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The Targon Tales #2
Only Human
Captain Nova Whiteside is assigned to the elite Vanguard task force assembled to combat an increasingly dangerous rebel force. Her no-nonsense new commander is of an enigmatic and reclusive species that soon figures most decisively in the balance of power.
Their pursuit of a ruthless rebel leader takes them through the worlds and dangers of the Commonwealth-dominated Targon sector where the line between their personal lives and their mission quickly begins to blur.
On their quest to recover a dangerous, living weapon in rebel hands it seems that the greatest opposition comes from among their own people and Nova must choose between duty to her command and loyalty to her friends.
Their pursuit of a ruthless rebel leader takes them through the worlds and dangers of the Commonwealth-dominated Targon sector where the line between their personal lives and their mission quickly begins to blur.
On their quest to recover a dangerous, living weapon in rebel hands it seems that the greatest opposition comes from among their own people and Nova must choose between duty to her command and loyalty to her friends.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2012
About the author
Chris Reher
25 books110 followersChris Reher writes character-driven space opera set on the turbulent frontier of the Targon system—where pilots, spies, and rebels navigate loyalty, power, and relationships that are rarely simple.
Her work blends action, moral gray zones, and a healthy disregard for the laws of physics (which, to be fair, had it coming). The Targon Tales follow Nova Whiteside, a pilot whose inconvenient humanity keeps interfering with military protocol, along with a cast of allies and adversaries who rarely stay in neat categories. A spin-off series features Sethran Kada, a man of questionable loyalties and with friends in low places.
Chris has been writing science fiction for over a decade and is currently working on new projects, continuing to explore the edges of the Targon universe—and occasionally beyond it.
When not inventing new ways to complicate her characters’ lives, she can be found avoiding Canadian winters, hiking Ontario trails, or looking up at the night sky, hoping for a convenient wormhole to appear.
Her work blends action, moral gray zones, and a healthy disregard for the laws of physics (which, to be fair, had it coming). The Targon Tales follow Nova Whiteside, a pilot whose inconvenient humanity keeps interfering with military protocol, along with a cast of allies and adversaries who rarely stay in neat categories. A spin-off series features Sethran Kada, a man of questionable loyalties and with friends in low places.
Chris has been writing science fiction for over a decade and is currently working on new projects, continuing to explore the edges of the Targon universe—and occasionally beyond it.
When not inventing new ways to complicate her characters’ lives, she can be found avoiding Canadian winters, hiking Ontario trails, or looking up at the night sky, hoping for a convenient wormhole to appear.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
November 5, 2012
This is a fully developed story with different species, cultures, planets, organizations and opponents to said organizations, etc. What I liked most about this book was the character growth - some characters grow in more obvious ways (letting someone in to their heart/life) while others (main character Nova) starts questioning everything her life has been built on.
The setting changes throughout the book, but each is described well. You meet a lot of characters, so it is a little hard to remember who's who and how they're related to each other (and where they come from, and why they're important). There's also quite a bit of military talk (I have no idea which rank is higher than others), but it was all fairly understandable and easy to figure out (thank you internet).
My only hesitation about this book is that the romance wasn't as emotionally important as I thought it should be. Otherwise this book is a fantastic read and I definitely recommend it! Looking forward to where the author takes this next, as it seems to be unfinished.
The setting changes throughout the book, but each is described well. You meet a lot of characters, so it is a little hard to remember who's who and how they're related to each other (and where they come from, and why they're important). There's also quite a bit of military talk (I have no idea which rank is higher than others), but it was all fairly understandable and easy to figure out (thank you internet).
My only hesitation about this book is that the romance wasn't as emotionally important as I thought it should be. Otherwise this book is a fantastic read and I definitely recommend it! Looking forward to where the author takes this next, as it seems to be unfinished.
October 18, 2012
I'm in love. There I said it.
The characters in this book are awesome. I think I like every one of them including some of the bad guys. You really get to care about them and I want Tychon (sp?) as my boyfriend.
The story moves quickly and includes lots of action. The main characters need to figure out how to track down a bunch of rebels to save the day. What makes this complicated is that they get so personally involved and just following orders just doesn't work so well any more. I hope there is going to be another book or a series.
The characters in this book are awesome. I think I like every one of them including some of the bad guys. You really get to care about them and I want Tychon (sp?) as my boyfriend.
The story moves quickly and includes lots of action. The main characters need to figure out how to track down a bunch of rebels to save the day. What makes this complicated is that they get so personally involved and just following orders just doesn't work so well any more. I hope there is going to be another book or a series.
February 23, 2013
Entertaining read, interesting characters and a decently developed world setting. Story line was quite well written but seemed to have some difficulty deciding whether it was a sci-fi/romance or space opera/adventure. Two strong main characters from two species not overly fond of each other should have been a good format. Unfortunately, it felt as if the romance between them developed so quickly they did not seem to be identified as two very separate individuals but only as part of a 'couple'.
Fun read but on the light side of things.
Fun read but on the light side of things.
January 29, 2013
ONLY HUMAN was an incredibly pleasant surprise, in part because sci-fi isn't my genre of choice. However, this book has everything that I love: wonderfully fleshed out, three-dimensional characters; amazing world-building; a life or death, end-of-the-world type conflict; and a romance subplot that gave me all the feels. Chris Reher should be incredibly proud of this novel. It is one that I know I will return to in the future.
November 30, 2012
The greatest thing about this novel is the fact the world is already fully developed...planets, races, etc. Sooooooo hopefully the Author will run with her AWESOME characters and write, write, write, RIGHT?
Awesome book! Can't wait for the sequels!!! Love, love, love.
Awesome book! Can't wait for the sequels!!! Love, love, love.
November 5, 2012
I liked it very much! Great belnd of SF and romance! Great heroine!
I really hope the autor writes the second book! I would love to know what happens next with everybody!
I really hope the autor writes the second book! I would love to know what happens next with everybody!
November 20, 2012
This was great! Don't let the cover fool you, this is not cheesy. Aliens, fun mental powers, space hijinks!
March 17, 2023
So far my, completely subjective ranking: book 2 > book 0 > book 1.
I really enjoyed this one, especially the ending, which was simply satisfying. At first, I thought that the overall plot was a little too big for me. I usually prefer smaller scale conflicts before galactic ones. But in the end, I really liked not only the ending but whole story.
Anyway, I hope there will be a new permanent crew member in the next book!
I really enjoyed this one, especially the ending, which was simply satisfying. At first, I thought that the overall plot was a little too big for me. I usually prefer smaller scale conflicts before galactic ones. But in the end, I really liked not only the ending but whole story.
Anyway, I hope there will be a new permanent crew member in the next book!
April 20, 2026
Weaker than the previous installments, and the writing is... I wouldn't say sloppier, but somehow less inspired.
That's in addition to the other issues plaguing the series from the beginning - lots of telling, abrupt and random POV fluctuations, and poor editing.
I am also not at all convinced by the sudden explosion of the love story (which is kinda pivotal, right?).
That's in addition to the other issues plaguing the series from the beginning - lots of telling, abrupt and random POV fluctuations, and poor editing.
I am also not at all convinced by the sudden explosion of the love story (which is kinda pivotal, right?).
December 31, 2017
The continuing story of Nova Whiteside was a joy to read. Though I expected her to team up once again with former lover Seth, her interaction with her Delphian Vanguard commander, Tychon, took her story into a new direction.
January 25, 2018
Sci-fi romance, getting too far into mind mage territory for my liking. Why do so many authors feel the need to introduce telepathy?
July 17, 2018
Plenty of action, some twists and turns and unexpected developments. Entertaining dialog and most of all characters I cared about.
January 1, 2024
Enjoyed.
Did Not Finish
September 10, 2026I just found I was not interested in listening to this second volume, although I liked the ebook of the first one. It's been awhile, so maybe I just have changed or needed the print version.
December 20, 2012
ONLY HUMAN is an intriguing space opera set in a galaxy of human-like aliens collaborating together as a Union of planets and sentient creatures. Humans, including Nova, interact regularly with the violent Rhuwacs and the thoughtful Delphians. If you're a Star Trek fan, think Klingons and Vulcans; if you're more a Middle Earth type, think trolls and elves. (The Delphians go for blue hair instead of pointy ears, though.) There are others alien races as well, but if you're looking for slime, tentacles, or eleven eyes, you'll be disappointed. Everybody looks very human-like.
A rebellion is brewing, and Nova (red-haired Human) and Tychon (blue-haired Delphian) are assigned to work together using a special Eagle-class ship to monitor rebel activities. During some downtime, Nova learns that Tychon is a widower with a young son named Kiran, whom he adores. While a budding romance develops between Nova and Tychon, the rebels learn that a weapon mass destruction, long considered a Delphian myth, is a reality and has been primed. The weapon is called the Tughan Wai, and the rebels make plans to seize and use the weapon through betrayal and kidnapping.
Nova and Tychon become personally involved in the search for the location where the rebels have hidden the Tughan Wai, and as the story evolves, must make incredibly difficult and painful choices as they locate the hiding spot and understand the true nature - on multiple levels - of this weapon.
I found ONLY HUMAN to be a smooth and easy read and recommend it highly. Looking forward to reading more.
A rebellion is brewing, and Nova (red-haired Human) and Tychon (blue-haired Delphian) are assigned to work together using a special Eagle-class ship to monitor rebel activities. During some downtime, Nova learns that Tychon is a widower with a young son named Kiran, whom he adores. While a budding romance develops between Nova and Tychon, the rebels learn that a weapon mass destruction, long considered a Delphian myth, is a reality and has been primed. The weapon is called the Tughan Wai, and the rebels make plans to seize and use the weapon through betrayal and kidnapping.
Nova and Tychon become personally involved in the search for the location where the rebels have hidden the Tughan Wai, and as the story evolves, must make incredibly difficult and painful choices as they locate the hiding spot and understand the true nature - on multiple levels - of this weapon.
I found ONLY HUMAN to be a smooth and easy read and recommend it highly. Looking forward to reading more.
September 3, 2014
A pretty good sci fi novel that's a bit like reading an episode of Star Trek, including a race with developed mental abilities and a super-advanced threat. Good characters, but the villain felt like Jabba the Hutt (a big crazy-evil alien that liked to sit on throne-ish seats and lord it over his underlings). At least the cool, collected aliens never came across as Vulcans (too emotional).
[SPOILER ALERT]
And when one of the characters began developing into something beyond humanoid (a la The Motionless Picture), it was kind of a step too far for my believability. It was well done, but it just didn't reach me.
[END SPOILER ALERT]
The ending was good and even surprised me, which is really hard to do. And I like the characters. Author Chris Reher writes hard-hitting sci fi with real people, and her universe is thoroughly built. We'll call this one 3.5 stars, but I'll be back for more.
[SPOILER ALERT]
And when one of the characters began developing into something beyond humanoid (a la The Motionless Picture), it was kind of a step too far for my believability. It was well done, but it just didn't reach me.
[END SPOILER ALERT]
The ending was good and even surprised me, which is really hard to do. And I like the characters. Author Chris Reher writes hard-hitting sci fi with real people, and her universe is thoroughly built. We'll call this one 3.5 stars, but I'll be back for more.
February 11, 2013
I picked this up for free as a bookbub offer a couple weeks ago. It took me longer than it normally would to get through it in part because it just wasn't a totally compelling read. I didn't seek out time to read it, but only occasionally remembered it on my commute to school or while eating lunch. The writing was alright, although some of the switches in narrator seemed a little disjointed at times. For that matter, the story was alright too. It just didn't grab me by the collar and demand to be read the way a really good book can. I would certainly give the author another chance, I think she has a good eye for humor and a gifted imagination. This one just didn't make that great an impression.
December 7, 2013
When I saw the cover on BookBub, it intrigued me and I hadn't read a really good sci-fi space novel in years, so I took a chance. Despite being the third book in the series, it definitely reads like a stand-alone story, no background knowledge required. Set in the distant Targon sector where humans have joined with other sentient races to form a Commonwealth, the story follows military brat and ace pilot Captain Nova Whiteside as she attempts to bring down an enemy rebellion, foil a royal kidnapping, and stop the destruction of everything at the hands of a little boy turned demigod by an insane rebel leader and a group of radical religious nuts. I can't wait to read the remaining 4 books in the series. My only dilemma is do I start at the beginning of the series or continue onto book 4.
December 19, 2013
This is the second book I've read in Chris Reher's Targon Tales, and I enjoyed it. The plot was well developed and included an interesting and very dangerous threat. The protagonist in this series, Nova Whiteside, develops a close relationship with a different, but human-like, Delphian. All of the characters are human or somewhat human, and there is a thought that the human species developed from them even though they live light years away. The Targon Tales is actually five successive books, but each one can be read separately. At some point I'm looking forward to reading the remaining books in this series.
October 18, 2012
Just plain fun to read.
This is not a genre I normally read and I was worried that I would be traipsing into some big interplanetary romance. but I enjoyed Chris' other book so I downloaded this one too
I'm glad I did. This is crisp writing that paces the story along without sacrificing character or plot development. If you are looking for vast tracts of descriptives, this isn't it. The author gives just enough detail to set the reader's mind in motion to envision the worlds traveled in this story.
There are hints of further stories set in these worlds and I'll be sure to grab those, too.
This is not a genre I normally read and I was worried that I would be traipsing into some big interplanetary romance. but I enjoyed Chris' other book so I downloaded this one too
I'm glad I did. This is crisp writing that paces the story along without sacrificing character or plot development. If you are looking for vast tracts of descriptives, this isn't it. The author gives just enough detail to set the reader's mind in motion to envision the worlds traveled in this story.
There are hints of further stories set in these worlds and I'll be sure to grab those, too.
September 1, 2013
I received this book for free in exchange for providing an honest review.
A little science fiction, a little espionage, a double agent, a corrupt officer, and a little love story combine to make Catalyst a very interesting read. The author keeps the suspense building throughout the story, provides characters that are easy to hate, others that are easy to love, others that are just plain evil and others that are very likeable. This is a book I will read again and as it is the first book in a series Nova is a character I will follow in subsequent books.
A little science fiction, a little espionage, a double agent, a corrupt officer, and a little love story combine to make Catalyst a very interesting read. The author keeps the suspense building throughout the story, provides characters that are easy to hate, others that are easy to love, others that are just plain evil and others that are very likeable. This is a book I will read again and as it is the first book in a series Nova is a character I will follow in subsequent books.
April 24, 2014
I started the series here and went forward. I never did read first two books. This was a fun read it in the waiting room kind of book. I could pick it up and out it down without losing my sense for the details. That being said- I read a few chapters over the course of a couple days and hit a good spot and states up supa late that might to finish the book in one go. I will probably go read earlier books in series, but the end book was really good and I don't really feel the need for more details minus the blue yum yum.
August 27, 2022
Few more characters here to get you mind around and a good time to get them introduced too. A welcomed edition and saved the series. The ways that the characters evolve throughout in this book from start to finish was the main like of mine here. Some growing to show love and compassion and others questioning all they thought true.
I thought this could turn into a Sci-Fi Romeo and Juliet but this was not the case. The only downside I had of this blossoming romance is that it was not as important to the story as maybe it could have been.
I thought this could turn into a Sci-Fi Romeo and Juliet but this was not the case. The only downside I had of this blossoming romance is that it was not as important to the story as maybe it could have been.
February 2, 2013
I really loved this book it is very inspirational regarding the other humanoids in the space...their outlook. I loved the characters and the style of writing. it seems there osjecas a book written before this one...I'll try to grab it and read it but I think they are not story bounded so you can read either (except for the main character Nova)...it's a mix of sci-fi and a little dose of romance between to different species...loved it....recommend it :-)
January 9, 2015
This has been a fun series to read so far. I really like the main character and how she holds steadfast to her beliefs even though she has figured out that the world around her is a lot less black and white than she once thought. She seems to fall into adventure quite easily but I also felt in this story that she got out of things a little too easily as well. I look forward to reading the next book and seeing where the story goes.
November 15, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this book enough to consider reading it again in the future, which is a rarity for me. The characters are very well developed and so is the universe in which they live. This book has something for everyone - great fighting scenes, space-politics, sci-fi tech, romance and a unique storyline.
May 2, 2013
I like the view of the different non-humans in this story. What I like best is that some of the "bad guys" are intersting and memorable.
This isn't a maudly space romance although the main characters are involved and that's a good thing. I like the feisty main character and she seems too no-nonsense to get bogged down with mooning over her guy.
Lots of action and humor too.
This isn't a maudly space romance although the main characters are involved and that's a good thing. I like the feisty main character and she seems too no-nonsense to get bogged down with mooning over her guy.
Lots of action and humor too.
June 1, 2013
I thought this might be a good SciFi novel with a female lead. The first chapter delivered, but not much further on, it degenerated into pages of description of how many were captivated by the heroine's sexiness at a party. Wish it had been less chic lit and more SciFi. Didn't finish it as chic lit is not a genre I enjoy.
June 5, 2013
I found this a fast paced story that felt kind of like reading an episode of Star Trek. The various sentient beings in a battle between the Union and rebels, with a weapon of mass destruction as a prize is the back drop for the main characters, sort of special forces members, who I found enjoyable to root for. Fun summer read! Another for my brain candy category.
November 26, 2012
This is great space opera. It is as good as some Star Trek books I have read. The characters are well developed and I like them. The action and plot are compelling. It is high adventure in outer space. Based on this book I plan on reading the rest in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews