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Fragile Bond
Sniper Sergeant Marc Staille and his trusty rifle, Mat, are on bodyguard duty at a mining operation on a backwater planet. The resource-rich valley is crawling with tawnies, the native dirt-colored predators. Huge things that hunt in packs and kill as well with tooth and claw as Marc ever has with Mat.
The rules change when a tawny uses an unexpected weapon: pheromones.
Commander Hamm Orsonna, leader of the fefa clan, is determined to chase off the invading aliens. The one he sets out to capture for intel is scrawny and hairless, not very intimidating—until it takes out his entire squad. Seasoned warriors, felled from halfway down the valley by its metal death stick.
Their sacrifice may be worth it, though. The alien male smells like he’s interested in making things right. He smells of other things too, but nobody else seems to notice. Before long, Hamm finds himself fighting off his own kind to defend the alien, who might be his people’s only hope for peace, and Hamm’s only chance for happiness.
The rules change when a tawny uses an unexpected weapon: pheromones.
Commander Hamm Orsonna, leader of the fefa clan, is determined to chase off the invading aliens. The one he sets out to capture for intel is scrawny and hairless, not very intimidating—until it takes out his entire squad. Seasoned warriors, felled from halfway down the valley by its metal death stick.
Their sacrifice may be worth it, though. The alien male smells like he’s interested in making things right. He smells of other things too, but nobody else seems to notice. Before long, Hamm finds himself fighting off his own kind to defend the alien, who might be his people’s only hope for peace, and Hamm’s only chance for happiness.
175 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 16, 2013
6 people are currently reading
330 people want to read
About the author
Rhi Etzweiler
6 books77 followersRhi is an avid reader and writer of all things speculative fiction. If it's got an otherworldly aspect, they've probably heard of it, read it, reviewed it, and fell in love with one of the characters.
"I love the stuff with a dark edge. Not those cheesy BDSM scenes," Rhi clarifies, "but psycho-thrillers that f*ck with your head. It's like that video of Pyro with a bubble gun. Or Charlie visiting Candy Mountain. Hannibal frying up some guy's frontal lobe and serving it to him. Or, ya know, Deadpool. Yeah, he's my hero."
"I love the stuff with a dark edge. Not those cheesy BDSM scenes," Rhi clarifies, "but psycho-thrillers that f*ck with your head. It's like that video of Pyro with a bubble gun. Or Charlie visiting Candy Mountain. Hannibal frying up some guy's frontal lobe and serving it to him. Or, ya know, Deadpool. Yeah, he's my hero."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
February 16, 2013
Umm . . . not my book? Seemed messy, and as if it was trying to fashion a deep, intricately nuanced political plot where none existed. The sex (or rather, the lack of it) was vastly disappointing. I wanted smut: that's why I read the genre. Without sex, and with a story I was barely interested in, the book bored me. YMMV.
EDIT: In the comments Kate described her experience with this author's other books as "feel[ing] intensely claustrophobic with limited side characters and the main guys are always acting on limited information so I get frustrated and bored." Describing this book as having a sense of claustrophobia hits the nail on the head for me. I had a definite feeling of being hemmed in and restrained by the story. Not fun.
EDIT: In the comments Kate described her experience with this author's other books as "feel[ing] intensely claustrophobic with limited side characters and the main guys are always acting on limited information so I get frustrated and bored." Describing this book as having a sense of claustrophobia hits the nail on the head for me. I had a definite feeling of being hemmed in and restrained by the story. Not fun.
January 19, 2013
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.co...
Brilliant isn't nearly strong enough a word to describe this book.
Human race travels space in search of inhabited planets that will provide resources for their survival. Caught up in a difficult position, with their resources dropping low fast, they reach planet Horace Deuce-Niner. A superficial glance of the terrain shows no sign of any intelligent species on the planet and the scouts are dropped in order to provide safe path for the battalion and the scientists that would take the much needed resources. Things however are not always like they seem.
Sniper Sergeant Marc Staille is good in one thing and one thing only. Along with his trusted rifle he’s an excellent hunter. The scary predators that live on this planet never had a chance against him and his trusted “Mat”. One by one they fell under his scope. Until one of them managed to locate and approach him in total silence. The only indication that something was wrong was the rich scent of soil that had Marc in complete surrender. Under the influence of the scent Marc manages to understand that that is in fact pheromones, huge amounts that are deliberately thrown his way. As if the sharp claws and fangs the beasts had was not enough, he was reduced to mush by a vicious wave of arousal. As much as it didn’t made sense that their pheromones would be compatible, truth was they were, but what had Marc paling and going completely limp was the fact that the tawny predators were sapient indigenes. The horrible truth hitting him like a sledgehammer that he was “murdering” intelligent beings.
Commander Hamm Orsonna is beyond rage when he finally manages to capture the scrawny alien. Who would have thought that this little vulnerable being would succeed in taking out his entire squad? He should be killing him in sight if there wasn’t valuable intel he needed to extract from the alien. As it was, it took him by surprise when the need to dominate him emerged and the air around reeked of pheromones. What was even more shocking was the fact that the little alien responded and exuded his own very potent scent, a scent that hit him like a drug making it almost impossible to resist.
In the process of gaining intel and reaching a way toward peace hamm and Marc find themselves in the middle of the strangest things of all. The forming of a bond where there should be none. A bond that could forever forge peace or doom them all.
There is no easy way to express myself as to how this story will truly affect you. It had a strong impact on me. I loved, I adored every aspect of it. The way the author wrote this book is simply brilliant. The focus on the natural instinct of each species, the aggressiveness, the attraction and the forging of the Human/Furr bond was simply perfect. You don’t simply read this book, you experience it as if you were in this strange planet, side by side with these strange creatures.
This story is not a romance in the stereotypical sense of it. It’s a beautiful combination of war, survival, grief, evolution and well… love. Never mind the word “love” is not mentioned. It didn’t need to and that’s the sheer beauty of it. Emotions are so palpable that words are not needed.
It’s one of those books you wish made it to Hollywood and on the big screens just so you could see it in 3-D, hoping what you’ve “seen” in your head while reading it will match the screen.
Bottom end, if you have even the slight inclination toward the sci-fi genre you will absolutely LOVE this book.
Highly recommended.
Thommie!
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.co...
Brilliant isn't nearly strong enough a word to describe this book.
Human race travels space in search of inhabited planets that will provide resources for their survival. Caught up in a difficult position, with their resources dropping low fast, they reach planet Horace Deuce-Niner. A superficial glance of the terrain shows no sign of any intelligent species on the planet and the scouts are dropped in order to provide safe path for the battalion and the scientists that would take the much needed resources. Things however are not always like they seem.
Sniper Sergeant Marc Staille is good in one thing and one thing only. Along with his trusted rifle he’s an excellent hunter. The scary predators that live on this planet never had a chance against him and his trusted “Mat”. One by one they fell under his scope. Until one of them managed to locate and approach him in total silence. The only indication that something was wrong was the rich scent of soil that had Marc in complete surrender. Under the influence of the scent Marc manages to understand that that is in fact pheromones, huge amounts that are deliberately thrown his way. As if the sharp claws and fangs the beasts had was not enough, he was reduced to mush by a vicious wave of arousal. As much as it didn’t made sense that their pheromones would be compatible, truth was they were, but what had Marc paling and going completely limp was the fact that the tawny predators were sapient indigenes. The horrible truth hitting him like a sledgehammer that he was “murdering” intelligent beings.
Commander Hamm Orsonna is beyond rage when he finally manages to capture the scrawny alien. Who would have thought that this little vulnerable being would succeed in taking out his entire squad? He should be killing him in sight if there wasn’t valuable intel he needed to extract from the alien. As it was, it took him by surprise when the need to dominate him emerged and the air around reeked of pheromones. What was even more shocking was the fact that the little alien responded and exuded his own very potent scent, a scent that hit him like a drug making it almost impossible to resist.
In the process of gaining intel and reaching a way toward peace hamm and Marc find themselves in the middle of the strangest things of all. The forming of a bond where there should be none. A bond that could forever forge peace or doom them all.
There is no easy way to express myself as to how this story will truly affect you. It had a strong impact on me. I loved, I adored every aspect of it. The way the author wrote this book is simply brilliant. The focus on the natural instinct of each species, the aggressiveness, the attraction and the forging of the Human/Furr bond was simply perfect. You don’t simply read this book, you experience it as if you were in this strange planet, side by side with these strange creatures.
This story is not a romance in the stereotypical sense of it. It’s a beautiful combination of war, survival, grief, evolution and well… love. Never mind the word “love” is not mentioned. It didn’t need to and that’s the sheer beauty of it. Emotions are so palpable that words are not needed.
It’s one of those books you wish made it to Hollywood and on the big screens just so you could see it in 3-D, hoping what you’ve “seen” in your head while reading it will match the screen.
Bottom end, if you have even the slight inclination toward the sci-fi genre you will absolutely LOVE this book.
Highly recommended.
Thommie!
June 2, 2025
3.5 happy juice stars
Ha, this was really fun SciFi porn with plot vibes, with a classic storyline, some cheesy lines, and feline natives. Complete with a mane, purring, growling, making biscuits on the human, and insta-pheromone horniness.
Sometimes I just want something for pure entertainment, fully fleshed out plot be damned.
“You turning the happy juice off any time soon?”
Never turn off the happy juice.
Longer RTC.
On Kobo+ and Smashwords! 🐾
Ha, this was really fun SciFi porn with plot vibes, with a classic storyline, some cheesy lines, and feline natives. Complete with a mane, purring, growling, making biscuits on the human, and insta-pheromone horniness.
Sometimes I just want something for pure entertainment, fully fleshed out plot be damned.
“You turning the happy juice off any time soon?”
Never turn off the happy juice.
Longer RTC.
On Kobo+ and Smashwords! 🐾
February 14, 2013
This review can be found at The Armchair Reader.
On an unknown planet, Sergeant Marc Staille is on a mission to clear a valley of deadly mindless predators so a battalion can set up shop and strip the planet of a valuable resource. Unfortunately, Commander Hamm Orsonna, one of the predators, captures Marc before he can escape. Except, Marc’s not just overpowered by the Commander, he’s pretty much incapacitated by the shear amount of pheromones the Commander unintentionally uses on him. What neither of them expected was the bond those pheromones created between them and how that affects their loyalty to their own people. The Commander just wants Marc to stay, even if he does cause a lot of problems, but Marc is more confused than ever especially when he realizes he wasn’t killing some random predators but a strange, slightly civilized intelligent feline race.
I really enjoyed this book for a variety of reasons. While I wouldn’t consider it technically romance, I loved the pheromones that shaped the bond between Marc and Hamm. I found it amusing but also sweet in how it could essentially cripple both men with desire, possessive and the need to protect. I loved that Hamm’s race, the furr, were so reliant on scents because of how they used their pheromones for attraction, fighting and dominance in their clan. However, while we get a feel for both men and their current situations, we actually don’t know them beyond the surface details.
The story is shaped around the humans invading Hamm’s world and how the furr must defend themselves against the humans. What it ultimately comes down to, however, is negotiations between the humans and the furr. This is one of those stories that take place in the span of a few hours and is heavy in clan politics and the almost hostile negotiations between the furr and the humans. It is an interesting world because the furr have feline characteristics like their thick manes, purring and roaring. I loved those parts, they always made me smile, because they were innocent yet dangerous. I also found Marc’s reactions to Hamm’s purring and roaring very entertaining.
With I really liked the story, I had a few issues with it. My biggest problem was a lack of detail on a lot of areas such as the world, Hamm’s clan, the culture and ultimately the relationship between Marc and Hamm. They form a strong bond but there’s no hint of intimate feelings from that bond so it was just based off Hamm’s pheromones without a deeper, mental connection between them. Aside from that, I found the ending very abrupt. We don’t actually know how anything is resolved or how the couple will live now. How Hamm was able to hold his position or even if he still has his position (I’m just assuming he does because it’s not mentioned otherwise). Also, what happened to Dehna, how is the clan coping with Marc, and a lot of other questions I have. Some parts of the epilogue also confused me. Mostly the reference to Marc healing from his wounds but what wounds and how he got them, I’m not quite sure so it left an impression that there were a few parts of the story missing.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story but its biggest downfall is the lack of details necessary to really love it. The writing is great and engaging and I adored the elements and conflicts brought on by Hamm’s pheromones. The secondary characters are enjoyable, and even the ones you want to strangle, brought entertaining quarrels to the story. I’m hoping Ms. Etzweiler visits this world again (a story for Reccin would be awesome!) so that we can go deeper into this world and see more of what it has to offer.
On an unknown planet, Sergeant Marc Staille is on a mission to clear a valley of deadly mindless predators so a battalion can set up shop and strip the planet of a valuable resource. Unfortunately, Commander Hamm Orsonna, one of the predators, captures Marc before he can escape. Except, Marc’s not just overpowered by the Commander, he’s pretty much incapacitated by the shear amount of pheromones the Commander unintentionally uses on him. What neither of them expected was the bond those pheromones created between them and how that affects their loyalty to their own people. The Commander just wants Marc to stay, even if he does cause a lot of problems, but Marc is more confused than ever especially when he realizes he wasn’t killing some random predators but a strange, slightly civilized intelligent feline race.
I really enjoyed this book for a variety of reasons. While I wouldn’t consider it technically romance, I loved the pheromones that shaped the bond between Marc and Hamm. I found it amusing but also sweet in how it could essentially cripple both men with desire, possessive and the need to protect. I loved that Hamm’s race, the furr, were so reliant on scents because of how they used their pheromones for attraction, fighting and dominance in their clan. However, while we get a feel for both men and their current situations, we actually don’t know them beyond the surface details.
The story is shaped around the humans invading Hamm’s world and how the furr must defend themselves against the humans. What it ultimately comes down to, however, is negotiations between the humans and the furr. This is one of those stories that take place in the span of a few hours and is heavy in clan politics and the almost hostile negotiations between the furr and the humans. It is an interesting world because the furr have feline characteristics like their thick manes, purring and roaring. I loved those parts, they always made me smile, because they were innocent yet dangerous. I also found Marc’s reactions to Hamm’s purring and roaring very entertaining.
With I really liked the story, I had a few issues with it. My biggest problem was a lack of detail on a lot of areas such as the world, Hamm’s clan, the culture and ultimately the relationship between Marc and Hamm. They form a strong bond but there’s no hint of intimate feelings from that bond so it was just based off Hamm’s pheromones without a deeper, mental connection between them. Aside from that, I found the ending very abrupt. We don’t actually know how anything is resolved or how the couple will live now. How Hamm was able to hold his position or even if he still has his position (I’m just assuming he does because it’s not mentioned otherwise). Also, what happened to Dehna, how is the clan coping with Marc, and a lot of other questions I have. Some parts of the epilogue also confused me. Mostly the reference to Marc healing from his wounds but what wounds and how he got them, I’m not quite sure so it left an impression that there were a few parts of the story missing.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story but its biggest downfall is the lack of details necessary to really love it. The writing is great and engaging and I adored the elements and conflicts brought on by Hamm’s pheromones. The secondary characters are enjoyable, and even the ones you want to strangle, brought entertaining quarrels to the story. I’m hoping Ms. Etzweiler visits this world again (a story for Reccin would be awesome!) so that we can go deeper into this world and see more of what it has to offer.
