He’s not just tall, dark, and handsome he’s from another planet, and he’s not taking no for an answer.
In K.S. Riggin’s Scholar-Ship-Bound, romance collides with abduction, and chemistry burns beneath a layer of control, fear, and breathtaking allure. At the heart of the novel is a volatile and mesmerizing relationship between two characters from different worlds literally. One is Susan Baker, an Earth girl desperate for a scholarship. The other is Shaarvan, a Shapechanger warlord from a distant planet who chooses her as his “wife” during what she thinks is a college interview.
But don’t expect a love-at-first-sight fairy tale.
This blog explores the passionate, problematic, and powerful bond between Shaarvan and Shaara (as Susan is later renamed), diving deep into themes of dominance, emotional agency, psychological warfare and the magnetic pull of a romance that toes the line between desire and danger.
The Predator in the Spotlight
From the moment we meet him, Shaarvan exudes command. His presence is felt before he even speaks watching silently from the shadows as Susan undergoes her strange scholarship “interview.” When he finally reveals himself, it’s with a hypnotic charm and a dangerous tilt of power.
“The big guy in the corner turned around to look at me… His voice was like velvet: rich, smooth, and deep… Eyes like dark emeralds… teeth like a toothpaste commercial.”
Shaarvan isn’t a traditional love interest. He’s more like the forbidden force of nature the hurricane that seduces and destroys. His pursuit of Susan is intense and unapologetic. His power over her, especially in the early chapters, is both enthralling and unnerving. He doesn’t ask for consent he declares ownership.
“You are mine. I have claimed you by Altar and Westla… I shall kiss my bride.”
For many readers, this might be a red flag and that’s precisely what makes this story so compelling. Riggin doesn’t shy away from the ethical discomfort; she leans into it. Shaarvan is not human, and his cultural context is vastly different. But that doesn’t excuse his actions it complicates them.
The Human Heart in Captivity
Susan begins as many Earth heroines do relatable, logical, and focused on survival. Her voice is humorous and sharp, even in the face of escalating danger.
“This was so absurd; no decent science fiction story would have an alien who looked like Shaarvan… And who would believe aliens would abduct Earth women from a California university?”
But once she’s abducted and renamed “Shaara,” her story deepens. She’s not a passive damsel; she’s a woman wrestling with conflicting instincts: revulsion and attraction, defiance and vulnerability. There’s fear, yes but also fascination.
“I tried to pull my eyes away from his, but how could I look in another direction? His eyes held the answers to everything.”
It’s this internal war that gives the novel its emotional core. Shaara doesn’t fall in love easily if at all. Instead, she navigates a minefield of manipulation, isolation, and alien customs. Her body might react to Shaarvan’s touch, but her mind screams rebellion. That tension between instinct and intellect, safety and surrender, drives her development.
This isn’t a romance of equals not at first. But it’s an evolving story about boundaries, transformation, and the razor-thin line between autonomy and surrender.
Power, Consent, and Chemistry
Let’s talk about the elephant in the spaceship: consent.
Shaarvan essentially kidnaps Susan, drugs her, restrains her, and declares her his wife. That is not a gentle introduction to love. And yet, Scholar-Ship-Bound doesn’t romanticize these actions, it exposes them. The power imbalance is laid bare, and the reader is invited to feel the discomfort of it.
But it’s also true that this imbalance is a staple of speculative romance. From Beauty and the Beast to Outlander to A Court of Thorns and Roses, dark, dominant love interests are often paired with strong, reluctant heroines. The key lies in what happens after the capture.
Riggin offers no easy answers. Shaarvan is magnetic, yes, but also manipulative. His affection is real, but it’s tangled with entitlement. As readers, we’re meant to question his methods even as we’re drawn in by his presence.
“I suspected I was going to need enormous forbearance… Yet the sons this girl would bear me the sons would make the added effort worth it.”
(Shaarvan’s internal monologue)
It’s deeply unsettling… and yet disturbingly honest. These are not polished, Pinterest-worthy lovers. They’re raw, flawed, and locked in a power struggle that may or may not evolve into mutual respect.
Why Readers Can’t Look Away
So why do readers love Shaarvan and Shaara, even with all the ethical gray areas?
Because the story taps into something primal: the fantasy of being chosen, protected, desired so deeply it overrides logic and the struggle of maintaining your identity when everything, even love, threatens to consume it.
It’s the “what if?” of romance taken to galactic extremes.
- What if your worst enemy was also your fated mate?
- What if your captor had the power to destroy you… or save you?
- What if love wasn’t safe but it was real?
That’s what Scholar-Ship-Bound offers: not just escapism, but an exploration of emotional chaos set against a sci-fi backdrop. It’s a journey through fear, fantasy, and finding yourself in the grip of something much bigger than love.
A Love Story for the Brave
Shaarvan and Shaara’s relationship may not be for every reader but it’s one of the boldest, most thought-provoking dynamics you’ll find in sci-fi romance. Their story is messy, magnetic, and morally complex, which makes it utterly unforgettable.
This isn’t about whether their love is “right.” It’s about what happens when two powerful forces collide and whether something truly mutual can emerge from the wreckage.
Ready to Explore the Dark Side of Desire?
Pick up Scholar-Ship-Bound by K.S. Riggin today and experience the firestorm of passion and peril between a commanding alien and the Earth girl who refuses to surrender.
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