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Essex Colony
It’s been 227 days since Essex Colony’s last transmission…
Dispatched to the surface of Essex Prime and tasked with discovering what happened to the colony, Doctor Soran Ingram discovers that most of the colonists are dead and the surviving Executive Officer—Aline Aster—has turned into a ravening wolf-beast. The human survivors claim the XO and her Lunaran fellows went mad and killed everyone, but Soran has her doubts.
Following Aster’s testimony, as well as clues left behind, Soran embarks on a fact-finding mission to retrace the colony’s last steps before disaster struck.
She’ll soon discover more than uncertainty lurks in the dark spaces of the world.
Dispatched to the surface of Essex Prime and tasked with discovering what happened to the colony, Doctor Soran Ingram discovers that most of the colonists are dead and the surviving Executive Officer—Aline Aster—has turned into a ravening wolf-beast. The human survivors claim the XO and her Lunaran fellows went mad and killed everyone, but Soran has her doubts.
Following Aster’s testimony, as well as clues left behind, Soran embarks on a fact-finding mission to retrace the colony’s last steps before disaster struck.
She’ll soon discover more than uncertainty lurks in the dark spaces of the world.
- GenresScience Fiction
134 pages, ebook
First published December 30, 2019
1 person is currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 4, 2020
3.25 Stars. I’m a little on the fence about this one. Parts of it I really enjoyed other parts felt rushed. However, it does have some potential and because this is only book one, I’m hoping the series might come into its own a bit more in the next installment. I’m fighting off a pretty nasty head cold, that is making being on the computer not that much fun right now, so if I don’t make complete sense please forgive me.
This is a sci-fi novella and what may be the first wlw story by Cooper. I apologize to her if I’m wrong but this is the only one I saw in her library of works. This is straight up sci-fi. Think of any movie you ever saw where a ship is sent to go check on a planet of colonists that have not been reporting in for days and day, and you have the main premise. What gives this book some of its potential is a sweet wlw romance and a little paranormal thrown in. This is a love story between basically a “werewolf” and an AI (robot). Yes that sounds bazaar to even type, but that ended up being the best part of the book. The way the “werewolf” was done was really smart and works well in the story. The main character is an AI who is very human in her own right. This surprising potential couple actually fits together.
The problem with this story is length. I knew it was a novella going in but while the story started well it then started to feel really rushed so that the climatic action sequence near the end was a bit of a letdown. Also, the fact that I’m left with just as many questions as when I started, well I’m not a fan of that. I am more forgiving because this is a book one so that means the actual story isn’t over, but still I just hate ending sci-fi series books with so many questions.
My finally take away is I’m glad I read this but it’s not without issues. The story has potential and I will read book 2, but this first book could have been better. If you are someone looking for more wlw sci-fi, I think you will at least be entertained. If you are not really a sci-fi fan, this might not be for you.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
This is a sci-fi novella and what may be the first wlw story by Cooper. I apologize to her if I’m wrong but this is the only one I saw in her library of works. This is straight up sci-fi. Think of any movie you ever saw where a ship is sent to go check on a planet of colonists that have not been reporting in for days and day, and you have the main premise. What gives this book some of its potential is a sweet wlw romance and a little paranormal thrown in. This is a love story between basically a “werewolf” and an AI (robot). Yes that sounds bazaar to even type, but that ended up being the best part of the book. The way the “werewolf” was done was really smart and works well in the story. The main character is an AI who is very human in her own right. This surprising potential couple actually fits together.
The problem with this story is length. I knew it was a novella going in but while the story started well it then started to feel really rushed so that the climatic action sequence near the end was a bit of a letdown. Also, the fact that I’m left with just as many questions as when I started, well I’m not a fan of that. I am more forgiving because this is a book one so that means the actual story isn’t over, but still I just hate ending sci-fi series books with so many questions.
My finally take away is I’m glad I read this but it’s not without issues. The story has potential and I will read book 2, but this first book could have been better. If you are someone looking for more wlw sci-fi, I think you will at least be entertained. If you are not really a sci-fi fan, this might not be for you.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
December 29, 2019
3.75 Stars
I requested Essex Colony because I’d started reading another Lia Cooper book and was enjoying it but life circumstances pulled me away and I never had a chance to go back. Life circumstances have been harsh again, but this is a novella and it helped entertain me with the right word count and storyline.
Essex Colony sounded interesting, something different, and like a book that could take me away from the usual gay romance. Into space… with women. And it delivered.
Lia Cooper has created engaging MCs, although I would not complain about a bit more, especially for XO Aline Aster, and an interesting world that delivers a sense of time and place well. A little bit of expedience was used in the latter part but a nice start to a series.
I requested Essex Colony because I’d started reading another Lia Cooper book and was enjoying it but life circumstances pulled me away and I never had a chance to go back. Life circumstances have been harsh again, but this is a novella and it helped entertain me with the right word count and storyline.
Essex Colony sounded interesting, something different, and like a book that could take me away from the usual gay romance. Into space… with women. And it delivered.
Lia Cooper has created engaging MCs, although I would not complain about a bit more, especially for XO Aline Aster, and an interesting world that delivers a sense of time and place well. A little bit of expedience was used in the latter part but a nice start to a series.
December 31, 2019
This is a bit of a genre mixer of a science fiction novella. It is a romance, with the intimate scenes between Aline a werewolf from a planet of them and Soran, their spaceship's cyborg doctor provides the best part of the action. It does have a weird bit of sci fi horror that is mashed into this adventure story, and it does distract a little bit from both Aline and Soran, who are fascinating characters, but don't always get a ton of stuff to do outside of their flashback scenes.
This is short and sweet, with some strong scenes and some weaker elements, but overall I do think an extra 50 pages or so would benefit this story. But if you're interested in a werewolf/cyborg romance in space this is for you.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review
This is short and sweet, with some strong scenes and some weaker elements, but overall I do think an extra 50 pages or so would benefit this story. But if you're interested in a werewolf/cyborg romance in space this is for you.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review
January 1, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for the opportunity to read and and give an honest review of #EssexColony by Lia Cooper.
On Essex Prime, there have been no reports or communication with the colonists who are currently living there. It has been over 200 days since the last report.
Doctor Soran Ingram, an artificial intelligence with a psychology education, is sent with a team of others to investigate what happened and hope to find survivors. When the team arrives they find most of the colonists dead and one alien, that Soran knows. As Soran figures out what has happened, it seems history might be repeating itself.
The story starts out very strong. I enjoyed the writing, the narration and the plot. However, the ending happened so fast it left me feeling cheated for a better ending. This is a novella, so it is expected to be a shorter story, but I didn't feel like it was a complete story. Overall, I would want a better understanding as to what exactly happened. What was it about the planet that made the colonists and rescue team act the way they did? I don't understand it completely.
On Essex Prime, there have been no reports or communication with the colonists who are currently living there. It has been over 200 days since the last report.
Doctor Soran Ingram, an artificial intelligence with a psychology education, is sent with a team of others to investigate what happened and hope to find survivors. When the team arrives they find most of the colonists dead and one alien, that Soran knows. As Soran figures out what has happened, it seems history might be repeating itself.
The story starts out very strong. I enjoyed the writing, the narration and the plot. However, the ending happened so fast it left me feeling cheated for a better ending. This is a novella, so it is expected to be a shorter story, but I didn't feel like it was a complete story. Overall, I would want a better understanding as to what exactly happened. What was it about the planet that made the colonists and rescue team act the way they did? I don't understand it completely.
January 17, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
It’s been almost three years since Soran last saw Aster. The two of them met on the voyage to Essex Prime where Aster, along with the other Lunaran settlers, would be spending the next five years helping the new colony get its feet off the ground. The colonists came from many backgrounds and many planets. And now, of the two hundred people, a scant thirty survive. Twenty-nine of them are human, Anglo-Earthers. The other one is Aster. But the Aster that Soran knew aboard the Emery has been changed. Physically, she has become a monster. Whether there is still a person inside … no one yet knows.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
It’s been almost three years since Soran last saw Aster. The two of them met on the voyage to Essex Prime where Aster, along with the other Lunaran settlers, would be spending the next five years helping the new colony get its feet off the ground. The colonists came from many backgrounds and many planets. And now, of the two hundred people, a scant thirty survive. Twenty-nine of them are human, Anglo-Earthers. The other one is Aster. But the Aster that Soran knew aboard the Emery has been changed. Physically, she has become a monster. Whether there is still a person inside … no one yet knows.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
December 29, 2019
[Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review]
Surprisingly effective and dare I say cute fantasy scifi love story with suspense and action elements. At least, this was my takeaway after I finished reading it. The characters and plot were captivating thorough, though character exploration is ultimately where this little gem truly shines, and the plot feels more like a vehicle to get there . I really enjoyed Soran as a main character, and enjoyed looking at things through her point of view. Her relationship with Aline was also explored in an interesting way, the back and forth between present and past somehow managing to keep things interesting enough despite how easily (and often) such a tactic can become simply annoying.
Though the story was overall both satisfying and entertaining, I think the climax hung a little loose. I expected a bit more than what we go. In that regard, the denouement to me also feels like it was a little rushed for the sake of the cliffhanger-ish ending.
All in all, a very enjoyable story. I will look forward to other things from the author, and hope she continues exploring this setting, and maybe shows us more from the particular point of view of the characters we got to know here.
Surprisingly effective and dare I say cute fantasy scifi love story with suspense and action elements. At least, this was my takeaway after I finished reading it. The characters and plot were captivating thorough, though character exploration is ultimately where this little gem truly shines, and the plot feels more like a vehicle to get there . I really enjoyed Soran as a main character, and enjoyed looking at things through her point of view. Her relationship with Aline was also explored in an interesting way, the back and forth between present and past somehow managing to keep things interesting enough despite how easily (and often) such a tactic can become simply annoying.
Though the story was overall both satisfying and entertaining, I think the climax hung a little loose. I expected a bit more than what we go. In that regard, the denouement to me also feels like it was a little rushed for the sake of the cliffhanger-ish ending.
All in all, a very enjoyable story. I will look forward to other things from the author, and hope she continues exploring this setting, and maybe shows us more from the particular point of view of the characters we got to know here.
June 15, 2020
I don't know if anyone specifically needed f/f romance between a robot and a werewolf IN SPACE, but here you go! I was a little disappointed by how rushed it felt, because scifi survival horror is my not-so-secret weakness and I think it needed more time and space to lean in on its tropes, but it was okay! Full review at The Lesbrary.
April 21, 2020
It’s been 227 days since Essex Colony’s last transmission…Dispatched to the surface of Essex Prime and tasked with discovering what happened to the colony, Doctor Soran Ingram discovers that most of the colonists are dead and the surviving Executive Officer—Aline Aster—has turned into a ravening wolf-beast. The human survivors claim the XO and her Lunaran fellows went mad and killed everyone, but Soran has her doubts. Following Aster’s testimony, as well as clues left behind, Soran embarks on a fact-finding mission to retrace the colony’s last steps before disaster struck. She’ll soon discover more than uncertainty lurks in the dark spaces of the world.
I had a real problem getting through this book. It just wasn’t for me. DNF.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book
I had a real problem getting through this book. It just wasn’t for me. DNF.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book
September 5, 2020
This story was a perfect example of wasted opportunity. It had a great premise and character setup. I believed in the history of the two romantic leads but then it went downhill fast.
It wasted what little time the novella had on rehashing the feelings the robot and the werewolf had for each other. I get it, they wanted to fuck like bunnies. How about instead focus a little bit more on the magic mirror threat? It may have made me care and wish to know more about this world.
It wasted what little time the novella had on rehashing the feelings the robot and the werewolf had for each other. I get it, they wanted to fuck like bunnies. How about instead focus a little bit more on the magic mirror threat? It may have made me care and wish to know more about this world.
February 29, 2024
This Sci-fi epic is marvelous. This is more of a sci-fi mystery and it was very exciting and enjoyable.
I love Cooper's writing and the way the story was told comprising of the present and past memories. The development of the characters was thoughtful and well done. I loved the incorporation of varying alien species.
Soran is a sentient AI and she is so wonderful. I love how she thinks and experiences, I love how she interacts and functions. Her unflinching loyalty and dedication is inspiring. She is absolutely superb. I enjoyed following her through this story immensely.
Aline was an enigma in the beginning of the story and I loved seeing her in past and present interactions with Soran. The more I learned about her the more I wanted to know. Her strength and vulnerability are perfectly contrasting.
The mystery of Essex Colony is both intriguing and thought provoking. I had fun figuring out what happened and why.
The romance while brief was sensual and seductive. I loved their connection and the feel of two outcasts finding and accepting each other.
The ending was very open ended. Not a cliff hanger but not conclusive either. I am excited to pick up where we’re left off.
I love Cooper's writing and the way the story was told comprising of the present and past memories. The development of the characters was thoughtful and well done. I loved the incorporation of varying alien species.
Soran is a sentient AI and she is so wonderful. I love how she thinks and experiences, I love how she interacts and functions. Her unflinching loyalty and dedication is inspiring. She is absolutely superb. I enjoyed following her through this story immensely.
Aline was an enigma in the beginning of the story and I loved seeing her in past and present interactions with Soran. The more I learned about her the more I wanted to know. Her strength and vulnerability are perfectly contrasting.
The mystery of Essex Colony is both intriguing and thought provoking. I had fun figuring out what happened and why.
The romance while brief was sensual and seductive. I loved their connection and the feel of two outcasts finding and accepting each other.
The ending was very open ended. Not a cliff hanger but not conclusive either. I am excited to pick up where we’re left off.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews