This is a very dark book - one of the darkest I have read in a very long time. It made me cringe. It made me heartsick. It made me ask myself, how mucThis is a very dark book - one of the darkest I have read in a very long time. It made me cringe. It made me heartsick. It made me ask myself, how much can two characters take? And what would you be willing to do for love and for survival?
The bulk of the story is set in a futuristic world that was a lot like the future in the Terminator movies, except there were aliens picking off the humans instead of robots. Medical intern Kris Davenport has been transported decades into the future after being forced into a portal by a future version of herself. Future-Kris assures her that she has a mission. That she must save a man named ConRad.
The man in question turns out to be the commander of the unit of soldiers who saves Kris from the aliens when she is thrust into their world. It's anything but love at first sight. ConRad is stoic and severe, a consummate soldier. He and Kris clash constantly as she is indoctrinated into her new reality. Women are very rare. And most of the ones who do exist, live a solitary existence, working to heal and protect what's left of humanity.
Of course, things do develop between Kris and ConRad eventually. But it's when it seems like they just might have a chance at happiness that it all hits the fan. Kris and ConRad have to endure some truly horrific events: beatings, tortures, rapes... not to mention the heart-wrenching emotional wringer they both go through in the second half of the book. This is no light reading. But I couldn't give up on these two. I had to see if they could pull themselves out of the darkness and find any shreds of happiness and hope for their future.
The book was compelling. It took awhile to warm up to the characters, because at first ConRad was such a jerk and Kris was such a whiner. But they both moved toward better versions of themselves over the course of the book. The time travel and those elements wrapped up in Kris changing the past/future got a little sticky for me at the ending... and I would have loved to see a little more resolution with the fate of the villain.
But I didn't want to put it down. It had me on the edge of my seat and never shied away from the really hard stuff. It was good, but you need to go into it, knowing what to expect. 4 stars.
This novella gives us a glimpse of life in the Box between the events of Aftertime and Rebirth. It's very short... less than 30 pages, but it manages This novella gives us a glimpse of life in the Box between the events of Aftertime and Rebirth. It's very short... less than 30 pages, but it manages to maintain the feel of the full length books.
The story begins with the arrival of a young boy and his grandmother to the Box. The old woman is dying and the boy, Feo, has no one. Cass and Smoke open their tent to him for the night, while Dor decides whether the child can stay. At first Cass fantasizes a little that Feo will join her family with Smoke and little Ruthie. But the boy latches on to one of the guards, making her realize that he needs things she can't give him.
There's not a lot to this, and you don't need to read it for Rebirth to make sense. Feo is present in that book, but the events of his arrival are given in clear enough language that you won't miss anything. Still, I'm such a fan of this series, I wouldn't skip any tidbit that Littlefield offers. 4 stars. ...more
Hunting Kat is sexy, futuristic sci-fi story, with a little bit of paranormal flavor. The main character, Kat, is a mercenary with a traumatic past. SHunting Kat is sexy, futuristic sci-fi story, with a little bit of paranormal flavor. The main character, Kat, is a mercenary with a traumatic past. She was taken prisoner, raped, forced into lycanthropy, and kept as a pet by her enemies. That was years ago, and she has come a long way, but she still hasn't entirely recovered, nor has she had a relationship with a man since.
Her shipmates hope to change that. So they leave her behind on a planet for some forced R&R. She meets Ryard at a local bar and she is undeniably attracted to him. Rygard is a soldier who is questioning his future in the military, after a mission went bad. The two of them get together quickly with some hot results. But before the afterglow even fades, the repercussions of Rygard's bad mission ends up on their doorstep. He and Kat end up working together to try to make things right.
I liked both leads, though Rygard does make a pretty bonehead move with Kat, not knowing her history. Their tumble in the sheets is great, and a little more poignant than I would have expected, due to Kat's sexual assault. The story was fast-paced and action packed, with well-developed characters and a strong supporting cast. I wasn't really thrilled with the ending, though... a little epilogue would have gone a long way to give me the HEA I needed. 4 stars.
Every once in a while, you need a little escape from reality. And this little ebook gave me exactly that, served up with a healthy side-order of delecEvery once in a while, you need a little escape from reality. And this little ebook gave me exactly that, served up with a healthy side-order of delectable sexy goodness.
Sue is an officer in Earth's space command, who was taken prisoner and tortured for information. But after she is rescued, she is accused of collusion with the enemy. So it falls to the sexy alien Asler to determine her guilt or innocence. Asler is an Examiner; he can touch others mind-to-mind to see the truth. But when he makes that intimate connection with Sue, it becomes something much more. The psychic connection also becomes a physical and emotional one. And they work together to figure out what really happened to Sue during her captivity.
This was quick, easy read. The world building was simple and straightforward and the sex was steamy and satisfying. A very enjoyable distraction. And it turns out that it's part of a series! I'll be sure to check out the other installments. 4 stars.
It's an exceptional author who can move you with the beauty of the emotions they evoke. It's more obvious when it's joy, hope or love. But just as beaIt's an exceptional author who can move you with the beauty of the emotions they evoke. It's more obvious when it's joy, hope or love. But just as beautiful, in their own way, are the wrenching feelings Sophie Littlefield elicits in her dystopian Aftertime trilogy. In this second installment, we see grief, despair, and hopelessness. It's heartbreaking, but you can't look away. You don't want to look away. You keep reading, refusing to relinquish the hope that after the darkness will come the dawn; after the misery, we'll be rewarded with some kind of triumph.
Cass has created a makeshift home and family in the trading center known as the Box. She has reunited with her daughter Ruthie and she has allowed herself to fall in love with Smoke. But the fragile happiness she has found is short-lived. When Smoke gets word that the Rebuilders have killed many of the refugees in the place where he once lived, he goes on a vengeance mission; one likely to lead to his death. And he doesn't even say goodbye. Cass decides to leave the Box with its founder, Dor, as he goes in search of his daughter Sammi, who was taken by the raiding Rebuilders.
Cass is devastated by Smoke's abandonment. She blames herself for allowing him access to her heart. She acts out, trying to harden herself. She makes reckless choices that you can see like a train wreck a mile away. And maybe that will alienate some readers. To me, it just made me see her as more broken. She is trying to rebuild the wall around herself that Smoke had penetrated, and somehow manages to drag Dor into her warped decisions in the process. The book follows Cass, Dor and Ruthie as they infiltrate the Rebuilder camp and learn more about the group's nefarious plans.
I suppose from this review, you'd never know this book is about a post-apocalyptic world, overrun by zombies. That's because, to me, that's just a backdrop to watch the lives of these characters unfold. To watch Cass break and rebuild. To watch Ruthie heal and grow. To watch Dor unwittingly shed his cloak of solitude and allow Cass in. And, of course, to see the human condition when people are stripped of the trappings of modern life... from the screwed-up ideals of the Rebuilders to the bandits who accost unwary travelers to the heartbroken mother who refuses to accept the fact that her son is dying. It's absolutely mesmerizing. And hauntingly beautiful. Even more powerful than its predecessor. 5 stars.
General Tao is a champion of his people, returning home from defeating the Gorr, a beastlike species of fighters. But while his people welcome him witGeneral Tao is a champion of his people, returning home from defeating the Gorr, a beastlike species of fighters. But while his people welcome him with open arms, his brother-in-law, King Xim, does not. The king thinks Tao wants to usurp the crown and in his paranoia, throws Tao in the dungeon to face treason charges. Tao's good friend Markam is a palace guard and part of a rebel movement that sees Xim as unfit for the throne. He helps devise an escape for Tao and sets him up to hide in the neighboring ghettos of the Kurel people.
Elsabeth is a Kurel who is also dedicated to taking down Xim. But her reasons are personal; he was behind the raid that killed her parents. Now, she's hiding Tao because she believes he is humanity's best hope to be the new king.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a romance, but so much more. The world building was fascinating. The author has set up a futuristic otherworld where the human factions are as clearly defined as the mongrel Gorr. It's captivating to watch Tao and Elsabeth overcome their misconceptions about each other and fall in love. But the action and the intrigue was every bit as interesting. There were also great secondary characters, like Markam and Queen Aza.
There is a little bit of sex, but the book is more about the emotional connection of the characters, and even though I generally like smut, I didn't feel cheated. I really enjoyed this one, in part because it was unique and refreshing, but also because it was just plain good. 4 1/2 stars.
P.S. I must acknowledge that every time I see General Tao, I think of Chinese chicken. It's like the pink elephant in the room.
This short story from the League series tells the story of Nykyrian's oldest son, Adron. We heard him mentioned and got a glimpse of him in the PrologThis short story from the League series tells the story of Nykyrian's oldest son, Adron. We heard him mentioned and got a glimpse of him in the Prologue of Born of Ice. But now, the former League assassin is terrible shape. He was badly and irrevocably injured on a mission years ago, and now he lives in constant pain. He is angry at the world and wishes he would have died, rather than survive in his weakened condition.
He is drinking himself into oblivion at a bar when Livia comes in. She is a princess, determined to lose her virginity, in order to escape marriage to a man decades of years older than her. She sets her sights on Adron and he is stricken by her innocence. He takes her up on her offer and is shocked to find she can ease his pain for short periods of time. When her father finds out about their tryst, Adron steps up to marry her to keep her from punishment. But their relationship is constantly tested by his injuries and his reaction to them.
I loved, loved, loved this story. The sex was sooo good. And Adron is transformed in front of us by Livia's love. The ending is great too. 5 stars.
Life has kicked Syn in the teeth from the day he was born. His father was brutal killer. His mother abandoned him and his sister, Talia. They were horLife has kicked Syn in the teeth from the day he was born. His father was brutal killer. His mother abandoned him and his sister, Talia. They were horribly abused. Talia escaped by suicide. Syn thought he could escape by turning in his father to police. But the system betrayed him, throwing him into prison at just 10 years old. He escaped, living on nothing but his wits and slowly built a life for himself. But he can't outrun his past. And he is constantly kicked down by the people he chooses to trust.
Shahara is a bounty hunter, who believes in law and order. And when she reads Syn's profile, she believes all of the horrible things he is accused of. The huge bounty on his head will pay her sister's medical bills, and at the same time, she'll get a monster off the street. She figures it's win-win. But of course, when Syn enters her life, she begins to learn just how naive she has been.
There are a lot of twists and turns in the book as Shahara ends up joining forces with Syn and going on the run. She begins to fall in love with him, all the while knowing she may have to betray him to save her sister in the end. It's heartbreaking to watch Syn slowly opening his heart, with the knowledge that Shahara will likely it break it to smithereens. He has been through so much, and he deserves the love he so desperately craves. At the same time, it's hard to see Shahara as much of a villain. Her intentions are good and her feelings are genuine. It's all just a big fat mess. Fortunately, in the midst of that mess, there is a great dynamic between Syn and Shahara. And when they finally let themselves connect to each other, it is very satisfying. I love Sherrilyn Kenyon love scenes.
For me, this was almost as good as Born of Night. It's a solid sequel to Nykyrian's book, but it also works as a stand-alone. I would definitely recommend this series. 4 1/2 stars.
Futuristic sci-fi books are not necessarily my favorite genre, but this book rocked my socks off every bit as much as one of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark HFuturistic sci-fi books are not necessarily my favorite genre, but this book rocked my socks off every bit as much as one of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter books. The flavor may be a little different, but the woman can write one hell of a love story in the midst of fantastic world-building.
Nykyrian is a half-breed... part human, part Andarion, rejected by both species. He is a hardened assassin, formerly a soldier of The League, who now runs a rag-tag group of warriors who police the corrupt agency. On a run, he comes across Kiara, the daughter of a statesman, who has been kidnapped. He helps rescue her and returns her to her father. But he is quickly sucked in to a job as her bodyguard. Political enemies of her father have taken out a hit on Kiara's life.
Kiara is drawn to Nykyrian's powerful presence. And he is attracted to her like he has never been to anyone else. But Nykyrian is one of the most tortured heroes out there. (Kenyon is excellent at writing those!) He has never known kindness or love; he was horribly abused as a child; and he thinks himself unworthy of Kiara. Watching her break down his walls was breathtaking. I loved watching how she transformed him from a shell of man to someone who finally allowed himself to feel. As with most Kenyon books, the sexual tension is great and the payoff is HOT.
We also have great supporting characters in Nykyrian's band of brothers. Each character is distinct and entertaining. And the set-up is firmly in place for Syn's book, Born of Fire.
A fantastic, sexy read that is full of heart. I didn't want to put it down. 5 stars.
Even on her worst day, I can't dislike a Sherrilyn Kenyon book. Admittedly, this is my least favorite installment in the League series, but I still enEven on her worst day, I can't dislike a Sherrilyn Kenyon book. Admittedly, this is my least favorite installment in the League series, but I still enjoyed it. Kenyon hit the fast-forward button, focusing this third book on the children of our core characters in Born of Night and Born of Fire. Our hero is Devyn, son of Sin and Sharhara. He is the captain of a runner-ship and a doctor, like his father. He tried working with the League, but his ethics got in the way, so now he spends most of his time trying to help those in need.
But Merjack, the Chief Minister of Justice, holds a grudge against the Wade family. And he targets Devyn by sending in Alix as a plant in his crew. Alix is a slave and Merjack is holding her mother and sister hostage to force her to do his will. She is to either find proof Devyn is breaking the law or fabricate it. Of course, despite her intention of doing what she must to save her family, that's easier said than done when she starts to fall for Devyn.
There were things I really liked about the book. It was great meeting all of Nykyrian's kids and seeing what happened to so many of the characters I grew attached to in the early books. It was like one great big Epilogue. As always, I enjoyed Kenyon's writing style and her sexy love scenes. But for some reason, this book didn't strike the same emotional chord that the others did. I didn't really feel why Devyn fell for Alix (though it was obvious why she fell for him.) Shahara's character felt off to me, nothing like the woman from Born of Fire. And the big Paden reveal felt contrived. Yeah, I wanted him back in the fold, but it just tied up too quickly and easily to me.
I wish we would have had more stories with characters of the earlier generation before we moved on to their kids. Personally, I am dying for a Nero story. 3 1/2 stars. ...more
Sophie Littlefield gives the Apocalypse a new twist in the world she has created in Aftertime. The big event didn't come with bombs or nuclear weaponsSophie Littlefield gives the Apocalypse a new twist in the world she has created in Aftertime. The big event didn't come with bombs or nuclear weapons. A biological agent destroyed most of the food supply on Earth, creating wide-spread famine. In a last-ditch effort to feed the people, the government dispersed seeds for a special plant that would serve everyone's nutritional needs. Seeds for a second plant got mixed in... but it was flawed and turned anyone who ate it into zombies, called Beaters. As with traditional zombie mythology, they hunger for human flesh --and as they feed, they turn their victims into zombies too.
Cass was attacked, but unlike anyone else, she recovered. When she came to her senses, she was miles away from the camp where she was living --and she was separated from her young daughter. The book follows her quest to reunite with little Ruthie. On her way, she meets up with Smoke, who becomes a love interest of sorts. There are two main roadblocks to a relationship. One, Cass's fear that her saliva will infect him. And two, her warped past of promiscuity and addiction.
Littlefield's world is stark and bleak. It shows us a myriad of ways people could react to a cataclysmic event and few of them are pretty. And if that doesn't give you the heavy feel of a boulder on your chest, getting inside Cass's head will certainly do it. She is a woman filled equally with purpose and self-loathing. It takes a long time to get to the bottom of the self-destructive nature of her old life, but when we get the answers, they are exactly what you'd expect. What you might NOT expect, is her refusal to give up on Ruthie. And let me tell you, it's a long and winding road to find her.
The story builds and builds to a huge crescendo, to end rather abruptly. But I can forgive that, knowing the sequel, Rebirth, is coming this summer. I can only hope it will feature Cass & Smoke. (His was a great character, and we barely scratched the surface.)
This was a really good book, which was constantly posing new questions as it answered old ones. And it's a great study of humanity's greatest strengths and weaknesses all at once. 4 1/2 stars.
Jaq's sister is dying. And if she doesn't steal a cure for her, there is no hope. So Jaq sneaks her way onto the floating island that the Giant corporJaq's sister is dying. And if she doesn't steal a cure for her, there is no hope. So Jaq sneaks her way onto the floating island that the Giant corporation calls home. There, she runs into her ex-fiance, Harp, who is on an undercover mission to take down the company and its corrupt owner. And of course, the heat between them ignites all over again.
This is a short story, only 67 pages. So there's not a lot of room for anything too deep. Basically, you've got two questions that play out: Can Jaq & Harp escape with the antidote and evidence they need? And can they get over the issues that drove them apart to find their way back together? It's not too much of a leap to figure out what the answers will be, but it's a fun enough ride to get from Point A to Point B. It's just hard to care much for the characters when we have so little time to get invested in them. (And Ella Drake adds her signature fairy tale twist, with a brief nod to Jack & the Beanstalk by incorporating magic beans and a "Giant" into the novella... but it does little to add or detract from the story when all is said and done.) 3 1/2 stars.
Imagine living 78 years; surviving a near apocalypse; seeing your world fall prey to zombies; watching your twin age... all while remaining an attractImagine living 78 years; surviving a near apocalypse; seeing your world fall prey to zombies; watching your twin age... all while remaining an attractive version of your 30 year-old self. That's what happened to Theo. He's a computer genius, one of the leaders of the Resistance against those responsible for ravaging Earth. And while surrounded by friends, he's still alone, isolated by what makes him different.
But things change when he meets Selena. She is a strong and special woman, who doesn't look her 50 years of age. But she is very aware that she is (or rather, appears to be) much older than Theo. He is delivered to her, nearly dead from a gunshot wound. But instead of leading him to the other side, as she has done for so many, she manages to bring him back to life. Selena can see death coming and guide souls to the beyond, but what most people don't know is that she also feels she needs to save the souls of the zombies now roaming the land... even at great risk to herself.
I wasn't sure how I'd feel about an older heroine. Frankly, it's unusual enough to have a female lead that's my age, much less one only a few years younger than my mom. But for Theo, it makes sense. He's 78 for crying out loud. And Selena is a great fit for him. Their sex scenes are steamy... and we manage to continue with the series arc detailing the planet's "Change" and the orgins of the zombie gangas.
There are some upsetting parts of the book that I didn't see coming... namely an unexpected death, which made me cry. And the rape of a female character, which was (thankfully) wasn't too graphically detailed, but disturbing all the same.
A solid installment, one I enjoyed more than I expected. Check out the earlier books in the Envy Chronicles if you haven't already. 4 stars.
The post-apocalyptic drama of the Envy Chronicles continues in this third installment, featuring Quent & Zoe. Quent is on a mission to find his fatherThe post-apocalyptic drama of the Envy Chronicles continues in this third installment, featuring Quent & Zoe. Quent is on a mission to find his father, who was one of the men responsible for the near-destruction of the Earth. Quent and four other men are living 50 years in the future. They had been trapped in some AZ caves in 2010 when the "Change" happened and spent five decades in stasis. When they emerged from the caves, they had not aged at all, but each of the men had developed a special ability. Quent's skill is pyschometry, the ability to be able to see the history of an object by touching it.
Zoe is on a mission of her own: to kill the bounty hunter responsible for the death of her family --and to take down as many zombies as possible while she does it. She's lived a solitary existence for 10 years, but Quent brings her humanity back to life. The pair teams up as their goals converge. And while the physical part of their relationship sparked from the beginning, the emotional connection was the payoff in this book.
While their romance progresses, we learn more about what led to the "Change." And we get a better look some of the peripheral characters... here's hoping for an Ian/Remy story in the future. Overall, I enjoyed this one... maybe not quite as much as Simon's story, but definitely worth the read. 4 stars.
What a difference one book can make! After lukewarm feelings for Beyond the Night, I wasn't sure I wanted to read this book... especially since the leWhat a difference one book can make! After lukewarm feelings for Beyond the Night, I wasn't sure I wanted to read this book... especially since the lead character, Simon, didn't really spark much interest for me. But I'm really glad I did. Unlike the first installment in the Envy Chronicles, I felt real emotion for the characters --a connection I just didn't have the first time around.
The concept for the series: the world is 50 years past a near-apocalypse. Many of the survivors are living in what was once Las Vegas, NV, which is now called N-V or Envy. Creeping around at night are killer zombies called gangas... and pulling their strings are the nefarious Strangers, people who were once human, now made immortal by implanting special crystals in their bodies. It is likely they were behind the "Change" that sent the Earth into near ruin. Five men from 2010 now find themselves in this new world. They had gone exploring in an AZ cave and went into a kind of stasis for 50 years, awaking only 6 months before the events of the story. They had not aged, but instead came out stronger, each with a unique ability.
Simon was a crime lord's bodyguard in his old life. But he sees the Change as a chance to become a new man. He is attracted to Shea, a quiet computer whiz and member of the Resistance, trying to bring down the Strangers. But he thinks she is in a relationship with another man, so he refuses to pursue his feelings. Sage is something of an outcast in Envy, because she comes from a settlement that's like a breeding camp. She and Simon end up teaming up to infiltrate her old town to learn more about the one of the leaders of the Strangers. While they're there, it gets harder and harder to fight their growing attraction.
I really liked Simon. He's one of those men with a dark past and hopelessness about the future --but deep down he is a really good guy, worthy of love. I loved watching him fall in love with Sage and each time they get closer to acting on their feelings, the story gets hotter and hotter. This was a huge improvement over the last book and I'm sorry to see it end. Here's hoping the next book will be as good! 4 1/2 stars. ...more
It's 50 years in the future. And Earth has undergone a near-apocalypse. Humanity's numbers have dwindled --and there are killer zombies. OK, maybe notIt's 50 years in the future. And Earth has undergone a near-apocalypse. Humanity's numbers have dwindled --and there are killer zombies. OK, maybe not exactly zombies, but close enough; they're called gangas. And there are also sort-of immortal people called Strangers. Thrust into this strange new world are five men from the past. They were exploring an Arizona cave when the "Change" happened. And they went into some kind of stasis for five decades, waking only about 6 months before our story begins. Now, they're trying to find some kind of civilization and answers about what happened to the world.
One of the five men is Elliot. He is a doctor. And ever since the cave-thing, now he has some medical superpowers, where he can scan people like an MRI or something and heal them with his touch. Only problem is that he takes the illness onto himself or passes it on to the next person he touches. Anyway, on their travels, the men run into a group of teens at the mercy of some gangas and they attempt to rescue them. But a mysterious woman also comes to their aid. That woman is Jade. She has a tortured history that includes years of imprisonment and brutality at the hands of the Strangers. Now she is part of the Resistance, fighting the mysterious immortals, that may or may not be to blame for Earth's near destruction.
Of course, Elliot and Jade are our star-crossed lovers. It takes awhile for them to get over their skittishness and seal the deal. Their romance was ok. I'm not sure why, but it didn't hit the mark entirely for me. Frankly, I was more interested in what was happening with side-character Quent and a mysterious archer woman. I'm sure they'll get their own book down the line.
The premise of the story is interesting and unique. But I felt like we spent a lot of time with pop culture references back to "our time" and angst from our cave-guys that didn't completely resonate for me. I liked it enough that I'll check out the next installment. Maybe once we're past the set-up, I'll be able to make a deeper connection to the characters. 3 1/2 stars. ...more
About 50 pages into this book, I was pretty sure I didn't like it. The story centered on a woman named Jewel who was turned into a sex slave. She had About 50 pages into this book, I was pretty sure I didn't like it. The story centered on a woman named Jewel who was turned into a sex slave. She had been trying to escape her crime lord husband with their son, but he caught her. He had her memory erased --and had nanobots inserted into her, er, erogenous zones. Then the scientists were supposed to synch his DNA with the technology on her body to force her to respond to his urges. But Jewel's real true love, Guy, gets to her first. She's halfway through the procedure (called silvering), so he can't stop it, but he has her matched to his DNA first... because he knows he'll never abuse her. So now she's HIS sex slave until he finds a way to free her from the chains of the technology.
I'm glad I didn't give up on the book, because it did get better. My biggest complaints initially were that I couldn't make myself care about Jewel and the plot device of the silvering seemed heavy-handed. Well, as the book progressed and Jewel began to regain her personality, that helped me with my first issue. And once we got to the first real love scene, frankly nothing else mattered, because it was HOT. All the love scenes were hot. Big thumbs up there.
The setting was kind of futuristic-western... kind of reminiscent of Joss Whedon's "Firefly," but with hot sex. There was some terminology it took me a little while to completely assimilate, but it wasn't insurmountable. Overall, a short and fairly good read, though it took me a little while to make a connection. 3 1/2 stars. ...more
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