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maggietoussaint55's review
5.0
Steamy futuristic romance
Seven years have passed since the Anferthian invasion of Terr, as Earth is now called. Nick Bock, a lapsed healer, sought to escape the changing political climes and zone out rebuilding Terr’s music library, but the universe had other ideas. Soon he and a novice healer, Sakura Yamata, are embedded with the dissenters, a group of Anferthian warriors who opposed the invasion and kept Earth’s people from being completely annihilated.
The dissenters are very much in need of healing. They are growing ill at an alarming rate and conventional medical wisdom hasn’t helped. It’s up to the healers to suss out the problem, create an antidote, and to shut down the route of infection, all under the radar from a faction that now wants the dissenters dead.
Nick and Saku are opposites in many ways, but there’s no denying the spark of attraction that flares between them throughout the story. I had to keep reading to learn what would happen next. An engrossing action/adventure story set in a vastly different future world.
I received an advance copy of this book with no expectation of a review.
Maggie Toussaint and Rigel Carson for Muddy Rose Reviews
Seven years have passed since the Anferthian invasion of Terr, as Earth is now called. Nick Bock, a lapsed healer, sought to escape the changing political climes and zone out rebuilding Terr’s music library, but the universe had other ideas. Soon he and a novice healer, Sakura Yamata, are embedded with the dissenters, a group of Anferthian warriors who opposed the invasion and kept Earth’s people from being completely annihilated.
The dissenters are very much in need of healing. They are growing ill at an alarming rate and conventional medical wisdom hasn’t helped. It’s up to the healers to suss out the problem, create an antidote, and to shut down the route of infection, all under the radar from a faction that now wants the dissenters dead.
Nick and Saku are opposites in many ways, but there’s no denying the spark of attraction that flares between them throughout the story. I had to keep reading to learn what would happen next. An engrossing action/adventure story set in a vastly different future world.
I received an advance copy of this book with no expectation of a review.
Maggie Toussaint and Rigel Carson for Muddy Rose Reviews
amanda_lee's review
5.0
I loved this book! I had high hopes after Prophecy and this did not let me down. I loved seeing more of the Anferthians. Nick and Sakura had great chemistry as they were racing to find a cure and I loved how their relationship flowed.
pippajay's review
5.0
What I liked:
The two MCs are adorable! This is a play on the 'enemies to lovers' trope (one of my favourites) though not quite the 'kill on sight' variety. While Nick might first come across as a grade a jerk, I understood his frustration and his rejection of an unwanted gift and position forced upon him. But he swiftly rose to the challenge, and his sensitive handling of the heroine later in the book will melt the frostiest heart hardened against his preceding jerk-ish behaviour. The heroine - Sakura - is quite justified in her initial assessment of him but I felt a touch too much jealousy over his position and talent coloured her behaviour. However, as we learn how broken she is, I admired her strength and resolve, supported by the hero, as she fought to find her own path. Those nervous of the SciFi tag should be reassured - other than being on an alien planet and some simple (and in places humorous) detail on alien anatomy and customs, this is light on the SF element and much more character driven romance and adventure that any romance reader should enjoy, more like ER/CSI set off world.
What I didn't like:
The opening sex scene, while certainly hot and well written, made me wince a couple of times. Haesi is clearly a masochist but it might leave some readers flinching. Please trust me that this is a very small proportion of the book and later sex scenes are far more sensual! I would also have preferred more SF elements, but then I'm an addict for my scifi.
In conclusion:
While this wasn't the same 'tear out your heart and stomp on it' rollercoaster of book one (or maybe I was just better prepared) it is a worthy successor in this series. You will need to have read book one to follow this as I don't think it would stand well alone even if it focuses on different main characters. A heartwarming sexy romance between two characters struggling to overcome troubled pasts and really be the saviours of the title for an alien race depending on them. Both make a journey of discovery and find ways to heal themselves as well as their alien allies. Recommended for those who like medical/adventure romances in exotic locations as it may be a little light on the SciFi elements for the SFR fans.
The two MCs are adorable! This is a play on the 'enemies to lovers' trope (one of my favourites) though not quite the 'kill on sight' variety. While Nick might first come across as a grade a jerk, I understood his frustration and his rejection of an unwanted gift and position forced upon him. But he swiftly rose to the challenge, and his sensitive handling of the heroine later in the book will melt the frostiest heart hardened against his preceding jerk-ish behaviour. The heroine - Sakura - is quite justified in her initial assessment of him but I felt a touch too much jealousy over his position and talent coloured her behaviour. However, as we learn how broken she is, I admired her strength and resolve, supported by the hero, as she fought to find her own path. Those nervous of the SciFi tag should be reassured - other than being on an alien planet and some simple (and in places humorous) detail on alien anatomy and customs, this is light on the SF element and much more character driven romance and adventure that any romance reader should enjoy, more like ER/CSI set off world.
What I didn't like:
The opening sex scene, while certainly hot and well written, made me wince a couple of times. Haesi is clearly a masochist but it might leave some readers flinching. Please trust me that this is a very small proportion of the book and later sex scenes are far more sensual! I would also have preferred more SF elements, but then I'm an addict for my scifi.
In conclusion:
While this wasn't the same 'tear out your heart and stomp on it' rollercoaster of book one (or maybe I was just better prepared) it is a worthy successor in this series. You will need to have read book one to follow this as I don't think it would stand well alone even if it focuses on different main characters. A heartwarming sexy romance between two characters struggling to overcome troubled pasts and really be the saviours of the title for an alien race depending on them. Both make a journey of discovery and find ways to heal themselves as well as their alien allies. Recommended for those who like medical/adventure romances in exotic locations as it may be a little light on the SciFi elements for the SFR fans.
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