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Intersolar Union #2
Resilience
Olivia Atarian is on her way to the ISU's capital, Helion, and knows that a whirlwind awaits her. Not only will she be meeting her new clan for the first time, but she'll be thrust into the galaxy's brightest spotlight. She's the first awoken human not to mention already mated with one of the galaxy's hottest up-and-comers, and they can't seem to keep their hands to themselves.
But when a media storm hits, circulating falsified evidence regarding the Paramour raid and Commander Atarian's involvement, it attracted the press sharks to the bloody waters. What will the tenacious new ambassador do to keep the peace? And will they figure out who was behind the smear campaign? Will Olivia be able to keep the threads of her new life from unraveling before she's even lived it?
But when a media storm hits, circulating falsified evidence regarding the Paramour raid and Commander Atarian's involvement, it attracted the press sharks to the bloody waters. What will the tenacious new ambassador do to keep the peace? And will they figure out who was behind the smear campaign? Will Olivia be able to keep the threads of her new life from unraveling before she's even lived it?
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2022
126 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Etta Pierce
17 books299 followersI'm a hopeless academic and science fiction romance author. I write intelligent women, complicated men, and slow burn steam! My first series, the Intersolar Union Series, is ongoing with many more series and books planned for the future. Strap in for the long haul, guys, I'm here to stay and crank out some good romantic fiction!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
May 28, 2023
I was still so jazzed about loving book one that I dove into this story ready to enjoy it—what I didn’t expect was how much I would freaking love this. Particularly the way this story deepened the alien-human first contact plot line and how emotional I felt about our couple navigating their first relationship hurdles together.
I just love the culture clash of an alien-human relationship and I feel like this alien romance series is the first one that’s really quenched my thirst for this trope. If it’s the first relationship between an alien and a human in the universe, I want it to be complicated!
Book two was the same couple as book one, but it’s not a duet. Book one had the standard HEA ending and book two was more of an extended epilogue.
These two just love each other so much. My heart! 🥹
I just love the culture clash of an alien-human relationship and I feel like this alien romance series is the first one that’s really quenched my thirst for this trope. If it’s the first relationship between an alien and a human in the universe, I want it to be complicated!
Book two was the same couple as book one, but it’s not a duet. Book one had the standard HEA ending and book two was more of an extended epilogue.
These two just love each other so much. My heart! 🥹
December 18, 2023
Space opera vibes with spice. I’m digging the series
December 13, 2022
This second instalment again focuses on Olivia and Thel and it didn’t disappoint it begins directly following the events of the previous book and is of novella length but it’s a decent one more like a short novel. I especially appreciated all of the delicious heat this packed and this certainly cranked the thermostat up there was way more intimacy and sexy times included here. So much chemistry and passion and we really get to experience a larger insight into the developed dynamic forming between our two new mates.
Here Olivia and Thel attempt to acclimatise as Olivia prepares for a media frenzy and introduction into her new mate's world. Thel is from a prominent family and his covert job and command are highly classified so much so that back home he labours under an assumed playboy persona it’s all very cloak and dagger. His new convergence is a delicate reveal and will need to be handled with finesse and discretion.
But someone is leaking damning false information to the press one that concerns his behaviour and Olivia’s sudden appearance in his life. It definitely paints Thel in a less-than-flattering light and also throws some serious shade on his family something with their standing they just can’t afford and this smear campaign may now indirectly force Thel into considering an unwanted early retirement.
This agenda seriously sets our two new lovers in direct conflict with each other. Both disagreeing with the correct path to take going forward. These two seriously need to stop using distance to solve there issues and disagreements that’s for sure and when they do eventually make their amends I think they’d both also arrived at the same realisation that their prior behaviour was far from healthy.
This introduced new characters and greatly expanded the world. it was again well written and easy to engage with and the world-building and attention to detail was again top-notch. I’m liking this series a lot it has just the correct balance of sci-fi versus romance and an imaginative storyline at its centre. I definitely recommend reading this series if sci-fi romance is your thing and I’m impressed with how engrossing and imaginative this one is.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/63435390
June 28, 2025
RESILIENCE continues Atarian and Olivia's story as they go to Helion and introduce Olivia as the first Awakened human. I liked seeing more of the Intersolar Union and meeting other aliens, especially Atarian's family. There's a bit more angst in this one compared to CONVERGENCE because they have to keep how they met a secret since the general public doesn't know about Atarian's undercover work. There's also some drama around Endar's arrest and the fact that there's a leak in the government.
I don't think this was as cohesive as the first book, it felt like there was almost too much going on and we didn't really get any answers in the end (I assume we'll get there eventually in the next books). Additionally, Olivia and Atarian are forced to spend time apart for a big chunk of this book and I wished they had worked through things together rather than apart. All that being said, I'm really looking forward to reading more in this series!
Content Warning: references to human trafficking; on page almost drowning of a child
I don't think this was as cohesive as the first book, it felt like there was almost too much going on and we didn't really get any answers in the end (I assume we'll get there eventually in the next books). Additionally, Olivia and Atarian are forced to spend time apart for a big chunk of this book and I wished they had worked through things together rather than apart. All that being said, I'm really looking forward to reading more in this series!
Content Warning: references to human trafficking; on page almost drowning of a child
November 15, 2025
J’avais pas compris que c’était une nouvelle !!! Bon c’était sympa mais purée le nombre de personnages et l’intrigue est quand même complexe, je n’ai pas du TOUT compris qui était le/la méchant.e au final 💀💀
October 19, 2025
Resilience is a quick, heartfelt follow up to Convergence. A(n important) novella that gives us more time with Thel and Libby (our favourite human/alien duo) as they adjust to life after convergence. It picks up right where we left off, with the pair heading to Helion to start their new chapter as Vir and Vira (husband and wife) and yes, that means meeting the in-laws. Things get delightfully complicated from there.
Even as a shorter story, it still manages to blend humour, heat, and that same spark of wonder that made Convergence so fun. Libby shines in her new role, Thel’s balance between duty and devotion makes him even more endearing, and their dynamic continues to feel equal parts tender and teasing. There’s a bit of political tension, a touch of drama, and a few moments that remind you why they work so well together.
The world expands beautifully here too… we see more of Helion and its species, and Vindillus steals some moments too. I have such a soft spot for Vin 🥹 I’m crossing fingers he will get his own convergence story soon.
Short, satisfying, and full of heart, Resilience is the perfect bridge between adventures, showing that love, growth, and a little interstellar chaos don’t stop after the first happily ever after.
Even as a shorter story, it still manages to blend humour, heat, and that same spark of wonder that made Convergence so fun. Libby shines in her new role, Thel’s balance between duty and devotion makes him even more endearing, and their dynamic continues to feel equal parts tender and teasing. There’s a bit of political tension, a touch of drama, and a few moments that remind you why they work so well together.
The world expands beautifully here too… we see more of Helion and its species, and Vindillus steals some moments too. I have such a soft spot for Vin 🥹 I’m crossing fingers he will get his own convergence story soon.
Short, satisfying, and full of heart, Resilience is the perfect bridge between adventures, showing that love, growth, and a little interstellar chaos don’t stop after the first happily ever after.
December 8, 2022
This was the perfect addition to Thel and Liv’s story. I can’t wait to see what the next one is like without them being the main characters.
August 29, 2023
This is probably a 4.5-4.75 star book for me, but GR doesn't have halves or quarter stars, so I gave it the benefit and bumped to 5, even though this is a short novella and not a full novel.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
December 25, 2021
This was an absolutely spectacular addition to Olivia and Thel's story and sets the stage for the series
4.5/5 ⭐ and 2.5/🌶 Etta over here knows how to pack a delicious and spicy punch into a small amount of time!
You don't want to pass up this incredibly intriguing sequel to our heroes adventure as they return back to Helion and face a new advisory that threatens to tear apart everything Comander Thel has worked for. Oliva isn't about to stand by and let the love of her live be stripped of his life's work and has to stand in the gap when no one else will.
This short story gives a persistence for a bigger work at play in the ever expanding universe as people and situations are not as they seem but vigilance, tenacity, and intelligence will give the universe a run for its money in this epic.
You don't want to pass up this incredibly intriguing sequel to our heroes adventure as they return back to Helion and face a new advisory that threatens to tear apart everything Comander Thel has worked for. Oliva isn't about to stand by and let the love of her live be stripped of his life's work and has to stand in the gap when no one else will.
This short story gives a persistence for a bigger work at play in the ever expanding universe as people and situations are not as they seem but vigilance, tenacity, and intelligence will give the universe a run for its money in this epic.
4.5/5 ⭐ and 2.5/🌶 Etta over here knows how to pack a delicious and spicy punch into a small amount of time!
You don't want to pass up this incredibly intriguing sequel to our heroes adventure as they return back to Helion and face a new advisory that threatens to tear apart everything Comander Thel has worked for. Oliva isn't about to stand by and let the love of her live be stripped of his life's work and has to stand in the gap when no one else will.
This short story gives a persistence for a bigger work at play in the ever expanding universe as people and situations are not as they seem but vigilance, tenacity, and intelligence will give the universe a run for its money in this epic.
You don't want to pass up this incredibly intriguing sequel to our heroes adventure as they return back to Helion and face a new advisory that threatens to tear apart everything Comander Thel has worked for. Oliva isn't about to stand by and let the love of her live be stripped of his life's work and has to stand in the gap when no one else will.
This short story gives a persistence for a bigger work at play in the ever expanding universe as people and situations are not as they seem but vigilance, tenacity, and intelligence will give the universe a run for its money in this epic.
November 8, 2025
In my own spreadsheet, I have this 2.5 stars, but I liked it enough to rate it 3. I think I might have done the same thing with the first.
The problem I had with the book was similar to the first one in that they both seemed rushed through. It wasn't that I didn't like the characters ... I most definitely do. And it wasn't that I didn't like the premise of the story because, damn, it has so much potential. However, and this book suffered from it much more than the first, there just wasn't enough time.
This book was so short that I felt that I was just getting into the meat of it, and then it was over. The ending was very disappointing ... I really don't want to give it away, but just imagine if you could have gotten a POV from Burdam Endur at the end!!! Think how much more powerful that would have been.
The world-building also suffered from the novella length. There was just so much to convey and no time to really dive in. Plus, the whole plot of having to find the hacker just fizzled out. That truly sucked.
I will likely not continue on with the series simply because I honestly don't have enough interest in the upcoming characters, but I would really love to see her extend the story of this couple in particular. I think that would be more fun!!!
The problem I had with the book was similar to the first one in that they both seemed rushed through. It wasn't that I didn't like the characters ... I most definitely do. And it wasn't that I didn't like the premise of the story because, damn, it has so much potential. However, and this book suffered from it much more than the first, there just wasn't enough time.
This book was so short that I felt that I was just getting into the meat of it, and then it was over. The ending was very disappointing ... I really don't want to give it away, but just imagine if you could have gotten a POV from Burdam Endur at the end!!! Think how much more powerful that would have been.
The world-building also suffered from the novella length. There was just so much to convey and no time to really dive in. Plus, the whole plot of having to find the hacker just fizzled out. That truly sucked.
I will likely not continue on with the series simply because I honestly don't have enough interest in the upcoming characters, but I would really love to see her extend the story of this couple in particular. I think that would be more fun!!!
February 2, 2025
Review of books 1 & 2, which are a single arc.
Honestly, the premise of this is pretty weak. An alien kidnaps a woman to teach him how to pretend to buy trafficked humans to bust a trafficking ring. The idea is that the victims are human, so she can teach him how. But even a moment of thought makes it obvious that he needs to learn how to be an alien sleaze ball (alien behaviors, alien preferences, alien pricing metrics, etc), not a human one. So, she would be of no use to him. And really despite Pierce pretending she is, Olivia provides very little of note or use.
So, accept early on that this story takes a lot of suspencion of disbelief. Olivia profiles aliens she's never seen before as easily as humans, and it belies belief. Just get past it. But beyond that, I enjoyed the story. I liked the characters (Vin especially); the world is interesting, and the writing is easily readable. It's pretty low spice and wraps up nicely enough to feel complete, even if there are some threads left open for the rest of the books.
Honestly, the premise of this is pretty weak. An alien kidnaps a woman to teach him how to pretend to buy trafficked humans to bust a trafficking ring. The idea is that the victims are human, so she can teach him how. But even a moment of thought makes it obvious that he needs to learn how to be an alien sleaze ball (alien behaviors, alien preferences, alien pricing metrics, etc), not a human one. So, she would be of no use to him. And really despite Pierce pretending she is, Olivia provides very little of note or use.
So, accept early on that this story takes a lot of suspencion of disbelief. Olivia profiles aliens she's never seen before as easily as humans, and it belies belief. Just get past it. But beyond that, I enjoyed the story. I liked the characters (Vin especially); the world is interesting, and the writing is easily readable. It's pretty low spice and wraps up nicely enough to feel complete, even if there are some threads left open for the rest of the books.
April 24, 2023
Excellent follow on.
I loved that we got this extra story for Thel and Olivia, this was a fun intro to livs new life and job and world, which I sorely needed seeing as they only fully got together at the end of book 1.
We have a mystery that I feel is going to come back on in the rest of the series. And I can't wait to read more from this author 😍
Side note. Why did I simp so hard for play boy Thel? It was giving 10000% Bruce Wayne 'I'm buying this hotel ' vibes acting up as the millionaire playboy a-hole and I was here for it 🥰🥰
I loved that we got this extra story for Thel and Olivia, this was a fun intro to livs new life and job and world, which I sorely needed seeing as they only fully got together at the end of book 1.
We have a mystery that I feel is going to come back on in the rest of the series. And I can't wait to read more from this author 😍
Side note. Why did I simp so hard for play boy Thel? It was giving 10000% Bruce Wayne 'I'm buying this hotel ' vibes acting up as the millionaire playboy a-hole and I was here for it 🥰🥰
September 8, 2024
Maybe a new favorite series
I’m not ready to let go of Liv and Thel… I want more of them and BABIES! However, I am excited to continue this series.
I really loved Thel and Liv, their chemistry and relationship felt so real. And the entire “who done it” element was spectacularly done, I still don’t know who has done it but it makes me want to break out a notebook or two and start a map of possible suspects, I have my theories but we will see as this series continue and progresses.
I’m not ready to let go of Liv and Thel… I want more of them and BABIES! However, I am excited to continue this series.
I really loved Thel and Liv, their chemistry and relationship felt so real. And the entire “who done it” element was spectacularly done, I still don’t know who has done it but it makes me want to break out a notebook or two and start a map of possible suspects, I have my theories but we will see as this series continue and progresses.
September 14, 2025
Resilience is a continuation of Convergence, still featuring Thel, alien and Olivia, human. In book one, Thel and Olivia converge (which is this world’s fated mates) and book two is an extended epilogue, with their first few weeks of convergence.
This was really cute and I enjoyed seeing the universe expand. Olivia got to meet a bunch more aliens and also have all the spicy times with her new alien husband. Good times all around.
I’m excited to continue the series with other couples!
This was really cute and I enjoyed seeing the universe expand. Olivia got to meet a bunch more aliens and also have all the spicy times with her new alien husband. Good times all around.
I’m excited to continue the series with other couples!
February 16, 2023
Exciting and Adventurous!
This second interglacial journey into the far regions of space created by author "Etta Pierce" was every bit as fantastic as the first book. More importantly the readers get to know more about the characters and the compelling storyline that's highly imaginative and thrilling!
This second interglacial journey into the far regions of space created by author "Etta Pierce" was every bit as fantastic as the first book. More importantly the readers get to know more about the characters and the compelling storyline that's highly imaginative and thrilling!
March 26, 2025
I don't understand why this had to be a separate book. It could've easily been a few extra chapters in the first book. All they did was go meet his family (no drama there), do some twisty deception to maintain his billionaire playboy persona and have the two of them "meet," and then dodged some falsified news allegations (that they never figured out who was behind).
January 22, 2025
Olivia? Still a badass and I love her.
Thel? ehhh a little better here I guess, but much like the first book he doesn't have much of a presence.
I'm interested in the human colony, so I'm going to keep going.
Thel? ehhh a little better here I guess, but much like the first book he doesn't have much of a presence.
I'm interested in the human colony, so I'm going to keep going.
October 9, 2023
Quickish Review
The second book in the series and I did enjoy alot of it, esp the hints of the overarching story to come, just wish the romantic conflict, much like in the first book, wasn’t down to a lack of communication. But I’m into this series so into the next.
The second book in the series and I did enjoy alot of it, esp the hints of the overarching story to come, just wish the romantic conflict, much like in the first book, wasn’t down to a lack of communication. But I’m into this series so into the next.
April 9, 2022
Continuing Libby and Atarian's story and is oh so good.
February 20, 2023
I was gonna skip straight to book 3 but noticed this was only 156 pages so I went for it anyway. Probably could have done without since it added nothing to the overall plot.
The dedication says "To exhibitionism, which I’m learning is *cough* MY. JAM." from the author and it starts off strong with Olivia and Thelonius apparently having sex in the middle of a dance floor and then a conference room. Rude, guys. You have a room. Literally a giant room that's the size of a whole floor in the spaceship all to yourselves. I'm not here to yuck anyone's yum but it happens several times in the short 150ish pages and not once is it done in a way that is consensual for anyone else. In fact, at one point their behavior clearly makes someone (Vin, who is with them - and they are both well aware he is with them and Thelonius at least knows his history) very uncomfortable to the point of it being kinda traumatic. That's not cool.
Decima gets the spicy explicity details about having sex with her cousin from Olivia. Um what? Olivia says convergence is "as rare as marriage proposals on Earth" but that makes less sense. How rare do you think marriage proposals are??? And it's still pretty different getting details on a marriage proposal versus your cousin's wife filling you on the exact shape and feeling of your cousin's cock during sex. Like WHAT. 5000% don't understand that conversation at all and the weird way of trying to give an in-universe reason for it was just even more confusing. I can understand wanting to know about convergence in general and also about being a chromata but bruh, what the actual fuck?
Olivia and Thelonius continue to make dumb decisions. Olivia's drinking to the detriment of her responsibilities has got me wondering if she doesn't have a drinking problem. To be fair, she's enabled quite a lot.
I'm once again not all that impressed with Olivia's supposed intelligence. She really didn't think interspecies relationships could be a possibility? Like this whole wide world of opportunity is open to you - a universe so much bigger than you ever imagined - and it it doesn't occur to you DESPITE SEEING EVIDENCE IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE MULTIPLE TIMES that it's possible? (I was SO confused when earlier in the book she said "If I didn't know better, I would have thought they were a mix of species A and B" and I was like... what do you mean? How do you know better? You've spoken to them and asked them? Somebody told you what their species is? But you're not sharing it? I don't get it. I never would have imagined that she was just so dumb she refused to see the obvious.)
I feel bad for trashing Olivia so much in the reviews. She does have some good qualities. What HAS been done well is demonstrating Olivia's quick thinking skills - such as in book 1 when she manages to help Thelonius with the knife on the Paramour or in this book when she helps Yulaeni.
Similarly related, when she's not self-absorbed with drinking or fucking, Olivia is generally more self-sacrificing and self-aware - like her conscious decision to help with the Paramour, admitting she doesn't know what she's doing when it comes to a ship full of traumatized people, Yulaeni again, and so on. When she admits her limitations I find her way more interesting.
Overall, I still like the world at large created here and many other characters in it. I'm looking forward to Dr Ahlberg's story next! Here's to hoping it's just these two characters and not the author's writing in general I'm struggling with.
The dedication says "To exhibitionism, which I’m learning is *cough* MY. JAM." from the author and it starts off strong with Olivia and Thelonius apparently having sex in the middle of a dance floor and then a conference room. Rude, guys. You have a room. Literally a giant room that's the size of a whole floor in the spaceship all to yourselves. I'm not here to yuck anyone's yum but it happens several times in the short 150ish pages and not once is it done in a way that is consensual for anyone else. In fact, at one point their behavior clearly makes someone (Vin, who is with them - and they are both well aware he is with them and Thelonius at least knows his history) very uncomfortable to the point of it being kinda traumatic. That's not cool.
Decima gets the spicy explicity details about having sex with her cousin from Olivia. Um what? Olivia says convergence is "as rare as marriage proposals on Earth" but that makes less sense. How rare do you think marriage proposals are??? And it's still pretty different getting details on a marriage proposal versus your cousin's wife filling you on the exact shape and feeling of your cousin's cock during sex. Like WHAT. 5000% don't understand that conversation at all and the weird way of trying to give an in-universe reason for it was just even more confusing. I can understand wanting to know about convergence in general and also about being a chromata but bruh, what the actual fuck?
Olivia and Thelonius continue to make dumb decisions. Olivia's drinking to the detriment of her responsibilities has got me wondering if she doesn't have a drinking problem. To be fair, she's enabled quite a lot.
I'm once again not all that impressed with Olivia's supposed intelligence. She really didn't think interspecies relationships could be a possibility? Like this whole wide world of opportunity is open to you - a universe so much bigger than you ever imagined - and it it doesn't occur to you DESPITE SEEING EVIDENCE IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE MULTIPLE TIMES that it's possible? (I was SO confused when earlier in the book she said "If I didn't know better, I would have thought they were a mix of species A and B" and I was like... what do you mean? How do you know better? You've spoken to them and asked them? Somebody told you what their species is? But you're not sharing it? I don't get it. I never would have imagined that she was just so dumb she refused to see the obvious.)
I feel bad for trashing Olivia so much in the reviews. She does have some good qualities. What HAS been done well is demonstrating Olivia's quick thinking skills - such as in book 1 when she manages to help Thelonius with the knife on the Paramour or in this book when she helps Yulaeni.
Similarly related, when she's not self-absorbed with drinking or fucking, Olivia is generally more self-sacrificing and self-aware - like her conscious decision to help with the Paramour, admitting she doesn't know what she's doing when it comes to a ship full of traumatized people, Yulaeni again, and so on. When she admits her limitations I find her way more interesting.
Overall, I still like the world at large created here and many other characters in it. I'm looking forward to Dr Ahlberg's story next! Here's to hoping it's just these two characters and not the author's writing in general I'm struggling with.
June 24, 2023
This book deals with the couple from the first book after they've gotten together. I do like it in general when they show this part, how the human adjusts to the alien society.
However, I didn't think the couple was super strong in the first book and this book didn't improve things much. It didn't really feel like a fully fleshed-out book, but then again it's pretty short.
The main thing I liked was the scene where
I didn't really like the rest. The clubbing scene felt too immature for their ages/positions of responsibility. I also didn't fully understand why it occurred to no one to do an interview and lie. Why was this such a revolutionary idea? Isn't that celebrity damage control 101?
I also wasn't a big fan of the "I know you better than you know yourself" aspect. While I guess it's realistic that their first real conflict as a couple would drive them apart, the resolution of the separation that took up half the book was entirely too quick and easy for me.
Also I felt quite annoyed that it wasn't solved who the hacker was. I'm all for overarching storylines, but I felt in this case it was at the expense of a satisfactory resolution at the end of this book. Perhaps they could have caught an intermediate-level villain but not the big boss?
If you liked the couple in book 1 give it a read, otherwise I'd skip to book 3.
However, I didn't think the couple was super strong in the first book and this book didn't improve things much. It didn't really feel like a fully fleshed-out book, but then again it's pretty short.
The main thing I liked was the scene where
I didn't really like the rest. The clubbing scene felt too immature for their ages/positions of responsibility. I also didn't fully understand why it occurred to no one to do an interview and lie. Why was this such a revolutionary idea? Isn't that celebrity damage control 101?
I also wasn't a big fan of the "I know you better than you know yourself" aspect. While I guess it's realistic that their first real conflict as a couple would drive them apart, the resolution of the separation that took up half the book was entirely too quick and easy for me.
Also I felt quite annoyed that it wasn't solved who the hacker was. I'm all for overarching storylines, but I felt in this case it was at the expense of a satisfactory resolution at the end of this book. Perhaps they could have caught an intermediate-level villain but not the big boss?
If you liked the couple in book 1 give it a read, otherwise I'd skip to book 3.
September 3, 2021
Phenomenal romantic sci fi adventure
I worry that if I use too many superlatives, people won't take my reviews seriously. But the IU series deserves all the superlatives. The stories are fantastic, the aliens are fascinating and believable, and I love Olivia. I'm looking forward to book 3.
I worry that if I use too many superlatives, people won't take my reviews seriously. But the IU series deserves all the superlatives. The stories are fantastic, the aliens are fascinating and believable, and I love Olivia. I'm looking forward to book 3.
May 29, 2025
4.25 ⭐️/2 🌶️—Continues Thel and Olivia’s story. There were some issues with unexpected voice errors in the book (1st person sometimes flashed to third for a paragraph), but overall a great conclusion to this couple’s arc.
February 27, 2023
First and foremost; these books are really good. I was delighted to find them in my quest for well written sci-fi romance. Like so many, I was hooked with Ice Planet Barbarians, but craved a more structured plot with a bit more to offer than the repetitive storylines of IPB - though this isn’t a review of those, I find I measure a lot of the sci-fi romance I read against them.
I wanted to give this second book in Olivia’s story 4 stars- with my only critique being that it was too short, and wish some of the more nuanced twists were a little more fleshed out. There is actually only one thing that knocked this book down to a 3 star (maybe 3.5) and it was the mix of third and first person perspective, often on the same page and in the same narrative block. It frankly took me out of it for the pages I encountered it, and kinda bummed me out. I thought maybe it was me misunderstanding the perspective at first? Which it may have been, but maybe those specific chapters just needed another round of editing. Also, catching more than a few typos pulls me out of a story almost immediately.
