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Ambasadora #1
Marked by Light
This is the first book in the Ambasadora science fiction adventure series. This space thriller contains elements of space opera, science fiction romance, cyberpunk, military science fiction, a galactic empire, anthropological science fiction, and exploration.
If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it?
Sara Mendoza and Sean Cryer are.
In their multi-partner, caste-ruled society, love and jealousy are considered emotional fallacies, nothing more than fleeting moods and sentiments biased by hormones. Relationships and conceptions in this world obsessed with celebrity, beauty, and power are based on DNA and lineages...or should be. But not everyone believes in the ruling traditions of the all-powerful Embassy. A quiet rebellion prowls the dark underground of this shiny world where techno-militants calling themselves fraggers grow in numbers and bravado. The Embassy intends to silence the fragger movement before the heresy of equality spreads throughout the system.
Sara Mendoza is part of the Embassy's plan. Captured, tortured, and falsely accused of treason, she is given a chance to win back her freedom. She only needs to charm information from one of the fragger leaders, then kill him. But by the time she figures out the Embassy's intel is flawed and that Sean Cryer is her true mark, she's already in love with him.
Sean knows why Sara is on his ship from the start, but as a lonely, anti-social doser, he doesn't value his life, only his ideology within the fragger organization. Against his better judgment, he becomes her protector, each day caring more about a future he was always afraid to hope for.
Also read GREENSHIFT (From the World of Ambasadora), the first book in a new Science Fiction Romance series set in the same universe.
Coming 2014: STARRIE (From the World of Ambasadora)
Coming 2015: Ambasadora BOOK 2: SCARRED BY LIGHT
If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it?
Sara Mendoza and Sean Cryer are.
In their multi-partner, caste-ruled society, love and jealousy are considered emotional fallacies, nothing more than fleeting moods and sentiments biased by hormones. Relationships and conceptions in this world obsessed with celebrity, beauty, and power are based on DNA and lineages...or should be. But not everyone believes in the ruling traditions of the all-powerful Embassy. A quiet rebellion prowls the dark underground of this shiny world where techno-militants calling themselves fraggers grow in numbers and bravado. The Embassy intends to silence the fragger movement before the heresy of equality spreads throughout the system.
Sara Mendoza is part of the Embassy's plan. Captured, tortured, and falsely accused of treason, she is given a chance to win back her freedom. She only needs to charm information from one of the fragger leaders, then kill him. But by the time she figures out the Embassy's intel is flawed and that Sean Cryer is her true mark, she's already in love with him.
Sean knows why Sara is on his ship from the start, but as a lonely, anti-social doser, he doesn't value his life, only his ideology within the fragger organization. Against his better judgment, he becomes her protector, each day caring more about a future he was always afraid to hope for.
Also read GREENSHIFT (From the World of Ambasadora), the first book in a new Science Fiction Romance series set in the same universe.
Coming 2014: STARRIE (From the World of Ambasadora)
Coming 2015: Ambasadora BOOK 2: SCARRED BY LIGHT
242 pages, Paperback
First published April 22, 2011
15 people are currently reading
1607 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Ruby Miller
22 books280 followersHeidi Ruby Miller uses research for her stories as an excuse to roam the globe. With degrees in Anthropology, Geography, Foreign Languages, and Writing, she knew early that penning fast-paced, exotic adventures would be her life. She's put her experiences and studies to paper in her far-future AMBASADORA series and her two new thriller series.
In between trips, Heidi teaches creative writing at Seton Hill University, where she graduated from their renowned Writing Popular Fiction Graduate Program the same month she appeared on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. AMBASADORA was her thesis novel there, and the multi-award winning writing guide MANY GENRES, ONE CRAFT, which she co-edited with Michael A. Arnzen, is based on the Seton Hill program and was named #5 in The Writer magazine's Ten Most Terrific Writing Books of 2011.
She has had various fiction and non-fiction publications, as well as various jobs, including contract archaeologist, foreign currency exchanger at Walt Disney World, foreign language teacher, and educational marketing director for Frank Lloyd Wright's House on Kentuck Knob. In 2012, Heidi created the Dog Star Books science fiction imprint for Raw Dog Screaming Press and was the managing editor for the line for three years.
Recently she was the Director of Professional Writing Relations for the Pennsylvania Literary Festival, an event she co-founded in 2014.
Her formal memberships include The Authors Guild, International Thriller Writers, Pennwriters, Science Fiction Poetry Association, and the SFR Brigade. Heidi is fond of high-heeled shoes, action movies, chocolate, and tea of any sort. She lives near Pittsburgh with her award-winning writer husband, Jason Jack Miller, and a sweet little kitty.
In between trips, Heidi teaches creative writing at Seton Hill University, where she graduated from their renowned Writing Popular Fiction Graduate Program the same month she appeared on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. AMBASADORA was her thesis novel there, and the multi-award winning writing guide MANY GENRES, ONE CRAFT, which she co-edited with Michael A. Arnzen, is based on the Seton Hill program and was named #5 in The Writer magazine's Ten Most Terrific Writing Books of 2011.
She has had various fiction and non-fiction publications, as well as various jobs, including contract archaeologist, foreign currency exchanger at Walt Disney World, foreign language teacher, and educational marketing director for Frank Lloyd Wright's House on Kentuck Knob. In 2012, Heidi created the Dog Star Books science fiction imprint for Raw Dog Screaming Press and was the managing editor for the line for three years.
Recently she was the Director of Professional Writing Relations for the Pennsylvania Literary Festival, an event she co-founded in 2014.
Her formal memberships include The Authors Guild, International Thriller Writers, Pennwriters, Science Fiction Poetry Association, and the SFR Brigade. Heidi is fond of high-heeled shoes, action movies, chocolate, and tea of any sort. She lives near Pittsburgh with her award-winning writer husband, Jason Jack Miller, and a sweet little kitty.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
May 24, 2012
I really loved this book. Miller is an architect of a believable set of worlds. The romantic elements are lovely and the characters are interesting. This is one of those rare books that spans the genres of science fiction and romance and does it really well. I would advise, however, reading the prequel Greenshift before embarking on the Ambasadora journey.
You will love both books, so why not start there? Greenshift introduces all the major characters as well as the interesting terra-formed landscape of the solar system they inhabit. It's a lovely novella. I am guessing that they were originally written together as one book, but the author was probably given the advice to separate them because Ambassadora already had two plot lines running concurrently. I personally wouldn't have had a problem with this--it is a style sometimes used in Space Opera to have a large cast of characters and they are all present and accounted for except for the Sara in Greenshift. And actually, in Greenshift, I believe some elements of the society and worlds are more thoroughly explained.
This author's many strengths include complex world building, complex societal structure, complex technology. The plot was well-crafted as well. The story unfolded in such a way that I wasn't ever sure where we were headed next and each new scene brought an interesting setting. That is a great compliment to the author because I generally feel like I can see what is coming next and here I just couldn't put it down--I had to know what Sean and Sara were going to do next.
I had a little trouble connecting with Sara at first--the only real flaw I can find in this book. The author didn't give us a lot to go on--I would have liked more internal dialogue and more of what makes Sara tick in those first chapters--at first she just seems like a selfish Socialite girl and I didn't really feel that sorry for her, but after a few chapters I started rooting for her. I also could have used more fleshing out of the world in those first few chapters (the stuff that is present in Greenshift, but more scarce here.)
Sean, I identified with right away and I actually was left wanting to see more of Sean, his life and backstory. He is a really wonderfully complex character--very well drawn. I hope he figures in some of Miller's future works.
I loved this look at a future dystopian society that had forgotten its roots and had a whole new series of problems that we don't face. I thought the complex societal structure was really amazing and a believable human reaction to a very real threat. A polygamy cast system developed in response to widespread fertility problems and the human race nearly dying out? I could actually see that happening.
Dialogue was good, descriptions interesting but not overdone. There are no info dumps in this book. The author deftly keeps you informed just what you need to know at any given moment and lets your imagination do the rest. Some of the descriptions given in Greenshift bear repeating in Ambasadora, though. Just a teeny info dump would have helped those first chapters for me.
A great start for an indie author. I'm glad I happened across this book--I was incredibly sad when I finished it! I look forward to sequels!
You will love both books, so why not start there? Greenshift introduces all the major characters as well as the interesting terra-formed landscape of the solar system they inhabit. It's a lovely novella. I am guessing that they were originally written together as one book, but the author was probably given the advice to separate them because Ambassadora already had two plot lines running concurrently. I personally wouldn't have had a problem with this--it is a style sometimes used in Space Opera to have a large cast of characters and they are all present and accounted for except for the Sara in Greenshift. And actually, in Greenshift, I believe some elements of the society and worlds are more thoroughly explained.
This author's many strengths include complex world building, complex societal structure, complex technology. The plot was well-crafted as well. The story unfolded in such a way that I wasn't ever sure where we were headed next and each new scene brought an interesting setting. That is a great compliment to the author because I generally feel like I can see what is coming next and here I just couldn't put it down--I had to know what Sean and Sara were going to do next.
I had a little trouble connecting with Sara at first--the only real flaw I can find in this book. The author didn't give us a lot to go on--I would have liked more internal dialogue and more of what makes Sara tick in those first chapters--at first she just seems like a selfish Socialite girl and I didn't really feel that sorry for her, but after a few chapters I started rooting for her. I also could have used more fleshing out of the world in those first few chapters (the stuff that is present in Greenshift, but more scarce here.)
Sean, I identified with right away and I actually was left wanting to see more of Sean, his life and backstory. He is a really wonderfully complex character--very well drawn. I hope he figures in some of Miller's future works.
I loved this look at a future dystopian society that had forgotten its roots and had a whole new series of problems that we don't face. I thought the complex societal structure was really amazing and a believable human reaction to a very real threat. A polygamy cast system developed in response to widespread fertility problems and the human race nearly dying out? I could actually see that happening.
Dialogue was good, descriptions interesting but not overdone. There are no info dumps in this book. The author deftly keeps you informed just what you need to know at any given moment and lets your imagination do the rest. Some of the descriptions given in Greenshift bear repeating in Ambasadora, though. Just a teeny info dump would have helped those first chapters for me.
A great start for an indie author. I'm glad I happened across this book--I was incredibly sad when I finished it! I look forward to sequels!
October 14, 2013
Book Info: Genre: Romantic science fiction
Reading Level: Adult
My Thoughts: My friend Coral over at Alchemy of Scrawl blog recently posted a review of this book, and I realized I’d had a free copy since last summer. She made it sound so enticing, I decided to give it a quick read right away. I’m not generally a fan of romance, but I figured in a science fiction setting I might find it more bearable. And I was right – in fact, the romance was understated and realistic, and I quite enjoyed the book (except for the descriptions of the pain the characters went through; I know pain and the descriptions made me feel it with them – it was quite uncomfortable. A big compliment to the author, who created such a realistic and visceral reaction!). The book has a lot of themes, dealing with issues of caste, social mores, sexuality, freedom and the danger of a person gaining too much power over others. Like any good piece of science fiction, it makes the reader really think about things while at the same time creating an entertaining world to experience; in this case, the author took her background in anthropology to create a very realistic world. Highly recommended.
Disclosure: I received a free copy with no expectations, but am happy to provide an honest review.
Synopsis: The Ambasadora-verse...a new futuristic romance series.
If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it? Sara Mendoza and Sean Cryer are.
Sara is part of the Embassy's plan. Captured, tortured, and falsely accused of treason, she is given a chance to win back her freedom. She only needs to charm information from one of the fragger leaders, then kill him. But by the time she figures out the Embassy's intel is flawed and that Sean Cryer is her true mark, she's already in love with him.
Sean knows why Sara is on his ship from the start, but as a lonely, anti-social doser, he doesn't value his life, only his ideology within the fragger organization. Against his better judgment, he becomes her protector, each day caring more about a future he was always afraid to hope for
Reading Level: Adult
My Thoughts: My friend Coral over at Alchemy of Scrawl blog recently posted a review of this book, and I realized I’d had a free copy since last summer. She made it sound so enticing, I decided to give it a quick read right away. I’m not generally a fan of romance, but I figured in a science fiction setting I might find it more bearable. And I was right – in fact, the romance was understated and realistic, and I quite enjoyed the book (except for the descriptions of the pain the characters went through; I know pain and the descriptions made me feel it with them – it was quite uncomfortable. A big compliment to the author, who created such a realistic and visceral reaction!). The book has a lot of themes, dealing with issues of caste, social mores, sexuality, freedom and the danger of a person gaining too much power over others. Like any good piece of science fiction, it makes the reader really think about things while at the same time creating an entertaining world to experience; in this case, the author took her background in anthropology to create a very realistic world. Highly recommended.
Disclosure: I received a free copy with no expectations, but am happy to provide an honest review.
Synopsis: The Ambasadora-verse...a new futuristic romance series.
If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it? Sara Mendoza and Sean Cryer are.
Sara is part of the Embassy's plan. Captured, tortured, and falsely accused of treason, she is given a chance to win back her freedom. She only needs to charm information from one of the fragger leaders, then kill him. But by the time she figures out the Embassy's intel is flawed and that Sean Cryer is her true mark, she's already in love with him.
Sean knows why Sara is on his ship from the start, but as a lonely, anti-social doser, he doesn't value his life, only his ideology within the fragger organization. Against his better judgment, he becomes her protector, each day caring more about a future he was always afraid to hope for
December 7, 2011
Equal parts action, sci-fi and romance, Ambasadora isn't quite like anything I've read before. Now I should say that I haven't read much contemporary sci-fi but I love that authors like Miller are bringing new perspectives and tropes to the genre. I was impressed with the depth and range of the characters. The romantic element drives the action and adds spice to the usual futuristic power struggle. The world the story takes place in is very well fleshed out with lots of interesting techy features like scentbots and intra-tats as well as a unique cultural and caste system. Everything is integral to the story and not just a backdrop. The things that happen to Sara Mendoza could only happen here. It's fun to get swept away in the action-packed plot but there's also plenty to stew over regarding the value of emotion and the importance of relationships. The best part is I know this is only the beginning and there are more books to come.
October 18, 2011
I was curious going into this book, as I lean more towards PNR than sci-fi in my tastes, but this book exceeded my expectations and made me re-think my genre bias.
Ms. Miller has done a stellar job creating a world of complex ideologies, multiple exotic settings and cool technology for both her “real” and “virtual” worlds. I found myself reading slower in the first quarter of the book, because the descriptions were so rich with detail that I re-read parts to ensure that I had the visuals fixed in my mind – a good thing, because the action ramps up quickly and is pretty much non-stop and that attention to detail allowed me to make quick transitions as Sara, the Ambasadora, negotiated physical and emotional landscapes at a breakneck pace.
If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it?
While a rigid caste system and restrictive societal norms worked to define the emotional distance required for sanctioned relationships, the book deftly explored the many nuances of love and caring among “amours”, friends and colleagues. Sean and Sara drive the story, with the well-paced recognition of their feelings for each other, but no less intriguing were the dynamics revealed in the scenes between David and Mari, Soli and Trala and the interactions between the crew of the Bard. Rainer, as the man with shifting feelings and questionable intent, upped the suspense, serving as the odd man out in contrast to those willing to take a chance on feelings without the filter of caste, fertility and unlimited options.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it without hesitation.
Ms. Miller has done a stellar job creating a world of complex ideologies, multiple exotic settings and cool technology for both her “real” and “virtual” worlds. I found myself reading slower in the first quarter of the book, because the descriptions were so rich with detail that I re-read parts to ensure that I had the visuals fixed in my mind – a good thing, because the action ramps up quickly and is pretty much non-stop and that attention to detail allowed me to make quick transitions as Sara, the Ambasadora, negotiated physical and emotional landscapes at a breakneck pace.
If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it?
While a rigid caste system and restrictive societal norms worked to define the emotional distance required for sanctioned relationships, the book deftly explored the many nuances of love and caring among “amours”, friends and colleagues. Sean and Sara drive the story, with the well-paced recognition of their feelings for each other, but no less intriguing were the dynamics revealed in the scenes between David and Mari, Soli and Trala and the interactions between the crew of the Bard. Rainer, as the man with shifting feelings and questionable intent, upped the suspense, serving as the odd man out in contrast to those willing to take a chance on feelings without the filter of caste, fertility and unlimited options.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it without hesitation.
September 11, 2011
I don't normally read sci fi romance but I was pleasantly surprised with Ambasadora. Set in a future world where love is considered an emotional fallacy and society is based on a polygamous caste system, where continuing the family line is everything and having an unpolluted genetic pool is considered the epitome of success, to the point that anyone unable to have children is 'shamed' and encouraged to commit voluntary suicide.
All the characters are well written and easy to relate to, so much so that it's not easy to hate the villain. Sara is an wonderful character, she is practical and so much stronger than she considers herself. She adapts to the most difficult situations, but fights against what she is forced to do every step of the way.
Sean, I had trouble relating to in the beginning, he seemed jaded and apathetic but once he and Sara meet, you see a different side to him. He is protective and understanding towards Sara but has a dark, dangerous side he hides well.
The action kicked off straight away but lost it's momentum after the first few chapters , in my opinion. But not for long, the pace picked up and resolved to a satisfying end. The world building is amazingly vivid and the science wasn't too difficult to understand, the romance isn't corny or ostentatious - Sara and Sean's relationship develops naturally as they get to know and trust each other.
All in all, Ambasadora is an enjoyable read which will appeal to everyone.
All the characters are well written and easy to relate to, so much so that it's not easy to hate the villain. Sara is an wonderful character, she is practical and so much stronger than she considers herself. She adapts to the most difficult situations, but fights against what she is forced to do every step of the way.
Sean, I had trouble relating to in the beginning, he seemed jaded and apathetic but once he and Sara meet, you see a different side to him. He is protective and understanding towards Sara but has a dark, dangerous side he hides well.
The action kicked off straight away but lost it's momentum after the first few chapters , in my opinion. But not for long, the pace picked up and resolved to a satisfying end. The world building is amazingly vivid and the science wasn't too difficult to understand, the romance isn't corny or ostentatious - Sara and Sean's relationship develops naturally as they get to know and trust each other.
All in all, Ambasadora is an enjoyable read which will appeal to everyone.
August 7, 2011
In a society where breeding and caste are sacrosanct, can you find true love? Heidi Ruby Miller proves you can—in a world with six moons that provides all the imaginative richness a sci-fi milieu can muster. The setting is fantastically painted, concrete, and nothing less than fascinating.
The Embassy coerces broken and remade Ambasadora Sara Mendoza to help squelch the techno-militant fragger rebellion by extracting information from their operative leader. But Sara learns a lot about the Embassy, the system, and her target, and her plans change when she realizes that love is not just an illusion.
AMBASADORA may be billed as sci-fi/romance, but it truly holds something for everyone. The torture scenes are horrifically exquisite, the plot intriguing, the action exciting, and the consummation scene deals out spice in spades! Sara is one tough cookie, and although Sean has a few personal problems, he’s got the right stuff for a hero. I found myself rooting for both of them because Miller not only puts them through their paces, but utterly shreds the hell out of them over the course of this broad novel. As I always say, the basis of drama is conflict, and there’s plenty on every page here.
Our world’s fame-mongering class consciousness takes on stark new meaning when extrapolated to the extent in AMBASADORA. If you enjoy visionary writing from a fresh new voice, I recommend Heidi Ruby Miller.
The Embassy coerces broken and remade Ambasadora Sara Mendoza to help squelch the techno-militant fragger rebellion by extracting information from their operative leader. But Sara learns a lot about the Embassy, the system, and her target, and her plans change when she realizes that love is not just an illusion.
AMBASADORA may be billed as sci-fi/romance, but it truly holds something for everyone. The torture scenes are horrifically exquisite, the plot intriguing, the action exciting, and the consummation scene deals out spice in spades! Sara is one tough cookie, and although Sean has a few personal problems, he’s got the right stuff for a hero. I found myself rooting for both of them because Miller not only puts them through their paces, but utterly shreds the hell out of them over the course of this broad novel. As I always say, the basis of drama is conflict, and there’s plenty on every page here.
Our world’s fame-mongering class consciousness takes on stark new meaning when extrapolated to the extent in AMBASADORA. If you enjoy visionary writing from a fresh new voice, I recommend Heidi Ruby Miller.
June 13, 2011
I love this book! What you need to know about me: I don't like sci-fi-at all. I sat through every episode of Star Trek the Next Generation because I fell in love with a man that loved it. For me it was a snooze fest with a capital S. So, the fact that this book was so thoroughly enjoyable threw me for a loop.
The story is fast paced and exciting. I was amazed at how thorough the author was in creating an entire alternate universe. Her attention to detail really sucked me in. That and the relationship between Sara Mendoza, Ranier, and Sean. The torture scenes were brutal, the love scenes were hot, and the entire message of society/values left me awestruck.
I highly recommend you give this title a shot. It will blow you away. And when you're done, you'll be able to pass it along to the sci-fi fan in your life. Just think, you'll be able to talk Fragger speak with the best of them at the Nebula awards...
The story is fast paced and exciting. I was amazed at how thorough the author was in creating an entire alternate universe. Her attention to detail really sucked me in. That and the relationship between Sara Mendoza, Ranier, and Sean. The torture scenes were brutal, the love scenes were hot, and the entire message of society/values left me awestruck.
I highly recommend you give this title a shot. It will blow you away. And when you're done, you'll be able to pass it along to the sci-fi fan in your life. Just think, you'll be able to talk Fragger speak with the best of them at the Nebula awards...
June 13, 2011
I love this book! What you need to know about me: I don't like sci-fi-at all. I sat through every episode of Star Trek the Next Generation because I fell in love with a man that loved it. For me it was a snooze fest with a capital S. So, the fact that this book was so thoroughly enjoyable threw me for a loop.
The story is fast paced and exciting. I was amazed at how thorough the author was in creating an entire alternate universe. Her attention to detail really sucked me in. That and the relationship between Sara Mendoza, Ranier, and Sean. The torture scenes were brutal, the love scenes were hot, and the entire message of society/values left me awestruck.
I highly recommend you give this title a shot. It will blow you away. And when you're done, you'll be able to pass it along to the sci-fi fan in your life. Just think, you'll be able to talk Fragger speak with the best of them at the Nebula awards...
The story is fast paced and exciting. I was amazed at how thorough the author was in creating an entire alternate universe. Her attention to detail really sucked me in. That and the relationship between Sara Mendoza, Ranier, and Sean. The torture scenes were brutal, the love scenes were hot, and the entire message of society/values left me awestruck.
I highly recommend you give this title a shot. It will blow you away. And when you're done, you'll be able to pass it along to the sci-fi fan in your life. Just think, you'll be able to talk Fragger speak with the best of them at the Nebula awards...
December 31, 2011
This book was a pleasant surprise, overall I loved it. The characters were deep and easy to care about. The tortures were believable and brutal. The love story was great and the sex was good. The worlds were well defined. The writing style was excellent. The plot moved along well with good action.
The only con I found was this minor issue. I had trouble buying into a main point in the plot regarding the "cure" being only obtainable from one source. In these futuristic worlds full of techno couldn't anyone else have solved this problem?
The ending left me wanting. This is good if book 2 is due out anytime soon, which I will read if it is. But if this is it, I feel cheated. I want to see Sean's recovery and their reaction to Sara’s medical state. I want to know more about Rainer’s and David’s stories. I hope there’s more to come; this makes a great start with lots of room to grow for a series.
The only con I found was this minor issue. I had trouble buying into a main point in the plot regarding the "cure" being only obtainable from one source. In these futuristic worlds full of techno couldn't anyone else have solved this problem?
The ending left me wanting. This is good if book 2 is due out anytime soon, which I will read if it is. But if this is it, I feel cheated. I want to see Sean's recovery and their reaction to Sara’s medical state. I want to know more about Rainer’s and David’s stories. I hope there’s more to come; this makes a great start with lots of room to grow for a series.
March 5, 2012
Ambasadora is just one of those books that swallow you whole. Heidi Ruby Miller created an amazing and detailed world, from scent bots, intra-tats to wrist reporters. Don't know what those are? You'll just have to find out for yourself...but I wish I had them. The story dragged me into Sara Mendoza's world, a world riddled with dangerous contractors, fanatic fraggers, and a ruthless sovereign in a world segregated and corrupted through the vast generations. Completely believable, completely engrossing, completely addictive. I'm so glad Miller wrote a 'prequel' in the form of Greenshift, since giving up the world she created isn't going to be easy.
May 31, 2015
In Ambassadora, Marked by Light, Heidi Ruby Miller builds a world that is as believable as it is fantastic. The images and settings are as real as any routine surrounding, but as otherworldly as the imagination can comprehend. The story provides intrigue, action, and betrayal. The characters are developed with the expertise and confidence of a talented writer. It is a fast read with skillful timing, narrative, and dialogue. Miller’s universe is brave in its concepts and chilling in its implications, a terrific story with a cautionary undercurrent. And, not only that, it’s fun to read.
November 12, 2011
Sara Mendozza is a young girl, living in a world that is distinctly different from our own.
People are divided in Castes, segregated and even more or less living in different areas.
She is lucky to belong into the Upper Caste, the Socialites, her life revolving around procreation.
It seems that it is the most important attribute in a woman, the ability to procreate, along with genetic purity. Any gene-tampering is frowned upon and if for some reason you are rendered sterile it is common to take your own life, something called "The Passing". It's also for reasons of procreation that people are allowed to have more than one "Amours", in order to have a lot of children.
Ruling over this kind of society is the Sovereign, Simon, a man who has achieved longevity through special bots(apparently nanotechnology), but it has him edging on insanity. His personal guard, the Contractors are fearsome and majestic, shooting first and asking questions later. Hence, it's no wonder that people from the Lower Caste but from other castes too, have bundled together a form of resistance bent on overthrowing him.
And it's in this trouble that Sara finds herself in, through no fault of her own, since the man she wants to be an amour to,Chen, has deceived her. He is actually a "Fragger", a man working for the resistance and has only used her in order to get close enough to siphon info from Simon and, well, mess up his longevity bots, half-incriminating her in the process.
It works, Simon, is no longer "immortal", and his own mortality frightens him, causing him to ask his contractors to be even harder against the fraggers, so when Chen flees the scene, he leaves Sara behind and they capture her.
Of course, she has no idea, but torturing is something the contractor working on her, Faya, enjoys and Sara realizes that not even the contractor who seems to have a soft spot for her, but keeps giving her ambiguous messages,Rainer, is willing to help her. Months later, when is obvious that she didn't know anything, the Sovereign has the idea of turning her into an Ambasadora, the Face of the Embassy (i.e. Kingdom), so that she has access everywhere and by "improving" her assets genetically can seduce anyone. As Simon is desperate to get his longevity back, he sends her on a mission aboard "The Bard", a ship whose passengers or rather one of them is suspected on being a fragger and thus having a way of recovering the info he lost. And this is why her real adventure begins and she finds friendship and love like she has never found with David, Sean, Mari and all the others.
I have to admit that I simply adored the premise of the story. The whole notion of this world, the rules of the society, the castes, it was very original. The technology and all the gadgets were really amazing, from the reporters on your wrist, to the voyers and the whole thing that the fraggers used to communicate in an alternate reality that reminded me a bit of Caprica and BSG (big fan btw lol).
It is obvious that the author put a lot of thought into it and I also really liked how in such an advanced society like this, at least technologically,all it comes down to is that people want to live on forever through their children. That's the most important thing. It was surprising to see the lengths people would go to just to find a worthy partner, whose genes were pure and hadn't been tampered with. It made for a difficult life though, so carefully and suffocatingly constructed. The lower caste, seemed to be able to enjoy life more, no having to obey rules like those. They were also spared the problems stemming from the inbreeding that happened in the upper caste. The whole thing was done magnificently and it was really good that at several points during the book we got to understand where each character was coming from and why they had the beliefs that they did and how those dictated their actions.
The characters were equally impressive, because we got to see the motives behind their decisions and the choices the made. Of course, Sara was driven by her need for freedom and revenge, but through her training as Embasadora she got a look on the inside and draw her own conclusions, a chance she didn't have during her upbringing as an innocent, clueless socialite.
Rainer, the Contractor was a character you didn't expect to like and you didn't really, because even if he wasn't impervious to the pain his job caused, he was too much of a hedonist and practical to actually be brave enough to follow through with actually helping. He did feel connected in a way to Sara and fascinated by her spirit, but he was drawn more due to his carnal desire rather than his true belief in the justice of the fight. Still, it was nice to read about the thoughts running through his head and his inner battle.
The part of Rainer that liked life simple and neat, controllable and predictable, hoped Sara and the fragger killed one another. But the part of him that saw beauty in complication and chaos, that part needed Sara to live.
Sean, our second most important character, was a man who was the product of true love, since his parents belonged to different castes. Of course, he had to hide it in order to continue to be a tech mech aboard the "Bard" and be helpful to the Fraggers, feeding them info. He was smart and capable and due to his way of life, he didn't believe he would find love. Still, when he meets Sara, of course, he is drawn to her beauty, but has the good sense to try and stay clear of her, since he knows that she is there to uncover him and even though at first they believe David was the fragger, they would soon realize that it as really Sean. The way he fought for her and stopped paying attention to all the differences socially but focusing on what connected them emotionally and where it mattered, was really inspiring and heart-warming, not to mention adorable, since he never paid attention to his appearance before her.
Also David and his loyalty and inner sense of honor and integrity made him and endearing character, you loved to read, as well as the vulnerable and temperamental Mari, who stayed loyal to her friend to the end.
Even Freya and had something to "say" as characters. None of them felt like "fillers", the author made you care, if only to despise and not actually love, which is an important thing to do with any story.
The descriptions were really good and even if they weren't very emotional, they really evoked serious emotions from you. With their directness and clarity, you could feel the tension gathering in your gut and it made you want to keep reading to know if Sara would be free.
This was a very good read, any sci-fi lover will enjoy and I strongly recommend it. The only negative thing I can say, is that the beginning had too much information regarding the society an the rules, that I felt a bit lost and overwhelmed in a way that made me feel scared that I wouldn't be able to remember everything. But as I kept reading, the details were not that important and if you understood how the whole society worked, you could really enjoy and grasp this intricate and fascinating story.
People are divided in Castes, segregated and even more or less living in different areas.
She is lucky to belong into the Upper Caste, the Socialites, her life revolving around procreation.
It seems that it is the most important attribute in a woman, the ability to procreate, along with genetic purity. Any gene-tampering is frowned upon and if for some reason you are rendered sterile it is common to take your own life, something called "The Passing". It's also for reasons of procreation that people are allowed to have more than one "Amours", in order to have a lot of children.
Ruling over this kind of society is the Sovereign, Simon, a man who has achieved longevity through special bots(apparently nanotechnology), but it has him edging on insanity. His personal guard, the Contractors are fearsome and majestic, shooting first and asking questions later. Hence, it's no wonder that people from the Lower Caste but from other castes too, have bundled together a form of resistance bent on overthrowing him.
And it's in this trouble that Sara finds herself in, through no fault of her own, since the man she wants to be an amour to,Chen, has deceived her. He is actually a "Fragger", a man working for the resistance and has only used her in order to get close enough to siphon info from Simon and, well, mess up his longevity bots, half-incriminating her in the process.
It works, Simon, is no longer "immortal", and his own mortality frightens him, causing him to ask his contractors to be even harder against the fraggers, so when Chen flees the scene, he leaves Sara behind and they capture her.
Of course, she has no idea, but torturing is something the contractor working on her, Faya, enjoys and Sara realizes that not even the contractor who seems to have a soft spot for her, but keeps giving her ambiguous messages,Rainer, is willing to help her. Months later, when is obvious that she didn't know anything, the Sovereign has the idea of turning her into an Ambasadora, the Face of the Embassy (i.e. Kingdom), so that she has access everywhere and by "improving" her assets genetically can seduce anyone. As Simon is desperate to get his longevity back, he sends her on a mission aboard "The Bard", a ship whose passengers or rather one of them is suspected on being a fragger and thus having a way of recovering the info he lost. And this is why her real adventure begins and she finds friendship and love like she has never found with David, Sean, Mari and all the others.
I have to admit that I simply adored the premise of the story. The whole notion of this world, the rules of the society, the castes, it was very original. The technology and all the gadgets were really amazing, from the reporters on your wrist, to the voyers and the whole thing that the fraggers used to communicate in an alternate reality that reminded me a bit of Caprica and BSG (big fan btw lol).
It is obvious that the author put a lot of thought into it and I also really liked how in such an advanced society like this, at least technologically,all it comes down to is that people want to live on forever through their children. That's the most important thing. It was surprising to see the lengths people would go to just to find a worthy partner, whose genes were pure and hadn't been tampered with. It made for a difficult life though, so carefully and suffocatingly constructed. The lower caste, seemed to be able to enjoy life more, no having to obey rules like those. They were also spared the problems stemming from the inbreeding that happened in the upper caste. The whole thing was done magnificently and it was really good that at several points during the book we got to understand where each character was coming from and why they had the beliefs that they did and how those dictated their actions.
The characters were equally impressive, because we got to see the motives behind their decisions and the choices the made. Of course, Sara was driven by her need for freedom and revenge, but through her training as Embasadora she got a look on the inside and draw her own conclusions, a chance she didn't have during her upbringing as an innocent, clueless socialite.
Rainer, the Contractor was a character you didn't expect to like and you didn't really, because even if he wasn't impervious to the pain his job caused, he was too much of a hedonist and practical to actually be brave enough to follow through with actually helping. He did feel connected in a way to Sara and fascinated by her spirit, but he was drawn more due to his carnal desire rather than his true belief in the justice of the fight. Still, it was nice to read about the thoughts running through his head and his inner battle.
The part of Rainer that liked life simple and neat, controllable and predictable, hoped Sara and the fragger killed one another. But the part of him that saw beauty in complication and chaos, that part needed Sara to live.
Sean, our second most important character, was a man who was the product of true love, since his parents belonged to different castes. Of course, he had to hide it in order to continue to be a tech mech aboard the "Bard" and be helpful to the Fraggers, feeding them info. He was smart and capable and due to his way of life, he didn't believe he would find love. Still, when he meets Sara, of course, he is drawn to her beauty, but has the good sense to try and stay clear of her, since he knows that she is there to uncover him and even though at first they believe David was the fragger, they would soon realize that it as really Sean. The way he fought for her and stopped paying attention to all the differences socially but focusing on what connected them emotionally and where it mattered, was really inspiring and heart-warming, not to mention adorable, since he never paid attention to his appearance before her.
Also David and his loyalty and inner sense of honor and integrity made him and endearing character, you loved to read, as well as the vulnerable and temperamental Mari, who stayed loyal to her friend to the end.
Even Freya and had something to "say" as characters. None of them felt like "fillers", the author made you care, if only to despise and not actually love, which is an important thing to do with any story.
The descriptions were really good and even if they weren't very emotional, they really evoked serious emotions from you. With their directness and clarity, you could feel the tension gathering in your gut and it made you want to keep reading to know if Sara would be free.
This was a very good read, any sci-fi lover will enjoy and I strongly recommend it. The only negative thing I can say, is that the beginning had too much information regarding the society an the rules, that I felt a bit lost and overwhelmed in a way that made me feel scared that I wouldn't be able to remember everything. But as I kept reading, the details were not that important and if you understood how the whole society worked, you could really enjoy and grasp this intricate and fascinating story.
July 3, 2012
The premise: ganked from the author's website: If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it?
Sara Mendoza and Sean Cryer are.
In their multi-partner, caste-ruled society, love and jealousy are considered emotional fallacies, nothing more than fleeting moods and sentiments biased by hormones. Relationships and conceptions in this world obsessed with celebrity, beauty, and power are based on DNA and lineages...or should be. But not everyone believes in the ruling traditions of the all-powerful Embassy. A quiet rebellion prowls the dark underground of this shiny world where techno-militants calling themselves fraggers grow in numbers and bravado. The Embassy intends to silence the fragger movement before the heresy of equality spreads throughout the system.
Sara Mendoza is part of the Embassy's plan. Captured, tortured, and falsely accused of treason, she is given a chance to win back her freedom. She only needs to charm information from one of the fragger leaders, then kill him. But by the time she figures out the Embassy's intel is flawed and that Sean Cryer is her true mark, she's already in love with him.
Sean knows why Sara is on his ship from the start, but as a lonely, anti-social doser, he doesn't value his life, only his ideology within the fragger organization. Against his better judgment, he becomes her protector, each day caring more about a future he was always afraid to hope for.
My Rating: No Rating
I don't do this very often, but when I do, I have lots of reasons. Please note: "No Rating" does not, in any way, imply a negative review. Instead, just imagine that I'm not doing a rating system at all. I go this route when it's a book I don't feel qualified reviewing, such as Sebastian Copeland's photography book Antarctica: A Call to Action. But I also reserve this rating for cases when I know the author and/or am too close to the work. In this case, I clearly know the author. There's also the chance that one day, I may work with the author in a professional capacity, so I'd be kidding myself if I tried to be unbiased on the rating.
