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New World
New World: Own Me
The softest Domme in the Cancer Cluster meets her match in New World: Own Me by Lily X.
Austy: It’s hard to be single when you’re surrounded by people who are so in love.
For almost a decade, I’ve watched my friends form unbreakable bonds with their Mates, start families and live the life I so desperately want. The Third Star doesn’t have a large dating pool, so can I really be faulted for being single at almost thirty?
Damn it, I just want to belong to someone!
To make matters worse, Pa has a ridiculous idea up his sleeve to bring an external investor into our family’s dairy business to save us from debt. We don’t need saving, especially from some soulless big-city investor who’s only out there to make money off little businesses like ours…
Fia: The last person I expect to walk through my office doors on a Friday afternoon is such striking loveliness, staring at me with splotchy color on her cheeks. There’s such innocence in her eyes, as though she can’t understand why she’s reacting to me the way she is: stuttering, flushing, blurting out the first thing on her mind. It’s endearing, really.
Now, do you think Austy will agree to play with me for a weekend?
Austy: It’s hard to be single when you’re surrounded by people who are so in love.
For almost a decade, I’ve watched my friends form unbreakable bonds with their Mates, start families and live the life I so desperately want. The Third Star doesn’t have a large dating pool, so can I really be faulted for being single at almost thirty?
Damn it, I just want to belong to someone!
To make matters worse, Pa has a ridiculous idea up his sleeve to bring an external investor into our family’s dairy business to save us from debt. We don’t need saving, especially from some soulless big-city investor who’s only out there to make money off little businesses like ours…
Fia: The last person I expect to walk through my office doors on a Friday afternoon is such striking loveliness, staring at me with splotchy color on her cheeks. There’s such innocence in her eyes, as though she can’t understand why she’s reacting to me the way she is: stuttering, flushing, blurting out the first thing on her mind. It’s endearing, really.
Now, do you think Austy will agree to play with me for a weekend?
- GenresRomanceScience Fiction
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2022
21 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 26, 2022
How can I DNF a book and still give it 4 stars? Let me explain.
I requested NEW WORLD: OWN ME from NetGalley based on its description, which pretty much matches the description that you find here in Goodreads. I didn't know anything at all about the book or the series, so I didn't know what to expect outside of what I had read in that description.
What I was expecting, more or less, was a spicy romance. What I got though, was a smoldering bit of light bdsm smut that is beautifully written, but for which I was completely unprepared. Because NW:OM is a little light on plot, I felt awash in this one.
So this book isn't really my mug of mocha, but if you do happen to like gay light bdsm with the chilli meter in ghost pepper territory, then this book is definitely for you!
THANK YOU NetGalley, Lily X, and Carina Press for this ARC.
Rating DNF(60%)/4 stars
Finished October 2022
Recommended to fans of smut, lgbtqi light bdsm
TW there are a lot here okay, please check the writer's website for content warnings
*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! http://www.instagram.com/donasbooks *
I requested NEW WORLD: OWN ME from NetGalley based on its description, which pretty much matches the description that you find here in Goodreads. I didn't know anything at all about the book or the series, so I didn't know what to expect outside of what I had read in that description.
What I was expecting, more or less, was a spicy romance. What I got though, was a smoldering bit of light bdsm smut that is beautifully written, but for which I was completely unprepared. Because NW:OM is a little light on plot, I felt awash in this one.
So this book isn't really my mug of mocha, but if you do happen to like gay light bdsm with the chilli meter in ghost pepper territory, then this book is definitely for you!
THANK YOU NetGalley, Lily X, and Carina Press for this ARC.
Rating DNF(60%)/4 stars
Finished October 2022
Recommended to fans of smut, lgbtqi light bdsm
TW there are a lot here okay, please check the writer's website for content warnings
*Follow my Instagram book blog for all my reviews, challenges, and book lists! http://www.instagram.com/donasbooks *
October 30, 2022
For about 85%, this book was mostly smut for the sake of smut and I was here for it. Then the story started focusing on the characters’ feelings suddenly, and all the hotness and steam from before kind of disappeared. To be honest, I felt a bit cheated. The sex scenes between the MCs are the best part, even though some of the issues I had with the two previous books in the series remain. Most notably the emphasis on the age gap, despite the gap being a mere eight years. The author overplays the experienced older woman vs the wide-eyed innocent younger one. Unlike her counterparts in the other books, however, Austy is far from innocent, she’s rather blunt and open about sex and about wanting it, it’s only to BDSM that she’s new.
If you’re looking for a quick and hot read set on a couple of planets that aren’t ours, this could be it. Quick and hot is why I keep reading these books, as the Omegaverse vibes aren’t really my thing. The next one has time travel though, which made it impossible to ignore.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
August 13, 2022
Totally hot, f/f scifi romance
If you are looking for a hot, steamy, light-BDSM f/f novel - stop here and enjoy the story of butch Austy and ice-queeny Fia. Set in the new-world universe the main focus is the steamy weekend-only affair between the two main characters and is it ever so toe-curling hot! But don‘t despair, although Lily X is a harsh mistress to let us, ahem them suffer there will be a HEA after all.
Lily X has set the scifi-world in the first two books of this series and I loved to meet again the previous couples.This time we don‘t get as much exploration of the New World. Instead Lily X really pulls out all the stops here with the level of hotness. I liked that the novels are quite diverse in their focus and the main characters she chooses to write about. We have the butch/femme and rich/poor girl trope here. And of course the ice queen who melts into a puddle. A fun read which thoroughly entertained me well.
Thanks to netgalley and Carina for providing an ARC. I left the review voluntarily.
If you are looking for a hot, steamy, light-BDSM f/f novel - stop here and enjoy the story of butch Austy and ice-queeny Fia. Set in the new-world universe the main focus is the steamy weekend-only affair between the two main characters and is it ever so toe-curling hot! But don‘t despair, although Lily X is a harsh mistress to let us, ahem them suffer there will be a HEA after all.
Lily X has set the scifi-world in the first two books of this series and I loved to meet again the previous couples.This time we don‘t get as much exploration of the New World. Instead Lily X really pulls out all the stops here with the level of hotness. I liked that the novels are quite diverse in their focus and the main characters she chooses to write about. We have the butch/femme and rich/poor girl trope here. And of course the ice queen who melts into a puddle. A fun read which thoroughly entertained me well.
Thanks to netgalley and Carina for providing an ARC. I left the review voluntarily.
October 19, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Own Me is the third book in the New World sci fi romance series. It’s easily read as a standalone, following the love story of a previously side character who’s grown up and is looking for a forever partner.
This is a spicy, low-angst, mild Dom/sub romance set in space. It’s got all the mystique of a fully fleshed science fiction setting, with different planets, customs, and beings of all types and mods. Fia and Austy are immediately gone for one another, but their fragile hearts fear another breaking. It makes them tentative about the future, and that’s not a terrible thing. Not when there are significant logistical hurdles, like living on different stars.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Own Me is the third book in the New World sci fi romance series. It’s easily read as a standalone, following the love story of a previously side character who’s grown up and is looking for a forever partner.
This is a spicy, low-angst, mild Dom/sub romance set in space. It’s got all the mystique of a fully fleshed science fiction setting, with different planets, customs, and beings of all types and mods. Fia and Austy are immediately gone for one another, but their fragile hearts fear another breaking. It makes them tentative about the future, and that’s not a terrible thing. Not when there are significant logistical hurdles, like living on different stars.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
October 23, 2022
Own Me
Lily X never disappoints! Her characters are solid and well developed.
If you are looking for heat then her steamy novels deliver!
Lily X never disappoints! Her characters are solid and well developed.
If you are looking for heat then her steamy novels deliver!
January 2, 2023
Flips the script, almost fully delivers
I've given the other books in the series so far five stars, but this one I'm dropping to four. I did really like it, but it skimped on character development and didn't quite deliver what it promised.
It made me laugh and smile a lot, and the dynamic was really hot, but it felt rushed.
In my opinion, it needed more fleshing out in multiple ways. The sex scenes were great, but if there wasn't going to be any of the rougher stuff, why was it built up? They talk dirty about specifics, lead right up to the scene, then suddenly it's the next day? Yet, the gentler sex scenes are explicit. Teasing is great if there's eventually a payoff, otherwise it's just frustrating. Leave all that stuff out if you're not even going to show it, it didn't serve any purpose in the story towards character development or plot progression.
I felt like this book had a lot of special qualities that lent it extra value, but those would have been delivered better with a little more time dedicated to developing the story.
I have noticed so far with this author that they tend to sort of skip over anything involving action. They write emotions and dialog very well, can progress plot using those things, but action gets left out. This story didn't call for action/fight/heist scenes or anything like that, but the more action packed kink scenes were skipped.
I realized as I wrote this, the sex scenes are really gripping in these books because they're mostly about what each partner is thinking or feeling, not what they're doing. Maybe the author just doesn't feel comfortable or confident writing more action based scenes, in or out of the bedroom?
Still, it was a worthy read overall. We need more d/s dynamics that flip the butch/femme script like this. You see femme tops with femme bottoms, butch or Andro tops with femme bottoms, but masculine of center women rarely get to be bottoms/subs in fiction, even though they *cough* we *cough* exist in real life.
I've given the other books in the series so far five stars, but this one I'm dropping to four. I did really like it, but it skimped on character development and didn't quite deliver what it promised.
It made me laugh and smile a lot, and the dynamic was really hot, but it felt rushed.
In my opinion, it needed more fleshing out in multiple ways. The sex scenes were great, but if there wasn't going to be any of the rougher stuff, why was it built up? They talk dirty about specifics, lead right up to the scene, then suddenly it's the next day? Yet, the gentler sex scenes are explicit. Teasing is great if there's eventually a payoff, otherwise it's just frustrating. Leave all that stuff out if you're not even going to show it, it didn't serve any purpose in the story towards character development or plot progression.
I felt like this book had a lot of special qualities that lent it extra value, but those would have been delivered better with a little more time dedicated to developing the story.
I have noticed so far with this author that they tend to sort of skip over anything involving action. They write emotions and dialog very well, can progress plot using those things, but action gets left out. This story didn't call for action/fight/heist scenes or anything like that, but the more action packed kink scenes were skipped.
I realized as I wrote this, the sex scenes are really gripping in these books because they're mostly about what each partner is thinking or feeling, not what they're doing. Maybe the author just doesn't feel comfortable or confident writing more action based scenes, in or out of the bedroom?
Still, it was a worthy read overall. We need more d/s dynamics that flip the butch/femme script like this. You see femme tops with femme bottoms, butch or Andro tops with femme bottoms, but masculine of center women rarely get to be bottoms/subs in fiction, even though they *cough* we *cough* exist in real life.
February 6, 2023
“Quiet. My mind is quiet. My body feels... new.”
3.5 stars. Not my favourite in this series, but a very cute, sweet and hot romance. In the last book, I found the drama to be a bit much, and the plot left way too much room for plotholes. In this book, my issue is that it might have been a liiiiiittle too low-conflict? But I hesitate to call that a flaw, especially since I much prefer low-conflict to melodrama. We're following Austy, another one of the Star Three residents, as she travels to Royal One with her father to get an investment company to save their dairy farm. She's immediately enthralled by Fia, the sister of their investor, and they fall into a weekend long fling. The book might be miscategorising itself with the label 'soft domme'; I loved Fia a lot, and I was really gratified by how gentle and patient she was with Austy, but she's far from soft. In my opinion, anyway. It's a fairly typical weekend romance that turns into more, with the added complications of Austy being a Felin, and what that might mean when she feels the mating urge. I really liked that this was a romance where they both got to be themselves around each other. Austy is used to people expecting her to be domineering and take-charge because she presents as masc, and Fia used to be underestimated because of her feminine looks and love of pink. I really liked the reversal of expectations, and just how fully they threw themselves into the relationship, especially Austy. Lots of praising, which was lovely.
This didn't quite deliver on the intensity and all-consuming romance that I got from the other books in the series, which is my it's my least fave so far. But it was still really sexy, and a really pleasant, short read.
November 3, 2022
Loved this 3rd book in the series. There's plenty of heat and a whole lot of love between the main characters. I liked that the author brought in some of the lead characters from the previous books in this series and we got to see how they have come along in their relationships as well. I liked that it was only mild bdsm in this story, and that it actually focuses on the two main characters growing feelings for each other and not the lifestyle they lead. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and I look forward to what's next from this author.
Read
October 1, 2022Lesbian, Multicultural & Interracial Romance, New Adult Romance, Science Fiction Romance
Miniseries
New World (Book #3)
Miniseries
New World (Book #3)
December 27, 2022
Another fantastic book by Lily X! She really knows how to write an exceptional story and her characters/world building have me wishing this was a TV series or something. Worth the read, for sure!
March 28, 2023
This is the third book in this series, and once again, it does not disappoint. I can't get enough of this series!
November 26, 2022
Starting in the middle of a series can be a hit or a miss with romances - this is a bit of both.
So here's the primer: this a scifi world with enhanced technology, including robots, and human-adjacent people, ranging from Felins to Beasts.
Austy lives on the Third Star, a small community, and is growing tired of watching all her friends pair up. A business trip to another Star was only meant to help their farm get back into the black but only meeting with Fia turns all her plans upside down.
Fia is equally surprised by this meeting her brother just drops in her lap and is intrigued enough by Austy's submissive behaviour to seek her out again. One weekend will be enough to sate them, right?
On the surface, Own Me works as a standalone. The world is not distracting, any characters from previous books are introduced enough so you don't feel behind. But it also feels underdeveloped in places - I barely have a grasp on Austy's Felin nature or really understand what she (or a Beast) is.
I was hoping the instant attraction and weekend play session would slowly develop into more but alas, they are pretty much in love from that point on and make some
This also plays into the stereotype that Doms are almost like mind readers when it comes to The One - Fia can articulate what Austy wants and needs before their first night is over and I was hoping that we would at least see them make more mistakes. Everything in their relationship goes too well.
I was excited for the BDSM parts especially but it's light play overall and we skip past the interesting scenes. The epilogue does not feel earned since I was not convinced their relationship was at this stage of commitment already.
Still, I enjoyed the writing, the portrayal of an interracial relationship in an unusual setting and am interested to try other books in this series that might feature tropes more to my taste.
I received an advanced reading copy from Carina Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
So here's the primer: this a scifi world with enhanced technology, including robots, and human-adjacent people, ranging from Felins to Beasts.
Austy lives on the Third Star, a small community, and is growing tired of watching all her friends pair up. A business trip to another Star was only meant to help their farm get back into the black but only meeting with Fia turns all her plans upside down.
Fia is equally surprised by this meeting her brother just drops in her lap and is intrigued enough by Austy's submissive behaviour to seek her out again. One weekend will be enough to sate them, right?
On the surface, Own Me works as a standalone. The world is not distracting, any characters from previous books are introduced enough so you don't feel behind. But it also feels underdeveloped in places - I barely have a grasp on Austy's Felin nature or really understand what she (or a Beast) is.
I was hoping the instant attraction and weekend play session would slowly develop into more but alas, they are pretty much in love from that point on and make some
This also plays into the stereotype that Doms are almost like mind readers when it comes to The One - Fia can articulate what Austy wants and needs before their first night is over and I was hoping that we would at least see them make more mistakes. Everything in their relationship goes too well.
I was excited for the BDSM parts especially but it's light play overall and we skip past the interesting scenes. The epilogue does not feel earned since I was not convinced their relationship was at this stage of commitment already.
Still, I enjoyed the writing, the portrayal of an interracial relationship in an unusual setting and am interested to try other books in this series that might feature tropes more to my taste.
I received an advanced reading copy from Carina Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2023
austy
I was a little hesitant and not too excited about Austy’s story. I had met her momentarily with her crush on Twyla when she appeared on their star. I read a few pages and put it down. It didn’t grab my attention. I circled back to it because I really liked the first two stories. I am so glad I went back because I like this authors writing style and clever creature developments.
I am always a bit leery when it comes to reading some BDSM premise books. When done right, they’re awesome and then there are the other times. I was so interested in who this Fia was from first meet. That “I insist” made me peek my head up and then how she looked at Austy at the end of their meeting. It’s like she could sense it. She felt that tug not knowing. Austy certainly felt it.
I found Austy to be so endearing. Her honesty in any situation made me have so much respect for her. I truly admired her. She was totally the opposite of Fia. Fia connected with her on a level of “mates.” They just sort of knew one another, one another’s likes and had a sense of being comfortable with one another. Fia was so patient but firm and kind with Austy. She was doomed from the start, little did she know. I liked how during Austy’s “crisis” she understood what was happening because she was quick to look it up. It didn’t scare her. She just took precautions afterword.
I was surprised that I loved hearing their story. I liked it more than I was prepared to. Being a woman of color, it is nice to read books centered on them being in an interracial relationship. It’s been that way for me my whole life. It’s nice to get a wonderful representation of diversity for someone that has over 2200 lesfic books via kindle and paperback.
This is a story I will read again and again. I was totally invested in both of them having a HEA.
I was a little hesitant and not too excited about Austy’s story. I had met her momentarily with her crush on Twyla when she appeared on their star. I read a few pages and put it down. It didn’t grab my attention. I circled back to it because I really liked the first two stories. I am so glad I went back because I like this authors writing style and clever creature developments.
I am always a bit leery when it comes to reading some BDSM premise books. When done right, they’re awesome and then there are the other times. I was so interested in who this Fia was from first meet. That “I insist” made me peek my head up and then how she looked at Austy at the end of their meeting. It’s like she could sense it. She felt that tug not knowing. Austy certainly felt it.
I found Austy to be so endearing. Her honesty in any situation made me have so much respect for her. I truly admired her. She was totally the opposite of Fia. Fia connected with her on a level of “mates.” They just sort of knew one another, one another’s likes and had a sense of being comfortable with one another. Fia was so patient but firm and kind with Austy. She was doomed from the start, little did she know. I liked how during Austy’s “crisis” she understood what was happening because she was quick to look it up. It didn’t scare her. She just took precautions afterword.
I was surprised that I loved hearing their story. I liked it more than I was prepared to. Being a woman of color, it is nice to read books centered on them being in an interracial relationship. It’s been that way for me my whole life. It’s nice to get a wonderful representation of diversity for someone that has over 2200 lesfic books via kindle and paperback.
This is a story I will read again and again. I was totally invested in both of them having a HEA.
December 29, 2023
I'm really enjoying this series of loosely connected books set on an agrarian space colony. Each book has a unique flavor and explores a different kind of mod (genetically modified humans, adapted to these new planets) and has a pretty different focus, in terms of action or danger. This story felt a little rushed as it took place over a single weekend, and was mostly about Austy exploring what it meant to be a submissive for the first time, giving the story less of an adventure vibe. I really liked the characters and how they danced around their need for more than sexual gratification. The romance was satisfying--and super hot!--but I missed some of the danger and adventure from the other books. It felt like less was at stake here, and ultimately the characters didn't shake up their lives enough so the ending felt a little unfinished.
November 4, 2022
This tale has a little new-world sci-fi, a little relationship development, and lots of soft core domme/sub. The story stands on its' own to a certain degree, but it is helpful to have read the earlier books to have a clearer understanding of how all the people fit together. The sex scenes are well written, even if the rest of the plot is a little thin. The conclusion is mostly satisfying albeit a little abrupt.
January 10, 2025
Umm it feels a short in my opinion ngl, making it the one I like the least of the series
February 7, 2025
Fated romance? Yes
April 11, 2025
Estoy adicta a esta serie
May 11, 2025
it was really good just i needed more of them happy together, this felt like a beginning
July 10, 2025
best book i’ve read this year.
December 18, 2024
Didn’t know who I wanted her or her :)
August 20, 2024
Soft masc sapphics deserve so much love too ❤️🩹
August 18, 2022
I have loved this series and these books just keep getting better and better. The fact that the characters from the first two books pop into this one- such a big smile on my face!
The two main characters are what fantasies are made of. A beautiful, tight laced Domme and a free spirited, tomboyish sub that find one another and can't keep their claws from grabbing hold. It's delicious. I adored the role reversal- pushing away assumptions that the boyish characters always wanna be the top. This author aims to please and the steamy scenes will cause you to crank up the AC and fan yourself with the book! I cannot wait for books 4 and 5! This series is definitely something to sink your fangs into!
The two main characters are what fantasies are made of. A beautiful, tight laced Domme and a free spirited, tomboyish sub that find one another and can't keep their claws from grabbing hold. It's delicious. I adored the role reversal- pushing away assumptions that the boyish characters always wanna be the top. This author aims to please and the steamy scenes will cause you to crank up the AC and fan yourself with the book! I cannot wait for books 4 and 5! This series is definitely something to sink your fangs into!
September 4, 2022
This is the third in the New World: Own Me series. I would say this book had very little plot. The updates on the previous characters is nice. There is a bunch of sex but, nothing really happens. The previous installments had much more action. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2022
I enjoyed the other books in this series and wasn't a fan of this one even if it was great to catch up with the characters.
There's not a lot of action unless it's sexual and I'm not a fan of written sex.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
There's not a lot of action unless it's sexual and I'm not a fan of written sex.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews