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Writer's pictureCourtney Leigh

"The Carnal Games" by Naudii Nebula: REVIEW


A true enemies-to-lovers with "Hunger Games" vibes.

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If you know me, you know I love my enemies-to-lovers and I LOVE alien romance. When i heard that Naudii Nebula had put them together, I audibly squealed.


Most of the time, when I see "enemies-to-lovers" in tags, it means the two MCs don't really like each other, but I'm usually over here waiting for that book that really grinds the gears and pushes boundaries and this book did exactly that.


The book starts heavy with our main MMC literally burning humans and explaining the absolute hatred he has toward them just before he LITERALLY gouges out the eye of our FMC. If that's not a rocky start, I don't know what is.


In this world, our main alien comes from a race covered in natural armor. They're hot (literally... since they can spark fire with their nails) and rough and can pierce a skull with their tongues. If you like your aliens a bit further from humans than usual, this is the book for you and the cover makes that obvious. Our FMC is a military girl with intense training, which I absolutely loved. She was as far as you can get from being a damsel in distress and saying she's been through hard times is an understatement, but she's not a whiner. She's an absolute fighter.


If I try to sum up this book in one word, it would be "intense." This book was intense from page one when the author illustrated very clearly how much these two hated each other.


With a jump forward in time, we realize they've spent years trying to kill one another and both nearly succeeded on more than one occasion, building up quite the track record of offenses. They are the most unlikely couple ever to grace the universe and yet, through a series of unfortunate events, they become tangled in each other's lives. Not only that, but they weren't even attracted to each other. I believe the MMC actually said he found humans (especially females) to be "hideous" and the thought of laying with one was "blasphemous." And to top it off, these two were not physically compatible AT ALL and it's mentioned more than once that forced couplings between the two races for the entertainment of others often resulted in hemorrhaging and death.


Did I say this book was intense???


After being caught up in a "Hunger Games" like event after their latest attempt at each other's lives, the two MCs much survive a harsh environment for spectators while also trying to end one another. But the game makers do no intend things to be so simple. Again and again they put the MCs in horrible situations and slowly, every situation brings them closer to understanding each other and even growing affections.


I cannot tell you how beautiful this romance was and how wonderful it was to gradually gain an understanding for each complex character. I felt their sadness, their struggle, and their emotions throughout and in the end, all I wanted was their happy ending. There was not one part of this book that wasn't either thrilling or intense. I was on the edge of my seat with the action and the romance and could not put it down.


What you can expect:

👽Alien romance (MMC does not look human)

🖤Enemies to Lovers

🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 5/5 Spice

👌 Amazing action

💘 HEA

👩 FMC is strong and self-reliant


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ FIVE STARS, Naudii!!!


This book can be found on Amazon

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