The sequel to Into the Dead Fall, which was released as part of a two-book set with The Scorpion’s Mate.A fated mate she doesn’t want. An enigmatic alien she shouldn’t want. Finding your way in the Dead Fall isn’t easy, but it’s nothing compared to figuring out what your heart truly desires. Evie managed to survive for months in the strange parallel dimension where she was dropped after … where she was dropped after accidentally activating a portal in her father’s shed. The Dead Fall doesn’t treat survivors kindly, as Evie discovers when she’s captured by alien creatures and taken to the settlement of Omni to be put on display in a bar.
When a gray alien appears in the bar to rescue her, she wonders at first if she hasn’t gone straight from the frying pan into the fire. Yet, the alien she nicknames Gray proves to be friendly, if a bit too determined to see her meet some destined mate she’s not interested in finding.
Gray tells her she must seek her own destiny, but she can’t help thinking she’s already found it, despite what he says. After all, her knight in shining armor has come to rescue her, and if he just so happens to have a flying saucer instead of a white horse, that’s okay with her.
Doshakeren is a hero. A legend. They sing epic songs about the warrior among his kin. When his most trusted advisor betrays him and locks him away with a strange artifact that casts him into another realm, he faces challenges beyond anything he’d ever faced before—the biggest being his fascination with the human female who makes him have forbidden thoughts that would see him outcast from his nest.
Evie must choose her own destiny, but nothing will be easy for her, least of all the Dead Fall itself, because the Nexus is watching. And waiting.
Author’s Note: 18+ Violence and explicit sex scenes. This is a MFM romance with ménage. These alien heroes are very alien and have mating habits that might not be for everyone.
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Book 2 in series takes up where book 1 into the dead fall ends..and this is where I tell you you must read book 1… not just because it’s a great book but in that it lays the foundation to this book and sets up Grey and Evie’s Meeting.
The Looge … the most powerful being and self designated leader of Omni breaks his own rules.. he interfears with the timelines he has been observing for hundreds of years, he steps in and rescues Evie from a terrible fate…despite knowing that she would be saved by her key mate further down the line. The repercussions could be detrimental to everyone who has fallen through the dead fall but for some reason..The looge cannot do nothing, leaving her to a terrible fate.
After inadvertently stranding herself and her sister in Omni and instantly seperated..
Evie has been lucky to avoid the weird and dangerous inhabitants that make living there a daily dose of life roulette. Having a prepper/ Uber conspiracy nut for a father has instilled skills into Evie that have helped her to survive.
After her luck runs out, Finding herself rescued by a ‘grey’ is the straw that breaks the camels back…all she has heard and been taught about grey aliens is at the forefront of her mind, however she finds herself beginning to like her rescuer, with his strange ship, wonderful and deadly telekinetic powers and a friendship begins to develop.
The Looge was a brilliant charachter and I found his transformation both mental and physical a ingenious piece of story crafting. Both wonderful and intriguing and totally original. The theme of biology taking away all personal choice and will impacting on both Grey and Evie.
I loved that Evie was able to crack his defences and make him feel despite all his technology. His serious nerdy nature and Evie’s fearlessness and sass led to some great and wonderful interactions.
The introduction of the key mates theory ( and the introduction of Doshak ) and the mild cross overs into the authors Iridian Test Subject Series was also brilliantly done. Despite some reservation around biological choices verses heart chosen choices.
The key mate theory left my mind reeling with possibilities and without going into anymore detail ( NO SPOILERS ) I was left with a lot of questions… but good questions that I’m hoping will have light shown upon them in a further book ( HINT HINT )
So if you hadn’t realised by now… I am a Sci fi romance nut, And I’ve read ALOT of Sci fi romance…the good, the bad and the downright rubbish. If you want to read a series that features more than just crayon coloured humanoids in space ( not that there is anything wrong with those ) but are left wanting for a bit more alien and a whole lotta story for your buck ( LIKE I DO ) then you should read this series.
I loved the first book, and I was estatic when the second book came out. It just delivered so much to my Sci fi loving brain…I adored this book…catching up with Characters from the first book was a welcome addition.
I am invested in this series and will wait ( not so patiently ) for more from this series and author.
This is one of the best science fiction books I have ever read. I love science fiction in general, but with regards to romance books, it is too often that the alien hero sounds and looks like a regular American guy, as in evolving in a different planet would create the same variations as in our planet…
In this book, both our heroes are BIZARRE! Both Gray and Doshak were absolutely fascinating, not just their physical appearance but their mentality, their values and culture, their view of the world, and their sexuality. I loved that the heroine, Evie, was so open to all those differences and adapted smoothly to all those differences. I find it frustrating when the opposite happens in a book, and the heroine keeps struggling for acceptance throughout the story.
The menage relationship feels very natural, with no conflicts or awkwardness. I am still wondering about Doshak’s private measurements!
The Dead Fall is terrifying, a dystopian kind of world. It is wonderfully described, the pace of the plot is fluid and the story-telling is smart. The author doesn’t take the reader for a fool, which is appreciated. I certainly hope to see a continuation of this series, and a story with Asterius pleeeaaaase!!
I could say more, but I am just going to say that I am SO glad I discovered this author. Muchas gracias, Susan Trombley! (Thank you so much, Susan Trombley!)
“WARNING” story contains explicit sexual content
Great series. I’m glad book 2 tells about the sister from book 1. Gray is an interesting character. Well written.
Surviving the Dead Fall takes a bit more than skill and a whole lot of luck. Sometimes you need a helping hand from others. Evie’s adventure is about to truly begin, and she truly needs as many helping hands as she can get.
THE BLURB
Evie managed to survive a few months on this strange alien world where a vortex in the sky keeps opening and closing to different dimensions. But eventually she’s captured and held slave. Until Grey, the stereotypical large-headed grey Area 51 alien frees her. He can read the future and he knows that Evie’s mate will soon arrive in the Dead Fall and that they must meet. He was supposed to leave her to her fate, but he couldn’t let Evie be hurt. For a species so bent on being emotionless, he’s strangely possessive of her.
TONE OF THE BOOK
I would say that this novel fits firmly in the neutral tone. There is no humour to lighten the mood, however the book doesn’t dwell excessively upon negative topics and emotions. Any negativity that emerges is designed to push the characters and plot forward.
SENSITIVE TOPICS
Key To The Dead Fall is a novel intended for mature audiences. There are a number of erotica scenes and violence.
This novel features a multi-partner relationship, with two males and one female. MFM.
There is mention of characters having past emotional abuse, causing trust issues.
SERIES SYNOPSIS
Key To The Dead Fall is the second novel in the Into The Dead Fall series. At the time of this review there is currently 5 novels in this series. The first novel in the series is Into The Dead Fall.
The novel is 306 pages long, making it the standard length of a romance novel (at 300 pages).
The novel has a happy for now ending. It also leads with a world-story cliffhanger that introduces a character that will feature in the next novel. The majority of novels in the series follows the adventures of different couples, which two heroines being revisited.
REVIEW
I enjoyed the world building that takes place in Key To The Dead Fall. The first novel introduced the world, but much of the story takes place inside one building compound. Meanwhile Key To The Dead Fall has characters exploring much more of the world from spaceships to underground bunkers to fantasy forests. There is also an introduction to how the Dead Fall’s society is being established and run, introducing and highlighting problems that probably will be addressed in future novels.
Furthermore I enjoy how Susan has introduced more alien cultures to the world, highlighting just how much miscommunication and expectations can play a role in the story. Interesting moments occur when characters butt heads, each one determined to do the same task in different ways.
Evie is a lighthearted heroine, especially compared to the first novels heroine Alice who was much more sombre and took life more seriously. Evie regularly tries to joke with Gray and Doshak, bringing some humour into the otherwise serious novel.
FINAL WORD
Key To the Dead Fall was a fun read. The increased action and exploration compared to the last book made it definitely a compelling read, and the ending prompts you to read the third novel in the series with a slight cliffhanger.