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Mystery of the Makers #1
The Sovereign of Psiere
Psiere is a world of intrigue where old ideology meets new. The Makers built massive pyramids on each continent and filled them with encrypted texts and advanced technology. The two suns, Archeos and Illeos shine down on a mostly undiscovered planet with a psionic race of people living on land, and violent sea people below the water. The Queen seeks to make the world a better place for all Psierians but her daughter, Royal Sovereign Connate Olivienne Dracore, seeks only to solve the Divine Mystery.
The connate makes her living as a historical adventurist and wants the answer to two important questions. Who were the Makers and where did they go? Because she is the heir, Olivienne travels with a security force and resents it every moment. Every one of her captains has either quit or been injured trying to keep up with the risk-taking woman. That’s where Commander Castellan Tosh comes in. Capable, confident, and oh-so-dashing, she is forced to switch career corps to take charge of Olivienne’s team. Sparks fly from the moment they meet and things only get hotter as they chase down the clues to the greatest mystery of all time
The connate makes her living as a historical adventurist and wants the answer to two important questions. Who were the Makers and where did they go? Because she is the heir, Olivienne travels with a security force and resents it every moment. Every one of her captains has either quit or been injured trying to keep up with the risk-taking woman. That’s where Commander Castellan Tosh comes in. Capable, confident, and oh-so-dashing, she is forced to switch career corps to take charge of Olivienne’s team. Sparks fly from the moment they meet and things only get hotter as they chase down the clues to the greatest mystery of all time
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 8, 2019
49 people are currently reading
579 people want to read
About the author
K. Aten
20 books332 followersAward winning author and Michigan native, K. Aten writes sapphic heroines into existence one story at a time.
As a writer:
I've published 16 novels since 2018. I write across the romantic genres, including science fiction, fantasy, historical, contemporary drama, paranormal romance, dystopian, rom com, and adventure. However, my primary output is speculative fiction.
Please see my website, Amazon, or anywhere my books are sold for book descriptions & updates.
SOME WORDS END THE SILENCE, OTHERS BEGIN IT
_____________________________________________
As a reader:
My Ratings
5 Stars-The book made it into my heart and if I had to make a top 50 list of all time this book would shimmy its way in.
4 Stars- I loved the book, it was amazing. However, it's not on the elite 'favorite of all time' list.
3 Stars- This is the broadest category. I liked the book all the way to it was average. This should be a 2.5 to 3.5 section.
2 Stars- I read the book all the way through but did not like it.
1 Star- I only give a 1 if I can't finish the book because I dislike it so much. There are a few reasons for DNF. Poor plot line, poor grammar and/or spelling, or maybe just a subject I don't care for.
I DO ROUND UP!
Email: killerwit68@gmail.com
Linktree: www.linktr.ee/katenauthor
Social media: @katenauthor
AO3: www.archiveofourown.org/users/katenau...
“The true measure of success is in not being defined by your failures.”
As a writer:
I've published 16 novels since 2018. I write across the romantic genres, including science fiction, fantasy, historical, contemporary drama, paranormal romance, dystopian, rom com, and adventure. However, my primary output is speculative fiction.
Please see my website, Amazon, or anywhere my books are sold for book descriptions & updates.
SOME WORDS END THE SILENCE, OTHERS BEGIN IT
_____________________________________________
As a reader:
My Ratings
5 Stars-The book made it into my heart and if I had to make a top 50 list of all time this book would shimmy its way in.
4 Stars- I loved the book, it was amazing. However, it's not on the elite 'favorite of all time' list.
3 Stars- This is the broadest category. I liked the book all the way to it was average. This should be a 2.5 to 3.5 section.
2 Stars- I read the book all the way through but did not like it.
1 Star- I only give a 1 if I can't finish the book because I dislike it so much. There are a few reasons for DNF. Poor plot line, poor grammar and/or spelling, or maybe just a subject I don't care for.
I DO ROUND UP!
Email: killerwit68@gmail.com
Linktree: www.linktr.ee/katenauthor
Social media: @katenauthor
AO3: www.archiveofourown.org/users/katenau...
“The true measure of success is in not being defined by your failures.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 28, 2019
5.00 Stars. I enjoyed every second of this. The book is as good as the cover is beautiful. As most people know I’m a huge Aten fan. I love her writing style and really appreciate that she writes in so many different genres. All of her books are completely different and I love that you never know what she might write about next. This book was on my list of most anticipated books of 2019, and I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint. This is spec-fic at its best and I can’t wait to read more in this series.
This book is actually a mash-up of many different genres. It is action-adventure, romance, steampunk, fantasy, and even more rolled into one. It has a bit of Indiana Jones meets Tomb Raider feel but with queens and kings in a steampunk like society. It is just so well imagined and really different than any other book I have read before. The world building is great as Aten designed a complete society from a royal ruling family to creatures of the sea and air. It’s a great fantasy world and I can’t wait to learn more of its secrets.
Besides this great new world Aten has created, she gives us characters we can root for too. The two mains are Commander Tosh, a by the book solider with a heart of gold and Connate (meaning next in line to the throne, like a princess) Olivienne Dracore. Olivienne is an adventurist. Since their society is young, her job is to travel the continent, looking for clues of the mystery to how their people came to be. She loves the adventure of her job but chafes under the protection of her royal guards. When Commander Tosh is promoted to head of the guards to protect Olivienne, the two must learn to work together while their attraction steadily deepens. While I love spec-fic, I prefer my spec-fic books to have a good romance. For you romance fans out there Aten does not disappoint.
