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annkniggendorf's review
3.0
It started with a strong setting and enough dark twists and turns for adding plot meat to the romance part and keeping me up reading despite the clock passing midnight a few hours ago.
Sadly, about halfway through the author turned to "the vision of a true genius" and "fated aristocrats" and "lucky meetings" applied with a spate (or probably some big machine built by Caterpillar), pretty much killing any believability in the plot.
Finished it anyways, but am disappointed at the cop-out. Three stars, because it grabbed my attention somewhat fierce in the beginning.
Sadly, about halfway through the author turned to "the vision of a true genius" and "fated aristocrats" and "lucky meetings" applied with a spate (or probably some big machine built by Caterpillar), pretty much killing any believability in the plot.
Finished it anyways, but am disappointed at the cop-out. Three stars, because it grabbed my attention somewhat fierce in the beginning.
woolfardis's review
1.0
Space Opera Romance With Attempted Erotica is a new one on me. I really need to pay attention to what I put on my kindle.
In any case, romance is usually a dead-end for me, and there was no difference here. I liked the writing to an extent, but the ridiculous changing-names-to-make-it-seem-other-worldly becomes tedious toward the end (or even middle) of book. It's usually something you find in fantasy novels (calling a year a calendar, calling a cow a Fresnch even though it's basically just a cow) but sci-fi gets its own turn sometimes.
Another major irk was that someone was eyeing up someone else's body pretty much every page. That's the first thing every character does to anyone they meet. Okay, we get it: Sair was a gigolo, Drea is a timid virgin at heart, sex sex sex. At least go all out erotica not just pointless Sebastian Faulks-described sex.
Mostly though, it was just boring. Flat characters, mundane plot that is at every page guessable and a ridiculous romance that is pretty standard for movies or books. Unrealistic, if we must. Elements of nice atmosphere and imagination and it really got me in the mood for some epic sci-fi (maybe a Dune re-read is in order) but truly just some recycling fodder.
In any case, romance is usually a dead-end for me, and there was no difference here. I liked the writing to an extent, but the ridiculous changing-names-to-make-it-seem-other-worldly becomes tedious toward the end (or even middle) of book. It's usually something you find in fantasy novels (calling a year a calendar, calling a cow a Fresnch even though it's basically just a cow) but sci-fi gets its own turn sometimes.
Another major irk was that someone was eyeing up someone else's body pretty much every page. That's the first thing every character does to anyone they meet. Okay, we get it: Sair was a gigolo, Drea is a timid virgin at heart, sex sex sex. At least go all out erotica not just pointless Sebastian Faulks-described sex.
Mostly though, it was just boring. Flat characters, mundane plot that is at every page guessable and a ridiculous romance that is pretty standard for movies or books. Unrealistic, if we must. Elements of nice atmosphere and imagination and it really got me in the mood for some epic sci-fi (maybe a Dune re-read is in order) but truly just some recycling fodder.
leesarpel's review
4.0
Sair’s been a tribute slave to another race since before adolescence. He manages to escape the palace where he serves, but needs a way offworld. He finds a beautiful prototype ship and convinces the captain, Drea Mennelsohn, to take him aboard and drop him off somewhere safer. As he grows more fascinated with Drea, he finds that she and her mission are more complicated than he could have guessed. Together they could change the fate of known space.
Our couple make sympathetic rebels against the evil Empire. Sair is grieving. Learning to let go is never easy, and just because he likes, wants, and is grateful to Drea, they can’t commit until he releases his guilt. This is handled in a way that feels natural and relatable, even if I don’t know anyone whose losses are as awful as his. He wants to do right by the people he feels he left behind and those he cares about. I would treasure a friendship with him. Drea is a fascinating character. She has a disability that many potential partners would blanch at, but she makes the most of her limited life. That Sair is willing to work through it even though he thinks it’s difficult speaks well of him. I would love to pick her brain. The way she experiences events and space must be breathtaking, even if she finds it lonely. She bears a complicated burden, so wanting something for herself is rather risky.
The ship’s functionality and technology are introduced gradually. We learn about the Specter’s combat systems and cool features as they’re used, so it does not feel overwhelming and we can savor each nifty invention. There’s a scene about droids mating that I would have blushed at, were I physically capable. I didn’t know inorganic interactions could be that hot.
The epilogue ties up all the loose ends a reader wants to know about. Everyone gets their just deserts.
Drea and Sair are immediately attracted to each other, and as soon as she sees him she knows she’s going to take him on her ship. Uh, why? Because she felt a spark? Fate? The story is told from Sair’s perspective, though we get some of Drea’s at the end of the book. He finds her helpful and attractive, she does unprecedented things regarding him just from a first meeting. It seems impulsive and at odds with the rest of her behavior.
I enjoy learning new terms as they fit into a world, especially when they are not things I have names for now: spectro-drones, neuraltron, microcell. However, I am confused why there are new terms for units of time in this book: calendars, haras, tempas. If they are just years, hours, and minutes, using a new term makes me have to exert effort to stay immersed in the book. I assume everything’s being translated to English from several alien tongues for our benefit, so why weren’t the words for units of time translated as well? If they are different concepts, I’d like to know how they differ. Quibble: The most disruptive word for me is ‘gerabunga.’ It makes me think of heroes in a half shell, breaking my reading trance. That it’s the last word of the book following an emotional scene feels disorienting.
Also, Drea has a brother named Ry? What was their father thinking? Dreary?
I found several aspects of the world and characters to be original and fresh, and the author surprised me more than once. I've grown to value originality in science fiction romance.
Our couple make sympathetic rebels against the evil Empire. Sair is grieving. Learning to let go is never easy, and just because he likes, wants, and is grateful to Drea, they can’t commit until he releases his guilt. This is handled in a way that feels natural and relatable, even if I don’t know anyone whose losses are as awful as his. He wants to do right by the people he feels he left behind and those he cares about. I would treasure a friendship with him. Drea is a fascinating character. She has a disability that many potential partners would blanch at, but she makes the most of her limited life. That Sair is willing to work through it even though he thinks it’s difficult speaks well of him. I would love to pick her brain. The way she experiences events and space must be breathtaking, even if she finds it lonely. She bears a complicated burden, so wanting something for herself is rather risky.
The ship’s functionality and technology are introduced gradually. We learn about the Specter’s combat systems and cool features as they’re used, so it does not feel overwhelming and we can savor each nifty invention. There’s a scene about droids mating that I would have blushed at, were I physically capable. I didn’t know inorganic interactions could be that hot.
The epilogue ties up all the loose ends a reader wants to know about. Everyone gets their just deserts.
Drea and Sair are immediately attracted to each other, and as soon as she sees him she knows she’s going to take him on her ship. Uh, why? Because she felt a spark? Fate? The story is told from Sair’s perspective, though we get some of Drea’s at the end of the book. He finds her helpful and attractive, she does unprecedented things regarding him just from a first meeting. It seems impulsive and at odds with the rest of her behavior.
I enjoy learning new terms as they fit into a world, especially when they are not things I have names for now: spectro-drones, neuraltron, microcell. However, I am confused why there are new terms for units of time in this book: calendars, haras, tempas. If they are just years, hours, and minutes, using a new term makes me have to exert effort to stay immersed in the book. I assume everything’s being translated to English from several alien tongues for our benefit, so why weren’t the words for units of time translated as well? If they are different concepts, I’d like to know how they differ. Quibble: The most disruptive word for me is ‘gerabunga.’ It makes me think of heroes in a half shell, breaking my reading trance. That it’s the last word of the book following an emotional scene feels disorienting.
Also, Drea has a brother named Ry? What was their father thinking? Dreary?
I found several aspects of the world and characters to be original and fresh, and the author surprised me more than once. I've grown to value originality in science fiction romance.
pippajay's review
5.0
What I liked:
Sair is exactly my kind of hero. Despite his subspecies' reputation for ferocity and aggression matched by large, muscular build, Sair is a tortured hero with a soft heart, lacking the arrogance and testosterone-boosted ego of the typical alpha male. Not sure I'd rate him as a beta either though. He's strong, loyal, caring, devoted to his women (yes, you did read that as plural but no spoilers!), and sexy as heck. Given into slavery at a young age, he's done what he's had to to survive and prosper, and it's given certain skills in the bedroom. This comes in useful since he has little else to offer for help in his escape. The story is told entirely from his point of view, and I have absolutely no issue with this since we remain in the one perspective for the entire serial/novel.
Drea is a strong, complex woman, and we get to know her in a very natural fashion over the three parts. The secondary characters are also fully fleshed and well developed, and the romance intense. The conflict fuels the story and the action, with a good dose of thorough and intriguing world building (including the horrifying Ithian culture), plot twists, action and adventure.
What I didn't like:
I'm not a fan of serials, but since all three parts were released in quick succession and swiftly followed by the full novel, it didn't keep you waiting (full disclosure: I read the full version prior to it being contracted and published). Part one gives you a good introduction if you're not willing to pay out for the full novel from a new author,but personally I find big books released in parts a bit frustrating. Both part one and part two end on cliff-hangers,hence much of my irritation with serials. I am not a patient person! To me, the full novel falls more naturally into two parts, the first focusing entirely on Sair and his predicament, then moving on to his and Drea's joint quest for freedom and happiness.
In conclusion:
This, to me, sums up a lot of what I love most about science fiction romance - the two main elements are perfectly woven together to produce a heart-twisting, exciting romance adventure in a futuristic, technologically-advanced setting. For those nervous about paying out for the full novel from a new author, the serialization is the place to start, providing cliff-hanger endings are okay by you (though all three parts are available to curb any impatience!). I loved the technology and the characters, and can't wait to read more by this author.
Sair is exactly my kind of hero. Despite his subspecies' reputation for ferocity and aggression matched by large, muscular build, Sair is a tortured hero with a soft heart, lacking the arrogance and testosterone-boosted ego of the typical alpha male. Not sure I'd rate him as a beta either though. He's strong, loyal, caring, devoted to his women (yes, you did read that as plural but no spoilers!), and sexy as heck. Given into slavery at a young age, he's done what he's had to to survive and prosper, and it's given certain skills in the bedroom. This comes in useful since he has little else to offer for help in his escape. The story is told entirely from his point of view, and I have absolutely no issue with this since we remain in the one perspective for the entire serial/novel.
Drea is a strong, complex woman, and we get to know her in a very natural fashion over the three parts. The secondary characters are also fully fleshed and well developed, and the romance intense. The conflict fuels the story and the action, with a good dose of thorough and intriguing world building (including the horrifying Ithian culture), plot twists, action and adventure.
What I didn't like:
I'm not a fan of serials, but since all three parts were released in quick succession and swiftly followed by the full novel, it didn't keep you waiting (full disclosure: I read the full version prior to it being contracted and published). Part one gives you a good introduction if you're not willing to pay out for the full novel from a new author,but personally I find big books released in parts a bit frustrating. Both part one and part two end on cliff-hangers,hence much of my irritation with serials. I am not a patient person! To me, the full novel falls more naturally into two parts, the first focusing entirely on Sair and his predicament, then moving on to his and Drea's joint quest for freedom and happiness.
In conclusion:
This, to me, sums up a lot of what I love most about science fiction romance - the two main elements are perfectly woven together to produce a heart-twisting, exciting romance adventure in a futuristic, technologically-advanced setting. For those nervous about paying out for the full novel from a new author, the serialization is the place to start, providing cliff-hanger endings are okay by you (though all three parts are available to curb any impatience!). I loved the technology and the characters, and can't wait to read more by this author.
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