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Nyx Fortuna #2
Guardian of Shadows
She’s been to the universe’s prison planet, why not check the black market off her bucket list next?
Life at Nyx’s Station has been a little tense of late. There are the fugitives she’s hiding, the Harvester of Worlds she still doesn’t know what to do with, and then there’s the ex-boyfriend she’s been avoiding. So when someone from her elusive past shows up in Earth Between, Nyx jumps at the distraction—and the chance to finally get some answers.
The only problem is, her childhood friend Seth has no intention of answering any of those questions. When he portal-jumps to the forbidden Shadow Market, it should be a guaranteed escape from a Station Guardian, but Nyx’s altered bond with her Station means following him is a possibility. One she has every intention of making a reality.
Her newfound friends insist on coming with her, and really, what’s the worst that could happen from taking three ex-Enforcers, two Amazons, and one Tiagren shifter to the world’s most notorious black market planet?
Life at Nyx’s Station has been a little tense of late. There are the fugitives she’s hiding, the Harvester of Worlds she still doesn’t know what to do with, and then there’s the ex-boyfriend she’s been avoiding. So when someone from her elusive past shows up in Earth Between, Nyx jumps at the distraction—and the chance to finally get some answers.
The only problem is, her childhood friend Seth has no intention of answering any of those questions. When he portal-jumps to the forbidden Shadow Market, it should be a guaranteed escape from a Station Guardian, but Nyx’s altered bond with her Station means following him is a possibility. One she has every intention of making a reality.
Her newfound friends insist on coming with her, and really, what’s the worst that could happen from taking three ex-Enforcers, two Amazons, and one Tiagren shifter to the world’s most notorious black market planet?
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2021
About the author
Michelle Manus
11 books91 followersMichelle lives in a desolate land with a dark wizard, a unicorn, and a feline overlord. Despite certain stereotypes you may be familiar with, the dark wizard is not holding her captive, nor does the unicorn require virgin riders. The feline overlord, however, may well be evil.
She holds dual BAs in English and Philosophy, which has gotten her about as far as you would expect it to in life. Despite all evidence to the contrary, she’s still desperately holding out hope that in an alternate reality she’s a sword-wielding princess.
She holds dual BAs in English and Philosophy, which has gotten her about as far as you would expect it to in life. Despite all evidence to the contrary, she’s still desperately holding out hope that in an alternate reality she’s a sword-wielding princess.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 2, 2023
Did I mention her new friends are three ex-Enforcers, two Amazons, and one Tiagren shifter? After everything we have learned about Nyx in Guardians of Chaos, I complete understand her need for answers, especially from her childhood friend Seth.
The black market was interesting and came with its own troubles. I enjoyed seeing Nyx not only deal with Seth, but bargain with the guardian of the Shadow Market. The tale was intense, in part because they were on a limited time. I recommend you begin with Guardians of Chaos as her predicament, and those of the motley crew are explained.
The banter and camaraderie between Nyx, Seth and the others added some humor and continued to flesh out these characters. I love the unique personalities, moods and attractions. The tale is well-paced, balancing suspenseful scenes with arc development. Nyx gets some answers which only served up more questions. I for one, am curious.
Desireé Ketchum narrates and does a great job voicing Nyx and her personality. She has given each character a unique voice and I love how perfectly they match these characters. I highly recommend listening.
Fans of fantasy, suspense and kickass heroines with a sweet side who pick up strays will love Nyx Fortuna and the Between Earth’s station. It’s bigger on the inside and has a magic all of its own. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
The black market was interesting and came with its own troubles. I enjoyed seeing Nyx not only deal with Seth, but bargain with the guardian of the Shadow Market. The tale was intense, in part because they were on a limited time. I recommend you begin with Guardians of Chaos as her predicament, and those of the motley crew are explained.
The banter and camaraderie between Nyx, Seth and the others added some humor and continued to flesh out these characters. I love the unique personalities, moods and attractions. The tale is well-paced, balancing suspenseful scenes with arc development. Nyx gets some answers which only served up more questions. I for one, am curious.
Desireé Ketchum narrates and does a great job voicing Nyx and her personality. She has given each character a unique voice and I love how perfectly they match these characters. I highly recommend listening.
Fans of fantasy, suspense and kickass heroines with a sweet side who pick up strays will love Nyx Fortuna and the Between Earth’s station. It’s bigger on the inside and has a magic all of its own. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
December 9, 2021
3 stars because we do get some answers to the central mystery.
But this was overall a disappointing follow-up to the first book.
My complaints about this book:
1) it becomes a love triangle. Ugh. Very teenage-ish with some very predictable drama
2) Maruca’s insistence that Kaden’s feelings are her fault and her hatred of Nyx are just dumb and unfounded. I’m, he’s a grown ass man. His feelings are not her problem.
3) Does Kaden have legit feelings for Nyx? Honestly, the author writes him as if she isn’t sure herself. One minute, he’s fighting phantom Nyx’s because he had such strong feelings for her that Psionics used her to punish him. The next, he’s a sexist jerk who seems to only care about her as a means to an end. Which is it?
4) I am so glad Kaden and Marcus are gone. They were annoying bummers. I like Seth but I think the author is going to mess around with this one later. She made us think in the first book that Kaden had feelings for Nyx with his whole desire to win her back but then he just avoided her and shut her out.
5) Nyx negotiated 6 trips off works for herself. That’s monumentally stupid. And she has blown one and the next book blows another I guess
6) My question is this: will this series have an ending or is it eternal? Because I want to see the following happen and/or be explained: what are stations? Can they be freed? Will the All Council be defeated? Who are the Kumirs modeled after? Who controls them? Will Nyx’s dad be revealed? Will the universe be rid of slavery?
It feels like Nyx is the solution to this messed up universe’s problems, but I can’t keep reading at the rate we are going. Will she be 50 and on book 20 in the series before some moves are made against this messed up system?
But this was overall a disappointing follow-up to the first book.
My complaints about this book:
1) it becomes a love triangle. Ugh. Very teenage-ish with some very predictable drama
2) Maruca’s insistence that Kaden’s feelings are her fault and her hatred of Nyx are just dumb and unfounded. I’m, he’s a grown ass man. His feelings are not her problem.
3) Does Kaden have legit feelings for Nyx? Honestly, the author writes him as if she isn’t sure herself. One minute, he’s fighting phantom Nyx’s because he had such strong feelings for her that Psionics used her to punish him. The next, he’s a sexist jerk who seems to only care about her as a means to an end. Which is it?
4) I am so glad Kaden and Marcus are gone. They were annoying bummers. I like Seth but I think the author is going to mess around with this one later. She made us think in the first book that Kaden had feelings for Nyx with his whole desire to win her back but then he just avoided her and shut her out.
5) Nyx negotiated 6 trips off works for herself. That’s monumentally stupid. And she has blown one and the next book blows another I guess
6) My question is this: will this series have an ending or is it eternal? Because I want to see the following happen and/or be explained: what are stations? Can they be freed? Will the All Council be defeated? Who are the Kumirs modeled after? Who controls them? Will Nyx’s dad be revealed? Will the universe be rid of slavery?
It feels like Nyx is the solution to this messed up universe’s problems, but I can’t keep reading at the rate we are going. Will she be 50 and on book 20 in the series before some moves are made against this messed up system?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2021
Can't wait for the next book! Definitely in line for fans of the Innkeeper series by Ilona Andrews.
August 1, 2022
I'm glad I put off starting this series because I finished book two the day before book three came out 😁
Secrets revealed, which of course means the mysteries deepen * Mr Burns saying excellent dot gif *
There is something of a love triangle, which I generally despise, but so far this one enough other stuff tied into it that it's not bothering me.
Secrets revealed, which of course means the mysteries deepen * Mr Burns saying excellent dot gif *
There is something of a love triangle, which I generally despise, but so far this one enough other stuff tied into it that it's not bothering me.
October 20, 2023
2 I was bored out of my mind stars.
September 28, 2024
Originally read 4/28/23 4 stars
reread 9/27/24 - 4 stars
reread 9/27/24 - 4 stars
May 28, 2023
I'm in love! I'm blown away at how Michelle can put so much in each chapter. AND! The book moves forward with amazing flow and drive that I WANT, NEEEEED, to keep listening. I want to know everything Michelle will give me. I love how there's so many tidbits that could come into play in the future. I'm going to dive into book 3 ASAP. And I'm looking forward to book 4 in August.
Nyx can't remember anything before she was 18, waking with a note in her hand and an apartment that's paid for a year and scholarship to college. But small memories are starting to returning since her trip. When a mysterious visitor, who SEEs her, sparks a memory and familiar feelings she approaches him. And remembers his name just as he races off to the Shadow Market. Nyx is determined to find him and learn more on her past.
Her new friends want to join her on this trip, and have personal reasons for being here. These characters all feel to fit together wonderfully as a cast. I love the relationships between them. Tension of all sorts as we fight through events. Even when they don't see eye to eye. I love that there's different dynamics to the relationships...friends, maybe more, and dislike.
I have so many thoughts on the characters and look forward to seeing more with them and about their lives. I think there are a few characters that have their own agenda at heart as well. Oh so good.
I feel for Nyx. She's a good person and would like to know about her past. And why people leave her so easily. She really doesn't want to be alone. She'll let people go on their own though, hoping they at least visit.
This book, series! is so mind blowing good. I love the adventures, the personal connections, the personal adventures, and growth through the book. All flowing together in the story. Wow. Love this!
Nyx can't remember anything before she was 18, waking with a note in her hand and an apartment that's paid for a year and scholarship to college. But small memories are starting to returning since her trip. When a mysterious visitor, who SEEs her, sparks a memory and familiar feelings she approaches him. And remembers his name just as he races off to the Shadow Market. Nyx is determined to find him and learn more on her past.
Her new friends want to join her on this trip, and have personal reasons for being here. These characters all feel to fit together wonderfully as a cast. I love the relationships between them. Tension of all sorts as we fight through events. Even when they don't see eye to eye. I love that there's different dynamics to the relationships...friends, maybe more, and dislike.
I have so many thoughts on the characters and look forward to seeing more with them and about their lives. I think there are a few characters that have their own agenda at heart as well. Oh so good.
I feel for Nyx. She's a good person and would like to know about her past. And why people leave her so easily. She really doesn't want to be alone. She'll let people go on their own though, hoping they at least visit.
This book, series! is so mind blowing good. I love the adventures, the personal connections, the personal adventures, and growth through the book. All flowing together in the story. Wow. Love this!
December 13, 2021
Nyx was forgotten and abandoned. Becoming the Guardian of Between Earth's station allowed others to remember her. Like her childhood friend, Seth, who remembers way more of their time together than she does, and doesn't want to answer her questions. He flees to the black market planet and Nyx decides to follow him with the fugitives from the universe’s prison planet that she's hiding in her station.
Why I started this book: Read the first book and I was eager for more.
Why I finished it: This book increased my anger against Kaden. (Downloading the Kaden POV scenes helped a little...) This is the perfect book to read when you want to be mad at the main love interest. I hope that the third book redeems him or this will not be as satisfying.
Why I started this book: Read the first book and I was eager for more.
Why I finished it: This book increased my anger against Kaden. (Downloading the Kaden POV scenes helped a little...) This is the perfect book to read when you want to be mad at the main love interest. I hope that the third book redeems him or this will not be as satisfying.
December 10, 2021
Nyx is a mystery and a fun adventure
Nyx - her past is still a mystery, but she is a great person who helps others and has the weight of the universe on her shoulders.
Kaiden is absolutely worthless and has ripped her heart out twice or is it theee times now and While I love Seth - he is more like a big brother and I don’t see the romance there.
Nyx needs people that will stand by her and at least there is a few.
I do hope that Nyx gets some good answers about her life and the station acts a little nicer towards her.
I have already bought the next book.
Nyx - her past is still a mystery, but she is a great person who helps others and has the weight of the universe on her shoulders.
Kaiden is absolutely worthless and has ripped her heart out twice or is it theee times now and While I love Seth - he is more like a big brother and I don’t see the romance there.
Nyx needs people that will stand by her and at least there is a few.
I do hope that Nyx gets some good answers about her life and the station acts a little nicer towards her.
I have already bought the next book.
May 31, 2022
I'd give this one 3.5 stars if I could. A continuation of the rich universe created in Guardian of Chaos. I liked the idea of a black market planet and it was pretty interesting but I found the love triangle angle a bit tedious. This installment of the series was quite enjoyable but fell a little prey to the diatribe "if only people in relationships would communicate more clearly, all of this angst would just go away". Thus I took off 1/2 a star compared to the first novel, but I will still pick up the third book.
January 23, 2024
Second book in a series that I'm listening to on audiobook. Lots of intergalactic species and magical travel system, with the heroine manning a gate to Earth while hunting for hints to her past. In this one, she follows Seth (or Set, not sure) to a lawless planet because he's the first person from her past to approach her and she wants answers. The whole posse goes with her. She wakes a big bad baddy on accident, and Set ends up her roommate at the station. She gets a pretty big chunk of her backstory from him. I enjoy the narration and the action is well paced.
August 3, 2022
Not super happy with the love triangle. Also I thought the mythical chain given to Nyx by the all council in the first book to catch Kaden would have to go back to them so I’m not sure why she still has it- it doesn’t seem like them to forget about an important item of magic. Other than that it was a great sequel and kept (and is keeping) my interest. Pacing is still great and we are in the making of a found family trope which melts my heart. Also shoutout for the bisexual rep <3
May 27, 2025
One of the things I like best about Nyx is that she's so determined to stay true to herself and her sense of the right thing to do; while following after Seth, she still tries her best to help people in bad situations.
This is definitely another layer in the story - Seth's presence opens up a whole host of unanswered questions while readers learn more about the greater universe. It's definitely a must-read book in the series!
This is definitely another layer in the story - Seth's presence opens up a whole host of unanswered questions while readers learn more about the greater universe. It's definitely a must-read book in the series!
March 26, 2026
Maruca annoyed me so much in this book. Like girl?? Is Kaden not a grown man with his own agency? She completely dislike Nyx for reasons that are not justified nor are they really mentioned at all. Kaden's also done a 180, and he seems like he used Nyx as an opportunity. I'm glad Seth kind of became more of a friend. Nyx and Seth seem to have become more friends than lovers, but if this devolves into a love triangle, I will be extrememly unhappy.
May 8, 2022
The second in an entertaining kickass fantasy sci fi series. Lots of complex world building, engaging characters, silly jokes and action adventure sequequences. The perfect thing to amuse me while I'm home sick. I can't believe I have to wait till August for the finale!
November 7, 2022
Good
Good read but thought first book was slightly better. Karen is annoying as the third part of a love triangle that’s developing? The plot is a bit weak around this, overall though enjoyed reading it.
Good read but thought first book was slightly better. Karen is annoying as the third part of a love triangle that’s developing? The plot is a bit weak around this, overall though enjoyed reading it.
July 19, 2023
Fantastic book
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are described in detail so I felt that I knew them without being too much. The story lines are really interesting. This is a must read
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are described in detail so I felt that I knew them without being too much. The story lines are really interesting. This is a must read
October 10, 2023
Fun Read
Well written and fun to read. I particularly like that the series has a unique storyline. Normally, I figure out the plot early in the story, but this one keeps me guessing.
Well written and fun to read. I particularly like that the series has a unique storyline. Normally, I figure out the plot early in the story, but this one keeps me guessing.
December 27, 2021
As good as the first need the next fast !
February 1, 2022
Poignant in all the right places
This is such a great and surprising story unfolding. I love it when a book surprises me and this one has it all.
This is such a great and surprising story unfolding. I love it when a book surprises me and this one has it all.
February 6, 2022
3.5 stars
February 18, 2022
Loved it. Really like Seth
Want to Read
January 22, 2023Are there plans to release book 2 & 3 in audio?
May 1, 2023
A good entry in the series. I was invested in Nyx and Seth, as well as the need abilities she's discovered. I do wish we'd see more of Griff and her station.
May 2, 2023
4.25 stars
June 8, 2023
2.5 stars
September 22, 2024
Likeable characters, good pacing and an interesting new world made this a quick read. I like that we are learning more about Nyx's past, but the mystery is still deepening.
September 21, 2025
This series has a lot going for it in terms of creativity, action adventure, and a dragon. I really like, the heroine, Nyx, but I am not a fan of love triangles.
October 5, 2022
Love it
I really love this series. It's truly different and has strong female characters that I like a lot. I highly recommend.
I really love this series. It's truly different and has strong female characters that I like a lot. I highly recommend.
July 20, 2022
love
I didn’t get to leave review on first one as kindle has issues with review others than stars. Thoroughly enjoying the storyline, the characters. No sniveling idiots as main characters or “strong stubborn” women that are just annoying ……. Great world bldg too. Hope in the next book there is a new world to visit. Hope the next book is out to cause I’m on a roll. Must admit curious about Kaden? What’s the story.
I didn’t get to leave review on first one as kindle has issues with review others than stars. Thoroughly enjoying the storyline, the characters. No sniveling idiots as main characters or “strong stubborn” women that are just annoying ……. Great world bldg too. Hope in the next book there is a new world to visit. Hope the next book is out to cause I’m on a roll. Must admit curious about Kaden? What’s the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews