What do you think?
Rate this book
Under Strange Skies #1
Aklesh
Prince Gareth Orestes has crash-landed on a primitive planet and after an encounter with a young healer finds himself altered forever.
Meanwhile, strangers from off-world have been kidnapping and torturing the Aklesh, a peaceful telepathic tribe.
With the help of Kai, a warrior in the tribe, Gar must overcome the challenges of this new world and the obstacles of his own ego in order to escape and help the Aklesh free themselves from the mysterious "Others."
All the while trying to find his own way back home, and whether or not he even wants to go back.
Meanwhile, strangers from off-world have been kidnapping and torturing the Aklesh, a peaceful telepathic tribe.
With the help of Kai, a warrior in the tribe, Gar must overcome the challenges of this new world and the obstacles of his own ego in order to escape and help the Aklesh free themselves from the mysterious "Others."
All the while trying to find his own way back home, and whether or not he even wants to go back.
371 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 2011
5 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 7, 2013
Did you ever woke up in the middle of the night, completely awake... knowing you can't go back to sleep?
I did, it was 2am, and I knew I couldn't go back to sleep. Awake and trying to decide what to do I remember I had this book to read. Bad choice... no, not because I didn't like it, but because I KNEW I would not stop, before finish it. It was too good to put down!
The plot
During a outburst or rage, and in childish behave, the crown Prince Gar run from everything. Taking a starship he do what he always do, fly around, anywhere... somewhere far from all his responsibilities and problems.
What he couldn't imagine how much his live would change, and maybe also the fate of the universe.
The sci-fi theme
When I remember I had this book to read my thoughts were ALL to the sci-fi theme I read on the blurb. I wasn't disappointed! At all!
Aliens, in a alien world, with alien animals and alien customs. That's all what Gar will find when his startship crash in a "forgotten" world of the galaxy.He will be forced to be with a strange tribe, with the Aklesh people.
Saved by Kai'thal, a apprentice healer, Gar as the narrator will let you see it... and it's fantastic! That's why I LOOOOOVE sci-fi so much! I WAS there too, in that strange world.
Action and also... maybe romance
No, I can't talk about romance. It's.. not an erotic book. There is ONE sex scene, or maybe NONE, even if there is... It's romance, not sex as in a erotic book. Something I CAN'T talk about :D
I can't ruin your fun!
The prince must learn a lot, and maybe the most important lesson is a very simple one: freedom in a state of mind.
It's perfect, and that why I gave 5 stars?
Depends... it was perfect giving me great hours of fun, knowing about an alien world.
It wasn't perfect if I talk about editing (some minor problems, like punctuations) and I think it wasn't perfect in how the plot was developed. Maybe there is a project for a sequel, and that can explain why so much was "wasted" in the court, because I can't explain some fact told, that don't happen (. When I read I always try to see all possibilities, of all scenes, and when some don't "end" don't have a explanation of why it was there It bothers me. Also the end... so sudden, almost too rushed... an epilogue maybe would be better IMO, giving me some more pages, and an idea of what will happen from that point.
So, in my modest opinion it's a 5 stars book because it was perfect, addicting, and I couldn't put it down before the last page.
PS: I rarely do it, but I must say some words about the book cover.
This is perfect,
. Maybe not much appealing, the weird not good looking alien on the right, but THAT'S the alien race! That's how they look like.
When I got it I bought the kindle file with this cover:
hummm.... who are the them? Sorry, it really don't show me anything from the story. Who are those two? The dark hair is Gar, ok, and the other one? He is a slut, being in love with someone from Aklesh and having a human somewhere as a lover? :D Maybe... I don't know. :D The second human on the book cover is.. odd.
I saw a upcoming edition cover and ADORED IT! click here. THAT'S a great cover... even if, I must admit, I still love this one,
. I'm not shallow :D I like the alien on the right.. and... if it's Kai, damn, I'm in love :D
Weird of not, it's what Kai is... and I adore him, how he is... Gray and weird :)
I did, it was 2am, and I knew I couldn't go back to sleep. Awake and trying to decide what to do I remember I had this book to read. Bad choice... no, not because I didn't like it, but because I KNEW I would not stop, before finish it. It was too good to put down!
The plot
During a outburst or rage, and in childish behave, the crown Prince Gar run from everything. Taking a starship he do what he always do, fly around, anywhere... somewhere far from all his responsibilities and problems.
What he couldn't imagine how much his live would change, and maybe also the fate of the universe.
The sci-fi theme
When I remember I had this book to read my thoughts were ALL to the sci-fi theme I read on the blurb. I wasn't disappointed! At all!
Aliens, in a alien world, with alien animals and alien customs. That's all what Gar will find when his startship crash in a "forgotten" world of the galaxy.He will be forced to be with a strange tribe, with the Aklesh people.
Saved by Kai'thal, a apprentice healer, Gar as the narrator will let you see it... and it's fantastic! That's why I LOOOOOVE sci-fi so much! I WAS there too, in that strange world.
Action and also... maybe romance
No, I can't talk about romance. It's.. not an erotic book. There is ONE sex scene, or maybe NONE, even if there is... It's romance, not sex as in a erotic book. Something I CAN'T talk about :D
I can't ruin your fun!
The prince must learn a lot, and maybe the most important lesson is a very simple one: freedom in a state of mind.
It's perfect, and that why I gave 5 stars?
Depends... it was perfect giving me great hours of fun, knowing about an alien world.
It wasn't perfect if I talk about editing (some minor problems, like punctuations) and I think it wasn't perfect in how the plot was developed. Maybe there is a project for a sequel, and that can explain why so much was "wasted" in the court, because I can't explain some fact told, that don't happen (. When I read I always try to see all possibilities, of all scenes, and when some don't "end" don't have a explanation of why it was there It bothers me. Also the end... so sudden, almost too rushed... an epilogue maybe would be better IMO, giving me some more pages, and an idea of what will happen from that point.
So, in my modest opinion it's a 5 stars book because it was perfect, addicting, and I couldn't put it down before the last page.
PS: I rarely do it, but I must say some words about the book cover.
This is perfect,
. Maybe not much appealing, the weird not good looking alien on the right, but THAT'S the alien race! That's how they look like.When I got it I bought the kindle file with this cover:
hummm.... who are the them? Sorry, it really don't show me anything from the story. Who are those two? The dark hair is Gar, ok, and the other one? He is a slut, being in love with someone from Aklesh and having a human somewhere as a lover? :D Maybe... I don't know. :D The second human on the book cover is.. odd.
I saw a upcoming edition cover and ADORED IT! click here. THAT'S a great cover... even if, I must admit, I still love this one,
. I'm not shallow :D I like the alien on the right.. and... if it's Kai, damn, I'm in love :DWeird of not, it's what Kai is... and I adore him, how he is... Gray and weird :)
March 16, 2012
Recommended 15-16 yrs old and up. This was a straight-forward great sci fi story about a prince who crash-lands on a remote planet and is rescued by a younger native man. There's a little bit of romance at the end, but only an allusion to sex. Otherwise, I'd say it's for reader 13 years old and up. A lot of it is about the struggle with having to adapt to a different culture, living without technology, and learning to share thoughts and emotions with someone else, literally. A few small editorial slips, but otherwise, very nicely written. I'm really looking forward to the sequel!
June 21, 2013
3.5 stars
The beginning of the book was kind of boring, but I really enjoyed the later 2/3. There were some minor editing issues that threw me out from time-to-time. The book is told in third-person, but the focus would shift between the characters. Sometimes the shifts happened mid-paragraph and I would have to go back and re-read a section to figure out what was going on.
I did enjoy seeing the development of the characters. Gar is the main focus, and seeing his attitude change from spoiled prince to member of the society. The story is focused on the characters discovering who they are and who they want to be. There is a bit of a romance, but it felt sudden when it actually came up.
There really needed to be more world building for Orestus (Gar's world). There were some scenes based there and it is described once, but I could never get a real feel for how it was set-up or what the social dynamics were.
The beginning of the book was kind of boring, but I really enjoyed the later 2/3. There were some minor editing issues that threw me out from time-to-time. The book is told in third-person, but the focus would shift between the characters. Sometimes the shifts happened mid-paragraph and I would have to go back and re-read a section to figure out what was going on.
I did enjoy seeing the development of the characters. Gar is the main focus, and seeing his attitude change from spoiled prince to member of the society. The story is focused on the characters discovering who they are and who they want to be. There is a bit of a romance, but it felt sudden when it actually came up.
There really needed to be more world building for Orestus (Gar's world). There were some scenes based there and it is described once, but I could never get a real feel for how it was set-up or what the social dynamics were.
April 19, 2014
Main Characters: Prince Gareth Jaruisse Orestes the Third & Kai’thal, Son of Dael and Orna’thal
Key Themes: Slow Burn, UST, Bonding, Social Differences, Interspecies
Location: Planets Aklesh & Oresch
This is the love story between a spoilt sophisticated prince (who is stranded on a planet inhabited by a race of simple humanoids capable of telepathic communication) and one of the natives.
Although I enjoyed this story, I really wanted the characters to be bolder, particularly when it came to the romance.
Still, I hope the story gets a sequel! I loved the world-buildng and desperately want to know how Kai and Gar make it on Oreset, and how Kai copes with being at the royal court.
Key Themes: Slow Burn, UST, Bonding, Social Differences, Interspecies
Location: Planets Aklesh & Oresch
This is the love story between a spoilt sophisticated prince (who is stranded on a planet inhabited by a race of simple humanoids capable of telepathic communication) and one of the natives.
Although I enjoyed this story, I really wanted the characters to be bolder, particularly when it came to the romance.
Still, I hope the story gets a sequel! I loved the world-buildng and desperately want to know how Kai and Gar make it on Oreset, and how Kai copes with being at the royal court.
April 23, 2016
This book is great, If I had any problem, it was that the author took too long in bringing the romance out into the open the building upp to it while interesting seemed to drag on forever. I was Cheering for Gar and Kai and knew they would be together way before the author revealed it. that being said It ended to soon for me, because I would have loved seeing how Kai adjusted to living Orestus City. Hint to author (sequel please)
A fun read especially once you get past the setup. Aklesh has many emotional scenes that will carry you along.
If it wasn't for the long setup and one subplot which doesn't seem to me to be important enough to take as many pages as it does. Aklesh would have received 5 stars.
A fun read especially once you get past the setup. Aklesh has many emotional scenes that will carry you along.
If it wasn't for the long setup and one subplot which doesn't seem to me to be important enough to take as many pages as it does. Aklesh would have received 5 stars.
August 24, 2013
3.5 stars - I liked it pretty much, though I felt it ended too soon. Is there a sequel in the making? There were hints of things left unsolved and it would be really interesting to see how the "savage" deals becoming involved with a Galactic prince.
The first 2/3 of the story has very little romance and the last part where the two get together is quite PG. I don't mind if there is very little sex, but I'd have liked a bit more "screen time" for their relationship after they got together.
The book had plenty of action and interesting little elements of a culture clash. The characters were a bit too simple so I didn't fall in love with them. Plus the Prince seemed to be a bit of an idiot at home and every other thing that was mentioned about his princely lifestyle made him annoying(though he didn't act too badly on the planet).
The first 2/3 of the story has very little romance and the last part where the two get together is quite PG. I don't mind if there is very little sex, but I'd have liked a bit more "screen time" for their relationship after they got together.
The book had plenty of action and interesting little elements of a culture clash. The characters were a bit too simple so I didn't fall in love with them. Plus the Prince seemed to be a bit of an idiot at home and every other thing that was mentioned about his princely lifestyle made him annoying(though he didn't act too badly on the planet).
August 12, 2013
A very inventive and fascinating story. The author's detailed descriptions worked wonders with my imagination. Simply captivating from beginning to end.
I very much hope that a sequel is planned in the near future ... In the meantime, I highly recommend it !
What a fabulous book !
August 13, 2011
It's an interesting story. Reading this feels a little bit like watching Avatar. Prince Gar's ship crashed in a planet where he's not supposed to be. While lacking the interspace technology, the native population, called Aklesh, has their own way of communication and 'joining'. To save Gar's life, an Aklesh warrior by the name of Kai has to 'join' him. Make them a couple for life.
I like the MCs as well as the supporting characters. The background of several important characters are told in a nice way, and the author let us read some parallel scenes.
I like the MCs as well as the supporting characters. The background of several important characters are told in a nice way, and the author let us read some parallel scenes.
December 12, 2012
This story is excellent. I have to say the author writing style is vivid and straight-forwardly. I was instantly pulled into Gareth's story and there wasn't a moment of boredom. But the way it ended we can predict that Gareth's and Kai story isn't finished jet. I'm Glad!
This is definitely Highly RECOMMENDED sci-fi adventure entwined with light romance.
This is definitely Highly RECOMMENDED sci-fi adventure entwined with light romance.
February 18, 2012
Wow. Amazing. I love this!
I reminded me a little of Avatar on some points but this story is very unique in it's own way and is really enjoyable! The world was interesting and the alien society Gar enters unintended fascinated me. All in all a great read.
I reminded me a little of Avatar on some points but this story is very unique in it's own way and is really enjoyable! The world was interesting and the alien society Gar enters unintended fascinated me. All in all a great read.
December 17, 2012
It was very enjoyable reeding material.
to-read-pruned
May 5, 2014I hate the name "Gar."
July 27, 2015
couldn't finish
February 10, 2015
The typos really threw me out of the story. I think I would have enjoyed this with more editing.
August 7, 2014
Not for me.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews