This is a good short story with well developed characters.

I would recommend that the previous books in the series are read prior to this one as it help with the background of the story.

If you like aliens and some romance [I do] then this could be for you.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc. This story was wonderful and hard to put down. I'm looking forward to reading other books by this author.

Even though this was the first book that I read in this series, enough background information was given so that I could thoroughly enjoy it. Being a hybrid, Olarra is not accepted by either of her parent's worlds. Olarra has passed on information about an expiration syndrome that will kill all the Lunar Raiders. Olarra is asked to work with Benlon to discover a solution. As they work together, Benlon believes that Olarra is his mate. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I enjoyed reading this suspenseful romantic scifi mystery. There are a couple of steamy scenes but they are not gratuitous. The story kept me captivated and I stayed up late to finish it. I like the characters and plan to read more in this series.

3.75stars- BENLON is the fifth instalment in Cyndi Friberg’s adult LUNAR UPRISING sci-fi romance series. This is medic-class Commander Benlon, and microbiologist Olarra’s story line. BENLON can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion.

SOME BACKGROUND: Eight years earlier, six Pylorian spaceships arrived on Earth asking for asylum claiming they were fleeing their immortal enemy, the wolf-like Morax, but in the ensuing years, the Pylorian began to take control, using their considerable powers to force the governments of Earth to do their bidding. In an effort to protect Earth, the Pylorian’s claim to have cultivated aka created the lunar raiders, a hybrid of three alien species (Morax, Pylorian, Dox Tory) one of which reacts instantly when their destined mate is near.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Benlon and Olarra) BENLON follows in the wake of the genocide of several species propagated by the aggressive Pylorians. Having created several hybrids of alien species, the Pylorians have implemented an ‘expiration syndrome’ meant to be lethal, nanobots when activated, quickly destroy and take down their intended target, their hybrid host. As a hybrid herself, Olarra is all too aware of the discrimination many have faced at the hands of their ‘creators’, hands that are now systematically killing those who have escaped to friendlier planets. Knowing any help will come at a cost, Olarra finds herself the victim of an attempted assassination, and the only help will come from the man who governs several Pylorian cities, a man close to our heroine’s heart.

Meanwhile, Benlon, the medic-class Commander knows that Olarra is his mate but Olarra is a hybrid, and does not have the same capacity to know when her fated mate is near. As Benlon struggles to convince Olarra of their future together, the timing is all wrong as thousands are dying because of their genetics and modified DNA. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Olarra and Benlon, and the potential fall-out as our heroine is targeted for who she is, and what she knows.

The relationship between Olarra and Benlon is one of fated mates but Olarra is part Pylorian, and Pylorian’s do not take permanent mates. Olarra battles between head and heart, unable to trust the man with whom she will fall in love, having faced a lifetime of discrimination from the people in charge. As Olarra and Benlon’s relationship quickly builds into something more, an assassination attempt threatens to end their love before it has had a chance to grow. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Zorak and Cara; Leko and Julia: Dracus and Addison, Prime Commander Vosic, and Olarra’s father Governor Kreth.

BENLON is a story of discrimination and racism; genocide and murder, love and acceptance, loss and grief. The fast paced premise is captivating and engaging but all too familiar in reality; the characters are power, struggling, and charismatic; the romance is seductive but fated. BENLON ends on a happily ever after-for now.



THE READING CAFE: http://www.thereadingcafe.com/benlon-lunar-uprising-5-by-cyndi-friberg-a-review/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5294112565

AMAZON CA: https://www.amazon.ca/review/R39JLPZY14XN1C/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0BPWCDWX5


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3896362579

This is one with steamy romance but overall I loved the story. It wasn't my usual read but I do know the author did really good in both character, setting, and plot building. Her descriptive writing definitely opened up the setting for me and made it feel real. I enjoy a great Sci-Fi story I just wish it didn't come with the Steamier romance in it. Benlon and Olarra would have had just as interesting a story without the open door scenes.

What I liked about Olarra was her willingness to step beyond race and class and culture and put her ethics to the test. She had to fight for knowledge and compassion and made decisions that put others' welfare ahead of her own. Benlon may have been her fated mate, but she had to make the choice to fall in love.

I had a really hard time putting this book down with the great connection, tension, and chemistry between these two as well as the action and suspense that this book offered. I would recommend this book.