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Chaos Station #3
Skip Trace
Book three of Chaos Station
Zander Anatolius has been revived from the fatal effects of the super-soldier program, but now he has to face his estranged family and tell a story few would believe. With his lover and the crew of the Chaos at his side, Zander returns home to a media frenzy, threats from the military and pressure to join the family business.
Felix Ingesson still struggles with the horror of believing Zander dead. And no matter how strong their emotional connection is, Felix feels out of place in the glittery world of Zander's rich family. His lover would be better off without a broken, low-class ship's engineer holding him back.
When the crew receives word that another of Zander’s former teammates needs rescue, Felix travels with the Chaos...setting Zander free. But when Zander is arrested for treason, the men realize they need each other as much as ever—not only to survive, but to make their lives worth living.
Don't miss the start of the series—Chaos Station and Lonely Shore are available now!
70,660 words
Zander Anatolius has been revived from the fatal effects of the super-soldier program, but now he has to face his estranged family and tell a story few would believe. With his lover and the crew of the Chaos at his side, Zander returns home to a media frenzy, threats from the military and pressure to join the family business.
Felix Ingesson still struggles with the horror of believing Zander dead. And no matter how strong their emotional connection is, Felix feels out of place in the glittery world of Zander's rich family. His lover would be better off without a broken, low-class ship's engineer holding him back.
When the crew receives word that another of Zander’s former teammates needs rescue, Felix travels with the Chaos...setting Zander free. But when Zander is arrested for treason, the men realize they need each other as much as ever—not only to survive, but to make their lives worth living.
Don't miss the start of the series—Chaos Station and Lonely Shore are available now!
70,660 words
211 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2015
29 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Jenn Burke
30 books527 followersJenn Burke has loved out-of-this-world romance since she was a preteen reading about heroes and heroines kicking butt and falling in love. Now that she’s an author, she couldn’t be happier to bring adventure, romance, and sexy times to her readers.
Jenn is the author of a number of paranormal and science fiction romance titles, including the critically acclaimed Chaos Station science fiction romance series (authored with Kelly Jensen) and her newest series, Ashes & Dust, a spin-off of her fan-favorite Not Dead Yet series.
She’s been called a pocket-sized and puntastic Canadian on social media, and she’ll happily own that label. Jenn lives just outside of Ottawa, Ontario, with her husband and two kids, plus two dogs named after video game characters…because her geekiness knows no bounds.
Jenn is represented by Deidre Knight of the Knight Agency.
Jenn is the author of a number of paranormal and science fiction romance titles, including the critically acclaimed Chaos Station science fiction romance series (authored with Kelly Jensen) and her newest series, Ashes & Dust, a spin-off of her fan-favorite Not Dead Yet series.
She’s been called a pocket-sized and puntastic Canadian on social media, and she’ll happily own that label. Jenn lives just outside of Ottawa, Ontario, with her husband and two kids, plus two dogs named after video game characters…because her geekiness knows no bounds.
Jenn is represented by Deidre Knight of the Knight Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
January 29, 2020
4,5 stars
I didn’t think that these guys could go through worse than in book 2.
Well … this one hurt more because it seemed that they were finally getting to a stage of togetherness at the end of book 2. But nope, they’re not there yet.
The thing is – Felix really has never dealt with his past. He survived it, but that’s about it. Losing his family in the war, being abused and malnourished as a POW for 4 years and losing the one love of his life (twice) are huge issues which have left the man torn into thousand pieces on the inside. And no wonder!
Depression is the name of the game and feeling unworthy – of so many things, not only love. But friendship, too.
As a result, Felix drops into an abyss deep black hole, and pushes everyone away. Needless to say, he more than lives up to his reputation as a “prickly porcupine”.
Just as well that his friends (and Zed) don’t give up on him.
As for the latter, if I thought he’s gone through enough pain, I was quite a bit wrong. The authors are certainly not holding back at throwing more horror his way.
Loved the plot, loved how Zed’s connection with the Guardians slowly takes shape and how Zed and Felix finally talk, even if it could have been a little deeper.
One thing that puzzled me.
But apart from that – what a ride!
Can’t wait for more (and thank God I don’t have to!)
I didn’t think that these guys could go through worse than in book 2.
Well … this one hurt more because it seemed that they were finally getting to a stage of togetherness at the end of book 2. But nope, they’re not there yet.
The thing is – Felix really has never dealt with his past. He survived it, but that’s about it. Losing his family in the war, being abused and malnourished as a POW for 4 years and losing the one love of his life (twice) are huge issues which have left the man torn into thousand pieces on the inside. And no wonder!
Depression is the name of the game and feeling unworthy – of so many things, not only love. But friendship, too.
As a result, Felix drops into an abyss deep black hole, and pushes everyone away. Needless to say, he more than lives up to his reputation as a “prickly porcupine”.
Just as well that his friends (and Zed) don’t give up on him.
As for the latter, if I thought he’s gone through enough pain, I was quite a bit wrong. The authors are certainly not holding back at throwing more horror his way.
Loved the plot, loved how Zed’s connection with the Guardians slowly takes shape and how Zed and Felix finally talk, even if it could have been a little deeper.
One thing that puzzled me.
But apart from that – what a ride!
Can’t wait for more (and thank God I don’t have to!)
June 6, 2017
Rating: 4* of five
I'd definitely read these as SF novels without hesitation. It's lagniappe that they include hot gay sex scenes. Written by nice straight ladies. Which I still very much do not comprehend. I'll try for a review very soon.
**DAYS LATER**
So I've finished the series now. In a lot of ways, this is where the tone of the books changes. This is the moment of truth for the couple as well as for Flick and Zed the men. After the astonishing events of Lonely Shore, anyone could be forgiven for needing to take a breath, step back, and just be for a while. Being Flick, he doesn't do this by halves. He walks to the Chaos, climbs on board, and flies into the black without saying one damned word to Zed. Who is, unsurprisingly, dealing with the very public fallout of the previous book's events, and the very private and equally life-altering family ructions that a wealthy youngest son can expect when he comes home from being thought dead in a vicious war trailing clouds of glory and his one true love the lower class station rat.
Flick looks at the world the Anatolius name entitles Zed to enter and his brain freezes, his balls try to climb inside to hide, and his spirit screams "FOR ALL THOSE USELESS GODS' SAKES RUN RUN RUN!!" He has no idea what fork to use...food itself was scarce in his household. He has no concept of how to dress...clothing simply kept him from being naked, for the most part. All those educated, cultured voices! All the smiles that feel like sneers!
Zed just sees the living room full of brothers, parents, sisters-in-law waiting to go in to dinner.
That's a gap. And Flick running away hurts like stin poison. But he's not just running away, he's running to save a needy comrade. Zed's troubles escalate, his powerful family limbers up the big guns (Lawyers, Guns, and Money style). Unlike Warren Zevon's spoiled brat holed up in Honduras, though, Zed is targeted by the very people he's given up his humanity for, the AEF. He is still an embarrassment for the AEF because his existence means they have to acknowledge their disgusting super-soldier program that caused Zed so much damage. Now the AEF have received a small gift from the Universe: Zed's recent actions have placed him within their reasonable grasp, and they take full advantage of this to plot the final solution to the Zed Question.
Flick? He's not having any of it. He might be skittish as all hell from a bad childhood, enslavement at the stin's claws, and almost a decade of living in the vacuum of Zed's presumed death (while, ironically, it's Flick's presumed death in stin slavery that makes Zed vanish so utterly into the super-soldier program) that he can't and won't tolerate threats to his true love no matter who makes them. It is a constant in his life and the series.
But the current imbroglio is challenging in so many ways, and the superbaddies are so thick on the ground, and the resolutions to the Chaos crew's problems continue to be just out of reach, and...well. I can tell you this much without spoilering anything: Power corrupts and those in power see everything through the stinking atmosphere of their corruption.
The book ends with our augmented crew still flying, still precariously free, and still very much a real-feeling family. Pain and happiness come from so many of the same roots in intimacy, don't they. Blessedly for Zander and Flick, those roots are deep as the oceans in each man's soul. So satisfying.
I'd definitely read these as SF novels without hesitation. It's lagniappe that they include hot gay sex scenes. Written by nice straight ladies. Which I still very much do not comprehend. I'll try for a review very soon.
**DAYS LATER**
So I've finished the series now. In a lot of ways, this is where the tone of the books changes. This is the moment of truth for the couple as well as for Flick and Zed the men. After the astonishing events of Lonely Shore, anyone could be forgiven for needing to take a breath, step back, and just be for a while. Being Flick, he doesn't do this by halves. He walks to the Chaos, climbs on board, and flies into the black without saying one damned word to Zed. Who is, unsurprisingly, dealing with the very public fallout of the previous book's events, and the very private and equally life-altering family ructions that a wealthy youngest son can expect when he comes home from being thought dead in a vicious war trailing clouds of glory and his one true love the lower class station rat.
Flick looks at the world the Anatolius name entitles Zed to enter and his brain freezes, his balls try to climb inside to hide, and his spirit screams "FOR ALL THOSE USELESS GODS' SAKES RUN RUN RUN!!" He has no idea what fork to use...food itself was scarce in his household. He has no concept of how to dress...clothing simply kept him from being naked, for the most part. All those educated, cultured voices! All the smiles that feel like sneers!
Zed just sees the living room full of brothers, parents, sisters-in-law waiting to go in to dinner.
That's a gap. And Flick running away hurts like stin poison. But he's not just running away, he's running to save a needy comrade. Zed's troubles escalate, his powerful family limbers up the big guns (Lawyers, Guns, and Money style). Unlike Warren Zevon's spoiled brat holed up in Honduras, though, Zed is targeted by the very people he's given up his humanity for, the AEF. He is still an embarrassment for the AEF because his existence means they have to acknowledge their disgusting super-soldier program that caused Zed so much damage. Now the AEF have received a small gift from the Universe: Zed's recent actions have placed him within their reasonable grasp, and they take full advantage of this to plot the final solution to the Zed Question.
Flick? He's not having any of it. He might be skittish as all hell from a bad childhood, enslavement at the stin's claws, and almost a decade of living in the vacuum of Zed's presumed death (while, ironically, it's Flick's presumed death in stin slavery that makes Zed vanish so utterly into the super-soldier program) that he can't and won't tolerate threats to his true love no matter who makes them. It is a constant in his life and the series.
But the current imbroglio is challenging in so many ways, and the superbaddies are so thick on the ground, and the resolutions to the Chaos crew's problems continue to be just out of reach, and...well. I can tell you this much without spoilering anything: Power corrupts and those in power see everything through the stinking atmosphere of their corruption.
The book ends with our augmented crew still flying, still precariously free, and still very much a real-feeling family. Pain and happiness come from so many of the same roots in intimacy, don't they. Blessedly for Zander and Flick, those roots are deep as the oceans in each man's soul. So satisfying.
February 10, 2017
The one
Let's be honest. Secretly, each and every one of us is looking for someone we want to share the rest of our lives with. Someone we can love unconditionally and who loves us back without reservations. Our other half. Our soulmate. The one.
Even if Zander and Felix thought they have exactly found it in each other (and I have to admit, me too), there are doubts still lingering right under the surface. Especially Felix struggles with his role in the life of his lover who is finally going to be reunited with his family. With his background of growing up in the working class, being a so-called station rat, he deems himself not being good enough for Zed who comes from a rich family. To top it all, he feels broken because of the aftereffects of his captivity by aliens during the war.
At the same time, Zed wrestles with feelings of obligation towards his family for being the prodigal son returned home, but he doesn't want to loose Felix either, so it's a hardship for him trying to please everybody.
Eventually, Felix's confused feelings drive him away from Zed and he throws himself head over heels along with his crew into the search for another of Zed's former teammates, in an attempt to save him from their former employer, the AEF. But this turns into a rescue mission of different cast when the crew got word of Zed's arrest for being a traitor. Zed proves to be a security risk for the AEF, because they want to destroy all evidence of their experiments and are trying their damnedest to achive it by all available means. When the first rescue attempt fails, Felix is forced to revert to a risky maneuver to save the love of his life.
The second half of Skip Trace had me constantly on the edge of my seat. The events were described so vividly, it was like watching a Star Trek movie with a touch of Die Hard ;-). It might be a bit uncalled-for, considering the situation, but I just had to grin, because the whole time I had a mental image of Bruce Willis, with Zed only dressed in pants, barefooted and injured, trying to save the day.
Altogether, I experienced a lot of feelings while reading this book. Frustration about Felix's stubbornness. Shock about the AEF's coldheartedness. Rage about their methods. And heartbreak about once again being confronted with Zed and Felix's deep feelings for each other.
At the end I was glad that both Zed and especially Felix acklowledge that the one is somebody you have to fight for. Somebody who is worth fighting for. To feel whole again. Alive.
“Running away never works. Want to know why?”
Felix shook his head, knowing Zed would deliver the punch line anyway.
“Because you can't run away from yourself. Wherever you end up, you will still be there.”
“I know you love me, just as I know you have a hard time saying it. But it doesn't have to be a promise, okay? It's a fact.”
“No. It is a promise.” I'm going to love you forever.
November 23, 2024
This was so hard to put down! I just needed to know more after every page. I thought the momentum for this might struggle after how emotionally intense the last book was but it picked right up and delivered a different but no less intense storyline.
Loved Felix’s slow mental decline, this was a great example of showing on page, not just telling the reader what is happening. It’s been subtlety and cleverly done over the 3 books and peaked here in what felt like a really realistic way. I also like how his traumatic history wasn’t just dumped out and labelled in the beginning but rather we are slowly learning the depth of his trauma in small snippets as he starts to reveal them. His coping mechanisms and how he spirals felt true to what I imagine a prisoner of war might suffer.
Love Qek and all her quirks, along with the rest of the crew. Solid intro to book 4. Fun little short story at the end which I appreciate isn’t trapped in a newsletter signup.
Loved Felix’s slow mental decline, this was a great example of showing on page, not just telling the reader what is happening. It’s been subtlety and cleverly done over the 3 books and peaked here in what felt like a really realistic way. I also like how his traumatic history wasn’t just dumped out and labelled in the beginning but rather we are slowly learning the depth of his trauma in small snippets as he starts to reveal them. His coping mechanisms and how he spirals felt true to what I imagine a prisoner of war might suffer.
Love Qek and all her quirks, along with the rest of the crew. Solid intro to book 4. Fun little short story at the end which I appreciate isn’t trapped in a newsletter signup.
November 23, 2024
So well done!! Fast paced that it’s so hard to put down because I had to know what will happen next. Love Felix’s character progression, slowly declining and dealing with all his trauma. And his story about his time as a POW was so heartbreaking. Love the whole team working together. The final scene between Zed and Felix made me tear up. And the set up for the next book was so good!!
October 6, 2015
4.25 stars
Picking up after the end of Lonely Shore, 'Skip Trace' begins by introducing readers to Zed's rich and powerful family, the Anatoliuses. While Zed is happy to finally reconnect with his family, Felix is reserved and withdraws from Zed and the rest of the crew. On top of the relationship problems, the EAF, the military, are convinced the Zed broke his silence on the human super-soldier experiments. The military is determined to keep its secrets under wrap, and will go as far as assassination to keep it so.
The preceding two books in the Chaos Station series were really Zed's story. Throughout those two books, Felix was a rock for Zed as he deteriorated both emotionally and physically. In book 3, we see the mental toll that Felix's stoic calm had on him. If I'm being honest, there were times in 'Skip Trace' where I wasn't a fan of Felix. His actions seemed selfish.
But as I read, it became clear that Felix's actions were the result of the extreme stress he had been under, and due to unresolved issues from when he had been a POW. This book very subtly delved in to the issue of mental health, and how traumatic and stressful experiences in our lives dictate our interactions with others. Every time Felix shut himself off further, I wanted to give him a hug and not let go.
What makes this series unique compared to other books in this sub-genre is that while it may be sci-fi, the focus of the books is on the relationship. The action plot comes second to Zed and Felix's romance. It's all about the emotional connection in this series.
That's not to say that the action is insignificant, because the plot certainly took some very big steps forward in book 3. I don't think I could write much without giving something away, so I'll just say that the EAF can go suck a cucumber. Seriously.
Also, nipple piercings. An excellent addition to this series, I think. Hell yeah.
'Skip Trace' was a great read. Zed and Felix's relationship moved forward, the plot was entertaining, and I'm looking forward to where these two go next. I'm in for the long haul!
Picking up after the end of Lonely Shore, 'Skip Trace' begins by introducing readers to Zed's rich and powerful family, the Anatoliuses. While Zed is happy to finally reconnect with his family, Felix is reserved and withdraws from Zed and the rest of the crew. On top of the relationship problems, the EAF, the military, are convinced the Zed broke his silence on the human super-soldier experiments. The military is determined to keep its secrets under wrap, and will go as far as assassination to keep it so.
The preceding two books in the Chaos Station series were really Zed's story. Throughout those two books, Felix was a rock for Zed as he deteriorated both emotionally and physically. In book 3, we see the mental toll that Felix's stoic calm had on him. If I'm being honest, there were times in 'Skip Trace' where I wasn't a fan of Felix. His actions seemed selfish.
But as I read, it became clear that Felix's actions were the result of the extreme stress he had been under, and due to unresolved issues from when he had been a POW. This book very subtly delved in to the issue of mental health, and how traumatic and stressful experiences in our lives dictate our interactions with others. Every time Felix shut himself off further, I wanted to give him a hug and not let go.
What makes this series unique compared to other books in this sub-genre is that while it may be sci-fi, the focus of the books is on the relationship. The action plot comes second to Zed and Felix's romance. It's all about the emotional connection in this series.
That's not to say that the action is insignificant, because the plot certainly took some very big steps forward in book 3. I don't think I could write much without giving something away, so I'll just say that the EAF can go suck a cucumber. Seriously.
Also, nipple piercings. An excellent addition to this series, I think. Hell yeah.
'Skip Trace' was a great read. Zed and Felix's relationship moved forward, the plot was entertaining, and I'm looking forward to where these two go next. I'm in for the long haul!
August 2, 2016
After his near brush with death in the previous book, Zander returns home to his family at last. They are delighted to see him, but Felix feels a bit on the sidelines, unfit to be the consort of a son of one of the richest families in the galaxy. Zander loves him so much that he is blind to the possibility that Felix might weigh himself against the rest of Zander's life and feel that he can't compete. And Zander's family are determined to bring him back into the fold and not lose him again.
Zander's attempts to live up to everyone's demands get further tangled up in schemes of the AEF who do not want their experimental soldiers running around getting publicity for the things done to them. And a distress call to action gives Felix what he thinks is a way out from under all the pressure. But separating is not helping either man learn to cope with their stresses.
This book is less angsty than the last, more conspiracy theory and frustration and miscommunication. But another solid episode in the eventful lives of two men who should be together, if the universe would just quit kicking them in the gut.
Zander's attempts to live up to everyone's demands get further tangled up in schemes of the AEF who do not want their experimental soldiers running around getting publicity for the things done to them. And a distress call to action gives Felix what he thinks is a way out from under all the pressure. But separating is not helping either man learn to cope with their stresses.
This book is less angsty than the last, more conspiracy theory and frustration and miscommunication. But another solid episode in the eventful lives of two men who should be together, if the universe would just quit kicking them in the gut.
May 13, 2020
4.5 stars. It's been a long time since I read Lonely Shore but I would never have thought this one would be even more of an emotional wringer. Still though, terrific characters, kickass action, an awesome plot and great writing kept me hooked *til 4 am* and definitely kicked me right on to the next one!
August 9, 2016
Another awesome story for this series. Excited to see what happens next :)
June 13, 2017
Skip Trace (Chaos Station, book 3)
Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen
Carina Press, 2017
Five stars
I’m going to go out on a little limb and give this third installment of the “Chaos Station” series a five. I might quibble over the oh-so-tropey use of sex-scene clichés, but all that is counterbalanced by the deft handling of the continuing plotline without cliffhangers, sucking the reader into the story and keeping us turning the pages to see what happens next.
I love Flick and I love Zed. I don’t think of them as big burly ex-soldier stereotypes, because that all falls into the background against which Burke and Jensen create continually evolving portraits of the complicated, smart, wounded and loving men. And it’s not just Zander Anatolius—third son of the richest man in the Milky Way—or Felix Ingesson—orphaned working class kid who was lucky enough to become Zander’s friend in a private school when they were teenagers. All the characters in this book pop out and grab you. Nessa O’Brien, the ship doctor, Elias, the captain and Flick’s co-owner of the Chaos, and Qek, the ashushk pilot, who is the most wonderful alien character I’ve ever encountered. And in this tale we add two more characters from Flick and Zed’s past: Marnie and Ryan Scott. Each of these folks is vivid and smart and critical in the narrative. Likewise, although we don’t see too much of them, Zed’s aristocratic industrialist family are portrayed as good people, loving people, for all their power and money. It’s refreshing.
Surrounded by the excellent and visually rich world-building of our own Milky Way in the 23rd century, there is lots of action as the crew of the Chaos bounces around the galaxy to deliver cargo and, occasionally, rescue a former soldier in distress. But the real action is in Zed and Felix’s minds, as they struggle to find each other amidst the confusion and conflict into which Zed’s military past pulls them.
Book three ends tidily enough, but also offers a tantalizing suggestion of what the next book will offer. I like this very much—satisfaction, coupled with the desire to keep reading. I really want the next book on my Kindle, and nobody had to trick me into it.
Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen
Carina Press, 2017
Five stars
I’m going to go out on a little limb and give this third installment of the “Chaos Station” series a five. I might quibble over the oh-so-tropey use of sex-scene clichés, but all that is counterbalanced by the deft handling of the continuing plotline without cliffhangers, sucking the reader into the story and keeping us turning the pages to see what happens next.
I love Flick and I love Zed. I don’t think of them as big burly ex-soldier stereotypes, because that all falls into the background against which Burke and Jensen create continually evolving portraits of the complicated, smart, wounded and loving men. And it’s not just Zander Anatolius—third son of the richest man in the Milky Way—or Felix Ingesson—orphaned working class kid who was lucky enough to become Zander’s friend in a private school when they were teenagers. All the characters in this book pop out and grab you. Nessa O’Brien, the ship doctor, Elias, the captain and Flick’s co-owner of the Chaos, and Qek, the ashushk pilot, who is the most wonderful alien character I’ve ever encountered. And in this tale we add two more characters from Flick and Zed’s past: Marnie and Ryan Scott. Each of these folks is vivid and smart and critical in the narrative. Likewise, although we don’t see too much of them, Zed’s aristocratic industrialist family are portrayed as good people, loving people, for all their power and money. It’s refreshing.
Surrounded by the excellent and visually rich world-building of our own Milky Way in the 23rd century, there is lots of action as the crew of the Chaos bounces around the galaxy to deliver cargo and, occasionally, rescue a former soldier in distress. But the real action is in Zed and Felix’s minds, as they struggle to find each other amidst the confusion and conflict into which Zed’s military past pulls them.
Book three ends tidily enough, but also offers a tantalizing suggestion of what the next book will offer. I like this very much—satisfaction, coupled with the desire to keep reading. I really want the next book on my Kindle, and nobody had to trick me into it.
January 11, 2019
4 Stars
Review:
This might sound strange, but I LOVE struggles in romantic relationships (in books). Easy relationships are cute, but I like the difficult ones---the ones where the characters are keeping themselves apart because they have inner demons or history or others things coming from inside the relationship to overcome. And this series, well, even in this third book, the characters still hadn't gotten their shit together enough to settle into a happy relationship with each other, and I loved that they still had so many emotional struggles to overcome.
What's also great is that there were still actual plots to all of the books, things outside the relationship they were trying to accomplish, but the authors use those plots in a great way and a way that furthered the relationship and personal struggles of Zander and Felix so that the characters still seem to take center stage. It was all just woven together so well.
I also loved how real these characters were. They all had flaws. None of them were too perfect or always knew the right thing to do. Zander and Felix both had insecurities and pain and inner struggles. And poor Felix---I felt so terrible for him this time especially because I could understand why he felt out of place, but he just was not handling things well emotionally. Then of course that also hurt Zander and made Elias, Nessa, and Qek concerned... so lots of feels all around. (Honestly, when I read these books, I was really stressed and distracted, and I think it impeded my ability to truly feel the emotion super strongly myself, but there was definitely emotion there.)
There was still a bit of a deus ex machina feel because of the thing that happened in Book 2, but, again, it was a minor thing and easy to overlook when everything else was so good.
So yeah, overall, this was another great book in the series with lots of emotional situations and obstacles for the characters (from both outside and inside themselves) but also lots of sweet romantic, friend, and family love!
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in Jenn Burke & Kelly Jensen's Chaos Station Series. Anyone who likes M/M romance, angsty/struggle-filled relationships, books set in space, realistically flawed characters, and imperfect but sweet relationships among lovers, friends, and family.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
---------------------
Initial Thoughts:
Three books in, and there were still so many relationship struggles and feels, and I just loved it! And so many sweet lover, friend, and family relationships! Full review soon.
Review:
This might sound strange, but I LOVE struggles in romantic relationships (in books). Easy relationships are cute, but I like the difficult ones---the ones where the characters are keeping themselves apart because they have inner demons or history or others things coming from inside the relationship to overcome. And this series, well, even in this third book, the characters still hadn't gotten their shit together enough to settle into a happy relationship with each other, and I loved that they still had so many emotional struggles to overcome.
What's also great is that there were still actual plots to all of the books, things outside the relationship they were trying to accomplish, but the authors use those plots in a great way and a way that furthered the relationship and personal struggles of Zander and Felix so that the characters still seem to take center stage. It was all just woven together so well.
I also loved how real these characters were. They all had flaws. None of them were too perfect or always knew the right thing to do. Zander and Felix both had insecurities and pain and inner struggles. And poor Felix---I felt so terrible for him this time especially because I could understand why he felt out of place, but he just was not handling things well emotionally. Then of course that also hurt Zander and made Elias, Nessa, and Qek concerned... so lots of feels all around. (Honestly, when I read these books, I was really stressed and distracted, and I think it impeded my ability to truly feel the emotion super strongly myself, but there was definitely emotion there.)
There was still a bit of a deus ex machina feel because of the thing that happened in Book 2, but, again, it was a minor thing and easy to overlook when everything else was so good.
So yeah, overall, this was another great book in the series with lots of emotional situations and obstacles for the characters (from both outside and inside themselves) but also lots of sweet romantic, friend, and family love!
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in Jenn Burke & Kelly Jensen's Chaos Station Series. Anyone who likes M/M romance, angsty/struggle-filled relationships, books set in space, realistically flawed characters, and imperfect but sweet relationships among lovers, friends, and family.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
---------------------
Initial Thoughts:
Three books in, and there were still so many relationship struggles and feels, and I just loved it! And so many sweet lover, friend, and family relationships! Full review soon.
September 17, 2015
I loved (hated) this book. First of all, let me say I adore Zed and Felix, and the rest of the Chaos Station crew. I'm fully invested in what happens to them - both good and bad. (Yes, I know they're fictional, but that doesn't make them any less real, so shhhhhh.) So, when Ms. Burke and Ms. Jensen decide to torment/torture/abuse my beloved characters, I get a little ... um, upset (pissed). So, if you're looking for a book where the characters romp through a field of flowers and braid daisy chains while singing Kumbaya, this is not the book for you. Instead, what you'll read (devour) is a book that is filled with angst, emotional roller coasters, and really cool sci-fi action. I still love the entire Chaos crew, but I really loved the addition of Marnie and Ryan to the mix. I can't wait (as long as the authors are NICER to my boys for the next book) to see how these two new characters are further integrated into the storyline. And, even though I was a bit disgruntled (full-tilt fuming and ragey) that Ms. Burke and Ms. Jensen (sadists that they are) were less than pleasant (cruel) to Felix, I totally understood why he had to undergo what he did in this book. Felix not only experienced war, he was a POW. To expect him to be "normal" after losing both his family and a part of himself isn't realistic. Honestly, it was the only path the authors could have had him take for the book/series/arc to make sense. Moreoever, I'm looking forward to seeing him heal alongside Zed in the next two books - something both men deserve.
Put quite simply, I adore this series and devoured this book. Even though Ms. Burke and Ms. Jensen are off my Festivus greeting card list this year until they write me the outtake they've been promising me for months and months, I still cannot recommend this book (and series) enough for M/M and Sci-Fi readers alike. It is, bar none, one of my favorite series :)
Put quite simply, I adore this series and devoured this book. Even though Ms. Burke and Ms. Jensen are off my Festivus greeting card list this year until they write me the outtake they've been promising me for months and months, I still cannot recommend this book (and series) enough for M/M and Sci-Fi readers alike. It is, bar none, one of my favorite series :)
December 17, 2015
This series just keeps getting better and better with each book. It's not often I'm able to find that rare and wonderful mix of m/m and sci-fi, but this one fits the bill perfectly. It's suspenseful, but doesn't lose the focus of the relationship between our two MC's. And of course, it has the requisite bad overlord feel that's practically required for good sci-fi. I'm so excited to see what happens in the next installment!
January 29, 2019
✮4.5 Stars✮
💗
October 1, 2024
A- / 4.5 stars
Authors Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen keep up the pressure and the action in this third instalment of their compelling Chaos Station series. Where the first two books were really Zed’s story, with Lonely Shore focusing predominantly on his failing health, the team’s efforts to help him, and on his rekindled relationship with Felix, Skip Trace explores the toll Felix’s outward stoicism has taken on him while also feauturing a fast-paced plotline full of intrigue, scheming and betrayal. Be prepared for heartbreak and to be kept on the edge of your seat.
Note: There are spoilers for the first two books in the series in this review.
Ship’s engineer, former PoW and all-round stubborn, scrappy, snarky bastard Felix Ingesson is not sure what to do with himself when he and the crew of the Chaos arrive at Alpha Station, the home of the Anatolius family and base of its galaxy-wide operations. He’d expected Zed’s family to be out in full force to greet him, but it seems someone must have leaked the news of his return, so the Chaos docks to find a three-ring media circus waiting for them, along with a military contingent headed by Zed’s former CO, General Bradley. Zed knows he’s an embarrassment to the AEF by virtue of not being dead, and knows all too well that their end game is to end him – and before he can get as far as greeting his family, he’s waylaid by Bradley and accused of breaking the terms of his retirement from the military and of betraying AEF secrets.
After a heated exchange with Zed, his brother, Brennan, and the Anatolius family lawyers, Bradley is forced to back down, but not without insisting that Zed should be taken into military custody, but Brennan is having none of it. He does, however, agree to Zed remaining in the family compound on Alpha. Zed isn’t wild about the restriction, but he’d intended to spend some time getting to know his family again anyway, so he’ll go along with it - for now.
He’s somewhat dismayed, when he arrives at the family penthouse, to find it full of people rather than just the small family gathering he’d expected. But as his smiling mother comes to embrace him, he thinks that maybe he can put up with it for a while. As he’s steered into the throng, he notices that Felix has moved to the other side of the room and is standing with the rest of the crew, but he’s oddly detached and isn’t really part of their conversation.
Watching Zed being absorbed into the midst of his loving family really brings home the fears Felix has always harboured about not being good enough for him. Felix is a station rat, born into hardship and squalor while Zed, the youngest son of the wealthiest man in the galaxy, is as close to royalty as it gets. Felix wants Zed to be happy and knows he needs to have his family in his life, but those two things and staying with the Chaos aren’t compatible. No matter how much they love each other, no matter that losing Zed all over again will kill him, Felix knows he isn’t, and never will be, good enough, and that he can’t hold Zed back from being where and what he’s supposed to be.
As Felix’s fears and insecurities are growing and he’s withdrawing from everyone around him, their friend, Marnie, who was at the academy with them and now works for military intelligence, alerts Zed to the location of his former second-in-command, another of the soldiers who had been part of Project Dreamweaver (the top-secret AEF experiments to create super soldiers using an alien toxin). Zed has made it his personal mission to track down those who remain in order to at least try to at least make their final days as comfortable as possible, but it seems the AEF is looking for them too – although not with benevolent intent. There’s nothing the AEF won’t do to stop the project (and it’s ultimate failure) from becoming public knowledge – and that includes making sure none of the test subjects live to tell any tales. Learning that his former brother-in-arms has been tracked to a small, remote station and is now trapped there makes Zed want to head off in the Chaos to pick him up immediately – but with the AEF watching his every move, Zed and Felix can’t leave Alpha. Zed is surprised when Felix doesn’t argue about not going – and is utterly devastated the next day when he learns that Felix is aboard the Chaos, bound for Petrel Station. Furious, heartbroken and confused, Zed doesn’t know what to do or what to think – after everything they’ve been through he’d thought he and Felix were solid - and nothing makes any sense. And then things go from bad to worse when a breaking news report about Project Dreamweaver gives the AEF the perfect cause to arrest Zed for treason.
Skip Trace is another rollercoaster ride of high-stakes action and heartfelt emotion that had me anxiously turning the pages from start to finish. It’s been clear since the very beginning that Felix has not dealt with any of the trauma he’s experienced – losing his family during the war, being a prisoner of war for four years, and losing the man he loves, twice – and now, with Zed safely returned to his family and his future seemingly secure, it becomes impossible for Felix to keep a lid on it any longer. He’s bottled everything up for so long, and when Zed’s family make clear their desire for him to stay on Alpha and work with them, his insecurities about his place in Zed’s life begin to spiral out of control, bringing all the rest of the stuff he’s tried to pack away in his brain along with them. No question he does some shitty things in his attempts to push everyone away, but he falls into a very dark place and nobody – not even his closest friends – can reach him. It’s so hard to watch a character you’ve come to love self-destructing before your very eyes, and the authors do a very good job of showing the extent to which Felix’s unresolved trauma is driving him.
Chaos Station is shaping up to become one of my all-time favourite series. The authors are doing a fantastic job of combining clever, action-packed plots with the deeply emotional love story between Zed and Felix, using the plotlines to further the romance and highlight the protagonists’ internal struggles - and getting the balance between all those elements just about right. I continue to enjoy the strong friendships between the crew members, and the secondary cast is expanded by the addition of Marnie and Ryan, a married couple who were part of Felix and Zed’s friendship group at the academy, who put their lives on the line to help with the rescue. Although we don’t see a lot of them, the Anatolius clan is portrayed as a group of decent, loving people who genuinely want Zed to be happy, and I liked the glimpses we’re given of Zed’s relationship with his brothers.
While there’s an HFN for Zed and Felix here, it’s clear that Felix has a long way to go if he’s to properly battle his insecurities and slay his demons – and Zed isn’t going to let him go it alone. With one final cryptic message, the Guardians leave us wondering what could possibly in store for our heroes next – and I’ll be jumping into book four, Inversion Point, as soon as I can to find out.
As with the previous books, this new edition of Skip Trace includes material previously published in the collection Always and Forever, this time two short stories; Salute to the Sun, about Felix’s attempts to learn to meditate with Zed… which don’t quite work out as planned (set immediately after Skip Trace), and Kiss the Guardian (set between Chaos Station and Lonely Shore ), follows the crew on a fun day out.
Skip Trace is another unputdownable instalment in the excellent Chaos Station series. The worldbuilding, the characterisation, the relationship development, the storylines… all are superb and earn it a well-deserved 5 star rating.
Authors Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen keep up the pressure and the action in this third instalment of their compelling Chaos Station series. Where the first two books were really Zed’s story, with Lonely Shore focusing predominantly on his failing health, the team’s efforts to help him, and on his rekindled relationship with Felix, Skip Trace explores the toll Felix’s outward stoicism has taken on him while also feauturing a fast-paced plotline full of intrigue, scheming and betrayal. Be prepared for heartbreak and to be kept on the edge of your seat.
Note: There are spoilers for the first two books in the series in this review.
Ship’s engineer, former PoW and all-round stubborn, scrappy, snarky bastard Felix Ingesson is not sure what to do with himself when he and the crew of the Chaos arrive at Alpha Station, the home of the Anatolius family and base of its galaxy-wide operations. He’d expected Zed’s family to be out in full force to greet him, but it seems someone must have leaked the news of his return, so the Chaos docks to find a three-ring media circus waiting for them, along with a military contingent headed by Zed’s former CO, General Bradley. Zed knows he’s an embarrassment to the AEF by virtue of not being dead, and knows all too well that their end game is to end him – and before he can get as far as greeting his family, he’s waylaid by Bradley and accused of breaking the terms of his retirement from the military and of betraying AEF secrets.
After a heated exchange with Zed, his brother, Brennan, and the Anatolius family lawyers, Bradley is forced to back down, but not without insisting that Zed should be taken into military custody, but Brennan is having none of it. He does, however, agree to Zed remaining in the family compound on Alpha. Zed isn’t wild about the restriction, but he’d intended to spend some time getting to know his family again anyway, so he’ll go along with it - for now.
He’s somewhat dismayed, when he arrives at the family penthouse, to find it full of people rather than just the small family gathering he’d expected. But as his smiling mother comes to embrace him, he thinks that maybe he can put up with it for a while. As he’s steered into the throng, he notices that Felix has moved to the other side of the room and is standing with the rest of the crew, but he’s oddly detached and isn’t really part of their conversation.
Watching Zed being absorbed into the midst of his loving family really brings home the fears Felix has always harboured about not being good enough for him. Felix is a station rat, born into hardship and squalor while Zed, the youngest son of the wealthiest man in the galaxy, is as close to royalty as it gets. Felix wants Zed to be happy and knows he needs to have his family in his life, but those two things and staying with the Chaos aren’t compatible. No matter how much they love each other, no matter that losing Zed all over again will kill him, Felix knows he isn’t, and never will be, good enough, and that he can’t hold Zed back from being where and what he’s supposed to be.
As Felix’s fears and insecurities are growing and he’s withdrawing from everyone around him, their friend, Marnie, who was at the academy with them and now works for military intelligence, alerts Zed to the location of his former second-in-command, another of the soldiers who had been part of Project Dreamweaver (the top-secret AEF experiments to create super soldiers using an alien toxin). Zed has made it his personal mission to track down those who remain in order to at least try to at least make their final days as comfortable as possible, but it seems the AEF is looking for them too – although not with benevolent intent. There’s nothing the AEF won’t do to stop the project (and it’s ultimate failure) from becoming public knowledge – and that includes making sure none of the test subjects live to tell any tales. Learning that his former brother-in-arms has been tracked to a small, remote station and is now trapped there makes Zed want to head off in the Chaos to pick him up immediately – but with the AEF watching his every move, Zed and Felix can’t leave Alpha. Zed is surprised when Felix doesn’t argue about not going – and is utterly devastated the next day when he learns that Felix is aboard the Chaos, bound for Petrel Station. Furious, heartbroken and confused, Zed doesn’t know what to do or what to think – after everything they’ve been through he’d thought he and Felix were solid - and nothing makes any sense. And then things go from bad to worse when a breaking news report about Project Dreamweaver gives the AEF the perfect cause to arrest Zed for treason.
Skip Trace is another rollercoaster ride of high-stakes action and heartfelt emotion that had me anxiously turning the pages from start to finish. It’s been clear since the very beginning that Felix has not dealt with any of the trauma he’s experienced – losing his family during the war, being a prisoner of war for four years, and losing the man he loves, twice – and now, with Zed safely returned to his family and his future seemingly secure, it becomes impossible for Felix to keep a lid on it any longer. He’s bottled everything up for so long, and when Zed’s family make clear their desire for him to stay on Alpha and work with them, his insecurities about his place in Zed’s life begin to spiral out of control, bringing all the rest of the stuff he’s tried to pack away in his brain along with them. No question he does some shitty things in his attempts to push everyone away, but he falls into a very dark place and nobody – not even his closest friends – can reach him. It’s so hard to watch a character you’ve come to love self-destructing before your very eyes, and the authors do a very good job of showing the extent to which Felix’s unresolved trauma is driving him.
Chaos Station is shaping up to become one of my all-time favourite series. The authors are doing a fantastic job of combining clever, action-packed plots with the deeply emotional love story between Zed and Felix, using the plotlines to further the romance and highlight the protagonists’ internal struggles - and getting the balance between all those elements just about right. I continue to enjoy the strong friendships between the crew members, and the secondary cast is expanded by the addition of Marnie and Ryan, a married couple who were part of Felix and Zed’s friendship group at the academy, who put their lives on the line to help with the rescue. Although we don’t see a lot of them, the Anatolius clan is portrayed as a group of decent, loving people who genuinely want Zed to be happy, and I liked the glimpses we’re given of Zed’s relationship with his brothers.
While there’s an HFN for Zed and Felix here, it’s clear that Felix has a long way to go if he’s to properly battle his insecurities and slay his demons – and Zed isn’t going to let him go it alone. With one final cryptic message, the Guardians leave us wondering what could possibly in store for our heroes next – and I’ll be jumping into book four, Inversion Point, as soon as I can to find out.
As with the previous books, this new edition of Skip Trace includes material previously published in the collection Always and Forever, this time two short stories; Salute to the Sun, about Felix’s attempts to learn to meditate with Zed… which don’t quite work out as planned (set immediately after Skip Trace), and Kiss the Guardian (set between Chaos Station and Lonely Shore ), follows the crew on a fun day out.
Skip Trace is another unputdownable instalment in the excellent Chaos Station series. The worldbuilding, the characterisation, the relationship development, the storylines… all are superb and earn it a well-deserved 5 star rating.
February 26, 2023
Okay, this one worked slightly better for me in that Felix finally had some of his issues addressed, but then it was done in such an unsatisfying way, and with a plot that *still* managed to entirely center Zander, that it ultimately was super disappointing. Felix has trauma and is clearly depressed, and that doesn't excuse him hurting people, but maybe if all of his friend's were such fucking assholes who just yell at him when he's in pain, or the supposed love of his life who takes three fucking books to notice that maybe Felix isn't doing great... I'm going to keep reading because I'm invested now, but the balance of this relationship is really not for me.
December 15, 2015
Space opera lovers, here is another series for you. Full disclosure, I did not read the first two books in the series. SKIP TRACE can be read as a standalone and the reader can still understand what is going on. It is recommended though to read the first two because I feel like I missed some of the back story to make this tale more enjoyable.
Zander Anatolius is a treasured son of a powerful family, even if he is supposedly estranged from them. He is not the oldest and he is not the best in business. Instead, he excels in the military. When he dies, his family and his lover mourn him. In this book, he returns from the dead and everyone is shocked. Not only are they shocked by him being alive, but by what he suffered to cause his death.
The world building in this book works really well for me. I liked it and want to now go back and read the first two books. I liked this mysterious alien race and how they have "tagged" Zander. This type of storyline appeals to me because I love wet work operatives who are not angry psychopaths. Instead, they have loyalty and want to do the right thing. Is it a romanticized view of trained killers with a natural disposition to destroy? Perhaps, but I still like it.
Zander's folly was to be part of the super-soldier program which destroys every member who partook in the program. His healing is nothing short of miraculous and helps drawn in a more powerful and protective alien race. I want to learn more about these aliens. It makes me want to read the next book in the series too. This story is a pageturner and keeps me interested with plenty of action from both physical and political aspects.
The characters in this book are great, too. I loved Zander's entire family. They may be rich and powerful but they aren't snobs. Felix is a loveable partner to Zander. His uncertainty and feeling a bit less worthy because of his background is well captured and exhibited. The authors do a good job of showing his concern without making him a pitiful whiner. The secondary characters who all support Zander's goal to find his old team and help them is fabulous. The sense of camaraderie and "sticking it to the man" tickles me. My favourite part is when Zander does his best to get out of the hell hole he's being held. As a side note, I cannot stand the sadistic doctor and only wish for her to be tortured for years and denied death. Authors Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen make a great writing team and I'll be keeping my eye for more books written by them.
This space opera is recommended to m/m readers who enjoy a good plot, hot men and rooting for the underdog.
August 23, 2015
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Words cannot express how much I am enjoying this series. From wonderful, relatable characters to an interesting storyline that keeps escalating in unpredictable ways, Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen have created a winner here. Like a warm, well worn leather chair that welcomes you with each sit, so too is each book in this series easy to fall right back into and enjoy. The authors always leave on a strong note, finish a satisfying book-long arc, set up a surprise that will lead to the plot of the next, and manage a great balance between romance and science fiction. The plot moves assuredly and as new characters are introduced, the worldbuilding becomes richer and more engaging.Story: Zed is alive and able to return home. Reuniting with his family, who thought him dead, is a wonderful experience for him but less so for partner Fixer. Felix feels every inch of his scarred face, worn clothes, and damaged body - and it is hard for him to measure up to Zed's aristocratic family. When word of the Dreamweaver project begins to leak into the media, Zed is suspected and the AEF decide he (and his project colleagues) are too dangerous to be left alive. While Fixer runs away from Zed (and his past) in order to save an endangered Dreamweaver vet, Zed and his family begin a very dangerous cat and mouse game with the military. For not even the Anatolius family has enough money or power to save the youngest from the wrath of a military intent on a cover-up.
Where the first book introduced us to both characters, the second book was about Zander's coming to terms with his failing body, this third book is very much Felix's story. There's a lot of emotion here and that really is the heart of all these books. From Chaos shipmates and their compassion and tough love for Fixer to Zander's family and former colleagues fighting to save themselves and each other. It makes for a story with a lot of action but also a nice undercurrent of pathos. These are characters we genuinely like and want to root for; even the side characters are given very distinct personalities.
As with the two previous books, there is a big surprise reveal at the end. At least two more books in the series are forthcoming (yay!) and I greatly look forward to the release of the next book after the big twist at the end of Skip Trace. This is turning out to be one of my favorite sci fi/romance books ever; certainly the best M/M I've read by far. Highly recommended. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
December 21, 2015
This is a tough book to rate. Overall, Burke/Jensen have crafted an interesting fantasy world filled with rich characters. I am a big fan of the Chaos crew members, especially the helpful alien Qek and stalwart captain Elias and look forward to reading more adventures in which they work together .
But.
As a romance reader, this series is starting to bug me big time. Three books into the series, and we have Felix aka Flick aka Felix (I think I'm finally getting used to the multiple nicknames!) pulling the "I'm not good enough for you" card on Zed aka Zander, and then taking off for more than half of the book? Not cool. I don't want to see their relationship tested in each book; I want to see it deepen and develop while the two men are together. See Whyborne & Griffin in Jordan L. Hawk's Widdershins series, Lucien and Stephen in K.J. Charles' Magpie series, or the two MC's in Harper Fox's Tyack and Frayne series for examples that keep the MCs togther without becoming boring or stagnant. Kelly and Jenn, you have created two great MCs with distinctive personalities who are going to clash in the normal course of their interactions; why not let that happen and let them work it out instead of making it all or nothing in each book?
Also the interactions with the god-like Guardians race are intriguing, but at times they function literally as deux ex machina, which leaves fewer options for Felix or Zed to demonstrate their own ingenuity and strength.
I'm still in for book 4 of this series, but if Felix and Zed don't show some signs of growth I won't stick around for the planned finale in book 5.
But.
As a romance reader, this series is starting to bug me big time. Three books into the series, and we have Felix aka Flick aka Felix (I think I'm finally getting used to the multiple nicknames!) pulling the "I'm not good enough for you" card on Zed aka Zander, and then taking off for more than half of the book? Not cool. I don't want to see their relationship tested in each book; I want to see it deepen and develop while the two men are together. See Whyborne & Griffin in Jordan L. Hawk's Widdershins series, Lucien and Stephen in K.J. Charles' Magpie series, or the two MC's in Harper Fox's Tyack and Frayne series for examples that keep the MCs togther without becoming boring or stagnant. Kelly and Jenn, you have created two great MCs with distinctive personalities who are going to clash in the normal course of their interactions; why not let that happen and let them work it out instead of making it all or nothing in each book?
Also the interactions with the god-like Guardians race are intriguing, but at times they function literally as deux ex machina, which leaves fewer options for Felix or Zed to demonstrate their own ingenuity and strength.
I'm still in for book 4 of this series, but if Felix and Zed don't show some signs of growth I won't stick around for the planned finale in book 5.
December 21, 2023
It's kinda crazy how emotional this book was. And this was a reread. I knew what was going to happen and it still got my full attention. Not all that fond of that AEF. Also I wonder who was the real leak. The animosity toward Zed by them seemed over the top. But I absolutely loved how capable Zed was. During that entire time on that ship, he was great.
I loved seeing Zed meet his family. They seem like a great family. I just hope that Felix can overcome his issues.
*****
It was super emotional....but so very good.
I loved seeing Zed meet his family. They seem like a great family. I just hope that Felix can overcome his issues.
*****
It was super emotional....but so very good.
November 4, 2015
3.5 stars
This is Flick's story in which it is confirmed that our favorite "fixer" has an extreme case of PTSD. We have lots of "I'm not good enough," and Zed and Flick going 'round and 'round, and up and down, with their relationship. I was starting to get motion sickness. I guess I would like to have read more sci-fi and less Flick this time around. That's the only thing I can put my finger on as to why, in the end, I felt a bit nonplussed. Will I read the next one? Yes, I will.
This is Flick's story in which it is confirmed that our favorite "fixer" has an extreme case of PTSD. We have lots of "I'm not good enough," and Zed and Flick going 'round and 'round, and up and down, with their relationship. I was starting to get motion sickness. I guess I would like to have read more sci-fi and less Flick this time around. That's the only thing I can put my finger on as to why, in the end, I felt a bit nonplussed. Will I read the next one? Yes, I will.
May 1, 2019
When I decided I was in the mood for a science fiction romance book I returned to this series. This is another solid read in this series, although it wasn't my favorite book in the series so far. But that's mostly due to my own mood.
I can repeat many of the comments from previous reviews about what I liked about this book. It has a great cast of characters, the story moves along at a great pace, the writing is well done and the world building is excellent. And there is another adventure and troubles that the crew of the Chaos has to deal with in this book.
After the big life changing events of book 2 I had mistakenly believed Zander and Felix would get a bit of a break in this book. I couldn't have been more wrong. Instead of bringing them closer, it actually pulled them apart more. Felix is struggling with everything, not feeling at home, afraid of losing Zander, still working with the emotions over what happens and all his dark fears and troubles are bubbling to the surface again. He makes a rash decision that he thinks will help, but it won't.
Zander has his own set of trouble too. The military isn't happy he's still alive and accuses him of sharing confidential secrets. And the danger is only increasing. Then there is Felix who seems off, but isn't telling him what is wrong. He is back among his family which is great and difficult at the same time. And he has to go through a lot more in this book.
And while Zander and Felix aren't as much together as I would've liked. I really do like them as a couple and there are moments that really show the strength of their emotions. And by the end of this book I am hopeful they can find a way to deal with everything thrown their way.
This wasn't a happy book, although there are some uplifting and awesome moments, it was mostly full of struggles or maybe it just felt that way to me. Struggles within the characters, but also the threat the military poses. They try and find the missing member of project Dreamweaver, even tough they don't know if they can help. them. And by the end it almost feels like battle lines are drawn, until it gets resolved in a way that almost feels too easy. And in a way what happens and how it gets resolved makes me wonder why all of this was necessary. And in a sense it wasn't, if someone had communicated better or made a certain thing more clear, half of this book wouldn't have happened. It just felt a bit off.
Part of why i struggled with this book is because it was hard to see what Felix went through. he isn't in a good place and I wanted to tell him tor trust Zander and talk with him, but ofcourse it isn't that easy. They also spend a big portion of the story apart due to reasons. And with my current mood I guess I just wasn't in the mood for that type of struggles. It just felt like a struggle to read at times, because of the emotional vibes, not because of the actual writing. Which I guess is well done, it just didn't mesh with my mood where I wanted something more happy and uplifting. Then the ending is great again and that sliver of hope and an interesting twist makes me excited for the next book all over again.
It was fun to finally meet a character we heard about in previous books and now meet her in real life. And another character who plays an important role. It was fun to read more of the characters we already know from previous books, although the focus is on Felix and Zander. It also was nice to meet some of Zander's family members in this book.
To summarize: this was another great read in this awesome science fiction romance series. This book just wasn't my favorite as the emotional struggles just felt like a struggle to read and I was in the mood for something more happy I realized later. That's more because of me than the book tough. There is a lot to like, the characters are awesome, I like the romance, it has some great world building and the plot progresses at a good pace. I also thought one thing was resolved almost too easily and it felt a bit off how one piece of information/ communication would've changed the whole course of this book. There is a great twist at the end that makes me curious about the next book.
I can repeat many of the comments from previous reviews about what I liked about this book. It has a great cast of characters, the story moves along at a great pace, the writing is well done and the world building is excellent. And there is another adventure and troubles that the crew of the Chaos has to deal with in this book.
After the big life changing events of book 2 I had mistakenly believed Zander and Felix would get a bit of a break in this book. I couldn't have been more wrong. Instead of bringing them closer, it actually pulled them apart more. Felix is struggling with everything, not feeling at home, afraid of losing Zander, still working with the emotions over what happens and all his dark fears and troubles are bubbling to the surface again. He makes a rash decision that he thinks will help, but it won't.
Zander has his own set of trouble too. The military isn't happy he's still alive and accuses him of sharing confidential secrets. And the danger is only increasing. Then there is Felix who seems off, but isn't telling him what is wrong. He is back among his family which is great and difficult at the same time. And he has to go through a lot more in this book.
And while Zander and Felix aren't as much together as I would've liked. I really do like them as a couple and there are moments that really show the strength of their emotions. And by the end of this book I am hopeful they can find a way to deal with everything thrown their way.
This wasn't a happy book, although there are some uplifting and awesome moments, it was mostly full of struggles or maybe it just felt that way to me. Struggles within the characters, but also the threat the military poses. They try and find the missing member of project Dreamweaver, even tough they don't know if they can help. them. And by the end it almost feels like battle lines are drawn, until it gets resolved in a way that almost feels too easy. And in a way what happens and how it gets resolved makes me wonder why all of this was necessary. And in a sense it wasn't, if someone had communicated better or made a certain thing more clear, half of this book wouldn't have happened. It just felt a bit off.
Part of why i struggled with this book is because it was hard to see what Felix went through. he isn't in a good place and I wanted to tell him tor trust Zander and talk with him, but ofcourse it isn't that easy. They also spend a big portion of the story apart due to reasons. And with my current mood I guess I just wasn't in the mood for that type of struggles. It just felt like a struggle to read at times, because of the emotional vibes, not because of the actual writing. Which I guess is well done, it just didn't mesh with my mood where I wanted something more happy and uplifting. Then the ending is great again and that sliver of hope and an interesting twist makes me excited for the next book all over again.
It was fun to finally meet a character we heard about in previous books and now meet her in real life. And another character who plays an important role. It was fun to read more of the characters we already know from previous books, although the focus is on Felix and Zander. It also was nice to meet some of Zander's family members in this book.
To summarize: this was another great read in this awesome science fiction romance series. This book just wasn't my favorite as the emotional struggles just felt like a struggle to read and I was in the mood for something more happy I realized later. That's more because of me than the book tough. There is a lot to like, the characters are awesome, I like the romance, it has some great world building and the plot progresses at a good pace. I also thought one thing was resolved almost too easily and it felt a bit off how one piece of information/ communication would've changed the whole course of this book. There is a great twist at the end that makes me curious about the next book.
November 21, 2021
Zed having been helped, along with the Chaos crew, heads to his home world to re-unite with his family. It has been years and they had thought him dead and then found out he was alive. In short, everyone has been put through the ringer. The crew's ultimate goal is to help Zed's former teammates who were the subject of experiences in the war with the Stin.
