Official Review: Claimed by Nicolai by Denna Holm

Julie Petitbon · Post by **Julie Petitbon** » 07 Oct 2019, 19:34

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Claimed by Nicolai" by Denna Holm.]

4 out of 4 stars

Share This Review

What would you do if an alien abducted you and, without your permission, made you his mate? This is the premise of Denna Holm’s Claimed by Nicolai, the first book in the Raiden Warriors Series. Abby Harris loves the tranquility that hiking the mountains of Oregon offers. However, her serenity ends when an alien kidnaps her. Nicolai Nekbet is the warrior prince of the planet Raiden. The future ruler of his planet, Nicolai wants Abby for his queen.

When Abby wakes up on Nicolai’s ship, she is in disbelief. After all, aliens don’t exist. However, as Abby realizes that her situation is real and not someone’s idea of a joke, she becomes furious. She refuses to accept what has happened to her and is angry that Nicolai has taken her from all that she knows. She also doesn’t understand her growing attraction to Nicolai and fights her feelings at every turn.

To make matters worse, some aliens want Abby and Nicolai dead. Ngozi, Nicolai’s vicious older brother, believes he is the rightful heir to the throne and will do anything to ensure that he becomes king. Power-hungry Aziza feels spurned by Nicolai and aims to destroy him and his new mate. Nicolai and Abby also encounter other aliens whose motives remain unclear. Can Abby forget about her past and embrace this new, exciting, and potentially dangerous future as Nicolai’s mate?

I like that Abby shows a range of reactions to what has happened to her. In many romance novels in this genre, the female protagonist easily disregards her life before the abduction and quickly falls for her captor. However, this story delves into Abby’s anger and distrust as well as her awe and optimism. It explores her fear and unhappiness as an unwitting partner to an alien, albeit a sexy alpha alien. Abby resents Nicolai for not giving her a choice. She doesn’t just give in to his needs and desires, and Nicolai must work for her acceptance and affection.

Additionally, Abby doesn’t blindly accept the parts of Raiden life that she doesn’t agree with. She opposes the inequality between the sexes. She also disapproves of their claiming actions and their views on servitude. I like that Abby stands up for what she believes in. She makes Nicolai think about the unacceptable traditions of his culture and tries to invoke change. I admire how the author integrated important messages about relationships and women’s rights into her story.

I also like how the author uses mythological creatures from our world as the basis for some of the aliens in the book. Vampires, mermaids, dragons, werewolves and more are cleverly explained as travelers from other planets who ended up on Earth. My only disappointment is that some of the characters seem underdeveloped and their stories unfinished. However, I think my disappointment stems from my enjoyment of the story and my wish to keep reading about the characters and the worlds explored throughout the book. Since this is the first book in the series, I predict that the next book focuses on one or more of the minor characters introduced.

I gladly rate Claimed by Nicolai 4 out of 4 stars. It is a well-written and well-edited novel that I enjoyed reading. It contains violence, vulgarity, and sexually explicit scenes, so I would not recommend it to children and young adults. However, adult readers who enjoy steamy science-fiction romance novels will love this story.

******
Claimed by Nicolai
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Post by **kandscreeley** » 09 Oct 2019, 12:41

I've actually read a story somewhat similar to this, though it was not explicit in its content. It sounds great except the graphic nature. For that reason, I'll skip it. Glad you enjoyed it, though. Thanks.

Dentarthurdent · Post by **Dentarthurdent** » 10 Oct 2019, 09:41

Thanks for such a descriptive review!
Having supernatural creatures portrayed as extraterrestrials is an interesting concept. The book sounds interesting, though I always wonder; howncome the protagonists are never claimed by unattractive Klingon-looking creatures? One day, I hope to find such a novel, but meanwhile, I shall enjoy these ones with the physically perfect main characters.

Nisha Ward · Post by **Nisha Ward** » 12 Oct 2019, 17:54

This is a fascinating twist on the genre and it does highlight the shortcomings that have kept me away from it for so long. Unfortunately, I think I need more than a twist to read another story about someone taking a woman as a mate via kidnapping.

Nuno Pereira · Post by **Nuno Pereira** » 16 Jun 2020, 07:40

This book seems that even though it sits in the sci-fi genre, it tries to give some guidance and critic our human society, as you claimed with genre inequality or the demoralizing way those aliens use servitude, and thus Abby opposes them. Great descriptive review!

Amy+++ · Post by **Amy+++** » 16 Jun 2020, 07:43

I will have to check this book out a little more. This book sounds like something I would enjoy.

Vicky-kooro · Post by **Vicky-kooro** » 16 Jun 2020, 07:45

It is a must-read. The book seems interesting I like that Abby shows a range of reactions to what has happened to her. Nice review

DEEPA PUJARI · Post by **DEEPA PUJARI** » 16 Jun 2020, 07:47

This is an exciting and romantic sci-fi about aliens and space. Congratulations BOTD!

Abacus · Post by **Abacus** » 16 Jun 2020, 07:55

"Claimed by Nicolai" by Denna Holm - A steamy romantic tale of abduction by an Alien. Thanks for the review - very informative.

sirbobthewise · Post by **sirbobthewise** » 16 Jun 2020, 07:58

The explicit scenes are not quite my cup of tea, but I can definitely see that others might enjoy this science fiction novel. I appreciate Abby’s fight for equality and the fact that the author gives her very human emotions surrounding her abduction. The fact that the author used mythology as a starting point for some of the aliens is very clever. Congrats on the BOTD!

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 16 Jun 2020, 08:01

An alien abduction story with strong elements of romance/erotism is a bit unusual, but from what you write about it, it seems well developed. Thank you for your great review!

Honest-reviewer · Post by **Honest-reviewer** » 16 Jun 2020, 08:08

Thanks for this wonderful review! The book sounds really interesting.. I definitely want to read this.

Michael40 · Post by **Michael40** » 16 Jun 2020, 08:12

The book is unarguably exciting. It comes rather fresh and unique. I like the way Abby makes Nicholai fight to win her affection. Although I like this part, it remains a disturbing mystery to me. Great review!