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Dalí Tamareia #3
Third Front
Dalí Tamareia has the terrorist Skadi in their sights – but bringing her in may cost them everything.
Dalí’s role as an undercover operative is compromised, putting a target on their back and threatening the close-knit team aboard Thunder Child . A new lead on Miriam Skadi’s activities forces them back to Luna, where they must confront everything they tried to run from…including their changed relationship with Rion Sumner, who insists on backing up Dalí for this investigation.
But Dalí is not the only one searching for Skadi. An alien presence hunts the terrorist as well, taking over Sumner's body to ensure Dalí’s cooperation. With their team on the other side of the solar system Dalí must depend on this questionable ally to complete the mission, which takes a deadly turn when an old nemesis resurfaces.
If there is any chance for a future with Sumner and their chosen family, Dalí must exorcise the demons haunting them, or they will burn in the heart of a star.
Dalí’s role as an undercover operative is compromised, putting a target on their back and threatening the close-knit team aboard Thunder Child . A new lead on Miriam Skadi’s activities forces them back to Luna, where they must confront everything they tried to run from…including their changed relationship with Rion Sumner, who insists on backing up Dalí for this investigation.
But Dalí is not the only one searching for Skadi. An alien presence hunts the terrorist as well, taking over Sumner's body to ensure Dalí’s cooperation. With their team on the other side of the solar system Dalí must depend on this questionable ally to complete the mission, which takes a deadly turn when an old nemesis resurfaces.
If there is any chance for a future with Sumner and their chosen family, Dalí must exorcise the demons haunting them, or they will burn in the heart of a star.
- GenresLGBT
258 pages, Hardcover
Published October 18, 2022
53 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Hamill
11 books97 followersE.M. (Elisabeth) Hamill writes adult science fiction and fantasy somewhere in the wilds of eastern suburban Kansas. A nurse by day, wordsmith by night, she has sworn never to grow up and get boring.
Frequently under the influence of caffeinated beverages, she also writes as Elisabeth Hamill for young adult readers in fantasy with the award-winning Songmaker series.
She lives with her family, where they fend off flying monkey attacks and prep for the zombie apocalypse.
Frequently under the influence of caffeinated beverages, she also writes as Elisabeth Hamill for young adult readers in fantasy with the award-winning Songmaker series.
She lives with her family, where they fend off flying monkey attacks and prep for the zombie apocalypse.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 27, 2023
This was another great, well-written book and a great ending (or maybe not quite, since I think I saw something about possible novellas) to the series. I enjoyed all the same things that I did about the first two. Great world-building with interesting alien cultures, great realism, great characters. (You can read my review of Book 1 if you want my more in-depth thoughts about the series.)
As the series went on, it also developed a cute found family element.
And in this book, we got introduced to another interesting alien life form, a sort of sentient AI (with a bit of a twist), so that was fun.
And as I said in my first review, this was a series about space adventure and political negotiations, but also healing. I like Dali. I'm happy for them, finding some healing and peace in their life!
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2022 // Format: Ebook via TTS*
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in E.M. Hamill's The Dali Tamareia Missions series. Anyone who likes space adventure, politics, world-building full of alien species and cultures, nonbinary characters, emotional healing, stories that feel realistic, and found family.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
As the series went on, it also developed a cute found family element.
And in this book, we got introduced to another interesting alien life form, a sort of sentient AI (with a bit of a twist), so that was fun.
And as I said in my first review, this was a series about space adventure and political negotiations, but also healing. I like Dali. I'm happy for them, finding some healing and peace in their life!
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2022 // Format: Ebook via TTS*
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in E.M. Hamill's The Dali Tamareia Missions series. Anyone who likes space adventure, politics, world-building full of alien species and cultures, nonbinary characters, emotional healing, stories that feel realistic, and found family.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
August 31, 2025
It is not news to anybody that I adore the Dalí Tamareia series, and its third book cemented its place in my heart once more.
Where to begin?
There is so much I love about the Dalí Tamareia books I struggle with putting it into words.
