Title: Prophecy (Book One in the Prophecy series)Author: Lea Kirk
Genre: scifi romance
Publisher: self
Available: Amazon (pre-order price) $0.99 (Kindle) 342 pages
Rating: 5*
Rater: Pippa
Blurb:
One normal day turns into a nightmare when Earth is attacked. Now ER nurse Alexandra Bock is imprisoned aboard an alien slave ship with no way out. She deems all aliens untrustworthy, including the handsome blue-skinned Matiran captain who shares her cell.
One night of betrayal leaves Senior Captain Gryf Helyg a prisoner of his enemies. Because of him, Earth’s indigenous people face extinction and his home world is threatened. But his plans for escape are complicated by his inexplicable draw to the Earth woman imprisoned with him.
One ancient prophecy holds the key to free Alexandra and Gryf’s war-ravaged worlds. Can two wounded souls who have lost everything learn to trust and forgive in order to fulfill the prophecy, and find a love that will last for eternity?
What I liked:
I've never been a fan of alien abduction or contemporary (ish) settings, which just goes to prove what a fabulous book this must be to win past my prejudices. Kirk's greatest skill lies in crafting her characters, winning you over to them, and writing even secondary romances in such a way that not only tugs on your heartstrings but completely reels you in, rips you apart, and leaves you with the warm fuzzies and tears in your eyes afterward. Prophecy also offers a different twist on the alien abduction trope by making both main characters abductees imprisoned together - one alien and one human - a variation that helped win me over (I'm not a fan of female abductee falls for alien abductor). It also plays on the Atlantis mythology, and two of my favourite themes: Soul mates and psi powers. The sex scenes are sensual and hot yet surprisingly quite non-explicit. This story packs some serious emotional punch.
What I didn't like:
While the story jumps straight into events, the first few chapters dragged just a fraction with all the main characters held prisoner. In some ways I suppose it accurately reflects their own frustrations at being trapped in a cell, but I would have liked it to move on a bit quicker. That said, it didn't put me off reading or impact my overall thoughts on the book.
In conclusion:
I LOVED. This. Book. While it's a little light on the SF elements for me, it's a stunning debut that reads like the work of a long-term professional author. The writing is smooth and highly polished, with great sensual intimacy in the sex scenes without a lot of explicit wording. Wonderfully three dimensional characters and perfectly written primary and secondary romances that will leave you longing for a Matiran of your own. Recommended for fans of alien abduction/invasion stories, gut-punching sensual romance, those who don't like their SFR too tech-heavy, and especially if you're looking for a variation on the alien abduction theme.
I received an ARC from the author for an unbiased and honest review.
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