The Lottery

A Last Billionaire #1

by Karpov Kinrade

What happens when the man who made the rules is the first to break them?

ZAE
I didn’t want to enter The Lottery.
Didn’t want to leave the Earth to burn.
But being paired off with a billionaire was the only way left to survive.
The algorithm said it would be a perfect match.
It forgot one thing.
Marek Volkav.
The billionaire.
The one who set all this up.
I despise him.
And now I also owe him my life.
Seriously…
F*ck Billionaires.

MAREK
I have one mission. Keep everyone alive.
I don’t have time to be distracted by the brilliant Azalea Clark.
Even if she does make me ache with insatiable need.
I can’t have her.
I can’t break the rules.
Or I’ve doomed us all.

The Lottery is a complete stand-alone contemporary romance with an HEA ending.
From USA Today Bestselling Author Karpov Kinrade comes a steamy and sizzling romance that proves even at the edges of humanity, love conquers all.

Genres: Romance, Science Fiction, Adult, Science Fiction Romance, Fantasy, Futuristic, Dark Romance

Paperback

First published January 25, 2022

About the author

Karpov Kinrade is the pen name for the husband and wife entertainment duo Lux and Dmytry Karpov-Kinrade, aka The KK Duo.

Together, they write award-winning, internationally and USAT bestselling books, make music, create art, write screenplays and direct -- all the things.

Look for more from Karpov Kinrade in the Vampire Girl series, Endless Magic Online, The Night Firm, The Last Witch, Dungeon Queen, The Nightfall Chronicles and The Forbidden Trilogy. If you’re looking for their suspense and romance titles, you’ll find those under Alex Lux.

Check out their music by clicking on the Music tab.

They live in wine country California with their three offspring who have crazy creative genius oozing out of them in the form of music, art, performance, and all the things, and too many cats who all think they rule the world (spoiler alert: they do).

Reviews

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t read this genre much but each time I do I wonder why I don’t read more of it. Marek and Zaes connection is explosive no matter that they both don’t want it to be for different reasons. He needs to focus on the lottery and she was brought in cause she was matched to someone else and also at the request of her grandmother. I loved how this story really did a good job at setting up the demise of earth and set up of a new way to be

[Bookgasms Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lottery by Karpov Kinrade was such a breath of fresh air. It was part dystopian/part science fiction but also 100% romance. I felt all the swoons and goosebumps between Marek and Zea. Their connection was instant but due to circumstances, their steps to their hea was deliciously slow-burn a times. I really enjoyed this story!

Overall, Marek was a different type of hero than wjay I usually read. He didn’t have a mean (or ahole vibe lol) But the gruff billionaire amd the well of kindness inside him had me falling in love with him from the first chapter.

Karpov Kinrade is a new to me author duo that is now on my radar. I completely fell in love with this unique and sexy story! 4 stars! ~Ratula

[Krista Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the romance I loved the main characters and their inner thoughts. There was a lot going on in this book but I will say for me this was more insta love then enemies to lovers. However everything else about this book was fantastic.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of the kinds of things I typically love: sci-fi/space, romance and billionaires to name a few, but unfortunately it didn't quite work for me personally. The romance is of the instalove variety with no mystery owing to dual POV alternating chapters that tell us exactly how they each feel and think of the other from the very beginning, recycling thoughts of their intense attraction and inability to stop thinking of each other but it's forbidden so we can't over and over. That forbidden nature is not explored and creates almost no drama beyond their own thoughts, then is quickly resolved. There are brief scenes showing actual action but the proportion to inner monologue of the aforementioned variety and brief sentences telling us of other goings-on is out of whack. I do like the writing style and maybe the disproportion wouldn't be so bad if I found the main characters and their romance interesting but despite how often they tell us I never ever felt chemistry between them and I can admit I personally prefer my characters a little edgier, especially the heroes, but he really comes across very milquetoast. I felt more chemistry between a couple of the side characters in one scene than in the main couple the whole book, and though there is a steamy scene or two with the kind of dirty words I like, it felt like two people playacting rather than people who actually speak that way.
This is coming over very harshly but most of this can be chalked up to personal taste and I did VERY much like the concept of this story and world! I wish there would have been MORE science/space type stuff and world-building as a whole - where was all the water for their constant baths and showers coming from and why would you plan all of your supplies on one expendable level? I also would have been highly interested in the showing of the new society and planet-building because I did like all of those ideas very much. I could have handled it being lesser like this if the romance worked for me, since it was the majority of the book, but since it and the main couple did not, it made this one a miss for me. I have read these authors before and enjoyed them, and I absolutely will again.
2.5 Stars

[Alyssashelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly hot ! I watched a video on tik tok and someone recommended it. Seemed interesting enough, humans mess up the earth so much that they have to move to Mars to start over. I would totally recommend this ! Even if sci-fi/dystopian isn’t your thing

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

Thank you to Karpov Kinrade and Social Butterfly PR for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Karpov Kinrade, are a husband and wife writing team that have written tons of books in the fantasy/paranormal genre. I've enjoyed reading their work for years now, so when the chance to get this ARC came up, I jumped at it.

The Lottery is first and foremost a story about love and humanity. While it's set on Mars, it does not have a Sci Fi feel to it. Marek, our hero, is the leader of the only ship destined to leave Earth after it has succumbed to human abuse.

"This is our rebirth. It was never going to be easy, but it might be beautiful.

Azalea, or Zae, is a botanist who has entered into The Lottery under the pleas of her now deceased grandmother. The entire story was just fascinating to me because of how plausible it is. We are so close to exploring and making a civilization on Mars that this story seems more real than science fiction.

There is an instant connection between Marek and Zae, but they must fight it since part of the reason Zae has been selected is because she has been matched with a billionaire who helped fund the project. The tension between these two was palpable through every lingering glance, brush of fingers and secret interaction. Zae and Marek are the type of couple that legends are written about, they love with an all consuming need that knows no boundaries.

"My heart will not waver from yours because of a few lings. I will cherish each one. My only hope is that those stories, those memories, have room for me."

This book had everything, forbidden love, unexplored lands, suspense, heartbreak, acceptance and hope. As with all of their other books, Karpov Kinrade have written a wonderful story that readers will fall in love with. I'm thrilled to know that this will be a series and I'm eagerly awaiting which couple will get their next happily ever after.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

ZAE
I didn't want to enter The Lottery. Didn't want to leave the Earth to burn. But being paired off with a billionaire was the only way left to survive. The algorithm said it would be a perfect match. It forgot one thing. Marek Molkav. The billionaire. The one who set all this up. I despise him. And now I also owe him my life. Seriously.
MAREK
I have one mission. Keep everyone alive. I don't have time to be distracted by the brilliant Azalea Clark. I Clark. Even if she does make me ache with insatiable need. I can't have her. I can't break the rules. Or I've doomed us all.

This book is different from some romance books because it is has Dystopian/science fiction in it. I am not a sci-fi fan but I do love a good dystopian read and we can't leave the romance out of it all though. This is the story of saving the world and being a billionaire you can do that. You do that by building this hotel like space ship but he can only save a hundred and eighty people. To do so you have to enter the lottery and your either selected or not. Seems to me if you going to go to another planet to colonize it then you might need more than a hundred and eighty people but I also guess that it wont matter that a lot of these people were billionaires if there is no world as we know it left and your starting a new one from scratch. But the lottery also matches everyone in couples. I don't really want to go into detail. That was half the fun learning about everything without someone having told me about it first. I thought this was a very romantic book in the end and I really enjoyed reading it too. The world needs more dystopian books if you as me.

[2OCC Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m surprised at how much I loved this book! The idea of the book is what drew me in, but being a new to me author I was worried that it wasn’t going to live up to the expectations that I hoped for, and I am so happy that it did. You can tell this author (well author duo) did a lot of research and made this book something, while seeming far fetched, very believable. The romance of this story was so sweet. I loved Marek and how sweet he is. He could have been jaded and a jerk who fought what he was feeling for the heroine tooth and nail but he wasn’t. Zae was an awesome heroine too. She was smart, and in a way adventure. She didn’t put up a fight either which is refreshing.

The settings for this story were amazing. The author painted such an amazing picture. We have a state of the art space ship and Mars! It was really awesome. There was some drama but for the main part, it took backstage to everything else. Maybe that’s the author setting up for future books and getting more of the info dump out of the way, or they wanted it to seem like a lighter read, either way, I was hooked. I honestly didn’t want it to end. I look forward to reading more books on this series. There are a few people I want to see find their other half. 5 stars #2OCCJD

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

After enjoying The Witch’s Game, I was eager to dive into another book from Karpov Kinrade. The Lottery sounded like something I would love – a mix of science fiction and forbidden romance – and I was eager to see how Karpov Kinrade handled the story.

I’ll be honest and say that this one had me conflicted. While I loved the messages in this one, the way the end of the planet was handled, I never really felt the romance side of the story. Things felt too instant and easy for me, and this meant my enjoyment of that element of the story – the element that was prevalent throughout – was not what I had expected. In fact, if I’m being completely honest. I was more interested in the side characters and their romantic lives than the main characters. In this case, I think this was one of those times where I simply did not connect with the main characters. I’m sure many others will be hooked, as it is an interesting story, it just wasn’t quite what I had hoped for.

Although I did not love the couple in the way I had hoped, I am curious about what comes next for the series. As I said, I was interested in the side characters, and I do want to see what happens between them.

[LoveRomance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn’t quite what I expected , but I was pleasantly surprised. I really like the idea, although some things didn’t make sense to me. For example, the small amount of people rescued. 180 people. I get that the billionaires demanded a hotel-like ship, but I think Marek should have fought harder to get more people in with less luxury space. Also, how come, the billionaires are all single? Or mostly single? And the whole lottery also doesn’t make sense, when trying to colonize a new planet, specialist would be my choice. Woodworkers, builders, metalworkers, farmers and so on. I have the feeling the lottery was only put in to create the problem, Marek and Zae face with not being partnered.

Still, those things aside, I really enjoyed the story and the romance.

Conclusion:

A great read with some things that didn’t make sense to me. Still, I liked it and would read the next book.

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

[Tracy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are not enough stars for this book. I really enjoyed Zae and Marek. Their characters were well written and they just leapt off the page and into my imagination. Terrific read!

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

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lottery is an incredibly unique billionaire romance. Typically in the billionaire trope, a lot of the focus is on the immense wealth and power the billionaire whereas in this book, everyone is forced into almost equal status.

Earth is dying and there is one ship carrying the last of humanity to Mars, their last hope. Billionaires have paid their way onto the survival ship and the Lottery has taken place to pair them with ideal mates who also have skills needed to contribute to the cultivation of their new planet.

This book not only focuses on the romance between the main characters but it also has a lot to say about humanity. What kind of society do we become when our previous one is gone? Who do we become when faced with the mystery and challenges of a new planet?

I really enjoyed this book and the twists toward the end of the book made me finish it even faster. This is the first book I've read by these authors but I would definitely read them again.

[Rachel Joi Maples · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely loved this book!!

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is EVERYTHING we need in the world right now. I genuinely appreciate when I’m reading a story that just sucks you in with believable story, characters and world building. It goes so much further than appreciation when there is something to be learned from it, too. This is an amazing story, but it’s even more so what it leaves you with long after you finish the final pages. If only the world was filled with more Zea’s, we wouldn’t be facing this becoming a reality if we lived with love, compassion and giving instead of taking. I enjoy a flawed love interest. I like when things aren’t so easy.. Or as black and white as they seem. The chemistry between Zea and Marek is genuine and believable how it develops. I’m going to be thinking about this book for a loooong time to come. It’s one that will stick with you. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

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

[Chin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh zae was so hypocritical in the beginning to both Robert & Marek. Like if you felt so strongly about the billionaires lifestyle aboard the ship eg. When she bitched about Robert having the luxury of having his fancy alcohol in the suite but her still drinking & enjoying it or when Robert requested a cot she would feel comfortable and she bitched about having a worker who has to accommodate the “silver spooners” if she’s so against it why didn’t she offer to sleep on the ground & save the worker one less person to serve 🙄& that they’re abandoning earth she should’ve stayed on earth dam what her grandmother wanted & suffered like the remaining people

And when it comes to the writing it’s so annoying to have to relive a scene that you read in a previous chapter🙄

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dystopian Sci-Fi Romance

I *think* this is the first book in a planned series, but it works as a standalone novel, with no cliffhanger.

Earth is dying. Humans did nothing to stop it’s destruction but a group of billionaires invested everything into creating a colony on Mars, using terraforming, and built a luxurious spaceship to take them and the lucky winners of the lottery. The lottery uses algorithms to match up the billionaires with their perfectly compatible companion for their new lives on Mars.

One of the last people to be matched, Azaelea is also the last to board the spaceship. She is only there because before her death her grandmother begged her to go. Zae believes that if the billionaires had used the funds they spent to escape Earth on saving the planet then billions of people wouldn’t have died.

Marek is the genius billionaire who started the Mars colony project. Born in Russia to a poor farming family he started using his brain to improve the land on which his family farmed and when he sold his technology to other locals started his path to becoming one of wealthiest men in the world. He is determined to get all the people on board his ship to Mars and save at least some of the human race, when he couldn’t save it all. He believes that romance would be a distraction to his success and daren’t risk getting involved with anyone when a moment’s distraction could be the difference between success and failure. However, when he meets Zae, he changes his mind. Devastated that Zae was matched to someone else they both try to move on from their attraction, but the lure is great.

So much of this book feels too close to home. Billionaires racing to get into space, the preservation of the environment being left too late by everyone, especially the governments who just want to stay in power and the disgustingly wealthy believing that they are entitled to survive in the manner to which they are accustomed. There were a lot of interesting moral quandaries and discussions in this book that slowed down the plot a little, but I felt were worthwhile additions to the story as a whole.

I really liked the characters, especially Zae and Marek as they were both moral, intelligent and compassionate people who expressed those aspects of their personalities in different ways. I also liked that the authors didn’t ignore the emotional impact of leaving a dying world would have on the characters. I liked how the pressures of the journey forced some people together and others apart.

There were definitely some interesting supporting characters in this book and I believe that they will have their chance in future books, which I would look forward to.

The plot wasn’t fast paced but it was intriguing. The authors tugged at my intellect to keep me turning the pages rather than my adrenal glands. Though there were some hot scenes they were infrequent and weren’t the focus of the story.

Essentially if you are in the mood for a slower paced and intriguing romance then this could be the book for you.

[Jessica Cieszlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was unique, well written, and reminded me of exactly why I love the works of Karpov Kinrade.

The book world is saturated with dark, enemies to lovers stories at the moment, and while I don't want to yuck someone else's yum, I'm happy to say, this one stepped away from that circle of conformity. It does have the enemies to lovers trope in its description, but I don't see it, and I'm not mad at that; I actually greatly enjoyed the break from the turmoil of constant miscommunication and misunderstandings, ignorance and foolishness, cruelty and irredeemable behaviors. It was refreshing. Zae was Marek's reason rather than his excuse.

That's not to say there wasn't resistance and preconceived notions in the beginning, but we were given intelligent main characters with a genuine connection that proved true love will find a way, and nothing can stop it. Not themselves, not a silly algorithm, or even the harsh conditions of space and a foreign planet.

Karpov Kinrade's writing consistently has a goal across all their books, and that is to inspire hope and love, and The Lottery does exactly that. What sets them apart is how poetic their romances are. There is plenty of delicious teasing and steam between Azalea and Marek (and can I just say, I fricken love the way he says her full name instead of her nickname? So hot); naughty morsels of heated glances, heavy petting, pressed hips, and tangling tongues, but when they finally come together it's more than just smut; it's breath-stealing passion and a deep, undeniable, soulful connection that takes the spice to a whole other level for me. THAT is why I read romance. Yeah, sex is great (and there is plenty of it in The Lottery) but have you ever been in love? Nothing compares.

And I do love me some smut. But anyway, I digress.

This story encompasses many messages: strength, hope, the grips of uncertainty, the realities of human nature, the importance of diversity, and so much more. I also loved the science theme and that the authors took the time to do research, giving us a semi realistic take on what we all might be facing for our futures. It makes the "fi" part in sci-fi end with a question mark rather than a period for this book. I cannot wait to see where this series goes, and enjoyed the non-cliffhanger ending, leaving this world open for more.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh the Lottery! So when I started reading this book I wasn't sure if I would like it. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting. But I'm so glad I pushed through. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next book in this series.

We start with Zae (Azaelea) who is leaving Earth to board a spaceship headed to Mars. She's the last person to board and is so torn about leaving the planet she's loved so much. She's a botanist so she has a bond to the Earth. She is boarding the ship as a chosen mate for a billionaire.

Each person on the spaceship is either part of the crew or a select group of individuals. They are either a billionaire, who paid their way onto the ship, or was matched with the billionaire as their mate. This will help to continue humankind on Mars.

But something happens as Zae is boarding the ship. She is caught up in an almost accident and was saved by Marek Volkav, the billionaire who put the whole expedition together. From the start they have a very strong attraction to each other. However, they never reveal it to the other and continue to fight it.

I usually do not read any science fiction based books but the themes and ideas in this book kept me riveted. The authors did a great job about using technology that has either already been created or is in development. Plus, honestly, we aren't far from what happens to the Earth in this book. The fact that climate change is creating many of the scenarios in this book become fact is slightly scary. But I love the idea that one day Mars could be colonized.

This book had some great angst! The way that Zae and Marek so are so compatible and attracted to each other, yet they fight it because they know that it's not something that others might accept. Zae has her own mate, Robert. He's a very nice guy but they have zero chemistry and don't spend much time together. Marek is in charge of the whole mission. He has many responsibilities and is seen as the leader and example. Taking another man's mate (which is contractual), is not something he can do if he wants to be a good leader.

I love the build of angst between Zae and Marek. They always end up in each other's vicinity even though they fight to stay away from the other. I love the little ways that they get to know about the other. I love the ways that they really get each other.

The story builds in a great way. The climax of the book really brings on the angst. It keeps you on the edge and tears your heart out. But not to worry, your heart is put back together again. I really enjoyed all the characters, especially a lot of the crew. The story has some great twists that I did not see coming.

I love that this is a part of a series and we get to follow more stories about the other people on the ship.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading The Lottery it was kinda hard to start, not because the writing wasn't good or the story, but because it opens with essentially the world ending due to climate change. And I just found that to be a very sobering beginning because of real life climate change. But once I looked beyond the destruction of earth due to humans, I found myself really sucked into the somewhat forbidden love story between Zae and Marek.
Azalea "Zae" never planned to enter The Lottery, she didn't want to trade her life and freedom in exchange for having to marry a billionaire stranger. But the beloved grandmother that raised her entered into the lottery because she wanted to see her only grandchild and descendant live on, so Zae reluctantly decides to join the spaceship leaving the dying Earth for Mars, even if she has been paired mathematically with a stranger. As she is boarding the spaceship to leave the platform collapses and she is saved by the mysterious creator of the mission to leave Marek. He's not what she expects from a ruthless billionaire, those who she blames for doing nothing to save the planet when they had the chance. While Zae gets along fine with her match, Robert, she can't help but feel that she enjoys spending more time with Marek than with Robert...
When Marek planned this life saving mission to Mars he knew he'd have to be creative to get the billionaires who are paying to be on the ship to share a room with someone, so he came up with the lottery. Everyday people with different skill sets will enter into the lottery with the hopes of being chosen by having them mathematically paired as a love match, with everyone but the crew having a match with the exception of himself. He gave up his match to allow someone very close to him, who wouldn't have been able to come, to be saved. And when he meets Zae he can feel the connection between them, but he's the one who set the rules of everyone staying with their match. So what are two people to do when the rules they set are keeping them from true happiness?

[FS Meurinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Marek and Zea, it's a bit of dystopian & sci-fi with all the romance. I was intrigued with the combination of these genres and it was a good read. Very entertaining, it hooked me up from the start. I liked the refreshing way Marek was compared to my usual reads. I also liked Zae, and how they both meet. Definitely, worth giving it a chance, I really liked and this new duo will be on my tbr future list.




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[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lottery is first book I’ve read from the writing duo Karpov Kinrade but something about the description caught my attention. The book itself is a semi-dystopian, slow burn romance which is quite topical considering what is going on in the present day. The earth is burning due to catastrophic global warming. Major cities across the world are underwater and soaring temperatures have wiped out entire populations. Marek Volkav, along with a consortium of fellow billionaires have pooled their resources to fund the development of the last ship capable of space travel. The aim is to settle on Mars but there is only enough room onboard for a select few with the necessary skills and of course fertility hence the Lottery title of this book. Couples are decided via an algorithm that pairs you with your perfect match – like that was really going to work – with the expectation that they would eventually recreate humanity on Mars.

I really wanted to love this book but I have to admit I struggled with it. The characters just didn’t draw me in. Marek was just a little too nice for my liking and my mind kept going back to all these single billionaires. I’m afraid the cynic in me couldn’t help wondering if they’d just abandoned their wives/partners and children for the chance of survival. I do love the idea behind the story though but, and I hate to say this, I think if this was serialised for TV I’d enjoy it a lot more.

[Michelle Fritz PA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sci-fi dystopian novel is absolutely fantastic! From the enemies-to-lovers beginning to the heart breaking almost not so happily ever after toward the end, this book was unputdownable. The romance is singe worthy and truly out of this world.

With a bitter and grieving heart, our brilliant heroine is defensive and has formed opinions that are tested as the perfectly paced plot unfolds. She's hurt and wants justice... but how does one justify pointing the finger at any one person? The ruination of Earth is everyone's issue.

Marek is the hot billionaire, but he isn't planning for his own future. All his hopes and dreams rest on a new planet and ensuring that his fellow passengers embrace the unknown that awaits them all. He lives and breathes algorithms and calculations, so when his eyes lock onto Zae, his entire world stops spinning.

I tend to run shrieking away from end of the world books and anything that seems likey to happen. My interest was piqued first by the gorgeous cover and then by the idea of a lottery for mates to the elite rich. I surmised that watching the pairings evolve as they traveled to Mars and set up a new world would be quite entertaining. And this delivered in a big way. The characters draw you in as do their dilemmas. The old mores of a lost society must be cast away to preserve the best parts of humanity.

Even if sci-fi has never been your thing, consider diving into this novel! You won't want it to end.

[Erin McDaniel Coolbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The book follows Zae and Marek and their trip to Mars. Earth has been damaged beyond repair, and no longer able to sustain life. A billionaire, Marek Volkav, started a venture to terraform and begin a colony on Mars. His venture becomes the last desperate hope for humanity. Other billionaires that financed the venture are able to secure a spot on the ship to Mars. A lottery is set up for other individuals to join and be paired with a billionaire. The lottery pairs people up based on a compatibility algorithm (Mars isn’t going to populate itself). Zae, or Dr. Azalea Clark, is one of the few that wins a spot in the lottery. What happens when the person you fall for isn’t the one the algorithm matched you with? That’s what Zae and Marek find out as they make the 6 week journey to Mars and try to start a new life on a new planet. I loved the message of hope in the book despite the doom and gloom of a failing Earth. The idea that we may learn from our mistakes and do better. I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I thought the authors’ take on where current technologies could take us was interesting. It definitely gets you thinking and hope we can do better to help Earth.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the heck did I just read? Something amazing. Seriously exceeded my expectations tenfold. These two wrote a compelling story that explores not only the serious topics, but also what it means to face the decision of doing what is right for the whole or the individual.

I knew as soon as I read the blurb that I had to read this book. I mean the Earth is dying and it's left up to a Billionaire to save it? The echos of current events are splayed throughout the story making it interesting and thought provoking. Add in the romance aspect and well you got me suckered right on it.

It's more than that though. This story was so well written. You can tell that the authors truly did their research and put a lot of love and care into it. Every single thing they wrote about is believable. I truly felt as if I was on the ship right next to them.

Overall, I truly loved this story and hope we get to see more from this new world. I was so not ready to leave it when I reached the last page.

Ratings:
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Heat: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

[A Book Lover's Emporium Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karpov Kinrade has outdone themselves with The Lottery! From the dynamic characters to the immersive world-building, this book kept me entertained from beginning to end. The writing, as usual, is unparalleled. Set on Mars, the plot was unquestionably intriguing. It took me on an adventure through space, while giving me the friction and romance I have come to expect from these authors.

I was decidedly impressed with the main characters in this story. Zae enters the lottery and is paired with Marek, a man she despises. Despite the initial friction between the couple, their chemistry is undeniable. From the very beginning, I rooted for this couple and felt personally invested in the outcome of their relationship. The progression of their relationship was one of my very favorite parts of reading this book.

This book could be enjoyed by readers who enjoy themes of forbidden love, science fiction and dystopia. Though it is set on Mars, it doesn’t necessarily read as a Sci-Fi romance, which, personally, I absolutely loved. I can’t wait to read this writing duo's next book.

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay story that started with a unique premise. The pacing was decent. The plot of the story is definitely something that could happen in the future, though I'm sure we all hope it doesn't. It starts out as a little wordy, obviously to explain the situation. The characters were interesting and likeable. My issue is that the relationship between the two main characters seems potentially like love sometimes, but usually it comes across as obsession, which isn't as fun to read about. Also, there's more than a full chapter's worth of sex (and most of that is in a row and in the same chapter, not scenes in different chapters), which I feel takes away from the story. I know it's a romance, but that much is excessive. Because of the concept, if there are more books written in this world, I will definitely give them a chance and read them to see how all the characters are doing, as it is an interesting concept and the author is well written and has interesting ideas. I am voluntarily reviewing this book, gifted to me by the author with no obligation.

[Reading to Escape · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book was nothing like I was expecting and nothing like I have read before, and yet I enjoyed it immensely.

The Lottery is a romance with a futuristic/science fiction twist. I will be the first to say the latter is so not my jam, but this author totally nailed this story. It was unique, creative, and I read it in one sitting because it was just that good.

Azalea entered into The Lottery at the request of her grandmother, and now finds herself matched with a billionaire in a whole new life. Instead of the man she was paired with, Azalea finds herself instantly attracted to Marek, the man who came up with The Lottery, creating a larger set of problems for them both.

This was my first book by this author, and I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the author's writing style and creativity. Although I was a little nervous at the beginning of the book, I quickly found myself hooked into the story line and not wanting the book to end!

[Lissette · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Karpov Kinrade writing duo have always given their readers books that make you think. Books that sink under your skin and stay there. They're books full of meaning, hidden messages, and in-depth themes that can pull the heart and mind in different directions. Whether you like fantasy, paranormal, romance, suspense, and more, their books have it all.

With The Lottery, they've gone deeper into this new universe they've created than ever before. In doing so, they've given us characters and themes that anyone can relate to. While the brunt of this story takes place on Mars, the trials and tribulations the characters go through are ones that a good many have experienced throughout their everyday lives.

Mind you, while we don't live on another planet, we're definitely on a crash course to quite possibly losing the one we already have. That's what I like about this book/series, it hits so close to home that it makes you think about the what if's of where our world is going now. The possibility of the earth's nonexistence in the long run is certainly there. One folks should think about on a daily basis.

With this book, Karpov Kinrade have created a world where humanity is trying to continue its meager existence on a planet that was never meant to be cohabited. They've given us characters that struggle to make sense of the chaos that surrounds them, all while trying to survive. I so can't wait to see what they bring us next for this thought-provoking series.

More, please!

[Codie Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lottery by Karpov Kinrade is the much anticipated new gem from one of my favorite literary duos. It is stand alone dysatopian story of a world (Earth) raped, ravaged and rendered uninhabitable by the selfish over indulgence of humanity. The Lottery is the brainchild of Billionaire Marek Volkev. A select group of billionaires and their future “mates” selected to be their perfect match through the algorithm created by Marek board a spaceship destined for Mars. Marek has one priority, to save humanity and he will not be distracted. That is until Zane. She has been chosen for another but damned if he can keep her out of his mind. How can he uphold the rules of the lottery if he’s the first to break them???

Dystopian is not usually my jam so I was surprised at how much I loved The Lottery. It’s well written, the characters are interesting and the story well fleshed out. Definitely a 5 story read for me.

[Kerri Lightle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading this author. And saying that I had a total open mind to what I was about to read. One mind is highly recommended when reading this book.

Marek is about to set off into space with billionaire investors and lottery winners as matches.... Though the crew for his ship are ready to embark on a new adventure just lime other explorers through time have done. Zoe (sp) with reluctance and a sapling of her grandmothers cherry tree she embarks on this trip.... Not sure who her partner is but things start off roughly as one thing after another to start off this trip yo the in known

Now I would recommend that you take time to read this book yourself and see how the story organically comes through at the same time looking at this as an eye opener to what could happen and well open your curiosity to what's out there.