Liam loves his life as a linguist and trader on the Rownt homeworld, but he has ignored his heart and sexual needs for years. After escaping the horrors of war, he wants a boring life. He won’t risk letting anyone come too close because he won’t risk letting anyone see his deeply submissive nature. For him, submission comes with pain. Life burned that lesson into his soul from a young age.This … age.
This fear keeps him from noticing that the Rownt trader Ondry cares for him. Ondry may not understand humans, but he recognizes a wounded soul, and his need to protect Liam is quickly outpacing his common sense. They may have laws, culture, and incompatible genitalia in their way, but Ondry knows that he can find a way to overcome all that if he can just overcome the ghosts of Liam’s past. Only then can he take possession of a man he has grown to respect.
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Despite the absence of tentacles I loved the story. I liked Rownt more than humans by the time it was over. Theirs was such an honest and honorable race. The differences between Ondry and Liam were stark but the connection was deep in spite of language barrier, cultural and physical dissimilarities and was proof that love can exist and form anywhere if given the chance and encouragement.
One thing though that I found disconcerting was that in the first part of the book when a couple of chapters ended, I expected the events to unfold in the next but it switched to something completely different. Another thing that I completely missed from the first part of the book was that the time frame of the events was 5 years and not just couple of months and I was only able to figure that out with the help of bonus stories. I loved those btw.
The second part of the book was an absolute pleasure to read. Rownt logic and their way of thinking were precisely what Liam needed to finally be and live his life as he was meant to. I enjoyed their interactions and the way Liam saw Ondry. And the bonus stories from Ondry’s POV cemented my good opinion about him. I am very excited to find out what happens next.
Some of the most intelligent and emotional writing you’ll ever find. Superb world building. I adore the whole series.
This is a five books series top and tailed (geddit?!) by a free prequel and a collection of short stories. I was a bit nervy about dipping my toe into the universe to start with…the relationship between Ondry and Liam is a sub/dom one, which would usually put me off picking up a book because they are rarely, in my opinion, done well. However…it’s Lyn Gala, so big plus. And it turns out to be an unusual and satisfying take on the dynamic. I found myself sucked right into the universe, the love story between the human and alien MCs and the alien psychology. The world-building is brilliant. It’s a lovely, absorbing series and I really recommend having a look.
This was one of the first M/M sci fi stories I ever read, and when I finished I immediately went and read all the rest of her books as well. A great story that sneaks in some real intelligent introspection and analysis of human culture along the way.
I’m thrilled that Lyn Gala’s extraordinary Claimings series is being offered in audio! Brought to life by the wonderfully expressive John Solo, the first novel, Claimings, Tails, and Other Alien Artifacts, sets the stage for this stunning series. And I’m just giving you fair warning: Plan on committing to all four audiobooks because once you let Ondry and Liam into your heart you’ll never get enough!
A linguistics specialist in Earth’s military, Liam has held the position of trader on the planet Prarownt for five years. While he’s a decent trader, Liam’s true value lies in his ability to collect details of the culture, customs, and language of the Rownt, the native beings of the planet. Most of what he learns is through his relationship with Ondry, the Rownt’s finest trader, and the two have cultivated a tentative friendship.
Identified by his need to please and serve others, Liam is recognized as a Palteia by the Rownt. Viewed as precious and held in the highest esteem, Patleia are to be protected and cherished for the treasures they are. When a military change of command threatens Liam’s position on Prarownt, Ondry steps in to claim Liam as his own Palteia.
After years of abuse and being repeatedly exploited, it breaks my heart to see Liam’s relief at Ondry’s care. As he begins to understand the level of respect and honor a Palteia commands, his walls come down and he becomes a different person. There’s a compelling dynamic between Ondry and Liam right from the start, and once Ondry claims Liam, the added dimensions of their D/s connection is irresistible.
Between the tongue twisting Rownt language, the wide array of unusual characters, and the subtle nuances of all the relationships, Mr. Solo’s interpretation lives up to everything I could have hoped for.
As a huge science fiction fan, I have to gush a bit about Lyn Gala’s skill at building this incredible world. She explores the Rownt’s society, culture, and customs and includes imaginative details about their physical characteristics and the intricacies of their language. It’s all seamlessly incorporated over the course of this series, so by the end of the fourth Claimings novel I think I know every aspect of this world as well as I do my own.
It takes a special narrator to bring this extraordinary collection to life, and I’m so glad the honor goes to John Solo. Between the tongue twisting Rownt language, the wide array of unusual characters, and the subtle nuances of all the relationships, Mr. Solo’s interpretation lives up to everything I could have hoped for.
As Lyn Gala mentions in her author’s note, Ondry is modeled on her ideal of the perfect dom. Gaining his enjoyment by watching his Palteia lost in pleasure, Ondry’s exploration of Liam’s body and his responses is extremely erotic. Throughout the series, as their intimacy grows, the connection between Liam and Ondry is incredibly moving. Fans of romance and science fiction, I highly recommend this wonderful love story, especially now that the Claimings series is available in audiobook!
I one-clicked this book after reading a recommendation for it on Facebook. I am so glad that I did, and that I now have 3 more books in the series to look forward to. Lyn Gala is a new author to me. I loved her excellent storytelling and imagination which combined together to give a completely different take on an MM theme.