ARC Review: Taken to Sasor by Elizabeth Stephens

My Review:

Elizabeth Stephens blew my mind again with a steamy and immersive sci-fi romance that I couldn’t put down. I love her Xiveri Mates series, and Taken to Sasor is no exception. The story follows Mian and Neheyuu, a life-long slave and a snake-shifting clan leader who find themselves questioning everything they believe in the name of love.

Mian is an incredibly brave woman. A slave her entire life, she bravely offers herself to save fellow slaves when a raiding party invades their village. Neheyuu, the leader of the raiding party and chief of his clan, takes her, allowing the other slaves to remain hidden. His manerak feels an instant connection to the fierce and brave slave. However, Neheyuu is conflicted. His desire to grow his clan and gain power among the other clans comes with certain expectations, and these expectations don’t leave room for his feelings for Mian. Mian, in turn, struggles with her desire for Neheyuu and her desire for safety and security with a kind partner, something Neheyuu cannot guarantee.

The story is told from both Mian and Neheyuu’s points of view. I like the use of dual narration and feel it adds to the character development. You get to understand Mian’s conflicting feelings and how she acclimates to this new and different world. Neheyuu is just as interesting since he is constantly battling his manerak almost to the brink of insanity.

In one of my previous reviews, I wrote about Stephens’ skill in creating a vivid and immersive universe. She continues this in Taken to Sasor, presenting not just a new world, but new cultures, traditions, and languages. As Mian learns the language, the reader does as well. Now, I can say things like, “yes,” “no problem,” and “f*ck of,” which I think is really sviking cool!

Something else I really liked about the book is the tremendous growth displayed by so many of the characters, especially Neheyuu and Mian. Neheyuu shows an incredible amount of growth and development as he struggles with his growing feelings for Mian, his sense of duty to his people, and his desire to lead and gain power. As the youngest clan leader, Neheyuu has a lot to prove. However, he acts rashly and doesn’t always think things through, which causes even more conflict. He also fights his feelings out of a sense of duty. Neheyuu has a lot to learn about being a leader and being true to himself before he can be a good partner to Mian, and his personal journey is fascinating.

Mian grows as well. She is a woman who suffered abuse and maltreatment as a slave for years. She is smart, kind, and curious, but she struggles with self-worth. Mian often considers herself unworthy of friendship, love, and affection even though she longs for security, safety, and a kind partner. As she becomes more ingratiated and accepted in Neheyuu’s tribe, she learns what it feels like to be part of a community and to be respected and cared for. Chimara, who is half-human, is one of the few who can easily communicate with Mian. The females develop a lovely friendship and support each other throughout the book, and I think Chimara contributes to Mian’s sense of worth. Of course, her growing feelings for Neheyuu and their powerful bond contributes to her growth the most. As the story progresses, Mian becomes more confident and self-assured, which is fantastic to see.

Finally, I have to talk about the super-steamy romance! The chemistry between Mian and Neheyuu is on fire! Attraction is certainly not their problem. Mian and Neheyuu are drawn to each other, and their connection is profound. Past experiences, social expectations and implications, and fear are Mian and Neheyuu’s biggest obstacles. Plus, there is an outside force that threatens their happiness and future as well.

A richly developed and steamy sci-fi romance, Taken to Sasor is a fabulous addition to the Xiveri Mates series. Even though it’s the third book in the series, it can totally be read as a standalone. However, I recommend you read the entire series because each story is amazing! Thanks so much to Elizabeth Stephens for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance, of course! Mian and Neheyuu have a fantastically steamy love story.

• The universe-building! I mean, I’m learning an alien language as I read this series. How cool is that?

• The writing. Elizabeth Stephens is a talented storyteller, and I love her writing style. It’s so vivid and immersive!

Favorite Lines:

We both made the mistake of walking down a path with no destination. It’s time to change the course.

She blinks at me, her expression hollow. Lost. A deep chasm opens up at the sight of it, and I feel, for the span of a heartbeat, her mirrored emotions even though I have never felt them myself before. She is utterly transparent and through her, I can see and feel and experience everything.

Interested in the series? Check out my reviews of the first two books:

• Taken to Voraxia (Xiveri Mates #1)
• Taken to Nobu (Xiveri Mates #2)