The story of Bianca and Ryak. She’s got a shady, and resented, past. This is the last book in the first series, and introduces Ryak’s specialized team, including Strykr, Jay, Mylo, and the others. It’s also got an interesting combination of instalove fated mates and fake relationship to achieve goal themes.
Ryak also has a stronger thoughtbond than the other seniors, something he takes advantage of as a sort of spymaster. But this isn’t really explored. It’s mentioned but it’s not central to the story. The story is central to the story.
But we do get a better description of Ustokos and the lair.
“It lights up the building, set in a cliff face, the waterfall churning out from underneath, the same water that supplies all our needs and our healing pools. Once built for pleasure by our ancestors, it’s the perfect fortress for us now.”
And I loved this:
“I can’t let them know, but the young mercs are literally the cutest things I’ve ever come across. Not only do they have a lust for life that is unmatched in any other species anywhere, but they have a habit of being fluffy whenever they are happy. Oly has reached peak fluff as he puts down the stool before walking away with a swagger of a job well done.”
And.
““It was sunny.” He looks at his feet, “I like a sun bath.” A warrior that likes a sun bath, whatever next?”
So cute. But I don’t really get this…
“Because that’s what fate is. Two souls that float forever until they join.”
I’m squinting really hard.
Glitches:
“…and human men I knew pale in insignificance beside…” — significance
“…I have to tell myself as make my way through…” — as I make
“Above the sticky clouds, the closest of Ustokos three moons is bright.” — Ustokos’
“Save for the tech you found in the hidden in our lair.” — found hidden
“chaise-longe” — longue
“…the filth from Ustokos atmosphere.” — Ustokos’
“…my desire is all the great because she knows I’m looking at her.” — greater
“I lift my lips in a snarl as he smiles, which wipes it instantly from his face and stride after her.” — face, and
The only thing that doesn’t really fit with the heroine’s background is her age. She’s 35 but was still under her stepfather’s thumb? Only just getting set to go to school? The timing seems a few years off with her.
“I’ve spent my whole life pretending to be someone I wasn’t to please someone else. To not end up dead. I’ve been abducted to an alien planet, imprisoned, and rescued.”
Again, it just seems like a long time to put up with that crap without escaping. Or before her stepfather would use her for his own nefarious purposes.
But these Gryn totally make up for any glitches. And as Ryak says of Bianca,
“She is a female to be cared for, but she has proved herself to be a skillful negotiator and diplomat, as well as being good under pressure and an excellent escape artist. Plus from the way my warriors react to her, they are in awe of what she has achieved.”
The salutary “Guv” starts here referring to Ryak, but we’ll see that further used in the next series with regard to Strykr.
We also see an answer to a question I’ve had for several books. If they are all eating Maraha, what do the Maraha eat? So that was nice.
Overall I appreciated a lot of information about the world building given in this last book. It serves as a great segue into the next series, and the couple of Bianca and Ryak are perhaps the most evenly matched pair yet.