The thrills of "Stargazer" continue in this first sequel! When "Stargazer" ended, hotshot pilot Reuben casually remarked that "he's a prince, too." More than that: he's also caught up in a deadly game of politics and interstellar drug trading. Has his luck run out when his ship is shot down?
Slave Tess and her son seem destined for a life of drudgery and sexual abuse, but find their lives at risk from the traders of a mysterious, hypnotic drug. Has Tess found an escape and true love when she rescues Reuben from his crashed starship, or a dreadful fate at the hands of the Circe?
If this book has a fault, it's that the story is less a romance than a science-fiction thriller. I was a bit turned off by Tess' role as a sex slave, and hoped for a bit more sensuality since Reuben really melted my butter in "Stargazer." The intrigue and action compensate,and hooked me for the rest of the series. The writer cleverly ties up enough loose ends to satisfy the reader on the last page while leaving the door ajar for more adventures. Hardcore fans of the genre will recognize elements of "Dune" and "Star Wars" as well as the influence of Marian Zimmer Bradley, Anne McCaffrey, and other classic female writers who truly defined sci-fi romance.
More books are on the way, and fans of this series can entertain themselves with this author's other series in the interim. Colby Hodge is actually Cindy Holby, creator of the "Chase the Wind" western series, and Kassy Tayler of "Obsessing Orlando", the Young Adult bestseller.
