Rachel Fortier is a much sought-after expert when it comes to exotic planets–especially the deadly kind. So when she’s hired by Earth Fleet’s most respected scientist to join a mission to the tightly closed planet Harp, it’s a dream come true. Until she discovers their mission is to capture shifters and sell them to the Military. Shifter Aidan Devlin is on patrol far from his clan when he sees … clan when he sees a shuttlecraft landing where it definitely shouldn’t be. As the invaders emerge, he’s surprised to see a lone lovely woman, who doesn’t seem to belong. But when he’s captured and put in a cage, he has no one but her to help him escape.
Drawn together by a hunger they can’t resist, and desperate to discover who betrayed Harp, Aidan and Rachel first have to survive a deadly journey to the city. But once there, they find themselves confronted by a conspiracy that goes even deeper. Because Harp is harboring a traitor. And he’s willing to destroy their world–and everything in it–to get what he wants.
Each book in the Shifter Planet series is STANDALONE:
* Shifter Planet
* Shifter Planet: The Return
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Rachel Fortier is a much sought-after expert and being hired by Earth Fleet’s most respected scientist to join a mission to the tightly closed planet Harp, it’s a dream come true…until she discovers what the real mission is. Shifter Aidan Devin is on patrol far from his clan when he sees a shuttlecraft landing where it definitely shouldn’t be and then he is captured and put in a cage with no one but help him escape. Drawn together by a hunger they can’t resist, and desperate to discover a traitor who’s willing to destroy their world and everything in it.
The Return to Shifter Planet is a trip that was definitely worth waiting for. Rachel and Aidan have some sizzling chemistry that readers can feel leaping from the pages but their relationship is hampered by secrets and the fact that they are unsure whether they can trust the other or not. Their spirited relationship not only has lots of emotions flowing from the pages but danger as well and a great dialogue that really fits the story and characters adding to the believability of the story.
This great story is fast paced with lots of suspense due to secrets, betrayals and surviving along with exhilarating adventure, danger and excitement including facing a multitude of dangerous creatures. The surprising twists and the thrills that never stop ensures that readers never experience a dull moment and they can’t possible put the book down.
I highly recommend this book. Great story and wonderful characters!
Rachel thinks she’s traveling to Harp to study the wildlife when in reality the crew she’s traveling with want to capture the big cats . It doesn’t take long for their true purpose to come to light and unfortunately it’s Aidan who runs headlong into their trap. So when Rachel realises that she’s been duped and she decides not only to save the cat that she thinks of as hers but also trek through the undoubtedly inhospitable forest. Rachel might not know about Shifters but it’s pretty apparent that Aidan can’t just ignore her but how can he protect her without betraying his ability to transform ?
So as a reader I couldn’t help but think oh boy this is about to get very interesting and I can happily say that this couple who both have secrets do pretty soon start to trust each other. Plus I absolutely loved that Aidan got to see that Rachel might be an Earther but she’s a very capable person and far more resilient than he ever realised and can even come to his rescue !
This author always gives her readers strong, uncompromising heroines and the character Rachel we meet here is no different. Yes sometimes her male leads are perhaps a tad misogynistic but it all adds to the fun and I thought Aidan had a wicked sense of humour that was readily apparent. Now add in what I can only describe as sentient fauna with singing trees and you start to realise that the world building here is something entirely different !
There’s lots of action and the romance had a credible, believable pace whilst still being pretty steamy at times. I actually preferred this to the first book and do think it works as a stand-alone although obviously if you can please do read in order as it enhances your enjoyment. Best of all is the way we learn more about the Green and the antecedents of the Shifters on Harp with quite clearly lots more to come and I’m really looking forward to reading more.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
Never read this author before and got to say despite one teeny thing I bloody loved this just so much.
So brief background here the year is 4670 and Rachel Fortier a xenobiologist has come to the closed planet Harp on a mission to supposedly study their large cats.
When the team she came with capture a large cat she realises that she has been kept in the dark about there true purpose on this planet.
Rescuing the cat and then setting off alone into the surrounding forest this is where things really start to take off.
Harp is a planet of humans and shifters a closely guarded secret and the exotic cat Rachel set loose is actually Aiden one of the cat-shifters.
Not only that but the forests themselves or greens as they are known are sentient and have a symbiotic relationship with the planets cats.
So this was dual POV and was really well-written managing to capture my attention right from the start.
This was actually book two in the series but I read this as a standalone and it does work, I had no issues whatsoever following along.
The developing relationship between Rachel and Aiden felt so authentic and believable and I really liked the lack of games and found it ever so refreshing.
Character-wise I really liked Rachel she was so self-sufficient, capable and also very brave with a real sense of character.
Add in the fact that she didn’t do unneeded drama and actually had a brain she was quite the girl.
Aiden grew on me despite him being a tad chauvinistic initially in both his actions and thoughts.
I did easily forgave him as he was such a cheeky charmer and his good humour and overall sense of fun did appeal to me, he was just so likeable.
I also liked how he started to put stock in Rachels own capabilities in taking care of herself.
This is a survival trek across the swamp where Aiden and Rachel will Pitt their witts together against the greens deadliest creatures.
My one issue here is the ending and epilogue.
I thought that when they finally reveal their feelings at the end here it was a tad anticlimactic.
I also was disappointed that Rachel and Aiden were not in the epilogue.
Despite that the rest I adored, this was so much better than what I was expecting and I will definitely be checking out the first book in this series.
I’m giving this the whole five stars as despite the unsatisfying epilogue and finale this was still such a compelling and enjoyable read with such impressive detail and worldbuilding and I really did enjoy it massively.
Highly recommend this one it really was a great read.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Shifter Planet: The Return (Shifter Planet #2).
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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D.B. Reynolds has proven yet again why her books are a must read and destined to always remain on my bookshelf. Book one in this series showed the diversity and creativity of this authors writing and that while she is well known for her powerful and commanding Vamps; the shifters of Harp are every bit as Alpha, imposing and brutal in their devotion and commitment to their families and the land they call home.
Shifter Planet: The Return is a gripping and enthralling read, with a depth of mystery and intrigue that is usually only found in thrillers. Deception is at the forefront and danger lurks around every turn; which only makes the story so much more compelling. Ms Reynolds also continues the exceptional world building from book one and highlights the exotic beauty of this untamed planet and its sentient vegetation.
But the real appeal is always the characters, and Aidan and Rachel are front and centre. Rachel is every bit as strong, determined and resourceful as the female characters readers have come to expect from this author, while Aidan is charming, delectable and unapologetically lethal. Together they make a formidable team; and as they endeavour to foil the underhanded and malicious objectives of a greedy scientist and save not only Harp’s precious ecosystem, but the future population of this unique and deadly planet, they will also unearth an explosive and combustible passion that can’t be easily denied.
This is definitely not a book to start if you’re not time committed, as it will consume your attention and make putting it down, near impossible. A wonderful cast of secondary characters adds to the magnetism of the story, and some favourites from book one will make guest appearance too. So, while I thoroughly enjoyed Shifter Planet as a foundation and beginning to a brand-new series; Shifter Planet: The Return is absolutely mind-blowing! I’m hoping that the next book isn’t too far in the future.