But let's start with Dalí themselves. I adore them. I admire them, I want to be with them, I want to be them. Sure, they can be an ass, but their directness is as refreshing as their competence is compelling. Their skillfullness as as a diplomat and negotiator as well as their refusal to compromise about the dignity of any sentient life, no matter how alien, is unlike any other and fills me with so much hope, love and life.
And speaking of aliens: those are always a highlight for me in any book, but in this series in particular they have continuously exceeded expectations and utterly fascinated me. While Third Front mainly takes place in human territory, there are aliens, and they are glorious!
Among the aliens (and humans) are both new and familiar faces - some only new to the reader but not to Dalí. Similarly, new dynamics evolve and old ones develop, which I always love seeing. Similarly, I love the changes Dalí themself has gone through over the course of the series, and their growth and especially processing of their grief is most palpable in this one.
Plotwise the book also did the opposite of disappoint. It ties back to the very beginning of the series and both other books in multiple ways that were incredibly satisfying. But on its own it too keeps up with the high stakes and excitement that the previous books started up. And it certainly keeps the momentum going, because while one arc closes, there it much more for Dalí left to do!
Overall I loved the book, and I love the series as a whole. While the main trilogy seems to have come full circle, I have heard on the grapevine that there might be some more adventures forthcoming, albeit in short(er) form. I for one cannot get enough of Dalí in any shape or form, and I cannot recommend the books enough!
Also, can we talk about the new covers that the series got?! They are absolutely stunning! I especially love that we get to see a Shontavian. Will need to get copies for my shelves to show them off soon. Also, the first book is available in audio now! Can't wait to listen to it!
Content Notes include: violence and gore, murder, xenophobia, transphobia, trans excluding language, kidnapping, trafficking, sex on-page, cannibalism (kinda); Mentions of: death of spouses and children, child abuse, genocide.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Where to begin?
There is so much I love about the Dalí Tamareia books I struggle with putting it into words.
But let's start with Dalí themselves. I adore them. I admire them, I want to be with them, I want to be them. Sure, they can be an ass, but their directness is as refreshing as their competence is compelling. Their skillfullness as as a diplomat and negotiator as well as their refusal to compromise about the dignity of any sentient life, no matter how alien, is unlike any other and fills me with so much hope, love and life.
And speaking of aliens: those are always a highlight for me in any book, but in this series in particular they have continuously exceeded expectations and utterly fascinated me. While Third Front mainly takes place in human territory, there are aliens, and they are glorious!
Among the aliens (and humans) are both new and familiar faces - some only new to the reader but not to Dalí. Similarly, new dynamics evolve and old ones develop, which I always love seeing. Similarly, I love the changes Dalí themself has gone through over the course of the series, and their growth and especially processing of their grief is most palpable in this one.
Plotwise the book also did the opposite of disappoint. It ties back to the very beginning of the series and both other books in multiple ways that were incredibly satisfying. But on its own it too keeps up with the high stakes and excitement that the previous books started up. And it certainly keeps the momentum going, because while one arc closes, there it much more for Dalí left to do!
Overall I loved the book, and I love the series as a whole. While the main trilogy seems to have come full circle, I have heard on the grapevine that there might be some more adventures forthcoming, albeit in short(er) form. I for one cannot get enough of Dalí in any shape or form, and I cannot recommend the books enough!
Also, can we talk about the new covers that the series got?! They are absolutely stunning! I especially love that we get to see a Shontavian. Will need to get copies for my shelves to show them off soon. Also, the first book is available in audio now! Can't wait to listen to it!
Content Notes include: violence and gore, murder, xenophobia, transphobia, trans excluding language, kidnapping, trafficking, sex on-page, cannibalism (kinda); Mentions of: death of spouses and children, child abuse, genocide.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
October 19, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
The third and, alas, final book in the Dalí Tamereia Mission series, picks up some time after the second book ended. Dalí, Rion, and the rest of the Thunder Child’s crew have been assigned to Mars to help track down highly illegal and addictive drugs being smuggled into Sol Fed. While it’s good and necessary work, it’s also frustrating. In the past three years since terrorists caused the death of Dalí’s husband and wife, they find themselves no closer to an answer. Skadi, the person who is currently the most likely cause of all of their pain and grief, has slipped through every net cast out to catch her and remains at large. And they’re here, chasing down drug dealers, getting drunk and wasting time.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
The third and, alas, final book in the Dalí Tamereia Mission series, picks up some time after the second book ended. Dalí, Rion, and the rest of the Thunder Child’s crew have been assigned to Mars to help track down highly illegal and addictive drugs being smuggled into Sol Fed. While it’s good and necessary work, it’s also frustrating. In the past three years since terrorists caused the death of Dalí’s husband and wife, they find themselves no closer to an answer. Skadi, the person who is currently the most likely cause of all of their pain and grief, has slipped through every net cast out to catch her and remains at large. And they’re here, chasing down drug dealers, getting drunk and wasting time.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
November 6, 2022
The Third Front is the book three in the ”The Dalí Tamareia Missions” series. It’s the first book that I’ve read by EM Hamill, and technically I suppose I should’ve read the other two before this one. It’s not entirely necessary, though. Sure, there’s a lot of water under the bridge in terms of character development and storyline, but Hamill does an apt job of explaining it all on the fly as you read this one.
The book starts out in media res, throwing us in the deep end of an investigation on Mars. We soon follow the main characters to Luna. That’s where Sol Fed, Earth’s solar system-wide government, is located, as well as Dalí’s old home, where they once suffered an unspeakable tragedy. The Earth itself is basically uninhabitable after the terrible effects of war and climate change. But humankind is proved amazingly adept at surviving in other places.
The Third Front is set in a wide-ranging universe, and the story in some ways reminds me of The Expanse. In this case, though, Earth has made contact with a number of other alien races, and is in the process of negotiating trade deals and finding a place for humanity among the galactic order, even as some of those races meddle in human affairs.
Against this backdrop, the small population on Luna created a human evolutionary bottleneck, which allowed the rise of other human variants, including a third gender. These humans can present as male or female, and can also shift between the physical characteristics of the two. There are also other mutations too, including those that allow for things like empathy and telepathy.
I love Dalí Tamareia, the main character. They’re sarcastic, funny, deep, and deeply broken after a terrorist attack in one of the earlier books destroyed their family. They’re also more than passingly interested in their boss, Sumner, another human variant who has ability to mask his emotions from the empathetic Dalí, much to their ongoing frustration.
In The Third Front, one of Dalí ‘s associates dangles the possibility of finally catching the terrorist who killed their family in front of them. They might finally bring the killer to justice and find some closure. But there’s a whole lot more at stake here, from the personal – navigating their relationship with Summer – to the existential – dealing with an alien threat to the entire human race.
The book starts out a little slowly – partly, I’m sure, due to me having to play catch-up with the storyline. But it hits its stride once an alien artificial intelligence arrives on the scene, plays body snatcher, and throws everything into chaos, including Dalí ‘s connection with Summer.
While this book has some things in common with stories like The Expanse – small mercenary group flitting around the solar system and all that – it’s truly its own unique thing. The crew of the Thunder Child constitutes a found family, one of my favorite things, and I loved the interplay between these characters. Sumner, in particular, is a beautiful creation. There are also smaller characters, like Dev and Michael, a gay couple on Luna who run a hostel and are old friends of Dalí. They really shine here, and create a safe space and some downtime between action scenes.
I loved the story’s casual diversity, as when Sumner admits that he has some intimate experience with both male and female parts. And the AI character is well thought out and fascinating.
Hamill is also great with villains, providing a few of them here whose motives are complex, and who sometimes do the right thing when you are sure they’re going to do the wrong one.
I read this book in a matter of days – rare for me, what with a little reading time that I have. But I was eager to get back to it every time I put it down, dying to learn what would happen next. Hamill is a gifted writer, and I am thrilled to have finally read one of their books. If The Third Front is any indication, it would be well worth it to go back and read the first two.
There’s a rich playground out there still to be explored beyond this story, and I hope this is not the last of the books Hamill sets in this universe. If you’re looking for a great sci-fi adventure it’s a little different than what you may have read before – heck, if you’re just looking for a great sci-fi adventure period – pick this one up. Well worth the read.
The book starts out in media res, throwing us in the deep end of an investigation on Mars. We soon follow the main characters to Luna. That’s where Sol Fed, Earth’s solar system-wide government, is located, as well as Dalí’s old home, where they once suffered an unspeakable tragedy. The Earth itself is basically uninhabitable after the terrible effects of war and climate change. But humankind is proved amazingly adept at surviving in other places.
The Third Front is set in a wide-ranging universe, and the story in some ways reminds me of The Expanse. In this case, though, Earth has made contact with a number of other alien races, and is in the process of negotiating trade deals and finding a place for humanity among the galactic order, even as some of those races meddle in human affairs.
Against this backdrop, the small population on Luna created a human evolutionary bottleneck, which allowed the rise of other human variants, including a third gender. These humans can present as male or female, and can also shift between the physical characteristics of the two. There are also other mutations too, including those that allow for things like empathy and telepathy.
I love Dalí Tamareia, the main character. They’re sarcastic, funny, deep, and deeply broken after a terrorist attack in one of the earlier books destroyed their family. They’re also more than passingly interested in their boss, Sumner, another human variant who has ability to mask his emotions from the empathetic Dalí, much to their ongoing frustration.
In The Third Front, one of Dalí ‘s associates dangles the possibility of finally catching the terrorist who killed their family in front of them. They might finally bring the killer to justice and find some closure. But there’s a whole lot more at stake here, from the personal – navigating their relationship with Summer – to the existential – dealing with an alien threat to the entire human race.
The book starts out a little slowly – partly, I’m sure, due to me having to play catch-up with the storyline. But it hits its stride once an alien artificial intelligence arrives on the scene, plays body snatcher, and throws everything into chaos, including Dalí ‘s connection with Summer.
While this book has some things in common with stories like The Expanse – small mercenary group flitting around the solar system and all that – it’s truly its own unique thing. The crew of the Thunder Child constitutes a found family, one of my favorite things, and I loved the interplay between these characters. Sumner, in particular, is a beautiful creation. There are also smaller characters, like Dev and Michael, a gay couple on Luna who run a hostel and are old friends of Dalí. They really shine here, and create a safe space and some downtime between action scenes.
I loved the story’s casual diversity, as when Sumner admits that he has some intimate experience with both male and female parts. And the AI character is well thought out and fascinating.
Hamill is also great with villains, providing a few of them here whose motives are complex, and who sometimes do the right thing when you are sure they’re going to do the wrong one.
I read this book in a matter of days – rare for me, what with a little reading time that I have. But I was eager to get back to it every time I put it down, dying to learn what would happen next. Hamill is a gifted writer, and I am thrilled to have finally read one of their books. If The Third Front is any indication, it would be well worth it to go back and read the first two.
There’s a rich playground out there still to be explored beyond this story, and I hope this is not the last of the books Hamill sets in this universe. If you’re looking for a great sci-fi adventure it’s a little different than what you may have read before – heck, if you’re just looking for a great sci-fi adventure period – pick this one up. Well worth the read.
October 25, 2022
Brilliant sci fi adventure
The worst thing about this trilogy is that I finished it much too fast. I love Dali and his crew. The worldbuilding may have gotten darker, but we see there are people fighting to make the universe a better place. There's a little graphic sex, more graphic violence, a body count, and some evil getting its comeuppance. The non-humans are well-written and believable. The story is a thrilling read, and Dali is healing. I read Third Front in KU but will buy it to reread as soon as possible.
The worst thing about this trilogy is that I finished it much too fast. I love Dali and his crew. The worldbuilding may have gotten darker, but we see there are people fighting to make the universe a better place. There's a little graphic sex, more graphic violence, a body count, and some evil getting its comeuppance. The non-humans are well-written and believable. The story is a thrilling read, and Dali is healing. I read Third Front in KU but will buy it to reread as soon as possible.
March 10, 2024
The final book of the series, this one has Dalí and the team of the Penumbra trying to chase down the drug runners of the Pilean Cartel in Sol Fed. Things go sideways when Dalí is identified as a Penumbra agent by a Pilean, and Sumner is relieved of his command following the fuck up with Alecto Sim. Dalí gets a message from Kiran Singh about a possible connection to Miriam Skadi, but for that, they will have to go to Luna where Dalí's family was killed.
Dalí and Sumner go to Luna while the rest of the team arranges to extradite the Pliean assassin. In Luna, Dalí meets Mother England, the smuggler millionaire who is the money and face of The Third Front, the movement for Third Gender rights. Dalí reconnects with Dru who they rescued in the first book and who is now Mother England's PR person. Mother England has evidence against Skadi and a possible location where they will be but in return, they demand immunity.
When Dalí and Sumner reach the rendezvous, it is to find a dead Kiran Singh and not a moment later, Homeland Security Forces show up. As they investigate, they realise that this goes beyond Miriam Skadi and the Luna terminal bombing since Skadi has managed to smuggle a highly advanced AI into Sol Fed. However, there is another AI that is sentient and hell bent on finding the kidnapped ones who decides to jack Sumner's body for a ride.
This was another edge of the seats thriller with revelations and truths coming out that have cosmic implications. Dalí and Sumner get together (finally!) and the new AI Kitryd hitches a ride with Dalí as they run around trying to investigate without getting themselves killed. Alecto Sim makes a reappearance, and so does the Shontovians including Naru. Once again, Dalí has to try and save the day running against the clock and a broken ship that's literally heading to the sun.
It was a good conclusion to the series, but there are still questions remaining, and I hope that the series will continue, even if only in novellas.
If you love action packed sci fi with queer characters, alien civilisations and cultures, spaceships, and moral quandaries, you will love this book.
Dalí and Sumner go to Luna while the rest of the team arranges to extradite the Pliean assassin. In Luna, Dalí meets Mother England, the smuggler millionaire who is the money and face of The Third Front, the movement for Third Gender rights. Dalí reconnects with Dru who they rescued in the first book and who is now Mother England's PR person. Mother England has evidence against Skadi and a possible location where they will be but in return, they demand immunity.
When Dalí and Sumner reach the rendezvous, it is to find a dead Kiran Singh and not a moment later, Homeland Security Forces show up. As they investigate, they realise that this goes beyond Miriam Skadi and the Luna terminal bombing since Skadi has managed to smuggle a highly advanced AI into Sol Fed. However, there is another AI that is sentient and hell bent on finding the kidnapped ones who decides to jack Sumner's body for a ride.
This was another edge of the seats thriller with revelations and truths coming out that have cosmic implications. Dalí and Sumner get together (finally!) and the new AI Kitryd hitches a ride with Dalí as they run around trying to investigate without getting themselves killed. Alecto Sim makes a reappearance, and so does the Shontovians including Naru. Once again, Dalí has to try and save the day running against the clock and a broken ship that's literally heading to the sun.
It was a good conclusion to the series, but there are still questions remaining, and I hope that the series will continue, even if only in novellas.
If you love action packed sci fi with queer characters, alien civilisations and cultures, spaceships, and moral quandaries, you will love this book.
March 26, 2023
E.M. Hamill knows how to spin a tale and show you how to enjoy even the characters you hate! More mystery, more conniving antics, more relationship quandaries, more high stakes anticipation!
I wish there was more to this story. I can hope! In the meantime, I’ll dig up more works by this author.
I wish there was more to this story. I can hope! In the meantime, I’ll dig up more works by this author.
February 6, 2023
You can read my review here:
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2023/...
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2023/...
December 7, 2022
Another trilogy ending. While it came to a certain resolution, the book left too many questions. I understand there will be a stand alone Dali novella sometime in the future. I hope it will answer the many issues left unresolved. Yet, it was a good book with lots of action, a bit of romance and very satisfying closure for Dali.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews