i never ended up downloading this but i picked it up recently, so i figured I'd also review it here!

First off i love the cover for this. I don't usually read novella's, but I just love this series so much that I couldn't imagine missing any part of Ami and Lornes story. A captivating story, more about Amihanna & Lorne but with incredible yet heartbreaking history.
I loveed it.

Ms. Erin is a wonderful scifi writer, this novella was really well done with interesting characters and a great universe. I appreciated the list of reading order and enjoyed catching up to this point.

I loved reading this novella! I love this world and these characters, and I loved spending more time here with them! And it was really great to have some downtime, to watch them spend time together when they're not facing a threat (especially since they really have only had the previous book together, since he showed up right at the end of the 1st!)

It was great to explore through Amihanna's eyes, and watch that through Lorne's. I loved watching them bond in the here and now, things that she can remember, vs. their childhoods that she can't. They have a lot of responsibilities on their shoulders, High King, and future High Queen, and they need this to be a strong leading couple!

I loved that ending, of Amihanna showing the Aunare what happened on Earth, what SpaceTech did. And there was the appropriate response to that massacre. I felt bad for Lorne, he was young when it happened, and his dad was King and didn't want to do anything. But oh, the guilt!

I'm really excited to see where things go from here. The Aunare are rearing to fix the mistakes they made, and this book is right at the halfway point of the series, so things are going to go wrong! I just want to see SpaceTech taken down!

This was such a great read, and I can't wait for more from this series!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to dive into In Command after I got it. Mostly because of how much I'm actually enjoying this series. However, after diving into it.. I'm just going to say that it felt a bit repeatable. Not for the entire book but it just felt like some parts were on repeat.

Don't get me wrong. I still love these two, Ami and Lorne, but I was hoping for something more in this one. I do get that it's a bit short so I wasn't expecting to be blown away with this novella. I just kind of wanted more.

In the end, I'm kind of excited to see what is going to happen in the next book. Especially after all this preparing for war with SpaceTech. I want revenge and bloodshed!

Just like everything Aileen Erin writes, this is great. I really love the Aunare books. I will read anything she writes from now on.

Released February 23, 2021

Book 2.5 of the Aunare Chonicles

You can read the review of book one HERE and I highly recommend reading THAT review if you have not yet started the series because spoilers are inevitable in this one for the previous two.

Book 3, On Mission, releases July 27, 2021

I received an ARC of In Command thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb thanks to Goodreads:

““If you like a slow burn romance, awesome action scenes, and well developed characters, I highly recommend this series.” – Caitlin, Goodreads

From USA Today Bestselling Author Aileen Erin comes the third book in the Aunare Chronicles

An Aunare Chronicles Novella*

Amihanna di Aetes is used to fighting, surviving, and relying on her strength to get through the hard times. She thought the worst was over when she accepted her engagement to Lorne ni Taure, the High King of the Aunare, and claimed her place as the future High Queen.

It should be easy to slide into her new role. How hard can it be living in luxury with your soulmate after growing up alone on the streets?

But the more she learns about the Aunare and their politics, the more she realizes that the true test of her strength is just beginning.

Amihanna di Aetes is in for the battle of her life if she wants the Aunare to accept her.

*In Command is a 40K novella that takes place between Off Balance and On Mission (Book 3 of the Aunare Chronicles). The series can be enjoyed without reading this story, but you can’t enjoy this story without reading the series.“

Review:

If you are reading this I am assuming you have read books one and two. If not, go do that and come back! I promise you will not regret it!

The Aunare series has become my favorite series that has not been completed yet and is definitely up there in my favorites of all time. There is interesting worldbuilding, amazing characters, relationship and character development that are perfectly crafted, and prose that sings to you.

This novella is told in dual POV, which is familiar to those that have read book 2. I am destroyed that I have to wait for book 3. Seriously. I’ve had a ‘next one’ since I found the series (thank you NetGalley and this novella for introducing me to it!) and now I am forced to wait and I’m so upset about it.

If you have anything that sounds similar to this concept, please send it to me! I have read a few like this that really resonated with me (The Twelfth Keeper series and Atlantis Grail series, for example) and I am desperate for more to cure this massive book hangover.

I don't usually read novella's, but I just love this series so much that I couldn't imagine missing any part of Ami and Lornes story.

After reading IN COMMAND, I don't think anyone that is a fan of this series should skip it. There are a few things that happen that I think will play a big part in understanding the storyline going forward.

I found IN COMMAND emotional and entertaining and can't wait to see what will happen next.

This book has provided me with the perfect analogy:

Aileen Erin's books are to me as melon candy is to Amihanna - addicting.

I cannot express the amazingness that is an Aileen Erin book in words. The Aunare Chronicles aren't even my favorites of her books, yet I found it impossible to read or do anything else until I had finished In Command . And now that I'm finished, I regret reading this book so quickly. I should've savored this novella, but on the bright side, there will be more Amihanna later this year!

Anyway, onto the actual review part, I quite enjoyed this novella, and I noticed for the first time that Aileen Erin has a talent for ending chapters. I hope this makes sense outside of my head, but I noticed that most chapters in this book ended with a really strong, powerful quote that represented Amihanna's personality. In other words, In Command is a very quotable book. I'm not sure if this quality has always been in these books, or if I only noticed it now, but it's a fantastic quality.

One thing that bothered me about this book was the way Lorne treated his subjects at times. In the scene with Almya where Amihanna insisted that she wouldn't wear a dress, Lorne came and interfered, and the things he said really bothered me. Maybe it changed between the ARC and the finished book, but Lorne basically said that only Amihanna's opinion mattered. Honestly, I would have been embarrassed and angry if I were Almya, and I probably would have quit my job. I was also bothered when Lorne cut in line at the market, although Amihanna was on my side with this one. Lorne might be the High King, but that's just a title. It seemed wrong to me that he could just cut in front of the 20 other people waiting for their food. Sure, he was hungry, but so were those other people who had been waiting longer than he had. Besides, other vendors were gladly bringing food to him and Amihanna; why did he have to cut that line? Maybe it's just me, but I thought he could wait in line and I thought he could've been nicer to Almya.

Anyway, this was a fun novella and other then my reservations as a human from the United States and not an Aunare from Sel'Ani, it was fun to read. I love Amihanna's strength and how quotable this book was - it's why I get addicted and speed through these books. Not to mention the fact that the romance is always so sweet. On Mission is only a few months away and I cannot wait for it!

I feel like my reviews for this series are just getting repetitive. An awesome idea, lack of proper execution. Also, the constant repeating of the problems is getting annoying as well? I don't know. This series has this very special ability to literally suck me into itself, but at the same time I sometimes get truly annoyed. And the fact that the nuisances are the same for 500 pages straight doesn't help.
I realised I sound really condescending. I'm not, I enjoyed this book. Well, parts of it. I'm just very, very frustrated.

Do I think this is worth reading? Probably. Will I continue with the series? Depends on how many more books there'll be. I thought the messiness would get better after Off Planet, but stayed the same. The only thing that changed is my level of vexation.

I had no doubt that I'd like In-Command because Aileen Erin has written books that I absolutely love in the past. It was fast-paced and the story takes off exactly where the previous book ended. Amihanna is trying to deal with everything and while Loren tries to help her, he has his own issues to sort through. I think Amihanna and Loren make an absolutely beautiful couple and are perfect for each other and great as a support system for each other. Both the characters are absolutely amazing and extremely likable in my opinion. This novella focused mainly on Amihanna and Lorne, and cannot be properly understood without reading the previous 2 books.

Fast-paced story that picks up from the last book. Amihanna is still reeling from betrayal and trying to deal with the negativity coming from Aunare. Loren is supporting her but has issues of his own regarding his new position. Space Tech is in the background for this one as Loren and Amihanna try to rally their people to see the truth and fight. While the book was a bit long for a novella in my opinion, I loved every minute of it. Also while some novella can be skipped and not be lost in the story this one is a must read to continue the series.

Beautifully written. Amihanna & Lorne make a stunning couple, together they represent a strong and powerful couple. Willing to do almost anything to keep the Earthers and Aunare's safe from SpaceTech.
A captivating story, more about Amihanna & Lorne but with incredible yet heartbreaking history. Truly a well established storyline.

This was absolutely wonderful!

The story focuses on Amihanna and Lorne. And it was her that I was in ave with. Pure, determined and with a mind of her own. She never backed down, and she always stood her ground. I love strong minded heroines.

Lorne was just adding to the story.

Loved it!

Another great read amhianna is getting stronger and continues to heal from her experiences on both earth and abbadon. Also she is beginning her journey into to become the leader she meant to be. Can not wait to read on mission.

I loved having a story just focusing on Amihanna and Lorne. They are my OTP after all!

There was less of them dealing with SpaceTech in this and more of dealing with their fellow Aunure and learning more about each other, to rule together. There was great development in their relationship and a lot of personal growth from Amihanna after she's been through so much already.

Amihanna has to convince the Aunure that the best way to deal with her is to accept her as a one day queen because she has experienced first hand what SpaceTech does to Halfers and Aunures, and even humans associated with them. How she goes about this with Roan was brilliant.

I really enjoyed this book but now I need the next one!!

Thanks so much to the publisher & NetGalley for an eARC of this in exchange for my honest opinion.

In Command is a 40K word novella that takes place between Off Balance and On Mission (Book 3 of the Aunare Chronicles). This story takes place entirely on Aunare. 20-year old Amihanna di Aetes as accepted the fact that she will marry Loren ni Taure and become Queen of Aunare. Ami is super focused on making war on Jason Murtagh and SpaceTech for what they've done to her, her mother, and her people. She knows that SpaceTech is slowly closing in on Aunare borders, and unless they gets allies behind them, Aunare may end up going it alone.

However, the list of people who want her dead has gotten pretty long. This book really ends up with Ami releasing all of her pent up aggression that's been building up for 13 years. 13 years since she was left behind by her father Rysden. She's had enough of the High Council which seems to be working with SpaceTech, and not trying to find a way to prevent them from submitting to Jason Murtagh's machinations. She's had enough of the local media treating her as the enemy, instead of the Queen she is fated to be.

As the camel back finally breaks with the people of Aunare wondering why she can't even speak their language, and her popularity not getting any better no matter what she does, Ami and her best friend Roan finally reveals to Aunare, Lorne, and her father what really happened to her and her mother Catherine during the 13 years she was stuck on Earth while being hunted down by SpaceForce. It's a brutal reminder of how awful SpaceForce is, and the lengths they went to in order to scare Earthers into believing those from Aunare are a threat. In way way, Ami gives hope as well as absolution to the people of Aunare for how they've been treating her.

This book also has several chapters from Lorne's POV. Lorne is having issues with convincing allies that they need to step up and help Aunare even though SpaceTech has already attacked them. Thanks to the former King, if Aunare and SpaceTech go to war, Aunare may find themselves at war with allies thanks in large part to an alliance signed by the former King. Lorne is also trying hard to make Ami understand that part of her job as Queen is facing the High Council no matter how much she hates them, and they look down their noses at her.

I'm glad that the author wrote this book to hold us over until On Mission releases sometime this year. It was a good thing that Ami and Roan did in order to make Lorne and her father understand that even though she can't speak the language, she was born on Aunare, and will always be part of Aunare. It will be an interesting discovery to find out what happens next now that we've seen the truth behind what Ami and her mother experienced on Earth. Will the allies step up? With the High Council stop treating her as garbage? Or, will Ami end up going it alone?

The Aunare Chronicles

1. Off Planet
2. Off Balance
3. In Command
4. On Mission
5. On Destiny

I recieved this ARC for an honest review. This series keeps getting better and better. This is not a stand alone story. You will not be disappointed with this series. Even though this book wasn’t action packed like the others, Aileen Erin needed to write this story. I love how Aileen does not gloss over all of the horrible things Amihanna went through. I, also, like how Amihanna struggles with PTST which any person would in her shoes. It was so realistic on how loved ones want to help. I can’t wait for the next book! I’m not saying much more because YOU NEED TO READ THIS SERIES!!!

Wow! I love these stories. They are a bit hard to read because every time you think you’ve got rock bottom, Ms. Erin finds a lower rock bottom. Lorne is still my favorite hero.

I've loved this series from the beginning and this novella was a special treat! Ami is a kick-ass heroine who survived a horrific thirteen years away from her home planet. She isn't going to let petty politics and backstabbing get in her way now. With the support of her best friend, family and her fiancé Lorne she will show them what a leader looks like and she doesn't have to wear dresses to be a queen.

IN COMMAND will have you laughing, swooning, crying, raging, and begging for more in the Aunare Chronicles because most of all it will ignite a battle cry that will echo on until the series finale and after.

IN COMMAND continues the series, revealing some sweet moments between Amihanna and Lorne as well as some dark, painful truths. This novella is a major moment that plays a pivotal role in the growth of Amihanna's relationships with Lorne, her father, and with the Auanre people. I was already screaming like a tea kettle ready for the next book in the Aunare Chronicles and while this novella was a wonderful chance to return to this world while waiting for ON MISSION, it also has me even more desperate to get my hands on it. I just clicked with this series from the very first page of book one and each book brings me deeper into its world and as of yet I have zero regrets.

If you're wondering whether to read this novella or not, the answer is YES, definitely read it!!! Not only does it add so much, it's so so good. I almost ignored it and that would have been such a mistake..