Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Disclaimer: Reading is all about discovery, but this Book Review does not shy away from spoiling specific scenes as this is more of a look inside the good and bad of a book.
The Analysis:
I bought this immediately after finishing book one, Saving Askara. Let’s Book Review it.
Here’s the Blurb:
***
Aderus never imagined a creature like Tori would be what he has come to crave, even over his own kind. The sentiments she provokes perturb as much as they entice him and understanding her proves a separate challenge. But when his actions result in an unintended threat to the balance of power in an alliance between their two races, he is forced to weigh his trust in her against the only thing that matters to him. Or so he thought.
The eye with the Askara in the center, meh. But the colors are brilliant and draw the eye. You cant go wrong with pictures of the solar system.
Now The Story:
Book Info:
Pages: 182
Author: J.M. Link
Available: Amazon
Aw shucks, this book was a little more disappointing then its counterpoint.
For one thing, there is less romance and fewer scenes of our characters getting to know each other in this book. The Alien seemed even more closed off than he was in book 1. But let's get into the plot first.
Sex with an alien is...bad.
What I didn't know that? lol. I give the author a standing ovation for even addressing this subject in a story. My guess is that this is rarely addressed in novels of this genre. But what happened, you say? Our heroine has sex with big sexy and comes down with a virus. It's unlike anything found on Earth, there is no cure, and the doctors don't know if it spreads. This virus changes her very DNA.
Another human doctor is introduced and she has to work with the Alien doctor to come up with a clue as to what is making our heroine sick. One of the symptoms was freaky eyes that I kept imagining in my head as spider eyes that glowed in the dark. Her smell also changed, per the alien, as he said it went from human to smelling like their home planet of Askara. There are also several moments where she is feverish and unconscious, that sort of thing.
What's not making it better is the Alien suit that she calls Henry. It was given to her in book 1. Now, every time she gets anxious or upset it can go off and attack the person nearest to her. It emits an energy burst, iron man style, from the hands of the suit, knocking everyone off their feet. This saves her when a group of crazed aliens, thanks to her new smell, try to attack. However, she accidentally hurts her Alien boyfriend twice. Creating some conflict between them.
Her sickness and Henry's roll in it was very interesting. It gave me a peek into how both characters were feeling about their very real biological differences.
But this is where I lose some of the feels for Mr. Alien Dude. His thoughts indicate that he has no plans of sharing technology with the humans. At every turn, he's afraid of our heroine figuring out how to use the suit to its full potential. It all seems to come down to them wanting to remain the apex predator with the upper hand over humans.
I suppose that would be okay if the author had betrayed the military as irrational or unthinking. However, the alien states explicitly that the humans kept their side of the bargain. But the Aliens were always intending to ignore theirs. And we, the readers, see the humans trying to get along, giving them what they ask, and trying to learn about them. So, I took the position of Walmart grocer #65. Who is panicking during an alien invasion because she has no way to feed or protect herself, but it's okay because our heroine is getting dicked down on the regular. So at least she is safe. Oh, how I wanted her to take the human's side just once and say give the human race something. It doesn't have to be new weaponry. How about something in medicine or something?
Then the General comes along and makes his own case. In book one, they volunteered to help the Aliens during an intergalactic war. The fact is that they are going to be the weakest player in this triad. They just need an opportunity to level the playing field. Now that their existence is exposed to both parties. Yet, even this plea fell on deaf ears.
Instead, she gives the only alien technology she has back to the Aliens. I just want him to trust me. They think I will hurt them. I'm not falling for this trust scene. Their fears are irrational. The humans are playing politics, but they're also putting forth a good faith effort to do things the right way. And they're not being rewarded for it. The alien's spaceship is finished and the aliens still make no effort to give them any kind of payment. So when the humans turn against her and the aliens, I kinda get it.
This happens about 85% into the book and I DNF from their because their not the couple I can root for.
Let's go back to the progression of their relationship. It's going very slow. What was a minor annoyance is a full-blown tantrum this go-round. The heroine seems to remember that he is an alien, but refuses to treat him like one. She keeps trying to force him to do boyfriend things. Sleep next to me. Say you love me. Say you'll commit. These concepts literally don't exist in his head. He's not some jerk trying to shake his responsibilities. Yet on the basic level, he knows, I don't want to hurt you, but I do want to protect you. And I don't want to share you with anyone else. Nor is anyone else attractive to me as long as you are around. In a relationship like this, shouldn't that be enough?
Story At A Glance:
Recommendation: 3 out of 5
Read Series Continuation: Maybe*
The Ratings:
Book Cover Appeal:
🍓🍓🍓
Story & Narration:
🍓🍓🍓
Romance:
🍓🍓
Character/(s) Personality:
🍓🍓🍓
*I did not immediately go out and buy the third book. It is supposed to focus on the heroine's doctor and her relationship. I am mildly intrigued and want to know about her and Jabar. However, because of book 2, I probably wont get around to it until I reach a lull in my reading TBR.
