Snake Keeper

The Federation's Keepers #1

by Alexandra Norton

First a deadly virus, now spaceships descending upon the Earth. What's next, getting abducted by a red-eyed alien snake monster?

The Federation came to invite humanity into the fold. The last thing I want to worry about is alien "Keepers" or the humans they want to bring back to their worlds for an "evaluation period". I want to keep my head down, study, and live my normal life in peace.

Xioumar, the Keeper put forward by the serpentine species of Xiorn, has plenty of willing human volunteers to go with him. I saw the one they assigned him, fawning over the towering, statuesque alien like a lovesick puppy.

So why does it have to be me?

He moves like a viper ready to strike, and his touch sends a very unsettling jolt of electric heat down my spine. Are they all like that, or is it just him?

Ripped from my home against my will and taken hundreds of thousands of light-years away, I am trapped. And now I have to learn to live with this monster.

But I'm not worried. I have a plan.

Genres: Aliens, Romance, Science Fiction

101 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 17, 2021

About the author

Alexandra Norton writes steamy, high-concept science fiction romance that leans dark.

Reviews

[DeathZhade · Rating 1 out of 5]

I, unfortunately, didn’t really enjoy this.
There was a lot of things that bugged me afterwards about the whole thing.
I’m not really into romance books with no romance - and to me lust is not the same. The heroine was forced against her will to go with the Keeper and threatened with death and almost got raped, which were really dark and it was very hard to see how she’d ever get to like the guy. There was an overall feeling of despair that never really got better, even in the end it didn’t feel like there was any sort of love between them.
The heroine was looked down on and treated like an object, only for baby making, and they acted more like she was a pet. It’s hard to reconcile death threats with love. The heroine was practically betrayed by her body with a very typical “perfect mates” thing that created lust where the only feelings she had towards the guy was hatred and animosity.
So for me this was a total bummer of a read.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snakes (shudder) . . .

I liked the idea of the story overall, but the characters could use some work to make them more likable both to the reader and to each other. The romance was not romantic. And the world-building did not “wow” me. But I can see the potential and, with some further development added, I think this will be an interesting series.

While Earth is suffering the effects of a virus, the Federation makes itself known by offering medical help while evaluating Earth’s worthiness to join them. They look for volunteers to become alien "Keepers" for the humans they will take home to their worlds to evaluate. If they don’t get enough volunteers, however, they will apparently help themselves to the additional numbers they need. Emily, a human, wants no part of this. Unfortunately, she is selected for a snake-like alien.

Xioumar, the Keeper from the serpentine species of Xiorn, touches Emily which sends an electric heat through her. Could he be her mate? Will she accept him? Or does she intend to fight against any kind of relationship with this alien?

[Regina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Huh

This was shallow. Nothing was addressed..All the lies ,didn't know if earth knew and kinda peeved that humans were just breeders and we skip through that at the end like its nothing. I'm mean sure I'll sleep with you after you told me getting me pregnant was your job and if you could you'd do it and then discard me so you could find a bond with your own kind but can't because of your spark to me .😒 yep........ Didn't feel the connection between these two at all .Any conflict was quickly swept away with little to no problem at all . it was dull and could have been better if it was explored deeper .

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alien Keepers
***

In this semi-apocalyptic world, Earth is being ravaged by a deadly virus that they have not been successful to treat or create a vaccine.  At this time the Alien Federation makes themself known to humans. It is a Federation of many different alien species.  They offer medical aid in exchange for humans to to go with the alien keepers as a test run to see if humans are worthy of becoming part of the Federation. Each alien will get a human and because there are not enough volunteers, some are taken.

Emily has attracted the attention of Xioumar, a snake-like alien.  She is forced to go with the Federation and ultimately with Xioumar. He will be her keeper.

I like the concept of this story, but I just didn't really get the connection between Emily and Xioumar. There were parts of both of their personalities that were not exactly likable. This was where I had a hard time connecting with the story.  I do hope the author creates more books in this series, as it's an interesting storyline. I really like the trope and think it would be good for more books to come.In this semi-apocalyptic world, Earth is being ravaged by a deadly virus that they have not been successful to treat or create a vaccine. At this time the Alien Federation makes themself known to humans. It is a Federation of many different alien species. They offer medical aid in exchange for humans to to go with the alien keepers as a test run to see if humans are worthy of becoming part of the Federation. Each alien will get a human and because there are not enough volunteers, some are taken.

Emily has attracted the attention of Xioumar, a snake-like alien. She is forced to go with the Federation and ultimately with Xioumar. He will be her keeper.

I like the concept of this story, but I just didn't really get the connection between Emily and Xioumar. There were parts of both of their personalities that were not exactly likable. This was where I had a hard time connecting with the story. I do hope the author creates more books in this series, as it's an interesting storyline. I really like the trope and think it would be good for more books to come.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel had somewhat clumsy characterization and relationship development. The heroine would react to things in a slightly off way that struck me as inauthentic to how someone in that situation would react. The development of the romantic relationship was also abrupt and I was left wondering why she was attracted to the hero, and why she fell in love with him so quickly after hating his guts initially for very good reason. The side characters in this novel were also paper thin. The world building was not great, with the societal and political realities changing frequently throughout the novel depending on where the author wanted to take the plot. Not good consistency. This book was also REALLY short, which is not my favorite thing. I gave this novel three stars because the concept was good, it was just the execution that was lacking.

I received a free copy of this book, and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leslie Pessagno · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s more like a horror novel than a romance

In a way, it reminded me of a B-grade version of Octavia Butler. There are aliens and they’ve come to earth to force genetic integration. Our heroine uncovers what the aliens really want and the threat to her life and the lives of everyone on Earth if humans aren’t found to be useful for genetic diversity. It’s all building up to be really creepy…until the last handful of pages where the heroine is suddenly okay with all the lies she’s uncovered and her just-revealed role as a broodmare, and then a few paragraphs later we’re in a short epilogue and she’s pregnant. Unsurprisingly, that leaves us with a bunch of questions, like what will happen to the baby and will she be going home when her five-year conscription as a “Kept” is over. So, as a sci-fi horror novel it kept me turning the pages…and then it suddenly had a happy for now ending with a lot of loose strings.

[Helena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love it and the world building was good but I couldn't get behind the story. Emily is a human stolen from earth and auctioned off for a space breeding program. Xioumar is a snake alien who's chosen as her "keeper".

Look I get it, it's a captive captor romance / smut.... But there's BARELY any of those things. There's no discernable romance and they don't seem to even like each other aside from having an "energy current connection" or something. There's no banter or feelings or even any smutty parts. Personally I was hoping for something with more depth and more spice.


Also - the ending felt SO ABRUPT! Emily's just randomly ok with this relationship and her dad who she did all this for in the first place is like never mentioned again?!

[Kristine L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book this author has written. I totally enjoyed it. This was so different than any story I've read before. Aliens that are humanoid with a snake physic. The cultures and customs were so different. It took the Kept a while to figure out that she wasn't going anywhere in the near future. The Keeper finally broke down some walls but the most important was the current that flowed between them. I wish the ending didn't just stop. It would have been great to go through the birth of the first human/Xiorn child. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dawn Bade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice quick story that will keep you reading until the end. It starts out with a plan of the government that not everyone agrees with. It seems that it is voluntary but not all of it is. She resents being taken away from her life. She tries her best to disrupt the plan but when she realizes the true results of her actions. She changes her ways, she doesn't really want to hurt anyone but she doesn't want to get hurt either.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tallyho · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written very well, but the overall trope was just not for me. It was basically guy meets girl, decides to "justifiably" kidnap girl with government permission...and then the rest of the book goes from there. By the end, there is a HFN, but nothing is really resolved and I was left feeling unfinished. I'm betting the story will be finished in subsequent books, since there are more, but I'm not going to be reading to find out, since the trope is not really my style. I can't really pinpoint one exact thing that made this a 3 star for me, but it just did not tick my boxes.

[Bridget Blackwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humans are being evaluated as a species. To do this, Earth has agreed to a one sided foreign exchange student sort of deal. Culture shock and secrets make it rough for our H/h. She's angry, I would have been too. It's an adjustment for him as well. He really is trying his best for her and her people. Already have book 2 on my to be read list.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Margaret Harp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Torn about this book

I love a good alien looking alien story. This one just left me feeling hollow. Very limited world building and character development. Stilted conversations. Little effort of either MC to really learn about the others life and customs. Abrupt end after a disappointing love scene. I don't think I will read the rest of the series. Kudos for very limited grammer mistakes.

[Aggis · Rating 1 out of 5]

First published work by the author and it shows.

Really surface level here with practically no character growth or plot. 0 in terms of relationship.

Comparing the most recent work I read by her (& rated 4 stars) to this first novel and I will say she shows a really solid amount of growth as a writer and storyteller - so kudos for that! I think it takes persistence to keep going and both books felt miles apart in tone and skill.

DNF & skimmed to the end.

[Anuschka-Marie' · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book was good! I absolutely loved it. A page turner.
I especially liked how it was not love at first sight. In fact she thought he was a monster. That image was reinforced when he chose her.
I was surprised when the true intent behind the keeper's job was told.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nina Diab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book! Great world building and different alien customs. It was unique and felt outright oppressive at times from the heroine's point of view. Slowly we begin to understand Xioumar more once Emily lets go of some of her anger. I couldn't put it down. A great read. 5 stars.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!!!

Really enjoyed this first time author for me. Story was engaging and had great world building and wonderful characters.
I will be looking for more by this author in future!

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sci-fi romance is unique and clever.. I liked it very much! It is fun to read, and the characters are quite fascinating.. I would definitely be interested in more from this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in the Federation's Keepers series a story by a new Author to me. I enjoyed reading Emily and Keeper Xioumar's story, and will be watching for more in this series. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cheryl Baum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique and engaging

I enjoyed the realism in this story. Even though the aliens are just that the heroine is human and very genuine in her reactions. The Keeper was also realistic in actions I thought. Great read.

[Tracey L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too Short

I think if it was a little longer I would have given more stars. It had an ending but I would have liked more through the book and epilogue to know what the “result” was. In looks and going back to Earth.

[Darwyna Facteau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soft but interesting!

Well written and kept me up wanting to finish the story. Read it you won't be did in this book!

[Ayelen Nieto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hermosa historia.!

[Anais Bergeron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review

This book was as frustrating as it was captivating. I finished reading it in a day. Would recommend if you are into alien romance with some heat.

[Penny Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Very Good

Talk about enemies to lovers!!!!! Alexandra Norton did a super job of moving two different species from alliance to fated mates.
Very much enjoyed.

[Ruth Danielson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rushed

This book jumped ahead too much it would have been amazing is the author had followed the story instead of jumping.

[Jeramie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ummm (kind of spoilers)

It was rushed at the end. Also, I did not like how he insulted her then all of sudden she decided to stay with him. He didn’t even apologize at the end.

[Danii · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit short and rushed. Nonetheless interesting worldbuilding.

[Julie Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

This is an interesting read with a sub current of betrayal and lies that lead to understanding and love between the characters.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was an interesting read, I loved the main male...could have been a bit longer and e female character a little more thoughtful, as in maybe think things through more but a very enjoyable book

[AlexandraB95 · Rating 1 out of 5]

MCs are bland and The Story doesn’t have a world building enough for keeping my interest.