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Corwint Central Agent Files #2
Whispers From Exile
A love forbidden, and some would say impossible, forges between two friends as one struggles for the freedom of his people, and the other struggles for freedom from the confining construct of his mechanical existence.
The Ruisks were once a fierce and proud race with courageous spirits, but after over a century of being held captive under the oppressive leash of the Xen’dari Empire, they have become defeated, hollow shells that bow their heads in submission. Can Larx help his people find their courage again to stand against the oppression, and can he find his own courage to be true to his nature and the callings of his heart?
Torque has been a Central Agent for over one hundred and thirty years. Each day is defined by the protocols embedded into the subroutines of his Mechatronic mind. Orders are followed without question and his personal life is never put before the directives of the agency. That is the way of his universe, until one startling discovery about a friend he thought he knew redefines which protocols he gives importance to. Can he overcome himself as he fights to hold on to Larx and a bond that threatens to change his directive-driven world forever?
The Ruisks were once a fierce and proud race with courageous spirits, but after over a century of being held captive under the oppressive leash of the Xen’dari Empire, they have become defeated, hollow shells that bow their heads in submission. Can Larx help his people find their courage again to stand against the oppression, and can he find his own courage to be true to his nature and the callings of his heart?
Torque has been a Central Agent for over one hundred and thirty years. Each day is defined by the protocols embedded into the subroutines of his Mechatronic mind. Orders are followed without question and his personal life is never put before the directives of the agency. That is the way of his universe, until one startling discovery about a friend he thought he knew redefines which protocols he gives importance to. Can he overcome himself as he fights to hold on to Larx and a bond that threatens to change his directive-driven world forever?
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2013
41 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
C.E. Kilgore
51 books187 followersC.E. Kilgore (1981 - ) is an author without genre, who likes to dabble in several genres from romance to science fiction. She also enjoys pushing the boundaries of those genres, trying new things, venturing outside formulas and turning tropes on their heads. Admittedly a control freak, she is currently a self-published author under the name Tracing The Stars, and hasn't quite found the publisher who fits all her quirks. Be sure to check out her website, cekilgore.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 21, 2018
This is the second novel in the Corwint Central Agent Files series and I have to say that I enjoyed it just as much as the first one. It is a continuation of the story that begins in book one, but is so much more - new characters are added, new stories to add to the amazing sci-fi + love story that this author has written.
I am not a fan of love stories, but this series has several beautiful ones wrapped into it. The kind that bring tears to your eyes and make your heart long for their happiness. She did an amazing job writing this series.
I have so much to say, but I don't want to give it away so I'll simply say: I can't wait to get my hands on book three.
I was given this book for free in exchange for an HONEST review.
I am not a fan of love stories, but this series has several beautiful ones wrapped into it. The kind that bring tears to your eyes and make your heart long for their happiness. She did an amazing job writing this series.
I have so much to say, but I don't want to give it away so I'll simply say: I can't wait to get my hands on book three.
I was given this book for free in exchange for an HONEST review.
June 30, 2014
Who is C. E. Kilgore?
A Peddlar... a peddlar of CRACK!!!!
and the first hit's always free...
argggggggggggggggh
A Peddlar... a peddlar of CRACK!!!!
and the first hit's always free...
argggggggggggggggh
August 16, 2015
What I liked:
As always, a well-paced, emotional story, this time with several romances of varying gender and/or species pairings threaded through it (there is something for everyone!) while also going back to the main story for Ethan and Orynn. It progresses the overall series arc, while also focusing on intertwining characters with their own stories. I've developed a sudden obsession with bad boy Merik, because here we see hints that there's more to him under that twisted, murderous exterior.
What I didn't like:
This book didn't gel so well for me. While I bought this as part of the Corwint series rather than as a m/m SciFi romance, the latter is what I expected from the focus of the blurb and the excerpt on the author's website. Instead it was straight back to Orynn and Ethan. While I adore them and was very happy to get back to them after the two side stories between books one and two, it felt like I'd picked up the wrong book to begin with! It took until the end of chapter four to get my bearings when it became the story in the blurb, but it then took several more chapters for it all to come together. I also found the head hopping during the m/m sex scenes very confusing. I almost wonder if it might have been better to have Larx and Torque's romance as a separate story in its own right. There were just too many characters to keep track of and maybe, just maybe, too many romances happening at once.
In conclusion:
A great continuation of the series, full of heart-wrenching romances and tension, though somewhat confusing with the dual main storylines and numerous character POVs. If you like m/m romances, and especially non-human with human or android interactions, this is for you but you need to have at least read book one (the side stories aren't required reading though). As always, Kilgore writes the emotional turmoils of her characters with real impact - if you don't cry at least once you are as heartless as the Xen'dari make out the Mechas to be! Debating whether to go straight to book three or read the side stories first.
As always, a well-paced, emotional story, this time with several romances of varying gender and/or species pairings threaded through it (there is something for everyone!) while also going back to the main story for Ethan and Orynn. It progresses the overall series arc, while also focusing on intertwining characters with their own stories. I've developed a sudden obsession with bad boy Merik, because here we see hints that there's more to him under that twisted, murderous exterior.
What I didn't like:
This book didn't gel so well for me. While I bought this as part of the Corwint series rather than as a m/m SciFi romance, the latter is what I expected from the focus of the blurb and the excerpt on the author's website. Instead it was straight back to Orynn and Ethan. While I adore them and was very happy to get back to them after the two side stories between books one and two, it felt like I'd picked up the wrong book to begin with! It took until the end of chapter four to get my bearings when it became the story in the blurb, but it then took several more chapters for it all to come together. I also found the head hopping during the m/m sex scenes very confusing. I almost wonder if it might have been better to have Larx and Torque's romance as a separate story in its own right. There were just too many characters to keep track of and maybe, just maybe, too many romances happening at once.
In conclusion:
A great continuation of the series, full of heart-wrenching romances and tension, though somewhat confusing with the dual main storylines and numerous character POVs. If you like m/m romances, and especially non-human with human or android interactions, this is for you but you need to have at least read book one (the side stories aren't required reading though). As always, Kilgore writes the emotional turmoils of her characters with real impact - if you don't cry at least once you are as heartless as the Xen'dari make out the Mechas to be! Debating whether to go straight to book three or read the side stories first.
April 10, 2019
A bit confusing
It was a mismash of several.characters stories leading to a.conclusion that wasn't part of the first. Interesting to see.how the rest of the.group came to be and worked together.
It was a mismash of several.characters stories leading to a.conclusion that wasn't part of the first. Interesting to see.how the rest of the.group came to be and worked together.
September 9, 2017
Very Good Adult Space Opera Reflects Immense Diversity
Kilgore's second installment of this original adult space opera oscillates between interspecies relationships that, it turns out, are not really different species at all. (Different species, after all can not reproduce. )
All the human races, much more different than their ancestry on Earth, think of themselves as separate species, but they are mistaken...and this episode goes far beyond that, introducing gay mechanical beings. Very original, but if you can not bear to read an adult space opera featuring gay protagonists, you probably will not like this.
VERY GOOD, UNUSUAL, ORIGINAL ADULT SPACE OPERA OF INTERSTELLAR LIBERATION...
Kilgore's second installment of this original adult space opera oscillates between interspecies relationships that, it turns out, are not really different species at all. (Different species, after all can not reproduce. )
All the human races, much more different than their ancestry on Earth, think of themselves as separate species, but they are mistaken...and this episode goes far beyond that, introducing gay mechanical beings. Very original, but if you can not bear to read an adult space opera featuring gay protagonists, you probably will not like this.
VERY GOOD, UNUSUAL, ORIGINAL ADULT SPACE OPERA OF INTERSTELLAR LIBERATION...
April 29, 2022
Enjoyable soap opera
No plot spoilers
No potential triggers although there is reference to sexual slavery.
The characterisation is good, more than enough to allow the reader to form a connection.
The story moves on from Ethan and Orynn but their struggle isn't forgotten even as new characters are introduced and previous characters explore their expanding lives.
There is M/M romance including sexual scenes.
The errors are still evident, missing words etc and the book could benefit from a decent proof reader and editor.
All that said, I enjoyed the book and will continue with the series.
If you are a fan of the genre I have no problem recommending the series.
No plot spoilers
No potential triggers although there is reference to sexual slavery.
The characterisation is good, more than enough to allow the reader to form a connection.
The story moves on from Ethan and Orynn but their struggle isn't forgotten even as new characters are introduced and previous characters explore their expanding lives.
There is M/M romance including sexual scenes.
The errors are still evident, missing words etc and the book could benefit from a decent proof reader and editor.
All that said, I enjoyed the book and will continue with the series.
If you are a fan of the genre I have no problem recommending the series.
August 3, 2022
I had a very hard time finishing this book. The sex and the language are atrocious. Very tedious text to read through, with unnecessary explanations. Makes for a very long, skip-thru-text sort of read.
May 9, 2017
book 2 of Corwint Central Agent Files; space opera; excellent read
February 7, 2020
I love the way this story is unfolding. So many moving parts working together flawlessly. Great characters that I care about that are dynamic and well developed. Highly recommend.
December 2, 2013
This review is written by Nic's wife. I've done my best to avoid actual spoilers, but there may be mild spoilers related to the overlying theme and plot of this book, and Ghosts in the Machine, later in the review. They're marked off, though, so read at your own risk.
Whispers from Exile has a lot of the same strengths as the original- it's written with a pretty genuine tenderness, and a sensitivity toward the cultures Kilgore has created. The characters are likable, but more importantly, relatable. The new characters have a lot of the same wit as the crew of the Zera, who we followed in book one. It's just... not the continuation of book 1 that I wanted it to be. It read as though it would have been stronger cut down slightly, and released as a standalone, rather than as Ghost in the Machine's sequel. Your mileage may vary, though. It's a sweet (and sometimes steamy) romance with great scifi details, well realized worlds, and has a lot of great features. There was one section that seemed to have a fairly large plot hole, to my eyes, but it was overall very cohesive and well presented.
Whispers from Exile has a lot of the same strengths as the original- it's written with a pretty genuine tenderness, and a sensitivity toward the cultures Kilgore has created. The characters are likable, but more importantly, relatable. The new characters have a lot of the same wit as the crew of the Zera, who we followed in book one. It's just... not the continuation of book 1 that I wanted it to be. It read as though it would have been stronger cut down slightly, and released as a standalone, rather than as Ghost in the Machine's sequel. Your mileage may vary, though. It's a sweet (and sometimes steamy) romance with great scifi details, well realized worlds, and has a lot of great features. There was one section that seemed to have a fairly large plot hole, to my eyes, but it was overall very cohesive and well presented.
August 9, 2015
Having not read the first book in the series at first I found this book to be confusing , however once I got a few chapters into it it became much better. I liked where the story lead and how it got to the finish. The characterization was really thought out and you could see a good arc. I would highly recommend this book and possibly the series to anyone who likes Syfy action adventure novels.
October 7, 2013
Not as good as the first in this series but still worth a read if only to follow the story through.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews