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Beyond Varallan
(Stardoc #2)
by
Dr. Cherijo is living the perfect life--if you think that finding out you're a clone, then being declared "non-sentient" by your father/creator is your idea of perfect.Things could be worse. But when the Human League comes after her, with bounty hunters of every race trying to bring her in, Cherijo figures it can't get any worse...
Until someone begins stalking her dreams.
P ...more
Until someone begins stalking her dreams.
P ...more
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Start your review of Beyond Varallan (Stardoc, #2)
This series took a weird direction.
And considering the basic premise is a genetically manipulated xenobiological medical doctor proficient in operating on aliens, that’s really saying something. This second installment had a lot of issues. I didn’t hate it, but it stole some of my confidence that the author would be able to sustain me for an entire series.
The first issue was extremely erratic decision making by the main character. She was almost idiotically irrational at times throughout the boo ...more
And considering the basic premise is a genetically manipulated xenobiological medical doctor proficient in operating on aliens, that’s really saying something. This second installment had a lot of issues. I didn’t hate it, but it stole some of my confidence that the author would be able to sustain me for an entire series.
The first issue was extremely erratic decision making by the main character. She was almost idiotically irrational at times throughout the boo ...more
For a general overview of the series, see my review of Stardoc.
I liked this best of the three books of the series I've read, mostly because I thought it was most satisfying in exploration of immersion into an alien culture, though ultimately the Jorenians are pretty similar to humans.
Unfortunately, the relationship dynamics were even more annoying here, with Cherijo's various male suitors guilty of truly outrageous heights of manipulation, stalking, mental invasion, possessiveness and dishonest ...more
I liked this best of the three books of the series I've read, mostly because I thought it was most satisfying in exploration of immersion into an alien culture, though ultimately the Jorenians are pretty similar to humans.
Unfortunately, the relationship dynamics were even more annoying here, with Cherijo's various male suitors guilty of truly outrageous heights of manipulation, stalking, mental invasion, possessiveness and dishonest ...more
Good, but with some annoying plot twists. 3.5 stars.
The plot of the story was good. It kept me interested in finding out who the killer was until the very end. However, the character of Cherijo is not strong enough to keep me interested. I don't think I will finish the series. After the mystery was solved the ending spiraled into an abyess of multiple betrayals that I thought were unnessary. Cherijo is to sporadic of a character to stay involved with.
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Not as fond of this book as I was the first. What happened to the woman in the first book? This one is always ragging on her coworkers and just a b*tch. I chalked it up to all the recent changes in her life but all is explained by the end...until another bomb is dropped on her. So glad I had the next book and didn't have to wait.
Enjoyed the hell out of all the alien medical issues. Kinda sick of all the rape attempts. But I can't stop. :) ...more
Enjoyed the hell out of all the alien medical issues. Kinda sick of all the rape attempts. But I can't stop. :) ...more
The second, solid book in the series does what I really hate, leaves you with a cliff hanger, and although the next book has long been out, it isn't available on a Kindle so at this time my enjoyment of the story is diluted by the lack of closure. Cherijo has found sanctuary on the Jordenan ship with her new clan-family but there is a traitor on board, someone who wants to kill her, or at least make her suspect of the killings it is committing. And then there is the League - Cherijo's "father" s
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Cherijo is such an idiot... Her character really doesn't make any sense. She knows all these scientific things (only because the author does) but sadly the author doesn't know how to write her as a person... She is weak and wishy-washy and too nice. A Mary Sue as they say. I only picked up the second book because I liked all the medical stuff and aliens, but Cherijo ruins the story for me every time. I also hated how much domestic violence was in this book and Cherijo attitude about it. Viehl is
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I don’t understand this author, she creates an interesting character then goes out of her way to make Cherijo pathetic and annoying at crucial moments, especially around Reever.
AND I really, really don’t comprehend her fascination with the Reever character. The author has some strange attachment to this abusive slime ball. The thought of having to read about Reever again means I don’t want to read any more of these books, even though I still want to find out what happens to Cherijo and would lov ...more
AND I really, really don’t comprehend her fascination with the Reever character. The author has some strange attachment to this abusive slime ball. The thought of having to read about Reever again means I don’t want to read any more of these books, even though I still want to find out what happens to Cherijo and would lov ...more
What an ending! It kept me up literally for hours and had me crying just thinking about it.
Cherijo is on her way to the Joren planet as an adopted daughter. On the way, they're attacked repeatedly by the League mercenaries. She also has to fight a Choice (engagement) forced on her, a doctor who doesn't like her, her feelings for Reever who appears not to reciprocate. I loved the first book, this one was better. ...more
Cherijo is on her way to the Joren planet as an adopted daughter. On the way, they're attacked repeatedly by the League mercenaries. She also has to fight a Choice (engagement) forced on her, a doctor who doesn't like her, her feelings for Reever who appears not to reciprocate. I loved the first book, this one was better. ...more
I really wanted to like this book but couldn't get over my disbelief at all the problems that revolve around Cherijo and are solved by her. She solved medical, engineering, relationship, and cultural problems all in a single bound. She felt too much like a mary sue to me. I don't think I'll be continuing the series.
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I enjoyed the mystery part and even some of the character interactions with the new resident, etc. Cherij can be a bit annoying with the "this is all my fault" guilt trip. Also, the forced-into-marriage thing is getting old. That's almost made up for by the pacing and popcorn-entertainment value of the book.
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The independent, brave heroine of the first book didn’t show up. From the start she was jealous, negative, and whiney. And the job she got promoted to, well, not really. Then the author has her suddenly be wanton (the opposite of her self-control of last book) and with the guy she hates...I was done.
Beyond Varallan(A Stardoc Novel)by S.L. Viehl
This is the second in a series of at least ten books so far I've gotten to 4 and they have several things in common. One is that they are very close to the same size which is somewhere around 150K words and that's somewhat more than the normal for this type of novel but not too far out of the ball park. Another is that unfortunately the main character does not seem to me to change very much, though lots of things happen to her that should push her in ...more
This is the second in a series of at least ten books so far I've gotten to 4 and they have several things in common. One is that they are very close to the same size which is somewhere around 150K words and that's somewhat more than the normal for this type of novel but not too far out of the ball park. Another is that unfortunately the main character does not seem to me to change very much, though lots of things happen to her that should push her in ...more
Beyond Varallan is the second book in the StarDoc series. The secret her father had kept from her all those years, the one that sent her fleeing across the universe is out and now she’s on the run from the League of Worlds. Joseph Grey Veil created her in a lab, tinkered with her genetics and some created a creature far superior to normal humans.
They have stripped her of all her rights, declared her non-sentient, little more than a slave, and given her back to her creator as property. Because Ch ...more
They have stripped her of all her rights, declared her non-sentient, little more than a slave, and given her back to her creator as property. Because Ch ...more
Dr. Cherijo Torin has sought refuge with the Jorenian people as she flees her father. Turns out she is a clone, manufactured in a laboratory. All she wants to do is live her life and heal people, which she can do on the star ship Sunlace along with the rest of the medical staff, Senior Healer Tonetka and Squilyp, who is also vying to be Senior Healer. As the ship travels to Joren, bounty hunters and ships from the League attempt to capture Cherijo. Not only does Cherijo have to avoid being captu
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Welp. Next time I have reservations about the first book in a series (no matter how late in the book those reservations come), I should probably pay attention to them. Turns out the events of the first book and some stuff that happened in this one made me not care about the character at all. So I spent the last 200 pages or so regretting starting the book. :(
I can see the appeal of this book for some people, but the weirdly casual way the author treats rape and the way Cherijo then immediately t ...more
I can see the appeal of this book for some people, but the weirdly casual way the author treats rape and the way Cherijo then immediately t ...more
The story is ok, but the main character is kind of irritating. This book is worth reading, but there were a lot of those moments when I stopped and said, "That/He/She was stupid," or "Why in the hell didn't They/He/She do this." It was just frustrating at times because there were so many interesting thing, places, and people in this book that did not get as much attention as some of the lesser stuff.
Book ends with a giant "To Be Continued" moment, and while not exactly a cliffhanger, it is kind ...more
Book ends with a giant "To Be Continued" moment, and while not exactly a cliffhanger, it is kind ...more
Second in the series. Not bad. Held my interest to the end. Unfortunately, the book ended in such a way that the story is not complete. Although this is a series, I prefer to read books that have a complete story in them and don't try to get the reader to run out and buy the next book. Each book should stand on its own.
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Exciting second book in the Stardoc Series! These Stardoc books are exciting and exhausting. Very imaginative second book in the series. I enjoyed it and recommend it.
Funish light read- definitely has plot holes, but wasn't terrible.
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Our heroine is undefeatable! How does she keep going and still have a good heart? What a lot of situations she gets into and out of. Except...what a cliffhanger.
This is the second Stardoc book. Totally unbelievable, but very engrossing and fun. Not quite as good as the first one. I was furious at Cherijo for letting herself be forced by the cultural practices of a different race into a relationship she didn't want.
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Beyond Varallan is the second book in a long space opera series by the prolific writer, S. L. Viehl. Viehl writes many other genres of fiction under various pseudonyms. For now I will stick with this series.
So the heroine is gutsy, compassionate, loyal, and tough as nails. She has a temper that flares easily with an exaggerated sense of justice. She has a knack for getting out of the most impossible situations, as any good heroine should.
While there is not much character development (but really, ...more
So the heroine is gutsy, compassionate, loyal, and tough as nails. She has a temper that flares easily with an exaggerated sense of justice. She has a knack for getting out of the most impossible situations, as any good heroine should.
While there is not much character development (but really, ...more
I enjoyed this second book in the Stardoc series as much as if not more than the first book. In this book Cherijo is adopted by the Jorenian and finds a place on one of their ships after being rescued from K-2. She makes friends and explores her feeling for Duncan Reever who has tagged along for a ride. She also discovers that there is a killer on board who has the ability to invade her dreams and assault her when she is asleep.
Between running from the League, who are determined to capture her ...more
Between running from the League, who are determined to capture her ...more
Without spoilage, the series is about Cherijo Grey Veil, a talented human surgeon fleeing the reach of her powerful father who has plans for her and wants her back with him. In this book, along with Cherijo's usual critical medical emergencies and trying to get along with other staff members who may not like her, there is a much bigger problem - a murderer on the ship who begins to target Cherijo in disturbing ways and this is the focus of most of the plot. Even though this is science fiction, i
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There was a lot going on in this book. The main plot was really well done and really interesting, I thought. The section after that was finished was basically setup for the next book. I admit that it has me hooked, mainly because I don't believe that the character she has implied is the bad guy is actually bad.
My main criticism is that the main character rushes to judgement in a way that makes you wonder how smart she really is. I mean after all this time learning that first impressions aren't ...more
My main criticism is that the main character rushes to judgement in a way that makes you wonder how smart she really is. I mean after all this time learning that first impressions aren't ...more
I wasnt going to read this.... but here i am proving myself wrong. It is actually quite fast paced with plot twists thus far i did not expect. Still very much resembles "House" as channeled by an irritable Dr. McCoy, if he were a she and a clone and subject to an intergalactic bounty hunt. Lots of twists towards the end, in a way almost exhausting. I like a little happiness mixed in with the disasters, and this was heavy on disasters.
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Okay, what to say about this book? I like the mystery aspect of it. The characters are enjoyable. Reever is crazy as always, but that's what makes him so lovable! Not really. The ending was crazy, but I think I liked it (I just finished it, so the jury's out). I need to read the next book (now), so I guess that means something good, right?
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Second book in the series. I probably won't read any more. Same comments as the first book apply, with the addition of this: There was a really odd thing going on at the end. I thought the book was over a good 75 pages before it ended. Things kept happening after what I thought was the climax--things that weren't climactic but were more than winding down. Oddly crafted.
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Also see Lynn Viehl, Gena Hale, Jessica Hall and Rebecca Kelly.
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