They should’ve never taken her. Now, she’s going to show them just what happens when you get between a woman and her mates.
After being caught by the Overlord, Aria is sent back to Earth with her memory wiped. But, the mental suppression isn’t strong enough to control her forever. Bit by bit, it begins to crack.
Until, finally, she remembers…
The arena. Her mates. The hundreds of slaves she’d sworn to free.
She remembers everything.
With the suppression constantly trying to drag her under, she struggles to distinguish what’s real and what isn’t. But one thing she knows for sure: she must find a way to leave Earth and get back to the alien slave planet.
The Overlord should’ve killed her when he had the chance because nothing will keep her from returning to Tirox and Kix. When she gets back, she’s going to take him down, claim her mates, then take over the planet.
Who said plotting world domination was only for the bad guys? Sometimes, to be the hero, you have to get your hands dirty.
But, not everything is as it seems. And when she finds out the truth, it could change everything…
Aria's Ascension is a full-length SFR novel that was previously published as Taken. Please do not repurchase if you've already purchased Taken. It is the second book in a new series set in the same universe as the Chosen Series by Stacy Jones
Stacy Jones is an award-winning author with an obsession for all things science fiction, romance, and adventure. She adores creating strange, wondrous worlds and watching her characters come to life. She can usually be found typing frantically on her laptop, dancing like a crazy person with her son, or cuddling with her husband.
There was a lot of action, but the execution in terms of tension and excitement did not fit.
Jones' strong suit is writing character interactions, dialogues and monologues. In the jungle setting and everyday life of the Chosen series that worked much better than on an arena planet with gladiator games, violent guards and a revolution led by the heroine and her harem.
The pacing was also off and the book ended with little resolution, which made it feel like filler.
Good layered story ? Yeah,pretty much. Nothing thin or wimpy here.Definitely enough to sink your teeth into . But honestly I just couldn’t stand Aria. Please save all from deluded “alpha” female types. Quick to anger
,constantly over analyzing,always needing to be in control, too much lone wolf at times,quick to martyr herself. Hard. Arrogant. And she mentioned she was an FBI “Special” agent enough in the first book to get you drunk quick if you made it a drinking game . I started skipping in it and found myself doing the same here. For me the story has a lot going for it like Kix and Tirox but not Aria. She was just too full of herself . I wanted out of her head. Just because this is a ménage or faux RH doesn’t mean it needs to be a female lead relationship. I don’t like how what she wants at times trumps common sense or the consideration of her mates . Too many loose threads left out there dangling . Two potential mates are just kinda out there circling her,no clue where their gonna park if ever. Neither ready to commit. And yeah there will be more books but Aria should be in the back ground in them and these two males just hovering around her my forever be for all we know . I just don’t get why they weren’t either dropped off or sorted out before this book ended. The “dragon” character really,really pissed me off. Supposedly he’s recognized her as his “mate” for years and years now but because of on little scratch he’s going deny what they have live his live like some retired martyr ? BS . I don’t do martyrs. Be brave . Be honest. But sort of grand over reaction is immature and selfish at its core. It’s all about him and the BS he feels it ticked me off that at one point in the story, “her dragon” is worth getting everyone possibly killed to rescue and the next he’s set “free” to just become some weird stray. A stray ho hovers around her,one of those sad stray animals that won’t come to you but won’t go go away . I could see how the writer must have been plotting all along from her “Chosen” books with Lily and her mates. Lily, I loved . She was sweet and smart,kind hearted and caring. Glad I came and saw but happy to go. Unsure if I verdant to return.
I picked these books up after reading the author's other series, Chosen, and really liking it. This series fell a bit short for me, mostly with respect to plot development.
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The concept of being "mind transported" into an alien clone is original and had the potential for some trippy-dippy "inception-level" plot loops I was eager (and a bit anxious) to dig into. The question of "what is real" and the duality of self brings to the fore some interesting philosophical questions that....whomp-whomp...fell short of being explored. Because--2 penises! Yeah, the romance completely derailed the interesting aspects of the plot. I know, I know, an author can really only do so much with a story, and sacrifices had to be made, and all that. BUT, is it so much to ask that I have my cake and eat it too? I want some spicy romance AND a damned-interesting plot.
Aria, unfortunately, didn't really grow or change throughout these novels. I read somewhere (maybe in a book about writing books) that if the character's reaction to a big event at the beginning of the story is the same as what they'd do at the end, then the author has failed at their character development. And...yeah, I can see that here. I mean, Aria was already a tough cookie from the gate. The toughest! Not even a cookie! She's a tough piece of hot-ass beef jerky. If jerky could wield a sword and orgasm 6-million times. And, she handled all this shit really well--led, even. Fought. Fell in love. There was little change in her sense of self throughout these books, in spite of the aforementioned "dual-self-clone" concept. I mean, if that had happened to me, on some level, my mind would be f-cked by the whole thing. In fact, all the characters came to accept their position and their relationships rather easily, because mating magic.
So, I think at the end of the day, I am disappointed because I was BORED throughout these books. A cool premise, interrupted. A really, really tough female MC who everyone loves--even the females. Endless orgasms. 2 penises. The end.
Aria thought at first her reality became a nightmare. Back to being a lonely fed? But is she really back on Earth? Is this all just another dream? And what's happening to the guys while she's wherever she's at? Nope. Whether the gladiator thing is real or not, having her guys with makes every tournament worthwhile. And, besides, the turtle faced nudey loon who, if he's not a figment of her imagination, will have to answer to her for the years of nightmares she and they have suffered.
Spoilers ahead. Ah, I was hoping that this was tweaked just a hair from the original compounded version in Taken. The HFN, even though it's part of a series, bothered me. Because the focus changes in the next book. I'm sure we'll get visits, but we won't get the in-depth view of the relationships from outside sources. And I really wanted to see the new ones' healing and bonding. They're such interesting characters. And the one, especially, holds such insight to the situation. I have some questions from the original that were not answered in this rerelease: *They have super healing abilities. Aria talked about kids. But, do those super healing abilities mean her body resets to default, as in non-pregnant, with each heal? Are we talking lab grown kids, in order to procreate, because although they were lab rats, they're different species? Will her genes need to be tweaked to allow her to get/remain pregnant? No healing ability spontaneous evacuations. *The whole planet can't be a desert, or the species would be more suited for that environment. There are a few mammals that adapt to desert conditions, but it tends to be more insect and reptile friendly. R seems mammalian. Did the slavers change the ecological balance when they built the arenas? Or was this their natural Sahara? Cities tend to disrupt nature but R made it sound like they were from this area? Maybe I read that wrong. *I get the sentient loophole, but obviously some are recognized and known sentient species. Veiling known sentients isn't a loophole, it's still a crime. And couldn't whatever the intergalactic version of police infiltrate arenas? Tracking down missing people, etc. *The newbies, were they tweaked? Because I can understand the modified being ok with low rations and water, but if the newbies weren't tweaked in transit, there's a whole host of dietary intolerance headed their way. I thnk I had more questions after the original. But these were the ones remaining after this 2 part reread. I do enjoy the series, and I enjoyed the reread. I'm just a little wary about continuing if it just keeps moving forward with new people, when the previous weren't quite completed. Don't think I haven't forgotten how you snuck Atuk into very end of Tribe with barely a blink before fading to black on us. I'm noticing a trend lol. I'm going to call it bonus cliffhanger maybe mates syndrome.
I love it when author's aren't afraid of using their imagination to create great books! I love Aria and her two mates. The other two are still a bit of a mystery to me, so let's see how it evolves in book 3.
This book was so full of everything. Aria is a total bada8$. She finds some closure in this one, she kicks a whole bunch of behinds, she connects with her mates and really stretches out in her awareness and control of herself. I so so love all the action, the rebellion and snark. Considerate, loyal and tough characters. The world building that Stacy Jones is capable of blows my mind every time. Sci-fi that doesn’t leave you scratching your head or rereading to understand. I am loving this series and this world. Bring on the next one. <3
Gotta say it. Sorry Ms. Jones, but I am not a fan of the art work. The guys do not look attractive at all... I would rate this book at 2.5. I found myself not liking self absorbed and inconsiderate Aria. Details and spoilers below.
