Hunted on the Predator
Planet
By Vicky L. Holt
Blurb
Love will capture its
prey, especially on a Predator Planet.
Esra Weaver,
exo-geologist, is hired for the Kerberos-90 Mining expedition, but when she
awakens in her Emergency Egress Pod on a tropical, uninhabited planet, she
realizes her life has taken a drastic turn for the disastrous. ‘Predator
Planet’ tries to kill her at every turn, and Esra soon discovers it also
harbors a mysterious alien out for her blood. When danger and death converge on
her, her hunter becomes her savior, and when her feelings for him evolve, she
realizes she must battle not only Predator Planet but also her past to make
room in her heart for an unexpected but passionate future.
Naraxthel Roika, Mighty
Hunter of the Ikthekal race, discovers the existence of a spy on his hunting
grounds planet. With blood and fury in his veins, he tracks her down, only to
discover that she isn’t a spy at all, but a mighty little hunter in her own
right. Against centuries of tradition and physiology, Naraxthel’s heart-home
begins the biological changes that indicate he has discovered his mate. He
tries to fight what his heart is trying to tell him, but love doesn’t
distinguish between star systems and it won’t stop growing, even if the
consequence is exile.
Together, along
with Naraxthel’s hunting party, they must embark on a dangerous and
desperate journey to reclaim not only Naraxthel’s place in his society but also
find a way for them to be together.
Not a book review
With Tracked on the Predator
Planet recently released, I decided it was time to start this series and I'm so
glad I did.
Esra's emergency egress pod lands on one of twin planets, orbiting twin suns. She witnesses, what she thinks is, the death of an alien hunter and on investigating inadvertently helps him survive. Unaware of her help, Naraxthel hunts her down, at first believing she's a child, but later with the intent of killing her as the law of his world demands. But when he finds her, he admires her bravery, cunning and strength so much, he finds it impossible to end her life. Returning to his world, the second world in this system, he and a handful of others are sent back to the planet when he manages to insult one of the two leaders of his people. While the others are angry, Naraxthel is relieved to be rejoining the small human who threatens to change his entire world.
This is a well written
book by Vicky Holt which appeals to my science-fiction loving heart. Esra's an exo-geologist and the sheer amount of research Vicky must have done to make this book scientifically accurate is mind boggling, but it never overwhelms the story, instead, it lends authenticity to it.
I've read reviews that complained that Esra is too easy about the aliens when she meets Naraxthel. Well, she runs away from him the first time she sees him, but it's also made clear that humans know about and intereact with aliens all the time. Naraxthel just happens to come from a species they aren't aware of and looks, in his armour, particularly scary. The romance unfolds slowly, with Naraxthel being more aware of it than Esra, but when it finally happens, it feels real and organic.
I'm a massive science-fiction fan, I was raised by a Trekkie, (my mum, not my dad) and have devoured science-fiction shows and books since I was a kid. I also love happy-ever-afters and this book provides both in spades.
Fair Warning: This is a
Sweet romance. As such there are no sex scenes. But honestly, I loved the
romance between Esra and Naraxthel so much, I barely missed it. However, you can download Vicky's novella which contains steamy scenes from here.
It gives us a little more Esra and Naraxthel as well as having a great
cover which shows Naraxthel's red armour and the size difference between
the two, which just always makes me swoon!
For reference sake, sweet
means we stay firmly outside of the bedroom. Sultry means things get hot before
the bedroom door shuts and Steamy means I'm a perv who enjoys writing this
stuff. 😂
You can find Hunted on the Predator Planet here.