That being said, there's a lot to enjoy in this book, but this is a book that I would kill to see an editor take his/her time with and polish it into a hard, hard shine. I hope that one day, Ambasadora finds a home with a traditional publisher, because I'd love to see the difference between the self-published version and said traditionally published one (if there's a difference at all!). I think the book could stand to be a little longer, give the characters a little bit of breathing room so that a little more clarity is achieved as the end unfolds. But the premise is still fascinating, and Miller brings the story to a rather nice circular conclusion (and a good ending), and that's something I personally appreciate. One of these days, I'd like to download Miller's prequel Greenshift from Amazon, and I'm quite curious to see how the sequel Fragger plays out. I wish Miller all the best, and if you're a reader who has a Kindle and is a fan of science fiction romance, this is an easy book to recommend. Sure, it's self-published, and while there are places that could be tightened and clarified (though let's be real, I've read far, far worse books published in the traditional manner, so let's just call the weaknesses as we see them and leave it at that), overall, it's a solid action story with plenty of characters to root for and a fascinating premise. I'd be happy to read this again, should Miller get it published elsewhere.
Spoilers, yay or nay?: Nay. I think it'd be a cruel thing to spoil a book that can be purchased so cheaply for the Kindle, so you're welcome to read the full review without spoilers. Said full review may be found in my blog, which I've linked to below. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.
REVIEW: Heidi Ruby Miller's AMBASADORA
Happy Reading!
Sara Mendoza and Sean Cryer are.
In their multi-partner, caste-ruled society, love and jealousy are considered emotional fallacies, nothing more than fleeting moods and sentiments biased by hormones. Relationships and conceptions in this world obsessed with celebrity, beauty, and power are based on DNA and lineages...or should be. But not everyone believes in the ruling traditions of the all-powerful Embassy. A quiet rebellion prowls the dark underground of this shiny world where techno-militants calling themselves fraggers grow in numbers and bravado. The Embassy intends to silence the fragger movement before the heresy of equality spreads throughout the system.
Sara Mendoza is part of the Embassy's plan. Captured, tortured, and falsely accused of treason, she is given a chance to win back her freedom. She only needs to charm information from one of the fragger leaders, then kill him. But by the time she figures out the Embassy's intel is flawed and that Sean Cryer is her true mark, she's already in love with him.
Sean knows why Sara is on his ship from the start, but as a lonely, anti-social doser, he doesn't value his life, only his ideology within the fragger organization. Against his better judgment, he becomes her protector, each day caring more about a future he was always afraid to hope for.
My Rating: No Rating
I don't do this very often, but when I do, I have lots of reasons. Please note: "No Rating" does not, in any way, imply a negative review. Instead, just imagine that I'm not doing a rating system at all. I go this route when it's a book I don't feel qualified reviewing, such as Sebastian Copeland's photography book Antarctica: A Call to Action. But I also reserve this rating for cases when I know the author and/or am too close to the work. In this case, I clearly know the author. There's also the chance that one day, I may work with the author in a professional capacity, so I'd be kidding myself if I tried to be unbiased on the rating.
That being said, there's a lot to enjoy in this book, but this is a book that I would kill to see an editor take his/her time with and polish it into a hard, hard shine. I hope that one day, Ambasadora finds a home with a traditional publisher, because I'd love to see the difference between the self-published version and said traditionally published one (if there's a difference at all!). I think the book could stand to be a little longer, give the characters a little bit of breathing room so that a little more clarity is achieved as the end unfolds. But the premise is still fascinating, and Miller brings the story to a rather nice circular conclusion (and a good ending), and that's something I personally appreciate. One of these days, I'd like to download Miller's prequel Greenshift from Amazon, and I'm quite curious to see how the sequel Fragger plays out. I wish Miller all the best, and if you're a reader who has a Kindle and is a fan of science fiction romance, this is an easy book to recommend. Sure, it's self-published, and while there are places that could be tightened and clarified (though let's be real, I've read far, far worse books published in the traditional manner, so let's just call the weaknesses as we see them and leave it at that), overall, it's a solid action story with plenty of characters to root for and a fascinating premise. I'd be happy to read this again, should Miller get it published elsewhere.
Spoilers, yay or nay?: Nay. I think it'd be a cruel thing to spoil a book that can be purchased so cheaply for the Kindle, so you're welcome to read the full review without spoilers. Said full review may be found in my blog, which I've linked to below. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.
REVIEW: Heidi Ruby Miller's AMBASADORA
Happy Reading!
January 23, 2012
A testament to the genius of this book, is the fact that I was able to complete it within two days of receiving it - truly a miracle.
I have eleven unfinished books lingering on my bookshelf collecting dust, and for good reason. I am the mother of two small children who are at prime talking age. I have a severe case of bong-induced A.D.D. that still lingers even eleven years after graduating from college, and I have a husband who blares death metal on the stereo 24-7 – probably to drown out the cacophony of little voices.
Despite those obstacles, though, I simply could not put Ambassadora down.
Even though every two lines, I was interrupted by a question about a leaky sippy cup, I still managed to seamlessly transition from Planet Mommy to the dark and mesmerizing world of Miller’s imagination as if nothing happened.
“What do you mean you want to watch Dora?” Didn’t they know that Sara was being tortured?
Yes, this book drew me in like a luring lover from page one.
Miller’s soft, eloquent writing style has traces of emotion and femininity, while still enforcing a masculine element of darkness and terror. It is this purposeful contrast of forces that kept this sci-fi read fresh, bold, and shining out like a beacon from so many other books I’ve read over the years.
Sarah is a small, delicate voice in a world teeming with wickedness. Although she is like a fragile, tropical flower planted in the expanse of the Alaskan tundra, she flourishes and only grows stronger when the odds stack up against her.
For me, every sentence in this book was written like a present. I had to unwrap the meaning to fully digest its beauty. Miller not only has a command of the English language, but a mastery of detail and subtlety about her writing style that speaks volumes.
For example, the purple intra-dermal tattoo accentuated Sara’s changing tide of emotions with its mesmerizing little blinks. Miller uses this same tattoo to make a statement about the shallow simpletons surrounding Sara who keep staring at it because they like looking at pretty, sparkly things.
The subtle sexual tension Miller creates between the characters shows Miller is intuitive about both the male and female mating dances. And this light tension, for me, was an indulgent little bonus to the already finely crafted plot of the story.
If I were tortured with blade cuffs in a behavior modification cell (Ambassadora lingo) and forced to say something critical about this book, I could not say anything negative, but only make one suggestion.
Because of the level of genius this book is written from and Miller’s mastery of the English language, this book is a cave full of treasures for the connoisseur of words. However, for someone whose vocabulary is lacking (like me), it might be helpful to keep a small dictionary around to enjoy the full effects of Ambassadora.
Back to my rave.
In addition to being a fun read, Miller’s sci-fi imagination and terminology were very influential and inspirational for everyday life.
For example, I now refer to my perfume as my Ed Hardy Scentbot, and I am considering putting my children in a behavior modification cell and pelting them will little marshmallows until they learn to share.
I am not only grateful to Miller for giving me a new and creative sci-fi lens through which to view my life, but for starting her book out with action right from the beginning, and keeping the action throughout.
The way she weaves a majestic tapestry of characters, emotions and action in this gripping sci-fi read is truly remarkable. In Ambassadora’s world of confusion, Miller’s imagination leads you by the hand, step by step, into the darkness.
Five stars.
August 7, 2011
4.5 STARS!!
Book Summary: If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it?
Citizens of a six-moon system in our arm of the Milky Way don't remember Earth, only the History of a generational worldship culture. In their multi-partner society a caste system rules tradition, but the governing body of the Embassy rules everything else. Obsessed with celebrity, beauty, and power, relationships and conceptions are based more on DNA than emotional ties...or should be.
What the citizenry can't escape are the human feelings of love and jealousy that turn the sterile to honorable suicide, force a couple to make the ultimate sacrifice, and allow rebels to spin their world into a violent revolution.
Ambasadora Sara Mendoza becomes the unwilling face of this revolution. Captured, tortured, and given a second chance at freedom, she proves that sacrifice for the man she loves is more honorable than sacrifice to a society's antiquated mores.
I just can't say enough good things about this book and this Author! The cover and summary doesn't do the actual story justice and I mean no offense by that. I just really expected an average Sci Fi Romance, which would have been fine because I love those. I got so much more!
There is hard science fiction, so my geeky scifi heart was content. There is great action, so my adrenaline pumped and the romance kept me yearning until the last page.
With Ambasadora, Heidi Ruby Miller creates a multi-genre read that fulfills the voracious reader in me. I just couldn't read it fast enough and I hated reading the last page. In fact, at times I turned the page before finishing it and had to go back.
The characters are complex, which is a sticking point for me. The world-building is believable. The author doesn't assume her readers are of lower I.Q. so doesn't water down the science, neither does she talk over our heads. I will admit to needing some time in the opening scenes to wrap my mind around this new world but thank goodness because I love exploring new societies through reading.
I highly recommend this to Science Fiction, Action/Adventure, Fantasy and Sci Fi Romance readers!
Book Summary: If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it?
Citizens of a six-moon system in our arm of the Milky Way don't remember Earth, only the History of a generational worldship culture. In their multi-partner society a caste system rules tradition, but the governing body of the Embassy rules everything else. Obsessed with celebrity, beauty, and power, relationships and conceptions are based more on DNA than emotional ties...or should be.
What the citizenry can't escape are the human feelings of love and jealousy that turn the sterile to honorable suicide, force a couple to make the ultimate sacrifice, and allow rebels to spin their world into a violent revolution.
Ambasadora Sara Mendoza becomes the unwilling face of this revolution. Captured, tortured, and given a second chance at freedom, she proves that sacrifice for the man she loves is more honorable than sacrifice to a society's antiquated mores.
I just can't say enough good things about this book and this Author! The cover and summary doesn't do the actual story justice and I mean no offense by that. I just really expected an average Sci Fi Romance, which would have been fine because I love those. I got so much more!
There is hard science fiction, so my geeky scifi heart was content. There is great action, so my adrenaline pumped and the romance kept me yearning until the last page.
With Ambasadora, Heidi Ruby Miller creates a multi-genre read that fulfills the voracious reader in me. I just couldn't read it fast enough and I hated reading the last page. In fact, at times I turned the page before finishing it and had to go back.
The characters are complex, which is a sticking point for me. The world-building is believable. The author doesn't assume her readers are of lower I.Q. so doesn't water down the science, neither does she talk over our heads. I will admit to needing some time in the opening scenes to wrap my mind around this new world but thank goodness because I love exploring new societies through reading.
I highly recommend this to Science Fiction, Action/Adventure, Fantasy and Sci Fi Romance readers!
September 27, 2011
Boy, I was so not expecting this book to hit me over the head. I really really like it, and I'm officially on sci-fi binge after Silver Shark as you can see.
First of all, the imagery of the book doesn't deserve this plastic cover. I imagine more of Cliff Neilsen luminous art to describe the look of Sara Mendoza.
I can't believe this book was written as a thesis work on sci-fi. Delightfully twisted world. There is no clarity of Ilona Andrews in it, more of hazy madness of Blade Runner.
Sara starts up as a naive debutante who only thinks about her marriage to Chen, her Rogue partner. Then couple of pages after she is on the run from the government agents being set up by Chen and left to fend for herself.
She spends a month tortured, scarred beyond any recognition and tripping out of her mind on strongest hallucinogens in the hands of an evil female contractor, Faya, all because a mad Sovereign thinks she conspired against him with the Fraggers (rebels).
Then he decides to blackmail her into becoming his spy on a ship suspected in fraggers activity.. She undergoes reconstructive surgery and becomes one of the Embassy's Ambasadoras - diplomats with beautiful live light designs on their arms.
The rest is an absolutely wild and brutal ride rigged with layers of intrigues, betrayals, assassins and fight to survive and regain Sara's sanity.
There are quite a few main characters - Sara, Sean - the ship's tech, David - ex-military and the ship's captain, enigmatic contractor Rainer and many more. They are engaging and different, - none of them are there to just fill the space.
There is also no romance the way we used to it. Instead there are two paranoid and scarred individuals who become close to each other. There are also plenty relationships around them.
I'm being as cagey as possible because I don't want to give away more than I already have, but this is a book certainly worth reading if you love a dash through space with laser guns and totally alien reality. Wonderful sci-fi. I'm in love!
First of all, the imagery of the book doesn't deserve this plastic cover. I imagine more of Cliff Neilsen luminous art to describe the look of Sara Mendoza.
I can't believe this book was written as a thesis work on sci-fi. Delightfully twisted world. There is no clarity of Ilona Andrews in it, more of hazy madness of Blade Runner.
Sara starts up as a naive debutante who only thinks about her marriage to Chen, her Rogue partner. Then couple of pages after she is on the run from the government agents being set up by Chen and left to fend for herself.
She spends a month tortured, scarred beyond any recognition and tripping out of her mind on strongest hallucinogens in the hands of an evil female contractor, Faya, all because a mad Sovereign thinks she conspired against him with the Fraggers (rebels).
Then he decides to blackmail her into becoming his spy on a ship suspected in fraggers activity.. She undergoes reconstructive surgery and becomes one of the Embassy's Ambasadoras - diplomats with beautiful live light designs on their arms.
The rest is an absolutely wild and brutal ride rigged with layers of intrigues, betrayals, assassins and fight to survive and regain Sara's sanity.
There are quite a few main characters - Sara, Sean - the ship's tech, David - ex-military and the ship's captain, enigmatic contractor Rainer and many more. They are engaging and different, - none of them are there to just fill the space.
There is also no romance the way we used to it. Instead there are two paranoid and scarred individuals who become close to each other. There are also plenty relationships around them.
I'm being as cagey as possible because I don't want to give away more than I already have, but this is a book certainly worth reading if you love a dash through space with laser guns and totally alien reality. Wonderful sci-fi. I'm in love!
September 4, 2011
The cover will make plenty of readers stop to read the back of the book. However, the cover isn't the main draw at all; the plot and characters are very fun to read about.
This novel contains science fiction that would satisfy any sci fi reader while still maintaining the romance theme. This is also what allows a reader who normally would not enjoy science fiction as much to still like this book-the romance aspect. The main characters both have a depth to them, the reader will truly feel as if he/she knows them and can anticipate some of their reactions in the novel.
Sara and Sean, the main characters, are both obviously meant for each other; with little hints scattered in the beginning of the novel, the author will have the reader convinced their eventual relationship is real. The love scenes are very believable while the torture scenes are painfully realistic. The author has a way of paying attention to details to the point where every nuance is covered; the reader will be able to picture the environment, expressions, and scenes very well. The story is fast-paced, the reader will not be bored.
The first few chapters toss a fair amount of scientific vocabulary and themes at the reader that may force the reader to go back and read through the passages a few times to ensure understanding; however, other than that initial hurdle, the reader shouldn't have any trouble comprehending this book. If anything, the science terms and ideas serve to make the book more interesting for readers who are remotely interested in science. These aspects of the novel make it appear very realistic.
The ending is perfect for this book, the reader will feel satisfied. The characters pull everything together in the end and the events are summed up. This book is recommended for young adults/adults who enjoy science fiction tinged with romance.
March 5, 2012
From the first pages, Ambasadora had me hooked. I couldn’t wait to see where author Heidi Ruby Miller was taking this story. Her well-conceived, and very complex society explores so many avenues of human nature, making me question why our societal mores are what they are.
I fell in love with the characters. She did a brilliant job of fleshing out the bad guys and making them sympathetic as well. The good guys are suitably heroic with just the right mix of human fallibility to keep them interesting. Until the end, I was never entirely sure which romantic interest was going to end up with whom, and my doubts made perfect sense given the society Miller created.
The only difficulty I ran into was on a personal level. Being a Tampa native, it was disconcerting to me to read about the four moons, all named Tampa, and then reading about the Hub, which is also well-known bar in downtown Tampa, oft frequented in my misspent youth. That gave me a chuckle and I enjoyed sharing what I considered a sly inside joke with the author. But Miller’s brilliant and vivid descriptions soon made me forget all that as I found myself hip-deep in the worlds she’s created.
This book has it all, action, adventure, political intrigue, science gone wild, cyberpunks, social commentary, and romance. It will leave you breathless and clamoring for more.
Ambasadora is a definite E-ticket ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages well into the night. I already have my copy of Greenshift, the prequel to Ambasadora, and I cannot wait to start reading it! But first, I have to catch my breath from Ambasasora.
I fell in love with the characters. She did a brilliant job of fleshing out the bad guys and making them sympathetic as well. The good guys are suitably heroic with just the right mix of human fallibility to keep them interesting. Until the end, I was never entirely sure which romantic interest was going to end up with whom, and my doubts made perfect sense given the society Miller created.
The only difficulty I ran into was on a personal level. Being a Tampa native, it was disconcerting to me to read about the four moons, all named Tampa, and then reading about the Hub, which is also well-known bar in downtown Tampa, oft frequented in my misspent youth. That gave me a chuckle and I enjoyed sharing what I considered a sly inside joke with the author. But Miller’s brilliant and vivid descriptions soon made me forget all that as I found myself hip-deep in the worlds she’s created.
This book has it all, action, adventure, political intrigue, science gone wild, cyberpunks, social commentary, and romance. It will leave you breathless and clamoring for more.
Ambasadora is a definite E-ticket ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages well into the night. I already have my copy of Greenshift, the prequel to Ambasadora, and I cannot wait to start reading it! But first, I have to catch my breath from Ambasasora.
April 26, 2012
If you are looking for Science Fiction-lite, this is not the book for you. Heidi Ruby Miller creates a complex world in which status and class is determined by family and genetic lines. Sarah Mendoza becomes a pawn in the government’s fight against the rebel Fraggers. Originally tagged as a dissident herself, she is tortured and then transformed into an “Ambasadora” - a surgically enhanced representative of the government, placed on a ship with a mission to destroy a suspected Fragger, Sean.
I enjoyed this book for its creativity, sensuality and brutality. I found it telling that the fascist government tries exert a level of control so tight that even an emotion like love (which in itself can so unstable) is redefined as a emotional fallacy. And when it can’t control the populations through words, it resorts to brutal torture using tools such as cuff with blades.
This is a lovestory in the context of science fiction. It’s refreshing to see romance and sex in this genre. There is a hint of sexual tension between Sarah and her original interrogator, Rainier. But Sarah’s relationship with the Fragger, Sean is forged through hardships and trauma.
I also found fascinating the notion that he or she that controls history, controls the world. The people with the most power in this world are the archivists who recognize that everything today has an antecedent and that by controlling one can reframe/rewrite history and therefore, control the present.
Ambasadora is a great read and one I would highly recommend.
I enjoyed this book for its creativity, sensuality and brutality. I found it telling that the fascist government tries exert a level of control so tight that even an emotion like love (which in itself can so unstable) is redefined as a emotional fallacy. And when it can’t control the populations through words, it resorts to brutal torture using tools such as cuff with blades.
This is a lovestory in the context of science fiction. It’s refreshing to see romance and sex in this genre. There is a hint of sexual tension between Sarah and her original interrogator, Rainier. But Sarah’s relationship with the Fragger, Sean is forged through hardships and trauma.
I also found fascinating the notion that he or she that controls history, controls the world. The people with the most power in this world are the archivists who recognize that everything today has an antecedent and that by controlling one can reframe/rewrite history and therefore, control the present.
Ambasadora is a great read and one I would highly recommend.
October 14, 2014
Although I used to be a big Andre Norton, Ursula LeGuin and Thieves' Guild reader, I don't often pick up a SCI/FI book anymore. I'm perfectly happy in the mystery/suspense genre. I might even pick up a YA or Fantasy (or combo) -- it could be a few technical sci/fi's lowered my threshold of desire for a solid science fiction plot. But Miller's Ambasadora has sparked a fresh fire in my reading choice.
Think levels. With elements of mystery, tension, a complex, caste-system world with uber-political underpinnings, sensory details, violence and fast-paced action--which all add up to a fascinating read, and I highly recommend this book. No spoilers from me, but from start to finish, Ambasadora kept my interest. Sarah's situation spirals downward as the stakes ratchet upward, and her goals go beyond self-interest. Her motives are just as complex due to her "role" of Ambasadora.
Miller has a "LeGuinian" touch in world creation, allowing the reader to gradually learn the rules, techno-speak and social customs while reading. I prefer that over an "index of terms" or being hit over the head with info dumps or lengthy explanations. Most readers are capable of picking up threads quickly, and patient enough to wait.
Miller also included enough twists that satisfied the mystery bent in me. And the ending rocked, because I truly will pick up the next book in this series. BUY this book. You won't regret it!
Think levels. With elements of mystery, tension, a complex, caste-system world with uber-political underpinnings, sensory details, violence and fast-paced action--which all add up to a fascinating read, and I highly recommend this book. No spoilers from me, but from start to finish, Ambasadora kept my interest. Sarah's situation spirals downward as the stakes ratchet upward, and her goals go beyond self-interest. Her motives are just as complex due to her "role" of Ambasadora.
Miller has a "LeGuinian" touch in world creation, allowing the reader to gradually learn the rules, techno-speak and social customs while reading. I prefer that over an "index of terms" or being hit over the head with info dumps or lengthy explanations. Most readers are capable of picking up threads quickly, and patient enough to wait.
Miller also included enough twists that satisfied the mystery bent in me. And the ending rocked, because I truly will pick up the next book in this series. BUY this book. You won't regret it!
April 14, 2012
Ambasadora by Heidi Miller is an interesting novel. The book is novel length (209 pages) and fairly intense. It has a lackluster beginning but picks up as you continue on. The basic plot is that a young woman is captured and tortured for the whereabouts of information that she was used similar to a drug mule to obtain. She is then utilized to seduce the actual information about those who have it. The story is set in a futuristic polygamous world that is never really fleshed out. Many things exist and are explained but it could have had a lot stronger focus on world-building than it did.
I was close to quitting the book about 60 pages in. Nothing had happened so far and I was more confused than anything else. There were a lot of characters and few connections had been made. However, I’m glad that I didn’t quit reading it. I ended up getting really hooked in once the story picked up and the Ambasadora Sara and Sean got together. For younger readers or people not interested, there is a fairly racy scene in the book (a lot racier than I expected for this book as well.) Also as a warning to readers, there is torture described and a lot of drug use alluded to.
Overall, Ambasadora was an entertaining read. I’m not sure I would re-read it but I definitely enjoyed it. If you like futuristic worlds and an enchanting romance (or two), then this might be a book for you. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
I was close to quitting the book about 60 pages in. Nothing had happened so far and I was more confused than anything else. There were a lot of characters and few connections had been made. However, I’m glad that I didn’t quit reading it. I ended up getting really hooked in once the story picked up and the Ambasadora Sara and Sean got together. For younger readers or people not interested, there is a fairly racy scene in the book (a lot racier than I expected for this book as well.) Also as a warning to readers, there is torture described and a lot of drug use alluded to.
Overall, Ambasadora was an entertaining read. I’m not sure I would re-read it but I definitely enjoyed it. If you like futuristic worlds and an enchanting romance (or two), then this might be a book for you. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
July 6, 2017
Heidi Ruby Miller's Amasadora is my first venture into her writing, but it certainly won't be the last. I'm hooked on the Marked by Light series now, and you soon will be too. Sara, Sean, David, and all the major characters in this world are so real. You root for the good guys, fear their dillemas, frustrations and pain, and love to hate Freya and the Embassy. Prollixer is the ultimate tyrant striving to maintain his hold on the galaxy, and I could seriously see Ambasadora hitting the big screen one day. For movie buffs, it feels like a wonderfully blended mix of Blade Runner and Star Wars. Heidi Ruby Miller certainly knows how to spin a good yarn, and if you haven't dipped a literary toe in her books, I highly recommend you take the leap.
July 31, 2011
Ambasadora has everything written into one package. Gritty to the core with hope, love, pain, rage and violence weaved into and around. Gripped with emotion, I enjoyed this title and then some some.
Sara is a heroine for the history books. She is an unexpected hero and by no choice of hers. Thrown into a disastrous situation and left to hold together shattered pieces that was once her life. Sara is a survivor and what she embarks on changes the lives of many. In a world where deception and personal gain is everyone's game who is Sara to turn to?
While reading, I was emotionally invested in Ambasadora's story. I was really hoping for one particular man to step up to the plate but the saying 'too little too late' applies here. I've found myself wishing the worse possible fate for a few characters. I could not stop reading and wanted to see Sara through. Heidi Ruby Miller is an outstanding writer and story teller. Heidi writes full force giving her readers the whole story. Violence and love- both equally written to be felt.
All in all, I would recommend this novel to adult readers who love riveting story lines like urban fantasy readers. This novel is Science Fiction Fantasy and contains a whole new world just waiting to be discovered.
http://www.lovlivlifereviews.com/2011...
Sara is a heroine for the history books. She is an unexpected hero and by no choice of hers. Thrown into a disastrous situation and left to hold together shattered pieces that was once her life. Sara is a survivor and what she embarks on changes the lives of many. In a world where deception and personal gain is everyone's game who is Sara to turn to?
While reading, I was emotionally invested in Ambasadora's story. I was really hoping for one particular man to step up to the plate but the saying 'too little too late' applies here. I've found myself wishing the worse possible fate for a few characters. I could not stop reading and wanted to see Sara through. Heidi Ruby Miller is an outstanding writer and story teller. Heidi writes full force giving her readers the whole story. Violence and love- both equally written to be felt.
All in all, I would recommend this novel to adult readers who love riveting story lines like urban fantasy readers. This novel is Science Fiction Fantasy and contains a whole new world just waiting to be discovered.
http://www.lovlivlifereviews.com/2011...
December 1, 2011
The setting in Ambasadora is so unique and interesting. It grabbed my attention from the start of the book. I like when an author puts a new spin on a genre. There were alot of little details that added up to create a rich environment with characters that I loved.
There are a few different view points throughout the story, and they are all strong. There was never one I just wanted to 'get through' so I could read about someone else. (You know you've read books like that too. . . :-) Everyone in this book is looking for something. Whether it's love, power, change, a way to forget the past, or to find a better future. They cross paths at different points and impact each others lives. Sara is used and abused and finds her entire life philosophy questioned. When she meets the sensitive drug-using Sean, she finds the other side to her own battered coin. I love their storyline.
Rainer was someone I wanted to like, but he just couldn't actually be a nice guy. He let what people would think and how it would affect his position ruin his chance at something more real than the 'love' their society told them was right. Sara made him question the very foundations of his existence, and he faced the choice. Love or duty.
This isn't just a Sci-Fi book. It's Sci-Fi love story. Well-written and engaging, it is one to check out!
There are a few different view points throughout the story, and they are all strong. There was never one I just wanted to 'get through' so I could read about someone else. (You know you've read books like that too. . . :-) Everyone in this book is looking for something. Whether it's love, power, change, a way to forget the past, or to find a better future. They cross paths at different points and impact each others lives. Sara is used and abused and finds her entire life philosophy questioned. When she meets the sensitive drug-using Sean, she finds the other side to her own battered coin. I love their storyline.
Rainer was someone I wanted to like, but he just couldn't actually be a nice guy. He let what people would think and how it would affect his position ruin his chance at something more real than the 'love' their society told them was right. Sara made him question the very foundations of his existence, and he faced the choice. Love or duty.
This isn't just a Sci-Fi book. It's Sci-Fi love story. Well-written and engaging, it is one to check out!
June 21, 2023
Disclaimer: I attended graduate school with Heidi Ruby Miller and my name is in the acknowledgments. I purchased my copy of this updated version at full price.
I really enjoy science-fiction adventure stories. I'm not really into romance in my SF adventure, because it's usually crammed in as a predictable subplot. In AMBASADORA: MARKED BY LIGHT, however, the romance is just as important. Rather than detracting from the main plot, it enhances it. Sara and Sean build a believable relationship from the moment they meet, specifically because their journey didn't strike me as a pre-charted romantic story arc.
Miller doesn't hesitate to drop us straight into the futuristic world she's created. Rather than bog down the reader with world-building exposition or endless explanations of How Things Work, we are swept up in the action and romance and easily learn from context. World-building is usually one of my biggest critiques in speculative fiction, and there are no complaints in the Ambasadora-verse.
If it hasn't been done yet, I'd like to recommend the stories of the Ambasadora-verse to readers who enjoy Catherine Asaro's Skolian Empire series (another set of epic tales that skillfully mix SF adventure with romance without detracting from either).
I really enjoy science-fiction adventure stories. I'm not really into romance in my SF adventure, because it's usually crammed in as a predictable subplot. In AMBASADORA: MARKED BY LIGHT, however, the romance is just as important. Rather than detracting from the main plot, it enhances it. Sara and Sean build a believable relationship from the moment they meet, specifically because their journey didn't strike me as a pre-charted romantic story arc.
Miller doesn't hesitate to drop us straight into the futuristic world she's created. Rather than bog down the reader with world-building exposition or endless explanations of How Things Work, we are swept up in the action and romance and easily learn from context. World-building is usually one of my biggest critiques in speculative fiction, and there are no complaints in the Ambasadora-verse.
If it hasn't been done yet, I'd like to recommend the stories of the Ambasadora-verse to readers who enjoy Catherine Asaro's Skolian Empire series (another set of epic tales that skillfully mix SF adventure with romance without detracting from either).
January 16, 2012
Right from the get go, you know Ambasadora is something special. Heidi Ruby Miller has created a richly textured, and very believable, future world; one that's original, fresh and unique.
Ambasadora is also a very sexy read, and that's always a good thing. I really loved Miller's take on fashion; it's all about the short, skirts, monstrously-high platformed shoes and glow-in-the-dark tattoos!
I was particularly impressed with how easily Heidi Ruby Miller dealt with the more techy, scifi elements of the book, as well as the complex caste system she's developed. So many scifi writers can't resist over-engineering and over-explaining everything, but Ms. Miller has a wonderful way of making everything come across in a completely natural way, without a lot of bothersome exposition. Miller simply lets the reader experience the world of Ambasadora as the characters do, and that's as it should be. Awesome.
As Ms. Miller says herself, relationships are as important to her as adventure, and that comes across loud and clear in Ambasadora. The characters were real and interesting, and I sincerely cared what happened to each of them.
Ambasadora is also a very sexy read, and that's always a good thing. I really loved Miller's take on fashion; it's all about the short, skirts, monstrously-high platformed shoes and glow-in-the-dark tattoos!
I was particularly impressed with how easily Heidi Ruby Miller dealt with the more techy, scifi elements of the book, as well as the complex caste system she's developed. So many scifi writers can't resist over-engineering and over-explaining everything, but Ms. Miller has a wonderful way of making everything come across in a completely natural way, without a lot of bothersome exposition. Miller simply lets the reader experience the world of Ambasadora as the characters do, and that's as it should be. Awesome.
As Ms. Miller says herself, relationships are as important to her as adventure, and that comes across loud and clear in Ambasadora. The characters were real and interesting, and I sincerely cared what happened to each of them.
January 3, 2012
As a science fiction and romance author myself, I have to say that I did not find Miller's book lacking in either field. AMBASADORA takes place on a world with a caste system so different from our own that the reader is dropped into a new field of imagination, with rich detail to fill in the background and build the world. We are there, with Sara Mendoza, as she enjoys her beautiful, pampered Socialite existence--until that existence is shattered by events beyond her control. Tortured by her own government, rejected by anyone she might care for, she has to rebuild herself from her very soul. But her brave spirit keeps her hanging on in the hope of eventual freedom, along with others who object to the government's controls.
In writing classes, it's always a mantra that you draw your character, then throw him or her into a situation and make it worse, and worse, and worse. Miller's example takes that course in spades, every twist and turn making the reader question along with Sara whether she's even going to survive. The journey makes her a better person--and the reader too. Well done!
In writing classes, it's always a mantra that you draw your character, then throw him or her into a situation and make it worse, and worse, and worse. Miller's example takes that course in spades, every twist and turn making the reader question along with Sara whether she's even going to survive. The journey makes her a better person--and the reader too. Well done!
March 7, 2013
I wouldn't call this book romanticThere's very little romance, but there's a loootttt of action and SF.
Where Greenshift was much more romantically oriented, here the romance is very marginal. Much more emphasis was put on intra-class struggle, torture, intrigue, outright war between fractions.
And what a story it is! Really good and very interesting. Could amost been a SF transposition of today's political situation. Just yummy!!!
The main and focal point of this book is its heroine: Sara. Where Mari from Greenshift was almost (but not quite) TSTL, Sara stars as very smilar, but end completely different type of woman. It was almost too much to read about her sufferings in this book... not only physical (and there was a lot of that...) but also psychological as a result from the physical ones. No, she's not scarred on the outside, but, oh my, on the inside!!! She eclipses every other character in this book, even if Sean and Reiner too are interesting.
The less interesting character is the villain: Simon. He utility was to start the story, but once done that he just seemed to fate in the background.
Where Greenshift was much more romantically oriented, here the romance is very marginal. Much more emphasis was put on intra-class struggle, torture, intrigue, outright war between fractions.
And what a story it is! Really good and very interesting. Could amost been a SF transposition of today's political situation. Just yummy!!!
The main and focal point of this book is its heroine: Sara. Where Mari from Greenshift was almost (but not quite) TSTL, Sara stars as very smilar, but end completely different type of woman. It was almost too much to read about her sufferings in this book... not only physical (and there was a lot of that...) but also psychological as a result from the physical ones. No, she's not scarred on the outside, but, oh my, on the inside!!! She eclipses every other character in this book, even if Sean and Reiner too are interesting.
The less interesting character is the villain: Simon. He utility was to start the story, but once done that he just seemed to fate in the background.
February 1, 2012
It's been a long time since I've read a sci-fi romance, but I can't wait to read the sequel to Ambasadora! I found this to be a fun read, but not trivial.
It has all the action and futuristic gadgets you'd expect in a sci-fi adventure--incendiary pistols, living tattoos, extreme makeovers--and all the steamy romance needed to heat a spaceship.
A deeper thread is skillfully slipped into the action as Sara Mendoza confronts a caste system that creates a superficial society. She finds herself a pawn used by the Sovereign, and must overcome her own very real fears to try to save the ones she loves. She's been betrayed, abandoned and tortured, so it's never clear who she can trust. Still, she never quits, despite the odds stacked against her.
A lot of twists and turns are skillfully resolved, making this a very satisfying read. I think I'll be checking out more sci-fi romance, but they'll have a hard time measuring up to Heidi Ruby Miller's standards.
It has all the action and futuristic gadgets you'd expect in a sci-fi adventure--incendiary pistols, living tattoos, extreme makeovers--and all the steamy romance needed to heat a spaceship.
A deeper thread is skillfully slipped into the action as Sara Mendoza confronts a caste system that creates a superficial society. She finds herself a pawn used by the Sovereign, and must overcome her own very real fears to try to save the ones she loves. She's been betrayed, abandoned and tortured, so it's never clear who she can trust. Still, she never quits, despite the odds stacked against her.
A lot of twists and turns are skillfully resolved, making this a very satisfying read. I think I'll be checking out more sci-fi romance, but they'll have a hard time measuring up to Heidi Ruby Miller's standards.
February 17, 2012
The good:
I loved the touches of technology in this, especially the details like the scent bots and the intra-tattoo. The civilization and world-building are complex and well thought out, with some virtual reality thrown into the mix. The characters are intensely interesting, each with their own flaws, and you can't help but empathize them. I wanted so, so badly for the two MCs to get their happily ever after that I was almost skipping pages to find it! The bedroom scenes are hot, but they don't dominate the book - this is most definitely a science fiction romance with a lot of tension to it.
The bad:
Once or twice I felt like I was losing track of a character and their part in the story a little.
In sum:
This is the kind of science fiction romance that I want more of, and that has set me a target to achieve with my own writing. In the absence of a sequel, I'm waiting on the immanent release of GREENSHIFT, set before the events in AMBASADORA.
I loved the touches of technology in this, especially the details like the scent bots and the intra-tattoo. The civilization and world-building are complex and well thought out, with some virtual reality thrown into the mix. The characters are intensely interesting, each with their own flaws, and you can't help but empathize them. I wanted so, so badly for the two MCs to get their happily ever after that I was almost skipping pages to find it! The bedroom scenes are hot, but they don't dominate the book - this is most definitely a science fiction romance with a lot of tension to it.
The bad:
Once or twice I felt like I was losing track of a character and their part in the story a little.
In sum:
This is the kind of science fiction romance that I want more of, and that has set me a target to achieve with my own writing. In the absence of a sequel, I'm waiting on the immanent release of GREENSHIFT, set before the events in AMBASADORA.
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