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kaje_harper's review against another edition
4.0
This is a paranormal SciFi, set in a future (or AU) where some humans have strong psychic abilities. They may be able to read minds, or heal, or even kill with a thought. Psions are sometimes treated as useful citizens, but more often are looked on with suspicion or held captive and used for their talents by the unscrupulous.
Pat is involved in the law enforcement end, tracking down those using their psionic talent for illegal motives. Kyn works for the Institute for Psionic Research, responsible for finding exploited psions and running rescue operations. Once the two were friends, and very briefly lovers. Now they are reunited in the search for a young psion with a killing talent. When they find Luka, his painful past wakes nightmare visions of Kyn's own history. And it turns out that a young, manipulable man who can kill with a thought is a hot commodity for more than one user.
I enjoyed this story, although it was a bit tropey. The rape subplots and the "push him away because I'm not good enough for him despite our undying love" theme was heavier than I like, and seemed to recur as the driving force for many of the mistakes the characters made. Pat was uncritical, and Kyn was very self-involved, and their relationship seemed to circle round in well-worn paths. That's not unrealistic, but it didn't pull me in to care about them deeply. Luka, although a secondary character, seemed more fully rounded than the two MCs (and was given a less-sketchy back-story), so I was more invested in what happened to him than in the MC romance. But this isn't a fatal flaw in a heavily-plot-driven story.
This is the first in a series, and it felt like there was promise of something deeper and more developed to come. I will probably read the next one, to see how that plays out.
Pat is involved in the law enforcement end, tracking down those using their psionic talent for illegal motives. Kyn works for the Institute for Psionic Research, responsible for finding exploited psions and running rescue operations. Once the two were friends, and very briefly lovers. Now they are reunited in the search for a young psion with a killing talent. When they find Luka, his painful past wakes nightmare visions of Kyn's own history. And it turns out that a young, manipulable man who can kill with a thought is a hot commodity for more than one user.
I enjoyed this story, although it was a bit tropey. The rape subplots and the "push him away because I'm not good enough for him despite our undying love" theme was heavier than I like, and seemed to recur as the driving force for many of the mistakes the characters made. Pat was uncritical, and Kyn was very self-involved, and their relationship seemed to circle round in well-worn paths. That's not unrealistic, but it didn't pull me in to care about them deeply. Luka, although a secondary character, seemed more fully rounded than the two MCs (and was given a less-sketchy back-story), so I was more invested in what happened to him than in the MC romance. But this isn't a fatal flaw in a heavily-plot-driven story.
This is the first in a series, and it felt like there was promise of something deeper and more developed to come. I will probably read the next one, to see how that plays out.
lucyhargrave's review against another edition
4.0
Ages ago I read Gremlin’s Last Run, which turned out to be book two in the Guardians of the Pattern series by Jaye McKenna. As I enjoyed the second book I thought it was about time I read the first one in this science-fiction m/m romance series. So without further ado lets talk about Psi Hunter by Jaye McKenna.
This is definitely a series that on reflection I should have read in order. The world created by Jaye McKenna, the amount of characters introduced and the amount of storylines developing in parallel meant at times I was a little confused. Not helped by my brain trying to connect what occurred in Gremlin’s Last Run with the storylines and characters being introduced in Psi Hunter. Also although this is the first book in Guardians of the Pattern series it works on the assumption that you have read the prequel novella Facing the Mirror.
“Trevor told me that I didn’t get to do that. That you don’t get to just start over. That life is about living with all that’s happened to you and instead of letting it beat you down, you accept it and know that you’re stronger because you survived it”
Read the full review: buff.ly/1O67NWf
This is definitely a series that on reflection I should have read in order. The world created by Jaye McKenna, the amount of characters introduced and the amount of storylines developing in parallel meant at times I was a little confused. Not helped by my brain trying to connect what occurred in Gremlin’s Last Run with the storylines and characters being introduced in Psi Hunter. Also although this is the first book in Guardians of the Pattern series it works on the assumption that you have read the prequel novella Facing the Mirror.
“Trevor told me that I didn’t get to do that. That you don’t get to just start over. That life is about living with all that’s happened to you and instead of letting it beat you down, you accept it and know that you’re stronger because you survived it”
Read the full review: buff.ly/1O67NWf
poultrymunitions's review
2.0
why have just one rapeytrauma storyline when you can have two?
...or even the same one twice?
*thin-lipped sigh*
but honestly what did this book in for me was the occasion of this trope:
fuckin' hate that trope.
...or even the same one twice?
*thin-lipped sigh*
but honestly what did this book in for me was the occasion of this trope:
He knew he’d been rough and cold last night, maybe even cruel, but anything else would only have encouraged Pat to ask for more.
Kyn couldn’t give him more.
Wouldn’t.
Pat deserved far more than the damaged, ugly creature that shivered behind Kyn’s quiet, confident façade.
fuckin' hate that trope.
calila's review
4.0
I really liked this. It could've been shorter, there were times when it was a slog to get to some plot movement. But over all I really liked the world building. The characters were great. I really felt for Luka and Kyn. They endured some horrific stuff. I loved how Pat and Kyn slowly accepted each other's love and support. I liked the dynamic between the three, Luka ends up like a little brother. It made me happy that they'll have each other. The big bad isn't really resolved, but I'm interested and it seems like it'll be a series arc so it's not too annoying that it's so open ended.
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