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Desa and Kalia: The Sin Thief
The Void had been defeated. It was supposed to be over.
Ten years ago, Desa Nin Leean put away her guns and settled into a quiet life with her partner, Kalia. But her world has gotten a lot more complicated ever since her people discovered that they weren't alone in the universe. Ambassadors and diplomats and Justice Keepers, always coming and going.
Now, an assassin has come to her city, wielding the ancient power of the Void, a religious fanatic who turns ordinary people into zealots. These foreigners with their fancy technology aren't prepared for a threat like this. Desa has no choice but to confront the assassin and discover the truth about his agenda.
But in doing so, she will come face to face with an enemy far more deadly than any the guilt, anger and grief that she has suppressed for so long.
Ten years ago, Desa Nin Leean put away her guns and settled into a quiet life with her partner, Kalia. But her world has gotten a lot more complicated ever since her people discovered that they weren't alone in the universe. Ambassadors and diplomats and Justice Keepers, always coming and going.
Now, an assassin has come to her city, wielding the ancient power of the Void, a religious fanatic who turns ordinary people into zealots. These foreigners with their fancy technology aren't prepared for a threat like this. Desa has no choice but to confront the assassin and discover the truth about his agenda.
But in doing so, she will come face to face with an enemy far more deadly than any the guilt, anger and grief that she has suppressed for so long.
450 pages, Paperback
Published July 30, 2023
About the author
R.S. Penney
59 books58 followersI was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario where I attended Saltfleet High School and McMaster University. I've spent most of my life fighting for the little guy in one form or another, advocating for the poor, for environmental sustainability, for minority rights.
Throughout my twenties, I wrote about five novels and threw them all out because they weren't very good. But I improved and honed my skills with each new manuscript. About two years ago, I had an offer from a traditional publishing house, but I chose to go indie instead. Writing is my passion; if I could dedicate myself to one thing, it would be bringing the ideas in my head to life.
Throughout my twenties, I wrote about five novels and threw them all out because they weren't very good. But I improved and honed my skills with each new manuscript. About two years ago, I had an offer from a traditional publishing house, but I chose to go indie instead. Writing is my passion; if I could dedicate myself to one thing, it would be bringing the ideas in my head to life.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 7, 2023
I received an advance review copy of this book, and the review is my own opinion.
The author has a great way of describing something fantastic. Example: " Raphael gasped. The clouds had departed, leaving a deep, blue sky, but that was not what had shaken him to his core. A swirling vortex had formed in the heavens. He could think of no other word for it. The light seemed to bend around whatever it was, creating a whirlpool that made him dizzy."
The author paints the picture of the "world" the protagonists are in and spins a great plot. When the reader's preconceptions and disbelief of a new world are suspended, this world becomes so real and every day. It also makes space adventure look normal. The plot follows logic, once the reader is settled in for the ride.
Recommended for a well-written, thought-provoking read.
The author has a great way of describing something fantastic. Example: " Raphael gasped. The clouds had departed, leaving a deep, blue sky, but that was not what had shaken him to his core. A swirling vortex had formed in the heavens. He could think of no other word for it. The light seemed to bend around whatever it was, creating a whirlpool that made him dizzy."
The author paints the picture of the "world" the protagonists are in and spins a great plot. When the reader's preconceptions and disbelief of a new world are suspended, this world becomes so real and every day. It also makes space adventure look normal. The plot follows logic, once the reader is settled in for the ride.
Recommended for a well-written, thought-provoking read.
September 10, 2023
Desa had long gave up fighting in battles to be with her wife and son. All the fighting as a bounty hunter was supposed to be over so she can live a quiet life…..Until Raphael came along spouting about the Almighty and people's sin.
I liked how we got a prologue to basically Raphael's start of his villain arc. Raphael is very strong about his beliefs about the Almighty. So when someone comes around claiming that they're the Almighty, he doesn't question it and gives up everything to take on the role of taking people's sin.
Having not read Desa's trilogy about her past adventures and being introduced to this character for the first time, I love how Desa was introduced with her first time going to therapy and those sessions conveying flashbacks to Desa's fighting life. They were a tad bit confusing though with jumping between different flashbacks.
With Desa, you can already tell she's a straightforward person and that she has been through a lot in many battles and that she is tired of it. In this book, there is a lot of diplomatic talk alongside the action that is going on.
