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Skybound #2
Sky Runners
Book two of Skybound
Crux Ansata second-in-command Killian O'Neal has a plan. The governor's son, Neith, has been enslaved in a high-end brothel. Killian's going to break him out, take him home and collect a reward. It's a daring mercenary rescue. What could go wrong?
A lot, as it turns out. The governor doesn't want his son back, the ship and crew are on the run from the slavers, and Neith is in withdrawal from a drug that instills in him a desperate lust.
A passionate heat flares between Killian and Neith—but is it just the effects of the drugs still in Neith's system, or could it be something more permanent? They both need time to figure out if what they have is real—but Neith has taken a valuable item from his old masters and they're not going to let him go easily. When the slavers catch up with the Ansata, Killian will have to choose between the safety of his ship and its crew, or life with the man he's falling in love with.
51,000 words
Crux Ansata second-in-command Killian O'Neal has a plan. The governor's son, Neith, has been enslaved in a high-end brothel. Killian's going to break him out, take him home and collect a reward. It's a daring mercenary rescue. What could go wrong?
A lot, as it turns out. The governor doesn't want his son back, the ship and crew are on the run from the slavers, and Neith is in withdrawal from a drug that instills in him a desperate lust.
A passionate heat flares between Killian and Neith—but is it just the effects of the drugs still in Neith's system, or could it be something more permanent? They both need time to figure out if what they have is real—but Neith has taken a valuable item from his old masters and they're not going to let him go easily. When the slavers catch up with the Ansata, Killian will have to choose between the safety of his ship and its crew, or life with the man he's falling in love with.
51,000 words
133 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2013
5 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Fae Sutherland
29 books230 followersFae Sutherland is the award-winning, bestselling author of 30 M/M erotic romance novels - co-authored and solo. She also writes M/F erotic romance under a pen name.
When Fae's not working on new stories to make her readers sweat, she loves website design, spending too much time on Twitter, and watching oodles of Food Network with her beloved life partner. If there's any time left over, it's spent snuggling the cat.
When Fae's not working on new stories to make her readers sweat, she loves website design, spending too much time on Twitter, and watching oodles of Food Network with her beloved life partner. If there's any time left over, it's spent snuggling the cat.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 11, 2013
**3.5 stars**
This is the second book in the Skybound trilogy and I liked it more than the first. In the beginning, I really enjoyed it. I'm all for fluffy, smutty, sci-fi and this started out exactly that way. A drug-inducted sex addicted guy (Neith) rescued from captivity and a sweet, "local yokel" giant man (Killian) forced to share the same room? Sign me up!! At first, the sex was hot and fun and I was all on board for a sci-fi erotica romp. However...
At about the 50% mark, like with the first in the series, my attention started flagging. I found myself reading faster just to finish the book. I'm not sure why exactly this keeps happening with this series. The writing is pretty good and the characters are likeable. Part of my issue with this series has to be the world-building (or lack thereof). There is very little sci-fi here, and with a little editing, you could have a regular contemporary romance (albeit with a captive/slave/rescue theme). It is kind of just happenstance that everything takes place on a spaceship.
Will I keep going with the third book? For sure! I want/need to see what happens with Jeret's story. However, though enjoyable, this series hasn't been a home run for me.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
This is the second book in the Skybound trilogy and I liked it more than the first. In the beginning, I really enjoyed it. I'm all for fluffy, smutty, sci-fi and this started out exactly that way. A drug-inducted sex addicted guy (Neith) rescued from captivity and a sweet, "local yokel" giant man (Killian) forced to share the same room? Sign me up!! At first, the sex was hot and fun and I was all on board for a sci-fi erotica romp. However...
At about the 50% mark, like with the first in the series, my attention started flagging. I found myself reading faster just to finish the book. I'm not sure why exactly this keeps happening with this series. The writing is pretty good and the characters are likeable. Part of my issue with this series has to be the world-building (or lack thereof). There is very little sci-fi here, and with a little editing, you could have a regular contemporary romance (albeit with a captive/slave/rescue theme). It is kind of just happenstance that everything takes place on a spaceship.
Will I keep going with the third book? For sure! I want/need to see what happens with Jeret's story. However, though enjoyable, this series hasn't been a home run for me.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
July 4, 2013
3-3.5 stars – A pretty fun sci-fi adventure romance that has kind of a Firefly-flavor. It was a little heavy on the sex in the middle and then lost a little steam, pacing-wise, for me though.
Sky Runners is part 2 in the Sky Bound series. I did not read part 1, and didn’t feel overly punished for it. (Part 1 focuses on another couple.) Some past events were well explained, and it was easy to go with the flow on this.
