Captain’s Boy

by K.D. Sarge

Donte spent his teen years orphaned and homeless in a snowbound smuggler’s port. Now he’s a university student. The hot meals are nice and everything is warmer on his new planet, but life among people is so much more complicated. With only two friends—young Jordan whom Donte tutors and the fiery Selene who shares his table in the coffeehouse—Donte has things somewhat under control, but still he struggles with both unfriendly and friendly people, and he can’t shake the feeling that he’s getting it all wrong.

None of that matters after Jordan is stolen by slavers. Donte enlists Selene to help rescue the boy, and when Jordan is taken off-planet Donte and Selene follow. But determination and luck can only get them so far, and the closer the pair come to Jordan, the nearer they get to Donte’s deepest fears, and a past he’d worked to hide from everyone—especially himself.

Donte knows all too well the horrors Jordan faces, but when his secrets are dragged into an open courtroom, will Donte find the strength to speak the truth and save the boy?

Genres: Science Fiction

ebook

First published March 29, 2013

About the author

KD Sarge writes for joy and hope, and works for a living. She has tried her hand at many endeavors, including Governess of the Children, Grand Director of the Drive-Through, and Dispatcher of the Tow Trucks. Currently KD labors appreciated but underpaid in the public school system.

Past accomplishments include surviving eight one-year-olds for eight hours alone (she lasted about ten months), driving a twenty-foot truck from Ohio to Arizona by way of *shudder* Oklahoma, and making a six-pack of tacos in twenty-three seconds.

Writing achievements include the Weightiest First Draft Ever (this title is in contention), as well as nine other, much lighter, completed novels. She has five universes under construction, writes science fiction, fantasy, steampunk, smut (in many genres), and means to one day undertake a cosy mystery. She is an active participant on two writing forums. KD has won NaNoWriMo five times and NaNoEdMo once. A widow, KD lives in Arizona with three children, two of them furred and all of them demanding.

Reviews

[Kaje Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book fits into the Knight Errant Dream'verse. It's the backstory of Donte and Selene, with a tiny glimpse of 14-year-old Taro. This one is M/F not M/M, but Donte in particular is a character who will tug at your heart. The story opens with him at University, trying to do what he thinks his Captain expects of him, and hiding the fact that he is still so traumatized by his past that he has phobias and flashes of anger, and even moments of black-out. One of the things that makes him feel better, more mature and doing something good, is tutoring Jordan, a young, poor kid in the slums of the city. Then one day, he discovers that the kid's mother has sold him to slavers, for booze-and-drugs money.

Donte has a horror of slavers clearly tied to the past that still haunts him, and he's determined to rescue Jordan, as he was once rescued by Captain Marcori. But first he has to find him. And as he begins his search, his friend Selene invites herself along. Selene is stunningly beautiful, flirtatious, fiercely independent, wild and a little crazy. But it's good to have friends.

I really enjoyed this story, in Sarge's usual adventurous and humorous style, with strong emotional underpinnings. I had a few minor quibbles, for instance about a girl with Selene's background, job and home life being so unfamiliar with the possibilities represented by the sex slave trade (like the fact that they would take a young boy.) And Donte's backstory - the three encounters with the Captain, etc - were just a little cryptic for me to follow. Her guilt about him later could have been powerful if I'd understood it better. It almost felt like things were being held back to write in another story, or like I'd missed a story - perhaps I have. I also felt Ben could not have been quite that oblivious to Donte's situation, if there were physical marks he should have picked up on - Captain, twins, whatever - Ben's too good a doctor to have missed that.

Recommended for anyone who likes this author's universe and doesn't require an M/M pairing. As usual, no on-page sex in any combination of body parts. I'll pretty much read anything K.D. Sarge writes.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

another fantastic book from K.D.!

this a prequel to Knight Errant, and tells how two of the shipmates (Donte & Selene) met. while it lives in the romance genre, it's also a story of strength & survival.

Donte's on-planet at college when the boy he's tutoring is sold to slavers. He & Selene sign onto a spaceship crew to chase after him.

things i love about K.D.'s writing: it's wonderfully easy to empathize with her characters (in all her books), and even though this story exists in a sci-fi environment, she doesn't overdo the tech.

[Beccaie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to see another installment in the Dream'verse, and Captain's Boy does not disappoint!

This is the fourth book in the series, and it's fun to see all of the characters from the Pendragon's Dream towards the end of the book, but the story centers around Donte and Selene. During the course of the story, they experience so many things that are horrible reminders of the past and daunting new situations, but they learn each other's strengths and how to work together. I love having the backstory that explains glimpses of their relationship that I got from the other books in the series.

I wish it was my gift to write insightful reviews that drop hints to tantalize, but I'm afraid I would end up spoiling the story somehow. So I will simply say that I HIGHLY recommend this book.

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
It's been a couple years since I read anything by Sarge, which is a shame because that meant my memory of the personality of The Dream's crew was a little hazy. But that wasn't enough to truly detract from my enjoyment of this story. It's basically a hero's quest in space. Donte makes an adorable hero and Selene is one heck of a side-kick/co-hero, because she is just so much more.

I love that Sarge lets female characters be strong and save the boys. I could grumble that she's guilty of consistently making women strong by making them act like men (easy to anger and fight) and ignoring other forms of female strength. But she did include a Mothering type here, so maybe that is changing. I'm a little less forgiving in this case over the extreme stereotypical representation of the over-sexualized, fiery Latina. While I really enjoyed her as a character, I was a little uncomfortable about how close she plays to type.

For the most part however, I simply enjoyed the ride and plan to read more books by Sarge.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more Dream'verse novels I read, the more of them I want! Donte and Selene are wonderful, as is the brief glance of a younger Taro. I really enjoyed learning more about the crew of Pendragon's Dream and the legend of Eve. I can't say too much more without spoiling it, but after everything, I really just want to give Donte a hug. Read this book! (And then read the others in the series!)

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncomplicated and entertaining.