Veral’monushava’skahalur is an oddity among his species, a lone Argurma cyborg divorced from his own kind by choice and to escape termination as a malfunctioning unit. Wandering the fringes of space as a salvager, he comes across a planet beyond the boundaries of the federation, rich in metals remnant of a dead civilization. Or so he thought.
Confronted by cannibalistic mutations of the … indigenous species, his salvage has suddenly become a lot more complicated. Even more so when he encounters a female surviving on her own. She is strong and fearless, begrudgingly earning his admiration. Terri is hardened by a life of hunger and watchfulness, and yet is moved by a compassion that he’s never possessed. When his admiration turns into the first signs of a forming mate-bond, he knows his fate is sealed. Unlicensed mating is forbidden—if his malfunctioning wasn’t already a death sentencing, taking her for her mate would be. Yet, he finds that letting her go is no longer an option.
Please be advised that this book has graphic sex and violence that may not be appropriate for all audiences.
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This is a glimpse of a dystopia that could happen on Earth (possibly after COVID-19 or -20, or -21….) where Earth is now just clans pretty much like in Mad Max. Terri is a female who is trying to survive when she is intercepted by a Predator-like salvager by the name of Veral. This is an interesting short story of a Human and an Argurma with his canid-like dorashnal (a much more aggressive version of a Boy and His Dog). Yes, there is a bit about Boy meets Girl, Boy loses Girl, Boy and Dorashnal rescues Girl, Boy blasts off a dying world with Girl. But it isn’t like he’s jumping into the sack with this female.. The Argurma have a strange custom involving mate bonding and all the possessions belonging to the male Argurma is transferred into the possession of the female. I think this might be a lead-in to a longer novel (such as Pirate’s Gold, for instance) which I will be very interested in reading. After all Veral has a lot to learn about soft, squishy, scale-free Human females.
After a long time without reading a fantasy novel with unique characteristics, I was introduced to S J Sanders’ new series.
I confess that I had never read anything by this author, and although the cover image does not bring an attractive alien creature, I liked the blurb and gave it a try.
And I didn’t regret it.
To begin with that despite having a disclaimer at the beginning of the book – so that the reader is not taken by surprise with certain themes -, in fact the plot is much more directed at telling a story than involving readers in sex scenes (50 points to Griffindor).
Veral’monushava’skahalu – but let’s just call him Veral – comes from Argumural, a planet of rolling sands.
When the inhabitants reach sexual maturity, they receive the first of their cybernetic implants.
He is not a warrior or an assassin hunter.
When he arrives on a planet whose records show that there is no inhabitant, he discovers a primitive race where women are hunted – there are few women – just to serve as an object of pleasure for males.
But Veral finds one who would rather die than submit to those savages, who are called Red Reapers.
When Veral is captured and receives an offer to be released if he helped to hunt more women – since he has an unique physique to facilitate the hunt -, it is a female who saves him.
Terri lived alone on planet Earth after losing her mother in the birth of her brother, and father, years later.
Upon discovering that the alien who helped her escape from the Reds had been captured, she frees him with the aim of asking him for help to leave the devastated planet, after a series of World Wars.
Despite being small, in relation to him, Veral sees Terri’s strength and courage, and decides to help her.
But as the hours go by and they are together, Veral realizes that his Argurma body, which was not designed to feel desire – and on his planet reproduction between species was not authorized – shows signs of wanting to claim Terri.
There are many interesting details about this race created by the author in scenes of fights, escapes and a little alien romance.
4 stars
Let me start off by saying I love all this author’s books. Keep in mind that her MMC do NOT look human so if that puts you off, be forewarned. I happen to hate books that are fantasy/sci fi romance and the H looks human except for color or horns thrown on him. What I love most about this book, and all her books, is the character development. Veral is not a perfect male. As a matter of fact, I love him all the more for his grumpiness. He also has another quality I love in my Hs- once he realizes Terri is his, he’s a goner. He is possessive in a good way and doesn’t even want other females looking at him. Terri is kickass but also has a sweet side to her. She takes Veral as he is and-he’s hers. I loved this book so much, I bought the ecopy and an autographed paperback when the author put them up for sale. I don’t do that often. Now I just need a poster of the book cover!
*WARNING* story contains explicit adult content, possible triggers, and violence
I am a big S.J. Sanders can and read all of her books, this one just wasn’t for me. Veral, the alien, confused me. He seems more cybernetic than alien. I can’t seem to visualize what is being described for Veral either.
I have this 3 stars because I could see people becoming feral and maybe even mutating to be able to survive in a broken down ecosystem or lack of. I also liked the strong female lead in Terri, even though I think she was way to accepting of Kronos.
From the instant, I started this one I was highly intrigued.
Genre-wise I would describe this as alien sci-fi crossed with apocalyptic romance with a male character at its centre who is so very far from human.
I can’t even pronounce his whole name which is so very alien-sounding so thank god he goes by Veral for short.
His species is Argurma and Veral roams the outer edges of space doing odd jobs and salvaging from ruined planets his strange space dog Krono his sole companion, I especially adored that cute and affectionate alien-mutt.
Appearance-wise Veral was 7 foot off of scary predator, in fact that is what he reminded me of from that film series and what I do think the author intended as she does put a foot-note at the end of the book explaining.
So yeh seriously tall with a strange clicking language he also had cybernetic implants, large mandibles and almost living vibrissae hair tresses that sense and test the environment he inhabits it also shifts with his emotional mood and temperament.
Terri is a woman on a ravaged and apocalyptic earth just trying to survive and stay one step ahead of the Red Reapers.
Needing to leave the area for her own protection she hopes to strike a deal with the scary otherworldly Veral hoping he is her ticket out of dodge.
Veral is the alien that lands on what he thinks is an uninhabited planet for salvaging prospects and encounters much more than he was expecting.
Both are in for a huge culture shock here.
Everything about each other is different including rules, etiquette and courting rituals and even there mating is forbidden.
From the outside, Veral is all cold unemotional cool logic while Terri is his exact opposite in every way.
The language used by Veral is of a very formal and literal quality very matter a fact, he is very much the Vulcan to her earthling.
I absolutely adored Veral his loyalty, possessiveness and care for his new mate shone so brightly.
While Terri’s strength and inner resilience assisted in her basic survival, I also loved that though strong she knew when it was time to just yield.
I also found the intimate scenes here to be hot as all hell and so exotically inhuman.
There was also a sense of subtle humour interwoven between Terri and Veral which did make me smile.
All in all, this was a great read that I enjoyed a lot and I will most certainly be checking out other titles from this author in the future.
This one is definitely one for the aliens that look like aliens crowd so if that’s you then this books gonna be your jam.
My hands up, Im happily flying my freak flag here folks.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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post apocalypse with aliens
A unique story set in a deserted apocalypse world! humans and aliens are at each others throats. cool hero like no other!
In a world run amok, there is hope! 4.5 stars
Although dystopian novels are not my favorite to read (often disturbingly dark), this an exceptional book. It is well-conceived, thorough in its telling, with a romance that surprised even the two involved in it. Veral struggles with his training/conditioning/implanted rules as he finds Terri more and more appealing. He is a rebellious sort: you will enjoy where this leads! I love Terri’s resilience, her ability to make her own way in a world gone awry. Striking a bargain with such a fearsome alien being is bold and mutually beneficial.
Yes, there are some very dark scenes. They do serve, however, to make the love story all the brighter. Well done!
Broken earth is a great dystopian page turner. I just love the character Veral. Terri is the type of heroine I love and is the type that I’ve seen in S.J. Sanders novels. Not to mention the loveable character of Krono or as the female lead character called him Bedlam. I love how the relationship between Terri and Veral develop. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and hear more of their adventures
This one was a surprise hit for me. A desolate Earth with a credible reality that captured my interest. The main characters have a relationship that has a slow build to mutual respect, admiration, and finally an ardent bonding. I am extremely interested in reading more of this couple’s adventures, learning more about Veral’s species, and hopefully reading about more human/argurma pairings. I recommend this book!