From Captive to Catalyst
How Shaara Finds Power in a World Built to Control Her What if the only way to survive your marriage was to adapt… without losing your soul? In Shaara of Altar, the second book in K.S. Riggin’s gripping Shaarvan Series, we follow a young woman who has crossed galaxies only to find herself a stranger in a world governed by rules she never agreed to and expectations she never chose. When readers first met Susan (now Shaara) in Scholar-Ship-Bound, she was a college student abducted under the guise of a scholarship interview. What began as an absurd twist in her earthly life became a terrifying initiation into the rigid, male-dominated culture of the Altarians. In Shaara of Altar, that tension deepens. No longer just a passenger, Shaara is a wife, a mother-to-be, and a woman constantly monitored for her obedience. But she is also something more: a woman on the brink of discovering her strength. A World Where Obedience Is Everything On Altar, women are valued for their beauty, compliance, and ability to bear children. They are assigned new names, forbidden from speaking their native languages, and disciplined often publicly when they step out of line. Shaara, now deeply pregnant with Shaarvan’s child, enters a household where even a flinch is seen as disrespect. “The suddenness frightened me. I jerked back. Shaarvan’s rage at my mistake blasted me… I didn’t dare look up.” The psychological weight of constant control is crushing. Shaara lives under the ever-present threat of physical discipline, wrapped in rituals and rules designed to mold her into the perfect Shapechanger wife. But even as she lowers her eyes, Shaara begins to observe, adapt, and quietly resist. The Duality of Adaptation One of the central tensions in Shaara of Altar is the theme of adaptation. Teea, Shaarvan’s mother, explains that all women must adapt to survive on Altar. It’s not about surrendering it’s about choosing which parts of yourself to preserve while learning to move within a hostile system. “Adaptation was what women did on Altar… It was not an easy process, but the alternative was beatings or even death.” At first, this sounds like indoctrination. But for Shaara, adaptation becomes a subtle act of subversion. She learns to decode the cultural expectations, follow the rules just closely enough to survive, and preserve the one thing she cannot afford to lose: her inner self. This is not the journey of a woman who submits blindly. It’s the story of a woman who bides her time who waits for her moment. The Burden of Power and the Men Who Wield It Shaara’s primary relationships in this book particularly with Shaarvan and Thenos are a study in power and control. Shaarvan, her husband, is a mass of contradictions. He is her captor and her protector, her punisher and her provider. He oscillates between moments of tenderness and terrifying rage. Yet beneath his dominance is a growing attachment he does not know how to handle. “I had lost my temper with her needlessly, frightening her when I should have seen that she did not understand how she had erred.” Shaarvan’s internal reflection Shaarvan is beginning to crack realizing that Shaara is more than a possession. She is shaping him even as he tries to shape her. But he remains trapped by tradition, obsessed with her obedience, and jealous of any attention she receives, especially from his unstable brother, Thenos. Thenos, on the other hand, is a clear predator, consumed by envy and entitlement. His interactions with Shaara are laced with threat and unspoken violence. “You are too luscious to ignore, my little sister,” Thenos said… “I always get what I want.” Yet Shaara does not break. Even when surrounded by men who treat her body as property and her thoughts as dangerous, Shaara maintains a quiet, potent resistance. She doesn’t fight with swords or fireballs. Her weapon is endurance. The Power of Inner Resistance Throughout the novel, Shaara’s internal monologue is our lifeline. It’s what keeps her humanity alive even when the outside world attempts to erase it. She observes, questions, mourns, and loves on her own terms. She finds unexpected allies, particularly in Teea, her mother-in-law, who walks the delicate line of complicity and quiet rebellion. Teea teaches her that women on Altar do survive and sometimes, they even thrive through the strength of spirit and the wisdom of choosing when to bend and when to stand still. “Give it time,” Teea whispers. “He may be angry now, but he’s a good Shapechanger, Shaara.” Teea’s reassurance isn’t naïve; it’s hard-won. It represents the hope that even in a society built to subjugate, women can hold on to their truth. Shaara learns to do just that. By the end of Book 2, she’s no longer the same girl we met on Earth. She’s not even the same woman we saw pregnant and shaking on the ramp at Altar. She is a mother, a survivor, and a slow-burning revolution in human skin. From Captive to Catalyst Shaara’s evolution is not explosive it’s patient. It’s the power of the person who has been pushed down and punished, but refuses to let that be the end of her story. She’s not just surviving anymore. She’s learning. She’s remembering. And she’s waiting. Waiting for the moment she can take her story back. Are You Ready to Walk the Forests of Altar? If you’re drawn to character-driven stories that delve deep into psychological nuance and cultural tension if you crave speculative fiction with emotional depth, messy relationships, and heroines who fight with more than weapons Shaara of Altar is a must-read. Start your journey with Book 1, Scholar-Ship-Bound, and dive into Book 2 today. K.S. Riggin’s Shaarvan Series is a bold exploration of identity, intimacy, and the cost of freedom set in a universe that challenges everything you think you know about love and power. Click here to get your copy and witness Shaara’s transformation for yourself. Follow the series. Join the rebellion. The
Power, Passion, and the Perils of Alien Love
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. Available now in print and ebook! Sign up for the author’s newsletter for updates on upcoming books
From Scholarship Dreams to Starships
When College Applications Take a Galactic Turn What if the scholarship you were counting on for college didn’t just change your life… it took you off the planet? That’s exactly what happens in Scholar-Ship-Bound, the riveting first book of the Shaarvan Series by K.S. Riggin. It starts with a scenario that’s all too familiar: a struggling college student navigating tuition woes, job responsibilities, and the terrifying possibility of financial collapse. But what follows is a genre-bending rollercoaster that launches readers from university lecture halls into deep-space abductions and alien politics—all wrapped in the heated chemistry of a sci-fi romance. Let’s dive into what makes Scholar-Ship-Bound such a wild, addictive ride. Campus Dreams Meet Cosmic Consequences Susan Baker is a determined college student, juggling classes, part-time jobs, and a future she’s fighting to make happen. Her life takes a dramatic twist when the scholarship interview she’s banking on turns out to be something else entirely. From the very first chapter, K.S. Riggin sets the stakes high and the tone real: “I desperately needed this scholarship… No other application asked so many personal questions, and the last questionnaire had been really bizarre. Why would a scholarship ask applicants to write about what they’d do if they were transplanted to a desert environment or were suddenly forced to live in a bubble under the sea?” These subtle oddities spiral into something far more sinister—and interstellar. One moment Susan is worrying about how her plastic shoes will be perceived by the committee. The next, she’s navigating bizarre interview questions, mysterious men with glowing eyes, and a computer testing her truthfulness. When Susan is finally ushered behind the curtain for her interview, she’s met not by faculty or financial advisors, but by a group of unsettling strangers who seem more interested in reading her palm than her GPA. Susan and the Shadow Man: Chemistry in Captivity The moment that truly changes everything isn’t when Susan realizes the scholarship is a scam. It’s when she meets him. The mysterious, commanding figure referred to only as “Shadow Man,” later revealed as Shaarvan. “The big guy in the corner turned around to look at me… His voice was like velvet: rich, smooth, and deep. Velvet or, perhaps, chocolate syrup.” Shaarvan’s interest in Susan is immediate, magnetic—and unsettling. The interview quickly becomes more of a psychological test… or a claim. “I shall kiss my bride,” he says without irony. And when Susan tries to protest? “You are mine. I have claimed you by Altar and Westla.” Shaarvan isn’t just a man; he’s a Shapechanger, a member of a powerful alien race with the ability to shift forms and manipulate perception. He’s also a captain—and Susan, whether she agrees or not, has become his chosen wife. World-Building That Feels Dangerous and Real What makes Scholar-Ship-Bound so compelling isn’t just the premise or the romantic tension—it’s the immersive, often disorienting way Riggin builds the alien world. From the moment Susan awakens aboard Shaarvan’s ship, readers are plunged into a sterile, foreign environment where the rules are unclear and the walls are always watching. “The door had opened into a hall at least twenty feet long in each direction and was filled with white walls, white floors, and shiny, white doorways at measured intervals… Even the flooring was white. Did no one know paint came in shades and tints?” Shaarvan’s world is not one of comfort or welcome. It’s clinical, hierarchical, and bound by traditions Susan neither understands nor consents to. Yet she remains sharp, funny, and fierce even in captivity—a heroine you want to root for. A Genre-Bending Blend of Real and Ridiculous At its core, Scholar-Ship-Bound is about control: who has it, who resists it, and how love can either dominate or liberate. It’s Beauty and the Beast in a spaceship, but with more sass and smarter commentary. Susan’s inner monologue, brimming with sarcasm and defiance, keeps the reader grounded through the surreal narrative: “This was so absurd; no decent science fiction story would have an alien who looked like Shaarvan. Aliens were supposed to be horrid looking.” She’s funny, vulnerable, and totally human, which makes her easy to relate to—even as her reality becomes anything but. The sci-fi elements aren’t window dressing. There are layers of political intrigue, references to social structures on other planets, and a clear sense that Susan is being drawn into a much larger conflict than she realizes. Yet the romantic tension simmers just beneath it all, and the heat is undeniable. Why You’ll Love It For YA and NA readers, it’s a relatable protagonist with big dreams, real fears, and fierce independence. For sci-fi lovers, it’s a fresh take on space travel, abduction, and alien cultures. For romance fans, it’s slow-burn seduction, danger, and the thrill of forbidden attraction. For bloggers and book clubs, it’s conversation gold: themes of consent, power, gender roles, and identity—all cloaked in a binge-worthy narrative. Should You Board This Ship? Absolutely. Scholar-Ship-Bound is unexpected, addictive, and wonderfully weird in all the best ways. It pushes boundaries—not just across galaxies, but in genre, character dynamics, and emotional depth. K.S. Riggin delivers a bold first book in what promises to be an unforgettable series. Whether you’re a student who knows the scholarship hustle all too well, or a sci-fi junkie looking for a unique romantic arc, this book will stick with you long after the final page. Ready to Join the Ride? Grab your copy of Scholar-Ship-Bound today and discover what happens when a college interview becomes a cosmic commitment. Will Susan fight for her freedom, or will she change the galaxy instead? Available now wherever books are sold. Want more exclusive updates, character deep dives, and behind-the-scenes author notes? Subscribe to K.S. Riggin’s newsletter and be the first to board the next chapter of the Shaarvan Series!