January 21, 2013
Fabulous book. Great characters, wonderful writing, interesting world and it's an Etzweiler. Score!
ps: Hamm is MINE!
pss: I beta read this one so I'm not real sure how to review it, other than to say... this book rocks.
The end.
ps: Hamm is MINE!
pss: I beta read this one so I'm not real sure how to review it, other than to say... this book rocks.
The end.
February 28, 2013
I like the way this author creates worlds: there are not only different cultures, species, environments, but there's always a "political" element that gives a further sophistication to the stories and that I personally find very intriguing. I am usually looking for character-driven stories, but I really appreciate plots where there's a bigger picture, where the struggles of the protagonists are the clogs that keep the mechanism of the whole society going.
I don't think this book is romance, and if someone goes into it expecting a clear romantic development might be disappointed, even if it's the two main characters, the human sniper Marc and the furr battlemonger Hamm with their inexplicable bond, that move the story forward.
Marc is scouting a planet to make sure it's safe for the humans who want to exploit its resources. He has been informed that the creatures inhabiting the planet are basically animals, and he kills some of them, performing his duty as a soldier, until he is attacked by one of these creatures. Hamm subdues Marc using his pheromones and he captures him in order to interrogate him. Marc realizes that the creatures he's been killing are intelligent, they have a humanoid form, but they are more imposing, more furry, they purr and roar, and possess an advanced technology to instantly translate the language of different species. The chemical bond between Marc and Hamm, though, seems to complicate things, because it undermines Hamm's credibility as a leader and it gives a special position to a man who has killed the furrs' companions.
I have to confess that I wasn't very enthusiastic about the whole pheromones things at the beginning, because I've become quite tired of the mate/fated lovers theme. I was afraid it would devolve into a "mine/yours" kind of story, and I couldn't believe this author would go through that route. And indeed it didn't happen, because Etzweiler is much clever than that. The chemical bonding only jumpstarted the connection between the two men, giving it a shaky foundation instead of a strong one, because the difference in cultures, verbal and non-verbal communication, the natural distrust for an invader and a killer, the insecurity of a man who thinks he's being played through induced lust, the loyalties to their people, each of these elements was a barrier that had to be dismantled before the insta-lust became respect and more.
The alternating point-of-views let us see the different takes on the events, which take place in a very short period of time, I think no longer than a day. The writing is very good. My only issue is about the use of space: it was sometimes difficult to visualize where things were happening, I always had a feeling of a closed, limited space, even when the action was happening outside. Also, there were a few moments when it seemed the main characters were more spectators than protagonists, and the overall action seemed disjointed.
Anyway, I liked it, I loved the military attitude of Marc and Hamm, the way they understood each other more through that than through their bond. Also the furrs are such an interesting species, I mean, I'd LOVE to have a purring guy.
I don't think this book is romance, and if someone goes into it expecting a clear romantic development might be disappointed, even if it's the two main characters, the human sniper Marc and the furr battlemonger Hamm with their inexplicable bond, that move the story forward.
Marc is scouting a planet to make sure it's safe for the humans who want to exploit its resources. He has been informed that the creatures inhabiting the planet are basically animals, and he kills some of them, performing his duty as a soldier, until he is attacked by one of these creatures. Hamm subdues Marc using his pheromones and he captures him in order to interrogate him. Marc realizes that the creatures he's been killing are intelligent, they have a humanoid form, but they are more imposing, more furry, they purr and roar, and possess an advanced technology to instantly translate the language of different species. The chemical bond between Marc and Hamm, though, seems to complicate things, because it undermines Hamm's credibility as a leader and it gives a special position to a man who has killed the furrs' companions.
I have to confess that I wasn't very enthusiastic about the whole pheromones things at the beginning, because I've become quite tired of the mate/fated lovers theme. I was afraid it would devolve into a "mine/yours" kind of story, and I couldn't believe this author would go through that route. And indeed it didn't happen, because Etzweiler is much clever than that. The chemical bonding only jumpstarted the connection between the two men, giving it a shaky foundation instead of a strong one, because the difference in cultures, verbal and non-verbal communication, the natural distrust for an invader and a killer, the insecurity of a man who thinks he's being played through induced lust, the loyalties to their people, each of these elements was a barrier that had to be dismantled before the insta-lust became respect and more.
The alternating point-of-views let us see the different takes on the events, which take place in a very short period of time, I think no longer than a day. The writing is very good. My only issue is about the use of space: it was sometimes difficult to visualize where things were happening, I always had a feeling of a closed, limited space, even when the action was happening outside. Also, there were a few moments when it seemed the main characters were more spectators than protagonists, and the overall action seemed disjointed.
Anyway, I liked it, I loved the military attitude of Marc and Hamm, the way they understood each other more through that than through their bond. Also the furrs are such an interesting species, I mean, I'd LOVE to have a purring guy.
February 26, 2013
I finished this late last night. Trying to coalesce this into a intelligent review, rather than the drooling pile of goo that I became every time I read a chapter.
This maybe the most Sensual book I have ever read. Don't confuse it with sexy, it's heart stopping, hard breathing, got to clear your head, check your pants sensual. It's also science fiction at it's best. A believable," I'd like to visit this world" concept.
The aliens (humanoid) land on a planet to gather precious minerals, needed for their survival. Unfortunately, someone didn't do their homework, arriving without the knowledge that a sentient race lives there. The ground pounder sniper Marc Staille makes contact after he has been sent forward to act as cover for his company. He has a gun named Mat that is his constant companion till he is confronted by Commander Hamm Orsonna, leader of the fefa clan. How these two interact, is the real story. There is a dose of politics from both the invaders and those who inhabit the planet Soma, which enriches the story. The heart and soul of this belongs to Marc and Hamm. If you don't fall in love with them, you have to be dead.
"Why me? Why'd you target me to be spared, out of all the scouts in the valley?
Part of him knew it was a stupid question to ask. There was more to it than coincidence. Hamm moved, burying his face against Marc's neck. He nuzzled, inhaled then raised his head and studied Marc."
"You smelled different than the others."
"The other scouts?"
"Them. The team, Others of your kind."
I give it a super nova of stars.
This maybe the most Sensual book I have ever read. Don't confuse it with sexy, it's heart stopping, hard breathing, got to clear your head, check your pants sensual. It's also science fiction at it's best. A believable," I'd like to visit this world" concept.
The aliens (humanoid) land on a planet to gather precious minerals, needed for their survival. Unfortunately, someone didn't do their homework, arriving without the knowledge that a sentient race lives there. The ground pounder sniper Marc Staille makes contact after he has been sent forward to act as cover for his company. He has a gun named Mat that is his constant companion till he is confronted by Commander Hamm Orsonna, leader of the fefa clan. How these two interact, is the real story. There is a dose of politics from both the invaders and those who inhabit the planet Soma, which enriches the story. The heart and soul of this belongs to Marc and Hamm. If you don't fall in love with them, you have to be dead.
"Why me? Why'd you target me to be spared, out of all the scouts in the valley?
Part of him knew it was a stupid question to ask. There was more to it than coincidence. Hamm moved, burying his face against Marc's neck. He nuzzled, inhaled then raised his head and studied Marc."
"You smelled different than the others."
"The other scouts?"
"Them. The team, Others of your kind."
I give it a super nova of stars.
February 19, 2013
4.5 stars. I really like reading about new worlds and different species, especially alien ones, so this was a perfect book for me. I loved Marc and Hamm, especially Hamm. This author is definitely impressing me with their books so far, so I can't wait to read the next the one.
February 17, 2013
4.25 stars
March 27, 2013
I first read Ms. Etzweiler’s writing when I read Dark Edge of Honor. It was a collaboration with Aleksandr Voinov, and I loved it and was truly impressed. When their publisher sent our guild Fragile Bond for review, I immediately knew it was a story I would want to read. After Dark Edge of Honor I knew I would want to read more of Ms. Etzweiler’s writing. This book went way over the top in a sci-fi story in my estimation!
We first meet Sgt. Marc Staille, a sniper, part of an advance team sitting on a ridge on an alien planet of Horace Deuce-Niner, talking to his trusty rifle Mat. He is on a bodyguard mission on this small hopefully un-inhabited planet. His ships mission is looking for a specific metal that this planet seems rich in for mining. He is here on the ridge first with the five man team, looking for anything that will hurt the caravan following behind them
There seem to be predators they call tawnies that are native to the planet. They hunt in packs. Marc and Mat have just taken out possibly all the enemy in the area one by one. At that moment, little does he know the rules will change, when a tawny uses an unexpected weapon he has at his disposal: pheromones?
Commander Hamm Orsonna, is the leader of the fefa clan. He has tracked Marc and has watched the sniper systematically kill his entire squad. These men were seasoned warriors and their lives have been snuffed out by the death stick in the alien’s hand. Hamm is determined to stop these invaders, and wants to capture this man and weapon for Intel. He sneaks up behind Marc and uses an unexpected weapon: his pheromones.
Marc is concerned, the caravan has not come up behind him yet, he does not know where his team is, and he starts to react to a smell of earth and other alluring sensual smells that act as aphrodisiac to his senses. He starts to feel light headed and is over powered by one of the enemy, Commander Hamm Orsanna.
Wow, I cannot even speak any more about the plot. The story is breath taking. Marc the man who was just a grunt with a gun, becomes bigger than life. He has now taken responsibility for the many lives he has taken in the name of “orders” and is visibly shaken with the loss. Commander Orsanna the leader of the clan has to make hard decisions for his planet and his people and for himself.
You will be riveted to the direction this book takes you. These two souls have found each other over inter planetary miles, and finally would die for the other in the name of peace and possibly love. A. MUST. READ.
Review By Gloria Lakritz
Sr Reviewer and Review Chair for the Paranormal Romance Guild
We first meet Sgt. Marc Staille, a sniper, part of an advance team sitting on a ridge on an alien planet of Horace Deuce-Niner, talking to his trusty rifle Mat. He is on a bodyguard mission on this small hopefully un-inhabited planet. His ships mission is looking for a specific metal that this planet seems rich in for mining. He is here on the ridge first with the five man team, looking for anything that will hurt the caravan following behind them
There seem to be predators they call tawnies that are native to the planet. They hunt in packs. Marc and Mat have just taken out possibly all the enemy in the area one by one. At that moment, little does he know the rules will change, when a tawny uses an unexpected weapon he has at his disposal: pheromones?
Commander Hamm Orsonna, is the leader of the fefa clan. He has tracked Marc and has watched the sniper systematically kill his entire squad. These men were seasoned warriors and their lives have been snuffed out by the death stick in the alien’s hand. Hamm is determined to stop these invaders, and wants to capture this man and weapon for Intel. He sneaks up behind Marc and uses an unexpected weapon: his pheromones.
Marc is concerned, the caravan has not come up behind him yet, he does not know where his team is, and he starts to react to a smell of earth and other alluring sensual smells that act as aphrodisiac to his senses. He starts to feel light headed and is over powered by one of the enemy, Commander Hamm Orsanna.
Wow, I cannot even speak any more about the plot. The story is breath taking. Marc the man who was just a grunt with a gun, becomes bigger than life. He has now taken responsibility for the many lives he has taken in the name of “orders” and is visibly shaken with the loss. Commander Orsanna the leader of the clan has to make hard decisions for his planet and his people and for himself.
You will be riveted to the direction this book takes you. These two souls have found each other over inter planetary miles, and finally would die for the other in the name of peace and possibly love. A. MUST. READ.
Review By Gloria Lakritz
Sr Reviewer and Review Chair for the Paranormal Romance Guild
May 5, 2017
3.5 stars
I won this book in the "Men in Uniform" giveaway on Joyfully Jay. I hadn't read any reviews when I entered for it, just the book's description, so outside of that, I didn't know what to expect. I have had nothing but good experiences with Riptide authors, though, so I was fully anticipating an enjoyable reading experience. I was not let down.
It took me a little bit to get used to the lingo of the futuristic universe, but once I acclimated, I was able to appreciate the intricacies of the world-, species, and character building. I would have liked for it to be a little longer so that the world and different species could have been explored a bit further and satisfy my curiosity about all of it.
But I was completely satisfied with the romantic element of the story. At times, I forgot that the majority of the book was happening in just one day, and appreciated the connection between Marc and Hamm as if it had spanned several days/weeks/etc.
The use of the pheromones as a weapon and means of dominance, as well as a deeper connection between mates, was one of the most interesting aspects of the book. It was intriguing to see how different aspects of the same characteristic could affect or influence different situations. It is something I don't really recall reading much about in other books (I could just be missing those books, of course), and something I would love to see explored further.
Overall, it was a very enjoyable book, and I would certainly recommend it.
Favorite Quotes:
He’d give a couple locks of his mane to know what in Soma’s name the alien was doing to him. It was like any trace of restraint he’d possessed had dissolved away.
(Hamm, Kindle Locations 286-287)
Marc lowered his gaze, disentangled his hand from Hamm’s hair to trace the lines of his face. Jaw, cheek, nose, dragging fingertips gently over his lips. He was far from a handsome creature by human standards. But he was fucking beautiful.
(Marc, Kindle Locations 773-774)
"Death is a part of life. You perceived a threat and eliminated it. Your actions have consequences, just as mine do. You aren’t lesser; you have a responsibility, a debt to repay."
(Hamm, Kindle Locations 1537-1538)
I won this book in the "Men in Uniform" giveaway on Joyfully Jay. I hadn't read any reviews when I entered for it, just the book's description, so outside of that, I didn't know what to expect. I have had nothing but good experiences with Riptide authors, though, so I was fully anticipating an enjoyable reading experience. I was not let down.
It took me a little bit to get used to the lingo of the futuristic universe, but once I acclimated, I was able to appreciate the intricacies of the world-, species, and character building. I would have liked for it to be a little longer so that the world and different species could have been explored a bit further and satisfy my curiosity about all of it.
But I was completely satisfied with the romantic element of the story. At times, I forgot that the majority of the book was happening in just one day, and appreciated the connection between Marc and Hamm as if it had spanned several days/weeks/etc.
The use of the pheromones as a weapon and means of dominance, as well as a deeper connection between mates, was one of the most interesting aspects of the book. It was intriguing to see how different aspects of the same characteristic could affect or influence different situations. It is something I don't really recall reading much about in other books (I could just be missing those books, of course), and something I would love to see explored further.
Overall, it was a very enjoyable book, and I would certainly recommend it.
Favorite Quotes:
He’d give a couple locks of his mane to know what in Soma’s name the alien was doing to him. It was like any trace of restraint he’d possessed had dissolved away.
(Hamm, Kindle Locations 286-287)
Marc lowered his gaze, disentangled his hand from Hamm’s hair to trace the lines of his face. Jaw, cheek, nose, dragging fingertips gently over his lips. He was far from a handsome creature by human standards. But he was fucking beautiful.
(Marc, Kindle Locations 773-774)
"Death is a part of life. You perceived a threat and eliminated it. Your actions have consequences, just as mine do. You aren’t lesser; you have a responsibility, a debt to repay."
(Hamm, Kindle Locations 1537-1538)
June 3, 2014
Wow.
So, this is a quick read. Took me a couple of hours and I'm not a fast reader. But it's extremely engaging. I really loved this book.
Even though it's impossible for a person to imagine the differences of another species from another planet, I think all of us who read Sci-Fi willingly suspend disbelief on this point. We want to be introduced to new species, and we're a positive lot who want to love these new species. If you don't want that, or if you are going for realism, then this book won't work for you. But if you're reading m/m romance…then I'm guessing you'd like the aliens to be at least moderately compatible with humans. Rhi manages this brilliantly. She takes the idea of a cat-like humanoid species and runs with it. They purr, they roar, they communicate mostly non-verbally. I mean, it's a mix of different cats, but close enough. Anyway, they're just alien enough to feel alien, but not so alien that it's squicky. Perfect.
Rhi also really does soldiers well. I love that. Marc was great, and I loved his entire attitude. I also loved the way his understanding grew and influenced his behavior. He got a little…sexless by the end, for me, but I could kind of chalk that up to events and chemistry. It didn't bother me very much. And by then it's plot-driven anyway and we're coming to the finale, so that's where the focus is going. I found the sexuality and sensuality in the beginning (and through much of the book) extremely satisfying, though. Usually I get kind of impatient with delayed consummation, but I thought the tension worked beautifully in this and while I would have loved more consummation, I didn't think the book suffered from the amount it had.
I guess there are lots of interesting points about politics and cultural differences and other stuff in here as well, but I'm still kind of reeling from the relationship between the two main characters, so I haven't gotten that far. In the end, it was them that made me love this book, even with the sparse world-building I've complained about for all of Rhi's books. This book was really short, too, so could have been room for world-building in a normal-length novel. But I'm okay with that. This was more like a little excerpt from a larger work, just focusing on the relationship.
It wasn't a gourmet meal, but it was a gourmet piece of chocolate. :D
So, this is a quick read. Took me a couple of hours and I'm not a fast reader. But it's extremely engaging. I really loved this book.
Even though it's impossible for a person to imagine the differences of another species from another planet, I think all of us who read Sci-Fi willingly suspend disbelief on this point. We want to be introduced to new species, and we're a positive lot who want to love these new species. If you don't want that, or if you are going for realism, then this book won't work for you. But if you're reading m/m romance…then I'm guessing you'd like the aliens to be at least moderately compatible with humans. Rhi manages this brilliantly. She takes the idea of a cat-like humanoid species and runs with it. They purr, they roar, they communicate mostly non-verbally. I mean, it's a mix of different cats, but close enough. Anyway, they're just alien enough to feel alien, but not so alien that it's squicky. Perfect.
Rhi also really does soldiers well. I love that. Marc was great, and I loved his entire attitude. I also loved the way his understanding grew and influenced his behavior. He got a little…sexless by the end, for me, but I could kind of chalk that up to events and chemistry. It didn't bother me very much. And by then it's plot-driven anyway and we're coming to the finale, so that's where the focus is going. I found the sexuality and sensuality in the beginning (and through much of the book) extremely satisfying, though. Usually I get kind of impatient with delayed consummation, but I thought the tension worked beautifully in this and while I would have loved more consummation, I didn't think the book suffered from the amount it had.
I guess there are lots of interesting points about politics and cultural differences and other stuff in here as well, but I'm still kind of reeling from the relationship between the two main characters, so I haven't gotten that far. In the end, it was them that made me love this book, even with the sparse world-building I've complained about for all of Rhi's books. This book was really short, too, so could have been room for world-building in a normal-length novel. But I'm okay with that. This was more like a little excerpt from a larger work, just focusing on the relationship.
It wasn't a gourmet meal, but it was a gourmet piece of chocolate. :D
February 27, 2013
This is a story of two intergalactic species trying to understand one another after starting out on the worst foot they possibly could. The invading force of humans doesn't understand that the hostiles on the planet are sapient. Hamm, the Commander of the native forces (furrs, or tawnys in human slang), happens to capture Marc, a sniper scouting in advance of his battalion, by accidental use of his pheromones. Only their pheromones seem to feed off of each other, putting them both in a very awkward position. The natives have some bio-tech which allows them to communicate with other natives on the planet, and they use it on Marc hoping they can get some answers from him.
Marc is horrified to learn that he's been killing sapient creatures, and Hamm can smell the truth of it on him. Marc manages to convey to Hamm and his second in command that if he can contact his superiors, they have first contact protocols for this sort of situation. Only they've never actually needed to use them before; they've never found sapient beings before now.
The problem is all of the blood which has already been spilt makes for unease and suspicion on both sides. Add to that some internal furr politics because Hamm's pheromones are still tied to Marc's, a furr who wishes for vengeance and continued bloodshed -- not any attempts at peace -- and an arrogant human leader who's only interested in taking, not giving or understanding, and you have one hell of a volatile story. It's a good thing that Hamm and Marc have figured out they're more similar than different.
The politics within the furrs isn't too heavy (not like it was in Blacker than Black, for example), but it is enough to keep the situation tense throughout the story. The story alternates between Marc's and Hamm's point of view to keep things interesting and help us understand both sides of the situation they're in and how they come to feel the way they do. I was very pleased with the situations and logistics of it all.
I'm giving this one 4.5 stars, and I might up it to 5 at some point in the future.
Marc is horrified to learn that he's been killing sapient creatures, and Hamm can smell the truth of it on him. Marc manages to convey to Hamm and his second in command that if he can contact his superiors, they have first contact protocols for this sort of situation. Only they've never actually needed to use them before; they've never found sapient beings before now.
The problem is all of the blood which has already been spilt makes for unease and suspicion on both sides. Add to that some internal furr politics because Hamm's pheromones are still tied to Marc's, a furr who wishes for vengeance and continued bloodshed -- not any attempts at peace -- and an arrogant human leader who's only interested in taking, not giving or understanding, and you have one hell of a volatile story. It's a good thing that Hamm and Marc have figured out they're more similar than different.
The politics within the furrs isn't too heavy (not like it was in Blacker than Black, for example), but it is enough to keep the situation tense throughout the story. The story alternates between Marc's and Hamm's point of view to keep things interesting and help us understand both sides of the situation they're in and how they come to feel the way they do. I was very pleased with the situations and logistics of it all.
I'm giving this one 4.5 stars, and I might up it to 5 at some point in the future.
February 22, 2013
As a fan of sci-fi I was immediately drawn to this story from page one. Human invaders plant roots on a foreign planet and immediately start destroying a humanoids way of life. At first sharpshooter Marc thinks he's doing his honorable duty but as the story progresses he realizes the damage he's done and soon becomes more a friend than enemy to these new cat-like creatures. He finds himself drawn to their leader Hamm and as the hormones flair between them the sexual tension amps up in a race to keep their two spaces from all-out war.
This story is action-packed with a constant sense of foreboding. This alien world is similar to ours in many respects and with the human invasion there's a feeling of bullying and that nothing good will come out of our visit. These feline creatures may look different than us but they're intelligent and rely on their other senses for survival. It's these other senses that bond Hamm and Marc. The overwhelming pheromones lock them together in endless demonstrations of hot and steamy foreplay. These scenes are not overt but result in heavy purring for all of us and put a unique spin on the usual m/m action.
The main focus of this story is the emotional fallout of war and the actions of one man to make himself a hero. It's the humans that end up being the bad guys and it's only through great sacrifice that true love overcomes adversity and ingrained bigotries. Fragile Bond brings forth difficult questions with difficult answers in a vividly depicted world and is a great addition to the sci-fi family.
This story is action-packed with a constant sense of foreboding. This alien world is similar to ours in many respects and with the human invasion there's a feeling of bullying and that nothing good will come out of our visit. These feline creatures may look different than us but they're intelligent and rely on their other senses for survival. It's these other senses that bond Hamm and Marc. The overwhelming pheromones lock them together in endless demonstrations of hot and steamy foreplay. These scenes are not overt but result in heavy purring for all of us and put a unique spin on the usual m/m action.
The main focus of this story is the emotional fallout of war and the actions of one man to make himself a hero. It's the humans that end up being the bad guys and it's only through great sacrifice that true love overcomes adversity and ingrained bigotries. Fragile Bond brings forth difficult questions with difficult answers in a vividly depicted world and is a great addition to the sci-fi family.
June 3, 2015
Es un Etzweiler. Y eso siempre es señal de libro intensamente alucinante. Por supuesto, esta no fue la excepción. Geniales personajes, relato que se vive con cada uno de los sentidos de manera muy explícita, que te agobia y te altera y te emociona como pocos textos logran hacerlo.
Descubrir a Rhi Etzweiler es de las mejores cosas que me han sucedido en mi vida lectora. Ojalá muchos más pudieran apreciarlo en su tremenda genialidad.
Descubrir a Rhi Etzweiler es de las mejores cosas que me han sucedido en mi vida lectora. Ojalá muchos más pudieran apreciarlo en su tremenda genialidad.
March 31, 2013
I couldn't connect with anything. Not the characters, not the plot, anything.
The gunplay in the book details is also misleading. I was expecting something much sexier.
Altogether unimpressive.
(I started it as a distraction when I was supposed to be doing something else. As guilty pleasures go, it could have been way more gripping and satisfying.)
The gunplay in the book details is also misleading. I was expecting something much sexier.
Altogether unimpressive.
(I started it as a distraction when I was supposed to be doing something else. As guilty pleasures go, it could have been way more gripping and satisfying.)
February 1, 2013
There is a feeling I get reading a well-written Sci-Fi of which this one would count in that category. In the beginning, its the sensation one gets of being off-kelter that comes from entering a new and creative world when everything feels strange and different. Not only does this story offer a people group that is vastly different from humans, it also has a tight and authentic military essence underlying the plot. Now I don't want to mislead by that and make folks think it is non-stop action stuff because that is not really the pace or tone of much of the story. This one is about connecting and communication and the conflict comes from cross-purpose.
The story opens with Marc Staille and his trusted sniper rifle that he affectionately calls Mat along with the rest of Marc's sniper team placed forward of the mission's main body so as to provide protection from the wilder and aggressive animal species on the planet they have come to explore. Marc is really good at what he does. He's studied the hostiles and he's found a good position to both observe, take out any aggressors and defend his position which is good because the tawnies- large furry big cat like creatures- are moving up the valley to act against his team.
Marc takes action and drops several of the tawnies. But while he has been stalking the prey from his position, he has become prey himself. A large tawnie attacks from behind. Marc is holding his own, but some sort of pheromone release sends him to his knees. Inexplicably, the tawny spares him, takes him prisoner and Marc comes to the sickening realization that the 'creatures' are really sentient beings that were acting to defend their homes against the aggressors.
Hamm, a furr, is appalled at the loss of his whole team and is amazed to learn the little human and his death stick are responsible. Hamm wants to end the hostilities that will only see more deaths on both sides, but first he had to capture one of the humans and question him. Hamm's people are ambivalent and some even hostile about his plan and he himself is sent reeling by his reaction to his captive. Once communication has been established, he is hopeful on more than one level, but naturally it just isn't that easy.
I found the rhythm of this story and the focus on small scene personal interaction against the bigger backdrop of hostility and danger between the races something that I really enjoyed. The growing connection and understanding between Hamm and Marc just captivated me. They are from two different alien races, but recognize fundamentally they are the same in that they're both soldiers.
What I also observed as I read was that I didn't have to strain to believe that Marc was a soldier. He cracked me up near the end when he observed how the other humans were handling negotiations and how he as a soldier viewed it all.
I felt like Marc's relationship with his rifle is symbolic of his growth through the story. At first, he is attached and near heartbroken when the furrs take Mat away from him and then later when he feels betrayed by Hamm, Matt is the first thing he wants back to restore himself. But then in the end, Hamm returns Mat and Marc makes a huge decision and it involves holding onto Mat or letting go.
When it comes to poor Hamm, he was thrown off his game from almost the moment he makes contact with Marc. Hamm was angry over the loss of his men and confused about his attraction to the human and desire to protect him from his own people. He finds himself placing his leadership position in jeopardy because of Marc.
This is not one of those scorching hot romances even though attraction is at the core of the story. Hamm and Marc's relationship progressed cautiously making it more genuine to me. They mistrusted and even had angry feelings so it would have felt weird for them to just chuck it all and declare love. So yes, nicely done!
The only thing that niggled was the denouement. I wanted a bit more detail of what happens next. There is a wonderful epilogue scene between Hamm and Marc on a personal level, but the overall picture including their future (other than as a couple) is left vague and shadowy other than just a few lines.
In the end, I was enthralled by the story and look forward to more by this author. It is my humble opinion that those who enjoy m/m Sci-Fi Romance will really appreciate this story.
Thank you to Net Galley for sending along this book for review purposes.
The story opens with Marc Staille and his trusted sniper rifle that he affectionately calls Mat along with the rest of Marc's sniper team placed forward of the mission's main body so as to provide protection from the wilder and aggressive animal species on the planet they have come to explore. Marc is really good at what he does. He's studied the hostiles and he's found a good position to both observe, take out any aggressors and defend his position which is good because the tawnies- large furry big cat like creatures- are moving up the valley to act against his team.
Marc takes action and drops several of the tawnies. But while he has been stalking the prey from his position, he has become prey himself. A large tawnie attacks from behind. Marc is holding his own, but some sort of pheromone release sends him to his knees. Inexplicably, the tawny spares him, takes him prisoner and Marc comes to the sickening realization that the 'creatures' are really sentient beings that were acting to defend their homes against the aggressors.
Hamm, a furr, is appalled at the loss of his whole team and is amazed to learn the little human and his death stick are responsible. Hamm wants to end the hostilities that will only see more deaths on both sides, but first he had to capture one of the humans and question him. Hamm's people are ambivalent and some even hostile about his plan and he himself is sent reeling by his reaction to his captive. Once communication has been established, he is hopeful on more than one level, but naturally it just isn't that easy.
I found the rhythm of this story and the focus on small scene personal interaction against the bigger backdrop of hostility and danger between the races something that I really enjoyed. The growing connection and understanding between Hamm and Marc just captivated me. They are from two different alien races, but recognize fundamentally they are the same in that they're both soldiers.
What I also observed as I read was that I didn't have to strain to believe that Marc was a soldier. He cracked me up near the end when he observed how the other humans were handling negotiations and how he as a soldier viewed it all.
I felt like Marc's relationship with his rifle is symbolic of his growth through the story. At first, he is attached and near heartbroken when the furrs take Mat away from him and then later when he feels betrayed by Hamm, Matt is the first thing he wants back to restore himself. But then in the end, Hamm returns Mat and Marc makes a huge decision and it involves holding onto Mat or letting go.
When it comes to poor Hamm, he was thrown off his game from almost the moment he makes contact with Marc. Hamm was angry over the loss of his men and confused about his attraction to the human and desire to protect him from his own people. He finds himself placing his leadership position in jeopardy because of Marc.
This is not one of those scorching hot romances even though attraction is at the core of the story. Hamm and Marc's relationship progressed cautiously making it more genuine to me. They mistrusted and even had angry feelings so it would have felt weird for them to just chuck it all and declare love. So yes, nicely done!
The only thing that niggled was the denouement. I wanted a bit more detail of what happens next. There is a wonderful epilogue scene between Hamm and Marc on a personal level, but the overall picture including their future (other than as a couple) is left vague and shadowy other than just a few lines.
In the end, I was enthralled by the story and look forward to more by this author. It is my humble opinion that those who enjoy m/m Sci-Fi Romance will really appreciate this story.
Thank you to Net Galley for sending along this book for review purposes.
March 26, 2013
As part of an advance team on the dessert planet of Horace Deuce-Niner, Sniper Sergeant Marc Staille and his trusty rifle Mat patiently lie in wait for any glimpse of the planet’s inhabitants. Intel shows there are no civilized indigenous, just the tawnies, large hairy creatures with claws and razor sharp teeth that hunt in packs with highly developed attack skills. When Marc spots one, then another and another, he and Mat do what they do best, take them all out.
Marc and Mat didn’t get them all, and the biggest, baddest of them all Commander Hamm Orsonna is about to show them that not only does he possess highly developed attack skills but he has a hidden bio-weapon, his own pheromones. Easily overpowered and with no defense against Hamm’s heady pheromones, Marc is taken prisoner.
Prisoner and captor will soon find themselves caught up in a fight to not only achieve peace for Hamm’s planet but to claim happiness for them both.
What an interesting world author Rhi Etzweiler has given us, a planet inhabited by intelligent non-human beings who speak a language of grunts and growls and who use not only physical strength but smell and pheromones to fight with. A stark desolate planet so well described that I actually had to get a glass of water to sooth my parched throat. Full of interesting characters, human and non, the author manages to make them all come to life.
Marc talks to Mat as if it were not a weapon but a lover; he is connected to it and feels bereft when separated. Like all snipers, he’s a loner, able to spend hours at a time still and silent, one with his environment. He is a man of action and taken totally out of his element when he realizes what he thought were creatures are actually intelligent beings and that he is now on a diplomatic mission instead of search and destroy.
Hamm is a good commander, those under his command are important to him and he will do whatever it takes to protect them. His species has a highly developed sense of smell and Marc not only smells of honesty but of nip as well. He will find himself torn between defending his prisoner and defending his comrades.
We meet a number of Hamm and Marc’s fellow soldiers but the two that stand out are Sergeant Dehna – a translator under Hamm’s command and Reccin, Hamm’s second in command. Though secondary characters, both were interesting in their own right and pivotal to the plot.
This is a great action/sci-fi/romance story, yes I said romance. The romance brings in my one issue, while not the author’s fault; every time I pictured Hamm in my mind he looked like Chewbacca. I just couldn’t get around his and Marc’s attraction. I tried making him the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, but Chewie he remained, and I just couldn’t get my head around it. Chewie aside, I enjoyed this book.
This story was so well written that I found myself forgetting I was in another time and place. This is an M/M romance but there really aren’t that many actual sexual scenes in it and the few there are brief and not very explicit, just steamy. If the reader isn’t careful, they may even learn a lesson in tolerance. They will most definitely get a good story told to them.
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Dual Review Team
Marc and Mat didn’t get them all, and the biggest, baddest of them all Commander Hamm Orsonna is about to show them that not only does he possess highly developed attack skills but he has a hidden bio-weapon, his own pheromones. Easily overpowered and with no defense against Hamm’s heady pheromones, Marc is taken prisoner.
Prisoner and captor will soon find themselves caught up in a fight to not only achieve peace for Hamm’s planet but to claim happiness for them both.
What an interesting world author Rhi Etzweiler has given us, a planet inhabited by intelligent non-human beings who speak a language of grunts and growls and who use not only physical strength but smell and pheromones to fight with. A stark desolate planet so well described that I actually had to get a glass of water to sooth my parched throat. Full of interesting characters, human and non, the author manages to make them all come to life.
Marc talks to Mat as if it were not a weapon but a lover; he is connected to it and feels bereft when separated. Like all snipers, he’s a loner, able to spend hours at a time still and silent, one with his environment. He is a man of action and taken totally out of his element when he realizes what he thought were creatures are actually intelligent beings and that he is now on a diplomatic mission instead of search and destroy.
Hamm is a good commander, those under his command are important to him and he will do whatever it takes to protect them. His species has a highly developed sense of smell and Marc not only smells of honesty but of nip as well. He will find himself torn between defending his prisoner and defending his comrades.
We meet a number of Hamm and Marc’s fellow soldiers but the two that stand out are Sergeant Dehna – a translator under Hamm’s command and Reccin, Hamm’s second in command. Though secondary characters, both were interesting in their own right and pivotal to the plot.
This is a great action/sci-fi/romance story, yes I said romance. The romance brings in my one issue, while not the author’s fault; every time I pictured Hamm in my mind he looked like Chewbacca. I just couldn’t get around his and Marc’s attraction. I tried making him the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, but Chewie he remained, and I just couldn’t get my head around it. Chewie aside, I enjoyed this book.
This story was so well written that I found myself forgetting I was in another time and place. This is an M/M romance but there really aren’t that many actual sexual scenes in it and the few there are brief and not very explicit, just steamy. If the reader isn’t careful, they may even learn a lesson in tolerance. They will most definitely get a good story told to them.
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Dual Review Team
September 7, 2013
http://www.redzworldreviews.com/fragi...
Fragile Bond by Rhi Etzweiler is a very different kind of M/M romance. This one has sniper Sergeant Marc Staille, who is an average type of soldier. His closest friend is his gun that he has named Matt. It is a little boring to be stuck on a planet that is mostly desert and your job is to just wait for something to happen. But Marc does his job with no complaints. He has what I would call an average personality, nothing about him really jumped out at me. That is, until he meets Commander Hamm Orsonna, the leader of the indigenous people and the fefe clan.
Commander Orsonna is determined to rid his planet of the alien invaders. He considers Marc small, hairless, and very brave. He uses his hormones to make Matt more compliant. That backfires, because the furry alien soon finds Marc is his mate, and he doesn’t want to let the man go. While the start of this book is rocky and slow, once the story gets going, it is really intriguing. I had a hard time putting it down, wondering what would happen next. When you want a space M/M story that is off the beaten path, this is the story for you. I found myself really loving the aliens and wanting to know more about them and if they win the war they so desperately are fighting.
4 twinkling stars
Fragile Bond by Rhi Etzweiler is a very different kind of M/M romance. This one has sniper Sergeant Marc Staille, who is an average type of soldier. His closest friend is his gun that he has named Matt. It is a little boring to be stuck on a planet that is mostly desert and your job is to just wait for something to happen. But Marc does his job with no complaints. He has what I would call an average personality, nothing about him really jumped out at me. That is, until he meets Commander Hamm Orsonna, the leader of the indigenous people and the fefe clan.
Commander Orsonna is determined to rid his planet of the alien invaders. He considers Marc small, hairless, and very brave. He uses his hormones to make Matt more compliant. That backfires, because the furry alien soon finds Marc is his mate, and he doesn’t want to let the man go. While the start of this book is rocky and slow, once the story gets going, it is really intriguing. I had a hard time putting it down, wondering what would happen next. When you want a space M/M story that is off the beaten path, this is the story for you. I found myself really loving the aliens and wanting to know more about them and if they win the war they so desperately are fighting.
4 twinkling stars
March 15, 2014
A sci-fi about a potentially disastrous first contact with an alien intelligence (that kind of resembles furries? :D and they call themselves "furrs"), but with an MM twist.
I liked it because it had a lot of plot and that though there was a constant attraction between the main characters they didn't stop every 5 minutes to have sex. Actually there is no sex, but they do get off on each other a couple of times.
On the other hand I disliked the fact that we only got the briefest glimpse into how they established their relationship and brokered peace. From a very dangerous situation, with deaths on both parts and neither being very diplomatic, the epilogue skipped right to "a few weeks after" when all was ok (or ok-ish).
I liked it because it had a lot of plot and that though there was a constant attraction between the main characters they didn't stop every 5 minutes to have sex. Actually there is no sex, but they do get off on each other a couple of times.
On the other hand I disliked the fact that we only got the briefest glimpse into how they established their relationship and brokered peace. From a very dangerous situation, with deaths on both parts and neither being very diplomatic, the epilogue skipped right to "a few weeks after" when all was ok (or ok-ish).
September 10, 2015
Very well written and edited. Original. Told from from both protagonists' POV.
I would like to have seen more extensive world building; there was a lot of unrealized potential here. It was a wonderful sci-fi romp, but it could have been so much more. I like this author's writing style. A star was withheld only because of so much confusion on my part about who was speaking. It simply wasn't clear in many instances of dialogue. Love to experience this story again as an audiobook.
This book would have been a great opener for a series.
I would like to have seen more extensive world building; there was a lot of unrealized potential here. It was a wonderful sci-fi romp, but it could have been so much more. I like this author's writing style. A star was withheld only because of so much confusion on my part about who was speaking. It simply wasn't clear in many instances of dialogue. Love to experience this story again as an audiobook.
This book would have been a great opener for a series.
September 19, 2015
Oooh, I liked this one. Strangely enough, a lot of people (both that liked it and that didn't like it) said they wouldn't label this a romance. *blink* I guess that is just one more way my view is a little off. *shrug* (Like how the ending of the movie Bangkok Love Story crushes me, yet the ending of Boys Love doesn't. )
But...catmen...we all know I have a weakness for them. *pets shiny book*
But...catmen...we all know I have a weakness for them. *pets shiny book*
August 17, 2017
1st read: March 18, 2013
I was surprised when I got to the end; it felt only about halfway through. In other words, it should have been at least twice as long. The end felt like the author got tired of writing the story and decided to wrap up the rest of the story in an epilogue. Still very good, though.
I was surprised when I got to the end; it felt only about halfway through. In other words, it should have been at least twice as long. The end felt like the author got tired of writing the story and decided to wrap up the rest of the story in an epilogue. Still very good, though.
February 20, 2013
I loved the story and the world the author has created.
And more than this, I loved the way Marc and Hamm were able to form a bond and trust each other despite all the differences. I liked their willingness to learn, with an open heart.
And more than this, I loved the way Marc and Hamm were able to form a bond and trust each other despite all the differences. I liked their willingness to learn, with an open heart.
February 11, 2013
3.75 stars, rounded up
February 20, 2013
Its what I was totally in the mood for. new world, bonding and Marc & Hamm. A little more bed play and i'd been over the moon.
February 16, 2019
Excellent, sensual, and truly amazing world building. This is science fiction done to perfection. The conflict of different species, different cultures, yet so sensual and heart warming. And I got such a kick out of Marc’s personification of his rifle, Mat. That touch of humor, great.
March 16, 2013
I read Fragile Bond last night and wanted to write the review while it was fresh in my mind. I read, A LOT, but this book caught my eye and went on to my wishlist when it came out. I finally got a chance to read it, uninterrupted, and it kept me interested start to finish.
The synopsis of the book actually sums up the story quite well, in my opinion, without giving too much away. Several of the plot elements have been used in science fiction books I've read before, like the pheromones, mistaken status of non-sentient creatures for sentient beings, and a first contact/military character.
Still, I enjoyed this ebook quite a bit. I felt the tawnies, aka furrs, were amazing characters. We got several glimpses into their society and social structure throughout the story, enough to get a detailed picture of their culture. The sensory perceptions of the world, or Soma as Hamm named the planet, were amazing and it was nearly visible to my mind's eye. Hamm and Marc's bonding was confusing and arousing and not neat and tidily wrapped up in a bow-which I fully appreciated.
However, I did still have a few issues with the story. The human culture made ZIP sense. We didn't get much explanation of the 'Mother Commander', or their ship, or their evolution. I'd have loved it if the author had seen fit to share more of that since to me, the reader, both cultures were foreign, not just the 'aliens'. It was integral part of the story that I felt was missing. I also disliked the rapid head hopping between multiple characters, though that was more the 'style' not any sort of mistake, and while I'm not alone in my aversion to it, it's a style preference more than anything.
Overall, a good story, but one that I had to really focus on to understand-especially at the end with the large cast of characters-to follow and understand. It was an intriguing plot, and I loved the poignancy at the end which really capped off the story well. Even with my quibbles I completely enjoyed this eBook. A definite recommendation with a 4 out of 5 star rating.
The synopsis of the book actually sums up the story quite well, in my opinion, without giving too much away. Several of the plot elements have been used in science fiction books I've read before, like the pheromones, mistaken status of non-sentient creatures for sentient beings, and a first contact/military character.
Still, I enjoyed this ebook quite a bit. I felt the tawnies, aka furrs, were amazing characters. We got several glimpses into their society and social structure throughout the story, enough to get a detailed picture of their culture. The sensory perceptions of the world, or Soma as Hamm named the planet, were amazing and it was nearly visible to my mind's eye. Hamm and Marc's bonding was confusing and arousing and not neat and tidily wrapped up in a bow-which I fully appreciated.
However, I did still have a few issues with the story. The human culture made ZIP sense. We didn't get much explanation of the 'Mother Commander', or their ship, or their evolution. I'd have loved it if the author had seen fit to share more of that since to me, the reader, both cultures were foreign, not just the 'aliens'. It was integral part of the story that I felt was missing. I also disliked the rapid head hopping between multiple characters, though that was more the 'style' not any sort of mistake, and while I'm not alone in my aversion to it, it's a style preference more than anything.
Overall, a good story, but one that I had to really focus on to understand-especially at the end with the large cast of characters-to follow and understand. It was an intriguing plot, and I loved the poignancy at the end which really capped off the story well. Even with my quibbles I completely enjoyed this eBook. A definite recommendation with a 4 out of 5 star rating.
February 11, 2015
A really enjoyable read. Good MM Sci Fi without the usual doses of cheese. The characters were strong and both very much individuals with their own thoughts and personalities.
Marc, the sniper sitting in his roost, taking out wild alien animals with his trusty rifle, Mat, to protect the scientists mining a somewhat unexplored planet soon realizes that the animals he is shooting are not mindless creatures but actually intelligent beings and what he's been doing all along is killing them in cold blood.
Hamm, a furr, ends up finding Marc because he smells like his favorite mood altering substance, "nip", and when Hamm smells Marc, he involuntarily releases a pheromone laced scent that makes Marc so lust crazed he can't think and Hamm captures him. (It was here that I almost put the book down as I thought, Oh great another "My alien smell glands turn you into a mindless bottom and now we will spend the rest of the book with my 14" furry space dick up your suddenly very accommodating butt" (if you read a lot sci-fi MM you totally get what I mean LOL) but it wasn't like that at all, the story was actually really good and I'm glad I kept reading.
The book is a little slow in the middle but at the same time the tension is there to keep you turning pages, I liked the ending very much as well, HFN.
Marc, the sniper sitting in his roost, taking out wild alien animals with his trusty rifle, Mat, to protect the scientists mining a somewhat unexplored planet soon realizes that the animals he is shooting are not mindless creatures but actually intelligent beings and what he's been doing all along is killing them in cold blood.
Hamm, a furr, ends up finding Marc because he smells like his favorite mood altering substance, "nip", and when Hamm smells Marc, he involuntarily releases a pheromone laced scent that makes Marc so lust crazed he can't think and Hamm captures him. (It was here that I almost put the book down as I thought, Oh great another "My alien smell glands turn you into a mindless bottom and now we will spend the rest of the book with my 14" furry space dick up your suddenly very accommodating butt" (if you read a lot sci-fi MM you totally get what I mean LOL) but it wasn't like that at all, the story was actually really good and I'm glad I kept reading.
The book is a little slow in the middle but at the same time the tension is there to keep you turning pages, I liked the ending very much as well, HFN.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 4, 2014Stronger than Etzweiler's first book, I think -- the smaller scale helps make it more focused and the tensions on both sides are nicely developed. The relationship development is much more serious than the "pheromones make them do it" setup first suggested, and honestly I really like the idea of a culture having literally weaponized sexual desire the way the furrs have. The ending/epilogue seemed to tie things together in a bit of a hurry, but this was solid and enjoyable as a whole.
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