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Slave Empire #3
The Shrike
The Shrike has made Rayne his wife in order to save her from the empty existence her empathy has condemned her to, shunned by all who fear her power. He has revealed his face to her and told her some of his secrets, and there are those who would do anything to discover what she knows. Various rival empires, factions and slavers have offered bounty totalling many millions for his death, and the image she carries in her mind means she is in grave danger should she ever stray from his protection.
Yet still he remains mostly a mystery, a gentle, but aloof companion, and she longs for more. If his enemies capture or kill the Shrike, however, millions of freed slaves will die or be returned to slavery. He is his people’s saviour and protector, and hundreds of thousands will lay down their lives to protect him and sacrifice themselves to avenge him. He is their emperor, who saved them from slavery, and they love him.
An ex-slave himself, the Shrike carries the mental and physical scars of his horrific former life. He started the Slave Empire with a single spaceship and it has grown into the third largest in the galaxy. Even all his warships will not be able to protect him if his rivals discover the truth about him, however, and only one person can betray him. If the Shrike dies, the Slave Empire will go to war with whoever kills him, and the retribution it metes out before it falls will be terrible, bloody, and final…
Yet still he remains mostly a mystery, a gentle, but aloof companion, and she longs for more. If his enemies capture or kill the Shrike, however, millions of freed slaves will die or be returned to slavery. He is his people’s saviour and protector, and hundreds of thousands will lay down their lives to protect him and sacrifice themselves to avenge him. He is their emperor, who saved them from slavery, and they love him.
An ex-slave himself, the Shrike carries the mental and physical scars of his horrific former life. He started the Slave Empire with a single spaceship and it has grown into the third largest in the galaxy. Even all his warships will not be able to protect him if his rivals discover the truth about him, however, and only one person can betray him. If the Shrike dies, the Slave Empire will go to war with whoever kills him, and the retribution it metes out before it falls will be terrible, bloody, and final…
- GenresScience FictionEbooks
Nook
First published February 23, 2011
5 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
T.C. Southwell
37 books156 followersT. C. Southwell was born in Sri Lanka and moved to the Seychelles when she was a baby. She spent her formative years exploring the islands – mostly alone. Naturally, her imagination flourished and she developed a keen love of other worlds. The family travelled through Europe and Africa and, after the death of her father, settled in South Africa.
T. C. Southwell has written over thirty novels, ranging from fantasy and science fiction to romance and adventure, as well as five screenplays. Her hobbies include motorcycling, horse riding and art, and she earns a living in the IT industry.
T. C. Southwell has written over thirty novels, ranging from fantasy and science fiction to romance and adventure, as well as five screenplays. Her hobbies include motorcycling, horse riding and art, and she earns a living in the IT industry.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 8 reviews
February 14, 2017
Loved this whole series.
In fact have loved every book I've read from this fantastic author.
In fact have loved every book I've read from this fantastic author.
February 25, 2012
I finally feel like the build-up is over and the story is moving along, but sadly it ended. I wish there was more, although I'm not really sure how it would have continued but I want to still be experiencing the lives of Rayne and Tarke. The only thing that bothered me was the extreme naivety of Rayne at times. Over all I found this series enjoyable, especially books two and three. I found the cultures and worlds fascinating. Maybe there are other slaves who could tell their own stories some day.
March 10, 2013
Rayne faces much conflict and sorrow after saving the Crystal Ship in Book 2, yet losing The Shrike, who she is falling in love with. He leaves her alone and she descends into the numbing consolation of drugs. After several years, he returns to claim her, as he has observed her deterioration and cannot bear to let her kill herself. But he is an ex-slave and has suffered much damage to his psyche, which does not allow him to be close to anyone, including her. Their struggles to overcome the barriers between them make an interesting story.
August 3, 2014
What a wild ride.
What a wild ride.
this story captivated me completely. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. the story just moved right along, very rich and full descriptions of the surroundings I could see the crystalline ship traveling through the cosmos. I could feel the bubbles of joy floating through the heroines mind.
this series is a must read definitely.
What a wild ride.
this story captivated me completely. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. the story just moved right along, very rich and full descriptions of the surroundings I could see the crystalline ship traveling through the cosmos. I could feel the bubbles of joy floating through the heroines mind.
this series is a must read definitely.
February 11, 2013
While I was satisfied with the characters progression, some of the wording and situations seemed a bit contrived at times. And how trusting can this former Earth-scrounging inhabitant be? She seemed to lose all of her common sense in this book.
January 7, 2013
Nice, but a bit too soppy... Somehow I feel like it was geared to the teenage crowd.
March 28, 2014
Great sci-fi series!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 8 reviews