Queen of Nowhere by Jaine Fenn #spaceopera

Title: Queen of Nowhere (Hidden Empire #5)
Author: Jaine Fenn
Genre: Space Opera
Publisher: Gollanz
Available: Amazon $6.99 (Kindle) 341 pages
Rating: 5*
Rater: Pippa





Blurb:
When paranoia is a way of life, trust doesn't come easily.
The Sidhe look like us. They live amongst us. What they lack in numbers they make up with their fearsome mental abilities and the considerable physical resources at their disposal. And their biggest advantage? No one believes they exist.
Almost no one.
Bez, the best hacker in human-space, is fighting a secret war against them. Always one step ahead, never lingering in one place, she's determined to bring them down. But she can't expose the Hidden Empire alone and when the only ally she trusted fails her she must accept help from an unexpected quarter.
Just one misstep, one incorrect assumption, and her Sidhe trap - her life's work - could end in vicious disaster. Worse, if Bez fails then humanity may never have another chance to win free of the manipulative and deadly Sidhe . . .

What I liked:
As always, the complexity and depth of the world building and technology are SciFi heaven to me. At first Bez irritated me with her apparently paranoia fueled obsession with every detail of her situation, but it soon becomes understandable why this is such a big deal. The broad mixture of cultures she has to integrate herself into makes for a believable and diverse universe. Nice twist at the end.

What I didn't like:
I missed Taro, Jarek, and especially Nual, with all three having been cast in much smaller roles in this after being the main characters previously. While the story mostly stays with the central character Bez and in her POV, there are odd jumps to other significant but fleeting characters that threw me out. Toward the end their significance becomes more obvious which makes it easier reading, but some readers might find it jarring. Also, this is apparently the last book. Wah!

In conclusion:
This is my favourite kind of space opera. I have loved all the books of the Hidden Empire, and I'm sorry this appears to be the final one. This was probably the less explosive and action packed of the five - more tension and intrigue - but nevertheless an entertaining and compulsive read. One for those who want SF with a different twist. It can be read as a stand-alone, but personally I think it's more enjoyable if you've read the rest of the series.

Iron Admiral: Conspiracy by Greta van der Rol #spaceopera

Title: Iron Admiral: Conspiracy (Ptorix Empire #1)
Author: Greta van der Rol
Genre: Space Opera
Publisher: Self
Available: Amazon $0.00 (Kindle) 207 pages
Rating: 4*
Rater: Pippa




Blurb:
Politics. Hatred. Star systems on the brink of war. A species under threat of extinction from a deadly virus.

Ex-Admiral Chaka Saahren goes undercover to discover the truth. Systems Engineer, Allysha Marten, takes one last job to rid her of debts and her cheating husband. On Tisyphor, deadly secrets about the past explode, as Allysha and the undercover agent scramble to prevent the coming holocaust and xenocide.

When the ex-Admiral’s identity is revealed, she must come to terms with her feelings for a man she thinks caused the death of innocent civilians, including her father.

In a race against time, Allysha must set aside her conflicted emotions and trust a man she barely knows. Saahren must convince the woman he loves to find the truth as he once more assumes his position as … The Iron Admiral.

What I liked:
Excellent world building, technology, and I love the non-human Ptorix - a concept underdone in the SFR I've read so far. I especially enjoyed the alien planet Tisyphor with its deadly fauna and interesting flora, and the almost poetic descriptions of Ptorix architecture, plus the complex, well-thought out politics and inevitable friction between two species (bearing in mind how difficult it is for human beings alone to get along with one another as it is). And while I didn't buy the hero's insta-love, nor that he was the notorious(?) Iron Admiral, he wasn't a jerk and he cared about her in a way that wasn't totally focused on having sex with her as soon as possible.

What I didn't like:
A bit disjointed and rough at the start, and I really didn't buy the main hero's insta-love for the heroine. I liked Allysha: a bit naive, a little bit 'helpless maiden' at times, but also a tech nerd and unassuming. I was also slightly disturbed by the hero's continued conviction that she would marry him eventually even when she was saying no. Love his conviction but found it rather stalkerish/obsessive.

In conclusion:
A book for those who like the ST/Firefly kind of SF with a romantic element, and providing the insta-love thing doesn't prove too big an obstacle. I would read them more for the SF concepts and the action than for the slightly less than believable 'romance' - the ending is more a dubious status quo than the HEA/HFN required to be a true romance. However, as this is only book one I'm assuming there's an overall romantic arc to the series to satisfy the romance fans by the end.

Even Villains Have Interns by Liana Brooks #superhero #romance

Title: Even Villains Have Interns (Heroes & Villains 3)
Author: Liana Brooks
Genre: Superhero romance/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Formerly Breathless Press/now Inkprint Press
Available: Amazon $2.99 (Kindle) 160 pages
Rating: 5*
Rater: Pippa





Blurb:
It's Chicago's favorite city son vs Delilah, daughter of Dr. Charm. America's second city will never know what hit it.
Bootleggers, drug dealers, crooked cops, and dirty politicians... Chicago has always had a reputation for indulging in the finer vices of life. That’s why Doctor Charm’s favorite daughter found America’s Second City so appealing; criminals are never boring. As second in command for the powerful Subrosa Security group, Delilah Samson finds opportunities to use her superpowers at every turn. Whether it’s stealing a priceless French painting from a mobster or stopping a drug deal, she’s game.
In fact, the only thing she doesn’t care for is Chicago’s favorite native son, Deputy Mayor Alan Adale, the man who made Lucifer jealous. Sinfully handsome, or possibly just sinful, Adale has been pursuing Delilah since she first arrived, and she’s been dodging.

When she finds ties between the new kingpin in town and a drug The Company wants to buy so they can create more superheroes, Delilah takes the gloves off. Teaming up with the spooky Spirit of Chicago, she aims to take down the dealers, the mobsters, the kingpin, and The Company. All without falling in love with the one man capable of capturing her heart.
*Originally published by Breathless Press


What I liked:
I've loved all three books in this series so far, but this one broke my heart the most. The 'will they/won't they end up together' romance really teetered on the edge right up to the very end, and I really wasn't sure which way it might go. The other great thing about these books is you can read them as stand-alones, although the underlying plot continues to build with each book. It's also great to read books set in the POV of...well, maybe not quite the supervillain, but certainly not the more conventional superheroes featured in them.


What I didn't like:
A couple of the location/settings had me confused - I struggled to imagine the lay out or where people were standing/what they were doing in a couple of places.

In conclusion:
Anyone who loves superheroes, and likes their romance on the sweet and sensual side rather than explicit will adore this. There's plenty of action, a hint of comedy, snarky repartee, and intrigue, all packed into this delightful novella. Buy the series!

Ignition Point by Kate Corcino #postapoc #anthology

Title: Ignition Point: A Progenitor Anthology (The Progenitor Saga)
Author: Kate Corcino
Genre: Post Apocalyptic
Publisher: Kate Corcino
Available: Amazon $0.99 (Kindle) 108 pages
Rating: 5*
Rater: Pippa




Blurb:

A collection of three related short stories, Ignition Point offers a glimpse into the early lives of characters from the upcoming book, Spark Rising. (rater's note - Spark Rising is now out).

Two hundred years after the cataclysm that annihilated fossil fuels, Sparks keep electricity flowing through their control of energy-giving Dust. The Council of Nine rebuilt civilization on the backs of Sparks, offering citizens a comfortable life in a relo-city in exchange for power, particularly over the children able to fuel the future. The strongest of the boys are taken as Wards and raised to become elite agents, the Council’s enforcers and spies. Strong girls--those who could advance the rapidly-evolving matrilineal power--don’t exist. Not according to the Council.

“Ward” introduces Thomas, a thirteen-year-old boy rescued from Scavengers, marauding slavers who murdered both his biological and foster parents and sold the highly-powered boy to the highest bidder--the Council of Nine. Dumped at the Ward School to train his abilities, Thomas must learn to survive among a new breed of savages…the boys who have been training there since they were five and the men who must hone them into weapons.

“Blood and Water” is the story of Lucas, a young man who has spent his childhood shunned by his powerful, religious family for the crime of being born a Spark. On the cusp of discovering his power and place in the world his grandfather intends to re-shape, Lucas will discover the heavy price of belonging. Will he pay it, or will he count the costs and deem them too high?


“Ghost Story” shows how lives lived on the edge--of society, of safety, of sanity--can intersect. Lena, a highly-powered runaway, fled a life of hiding from the Council. Elias is one of the so-called New Barbarians, those who choose to live free lives outside the comfort of cities relying on comforts that should have died with the old civilization. Wounded and dying, he hunts the Scavengers who killed his people and took his brother to sell. A chance meeting in the desert of what was New Mexico may save them both.

What I liked:

Ward - 4*. I loved seeing this peek into the early lives of two main characters from Spark Rising, but I think it might read better for those who've read the novel already. It explains the history behind their quest for a better world.

Blood and Water - 5*. Even though I got a terrible sense of where this was going, it still didn't ease the real gut punch of an ending. This little short will leave you chilled, but shows how easy it is for someone to be emotionally manipulated into actions that they may have thought themselves incapable of, and of how we can even mislead ourselves.

Ghost Story - 5*. I loved seeing a snippet of Lena's live before Spark Rising, and really this is the best intro to SR if you read IP first.

What I didn't like:

Ward - the main character referred to his tragic recent past just a little too often and I lost some of my sympathy simply from the repetition. In a short story it really didn't need it.

Blood and Water - nothing to criticize.

Ghost Story - again, I really don't have anything bad to say about it.


In conclusion:

If you love apocalyptic/dystopian fiction with a punch, but are looking for something with a new twist, this is for you and gives you a brief introduction into the world explored more fully in Spark Rising (although I'm tempted to say read SR before IP). This may be something for fans of the TV series The 100, or Dan Wells's Partials books. Quick, easy reads that will leave you thinking afterward. I loved these three little bonus stories showing more of the same world as Spark Rising, especially in terms of Alex and Lena. It explains so much of their characters in the follow-on novel.

The Trouble with Pixies (Edinburgh Elementals Book 1) by Gayle Ramage #urbanfantasy

Title: The Trouble with Pixies (Edinburgh Elementals Book 1)
Author: Gayle Ramage
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
Publisher: Self
Available: Amazon $0.00 (Kindle) 17 pages
Rating: 4*
Rater: Pippa




Blurb:

Michael has just moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, to make a fresh start with his three children. While they're out exploring the city, he's relaxing with a glass of wine.

That is until a knock on the front door leads to a bizarre revelation from a strange, red-haired woman, and an encounter in the attic with some grumpy, swearing pixies.

Book 1 - The Trouble With Pixies
Book 2 - Tears of Gold
Book 3 - Land of the Ice Giants

What I liked:

A cute, fun quirky UF short story that I would have loved more of. Kind of Douglas Adams-esque humorous urban fantasy NOT set in London if you're looking for a more unique UF setting. There's also a lot of unique ideas and touches in this. Definitely for fans of such things as the Spiderwick Chronicles, Labyrinth, and UF that focuses on more unusual mythical creatures than angels and vampires.

What I didn't like:

Although I knew it was a short story, this was waaaay too short. I could easily have devoured a full length novel of this. On the technical side, my main issue with this was I didn't quite buy how Michael just let a strange, and at initial meeting quite deranged woman into his house when he has kids.

In conclusion:

If you want something different in your urban fantasy, this is for you. It's short, so you get a quick taster, and it's free, so it's not costing anything other than a few moments of your time to try it out.