Once home, Zed is not safe. Unhappy that he is still alive, the AEF (Allied Earth Forces) try to have him arrested. Someone(s) knows about the experiments (Project Dreamweaver) that they never wanted anyone to find out about. They also want to know how Zed is still alive and coping well.
The love Zed's family has for him throws Felix (Fixer, Flick) into an emotional tailspin (I'm not good enough!). This leads him to behave like an asshole and comes his adopted family hurt and Zed. He was like this previous book too. I get Felix has had lots of trauma in his past (ex-military, was a POW in the war), but he doesn't seem to want help. He doesn't learn from previous mistakes and jumps to conclusions.
Things happen and Felix finally shaps the fuck out of it. Things are resolved (we will see) with the AEF and their vendetta against Zed. The Guardians make a move.
Once home, Zed is not safe. Unhappy that he is still alive, the AEF (Allied Earth Forces) try to have him arrested. Someone(s) knows about the experiments (Project Dreamweaver) that they never wanted anyone to find out about. They also want to know how Zed is still alive and coping well.
The love Zed's family has for him throws Felix (Fixer, Flick) into an emotional tailspin (I'm not good enough!). This leads him to behave like an asshole and comes his adopted family hurt and Zed. He was like this previous book too. I get Felix has had lots of trauma in his past (ex-military, was a POW in the war), but he doesn't seem to want help. He doesn't learn from previous mistakes and jumps to conclusions.
Things happen and Felix finally shaps the fuck out of it. Things are resolved (we will see) with the AEF and their vendetta against Zed. The Guardians make a move.
December 7, 2024
(5/5)
It's amazing how I can sometimes read a book in such a short time. It took me just one afternoon to finish it.
Simply because it was just so good.
I loved that Felix was at the centre of the story this time. I needed that.
I wanted him to be seen to be so tragically broken, but to be put back together by his crew, his family. It was time for him to feel something. He hadn't had many opportunities to do that before.
But it was definitely heartbreaking. Just as I expected and just as I wanted it to be.
It's amazing how I can sometimes read a book in such a short time. It took me just one afternoon to finish it.
Simply because it was just so good.
I loved that Felix was at the centre of the story this time. I needed that.
I wanted him to be seen to be so tragically broken, but to be put back together by his crew, his family. It was time for him to feel something. He hadn't had many opportunities to do that before.
“You’re not alone, Flick.”
“Flick’s gone. He was killed by the stin. You’re the only one who remembers him.”
But it was definitely heartbreaking. Just as I expected and just as I wanted it to be.
April 23, 2018
Rating: 4 stars
I had a hard time putting this book down once I started. At the same time, it was hard to read. I just felt so bad for everything that Felix was going through. He needed help so desperately but was his own worst enemy when it came to him getting the help he needed. I loved how the crew stood by him, even though he didn’t make it easy for them and was really awful to be around.
Overall, the story was good. Most of it centered around Felix and his problems along with Zed and his battle with the AEF. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to fans of the series. It is not a stand-alone story and should be read in conjunction with the rest of the series. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series.
I had a hard time putting this book down once I started. At the same time, it was hard to read. I just felt so bad for everything that Felix was going through. He needed help so desperately but was his own worst enemy when it came to him getting the help he needed. I loved how the crew stood by him, even though he didn’t make it easy for them and was really awful to be around.
Overall, the story was good. Most of it centered around Felix and his problems along with Zed and his battle with the AEF. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to fans of the series. It is not a stand-alone story and should be read in conjunction with the rest of the series. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series.
April 2, 2016
Continuing this fantastic inter-stellar voyage, the third book in the Chaos Station series takes up where book 2 (Lonely Shore) left off, with the crew of the Chaos heading for Zander’s home and reunification with his family. Each story to date has had a very satisfactory happy for now ending such that they can be read on their own with no cliffhangers, however, I would recommend starting the series at the beginning if you haven’t already, as the plot threads stretch through one story to the next.
Zander is recovering from his deathly experience due to the super soldier experiment, Project Dreamweaver, run by the Allied Earth Forces (AEF) to which he belongs. Or used to, until he was left to cope with the side effects of the project. Now he’s an embarrassment to the military, but to his family his return from the dead is nothing short of a miracle. Felix can’t really believe it either, having been on a roller coaster of loss and gain with Zander since his return from the dead almost ended in tragedy once again. A safe, stable environment with Zander’s family leaves Felix at a loss, and figuring the only way to regain himself is to let Zander go once and for all. But the AEF isn’t finished with Zander quite yet, and when Zander is threatened, it will be up to Felix and the crew of the Chaos to effect a daring rescue, one that could destroy them all.
I am thoroughly enjoying this exciting space roller coaster ride, and true to form, this one got its claws in me from the start (not unlike the Stin, but less deadly at least) and I found myself reading it all in one fell swoop. There is a bit less focus on the romance in this installment, and more on the consequences of Zander’s return from the dead. Felix was already feeling out of sorts in the last book and now he’s really hitting bottom. Dead or alive, Zander affects him and his emotional state is precarious. After all that Zander has gone through, returning him to the bosom of his family, to a secure stable and safe future is logical – even if Felix knows that he doesn’t fit into that world, as a boy from the wrong side of the galaxy so to speak. Zander’s wealthy family makes no bones about their plans for Zander to stay and work for the family now that his military stint is really over, and though they make every effort to welcome Felix, he doesn’t feel that he belongs. Leaving Zander is the only choice that he sees is possible. But Felix doesn’t share all these misgivings with Zander, so when he leaves it’s a blow to Zander’s heart and self-confidence. But Zander has his own problems – when details of the super-secret Project Dreamweaver leak to the media, the AEF believes Zander is responsible, in violation of his confidentiality agreement. They want his head (or, for him to actually wind up dead whichever comes first) and arresting him for treason means the safety and security of home base is no longer. But it’s just what Felix needs to get his head back into the game, to realize that no matter, what Zander is ‘it’ for him and to try to find a way to correct his huge mistake of leaving Zander in the first place. This installment is action packed, with one scene leading to the next in a quick fashion, making for an exciting story. The sex between Zander and Felix is hot and steamy (as expected) but isn’t the core of the story, as the emotional turbulence between them takes precedence and Felix’s own bouts of self-recrimination weigh on him. It’s clear that his capture and torture during the Stin war are still unresolved and need to be addressed if he is to have a healthy relationship with Zander. As expected we get a happy ending here, but there is definitely more story to tell as the Guardians, overseers of the universe play another important role and leave the story open with questions to be addressed in the next chapter. Thoroughly enjoyable. 5 stars.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
This review appears as a blog post at http://straightshootinbookreviews.com...
Zander is recovering from his deathly experience due to the super soldier experiment, Project Dreamweaver, run by the Allied Earth Forces (AEF) to which he belongs. Or used to, until he was left to cope with the side effects of the project. Now he’s an embarrassment to the military, but to his family his return from the dead is nothing short of a miracle. Felix can’t really believe it either, having been on a roller coaster of loss and gain with Zander since his return from the dead almost ended in tragedy once again. A safe, stable environment with Zander’s family leaves Felix at a loss, and figuring the only way to regain himself is to let Zander go once and for all. But the AEF isn’t finished with Zander quite yet, and when Zander is threatened, it will be up to Felix and the crew of the Chaos to effect a daring rescue, one that could destroy them all.
I am thoroughly enjoying this exciting space roller coaster ride, and true to form, this one got its claws in me from the start (not unlike the Stin, but less deadly at least) and I found myself reading it all in one fell swoop. There is a bit less focus on the romance in this installment, and more on the consequences of Zander’s return from the dead. Felix was already feeling out of sorts in the last book and now he’s really hitting bottom. Dead or alive, Zander affects him and his emotional state is precarious. After all that Zander has gone through, returning him to the bosom of his family, to a secure stable and safe future is logical – even if Felix knows that he doesn’t fit into that world, as a boy from the wrong side of the galaxy so to speak. Zander’s wealthy family makes no bones about their plans for Zander to stay and work for the family now that his military stint is really over, and though they make every effort to welcome Felix, he doesn’t feel that he belongs. Leaving Zander is the only choice that he sees is possible. But Felix doesn’t share all these misgivings with Zander, so when he leaves it’s a blow to Zander’s heart and self-confidence. But Zander has his own problems – when details of the super-secret Project Dreamweaver leak to the media, the AEF believes Zander is responsible, in violation of his confidentiality agreement. They want his head (or, for him to actually wind up dead whichever comes first) and arresting him for treason means the safety and security of home base is no longer. But it’s just what Felix needs to get his head back into the game, to realize that no matter, what Zander is ‘it’ for him and to try to find a way to correct his huge mistake of leaving Zander in the first place. This installment is action packed, with one scene leading to the next in a quick fashion, making for an exciting story. The sex between Zander and Felix is hot and steamy (as expected) but isn’t the core of the story, as the emotional turbulence between them takes precedence and Felix’s own bouts of self-recrimination weigh on him. It’s clear that his capture and torture during the Stin war are still unresolved and need to be addressed if he is to have a healthy relationship with Zander. As expected we get a happy ending here, but there is definitely more story to tell as the Guardians, overseers of the universe play another important role and leave the story open with questions to be addressed in the next chapter. Thoroughly enjoyable. 5 stars.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
This review appears as a blog post at http://straightshootinbookreviews.com...
September 7, 2015
Nothing goes as planned for Zander Anatolius. Go home and visit his family seems simple enough. Upon arrival the media frenzy is more aggravating than anything but something that the military hero can easily handle. Things he doesn’t want to handle include being pulled in a dozen different directions while everyone wants a bit of his time. An unknown attempting to kill him and the other members of the Chaos is an unexpected escalation to the crazy that has taken over his life. The same military that made him into an experimental project now wants him to answer questions that he doesn’t have answers to may just be his breaking point.
The feeling of inadequacy is something that Flick is becoming used to. He feels lost amongst his own people. The Anatolius family as a whole makes him feel completely out of place. The stin left him broken. The military deemed him useless. Overall Fixer is feeling like he no longer has a purpose. He sees the love of his life Zander quickly being able to pick up a new and happy life on Alpha with his family. At one time all Felix ever wanted was to have Zed back in his life. Now that he has him back he feels even farther from him.
This installment ion the Chaos Station series was an emotional overload. I truly thought Flick and Zed had found their happy place. Skip Trace shows that things are not always as they appear. As with the other books in this series the romance is light and definitely not what drives the story. The world is fascinating and
I’m continually left guessing what the crew of the Chaos will be caught up in next.
This is one of those series that can only be enjoyed when read in order. They do not work as stand-alone novels. I am pleased to see that what I initially believed to be a trilogy has two more books to be released in 2016. I like the crew of the Chaos. I’m completely intrigued by the Guardians. I’m even more curious about what the Guardians expect of Zander. My heart goes out to Felix who seems to be trying to find a place on his own ship. I’m definitely looking forward to more from Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen.
The feeling of inadequacy is something that Flick is becoming used to. He feels lost amongst his own people. The Anatolius family as a whole makes him feel completely out of place. The stin left him broken. The military deemed him useless. Overall Fixer is feeling like he no longer has a purpose. He sees the love of his life Zander quickly being able to pick up a new and happy life on Alpha with his family. At one time all Felix ever wanted was to have Zed back in his life. Now that he has him back he feels even farther from him.
This installment ion the Chaos Station series was an emotional overload. I truly thought Flick and Zed had found their happy place. Skip Trace shows that things are not always as they appear. As with the other books in this series the romance is light and definitely not what drives the story. The world is fascinating and
I’m continually left guessing what the crew of the Chaos will be caught up in next.
This is one of those series that can only be enjoyed when read in order. They do not work as stand-alone novels. I am pleased to see that what I initially believed to be a trilogy has two more books to be released in 2016. I like the crew of the Chaos. I’m completely intrigued by the Guardians. I’m even more curious about what the Guardians expect of Zander. My heart goes out to Felix who seems to be trying to find a place on his own ship. I’m definitely looking forward to more from Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen.
December 14, 2016
I love these two. I love this series. So much hurt/comfort.
This was another great installment in the Chaos Station series. In this one the gang heads to the planet where Zed's family lives so that he can reconnect with them. Unfortunately the military isn't ready to let him go and they begin to make his life difficult. Things quickly go from bad to worse and Zed is arrested for treason. As things escalate with Zed's situation it becomes apparent to everyone that Felix was only holding on by a thin thread before and now he's completely falling apart. While the situation with Zed unfolds the rest of the group heads off to another planet to try and rescue another member of Zed's team.
This was a fast paced, action packed story. It picks up shortly after the last book ends and takes this group through numerous events. They pick up a few new members along the way and we get a chance to meet both Zed's family and some of the soldiers he served with.
This book was pretty emotional and is was filled with painful moments. Felix has never really dealt with his own prisoner of war history and that coupled with Zed's illness and imprisonment pushes Felix over the edge. He's pushed to the breaking point in this one and he won't let anyone help him. Zed also goes through a lot of things in this and it seems this poor guy can not catch a break.
At the end of the day though these two love each other and that foundation helps them pull through. Their little makeshift family is also a source of strength for them both.
As usual the writing and story telling was really good. The world building is so developed I felt like I was on the ships with them. In general I am not a big fan of the sci fi genre but this series has totally pulled me in and I can't read fast enough. I adore all of the these characters, especially the two main characters and I'm always eager to get to the next book to see what is going to happen to them next.
This is the third book in the series and it should not be read as a standalone. It's a very good series though so I encourage you to go back to book one and read it.
This was another great installment in the Chaos Station series. In this one the gang heads to the planet where Zed's family lives so that he can reconnect with them. Unfortunately the military isn't ready to let him go and they begin to make his life difficult. Things quickly go from bad to worse and Zed is arrested for treason. As things escalate with Zed's situation it becomes apparent to everyone that Felix was only holding on by a thin thread before and now he's completely falling apart. While the situation with Zed unfolds the rest of the group heads off to another planet to try and rescue another member of Zed's team.
This was a fast paced, action packed story. It picks up shortly after the last book ends and takes this group through numerous events. They pick up a few new members along the way and we get a chance to meet both Zed's family and some of the soldiers he served with.
This book was pretty emotional and is was filled with painful moments. Felix has never really dealt with his own prisoner of war history and that coupled with Zed's illness and imprisonment pushes Felix over the edge. He's pushed to the breaking point in this one and he won't let anyone help him. Zed also goes through a lot of things in this and it seems this poor guy can not catch a break.
At the end of the day though these two love each other and that foundation helps them pull through. Their little makeshift family is also a source of strength for them both.
As usual the writing and story telling was really good. The world building is so developed I felt like I was on the ships with them. In general I am not a big fan of the sci fi genre but this series has totally pulled me in and I can't read fast enough. I adore all of the these characters, especially the two main characters and I'm always eager to get to the next book to see what is going to happen to them next.
This is the third book in the series and it should not be read as a standalone. It's a very good series though so I encourage you to go back to book one and read it.
March 1, 2020
****Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance®****
4.25 Stars -
I love this series, I love these characters, but boy did I want to slap Felix upside the head a time or two!!
Once again we meet the crew of the Chaos, this time for Zander’s homecoming after his resurrection by the guardians. Federation forces are out to get him and the crew must work together to save him and his former teammates. Felix is feeling on the outs however and this leads to poor decision making on his part.
Felix’s attitude and behaviour is what really kept this from being a 5 star read for me. He had been broody in the past and I knew of his traumatic backstory but his actions seemed too over the top and didn’t match the man I remembered from previous books. I didn’t know if I wanted to hit him or wrap him in cotton wool and cry with him. His actions just made everything that much more tragic seeming. I guess that added to the tension of the book, but it made me mad at times.
However, the rest of the story was great and I loved seeing Zander and his vulnerability. There was a great scene of them playing that made me smile. I also liked seeing Zander interact with his family and yet how true he stayed to Felix.
I was very happy for the ending and the fact that the series seems like it will continue with more adventures from this crew. I loved seeing all the other cast members as well and look forward to more!
4.25 Stars -
I love this series, I love these characters, but boy did I want to slap Felix upside the head a time or two!!
Once again we meet the crew of the Chaos, this time for Zander’s homecoming after his resurrection by the guardians. Federation forces are out to get him and the crew must work together to save him and his former teammates. Felix is feeling on the outs however and this leads to poor decision making on his part.
Felix’s attitude and behaviour is what really kept this from being a 5 star read for me. He had been broody in the past and I knew of his traumatic backstory but his actions seemed too over the top and didn’t match the man I remembered from previous books. I didn’t know if I wanted to hit him or wrap him in cotton wool and cry with him. His actions just made everything that much more tragic seeming. I guess that added to the tension of the book, but it made me mad at times.
However, the rest of the story was great and I loved seeing Zander and his vulnerability. There was a great scene of them playing that made me smile. I also liked seeing Zander interact with his family and yet how true he stayed to Felix.
I was very happy for the ending and the fact that the series seems like it will continue with more adventures from this crew. I loved seeing all the other cast members as well and look forward to more!
October 11, 2015
Zander Anatolius has been through more than one person could ever expect to go through and survive. He was part of an experimental super-soldier program that should have killed him--and eventually did. Thanks to a few twists of fate, however, he was revived and made it back to Felix and the crew of the Chaos. But now it's time for him to return home and see his family, people he hasn't seen for years, to try to explain everything that's happened in his life. But the Anatolius family aren't the only ones waiting on Alpha and Zander's troubles are far from over. Add to that Felix's doubts about whether Zander might just be better off staying on Alpha with his family without Felix to hold him back, and Zander's got more than the Allied Earth Forces and assassination attempts to worry about.
I've been hooked on this series since book one, and that connection is still going strong. I guess I would call this light space opera where it just so happens that our protagonist is in a relationship with another man. The science fiction is the core of the story, and I love that it's all presented without any pretense or feeling like this story is any different than the space operas you might see where our hero must rescue the damsel in distress or finds a woman at every space station along the way. This is simply life for Zed, Felix, and everyone else. And why shouldn't it be?
But more than that, I love the universe that Burke and Jensen have created. While I'm definitely one who's starting to think that Zed deserves a break eventually (not to mention poor Felix), I will keep coming back for more as long as they're willing to write it.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
I've been hooked on this series since book one, and that connection is still going strong. I guess I would call this light space opera where it just so happens that our protagonist is in a relationship with another man. The science fiction is the core of the story, and I love that it's all presented without any pretense or feeling like this story is any different than the space operas you might see where our hero must rescue the damsel in distress or finds a woman at every space station along the way. This is simply life for Zed, Felix, and everyone else. And why shouldn't it be?
But more than that, I love the universe that Burke and Jensen have created. While I'm definitely one who's starting to think that Zed deserves a break eventually (not to mention poor Felix), I will keep coming back for more as long as they're willing to write it.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
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