Accounting for Taste

Shattered Stars #18

by Viola Grace

Reem woke on a space station, not feeling like herself. The cybernetic implant in her skull had the effect of changing her perceptions. Bonded without fanfare, she’s content to do her job until she gets a call she wasn’t expecting from a world she didn’t dream of.


Reem can’t remember leaving Earth. She woke up on a station that had put accelerated coms in her skull and sold her as a repurposed corpse to a world that needed analytics and other specific labour. Her daily tasks are boring but essential, and her implants notify her when she needs to head to the Pleasure Centre to take the edge off. While she doesn’t feel any longer, her body has needs beyond food, water, and rest, so she has been ordered to take care of them.
At the top of the building housing the Pleasure Centre is a Hmrain who always does what is best for his people. He passively consumes the energy from those below and begins to grow to look forward to the arrival of a certain cyborg on a predictable cycle. When a request that he can’t ignore comes to him, he has to send his newest acquisition to Aten, but first, he is going to lock her into a contract. He might be face blind, but he is no fool.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

98 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 2025

Reviews

[Tracey L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Favorite Series

I love all of Shattered Stars books. There were a couple I didn’t like as much. Glad they’ve mainly back to one couple. The last had 2 but one was most of the story. I’m hoping they get back to the format of the first 7-8. Still gladly buy and read. Previous characters make an appearance. Possible hints on future. This is one I wished had been longer. They were more interesting than some previous ones.

[RNL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all Viola's series, this is my far my favourite and this one was another hit!
Some familiar characters making a reappearance always tickles me.
10/10 can't wait to see what happens next in this Universe 🙌

[Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A return of memory and emotion

Wonderful story in the series. Great to catch up with other book characters and see the development of the narrative. Always love Viola’s books and can’t wait for the next one.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun, sweet read and I loved the couple. They found their HEA a little easier than some of the other couples in this series. Seeing all the little puzzle pieces come together is interesting as always and I can’t wait to see where the author takes us next.

[Royce I. Alden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered stars

One of my favorite story lines. May e it is time for a Terran chef to cook for the Hmrain. A contest with many kinds of cuisine.

[Mary clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

Love this story! It is evolving the series. This is one of the best. Reem is one of my f

[Kathleen R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 stars!!