What do you think?
Rate this book
Guardians of the Pattern #2.0
Gremlin's Last Run
Rhys Tyler, captain of the Gremlin, is no stranger to living on the edge: the edge of solvent; the edge of legal; the edge of sane.
An empath so sensitive that he cannot bear human touch, Rhys makes his living hauling cargo through the deep dark, the interstellar emptiness between populated star systems. And if keeping his aging freighter in working order means resorting to smuggling, well, a man does what he has to in order to survive.
Alek McKinnon is a Federation agent in trouble. Everything that could have gone wrong with his latest mission has. He's been ambushed, kidnapped, imprisoned, and forced to participate in an illegal experiment that has crippled his psi and left him bonded to an ancient artifact that has already proved itself deadly.
When Alek stows away aboard the Gremlin, all he's looking for is a way home so he can report to his superiors. He's not expecting to find a psion in desperate need of training. And he's sure as hell not expecting to fall in love.
An empath so sensitive that he cannot bear human touch, Rhys makes his living hauling cargo through the deep dark, the interstellar emptiness between populated star systems. And if keeping his aging freighter in working order means resorting to smuggling, well, a man does what he has to in order to survive.
Alek McKinnon is a Federation agent in trouble. Everything that could have gone wrong with his latest mission has. He's been ambushed, kidnapped, imprisoned, and forced to participate in an illegal experiment that has crippled his psi and left him bonded to an ancient artifact that has already proved itself deadly.
When Alek stows away aboard the Gremlin, all he's looking for is a way home so he can report to his superiors. He's not expecting to find a psion in desperate need of training. And he's sure as hell not expecting to fall in love.
299 pages, ebook
First published October 19, 2014
2 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Jaye McKenna
24 books132 followersJaye McKenna was born a Brit and was dragged, kicking and screaming, across the Pond at an age when such vehement protest was doomed to be misinterpreted as a “paddy”. She grew up near a sumac forest in Minnesota and spent most of her teen years torturing her parents with her electric guitar and her dark poetry. She was punk before it was cool and a grown-up long before she was ready. Jaye writes fantasy and science fiction stories about hot guys who have the hots for each other. She enjoys making them work darn hard for their happy endings, which might explain why she never gets invited to their parties.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 11, 2018
4.75 stars
This story grabbed me from page one and would NOT let me go, something I cannot say about very many books. The pacing is outstanding.
Alek and Rhys are nuanced, real, and vividly alive. I’d already met Alek in a prior book, and I adored Rhys from the start.
By the way, for those who find series in which many people who know each other are gay to be unrealistic, then please read this book. Because yeah, there are a large number of gays in this particular organization, but this author tells you exactly why in a totally believable way that I just adored.
This series continues to draw me deeper and deeper into a fascinating world and the characters that populate it. I’ve read other series that concentrate on one couple in each book with nearly the entire focus being on the main couple and others just cameos, but that isn’t the case in this series. In each book, I’m getting to know new guys, but there are also the old favorites that are still growing and changing. No little snippets thrown in just as an update here. It’s a richly interwoven world where we keep seeing nuances of character revealed that we didn’t see before.
For example, I enjoyed book one, but Kyn was quite an asshat at times and hard for me to love. In this book, I can see the growth in him that has come from accepting himself as he is and also from being in a stable loving relationship over the few years since the prior book. And Luka… wow, he has matured and is now a teacher who is a far cry from that frightened lost boy. Yet he’s the same in all the ways that make him uniquely him. Two of my favorite characters have yet to have their own story, and I can’t wait. One of them was a very bad boy in this book, which gave me some grief, but only intrigues me more. I adore anti-heroes and cannot wait to see the world through his eyes.
This story grabbed me from page one and would NOT let me go, something I cannot say about very many books. The pacing is outstanding.
Alek and Rhys are nuanced, real, and vividly alive. I’d already met Alek in a prior book, and I adored Rhys from the start.
By the way, for those who find series in which many people who know each other are gay to be unrealistic, then please read this book. Because yeah, there are a large number of gays in this particular organization, but this author tells you exactly why in a totally believable way that I just adored.
This series continues to draw me deeper and deeper into a fascinating world and the characters that populate it. I’ve read other series that concentrate on one couple in each book with nearly the entire focus being on the main couple and others just cameos, but that isn’t the case in this series. In each book, I’m getting to know new guys, but there are also the old favorites that are still growing and changing. No little snippets thrown in just as an update here. It’s a richly interwoven world where we keep seeing nuances of character revealed that we didn’t see before.
For example, I enjoyed book one, but Kyn was quite an asshat at times and hard for me to love. In this book, I can see the growth in him that has come from accepting himself as he is and also from being in a stable loving relationship over the few years since the prior book. And Luka… wow, he has matured and is now a teacher who is a far cry from that frightened lost boy. Yet he’s the same in all the ways that make him uniquely him. Two of my favorite characters have yet to have their own story, and I can’t wait. One of them was a very bad boy in this book, which gave me some grief, but only intrigues me more. I adore anti-heroes and cannot wait to see the world through his eyes.
Read
October 29, 2014Available now at Amazon, All Romance, and Smashwords. Coming to other retailers soon.
And... for the Draven fans out there, he's getting his own book, too ;)
And... for the Draven fans out there, he's getting his own book, too ;)
January 21, 2018
Feb. 12; 2016: DNF
Jan. 19, 2018: I’m confident I set this book aside in 2016 because I read it before #0.5 and #1. My interest in the series was rekindled after completing the available books in McKenna’s Wytch King series, which was SO good. Thus, I begin again!
Jan. 21: The first half of this book could easily have been cut in half. It was an exercise in utter frustration and boredom. Most of it simply served no purpose. It wasn’t until half way through the book that the story really engaged me. I would like to have seen better world building but the character development was excellent. Torn between excitement and the act of bracing myself, I’m off to begin the next book in the series.
Jan. 19, 2018: I’m confident I set this book aside in 2016 because I read it before #0.5 and #1. My interest in the series was rekindled after completing the available books in McKenna’s Wytch King series, which was SO good. Thus, I begin again!
Jan. 21: The first half of this book could easily have been cut in half. It was an exercise in utter frustration and boredom. Most of it simply served no purpose. It wasn’t until half way through the book that the story really engaged me. I would like to have seen better world building but the character development was excellent. Torn between excitement and the act of bracing myself, I’m off to begin the next book in the series.
October 20, 2014
Ahhh!! Yet another success! Jaye's writing draws you in and creates a delicious "Movie in your head" that you don't want to end. Her attention to detail and character development create a bond between the reader and the story that makes you impatient for the next book in the series. Well done!!
August 10, 2016
I am hooked on this series...I love the world, the characters, and the psi/mythe storyline.
February 16, 2016
For a full review and others like it visit my blog at http://bit.ly/1vmWEZP
Gremlin’s Last Run grabbed me from the very beginning with the suspenseful first chapter where Alek is attempting to escape captivity from an unknown enemy. I loved the world created by Jaye Mckenna, particularly the concept of Psi who are humans with special powers.
Although both Rhys and Alek are Psi they had vastly different childhoods that have resulted in completely different lifestyles. Whereas Alek was raised in a family that understood and accepted his powers, Rhys didn’t even know what was wrong with him. His powers have made it impossible for him function in society and since the death of his uncle he’s been trying to keep the Gremlin functional and afloat alone. Rhys was my favourite character in the novel and I thought the author did a great job of developing his character throughout the book. In the beginning he has lost all hope and is virtually suicidal.
'He’d shoot himself up and he and Gremlin would make one last, glorious run straight into the heart of a star before things got to that point’
I loved the interactions between Alek and Rhys they were so caring and sweet with each other and had an instant connection. Both Alek and Rhys are fundamentally good people and this is clear from all the decisions they both make throughout the book. At numerous points they put themselves in danger to protect each other they showed each other and the reader how much they cared and valued each other through actions as much as words. Their romance does develop quickly but it felt realistic given the tense and drastic situations they themselves in, for nearly the whole book they are running from the baddies and trying to stop more people from being hurt in the future.
Gremlin’s Last Run grabbed me from the very beginning with the suspenseful first chapter where Alek is attempting to escape captivity from an unknown enemy. I loved the world created by Jaye Mckenna, particularly the concept of Psi who are humans with special powers.
Although both Rhys and Alek are Psi they had vastly different childhoods that have resulted in completely different lifestyles. Whereas Alek was raised in a family that understood and accepted his powers, Rhys didn’t even know what was wrong with him. His powers have made it impossible for him function in society and since the death of his uncle he’s been trying to keep the Gremlin functional and afloat alone. Rhys was my favourite character in the novel and I thought the author did a great job of developing his character throughout the book. In the beginning he has lost all hope and is virtually suicidal.
'He’d shoot himself up and he and Gremlin would make one last, glorious run straight into the heart of a star before things got to that point’
I loved the interactions between Alek and Rhys they were so caring and sweet with each other and had an instant connection. Both Alek and Rhys are fundamentally good people and this is clear from all the decisions they both make throughout the book. At numerous points they put themselves in danger to protect each other they showed each other and the reader how much they cared and valued each other through actions as much as words. Their romance does develop quickly but it felt realistic given the tense and drastic situations they themselves in, for nearly the whole book they are running from the baddies and trying to stop more people from being hurt in the future.
October 30, 2014
Loved this one! Rhys was such a compelling character. Still haunted by the memories of his deceased uncle's cynicism, and his inability to handle the constant barrage of human emotions without massive doses of medication, he's isolated himself on a ship, safe in the quietude of space. That is-- until he has a stowaway in the form of Alec-- who is injured and needs his help.
Although initially ready to jettison the man, Rhys finds understanding--someone who is a lot like him and offers him aid in return
During the course of this story, there are several familiar faces, and it was interesting to see how they have grown into new roles since Facing the Mirror and Psi Hunter.
This is a quick, fun read with characters I hope to see again in the next installment! Recommended!
Although initially ready to jettison the man, Rhys finds understanding--someone who is a lot like him and offers him aid in return
During the course of this story, there are several familiar faces, and it was interesting to see how they have grown into new roles since Facing the Mirror and Psi Hunter.
This is a quick, fun read with characters I hope to see again in the next installment! Recommended!
November 21, 2014
First, I need to say I was one of the beta readers for Miss Jaye BUT regardless of that I absolutely loved this book. The situations and the characters are so real, more real than a lot of contemporary novels, that I couldn't help but get sucked into it. Loved Rhys, such a great character! Love the over-all universe that sets this novel up, and the underlying mystery that is Miko.
Wish I could add more, but I seriously suck at writing reviews. But yeah, all all the m/m I read this year, this one is easily my favorite of the year.
Can't wait for the next novel. :-)
Wish I could add more, but I seriously suck at writing reviews. But yeah, all all the m/m I read this year, this one is easily my favorite of the year.
Can't wait for the next novel. :-)
February 10, 2015
Fantastic story! Compelling plot and awesome characters. Ms. McKenna's creativity is just fabulous. It was so exciting to watch Alek and Rhys's unusual romance slowly evolve over the course of the book. I'm more than intrigued by Draven and I'd like to know more about him! I found myself not wanting to put the book down. I simply can't wait to read book 3!!!!
December 13, 2017
Once again: a cool series that could use a bit more depth... and breadth... and pages in general.
June 18, 2019
Read as part of Guardians Compilation: Volume #1, Stories #1-3.
February 16, 2015
I really liked the sci-fi and adventure aspects of this book. It became much more interesting to me when the two main characters arrived at the Psy Institute and the other characters appeared. I wanted to know more about the bad guys and their motives and resources though. It was a bit of a copout not to include that. My main niggle was that the relationship between the two main characters felt kind of abrupt to me. They never really connected emotionally to each other, probably because of the empathic plot reasons, and their relationship felt like it was all based on lust. I wanted more of an emotional connection built between them instead. It felt very disconnected to me. (And I only skimmed the sex scenes. They didn't seem necessary to the characterization or story-- kind of gratuitous.) Also Rhys's naivete in getting captured felt forced. With all he's been through and his abilities, you'd think he'd constantly be on high alert whenever he was around strangers. It just made him look stupid. There was a bit of a mention of drugs and distraction, but I didn't buy it. I still really like the world-building in this series, but the romance in this book didn't work for me. Actually I'd give it a 3.5. It's kind of grown on me since I I read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2016
2nd read jan 2016
The blurb is accurate but the book is better.
Love the writing, story and characters - sex only as necessary to further the plot - part of a series but reads well as a stand alone - no cliffhangers.
The blurb is accurate but the book is better.
Love the writing, story and characters - sex only as necessary to further the plot - part of a series but reads well as a stand alone - no cliffhangers.
July 23, 2015
I really like this series. It is very interesting sci-fi/speculative fiction. The characters are likeable and engaging, and there's romance too- what's not to like?
May 15, 2022
A gnats over 4 stars
reviewette to follow
reviewette to follow
August 7, 2016
Something's missing.
I'm not sure why but this one didn't pull me in. I couldn't connect with Rhys or Alek. Technically the book is good, I just didn't get emotionally involved.
I'm not sure why but this one didn't pull me in. I couldn't connect with Rhys or Alek. Technically the book is good, I just didn't get emotionally involved.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews