Review: Intriguing Storyline With Engaging Characters
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 9, 2014
As a fan of the sci-fi genre I've read and watched numerous additions to the genre and my favorites blend vivid world-building with strong characterizations that make you think and take you away from it all for awhile.  Ladder to the Red Star succeeds on that level, though it's a complicated read at times trying to keep all the various factions and their agendas straight.  At its heart though it's a story about a boy and girl from two very different worlds trying to find love despite the machinations of others in keeping them apart.  Their pasts also get in the way and add an extra layer of drama to their already uncertain future.Earth is still a mess as this story opens and the Martian invasion offers the only chance of survival though the offer is only for select groups.  For those deemed unworthy they have to use their wits to get what they need.  Jacques is in dire need of medical intervention to save him and his mother.  She has cancer and the experimentation done to him as a child is creating increasingly serious problems leaving his future in doubt and a body that feels nothing physically and that makes him feel less than human.  His emotions aren't in doubt though as they're intense and show a man committed to his plan, a fiercely loyal man who also happens to be super sexy.  His plan to sneak on to the space station Zenith doesn't go quite as planned as the doctor with the knowledge to help him intrigues him, but she needs saving herself which leads to an edge of your seat escape that doesn't end there.  Jacques must decide if his needs are more important than the unexpected attraction he feels towards Devi and if he can gain her forgiveness before the villain finds them.Devi is a talented Martian doctor dedicated to her work.  She doesn't have time for romance but feels alone which is why she came to the Zenith space station...she's come to find her father.  Her plan goes completely awry once a sexy man full of secrets kidnaps her.  Though this leads to plenty of danger and uncertainty, it also saves her from the nefarious and twisted plans her father's business partner seeks to unfurl on her.  This man won't let her go without a fight and puts her and Jacques' future in doubt.  With danger from every side she only has Jacques to count on which allows their relationship to evolve slowly during their time together.This is a fast-paced story at times though it was a bit slow at the start.  The damage Earth is going through is vividly depicted and gives credence to its inhabitant's desperation.  The space station and beyond seems like a haven but the hidden costs to get there may be too high.  There's a lot of political conflict and one man's obsession with world dominance to further put the main couple's, and humanity's, future in doubt.  Amongst all the chaos is a sweet and sexy romance that is given time to flourish.  The main couple are immensely likable with emotional baggage that bonds them and they are the heart of this story.  The action scenes keep you on the edge of your seat with their lives constantly in jeopardy and it's easy to become immersed in the story because of this.  Though this book can be read on its own the overall storyline will be richer after reading the first installment of this series.