I am a life-long reader of science-fiction and fantasy and have just started reading romances. This book took me by surprise. After reading it, I went out and got her other books in the series (and any other book by her that I could find) and have to say that I loved the romance aspects of the books but was more than pleasantly surprised at the depth of expertise she showed with the science-fiction fantasy elements which carried through not one but three books. The plotting is very rich and subtle while being seamlessly interwoven. There are intricate layers to these books and they are expertly executed. The characters are no cardboard cut-outs, they have hidden angles and motives and, in my opinion, were masterfully drawn. This woman knows fantasy and science fiction and she postivelyknows her science. If you doubt it- just read a book by her called HIGH ENERGY. Her hero is not simply labeled a physicist, he IS a physicist. My friend's husband, who is a physicist, said that Tyber was right on the money. (By the way, this man also loved the Matrix books) I think Dara Joy is the first person to write true cross-over fiction and one of the best new voices to come out in years. I am anxious to see what she has in store for us as she goes on. Many of my friends who are avid science fiction readers, both male and female, have picked up her Matrix series and loved them. Now that is saying something!