The Alien's Fire

Craving the Heveians, Book 2

By: Ella Blake

Narrated by: Dani California, Eric MacArthur

Harp

He's my boss on this ship, but not the boss of me. At least that's what I tell myself every time the gorgeous, icy-eyed—and hearted—Heveian warrior speaks to me. Or rather, growls at me. Despite his clear dislike of me, I have the dirtiest thoughts about the big guy. When he receives an invitation to visit an alien warlord's fancy space lair, he shocks me by asking me to come with him, posing as his mate. How can I refuse?

Drave

She has no idea the power she holds over me. Each time I'm in her presence, I feel things I don't want to feel. I want things I have no business wanting. No matter how harsh I am to her, Harp laughs it off. When I have to play nice with a warlord to get secret info vital to my species' survival, I can't resist the chance to bring her as my pretend mate. Maybe it will purge these feelings I have for her.

But navigating the dark and lavish world of wealthy trade lords and alien nobility (of which I am), is more dangerous than I thought. Secrets run deep and the information I came here for comes at a steep price. When Harp's life is threatened, however, all bets are off. I will tear the station apart to keep her safe.

Contains mature themes.

©2023 Ella Blake (P)2024 Tantor

Harp and Drave

Narration was good. I enjoy Ella Blake’s stories and writing. I’m interested to see where this story goes so I will definitely continue this series.

Undercover Lovers in Alien Territory

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚💜
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎
Character development: ☺️🤣🙁
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration

🦸🏻‍♂️ Hero Spotlight: Drave

Once a prince, now a pirate—Drave serves as the communications chief aboard a sprawling Heveian vessel that’s more outlaw fleet than diplomatic envoy. The ship hosts a motley crew of alien races, but its core allegiance lies with the Heveians. Drave renounced his title and inheritance after the death of his tyrannical father, a ruler whose cruelty soured Drave’s loyalty to his homeland. Now, he navigates the stars with a sharp tongue, a guarded heart, and a past that refuses to stay buried.

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🦸🏼‍♀️ Heroine Spotlight: Harp

Harp, a human abductee turned reluctant spacefarer, works under Drave in the ship’s communications sector. Her initial impression of him? Grumpy, aloof, and probably allergic to kindness. Their mutual disdain simmers until her subconscious betrays her—cue the steamy dreams starring her brooding boss. Harp’s awkward attempts to maintain professionalism while battling unexpected attraction add a delicious layer of tension to their dynamic. (Side note: “Harp” as a name feels more like a typo than a character choice—“Harper” would’ve hit the right note.)

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🔥 Plot Snapshot

When Drave receives a flurry of invitations from planetary warlords and political opportunists eager to exploit the mineral-rich lands he left behind, his captain sees a chance for espionage. Drave is tasked with infiltrating one warlord’s lair to gather intel—but concubines are off the table, thanks to their reputation as seductive assassins. Instead, Harp is recruited to pose as his mate, launching them into a high-stakes masquerade where danger lurks behind every velvet curtain and unresolved tension threatens to combust.

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❤️‍🔥 What Worked

• The enemies-to-lovers arc delivers satisfying friction, with Drave and Harp’s banter and buried attraction keeping the emotional stakes taut.
• The off-ship mission adds suspense and a welcome shift in setting, placing the leads in genuine peril.
• The chemistry simmers nicely, even if the name “Harp” occasionally pulls focus for the wrong reasons.

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🤨 Room for More

• While the setup had promise, the execution felt like a retread of familiar alien romance beats. There’s potential here, but it’s playing it safe.
• Ella Blake’s previous works have sparkled with originality, but this series hasn’t quite found its footing. Whether it’s the plotting or the performance—or both—it’s not hitting the same highs.

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🎧 Narration Vibes

Narrated in dual POV by Dani California (Harp) and Eric MacArthur (Drave), the performance is competent but lacks emotional resonance. MacArthur’s voice skews older than Drave’s character suggests, and while his delivery is solid, it doesn’t quite capture the simmering intensity. California’s deeper tone may work for some, but it felt mismatched for Harp’s emotional arc. The reading style leans more “scripted” than immersive, which dulled some of the tension.

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📝 Final Thoughts

A serviceable entry in the alien romance genre with a few sparks of intrigue, but not enough to ignite a full-blown obsession. The dynamic between Drave and Harp has potential, and the espionage subplot adds flavor—but the narration and naming choices hold it back. Here’s hoping future installments lean harder into originality and emotional depth.