Dakkan’s Match by Ella Blake

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sabine
As the top medical expert on human-Mitran offspring, I’m excited to be sent to the alien planet to help deliver babies, but my shuttle goes down on Mitra and leaves me stranded. When a gorgeous warlord finds me, I think I’m rescued, but my hopes are dashed. We’re both trapped inside a mysterious forcefield with dangerous creatures and poisonous flora. Worse, Warlord Dakkan can’t stand me and I must put my life in his hands to survive.

Dakkan
My dislike of Dr. Sabine Mecon isn’t personal—I just distrust her species’ advanced medical techniques. It’s only because the human females living in my Thrail demanded a human doctor that I invite Sabine to my domain. But now we’re trapped in a sort of contained habitat far from my Thrail with no communication with the outside world. Keeping this beautiful and headstrong female safe is my top priority, but soon I want to do much more than protect her. If our love has any chance to survive, we must learn who created this hidden place and escape before its many dangers consume us.

Survival, Secrets, and Slow‑Burn Sparks

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

🛡️ Audiobook Review: Dakkan’s Match (Mitran Warlord Protectors, #3)

Author: Ella Blake
Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Narrators: Eric Michael Summerer and Dani California

Characters and background information

Dakkan serves as a Mitran Warlord for his thrail—a large, tradition‑bound community that rejects most forms of modern technology. This way of life has worked for generations, but with the Mitrans now forming hybrid families with human women to save their species from extinction, tensions have begun to rise. The human women, accustomed to Earth’s medical care, have been pushing for a doctor equipped with the technology they trust. A female physician is finally en route… until her shuttle vanishes over the planet’s infamous rock region.

This “rock area” is essentially a canyon zone that shuttles typically cross without issue, yet it has a long history of swallowing Mitrans who enter it, never to return. Sabine, the human doctor, crash‑lands there after her shuttle loses power and slips through a mysterious barrier—straight into a vibrant, dangerous jungle unlike anything on the planet’s surface. Dakkan’s transport suffers the same fate when he goes searching for her. Forced together in this lush but lethal environment, the two must navigate hostile wildlife, strange terrain, and their own clashing worldviews if they hope to make it back to his thrail alive.

Highlights

I found this story thoroughly enjoyable. I’m always drawn to alien romances built around a shared journey, and this one delivered exactly what I love: two characters learning each other’s strengths, vulnerabilities, and values through survival and proximity. Sabine’s devotion to science and technology contrasts beautifully with Dakkan’s deep‑rooted rejection of it, creating a natural friction that fuels their enemies‑to‑lovers arc. Their early bickering feels sharp and believable, and watching that tension melt into respect, attraction, and genuine connection was incredibly satisfying.

Another aspect I appreciated is the agency given to the human women in this series. They choose to come to the Mitran planet—no abductions, no captivity, no “Earth women as property” trope. While the premise isn’t groundbreaking, it’s refreshing to see a sci‑fi romance that avoids the darker clichés and instead builds its conflict around culture, values, and survival rather than coercion.

Narration

The audiobook uses dual POV with dual narrators, Eric Michael Summerer and Dani California. Both deliver solid performances. Dani California’s voice fits Sabine well—youthful, steady, and emotionally grounded. You can hear the cadence of reading, but it never distracts from the story. Eric Michael Summerer brings a deep, resonant tone that works especially well for alien male characters. His slightly disjointed delivery actually enhances Dakkan’s otherworldly presence, making him feel distinct without sounding artificial.

Final Assessment

This audiobook is a compelling blend of adventure, cultural tension, and slow‑burn romance, elevated by two narrators who complement the characters’ personalities. While the setup isn’t entirely original, the execution—especially the dynamic between Sabine and Dakkan—makes the journey feel fresh and emotionally engaging. If you enjoy alien romances that prioritize character growth, mutual respect, and immersive world‑building, this installment is absolutely worth the listen.

Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub

View all my reviews