Human Paul and Hadrell have my heart
I don't mean to sound dramatic but holy heck this was the hottest book. WHEW!!!!
I have been so excited for Human Paul to find love! he was such a sad lonely bean.
Hadrell and Paul... My sweet sweet human Paul! I loved how anxious and insecure Paul was because we get to see Hadrell always building him up and showing him how incredible he is! and Paul showing Hadrell trust and love and so much joyyy. They are just instantly so good together, like they were meant to be. It takes a little time for them to find the way they fit together but once they do it works SO WELL. And the whole club scene with Paul as Hadrells pet (and their practice..). Dear lord. I also always appreciate how well Emily writes about consent and how she handles kink in her books. There is always clear consent and boundaries and always aftercare ♥
This was the funniest of the Spire station series so far. I could read these two together for another 300 pages and not get bored. We get to know more about both Paula and Hadrell and all the people on his ship ( I desperately need Yaz to get a partner he is so precious!!!!) and we also get to meet up with all the gang from Space for Love and Space for More :)
A
Amelia Lin
March 26, 2025
Verified Purchase
After one too many drinks, Paul wakes up in the bed of an alien pirate. As if that’s not bad enough, the ship takes off—leaving him stranded with Hadrell and their chaotic crew. What starts as an unfortunate mix-up turns into an unforgettable journey filled with danger, laughter, and some serious emotions.
I did not expect this one to hit so hard, but wow. The representation was beautifully done, and the romance? Equal parts tender and hilarious. Plus, the creativity with the alien tech? 10/10 👏
Best NB romance I've read!
It's so unfortunately rare to find a book with a M/NB pairing, much less one that treats the couple (and other NB characters) as normal beings and leaves off the discrimination. (The only drama is the fun kind pirates bring.) Not only that but NB characters who aren't all the same androgynous, masculine-coded "nonbinary person." And! A man who has feelings beyond lust, jealousy, and anger! Who cries, who is vulnerable and sometimes soft. Who shows emotional intelligence. The effort made to make Paul and Hadrell (and Bret'u) feel 'really real' and step away from common romance tropes is a breath of fresh air. The plot itself is amazing as well, a great sci-fi pirate adventure mystery with very little violence (if that's not your thing).
But I think my favorite part is the author's notes. An author who writes books for (and about) people like me, even in the face of losing readers, is a rare gem. I'm sad to say goodbye to Spire but excited to see where Emily takes me next – I'm officially a diehard fan.
This is possibly my favorite installation in the Spire Station trilogy. Maerlon is who I want to be, Paul is a mood, and the whole crew is so vibrant and fun to experience. Plus I've got a favorite aespian for life now. The sex is incredibly well-written, the exploration of kink is hot AND safe which I will always give my biggest commendations for. A very good read, though maybe don't read it at the mechanic while waiting for car work unless you've got a pretty good poker face. Definitely a 10/10 read
Loved reading Paul's story and getting to know him better. After meeting him in Fina's story I didn't think I could like him for how he did her. Feeling for him was not in my wheelhouse and yet as you get to know him you understand where he is coming from. He was similar to Hadrell but different at the same time. Didn't see the twist coming of who was behind the double cross but once it was stated I totally knew why. Such a terrible thing to do to a friend. Liked seeing everyone again at the end. Mezli is still Mezli. lol
