Interference and Insurgency (Verdant String) by Michelle Diener – Review

Tags

5 stars, Book Review, Michelle Diener, novella, prequel, scifi romance, series

Review by Riley

About Verdant String

The seven planets of the Verdant String, the green, fecund sources of life spanning five solar systems, comprise the Verdant String Coalition. This is the setting for a new science fiction romance series from award-winning science fiction romance novelist Michelle Diener. While the people of the Verdant String know they have a common ancestor, a group of explorers who colonised the planets at the same time a thousand or more years ago, the mysteries of who they were, and where they came from, persist.

About Interference
(A 25,000 word novella introducing the world of the Verdant String)

Interference can go either way . . .

The tiny moon of Cepi is on a countdown to destruction, and while Nyha Bartali has been persuaded to take her four wards for a final look at the archaeological wonder, now she’s eager to leave. The only problem is, someone has other plans–plans to exploit Nyha and her girls’ status as the betrayed orphans of the Verdant String in order to give them time to steal Cepi’s secrets.

Nyha and her wards’ value as survivors of the destruction of Halatia means it would be political suicide for any leader of the Verdant String to endanger them again–something the hostage-takers know very well. What the hostage-takers don’t know is that Nyha and her girls have more help than they realize.

Mak Carep knows his team’s presence on Cepi is the last flex of Arkhor’s muscle before the moon is blown to bits. Arkhor has interfered on Cepi since it discovered the ruins four hundred years ago, but sometimes, interference can have unexpected consequences. When Nyha and her girls are taken hostage, Mak and the rest of his special forces team are the only ones who have any hope of rescuing them, and they’re ready and willing to do what Arkhor does best . . . Interfere.

About Insurgency
(A 45,000 word short novel set in the Verdant String series)

The Parnian city of Var is under siege. Buildings are being targeted by insurgents whose only aim seems to be destruction. Nick Bartega is part of the Protection Unit team investigating the explosions, but with no discernible pattern, and no one taking responsibility, he and his colleagues have hit a blank wall.

That is until his neighbor, Tila, is caught up in the first real mistake the insurgents have made. Cornered, forced to take Tila’s whole office hostage, the insurgents are surrounded and out of options, until they use Tila as their shield.

Tila sees herself as Parnian first, Halatian second, but her dark blue hair, and the strong emotions her very existence provokes in others means the insurgents see her as the perfect hostage. No one on Par wants to give the order that might catch her in the crossfire. They’d rather let the insurgents get away.

But Nick, and his commander, Drake, see the first glimpse of a pattern in the insurgents behavior. Not that long ago, Halatians were used as hostages in another incident on the tiny moon of Cepi, and the parallels are hard to ignore. So is this attack on Var an isolated incident, or is there a bigger conspiracy at play?

Whatever the truth, Nick isn’t prepared to leave Tila in the insurgents hands. And he’s prepared to break any rule, and disregard any order to do it.

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Review of Interference and Insurgency

Another new series from Michelle Diener!!!  Yes – I am happy!  As far as her SFR series go, Class 5 and Sky Raiders, each one is unique in setting and in atmosphere. Verdant String is another singular series set in an egalitarian society that is being attacked from the inside and from outside.

The history of the Halatians is slowly doled out, but seems to be critical to both novellas, so I am guessing the series too. Blue-hair Halatians stand out on the Verdant String planets they have been forced to relocate to after their planet was destroyed in what I am assuming was a natural disaster. The survivors have managed to find new lives, but because of the past, they will always be the guilty reminder of what the other Verdant String planets did not do. Sadly, that makes them the optimal pawns, in politics, in society, in everything.

You see this truth in both of the prequel novellas Interference and Insurgency. The main characters are Halatian women caught up in circumstances they could not control or anticipate. Also key are the special forces/protection unit men that they meet and endure the conflict with.  While the romance in Interfence between Nyha and Mak seemed a bit rushed, in Insurgency, Tila and Nick had a charming, slower start.

There is a special character in Insurgency that I really liked.  Drake is the head of the protection unit and had a an exceptional, if infamous, role in the rescue of the Halation people.  I hope we get to see more of him in the series

In both stories, the women were the captives and were rescued by the men. Not that the women were weak.  In fact Ms. Diener’s heroines are never that.  But I hope the rescuing will be mixed up in the future.

Interference hints at the history of the Verdant String and it’s technology.  Insurgency gets a bit more into the Halation disaster. Both are providing background to what is sure to be a great new series that I look forward to with great anticipation!

The author provided a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.

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Breeder Slave by P.L. Parker – Review

Tags

4 stars, Book Review, P.L. Parker, scifi romance, series

Review by Riley

About Breeder Slave

 He was her salvation…or her destruction.

The galactic war between the Chiagan-Se and the treacherous Deg’Nara wages on. The human females Leah and the Irish lass Moira are captured and then abandoned, forced to fend for themselves on a barren planet light years from all they know. Their only hope is Sulas, a fugitive breeder slave, who wants nothing to do with them. Survival is chancy at best, but together, the three embark on a perilous journey to rejoin the Chiagan-Se rebels. But can they survive?

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Review of Breeder Slave

Breeder Slave is a book of non-stop action with galactic warfare and romance with a variety of characters from Earth and from beyond.

In Breeder Slave, the setting is well established.  A group of human woman, abducted from Earth to become chalices (mates), have worked their way into Chiagan-Se society in a variety of capacities.  Meanwhile the war with the Deg’Nara goes on.  At the beginning of Breeder Slave, two humans have just escaped the Deg’Nara,

The setting is great – a desolate planet that will require every survival skill that Leah and Moira possess.  And lets face it, they will also need the skills of Sulas, the escaped breeder slave they meet up with.  In truth, Leah is a bit of a whiner and Moira is a cry-baby and neither is cut out for survival life.  Sulas is untrusting, but is unable to leave them to their fate so a tenuous relationship is formed.  On the surface, the three very different people should not really work well together – and sometimes they don’t.  But Leah and Sulas will find a way to get along – they have to – there is this attraction thing going on.  I see them as a great couple.  Both are difficult to get along with, so when they work things out, the heat is on!

They face the Deg’Nara. A nastier group of bad guys you will be hard pressed to find. These are not bad guys with some superior intellect or devious plan. They are malicious, mean, violent, and without a moral bone in their bodies. Perhaps this is a bit overdone, but on the other hand, it makes it really fun to boo the evil Deg’Nara. Basically they are trying to take over the universe and everyone that is not them should be dead or be their slave.

About half-way through the story, new characters are added, including a human that has risen through the Chiagan-Se ranks to become captain of her own ship.  Captain Amber Racehorse is hard-headed, tough and takes absolutely no crap.  I loved her!  She and pilot Eschel add interest and depth to the story and eventually take the struggle from the planet to a climatic battle in space.

I’m not crazy about the title of Breeder Slave.  You have to read the book to understand where it comes from.  The reason I don’t care for it is that it has connotations that are such a very small part of the story.  The title does not really reflect the action and most of the characters in the book.  Ignoring the title, I really enjoyed this story.

The author provided a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.  She also sent The Chalice, recommending I read that one to know the background for Breeder Slave.  I am glad she did, though I think you could also enjoy Breeder Slave without reading The Chalice first.

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The King of Bones and Ashes (Witches of New Orleans #1) by J.D. Horn – Review

Tags

5 stars, family, gothic, horror, J.D. Horn, magic, New Orleans, paranormal, series, voodoo, witches

Review by Riley

About the King of Bones and Ashes

From the bestselling author of the Witching Savannah series comes the first book in a fascinating trilogy following the quest of a young witch to uncover her family’s terrifying secret history…

Magic is seeping out of the world, leaving the witches who’ve relied on it for countless centuries increasingly hopeless. While some see an inevitable end of their era, others are courting madness—willing to sacrifice former allies, friends, and family to retain the power they covet. While the other witches watch their reality unravel, young Alice Marin is using magic’s waning days to delve into the mystery of numerous disappearances in the occult circles of New Orleans. Alice disappeared once, too—caged in an asylum by blood relatives. Recently freed, she fears her family may be more involved with the growing crisis than she ever dared imagine.

Yet the more she seeks the truth about her family’s troubled history, the more she realizes her already-fragile psyche may be at risk. Discovering the cause of the vanishings, though, could be the only way to escape her mother’s reach while determining the future of all witches.

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Review of The King of Bones and Ashes

The number one reason I loved this book – there are so many utterly fascinating characters. In my advance e-copy, there was a listing of characters at the end of the book. I wish I had realized it was there. It would have been helpful when I got a bit confused when only first names were used. When you read this book, look for that helpful addendum! Back to the characters – like I said fascinating. And oh, so full of surprises! I settled on Alice as the character I was most invested in, however, there are others who are just as key to the story. Pick your own favorite character.

The New Orleans setting is full of history, voodoo, culture, charm, superstition, and folklore. Whether you are a resident or a fan of NOLA, the use of such a rich city to set this story in will draw you in.

The King of Bones and Ashes is about witches, power, family and what could be. All these elements are interwoven to tell a beautiful complex story of horror, mystery and magic.

There is a cliffhanger ending of a sort, but the next book is due out in June. Since I don’t have to wait long to continue the saga, I won’t subtract any points for it. So 5-stars. I loved this book!

Through NetGalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book.

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