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Iriduan Test Subjects #8
The Clone's Mate
The Iriduans never gave up their plans for the deadly scorpion warrior, Thrax, and since they couldn’t recapture him, they did the next best thing.
They cloned him.
They improved upon their initial design. They made their new warrior stronger, faster, more prescient—and they cured him of the imprinting affliction.
Or so they thought….
***
Rhonda
After my husband dumped me for a younger woman, I felt certain I’d hit rock bottom. A word of advice… never jump to that conclusion, because the hole can always get deeper.
Especially when you can’t seem to stop digging.
When an inhumanly handsome man chatted me up at the hardware store, I sensed he was too good to be true, but I was adventurous enough to agree to a date. I felt far less adventurous after I woke up in a mysterious maze to realize that I’d been abducted by evil aliens.
Then I learned that I wasn’t the lab rat in that maze.
I was the cheese!
Fortunately, the monster hunting me wasn’t interested in making me into a meal. Even though he walks on two legs like a man, he has a sting that can kill a woman in an instant—or leave her begging for his touch. For some reason, he chose the latter and left me aching for more, feeling wild about him in a way I’d never experienced before.
His reaction to me confused my alien captors and left their leader determined to unravel the mystery of his test subject’s interest in me, while I’m determined to drive the arrogant Iriduan scientist crazy, even as I vow to find a way to escape the research facility with my new scorpion man in tow.
Perhaps the mysterious green Iriduan captive in the cage next to me can help me with that—even though he sometimes gets this cold, emotionless look in his eyes that makes me think he’s the biggest threat of all.
I left Earth minus one human man and ended up with three alien males who might be too much for me to handle, but I’ll have a lot of fun trying—if we don’t all end up dead.
They cloned him.
They improved upon their initial design. They made their new warrior stronger, faster, more prescient—and they cured him of the imprinting affliction.
Or so they thought….
***
Rhonda
After my husband dumped me for a younger woman, I felt certain I’d hit rock bottom. A word of advice… never jump to that conclusion, because the hole can always get deeper.
Especially when you can’t seem to stop digging.
When an inhumanly handsome man chatted me up at the hardware store, I sensed he was too good to be true, but I was adventurous enough to agree to a date. I felt far less adventurous after I woke up in a mysterious maze to realize that I’d been abducted by evil aliens.
Then I learned that I wasn’t the lab rat in that maze.
I was the cheese!
Fortunately, the monster hunting me wasn’t interested in making me into a meal. Even though he walks on two legs like a man, he has a sting that can kill a woman in an instant—or leave her begging for his touch. For some reason, he chose the latter and left me aching for more, feeling wild about him in a way I’d never experienced before.
His reaction to me confused my alien captors and left their leader determined to unravel the mystery of his test subject’s interest in me, while I’m determined to drive the arrogant Iriduan scientist crazy, even as I vow to find a way to escape the research facility with my new scorpion man in tow.
Perhaps the mysterious green Iriduan captive in the cage next to me can help me with that—even though he sometimes gets this cold, emotionless look in his eyes that makes me think he’s the biggest threat of all.
I left Earth minus one human man and ended up with three alien males who might be too much for me to handle, but I’ll have a lot of fun trying—if we don’t all end up dead.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2021
87 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
Susan Trombley
32 books845 followersBorn a dragon, but forced to take human form to fit into those little baby carriers, Susan accepted that she'd have to live a mortal life. She just wasn't going to go around being all boring about it. As soon as she was old enough, she immediately applied for an alien abduction, but got wait-listed, so she made her lair in the desert to wait out the coming zombie apocalypse with a pair of magical cats (they can appear underfoot in an instant, usually at the steps) and the dog from Hades that has three heads (and now has three bodies to go with them).
When the white knight came to fight the dragon, Susan liked him so much she decided to marry him and they now have a beautiful little dragonlet. (Who looks just like a little girl unless you use a magic mirror)
Fortunately, despite being trapped in this dimension, Susan uses her dragon's vision to see all the most interesting goings-on in the multiverse. Figuring they made great stories, she decided to share them with the rest of the mortal world, by writing fantasy, science fiction and romance.
When the white knight came to fight the dragon, Susan liked him so much she decided to marry him and they now have a beautiful little dragonlet. (Who looks just like a little girl unless you use a magic mirror)
Fortunately, despite being trapped in this dimension, Susan uses her dragon's vision to see all the most interesting goings-on in the multiverse. Figuring they made great stories, she decided to share them with the rest of the mortal world, by writing fantasy, science fiction and romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
December 8, 2022
4 stars because of Subject 34. I just love me some Thrax and 34 is him times 2.
I am a big fan of this series overall. I mean how the fuck did Trombley make scorpions, snakes and cephelopods sexy? She did it. I loved the plot line of Fractured Mate so I totally could get on board with an Iriduan hero. Where I struggled and ultimately this book lost out on the final star was that this harem felt so random and thrown together. I get wanting to give Ilyan redemption from his actions in The Scorpion's Mate but this reverse harem just felt like Thrax 2.0 with Rhonda + the 2 Iriduans along for the ride. I think the Rhonda/Nirgal relationship was originally going to be a convenient way for Rhonda and 34 to mount their escape then it got complicated.
That being said I loved all 4 of the characters. I just needed more build up and connection. I fucking love RH and it bugs me that this harem didn’t build up in a way that felt natural. I mean it felt a little sudden when at 53%:
“What’s with this ‘queen’ crap? You’re not my ‘males’!”
“I quickly hugged Subject 34’s waist as I amended that. “Except for 34, of course!”
“Then you will abandon Nirgal and I?” Ilyan asked with a tone to his voice that I could not interpret.
I’ve been in the Iriduan Test Subjects universe long enough to be used to suddenly. Imprinting is not a subtle bond but all 3 of the males in the relationship are cured of scent attachment so there is no reason not to have a more subtle turn of relationship. I mean Ilyan went from random who waved/played charades with him through a cell gap to we’re mates and my entire life is dictated by you. Also he’s dealt with a human before in Claire even if he was her mad scientist captor, to know that is not how human society works and Rhonda wouldn’t know how to handle that pressure. I enjoyed the fracture’s plotline though his one sexual encounter that does tred eerily close to sexual assualt. If you’ve read The Fractured Mate, it is similar to the scene where Murderer tries to have sex with Paisley but fails. Here Evil Ilyan succeeds.
Since we’ve discussed Ilyan, it’s only appropriate to chat about Nirgal . Ilyan’s great rival and peasant to his noble birth. There is a bunch of hatred between these two which is explained well in the book. As a result the tension when Nirgie (as Rhonda calls him) and Ilyan try to get along for the sake of their relationship with Rhonda there is a lot of tension. I love how self conscious he was about his stripes but at the same time had always maintained their beauty.
Subject 34 is by far my favorite of the heroes. He’s the clone of the Thrax from book 1. Much like Thrax he is held in an enclosure and tested for his abilities. He doesn’t speak often even though he can. This lack of communication does raise some read flags because Rhonda & him have a sexual encounter that needed full communication for consent. I still find it so weird how he can feed Rhonda from his body. Later in the book his comedic timing is brilliant and he has such a dry wit. Just like I like.
So overall this book made me really happy with Susan Trombley’s writing and worlds. This is reminiscent of her earlier books in the series (Books 1-3) which I adored. From about 4 on I had just kinda lost interest with the exception of Book 6, but this has regiven me hope for the series. I am WAITING not so patiently for Ava’s book, now that is a RH that I will definitely be on board for!
I am a big fan of this series overall. I mean how the fuck did Trombley make scorpions, snakes and cephelopods sexy? She did it. I loved the plot line of Fractured Mate so I totally could get on board with an Iriduan hero. Where I struggled and ultimately this book lost out on the final star was that this harem felt so random and thrown together. I get wanting to give Ilyan redemption from his actions in The Scorpion's Mate but this reverse harem just felt like Thrax 2.0 with Rhonda + the 2 Iriduans along for the ride. I think the Rhonda/Nirgal relationship was originally going to be a convenient way for Rhonda and 34 to mount their escape then it got complicated.
That being said I loved all 4 of the characters. I just needed more build up and connection. I fucking love RH and it bugs me that this harem didn’t build up in a way that felt natural. I mean it felt a little sudden when at 53%:
“What’s with this ‘queen’ crap? You’re not my ‘males’!”
“I quickly hugged Subject 34’s waist as I amended that. “Except for 34, of course!”
“Then you will abandon Nirgal and I?” Ilyan asked with a tone to his voice that I could not interpret.
I’ve been in the Iriduan Test Subjects universe long enough to be used to suddenly. Imprinting is not a subtle bond but all 3 of the males in the relationship are cured of scent attachment so there is no reason not to have a more subtle turn of relationship. I mean Ilyan went from random who waved/played charades with him through a cell gap to we’re mates and my entire life is dictated by you. Also he’s dealt with a human before in Claire even if he was her mad scientist captor, to know that is not how human society works and Rhonda wouldn’t know how to handle that pressure. I enjoyed the fracture’s plotline though his one sexual encounter that does tred eerily close to sexual assualt. If you’ve read The Fractured Mate, it is similar to the scene where Murderer tries to have sex with Paisley but fails. Here Evil Ilyan succeeds.
Since we’ve discussed Ilyan, it’s only appropriate to chat about Nirgal . Ilyan’s great rival and peasant to his noble birth. There is a bunch of hatred between these two which is explained well in the book. As a result the tension when Nirgie (as Rhonda calls him) and Ilyan try to get along for the sake of their relationship with Rhonda there is a lot of tension. I love how self conscious he was about his stripes but at the same time had always maintained their beauty.
Subject 34 is by far my favorite of the heroes. He’s the clone of the Thrax from book 1. Much like Thrax he is held in an enclosure and tested for his abilities. He doesn’t speak often even though he can. This lack of communication does raise some read flags because Rhonda & him have a sexual encounter that needed full communication for consent. I still find it so weird how he can feed Rhonda from his body. Later in the book his comedic timing is brilliant and he has such a dry wit. Just like I like.
So overall this book made me really happy with Susan Trombley’s writing and worlds. This is reminiscent of her earlier books in the series (Books 1-3) which I adored. From about 4 on I had just kinda lost interest with the exception of Book 6, but this has regiven me hope for the series. I am WAITING not so patiently for Ava’s book, now that is a RH that I will definitely be on board for!
January 7, 2022
Reread 1/7/2022
I'm such a sucker for this series. I see one person's review and I'm off to reread it. I will say on the second reading I think I love 34 more than I loved Thrax!! His deadpanned quips and earnest statements of his feelings just stole my freakin' heart. I will say that I can see Rhonda and Nirgal's enemies to lovers relationship, but it was a little more of a stretch to believe the quick depth of the feelings between Rhonda and Ilyan. So with that I'd probably adjust my rating to 4-4.5 stars but it was still so good and I loved 34 so much I'm leaving it as it stands.
*Original Review*
Another Thrax? Oh Hell Yeah!!
4.5 Stars
I loved Subject 34 (an altered clone of Thrax). I loved watching him learn, absorbing everything that was going on around him and reacting, usually in ways you didn't see coming. I loved that this was all in Rhonda's point of view. It really let you feel more of the tension and uncertainty as surely someone would feel in her crazy situation. Not knowing if you're about to be bug food or terminated like an experiment gone wrong.
This was the only one so far that was RH. It fit though because each of the guys played such a different part of what Rhonda was going through in her captivity and in the experiments she was unwittingly in. 34 was the main experiment and Rhonda was just thrown in with him to see if he would eat her or do something else. Ilyan was a fractured Iriduan captive being studied in the soundproof glass cell next to hers. Rhonda communicated with Ilyan by charades and poured out all her hurts and fears to him from her life during her weeks in isolation. Then there was Nirgal who was one of the scientists in charge of 34's project and ultimately in charge of what was happening and what would happen to Rhonda.
I appreciated how Rhonda's dynamic with each male lead to her having a different type of relationship to get to their HEA. There was the monster and first contact with 34, the antihero redemption with Ilyan, and the enemies to lovers with Nirgal. I loved the dichotomy and Rhonda's ability to love and forgive. I also loved how her mates even after being cured of imprinting fell wholeheartedly in love with Rhonda and were all too happy for her to be their Queen.
I'm such a sucker for this series. I see one person's review and I'm off to reread it. I will say on the second reading I think I love 34 more than I loved Thrax!! His deadpanned quips and earnest statements of his feelings just stole my freakin' heart. I will say that I can see Rhonda and Nirgal's enemies to lovers relationship, but it was a little more of a stretch to believe the quick depth of the feelings between Rhonda and Ilyan. So with that I'd probably adjust my rating to 4-4.5 stars but it was still so good and I loved 34 so much I'm leaving it as it stands.
*Original Review*
Another Thrax? Oh Hell Yeah!!
4.5 Stars
I loved Subject 34 (an altered clone of Thrax). I loved watching him learn, absorbing everything that was going on around him and reacting, usually in ways you didn't see coming. I loved that this was all in Rhonda's point of view. It really let you feel more of the tension and uncertainty as surely someone would feel in her crazy situation. Not knowing if you're about to be bug food or terminated like an experiment gone wrong.
This was the only one so far that was RH. It fit though because each of the guys played such a different part of what Rhonda was going through in her captivity and in the experiments she was unwittingly in. 34 was the main experiment and Rhonda was just thrown in with him to see if he would eat her or do something else. Ilyan was a fractured Iriduan captive being studied in the soundproof glass cell next to hers. Rhonda communicated with Ilyan by charades and poured out all her hurts and fears to him from her life during her weeks in isolation. Then there was Nirgal who was one of the scientists in charge of 34's project and ultimately in charge of what was happening and what would happen to Rhonda.
I appreciated how Rhonda's dynamic with each male lead to her having a different type of relationship to get to their HEA. There was the monster and first contact with 34, the antihero redemption with Ilyan, and the enemies to lovers with Nirgal. I loved the dichotomy and Rhonda's ability to love and forgive. I also loved how her mates even after being cured of imprinting fell wholeheartedly in love with Rhonda and were all too happy for her to be their Queen.
February 15, 2022
What a mixed bag. I loved the first half of the book. The second was a waste of time.
So the first half: She is kidnapped from earth. She's feisty in a realistic way. She meets the clone 34. He is creepy and I loved the way his movements etc., were described, how they began to get along. The instant sexual attraction was believable considering his stingers and physiology. They spent time learning each other and developing a relationship. There was a pretty good escape scene and then it seemed like another author took over.
Suddenly she is in love with 2 more guys. I mean boom. Just because she'd had snarky intercom interactions with one of the guys she was instantly in love. Sure he had repented his ways and gotten in trouble for it but he'd still used her for experiments hoping that 34 would kill her so he could observe for science. It would seem that she would need some actual time in his presence before love could truly bloom. And then there was the green guy would had a split personality. So she'd been in a glass cage next to his glass cage and they tried to communicate. It was stated that she never understood a word he tried to convey. I guess he understood her pantomimes although that was unrealistic considering some of the things he evidently understood. Seriously how do you convey to an alien with a totally different social structure that your husband cheated on you with another younger woman? Via charades?
Okay so they are all in love. I did like 34's reaction to all this. Whatever Rhonda wants. He was probably my favorite character. So the story moves into here's all the happy things which happen to them (after the mean side of the split guy rapes her and physically hurts her. She should have seen a doctor honestly). It's just a tell fest. This happens and then this happens and this happens. All happy, happy stuff that happens. No conflict. No actual actions or decision making from the characters to bring all of this great stuff to them. Waste of time.
So the first half: She is kidnapped from earth. She's feisty in a realistic way. She meets the clone 34. He is creepy and I loved the way his movements etc., were described, how they began to get along. The instant sexual attraction was believable considering his stingers and physiology. They spent time learning each other and developing a relationship. There was a pretty good escape scene and then it seemed like another author took over.
Suddenly she is in love with 2 more guys. I mean boom. Just because she'd had snarky intercom interactions with one of the guys she was instantly in love. Sure he had repented his ways and gotten in trouble for it but he'd still used her for experiments hoping that 34 would kill her so he could observe for science. It would seem that she would need some actual time in his presence before love could truly bloom. And then there was the green guy would had a split personality. So she'd been in a glass cage next to his glass cage and they tried to communicate. It was stated that she never understood a word he tried to convey. I guess he understood her pantomimes although that was unrealistic considering some of the things he evidently understood. Seriously how do you convey to an alien with a totally different social structure that your husband cheated on you with another younger woman? Via charades?
Okay so they are all in love. I did like 34's reaction to all this. Whatever Rhonda wants. He was probably my favorite character. So the story moves into here's all the happy things which happen to them (after the mean side of the split guy rapes her and physically hurts her. She should have seen a doctor honestly). It's just a tell fest. This happens and then this happens and this happens. All happy, happy stuff that happens. No conflict. No actual actions or decision making from the characters to bring all of this great stuff to them. Waste of time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2023
3.5 Stars
I adore this series and The Scorpion’s mate is what introduced me to this author collecting a firm-fan girl from me so of course I was incredibly excited to be returning to its origins with a Thrax mark two-story. This was well written and I adored Subject 34 probably more than I did Thrax. He was incredibly endearing in all of his primal behaviour and unintentionally amusing with his blunt simplistic logic. Subject 34 was a total sweetie and for him, it was all about Rhonda she’s happy he’s happy it’s that simple for him. I also loved that Rhonda was such an untypical heroine. I liked that she was an older lady and I adored her pragmatic snark and survivalist mentality.
This wasn’t anything like I anticipated the first half of this progressed how I was expecting and that was my favourite part of this but then things veered off in another direction completely. This one is a stealth reverse- harem and whilst I like this genre it also felt slightly abrupt when this started to shift gears. I also for sure should have read the blurb as it’s quite obvious from the description that this one’s a reverse-harem so my bad I was just initially so excited I jumped straight on in.
So about the halfway mark it became apparent to me where this was going with Nirgal and Ilyan and though this wasn’t technically an issue it just felt very abrupt and out of the blue. The transpired feelings didn’t initially seem that authentic and I couldn’t see how she could even have arrived at them with so little romantic input or interactions for me it just didn’t flow authentically though I did love that Ilyan got his redemption arc it also felt slightly contrived and it didn’t help that these two iridiun’s didn’t come across as that likeable either. I think maybe having this as Rhonda’s sole POV might have slightly contributed to this and my lack of love towards these two was because I wasn’t getting their internal thoughts just their outer ones. There was also a very problematic encounter with Ilyan’s fracture and the fact that Nirgal had used her as a science experiment so some internal guilt from them would have assisted in reconciling with this.
Despite the above, I still enjoyed this and Subject 34 made this he was the stand-out winner for me. I also appreciated catching up with Thrax Clare and their family a definite bonus for sure. Overall this was a good addition to the series but I’m on the fence over the reverse-harem aspect of this as it was definitely the Rhonda and 34 show which I have no complaints about.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
September 14, 2021
OMG, I loved it!
This was way too much fun. Like Stacy Jones' Marsupilami Romance Chosen, which I also adored.
This book is reverse harem! So just so you know, the heroine gets three boyfriends, and spoiler alert, they're awesome. Especially together.
My favorite was Subject 34, who is a clone of Thrax, the Scorpion hybrid from book 1. We also meet someone else from book 1 that I never thought I'd see again. He doesn't speak at first. He CAN, but he definitely does not want to. Much. Later, he develops a dry wit and sense for timing that aren't seen often in Alien Romance. I love 34!!! He's amazeballs. He also has Rhonda's back, no matter what. He's a real gentleman. For a chittering insect.
What else did I love?
The other two heroes:
Ilyan.
Yes! He's the bad guy scientist from book 1, who tragically died when he got blown up with the Testing Facility that Claire and her friends fled from. Or did he???? Yeah, he survived! And he ended up in a glass cage :/ Sucks for him, but at least he suffered for his many crimes I guess. Ilyan is someone that I actually wanted to see more of when I first read book 1 but after his "death" and the fact that he never showed up again, I just pushed him to the back of my mind. I was SO thrilled to see him again. I recognized him at first glance. I was like: HEY I KNOW YOU!!!! :)
Nirgal.
A NEW evil schmevil Iriduan scientist. Because you can never have too many evil schmevil scientist. It worked before! We had BEST BOI Halian, and now with Ilyan and Nirgal we have a whole TEAM. The series could easily be renamed Iriduan Evil Schmevil Scientists by now lol.
Anyway, I actually enjoyed reading about Nirgal. From the first second he appeared on page, with his itsy bitsy tablet he was practically married to, his anxious, nerdy, scientist jittering and his combative snark??? Yeah, the love arrow hit me square in the chest. When he started sending the heroine hunger games-esque presents into the giant terrarium she shared with 34, I was a goner.
Nirgal was EVERYTHING.
When Nirgal then met Ilyan and we found out that the two had been friends/rivals before, that amped up my excitement. I loved their interactions and how they fought like petty toddlers over everything. It was cute. And maddening. But mostly cute.
So now I am totally blissed out with the Iriduans and I CANNOT wait to read about Ava and her mates Roz and Beast (and crew) soon!
This was way too much fun. Like Stacy Jones' Marsupilami Romance Chosen, which I also adored.
This book is reverse harem! So just so you know, the heroine gets three boyfriends, and spoiler alert, they're awesome. Especially together.
My favorite was Subject 34, who is a clone of Thrax, the Scorpion hybrid from book 1. We also meet someone else from book 1 that I never thought I'd see again. He doesn't speak at first. He CAN, but he definitely does not want to. Much. Later, he develops a dry wit and sense for timing that aren't seen often in Alien Romance. I love 34!!! He's amazeballs. He also has Rhonda's back, no matter what. He's a real gentleman. For a chittering insect.
What else did I love?
The other two heroes:
Ilyan.
Yes! He's the bad guy scientist from book 1, who tragically died when he got blown up with the Testing Facility that Claire and her friends fled from. Or did he???? Yeah, he survived! And he ended up in a glass cage :/ Sucks for him, but at least he suffered for his many crimes I guess. Ilyan is someone that I actually wanted to see more of when I first read book 1 but after his "death" and the fact that he never showed up again, I just pushed him to the back of my mind. I was SO thrilled to see him again. I recognized him at first glance. I was like: HEY I KNOW YOU!!!! :)
Nirgal.
A NEW evil schmevil Iriduan scientist. Because you can never have too many evil schmevil scientist. It worked before! We had BEST BOI Halian, and now with Ilyan and Nirgal we have a whole TEAM. The series could easily be renamed Iriduan Evil Schmevil Scientists by now lol.
Anyway, I actually enjoyed reading about Nirgal. From the first second he appeared on page, with his itsy bitsy tablet he was practically married to, his anxious, nerdy, scientist jittering and his combative snark??? Yeah, the love arrow hit me square in the chest. When he started sending the heroine hunger games-esque presents into the giant terrarium she shared with 34, I was a goner.
Nirgal was EVERYTHING.
When Nirgal then met Ilyan and we found out that the two had been friends/rivals before, that amped up my excitement. I loved their interactions and how they fought like petty toddlers over everything. It was cute. And maddening. But mostly cute.
So now I am totally blissed out with the Iriduans and I CANNOT wait to read about Ava and her mates Roz and Beast (and crew) soon!
August 31, 2021
scorpion clone 😮
I was so happy to see this book drop! Not only is this my favorite series, but reading this book was like revisiting book one, but better because this human manages to seduce the evil alien scientist and his equally evil friend ❤️😍
I was so happy to see this book drop! Not only is this my favorite series, but reading this book was like revisiting book one, but better because this human manages to seduce the evil alien scientist and his equally evil friend ❤️😍
August 31, 2021
Yes!! Soo good!!
Absolutely loved this next book in the series. Take us back to Iriduan scientists and their testinb and experiments for thr greater good. Loved that we meet Rhonda a 40 year old woman who is abducted and used snark, humor, and truth during her abduction. Loved seeing old friends and the new love/old love that we got to see. And its sooo🔥🔥🔥.
Absolutely loved this next book in the series. Take us back to Iriduan scientists and their testinb and experiments for thr greater good. Loved that we meet Rhonda a 40 year old woman who is abducted and used snark, humor, and truth during her abduction. Loved seeing old friends and the new love/old love that we got to see. And its sooo🔥🔥🔥.
September 15, 2021
Subject 34 is very different from Thrax, his predecessor. Supposedly he cannot imprint. However, he can indeed bond.
August 31, 2021
Yes as usual this author got me out of my book slump
Thank you for giving us a rh in this world. I usually love multiple pov's but this author just knows how to write a compelling sweet and immersive world and characters. Can not wait for her next story wherever it may take her!
Thank you for giving us a rh in this world. I usually love multiple pov's but this author just knows how to write a compelling sweet and immersive world and characters. Can not wait for her next story wherever it may take her!
October 13, 2021
I was really enjoying the story in this one up until the 60% mark. I'm all into RHs, but the instant addition to two other love interests, as well as the instant strong confessions of love from our main character was just too out of left field and baseless. I mean she spends months with 34 and then spends like a day with the two new dudes and says “But I love you both as much as I love 34." WHAT?! Bitch? That cheapens her feeling towards 34, and was just too forced and completely out of left field. I mean the romance wasn't built up or believable at all. and so a 4.5 star read turned into a 3 star. I still liked it, but this book didn't give enough time for the secondary romances to actually bloom.
October 22, 2021
3.75
I did have some fun with this one at times, but the initial meet between the male love interest and h is a dubious consent kinda of situation--and later in the story I felt like the romance was a little...surprise reverse harem!
Did it make a lot of sense? Not really...the other two guys felt a bit shoe horned in there.
“Nirrgalll isss tammmponn,” 34 growled, much to my hilarity.
I did have some fun with this one at times, but the initial meet between the male love interest and h is a dubious consent kinda of situation--and later in the story I felt like the romance was a little...surprise reverse harem!
Did it make a lot of sense? Not really...the other two guys felt a bit shoe horned in there.
October 31, 2021
Dnf @ 57%.
Didn’t read the blurb and so didn’t realize it’s a RH story. Not my thing—especially because I adored 34 too much to accept screen time given to these other relationships. It would’ve been waaay more interesting to flesh out the growing love between her and 34 than try to pull off this unrelatable and unrealistic p*orn-y scenario that’s so common in “romance” these days.
Btw, why are RHs so common lately? Are there really that many people out there who buy into that fantasy?? Do they love the idea of sister wives too? Ugh.
Didn’t read the blurb and so didn’t realize it’s a RH story. Not my thing—especially because I adored 34 too much to accept screen time given to these other relationships. It would’ve been waaay more interesting to flesh out the growing love between her and 34 than try to pull off this unrelatable and unrealistic p*orn-y scenario that’s so common in “romance” these days.
Btw, why are RHs so common lately? Are there really that many people out there who buy into that fantasy?? Do they love the idea of sister wives too? Ugh.
September 12, 2021
Another scorpion alien AND it’s reverse harem? Yes, why thank you, don’t mind if I do.
The reverse harem part is good with a dash of meh. She falls in love with her evil scientists awful fast. The characters are developed and the romance is there, the emotions, but there were parts that felt rushed a little.
Overall a great book in a great series by a great author!
The reverse harem part is good with a dash of meh. She falls in love with her evil scientists awful fast. The characters are developed and the romance is there, the emotions, but there were parts that felt rushed a little.
Overall a great book in a great series by a great author!
August 31, 2021
Another brilliant Iriduan book
I love the Iriduan Series. Such a compelling world, with good characterisation.
This is another great story that adds to the world and the arc. If you like Susan Thrombley, you’ll love this book.
I love the Iriduan Series. Such a compelling world, with good characterisation.
This is another great story that adds to the world and the arc. If you like Susan Thrombley, you’ll love this book.
August 31, 2021
Wow
That was awesome! Not only is the heroine not young and gorgeous, but the guys are so different from each other that it's brilliant! I'm gonna have to reread this one!
That was awesome! Not only is the heroine not young and gorgeous, but the guys are so different from each other that it's brilliant! I'm gonna have to reread this one!
November 11, 2022
***OMG THIS IS FANTASTIC***
I have loved this series in the beginning and i'm glad to have picked it up again because omg Susan knows how to tell a story for sure. Subject 34 aww he is the best and Nirghal cracked me up lol his the bantering bet him and Rhonda is hilariousand Ilyan oh wow i didn't he could changed but he did. And Babies omg babies🥰🥰 it's great to read about Claire and Thrax and their babies❤️
I have loved this series in the beginning and i'm glad to have picked it up again because omg Susan knows how to tell a story for sure. Subject 34 aww he is the best and Nirghal cracked me up lol his the bantering bet him and Rhonda is hilariousand Ilyan oh wow i didn't he could changed but he did. And Babies omg babies🥰🥰 it's great to read about Claire and Thrax and their babies❤️
September 3, 2021
In the beginning i was fallen in love with this book because of the heroine was attached with 32 easily. But in the middle of the chapters i was shocks that the heroine had 3 mates. So i was so dissapointed because i hate books which the main characters have multiples partners
December 23, 2021
I'm not sure what to say about the overall feelings I have for this book. The pacing is nice, world building is pretty good, the aliens are sufficiently alien etc. I couldn't put it down. But there are certain pitfalls that Ms Trombley falls into that have started to annoy me.
1. The heroines have started blending together. They're emotionally speaking all the same, with a different back story taped to them like a mask. But when it comes down to it, their reactions are all the same.
2. The screaming. The heroines scream at everything and anything. All of them.
3. The preaching. Interspersed in this interesting story are the author's own opinions on everything, not letting us come to any conclusions ourselves because every single thought and opinion of the "heroine" are included. It leads to excessive skimming.
4. The contradictions: I'm an introvert, says the heroine, but I have no problem speaking up when someone is hurting me. No fuck that, you've been married to the same douche for 20 fucking years without making a PEEP, yet now when freaking strapped to a table, in mortal danger, THAT'S when you decide to speak up? I just don't believe you and it pisses me off.
5. The banter is not amusing in the slightest. Every Trombley heroine has to have long rants full of ridiculousness to their captors while still in mortal danger. Can you be any more TSTL?
6. Whole chunks of relationship development are skipped over! We have only vague ideas about what happened during the initial stages of the relationships between the Iriduans and Rhonda, and not much better between 34 and her. These stages help me, the reader, decide whether I like a hero or not, but they're just skipped!
7. The forgiving nature of these last few books makes me feel super icky. I'm not sure if these guys actually repented from their crimes, all the apologies are aimed at Rhonda only or mostly, which comes across as only being an imprinting thing, not a conscience thing. The sex scene with evil Ilyan made me super cringe. The psychotic ideas of some of the characters makes me wonder how the heroine could ever love them. I wouldn't touch some of these characters with a 50000 parsec pole. The only character of interest to me was Nirgal, but as I said previously the entire relationship building was completely skipped over and described in a few short sentences.
The fact that this was all in Rhonda's pov, and additionally in first person, was actually a major handicap in my opinion. Since our dear Rhonda was too busy giving life advice and generally cliché soundbite opinions (that according to my Kindle were well loved by other readers, lol, but I'd rather not read meaningless philosophical BS), she didn't spend much time describing the other characters' body language. And honestly.... Rhonda wasn't that interesting. She had body issues, was hung up on her failed life, her focus was limited to "stay alive" (completely understandable that one), and she was annoyingly opinionated. Not someone I'd like to share brain space with. It was tiring.
Lastly, so not a fan of them coming to live on Earth.
1. The heroines have started blending together. They're emotionally speaking all the same, with a different back story taped to them like a mask. But when it comes down to it, their reactions are all the same.
2. The screaming. The heroines scream at everything and anything. All of them.
3. The preaching. Interspersed in this interesting story are the author's own opinions on everything, not letting us come to any conclusions ourselves because every single thought and opinion of the "heroine" are included. It leads to excessive skimming.
4. The contradictions: I'm an introvert, says the heroine, but I have no problem speaking up when someone is hurting me. No fuck that, you've been married to the same douche for 20 fucking years without making a PEEP, yet now when freaking strapped to a table, in mortal danger, THAT'S when you decide to speak up? I just don't believe you and it pisses me off.
5. The banter is not amusing in the slightest. Every Trombley heroine has to have long rants full of ridiculousness to their captors while still in mortal danger. Can you be any more TSTL?
6. Whole chunks of relationship development are skipped over! We have only vague ideas about what happened during the initial stages of the relationships between the Iriduans and Rhonda, and not much better between 34 and her. These stages help me, the reader, decide whether I like a hero or not, but they're just skipped!
7. The forgiving nature of these last few books makes me feel super icky. I'm not sure if these guys actually repented from their crimes, all the apologies are aimed at Rhonda only or mostly, which comes across as only being an imprinting thing, not a conscience thing. The sex scene with evil Ilyan made me super cringe. The psychotic ideas of some of the characters makes me wonder how the heroine could ever love them. I wouldn't touch some of these characters with a 50000 parsec pole. The only character of interest to me was Nirgal, but as I said previously the entire relationship building was completely skipped over and described in a few short sentences.
The fact that this was all in Rhonda's pov, and additionally in first person, was actually a major handicap in my opinion. Since our dear Rhonda was too busy giving life advice and generally cliché soundbite opinions (that according to my Kindle were well loved by other readers, lol, but I'd rather not read meaningless philosophical BS), she didn't spend much time describing the other characters' body language. And honestly.... Rhonda wasn't that interesting. She had body issues, was hung up on her failed life, her focus was limited to "stay alive" (completely understandable that one), and she was annoyingly opinionated. Not someone I'd like to share brain space with. It was tiring.
Lastly, so not a fan of them coming to live on Earth.
February 14, 2022
I was surprised that this ended up being a RH story. Oof, what a mixed bag this was.
RH is hard, you have to make the reader care about all of the characters involved AND you need to make sure that the group dynamic isn't awful. There's a reason why RH books assign one LI per book; it's a lot to try to pull off in one single book, and I'm not sure that Trombley succeeded. You have the "clone" mentioned in the title named Subject 34, a scorpion-alien creation who is another version of Thrax from the first book in the series. You also, though, have Nirgal, the Iriduan scientist in charge of the whole project, and Ilyan, a fractured Iriduan who you might remember from book 1 as the evil scientist who imprinted on Claire before "dying" off-page.
Is this book a nice throwback to the first? Sure, it feels like a better-written version of The Scorpion's Mate, and getting to see that little plot thread with Ilyan resolved was fun. I liked that there were these different relationships being explored (I might like Nirgal the most, he's the funniest), but there wasn't any proper development. There's not much in the way of plot, and the scraping cerci thing was iffy af (although I suppose it was bound to happen eventually, ever since it was explained what those things were meant for).
Also, the relationship turmoil of Rhonda dealing with her harem once again reminded me of how tired I am of RH when we could be having proper poly. Oh well. Can't win 'em all.
RH is hard, you have to make the reader care about all of the characters involved AND you need to make sure that the group dynamic isn't awful. There's a reason why RH books assign one LI per book; it's a lot to try to pull off in one single book, and I'm not sure that Trombley succeeded. You have the "clone" mentioned in the title named Subject 34, a scorpion-alien creation who is another version of Thrax from the first book in the series. You also, though, have Nirgal, the Iriduan scientist in charge of the whole project, and Ilyan, a fractured Iriduan who you might remember from book 1 as the evil scientist who imprinted on Claire before "dying" off-page.
Is this book a nice throwback to the first? Sure, it feels like a better-written version of The Scorpion's Mate, and getting to see that little plot thread with Ilyan resolved was fun. I liked that there were these different relationships being explored (I might like Nirgal the most, he's the funniest), but there wasn't any proper development. There's not much in the way of plot, and the scraping cerci thing was iffy af (although I suppose it was bound to happen eventually, ever since it was explained what those things were meant for).
Also, the relationship turmoil of Rhonda dealing with her harem once again reminded me of how tired I am of RH when we could be having proper poly. Oh well. Can't win 'em all.
September 1, 2021
So Tasty ❤️🦂🧝🧝♂️
I just adore the world's of the Iriduan test subjects each and every story is as unique and thrilling as the characters them selves. Every character is built so beautifully that this reader can't help but enjoy everyone of them. In this new addition to the story a new single perspective is taken with the main human heroin. Leave the reader feeling as lost to the new and strange events occurring in her life. Leaving the reader to feel her confusion, struggle, stress and ultimately resolutions and we'll earned triumphs. All her ups and downs are this reader felt almost palpable. I was so enthralled with the story I was torn between wanting to hurry and read more and not wanting the story to end.this is the first Rh in the series and I really found that the characters all deserved to find their happiness. It was nice seeing the return of the character Ilyan from book one. Along with Thrax and family. I enjoyed the introduction of some great new heroes and antiheroes as well. A page turner for this reader and I was almost sad for it to end but excited to see what is next for this series. There is plenty of action, adventure, passion, and some dark moments and a we'll earned HEA. This is a story with fated mates, enemies to lovers, second chances and redemption. An awesome read in this readers eyes and a tasty fabulous read
I just adore the world's of the Iriduan test subjects each and every story is as unique and thrilling as the characters them selves. Every character is built so beautifully that this reader can't help but enjoy everyone of them. In this new addition to the story a new single perspective is taken with the main human heroin. Leave the reader feeling as lost to the new and strange events occurring in her life. Leaving the reader to feel her confusion, struggle, stress and ultimately resolutions and we'll earned triumphs. All her ups and downs are this reader felt almost palpable. I was so enthralled with the story I was torn between wanting to hurry and read more and not wanting the story to end.this is the first Rh in the series and I really found that the characters all deserved to find their happiness. It was nice seeing the return of the character Ilyan from book one. Along with Thrax and family. I enjoyed the introduction of some great new heroes and antiheroes as well. A page turner for this reader and I was almost sad for it to end but excited to see what is next for this series. There is plenty of action, adventure, passion, and some dark moments and a we'll earned HEA. This is a story with fated mates, enemies to lovers, second chances and redemption. An awesome read in this readers eyes and a tasty fabulous read
February 26, 2025
This was a very interesting read. I’m loving this series. My issue with this one is the RH aspect felt forced.
There isn’t a hint that Nargal (Nargul?) is remotely romantically interested in Rhonda until he disappears from the lab, and we’re told by Pinky Poo what happened.
Ilyan also was a little sudden. His fracture was actually worse to me than Halian’s from the previous book, because he dubconned the fmc, scraped her uterus, then made the executive decision on where they were all going to go. 34 had to be cryo’d while all of it was figured out, and I knew it would eventually work out, but the Evil Ilyan’s antics would have me wanting to boot him through an airlock.
“Will you ever forgive me?” -Ilyan
NO. GO CRY IN THE CORNER, EMO KID.
Subject 34 was my favorite. He handled the rest of the pretty boy squad with a #unbothered mentality as long as they didn’t hurt the Rhonda.
I liked that the Rhonda was in her 40’s. And I didn’t mind that she was ok to get down intimately with these guys. I just think the Iriduan side of things could have been developed more.
There isn’t a hint that Nargal (Nargul?) is remotely romantically interested in Rhonda until he disappears from the lab, and we’re told by Pinky Poo what happened.
Ilyan also was a little sudden. His fracture was actually worse to me than Halian’s from the previous book, because he dubconned the fmc, scraped her uterus, then made the executive decision on where they were all going to go. 34 had to be cryo’d while all of it was figured out, and I knew it would eventually work out, but the Evil Ilyan’s antics would have me wanting to boot him through an airlock.
“Will you ever forgive me?” -Ilyan
NO. GO CRY IN THE CORNER, EMO KID.
Subject 34 was my favorite. He handled the rest of the pretty boy squad with a #unbothered mentality as long as they didn’t hurt the Rhonda.
I liked that the Rhonda was in her 40’s. And I didn’t mind that she was ok to get down intimately with these guys. I just think the Iriduan side of things could have been developed more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2021
Subject 34 is...
Subject 34 is a beast... a monster... his only imperative is to hunt, kill, eat.
The captives of the Iriduan scientists will sacrifice any of them in order to observe the ruthlessness of Nirgal's genetically altered clone of the notorious failure, Trax.
Subject 34 is perfect. He is a killing machine. One last kill, a last test, will prove Nirgal's triumph!
"Subject 34 chooses Ronda."
What makes this inferior human female so special to Nirgal's 'perfect experiment"?
"Nirgie is a douche!" Ronda teaches Subject 34.
And then, there is fractured Ilyan, the homicidal maniac who played with an asteroid to kill a civilization. He is a captive, too. Playing charades with Ronda, the annoying human female.
Need you know more? Well, of course you do! So get relaxed, have your favorite tea (or me, White Chocolate Hills Bros. Cappacino) and start reading. Every story in this series is 5 stars. You won't waste a minute of your life.
Subject 34 is a beast... a monster... his only imperative is to hunt, kill, eat.
The captives of the Iriduan scientists will sacrifice any of them in order to observe the ruthlessness of Nirgal's genetically altered clone of the notorious failure, Trax.
Subject 34 is perfect. He is a killing machine. One last kill, a last test, will prove Nirgal's triumph!
"Subject 34 chooses Ronda."
What makes this inferior human female so special to Nirgal's 'perfect experiment"?
"Nirgie is a douche!" Ronda teaches Subject 34.
And then, there is fractured Ilyan, the homicidal maniac who played with an asteroid to kill a civilization. He is a captive, too. Playing charades with Ronda, the annoying human female.
Need you know more? Well, of course you do! So get relaxed, have your favorite tea (or me, White Chocolate Hills Bros. Cappacino) and start reading. Every story in this series is 5 stars. You won't waste a minute of your life.
October 10, 2021
This series just keeps getting better! Definitely recommend for fans of Thrax and Halian.
It was nice to finally get an RH, even if it wasn’t Ava’s story (which I’m still totally looking forward to). I appreciated that the heroine was regular 42-year-old woman, and the fact that she sometimes couldn’t shut up for her own good added humor. The heroes were all different and had their own charms, even if it took a while to see them in some cases.
I’m kind of bummed that I’m all caught up with the series—I hope it won’t be too long before the next book comes out because I’m hooked.
As an aside: did anyone else notice that author kept going back and forth between Rhonda and Ronda for the heroine’s name? It wasn’t that big of a deal overall, but I’m surprised no one caught that in editing.
It was nice to finally get an RH, even if it wasn’t Ava’s story (which I’m still totally looking forward to). I appreciated that the heroine was regular 42-year-old woman, and the fact that she sometimes couldn’t shut up for her own good added humor. The heroes were all different and had their own charms, even if it took a while to see them in some cases.
I’m kind of bummed that I’m all caught up with the series—I hope it won’t be too long before the next book comes out because I’m hooked.
As an aside: did anyone else notice that author kept going back and forth between Rhonda and Ronda for the heroine’s name? It wasn’t that big of a deal overall, but I’m surprised no one caught that in editing.
January 15, 2023
Such a deeply moving story
Trombley is ever fearless in addressing the horrors that can happen when ethics are ignored. Our sweet FMC, Rhonda, is 42 years old and recently divorced when she’s abducted from earth and placed in a maze where she’s expected to lose her life. Of course, Mr 34 doesn’t end her life and the lovely Iriduans want to know why. So. Much. Trauma. This book was about redemption for every MC and most side characters, so groveling is a strong theme and so is forgiveness. I loved having such a self aware FMC and really enjoyed that it was single POV. It made everything so much less predictable and sucked me into the story. As always, Trombley doesn’t shy away from unique *anatomy*.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: noncon/dubcon, cheating (not MC), torture, violence, captivity, medical experimentation/dr¥gging, mention of emotional abuse
Trombley is ever fearless in addressing the horrors that can happen when ethics are ignored. Our sweet FMC, Rhonda, is 42 years old and recently divorced when she’s abducted from earth and placed in a maze where she’s expected to lose her life. Of course, Mr 34 doesn’t end her life and the lovely Iriduans want to know why. So. Much. Trauma. This book was about redemption for every MC and most side characters, so groveling is a strong theme and so is forgiveness. I loved having such a self aware FMC and really enjoyed that it was single POV. It made everything so much less predictable and sucked me into the story. As always, Trombley doesn’t shy away from unique *anatomy*.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: noncon/dubcon, cheating (not MC), torture, violence, captivity, medical experimentation/dr¥gging, mention of emotional abuse
November 20, 2021
The Clone’s Mate rises to wonderful heights!
The Clone’s Mate was an exciting and romantic read. This eighth book in the Iriduan Test Subjects series raises the bar of this series to a wonderful height. Rhonda is abducted and becomes part of the experiment an alien hybrid called Subject 34 is having to endure. She finds a way to win the admiration of Subject 34, Ilyan( a fellow prisoner who has a fractured personality), and Nirgal (the scientist who created Subject 34 and due to Rhonda’s influence has developed a sense of guilt over the tests he has been conducting in the name of science). Can her love get them to work together to escape and build a life together? Definitely worth reading to find out!
The Clone’s Mate was an exciting and romantic read. This eighth book in the Iriduan Test Subjects series raises the bar of this series to a wonderful height. Rhonda is abducted and becomes part of the experiment an alien hybrid called Subject 34 is having to endure. She finds a way to win the admiration of Subject 34, Ilyan( a fellow prisoner who has a fractured personality), and Nirgal (the scientist who created Subject 34 and due to Rhonda’s influence has developed a sense of guilt over the tests he has been conducting in the name of science). Can her love get them to work together to escape and build a life together? Definitely worth reading to find out!
Read
December 13, 2021I loved the Fractured Mate and despite this having a similar idea it just didn't work for me. All of her relationships seemed like a hair off instalove, with her literally needing a few interactions to start caring for Ilyan and basically instalust turned to instalove when it comes with Subject 34. Her relationship with Nirgal had potential, but I feel like the shift from antagonising to missing was really sudden and I would have wished for some more development. Maybe the problem is that there were three separate relationships going on and so there wasn't conceivably enough time to properly explore each of them, which is fair, but it just didn't work for me. Still enjoyed reading it, just not as much as the others in the series.
September 11, 2021
Best series
I don’t always write reviews for books I read and I read a lot bc I can’t put how I like the book into enough words for these things but I absolutely love these books I can’t describe how well she puts together begins that come from horrible circumstances to ends of the best kind and how she connects all the characters together at the end to give a more rounded view of what happened to past characters seriously I am always happy to see a new book come out for this series this one was a lovely surprise bc I didn’t know it was even coming out but seriously best read would very much recommend
I don’t always write reviews for books I read and I read a lot bc I can’t put how I like the book into enough words for these things but I absolutely love these books I can’t describe how well she puts together begins that come from horrible circumstances to ends of the best kind and how she connects all the characters together at the end to give a more rounded view of what happened to past characters seriously I am always happy to see a new book come out for this series this one was a lovely surprise bc I didn’t know it was even coming out but seriously best read would very much recommend
September 26, 2022
Nirgal & Ilyan & 34
The Clone’s Mate is book eight in the series Iriduan Test Subjects by author Susan Trombley. Ok so this one might just be my favorite- I know I said this before yet- ok so maybe it’s a tie. Anywho, The Clone’s Mate, is filled with heck everything. Action - suspense- drama- spiciness. Oh and what spiciness- it’s enough to well ummm… I forgot myself there for a moment (behave). Ok where was I, the storyline is unquestionably brilliant with is bits of dark brutish deliciousness. I love the way the characters come together and form their own unit. I honestly wish there was more to this series.
Enjoy!!
The Clone’s Mate is book eight in the series Iriduan Test Subjects by author Susan Trombley. Ok so this one might just be my favorite- I know I said this before yet- ok so maybe it’s a tie. Anywho, The Clone’s Mate, is filled with heck everything. Action - suspense- drama- spiciness. Oh and what spiciness- it’s enough to well ummm… I forgot myself there for a moment (behave). Ok where was I, the storyline is unquestionably brilliant with is bits of dark brutish deliciousness. I love the way the characters come together and form their own unit. I honestly wish there was more to this series.
Enjoy!!
January 16, 2024
they're just not 5 stars because THE TIMELINE IS WRONG IN THIS BOOK for the love of god people, HYlian ((I don't know how to write the right name of these characters)) has two books with two happy endings, ok he has a happy ending and a redemption, but it happens Two timelines in the series for the same characters?? It left me very confused, and that's why it's 4 stars, I liked this one more than book six to be honest. but I think that if I were to leave just one timeline, I would have to review both books and then take elements from both and make a single book. and the fact that after everything the reverse harem worked, I really liked it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2021
Better than expected
When I started reading, afraid it be another alien steals human woman storyline. It is but it turns into something interesting and better. Rhonda is average abductee . But I loved the way her character was written. All the strange and scary things she experienced help her grow stronger as a person. Meeting her future mate(s) and the ensuing twists in story were a good surprise. And I appreciate that her HEA was not an abrupt ending but detailed and comprehensive as the rest of the story.Rhonda and her mates deserved and earned their happiness.
When I started reading, afraid it be another alien steals human woman storyline. It is but it turns into something interesting and better. Rhonda is average abductee . But I loved the way her character was written. All the strange and scary things she experienced help her grow stronger as a person. Meeting her future mate(s) and the ensuing twists in story were a good surprise. And I appreciate that her HEA was not an abrupt ending but detailed and comprehensive as the rest of the story.Rhonda and her mates deserved and earned their happiness.
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