The story focuses on a rag-tag team of space mercenaries doing a job, one of rescuing a young man who is being held against his will at a high-end brothel. They rescue their mark, but find out it's someone from their past, which complicates the mission. More complications ensue as MC Killian finds himself falling head-over-heels for rescued Neith, although Neith has a hard time understanding those feelings due to the leftover drugs ravaging his system and confusing his thoughts about what are real feeling for Killian and what are the drugs.
The writing was overall pretty smooth—a few typos, but nothing super jarring. I liked the MCs fine. Killian is kind of an aw-shucks space cook/merc, and his low-key and patient manner was a good match for Neith, who was in recovery from his months of enslavement. (Heads-up for those who don’t like non-con, there’s no explicit non-con in the book, which worked for me. There are just some references to Neith’s experience at the brothel which was mostly in a drug haze. There is some “dub-con” as Neith is struck by a craze to have sex during his drug withdrawal, and both he and Killian have mixed feelings of guilt over their early encounters, but they work through it as their feelings for each other develop.)
I liked the first half. It's a fun, not-too-heavy space adventure, and I'm pretty go-with-the-flow on those. But I felt the pacing drag a bit during the third quarter while they’re hiding on a rural planet (and having some more sexy times.) And then the climax, but then by that time, I was skimming more to finish.
It’s a fun story though, especially if you like Firefly-esque sci-fi adventure romance. (And it’s less than $3 for 50,000+ words, so that’s a pretty good deal.) I’m not planning on going back to book 1. I’m pondering book 3, which focuses on a separate couple.
Sky Runners is part 2 in the Sky Bound series. I did not read part 1, and didn’t feel overly punished for it. (Part 1 focuses on another couple.) Some past events were well explained, and it was easy to go with the flow on this.
The story focuses on a rag-tag team of space mercenaries doing a job, one of rescuing a young man who is being held against his will at a high-end brothel. They rescue their mark, but find out it's someone from their past, which complicates the mission. More complications ensue as MC Killian finds himself falling head-over-heels for rescued Neith, although Neith has a hard time understanding those feelings due to the leftover drugs ravaging his system and confusing his thoughts about what are real feeling for Killian and what are the drugs.
The writing was overall pretty smooth—a few typos, but nothing super jarring. I liked the MCs fine. Killian is kind of an aw-shucks space cook/merc, and his low-key and patient manner was a good match for Neith, who was in recovery from his months of enslavement. (Heads-up for those who don’t like non-con, there’s no explicit non-con in the book, which worked for me. There are just some references to Neith’s experience at the brothel which was mostly in a drug haze. There is some “dub-con” as Neith is struck by a craze to have sex during his drug withdrawal, and both he and Killian have mixed feelings of guilt over their early encounters, but they work through it as their feelings for each other develop.)
I liked the first half. It's a fun, not-too-heavy space adventure, and I'm pretty go-with-the-flow on those. But I felt the pacing drag a bit during the third quarter while they’re hiding on a rural planet (and having some more sexy times.) And then the climax, but then by that time, I was skimming more to finish.
It’s a fun story though, especially if you like Firefly-esque sci-fi adventure romance. (And it’s less than $3 for 50,000+ words, so that’s a pretty good deal.) I’m not planning on going back to book 1. I’m pondering book 3, which focuses on a separate couple.
August 12, 2018
Sky Runners is much better then first in this series lucky me because I bought it by mistake. All the space pirates from the first are in attendance. Of course, we go to the whore house but this time we get a bit more story. The sex is not as oppressive and all consuming as the first time. These books are desperately in need of a sense of time sometimes you’ll think been a day went and its a week. If Fae Sutherland gets better in the next book I have high hopes. It’s a long way from perfect but it’s a easy, fun read. Who doesn’t like a fun space pirate romp?
June 3, 2013
I received a copy of this book as an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
A sweetly sexy story. I really enjoyed Neith's character. His strength, and character made him different from so many of the swooning maidens (of both genders) that populate so many romance novels. I loved his sense of humor, and his caring nature. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Killian. He was kind, and compassionate, and so concerned about taking advantage of Neith's when he was vulnerable due to the drugs. I would have preferred a bit more balance in their love lives, but that's just me. I enjoyed the secondary characters, and I think Jeret has to be my favorite of them all. I love the way his mind works. I hope that he has a book of his own soon. It would be fun to read from his perspective.
The plot was pretty good, and I liked the way the sex was woven into the plot. The ending was well done, and I admire Neith's resolve to make sure no one else suffers the way he did. I love Jeret's role in the conclusion, and I'm glad it was not a story about just the main couple, and their bond. It makes for a much richer, and more interesting story.
A sweetly sexy story. I really enjoyed Neith's character. His strength, and character made him different from so many of the swooning maidens (of both genders) that populate so many romance novels. I loved his sense of humor, and his caring nature. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Killian. He was kind, and compassionate, and so concerned about taking advantage of Neith's when he was vulnerable due to the drugs. I would have preferred a bit more balance in their love lives, but that's just me. I enjoyed the secondary characters, and I think Jeret has to be my favorite of them all. I love the way his mind works. I hope that he has a book of his own soon. It would be fun to read from his perspective.
The plot was pretty good, and I liked the way the sex was woven into the plot. The ending was well done, and I admire Neith's resolve to make sure no one else suffers the way he did. I love Jeret's role in the conclusion, and I'm glad it was not a story about just the main couple, and their bond. It makes for a much richer, and more interesting story.
May 30, 2016
Fun adventure in space. Great characters, cute story.
June 19, 2013
Review posted at The Armchair Reader.
I had a love/dislike relationship with the first book of this series, Sky Riders (reviewed here), mostly because though I liked the overall story I found myself drifting throughout the middle of the book. It just didn't keep my concentration (that is, admittedly, hard to do!). So I went back and forth for a few days before deciding if I should accept this book for review. As you can see, I decided to review it in the end. And though I feel like I had some of the same problems with this book that I had in the first, I'm still glad I made the decision I did. Even if most of that reason is that I need to be caught up for book #3, about Jeret, the one I'm really looking forward to!
Killian, "Cookie" as he's known to the crew of the Crux Ansata (or affectionately,"Annie"), is the second in command and has watched his captain and best friend Torin fall in love with bad boy Rain. The two are now happily settled and married, for the most part, and life has gone on as normal. Though he loves them all as family his life is still lonelier than the In Between. That all changes on their next rescue mission. Well, call it a rescue mission if you must, but they're really out for themselves. They're a mercenary crew and though they don't go out of the way to hurt others they're still criminals and happy to take what they can. When they hear of a son of an influential man has been taken hostage and is being kept as a whore on Kalliope 9, they make a plan to rescue the kid and bargain him back to his father for payment.
The plan goes off without a hitch, mostly. They do indeed rescue Neith. The first problem is that he is Rain's ex-boyfriend and the father in question the man who Rain delivered a major fuck-you to at the end of the first book. Besides the fact that Torin doesn't want Neith anywhere on board near Rain, Neith's father isn't going to pay them shit for his son -- both because he hates their whole crew and because he doesn't really give a shit about his son either. Complicating things further, Neith's captives are fast on their heels and they're not sure what they want. Is it Neith, or something he took from them? Neith is keeping secrets. But, it's natural, he's been tortured, raped and drugged to want it all with a new designer chemical called Pandora's Cure, a drug that makes the user crave sex from whoever or wherever they can get it, simultaneously shutting down any worries or fears or ability to think for themselves. With the drug moving out of his system, Neith is dangerous to the crew and to Killian, who wants to be the one Neith wants, even though he mostly wants Rain. Do the drugs affects negate any of the real feelings between the two? Or, is a relationship between rich and beautiful Neith and a big, brawny criminal a pipe dream to Killian?
I had the same problem reading this story as the previous one, in that I just had a hard time keeping my concentration. I'm not sure why. I wasn't sure with the last one and I'm not sure here… if it's my problem or something to do with the books. I think the most likely case is that I need quite a bit of sci-fi plot to get me interested in a space opera type story. That's not the case here. I mean, we do get an overall plot, with the slavers chasing them and all that. But for the most part and for the middle half of the book, this reads mostly like a contemporary romance, just with a few details added in here and there to make sure we remember that they're in an alternate world/spaceship. The setting fades into the background and the focus was on the couple. And there's definitely an internal conflict between Neith and Killian. Neith is mistrustful of his own feelings because of the drug in his system and Killian just wants to do everything to protect Neith, while at the same time hope he realizes that what they have is real and for the long haul. I just had a hard time keeping interest. I noticed that my concentration picked up again as the tension mounted in the chase.
But, for the most part this is a good story. I think that you should definitely read Sky Riders first. Not because you'd be completely lost if you read these out of order -- I don't think you would -- but because these stories are quite similar in theme and style and if you like the first one you'll know that you'll like the second as well. I really want to read the third book, which is coming out pretty soon. It's about the last of the crew, 18 year old Jeret, who is always the guy who seems to draw my attention whenever he's in the scene. I just love him, he's quite a unique character that I can't describe, but you have to read to see for yourself. So even if this book was only so so for me, I'm glad that I read it so that I could read Jeret's upcoming book :)
I had a love/dislike relationship with the first book of this series, Sky Riders (reviewed here), mostly because though I liked the overall story I found myself drifting throughout the middle of the book. It just didn't keep my concentration (that is, admittedly, hard to do!). So I went back and forth for a few days before deciding if I should accept this book for review. As you can see, I decided to review it in the end. And though I feel like I had some of the same problems with this book that I had in the first, I'm still glad I made the decision I did. Even if most of that reason is that I need to be caught up for book #3, about Jeret, the one I'm really looking forward to!
Killian, "Cookie" as he's known to the crew of the Crux Ansata (or affectionately,"Annie"), is the second in command and has watched his captain and best friend Torin fall in love with bad boy Rain. The two are now happily settled and married, for the most part, and life has gone on as normal. Though he loves them all as family his life is still lonelier than the In Between. That all changes on their next rescue mission. Well, call it a rescue mission if you must, but they're really out for themselves. They're a mercenary crew and though they don't go out of the way to hurt others they're still criminals and happy to take what they can. When they hear of a son of an influential man has been taken hostage and is being kept as a whore on Kalliope 9, they make a plan to rescue the kid and bargain him back to his father for payment.
The plan goes off without a hitch, mostly. They do indeed rescue Neith. The first problem is that he is Rain's ex-boyfriend and the father in question the man who Rain delivered a major fuck-you to at the end of the first book. Besides the fact that Torin doesn't want Neith anywhere on board near Rain, Neith's father isn't going to pay them shit for his son -- both because he hates their whole crew and because he doesn't really give a shit about his son either. Complicating things further, Neith's captives are fast on their heels and they're not sure what they want. Is it Neith, or something he took from them? Neith is keeping secrets. But, it's natural, he's been tortured, raped and drugged to want it all with a new designer chemical called Pandora's Cure, a drug that makes the user crave sex from whoever or wherever they can get it, simultaneously shutting down any worries or fears or ability to think for themselves. With the drug moving out of his system, Neith is dangerous to the crew and to Killian, who wants to be the one Neith wants, even though he mostly wants Rain. Do the drugs affects negate any of the real feelings between the two? Or, is a relationship between rich and beautiful Neith and a big, brawny criminal a pipe dream to Killian?
I had the same problem reading this story as the previous one, in that I just had a hard time keeping my concentration. I'm not sure why. I wasn't sure with the last one and I'm not sure here… if it's my problem or something to do with the books. I think the most likely case is that I need quite a bit of sci-fi plot to get me interested in a space opera type story. That's not the case here. I mean, we do get an overall plot, with the slavers chasing them and all that. But for the most part and for the middle half of the book, this reads mostly like a contemporary romance, just with a few details added in here and there to make sure we remember that they're in an alternate world/spaceship. The setting fades into the background and the focus was on the couple. And there's definitely an internal conflict between Neith and Killian. Neith is mistrustful of his own feelings because of the drug in his system and Killian just wants to do everything to protect Neith, while at the same time hope he realizes that what they have is real and for the long haul. I just had a hard time keeping interest. I noticed that my concentration picked up again as the tension mounted in the chase.
But, for the most part this is a good story. I think that you should definitely read Sky Riders first. Not because you'd be completely lost if you read these out of order -- I don't think you would -- but because these stories are quite similar in theme and style and if you like the first one you'll know that you'll like the second as well. I really want to read the third book, which is coming out pretty soon. It's about the last of the crew, 18 year old Jeret, who is always the guy who seems to draw my attention whenever he's in the scene. I just love him, he's quite a unique character that I can't describe, but you have to read to see for yourself. So even if this book was only so so for me, I'm glad that I read it so that I could read Jeret's upcoming book :)
July 7, 2013
If you’re looking for an M/M fantasy that takes you to another world filled with humor, heart and heat, then Sutherland’s Skybound series is for you.
There are several things about this series that makes in it unique. First off, it’s set on a ship called Annie (great name by the way ;0). There are several characters aboard it that make it fun and thrilling. They love to go at each other, making life worse for the other just for the fun of it. You get a sense of their camaraderie and their willingness to do whatever it takes to keep the other men on the ship safe. This is really where the humor comes in. I love their banter and the way they all seem to fight.
There is also the alternate world that Sutherland has created with her master mind. It’s vivid, dark but very intriguing at the same time. Sutherland opens up this particular book with a rescue mission at a brothel where Killian takes the governor’s son out of the grimy hands of the brothel owners. It’s action-packed and definitely caught my attention with the opening scene.
The pacing doesn’t slow from there. Once aboard Annie, Killian soon realizes that Neith has been given a drug called the Pandora’s Cure that amplifies the euphoria that one has during sex. It makes them crave that feeling, not necessarily sex and the withdrawal period is intense and highly painful. Neith needs pleasure to slowly wane himself from the drug and Killian is the man to do it. During this time, they learn of their passion for one another. I know what you’re thinking, their chemistry is only due to the drug. But Sutherland also makes sure that once the drug is taken out of the picture, Neith and Killian have a strong bond apart from that.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I only have one tiny complaint and that’s about Neith’s character. Sometimes I found him sounding too much like a child. He can be a little whiny and it doesn’t help that Killian calls him lil’ bit as well. Apart from that, this book is a solid M/M romance that I read very quickly. I can’t wait to read SKY HUNTER next!
*ARC provided by Netgalley
February 19, 2017
Decent story regarding a pleasure slave and his rescuer, a pirate who also cooks. Missing just that special something that could have given it more.
March 27, 2018
Full Review for Library Journal:
Sky Runners follows the crew of Crux Ansata (Annie for short) as they travel through space, raising hell and, occasionally, saving the day. Annie’s second-in-command, Killian, is a rough cowboy type and an unlikely match for the beautiful Neith, the son of the governor and a former hostage of human traffickers. Neith has a godlike beauty that makes him very popular with both the men and the ladies. As he goes through the horrible withdrawal from an insidious drug he was forced to take during his captivity, Neith finds comfort and safety in the arms of Killian—even when they are being chased from planet to planet by the traffickers bent on reclaiming their slave and a whole lot more. With steamy love scenes between the gorgeous Neith and the powerful Killian, this book is bound to make readers blush, as much as it will keep them on their toes.
Verdict This second in the series from Sutherland (after Sky Riders) is recommended to anyone who enjoys sf romance that also features a touch of the cowboy feel. Think Joss Whedon’s Firefly with an R rating and more male coupling.
https://reviews.libraryjournal.com/20...
Sky Runners follows the crew of Crux Ansata (Annie for short) as they travel through space, raising hell and, occasionally, saving the day. Annie’s second-in-command, Killian, is a rough cowboy type and an unlikely match for the beautiful Neith, the son of the governor and a former hostage of human traffickers. Neith has a godlike beauty that makes him very popular with both the men and the ladies. As he goes through the horrible withdrawal from an insidious drug he was forced to take during his captivity, Neith finds comfort and safety in the arms of Killian—even when they are being chased from planet to planet by the traffickers bent on reclaiming their slave and a whole lot more. With steamy love scenes between the gorgeous Neith and the powerful Killian, this book is bound to make readers blush, as much as it will keep them on their toes.
Verdict This second in the series from Sutherland (after Sky Riders) is recommended to anyone who enjoys sf romance that also features a touch of the cowboy feel. Think Joss Whedon’s Firefly with an R rating and more male coupling.
https://reviews.libraryjournal.com/20...
July 22, 2019
I liked this one a bit more than the first. It had a better plot for sure, or at least one that was easier to follow. Killian and Neith's romance was sweet, though telling me to believe that Neith fell in love with Killian within weeks of being rescued from a sex slave den... pushing it. Again, the novella conundrum.
But still, sweet. I especially liked how gentle Killian is. And the nicknames! The ending kind of makes me sad, to know that Killian is leaving the Crux Ansata, but it makes sense for them to find somewhere quiet to build a life.
This series' main problem continues to be the lack of world-building and the flimsy plot (seriously, how could Neith have NOT realised that his taking the ring would have resulted in being chased). Here's to hoping it tightens up a bit for the last book.
But still, sweet. I especially liked how gentle Killian is. And the nicknames! The ending kind of makes me sad, to know that Killian is leaving the Crux Ansata, but it makes sense for them to find somewhere quiet to build a life.
This series' main problem continues to be the lack of world-building and the flimsy plot (seriously, how could Neith have NOT realised that his taking the ring would have resulted in being chased). Here's to hoping it tightens up a bit for the last book.
October 16, 2022
I have listened to the audio book series a few times and that is my personal test to a good story. I love a good scifi that doesnt expect me to be a scientist to get it :) I found the characters and the universe they live in engaging. The narrator was a good choice for the story. Worth listening to the series.
March 10, 2019
Enjoyable space romp. A lot of though went into Pandora’s Cure and it had an interesting effect. I liked Killian and Neith.
March 3, 2022
Books two and three weren’t as compelling but still some fun space adventures to be had
January 21, 2025
Not very hot and way too serious.
July 2, 2013
Loved the swashbuckling space adventure and romance of the first book so I looked forward to this second book in the series that makes Cookie and Neith the leading characters. This one has a slightly different feel with the adventure part being muted somewhat with the plot focusing more in internal conflict in this one.
Cookie and the rest of the crew hear word of a lucrative bounty opportunity so decide to break a governor's son out of a slave brothel, return him to his family and collect the bounty. Simple, right? That is until the mission is successful and Cookie gets the young man on board Annie. Torin takes one look and recognizes Neith realizing that their chances of a reward aren't happening the way they left things with Neith's dad. Best they can do is to take Neith to his home and leave it at that. Then things get worse when Cookie, or Killian which is his real name, realizes that Neith has been given a nastily working drug that leaves the poor guy requiring a dose of sexual release quite frequently in fact until the drug wears off. Killian obliges him and starts to have feelings for the younger man, but now he has to wait and wonder if Neith returns his interest since the drug warps and inhibits Neith's emotions. Trouble continues to dodge their heels when the slavers pursue them putting Annie's crew on the run yet again. Being on the run is what they're best at though. Neith has one more potentially devastating big reveal that he has to face in the end, but at least he won't be alone for it.
It was great getting back with the fun crew of the Crux Ansata. It has been two years since the adventure bringing Rain to Torn. Now its Killian's turn. He has lived a lonely existence with a past full of pain. He's a caregiving type who takes care of those around him, but for the first time he has found someone to cherish. And Neith, he's grown up a bit since the last time we saw him in the first book. He's tired of trying to please a parent who won't ever be pleased and will always look on him as a disappointment so the sheltered governor's son tried to make a go of it in the big wide universe out there. He didn't get far when he fell in with the slavers and became the star attraction in a brothel. He's shaken, mentally bruised, but not down. Slowly, he comes to realize what Killian means to him. I loved their gentle romance though don't think that's all there is. These two can light up the sheets for certain.
And even though this book focused on Killian and Neith, it was still great fun that the rest of the crew got good amounts of page time too. Rain hasn't softened up Torin at all and Jeret is still just as precocious as ever. Can't wait to get my paws on Jeret's book next.
Those who love space opera and adventure should definitely give this series a try. Thank you to Net Galley and Carina Press for the opportunity to read this book for review purposes.
Cookie and the rest of the crew hear word of a lucrative bounty opportunity so decide to break a governor's son out of a slave brothel, return him to his family and collect the bounty. Simple, right? That is until the mission is successful and Cookie gets the young man on board Annie. Torin takes one look and recognizes Neith realizing that their chances of a reward aren't happening the way they left things with Neith's dad. Best they can do is to take Neith to his home and leave it at that. Then things get worse when Cookie, or Killian which is his real name, realizes that Neith has been given a nastily working drug that leaves the poor guy requiring a dose of sexual release quite frequently in fact until the drug wears off. Killian obliges him and starts to have feelings for the younger man, but now he has to wait and wonder if Neith returns his interest since the drug warps and inhibits Neith's emotions. Trouble continues to dodge their heels when the slavers pursue them putting Annie's crew on the run yet again. Being on the run is what they're best at though. Neith has one more potentially devastating big reveal that he has to face in the end, but at least he won't be alone for it.
It was great getting back with the fun crew of the Crux Ansata. It has been two years since the adventure bringing Rain to Torn. Now its Killian's turn. He has lived a lonely existence with a past full of pain. He's a caregiving type who takes care of those around him, but for the first time he has found someone to cherish. And Neith, he's grown up a bit since the last time we saw him in the first book. He's tired of trying to please a parent who won't ever be pleased and will always look on him as a disappointment so the sheltered governor's son tried to make a go of it in the big wide universe out there. He didn't get far when he fell in with the slavers and became the star attraction in a brothel. He's shaken, mentally bruised, but not down. Slowly, he comes to realize what Killian means to him. I loved their gentle romance though don't think that's all there is. These two can light up the sheets for certain.
And even though this book focused on Killian and Neith, it was still great fun that the rest of the crew got good amounts of page time too. Rain hasn't softened up Torin at all and Jeret is still just as precocious as ever. Can't wait to get my paws on Jeret's book next.
Those who love space opera and adventure should definitely give this series a try. Thank you to Net Galley and Carina Press for the opportunity to read this book for review purposes.
July 16, 2013
A guilty pleasure, all the way. But it had so much heart! First, you should know it's a m/m romance set in space. The guys are addictive, and Killian and Neith's relationship completely sweet and, although it begins from a messed-up foundation, winds up being beautiful.
Killian is a space pirate, working with his friend and captain, Torin, to rescue a governor's son from an awful brothel. The book opens with the rescue scene and right away, it's clear the man they've rescued turns out to be a lot more trouble than they could have imagined. For one, the man (Neith) is a past flame of the captain's husband Rain. Nothing a guy wants more than to deal with than his husband's horny ex aboard a small transit ship, right? And there's a reason Neith is so ravenous when it comes to sex-- he's been heavily drugged with a malicious concoction so he would comply with being turned into a sex slave in the brothel where he's been imprisoned. The side effects are emotionally torturous and the withdrawl is even worse. But now that he's safe onboard "The Annie" he will have a safe place to come down off the drug. Because Killian, the ship's cook and all-around heavy-lifting man, is drawn to Neith and takes a personal interest in the boy. Sure, the sex is fun but it's because of a horrible drug. Both men feel terrible about 'using' one another as Neith works through the pain, but it soon becomes crystal clear that the two are developing strong bonds to one another that have much more to do with an emotional, loving connection.
A lot of the time, the tone of the book reminded me of Firefly. Space cowboy-types, talkin' like this. Several witty moments and some laughs. There are a few chapters on an earthy, down-home sounding planet called Nephele where the two men have a house together, get to know the community, Neith learns about herbs and medicine from the local doc, Killian begins to accept that he does truly love Neith... it's so nice. You almost forget for awhile that this is a book involving space travel, since there's so many ORGANIC pieces to the story. I loved that.
This is the second book in Fae Sutherland's series. I haven't read the first book, or the third. I picked this one because the plot sounded the most appealing. But now I'll definitely download the other two books, as they explore the other characters in the story. How Torin and Rain became a couple (book 1); how Jerat finds his way to work around his princely past.
I read this in three days. It was just kind of addictive and fun; didn't want to put it down.
Killian is a space pirate, working with his friend and captain, Torin, to rescue a governor's son from an awful brothel. The book opens with the rescue scene and right away, it's clear the man they've rescued turns out to be a lot more trouble than they could have imagined. For one, the man (Neith) is a past flame of the captain's husband Rain. Nothing a guy wants more than to deal with than his husband's horny ex aboard a small transit ship, right? And there's a reason Neith is so ravenous when it comes to sex-- he's been heavily drugged with a malicious concoction so he would comply with being turned into a sex slave in the brothel where he's been imprisoned. The side effects are emotionally torturous and the withdrawl is even worse. But now that he's safe onboard "The Annie" he will have a safe place to come down off the drug. Because Killian, the ship's cook and all-around heavy-lifting man, is drawn to Neith and takes a personal interest in the boy. Sure, the sex is fun but it's because of a horrible drug. Both men feel terrible about 'using' one another as Neith works through the pain, but it soon becomes crystal clear that the two are developing strong bonds to one another that have much more to do with an emotional, loving connection.
A lot of the time, the tone of the book reminded me of Firefly. Space cowboy-types, talkin' like this. Several witty moments and some laughs. There are a few chapters on an earthy, down-home sounding planet called Nephele where the two men have a house together, get to know the community, Neith learns about herbs and medicine from the local doc, Killian begins to accept that he does truly love Neith... it's so nice. You almost forget for awhile that this is a book involving space travel, since there's so many ORGANIC pieces to the story. I loved that.
This is the second book in Fae Sutherland's series. I haven't read the first book, or the third. I picked this one because the plot sounded the most appealing. But now I'll definitely download the other two books, as they explore the other characters in the story. How Torin and Rain became a couple (book 1); how Jerat finds his way to work around his princely past.
I read this in three days. It was just kind of addictive and fun; didn't want to put it down.
July 25, 2013
REVIEW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AT THE REVIEWS BY JESSEWAVE WHERE I RECEIVED THE BOOK AS FREE REVIEWING COPY
I reviewed the first book in this series “Sky Riders” here, and sadly just as I predicted I did not remember almost anything about it before I started reading the second book. Unfortunately it only has been several days since I read the second book, but I already can see that it will not stay with me for long time either. I am sad about it, really. I love scifi and fantasy and while I want to like every book I get for review, I have a very soft spot for those genres (and historicals, and mysteries :) ).
The book is well written and well edited, and there is really nothing wrong with it. I mean, I wish the author would explored the world building and space opera aspect of it in much more depth, but I already saw that world building was mostly a window dressing for romance in book one and IMO the trend continues in this book. I could have ignored it if I was completely happy with a development of the romance, unfortunately I had issues with the characters and developing of their relationship as well.
Killian and Neith are both likeable guys. The attraction between them flares very fast, and while I appreciated that it was partially due to the drugs’ in Neith’s system, I still thought that it was painfully obvious that most of it was real and all Neith’s hesitation was not making me hesitate as a reader if that makes sense. Bottom line – I wanted their relationship to develop slower than it was developing. I was happy that while I was worried that Neith was going to be a character who constantly needed saving, he showed a backbone and a strong one closer to the end of the story. I really respected that. Unfortunately there is really not much I can tell you about Killian besides the fact that he was a good, honorable, decent guy. As I said before, unfortunately I do not think of him as a very memorable character.
The couple from the first book is taking some part in the action, because one of the guys is the captain of their ship, so it would be hard for them not to, but their relationship is not tested any longer, which made perfect sense since they already had their book.
I hope other readers will like this book better than I did.
I reviewed the first book in this series “Sky Riders” here, and sadly just as I predicted I did not remember almost anything about it before I started reading the second book. Unfortunately it only has been several days since I read the second book, but I already can see that it will not stay with me for long time either. I am sad about it, really. I love scifi and fantasy and while I want to like every book I get for review, I have a very soft spot for those genres (and historicals, and mysteries :) ).
The book is well written and well edited, and there is really nothing wrong with it. I mean, I wish the author would explored the world building and space opera aspect of it in much more depth, but I already saw that world building was mostly a window dressing for romance in book one and IMO the trend continues in this book. I could have ignored it if I was completely happy with a development of the romance, unfortunately I had issues with the characters and developing of their relationship as well.
Killian and Neith are both likeable guys. The attraction between them flares very fast, and while I appreciated that it was partially due to the drugs’ in Neith’s system, I still thought that it was painfully obvious that most of it was real and all Neith’s hesitation was not making me hesitate as a reader if that makes sense. Bottom line – I wanted their relationship to develop slower than it was developing. I was happy that while I was worried that Neith was going to be a character who constantly needed saving, he showed a backbone and a strong one closer to the end of the story. I really respected that. Unfortunately there is really not much I can tell you about Killian besides the fact that he was a good, honorable, decent guy. As I said before, unfortunately I do not think of him as a very memorable character.
The couple from the first book is taking some part in the action, because one of the guys is the captain of their ship, so it would be hard for them not to, but their relationship is not tested any longer, which made perfect sense since they already had their book.
I hope other readers will like this book better than I did.
August 2, 2013
Great book. Great series. My only complaint with this book was that although there was a lot of sex between the MCs there were only one or two that were actually DESCRIBED. I know that the author is trying to balance the sex scenes with regular scenes But in this case I think the scale tipped a bit too far into the regular scene category.
Other than that I have no complaints! Killian aka Cookie and Neith aka li'l bit were adorable and it was clearly love at first sight for them. Their story was captivating and heartfelt all at the same time. Watching Neith work through his captivity and abuse was wonderful. I love characters that truly need eachother to become one within themselves as well as a couple. This was most definitely that.
Other than that I have no complaints! Killian aka Cookie and Neith aka li'l bit were adorable and it was clearly love at first sight for them. Their story was captivating and heartfelt all at the same time. Watching Neith work through his captivity and abuse was wonderful. I love characters that truly need eachother to become one within themselves as well as a couple. This was most definitely that.
July 13, 2013
What a great read! I have to go back and read the first book in this series now. It's an interesting space/future world set up. m/m vs m/f romance doesn't seem to be an issue at all in this world, which was interesting and nice. I thought the repercussions of forced prostitution were handled ok. My thought is that there would be bigger after effects, but it wasn't totally ignored, so I'm good with that. I'm a sucker for unintentional aphrodisiac stories, so that part worked for me. I thought Killian and Neith's relationship was sweet. I enjoyed the secondary characters, too. A fun read I'd recommend to people who enjoy space settings.
June 24, 2013
3.5 stars - Enjoyed this from the beginning to the end. I especially loved Cookie/Killian and Neith's relationship. Although it started off as a way for Neith to cope with the drugs in his system thanks to his captivity/slavery, their relationship became solid, full of love and sexy goodness. Loved it.
August 5, 2013
I listened to the audio version of this book. This is a sweet, fun, uncomplicated story with a great narration. 3.5 stars for the story and 5 for the narrator, Jack Le Fleur. He can take a mediocre story and bring it to a new level. I didn't read/listen to the first book, but didn't think it affected my enjoyment of the story at all.
August 2, 2015
I read this book prior to Jan 2014, before I started reviewing everything I read or listened to. I do remember liking it very much and thinking it was a great space romp with a solid storyline, likeable characters, and some sizzling romance.
Want to read
May 22, 2013I was hoping this would be Jeret's book :/
July 26, 2016
Killian and Neith
3.5 stars
Read 2nd August 2013
3.5 stars
Read 2nd August 2013
June 25, 2013
3.5 Stars
September 25, 2013
Review Pending.
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