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Telepathic Space Pirates #1
Pirate Nemesis
A smuggler running from her past, Mercy desperately wants answers to her mother’s disappearance. All roads lead her to the one place she can’t return: home.
Killers. Thieves. Pirates. Family.
Mercy has spent her life evading the Pirate Queen who attempted to murder her as a child. Now, living as a smuggler with the outlawed Talent of telepathy, she keeps her head down, takes jobs that keep her moving, and searches for answers about her mother’s disappearance fifteen years ago.
But living outside the law has consequences.
Tricked and captured, Mercy must choose between two rival factions: the terrorists who will do anything to exploit her gifts for themselves, and the pirates she’s been eluding since childhood. Her only ally is the most dangerous killer of them all, and trusting him may be her final mistake.
Star Wars meets Firefly in this space fantasy series readers compare to Ilona Andrews and Nalini Singh.
Killers. Thieves. Pirates. Family.
Mercy has spent her life evading the Pirate Queen who attempted to murder her as a child. Now, living as a smuggler with the outlawed Talent of telepathy, she keeps her head down, takes jobs that keep her moving, and searches for answers about her mother’s disappearance fifteen years ago.
But living outside the law has consequences.
Tricked and captured, Mercy must choose between two rival factions: the terrorists who will do anything to exploit her gifts for themselves, and the pirates she’s been eluding since childhood. Her only ally is the most dangerous killer of them all, and trusting him may be her final mistake.
Star Wars meets Firefly in this space fantasy series readers compare to Ilona Andrews and Nalini Singh.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2016
292 people are currently reading
1160 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
October 28, 2018
This is a prime example of a thoroughly enjoyable space trash romance books. Loved it.
Q:
Knowing how to run was half of Mercy’s childhood education. (c)
Q:
Don’t get noticed. Act like you belong, even if you don’t, and that means paying attention to everything, from the people around you to your own body. Her mother’s words floated through her mind, and Mercy made a conscious effort to keep her shoulders and arms relaxed, to stroll along like she was bored and didn’t care about any of the ships or people around her. Like her heart wasn’t trying to beat its way out of her chest. She looked around like she was just another jaded kid dragged along on adult business at the port, desperately searching for anything in this place to entertain her. (c)
Q:
Decision made, Mercy used her Talent in the most passive way possible, projecting what she thought of as her don’t look at me protocol. It was a risk, but one she had to take. It was a suggestion, really, a kind of pressure on the minds around her to look in any direction that wasn’t right at her. (c)
Q:
The only answer he could come up with chilled him to the bone. Because that girl was a queen. (c)
Q:
Emotion swept her, the same feeling she had watching a solar storm erupt on the surface of a star, as though she was looking at something as terrifyingly beautiful as it was powerful and deadly. (c)
Q:
We are the product of our experiences. (c)
Q:
Part of him wondered why dinner with his family could possibly be a more stressful prospect than facing a few hundred pirates… (c)
Q:
Everyone else can just go float themselves if they think they get a vote, or even an opinion. (с)
Q:
“Your homicidal family?” ... “Are you serious?” ... “Do I need to kill someone?” (c)
Q:
Knowing how to run was half of Mercy’s childhood education. (c)
Q:
Don’t get noticed. Act like you belong, even if you don’t, and that means paying attention to everything, from the people around you to your own body. Her mother’s words floated through her mind, and Mercy made a conscious effort to keep her shoulders and arms relaxed, to stroll along like she was bored and didn’t care about any of the ships or people around her. Like her heart wasn’t trying to beat its way out of her chest. She looked around like she was just another jaded kid dragged along on adult business at the port, desperately searching for anything in this place to entertain her. (c)
Q:
Decision made, Mercy used her Talent in the most passive way possible, projecting what she thought of as her don’t look at me protocol. It was a risk, but one she had to take. It was a suggestion, really, a kind of pressure on the minds around her to look in any direction that wasn’t right at her. (c)
Q:
The only answer he could come up with chilled him to the bone. Because that girl was a queen. (c)
Q:
Emotion swept her, the same feeling she had watching a solar storm erupt on the surface of a star, as though she was looking at something as terrifyingly beautiful as it was powerful and deadly. (c)
Q:
We are the product of our experiences. (c)
Q:
Part of him wondered why dinner with his family could possibly be a more stressful prospect than facing a few hundred pirates… (c)
Q:
Everyone else can just go float themselves if they think they get a vote, or even an opinion. (с)
Q:
“Your homicidal family?” ... “Are you serious?” ... “Do I need to kill someone?” (c)
January 5, 2018
What a nice surprise. This was a fast moving and well balanced sci-fi romance with smart characters, psychic powers, good guys, bad guys and a cute kid. Can’t wait to read more.
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did-not-finish
March 15, 2021Okay, I'm calling it a day on this one.
It's not badly written, but it's a) extremely slow-burn, which I wasn't in the mood for; and b) reviews suggest that the rest of the series has more politics than romance. Not my thing unless I specifically want to read a politics book.
It's not badly written, but it's a) extremely slow-burn, which I wasn't in the mood for; and b) reviews suggest that the rest of the series has more politics than romance. Not my thing unless I specifically want to read a politics book.
January 8, 2018
3 1/2
I didn't really believe in the instaconnection, instalove, above all with her past, but the plot was intriguing.
The strong beginning hooked me well and truly.
I didn't really believe in the instaconnection, instalove, above all with her past, but the plot was intriguing.
The strong beginning hooked me well and truly.
August 14, 2017
So, I really enjoyed this book. Generally, I watch sci-fi movies, but stick with UF/fantasy books. For some reason, I just knew I was going to like this one. If all sci-fi was presented in such a way, I may read more of it.
Pirates. Space-smuggling pirates. Not only with telepathic abilities. Oh, no...a plethora of different abilities. Ranging from teleportation to speaking with a ship's computer, depending on who your parents are, of course. That's just the setup.
The characters all have personalities that are at least a little linked to their abilities (or lack thereof). Everyone's unique and has their own motives for being the way they are and it's very clear from the get-go. On top of that, there's a century-old power-struggle between a clandestine organization within the government and the pirates who split off from those same people.
Oh, and a pirate queen with a capital "Q." Yeah, I can't wait for the next book to come out!
Pirates. Space-smuggling pirates. Not only with telepathic abilities. Oh, no...a plethora of different abilities. Ranging from teleportation to speaking with a ship's computer, depending on who your parents are, of course. That's just the setup.
The characters all have personalities that are at least a little linked to their abilities (or lack thereof). Everyone's unique and has their own motives for being the way they are and it's very clear from the get-go. On top of that, there's a century-old power-struggle between a clandestine organization within the government and the pirates who split off from those same people.
Oh, and a pirate queen with a capital "Q." Yeah, I can't wait for the next book to come out!
July 29, 2016
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
My second 5 star read this year, gah I am so happy! This book was everything I hoped for and more, it was exactly the type of read I was in the mood for and when I started reading I just knew it was going to be a good one. It was brilliant and I loved every second of it. It sucked me in and I didn't want to stop reading. I really like almost all the characters we meet in this book and now I just wish the next book was already out.
Pirate Nemesis is a character focused book and that's what I loved most about it. All the characters come to life and feel so real. It really is amazing how developed all the characters are. Although it sure helped that I read Pirate Bound first as I already knew some fo the characters due to that and it made it less overwhelming when starting this book. And fun to meet the characters I already knew again and see them from Mercy her point of view now. I love the world these authors build here and we learn a lot more background and history about it here. Why the pirates became pirates, hints of what else it out there and we meet the crew and get to know them.
The story seems almost straightforward and I would almost says it's a slow paced book, but that sounds so negative and it isn't. But it's more that the characters take center stage, what they feel, what they go through, how they adapt to this new situation. There is a lot going on, just not in the action packed sense other books have. It was very character driven with the focus on the characters, their connections, their feelings and thoughts, their telepathic powers. And I think that's why it was easy for me to love this book as from the fist chapters I liked Mercy and Reaper and we really get to know them in this book. Yes there is a story and it even gets to a suspenseful level at the end, but it's about so much more and the characters really make this book shine.
There is a prologue which I felt was very valuable. It showed Mercy when she was younger and it explains part of her past and her life without having to get all the details. Mercy is such a great character. She's so real and honest. She never wanted to have power and now that she has she isn't sure what to do with it. She learned not to trust family and it will be hard for her to do and she doesn't change overnight, but slowly. I felt like we really get to know Mercy and what she feels, her love for Atrea and Wolf, her confusion and distrust when their situation changes and her connection with Reaper and how she trusts him while she doesn't trust the rest of the pirates yet. And then we slowly see her change and adapt to this new environment and slowly find her place. But she isn't there yet and I am so glad there will be two more books about her and Reaper as I want to read more about them.
Reaper is such an intriguing character, he is a bit like Dem from the prequel, with how he's a cold killer. But there's so much more to him. He cares about the pirates and his talent helps him protect them. He isn't used to being vulnerable or feeling emotions, but Mercy unlocks those emotions and he isn't quite sure what to do with them. He's always so honest and even a bit blunt with Mercy and she trust him because of that. He could easily kill her if he wanted to, but he doesn't and Mercy appreciates his honesty. And it's just wonderful to see the connection between these two and see their feelings evolve.
Their romance was one of my favorite parts of this book as well. It's so character driven that you really feel the emotion of these two characters and their connection. And it was a slow building romance in that it took some time before they eventually got there. No drama or miscommunication. Just two people who care about each other and try and figure things out. It was wonderful and I loved every second of it, seeing these two interact and grow closer. Their romance made me feel all happy and their conversations and interactions just made me want to see them together. I liked how they were there for each other and their romance felt so genuine and real.
And the side characters are just as real and complicated as the main ones. We have Atrea who is Mercy her best friend and while we don't see as much of her it's obvious the role she plays in Mercy her life. And Wolf who is almost like a father to Mercy. We see Dem and Sanah who we got to know in the prequel and Tama and Rasa who I met in the novella in Romancing the Stars. Tama was such a great character and I can't wait to see more of her in the rest of the series. I also felt that I could understand Treon a lot more due to the prequel, I don't think I would've liked him quite as much if I hadn't read that. And he's an interesting character as well. We see less of Cannon as in the prequel, which surprised me a bit, but still enough. And then there is the grumpy doctor who has horrible bed side manners and reminded me a bit of The Doctor from Star Trek Voyager. Only this doctor speaks Japanese when he's angry, it was a fun touch. And Nayla plays a role here as well, although we don't see as much in depth about her as in the prequel. And Vashti (I think that's how it was spelled) was an interesting character too and I liked what we saw of her. And I just want to see more of all these characters.
I feel like I am just rambling on and on, but this book was just wonderful and I am so glad I read a 5 star book again, it's the best feeling. The world and the characters really come alive. And I like how we get to see a bit more of the world here as well, although most of the story does take place aboard the ship it feels like I better understood the talented and the pirates and why they live this way. Only thing I wasn't quite happy about is Mercy her talent, it just seems a bit too much. But it did make sense with the explanation, she just felt a bit too special at times. And I had hoped we would get to see more of what her talent involved and could do, but on the other hand that wouldn't have fit the book as she slowly discovers it all herself, so I just have to be patient. The concept of telepathic space pirates is so much fun and it's really thought through.
To summarize: I loved every moment of this book. The prologue made me curious and I enjoyed getting to know Mercy, reaper and the whole pirate crew. It's a very character driven book, with lots of focus on the characters. The characters really come alive and everyone seems to have it's own personality, they all feel so real. And I enjoyed getting to know all of them. The story would almost feel slow, but there is enough going on. It's just all very character focused plot lines, which I loved. Mercy and Reaper are both really likeable characters and I loved seeing them slowly grow closer. The romance was really well done too and I enjoyed the slow paced and meaningful way the romance developed. I would recommend this book for everyone who enjoys a good character driven book! And I know I can't wait to read the next books in this series!
My second 5 star read this year, gah I am so happy! This book was everything I hoped for and more, it was exactly the type of read I was in the mood for and when I started reading I just knew it was going to be a good one. It was brilliant and I loved every second of it. It sucked me in and I didn't want to stop reading. I really like almost all the characters we meet in this book and now I just wish the next book was already out.
Pirate Nemesis is a character focused book and that's what I loved most about it. All the characters come to life and feel so real. It really is amazing how developed all the characters are. Although it sure helped that I read Pirate Bound first as I already knew some fo the characters due to that and it made it less overwhelming when starting this book. And fun to meet the characters I already knew again and see them from Mercy her point of view now. I love the world these authors build here and we learn a lot more background and history about it here. Why the pirates became pirates, hints of what else it out there and we meet the crew and get to know them.
The story seems almost straightforward and I would almost says it's a slow paced book, but that sounds so negative and it isn't. But it's more that the characters take center stage, what they feel, what they go through, how they adapt to this new situation. There is a lot going on, just not in the action packed sense other books have. It was very character driven with the focus on the characters, their connections, their feelings and thoughts, their telepathic powers. And I think that's why it was easy for me to love this book as from the fist chapters I liked Mercy and Reaper and we really get to know them in this book. Yes there is a story and it even gets to a suspenseful level at the end, but it's about so much more and the characters really make this book shine.
There is a prologue which I felt was very valuable. It showed Mercy when she was younger and it explains part of her past and her life without having to get all the details. Mercy is such a great character. She's so real and honest. She never wanted to have power and now that she has she isn't sure what to do with it. She learned not to trust family and it will be hard for her to do and she doesn't change overnight, but slowly. I felt like we really get to know Mercy and what she feels, her love for Atrea and Wolf, her confusion and distrust when their situation changes and her connection with Reaper and how she trusts him while she doesn't trust the rest of the pirates yet. And then we slowly see her change and adapt to this new environment and slowly find her place. But she isn't there yet and I am so glad there will be two more books about her and Reaper as I want to read more about them.
Reaper is such an intriguing character, he is a bit like Dem from the prequel, with how he's a cold killer. But there's so much more to him. He cares about the pirates and his talent helps him protect them. He isn't used to being vulnerable or feeling emotions, but Mercy unlocks those emotions and he isn't quite sure what to do with them. He's always so honest and even a bit blunt with Mercy and she trust him because of that. He could easily kill her if he wanted to, but he doesn't and Mercy appreciates his honesty. And it's just wonderful to see the connection between these two and see their feelings evolve.
Their romance was one of my favorite parts of this book as well. It's so character driven that you really feel the emotion of these two characters and their connection. And it was a slow building romance in that it took some time before they eventually got there. No drama or miscommunication. Just two people who care about each other and try and figure things out. It was wonderful and I loved every second of it, seeing these two interact and grow closer. Their romance made me feel all happy and their conversations and interactions just made me want to see them together. I liked how they were there for each other and their romance felt so genuine and real.
And the side characters are just as real and complicated as the main ones. We have Atrea who is Mercy her best friend and while we don't see as much of her it's obvious the role she plays in Mercy her life. And Wolf who is almost like a father to Mercy. We see Dem and Sanah who we got to know in the prequel and Tama and Rasa who I met in the novella in Romancing the Stars. Tama was such a great character and I can't wait to see more of her in the rest of the series. I also felt that I could understand Treon a lot more due to the prequel, I don't think I would've liked him quite as much if I hadn't read that. And he's an interesting character as well. We see less of Cannon as in the prequel, which surprised me a bit, but still enough. And then there is the grumpy doctor who has horrible bed side manners and reminded me a bit of The Doctor from Star Trek Voyager. Only this doctor speaks Japanese when he's angry, it was a fun touch. And Nayla plays a role here as well, although we don't see as much in depth about her as in the prequel. And Vashti (I think that's how it was spelled) was an interesting character too and I liked what we saw of her. And I just want to see more of all these characters.
I feel like I am just rambling on and on, but this book was just wonderful and I am so glad I read a 5 star book again, it's the best feeling. The world and the characters really come alive. And I like how we get to see a bit more of the world here as well, although most of the story does take place aboard the ship it feels like I better understood the talented and the pirates and why they live this way. Only thing I wasn't quite happy about is Mercy her talent, it just seems a bit too much. But it did make sense with the explanation, she just felt a bit too special at times. And I had hoped we would get to see more of what her talent involved and could do, but on the other hand that wouldn't have fit the book as she slowly discovers it all herself, so I just have to be patient. The concept of telepathic space pirates is so much fun and it's really thought through.
To summarize: I loved every moment of this book. The prologue made me curious and I enjoyed getting to know Mercy, reaper and the whole pirate crew. It's a very character driven book, with lots of focus on the characters. The characters really come alive and everyone seems to have it's own personality, they all feel so real. And I enjoyed getting to know all of them. The story would almost feel slow, but there is enough going on. It's just all very character focused plot lines, which I loved. Mercy and Reaper are both really likeable characters and I loved seeing them slowly grow closer. The romance was really well done too and I enjoyed the slow paced and meaningful way the romance developed. I would recommend this book for everyone who enjoys a good character driven book! And I know I can't wait to read the next books in this series!
October 23, 2016
:bright shining eyes: Guys. Guys. No seriously GUYS. This book was such a welcome treat for me! Look I've been on a fanfic kick lately bc honestly a lot of the books I've read haven't EXCITED me. Oh they've been well enough, mostly, but not let me stay up until 4am to finish exciting.
PIRATE NEMESIS, the first book in the "Telepathic Pirates" series, was a complete accidental buy. Well ok not an accident so much as it was on sale and I bought it cause I had some extra money laying around. My thirst for a sci-fi romance series or book to compete with Linnea Sinclair, Jayne Castle and Carol Van Natta hasn't lessened*. But too often I've been let down.
There's a certain balance between scifi, banter, chemistry and action I require that seems hard to fulfill.
PIRATE NEMESIS knocked it out of the park tho.
I loved Mercy from the get go. I loved Reaper and Atrea and Wolfgang and Dem and Doc and Cannon and Vashti from the get go. I dug the fact that Mercy was not sure of herself but she damn well didn't let that get in the way of doing things her way. I liked that she felt a very real sense of worry that she could turn vicious, like her grandmother. I liked that Locke had a casual sense of diversity to the whole cast. I liked the romance was a slow burn bc neither felt COMPLETELY ok with the other for a while (for legit reasons).
The bad guy/final confrontation was interesting not for what the bad guy(s) did but for how it gave clarity to Mercy about the difference between absolute control, control thru fear and control through understanding. I liked that the end was kind of sappy.
I hope more answers are forthcoming. I also ship Treon/Atrea for no reason (they didn't even have a scene together!) then Atrea will SO fuck up his arrogance and it will be glorious to watch. Also I hope the series goes long enough that Snow White is rehabilitated.
And more kith please.
(*) Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott and Anna Hackett are all well loved as well, but I've found my enjoyment somewhat hit or miss with the different series they each have whereas Jayne Castle, Linnea Sinclair and Carol Van Natta I can (and have) reread many of their books over and over.
PIRATE NEMESIS, the first book in the "Telepathic Pirates" series, was a complete accidental buy. Well ok not an accident so much as it was on sale and I bought it cause I had some extra money laying around. My thirst for a sci-fi romance series or book to compete with Linnea Sinclair, Jayne Castle and Carol Van Natta hasn't lessened*. But too often I've been let down.
There's a certain balance between scifi, banter, chemistry and action I require that seems hard to fulfill.
PIRATE NEMESIS knocked it out of the park tho.
I loved Mercy from the get go. I loved Reaper and Atrea and Wolfgang and Dem and Doc and Cannon and Vashti from the get go. I dug the fact that Mercy was not sure of herself but she damn well didn't let that get in the way of doing things her way. I liked that she felt a very real sense of worry that she could turn vicious, like her grandmother. I liked that Locke had a casual sense of diversity to the whole cast. I liked the romance was a slow burn bc neither felt COMPLETELY ok with the other for a while (for legit reasons).
The bad guy/final confrontation was interesting not for what the bad guy(s) did but for how it gave clarity to Mercy about the difference between absolute control, control thru fear and control through understanding. I liked that the end was kind of sappy.
I hope more answers are forthcoming. I also ship Treon/Atrea for no reason (they didn't even have a scene together!) then Atrea will SO fuck up his arrogance and it will be glorious to watch. Also I hope the series goes long enough that Snow White is rehabilitated.
And more kith please.
(*) Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott and Anna Hackett are all well loved as well, but I've found my enjoyment somewhat hit or miss with the different series they each have whereas Jayne Castle, Linnea Sinclair and Carol Van Natta I can (and have) reread many of their books over and over.
April 7, 2020
I really liked this! The characters were great! I'm a huge fan of friends as family stuff and this had it. Oh, and Reaper was hot! :D
December 16, 2016
So awesome to read this book! I connected with the author way back in the old days of Livejournal and beta read the original draft of this story. Back then, I knew that it contained stellar writing and a creative story with fantastic worldbuilding. I'd always wondered what happened to it, and then, fast forward almost five years, and Carysa has published the book!
So happy to see this on the virtual shelves. It was excellent. I love the pirate culture, the explanation for the way the universe is, and the men in the book are all intriguing. There's room for tons of side stories and lots of adventure. Can't wait to read the next one!
So happy to see this on the virtual shelves. It was excellent. I love the pirate culture, the explanation for the way the universe is, and the men in the book are all intriguing. There's room for tons of side stories and lots of adventure. Can't wait to read the next one!
February 21, 2020
Oh happy days !!!
Lord I am happy. This truely is a jack pot. We have a paranormal space sci fi western slow build harem but fast burn RH (1 harem member per book is the feeling I’m getting but there def was a sexy time scene in this book so not sloooow burn ) ... and it DELIVERS!!! This book reads so easily with highs and lows and tensions both action and romantically.
Mercy is our MC and she is smart, wary, emotionally stable, (as much as you can while still having some drama) and an Independent minded woman.
Read this series now!!!!
Mental powers in varying abilities ✔️
RH✔️
MC has powers but then needs to be taught how to use them ✔️
Space ✔️
Sci fi western like serenity ✔️
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍😍❤️❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Lord I am happy. This truely is a jack pot. We have a paranormal space sci fi western slow build harem but fast burn RH (1 harem member per book is the feeling I’m getting but there def was a sexy time scene in this book so not sloooow burn ) ... and it DELIVERS!!! This book reads so easily with highs and lows and tensions both action and romantically.
Mercy is our MC and she is smart, wary, emotionally stable, (as much as you can while still having some drama) and an Independent minded woman.
Read this series now!!!!
Mental powers in varying abilities ✔️
RH✔️
MC has powers but then needs to be taught how to use them ✔️
Space ✔️
Sci fi western like serenity ✔️
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍😍❤️❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
July 19, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed this space opera like story. Don't be confused into thinking that it is a romp in the sack. It isn't. It is an interesting story in an interesting world with interesting characters and an interesting story. All told - quite interesting.
As always, my love for a story hinges on the relationships therein, and there are plenty of relationships here. There are good friends, father figures, new friends, and arch enemies.
My single caveat and fear, here, is this series is categorized as "reverse harem" and I do not care for that genre. I am one being/one being kinda gal. So, I live with the fear that this series will go off the beaten track for me. Unsure if I will continue, because I want to love this book. I probably *will* because I want to know where the story goes.
As always, my love for a story hinges on the relationships therein, and there are plenty of relationships here. There are good friends, father figures, new friends, and arch enemies.
My single caveat and fear, here, is this series is categorized as "reverse harem" and I do not care for that genre. I am one being/one being kinda gal. So, I live with the fear that this series will go off the beaten track for me. Unsure if I will continue, because I want to love this book. I probably *will* because I want to know where the story goes.
March 2, 2020
4.5.
This was a great read! Great characters, great world building, good pace, and great chemistry between Mercy and Reaper.
Apparently this is a RH, and the set up for other guys is there, but this book is just about her and Reaper, who I love. I don't even have an idea of who the next member will be, but it'll be interesting to find out!
Highly recommend.
This was a great read! Great characters, great world building, good pace, and great chemistry between Mercy and Reaper.
Apparently this is a RH, and the set up for other guys is there, but this book is just about her and Reaper, who I love. I don't even have an idea of who the next member will be, but it'll be interesting to find out!
Highly recommend.
April 26, 2018
4 stars for quality but 3 for enjoyment..... good story ,just didn’t really do it for me...
4 stars for quality but 3 for enjoyment..... good story ,just didn’t really do it for me...
Decent world building and plot building per say, would have liked to know more about their worlds and the set up of everything and as far as the plot (I.e. the evil guy/baddies) we don’t really learn much outside the fact that forces outside of the Pirates want to step in and take control of all of them and all the other talents in existence but why and to what end exactly?
No clue ....
Honestly this felt like a prequel to me, I know it wasn’t but it felt to unsure at to what it wanted to accomplish and where it wanted to go to feel like a true beginning of the series...
To me this felt like a book of contradictions at time, too fast and yet too slow, going too far too fast and yet, not enough ground was covered..
Mercy felt young,not immature but despite her recent life changes to unsure of herself and who she is to be almost 30and to have spent almost her whole life on the run and the over 15-16 years working out in the world with smugglers and low life’s etc...
I’m not looking for a toughened hard A ss,but it seems like she’s way to insecure as to who she is and who she isn’t when she’s reunited with family in a way that just felt off, and while it made sense things went slow trying to get acquainted and adjusted to everything things just moved a bit too slowly with very little being accomplished...
Majesty and Queen are thrown around with lots or fear and animosity with anything really being explained to her....
Mercy was being really slowly they this process,while she couldn’t seem to decide if she wanted to be apart of it or not,same about her powers and well everything ...
One minute she doesn’t seem to want to be anything ,the next she’s standing up to make changes to things ,and possibly taking Reaper as her consort all the while not really getting to know any one or anything that will pertain to herself or her new life except Reaper ( of course) a few random relatives ) not really trying to learn her true powers and abilities or even Reaper’s “dogs” who surely will become a big part of her future life...
It was just odd to me, Mercy seemed to be trying to establish something and nothing all at the same time,she felt more like a young 22-23 year old girl who was rescued and was only now learning who she was and where she was from and still didn’t really know what she wanted to do or be in /with her life...
What sold me on wanting to give this book a try was one review where the person who wrote it acted like after reading this they were feeling like you do when you’ve just stepped out of watching a movie that’s just rocked your world, full of shock and awe ( the good kind) and at least for a few moments leaves you looking at the world in a new way...
I wanted some of that ...
I liked Mercy and I liked Reaper a lot, I kept waiting for Mercy to find herself and I felt like I didn’t get enough time with Reaper to connect and like him as much as I wanted,even though I could see it was a character well worth the effort...
To me this is a really decent start,but like Mercy ,it didn’t seem to really know what it wanted or where it wanted to go to be really good....
Though I am curious I see where this goes...
4 stars for quality but 3 for enjoyment..... good story ,just didn’t really do it for me...
Decent world building and plot building per say, would have liked to know more about their worlds and the set up of everything and as far as the plot (I.e. the evil guy/baddies) we don’t really learn much outside the fact that forces outside of the Pirates want to step in and take control of all of them and all the other talents in existence but why and to what end exactly?
No clue ....
Honestly this felt like a prequel to me, I know it wasn’t but it felt to unsure at to what it wanted to accomplish and where it wanted to go to feel like a true beginning of the series...
To me this felt like a book of contradictions at time, too fast and yet too slow, going too far too fast and yet, not enough ground was covered..
Mercy felt young,not immature but despite her recent life changes to unsure of herself and who she is to be almost 30and to have spent almost her whole life on the run and the over 15-16 years working out in the world with smugglers and low life’s etc...
I’m not looking for a toughened hard A ss,but it seems like she’s way to insecure as to who she is and who she isn’t when she’s reunited with family in a way that just felt off, and while it made sense things went slow trying to get acquainted and adjusted to everything things just moved a bit too slowly with very little being accomplished...
Majesty and Queen are thrown around with lots or fear and animosity with anything really being explained to her....
Mercy was being really slowly they this process,while she couldn’t seem to decide if she wanted to be apart of it or not,same about her powers and well everything ...
One minute she doesn’t seem to want to be anything ,the next she’s standing up to make changes to things ,and possibly taking Reaper as her consort all the while not really getting to know any one or anything that will pertain to herself or her new life except Reaper ( of course) a few random relatives ) not really trying to learn her true powers and abilities or even Reaper’s “dogs” who surely will become a big part of her future life...
It was just odd to me, Mercy seemed to be trying to establish something and nothing all at the same time,she felt more like a young 22-23 year old girl who was rescued and was only now learning who she was and where she was from and still didn’t really know what she wanted to do or be in /with her life...
What sold me on wanting to give this book a try was one review where the person who wrote it acted like after reading this they were feeling like you do when you’ve just stepped out of watching a movie that’s just rocked your world, full of shock and awe ( the good kind) and at least for a few moments leaves you looking at the world in a new way...
I wanted some of that ...
I liked Mercy and I liked Reaper a lot, I kept waiting for Mercy to find herself and I felt like I didn’t get enough time with Reaper to connect and like him as much as I wanted,even though I could see it was a character well worth the effort...
To me this is a really decent start,but like Mercy ,it didn’t seem to really know what it wanted or where it wanted to go to be really good....
Though I am curious I see where this goes...
August 16, 2018
This one starts with a wallop. I love the fact that we are quickly on Mercy’s side as we watch her struggling against a thoroughly unpleasant antagonist. She is brave, twitchy and ultra-suspicious – and quite right too. She has spent her life on the run from her own family and when she finally is confronted by the whole clan, it’s small wonder that she’s overwhelmed.
I liked the fact that despite what Mercy is and represents, she doesn’t turn into a Mary Sue, where all goes before her. That there is damage and mayhem on the way. I also like the fact that we learn the bloodsoaked history of Mercy’s family and why she was being hunted from the time she was a tiny child in bite-sized pieces throughout the story, instead of a large info-dump.
Reaper is the other main character and again, his personality is skilfully handled as his prime instincts to seek out the weakness in everyone he meets – just in case he has to kill them – is convincingly portrayed.
The story moves along at a fair clip towards a chilling climax. I really liked the denouement and am delighted that Himself has got the next book in the series – I’ll definitely be reading it!
Recommended for fans of character-led space opera adventure, with a side order of romance.
8/10
I liked the fact that despite what Mercy is and represents, she doesn’t turn into a Mary Sue, where all goes before her. That there is damage and mayhem on the way. I also like the fact that we learn the bloodsoaked history of Mercy’s family and why she was being hunted from the time she was a tiny child in bite-sized pieces throughout the story, instead of a large info-dump.
Reaper is the other main character and again, his personality is skilfully handled as his prime instincts to seek out the weakness in everyone he meets – just in case he has to kill them – is convincingly portrayed.
The story moves along at a fair clip towards a chilling climax. I really liked the denouement and am delighted that Himself has got the next book in the series – I’ll definitely be reading it!
Recommended for fans of character-led space opera adventure, with a side order of romance.
8/10
April 21, 2018
This ended up being really good. Starts with a bit of torture and was frustrating but changed up to being quite a good story. She's been running from her family but when a secondary psychic group captures her, she finds that she might have to turn to her family. It seemed like it was heading for a cliffhanger but it ended up wrapped up nicely.
November 17, 2017
Rating : 2 stars
January 23, 2018
I enjoyed it! Good series!
March 8, 2018
The reviews here on GR convinced me to go out and get this book. I really enjoyed it! Psychic abilities, great characters, fast paced story, and good world building. I will definitely get book 2!
did-not-finish
January 1, 2025DNF
This was through no fault of the book, I just wasn't really in the mood for this one and after I put it down, I didn't want to pick it back up. I might try it again later.
This was through no fault of the book, I just wasn't really in the mood for this one and after I put it down, I didn't want to pick it back up. I might try it again later.
December 12, 2017
I was introduced to Carysa Locke's Telepathic Space Pirate world and her writing through her novella contribution in the Pets In Space anthology last year. While that was good, this full-length story that expanded on that one with the dark and dangerous world, stunning characters, and tough action suspense plot of Pirate Nemesis as told by Carly Robin was infinitely better.
Yes, Pirate Nemesis is technically the first book in the series, but the above mentioned novella and two others stories are prequels that chronologically come first and introduce some of the characters who appear as side characters in this story.
Mercy Kincaid is one strong as steel heroine. She and her best friend go through harrowing and horrific things. Mercy even more so as she has lived on the run in fear her whole life. Turns in she was caught between two powerful enemies and now the pirates want her too.
I liked Mercy as a heroine. She wasn't stupid and was actually quite put together all things considered. I thought the author caught just the right balance with her cautious vulnerability and her bravado, her reactions as she got the truth about things and discovered there is much more to her situation than she ever knew. The addition of ruthless and cold Reaper along with the rest of the pirates and their world along with the enemy group that tortured Mercy and planned worse for all psychic people just made this an intense ride.
The romance was slow burn as a result of all the other matters that are going on plus this is the intro to an ongoing story about Mercy and the others. I loved what came for her and Reaper. They are good together. Reaper's psychic power that is connected to killing makes him a scary person to everyone and he truly is dangerous so he knows to keep his distance. Mercy is the first person outside his family who wants him close and trusts him. And he, even though Mercy is the embodiment of all that he has hated and mistrusted, makes him wish that he was like everyone else and could have a relationship and have feelings for another. I was really rooting for this pair.
But, I do wish I had known that this was to be a reverse harem romance series when I picked this one up. I approach that differently than I do a monogamous couple romance. Maybe I should have picked up on it sooner with all the hints about women being in short supply and others choosing multiple consorts, but there were also couples and Mercy and Reaper didn't seem the type open to sharing so it took until near the end for me to clue in. This knowledge doesn't alter my very favorable opinion of the book, but just my expectations.
I really enjoyed the truly vile villain in this one. He's a psychopath with great power and he takes pleasure and interest in inflicting pain and suffering. At other times, he does it merely as scientific experimentation with no feelings at all. Makes my skin crawl.
The story finishes out a main story arc, but leaves things open for more to come. No cliffhangers just hints.
This was my first time with Carly Robbins as narrator. Wow! She's a keeper. I enjoyed her work on this story with all its characters including mostly men, the variety of situations and emotions, and her really good job with Mercy. I felt I was right there in the moment with the story, but not because she overdid the acting just because she told a story well.
So, all in all, my first full-length novel from the author was a wild success and I definitely plan to get more from the Telepathic Space Pirates series. Sci-Fi Romance fans who like it a notch or two darker should give this one a go.
My thanks to Tantor audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
Yes, Pirate Nemesis is technically the first book in the series, but the above mentioned novella and two others stories are prequels that chronologically come first and introduce some of the characters who appear as side characters in this story.
Mercy Kincaid is one strong as steel heroine. She and her best friend go through harrowing and horrific things. Mercy even more so as she has lived on the run in fear her whole life. Turns in she was caught between two powerful enemies and now the pirates want her too.
I liked Mercy as a heroine. She wasn't stupid and was actually quite put together all things considered. I thought the author caught just the right balance with her cautious vulnerability and her bravado, her reactions as she got the truth about things and discovered there is much more to her situation than she ever knew. The addition of ruthless and cold Reaper along with the rest of the pirates and their world along with the enemy group that tortured Mercy and planned worse for all psychic people just made this an intense ride.
The romance was slow burn as a result of all the other matters that are going on plus this is the intro to an ongoing story about Mercy and the others. I loved what came for her and Reaper. They are good together. Reaper's psychic power that is connected to killing makes him a scary person to everyone and he truly is dangerous so he knows to keep his distance. Mercy is the first person outside his family who wants him close and trusts him. And he, even though Mercy is the embodiment of all that he has hated and mistrusted, makes him wish that he was like everyone else and could have a relationship and have feelings for another. I was really rooting for this pair.
But, I do wish I had known that this was to be a reverse harem romance series when I picked this one up. I approach that differently than I do a monogamous couple romance. Maybe I should have picked up on it sooner with all the hints about women being in short supply and others choosing multiple consorts, but there were also couples and Mercy and Reaper didn't seem the type open to sharing so it took until near the end for me to clue in. This knowledge doesn't alter my very favorable opinion of the book, but just my expectations.
I really enjoyed the truly vile villain in this one. He's a psychopath with great power and he takes pleasure and interest in inflicting pain and suffering. At other times, he does it merely as scientific experimentation with no feelings at all. Makes my skin crawl.
The story finishes out a main story arc, but leaves things open for more to come. No cliffhangers just hints.
This was my first time with Carly Robbins as narrator. Wow! She's a keeper. I enjoyed her work on this story with all its characters including mostly men, the variety of situations and emotions, and her really good job with Mercy. I felt I was right there in the moment with the story, but not because she overdid the acting just because she told a story well.
So, all in all, my first full-length novel from the author was a wild success and I definitely plan to get more from the Telepathic Space Pirates series. Sci-Fi Romance fans who like it a notch or two darker should give this one a go.
My thanks to Tantor audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2016
I can't stop thinking about this book. Seriously. Like, I want more. Immediately, if not yesterday. There are so very many things I love about the world building and the characters that I'm all tangled up because OMG THAT ENDING THO. *swoons*
*pauses to take a deep breath*
Right. So Reaper and Mercy worked for me. He's a killer. Literally. His ability to pinpoint weaknesses in those he's up against could be utterly terrifying. Instead, his blunt approach with Mercy makes her feel safe. Meanwhile, Mercy's been so cut off from other gifted individuals that she has no idea what she's capable of.
AND THERE'S SO MUCH SHINY GOODNESS TO BE FOUND!
I liked their unlikely romance. I'm on the fence on whether I think Reaper can share Mercy with someone else, but I'm willing to go along for the ride. I'm SO SO SO crazy-eyed by the revelations at the end. THINGS ARE HAPPENING! THINGS!
I might have slightly understated my excitement, so just bear in mind that I'm totally smitten with these dangerous telepathic space pirates. TOTALLY SMITTEN!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
*pauses to take a deep breath*
Right. So Reaper and Mercy worked for me. He's a killer. Literally. His ability to pinpoint weaknesses in those he's up against could be utterly terrifying. Instead, his blunt approach with Mercy makes her feel safe. Meanwhile, Mercy's been so cut off from other gifted individuals that she has no idea what she's capable of.
AND THERE'S SO MUCH SHINY GOODNESS TO BE FOUND!
I liked their unlikely romance. I'm on the fence on whether I think Reaper can share Mercy with someone else, but I'm willing to go along for the ride. I'm SO SO SO crazy-eyed by the revelations at the end. THINGS ARE HAPPENING! THINGS!
I might have slightly understated my excitement, so just bear in mind that I'm totally smitten with these dangerous telepathic space pirates. TOTALLY SMITTEN!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
July 6, 2018
4.5 ⭐️ I came across this book by accident and am so pleased I did. The fact that this is a sci-fi/fantasy space reverse harem is an unreal combination of things I love. Throw in the slow burn and detail of it and I was in love. I wish there was a little more Mercy/Reaper time, with some more detail about her training with him but this is the smallest of quibbles. There were a few errors, but probably less than 20, and the book is so long and the writing very good so they are probably only noticeable to a nitpicker like me. I am looking forward to the next book very much.
I read this book in KU
I read this book in KU
June 16, 2018
Très bonne SF, récit fouillé, détaillé.
January 28, 2024
A great start to a series, I really enjoyed this book. It moves quickly, but doesn't sacrifice world-building or character development. We get a good glimpse into understanding many different characters even though this is a rather complex world with many layers.
This is a series I would normally continue but reviews of other books tell me this is going to be a RH and emotionally, I just can't come to grips with that. I see how the author has laid the groundwork for that in this first book and I think it will be well done, but that just isn't for me.
I wish I was going to find out what happens next because this was very much a baby step into what I assume is a big adventure series.
This is a series I would normally continue but reviews of other books tell me this is going to be a RH and emotionally, I just can't come to grips with that. I see how the author has laid the groundwork for that in this first book and I think it will be well done, but that just isn't for me.
I wish I was going to find out what happens next because this was very much a baby step into what I assume is a big adventure series.
March 6, 2021
I really did enjoy this novel. I liked the world building and the concept. Loved the heroine. Love interest was an interesting character. I really liked her foster father, and although we didn't get enough of them, I'm sure I will grow to love the rest of this group. Although this is touted as a reverse harem, I liked the fact that this novel didn't throw a group of men at the heroine and they all fall into this poly relationship together. We are only introduced to one in this novel. It is more story than romance, and I really like that for this story.
And come on. Space pirates.
And come on. Space pirates.
February 6, 2019
This was a really good space opera. I liked Mercy and Reaper, and I thought the pacing and action were well done. Talents were interesting. I will definitely read book two. I enjoyed reading this book, and finished it pretty quickly.
January 28, 2024
Slow burn. Slow. Space. Friends. Kidnapped. Torture. Fighting. Pirates. One love interest.
December 29, 2020
Entertaining
After reading some of the not so complimentary reviews, I must admit to some confusion. This sci-fi romp was truly an entertaining read. Yes there is a slow burn romance, but it is fairly take when compared to other stories. I assume there will be more consists added in future books, but imagine they will only enhance Mercys position. Good read for those long winter nights.
After reading some of the not so complimentary reviews, I must admit to some confusion. This sci-fi romp was truly an entertaining read. Yes there is a slow burn romance, but it is fairly take when compared to other stories. I assume there will be more consists added in future books, but imagine they will only enhance Mercys position. Good read for those long winter nights.
February 23, 2023
I didn’t start this series for a long time. Every time it came up in my library searches I passed over it. Telepathic space pirates? Too corny, too perfect, too marysue fanfic esque to be any good. I was wrong.
If you’re into popcorn adventure stories set in space with rebels and fugitives and dangerous killers turned to loyal lover sort of plot lines then this is for you.
(TJ, you would have loved this series. You’re in my thoughts on every page.)
If you’re into popcorn adventure stories set in space with rebels and fugitives and dangerous killers turned to loyal lover sort of plot lines then this is for you.
(TJ, you would have loved this series. You’re in my thoughts on every page.)
October 29, 2018
Pirate Nemesis (Telepathic Space Pirates, #1) is well written with engaging characters. I would have liked to have read more about the MC’s life growing up as a smuggler’s adopted daughter. The large time jump in the beginning of the book gets right to the action which is good. The action scenes are well written, but there are not enough of them.
Sex is mentioned a few times, but there is only one real sex scene. Sex is rather vanilla and slightly described; more of an R setting rather than pornographic. If you seek word porn you will not find it in Pirate Nemesis.
Despite having fallen in with a bunch of pirates, they are not very piratey. They are the pirates that don't do anything, but stay at home. No ships are attacked; there is no ship-to-ship combat, and only a brief boarding action at the start of the book. The author avoided making mistakes by keeping weapons fairly generic. More characters are killed by psychic attacks than guns.
For a bunch of pirates with a minimum of women, the language is rather plain and lacking prevalent profanity so common in this genre. There is no physical rape although some minds do get pretty hashed.
I also wondered how the pirates are tracking paternity of the children to avoid intermarrying. With multiple partners, who fathers the child is going to have to be tracked by DNA, otherwise problems will arise in later generations.
Pirate Nemesis is an urban paranormal romance wrapped in the slightest trappings of Sci-Fi. World building, ship descriptions, and other main stays of Sci-Fi are unfortunately lacking. The author could have tossed the Sci-Fi setting out and this story would have dropped into any contrived urban paranormal romance setting.
I would have liked to have known more about the best friend’s naval career. What was her specialty? What class of ships did she serve on? Was she a REMF or the pointy end of the spear? A few lines would have filled out the MC’s best buddy’s background. Character development is light, but not as light as world building. Same complaint about the background of the adopted father.
I did not like the passivity of the MC. She spends most of the book reactive rather than proactive. When she learns that she is a queen, rather than stepping up to the plate and actively trying to learn how to be a queen, she waits until her people are attacked before doing anything. I really wanted to smack the MC getting her off her whiney ass and doing something rather than moping through the book like a petulant teenager.
Ultimately, Pirate Nemesis was an ok book. The author’s world is kinda neat, with some interesting characters. However, it sounds as if this series is going to become another reverse harem with the MC required to have several consorts. Reverse harems are not stories that I enjoy. Should this pirate series not go reverse harem, the attraction of this story is not enough for me to spend the money on the other books.
Sex is mentioned a few times, but there is only one real sex scene. Sex is rather vanilla and slightly described; more of an R setting rather than pornographic. If you seek word porn you will not find it in Pirate Nemesis.
Despite having fallen in with a bunch of pirates, they are not very piratey. They are the pirates that don't do anything, but stay at home. No ships are attacked; there is no ship-to-ship combat, and only a brief boarding action at the start of the book. The author avoided making mistakes by keeping weapons fairly generic. More characters are killed by psychic attacks than guns.
For a bunch of pirates with a minimum of women, the language is rather plain and lacking prevalent profanity so common in this genre. There is no physical rape although some minds do get pretty hashed.
I also wondered how the pirates are tracking paternity of the children to avoid intermarrying. With multiple partners, who fathers the child is going to have to be tracked by DNA, otherwise problems will arise in later generations.
Pirate Nemesis is an urban paranormal romance wrapped in the slightest trappings of Sci-Fi. World building, ship descriptions, and other main stays of Sci-Fi are unfortunately lacking. The author could have tossed the Sci-Fi setting out and this story would have dropped into any contrived urban paranormal romance setting.
I would have liked to have known more about the best friend’s naval career. What was her specialty? What class of ships did she serve on? Was she a REMF or the pointy end of the spear? A few lines would have filled out the MC’s best buddy’s background. Character development is light, but not as light as world building. Same complaint about the background of the adopted father.
I did not like the passivity of the MC. She spends most of the book reactive rather than proactive. When she learns that she is a queen, rather than stepping up to the plate and actively trying to learn how to be a queen, she waits until her people are attacked before doing anything. I really wanted to smack the MC getting her off her whiney ass and doing something rather than moping through the book like a petulant teenager.
Ultimately, Pirate Nemesis was an ok book. The author’s world is kinda neat, with some interesting characters. However, it sounds as if this series is going to become another reverse harem with the MC required to have several consorts. Reverse harems are not stories that I enjoy. Should this pirate series not go reverse harem, the attraction of this story is not enough for me to spend the money on the other books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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