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Loralynn Kennakris #1
The Alecto Initiative
Life was never easy out in the Methuselah Cluster, the most remote region humanity ever settled, but when her alcoholic father found her a 'job' while he went off-planet to look for work for a 'few months', 11-year-old Loralynn Kennakris began to learn just how ugly it could get. Within the year, her employers sold her to a brutal slaver captain, who took from her the last thing she owned: her name.
Most girls in Kris's position last a year or two. The strong ones might last four. Kris survived for eight before she was set free, thanks to the Nereidian League Navy.
Unfortunately, eight years growing up in Hell prepared Kris for nearly everything but freedom, and her new life isn't at all what she imagined. Not only must she find her way in a bewildering society full of bizarre rules, but the very people who rescued her think she's a terrorist plant, a beautiful interstellar celebrity is complicating matters in more ways than one . . . and now someone is trying to kill her.
But Kris hasn't stayed alive by respecting boundaries or obeying rules, and her adopted society is about to find out what it's like to collide with someone who has no concept of a no-win scenario.
The Alecto Initiative is the gripping story of an extraordinary young woman forced to come of age while looking Death in the eye. It is the powerful and thought-provoking beginning to a new science-fiction series unlike any you have ever read.
Most girls in Kris's position last a year or two. The strong ones might last four. Kris survived for eight before she was set free, thanks to the Nereidian League Navy.
Unfortunately, eight years growing up in Hell prepared Kris for nearly everything but freedom, and her new life isn't at all what she imagined. Not only must she find her way in a bewildering society full of bizarre rules, but the very people who rescued her think she's a terrorist plant, a beautiful interstellar celebrity is complicating matters in more ways than one . . . and now someone is trying to kill her.
But Kris hasn't stayed alive by respecting boundaries or obeying rules, and her adopted society is about to find out what it's like to collide with someone who has no concept of a no-win scenario.
The Alecto Initiative is the gripping story of an extraordinary young woman forced to come of age while looking Death in the eye. It is the powerful and thought-provoking beginning to a new science-fiction series unlike any you have ever read.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2013
48 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
About the author
Owen R. O'Neill
10 books104 followersOwen R. O’Neil is a physicist, a writer, an amateur historian and the descendant of a long line of engineers. After three years working for the US Navy as a missile systems engineer, he became a member of the intelligence community and spent the rest of his career there. One of the last generation of Cold Warriors, he worked on topics as diverse as satellites, telecommunications, infrared semiconductors and C4ISR. He is an expert on technology projection and threat assessment, and did groundbreaking work on IW/IO before it was cool.
These days he writes, exercises a passion for photography he inherited from his father, and indulges in his two principal vices: cooking 'unhealthy' food and ferreting out exceptional but under-appreciated wines. He lives on nine rural acres in northern California where, when not engaged in the foregoing, he listens to his tenants (bullfrogs and coyotes) and watches over his infant vineyard.
He has written several novels and shorter works with Jordan Leah Hunter.
These days he writes, exercises a passion for photography he inherited from his father, and indulges in his two principal vices: cooking 'unhealthy' food and ferreting out exceptional but under-appreciated wines. He lives on nine rural acres in northern California where, when not engaged in the foregoing, he listens to his tenants (bullfrogs and coyotes) and watches over his infant vineyard.
He has written several novels and shorter works with Jordan Leah Hunter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 26, 2015
It's been a while since I sat down with a classic, military sci-fi story, but diving into this one made me think it's time to pick up the genre again. The authors pull no punches. Right from the opening scene, we know that we're dealing with a main character with some major damage. The background we are given is brief, telling us only as much as we need to become invested. But if you're expecting a cookie cutter space opera, this isn't it. I'll admit I went into some of the scenes expecting a tired trope only to be thrown for a curve. I have to say, I found this to be refreshing.
I should also note that the storytelling is tight. Often with coauthorship, even amongst some well known names, there are the occasional jarring scenes where it is obvious that there is a shift in whose voice is dominating. I found no such stumbling blocks in this story.
My only nitpick, and this is more on me than the authors, is in that I felt that we could have benefitted with more scenes that took a closer look at Kris and her mental state after her rescue. I'm sure a lot of that was held back for a reason (either because of suspicions held by other characters within this book or that they will likely be explored in later books), but I would have rather seen more of how she comes to terms with her freedom (and whether or not her background has in some way skewed the way she sees personal relationships) and less of the technical. I know, I know, this is hard sci-fi. I'm in no way knocking the science. If anything, it was presented well and didn't have the textbook feel that can throw me out of my reading groove. But I'm a character junkie. I like to get into heads and I think a trip into Kris' head would be terrifying fun.
Highly recommended to fans of sci-fi, hard or soft, classic or nouveau.
I should also note that the storytelling is tight. Often with coauthorship, even amongst some well known names, there are the occasional jarring scenes where it is obvious that there is a shift in whose voice is dominating. I found no such stumbling blocks in this story.
My only nitpick, and this is more on me than the authors, is in that I felt that we could have benefitted with more scenes that took a closer look at Kris and her mental state after her rescue. I'm sure a lot of that was held back for a reason (either because of suspicions held by other characters within this book or that they will likely be explored in later books), but I would have rather seen more of how she comes to terms with her freedom (and whether or not her background has in some way skewed the way she sees personal relationships) and less of the technical. I know, I know, this is hard sci-fi. I'm in no way knocking the science. If anything, it was presented well and didn't have the textbook feel that can throw me out of my reading groove. But I'm a character junkie. I like to get into heads and I think a trip into Kris' head would be terrifying fun.
Highly recommended to fans of sci-fi, hard or soft, classic or nouveau.
December 21, 2015
This book gave me exactly what I expected it to. Strong, detailed prose, combined with realistic and gritty characters, and displayed a strong understanding of the inner workings of the military, all of which is transposed into a grim and authentic world. It has a solid backbone constructed from classic structure. The dual authorship allows freedom to go places most cannot on their own, and helps to balance the world and characters between their emotions and the technical construction of the environment and ambiance.
This isn't your typical fluffy wannabe poetry prose, although it does have its moments of lustrous writing. The real joy is found within the world of gritty realism, coupled with well thought out physics-based science fiction.
It is a demanding read for as short as it is, with heavy prose and no hand holding. This book is more suited for mature, developed readers and I am just speaking on the strength of the prose. This is not casual reading for YA or even NA fans. Pick this up if you want to challenge yourself, or keep yourself sharp as a reader and writer.
Owen and Jordan make a very good team, blending their styles and insights and talents into something more than most authors can accomplish alone. It has the depth and complexity within the world that can only be reached under such a unified vision.
This isn't your typical fluffy wannabe poetry prose, although it does have its moments of lustrous writing. The real joy is found within the world of gritty realism, coupled with well thought out physics-based science fiction.
It is a demanding read for as short as it is, with heavy prose and no hand holding. This book is more suited for mature, developed readers and I am just speaking on the strength of the prose. This is not casual reading for YA or even NA fans. Pick this up if you want to challenge yourself, or keep yourself sharp as a reader and writer.
Owen and Jordan make a very good team, blending their styles and insights and talents into something more than most authors can accomplish alone. It has the depth and complexity within the world that can only be reached under such a unified vision.
December 7, 2014
06/25/13
Reminiscent of authors: Anne McCaffrey, Elizabeth Moon, David Weber, Mike Shepherd...
It was great! I can't wait for the next book!!! I liked all the characters, except for the villians, and want more, more more!!! Grrr, seriously... want. more... And what exactly did she do to that guy?!?! Ahhhhh! The agonies of starting a new series... I never learn XD
Originally 4-stars
12/7/14
In anticipation of a Brand. New. Book. coming out.... THE RE-READ!!! I loved it a lot more on the repeat, why? I dunno but I'm bumping it up to five stars.
I'm really fond of all the characters.
There were moments of epic. cool.
Loralynn is amazing.
Reminiscent of authors: Anne McCaffrey, Elizabeth Moon, David Weber, Mike Shepherd...
It was great! I can't wait for the next book!!! I liked all the characters, except for the villians, and want more, more more!!! Grrr, seriously... want. more... And what exactly did she do to that guy?!?! Ahhhhh! The agonies of starting a new series... I never learn XD
Originally 4-stars
12/7/14
In anticipation of a Brand. New. Book. coming out.... THE RE-READ!!! I loved it a lot more on the repeat, why? I dunno but I'm bumping it up to five stars.
I'm really fond of all the characters.
There were moments of epic. cool.
Loralynn is amazing.
October 4, 2016
Hot damn. I'm gonna read them all. *stuffs series nicely next to Weber's bricks of fun* Yes.
December 8, 2014
A good solid start on what promises to become a great series...
June 25, 2013
Life's never easy out in the Methuselah Cluster, the most remote region humanity ever settled, but when her alcoholic father found her a 'job' while he went off-planet to look for work for a 'few months', 11-year-old Loralynn Kennakris began to learn just how ugly it could get. Within the year, her employers sold her to a brutal slaver captain, who took from her the last thing she owned: her name.
Most girls in Kris's position last a year or two. The strong ones might last four. Kris survived for eight before she was set free, thanks to the Nereidian League Navy.
Unfortunately, eight years growing up in Hell prepared Kris for nearly everything but freedom, and her new life isn't at all what she imagined. Not only must she find her way in a bewildering society full of bizarre rules, but the very people who rescued her think she's a terrorist plant, a beautiful interstellar celebrity is complicating matters in more ways than one . . . and now someone is trying to kill her.
But Kris hasn't stayed alive by respecting boundaries or obeying rules, and her adopted society is about to find out what it's like to collide with a someone who has no concept of a no-win scenario.
The Alecto Initiative is the gripping story of an extraordinary young woman forced to come of age while looking Death in the eye. It is the powerful and thought-provoking beginning to a new science-fiction series unlike any you have ever read.
Question: What would the probable result be if a physicist and a fantasy writer were fused together?
Answer: One probability would be the Alecto Initiative, the first of the Loralynn Kennakris novels.
I am a geek when it comes to anything science fiction, which makes me really picky when it comes to novels of that genre. I've read a lot, graduating to the likes of L'Engle in my teens and Herbert & Co when I was older. So, I skeptically started off The Alecto Initiative ready to compare how it would live up to my writing heroes.
Since it's a sci-fi novel with a female lead, I expected to find a smart aleck woman heading a bunch of incompetent men. Surprisingly, Loralynn Kennakris is a genius, self taught teen who can stand up to and work with intelligent men that view her as an equal - or a threat. She quite reminds me of Ellen Ripley (Aliens) who uses body and mind to survive.
The interjection of quantum and black physics into the framework of the novel was another surprise for me. It seemed unnaturally well-researched (I even had a suspicion of it being copy/pasted from a paper somewhere) until I found out that Owen O'Neil is a physicist and only then truly welcomed the intricate explanations that were the basis of the story. Not so much of dry facts here. Physics comes alive and sometimes with a wry sense of humour. For example, calling a
definitive study of hyperlight travel the Grand Unified Theory was genius. His G.U.T.? Love it.
Neither is this a fluffy book. Those who read Asian sci-fi and manga would liken this to a light novel, the more word-filled version of written anime. There's tons of blood, gore, and violence so it's not recommended for the 14 and under set.
Interweaving the age-old themes of white slavery, child selling, and human trafficking with the more modern fears of bio-implants, brain washing and memory tampering, and suicide bombing using innocents then setting it in a futuristic timeframe makes this one tale that will keep your mind ticking all throughout.
You may ask - why 4 stars and not 5 if I am gushing about this novel? The physics parts, while NOT stuffy and lifeless, are enough to make your head spin if you have no passing interest or background. But since these explain why the actions taken must be such, you can't (and shouldn't!) skip over them to get to the rest of the story. Otherwise, you would just get lost. It's ok for me, since I love the stuff, but I also realise not everyone will appreciate it.
Blog: http://headouttheoven.blogspot.com/20...
August 1, 2015
I read the ‘Alecto Initiative’ without having any expectations about it, since I didn’t really knew what to expect. Sci-fi is not the genre I go to as my first choice, and honestly, I can’t recall if I’ve read any sci-fi-related books since ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’.
“The Alecto Initiative’, however, did intrigue me since it was promoted as a novel based in a gritty reality with a strong female lead. I overall find it rare with strong female leads in these kinds of genres, so this book caught my interest.
I like the main character, Kris, a lot. She’s been through tougher times than most of us would even like to think about, and even though she’s been damaged by her experiences (naturally), they’ve also made her strong. In fact, as with most traumatic experiences, you have to both bend and be strong, to not break. This was definitely portrayed in a believable way. What I really liked with Kris is that she is not always a likeable person; she has her faults and her weaknesses, which makes her even more realistic. There were two scenes that especially caught my liking: a scene where a young military officer describes how he found Kris and in what state she was in (and I won’t give away any spoilers here), and the scene where she gets to show off her exceptional intelligence and math skills, without even knowing that that is what she does.
The other two characters that we get to follow: Raphael Huron and Mariwen Rathor, are also very interesting, as well as totally different personalities than Kris. Huron is nicely portrayed as a military veteran with upper-class ancestry that opens doors which would otherwise be closed for him. He is a man who tries to stay within the rules, but don’t mind bending them if it suits his interests. Mariwen, on the other hand, is harder to get a grip on, but I have a feeling that is on purpose. She is the beautiful celebrity with so many masks that people have a hard time getting to know the ‘real’ Mariwen. When Kris gets to know about how celebrated Mariwen is, her doubts about if their friendship is true, is a very nice touch.
I liked the gritty details of the book, from the small homestead in the beginning, to the slavers’ quarters, to the pirate ship and the military spaceship, as well as the dips in the different areas of the city; from military to personal homes.
Honestly, I’m not a fan of too much politics and mechanical and mathematical sequences, but except for one scene, I have to admit that where they appeared in the book, they worked out quite nicely overall.
Overall, I was positively surprised by how much the characters, and especially Kris, dragged me in and made me worry about them. At the end I still hadn’t gotten all my questions answered – don’t get me wrong, there was no cliff-hanger involved – and I left the book with an anticipatory feeling that I wanted to know more about where the characters are heading in their lives.
As a reader I am very interested in character description and character development, and I have to admit that I had wanted more in-depth description of the characters, as well as more focus on Kris’s background to get to understand more of who she is. On the other hand, I see ‘The Alecto Initiative’ as a door, a stepping stone, to later books, and I look forward getting my thirst for more information satiated. I did have a feeling though, that the authors were a bit in a hurry to get to the next scene and to the next. The novel would overall have benefited from a slower, more in-depth, pacing. As I have glanced at the next book in the series, “The Morning Which Breaks’, I’ve seen that that book is at least double the pages, so I have a feeling that this will be looked to in that one.
As a finishing note I’d be happy to recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a female lead who isn’t your average damsel-in-distress. Kris finds herself in distress time after time, but she’s definitely not waiting for someone to come rescuing her. She takes her life and her fate in her own hands and does the best she can with the cards she’s been played.
“The Alecto Initiative’, however, did intrigue me since it was promoted as a novel based in a gritty reality with a strong female lead. I overall find it rare with strong female leads in these kinds of genres, so this book caught my interest.
I like the main character, Kris, a lot. She’s been through tougher times than most of us would even like to think about, and even though she’s been damaged by her experiences (naturally), they’ve also made her strong. In fact, as with most traumatic experiences, you have to both bend and be strong, to not break. This was definitely portrayed in a believable way. What I really liked with Kris is that she is not always a likeable person; she has her faults and her weaknesses, which makes her even more realistic. There were two scenes that especially caught my liking: a scene where a young military officer describes how he found Kris and in what state she was in (and I won’t give away any spoilers here), and the scene where she gets to show off her exceptional intelligence and math skills, without even knowing that that is what she does.
The other two characters that we get to follow: Raphael Huron and Mariwen Rathor, are also very interesting, as well as totally different personalities than Kris. Huron is nicely portrayed as a military veteran with upper-class ancestry that opens doors which would otherwise be closed for him. He is a man who tries to stay within the rules, but don’t mind bending them if it suits his interests. Mariwen, on the other hand, is harder to get a grip on, but I have a feeling that is on purpose. She is the beautiful celebrity with so many masks that people have a hard time getting to know the ‘real’ Mariwen. When Kris gets to know about how celebrated Mariwen is, her doubts about if their friendship is true, is a very nice touch.
I liked the gritty details of the book, from the small homestead in the beginning, to the slavers’ quarters, to the pirate ship and the military spaceship, as well as the dips in the different areas of the city; from military to personal homes.
Honestly, I’m not a fan of too much politics and mechanical and mathematical sequences, but except for one scene, I have to admit that where they appeared in the book, they worked out quite nicely overall.
Overall, I was positively surprised by how much the characters, and especially Kris, dragged me in and made me worry about them. At the end I still hadn’t gotten all my questions answered – don’t get me wrong, there was no cliff-hanger involved – and I left the book with an anticipatory feeling that I wanted to know more about where the characters are heading in their lives.
As a reader I am very interested in character description and character development, and I have to admit that I had wanted more in-depth description of the characters, as well as more focus on Kris’s background to get to understand more of who she is. On the other hand, I see ‘The Alecto Initiative’ as a door, a stepping stone, to later books, and I look forward getting my thirst for more information satiated. I did have a feeling though, that the authors were a bit in a hurry to get to the next scene and to the next. The novel would overall have benefited from a slower, more in-depth, pacing. As I have glanced at the next book in the series, “The Morning Which Breaks’, I’ve seen that that book is at least double the pages, so I have a feeling that this will be looked to in that one.
As a finishing note I’d be happy to recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a female lead who isn’t your average damsel-in-distress. Kris finds herself in distress time after time, but she’s definitely not waiting for someone to come rescuing her. She takes her life and her fate in her own hands and does the best she can with the cards she’s been played.
August 31, 2015
I just finished this scifi novel yesterday. I'm a romance reader/writer, so this book is sort of out of my genre. However, it was so well written - so compelling - I couldn't put it down. That's rare for me to be so invested in a book outside my normal genre.
I loved this book. While I was reading it, I felt like I was reading something special. It's hard for me to articulate my feelings... I think I felt like I was reading a blockbuster movie, if that makes sense.
Setting: the book takes place in a futuristic galactic/space setting. It reminded me a little of Firefly and Star Trek (which I love), although it was unique in its own right. It's certainly not a copy of any of those huge scifi franchises, but as I was reading Alecto, I felt a sense of "homecoming," which I liked.
Characters: I loved the main characters: Kris, Mariwen, and Lt. Huron. Kris is the central character, and she's unique. Book 1 is the beginning of her growth and development from an abandoned young child sold into slavery to a strong, independent young woman who has extraordinary talents and smarts. I loved this Kris! Lt. Huron is the male protagonist, and I simply loved him. He's smart, astute, kind, generous, and he's just the sort of support system Kris needs as she learns out to fit into free society.
Owen O'Neill, who's one of the pair of authors responsible for this novel, is a physicist and formerly in the Navy. It took a hell of a lot of scientific and military know-how to write this book. But it's done in such a graceful, seamless way that there's all kinds of futuristic techy talk, but it's never too much. It's handled so skillfully that it just blends into the narrative, and it was all easy for me to understand (and I know NOTHING about physics or the military).
This book surprised me so much, because it's not my usual type of book, and yet I couldn't put it down. There are elements of romance in it, which (as a romance author/reader) I enjoyed. The main character is a female, which I could relate to. It's just all around really damn good.
One thing I also wanted to mention... even though this book is written by a team of two authors, you'd never know it. The book has one consistent, seamless voice throughout. That's hard to do. Kudos to authors Owen O'Neill and Jordan Leah Hunter. Well done!
I can so easily see this on the big screen. Do you hear that, Hollywood film producers? Here's an original, fresh, smart, sexy scifi military/space story. You need to get on this.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series. Books 2 and 3 are out, and Book 4 is in the works.
I loved this book. While I was reading it, I felt like I was reading something special. It's hard for me to articulate my feelings... I think I felt like I was reading a blockbuster movie, if that makes sense.
Setting: the book takes place in a futuristic galactic/space setting. It reminded me a little of Firefly and Star Trek (which I love), although it was unique in its own right. It's certainly not a copy of any of those huge scifi franchises, but as I was reading Alecto, I felt a sense of "homecoming," which I liked.
Characters: I loved the main characters: Kris, Mariwen, and Lt. Huron. Kris is the central character, and she's unique. Book 1 is the beginning of her growth and development from an abandoned young child sold into slavery to a strong, independent young woman who has extraordinary talents and smarts. I loved this Kris! Lt. Huron is the male protagonist, and I simply loved him. He's smart, astute, kind, generous, and he's just the sort of support system Kris needs as she learns out to fit into free society.
Owen O'Neill, who's one of the pair of authors responsible for this novel, is a physicist and formerly in the Navy. It took a hell of a lot of scientific and military know-how to write this book. But it's done in such a graceful, seamless way that there's all kinds of futuristic techy talk, but it's never too much. It's handled so skillfully that it just blends into the narrative, and it was all easy for me to understand (and I know NOTHING about physics or the military).
This book surprised me so much, because it's not my usual type of book, and yet I couldn't put it down. There are elements of romance in it, which (as a romance author/reader) I enjoyed. The main character is a female, which I could relate to. It's just all around really damn good.
One thing I also wanted to mention... even though this book is written by a team of two authors, you'd never know it. The book has one consistent, seamless voice throughout. That's hard to do. Kudos to authors Owen O'Neill and Jordan Leah Hunter. Well done!
I can so easily see this on the big screen. Do you hear that, Hollywood film producers? Here's an original, fresh, smart, sexy scifi military/space story. You need to get on this.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series. Books 2 and 3 are out, and Book 4 is in the works.
July 3, 2013
I've seen this book bouncing around the upper ends of the rankings for the last few days, and the description was appealing enough to convince me to buy it. I'll get the technical side of the review out of the way quickly; the formatting was fine, no problems at all that I could see, and certainly no typos or errors made themselves apparent when I was reading, so a good, professional book. (I suppose at this point I should clarify that I read the Kindle copy; I presume the paperback version is similar.)
Growing up, one of my favourite authors was Robert Heinlein, and I still have a strong regard for his work; oddly, one of the books I came too latest, simply because I didn't come across it for a long time, was 'Citizen of the Galaxy', where an ex-beggar from a far-off world, sold into slavery as a child, turns out to be the heir to a massive fortune back on Earth. It's an excellent book, and I can recommend it, and I got strong vibes along those lines here. I'm not for a second saying that it copies the story, in fact – I actually preferred this version of the tale. I'm not going to give any spoilers here, just to say that it covers the story of a slave who is rescued by the navy, and ultimately helps start turn the tables on her captors.
This one started dark and stayed there. The question of why a technologically advanced culture would require slaves is an age-old one, and there are only two real reasons – for some sort of special technical skill or ability, or for sex. And it is the latter one that is dealt with here with regards to the primary character, and dealt with very well indeed. It's the characters that really grip here; the setting has obviously been well thought through, and the military elements are realistic-sounding enough to keep the sense of setting and fiction; I was drawn in very nicely. The story has some good twists and turns to it, and there is a nice, satisfactory ending that sets up for a sequel. A sequel I am definitely intending to buy, so I suppose I can't say any more than that.
Growing up, one of my favourite authors was Robert Heinlein, and I still have a strong regard for his work; oddly, one of the books I came too latest, simply because I didn't come across it for a long time, was 'Citizen of the Galaxy', where an ex-beggar from a far-off world, sold into slavery as a child, turns out to be the heir to a massive fortune back on Earth. It's an excellent book, and I can recommend it, and I got strong vibes along those lines here. I'm not for a second saying that it copies the story, in fact – I actually preferred this version of the tale. I'm not going to give any spoilers here, just to say that it covers the story of a slave who is rescued by the navy, and ultimately helps start turn the tables on her captors.
This one started dark and stayed there. The question of why a technologically advanced culture would require slaves is an age-old one, and there are only two real reasons – for some sort of special technical skill or ability, or for sex. And it is the latter one that is dealt with here with regards to the primary character, and dealt with very well indeed. It's the characters that really grip here; the setting has obviously been well thought through, and the military elements are realistic-sounding enough to keep the sense of setting and fiction; I was drawn in very nicely. The story has some good twists and turns to it, and there is a nice, satisfactory ending that sets up for a sequel. A sequel I am definitely intending to buy, so I suppose I can't say any more than that.
October 17, 2015
4.5 out of 5 stars (rounding up because I think the story deserves it)
I picked this book up for free as part of a promotional thing back in July and finally had time to start reading it this week. I finished in four days, despite being super busy with school and life in general. It was one of those stories that kept me up late at night saying, "One more chapter, then I'll go to sleep."
The story opens with the enslavement of young protagonist Kris, then flashes forward eight years to the day she and the other slaves aboard her ship are rescued by the military. It's heartbreaking to read about all the trauma Kris has experienced, and I really appreciated that the writers were able to convey those horrors without ever going into explicit or unnecessary detail, which would have made those sections feel gratuitous. I also felt that Kris' reactions to the new, "normal" world she finds herself in were believable and appropriate given her background. She's a very nuanced and compelling character--not your typical hero, but someone you want to root for nonetheless.
The plot kept the story moving along at a brisk pace with new questions arising every time an old one is answered. The ending was a little predictable, but that didn't make it any less fun to see all the pieces tied together. I also felt that the climax could have been a little more climatic, if that makes any sense. The concept was fine, I just thought it could have been executed in a more compelling way. The only other complaint I have about the book was that there was a lengthy section about 1/3 in that explained space travel in excruciating detail. I admit that I'm one of those people who don't care for a ton of hard science in my sci-fi, but still, I didn't feel that such a long, detailed info-dump was entirely necessary. It could have at least been handled better.
Regardless, this was a fantastic story with a cast of incredible characters. I highly recommend it, and I am eager to read more about Kris and her adventures in the sequels.
I picked this book up for free as part of a promotional thing back in July and finally had time to start reading it this week. I finished in four days, despite being super busy with school and life in general. It was one of those stories that kept me up late at night saying, "One more chapter, then I'll go to sleep."
The story opens with the enslavement of young protagonist Kris, then flashes forward eight years to the day she and the other slaves aboard her ship are rescued by the military. It's heartbreaking to read about all the trauma Kris has experienced, and I really appreciated that the writers were able to convey those horrors without ever going into explicit or unnecessary detail, which would have made those sections feel gratuitous. I also felt that Kris' reactions to the new, "normal" world she finds herself in were believable and appropriate given her background. She's a very nuanced and compelling character--not your typical hero, but someone you want to root for nonetheless.
The plot kept the story moving along at a brisk pace with new questions arising every time an old one is answered. The ending was a little predictable, but that didn't make it any less fun to see all the pieces tied together. I also felt that the climax could have been a little more climatic, if that makes any sense. The concept was fine, I just thought it could have been executed in a more compelling way. The only other complaint I have about the book was that there was a lengthy section about 1/3 in that explained space travel in excruciating detail. I admit that I'm one of those people who don't care for a ton of hard science in my sci-fi, but still, I didn't feel that such a long, detailed info-dump was entirely necessary. It could have at least been handled better.
Regardless, this was a fantastic story with a cast of incredible characters. I highly recommend it, and I am eager to read more about Kris and her adventures in the sequels.
March 25, 2020
This was a very absorbing series. I stayed up *way* too late for some of these books.
I usually don't like books about broken, messed up people; I and those around me have enough problems at it is, without an extra drag on empathy. But Loralyss Kennakris isn't one of those sobbing, floundering heroines who you can see is leading herself into disaster by just being incompetent (at least, she's usually not that way). She's not "complex" in the sense that my English teachers seemed to like, a person who can't get over themselves and their own internal turmoil. Actually, she's pretty simple, in some ways, thanks to her background. That was interesting to watch.
This is a pretty gritty story. If you didn't get that from the blurb, you should go back and read the blurb again. It doesn't really wallow in the horrible things that happened to her, thankfully (otherwise I never would have finished it). But that horrible stuff is there in the background, and is essential to the plot and the character. It comes out occasionally in flashbacks (which are mercifully brief).
The other thing that kept this story interesting is that the protagonist is not just a messed up ex-slave. She turns out to be one of the most extraordinary fighters in the navy, and you can start to see that in this first book, though it really comes out in the second and third. She's smart (far more than her master knew), self-controlled, courageous, and very directed. Also, her background hasn't jaded her; instead, it has made her *more* empathetic to those who are suffering.
The other thing that's interesting about this series is how this messed up colonial interacts with the totally all-together, upper class aristocratic lieutenant who, you know as soon as you meet him, will be the slow-burn romantic interest, so I'm not giving anything away by saying it here. (And it's a very slow burn, by the way--it takes the next two books to really get going, and there are other distractions, too.) Those two work well together, surprisingly.
I usually don't like books about broken, messed up people; I and those around me have enough problems at it is, without an extra drag on empathy. But Loralyss Kennakris isn't one of those sobbing, floundering heroines who you can see is leading herself into disaster by just being incompetent (at least, she's usually not that way). She's not "complex" in the sense that my English teachers seemed to like, a person who can't get over themselves and their own internal turmoil. Actually, she's pretty simple, in some ways, thanks to her background. That was interesting to watch.
This is a pretty gritty story. If you didn't get that from the blurb, you should go back and read the blurb again. It doesn't really wallow in the horrible things that happened to her, thankfully (otherwise I never would have finished it). But that horrible stuff is there in the background, and is essential to the plot and the character. It comes out occasionally in flashbacks (which are mercifully brief).
The other thing that kept this story interesting is that the protagonist is not just a messed up ex-slave. She turns out to be one of the most extraordinary fighters in the navy, and you can start to see that in this first book, though it really comes out in the second and third. She's smart (far more than her master knew), self-controlled, courageous, and very directed. Also, her background hasn't jaded her; instead, it has made her *more* empathetic to those who are suffering.
The other thing that's interesting about this series is how this messed up colonial interacts with the totally all-together, upper class aristocratic lieutenant who, you know as soon as you meet him, will be the slow-burn romantic interest, so I'm not giving anything away by saying it here. (And it's a very slow burn, by the way--it takes the next two books to really get going, and there are other distractions, too.) Those two work well together, surprisingly.
February 9, 2017
Interesting subject, Interesting main character, Average plot.
(But pretty good for a first novel)
At age 11 Kris was taken from her world and sold into slavery. Now eight years later she survived the odds and is still alive to be saved from the interstellar salvers who hold her captive. But eight years of brutal slavery hasn't prepared her for freedom or for the changes that will bring. Shaped by her years in captivity, she has to adapt to a new word, a new strange culture and most of all... freedom.
This novel started out as a very strong Sci-fy story. The main character is quite unique. Not many stories start where the main character stats with a history of years of slavery. As such the most interesting part about this novel is Kris herself. How she interacts with others and the world around her drives the story. And the other viewpoint characters only emphasise this point. However half way through the novel, the plot lost some steam and I felt my interest wane. The story moved away from Kris and centered on other things (away form the most interesting thing in the story). Eventually ending in a solid if not completely satisfying ending.
Interesting novel, but there's room for improvement.
(But pretty good for a first novel)
At age 11 Kris was taken from her world and sold into slavery. Now eight years later she survived the odds and is still alive to be saved from the interstellar salvers who hold her captive. But eight years of brutal slavery hasn't prepared her for freedom or for the changes that will bring. Shaped by her years in captivity, she has to adapt to a new word, a new strange culture and most of all... freedom.
This novel started out as a very strong Sci-fy story. The main character is quite unique. Not many stories start where the main character stats with a history of years of slavery. As such the most interesting part about this novel is Kris herself. How she interacts with others and the world around her drives the story. And the other viewpoint characters only emphasise this point. However half way through the novel, the plot lost some steam and I felt my interest wane. The story moved away from Kris and centered on other things (away form the most interesting thing in the story). Eventually ending in a solid if not completely satisfying ending.
Interesting novel, but there's room for improvement.
July 11, 2013
I'd like to start off by saying that I am AN ENORMOUS Indie Author Supporter. “Go Indie Authors!!” all the way... usually!
But I'm saddened to say that in this particular predicament, I can not give a “gung-ho” review.
I was given this book as part of a giveaway. I was excited at first as I love those sorts of things and much, much more when it's from an Indie author. So, I was reveled in enthusiasm.
As soon as I received the book, I immediately started reading it. Almost instantly I was hooked. The blurb was interesting, the prologue outstanding. I read Chapter 1-loved it. Chapter 2-Good stuff. Chapter 3-Hmm, interesting... My interest in the story growing as I was anxious to see what was going on with Kris and Mariwen and Huron.
THEN, came Chapter 6... THAT'S when they lost me! Not only did the author indulge in futuristic, Sci-Fi, technobabble, but the story just died. It was quickly down hill from there. The story dwindled into what seemed like a teenage drama fest. I had to PUSH myself through Chapters 7, 8, 9 and 10. After Chapter 10, I just couldn't go any further. I gave up.
I couldn't tell you WHY there are constant 4 & 5 star reviews. Makes no sense to me. Sorry.
But I'm saddened to say that in this particular predicament, I can not give a “gung-ho” review.
I was given this book as part of a giveaway. I was excited at first as I love those sorts of things and much, much more when it's from an Indie author. So, I was reveled in enthusiasm.
As soon as I received the book, I immediately started reading it. Almost instantly I was hooked. The blurb was interesting, the prologue outstanding. I read Chapter 1-loved it. Chapter 2-Good stuff. Chapter 3-Hmm, interesting... My interest in the story growing as I was anxious to see what was going on with Kris and Mariwen and Huron.
THEN, came Chapter 6... THAT'S when they lost me! Not only did the author indulge in futuristic, Sci-Fi, technobabble, but the story just died. It was quickly down hill from there. The story dwindled into what seemed like a teenage drama fest. I had to PUSH myself through Chapters 7, 8, 9 and 10. After Chapter 10, I just couldn't go any further. I gave up.
I couldn't tell you WHY there are constant 4 & 5 star reviews. Makes no sense to me. Sorry.
June 24, 2015
What does it take to inspire a Romance Reader/Writer to defect to reading Sci Fi? I never had any plans. That is until I discovered The Alecto Initiative (Book 1 in the Loralynn Kennakris series). This book is a well-written, intelligent, science fiction story with a strong female lead that completely captures your attention.
I heard about the infamous totally-techie-talk Chapter 6 in the book…but only after I breezed past it. Happy to say it only strengthened my resolve to crash through that wormhole to arrive at better horizons. It was well worth it to hang in there because the writing only gets better after that.
Co-authors Jordan Leah Hunter and Owen R. O’Neill have put together an amazing book. Their writing blends together as one. I see the strong female side in our heroine from Ms. Hunter. Mix that up with Mr. O’Neill’s military intelligence background and you have one fascinating story. And now I’m on to the rest of the series!
I heard about the infamous totally-techie-talk Chapter 6 in the book…but only after I breezed past it. Happy to say it only strengthened my resolve to crash through that wormhole to arrive at better horizons. It was well worth it to hang in there because the writing only gets better after that.
Co-authors Jordan Leah Hunter and Owen R. O’Neill have put together an amazing book. Their writing blends together as one. I see the strong female side in our heroine from Ms. Hunter. Mix that up with Mr. O’Neill’s military intelligence background and you have one fascinating story. And now I’m on to the rest of the series!
September 1, 2015
A highly entertaining action and adventure story with realistic character interaction that is skillfully woven into a futuristic space setting.
March 18, 2018
An interesting sci fi military academy book because the protagonist, Kris, does not have normal social skills or a typical accent because from age twelve to twenty she was a,”Captain’s Bitch,” sexual slave on a slaver ship kept solely as the captain of the ship’s property. Due to the horrible experiences she had during those eight years and her behavior immediately upon experiencing freedom, the doctor who does her psych evaluation after her rescue deems her too hostile and dangerous to be free. However, Rafe Huron is an advocate and protector for her. Quillon, the psych doctor, continues to be a nemesis in later books just as Rafe continues to be her protector.
I enjoyed this book which lays out the background of the characters and sets up the six book series. Kris is shown to be an outstanding cadet and this early promise is born to fruition in a later book in the series. The largest downside to this book and any book in the series is the consistent loss of connective words such as “to” or “of” or putting in an extra “to” where none is needed. One sentence in one of the books read “Quiet soon.” It should have read “Quite soon.” So if lack of any proofreading doesn’t bother you, you should enjoy this book. If it drives you crazy, pick another. It bothered me, but I found the plot and the characters interesting enough to keep reading. I’m currently on the fourth book. Finding out what was going to happen to Kris kept me interested and engaged.
I enjoyed this book which lays out the background of the characters and sets up the six book series. Kris is shown to be an outstanding cadet and this early promise is born to fruition in a later book in the series. The largest downside to this book and any book in the series is the consistent loss of connective words such as “to” or “of” or putting in an extra “to” where none is needed. One sentence in one of the books read “Quiet soon.” It should have read “Quite soon.” So if lack of any proofreading doesn’t bother you, you should enjoy this book. If it drives you crazy, pick another. It bothered me, but I found the plot and the characters interesting enough to keep reading. I’m currently on the fourth book. Finding out what was going to happen to Kris kept me interested and engaged.
July 13, 2017
I only gave this book a three star, but I will be reading the next in the series. The three is because of the big chunks of technical data. I'm mathematically challenged and the large parts with info about laying plots and C-star algebra and other stuff made my head ache. I did finish the book, however, and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed the interaction between and development of the characters. There was plenty of action, tension, and humor to keep my attention. I'm diving in to the next book now, and I hope it follows the same line. The brain freeze from tech overload is a personal thing, and I'm sure there are plenty of people who would be ready to dive right into it. It's like learning Klingon; great if you have the time and inclination, but not very helpful on a job application.
October 2, 2019
A good read. There were a couple of areas I thought could have been improved - someone who has gone through the trauma the hero has experienced should have been given more psychiatric support (though I think the internal conflict that is left unresolved by not having provided it is probably an essential part of the story line going forward). I was a little put-off by the profanity, but it's not gratuitous the way some books make it.
Overall I liked it and am looking forward to the second book in the series.
Overall I liked it and am looking forward to the second book in the series.
February 23, 2019
This was fun. Nothing earth-shattering or particularly new and different, but it was entertaining. I think the authors added a little more political backstory than was needed (the details just ended up being confusing); maybe that comes in later.
April 21, 2020
Why did it take me so long to read this book? If you are looking for a good solid scifi story with a dash of queer/lesbian characters then you could do worse. I really liked this story and the main character. Looking forward to reading what happens next.
November 23, 2021
I liked the story, and I'll continue the series.
There was a massive number of grammatical errors that could easily have been corrected by just about any grammar check, and this is why I gave it only 4 stars.
There was a massive number of grammatical errors that could easily have been corrected by just about any grammar check, and this is why I gave it only 4 stars.
October 8, 2017
3.5 stars
September 29, 2018
3.5 stars
March 28, 2020
Good sci-fi story
That is was the first book i have read by the author it was well written with good characters loads of action and adventure
That is was the first book i have read by the author it was well written with good characters loads of action and adventure
January 11, 2017
A really gripping and well-thought sci-fi with an appealing heroine and lots of fast-paced action. Exactly what I need to survive Mass Effect hiatus :)
April 17, 2016
The Alecto Initiative (Loralynn Kennakris book 1) by Hunter, Jordan Leah; O’Neill, Owen R.
I was concerned with the initial slave trade element - quite brutally graphic - which finds a balanced remedy as the story unfolds and sets the stage with atrocities which need to be dealt with. It almost demands gratifying retribution against the ‘Slavers’ scourge and you know it’s coming.
I like this aspect of the egalitarian society within this world:
[Senior Lieutenant Huron] “. . . and somebody will go over your rights and entitlements with you. I can’t tell you much about that— I’m not a lawyer and I don’t want to misrepresent anything— but I’d say you have a healthy chunk of change coming.”
That got her [Kris] attention. “What?”
“Policy,” answered unhelpfully. “Part of the Repatriation Act. Every detainee”— a polite government euphemism for slave—“ is considered to be hired on the day they’re taken and owed back wages for the length of their indenture, plus interest at median commercial lending rates. After eight years, that adds up to quite a lot. ...”
Chapter 6 is highly technical and a bit difficult to read through, but I find tech fact and theory helps ground sci-fi as long as it’s convincing. It also serves here for further character revelation on several levels. Senior Lieutenant Huron finds that Kris has acquired amazing capabilities.
A few too many names to remember, however those of consequence come back to mind - others help to set the atmosphere.
I think SF is difficult to construct effectively. The coauthors have it covered with interesting and intelligent main characters, well-written dialog and interaction, and a visual world with an engaging plot and events.
Subtle humor with female MC Kris describing a posh apartment with virtual controls - quite different from the Outlands of her youth.
“Fuck’n weird!” Shaking her head, she reset everything to neutral. Then she walked over to the long couch and regarded it with the utmost suspicion. What did it do? Walk? Speak? Morph? Could she be confident it would remain a couch if she sat on it?
All in all, I found it to be enjoyable with several likable intriguing characters that have my interest in exploring a sequel, with [I presume] a large scale confrontation and annihilation the ‘slave trade’ to come. IMHO, any good series should leave the reader wanting more and so it does.
Rating 4½ stars rounding up.
Note: The kindle ebook comes with a sneak sequel preview of “The Morning Which Breaks”. It opens with the kind of action scene I was anticipating with “The Alecto Initiative ”. First things first - Alecto itself, provides all the elements for future discovery.
I was concerned with the initial slave trade element - quite brutally graphic - which finds a balanced remedy as the story unfolds and sets the stage with atrocities which need to be dealt with. It almost demands gratifying retribution against the ‘Slavers’ scourge and you know it’s coming.
I like this aspect of the egalitarian society within this world:
[Senior Lieutenant Huron] “. . . and somebody will go over your rights and entitlements with you. I can’t tell you much about that— I’m not a lawyer and I don’t want to misrepresent anything— but I’d say you have a healthy chunk of change coming.”
That got her [Kris] attention. “What?”
“Policy,” answered unhelpfully. “Part of the Repatriation Act. Every detainee”— a polite government euphemism for slave—“ is considered to be hired on the day they’re taken and owed back wages for the length of their indenture, plus interest at median commercial lending rates. After eight years, that adds up to quite a lot. ...”
Chapter 6 is highly technical and a bit difficult to read through, but I find tech fact and theory helps ground sci-fi as long as it’s convincing. It also serves here for further character revelation on several levels. Senior Lieutenant Huron finds that Kris has acquired amazing capabilities.
A few too many names to remember, however those of consequence come back to mind - others help to set the atmosphere.
I think SF is difficult to construct effectively. The coauthors have it covered with interesting and intelligent main characters, well-written dialog and interaction, and a visual world with an engaging plot and events.
Subtle humor with female MC Kris describing a posh apartment with virtual controls - quite different from the Outlands of her youth.
“Fuck’n weird!” Shaking her head, she reset everything to neutral. Then she walked over to the long couch and regarded it with the utmost suspicion. What did it do? Walk? Speak? Morph? Could she be confident it would remain a couch if she sat on it?
All in all, I found it to be enjoyable with several likable intriguing characters that have my interest in exploring a sequel, with [I presume] a large scale confrontation and annihilation the ‘slave trade’ to come. IMHO, any good series should leave the reader wanting more and so it does.
Rating 4½ stars rounding up.
Note: The kindle ebook comes with a sneak sequel preview of “The Morning Which Breaks”. It opens with the kind of action scene I was anticipating with “The Alecto Initiative ”. First things first - Alecto itself, provides all the elements for future discovery.
March 10, 2017
Decent writing and plot w/some original elements, grade B- proofreading
The lead character is pretty well developed, though I'll have to see how the authors deal with her repressed memories in later volumes -- especially the way no one has told her a pretty important traumatic fact that's somewhat common knowledge. That's just asking for trouble depending on how/when/from whom she finds out! There's a fair amount of "adult" language, but considering we're talking about (a) someone raised among slavers, and (b) military, ex-military, and police, it could be a lot worse.
Mariwen didn't really make a great first impression on me, but I have a low tolerance for spoiled-celeb deliberate charm. I'm not sure whether Huron's PERSONAL interest in Kris is as serious as his professional interest.
The ending is definitely mixed, with the evil plot stopped, but not w/o cost. Loralynn/Kris's remarkable piloting/navigation skills are clearly heading her towards more, but she's got enough flaws -- and shrinks, etcetera, suspicious of her -- to take her out of Mary Sue-dom.
The hyperspace technobabble infodump at one point was a bit much to get through, but just read it to get the gist, and it'll do. The interstellar politics, OTOH, were just a bit boring.
There were a number of typos, including missing commas, missing minor words such as a/the, and "it's" for "its", but nothing that gave me more than a moment's confusion. Overall, I do consider it worth reading the next book -- or maybe I'll get the 1-2-3 set if the price is good.
P.S. I saw one review complaining about excessive, "explicit, mainly unpleasant sexual content" and have to say it's far from my idea of particularly explicit. Of course sexual abuse, especialy of an adolescent, is unpleasant, as is what a slave has to do to survive, but that's rather the point, and readers should be already aware of it from the summary. Anyway, we're mainly given just brief recollections and/or flashbacks before she turns her mind deliberately onto other matters. Clearly, she still has quite a way to go before a normal, healthy relationship (of whichever orientation) will be part of her life.
The lead character is pretty well developed, though I'll have to see how the authors deal with her repressed memories in later volumes -- especially the way no one has told her a pretty important traumatic fact that's somewhat common knowledge. That's just asking for trouble depending on how/when/from whom she finds out! There's a fair amount of "adult" language, but considering we're talking about (a) someone raised among slavers, and (b) military, ex-military, and police, it could be a lot worse.
Mariwen didn't really make a great first impression on me, but I have a low tolerance for spoiled-celeb deliberate charm. I'm not sure whether Huron's PERSONAL interest in Kris is as serious as his professional interest.
The ending is definitely mixed, with the evil plot stopped, but not w/o cost. Loralynn/Kris's remarkable piloting/navigation skills are clearly heading her towards more, but she's got enough flaws -- and shrinks, etcetera, suspicious of her -- to take her out of Mary Sue-dom.
The hyperspace technobabble infodump at one point was a bit much to get through, but just read it to get the gist, and it'll do. The interstellar politics, OTOH, were just a bit boring.
There were a number of typos, including missing commas, missing minor words such as a/the, and "it's" for "its", but nothing that gave me more than a moment's confusion. Overall, I do consider it worth reading the next book -- or maybe I'll get the 1-2-3 set if the price is good.
P.S. I saw one review complaining about excessive, "explicit, mainly unpleasant sexual content" and have to say it's far from my idea of particularly explicit. Of course sexual abuse, especialy of an adolescent, is unpleasant, as is what a slave has to do to survive, but that's rather the point, and readers should be already aware of it from the summary. Anyway, we're mainly given just brief recollections and/or flashbacks before she turns her mind deliberately onto other matters. Clearly, she still has quite a way to go before a normal, healthy relationship (of whichever orientation) will be part of her life.
June 5, 2013
I see quite a bit of potential in the character and universe, but the book sometimes felt choppy. According to the back-blurb, the next book should be out soon; I'd read it it has the same price point ($4)(EDIT - Um, $2.99, actually)
EDIT: Posted the first part on my cell, which is why it was so brief. I'd like to state that the choppiness I noted really worked for a friend of mine who read the book based on my rec. And actually, it isn't a consistent distraction, only something I occasionally noticed.
Initially, I felt that Mr. O'Neill had perhaps passed over some of the trauma 8 years of slavery that his main character, Kris, endured, but now I think he has set things up so that you can see that they are affecting her if you're looking. I suspect that, since he's planning to work this as a series, he's allowing room for the character to grow and revelations about her personality to be revealed naturally as the overall storyline progresses.
I do need to commend him on excellent editing: there is NOTHING that throws me out of a good story like poor spelling and blatant grammatical errors!
EDIT: Posted the first part on my cell, which is why it was so brief. I'd like to state that the choppiness I noted really worked for a friend of mine who read the book based on my rec. And actually, it isn't a consistent distraction, only something I occasionally noticed.
Initially, I felt that Mr. O'Neill had perhaps passed over some of the trauma 8 years of slavery that his main character, Kris, endured, but now I think he has set things up so that you can see that they are affecting her if you're looking. I suspect that, since he's planning to work this as a series, he's allowing room for the character to grow and revelations about her personality to be revealed naturally as the overall storyline progresses.
I do need to commend him on excellent editing: there is NOTHING that throws me out of a good story like poor spelling and blatant grammatical errors!
February 11, 2016
Loralynn Kennakris or Kris as she affectionately becomes known is rescued from a slaver ship where she was enslaved for eight years as the captain of the ship’s main slave. This position found Kris doing anything and everything in order to survive the years in captivity.
Her grit and tenacity is to be admired and victim is not a word I would use to describe Kris. With the help of Lieutenant Huron, she makes a life for herself after her release.
A strong bond is formed with Mariwen who was also rescued from the slave ship which leads you to believe there is more to come from this strong friendship.
The authors are skilled at giving you just enough information to keep you guessing and turning the pages. Information which has you questioning where the story will lead and leaving you pleasantly surprised at the twists and turns.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and will certainly be following this series. In fact I may go as far as to say I have become rather obsessed with the lives of Kris, Huron and Mariwen.
This would certainly make for an intriguing and gripping TV series.
Her grit and tenacity is to be admired and victim is not a word I would use to describe Kris. With the help of Lieutenant Huron, she makes a life for herself after her release.
A strong bond is formed with Mariwen who was also rescued from the slave ship which leads you to believe there is more to come from this strong friendship.
The authors are skilled at giving you just enough information to keep you guessing and turning the pages. Information which has you questioning where the story will lead and leaving you pleasantly surprised at the twists and turns.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and will certainly be following this series. In fact I may go as far as to say I have become rather obsessed with the lives of Kris, Huron and Mariwen.
This would certainly make for an intriguing and gripping TV series.
June 11, 2017
This story started well and had me hooked very early, I love Kris, she is my type of heroine, slightly damaged but still highly capable. I like the way the story developed and was especially pleased it didn’t dwell on her abuse as a child.
However there were quite a few problems with the book. Towards the latter half of the book the story started to lose its way and became a little confusing and a bit boring.
Also at times there is too much detail and scientific explanation, its always nice to have some of the science explained but sometimes it just takes away from the flow of the story and it can become hard work to just keep going.
However I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
On a personal note I was not sure why the author kept pushing the idea that Kris was a dangerous psychopath, her reaction to finally being able to get at her tormentor seems perfectly normal to me and I bet it would to every member of the crew of the naval ship that rescued her.
However there were quite a few problems with the book. Towards the latter half of the book the story started to lose its way and became a little confusing and a bit boring.
Also at times there is too much detail and scientific explanation, its always nice to have some of the science explained but sometimes it just takes away from the flow of the story and it can become hard work to just keep going.
However I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
On a personal note I was not sure why the author kept pushing the idea that Kris was a dangerous psychopath, her reaction to finally being able to get at her tormentor seems perfectly normal to me and I bet it would to every member of the crew of the naval ship that rescued her.
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