Book Reviews

Book Blurb

The sole survivor on a science vessel adrift in deep space, Zeus was adopted by the Emperor and Empress of the Mar'Sani, though he is both human and blind, and seen by most as unfit to join the royal family. Though they were able to repair his vision, Zeus does not trust his eyes and the nobles of his parents' court refuse to ever trust a frail human.

Dargon Kal-Turak, along with his symbiote and lover Alpha, command one of the most dangerous ships in the stars. Narrowly escaping a trap, they dock in a space port to make repairs, but find that the Psonics hunting them are closing in fast. In desperation they kidnap the port Master Mechanic, unaware that the man they've brought on board is more than he seems, and will bring far more upheaval to their ship, their lives, and the stars than any of them could have imagined.

 

 

First edition published by Less Than Three Press, September 2013.

 

Book Review

There is something really special about this book, and I think it is the combination of fantastically imaginative world building, a mysteriously twisting plot line, and some very creative characters who make their way through a galacto-political mess of, well, galactic proportions. The back story is much deeper than I first suspected, and while some of the more immediate questions get answered to the point that the ending (intermediate as it may be) is mostly satisfying, there is a ton of issues left for the sequel. Add to this a well-woven adventure and a passionate love story, and this novel has got just about everything I look for in a great science fiction story.

Zeus is a wonderful character. In trouble from the word go, as he is the only survivor aboard a spaceship adrift in Mar'Sani space, he grows up worried about the fact that some will never see him as Mar'Sani. Adopted by the royal family, he thinks of himself as one of them, but there are those who see him as a despised human. Yeah, humans haven’t got the best reputation in this version of the future, and I am curious to find out exactly why. I did get a few hints in this first volume, but I suspect there is a lot more behind everyone's hatred than I saw here. Zeus goes through some harrowing experiences, but he is proud, doesn’t want to be seen as weak, and is determined to master is life one way or the other. He loves his Mar'Sani family deeply, especially his brothers, the twins, and when he runs into Dargon he is truly conflicted about his attraction to the stranger.

Dargon is a Dar Massaga, a species of lion-like marsupials (I loved that idea!) whose members are born as lions, then shift to a humanoid form when they are one year old. They live in harmony with their symbiotes, a separate species consisting of Alphas that bond with males and Zetas that bond with females. Dargon is the captain of a spaceship that could be either a pirate or some sort of special forces on a secret mission, Zeus isn’t sure which at first. Despite his hatred for humans, Dargon and Alpha find themselves drawn to Zeus, and that causes no end of problems for all three of them.

Alpha is Dargon's symbiote, and doesn’t have a fixed form but resides as a torque on his chest. But he moves as well, and plays a rather interesting role when Zeus and Dargon make love. He also has a lot more secrets than I ever suspected, and as those begin to emerge toward the end of this first book, I got even more excited about the sequel.

This story took my breath away. I loved the fact it starts practically at Zeus's birth and I was able to learn about the Mar'Sani and everyone else as he did. There are a ton of revelations yet to come, and I cannot wait for the next installment. If you like well-written science fiction with a double dose of machinations on a galactic scale, if you enjoy stories where the aliens are truly alien, yet you are able to relate to them anyway, and if you're looking for a read that is likely to be impossible to put down, then you will probably like this novel as much as I did. I think it is brilliant!

 

 

 

 

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Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novel, 52000 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	08-August-2019
Price	$0.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Trine-Valespian-Pact-Book-ebook/dp/B07W8641F2