What do you think?
Rate this book
The Darvel Exploratory Systems #4
The Frog Prince
No one ever said that be a non-gratas was easy, but neither did they say that there was a possibility of becoming a genetic experiment to the benefit of Darvel Exploratory Corporation. When Gwen Brody woke up with amphibious genetic and surgical modifications to help her survival chances on Xal2614 it was bad enough, but living with it and having the pressure from her mission partner to fulfill more intimate parts of their mission to sustain data gathering beyond their lifetimes was another.
Yet, when her partner mysteriously disappears into the swampy environment into which they were sent, Gwen has a new problem when an alien shows up at her door singing his courting songs and triggers a heat that she can’t escape or ignore.
The Frog Prince is a 20k sci-fi romance novella set in the Darvel Exploratory systems universe and inspired by the fairytale The Frog Prince with graphic sex.
Yet, when her partner mysteriously disappears into the swampy environment into which they were sent, Gwen has a new problem when an alien shows up at her door singing his courting songs and triggers a heat that she can’t escape or ignore.
The Frog Prince is a 20k sci-fi romance novella set in the Darvel Exploratory systems universe and inspired by the fairytale The Frog Prince with graphic sex.
76 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2022
About the author
S.J. Sanders
73 books930 followersS.J. Sanders is a mom of two toddlers and one adult living in Anchorage, Alaska. She has a BA degree in History, but spends most of her free time painting, sculpting, doing odd bits of historical research, and writing. While she has more research orientated writing under another pen name, her passion is sci-fi and paranormal romance of which she is an avid reader. After years of tinkering with the idea, and making her own stories up in her head, S.J has began to seriously pursue writing as an author of Sci-fi Romance utilizing her interests in how cultures diversify and what they would look like on a extraterrestrial platform to humans interacting with them and finding love.
She can be found on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Author-SJ-Sa...
And follow her blog at https://sjsandersromance.wordpress.com
She can be found on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Author-SJ-Sa...
And follow her blog at https://sjsandersromance.wordpress.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
November 13, 2022
It was just too short for any sort of substance. There wasn't much conflict, characterization or even building up the romance since it was love at first smell of the mating pheromones.
Summary: Woman nongratas gets amphibian surgery to test out a planet, the planet actually already has amphibian aliens, one smells her, finds her, waits for her to leave her pod and mating ensues.
Summary: Woman nongratas gets amphibian surgery to test out a planet, the planet actually already has amphibian aliens, one smells her, finds her, waits for her to leave her pod and mating ensues.
August 3, 2024
4.5⭐️
“You act like I’m the culmination of everything you have wanted, and you just met me.”
“Because you are.”
This had no business being this good😩
Zyr is definitely book bf material, the story was just what I needed —short, sweet, and simple. The only thing I wish this had was an epilogue with a baby😅 Ik a lot of ppl hate the pregnancy trope but it would’ve made sense for this given the whole breeding thing lol either way this was a pleasant surprise and I’ll definitely be reading more from the author
Oh and um I know Zyr’s pp is unique but I lowkey can’t picture it🫣(it changes shape??)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Reaction: 😶😅👀🥺🥰
“You act like I’m the culmination of everything you have wanted, and you just met me.”
“Because you are.”
This had no business being this good😩
Zyr is definitely book bf material, the story was just what I needed —short, sweet, and simple. The only thing I wish this had was an epilogue with a baby😅 Ik a lot of ppl hate the pregnancy trope but it would’ve made sense for this given the whole breeding thing lol either way this was a pleasant surprise and I’ll definitely be reading more from the author
Oh and um I know Zyr’s pp is unique but I lowkey can’t picture it🫣(it changes shape??)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Reaction: 😶😅👀🥺🥰
May 1, 2023
4.5
So cute! This book was super fast paced but still a sweet love story. I always prefer more in depth stories with time to connect to MCs and detailed backgrounds, but this novella worked well. The only thing I wish was different - there should be more spice and DETAIL about it.
Spice: 3.5/5
Triggers: medical experimentation
So cute! This book was super fast paced but still a sweet love story. I always prefer more in depth stories with time to connect to MCs and detailed backgrounds, but this novella worked well. The only thing I wish was different - there should be more spice and DETAIL about it.
Spice: 3.5/5
Triggers: medical experimentation
November 8, 2022
Very sweet. A little weird, but that’s good (and this author excels at weird)
May 4, 2023
3⭐️ This novella was only 70+ pages, but it had a lot of world building surprisingly. I know the instalove was because … well… novella- but I definitely will pick up more from this author for sure! Hard to give a higher rating to such a short read since there is not room for a lot of character development and plot. I would like to see a longer book in this world- super interesting world!
May 15, 2023
part 1 is good… wait that’s it?
3.0 / 5.0 this is super short. It reminds me of a Ruby Dixon Risdaverse novella that is short, sweet, spicy, and done. I was happily reading along and wondering how the conflict would arise, or if the plot would go more action-adventure, or if there was going to be an interaction with the warring mountain clan, but nope. It just ends.
No one even dies, not the evil scientist, not a rival male, no one. There is very little development of the world, confusing understanding and use of “technology” for a primitive race, and no depth to these characters. It could be more, I was expecting more, but it just isn’t.
If you have an hour and want to read some mild alien smut, this is your book.
Until Next Time
MC
3.0 / 5.0 this is super short. It reminds me of a Ruby Dixon Risdaverse novella that is short, sweet, spicy, and done. I was happily reading along and wondering how the conflict would arise, or if the plot would go more action-adventure, or if there was going to be an interaction with the warring mountain clan, but nope. It just ends.
No one even dies, not the evil scientist, not a rival male, no one. There is very little development of the world, confusing understanding and use of “technology” for a primitive race, and no depth to these characters. It could be more, I was expecting more, but it just isn’t.
If you have an hour and want to read some mild alien smut, this is your book.
Until Next Time
MC
October 28, 2022
3.5 *
This was a pretty decent novella. It suffers from the lack of length as most fantasy/sci-fi novellas do because you end up losing out on fully developing an aspect typically such as world building or character depth. In this case I felt like both the world building and the character depth were lacking. I liked what little there was. I thought the frog prince premise was really interesting, and what we got to know of the world was interesting too. It could be that the writing was so well done that it made me want to learn more which is a credit to S.J. Sanders. I generally like her writing. However, this really was a little too insta-mate for me (he didn't even learn her name until way after they slept together). I didn't feel like I really knew Gwen or Zyr as characters, and we really didn't get to know any other characters either. I feel like if this had been developed into a full-length novel it would have been fantastic, but as it is it's just a little too short and missing the depth I would wish for in this story.
This was a pretty decent novella. It suffers from the lack of length as most fantasy/sci-fi novellas do because you end up losing out on fully developing an aspect typically such as world building or character depth. In this case I felt like both the world building and the character depth were lacking. I liked what little there was. I thought the frog prince premise was really interesting, and what we got to know of the world was interesting too. It could be that the writing was so well done that it made me want to learn more which is a credit to S.J. Sanders. I generally like her writing. However, this really was a little too insta-mate for me (he didn't even learn her name until way after they slept together). I didn't feel like I really knew Gwen or Zyr as characters, and we really didn't get to know any other characters either. I feel like if this had been developed into a full-length novel it would have been fantastic, but as it is it's just a little too short and missing the depth I would wish for in this story.
November 17, 2022
Pretty good !
I figured with the "frog" insinuation that this book might be a little gross. Well, it wasn't. It was actually kind of sweet. A short book to read in between all the long books that us book nuts usually read.
I figured with the "frog" insinuation that this book might be a little gross. Well, it wasn't. It was actually kind of sweet. A short book to read in between all the long books that us book nuts usually read.
October 27, 2022
4&1\2terrific 🌟s for the Frog Prince
I absolutely love a good Darvel Exploratory systems universe book. I look forward to reading about whatever new disaster that company cooks up for it always leads to something new fascinating and unexpected. The best part is it usually blows up in their faces and thank goodness works out wonderfully for the main characters! I was not disappointed. This was a short sexy sweet version of the Front Prince with an alien twist and a few more well done surprises that made this book a wonderful read. As always the world building is good but it's the chemistry between the characters that is the best. The moment of humor and the intense attraction made this an excellent before bedtime read! Highly recommend🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖💖🔥💖🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖💖💖💖🔥💖🔥🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥
I absolutely love a good Darvel Exploratory systems universe book. I look forward to reading about whatever new disaster that company cooks up for it always leads to something new fascinating and unexpected. The best part is it usually blows up in their faces and thank goodness works out wonderfully for the main characters! I was not disappointed. This was a short sexy sweet version of the Front Prince with an alien twist and a few more well done surprises that made this book a wonderful read. As always the world building is good but it's the chemistry between the characters that is the best. The moment of humor and the intense attraction made this an excellent before bedtime read! Highly recommend🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖💖🔥💖🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖🔥💖💖💖💖🔥💖🔥🔥🔥💖💖🔥🔥💖💖🔥
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 8, 2023::spoilers kinda::
It made me very uncomfortable.
Did not like this one.
DNF at 64%
It made me very uncomfortable.
Did not like this one.
DNF at 64%
February 26, 2023
A standard S.J. Sanders book. You know what you're going to get when you see the author name. Great author branding I guess. Always delivers exactly what you expect.
I picked this up because I was in the mood for a quick, fun read and didn't feel like continuing my current big clunker of a book. Also a novella is a great break when your current book is dragging.
🐸 It's cute. Standard S.J. Sanders formula where things are definitely space alien (stretchy legs and rubbery flailing 🍆) but you trust Sanders to keep the story cute and it stays cute. As a very loose retelling of a fairy tale but it was fine.
🐸 It was short. I needed something quick and this was like an instant read. I read it in one sitting because there isn't any plot and I was in the mood for that. It worked for me. Points for that.
🐸 Standard Sanders love interest where he starts declaring his love real fast but it didn't bother me here because this is a novella so I didn't care if there was even a relationship. FYI: there isn't.
🐸 It was fun. An okay read. My standards were basically entertain me for a bit and this delivered.
🛑 There's ZERO plot. Don't expect plot. They meet, they have seggs on his flailing rubber 🍆, the end. That's basically it. This isn't even a spoiler. You can't expect more when this is so short.
🛑 The technical writing is awful. What is grammer. What is editing. This book novella obviously doesn't know. I always complain about this for every Sanders book but I still read them so I'm the 🤡
🛑 The $mut was boring. The 🍆 moved like it had a mind of its own so I expected it to be more fun but it was boring. It wasn't even well written good $mut. Kind of disappointing.
🛑 The relationship isn't even insta lust or insta love. This was like instant commitment. He saw her, he decided yeah she's the one, and then committed.
Sanders has great ideas but the execution never delivers. Same thing here. If you just want a quick and fluffy read with some silly and mediocre rubbery flailing 🍆 $mut, then this is the book for you.
I picked this up because I was in the mood for a quick, fun read and didn't feel like continuing my current big clunker of a book. Also a novella is a great break when your current book is dragging.
🐸 It's cute. Standard S.J. Sanders formula where things are definitely space alien (stretchy legs and rubbery flailing 🍆) but you trust Sanders to keep the story cute and it stays cute. As a very loose retelling of a fairy tale but it was fine.
🐸 It was short. I needed something quick and this was like an instant read. I read it in one sitting because there isn't any plot and I was in the mood for that. It worked for me. Points for that.
🐸 Standard Sanders love interest where he starts declaring his love real fast but it didn't bother me here because this is a novella so I didn't care if there was even a relationship. FYI: there isn't.
🐸 It was fun. An okay read. My standards were basically entertain me for a bit and this delivered.
🛑 There's ZERO plot. Don't expect plot. They meet, they have seggs on his flailing rubber 🍆, the end. That's basically it. This isn't even a spoiler. You can't expect more when this is so short.
🛑 The technical writing is awful. What is grammer. What is editing. This book novella obviously doesn't know. I always complain about this for every Sanders book but I still read them so I'm the 🤡
🛑 The $mut was boring. The 🍆 moved like it had a mind of its own so I expected it to be more fun but it was boring. It wasn't even well written good $mut. Kind of disappointing.
🛑 The relationship isn't even insta lust or insta love. This was like instant commitment. He saw her, he decided yeah she's the one, and then committed.
Sanders has great ideas but the execution never delivers. Same thing here. If you just want a quick and fluffy read with some silly and mediocre rubbery flailing 🍆 $mut, then this is the book for you.
July 31, 2023
I'm not familiar with the fairytale The Frog Prince so I'm judging this purely as an alien romance. It was enjoyable, the pacing was good, liked the little bit of worldbuilding, and the alienness was good. The FMC being genetically modified is a bit different but I liked the way it was handled.
I liked books 1 and 2 of the Darvel Exploratory Systems so I'm a little sad that this is the end of the series so far. Not sure if SJ Sanders has any plans to continue the series but if there's anything new, I'll be interested.
PS: SJ Sanders states the cover is by her but there is another cover with the exact same dude called Bound by the Alien King (Salt Planet Giants) by Sara Ivy Hill that came out the same week and I plan on reading that as well. I'm not sure if the dude himself was an asset found somewhere and happened to be used by both or what but I find it interesting how different the characters can be using the same model. It reminds me a little of reverse bangs in fanfic circles where an artist makes a piece of artwork and then authors write a story inspired by the artwork. I've seen some art pieces get multiple stories and it's really cool to see how the same image can inspire different stories.
I liked books 1 and 2 of the Darvel Exploratory Systems so I'm a little sad that this is the end of the series so far. Not sure if SJ Sanders has any plans to continue the series but if there's anything new, I'll be interested.
PS: SJ Sanders states the cover is by her but there is another cover with the exact same dude called Bound by the Alien King (Salt Planet Giants) by Sara Ivy Hill that came out the same week and I plan on reading that as well. I'm not sure if the dude himself was an asset found somewhere and happened to be used by both or what but I find it interesting how different the characters can be using the same model. It reminds me a little of reverse bangs in fanfic circles where an artist makes a piece of artwork and then authors write a story inspired by the artwork. I've seen some art pieces get multiple stories and it's really cool to see how the same image can inspire different stories.
February 14, 2023
This book was short but a good read. "Darvel" the evil corporation modified her into a human with frog DNA from earth. The planet she is supposed to explore is mostly under water and like a swamp.
She never wanted to be an alien. One day, she hears an alien "singing" to her and she starts going into heat. She fights it and refuses to leave her little hut. More aliens arrive and more sing. She ignores them all.
She sneaks out to avoid the unwanted suitors. But the hero is clever and followed her.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
They have sex and she agrees to return to his clan. Darvel told her they would put her into stasis until they need her again. She doesn't want to go into stasis or belong to an evil corporation anymore.
She never wanted to be an alien. One day, she hears an alien "singing" to her and she starts going into heat. She fights it and refuses to leave her little hut. More aliens arrive and more sing. She ignores them all.
She sneaks out to avoid the unwanted suitors. But the hero is clever and followed her.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
They have sex and she agrees to return to his clan. Darvel told her they would put her into stasis until they need her again. She doesn't want to go into stasis or belong to an evil corporation anymore.
October 17, 2022
So unusual; a fascinating story!
Darvel Exploratory Systems is once again in trouble! The things they do - experimenting with those they consider to be disposable.
As much as I abhor what Darvel’s done, and what they propose to do when things go wrong, I am entranced by the outcome for Gwen. She’s become something ‘other’ and attracted amphibian beings. Zyr is drawn to her scent: Gwen is moved by his song. I love their reactions to each other, and their resulting behaviors. Short, but sweet, it is a delightful and unique love story. I loved every minute!
Darvel Exploratory Systems is once again in trouble! The things they do - experimenting with those they consider to be disposable.
As much as I abhor what Darvel’s done, and what they propose to do when things go wrong, I am entranced by the outcome for Gwen. She’s become something ‘other’ and attracted amphibian beings. Zyr is drawn to her scent: Gwen is moved by his song. I love their reactions to each other, and their resulting behaviors. Short, but sweet, it is a delightful and unique love story. I loved every minute!
October 20, 2022
Gwen and Zyr
A lovely short story you can read in an afternoon. Gwen is human and sent to another planet to observe and take samples to see if humans can survive there. Zyr is an alien and when he gets close to Gwen her scent drives him crazy and starts his mating call. Although they are different species, they are also similar after Gwen was genetically altered to survive life on the alien planet. It doesn't take long for Zyr to convince her that they are mates and she's where she belongs. A very low angst human/alien love story I enjoyed very much.
A lovely short story you can read in an afternoon. Gwen is human and sent to another planet to observe and take samples to see if humans can survive there. Zyr is an alien and when he gets close to Gwen her scent drives him crazy and starts his mating call. Although they are different species, they are also similar after Gwen was genetically altered to survive life on the alien planet. It doesn't take long for Zyr to convince her that they are mates and she's where she belongs. A very low angst human/alien love story I enjoyed very much.
October 25, 2022
Darvel Corp strikes again.
Another amazing and creative story. I love the creatures and aliens of the worlds of the Darvel Exploratory systems. Along with the fiesty humans. This was definitely a unique take on the flipping the frog prince scenario. Awesome world building, unique couples and the heat being literal. I liked it all. I hope we continue to get more stories in this series. Each one has been fabulous. Reviewed by Who She Reads.
Another amazing and creative story. I love the creatures and aliens of the worlds of the Darvel Exploratory systems. Along with the fiesty humans. This was definitely a unique take on the flipping the frog prince scenario. Awesome world building, unique couples and the heat being literal. I liked it all. I hope we continue to get more stories in this series. Each one has been fabulous. Reviewed by Who She Reads.
February 19, 2023
Sweet and Drama less !!! Loved it!
This short read was exactly what I needed and MS Sanders delivered !!! A sweet romance!! Gwen and Chris of course after being experimented with from the Darvel company end up living in a swamp but what happens to them is worth it all.
I love that though short the story brings romance with no horrible happenings just what I love in book! Lots of loving without the drama! Loved it!!
This short read was exactly what I needed and MS Sanders delivered !!! A sweet romance!! Gwen and Chris of course after being experimented with from the Darvel company end up living in a swamp but what happens to them is worth it all.
I love that though short the story brings romance with no horrible happenings just what I love in book! Lots of loving without the drama! Loved it!!
March 12, 2023
What a cool retelling of a fairy tale! I enjoyed the pace of the story, and the way things changed and developed constantly. The characters were likable, and the description of non-gratis society is something I can imagine happening in our own dystopian future world, because I'm morbidly pessimistic like that, lol. It was a fun, and quick read, and fun to see the adaptations from the original tale!
November 13, 2022
Frogs
Loved reading it
I always enjoy the different species or worlds and am curious about where your imagination took you this time, meaning I getting enjoy that unique look on anew world and adventure be it frogs or something else
Whatever comes next.... I'm reading it and thank you for sharing your work with us
Off course it's recommended
Loved reading it
I always enjoy the different species or worlds and am curious about where your imagination took you this time, meaning I getting enjoy that unique look on anew world and adventure be it frogs or something else
Whatever comes next.... I'm reading it and thank you for sharing your work with us
Off course it's recommended
October 20, 2022
4.5 stars
A froggy alien prince and a genetically-frogified human live happily ever after. This is a fun and sweet novella with heat (literally). It will tick all your insta boxes: instalust, instamate, and instalove.