Raphael is a villain that is religious and consumes people's sin and guilt. I thought the aspect of that was a perfect way to get Desa to deal with the baggage from her past and face the things that she done and the people she killed.
Some of the rep that you can find in this book are:
- Strong written female character
- Older characters.
- LGBQT main character and other side characters as well.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book. In no way does this affect my review.
I liked how we got a prologue to basically Raphael's start of his villain arc. Raphael is very strong about his beliefs about the Almighty. So when someone comes around claiming that they're the Almighty, he doesn't question it and gives up everything to take on the role of taking people's sin.
Having not read Desa's trilogy about her past adventures and being introduced to this character for the first time, I love how Desa was introduced with her first time going to therapy and those sessions conveying flashbacks to Desa's fighting life. They were a tad bit confusing though with jumping between different flashbacks.
With Desa, you can already tell she's a straightforward person and that she has been through a lot in many battles and that she is tired of it. In this book, there is a lot of diplomatic talk alongside the action that is going on.
Raphael is a villain that is religious and consumes people's sin and guilt. I thought the aspect of that was a perfect way to get Desa to deal with the baggage from her past and face the things that she done and the people she killed.
Some of the rep that you can find in this book are:
- Strong written female character
- Older characters.
- LGBQT main character and other side characters as well.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book. In no way does this affect my review.
August 4, 2023
The Void had been defeated. It was supposed to be over.
Ten years ago, Desa Nin Leean put away her guns and settled into a quiet life with her partner, Kalia. But her world has gotten a lot more complicated ever since her people discovered that they weren't alone in the universe. Ambassadors and diplomats and Justice Keepers, always coming and going.
Now, an assassin has come to her city, wielding the ancient power of the Void, a religious fanatic who turns ordinary people into zealots. These foreigners with their fancy technology aren't prepared for a threat like this. Desa has no choice but to confront the assassin and discover the truth about his agenda.
But in doing so, she will come face to face with an enemy far more deadly than any fanatic: the guilt, anger and grief that she has suppressed for so long.
After the publisher sent me this, I started to read it. This is the first book I had read by R S Penney and I am so glad I stuck to it. Definitely a rollercoaster of emotions.
If you want strong female characters then this book is for you. I look forward to reading more and what Raphael gets up to.
Would recommend this
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ten years ago, Desa Nin Leean put away her guns and settled into a quiet life with her partner, Kalia. But her world has gotten a lot more complicated ever since her people discovered that they weren't alone in the universe. Ambassadors and diplomats and Justice Keepers, always coming and going.
Now, an assassin has come to her city, wielding the ancient power of the Void, a religious fanatic who turns ordinary people into zealots. These foreigners with their fancy technology aren't prepared for a threat like this. Desa has no choice but to confront the assassin and discover the truth about his agenda.
But in doing so, she will come face to face with an enemy far more deadly than any fanatic: the guilt, anger and grief that she has suppressed for so long.
After the publisher sent me this, I started to read it. This is the first book I had read by R S Penney and I am so glad I stuck to it. Definitely a rollercoaster of emotions.
If you want strong female characters then this book is for you. I look forward to reading more and what Raphael gets up to.
Would recommend this
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 9, 2023
I love a good religious nut job villain 😂
Ten years ago, Desa Nin Leean put away her guns and settled down for a quiet life with her partner, Kalia. But now an assassin has come to her city, wielding the ancient power of the Void, a religious fanatic who turns ordinary people into zealots.
This book had a lot of world building, and this is not the first with these characters. But that’s okay because it does make a good stand-alone. Plus, everything you need to know if is an appendix in the back of the book and I greatly appreciated that; I had to look up some things quite a few times.
The characters in this book were very fleshed out and had great backstories. You really felt like you knew them and could feel what they were going through.
This is a sci-fi book. If you don’t like sci-fi, I don’t think you’ll like it. It definitely isn’t my favorite genre, and I was hesitant to start it, but I did overall enjoy it and the story. Plus, big props for making the two major relationships LGBTQ+!
The author sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Ten years ago, Desa Nin Leean put away her guns and settled down for a quiet life with her partner, Kalia. But now an assassin has come to her city, wielding the ancient power of the Void, a religious fanatic who turns ordinary people into zealots.
This book had a lot of world building, and this is not the first with these characters. But that’s okay because it does make a good stand-alone. Plus, everything you need to know if is an appendix in the back of the book and I greatly appreciated that; I had to look up some things quite a few times.
The characters in this book were very fleshed out and had great backstories. You really felt like you knew them and could feel what they were going through.
This is a sci-fi book. If you don’t like sci-fi, I don’t think you’ll like it. It definitely isn’t my favorite genre, and I was hesitant to start it, but I did overall enjoy it and the story. Plus, big props for making the two major relationships LGBTQ+!
The author sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 30, 2024
The Void had been defeated. It was supposed to be over. Ten years ago, Desa Nin Leean put away her guns and settled into a quiet life with her partner, Kalia. But her world has gotten a lot more complicated ever since her people discovered that they weren't alone in the universe. Ambassadors and diplomats and Justice Keepers, always coming and going.
Now, an assassin has come to her city, wielding the ancient power of the Void, a religious fanatic who turns ordinary people into zealots. These foreigners with their fancy technology aren't prepared for a threat like this. Desa has no choice but to confront the assassin and discover the truth about his agenda.
But in doing so, she will come face to face with an enemy far more deadly than any fanatic: the guilt, anger and grief that she has suppressed for so long.
I received a free copy of Desa and Kalia: The Sin Thief and this is my honest review.
This is the first book I have read by this author, R. S. Penney, and it is a great Sci-Fi adventure. The story focuses on Desa, who spent part of her life as a bounty hunter, but now wants a quiet life with her partner Kalia. Unfortunately, The Void has other plans.
Raphael is a priest, who we see is the type that focuses more on the legalism of his religion, rather than the relationship. Because of his blinded views, he is seduced by an entity from the Void, and possessed with the ability to “take away sins”. This results in Raphael creating mindless, zealot followers, who eventually find themselves hopeless and struggling with their guilt and shame.
I loved the world building in the book, and the fact that the people from different planets are now discovering one another and sharing their ideas and technology.
I also thought the villain worked really well in the story, and he and Desa made for good opponents. Their battle scenes were well written and I could feel the intensity of their fighting.
The side characters didn’t stand out that much for me. They were mainly there as a support for Desa’s character.
I really did enjoy reading Desa and Kalia: The Sin Thief, with my only complaint being that I wished that the information from the Appendices had somehow been incorporated into the story, rather than being read at the end of the book.
Now, an assassin has come to her city, wielding the ancient power of the Void, a religious fanatic who turns ordinary people into zealots. These foreigners with their fancy technology aren't prepared for a threat like this. Desa has no choice but to confront the assassin and discover the truth about his agenda.
But in doing so, she will come face to face with an enemy far more deadly than any fanatic: the guilt, anger and grief that she has suppressed for so long.
I received a free copy of Desa and Kalia: The Sin Thief and this is my honest review.
This is the first book I have read by this author, R. S. Penney, and it is a great Sci-Fi adventure. The story focuses on Desa, who spent part of her life as a bounty hunter, but now wants a quiet life with her partner Kalia. Unfortunately, The Void has other plans.
Raphael is a priest, who we see is the type that focuses more on the legalism of his religion, rather than the relationship. Because of his blinded views, he is seduced by an entity from the Void, and possessed with the ability to “take away sins”. This results in Raphael creating mindless, zealot followers, who eventually find themselves hopeless and struggling with their guilt and shame.
I loved the world building in the book, and the fact that the people from different planets are now discovering one another and sharing their ideas and technology.
I also thought the villain worked really well in the story, and he and Desa made for good opponents. Their battle scenes were well written and I could feel the intensity of their fighting.
The side characters didn’t stand out that much for me. They were mainly there as a support for Desa’s character.
I really did enjoy reading Desa and Kalia: The Sin Thief, with my only complaint being that I wished that the information from the Appendices had somehow been incorporated into the story, rather than being read at the end of the book.
August 4, 2023
The Void had been defeated. It was supposed to be over.
Ten years ago, Desa Nin Leean put away her guns and settled into a quiet life with her partner, Kalia. But her world has gotten a lot more complicated ever since her people discovered that they weren't alone in the universe. Ambassadors and diplomats and Justice Keepers, always coming and going.
Now, an assassin has come to her city, wielding the ancient power of the Void, a religious fanatic who turns ordinary people into zealots. These foreigners with their fancy technology aren't prepared for a threat like this. Desa has no choice but to confront the assassin and discover the truth about his agenda.
But in doing so, she will come face to face with an enemy far more deadly than any the guilt, anger and grief that she has suppressed for so long.
꧁꧂
This is the first book I've read by R S Penney, but it won't be my last!
The character dynamics are phenomenal, and the female characters are well written & strong.
Desa pulled her daggers from their sheaths, twirling them both with expert skill. All the while, she never broke eye contact. “More than ready. Come on, old man! We both know there’s only one way this can end!”
The end left me wanting more ~ I look forward to reading
more and finding out what Raphael gets up to!
Dropping to one knee, Raphael bowed his head reverently. “Yes, Mistress,” he whispered. “I will serve.”
I definitely recommend reading this series!
Ten years ago, Desa Nin Leean put away her guns and settled into a quiet life with her partner, Kalia. But her world has gotten a lot more complicated ever since her people discovered that they weren't alone in the universe. Ambassadors and diplomats and Justice Keepers, always coming and going.
Now, an assassin has come to her city, wielding the ancient power of the Void, a religious fanatic who turns ordinary people into zealots. These foreigners with their fancy technology aren't prepared for a threat like this. Desa has no choice but to confront the assassin and discover the truth about his agenda.
But in doing so, she will come face to face with an enemy far more deadly than any the guilt, anger and grief that she has suppressed for so long.
꧁꧂
This is the first book I've read by R S Penney, but it won't be my last!
The character dynamics are phenomenal, and the female characters are well written & strong.
Desa pulled her daggers from their sheaths, twirling them both with expert skill. All the while, she never broke eye contact. “More than ready. Come on, old man! We both know there’s only one way this can end!”
The end left me wanting more ~ I look forward to reading
more and finding out what Raphael gets up to!
Dropping to one knee, Raphael bowed his head reverently. “Yes, Mistress,” he whispered. “I will serve.”
I definitely recommend reading this series!
November 9, 2023
I have not read a Sci Fi novel in a very long time and this was a good reintroduction into the genre! The Sin Thief was a very interesting concept and I really enjoyed the unique characters within the book.❤️
Desa and Kalia complemented each other so well! They’ve got a grumpy x sunshine dynamic going and their devotion and love for one another really came through in this story. ❤️I also really loved their interactions with their son. Desa’s character took an interesting turn in the book but she had some really good growth out of it.
Raphael also made a really interesting villain. His POV really portrayed how overzealous and intolerant he was and how easily his nature allowed the Void to take advantage of it. He was so ready to believe in a higher power that he did not question the morality of his actions. ⛓️
The pacing of this book was good overall. The POVs of other characters assisted with giving you a holistic view of what was happening throughout the story, especially during the battle scenes.
Whilst this book does form part of a larger universe, it can be read as a standalone. The appendices at the end of the book were amazing! They really assisted with the overall world building and the details included were quite comprehensive and detailed. 🌏
I will admit, I did not feel very connected to the characters but I think reading the other books in the series would allow me to understand them and their struggles better and emotionally invest in them more.
Desa and Kalia complemented each other so well! They’ve got a grumpy x sunshine dynamic going and their devotion and love for one another really came through in this story. ❤️I also really loved their interactions with their son. Desa’s character took an interesting turn in the book but she had some really good growth out of it.
Raphael also made a really interesting villain. His POV really portrayed how overzealous and intolerant he was and how easily his nature allowed the Void to take advantage of it. He was so ready to believe in a higher power that he did not question the morality of his actions. ⛓️
The pacing of this book was good overall. The POVs of other characters assisted with giving you a holistic view of what was happening throughout the story, especially during the battle scenes.
Whilst this book does form part of a larger universe, it can be read as a standalone. The appendices at the end of the book were amazing! They really assisted with the overall world building and the details included were quite comprehensive and detailed. 🌏
I will admit, I did not feel very connected to the characters but I think reading the other books in the series would allow me to understand them and their struggles better and emotionally invest in them more.
July 28, 2023
This is the second of Penney's books I've read and the things that impressed me last time to continue to do so. The reading is very smooth, the prose elegant in its simplicity. His world-building is deep and yet he manages to convey it effortlessly, with no need of tiring infodumps. For all that The Sin Thief is part of a huge canon, it can be read as a standalone, not only because of the self-contained narrative, but also the accessibility to his created worlds that Penney's gifted with.
Certain aspects of the previous book of his I read, The Ancient Gate, that I didn't care for have been improved upon. The characterisation is stronger, less chaotic - characters no longer seem to be able to cycle through emotions at breakneck speed, switching extreme anger or humour off at the turn of a switch.
The story comes with an engaging level of threat, new villain Raphael is an interesting creation to throw into the mix, and using Desa Kincaid's therapy sessions as a way of filling in some of the history is a neat concept, well executed. All-in-all, much to enjoy here. I find myself once again drawn into this universe, looking forward to reading more.
NB - I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review, which this has been.
Certain aspects of the previous book of his I read, The Ancient Gate, that I didn't care for have been improved upon. The characterisation is stronger, less chaotic - characters no longer seem to be able to cycle through emotions at breakneck speed, switching extreme anger or humour off at the turn of a switch.
The story comes with an engaging level of threat, new villain Raphael is an interesting creation to throw into the mix, and using Desa Kincaid's therapy sessions as a way of filling in some of the history is a neat concept, well executed. All-in-all, much to enjoy here. I find myself once again drawn into this universe, looking forward to reading more.
NB - I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review, which this has been.
June 9, 2024
Fueling my insatiable need to read more and more sci-fi this year with another interesting read! I was intrigued by the blurb, so I accepted a free copy for a review when approached! Glad I did as it's a fun read. I will note it's part of a larger series/universe, but it can be read as a standalone. I wasn't too sure how that was going to work, or if I'd feel like I had missed a lot of the plot/characters’ journey having only read this book, but the author did a really fantastic job of creating a story within the universe he's built that can be read easily without understanding anything from his previous books!! It made sense overall and if there were things that didn't make sense, it was covered in the appendices (which I actually SUPER enjoyed going through afterwards!) I appreciated that a lot as I don't feel that's always the case when it's labeled as a “standalone” in an ongoing series lol.
The world building was probably my favorite out of everything. The Justice Keepers were super fascinating along with the technology used in the story!! Plus, the Void and the villain's ability to remove sin & guilt from others with the religious fanaticism was also an interesting concept to play around with that worked within the story. I didn't necessarily find ALL the characters interesting, some fell a bit flat (or it could've been some of the dialogue that just didn't fit fully for the situation to me at times) but others I really enjoyed. I liked the different povs, and I am looking forward to going back to read some of the previous books. Overall, the concept was executed pretty well! Enjoyed how many prominent characters in the story were women too.
The world building was probably my favorite out of everything. The Justice Keepers were super fascinating along with the technology used in the story!! Plus, the Void and the villain's ability to remove sin & guilt from others with the religious fanaticism was also an interesting concept to play around with that worked within the story. I didn't necessarily find ALL the characters interesting, some fell a bit flat (or it could've been some of the dialogue that just didn't fit fully for the situation to me at times) but others I really enjoyed. I liked the different povs, and I am looking forward to going back to read some of the previous books. Overall, the concept was executed pretty well! Enjoyed how many prominent characters in the story were women too.
April 10, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫
The Sin Thief" by R.S. Penney
is a thrilling rollercoaster ride through a small town's dark underbelly. With its mysterious vigilante, the Sin Thief, sneaking around stealing sins, the story keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. It's got secrets, twists, and moral dilemmas galore, making it impossible to put down. Penney's writing sucks you in from the get-go, and you won't want to escape until you've unraveled every last mystery. If you're into sci-fi with a dash of moral ambiguity, this one's a must-read!
The Sin Thief" by R.S. Penney
is a thrilling rollercoaster ride through a small town's dark underbelly. With its mysterious vigilante, the Sin Thief, sneaking around stealing sins, the story keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. It's got secrets, twists, and moral dilemmas galore, making it impossible to put down. Penney's writing sucks you in from the get-go, and you won't want to escape until you've unraveled every last mystery. If you're into sci-fi with a dash of moral ambiguity, this one's a must-read!
September 26, 2024
The story was written well but I was let down by the climax. I thought another bigger climax was coming. Instead, an extended ending took up too much story space for my liking.
July 31, 2023
This has been my first si-fi read and will be honest I was sceptical, but I really enjoyed this book. I was glued from the first page definitely rating a 4.75 would of given a 5 star, but I definitely need to read the Desa series to get more of the back story as found myself confused by some bits as I didn't have a lot of the history between Desa and the other characters things are mentioned and brought up in the book to know what's happened but would like to read the other series to grow and understand the characters more.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews