Review // Emperor by Anna Hackett

"If I'm yours, that must mean that you're mine." ~ Poppy

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Emperor by Anna Hackett

Standalone - Galactic Kings #2
Release - January 18, 2022
Genre - SciFi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5 / several scenes
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 266 pages
Publisher - Indie

Other book(s) in the series: Overlord

When an experimental starship test goes horribly wrong, a scientist from Earth finds herself fighting for her survival, and her only lifeline is a wild, powerful alien king.

Waking on an alien world, wracked by pain, Dr. Poppy Ellison is confused and adrift…until his voice calls to her in the darkness. The big, wild, enthralling man reveals that she’s been infected and is turning into an alien shapeshifter. Poppy has always been smart, practical, and boring, but with her entire life turned upside down, there is no one she can trust…except for this alien wolf.

Emperor Brodin Damar Sarkany is king of Damar and its shapeshifters. As wild as the forest city they call home, the Damari can be volatile, always fighting to control the wolf inside. Brodin uses his immense strength to keep his people in check and protect them from the most dangerous evil of all—his war-mongering father. He can’t afford the distraction of a small, tantalizing woman from Earth, even when everything about Poppy sings to the instincts of both man and wolf.

As his father’s ruthless warlord attacks, innocent children are at risk, and Poppy knows she has to help by mastering her new, emerging abilities. She must also face the shocking passion that explodes between her and Brodin. But as Poppy and Brodin hunt down the enemy, they uncover a plot that could mean the destruction of all the Damari…if they don’t stop it in time.

My Two Cents

4.5 "She calms his beast" stars

I don't know what it is about this series, but it is ticking all of my boxes!

Dr. Poppy Ellison crashlanded on an alien planet along with her bestie, Mal in Overlord. While Mal developed energy powers and fell in love with the ruler of Zhalto, Poppy had been infected by a Damar wolf, and the transition was killing her. Her best hope was to be taken to the planet of Damar and be treated by their best and brightest. Under the protection of the Emperor, she couldn't be safer.

I loved that while Brodin wanted to make sure Poppy was alright, he couldn't help but be drawn to her. He was so protective and possessive and the fact that she returned those feelings only made this read better. I love when there's no instant denials and lies to get in the way of a must-have romance.

Poppy was a great heroine—smart, quirky, loyal and surprisingly fierce. Through Brodin, she was able to see the potential within herself. She was able to overcome her perceived shortcomings and embrace the life and love that Brodin and his world were there to offer.

And Brodin... he was absolutely yummy. I really, really loved this male. Strong, intelligent, kind, respectful, honorable... he was everything that Poppy deserved.

The plots of these books, where the father of these heroes is so desperate to have his sons by his side that he sends sinister villains to cause trouble, is very entertaining. Poppy and Brodin may have defeated the current foe this time, but everyone knows that Zavir (the evil father that didn't seem quite so evil when he appeared in this story) isn't anywhere near done.

Captain Thadd and First Claw Annora are next. They will be sent on a mission to protect the Talnians, the planet of one of the brothers. It's more than obvious that there is a lot of tension, of the sexual variety, going on between these two and I can't wait to see how it all explodes. Luckily I've already got their loaded up and it's what I'll be reading next. See you there!

The Author

Anna Hackett is a USA Today bestselling romance author who’s passionate about fast-paced, emotion-filled romantic suspense and science-fiction romance. She loves writing about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. Some of her bestselling series include Norcross Security, Team 52, Galactic Gladiators, and Eon Warriors.

Anna lives in Australia with her real-life hero and their two little boys. For more information on Anna and her books visit: www.annahackett.com