Firstly, let me talk about the stuff I really like in this book! Abby is a relatable character and very interesting, I love how much of a mother hen she is and it’s clear her deepest desire is to help people. Hrebec is similar in the fact that he wants to help others, he wants to help his species continue as well as rescue other species from trafficking and slavery. He’s also very considerate of his crew, caring deeply for them as he would for family. The found family aspect of the book is probably my favorite part, I’m a serious sucker for that. Seeing all the women find happiness in different ways warmed my heart. I love how close knit the girls are and how much they rely on Abby, it’s clear there is a lot of love in that group.

Now on to the stuff I just didn’t like… Things moved way too fast in the romance department and Abby and Hrebec were made out to be literal hypocrites because of it. They were instructing their respective people not to do the things they themselves were doing, which is really bad in their part. But the one time Abby was actually really right in her decision making was with Molly. Yes, she’s pregnant, but she’s underage, and thus can’t consent to anything Ribel may have wanted to do with her. Abby stepped in between them but then she’s made out to be the bad guy for it when the girl is literally 16… and Ribel gets mad at her when Molly is sick, saying she separated them when in reality she simply informed them all that Molly was underage and he took it upon himself to do the right thing and separate himself. Abby gets shit on a lot for this situation but she handled it the best way she knew how. Mate bonds don’t exist in Earth, she couldn’t have known the result of them being apart.

The main thing I really fault Abby for is not communicating with the other girls about their situation, she could have simply asked them how they felt about going back to earth, especially after she realizes that three of them had already paired off with a Cire. The girls should have had a choice in the matter to begin with. Really a lot of these issues could have been solved with some basic communication. I mean Abby doesn’t even think to ask until TeShawna actually breaks down and cries because she wants to stay with Mekoi. All the time that was used for Abby and Hrebec doing “hanky panky” could have been used for the characters to actually discuss things with each other. Even Molly getting sick could have been avoided with some basic discussions, she could have been involved in the decision and said she just wanted to spend time with Ribel but there was no need to make things sexual. I mean give the girl a little bit if agency.

One thing that really really bothered me was that the Cires had like… zero knowledge of their own species. Since all their females died it makes it seem like the males are unfeeling and just plain stupid that they didn’t try something as simple as HOLDING THE BABIES WHILE THEY EAT! I mean come on! I get there was an issue with the virus and physical contact was lessened, but you’re telling me not one Cire male was overcome with emotion to the point that they just held a baby…? That paints a very bad picture of them, honestly, and I don’t like the misogynistic attitude that reminds me of.

Overall good story, not great, but it was really easy to finish because the chapters were short so I never felt like I was wasting time. Quick read for me.