Review: Chaos Reigning: (The Consortium Rebellion Book 3) by Jessie Mihalik

Rating: 3⭐️

Spoilers here.

Chaos Reigning is the last book in The Consortium Rebellion’s trilogy and the youngest High House sibling, Catarina von Hasenberg ends the House drama and galactic empire political thriller.

I feel that Chaos Reigning has some interesting ideas and potentially wonderful characters, especially strong women characters in major political roles. But on the flip side, curiously, it qualifies an horrifically abusive and controlling father, one who has treated his children as subjects for trade or experimentation, as a mere “asshole”. The author’s repeated term.

Not once, through three books, has the author addressed the subject of the severity of the patriarchal father’s damage to all the siblings of the von Hasenberg line. Not that the mother is without any responsibility. We just don’t know enough about her.

We know the brutality and violence and horrors inflicted upon each child. That Ada alone fled. But to continue to address this monster as merely a “asshole” and then use an anonymous method to end him instead of a honest airing of feelings while together feels cheap.

It’s not only emotionally odd but strangely off putting. It’s continued avoidance of their true feelings amongst themselves. The author moving around the issue as well.

Like Cat, herself a prime example. It’s the “oh yes, I’m wealthy but feeding a few poor people” (she’s doing and saying this btw) but ignoring a whole bunch of major issues over in that corner of the narrative by actually considering marrying a problematic man old enough to be her grandfather because her father wants her to.

Yes, there’s a HFN for the siblings but, and here’s an enormous BUT, both male villains, truly evil men (one even cut out the tongue of the older beloved brother) are left without really being held accountable for their actions and crimes.

One, a traitor, gets away completely. And a heinous criminal, a sadist, nothing happened to him. He’s caught but they won’t do anything to him. A win actually for them both.

How’s that for an ending? Didn’t feel satisfying to me. Actually so many traitors were still alive and on the streets. Yeah no.

That 3 rating is being generous.

I read it to finish the series. That’s it.

Now you can decide if you want to.

The Consortium Rebellion (3 book series)

Polaris Rising #1

Aurora Blazing #2

Chaos Reigning #3

Buy link

Chaos Reigning: A Sci-Fi Novel Featuring a Clever Spy and a Gorgeous Bodyguard Uncovering Treachery in Space (The Consortium Rebellion Book 3)

Blurb

Interplanetary intrigue and romance combine in this electrifying finale to the Consortium Rebellion series.

As the youngest member of her High House, Catarina von Hasenberg is used to being underestimated, but her youth and flighty, bubbly personality mask a clever mind and stubborn determination. Her enemies, blind to her true strength, do not suspect that Cat is a spy—which makes her the perfect candidate to go undercover at a rival House’s summer retreat to gather intelligence on their recent treachery.

Cat’s overprotective older sister reluctantly agrees, but on one condition: Cat cannot go alone. Alexander Sterling, a quiet, gorgeous bodyguard, will accompany her, posing as her lover. After Cat tries, and fails, to ditch Alex, she grudgingly agrees, confident in her ability to manage him. After all, she’s never found a person she can’t manipulate.

But Alex proves more difficult—and more desirable—than Cat anticipated. When she’s attacked and nearly killed, she and Alex are forced to work together to figure out how deep the treason goes. With rumors of widespread assaults on Serenity raging, communications down, and the rest of her family trapped off-planet, Catarina must persuade Alex to return to Earth to expose the truth and finish this deadly battle once and for all.

But Cat can’t explain why she’s the perfect person to infiltrate hostile territory without revealing secrets she’d rather keep buried. . . .

A Sci-Fi Novel Featuring a Clever Spy and a Gorgeous Bodyguard

Review: Calamity (Uncharted Hearts Book 1) by Constance Fay

Rating: 3⭐️

Have you ever read a book and been absolutely irritated by an author’s decision to make their main character an absolute idiot? Mostly because of the time that you spent trying to make sense of the narrative and that character before giving up?

No it wasn’t a comedy. It was a science fiction story. With a romantic plot included.

A story made up of cardboard characters, a MFC who’s so poorly written that I found her not just ludicrously incompetent but whose actions just compromised what her character’s ability, history, and experience says she was.

Plus a MMC so largely physically cartoonish that his face has a “butt chin” (written term in the book) and a smile so white that you might expect that star twinkle when you see that flash of white teeth. He’s made so “beautiful” that he’s all she thinks about, even on a mission with a deadline that is high stakes and deadly to crew on an undercover planet.

Can I say SMH?

This isn’t to say that the book doesn’t have some interesting features or intriguing elements, because it does. Once again there’s a world divided into powerful Families, the top Five, the Ten Families next fighting for their own power and political interests, then the other Twenty families. And so on.

How that works or came about isn’t clear. That they are heavily modified genetically is. Or the most powerful are, and society isn’t a benign place.

Other interesting elements are secondary characters like Etzel, a crew member who’s also a former assassin cult member. More Etzel.

But instead we get a Capt who just acts as though she’s the newbie on the crew and it’s her first encounter and mission.

Does she knowingly eat food that she thinks is suspicious when in a hostile environment/encampment? Yes, and is drugged and poisoned. Threatening her crew, mission, and the other person there.

On a hostile planet and mission where they have actively engaged with enemies, has she as the Captain of her ship set adequate measures to protect her ship and crew from attack or invasion? No.

We’re not even at 50 percent of the story. How does a author present such a totally inadequate main woman character, so amazingly stupid in her choices and decisions, utterly hormonal that she appears to be thinking with her uterus 90 percent of the time, and with the tendency to flare up in anger like a toddler that I had to double check that a woman actually wrote this. Even a teenager is more credible these days.

This is a book where I felt myself losing brain cells the further I read. Passage after passage of just events that made my mind hurt. Dialogue that considering the status of their respective missions, the situations that they had maneuvered themselves into (honestly ,you rescued someone who didn’t want to be rescued and then don’t secure them? SMH), endlessly discussing things that have no relevance to the dire situation the crew and danger they are in.

Others were rating this story highly. I don’t understand why. Nothing made sense to me about it. Not the plot or characters.

No I’m not reading the sequel.

If you are interested, read it. Tell me your thoughts.

Buy link

Book 1 of 3: Uncharted Hearts

Blurb

The captain of a ragtag mercenary ship is given an offer she can’t refuse by the ruthless head of an intergalactic noble family. The only catch? She’ll have to team up with his son–an upsettingly competent hardbody with his own agenda–to get her reward.

She’s got a ramshackle spaceship, a misfit crew, and a big problem with its sexy newest member…

Temperance Reed, banished from the wealthy and dangerous Fifteen Families, just wants to keep her crew together after their feckless captain ran off with the intern. But she’s drowning in debt and revolutionary new engine technology is about to make her beloved ship obsolete.

Enter Arcadio Escajeda. Second child of the terrifying Escajeda Family, he’s the thorn in Temper’s side as they’re sent off on a scouting mission on the backwater desert planet of Herschel 2. They throw sparks every time they meet but Temper’s suspicions of his ulterior motives only serve to fuel the flames between them.

Despite volcanic eruptions, secret cultists, and deadly galactic fighters, the greatest threat on this mission may be to Temper’s heart.

Bramble

Publication date

November 14, 2023

Language

‎English

Print length

310 pages

Review: Hunt the Stars (Starlight’s Shadow Book 1) by Jessie Mihalik

Rating: 4.5⭐️

This is the second series I’ve read by Jessie Mihalik and I find I’m actually enjoying it better. The world building is excellent and well laid out, it’s less Regency in space and more galactic exploration/ based, which suits me.

And while the “alien race “ isn’t all that alien, Mihalik has given a “theory” that’s accepted for the similarity of physicality of species.

This series takes place after a horrific galactic war between two species, humans and Valoffs. The main characters, Captain Octavia “Tavy “ Zarola, Eli, and Kee are all that’s left of their special military team , now living aboard their spaceship.

As veterans, each carrying their own nightmares, PTSD, from the war, the characters are engaging and relatable as a found family unit. Especially with their burbu, the animal they rescued while deployed.

When their former enemy comes in need of their assistance for a mission, old memories return as well as new relationships that are forged.

The Valoffs aren’t as strong an element as a whole. We don’t get a cultural or historical background on them, so as a people they are hard to grasp. Individually, they are characters that grow as events happen and relationships develop.

The stories are strong, the characters greatly expand into new areas of growth and it’s a fast paced series that’s entertaining and romantically a little spicy.

Tavy and Torran’s story is filled with adventures and battles and great moments. I love it.

Another winner.

Starlight’s Shadow :

Hunt the Stars #1

Eclipse the Moon #2

Capture the Sun #3

Buy link

Book 1 of 3: Starlight’s Shadow

Blurb

Octavia Zarola would do anything to keep her tiny, close-knit bounty hunting crew together—even if it means accepting a job from Torran Fletcher, a ruthless former general and her sworn enemy. When Torran offers her enough credits to not only keep her crew afloat but also hire

someone to fix her ship, Tavi knows that she can’t refuse—no matter how much she’d like to.

With so much money on the line, Torran and his crew insist on joining the hunt. Tavi reluctantly agrees because while the handsome, stoic leader pushes all of her buttons—for both anger and desire—she’s endured worse, and the massive bonus payment he’s promised for a completed job is reason enough to shut up and deal.

But when they uncover a deeper plot that threatens the delicate peace between humans and Valoffs, Tavi suspects that Torran has been using her as the impetus for a new war. With the fate of her crew balanced on a knife’s edge, Tavi must decide where her loyalties lie—with the quiet Valoff who’s been lying to her, or with the human leaders who left her squad to die on the battlefield. And this time, she’s put her heart on the line.

Publisher

Harper Voyager

Publication date

February 1, 2022

Language

‎English

Print length

428 pages

Book 1 of 3

Starlight’s Shadow

Space opera, science fiction romance,

Review: Polaris Rising: Consortium Rebellion Book 1 by Jessie Mihalik

Rating: 4.25⭐️

Ada von Hasenberg, middle daughter of the powerful main House of Hasenburg, is the best reason to read this book. Mihalik has created in Ada a main character who’s versatile, highly intelligent, skilled in manipulating people and spacecraft, layered emotionally and physically adaptable. The reader automatically understands and connects with her. We’re on her side every step of her journey.

And what a dangerous journey it is. She’s escaping an arranged marriage, typical of the Houses that marriages are political contracts of ownership and exchanges of money and property (this is better explained in book 2). She’s using every single bit of knowledge and experience to make her escape. Unfortunately, both her father and fiancée have offered a substantial bounty for her return.

Marcus Loch, a notorious criminal has been arrested and is in chains in his cell in a space ship when he gets a new cell companion, Ada von Hasenberg. She’s a prisoner to be released back into the custody of her family.

The dramatic story that picks up shortly afterwards is fast paced, action packed with well written suspense filled sequences and high intrigue.

As Ada and Marcus flee across the galaxy, they fill us in on their own stories and current lives. While hiding truths from each other. No instant love, although they appear to appreciate each other’s physical appearance. All good things.

And Ada gets better with every event and disaster that passes. Marcus is not as multidimensional as Ada. He’s more formulated along the lines of many other similar MMC without the author expanding on the traits she’s hinting about. Missed opportunity unfortunately.

And for ADA and her siblings, a big part of the problem with the series is the lack of background and childhood experiences. We get only one memory in Book 2 but with their own respective resources and brilliance, it’s their own House they should be turning on here given how it’s treated them. Such loyalty makes little sense.

Really, you’d think all the younger people in all the Houses would be training to take their own Houses out given how disposable they are to them. Where’s that rebellion?

Among the items that struck me as I read were:

Universal Time as a galactic time zone reference for the characters to keep readjusting to just wasn’t credible imo. As though there wasn’t, with all the other future incredible technology available, a way for everyone to have the time adjustment made automatically? Made no sense whatsoever.

Side characters arm runner Rhys and stolen goods fence Veronica are both interesting people, with Veronica having the most intriguing backstory. However she’s also the one with the most under explored or dropped storylines in her thread. She’s got a small child , an extremely important one. Who disappeared from this book and the next book with no real explanation. SMH

Earth was depleted of resources (but now looks amazingly good and is the headquarters of the Houses), so humans took to space. Instead of governments, humans created royal Houses, main and lesser houses of families with similar social structures. The Houses formed a Consortium to rule and regulate their respective countries and planets.

That’s the basis of the universe building. Three main ‘power is mine’ Houses and a bunch of ‘scrambling for power’ lesser ones. Contracts are everything, including marriage. But other than that? Knowledge is only slowly filled in, in certain circumstances where an absence in the narrative for lack of foundation is felt by the reader.

The story is a power house of a space opera! It rocks right along, with action, bloodshed, space fights, prison cell battles, and intense conflict between families.

The science fiction doesn’t always science. There’s holes in the fiction. But the relationship between the main characters works and there’s a resolution at the end that’s satisfying.

The next story picks up with another sister and a hunt for a missing brother. It’s an excellent story.

A definite pleasure to read. If space opera is your thing, here’s a series to connect with.

The Consortium Rebellion (3 book series)

Polaris Rising #1

Aurora Blazing #2

Chaos Reigning #3

Buy link

Book 1 of 3: The Consortium Rebellion

Blurb

Polaris Rising is space opera at its best, intense and addictive, a story of honor, courage, betrayal, and love. Jessie Mihalik is an author to watch.”–Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author

A space princess on the run and a notorious outlaw soldier become unlikely allies in this imaginative, sexy space opera adventure—the first in an exciting science fiction trilogy.

In the far distant future, the universe is officially ruled by the Royal Consortium, but the High Councillors, the heads of the three High Houses, wield the true power. As the fifth of six children, Ada von Hasenberg has no authority; her only value to her High House is as a pawn in a political marriage. When her father arranges for her to wed a noble from House Rockhurst, a man she neither wants nor loves, Ada seizes control of her own destiny. The spirited princess flees before the betrothal ceremony and disappears among the stars.

Ada eluded her father’s forces for two years, but now her luck has run out. To ensure she cannot escape again, the fiery princess is thrown into a prison cell with Marcus Loch. Known as the Devil of Fornax Zero, Loch is rumored to have killed his entire chain of command during the Fornax Rebellion, and the Consortium wants his head.

When the ship returning them to Earth is attacked by a battle cruiser from rival House Rockhurst, Ada realizes that if her jilted fiancé captures her, she’ll become a political prisoner and a liability to her House. Her only hope is to strike a deal with the dangerous fugitive: a fortune if he helps her escape.

But when you make a deal with an irresistibly attractive Devil, you may lose more than you bargained for . . .

Harper Voyager

Publication date

February 5, 2019

Language

‎English

Print length

451 pages

Book 1 of 3

The Consortium Rebellion

Review: Space Deputy (Interstellar Sheriff #1) by Jenny Schwartz

Rating: 4⭐️

Jenny Schwartz, especially her recent work, is an auto read for me. Her world building is detailed, fascinating and imaginative. And her universe is filled with characters that are memorable even if their roles are ones that are secondary in nature, or even just narrative beautifully crafted flashes of beings that make indelible impressions.

More often than not, these are AI beings, or beings other than humans who capture the reader’s attention and engage with their emotions.

It’s Harry the Mech and the Interstellar ship, the Lonesome, with their own stories and secrets. I adore them.

Thelma Bach, the outrider from a mining planet who naively thought she’d overcome the prejudices against her “kind” is a terrific character. I really wanted to know more about her planet, upbringing, the type of society that raised someone like her and her brother Joe.

This is an area of background I wish Schwartz had explored more. Because the prejudice against “Rockers”, their sort of unique accent is mentioned frequently and a historical context is required here.

The masterpiece of the story is the universe building, the types of chemistry, minerals and asteroids mining that’s going on. And how some of the different elements are used in this world. And exploited. By companies, governments and sought after by interstellar pirates. The political system and layers of bureaucracy seem very realistic and credible.

Back to the main characters. Thelma who’s in an awful position at the beginning of the book is a resourceful woman. And I appreciate that about her.

What’s not credible about this book is the romance. It’s a no spice, no chemistry, and imo, ‘where’s the time to actually set up any relationship between them’ sort of romantic dynamic. Blink and they are spouting feelings of love. Without any reason for it. She had no idea. But ok let’s go with it.

And that’s an issue. Because Thelma is trying to adjust to a new world, new people in whatever form they make take, new jobs including one she’s trying to create for herself, and several galactic or interstellar missions to answer as a newbie.

So why push a credible woman character into a relationship with her boss , flag of unequal power issues, (who isn’t as multi dimensional a personality as she is) in the first book. Whenever Max appears in a scene, all I see is a generic bland male character. For one who is supposed to be a ex-soldier, dangerous etc, the character comes across as none of those things. I’m thinking he’s my grandmother’s soap operas lead. Not good.

So the women characters are well done. The romance aspect is puzzling. The world building is everything. Love the supporting cast of characters. Especially the diner owner. Love her!

It’s intriguing enough that I’m going on. It’s a quick read. Which is another win for it.

Interstellar Sheriff series:

Space Deputy # 1

Space Rodeo #2

Space Specter #3

Space Baby #4

Buy link:

Book 1 of 4: Interstellar Sheriff

Blurb

Welcome to the Saloon Sector, Deputy!

Thelma Bach graduated top of her class after four years at the Galactic Justice academy. But she’s a Rock Sector citizen. She was a fool to believe the core worlders would ever allow her to beat them at their own game. She’s been assigned to serve her seven years as a deputy in the Saloon Sector. The message for the Federation’s out-world citizens is clear: you’ll never be our equal, so don’t even try.

The core worlders chose the wrong person to push around.

Assigned to the despised frontier, Thelma will get her revenge even if she has to subvert a sheriff with a mysterious background (one who served with her Star Marine brother – will she be a baby sister forever?), charm artificial intelligences, fight bandits and negotiate with aliens.

It’s not a question of whether Thelma will survive her exile, but whether the Saloon Sector will survive her!

***

If you love hopeful science fiction with strong characters, fast-paced action, and a sense of fun, dive into the Interstellar Sheriff series, now.

Publication date

July 12, 2018

Language

‎English

Print length

220 pages

Book 1 of 4

Interstellar Sheriff

Galactic fiction, science fiction,

Review: The Knight and the Butcherbird by Alix E. Harrow

Rating: 4.5⭐️🌈

This is a harrowing excellent short story by Alix Harrow, an author I associate with imaginative, thoughtful fiction.

Set in a dystopian world, hundreds of years after a catastrophic event has permanently changed earth’s environment as well as humans beings themselves, Harrow has intriguingly narrowed down the location to a dying community of outsiders, the Appalachian community of Iron Hollow.

They, like other struggling poor people, live outside the walled compounds of the rich. High in the Mountains, living in the hollers near the poisonous streams and changed vegetation, they live life hard, dying young and often, sometimes from the very monsters emerging from the mountains itself.

Harrow creates, in the richly colored, sometimes horrifying world, a tale of love lost, love deeply mourned, and finally, love changed and found again.

It’s not a romance. Each main character has lost their wives. Both Shrike the Secretary, the young mountain woman and the legendary Knight who’s come to slay the monster.

What follows is an amazing story. One of anger, ruthless determination, dedication and finally, deep love.

I absolutely love that ending.

Highly recommended, both story and author.

Cover design by Tree Abraham Cover illustration by Colin Verdi

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comThe Knight and the Butcherbird: A Short Story eBook : Harrow, Alix E.

Blurb

In this dystopian fairy tale from the New York Timesbestselling author of Starling House, a small town’s storyteller struggles to protect a local demon from the knight hired to kill it.

Hundreds of years after the end of the world, the Appalachian community of Iron Hollow finds itself beset by demons. Such horrors are common these days in the outlands, where most folks die young—if they don’t turn into monsters first.

When a legendary knight is summoned to hunt down the latest unearthly beast to haunt their woods, the town’s new oral historian, Shrike, has more reason than most to be concerned. Because that demon was her wife. And while Shrike is certain that May still recognizes her—that May is still herself, somewhere beneath it all—she can’t prove it.

Determined to keep May safe, Shrike stalks the knight and his demon-hunting hawk through the recesses of the forest. But as they creep through toxic creeks and overgrown kudzu, Shrike realizes the knight has a secret of his own. And he’ll do anything to protect it.

Review: A House By Any Other Name by Jenny Schwartz

Rating: 4.5⭐️

The second of author Jenny Schwartz’ Hidden Sanctuary series, A House By Any Other Name is my favorite of the two novels.

Both tales take place in the fabulous Uncertain Sanctuary universe but only this story is directly related to the characters in that series. And that immediately gives A House By Any Other Name added depth and detail missing from Any House in a Storm.

This story is filled with engaging,intriguing characters, some of which we’ve met before. Like Hector who is the disgraced brother of Evander, cyborg Elf and partner to Sorcerer Kira (Uncertain Sanctuary trilogy).

But Schwartz has also created a great character in Raisa, who’s fully grounded in a wealth of other characters and rich in her own history. She’s a strong personality, certain of her own abilities and her goals.

The revelation of the fact she’s a sorcerer isn’t much of a surprise, but the real joy is her sentient house. As each is created by the sorcerer themselves, they spring from an emotional source of that sorcerer. Raisa’s house is totally unique and unexpected. A aspect of this story I didn’t expect and loved.

And it happily is part of a successful twist at the end of the story. Another element that just made this story even more special for me.

The plot and storylines are ones that keep one absolutely invested in the characters journey and outcome. The romance is slow and credible between these two intelligent powerful people.

I just wish Schwartz would have more than one story to explore their journey going forward. They are that interesting.

I’m highly recommending this story and the Uncertain Sanctuary trilogy it’s related to.

Hidden Sanctuary series:

Any House in a Storm #1

A House By Any Other Name #2

Buy link

Book 2 of 2: Hidden Sanctuary

Blurb

Reality is a complicated multiverse of many species and rare magic. Diplomats are the official envoys and investigators who hold the Union of Worlds together.

Raisa never intended to be a diplomat. Like so many things in her life, it was her stepmother’s idea.

Hector is an elf in disgrace. He chose his cyborged brother over his lying, abusive family. Elves revile augmented people. They leave such despicable technology to their ancient enemies, the goblins.

When a diplomatic mission strands the two elves on a goblin world they find themselves the target of a legendary killer. If they die, so will the emergent species they were sent to save.

***

A House By Any Other Name is a stand alone novel in the Hidden Sanctuary series. It includes characters from the Uncertain Sanctuary trilogy. No previous knowledge of Reality is necessary to enjoy the adventure.

June 12, 2024

Language

‎English

Print length

255 pages

Check out the Tour for “The New Worlds“ by Jaye C. Watts (excerpt from Other Worlds Ink tour )

Jaye C. Watts has a new queer sci-fi book out (transgender, poly, non-binary, pansexual, lesbian): The New Worlds.

The year is 2293 and the Truth no longer exists. In the future there are many truths, giving rise to many worlds, but each must be kept separate.

Born to protect these truths, Axton Bryce patrols the New Worlds Star System—to observe, participate, and gather information. But as she learns the ways of each world, she must also hunt for those who defy their world’s truth: the Outliers.

While stationed on a nearby planet, Axton meets the charming Ambassador Bray Wilde. As the two become close, Axton reveals a painful secret—the loss of her first love, exiled as an Outlier.

Longing to see beyond their own world, the ambassador proposes a rescue mission—one that will bring both friends and foes, and ultimately a fight for freedom. But first, Axton must make a choice: between a life-long allegiance… and the chance to claim a truth of her own.

Warnings: indoctrination, brainwashing, threatening with a weapon (guns & a bomb)

Universal Buy Link

Excerpt

I clenched my fists. “Focus,” I told myself. Grabbing my communication cuff, I fastened it around my wrist. “INS communications, activate.” I opened my wardrobe and reached for a freshly pressed uniform. “Aurelia, give me today’s briefing.”

It lit up and responded. “Your next assignment will be on the Amorous World for a standard duration of three months. You are scheduled to depart today at zero six hundred Geo Time and arrive at zero eight-forty Geo Time. The latest reports on the Amorous World are available for your review. Do you wish to accept, Mediator Axton Bryce?”

I crouched to lace up my boots. “I accept.”

“On behalf of Chairman West and the Individual Nations Secretariat, we thank you, Mediator Axton Bryce, for your work in protecting the Truth of many truths.”

I rose to my feet, skin prickling at the back of my neck. Though I couldn’t see it, I could feel it: two lowercase t’s under one capital T, branded at the top of my spine—a permanent part of me ever since my Veneration five long years ago.

I reached back, digging my nails in, tempted to tear the tattoo right from my skin. “She should have been there,” I whispered. If only she’d kept those thoughts to herself.

I grabbed my utility belt and wrapped it around my waist, ensuring the gun was secure. Staring at myself in the mirror, I straightened the collar of my shirt. I’d never been to the Amorous World before. Perfect, I thought. Some fresh scenery was just what I needed.

* * *

I checked my cuff—zero five fifty-five, right on schedule. Marching across the launch deck, I carried one efficiently packed piece of luggage. I never glanced back when boarding my ship; Brokazaria’s endless acres of skyscrapers would still be here when I returned. Instead, I looked up. The early-morning sky was just waking. Aside from Primus B—the Middle World’s secondary, and thus miniature, sun—not a star was in sight. As I approached my ship, the roar of its engine reminded me that soon the stars would be all around me.

I turned and gave the official salute to a line of NI Security standing at attention. In unison, the humanlike Machines returned the gesture, crossing their arms to form a lowercase letter t. Sergeant L43 pumped his eyebrows, prompting me to raise one of mine in response. Hard to believe they were once called “AI.” New Intelligence, we were told, was a much more appropriate term.

L43 stepped forward. “Afternoon, miss.” He grabbed my bag, allowing me to ascend the ladder.

“Thanks,” I said. I climbed to the top and crawled through the hatch.

“Catch!” the NI yelled, tossing up my luggage.

With a reflex just quick enough, I caught the bag. “Sergeant!” I scolded. “What if there was something fragile in there?”

“You humans,” he replied. “Always afraid something’s gonna break. Your luggage, your bones, your bodies… not to mention your hearts and minds.”

I rolled my eyes at the cheeky Machine. “Watch it, L, or I’ll get them to reboot you.”

Unperturbed, the Machine grinned and waved. “I’ll miss you, too. Bon voyage!”

“See you in three months,” I muttered, closing the hatch behind me. I immediately got busy flicking switches and hitting buttons. Muscle memory took over as I continued the launch prep with complete focus. Not a moment later, a blue light illuminated my cuff, drawing my attention. Blue indicated a direct message from Chairman West himself, Secretary-General of the Individual Nations Secretariat.

“Play address,” I said, eager to hear our leader’s words.

A ghostlike image projected from my arm, transporting the man’s titanic figure into my control room. Neatly trimmed grays blended inconspicuously into the rest of his dark hair, swept back to frame a chiseled face. Salt-and-pepper stubble outlined a pair of smiling lips—the beginnings of a goatee that never quite came to fruition. As always, a perfectly pressed suit hugged every one of his bulging muscles.

“Greetings, my children!” The chairman’s voice rumbled from a gaping grin, complete with gleaming teeth. “Today is a very special day, not only for the New Worlds Star System but for some of our most dedicated Mediators.”

My ears perked up as I waited for more.

“Today marks two hundred and fifty years of living in an interplanetary alliance, free from the terrors of war, safe from the dangers of Plurality! A quarter of a millennium since the United Nations of the Old World became the Individual Nations of the New Worlds, marking humanity’s Great Dispersion!”

A swell of pride surged in my chest. I was part of something big and important.

“All of this would not be possible without you,” he declared, “our magnificent Mediators. You have been instrumental in our coordination with each world, fostering the cooperation necessary to manage the complexities of a resource-based economy spanning a system as vast as ours. And!”—the chairman raised a finger, flashing one of his many gold rings—“most importantly, you have upheld the sovereignty of every truth within it.”

I gave a humble nod, as though he could see me.

“Lastly,” the chairman said, “further congratulations to the Mediators of unit 245. Tomorrow is your quinquennium! Five years of serving as peacekeepers, saviors, Mediators! Father Chairman West and the INS commend you.” His thick forearms crossed in a salute, only to vanish as the feed cut out.

I took a moment to absorb his words, stunned by how many years had passed. Then I checked my cuff—Time to go.

I finished preparing for the launch, my movements steady and certain. We had done it. Peace among the planets for over two centuries.

I paused, letting my mind drift…

It had to be worth it.

Author Bio

JAYE C. WATTS (he/they) is a queer and trans sci-fi writer living on Lək̓ʷəŋən territory in Victoria, BC, Canada. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, with a minor in Technology and Society, as well as a diploma in Professional Recording Arts from the Art Institute of Vancouver.

When he isn’t writing, Jaye can be found falling down rabbit holes of all kinds thanks to an unquenchable curiosity and lust for learning – homeschooling will do that to you.

Jaye also loves classic jazz, mixing cocktails, biking all over the city, and of course, people watching.

Author Website: https://www.jayecwatts.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/jayechristinwatts/

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/jayecwatts/

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayecwatts/

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/156707355-jaye-c-watts

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jaye-C.-Watts/author/B0FVL8XMKW

Review: Tigra by R. J. Leahy

Rating: 3⭐️

A first book by this author, I thought Leahy did a good job with many aspects of the story and world building.

The plot of a escaped woman soldier ending up on a planet where there’s several other cultures at war , including one that has and continues to systematically obliterate one of planet’s “animals “, the Tigras. Different planetary cultures she comes into contact with approximate earth religions with zealotry and magical rituals associated with them.

Leahy does a excellent job layering each city/tribe with their own individuality, and even with an abundance of characters, it’s not hard to separate out each smaller personality in the supporting role from another one from a different culture.

The battle scenes, the weapons, all well defined and varied. Same for the ship Jeena Garza arrives on.

If you are hearing a “but” here, you are correct.

My main concern or issues are with the two or perhaps, one character here.

🚩Trigger warnings for torture, multiple S.A., child death, which occurs during Jeena Garza’s capture and long imprisonment by the enemy during the prologue.

Jeena has undergone unbearable torture, physically traumatic and emotionally devastating experiences. Ones that are so severe, so damaging that those who have suffered from them along side her didn’t survive. Yet, upon escaping, she’s able to accept touch and have sexual relations months later. She was “hurt, went a little mad “. But she’s fine now.

Absolutely not believable. And establishing the sort of behavior that seems to disavow what happened to Jeena in the prison does an incredible disrespect to the reality of survivors of SA no matter that she’s a fictional character.

Past that, the relationship between Sampson the Tigra and Jeena also felt equally rushed and not well defined. He’s actually absent for a period of time during the story, which leaves a development “hole” for the relationship and plot lines. They are friends until suddenly they aren’t.

Everything works here but the characters themselves. They need better definition and layering.

There’s 2 more books to the series. Read this and those stories if you find it interesting.

Tigra (3 book series)

Tigra #1

Tigra II: The Sins of Rothra Orr

TIGRA III: The Light of God

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comTigra – Leahy, R.J.: Kindle Store

Book 1 of 3: Tigra

Blurb

Elite soldier Jeena Garza crash-lands on the desert world of Ararat, desperate to escape the trauma of war and her recent imprisonment. She wants solitude. A place to disappear. To forget and to be forgotten.

Instead, she finds Samson — a tiger-like beast feared for its ferocity. But Samson is different. Gentle. Intelligent. Maybe more than just an animal.

As ancient prophecies stir and buried secrets rise, Jeena is thrust into a battle for a world she doesn’t understand — and a destiny she never asked for. To save him, she’ll raise a forgotten people, topple an empire, and awaken something lost for eons.

She was forged as a weapon

He was born a beast.

Together they will change a world and challenge man’s place in the galaxy.

Review: Uncertain Sanctuary : The Complete Trilogy by Jenny Schwartz

Rating: 4.5⭐️

The collection contains the following books:

The House That Walked Between Worlds #1

House in Hiding #2

The House That Fought #3

This was a terrific way to binge the series. I was able to read all three novels as though they were one big book, each flowing seamlessly into each other’s narrative.

Charting the journey , through three books,of human sorcerer Dr Kira Aist from a state of deep raging, grieving trauma as she flees Earth and the deaths of those she loved to one of a woman content with her new as one of the few supremely powerful sorcerers and her role in the universe.

While Schwartz has created so many imaginative and fascinating characters and elements here, I have to admit that Kira’s “House” , an enormous sentient black intimidating castle, is one of my favorites. Full of personality, capable of space travel and a “world ender” in offensive combat powers, some of the best scenes and moments occur when the House is involved.

Honestly I could see a cable series with this.

Then there’s a goblin giant war cat (see the cover), and fascinating group of found family of friends that Kira starts to gather around her, and more importantly, a cyborg elf that eventually becomes her partner.

I did have a few notes about the trilogy. The overall theme involves children suffering as well as child deaths. Also brief torture scenes. While the torture scenes aren’t particularly graphic, they’re still emotional scenes. If any of these scenes or elements are triggering, please be warned.

Then finally, Evander, an elf turned into a cyborg without his permission, with devastating consequences, wears “warrior braids “. This is a hairstyle where each braid is one of remembrance, of a fallen brother warrior. That’s an element that is seen by many cultures and traditions.

But Schwartz’ Kira refers to them occasionally as Corn rows, which struck me as odd. Kira’s background is Russian. So this started veering away from warrior braids and into cultural appropriation territory. At least that’s how it felt to me.

Aside from those notes, this is another highly successful and well written trilogy from an author who is an auto-read for me.

Another winner and recommendation.

Cover design by Miblart

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comThe Complete Trilogy: Uncertain Sanctuary, Books 1–3 (Audible Audio Edition)

Blurb

No spaceship needed. Kira has a magic, traveling castle.

Pursued by her parents’ killers, Doctor Kira Aist calls on her inheritance as Baba Yaga’s great-granddaughter to create a House and escape Earth.

Plunging into the dangerous mysteries of Reality, she learns what it means to be a rare human sorcerer.

As strangers are drawn to her House, Kira becomes enmeshed in a diabolical plot to destroy Reality.

Who can she trust?

Of her new friends, some seek refuge, others power, and one just wants kitty treats.

In a Reality that includes cyborg elves and goblin space pirates, kobold gossips and dinosaurian scholars, one human doctor must decide the price she’ll pay for justice—and for love.

***

The Uncertain Sanctuary bundle includes three previously published novels:

The House That Walked Between Worlds

House in Hiding

The House That Fought

A high stakes, cozy fantasy that romps across the universe.

Publication date

September 5, 2024

Language

‎English

Print length

618 pages

Galactic empire science fiction,

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