Wednesday, 25 May 2016

REVIEW!! Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair


352724


Synopsis:
The universe isn’t what it used to be. With the new Alliance between the Triad and the United Coalition, Captain Tasha “Sass” Sebastian finds herself serving under her former nemesis, biocybe Admiral Branden Kel-Paten–and doing her best to hide a deadly past. But when an injured mercenary winds up in their ship’s sick bay–and in the hands of her best friend, Dr. Eden Fynn–Sass’s efforts may be wasted.

Wanted rebel Jace Serafino has information that could expose all of Sass’s secrets, tear the fragile Alliance apart–and end Sass’s career if Kel-Paten discovers them. But the biocybe has something to hide as well, something once thought impossible for his kind to possess: feelings . . . for Sass. Soon it’s clear that their prisoner could bring down everything they once believed was worth dying for–and everything they now have to live for.

Review:
I love Linnea Sinclair's books - all of them - but this is one of my very favorites.  It's one I have to keep getting new copies of because I keep giving mine away to friends, acquaintances, perfect strangers [well, not really PERFECT strangers].  But when you have a book you love you just want to share...

Our heroine is Tasha Sebastian who lives in interesting times.  She is currently the captain of a U-Cee huntership and a veteran of the recent war between the United Coalition and the Triad.  But before that she had other names and other lives...

Our hero is Admiral Branden Kel-Paten, brilliant strategist, military leader and a human who has been altered physically, mentally and most of all cybernetically.  He can interface directly with his ship and there are those who say "Tin Soldier" is more 'cybe than human.  But they're wrong...

As part of the treaty, 'mixed' ships are being established and Kel-Paten has specifically requested Tasha for his first officer.  Thus begin the games of command; why did he ask for her, what does he want? 

Enter a second plot starring the empathic best friend of Tasha, Doctor Eden Fynn, and Jace Serafino, renegade Nasyry priest, telepath, and all round rogue.  Kel-Paten would like to squeeze every drop of information out of Serafino personally. 

And then there are the furzels, Tank and Reilly.  They are rather cat-like in nature with some VERY special abilities.  Even more special than their humans, Tasha and Eden, know because they can identify the truly evil creatures which they simply call 'Bad Things'.  They know the Bad Things are watching their people and resolve to protect them...

Her world building is consistently outstanding and the world of Games of Command is no exception.  The poignancy of Kel-Paten's love and the utter wrongness of what was done to him grab your heart. Tight, page-turning plot, great characters [and her aliens are outstanding] and dialog that grabs you - it is a must read.

Associated short stories:

Seven Months of Forever from The Mammoth Book of Futuristic Romance

Mission: Nam Selan from Tales From the SFR Brigade

No comments:

Post a Comment