Gladiator

Gladiator is the first book in the "Galactic Gladiators" series, and I have to say that I absolutely ADORED this book so much. I originally fell in love with this author with her "Galactic Kings". The Galactic Gladiators are connected to her Galactic Kings. Now you don't need to read either first. They are only loosely connected. We saw some of the characters from this series in the Galactic Kings which intrigued me the most about these books. I was completely hooked into this one and I couldn't put this one down. It was such an entertaining read and I tend to be picky about kick ass heroines, but not with Anna Hackett, she just writes them so relatable and vulnerable in the best ways.

I think what impressed me the most is that the heroine very quickly accepts her life and losing what she had. She is a bit stubborn in the beginning and is a bit stupid at times but this happens in the very beginning, she soon realizes the reality of her situation. But once she comes to this realization, this is where she really became relatable and starts to embrace the type of life that she can have with the hero. I adored how protective he is of her. Because he appreciates her abilities and what she can do and knows she needs to stand on her own, but is by her side when she needs help. And I LOVE that. Seeing a couple work as a team was just perfection. I was so easily swept up in this world and I can't wait to explore more of it.

Another fantastic new series to love!!! I mean Gladiators in Space!! How else could I feed my ancient history/sci fi loving nerdiness?!?!?! Earth has only just started to explore at the closest planets. Harper has nothing left on Earth and she decides to feed her adventurous soul by working at a Space Station. She has a few friends on the station and she is happy enough with her life. But when a sporadic wormhole opens up and the station is attacked, she finds herself scooped up as a slave and sucked back through the wormhole. She soon learns she's about 200yrs from home and the planet she has been dumped on thrives on slavery and gladiatorial matches. She soon learns that there are some bright spots, such as the tall, brooding and down right lethal Raiden. He may be a slave but he still manages to wield power over her. Kor Magna became Raidens prison/new home when his planet was exterminated by the same race that kidnapped Harper. House of Galen hides many secrets and not everything appears as it actually is. Raiden and his fellow gladiators seem more like family than competitors. I get that Harper is a trained Marine and has a leg up against most others who were dropped into the arena but I just think she should have struggled more against more battle hardened and let's face it other worldly fighting techniques. But otherwise this was absolutely smashing read. Harper and Raiden sizzle and the camaraderie he and the others in House of Galen share is fantastically well written. I loved the little vignettes of possible future books/characters to be discovered and that Harper may not be as alone in her human-ness as she thought!