“Viciously compelling!” – Anna Zaires, NY Times bestselling author Thumb brushing her lips like a kiss, he promised, “In time, you will learn you need not fear me.” Setting her free, Sovereign’s enigmatic expression grew dark. “You will love me. It is inevitable.” Under my touch, her body sings. None but I possessing the secrets that draw out Sigil’s every last sigh. My bride, my cornered prey. … out Sigil’s every last sigh. My bride, my cornered prey.
To possess her, I have hunted my cherished queen across the galaxy, my armada crushing any haven she might seek, driving her into desperation. All so I might stand before her and tell Sigil how deeply she is loved.
There is nowhere else for her to flee, and no soul that can keep her from me.
I hate that I must chain her, I hate that she is afraid. But I know how dangerous the only female of my species can be.
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As far as I’m concerned Addison Cain is the true queen of dark erotica/romance. How can I despise a hero (villain? twisted dictator?) but utterly want the fairy tale ending for him? How about the heroine? Completely psychotic, utterly ruthless and destructive Sigil and Sovereign are monsters literally made for each other. Their stories told from any other point of view would be the despotic villains that literally end worlds.
Broken…
Sigil is the broken monster that an utterly inhumane, human civilization turned her into. She was broken piece by piece and so she ripped THEM apart piece by piece. She’s learned her lessons well and her mercy is both rare and monstrous. Her capture was a tense stand off to say the least. She’s no wilting flower. No brave and enduring hero striving to make up for her past, for her destruction. She’s the predator that pounces when you least expect. She’s utterly broken and my heart breaks for the monster that swipes before she thinks.
Destroyer…
Sovereign, the emperor of an empire that swallows worlds and spits out humans as the flotsam is perhaps the only monster that could stand up, no, DOMINATE the broken creature that is Sigil. He has and will destroy worlds, galaxies in order to make sure his consort is safe if not exactly sound. No crime, no perfidy is to tame, to heinous. He’s beautiful and perhaps as broken as his reluctant consort…How insane is it that I want him and Sigil to live their happily destructive after?
Holy guacamole Addison! How did this twisted saga land in your head? Sigil may wear a crown as Sovereign’s Consort but Addison Cain takes the Crown as Dark Erotica/Romance’s Queen
Book one in the Irdesi Empire story. This book starts with some awesome world building which leads to us to main character known as Sigil who is one incredible killing machine. I was impressed with her skills I must say and this admiration continued throughout the book. We get a consensual steamy scene and then the reason for the disclaimer on the blurb comes into play not too long after that. I can fully admit that I was prepared for a scene or two of brutality but this was a little more than I bargained for even if I did fully understand as well as enjoy the actual story line itself. Great science fiction romance novel but way too much for my personal tastes though if that is your cup of tea this book is so for you. I liked it for the most so I can give it 3/5 stars though I really hope things go better for Sigil in the next installment in the series.
A fascinating literary hybrid of part Dark Sci-Fi Romance , part Reverse Harem and part Futuristic Thriller.
Book 1, Iridesi Empire. WOW! Dark, captivating, and totally unpredictable on every level. I loved this book!
Quinn…who and what exactly is she? She’s certainly not ordinary. Is she the sex slave she appears? Does she belong to Que, the Axirlan who’s ostensibly her master? All very valid questions for Arden, Herald of the Irdesi Empire. As he negotiates with Drinta, queen of Pax, the vilest, most grotesque outpost in the galaxy, Arden can’t believe what he sees. Is it really possible he’s finally found the one person for whom the Empire’s searched for over a century? One thing is certain. Quinn doesn’t want to be found. Pax is her refuge from past terrors too horrifying to even acknowledge. Oh, she remembers it all. But Que saved her. She’s devoted to him. And Pax suits her just fine. But has her refuge just become her prison? There’s a reason the Empire wants her. She was designed for a very specific purpose, and it wasn’t just because she’s the sole remaining female who’s a match to their supposedly superior genetic makeup, especially Sovereign, ruler of the Irdesi Empire. She may be the only hope to avoid extinction of the Irdesi, but she’s also their worst nightmare!. Quinn, formerly known as Sigil, wants nothing to do any of this. She’s been running from the Empire and her raison d’être for decades. She’s not about to surrender. Despite Sovereign’s military might, control tactics, plots, and schemes, Quinn refuses to give in. But Que’s gone. The byway, the only access to and from Pax, is shut down. Despite her prodigious powers, she’s only one female. And Sovereign and his minions have already proven just how well they can control her if they gain possession of her body. Quinn has one chance. She knows Pax like no other, the ins and out, the cracks, crevasses, crevices, faults, and failings of every system. Escape will cause her pain unlike she’s ever known, maybe even destroy her. Can she do it? Is there any hope? Or will Quinn become Sigil, the Sovereign’s Imperial Consort, a puppet on a string? It all comes down to one thing. What, exactly, is Quinn willing to sacrifice for her freedom, Que, and escape from the Empire?
Addison Cain is a relatively new author for me. Up until now, I’ve only read her contributions to several anthologies. This book blew me away. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart! Quinn is incredible! She has so many layers. You never know from one second to the next exactly what she’s going to do, how she’ll do it, or even why. Que is her rock, having grounded her for decades. He sees her for exactly what she is: a monster but also a being of infinite capability, even fragility and compassion. And Arden, Lord Karhl, Sovereign, and Drinta? They each add that extra bit of darkness, evil masquerading as something altogether different. Malevolence shrouded in beauty is still pure evil. Addison Cain is a mistress of the dark, and she totally delivers! This book is delicious, delectable, and decadent darkness in the extreme. Again, this book is NOT for the faint of heart. But if you love dark erotica with a taste of horror thrown in, I absolutely recommend it. I can’t give Sigil anything less than five stars. Congratulations, Ms. Cain. This book is outstanding!
A final note. Be an informed reader! This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language, very dark horror themes, and explicit sexual scenes. If you don’t enjoy this genre, this may not be the book for you. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and Amazon. Use these resources. DON’T LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WON’T ENJOY THE BOOK. It’s not fair to the author. She works hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you’ll object to a book’s subject matter before you buy it, you’re doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!
I was given a copy of this book to read in exchange for a review.
This book is a harsh sort of Science Fiction that blends a compelling, original future worldscape with dark characters. Each question of who, and what, Sigil or Quinn, as she’s known for parts of the book, is comes answered and asks new questions. The small glimpses at past events and history are teases which draw you on.
I enjoy the harsh, cruel, and still delicate character that is Sigil, with her tragic, twisted past, and stunted reach towards adulthood and her future. Seeing her find new, inventive ways to thwart the men around her is entertaining. Seeing the new ways she can commit horrible acts is a little frightening. If we had her kind of ability, would we rise to such levels as well, because despite how inhuman she is, she’s still very human in some ways, and it’s easy to see how we echo her if we were similarly pushed.
This book is not for the faint of heart or those who do not enjoy darker storys and themes. There is violence, both self inflicted and to others. There is sex, graphic, sometimes violent, and very gritty. There are dark events, both in the current timeline and in past events. A lot of it makes you consider the questions of what makes someone human, how to balance bad acts with good acts, and how far one can go for survival.
And be warned, it ends in a great way, but bad for anyone low on patience. I look forward to the next book!
Addison Cain is a great author: her books are always well written and edited, and her world building is fantastic. Sigil is no exception in this regard, and I was happy to jump into this “extended edition” of a book I had purchased (and read) in 2016. I loved the book the first time I read it, but because I cannot get enough of Addison Cain’s worlds, I couldn’t wait to dive in again, and I am glad I did!
Sigil is genetically engineered to be the perfect weapon and appears to have been created as a sort of “check and balance” to a group of genetically engineered [male] human warriors. She is the only female of these “enhanced” humans and, as a result, she is very valuable to them. Unfortunately for them, she was bred to hate them (and, in particular, their leader) through incredible abuse. As a result, she escaped her creators as soon as she could and has been on the run ever since.
After overthrowing their creators, the warriors began looking for Sigil, who has managed to escape them for years with assistance from Que, an alien whose species are incapable of emotion. Que found Sigil when she was very young and helped her both to function in society and to control her emotions (a challenge for her due to her engineering). Over the years, their relationship developed, and Sigil has come to rely heavily on him. They have made their home on a lawless space station where Sigil pretends to be Que’s slave. Here she can blend in seamlessly while manipulating the station’s society to suit her whims and needs.
Unfortunately, an emissary of the warriors looking for Sigil lands on the space station for unrelated reasons and sees Sigil. He immediately suspects who she is, and the story takes off with the arrival of his leader, who views Sigil as his consort and who will stop at nothing to capture her.
This expanded version was well worth the read – it created additional insight into Sigil’s character, her background, motivations and relationship with Que. While I did not do a side by side comparison, I felt this book flowed a little more seamlessly than the first version I read, and filled some gaps that enhanced the story. I strongly recommend it to anyone new to Addison’s world or who has read the first version. I cannot wait for the next installment!
I love Addison Cain but this story just isn’t my cup of tea. Dare I say.. its just to F*** up for me. Im not a fan of reverse harems, or a cannibalistic leading lady. Sigil is just too dark and damaged for me to connect with or to want to explore. My review is definitely based on preference and not really on the store itself. If you like Addison Cain other stories but have a stronger stomach than me…. definitely read. You have a damaged leading lady, possessive alpha males, a plot designed to you keep wanting more to read, and a dystopian sci-fi universe with elements of what I call horror. Lol sorry, eating people falls in that category for me. This series just isn’t my favorite, I adore this writer and her other works, but I just can’t get on the band wagon with this series. But with that said, I have a weak stomach and a visual imagination… so go figure. Also, I hate when the leading male character shares or plans to share his lover.. those books kill it for me. (Yet I have no isses with manipulation or controlling heros? Yeah Im messed up, hence I love Addison work.) Probably another reason I just don’t care for this series. But if you love these kind of books and Addison Cain’s flavor of dark romance… what are you waiting for…read it already!
I originally read Sigil years ago. This extended version fills in a lot of gaps and provided better clarity. I am normally not into harems or reverse herems, Sigil and Addison Cains version was my first taste. This is a dark, fast paced world but don’t expect to understand all the characters and angLas from just this installment alone. Addison is known for her dark turns in her plots and there is still more to this world we have yet to discover. The extended additions were great for clarity, readability and consistency into book 2.
Standout dark sci-fi romance that gets the romance, the heat and the sci-fi right. Not all books can balance the romance and the sci-fi, but this updated version does. Don’t ignore the warnings–it’s dark with dark themes including dubious consent, non-consent and lots and lots of sex, blood, gore and violence.
An interesting take on extra terrestrial life. Sigil is one kick a as female! The writing is superb as usual. Addison Cain can do no wrong 🙂
I greatly enjoy books that have elements of independent, headstrong, and vicious female character. The world Mrs. Cain made was a futuristic sci-fi fantasy, where SIgil is fighting not alonely an entire race, but dangerous foes who stand between her and freedom. I would recommend this series, it has elements of what most people are looking for: Sci-fi, fantasy, sex, and who doesn’t like a dangerous woman.
if your looking for a strong female this book is for you. I enjoyed all the characters and the originality of the storyline and characters.
I will be reviewing the new extended version of this book. And I will try my best to avoid spoilers. In a nutshell, Sigil is a reverse harem about a Psycho-Heroine and some really hot, obsessive, and also psychotic, Heroes. Quinn, the only female of her species is running from the Irdesi Empire and its leader Sovereign and his brothers. They have now found her on Pax, and she has no choice but to fight, trying to keep her freedom, no matter how many of them she has to kill. First warning, this is Dark. There are no roses and sweet romancing. So no complaining, you knew what you were getting into. Second warning, the heroine of this story is Psycho. Which in this book, makes it all the better. Last warning, there is a cliffhanger. It’s book one of the series, so this should be expected. Although, the first version of the book was awesome, the extended version make the story smoother and just adds to the dark and twisted hotness. when reading this I question myself, asking “who’s sicker? The author, for writing this, or me, for loving it?” Either way, I love this book, and the new version just adds to the greatness of the first of a fantastic and crazy series.
Light and dark; humans and aliens; this is a gritty sci fi story with an original premise and an alternative universe that is detailed and carefully constructed… as is the norm with this genre, initially, I found the imagined world order confusing; it took me a few chapters to begin to comprehend the framework of this complex landscape and its rationale, but once I understood, I became immersed in the plot….
This is a dystopian society where exploitation, death and destruction are the norm; Quinn is a slave by title but there is nothing about her that is submissive or owned..she is a conflicted murderous, sexual antiheroine with brutal powers that she cannot control or curtail and in truth it took some effort on my part to like her…enter Sovereign and his brothers; they are her aggressive, ruthless enemies and the men destined, it would appear, to become her dark and twisted captors and potential lovers..the story is told mostly from Quinn’s perspective, which helps to explain the reasons for her nature and her responses to Sovereign and the others.. as for the men, they wear their hearts on their sleeves with regards to Quinn….there is something decidedly attractive about men who are willing to go to any lengths to find and protect a woman….
There are shocking and disturbing themes in this book but it is also a twisted love story as Quinn inspires complete devotion from her would be lovers….the first tentative steps towards an eventual reverse harem have been taken….but this is a slow burner, in that respect, and what the final grouping will look like will have to wait until a later installment…this was a compelling start to this odyssey and I look forward to reading more….I received an advanced copy of this book from the author
Have followed Addison Cain before she was even officially published and Sigil was one of my hands down favorite works from her. She tells this story beautifully and artfully. Although her works tend to be shorter novels, she was able to tell Sigil’s story in such a way that kept me engaged till the very end!
I didn’t even know what I was looking for when I happened upon this author and her writings. The mix of sci fi and romance was not on my radar when I came across the first chapter years ago. The line “And her heart was quite black” in the first chapter was what sealed my fate in continued support for this then unknown author. Serendipity has me snapping up all of her paid kindle versions in a heartbeat and here’s why: Sigil offers vivid worldbuilding in the author’s enchanting mastery of visual descriptors. There isn’t much an over reliance on perfect characters with impossibly beautiful visages always doing the right, coolest or most approved things. There are heartbreakingly poignant scenes, brilliant lines and visceral descriptors that will haunt you for how perfect they complement the story. Far too often there’s a tradeoff between story or plot versus how well the story is shown, and I’m pleasantly surprised I get the complete, satisfying package in Sigil. It has been exciting to see where Sigil’s fluid values war with her destructive tendencies during her time on Pax, and it doesn’t hurt that the male characters set up to foil her are just as intriguing.
I love The Worlds that Addison creates.
This book is different than anything that I have read and I really liked that.
The heroine Sigil aka Quinn is fantastic, she is happy in the life she created with her companion and defended that life.
Que is not a big caracter in the story but he is big for Quinn.
She have only two soft spots Que and Children. For the rest she have no boundaries and I love that.
For the part of Sovering and his brothers I have to say that I hated their first encounter and the form they had to corral her. But I suppose that is the only way she is going to stay with them.
I understand their reasons for needing her but that don’t make me liking it. I hope in the second book I can.
The best part of this book is Sigil and her powers, she is a badass. I can’t wait to know what is next.
I must admit I really enjoyed this book. While there are elements that have some very big trigger points (dark sexual encounters and the constant desire to run), the book shows you a kickass MC who doesn’t want to just allow her impending fate to take control. Addison Cain really makes you feel for her characters, as we get to see insights into various character moments through various POVs. Interested to see where Sovereign (Irdesi Empire #2) will take us.
** I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for review consideration. **
Even as I was grossed out by the graphic descriptions of Sigil’s (Quinn’s) murdering violence and eating habits (she is indeed a powerful monster as are the men who want her), I was captivated by the story and pulled into the world Addison has built. It amazes me that knowing what Sigil has done I can still root for her and care about what happens to her. She is more than just a monster, a complicated character made so by her creators yet still with human needs and feelings. I guess that proves it’s good storytelling. I must know what happens next!
Great storyline. I loved this book. Addison Cain did a wonderful job. Can’t wait for book 2.will definitely be reading more from her.