Alien's Captive

Earth Brides & Alien Warriors, Book 1

De: Tina Moss

Narrado por: Elle Sonali, Aiden Snow

All I've wanted since my abduction from Earth's first long-range space flight is freedom from my alien captors. But when I'm sold off to a Rhonar warrior, I learn I'm not the only one enslaved on this hellish planet, and survival comes at a cost.

The commanding alien they call Xelan may be in charge, but his fair dealings—and devilishly sexy charms—give me hope for the future. If I can strike an agreement with the battle-scarred warrior, perhaps together we can change the destiny of those bound in chains.

And if I can't—well, I haven't backed down from a fight yet.

However, as enemies line up to destroy the alien warriors and subjugate the galaxy, I discover that the universe has a sense of humor. Fated mates are real. And Xelan declares me his.

How can I attain my freedom if I'm tied to another being? Even if his possessive growls and single-minded attention ignite my desires in ways I've only dreamed, I cannot be his.

But how long can I fight the pull of a mating bond before I lose my head—and my heart—to the heat burning between us?

Only the stars know.

©2021 Tina Moss (P)2023 Tantor

A great suspend of my reality

I loved how this story is created with a basis I could jump into without too much world building. Being able to suspend my reality and jump into a story of possibilities. I really loved the underlying suspense in the story while discovering something new and deep inside yourself. I loved how Elle Sonali and Aiden Snow brought this story to my ears, their emotions and connections to the characters really elevated the story that much more.

Alien’s captive

The story had promise, and I kept listening hoping it would get better. It had times that were interesting and almost got to a point of being really good. Unfortunately the book was a real let down to me, the listener. Just seemed to be thrown together fast just to get something completed, but it lacked any real depth that kept me invested in the story.

Not Bad...so it vibrates now lol

I really like the story. it's worth the next book. could have did more steamy scenes than this but whatever. the story makes up for it.

A Gritty Rebellion Meets Alien Romance

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚💜❤️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 🙁🤓😍🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration

The Heroine – Ava
Ava is a human woman from a future Earth who voluntarily signs up for a deep-space mission in pursuit of a more fulfilling life. Her arc takes a jarring turn when she’s abducted by alien slavers, awakening in a cage on a brutal slave-trading planet. Initially purchased by a mysterious alien male who delays retrieving her, she’s nearly killed by violent abuse from her captors—an immediate testament to the story’s dark tone. Despite her suffering, Ava resists her circumstances with fierce independence, especially when confronted by the conflicting dynamic of being “saved” by someone who still operates within a system of ownership.

The Hero – Xelan
Xelan belongs to the Rhonar, a race of warrior aliens gifted with individual powers; his is empathy. This ability, while emotionally taxing, plays a pivotal role in his covert resistance against the slave trade. The Rhonar suffer from a plague-induced loss of their females and face a psychological “void” that drives them toward instability—adding layers of existential depth to their backstory. Xelan’s inner conflict around his empathetic abilities and his clan’s strategic rebellion enriches his character, even as the romance unfolds under morally fraught circumstances.

Narrative Dynamics
The narrative balances high-stakes action with emotional complexity, using Xelan’s mission to smuggle slaves to safety as a backdrop for his impulsive decision to rescue Ava. His empathy connects him viscerally to her suffering, prompting immediate intervention. Yet Ava, wounded and distrustful, challenges the savior trope by rejecting ownership in any form, creating compelling friction between them.

The Rhonar’s gradual descent into madness due to emotional starvation—and their continued efforts to dismantle systemic slavery—offer intriguing world-building. However, much of the plot relies on familiar alien romance beats, which may limit its distinctiveness within the genre.

Highlights
• The Rhonar’s anti-slavery ethos adds moral weight and positions them as nuanced heroes rather than archetypes.
• The confrontation with a high-ranking slaver injects satisfying conflict and raises the stakes.
• The concept of special abilities or powers for each Rhonar warrior is compelling, particularly when leveraged to explore emotional vulnerability.

Critique
• While thematically strong in places, the novel doesn’t significantly differentiate itself from similar entries in the alien romance genre.
• Some emotional developments feel rushed, relying on plot-driven urgency over gradual connection-building.

Narration Quality
The audiobook utilizes dual POV and dual narration, featuring Elle Sonali and Aiden Snow—both standout talents. Sonali delivers Ava’s chapters with warmth and clarity, while Snow’s deep, resonant tone enhances Xelan’s scenes with the gravitas and sensuality typical of romantic leads. Their emotive performances elevate the material, particularly in moments of tension and introspection.

Cookie cutter alien romance- good enough

“If the universe put us together, then no one is tearing us apart!”
I’m not sure I’d have enjoyed this as much without Mr. Snow’s deliciously deep narration. I think I’d have liked it even more with just him, or with duet instead of dual narration, because Ms. Sonali’s voicing for Ava was good but her voicing for Xelan didn’t sell the sexy warrior thing at all.

“My stars!”
I like my alien romance on the campy-and-consensual, rather than domy-abduction, side so this series worked for me. The fated mates, bio-chemical bonding helped to suspend disbelief for the insta-love. And, I get that this genre is all about the wish fulfillment, but the perfection of an alien who goes downtown then wants nothing in return except to cuddle was too much.

“You nasty git!”
I think this series needed a bit more oomph in a couple of areas to take it from solid to buttery popcorn greatness. It was weird that the aliens used Earth lingo like “nasty git” while the human girl used exclamations of “my stars!” The details for the setting, world, and characters were on the sparse end.
I mean, they’re on alien planets and the best we get is bug men and shower foam? All of the Rhonar men had the exact same personality (although perhaps that could be attributed to the lack of women causing them to fall into the “void” and lose emotion). Ava herself isn’t really described, except for an occasional reference to her having curves and a blink and you’ll miss it mention that she has Japanese and Mediterranean backgrounds.

I wanted more humor, clever dialogue, and variety. Still, I can’t say there was anything objectionable.
I do not regret my sale purchase and hope for improvement as the author grows.

Similar series that I recommend:
🍭 Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon (bursting with personality, although set on a primitive planet)
🍭 Accidental Alien Brides by January Bell (pop culture camp and aphrodisiac snails, snork!)
🍭 Sand Planet Barbarians by Tana Stone (dirty talking, golden skinned aliens and bodacious babes)