Patchwork

Storm Fronts #2

by Elle E. Ire

Storm Fronts: Book Two

Empath Kelly LaSalle means everything to cybernetic soldier Vick Corren—and Kelly deserves a partner who can love her in a romantic way.

For the first time since receiving her robotic enhancements and an AI that makes her faster and stronger than the average merc, Vick thinks she can be that person.

Vick wants Kelly for life, and she’ll do whatever it takes to be worthy. A holiday on a tropical planet seems the perfect time for Vick to demonstrate her commitment.

And she has big plans.

But the best intentions unravel when they’re pursued by a rival mercenary company that wants Vick’s technology—with or without her cooperation. A competitor for Kelly’s affection is determined to tear them apart, and a lover from Vick’s past has depraved plans of her own. Vick might not be able to save their lives without giving herself over to the machine she’s trying so hard to transcend.

Genres: Science Fiction, Queer, Romance, Lesbian, LGBT, Cyberpunk, Military Fiction

268 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2020

Reviews

[XR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had the action I usually like but it also got quite emotional too. It was a surprise. Lots of messed behaviour depending on one's morals, I can see a lot of it happening now though because... people. Twisted, money and power hungry humans/monsters won't be able to stop themselves from abusing their privilege.

[Tory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprise, surprise, surprise! Wow, this book was so good. I was totally blindsided and I loved it. I recommend these books.

[Tabatha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say, I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that the novel was missing something; a lot of great moments, but a little disjointed maybe?

But still, huge props for a unique concept & characters. Both the returning characters and some new additions are where the book really shines. It was especially nice to see VC1 really step into her (their? It’s?) stride alongside Vick!

[Bobscopatz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. So violence and sex scenes, not necessarily at the same time. Some language. Adult content. You’ve been warned.

About midpoint of this book I realized why I was going through it so quickly...I was staying up late to get to the resolution! I couldn’t put it down. The characters, especially Vick and Kelly, are compelling and their relationship is treated as real and important. Well crafted dialog isn’t even the right phrase here...it’s all just so natural. And anyone who’s ever felt out of place at a family gathering will enjoy the reunion, for sure. I didn’t want to laugh, but, yeah, that whole thing was just the right mix of emotions.

There are plenty of well drawn characters here.

And, can I just say, I’m really liking VC1 as her own character?

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I am disappointed. And I really want to rate this probably like 1.25 stars, but I'll make it 2 stars for "nostalgia's" sake.

Maybe I am misremembering the first book in this series, but I found the writing in this one too exposition-y and too similar between the two characters (i.e. what differentiates them is only their wildly different feelings). I also didn't enjoy the dynamic between the main characters, with basically the empath doing all the work all the time, which is justified by the circumstances and what they both are, but at least the first book tried to subvert this a little. This one just feels like a conveniently-explained broody tortured butch solder/emotional open femme empath. I will say that I did enjoy the AI gaining more of a personality and having its own character arc of gaining the MC's trust and learning itself to let the MC have more autonomy even if the former is too abrupt, at least the latter is more progressive through the book.

I also was not grabbed by the story and trudged through the first half before I decided to skim. There are too many convenient plot holes, e.g. the care that the company that owns the MC shows her despite being repeatedly told it's all about money, but also they are ethical in the missions they accept, but I guess not ethical enough to not let her be legally human; e.g. the evil (and we know they're evil because they'll take any lucrative contract AND they gang rape their female prisoners, or so it is heavily implied) rival company spending so many resources and ruining their reputation to retrieve her to then cut their losses by killing her when they would then have no way to make the clones of her, that they spent an exhorbitant amount of money on, work. The villains are obvious from the second we see them, and while I think the book was not trying to hide them, I think the ending was trying to be a plot twist, which it wasn't.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the plot and worldbuilding concept is simple, the pace of the story with its twists and numerous action-packed scenes makes this a page-turner.

For a reader unfamiliar with the series, the focus on Vick's trauma/disability-related struggles in this instalment could have been difficult to grasp but for the author's skilful use of flashbacks. The VC1/Vick interactions were also highly entertaining and effective in adding further background information and/or nuances to the scenes.

[Rian Adara · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the story shifted to a plot that's more character-driven as Vick and Kelly worked through their relationship, we still get the tenuous dynamic between the two as Vick continues to struggle with her humanity. It certainly doesn't help that an entity was out to get her in order to break her down for parts like an old car. That certainly doesn't help things. But it made for some interesting interactions and amazing character development!

[RA Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it just as much as the first one!

Also, can't wait for the next book! This series checks all my boxes, except for having more books done already.