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Hiding out on Earth, waiting until the day where the authorities would discover that she is a halfer- half human half Aunare alien, Maite knows that it is only time until she will be arrested. When tensions are already high, Maite ends up attacking a handsy customer at the restaurant she waitresses at- a customer who just so happens to be someone in power. Maite ends up arrested and sent off planet to work her punishment off. But she may not survive her punishment, which could lead to war.


Aileen's Alpha Girl series captivated me from the first chapter and ever since I discovered them I have impatiently waited to get my hands on the next book. When I saw that she had a new series coming out about aliens and outer space I was so excited, I knew I was going to read it. Hands down, Off Planet is unlike anything Aileen has written before (and I can say this with confidence as a super fan) and it was unlike anything else I have read period. With elements of dystopian, science fiction, an underlying mystery and a mysterious guy lurking on the fringes, I can say that this is a must read.

Being saved by someone was nice, but being able to save myself, that was a rush.

Maite was such an awesome character, totally capable and skilled, able to take on any opponent and have the upper hand (without using her alien mojo). I love that she enjoyed fighting and training, but she also enjoyed being able to educate others to be able to protect themselves. Off Planet was in no way a romance, but there were a couple of tasty men added to the list, my favorite being Declan, the honorable human son of Maite's enemy. And then there was the mysterious Lorne who has a connection to Maite she doesn't understand. I am interested to see how all of this will play out next.

Let's just talk about the fact that this is very much an adult book. I went into it expecting this to be another cute YA sci-fy romance story, but Off Planet was not that even a little bit. Between language, sexual assault and overall content and interactions, I would classify this as adult science fiction. Not that that is a problem, just a disclaimer for new readers. There were a few times where Maite was basically being tortured and due to Aileen's descriptive writing it was so real that I felt her pain and wanted to intervene.

My biggest problem with Off Planet is that I am left wanting more and the next book is not coming out until 2020! Sniff sniff, I will try and work on my non-existent patience, but we all know that is a losing battle.

I didn't really like this book as much as I hoped to. I have read other books written by this author, but the pacing in this one made it my least favorite.

The characters were really good, but some of them lacked depth. The antagonist was pretty one-dimensional with his plans. The plot was interesting, as were parts of the world. But that pacing... man it really slowed down the story. The slow start made the stakes for some things seem less important. But I never really got much of a sense for what the alien race was supposed to look like. Clearly humanoid, but beyond that, nothing.

This was just a little lackluster for me.

This is the first book in the Aunare Chronicles series. I enjoyed reading this story. It kept my instrest from beginning to the end. It was well written and it has a good storyline.
Thank you NetGalley and Ink Monster for sending me a copy if this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and I loved how our main character is strong woman who can fight. Really enjoy the plot can not wait for the sequel. I really need the sequel. Like now

Where do I even start? This book was beyond my expectation. I thought I'd get an intergalactic war with the MC leading in the front row with her superpower. No, I didn't get that. I got a lot, A LOT MORE THAN THAT.


Off Planet kicked off with Maité's life on Earth then it turned quickly to an accident that changed her life and threatened her safety. The pace was perfect, it didn't take long before I was knee-deep in the story. There was no time for me to take a break, every chapter filled with action and suspense. I engaged to the story from the very beginning because the writing was enjoyable, raw, and honest. Erin laid bare every emotion and I was wondering, how could a book punch me with its words?


The world-building was great. Yes, I do have questions about how some things in the book work but they're no crucial part so I could go on and still enjoyed the story. Different from what I expected, the world was easy to imagine. Maybe because the Sci-Fi genre made me doubt myself I'd like the book. But as soon as I read it, any doubt was evaporated. One thing though, the Aunare reminded me a bit of Faeries with their slightly pointed ears, remarkable beauty, and amazing strength. But other than that, they are a new species I'd love to know more.


This book is nothing without its powerful plot. From what I caught, there were no important plot holes that affected the story. Everything was smooth and jaw-dropping. I still remember myself gritted my teeth, muttered silent prayers, squealed and giggled like a 4-year-old through it all. This book was so much fun, and by fun I mean it also came with pain. Where's the fun if a book doesn't torture you when you read it?


Now, let's get into the characterization. Let me tell you, every character in this book was mostly loveable so it's going to be long because I just need to explain how each of them managed to get my attention.

Maité; she was strong, generous, a fighter, and a badass. She's my favorite and practically my spirit animal. I found a lot of similarities between us and even though it helped me understand her story better, it also made me feel like I was reading my own heart being poured into the pages. She destined to be great but all she wanted was to be free. She has a tough life but she keeps fighting and not for her own sake but for everyone. I loved her so much. I finally found another female character that I'll hold close to my heart after Adelina Amouteru.

Roan; HE WAS THE BEST. That's it. Out of all others, I favored him the most (after Maité, of course). He was kind, funny, understanding, and would support and fight for Maité no matter what. I wish I could have a best friend like him.

Declan; sweet and thoughtful. I wearied when he first appeared but he was actually nice. I just wish he wasn't so hard to himself. I truly want to know more about him. No, I don't have a crush on Declan, that's silly. I barely know him.

Ahiga; MY BROTHER. He was strong-willed and a great friend. He might be a little too stiff but he was soft at the heart.

Tyler; a funny, loving friend. His easy-going made me glad for his presence in the book. But don't mistake it as a weakness because when he turned to serious mode, he can be very scary. Especially if his friends are on the line.

Audrey; brave, sweet, and kind. She's the type of a perfect girlfriend everyone could ask for. Basically, she's my sister in every way and she deserves all the love in the entire universe.

Lorne; a powerful male. That kinda sums it up. He was mysterious, the type of person who hides their feelings and demanding. Hmm, you can tell that I don't really like him but that's because, in this book, he wasn't being described other than beautiful, strong, intense, and beautiful. Well, I really hope I can get along with him in the sequel.

“I’m Aunare. I love seeing your skin glow. I want to see the patterns on your skin. I want to read your glyphs.”


Overall, Off Planet was a spectacular read. I'm not exaggerating anything, this book is truly amazing. It wasn't only about a girl trying to save the universe.
It is about struggling to survive with trauma and terror.
It is about the stubbornness to keep fighting even when you're only a breath away from giving up.
It is about making a hard decision, doing something dangerous for your loved ones even though your own life was on the stake.
It is about trying to find your freedom only to realize a massive and difficult duty on your shoulder.
If you like a strong MC with flaws, the fight against people in power, a bunch of great character, fast-paced and amazing story, I recommend you to read Off Planet.

Oh man, there’s just so much to say, but I can’t without writing spoilers!!! Don’t worry, I’m not going to spoil anything, it’ll just be difficult😂😂😂

When I started reading this book, I felt like I was cheating on “Becoming Alpha.” That book is tied for my most favorite book ever with “Ella Enchanted,” so it was a bit hard for me. THAT’S how much I enjoyed this book. I loved Maité, Roan, and Lorne. Not Declan so much.

I felt like Declan didn’t really do enough to stop all the bad things from happening to Maité. I really feel that Lorne did the better job. I’m going to literally cry if it turns out Maité ends up with Declan and not Lorne. The ending was looking a bit weird...

OOF. So much I want to say, but can’t!😭😩(People, you need to message me when you’ve finished this book so I can talk about every spoiler possible with you!!!)

The thing that lost a whole star for me was the middle of the book. The same thing was happening to Maité over and over again. I was getting bored with it. You wouldn’t believe how relieved I was to finally get to something new and different than before.

One part that really had me laughing was at the end, when Maité finds a window to exit from. That brought me back to the first Alpha Girls book when Tessa literally jumped out of like three windows. It turns out Tessa’s not the only one who enjoys doing so!

That’s all I have to say without spoiling! PLEASE, people, message me so we can talk about the book after you finish it! Happy reading and I hope you give this book a shot!

It could be that I was just coming off a fairly disappointing collection of science fiction or maybe this just wasn't for me, but I didn't especially enjoy this book and I really wanted too. I've been looking for some new science fiction books or series to get me back into reading more science fiction. I used to read a lot of sci-fi books when I was younger, but have since gravitated more towards other genres. However, this book for me didn't really bring anything new to the table. The overall story line didn't really feel new or fresh. Most of the characters didn't feel fully fleshed out or developed, aside from the main character, Maité. So for me this was a lackluster start to a new series. I can tell based on some of the other reviews that I am in the minority, so if this sounds interesting to you, please do check it out. It just didn't work for me and I don't think I will be continuing.

Thank you Netgalley and Ink Monster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unfortunately somewhat negative review.

There was not one moment of OFF PLANET that I didn't totally love what I was reading.

This story sucked me in and kept me interested until the very end. Maité is a simple yet complicated heroine. All she wants to do is stay under the radar and live her life, but her life was complicated from the moment she was born and she is now learning just who she is and by the end what's expected of her.

I loved the characters and I loved the world. All the characters brought a little something to the storyline and the world was both intriguing and well developed.

There is a bit of a love triangle happening. I like both of the guys, but think one is defiantly MADE for Maité and the attraction to the other is just there because Maité hasn't yet realized the true extent of the connection to the other as well as she is fighting her destiny.

I can't wait to read more. I wish Aileen had book two up on her Goodreads so I could add it to my wishlist and have a date to look forward too.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Kind of space-opera, kind of not? Off Planet intrigues me because it’s kind of about interstellar war, or at least the tricksy politics that can lead to an interstellar war, yet its main characters aren’t (with a few exceptions) soldiers or politicians. The protagonist is literally just trying to live her life, mind her own business, but others can’t have that. Aileen Erin crafts some fairly interesting and intense situations and brings a fair amount of creativity to the worlds she shows us here. Thanks to NetGalley and INscribe Digital for the eARC.

Maité Martinez is half-human, half-Aunare. This is dangerous while she still lives on Earth, which is essentially ruled by a single corporation, SpaceTech. Back when Maité was a kid, SpaceTech massacred Aunare who lived on its planets, and “halfers” are not welcome. So she hides who she is, biding her time until she can get herself and her mother off this planet. But when people from her past show up looking for her, because she happens to be the daughter of the second-most powerful Aunare, Maité’s fragile little life falls apart. Exiled to Abaddon, SpaceTech’s gruelling mining labour camp, Maité barely survives while she and her allies try to figure out if there is any way she can escape that place that doesn’t mean interstellar war.

Off Planet takes a little to get going. Even though Erin sets up the main conflict fairly early, the first act still feels somewhat long to me. Honestly, though? This is a rare instance where I’m comfortable saying you should hang in there: the climax is worth it, at least in my opinion. I was tearing up while Maité screamed, “Do it! Jump!” and was having flashbacks to Battlestar Galactica and Starbuck screaming, “WE’RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!” Chills down my spine, the moment was just so intense. So, well done there, Erin: you create a sense of urgency and tension as we wonder who, if anyone, will survive the final battle. While the book kind of ends on a cliffhanger, it resolves enough loose ends to leave me satisfied.

I’m rather disappointed with the antagonists. We don’t actually meet too many of them. We briefly encounter Jason Murtagh in the most uncomfortable way, of course. Beyond that, all we really know about them comes from voices and proxies and what Maité’s friends tell us about them. They are the bad guys. They hate aliens/Aunare and just want to make war and money! It’s a fairly one-dimensional motivation, and while I find the idea of an interstellar corporate feudal hierarchy as compelling and believable as the next person living in the 21st century would … I need my villains to be a bit more fleshed out here.

The same could be said for Maité’s allies, to be honest. There aren’t that many shades of grey here—we get a few characters, like Matthew and Carl, who seem fairly neutral. But it seems like most of the people we encounter are either in Murtagh’s pocket or totally on Maité’s side (and deduce, fairly quickly, her terribly-kept secret). Don’t get me wrong: I’m not complaining that she has so many people who want to help her. I just wish we could see more characters who are grappling with the tension between helping her and being punished, or characters who start off well-disposed to her but then betray her for some reason.

People are complex, is what I’m saying. For the most part, though, the characters of Off Planet are not. Maité herself is probably a notable exception, thankfully. I like how Erin manages to endow Maité with sufficient agency despite her role as a pawn in this interstellar chess game. Maité displays an incredible amount of dignity and strength (though I’m annoyed by how often Declan and Lorne tell her this, and Declan sharing those videos without her consent crosses a line). Most importantly, I like that she is always looking for a solution instead of listening to those who are telling her to wait around until Declan or someone else can extract her. That’s my kind of protagonist!

Off Planet had some highs and lows for me. I’d rather a book that’s up and down in quality, however, than something that is just aggressively mediocre—and I can safely say that Off Planet isn’t that. Will I read the next book? Definitely maybe.

Creative Commons BY-NC License

Every once in a while I find a paranormal series that I actually really like. It’s rare, and it’s kind of a weird thing because it doesn’t seem like a genre I should enjoy at all, but here we are. Last summer I thoroughly enjoyed Aileen Erin’s Alpha Girl series and signed up for her newsletter, which is what led me to the ARC of her newest book, Off Planet, the first in a new series, due to be published later this month.

Overall, I enjoyed this read and definitely am looking forward to the next in the series. It’s an interesting concept, decent world building, and a mostly likable main character. I liked that friendships were an important part of this story, and there was enough sass between the characters to keep me reading.

The pacing was good for the most part, but did somewhat drag in the middle where it felt like the torturing of Maite went on and on and on and ON. Consequently, the ending seemed more rushed to me as Erin wrapped up some loose ends, leaving a complete story that still has plenty of lead-ins for the sequel. I felt like more story could have taken place after Maite escaped, rather than literal chapters of her struggling to survive in a never-ending sequence of performing the same task repeatedly.

Throughout the majority of the book I admired Maite for her strength, stubbornness, loyalty, and determination to do the right thing. That’s why her sudden character change at the end of the book felt out of place. Trying to avoid spoilers here, but it’s not exactly a surprise to find out that Maite has A Destiny, and the way she wigs out about it honestly aggravated me. Like, you’ve spent the whole book being willing to do whatever it takes to protect the people you love, but suddenly your life is all about you and what you want and how hard your life is why does everyone always want you to do stuff blah blah blah. It really felt like the Maite at the end of the book was completely different from the Maite I’d read about for previous 90% of the story, and that frustrated me. I think the book may have flowed more smoothly if Maite had been less perfect throughout the beginning of the book – then her flipping out over her Destiny wouldn’t have felt as jarring.

A personal drawback to this story was the frequent swearing. I find swearing, especially f-ing things, to be 100% unnecessary, and it’s something that really brings down a book’s overall enjoyment for me. Erin’s characters had some of their own slang/swearing, and I would much preferred that to be developed and used as a way to express outrage and frustration, rather than just falling back on boring f*s. Obviously swearing doesn’t bother lots of people (maybe even most people), so that’s a personal thing. Otherwise, the book was pretty clean – no explicit sex scenes or anything like that.

I feel like I always spend more time on the negatives than the positives when I’m reviewing the book. Despite my griping, I really did thoroughly enjoy this story. I loved the creative setting, and I’m rarely against the trope of Evil Corporations Stealing Your Soul! – and it’s done well here. The alien aspect really fit well into the overall sci-fi vibe, and I personally love sci-fi that doesn’t spend too much time explaining the specifics of the sci bits haha Except for the slightly-repetitive middle (which, I’ll admit, does serve the purpose of showing Maite’s strength of character), the pacing was good, and it was definitely a book I wanted to come back to when I wasn’t reading it. While I’m little scared of the developing love triangle (please, let’s just NOT develop the love triangle, seriously), I’m overall super intrigued to read the next installment. The bummer about reviewing ARCs is you have to wait such a long time for sequels…

All in all, Off Planet was an easy 3.5* teetering towards a full 4*, and if you like your sci-fi on the lite side, this may be the read for you.

PS Have to say that this cover is SO much better than the original cover that I see floating around.

Oh man, I love Aileen Erin's Alpha Girl series. LOVE IT. So I was excited for this one.

Maite was a strong heroine who went through a LOT. Really good gritty scenes in this story. I'm not the biggest fan of the love triangle - I always pick the wrong guy, but he's always the better one. But I am DYING for the next book already.

Off Planet is the explosive start to a new YA scifi series. My first question is why are there so many different versions or the cover? I've seen at least 3. My favorite being the Kindle version.

Also, wouldn't it be great to leave this planet for another one? I mean not for the reason Maité Martinez, who is our Latina main character, does but still.

If you enjoyed the Amid Stars and Darkness series then I recommend this book. 💕📚

***Thank you to Netgalley and Ink Monster for giving me a review copy.***

Off Planet has a premise that is plausible. Imagine the earth being so polluted that it becomes inhabitable. With means, you can escape to another planet. Of course, the government and big money control everything. Enter a girl with no means to leave but needing to. A love interest and a crisis with humanity ending consequences. I found the girl and her situation typical. I would rather have read more about how the earth ended and the process of moving to a new planet instead of another girl saves the day story. The world building is great. It's well written and engaging. I just wish it had taken a different approach. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I am a long time fan of Aileen Erin's Alpha Girl Series and was excited to start her first book in the Aunare Chronicles, Off Planet. The book follows a young woman, Maite, who is half Earthling and half Aunare as she tries to escape Earth after hiding for many years and reunite with her father at their home planet. She's helped along the way by a loyal group of human friends and the beginnings of a love triangle seem to be developing between her, a human male and Aunare male that I believe will be revealed more in the next book.
The suspense started as a slow burn allowing the reader to get to know the characters and then geared up to a thrilling conclusion. I'm excited to see where Aileen takes these characters in the next book, a great read!