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The Brajj #1
Dreams of the Queen
Dr. Cass Baros is haunted by dreams of an alien world...
...and will do anything to find it.
Relentlessly, she works her science team--along with her co-project leader and fiancé, Dr. Julian Saunders--in order to create the first lab-contained wormhole. Their boss, Dr. Janson, has a secret agenda. He adds a military contingent, which expands their six person team to twelve and increases tensions between the members. Egos will clash, agendas will cross, and their worlds will be undone as they travel through the wormhole.
The team, unable to return home and facing numerous dangers--conflicting desires, burning suns, cannibalistic monsters--is plunged into an adventure beyond their control. They struggle to unravel millennia old secrets in an alien world where nothing is what it seems. While Captain Lewis' leadership strengthens, Cass deals with her destiny as the Brajj queen, and the Brajj, Jeamon, questions his lifelong beliefs and loyalties.
Cass and her team wrestle with her royal status to the Brajj, while being tossed between love and betrayal, genius and madness, and a jealousy frightening enough to cause the destruction of worlds.
*Rated Mature 18+* Science Fiction/Romance/Adventure/Aliens, zombies, romance, some time slipping and a wormhole all wrapped up in a mystery! (Serious sci-fi with a mature romance, violence, language, and some gore--this is not a fluffy bunny)
Consistently in the paid top 100 sub-genres of time travel, genetic engineering, and metaphysical & visionary science fiction 8/2013-11/2013
PURCHASE AT: AMAZON US/AMAZON UK/ AMAZON CA/AMAZON AU/SMASHWORDS/B&N/KOBO
...and will do anything to find it.
Relentlessly, she works her science team--along with her co-project leader and fiancé, Dr. Julian Saunders--in order to create the first lab-contained wormhole. Their boss, Dr. Janson, has a secret agenda. He adds a military contingent, which expands their six person team to twelve and increases tensions between the members. Egos will clash, agendas will cross, and their worlds will be undone as they travel through the wormhole.
The team, unable to return home and facing numerous dangers--conflicting desires, burning suns, cannibalistic monsters--is plunged into an adventure beyond their control. They struggle to unravel millennia old secrets in an alien world where nothing is what it seems. While Captain Lewis' leadership strengthens, Cass deals with her destiny as the Brajj queen, and the Brajj, Jeamon, questions his lifelong beliefs and loyalties.
Cass and her team wrestle with her royal status to the Brajj, while being tossed between love and betrayal, genius and madness, and a jealousy frightening enough to cause the destruction of worlds.
*Rated Mature 18+* Science Fiction/Romance/Adventure/Aliens, zombies, romance, some time slipping and a wormhole all wrapped up in a mystery! (Serious sci-fi with a mature romance, violence, language, and some gore--this is not a fluffy bunny)
Consistently in the paid top 100 sub-genres of time travel, genetic engineering, and metaphysical & visionary science fiction 8/2013-11/2013
PURCHASE AT: AMAZON US/AMAZON UK/ AMAZON CA/AMAZON AU/SMASHWORDS/B&N/KOBO
409 pages, ebook
First published October 14, 2012
About the author
Jacqueline Patricks
16 books162 followersFunctionally insane writer with military and medical experience. "So, I know how to draw blood, patch you up, and hide the evidence," she says with straight face.
YOU DON'T READ A JACQUELINE PATRICKS STORY, YOU EXPERIENCE IT!
#whatsyourexperience
www.jacquelinepatricks.com
jacquelinepatricks@gmail.com
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YOU DON'T READ A JACQUELINE PATRICKS STORY, YOU EXPERIENCE IT!
#whatsyourexperience
www.jacquelinepatricks.com
jacquelinepatricks@gmail.com
Subscribe to my newsletter for a free book, exclusive content, and a chance to be an ARC reader Newsletter
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Dreams of the Queen has earned the IndiePENdent's seal of approval for grammar and formatting standards.
I've earned the: Smashed Rat Seal of Approval!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
August 24, 2017
Scientists, always pushing the envelope, searching for more, reaching beyond the known limits and for Dr. Cass Baros and her fiancé, Dr. Julian Saunders, their time may have come to take one step “beyond.” For the brilliant Cass, science is her life and her greatest achievement is about to come to fruition as her team attempts to power up her in-laboratory wormhole.
When her project boss unveils his own agenda, Cass, Julian and their team of scientists must go through the wormhole along with a team of soldiers, which causes tempers to flare. Cass realizes she is being used as a puppet, but what they discover is the things dreams are made of and Cass would know, because she has seen this place and the being that greets them in her dreams. What she never imagined was the new reality she would be plunged into or that she would find the love of her life in the form of a soldier from another world. Nor would she have thought that she was destined to come to this strange planet, touted as their long awaited queen.
DREAMS OF THE QUEEN by Jacqueline Patricks screams science fiction at its most creative as we enter another world and witness the chaos of the unknown, the tensions that arise between team members and the rapid personality change that Cass undergoes.
What starts out as a riveting tale into the unknown, becomes a little muddled in an unusual romantic triangle where Cass seems almost completely removed from reality. Julian has his own secrets and betrayals that come to light as he seems to implode upon himself, turning into a jealous, spurned lover. All this during the greatest scientific experiment ever?
I honestly think the military contingent saved the day as this tale finally reveals the true villain and his dastardly plot. If not for the brilliant characterization of Captain Lewis, I would have felt these characters were all just a little too unrealistic.
I wanted to care more about the characters, but this seemed to devolve from great science fiction into an unknown world into a soap opera that was far too emotional with too many real villains and not enough heroes.
I received this book from the author through Instafreebie.
Series: The Brajj - Book 1
Publisher: Crazy Bird Publishing (January 15, 2014)
Publication Date: January 15, 2014
Genre: Science Fiction - Adult
Print Length: 294 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
When her project boss unveils his own agenda, Cass, Julian and their team of scientists must go through the wormhole along with a team of soldiers, which causes tempers to flare. Cass realizes she is being used as a puppet, but what they discover is the things dreams are made of and Cass would know, because she has seen this place and the being that greets them in her dreams. What she never imagined was the new reality she would be plunged into or that she would find the love of her life in the form of a soldier from another world. Nor would she have thought that she was destined to come to this strange planet, touted as their long awaited queen.
DREAMS OF THE QUEEN by Jacqueline Patricks screams science fiction at its most creative as we enter another world and witness the chaos of the unknown, the tensions that arise between team members and the rapid personality change that Cass undergoes.
What starts out as a riveting tale into the unknown, becomes a little muddled in an unusual romantic triangle where Cass seems almost completely removed from reality. Julian has his own secrets and betrayals that come to light as he seems to implode upon himself, turning into a jealous, spurned lover. All this during the greatest scientific experiment ever?
I honestly think the military contingent saved the day as this tale finally reveals the true villain and his dastardly plot. If not for the brilliant characterization of Captain Lewis, I would have felt these characters were all just a little too unrealistic.
I wanted to care more about the characters, but this seemed to devolve from great science fiction into an unknown world into a soap opera that was far too emotional with too many real villains and not enough heroes.
I received this book from the author through Instafreebie.
Series: The Brajj - Book 1
Publisher: Crazy Bird Publishing (January 15, 2014)
Publication Date: January 15, 2014
Genre: Science Fiction - Adult
Print Length: 294 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
November 17, 2013
This book completely SHOCKED ME! The ending is CRAZY!
I didn't read this book for the characters despite the fact they were well written. I disliked practically every character for one reason or another. I didn't like how quickly Cass dumped Julian or that she was so self interested. I hated Julian, the man was a master manipulator with serious control issues. Jaemon was a gullible and naive believer in an asshole. The asshole being the Master who was probably best friends with every evil person you can think of. The other scientists were hella, annoying but I did like the military people. They were great, in fact the only sane person in this whole book was Lewis, the military commander. He was super paranoid about aliens even after they saved his life but I liked him. Every character developed with the massive changes thrown at their feet but it wasn't them that held my interest. It was the plot, the story, the intricately woven strands of deceit, power, love, manipulation and loyalty. I thought that I was reading a straight forward alien romance but this story continues to surprise with one unexpected discovery or revelation after the next. I wanted to why?! Why the aliens, the black hole, Jaemon, the freaky monster things and the crazy idea that Cass was Queen? What was going on with the Master, the dreams, the planet and where was this all going to end up?! Good lord was my curiosity at an all time high. But when I got to the end I just had more questions! This wasn't bad but it was super annoying because I have no patience and now I have to wait to find out what happens next!!!! Obviously that means I will be ready to pounce on the sequel the moment it comes into existence. If you like sci-fi and fantasy and don't mind a little (a really little) bit of romance on the side then you are going to LOVE this book. Think Mistborn series without the super powers and more science.
xxx
George
Check out the full review
June 6, 2017
I’m extremely picky when it comes to my sci-fi reads. Yes, I read a lot of science fiction books, yet it is rare for me to become truly addicted to such series. My expectations are usually quite high, the scientific part of my mind in overdrive. Therefore, I went into this book the same way I go into all science fiction books – I went in with my fingers crossed and tentatively clawing at the back of my mind.
I’ll admit that it took me a few chapters before I was pulled into this book. Whilst it was interesting from the start, it took me a few chapters before I was completely pulled into the story. This was mainly because the story was being set out, the characters introduced, and it was necessary information before the story really started to move. It was enjoyable, yet it felt more like a three star strolling alone read than a four star rating.
Then things started to move, the book jumping to a solid four-star rating.
It’s one of those stories where things go from merely moving forward to an all-out sprint. One moment you’re merely reading the book, the next you’re truly living the story. You’re pulled in, unable to put the book down. The story and the characters grip you, each and every element of the story interesting you in some way. You may not like everything that occurs, but you’ll be interested to see how things play out. You know throughout that all of the elements are going to come together; you’re constantly looking for how everything connects.
I’m going to be honest by admitting to something – I wasn’t as surprised by some of the twists as I probably should have been. In fact, I managed to predict most of the big twists from quite early on. I wasn’t sure about the little things, of how things played out, and such is what stopped me from rolling my eyes when my expectations turned out to be the reality of the situation. You see, the little details are so wonderful. All the little things come together so well that working out the big plot details wasn’t as detrimental as it could have been. I was still able to watch the little things unfold; I was able to appreciate the much bigger picture behind the things I managed to work out.
Not to mention the story is all kinds of addictive. You’re really sucked into the world, you come to enjoy the characters so much, and it has all the necessary elements to leave you wanting more. Even when you’re aware of things, you’re still curious about the new details being introduced. There is always something more for you to figure out, always something more to pull you in.
Honestly, this was a wonderful story. I was addicted from start to finish, the ending leaving me jumping straight into the second book.
This is well worth a read for anyone looking for a new sci-fi book to dive into.
I’ll admit that it took me a few chapters before I was pulled into this book. Whilst it was interesting from the start, it took me a few chapters before I was completely pulled into the story. This was mainly because the story was being set out, the characters introduced, and it was necessary information before the story really started to move. It was enjoyable, yet it felt more like a three star strolling alone read than a four star rating.
Then things started to move, the book jumping to a solid four-star rating.
It’s one of those stories where things go from merely moving forward to an all-out sprint. One moment you’re merely reading the book, the next you’re truly living the story. You’re pulled in, unable to put the book down. The story and the characters grip you, each and every element of the story interesting you in some way. You may not like everything that occurs, but you’ll be interested to see how things play out. You know throughout that all of the elements are going to come together; you’re constantly looking for how everything connects.
I’m going to be honest by admitting to something – I wasn’t as surprised by some of the twists as I probably should have been. In fact, I managed to predict most of the big twists from quite early on. I wasn’t sure about the little things, of how things played out, and such is what stopped me from rolling my eyes when my expectations turned out to be the reality of the situation. You see, the little details are so wonderful. All the little things come together so well that working out the big plot details wasn’t as detrimental as it could have been. I was still able to watch the little things unfold; I was able to appreciate the much bigger picture behind the things I managed to work out.
Not to mention the story is all kinds of addictive. You’re really sucked into the world, you come to enjoy the characters so much, and it has all the necessary elements to leave you wanting more. Even when you’re aware of things, you’re still curious about the new details being introduced. There is always something more for you to figure out, always something more to pull you in.
Honestly, this was a wonderful story. I was addicted from start to finish, the ending leaving me jumping straight into the second book.
This is well worth a read for anyone looking for a new sci-fi book to dive into.
May 20, 2013
So Dreams of the Queen was interesting. There are things I liked and things I didn't like.
I'll start with my likes:
- The story was well thought out and intriguing.
- The characters were well developed and you could easily love, hate or feel indifferent about them.
- The twists and turns were unexpected (well for me).
My dislikes:
- Too many descriptive words. Now I should preface this by saying I'm not a sci-fi fan. I normally/usually steer well clear of books like this. Not that they aren't good, nope I'm just not that kind of a girl. I like to stick to things I understand. I don't understand sci-fi. I do understand romance and love and mushy stuff.
I kind of felt dumb reading this book. I'm hoping that's not the authors intention. LOL I'm pretty sure her intention isn't to make the readers feel dumb. But I did. Here's an example:
"She'd agreed to the engagement more out of an obligation to satisfy Julian's male territorialism rather than any feminine, biological imperative."
I read this sentence to my daughter (she's 14 and smarter than me sometimes), she just looked at me. So I moved on to my son (he's 19 and definitely smarter than me), he said "uh....". So I waited for my husband to come home for work. My husband reads a lot. He reads mostly Star Wars books. Not that reading Star Wars makes him smarter, because he's definitely not smarter than me! (love you baby) But he's used to big words in books. He hesitated and then said "biological imperative makes me think she's discussing her period." I'm not lying people. You can't make up this stuff.
So I pondered at this point "how do I proceed"? What if the whole book is like this? Am I going to understand anything? I was scared mostly because when I start a book I don't like to give up. Even books that I don't like I will finish. It wasn't that I didn't like this book. So I finally decided to plow forward. I'm glad I did.
For a long time I didn't like any of the characters in the book. It took me awhile to warm up to Cass and once I did I loved her. Things just seemed to click with her after the book really picked up with the story. I absolutely LOVED Lewis and Jeamon. They were my favorites and I would love to read stories based around those two.
My favorite line of the book:
"Was this love in its purest form-unrequited yet all-consuming and unselfish?"
This is a great interpretation of what this book is about sci-fi, dreams, wormholes aside.
I found myself skipping words sometimes. I hate that I do that but there were just too many descriptive words and I didn't need to read.
"She need to concentrate on her present surroundings, to avoid her terrible tendency to detether mentally, occasionally at inopportune moments as her mind problem-solved."
I'm pretty sure that could have been summed up by saying "she was zoning out again".
"Cass stared into lab's bathroom mirror: tiny crimson capillaries traced the whites of her hazel eyes like a crazed Egyptian treasure map to nowhere."
sigh....
"Blood oozed maroonish rivulets over Brown's skin, soaking his think cotton camo and coating his gloved fingers to drip like syrup onto the stone floor. The narrow beam of light exposed the truth through Brown's cut-away clothing, and the faint glint of a pinked, cream bone peeked beneath shredded red."
sigh....I think you get the point I'm trying to make.
So my biggest complaint about this book has to do with a few sentences that were written. I may be taking this out of context but I was so surprised I had to go back and re-read it.
"In comparison, her scientists were fumblingly inept-their helmets rolled on tables and banged into equipment while they fidgeted inside their tin can suits-and she winced. Then she reminded herself the soldiers' combined IQ barely dented hers and Julian's, never mind her entire scientific teams'."
I can only speak for myself here but I found this to be offensive. Maybe because I'm an Army brat as is my husband. I just really feel like making the assumption that Cass and her group were more intelligent based on what, the fact that they're military, is very wrong? Are we really making that assumption? I'm hoping I misunderstood.
Is any of this enough to keep me from reading the next book? Heck no! Can't wait to see where the story goes from here.
**A copy of this book was supplied by the author in return for an honest review.**
I'll start with my likes:
- The story was well thought out and intriguing.
- The characters were well developed and you could easily love, hate or feel indifferent about them.
- The twists and turns were unexpected (well for me).
My dislikes:
- Too many descriptive words. Now I should preface this by saying I'm not a sci-fi fan. I normally/usually steer well clear of books like this. Not that they aren't good, nope I'm just not that kind of a girl. I like to stick to things I understand. I don't understand sci-fi. I do understand romance and love and mushy stuff.
I kind of felt dumb reading this book. I'm hoping that's not the authors intention. LOL I'm pretty sure her intention isn't to make the readers feel dumb. But I did. Here's an example:
"She'd agreed to the engagement more out of an obligation to satisfy Julian's male territorialism rather than any feminine, biological imperative."
I read this sentence to my daughter (she's 14 and smarter than me sometimes), she just looked at me. So I moved on to my son (he's 19 and definitely smarter than me), he said "uh....". So I waited for my husband to come home for work. My husband reads a lot. He reads mostly Star Wars books. Not that reading Star Wars makes him smarter, because he's definitely not smarter than me! (love you baby) But he's used to big words in books. He hesitated and then said "biological imperative makes me think she's discussing her period." I'm not lying people. You can't make up this stuff.
So I pondered at this point "how do I proceed"? What if the whole book is like this? Am I going to understand anything? I was scared mostly because when I start a book I don't like to give up. Even books that I don't like I will finish. It wasn't that I didn't like this book. So I finally decided to plow forward. I'm glad I did.
For a long time I didn't like any of the characters in the book. It took me awhile to warm up to Cass and once I did I loved her. Things just seemed to click with her after the book really picked up with the story. I absolutely LOVED Lewis and Jeamon. They were my favorites and I would love to read stories based around those two.
My favorite line of the book:
"Was this love in its purest form-unrequited yet all-consuming and unselfish?"
This is a great interpretation of what this book is about sci-fi, dreams, wormholes aside.
I found myself skipping words sometimes. I hate that I do that but there were just too many descriptive words and I didn't need to read.
"She need to concentrate on her present surroundings, to avoid her terrible tendency to detether mentally, occasionally at inopportune moments as her mind problem-solved."
I'm pretty sure that could have been summed up by saying "she was zoning out again".
"Cass stared into lab's bathroom mirror: tiny crimson capillaries traced the whites of her hazel eyes like a crazed Egyptian treasure map to nowhere."
sigh....
"Blood oozed maroonish rivulets over Brown's skin, soaking his think cotton camo and coating his gloved fingers to drip like syrup onto the stone floor. The narrow beam of light exposed the truth through Brown's cut-away clothing, and the faint glint of a pinked, cream bone peeked beneath shredded red."
sigh....I think you get the point I'm trying to make.
So my biggest complaint about this book has to do with a few sentences that were written. I may be taking this out of context but I was so surprised I had to go back and re-read it.
"In comparison, her scientists were fumblingly inept-their helmets rolled on tables and banged into equipment while they fidgeted inside their tin can suits-and she winced. Then she reminded herself the soldiers' combined IQ barely dented hers and Julian's, never mind her entire scientific teams'."
I can only speak for myself here but I found this to be offensive. Maybe because I'm an Army brat as is my husband. I just really feel like making the assumption that Cass and her group were more intelligent based on what, the fact that they're military, is very wrong? Are we really making that assumption? I'm hoping I misunderstood.
Is any of this enough to keep me from reading the next book? Heck no! Can't wait to see where the story goes from here.
**A copy of this book was supplied by the author in return for an honest review.**
June 23, 2013
Dreams of the Queen was a great mix of si-fi and psychological thriller. I had a wonderful time reading this first installment, and if you like both of these genres, you will too. This will be a series to watch for. Any si-fi lover worth their salt knows the importance of a well placed wormhole through time and space ~ this book's got it! Um... a mad genius out for revenge and ultimate control ~ yes please! Inter species romance with some va-va-voom... yep it's in here! This was a fast paced story with strong characters. Cass is a wonderful lead woman who grows into herself so to speak throughout her adventure. Even the supporting characters have a depth to them that lend something to the story. The twists in the plot are not something I'm gonna give away, but trust me, the ending just leaves you with a certain dread and longing for the next book. Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review~ it was a trip I'd take again.
October 9, 2013
THIS. BOOK. COMPLETELY. BLEW. MY. MIND. Author Jacqueline Patricks writes a powerful sci-fi story and completely changes the game. Using a deft hand Ms Patricks totally tilts the chessboard! I was at first intrigued, then enthralled and finally completely and totally spellbound! An amazing book that has more twists and tangles than an eight year old girls hair.
When I first read this blurb on Netgalley, I was intrigued. It looked like a promising premise. Then I started it and had a few moments of well, deja vu. Sexy scientist working on a wormhole thinking she was completely on her own but instead secretly being backed by the government. Then when it's time for the mission, the military steps in and suddenly all bets are off. Hmmm, shades of Avatar anyone? Except.. it is seriously NOTHING like Avatar.. Ok, there is a scientist, there is the military, there are aliens involved.. but it's a whole nother ball park. The further into this book I went the more I wanted. It was a deep and dangerous drug keeping me up until all hours of the night and making me think. Yes darn it, this book made me think!!
Dr Cassiopeia Baros, is brilliant, driven, socially inept, snarky, arrogant, did I mention brilliant? She has one passion and one passion only, figuring out the physics of traveling through a wormhole to a distant location. She is so driven by this goal that it visits her in her dreams.. or her dreams have driven this goal. While Cass is all that is brilliant she is not what one would call a "people" person. She leaves that to erstwhile fiance Julian. He manages the people, the brass, sometimes even Jacqueline. Helping her to forge through all the red tape and political BS that one has to do to get a grant. Cass, appreciates him, really she does. She is just totally unconnected to the world around her. Something is missing in her and she knows it. So she "feels" for Julian and is willing to commit to him. Only lately, she hasn't been sharing as much with him.. and she really should as her dreams are getting more and more powerful.
Jeamon, is leader to the brajj, second only to the Master and has spent his entire life serving his people. He is dedicated, loyal and true and has been sent by the Master to collect the new queen. Her arrival is imminent and all he needs to do is traverse the outer lands, avoid the "inferiors" if possible and kill them if not, collect the Queen and return her to the many city. His people are dying and only the Queen can replenish them. Seems simple enough, right? Only once he actually sees the Queen his entire world is thrown for a loop. There is something special about her and in his very heart he knows, she is his. Convincing her isn't that difficult, convincing her fiance.. well that's a different story. And her escort? Yeah.. one soldier to another things are just not that simple.
There is just so much to this story.. so much power and passion. Desperation and Desire! A team of Scientists bent on exploring a new world. A Military escort unwanted and resented (now me, if I was gonna be stepping through a wormhole into an entire new world.. I would seriously want that escort, call me silly). Power plays and political maneuvering.. and that's just in the first chapter! Weeding your way through the magic of Ms Patrick's story is an intense delight.
Greed, Jealousy and Power.. the three desires that rule the world, it's true and you know it, but in Dreams of the Queen we see both sides of humanity (and alienanity) the good and the bad. Those trying to serve their country and those despots that want only to serve themselves. And honestly, we don't know who is who until the very end. Some characters really surprise you. I can not say enough about this book and seriously recommend all of you read it. Run do not walk to your nearest
I am so looking forward to Nightmares of the Queen.. Due out later this year or early next year..
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Dreams of the Queen, provided by netgalley.
When I first read this blurb on Netgalley, I was intrigued. It looked like a promising premise. Then I started it and had a few moments of well, deja vu. Sexy scientist working on a wormhole thinking she was completely on her own but instead secretly being backed by the government. Then when it's time for the mission, the military steps in and suddenly all bets are off. Hmmm, shades of Avatar anyone? Except.. it is seriously NOTHING like Avatar.. Ok, there is a scientist, there is the military, there are aliens involved.. but it's a whole nother ball park. The further into this book I went the more I wanted. It was a deep and dangerous drug keeping me up until all hours of the night and making me think. Yes darn it, this book made me think!!
Dr Cassiopeia Baros, is brilliant, driven, socially inept, snarky, arrogant, did I mention brilliant? She has one passion and one passion only, figuring out the physics of traveling through a wormhole to a distant location. She is so driven by this goal that it visits her in her dreams.. or her dreams have driven this goal. While Cass is all that is brilliant she is not what one would call a "people" person. She leaves that to erstwhile fiance Julian. He manages the people, the brass, sometimes even Jacqueline. Helping her to forge through all the red tape and political BS that one has to do to get a grant. Cass, appreciates him, really she does. She is just totally unconnected to the world around her. Something is missing in her and she knows it. So she "feels" for Julian and is willing to commit to him. Only lately, she hasn't been sharing as much with him.. and she really should as her dreams are getting more and more powerful.
Jeamon, is leader to the brajj, second only to the Master and has spent his entire life serving his people. He is dedicated, loyal and true and has been sent by the Master to collect the new queen. Her arrival is imminent and all he needs to do is traverse the outer lands, avoid the "inferiors" if possible and kill them if not, collect the Queen and return her to the many city. His people are dying and only the Queen can replenish them. Seems simple enough, right? Only once he actually sees the Queen his entire world is thrown for a loop. There is something special about her and in his very heart he knows, she is his. Convincing her isn't that difficult, convincing her fiance.. well that's a different story. And her escort? Yeah.. one soldier to another things are just not that simple.
There is just so much to this story.. so much power and passion. Desperation and Desire! A team of Scientists bent on exploring a new world. A Military escort unwanted and resented (now me, if I was gonna be stepping through a wormhole into an entire new world.. I would seriously want that escort, call me silly). Power plays and political maneuvering.. and that's just in the first chapter! Weeding your way through the magic of Ms Patrick's story is an intense delight.
Greed, Jealousy and Power.. the three desires that rule the world, it's true and you know it, but in Dreams of the Queen we see both sides of humanity (and alienanity) the good and the bad. Those trying to serve their country and those despots that want only to serve themselves. And honestly, we don't know who is who until the very end. Some characters really surprise you. I can not say enough about this book and seriously recommend all of you read it. Run do not walk to your nearest
I am so looking forward to Nightmares of the Queen.. Due out later this year or early next year..
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Dreams of the Queen, provided by netgalley.
August 14, 2013
Well-developed characters and a diabolically evil scheme.
Disclosure: I received this book free. I am providing an honest review.
Dreams of the Queen is a fun science fiction story that neatly mixes in military adventure with some erotic romance and some not-so-erotic, but still graphic, horror.
A group of humans made up of six military and six scientists explore a wormhole and discover that nothing is what it seems on their new world. Certainly nothing like their scientific leader, Cass Baros, had anticipated, except perhaps in her weird dreams.
The story is full of interesting and flawed characters. Unfortunately, I didn’t take to Cass, the main character. She irritated me—her reactions too selfish and irrational at times. I regret to say I found her fate most fitting. Julian, her fiancé, was a character that I thought exceptionally well developed throughout the story. I loved Jaemon (a brajj warrior), and Captain Lewis, the team’s military leader. Every now and again the story jumped between characters in a way that could be confusing. There are some intense scenes, but because Cass didn’t hook my sympathy, I wasn’t too emotionally involved, although I really connected with Captain Lewis’ frequent frustration with his charges.
The plot is great, and the story slowly and steadily unveils an exceptionally diabolical scheme. “Predictable” outcomes do not materialize as expected, and although I did correctly predict the identity of Master, the main villain, the scale of his evil is shocking. Also, there were so many possibilities for his existence, it was a relief to have the why and how of things laid out at the end.
I enjoyed the flowing writing and Ms Patrick’s dialogue is exceptionally natural, stand out good against several books I have recently read. The action scenes were realistic and well-drawn; my only criticism being that the level of detail was such that what must have been seconds of time seemed a lot longer. Also, I’m not a fan of events retold from another point of view and I had to stop myself skimming these parts (only a couple) as the author did have a purpose to them.
Overall, I highly recommend this book and I’m very interested to see where this series leads next. I notice there is a book focused on Captain Lewis. Excellent!
Disclosure: I received this book free. I am providing an honest review.
Dreams of the Queen is a fun science fiction story that neatly mixes in military adventure with some erotic romance and some not-so-erotic, but still graphic, horror.
A group of humans made up of six military and six scientists explore a wormhole and discover that nothing is what it seems on their new world. Certainly nothing like their scientific leader, Cass Baros, had anticipated, except perhaps in her weird dreams.
The story is full of interesting and flawed characters. Unfortunately, I didn’t take to Cass, the main character. She irritated me—her reactions too selfish and irrational at times. I regret to say I found her fate most fitting. Julian, her fiancé, was a character that I thought exceptionally well developed throughout the story. I loved Jaemon (a brajj warrior), and Captain Lewis, the team’s military leader. Every now and again the story jumped between characters in a way that could be confusing. There are some intense scenes, but because Cass didn’t hook my sympathy, I wasn’t too emotionally involved, although I really connected with Captain Lewis’ frequent frustration with his charges.
The plot is great, and the story slowly and steadily unveils an exceptionally diabolical scheme. “Predictable” outcomes do not materialize as expected, and although I did correctly predict the identity of Master, the main villain, the scale of his evil is shocking. Also, there were so many possibilities for his existence, it was a relief to have the why and how of things laid out at the end.
I enjoyed the flowing writing and Ms Patrick’s dialogue is exceptionally natural, stand out good against several books I have recently read. The action scenes were realistic and well-drawn; my only criticism being that the level of detail was such that what must have been seconds of time seemed a lot longer. Also, I’m not a fan of events retold from another point of view and I had to stop myself skimming these parts (only a couple) as the author did have a purpose to them.
Overall, I highly recommend this book and I’m very interested to see where this series leads next. I notice there is a book focused on Captain Lewis. Excellent!
February 16, 2013
The story starts with a dream in a dark subterranean cave. Interesting and it gets better. A strange man with long ice white hair, pale skin and a striking body kneeing at the feet of the heroine, Dr. Cassiopeia Baros (aka Cass) and she wakes up.
I enjoy science fiction and the ‘Dreams of the Queen’ gave me just enough science to be really believable for me. The author is very skilled in building the world in which our heroine, Cass, finds herself in. Cass builds a contained worm hole. Now any science fiction bluff knows about the excitement and possibility a worm hole creates and to contain one on the earth. Exciting.
There is, of course, romance in this story. There is Cass and her boyfriend, Julian. There is Cass and Jeamon, remember the guy in the dream. Oh boy, their relationship gets really hot. I loved the interaction between Cass & Jeamon. Once the worm hole has been created the University brings in the Government. They prepare to go through portal there is fine cast of characters, the boyfriend, her science team and the special ops team. I really enjoyed Captain Charles Lewis, U.S. Army Special Ops. He and Lieutenant Brown could almost have a side story of their own.
There is a truly interesting twist as you get into the story. The character interaction is strong and I was really able to get into the characters. The ending is surprising, but it works. Can’t tell as it would ruin the story and I don’t want to do that. I thoroughly enjoy the adventure, the characters and story. It was hard to put down once I got into the book. This book is a sleep stealer. I can hardly wait until the next book comes out. I highly recommend this book.
I enjoy science fiction and the ‘Dreams of the Queen’ gave me just enough science to be really believable for me. The author is very skilled in building the world in which our heroine, Cass, finds herself in. Cass builds a contained worm hole. Now any science fiction bluff knows about the excitement and possibility a worm hole creates and to contain one on the earth. Exciting.
There is, of course, romance in this story. There is Cass and her boyfriend, Julian. There is Cass and Jeamon, remember the guy in the dream. Oh boy, their relationship gets really hot. I loved the interaction between Cass & Jeamon. Once the worm hole has been created the University brings in the Government. They prepare to go through portal there is fine cast of characters, the boyfriend, her science team and the special ops team. I really enjoyed Captain Charles Lewis, U.S. Army Special Ops. He and Lieutenant Brown could almost have a side story of their own.
There is a truly interesting twist as you get into the story. The character interaction is strong and I was really able to get into the characters. The ending is surprising, but it works. Can’t tell as it would ruin the story and I don’t want to do that. I thoroughly enjoy the adventure, the characters and story. It was hard to put down once I got into the book. This book is a sleep stealer. I can hardly wait until the next book comes out. I highly recommend this book.
November 7, 2013
One world's scientific breakthrough is another world's prophecy fulfillment. Or is it? This book is so complex. Just when you think you've got it figured out, the author throws a wrench in the whole thing.
What I love about this book: The pacing of the plot, the timing of the section breaks and the weaving of the two worlds. There is no lack of momentum and it is very hard to put this book down.
The characters are flawed. None of them are one-dimensional. At the beginning you think Cass is a self-absorbed, asocial scientist, who's unreasonable demands are very off-putting. You feel sympathetic to her fiancée, Julian. She relies on his stability and his ability to smooth over her rough personality to her superiors. But as the author points out, everyone has an agenda.
Julian's jealousy, both of other male's affection toward Cass and her professional accomplishments, becomes all-consuming.
Meanwhile, Cass's personality softens as she grows close to Jaemon, a brajj, who believes everything he has ever been told about his world. He doesn't understand science and has no desire to do so. His love for Cass he believes is ordained by his goddess, Ta'mat. Even so, he believes it is his duty to his people to present Cass to the Master as his Queen.
Lewis is my favorite character by far. He is military and must accompany the two petulant scientists through the wormhole. Although his degree is in cryptology, the reader has to wonder if his minor isn't psychology. He is able to navigate their temperaments and see the mission through. He is the constant force in this story that changes from moment to moment.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
What I love about this book: The pacing of the plot, the timing of the section breaks and the weaving of the two worlds. There is no lack of momentum and it is very hard to put this book down.
The characters are flawed. None of them are one-dimensional. At the beginning you think Cass is a self-absorbed, asocial scientist, who's unreasonable demands are very off-putting. You feel sympathetic to her fiancée, Julian. She relies on his stability and his ability to smooth over her rough personality to her superiors. But as the author points out, everyone has an agenda.
Julian's jealousy, both of other male's affection toward Cass and her professional accomplishments, becomes all-consuming.
Meanwhile, Cass's personality softens as she grows close to Jaemon, a brajj, who believes everything he has ever been told about his world. He doesn't understand science and has no desire to do so. His love for Cass he believes is ordained by his goddess, Ta'mat. Even so, he believes it is his duty to his people to present Cass to the Master as his Queen.
Lewis is my favorite character by far. He is military and must accompany the two petulant scientists through the wormhole. Although his degree is in cryptology, the reader has to wonder if his minor isn't psychology. He is able to navigate their temperaments and see the mission through. He is the constant force in this story that changes from moment to moment.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
August 28, 2013
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for consideration for the Awesome Indies website. No promise of a positive review was made.
Review: Strong Sci-Fi themes and a positively original book, Dreams of the Queen is one of the most unique “other world” books I’ve read. The genious scientist and her merry men fall down the wormhole to find a reality they could have never imagined in their worst nightmares.
The author creates not only a fascinating version of reality but one which, if we believe dystopian literature, is completely plausible. The twists, turns, mysteries and changing loyalties keep coming at the author like a steam roller, making it impossible to looks away from the train wreck looming. I loved the characters, especially Cass and Saunders. Fleshed out and believeable, the love between human and brajj was not only believeale but fated.
It takes a leap of faith to consider all the explanations “Science”, although there’s reason behind everything the author does, and the scientific foundations are solid in mathmatics, anthropology, theoretical physics and religion. Patricks walks the line between Sci-Fi and Fantasy expertly and creates a world of logic and mysticism.
I look forward to reading book #2. The ending of Dreams was quite deft, wrapping up the current conflict in a way that makes a satisfying read, not leaving hte reader without explanations or an appropriate denouncement, but still leaving a huge questions hanging over the character’s heads like a guillatean.
Review: Strong Sci-Fi themes and a positively original book, Dreams of the Queen is one of the most unique “other world” books I’ve read. The genious scientist and her merry men fall down the wormhole to find a reality they could have never imagined in their worst nightmares.
The author creates not only a fascinating version of reality but one which, if we believe dystopian literature, is completely plausible. The twists, turns, mysteries and changing loyalties keep coming at the author like a steam roller, making it impossible to looks away from the train wreck looming. I loved the characters, especially Cass and Saunders. Fleshed out and believeable, the love between human and brajj was not only believeale but fated.
It takes a leap of faith to consider all the explanations “Science”, although there’s reason behind everything the author does, and the scientific foundations are solid in mathmatics, anthropology, theoretical physics and religion. Patricks walks the line between Sci-Fi and Fantasy expertly and creates a world of logic and mysticism.
I look forward to reading book #2. The ending of Dreams was quite deft, wrapping up the current conflict in a way that makes a satisfying read, not leaving hte reader without explanations or an appropriate denouncement, but still leaving a huge questions hanging over the character’s heads like a guillatean.
May 20, 2013
This is a pretty awesome novel. I enjoyed it a lot, beginning to end. First, the writing is superb. It flows really well, and the author is fully competent.
The novel has a kind of chameleon-like quality in the way it changes as it goes along, especially in the first 1/3 or so. At first, I thought Oh, it's going to be a scientist worm-hole experiment high-tech sci-fi thing, and then pretty soon, Oh, it's going to involve some military versus scientist culture clash, and then pretty soon, Oh my, some aliens, but oddly familiar in some ways, with cultural characteristics that kept me intrigued and guessing until very close to the end... The book is full of interesting characters (i.e., they have their quirks and problems, and aren't always just peachy heart-throbs). They are not always what they seem on the surface.
Addendum: Everyone else seems to be saying where they got the book, so... I bought this through the Nook store.
The novel has a kind of chameleon-like quality in the way it changes as it goes along, especially in the first 1/3 or so. At first, I thought Oh, it's going to be a scientist worm-hole experiment high-tech sci-fi thing, and then pretty soon, Oh, it's going to involve some military versus scientist culture clash, and then pretty soon, Oh my, some aliens, but oddly familiar in some ways, with cultural characteristics that kept me intrigued and guessing until very close to the end... The book is full of interesting characters (i.e., they have their quirks and problems, and aren't always just peachy heart-throbs). They are not always what they seem on the surface.
Addendum: Everyone else seems to be saying where they got the book, so... I bought this through the Nook store.
June 2, 2013
Won this book from Momma Says Read (thanks x)
This book was fantastic !
So many twists and turns, unexpected results !
The wormhole theory was fun and new, and I liked that the author uses all the characters perspectives.
Lewis was kick ass, loved him ! Shame about Brown and Matthews, thought they might be together :(
I hated Jules from the start and knew he was dodgy, cannot believe he did that to Susan ! OMG, that scene was so emotionally shocking ! This is backed up by some of his later actions and evolution.
The story line was great with the Master, inferiors, wormhole, the "goddess" Ta'Mat...At times it was really scientific but I managed to follow along. This book is so involved, keeps you guessing all the way through and after you're done !
Cass was great, and the interaction between her and Jeamon, was realistic and believable. I seriously hope Cass can fight her way back, Ta'Mat is going to be a bitch, I can tell. I also hope Jeamon realises who he's dealing with !!
Can't wait for the sequal!! So many unanswered questions.
"Damn gallows humor, kept him sane, but only just barely."
This book was fantastic !
So many twists and turns, unexpected results !
The wormhole theory was fun and new, and I liked that the author uses all the characters perspectives.
Lewis was kick ass, loved him ! Shame about Brown and Matthews, thought they might be together :(
I hated Jules from the start and knew he was dodgy, cannot believe he did that to Susan ! OMG, that scene was so emotionally shocking ! This is backed up by some of his later actions and evolution.
The story line was great with the Master, inferiors, wormhole, the "goddess" Ta'Mat...At times it was really scientific but I managed to follow along. This book is so involved, keeps you guessing all the way through and after you're done !
Cass was great, and the interaction between her and Jeamon, was realistic and believable. I seriously hope Cass can fight her way back, Ta'Mat is going to be a bitch, I can tell. I also hope Jeamon realises who he's dealing with !!
Can't wait for the sequal!! So many unanswered questions.
"Damn gallows humor, kept him sane, but only just barely."
August 2, 2013
Dreams of the Queen is a full blown sci-fi smorgasbord with a bit of romance thrown in for dessert! The Sci-fi is intelligent and not to be devoured, but rather tasted and savored for the full effect. The author has offered up a wide variety of characters who are well fleshed-out. Whether you love or hate them, you will feel something.The plot moves smoothly and then does a few twists and hair-trigger turns -- unexpectedly, yet pleasantly surprising. Ms. Patricks adds a lot of descriptive terms and phrases in her prose. Several times I re-read a sentence to think about what she was expressing. This is definitely one to exercise the imagination.
***Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author for purposes of a fair review. (Thank you Jacqueline Patricks for the opportunity to read this book). I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
***Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author for purposes of a fair review. (Thank you Jacqueline Patricks for the opportunity to read this book). I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
March 11, 2015
This was a great science fiction story.
It was a little bit Stargate, a little bit Fringe, a little bit Fifty Shades....yeah, that was the part I didn't like. But in all fairness 98% of the book was awesome. The other 2% would probably appeal to a lot of people, just not me. I found those parts cringe-worthy. I am just not comfortable reading about this stuff - don't even like seeing it on TV (no, I'm not a prude - well, maybe a little).
I'm guessing it's marketed towards women, but I think guys would probably really like this. I wouldn't describe the 2% as romance, more of a soft-porn. Science fiction, soft-porn...the only way guys would enjoy this book more would be if it came with a tear-out/printable beer coupon.
It was a little bit Stargate, a little bit Fringe, a little bit Fifty Shades....yeah, that was the part I didn't like. But in all fairness 98% of the book was awesome. The other 2% would probably appeal to a lot of people, just not me. I found those parts cringe-worthy. I am just not comfortable reading about this stuff - don't even like seeing it on TV (no, I'm not a prude - well, maybe a little).
I'm guessing it's marketed towards women, but I think guys would probably really like this. I wouldn't describe the 2% as romance, more of a soft-porn. Science fiction, soft-porn...the only way guys would enjoy this book more would be if it came with a tear-out/printable beer coupon.
November 19, 2012
I read the first draft of the story and loved the creativity involved with tying science to magic and religion. It's science fiction that also feels magical. The characters were realistic, with believable motivations, and could imagine the new universe clearly.
August 16, 2014
3.5/5.0
Devotees of the paranormal genre will appreciate Patricks' original work. It incorporates science fiction and magic which meld together perfectly.
Read full review in the 2013 May issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Devotees of the paranormal genre will appreciate Patricks' original work. It incorporates science fiction and magic which meld together perfectly.
Read full review in the 2013 May issue of InD’tale Magazine.
August 6, 2013
Though I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book, my review is in no way influenced by the free receipt of this book.
An interesting book, we open to Dr. Cassiopeia Baros (Cass), her fiancée Dr. Julian Saunders (Julian), and several of their staff about to generate a Casimir Effect to create the only traversable wormhole known to mankind. Unfortunately for some reason things don't work, causing not only severe disappointment but also nerves, as everyone knows their funding will disappear in the blink of an eye. They have less than a week to fix things, all of the pressure resting on Cass.
After the stunning failure Cass takes off, eventually heading to see her therapist Louise to talk not only about the failure of her project but also to talk about her ever-present dreams. Dreams that happened so often they no longer even woke Julian when she had them. The dreams are always the same, a cavern which Cass recognizes though she's never been there, with chanting in the background, in a language that Cass doesn't recognize. But this past dream the night before had changed. In it she'd been in the cavern when someone spoke to her, calling her their queen. And she had looked into the face of the most beautiful man she had ever seen, except that he wasn't human. He had cat-like eyes and beautiful, long white hair.
Cass has Louise put her under, to see if they can make sense of the change in the dream. While under Cass comes to understand why generating a Casimir Effect had failed before. Julian finds her in the middle of the lab with parts scattered around her and grease on her hands, face, and lab coat. Though he is angry at her for disappearing since the failure the day before, he can't ignore her brilliance. He knows that though the project is "theirs" it is actually only Cass' in the design department, but Cass has no idea what Julian has done for her to secure their grant. And he wants to keep it that way for as long as he can.
After almost a full 24 hours of reworking the schematics, Cass is ready to run it again, this time knowing it will work. It works, all test coming back positive. The robot comes back showing that the atmosphere is almost the same as Earth's. It is time for the human team to go through, which is when the military team arrives & Cass finds out that all her funding was run from the military through MIT to her lab. She is shocked and feels betrayed by Julian who clearly knew about this long ago, but she buries her anger in the anticipation of finding out what her dreams have been trying to tell her all these years.
The party of twelve goes into the chamber in two groups of six, three scientists with three grunts. They arrive in a strange round rock chamber with no exits, but there is writing of some sort on the walls. One of the scientists begins work on deciphering it and when he touches one a door opens in the wall. They slowly move out to begin exploring, some worried, while others like Cass are thrilled. Cass was so excited everything worked that she didn't even notice the lack of pull from the wormhole on this end, something that flies in the face of basic and advanced physics.
While doing some basic exploring they come upon a room that holds a carving with a pool of crystal clear water at the base. The water is in constant motion gently spiking and eddying, catching the attention of the scientist in Cass. She is drawn to the water and feels compelled to take a sip. It is every bit as cool and refreshing as she expected it to be, with no immediate side effects. However she will collapse in a faint a short time later.
During all this Jeamon and his brajj team have been traveling from the city to the Sacred Chambers to meet the arriving queen. Unfortunately another group gets there first, and they arrive to find the queen and her party locked in battle with creatures known as the "inferiors." Luckily, the brajj arrive in time to assist the military with killing off the remaining inferiors. It is around this point that Cass faints.
Jeamon is utterly devoted to Cass, their queen. He'd had a vision of her before setting off on his journey to get her for Master. Master ruled the brajj and was thought to be the wisest, having lived hundreds of years;1 long before Jeamon was ever born. Subsequently it never even occurred to a brajj to question Master. As Master's right-hand man Jeamon had been honored above all others to be chosen to lead the party to bring back the queen. Which is why Jeamon is so conflicted when the queen awakes from her faint, only to see him and say "it's you" as if she too recognized him.
Jeamon fights his growing feeling for Cass as he knows she is meant for Master and the revitalization ceremony of Ta'mat, for Ta'mat is the source of all being for the brajj. Yet between Cass' behavior and his developing feelings Jeamon can't help but fall in love with their queen.
Aside from the main storyline of the attraction between Cass and Jeamon there are several other dynamics within the group. The question of how Cass can understand and speak brajj is a mystery to be solved. Julian's anger over Cass tossing him aside for Jeamon causes other problems, though Cass had already seen some of Julian's controlling side and wanted nothing to do with it long before Jeamon entered the picture. Not that Julian is willing to accept that. And the military team is suspicious of everything and everyone.
This story is fascinating. It begins a bit slowly, possibly because of the mundane location, but as the team arrives at the other end of the wormhole things pick up. The backstory has been built and the action begins. Very little is as it seems, and as answers are discovered you begin to see the true creativity that Ms. Patrick has infused this story with. The ending is nothing I'd envisioned or imagined, but it leaves plenty of room for the sequel, "Nightmares of the Queen." I wasn't particularly drawn to the story as described in the teaser, so I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I was drawn into the story to the exclusion of all around me, reading it cover to cover in one sitting.
An interesting book, we open to Dr. Cassiopeia Baros (Cass), her fiancée Dr. Julian Saunders (Julian), and several of their staff about to generate a Casimir Effect to create the only traversable wormhole known to mankind. Unfortunately for some reason things don't work, causing not only severe disappointment but also nerves, as everyone knows their funding will disappear in the blink of an eye. They have less than a week to fix things, all of the pressure resting on Cass.
After the stunning failure Cass takes off, eventually heading to see her therapist Louise to talk not only about the failure of her project but also to talk about her ever-present dreams. Dreams that happened so often they no longer even woke Julian when she had them. The dreams are always the same, a cavern which Cass recognizes though she's never been there, with chanting in the background, in a language that Cass doesn't recognize. But this past dream the night before had changed. In it she'd been in the cavern when someone spoke to her, calling her their queen. And she had looked into the face of the most beautiful man she had ever seen, except that he wasn't human. He had cat-like eyes and beautiful, long white hair.
Cass has Louise put her under, to see if they can make sense of the change in the dream. While under Cass comes to understand why generating a Casimir Effect had failed before. Julian finds her in the middle of the lab with parts scattered around her and grease on her hands, face, and lab coat. Though he is angry at her for disappearing since the failure the day before, he can't ignore her brilliance. He knows that though the project is "theirs" it is actually only Cass' in the design department, but Cass has no idea what Julian has done for her to secure their grant. And he wants to keep it that way for as long as he can.
After almost a full 24 hours of reworking the schematics, Cass is ready to run it again, this time knowing it will work. It works, all test coming back positive. The robot comes back showing that the atmosphere is almost the same as Earth's. It is time for the human team to go through, which is when the military team arrives & Cass finds out that all her funding was run from the military through MIT to her lab. She is shocked and feels betrayed by Julian who clearly knew about this long ago, but she buries her anger in the anticipation of finding out what her dreams have been trying to tell her all these years.
The party of twelve goes into the chamber in two groups of six, three scientists with three grunts. They arrive in a strange round rock chamber with no exits, but there is writing of some sort on the walls. One of the scientists begins work on deciphering it and when he touches one a door opens in the wall. They slowly move out to begin exploring, some worried, while others like Cass are thrilled. Cass was so excited everything worked that she didn't even notice the lack of pull from the wormhole on this end, something that flies in the face of basic and advanced physics.
While doing some basic exploring they come upon a room that holds a carving with a pool of crystal clear water at the base. The water is in constant motion gently spiking and eddying, catching the attention of the scientist in Cass. She is drawn to the water and feels compelled to take a sip. It is every bit as cool and refreshing as she expected it to be, with no immediate side effects. However she will collapse in a faint a short time later.
During all this Jeamon and his brajj team have been traveling from the city to the Sacred Chambers to meet the arriving queen. Unfortunately another group gets there first, and they arrive to find the queen and her party locked in battle with creatures known as the "inferiors." Luckily, the brajj arrive in time to assist the military with killing off the remaining inferiors. It is around this point that Cass faints.
Jeamon is utterly devoted to Cass, their queen. He'd had a vision of her before setting off on his journey to get her for Master. Master ruled the brajj and was thought to be the wisest, having lived hundreds of years;1 long before Jeamon was ever born. Subsequently it never even occurred to a brajj to question Master. As Master's right-hand man Jeamon had been honored above all others to be chosen to lead the party to bring back the queen. Which is why Jeamon is so conflicted when the queen awakes from her faint, only to see him and say "it's you" as if she too recognized him.
Jeamon fights his growing feeling for Cass as he knows she is meant for Master and the revitalization ceremony of Ta'mat, for Ta'mat is the source of all being for the brajj. Yet between Cass' behavior and his developing feelings Jeamon can't help but fall in love with their queen.
Aside from the main storyline of the attraction between Cass and Jeamon there are several other dynamics within the group. The question of how Cass can understand and speak brajj is a mystery to be solved. Julian's anger over Cass tossing him aside for Jeamon causes other problems, though Cass had already seen some of Julian's controlling side and wanted nothing to do with it long before Jeamon entered the picture. Not that Julian is willing to accept that. And the military team is suspicious of everything and everyone.
This story is fascinating. It begins a bit slowly, possibly because of the mundane location, but as the team arrives at the other end of the wormhole things pick up. The backstory has been built and the action begins. Very little is as it seems, and as answers are discovered you begin to see the true creativity that Ms. Patrick has infused this story with. The ending is nothing I'd envisioned or imagined, but it leaves plenty of room for the sequel, "Nightmares of the Queen." I wasn't particularly drawn to the story as described in the teaser, so I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I was drawn into the story to the exclusion of all around me, reading it cover to cover in one sitting.
July 18, 2016
IndiePENdents Review
“Dreams of the Queen” stands as one of my top three books I have evaluated for The IndiePENdents. For most books, I stop about half way—when I have enough evidence to make the evaluation. I read this one completely in just two sittings. The story is a good-old style sci-fi thriller with a little modern polish. The story pulled me along. Characterization was strong and the main characters complex and multidimensional. For example, the various transformations of earthly Julian—annoying geek, to sexual predator, to redeemed doppelganger—showed professional skill.
The interactions between humans and aliens are well handled. Plot twists at the end are genuinely startling, and leave the reader anticipating the sequel.
IndieReader Dec 2012 3/5 stars = a good book, worth the read (per Indiereader's scale)
4/5 stars! http://readersfavorite.com/book-revie... ...Patricks throws us one curve ball after another while still keeping her characters engaging enough so that we are affected by each loss. She also deftly paints a picture of each main protagonist with all their glory and faults and presents us with a gripping climax...
Very nice comment on reader's 5 star review:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
"This has a lot of science with the fiction. It has good military too. I could tell the author did a lot of research & a lot of world building... I liked Cass, I loved Captain Lewis." - Charlayne Denney, Paranormal Romance Guild, 11/2013
"'Dreams of the Queen' is an entertaining and fun science fiction read with a well rounded mix of horror, military adventure and a touch of erotic romance. This book was very enjoyable, the plot well rounded and the twists enough to surprise without seeming unrealistic and the characters worked incredibly well. The ending of the book, while not entirely unexpected, did shock me a little; the perfect ending to a very good read.' http://innateplethora.wordpress.com/2...
The interactions between humans and aliens are well handled. Plot twists at the end are genuinely startling, and leave the reader anticipating the sequel.
IndieReader Dec 2012 3/5 stars = a good book, worth the read (per Indiereader's scale)
4/5 stars! http://readersfavorite.com/book-revie... ...Patricks throws us one curve ball after another while still keeping her characters engaging enough so that we are affected by each loss. She also deftly paints a picture of each main protagonist with all their glory and faults and presents us with a gripping climax...
Very nice comment on reader's 5 star review:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
"This has a lot of science with the fiction. It has good military too. I could tell the author did a lot of research & a lot of world building... I liked Cass, I loved Captain Lewis." - Charlayne Denney, Paranormal Romance Guild, 11/2013
"'Dreams of the Queen' is an entertaining and fun science fiction read with a well rounded mix of horror, military adventure and a touch of erotic romance. This book was very enjoyable, the plot well rounded and the twists enough to surprise without seeming unrealistic and the characters worked incredibly well. The ending of the book, while not entirely unexpected, did shock me a little; the perfect ending to a very good read.' http://innateplethora.wordpress.com/2...
August 17, 2013
Dreams of the Queen is an entertaining and fun science fiction read with a well rounded mix of horror, military adventure and a touch of erotic romance.
Cass Baros, a leading scientist, and her fiancé Julian are working on creating a wormhole within the confines of their laboratory. Throughout her life, Cass has had strange dreams; a strange cave, mysterious chanting in a language she doesn’t know, and a beautiful yet strange man who insists she is his queen.
With the wormhole now created and holding stable in the artificial vacuum, Cass learns of Julian’s methods for securing their funding, lumbering their exploratory scientific team with a nanny-troop of six soldiers, commanded by Captain Lewis.
The now-doubled team of twelve travel through the wormhole, finding themselves transported to a cave with Earth-like conditions. After their arrival things continue to get stranger for the team as they meet a party of Brajj warriors, the natives of this world, and their leader, Jeamon – the man from Cass’s dreams.
The story twists in several ways, keeping interest and excitement throughout. The depths to which the main villain who calls himself “Master” has sunk and how he is warping the world around him was well executed in a horrific sense.
All of the characters had their own strengths and weaknesses, giving a realistic feeling in their imperfections. Overall, the characters balanced each other, complimenting traits against each other and allowing for additional sub-plots to be hinted at without seeming strained.
This book was very enjoyable, the plot well rounded and the twists enough to surprise without seeming unrealistic and the characters worked incredibly well. The ending of the book, while not entirely unexpected, did shock me a little; the perfect ending to a very good read.
Cass Baros, a leading scientist, and her fiancé Julian are working on creating a wormhole within the confines of their laboratory. Throughout her life, Cass has had strange dreams; a strange cave, mysterious chanting in a language she doesn’t know, and a beautiful yet strange man who insists she is his queen.
With the wormhole now created and holding stable in the artificial vacuum, Cass learns of Julian’s methods for securing their funding, lumbering their exploratory scientific team with a nanny-troop of six soldiers, commanded by Captain Lewis.
The now-doubled team of twelve travel through the wormhole, finding themselves transported to a cave with Earth-like conditions. After their arrival things continue to get stranger for the team as they meet a party of Brajj warriors, the natives of this world, and their leader, Jeamon – the man from Cass’s dreams.
The story twists in several ways, keeping interest and excitement throughout. The depths to which the main villain who calls himself “Master” has sunk and how he is warping the world around him was well executed in a horrific sense.
All of the characters had their own strengths and weaknesses, giving a realistic feeling in their imperfections. Overall, the characters balanced each other, complimenting traits against each other and allowing for additional sub-plots to be hinted at without seeming strained.
This book was very enjoyable, the plot well rounded and the twists enough to surprise without seeming unrealistic and the characters worked incredibly well. The ending of the book, while not entirely unexpected, did shock me a little; the perfect ending to a very good read.
February 22, 2017
One of the lines of the book description is: "Serious sci-fi with a mature romance, violence, language, and some gore--this is not a fluffy bunny." I would have to agree! Danger, adventure, sci-fi, and aliens. Add some romance and a bit of destiny, and you've got the makings for a great story.
Cass's incredible story is exciting, and has several nail-biting points, as well as some sweet parts. I also really enjoyed Jeamon's character. All the characters are interesting though, and pull you into this awesome adventure. This book is well-rounded, and certainly one that will stick with you after you've finished it.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It's full of adventure, mystery, danger, and some awesome aliens. What I really enjoyed though, was the fact that this is a very deep and intelligent book. By that, I mean it would be best appreciated by intelligent people, science lovers, and people who would appreciate the depth and intellect behind the story. I'm not sure this book would be appreciated much by people who don't enjoy sci-fi (leaning more toward the science part). I would recommend it to anyone who thinks it sounds good, because it is!
*I was given a complimentary eCopy of this book, from the author, to read in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2013
There is not much to say against this book. The author's writing is beautiful, there's a diversity of characters, the plot is well-paced, the mysterious elements creep in and unfold so that you're always engaged as a reader, and the alien world is rich and complex, to say the least. (It's also difficult to say anything about the story without giving away spoilers!)
The only thing that kept me from clicking the 5-star mark was that I felt the romantic elements distract from the story at some points. I mean, if you were a trained military professional and found yourself on an alien planet and have just been attacked by the "natives," I don't think immediately having a conversation about the tensions of the love triangle in the group would be the biggest concern. This happens quite often in the first half of the book and felt a little unnatural. Personally, I felt this distracted from exploring the world and getting into more serious questions. But, that may just be me and my desire to hear about as much of this world as possible. The love story/triangle IS key to the story. By the last half of the book, I felt like the romantic elements flowed much better with the story as everything built to a climax...so to speak. (Did I mention that this is definitely an ADULT book?)
Again trying to avoid spoilers, I'll just say that the book ends on a not-quite-happily-ever-after note that's wonderfully unsettling, so you know there's a sequel.
Definitely worth a read and at least 4 stars.
The only thing that kept me from clicking the 5-star mark was that I felt the romantic elements distract from the story at some points. I mean, if you were a trained military professional and found yourself on an alien planet and have just been attacked by the "natives," I don't think immediately having a conversation about the tensions of the love triangle in the group would be the biggest concern. This happens quite often in the first half of the book and felt a little unnatural. Personally, I felt this distracted from exploring the world and getting into more serious questions. But, that may just be me and my desire to hear about as much of this world as possible. The love story/triangle IS key to the story. By the last half of the book, I felt like the romantic elements flowed much better with the story as everything built to a climax...so to speak. (Did I mention that this is definitely an ADULT book?)
Again trying to avoid spoilers, I'll just say that the book ends on a not-quite-happily-ever-after note that's wonderfully unsettling, so you know there's a sequel.
Definitely worth a read and at least 4 stars.
May 11, 2013
It's going to be hard to write a review without giving anything away, and you don't want to have anything given away - trust me!
The story is told from many points of view which I really like. You can see each situation from many points of view and understand how characters develop and change.
The characters evolve a lot in his book. Each situation changes members in different and real ways. The aliens are interesting without being too far out there. The world is believable and well described.
Dreams of the Queen has a lot of twists and turns, most I did not see coming. It was original and fun to read. I will be reading the sequel. I also enjoyed the fact that this book had a real ending, not a pseudo ending that MAKES you read the next one.
There are a few spelling errors in the book that made me have to reread a few lines until I realized the mistype. And because each character had his or her own way of addressing the other people, the military call everyone by their last names, the scientists use their first names, and people who are friends call each other by nick names. This made it easier to know who was up at bat, it did make it confusing when at the beginning.
Over all the book was a great read. Not your typical A-B-C book where you know what will happen and I LOVED the ending. You like, hate, like again, then have a WTF moment with almost every person, which was awesome. Each character is fully formed and original.
The story is told from many points of view which I really like. You can see each situation from many points of view and understand how characters develop and change.
The characters evolve a lot in his book. Each situation changes members in different and real ways. The aliens are interesting without being too far out there. The world is believable and well described.
Dreams of the Queen has a lot of twists and turns, most I did not see coming. It was original and fun to read. I will be reading the sequel. I also enjoyed the fact that this book had a real ending, not a pseudo ending that MAKES you read the next one.
There are a few spelling errors in the book that made me have to reread a few lines until I realized the mistype. And because each character had his or her own way of addressing the other people, the military call everyone by their last names, the scientists use their first names, and people who are friends call each other by nick names. This made it easier to know who was up at bat, it did make it confusing when at the beginning.
Over all the book was a great read. Not your typical A-B-C book where you know what will happen and I LOVED the ending. You like, hate, like again, then have a WTF moment with almost every person, which was awesome. Each character is fully formed and original.
August 27, 2013
I really enjoyed this book! This was my first journey into science fiction, and I am glad I tried it with this story. Jacqueline Patricks knows how to create great characters that you can relate to and want to read more about. I liked reading about Cass and how she changed throughout the book, and I will be coming back for the sequel so that I can find out what happens to her, as well as dear Jeamon and Captain Lewis. Those three were my favorite characters from the story.
It is involved, especially as you learn more about how/why the wormhole is created (no spoilers here, go read it!), but worth it to read by far. I bought it one night, and had it done by the following night. You need to know more about the characters, and really care about them. The book is well-paced, maybe a little more fast at the end, but at that point, there are a number of plot turns that you will not see coming, so it will keep you guessing. And that is not a bad thing for this story. I was surprised at some of the turns at the end, but that is mostly because I am not at all used to science fiction, as I used to the boring laws of physics. She is imaginative in how she creates this new world attached to the wormhole, just be ready for a few surprises. If you are looking for an enjoyable read, this is a good place to start.
It is involved, especially as you learn more about how/why the wormhole is created (no spoilers here, go read it!), but worth it to read by far. I bought it one night, and had it done by the following night. You need to know more about the characters, and really care about them. The book is well-paced, maybe a little more fast at the end, but at that point, there are a number of plot turns that you will not see coming, so it will keep you guessing. And that is not a bad thing for this story. I was surprised at some of the turns at the end, but that is mostly because I am not at all used to science fiction, as I used to the boring laws of physics. She is imaginative in how she creates this new world attached to the wormhole, just be ready for a few surprises. If you are looking for an enjoyable read, this is a good place to start.
December 22, 2013
Disclaimer: I got this book free and was asked to review it in return.
I really liked this book, usually it takes a couple of pages for a book to grab me but this book managed to grab me within a couple of paragraphs. The plot worked really well and I think this will hold up to a high re-read standard - even if is just to try and see what clues are dropped to the books ending early on!
I was a bit disappointed with a few of the characters, Cass is described in the book as being temperamental but she becomes almost disproportionately so at the books end - yes there is an explanation for it but it felt to me to be very jarring - if this is what the author intended then it works well. Julian... the character growth he goes through never struck me as natural, his scenes seemed to be more plot driven than character driven. I also felt disappointed with Susan and Janson, they were both incredibly one dimensional - which is usually fine for secondary characters but as they were two of the more involved secondary characters it made their appearances feel a bit lacking.
Overall I thought this was a really good book, it is the first of a series judging by the title and I think it sets up a future book really well
I really liked this book, usually it takes a couple of pages for a book to grab me but this book managed to grab me within a couple of paragraphs. The plot worked really well and I think this will hold up to a high re-read standard - even if is just to try and see what clues are dropped to the books ending early on!
I was a bit disappointed with a few of the characters, Cass is described in the book as being temperamental but she becomes almost disproportionately so at the books end - yes there is an explanation for it but it felt to me to be very jarring - if this is what the author intended then it works well. Julian... the character growth he goes through never struck me as natural, his scenes seemed to be more plot driven than character driven. I also felt disappointed with Susan and Janson, they were both incredibly one dimensional - which is usually fine for secondary characters but as they were two of the more involved secondary characters it made their appearances feel a bit lacking.
Overall I thought this was a really good book, it is the first of a series judging by the title and I think it sets up a future book really well
February 16, 2013
The book honestly surprised me. The title caught my attention right off the bat and I figured, 'This will be an interesting book. Let's give it a try!'
Boy, I was pulled in right from the get-go! This book is a combination of sci-fi/paranormal/romance and a touch of adventure. I loved all of the aspects that the story is written from and how you get into the character's heads.
For the beginning of a series, you get so into the story and by the time it's done, you are left wanting to know what happens next, but not in a bad way by any means. The characters are well developed and the plot line is well done. I can't wait for the second part of the book.
I'm not going to go into detail about what happens in the book because honestly, that spoils a book for me if someone divulges that in a review. So I will tell you that, in my opinion, this was a definite worthwhile read. My only issue was with a few typographical errors. But they were few and far between, so it wasn't a big bother at all.
*This book was received for free from the author for my honest review.*
Boy, I was pulled in right from the get-go! This book is a combination of sci-fi/paranormal/romance and a touch of adventure. I loved all of the aspects that the story is written from and how you get into the character's heads.
For the beginning of a series, you get so into the story and by the time it's done, you are left wanting to know what happens next, but not in a bad way by any means. The characters are well developed and the plot line is well done. I can't wait for the second part of the book.
I'm not going to go into detail about what happens in the book because honestly, that spoils a book for me if someone divulges that in a review. So I will tell you that, in my opinion, this was a definite worthwhile read. My only issue was with a few typographical errors. But they were few and far between, so it wasn't a big bother at all.
*This book was received for free from the author for my honest review.*
October 30, 2012
I truly enjoyed this story. This book was not in my usual area of interest, but it was recommended by a friend. For a book or movie to move me I must feel a connection to the characters, get to know them, care about them in a real sense and this story accomplished that very well. I found that the author also cared about her characters as well. She killed some off that I had become to care about ( and I did not like it ) but she seemed to know that the loss,though sad, was realistic and honest. Another area I do not care for in books and movies is gratuitous sex and/or violence. The real world can be both violent and sexual and I feel that this author was able to paint a very real world vision in this story, without going overboard in any one area. I would highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys a good story regardless of the genre.
January 1, 2013
Though I am giving this book a 3 star it's because personally it had too much science and not enough romance. I have no doubt that a true sci-fi fan will love this book and give it a higher rating. It is well written with a good flow to it and a very interesting premise. I just prefer to have sci-fi with my romance and this is, as the author stated in the description, not a romance. Sadly, it also happens to surprisingly contain creatures that truly give me nightmares and honestly it's only because it is so well written that I continued to read despite that fact.
I would like to acknowledge that I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I would like to acknowledge that I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 28, 2013
Dreams of the Queen kept surprising me over and over again. Especially when they discover the origins and significance of the goddess Ta’mat!
The story is intricate, fast paced, entertaining, sexy, enjoyable and perfect for sci-fi readers or paranormal lovers (that would be me :D) or even for those who want to try something new having an open mind.
The characters in this story are complicated, each one with its own agenda/plans and at times they seem frustrating. It is fun watching the characters learn, grow and change throughout the book.
I would like to know what will happen in the next book and see how the lifes of the characters will continue after such a drastic change in their lifes.
Note: I received this book from the author as a gift from a Goodreads group challenge.
The story is intricate, fast paced, entertaining, sexy, enjoyable and perfect for sci-fi readers or paranormal lovers (that would be me :D) or even for those who want to try something new having an open mind.
The characters in this story are complicated, each one with its own agenda/plans and at times they seem frustrating. It is fun watching the characters learn, grow and change throughout the book.
I would like to know what will happen in the next book and see how the lifes of the characters will continue after such a drastic change in their lifes.
Note: I received this book from the author as a gift from a Goodreads group challenge.
January 11, 2014
**** Read it & Reap Giveaway **** Copy given in exchange for a review
4 stars
Warning the novel contains some sexually violent scenes.
I am a total sucker for mash-ups. The Dreams of the Queen is one of the better ones. It’s a mash-up of science fiction, fantasy, horror and thriller genres. The story reads like a thriller with the plot pealing away like layers on a cake and you never know where the next piece will lead you. I am actually looking forward to her next work.
Favorite Lines: “Julian’s knowledge of himself reflected back like a mirror from Master’s eyes. His worth was calculated and found lacking in those microseconds.” And “She responsibly warned her mistress by yapping non-stop in her ear-piercing, frenetic, full-bodied manner—as only Pomeranians can.”
4 stars
Warning the novel contains some sexually violent scenes.
I am a total sucker for mash-ups. The Dreams of the Queen is one of the better ones. It’s a mash-up of science fiction, fantasy, horror and thriller genres. The story reads like a thriller with the plot pealing away like layers on a cake and you never know where the next piece will lead you. I am actually looking forward to her next work.
Favorite Lines: “Julian’s knowledge of himself reflected back like a mirror from Master’s eyes. His worth was calculated and found lacking in those microseconds.” And “She responsibly warned her mistress by yapping non-stop in her ear-piercing, frenetic, full-bodied manner—as only Pomeranians can.”
February 8, 2014
I received this book for free in order to make an honest review.
Where to start........
I have given this book four stars because I feel it deserves it purely on its plot! it's twists are brilliant.
The characters don't come out and grab you like some books I've read but you do see the flaws in nearly all of them and get to know them fairly well but then something will happen and you change your opinion of them.
I must admit at one point I did wonder why I was reading at a slower pace than usual but the story soon got me gripped again.
I've never read an alien based book before and was not disappointed! the ending was very much OMG I was not expecting that!!!
Bring on the next book coz I will definitely be reading it!
linzi xx
Where to start........
I have given this book four stars because I feel it deserves it purely on its plot! it's twists are brilliant.
The characters don't come out and grab you like some books I've read but you do see the flaws in nearly all of them and get to know them fairly well but then something will happen and you change your opinion of them.
I must admit at one point I did wonder why I was reading at a slower pace than usual but the story soon got me gripped again.
I've never read an alien based book before and was not disappointed! the ending was very much OMG I was not expecting that!!!
Bring on the next book coz I will definitely be reading it!
linzi xx
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