Enemy Within by Marcella Burnard Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Berkley Trade Available: November 2, 2010 Genre: Futuristic Romance Source: Publisher Reviewed by: Tracy 

After a stint in an alien prison, Captain Ari Rose wonders why she even bothered to survive. Stripped of her command and banished to her father’s scientific expedition to finish a Ph.D. she doesn’t want, Ari never planned to languish quietly behind a desk. She wasn’t built for it, either. But when pirates commandeer her father’s ship, Ari once again becomes a prisoner.

As far as pirate leader Cullin is concerned, Ari’s past imprisonment puts her dead center in Cullin’s sights. If she hasn’t been brainwashed and returned as a spy, then he’s convinced she must be part of a traitorous alliance endangering billions of lives. Cullin can’t afford the desire she fires within him and he’ll stop at nothing, including destroying her, to uncover the truth.

For Alexandria Rose Idylle (“Ari”) being a leader and a well-trained soldier was her calling.  Her role as Captain of an elite spaceship gave her purpose and praise, which she lacked growing up.  While on a mission, Ari is kidnapped and detained by the evil and heartless Chekydran aliens.  She is subjected to three months of torture, starvation and degradation which, by all accounts, she should not have survived – that is unless she is now a Chekyrdan spy. Upon Ari’s return, she is placed on her father’s exploration ship while her commanding officers assess whether she is a friend or foe.

A mere three months after her return, Ari is still physically weakened and trying to manage vivid flashbacks of her captivity which prompt her to go into lethal rages.  A standard planetary exploration goes awry when Cullin Seaghdh and his pirate crew hijack Ari and her team.  However, all is not as it seems.  Seaghdh has ulterior motives – Ari may be the key to saving his empire as well as unlocking his heart.  The Chekydran will not make his mission easy as they ruthlessly pursue the pair with deadly consequences.

Enemy Within is an interesting sci-fi/futuristic romance filled with action, intrigue and deception.  Ari was a refreshing heroine who impressed me with her strength and intelligence.  The emotional journey to cope with imprisonment and control her flashbacks was both credible and heart-breaking (yes, I shed a few tears).  Her strategic mindset and logical approach to danger balanced well with her emotional turmoil, creating great dynamics with Cullin who was equally sharp-witted.  And while I liked Cullin, his character was less memorable only because his evolution was less transformational than Ari’s.  As a couple, the pairing worked well, but the romance side of the story took a bit of backseat to discovering who Ari is and the play between rival governments.  The futuristic setting provided interesting and enjoyable elements, but I think this might be better appreciated by more dedicated sci-fi romance readers than a newbie or casual reader.  As the reader, be prepared for 7-feet tall octopus-like aliens, light scientific talk and made up words and devices.  For example, expressions like “by the twelve gods” and “baxt’k” are used in lieu of “by god” and…well…the good old fashioned f-bomb.

First-time author Marcella Burnard provides an intriguing, well-written release.  I am fascinated by the world she created and interested to read her next book Enemy Games which releases in spring 2011 and features two characters introduced in this book.

 

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Wasteland: The Whore by Lilli Feisty  eBook: Novella Publisher: Samhain Available: May 11, 2010 Genre: Fantasy, Erotic Romance Source: Purchased by reviewer

Her quest for freedom plunges her into dangerous waters…of desire.

Wasteland, Book 3

Bryn is a “Rose”, but her life is no garden. A stolen child, prostitution is the only life she’s ever known—except on the nights she sneaks out in stolen men’s clothing to explore the city. A tiny taste of freedom that makes her long for a life outside sexual servitude, at the mercy of any man who can pay.

Xander remembers no other home except his pirate ship, smuggling weapons or anything else for a fee. He’s been happy with his life and his lover, Hawke…until he rescues who he thinks is a young man from robbers.

Figuring she can blend in with the crew, Bryn jumps at the chance to escape the Brothel. Then she discovers Xander and Hawke have a taste for pretty boys—and that she has a taste for them. In their arms, she embraces their incredible gift: control of her own sexuality.

Though women are considered bad luck at sea, Xander isn’t of a mind to give her up. Yet the time is drawing near when the ship must return to Wasteland to resupply. And what awaits them there is a danger that could tear them apart.

Reviewed by: Sophia (FV)

Quick Rundown: Wasteland is set in a futuristic, post apocalyptic world where Bryn, a Rose, should consider herself fortunate to have have food, shelter and protection.  Although prostitution is all she has ever known she longs to be in control of her life as well as her sexuality.  When she is rescued by two pirates and given the chance at a different and unknown future she takes it.  In her adventures she discovers a chance to make her dreams of self empowerment come true and then some. 

Impressions after the first chapter:  Yo, Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.  This is completely different from anything I’ve read from Lilli Feisty.  I’ve actually only read her contemporary erotic romances so this is an interesting change.

The Hero: There are two heroes in The Whore.  Xander, a dirty sexy pirate with a soft side who is actually a good guy.  His lover Hawke, was not particularly interesting to me.  I didn’t necessarily dislike him, but he was not a stand out character for me.  Xander was the pirate for me.

The Heroine: Bryn, appears to be a victim of her life’s circumstances forced to work as a whore in a brothel.  She is brave, spirited, yet reserved and longs for independence and self empowerment.  The courage that it took for her to leave the brothel where she is used, but protected, in search of a different life was admirable, especially since she was facing the unknown.

What worked: The post apocalyptic world in which the story is based is a dark, dangerous place in which women are mostly powerless. Lilli Feisty did a wonderful job giving the reader a good clear feel for the despair and inner turmoil of the heroine and the overall feel of the dangerous world this novella is based in. 

What didn’t work:  Although the sex scenes are very steamy, consisting of m/m, m/f/m and voyeurism, I never fully bought into the idea that Bryn immersed herself into a fulfilling sexual relationship with Xander and Hawke so quickly.  Granted this is a novella, and I often find that relationships are rushed probably due to limited word count, but Bryn was rescued, and on the ship only a very short amount of time before she was engaged in a threesome with Xander and Hawke.  After living a life of sexual servitude, I would have thought she’d need a little more time before entering into an intimate relationship since that was the way of life she was trying to leave behind. 

Final conclusion: This type of sci-fi erotic fantasy is not my usual choice of genre, however I very much enjoyed this quick read.  I think overall it was a nicely rounded story, laced with a bit sexy pirate romance, and a heroine that I came to like very much.  What I love about Lilli Feisty’s writing is her attention to character development in her heroines. I always come away from reading her stories feeling like I know her heroines well. Although I didn’t understand Bryn’s need to enter into a sexual relationship with Xander and Hawke so quickly, I still feel like I got to know her and like her very much. I enjoyed this erotic sci-fi fantasy, however I think I prefer Ms. Feisty’s erotic contemporaries.  Still, it was fun to try something different than what I’m used to from a favorite author. 

Favorite Quote:

“If you didn’t just save my sister…I’d throttle you.” 

Bryn managed a smile.  “But I did.  So you can’t.”

 

Purchase Link:

Amazon

Other books in the series:

Wasteland: The Wanderer book 1 by Crystal Jordan

Wasteland: The Breeder book 2 by Eden Bradley

Wasteland: The Priestess book 4 by R.G. Alexander

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I watched Avatar last night and wow!  What a great movie.  I really had no desire to ever watch that movie, it just didn’t appeal to me even though I’m a fan of Sci-Fi action flicks.  My kids had the Avatar Happy Meal action figures and they freaked me out just a little.  But the hubs signed us up for Netflix recently and we ended up with Avatar. 

I intended to read while hubs watched the movie, I often do that.  But I was captivated from the very beginning and needless to say I got no reading done. I’m sure it had nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that Sam Worthington is drop dead sexy.  That couldn’t have anything to do with it at all.  I don’t know which I like more, looking at him or listening to him. Both, I refuse to pick.  

Besides Sam Worthington, the visuals in this movie are simply stunning.

So, I’m reminded just how much I love to watch Sci-Fi and I’ve been inspired to seek out more of the same since I’ve been mostly a reader not a watcher this past year.  But the interesting thing is, I don’t read very much Sci-Fi.  Almost none in fact.  I think because I love the visuals of the movies, and maybe my imagination is just not geared in that direction when reading.  Modern Sci-Fi movies pack such an amazing visual punch.  As I was considering this while watching Avatar I received a review request for Dying Light, a recently released Sci-Fi Vampire thriller by D. Scott Meek.  Perfect timing right?  Needless to say I accepted and will have a review coming up.

So, my questions for you today are, do you like Sci-Fi?  Do you prefer to read, watch or both?  What are your book and movie recommendations?