Book Review
Title: Ensnared (The Spider's Mate Book 1) by Tiffany Roberts
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
I didn’t know anything about Ensnared other than it is a) recommended to fans of Ice Planet Barbarians and b) features a spider alien which I am scared about because I have a huge phobia of spiders and I am curious to see whether this book changes that even a little. I also know this book unlike many alien romance novels is full length rather than a novella which I am looking forward to as I always feel the novellas seem rushed towards the end because they are shorter. We are first introduced to Ketahn who a vrix or spider like creature. I was surprised we were introduced to the male first as we always seem to start from the female perspective but I have a feeling there is reason behind that. We learn that Ketahn is a hunter choosing to spend most of his time in the jungle known as the Tangle. However, he has recently been propositioned again by Queen Zurvashi to become her mate which is something that Ketahn definitely doesn’t want as he hates Zurvashi. We learn that since become Queen, Zurvashi is letting her own people starve and risks sending the hunters out on Offering Day which is something highly unusual. Speaking of offerings, Ketahn’s offering is also to let the Queen know he won’t be becoming her mate ever. This interaction was brilliant filled with tension as Zurvashi basically blackmails Ketahn with his place in society if he doesn’t bend to her wishes and we get to see Zurvashi completely annihilate a challenger to her throne as she just how dangerous this female is.
Ketahn does manage to leave and get back out hunting in the Tangle but things don’t go to plan and he ends up falling into a really deep pit which seems to be part of an underground labyrinth which he begins exploring. While finding some strange symbols, writing and artifacts, Ketahn also notes the many skeletons in the pit and wonders what happened there. However, he quickly comes upon some cocoons and one still seems to be occupied by a sleeping female. As he approaches her Ketahn is spoken to by a disembodied voice but he doesn’t understand what it is saying, all he understands is that he has a connection with this female and proceeds to take her back to his den. He notes the differences between them and is obviously aware that she is from a different species, one he hasn’t seen before which means she would be rare given that he is a hunter and comes across all different kinds of animals and plants almost daily. As she is asleep and Ketahn can’t get her name he takes to calling her Eight, which is the number of divine beings that the vrix people worship. So far, I have to say that Ensnared is interesting and intriguing and there hasn’t been a single spicy scene which is a real change of pace that I am actually enjoying quite a lot although I can’t wait for “Eight” to wake up and see what her reaction to Ketahn is going to be. We learn that the girl’s name is Ivy Foster, she does have an interesting story as I suspected. It turns out she was aboard a ship called the Somnium heading for a planet called Xolea which was to be the new Earth and now I have two theories. Either Ketahn’s planet is Xolea and Ivy doesn’t know it or her ship crash landed on the way to Xolea and she never exited her cryosleep which would explain the dead bodies and her still being asleep when Ketahn finds her. She is now obviously awake and very confused and suffering effects from cryosleep like being very tired and so hungry that it causes her physical pain. However, there is a language barrier between her and Ketahn and with no technology to deal with this we are treated to a hilarious scene of them going back and forth trying to understand each other and it does come but only single words here and there.
At the point Ketahn mentions that Ivy has been with him for a full moon cycle, which if it is anything like the lunar calendar means she has been with him around a month in the Tangle. During this time they have been teaching each other their language so communication is easier but still no where near perfect which I am enjoying greatly especially when Ketahn begins giving Ivy lessons on how to survive in the Tangle and the differences between their species make themselves known again. However, Ivy this time around adapts and uses her own skills and advantages to be able to do things similar to Ketahn even if it isn’t in the same way. Now, he has to return to the city in order to make another offering as they seem to happen every month, but he has learnt from his friends and fellow hunters that even though they are bringing in a steady supply of meat none of it seems to be finding its way to the people that need it which infuriates Ketahn. With a friend he comes up with a way to sneak meat past the Queen’s guards so that it can be distributed as it needs to be. However, I am very surprised that Ketahn hasn’t realises that Ivy is his mate or heartsthread yet but then given the fact he never wanted a mate and the only affections he got were from the awful Queen that can be forgiven. Learning about Ivy’s past was also interesting, it seems she moved out young to be with her boyfriend who betrayed her and posted sexual things of her on the internet leading her parents to turn their backs on her. She then living rough in her car for a long time just trying to survive although we don’t yet know how she ended up on the spaceship to Xolea at all. We have also learnt the cocoons Ketahn referred to are the cryosleep pods meaning there may be more humans that haven’t awaken but Ketahn didn’t mention any of them or didn’t show an interest in them but Ivy wants to get back there one day to see if she is the only one and to figure out how she ended up on Ketahn’s planet in the first place.
As Ketahn prepares to return to the city he is worried about what the Queen will do but he knows if he doesn’t return she will send the hunters after him and that isn’t something he wants for himself or Ivy. However, upon returning and meeting with his friend he learns that their meat smuggling plan isn’t going to stay hidden forever and he suggests spreading the word among those affected so that they will have safety in numbers if the Queen ever learns about it and they prepare to go and make their offering. Upon entering the chamber, Ketahn realises that the Queen isn’t there with only means something has happened and when the guards close in around him he knows what they have come for and drag him off to face the Queen. In his old home, she explains that he has no choice in the matter and will become her mate whether he likes it or not otherwise she will take his sister and his friends away from him as he doesn’t fear death at her hands. Ketahn in response challenges her but the Queen is a feared warrior for a reason and Ketahn soon finds himself on the defensive. By the time she lets him go Ketahn realises how close he was to death but the only thing on his mind the entire fight was Ivy which should tell him that she is his mate but he still hasn’t put it together yet but I have a feeling he will soon. Ketahn leaves as quickly as he can to return to Ivy but the pair has an argument shortly after his return leading Ivy to storm off to make herself useful only to be attacked by one of the creatures living in the Tangle. Ketahn does come to her rescue and kills the beast but not before he gets a good swipe at Ivy but luckily the wound isn’t too bad. We also get one of the most awkward scene here as Ivy has to a) explain human anatomy to Ketahn and b) explain the differences in their mating practices which embarrasses the hell out of both of them. Ivy has some trauma when it comes to relationship as her last boyfriend tricked her into signing documents meaning she wouldn’t press charges and when she turned 18 he essentially raped her and robbed her of her virginity before posting it all over the internet and there was nothing she could do about it but she feels safe with Ketahn but the trust issues do cause problems from time to time but they work through it.
Things seems to be getting pretty serious between Ketahn and Ivy despite them not having many sexual charged encounters throughout the entire novel. When Ivy explains about wedding dresses and their purpose and meaning Ketahn immediately sets out to make her one despite not weaving for a long time. However, the Queen disrupts this process announcing that the High Claiming is soon and Ketahn will be hers but he once again refuses her all but fleeing back to Ivy. His sister pays him a visit and virtually begs her brother to mate with the Queen but he refuses as he doesn’t want her, he wants Ivy but no one knows about her yet. The High Claiming comes and goes and Ketahn knows it is only a matter of time before the Queen sends someone after him for not being present during this. However, in the meantime, he has been training Ivy and intends to take her back to the pit where he found her and when she realises this she is both nervous and excited. When they re-enter the ship, Ivy realises that they must have crashed because they are only in a portion of ship and it is in poor shape. She realises upon seeing some of the other cryochambers that she could have easily died her but there are seven others still safely asleep and she wants to wake them but Ketahn is against this as he has had a hard time keeping Ivy alive and teaching her the skills she needs alone and he can’t do it with seven more. Before they can come to a decision they are interrupted by one of the Queen’s guard, the highest one, the Queen’s Claw has come to find Ketahn. A fight breaks out between the pair and although Ketahn stops before killing his opponent, he succumbs to his wounds and dies. Ketahn knows what he has done in killing the Queen’s Claw and the repercussions of this and is horrified at what he has brought upon them. Overall, Ensnared was a beautiful start to this series and I can’t wait to read the next book, Enthralled as soon as I can because I need to know what happens next for Ketahn and Ivy.
Buy it here:
Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
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