Other than those couple things, and again my wish that either the first and second books were combined into one, or that both stories were given a little more meat; I really enjoy this series! I’m excited to start the third book, and am so glad I found a sci-fi romance with a little more substance than spice! (Though the spice is… spicing as they say)
I wanted to give this second book in Olivia’s story 4 stars- with my only critique being that it was too short, and wish some of the more nuanced twists were a little more fleshed out. There is actually only one thing that knocked this book down to a 3 star (maybe 3.5) and it was the mix of third and first person perspective, often on the same page and in the same narrative block. It frankly took me out of it for the pages I encountered it, and kinda bummed me out. I thought maybe it was me misunderstanding the perspective at first? Which it may have been, but maybe those specific chapters just needed another round of editing. Also, catching more than a few typos pulls me out of a story almost immediately.
Other than those couple things, and again my wish that either the first and second books were combined into one, or that both stories were given a little more meat; I really enjoy this series! I’m excited to start the third book, and am so glad I found a sci-fi romance with a little more substance than spice! (Though the spice is… spicing as they say)
January 5, 2025
Resilience is pretty much an extended epilogue of Convergence, so it cannot be read as a standalone.
After the very serious circumstances of Convergence, Resilience pretty much felt like a romcom (for the most part). We get to see Olivia and Thel living and enjoying their HEA, and I ate it up, especially the 🔥 scenes. Thel and Olivia really made up for lost time. The author fed us so well after that incredible slow burn in Convergence 😌 There was a bit of roleplaying, which was really fun, but also overly dramatic 😂 And as expected from this couple, we had some more light exhibitionism, like damn!! 🫣 I really love couples that match each other's freaks.
Rom-com smutty time aside, this novella introduces a hacker villain who tries to ruin Thel's reputation. We are given some hints about the villain's identity, but we don't find out who they are. This will most likely be part of an overarching series plotline.
There were just a few minor things that were weird to me. Like how Olivia talked about her sex life in detail with Thel's cousin 😂 And also Olivia being surprised at interspecial relationships. Hello? 😂
I also read the prequel, which shows us Olivia's abduction from Thel's POV. And let's just say that I did not see certain things coming. Literally.
After the very serious circumstances of Convergence, Resilience pretty much felt like a romcom (for the most part). We get to see Olivia and Thel living and enjoying their HEA, and I ate it up, especially the 🔥 scenes. Thel and Olivia really made up for lost time. The author fed us so well after that incredible slow burn in Convergence 😌 There was a bit of roleplaying, which was really fun, but also overly dramatic 😂 And as expected from this couple, we had some more light exhibitionism, like damn!! 🫣 I really love couples that match each other's freaks.
Rom-com smutty time aside, this novella introduces a hacker villain who tries to ruin Thel's reputation. We are given some hints about the villain's identity, but we don't find out who they are. This will most likely be part of an overarching series plotline.
There were just a few minor things that were weird to me. Like how Olivia talked about her sex life in detail with Thel's cousin 😂 And also Olivia being surprised at interspecial relationships. Hello? 😂
I also read the prequel, which shows us Olivia's abduction from Thel's POV. And let's just say that I did not see certain things coming. Literally.
May 20, 2025
3,5 stars for me
I didn't like it as much as the first one ;)
Olivia and Thel arrived on a huge space station with a plan of getting their convergence public, but some hacker messes up their plans. There was evidence planted that Thel's public persona, playboy Thelarian, bought Olivia on the pleasure cruiser Paramour and the media gobbled that drama up. Thel pissed me off in this one, he should have learned that he shouldn't make any important decisions without talking with his freaking mate/wife/vira in the last book. Yet, once again, he keeps her in the dark, then decides to do lifechanging thing without telling his life partner about it. Then he was pissed when she protested. I was even more pissed when she apologized later that she "pushed so hard", he should be groveling, she was right to keep digging into the hacker situation and she did that so it wouldn't ruin his whole career.
Vin was once again a great character, I hope he'll get his happy end further in the series, he deserves it. Roav and Jharim were very interesting, I need to learn more about them. Thel's family was very cute and was a bright spot in this anxiety inducing plot ;)
I didn't like it as much as the first one ;)
Olivia and Thel arrived on a huge space station with a plan of getting their convergence public, but some hacker messes up their plans. There was evidence planted that Thel's public persona, playboy Thelarian, bought Olivia on the pleasure cruiser Paramour and the media gobbled that drama up. Thel pissed me off in this one, he should have learned that he shouldn't make any important decisions without talking with his freaking mate/wife/vira in the last book. Yet, once again, he keeps her in the dark, then decides to do lifechanging thing without telling his life partner about it. Then he was pissed when she protested. I was even more pissed when she apologized later that she "pushed so hard", he should be groveling, she was right to keep digging into the hacker situation and she did that so it wouldn't ruin his whole career.
Vin was once again a great character, I hope he'll get his happy end further in the series, he deserves it. Roav and Jharim were very interesting, I need to learn more about them. Thel's family was very cute and was a bright spot in this anxiety inducing plot ;)
August 19, 2025
4.5 stars. This novella is multiple POV, mainly human female lead (Olivia) first POV, with significant chunks of 3rd POV from alien male lead (Thel) and some others. This is the first author I can remember reading who writes in this style and I’m really enjoying it. The story is well written, and a complex, interesting, detailed, sci fi romance. I enjoyed Olivia’s balance of discomfort in new and strange surroundings, discombobulation with the weirdly familiar parts of her new life, and her determination to make a way next to but separate from Thel. I enjoyed Thel’s dedication to Olivia and was amused by his self-delusion compared to Olivia’s clear perception of his needs and preferences. I enjoyed the steamy intimate scenes, though I’d hoped for a few more. I also didn’t care for the amount of separation the characters experienced - I like my romance characters to spend lots of time together on page. I enjoyed the family and friend interactions and relationship development.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.
February 28, 2023
This book was more surprising than I expected it to be. Upon reading that it would be about the same couple as book number one, I thought it would be one big epilogue full of spice.
It has spice, but it mainly explores the feeling and connections both characters have to the side characters; family members, friends, etc.
I loved how Olivia's character shone through even more in this book, showing what a badass she really is. She stood her ground in an argument no matter how much her heart wanted to give in for peace's sake.
Not to forget how she saved someone's life... That had me in tears. Goodness :'(
The reason why I gave this book four stars instead of five is that I felt the POV shouldn't have changed at all. This book was Olivia's. And the other POV felt disturbing to the flow of the story.
Which book is about Vindilus? Because I think every reader will need more Vin in their life after this book. Can't wait to read more!
It has spice, but it mainly explores the feeling and connections both characters have to the side characters; family members, friends, etc.
I loved how Olivia's character shone through even more in this book, showing what a badass she really is. She stood her ground in an argument no matter how much her heart wanted to give in for peace's sake.
Not to forget how she saved someone's life... That had me in tears. Goodness :'(
The reason why I gave this book four stars instead of five is that I felt the POV shouldn't have changed at all. This book was Olivia's. And the other POV felt disturbing to the flow of the story.
Which book is about Vindilus? Because I think every reader will need more Vin in their life after this book. Can't wait to read more!
August 26, 2022
My wheelhouse is sci-fi romance that has a deeper plot and higher stakes thank the typical alien fare. Etta is a lovely writer. I was blown away by book 1 and book 2 swept me off my feet as well.
This novella length continuation of book 1 picks up with our main characters heading to Helion for Olivia’s introduction to Thel’s family as well as her introduction to alien society. There politics at play here when someone tries to force Thel into revealing his covert identity. The FMC must use her behaviorist skill set on other species to manipulate public perception and try to force the hand of the one trying to destroy Thel’s career.
Brilliantly done. It becomes clear a bigger story arc is coming in to play now and I can’t wait to see what Etta does with this series.
HEA // over 30 highly driven FMC // political intrigue // cultural curiosity // possessive, yearning MMC
This novella length continuation of book 1 picks up with our main characters heading to Helion for Olivia’s introduction to Thel’s family as well as her introduction to alien society. There politics at play here when someone tries to force Thel into revealing his covert identity. The FMC must use her behaviorist skill set on other species to manipulate public perception and try to force the hand of the one trying to destroy Thel’s career.
Brilliantly done. It becomes clear a bigger story arc is coming in to play now and I can’t wait to see what Etta does with this series.
HEA // over 30 highly driven FMC // political intrigue // cultural curiosity // possessive, yearning MMC
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