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luna_lovelace's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Wow, the author's portrayal of the relationship between Tavi and Torran was nothing short of sweet! Although it was a slow burn, the tension and mistrust between them made their eventual love story all the more satisfying. I was surprised at how even the simplest moments, such as a hug, could be so meaningful and heartwarming!
I have a feeling the author loves her animals, as Luna played such a significant role in bringing the characters together. I'm all for a cute animal being written as an important character!
Although the upcoming book won't be from Tavi's perspective, I can't wait to see how their relationship develops through someone else's eyes.
I have a feeling the author loves her animals, as Luna played such a significant role in bringing the characters together. I'm all for a cute animal being written as an important character!
Although the upcoming book won't be from Tavi's perspective, I can't wait to see how their relationship develops through someone else's eyes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Classism
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual content, War, and Alcohol
alexmall029's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
mmkn_99's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Great plot!!! Great world building!!! The romance didn’t detract from the plot or the vibes of the story!!! Characters were cool and interesting, excited for see what happens in the next books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse
brucethegirl's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Update 8/16/23
Forgive me! I even said in my original review I wanted to try it again. I had been going through a lot at the time, and clearly was just not in the right headspace for it. I read this after a Mass Effect play through and when I tell you I'm obsessed.
Captain Zarola fought hard in the war against the Valoffs. So hard, she became a human hero, and Valoff enemy number one for war crimes. Tavi did what she had to to keep her team, her family, safe. Now her enemy from the war, General Torran Fletcher, has come to her for help. She must retrieve something stolen from him. She must accept his terms or he leaves. She cannot know what the item is until after they sign the contract, and even after he is very hard pressed to give her any details about the theft. As her team use their skills to do what the government could (or would?) not, Tavi and Torran grow closer. They learn about the other's weaknesses and strengths. And begin to respect each other despite the bad blood in their past. When the truth of the mission is unveiled, lines are drawn and hard choices must be made.
I loved how the relationship not just romantically between Torran and Tavi, but between all members of the ship grew. Yes there's romance blossoming outside the leaders cabins, but there's also friendship and camaraderie. This is heavily a romance, but one would be foolish to say this is a romance with some other plot. This is a well put together sci-fi found family adventure. This is a government conspiracy and intergalactic connections based tense time. Thank god its a romance or I might have had a heart attack with how nervous I was during some scenes.
There is also an aspect I was not expecting. Tavi suffers from chronic pain. She has a war injury that acts up when she over works it- something she does often when trying to imagine a certain general's face on a punching bag. She knows when she overdoes it, and suffers from it. She lands wrong at one point, causing intense pain, during a tense scene and there are real consequences for it. There's no "pulling through" the pain. There's tender moments thanks to the pain she's in, but there's no magic cure either. The medic on board is Valoff, and while they have amazing abilities, the damage to her leg has been done and healed over. All he can do is treat the inflammation and new tears. It's so realistic and true with its rep while also incorporating fancy magic like sci fi abilities. She's able to have more relief than human medicine, but the disability isn't magically cured. I loved seeing this in something like a sci-fi because too often rep of this nature is glossed over or fixed and that's disheartening to see. This was a bad ass woman who lives with this pain, and does amazing things regardless.
This is exactly the right book for anyone coming off a Mass Effect high, or who just enjoy the games. This is also great for anyone who enjoys sci-fi with more than warfare. This is a heavy, emotional, romantic, intriguing read.
Review 12/17/22
Really disappointed with how this was was. Only got to 16%, but the over explanation of the history, of scenery, of the technology, the biology. It was SO MUCH extra detail. I have no problem with details, Sci-Fi is difficult. But this was so minute. "There was a small door, over here, and above that, and also the color is green, and the door is glass, but metal." etc. etc. etc. Like why do I care, why is this relevant? Was this really the best way to describe what we're supposed to see? Do we NEED the super specific detail of food digestion?
No. No we do not.
It took me out the story, which to be fair is very interesting. I'd like to give it another try when I can skip the over detail (when I can hold a physical copy in my hands) Because I'm very intrigued by the premise.
Forgive me! I even said in my original review I wanted to try it again. I had been going through a lot at the time, and clearly was just not in the right headspace for it. I read this after a Mass Effect play through and when I tell you I'm obsessed.
Captain Zarola fought hard in the war against the Valoffs. So hard, she became a human hero, and Valoff enemy number one for war crimes. Tavi did what she had to to keep her team, her family, safe. Now her enemy from the war, General Torran Fletcher, has come to her for help. She must retrieve something stolen from him. She must accept his terms or he leaves. She cannot know what the item is until after they sign the contract, and even after he is very hard pressed to give her any details about the theft. As her team use their skills to do what the government could (or would?) not, Tavi and Torran grow closer. They learn about the other's weaknesses and strengths. And begin to respect each other despite the bad blood in their past. When the truth of the mission is unveiled, lines are drawn and hard choices must be made.
I loved how the relationship not just romantically between Torran and Tavi, but between all members of the ship grew. Yes there's romance blossoming outside the leaders cabins, but there's also friendship and camaraderie. This is heavily a romance, but one would be foolish to say this is a romance with some other plot. This is a well put together sci-fi found family adventure. This is a government conspiracy and intergalactic connections based tense time. Thank god its a romance or I might have had a heart attack with how nervous I was during some scenes.
There is also an aspect I was not expecting. Tavi suffers from chronic pain. She has a war injury that acts up when she over works it- something she does often when trying to imagine a certain general's face on a punching bag. She knows when she overdoes it, and suffers from it. She lands wrong at one point, causing intense pain, during a tense scene and there are real consequences for it. There's no "pulling through" the pain. There's tender moments thanks to the pain she's in, but there's no magic cure either. The medic on board is Valoff, and while they have amazing abilities, the damage to her leg has been done and healed over. All he can do is treat the inflammation and new tears. It's so realistic and true with its rep while also incorporating fancy magic like sci fi abilities. She's able to have more relief than human medicine, but the disability isn't magically cured. I loved seeing this in something like a sci-fi because too often rep of this nature is glossed over or fixed and that's disheartening to see. This was a bad ass woman who lives with this pain, and does amazing things regardless.
This is exactly the right book for anyone coming off a Mass Effect high, or who just enjoy the games. This is also great for anyone who enjoys sci-fi with more than warfare. This is a heavy, emotional, romantic, intriguing read.
Review 12/17/22
Really disappointed with how this was was. Only got to 16%, but the over explanation of the history, of scenery, of the technology, the biology. It was SO MUCH extra detail. I have no problem with details, Sci-Fi is difficult. But this was so minute. "There was a small door, over here, and above that, and also the color is green, and the door is glass, but metal." etc. etc. etc. Like why do I care, why is this relevant? Was this really the best way to describe what we're supposed to see? Do we NEED the super specific detail of food digestion?
No. No we do not.
It took me out the story, which to be fair is very interesting. I'd like to give it another try when I can skip the over detail (when I can hold a physical copy in my hands) Because I'm very intrigued by the premise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Gun violence, Medical content, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, War, Violence, Murder, Death, and Medical trauma
lbelow's review
5.0
I give five stars to the books I can't stop thinking about. I can't stop thinking about this book, this world, these characters! I devoured this in a day and expect to do the same with the others in the series. Mihalik sure knows how to write an edge-of-your-seat sci-fi romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Torture, Child abuse, and Kidnapping
wellreadandhalfdead's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia, War, and Sexual content
Minor: Chronic illness
dolores_madil's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Cursing
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, Racism, Grief, and Sexual content
lilbookbee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
OH MY GOD. I don't even know how to be NORMAL about this book. This was amazing. Basically everything I've ever wanted in a romance. I am shook.
Things I loved that I hope to coherently elaborate upon in the future:
- The sparring as foreplay
- The found family
- The two leaders falling for each other
- The making meals for each other
- The ENDEARMENTS in other languages
- The makeouts are so hot wtf
- The entire parking garage scene 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵
- THE FUCKING BETRAYAL
- THE LIFE DEBT
- THE POOL SCENE
- AND THEN THE SHOWER SCENE
- EVERY MOMENT OF TENSION I COULD EVER DEVOUR
If I had to critique, I would've preferred just a bit more explicit for the actual spice scene. This is open door, but not explicit. Even still, it was one of the hottest books I have read. The tension was delicious.
God I can't wait to start the next book. But also, I feel like I need to think about this alone for like, the next two days at least. My god.
Things I loved that I hope to coherently elaborate upon in the future:
- The sparring as foreplay
- The found family
- The two leaders falling for each other
- The making meals for each other
- The ENDEARMENTS in other languages
- The makeouts are so hot wtf
- The entire parking garage scene 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵
- THE FUCKING BETRAYAL
- THE LIFE DEBT
- THE POOL SCENE
- AND THEN THE SHOWER SCENE
- EVERY MOMENT OF TENSION I COULD EVER DEVOUR
If I had to critique, I would've preferred just a bit more explicit for the actual spice scene. This is open door, but not explicit. Even still, it was one of the hottest books I have read. The tension was delicious.
God I can't wait to start the next book. But also, I feel like I need to think about this alone for like, the next two days at least. My god.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Sexual content
srm's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Delightful sexy sci fi adventure. Very much looking forward to more of this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence and War
brookebatesratesbooks's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Violence