Antigen (EBOOK)

Man this story never stops and I adore these characters. Great writing. Great relationships. So excited for the next book.

I loved all of the action in this book. There is great world building. We learn more about the Vithii anatomy and why the women are ostrisized when their mate dies or kicks them out. We learn about Temple's background with gangs and Ryder's past with her bonded mate.There is several heart felt moments in this book. I look forward to reading more! I love the characters of Pax and Ashe, they are my favorite. I can't wait to see what surprises they will have in store for the Premiere. I suggest that you start with book one so that you understand what is happening. I completely recommend anyone who loves a true sci-fi romance to give this series a try!

BOOK REVIEW........Good story. Good characters with lots of heat. I liked itNARRATOR REVIEW......Narrator was good

Antigen was a terrific blend of action, romance and world-building. Although the author states that the book can be read as a standalone, I personally feel that the book is much better as part of an on-going series. The first book, Antidote, introduced the main characters as well as laying the foundation for the co-existence of the Vithii and humans. Without this foundation, following the story in Antigen would be difficult. Also, I highly recommend the first book.The authors writing is very smooth, and the narrator does a phenomenal job of making each character have a distinctive voice, accent, etc. The sound quality is excellent, and the narrator has a very enjoyable pitch/tone. My only complaint is that she is a little extreme in her portrayal of Ryder (and Skye in the first book) being upset. Otherwise, the narration was perfection.My favorite part of the books is the scene where Ryder and Temple are trying to make sure that they can give each other pleasure even though they are from different species. Although the discussion could have been a mood killer, I thought that it showed just how much the two characters cared about each other. It was amazing to see Ryder finally feel love and acceptance not only from Temple but from her entire adopted family. Her family/crew had loved her all along, but I teared up a bit when she finally realized the depth of their love.I received a copy of this book from Audioboom and the author in exchange for this review. However, I bought the first book in the series, and I will definitely be purchasing the third when it becomes available on Audible.

Great 👍story, just love this series, it's filled with action and intrigue. The interaction and chemistry between the characters is wonderful. I can't wait for more from this author. I received this book as a FREE copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the way the author has the setting in a prison. The narration was great and kept you entertained. This author gives you great character builds. This was my first book by this author but definitely will not be my last. In fact, I'll be reading the first book in this series (Antidote) as soon as possible. I was given a free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I think I've found a new series to love. Two for two 5-star ratings. Can't wait to read the rest!

I loved this addition to the Love and War series. I absolutely love all the damaged characters in this series and how they fight against the regime that destroyed their lives, families, and homes. It's wonderful how they help and heal each other in the midst of tragedy and struggle. I was impressed and intrigued by the way Ms. Steffan was able to make a cyborg one of the main characters here and develop his ability to experience emotions through a telepath, even though his own emotion centers had long since been destroyed. She made him relatable and believable. I felt sorry for his past loss of self due to a conversion process he obviously wasn't fully informed of when he agreed to be part of the project. I'm not usually a Sci-fi fan, but this series is as driven by the people, emotions, and clever intigues, as the technology and science. I love every book, and I eagerly await more of the story.Ms. Druyor's narration is always fantastic. She is good with male and female (and cyborg) voices, and she is a master at expressing the emotions of the characters. Her tone, pacing, and delivery are always spot on.I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author. This is my honest, voluntary review.

Antigen gives a greater picture of Vithii society and biology and how it honestly kinda sucks for the female. I like Ryder's tough character and gruff exterior, but honestly I felt like it took this brilliant medical scientist a little too long to accept the idea that this Vithii quirk would be a complete non issue to a human lover.I also agree that Temple's backstory and his incorporation into Skye's family could have been a bit more fleshed out. However, his patience and heroism is well worth the read.This was a really enjoyable and well-written series. This series is definitely at the higher end of KU options. Each book ends happily for now while contributing to a greater story arc with a satisfying conclusion. The characters are consistent, editing is good, world-building is adequate for a romance genre series.The merry band of misfits made up of Vithii aliens with a stray human and cyborg added into the mix. Each book focuses on one person (in one book it focuses on two) in the group of renegades. Their relationships develops as they fight against a genocidal regime. These books have plots. The plots are the reason for the book, not connectors between **** scenes. I appreciate that.Steffan is a generous author with free peaks available on her website. She also has links to a secret prologue at the end of the books. I look forward to seeing how she develops. I'm hoping for more books with a sci-fi / urban bent with even more character development and detail in the worlds.Hey, if you found this helpful, click that button below. It gives me an odd sense of satisfaction to know that someone actually read this.

Can't wait to read the next one. Characters are great. Exciting and suspenseful.

I really like this series so far, am looking forward to the next book . Was not familiar with this author previously, and really enjoy his style. Will be looking for more books from him from now on.

Human males in most of this genre are pure rat shite. They are not as big. Not as strong. Not as ****. Not good lovers. In most books, pretty useless. Not in this series.Temple is the half/step/foster brother of Skye. He has been imprisoned for political matters. Ryder is sent in to rescue him. She is not human.All the characters are well developed. The story is well written. I really like this book.

This is the 2nd book in the series and it is all about Doc/Ryder and Temple. Temple is the mysterious foster brother of our previous book's heroine and Ryder is the medical guru in the little band of vigilantes, also mysterious. It reveals both of their back stories but mostly Ryder's and how the Vithii culture treat their women both biologically and mentally. It is not only constricting but demeaning as well. This woman was a renowned and respected brain surgeon and her husband, an ambitious rotter, totally burns her when there is a tragic accident. It leaves her bereft and broken with no where to turn. Through strange circumstances, she ends up part of the group and she becomes the person to rescue Temple. It gets very complicated and messy at this point, full of action and strife. All of this series is full of action and adventure but romance seems to fall into place also and done well, I might add. All of the characters have been ostracized for one reason or another and the miracle that they have found in each other, both as a team and as lovers, is very inspiring. In all of the chaos which is their lives and their planet's future gives hope to them and the future for all. Keep reading the following books as each one keeps getting better and better. 4 1/2 *****

I loved this second book in the series. I loved the charismatic characters and how they jumped off the pages and pulled you in to the story. I liked the way the aliens were unique and their was a bond still there with the humans.

...but the complaints I have from the first book remain. The only saving grace is the depth explored for Ryder’s character development, her backstory. Temple’s backstory, though, is non-existent, which is a shame. So many missed opportunities here. The action scenes are good and well thought out, but for me the lack of background information is bothersome. So much so that it detracts from the over-arching story being told in this series. I understand if it’s set in a world already built in a previous series, but so far I haven’t found mention of said series, and that seems unfair to those coming in blind. Overall, pretty good but only if you don’t value world development & character exploration.

I really enjoyed this second book in this series. Right from the start it was fast paced, and didn't really slow down until almost the end. The violence is in the first half, and the one and only **** scene is about two thirds of the way through. Talking of, it wasn't too graphic either, suites my tastes.The characters were all there, but it mainly revolved around Temple"s and Ryder's POV. We got to find out more of the sticky red haired intimidating Vithii., as well as Skye's foster brother Temple.Overall, I was pleased I purchased this second book, after reading the first in the Other Worlds anthology. I'm not one for sci-fi, and this doesn't read like one. It has good world building, and the characters are not flat and shallow. I will be buying the next book.

Temple Akenzua sacrificed himself so his sister, Skye, could escape with an antidote to the deadly bioagent the Regmine forced their father to make. But now Temple is being held in a Vithii prison and he knows he's only alive to be used against Skye. But he has an ally in Ryder who is undercover in the prison to gather information on how to rescue Temple. But that all blows up in their faces when Ryder's cover is blown and their only chance of escape is during a prison riot.Antigen was a great follow up to Antidote and takes place immediately after the end of the last one. We knew Temple was being held in prison but now we see the horrible conditions he's enduring and we know that he could easily be killed if he's not rescued soon. I really liked Temple as a hero but I felt like his past was still a bit of a gray area by the end of the book. After all, Temple is actually Skye's foster brother but there are still a lot of holes in the family history. Other than that, Temple is honorable, brave, and not afraid to protect those who need it. Of course, the action kept me gripped in the story so I didn't really notice the lack of backstory until the very end. Part of it comes from Ryder's history, which is so richly revealed throughout that the missing parts of Temple's past were more noticeable.The majority of the story takes place in the prison, which I was not expecting, but still really enjoyed. That does mean that Ryder and Temple spend a large part of the book apart or running for their lives but that also creates tension as the attraction grows. However, Ryder is used to keeping people at arm's length because she believes she doesn't deserve anything. Her past is quite tragic and I really felt for Ryder and what she's been through, especially because Vithii biology and culture has led to her being ostracized. The last book showed us a bit of the mating practices of the Vithii but this one showed us a deeper, and bleaker, look at Vithii culture and it's overwhelmingly patriarchal ways. It takes Ryder a bit to accept her self-worth but Temple is there to help her and love her. They fall in love quickly but after everything they've been through, they truly deserve it.Of course, the rest of the Shadow Wing is present but Ash plays a particularly strong role in the book and I'm dying for his story but I just know R.A. Steffan is going to make us wait. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I'm loving all that we're learning about these characters and this world as we go. I still have a lot of questions and I would love a better understanding of how the humans and Vithii came to be living on the same planet, but either way, this series has completely grabbed me and I can't wait for more!4 out of 5 starsReader Safety: References to the death of a child

In the previous book, Antidote, I really liked the characters of Ryder and Ash. Steffan does not disappoint because this book concentrates on Ryder, AND we get more Ash page-time. All of that is a win for this reader.The main plot is how Ryder infiltrates a prison to help get Temple, Skye's brother, out of prison. All those delicious questions get answered. Why was she formerly a doctor? What happened? We learn of her sad past as the emotional internal journey. The outward journey has fights in the prison yard, an ambassador who is not quite what she seems, and a prison break that is magnificent chaos.The elements of the story include a small group fighting the big guys, inter-species cooperation (and copulation), medicine and nano-technology, and a blistering-hot romance where you just can't wait for the leads to get together. You probably could start this book as a stand alone without Antidote, but you'd get more out of the experience if you read/listened to them in order.I listened to this as an audiobook. There is little I could say of the narrator that I haven't already pointed out in other reviews. She's fantastic. Druyor has deft skill with male and female voices and various accents. I may particularly enjoy how she handles her snarky Brits (Ash here, Xander in the Circle of Blood series). Her performance with this one was wonderful, and I can't wait until the audio of book 3 drops.

It's been a long time since I read a true sci fi book, that also had an awesome romance going. This, and the others in this series, is such a book.The characters are so 3 dimensional. They are amazing and fully formed, so much that you as the reader will love them. The story is complicated and rich. It's an adventure, with high stakes, and you won't want to put it down until you know the outcome. Great stories. Can't wait til the 3rd one is out!!!

R.A. Steffan has a true gift for writing. I am a big fan of sci-fi-romance and as such I have read a LOT of indie authors trying their hand at the genre. Honestly, the writing doesn’t get any better than this. There are so many potentially great stories out there ruined by shoddy, boring, unedited writing—- 10000% not so here.Beyond being free of grammatical errors, this author writes with a polish that I find VERY rare among indie authors. The story line is interesting, and the world-building gets better with every Love and War novel.I do have to say, as a mother, this story of the main six Love and War original group characters had me the most emotionally gripped. The first book was terrific, but THIS one ripped my heart into pieces and then put it back together again. I literally shed tears. Ryder’s pain as a mother is visceral.... and yet, in her shoes, I would not have chosen differently even knowing the outcome.I cannot even begin to say how highly I recommend this series and this author to readers who love a well-written, emotionally-gripping, interesting, action-filled love story! I truly, sincerely hope R.A. Steffan will stick with the SFR genre in the future and I can’t wait for the rest of this series!!