I should preface this review by saying I did not go to the planet of Gildnaria by choice. I was trafficked from my own planet (Earth) to the Onead spaceport and sold to a Triad of Gildnarians, so my stay on the planet was neither desired nor voluntary. Did this influence my view of this hellacious backwater? Probably. But even if I had chosen this destination for a pleasure jaunt, luxury vacation is definitely not Gildnaria’s vibe.
If you like–
- air that smells like pickled eggs being boiled on top of a volcano
- eating bugs with tiny crunchy legs that get caught in your teeth, and
- not being able to communicate AT ALL with the telepathic locals
then maybe Gildnaria is right for you.
Unfortunately, I found both the planet and its inhabitants to be extremely inhospitable to humans. I didn’t see another interplanetary tourist during my entire stay. The Gildnarians themselves regarded me as a strange curiosity. Most of them had never seen or heard of a human, which, in itself, is perhaps not that unusual. Reactions to my presence were all over the gamut–everything from polite disinterest to active hostility and even marriage proposals from strangers. I was lucky to find a few kind souls who felt sorry for my predicament, because I’m not sure if I would have survived this place intact without them.
Instead of green vegetation like we have on Earth, the plants on Gildnaria sported primary colors–blue, yellow, and red. Imagine a kindergartner’s drawing of a jungle when given only three crayons. I never before thought a forest could be tacky, but this beacon of spectacularly bad floral design was an attack on the eyes.
The forest I could forgive, if it weren’t for the horrific smell that greeted me every time I left my residence. The first thing I procured during my stay was a mask so I didn’t gag every time I inhaled. Seriously, this whole planet smelled like ass.
You would think that the planet would be peacefully quiet, given that the locals are all deaf. But it was actually the opposite, because they had no reason (or ability) to pay attention to volume controls. Loud machinery blasted at all hours of the day. Alarms that they couldn’t hear were constantly beeping. They made no attempt to avoid a door slam or the screech of sliding a chair back. I don’t fault them for this, just want to warn anyone who’s thinking of traveling here to bring some earplugs. And your own food–because what they served here is revolting. I think I lost ten pounds in two months.
So, basically, Gildnaria is an assault on all the senses (five in the case of humans). The only reason I’m giving it any stars at all is because the males here are unbelievably hot. Five stars for the eye candy, but zero for the planet itself.
A.I. HUMAN by MK Stephenson
Lietvia Galaxy #2
She was never artificial. Their love was never supposed to be real.
After spending weeks trapped in a cage, Lyssa is sold in her sleep to a telepathic, purple‑scaled alien looking for the latest in A.I. technology. She’s forced to play the role of a companion android or be liquidated by a shady dealer to make room for new inventory.
Returning home with a synthetic companion for their lonely household, Terrald and his mates believe their new toy is defective. It can’t communicate and resists their commands. The moment they learn she can hear their mindvoices, they realize‑‑to their horror‑‑that they have purchased a living being.
Now Lyssa is stranded on an alien planet with three reptilian males who claim they want to protect and cherish her. But trust does not come easily to a woman who has been treated like merchandise. Should she leave and rebuild her life in the safety of a human sanctuary, or take the risk of opening herself up to the males who are determined to own her heart?
A.I. Human is a dark, steamy, why choose/reverse‑harem sci‑fi alien romance. It is the second book of the interconnected Lietvia Galaxy Series, but can be read as a standalone.
Romance Science Fiction | Romance Dark [ Independently Published, On Sale: September 16, 2026, e-Book, / ]
Buy A.I. HUMAN: Kindle | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About MK Stephenson
MK Stephenson grew up in a small, southern town in the U.S. She’s been a sci-fi/fantasy nerd most of her life. She loves Star Trek *and* Star Wars, along with classics like The Dark Crystal and The Neverending Story (RIP Artax). Her favorite book in middle school was Edith Hamilton’s Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. In high school, she devoured books by Anne McCaffrey, Robert Heinlein (don’t judge) and Terry Pratchett. Today, she writes escapist romance set in far off places, but isn’t opposed to reading or writing stories closer to home.
When she isn’t curled up with a book, MK can be found in the kitchen because food is love.
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