Neron Rising by Keary Taylor

Heat rating: N/A
Sci Fi/Fantasy Romance
Publication date: ​11/27/2018
Kindle Unlimited: No
Cliffhanger: YES

If you watched the Star Wars sequels and thought, wow, I hope Rey ends up turning Ben Solo back to the light and that they live happily ever after, then THIS is the story that JJ Abrams so cruelly stole from you.   

via GIPHY

Plot Overview: Nova Ainsley lives on one of the few planets that hasn't fallen under Dominion control. The Dominion is mining the galaxy for Neron, a somewhat magical substance that can power planets and people. Wherever the Dominion goes, destruction and death follow. When the Dominion eventually comes to her planet, she's saved by a mystical connection she has with a mystery man who is the LAST person Nova would/should ever expect to have a connection with in real life. 

Trope/category bingo: Space opera, enemies to lovers,  sci fi romance, fantasy romance.
 
A few things  you need to know about this one before you download...

It's a serial

This is not a complete book. It ends on a cliffhanger. Each part of the serial looks to be about 130-150 pages long. But the good news is, it looks like the entire series is complete. This part of the serial is the world-building and set-up portion of the story, where you get to the know the planet and the characters. But even though I'm usually a "shut up and get to the romance" kind of gal, the world building here was so new and fascinating to me that I wasn't in the mood to rush through any of it. If you're looking for something that will immerse you in a strange new world but that has more depth than, say, the Ice Planet Barbarians, look no further--this book's for you.  (And that's not an insult to the Ice Planet Barbarians. I love those sexy blue aliens.)    

Freebie

While it's not in Kindle Unlimited, book 1 is free. So, you could give this one a read, and if it's not for you, you're not out anything but your reading time. It's not like anyone's forcing you to complete the series if you're not digging it, you know? 

SERIOUS Reylo vibes

via GIPHY

Everything from the strange connection the main characters (who should be enemies) feel to their mystical powers, to the dark, hooded, tortured "bad guy" in a mask SCREAMS Reylo to me. So much so, in fact, that while I was reading, I was picturing Adam Driver and Daisey Ridley in my head. I honestly can't imagine a Reylo not loving this book/series.  

There's no sex

I don't know whether or not they'll ever be sex in this series, but there's no sex in this book. In fact, the main characters don't interact all that much in this first part of the series. But the potential is there for some epic sexual tension and longing and angst. If you're looking for an erotic read, though, look elsewhere.   

Long story short

If you're looking for a deep, satisfying, well-written sci fi romance/space opera that's WAY better than The Rise of Skywalker, and/or if you're a Reylo who can't get enough epic enemies to lovers action, then you'll want to check out this series with a quickness. 

 Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
It kicks the ever lovin' crap out of the romance stigma!!