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Fated Mates of the Sea Sand Warlords #11
Alien Heart
“I had nothing left to lose. Until her…”
CAMILLE
We think there’s another tribe out there and I'm going to help find them. The journey might be dangerous, but I don’t care. Frankly, I can’t wait. Why?
Because I’m certain my mate is out there.
I want a mate. Badly.
He doesn’t seem to be here at the settlement.
So he must be in the sixth tribe beyond the Death Plains.
Nothing will stop me from finding true love.
Not even the grumpy, scowling bastard Varrow who suddenly decides that I’m the biggest new thorn in his muscly side.
Varrow hates the food I make, he growls at me more than he talks, and he WILL NOT stop glaring at me.
Worst of all, he’s coming on the journey with us.
I won’t let him get in my way.
But the more time we spend together travelling and the more I uncover about this dark, brooding warrior, the less prickly he becomes. Or rather, I realize his prickliness seems to be protecting something. A soft spot.
A secret.
It makes me want to know even more about him.
Before I know it, all my dreams of finding true love shift under my feet.
And I no longer know what, or whom, I really want.
VARROW
If life has taught me anything, it’s that the things we love destroy us when we lose them. After losing my brother and my arm in one fell swoop, I’ve held fast to that lesson. Growing up in the Death Plains with no unmated females proved I’d never have a mate. So it’s always been easier not to get attached. To anyone or anything.
So why, oh why, can’t I stay away from Cam-Eel?
She is tiny, and strange, and she ruins the meat with foul concoctions.
Whenever I speak to her, it seems to offend her.
She smiles at others.
But not at me.
No matter how much she hates me, when I find out she is journeying beyond the hostile Death Plains, I volunteer to go too. For some reason, I cannot let her leave this place without me.
When the Lavrika calls me the night before we leave, that reason becomes abundantly clear.
She is my mate.
If only I knew how to tell her that.
If only I knew how not to lose her.
CAMILLE
We think there’s another tribe out there and I'm going to help find them. The journey might be dangerous, but I don’t care. Frankly, I can’t wait. Why?
Because I’m certain my mate is out there.
I want a mate. Badly.
He doesn’t seem to be here at the settlement.
So he must be in the sixth tribe beyond the Death Plains.
Nothing will stop me from finding true love.
Not even the grumpy, scowling bastard Varrow who suddenly decides that I’m the biggest new thorn in his muscly side.
Varrow hates the food I make, he growls at me more than he talks, and he WILL NOT stop glaring at me.
Worst of all, he’s coming on the journey with us.
I won’t let him get in my way.
But the more time we spend together travelling and the more I uncover about this dark, brooding warrior, the less prickly he becomes. Or rather, I realize his prickliness seems to be protecting something. A soft spot.
A secret.
It makes me want to know even more about him.
Before I know it, all my dreams of finding true love shift under my feet.
And I no longer know what, or whom, I really want.
VARROW
If life has taught me anything, it’s that the things we love destroy us when we lose them. After losing my brother and my arm in one fell swoop, I’ve held fast to that lesson. Growing up in the Death Plains with no unmated females proved I’d never have a mate. So it’s always been easier not to get attached. To anyone or anything.
So why, oh why, can’t I stay away from Cam-Eel?
She is tiny, and strange, and she ruins the meat with foul concoctions.
Whenever I speak to her, it seems to offend her.
She smiles at others.
But not at me.
No matter how much she hates me, when I find out she is journeying beyond the hostile Death Plains, I volunteer to go too. For some reason, I cannot let her leave this place without me.
When the Lavrika calls me the night before we leave, that reason becomes abundantly clear.
She is my mate.
If only I knew how to tell her that.
If only I knew how not to lose her.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2022
258 people are currently reading
651 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
October 5, 2022
Please stop making the women so damn rude it’s annoying af.
March 23, 2023
Ummm… THIS WAS AMAZING??
Who doesn’t love an alien guy who falls first so hard and feels so unworthy of the heroine, that he’s basically having a full-on psychotic break the whole time? Put it directly in my veins! 🥰
The way Varrow felt so undeserving of Camille because he had one amputated arm? And how she didn’t care at all? Amazing. A super hot, grumpy except secretly feeling all the feelings alien guy, in a completely obsessed fated mates situation? Delicious.
This was giving me major Devi’s Distraction by Ruby Dixon vibes—except better. Yeah, I said it. Better than arguably the most well-beloved book by the most popular alien romance author. It was angsty, it was hot, it was action-y, plot stuff was happening. I was living!
Who doesn’t love an alien guy who falls first so hard and feels so unworthy of the heroine, that he’s basically having a full-on psychotic break the whole time? Put it directly in my veins! 🥰
The way Varrow felt so undeserving of Camille because he had one amputated arm? And how she didn’t care at all? Amazing. A super hot, grumpy except secretly feeling all the feelings alien guy, in a completely obsessed fated mates situation? Delicious.
This was giving me major Devi’s Distraction by Ruby Dixon vibes—except better. Yeah, I said it. Better than arguably the most well-beloved book by the most popular alien romance author. It was angsty, it was hot, it was action-y, plot stuff was happening. I was living!
December 12, 2023
Grumpy/Sunshine
This was a book where so many things could have been solved if they communicated better. Because it took place over weeks rather than months, it wasn’t unbearable to wait out the halting attempts at building a relationship.
Varrow was messed TF up from some serious childhood trauma and it limited his ability to form meaningful relationships. Camille was one hundred percent into the idea of having a mate, as we saw in prior books. The ended up being cute together.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: grief, violence, gore
This was a book where so many things could have been solved if they communicated better. Because it took place over weeks rather than months, it wasn’t unbearable to wait out the halting attempts at building a relationship.
Varrow was messed TF up from some serious childhood trauma and it limited his ability to form meaningful relationships. Camille was one hundred percent into the idea of having a mate, as we saw in prior books. The ended up being cute together.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: grief, violence, gore
July 2, 2025
Camile + Varrow
Le sigh, SO GOOD. Subtle grumpy/sunshine, tortured hero PINING and LONGING for his fated mate. The longing is so good here, on both sides but alas they keep pushing and pushing and pushing each other away for various reasons. Is it frustrating.... YES, but the payoff is glorious. Plus the added in epic and insane plot climax and more world building - hello sixth tribe!
This series is just so so good, not a dud in sight. This story was so gut-renching but beautiful and then of course super sexy. Checked all of the boxes for me.
Le sigh, SO GOOD. Subtle grumpy/sunshine, tortured hero PINING and LONGING for his fated mate. The longing is so good here, on both sides but alas they keep pushing and pushing and pushing each other away for various reasons. Is it frustrating.... YES, but the payoff is glorious. Plus the added in epic and insane plot climax and more world building - hello sixth tribe!
This series is just so so good, not a dud in sight. This story was so gut-renching but beautiful and then of course super sexy. Checked all of the boxes for me.
April 13, 2025
Shallow characterization once again. It seemed the author googled “common French swear words” and used them in Camille’s POV like there were no other words. And the repetition of the phrases, first in French and then English, was annoying. Most of them were easy to guess from the context, so it also felt like I was being mansplained. Or whatever word there is for an author explaining obvious things to the reader as if the reader couldn’t understand otherwise. And she’s supposed to be half Japanese, but other than the mention of eating sushi and visiting Japan every year, that’s not reflected in her personality. Not that the French side is reflected, either, most of the time she felt like an American tourist trying to pass as French. Or like the anime fans who use “kawaii” constantly and call everyone “chan” or “kun”, without a real understanding of Japanese culture. She was annoying and I didn’t like her.
The language used to refer to Varrow was so vague that it was surprisingly easy to forget he only had one arm. At one point he says “I wash my hands” and it took me a few moments before I realized the mistake. And, no matter what she said, sometimes it felt like Camille pitied Varrow, and their interactions at the beginning have that undertone. His self-deprecation got tiresome, and it felt shitty of him not to tell Camille she was his mate, despite having multiple opportunities to do so, and sometimes actively lying to hide that fact. So I didn’t like him, either.
The relationship was toxic AF, with none of them clearly communicating much, which makes the conflict needlessly long. It was literally solved with a five minute conversation. She forgave him way too quickly, and was needy AF, and sometimes it felt like she was with him just because he was her mate and nothing else. Like she could have fallen for another man just as easily. Varrow was pretty much a copy of Xyan, with some self-deprecation and martyr-complex sprinkles.
And the story beats are the same as in the other books. They're going to travel, one of them wasn't supposed to go but ends up going, they somehow end up sleeping in the same tent, he almost dies, gets magically healed by magical dragon blood. No stakes. Boring.
The language used to refer to Varrow was so vague that it was surprisingly easy to forget he only had one arm. At one point he says “I wash my hands” and it took me a few moments before I realized the mistake. And, no matter what she said, sometimes it felt like Camille pitied Varrow, and their interactions at the beginning have that undertone. His self-deprecation got tiresome, and it felt shitty of him not to tell Camille she was his mate, despite having multiple opportunities to do so, and sometimes actively lying to hide that fact. So I didn’t like him, either.
The relationship was toxic AF, with none of them clearly communicating much, which makes the conflict needlessly long. It was literally solved with a five minute conversation. She forgave him way too quickly, and was needy AF, and sometimes it felt like she was with him just because he was her mate and nothing else. Like she could have fallen for another man just as easily. Varrow was pretty much a copy of Xyan, with some self-deprecation and martyr-complex sprinkles.
And the story beats are the same as in the other books. They're going to travel, one of them wasn't supposed to go but ends up going, they somehow end up sleeping in the same tent, he almost dies, gets magically healed by magical dragon blood. No stakes. Boring.
March 1, 2023
Super cute, Camille is a trip lol. Varrow is a adorable, intense but still.
Steam- 2.5/5
Steam- 2.5/5
September 5, 2022
⌠ ★★★★★ ⌡
she has done it again! tysm to the author for gifting me an ARC! 🤍
i cannot give this book enough praise for how it made me feel. this book was the perfect mixture of angst, romance, fluffy moments, and action scenes. varrow and camille pulled at my heartstrings at every turn. they’re definitely my new favorite sea sands couple. varrow was an absolute dream. he was (unintentionally) funny and blunt, caring, and protective. everything he did was swoon worthy. i enjoyed his POV sm just because he was so dramatic and funny lol. i’m being serious, catch this:
“Maybe she was bothered by the fact I’d never eaten the meat she prepared so strangely. Maybe she thought I was a weak warrior for avoiding it.”
“I was not just love-sick. I was jealous. Jealous of Dalk who got to ride with her. Jealous of all the others who got her smiles. I am beyond love-sick, I thought miserably. I am love-wounded. Love-killed.”
babe pls just talk to her 💀💀💀
did i mention how hilarious he is?
“My mother made me eat them every day, with every meal. She made me eat so many that my arm fell off.”
LMAOO pls i love him
but he’s also a complete romantic 💘
“Perhaps it is different where you come from. Perhaps you and your kind can easily look away from something beautiful.” Then, my voice lower, softer, more broken: “But I cannot.”
and my favorite:
“Cam-Eel, look at me.
Cam-Eel, speak to me.
Cam-Eel, tell me everything’s alright.
Tell me that you love me.”
when will it be my turn? 😭😭😭
i cannot wait for the next book.
she has done it again! tysm to the author for gifting me an ARC! 🤍
i cannot give this book enough praise for how it made me feel. this book was the perfect mixture of angst, romance, fluffy moments, and action scenes. varrow and camille pulled at my heartstrings at every turn. they’re definitely my new favorite sea sands couple. varrow was an absolute dream. he was (unintentionally) funny and blunt, caring, and protective. everything he did was swoon worthy. i enjoyed his POV sm just because he was so dramatic and funny lol. i’m being serious, catch this:
“Maybe she was bothered by the fact I’d never eaten the meat she prepared so strangely. Maybe she thought I was a weak warrior for avoiding it.”
“I was not just love-sick. I was jealous. Jealous of Dalk who got to ride with her. Jealous of all the others who got her smiles. I am beyond love-sick, I thought miserably. I am love-wounded. Love-killed.”
babe pls just talk to her 💀💀💀
did i mention how hilarious he is?
“My mother made me eat them every day, with every meal. She made me eat so many that my arm fell off.”
LMAOO pls i love him
but he’s also a complete romantic 💘
“Perhaps it is different where you come from. Perhaps you and your kind can easily look away from something beautiful.” Then, my voice lower, softer, more broken: “But I cannot.”
and my favorite:
“Cam-Eel, look at me.
Cam-Eel, speak to me.
Cam-Eel, tell me everything’s alright.
Tell me that you love me.”
when will it be my turn? 😭😭😭
i cannot wait for the next book.
December 5, 2022
4.75 ⭐️
broody sad boys are the bestest of boys – always!
broody sad boys are the bestest of boys – always!
August 26, 2022
PERFECTION AS ALWAYS😭
March 21, 2024
DON’T YOU DARE JUDGE ME
November 25, 2023
I stumbled across Ursa Dax and her romance Fated Mates of the Sea Sand Warlords series after finishing up reading books from another author. I wanted something a bit different from normal romance and decided that Sci Fi romance was the go because anything can go. Let me tell you I really enjoyed them and read the whole series one straight after the other,
Alien men in all sizes and shapes, all growly and protective of their mates was just what I needed. Of course, it takes a while for the abducted Human women to come around but that is just part of the fun.
Ursa’s world building makes it so easy to imagine the world she has created, and the characters are so easy to fall in love with.
If you love Sci Fi romance that is messy, sexy, a little alien erotica and fated mates then Ursa is your gal.
I was not disappointed, and I know you won’t be either.
Alien men in all sizes and shapes, all growly and protective of their mates was just what I needed. Of course, it takes a while for the abducted Human women to come around but that is just part of the fun.
Ursa’s world building makes it so easy to imagine the world she has created, and the characters are so easy to fall in love with.
If you love Sci Fi romance that is messy, sexy, a little alien erotica and fated mates then Ursa is your gal.
I was not disappointed, and I know you won’t be either.
August 29, 2022
¡De mis favoritos de esta serie! No creo que haya nadie que se pueda resistir a Varrow. Desde luego, yo no pude. Ni a él ni a Camille.
Camille está 100% dispuesta a conocer a su pareja y, cuando nadie del asentamiento parece estar destinado para ella, se apunta a una expedición para buscar a la desconocida 6ª tribu esperando que esté entre ellos. La realidad es que está mucho más cerca lo que se piensa.
Varrow se siente atraído por Camille y sus extrañas mezclas culinarias las cuales le parecen asquerosas, así como a ella la encuentra fascinante. Cuando se entera de que está apunto de partir en la expedición se apunta para acto seguido recibir la llamada del Labrika (y ya sabemos lo que eso significa). Pero Varrow perdió muchas cosas siendo niño, entre ellas un brazo, y no se siente digno de Camille. Lo mejor del libro es, sin duda, el camino que recorren ambos en su relación.
Si tengo que poner un pego es el final. Creo que se ambos se merecian un poco más de atención y de páginas pero, no se puede negar, que Ursa Dax abre bien el apetito para el siguiente. ¡No puedo esperar!
Camille está 100% dispuesta a conocer a su pareja y, cuando nadie del asentamiento parece estar destinado para ella, se apunta a una expedición para buscar a la desconocida 6ª tribu esperando que esté entre ellos. La realidad es que está mucho más cerca lo que se piensa.
Varrow se siente atraído por Camille y sus extrañas mezclas culinarias las cuales le parecen asquerosas, así como a ella la encuentra fascinante. Cuando se entera de que está apunto de partir en la expedición se apunta para acto seguido recibir la llamada del Labrika (y ya sabemos lo que eso significa). Pero Varrow perdió muchas cosas siendo niño, entre ellas un brazo, y no se siente digno de Camille. Lo mejor del libro es, sin duda, el camino que recorren ambos en su relación.
Si tengo que poner un pego es el final. Creo que se ambos se merecian un poco más de atención y de páginas pero, no se puede negar, que Ursa Dax abre bien el apetito para el siguiente. ¡No puedo esperar!
August 27, 2022
I am a huge fan of the Sea Sand series. In this book, hero is very grumpy and missing an arm after being attacked by a creature when he was a child. Heroine is sunshine and has been hoping for a mate for a long time.
Hero does not tell her she is his mate for a while. He isn't sure what to do so he just looms around and spends time with her and protects her and feeds her and brings her gifts. It's fun to watch hero try to figure things out.
Hero does not tell her she is his mate for a while. He isn't sure what to do so he just looms around and spends time with her and protects her and feeds her and brings her gifts. It's fun to watch hero try to figure things out.
October 10, 2024
This might be my favorite one and also I can't believe it took like eleven books for one of them to put that tail to good use lmao ANYWAY my sweet guy here only had one arm and I loved that representation and just !!! I really, genuinely enjoyed both the FMC and MMC!
May 12, 2024
I love a disfigured MMC trope. There was some miscommunication as well, which was a little annoying but thankfully it did not last long.
February 11, 2023
Series favorite.
Yes. Dax was listening to my brain when I was thinking 'show me a main male who has a disability because that planet is HARSH on a body. Please. Please write it. PLEASE.'
Great.
Love it!
HAPPY READING!
Yes. Dax was listening to my brain when I was thinking 'show me a main male who has a disability because that planet is HARSH on a body. Please. Please write it. PLEASE.'
Great.
Love it!
HAPPY READING!
March 23, 2023
Did it deliver the pining trope? Yes. Did I get my grumpy x sunshine? Yes. So why did I only sort of like it and not absolutely f—king love it? Who knows 🤷♀️
Book ratings are fickle and I’m a mood reader so maybe this just wasn’t the right book for the right mood.
It is good-ish okay-ish. I haven’t read the earlier books in this seriesbecause I’m a monster that regularly reads books in series out of order but I had zero issues following the world building. It felt very familiar to the usual sci-fi romance tropes and had almost nostalgic early IPB vibes before that series went to sh!t with 20+ books.
I think I’ve been reading too many books lately where the love interest is a total simp for the protagonist. Yeah, I just have simp fatigue 🙃 I need to read a dark romance or a bodice ripper to refresh my romance taste buds. Maybe then I’ll be able to appreciate love interests like Varrow again who are 110% into the protagonists.
Or maybe Varrow was just too into the boring protagonist and it made him look dumb? Because I’ll be honest. Like Camille was kinda annoying. She was cute but sometimes she was annoying cute. And she was a little bland because there was not much going on up there in the ole attic except thinking about how she wants to f—k Varrow. So why was Varrow so into her? Maybe the relationship dynamics between these two idiots in insta-lust weren’t doing it for me because, despite the heavy and sensitive topics discussed in the book, this book was very superficial. And not in the 100% fun superficial way either.
There was also such a strong feeling of déjà vu because Camille reminded me so much of a combination of the chatty Asian protagonist and the flirty French protagonist in the IPB books. It is impossible not to see the similarities and how this character is a mishmash of those characters.
It’s late and I’m tired so I don’t even know what I’m writing anymore. Just based on vibes, this book is a 2-2.5 stars. It’s funsometimes and quick but brings nothing special to the sci-fi romance table. I’ll forget about these characters by tomorrow and never reread this book or think fondly about these characters.
The development of the relationship is predictable if you’ve read at least 5 other romances with a disabled character who lacks confidence and is reluctant to commit to a relationship with an able bodied character. The ending was also rushed and felt unsatisfactory.
And the spice was lacking 😩 Why oh why was it so boring? There was a f—king tail involved so how was it so boring? That’s a crime to write a boring seggs scene in a romance. Maybe it was because it was predictable stuff with the tail that I’ve read before? Maybe I wanted him to do something creative 😈
Final thought on the f—king third act before the ending. It was stupid dumb. Like deus ex machina on steroids because I was laughing at how dumb it was. I should knock off a star just for that. That took no thought or effort to write. The laziest deus ex machina.
Anyways, it was alright I guess and I’ll be reading more but this isn’t a new favorite author or series.
Book ratings are fickle and I’m a mood reader so maybe this just wasn’t the right book for the right mood.
It is good-ish okay-ish. I haven’t read the earlier books in this series
I think I’ve been reading too many books lately where the love interest is a total simp for the protagonist. Yeah, I just have simp fatigue 🙃 I need to read a dark romance or a bodice ripper to refresh my romance taste buds. Maybe then I’ll be able to appreciate love interests like Varrow again who are 110% into the protagonists.
Or maybe Varrow was just too into the boring protagonist and it made him look dumb? Because I’ll be honest. Like Camille was kinda annoying. She was cute but sometimes she was annoying cute. And she was a little bland because there was not much going on up there in the ole attic except thinking about how she wants to f—k Varrow. So why was Varrow so into her? Maybe the relationship dynamics between these two idiots in insta-lust weren’t doing it for me because, despite the heavy and sensitive topics discussed in the book, this book was very superficial. And not in the 100% fun superficial way either.
There was also such a strong feeling of déjà vu because Camille reminded me so much of a combination of the chatty Asian protagonist and the flirty French protagonist in the IPB books. It is impossible not to see the similarities and how this character is a mishmash of those characters.
It’s late and I’m tired so I don’t even know what I’m writing anymore. Just based on vibes, this book is a 2-2.5 stars. It’s fun
The development of the relationship is predictable if you’ve read at least 5 other romances with a disabled character who lacks confidence and is reluctant to commit to a relationship with an able bodied character. The ending was also rushed and felt unsatisfactory.
And the spice was lacking 😩 Why oh why was it so boring? There was a f—king tail involved so how was it so boring? That’s a crime to write a boring seggs scene in a romance. Maybe it was because it was predictable stuff with the tail that I’ve read before? Maybe I wanted him to do something creative 😈
Final thought on the f—king third act before the ending. It was stupid dumb. Like deus ex machina on steroids because I was laughing at how dumb it was. I should knock off a star just for that. That took no thought or effort to write. The laziest deus ex machina.
Anyways, it was alright I guess and I’ll be reading more but this isn’t a new favorite author or series.
September 19, 2022
Eleven books in, and I’m still really enjoying this series and eagerly looking forward to the next installment (mysterious sixth tribe with a culture based on flying mounts/gods? fun!). I overall find these to be well written—there are great funny parts, steamy parts, emotional parts, sweet parts, action-packed parts; I laugh, I cry, I swoon. I do have one quibble that just happened to be particularly noticeable in this book, with how the author tries to communicate that the FMC has a “unique” heritage (British, Scottish, French, etc). I appreciate the idea that these women have different backgrounds, but it often feels way too on the nose (the British one always saying “blokes” and the Scottish one saying “lassies”). This book’s FMC is half Japanese and half French, so she can’t just describe flowers as pink and green but has to call them “sakura mochi pink” and “pistachio macaron green,” because obviously the only references she has in her life have to be either Japanese or French lol. The next book features a heroine who is (I think) Indian…. and tbh I’m a little worried about how that's going to go😅 But that’s really my only complaint. Just... dial that back a little, and we'll be good! Otherwise, this is a fun series about sweet and strong alien warriors who love their mates fiercely and are having adventures across a steadily expanding world, and I am 100% looking forward to reading more!
January 23, 2023
Sunshiny Soul butts head with Proactive Protector
“His tongues didn’t even deserve to taste her putrid meat”
I swear this quote is actually hilarious and makes sense if you have read the book!
Varrow is a strong willed socially awkward male, who I just want to reach through the book and give the biggest cuddle. Camille is someone with a ready, heartfelt smile for all beings.
Though they have a rocky start due to Varrows straightforward no-nonsense approach, I truly loved how they complemented each other. I appreciated Varrow’s character and difference from the usual male lead. Boy did Varrow put me through the wringer of emotion. I am smitten with the complexity of his character. I freakin loved that Camille was open and honest about her desire for a mate (which I found relatable) and appreciated Camille’s increased compassion when facing Varrow and her efforts to convince him of his worth (which I 100% agreed with).
I rate this book 4.8 stars. I honestly flew through this story (ok, ok, I fly through all of Ursa’s books). I truly loved this duo and I am so excited for the next couple. Congratulations on another amazing book 😊
“His tongues didn’t even deserve to taste her putrid meat”
I swear this quote is actually hilarious and makes sense if you have read the book!
Varrow is a strong willed socially awkward male, who I just want to reach through the book and give the biggest cuddle. Camille is someone with a ready, heartfelt smile for all beings.
Though they have a rocky start due to Varrows straightforward no-nonsense approach, I truly loved how they complemented each other. I appreciated Varrow’s character and difference from the usual male lead. Boy did Varrow put me through the wringer of emotion. I am smitten with the complexity of his character. I freakin loved that Camille was open and honest about her desire for a mate (which I found relatable) and appreciated Camille’s increased compassion when facing Varrow and her efforts to convince him of his worth (which I 100% agreed with).
I rate this book 4.8 stars. I honestly flew through this story (ok, ok, I fly through all of Ursa’s books). I truly loved this duo and I am so excited for the next couple. Congratulations on another amazing book 😊
September 1, 2022
Listen, TikTok is a weird place with... interesting book recommendations sometimes.
I really enjoyed the first half of the book, it was very cute and made me laugh a couple of times. I liked how the characters interacted and got to know each other. I was a little disappointed by the second half bc it felt like the relationship dynamic and the little, cute interactions I liked completely stopped as soon as they got together.
Overall, it was a quick and entertaining read. Easy to get into even if you haven't read the others in the series imo.
I really enjoyed the first half of the book, it was very cute and made me laugh a couple of times. I liked how the characters interacted and got to know each other. I was a little disappointed by the second half bc it felt like the relationship dynamic and the little, cute interactions I liked completely stopped as soon as they got together.
Overall, it was a quick and entertaining read. Easy to get into even if you haven't read the others in the series imo.
November 15, 2022
It's here. The long awaited book 11 that got me reading this series in the first place.
Before I start it, there's some interesting stuff going on:
So how will this book fare? Let's find out!
First off, Camille is a monster fucker, so already I like her. She starts out the book by saying she's ready for her alien mate and finds both the Sea Sand and Bitter Sea dudes handsome. Good for you, Camille! (This isn't a surprise, of course, given in the last book she told Taylor that if she were in her place, she'd have immediately gotten into some hanky panky with Tok, but I love her dreamily thinking about the possibilities in this book, too.)
She also has a little more depth than some of the other girls, I think. A decent amount of background and establishing her kind of decisions and how she approaches things. A bit bummed she never gets to really utilize her anthropology knowledge though (yet?).
Varrow hilariously first refers to Camille as 'the beans woman' in his own thoughts and and calls her "little bean" throughout the book. Ironically, Varrow is such a sad and angry little bean himself, thinking himself not worthy of having a mate. :(
He's also kind of an awkward lil weirdo with very dry humor and terrible social skills. Then there's the beloved scene where he gives her beans. I've seen it mentioned in so many reviews when I originally looked this book up and it was still pretty cute and Varrowly awkward even knowing it was gonna happen.
Camille describes Varrow's character excellently with this line: "The pain of a boy that remained lodged like a hard stone in the heart of the man." So overall, I liked both of their characters!
Plot wise, there's a lot of confusion and angst over the romance side but it wasn't done in a way that was overly frustrating. It felt like it was on the cusp, like it had the potential to veer off into ARGH! territory but it never did and I was relieved for that. Still definitely there and all but it was enjoyable enough to read. Non-romance wise, the plot is a journey into an area of Zaphrinax none of them have been to before so the mystery there was also in the background. Action happens but it's all towards the end of the book and leaves you wanting more.
Poor Kohka stuck with Varrow and Camille at the end, lol! He seems like kind of a sweetheart? I hope we get a book on him in the future, he's the only Bitter Sea dude chosen for this trip and he was a nice little presence throughout. I also loved and laughed at the bit where the Sea Sand dudes gracefully jump down a drop and Kohka sort of just, thunderously stomps down:
"Gahn Razek landed gracefully beside me a moment later. Kohka landed on my other side, less gracefully and much more heavily, wobbling to one side before catching his balance. His shining silver sight discs slid over to Razek and me, staring at our legs. “I was not built for jumping,” he said simply." ahaha, I love it!
Last but not least: PRIYA'S STORY BETTER BE NEXT.
Why, on book 11, do we get kind of a cliffhanger? ugh
Before I start it, there's some interesting stuff going on:
So how will this book fare? Let's find out!
First off, Camille is a monster fucker, so already I like her. She starts out the book by saying she's ready for her alien mate and finds both the Sea Sand and Bitter Sea dudes handsome. Good for you, Camille! (This isn't a surprise, of course, given in the last book she told Taylor that if she were in her place, she'd have immediately gotten into some hanky panky with Tok, but I love her dreamily thinking about the possibilities in this book, too.)
She also has a little more depth than some of the other girls, I think. A decent amount of background and establishing her kind of decisions and how she approaches things. A bit bummed she never gets to really utilize her anthropology knowledge though (yet?).
Varrow hilariously first refers to Camille as 'the beans woman' in his own thoughts and and calls her "little bean" throughout the book. Ironically, Varrow is such a sad and angry little bean himself, thinking himself not worthy of having a mate. :(
He's also kind of an awkward lil weirdo with very dry humor and terrible social skills. Then there's the beloved scene where he gives her beans. I've seen it mentioned in so many reviews when I originally looked this book up and it was still pretty cute and Varrowly awkward even knowing it was gonna happen.
Camille describes Varrow's character excellently with this line: "The pain of a boy that remained lodged like a hard stone in the heart of the man." So overall, I liked both of their characters!
Plot wise, there's a lot of confusion and angst over the romance side but it wasn't done in a way that was overly frustrating. It felt like it was on the cusp, like it had the potential to veer off into ARGH! territory but it never did and I was relieved for that. Still definitely there and all but it was enjoyable enough to read. Non-romance wise, the plot is a journey into an area of Zaphrinax none of them have been to before so the mystery there was also in the background. Action happens but it's all towards the end of the book and leaves you wanting more.
Poor Kohka stuck with Varrow and Camille at the end, lol! He seems like kind of a sweetheart? I hope we get a book on him in the future, he's the only Bitter Sea dude chosen for this trip and he was a nice little presence throughout. I also loved and laughed at the bit where the Sea Sand dudes gracefully jump down a drop and Kohka sort of just, thunderously stomps down:
"Gahn Razek landed gracefully beside me a moment later. Kohka landed on my other side, less gracefully and much more heavily, wobbling to one side before catching his balance. His shining silver sight discs slid over to Razek and me, staring at our legs. “I was not built for jumping,” he said simply." ahaha, I love it!
Last but not least: PRIYA'S STORY BETTER BE NEXT.
Why, on book 11, do we get kind of a cliffhanger? ugh
July 24, 2025
You know I was really excited to read about Camille since she had been introduced in the previous book.
However, I hated that the author seemed to only do the bare minimum (and not even that) to represent a WOC. Also it felt as if the author was attempting to whitewash the character by making her half French and half Japanese. Because in the beginning of the book she jokes about saying good morning in 3 different languages (which btw it's not Ohayo GUzaimasou it's ohayo GOzaimasu). Like I get American authors aren't experts on day to day lingo used by non-US citizens but this and the Irish, French Canadian inserting random gibberish cobbled from the different languages and then english right after felt kinda sloppy. I get I don't have much to talk about given the sci fi smut theme but still.
Also can I say that I get she's half French but it also felt like the author was leaning more on the french than the Japanese portion and I think we all know why. Because everytime Camille spoke or referenced her Japanese side it felt very out of place and like someone who just quickly googled shit without actually understanding the culture.
E.g. Camille says she doesn't want to say Sayonara (Goodbye in Japanese) because that goodbye is meant for like leaving forever type shit. BUT IF THE AUTHOR ACTUALLY TOOK MORE THAN LIKE 5 SECONDS TO GOOGLE they would have found that Camille would have probably opted for Ittekimasu (which means I am leaving now but is usually said when leaving the home but plan to return). Or her being like omg these colors are like the pink of sakura mochi and the pistachio green of macarons like....... I guess it was all food but wouldn't you equate the pink to the sakura trees and the greens to idk actual nature and not food?
The story itself was OK but I have not nor will I ever be interested in the miscommunication trope. I get it makes sense for the characters given the BG but like........ Camille can't just talk? Given her adamant behavior of OMG WHY IS HE SO RUDE >:/// like girl.....why don't you just ask him? tf?
Varrow was written fine but again communication but at least he acknowledged he was bad at it. I don't really give the human woman who grew up in a healthy environment a pass. Also why the fuck was she kidnapped for Anthropology?? She didn't even use it in the book and it was more focused on her cooking (and even then not really, it was only talked about in the beginning and then she just stopped....). Which doesn't make sense but again this is a sci fi smut so nothing really is within the realm of reason ig.
Overall I wasn't a huge fan but I have noticed that a lot of authors in the smut scene just can't write non-white chicks very well. Doesn't mean I don't appreciate the effort but I think just a smidgen more refining could have helped this character.
However, I hated that the author seemed to only do the bare minimum (and not even that) to represent a WOC. Also it felt as if the author was attempting to whitewash the character by making her half French and half Japanese. Because in the beginning of the book she jokes about saying good morning in 3 different languages (which btw it's not Ohayo GUzaimasou it's ohayo GOzaimasu). Like I get American authors aren't experts on day to day lingo used by non-US citizens but this and the Irish, French Canadian inserting random gibberish cobbled from the different languages and then english right after felt kinda sloppy. I get I don't have much to talk about given the sci fi smut theme but still.
Also can I say that I get she's half French but it also felt like the author was leaning more on the french than the Japanese portion and I think we all know why. Because everytime Camille spoke or referenced her Japanese side it felt very out of place and like someone who just quickly googled shit without actually understanding the culture.
E.g. Camille says she doesn't want to say Sayonara (Goodbye in Japanese) because that goodbye is meant for like leaving forever type shit. BUT IF THE AUTHOR ACTUALLY TOOK MORE THAN LIKE 5 SECONDS TO GOOGLE they would have found that Camille would have probably opted for Ittekimasu (which means I am leaving now but is usually said when leaving the home but plan to return). Or her being like omg these colors are like the pink of sakura mochi and the pistachio green of macarons like....... I guess it was all food but wouldn't you equate the pink to the sakura trees and the greens to idk actual nature and not food?
The story itself was OK but I have not nor will I ever be interested in the miscommunication trope. I get it makes sense for the characters given the BG but like........ Camille can't just talk? Given her adamant behavior of OMG WHY IS HE SO RUDE >:/// like girl.....why don't you just ask him? tf?
Varrow was written fine but again communication but at least he acknowledged he was bad at it. I don't really give the human woman who grew up in a healthy environment a pass. Also why the fuck was she kidnapped for Anthropology?? She didn't even use it in the book and it was more focused on her cooking (and even then not really, it was only talked about in the beginning and then she just stopped....). Which doesn't make sense but again this is a sci fi smut so nothing really is within the realm of reason ig.
Overall I wasn't a huge fan but I have noticed that a lot of authors in the smut scene just can't write non-white chicks very well. Doesn't mean I don't appreciate the effort but I think just a smidgen more refining could have helped this character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2026
This was my first contact with the author through a Reddit rec, if I’m not mistaken, about cute alien romances that was rec-ed for a Goodreads rec list. And I really enjoyed the read. However, I think I kind of jumped on the bandwagon late, so I don’t know if I’d recommend the series as stand-alones as it was rec to me, because a lot of what happened before, how they got there, and even the physical appearance of each alien and their tribes isn’t really recapped.
Because of that, I had some difficulty imagining the real appearance of the ML and the other MLs in the story. Most of the descriptions of the alien race and their eyes were confusing to me—some reminded me of cat-like features, others of lizard-men—and I got pretty confused and a bit lost as it wasn’t that exactly and I failed to put some of the features all together.
Still, that didn’t take away from the plot or the romance of the story at all.
Anyway, it was a very pleasant, cute, funny, and at times genuinely touching read.
There were one or two plot twists near the end, and I especially appreciated that the author chose to maintain the character’s physical disability instead of “fixing” it in a miraculous way to better suit a “perfect version of romance.”
Reading that his disability didn’t negatively impact the romantic or steamy moments—or how they felt for each other—and seeing how the couple naturally adapted their dynamic to what worked best for them in their daily lives, without making a big deal out of it, was incredibly refreshing and comforting to my heart and soul.
Even when Varrow had his own doubts when he’s unsure of what to do or how to approach Camille, which felt very human and natural to me as they figure things out together, step by step.
Their differences never felt belittling or diminished, nor rooted in his disability as a negative plot point.
Well, even though the ending scene wasn’t exactly the closed-off finale I was hoping for (as my hopes were high, and I was already dreaming about alien sunsets, alien babies growing in her belly, with a full description of their established routine as official Mates in the new/old settlement… and lots and lots of beans. Like, Varrow eating Camille’s beans, Camille plating the beans Varrow gave her, and them nicknaming the baby in her belly “baby bean,” lol. It would be ultimately the cutest scenario for sure).
Anyway, even if the final scene wasn’t what I expected, the plot twist at the end completely sold me on continuing the series and even motivated me to go back and start reading from the beginning this time.
I’m really excited to keep reading and genuinely hope the rest of the books give me the same great experience this one did.
Because of that, I had some difficulty imagining the real appearance of the ML and the other MLs in the story. Most of the descriptions of the alien race and their eyes were confusing to me—some reminded me of cat-like features, others of lizard-men—and I got pretty confused and a bit lost as it wasn’t that exactly and I failed to put some of the features all together.
Still, that didn’t take away from the plot or the romance of the story at all.
Anyway, it was a very pleasant, cute, funny, and at times genuinely touching read.
There were one or two plot twists near the end, and I especially appreciated that the author chose to maintain the character’s physical disability instead of “fixing” it in a miraculous way to better suit a “perfect version of romance.”
Reading that his disability didn’t negatively impact the romantic or steamy moments—or how they felt for each other—and seeing how the couple naturally adapted their dynamic to what worked best for them in their daily lives, without making a big deal out of it, was incredibly refreshing and comforting to my heart and soul.
Even when Varrow had his own doubts when he’s unsure of what to do or how to approach Camille, which felt very human and natural to me as they figure things out together, step by step.
Their differences never felt belittling or diminished, nor rooted in his disability as a negative plot point.
Well, even though the ending scene wasn’t exactly the closed-off finale I was hoping for (as my hopes were high, and I was already dreaming about alien sunsets, alien babies growing in her belly, with a full description of their established routine as official Mates in the new/old settlement… and lots and lots of beans. Like, Varrow eating Camille’s beans, Camille plating the beans Varrow gave her, and them nicknaming the baby in her belly “baby bean,” lol. It would be ultimately the cutest scenario for sure).
Anyway, even if the final scene wasn’t what I expected, the plot twist at the end completely sold me on continuing the series and even motivated me to go back and start reading from the beginning this time.
I’m really excited to keep reading and genuinely hope the rest of the books give me the same great experience this one did.
August 25, 2022
🧡 “I will always be at your side. Your shadow as you stand in the light.”
~~~
Camille is such a romantic! I loved that, unlike some of the other Earth women, she was so open to having an alien mate and she was so eager to find her one. Even more, I loved that she was so kind, good, sweet and compassionate. And she was always always so generous with her smiles. I loved her so, so much!
Varrow is one of the Death Plains warriors. He’s such a strong, honorable, intense, blunt and fiercely protective male. But his heartbreaking and devastating past has left its scars on him. And his self imposed social isolation and the self-loathing broke my heart. But, Varrow deserves all the love in the Universe! His incredible strength and resilience has forged him into one spectacular male and I couldn’t help but absolutely adore that brooding, quiet and broken warrior!
The development of Camille and Varrow was so wonderful! A small group is going beyond the Death Plains in search of a possible sixth tribe and Camille and Varrow and part of it. And before their journey starts, Varrow is summoned by the Lavrika. But he feels so undeserving of a mate, that he keeps it a secret. And they actually didn’t start on the right foot due to him criticizing the one thing Camille loves most. Nevertheless, the grumpy love-struck warrior and his sunshiny human were so perfect for each other. I loved the time they spent together, getting to know one another and overcoming first impressions. I loved their conversations and the moments they shared their deepest and darkest pains. Moreover, I loved how attentive Varrow and who could have thought that the grumpy warrior would have such a great sense of humor. And the way he called her “little bean”... 🥺When the tension and angst becomes so unbearable and he finally admits everything he’s been hiding, all bets were off. And when they give in to their undeniable attraction, the passionate moments they shared were off-the-charts hot. Who could have thought the quiet and growly Death Plains warriors would have such a deliciously filthy side?! 😏
In addition, the storyline was fantastic! I loved that we got to explore beyond the desert and journey through the Death Plains which were filled with majestic views and deadly creatures. And what the group found beyond, and how everything went after that… Oh, I’m so ready to see how things will develop further!
Overall, the story is another splendid addition to the series. It’s filled with non-stop action, danger, adventure, angst, suspense, twists, drama, blazing hot romance and phenomenal characters.
I couldn’t put it down and absolutely loved every page of it!
~~~
Camille is such a romantic! I loved that, unlike some of the other Earth women, she was so open to having an alien mate and she was so eager to find her one. Even more, I loved that she was so kind, good, sweet and compassionate. And she was always always so generous with her smiles. I loved her so, so much!
Varrow is one of the Death Plains warriors. He’s such a strong, honorable, intense, blunt and fiercely protective male. But his heartbreaking and devastating past has left its scars on him. And his self imposed social isolation and the self-loathing broke my heart. But, Varrow deserves all the love in the Universe! His incredible strength and resilience has forged him into one spectacular male and I couldn’t help but absolutely adore that brooding, quiet and broken warrior!
The development of Camille and Varrow was so wonderful! A small group is going beyond the Death Plains in search of a possible sixth tribe and Camille and Varrow and part of it. And before their journey starts, Varrow is summoned by the Lavrika. But he feels so undeserving of a mate, that he keeps it a secret. And they actually didn’t start on the right foot due to him criticizing the one thing Camille loves most. Nevertheless, the grumpy love-struck warrior and his sunshiny human were so perfect for each other. I loved the time they spent together, getting to know one another and overcoming first impressions. I loved their conversations and the moments they shared their deepest and darkest pains. Moreover, I loved how attentive Varrow and who could have thought that the grumpy warrior would have such a great sense of humor. And the way he called her “little bean”... 🥺When the tension and angst becomes so unbearable and he finally admits everything he’s been hiding, all bets were off. And when they give in to their undeniable attraction, the passionate moments they shared were off-the-charts hot. Who could have thought the quiet and growly Death Plains warriors would have such a deliciously filthy side?! 😏
In addition, the storyline was fantastic! I loved that we got to explore beyond the desert and journey through the Death Plains which were filled with majestic views and deadly creatures. And what the group found beyond, and how everything went after that… Oh, I’m so ready to see how things will develop further!
Overall, the story is another splendid addition to the series. It’s filled with non-stop action, danger, adventure, angst, suspense, twists, drama, blazing hot romance and phenomenal characters.
I couldn’t put it down and absolutely loved every page of it!
December 15, 2024
Series: Fated Mates of the Sea Sand Warlords #11
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
There is apparently another tribe out there and so a group of warriors is being sent to find them. Camille and Priya are going as well since they are anthropologists and cartographers. When Varrow learns that Camille will be leaving the settlement, he volunteers to go with them, even though he doesn’t know why. But before they set out the next morning, the Lavrika calls him and reveals she is his and he is even more determined to protect her now.
