Windthrow

Xyvar #1

by A.B. Keuser

Ash Larkwood has run her private freight business long enough to know there is only one hard and fast rule in the galaxy: stay as far away from the heartless, war-like Xy as possible. When she reluctantly takes Rand Fife on as a passenger it seems breaking that rule is inevitable. He’s gorgeous, paying her a ridiculous fare, and yet things are not the proverbial piece of pie she hoped. When a Xy destroyer sets upon them demanding she hand him over and a pair of the skeletal aliens sneak aboard her ship, she knows it’s time for some answers. A pretty face is no excuse for the bucket of lies he’s tossing on her.

Genres: Science Fiction, Romance

460 pages, Paperback

First published June 29, 2014

About the author

A. B. Keuser grew up watching too many episodes of Star Trek and too many John Wayne movies. That's where this whole thing started.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief Overview:
Ash is the captain of a ship she built herself which she uses to run her own shipping/freight-hauling business. During what should be a simple delivery she is contracted to take on a passenger which so something she never does. It's a very lucrative fee she is being paid and it's the same place she's headed so she agrees. Turns out the passenger is very mysterious, she has no idea who he is or what he does and he basically tells her if she were to find out, there are those who would seek to silence her permanently. They've barely gotten underway when the ship is attacked by the dreaded Xy, scourge of the galaxy.


My Opinion:
I was in a Science Fiction/Space Travel sort of mood so I picked this up, it had been listed in a friend's "To Read" list for awhile so I thought I would give it a try. For the most part I thought it was pretty great. The world building was descriptive and interesting and I thought the characters were fleshed out nicely. The technical parts regarding space flight and ship systems repair were detailed just enough so that they felt neither over-complicated nor over-simplified. I read through it smoothly without getting bogged down in the details while at the same time not feeling like my intelligence was being insulted. I had fun reading the action scenes. I had fun reading about the secondary characters. I was thinking about what a decent pair of main characters this was. This didn't feel like a romance but there was some romantic tension building between the two of them and I was enjoying it. So five stars from me, BUT THEN....



Around the halfway point or so Ash comes down with a severe case of the Insta-Love and there really was no saving her. It didn't take her long to catch it. The symptoms started around day three with a fully developed sickness at approximately day five. The bad thing about it is that Randall Fife who (up until this point) was a really great male lead, also caught this dreaded condition and then they were both done for. I hate it when really great main characters get infected. Soon after, our two victims part ways and poor Ash has a secondary side effect common with the on-set of Insta-Love, sometimes referred to as the big misunderstanding. Fortunately, the big misunderstanding was cleared up fairly quickly.

The rest of the book was pretty good. But for me, the onset of the previously mentioned condition diminished my enjoyment pretty significantly. At this point there was still approximately 50% remaining. And all the while, I just couldn't get past the fact that a lot of the decisions made by the two characters were made with regard to each other and in real life this just wouldn't be the case, not after a week or two. I was also disappointed because I would have expected this in something meant to be over the top romantic cheese. This wasn't. It was intelligent and believable, character-wise anyway. I think the villain was a little bit obvious but that wasn't as bothersome as it could have been.

I will point out that - while I can't give a complete free-pass - I do think the author redeemed herself somewhat by the choice Ash made at the end.

I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys the science fiction/outer space genre mixed with a bit of romance. However, beware of the Insta-Love. I just couldn't really get past it. Without it I definitely would have given this one more star.

[A.B.]

"I wrote it, so you know I liked it"

[C.M. Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not normally a sci fi reader, but I enjoyed Windthrow very much. It was part action/adventure and part sci fi with enough romance thrown in to keep everything and everyone in turmoil.

The novel was very creative and well-thought out. The world building was quite good, and there was excellent contrast between space, Betulia, and the XY home world (loved that). I enjoyed the characters, especially Rand. The ending had a bit of an unexpected twist—my favorite kind. It was satisfying and felt very natural and in keeping with the characters.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, A.B. Keuser has given us a fantastically crafted universe filled with secrets, surprises, and incredible settings. Above all, the characters in Windthrow keep you on your toes, and when the book ends you, the reader, will not be ready to say goodbye to them. Read it, expect the unexpected, and enjoy the adventure!

[Dr susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent sci fi adventure with romance

The world building is great, the xy are...horrrific, and I'm not sure the Supreme Commander is any better than the xy. Bad things happen, and good characters die. Unexpected treachery made me sad. Windthrow is well-written and peopled with characters I care about.

[Pamelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and buzzed right through it! It has it all: action, intrigue, some romance, and aliens!! If you enjoy Linnea Sinclair or Ann Aguirre then you will like this book too. Go for it!