Bound by Tana Stone

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

She’s been given a choice. Mate with the part-cyborg alien who abducted her. 

Or die.

For Shreya, taking an alien for a mate was never in the cards. As one of the human women who rejected the idea of being a tribute bride to the Drexian warriors, she was just fine without a big, hulking alien. Even if they are gorgeous. But now that she’s been taken captive by one who won’t take no for an answer, it looks like she may not have a choice. 

Vox barely remembers being taken by the enemy and turned into monster, but according to the human he has tied up, he was once Drexian. Not that it matters anymore. The only thing that does matter is completing the mission he’s been taxed with—mating with the reluctant female. Even if it means keeping her locked up with him in an alien pleasure house until she submits. 

But, her friends are looking for her and the pains in his head are only getting worse. The more he gets to know the human, the harder it is to imagine forcing her. Will he be bound by the aliens who control him or will he listen to his heart?

Bound

Alien Experiments, Earthly Emotion

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙🩷❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋🙂☺️😘🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Solo Narration

🛡️ Hero Spotlight: Vox

Once a proud Drexian warrior, Vox was captured by the Kronock and subjected to brutal experimentation. Fitted with a cybernetic eye and repeatedly injected with Kronock DNA, his body began to morph—grey scales, altered instincts, and a mind twisted by relentless brainwashing. His mission? To carry out Kronock plans against Drexians and Earth’s humans. But when a Drexian rescue team arrived, Vox didn’t return to his people. Instead, he fled in a Kronock ship—with a human female in tow.

📸 Heroine Spotlight: Shreya

Shreya’s journey begins in tragedy—losing her family to a tsunami before relocating from India to England. A microbiology student with a quiet resilience, she’s abducted by aliens and brought to “The Boat,” a space station where human women are offered as tribute brides to Drexians. Shreya, wary of the towering warriors, chooses independence over romance, carving out a life in the station’s lower levels. When the Drexians uncover disturbing intel about their missing brother, Shreya is recruited for her scientific expertise to assess the damage—and possibly reverse it.

🚀 Plot Pulse

Shreya discovers that Vox’s transformation is unstable, reliant on constant Kronock DNA infusions to stave off agony. She theorizes that Drexian DNA might offer a cure. She joins the rescue mission, hoping to help—but Vox has other plans. He hijacks the Drexian ship, abducts Shreya, and escapes to a pleasure planet teeming with galactic outlaws, determined to fulfill his Kronock programming. What follows is a tense, emotionally charged unraveling of identity, loyalty, and desire.

💘 What Hit Home

• Vox’s arc from dangerous, brainwashed weapon to gentle protector was compelling. His shift back toward Drexian instincts—especially in how he treated Shreya—felt earned and emotionally satisfying.
• Shreya’s duality was beautifully handled: brilliant and brave, yet still vulnerable. Her fear didn’t diminish her strength—it made her human.
• The chemistry? Off the charts. The steamy scenes were intense, intimate, and well-paced.

🧐 What Fell Flat

• The amnesia twist post-DNA injection felt like a narrative detour. It dulled the emotional momentum just when Vox’s internal conflict was peaking.

🎧 Narration Notes

Solo narration isn’t usually my jam, but Jodie Bentley is a standout. Her vocal range and accent work brought the cast to life—especially Shreya’s British lilt, which added charm and authenticity. Bentley’s ability to differentiate characters made the listening experience immersive and enjoyable.

📝 Final Takeaway

A sci-fi romance that blends body horror, emotional healing, and sizzling tension. Vox and Shreya’s journey is one of transformation—both physical and emotional—and while a few plot hiccups slowed the pace, the core relationship shines. If you’re into tortured heroes, smart heroines, and high-stakes intimacy, this one delivers.

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