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Fated Mates of the Sea Sand Warlords #8
Alien Shield
"I have always been a patient warrior. But now that I have her in my sights, I cannot wait to claim her..."
SERENA
To say I've been busy is an understatement. Between trying not to die on this hostile alien world and helping my newly-pregnant friends (I am a biologist, after all) I've had a lot going on. But when I stumble into the alien forge and find the huge, quiet weapons master Xyan there, I have a whole new task at hand. Xyan - the biggest, strongest, most serious alien I've ever met - offers to help me study the Sea Sand biology. I may be busy, but not too busy for that. I mean, who could refuse the opportunity to study the anatomy of a gorgeous alien man up close and personal? But the more time I spend with Xyan, the less academic my interest in him becomes.
I'm falling for this stoic alien warrior. But he's totally unreadable, and he hasn't said anything about having a mate.
Even so, I can't help but feel there's something between us.
Maybe I can still love him even if he isn't meant to be my mate.
I just have to figure out how to keep my heart in one piece in the process...
XYAN
Even before the Lavrika came to me to show me my fated mate, I knew Zerena was mine. I've watched her, hungering, from afar for too long. I want to claim her. But at the same time, I do not want her to feel a sense of obligation towards me. The last thing I want is for her to feel pressured by the mate bond. So I try to coax her to me without telling her she is meant to be my mate. I try to win her on my own merit. I assist her with her biology work, trying to get closer to her in the process.
But this proves more challenging than I'd anticipated. Miscommunication abounds, and my need for her grows stronger every moment.
Perhaps I have gone astray. Perhaps I should simply tell her she is mine...
I do not want her to feel trapped.
Even though her beauty has already trapped me. Forever...
Alien Shield is a full-length sci-fi alien romance with a curvy STEM heroine; a stoic, noble alien warrior hero; fated mates; and a guaranteed HEA!
SERENA
To say I've been busy is an understatement. Between trying not to die on this hostile alien world and helping my newly-pregnant friends (I am a biologist, after all) I've had a lot going on. But when I stumble into the alien forge and find the huge, quiet weapons master Xyan there, I have a whole new task at hand. Xyan - the biggest, strongest, most serious alien I've ever met - offers to help me study the Sea Sand biology. I may be busy, but not too busy for that. I mean, who could refuse the opportunity to study the anatomy of a gorgeous alien man up close and personal? But the more time I spend with Xyan, the less academic my interest in him becomes.
I'm falling for this stoic alien warrior. But he's totally unreadable, and he hasn't said anything about having a mate.
Even so, I can't help but feel there's something between us.
Maybe I can still love him even if he isn't meant to be my mate.
I just have to figure out how to keep my heart in one piece in the process...
XYAN
Even before the Lavrika came to me to show me my fated mate, I knew Zerena was mine. I've watched her, hungering, from afar for too long. I want to claim her. But at the same time, I do not want her to feel a sense of obligation towards me. The last thing I want is for her to feel pressured by the mate bond. So I try to coax her to me without telling her she is meant to be my mate. I try to win her on my own merit. I assist her with her biology work, trying to get closer to her in the process.
But this proves more challenging than I'd anticipated. Miscommunication abounds, and my need for her grows stronger every moment.
Perhaps I have gone astray. Perhaps I should simply tell her she is mine...
I do not want her to feel trapped.
Even though her beauty has already trapped me. Forever...
Alien Shield is a full-length sci-fi alien romance with a curvy STEM heroine; a stoic, noble alien warrior hero; fated mates; and a guaranteed HEA!
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2022
281 people are currently reading
613 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
April 6, 2022
I love these books so much. I wish Xyan would step on my face - I know he wouldn’t cause he’s a gentleman but I wish. Also bonus points for Ursa Dax describing Canadian Geese are fearsome predators - that is so true. Those cobra chickens are deadly.
January 6, 2024
I’m ashamed this is on my Goodreads but not enough to not count it
April 20, 2022
Another awesome read!❤❤❤
I love Serena and Xyan together! A sweet, yet intense build up for them. And some truly hilarious moments.
Those final two chapters were extremely scary for me too.
I would recommend this series. Book 9 does not have a release date as of yet however.
Entire series is on KUnlimited
I love Serena and Xyan together! A sweet, yet intense build up for them. And some truly hilarious moments.
Those final two chapters were extremely scary for me too.
I would recommend this series. Book 9 does not have a release date as of yet however.
Entire series is on KUnlimited
December 9, 2023
Not the best of the series
Gotta say, I didn’t love this installment. I usually enjoy Dax’s work a lot so I’m sad.
Xyan and Serena had good chemistry but I was just so annoyed by the lack of communication. Like, PLEASE just say things out loud. Ask the questions. Make the revelations. That aspect dragged on.
I’m hopeful for the next book though.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: violence/gore, emotional abuse (off page)
Gotta say, I didn’t love this installment. I usually enjoy Dax’s work a lot so I’m sad.
Xyan and Serena had good chemistry but I was just so annoyed by the lack of communication. Like, PLEASE just say things out loud. Ask the questions. Make the revelations. That aspect dragged on.
I’m hopeful for the next book though.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: violence/gore, emotional abuse (off page)
April 25, 2022
3.5 stars💖
February 2, 2023
My favorite book of the series. I LOVED this. All the awkward sweetness of their attraction and not knowing if the other felt the same way. The steam was top notch. Xyan was completely devoted and wonderful. I loved them both. This book was perfect.
AND and and!!! This is miraculous!! FACE SITTING, SHE SITS ON HIS FACE
I love it and I never see this in romance books and it's my fave. Plus she is a curvy woman and he is all for it. Loooove
AND and and!!! This is miraculous!! FACE SITTING, SHE SITS ON HIS FACE
I love it and I never see this in romance books and it's my fave. Plus she is a curvy woman and he is all for it. Loooove
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2023
I loved this premise! The sexual tension of our alien hero knowing that human lady Serena was his mate, not telling her, and instead trying to befriend her to make her fall for him on her own 🥹 My heart!
He was such a restrained stoic guy and she was such a horny awkward person (you could also hear her Newfoundland accent, loved that). She was drawing him (like one of her French girls) and studying his anatomy (for science but totally not for science) 😉 I was living!
You might think I’m crazy but the thing that would have made this even better, imo, is if it had been super slow burn. I was really feeling the unresolved sexual tension and I didn’t want it to end!
He was such a restrained stoic guy and she was such a horny awkward person (you could also hear her Newfoundland accent, loved that). She was drawing him (like one of her French girls) and studying his anatomy (for science but totally not for science) 😉 I was living!
You might think I’m crazy but the thing that would have made this even better, imo, is if it had been super slow burn. I was really feeling the unresolved sexual tension and I didn’t want it to end!
July 31, 2025
It's lines like this that already make me hate her. "I was about to bristle and tell her that that was exactly the sort of thing a male should be doing for his lovely pregnant mate". Um... For one, the mate in question is a Gahn, and while I know it's not above him to help his pregnant mate, he has other responsibilities as a leader and two, fuck it was Theresa doing it for Cece but of course this other high and mighty female thinks the man should do everything regardless. Like it's not enough the writer made the men in this have to bend over backwards to please the females but now they gotta do everything for them too?? Where is the equality in these relationships?? Ugh I can already tell this is going to be frustrating to read because of Serena. And she's supposed to go with Xyan? I swear he's going to be the only reason I continue this book because I liked him from the other books but seriously, can we stop with the bitchy females already? And stop fucken changing their culture to suit the humans! This has got to be the worst part of it and a pretty bullshit way of thinking. The women in these books are no better than the government/military that sent them here.
I tried to continue with this book, I really did but she's by far the worst of all the women. Very opinionated, very high and mighty with her thoughts particularly towards the men of the tribes and it bothers me to no end. Couple that with her also wanting to experiment on the Lavrika's blood, the way she looks at the pregnant women like a science project and just her whole attitude..
For a little while after the 20% mark she got a little bit better and I started to tolerate her until she mentions alcohol to Kat and of course they go and make some. Not to mention Kat is still going on about experiments on the Lavrika's blood to create a weapon. I don't know how a writer could possibly be this... wrong to her characters, the aliens in particular. Just fucken destroy them all already instead of corrupting and changing them to suit the humans and their culture. It just makes me think of colonists ripping land, and culture, killing off the "hostiles" and forcing their ways and religion on natives. I'm sorry but it's very fucked up. What's next? Make them addicted to drugs? And did they really need alcohol when "war" is possible when the humans come back? it's just so fucken stupid. Let's have a bunch of inebriated warriors to fight for us.
By the end of the book I still wasn't too happy with Serena but like most of these books, the male saved the book and Xyan... well he just might be tied for first with Taliok for the guy I like most (followed closely by Kor and Galok).
I tried to continue with this book, I really did but she's by far the worst of all the women. Very opinionated, very high and mighty with her thoughts particularly towards the men of the tribes and it bothers me to no end. Couple that with her also wanting to experiment on the Lavrika's blood, the way she looks at the pregnant women like a science project and just her whole attitude..
For a little while after the 20% mark she got a little bit better and I started to tolerate her until she mentions alcohol to Kat and of course they go and make some. Not to mention Kat is still going on about experiments on the Lavrika's blood to create a weapon. I don't know how a writer could possibly be this... wrong to her characters, the aliens in particular. Just fucken destroy them all already instead of corrupting and changing them to suit the humans and their culture. It just makes me think of colonists ripping land, and culture, killing off the "hostiles" and forcing their ways and religion on natives. I'm sorry but it's very fucked up. What's next? Make them addicted to drugs? And did they really need alcohol when "war" is possible when the humans come back? it's just so fucken stupid. Let's have a bunch of inebriated warriors to fight for us.
By the end of the book I still wasn't too happy with Serena but like most of these books, the male saved the book and Xyan... well he just might be tied for first with Taliok for the guy I like most (followed closely by Kor and Galok).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2022
Series: It's a straight up alien soap opera and I'm ok with that. I think it was interesting to come at this familiar trope (human women kidnapped and thrust onto alien planet for REASONS) instead making the kidnapping as part of a mission to explore a strange new world (ok I just kept doing the Star trek opening, but you get what I mean).
The women end up being a reason for separate tribes on the planet Zaphrinax to come together because of the hope of repopulating their numbers with the human women, as opposed to the typical alien villains kidnapping women for sexual slavery etc. The worldbuilding is enough to keep me engaged without getting lost in the minutiae. And the overarching storyline continues to build. I'm digging it, kinda the way I like IPB. Getting to know the Sea Sand folx and their Lavrika's blood that fixes everything, and the survivalist aspect, seeing how the human women are fragile yet determined to make it on this deadly planet. They were all selected for this "mission" because of their particular skillsets and that makes the individual stories click along. It can be a little predictable but I like the comfort factor of that predictability since the physicality and the sheer weird factor of the planet itself keeps things hopping.
This Book: Xyan is a character that I had been interested in for the last couple of books, so I was looking forward to his romance with Serena. The only thing that takes it down a notch is the pacing was off. It felt like a foregone conclusion and dragged a bit before the big climactic end. But I still liked the couple.
The women end up being a reason for separate tribes on the planet Zaphrinax to come together because of the hope of repopulating their numbers with the human women, as opposed to the typical alien villains kidnapping women for sexual slavery etc. The worldbuilding is enough to keep me engaged without getting lost in the minutiae. And the overarching storyline continues to build. I'm digging it, kinda the way I like IPB. Getting to know the Sea Sand folx and their Lavrika's blood that fixes everything, and the survivalist aspect, seeing how the human women are fragile yet determined to make it on this deadly planet. They were all selected for this "mission" because of their particular skillsets and that makes the individual stories click along. It can be a little predictable but I like the comfort factor of that predictability since the physicality and the sheer weird factor of the planet itself keeps things hopping.
This Book: Xyan is a character that I had been interested in for the last couple of books, so I was looking forward to his romance with Serena. The only thing that takes it down a notch is the pacing was off. It felt like a foregone conclusion and dragged a bit before the big climactic end. But I still liked the couple.
November 25, 2023
I stumbled across Ursa Dax and her romance Fated Mates of the Sea Sand Warlords series after finishing up reading books from another author. I wanted something a bit different from normal romance and decided that Sci Fi romance was the go because anything can go. Let me tell you I really enjoyed them and read the whole series one straight after the other,
Alien men in all sizes and shapes, all growly and protective of their mates was just what I needed. Of course, it takes a while for the abducted Human women to come around but that is just part of the fun.
Ursa’s world building makes it so easy to imagine the world she has created, and the characters are so easy to fall in love with.
If you love Sci Fi romance that is messy, sexy, a little alien erotica and fated mates then Ursa is your gal.
I was not disappointed, and I know you won’t be either.
Alien men in all sizes and shapes, all growly and protective of their mates was just what I needed. Of course, it takes a while for the abducted Human women to come around but that is just part of the fun.
Ursa’s world building makes it so easy to imagine the world she has created, and the characters are so easy to fall in love with.
If you love Sci Fi romance that is messy, sexy, a little alien erotica and fated mates then Ursa is your gal.
I was not disappointed, and I know you won’t be either.
March 20, 2025
Now this is what I’ve been wanting from this series! I love the tension between these two and I think they’re my favorite couple out of all the couples I’ve read in this series so far. Xyan is the perfect gentleman and Serena deserves only the best.
October 5, 2024
The ending was rushed but we love a curvy queen who takes the throne ;)
April 8, 2023
✨ shy heroine x stoic but soft hero
✨ fated mates
✨ curvy heroine
✨ bf/husband material
these two had such a cute dynamic i loved it!!
✨ fated mates
✨ curvy heroine
✨ bf/husband material
these two had such a cute dynamic i loved it!!
August 11, 2022
I think I found my favorite! A plus size smart woman and a giant warrior who wants to win her affection without telling her she's meant for him. Read this series now!
March 30, 2025
This was a filler book if I’ve ever read one. Nothing happens. And everything is so shallow. The alien culture, even the humans are shallow. Elements are introduced in one book only to be forgotten and never mentioned again. I find it hard to believe that the Sea Sand people had never had alcohol. Are you telling me that with all that heat, nothing, absolutely nothing, ever fermented? and that nobody ever, even accidentally, drank/ate the fermented stuff? Ever? The forging of the weapons was also very shallowly described, and I just was annoyed that the author didn’t really bother to do any deep research on anything. My knowledge of forging weapons is shallow at best, but even I know that a smith wouldn’t have his long hair unbound while at the forge. Especially Xyan, who, supposedly, was so careful. Not to mention I still have no idea how they source the ablik. One would think this is kind of important for the guy who needs said material to forge more and more weapons. But it’s never addressed. The ablik is just there. And really, to be able to forge weapons they should have other stuff made of the same material, but nothing, absolutely nothing else is made of that. Everything is bone and hide. At the temperatures needed, implements made of bone wouldn’t hold. Not that I know much of ablik, because the author never describes it other than it’s black, so I have no idea how it’s treated before it’s forged, how is it obtained and in what form… so many things, things that happen in a forge and that I found with a simple google search. If you are not willing to research deeply, then don’t put it in your book. Because I’ve read books where the authors did a deep dive and it shows.
Also, it’s not the first time I’ve read reviews that complain about how shallow the descriptions of human cultures are, as well. I can’t say anything about that, since I’m not familiar with the cultures depicted, but more than one person has mentioned that multiple times.
Everyone who isn’t directly related to the couple in each book is pretty much forgotten, and barely mentioned outside their individual stories, so the world feels incredibly empty, and stuff just seems to appear because there’s no mention of anybody doing anything. Things appear so conveniently. Birth control, for example. They just happened to find a plant that works as birth control, and after a few days they know the correct dosage. How the hell do they know? No explanation. The plants are now growing in their “garden”, but they don’t need to water the plants. Yeah, no. Even in the desert, plants need water. Where the hell does the author think succulents get their moisture, the sand? Ah, but there are now hot springs that I guarantee are going to be forgotten in the next books, because they were convenient here so they appeared. The same happened to the oasis from Kat’s book. It’s mentioned once again in Kor’s book, but absolutely none of the humans make a fuss about it, when they are, supposedly, desperate for a bath.
Also, it’s not the first time I’ve read reviews that complain about how shallow the descriptions of human cultures are, as well. I can’t say anything about that, since I’m not familiar with the cultures depicted, but more than one person has mentioned that multiple times.
Everyone who isn’t directly related to the couple in each book is pretty much forgotten, and barely mentioned outside their individual stories, so the world feels incredibly empty, and stuff just seems to appear because there’s no mention of anybody doing anything. Things appear so conveniently. Birth control, for example. They just happened to find a plant that works as birth control, and after a few days they know the correct dosage. How the hell do they know? No explanation. The plants are now growing in their “garden”, but they don’t need to water the plants. Yeah, no. Even in the desert, plants need water. Where the hell does the author think succulents get their moisture, the sand? Ah, but there are now hot springs that I guarantee are going to be forgotten in the next books, because they were convenient here so they appeared. The same happened to the oasis from Kat’s book. It’s mentioned once again in Kor’s book, but absolutely none of the humans make a fuss about it, when they are, supposedly, desperate for a bath.
April 5, 2022
🔥 “I want to fulfill your every wish. I want to sate your desires.”
~~~
Xyan is the most skilled weapons master in Ghan Baldor’s tribe. He’s one strong, noble, thoughtful and fiercely protective warrior. I loved his quiet, patient, respectful and calm nature. Oh, but still waters run deep.. When that male unleashes his passion - it’s a sight to behold! I absolutely adored everything about this magnificent smooth-talking kangaThor!
And Serena is the perfect female for him! I loved that sweet, soft, caring and kind biologist so much! She’s a woman with a brilliant mind and her insecurities and awkwardness made her so relatable. Even more, her inner monologues were so much fun to read! She’s absolutely the best!
Everything that happened between them was spectacular! Those two were so perfect for each other. It was so endearing how they danced around each other and had to deal with some miscommunication and misunderstandings. I loved how Xyan wanted to give Serena time to love him on her own and not to force the mate bond on her. And when they finally surrendered to their feelings, the passion they shared was blazing hot. Let me tell you, when Xyan tells you to sit on his face… Well, you’re in for a treat! 😏
In addition, the storyline was fantastic! The story might have not been as action packed as the previous one, but some very significant things are happening. And there were some unexpected twists that left me beyond curious about what’s coming next.
Overall, the story is another phenomenal addition to the series filled with heartwarming moments, sweetness, humor, drama, danger, unexpected discoveries, spicy romance and spectacular characters.
I loved every single page of it and cannot wait to see what happens next! Well, toodeloo and tally-ho!
~~~
Xyan is the most skilled weapons master in Ghan Baldor’s tribe. He’s one strong, noble, thoughtful and fiercely protective warrior. I loved his quiet, patient, respectful and calm nature. Oh, but still waters run deep.. When that male unleashes his passion - it’s a sight to behold! I absolutely adored everything about this magnificent smooth-talking kangaThor!
And Serena is the perfect female for him! I loved that sweet, soft, caring and kind biologist so much! She’s a woman with a brilliant mind and her insecurities and awkwardness made her so relatable. Even more, her inner monologues were so much fun to read! She’s absolutely the best!
Everything that happened between them was spectacular! Those two were so perfect for each other. It was so endearing how they danced around each other and had to deal with some miscommunication and misunderstandings. I loved how Xyan wanted to give Serena time to love him on her own and not to force the mate bond on her. And when they finally surrendered to their feelings, the passion they shared was blazing hot. Let me tell you, when Xyan tells you to sit on his face… Well, you’re in for a treat! 😏
In addition, the storyline was fantastic! The story might have not been as action packed as the previous one, but some very significant things are happening. And there were some unexpected twists that left me beyond curious about what’s coming next.
Overall, the story is another phenomenal addition to the series filled with heartwarming moments, sweetness, humor, drama, danger, unexpected discoveries, spicy romance and spectacular characters.
I loved every single page of it and cannot wait to see what happens next! Well, toodeloo and tally-ho!
September 5, 2022
⌠ ★★★★☆ ⌡
thank you so much to ms. dax for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🤍
xyan and serena are the biggest dorks on the planet! xyan is the perfect mate. he’s caring, gentle, observant, dedicated, funny, and just an absolute dream. i would most certainly like for him to help me with my biology project 😉. serena is strong, smart, curious, hilarious, and i found her to be incredibly endearing. i think i have a soft spot for serena being a chubby girl myself and i completely related and understood her doubts regarding xyan’s actions. (if you know, you know)
there was a bit of miscommunication between the two but i personally didn’t mind it, simply because they both had their (valid) reasons. xyan wanted serena’s feelings for him to be genuine (how cute!) and serena had previous insecurities (my baby!).
these two had me losing my mind the entire book. i wanted to scream at them to just kiss already! everyone knew about their mutual attraction BUT them 😭 but once they got down to it? goddamn! 🥵 also can we talk about taliok’s tongue advice? lord did xyan come through!
this book wasn’t as action packed as the last couple of books but it did have me bitting my nails at one point. also, let’s thank fallo for his words of encouragement. everyone talks about him being crazy but his crazy advice works! furthermore, ms. dax did a good job at laying down the plot for the next book as well and i honestly cannot wait to see what the future holds for the men of the sea sands and the women.
thank you so much to ms. dax for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🤍
xyan and serena are the biggest dorks on the planet! xyan is the perfect mate. he’s caring, gentle, observant, dedicated, funny, and just an absolute dream. i would most certainly like for him to help me with my biology project 😉. serena is strong, smart, curious, hilarious, and i found her to be incredibly endearing. i think i have a soft spot for serena being a chubby girl myself and i completely related and understood her doubts regarding xyan’s actions. (if you know, you know)
there was a bit of miscommunication between the two but i personally didn’t mind it, simply because they both had their (valid) reasons. xyan wanted serena’s feelings for him to be genuine (how cute!) and serena had previous insecurities (my baby!).
these two had me losing my mind the entire book. i wanted to scream at them to just kiss already! everyone knew about their mutual attraction BUT them 😭 but once they got down to it? goddamn! 🥵 also can we talk about taliok’s tongue advice? lord did xyan come through!
this book wasn’t as action packed as the last couple of books but it did have me bitting my nails at one point. also, let’s thank fallo for his words of encouragement. everyone talks about him being crazy but his crazy advice works! furthermore, ms. dax did a good job at laying down the plot for the next book as well and i honestly cannot wait to see what the future holds for the men of the sea sands and the women.
November 11, 2022
Current top favorite book in the series!
As suspected, I liked Xyan. I liked Xyan SO MUCH MORE than any other Sea Sand dude (since Kor my beloved is only half Sea Sand). Or should I say Xyan, my beloved. Oh, what to enjoy about Xyan? Let me count the ways...
First and foremost, I loved that Xyan intentionally took a very different approach from everyone else, save Galok. (Galok was clearly a man before his time.) He WAITS to tell Serena about the Lavrika call. Frankly he puts it way better than I can so I'll let it speak for itself. This is very early in the book so no real spoilers but it's a chunk so I'll put it behind spoiler tags.
Like??? Perfection. 20/10. Would let this man try his best to make me fall in love with him, 100%. Well done.
I also loved that Xyan recognized that the human women offer a lot of interesting knowledge and information they don't have and vice versa. He takes a genuine interest in learning more about human words that don't translate, about things Serena knows or can do that he can't, helping her to do whatever it is she wants to do, etc.
“I know much of this place that you do not,” Xyan continued. [...] “And you know many things I hope you will share with me. Fate has brought our people together for a reason, Zerena. We can all learn from each other. This way, we are stronger. We are better.”
Xyan suggests that there is more to their relationship or connection than fate, which I also really appreciated. I love soulmate/soul bonding stuff and mates stuff but I also really love my own free will you know? I don't think it's impossible to like both. Here's some of Xyan's thoughts:
"This task was more complicated than it had seemed before. Zerena and I were bound – meant to be mates. I assumed that that meant we would find our way to each other no matter what. But perhaps destiny sometimes needed a slight push. A push in the form of the warrior taking the first step."
Okay, Xyan's great, but what about Serena? Serena is kickass and has a multitude of things to love about her, too!! There's so many little tidbits like:
* Though my work back home as a professor and biological illustrator had been mainly focused on animal and human biology, I had always been interested in all sorts of biological organisms – including plants.
THAT'S COOL AS HELL!
* I’d always been an introvert, much more able to express my thoughts with drawing and writing than in conversation. Even teaching the undergrad courses back home was taxing for me. I much preferred holing up in my office than engaging in drawn-out conversations with most people.
I CAN RELATE!
* She seems to be bigger than the other girls at 5'8" and implied to be plus size. She has stretch marks and cellulite and rolls and body-based insecurities. She mentions struggles with wearing the ratty old sports bra she had on when she was abducted. (I can totally relate to the struggle!) And I love that not only does Xyan love her not despite her size nor as a fetish but just, wholly, as she is, because that's how she is.
* She's also in her 30s and appreciates that Xyan is not a spring chicken himself either! Woohoo!
* She does numerous things around the camp - first aid/healing, learning the herbal remedies of the planet, biological notes and observations, utilizing stuff on the ship - and it also just sounds so much more realistic and cool and gets me way more into the story. It feels more believable and integrated at this stage to have the characters doing a mix of tasks like this, blending the native planet with the human knowledge, and I love it.
As for the story, I laughed, I cried, I enjoyed. There was a good amount of romance plot with some alien adventure plot mixed in, enough to keep me interested and invested in the this overarching plot through the series about Earth still being a threat to Zaphrinax.
My only complaint was this tidbit that came out of nowhere:
"For a split second I wondered how the other Earth missions, the ones to other worlds, were faring. Had those other Earth abductees been as fortunate as us? Had they found a new home with good people too?"
Um, WHAT Earth Missions?? A third of the way through Book EIGHT of a series and this is the first time this is mentioned? Did I miss something??
This threw me so much I went back to Book 1 to check. Colonel Jackson says the Earth space program is large, that they "discovered numerous new energy sources and resources", and that the "orbiting vessel has left to move on to other projects, and our mission can begin." He also states "This mission is one of the first of its kind" and refers to it as "this particular mission" implying there are more, but there's nothing else really stated about any other missions.
If Serena is assuming there are other missions based on this, that makes sense and is reasonable, but I feel like either that should have been implied in this book or other characters could have been mentioning or wondering about other missions as well. Like when they realize they can't return to Earth and start making regular trips to the ship, maybe someone mentions trying to use the ship to communicate with another mission rather than Earth. Or when they're casually doing whatever on Zaphrinax, one of them turns to the other and goes "Hey you think the other missions are getting along as well we are?" or "I don't know about the other missions but I love this view" while they look at the beautiful night sky and its line of asteroids. That'd be so cool to have sprinkled here and there throughout the series and now I'm kinda bummer we never got that.
Anyway, since I went back I thought it might be fun to point out that Earth called this small galaxy the Ophis Cluster, which Cece helpfully says sounds like the Greek word for serpent. Cool foreshadowing/reference there.
As suspected, I liked Xyan. I liked Xyan SO MUCH MORE than any other Sea Sand dude (since Kor my beloved is only half Sea Sand). Or should I say Xyan, my beloved. Oh, what to enjoy about Xyan? Let me count the ways...
First and foremost, I loved that Xyan intentionally took a very different approach from everyone else, save Galok. (Galok was clearly a man before his time.) He WAITS to tell Serena about the Lavrika call. Frankly he puts it way better than I can so I'll let it speak for itself. This is very early in the book so no real spoilers but it's a chunk so I'll put it behind spoiler tags.
Like??? Perfection. 20/10. Would let this man try his best to make me fall in love with him, 100%. Well done.
I also loved that Xyan recognized that the human women offer a lot of interesting knowledge and information they don't have and vice versa. He takes a genuine interest in learning more about human words that don't translate, about things Serena knows or can do that he can't, helping her to do whatever it is she wants to do, etc.
“I know much of this place that you do not,” Xyan continued. [...] “And you know many things I hope you will share with me. Fate has brought our people together for a reason, Zerena. We can all learn from each other. This way, we are stronger. We are better.”
Xyan suggests that there is more to their relationship or connection than fate, which I also really appreciated. I love soulmate/soul bonding stuff and mates stuff but I also really love my own free will you know? I don't think it's impossible to like both. Here's some of Xyan's thoughts:
"This task was more complicated than it had seemed before. Zerena and I were bound – meant to be mates. I assumed that that meant we would find our way to each other no matter what. But perhaps destiny sometimes needed a slight push. A push in the form of the warrior taking the first step."
Okay, Xyan's great, but what about Serena? Serena is kickass and has a multitude of things to love about her, too!! There's so many little tidbits like:
* Though my work back home as a professor and biological illustrator had been mainly focused on animal and human biology, I had always been interested in all sorts of biological organisms – including plants.
THAT'S COOL AS HELL!
* I’d always been an introvert, much more able to express my thoughts with drawing and writing than in conversation. Even teaching the undergrad courses back home was taxing for me. I much preferred holing up in my office than engaging in drawn-out conversations with most people.
I CAN RELATE!
* She seems to be bigger than the other girls at 5'8" and implied to be plus size. She has stretch marks and cellulite and rolls and body-based insecurities. She mentions struggles with wearing the ratty old sports bra she had on when she was abducted. (I can totally relate to the struggle!) And I love that not only does Xyan love her not despite her size nor as a fetish but just, wholly, as she is, because that's how she is.
* She's also in her 30s and appreciates that Xyan is not a spring chicken himself either! Woohoo!
* She does numerous things around the camp - first aid/healing, learning the herbal remedies of the planet, biological notes and observations, utilizing stuff on the ship - and it also just sounds so much more realistic and cool and gets me way more into the story. It feels more believable and integrated at this stage to have the characters doing a mix of tasks like this, blending the native planet with the human knowledge, and I love it.
As for the story, I laughed, I cried, I enjoyed. There was a good amount of romance plot with some alien adventure plot mixed in, enough to keep me interested and invested in the this overarching plot through the series about Earth still being a threat to Zaphrinax.
My only complaint was this tidbit that came out of nowhere:
"For a split second I wondered how the other Earth missions, the ones to other worlds, were faring. Had those other Earth abductees been as fortunate as us? Had they found a new home with good people too?"
Um, WHAT Earth Missions?? A third of the way through Book EIGHT of a series and this is the first time this is mentioned? Did I miss something??
This threw me so much I went back to Book 1 to check. Colonel Jackson says the Earth space program is large, that they "discovered numerous new energy sources and resources", and that the "orbiting vessel has left to move on to other projects, and our mission can begin." He also states "This mission is one of the first of its kind" and refers to it as "this particular mission" implying there are more, but there's nothing else really stated about any other missions.
If Serena is assuming there are other missions based on this, that makes sense and is reasonable, but I feel like either that should have been implied in this book or other characters could have been mentioning or wondering about other missions as well. Like when they realize they can't return to Earth and start making regular trips to the ship, maybe someone mentions trying to use the ship to communicate with another mission rather than Earth. Or when they're casually doing whatever on Zaphrinax, one of them turns to the other and goes "Hey you think the other missions are getting along as well we are?" or "I don't know about the other missions but I love this view" while they look at the beautiful night sky and its line of asteroids. That'd be so cool to have sprinkled here and there throughout the series and now I'm kinda bummer we never got that.
Anyway, since I went back I thought it might be fun to point out that Earth called this small galaxy the Ophis Cluster, which Cece helpfully says sounds like the Greek word for serpent. Cool foreshadowing/reference there.
August 20, 2023
I always enjoy Ursa Dax's books, and this one did not disappoint. Serena is a lovable and kind MC who has an interest in the mated pairs because she is a biologist. Xyan, her sea sands warrior, is a blacksmith who is certainly not a wordsmith. He's not as careful with his words as the Gahns have been, but that doesn't make him any less lovable.
Both Serena and Xyan are fumbling idiots in their mating, which was so adorable to see.
I understand Ursa is not from Canada, but she specified that Serena was from Newfoundland in Canada. I was born in Nova Scotia (a nearby province) and have met many people from Newfoundland. I would have loved to have seen some Newfie slang from her. Calling someone "Bud" or saying "Yes b'y" (Pronounced Yes By) instead of "For sure". I think the normal language barrier conversations could have been expanded on to include dialects from different regions.
Other than that the book was fantastic! I cannot wait to see where Ursa takes the plot next!
Both Serena and Xyan are fumbling idiots in their mating, which was so adorable to see.
I understand Ursa is not from Canada, but she specified that Serena was from Newfoundland in Canada. I was born in Nova Scotia (a nearby province) and have met many people from Newfoundland. I would have loved to have seen some Newfie slang from her. Calling someone "Bud" or saying "Yes b'y" (Pronounced Yes By) instead of "For sure". I think the normal language barrier conversations could have been expanded on to include dialects from different regions.
Other than that the book was fantastic! I cannot wait to see where Ursa takes the plot next!
May 12, 2024
This relationship was OK. I wasn’t a fan of the miscommunication trope in this. Serena is an OK FMC. Xyan deserved a better story than that but it progressed the overall story so I enjoyed that.
February 21, 2024
Overall, Alien Shield a standard instalment, and Xyan was a great MMC.
Unfortunately, this book has truly solidified my souring towards the series, which began in books 5 and 6. As I noticed in books 5 and 6, the cultural and racial backgrounds of Dax’s FMCs thus far seem to only run skin-deep, and Serena is no exception. Alien Shield has also been a reaffirmation of my opinion that non-Newfoundlanders should be banned from writing about us. Dax seems intent on adding representation to the series, which is great, but fails to do it in a way that would be significant or meaningful to the groups represented. It bothered me in the last two books, however I can only really speak to this book.
Something I found frustrating was the monolithic approach Alien Shield took to Serena being a Newfoundlander, felt through a poor mesh of UK lite cultural snippets and a near total lack of community identification. We can infer Serena is possibly from the Avalon Peninsula with the slang used and her recollection of St John’s pub crawls, but anyone from the province who has an undergrad degree from MUN has been on a St. John’s pub crawl. It’s where the main campus is located, and MUN’s low tuition fees mean it’s the go-to university for many of the province’s students. Noting it tells us nothing. The book might get away with this if Serena were not the narrator, but we’re supposed to be experiencing this book through her eyes in part. A Newfoundlander may tell a mainlander they’re from St. John’s to simplify, but in their own head, they’ll know if they’re from Mount Pearl, Paradise, Conception Bay, St John’s proper, etc. The slang itself is something a cursory Google search for “Newfoundland slang” pulls up, and its use is weak and insincere when paired with the character’s inner voice, which lacks any significant, non-surface level understanding of Newfoundland linguistic quirks and meter.
By never truly establishing what community Serena is meant to be from, Dax fails the character in a significant way. Many Newfoundlanders place a huge value on community, including what community you’re from. It informs your contexts and experiences, as well as your background. Perhaps this was done in an attempt to avoid offence, but it’s almost more offensive to treat all these communities as interchangeable, or not important enough to differentiate. To say she’s disconnected due to loss of family is still no excuse to not even name a landmark, if she truly grew up on the island. This isn’t like making a character from Toronto, Montreal, Detroit, or London, and not mentioning what sub-area; it’s equivalent to stating that Serena could be from any of these cities, but that it doesn’t really matter which one because they’re all the same. Serena feels more like a culmination of what the rich kids from St. John’s would tell our Ontarian uni classmates about Newfoundland, over sanitized for mainland consumption, rather than an actual person with lived experience.
Also, the choice to introduce alcohol consumption as a plot device right in time for the one Newfoundlander in the series is noted.
