Review: Action-Packed With an Intriguing Premise
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 14, 2014
As a fan of sci-fi I was immediately caught up in this fast-paced story that laid intriguing groundwork for all future installments.  With its gripping action, sensual romance, and life or death circumstances that keep you on the edge of your seat I couldn't turn the pages fast enough as we raced towards a richly deserved HEA.As this story opens humans have become virtually extinct due to the Ko, an alien race who came to Earth to kill humans and send them scattering across the universe trying to stay hidden and live yet another day.  With humans having learned to disguise themselves as other alien races we're introduced to Lucy and Brody who have been a couple since he discovered her stowed away on the ship he was working on.  They're intensely devoted to each other but are scared to fully commit their bodies to each other as they don't want to bring a child into the chaos.  The Ko's threat has kept them from truly living as they do nothing but work and dream of a haven talked about in whispers.  Lucy's drawn to all things human, and on the day she buys a children's book life will never be the same again as she and Brody are now on the run from certain death.  Fate intervenes though to give them a chance at their deepest desires if they're brave enough, and lucky enough, to grasp it.Lucy and Brody are extremely strong-willed and immensely likable and would gladly sacrifice themselves to keep the other safe.  The love between them is obvious in their subtle touches along with every look and deed and it had me rooting for them every step of the way.  Brody is truly heroic in his constant care of Lucy with a deep seriousness to him that leaves you treasuring his rare smiles.  Lucy is sweet and tries to see the bright side of things but carries immense guilt as everyone who's protected her has died.  Their love is deeply profound and inspiring and kept me completely immersed in their outcome.  Ms. Nicholas has crafted an alien world full of colorful species where it's difficult to determine friend from foe.  The Ko's oppression leaves a underlying sense of rebellion in the air as the various races subtly banded together to save the protagonists and it gives hope to the future.  The action-packed scenes easily draw you in as your heart pounds praying for Lucy's and Brody's escape and ultimately introduces us to a ragtag space crew looking for humans to take to safety.  The leader, Captain Shay, is immensely appealing with his roguish charm and I hope to see more of him in future installments.  From start to finish this story keeps you fully immersed in a gritty world where being human means death.  From its pulse-pounding action sequences to sensual romance you can't help but be caught up in the outcome as the characters draw you in to their individual plights.  This story may be short in length but it's strong in its premise and execution and has me clamoring for more installments in anticipation of the rebellion and the rise of humanity once again!