The Klockwerk Kraken Collection by Aidee Ladnier is going on my list of 2023 favorites! I’m so glad I discovered this book, which contains two novellas and a bonus epilogue. If you’re a fan of science fiction and MM romance, you’re going to love this!
Note: While I generally try to keep my reviews spoiler-free, because there are two novellas in this collection, you will find the synopsis and review for Spindrift Gifts to be a bit spoiler-y for Klockwerk Kraken.
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Book 1: Klockwerk Kraken
🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
(you can find my rating and spice system here)
POV & Tense: Dual POV, third limited, past tense
Genre: Alien Romance, MM Romance, Science Fiction
Tropes/Themes: Getting Together, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Tentacles, Scars, Secrets, Family Dynamics
tw: brief mentions of slavery and past SA
Synopsis:
Teo, from the planet Celos, is a modified human with two arms and four tentacles. He owns the Klockwerk Kraken, a successful bar at the Switchpoint Station Port, the last waypoint before the Nothing — when he can keep liquor on the shelf, that is. At the far end of the galaxy, shipments are few and far between, and Teo desperately needs a reliable source of alcohol.
Jimenez is a freed slave who wants nothing more than to enjoy his freedom and pilot his ship to the far reaches of the galaxy in silence. But then the charismatic Teo gets under his skin. While Jimenez is grateful for the transport work, he’s not sure he’s ready for a relationship, especially one with a tentacled human.
My Review:
Klockwerk Kraken blew me away. I found the premise so intriguing, but I was not prepared for how much I loved the world-building. There was just enough detail to give a sense of this great, big universe out there without overwhelming the story. I was fascinated by the space technology.
Empathetic Characters
I came for the tentacles but loved the characters even more. It’s so easy to become invested in Teo and Jimenez. Teo has wanderlust and left his home planet behind (along with a very large and well-meaning extended family) to forge an independent life. He’s excellent at multitasking — perfect for running a busy bar — due to his two human hands and four tentacles. This is a genetic mutation introduced when humans left Earth to populate Celos, to give them an advantage on the waterlogged planet.
Jimenez is a freed slave turned spacer (transport pilot) who has many secrets. I kept turning pages because I wanted to know more about him and his backstory. He’s plagued by doubts (understandable once you learn how he was brought up) but tries so hard to fit into society.
Slow-burn Romance
There’s an instant spark between Jimenez and Teo, but they both have their secrets and reasons to be wary. Teo often says the wrong thing, and Jimenez’s impulse when overwhelmed is to retreat. I loved the back-and-forth will-they-or-won’t-they nature of their interactions. Although it takes them some time to figure things out, it’s clear from the start there’s something special between them.
Also, there’s a certain recorded “birthday gift” scene that was so well done (*fans self*). Such a great read!
It reminded him of his grandmother’s saying that the heart has its own tentacles, and when it finds the lover it desires, it reaches for them.
Klockwerk Kraken Book 2: Spindrift Gifts
🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV & Tense: Dual POV, third limited, past tense
Genre: Alien Romance, MM Romance, Science Fiction
Tropes/Themes: Established Relationship, Hurt/Confort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Tentacles, Scars, Secrets, Family Dynamics, Fish out of Water, Health Issues
tw: brief mentions of slavery and past SA
Synopsis:
Teo and Jimenez are on planet Celos, surrounded by Teo’s very large, boisterous, well-meaning family. It’s a change for them both. But Jimenez’s deteriorating health puts their relationship to the test, as do their conflicting desires for independence and cohabitation. Storms are brewing, both metaphorical and literal, as the Celosians prepare to celebrate Spindrift, their equivalent of Winter Solstice.
A memory shared is a burden lifted or a joy doubled.
My Review:
Lemme tell you, Spindrift Gifts is packed with feels! Teo comes from a typical large Celosian family where everybody is all up in each other’s business and means the best, even when boundaries are crossed. Teo is used to being independent, and Jimenez doesn’t have any family, so it’s a challenge for them both. My heart ached for everything they were going through, even though I just wanted to smush them together in a room and have them communicate. One of my favorite things was getting to experience life on Celos, the weather, the customs, and the coral-like housing units with interconnected pods. The entire concept of Spindrift was beautiful, and the way Jimenez adapted the custom for his individual circumstances was particularly poignant. A gorgeous and touching story!
Bonus Epilogue
To reduce spoilers, I’m not going to say anything here except that the bonus epilogue was awesome; a perfect way to end the story.
His lips collided with Teo’s and the many tentacles wrapped around him, a warm living blanket, keeping him secure and loved.
Final Thoughts:
I am filled with so many emotions right now (I’m not crying, you’re crying). My heart is bigger for having read this story. I adore Teo and Jimenez, the world-building, and everything about the Klockwerk Kraken Collection. This is a book I’m going to have to come back and reread often.
The Klockwerk Kraken Collection by Aidee Ladnier
Author Stalking (but not in a creepy way):
Aidee Ladnier is the author of many LGBTQ+ science fiction and paranormal romance novels and novellas.
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~~If you like spicy books with tentacles, check out my SPICY TENTACLE REC LIST~~
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