Bit o Background:
First netgalley approval since getting back into the reviewing game!

Thoughts:
A really slow start. I was a bit nervous with certain descriptions that this would turn out to be a Romance in Disguise, but this is not a romance novel. It's not the focus of the plot nor does it appear to be the purpose of the series.

I do want to address one thing.,,
Being creepy is NOT romantic.
Twice the male love interest slides in behind Selene as her door slides shut. (Once as she's about to take a shower.) That said, nothing happens. He doesn't try anything, he just wants to talk, but it could have been handled better. Highlight for minor spoiler:[ He's also her boss, so there's this extra dynamic. ] Creepy ≠ sexy. I really can't say it enough.

The animal conservationist aspect is definitely a fresh idea. Although, it's noble work, but it's still just charity on their part.

The action is solid. Selene and her crew are accomplished fighters, but they aren't perfect and mistakes happen.

For a book that's only 250 pages long, a lot happens. There are a lot of characters that are introduced and then dismissed just as quickly. It has this sort of epic, arcing reach, while still being pretty short. I actually wish certain parts would have been longer to expand on certain aspects. I would have liked to spend more time with the crew before the book. I was informed of their relationships, but I didn't feel them because it was so brief.

The twist at the end has me wanting more.

Verdict:
(3.5/5)
Generally recommended if you like sci-fi action, government conspiracy, and a very tiny slice of romance. It's a short read where a lot happens.

Quibbles:
-"Lady bits"
-Ship docked exactly where it was before even though a long, but undetermined period of time has passed. No explanation given. We just sat here for no reason.

I read the prequel to The Aldar Dominion and was really looking forward to reading the move. Once I got started the book was not what I expected after reading the prequel. I was disappointed and finally quit reading 2/3 of the way through. I will say there was nothing wrong with the writing, the plot just was not what I was expecting.

Having read the prequel to this novel I had already had a basic introduction to the main characters. Earth has been 'colonized' in a way by a supposed friendly alien race,the Aldar Dominion, that has helped advance the population by extending human life through clones and mind transference into these new clone bodies. Not many natural born humans a left. We are thrust into the midst of this world following Selene, who has no memory of before she was a stowaway on Rikkard Gunnar's ship. Now she's a member of his smugglers crew. During a routine mission for them, she is injured and supposed dead and taken prisoner by Aldar Dominion.

In her prison she discovers that she and many other natural born humans are experiments for them. They seek to create superior bodies that they themselves can transfer their consciousnesses into to dominant the solar system and the supposed friendship with Earth is a cover. Selene must fight her way to stay alive, hopefully escape and find her friends again.

This was a pretty decent story. It had an ending that I was NOT expecting at all! A good introduction to a new series, although the prequel wasn't enough in itself and I think that should have been the beginning of this novel.

This book was simply amazibg i couldnt put it down until it ended! All the twists and turns in this story were pretty good as well. the main character was pretty crazy snd fun. Cant wait for the next book in this series.