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Despite Deceit
Not yet published
Expected 22 Jan 26A shadow from the past.
A fractured AI on the brink of madness.
A kingdom on the edge of collapse.
With Thono dead and his conquest thwarted, State Sec Agent Elianorra Salazar should finally have peace. But when Dolor’s capital comes under sudden attack, a mysterious woman arrives aboard Thono's old warships—a woman with bi-coloured eyes. After obliterating the invasion force, every newsfeed and citizen hails Yelena as a hero, much to Elia’s horror.
Beneath the saviour's charm lies a ruthless ambition, one that twists the hearts of the people and turns them against their queen. Elia and the royal family are rendered powerless, caught in the political hurricane that unfolds. Between scrambling to save her relationship with Captain Haggerty, rebuilding the one with her mother, and mending Eighty-Three's splintered mind, Elia must unite with former enemies and risk everything to keep her world from falling apart.
Because some shadows never fade—and some creations refuse to die.
A fractured AI on the brink of madness.
A kingdom on the edge of collapse.
With Thono dead and his conquest thwarted, State Sec Agent Elianorra Salazar should finally have peace. But when Dolor’s capital comes under sudden attack, a mysterious woman arrives aboard Thono's old warships—a woman with bi-coloured eyes. After obliterating the invasion force, every newsfeed and citizen hails Yelena as a hero, much to Elia’s horror.
Beneath the saviour's charm lies a ruthless ambition, one that twists the hearts of the people and turns them against their queen. Elia and the royal family are rendered powerless, caught in the political hurricane that unfolds. Between scrambling to save her relationship with Captain Haggerty, rebuilding the one with her mother, and mending Eighty-Three's splintered mind, Elia must unite with former enemies and risk everything to keep her world from falling apart.
Because some shadows never fade—and some creations refuse to die.
- GenresRomance
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 22, 2026
1 person is currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Jasmin Joachims
7 books38 followersJasmin Joachims is a poet, writer and author of Despite Distress, Despite Duty, and The Flying Kite. Previously working as an IT consultant, she now prefers to put words onto the page and dabble in a plethora of genres that include science fiction, romance and post-apocalyptic dystopia. One of her passions is to create gripping LGBTQ+ novels and trying to write the kind of stories she would have loved to be able to read while she was growing up. Her second passion is ice cream. No, sorry, it's dogs. Okay, she can't decide. Let's call them her other two second passions and be done with it.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
This has been one heck of a series - compelling and enjoyable with edge of the seat tension - but this final book was a real stand out. Entertaining, full of action and incredibly satisfying, written in the accomplished, signature style delivered every time by this talented author. Ms Joachims never lets me down when I want a top shelf read.
I loved the tone and direction of Despite Deceit. It was more character driven than the previous books so I felt I had stronger connections to Elia and Allen, in particular. I appreciated that during several pivotal scenes because I was able to feel their reactions to some major shocks, then follow as acceptance and channelled resolution settled in.
Ms Joachims is an exceptional wordsmith and used those skills to great effect in worldbuilding, the battle scenes and conveying emotion. The strength in her sentences elevated my reading pleasure, whether it was a short one - "I was left staring after her, blasted by regrets, recriminations, and recycled air." - or something subtly crafting a character and the direction they were heading - "...the truth of the matter was that I was hiding, and it annoyed me, especially because sharing the same space with her and not being able to talk was akin to torture.".
Getting to know Elia's family was simultaneously fun and sad and something I'd been waiting for. There were situations that were heartwarming to observe and others that were quite poignant. Nothing was done for drama's sake though and no characters were thrown under buses to drive the narrative. Elia's revenge against her nemesis this time around was ...... definitely something I've never seen done before and another example of this author's off-the-charts creativity.
To tie it all up there was an Epilogue that looked in on the key characters at a future point in their lives - a 'what are they doing now' window. I think that was brilliant.
I hope this book, and series, find homes in many readers' libraries. They are worth every minute of reading time. Highly recommended.
I loved the tone and direction of Despite Deceit. It was more character driven than the previous books so I felt I had stronger connections to Elia and Allen, in particular. I appreciated that during several pivotal scenes because I was able to feel their reactions to some major shocks, then follow as acceptance and channelled resolution settled in.
Ms Joachims is an exceptional wordsmith and used those skills to great effect in worldbuilding, the battle scenes and conveying emotion. The strength in her sentences elevated my reading pleasure, whether it was a short one - "I was left staring after her, blasted by regrets, recriminations, and recycled air." - or something subtly crafting a character and the direction they were heading - "...the truth of the matter was that I was hiding, and it annoyed me, especially because sharing the same space with her and not being able to talk was akin to torture.".
Getting to know Elia's family was simultaneously fun and sad and something I'd been waiting for. There were situations that were heartwarming to observe and others that were quite poignant. Nothing was done for drama's sake though and no characters were thrown under buses to drive the narrative. Elia's revenge against her nemesis this time around was ...... definitely something I've never seen done before and another example of this author's off-the-charts creativity.
To tie it all up there was an Epilogue that looked in on the key characters at a future point in their lives - a 'what are they doing now' window. I think that was brilliant.
I hope this book, and series, find homes in many readers' libraries. They are worth every minute of reading time. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The conclusion to this epic space sapphic trilogy is both intimate and grand in equal measure.
Where Elia has been cool and composed in the past, here we see a stripped down Elia, forced to confront things from her entire past. There were times in which she feels helpless, but it never gets to the point where she isn't still an important player. I think this adds to the desperation she feels.
I was eager to find out how Elia's relationship with Haggerty would end, and also who the villain of the piece would be since Thono was defeated at the end of the prior book. It did not disappoint, with genuine and sparkling dialogue and scenes between the three leads, as well as plenty of sci-fi family drama. The villain is perhaps more grey and fallible than we've seen in the prior stories which was a really nice twist. And the way the story can switch between intimacy and high-octane space battles feels so smooth and poigniant.
The setting is beautifully realised as well. Now that we're set entirely on Elia's home world, I think that gives this entry a really grounded feel, and allowed me to imagine the palace, the gardens, ICN headquarters, and various districts in great detail.
This feels like a cinematic final entry and the whole trilogy is well worthy of your time!
Where Elia has been cool and composed in the past, here we see a stripped down Elia, forced to confront things from her entire past. There were times in which she feels helpless, but it never gets to the point where she isn't still an important player. I think this adds to the desperation she feels.
I was eager to find out how Elia's relationship with Haggerty would end, and also who the villain of the piece would be since Thono was defeated at the end of the prior book. It did not disappoint, with genuine and sparkling dialogue and scenes between the three leads, as well as plenty of sci-fi family drama. The villain is perhaps more grey and fallible than we've seen in the prior stories which was a really nice twist. And the way the story can switch between intimacy and high-octane space battles feels so smooth and poigniant.
The setting is beautifully realised as well. Now that we're set entirely on Elia's home world, I think that gives this entry a really grounded feel, and allowed me to imagine the palace, the gardens, ICN headquarters, and various districts in great detail.
This feels like a cinematic final entry and the whole trilogy is well worthy of your time!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such a great end to this series.
Thanks ot Jasmin Joachims for the ARC.
I really enjoyed being on Dolor and seeing more of Elia's family.
Elia and Haggerty FINALLY get some time to talk truthfully (looking at you Elia). We learn of Thono's true ultimate plan and it's ramifications for everyone.
I'm happy to say the author stuck the landing. My only wish is that we get more from this world.
Big spoiler below, do not read. Giant spoiler but i have to say something lol
Thanks ot Jasmin Joachims for the ARC.
I really enjoyed being on Dolor and seeing more of Elia's family.
Elia and Haggerty FINALLY get some time to talk truthfully (looking at you Elia). We learn of Thono's true ultimate plan and it's ramifications for everyone.
I'm happy to say the author stuck the landing. My only wish is that we get more from this world.
Big spoiler below, do not read. Giant spoiler but i have to say something lol
Review of advance copy received from Author
4 stars. The second book is my favorite in the series but this was definitely my second favorite. This was a great conclusion to the series and I loved the way that everything wrapped up for Elia and Haggerty. I didn’t see that one thing coming but I loved it. The entire series is so worth the read, they’re a lot of fun, full of action, great humor and likable characters. I could definitely see myself reading these books again but they’re such a good time.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Fantastic end to the series. I loved Elia's character arc and where it leads at the end of the book. As always, her and Haggerty are swoon worthy and we get to see a lot more from them this time around. I finished this in a day and it did not disappoint!
Review of advance copy
Wonderful conclusion to this series! With a couple of unexpected twists, lots of action. Very satisfying. Series is fun enough to read again and again
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews