Review: Inconsistent
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 02 22, 2013
I like science fiction romance - usually those heavy on the romance, but with a good science fiction world surrounding the characters. This book lacked in both areas. The plot as described in the teaser was appealing. However, the narrative jumped around a lot. I found myself re-reading or wondering if text got lost in the download. After a while, I assumed it was just the author's style, mixing stream of consciousness somewhat carelessly with dialogue or description. Copious one-sentence paragraphs that are the heroine's sarcastic or self-flagulating internal observations infiltrate the narrative.Characters: Alana is the heroine. She is supposed to be a captain in the military, used to command and combat. She came off as whiny and self-centered. Her stream of consciousness tends heavily toward the guilt category. She meets the hero and takes pleasure in him, but then is guilty over her need to "protect" her charges. We also hear guilt over how she feels about Tarak, her past boyfriend and a significant event there, her family, leaving Earth, her actions when her attempts at heroism don't work out, and on and on it goes. She also came off as incredibly incompetent and rash, showing bravado at odd times and places and not being mature enough to keep her mouth shut when she should. There was virtually no assessment of situations, which constantly got her into trouble. I expected more from a military leader in her 30s.Tarak is the hero. He was a little easier to take because his actions related better to his prototype character. Stoic, uncommunicative, strong fighter, handsome, virile, blah blah blah. It would have been nice to see some originality in the character. At no time did his actions or statements surprise me. He was completely predictable.I think what disappointed me the most was the lack of growing trust between Alana and Tarak. A good romance will take the characters to a place of personal discomfort and discovery. These two responded to each other with the same mistrust and arrogance 10 pages from the end of the book as they did the first time they met. Romance should be a journey.The Darkon World: There are a few primary settings as the plot develops. I found the descriptions uneven. The description of Isla was terrifying and well done. The Ark was an interesting spaceship although lighter on original sci-fi innovation than I would have hoped. Other locales in the story were deserving of more description and some sidetrips felt so superfluous to the plot that I'm still not sure why they were there other than to add page length.If you are interested in science fiction romance where declining races of men are seeking alien women for the species to survive, take a look at Janet Miller's Gaian series. Start with Promises to Keep. Or try Monette Michaels' Prime Obsession.