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Clandestine
Clandestine (adjective). Something kept secret.
Xavier Zhang is no stranger to secrets. Despite his family's history, he thought he conquered them all. After the problems his sister Astra caused during her first two years of college, he wants to put that all behind him and focus on taking over the family business.
Unfortunately, life has other plans. One phone call and a spring cleaning session later, Xavier is plunged into his sister's chaotic new life to help her recover stolen tech, backed up by a mysterious coworker, and Astra’s friend Isaac Kim. Unbeknownst to Xavier, he has more secrets to uncover, and these new discoveries are just the beginning.
Book 2 of The Makria Cycle
Xavier Zhang is no stranger to secrets. Despite his family's history, he thought he conquered them all. After the problems his sister Astra caused during her first two years of college, he wants to put that all behind him and focus on taking over the family business.
Unfortunately, life has other plans. One phone call and a spring cleaning session later, Xavier is plunged into his sister's chaotic new life to help her recover stolen tech, backed up by a mysterious coworker, and Astra’s friend Isaac Kim. Unbeknownst to Xavier, he has more secrets to uncover, and these new discoveries are just the beginning.
Book 2 of The Makria Cycle
350 pages, Paperback
Published April 12, 2024
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Sera Amoroso
7 books17 followersSera Amoroso is an avid reader, writer, editor, cosplayer, and dice collector. When she’s not working on her next novel, you can find her drinking tea and playing DnD. As for hobbies, she plays Magic the Gathering, thinks about space, visits aquariums, sings, and plays the cello. She collects comics, rubber ducks, and other small knick-knacks (she’s definitely not a crow, what are you talking about?).
As a student, she is currently working on a master's degree in Rhetoric and Composition. In her free time, she enjoys thinking about conspiracy theories, playing with her dog, creating languages, and learning some new thing that will occupy her every waking hour until the dopamine goes away.
As a student, she is currently working on a master's degree in Rhetoric and Composition. In her free time, she enjoys thinking about conspiracy theories, playing with her dog, creating languages, and learning some new thing that will occupy her every waking hour until the dopamine goes away.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 11, 2024
4.5* rounded up.
This. Book. Is. Amazing.
I was so much more invested in this book than I was the second one.
Let's talk about the plot first.
WOW. You follow the same characters in the first book, and you get more of the Duke family! There's a lot more undercover work going on in this book as well as moral dilemmas the characters face. There are also mystery aspects in the plot which I loved too! The plot is bigger, better, and will keep you invested from page one!
Now let's talk about the characters. Xavier was by far my favorite character in this book. His character arc throughout the story was what really kept me invested. The plot is good, but I definitely stayed for the characters. I love the Duke Family plotline in this. The struggles Astra faced as she figured out where she belongs. Astra is definitely a morally grey character and I am here for it. If you are intrigued by the plot but aren't sure if it's a book for you, PICK IT UP FOR THE CHARACTERS.
The writing was so much better in this book. I don't think it changed drastically, but I think the sentence structure was a bit better, as well as the pacing. I didn't feel lost at any point like I did the first one. She (the author) also made it more of a chapter by chapter POV book instead of it changing randomly in a chapter. I liked that a bit more as I didn't jumble the characters together.
The only gripe I had with this story was Aiken.
SOME SPOILERS IN THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH!!!!!!
The way he randomly just shifted gears to "I need to kill this person" was a bit too abrupt. I loved Aiken in the first one. He was literally my favorite. I could tell he was going to get a "villain arc" in this and I didn't like a bit of it. I feel like it didn't fit his character to be obsessed with the androids all of a sudden. The way that he just looked at the notes and was like, "I am obsessed with this man" just didn't fit. I will say, however, that I know Astra was controlling him, but even she said that wasn't her. That being said though, that was my only issue with this book. The rest was phenomenal and you need to read it.
END OF SPOILERS
Considering my only issue with this book was a character arc, you should pick this up right now and then tell me what you think!
*I did receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
This. Book. Is. Amazing.
I was so much more invested in this book than I was the second one.
Let's talk about the plot first.
WOW. You follow the same characters in the first book, and you get more of the Duke family! There's a lot more undercover work going on in this book as well as moral dilemmas the characters face. There are also mystery aspects in the plot which I loved too! The plot is bigger, better, and will keep you invested from page one!
Now let's talk about the characters. Xavier was by far my favorite character in this book. His character arc throughout the story was what really kept me invested. The plot is good, but I definitely stayed for the characters. I love the Duke Family plotline in this. The struggles Astra faced as she figured out where she belongs. Astra is definitely a morally grey character and I am here for it. If you are intrigued by the plot but aren't sure if it's a book for you, PICK IT UP FOR THE CHARACTERS.
The writing was so much better in this book. I don't think it changed drastically, but I think the sentence structure was a bit better, as well as the pacing. I didn't feel lost at any point like I did the first one. She (the author) also made it more of a chapter by chapter POV book instead of it changing randomly in a chapter. I liked that a bit more as I didn't jumble the characters together.
The only gripe I had with this story was Aiken.
SOME SPOILERS IN THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH!!!!!!
The way he randomly just shifted gears to "I need to kill this person" was a bit too abrupt. I loved Aiken in the first one. He was literally my favorite. I could tell he was going to get a "villain arc" in this and I didn't like a bit of it. I feel like it didn't fit his character to be obsessed with the androids all of a sudden. The way that he just looked at the notes and was like, "I am obsessed with this man" just didn't fit. I will say, however, that I know Astra was controlling him, but even she said that wasn't her. That being said though, that was my only issue with this book. The rest was phenomenal and you need to read it.
END OF SPOILERS
Considering my only issue with this book was a character arc, you should pick this up right now and then tell me what you think!
*I did receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
April 11, 2024
Clandestine by Sera Amoroso ✨⚙
series: The Makria Cycle #2
genre: science fiction
format: e-arc
pages: 361
times read: 1
date (dd/mm/yy): 31/3/24-7/4/24
would reread: probs
rating: 4⭐
review:
Thank you Sera for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
after having orchestrated the downfall of Leroy Parkes, the Torsion Gang (Astra tbh), is left to run the school but shit hits the fan when Astra needs to get her tech back from Leroy's cousin, Clay, so she sends her brother Xavier undercover.
Clandestine felt completely different from Torsion and the reason why is the fact that Sera's writing improved a lot. Where in Torsion there was more dialogue and less setting, in Clandestine there's equal parts dialogue and setting. Sera also did something that made me connect with the characters in Clandestine cs in Torsion I only REALLY vibed w/ Astra, Aiken and Zola but here the opposite happened tbh, I sort of started liking the other characters but Aiken and Astra felt weird and Aiken isn't MY character anymore :/. Xavi (Xavier), Cassie (Cassidy), Vee (Yvette), Isaac and Tessie (Tessa) are my babies now, like aaaaagh love them sm.
Aiken crossing it to the other side was smth I wasn't expecting tbh, like, I actually liked Alejo and Aiken going Jaime Lannister on him felt rlly off.
I stopped vibing with Astra the moment she said she'd kill Xavier if he failed like, girl you're saying you'd kill your brother if he failed to retrieve smth when it wasn't his fault it was stolen from you? nuh-uh, bad astra *sprays water*
I'm legit more interested in learning more abt Tess than I am abt Astra (still want to know abt her but not as much) like, finding out she was also an alien but not an Ara'cel had me like 😮. The fact that Ares was an Ara'cel rlly caught me by surprise, I mean, we didn't know much abt the man but still, I wasn't expecting it.
I like X sm dfnsdjf, he reminds me of Spencer Reid, Dean Redding and Cassie Hobbs all in one character. I love the way his brain works and I want to kidnap him for myself. also Isaac is so dsafhdjf love him sm
I hope we have an apology scene from Astra to the gang in book 3 (the title is amazing)
series: The Makria Cycle #2
genre: science fiction
format: e-arc
pages: 361
times read: 1
date (dd/mm/yy): 31/3/24-7/4/24
would reread: probs
rating: 4⭐
review:
Thank you Sera for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
after having orchestrated the downfall of Leroy Parkes, the Torsion Gang (Astra tbh), is left to run the school but shit hits the fan when Astra needs to get her tech back from Leroy's cousin, Clay, so she sends her brother Xavier undercover.
Clandestine felt completely different from Torsion and the reason why is the fact that Sera's writing improved a lot. Where in Torsion there was more dialogue and less setting, in Clandestine there's equal parts dialogue and setting. Sera also did something that made me connect with the characters in Clandestine cs in Torsion I only REALLY vibed w/ Astra, Aiken and Zola but here the opposite happened tbh, I sort of started liking the other characters but Aiken and Astra felt weird and Aiken isn't MY character anymore :/. Xavi (Xavier), Cassie (Cassidy), Vee (Yvette), Isaac and Tessie (Tessa) are my babies now, like aaaaagh love them sm.
Aiken crossing it to the other side was smth I wasn't expecting tbh, like, I actually liked Alejo and Aiken going Jaime Lannister on him felt rlly off.
I stopped vibing with Astra the moment she said she'd kill Xavier if he failed like, girl you're saying you'd kill your brother if he failed to retrieve smth when it wasn't his fault it was stolen from you? nuh-uh, bad astra *sprays water*
I'm legit more interested in learning more abt Tess than I am abt Astra (still want to know abt her but not as much) like, finding out she was also an alien but not an Ara'cel had me like 😮. The fact that Ares was an Ara'cel rlly caught me by surprise, I mean, we didn't know much abt the man but still, I wasn't expecting it.
I like X sm dfnsdjf, he reminds me of Spencer Reid, Dean Redding and Cassie Hobbs all in one character. I love the way his brain works and I want to kidnap him for myself. also Isaac is so dsafhdjf love him sm
I hope we have an apology scene from Astra to the gang in book 3 (the title is amazing)
April 9, 2024
I had the privilege of alpha and beta reading Clandestine and loved it! It has a large cast of lovable character who are both down to earth and hilarious. I'll probably re-post a review once I finish the finalized novel but here's what I loved even the early drafts.
First off, the characters (namely Astra and Xavier) were incredibly well written. Both of them complex and complicated yet somehow relatable despite being in situations in which the reader would never find themselves in. The themes of the book lie strongly within these characters and shine through well because of their development.
Not to mention Aiken. We don't speak of Aiken.
Let's talk world building. Absolutely incredible, one of the strongest aspects of the book although I cannot disclose how without spoiling. Which I don't want to do for this review. But I will say one particularly interesting aspect of the world building is displayed so wonderfully in a strong characters most vulnerable moments.
As far as the plot is concerned, it relies heavily on the decisions made by the characters and has twists that you wouldn't expect.
Prose: the prose is overall good. There are moments in which the writing absolutely shines, and others where it feels lacking (particularly in description), but not in any way affecting the enjoyment of the novel.
With the way I review books, Clandestine falls under a 4 star read with an extra 5 because it's an indie book (yes I do this for all indie books I read). For me, this just means it's not my all time favorite book, but I still loved it and highly recommend.
A great book and second novel in its series, I can't wait to see where it goes! I recommend the TMC series if you're looking for a good intro to sci-fi and want to support an indie author!
First off, the characters (namely Astra and Xavier) were incredibly well written. Both of them complex and complicated yet somehow relatable despite being in situations in which the reader would never find themselves in. The themes of the book lie strongly within these characters and shine through well because of their development.
Not to mention Aiken. We don't speak of Aiken.
Let's talk world building. Absolutely incredible, one of the strongest aspects of the book although I cannot disclose how without spoiling. Which I don't want to do for this review. But I will say one particularly interesting aspect of the world building is displayed so wonderfully in a strong characters most vulnerable moments.
As far as the plot is concerned, it relies heavily on the decisions made by the characters and has twists that you wouldn't expect.
Prose: the prose is overall good. There are moments in which the writing absolutely shines, and others where it feels lacking (particularly in description), but not in any way affecting the enjoyment of the novel.
With the way I review books, Clandestine falls under a 4 star read with an extra 5 because it's an indie book (yes I do this for all indie books I read). For me, this just means it's not my all time favorite book, but I still loved it and highly recommend.
A great book and second novel in its series, I can't wait to see where it goes! I recommend the TMC series if you're looking for a good intro to sci-fi and want to support an indie author!
April 10, 2024
You know how in a lot of series, book two is the most boring? That is NOT the case with Clandestine. This book takes the series from a sci-fi school story to a full-on sci-fi spy thriller. I loved this because my favorite part of book one (Torsion) was the mystery. I can’t get into specifics due to spoilers, but mystery and intrigue are a HUGE part of Clandestine and had me hooked the entire time.
I also loved the way the characters were developed (primarily my girl, Astra) and I’m really excited for book three.
Thank you so much, Sera Amoroso, for providing me with an ARC of Clandestine
I also loved the way the characters were developed (primarily my girl, Astra) and I’m really excited for book three.
Thank you so much, Sera Amoroso, for providing me with an ARC of Clandestine
December 12, 2023
I BETA READ IT AND IT TORE MY HEART OUT WHOOHOO
April 11, 2024
Aliens and academics, what could possibly go wrong?
After Torsion, I was craving more of Astra’s story and the gang’s shenanigans, and this book definitely delivered.
Plot was Torsion’s strongest element, and while the plot (and its twists) was great in Clandestine, I also found myself falling head first into the characters and their emotions more in this book. There are several characters whose arcs I loved, and one in particular that shocked me to my core. Sera portrayed this character’s descent into madness so well, with little hints here and there until they reached the point of no return—I didn’t see it coming until it happened, but then I was like “I SHOULD’VE KNOWN THIS WOULD HAPPEN.”
Speaking of character arcs I couldn’t get enough of: Xavier was hands-down my favorite part of Clandestine. From his backstory to his motivations to his storyline, I was invested the whole way through. I enjoyed his deep characterization and his relationships with his siblings (and himself), especially with Astra.
There is one storyline I wish had been wrapped up in this book, but I’m looking forward to the way it comes together in the next book. I had to fight myself to keep from reading the sneak peek of book three before I wrote this review!
If you’re a fan of sci-fi with lovable characters, aliens and androids, and a bit of comic relief, you’ll love this series.
After Torsion, I was craving more of Astra’s story and the gang’s shenanigans, and this book definitely delivered.
Plot was Torsion’s strongest element, and while the plot (and its twists) was great in Clandestine, I also found myself falling head first into the characters and their emotions more in this book. There are several characters whose arcs I loved, and one in particular that shocked me to my core. Sera portrayed this character’s descent into madness so well, with little hints here and there until they reached the point of no return—I didn’t see it coming until it happened, but then I was like “I SHOULD’VE KNOWN THIS WOULD HAPPEN.”
Speaking of character arcs I couldn’t get enough of: Xavier was hands-down my favorite part of Clandestine. From his backstory to his motivations to his storyline, I was invested the whole way through. I enjoyed his deep characterization and his relationships with his siblings (and himself), especially with Astra.
There is one storyline I wish had been wrapped up in this book, but I’m looking forward to the way it comes together in the next book. I had to fight myself to keep from reading the sneak peek of book three before I wrote this review!
If you’re a fan of sci-fi with lovable characters, aliens and androids, and a bit of comic relief, you’ll love this series.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews