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Telepathic Space Pirates #0.5
Pirate Bound
A desperate gamble…
Sanah would do anything to protect her little sister, even if it means taking refuge with ruthless pirates. But the psychically Talented pirates terrorizing Commonwealth space are not quite the monsters she has been led to believe. When Sanah's empathic gift shows her the truth behind the stories, she is no longer certain who the villains are in her world.
A race on the verge of extinction…
Dem’s only goal is to protect his people, especially since a deadly bio-weapon decimated their population. Only a handful of women survived, and every day is a fight to rebuild. With Sanah’s empathy and her sister’s rare ability to heal, they could be the salvation Dem and his people have been looking for.
A dangerous secret that could destroy everything…
But how can Sanah trust Dem with her life? Especially when he’d kill her if he knew the truth.
Pirate Bound is a short prequel novel to the Telepathic Space Pirates series. It is a standalone story within the series.
Sanah would do anything to protect her little sister, even if it means taking refuge with ruthless pirates. But the psychically Talented pirates terrorizing Commonwealth space are not quite the monsters she has been led to believe. When Sanah's empathic gift shows her the truth behind the stories, she is no longer certain who the villains are in her world.
A race on the verge of extinction…
Dem’s only goal is to protect his people, especially since a deadly bio-weapon decimated their population. Only a handful of women survived, and every day is a fight to rebuild. With Sanah’s empathy and her sister’s rare ability to heal, they could be the salvation Dem and his people have been looking for.
A dangerous secret that could destroy everything…
But how can Sanah trust Dem with her life? Especially when he’d kill her if he knew the truth.
Pirate Bound is a short prequel novel to the Telepathic Space Pirates series. It is a standalone story within the series.
144 pages, Paperback
First published February 12, 2016
109 people are currently reading
540 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
January 7, 2018
3.5/5: 4 stars.
Sci fi romance that is not about insta love or lust. Nothing too surprising or unique about the world building but a good time was had while enjoying some escapist romance. Definitely going to read more by this author.
Sci fi romance that is not about insta love or lust. Nothing too surprising or unique about the world building but a good time was had while enjoying some escapist romance. Definitely going to read more by this author.
November 25, 2019
I generally don’t read much romantic science fiction, but this series is an exception. Do be aware that while there is a strong storyline and plenty of tension, there is also a big dollop of romance with some reasonably steamy action. However, what I really enjoyed about it was that the science fiction element wasn’t merely a vehicle for a boy-meets-girl scenario. The relationship is strongly nested within the world Locke has created, where a number of folks with telepathic abilities have turned their back on becoming a tool of the tyrannical governing authority and instead, plunder ships for the goods they need.
While their society is unquestionably violent, I also enjoy how Locke ensure my loyalties are firmly with the lawless outcasts. It was enjoyable to meet up with characters I’ve already encountered on other adventures, particularly Dem, whose brooding presence means that I didn’t previously bond much with him. But that’s the joy of a good prequel…
Overall, this was great fun and is highly recommended for those who enjoy engrossing space opera adventure with a side-order of romance on the spicy side.
8/10
While their society is unquestionably violent, I also enjoy how Locke ensure my loyalties are firmly with the lawless outcasts. It was enjoyable to meet up with characters I’ve already encountered on other adventures, particularly Dem, whose brooding presence means that I didn’t previously bond much with him. But that’s the joy of a good prequel…
Overall, this was great fun and is highly recommended for those who enjoy engrossing space opera adventure with a side-order of romance on the spicy side.
8/10
November 23, 2019
Pirates, hot guys and psychics on my!! This book is in the Rebels and Renegades collection. It was quite a good book. I am not sure how many books are in this series but you should read it!! It's great and the romance is nice. Definitely need to finish the series☺
August 29, 2016
OHMYGAWD! Space pirates! CLEAN ONES! I'm in heaven. Y'all don't even know how badly I wanted something like this. YOU DON'T KNOW. *draws sparkly hearts around all the pirates and their telepathic badassness*
So. Space. Pirates. Telepaths. As you might have guessed, I'm smitten with every aspect of this world. Throw in a man who loses his cool when a certain special someone crosses his path and I'm ALL OVER IT. Seriously. I adore when stone-cold killers find some happiness. Which sounds weird, but it's a thing I enjoy. Just like amnesiac vampires. THE HEART WANTS WHAT THE HEART WANTS, PEOPLE! And I heartily enjoy when a man who's always in control gets a jolt of unexpected emotions from an unexpected lady friend.
As it turns out, Dem isn't the only one getting unexpected jolts of emotion. That's what happens when you're an empath, amirite?!?! Yeah, well, Sanah gets all sorts of emotions from people around her. But the one she's interested in is Dem. Which I liked. A lot.
Shady bad guys with an agenda. Good guys who are a little rough around the edges. Pirates! This book gave me everything I wanted. EVERYTHING. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
So. Space. Pirates. Telepaths. As you might have guessed, I'm smitten with every aspect of this world. Throw in a man who loses his cool when a certain special someone crosses his path and I'm ALL OVER IT. Seriously. I adore when stone-cold killers find some happiness. Which sounds weird, but it's a thing I enjoy. Just like amnesiac vampires. THE HEART WANTS WHAT THE HEART WANTS, PEOPLE! And I heartily enjoy when a man who's always in control gets a jolt of unexpected emotions from an unexpected lady friend.
As it turns out, Dem isn't the only one getting unexpected jolts of emotion. That's what happens when you're an empath, amirite?!?! Yeah, well, Sanah gets all sorts of emotions from people around her. But the one she's interested in is Dem. Which I liked. A lot.
Shady bad guys with an agenda. Good guys who are a little rough around the edges. Pirates! This book gave me everything I wanted. EVERYTHING. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
February 29, 2020
Update March 2020 : Just realised that the first full length will be a "reverse harem" trilogy... so not my thing. Guess I'll be giving this series a miss after all.
________________________________________
3.5 stars.
Re-read in 2020. I'm giving it a slightly higher rating this time around. I quite like the world-building. Let's see how the next books go.
_________________________________________
3.25 stars.
A promising start to the series. A solid foundation built on a world where the "Talented" are being persecuted by the Commonwealth run by Nulls and became Space Pirates. The pirates' female population has been decimated by a mysterious virus so they are keen to find females, especially those with talents.
Our heroine and her younger sister are running from her brother, who works for a secretive Talented organisation behind the Commonwealth and is responsible for the virus. They were rescued by the pirates..........
The author's note said that the next books will be a trilogy featuring a couple... as only one book is out so far, will keep this on my TBR list until the other books are published... hate cliffhangers!
________________________________________
3.5 stars.
Re-read in 2020. I'm giving it a slightly higher rating this time around. I quite like the world-building. Let's see how the next books go.
_________________________________________
3.25 stars.
A promising start to the series. A solid foundation built on a world where the "Talented" are being persecuted by the Commonwealth run by Nulls and became Space Pirates. The pirates' female population has been decimated by a mysterious virus so they are keen to find females, especially those with talents.
Our heroine and her younger sister are running from her brother, who works for a secretive Talented organisation behind the Commonwealth and is responsible for the virus. They were rescued by the pirates..........
The author's note said that the next books will be a trilogy featuring a couple... as only one book is out so far, will keep this on my TBR list until the other books are published... hate cliffhangers!
March 31, 2016
I pre-ordered this book, mostly because way back when, I'd beta read a different book (but same world) from this author, and that book stuck with me over five or so years. I critiqued a lot of books back then, and that first book of Carysa's was my favorite of them all. But I never got to finish it! I'm not sure if she was done writing it at the time, but she is now, and I've been told it's the first full length book in this universe, which releases in another few months.
This is a novella that serves as a sort of prequel. Reading it, I remembered a lot about that first book. Namely, a few of the characters. The pirate king, Cannon (yes! There's a pirate king! And he's awesome and not cheesey!) and a few other folks. This book is about telepathic space pirates, would could come off corny as hell, but the way Carysa writes and how she developed the universe was perfect. The pirates have a believable culture and history. It kind of reminds me of all those vampire brotherhood books out there (though this has absolutely nothing to do with vampires, promise). There's this camaraderie between the pirates that is awesome. I could read about it forever.
The book is about Sanah and her younger sister, Nayla. They escape their evil brother and are taken in and protected by the pirates. This is Sanah's story. She and her sister have special abilities. Nayla is a healer and Sanah has empathy. She is immediately drawn to the pirate's security specialist, Dem, who's pretty much a bad ass. He has, um, trouble with feelings. Mainly, he's never really felt them before. It's a side effect of his special abilities. But of course Sanah wakes up those feelings in him, and he has to figure out how to deal with them without killing everybody around him.
This is a great introduction to the universe Carysa Locke has created. And I think authors must be getting better at writing novellas. I used to not like novellas because they didn't feel like they have substance, but I'm really enjoying a lot of shorter works lately, and this one was fun. It didn't feel like fluff and added to the world, and it was a complete story all by itself. If you like sci-fi romance, you'll love this. Give it a try!
This is a novella that serves as a sort of prequel. Reading it, I remembered a lot about that first book. Namely, a few of the characters. The pirate king, Cannon (yes! There's a pirate king! And he's awesome and not cheesey!) and a few other folks. This book is about telepathic space pirates, would could come off corny as hell, but the way Carysa writes and how she developed the universe was perfect. The pirates have a believable culture and history. It kind of reminds me of all those vampire brotherhood books out there (though this has absolutely nothing to do with vampires, promise). There's this camaraderie between the pirates that is awesome. I could read about it forever.
The book is about Sanah and her younger sister, Nayla. They escape their evil brother and are taken in and protected by the pirates. This is Sanah's story. She and her sister have special abilities. Nayla is a healer and Sanah has empathy. She is immediately drawn to the pirate's security specialist, Dem, who's pretty much a bad ass. He has, um, trouble with feelings. Mainly, he's never really felt them before. It's a side effect of his special abilities. But of course Sanah wakes up those feelings in him, and he has to figure out how to deal with them without killing everybody around him.
This is a great introduction to the universe Carysa Locke has created. And I think authors must be getting better at writing novellas. I used to not like novellas because they didn't feel like they have substance, but I'm really enjoying a lot of shorter works lately, and this one was fun. It didn't feel like fluff and added to the world, and it was a complete story all by itself. If you like sci-fi romance, you'll love this. Give it a try!
June 27, 2016
Wow am I glad I picked up this book, this prequel was so good! I am already looking forward to read the first book! This book was one of my rare impulse buys. I saw the cover in a newsletter from another author and that red hair and her sidewards facing position somehow sold me on the book before I even read the blurb. Then I read the blurb and I gladly paid some of my won gift card money to get my hands on this book.
Pirate Bound is a science fiction romance book centered around telepathic space pirates and that combination is as much fun to read about as it sounds. I've been wanting to read more sci-fi romances and this book perfectly hit the mark for that. Compelling story, interesting characters and well thought out world building were all present. Then there was a great romance that nicely fit into the story without taking over the plot. I enjoyed both the sci-fi and the romance aspect and enjoyed every second of this fun book.
The story is told from Sanah and Dem their point of view. Sanah is on the run with her sister after finding out her brother has plans to use her sister her powers for his own gain and using her powers to hurt people instead of heal. Starving, tired and desperate they are on the run in a spaceship when they encounter a group of pirates. They are hesitant at first, but the pirates seem honest and they eventually take refuge on their ship. Dem is a pirate and one of the high ranking people on the pirate ship they encounter. He has some rare telepathic talents and doesn't feel emotions, until he meets Sanah.
The set-up was interesting and I liked the way it got all worked out. the story flowed nicely and I felt the progression of elements felt very natural and realistic. Even while the story is shorter it in no way feels rushed and I was kinda glad a certain plot line didn't got dragged out like might have happened with a longer book. Although at the same time I also would like to see more of Sanah and Dem.
The characters were are all interesting, we get a feel for the main characters and quite some of the side characters. Enough to form a picture for the characters and I appreciated how in a few short encounters the authors could still paint a vivid picture of them and their personality. Sanah was protective of her little sister and I admired what she did for her and liked seeing them interact with each other. And while she is protective she also gives her sister space. She is a scientist and likes getting answers and the scientist part gave an fun twist to her personality. She has the gift of empathy and I liked how well we got a feel for her gift and how naturally it was woven into the story.
Then there is Dem, the security chief on board this space ship. He doesn't feel many emotions and when he meets Sanah and he feel an instant connection he isn't quite sure what to do with it. I thought his behavior and actions made sense and he was an interesting character with his strong commitment to the ship and how focused he is to protect the two sisters.
The side characters are also fun to read about. From Phantom, who we see only shortly, to the Doc who plays a nice side role. Then there are Cannon, the pirate king, Treon, Dem's brother and Sanah her sister who all play bigger roles into the story. And I wish we would get all of their stories as well, as they were interesting and I wanted to know more about them. They nicely fill up the story and I liked seeing them interact with Sanah and Dem and the other crew members.
I liked how the romance played out, no unnecessary drama and the conflict and obstacles that were in their path felt realistic and even got solved pretty quickly. I liked these two together and how they figured out how to handle these feelings growing between them. Yes the romance moves kinda quickly as this is a novella length book, but it didn't feel rushed. And I did got a feel for them as a characters and how they got to know each other and I felt their connection.
The world building was one of my favorite elements. I have to admit I haven't read a lot of books with telepathic abilities, so I wasn't quite sure how the authors would work with that. I was really impressed with how they handled the telepathic part. It was intermingled in the plot and the world building, we saw how these telepathic gift got used for things like communication, but also for so many other things like healing, fighting and more. It was everywhere and I liked how much we got to see of the telepathic gifts. Not everyone has telepathic gifts, but most of the main characters do so we get a good feel for their gifts. The only thing I would've liked was to learn more about the world and galaxy as a whole. We get a bit of a feel for the struggle between the Commonwealth and the pirates, but the pirates didn't really feel like pirates. They don't do a lot of bad stuff or pirate stuff in this book, although there are some hints about it and they could be ruthless in some instances, but not without reason. Also this story mostly takes place on one ship, so while I got a good feel for the ship and some of it's crew, the rest of the world and space stays a bit more vague. I hope we see more of that in the first book.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this book about telepathic space pirates. The story was compelling and developed naturally and kept my interest. The characters are interesting too and I liked getting to know them and hope we see more of them in later books. Sanah is a scientist and she cares a lot about her sister. She also has the gift of empathy which was interesting to read about. Then there is Dem who has some unique gifts and might seem emotionless, but Sanah breaks through his shields. There is also a great cast of side characters with their own personalities and I would love to know more about them. The romance developed quickly, but it didn't feel rushed. I liked these two together and felt their connection. Then there is the world building, which was well done. I especially liked how the telepathic aspect was handled and how we learn a lot about the different gifts and how they are used. There isn't a lot of pirate stuff though and the focus is mostly on this ship so we learn less about the rest of the world. All in all this was a great prequel and I can't wait to read the first book!
Pirate Bound is a science fiction romance book centered around telepathic space pirates and that combination is as much fun to read about as it sounds. I've been wanting to read more sci-fi romances and this book perfectly hit the mark for that. Compelling story, interesting characters and well thought out world building were all present. Then there was a great romance that nicely fit into the story without taking over the plot. I enjoyed both the sci-fi and the romance aspect and enjoyed every second of this fun book.
The story is told from Sanah and Dem their point of view. Sanah is on the run with her sister after finding out her brother has plans to use her sister her powers for his own gain and using her powers to hurt people instead of heal. Starving, tired and desperate they are on the run in a spaceship when they encounter a group of pirates. They are hesitant at first, but the pirates seem honest and they eventually take refuge on their ship. Dem is a pirate and one of the high ranking people on the pirate ship they encounter. He has some rare telepathic talents and doesn't feel emotions, until he meets Sanah.
The set-up was interesting and I liked the way it got all worked out. the story flowed nicely and I felt the progression of elements felt very natural and realistic. Even while the story is shorter it in no way feels rushed and I was kinda glad a certain plot line didn't got dragged out like might have happened with a longer book. Although at the same time I also would like to see more of Sanah and Dem.
The characters were are all interesting, we get a feel for the main characters and quite some of the side characters. Enough to form a picture for the characters and I appreciated how in a few short encounters the authors could still paint a vivid picture of them and their personality. Sanah was protective of her little sister and I admired what she did for her and liked seeing them interact with each other. And while she is protective she also gives her sister space. She is a scientist and likes getting answers and the scientist part gave an fun twist to her personality. She has the gift of empathy and I liked how well we got a feel for her gift and how naturally it was woven into the story.
Then there is Dem, the security chief on board this space ship. He doesn't feel many emotions and when he meets Sanah and he feel an instant connection he isn't quite sure what to do with it. I thought his behavior and actions made sense and he was an interesting character with his strong commitment to the ship and how focused he is to protect the two sisters.
The side characters are also fun to read about. From Phantom, who we see only shortly, to the Doc who plays a nice side role. Then there are Cannon, the pirate king, Treon, Dem's brother and Sanah her sister who all play bigger roles into the story. And I wish we would get all of their stories as well, as they were interesting and I wanted to know more about them. They nicely fill up the story and I liked seeing them interact with Sanah and Dem and the other crew members.
I liked how the romance played out, no unnecessary drama and the conflict and obstacles that were in their path felt realistic and even got solved pretty quickly. I liked these two together and how they figured out how to handle these feelings growing between them. Yes the romance moves kinda quickly as this is a novella length book, but it didn't feel rushed. And I did got a feel for them as a characters and how they got to know each other and I felt their connection.
The world building was one of my favorite elements. I have to admit I haven't read a lot of books with telepathic abilities, so I wasn't quite sure how the authors would work with that. I was really impressed with how they handled the telepathic part. It was intermingled in the plot and the world building, we saw how these telepathic gift got used for things like communication, but also for so many other things like healing, fighting and more. It was everywhere and I liked how much we got to see of the telepathic gifts. Not everyone has telepathic gifts, but most of the main characters do so we get a good feel for their gifts. The only thing I would've liked was to learn more about the world and galaxy as a whole. We get a bit of a feel for the struggle between the Commonwealth and the pirates, but the pirates didn't really feel like pirates. They don't do a lot of bad stuff or pirate stuff in this book, although there are some hints about it and they could be ruthless in some instances, but not without reason. Also this story mostly takes place on one ship, so while I got a good feel for the ship and some of it's crew, the rest of the world and space stays a bit more vague. I hope we see more of that in the first book.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this book about telepathic space pirates. The story was compelling and developed naturally and kept my interest. The characters are interesting too and I liked getting to know them and hope we see more of them in later books. Sanah is a scientist and she cares a lot about her sister. She also has the gift of empathy which was interesting to read about. Then there is Dem who has some unique gifts and might seem emotionless, but Sanah breaks through his shields. There is also a great cast of side characters with their own personalities and I would love to know more about them. The romance developed quickly, but it didn't feel rushed. I liked these two together and felt their connection. Then there is the world building, which was well done. I especially liked how the telepathic aspect was handled and how we learn a lot about the different gifts and how they are used. There isn't a lot of pirate stuff though and the focus is mostly on this ship so we learn less about the rest of the world. All in all this was a great prequel and I can't wait to read the first book!
August 22, 2020
3.5 Stars
March 9, 2016
You…aren’t afraid of me? 5 GOLD STARS
I probably should be. But no. HOLY SPACE PIRATES BATMAN! WOW! I am blown away by this story! It is truly SPACETASTIC!! Right from that beautiful cover, from the product description, I was drawn to the book, intrigued, but when I started reading.. WOW! WHOA BABY! I was catapulted into space, into this amazing world, well, universe actually since it takes place on a ship, but you know what I mean. I was transported to another time & place, where Talent is key, the kind of Talent even more so, where there are these amazing characters, all with their own unique Talents, powers, positions, situations, where it all comes together to ensure that I live the story, never wanting it to end, never having to leave this world or my new friends behind! Honestly! I TRULY ABSO-FRACKEN-LUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK! It is loaded with intrigue, romance, secrets, empathy, telepathy, shields, friends, family, pirates, shields and oh so much more! There’s even the "typical" good guys vs bad guys, but just who are the bad guys? The good guys? Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is as it appears nor is it as simple as "she is all good" or "he is all bad". I would say the lines are blurred, but I'm not even sure there's any lines at all to be blurred! This may be called a “short prequel novel” to the series, and while it IS a prequel, the “short novel” part has me excited!! The Prequel is over 120 pgs (printed), so that means that I can look forward to 300+ pages for each FULL LENGTH NOVEL, as well as side-stories novellas to keep us entertained in between the full novel releases. All I can say is it is one helluva story that kept me engaged from beginning to end! But this story is not about word count, or fillers. No, it is all about one fantastic ride that is absolutely perfect! I couldn't have put down the book if I wanted to! With its very elaborately enriched attention to detail, the multifaceted characters, the depth of well, EVERYTHING makes it impossible for me to believe that this is Carysa Locke's debut book! It truly is that stellar! I know the acknowledgements & author bio explain that the backgrounds and story & world building has been happening for a long time now, for a different purpose maybe, but you can't fight fate! I firmly believe that everything they have done, every game they have created & played, was all to bring them to this exact moment, this exact purpose if you will. Trust me, when you read this book, you will know precisely what I mean! Carysa Locke is one astronomical author with a true gift that I know will bring me on numerous adventures, find me new romances, teleporting me into this phenomenal universe for many, many years to come, time & time again!! I didn't just read this adventure. I LIVED IT!! So hold on for one SPACETACULAR adventure where we get to boldly go where no space pirate has been before!! Now comes the hard part - waiting for the next book!
I probably should be. But no. HOLY SPACE PIRATES BATMAN! WOW! I am blown away by this story! It is truly SPACETASTIC!! Right from that beautiful cover, from the product description, I was drawn to the book, intrigued, but when I started reading.. WOW! WHOA BABY! I was catapulted into space, into this amazing world, well, universe actually since it takes place on a ship, but you know what I mean. I was transported to another time & place, where Talent is key, the kind of Talent even more so, where there are these amazing characters, all with their own unique Talents, powers, positions, situations, where it all comes together to ensure that I live the story, never wanting it to end, never having to leave this world or my new friends behind! Honestly! I TRULY ABSO-FRACKEN-LUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK! It is loaded with intrigue, romance, secrets, empathy, telepathy, shields, friends, family, pirates, shields and oh so much more! There’s even the "typical" good guys vs bad guys, but just who are the bad guys? The good guys? Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is as it appears nor is it as simple as "she is all good" or "he is all bad". I would say the lines are blurred, but I'm not even sure there's any lines at all to be blurred! This may be called a “short prequel novel” to the series, and while it IS a prequel, the “short novel” part has me excited!! The Prequel is over 120 pgs (printed), so that means that I can look forward to 300+ pages for each FULL LENGTH NOVEL, as well as side-stories novellas to keep us entertained in between the full novel releases. All I can say is it is one helluva story that kept me engaged from beginning to end! But this story is not about word count, or fillers. No, it is all about one fantastic ride that is absolutely perfect! I couldn't have put down the book if I wanted to! With its very elaborately enriched attention to detail, the multifaceted characters, the depth of well, EVERYTHING makes it impossible for me to believe that this is Carysa Locke's debut book! It truly is that stellar! I know the acknowledgements & author bio explain that the backgrounds and story & world building has been happening for a long time now, for a different purpose maybe, but you can't fight fate! I firmly believe that everything they have done, every game they have created & played, was all to bring them to this exact moment, this exact purpose if you will. Trust me, when you read this book, you will know precisely what I mean! Carysa Locke is one astronomical author with a true gift that I know will bring me on numerous adventures, find me new romances, teleporting me into this phenomenal universe for many, many years to come, time & time again!! I didn't just read this adventure. I LIVED IT!! So hold on for one SPACETACULAR adventure where we get to boldly go where no space pirate has been before!! Now comes the hard part - waiting for the next book!
April 29, 2025
PIRATE BOUND brought some really interesting world building and I liked the idea of the Talents, people with psychic abilities living on the fringes of space to protect themselves from the nulls, or normal humans. The set up for the pirates was interesting and we met a lot of people in this short read. That includes our main characters Sanah and Dem, both Talents, who fall in love after Sanah and her sister are rescued by the pirates.
The romance is lightning fast, but it's a novella so that tracks, and in this world Talent women are rare so Dem doesn't waste any time staking a claim. He might be the stoic, silent Killer and head of security on the ship but he can't stop thinking about Empath Sanah. Both characters were likable though we mostly stay on the surface of their personalities.
The side characters were all interesting, including the pirate king Cannon, Dem's arrogant but powerful brother Treon, and Sanah's sweet younger sister Nayla. My only real complaint is that sometimes it was hard to catch who was "speaking" when they were all communicating telepathically, especially in a group with multiple people. That aside, I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes because the set up was very intriguing.
The romance is lightning fast, but it's a novella so that tracks, and in this world Talent women are rare so Dem doesn't waste any time staking a claim. He might be the stoic, silent Killer and head of security on the ship but he can't stop thinking about Empath Sanah. Both characters were likable though we mostly stay on the surface of their personalities.
The side characters were all interesting, including the pirate king Cannon, Dem's arrogant but powerful brother Treon, and Sanah's sweet younger sister Nayla. My only real complaint is that sometimes it was hard to catch who was "speaking" when they were all communicating telepathically, especially in a group with multiple people. That aside, I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes because the set up was very intriguing.
April 7, 2016
Excellent book!! Stayed up past 3am reading it knowing I had to be up at 6 for a meeting. Could not put it down and supremely disappointed to find out the next one was not yet published.
Great setup of villainous regime and heroic band of pirates. Both are factions of "Talented" humans who possess psychic powers of varying levels and types. Talented humans are feared by regular humans so both factions are hiding in their own ways.
Two "Talented" sisters on the run from their evil brother who wants to use younger sister as a weapon. They are found by the Pirate group of Talented humans & welcomed into their ranks. Pirate-side women were decimated by an engineered virus years earlier.
Good romance between older sister & chief of security for Pirate bunch.
Sex, but not excessive. (Interesting use of telekinetic powers in the scene)
HFN ending with room for more.
Recommend
Great setup of villainous regime and heroic band of pirates. Both are factions of "Talented" humans who possess psychic powers of varying levels and types. Talented humans are feared by regular humans so both factions are hiding in their own ways.
Two "Talented" sisters on the run from their evil brother who wants to use younger sister as a weapon. They are found by the Pirate group of Talented humans & welcomed into their ranks. Pirate-side women were decimated by an engineered virus years earlier.
Good romance between older sister & chief of security for Pirate bunch.
Sex, but not excessive. (Interesting use of telekinetic powers in the scene)
HFN ending with room for more.
Recommend
February 13, 2016
Wonderful first book from this debut author! Carysa does a fantastic job of describing her world, along with the characters and the war between the Commonwealth and the pirates. Carysa has cast Sanah as a strong heroine doing her best to protect her little sister from the people that want to control her. The hero, Dem, is a powerful protector of his people. Sparks fly when the two are thrown together in this nicely written novella. I couldn’t help but fall into the story world and root for the characters. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good science fiction romance.
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.
June 30, 2016
Great read. A story of space pirates, psychic talents, betrayal and revenge all softened by a superb romance. This book is beautifully written, and compelling from start to finish. The characters are deep and complex, just the way I love them, and I've fallen in love with every one of them - pirates and all - and can't wait to read more about them in the next book. (This is the novella prequel to a series I believe)
Seriously - space pirates and psychic powers: How can you NOT love that combo? Go read it.
Seriously - space pirates and psychic powers: How can you NOT love that combo? Go read it.
February 28, 2018
Dem never stood a chance
While Mercy & Reaper remain my favs, I love seeing Dem basically become a mush over Sanah. To be fair while it's insta-connection just add Hunter-Killer emotional weirdness between Dem & Sanah, it's not insta-love. Or even insta-lust necessarily. Dem feels a strong emotional pull towards Sanah, who feels that same sort of urgency, but it feels more like they found the person they feel compliments them. As to the rest it was intriguing to see how Treon first acts around Nayla & Sanah. And to see Cannon trying to chide Dem into making the right decision.
While Mercy & Reaper remain my favs, I love seeing Dem basically become a mush over Sanah. To be fair while it's insta-connection just add Hunter-Killer emotional weirdness between Dem & Sanah, it's not insta-love. Or even insta-lust necessarily. Dem feels a strong emotional pull towards Sanah, who feels that same sort of urgency, but it feels more like they found the person they feel compliments them. As to the rest it was intriguing to see how Treon first acts around Nayla & Sanah. And to see Cannon trying to chide Dem into making the right decision.
August 13, 2017
So, this was really cool. Reads like urban fantasy...takes place on a spaceship. Great characters for the small amount of time we had them and exciting buildup to what is bound to be a powerful story.
June 10, 2018
A strong 3+ rating. This has an entertaining set-up to kick off the series. But because it's fairly short, there isn't enough character build-up, exploration of the magic, or sex.
However, I am intrigued to read the series.
However, I am intrigued to read the series.
January 15, 2018
Great space opera! Telepathic space pirates! I loved the story line and the characters!
April 9, 2018
An instant-connection romance, but w/interesting elements.
I have a hard time figuring out whether we're supposed to think the pirates are good guys or not. The near-genocide perpetrated upon them is of course terrible, but just because their enemies are worse doesn't make them good. They WERE attacking and robbing unoffending people before; though not the bloodthirsty slaughterers the government and Veritas depict them as, they don't get a "self-defense" pass on people killed defending what's theirs, which romanticized piracy tales gloss over. The glimpses we're given of how Dem and the captain were raised don't show their culture in the best light, either. The mere creation and continued use of the Killer talent-type shows dark priorities; how much more "normal" might Dem have been if his half-Killer father hadn't focused on training that facet of his son?
However, that being said, Dem's part-Killer nature and discipline, the usual reserve and coldness of it, did make it interesting to see him trying to deal with emotional responses he'd never felt before. I wish the connection between him and Sanah had been given a bit more foundation, rather than suddenly simply being there with one short virtual meeting. Sanah's efforts to learn the truths about Dem, and then her decision to accept him despite some natural fear, felt a little easy. Their sex scene, IMO, came too close on the heels of a major event which was very upsetting for her, though necessary. I guess it's just that I generally prefer longer books.
Telepathy and telempathy (active and passive), and telekinetics incl. biokinesis, offer many possibilities going forward. It's an interesting aspect to see them used across the distances of space. I'm not quite clear on what makes young Nayla's healing (or killing) ability so remarkable, though, given what Dem and his powerfully telepathic brother Treon are able to do without even physical contact. And why would Niall (and apparently their parents and teachers, too) have dismissed Sanah's empathic talent as merely passive, if empaths among the pirates know it can be more? It's unlike Veritas to overlook any possible weapon.
Overall, the writing was decent — I only caught a few typos, all being a single missing or extra character (e.g., wane s/b wan), and the protagonists were likable if not as deeply drawn as they could be. There are several secondary characters to look for more about, including cocky Treon and Cannon (the captain). I may give Dem and Sanah's short (99¢) sequel a try, and/or the first full-length volume, Pirate Nemesis.
N.b., the prologue and first chapter of Pirate Nemesis occupy the last 15% of this novella, so Pirate Bound is even shorter than the page count implies. Also, PN's leads (Mercy and Reaper) are both new, not met in Pirate Bound, and if Reaper (not yet introduced by the end of the excerpt), is another Killer, as it sounds from the blurb, I'm not even sure how the Nemesis comes into it, because I thought Dem was the only Killer aboard. Well, I'll see.
ETA: I noticed the terminology "reverse harem" used in Amazon's description of book 1, not merely SFR, so I asked for clarification. Ms. Locke responded helpfully, explaining that Mercy will eventually end up with three guys in her life, an accepted situation among the mainly-male pirate clans, though she's only involved with Reaper yet in PN. Hmmm... (BTW, I really wish that niche genre had been given another name than "reverse harem", which has too much connotation of power-imbalance to me, but it is what it is.)
I have a hard time figuring out whether we're supposed to think the pirates are good guys or not. The near-genocide perpetrated upon them is of course terrible, but just because their enemies are worse doesn't make them good. They WERE attacking and robbing unoffending people before; though not the bloodthirsty slaughterers the government and Veritas depict them as, they don't get a "self-defense" pass on people killed defending what's theirs, which romanticized piracy tales gloss over. The glimpses we're given of how Dem and the captain were raised don't show their culture in the best light, either. The mere creation and continued use of the Killer talent-type shows dark priorities; how much more "normal" might Dem have been if his half-Killer father hadn't focused on training that facet of his son?
However, that being said, Dem's part-Killer nature and discipline, the usual reserve and coldness of it, did make it interesting to see him trying to deal with emotional responses he'd never felt before. I wish the connection between him and Sanah had been given a bit more foundation, rather than suddenly simply being there with one short virtual meeting. Sanah's efforts to learn the truths about Dem, and then her decision to accept him despite some natural fear, felt a little easy. Their sex scene, IMO, came too close on the heels of a major event which was very upsetting for her, though necessary. I guess it's just that I generally prefer longer books.
Telepathy and telempathy (active and passive), and telekinetics incl. biokinesis, offer many possibilities going forward. It's an interesting aspect to see them used across the distances of space. I'm not quite clear on what makes young Nayla's healing (or killing) ability so remarkable, though, given what Dem and his powerfully telepathic brother Treon are able to do without even physical contact. And why would Niall (and apparently their parents and teachers, too) have dismissed Sanah's empathic talent as merely passive, if empaths among the pirates know it can be more? It's unlike Veritas to overlook any possible weapon.
Overall, the writing was decent — I only caught a few typos, all being a single missing or extra character (e.g., wane s/b wan), and the protagonists were likable if not as deeply drawn as they could be. There are several secondary characters to look for more about, including cocky Treon and Cannon (the captain). I may give Dem and Sanah's short (99¢) sequel a try, and/or the first full-length volume, Pirate Nemesis.
N.b., the prologue and first chapter of Pirate Nemesis occupy the last 15% of this novella, so Pirate Bound is even shorter than the page count implies. Also, PN's leads (Mercy and Reaper) are both new, not met in Pirate Bound, and if Reaper (not yet introduced by the end of the excerpt), is another Killer, as it sounds from the blurb, I'm not even sure how the Nemesis comes into it, because I thought Dem was the only Killer aboard. Well, I'll see.
ETA: I noticed the terminology "reverse harem" used in Amazon's description of book 1, not merely SFR, so I asked for clarification. Ms. Locke responded helpfully, explaining that Mercy will eventually end up with three guys in her life, an accepted situation among the mainly-male pirate clans, though she's only involved with Reaper yet in PN. Hmmm... (BTW, I really wish that niche genre had been given another name than "reverse harem", which has too much connotation of power-imbalance to me, but it is what it is.)
March 19, 2016
Sanah and Nayla are sisters that have been jumping through space to avoid their brother Niall who works for the commonwealth. If Niall catches them he will force Nayla to use her talents to harm others and Sanah can’t let that happen. After Sanah found out about her brothers plans she is debating if what she knows about the pirates and commonwealth are true.
Dem is a pirate and his job is to protect his people using his talents. After a virus killed most of the females they are trying to find ways to rebuild their numbers. When Treon senses to talented females in space Dem has to gain their trust and offer protection against the evil chasing them.
Can Sanah trust Dem and can Dem protect them when a secret is discovered?
What a fantastic start to a series. It is well written with fantastic character development. The different talents possessed by the sisters and the pirates were varied which complemented each other. Dem is a complex character and I enjoyed his development after meeting Sanah. Sanah is strong and protective female lead. The relationship between Dem and Sanah is engaging from the beginning.
I would happily recommend this book to anyone that likes a paranormal romance with a fantastic plot. I will be waiting for the next installment.
Independent Review for Romance Author’s that rock on
Dem is a pirate and his job is to protect his people using his talents. After a virus killed most of the females they are trying to find ways to rebuild their numbers. When Treon senses to talented females in space Dem has to gain their trust and offer protection against the evil chasing them.
Can Sanah trust Dem and can Dem protect them when a secret is discovered?
What a fantastic start to a series. It is well written with fantastic character development. The different talents possessed by the sisters and the pirates were varied which complemented each other. Dem is a complex character and I enjoyed his development after meeting Sanah. Sanah is strong and protective female lead. The relationship between Dem and Sanah is engaging from the beginning.
I would happily recommend this book to anyone that likes a paranormal romance with a fantastic plot. I will be waiting for the next installment.
Independent Review for Romance Author’s that rock on
May 15, 2016
Women complicate things, Talented woman above all; that rarest resource for the pirate society, the only reliable way to propagate Talent. Dem is the pirate king’s security chief, a rare combination of Talents, both a Hunter and Killer, and there’s a very good reason why those types of Talent don’t have personal relationships. Up until this trip, it’s never been a problem. However, when a tiny Viking-class ship crosses their path, Dem and his crew realise that the only people aboard are female, Talented...and on the run.
Pirate Bound is a great combination of pirate atmosphere and sci-fi setting, playing on the theme of the misunderstood underdogs against a massive totalitarian regime, threaded with vividly evoked, colourful backdrops and unexpected romance. There’s also plenty of action to keep things interesting, from internal fights aboard ship to space skirmishes and epic confrontations of Talent. Carysa Locke writes a compelling set of characters, and the sexual tension between Dem and Sanah is well done, as is Dem’s complete lack of understanding of why his usually well under control emotions are suddenly spinning loose. The story has an interesting slant on ESP, providing a unique set of Talents for the plot and capitalising on lesser-used aspects of others. Definitely a book worth the read, with a guaranteed appeal to sci-fi and romance readers alike.
Pirate Bound is a great combination of pirate atmosphere and sci-fi setting, playing on the theme of the misunderstood underdogs against a massive totalitarian regime, threaded with vividly evoked, colourful backdrops and unexpected romance. There’s also plenty of action to keep things interesting, from internal fights aboard ship to space skirmishes and epic confrontations of Talent. Carysa Locke writes a compelling set of characters, and the sexual tension between Dem and Sanah is well done, as is Dem’s complete lack of understanding of why his usually well under control emotions are suddenly spinning loose. The story has an interesting slant on ESP, providing a unique set of Talents for the plot and capitalising on lesser-used aspects of others. Definitely a book worth the read, with a guaranteed appeal to sci-fi and romance readers alike.
February 16, 2016
I am hooked! The author did a great job blending romance with science fiction to create a fun and exiting world. I am totally in love with this concept of telepathic/"talented" space pirates. The hero, Dem, is strong enough to be interesting, yet did not overpower the very brave heroin, Sanah. The story is refreshing with new concepts that I can't wait to find out more about. Personally, I think those that like Firefly/Serenity would really like this novella.
The side characters were intriguing, and I am really hoping that we get to see them in future books. I really liked Treon, Dem’s brother and Nayla, Sanah’s little sister. I would totally ship them if Nayla was older.
*I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, however I would gladly pay to read the rest of the series.
The side characters were intriguing, and I am really hoping that we get to see them in future books. I really liked Treon, Dem’s brother and Nayla, Sanah’s little sister. I would totally ship them if Nayla was older.
*I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, however I would gladly pay to read the rest of the series.
March 30, 2016
4-1/2 stars. So glad I listened to author Sandy Williams and bought this!
It's a wonderful sci fi space romance. Lots of great action and a lovely, lovely romance.
I loved Shades of Treason by Sandy Williams and Rachel Bach's Paradox books, and this feels similar. If you loved those, definitely try Pirate Bound.
It's a wonderful sci fi space romance. Lots of great action and a lovely, lovely romance.
I loved Shades of Treason by Sandy Williams and Rachel Bach's Paradox books, and this feels similar. If you loved those, definitely try Pirate Bound.
November 3, 2016
What an interesting set of characters. I enjoyed the banter back and forth, each character had their own voice. The book has a familiar theme yet still very enjoyable.
I took a star off for various editing errors throughout.
I took a star off for various editing errors throughout.
December 14, 2016
Both the plot and the romance were rather shallow and silly. Maybe a full length novel format would have allowed for a more fleshed out storyline rather than this short story format.
December 23, 2018
This is a prequel to the series Telepathic Space Pirates and I really enjoyed reading this awesome adventure in space making this a sci-fi as well as a fantasy novel. There are two factions in space combating one another, on the one hand we have the Commonwealth which is run by a Monarchy, has a Government as well as a very powerful secretive group of talented people called Veritas to which Niall is now a director. On the other hand we have a group also of multi talented people who have broken off from the commonwealth and are now pirates. Niall is the brother of Senah and Nayla and to further his ambitions and because his loyalty was with Veritas he betrayed them and was ready to use Nayla whose powers were so special without even a blink, so they escaped and Senah vowed she would keep her younger sister safe. However this was more difficult to do then she envisaged, since one of the talents people had was telepathy and Niall could trace them wherever they went. The talented people came with different talents, some common to most but some extremely rare. amongst which were empaths, telekinetics, hunters and killers and much more. The girls fled and were caught by the pirates who they had only ever known as their enemy, however these treated them well and offered them protection. It is then that the girls started finding out the depth of their brothers betrayal and how far he was ready to go to further his own greed for power. I think this was an excellent prequel to the series, it is a story of betrayal and treachery, ambition and greed for power as well as one of loyalty and love amidst a strong sense of adventure. The characters are strong and very likeable especially Senah and Dem whose story I hope to follow in the rest of the series.
July 1, 2019
SciFi is a genre that is really hit or miss for me. I either really like it, or I’m really bored with it. This one falls directly into the former. Some books can get over technical and the gadgets and scifi wording gets to the point where you feel you need a degree in science to figure it all out, but this book keeps the language smart, the technology is superior as it should be in this genre, but it’s also easy to understand to us less-than-a-technological-wizard readers. Even though this is touted as a novella, it’s really a complete story – and this one revolves around Sanah and Dem. It also gives you a good start to this series, and a good background. One of the cons for this, is you have to pay attention to the beginning of each chapter, as this book does flip point of views on each chapter, and although it can be confusing at times, it gives the reader the advantage of seeing more of the entire picture.
Great book for debut, and looking forward to this series. Reviewed by Cyrene
Great book for debut, and looking forward to this series. Reviewed by Cyrene
June 17, 2018
Pirate Bound is an enjoyable short romance. Having already read the first two books in this series, it was nice to get a bit of backstory from Sanah and Nayla. I didn’t really warm to Dem in the first two books but this prequel shows another side to him and it was nice to see how his and Sanah’s relationship started.
No insta love or lust but there is attraction from the get go, and things move very quickly between Sanah and Dem, but being a novella it is to be expected. A few minor editing errors, however nothing major. While Pirate Bound can be read before the main books, I’d think it would be easier to understand the world and all the different talents and politics better if you have already read Pirate Nemesis at least. At 152 pages, this is just a peak into the Sci Fi world that Locke has created, it is, however, worth reading.
No insta love or lust but there is attraction from the get go, and things move very quickly between Sanah and Dem, but being a novella it is to be expected. A few minor editing errors, however nothing major. While Pirate Bound can be read before the main books, I’d think it would be easier to understand the world and all the different talents and politics better if you have already read Pirate Nemesis at least. At 152 pages, this is just a peak into the Sci Fi world that Locke has created, it is, however, worth reading.
January 15, 2021
This story is recommended for readers 18+ due to explicit sex scenes.
This is a really interesting universe that Ms. Locke has created. The different Talents that have been described offer a glimpse of what could be possible. The various telepathic and telekinetic abilities are quite brilliant.
This is a fabulous fated mates type romance with Dem and Sanah sharing an instant extreme attraction. The affect this attraction has on Dem and the repercussions due to his Talent are both terrifying and darkly amusing.
Overall, this is a great introduction to a series that promises to be varied and excellent.
This is a really interesting universe that Ms. Locke has created. The different Talents that have been described offer a glimpse of what could be possible. The various telepathic and telekinetic abilities are quite brilliant.
This is a fabulous fated mates type romance with Dem and Sanah sharing an instant extreme attraction. The affect this attraction has on Dem and the repercussions due to his Talent are both terrifying and darkly amusing.
Overall, this is a great introduction to a series that promises to be varied and excellent.
April 14, 2018
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
This is an interesting book. You have pirates, but not just any type of pirates, but telepathic space pirates, that are committed to a life and death struggle for survival. Throw in two escapees running from the same aggressor (where one of the escapees might have a solution to part of the pirates problem), throw in a little romance and sex, and you'll start to get a feel for this story.
This is an interesting book. You have pirates, but not just any type of pirates, but telepathic space pirates, that are committed to a life and death struggle for survival. Throw in two escapees running from the same aggressor (where one of the escapees might have a solution to part of the pirates problem), throw in a little romance and sex, and you'll start to get a feel for this story.
January 7, 2019
Telepathic Space Pirates! 😍Really like this world that is kind of like a mix of Star Trek and X-men to me. I enjoyed reading this prequel that tells the story of Dem and Sanah, who I first read about in book one of this series last year. I love the concept of the "Talent" and how each person may react differently to certain things depending on what theirs is. Looking forward to reading more set in this world
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