The Scorpians Mate by Susan Trombley

Date Originally Read: Oct. 29th, 2018
Star Rating: 4

Re-Read: April 15th, 2020
Star Rating: 4.88

After recently finishing Halian's book (being the final book in this series) I was feeling nostalgic.

No, that's not the right word for it....

I was feeling.....

Book Clogged?

Book Back-uped?

Sci-fi Romantically Challenged?

Sure.....lets go with that.

Any who, as I was sitting watching the world fall apart in a blaze of toilet paper hording, 98% alcohol, and social distancing, I thought to myself,
 "Flew, I think it's time to go back."  

Back being a time when I had just realized that apparently Alien romance with Aliens that actually look like Aliens was a thing I was down to read. 

Did that sentence say Aliens enough? 

Aliens.

Susan Trombley was the (officially, cause I totally remember) second author of strange alien romance that I had ever set eyes on. Or better yet, who my Kindle intrigued me into reading.
Blessings to Kindle, because her writing is genuinely some of the most interesting, entertaining, bizarre, and wonderful I have ever read. 

And that's not just me being sentimental because I'm jazzed over the fact that I have the first two book in this series in paperback now, but because she was one of the authors that expanded a horizon for myself, and other sci-fi romance readers out there.

The progression of romance men I enjoy reading about went like this:

Young me -Tall dark handsome/Blond hard athletic
Middle me - Big Blue Horned Ribbed and Tailed
Now me - Armored winged tentacled elfin serpentine buggy Alien (the list of traits is indefinite)

So, to answer the question, Which kind of men do I prefer in my romance?

Yes.

What can I say. My standards aren't to high.

The Scorpions Mate created a world of science fiction unlike any other I had read, and still have read before. It has such an intricate weave of new species, humanity, intergalactic intrigue, and Romance with Alien lookin' Aliens that it could really tick the boxes for readers of any genre.

Thrax is an Alien, who was taken by other aliens, experimented on, and turned into this scorpion-esque alien soldier. It was really interesting getting to delve into Thraxs' mind; how he went from being a creature without emotions of empathy, living only to eat, kill, eat, kill, survive. 

He then slowly progresses into a man-esque still-scorpion-esque dude, who wanted to learn why these compulsions to care for a  meat sack (EW.) were driving him forward. 

The struggle to comprehend these new emotions, as well as the physical changes of his new existence was fascinating. 

I also really enjoy how he didn't suddenly become this soft and caring creature, he is constantly in a state of learning how to have a human mate (or mate Period), a mind with different thoughts, a new body that was changed without his choice, and allies.

One of my favorite things about Susan Trombley's writing, is her ability to take these Human women, and make them relatable. Not just in the sense of feelings, but in personality and appearance. I mean shoot, I will take a book about a snarky, chubby, cyber-goth over ANY book with a fire-haired Jessica Rabbit sexpot. You feel more in tune with the character and the story when you feel like they could genuinely be you. 

And Claire fit that bill. 

She was just trying to survive on a strange alien ship, with alien robots, elfin aliens, and a giant alien/scorpion guy who wanted to get that human booty (but in an alpha MINE way). We learn and suffer what she goes through alongside her, including a freaking Alien goo shower (I want to take a moment to personally thank God, Goddess, whoever is up there for conditioner).

Now, comes the best part....

Reading Nemon's book. Or better know as,

 MY FAVORITE SCI-FI ROMANCE ALIEN BOYFRIEND OF ALL TIME.

So thank you Susan Trombley. For showing me that the weird is just a flavor some have, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Side Note: I APPRECIATE the references to other sci-fi romance authors, and that Claire compares her abduction to romance's she has read.

 "It figured I got abducted by a blue-skinned alien that wasn't masculine and of the barbarian variety. Oh well, what was one more disappointment? This was so not going like it did in the romance novels."

"It wasn't like I'd never thought about being ravished by an alien. There were plenty of romances about that very subject, and I had a taste for them." 

4.88 Total-Alien-Word-Count: 19-I'm-Not-Even-Sorry stars