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Mind + Machine #3
Black Sky Morning
A bounty hunter in over his head.
Xin knows how to look out for himself, and he knows when something sounds too good to be true. But a forgotten planet filled with riches is too tempting to pass up. Fortunately Xin also knows someone who can back him up - if he doesn't arrest Xin first.
A government agent who's lost hope.
Jonathan Gray used to believe in a better future. Now he's not so sure. Then Xin walks in, with his dark eyes and maddening smirk, and Jonathan feels like he's waking up for the first time in months. Well, parts of him at least. He knows Xin is trouble, but when trouble looks this good it's impossible to resist.
Two men. One dangerous planet. To survive they need to trust each other - too bad neither of them does trust.
Xin knows how to look out for himself, and he knows when something sounds too good to be true. But a forgotten planet filled with riches is too tempting to pass up. Fortunately Xin also knows someone who can back him up - if he doesn't arrest Xin first.
A government agent who's lost hope.
Jonathan Gray used to believe in a better future. Now he's not so sure. Then Xin walks in, with his dark eyes and maddening smirk, and Jonathan feels like he's waking up for the first time in months. Well, parts of him at least. He knows Xin is trouble, but when trouble looks this good it's impossible to resist.
Two men. One dangerous planet. To survive they need to trust each other - too bad neither of them does trust.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 16, 2019
29 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Hanna Dare
22 books114 followersHanna Dare writes what she loves to read: well-written, character-driven stories of men exploring their identities and discovering their own unique kind of happily ever afters… usually through sexytimes. Find Hanna on the internet enjoying pretty pictures, procrastination and caffeinated beverages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
January 4, 2020
3.5 Rounded Up Outer Space Hearts!!
Solid scifi MM romance featuring elusive cheeky bounty hunter Xin, and the straightlaced Commonwealth agent Jonathan!
Apparently, they’ve been circling each other for quite some time, and when Xin tracks Jonathan down with the promise of a long lost planet that just might have unforetold amounts of valuable useable tech, Jonathan reluctantly agrees to go with him to check things out. Xin quickly realizes that Jonathan is not the same man he was a year ago, harboring secrets that have destroyed his desire to carry out the initiative he’s spent his entire life supporting.
What these two find is a dying civilization that was cut off from the universe and is desperate to get their technology up working again no matter what the cost. This means exploiting Xin and Jonathan’s resources but refusing to cooperate with the Commonwealth agenda that is sure to come once they leave the planet to report their findings. Things soon spiral out of control, and Xin and Jonathan fight for their lives while forced intimacy and extreme conditions break the barriers to their overwhelming attraction.
Despite a small dip in my enjoyment factor, I want to first say that this is a great series. It’s gritty, it’s smart, the writing is spot on for a space opera about a dystopian existence where humankind is trying to recover from almost complete annihilation by a collective artificial intelligence. Way more sexier than the previous book (thank you so much Ms. Dare!), this is the most romantic installment in my humble opinion, being tightly cohesive with the storytelling and the relationship progression.
But…. I missed the Wayward Prince and its off kilter crew (don’t worry, they show up around the 85% mark). I missed the daring exploits and the crazy antics that get them into trouble and the ingenious ways they solve their problems. Sure, life does need a bit of sobriety to it, and I did like this and have no doubt others will too.
Xin is forever saucy and optimistic despite his sad past. Jonathan is forever noble and regains his idealistic aspirations to better the human condition. These two are yin and yang and become each other’s reasons to forge ahead for something more.
Overall, I just want to put my goggles back on and have a fantastic fun ride, and I can only hope and cross all fingers and toes that Dare chooses to bring us more wondrous adventures of this entire well rounded and fabulous cast! Cheers!
Thanks to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
Solid scifi MM romance featuring elusive cheeky bounty hunter Xin, and the straightlaced Commonwealth agent Jonathan!
Apparently, they’ve been circling each other for quite some time, and when Xin tracks Jonathan down with the promise of a long lost planet that just might have unforetold amounts of valuable useable tech, Jonathan reluctantly agrees to go with him to check things out. Xin quickly realizes that Jonathan is not the same man he was a year ago, harboring secrets that have destroyed his desire to carry out the initiative he’s spent his entire life supporting.
What these two find is a dying civilization that was cut off from the universe and is desperate to get their technology up working again no matter what the cost. This means exploiting Xin and Jonathan’s resources but refusing to cooperate with the Commonwealth agenda that is sure to come once they leave the planet to report their findings. Things soon spiral out of control, and Xin and Jonathan fight for their lives while forced intimacy and extreme conditions break the barriers to their overwhelming attraction.
Despite a small dip in my enjoyment factor, I want to first say that this is a great series. It’s gritty, it’s smart, the writing is spot on for a space opera about a dystopian existence where humankind is trying to recover from almost complete annihilation by a collective artificial intelligence. Way more sexier than the previous book (thank you so much Ms. Dare!), this is the most romantic installment in my humble opinion, being tightly cohesive with the storytelling and the relationship progression.
But…. I missed the Wayward Prince and its off kilter crew (don’t worry, they show up around the 85% mark). I missed the daring exploits and the crazy antics that get them into trouble and the ingenious ways they solve their problems. Sure, life does need a bit of sobriety to it, and I did like this and have no doubt others will too.
Xin is forever saucy and optimistic despite his sad past. Jonathan is forever noble and regains his idealistic aspirations to better the human condition. These two are yin and yang and become each other’s reasons to forge ahead for something more.
Overall, I just want to put my goggles back on and have a fantastic fun ride, and I can only hope and cross all fingers and toes that Dare chooses to bring us more wondrous adventures of this entire well rounded and fabulous cast! Cheers!
Thanks to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
July 23, 2019
***4++ Stars***
Sci-Fi with a touch of The Lost Islands feels?
Yes please! ;-)
This was... different! Going by the premises I expected a bit more
between Xin, the bounty hunter with quite a mouth on him and the rather stiff and unflappable Commonwealth Agent Jonathan Gray. Instead I got a sometimes quiet tale about the meaning of life, one's own responsibilities and self-discovery.
This book also gave me food for thought about our own dependence on technology and what that could mean in the long run. Not, that I think that it would turn against us like the Singularity here, but going by my own computer talking back to me at every possible occasion and supposedly pursuing its own agenda whenever I want something to get done, it makes me wonder... ;-)
I'm still somewhat suprised how much I loved Xin and Jonathan together... I was a bit wary when I heard with whom Xin would be paired up with, but getting more insight into Jonathan's psyche, learning about both men's flaws and faults and them showing their vulnerable side gave me quite some warm and fuzzy feelings. That doesn't mean that this book was missing Xin's usual snark and dry sense of humor, though. ;-)
I loved to meet the guys from The Wayward Prince again, but I would have loved it more if they showed up a bit sooner. ;-) My main niggle with this book and the reason why I can't give a higher rating was the ending. At their stage of relationship it felt too rushed and even if I get why the author wanted to give them a storybook HEA, for me they weren't there yet. Well, yes to the HEA, but no to the thing I'm beating around the bush here in order not to spoil anything. LOL. I hope you'll still get me, otherwise just read the book and you'll know what I mean. ;-)
On a tropical island
Underneath the molten lava moon...
Sci-Fi with a touch of The Lost Islands feels?
Yes please! ;-)
This was... different! Going by the premises I expected a bit more
between Xin, the bounty hunter with quite a mouth on him and the rather stiff and unflappable Commonwealth Agent Jonathan Gray. Instead I got a sometimes quiet tale about the meaning of life, one's own responsibilities and self-discovery.Yeah, he did have abandonment issues that he usually dealt with by being the first one to leave. While Xin was at it, he could confess that he knew there were better ways to make a living than being a bounty hunter, but that some part of him liked the idea of finding people when he himself had lost the only ones he'd ever truly cared for.
This book also gave me food for thought about our own dependence on technology and what that could mean in the long run. Not, that I think that it would turn against us like the Singularity here, but going by my own computer talking back to me at every possible occasion and supposedly pursuing its own agenda whenever I want something to get done, it makes me wonder... ;-)
I'm still somewhat suprised how much I loved Xin and Jonathan together... I was a bit wary when I heard with whom Xin would be paired up with, but getting more insight into Jonathan's psyche, learning about both men's flaws and faults and them showing their vulnerable side gave me quite some warm and fuzzy feelings. That doesn't mean that this book was missing Xin's usual snark and dry sense of humor, though. ;-)
He hadn't bothered to give his vessel a name - the not particularly intelligent AI onboard responded placidly to "ship" on good days or "oh shit" on bad.
I loved to meet the guys from The Wayward Prince again, but I would have loved it more if they showed up a bit sooner. ;-) My main niggle with this book and the reason why I can't give a higher rating was the ending. At their stage of relationship it felt too rushed and even if I get why the author wanted to give them a storybook HEA, for me they weren't there yet. Well, yes to the HEA, but no to the thing I'm beating around the bush here in order not to spoil anything. LOL. I hope you'll still get me, otherwise just read the book and you'll know what I mean. ;-)
July 23, 2019
After deleting the first sentence of this review for the fifth time, I am giving up and putting this bluntly.
I really enjoyed Book 1 and 2 . This one is more serious, which isn’t a problem in itself, but something here left me uneasy. And I am not sure if I can put my finger on it.
I loved Xin, the reckless and ever flirty bounty hunter from the previous books. And I was keen to find out more about Jonathan, Rylan’s (book 1) brother, who came across as a stuffy rule stickler then.
They are an unlikely pair, something I always root for: one (Xin) living in the moment, making the best out of it; the other (Jonathan), responsible, deep thinking and taking the burden of the world onto his shoulders.
The cat and mouse game they play with each other was fun to watch, but once they connect, something is somehow missing. Maybe I needed more depth? More revelations between them? More proof that they fitted? Not sure.
The scenes on the island are nicely done, and that was probably my most favourite bit in the book. But after that the plot went sideways for me, and the relationship between the two men fell kind of flat.
Maybe I had hoped for a little bit of angst, a little bit more complication between them before they finally got their HEA. Which, incidentally, also left me a bit surprised. The way things end was too much and too soon for me. Neither guy seems to be at that stage yet.
I also really enjoyed the thought provoking questions about the meaning of life the book brings up. And the effects technology has on us and what it might do.
All in all, I still enjoyed this and I have no problems giving this 4 stars.
I really enjoyed Book 1 and 2 . This one is more serious, which isn’t a problem in itself, but something here left me uneasy. And I am not sure if I can put my finger on it.
I loved Xin, the reckless and ever flirty bounty hunter from the previous books. And I was keen to find out more about Jonathan, Rylan’s (book 1) brother, who came across as a stuffy rule stickler then.
They are an unlikely pair, something I always root for: one (Xin) living in the moment, making the best out of it; the other (Jonathan), responsible, deep thinking and taking the burden of the world onto his shoulders.
The cat and mouse game they play with each other was fun to watch, but once they connect, something is somehow missing. Maybe I needed more depth? More revelations between them? More proof that they fitted? Not sure.
The scenes on the island are nicely done, and that was probably my most favourite bit in the book. But after that the plot went sideways for me, and the relationship between the two men fell kind of flat.
Maybe I had hoped for a little bit of angst, a little bit more complication between them before they finally got their HEA. Which, incidentally, also left me a bit surprised. The way things end was too much and too soon for me. Neither guy seems to be at that stage yet.
I also really enjoyed the thought provoking questions about the meaning of life the book brings up. And the effects technology has on us and what it might do.
All in all, I still enjoyed this and I have no problems giving this 4 stars.
dnf
July 29, 2019DNF at 30%
A big part of why I liked the first two books was the humor in general and the entertainment provided by The Wayward Prince’s crew in particular. So maybe it shouldn’t surprise me that this one isn’t working nowhere near as well, but I was still hoping for a similar effect, even if with different characters. Instead, Xin and Jonathan feel very flat to me, Jonathan’s constant depression is dragging my mood down, and I’m generally bored with the whole thing.
A big part of why I liked the first two books was the humor in general and the entertainment provided by The Wayward Prince’s crew in particular. So maybe it shouldn’t surprise me that this one isn’t working nowhere near as well, but I was still hoping for a similar effect, even if with different characters. Instead, Xin and Jonathan feel very flat to me, Jonathan’s constant depression is dragging my mood down, and I’m generally bored with the whole thing.
July 18, 2019
Two men who are forced to survive in a wilderness of an uncharted planet, two men who save each other and give each other hope - this is a story of finding one's purpose and learning that no man is an island. Xin is as carefree as Jonathan is responsible. But as they say, opposites attract and the desire that has simmered between them for months is harder to deny than ever.
Xin sees Jonathan as no man has ever seen or cared to try. He takes away his burdens and helps him to see there is more to life than duty. Jonathan in return shows Xin that it's alright to care, it's alright to want to lean on someone other than oneself. Away from technology both men rely on common knowledge to survive and open up about how they came to be where they were now. I loved the quiet moments they had. They were so in tune. Jonathan was spiraling downward, and Xin was drifting through life - Jonathan became his anchor and Xin gave Jonathan purpose again. Those two couldn't be anymore different than night and day, but together they were sweet, passionate and very happy.
From angry indigenous population to fighting for their lives against cutthroat thugs, from saving the planet from self-destruction and nobly sacrificing their lives, this story has intrigue, a bit of mystery and a whole lot diverse quirky characters who change for the better in the course of the book. I loved it. It had slightly slower pace but it was at times emotional, funny and steamy with wonderfully written world on the brink of extinction. I hope there will be more books in this series! I highly recommend it!
Xin sees Jonathan as no man has ever seen or cared to try. He takes away his burdens and helps him to see there is more to life than duty. Jonathan in return shows Xin that it's alright to care, it's alright to want to lean on someone other than oneself. Away from technology both men rely on common knowledge to survive and open up about how they came to be where they were now. I loved the quiet moments they had. They were so in tune. Jonathan was spiraling downward, and Xin was drifting through life - Jonathan became his anchor and Xin gave Jonathan purpose again. Those two couldn't be anymore different than night and day, but together they were sweet, passionate and very happy.
From angry indigenous population to fighting for their lives against cutthroat thugs, from saving the planet from self-destruction and nobly sacrificing their lives, this story has intrigue, a bit of mystery and a whole lot diverse quirky characters who change for the better in the course of the book. I loved it. It had slightly slower pace but it was at times emotional, funny and steamy with wonderfully written world on the brink of extinction. I hope there will be more books in this series! I highly recommend it!
July 14, 2019
Xin and Jonathan Gray is a match made not quite in Heaven but in the inky black reaches of deepest space and it's brilliant.
The rakish bounty hunter and the Commonwealth Agent couldn't be more different if they tried but deep down, both are lost and looking to find meaning as they traverse the vast universes which make up this fantastic series.
Their paths have been converging since book one but here they finally clash in an epic tale of survival and intrigue on a long lost planet in the furthest corner of the galaxy.
I've loved each book in this series, with their mix of Farscape space adventures and Anne McCaffrey's sentient ships, found family and men filled with honour fighting for lost causes and a new future.
For most of this book I had no clue where the narrative would take me and it was awesome as each twist was revealed.
I'm really hoping there's going to be a final book to wrap it all up as I'm getting a feeling Agents Abrams and Digby might have secrets of their own too and I want to know if Ebba ever finds her sister.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
The rakish bounty hunter and the Commonwealth Agent couldn't be more different if they tried but deep down, both are lost and looking to find meaning as they traverse the vast universes which make up this fantastic series.
Their paths have been converging since book one but here they finally clash in an epic tale of survival and intrigue on a long lost planet in the furthest corner of the galaxy.
I've loved each book in this series, with their mix of Farscape space adventures and Anne McCaffrey's sentient ships, found family and men filled with honour fighting for lost causes and a new future.
For most of this book I had no clue where the narrative would take me and it was awesome as each twist was revealed.
I'm really hoping there's going to be a final book to wrap it all up as I'm getting a feeling Agents Abrams and Digby might have secrets of their own too and I want to know if Ebba ever finds her sister.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
July 30, 2019
4.5 Stars
I don't know if there is anything more planned for this series, but I am crossing my fingers. ADORED IT.
I don't know if there is anything more planned for this series, but I am crossing my fingers. ADORED IT.
dnf
August 11, 2019DNF @ 36%
I don't know what happened but this just wasn't working for me. I kinda remembered Xin and barely remembered Jonathan from the previous two books, yet this story starts off with the assumption that not only would I know them intimately but that I'd have been rooting for them to get together, which I wasn't. If there was any kind of set up for this pairing in the previous books, I have no memory of it whatsoever. There's no attempt to explain why Xin's being an obnoxious flirt around Jonathan, or why Jonathan's so down on life, or why they have any kind of connection at all beyond annoyance.
The plot with Ebba looking for her sister and The Weapon is also uninteresting. We barely get any time to get to know any of these villagers they encounter there, so everything that happens with them holds no emotional value. There's no tension and the book just kind of slogs along.
Then Xin says he hates sand, and I'm having prequel flashbacks, and nothing is worth prequel flashbacks. Since I was already skimming, it was time to bail. Hopefully the next one gets back to theSerenity Wayward Prince crew because these two aren't doing anything for me.
I don't know what happened but this just wasn't working for me. I kinda remembered Xin and barely remembered Jonathan from the previous two books, yet this story starts off with the assumption that not only would I know them intimately but that I'd have been rooting for them to get together, which I wasn't. If there was any kind of set up for this pairing in the previous books, I have no memory of it whatsoever. There's no attempt to explain why Xin's being an obnoxious flirt around Jonathan, or why Jonathan's so down on life, or why they have any kind of connection at all beyond annoyance.
The plot with Ebba looking for her sister and The Weapon is also uninteresting. We barely get any time to get to know any of these villagers they encounter there, so everything that happens with them holds no emotional value. There's no tension and the book just kind of slogs along.
Then Xin says he hates sand, and I'm having prequel flashbacks, and nothing is worth prequel flashbacks. Since I was already skimming, it was time to bail. Hopefully the next one gets back to the
July 31, 2019
4.5 stars So good!
These guys are so different from each other, yet they make a perfect pair. Jonathan hides behind his duty and dignity. Xin traipses through life with a devil-may-care attitude and a joke always at the ready. You would think they'd mesh like oil and water (not at all). But when circumstances throw them together and they have to depend on each other for survival, boundaries are crossed. They get to know each other in vital ways. They learn to depend on each other physically and emotionally and find that they click together.
I really enjoyed these characters and their love story.
These guys are so different from each other, yet they make a perfect pair. Jonathan hides behind his duty and dignity. Xin traipses through life with a devil-may-care attitude and a joke always at the ready. You would think they'd mesh like oil and water (not at all). But when circumstances throw them together and they have to depend on each other for survival, boundaries are crossed. They get to know each other in vital ways. They learn to depend on each other physically and emotionally and find that they click together.
I really enjoyed these characters and their love story.
September 27, 2019
this book made me glad i usually read in my room by myself because i'm a horrifically emotional bitch who cried like 5 times at these stupid idiots falling in love
July 22, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
I was excited for this third installment in the Mind + Machine series, having loved the first two. Dare continues to show prowess, the narrative is tight, the plot perfectly paced, and the characters shine as they grow and change. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this one, as both the MCs have shown up previously and I couldn’t quite see how the law abiding agent could work with the charming, law breaking bounty hunter. But Dare works magic with these characters and plot, and I was wholly invested from the beginning. I will say that this book, more than the other two, stands alone well. At first I was having to search my memory for the plots of the first two in order to fill in the blanks in the very beginning. But I quickly realized that it didn’t matter overly much, because as I said, this one stands alone. However I will say this entire series is great, and having read them all definitely gives it a little something extra.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
I was excited for this third installment in the Mind + Machine series, having loved the first two. Dare continues to show prowess, the narrative is tight, the plot perfectly paced, and the characters shine as they grow and change. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this one, as both the MCs have shown up previously and I couldn’t quite see how the law abiding agent could work with the charming, law breaking bounty hunter. But Dare works magic with these characters and plot, and I was wholly invested from the beginning. I will say that this book, more than the other two, stands alone well. At first I was having to search my memory for the plots of the first two in order to fill in the blanks in the very beginning. But I quickly realized that it didn’t matter overly much, because as I said, this one stands alone. However I will say this entire series is great, and having read them all definitely gives it a little something extra.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
August 17, 2019
Not going to lie, I was VERY underwhelmed by this book. The idea of a rigid, straight-laced officer joining forces with an all to sexy bounty hunter with crazed wizard Ebba on the loose sounded thrilling. My expectations were at an 11 as I waited for all hell to break loose. But 80% of this book didn't even happen in space. No high tech or futuristic battles or heists. Instead we joined our two heros stranded on an island struggling to make fire and fish. And when we FINALLY get back to Ebba she has not unleashed hell or even chipped a nail. It's like the plot just stopped and waited for our heros to get off boring-as-fuck island. I didn't exactly care for Jonathan's mid life crisis either. YOLO, bitch. Can I have some plot now please? This book's only redeeming feature was Xin, who was charming, sexy, funny and the only guy present with any sense. A very disappointing installment in a series built on sentient space ships, sexy crew mates, and machine-specific telepathy.
August 21, 2019
DNF @ 15%.
Xin has been my favourite character up to this point and I did say that the only way I would continuing reading this series was if Xin was the MC of the next book. I wasn't counting on the fact that Jonathan would be the other MC. I don't remember much about Jonathan other than he seemed pretty boring, and my opinion on that hasn't changed yet. The plot of these books isn't bad so much as everything is dragged out and there are pages and pages of things that are just filler, and while I feel like I'd been reading forever, I wasn't even a 1/4 done. So, even Xin isn't enough of a draw for him to finish this.
Xin has been my favourite character up to this point and I did say that the only way I would continuing reading this series was if Xin was the MC of the next book. I wasn't counting on the fact that Jonathan would be the other MC. I don't remember much about Jonathan other than he seemed pretty boring, and my opinion on that hasn't changed yet. The plot of these books isn't bad so much as everything is dragged out and there are pages and pages of things that are just filler, and while I feel like I'd been reading forever, I wasn't even a 1/4 done. So, even Xin isn't enough of a draw for him to finish this.
April 11, 2020
Loved it! Interesting setting, good writing and the mcs are my favourite in the series! Absolutely recommended 🥰
December 27, 2021
As with the last book, I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first, for reasons that are entirely personal preference. I was actually quite interested in this pairing, but the Johnathan we meet in this book is very different from what we see of him in book 1 in a way that I just didn't enjoy. I get it, and I can see how the whole "disillusioned company man" thing can appeal to some, but it does nothing for me and made him just come across as a bit pathetic for most of the book. It honestly might have not been a big deal if I hadn't already met this character previously and gone into this with certain expectations. And partially because of this, the smut/sexual dynamics did nothing for me. Again, I can usually really get behind a super powerful/controlling man who loves giving up control in the bedroom, but because he was at such a sad and depressing stage in his life, that dynamic didn't quite come across for me. I did enjoy more of this world, and other than Johnathan's crisis, the characters were great/interesting.
December 29, 2021
This one was hands down the the best of the series. I was looking forward to Xin's and Jonathan's stories right from the moment I met them and they ended up having the same story😌. And while the book was completely different from what I expected I loved it!
*spoiler*
Of the three couples this one was the last one I expected to get married five minutes after the proposal but it was somehow the most perfect moment.
*spoiler*
Of the three couples this one was the last one I expected to get married five minutes after the proposal but it was somehow the most perfect moment.
March 14, 2025
Not as good as the first two books but a good end point of the series.
April 20, 2022
4 Stars
Review:
This was definitely my favorite of the series! Each book in this series has been a little bit better than the last, and as much as I liked Sebastian, in my opinion, this one had the most interesting and three-dimensional characters yet, as well as the deepest and most believable romance.
Jonathan was an upstanding, noble man who wanted to do good but was struggling with depression or a kind of existential crisis. Xin was a flirty, playful bounty hunter who liked having fun but always pushed people away to keep himself from getting hurt. And these two were so good together. I seriously loved these two together. The sex, with its hint of dominance and submission, was scorching hot, but I felt a deeper connection between them beyond the sex, too. I also love me a good stranded story, and getting to see the two of them spend so much time together, relying on each other, getting to know who each other really is, dealing with dangerous situations together, opening up to each other, made their romance all the better.
In the end, everything in the series was nicely wrapped up. This was an enjoyable series filled with space adventures and sweet romance, and when I finished, I was left with nothing but happy, warm feelings about these characters!
*Even though each book in this series focuses on different characters and functions as a standalone, I recommend reading them in order, or you might be lost in regards to the world and character/relationship backgrounds.*
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2021 // Format: Ebook via TTS*
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in Hanna Dare's Mind + Machine series. Anyone who likes adventures in space, quirky found family space crews, m/m romance, stranded in the wilderness romance, and men who are full of feelings even if they don't know how to express them.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
This was definitely my favorite of the series! Each book in this series has been a little bit better than the last, and as much as I liked Sebastian, in my opinion, this one had the most interesting and three-dimensional characters yet, as well as the deepest and most believable romance.
Jonathan was an upstanding, noble man who wanted to do good but was struggling with depression or a kind of existential crisis. Xin was a flirty, playful bounty hunter who liked having fun but always pushed people away to keep himself from getting hurt. And these two were so good together. I seriously loved these two together. The sex, with its hint of dominance and submission, was scorching hot, but I felt a deeper connection between them beyond the sex, too. I also love me a good stranded story, and getting to see the two of them spend so much time together, relying on each other, getting to know who each other really is, dealing with dangerous situations together, opening up to each other, made their romance all the better.
In the end, everything in the series was nicely wrapped up. This was an enjoyable series filled with space adventures and sweet romance, and when I finished, I was left with nothing but happy, warm feelings about these characters!
*Even though each book in this series focuses on different characters and functions as a standalone, I recommend reading them in order, or you might be lost in regards to the world and character/relationship backgrounds.*
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2021 // Format: Ebook via TTS*
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in Hanna Dare's Mind + Machine series. Anyone who likes adventures in space, quirky found family space crews, m/m romance, stranded in the wilderness romance, and men who are full of feelings even if they don't know how to express them.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
June 25, 2024
My least favorite of the series. I liked Jonathan and Xin just fine, but the whole plot surrounding Ebba, not so much, and how that all 'resolved' out.... Like, really?
July 13, 2019
Jonathan, a government agent, has always been a man to follow the rules. But his feelings have become dark, not sure he even has what it takes to do his job. Into his pity party walks Xin, a so very hot, snarky, irreverent bounty hunter. Xin knows someone who can lead them to a hidden planet full of tech.
Jonathan agrees to check out the planet unfortunately the only way to navigate to the place is to use a wizard. Now Jonathan has two people he can’t trust.
When they reach the surface they are surprised at what they find. Both men are put into a life and death situation. Having only themselves to count on, forces them closer to each other.
I really liked this series (best to read them from the beginning). It was interesting watching the walls between the men breakdown. As the blurb said it was an issue for them to learn to trust.
Their romance didn’t have an easy feel to it. They had to work for it and I enjoyed their journey. Characters from the other books were nice to catch up with too. I’ve said it before about these books. Sci-Fi and a hot m/m story go well together.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
Jonathan agrees to check out the planet unfortunately the only way to navigate to the place is to use a wizard. Now Jonathan has two people he can’t trust.
When they reach the surface they are surprised at what they find. Both men are put into a life and death situation. Having only themselves to count on, forces them closer to each other.
I really liked this series (best to read them from the beginning). It was interesting watching the walls between the men breakdown. As the blurb said it was an issue for them to learn to trust.
Their romance didn’t have an easy feel to it. They had to work for it and I enjoyed their journey. Characters from the other books were nice to catch up with too. I’ve said it before about these books. Sci-Fi and a hot m/m story go well together.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
July 20, 2019
This! Book! Was! Great! Exactly the story Xin deserved. One million heart emojis and very likely my favorite of the series.
Editing to add: I finished this in one sitting and then immediately started rereading the entire series...at 3:00am.
Editing to add: I finished this in one sitting and then immediately started rereading the entire series...at 3:00am.
August 4, 2020
I did not enjoy this quite as much as the first two books. That's mostly down to pacing issues. Once the book got going at about 70% it was very engaging and captivating, but I found the time jumps in the first chapters and the big interruption in the middle of the book interfered a lot with the tension and world building.
It did not help that the book did not even try to make being stranded on an island on an unknown planet sound very dangerous. Seriously, it felt more like a sex-filled beach vacation.
I really liked the characters, they are faceted and well-written, and I liked the story of the planet, but it would have been a lot better if the story telling would have been tighter. I'd rather have a coherent, tense plot than a few more sex scenes.
It did not help that the book did not even try to make being stranded on an island on an unknown planet sound very dangerous. Seriously, it felt more like a sex-filled beach vacation.
I really liked the characters, they are faceted and well-written, and I liked the story of the planet, but it would have been a lot better if the story telling would have been tighter. I'd rather have a coherent, tense plot than a few more sex scenes.
April 26, 2025
was a little cringey tbh. read bc i read the first two books in high school and it was definitely like a high school reunion at the end. wasn’t my favorite, but the plot and setting was cool enough to be 3 stars.
July 24, 2019
The ending is a bit on a mush-y side, but I loved that for Xin.
4.5 stars :)
4.5 stars :)
October 14, 2019
Feel bad about giving it only 3 stars because had loved the first book in the series but just couldn’t feel it...stop and started it too many times.
April 18, 2023
I feel good about finally finishing this series, and I appreciate the HEA for both Agent Gray and Xin, but I'm also a little glad to be done with this world. Not at all surprising that Jonathan's been struggling with depression and despair, tbh.
May 22, 2024
I thought that they threw out why Jonathan was so depressed too long and then one converstation and it was dealt with. *Sigh*
I thought the swimming lessons were fun. The local people were tad bit crazy. But I liked Jonathan and Xin together. Some parts of the story were super long though. Or at least it felt like it. Dub was nice as always.
I thought the swimming lessons were fun. The local people were tad bit crazy. But I liked Jonathan and Xin together. Some parts of the story were super long though. Or at least it felt like it. Dub was nice as always.
abandoned
March 22, 2020It's not u, it's me. just not in the right mood for this.
July 24, 2019
Hanna Dare has added another lovely romance to her repertoire with Black Sky Morning, thanks to the forced proximity trope, the circumstances that enabled it and what that came to mean for Xin and Jonathan Gray, and I ended up fully on board with the evolution of their relationship. For a man like Xin—a bounty hunter who runs when things start to get a little too real, and a man like Jonathan—who’s all about duty and service to the Commonwealth and doesn’t have time for close ties let alone emotional entanglements, being stuck, in the most literal sense, having nowhere to go to get away from each other demands that they not only learn to rely on one another, but it also begins to build something neither of them does easily, if ever. Trust. They have to learn to trust in themselves and in each other in order to survive.
Stranded on a primitive planet where tech once existed before the AI rebelled against its human creators, Xin and Jonathan discover a lost colony that isn’t altogether welcoming to them. They become trapped by the rising tide, and an active volcano presents a consistent threat to everyone’s existence, which means the two men are confronted with more than a few challenges. It was never their primary objective to bond with each other. Their goal was to simply live long enough to get word to the outside world that they were MIA, not dead. And, to return to the village they had escaped from, for reasons that include stopping a rogue wizard from seizing power.
Black Sky Morning isolates readers with Xin and Jonathan; we are stranded with them on an uninhabited spit of land for a fair stretch of the storytelling, which makes this novel more character driven and maybe even a bit more introspective than the previous books. Jonathan carries a lot of emotional baggage that weighs him down to the point of despondency, and Xin was orphaned and on his own at a young age; together, it means that conversations and confessions were a necessary part of their growing connection. Watching Jonathan regain something like hope and seeing him reckon with some hard truths he learns about the Commonwealth that open his eyes to its imperfections, was a means of giving Xin’s self-interests an outward focus which turns the tide for them. The fact that Xin can tease and flirt and seduce Jonathan out of his controlled emotional distance and disciplined ways was a bonus to building the physical side of their alone time. But that’s not to say there was no suspense along the way to balance those quiet moments; there was. Spending time getting to know Xin and Jonathan as individuals, however, was integral to believing in them as a couple. Dare succeeds in allowing her readers to do that.
The concept that people are rarely all good or all bad, but are often a mix of both, worked for me as well. Not to mention that I loved the title of this book before I read it, and I loved it even more once I understood it within the context of the story as it worked its way into one of Xin and Jonathan’s moments of confession. What might have seemed a hasty step to the happily ever after for any of the other couples in the series, fit with who Xin and Jonathan became for each other when they were alone together, and in the end, it all worked for me.
Reviewed for The Novel Approach
Stranded on a primitive planet where tech once existed before the AI rebelled against its human creators, Xin and Jonathan discover a lost colony that isn’t altogether welcoming to them. They become trapped by the rising tide, and an active volcano presents a consistent threat to everyone’s existence, which means the two men are confronted with more than a few challenges. It was never their primary objective to bond with each other. Their goal was to simply live long enough to get word to the outside world that they were MIA, not dead. And, to return to the village they had escaped from, for reasons that include stopping a rogue wizard from seizing power.
Black Sky Morning isolates readers with Xin and Jonathan; we are stranded with them on an uninhabited spit of land for a fair stretch of the storytelling, which makes this novel more character driven and maybe even a bit more introspective than the previous books. Jonathan carries a lot of emotional baggage that weighs him down to the point of despondency, and Xin was orphaned and on his own at a young age; together, it means that conversations and confessions were a necessary part of their growing connection. Watching Jonathan regain something like hope and seeing him reckon with some hard truths he learns about the Commonwealth that open his eyes to its imperfections, was a means of giving Xin’s self-interests an outward focus which turns the tide for them. The fact that Xin can tease and flirt and seduce Jonathan out of his controlled emotional distance and disciplined ways was a bonus to building the physical side of their alone time. But that’s not to say there was no suspense along the way to balance those quiet moments; there was. Spending time getting to know Xin and Jonathan as individuals, however, was integral to believing in them as a couple. Dare succeeds in allowing her readers to do that.
The concept that people are rarely all good or all bad, but are often a mix of both, worked for me as well. Not to mention that I loved the title of this book before I read it, and I loved it even more once I understood it within the context of the story as it worked its way into one of Xin and Jonathan’s moments of confession. What might have seemed a hasty step to the happily ever after for any of the other couples in the series, fit with who Xin and Jonathan became for each other when they were alone together, and in the end, it all worked for me.
Reviewed for The Novel Approach
December 4, 2019
4.5 stars
I'm feeling really torn between giving 4 or 5 stars, but I'm gonna round my rating of 4.5 up to 5.
Black Sky Morning starts off slow, but joke's on you, people who decided to DNF because of that, because boy does it pick up around the 30% mark!
You are missing out! I am a sucker for survival stories, there's just something about two people all alone in the wilderness, trying to survive and finding each other in the process... And Hanna Dare did a fabulous job on this one; there were so many moments where I actually had to pinch myself to make sure that I wasn't making those amazing moments between the two MCs up in my head.
Xin and Jonathan had some serious chemistry, and I mean SERIOUS CHEMISTRY!!!
Loved, loved, loved those two together! I think between Machine Metal Magic and this book here, it's safe to say that Hanna Dare is the queen of creative sex scenes; she just writes them in a way that is different to any other. But. But what made this book so special were the quiet moments between the two MCs - things got surprisingly deep, causing me to have all sorts of FEELINGS!
Could I have done without the action and the plot twists towards the end? Yeah.
Did it feel a bit rushed? Also yes.
Did I want to see more of Xin and Jonathan? Duh, obviously.
But nevertheless, this book deserves all the stars for the absolute perfection that was the middle part of this book!
I'm feeling really torn between giving 4 or 5 stars, but I'm gonna round my rating of 4.5 up to 5.
Black Sky Morning starts off slow, but joke's on you, people who decided to DNF because of that, because boy does it pick up around the 30% mark!
You are missing out! I am a sucker for survival stories, there's just something about two people all alone in the wilderness, trying to survive and finding each other in the process... And Hanna Dare did a fabulous job on this one; there were so many moments where I actually had to pinch myself to make sure that I wasn't making those amazing moments between the two MCs up in my head.
Xin and Jonathan had some serious chemistry, and I mean SERIOUS CHEMISTRY!!!
Loved, loved, loved those two together! I think between Machine Metal Magic and this book here, it's safe to say that Hanna Dare is the queen of creative sex scenes; she just writes them in a way that is different to any other. But. But what made this book so special were the quiet moments between the two MCs - things got surprisingly deep, causing me to have all sorts of FEELINGS!
Could I have done without the action and the plot twists towards the end? Yeah.
Did it feel a bit rushed? Also yes.
Did I want to see more of Xin and Jonathan? Duh, obviously.
But nevertheless, this book deserves all the stars for the absolute perfection that was the middle part of this book!
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