I didn't get why Aria felt a need to risk herself by saying goodbye to the people in her alternate reality. She knew it was all made up in her mind. They weren't real. I guess I could see she wanted some type of closure even though it wasn't real. Also, why didn't she mourn losing her real family? None of the mcs seemed to really mourn. It was brought up maybe once or twice and then quickly dismissed.
I got bored throughout some of the book and wanted to skim. I really started to dislike Aria. She would often feel attraction and on some occasions be inappropriate with other males in front of her mates! I love Tirox and Kix but man, they put up with too much.
When Aria first found the dragon shifter, she found him tortured, starved, and chained. She then let him finger her hoo-ha, left him the means to free himself, and told him to come find her in front of her mates! She then left and went back to her cave to screw her males KNOWING the dragon would come for her and he thought of her as his mate. Poor guy had to listen to her screwing 2 guys.. He is hurt and angry but then he jerks off? Wtf?
Then she flirts with the bad boy, Rellix, upon just meeting and gives him a hug - knowing he is interested in her. Again, in front of her mates! Insensitive biotch!! If roles were reversed, she would not have put up with that behavior from her mates. She got furious if a woman just looked at them.
Also, why did all the mc's sleep at the same time? Why didn't someone keep watch? They made it easy to get taken and never learned from their mistake. Seemed a little careless.
Based on the cover/spoiler of Aria's Desire, she obviously gets the dragon and bad boy as mates. I honestly don't really care what happens to her. I do like the males but I don't like the disrespect they endure and how self absorbed Aria is in their relationship. I will try the next book if not better, may not continue series...
Did they have her for 13 years or more? What will happen to her true body? Is Aria’s “little passenger” her conscious or the dark side? Was Lily one of the ones they dropped off? I don’t remember her being “defective”. I thought it was an accident as to why she was picked up.
Why would Skaa be taken but not the prisoners on the ship?
So cool to have spies. The epilogue was literally the best part.
1 Star = DNF. 2 Star = Finished. Didn’t really enjoy. 3 Star = Finished. Story was neither good nor bad. 3.5 Star = Finished. Story was good. Will probably pick up next in series if there is one. 4 Star = Finished. Enjoyed story & will definitely pick up next in the series! 5 Star = Bloody LOVED it! ❤️
Aria saves the day but then gets stuck with all these beings under her care. She is all about sharing responsibilities but she gets the most. And to add the addition to two stubborn mates and we have one great reverse harem ride alien addition.
Aliens and spaceships, and slavery. Ohhh what a series. I am loving it and can’t wait for more. This was really good loved every minute of it and I want to read it all!
Loved this book! Love the aliens that are aliens ( and not just human form in space ). Can't wait for the next one in this series!! Need more rellik and for the Sin to get his act together, even tho I get it!
This series just doesn't do it for me. I had read your series 'Chosen' and loved it. But this series is hard to follow, too detailed, too complicated, not enough sexy interactions in the first book. I read first 2 books of series but will not be reading the other two. Sorry, I usually don't give such a review but it just didn't appeal to me.
The main story was ok but there were just too many fillers. Like what went on after the overlord was taken care of. There are still many unanswered questions. But that’s it.
This was an exceptional continuation of the series. I found that I actually liked the characters more and the plot is progressing in an intriguing way. I love the concept, the dialogue is well written and I'm eager to see what happens next.
I enjoyed this book even more than the first one. I absolutely love Aria. She checks all of my boxes and make a perfect FMC. Now she just needs to claim her other two guys!
Aria and her two mates Kix and Tirex continue to attempt a coup to free all the slaves. Aria continues to search for the Dragon and recruit the awakened to their cause. I am enjoying this series!
DNF 50%. Why say lot word when few word do trick. The first book was engaging, this was exhausting. While the spice went up exponentially, it was rushed and random as if planted as a checkpoint reward for making it through another lengthy redundant internal monologue.
The journey to fight for freedom continues. Aria and her makes fight and make a new home while attempting to dissuade Aria from bewitching more males, lol..
It was decent follow up. I can't really get into alien smut, it's not for me. Felt like I've now read enough of this series, have no desire to continue.
This is a great second installment to the series. I can't wait to see how Aria will grow closer to her mates and see the next part of the story! NOTE: originally book 1 and 2 were combined (how I originally read it) and later split - please ignore the reivews talking about repeated material ❤