it snaps and they make a deal to be fuck baddies. Of course, that plan winds up bombing when the two develop feelings for each other.

The intense buildup to the dominant sex scenes is fire. The way he dominates her body and forces her into submission is epic. Oh, there was some drama regarding her job and setbacks, along with adventure regarding a drop in from the fatal enemy. Loved every second of this book and look forward to the next one in the series.

Like all the other books, this couple have their ups and downs, back and forths. She fights the claiming, then he fights the claiming. She fights her feelings and he is a typical male idiot that makes poor decisions. One forgives the other way too easily, then things work out in their favor and they live happily ever after.

I might need therapy, but that’s what books are for, right? Lol

I recommend this series so far. Tara Stone is a creative author and I prefer the first person perspective. The series is much better if you read the Tribute Bride series first so you know the history and what’s going on. I was completely lost the first time I read this book. Lol