Series Review: Books 1-4 of THE MURDERBOT DIARIES

Note: Nerd rant video link updated May 29th Have I mentioned how much I love Murderbot? In case we’ve just met, that’s a joke. I have posted a few times about The Murderbot Diaries. (Read my Ode to Murderbot post and watch my Obligatory Sci Fi Nerd Rant In Defense of Murderbot video for some … Read more

Weekly Read: Swallowed by Meg Smitherman

PUBLISHED: 2025 SERIES: Standalone SCI-FI SUBGENRE: Horromance STYLE: Vibey POV: Single 1st Person SPICE SCALE: 4--steamy TRIGGERS: Mild horror imagery TROPES: Descent into madness, work crush, soldier boy /brainy girl Availble in KU: Yes

This past week I devoured Swallowed, a sci-fi horromance novella by Meg Smitherman. Don’t know what Horromance is? Check out my interview with Meg on Smart Bitches Trashy Books, where she goes into detail about the genre. Smitherman’s previous horromance, Thrum, was one of my favourite reads of 2024, so I went into this novella … Read more

Popular Romantasy Tropes in Sci Fi Romance: Court Intrigue

Images of the books described in the main post.

“I love fantasy romance, but I just can’t get into sci-fi.” I’ve heard some version of this statement from so many fantasy readers! It’s surprising, since science fiction and fantasy are often grouped together as one category by publishing houses, libraries and bookstores. But not so in the minds of romantasy readers! When I ask … Read more

Author Interview: Constance Fay

UBLISHED: 2025 SERIES: Uncharted Hearts #3 SUBGENRE: Space Opera Romance STYLE: Voicey POV: Single 1st Person SPICE SCALE: at least one open door scene TRIGGERS: Lab experiments on humans TROPES: forced proximity, her touch heals him

Note: This post originally appeared on SFF Insiders on March 9th 2024. Hi Science Fiction with Heart readers! If you’ve been following my blog, you know how much I adore Constance Fay’s Uncharted Hearts space opera romance series, which follows the adventures of a ragtag crew of mercenaries who will take any job they can … Read more

Weekly Read: Escape by Pippa DaCosta

PUBLISHED: 2015 SERIES: The 1000 Revolution #2 SCI-FI SUBGENRE: Space Opera, Action STYLE: Voicey POV: Dual 1st Person SPICE SCALE: 3, at least one open door scene (not a romance) TRIGGERS: Violence VERSION I READ: Ebook, $2.99

You guys, I’m loving this series SO MUCH! The 1000 Revolution follows 1001, a cyborg implanted with the memories of a dead girl, and Caleb, a smuggler riddled with guilt over the part he played in said dead girl’s murder. It’s not technically a romance, but if you know me, you know I love constant … Read more

Weekly Read: Pirate Throne by Carysa Locke

PUBLISHED: 2019 SERIES: Telepathic Space Pirates #3 SCI-FI SUBGENRE: Space Opera, Romance STYLE: Straightforward POV: Multiple, 3rd person SPICE SCALE: 3, at least one open door scene TRIGGERS: N/A VERSION I READ: Audiobook, $15.04

I picked up Pirate Throne pretty much immediately after finishing Pirate Consort. I just couldn’t wait too long to find out what happens next after that shocking epilogue! This instalment takes up just after the assassination of the king and his heirs. We start off with a new and intriguing character named Casimir, the king’s … Read more

Weekly Read: Seven Brides for Seven Alien Brothers: Artek

Published: 2022 Sci-fi Subgenre: Romance Style: Straightforward POV: Dual 1st Person Spice Scale: 3, at least one open door sex scene Triggers: N/A Version I Read: Ebook, $3.99

I don’t often read Alien Romance, because it tends to be a lot simpler than my fave subgenre of Space Opera Romance. But every once in a while I’m in the mood for a quick, escapist happily-ever-after. I picked Arterek up this time around because it’s a retelling of one of my childhood favourites: Seven … Read more

Weekly Read: Only Cold Depths by Jennifer Estep

Only Cold Depths by Jennifer Estep. Published: 2024. Series: Galactic Bonds #4. Sci-fi Subgenre: Sci-fantasy, Romance Space Opera. Style: Straightforward, Voicey. Spice Scale: 2. A little more than kissing. Triggers: N/A. Version I read: Audiobook, $32.84 CAD; E-book, $9.99CAD; Summary: On the run from the Imperium, Vesper and Kyrion seek refuge with Asterin’s house on Sygnustern. But if they want to defeat the powerful bounty hunter duo chasing them, they’ll have to face Vesper’s estranged family, discover their pursuers’ secret motives, and most importantly, discover a way to solidify their truebond before they lose their lives to their failing magic. My Take: Loved it! I’ve been looking forward to seeing Vesper’s relationship with her family develop and this book did not disappoint.

If you’ve been following my reading journey you know how much I love Jennifer Estep’s Galactic Bonds series. I even got to do an exclusive interview with Jennifer recently for the Smart Bitches, Trashy Books romance blog. There are a lot of reasons I love these books, from the fun combination of sci-fi action and … Read more

Weekly Read: The Fated Sky by Mary Robinette Kowal

The Fated Sky by Mary Robinette Kowal. Published: 2018. Subgenre: space exploration. Style: voicey. Triggers: body fluids. Version I read: audio book, $27.35 CAD. Summary: As growing environmental problems and racial tensions plague post-asteroid Earth, Lady Astronaut Elma York joins the first mission to Mars. But the real test of humanity’s ability to overcome problems and prejudices will take place on the ship. And the fate of the human race hangs in the balance. y Take: Loved it! This book came out in 2018 but its messages are even more relevant in 2025.

You guys, The Fated Sky is the third book I’ve read in the Lady Astronaut series and so far every one of these novels has made me tear up. So many things about this series pluck at my heartstrings–from the relatability of FMC Elma York’s struggle with anxiety, to the beautiful, supportive relationship between Elma … Read more

Weekly Read: Pirate Consort by Carysa Locke

Pirate Consort by Carysa Locke, published 2018. Book 2 in the Telepathic Space Pirates series. Sci fi subgenres: space opera, romance. Style, straightforward. Spice scale 3--one open door sex scene. Triggers: assassination of children (not graphic.) Version I read: Audiobook, $24.35 CAD.

Pirate Consort is book number two in the main Telepathic Space Pirates series, and the third Telepathic Space Pirates book I’ve read. I enjoyed Pirate Nemesis and the Swag Stories novella Pirate Festival so much that my expectations for this book were really high, and I’m happy to report that I was not disappointed. This … Read more

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