Review - Doubleblind by Ann Aguirre

A new review has been posted on the website for Doubleblind by Ann Aguirre. This is the third installment in the Sirantha Jax series.
http://darquereviews.com/12612/283733.html

You can also visit the author's page:
http://darquereviews.com/14912/32275.html

Please feel free to share any comments on this book here on the blog post. :)

Kimberly Swan, DarqueReviews.com

Review - Obsidian Prey by Jayne Castle

A new review has been posted on the website for Obsidian Prey. This is the sixth installment in the Ghost Hunters (Harmony) series.
http://darquereviews.com/12612/248412.html

You can also visit the author's page:
http://darquereviews.com/14912/248433.html

Please feel free to share any comments on this book here on the blog post. :)

Kimberly Swan, DarqueReviews.com

Review - Hope's Folly by Linnea Sinclair

Hope’s Folly
Gabriel’s Ghost Universe, Book 3
Linnea Sinclair
Bantam
February 24, 2009
ISBN# 978-0-553-59218-4

Book Blurb:
It's an impossible mission on a derelict ship called HOPE'S FOLLY.

A man who feels he can't love. A woman who believes she's unlovable. And an enemy who will stop at nothing to crush them both.

Admiral Philip Guthrie is in an unprecedented position: on the wrong end of the law, leading a rag-tag band of rebels against the oppressive Imperial forces. Or would be, if he can reach his command ship—the intriguingly named Hope’s Folly—alive. Not much can rattle Philip’s legendary cool—but the woman who helps him foil an assassination attempt on Kirro Station will. She’s the daughter of his best friend and first commander—a man who died while under Philip’s command, and whose death is on Philip’s conscience.

Rya Bennton has been in love with Philip Guthrie since she was a girl. But can her childhood fantasies survive an encounter with the hardened man, and newly-minted rebel leader, who it seems has just become her new commanding officer? And will she still be willing follow him through the jaw of hell once she learns the truth about her father’s death?

My thoughts:
Rya Bennton is bent on revenge for her father’s death and taking a position on Hope’s Folly as part of the Alliance could put her right where she needs to be. Serving alongside her childhood hero is a bonus, and now that she’s all grown up it’s clear that Philip Guthrie is all that and so much more. Rya’s feelings for him deepen, and with the threat of battle Rya vows not to lose him like she did her father.

Admiral Philip Guthrie has his doubts that Hope’s Folly, a former fruit hauler, will see them to safety, but the bigger threat comes from within the ranks of his crew. Someone is sabotaging their mission, and that someone knows all of their plans. Guthrie isn’t about to lose Rya, and he’s willing to sacrifice himself for the safety of his crew. All he has to do is convince his young Rebel to see reason in more ways than one.

Hope’s Folly begins as an injured Admiral Guthrie takes over his newly assigned ship with a crew that’s largely unknown. This is the third release in the Gabriel’s Ghost universe, following Shades of Dark. Ms. Sinclair shares her phenomenal writing talent with a well-built sci-fi world, and characters who charm their way right into the reader’s heart. Hope, fear and longing play heavy roles in Hope’s Folly as a crew struggles to survive, and an uncertain attraction progresses into a romance that sizzles. Whether you’ve read the previous books or not, you’re in for a wonderful treat that will surely leave you dreaming of life among the stars.

To learn more about Hope’s Folly, please visit Ms. Sinclair’s website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Promo - Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card

Ender in Exile
Orson Scott Card
TOR
November 11, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-7653-0496-4

Book Description:
Orson Scott Card returns to his bestselling series with a new Ender novel.

At first, Ender believed that they would bring him back to Earth as soon as things quieted down. But things were quiet now, had been quiet for a year, and it was plain to him now that they would not bring him back at all, that he was much more useful as a name and a story than he would ever be as an inconvenient flesh-and-blood person.

At the close of Ender’s Game, Andrew Wiggin -- called Ender by everyone -- knows that he cannot live on Earth. He has become far more than just a boy who won a game: He is the Savior of Earth, a hero, a military genius whose allegiance is sought by every nation of the newly shattered Earth Hegemony.

He is offered the choice of living under the Hegemon's control, a pawn in his brother Peter's political games. Or he can join the colony ships and go out to settle one of the new worlds won in the war.

The story of those years on the colony worlds has never been told... until now.

The voyage was long. By the end of it, Val had finished the first volume of her history of the bugger wars and transmitted it by ansible, under Demosthenes' name, back to Earth, and Ender had won something better than the adulation of the passengers. They knew him now, and he had won their love and their respect.

Ender was twelve when he chose to leave his home world and begin the long relativistic journey out to the colonies. With him went his sister, Valentine, and the core of the artificial intelligence that would become Jane. He wrote The Hive Queen and The Hegemon, and his sister wrote The Speaker for the Dead.

He served as governor of his first colony world, but now Ender is on the move, looking for a planet where the hive queens might be reestablished.

What he finds in the Ganges colony is more than he bargained for -- a resentful governor who caused a devastating war on Earth and a brilliant young colonist who is out to destroy him, starting with his reputation and ending, perhaps, with his life.

Author Bio:

Orson Scott Card is the internationally bestselling author of Ender's Game. He lives in Greensboro, North Carolina.

To learn more about the Ender series, please visit Orson Scott Card’s website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - Peacekeeper by Laura E. Reeve

Peacekeeper
Major Ariane Kedros, Book 1
Laura E. Reeve
ROC
December 2, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-451-46245-9

Book Blurb:
First in a brand new action-packed military science fiction series meet Major Ariane Kedros—daring pilot, decorated soldier, war criminal.

Fifteen years ago, Ariane Kedros piloted a ship on a mission that obliterated an entire solar system. Branded a war criminal, she was given a new identity and a new life in order to protect her from retribution.

But now, twelve of Ariane’s wartime colleagues are dead— assassinated by someone who has uncovered their true identities. And her superiors in the Autonomist army have placed her directly in the assassin’s line of fire on a peacekeeping mission that will decide the fate of all humanity…

My thoughts:
Ariane Kedros carries the guilt that following orders brought her fifteen years ago. Her team wiped out a solar system and was labeled Destroyer of Worlds. Now she continues her military life as a reservist and lives under a new identity. Ari keeps her secrets close and deals with the nightmares that invade her dreams.

Ari does her best to walk a straight line piloting the second-wave prospecting ship, Aether’s Touch with her partner Matt Journey. When her reserve status is called into active duty Ari feels obligated to take the mission. Even knowing that the majority of her prior teammates have been eliminated by an unknown assassin, Ari heads out. She soon finds herself facing her past in an up-close and deadly way.

This is the first in the Major Ariane Kedros series and the author’s debut novel. There’s a lot of action going on, and science fiction fans should enjoy this story with its military element. Ms. Reeve shows great promise as an author, with her military knowledge lending a believable component to her fictional tales. While some readers may run into the same difficulty as I had in losing the plot during some chapters, the basic storyline is a good one. The confusion was due in part to the sudden change in scenes with the introduction of new characters throughout the story. Peacekeeper ends on a good note, with some story threads left open for the next in the series. I’m interested in seeing where the Aether’s Touch heads out to explore next.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - Irreversible by Liz Maverick

Irreversible
Liz Maverick
SHOMI – Dorchester Pub.
September 30, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-505-52778-3

Book blurb:
Katherine Gibbs is engaged. Engaged, popular, gorgeous, and living a life of sheer perfection. This is her best week ever. The trouble is, it’s manufactured. She’s lived this week over and over and doesn’t know it.

L. Roxanne Zaborovsky, Katherine’s best friend, is outside looking in. Once again, Kitty’s life is being stolen away by a man as twisted as he is brilliant. This time, there’s something Roxy can do. The barriers of time are like the walls of an apartment—or the bars of a prison—and they can be demolished. She just has to start the jailbreak.

Walter “Q” Sheffield is hot, smart, and just the man to free Kitty. A time-anomaly specialist, he can split seconds, erase hours and make the most of a minute. The one thing he can’t do? Relationships. But hate and revenge have Kitty trapped in the vagaries of time, and only love will get her out. And that love must be…IRREVERSIBLE

My thoughts:
Trapped in a never ending loop of what she believes is the best week of her life, Katherine Gibbs is a prisoner. Leonardo Kaysar is using her in an experiment, making Kitty think that she’s engaged to the most wonderful man on earth, when in reality he’s more a monster without a care where her life is concerned.

The best hope Kitty has for being saved is through her best friend Roxy’s drive to find a way. They’ve chipped away and tried to break through, but what they need is a specialist. Bringing ‘Q’ into the team to rescue Kitty may be their only hope. He specializes in time anomalies and this is no easy case. Lucky for them, ‘Q’ has decided to do whatever it takes to save Kitty, because their effort may be causing a collapse and once that happens there’s no control over the outcome.

Irreversible follows Wired with Kitty’s story of being imprisoned, and her friends doing all they can to save her. Reaching her is only part of the problem, because they’ll still have to convince Kitty that the happy reality she believes in isn’t where she belongs. Ms. Maverick weaves a romantic tale where time can be manipulated in the blink of an eye, and things aren’t always what they seem. Irreversible should appeal to science fiction readers who enjoy a touch of romance, as the concept of time travel is portrayed in a fascinating way. While this is a sequel, it’s easily read as a stand-alone story.

To learn more about Irreversible and Ms. Maverick’s other work, please visit her website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre

Wanderlust
Sirantha Jax, Book 2
Ann Aguirre
Ace
August 26, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-441-01627-3

From the back cover:
Sirantha Jax doesn’t take chances…she jumps at them…

Sirantha Jax is a “Jumper,” a woman who possesses the unique genetic makeup needed to navigate faster than light ships through grimspace. Jax has worked for the Farwan Corporation her entire career. But now the word’s out that the Corp deliberately crashed a passenger ship, and their stranglehold on intergalactic commerce has crumbled—which means that Jax is out of a job.

She’s also broke, due to being declared dead a little prematurely. So when the government asks her to head up a vital diplomatic mission, Jax takes it. Her mandate: journey to the planet Ithiss-Tor and convince them to join the Conglomerate.

But Jax’s payday is light years away. First, she’ll have to contend with Syndicate criminals, a stormy relationship with her pilot, man-eating aliens, and her own grimspace-weakened body. She’ll be lucky just to make it to Ithiss-Tor alive…

My thoughts:
Sirantha Jax has the ability to jump through grimspace, a special skill that eventually kills those of her kind. Jax is a little different than most and it’s something else that’s taking its toll on her body. She’s just taken on a new job as an ambassador and begun her mission to Ithiss-Tor, a planet inhabited by a species that resemble bugs. If she can get to Doc along the way, she may get some answers. All she has to do is survive everything that lies ahead.

Forced to land, and finding their allies in the middle of a war, March fights alongside old friends like the barely controlled mercenary he once was. For Jax it’s a first look at what the man she cares about once was. Their relationship will be put to the test as outside forces pull them in different directions and they fight to live for another jump through grimspace.

This is the second book in Sirantha Jax’s grimspace adventures. Jax is in desperate need of money, so when the Conglomerate offers her a job she has little choice but to accept. Nothing comes easy, and for Jax and the rest of the crew this mission is no exception. In this well-paced journey through space, Ms. Aguirre adds some intriguing new characters that offer surprises along the way. Emotions run high in Wanderlust and the many twists and turns will leave readers hungry for more.

If you’d like to learn more about Wanderlust and read an excerpt, please visit Ms. Aguirre’s website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - Heart Fate by Robin D Owens

Heart Fate
Celta Heart series, Book 7
Robin D. Owens
Berkley Sensation
September 2, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-425-22367-3

From the Publisher’s Site:
Wed to a wealthy older man when she was just a girl, Lahsin Yew runs away from her abusive home to find a new life. At seventeen, she’s about to enter her Second Passage, when her Flair—and perhaps her HeartMate—will be revealed.

Lahsin finds sanctuary in a secret garden, where she meets Tinne Holly. Though he is her HeartMate, he cannot tell her, and her troubled past prevents her from trusting any man. Pretending to find her by chance, Tinne helps her through her Second Passage. But when the truth is revealed, can she forgive his deception, and learn to trust in her destiny?

My thoughts:
Lahsin Burdock Yew was forced into marriage at a very young age to an older man who used her in many ways without an ounce of kindness. As she comes of age and is about to enter her Second Passage she runs from the Yew home, a home she’s never thought of as her own. She takes refuge in a garden that only allows those who need it to enter. As the passage that will bring her a new level of Flair begins, Lahsin meets Tinne Holly, a man who captures her attention and teaches her that not all men are like the ruthless man she married.

Tinne Holly has just gotten a divorce, something so rarely done among the noble families that the scandal threatens not only himself but the family he loves as well. When he realizes that Lahsin is in need of help he goes to her and helps her through her Second Passage, but he’s not able to tell her that he’s her HeartMate. As they grow closer and Lahsin begins to trust him Tinne must share the truth, and revealing that deception could destroy any future they may have had.

This is the seventh book in the Celta Heart series, and shares the story of HeartMates Lahsin and Tinne. Ms. Owens has built a futuristic world that mixes with fantasy and a magic laced romance to form a wonderfully delightful story. Heart Fate is well-written and will take readers on an emotional journey from heartbreak to love. The author’s creativity shines through in her realistic characters and the homes in which they reside. While I did not have the opportunity to read the previous installments in this series, this story is well detailed and easy to understand. There is also a list of characters, family tree and map included.

To learn more about Ms. Owens and her Celta Heart series, please visit her website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Shades of Dark by Linnea Sinclair

Shades of Dark
Linnea Sinclair
Bantam Books
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-553-58965-8

From the publisher’s site:
Can love alone save the day? Award-winning author Linnea Sinclair returns with a vibrant interstellar thriller of romance and adventure in which two lovers are tested in the crucible of deep space, where there are only…

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Before her court-martial, Captain Chasidah “Chaz” Bergren was the pride of the Sixth Fleet. Now she’s a fugitive from the “justice” of a corrupt Empire. Along with her lover, the former monk, mercenary, and telepath Gabriel Ross Sullivan, Chaz hoped to leave the past light-years behind—until the news of her brother Thad’s arrest and upcoming execution for treason. It’s a ploy by Sully’s cousin Hayden Burke to force them out of hiding, and it works.

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With a killer targeting human females and a renegade gen lab breeding jukor war machines, Chaz and Sully already had their hands full of treachery, betrayal—not to mention each other. Throw in Chaz’s Imperial ex-husband, Admiral Philip Guthrie, and a Kyi-Ragkiril mentor out to seduce Sully, and not just loyalties but lives are at stake. For when Sully makes a fateful choice, changing their relationship forever, Chaz must also choose—between what duty demands and what her heart tells her she must do.
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My thoughts:
Chaz Bergen may be on the run, but she’s happy to be by Sully’s side. When they receive news that her brother has been taken into custody, she and Sully know that the main purpose is to get him to share all he knows about them by any means necessary. As their destination approaches and they watch for breaking news, they worry over the crew’s reaction. There is also a traitor among them who’s selling personal information in addition to their whereabouts.

When they bring an ally on board, they soon find that Captain Del Regarth has a big interest in the connection shared by Sully and Chaz. While this newcomer has skills and information that can help, his seduction of Chaz is not appreciated and soon causes friction within the couple’s bond. As a Kyi Ragkiril, Sully has power, but his is untrained against an expert like Del. With temptations all around someone is bound to get hurt, but more importantly there are worlds to save and a new fleet to build to accomplish their mission. The safety of the crew and Chaz’s ex-husband, Admiral Guthrie, must take top priority.

This story is a follow-up to Gabriel’s Ghost, where Chaz and Sully live, love and fight to see another day. Ms. Sinclair weaves together a fabulous science fiction tale with strong characters, a well-defined world and an amazing love story. Between the covers of Shades of Dark, readers will experience trouble around every corner, life-threatening danger in every move, and a scorching romance that’s capable of everything but a smooth ride. While this is a sequel, the author does a wonderful job of filling readers in on the basics from the previous book.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Razor Girl by Marianne Mancusi

Razor Girl
Marianne Mancusi
SHOMI – Dorchester Publishing
August 26, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-505-52780-6

From the back cover:
THE WORLD HAS ENDED, MOLLY.
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WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW?
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Molly Anderson is not your average twenty-one-year-old. It’s been six years since she and her family escaped into a bunker, led by her conspiracy theorist father and his foreknowledge of a plot to bring about the apocalypse. But her father’s precautions didn’t stop there. Molly is now built to survive.
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Yes, Ian Anderson’s favorite book gave him ideas on how to “improve” his daughter. Molly is faster, stronger, and her ocular implants and razor-tipped nails set her apart. Apart, when—venturing alone out of the bunker and into a plague ravaged, monster-ridden wilderness—what Molly needs most is togetherness. Chase Griffin, a friend from her past, is her best bet. But while he and others have miraculously survived, the kind boy has become a tormented man. Together, these remnants of humanity must struggle toward trusting each other and journey to the one place Molly’s father believed all civilization would be reborn: a magic kingdom, where everyone knows it’s a small world after all.
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My thoughts:
After six years of being hidden away in a bunker, the time-locked door has opened. The date is July 1, 2036 and Molly Anderson has just said goodbye to her mother and to her captivity. She’s free to follow through with the plans her father set out for her, and her journey to reach him will soon begin.

The world is a different place now, with humans turned zombie looking for their next meal there are few untouched people remaining. Having been altered by her father to improve her chances of survival in the plague wasted world, Molly is fortunate to meet up with Chase, someone she knew before. Her destination is Florida, where her father believed that Magic Kingdom was the place for humanity to once again flourish. What they find when they arrive isn’t quite what she bargained for.

Ms. Mancusi fast forwards time and plunges readers into what appears to be the aftermath of armageddon. As the heroine’s father predicted, she has an important journey to make, but it may not be the one he had planned. Razor Girl combines science-fiction, horror, romance and more. The author does a fine job of telling the story in alternating segments between the years 2030 and 2036. The storyline is written in a believable manner, but I did have a hard time with Molly following her father. At her age, and knowing that her father was fanatical in his theories, she shouldn’t have been naïve enough for things to play out the way they did. The matured Molly on a mission was much improved in character. The overall story moves quickly and has some unique qualities that are often quite humorous. I won’t hesitate to read another of Ms. Mancusi’s books, and will continue to enjoy Dorchester’s SHOMI line.

To read an excerpt from Razor Girl, visit Ms. Mancusi’s website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Marsbound by Joe Haldeman

Marsbound
Joe Haldeman
Ace
August 5, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-441-01595-5

From the Publisher’s site:
Young Carmen Dula and her family are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime—they’re going to Mars.Once on the Red Planet, however, Carmen realizes things are not so different from Earth. There are chores to do, lessons to learn, and oppressive authority figures to rebel against. And when she ventures out into the bleak Mars landscape alone one night, a simple accident leads her to the edge of death until she is saved by an angel—an angel with too many arms and legs, a head that looks like a potato gone bad, and a message for the newly arrived human inhabitants of Mars:We were here first.

My thoughts:
Carmen Dula isn’t so pleased about her family being chosen from the lottery for a trip to Mars. Six years is a long time away from Earth. With her last hours on Earth, Carmen finds herself sitting on a sandy beach when a man, older than her, appears and introduces himself as Paul Collins, their pilot to Mars.

For the first two weeks they’ll be stuck in the Space Elevator with a few dozen strangers. There’s only one stop before they reach the top where the spaceship waits to take them the remaining five and a half months journey to Mars. Six months is a long time to travel, and for Carmen, an interest in the captain will help pass the time.

It’s not long after arrival that the daily grind begins to wear thin and Carmen manages to make an enemy of Dargo Solingen, the general administrator on Mars. Looking for some time alone, Carmen suits up and heads outside on the planet’s surface for a walk. What follows is the introduction to other intelligent life on Mars and quick changes in Carmen’s life. Her world is turned upside down when she meets Red, the leader of the alien colony on Mars, and she finds herself settling into a new job as the liaison between Earth and the aliens.

Marsbound is set in a future where technology to travel to Mars has been utilized, and members of a research project have begun living there. Carmen is a typical teen starting out on an adventure that she’s been forced to endure, but by the end of the story she’s matured through extraordinary life experience. Mr. Haldeman pens an entertaining and often humorous futuristic tale where tension and conflict abound, the mysteries of an alien race begin to unfold, and romance finds a way to thrive. The protagonist, Carmen, is the most well-defined character throughout Marsbound, and most of the action, adventure and drama revolves around her. While the aliens are a large part of the story, they’re described in a fairly simplistic fashion that works well in leaving the reader open to focus on Carmen and her journey. The author has done a wonderful job in mixing in humor to keep things lighter, and as a whole it forms a very enjoyable read.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Harmony by C. F. Bentley

Harmony
C. F. Bentley
Daw Books
August 5, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-7564-0485-7

From the back cover (arc):
The world of Harmony, along with its close-knit colony planets, had long ago isolated itself from the rest of the universe. Whether you were of human or alien descent you were not welcome in Harmony space.

But in a universe where the human-based Confederate Star System fleet found itself hard-pressed to stand against ever-increasing attacks by the alien Marillon Empire, the Harmonic Empire couldn’t be left alone. For if the CSS could not win an alliance with Harmony, the Marils would surely find a way to invade and seize control of the invaluable metal which only the Harmonites could produce.Yet invasion is far from the only threat the people of Harmony faced. The very structure of their society was on the verge of crumbling. The population was divided into a seven-part caste system - with one’s lot in life determined by the caste marking they were born with - ruled over by the High Priest and High Priestess of the Crystal Temple. And the gulf between rich and poor, rulers and ruled, was nearly insurmountable. What was even worse was that the planet itself seemed to be becoming increasingly unstable. In this time of crisis one young woman, a member of the working class, yet born with the marks of all seven castes - an unprecedented event - might prove Harmony’s best hope or the catalyst for total collapse.

Could Harmony – and the unique young woman suddenly thrust into the role of High Priestess – survive both the external dangers to the empire and the internal political, social, religious, and ecological upheaval that threatened to tear the world apart?

My thoughts:
Born the daughter of a working class family, Sissy is happy enough with the factory work she does. Different than most, she carries the mark of each of the castes and has hidden all of her life from those who would lock her away as a Lood. When an earthquake hits the city, it’s Sissy’s connection with Harmony herself that saves them all. This young girl, still considered a freak by some, is elevated to High Priestess and quickly learns that the High Council has been acting in their own best interests instead of the interests of Harmony.

As war threatens from both the CSS and the Marils, Sissy accepts the guidance of her personal guard, Jake, to set Harmony on the right path. With his help, history is rediscovered, but what they learn could break their already fragile world. Especially when Sissy unveils the secret that Jake’s been hiding.

Harmony is a well done start to this series. As a world built on religion strays from their beliefs, an unlikely savior arises to protect, lead and deliver the people back to the unity of Harmony. C. F. Bentley builds a world that will capture the attention of science fiction and fantasy readers. The story moves through stages in a steady pace with defining moments in new leadership, discovery and the ever present possibility of war. While there’s no point in this installment that I’d call a big climax, there are twists and turns along the way that set the stage for what should be an interesting opening in the next visit to Harmony.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Plague War by Jeff Carlson

Plague War
Jeff Carlson
ACE
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-441-01617-4

From the Publisher’s site:
Researcher Ruth Goldman has developed a vaccine with the potential to inoculate the world’s survivors against the nanotech plague that devastated humanity. But the fractured U.S. government will stop at nothing to keep it for themselves.

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My thoughts:
Ruth Goldman is a scientist living in a post-apocalyptic world where a nano-tech plague has destroyed anything warm-blooded and living below 10,000 feet. There are few survivors, but Ruth has developed a vaccine that may be their only hope for a future. Against the odds, she and another survivor, Cam, brave the devastation along with Newcombe, a soldier who trained in the Army Special Forces. They pick their way through what was once beautiful land to those who remain alive in the mountains. It’s the only way to spread the vaccine, especially with a government that doesn’t want to see that happen.

Cam Najarro has lost a lot to the plague, but he believes in what Ruth is doing to stop it from destroying what little is left. He’d follow her anywhere, and do anything to keep her safe. There’s no one that they trust more than each other, and despite the government’s protests Cam intends on seeing things through to the end.

This is a sequel to Plague Year and picks up with Ruth and Cam working along with a soldier to spread the vaccine. Despite injuries, immense danger and horrendous conditions, they won’t let anything stop them from doing everything possible to save what’s left of humanity. Mr. Carlson shares a well-written and riveting tale that draws a spark of hope out of the midst of despair. Nicely paced, tension filled, and thoroughly believable, Plague War is easily a worthwhile read.

If you’d like to learn more about Plague War and read the first chapter, you can stop by Mr. Carlson’s site: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Grimspace by Ann Aguirre

Grimspace
Ann Aguirre
Ace
February 26, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-441-01599-3

The only survivor of the Matins IV crash, Sirantha Jax has been isolated by her employer and forced to undergo psychological torture disguised as treatments to mend her. Born with the J-gene that allows her to act as a Jumper, Jax has the ability to work with a pilot and move a ship through grimspace. While most Jumpers would have died from the number of jumps Jax has completed, her continued strength has captured the notice of a group who has plans of their own where her future is concerned. If Jax can train their engineered Jumpers they can break-down the control that the Farwan Corporation holds.

March arrives and offers to free Jax with the condition that she do as they ask, and use her talent to help them stand against the Corp. It’s clear to Jax that March has shadows of his own that he holds deep inside, but with their roles as Pilot and Jumper their relationship must be close and trusting. The Corp won’t easily allow Jax to walk away, so the tentative connection she forges with March could be all that enables her to survive.

In this science fiction tale, Ms. Aguirre blends a creative adventure with a thorny romance and takes readers on a fast-moving ride through space. With a fascinating concept in space travel, and the unique characters that make it possible, Grimspace is well-imagined and very entertaining. The sequel, Wanderlust, is currently scheduled as an August 2008 release.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Slave by Cheryl L. Brooks

Slave
The Cat Star Chronicles, Book One
Cheryl L. Brooks
Sourcebooks – Casablanca
April 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-1-4022-1192-8

For the past six years Jacinth has traveled from planet to plant searching for her kidnapped sister, Ranata. Believing that she’s been taken to Statzeel, a planet where all women are slaves, Jacinth poses as a man to purchase a slave of her own to act as her master. This will allow her the freedom to search for her sister without being taken as a slave herself.

Cat was taken as a slave at a young age, and has been in servitude all of his adult years. Back on the slave market he’s bought and freed by Jacinth, but he’s unwilling to leave the woman who showed him such kindness. Born on a planet that no longer exists, and possibly the last of his race, Cat has no home to return to as a free man.

Tracking down Ranata will be a dangerous journey for Jacinth and Cat. What they’ll find along the way will threaten their future and tie them together in ways they never dared hope for.

Slave is the first story in The Cat Star Chronicles. After spending years searching for her sister alone, Jacinth finds the help and companionship she needs in Cat. Theirs is a relationship built on trust and survival that will quickly grow to more. Ms. Brooks creates a detailed sci-fi world and sends her characters on a journey to alien planets in their search. This is an erotic romance with a creative plot, and while I usually enjoy a first person narrative it was difficult to get through in this story. The protagonist’s internal dialog is peppered with exclamations that seemed unnecessary, and in the end I was unable to establish a connection with her. The character that did capture my attention was Cat. He’s intriguing, sweet and sexy. The next installment in the Cat Star Chronicles, Warrior, is currently due to release in October 2008.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Netherwood by Michele Lang

Netherwood
Michele Lang
Love Spell – SHOMI
February 26, 2008
978-0-505-52759-2

Talia Fortune is the primary shareholder of FortuneCorp as well as a Sheriff. Her job has sent her to the colony of Fresh Havens to find Kovner, an outlaw suspected of sabotage and other crimes. Under her uncle’s leadership, the colony has found itself in a dangerous position and Talia will use every one of her skills to save it.

Kovner knows exactly who Talia is from their time together in the Netherwood as Avenger and Amazonia. What he needs now is for her to trust him and believe in his fight against giving up their souls and becoming part of the Singularity. The Gray Forest is their best bet for survival, but they’ll have to stay off Grid to get there and hope that the forest will welcome Talia as Kovner has.

Netherwood is an action romance with many surprises along the way. When Talia sets out after Kovner she has every intention of doing her job and bringing him in. What greets her on Fresh Havens is a sight that gives her pause, and it’s then that Kovner takes the opportunity to show Talia the truth of what’s happening all around them. Together they continue the fight to save what’s left of the human race. Ms. Lang packs this tale with futuristic action, an intriguing storyline and characters that have you cheering on their fight for survival. Netherwood is an entertaining escape into a fascinating future world.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Marseguro by Edward Willett

Marseguro
Edward Willett
DAW Books Inc.
February 5, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-7564-0464-2

When Victor Hansen left Earth in order to see his people survive, he took the race of modified humans he had created with him. They named the planet they colonized, Marseguro, and the landlings and water-dwelling Selkies strove to live in harmony. Here on the new world, the religious beliefs of the Avatar would no longer threaten the Selkies who were deemed abominations on Earth. While most of the unmodified humans among them were in support of the freedom, there was a small faction who continued to follow the Avatar’s beliefs behind closed doors. Chris Keating’s family was among those few, and his hatred towards the Selkies prompts him to set off a distress beacon that alerts those on Earth to their location.

Richard Hansen is the grandson of Victor, and has spent his time searching for the location of his grandfather and his people. Raised on Earth under the Avatar’s teachings, Richard believes the worst of Victor and wants to help cleanse Marseguro of the Selkies. What he didn’t realize when he turned over the colony’s location, was that there would be little hope for anyone inhabiting the planet. Now, torn between duty and what he’s now seen to be true, Richard must decide where his loyalties lay. His decision could mean the difference between survival and death for all who call Marseguro home.

Marseguro is a creative tale in science fiction. Having been raised to see the worst in Selkies, Chris Keating finds what he believes will be the solution to purifying Marseguro. Richard Hansen starts his journey pleased with discovering the location of his grandfather’s people, but as the assault begins he finds himself questioning his beliefs. Mr. Willett blends science fiction with heavy religious beliefs into a well-written storyline that’s filled with dramatic scenery and character detail. Sci-fi and fantasy fans should find this story full and entertaining.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews