Games of Command (Bantam Spectra Book)

by Linnea Sinclair (Goodreads author!)

Games of Command (Bantam Spectra Book)

published

February 27th 2007 by Spectra

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binding

Mass Market Paperback, 560 pages

characters

Tasha "Sass" Sebastian, Branden Kel-Paten, Doc Eden Fynn, Tank the furzel

literary awards

RITA award finalist, PEARL Winner; AAR Reader Poll Winner

isbn

0553589636 (isbn13: 9780553589634)

description

The universe isn’t what it used to be. With the new Alliance between the Triad and the United Coalition, Captain Tasha “Sass” Sebast...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 118)

All ratings | 5 stars (42) | 4 stars (25) | 3 stars (8) | 2 stars (3) | avg 4.36

all | this edition

Oriana

Oriana rated it:

06/25/08

bookshelves: english, keepers, romance, sci-fi, the-ones-i-cannot-live-without

Read in March, 2008

It’s so hard to write a review about a book we really loved and I’ve been struggling for days to write only a few lines.

After reading The Accidental Goddess and Gabriel’s Ghost, Linnea Sinclair quickly went to my auto-buy list. When I finally got my hands in Games of Command, I knew this was going to be an adventurous journey!

"The univers...more

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

4 comments

Brownbetty

Brownbetty rated it:

04/18/08

Reading this book, I kept on saying, sometimes out-loud, "haha whut." The entire thing is really so ludicrously over the top, and the main conflict feels like something that might have come from a Saturday morning cartoon produced in the eighties. I enjoyed it a lot, when I wasn't writhing in sympathetic embarrassment at the display of authorial id.

Captain Tasha 'Sass' Sebastian is serving under (not like that!) Admiral Brendon Kel-Paten. Their respective empires were once at wa...more

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Anita

Anita rated it:

06/18/08

Read in June, 2008

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I was hesitant about this sub-genre (science fiction romance a la Star Trek instead of my prefered contemporary fantasy vampires/werewolves), but this author is a regular participant on the paranormal romance goodreads group, and this book won an award, so I wanted to give it a try.

I'm glad I did! The writing was witty and fun. The plot suspenseful and well-woven, without resorting to horror/gore. (Many urban fantasy writers go the ...more

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Ciara

Ciara rated it:

09/24/08

bookshelves: paranormal-romance

Plot:
Captain Tasha “Sass” Sebastian is a former rebel trying to uphold a new alliance between her human United Coalition and the biocybe Triad. She is shocked to find herself under the command of her former nemesis Admiral Branden Kel-Paten. Why would the Coalition place her with the emotionless biocybe when the two spent the war shooting at each other across the galaxy? It is a disaster waiting to happen. But Kel-Paten hides a deep secret that could cost him his life - emotions get one re...more Plot:
Captain Tasha “Sass” Sebastian is a former rebel trying to uphold a new alliance between her human United Coalition and the biocybe Triad. She is shocked to find herself under the command of her former nemesis Admiral Branden Kel-Paten. Why would the Coalition place her with the emotionless biocybe when the two spent the war shooting at each other across the galaxy? It is a disaster waiting to happen. But Kel-Paten hides a deep secret that could cost him his life - emotions get one reprogrammed. (Can we say Psy?)

Alliance crews are dying mysteriously. Kel-Paten and Sass rescue wanted rebel Jace Serafino from a dead ship. Only Sass’s friend Dr. Eden Fynn can reach Serafino around the traps someone placed in his brain to prevent him from accessing memories of his ordeal. (Cue secondary love story.) Clues point to sinister dealings within Triad.

In search of clues, the ship crash lands on a mysterious green planet where reality is not what it seems. Navigating space is child’s play compared to untangling the complex weaves of emotion, perception and memory in this new frontier. Together Sass and Kel-Paten must escape the perilous traps of the mind and find their way through the intricate mysteries of the heart.

Discussion:
GAMES OF COMMAND is a Desert Island Keeper not only for the original and complex world building, but because the love story between the spunky rebellious Sass and the cold seemingly-emotionless Kel-Paten catches hold of your heart strings and takes you for a wild ride. It is a gift to make the reader care so deeply for the hero and heroine’s happily ever after. There are many elements that make a good book - style, characters, plot, setting - but nothing is so important as making the reader invested in the outcome of the story. Ms. Sinclair has this gift. Almost as soon as I was introduced to the hero’s point of view, I fell for him. Hard. There is nothing sexier than a man who’s pretending to be a tough guy and trying to save the world, but inside is head over heels, vulnerably in love with the heroine. Be still my heart.

I admit I was hesitant to start the book. Typically outer-space settings and star wars plots aren’t my style, but Ms. Sinclair’s engaging characters quickly overcame my biases. My favorite characters - excluding the heartthrob hero - were the furzels, the cat-like furry companions who have special secret powers and inquisitive minds. The reason I bought this book, out of the two or three Ms. Sinclair was autographing at the RWA National Conference, was because Ms. Sinclair wrote her cat into the book and on the cover (see pic left). A cat person myself (and still morning the loss of my baby), I had to read the book. The furzels made me cry.

Sass is a great heroine - intrepid, down-to-earth, quick-witted - without the accompanying harsh cynicism that often comes with tough-chick heroines. Kel-Paten…What can I say? He’s the knight-in-shining-armor ever girl dreams of finding. Sass is one lucky gal.

I look forward to reading the rest of Ms. Sinclair’s books!...less

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Roberta

Roberta rated it:

07/14/08

bookshelves: romance, sciencefiction

Read in July, 2008

The writer calls her novel a science fiction romance and that is an apt description for this novel.

This story is really a tale of two couples who meet one another. One is the main character Captain Tasha "Sass" Sebastian and her commander, Admiral Branden Kel-Paten. The other couple is Doctor Eden Fynn and Captain Serafino, a rogue captured by Sebastian's ship the Vax.

The science part of the story is pretty good although frankly it is a bit romanticized as officers who ge...more

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Janice

Janice rated it:

08/23/08

Read in February, 2008

Wow, the books by this author are addictive. I read one and three weeks later I was halfway through her backlist. As with the rest of the books, there's a lot of action, space fights, and cool technology bandied about. I always enjoy the world building. I also have noted that each of the books so far seem to be in their own universe (or part of the universe) - I haven't seen overlapping names of governments, religions, or races yet. Unless I missed one. There are common things in terms of charac...more

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Angie

Angie rated it:

06/03/08

bookshelves: good-uns

Read in May, 2008

I decided to follow up my first Linnea Sinclair book ( Gabriel's Ghost) with Games of Command and I am so glad I did. What a fun, fun book this is. I inhaled it over the weekend and wished there was a sequel lying around somewhere when I was done. Games of Command follows main characters Captain Tasha Sebastian and Admiral Branden Kel-Paten as well as secondar...more I decided to follow up my first Linnea Sinclair book ( Gabriel's Ghost) with Games of Command and I am so glad I did. What a fun, fun book this is. I inhaled it over the weekend and wished there was a sequel lying around somewhere when I was done. Games of Command follows main characters Captain Tasha Sebastian and Admiral Branden Kel-Paten as well as secondary characters Dr. Eden Fynn and Captain Jace Serafino. As in Gabriel's Ghost, the two main characters have a history from the get-go and I love that. Makes me feel like I've stepped into something real and multifaceted, like the characters didn't just begin to exist when I opened the book but have instead been living their lives just fine without me and are now generously letting me peek in on what's going on.

When their respective employers form an alliance, the former nemeses find themselves working together on the same ship. Tasha and Kel-Paten both have a few very potent secrets to hide, from each other and the Alliance. But just when they think they've reached a professional balance of don't ask, don't tell, notorious pirate Jace Serafino lands on board the Vax, injured and fairly leaking information that could expose a number of people and set off a few nasty time bombs. Add to that the fact that Kel-Paten is a biocybe (half human/half machine), Serafino is a telepath, Tasha is a former mercenary, and the games are on. The point of view alternates between the four lead characters and this helped shape the flow of the story and propel it forward, giving the reader some insight into each characters' motivations, hopes, and flaws leading up to the conclusion.

I liked Gabriel's Ghost, but I loved Games of Command. A big reason was because Tasha and Kel-Paten are both good guys, completely and compulsively likable. He is not a reformed scoundrel, she is not a heartless opportunist. They're both simply in over their heads trying to claw their way out of the mess they've stumbled into. They enjoy taunting each other to a degree (naturally) but there is little to no run-of-the-mill bickering inserted just to show how insufferably domineering he is and how incredibly sassy she is. And that was utterly refreshing. I cared about them, wanted the best for them, and they didn't let me down by being petty or stupid. Reading this book was just plain Fun. Definitely a keeper....less

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Ana T.

Ana T. rated it:

01/29/08

bookshelves: keeper, sci-fi

Read in January, 2007

I usually stay away from Sci-Fi but Alecia and Rosário convinced me to pick this one up. I have a hard time believing in the future as a place full of spaceships and no apparent connection to our world and when I started this book I was almost convinced I wasn’t going to like it. Fortunately I was wrong.

Can she trust a man who is half-machine?
The universe isn’t what it used to be. With the new alliance between the Triad and the United Coalition, Captain Tasha “Sass” Sebastian find...more I usually stay away from Sci-Fi but Alecia and Rosário convinced me to pick this one up. I have a hard time believing in the future as a place full of spaceships and no apparent connection to our world and when I started this book I was almost convinced I wasn’t going to like it. Fortunately I was wrong.

Can she trust a man who is half-machine?
The universe isn’t what it used to be. With the new alliance between the Triad and the United Coalition, Captain Tasha “Sass” Sebastian finds herself serving under her former nemesis, bio-cybe Admiral Branden Kel-Paten—and doing her best to hide a deadly past. But when an injured mercenary falls into their ship’s hands, her efforts may be wasted …

Wanted rebel Jace Serafino has information that could expose all of Sass’s secrets, tear the fragile Alliance apart—and end Sass’s career if Kel-Paten discovers them. But the bio-cybe has something to hide as well, something once thought impossible for his kind to possess: feelings...for Sass. Soon it’s clear that their prisoner could bring down everything they once believed was worth dying for—and everything they now have to live for…

First of all I have to say Sinclair did a great job in the world building department. I was a bit lost on the first 2 or 3 chapters but once I started to understand what was what and who was who it all made perfect sense and I was totally into that world.

Second of all she created a great hero in Branden Kel-Paten. He was a wonderful person, even if he was half machine and I really liked how he dealt with Tasha and how he tried to get close to her. When the story starts he has been in love with her for a long time but lacks the courage to approach her. And she is totally oblivious to his feelings till she hacks into his computer and founds a series of letters written to her. Actually till then she suspected she had been transferred to his ship so he could control her better and maybe get her in trouble. I also liked the secondary characters – Eden and Jace – who seemed important to make them more real. Eden was Tasha’s friend and confidante and Jace knew her secret past. Eden is also an empath and Jace is a telepath which made for some funny scenes between them.

And finally she also created an intricated plot with fast paced action where there are spys, traitors and our characters don’t really know who to trust in a world where not all is what it seems.

I’m still not a sci-fi fan but I’m really happy I read this one.
Grade B+...less

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Alitheia

Alitheia marked it as to-read

11/15/08

bookshelves: alien-futuristic-sci-fi, tbr, to-read

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Diane

Diane marked it as to-read

11/05/08

bookshelves: to-read

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Coffcat

Coffcat rated it:

06/08/08

bookshelves: sci-fi

Read in June, 2008

This book was awesome! From the second I picked it up I could barely set it down. You know so good that you choose to read over sleeping and eating? That's how good it is. Adventure, excitement, great plot, well rounded characters, it's all there! Honestly I'm usually not overly interested in sci-fi but for Linnea Sinclair I will always make her books a priority.

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Jo rated it:

10/28/08

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Kris

Kris rated it:

10/23/08

bookshelves: sci-fi-romance

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April

April rated it:

08/26/08

bookshelves: sci-fi---fantasy

Read in August, 2008

recommends it for: pet-loving scifi fans (and everyone else)

I couldn't put this down - stayed up half the night reading it. The story and the science are completely implausible.....so steer clear if that puts you off. The characters (human and, um, other) are complicated and fun to spend time with. And the story is a rollercoaster ride you don't want to get off.

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Jessica

Jessica rated it:

10/06/08

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Leslie

Leslie marked it as to-read

10/03/08

bookshelves: sci-fi-romance, to-read

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Deb

Deb added it

10/02/08

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Keziah

Keziah added it

10/01/08

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Robyn

Robyn marked it as to-read

09/28/08

bookshelves: to-read

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Carolyn

Carolyn rated it:

09/25/08

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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 4.36 (78 ratings)
number of reviews: 13

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