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Vrisha Warriors #2
Axrel
A deadly rogue warrior and enemy of the alliance has been placed in her care.
Dr. Charlotte Lockley is taken aboard the military vessel, Tarus, carrying high-risk inmates and ordered to treat those badly injured, including Prisoner Zero--a dangerous vrisha prisoner captured on a human trade world.
As a doctor educated in alien medicine, Charlotte is one of the few that might keep the vicious alien alive long enough for him to be contained inside the max-security prison on the planet Fargis.
Despite his supposed crimes, Charlotte slowly begins to heal the broken warrior. Enemy or not, he is her patient and she will do what it takes to earn his trust.
Axrel as she comes to know him is like a viper--sleek, beautiful, and deadly. Though she's warned of his killer instincts--and the destruction he could cause if he were freed--he never shows her violence.
Axrel, however, has hatred in his heart. And a need for vengeance against those who have wronged him. But the delicate, strong-willed doctor, soothes his fury. Her touch brings him calm, fills him with a different sort of need that burns as strong as his long-sought revenge. He is drawn to her caring nature, which could be his weakness.
When the unthinkable happens, their fragile bond is tested. Can Charlotte change his black heart or will revenge consume him?
Axrel is a complete standalone in the Vrisha Warriors series and includes mature content including violence and heated intimate scenes meant for mature readers only. To enjoy the universe better it is best to read books 1-4 of Dark World Mates and Vrisha Warriors Book 1: Xora.
Dr. Charlotte Lockley is taken aboard the military vessel, Tarus, carrying high-risk inmates and ordered to treat those badly injured, including Prisoner Zero--a dangerous vrisha prisoner captured on a human trade world.
As a doctor educated in alien medicine, Charlotte is one of the few that might keep the vicious alien alive long enough for him to be contained inside the max-security prison on the planet Fargis.
Despite his supposed crimes, Charlotte slowly begins to heal the broken warrior. Enemy or not, he is her patient and she will do what it takes to earn his trust.
Axrel as she comes to know him is like a viper--sleek, beautiful, and deadly. Though she's warned of his killer instincts--and the destruction he could cause if he were freed--he never shows her violence.
Axrel, however, has hatred in his heart. And a need for vengeance against those who have wronged him. But the delicate, strong-willed doctor, soothes his fury. Her touch brings him calm, fills him with a different sort of need that burns as strong as his long-sought revenge. He is drawn to her caring nature, which could be his weakness.
When the unthinkable happens, their fragile bond is tested. Can Charlotte change his black heart or will revenge consume him?
Axrel is a complete standalone in the Vrisha Warriors series and includes mature content including violence and heated intimate scenes meant for mature readers only. To enjoy the universe better it is best to read books 1-4 of Dark World Mates and Vrisha Warriors Book 1: Xora.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2022
About the author
Olivia Riley
12 books585 followersOlivia loves the dark possibilities of space; of ferocious aliens and brave heroines. She writes sci-fi, horror, and fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
April 5, 2022
This is still one of my favorite books ever. I decided to try the audiobook this time around, and I’m glad I did. It was very well narrated. Axrel and Charlotte are couple goals, saving one another and learning to trust each other. Axrel was the fiercest defender of Charlotte and I loved seeing him find his HEA after making very bad choices and changing his ways. He evened out so much as the story continued. Charlotte often took her whole “I need to heal everyone” to a TSTL level, but I love her for it. She was the perfect foil for him.
Spice: 2/5
Triggers: violence, murder, gore, burns, explosion, life threatening injuries, starvation, dehydration, sexual harassment, animal attack, hunting, discussion of mass murder, mentions of torture, captivity, blackmail, insomnia, mentions of involuntary medical experiments
OG review:
I basically want to marry the FMC. She was just the right mix of strong and compassionate. MMC had a fantastic growth arc and their love story was tender.
Spice: 2/5
Triggers: violence, murder, gore, burns, explosion, life threatening injuries, starvation, dehydration, sexual harassment, animal attack, hunting, discussion of mass murder, mentions of torture, captivity, blackmail, insomnia, mentions of involuntary medical experiments
OG review:
I basically want to marry the FMC. She was just the right mix of strong and compassionate. MMC had a fantastic growth arc and their love story was tender.
February 25, 2022
Charlotte is a doctor working for Grayhart a neutral organisation that’s main objective is furthering relations with other worlds. When she’s coerced into working aboard a military vessel transporting otherkin to Fargis a prison planet on the ship she encounters Axrel a Vrisha criminal and supposed member of a rogue Vrisha queen's blood guard enemies of the alliance.
Charlotte's patient a Vrisha called Axrel is deadly he also hates humans and could easily rip Charlotte in two. But Axrel is in a bad way dying even and it’s Charlotte's job to make sure he lives. As she nurses him back to health and during the course of their interactions Axrel finds himself fascinated by the small female healer he thinks humans are vile creatures but with charlotte he finds himself feeling differently her kindness and the way she treats him giving him a whole new perspective on this particular human.
When the ship is attacked and crashes on Fargis Charlotte is on her own in a hostile environment but Axrel feels he owes her a debt he also feels strangely concerned with her safety. Now with a deadly protector and a vague plan Axrel and Charlotte are united and he is determined to get Charlotte to safety it’s his top priority even above that of his own personal agenda vengeance against the blood guard and brothers who initially betrayed him.
This one is slow burn and not overly explicit but don’t let that put you off Axrel and Charlotte make a fabulous team together and as they face danger and deadly threats they fall deeply despite being of different species. I definitely beloved in their bond and I found this to be a sweet love story one set amidst all of the peril where a connection is formed against all the odds and I was rooting for their HEA all the way.
It’s well-written action-packed and such an easy read if you like sci-fi romances with real deadly alien heroes you’ll definitely enjoy this one. I voluntary reviewed a copy of Axrel (Vrisha Warriors Book 2).
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
March 9, 2022
I was absolutely loving the first 2/3 of this book, especially that it centered around our doctor heroine helping to heal the wounded, yet still deadly, hero who is being transported to a prison planet. However, the last 1/3 fell flat for me, which I’m really saddened by.
The book went from this great slow build of tension (which Riley usually does perfectly) to all of a sudden the romance seemed to flip on like a switch. The smut scenes were also a bit lack luster (especially after I felt like the author was really starting to hit her smutty stride with the last book, Xora). I found myself speed reading the last few chapters because I didn’t feel as engaged in the characters or believe their romance as much as I have with other couples in this world.
However, I still adore this author and she is an auto-read and auto-buy for me (I own all her books in paperback despite them being on KU and have zero regrets about it). No writer, even if they’re one of my favorites, can hit a 5⭐️ for me every single time, and I’m still excited to see what Riley comes up with next!
The book went from this great slow build of tension (which Riley usually does perfectly) to all of a sudden the romance seemed to flip on like a switch. The smut scenes were also a bit lack luster (especially after I felt like the author was really starting to hit her smutty stride with the last book, Xora). I found myself speed reading the last few chapters because I didn’t feel as engaged in the characters or believe their romance as much as I have with other couples in this world.
However, I still adore this author and she is an auto-read and auto-buy for me (I own all her books in paperback despite them being on KU and have zero regrets about it). No writer, even if they’re one of my favorites, can hit a 5⭐️ for me every single time, and I’m still excited to see what Riley comes up with next!
March 9, 2023
Thanks to Jess for suggesting I read this. Olivia Riley certainly knows how to write a tense sci-fi romance with excellent slow burn and development. Charlotte (h) was so competent and caring as a doctor who specializes in caring for various alien species. She's blackmailed by a group of government soldiers to come on their ship and heal some of their prisoners, one of which is a particularly vicious alien species, the vrisha. Axrel (H) is hanging on by a thread but he wants vengeance for the actions that left him in that condition, oh and he hates humans. But it's hard to hate Charlotte when she's gentle and kind and goes above and beyond to try and help him. She's also strong and stands up for herself and others. I really enjoyed the careful interactions, slow build-up of trust, and the snags they had at times that then had to be examined and unraveled. Charlotte's supposed to be sent back to her home planet once the government ship offloads the prisoners on a prison planet and of course, something goes very, very wrong. Written in third person, dual POV. No ow drama, I didn't consider it om drama but one of Charlotte's co-workers on her home planet is interested in her and is protective. No sexual history given, but I didn't think either was a virgin.
This romance is heavier on the sci-fi details and suspense than the romance, with some steam but not much. I loved when the sexual tension broke for them and how it happened and I did feel that these two had a well-developed relationship where they understood and accepted each other, but most importantly made each other happier and stronger. Axrel was also very protective over Charlotte and threw himself into even more dangerous situations in an effort to keep her safe. I had a great time reading it, even during the bleaker and more challenging times for the main characters.
I liked that the side characters were a mix of human and other aliens, some who were good and some not so much. The climax and resolution for the villains and Axrel's revenge plans were also well executed and fit with the rest of the story. I worried something unbelievable might have to happen for them to survive, but it all worked together nicely. There's also a bit of transition between the more action-filled chapters and the ending so it wasn't just *boom* survived, the end. The ending itself is a HEA with both of them safe and fulfilled in what they're doing, so I was very satisfied with where they were left off.
I was a little bit confused at times with the world-building specifically related to the vrisha species, but by the end, more information was shared and it was a little more clear. I'm sure that's because I started with book 2 of a series and the series prior to this one had even more background, still this stands alone nicely.
This romance is heavier on the sci-fi details and suspense than the romance, with some steam but not much. I loved when the sexual tension broke for them and how it happened and I did feel that these two had a well-developed relationship where they understood and accepted each other, but most importantly made each other happier and stronger. Axrel was also very protective over Charlotte and threw himself into even more dangerous situations in an effort to keep her safe. I had a great time reading it, even during the bleaker and more challenging times for the main characters.
I liked that the side characters were a mix of human and other aliens, some who were good and some not so much. The climax and resolution for the villains and Axrel's revenge plans were also well executed and fit with the rest of the story. I worried something unbelievable might have to happen for them to survive, but it all worked together nicely. There's also a bit of transition between the more action-filled chapters and the ending so it wasn't just *boom* survived, the end. The ending itself is a HEA with both of them safe and fulfilled in what they're doing, so I was very satisfied with where they were left off.
I was a little bit confused at times with the world-building specifically related to the vrisha species, but by the end, more information was shared and it was a little more clear. I'm sure that's because I started with book 2 of a series and the series prior to this one had even more background, still this stands alone nicely.
July 30, 2023
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this read! Very good world building if you have not read the ones before this you won’t feel like your missing anything.
Fun quick entertaining read!
I loved the aliens and the dynamic of the human doctor fixing/healing the enemy alien and the connection they formed in a unlikely enemy/lovers environment.
There’s action and suspense. I wish we had more romance although at least with his pov we get a bit more understanding I liked that a lot. Some of the others in the earlier series on have her pov and it felt like a less romantic connection.
Also I wish the FMC was a bit less naive when I came to what was happening on the ship and at these bases. The humans are def the villains.
3rd person pov
Completely Safe
No OP anything
Slow burn
A few sexy times rated: 🔥🔥🔥
I really enjoyed this read! Very good world building if you have not read the ones before this you won’t feel like your missing anything.
Fun quick entertaining read!
I loved the aliens and the dynamic of the human doctor fixing/healing the enemy alien and the connection they formed in a unlikely enemy/lovers environment.
There’s action and suspense. I wish we had more romance although at least with his pov we get a bit more understanding I liked that a lot. Some of the others in the earlier series on have her pov and it felt like a less romantic connection.
Also I wish the FMC was a bit less naive when I came to what was happening on the ship and at these bases. The humans are def the villains.
3rd person pov
Completely Safe
No OP anything
Slow burn
A few sexy times rated: 🔥🔥🔥
July 8, 2024
3.75✨ (rounded up to 4 for GR)
1.5🌶️
This sci-fi alien romance series keeps winning, and should be included in any alien-loving reader’s must-try list! Olivia Riley is cementing herself as a reliable source of good (and spicy) alien romance, that’s for sure.
Our FMC Charlotte is a doctor to both human and alien, and it’s her knowledge of nonhuman biology that lands her a highly secretive gig: playing doctor to alien inmates heading to a dangerous prison planet, ensuring they survive the trip. The most dangerous prisoner among them is our MMC Axrel, a feared vrisha. Even with no verbal communication between them, Charlotte begins to care for him differently than other patients, and Axrel finds himself subconsciously craving her scent, her touch. This undercurrent of a bond leads them to form a partnership when things go south: Axrel’s protection as a favor for her medical treatment.
But the partnership between them quickly bends to the tantalizing undercurrent of their bond, and both cannot deny the feelings they’ve both developed, contrary to all else. But can this bond, this potential love, survive in times of peace, as well as danger?
Overall, I was hoping for a little more from the main couple. I would’ve loved more exploration of their differences, and more alien-ness to the spicy scenes, but I understand that the plot had them on the run, so those kind of scenes couldn’t be drawn out so much. I also really, really wanted more from the couple at the end, like a declaration of feelings scene at least. I know actions speak louder than words, and Axrel showed his love and commitment through that action, but I just would’ve loved to see more overall.
Cannot wait to see what else this series has to offer🥰
1.5🌶️
This sci-fi alien romance series keeps winning, and should be included in any alien-loving reader’s must-try list! Olivia Riley is cementing herself as a reliable source of good (and spicy) alien romance, that’s for sure.
Our FMC Charlotte is a doctor to both human and alien, and it’s her knowledge of nonhuman biology that lands her a highly secretive gig: playing doctor to alien inmates heading to a dangerous prison planet, ensuring they survive the trip. The most dangerous prisoner among them is our MMC Axrel, a feared vrisha. Even with no verbal communication between them, Charlotte begins to care for him differently than other patients, and Axrel finds himself subconsciously craving her scent, her touch. This undercurrent of a bond leads them to form a partnership when things go south: Axrel’s protection as a favor for her medical treatment.
But the partnership between them quickly bends to the tantalizing undercurrent of their bond, and both cannot deny the feelings they’ve both developed, contrary to all else. But can this bond, this potential love, survive in times of peace, as well as danger?
Overall, I was hoping for a little more from the main couple. I would’ve loved more exploration of their differences, and more alien-ness to the spicy scenes, but I understand that the plot had them on the run, so those kind of scenes couldn’t be drawn out so much. I also really, really wanted more from the couple at the end, like a declaration of feelings scene at least. I know actions speak louder than words, and Axrel showed his love and commitment through that action, but I just would’ve loved to see more overall.
Cannot wait to see what else this series has to offer🥰
March 31, 2022
Solid action scenes with a good thriller element and a satisfying slow burn. I have nothing witty to say like my other reviews, it's just so satisfying when I find a SFR that can properly scratch that itch. I keep coming back to Olivia Riley for this very reason.
July 19, 2025
»Tell them if they so much as look at you wrong, I will tear out their insides and feed it to them.«
»Axrel!«
»Tell them. Tell them you are mine to guard, and they will answer to me if they harm you or scare you.«
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
An awesome woman with the right standards. She is intelligent, open minded and brave.
❥ 𝑨𝒙𝒓𝒆𝒍 ⋆✮
I adored him and his protective side. He is a skilled fighter and his character growth was noticeable.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
I just love the science fiction world and species the author has created. The setting is dark and intriguing. A dark prison planet? Count me in. There is a lot of action and plot which I really enjoyed. This is not brainless smut but instead an enjoyable darker science fiction read.
The love story is well done and I‘m a fan of the Vrisha as a race. These guys actually look like aliens and are born warriors - so hot. Charlotte and Axrel are quite the couple. She is a fearless doctor and he is a dangerous rogue warrior. I liked them together. You can feel that they care for each other and it was heartwarming to read how they fight for each other.
All in all a great book and I can‘t wait to start the next in this series.
𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Yes!
𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 ׂㅤ𐙚 ࣪ ⭒
plot: 5/5
spice: 1/5
humor: 3/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ᡣ𐭩ྀི₊ ⊹
possessive and protective hero, alien romance, science fiction, slow burn, touch her and die, secrets and lies, alien that looks alien, forced proximity, doctor x warrior, prison planet, wound tending
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 Xora ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 Axrel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3 Vrexus ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4 Xeda ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#5 Kryxis ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
»Axrel!«
»Tell them. Tell them you are mine to guard, and they will answer to me if they harm you or scare you.«
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
An awesome woman with the right standards. She is intelligent, open minded and brave.
❥ 𝑨𝒙𝒓𝒆𝒍 ⋆✮
I adored him and his protective side. He is a skilled fighter and his character growth was noticeable.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
I just love the science fiction world and species the author has created. The setting is dark and intriguing. A dark prison planet? Count me in. There is a lot of action and plot which I really enjoyed. This is not brainless smut but instead an enjoyable darker science fiction read.
The love story is well done and I‘m a fan of the Vrisha as a race. These guys actually look like aliens and are born warriors - so hot. Charlotte and Axrel are quite the couple. She is a fearless doctor and he is a dangerous rogue warrior. I liked them together. You can feel that they care for each other and it was heartwarming to read how they fight for each other.
All in all a great book and I can‘t wait to start the next in this series.
𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Yes!
𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 ׂㅤ𐙚 ࣪ ⭒
plot: 5/5
spice: 1/5
humor: 3/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ᡣ𐭩ྀི₊ ⊹
possessive and protective hero, alien romance, science fiction, slow burn, touch her and die, secrets and lies, alien that looks alien, forced proximity, doctor x warrior, prison planet, wound tending
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 Xora ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 Axrel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3 Vrexus ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4 Xeda ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#5 Kryxis ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
July 23, 2026
⚠️This review does contain some little spoilers here and there.⚠️
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
⭐⭐
2 stars.
➕ What I liked :
Some little tiny parts here and there of the plot was kind of interesting/had potential.
Rather good voice actor/narrator.
No pregnancy or babies at the end of the book.
The heroine is Not a slave or ex-slave or sex-slave etc.
➖ What I disliked:
There is not a good balance in the plot between the action and the romance… too many action parts and not enough romance parts.
In some places in the plot there it too much telling and not enough showing.
Same issues as the other books in this series in some ways… with that some parts of the story and also the world-building does not seem futuristic enough or like a sci-fi romance… more like kind of a odd type of contemporary romance… and some things just seem off even for this genre or just seems contradicting or not thought out properly/half-baked… technology things and medical things etc.
For being a doctor/physician and even a highly educated but also deeply experienced doctor/physician and also have been tricked/fooled/manipulated before you would think the heroine would be more astute/wary but also more clear-eyed about many things…..But the heroine does say and do things a little too often that makes her seem both foolish/dumb both as a doctor/physician but also just in general about some things…. And she also seems to be either willfully ignorant to what humans do to aliens or she just does not care and think what is done is either not her problem or something the military/the alliance does etc. …. So she decides to look the other way and in some ways the heroine is also more or less a colonizer sympathizer… at least in the first 20% of the book…. She for sure has a pro-alliance mindset before she has anything to do with the hero and it takes her a rather long time to get her blinders off…. And I do agree with some other reviewers that talked about the plot being written in way so it seems like it is sympathetic to the colonizers.
Both the main characters even with some info about them and what happened to them etc. they are just a little too meh and flat and even to some degree insipid… that is also more or less true about their romance and chemistry which is very lackluster in many ways and so is the steam/sex scenes.
Humans are Not seen as barely sentient or a lesser species which is good and great👍👍…. And the humans are not slaves or anything like that👍... like they are in so many other sci-fi romance plots.
But in this plot/books/series many or most humans are the villains and/or are colonizers and do horrible things to other species/aliens (torture, experiments, trafficking etc.)
It is just too much in the other direction of things …. and it is like we can either have humans being treated like garbage and worse or humans treating other species/aliens like garbage or worse … There are too few instances/examples in sci-fi romance/alien romance that is either more about exploration and adventure etc. or/and at least some kind of middle ground between the two extremes.
And I also agree with another reviewer/Goodreads member that said that Speculative fiction should be and could be a great opportunity to actually do some social justice work and if not doing that... At least does not try to subvert it or in some way trivialize it just because it is “just” fiction/sci-fi or sci-fi romance or “just a book”.
The hero does not get his vengeance for what was done to him and there was No justice for him either after all he had been through (The hero doesn't track down, confront, or kill/punish a single person who betrayed him, nor does he get to kill or punish his tormentors… not even after the couple are safe or by the end of the book or in other ways when he would have the possibility to do so)… Yes they were on the run and the things with that...and it is about romance and love etc.
But there is just too much that is glossed over and there are also some problematic undercurrents with the entire colonizer/military/alliance thing and everything with that…. But also they break free and stuff and are on the run etc. and then it just ends like it does?…
And the couple just more or less “walk away into the sunset” with no issues or problems? From an all-powerful military and the Alliance… they just wash their hands of him and do not want to find him when he was of hyper-valuable to them (Military and the Alliance) before??… and a incredibly dangerous “weapon”coveted by powerful, high-ranking military commanders … it makes no sense even for this genre…. powerful individuals with resources do not just forget about a prize asset because a prison planet gets messy. They would deploy trackers, scour the wreckage, offer bounties, and hunt the hero as long as they were able and willing to do so or until they found his body.
Formulaic in certain things like the massive size and height difference between the heroine and the hero, what the heroine looks like (even if that info is kind of vague), what the hero look like etc.
March 6, 2022
"You calm the rage inside me. But there is a brighter fire burning inside me now, and I can't put it out. I've let it grow too big, and I fear it might consume me. Help me. Heal me."
A little...sexual healing if you will?
So I did enjoy the story, plot, and characters--criminal Vrishan warrior and human alliance doctor get thrown into the chaos of a prison planet and have to rely on each other to survive? All for it.
But there was something missing in this one for me. To be honest I think I wanted a little more steam in the sex scenes. Their couplings felt rushed- especially their first time together and I was like 'oh..that's it?' But that may just be me.
So yeah will still read more from this author and series. Plus, I really do love the aesthetics of the Vrisha as aliens. I just wanted a little more spicy schmexy times.
August 27, 2024
It started off great. There was a prisoner. Who was so dangerous but he was wronged by both the treacherous humans who trade aliens and experiment on them and other colonizer behaviour and by his own people as he wouldn't be a cold blooded killer (like come on). Then he was on the run with the only one human he ever trusted. This colonizer sympathizer woman who was human then rid this alien warriors need for vengeance. And he settles for a quiet life with her for love. Never have I been offended by an alien romance story! Where was justice? I hated the backdrop of this romance it was definitely a colonizer fantasy. The savages forgive and forget and give them good dick. Like spare us the bullshit.
February 28, 2022
Ahh! This was SO good. It started out feeling very Homebound-esque. Heroine is a doctor and is blackmailed to come aboard a military ship and help heal two very dangerous alien criminals. One is Axrel. The heroine, Charlotte, doesn't know it but they need Axrel healed so they can torture information out of him once they get to this prison island. He is pretty out of it at first, but she nurses him back to health and gains his trust. He takes it upon himself to protect her and keep her safe after they are tricked into landing inside the prison area, where their ship is shot down by the bad guy Vrishas. Then, the book starts to feel more survival ish. Like The Last Hour of Gann. They have this long journey ahead of them, and they have to work together in close proximity to keep Charlotte alive.
What I loved(LOVED): I love the sense of adventure. The danger and survival aspect. I love anything prison related and I love a dangerous hero. I loved that there was no epilogue baby. Yay! It wasn't even discussed. No children. No babies! This was also a slow burn(my favorite)
What I wanted more of: like the last book, it is kind of hinted at that there is a mating ritual that involves sinking his teeth into her neck, but we don't get any biting scenes! There is some spice, but I would have loved just a tad bit more longing, pining, wanting. Sexual tension. I would have also loved to know more about the hero and the heroine outside of their job title and outside of their survival. Who are they, who is their family, what is important to them etc. I would have loved to read a little bit more about his anatomy, too(I'm a perv okay). I love the idea of a sheath, my favorite of all time, Meoraq (The Last Hour of Gann), also has a sheath.
This was SO good. I compare all scifi romances to either Homebound or The Last Hour of Gann so I don't give out 4 stars lightly. This one was really great. Definitely worth a read. This can also be read as a standalone!
What I loved(LOVED): I love the sense of adventure. The danger and survival aspect. I love anything prison related and I love a dangerous hero. I loved that there was no epilogue baby. Yay! It wasn't even discussed. No children. No babies! This was also a slow burn(my favorite)
What I wanted more of: like the last book, it is kind of hinted at that there is a mating ritual that involves sinking his teeth into her neck, but we don't get any biting scenes! There is some spice, but I would have loved just a tad bit more longing, pining, wanting. Sexual tension. I would have also loved to know more about the hero and the heroine outside of their job title and outside of their survival. Who are they, who is their family, what is important to them etc. I would have loved to read a little bit more about his anatomy, too(I'm a perv okay). I love the idea of a sheath, my favorite of all time, Meoraq (The Last Hour of Gann), also has a sheath.
This was SO good. I compare all scifi romances to either Homebound or The Last Hour of Gann so I don't give out 4 stars lightly. This one was really great. Definitely worth a read. This can also be read as a standalone!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2023
Another banger! Enjoyed the characters, loved the world building, loved the slow burn romance, good pacing - just all around good stuff.
There were only three things I noted as I was reading:
If you're in a serious survival situation, why would you take off your clothes to sleep? Why wouldn't you sleep in the clothes? Especially if you already lost your clothes once because you were sleeping naked when people attacked and you almost got caught?? The number of times Charlotte ended up naked in this had me feeling like a stereotypical slasher movie where the female characters are somehow always underdressed lmao
I am confused about why Charlotte cares so much for the humans in this story. Like sure, yes, lives are important and matter and you want to save everyone you can but the way she talked about "her people" was a little weird to me. She's a doctor who specializes in non-humans and many of the non-humans at the time are fairly innocent. They may have been prisoners but 1) they certainly didn't deserve the situation they were in, 2) we have no idea why most of them were there - and it sounded like at least some of the prisoners got there by sketchy means, and 3) it sounded like this prison was an unethical hellhole. Not to mention the humans in this case were some shady military people who viewed non-humans as inferior and treated them as such. Why did she care so much about the humans here???
I would have liked to know more about their life and roles in the Epilogue!
There were only three things I noted as I was reading:
If you're in a serious survival situation, why would you take off your clothes to sleep? Why wouldn't you sleep in the clothes? Especially if you already lost your clothes once because you were sleeping naked when people attacked and you almost got caught?? The number of times Charlotte ended up naked in this had me feeling like a stereotypical slasher movie where the female characters are somehow always underdressed lmao
I am confused about why Charlotte cares so much for the humans in this story. Like sure, yes, lives are important and matter and you want to save everyone you can but the way she talked about "her people" was a little weird to me. She's a doctor who specializes in non-humans and many of the non-humans at the time are fairly innocent. They may have been prisoners but 1) they certainly didn't deserve the situation they were in, 2) we have no idea why most of them were there - and it sounded like at least some of the prisoners got there by sketchy means, and 3) it sounded like this prison was an unethical hellhole. Not to mention the humans in this case were some shady military people who viewed non-humans as inferior and treated them as such. Why did she care so much about the humans here???
I would have liked to know more about their life and roles in the Epilogue!
April 13, 2023
DNF at 45% on first read.
3.5 Stars after finishing !
3.5 Stars after finishing !
September 29, 2022
Wow, this was great! I love how O. Riley writes such color and texture on the page. There were some parts that were so incredibly sensual and such description to all the senses that it felt like you were transported into a 3D book. So glad that each of the books about the Vrisha all have their own unique stories and characters. I loved the characterization of Charlotte and how it was had some twists. It was a tad predictable and the author did use that pesky “theorized” word incorrectly again in this book (seems to be her trademark or a running gag at this point.) I was really delighted with how this went and it was a fun, romantic adventure, with woodsy elements, lots of interesting otherkin and a cool perspective on her being a doctor.
May 21, 2024
Anytime a prison planet is involved I'm instantly intrigued. I loved Charlotte and Axrel that I've actually read this twice. He hates humans and she's forced to take care of him on the way to the prison planet. She's a doctor and he was horribly mistreated on the brink of dying as he's been labeled incredibly deadly, but the way he got his injuries and the way he was set up by his own kind was shocking. Enjoyed this all the way until the end as it seemed it would be impossible for them to escape. Their relationship development was sweet as Axrel was really fighting against his feelings for Charlotte
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2025
holy scifi
This an awesome science fiction read. I really enjoyed the plot. I loved the female main character Charlotte. I loved everything about it. It follows a storyline of a physician who specializes in aliens rather than humans. About 50% of the book is her bringing the main character Axrel back from the brink of death. The rest of the book is spent on a prison world, where Axrel is able to fully be the vrisha he is meant to be. The reason it’s not five stars is that the spice was subpar. I almost felt like it would’ve been better if it were closed door fade to black. And that is just my opinion.
This an awesome science fiction read. I really enjoyed the plot. I loved the female main character Charlotte. I loved everything about it. It follows a storyline of a physician who specializes in aliens rather than humans. About 50% of the book is her bringing the main character Axrel back from the brink of death. The rest of the book is spent on a prison world, where Axrel is able to fully be the vrisha he is meant to be. The reason it’s not five stars is that the spice was subpar. I almost felt like it would’ve been better if it were closed door fade to black. And that is just my opinion.
September 1, 2022
2.5 stars! As much as I really wanted to like this one, it fell a bit flat to me. There's a lot of plot and action and I would've liked to have seen more relationship development to go along with it.
"She would be his little secret. He'd keep her in his thoughts."
April 10, 2023
Ooooo… I liked this. I liked both the characters in this one better than the first book in the series. I liked the story line and the writing. I guess the reasons I didn’t give it 5 stars was because I found myself skimming a bit through over-informative parts, and I didn’t find the chemistry and spice all that engaging.
April 19, 2025
I love this series. I didn’t love this as much as the previous book but it kept my attention and I grew to like the characters.
Charlotte could be a little frustrating at times but Axrel was very true to self. He had the most growth in the book!
I appreciated Charlottes dedication to healing others and how caring she was. She defended Axrel 9/10!
Charlotte could be a little frustrating at times but Axrel was very true to self. He had the most growth in the book!
I appreciated Charlottes dedication to healing others and how caring she was. She defended Axrel 9/10!
February 25, 2022
Fast moving story with slow-burn romance
I really loved this book. It’s a slow-burn romance with real depth to the characters. The main male character, Axrel, was so well written. You could really feel his struggles with his previous beliefs, his growing feelings, and the effect Charlotte (fmc) was having on him. An absolutely awesome book. With just the right amount of action. I was never bored but was riveted to every page.
I really loved this book. It’s a slow-burn romance with real depth to the characters. The main male character, Axrel, was so well written. You could really feel his struggles with his previous beliefs, his growing feelings, and the effect Charlotte (fmc) was having on him. An absolutely awesome book. With just the right amount of action. I was never bored but was riveted to every page.
August 13, 2023
It was ok. I think I’m in a reading slump and it’s affecting my ratings
September 13, 2023
Plot: 4🌟
Character chemistry: 3🌟
Spice: 🌟3
Overall rating: 3.5🌟
Character chemistry: 3🌟
Spice: 🌟3
Overall rating: 3.5🌟
October 31, 2024
LIZARD MANNNNN
February 14, 2026
⭐️ 4 stars.
December 1, 2024
Well written sci fi enemies to lovers. The spice however, was next to nothing, which is a bummer because I want to read alien smut. Or at least more of the romance.
Not everyone likes spice. I get that. It’s just kind of difficult for me to find new books under sci fi romance that I like. Either the writing is off, no plot, ridiculous psychopathic bdsm spice, etc. (I mean of the rape kind, on top of dom/sub).
These two are on the run constantly, which makes sense that they don’t have time to have a million encounters of the sexy kind, but… I don’t know, the end could have spent more time showing the mutual desire and tenderness. I don’t think this author likes to write spice scenes. Not sure if I’ll continue the series for now, even though I believe the writing is good.
The romance is strangely on the forefront and also on the back burner.
Not everyone likes spice. I get that. It’s just kind of difficult for me to find new books under sci fi romance that I like. Either the writing is off, no plot, ridiculous psychopathic bdsm spice, etc. (I mean of the rape kind, on top of dom/sub).
These two are on the run constantly, which makes sense that they don’t have time to have a million encounters of the sexy kind, but… I don’t know, the end could have spent more time showing the mutual desire and tenderness. I don’t think this author likes to write spice scenes. Not sure if I’ll continue the series for now, even though I believe the writing is good.
The romance is strangely on the forefront and also on the back burner.
February 27, 2022
Oh so fabulous!💖🔥
I love Olivia Riley 's books. Her world building is fabulous and her characters have depth and substance. They start out with an unwavering belief system, then something earth shattering happens and everything they once believed is ripped open wide and scattered across the stars. Once this has happened they pick up the pieces and put together something beautiful, precious and truly worth living for. Charlotte is a human doctor that specializes in alien medicine. She's had some tragedy in her past, but has worked hard to put it behind her and truly help those in need. Axrel is a Vrisha warrior and one of the reader Blood guard who hates humans, that is until he meets Charlotte. When he Axrel going the b!old guard he believed he was doing what was right until he was asked too do something that went against his code as a warrior. He was left by his own beaten badly and captured and on his way to a prison planet to be tortured and experimented on. Charlotte is blackmailed into helping save some prisoners lives. When she sees the Vrisha warrior she's enthralled and instead of allowing her fear to rule she does everything she can go save his life. They form a bond and then tragedy strikes and their fighting for their lives and for each other. This is an action packed book with a slow burn romance that is just so good I couldn't put it down. I love that characters I love the story and I love the relationship building between the leads. I hope she continues to write more of these I can wait for the next one. Highly recommend you won't regret it!🔥🔥💖🔥💖🔥🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥🔥🔥💖🔥💖🔥🔥💖🔥💖💖🔥💖🔥🔥💖🔥💖🔥🔥💖💖💖🔥💖💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖💖🔥💖🔥🔥💖🔥💖
I love Olivia Riley 's books. Her world building is fabulous and her characters have depth and substance. They start out with an unwavering belief system, then something earth shattering happens and everything they once believed is ripped open wide and scattered across the stars. Once this has happened they pick up the pieces and put together something beautiful, precious and truly worth living for. Charlotte is a human doctor that specializes in alien medicine. She's had some tragedy in her past, but has worked hard to put it behind her and truly help those in need. Axrel is a Vrisha warrior and one of the reader Blood guard who hates humans, that is until he meets Charlotte. When he Axrel going the b!old guard he believed he was doing what was right until he was asked too do something that went against his code as a warrior. He was left by his own beaten badly and captured and on his way to a prison planet to be tortured and experimented on. Charlotte is blackmailed into helping save some prisoners lives. When she sees the Vrisha warrior she's enthralled and instead of allowing her fear to rule she does everything she can go save his life. They form a bond and then tragedy strikes and their fighting for their lives and for each other. This is an action packed book with a slow burn romance that is just so good I couldn't put it down. I love that characters I love the story and I love the relationship building between the leads. I hope she continues to write more of these I can wait for the next one. Highly recommend you won't regret it!🔥🔥💖🔥💖🔥🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥🔥🔥💖🔥💖🔥🔥💖🔥💖💖🔥💖🔥🔥💖🔥💖🔥🔥💖💖💖🔥💖💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖💖🔥💖🔥🔥💖🔥💖
September 20, 2022
I really enjoyed the Dark World Mates. When I saw she had a spin-off series about the Vrisha warriors, I immediately jumped into the books! I give the series ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
There’s three books total and each one is a standalone featuring a Vrisha warrior and the human women they fall in love with.
The first book, Xora, centers around a warrior sent to an underwater city to collect materials for a secret mission. Grace is a maintenance worker on the station and has to work and live on the same floor as him. Their proximity doesn’t allow them to shy away from the desires and attraction they feel for one another.
In the second book, Axrel, a rogue warrior is wounded in battle and sent to a military ship to be healed so they can interrogate him. Charlotte is the doctor on board in charge of tending to him. Her touch calms the demon inside him and they find themselves willing to risk it all.
The third book, Vrexus, has a warrior working under the Blood Guard take political prisoners during a diplomatic event. The woman he’s tasked with transporting to his Mad Queen gives him reason to doubt his alliance. These two test their limits in an epic enemies to lovers journey.
I really loved these books! Each one was so unique and I loved learning more about their culture outside of their main planet. I also loved seeing the Blood Guard in action!
There’s three books total and each one is a standalone featuring a Vrisha warrior and the human women they fall in love with.
The first book, Xora, centers around a warrior sent to an underwater city to collect materials for a secret mission. Grace is a maintenance worker on the station and has to work and live on the same floor as him. Their proximity doesn’t allow them to shy away from the desires and attraction they feel for one another.
In the second book, Axrel, a rogue warrior is wounded in battle and sent to a military ship to be healed so they can interrogate him. Charlotte is the doctor on board in charge of tending to him. Her touch calms the demon inside him and they find themselves willing to risk it all.
The third book, Vrexus, has a warrior working under the Blood Guard take political prisoners during a diplomatic event. The woman he’s tasked with transporting to his Mad Queen gives him reason to doubt his alliance. These two test their limits in an epic enemies to lovers journey.
I really loved these books! Each one was so unique and I loved learning more about their culture outside of their main planet. I also loved seeing the Blood Guard in action!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2022
This was a great read.. Axrel was my favorite Olivia Riley hero. He had the aggressive side down pat like the other Vrishna in the series, but I loved to hear of his vulnerbilities of growing up as little one in his family, being betrayed by those he thought his family and the first gentle touch he ever receives comes from the heroine. Does that not pull at your heartstrings?
A particularly memorable scene for me was when he kneels down in front of the heroine and confesses how he feels about her, laying it all out there. Half expecting rejection but still putting it out there. I truly felt for him.. It was incredibly sweet.
Beta heroes for the win!
A particularly memorable scene for me was when he kneels down in front of the heroine and confesses how he feels about her, laying it all out there. Half expecting rejection but still putting it out there. I truly felt for him.. It was incredibly sweet.
Beta heroes for the win!
October 4, 2023
I liked Charlotte, she was very component albeit a little too martyr for my liking. There were times when she put others above herself in circumstances where she knew she wouldn’t be able to help or save anyone. I liked Axrel as well but he was a stereotypical alien character and there wasn’t anything new about him.
I enjoyed the world building and their plight for survival but unfortunately that’s all it was to me. It was a great action/sci-fi, but the romance fell flat with too much time focused on their surroundings instead of their relationship. I actually would’ve much preferred Axrel and Charlotte as friends.
I enjoyed the world building and their plight for survival but unfortunately that’s all it was to me. It was a great action/sci-fi, but the romance fell flat with too much time focused on their surroundings instead of their relationship. I actually would’ve much preferred Axrel and Charlotte as friends.
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