It’s good, if very formulaic. Nothing surprising - especially for those of us who have read in this world from the beginning of the Darkness series. IIt’s good, if very formulaic. Nothing surprising - especially for those of us who have read in this world from the beginning of the Darkness series. It was fun getting to see so many previous characters, but I’m just not finding anything different. Still, the formula works, so whenever one wants to dip back in, the water’s always warm and the writing’s always good!...more
A fun ride and a very nice ending for this trilogy. Ms. Schwartz is amazing at creating depth and understanding of the worlds, the tech and the ins-anA fun ride and a very nice ending for this trilogy. Ms. Schwartz is amazing at creating depth and understanding of the worlds, the tech and the ins-and-outs of alien societies. So much so that everything makes perfect sense. She also shines in creating characters that are rich and nuanced. The good guys have flaws and the bad guys have reasons we can understand. I just wish she spent as much time on the relationship aspects. I would have loved that same amount of depth in understanding the emotions and growth between characters that she gives all the other areas. For instance, we see interaction between Cherry and Hugh but how and when did their feelings get so strong for each other? We go from “there might be something between us but not now” to “I can’t live without him, he is the love of my life” BAM! The same goes for the secondary characters, as well.
Even so, the overall ride (heh, heh) was enjoyable and I would adore reading more in this super interesting world!...more
I love the world, love the characters but this book was awfully slow going for me. I never ached to come back like in all the previous books. There waI love the world, love the characters but this book was awfully slow going for me. I never ached to come back like in all the previous books. There wasn’t anything particularly bad at all… it just didn’t excite me in anyway.
Of course I’m off to read the last book in the trilogy, though. I MUST see how everything works out! ...more
This story is the first of a three book spin-off from the Xeno-Archeologist series that I absolutely adored! Cherry, the MC, is the sister of t3.5/5.0
This story is the first of a three book spin-off from the Xeno-Archeologist series that I absolutely adored! Cherry, the MC, is the sister of the MC of that series and it’s great to get to follow her life and know her better as she establishes herself as a bad-@#$ character of her own! I especially like her open and friendly personality that is backed by street-smarts that came from a horrific childhood in the slums. She is kind but savvy and does NOT let people control or bully her.
The secondary characters are creative, and I love Dylan! I haven’t made up my mind about the whole crab-people/Trios twist, though. And, as with the series this is taken from, this first book is a bit slow moving in places. Even so, I will absolutely continue with the hope that it will be just as exciting and enjoyable as its predecessor!...more
I have thoroughly enjoyed this five book series! It has all the awesomeness one looks for in sci-fi adventure with a hint of romance. I’m just sad thaI have thoroughly enjoyed this five book series! It has all the awesomeness one looks for in sci-fi adventure with a hint of romance. I’m just sad that it doesn’t continue. There are SO many avenues yet to explore and I’ll admit I’m pretty attached to Nora, Liam and clan.
This specific book held the very best and the most challenging aspects of the entire series. It wraps everything up in an awesome way. The ending (ei; at the end of the book ending ;) was everything we hoped for throughout the ups and downs of the journey! There was an inordinate amount of re-telling and explaining things from previous books, however. I really don’t think this book could be read as a stand-alone, so all the redundancy was wasted on the readers, as 99% (a guess, but a good one) already know all that stuff! Still, if one skims over all those bits, the overall story is just as amazing as all previous offerings in this fabulous space opera!...more
Oh my gosh, this series is so much fun!! It has everything one wants in a highly readable, action packed, character centered sci-fi escape!! Th4.5/5.0
Oh my gosh, this series is so much fun!! It has everything one wants in a highly readable, action packed, character centered sci-fi escape!! The only reason I rounded down to four rather than up to five stars is that really weird insta-love thing at the end. Where the heck did that come from? *slightly spoilerish comment coming up* Nora and Liam met one day, she broke a date the next, they don’t see or talk to each other for months, then, Shazam! They’re in love! It’s magic! ‘Cause there is nothing else that can explain it. ;).
I’m thinking this might just develop into an awesome space opera! Of course it is first in a series and there are a few small glitches that should worI’m thinking this might just develop into an awesome space opera! Of course it is first in a series and there are a few small glitches that should work out as we go. Mainly, all the world building information and sciencey stuff comes in just a bit of an info-dump at times… Now, for readers who really like the science-fiction tech stuff, this will probably be a plus. For those readers who are more into the story itself, and only like the technical stuff as far as it furthers the plot, it does slow things down a bit.
Even so, the overall story is great enough to stick to! Nora is an intriguing and sympathetic character, Jonah as her AI sidekick is the perfect foil for helping her succeed and Liam is a hunky, hopefully, love interest to develop as we go. There is excitement and mysteries galore with loads of room for all kinds of space high-jinx to come! I’m in, folks!!...more
Short prequel to the Sky Raider’s series. I read this after I had completed the first book in the series because I wanted to understand where the loveShort prequel to the Sky Raider’s series. I read this after I had completed the first book in the series because I wanted to understand where the love between Garek and Taya came from and how it developed into the strong, world-moving force that we see immediately in the first book. Unfortunately, although we do see how they met, there really isn’t anything that speaks to how that attraction became what it is in the series. ...more
Probably not quite as tightly written as Ms. Diener’s Class-5 series but still a great sci-fi romance/action story just the same. It could have used aProbably not quite as tightly written as Ms. Diener’s Class-5 series but still a great sci-fi romance/action story just the same. It could have used a bit more back story to help us understand the bone-deep, love-or-die relationship Garek and Taya have from page one. It is assumed we know - but we never see it develop enough to really buy into it fully. I do know the author offers a prequel but even that doesn’t really cover how they became soul-mates that deep.
Even so, the story and the love is still all kinds of awesome, escapist entertainment!...more
For anyone who has read the previous two books in this supremely creative series, it’s the big battle scene! And boy is it a doozy, it takes up a goodFor anyone who has read the previous two books in this supremely creative series, it’s the big battle scene! And boy is it a doozy, it takes up a good portion of the last half of the book. BUT, it is proceeded by some super fun and twisty negotions between Shining and the mafia/biker gangs that be. There is still a good amount of techy stuff but only as it pertains to specific devices (as opposed to the overall that was in book one) so that isn’t even a problem.
I was devastated at the betrayal by a friend that has never been addressed. It needs a good long explanation and resolution darn it!! I’m also not a fan of how the (small) romance aspect is going. A quick roll in the hay, then a “now get lost, I’m busy” is not a good look for Shining and her treatment of Jagger makes it a lot harder to root for her. Still, I have quickly grown attached to her and her co-horts, so I’m (im)patiently waiting to see if Mr. Hunter publishes more in this incredibly interesting series.
P.S. As a huge reader, I am NOT a fan of selling the audiobooks months and months before the actual print versions… just sayin....more
Yep! All the intricate techy stuff included in the first book in this series did ease up just enough to make it a bit easier to read and get into the Yep! All the intricate techy stuff included in the first book in this series did ease up just enough to make it a bit easier to read and get into the story. And get into it I did! I’m still deciding whether I really like Shining, but I LOVE the cats! And the secondary characters are super intriguing, as well. That, along with an incredibly unique plot and Ms. Hunter’s stalwart writing skills, make this a series I won’t be putting down!...more
While this is a great story overall with lots of action and adventure, there are some pretty noticeable plot points that just don’t make sense or are While this is a great story overall with lots of action and adventure, there are some pretty noticeable plot points that just don’t make sense or are left weirdly hanging. First, the romance aspect… Dee and Sebastian are complete strangers one minute and within a few hours they are doing the dirty and can’t live without each other. Huh?? Shaeesh! There’s insta-love and then there is insta-stranger-love. There is absolutely no reason or depth or understanding as to how that happened. It’s just… there it is. And what is with that super weird sex scene/interlude swimming get-away slapped in the middle of the book? Totally weird. AND… there are threads completely left hanging never to be uncovered (SUPER annoying!) like who was the other traitor? The guy piloting the hover craft that was the second mole? We’ll never know because that thread just dropped into nowhere.
If one can roll their eyes at these kind of things, and if one enjoys fast-paced, action-packed sic-fi light, Ms. Diener really is one to choose, though… just don’t judge the series from this one book. Hopefully you can do what I did, just enjoy all the fabulous points and know the rest will get better (judging from her other series, some of which are included in my all-time favorite pile)....more
On one hand, it actually hurts to hit that two star button, as I have read and thoroughly enjoyed almost all previous books from this author. On the oOn one hand, it actually hurts to hit that two star button, as I have read and thoroughly enjoyed almost all previous books from this author. On the other hand, there are just so many things that are wrong or didn’t work in this story that I truly feel the two stars are warranted (from a completely personal viewpoint, of course). So, here are the basic problems as I see them.
1. The book takes off in the middle of a storyline we know nothing about! I’ve read the two previous books in this series and I was STILL clueless! Those books introduced Lexi and Nilo but unless I have lost considerable brain cells in the last year, nothing has ever been explained about their previous relationship enough to give us any clue as to WHY all the angst. And, what exactly is the problem that they need to run to fix? We are given nothing more than “somebody kidnapped Martin and we must get him or there will be war”… Uh… why? What exactly are the reasons behind this? And the whole Tavi, et all storyline is so convoluted I can’t see day. Somebody took them, they’re being held… ‘kay? Again, we have NO idea how or why. It was just dumped on the reader expecting we would received immaculate revelation to understand. This left me totally confused and supremely frustrated throughout most of the book because the entire plot surrounds elusive something’s we have never known!
2. SO much of the book (and almost all of the first 2/3) is nothing more than Lexi drooling over, fantasizing over, yearning for, getting hot around (and on and on and on) Nilo. BUT acting cold, rude and schizo towards him. Even after Nilo does all in his power to help her AND after she has hot, steamy sex (multiple times) with him, she is still nasty ice. Good grief, it was scream inducing! Add to it, the above mentioned no idea WHY she is acting the way she is and…. I really should have dnf’d the book.
3. Lexi’s entire character is just so off-putting and impossible to like that I never could find any reason to even care about her. Not even ONCE could I say I liked her! And that begs the fact as to why I even continued. Never have I resented my OCD in finishing a story as much as now. Even near the end when Nilo has shown and proven his love and devotion to her over and OVER again, and when he has even SAID IT, she STILL doesn’t respond! She just can’t “say the words”. Seriously, at this point there are no words to express what an idiot I was to continue reading.
There are SO many other things that tie into these three main complaints (rants). But suffice it to say the entire story was just a frustrating, hair-pulling, eye-rolling mess. So why the two stars? Well, the action scenes were good… And did I mention, in spite of this seriously one-off of a book, I really like the author’s other offerings. *shrugs*...more
One thing I can say without any reservations, Jennifer Estep can write a rousing, heart-thumping story like no other! There are some small glitches inOne thing I can say without any reservations, Jennifer Estep can write a rousing, heart-thumping story like no other! There are some small glitches in this second book in the series that stopped me from giving it a full five stars, but even so, one can’t argue that the story keeps one reading and loving every minute.
So, the glitches? Well, just a couple of little things - like no matter what planet they are on, the delicious food they eat is always what we love here on earth in the 21st century. Can every planet in the universe all eat the exact food we do? Actually in all things, the story reads like it is all happening on earth - so those who are looking for strong sci-fi, this probably isn’t the series to pick up. It is more an awesome action/adventure/romance that just happens to use space-ships to get around.
Personally, I also had trouble with Vesper and Kyrion’s constant nasty sniping and refusal to at least try and accept the other throughout most of the book. I prefer a growing romance to have at least some kind and warm times in order for me to believe they are falling for each other… but that is just me. And, it does all work out at the end (the very end). It was great to FINALLY see the bond solidifying and accepted.
SO…. Overall, I really did enjoy the book. Read it until my eyes couldn’t stay open at night, then got up first thing and jumped right back in - (before I even got out of bed!) because I HAD to finish it and see what happens! Now, I just have to wait for what will assuredly seem like forever to find out what’s next!...more
This book made absolutely no sense. Can’t even review it because I could never figure out what the story was about, where it was going or even the poiThis book made absolutely no sense. Can’t even review it because I could never figure out what the story was about, where it was going or even the point of it....more
Given my proclivity against anthologies, that rating should mean a whole lot more than one would normally think. But, this book blows all my pr4.5/5.0
Given my proclivity against anthologies, that rating should mean a whole lot more than one would normally think. But, this book blows all my prejudices against the genre out the door! Each story, no matter how long or short, has a definite arc, conflict, great characters and a surprising amount of depth. Yeah, believe it or not, it has happened!! Short stories can be awesome! And so many in one book with each staying so well written? Well, only a master author could pull that off and Ms. Snyder is definitely one in my book. ;)
All the stories inside this super fun conglomeration are either fantasy or sci-fi in some way. There is such a wide variety of storylines, however, that almost any short story fan will find something to love. I’m now not sure whether to hang my all-hater hat up on anthologies, chock this one up to an amazing anomaly, or decide that - at least once in a while - miracles do happen. :)
(Oh, the 4.5 star? Just me being cranky cause…. Well, they’re still short.)...more
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