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reading_rainy's review against another edition
5.0
This is my third read of this story. It has an old-school/sci-fi romance feel to it. I LOVE the hero, Soren. I LOVE the slow world building (no info dumps!). And I LOVE the kick-butt heroine, however, she still takes WAY too long to choose Soren.
*****
Captian Cyani is a warrior, she’s spent 14 years fighting for the Union. While she’s fierce, there is a sweet underlying venerability about her that I really like. She sacrifices for what she believes in. Her only friend is a fox-like creature. She is very lonely.
Soren has been a captive of cruel slavers for years. He is tortured for his essence that produces a highly sought over, drug-like substance. They meet when Cyani risks her life to rescues Soren from his captors and they crash land on a foreign planet.
Soren is a sensitive alpha. He will do anything for Cyani, protect her from enemies and even himself, if that is her choice. I believe they are both virgins, however only Soren specifically says he is. Their friendship and romance was a slow burn, but it’s intense. Soren’s species NEEDS a mate for survival, and will bond quickly. I love how his eye’s change color depending on his moods and this helps Cyani know what he’s feeling.
I wish that Jess Granger was still writing this genre, as she was wonderful in creating this world and the slow burn romance of these two original characters.
I love the correlation of the flowers from Cyani’s world (and her tattoos) to the flowering vicious weeds from Soren’s world, they both describe Cyani to perfection.
*****
Captian Cyani is a warrior, she’s spent 14 years fighting for the Union. While she’s fierce, there is a sweet underlying venerability about her that I really like. She sacrifices for what she believes in. Her only friend is a fox-like creature. She is very lonely.
Soren has been a captive of cruel slavers for years. He is tortured for his essence that produces a highly sought over, drug-like substance. They meet when Cyani risks her life to rescues Soren from his captors and they crash land on a foreign planet.
Soren is a sensitive alpha. He will do anything for Cyani, protect her from enemies and even himself, if that is her choice. I believe they are both virgins, however only Soren specifically says he is. Their friendship and romance was a slow burn, but it’s intense. Soren’s species NEEDS a mate for survival, and will bond quickly. I love how his eye’s change color depending on his moods and this helps Cyani know what he’s feeling.
I wish that Jess Granger was still writing this genre, as she was wonderful in creating this world and the slow burn romance of these two original characters.
I love the correlation of the flowers from Cyani’s world (and her tattoos) to the flowering vicious weeds from Soren’s world, they both describe Cyani to perfection.
“Pakka vines, like your tattoos,” he explained.
She lifted her wrist. “These are Ciera blossoms,” she chuckled. Then she sobered as she thought about the meaning of her tattoos. “They start their lives on the ground of Azra. They grow for decades, reaching through the darkness until they finally climb into the canopy. When they see the light for the first time, they bloom.....what did you think they were?”
“Pakka vines,” he admitted. “They are a stubborn weed with nasty thorns that make you break out in an irritating rash....but when they bloom, their beauty is beyond belief.”
ccgwalt's review against another edition
4.0
The premise behind the book gets three stars. The whole sex-bonding sub-plot is too contrived for my tastes. However, the book gets four stars for not only being well-written, but for taking the contrived "bonding" sub-plot in a new direction. Soren doesn't end up a knuckle-dragging alpha male. He's a hero with honor and compassion, and self-control. Cyani is also a character worth caring about, loyal and courageous. Since Ms. Granger has managed to take a cliched plot line and leave out the cliches, I give this book four stars, and plan to read the next book set in this universe...and I hope there is a next one!
caligirlrae's review
4.0
3 1/2. I really enjoyed Jess Granger's futuristic romance debut, Beyond the Rain. Great action, awesome world building and lots of technologic awesomeness to satisfy sci-fi fans with a side of googly eyed heated sexual tension between the leads to make romance fans happy. Although I loved the way it opened as we got to know Cyani and her warrior like temperament as she freed former slave Soren, I found the middle lulled a bit. Some of the presentation of the planet natives bordered a bit stereotypical but the story popped right back into gear as soon as they were up in space again. I loved the twists and turns regarding Soren's family and home and Cyani's as well and found myself happily flipping pages to figure out how they were going to get out of one crunch after another.
I read this for the February theme of virgin heroes and although Soren fit that nature, it was more implied with the way his people bonded for life. I loved that aspect and it fit here. Normally romances with this theme tend to feel forced but the way it's presented here, the leads are given a choice and choose to care for one another, without going overboard. Sometimes the push and pull of their feelings wore on a bit as it happened over and over but the balancing of the action and main storyline with complex characterization made it work.
I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how the world that Ms. Granger has created continues to grow. Looking at how BTR ended and how it will pick up for the next book, I'm dying to see a character I really liked has his own book for the next round. I can't wait to see how everything plays out!
I read this for the February theme of virgin heroes and although Soren fit that nature, it was more implied with the way his people bonded for life. I loved that aspect and it fit here. Normally romances with this theme tend to feel forced but the way it's presented here, the leads are given a choice and choose to care for one another, without going overboard. Sometimes the push and pull of their feelings wore on a bit as it happened over and over but the balancing of the action and main storyline with complex characterization made it work.
I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how the world that Ms. Granger has created continues to grow. Looking at how BTR ended and how it will pick up for the next book, I'm dying to see a character I really liked has his own book for the next round. I can't wait to see how everything plays out!
cranberrytarts's review against another edition
4.0
I don't often like futuristic stories, but this one was very engaging. It dragged a bit toward the beginning (I'd say after the first few chapters) but then it picked up again and I was totally sucked in.
Toward the end I started to get frustrated with the heroine and her overblown sense of duty, but Granger really turned it around for me. Overall I was very impressed with the characters and the world-building.
Toward the end I started to get frustrated with the heroine and her overblown sense of duty, but Granger really turned it around for me. Overall I was very impressed with the characters and the world-building.
sarahconnor89757's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not a fan of scifi anymore because it isn't done in such a believable and interesting way. Granger put special care into crafting the cultures instead of technology and although it would have been nice to equal detail I am looking forward to learning more about this universe.
The gender equality and mutual respect between the leading characters were refreshing and 5 star worthy.
The gender equality and mutual respect between the leading characters were refreshing and 5 star worthy.
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