After a lonely, anxious human named Paul is accidentally kidnapped by dashing nonbinary/transmasc alien pirate Hadrell, the two are swept into a high-stakes space adventure where they must navigate danger, unravel a setup, and confront their own insecurities. Through found family, mutual care, and sizzling chemistry, both characters experience profound personal growth, with the story centering queer representation, mental health, and the transformative power of acceptance and love.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a richly imagined science fiction universe, this adult queer romance follows Paul, a lonely and anxious human who, after a drunken hookup at a friend’s wedding, is accidentally abducted by Hadrell, a transmasc nonbinary alien pirate. The story unfolds as Paul finds himself stranded on the other side of the galaxy with Hadrell and their eclectic crew, navigating dangers, space politics, and a series of misadventures while trying to return home. The narrative explores themes of trauma, anxiety, and self-worth, as Paul and Hadrell’s relationship develops from captor and captive to lovers, with a strong focus on mutual care, consent, and personal growth. The book is the third in the Spire Station series but is designed to be read as a standalone, featuring a found family dynamic, advanced alien technology, and explicit romantic and sexual content, including D/s dynamics and kink, all set against a backdrop of intergalactic adventure and intrigue.

Readers consistently praised the book’s representation of anxiety, trauma, and queer identities, particularly highlighting Paul’s realistic portrayal of anxiety and dissociative responses, and Hadrell’s nonbinary and transmasc identity. The dynamic between Paul and Hadrell was frequently described as both emotionally resonant and sexually charged, with many noting the careful handling of consent, aftercare, and power imbalances in their relationship. The found family aspect, especially the diverse and memorable supporting crew, was a standout for many, as was the book’s humor, emotional depth, and the integration of spicy, imaginative alien tech into the romance. Readers also appreciated the author’s explicit focus on inclusivity, the normalization of queer and trans identities, and the positive, affirming environment created for marginalized readers.

Some readers noted a few drawbacks, such as the pacing feeling slow at the beginning as characters and world-building were introduced, and the book’s length (over 400 pages) making it harder to get into for some. A few mentioned that the world-building sometimes felt designed primarily to facilitate erotic scenes, with elements like sex clubs and sexualized environments being particularly prominent. There were minor critiques of certain romance tropes, such as delayed communication between characters, and a desire for more balance between plot and erotic content. Additionally, some readers expressed disappointment that this is the final book in the series and wished for more stories featuring side characters like Yaz.

The book contains content warnings for anxiety, panic attacks, past medical trauma, dissociation, sex trafficking (not involving main characters), violence, death, accidental drug use, and power imbalances. It is noted for its explicit sexual content, including public sex, dom/sub dynamics, pet play, and praise/degradation kink, with clear emphasis on consent and boundaries. The story is accessible to new readers without prior knowledge of the series, and includes a glossary of alien terms. The author’s note at the end emphasizes the personal and community significance of writing queer and trans stories, and the book has been well-received by readers seeking representation and affirming narratives in science fiction romance.