Under Dark Sky Law

by Tamara Boyens

Xero knows what she wants: absolute rule over Southern Arizona, a cure for the superbug that’s killing her best friend, and a decent bar of soap. Some are easier to get than others. At least, that’s what she thought. To save her friend, she needs antibiotics. Not just any antibiotics: Ketacillin. The dreaded Zaps are dissolving Trina’s lungs, and only the rare medication can save her. No problem: Xero is an expert smuggler. You want it, she ships it. As the ruler of the Tucson Exiles, she works as a double agent, hustling supplies for the government and pumping the desert full of designer drugs on the sly.

With whispers of a full revolution echoing through the desert, Xero questions her uneasy alliances with a shady Phoenix psychiatrist and a roving cyborg mercenary. Especially when Yuma goes kaboom, and her Ketacillin is destroyed along with it. Catastrophe looms, and she finds herself stuck in a complicated web spun from her biggest demons: money, germs, and drugs. As she’s sucked deeper into a net of convoluted schemes to dig up some Ketacillin, she would do anything for a simple hot shower. Who do you have to kill to get some soap? The body count climbs as Xero struggles to protect her friends and stay clean in a very dirty world.

Genres: Queer

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2016

About the author

Tamara Boyens is what happens when a coastal Californian washes up among the prickly pears. Although she’s become a connoisseur of saguaro cacti and heatstroke, she is still a fish out of water who doesn’t actually like seafood. As a professionally trained linguist, she spends most of her time hanging around words, and usually those words are up to no good. When she’s not accidentally hugging cacti, she can be found at the bottom of a coffee cup in Tucson, Arizona.

Reviews

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is by far one of the most engaging stories I’ve ever read, and that’s saying a lot from a reader who’s not a huge fan of paranormal romance. I wondered if the combination of Silver being both vampire and a wolf shifter would be too much, but that was far from the case. In fact, I wish a little more page time had been given to her wolf.

There’s some heat but nothing to make your e-reader combust. The scenes fit the story, perfectly.

So, after Silver goes off the rails, and causes death and mayhem, literally, she is confined to the house until she can be trusted once again. Her mother finds her a ‘human pet’. Silver is instantly drawn to Angel, and because of that she treats her badly… she doesn’t want to get close to a human, least of all an eighteen-year old girl. Once Silver lowers her guard, Angel slowly works her way into Silver’s heart. At which point the story really ramps up the pace. The vampire council are opposed to them being mated. What eventuates is way more in-depth than I’m willing to get into for fear of spoilers, but I will suffice to say it took me on a roller coaster ride, full of emotion.

By the 90% mark I’d had my heart ripped out. I was distraught but in awe and happy the story evoked such feelings in me. I love a story that has the ability to move me. I continued reading, expecting a HFN, possibly even less than happy. Then a plot devise was thrown in to ensure a happy ever after. All I can say is people are going to love or hate the ending.

I highly recommend ‘Silver Linings and Angel Wings’ to lovers of paranormal, vampire, shifter stories with strong female leads.

copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Under Dark Sky Law the MC Xero is truly likeable, but at the same time she also has some traits that I had to overlook or at least say, "Well, I don't really like that but I like her anyway." There was so much action and quite a lot of violence. It's post-apocalyptical and for that reason it seemed to me like the setting of the story was very integral to the plot and characterization.

I would say this one is not for the weak at heart since there is so much violence, but if you like action-packed page turners and you don't mind reading descriptive violent scenes, this is a very good book to read.

[Steven Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I once attended a book signing for my friend Tamara Boyens, who was promoting her book, UNDER DARK SKY LAW. She had been published before, but this was (to my knowledge) the first time she had been published in print. I told her that I would get her book eventually and give her an honest opinion on it. My usual wheelhouse is the action thriller, so I was not sure what I would think of it, but I would open my mind and give it a read.

I'm notoriously slow at getting around to reading books written by my friends. I do get around to it eventually, but I always disclaim that I'm definitely not the speediest.

Well, in January of 2017, Tamara passed away from long term health complications. She was in her early thirties. Her passing completely caught me off guard, and I realized that I would never be able to give her my thoughts on her work.

I did, however, feel obligated to read the book immediately and to tell the world what I thought of her work.

They say that books are immortal, that an author can speak to a reader from beyond the grave. Tamara is not the first person whose work I've read posthumously, but she is the first person with whom I was personally acquainted whose work I read posthumously.

Anybody who knew Tami knew that she was incredibly intelligent, with razor-sharp wit and a vocabulary to make a sailor blush. Those facts are readily apparent while reading UNDER DARK SKY LAW. Written from the first person perspective of Xero, a drug baroness in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic version of southern Arizona, UNDER DARK SKY LAW tells the tale of a quest to obtain the necessary medication to save Xero's best friend, who has fallen to an ailment known as the Zaps.

Xero is a sassy, street-savvy (or desert savvy?), brutal, and licentious leader, equally ready and indiscriminate when it comes to matters of sex and violence. She is also a recovered drug addict, haunted by mistakes that robbed her of what she cherished most, who still hears the addiction voice calling to her. Along the way, she develops assets in the form of Xed, a corrupt, Heisenberg-type Dome psychiatrist; and Radar, a cyborg mercenary with a heart of gold.

Tami's prose is tight and pulls no punches. Whether describing Xero taking on rival cartel members or pillow talk between Xero and her many paramours, what you see is what you get. There is certainly no room for hurt sensibilities while reading UNDER DARK SKY LAW. Xero is a modern woman's hero, one who is independent and can care for herself, who is unashamed about her intellect and sexuality, and who can take charge and inspire confidence in her cohorts.

Every page I read reminded me of why Tami was a friend. Her personality bleeds into the pages and recalled memories of time spent.

The only thing I regret with UNDER DARK SKY LAW is that I could not give my friend her due praise while she was still among us.

Rest well, Tami. Your legacy will live on through your excellent words.

[Read or Die · Rating 5 out of 5]

Character and Dialogue 18 points
Setting and Description 19 points
Plot and Creativity 17 points
Technical Ability 20 points
Cover and Blurb 17 points
Overall 91 points

• A very interesting, if not truly likeable main character.
• Just enough detail about character appearance. Very good description of settings and events. Bloody, brutal action scenes.
• Surprisingly convoluted plot that kept me guessing, despite a few jarring scene cuts.
• Near-perfect technical ability, very nicely done.
• Cover is well done, but doesn’t entirely fit the story. Blurb is interesting, but too long and gives away too much information.

See the full review at https://readordiebooks.wordpress.com/

[Jane Barcklow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous.

It has it all, vampires, unexpected love, werewolves, transformation, vampires, the Gods, werewolves. Get the picture yet? It's about puppies. Just kidding. Read this you'll love it.

[Danni Mladenovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story. Wasn't a fan of last third of the book, but it's still a very cute one.

[Elena Alvarez Dosil · Rating 3 out of 5]

My original nder Dark Sky Law audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Xero works as a double agent, getting medicines for the government, and as a drug dealer outside the civilized areas. Her main goals are making money through selling drugs and finding a very valuable antibiotic to cure her friend Trina of a fatal disease.

I decided to review this book because it was a dystopian novel, but it could have been a novel about wars between Mexican cartels set in our current time. There was very little information about the historical background and how the world worked. At least I would have appreciated a brief explanation about how the world became the one in the book. This made the novel fail for me.

The characters are archetypes, and the first half just shows how ruthless and efficient Xero can be. In a couple of occasions the text indicates that she has a certain age, but from her immature acts and her thoughts she does not seem older than a teenager to me. The same goes for her crew. The first goal from the beginning was finding the antibiotic for her friend, which had not been introduced to us. For the reader, this goal seems less urgent if we do not know Trina and how important she is for Xero. We will see this during the second half of the book, but in my opinion, their relationship should have been described way earlier, since the book felt quite pointless until then. Trina felt just an excuse to showcase Xero and her abilities.

On an occasion one of the characters was mentioned to look like a surfer. I am aware that outdated expressions could be something common, but this one felt completely out of place. From the few descriptions I don't think there was anybody practicing surf in the world, and I do not know whether there were surfers in Xero's lifetime.

I do not mind foul language, and I think it is necessary in some books to make them realistic, but it was just too much in this book.

The narration was quite monotone and P.J. Morgan needs to learn to vocalize, especially when making male voices. About female voices, the repertoire was small and they sounded the same (except for when there were different accents involved) and I had troubles to discern who was talking at some points.

Even though this novel feels a bit immature, it was still interesting enough to keep listening, and I hope Tamara Boyens will continue to write after doing the necessary research.

[Juliette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a dangerous book. It kidnapped me and threatened to rob me of my life and all my time until I put it down. I was gripped from literally page one, and have been griping on the authors page since finishing about needing MORE. Like the ketacillin Xero is hunting, I am a woman on a mission. I need more Boyens.

The book itself is an excellent example of a highly visual piece done in a neat and compact way that doesn't detract from the storyline. The book tells its story, but gives you enough detail that you are able to see, feel, and unfortunately sometimes almost taste and smell the surroundings. Boyens is no Nathaniel Hawthorn though, you won't find her wasting pages waxing poetic about clouds, like Xero, she cuts to the chase and gives you only as much as you need to get through it in spectacular form.

The main character, Xero, is likeable with a lot of unlikeable edges. Or maybe it's the reverse. At times she's almost uncomfortably easy to relate to, and the surprises she gives you are sucker punches you'll probably feel like you should have expected. After the fact, of course. Who is she? A fucking badass dystopian desert queen. The victim and ruler of her circumstance. The ringmaster and the lion. She's a woman harboring a mouth that shames sailors but boasts an unexpectedly brilliant mind behind it. A sassy despot and wicked anti-heroine who gives *almost* as many fucks as might be implied. Honestly I think, against all your better judgement, you'll like her. Or at the very least enjoy the ride.

The story is awesome. It's full of high morality dreams, like saving her best friend by valiantly tromping across the shattered remains of the south to find a nearly impossible to obtain cure, rebelling against the corrupt remains of a morally deranged shambles of a government, and finding a bar of soap... all while beating off packs of rabid coyotes, and packs of (nearly) rabid assassins, sadistic nurses, rival drug dealers (anti-heroine, folks), and - lest we forget them - incompetent government noobs. Unfortunately, as in all good stories with high morality hopes set in a dystopian world, shit gets pretty fucked up along the way. But don't worry, you get addicted to the rush and finish high.

Now, stop wasting time reading reviews and pick up Under Dark Sky Law already.

[DebbieReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Silver is a hybrid, born of her vampire mother and Lycan father. She is also heir to her mother's throne. When Silver releases her wolf in a fit of temper, she nearly wipes out a whole pack. Confined to her mother's house for weeks, she relents and takes a pet, a human companion. Angel has spark, and openly glares at Silver. NO-ONE glares at Silver! Angel sets off a chain of events and emotions that Silver did not see coming.

Silver is, by her own admission, a spoilt brat but even she knows she was wrong to release the wolf, and she fully accepts her punishment. The warding keeping the wolf caged has failed and something far more drastic is needed. She needs to LISTEN to the wolf, rather than cage her. And the difference in Silver is astounding and almost immediate. I did think I wasn't going to like Silver very much but once she listens to her wolf, she is almost a difference person. And I loved that. The wolf knows who Angel is to her, thats why Silver was so against Angel in the beginning, because the wolf tried to be heard. Once she was, though, Silver the woman can see who Angel really is, her mate.

I loved all the references and appearances of the Greek Gods of old, they were amusing at points!

But I just felt I was missing something. Some history. Some information. I'm not entirely sure WHAT, just something. It says Silver's mother has been the Vampire Queen since pre-historic times, and that Silver's aunts, along with her mother, were the very first vampires. It also says the gods created the vampires and werewolves, but why?? I just needed...that...little...bit... MORE.

But this is billed as book one in this series, and maybe that which I am missing will come along in future books. I hope so. I would like to read them. I've no idea who will appear in future books, but it would be fun to catch up with Angel and Silver at a later date.

Fairly clean, but a bit bloody in places. And because we only got Silver, and no Angel...

4 solid stars

**same worded review will appear on: Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Booklikes**

[Tori Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I was pulled into this book from page one. I hadn’t expected to connect so quickly; however, within a few pages I found that I couldn’t put the book down. I read most of the book in one sitting, needing to know what happened to Xero, a flawed but loveable hero.

I enjoyed getting to know her crew and I loved the depth that Boyens gave to each of the characters. The dynamic of Xero’s group was enjoyable and I would have loved to get to see more of Trina after she was back on her feet. The plot was well thought out and executed; I was just as surprised as Xero with the reveal late in the book.

It was interesting to see this fresh new take on a dystopian world; the different in the domed cities versus The Breakers and so forth brought something new to the story. All of the descriptions were vivid enough that I could picture the landscape, yet not so long that I got lost in the details.

I was surprised at the dark and callous theme that was set early on in the book; however, it added to the dystopian feel and with it Boyens was able to tell exactly how things were in the world.

I had trouble in some instances seeing where paragraphs ended and new ones began due to the lack of indent. However, I tried my best to ignore that and I am glad that I was able to figure it out for the most part. I kept waiting for more than just teasing with Roja in their encounters. I understand her hesitance with Roja, especially looking so much like Evan, her late wife. However, the epilogue threw me a bit as it seems she and Roja are suddenly together. I would have loved to see more of how that happened so it felt less rushed, but I understand that the epilogue wasn’t really the place for that.

Those things included, the plot and characters ensured that I enjoyed the book immensely and I will definitely be on the lookout for any future books featuring Xero! Well done!

I received an ARC of this book from Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.

[Sabrina Haslimeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This.is.punk.rawk.

What a rockin cyber punk story! Xero makes tank girl look tame. Her hard as nails personality is her greatest strength and quite possibly also her downfall. More about that in a bit. First the positives. I love strong badass women that reign the post-apocalyptic world, where gender and sexuality aren't important. Xero is fit to lead, and lead she does, along with doing who and what she wants.

I was instantly attracted to the voice in this story, and the snarky comebacks and sharp tongued wit didn't fizzle out after the hook but stayed strong till the end. Kudos to the author to keeping a consistent tone and voice. Each punch connected. Pacing was great, not a slow moment, and even the non-butt kicking scenes had great tension. There are snippets of dialogue that still ring in my mind today, and I my books, that’s a sign of great writing.

My only concern with such a strong character like Xero is that it made it hard to root for her at times. Sure, she's trying to save her best friend, but her exterior is very rough, even in how she treats her friends, and the few moments of inner monologue that would have helped make her more relatable to me were overshadowed by the addictions theme. The addiction theme, while well executed, distracted from her personality and I found myself more and more reading for the action rather than the character.

I wish I could have seen just a touch more vulnerability in Xero to feel a stronger connection. I’d be open to reading more Xero and giving her a chance to soften up (and by this I don’t mean become a pushover) because even an elite Queen has moments of self-doubt and I like my characters to be flawed yet relatable and well rounded. Overall, a great, gutsy story and I’m glad I gave it a chance.

[Jo Frankel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dystopian. Elements of cyberpunk without many of the technological trappings. Bleak yet rich with the struggle for life. The world that Tamara Boyens has created is not a place most readers would want to live, but if you found yourself somewhere nearby, Xero, the lead character of Under Dark Sky Law is who you might need to become. Harder than diamond but loyal to her crew, Xero lives in an unforgiving environment where a trick of genetics determines whether you will be forced to roam the lawless environs of a austere future America or if you will be trapped in the militant, yet seemingly unsafe, Domes, unable even to breathe without their shelter. Although Xero’s crew are drug runners and sometimes-mercenaries, their lives come across as somewhat more enviable than the trapped – or might if not for the illness killing one of them – an illness providing the motivation for Xero to make new alliances and travel back and forth across the well-described landscape seeking the cure.

Action-packed from the first page, this story and the lead character are desperate and hopeless, but not barren of feeling; and the final climax open possibilities for the future. Friends are made family and the location plays as big a role as any of the characters in this work. This is definitely not a story for the faint of heart, but for readers looking for a quick pulse and constant movement, this could be the book for you.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Post-most-government collapse desert-running hijinks. With lots of violence. Also: germophobes beware. I'm not even a little bit germophobic, and there were some gross-outs.

The story is a fun caper of a power-trip, offset by drug addiction and the fallout of Xero's addiction to control. I felt like the ending wrapped up a little too swiftly and neatly, given the winding path of travails we took to reach the (last) crisis point, but the build-up was definitely fun. The author built a rich world that felt lived-in and real.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

We need more books like this! Xero is the best anti-hero to hit shelves since Tank Girl. Under Dark Sky Law is filled with constant page-turning action, set in an incredibly vivid post-apocalyptic world that is fleshed out with just the right amount of details. This is Arizona like you've never seen it before, complete with Mad Max grit, a fantastically flawed female protagonist who just does not give two shits, and a cast of well-written and sympathetic supporting characters. Do yourself a favour and pick up a copy, and maybe a few more to share with friends.

[susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg

Ok this is the first time I have read a Kaden shady book. All I can say is I loved it. It was different. I loved how the story was Specifically written around Silver and Angel. Yes you had all the secondary characters. The storyline was amazing and so where the characters. I would recommend this book.

[Nolly Frances Sepulveda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

So far I have enjoyed the works from this Author, though many vampire and werewolf stories seem to be similar in so many ways, Ms Shay manages to put a nice twist to her telling of these wonderful creatures.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

Wow this couple went through a lot to be together and I kinda cried at the end lol hopefully there’s more books about this lovely couple.

[Zureena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoping there might be a continuing of this book.