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Fated Mates of the Sea Sand Warlords #2
Alien Enemy
"They Call me the Mad Gahn. But I never felt truly mad until I saw her face..."
CHAPMAN
So, our mission on an alien planet fell apart before it even got started. Great. Now I’m the only surviving military crew member, leading a gaggle of civilian women in unfamiliar terrain. But it turns out one soldier isn’t enough to protect them from the monsters of this planet. Soon enough we’re all scooped up by a bunch of alien barbarian warriors with tails. When I meet their huge, red-eyed leader, he wraps his claws around my throat and looks like he wants to crush me. I can only think of one name for him: The Enemy.
He’s crazy, moody, and his ego is bigger than his whole planet. Everything about him rubs me the wrong way. My defiance is just as big a thorn in his side, if his glares and snarls are anything to go by.
We can’t stand each other, but for some reason we keep falling towards each other, over and over again. If I hate him so much, why can’t I seem to stay away?
And when he claims that I’m his mate, why don’t I want to run?
FALLO
There are few women of the Sea Sands now, so the unfamiliar females who appear in the desert are a great boon to my tribe. But their leader, the one with the flame-coloured hair, challenges me at every step, her insolence a hot irritation. I do not understand her nonsense words, but I recognize the hateful defiance in her strange, lovely eyes.
It makes me want to punish her.
It makes me want to make her mine.
She is fire in my veins. A thirst I cannot quench. A beautiful torture. Madness.
She makes me feel like I am losing control.
She makes me question everything. Even my own sanity.
Will she finally submit, acknowledge me as her mate, and end my suffering? Or will she throw me headfirst into madness?
CHAPMAN
So, our mission on an alien planet fell apart before it even got started. Great. Now I’m the only surviving military crew member, leading a gaggle of civilian women in unfamiliar terrain. But it turns out one soldier isn’t enough to protect them from the monsters of this planet. Soon enough we’re all scooped up by a bunch of alien barbarian warriors with tails. When I meet their huge, red-eyed leader, he wraps his claws around my throat and looks like he wants to crush me. I can only think of one name for him: The Enemy.
He’s crazy, moody, and his ego is bigger than his whole planet. Everything about him rubs me the wrong way. My defiance is just as big a thorn in his side, if his glares and snarls are anything to go by.
We can’t stand each other, but for some reason we keep falling towards each other, over and over again. If I hate him so much, why can’t I seem to stay away?
And when he claims that I’m his mate, why don’t I want to run?
FALLO
There are few women of the Sea Sands now, so the unfamiliar females who appear in the desert are a great boon to my tribe. But their leader, the one with the flame-coloured hair, challenges me at every step, her insolence a hot irritation. I do not understand her nonsense words, but I recognize the hateful defiance in her strange, lovely eyes.
It makes me want to punish her.
It makes me want to make her mine.
She is fire in my veins. A thirst I cannot quench. A beautiful torture. Madness.
She makes me feel like I am losing control.
She makes me question everything. Even my own sanity.
Will she finally submit, acknowledge me as her mate, and end my suffering? Or will she throw me headfirst into madness?
252 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 11, 2021
674 people are currently reading
856 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
September 12, 2022
2 Stars
I'll be honest I liked Chapman and Fallo more than Cece and Buroudei in book one but damn the disappointment was strong with this one.
In my review of book one I listed quite a few things I found problematic for me and sadly it seemed the author used the same template base for this one as well.
When we open the book starts up from the beginning where book one did except we begin where the women were running for their lives off the ship but from Chapman's POV. This was fine, expected even if I'm honest and was for the most part condensed.
And then we begin the unknown amount of days (though I believe it's mentioned at some point as less than a week 🙄 idk) in between where we see them adjust to the Gahn Fallo's tribe and the tension heat up between Fallo and Chapman. Again, I expected this but frankly I feel like it took up too much space considering the length of the book. The author focused so much on the in between instead of giving us more of the aftermath post Battle with Buroudei. Why would I want to skip on some of the interaction between the MCs, you wonder? Well, because frankly nothing much occurred between the two before. Yes the tension was escalating and yes Fallo's pull towards Chapman was growing stronger even before the weird snake god thing shows him she was his fated mate. But the in between could have been cut down from boring scenes between the girls talking and the hunt for finding Theresa who followed a goddamn bird and nearly died in a ravine. I mean, honestly! Point is, they weren't even together before the battle happened, hell nothing had happened before it occurred except for him going down on her once. Unlike with Cece and Buroudei because they were touching and kissing, grinding and oral sexing each other until they boned around the 80% mark once she finally understood him and could communicate.
In this case the author drags out all the not so interesting or unimportant bits and then waits literally until 90% for Chapman to toss the idea out that maybe she could go to the cave of the Lavrika (idek) and get blessed with their language like Cece. And it somehow worked and naturally Fallo followed them and wahlah they can communicate but it's hardly exciting anymore! They're not saying anything worth saying except for when they finally have sex at like 97% with their I love you declarations and then a big fat abrupt THE END.
Seriously? Again?! I thought book one was a one off, I was hoping it was. But apparently this is the authors choice of endings for her stories. And frankly I am NOT a fan. I wait the whole damn book for them to communicate and we get a handful of pages of them negotiating for the humans and then sex and I love you's and it's over. No "hey what's being a mate entail?," "How does the mate bond work for humans?," "Can we even have babies together?," Better yet "Did she even want kids?," No "hey where are you from?" From Fallo though at least Buroudei asked Cece.
There was just SO MUCH left unspoken or asked. Plenty left unexplored. I want to feel satisfied when a book ends especially in a series because we move on to another couple each book. There's no closure. I don't feel as if these two beings know enough to be locked in forever. How did no one ask more? Am I just to assume this happens off scene? Ugh. I'm so frustrated by this.
So, I think I'm calling it quits with this author. I don't like their pacing and choice of story structure and scene focus. Maybe if the books had another four or five chapters AFTER they get the language implanted in their brains then maybe it would be less frustrating. I just feel like we're focusing on the wrong aspects for too long and when we finally focus on the entire point of the book the author ends it. If the next book doesn't play out the same way I'd be shocked but since I'm done I'll never know.
PS: I'm an experienced picky reader and to any noob this would probably read fine but my analytical brain I just can't let it go. Just felt like pointing that out. Decent writing and storytelling but not focused on the right stuff for my taste.
I'll be honest I liked Chapman and Fallo more than Cece and Buroudei in book one but damn the disappointment was strong with this one.
In my review of book one I listed quite a few things I found problematic for me and sadly it seemed the author used the same template base for this one as well.
When we open the book starts up from the beginning where book one did except we begin where the women were running for their lives off the ship but from Chapman's POV. This was fine, expected even if I'm honest and was for the most part condensed.
And then we begin the unknown amount of days (though I believe it's mentioned at some point as less than a week 🙄 idk) in between where we see them adjust to the Gahn Fallo's tribe and the tension heat up between Fallo and Chapman. Again, I expected this but frankly I feel like it took up too much space considering the length of the book. The author focused so much on the in between instead of giving us more of the aftermath post Battle with Buroudei. Why would I want to skip on some of the interaction between the MCs, you wonder? Well, because frankly nothing much occurred between the two before. Yes the tension was escalating and yes Fallo's pull towards Chapman was growing stronger even before the weird snake god thing shows him she was his fated mate. But the in between could have been cut down from boring scenes between the girls talking and the hunt for finding Theresa who followed a goddamn bird and nearly died in a ravine. I mean, honestly! Point is, they weren't even together before the battle happened, hell nothing had happened before it occurred except for him going down on her once. Unlike with Cece and Buroudei because they were touching and kissing, grinding and oral sexing each other until they boned around the 80% mark once she finally understood him and could communicate.
In this case the author drags out all the not so interesting or unimportant bits and then waits literally until 90% for Chapman to toss the idea out that maybe she could go to the cave of the Lavrika (idek) and get blessed with their language like Cece. And it somehow worked and naturally Fallo followed them and wahlah they can communicate but it's hardly exciting anymore! They're not saying anything worth saying except for when they finally have sex at like 97% with their I love you declarations and then a big fat abrupt THE END.
Seriously? Again?! I thought book one was a one off, I was hoping it was. But apparently this is the authors choice of endings for her stories. And frankly I am NOT a fan. I wait the whole damn book for them to communicate and we get a handful of pages of them negotiating for the humans and then sex and I love you's and it's over. No "hey what's being a mate entail?," "How does the mate bond work for humans?," "Can we even have babies together?," Better yet "Did she even want kids?," No "hey where are you from?" From Fallo though at least Buroudei asked Cece.
There was just SO MUCH left unspoken or asked. Plenty left unexplored. I want to feel satisfied when a book ends especially in a series because we move on to another couple each book. There's no closure. I don't feel as if these two beings know enough to be locked in forever. How did no one ask more? Am I just to assume this happens off scene? Ugh. I'm so frustrated by this.
So, I think I'm calling it quits with this author. I don't like their pacing and choice of story structure and scene focus. Maybe if the books had another four or five chapters AFTER they get the language implanted in their brains then maybe it would be less frustrating. I just feel like we're focusing on the wrong aspects for too long and when we finally focus on the entire point of the book the author ends it. If the next book doesn't play out the same way I'd be shocked but since I'm done I'll never know.
PS: I'm an experienced picky reader and to any noob this would probably read fine but my analytical brain I just can't let it go. Just felt like pointing that out. Decent writing and storytelling but not focused on the right stuff for my taste.
March 21, 2024
Crosses over with scenes from the first book.
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙❤️💚
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌎
Character development: 😊😘😟
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Chapman - she was a military officer on a mission to a planet that had some resources that were wanted by the government of Earth. She hadn’t known that it entailed kidnapping a bunch of women who specialized in certain things like biology, geology, linguistics and more and forcing them to go to the planet and find the resources, dealing with the aliens, terrain and everything else on the planet. She also didn’t expect what happened when they landed on the planet and were attacked by 6-foot-tall crab/scorpion creatures.
The Hero: Fallo (a.k.a. The Mad Gahn) - he is the Ghan, the leader of his clan of Sand Sea Warriors. It was the largest of all the clans and they were feared by the other clans. His men were out hunting when they came across the spaceship being attacked by sand monsters. They killed the monsters and rescued the women, taking them to their home.
The Story: Chapman, being the only military officer left in the group of 20 or so women, is kind of the leader of the human females. They are taken captive by Fallo’s clan and the fact that they can’t communicate with each other causes all kinds of problems. Not to mention the fact that they are two different species and don’t really understand the differences. For example, alien females don’t get swollen breasts unless they are pregnant, so when he sees that chapman has breasts, he assumes she is with child.
The story is good in this one and I liked the previous book as well, though I have a problem with alien romance when it takes too long for the communication differences to be resolved. Whether it ends up being resolved by translator implants, learning each others’ language or some other magical force that gives understanding of languages. I just don’t like when people can’t talk to each other in romance books.
One thing that bothered me in the last book was the description of the alien males having three tongues. It bothered me because it sounded like something that would never evolve, I mean why? And how would it look and work and even fit in a mouth? Though in this book, it explained that it is more like one tongue, forked into three, a bit like a snake. That made a lot more sense to me though it still isn’t something I liked.
This audiobook was done in dual points of view via dual narration. It was narrated by Patrick Zeller and Aletha George. These aren’t two of my favorite narrators, as they both sound a bit older than I generally like for romance but they both do a good job and have very pleasant voices. Patrick Zeller has a good way of showing why they call Fallo the Mad Ghan.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙❤️💚
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌎
Character development: 😊😘😟
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Chapman - she was a military officer on a mission to a planet that had some resources that were wanted by the government of Earth. She hadn’t known that it entailed kidnapping a bunch of women who specialized in certain things like biology, geology, linguistics and more and forcing them to go to the planet and find the resources, dealing with the aliens, terrain and everything else on the planet. She also didn’t expect what happened when they landed on the planet and were attacked by 6-foot-tall crab/scorpion creatures.
The Hero: Fallo (a.k.a. The Mad Gahn) - he is the Ghan, the leader of his clan of Sand Sea Warriors. It was the largest of all the clans and they were feared by the other clans. His men were out hunting when they came across the spaceship being attacked by sand monsters. They killed the monsters and rescued the women, taking them to their home.
The Story: Chapman, being the only military officer left in the group of 20 or so women, is kind of the leader of the human females. They are taken captive by Fallo’s clan and the fact that they can’t communicate with each other causes all kinds of problems. Not to mention the fact that they are two different species and don’t really understand the differences. For example, alien females don’t get swollen breasts unless they are pregnant, so when he sees that chapman has breasts, he assumes she is with child.
The story is good in this one and I liked the previous book as well, though I have a problem with alien romance when it takes too long for the communication differences to be resolved. Whether it ends up being resolved by translator implants, learning each others’ language or some other magical force that gives understanding of languages. I just don’t like when people can’t talk to each other in romance books.
One thing that bothered me in the last book was the description of the alien males having three tongues. It bothered me because it sounded like something that would never evolve, I mean why? And how would it look and work and even fit in a mouth? Though in this book, it explained that it is more like one tongue, forked into three, a bit like a snake. That made a lot more sense to me though it still isn’t something I liked.
This audiobook was done in dual points of view via dual narration. It was narrated by Patrick Zeller and Aletha George. These aren’t two of my favorite narrators, as they both sound a bit older than I generally like for romance but they both do a good job and have very pleasant voices. Patrick Zeller has a good way of showing why they call Fallo the Mad Ghan.
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January 14, 2023
This was mostly cute but it was very slow moving and the pacing was off. I feel like it took way to long for these two to get on the same page and they were mostly adversaries who were attracted to each other until very near the end. They also didn’t work out their language issues until the last five percent of the book. The world building in these books is also kind of unoriginal, it feels very much like a low budget Zoey Draven or Ruby Dixon novel. It reads almost like fan fiction. I did find this book entertaining though, mostly when we got Fallo’s POV because he is an idiot and idiots are my jam lately. But again the physical characteristics of these aliens were weird, describing them as kangaroo men and yet they sat and walked around and crossed their legs like humans felt inconsistent. I just couldn’t get into thinking captain kangaroo was hot. Anyway this was fairly similar to the last book and followed the same timeline but lacked the relationship building and any real couple time between the mains. If Fallo wasn’t such a hilarious dumbass I don’t think I would have even rated this three full stars. The ending was abrupt and very hfn, as this is a series, I guess the intention is to lead the reader into the next book, however I didn’t feel satisfied that this couple’s story was finished and didn’t feel like I got to know them as a couple at all. They got together at the second last page and finally had weird kangaroo-man sex, the end. Even though this is a long series, this couple’s story is over and maybe we will get glimpses of them but no more time spent in their POVs, which is a let down, because this whole book was just build up and tension with their fighting and push and pull, and we get very little resolution on that. 🤷🏼♀️ Very anticlimactic ending. 🥴
March 27, 2025
So, this was somehow similar to the first one!? At least on some moments. The fmc annoyed me a few times. Him as well, but somehow less than the fmc. I don't know, I couldn't feel their connection.
He definitely fell faster and harder, even before that "magical vision," which I actually loved.. that he had the strong attraction from the start, before all the mating stuff entered the scene.
I felt like again, similar to the first book, the fmc accepted her fate too much easier. Everything just wrapped up nicely between them in just one last chapter... yeah, I needed more!!!
So, I hope the next one will bring some fresh scenes, ideas, relationship evolution, etc......
This being said, I'll give this series a new chance with the next book. ✌️
He definitely fell faster and harder, even before that "magical vision," which I actually loved.. that he had the strong attraction from the start, before all the mating stuff entered the scene.
I felt like again, similar to the first book, the fmc accepted her fate too much easier. Everything just wrapped up nicely between them in just one last chapter... yeah, I needed more!!!
So, I hope the next one will bring some fresh scenes, ideas, relationship evolution, etc......
This being said, I'll give this series a new chance with the next book. ✌️
August 15, 2023
A lot of sexual tension. A lot if why am I drawn to him or her? Should I feel this way? Then at 98% a negotiation and then consummation of their relationship. A lot I un-said. I’m a little disappointed that certain questions weren’t asked and answered..
both are very headstrong and independent people.
Rated: 3 Stars
both are very headstrong and independent people.
Rated: 3 Stars
September 8, 2023
I continue to be intrigued by the macro plot and the things getting set up for this story. I think the length of time the characters were at odds didn't feel fully satisfying. I think maybe having another 10% at the end of them fully together would have felt better for their specific romance
August 7, 2024
DNF @25%
Everyone was so fkn annoying. They both don’t deserve happy endings.
Everyone was so fkn annoying. They both don’t deserve happy endings.
December 20, 2021
Okay so the 3.5 *** is for the ongoing plot and how all of that played out here.
I am just not crazy about the main couple here and their battle of wills between each other and how it was executed. But I already wasn't too crazy about them to begin with, because of the impressions that were given by them, in book 1. So, I was already reluctant about these two before even starting their story... I was still hoping I could have been completely won over where they were concerned, but my feelings for them together are lukewarm at best. I liken Fallo/Chapman with the same sentiment of "If you can't be with the one you love, then love the one you're with" type of vibe... For most of the book they got on my nerves, but literally the last 3 chapters, things got a whole lot better for me concerning them.
The overall plot and how it moves along within this book was very interesting. I fell in love with this series from book one. Everything about that book I loved and was on point for me. So, I knew that even though I was not going to be crazy about Fallo/Chapman, that I was going to have to read their story. It turned out way better than I had anticipated, so I am happy about that. And there were some deep things that were FINALLY brought to light regarding Gahn Fallo, that I could appreciate. Still, he's not my fave warrior by a long shot. And dude is Bat'''' Crazy.
Chapman, because she's a solider and cut from a very different cloth than most of the females here, I could appreciate her grit and fire to fight back no matter what. But at some point, even a good soldier recognizes & accepts when they are beat and makes the best of the situation to not only survive but thrive in their circumstances. Especially with the circumstances these women are finding themselves in now. So, I wish Chapman could have gotten herself together faster in this regard. It's probably why their (Her and Fallo) ending seemed rather lackluster and very rushed for me, when that finally happened.
But based on books 1 and 2, I would definitely recommend this series. I am off to book 3 now. These next characters I'm eager to learn more about. I hope I love it and them!
I am just not crazy about the main couple here and their battle of wills between each other and how it was executed. But I already wasn't too crazy about them to begin with, because of the impressions that were given by them, in book 1. So, I was already reluctant about these two before even starting their story... I was still hoping I could have been completely won over where they were concerned, but my feelings for them together are lukewarm at best. I liken Fallo/Chapman with the same sentiment of "If you can't be with the one you love, then love the one you're with" type of vibe... For most of the book they got on my nerves, but literally the last 3 chapters, things got a whole lot better for me concerning them.
The overall plot and how it moves along within this book was very interesting. I fell in love with this series from book one. Everything about that book I loved and was on point for me. So, I knew that even though I was not going to be crazy about Fallo/Chapman, that I was going to have to read their story. It turned out way better than I had anticipated, so I am happy about that. And there were some deep things that were FINALLY brought to light regarding Gahn Fallo, that I could appreciate. Still, he's not my fave warrior by a long shot. And dude is Bat'''' Crazy.
Chapman, because she's a solider and cut from a very different cloth than most of the females here, I could appreciate her grit and fire to fight back no matter what. But at some point, even a good soldier recognizes & accepts when they are beat and makes the best of the situation to not only survive but thrive in their circumstances. Especially with the circumstances these women are finding themselves in now. So, I wish Chapman could have gotten herself together faster in this regard. It's probably why their (Her and Fallo) ending seemed rather lackluster and very rushed for me, when that finally happened.
But based on books 1 and 2, I would definitely recommend this series. I am off to book 3 now. These next characters I'm eager to learn more about. I hope I love it and them!
April 28, 2022
It was starting to get good but I feel the author always ends it way too quickly. It leaves the reader unsatisfied and then in the next book we are thrust unto another couple already.
September 12, 2023
2.5⭐️ angry, patriarchal let down after B1 🥺
Sooo, I was already somewhat predisposed not to like this, as I don’t like Chapman.
Upon reading, I don’t like either lead!
Both are in serious need of anger management, but he’s the worst. He spends the entire book being angry, it’s exhausting.
He’s nothing like the MMC from B1. Normally that would be good, but he’s just so blatantly unlikeable.
All the good things about B1 are missing here.
The respect for women and their role in the tribe, gone.
The balanced and respectful approach to both sexes nonexistent.
The MMC makes numerous derogatory and sexist comments.
Further, the analytical intelligence the women had in B1 🤣😂 The FMC in B1 managed just as much, if not more than this FMC, despite her supposedly being a trained soldier who prepped for this mission.
Plus you have another woman who is literally the dumb cliche female in horror and sci-fi, running around screaming, getting lost, needing rescue multiple times. It’s embarrassing.
This was a mash up of all the worst SFR tropes, used just to fill up space. It didn’t further the plot or add to our characters, [who spent the entire book hating each other, but still wanting sex up the other one], simply dragged the story out way too long.
We did get some fixes regarding world building, but a lot of it felt too easy, with a one stop solution making this barbarian world safer. No need to worry about injuries, bacteria, or sickness…they have a magic-cure-all liquid [seriously have no idea what the purpose of their healers is, other than apply and bandage?].
There are plants for every need, that apparently grow in abundance, in the desert that has no water source.
Still no water, veggies, or sunscreen replacement for when their supplies run out, or any concern over this.
They don’t seem to make anything, or need to [soap, lotions, medicines, paint, breads, or any other food other than cooked meat [no smoking or storing].
Yes I’m a wee bit bitter and less forgiving this time around… I didn’t have my happy place…awesome characters, or an intelligent plot filled with purpose.
This was OTT angst, created by pointless stubbornness, poor decisions, and seemingly deliberate misunderstandings.
While I was biased to Chapman, this was so much worse than I anticipated, and a serious let down after B1.
Here’s hoping we return to blissful fun, intelligent women, cinnamon roll alphas, and tongue in cheek perfect solutions [rather than perfect, OTT fixes that steal all the drama and tension].
Sooo, I was already somewhat predisposed not to like this, as I don’t like Chapman.
Upon reading, I don’t like either lead!
Both are in serious need of anger management, but he’s the worst. He spends the entire book being angry, it’s exhausting.
He’s nothing like the MMC from B1. Normally that would be good, but he’s just so blatantly unlikeable.
All the good things about B1 are missing here.
The respect for women and their role in the tribe, gone.
The balanced and respectful approach to both sexes nonexistent.
The MMC makes numerous derogatory and sexist comments.
Further, the analytical intelligence the women had in B1 🤣😂 The FMC in B1 managed just as much, if not more than this FMC, despite her supposedly being a trained soldier who prepped for this mission.
Plus you have another woman who is literally the dumb cliche female in horror and sci-fi, running around screaming, getting lost, needing rescue multiple times. It’s embarrassing.
This was a mash up of all the worst SFR tropes, used just to fill up space. It didn’t further the plot or add to our characters, [who spent the entire book hating each other, but still wanting sex up the other one], simply dragged the story out way too long.
We did get some fixes regarding world building, but a lot of it felt too easy, with a one stop solution making this barbarian world safer. No need to worry about injuries, bacteria, or sickness…they have a magic-cure-all liquid [seriously have no idea what the purpose of their healers is, other than apply and bandage?].
There are plants for every need, that apparently grow in abundance, in the desert that has no water source.
Still no water, veggies, or sunscreen replacement for when their supplies run out, or any concern over this.
They don’t seem to make anything, or need to [soap, lotions, medicines, paint, breads, or any other food other than cooked meat [no smoking or storing].
Yes I’m a wee bit bitter and less forgiving this time around… I didn’t have my happy place…awesome characters, or an intelligent plot filled with purpose.
This was OTT angst, created by pointless stubbornness, poor decisions, and seemingly deliberate misunderstandings.
While I was biased to Chapman, this was so much worse than I anticipated, and a serious let down after B1.
Here’s hoping we return to blissful fun, intelligent women, cinnamon roll alphas, and tongue in cheek perfect solutions [rather than perfect, OTT fixes that steal all the drama and tension].
August 16, 2022
This is the second book in the Fated Mates of the Sea Sand Warlords series and is one of the best enemies-to-lovers trope books I have ever read. You can't get a stronger set up than a bloodthirsty mad alien warlord who killed his own dad to seize the throne and a badass soldier who's constantly trying to kill him. Tori Chapman never knew that enlisting in the army would involve seizing women from earth and taking them to an alien planet to suss it out. The women are viewed as cannon fodder, however the moment the ship lands, all hell breaks loose. Giant killer scorpion-crabs destroy the ship and those flying it, leaving Chapman to lead the women out the back door to freedom. But only moments later they're picked off by alien warriors and taken back to camp.
The women look to Chapman to lead them and she naturally falls into the role. But she's got a fight on her hands in the shape of Fallo. He's the 'Gahn' of the tribe - something akin to a King, and the maddest and baddest warlord on this forbidding planet. Fallo's taken a shine to Chapman even though she drives him insane and keeps stealing his knives with the intention of doing him harm. This book is just brilliant. It's an epic enemies-to-lovers story, compounded by the misunderstandings involved when the characters literally can't understand each other. Chapman and Fallo don't speak the same language, don't share a culture, and have to find their way to an understanding in the middle of ongoing wars and disputes with other tribes. Dax is a phenomenal writer with deep understanding of character and a beautiful and poetic voice when she describes the environment Chapman finds herself in. I adored this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series!
The women look to Chapman to lead them and she naturally falls into the role. But she's got a fight on her hands in the shape of Fallo. He's the 'Gahn' of the tribe - something akin to a King, and the maddest and baddest warlord on this forbidding planet. Fallo's taken a shine to Chapman even though she drives him insane and keeps stealing his knives with the intention of doing him harm. This book is just brilliant. It's an epic enemies-to-lovers story, compounded by the misunderstandings involved when the characters literally can't understand each other. Chapman and Fallo don't speak the same language, don't share a culture, and have to find their way to an understanding in the middle of ongoing wars and disputes with other tribes. Dax is a phenomenal writer with deep understanding of character and a beautiful and poetic voice when she describes the environment Chapman finds herself in. I adored this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series!
December 21, 2021
Somewhere between liked it and enjoyed it, so maybe more like 2.5 stars, but I don't do 1/2 stars or round up. My issue with this book is that both characters were so antagonistic towards each other (yes, it's essentially enemies to lover) that I didn't like either. The story essentially starts at the beginning of the crash landing so we, as the reader, have gone back in time - and have deal with the language barrier - UGH. Again, I needed, and wanted, more time with the couple where they were happy and together and could communicate in the same language.
May 25, 2022
Every new SFR series manages to come up with an entirely new way to view male genitalia. Below Exhibit 1.
I used to look askance at kangaroo peen in another book series because the romance didn't work...and that genital setup is so not my jam. But then Ursa Dax said "hey, how about Doberman ears, cat nose, human bodybuilder torso and thighs....and some kangaroo tail and feet? Or you know, land crocodiles, but not til later?"
Um, excuse me what now?
So of course, I've devoured the entire crackilicious series in a couple of weeks. Because that's how I roll.
Any-whoosie, let's do this.
Series: It's a straight up alien soap opera and I'm ok with that. I think it was interesting to come at this familiar trope (human women kidnapped and thrust onto alien planet for REASONS) instead making the kidnapping as part of a mission to explore a strange new world (ok I just kept doing the Star trek opening, but you get what I mean).
The women end up being a reason for separate tribes on the planet Zaphrinax to come together because of the hope of repopulating their numbers with the human women, as opposed to the typical alien villains kidnapping women for sexual slavery etc. The worldbuilding is enough to keep me engaged without getting lost in the minutiae. And the overarching storyline continues to build. I'm digging it, kinda the way I like IPB. Getting to know the Sea Sand folx and their Lavrika's blood that fixes everything, and the survivalist aspect, seeing how the human women are fragile yet determined to make it on this deadly planet. They were all selected for this "mission" because of their particular skillsets and that makes the individual stories click along. It can be a little predictable but I like the comfort factor of that predictability since the physicality and the sheer weird factor of the planet itself keeps things hopping.
This Book: Chapman and Fallo - I like this WAY more than I expected, basically because Chapman takes absolutely NO BS from Fallo, and he is literally Batsh!t cray cray. He is called the Mad Gahn and I love that he doesn't stop being mad just because of his feelings for Chapman. And be prepared for him to be a raging d-hole through the series, but NEVER with her and I absolutely dig it, what can I say? Not gonna lie though, I'll be happy when she does away with the whole communication issue with a magical dip (it will make sense if you read).
I used to look askance at kangaroo peen in another book series because the romance didn't work...and that genital setup is so not my jam. But then Ursa Dax said "hey, how about Doberman ears, cat nose, human bodybuilder torso and thighs....and some kangaroo tail and feet? Or you know, land crocodiles, but not til later?"
Um, excuse me what now?
So of course, I've devoured the entire crackilicious series in a couple of weeks. Because that's how I roll.
Any-whoosie, let's do this.
Series: It's a straight up alien soap opera and I'm ok with that. I think it was interesting to come at this familiar trope (human women kidnapped and thrust onto alien planet for REASONS) instead making the kidnapping as part of a mission to explore a strange new world (ok I just kept doing the Star trek opening, but you get what I mean).
The women end up being a reason for separate tribes on the planet Zaphrinax to come together because of the hope of repopulating their numbers with the human women, as opposed to the typical alien villains kidnapping women for sexual slavery etc. The worldbuilding is enough to keep me engaged without getting lost in the minutiae. And the overarching storyline continues to build. I'm digging it, kinda the way I like IPB. Getting to know the Sea Sand folx and their Lavrika's blood that fixes everything, and the survivalist aspect, seeing how the human women are fragile yet determined to make it on this deadly planet. They were all selected for this "mission" because of their particular skillsets and that makes the individual stories click along. It can be a little predictable but I like the comfort factor of that predictability since the physicality and the sheer weird factor of the planet itself keeps things hopping.
This Book: Chapman and Fallo - I like this WAY more than I expected, basically because Chapman takes absolutely NO BS from Fallo, and he is literally Batsh!t cray cray. He is called the Mad Gahn and I love that he doesn't stop being mad just because of his feelings for Chapman. And be prepared for him to be a raging d-hole through the series, but NEVER with her and I absolutely dig it, what can I say? Not gonna lie though, I'll be happy when she does away with the whole communication issue with a magical dip (it will make sense if you read).
December 19, 2022
The relationships in these books are just not doing it for me.
I was actually intrigued by Chapman's story, but I feel like something is missing. She is strong and military trained, and she doesn't let Fallo order her around. In the first book she actually takes an antagonistic role since she is one of the soldiers on the ship that crashed on the alien planet. I liked seeing her take responsibility for her behavior in the women's kidnapping and fall into a leadership role.
Fallo is super controlling and kept grinding my nerves with his aggressive and annoying behavior. He orders Chapman around like a dog, and the only type of respect he has for the other women comes from them being potential mates for his buddies and child factories so his tribe won't die out. Their relationship was full of tension, yes, but their back and forth became repetitive after a while. I really liked that Chapman set boundaries with Fallo and demanded some respect from him, but that happened so late into the book that I was considering DNF-ing multiple times. I'm just not into all that pulling and biting Fallo does, and I really got the vibe that Chapman was just settling for the guy that has been forced upon her. What does she like about him? No, really, outside of the sexual attraction, she is constantly annoyed by him, and he keeps saying that he wants her to "submit" (and not in a fun way, like in the bedroom, but every day) which just makes me wish someone would run him through with a spear.
I also feel like there is something missing about all the other characters in the book. The alien tribesmates are all background characters with no thoughts on the new women entering their world. I could've done with less biting and more relationship development between Fallo, Chapman, and about everyone else on the planet. It was like that in the first book, where it feels like no characters really exist outside of the two main ones.
I was actually intrigued by Chapman's story, but I feel like something is missing. She is strong and military trained, and she doesn't let Fallo order her around. In the first book she actually takes an antagonistic role since she is one of the soldiers on the ship that crashed on the alien planet. I liked seeing her take responsibility for her behavior in the women's kidnapping and fall into a leadership role.
Fallo is super controlling and kept grinding my nerves with his aggressive and annoying behavior. He orders Chapman around like a dog, and the only type of respect he has for the other women comes from them being potential mates for his buddies and child factories so his tribe won't die out. Their relationship was full of tension, yes, but their back and forth became repetitive after a while. I really liked that Chapman set boundaries with Fallo and demanded some respect from him, but that happened so late into the book that I was considering DNF-ing multiple times. I'm just not into all that pulling and biting Fallo does, and I really got the vibe that Chapman was just settling for the guy that has been forced upon her. What does she like about him? No, really, outside of the sexual attraction, she is constantly annoyed by him, and he keeps saying that he wants her to "submit" (and not in a fun way, like in the bedroom, but every day) which just makes me wish someone would run him through with a spear.
I also feel like there is something missing about all the other characters in the book. The alien tribesmates are all background characters with no thoughts on the new women entering their world. I could've done with less biting and more relationship development between Fallo, Chapman, and about everyone else on the planet. It was like that in the first book, where it feels like no characters really exist outside of the two main ones.
March 28, 2022
This book was decent enough. I certainly liked the previous one better though. I didn’t feel particularly charmed by either main character. When they were first introduced, neither were particularly good (Chapman working with the Military that kidnapped everyone and Fallo being the “mad Gahn”) so I think that may have slightly effected my enjoyment. I also felt that this one ended quite abruptly and that there was no real connection between the two of them. I still enjoyed myself well enough, it just could have been better.
November 25, 2023
I stumbled across Ursa Dax and her romance Fated Mates of the Sea Sand Warlords series after finishing up reading books from another author. I wanted something a bit different from normal romance and decided that Sci Fi romance was the go because anything can go. Let me tell you I really enjoyed them and read the whole series one straight after the other,
Alien men in all sizes and shapes, all growly and protective of their mates was just what I needed. Of course, it takes a while for the abducted Human women to come around but that is just part of the fun.
Ursa’s world building makes it so easy to imagine the world she has created, and the characters are so easy to fall in love with.
If you love Sci Fi romance that is messy, sexy, a little alien erotica and fated mates then Ursa is your gal.
I was not disappointed, and I know you won’t be either.
Alien men in all sizes and shapes, all growly and protective of their mates was just what I needed. Of course, it takes a while for the abducted Human women to come around but that is just part of the fun.
Ursa’s world building makes it so easy to imagine the world she has created, and the characters are so easy to fall in love with.
If you love Sci Fi romance that is messy, sexy, a little alien erotica and fated mates then Ursa is your gal.
I was not disappointed, and I know you won’t be either.
April 19, 2022
I'll admit I cannot believe I went from 4 stars in the first book to 2 in the second. I must also admit that I skimmed most of this book cause I found it boring. Most of the time it was just mundane things that didn't add to the story or world that had been established in the first book. It really felt like we were repeating the first book.
Here's the thing Chapman was not my favorite. I think I might have liked Fallo if it weren't for his pairing with Chapman. I also was confused about their story, their relationship and ultimately their pairing, I'm going to explain this under the spoiler tag. See what I mean about being confused! They never really get to know one another, they don't have a real conversation. If I were Chapman I would've had so many questions after learning the truth about Fallo and also some concerns cause it doesn't seem like Fallo is all that stable.
This review is so much longer than what I wanted it to be. I didn't enjoy this book, it was too boring and annoying. I gave it 2 stars because I was able to finish it. I do want to continue the series because I really want to read Taliok and Melanie's story. I also am crossing my fingers that Galok finds someone.
**Bad Read, 2 stars**
Here's the thing Chapman was not my favorite. I think I might have liked Fallo if it weren't for his pairing with Chapman. I also was confused about their story, their relationship and ultimately their pairing, I'm going to explain this under the spoiler tag. See what I mean about being confused! They never really get to know one another, they don't have a real conversation. If I were Chapman I would've had so many questions after learning the truth about Fallo and also some concerns cause it doesn't seem like Fallo is all that stable.
This review is so much longer than what I wanted it to be. I didn't enjoy this book, it was too boring and annoying. I gave it 2 stars because I was able to finish it. I do want to continue the series because I really want to read Taliok and Melanie's story. I also am crossing my fingers that Galok finds someone.
**Bad Read, 2 stars**
November 5, 2022
I was definitely interested in finding out how Chapman's story would pan out with Gahn Fallo, especially as they're both sort of antagonists in book 1. In book 2 they become more like anti-heroes and both are humanized (including alien) as a result of their story.
We see that Fallo isn't really that mad per se so much as he just needs better emotional regulation and maybe someone he can really trust and rely on. We see that Chapman is not a cruel, cold military soldier willing to do anything for the mission and is, in fact, pretty disgusted with the mission she was assigned. Chapman has a bit of a redeeming arc going on but Fallo not so much. It's hard for him to get the chance when book 2 ends so shortly after the same battle where he's almost killed in book 1.
I liked that their relationship was decidedly different from Cece and Buroudei. Whereas those two are sweet and tender, Chapman and Fallo are headstrong and stubborn and butt heads repeatedly. At one point Chapman refers to what she feels for Fallo as "annoyed affection" and that fits pretty perfectly. There's another bit that perfectly describes them but it's about 86% of the way in so I'll put it behind spoiler tags.
Book 2 has some major inconsistency about the timeline going on.
The first book seems to happen over the span of about a week, at minimum, from spaceship touch down to end of the book. The second book is supposed to be the same timeline but it only happens in like 3 days. Excuse me, what? In book 1, it took 3 days for the allied clan led by Gahn Irokai to return from their home territory and, although they "made good time", they slept the entire next day, left the morning after, and then another day to reach Gahn Fallo's territory - that's 4-5 days right there plus several days of events before hand. Where did the rest of the days go??
Book 2 also ended kind of abruptly like book 1. Hope that's not a trend.
We see that Fallo isn't really that mad per se so much as he just needs better emotional regulation and maybe someone he can really trust and rely on. We see that Chapman is not a cruel, cold military soldier willing to do anything for the mission and is, in fact, pretty disgusted with the mission she was assigned. Chapman has a bit of a redeeming arc going on but Fallo not so much. It's hard for him to get the chance when book 2 ends so shortly after the same battle where he's almost killed in book 1.
I liked that their relationship was decidedly different from Cece and Buroudei. Whereas those two are sweet and tender, Chapman and Fallo are headstrong and stubborn and butt heads repeatedly. At one point Chapman refers to what she feels for Fallo as "annoyed affection" and that fits pretty perfectly. There's another bit that perfectly describes them but it's about 86% of the way in so I'll put it behind spoiler tags.
Book 2 has some major inconsistency about the timeline going on.
The first book seems to happen over the span of about a week, at minimum, from spaceship touch down to end of the book. The second book is supposed to be the same timeline but it only happens in like 3 days. Excuse me, what? In book 1, it took 3 days for the allied clan led by Gahn Irokai to return from their home territory and, although they "made good time", they slept the entire next day, left the morning after, and then another day to reach Gahn Fallo's territory - that's 4-5 days right there plus several days of events before hand. Where did the rest of the days go??
Book 2 also ended kind of abruptly like book 1. Hope that's not a trend.
January 20, 2023
These are quick, easy reads so I've just been blowing through them. A little formulaic, predictable, etc. But enjoyable and reliable. This one was okay but I felt like Gahn Fallo was just a little bit TOO crazy. I know he is the mad Gahn but I mean he is really really not right. Laughing during battles. Biting down on the enemy's knife as he presses it into himself on purpose making him look like The Joker. Constantly threatening to kill people. He was such an alpha male cave man and it just didn't really work for me. I didn't feel their connection. I don't see why Chapman would want to be with him. I understand he is alien and aliens aren't humans but who would be attracted to someone who acted the way Fallo did??? I mean he is literally crazy? In a scary, abusive relationship kind of way. It did have a language barrier, which is usually a huge huge plus for me. But there were zero attempts at communication or learning each others languages which kind of defeats the point of a language barrier IMO. And then they can finally communicate within the last 10% of the book I think? The book ends with a sex scene so it is a slowish burn. I just didn't like Chapman and I didn't like Fallo, either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2022
I like to get lost in alien worlds. That being said, this series needs to be read in order from book one because you'll miss A LOT if you don't.
Major inconsistency: book one with Cece and Boroudei, he doesn't know what "in love" is. She has to explain it and the feeling of love. This book, Fallo says it. So wait...what? I thought they didn't know what it was? Also, to clarify, the characters from book 1 and this book are in two separate tribes and have zero communication.
More spelling errors and accidental repeated words.
I really didn't like the constant nagging of these 2 characters. I especially didn't like Fallo. Major reason, he is a narcissist. Flat out. He talks about how he's the greatest and no one is better than him and he can beat everyone. Then constantly tries to talk about Chapman submitting. Then again about how he's the best. Then the battle and even though he's losing he's still the best 🙄. Chapman, good luck hun because you're stuck with an alien narcissist and there are no redeeming qualities about him. His character did not get any better for me through the whole thing.
This one was a no.
Major inconsistency: book one with Cece and Boroudei, he doesn't know what "in love" is. She has to explain it and the feeling of love. This book, Fallo says it. So wait...what? I thought they didn't know what it was? Also, to clarify, the characters from book 1 and this book are in two separate tribes and have zero communication.
More spelling errors and accidental repeated words.
I really didn't like the constant nagging of these 2 characters. I especially didn't like Fallo. Major reason, he is a narcissist. Flat out. He talks about how he's the greatest and no one is better than him and he can beat everyone. Then constantly tries to talk about Chapman submitting. Then again about how he's the best. Then the battle and even though he's losing he's still the best 🙄. Chapman, good luck hun because you're stuck with an alien narcissist and there are no redeeming qualities about him. His character did not get any better for me through the whole thing.
This one was a no.
February 11, 2023
4.5 Some of the end scenes seemed rushed.
I finished this for the second time today (this time on Audible, and well worth a listen if you like to listen to your books). Fallo can be the biggest alpha hole sometimes, and Chapman is there to knock him back into line. Each and every time, and I love it. I'm here for it.
Though Chapman refers to him as the enemy through a good portion of the book, the transition from enemy to lovers is perfect, slow, and it makes sense to me. Not only does it make sense, but I can see, even when they were enemies, how they were absolutely the right one for one another.
A delight.
P.S. Fallo to me is Scar from A Lion King without all the Disney villainry. I can't unsee it.
I finished this for the second time today (this time on Audible, and well worth a listen if you like to listen to your books). Fallo can be the biggest alpha hole sometimes, and Chapman is there to knock him back into line. Each and every time, and I love it. I'm here for it.
Though Chapman refers to him as the enemy through a good portion of the book, the transition from enemy to lovers is perfect, slow, and it makes sense to me. Not only does it make sense, but I can see, even when they were enemies, how they were absolutely the right one for one another.
A delight.
P.S. Fallo to me is Scar from A Lion King without all the Disney villainry. I can't unsee it.
December 13, 2022
I was so excited for the Mad Gahn, but his eyerolling over women shtick wasn't it for me at all.
January 31, 2022
3.5
Good morning, I have returned. Let me say, this wasn’t a huge step up from book 1 by any means. I’m still not 100% sure on a lot of the particulars of the world building pieces but it is a very intriguing set up!
I did loooooove Gahn Fallo (I keep accidentally calling him Frollo which is … not accurate, let me assure you). There’s something that always intrigues me about a guy no one else likes (which is a real red flag in reality, my friends, please heed me on that). In romance though, it becomes part of the formulaic code that lets a reader know that if everyone else hates a man, he’s actually going to be amazing.
Fallo is a guy like this. Again, I’m wowed by the inherent whiteness and Eurocentrism of this whole concept of scoffing at ideas of fate and of soulmates and all of that - it’s just, to me, positioning yourself as being so much bigger than the universe. That’s not how we roll where my people come from.
Chapman is meh. The whole “I joined the military to protect, I didn’t know they’d kidnap you. I wouldn’t have wanted to be a part of that.” Then die? Take the death sentence but refuse to be complicit? The stakes are high but if you can’t meet them, you’re complicit. There’s no defence. I mean, that’s also non-negotiable, dying to avoid being complicit is a very high level action, we’re all complicit in oppression in one way or another. The unfortunate reality is that involvement in the US military makes you complicit in imperialism and a whole lot of violence against marginalized bodies. No matter what intentions you joined with - which is the saddest part, as I’m sure so many - even most - join with the best of intentions. Anyways, that’s a totally different discussion, but it’s one of those cool things that show a lot about understandings of culture in media.
The alien’s appearance sounds confusing but cool. They keep saying the bottom half is similar to that of a kangaroo - I ignore that and think T-Rex instead. Same kind of tail but just … idk there’s something about the mention of the kangaroo that just always makes me side eye.
My fellow IPB readers, it’s reminiscent of it but not the same. Which, I mean … that’s the goal, I guess. No spur, but interesting triple tongue vibes and some conveniently placed cartilage. 👀 I’ll let you discover that on your own.
This is the literal opposite of IPB actually - culturally and technologically and blah blah - it is a very cool world set up for sure.
Good morning, I have returned. Let me say, this wasn’t a huge step up from book 1 by any means. I’m still not 100% sure on a lot of the particulars of the world building pieces but it is a very intriguing set up!
I did loooooove Gahn Fallo (I keep accidentally calling him Frollo which is … not accurate, let me assure you). There’s something that always intrigues me about a guy no one else likes (which is a real red flag in reality, my friends, please heed me on that). In romance though, it becomes part of the formulaic code that lets a reader know that if everyone else hates a man, he’s actually going to be amazing.
Fallo is a guy like this. Again, I’m wowed by the inherent whiteness and Eurocentrism of this whole concept of scoffing at ideas of fate and of soulmates and all of that - it’s just, to me, positioning yourself as being so much bigger than the universe. That’s not how we roll where my people come from.
Chapman is meh. The whole “I joined the military to protect, I didn’t know they’d kidnap you. I wouldn’t have wanted to be a part of that.” Then die? Take the death sentence but refuse to be complicit? The stakes are high but if you can’t meet them, you’re complicit. There’s no defence. I mean, that’s also non-negotiable, dying to avoid being complicit is a very high level action, we’re all complicit in oppression in one way or another. The unfortunate reality is that involvement in the US military makes you complicit in imperialism and a whole lot of violence against marginalized bodies. No matter what intentions you joined with - which is the saddest part, as I’m sure so many - even most - join with the best of intentions. Anyways, that’s a totally different discussion, but it’s one of those cool things that show a lot about understandings of culture in media.
The alien’s appearance sounds confusing but cool. They keep saying the bottom half is similar to that of a kangaroo - I ignore that and think T-Rex instead. Same kind of tail but just … idk there’s something about the mention of the kangaroo that just always makes me side eye.
My fellow IPB readers, it’s reminiscent of it but not the same. Which, I mean … that’s the goal, I guess. No spur, but interesting triple tongue vibes and some conveniently placed cartilage. 👀 I’ll let you discover that on your own.
This is the literal opposite of IPB actually - culturally and technologically and blah blah - it is a very cool world set up for sure.
April 19, 2022
What was this feeling? This sweet rush, this relief? Though I knew I would not fail, for I was powerful, and I was Gahn, I had felt something when that fabric had ripped. When I had come close to losing her.
Fear.
I did not like the taste of it in my throat. It was unfamiliar and bitter. I did not fear anything, not even the idea that one of my men may turn on me the way I had turned on my own father. Because I knew that in combat I could best even the strongest of warriors, and even if I didn’t, I did not fear death. But this? The loss of the fire-haired woman? The strange, pale creature who challenged me at every step? That was a dark terror that made my heart beat fast.
I did not like what it did to the inside of my head, so I did not dwell on this fear. I had saved her.
4.25 ⭐️
As much as I’m aware of the fact that it’s problematic, I must admit to having a thing for problematic men – though only the fictional kind, thankfully.
This book was so exasperating and vexing and oh so fun to read! Fallo is an infuriating asshole for pretty much its entirety and I loved every single minute of it. This story very much so fits the category of enemies to lovers, with lots of testosterone-driven stupidity, unnecessary bloodshed and a healthy – or perhaps rather an unhealthy – dose of the gloriously annoying yet giddiness-inducing miscommunication trope.
As with the first instalment of this series, the ending seemed a bit rushed to me, but I actually ended up enjoying it just a bit more than the prequel. We finally get to learn more about the fascinating lore of this universe and our two protagonists are both delightfully pig-headed warriors who clash so much that they somehow wind up complimenting each other perfectly in the end. I’m definitely not saying that their relationship is healthy, but let’s be honest – none of us are really reading these types of books for that sort of stuff anyway 😂
I did not know what I was doing nor what I was looking for. Maybe answers. Maybe peace.
Peace. I’d never find such a thing again with Chapman in my world. My lips pulled away from my teeth as I smiled. Good thing we were warriors. We are not a peaceful people to begin with.
Fear.
I did not like the taste of it in my throat. It was unfamiliar and bitter. I did not fear anything, not even the idea that one of my men may turn on me the way I had turned on my own father. Because I knew that in combat I could best even the strongest of warriors, and even if I didn’t, I did not fear death. But this? The loss of the fire-haired woman? The strange, pale creature who challenged me at every step? That was a dark terror that made my heart beat fast.
I did not like what it did to the inside of my head, so I did not dwell on this fear. I had saved her.
4.25 ⭐️
As much as I’m aware of the fact that it’s problematic, I must admit to having a thing for problematic men – though only the fictional kind, thankfully.
This book was so exasperating and vexing and oh so fun to read! Fallo is an infuriating asshole for pretty much its entirety and I loved every single minute of it. This story very much so fits the category of enemies to lovers, with lots of testosterone-driven stupidity, unnecessary bloodshed and a healthy – or perhaps rather an unhealthy – dose of the gloriously annoying yet giddiness-inducing miscommunication trope.
As with the first instalment of this series, the ending seemed a bit rushed to me, but I actually ended up enjoying it just a bit more than the prequel. We finally get to learn more about the fascinating lore of this universe and our two protagonists are both delightfully pig-headed warriors who clash so much that they somehow wind up complimenting each other perfectly in the end. I’m definitely not saying that their relationship is healthy, but let’s be honest – none of us are really reading these types of books for that sort of stuff anyway 😂
I did not know what I was doing nor what I was looking for. Maybe answers. Maybe peace.
Peace. I’d never find such a thing again with Chapman in my world. My lips pulled away from my teeth as I smiled. Good thing we were warriors. We are not a peaceful people to begin with.
May 4, 2022
Tardé en acercarme a esta historia. De hecho, me la salté porque en ese momento no estaba preparada para leer la historia de Chapman y Fallo. Niguno de los dos se me hacían queridos, todo lo contrario, así que he necesitado un par de libros en los que salen como personajes secundarios para poder leer su historia sin ese resentimiento que les cogí durante el primer libro, ya que me costó verlos como personajes redimibles.
En cuanto a si lo son o no... La verdad es que Chapman se vio metida en una situación que se escapó a su control y se vio obligada a seguir ordenes y durante este libro no hace sino preocuparse por las demás llegando, incluso, a ponerse en peligro. En cuanto a Fallo, es el más entrañable de los dos, locura incluída. Simplemente, se limita a seguir su forma de vida, su cultura. Aunque sí, desde luego es el más inestable de todos los Ghans. Su forma de pelear, rallando o internándose, en la locura habla por sí sola.
En definitiva, si te gusta esta serie de Ursa Dax como a mí, no te pierdas la historia de Fallo y Chapman. Y si decides leerla más adelante, no te preocupes. Puedes hacerlo sin problemas.
En cuanto a si lo son o no... La verdad es que Chapman se vio metida en una situación que se escapó a su control y se vio obligada a seguir ordenes y durante este libro no hace sino preocuparse por las demás llegando, incluso, a ponerse en peligro. En cuanto a Fallo, es el más entrañable de los dos, locura incluída. Simplemente, se limita a seguir su forma de vida, su cultura. Aunque sí, desde luego es el más inestable de todos los Ghans. Su forma de pelear, rallando o internándose, en la locura habla por sí sola.
En definitiva, si te gusta esta serie de Ursa Dax como a mí, no te pierdas la historia de Fallo y Chapman. Y si decides leerla más adelante, no te preocupes. Puedes hacerlo sin problemas.
June 29, 2025
2.75 ⭐️s rounded up
Just felt… disappointed and bored. I really liked the first book and was excited about Chapman and her crazy alien, but there was sooo much time wasted on stuff that didn’t matter.
I figured that there would be some time spent at the beginning of the book explaining what happened before the war in the first book, but we didn’t even get to the war until 75% in… meaning all of that time was spent on the girls getting used to alien village life (which we already had plenty of in book 1) and tons of “I hate him, I want him” “I hate her, I want her” bullshit from the leads in their heads since they STILL COULD NOT TALK. Such weird additions to the plot that just… didn’t matter, like a random missing person and rescue mission.
I like Chapman still… and I like Fallo even though he acted terribly sometimes. Their story just got wasted… and I’m upset about it. I’ll read the next book, but this one really killed my enthusiasm for this series.
Just felt… disappointed and bored. I really liked the first book and was excited about Chapman and her crazy alien, but there was sooo much time wasted on stuff that didn’t matter.
I figured that there would be some time spent at the beginning of the book explaining what happened before the war in the first book, but we didn’t even get to the war until 75% in… meaning all of that time was spent on the girls getting used to alien village life (which we already had plenty of in book 1) and tons of “I hate him, I want him” “I hate her, I want her” bullshit from the leads in their heads since they STILL COULD NOT TALK. Such weird additions to the plot that just… didn’t matter, like a random missing person and rescue mission.
I like Chapman still… and I like Fallo even though he acted terribly sometimes. Their story just got wasted… and I’m upset about it. I’ll read the next book, but this one really killed my enthusiasm for this series.
November 25, 2023
I stumbled across Ursa Dax and her romance Fated Mates of the Sea Sand Warlords series after finishing up reading books from another author. I wanted something a bit different from normal romance and decided that Sci Fi romance was the go because anything can go. Let me tell you I really enjoyed them and read the whole series one straight after the other,
Alien men in all sizes and shapes, all growly and protective of their mates was just what I needed. Of course, it takes a while for the abducted Human women to come around but that is just part of the fun.
Ursa’s world building makes it so easy to imagine the world she has created, and the characters are so easy to fall in love with.
If you love Sci Fi romance that is messy, sexy, a little alien erotica and fated mates then Ursa is your gal.
I was not disappointed, and I know you won’t be either.
Alien men in all sizes and shapes, all growly and protective of their mates was just what I needed. Of course, it takes a while for the abducted Human women to come around but that is just part of the fun.
Ursa’s world building makes it so easy to imagine the world she has created, and the characters are so easy to fall in love with.
If you love Sci Fi romance that is messy, sexy, a little alien erotica and fated mates then Ursa is your gal.
I was not disappointed, and I know you won’t be either.
February 22, 2023
Such an incredible slow burn. You could practically smell the tension! Goooood stuff
This one follows the leader of the book 1 tribe’s enemy tribe, Fallo. He’s mean and gruff and is furious at the FMC for making him have so many ~inconvenient feelings~. He’s known as the “Mad Gahn” for a reason- he really thinks he’s going crazy (and Chapman agrees). Chapman, the human female, is one of the military officers that was part of the crew who abducted all the women (yeah…. Yikes!). She’s tough and stubborn and doesn’t let Fallo boss her around.
I love this world and absolutely plan on binge reading the rest of the series. So addictive. The drama, the tension, the interesting world- this is high quality entertainment right here.
This one follows the leader of the book 1 tribe’s enemy tribe, Fallo. He’s mean and gruff and is furious at the FMC for making him have so many ~inconvenient feelings~. He’s known as the “Mad Gahn” for a reason- he really thinks he’s going crazy (and Chapman agrees). Chapman, the human female, is one of the military officers that was part of the crew who abducted all the women (yeah…. Yikes!). She’s tough and stubborn and doesn’t let Fallo boss her around.
I love this world and absolutely plan on binge reading the rest of the series. So addictive. The drama, the tension, the interesting world- this is high quality entertainment right here.
April 29, 2025
Chapman is part of the military that brought her and kidnapped hostages that she didn’t find out about until after it was to late not that she could have stopped what was happening. They crash on an alien planet where they are rescued by a tribe of dangerous and hostile creatures, but they treat them fairly and the Gahn Fallon falls for Chapman before he even finds out that she’s more important to him that he realizes. A different kind of romantic series . Book 2. Entertaining characters. I purchased this book without obligation. I volunteered an honest review.
August 18, 2022
Io senza parole.
Anche più bello del primo.
La chimica tra questi due è esplosiva.
Due teste calde.
Due testardi.
Stupendo.
Il miscommunication trope poteva durare di meno, ma l’ho apprezzato ugualmente tantissimo.
Anche più bello del primo.
La chimica tra questi due è esplosiva.
Due teste calde.
Due testardi.
Stupendo.
Il miscommunication trope poteva durare di meno, ma l’ho apprezzato ugualmente tantissimo.
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