Review: Good, but somewhat implausible and and incongruous
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 18, 2014
I would have given this 3.5 stars if I could. The characters are very likeable. I admired Sophilia's strength and facility with the bow, and I liked Eric's perceptiveness and patience with Sophi, and his heroism. And I adored their humorous banter. But there were some aspects that kept pulling me out of the story.Even though the Verdantians are descendants of earthlings, it seemed odd (to me) that their names and titles all sound Italian. Their speech swings from British styling (I kept expecting someone to say "Pip, pip, cheerio!") to American (especially the profanity). But I can't imagine why they would sometimes use medieval expressions ("sweetling," "To me, Captain!") in the year 4372.Sophi has been traumatized by her four years spent as a pleasure slave to a brutal alien race, the Haarb. It's perfectly understandable that she would be afraid of men, but not that she wouldn't know much about sex. (SPOILER) As they become intimate for the first time, Eric tells Sophi that she may ask him to do anything to her, and do anything to him. She responds that she wouldn't begin to know what to ask for. I found that hard to believe. And Eric deals with Sophi's trepidation surrounding sex by lying down with his hands behind his head, grinning and saying, "Touch me!" He smacks her on the butt and is, IMO, arrogant and overly casual for such a circumstance. I think it would have been more realistic if he'd been gentle, reassuring and seductive, taking things slowly and assuring her he'd stop if she wanted him to. He does take care not to overwhelm her and he is a very good man; I just think the initial approach was off somehow.Finally, I am sick to death of stories with unearned special powers, fated mates, and saving the people or the planet (or other problems) with sex. That said, the last quarter of the book is really fun and engaging and, by the end, I was very fond of Sophi and Eric.