Vixen A.D.

About This Audiobook

*Vixen A.D.* isn’t your grandmother’s sci-fi romance—it’s a gritty, adrenaline-fueled survival story where the only thing more dangerous than the monsters lurking in the wreckage is the chemistry between its leads. Lara X. Lust drops readers into a post-crash wasteland with Mace, a man who remembers nothing but his name and the instinct to fight. What follows is a razor-sharp blend of *Mad Max* desperation and *Alien*-level tension, but with a romantic spark that feels earned, not tacked on. The dual narration by Renée Nolen and Alfie Syme is a masterclass in contrast: Syme’s gravelly, weary tone sells Mace’s disorientation, while Nolen’s voice crackles with the kind of dry wit that makes you lean in closer.

The real standout here is the worldbuilding—Lust doesn’t waste time on exposition. Instead, the rules of this broken world unfold through action, dialogue, and the slow, simmering trust between Mace and his reluctant ally. The sci-fi elements (think bioengineered horrors and rogue AI whispers) never overshadow the human—well, *mostly* human—stakes. And at just under eight hours, the pacing is relentless, with short chapters that make it perfect for commutes or late-night binges. If you’re tired of romance where the conflict is just miscommunication, or sci-fi that forgets to make you *feel* anything, this audiobook is your antidote."

"review": "I’ll admit, I side-eyed the premise at first—amnesia hero, mysterious woman, monsters in the dark? Been there, right? But *Vixen A.D.* won me over in the first 20 minutes, and it’s all thanks to the narration. Alfie Syme’s Mace isn’t your typical alpha-hole; he sounds like a man who’s been chewed up and spat out by the universe, his voice rough with exhaustion but laced with dark humor. When he growls, *“I don’t even know what I am, but I know I’m not prey,”* you believe him. Renée Nolen, meanwhile, delivers lines like *“You’re bleeding on my floor”* with the perfect mix of irritation and reluctant concern. Their back-and-forth is electric, the kind of chemistry that makes you forget you’re listening to a performance.

The story itself is a tight, twisty ride. Lust balances action and intimacy beautifully—one minute you’re holding your breath as Mace outmaneuvers a pack of *things* that sound like they were designed in a lab (and not the nice kind), the next you’re grinning at the slow-burn tension between him and Vixen. My only critique? The middle act drags *just* a touch when the plot pivots to worldbuilding lore. I found myself fast-forwarding through a couple of info-dumpy exchanges about the “Before Times,” though the payoff in the final act mostly justifies it. And while the ending ties up neatly, it leaves room for more—thankfully, because I’d follow these narrators (and this duo) into another apocalypse without hesitation. If you love your romance with teeth and your sci-fi with heart, this is a no-brainer. Just maybe don’t start it before bed unless you *want* to dream about razor-clawed stalkers."

"tags": [
"post-apocalyptic romance with bite