Title: Alien Heart
Author: Ursa Dax
Series: Fated Mates of the Sea Sand Warlords #11
Pages: 271
There is apparently another tribe out there and so a group of warriors is being sent to find them. Camille and Priya are going as well since they are anthropologists and cartographers. When Varrow learns that Camille will be leaving the settlement, he volunteers to go with them, even though he doesn’t know why. But before they set out the next morning, the Lavrika calls him and reveals she is his and he is even more determined to protect her now.
This was the first book in this series featuring a character with a disability. Varrow lost his arm as a child but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a strong warrior. Varrow is the strong silent type who are not really great at communication. Varrow was a man who was traumatized by the loss of his arm and family, and because of that he doesn’t really let anyone close. He really struggles with the idea that the Lavrika chose a mate for him. He also refuses to tell Camille about it, causing a lot of tension between them throughout this book. While I liked Varrow, I also found him frustrating because there were so many times he should have told Camille she was his mate and he just didn’t.
Camille is an anthropologist who is going along in the hope she could help if the sixth tribe didn’t have the same language/culture, and because Cece was pregnant and unable to be the linguist. Camille initially thinks Varrow doesn’t like her but once she realizes he just isn’t good at communication she makes more of an effort to get to know him. I liked how her feelings grew over the journey but I probably would have enjoyed it more if Varrow had been honest with her earlier and told her she was his mate. I wanted to see these two really bond as the journey progressed, but instead it was a tension filled one that I didn’t love. Which is surprising since I usually like tension filled relationships.
The introduction to the sixth tribe was very fast and very interesting. I wasn’t expecting the differences with them and I will be interested in what happens next with them. Also I will be interested in Priya’s side of the adventure because I want to know more about her.
Overall, this was a good addition to the series. Camille and Varrow’s relationship wasn’t my favorite but I still enjoyed these two as a couple. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if Varrow had just been honest with Camille, especially after learning she wants a mate. Hopefully we will get to the fight against the humans soon.
TW: death of parents and sibling mentioned; grief; near death experience;
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Previous books and reviews for the series:
Red-Haired Ash Reads 