This was the first book in this series featuring a character with a disability. Varrow lost his arm as a child but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a strong warrior. Varrow is the strong silent type who are not really great at communication. Varrow was a man who was traumatized by the loss of his arm and family, and because of that he doesn’t really let anyone close. He really struggles with the idea that the Lavrika chose a mate for him. He also refuses to tell Camille about it, causing a lot of tension between them throughout this book. While I liked Varrow, I also found him frustrating because there were so many times he should have told Camille she was his mate and he just didn’t.
Camille is an anthropologist who is going along in the hope she could help if the sixth tribe didn’t have the same language/culture, and because Cece was pregnant and unable to be the linguist. Camille initially thinks Varrow doesn’t like her but once she realizes he just isn’t good at communication she makes more of an effort to get to know him. I liked how her feelings grew over the journey but I probably would have enjoyed it more if Varrow had been honest with her earlier and told her she was his mate. I wanted to see these two really bond as the journey progressed, but instead it was a tension filled one that I didn’t love. Which is surprising since I usually like tension filled relationships.
The introduction to the sixth tribe was very fast and very interesting. I wasn’t expecting the differences with them and I will be interested in what happens next with them. Also I will be interested in Priya’s side of the adventure because I want to know more about her.
Overall, this was a good addition to the series. Camille and Varrow’s relationship wasn’t my favorite but I still enjoyed these two as a couple. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if Varrow had just been honest with Camille, especially after learning she wants a mate. Hopefully we will get to the fight against the humans soon.
TW: death of parents and sibling mentioned; grief; near death experience;
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
There is apparently another tribe out there and so a group of warriors is being sent to find them. Camille and Priya are going as well since they are anthropologists and cartographers. When Varrow learns that Camille will be leaving the settlement, he volunteers to go with them, even though he doesn’t know why. But before they set out the next morning, the Lavrika calls him and reveals she is his and he is even more determined to protect her now.
This was the first book in this series featuring a character with a disability. Varrow lost his arm as a child but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a strong warrior. Varrow is the strong silent type who are not really great at communication. Varrow was a man who was traumatized by the loss of his arm and family, and because of that he doesn’t really let anyone close. He really struggles with the idea that the Lavrika chose a mate for him. He also refuses to tell Camille about it, causing a lot of tension between them throughout this book. While I liked Varrow, I also found him frustrating because there were so many times he should have told Camille she was his mate and he just didn’t.
Camille is an anthropologist who is going along in the hope she could help if the sixth tribe didn’t have the same language/culture, and because Cece was pregnant and unable to be the linguist. Camille initially thinks Varrow doesn’t like her but once she realizes he just isn’t good at communication she makes more of an effort to get to know him. I liked how her feelings grew over the journey but I probably would have enjoyed it more if Varrow had been honest with her earlier and told her she was his mate. I wanted to see these two really bond as the journey progressed, but instead it was a tension filled one that I didn’t love. Which is surprising since I usually like tension filled relationships.
The introduction to the sixth tribe was very fast and very interesting. I wasn’t expecting the differences with them and I will be interested in what happens next with them. Also I will be interested in Priya’s side of the adventure because I want to know more about her.
Overall, this was a good addition to the series. Camille and Varrow’s relationship wasn’t my favorite but I still enjoyed these two as a couple. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if Varrow had just been honest with Camille, especially after learning she wants a mate. Hopefully we will get to the fight against the humans soon.
TW: death of parents and sibling mentioned; grief; near death experience;
August 27, 2022
🧡🧡 Book Review 🧡🧡
Title: Alien Heart
Author: Ursa Drax
Pages: 270
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
~
Varrow has experienced enough loss in his life to know that happiness is fleeting and it's better to avoid it than to risk losing it. That is until he comes across Camille, the new woman who gives away smiles. He wants those smiles for himself and it's not long until he realises he might not be able to avoid the feelings she gives him.
Camille isn't too upset at being on an alien planet, having to learn how to survive in the new conditions. She's surrounded by friend and hunky alien men. Although she very much dreams about finding her mate. She hopes that the journey to discover the possible sixth clan will allow her this opportunity.
That is of course until Mr Grumpy Pants joins the group going out. She's almost convinced he hates her, but she can't help being drawn to the sad alien who hides his pain behind a growly exterior.
~
What do you get when you put together the most sunshiny woman and the saddest most grumpy alien on this new planet? You get perfection. We all know I'm obsessed with this series, so I absolutely had to read this book as soon as it was released and I was not disappointed.
Camille is such a soft character, making people happy with food and she always has a smile for those around her. She just wants to love those around her. And she is absolutely perfect for Varrow.
Varrow is the saddest boi, and I really just want to wrap him up and protect him from any future pain. He has been through so much, yet her remains loyal and protective of those around him. He was really Grumpy and inept at holding a conversation, but damn was he an absolute softy for Camille. Like really guys - he got her beans!!!! (You'll understand when you read the book) and don't even get me started on his nickname for her.
Drax once again crafts the perfect standalone, but with a new and interesting plot that slots perfectly into the overarching series plot and lines up the next book perfectly. Seriously I'm so invested in this overarching plot it's not even funny.
Once again this series is a definite recommend.
🧡
Title: Alien Heart
Author: Ursa Drax
Pages: 270
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
~
Varrow has experienced enough loss in his life to know that happiness is fleeting and it's better to avoid it than to risk losing it. That is until he comes across Camille, the new woman who gives away smiles. He wants those smiles for himself and it's not long until he realises he might not be able to avoid the feelings she gives him.
Camille isn't too upset at being on an alien planet, having to learn how to survive in the new conditions. She's surrounded by friend and hunky alien men. Although she very much dreams about finding her mate. She hopes that the journey to discover the possible sixth clan will allow her this opportunity.
That is of course until Mr Grumpy Pants joins the group going out. She's almost convinced he hates her, but she can't help being drawn to the sad alien who hides his pain behind a growly exterior.
~
What do you get when you put together the most sunshiny woman and the saddest most grumpy alien on this new planet? You get perfection. We all know I'm obsessed with this series, so I absolutely had to read this book as soon as it was released and I was not disappointed.
Camille is such a soft character, making people happy with food and she always has a smile for those around her. She just wants to love those around her. And she is absolutely perfect for Varrow.
Varrow is the saddest boi, and I really just want to wrap him up and protect him from any future pain. He has been through so much, yet her remains loyal and protective of those around him. He was really Grumpy and inept at holding a conversation, but damn was he an absolute softy for Camille. Like really guys - he got her beans!!!! (You'll understand when you read the book) and don't even get me started on his nickname for her.
Drax once again crafts the perfect standalone, but with a new and interesting plot that slots perfectly into the overarching series plot and lines up the next book perfectly. Seriously I'm so invested in this overarching plot it's not even funny.
Once again this series is a definite recommend.
🧡
October 18, 2025
I think Varrow is my new favorite guy in the whole series, though he is very similar to Taliok personality wise, as well as both of them being scarred (though Varrow has only one arm).
That being said, their stories were different and while Camille and Melanie were also similar, I liked Camille more... even though, once again Ursa decided to make her speak not only one other language but two.. and it was getting a bit on my nerves. I don't actually know if she thinks people who speak more than one language actually go off and think or say something in another language for a word or two and then flip back into English constantly. I'm bilingual and while I also live in a Bilingual place the only time I speak French is with other people who speak French. I do not randomly speak one word in French while continuing to speak the rest in English. Look, it's not necessarily a bad thing but like most of her books it goes in excessive amounts, just like the pet names and so it gets distracting, pulling my attention from the story.
My main complaint about the book though was Jocelyn. Holy shit when did she become such a bitch? I understand Ursa wanted her to appear protective and caring of Camille but she came off as a complete judgmental bitch from the moment she spoke to Varrow and it didn't end with their first encounter. She always had something to say about him or to him and it was very off-putting, especially since she's supposed to be a Gahnala (basically the tribe leader's partner). Theresa and Cece are definitely better suited in their leadership roles (though you never really hear from Cece anymore as the books go on, even though she is brought up a lot). At least Jocelyn isn't in the book that much. Oh and the use of the word bean, and that it was basically the center of the story... Varrow even calls her "little bean" because of how obsessed she was with them. It's.. a lot. Like I said, this author likes to go over and above with repetition and it shows.
That being said, their stories were different and while Camille and Melanie were also similar, I liked Camille more... even though, once again Ursa decided to make her speak not only one other language but two.. and it was getting a bit on my nerves. I don't actually know if she thinks people who speak more than one language actually go off and think or say something in another language for a word or two and then flip back into English constantly. I'm bilingual and while I also live in a Bilingual place the only time I speak French is with other people who speak French. I do not randomly speak one word in French while continuing to speak the rest in English. Look, it's not necessarily a bad thing but like most of her books it goes in excessive amounts, just like the pet names and so it gets distracting, pulling my attention from the story.
My main complaint about the book though was Jocelyn. Holy shit when did she become such a bitch? I understand Ursa wanted her to appear protective and caring of Camille but she came off as a complete judgmental bitch from the moment she spoke to Varrow and it didn't end with their first encounter. She always had something to say about him or to him and it was very off-putting, especially since she's supposed to be a Gahnala (basically the tribe leader's partner). Theresa and Cece are definitely better suited in their leadership roles (though you never really hear from Cece anymore as the books go on, even though she is brought up a lot). At least Jocelyn isn't in the book that much. Oh and the use of the word bean, and that it was basically the center of the story... Varrow even calls her "little bean" because of how obsessed she was with them. It's.. a lot. Like I said, this author likes to go over and above with repetition and it shows.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2022
I have read and enjoyed all the stories in this series but this one, this one was extraordinary in its exposition of the tentative emotions developing between the two stars of this show Death Plains Warrior Varrow and human Camille. I loved both characters who were so expertly crafted I WANTED to get to know them and their story which the authors exquisite writing accomplished.
Camille the daughter of chefs loves to grow beans in the Sea Sands settlement often accentuating the meat cooked with her creations. The warriors don’t care for the flavor though and Varrow is no exception. At this point their interactions are sometimes antagonistic at best which is soon going to change when part of the tribe including Camille prepares to set out for the Death Plains were the humans scanning has detected another possible sixth tribe.
Varrow joins the expedition because even though he won’t admit it to himself he is attracted to Camille and refuses to allow any harm to come to her. Then the night before the journey begins the Lavrika comes to him and everything becomes clear, Camille is his mate.
As the journey progresses with the sexual tension between the two becoming ever more palpable as does the growing love that wounded warrior Varrow fights with himself over because he feels unworthy of Camille I was held in suspense, holding my breath as I waited for the moment it all culminated.
Excellent creative world building and a few surprises and twists keep this mesmerizing narrative flowing smoothly and satisfyingly to an ending that has me smiling yet burning for the next book which will be Pryia’s story and may expose even more wonders in this awesome Sea Sands saga!
I received an ARC copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Camille the daughter of chefs loves to grow beans in the Sea Sands settlement often accentuating the meat cooked with her creations. The warriors don’t care for the flavor though and Varrow is no exception. At this point their interactions are sometimes antagonistic at best which is soon going to change when part of the tribe including Camille prepares to set out for the Death Plains were the humans scanning has detected another possible sixth tribe.
Varrow joins the expedition because even though he won’t admit it to himself he is attracted to Camille and refuses to allow any harm to come to her. Then the night before the journey begins the Lavrika comes to him and everything becomes clear, Camille is his mate.
As the journey progresses with the sexual tension between the two becoming ever more palpable as does the growing love that wounded warrior Varrow fights with himself over because he feels unworthy of Camille I was held in suspense, holding my breath as I waited for the moment it all culminated.
Excellent creative world building and a few surprises and twists keep this mesmerizing narrative flowing smoothly and satisfyingly to an ending that has me smiling yet burning for the next book which will be Pryia’s story and may expose even more wonders in this awesome Sea Sands saga!
I received an ARC copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 26, 2022
wow the story has really progressed
great book, off to read the next in series
They just get more & more exciting!
Uh oh ! They are getting closer.
Earth government has abducted women young college girls in a “forced” suicide mission to an alien dessert planet, to learn about their strange resources. They want to take it from them. However the primitive barbarian like males are not gonna just say sure, go ahead,take our sacred life giving dragon milk energy source. So instead of sending scientific or military trained professionals. The earth government kidnaps young professional women to get reconnaissance information with no intention or care as to whether the women survive or not. Why only, women you ask well.. the barbarians are probably less likely to kill them since they have so few of their own. But the sacred creature of this planet like a dragon god… has predicted the women to be mates for the primitive race. And could save their species and bring them together.
This is an earth abduction, alien fated mate romance. I was not triggered by anything in this book although there is some violence. Warriors will be warriors and they will fight to the death for their pretty earth mates
These aliens have tails, claws, talons, and unusual genitalia which is used in some very interesting ways to please the earth girls.
This lol is like Conan the barbarian meets land of the lost .. meets earth girls are easy. Lol
Now I’m off to get the next in series
great book, off to read the next in series
They just get more & more exciting!
Uh oh ! They are getting closer.
Earth government has abducted women young college girls in a “forced” suicide mission to an alien dessert planet, to learn about their strange resources. They want to take it from them. However the primitive barbarian like males are not gonna just say sure, go ahead,take our sacred life giving dragon milk energy source. So instead of sending scientific or military trained professionals. The earth government kidnaps young professional women to get reconnaissance information with no intention or care as to whether the women survive or not. Why only, women you ask well.. the barbarians are probably less likely to kill them since they have so few of their own. But the sacred creature of this planet like a dragon god… has predicted the women to be mates for the primitive race. And could save their species and bring them together.
This is an earth abduction, alien fated mate romance. I was not triggered by anything in this book although there is some violence. Warriors will be warriors and they will fight to the death for their pretty earth mates
These aliens have tails, claws, talons, and unusual genitalia which is used in some very interesting ways to please the earth girls.
This lol is like Conan the barbarian meets land of the lost .. meets earth girls are easy. Lol
Now I’m off to get the next in series
September 4, 2022
This book was fantastic! Phenomenal world building and these two characters are my favorite couple in the whole series! Their relationship was so beautiful and hearing their inner thoughts... it actually made me emotional to read it at times. I really fell in love with them. Camille longed for a mate and family. Varrow is drawn to her and then learns she is his mate, but believes he is unworthy of her and that she deserves someone better. My heart broke a little every time he had self-depreciating thoughts and suffered for loving her and believing he'd lose her. I loved this journey they took together as they fell more in love and grew closer. Varrow may not be the best at communicating what he means, but he sure says and thinks the most romantic things sometimes! *swoon* Apart from the romance aspect, the story had danger, suspense, and some surprises along the way. I never fail to be impressed every time I finish a new Sea Sands book and its world just keeps expanding in incredible ways. Loved this book, and I'll probably be rereading it again before the next one comes out. 5 stars.
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