After one book, I’m completely hooked into this new world and I can’t wait to see what happens next. While the storylines are open, the book doesn’t end on a big cliffhanger so you can start this series now without that worry. If you like action and adventure, bits of fantasy and steampunk, and of course a good romance, don’t let this book pass you by. It’s a great start to a series and I can’t wait to read more. This book releases on 5/31/19.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
This book is actually a mash-up of many different genres. It is action-adventure, romance, steampunk, fantasy, and even more rolled into one. It has a bit of Indiana Jones meets Tomb Raider feel but with queens and kings in a steampunk like society. It is just so well imagined and really different than any other book I have read before. The world building is great as Aten designed a complete society from a royal ruling family to creatures of the sea and air. It’s a great fantasy world and I can’t wait to learn more of its secrets.
Besides this great new world Aten has created, she gives us characters we can root for too. The two mains are Commander Tosh, a by the book solider with a heart of gold and Connate (meaning next in line to the throne, like a princess) Olivienne Dracore. Olivienne is an adventurist. Since their society is young, her job is to travel the continent, looking for clues of the mystery to how their people came to be. She loves the adventure of her job but chafes under the protection of her royal guards. When Commander Tosh is promoted to head of the guards to protect Olivienne, the two must learn to work together while their attraction steadily deepens. While I love spec-fic, I prefer my spec-fic books to have a good romance. For you romance fans out there Aten does not disappoint.
After one book, I’m completely hooked into this new world and I can’t wait to see what happens next. While the storylines are open, the book doesn’t end on a big cliffhanger so you can start this series now without that worry. If you like action and adventure, bits of fantasy and steampunk, and of course a good romance, don’t let this book pass you by. It’s a great start to a series and I can’t wait to read more. This book releases on 5/31/19.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
December 31, 2019
I’d read so many raving reviews that maybe I was expecting too much. This is a very good book but it didn’t wow. I really enjoyed the story once I managed to get into it. That took some time but for the best reason: the world-building is excellent and I had to get used to it. I also loved the whole treasure hunt side.
I’m looking forward to book 2 now.
I’m looking forward to book 2 now.
April 23, 2019
Having read a few of her books of different genres, I can safely say that K. Aten has one wicked creative and imaginative mind! Her books I'd read so far had totally different takes on the popular genres and tropes. Her upcoming book, "The Sovereign of Psiere," the first installment of her newest speculative fiction series, "Mystery Of The Makers," is no exception. Only this time, it was the linguistic style that was creatively generated to tell the tale, not to mention, a couple of other characteristics that shaped the scope of the story even more uniquely different than the other spec fics in lesfic out there! Describing the series as a mixed genre is an understatement, surely! Read it and tell me I’m wrong! I honestly never came across a reading experience quite like I had with this book before! It was jam-packed with so many moving parts, presumably related to the overall arc of the series going forward, being introduced and displayed in Book 1 alone. Phew, what a rush! Needless to say, it wasn't so much reading the book as experiencing it, for me. What a ride, indeed!
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
*An ARC copy was furnished to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
*An ARC copy was furnished to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*
December 14, 2020
4.5 stars. Action, adventure and awesome worldbuilding, what’s not to like :-) This is only my second book by Aten, but I’m becoming a fan.
The worldbuilding in this book is amazing, the world, inhabitants, animal species, customs, and the vocabulary, everything is well thought out. The main storyline is about the divine mystery. Psiere has a largely history and Psierians call the previous inhabitants “the makers”. Historical adventurists make it their goal to unravel the history of Psiere and “the makers” by hunting for old relics, which are often protected by traps and puzzles. So, if you like Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider, you will likely like this too, but it’s too complex to fully ascribe to a specific genre as there are so many other genres mixed in here too (e.g. fantasy, steampunk, romance, sci-fi etc.).
Besides the divine mystery there is an abundance of other things going on in this book, like the fact that some Psierians have extraordinary gifts, there is political plotting and unrest and a war with another species. Some of these topics appear to lay the foundation for books to come. Clearly, this is a series that needs to be read in order.
The two main characters are Connate Olivienne Dracore and Commander Castellan Tosh. Olivienne is a historical adventurist, but she is also the heir to the throne, which is why she needs a protection detail. Castellan leads this protection detail, which is not an easy job as Olivienne is fearless and stubborn and hates the fact that she needs protection. The fact that Castellan is also extremely attracted to the sovereign makes things even more complicated. Their power dynamics and romance reminded me a bit of the Honor series by Radclyffe, for those who are familiar with that series.
Both mains are a bit over the top in the sense that they are super attractive, intelligent, fit and gifted, and on top of this, Castellan is a true hero. For this book this worked perfectly and I had a lot of fun with it. Even though they seem to be perfect, there still were enough flaws left to allow for growth and I especially enjoyed the change in Olivienne’s character. Castellan is the epitome of honor, loyalty and duty, she has a big heart, but a very stubborn side as well. Together, their personalities clash constantly and they have chemistry in a volatile way.
Obviously, in terms of adventure this book is all I want, but I would have liked a slightly better emotional link with the characters, which is why I did not rate it the full five stars. Sometimes I had the feeling that I was told how Olivienne and Castellan were feeling instead of actually feeling it, but this could be my perception as I didn’t see this mentioned in other reviews.
You can never have too many heroes! If you like adventures, an awesome fictional world and an explosive romance, go read this book.
The worldbuilding in this book is amazing, the world, inhabitants, animal species, customs, and the vocabulary, everything is well thought out. The main storyline is about the divine mystery. Psiere has a largely history and Psierians call the previous inhabitants “the makers”. Historical adventurists make it their goal to unravel the history of Psiere and “the makers” by hunting for old relics, which are often protected by traps and puzzles. So, if you like Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider, you will likely like this too, but it’s too complex to fully ascribe to a specific genre as there are so many other genres mixed in here too (e.g. fantasy, steampunk, romance, sci-fi etc.).
Besides the divine mystery there is an abundance of other things going on in this book, like the fact that some Psierians have extraordinary gifts, there is political plotting and unrest and a war with another species. Some of these topics appear to lay the foundation for books to come. Clearly, this is a series that needs to be read in order.
The two main characters are Connate Olivienne Dracore and Commander Castellan Tosh. Olivienne is a historical adventurist, but she is also the heir to the throne, which is why she needs a protection detail. Castellan leads this protection detail, which is not an easy job as Olivienne is fearless and stubborn and hates the fact that she needs protection. The fact that Castellan is also extremely attracted to the sovereign makes things even more complicated. Their power dynamics and romance reminded me a bit of the Honor series by Radclyffe, for those who are familiar with that series.
Both mains are a bit over the top in the sense that they are super attractive, intelligent, fit and gifted, and on top of this, Castellan is a true hero. For this book this worked perfectly and I had a lot of fun with it. Even though they seem to be perfect, there still were enough flaws left to allow for growth and I especially enjoyed the change in Olivienne’s character. Castellan is the epitome of honor, loyalty and duty, she has a big heart, but a very stubborn side as well. Together, their personalities clash constantly and they have chemistry in a volatile way.
Obviously, in terms of adventure this book is all I want, but I would have liked a slightly better emotional link with the characters, which is why I did not rate it the full five stars. Sometimes I had the feeling that I was told how Olivienne and Castellan were feeling instead of actually feeling it, but this could be my perception as I didn’t see this mentioned in other reviews.
You can never have too many heroes! If you like adventures, an awesome fictional world and an explosive romance, go read this book.
May 15, 2019
I am not ashamed to admit that this author completely blew my mind and knocked my fluffy "time to hibernate with good books" socks right off of my feet with this captivating story! I am always pleasantly surprised whenever I read a book by this esteemed author because I can never anticipate where her stories or her unforgettable characters will take me. Could you believe that I kept sneaking a read everyday during my working hours while I was devouring this addictive novel? I certainly did! There was no way that I could take my mind off of Commander Castellan Tosh and Olivienne Dracore. This novel also scored several points with me because I got to live vicariously through these awesome women and I was introduced to the beautiful world of Psiere. How often does a nerdy accountant get to leave her office to go on wild adventures all over rugged terrains and struggle to solve unique puzzles in order to find the answer to the Divine Mystery? I am pretty chuffed and honored to say that I got to have my cake and eat it as well because I did all of my sidekick work from the safety of desk, couch or bed. I can't wait to read the next book in this awesome series!
August 15, 2019
It seems a disservice to rate aten's books less than a solid 5
May 31, 2019
What’s not to love about this book. Psiere has elements of steampunk, rom, adventure, fantasy, sci-fi, etc. It’s really hard to lock this one down to one specific box. That’s really part of the appeal if you ask me. It’s new, refreshing, and I’ve never read anything like it before in lesfic.
Just taking into consideration the world building aspects and the layered and textured feel of the world would make this a great book onto itself. Then add two incredibly likeable MC’s tossed into a story of royalty, historical adventure, romance… Sigh.
Commander Tosh is probably one of the most endearing characters I’ve read in a really long time. That’s not to discount any of the authors previous works, no. But this one in particular resonates with me personally. Probably due to my time in the military, dunno. But when she meets the Princess Olivienne? Shoo wee… look out there be sparks. Now don’t get me wrong, I really liked Liv’s character too, but Tosh is ma’ fav for sure
A keen eye will catch that this book is listed as #1 in the Makers series. That’s right, there’s more coming and that gives me the good feels. A great story teller will suck you in to their story and leave you wanting more. And that’s definitely the case here.
Not just recommended for it’s rom arc, but if you like a touch of adventure? A princess falling for her debonair bodyguard? Loose big chunks of your time because you can’t put it down? LOL then don’t blame me for loosing sleep cause you don’t want to miss anything.
Just taking into consideration the world building aspects and the layered and textured feel of the world would make this a great book onto itself. Then add two incredibly likeable MC’s tossed into a story of royalty, historical adventure, romance… Sigh.
Commander Tosh is probably one of the most endearing characters I’ve read in a really long time. That’s not to discount any of the authors previous works, no. But this one in particular resonates with me personally. Probably due to my time in the military, dunno. But when she meets the Princess Olivienne? Shoo wee… look out there be sparks. Now don’t get me wrong, I really liked Liv’s character too, but Tosh is ma’ fav for sure
A keen eye will catch that this book is listed as #1 in the Makers series. That’s right, there’s more coming and that gives me the good feels. A great story teller will suck you in to their story and leave you wanting more. And that’s definitely the case here.
Not just recommended for it’s rom arc, but if you like a touch of adventure? A princess falling for her debonair bodyguard? Loose big chunks of your time because you can’t put it down? LOL then don’t blame me for loosing sleep cause you don’t want to miss anything.
August 7, 2019
A fascinating, exciting, adventure!
Royal Olivienne Dracore seeks more than a better place for their people when embarking on an adventure with Commander Castellan Tosh, who is tasked with being the latest person to take charge of guiding, and protecting Olivienne and her team on their quest to find out who their makers were, and where they have gone. But all is not as simple as it seems, especially for Tosh, when Olivienne begins to make sure her feelings for Tosh are known.
This was a very intricate story, showcasing just another example of K Aten’s talent to cross genres, try writing new things, and keeping a variety in her storytelling. An adventure with a dystopian, yet futuristic, sci-fi feel was refreshing and built new exciting worlds to explore, mysteries to uncover, and characters to discover and love.
The clever mystery that surrounds Olivienne and Castellan’s adventure was exciting, kept me gripped, and left me wanting to know more. Discovering the secrets they sought was an experience very much for the characters, but also the reader. I was drawn into the story, the power, and the adventure. It really kept me on my toes.
This was a very intricate story, showcasing just another example of K Aten’s talent to cross genres, try writing new things, and keeping a variety in her storytelling. An adventure with a dystopian, yet futuristic, sci-fi feel was refreshing and built new exciting worlds to explore, mysteries to uncover, and characters to discover and love.
The clever mystery that surrounds Olivienne and Castellan’s adventure was exciting, kept me gripped, and left me wanting to know more. Discovering the secrets they sought was an experience very much for the characters, but also the reader. I was drawn into the story, the power, and the adventure. It really kept me on my toes.
Olivienne and Castellan have a tension, both sexual and power based. They are both strong, independent, confident women and despite clashing a little, their attraction is undeniable, and sizzling just below the surface in a slow burn as they come to terms with their lustful feelings.
Once connected emotionally, their love and dedication to one another is jumping off the page and creating an exciting relationship to accompany the adventure they are already on.
Castellan was strong, powerful, and a wonder of a character. I liked Olivienne, but the emotional connection I got to the conflict Castellan is dealing with in this story really made her my favourite character.
A promising start to what looks to be a very exciting series, looking forward to more.
Royal Olivienne Dracore seeks more than a better place for their people when embarking on an adventure with Commander Castellan Tosh, who is tasked with being the latest person to take charge of guiding, and protecting Olivienne and her team on their quest to find out who their makers were, and where they have gone. But all is not as simple as it seems, especially for Tosh, when Olivienne begins to make sure her feelings for Tosh are known.
This was a very intricate story, showcasing just another example of K Aten’s talent to cross genres, try writing new things, and keeping a variety in her storytelling. An adventure with a dystopian, yet futuristic, sci-fi feel was refreshing and built new exciting worlds to explore, mysteries to uncover, and characters to discover and love.
The clever mystery that surrounds Olivienne and Castellan’s adventure was exciting, kept me gripped, and left me wanting to know more. Discovering the secrets they sought was an experience very much for the characters, but also the reader. I was drawn into the story, the power, and the adventure. It really kept me on my toes.
This was a very intricate story, showcasing just another example of K Aten’s talent to cross genres, try writing new things, and keeping a variety in her storytelling. An adventure with a dystopian, yet futuristic, sci-fi feel was refreshing and built new exciting worlds to explore, mysteries to uncover, and characters to discover and love.
The clever mystery that surrounds Olivienne and Castellan’s adventure was exciting, kept me gripped, and left me wanting to know more. Discovering the secrets they sought was an experience very much for the characters, but also the reader. I was drawn into the story, the power, and the adventure. It really kept me on my toes.
Olivienne and Castellan have a tension, both sexual and power based. They are both strong, independent, confident women and despite clashing a little, their attraction is undeniable, and sizzling just below the surface in a slow burn as they come to terms with their lustful feelings.
Once connected emotionally, their love and dedication to one another is jumping off the page and creating an exciting relationship to accompany the adventure they are already on.
Castellan was strong, powerful, and a wonder of a character. I liked Olivienne, but the emotional connection I got to the conflict Castellan is dealing with in this story really made her my favourite character.
A promising start to what looks to be a very exciting series, looking forward to more.
April 20, 2021
Mind-blowing!!! Simply put, because I am at a loss for words...but...I will try to express my deepest gratitude to the author.
So, let's start: the words found in the glossary are just beautiful creation, most easy to understand without explanation but love the effort...some have a tinge of Italian tone in them (cuz that's how my brain reads then, with an accent 😀)
Next, the worldbuilding, pure delight...you get a sense of how their society works and how is organized and run, but all feels indeed an alternate reality of a steampunk-ish world set on a collection of islands where people have something like differently rated super-abilities and still feels like a technologically modern developed society.
Right, then the plot...gosh I don't know where to begin...it's like an action packed movie from the very beginning. Something like the Uncharted games but in a steampunk setting, which I would love to see on the big screen, but with strong female leads as the 2 MCs. The technology built is quite fitting the steampunk genre but subtle in it's description and creates a not so heavy atmosphere...ok, I'll stop here cuz gotta read it...
So that leaves the romance which I think it's good though I would have loved a slower burn but given the setting I think fits quite well.
Blasted hell, the telepathy thing throws me back to the Chronicles of Alsea and I pure love it here.
All in all, hell of a ride with this book!!!
So, let's start: the words found in the glossary are just beautiful creation, most easy to understand without explanation but love the effort...some have a tinge of Italian tone in them (cuz that's how my brain reads then, with an accent 😀)
Next, the worldbuilding, pure delight...you get a sense of how their society works and how is organized and run, but all feels indeed an alternate reality of a steampunk-ish world set on a collection of islands where people have something like differently rated super-abilities and still feels like a technologically modern developed society.
Right, then the plot...gosh I don't know where to begin...it's like an action packed movie from the very beginning. Something like the Uncharted games but in a steampunk setting, which I would love to see on the big screen, but with strong female leads as the 2 MCs. The technology built is quite fitting the steampunk genre but subtle in it's description and creates a not so heavy atmosphere...ok, I'll stop here cuz gotta read it...
So that leaves the romance which I think it's good though I would have loved a slower burn but given the setting I think fits quite well.
Blasted hell, the telepathy thing throws me back to the Chronicles of Alsea and I pure love it here.
All in all, hell of a ride with this book!!!
November 13, 2021
The more I read by this author, the more I get to appreciate fantasy and sci-fi and speculative fiction. This was quite an adventure and action-packed book, with a touch of mystery and drama. I found it really entertaining. I'm going to follow up with part 2.
July 24, 2022
Officially a K. Aten fan now. Sometimes Sci-Fi takes more effort to read because of all the new terms, but K. Aten does a brilliant job of making the terminology close enough to understand and not get bogged down. This was a great story. I look forward to the continuing story.
August 12, 2021
Amazing Read!! The perfect amount of romance and adventure>
July 24, 2020
Awesome novel. Bodyguard-type romance with superpowers, archaeological adventures, massive creatures and political intrigue.
After a brief "dalliance" on a train with the crown princess of Psiere, Lt. Commander Castellan Tosh never expects her next assignment to be the head of said-princess's security detatchment. Crown Princess Olivienne has always chafed against the constraints her security places on her ability to do her job as a historical adventurist (read Indiana Jones-type archaeological questing). As the two are thrown together, they begin to untangle not just their attraction to eachother but, perhaps the great mysteries of Psiere itself.
After a brief "dalliance" on a train with the crown princess of Psiere, Lt. Commander Castellan Tosh never expects her next assignment to be the head of said-princess's security detatchment. Crown Princess Olivienne has always chafed against the constraints her security places on her ability to do her job as a historical adventurist (read Indiana Jones-type archaeological questing). As the two are thrown together, they begin to untangle not just their attraction to eachother but, perhaps the great mysteries of Psiere itself.
December 17, 2019
Review excerpted from my blog post over at Pan/Cis LGBT2SQ+ Romance Reviews (https://pancis.wordpress.com/2019/12/...)
Overall Rating: 4.0 stars
Library recommendation: Recommended for public library LGBT2SQ+ romance collections.
Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.
________________________
Number of titles I have read by this author: 1
Love story speed: Medium burn
Relationship dynamics: The Career Soldier (h1) / The Willful Princess (h2)
Sexual content: Oodles; explicit and “on-screen”; some all-night session recaps (and these heroines go hours and hours)
Gender Identity: Cis (h1) / Cis (h2)
Sexual Identity: Lesbian (h1) / Lesbian (h2)
Triggers: main character near-death experiences
Acceptance Rating: 5 stars
Acceptance Rating Explanation: Love is love.
Grammar/Editing: My ARC had some typos, issues with adjectives vs adverbs, etc.
Review: This third person omniscient point of view novel follows an internally predictable fast-slow-fast pace. It is set in what could be a magical fantasy, science fiction, speculative fiction, or steampunk realm – there are clues throughout the novel as to which it might be, but it is not easily defined just by reading this first novel in the series. I suspect more will be revealed in subsequent novels (the number of which is also as-yet unclear). The world building in this novel is quite excellent and the internal mythology is complex. The story itself is also detail-rich, including a meticulously-followed military rank structure that appears to be modeled after US navy officer ranks and US army enlisted ranks. Because the book is very heavy on military language and protocol, this book won’t be for every reader. However, that will be down to personal reading preferences rather than writing quality.
Castellan Tosh and Olivienne Dracore are the indisputably strong heroines of this novel. Castellan is the dashing (a descriptor used to describe her not less than a dozen times during the course of the novel), upstanding soldier and Olivienne is the consummate privileged brat. Their relationship is meant to be professional in the beginning, but their attraction to one another causes spontaneous bursts of passion before returning to professionalism. Their dedication to their often at-odds professions drives much of the tension and the plot, but both see significant growth – personally and toward one another – within the novel, even while sticking to their professional scruples. There are many supporting characters in this novel, but Queen Olivara is, by far, the most developed. Other characters are well-described, but mostly seem interchangeable because there are just so many of them. That being said, Lt. Savon is more distinct than the 15 other Psi Shield unit members, and I look forward to reading more about him in the next installment in the series.
Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Overall Rating: 4.0 stars
Library recommendation: Recommended for public library LGBT2SQ+ romance collections.
Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.
________________________
Number of titles I have read by this author: 1
Love story speed: Medium burn
Relationship dynamics: The Career Soldier (h1) / The Willful Princess (h2)
Sexual content: Oodles; explicit and “on-screen”; some all-night session recaps (and these heroines go hours and hours)
Gender Identity: Cis (h1) / Cis (h2)
Sexual Identity: Lesbian (h1) / Lesbian (h2)
Triggers: main character near-death experiences
Acceptance Rating: 5 stars
Acceptance Rating Explanation: Love is love.
Grammar/Editing: My ARC had some typos, issues with adjectives vs adverbs, etc.
Review: This third person omniscient point of view novel follows an internally predictable fast-slow-fast pace. It is set in what could be a magical fantasy, science fiction, speculative fiction, or steampunk realm – there are clues throughout the novel as to which it might be, but it is not easily defined just by reading this first novel in the series. I suspect more will be revealed in subsequent novels (the number of which is also as-yet unclear). The world building in this novel is quite excellent and the internal mythology is complex. The story itself is also detail-rich, including a meticulously-followed military rank structure that appears to be modeled after US navy officer ranks and US army enlisted ranks. Because the book is very heavy on military language and protocol, this book won’t be for every reader. However, that will be down to personal reading preferences rather than writing quality.
Castellan Tosh and Olivienne Dracore are the indisputably strong heroines of this novel. Castellan is the dashing (a descriptor used to describe her not less than a dozen times during the course of the novel), upstanding soldier and Olivienne is the consummate privileged brat. Their relationship is meant to be professional in the beginning, but their attraction to one another causes spontaneous bursts of passion before returning to professionalism. Their dedication to their often at-odds professions drives much of the tension and the plot, but both see significant growth – personally and toward one another – within the novel, even while sticking to their professional scruples. There are many supporting characters in this novel, but Queen Olivara is, by far, the most developed. Other characters are well-described, but mostly seem interchangeable because there are just so many of them. That being said, Lt. Savon is more distinct than the 15 other Psi Shield unit members, and I look forward to reading more about him in the next installment in the series.
Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2023
It is an extra and unwordable feeling to spend time with characters and events from a book that supplies a feeling of content and appreciation that adds to being and living.
Grateful for my faculties.
We have here an Indiana Jane version princess paired with a soldier's soldier. Heads butt, adventures fills, dangers abound, mysteries are endless and amongst these activities love blossoms....and i am not talking of the romantic type alone. Great writing.
Grateful for my faculties.
We have here an Indiana Jane version princess paired with a soldier's soldier. Heads butt, adventures fills, dangers abound, mysteries are endless and amongst these activities love blossoms....and i am not talking of the romantic type alone. Great writing.
August 18, 2019
I kept trying to delay finishing this book because I didn't want it to end. I'm so happy there's more to come for the Mystery of the Makers series.
Castellan and Olivienne are fast becoming one of my favourite couples.
Anyone know when the next book comes out?!
Castellan and Olivienne are fast becoming one of my favourite couples.
Anyone know when the next book comes out?!
December 8, 2020
It took me a while to get the hang of the language but once I had that I could just settle in and enjoy the story.
May 15, 2024
Wow! I'm late to the party but I really like this book. The world built, the characters, the storyline are all very well-done. It's set on an alien world that's still familiar yet different. The two main characters are also likable, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. It's a great start to the series and I will be sure to read the next books.
August 15, 2020
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have telepathic sex, this is it! How does Aten do it? :)
This book concluded well while leaving just enough curiosity for the next. Can’t wait to continue the series!
This book concluded well while leaving just enough curiosity for the next. Can’t wait to continue the series!
October 27, 2021
I liked this a lot. This is a ... what?
I'm going for Fantasy. It's got Psionics. That is in no way "science". D&D puts Psionics as a parallel discipline to "magic", There is no scientific basis for "special mental disciplines" being any part of normal intelligence. A whole species (like the Psireans), all of which have from 1-5 psionic "channels" with ratings from 1-6. Fascinating! (Reminds me a bit of Sheri Tepper's World of the True Game, where the elite members of society have (psionic) "talents" - and we later learn that they are genetically induced by the (intelligent) world that the space-farers had colonized, some generations past. Still. Fantasy. Not Science Fiction. Which is fine with me).
I really got into the world. The alternate words for familiar concepts were easily assimilated, even without the Glossary, which I didn't even know existed until I'd read the whole book. The mystery of the Makers (the ancient?) civilization that the Psiereans learned so much from through ancient ruins and texts to be deciphered - leading to technological breakthroughs (which is a Science Fictional aspect of the book) is compelling. I loved that a professional/academic pursuit that people could take was "adventurist" - like an "adventurer" in D&D; somebody who is skilled in going on "adventures" and dealing with unusual environments and creatures and traps and puzzles.
After a series of adventures to recover the three keys to the lost third temple (and find its location), Olivienne Dracore and Castellan Tosh have assembled the perfect Adventurist team and discovered their own bond. The tale reaches a good stopping point, and I look forward to the sequel, where, one assumes, they actually reach the third temple. (Considering that the sequel is named "The Lost Temple of Psiere", they had BETTER find it.)
I enjoyed the romance. Pretty much lust to co-worker to friend to lover. But Olivienne and Castellan seem like a believable solid couple.
Really well detailed and compelling world building, a fascinating story, and a good set-up for the sequel, without being an actual cliffhanger.
On to the sequel (which is fortunately already in print - and on my Kindle.)
I'm going for Fantasy. It's got Psionics. That is in no way "science". D&D puts Psionics as a parallel discipline to "magic", There is no scientific basis for "special mental disciplines" being any part of normal intelligence. A whole species (like the Psireans), all of which have from 1-5 psionic "channels" with ratings from 1-6. Fascinating! (Reminds me a bit of Sheri Tepper's World of the True Game, where the elite members of society have (psionic) "talents" - and we later learn that they are genetically induced by the (intelligent) world that the space-farers had colonized, some generations past. Still. Fantasy. Not Science Fiction. Which is fine with me).
I really got into the world. The alternate words for familiar concepts were easily assimilated, even without the Glossary, which I didn't even know existed until I'd read the whole book. The mystery of the Makers (the ancient?) civilization that the Psiereans learned so much from through ancient ruins and texts to be deciphered - leading to technological breakthroughs (which is a Science Fictional aspect of the book) is compelling. I loved that a professional/academic pursuit that people could take was "adventurist" - like an "adventurer" in D&D; somebody who is skilled in going on "adventures" and dealing with unusual environments and creatures and traps and puzzles.
After a series of adventures to recover the three keys to the lost third temple (and find its location), Olivienne Dracore and Castellan Tosh have assembled the perfect Adventurist team and discovered their own bond. The tale reaches a good stopping point, and I look forward to the sequel, where, one assumes, they actually reach the third temple. (Considering that the sequel is named "The Lost Temple of Psiere", they had BETTER find it.)
I enjoyed the romance. Pretty much lust to co-worker to friend to lover. But Olivienne and Castellan seem like a believable solid couple.
Really well detailed and compelling world building, a fascinating story, and a good set-up for the sequel, without being an actual cliffhanger.
On to the sequel (which is fortunately already in print - and on my Kindle.)
June 13, 2021
I've never read something like this
I'm normally a fast reader but I had to slow way down and read every word of this book in order to grasp the context. It was like reading a book in a foreign language. Not a bad thing, just different.
I'd compare it to Indiana Jones but made for women.
I'm definitely going to read the sequel because I still have questions and I need to see how this story plays out.
I'm normally a fast reader but I had to slow way down and read every word of this book in order to grasp the context. It was like reading a book in a foreign language. Not a bad thing, just different.
I'd compare it to Indiana Jones but made for women.
I'm definitely going to read the sequel because I still have questions and I need to see how this story plays out.
October 13, 2020
Another great book by K Aten
I just loved this book, it has everything I want in a book. Action, great plot, likeable characters, great relationship dynamics, romance and that magical quality that means that you can't stop reading it.
Connate Olivienne and Commander Castellan make such a great literary couple their banter and the way their relationship unfolded is brilliantly written.
This my favourite of K Aten books and I really looking forward to reading the next book to catch up on our heroines journey.
I highly recommend this to anyone who like action adventure fiction with strong female leads
I just loved this book, it has everything I want in a book. Action, great plot, likeable characters, great relationship dynamics, romance and that magical quality that means that you can't stop reading it.
Connate Olivienne and Commander Castellan make such a great literary couple their banter and the way their relationship unfolded is brilliantly written.
This my favourite of K Aten books and I really looking forward to reading the next book to catch up on our heroines journey.
I highly recommend this to anyone who like action adventure fiction with strong female leads
April 26, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Having read many of K Aten - I knew she made amazing romantic adventures. The world building here was great - I had to revert to the map a few times! And the characters were really enjoyable - both strong independent women. Can’t wait to read the next book!!
June 3, 2019
4.25, it actually took me all weekend to get into the book, which is unusual but once bought in I loved it. Such an imagination.
November 24, 2020
you can pretty much figure the meaning of the words. excellent story line very interesting. I have already started the next book, I'm looking forward to reading all books the author has to offer
September 12, 2019
3 1/2 stars
While I did like the book I think I might have had a bit too high expectations.
I really loved her Arrow of Artemis series and had heard good things about this book too so I got a little disappointed.
I'm not a huge sci-fi lover either, but it might be that English isn't my first language so got a bit hung up in all the new language that it got annoying when instead of reading it flowing.. Some thing is a little wrong when you get annoyed that a drink isn't given a new name when almost everything else is.. :-) Scotch of all things hehe..
While it's a good book it's for me not on the level as the Arrow of Artemis series.
I will read the next book though and if you really like sci-fi this is something for you.
While I did like the book I think I might have had a bit too high expectations.
I really loved her Arrow of Artemis series and had heard good things about this book too so I got a little disappointed.
I'm not a huge sci-fi lover either, but it might be that English isn't my first language so got a bit hung up in all the new language that it got annoying when instead of reading it flowing.. Some thing is a little wrong when you get annoyed that a drink isn't given a new name when almost everything else is.. :-) Scotch of all things hehe..
While it's a good book it's for me not on the level as the Arrow of Artemis series.
I will read the next book though and if you really like sci-fi this is something for you.
July 15, 2024
A fun streampunk, Tomb Raider like, action adventure book with a heavy dose of romance. The story follows Castellan, a commander who ends up becoming the Royal Sovereign Olivienne head of security while she explores the world unraveling the mysteries of The Makers. The chemistry between Castellan and Olivienne was great. Their push and pull in trying to compromise was enjoyable and provded some great moments. I am excited to see how the mysteries of the Makers play out in the upcoming books.
Also, really love the cover!
Also, really love the cover!
July 12, 2025
✨ Personal Book Review by someone still catching their breath 😅.
Sovereign of Psiere is one of those books that throws you headfirst into a high fantasy world filled with psi-powers, alien mysteries, matriarchal politics, and a whole lot of titles. It follows Olivienne Dracore — heir to the Divine Cathedra — and Castellan Tosh, a telekinetic Shield Commander who builds a team of 16 to hunt for ancient keys tied to temples and alien relics. The romance between these two strong, layered women adds warmth and intimacy to a story that’s otherwise heavily mission- and plot-driven. It gave serious Guardians of the Galaxy energy with the squad dynamic, high-stakes adventures, and galaxy-hopping chaos — and honestly, it would translate beautifully on screen. As a book though? Whew. I needed a break.
Let me be real: the book is too plotty. It's like one long mission after another — island, cave, fortress, ship — and each one comes with its own new terms, new faces, and new objectives. That’s not a bad thing in itself, but it made me feel like I was constantly being yanked from one thing to the next before I could emotionally settle with the characters. There were just too many people for one novel, and nearly all of them got speaking time, screen time, or some moment that added to the page count. And don’t get me started on the titles — if I had a coin for every time someone said “Commander Tosh” or “Connate Olivienne,” I’d have enough for an interstellar railer ticket.
I get why the author did it — it adds gravity to the worldbuilding, and in a world where hierarchy and psi-abilities matter, titles are part of identity. But once I know who the queen is, I don’t need to be reminded every time she steps into a room. Same goes for the lead characters. It's just... tiring. And maybe I’m being picky because I’m used to books where the title drops off once the reader knows the setup — and then the story just flows into either the romance, the conflict, or whatever mission is at hand.
That said, I did enjoy a lot about the book. The relationship between Olivienne and Tosh was rich, messy, and intimate in a way I didn’t expect. Their bond felt earned. The worldbuilding was unique (even if I had to keep a glossary in my head — “wekes,” “rotos,” “meen,” “doctore,” etc.). It felt immersive, like a language I had to learn, and I respected that. I even started taking notes because I couldn’t remember everyone, and that says a lot about the density of the world.
So while it’s a book I had to work through, it’s also one I respect — and honestly, I’m still going to finish Book 2. I just need to catch my breath first.
Sovereign of Psiere is one of those books that throws you headfirst into a high fantasy world filled with psi-powers, alien mysteries, matriarchal politics, and a whole lot of titles. It follows Olivienne Dracore — heir to the Divine Cathedra — and Castellan Tosh, a telekinetic Shield Commander who builds a team of 16 to hunt for ancient keys tied to temples and alien relics. The romance between these two strong, layered women adds warmth and intimacy to a story that’s otherwise heavily mission- and plot-driven. It gave serious Guardians of the Galaxy energy with the squad dynamic, high-stakes adventures, and galaxy-hopping chaos — and honestly, it would translate beautifully on screen. As a book though? Whew. I needed a break.
Let me be real: the book is too plotty. It's like one long mission after another — island, cave, fortress, ship — and each one comes with its own new terms, new faces, and new objectives. That’s not a bad thing in itself, but it made me feel like I was constantly being yanked from one thing to the next before I could emotionally settle with the characters. There were just too many people for one novel, and nearly all of them got speaking time, screen time, or some moment that added to the page count. And don’t get me started on the titles — if I had a coin for every time someone said “Commander Tosh” or “Connate Olivienne,” I’d have enough for an interstellar railer ticket.
I get why the author did it — it adds gravity to the worldbuilding, and in a world where hierarchy and psi-abilities matter, titles are part of identity. But once I know who the queen is, I don’t need to be reminded every time she steps into a room. Same goes for the lead characters. It's just... tiring. And maybe I’m being picky because I’m used to books where the title drops off once the reader knows the setup — and then the story just flows into either the romance, the conflict, or whatever mission is at hand.
That said, I did enjoy a lot about the book. The relationship between Olivienne and Tosh was rich, messy, and intimate in a way I didn’t expect. Their bond felt earned. The worldbuilding was unique (even if I had to keep a glossary in my head — “wekes,” “rotos,” “meen,” “doctore,” etc.). It felt immersive, like a language I had to learn, and I respected that. I even started taking notes because I couldn’t remember everyone, and that says a lot about the density of the world.
So while it’s a book I had to work through, it’s also one I respect — and honestly, I’m still going to finish Book 2. I just need to catch my breath first.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2020
Excellent first book to the series. I love the amazing world building and learning the ins and outs. The mystery is addicting. I want to solve the secrets of the Makers with Olivienne and Castellen. I love the developing deep relationship and love between the two main characters. The meddling of the Queen is funny and endearing. With out her getting in the middle who knows how long it could have taken the two to admit their feelings. I can’t wait to read book two!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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