Learning Fear

Jaguar Addams #3

by B.A. Chepaitis

On a prison planet, Jaguar Addams uses her empathic abilities to enter the minds of Earth's worst criminals--and forces them to face the fears that drive them to their most desperate acts. Now, someone is telepathically invading Jaguar's mind--and stirring up her own fears...

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

See also Barbara Chepaitis

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story quite a bit. The empathic capabilities we're unique and meaningful. The connection to Native American culture seemed to ground the main character and give her a depth that many of the other characters lacked. I found the setting, a university, to be very appealing as well. Overall the world, post-apocalypse in a way, was interesting and I'll be keeping an eye out for more of these books to understand a bit more of that back story.

The story seems to move very fast toward the end and that didn't quite match the pace of the rest of the book. There are hints of conflict, then a ton of it. I could have seen this being a longer book, as things felt a bit rushed at the end, thats all.

I really appreciated the classroom scene where they discuss how the isolation and blaming of the empaths are comparable to all of history's past examples of people blaming others. Point the finger rather than engage with your fears.

[Wendy Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaguar Addams is a teacher on Planetoid 12. Back in the day, mass murders were taking place. The prison system wasn't working, so the powers that be decided to go to space, planetoids, and built prison systems there with psychic treatment. It is their hope that eventually these criminals will be rehabilitated and sent back to planet earth. Jaguar's job is to get into the minds of these criminals.


But, due to some events in the first two books of this series (this is book three), the government thinks Jaguar has lost her marbles and sends her to New York State University to teach a course. When she gets there, though, someone tries to enter HER mind. She immediately takes action to reveal who the culprit is, and why. But what she doesn't realize until it's almost too late that by doing so, she puts her life in jeopardy.


B.A. Chepaitis is exceptionally gifted with science fiction urban fantasy writing. Her world-building is unique and very high-tech. I find myself immersed in her world and characters, not knowing what will happen next. I can't wait to get my hands on the next in this series!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

The secret bad guy was obvious, but I'd definately read more of this futuristic psi series.