Unfortunately, this book has truly solidified my souring towards the series, which began in books 5 and 6. As I noticed in books 5 and 6, the cultural and racial backgrounds of Dax’s FMCs thus far seem to only run skin-deep, and Serena is no exception. Alien Shield has also been a reaffirmation of my opinion that non-Newfoundlanders should be banned from writing about us. Dax seems intent on adding representation to the series, which is great, but fails to do it in a way that would be significant or meaningful to the groups represented. It bothered me in the last two books, however I can only really speak to this book.
Something I found frustrating was the monolithic approach Alien Shield took to Serena being a Newfoundlander, felt through a poor mesh of UK lite cultural snippets and a near total lack of community identification. We can infer Serena is possibly from the Avalon Peninsula with the slang used and her recollection of St John’s pub crawls, but anyone from the province who has an undergrad degree from MUN has been on a St. John’s pub crawl. It’s where the main campus is located, and MUN’s low tuition fees mean it’s the go-to university for many of the province’s students. Noting it tells us nothing. The book might get away with this if Serena were not the narrator, but we’re supposed to be experiencing this book through her eyes in part. A Newfoundlander may tell a mainlander they’re from St. John’s to simplify, but in their own head, they’ll know if they’re from Mount Pearl, Paradise, Conception Bay, St John’s proper, etc. The slang itself is something a cursory Google search for “Newfoundland slang” pulls up, and its use is weak and insincere when paired with the character’s inner voice, which lacks any significant, non-surface level understanding of Newfoundland linguistic quirks and meter.
By never truly establishing what community Serena is meant to be from, Dax fails the character in a significant way. Many Newfoundlanders place a huge value on community, including what community you’re from. It informs your contexts and experiences, as well as your background. Perhaps this was done in an attempt to avoid offence, but it’s almost more offensive to treat all these communities as interchangeable, or not important enough to differentiate. To say she’s disconnected due to loss of family is still no excuse to not even name a landmark, if she truly grew up on the island. This isn’t like making a character from Toronto, Montreal, Detroit, or London, and not mentioning what sub-area; it’s equivalent to stating that Serena could be from any of these cities, but that it doesn’t really matter which one because they’re all the same. Serena feels more like a culmination of what the rich kids from St. John’s would tell our Ontarian uni classmates about Newfoundland, over sanitized for mainland consumption, rather than an actual person with lived experience.
Also, the choice to introduce alcohol consumption as a plot device right in time for the one Newfoundlander in the series is noted.
June 22, 2024
First thing I will say is: I’m very glad this warrior finally got his mate.
I’m liking the similarities of life on this planet to the nomadic warriors of Mongolia (Gahn-Khan). I have a fascination with the history of Genghis Kahn so that’s what I picked up on. The uniting of the tribes being similar to what his vision was, though, Genghis didn’t go about it as relatively peacefully as the tribes in this story arc do (it’s a fantasy romance after all…)
As I said, glad Xyan got his mate. But I think this is one of my least favorite books so far in the series, because I dislike the miscommunication trope, especially with older mc’s.
I imagine it must be difficult to write an mmc that is level-headed and have it still be interesting and have a little angst but…. I wanted to see him cage Serena in the hot springs and have her react then to the perceived slight, so that they could clear the air and then have a hot makeouts sesh right there. He deserved it for getting in the water to try to save her, right??? Instead, the author let Serena massacre our boy by running out?? 🥺
As a bigger woman, the face-sitting thing was…. Err…. Ok good for them, I’m glad they enjoyed it… but I dunno. Trying not to yuk anyone’s yum, but that’s not a comfortable cirque du soleil maneuver during seccs for us fluffy people… like
“Ahh yes!! let me mount your face, good sir! So that you may partake of the saddlebags, smushy tum, and boob droop all up close and personal! No need for you to be able to breathe! Gravity is so attractive!! [Sarcasm]
As I said, good for them I guess?
I love older mc’s. She’s 33 and he’s probably in his mid 40’s or so. I think the miscommunication trope is better with the younger mc’s, imo.
It’s still worth it to read the book, and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of them!
I’m liking the similarities of life on this planet to the nomadic warriors of Mongolia (Gahn-Khan). I have a fascination with the history of Genghis Kahn so that’s what I picked up on. The uniting of the tribes being similar to what his vision was, though, Genghis didn’t go about it as relatively peacefully as the tribes in this story arc do (it’s a fantasy romance after all…)
As I said, glad Xyan got his mate. But I think this is one of my least favorite books so far in the series, because I dislike the miscommunication trope, especially with older mc’s.
I imagine it must be difficult to write an mmc that is level-headed and have it still be interesting and have a little angst but…. I wanted to see him cage Serena in the hot springs and have her react then to the perceived slight, so that they could clear the air and then have a hot makeouts sesh right there. He deserved it for getting in the water to try to save her, right??? Instead, the author let Serena massacre our boy by running out?? 🥺
As a bigger woman, the face-sitting thing was…. Err…. Ok good for them, I’m glad they enjoyed it… but I dunno. Trying not to yuk anyone’s yum, but that’s not a comfortable cirque du soleil maneuver during seccs for us fluffy people… like
“Ahh yes!! let me mount your face, good sir! So that you may partake of the saddlebags, smushy tum, and boob droop all up close and personal! No need for you to be able to breathe! Gravity is so attractive!! [Sarcasm]
As I said, good for them I guess?
I love older mc’s. She’s 33 and he’s probably in his mid 40’s or so. I think the miscommunication trope is better with the younger mc’s, imo.
It’s still worth it to read the book, and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of them!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2024
Series: Fated Mates of the Sea Sand Warlords #8
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
Serena has spent her time trying to help her newly-pregnant friends and settling in. When she stumbles upon an alien forge and meets the quiet weapons master Xyan, she asks if she can study his Sea Sand biology. As they spend time together, Serena is focused less on science and more on Xyan. But can she still love him if he isn’t her mate.
This was a pretty sweet romance between Serena and Xyan. Xyan knows she is his mate but is determined to not pressure her into anything because he wants her love more than just acceptance of a bond. I really like Xyan. He was sweet, kind, and protective. I adored that he wanted to build their feelings without the pressure of the mate bond. It was a nice change from some of the other characters who just expected full adoration and love upon announcement. Also drunk Xyan was really amusing.
Serena is an older woman compared to everyone else. She was smart and was focused on learning how the Sea Sand men are different, but also wasn’t completely obsessed with her job, which I liked. While she doesn’t hate her body, she also doesn’t expect anyone to really like it and is really surprised when Xyan loves everything about her. I enjoyed their relationship and how Xyan’s complete acceptance of her gave her more confidence.
In this one we also finally get to see the start of the upcoming attack from humans. It is about time there was something on that front and I am very interested in seeing how this upcoming battle goes. Overall though, I enjoyed this book and this couple a lot. I look forward to finding out who falls in love next and how they deal with the humans.
TW: gun violence and injuries
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
Serena has spent her time trying to help her newly-pregnant friends and settling in. When she stumbles upon an alien forge and meets the quiet weapons master Xyan, she asks if she can study his Sea Sand biology. As they spend time together, Serena is focused less on science and more on Xyan. But can she still love him if he isn’t her mate.
This was a pretty sweet romance between Serena and Xyan. Xyan knows she is his mate but is determined to not pressure her into anything because he wants her love more than just acceptance of a bond. I really like Xyan. He was sweet, kind, and protective. I adored that he wanted to build their feelings without the pressure of the mate bond. It was a nice change from some of the other characters who just expected full adoration and love upon announcement. Also drunk Xyan was really amusing.
Serena is an older woman compared to everyone else. She was smart and was focused on learning how the Sea Sand men are different, but also wasn’t completely obsessed with her job, which I liked. While she doesn’t hate her body, she also doesn’t expect anyone to really like it and is really surprised when Xyan loves everything about her. I enjoyed their relationship and how Xyan’s complete acceptance of her gave her more confidence.
In this one we also finally get to see the start of the upcoming attack from humans. It is about time there was something on that front and I am very interested in seeing how this upcoming battle goes. Overall though, I enjoyed this book and this couple a lot. I look forward to finding out who falls in love next and how they deal with the humans.
TW: gun violence and injuries
July 21, 2025
I really enjoyed Xyan and Serena's story, but I have a soft spot for the tall, dark, (monstrous), and quiet type 🤣.
Xyan was the perfect refresher of the yearning but respectful type of man/alien in order to win the oblivious woman's love.
Serena did kinda PMO in her being like "I think he hates me, did I read the room wrong" but also in that way it was also relateable. I do appreciate that the author has each FMC acknowledge the flaws in thinking/situation and recognizes the behavior and not just gaslighting themselves into believing a different thing. Although I guess them just concluding to jumping into an alien situationship could also be seen as an easy out, but then that would mean this story just got 3x more long lol
Xyan and Serena's story was pretty vanilla and honestly I like how the author shifts the "regular/unexciting" stories (aka wherein the women dont venture outside the settlement) to have exciting twists towards the end (in this case introducing new human characters). Maybe I hated Serena because I saw a lot of myself in her (minus the F cups, being white, and having a hunky alien warrior dying to just exist around her).
I do also like how the author keeps the previous main characters in the bg and or mentions them here and there. I also really like how the author didn't Ice Planet Barbarian everything with all the women just shooting out alien babies left and right. I liked how in this there is a convenient birth control solution and the default isnt just "oh well guess you're a alien baby machine" after each FMC story was done. I also love how some established alien and FMC don't all have children (Chapman and Fallo are the first to come to mind).
Xyan was the perfect refresher of the yearning but respectful type of man/alien in order to win the oblivious woman's love.
Serena did kinda PMO in her being like "I think he hates me, did I read the room wrong" but also in that way it was also relateable. I do appreciate that the author has each FMC acknowledge the flaws in thinking/situation and recognizes the behavior and not just gaslighting themselves into believing a different thing. Although I guess them just concluding to jumping into an alien situationship could also be seen as an easy out, but then that would mean this story just got 3x more long lol
Xyan and Serena's story was pretty vanilla and honestly I like how the author shifts the "regular/unexciting" stories (aka wherein the women dont venture outside the settlement) to have exciting twists towards the end (in this case introducing new human characters). Maybe I hated Serena because I saw a lot of myself in her (minus the F cups, being white, and having a hunky alien warrior dying to just exist around her).
I do also like how the author keeps the previous main characters in the bg and or mentions them here and there. I also really like how the author didn't Ice Planet Barbarian everything with all the women just shooting out alien babies left and right. I liked how in this there is a convenient birth control solution and the default isnt just "oh well guess you're a alien baby machine" after each FMC story was done. I also love how some established alien and FMC don't all have children (Chapman and Fallo are the first to come to mind).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2024
‘Whichever direction I chose, whichever path I took, Zerena would always, always, be the destination. The driving force of my warrior’s life. The destiny that turned the unknowable future into something I could understand, something I could grasp. The beautiful end to all things.’
Serena is a human woman trapped on an alien planet. If that wasn’t bad enough, the hulking male aliens have a ‘mate bond’ which, when activated, means they fall in love with a human and expect them to love them right back.
Luckily, Serena has so far remained untouched, however she’s drawn to the quiet strength of Xyan, who makes the tribe’s weapons and enlists his help in tracking down plants that can help the other human women. But what she doesn’t know is that the mate bond has been awakened in Xyan, and that Serena is the one chosen for him.
In a world of brooding alpha heroes who order the women to love them with the same ferocity and depth of feeling that they have, Xyan is different. He’s seen what happens when the men order the women about and he doesn’t want Serena feeling pressured into anything. So he keeps quiet, and tries to control his reaction to her, hoping and praying that one day she will love him.
Oh my god I loved this book. I adore all of Ursa Dax’s books and this one was no exception. Xyan was a quiet, hulking, beefsteak of a hero and I loved Serena’s journey of discovery - not just about the planet she’s stranded on, but also about Xyan.
If you like fated mates, true heroes and soulmates then go read this book now!
Serena is a human woman trapped on an alien planet. If that wasn’t bad enough, the hulking male aliens have a ‘mate bond’ which, when activated, means they fall in love with a human and expect them to love them right back.
Luckily, Serena has so far remained untouched, however she’s drawn to the quiet strength of Xyan, who makes the tribe’s weapons and enlists his help in tracking down plants that can help the other human women. But what she doesn’t know is that the mate bond has been awakened in Xyan, and that Serena is the one chosen for him.
In a world of brooding alpha heroes who order the women to love them with the same ferocity and depth of feeling that they have, Xyan is different. He’s seen what happens when the men order the women about and he doesn’t want Serena feeling pressured into anything. So he keeps quiet, and tries to control his reaction to her, hoping and praying that one day she will love him.
Oh my god I loved this book. I adore all of Ursa Dax’s books and this one was no exception. Xyan was a quiet, hulking, beefsteak of a hero and I loved Serena’s journey of discovery - not just about the planet she’s stranded on, but also about Xyan.
If you like fated mates, true heroes and soulmates then go read this book now!
July 19, 2022
Relationship A plus
There coming together story was adorable. I especially love the sharp stone in the hot springs.
It is the practical and some, to me, glaring human, etc bits that were a minor problem for me.
First she did not tell any of the women the 1st night about the cave, spring? No way. She would have shared it.
Second, she did not ask the blacksmith (what he is) to make smaller knives for women to use, and other things to make their lives easier. On that end what is he and others using for fire fuel? Why havent they used iron (why sands are usually red) or other galazy common metals for other material. If they can make weapons they can make pots, nails, sleds, etc. And as to stone pots, can use stones to make compact and efficient fire vessels that use less fuel and can use metal to make grils, spits.
Third, no one thought of using MRI, other equipment to study all if their blood, body fluids, etc? Especially the pregnant humans? No way would the ship not have semi automatic equipment, etc.
Lastly the human words at the end. There is only one reason the would kidnapp frmale human orphans (or ones wo anyone to report them) to a planet that they knew had native life. Do not buy grainy images because they mentioned taking samples planet side. They had clear r3 images, audio. Lied to them. Knew they needed "breedable females'
He would have know and wanted to take info from ship back up to study. Because they are lab rats
There coming together story was adorable. I especially love the sharp stone in the hot springs.
It is the practical and some, to me, glaring human, etc bits that were a minor problem for me.
First she did not tell any of the women the 1st night about the cave, spring? No way. She would have shared it.
Second, she did not ask the blacksmith (what he is) to make smaller knives for women to use, and other things to make their lives easier. On that end what is he and others using for fire fuel? Why havent they used iron (why sands are usually red) or other galazy common metals for other material. If they can make weapons they can make pots, nails, sleds, etc. And as to stone pots, can use stones to make compact and efficient fire vessels that use less fuel and can use metal to make grils, spits.
Third, no one thought of using MRI, other equipment to study all if their blood, body fluids, etc? Especially the pregnant humans? No way would the ship not have semi automatic equipment, etc.
Lastly the human words at the end. There is only one reason the would kidnapp frmale human orphans (or ones wo anyone to report them) to a planet that they knew had native life. Do not buy grainy images because they mentioned taking samples planet side. They had clear r3 images, audio. Lied to them. Knew they needed "breedable females'
He would have know and wanted to take info from ship back up to study. Because they are lab rats
November 17, 2022
great series
great series book 8 awesome they just get more and more exciting
off to read the next! Can’t wait
Earth government has abducted women young college girls in a “forced” suicide mission to an alien dessert planet, to learn about their strange resources. They want to take it from them. However the primitive barbarian like males are not gonna just say sure, go ahead,take our sacred life giving dragon milk energy source. So instead of sending scientific or military trained professionals. The earth government kidnaps young professional women to get reconnaissance information with no intention or care as to whether the women survive or not. Why only, women you ask well.. the barbarians are probably less likely to kill them since they have so few of their own. But the sacred creature of this planet like a dragon god… has predicted the women to be mates for the primitive race. And could save their species and bring them together.
This is an earth abduction, alien fated mate romance. I was not triggered by anything in this book although there is some violence. Warriors will be warriors and they will fight to the death for their pretty earth mates
These aliens have tails, claws, talons, and unusual genitalia which is used in some very interesting ways to please the earth girls.
This lol is like Conan meets land of the lost .. meets earth girls are easy. Lol
Now I’m off to get the next in series
great series book 8 awesome they just get more and more exciting
off to read the next! Can’t wait
Earth government has abducted women young college girls in a “forced” suicide mission to an alien dessert planet, to learn about their strange resources. They want to take it from them. However the primitive barbarian like males are not gonna just say sure, go ahead,take our sacred life giving dragon milk energy source. So instead of sending scientific or military trained professionals. The earth government kidnaps young professional women to get reconnaissance information with no intention or care as to whether the women survive or not. Why only, women you ask well.. the barbarians are probably less likely to kill them since they have so few of their own. But the sacred creature of this planet like a dragon god… has predicted the women to be mates for the primitive race. And could save their species and bring them together.
This is an earth abduction, alien fated mate romance. I was not triggered by anything in this book although there is some violence. Warriors will be warriors and they will fight to the death for their pretty earth mates
These aliens have tails, claws, talons, and unusual genitalia which is used in some very interesting ways to please the earth girls.
This lol is like Conan meets land of the lost .. meets earth girls are easy. Lol
Now I’m off to get the next in series
February 12, 2023
My favorite this far!🔥💖🔥💖
This is my favorite book in the series thus far Serena and Xyan’s story is beautiful. An older warrior experienced, deadly, patient and controlled . Xyan is a formidable warrior, great hunter and a weapons master. He has been called to his fate and has seen the beautiful Serena . All he wants is to love her and show her that he is and will always be a worthy mate. He's not to sure how to approach her he doesn't want Serena to feel pressure. He wants her to call in love with him as he has fallen in love with her. Serena can't help but be attracted to the huge mighty warrior Xyan. When she sees him forging weapons she can help but be drawn to everything about him she is a biologist and she wants to know everything about him including what he looks like without his loin cloth. As Xyan and Serena gets to know one another their feelings grow and they'll do anything to spend more time with one another. Misunderstandings pop up and the first experiment in making alcohol loosens tongues. And once the mistakes have been settled nothing is going to stop this passion from burning hotter than the sun. As the story progresses, the humans make their first moved and danger lurks and set all on edge . Just know no danger, no threat will hold these two mates back from one another. Fate, love and a bond of the souls will win every time. Can't wait for more! Loved this book ! Totally recommend💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥🔥💖🔥💖🔥🔥💖💖
This is my favorite book in the series thus far Serena and Xyan’s story is beautiful. An older warrior experienced, deadly, patient and controlled . Xyan is a formidable warrior, great hunter and a weapons master. He has been called to his fate and has seen the beautiful Serena . All he wants is to love her and show her that he is and will always be a worthy mate. He's not to sure how to approach her he doesn't want Serena to feel pressure. He wants her to call in love with him as he has fallen in love with her. Serena can't help but be attracted to the huge mighty warrior Xyan. When she sees him forging weapons she can help but be drawn to everything about him she is a biologist and she wants to know everything about him including what he looks like without his loin cloth. As Xyan and Serena gets to know one another their feelings grow and they'll do anything to spend more time with one another. Misunderstandings pop up and the first experiment in making alcohol loosens tongues. And once the mistakes have been settled nothing is going to stop this passion from burning hotter than the sun. As the story progresses, the humans make their first moved and danger lurks and set all on edge . Just know no danger, no threat will hold these two mates back from one another. Fate, love and a bond of the souls will win every time. Can't wait for more! Loved this book ! Totally recommend💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥🔥💖🔥💖🔥🔥💖💖
December 31, 2023
I knew the premise for this book would mildly annoy me and it definitely did. I hate when characters can’t operate or make choices with all of the available information. And here it was unfair to Serena even though Xyan’s intentions were honorable and make sense. (Which actually was addressed by Baldor [from book 6, with Theresa] We love the accountability!!) And the sitcom level miscommunications were annoyyying like with the touching in the hot tub incident 🙄
This book was kinda cringey like with how they were both very “this person is so amazing I’m so lame why are they even looking at meee” but on the other hand the devotion!! 😌😌😌 I love a devoted type.
I also love how Ursa Dax handles and talks about pregnancy in these books. It feels really accepting of the wide array of views and choices women have on the matter and isn’t skewed by the usual alien romance “we must repopulate!!” which reduces women’s agency imo
Also it’s been fun to see in the last few books that the women actually DO feel a pull of a mating bond even though they don’t know what it is. I bet that will be acknowledged in an upcoming book soon!
And on a small random note I REALLY thought Xyan was going to remake her badly fitting homemade bra (lol that UD writes about the minutiae like getting kidnapped from earth in a sports bra and then being totally screwed and having to fashion your own supportive bra since Serena has big titties)
This book was kinda cringey like with how they were both very “this person is so amazing I’m so lame why are they even looking at meee” but on the other hand the devotion!! 😌😌😌 I love a devoted type.
I also love how Ursa Dax handles and talks about pregnancy in these books. It feels really accepting of the wide array of views and choices women have on the matter and isn’t skewed by the usual alien romance “we must repopulate!!” which reduces women’s agency imo
Also it’s been fun to see in the last few books that the women actually DO feel a pull of a mating bond even though they don’t know what it is. I bet that will be acknowledged in an upcoming book soon!
And on a small random note I REALLY thought Xyan was going to remake her badly fitting homemade bra (lol that UD writes about the minutiae like getting kidnapped from earth in a sports bra and then being totally screwed and having to fashion your own supportive bra since Serena has big titties)
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