The Carnal Games

The Carnal Continuum #1

by Naudii Nebula

Compelled to compete in a twisted game, two deadly enemies will meet their fated revenge.


They will either kill each other or, worse...


Fall in love.


But only one can leave the arena alive.


In The Carnal Games, the rules are simple: fight, conquer, win. Above all else, entertain.

Warning: The Carnal Games contain dark themes, full-throttle sci-fi action, a hostile Lolita Island-style planet, political intrigue, and a slow-burn romance with a promised HEA.

Please preview the content warnings on the author's website for potential triggers.

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Aliens, Science Fiction, Romance, Dark, Dark Romance, Monster Romance

396 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2023

Reviews

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two sworn enemies are forced to compete in a brutal arena on a hostile planet. The premise is gripping and the rules of the game are stark—fight, conquer, win, and above all, entertain.

Very DARK themes
Forced proximity
Full-throttle sci-fi action
Great world building/character development
Political intrigue (both are former military)
Both are divorced and over 30
Single dad
Sloooow burn
Size difference/serrated peen
TRUE enemies to lovers story
14-year war
HFN/HEA ending

Agent Karnin Chayse is a powerfully strong fmc. Her years in BlackOps during the war have left Karnin bitter and disillusioned. The war caused her the loss of an eye, her marriage, and miscarriages.

Kul Prime Zeris Durek is a vicious and imposing alien mmc. He is also disillusioned with life and hell-bent on the annihilation of his enemy, agent Karnin, who took his arm during a battle.

The Carnal Games is described as, “Avatar-generated patrons fuck real sex slaves until they flatline. The longer their victims suffer, the higher their ratings. Age, species, it doesn’t matter. Nothing is off-limits.” Basically, wealthy patrons pay to participate and watch as others are raped and violently murdered on screen. It is just as horrific as it sounds.

This storytelling is darker than I usually enjoy, but I found the characters and world building quite engaging. There is a side character that I absolutely adored, but can’t talk about in order to keep a spoiler-free review.

What didn’t work:
- The time they spend apart at the beginning was overly long.

- Her giant breast augmentation made zero sense, except that is what they thought the viewers wanted to see. All of her trials were around exposing her sexually. She was naked, with unmanageable giant breasts, while all of his trials were around his physical and mental prowess. What am I supposed to do?” She hoisted her bosom. “Smother him to death with these cow’s udders!”

- Their eventual relationship felt genuine, but sex was horrifically painful to the fmc. She gives and gives of herself (she is healed each time) but I didn’t like that she’s put through so much sexual pain. Live, for everyone to watch her screaming.

- The ending felt abrupt. After all of that, the readers deserved to see these characters in an actual relationship, without the fight to survive.

This is a very well told story. Highly recommended for fans of a darker, true enemies to lovers, M/F monster, sci-fi romance.

TW: Violence & gore.

* To the readers worried about the “noncon/dubcon warnings,” I will say that she doesn’t want to, but consents to sexual activity to save a life. There is one gross oral scene near the end that is NOT consensual.

[Amy Imogene Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I’ve gone and found another alien romance, y'all. But this one is like Hunger Games meets spicy ratings with a dash of the most realistic enemies-to-lovers that I’ve read in a longggg time.

The Carnal Games is a one-of-a-kind book. I'd say it bridges the gap between monster romance, addictive survivalist thriller, and space science fiction. With those three very different vibes, I think it comes down to the individual reader on whether or not this book is for you.

I came for the spicy times, but I didn't STAY for the spice.

It's not likeable smut to me, personally—the true enemies premise + some physiological differences kept me from engaging with the steam, I kept being like "gahhhh stop, not working!!"—but it is definitely a romance and one that I was emotionally invested in despite my lack of personal interest in the smutty bits.

What kept me HOOKED on the edge of my seat for this read was the stellar writing, pulse-pounding drama, and wholly unique world building. The setup and execution of this story was flawless. I wonder of Naudii Nebula also writes non-smutty SFF, because I wouldn't be surprised.

Definitely pick this up if the blurb sounds fun! Let the games begin...

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[Ashton Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes:
~alien romance
~dark romance
~very inhuman-looking hero
~legit enemies to lovers (they’ve been trying to unalive one another for 13 years)
~forced proximity
~taboo relationship
~villain hero
~single father hero
~military MCs (their peoples are at war)
~size difference
~dubcon

I am a sucker for a “survive the game” type scenario, whether it be in horror/thriller books or a romance. Add it to a dark alien romance with two characters who are mortal enemies and now stuck in said game together and I was immediately HOOKED! I will say that this was pretty dark at times, and the smut was definitely not sexy at first due to their physical incompatibilities, which I actually found unique and refreshing after wading through so many insta-love/lust alien romances where the human woman magically takes the huge alien 🍆 with zero issues. I found the world fascinating, adored his daughter Elkartira, and am hoping we get another book focusing on a certain enigmatic side character!

My only critique that dropped it down a star was that I wanted more on-page romantic buildup. We got some cute moments, but they went from enemies to having emotions for one another just a tad too quick for me, and I wanted to believe in their connection a little more. Adding a few more scenes of that emotional and romantic progression would’ve easily raised it to a 5⭐️. But considering this is a debut (and a fantastic one at that), I’m super excited to see what the author writes next!

[Melanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS!

The writing was top-notch and the story was . . . dark? Or maybe dark adjacent. Either way, this was me while reading almost the entire time: 😱 And I mean that in the most positive way since I've been in a slump for a couple of weeks now and this one pulled me out. Thanks for the find, Rain!

I like that there will be another book. I'm looking forward to it.

[Corina · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow - this was fun and exactly the kind of monster romance I enjoy!!!

Also, a fantastic debut novel.
And a MUST READ for anyone loving this genre.

This was a MONSTER ROMANCE done well.

Starting with a true enemies to lovers trope - when mortal enemies are kidnaped and forced to entertain for an audience.

The overall concept of the story was well done, including an interesting sci-fi world, with a fascinating plot and a really well written story including great dialogue.
Also loved the main couple and supporting cast.

Compared to all the other monster romances I read this year, this is by far the best yet. Really looking forward to the next one.

Also, with all these monster romances I actually get to read new to me authors, it's been too long since I've done that. And I'm loving it.

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark AF but somehow precious

This book did not shy away from enemies to lovers in the strictest sense. This was no “he took my coffee cup at work so now we’re enemies”. Both MCs had every reason to despise one another and had done absolutely abhorrent things in the name of war. The forced proximity of the carnal games changed the dynamic and I loved the growth arc for both characters.

Spice: 4/5

Triggers: SA, torture, forced exhibitionism, threat to child, war crimes (off page), cheating (off page - not by MCs), child SA (off page), captivity, violence/gore

[Archives of Jina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Carnal Games by Naudii Nebula was MAGNIFICENT. As someone who was balls deep in a reading slump this book has been officially dubbed my emotional support book.

Now for the nitty gritty. Please check your TW before reading this book, you will find them in the beginning of the book. It has very dark themes that may be hard to read.

This book was TRUE enemies to lovers. Not only have their respective species have been at war but they have been personal enemies for 13 years. They purely hate each other and will take any opportunity to unalive the other.

Both characters have been “deposited” into a Hunger Games like world where they must use the planet they’re on and it’s resources to unalive the other and win The Carnal Games. If they follow the directions of the game makers or “the hosts” they will be rewarded.

Still not convinced to read this book? Well, it contains:
✨Forced proximity
✨Inhuman looking MMC
✨Both MCs are in the military
✨Size difference. Big time.
✨Dubcon
✨Taboo relationship
✨As I said before this is true enemies to lovers but on top of that they find each other disgusting visually.
✨Single Father
✨Villain Hero
✨Both MCs are in their 30s and divorced.

[HellsBellsnSexySpells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will not be for everyone but OH MY GOD is it for me. Amazing characters, the best enemies-to-lovers I have EVER read. Also one of the only successfully handled side-kick tropes I've seen. Seriously, if you are in to dark sci-fi and read all the trigger warnings, YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK.

[Emms-hiatus(ish) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright.

I personally don’t see what’s hot about your insides getting shredded to the point your hemorrhaging blood and have to get immediate medical care to not die, but hey, the fmc was into it 🤷‍♀️

[•Kate•/ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is difficult to review. On one hand the book is very well-written with heaps of world building and character development. On the other hand there is a lot of non/dub-con stuff that is pretty icky. Like, in a way that was a detriment to the story. I had to skim some of it. The constant focus on the size of Karnin’s non-consensually enhanced breasts was just bizarre. We get it, the hosts of the games had them enhanced without her consent and they’re enormous. Why do we constantly need to be reminded of it? It detracted from the good stuff that was happening in the narrative.

I wanted to be able to love it like other reviewers did but I found it mostly disappointing and frustrating.

[Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy damn, this was good! A true 'enemies to lovers' romance with a side of straight-up 'aliens made them do it' in a 'Hunger Games but with boinking' setting.

Durek and Karnin are enemies. Not 'he said something mean about me once so I hate him' enemies, but full on 'on opposing sides of a war for thirteen years and also holding personal vendettas against each other' enemies. He gouged her eye out; she chopped off his sword arm. You know, enemies.

At the end of the long war, as peace talks are starting, she's lost everything but her desire to kill him, and he's in a similar situation. She hunts him down/he lets her find him when suddenly! They are abducted together and put in a Hunger Games-type arena, with instructions to hunt each other down. Like, that's what they wanted to do in the first place, right?

But this is a perverted rapey Hunger Games, and the 'hosts' make increasingly bizarre demands eventually involving Durek's young daughter, and these enemies now have to form an extremely tense alliance. Oooh, that's the good stuff, stick it right into my veins!

The slowest of burns (natch) but ultimately believable romance ensues.

[Charde Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Love enemies to lovers romance and hit all the spots. Hatred, enemies at war, committed offenses against each other. Sent to a planet to search, battle, and smex each other. This book had it all. Amazing world building, character development, moved quickly, it wasn’t insta love, but a slow build. And whoa, the smex was hot….the size difference!! GAH!!!!! I am impatiently waiting for the next book in this series.

[Hot Mess Sommelière ~ Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutal. I liked it.

[Loubie loves to read · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️
Enemies to lovers….
This was a great read..I loved the characters and the story about 2 enemies Durek & Karnin, they were definitely enemies with a vengeance,that would literally rip each other to shreds…
They were both put into the Carnal Games,where they would have to fight each other,to where only one could survive and one would die….I loved how the author wrote and would definitely read more 🥰

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️s

I need a drink, but damn this was good.

THIS is enemies to lovers. Every other book that’s ever claimed that trope is wrong. Karnin and Durek’s need to see the other dead and weary truce was perfection. Minus one star because the narrative felt muddled at times, but overall a genuinely unique read.

*Check TWs before reading - this gets darker than most books I review*

Spice: 3/5 🌶️

[Sarah Verity · Rating 5 out of 5]

*𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴.*


𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔
𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒖𝒎 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔
𝒃𝒚 𝑵𝒂𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒊 𝑵𝒆𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒂


𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖/𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:
Let me start off by saying that ONE - this is a slightly long review -  and TWO - everything in this review is meant to both prepare you to read this book and to TELL YOU TO READ THIS BOOK.

The Carnal Games is the adult alien romance version of The Hunger Games. And it is a pure enemies to lovers romance with forced proximity.

You may feel thrown off by certain details. You may think this book sounds a bit too dark. I am here to tell you it isn't. And don't be! 

I am also here to tell you that you need to read this! If you're a monster/alien romance lover, if you enjoy dark romance, or both (or you're looking to try them out) this is the book for you! 

Is it dark? Yes. But it's the sort of dark romance that only teeters on the edge of full-on dark romance. There's definitely some darker themes and some situations that go down that are definitely on the dark side. But somehow this book still kept a light overtone throughout the whole thing and it was sweet! 

And let me tell you -- Durek is freaking hot! I need my own Nisrac male. My God... 

This was an absolute roller coaster. And I enjoyed every second of it. This is one of those books that stays with you after you read it. For days, or longer. It sucks you in and you can't put it down! The kind of book that makes you continuously replay certain scenes in your mind, over and over again. The way Durek and Karnin's relationship develops is so perfect. As enemies you get a true slow burn between these two. Kidnapped and placed into the Carnal Games (an illegal entertainment) these two are forced into one another's proximity. They start off tracking one another as the goal is for one to kill the other. But that soon makes way to them calling a truce and co-habitating and trying to survive. All while on camera for the games subscribers to enjoy. 

But this is the Carnal Games. So survival strategy isn't just hunting and finding shelter. It's also enacting sexual deeds for the audience. (Watched via hidden cameras and drones)

But these two have been enemies for 13 years. And Durek's species is technically incompatible with humans due to their size. Throughout the games they survive together alongside Durek's kidnapped daughter who's been thrown in. Discovering surprising urges towards one another and growing respect and trust between the two. They find themselves protecting each other and dealing with conflicting feelings. 

The emotion in this was so well done. From the tension and the confusing attraction between Karnin and Durek. To the rougher times that even brought out a few tears! There was definitely just the right amount of drama and pain to bring out your emotions in this. But it never held on so tight that I became swamped with depressing feelings. Somehow this story had darkness but always pulled back just enough, and at the right time, to keep you from feeling too overwhelmed. And brought you back with sweetness and even some humor. The characters also handled everything very well. Not that things didn't effect them but the overall approach they take helped with keeping things from being too dark. Surprisingly I also laughed alot when these two first encounter each other right before being kidnapped. They're fighting and bickering and for some reason it made me laugh! And then during the Carnal Games, before the first dark scene, it was fun and sweet like other alien romances I've read. Even with these two still being full-on enemies! It's so hard to describe but I loved every minute of it.

Both the characters have been through alot. From both war and cheating exes, and even miscarriages in Karnin's case. The heroine goes through sort of three "specific" moments that could require CW for some readers. Find me on IG at romantically_swept_away if you don't mind spoilers and you'd like to go in prepared with exact details. Nondescript CW are also at the beginning of the book. I'm sometimes the same so I would be more than glad to help! But I honestly suggest this book with my whole heart. As someone who doesn't often read dark romances, I adored this.

The hero and heroine both have things happen to them and in some instances it's almost made equal, as they both go through quite alot. So there's also a good balance to help ground their relationship.

If you're wondering how this book can be sweet, especially by the several CW in the book, trust me - it is. It's seriously such a wild ride but it's handled well and has that undertone of sweetness and even almost comedy that really makes it a wonderful story. It hits you so perfectly in all the feels. And all of the dark stuff that happens is handled so well and with care, but without any negative lingering and over-dramatized drawn-out storytelling that can make a dark book hard to finish. There is true character growth in this book. Lots of plot set-up and world building to start things off, and then so much development between Durek and Karnin until it becomes a slow burn and then becomes this constant need for each other. It is very well paced. The beginning is slower as we set up the story and world and throw these two into the games, yet nothing felt rushed or too slow. And once we get past that part (which really helps set the tone for the rest) we get tons of spice and relationship growth and emotional exploration. It's crazy, wild, a bit dark, a bit rough, and totally sweet and endearing and wonderful. It was amazing!

And I actually liked that sex between Durek and Karnin was a sort of pleasure/pain mix, until she starts adjusting more to his size. It added that element of enjoyment so it wasn't just "coercion sex" for the games. If the CW throw you off, don't be nervous about the intimate scenes between them. Everything between Durek and Karnin is consensual. The first time is coerced to save his daughter. But they agree to do it. Karnin actually agrees first. It isn't pretty and it skips to afterwards, so there's not much details. Like I said, I can fill in specifics for those who want to read but are wary. Send me a message if so! But it's still consensual between them. 


*Only thing I didn't like? The big jugs! It was ridiculous! If you read it, you'll understand. Lol


𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒:
•𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥/𝟓
•𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐡
❤❤❤❤❤/𝟓
•𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡
🤣🤣🤣🤣/𝟓
•𝐂𝐫𝐲
💧💧💧/𝟓



"𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰. 𝘔𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸! 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴. 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭! 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘵 @𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺_𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘱𝘵_𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.


𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳: 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘥. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺."

[vi.isreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish I could do a line off the cover of this book.

[jennifer | offmyredcarpet · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Read the Content Warning for this book before proceeding. The cover does not match what’s between the pages.**

Two soldiers on opposite sides of a war are abducted and forced to take part in a Hunger Games style competition featuring sexual brutality that only one of them can walk away from. Stripped of everything, including clothing, they must fight and win. But, more importantly, entertain their patrons to court favor.

It’s an illegal private survivalist sex game. Snuff porn for subscribers. Patrons pay to play; sometimes literally via avatars.

The game Hosts force sexual coercion on both characters threatening them with the death of someone dear to one of them. The disgust is not one-sided; he is equally repulsed. It is made all the worse by the fact that their species aren’t generally sexually compatible; human females often die from it. I like the way the author has his perspective shift from “defiling himself with a human female” to his rage at her willingly defiling herself to save the someone.

Over the course of the game a respect grows between them as she makes impossible sacrifices of her body to protect the threatened individual and he cares for and protects her while they both ignore that one of them has to die in the end. There are some really strong, emotional moments as their relationship progresses and develops into love as they learn about the individual behind the enemy. Yes there is an HEA for them.

The author is excellent at maintaining the alien-ness of the MMC throughout with his behavior and cultural differences.

There are a lot of tough themes: war, gruesome violence, abduction, past infertility, past miscarriage, grief, sexual coercion on page (both characters), sexual battery on page (both characters). Don’t read it if you can’t handle it.

[Grey Story · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I saw this cover, I was immediately interested.
Unfortunately, after reading reviews, I quickly realized I couldn't read it because of the dubcon/noncon and unbelievable nature of some of the events.

I kept seeing the cover and finally gave in to a compromise - I skimmed a lot. Only read safe scenes and skimmed or skipped anything I didn't want to read.

With that in mind, I can say I liked the characters. The overall plot was eh, in part due to the lack of consent going on, but it was also confusing at times. Maybe that was due to me skipping stuff but there were things I didn't anticipate that didn't make any sense to me (like how long the characters were often left alone in the arena) and ones that I did anticipate based on reviews (Chayse's physical/sexual attraction makes little sense in the context).

I don't think this makes much sense as a series personally. It works as a stand-alone.

[Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate that I love The Carnal Games to much. Why? Because now I don’t know if I’m going to find anything else to read that can live up to it in the interim while Nebula writes the sequel. It’s so hard to find a good sci-fi alien romance. There’s a million of them out there, but rarely do they contain the perfect mix of world building, romance, and action. Not only that, but the success of these stories also heavily relies on the ability of the author to write a compelling non-human hero, one who doesn’t sound human, doesn’t look human, and doesn’t skeeve the reader out all at the same time. Rarely can I find an author with the ability to do this, and never have I found it all contained in a debut novel.

Enemies for over 13 years, Terran Agent Chayse and Nisroc Kul Prime Zeris Durek have been hunting each other to extinction across the galactic continuum. The atrocities committed against one another are seemingly insurmountable to the point where their far-ranging feud threatens to destroy the peace negotiations between their people. What is supposed to be their final confrontation turns into something neither of them could expect when awaken to find themselves imprisoned in the illegal Carnal Games where anything is fair game, and it only ends when one of them is dead.

It's funny because there are a couple of clichés in this book that could have quickly had me running for the hills, but it’s the way that Nebula chooses to employ them that convinced me to stay. Personally, I’m a little over the ‘Hunger Games’ scenario. At its crux it’s really just an easy way for authors to force their characters into close proximity, throw any number of random events at them, and coerce readers to stay engaged as we wait to figure out how two people will survive in a game with only one victor. It’s an overused template for authors to embed their characters into, contain them in close quarters, make them fall in love, and then mutually sacrifice themselves for one another. I almost skipped this book because of it. I’m glad I didn’t. What I appreciate about Nebula’s use of this gimmick is that she gives us glimpses into the outside world, the workings of the game, and others’ attempts to stop the illegal broadcast of it through the galaxy. Once Chayse and Durek enter into a nebulous truce, they start tracking the origins of the game within the game and in discovering one of the internal bases, gives us an inkling that this illegal sport is way deeper than its outward projection of intergalactic voyeuristic entertainment. Although we are only beginning to touch on it in this book, Nebula has given readers a hint of what is to come and the hope that even if the next book features these games once again there are places for it to evolve and plots to be discovered. In other worlds, she writes with purpose. She includes details that although her characters are physically contained the plot isn’t. It’s the small details and the discoveries our heroes make along the way that separates her ‘hunger games’ from others.

I tend to leave a lot of sci-fi romances half finished because after the initial standoff between the leads, once they enter the trust and cohabitation stage, the plot falls stagnant and they typically have nothing to do except be together until the final showdown. But the introduction of Durek’s daughter into the game, coupled with Chayse and his joined decision to protect her while keeping her ignorant of the nature of their captivity, compounded by the fact that each is less inclined to see the other die and thus bring it to its natural conclusion, continuously motivated me to read on.

Elkartira’s introduction is key. It’s hard to realistically imagine a 13-year-old hatred, compounded by the deaths of comrades, coming to an end. Having them both bond of the importance of protecting a child, is great way to realistically believe that Chayse would subject herself to the atrocities presented by the game, to keep her safe. It is also a great way to slowly morph Durek’s hatred and disgust at her species into something resembling respect. I don’t know how else to illustrate how well thought out this series is. Nebula writes with purpose. She takes old and rehashed concepts, adds meaningful actions, and morphs them into new and interesting ideas.

I don’t know how I waited until now to talk about Agent Chayse and Zeris Durek. I can’t get enough of them. Honestly, they may have ruined me for future romances with the high bar they’ve set for future romantic leads. There’s a couple of things Nebula does that makes them individually and united so successful. First Agent Chayse, our human female, is a badass. She is a combat veteran. She is older, mature, and has many life events that influence her. She is a tight combination of battle hardened, calculated, and intelligent with a long military career and advanced Terran technology at her disposal that allows her to go toe to toe with these monsters of the galaxy. It’s the combination of military training and technology that makes her a believable foe for a Nisroc, because Durek has just about every ‘natural’ advancement known to mankind that could easily make their 13-year feud unbelievable. He has a natural armor, an affinity for fire, and a tongue that can pierce the skulls of his enemies. Coupled with superior strength, speed, and stamina he is everything a human isn’t and so it is only Nebula’s controlled application of divided strengths and weaknesses between the two that keeps the reader convinced these two can truly be equal on the battlefield.

And when Chayse is dropped into the game devoid of her technology it is only the careful and convincing application of an applied disability to Durek that continues to keep them equally matched and is the initial crux that pushes them to align together against the game. Every success in the book is because Nebula keeps everything balanced. Chayse and Durek push and pull on each other. Their strengths and weaknesses complement one another, as they both internally struggle to put preconceived notions and revulsion aside for the sake of survival.

And just as Chayse being a badass capable of keeping Durek on his toes is a major plus, Durek’s alienness makes him a perfect complement to her. Durek is truly alien. I just finished another sci-fi romance where while the plot was strong, the alien hero was alien in appearance only, and every time he opened his mouth, he dispelled every illusion of otherness. That is not true with Durek. From her conscious choice to write his vocal inflection into his speech, to his consistent use of his alien attributes to cement his nature, Nebula truly knows how to convince readers we are dealing with something different than us. There is more to creating aliens then giving them fangs, claws, and tails. One needs to think about how having these additional appendages effects the way they move about the world. And Durek has this in spades. He uses his talons to climb, and his long tongue doubles as both a weapon and scenting organ. His affinity for fire makes cold damp his natural enemy. He is well-thought out, well crafted, and when he opens his mouth his speech, his lack of humor, lack of interest in Terran double talk, marks him as different, and makes him very compelling.

I think my analyzation may distract from what you all want to know about…the romance. Because it’s built on a connection, a common goal, and respect, once it’s time for the two of them to actually fall in love, it’s believable and hot. Durek and Chayse light up the pages together. I said at the beginning that I was ruined for future couples and this is why. They have something to build on, and the result makes their romance all the sweeter. I think Durek says it best when he tells Chayse “We squandered too much time as enemies. Forgive me.” Yes, Durek you did. We readers have been waiting forever for you to get your act together and admit your feelings but truly the wait was worth it.

It’s been a long time since I’ve written a review with no complaints. Nebula employs ideas and concepts that are overused, have the potential to be off putting, disgusting, or unbelievable, but she manipulates each and every one deftly, and that’s what makes the Carnal Games successful. She’s able to deal with very strong, triggering subject matter. She knows when to fade scenes to black; when too much would be gratuitous, and too little; a lack of commitment. Her plot has the potential to expand exponentially. Her characters are more than a single characteristic, they are realistic and damaged and oh so good for one another. And I don’t think Nebula knows how much I’m relying on ‘Talvin’s’ response of “we shall see” to Agent Chayse’s retirement announcement. I know series like this rarely reuse their characters but oh how I hope Chayse and Durek return in the sequel. And if not, I think I definitely deserve a book dedicated to Talvin (and only those who truly know me know how big a statement this is, because I HATE changing romantic leads in a series). This book was killer, it may be the first one to remove me from my reading funk, and now I’m left wondering what I’m going to read now for the rest of the weekend. ***5 stars***

[Pene|ope • Reading Slump, Send Help · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally an actual enemies to lovers storyline.

These two are actually enemies, and have had many poor encounters in the past. He took her eye, she took his arm, etc. I absolutely love that. By the end they had to agree to "forgive the unforgivable", as the book puts it, and I loved watching them get there.

Huge TW for rape (not by the MMC), dubcon, painful/bloody size differences, etc. Some of this stuff is brutal, and I really had to sit and decide if I even liked her budding relationship with the MMC because of it. Think hunger games if the creators and intended audience were all lecherous on top of everything else.

This is high stakes, and their temporary truce is only in place to save his daughter, who gets thrown in the games with him too after a certain point. I loved seeing the way her presence forced both of them to open their eyes about the other. All three of them formed a strong family bond during their time in the games.

Honestly there are only two reasons why this isn't a 5-star for me because I really wanted to give all five stars:

1. Not enough relationship building on page. Their enemies turned reluctant teammates thing was built up so well. We didn't see much of their history, but we were able to get glimpses of it and of the repercussions as more is revealed. They were truly trying to end one another until their lives depended on each other. Then they begrudgingly worked together.

After that point, however, their feelings seem to grow quickly because weeks at a time are skipped, and we don't get to see much of their feelings grow before they're both in deep. We see a little (don't get me wrong, some of it is there), but it didn't feel like enough.

❌ SPOILERS ❌

2. The FMC did the majority of the suffering, and made all of the sacrifices. Sure, this guy lost his arm to her (which he grew back) and lost his honor with his people for failing to end her in their 13 year vendetta before the story starts. She sacrificed or lost literally everything else to him. Her eye, her unborn baby, her job, she allowed him to literally tear her apart with his member in order to save his daughter, and then to do it again repeatedly (though their nano healing things slowly made things easier for her but it took time and multiple encounters), was willing to be gangraped by a bunch of aliens with terribly frightening members to save the daughter again, and had even accepted that after it all he would end her to save his daughter too. He gave up nothing.

I'm torn about that because he ended up being a wonderful MMC and mate to her. I cried at a few parts (I rarely cry), and most of them were during his realizations of how much sorrow and pain he'd caused her. I just wanted him to suffer more though and for things to not be so completely on her shoulders.

Overall though, this book was fantastic. Gory, unsettling, and definitely not for anyone uncomfortable reading triggering content, but somehow also adventurous and endearing. 

Really liked the bonus epilogue too.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The next time someone asks for real enemies-to-lovers, this is the book I will recommend.

Two different species. Opposite sides of a war. Real, palpable hatred. Someone gets de-globed within the first few pages and that is not the worst of this book’s character injuries.

Only thing separating this from my favorite genre, erotic horror, is that most of the depravities are off-page. Still there is enough on-page content to trigger most decent people, so casuals beware.

As for me? I clearly loved this. It’s dark, brutal, but also kind of sweet? The alien stays alien even when we are in his mind; the incompatibilities do not easily fix themselves; and the human FMC is competent but believably vulnerable. Solid sci-fi foundations too.

Where are the rest of the books Naudii Nebula? I will devour them all!

[luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

a dark, sci-fi enemies to lovers, with an interesting premise and compelling characters. both leads were interesting in their own right, and i enjoyed following both through the story. although the plot is super high stakes, there are a number of almost sweet moments in the arena, and the lead up to the end is quite satisfying.

4.5 rounded

[Marieta · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m sorry but what the fuck? 😂 At first it was interesting and I was quickly drawn into the story. Then the perversions started, but I reckon, those Hosts are really fucking sleazy evil people. But as the story unfolded and their relationship unfolded, that's where my rating started to go down. Her pain during sex with Durek is too unnecessary for me, the fact that she "accepted" constant pain and bleeding wounds from her vagina and uterus???? What!!?? Next thing; Durek is honestly such a horrible mmc. Totally boring and irrelevant and bland. The last 20% were so fucking stupid. Literally ridiculous. They go to fuck each just for fun (not “surviving”) in the forest and then it's sooooo shocking when the kid was kidnapped?!? omg how could that happen!!!! Grrr

[Jericho McKraven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I literally read this book in two days! I stayed up all night, and kept sneaking off all day to make it to the end of another chapter. 🤭 I was riveted, enthralled, immersed!

Yeah, there's tons of sex and an insane amount of triggers, but I didn't care. I needed to know what would happen next!

Despite the smutty setting, Carnal Games had substance. It was true enemies to lovers and had a beautiful slow burn romance. There was world building, character development, back story and a HEA well worth fighting for.

Despite the extremely dark themes and violence, there were still some beautifully tender moments and a lot of arc for both characters.

I think this is going on my favorites list and I highly recommend it to non-sensitive readers who don't mind all the.... stuff.

[Annica ⚡️ annica_reads_books ⚡️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

When he slices her eyeball out the first time they meet, she cuts his arm off during battle, and have been enemies at war for 13 years, you know you're going to get a real enemies-to-lovers story. And that's exactly what happened here. This is like SciFi had a baby with The Hunger Games, but make it sexier and make one of the love interests an alien. Oh, did I mention that the anti-hero is a single dad too? This book got better and better with each chapter, and I genuinely had a good time reading it. The spice was great!

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the weirdest book I’ve ever read, but pretty close!

[blueberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,25 ⭐

Tropes

✨ Dark Fantasy
✨ Ennemies to lovers
✨ Monster MMC/Human FMC
✨ Survival


“And with a claw still wet with her saliva, he carved out her left eye.”

As far as the enemies to lovers trope goes, they didn't play around.

Karnin and Durek have been war enemies for 13 years, constantly trying to kill each other until they are forced to participate in a survival game show, where they must team up and have sex with each other for the audience's perversion.

This book is darker and weirder that what i’ve had anticipated (wtf was that obsession with the “huge fake breast” of the heroine and how the hero found them disgusting?!)

Besides that, I found the world-building interesting, and the relationship between the two protagonists well developed. It is a slow burn as they are actually enemies and do not feel any attraction towards each other because of their species differences.

In contrast with some dark aspects of the story, there are tons of cute moments between the characters, especially with the heroine stepping in as a substitute mother for the hero's daughter.

I'll definitely read the next book in this series, but I could have done without scenes in which the heroine is sexually assaulted by different protagonists, and this is certainly why I didn't give it a higher rating.


Safety/ Spoilers

🟣 No cheating / No "willing"sharing but the Hero is forced in order to save his daughter's life to "share" the heroine with other males,he changes his mind as soon as another male touches her and flips out, but being tied up he can't do anything, and it's on this occasion that the heroine is assaulted by another male (oral sex)

🟣History: no virgin. Both MMC are divorced.

🟣 No OW drama or OM drama

🔥 Dub con (both MMC are forced into intercourse) / Rough & painful sex (The hero’s species is not compatible with human )

🟣 HEA .h is pregnant.

TW

🔴 Dubcon / coercion between the MC's
🔴 Heroine is sexually assaulted two times (groping/ touching, oral sex forced on her)
🔴 Mention of torture/ crime / sexual crime
🔴 Mention of miscarriage( heroine had miscarried two times with her ex husband)
🔴 Mention of cheating (Both MC’s have been cheated on by their ex partner)

[Simply Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now, THIS is an enemies-to-lovers romance. Chayse and Durek have been after each other for 13 years. Over and over, they meet intent on destroying one another, but neither can completely best the other. They maim. They fight. They'll put everything on the line at a chance to rip the other to shreds. They LOATHE each other, and with good reason. Durek is the leader of the army that Chayse has been diligently combating. He's killed an untold number of Terrans with zero regrets. Forced into a game where sex is required and death is the final outcome, they decide to call a temporary truce until they meet for the final showdown. And when Durek's daughter is also pulled in, the stakes get even higher. They are stuck together for weeks, surviving off the land and tackling whatever The Hosts and planet throw at them in order to make sure Durek's daughter remains untouched. But it all comes down to the arena fight, where only one is meant to be the victor.

This was really good. A slow-burn romance with tons of action. I appreciated their physical intimate limitations. It seemed realistic. Not every species will be completely compatible with the other. In this case, Durek's male member is a monster. Like, a tear you in half kind of monster. His kind is NOT meant to mate with Terrans. But, together, through literal blood, sweat, and tears, they learned how to make it work. I was worried for a minute there, though, not gonna lie. It's not an auspicious start for the MFC to have to take multiple shots of super-regenerative medicine just to be intimate. But, as the author says, it ends in a HEA, so I trusted the process.

Recommend for those interested in adventure alien romances ❤️

[Danny Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/9/25 Reread for the third time. Dear author please come back wherever you've gone. You're talented and this series needs to continue. 😭



Original Review:

Oh man! This has made it into my favorites for alien romance. Think Hunger Games with humans and aliens. But I must say this is not for the faint of heart. It's violent. And so are the intimate scenes as weird alien peen isn't compatible with human vagina. I mean ouch seriously, but it got better.

This book and storyline is quite complex and had me finishing in a day. I was that hooked. Our main characters here have known each other for 10 years having first met on the battlefield, and have an extreme hate for one another. I mean they chased each other across the galaxy trying to take each other out. he took her damn eye out with his claw. Which she regrew because you know future space technology 😆. Somehow they're picked to fight one another in the Carnal Games (actually done purposely for reasons I don't want to spoil), but they're not the only ones on this planet where it's held. It's broadcast live and people and aliens are allowed to place bets and force them to do thing's they don't want to. It was kinda nuts. Of course the individuals watching were most interested in them getting it on, but knew it wouldn't be easy for our herione. They're sick like that and prefer the competitors to be in pain. Especially the human because they get off on that. There are situations of assault here. Not by main character, but other's who are pushed into the Carnal Games.

This seriously was a wild ride, and I really hope this author comes out with more books.

Also, want to mention the cover is an accurate picture of what our alien here looks like. The weird tongue/snake thing stabs to kill