Top 1% reader

Epic reverse harem alien romance

Revisado: 02-26-25

This is part 1 of a 3-part story. At the time of this review, I'm only partially through the second book, but I had to pause to write this review. Perhaps most telling is that I've been binge listening to the series since I downloaded book 1. Normally, I resent stories that are continuations over multiple volumes, but in this case (sorta like the Twilight saga), there are justifiable reasons to split the story. As a heads up, also, each book is a very healthy length (that sounds dirty, doesn't it?), so it's not some author's trick to drag you along and make you spend your $$ or credits unnecessarily. In fact, volume 3 is more than 23 hours long.

Okay that said, I am HOOKED. Eve (abducted and trafficked human) and Abraxis (dragon shifter-ish) are an awesome pairing. You'll root for each of them on this journey, and beyond this first book into the next installment, despite... well, without giving too much away, let's just say that there's a vampire mothman, and a sexy tentacled intergalactic policeman that will get in the way...

This is done in duet narration, and is done SUPERBLY by both Patrick Zeller and Brooke Daniels. Though Patrick has the tougher climb with the three very distinct alien voices of the three male leads vying for Eve's love. He's quickly found a top ranking in my list of go-to male narrators. Purr, he's divine.

If you like romance themes that include things like abducted by aliens, dragons, fanged aliens, and badass female lead, you'll LOVE these books! Get them!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Loving this new world

Revisado: 02-10-25

This is the first of (currently) 4 books in the series, only 2 of which are available on Audible so far. That's a bit of heartbreak for me, because I've also just finished listening to book #2 (separate review forthcoming), and I'm SOOOO ready for books 3 and 4, and I don't want to spoil the experience by reading them on Amazon first... though I just might have to. I already know the characters involved for books 3 and 4 and I NEED to know how it works out for them. Anyway, this is a new take on humans adapting to a changing world, where the world above is too harsh to survive (presumably from abuse of resources and climate change), so naturally, the humans move their populations into the oceans and seas, building cities under water without regard for the creatures that rightfully inhabit those places, and in the process, contaminating their surroundings. One of those species - the Undine - are mermaid/merman-like creatures who have their own society and culture. And the Undine are not happy with how the humans are destroying their home. This first book focuses on Arges (a blue Undine) and Myra, a tough-as-nails machinist/engineer who happens to draw Arges' attention while she's repairing one of the underwater domes. It's sort of an enemies to lovers trope, but quite a slow burn. It's not overly sexual, by which I mean the sex scenes are brief (though steamy), but ultimately important for the character arcs and underlying story.

I did note that the final chapter before the epilogue (I think chapter 40) was read by Will, though it was clearly from Myra's point of view. I don't know if that was an oversight, or if something happened with production that Carmen couldn't voice that chapter. Both Will and Carmen voice their characters extremely well, and in fact, Will's interpretation of the Undine voice patterns and timbre comes through in spades. He was the PERFECT pick for this series and I hope he returns for books 3 and 4.

If you're into any sort of "romantasy" (Fae, alien, shifter, etc.), and you're just not sure whether this is a book you'd like, I give two very big thumbs up in a recommendation that you try it (five solid Audible stars across the board). To Emma Hamm: I hope you will put an ETA on your web page for the audible release for the 3rd and 4th book.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Amazing world with OUTSTANDING NARRATION

Revisado: 09-06-24

This review applies to all 18 main books in the MIDNIGHT BREED series, but I'll post it for book 1 and book 18 only. I tend to be fickle after five or six books in a series, so it says something that I actually listened to all 18 (and a few novellas) without deviating to other stories. Each one is worthy of a credit (though some are free right now if you're an Audible Plus member). The first novel focuses on Gabrielle and Lucan (an essential foundation for the series), and each subsequent book focuses on another amazing couple. But none of the couples are "throwaways." They all have their purpose in this ever-deepening and complex world of the breed. The more couples that are introduced, the more complex and fantastic the world. Lara Adrian never forgets who her characters are, and always stays true to their unique talents when you meet them again in the subsequent stories. Finally, in book 18, everything comes full-circle back to the "heart" of the story, Gabrielle and Lucan (even though that story is not "their story") in a beautiful climax that has you on the edge until the end.

I absolutely must comment on the truly outstanding narration by Hilary Huber. I mean, from one story to the next, she narrates each character with such unique accents, and mannerism of speech. And she never forgets (when those characters pop up in later stories) what they sound like. Hilary Huber is as equal to the success of this Midnight Breed series as the author.

This is a great series to undertake when you have a lot of travel time ahead of you, or a long task like spring cleaning, because it will take weeks (at least) to get through them all. But it's worth it!

There are several novellas that go along with the series, but I only read a few of them. One that is an absolute MUST read is 0.5, as you'll really benefit from knowing who Savannah and Gideon are, so if you're reading this review before listening to "Kiss of Midnight," stop, and go pick up "Taste of Midnight" first.

Enjoy! And congratulations to Lara Adrian and Hilary Huber.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Amazing world with OUTSTANDING NARRATION

Revisado: 09-06-24

This review applies to all 18 main books in the MIDNIGHT BREED series, but I'll post it for book 1 and book 18 only. I tend to be fickle after five or six books in a series, so it says something that I actually listened to all 18 (and a few novellas) without deviating to other stories. Each one is worthy of a credit (though some are free right now if you're an Audible Plus member). The first novel focuses on Gabrielle and Lucan (an essential foundation for the series), and each subsequent book focuses on another amazing couple. But none of the couples are "throwaways." They all have their purpose in this ever-deepening and complex world of the breed. The more couples that are introduced, the more complex and fantastic the world. Lara Adrian never forgets who her characters are, and always stays true to their unique talents when you meet them again in the subsequent stories. Finally, in book 18, everything comes full-circle back to the "heart" of the story, Gabrielle and Lucan (even though that story is not "their story") in a beautiful climax that has you on the edge until the end.

I absolutely must comment on the truly outstanding narration by Hilary Huber. I mean, from one story to the next, she narrates each character with such unique accents, and mannerism of speech. And she never forgets (when those characters pop up in later stories) what they sound like. Hilary Huber is as equal to the success of this Midnight Breed series as the author.

This is a great series to undertake when you have a lot of travel time ahead of you, or a long task like spring cleaning, because it will take weeks (at least) to get through them all. But it's worth it!

There are several novellas that go along with the series, but I only read a few of them. One that is an absolute MUST read is 0.5, as you'll really benefit from knowing who Savannah and Gideon are, so if you're reading this review before listening to "Kiss of Midnight," stop, and go pick up "Taste of Midnight" first.

Enjoy! And congratulations to Lara Adrian and Hilary Huber.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Ba-Brooke is ah-na-noying

Revisado: 07-02-24

I've enjoyed most of the Ice Planet Barbarians series (notable exception for Barbarian Mine). But this one really annoyed me. Mostly due to Brooke (called "Ba-Brooke throughout because she happened to stutter when she was first introduced to the Sa-Khui, and apparently they have no manners and refuse to correct her name??? Bizarre). Brooke was one of those really manipulative kind of girls who, intentionally or not, leads a man on but then puts the brakes on. And then, when she develops real feelings for the guy, manipulates her way back into his arms. I got to the point where I essentially skipped ahead a few chapters because I just couldn't stand all of the repetitive manipulation of the poor guy. Other than the very last two chapters, which start to introduce the "newbies" that up until now were still in stasis, this book in the series can pretty much be avoided.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

An emotional masterpiece

Revisado: 04-14-24

This review is for both Cruel Paradise and Cruel Promise. You must read both (in that order) for the full story. And for once, I didn't even mind the cliffhanger end of book 1. Both volumes are very long, and worthy of a credit each.

What a satisfying, couldn't-put-it-down listen. Definitely some things that frustrated me, though. Ben, Emma's brother in law is the DICK of all dicks, and Emma is a doormat when it comes to him, all for the "benefit" of the children, and it really isn't a spoiler alert to say how badly that backfires. The man should have been put out of his misery right at the jump, but of course, the drama he incites is in many ways the catalyst for Emma's ultimate decisions that drive her into the clutches of Ruslan.

Emma is a wonderfully developed, genuine character who deserves the world. But it's Emma's struggles, and deeply emotional fortitude that will keep you engaged throughout both books. Ruslan starts out as the bosshole from hell, but early on, it's easy to become really invested in the promise of their relationship. Together, they're FIRE.

Highly recommended and definitely worth the two credits.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

An emotional masterpiece

Revisado: 04-14-24

This review is for both Cruel Paradise and Cruel Promise. You must read both (in that order) for the full story. And for once, I didn't even mind the cliffhanger end of book 1. Both volumes are very long, and worthy of a credit each.

What a satisfying, couldn't-put-it-down listen. Definitely some things that frustrated me, though. Ben, Emma's brother in law is the DICK of all dicks, and Emma is a doormat when it comes to him, all for the "benefit" of the children, and it really isn't a spoiler alert to say how badly that backfires. The man should have been put out of his misery right at the jump, but of course, the drama he incites is in many ways the catalyst for Emma's ultimate decisions that drive her into the clutches of Ruslan.

Emma is a wonderfully developed, genuine character who deserves the world. But it's Emma's struggles, and deeply emotional fortitude that will keep you engaged throughout both books. Ruslan starts out as the bosshole from hell, but early on, it's easy to become really invested in the promise of their relationship. Together, they're FIRE.

A very worthwhile listen that you won't regret spending your credits on!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

another hit series for Zoey

Revisado: 04-01-24

I am a tremendous fan of Zoey's Horde Kings series, so I was very happy to see this new series, and I'm hoping it will be a several book series. It's a complicated world to build but she's done a masterful job. I relate to both main characters and the things that happened in their pasts that formed their personalities. Stella did an awesome job narrating the female voices, but I felt that Marcio fell a little short on narrating the lead male, giving a too mellow read during times when Azur was angry.

I smiled at the quick little nod to Drakkar, and if you haven't read that series yet, I encourage you to do so right away.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

final installment is confusing & lacks credibility

Revisado: 02-05-24

I've listened through all five audible books in this series, and was looking forward to the conclusion. The first four I rather enjoyed, though I was somewhat annoyed that book four was a part one of two, so you either have to stop listening at book three (I recommend this) or go for all five. Anyway, book five was a bust for me and I'll tell you why (only the third point in its own paragraph below is a spoiler, and I've marked it as such).

More than once, the author advances the story and then suddenly everything comes to a halt, with Elle claiming... "and then I woke up, and realized it was all a dream." How many times can you do this? As a writer, sometimes you realize your characters are going down the wrong path, and even though it's painful to do so, it's the author's responsibility to reconsider, delete and start over. To lead the reader/listener down an untrue path is irresponsible, and frankly, the lazy way out. I'm not saying that a dream sequence doesn't have its own value if done correctly - if there's a real purpose for it - but usually, the reader KNOWS it's a dream and therefore, isn't dropped out of the story when the dream ends, asking, what the fuck?

A second and really irritating issue with this particular volume is the author's unrelenting use of idioms and slang. We're dealing with an alien species here, and frankly, one that has shown its rather predominant disgust for the human race. So the fact that it's primarily the alien L'Than saying these phrases is problematic for me. I think that the author at some point realized this (or it was pointed out to her by a beta reader), and instead of taking the time and effort to FIX this careless use of human slang that the alien would have no way of knowing, she added the a sentence somewhere along the variation of "As I have come to learn from the New Terran idiom and slang dictionary." Again, this is LAZY writing. Each character has its own voice, way of thinking, and way of communicating. L'Than deserved nothing less.

**SPOILER** This paragraph only. Now to my biggest issue with this final book in the series. The author finally chose to address the cause of the Zalthurian's fertility crisis... and OH. MY. GOD. Seriously? What a ridiculous premise. That this so-called advanced alien race: 1) does not understand or has not adequately studied their own females' anatomy, particularly given that their species are on the brink of extinction without cross-species mating (which they HATE); and 2) that the Zalthurians apparently have such contempt for their females in the first place to ignore something as basic as need, desire, and sexual pleasure (not to mention they don't see any value in their female offspring... which... hello, don't you need females to create more babies???) is just SOOO dumb. **END SPOILER**

This last book was terribly confusing and I wish I had stopped listening after the third story. That would be my recommendation.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

A confusing vortex

Revisado: 01-24-24

I've read some of the other reviews for this story, and frankly, it's why I was compelled to give this book a listen, like, there is this promise of a shocking turn and I'd better hold on to my seat. But I have to disagree with the other readers. This was not a WOW blow my mind kind of story. Instead, I think of it like the vortex of a tornado. Let me explain (SPOILER ALERT skip the second paragraph below and move right on to the third if you're concerned about spoilers).

For the first several chapters, I was frankly really bored. Nothing about the story appealed to me in any way. The starting premise is an author trying to find her muse in Paris, who comes upon a strikingly handsome artist and they have a blistering romp with the promise of no feelings. Then a "secret" about the artist is revealed (and I was like, "why would you do this in a romance story?") and I almost quit the book right then and there. Then we find out everything she ever thought was true was a lie, including what she's come to believe about her artist... and then just when she finds a great new life with her perfect man... boom, she wakes up, and everything (EVERYTHING) up until that point has been a lucid dream while she's in a mental institution? Oh but we're not done yet, are we? Because even THAT is not real?

Look, I'm all for throwing the reader a curve ball once in a while, but this truly felt like entering the vortex of a tornado, slipping and sliding around while getting slammed into shelving units and barn animals, and coming out on the other side nothing but battered to near death. There was nothing enjoyable enough after the storm passed to warrant the beating. Ya get me?

I do have to give five stars for the always unbelievable voice portrayal done by Troy Duran.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña