Savage Lands

What sticks out to me the most about this series is it manages to be different in a bloated genre. Yeah it uses some of the usual tropes- enemies to lovers (the best trope), heroine that believes she’s human but may not be,etc- but what it does with those tropes is exciting & different. Ive read all of Stacey’s multi book series including Stacey’s Collector series & Darkness series (both are great & take place n the same world but several years earlier), & Savage Lands is top 2 now for me along with her Darkness series. She just knows how to immerse you & keep you immersed, which is key. The action is nonstop. The heroines of her series, including Brexley in Savage Lands, are complex & all different from each other yet each has a darkness, intensity, & strength to them I love. I love that Brexley is able to adapt & go toe to toe with whoever she meets. And this is a true slow burn. I hate when authors say their series is a slow burn but then their characters are gushing ‘I love yous’ at each other 2 books in to a 5+ book series. That is not a slow burn. But Stacey never lies about that. If you are like me you lose interest fast over insta love when it’s a long, many book story. The prison setting of this book is fascinating. You can’t stop reading. It’s a great way to introduce the character to the world outside what she’s known her whole life while bringing in a list of fascinating secondary characters- a few are hilarious & all are more than they seem. Stacey usually includes a little humor in her books, this one is no exception, & I love that. It sprinkles some lightness over the edge of your seat action. You will love this book if you love enemies to lovers, legit slow burns, mysteries surrounding the heroine that actually keep you guessing versus being predictable, and fast paced plot that includes fights & violence, great world building, & political intrigue involving fae & humans. Stacey also is sex positive & tolerant, so prudes or anyone w/ a stick up their you know what need not read.

This is my review of the series as a whole. I have loved other series I've read by Stacey. The characters main and side were perfect. I didn't connect with these characters as much and I feel like they didn't connect with eachother as much as her other series. And the plot felt like it was getting lost a few times to the point that I wasn't sure what it was all the time. This series was heavy on sex. So much so that it took away from the plot. And there was more sex in each book. It started to remind me of an Amelia Hutchins series where the plot it meant to move quickly and be action packed but keeps getting bogged down with excessive sex. I don't mind spicy, that's not the issue. The issue was while super important events were taking place and people were missing or having been killed or the characters were in extremely perilous situations, the characters were just all horned up through all of it. And it was ALL the characters. It started to feel like every other chapter was a sex scene between varied characters. And it was like the same repetitive sex scene no matter who was participating. I didn't feel any connection between the main characters besides lust. It felt like the same for the side characters too. Like really superficial connections but they were all "in love." I hate to just dump and complain because Stacey really is a good author. I loved Ryker and Eli from her other series. I could feel the connections in those stories. And this series is still well written and engaging and complex. It was just all the sex, and the story as a whole started to feel repetitive. Capturing, torture, gun chases on motorcycles. It maybe could have been cut down to 4 books honestly. As far as I know this series is finished but the story is continuing for some of the characters. I don't plan to continue with it. I can't imagine it'll bring anything else to the table. If you're looking for an adventure this series is a good choice, especially if you like heavy spice. Stacey really is talented.

It’s a cool urban fantasy MF slowburn romance set in Budapest with a gnarly story spread over 6 books. It can be read as a standalone or after the Darkness, Collector, and Lightness sagas.Though the protagonist’s obtuse edgy lines may initially grate you, it’s kinda supposed to be annoying to help juxtapose later character growth. Every book ends with cliff hangers that’ll make you happy that the series is already complete.Some of the writing felt hammy or cliche enough that this would have been 3/5 (ex: the subfae sometimes felt too much, fmc kinda annoying at first, edgy characters sounding so edgy it’s cheesy). But the story was captivating and the books impossible to put down. I destroyed the series so quickly, and can’t wait for the next series in this universe.Spice: The first book was maybe 1-2 spice, but by the sixth book everything’s spicy all the time (to the point that some of the sixth book romances felt a little shoe-horned.)LGBTQ rep: mostly cis straight, but there’s a boss trans woman featured and a gay/bi MMF trio side love story later.Note, if you’re wondering if the love problems in this book will be solved by RH or polyamory, it will not. It will be solved by PAIN. Hope this helps!CW: prison brutality depictions, rape mentions, prostitution brutality mentions, heads will roll

I need to start by saying I am OBSESSED with this series.There are three other series that Stacey has written that are more of a 'prequel' to Savage Lands but you don't need to read them to understand this series (although I also recommend those as they are great).Now, onto Savage Lands. Our first peak trope is friends to lovers but fear not those enemies to lovers fans because this is where we eventual head.The story itself is intricate and well thought out. We are following our MC Brex as she is imprisoned in a hellhole that makes Azkaban look like an ice cream shop. Her journey is one of self discovery that I am 100% behind. The pace is fast, the violence is excessive (yes!) and the burn is slooooooowwwww.We are also introduced to some excellent side characters in book 1 and this only gets better as the series continues.I also, highly appreciate, that this book is set in Budapest. This gives another dimension to the story and ultimately books in general (given soooooo many are set in the US or the parallel worlds are parallel to the US).I have raved about this series for what feels like years and I will continue to do so.

Be warned once you pick this book up you'll not be able to put it down. You'll forget where you are and what day it is as you lose yourself in this story. Brex is a fierce female who's world changes in an instance. Finding herself in hell, brex must right to survive, never letting her guard down. The new world she finds herself in forces her to change. Brex must kill to survive and it changes her on a soul deep level. Warwick. He's feared, idolized and respected. No one knows what he is and no one dares to ask. What is This connection between the two of them, why can they talk to each other in their minds and what is the connection in regards to Fred's birth and Warwicks death? This book was so good. Great characters, a plot that keeps you guessing and that shocker of an ending. It left me speechless. I wanted to scream and rage in anger for poor brex. She was so close to home she could almost taste it and then it is ripped away in such a cruel way. Okay, I need to read book two right now, I mean who needs sleep anyway?

Brexley is one of the best trainee soldiers in the HDF academy. Fast, stealthy, stronger than she looks, she’s able to take down men twice her size in most cases. But she has a restlessness in her, and tries to fill the void by stealing from Fae trains.One night, she is shot during a failed train raid. By rights she should have died, but somehow survived and was healed by the Fae. Only to be transported to their notorious prison, Halalház - House of Death.She quickly learns that although although the different species are grouped by their uniforms, there are no guaranteed alliances. It’s everyone for themselves in the game of survival.Having never read this author before I wasn’t sure what to expect but daaamn…I loved her writing!The dystopian setting was vividly described, the characters three dimensional, and the moods beautifully crafted.The mystery and intrigue surrounding Warwick was so palpable, and they way he and Brex reacted to one another was fraughtwith sexual tension.The only thing that frustrated me was how inconsistent Brex’s talents seemed to be. She was renowned for her stealth and ability to be almost undetected in a fight. And yet she was constantly being beat up. With the excuse that she’d let her guard down. IN PRISON. No. Just no. I know these things needed to happen for the storyline to progress the way it did but it was reminiscent of watching a movie or tv show when the MC suddenly isn’t as powerful as they really are and you’re just shouting at the screen in disbelief.I absolutely adored Opie though, and I just wanted to put him in my pocket and protect him from the bullies. I’d give him all the materials and cleaning items he could ever want to create his weird and wonderful outfits.

Oh my freaking god, this book was so unexpectedly incredible. Someone recommended this book on a group and is my first book from this author and OMG how she delivers. This book is set in a steady pace with amazing world building that gets you hooked straight away. The author manages to keep it real with her characters but with a level of mystery surrounding them. oh Brexley Brexley Brexley such a strong warrior but naive but expected under current circumstances. This dystopian world was so well described that I could build that world in my imagination and omg the fights they were so well written and creative. Well done, love it! There is so many unanswered questions and little hints but not fully explained. What is Brexley?? That hasn't been answered yet. Warrick boy oh boy the broody alpha who I think has met his match. But that ending damn that ending my heart was racing and I couldn't believe what happened!! But WHY!!! Such a brilliant book tho. Can't wait to know more of Brexley! I just wished that there were more scenes between Brex and Warrick at the end, they have such a connection and the sexual tension was setting the sheets on fire!

Audiobook 🎧Savage Lands, Book 1By:  Stacey Marie BrownNarrated by: Eva KaminskyLength: 10 hrs and 56 minsI thoroughly enjoyed this storyline. I'm not sure how I really feel about the female main character.🤔 She's strong of mind and body but also kind of bratty, which I'm not a huge fan of. I can only guess she's 'more than' like Wolf is.🤷🏻‍♀️I enjoyed the narrator. She did a good range of distinctive voices that were easy to recognise!I've already bought book2 on audio as I haven't got a kindle currently.😭 I hope that ending is explained.💔😢😠Debbie, 1970, UK