I love getting to jump back into the Darvel Exploratory Systems worlds.
A froggy alien prince and a genetically-frogified human live happily ever after. This is a fun and sweet novella with heat (literally). It will tick all your insta boxes: instalust, instamate, and instalove.
I love getting to jump back into the Darvel Exploratory Systems worlds.
October 20, 2022
What a 🤴 Prince!
This Novella is hot. I enjoyed reading about the change of the main character. It allowed for a different dimension of the character relationships. The song makes me think of My Koi Pond and wonder if there's a Prince in it.
This Novella is hot. I enjoyed reading about the change of the main character. It allowed for a different dimension of the character relationships. The song makes me think of My Koi Pond and wonder if there's a Prince in it.
October 23, 2022
The princess and the frog
Yay for another great read! This one was short but definitely sweet. I would have liked to explore a bit more and get an epilogue.... But who knows! Maybe there is more to come hehe thank you for sharing!
Yay for another great read! This one was short but definitely sweet. I would have liked to explore a bit more and get an epilogue.... But who knows! Maybe there is more to come hehe thank you for sharing!
October 24, 2022
the frog prince: the Darrel exploratory system.
The frog prince and Gwen were a wonderful complicated couple. They had an usual sexual romance and mating . Chris also found his mate . They were both included in the family pod.
The frog prince and Gwen were a wonderful complicated couple. They had an usual sexual romance and mating . Chris also found his mate . They were both included in the family pod.
October 24, 2022
Another great story by one of my favorite authors!
This was such a nice short story, a whole new world, and I was still able to picture it in my head perfectly. Will read again for sure, and can't wait to read more short stories!
This was such a nice short story, a whole new world, and I was still able to picture it in my head perfectly. Will read again for sure, and can't wait to read more short stories!
Read
November 4, 2022Enjoyable and unique
I really enjoyed this, it was really different from other monster/alien stories. The description of the world was so good I could see it in my head. Now I'm so curious what the mating song sounds like!
I really enjoyed this, it was really different from other monster/alien stories. The description of the world was so good I could see it in my head. Now I'm so curious what the mating song sounds like!
November 7, 2022
alien frog prince
This is totally different from the Frog Prince fairy tale that we know. Our MMC is literally a frog prince, an alien frog prince. And he started a courting ritual which our FMC cannot denied. Don’t worry, our frog prince is an honorable and good frog prince.
This is totally different from the Frog Prince fairy tale that we know. Our MMC is literally a frog prince, an alien frog prince. And he started a courting ritual which our FMC cannot denied. Don’t worry, our frog prince is an honorable and good frog prince.
November 9, 2022
Seriously, I finished this book and my only thought was "what did I just read"?! It was weird. Idk, maybe it's just me but I just felt kinda gross throughout the entire read! That being said, read at your own risk.
December 1, 2022
2.5 stars. I don't like giving such low ratings, but it had to be done. There are several errors in this story and while the idea is fascinating, there are certain aspects left unexplained. There are other stories in the Darvel Exploratory Systems that are better written.
December 20, 2022
Loved It
The book was short and sweet but it holds your attention from beginning to end. It's a fast-paced read with a love story, I really enjoyed? A must buy and keep them coming they are awesome.
The book was short and sweet but it holds your attention from beginning to end. It's a fast-paced read with a love story, I really enjoyed? A must buy and keep them coming they are awesome.
March 4, 2023
I really enjoyed this
It was shorter than expected but I really enjoyed it! It was a sweet story with no angst which is very refreshing since the books I've read lately have been full of angst and drama. A light sweet story!!
It was shorter than expected but I really enjoyed it! It was a sweet story with no angst which is very refreshing since the books I've read lately have been full of angst and drama. A light sweet story!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews