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Stinger
Kara was born and raised on the cold mining planet of Reach, and has dreamed her whole life of being somewhere else. Stuck with an abusive mother and a dead end job, she longs to experience the worlds she only sees on the vid-screens.
Then those other worlds come to her by way of a stranger, when she saves his life the night he arrives. From a planet called Haven, Sarit is a breed of human created to survive the unhospitable planet and who are now seen by many as less than human.
Though it causes resentment and brings her new trouble, Kara defends Sarit against abusers and builds a friendship with him that soon becomes the best part of her world. Try as she might though to enjoy the time they have together, even with the danger they face, it's impossible to forget that eventually Sarit will return to traveling the stars and she'll be left more alone than ever.
Then those other worlds come to her by way of a stranger, when she saves his life the night he arrives. From a planet called Haven, Sarit is a breed of human created to survive the unhospitable planet and who are now seen by many as less than human.
Though it causes resentment and brings her new trouble, Kara defends Sarit against abusers and builds a friendship with him that soon becomes the best part of her world. Try as she might though to enjoy the time they have together, even with the danger they face, it's impossible to forget that eventually Sarit will return to traveling the stars and she'll be left more alone than ever.
- GenresAsexualScience Fiction
53 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 16, 2016
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 11, 2016
I have been on a sci-fi kick lately and was intrigued when I stumbled across this shorter story that is part of the Solitary Travelers collection. I think the biggest surprise was that the hero is asexual. I've read books with secondary characters who are asexual, but this was the first mc for me. I found the story a delight for the ability to build a world, a setting, a situation, and characters with the beginnings of a relationship all in the short amount of page time this book had.
The story opens with Kara, a young woman living on a backwater mining planet where the the conditions and life are hard. Most people grub their lives away and barely exist with no hope for anything different. Kara works at a dive bar fending off disgusting men and trying to support her demanding, abusive mother on the meager earnings, but she dreams of somehow getting off world and seeing what is out there.
Into Kara's bleak life comes one of the unsettling and alien looking hybrid humans from Haven another world. Sarit has come to fix something for the mining company. People think of Sarit's kind as less than human and treat him with suspicion and hostility. Kara just sees a kind, gentle man who has lived the life amongst the stars she dreams about, but just by acknowledging, being a friend, and helping Sarit, she stirs the ire of those around her.
Circumstances become dire for both Sarit and Kara and she has a choice to make.
Alright, this was a well-written story for all that it's very short. I enjoyed Kara's narrative voice and being there with her as she shows her toughness, but also her unique acceptance for someone different. And it is only in a painful, innocent moment that she learns just how different. Sarit's physical traits and alien culture are easy for her to accept and value. But it goes beyond that. She connected with him immediately and he makes her feel things that no one else has. Their friendship deepens, but she would like more. Can Kara accept and have a relationship with someone who doesn't feel or want sexual need?
Yes, that is the surprise twist. This is where I would have loved to see this story expanded and go beyond where the story ended open in a happy for now. Sarit is lonely, but that is not entirely by his own choice. His race makes him hated and reviled among 'normal' humans, but his sexual orientation makes most people including his own move on and find someone else. He is happy, content, and whole just as he is. Sarit doesn't feel like he is missing out and it bothers him that others see him as broken and needing fixing or needing a sexual relationship to validate him. Kara has never encountered anyone like Sarit so she has natural learning moments. She has never stopped to think if a person can truly love and be loved without physical intimacy. Again, I do wish that this could have been expanded to explore that with Kara and Sarit.
Sarit is a techie and is hired by private corporations to travel the galaxy and do his work. He likes his vagabond life, but yearns for a companion to share this life with him. He is gentle, caring, and protective and just what Kara needs after the rough, abusive handling she got from her mother and the men of her world. He sees Kara's strengths and potential and not just a low-educated hick. And again, I find myself wishing to explore further adventures with Sarit and Kara.
So, this was a fast read, but it was written well and offered a solid story, setting, and engaging characters. The romance will not be for everyone as it is obviously non-traditional, but I loved experiencing it and would recommend it for those who are open to exploring a romance with an asexual character or those who already appreciate these hard to find stories.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
The story opens with Kara, a young woman living on a backwater mining planet where the the conditions and life are hard. Most people grub their lives away and barely exist with no hope for anything different. Kara works at a dive bar fending off disgusting men and trying to support her demanding, abusive mother on the meager earnings, but she dreams of somehow getting off world and seeing what is out there.
Into Kara's bleak life comes one of the unsettling and alien looking hybrid humans from Haven another world. Sarit has come to fix something for the mining company. People think of Sarit's kind as less than human and treat him with suspicion and hostility. Kara just sees a kind, gentle man who has lived the life amongst the stars she dreams about, but just by acknowledging, being a friend, and helping Sarit, she stirs the ire of those around her.
Circumstances become dire for both Sarit and Kara and she has a choice to make.
Alright, this was a well-written story for all that it's very short. I enjoyed Kara's narrative voice and being there with her as she shows her toughness, but also her unique acceptance for someone different. And it is only in a painful, innocent moment that she learns just how different. Sarit's physical traits and alien culture are easy for her to accept and value. But it goes beyond that. She connected with him immediately and he makes her feel things that no one else has. Their friendship deepens, but she would like more. Can Kara accept and have a relationship with someone who doesn't feel or want sexual need?
Yes, that is the surprise twist. This is where I would have loved to see this story expanded and go beyond where the story ended open in a happy for now. Sarit is lonely, but that is not entirely by his own choice. His race makes him hated and reviled among 'normal' humans, but his sexual orientation makes most people including his own move on and find someone else. He is happy, content, and whole just as he is. Sarit doesn't feel like he is missing out and it bothers him that others see him as broken and needing fixing or needing a sexual relationship to validate him. Kara has never encountered anyone like Sarit so she has natural learning moments. She has never stopped to think if a person can truly love and be loved without physical intimacy. Again, I do wish that this could have been expanded to explore that with Kara and Sarit.
Sarit is a techie and is hired by private corporations to travel the galaxy and do his work. He likes his vagabond life, but yearns for a companion to share this life with him. He is gentle, caring, and protective and just what Kara needs after the rough, abusive handling she got from her mother and the men of her world. He sees Kara's strengths and potential and not just a low-educated hick. And again, I find myself wishing to explore further adventures with Sarit and Kara.
So, this was a fast read, but it was written well and offered a solid story, setting, and engaging characters. The romance will not be for everyone as it is obviously non-traditional, but I loved experiencing it and would recommend it for those who are open to exploring a romance with an asexual character or those who already appreciate these hard to find stories.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2016
5 out of 5 stars
This is a sci-fi/fantasy novella that I really enjoyed. Even though it's a short read, the author does an amazing job of building the inhospitable world that our main character, Kara, lives on. It's an icy, dirty planet and the people living there are much the same. The main source of work is mining - hard, brutal work for hard, brutal people.
Kara works as a barmaid, serving drinks and trying to stay out of arms reach of the men who frequent the bar. On her way home, she sees a stranger attacked by a group of men and helps save his life.
The stranger is Sarit, a breed of human from the planet Haven. The Haven people had to use nanotechnology in order to survive their planet which left them with the ability to control electricity. The name stinger is slang for that use as their fingertips glow when they use it. Sarit is on the planet of Reach to repair some of the mining equipment.
Sarit is shunned by the entire populace; all except Kara. She feels safe with him for the first time in her life. Safe from her abusive mother and safe from the predatory men on her planet. Sarit is only there for a short time and Kara is left to face what life will be like when he leaves.
I haven't read anything by Katya Harris before, but I will definitely be looking for more of her writing. It's very original and I connected so much with both Kara and Sarit. I've also never read any story where one of the main characters is asexual and/or aromantic. I very much liked the exploration of platonic love vs romantic love. Sarit can't feel romantic or sexual feelings, but that does not mean he doesn't need and crave friendship, kindness and simple human touch.
The only thing I did not like about this book was the cover. It was dark and gloomy enough to show the planet, but I think a book like this deserves a better cover.
ARC provided by NetGalley
https://readingfemme.wordpress.com/20...
This is a sci-fi/fantasy novella that I really enjoyed. Even though it's a short read, the author does an amazing job of building the inhospitable world that our main character, Kara, lives on. It's an icy, dirty planet and the people living there are much the same. The main source of work is mining - hard, brutal work for hard, brutal people.
Kara works as a barmaid, serving drinks and trying to stay out of arms reach of the men who frequent the bar. On her way home, she sees a stranger attacked by a group of men and helps save his life.
The stranger is Sarit, a breed of human from the planet Haven. The Haven people had to use nanotechnology in order to survive their planet which left them with the ability to control electricity. The name stinger is slang for that use as their fingertips glow when they use it. Sarit is on the planet of Reach to repair some of the mining equipment.
Sarit is shunned by the entire populace; all except Kara. She feels safe with him for the first time in her life. Safe from her abusive mother and safe from the predatory men on her planet. Sarit is only there for a short time and Kara is left to face what life will be like when he leaves.
I haven't read anything by Katya Harris before, but I will definitely be looking for more of her writing. It's very original and I connected so much with both Kara and Sarit. I've also never read any story where one of the main characters is asexual and/or aromantic. I very much liked the exploration of platonic love vs romantic love. Sarit can't feel romantic or sexual feelings, but that does not mean he doesn't need and crave friendship, kindness and simple human touch.
The only thing I did not like about this book was the cover. It was dark and gloomy enough to show the planet, but I think a book like this deserves a better cover.
ARC provided by NetGalley
https://readingfemme.wordpress.com/20...
April 23, 2016
This was an excellent read! I had a hard time putting it down once I picked it up, which I was not expecting at all. The characters and the world are brought to life on the pages, and they left me wanting more.
The romance in this piece is sweet and warm. It grows from the beginning and just keeps on growing until the end. I would love to see another snippet of these character's lives and the adventures I'm sure they're bound to go on.
~AJ
***I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review***
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews