For help understanding the star and spice rating system of this newsletter, please refer to the About Me page on Substack.
Reviews From This Past Week
Viper by Naomi Lucas
Release Date: May 20, 2021
Content Notes
Cock pocket
Knotting
Post-apocalyptic Earth
Primal Play
Breeding
Slow Burn
Dying Humanity
Naga MMC
Badass Soldier FMC
Naomi Lucas is onto something with Viper. It has drama and mystery that made me feel like I am witnessing the start of some romance book equivalent of an action-packed summer blockbuster.
Sci-fi smut lovers should find many boxes checked with this book. The male aliens need females. Those male aliens are possessive and primal. There’s chasing, pheromones, and a dystopian wilderness they all must survive.
Gemma, the FMC, makes sure the plot moves forward. She and the deeper conspiracy going on are what really made me keep going with this book. She is a natural survivor and leader. I’m sure she could put “Badass” on her resume and get away with it. She shows there’s much more to this abandoned Earth than first meets the eye.
An impressive amount of romantic angst is going on as she and Vruksha have to go through while their goals clash. In between bouts of dealing with her sexual awakening, Lucas guides Gemma to uncover bits of the truth about the horrors there on Earth and possibly by her leadership amongst the humans.
King Cobra by Naomi Lucas
Release Date: July 4, 2021
Content Notes
Cock pocket
Knotting
Post-apocalyptic Earth
Doomsday Palace
Soldier PTSD
Self-acceptance
Primal Play
Breeding
Dying Humanity
Naga MMC
Badass Soldier FMC
Naomi Lucas has helped me settle on something with King Cobra that I didn’t realize I needed to settle on. If I had to be hunted and captured on an abandoned Earth by a naga, I would want it to be Zaku.
I don’t think you can blame me though. That naga has a dream doomsday compound with running water and robot servants. In the classic words of Mel Brooks, it’s good to be the king.
Daisy is first introduced in the first book of the Naga Brides series. This is a good reason why it is smart to read these books in order. In fact, it seems all these books build off the previous ones. If Lucas decides to create some sort of Naga Brides omnibus, I think that would absolutely work.
I absolutely loved how Daisy gets to become a more dimensional character. Yes, she is an emotional being. She is far from stupid and cowardly though. In fact, I would say she may be more dangerous than Gemma for how ruthless her personality shines through. She is a queen after all.
I found myself enjoying this book even more than Viper. I suspect this is partly due to my personally relating to Daisy. Just make her a book nerd and this gal feels like me. More objectively, we’re starting to get a more definitive glance at the secrets of abandoned Earth and the ruthless nature of the human race. It is messed up. It is fun.
Blue Coral by Naomi Lucas
Release Date: November 20, 2021
Content Notes
Cock pocket
Knotting
Post-apocalyptic Earth
STEM Professional FMC
Embracing Infertility
Primal Play
Breeding
Dying Humanity
Naga MMC
After getting hints and teases about the worlds we are dealing with in Naga Brides Wight the first two books, Naomi Lucas recruits a scientist FMC in Blue Coral to get us readers to the bottom of things. Shelby also makes this book series even more set apart from many others.
Shelby’s story is probably one of the most powerful yet. Though all these Naga Brides are quite amazing. Shelby specifically is a great example of what it can actually feel like to be a woman in academic or STEM fields. Of course, real-life humanity doesn’t demand the same direct sacrifices of women like Shelby. Yet, if you know then you know how close the comparison is.
Shelby also draws the line for the Naga Brides, setting it off from a basic breeding kink. Blue Coral seems to be Lucas making a statement that this is about the intense, companionable intimacy aspect of a breeding kink rather than being baby-focused. I think breeding kink lovers and those who wish they could enjoy the breeding kink without babies to confront will like this.
Overall, Blue Coral was a fun ride and excited me about future books' direction.
Currently Reading
To Be Read
Housekeeping
For more information about this newsletter’s spice and star system, check out this newsletter’s About Me page.