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Sheerspace #1
Queen of Starlight: Sheerspace Book 1
Originally published as "Enslaved by Starlight" in HOTTER ON THE EDGE: Science Fiction Romance Anthology. Winner of the 2012 InD'Tale RONE Award for Novellas and a Night Owl Reviews 4 1/2 Stars Top Pick
Her body is his prize, but he'll risk the stars for her love...
Transformed by empathic crystals into the perfect paramour, Benedetta Galil is the last treasure of her fading world. When raiders attack—seeking to corrupt the crystals and conquer all of charted space—she gives herself as a prize to the one man in the universe who values freedom over power. Mercenary sheership Captain Corso Deynah left oppression behind him on a burning planet and has no use for a sex slave, even one as seductive as Benedetta. But while he stubbornly resists her body, her fierce spirit tempts him, and he will risk everything—his ship, his seclusion, the very stars—to win not just her passion but her love.
Queen of Starlight: Sheerspace Book 1 -- Originally published in HOTTER ON THE EDGE
Prince of Passion: Sheerspace Book 2 -- Originally published in HOTTER ON THE EDGE 2
Assassin's Hunger: Sheerspace Book 3 -- COMING SOON!
***
Excerpt
Corso stepped outside, breathing out hard to clear the lingering sweet scent of pixberry from his lungs, and stared up at the sky. At the almost inaudible pad of bare feet behind him, he stiffened. Benedetta’s more subtle perfume teased him, and his heartbeat ramped even higher than it had that long-ago day when the sheer-ship plasma scorched the earth around him.
“Is it strange to see the stars from this angle?”
He glanced at the woman beside him. The silver l’auraly markings curled up the slender column of her neck to brush the points of her jaw, and the traceries glimmered even in the faint starlight. Every soldier knew, a sharp blow to those pressure points could disable. A kiss along those same lines could… He crushed the wayward thought. “What?”
She gestured upward, and the inner skin of her wrist glinted. “In your ship, you’re so much closer to them. They are beautiful from here, even through the ice rings and the light of three moons. They must be utterly amazing when you are up there alone with them.”
“You don’t see them at all in the sheerways. It’s all black. Unless you’re tangled, and then I’m told you see every star and moon and nebula at once in the nanosecond before your ship is shredded.”
She blinked. “Well, Captain Deynah, and here I wondered if you had any music in your soul.”
“Keep wondering.
Her body is his prize, but he'll risk the stars for her love...
Transformed by empathic crystals into the perfect paramour, Benedetta Galil is the last treasure of her fading world. When raiders attack—seeking to corrupt the crystals and conquer all of charted space—she gives herself as a prize to the one man in the universe who values freedom over power. Mercenary sheership Captain Corso Deynah left oppression behind him on a burning planet and has no use for a sex slave, even one as seductive as Benedetta. But while he stubbornly resists her body, her fierce spirit tempts him, and he will risk everything—his ship, his seclusion, the very stars—to win not just her passion but her love.
Queen of Starlight: Sheerspace Book 1 -- Originally published in HOTTER ON THE EDGE
Prince of Passion: Sheerspace Book 2 -- Originally published in HOTTER ON THE EDGE 2
Assassin's Hunger: Sheerspace Book 3 -- COMING SOON!
***
Excerpt
Corso stepped outside, breathing out hard to clear the lingering sweet scent of pixberry from his lungs, and stared up at the sky. At the almost inaudible pad of bare feet behind him, he stiffened. Benedetta’s more subtle perfume teased him, and his heartbeat ramped even higher than it had that long-ago day when the sheer-ship plasma scorched the earth around him.
“Is it strange to see the stars from this angle?”
He glanced at the woman beside him. The silver l’auraly markings curled up the slender column of her neck to brush the points of her jaw, and the traceries glimmered even in the faint starlight. Every soldier knew, a sharp blow to those pressure points could disable. A kiss along those same lines could… He crushed the wayward thought. “What?”
She gestured upward, and the inner skin of her wrist glinted. “In your ship, you’re so much closer to them. They are beautiful from here, even through the ice rings and the light of three moons. They must be utterly amazing when you are up there alone with them.”
“You don’t see them at all in the sheerways. It’s all black. Unless you’re tangled, and then I’m told you see every star and moon and nebula at once in the nanosecond before your ship is shredded.”
She blinked. “Well, Captain Deynah, and here I wondered if you had any music in your soul.”
“Keep wondering.
166 pages, Paperback
First published July 20, 2014
160 people are currently reading
541 people want to read
About the author
Jessa Slade
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"Wonderfully addictive!"
~New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter
“Dark and sexy and intense."
~New York Times Bestselling Author Nalini Singh
“[F]or readers who love J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, the Marked Souls series will hit the spot."
~RT BOOK Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
February 18, 2019
Queen of Starlight by Jessa Slade is the first book of the Sheerspace series. This one was basically an erotic romance that took the time to toss in some spacey type descriptions to make a "story". Obviously from my rating I wasn't a huge fan of this one since it seemed more pretending to have a plot than actually anything to follow.
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August 4, 2014
Queen of Starlight is for people who...
...enjoy a sexy romp on an alien planet.
...like a little story with their sexcapades.
...dig strong men who aren't afraid to make the tough choices.
...enjoy when the heroine meets him choice for choice.
Ahh... sexy sci-fi. I do like when I get my hands on a good sexy sci-fi book.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
...enjoy a sexy romp on an alien planet.
...like a little story with their sexcapades.
...dig strong men who aren't afraid to make the tough choices.
...enjoy when the heroine meets him choice for choice.
Ahh... sexy sci-fi. I do like when I get my hands on a good sexy sci-fi book.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
August 8, 2014
I do not think this qualifies at erotica--I know it was shelved that way a few different places, but that's my opinion.
This isn't really my kind of story, I didn't really like it but I'm trying to be objective and there were good things about it.
The writing (when it wasn't being weird as hell) was good. The characters had definite personalities and were fairly fleshed out for being so short and they stayed consistent.
However, I didn't fell any real connection between the characters and I didn't really like Etta and while I did like Corso, I didn't feel like we got to know him well enough.
If sci-fi is your thing you may really enjoy this. There is one described sex scene (though not graphic) and the rest is kind of fluffed over.
This isn't really my kind of story, I didn't really like it but I'm trying to be objective and there were good things about it.
The writing (when it wasn't being weird as hell) was good. The characters had definite personalities and were fairly fleshed out for being so short and they stayed consistent.
However, I didn't fell any real connection between the characters and I didn't really like Etta and while I did like Corso, I didn't feel like we got to know him well enough.
If sci-fi is your thing you may really enjoy this. There is one described sex scene (though not graphic) and the rest is kind of fluffed over.
December 31, 2015
3.5 stars - This is actually my second read of this story which was originally published in an anthology -Hotter on the Edge I think. Good jaded heart of gold mercenary and a gem of a intelligent heroine raised to be the perfect mate. I still enjoyed this the second time 'round - maybe a bit more because the "Q's" didn't bother me at all this time.
Review from my first read:
Enslaved by Starlight by Jessa Slade - I liked the story, but I had issues with all of the q-words related to the heroine's world, and it was one of those scifi stories where there are expressions used by the characters that are 'world' appropriate but always seem sort of cheesy when to me when I read them.
Review from my first read:
Enslaved by Starlight by Jessa Slade - I liked the story, but I had issues with all of the q-words related to the heroine's world, and it was one of those scifi stories where there are expressions used by the characters that are 'world' appropriate but always seem sort of cheesy when to me when I read them.
Want to read
April 30, 2020🎁 Free on Amazon today (4/30/2020)! 🎁
August 12, 2023
Got this on Kindle Stuffing Day so at least I didn't pay for it. It's kind of written in past tense, although seems to be describing a current story so not like, past recollections. It makes it quite hard to get immersed in, and the descriptions are just kind of weird, such as "her raw honey voice". Like, what? What does that even mean? The writing in general, I feel, doesn't flow that well and doesn't make me want to read more. This is the second book I've picked up, less than 3% in and don't want to continue with.
April 28, 2024
DNF around 40% I didn’t connect to the characters and the world building was confusing. They’re sex slaves, but not, but they can be sold, but also the stone has to approve of their partner? Also some people die when the stone touches them? And yet they keep touching them to people to see if they’re magical sex slaves or not? I have no idea what’s happening.
July 14, 2024
Dit boek had ik gevonden toen ik zocht op boeken die met een q beginnen in de titel. Die moest ik namelijk nog voor mijn abc challenge.
Een goede sciencefiction romance vond ik altijd wel leuk om te lezen. Maar deze voelde alsof er meerdere verhalen los van elkaar liepen, pas op het eind leen die verhalen bij elkaar te passen. En op het eind ging het ineens snel. Dat had best langer mogen duren.
Een goede sciencefiction romance vond ik altijd wel leuk om te lezen. Maar deze voelde alsof er meerdere verhalen los van elkaar liepen, pas op het eind leen die verhalen bij elkaar te passen. En op het eind ging het ineens snel. Dat had best langer mogen duren.
January 23, 2018
LAuren of Srarlight: Sheerspace Book 1
I didn't want to put this book down until I finished reading it. It took me on a dream ride. It made me rea!ize love will win in the end no matter what happens. Isn't it fun to have someone to help you dream through their writing!!
I didn't want to put this book down until I finished reading it. It took me on a dream ride. It made me rea!ize love will win in the end no matter what happens. Isn't it fun to have someone to help you dream through their writing!!
Read
September 2, 20202 1/2 stars would be true rating.
Good characters that find their strengths in the end but at first the story line was all over and characters were not put together well. The writer did finally pull it together in the end.
Good characters that find their strengths in the end but at first the story line was all over and characters were not put together well. The writer did finally pull it together in the end.
January 5, 2018
Sheer Sexy Space Adventure
I don't usually chose deep space adventures for steamy reading, so I was pleasantly surprised by
Jessa Slade's offering. I look forward to Icere's story.
I don't usually chose deep space adventures for steamy reading, so I was pleasantly surprised by
Jessa Slade's offering. I look forward to Icere's story.
June 27, 2018
I was an interesting read. I really enjoyed it.
April 12, 2019
Deep space sexy times, always a nice change of pace.
September 12, 2023
Maybe a 2.8. Not the worst of this type, but...
January 2, 2024
I really wanted to enjoy this, but there were just a few too many elements going on here between the intentional sex slavery and a man living by his code but also breaking his code?
April 1, 2024
I am not a Sci-fi or high fantasy reader and this book reminded me why. It needed a bit more world building to be completely understood. Random words in a made up language with no context just made it more difficult to read. I read this to check off Q in my alphabet challenge and while I didn’t really enjoy the book, I managed to get past it by making up words and names in my head and then just pushing through the rest of the book.
September 27, 2014
3.5-4 stars
This was a pretty good story. I liked both Benedetta and Corso and their story was interesting and was a good combination of action and romance. This is the first story I've read by this author and I liked this enough I may try more of her work in the future.
Benedetta was raised on a planet where special crystals grow. These crystals can be fused with some of the planets inhabitants. These crystal infused women (and men) are known as l'auralya (or l'auralyo for men). Between the extensive training that the l'auralya go through and the empathic connection between the bonded couple, the l'auralya are considered the perfect mate. Benedetta has gone through her training but has yet to be bonded with a man.
Corso hasn't had things easy. He was in the space military but when his commanders gave him illegal orders that were wrong any way you look at it. Corso was forced into a situation where he came out a dubious hero but was disturbed by what happened. He left the military and became Captain of his own ship, never wanting to be in that situation again.
The story begins with Benedetta contacting Corso on his ship, proposing a deal. Corso isn't interested in hearing it but she uses a little bit of trickery to convince him to come talk to them. Benedetta also reveals that she's a l'auralya and as part of the price she's willing to be his or allow him to sell her to another to bond with. Corso thinks of it as slavery and so he doesn't want her as part of the deal. When he comes to the planet they convince him to help by imparting that they've discovered that the crystal on their planet can be used as a weapon and they need help defending their planet from people intent on taking the crystal for that purpose and through it, try to rule the universe (or at least a part of it...).
Corso agrees to stay and Benedetta helps him where she can, spending time with him to keep track of him and everything else. While they spend time together Benedetta is cognisant of an attraction to Corso and thinks (or maybe hopes?) that maybe he'll want her after all. Corso does want her but has trouble letting go for a number of reasons. There's action going on as there are some attacks and they have to plan on what to do next. In the slow points, Benedetta and Corso get to know each other better and start to fall for each other. There's a number of events that culminate into a pretty interesting ending. Corso and Benedetta come out of it pretty much unscathed (maybe have to suspend disbelief a teensy bit there) and begin on their well deserved HEA.
I thought this story was pretty good. I liked both Corso and Benedetta. They had some trouble at first but with some time it became apparent that they could be great together and I'm glad they figured it out. The action plot was good and the world building was good (and not overdone) as well. Overall this was an enjoyable story and I'll probably read the next in the series in the future. I'd recommend this story. :)
This was a pretty good story. I liked both Benedetta and Corso and their story was interesting and was a good combination of action and romance. This is the first story I've read by this author and I liked this enough I may try more of her work in the future.
Benedetta was raised on a planet where special crystals grow. These crystals can be fused with some of the planets inhabitants. These crystal infused women (and men) are known as l'auralya (or l'auralyo for men). Between the extensive training that the l'auralya go through and the empathic connection between the bonded couple, the l'auralya are considered the perfect mate. Benedetta has gone through her training but has yet to be bonded with a man.
Corso hasn't had things easy. He was in the space military but when his commanders gave him illegal orders that were wrong any way you look at it. Corso was forced into a situation where he came out a dubious hero but was disturbed by what happened. He left the military and became Captain of his own ship, never wanting to be in that situation again.
The story begins with Benedetta contacting Corso on his ship, proposing a deal. Corso isn't interested in hearing it but she uses a little bit of trickery to convince him to come talk to them. Benedetta also reveals that she's a l'auralya and as part of the price she's willing to be his or allow him to sell her to another to bond with. Corso thinks of it as slavery and so he doesn't want her as part of the deal. When he comes to the planet they convince him to help by imparting that they've discovered that the crystal on their planet can be used as a weapon and they need help defending their planet from people intent on taking the crystal for that purpose and through it, try to rule the universe (or at least a part of it...).
Corso agrees to stay and Benedetta helps him where she can, spending time with him to keep track of him and everything else. While they spend time together Benedetta is cognisant of an attraction to Corso and thinks (or maybe hopes?) that maybe he'll want her after all. Corso does want her but has trouble letting go for a number of reasons. There's action going on as there are some attacks and they have to plan on what to do next. In the slow points, Benedetta and Corso get to know each other better and start to fall for each other. There's a number of events that culminate into a pretty interesting ending. Corso and Benedetta come out of it pretty much unscathed (maybe have to suspend disbelief a teensy bit there) and begin on their well deserved HEA.
I thought this story was pretty good. I liked both Corso and Benedetta. They had some trouble at first but with some time it became apparent that they could be great together and I'm glad they figured it out. The action plot was good and the world building was good (and not overdone) as well. Overall this was an enjoyable story and I'll probably read the next in the series in the future. I'd recommend this story. :)
July 25, 2015
What I liked:
Beautiful lyrical writing and descriptions that I adored. Also sex scenes written along the same vein, that managed to be hot and sensual without lots of explicit wording, some of which I often finds spoil the overall descriptions with words that jar me out of the scene. The world building was awesome and intriguing (I have a thing for crystals anyway, so to have these used to enhance a body's sensitivity and enable an empathic kind of union totally grabbed me). Despite the hero's insistence that he was a jerk, he really wasn't, and though I'm not a huge alpha fan I was won over by his devotion to a cause that he hadn't really wanted to take up.
What I didn't like:
The hero calls himself a jerk or similar several times at the start, to the point where I almost stopped reading. It was done too many times and really wasn't necessary after the first couple of mentions. Also, despite the beautifully written scenes, the couple had sex at what seemed totally inappropriate times and places, as if the author had felt compelled to force them in to avoid them being missed out completely. Both times this totally pulled me out of the story. I felt these could have been put elsewhere and broken the flow a lot less. I also didn't like the heroine as much as the hero - in some respects she almost came over as a bit of a wet blanket but just about avoided that label.
In conclusion:
This is a good book for fans of scifi romance, especially those who prefer the sex scenes hot and sensual rather than full out explicit, if you can excuse the weird timing and settings. Some SF purists might dislike the science behind the crystals bonding to humans (in that respect, I would point to Anne McCaffrey's Crystal Singer). I would probably read the rest of the books in the series and more by this author.
Beautiful lyrical writing and descriptions that I adored. Also sex scenes written along the same vein, that managed to be hot and sensual without lots of explicit wording, some of which I often finds spoil the overall descriptions with words that jar me out of the scene. The world building was awesome and intriguing (I have a thing for crystals anyway, so to have these used to enhance a body's sensitivity and enable an empathic kind of union totally grabbed me). Despite the hero's insistence that he was a jerk, he really wasn't, and though I'm not a huge alpha fan I was won over by his devotion to a cause that he hadn't really wanted to take up.
What I didn't like:
The hero calls himself a jerk or similar several times at the start, to the point where I almost stopped reading. It was done too many times and really wasn't necessary after the first couple of mentions. Also, despite the beautifully written scenes, the couple had sex at what seemed totally inappropriate times and places, as if the author had felt compelled to force them in to avoid them being missed out completely. Both times this totally pulled me out of the story. I felt these could have been put elsewhere and broken the flow a lot less. I also didn't like the heroine as much as the hero - in some respects she almost came over as a bit of a wet blanket but just about avoided that label.
In conclusion:
This is a good book for fans of scifi romance, especially those who prefer the sex scenes hot and sensual rather than full out explicit, if you can excuse the weird timing and settings. Some SF purists might dislike the science behind the crystals bonding to humans (in that respect, I would point to Anne McCaffrey's Crystal Singer). I would probably read the rest of the books in the series and more by this author.
August 6, 2014
This was such a port in the storm for me. I pulled this book up just as I'd wrapped up with a wildly popular read that I found boring, repetitive and uninspired. Sexy Sci-Fi time to the rescue. I checked around other reviews for this read and have found other folks had vastly different experiences reading this than I did. Maybe it read differently in the anthology it was bundled in, I just don't know. I found I really connected with our main characters, I thought their attraction and sexual tension was believable and fun. There was an actual story here, it all unfolded well and didn't seemed rushed. I enjoyed the plot twists and turns. There was a lot packed into 133 pages. Did I mention it was a freebie to boot? More like this please! : )
January 6, 2015
This book is like a bad first date that I couldn't wait to end so I wouldn't have to keep looking at it. I actually stayed up late to finish it, just so I wouldn't have to face it in the morning.
Granted, I am by far, not a fan of science fiction romances as a general rule. However, it is a massive stretch of the imagination that a crystal would bond to the human nervous system and, essentially poison the carrier, like mercury or lead.. only it makes the inflicted happy horny sex gods/goddesses.
I dislike giving scathing reviews, I am sure there are people out there who will like this book and I am sure the author spent some serious effort and possibly tears in the creation. I just simply, personally, hated it.
Granted, I am by far, not a fan of science fiction romances as a general rule. However, it is a massive stretch of the imagination that a crystal would bond to the human nervous system and, essentially poison the carrier, like mercury or lead.. only it makes the inflicted happy horny sex gods/goddesses.
I dislike giving scathing reviews, I am sure there are people out there who will like this book and I am sure the author spent some serious effort and possibly tears in the creation. I just simply, personally, hated it.
February 16, 2017
I quite enjoy the "last of their kind" stories, but they never give me a satisfactory epilogue on what life is like for the last person. It's just like "Oh yeah, they're the last of their race and life will be a whole new adventure for them. The End."
Agh! Motherfuck, that is so annoying.
Whatever. This story... I thought the crystals and bonding could have been better explained to the reader. And I was annoyed that the h refused to explain things to the H, instead letting him operate under dated and ignorant assumptions. It went against her character and I felt the author only wrote it that way to create conflict that wasn't truly necessary. Still, I enjoyed reading it, so don't take my complaints too seriously.
Agh! Motherfuck, that is so annoying.
Whatever. This story... I thought the crystals and bonding could have been better explained to the reader. And I was annoyed that the h refused to explain things to the H, instead letting him operate under dated and ignorant assumptions. It went against her character and I felt the author only wrote it that way to create conflict that wasn't truly necessary. Still, I enjoyed reading it, so don't take my complaints too seriously.
October 8, 2014
I'd never read Jessa Slade's work before, but I knew when I met her at #AADNOLA in 2012 that it would be great. This sci-fi romance didn't disappoint. How does one get the attention of a mercenary captain in order to protect the planet? By offering him the one thing he probably can't get - a love slave, the last of her kind. All Benedetta needs now is to convince him that she's more than what the brochures say. Ms. Slade writes a fast, funny, and smart romance among the stars and I'll be continuing to read her work in the future...the final frontier. ;)
October 3, 2014
Fast shorter read. I liked it. Will probably pick up the next book in the series. My main gripe is the unusual name of the heroine, Benedetta, really bugged me. Like the whole freaking book it distracted me!! Someone somewhere along the way to publication should have clued the author into this!! It's common knowledge that an author is not supposed to torment their readers with weird unpronounceable names, so how did this pass the publisher's notice?
Maybe this speaks to hoe shallow I am but the name was almost a deal breaker for me from the beginning. Other than that it was an okay read.
Maybe this speaks to hoe shallow I am but the name was almost a deal breaker for me from the beginning. Other than that it was an okay read.
February 15, 2015
I was really torn on how to rate this one. On the one hand, the premise behind the story was intriguing and truly interesting. The story itself was solid, but the writing... Meh. In places, the action was so poorly described, I got completely lost. Characters reacted to events before they were mentioned in the narrative. (See: Jami Gold's blog post "Cause and Effect: Understanding Story Flow.") Sometimes, the writing was just bizarre and incredibly distracting. Queen of Starlight had so much potential. Nearly all of it was lost to less than stellar writing. What a shame.
May 6, 2015
I came across this when one of my author friends pimped it out. I decided to give it a shot. It was just okay for me. I really almost needed a glossary to understand what the author was talking about. I really do not like books where there is so much terminology that it becomes hard to follow. Other than that I did enjoy the world the author created I just did not love it.
December 17, 2014
Great read
I loved this book. This sci-fi romance was very good. Or should I say sci fantasy. Very intriguing, kept my attention. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys these kinds of books. Looking forward to reading more from Jessa.
I loved this book. This sci-fi romance was very good. Or should I say sci fantasy. Very intriguing, kept my attention. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys these kinds of books. Looking forward to reading more from Jessa.
January 5, 2016
Surprising gem
I definitely should not judge a book by its cover. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this novella. I love it when I'm shown who the characters are, not told. And the pacing was spot on. Highly recommended.
I definitely should not judge a book by its cover. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this novella. I love it when I'm shown who the characters are, not told. And the pacing was spot on. Highly recommended.
January 11, 2016
Love it and can't wait for the next one!
A great read! With a wonderful plot and great story line. Wonderful world building and fantastic character development make it a truly wonderful book.
A great read! With a wonderful plot and great story line. Wonderful world building and fantastic character development make it a truly wonderful book.
July 27, 2016
Crystals and a lone woman as aphrodisiacs
Unique and definitely entertaining, a man running from the past and a woman running toward her future and planet in peril makes this fun, sassy and definitely worth reading and looking forward to the next.
Unique and definitely entertaining, a man running from the past and a woman running toward her future and planet in peril makes this fun, sassy and definitely worth reading and looking forward to the next.
April 24, 2015
I did not like this very much. I can't say for sure why. It just couldn't keep my interest.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews