The Keepers of Xereill Series – Prequel, Books 1-3: Romantic Space Fantasy (Xereill Saga Box Sets Book 1)

I love the Keepers of Xereill! I love that each book follows mainly one couple, but we have an overall story arc that continues to grow with each book. The characters are unique and have amazing depth and chemistry. The whole world is a creation of genius. The overall story line keeps you guessing and wondering what’s going to happen next. Just when I think I know where the story is going, boom! another curve ball! The series is full of passion, family, friendships, connection, mystery, suspense, and love! I can’t wait to see where Alix takes the stories within this world!

Parisian Sci-Fi

From the queen of Paris-based, snarky RomComs comes a series of delightful SciFi novels and novellas that are, at heart, also romances. I read each of these as it came out and am happy to share a few thoughts about each story–but the whole is, not unexpectedly, greater than the sum of its parts, especially as this is an ongoing saga.

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The Cyborg’s Lady (Keepers of Xereill, #0.5)

This prequel novella makes a delightful introduction to the series, leaving us with myriad possibilities to look forward to but no loose ends. We learn about several of the variations in “humanity” as represented in this look forward to terraformed worlds and hyperfast space travel and are treated to a short love story. A satisfying teaser!

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The Traitor’s Bride (Keepers of Xereill, #1)

This was actually published before the prequel and my introduction to the series. We have multiple planets, varying levels of technical and technological sophistication, civilizations ranging from medieval to modern+, power mad evil-doers, national and interplanetary politics, bionics, and “magic” all wrapped up in one (full-length) novel which concludes its action but ends in a bit of a cliff-hanger.

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The Commander’s Captive (Keepers of Xereill, #2)

Following a nuclear disaster on their planet, the surviving population had agreed to eschew all but Level One technology –not even cellphones! Thus the majority of the population lives a rather medieval life and the political power struggles are crude, heavy handed and brutal, as is life for the havenots; and it’s not really so sweet for the haves. (Think eastern Europe just post WWII, with Stalin threatening from outside as powerplays go on internally.) Meanwhile this planet is one of many in the League of Realms (will it prove to be as underpowered/-funded as the League of Nations or more closely resemble the United Nations?).

All this sounds rather oppressive and, although the politics are, the story is not. The drama moves along swiftly and believably with glimpses of the sly humor and romances of equals in temperament, if not in station, for which the author is known. The surprise is the complex and multi-textured universe created.

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The Dragon’s Woman (Keepers of Xereill, #3)

Shifting Hurts! In this exciting and imaginative series we are introduced to varieties of normal and paranormal species, including those bionically implanted, in a sprawling Sci-Fi realm which has long past absorbed humanity. The political scheming on Hente continues to escalate and the resistance gains numbers and strength. (The action is sufficiently self-contained to serve as a standalone tale but works much better in context with the previous stories, each of which is a romance beset by the turbulence of the times.) Borrowing heavily–but not directly–from existing unrest on our “blue marble,” we are given the opportunity to watch as dysfunctional governments flail from one incompetency to the next while the League of Realms endeavors to hold together a tenuous peace. And on a more personal level, Geru must learn to become one with his inner dragon as he forms a mating bond.

The Cyborg’s Lady
There’s just enough in this to make me badly want more. This is a very quick little prequel that sets the stage for some of the scenes in the first book. I read book one before I read this, and it doesn’t seem to be essential to read about Keiron and Linnie before starting the rest of the series. Mind you, now that I’ve seen what brought the pair together and witnessed more of their chemistry, I’m a bit desperate to see this pair get their forever. Right now, their careers and events seem stacked against them. I’m anxious to see what comes next in the series.
The Traitor’s Bride
I found that this book nicely avoids the most common pitfalls that can plague the first in a new series. It drops us right into the heart of the action without spending pages and pages explaining the background before we get there. It then provides us with that background in nice conversational snippets as the story moves along without becoming pedantic about it. It’s populated with interesting characters that I look forward to finding out more about. Though, their good versus evil natures are a bit simplistic at this point; most of the characters we see in action seem very obvious which side they fall on. Knowing that this is part of a series of connected stories, I was prepared for the ‘bigger picture’ not to be fully resolved by the end. I wasn’t prepared for the abrupt and sudden stop where this book does end. After watching the relationship developing between Etana and Areg, I was hoping for something more for them. However, where we’re left makes me very anxious to see what comes next.
The Commander’s Captive
I don’t even know what to say. The political thriller aspect of this series is even more compelling than the romance between the lead characters. And since that’s hotter than the surface of a star, that’s saying something. I love that this book gives us the answers to what happened to Etana and Areg after the ending of the previous book, because it was driving me batty not knowing. I thought that some of the chemistry between Nyssa and Jancel felt a little rushed. However, as Jancel was the first one of her captors to be kind to Nyssa, I think there’s a bit of Stockholm Syndrome hurrying the emotions along. This has a ‘softer’ cliff-hanger ending but there’s still a lot of unanswered questions out there and I can’t wait to learn more.
The Dragon’s Woman
A dragon? You have my attention. And the author was able to keep with a twisty little plot filled with political machinations, evil scientific experiments, and a One True Love. I’ve suspected for a while that Geru and Marye would make a power couple. I just never anticipated that it would be power like this. I loved getting the chance to ‘check in’ on previous heroines and their heroes and I’m dying to learn more about what’s really going on with Boggond and Horbell.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.

arc review For honest review the cyborgs lady -This is the story of Colonel Kieran yaggar of the lor enforcement cyborgs . He meets linni (Grace lady olinnie tannro this was cute. The traitor’s bride- Etana lives on iltaga when watching a whipping of areg sebi . She needs to do something to help him . This is interesting book .good. The commander ‘s captive-Lady nyssa sebi is a captive while she believes her brother Seth’s is dead . Jacncel is her brother oldest friend and she’s always had a crush on him now it’s a love hate . This story has lots of political stuff in it it also confused me sometimes but it was very good. The dragon’s women- Chev has the sight and when sir horbell and vagras get him to tell him about a dragon shifter they go looking for him . Geru is that Dragon shifter but is having memory problems and marye is his mate. This story has lots going on in it .awesome story.

Below is a review of two of the books to give you an example of the great story you’ll find in this Box Set!

*** Reviewing THE CYBORG’S LADY — PREQUEL) ***
Colonel Keiron Yaggar, head of the LOR Enforcer Cyborgs, couldn’t take his eyes off the young woman staring out of the viewport at the comet passing them. He was on a forced vacation to relax, and with some encouragement from a fellow passenger, he went over to the woman and introduced himself. However, she was already aware of who he was and who he worked for. As a government investigator, Linni apparently kept herself well informed. She excused herself and walked away. Their ship landed on Sovyda for their day-long tour. She reflected that next week, after her job interview, she could end up being Keiron’s boss! If not for that, well, no good fantasizing.

The tour was very enlightening. They saw frescoes of the Ra ancestors before the Human Infusion Era which brought in Terran females to mate with them since their own people were somehow not producing females anymore. But then they were shown a new discovery area, just recently found. It showed 3 statues which they determined represented 3 phases of an even more ancient Ra which supported the dragon shifter “myth” that now looked to have been true. The one statue actually showed a tail and the rib bones extending for dragon wings. But they were assuming this to be myth and wishful thinking, just like the Origin Legend that said the Ra descended from dragons. Then their guide led them back to the bus to go to dinner.

Linni has an assignment here, however, so she dashes off to gather information about an illegal trafficking auction. Once she has the venue and date, she would join the others at dinner. Little did she know that Keiron might be taking more of an interest in her work than she imagined.

This book is a prequel to this Box Set series and gives us some background information as well as the history of how Keiron and Linni met. It will certainly raise the reader’s interest level in jumping into this series! The character development was done very well, allowing the reader to get to know them, and to know what to expect from them in the trials that are coming. The story line was very good and the fast pace and action kept the reader fully engaged.

*** Reviewing THE TRAITOR’S BRIDE – BOOK 1 ***
Lord Areg Sebi is a military hero and member of a noble house who is falsely accused of treason and quickly condemned to death after enduring public lashings and a forced confession. Unexpected aid from a laundry maid, Etana Tidryn, is instrumental in allowing his escape temporarily.

There are lessons to be learned here about government corruption and power being misused. There are so many characters and so many things going on! It was interesting enough that the reader will be glad to have the rest of the series available to keep reading!