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New World
Stay with Me
In this first of a sexy new sci-fi romance series, a galactic farmer discovers the robot she ordered is actually a flesh-and-blood woman.
Cedra: Running a farm on your own is exhausting and lonely. The Servana 200 service bot I ordered was expensive, but I need the help—and if it can also hold a conversation, it will be worth the price.
When the bot arrives, though, her hair is curlier than I selected, her skin is surprisingly soft, and she’s curvier and more beautiful than I imagined. But do bots tremble at the lightest touch? Do they smell like a heady mix of flowers and hot, sweet blood, teasing my fangs to life?
Technology is truly a marvel. Or is it?
Twyla: Running from a forced engagement is terrifying. But I’m backed into a corner, and my only escape is to crawl into a packing box for a bot modeled after me.
It’s certainly a panic move, but it got me out of one bad situation… And landed me right in the middle of another.
At first, Cedra isn’t the most welcoming sort, not when she presses a knife to my flesh and threatens to kick me out of her home. I come clean fast, pleading with her to let me stay and be her housekeeper. She’s hesitant, but I can tell she’s warming up to the idea…
Something’s flaring between us—fierce and urgent and insistent. And if these primal desires are mutual, maybe she’ll be the one begging me to stay.
New World
Book 1: New World: Stay with Me
Book 2: New World: Made for Me
Book 3: New World: Own Me
Book 4: New World: Breathe with Me
Book 5: New World: Safe with Me
Cedra: Running a farm on your own is exhausting and lonely. The Servana 200 service bot I ordered was expensive, but I need the help—and if it can also hold a conversation, it will be worth the price.
When the bot arrives, though, her hair is curlier than I selected, her skin is surprisingly soft, and she’s curvier and more beautiful than I imagined. But do bots tremble at the lightest touch? Do they smell like a heady mix of flowers and hot, sweet blood, teasing my fangs to life?
Technology is truly a marvel. Or is it?
Twyla: Running from a forced engagement is terrifying. But I’m backed into a corner, and my only escape is to crawl into a packing box for a bot modeled after me.
It’s certainly a panic move, but it got me out of one bad situation… And landed me right in the middle of another.
At first, Cedra isn’t the most welcoming sort, not when she presses a knife to my flesh and threatens to kick me out of her home. I come clean fast, pleading with her to let me stay and be her housekeeper. She’s hesitant, but I can tell she’s warming up to the idea…
Something’s flaring between us—fierce and urgent and insistent. And if these primal desires are mutual, maybe she’ll be the one begging me to stay.
New World
Book 1: New World: Stay with Me
Book 2: New World: Made for Me
Book 3: New World: Own Me
Book 4: New World: Breathe with Me
Book 5: New World: Safe with Me
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2022
63 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
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July 18, 2022
3.50 Stars. Personal Update (scroll next paragraph down for review) Hey everyone, I just wanted to give an update since I have been away so long. There was a death in my family and while it was a surprise, it was not unexpected if that makes any sense. I decided to take my vacation early and went out of state for a few weeks for the funeral and to help my family get their affairs in order. While I was there, in tribute to my great uncle -who HATED cell phones- my aunts decided we should all cut down on our usage. I’m not phone crazy so I thought no big deal… until I remembered I didn’t bring my Kindle since I was just going to use my Kindle app on my phone. Of course no one believed reading was why I needed to break the new cell phone pact, like after 40 years they somehow forgot I was a book worm. In actuality I think they just wanted me to suffer as much as they were, you gotta love family. Anyway, after such a long time away I’m glad to be back but I have a feeling it will take me a little while to catch-up. I have missed you all and I have a ton of your reviews to read! I feel like I don’t even know what great books have come out this month. I am behind in some of my own reading/reviews but I have lowered my future review load so fully catching-up will eventually be possible. Thanks for your patience and I can’t wait to talk books with you all soon. (I will remove this update soon so it’s not taking up space on this book’s review.)
For my first book back, I wanted something fun and easy to read so I was thinking something that you could call a beach read or similar. This book I picked had the clarifier of being a “sexy new sci-fi romance series” so I had a feeling this would fit right into what I was looking for, and luckily I was right. The sci-fi elements are pretty light which I’ll talk more about l later. This book is mostly a romance with the kind of conflict plots you might find on a soap opera, and has a level of heat that is above a normal romance but not quite at the level of an erotic romance.
For those non sci-fi fans out there I would not let this bother you too much. The sci-fi is pretty light and is used to mostly set up the story of a young woman of a wealthy family who makes robots. Twyla’s father is marrying her off for a political power match so she runs away by pretending to be a robot that is going to a faraway peaceful farming planet. The reason she can pull this off is because her father patterned the domesticated robot workers after her likeness (Is it me or is that totally creepy?). What Twyla doesn’t know is she is on her way to the farm of the very sexy butch Cedra, who promised she would never love again. Can Twyla find a way into Cedra’s broken heart, or will Cedra send her back to her family?
I also wanted to mention that this has a light F/F Omegaverse feel. Cedra is a “Fanger” and while it is not flat out said, she has a very alpha feel to her character and Fangers in general can have bonds and one ‘true mates’. I don’t want to go into too much but a character can even go into heat. I’m not an expert enough on exactly what classifies what F/F Omegaverse is, but I think fans of it would at least consider this a fun and lighter version that still has some heat.
I gave this book a 3.50 rating and that is what it truly deserves. 4 stars it’s just too high and 3 stars feel too low. In the end I have to give it 3 stars since on Goodreads I can’t give it the score it really deserves. However, I want to reiterate that for the kind of mindless fun and steamy book that it was, it was an enjoyable read. This author can write and she successful wrote the kind of book she set out to write.
An copy was given to me for review.
For my first book back, I wanted something fun and easy to read so I was thinking something that you could call a beach read or similar. This book I picked had the clarifier of being a “sexy new sci-fi romance series” so I had a feeling this would fit right into what I was looking for, and luckily I was right. The sci-fi elements are pretty light which I’ll talk more about l later. This book is mostly a romance with the kind of conflict plots you might find on a soap opera, and has a level of heat that is above a normal romance but not quite at the level of an erotic romance.
For those non sci-fi fans out there I would not let this bother you too much. The sci-fi is pretty light and is used to mostly set up the story of a young woman of a wealthy family who makes robots. Twyla’s father is marrying her off for a political power match so she runs away by pretending to be a robot that is going to a faraway peaceful farming planet. The reason she can pull this off is because her father patterned the domesticated robot workers after her likeness (Is it me or is that totally creepy?). What Twyla doesn’t know is she is on her way to the farm of the very sexy butch Cedra, who promised she would never love again. Can Twyla find a way into Cedra’s broken heart, or will Cedra send her back to her family?
I also wanted to mention that this has a light F/F Omegaverse feel. Cedra is a “Fanger” and while it is not flat out said, she has a very alpha feel to her character and Fangers in general can have bonds and one ‘true mates’. I don’t want to go into too much but a character can even go into heat. I’m not an expert enough on exactly what classifies what F/F Omegaverse is, but I think fans of it would at least consider this a fun and lighter version that still has some heat.
I gave this book a 3.50 rating and that is what it truly deserves. 4 stars it’s just too high and 3 stars feel too low. In the end I have to give it 3 stars since on Goodreads I can’t give it the score it really deserves. However, I want to reiterate that for the kind of mindless fun and steamy book that it was, it was an enjoyable read. This author can write and she successful wrote the kind of book she set out to write.
An copy was given to me for review.
July 4, 2022
Stay with Me is the first book in a new sci-fi series, New World, with four more already planned. In this first instalment, instead of the bot she ordered, Cedra gets a real live woman, fleeing an engagement she wants nothing to do with.
I always have ambivalent feelings about fated love. On the one hand, it can be so freaking romantic but on the other, how consensual is it if you can’t help it? I like that the author addresses the issue, making Cedra, who has all the power in the relationship – at least initially – think it over deeply. By contrast, I didn’t feel completely comfortable with the age gap, not the age difference as such but the fact that Twyla looks young and that it’s repeated a couple of times and amplified by the height difference. All of this can be explained by the fact that Cedra is a Fanger, a modified human. And I may be oversensitive.
Since Lily X is a new author (to me at any rate), I didn’t know what to expect but I found the premise intriguing. There’s more to it than what I wrote, I’m as always careful not to spoil. I enjoyed the various twists, liked both MCs well enough, and got my eye on a couple of secondary characters whom I hope to encounter again. I know one of them is the MC of book two and I look forward to reading her story.
What I liked best was the worldbuilding. It’s the kind of mix I enjoy of new and familiar enough that I don’t feel lost all the time. It also promises a lot of possibilities, which I hope the author will take advantage of in future books. 3.5⭐️
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog: Jude in the Stars
I always have ambivalent feelings about fated love. On the one hand, it can be so freaking romantic but on the other, how consensual is it if you can’t help it? I like that the author addresses the issue, making Cedra, who has all the power in the relationship – at least initially – think it over deeply. By contrast, I didn’t feel completely comfortable with the age gap, not the age difference as such but the fact that Twyla looks young and that it’s repeated a couple of times and amplified by the height difference. All of this can be explained by the fact that Cedra is a Fanger, a modified human. And I may be oversensitive.
Since Lily X is a new author (to me at any rate), I didn’t know what to expect but I found the premise intriguing. There’s more to it than what I wrote, I’m as always careful not to spoil. I enjoyed the various twists, liked both MCs well enough, and got my eye on a couple of secondary characters whom I hope to encounter again. I know one of them is the MC of book two and I look forward to reading her story.
What I liked best was the worldbuilding. It’s the kind of mix I enjoy of new and familiar enough that I don’t feel lost all the time. It also promises a lot of possibilities, which I hope the author will take advantage of in future books. 3.5⭐️
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog: Jude in the Stars
March 19, 2023
3.75 stars. A better than average fated-mates trope romance. Both MCs were nice, likeable characters. The writing was good and the story made sense. Also up there on the spicy scale 🔥🌶️🌶️🌶️. This is the first in a series and I will definitely be back. Kindle Unlimited.
June 8, 2025
It's June aka Pride month so this was definitely on point ✨♥️.
Lily X is slowly becoming my favourite sapphic romance author 👏🏾🙂. This was so cute and fun to read.
Twyla is running away from an arranged marriage so she hides herself inside a service bot box.
Cedra wasn't expecting her service bot to be a real human whom she slowly falls in love with✨🎀.
For my first sci-fi romance this was great! I'll definitely be reading the next books from the series 🤭♥️
Lily X is slowly becoming my favourite sapphic romance author 👏🏾🙂. This was so cute and fun to read.
Twyla is running away from an arranged marriage so she hides herself inside a service bot box.
Cedra wasn't expecting her service bot to be a real human whom she slowly falls in love with✨🎀.
For my first sci-fi romance this was great! I'll definitely be reading the next books from the series 🤭♥️
June 10, 2022
Twyla escapes from an arranged marriage by posing as a service bot, hoping that whoever she ends up with will hide her and let her stay. Cedra gets more than she expected when her new Servana bot is delivered to her farm.
This was an ok read, I wasn't super engaged with either MC but it was a fast paced story. It was very focused on the sexual relationship and was lacking in character development. It's a sci-fi book but had too many themes to really focus on developing the setting. There's aliens, humans, star people and royals and people with modifications, along with some kind of vampire species all thrown into a futuristic setting with some kind of galactic government patrolled by peacekeepers. There's a lot going on and being the first in this series I felt like some of their world needed a bit more explanation. Future installments may have some potential as the world is more fleshed out but I felt like this one wasn't as good as I was hoping based on the description.
This was an ok read, I wasn't super engaged with either MC but it was a fast paced story. It was very focused on the sexual relationship and was lacking in character development. It's a sci-fi book but had too many themes to really focus on developing the setting. There's aliens, humans, star people and royals and people with modifications, along with some kind of vampire species all thrown into a futuristic setting with some kind of galactic government patrolled by peacekeepers. There's a lot going on and being the first in this series I felt like some of their world needed a bit more explanation. Future installments may have some potential as the world is more fleshed out but I felt like this one wasn't as good as I was hoping based on the description.
January 28, 2023
The words “Blood Mate” flit through my mind like a whisper and my body curled around her in a protective embrace, as though it was calling her home.
3.5 stars. This was fun! A little lacking in the plot department, but it's a really creative sci-fi world and I'm kind of excited to delve into this series. It's science fiction that has a sort of paranormal slant, because the genetically modified species in this world resemble vampires and shifters and the like. In this book, we follow Cedra, a Fanger on a new world who owns a ranch/farm. She orders a robotic servant to aid her with chores, but when the package comes, there's a human woman inside of it instead.
This is a fated mates romance between Cedra and Twyla, and it was really good! Like I said, the world-building was interesting, and pretty easy to get the hang of. And as far as meet-cutes go, this is a really good one. There's kind of an omegaverse-ish feel to it, especially in the tone of the sex scenes, and a/b/o is really not my thing. But still, I ended up liking this so much. It was sexy, and I was charmed instead of annoyed by the way they had this instant connection. I adored the way the author wrote their attraction. The fated mates bond did a lot of the work, but not all of it. There's a mental connection aspect that I really liked; I thought it would start to feel uneven, since it was only one-way for most of the book, but I really liked it. I wish we'd seen more of their mundane life on the farm, and the plot in the latter half is a bit on the lacklustre side. But I still overall really really enjoyed it. Looking forward to delving into the rest of the series. I'm already in love with Ana, so I can't wait for her romance.
July 15, 2022
I don’t read fantasy very often, but I liked the premise of this book. It was different. The blurb made me curious. Though some things were (still?) a little vague, I liked the worlds the writer built in her book. More, but I think not all yet, was told about the closed Star where Cedra loved than about Royal One where Twyla comes from. I expect more worldbuilding in the next books. Now we learned just a little bit about Star, but not much about it’s politics, the way people make their income or their customs. I especially liked descriptions as ‘plasti-wood’, but surprised to read about linen sheets on the bed when other materials all seemed to be technical surrogates, except for the rare gold and the old wood that was used in the shed.
The main characters, Twyla and Cedra were likeable, but I feel that their relationship started very fast. The story is alternate told from the viewpoint of the MC’s, which worked for me. The writing for me could have been tighter. I also very much appreciated the descriptions of the people that inhabited Star.
The main characters, Twyla and Cedra were likeable, but I feel that their relationship started very fast. The story is alternate told from the viewpoint of the MC’s, which worked for me. The writing for me could have been tighter. I also very much appreciated the descriptions of the people that inhabited Star.
June 21, 2025
Twyla and Cedra were super cute together, very much the grumpy sunshine pairing. They both had their own unique interpersonal traumas, though Cedra had a harder time opening up than Twyla. I liked the world building with the lore of everyone in the past who was not super rich needing DNA that gave them some different qualities. It was a fun new world.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: violence, kidnapping, drugging, toxic parents, forced engagement, toxic x, pregnant woman falling (off page), premature infant births (off page), parent death (past)
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: violence, kidnapping, drugging, toxic parents, forced engagement, toxic x, pregnant woman falling (off page), premature infant births (off page), parent death (past)
May 16, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This book is a light sci-fi romance and the first in a new series. Cedra is a Fanger species with altered human DNA. She has inherited a ranch on a closed star planet. This planet is multi racial but struggles to feed its inhabitants so no one can immigrate there. Cedra is struggling to keep up with her ranch and needs a helper so she decides to purchase a bot from the home planet. Meanwhile Twyla is a human and is the daughter of the robot manufacturer and is in charge of marketing for her father’s company. Twyla is being forced into an arranged marriage to the son of another prominent family. Twyla doesn’t want to marry this guy so she replaces a bot out for delivery with herself.
When Cedra receives and opens her bot package she discovers right away that Twyla is not a bot and it is quite humorous. Needless to say the romance begins and it is very charming with a lot of hot, hot scenes.
I enjoyed this light sci-fi book and would recommend it to anyone wanting to try a sci-fi book for the first time. The world building is light and the technology is pretty simple to understand. This is written in first person and the chapters alternate between the two main characters.
ARC received for a voluntary and honest review.
This book is a light sci-fi romance and the first in a new series. Cedra is a Fanger species with altered human DNA. She has inherited a ranch on a closed star planet. This planet is multi racial but struggles to feed its inhabitants so no one can immigrate there. Cedra is struggling to keep up with her ranch and needs a helper so she decides to purchase a bot from the home planet. Meanwhile Twyla is a human and is the daughter of the robot manufacturer and is in charge of marketing for her father’s company. Twyla is being forced into an arranged marriage to the son of another prominent family. Twyla doesn’t want to marry this guy so she replaces a bot out for delivery with herself.
When Cedra receives and opens her bot package she discovers right away that Twyla is not a bot and it is quite humorous. Needless to say the romance begins and it is very charming with a lot of hot, hot scenes.
I enjoyed this light sci-fi book and would recommend it to anyone wanting to try a sci-fi book for the first time. The world building is light and the technology is pretty simple to understand. This is written in first person and the chapters alternate between the two main characters.
ARC received for a voluntary and honest review.
July 18, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Stay with Me is a very engaging Sci Fi, F/F romance with a strong futuristic setting and interesting characters. I loved the forced-proximity aspect, with the new world order of it all. Cedra is a great person with a damaged emotional landscape, and Twyla’s so eager and trusting—and sexy! Their passion is fierce and fast, thanks to some enhancements to humanity over the past millenia, or so. Think fated mates. I’m not exactly sure how far in the future this story is set, but the human hybrid lines are many generations into existence, and the “Old Earth” remnants of society all seem long in the past.
I really enjoyed this! There isn’t a ton of world building, just enough to get a good sense for how society is now, and the stakes both Cedra and Twyla face for their roles in this conflict.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Stay with Me is a very engaging Sci Fi, F/F romance with a strong futuristic setting and interesting characters. I loved the forced-proximity aspect, with the new world order of it all. Cedra is a great person with a damaged emotional landscape, and Twyla’s so eager and trusting—and sexy! Their passion is fierce and fast, thanks to some enhancements to humanity over the past millenia, or so. Think fated mates. I’m not exactly sure how far in the future this story is set, but the human hybrid lines are many generations into existence, and the “Old Earth” remnants of society all seem long in the past.
I really enjoyed this! There isn’t a ton of world building, just enough to get a good sense for how society is now, and the stakes both Cedra and Twyla face for their roles in this conflict.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
July 30, 2023
4 stars. This was super thin on the plot and world building but there was plenty of spice between two really likable characters so that was enough for me honestly. Cedra and Twyla are fated mates and their chemistry is seriously so hot. As individuals they are both interesting characters and I liked them both but really the romance is the highlight. This was fun and sexy as hell. I hear that the series only goes up from here so I’m excited to continue on and hopefully get some world building going on because there is a lot of potential here.
did-not-finish
June 1, 2022There is a lot of potential here - I love the worldbuilding, and want to find out more about the star that the characters live on and the society they've created. I'm afraid the romance leaves me wanting, though. I tend to lose interest when the attraction is purely physical, and here it's compounded by a fated mates situation where one character unwittingly has the other in her thrall.
Sadly not for me, so I put it down at 27%.
Thanks to Carina Press for providing a review copy.
Sadly not for me, so I put it down at 27%.
Thanks to Carina Press for providing a review copy.
June 3, 2022
Sexy sapphic scifi-romance
What a nice surprise: a sexy little sapphic scifi romp in a new world which is inhabited by a very diverse populace. The world is sketched out nicely with hopefully more to come in the next installments of this new series. In this case there is a pinch of vampire (okay: fangers in this world), a pinch of fated mating, a lot of good people and hot attraction and even hotter mating: The main focus is on the romance and I really love a good scifi-romance. The start was a bit cramped with information, but then the story rolled along very well and this light read entertained me for a few hours as it should. I look forward to the next one - Ana‘id is up for grabs. Watch out!
Thanks to Carina Press for providing an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.
What a nice surprise: a sexy little sapphic scifi romp in a new world which is inhabited by a very diverse populace. The world is sketched out nicely with hopefully more to come in the next installments of this new series. In this case there is a pinch of vampire (okay: fangers in this world), a pinch of fated mating, a lot of good people and hot attraction and even hotter mating: The main focus is on the romance and I really love a good scifi-romance. The start was a bit cramped with information, but then the story rolled along very well and this light read entertained me for a few hours as it should. I look forward to the next one - Ana‘id is up for grabs. Watch out!
Thanks to Carina Press for providing an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.
March 6, 2023
TLDR: A hybrid-human develops a bond she thought impossible, but the world she lives in needs a better explanation.
Given the top Goodreads reviews, I expected Stay With Me would be mediocre at best. So, let my enjoyment of this book be a reminder – reviews are a glimpse into the reader's soul, not the author’s. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
This story begins from the perspective of Cedra, a human-hybrid farmer living in a closed community on a “star” planet. She is surprised when, after the receipt of a package, the expensive robot she ordered turns out to be a human woman. Twyla, in a panic to escape an arranged marriage, smuggled herself out of her father’s bot factory in hopes of finding a better life. Now face-to-face with Cedra, Twyla pleads for help. Together, they must decide if they’ll allow the past or their growing attraction to dictate their future.
I’ll admit, even after reading my brief summary back, the plot of this book sounds bonkers and sci-fi-heavy. It is bonkers, but it’s more about farm life and the warmth of a small community than it is about technology and cold, hard lines. If anything, this book is like sitting on a porch swing as the sun is setting, inhaling a soft breeze, and pressing a cold glass of lemonade to parched lips. The protagonists want a slow life, surrounded by love, but past relationships have reinforced a belief this is unattainable.
Some people might say the relationship developing between Cedra and Twyla is purely carnal, and to a degree this is true. But as the plot progresses, the characters learn their attraction extends to other characteristics - whether it’s Twyla’s compassion or Cedra’s protectiveness. They see something in each other that they need to live happily. Furthermore, the bond they share is intimate in a way that many of us desire, but will never achieve. It’s the errant thought while hugging someone that there has to be a way to get closer, right? I can’t begrudge the protagonist's fulfillment. I’m happy they’re taking advantage of it.
All this said, the book does struggle in some areas. The author put a lot of thought into world-building but seems terrified of exposition. This is the first time I’m writing a book review, this year, with this criticism because authors tend to over-explain. However, because Stay With Me has multiple species of people, those species needed to be fleshed out in greater detail. That includes physicality, motivation, professions, etc. This is true for planets, technology, and travel too. This book skims the surface of a vast galaxy without ever landing on its shores and doing Darwin-esque investigation. So, it is my sincere hope that future installments spend more time explaining what this place is and why it is.
In summary, this book threw me in a good way. It met and then exceeded my expectations. It’s not perfect, but the author has done an admirable job with the plot and protagonists and the climax had me devouring pages like a lunatic. It might not be a literary masterpiece, but it’s fun! And sometimes fun is better than perfection.
Given the top Goodreads reviews, I expected Stay With Me would be mediocre at best. So, let my enjoyment of this book be a reminder – reviews are a glimpse into the reader's soul, not the author’s. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
This story begins from the perspective of Cedra, a human-hybrid farmer living in a closed community on a “star” planet. She is surprised when, after the receipt of a package, the expensive robot she ordered turns out to be a human woman. Twyla, in a panic to escape an arranged marriage, smuggled herself out of her father’s bot factory in hopes of finding a better life. Now face-to-face with Cedra, Twyla pleads for help. Together, they must decide if they’ll allow the past or their growing attraction to dictate their future.
I’ll admit, even after reading my brief summary back, the plot of this book sounds bonkers and sci-fi-heavy. It is bonkers, but it’s more about farm life and the warmth of a small community than it is about technology and cold, hard lines. If anything, this book is like sitting on a porch swing as the sun is setting, inhaling a soft breeze, and pressing a cold glass of lemonade to parched lips. The protagonists want a slow life, surrounded by love, but past relationships have reinforced a belief this is unattainable.
Some people might say the relationship developing between Cedra and Twyla is purely carnal, and to a degree this is true. But as the plot progresses, the characters learn their attraction extends to other characteristics - whether it’s Twyla’s compassion or Cedra’s protectiveness. They see something in each other that they need to live happily. Furthermore, the bond they share is intimate in a way that many of us desire, but will never achieve. It’s the errant thought while hugging someone that there has to be a way to get closer, right? I can’t begrudge the protagonist's fulfillment. I’m happy they’re taking advantage of it.
All this said, the book does struggle in some areas. The author put a lot of thought into world-building but seems terrified of exposition. This is the first time I’m writing a book review, this year, with this criticism because authors tend to over-explain. However, because Stay With Me has multiple species of people, those species needed to be fleshed out in greater detail. That includes physicality, motivation, professions, etc. This is true for planets, technology, and travel too. This book skims the surface of a vast galaxy without ever landing on its shores and doing Darwin-esque investigation. So, it is my sincere hope that future installments spend more time explaining what this place is and why it is.
In summary, this book threw me in a good way. It met and then exceeded my expectations. It’s not perfect, but the author has done an admirable job with the plot and protagonists and the climax had me devouring pages like a lunatic. It might not be a literary masterpiece, but it’s fun! And sometimes fun is better than perfection.
Read
February 19, 2023The New World series by Lily X are perhaps the most romance-y sapphic sci-fi books I’ve found. There’s a bit of adventure, but it’s used to underline the interpersonal conflict between the protagonists as they work towards their happy endings. In Stay with Me, Twyla has run away from home and thrown herself on Cedra’s mercy to get a fresh start—but the vast majority of the book is Twyla and Cedra focusing on each other as they figure out their blood mate bond. Yup, it’s a fated mates book, and yup, there’s some biting, and yup, one of them goes into heat. (If you’re interested in the series, I recommend starting with this one, the series opener, which sets some ground rules for the worldbuilding. Here’s my review of Book 2, New World: Made for Me.)
This mini-review is part of a list that can be read in full at The Smut Report
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This mini-review is part of a list that can be read in full at The Smut Report
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
did-not-finish
January 27, 2023DNF @ 20%
Ultimately NEW WORLD: STAY WITH ME just didn't really work for me. While this is billed as science fiction romance I was completely thrown by the fact that Cedra has fang and drinks blood. She's basically a vampire but it comes from DNA and genetic manipulation instead of magic or immortality. Additionally, the sci-fi elements -- living on another planet, space travel, advanced tech -- were pretty minimized because Cedra's Star was so isolated and agricultural. This left me feeling slightly off while reading because I couldn't parse the genre in my head.
I did like Cedra and Twyla as characters but I wasn't as comfortable with their Blood Mates connection. While I generally like insta-love and fated mates, I feel like STAY WITH ME had too much emphasis on the uncontrolled nature of the blood call and the pheromones. I didn't feel like Cedra and especially Twyla had any say in the situation nor were they able to truly consent when they were being bombarded by biologically manufactured lust and attraction. Overall, this just wasn't the book for me.
**ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Ultimately NEW WORLD: STAY WITH ME just didn't really work for me. While this is billed as science fiction romance I was completely thrown by the fact that Cedra has fang and drinks blood. She's basically a vampire but it comes from DNA and genetic manipulation instead of magic or immortality. Additionally, the sci-fi elements -- living on another planet, space travel, advanced tech -- were pretty minimized because Cedra's Star was so isolated and agricultural. This left me feeling slightly off while reading because I couldn't parse the genre in my head.
I did like Cedra and Twyla as characters but I wasn't as comfortable with their Blood Mates connection. While I generally like insta-love and fated mates, I feel like STAY WITH ME had too much emphasis on the uncontrolled nature of the blood call and the pheromones. I didn't feel like Cedra and especially Twyla had any say in the situation nor were they able to truly consent when they were being bombarded by biologically manufactured lust and attraction. Overall, this just wasn't the book for me.
**ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
March 16, 2023
3.5 stars
The premise of this book grabbed me immediately - a woman ordered a robot for household work, but when it was delivered, voila, real person. Cedra is a farmer/rancher on a closed star and ordered a bot to help with household chores. Twyla is running away from an arranged marriage and decides to disguise herself as a bot to get to a distant planet/star.
The sci-fi was pretty light, but the set up was good. Ultimately, this was much more of a fated mates romance than a sci-fi book. I haven’t read many fated mates romances, but I found it an interesting premise and appreciated the lengths the author went to to make sure there was true consent rather than having Cedra claim Twyla immediately. Overall it was a fun read.
The premise of this book grabbed me immediately - a woman ordered a robot for household work, but when it was delivered, voila, real person. Cedra is a farmer/rancher on a closed star and ordered a bot to help with household chores. Twyla is running away from an arranged marriage and decides to disguise herself as a bot to get to a distant planet/star.
The sci-fi was pretty light, but the set up was good. Ultimately, this was much more of a fated mates romance than a sci-fi book. I haven’t read many fated mates romances, but I found it an interesting premise and appreciated the lengths the author went to to make sure there was true consent rather than having Cedra claim Twyla immediately. Overall it was a fun read.
July 23, 2022
Great series starter! Sapphic, aliens, fated mates, closed farm world (so small town), forced proximity, runaway bride (well almost fiancé running from an engagement party so same-ish). Lots of good stuff here, plus I thought the world building was very well done - not too info dumpy. I also thought making the genetic mods similar to vampire and shifter characteristics was a clever way to shortcut the need for longer explanation. Very much looking forward to more in this series.
June 19, 2023
I absolutely freaking adored this book.
I never wanted to step away from this book and I read it in one sitting. It’s SO freaking adorable. My heart sings after reading it and I’m sincerely full up with love and emotion. I wish I could hold onto that feeling, I’m still smiling. What an absolutely adorable, warm, beautiful and genuine story.
Do pick this up, you won’t be disappointed. Highly recommended.
I never wanted to step away from this book and I read it in one sitting. It’s SO freaking adorable. My heart sings after reading it and I’m sincerely full up with love and emotion. I wish I could hold onto that feeling, I’m still smiling. What an absolutely adorable, warm, beautiful and genuine story.
Do pick this up, you won’t be disappointed. Highly recommended.
January 1, 2023
Super cute, great execution of a fun premise.
I was a little disappointed in the beginning that we didn't get to see more of Twyla pretending to be an Android, there was so much potential there, for both character development and shenanigans, but Cedra figures it out pretty much instantly.
Other than that I thought it was very well written and super sweet.
I was a little disappointed in the beginning that we didn't get to see more of Twyla pretending to be an Android, there was so much potential there, for both character development and shenanigans, but Cedra figures it out pretty much instantly.
Other than that I thought it was very well written and super sweet.
February 16, 2023
Another Great Book
I just love Lily’s writing. I haven’t found another author who writes sci fi lesbian romance like she does. It leaves you satisfied in all ways. A happy ending and no gaps in the plot line. I’m excited to read the next one.
I just love Lily’s writing. I haven’t found another author who writes sci fi lesbian romance like she does. It leaves you satisfied in all ways. A happy ending and no gaps in the plot line. I’m excited to read the next one.
February 26, 2023
Fun
That was a fun, no angst, fairly short story. The set up was a brilliant idea. And the thought of a rich girl on the farm, running from an arranged marriage made for a interesting tale.
That was a fun, no angst, fairly short story. The set up was a brilliant idea. And the thought of a rich girl on the farm, running from an arranged marriage made for a interesting tale.
March 28, 2023
This book is crazy amazing. I loved so much of it, I read it one day and bought the whole series. I ended up reading the second book the same day!
June 3, 2022
I wish I liked it more. This is a sapphic sci-fi romance with a fated mates trope, which has a lot of potential. But for me, that potential wasn't met.
I liked the set up: Twyla is running from her engagement and pretends to be a robot (one that's modeled after her by her obscenely rich inventor father). Cedra, a Fanger (sort of vampire, but not really), is a farmer who desperately needs the help to keep her farm running an afloat. But, oops, that's not the droid she's looking for. And she just might be her True Mate.
The world building was lacking. This all could have taken place on earth with very few changes. I suspect the author has built the world deeply in her head, but a richness of environment is not translated onto the page.
I had trouble with pacing. Between like 20% and 70% there was pretty much no action. And the fated mates trope was executed in such a way that I didn't feel a tension between the characters. And then in the final 30% we get action. Including the appearance of a character who'd only been mentioned previously - she shows up to make trouble, gets yelled at and goes away. It felt unresolved. I realize that this is a series, so maybe that character will continue to stir up trouble throughout, but in this one... I had trouble with it.
I wish I liked it more. Maybe you will.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I liked the set up: Twyla is running from her engagement and pretends to be a robot (one that's modeled after her by her obscenely rich inventor father). Cedra, a Fanger (sort of vampire, but not really), is a farmer who desperately needs the help to keep her farm running an afloat. But, oops, that's not the droid she's looking for. And she just might be her True Mate.
The world building was lacking. This all could have taken place on earth with very few changes. I suspect the author has built the world deeply in her head, but a richness of environment is not translated onto the page.
I had trouble with pacing. Between like 20% and 70% there was pretty much no action. And the fated mates trope was executed in such a way that I didn't feel a tension between the characters. And then in the final 30% we get action. Including the appearance of a character who'd only been mentioned previously - she shows up to make trouble, gets yelled at and goes away. It felt unresolved. I realize that this is a series, so maybe that character will continue to stir up trouble throughout, but in this one... I had trouble with it.
I wish I liked it more. Maybe you will.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 26, 2022
I requested this book off Netgalley on a whim and it turned out to be a delightful surprise!
This is a sapphic inter-species spicy sci-fi romance with forced proximity, instalove/mates situation, and a bit of grump/sunshine mixed in.
I thought there was just enough world building to really set the scene yet still remain accessible to the reader. The book takes place on a remote farming star and the descriptors support this small town/country-living vibe. Despite their isolation, there are interactions between the main characters and other star residents sprinkled throughout the story; the supporting cast was so colorful and each character had a distinct personality.
This book had a little bit of everything. I'm not too big on instalove but Cedra and Twyla's relationship development was lovely, the spice was nice, and there's even a little bit of an adventure in here. And there's no third act breakup!!! I would recommend this for anyone itching for a light spicy, yet charming, sci-fi romance read. :)
Rating: 3.5 (rounded up to 4) out of 5.
Thank you Netgalley and Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin) for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a sapphic inter-species spicy sci-fi romance with forced proximity, instalove/mates situation, and a bit of grump/sunshine mixed in.
I thought there was just enough world building to really set the scene yet still remain accessible to the reader. The book takes place on a remote farming star and the descriptors support this small town/country-living vibe. Despite their isolation, there are interactions between the main characters and other star residents sprinkled throughout the story; the supporting cast was so colorful and each character had a distinct personality.
This book had a little bit of everything. I'm not too big on instalove but Cedra and Twyla's relationship development was lovely, the spice was nice, and there's even a little bit of an adventure in here. And there's no third act breakup!!! I would recommend this for anyone itching for a light spicy, yet charming, sci-fi romance read. :)
Rating: 3.5 (rounded up to 4) out of 5.
Thank you Netgalley and Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin) for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2022
DNF at 52%
Even though I didn't finish it, I still give it it 3 stars because the book is not bad, but I had my expectations in the wrong place I think. I read "sapphic sci-fic spicy book" and thought it would be something along the lines of The Lily and The Crown (which I loved very much) but it spends more time focusing on aspects of the this new world rather than the romance. That's fine but it's not really my thing.
For the romance part, I thought their chemistru was very unnatural because I kept being explained by their matting bond. Also, it should be noted that one of the characters is not 100% human - that was also a problem for me as I was not a fan of the "supernatural" aspects of their relationship.
I dropped it on the first sex scene as I thought the dialogues and the whole "heat" situation were too cringey for me.
Anyways, if you enjoy steamy romances with a supernatural touch this might work for you better than it did for me.
Thanks NetGalley and Carina Press for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Even though I didn't finish it, I still give it it 3 stars because the book is not bad, but I had my expectations in the wrong place I think. I read "sapphic sci-fic spicy book" and thought it would be something along the lines of The Lily and The Crown (which I loved very much) but it spends more time focusing on aspects of the this new world rather than the romance. That's fine but it's not really my thing.
For the romance part, I thought their chemistru was very unnatural because I kept being explained by their matting bond. Also, it should be noted that one of the characters is not 100% human - that was also a problem for me as I was not a fan of the "supernatural" aspects of their relationship.
I dropped it on the first sex scene as I thought the dialogues and the whole "heat" situation were too cringey for me.
Anyways, if you enjoy steamy romances with a supernatural touch this might work for you better than it did for me.
Thanks NetGalley and Carina Press for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2022
Yaaazzz!!!!!! This sci-fi book was an awesome read. Runaway bride rescued and nurtured by heartbroken alien. The author even throws a heat into the mix which drives the relationship. It's hot. The characters are perfect for one another and the drama that inevitably surrounds them is only surmountable together. I loved it. It's well written, the dialogue is refreshing, the plot is driven, the side characters are engaging... ain't a flaw in sight with this book. It had me from the unboxing:)
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
August 5, 2022
Stay With Me was a book I requested on a whim, based on this premise: sapphic sci-fi romance. I honestly wasn't too sure what to expect, given that Lily X is a new to me author, but I was so invested in this story from the get-go and really enjoyed the story.
Cedra lives on a closed farming-colony planet and when she decides she need some assistance around her home, she orders a service bot to assist her. When the box turns up, it reveals a human woman on the run from an arranged marriage who pleads with Cedra to let her stay.
The concept of this world/universe is very cool. The humans who live on the colony planet are all hybrids (for lack of a better word) who's genetic structure has been manipulated to best suit the environment of the planet they inhabit - some have vampiric qualities, others have beast qualities, etc - and this informs some of their behaviour at a biological level. It adds a bit of a paranormal/fated mates element to the story that I was expecting.
Overall, I think this was an interesting set-up for the premise of the series and I would be interested in exploring more of the books set in this universe.
Cedra lives on a closed farming-colony planet and when she decides she need some assistance around her home, she orders a service bot to assist her. When the box turns up, it reveals a human woman on the run from an arranged marriage who pleads with Cedra to let her stay.
The concept of this world/universe is very cool. The humans who live on the colony planet are all hybrids (for lack of a better word) who's genetic structure has been manipulated to best suit the environment of the planet they inhabit - some have vampiric qualities, others have beast qualities, etc - and this informs some of their behaviour at a biological level. It adds a bit of a paranormal/fated mates element to the story that I was expecting.
Overall, I think this was an interesting set-up for the premise of the series and I would be interested in exploring more of the books set in this universe.
May 5, 2023
This was a sweet and sexy scifi romance in a very interesting "cottage core" world. I liked the premise of a closed planet with very little immigration and reliance on limited tech and a strong community. The characters were easy to cheer for as they worked to make a better life for themselves. I found the insta-love/fated mates story line a little too pat, but it worked within the constraints of the world. I recommend this one for people who enjoy a little interesting worldbuilding with their shifter romance.
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