SLAYER (Shadowborn Rebellion #) by Cyndi Friberg-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 6, 2020

General Malik Xett doesn’t have time for romance. His one and only concern is curtailing the power and influence of the ruthless Sarronti elite. Still, the human female working with him lingers in his mind and fuels his imagination.

Though Kara O’Leary has been attracted to Malik since they first met, she never dreamed he returned her feelings. One kiss ignites a hunger neither can deny, but the timing couldn’t be worse. Hostilities rapidly escalate and new threats are revealed. How can Malik and Kara bring freedom to the “world below” when all they can think about is each other?

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REVIEW: SLAYER is the first instalment in Cyndi Friberg’s adult SHADOWBORN REBELLION sci-fi romance series-a spin off from the author’s Outcast series, which in turn is a spin-off from Battle born, which is a spin-off from the Shadow Assassins series 😉 . This is Sarronti General Malik ‘Slayer’ Xett, and human engineer Kara O’Leary’s story line. You do not have to have read any of the previous series to understand or follow the current story or timeline.

SOME BACKGROUND: The humanoid aliens known as Rodytes needed a home and settled on two uninhabited planets but to their shock a race of elf-like creatures, known as the Sarronti, live underground away from the light. Without any available mates, the male only Rodytes sent teams of Outcasts to kidnap or persuade any and all human females from Earth in an attempt to repopulate and find mates for their struggling males but procreation came at a price including the need for genetically matched DNA, a mutual metamorphosis, and magical intervention. A test for compatibility is filed and there may be as many as five males matched to a single female DNA. Thirty percent of the females returned back to Earth, and the struggling males begin vying for the female’s affections. Outcasts are battle born-their mothers were Bilarrian prisoners forced to breed, with their Rodyte captors, in the hopes of restoring magic to the Rodyte people. To complicate matters, the planet they now inhabit hides a secret deep beneath the planet’s surface, a secret that is determined to take back what once belonged.

Told from several third person perspectives including Malik and Kara, SLAYER follows two paths: the building romance and relationship between Sarronti General Malik ‘Slayer’ Xett and human engineer Kara O’Leary, and the attack against several settlements in an effort to dissuade the Rodyte Outcasts from establishing a home. Kara O’Leary would quickly discover that finding a suitable mate meant meeting and dating males, who although were DNA compatible, were otherwise not her intended mate but something about Sarronti General Malik Xett immediately caught Kara’s attention. An injury would find Kara in the arms of Malik Xett, and their fated relationship would begin. What ensues is the building romance between Malik and Kara, and the potential fall-out as a war with a rogue faction of Sarronti is about to spiral out of control.

Kara O’Leary struggled to find a place with her human family, and the option of starting a new life on an unknown planet gave Kara a hope for a better future. Like Earth, not everyone is happy with the newcomers or the numerous factions of alien outposts, and as such, specieism, racism and discrimination are about to take hold placing the planet and its’ population at war. Kara O’Leary caught the eye of General Malik Xett from the moment they met but Malik kept his distance until he could keep it no more.

The relationship between Kara and Malik is one of immediate attraction but neither one was willing to take the next step until a potential suitor with a history of aggression places Kara’s life in danger. Kara, although genuinely attracted to General Xett was unwilling to commit to a happily ever after, and needed more time to establish herself and start a new life on a planet she would soon come to call home. Malik knew Kara was his forever mate but bided his time in the hopes that Kara would accept him, as well. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large colorful, energetic and magical cast of secondary and supporting characters including Malik’s mother and Sarronti Prime Healer Arpovae, his brother Salvo (with the ability to conjure portals), and their cousin Jaron; Ayran ‘Scorcher’ Marr; as well as Kara’s friend and cook Natalie Marino. We witness the return of Overlord Kage Razel and Lady Eza, Warlord Torak (Outcasts Series); and the requisite evil Tajon Marr, and Sarronti elite Kantor Alonova and Indrex Farr, whom we also met in the Outcasts series.

SLAYER is a story of family, friendships, discrimination and love. The Sarronti caste system is heart breaking and yet familiar in many of today’s less than progressive societies. The Ayrontu, the highest, most prestigious designation is an ascribed position from birth, and it is the Ayrontu that are determined to remove the unwelcome intruders. The premise is engaging and intriguing; the characters are dynamic and captivating (Jaron is flirty and fun); the romance is seductive and spicy.

Reviewed by Sandy

Copy supplied by Netgalley