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Destination Alara
In the 24th Century technology has evolved but greed and war are constant. A rookie starship captain but a veteran of the recent Gothoan War, Vanessa Swann searches the outer rim of the galaxy for any sign of rebel activity. Her favorite pastimes are kicking enemy butt and making time with the ladies. The last thing Van wants is to team up with the Andromeda System's heir apparent and leader of the Coalition flagship, Princess/Admiral Cade Meryan.
Coal black hair, piercing grey eyes and skin the color of fresh cream threaten Vanessa's professional boundaries, but focus she must when faced with repeated attempts on Cade's life. The fate of millions and the threat of galactic war rest on Van's shoulders. Whatever the outcome, their lives will never be the same.
Coal black hair, piercing grey eyes and skin the color of fresh cream threaten Vanessa's professional boundaries, but focus she must when faced with repeated attempts on Cade's life. The fate of millions and the threat of galactic war rest on Van's shoulders. Whatever the outcome, their lives will never be the same.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2014
10 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
S.Y. Thompson
14 books36 followersBorn in California but raised in Texas, Susan joined the United States Marine Corps straight out of High School. After ten years and a lot of travel, she left the military and became a San Diego Deputy Sheriff. Retired from an on the job injury, Susan returned to Texas and began writing Star Trek Voyager fan fiction in 2002, but her imagination insisted on creating scenarios outside that genre. Today she still resides in North Texas with her two dogs and the five stray cats that adopted her. Her previous works, all seventy-two stories, can be found on her website. (from the publisher's website)
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 3, 2014
Vanessa Swann, (Van), veteran of the Gothoan war, has her first starship command as a newly promoted Captain. It’s the twenty fourth century and although technology has vastly changed, deviousness, greed and war amongst the species hasn’t.
Van is searching the outer reaches of the galaxy for signs of rebel activity when she finds herself unexpectedly teamed up with Admiral/Princess Cade Meryan. Cade is the leader of the Coalitions flag ship and heir to the throne of Alara.
Van has always been a player, one for loving and leaving the ladies. Now she’s smitten with Cade’s beauty. But, it would be unprofessional of her to pursue her attraction, plus she feels Cade may be a little out of her league.
When faced with numerous attempts on Cade’s life, Van needs a clear head to keep her safe. With the threat of a galactic war and the safety of millions of people to look out for, Van’s work is cut out and it is not going to be an easy task to keep Cade from harm.
Both Van’s and Cade’s lives will never be the same again as the battle to defeat the enemy begins.
I’ve read some of SY Thompson’s books before and I’ve enjoyed them all. I’m not a great fan of sci/fi, but I have to say this book exceeded all my expectations. It’s well written and an edge of the seat page turner from the first page right through to the last. There are so many ups and downs and twists and turns, it’s like being on a roller coaster ride that is full of exhilaration and excitement.
SY Thompson has created a fantastic, easy to visualize, descriptively scenic world set in the twenty fourth century. Although the technology has far advanced, the reader is still able to understand exactly what is happening and visualize it, and is not blinded by science. Throughout the book is a slow burning, hot, sweet and tender romance that may or may not get off the ground. But, it’s fun watching it develop and anticipating it’s outcome.
The two main characters, Van and Cade are multidimensional and are backed up by a wealth of wonderful secondary characters, each essential to the fast paced progression of the story through to it’s dramatic ending.
Although this book concluded, it would be really nice to have a sequel or a follow on story with these characters in this brilliant new world.
Van is searching the outer reaches of the galaxy for signs of rebel activity when she finds herself unexpectedly teamed up with Admiral/Princess Cade Meryan. Cade is the leader of the Coalitions flag ship and heir to the throne of Alara.
Van has always been a player, one for loving and leaving the ladies. Now she’s smitten with Cade’s beauty. But, it would be unprofessional of her to pursue her attraction, plus she feels Cade may be a little out of her league.
When faced with numerous attempts on Cade’s life, Van needs a clear head to keep her safe. With the threat of a galactic war and the safety of millions of people to look out for, Van’s work is cut out and it is not going to be an easy task to keep Cade from harm.
Both Van’s and Cade’s lives will never be the same again as the battle to defeat the enemy begins.
I’ve read some of SY Thompson’s books before and I’ve enjoyed them all. I’m not a great fan of sci/fi, but I have to say this book exceeded all my expectations. It’s well written and an edge of the seat page turner from the first page right through to the last. There are so many ups and downs and twists and turns, it’s like being on a roller coaster ride that is full of exhilaration and excitement.
SY Thompson has created a fantastic, easy to visualize, descriptively scenic world set in the twenty fourth century. Although the technology has far advanced, the reader is still able to understand exactly what is happening and visualize it, and is not blinded by science. Throughout the book is a slow burning, hot, sweet and tender romance that may or may not get off the ground. But, it’s fun watching it develop and anticipating it’s outcome.
The two main characters, Van and Cade are multidimensional and are backed up by a wealth of wonderful secondary characters, each essential to the fast paced progression of the story through to it’s dramatic ending.
Although this book concluded, it would be really nice to have a sequel or a follow on story with these characters in this brilliant new world.
May 18, 2015
Normally I would start with a brief blurb about the plot, but in this case I am at a loss. The plot was so silly, you see, it is difficult to describe it in terms that make sense. Van is a Navy Captain, promoted to that exalted rank somehow after distinguishing herself in Army infantry combat. After being conscripted for a top-secret mission so secret that it never makes any sense, Van has to rescue the beautiful heir to the ruling house of the friendly galaxy. This she duly does.
As a disclaimer, I very badly wanted to like this book - and to be fair I did, up to a point. But ex-military personnel will find this text a bit of a trial; not only do none of the military systems in this book fit together coherently, every single character proceeds to act in the most unprofessional way possible in every given situation. The author took some remarkable liberties in the name of art. Literally the opening act of the book sees the main character's ship get disabled through an act of incompetence, for which her superior officer casually forgives her. Then said superior officer scuttles the (presumably fantastically expensive) space vessel instead of doing something sane and efficient, like calling for a tow. The main character is then made the exec of the admiral's boat with no regard for the little things like the fact some other guy is already the exec - oh, apparently space admirals captain their own ships now. The romance is mostly based on... I have no idea, but it's unprofessional. All this within the first... ten pages or so had me clutching my heart and praying for it to be over swiftly.
For those that aren't ex-military, the story is pretty rollicking, although uneven. Scenes are set and then abandoned with blinding speed, with new and previously unheralded plot points wizzing past so quickly that those within the book should be getting whiplash.
I can't in good faith recommend this book, although my heart breaks to say so. I really, REALLY wanted to enjoy this story, and I kinda did, in a “so bad it's good” kind of way. It just has such serious flaws.
As a disclaimer, I very badly wanted to like this book - and to be fair I did, up to a point. But ex-military personnel will find this text a bit of a trial; not only do none of the military systems in this book fit together coherently, every single character proceeds to act in the most unprofessional way possible in every given situation. The author took some remarkable liberties in the name of art. Literally the opening act of the book sees the main character's ship get disabled through an act of incompetence, for which her superior officer casually forgives her. Then said superior officer scuttles the (presumably fantastically expensive) space vessel instead of doing something sane and efficient, like calling for a tow. The main character is then made the exec of the admiral's boat with no regard for the little things like the fact some other guy is already the exec - oh, apparently space admirals captain their own ships now. The romance is mostly based on... I have no idea, but it's unprofessional. All this within the first... ten pages or so had me clutching my heart and praying for it to be over swiftly.
For those that aren't ex-military, the story is pretty rollicking, although uneven. Scenes are set and then abandoned with blinding speed, with new and previously unheralded plot points wizzing past so quickly that those within the book should be getting whiplash.
I can't in good faith recommend this book, although my heart breaks to say so. I really, REALLY wanted to enjoy this story, and I kinda did, in a “so bad it's good” kind of way. It just has such serious flaws.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2019
3.75 I think. A good read, solid. But with flaws enough to jar me out of the story a few times.
On the whole the writing is good, and if you don't see the flaws then it will be a great read. Except that the author foreshadowed the baddie far too well and so no surprises. The scene setting is sometimes a little casual, and that makes it hard to get into the scene when a change is not covered well enough to stop me saying, "what's this, why is this, where is this?"
This also includes a few plot holes and transitions. I don't want to include spoilers, but in this case, we go from a character mourned as dead, to her hiding out on an enemy planet. A little more clarity on how etc., would have helped.
There are some issues with technological explanations, but for the most part, they are easy to skirt over, and that's okay with me.
Also a huge proportion of the book is the romance in the story, and this is a huge part of the story arc, is all push-pull, yes-no, does she-doesn't she. Lust to love in three heartbeats.
I still think its a decent read, but it could have been brilliant.
EDIT: I have just upgraded the story because I've rated a story at three and this is way better than that one.
On the whole the writing is good, and if you don't see the flaws then it will be a great read. Except that the author foreshadowed the baddie far too well and so no surprises. The scene setting is sometimes a little casual, and that makes it hard to get into the scene when a change is not covered well enough to stop me saying, "what's this, why is this, where is this?"
This also includes a few plot holes and transitions. I don't want to include spoilers, but in this case, we go from a character mourned as dead, to her hiding out on an enemy planet. A little more clarity on how etc., would have helped.
There are some issues with technological explanations, but for the most part, they are easy to skirt over, and that's okay with me.
Also a huge proportion of the book is the romance in the story, and this is a huge part of the story arc, is all push-pull, yes-no, does she-doesn't she. Lust to love in three heartbeats.
I still think its a decent read, but it could have been brilliant.
EDIT: I have just upgraded the story because I've rated a story at three and this is way better than that one.
December 26, 2014
Oh my god! Reading this book is like riding through a speed roller coaster. There is suspense, action, more action, romance and politics and this book is easily amongst the best books I have read in 2014. The last time I felt so hooked reading a sci-fi fiction was reading Gun Brooke's Supreme Constellation series. There are a little bit of similarities but the plot is completely different. I am so so so hoping that this book will go into a series as well. I want to see more of Cade and Van.
As with the story itself, I think the characters are very well carved out and through the story you actually get to see them un multiple dimensions. We see Van started off as a rebellious captain, who never commits to relationships, through the story, we see some of her inner feelings and how she fallen in love with Cade bit by bit. And Cade, she was initially the cool and aloof admiral who was also heir to the throne, as the story progress, we saw her facade falling, revealing the thoughtful, loyal and caring person that she is. I must admit that finishing the book, I am so falling in love with Cade now. I won't do any spoilers here and please dont jump reading the book - it will spoil the plot.
All in all, I highly recommend this book.
As with the story itself, I think the characters are very well carved out and through the story you actually get to see them un multiple dimensions. We see Van started off as a rebellious captain, who never commits to relationships, through the story, we see some of her inner feelings and how she fallen in love with Cade bit by bit. And Cade, she was initially the cool and aloof admiral who was also heir to the throne, as the story progress, we saw her facade falling, revealing the thoughtful, loyal and caring person that she is. I must admit that finishing the book, I am so falling in love with Cade now. I won't do any spoilers here and please dont jump reading the book - it will spoil the plot.
All in all, I highly recommend this book.
June 16, 2018
Beautifully unexpectedly very good book. Intense up until the very end. Loved it!!!
August 23, 2019
This is a space opera and a good one with bad guys trying to take over the universe, and heroes. The description of space battle and the adventure on the ice planet were written in a way that put me right in the action and scenes. My favorite character is captain Van Swann a brave woman and popular with the ladies, leaving behind broken hearts in many space ports. The swaggering captain meets her match when Admiral Cade a princess of a planet entered the picture and showed her who was boss. The love story was a nice touch.
October 14, 2014
Well...
I broke a record here. And it wasn't a good one. Only 3 chapters in, and I gave up.
In those 2.5 chapters I was able to read, nothing made sense. We go from bacon and toast to destroying 4 space ships, including the protagonist's own vessel, within 2 pages. Something about Hydrogen.
I accept FTL engines and travel. They are a necessary evil, because, let's face it, we can't spend years or decades in a book to go from one place to the next. I accept them within the confines of our own galaxy. But a couple of weeks to travel between galaxies, one that plays a supposedly major role in the story, one that is 2.5 million lightyears away from us? I draw the line there.
And if you really want to do that, at least come up with some fancy stuff. Don't use a hydrogen ram-jet, as that concept isn't even remotely useful for any kind of fast travel. It was just silly. And shockwaves in space?
Anyway, I can't comment on the story, as I did not finish it.
I broke a record here. And it wasn't a good one. Only 3 chapters in, and I gave up.
In those 2.5 chapters I was able to read, nothing made sense. We go from bacon and toast to destroying 4 space ships, including the protagonist's own vessel, within 2 pages. Something about Hydrogen.
I accept FTL engines and travel. They are a necessary evil, because, let's face it, we can't spend years or decades in a book to go from one place to the next. I accept them within the confines of our own galaxy. But a couple of weeks to travel between galaxies, one that plays a supposedly major role in the story, one that is 2.5 million lightyears away from us? I draw the line there.
And if you really want to do that, at least come up with some fancy stuff. Don't use a hydrogen ram-jet, as that concept isn't even remotely useful for any kind of fast travel. It was just silly. And shockwaves in space?
Anyway, I can't comment on the story, as I did not finish it.
August 10, 2025
Adventures in two galaxies, the Milky Way and Andromeda. Ms. Thompson creates two female MCs that are strong, determined, and leaders. Capt. Vanessa Swann and Princess heir to the Andromeda throne, Admiral Cade Meryn fight against a protagonist that has designs of taking over the universe. The two survive a harsh planet full of monsters and conflicts in space as well as political upheavals. Join Van and Cade on their mission to save the universe.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews