Book #8, Red Planet Dragons of Tajss. Dragons, humans, life, death, and a beautiful blend of cultures is irresistible!
SPOILER ALERT: THIS IS BOOK EIGHT IN THE RED PLANET DRAGONS OF TAJSS SERIES. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST SEVEN BOOKS, THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.
Tjass, the Red Planet. It's here the human generation ship has crashed, and life for those onboard will never be the same. Tjass was never meant for humans. The Zmaj, dragons who survived the Devastation, who live daily with the two suns making the planet a desert, the zemlja and other indigenous fauna whose only purpose is to exterminate, barely survive. For humans? Without the help of the Zmaj, no one would make it. But Gershom and a handful of other arrogant, bigoted humans, have rebelled and taken off. What to do? After the Devastation, the Zmaj gave up, knowing their extinction was imminent. There's no survival without females! Now hope blooms again. Seems humans and Zmaj are compatible. New offspring have already arrived from blended unions. But Gershom's rebellion divides all. Neither species can survive without the other. They not only have to coexist but embrace each other. It falls to Sarah to join Gershom and his band of rebels to keep tabs on them. But at what cost? Drosdan, second-in-command to Visidion, leader of the Zmaj, is Sarah's soulmate. His past is tortured, his memories nearly destroyed by the aftermath of the Devastation. He only remembers enough to know he's not worthy. But he loves Sarah. Leaving her alone with the renegade humans is unacceptable. That her own commander, Rosalind, ordered Sarah to what might be certain death, is intolerable. So Drosdan takes matters into his own hands. But at what cost? His life has consisted only of service to authority. To violate that existence would result in the worst of retributions. As Sarah tries her best to be both spy and savior to the rebels, Drosdan makes a fateful decision that will forever change everything. It could mean the death of every rebel, each of whom is desperately needed. Worse, it could doom both species! There are too many questions and no answers. When Sarah's put in mortal peril, Drosdan has two choices. One will lead to Sarah's survival, but at what cost? The other will end in her certain death and his devastation. There's no way to win, is there? One thing is crystal clear. If the Zmaj and humans are to survive, even thrive, there has to be a way out. The overwhelming question is, how?
Miranda Martin is a new author for me, and I was intrigued by the premise of this story. Two totally alien species, both dependent on each other for their very survival, is unique. Add a fractious rebellion with the potential to destroy the fragile alliance, not to mention annihilate any possibility of survival, and you have a story that pulls you in from the first page. Sarah and Drosdan are so compelling. Each has only known an existence of service to the hierarchy. But when they find each other, everything changes. And that's the hook that draws you into this story. Inexorable duty versus soul-deep connection, true happiness, and even more is the basis for every type of conflict there could be. Add in the differences of the Zmaj and humans, the struggle for every day of existence on this harsh and cruel planet, the rebellion, and the very real possibility that everything will end for everyone, and the story's nearly irresistible. Sarah and Drosdan are a study in contrasts. In many ways, they're as alike as two beings can be. In others, no two could be more different. And there are forces at play of which no one is aware. The supporting characters lend an essential element of uncertainty which holds you captivated to the last page. This book is excellent, and I'll definitely be reading more of Miranda Martin's books in the future.
A final note. Be an informed reader! This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language and sexual scenes. If you don't enjoy this genre, this may not be the book for you. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and (Amazon) all booksellers' websites. Use these resources. DON'T LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WON'T ENJOY THE BOOK. It's not fair to the author. She works hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you'll object to a book's subject matter before you buy it, you're doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!