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Central Corps #1
The Cold Between Lib/E: A Central Corps Novel
Deep in the stars, a young officer and her lover are plunged into a murder mystery and a deadly conspiracy in this first entry in a stellar military science fiction series, in the tradition of Lois McMaster Bujold When her crewmate, Danny, is murdered on the colony of Volhynia, Central Corps chief engineer, Commander Elena Shaw, is shocked to learn the main suspect is her lover, Treiko Zajec. She knows Trey is innocent--he was with her when Danny was killed. So who is the real killer and why are the cops framing an innocent man?Retracing Danny's last hours, they discover that his death may be tied to a mystery from the past: the explosion of a Central Corps starship at a wormhole near Volhynia. For twenty-five years, the Central Gov has been lying about the tragedy, even willing to go to war with the outlaw PSI to protect their secrets.With the authorities closing in, Elena and Trey head to the wormhole, certain they'll find answers on the other side. But the truth that awaits them is far more terrifying than they ever imagined ... a conspiracy deep within Central Gov that threatens all of human civilization throughout the inhabited reaches of the galaxy--and beyond.
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First published March 8, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
December 20, 2016
I really liked this book. The cover has a dude with a tiny pony tail on it, which I think is just the worst. But inside, this is a really solid mystery-sci-fi-romance. I really liked the main characters and setting and world.
The tiny ponytail aside, recommended.
The tiny ponytail aside, recommended.
December 29, 2020
3.5 stars. This space opera novel grew on me with the second read. The plot’s a bit opaque and convoluted, but I really enjoyed the characters. Review first posted on Fantasy Literature:
The Cold Between is a gritty mystery mixed with romance, wrapped in a space opera setting. It begins with a brief prologue in which the Central Corps spaceship Phoenix is about to detonate a large bomb. One of the medical crew, Kate, scrambles to prepare for the explosion, a little distracted by thoughts of her family, especially her twelve year old son Greg. Jumping forward twenty-five years, the Central Corps spaceship Galileo, with Greg Foster as its captain, is visiting the colony planet of Volhynia, near the wormhole where his mother’s spaceship was accidentally destroyed in the explosion years ago. While Greg deals with the mystery of the still-high radiation from the explosion and a diplomatic incident involving a nomadic spacefaring group called PSI, much of his crew is enjoying shore leave. Galileo’s chief engineer, Commander Elena Shaw, unexpectedly finds an older man in a bar who she clicks with, Treiko (Trey) Zajec, and takes off with him for a long night of sex and gourmet desserts.
When they part the next morning, Trey finds the murdered corpse of Elena’s crewmate and former lover, Danny, practically on his doorstep. Trey is promptly accused of Danny’s murder and arrested. Elena ― realizing that Trey couldn’t possibly have committed the murder because he was with her the entire night and they never slept, at all ― determines to rescue him.
Oddly, Volhynia’s law enforcement still seems intent on charging Trey with the murder, ignoring the fact that there’s the real killer on the loose. As Elena, Trey, and Greg (who’s rather reluctantly dragged into this mess) dig deeper, they find that the current mystery has seemingly inexplicable ties to the twenty-five year old tragedy, the mysterious explosion of the Phoenix.
The Cold Between has some interesting main characters with solid characterization. Greg Foster and Elena have been friends for years, but their relationship is strained because Greg, who is (very unhappily) married, is nevertheless clearly developing strong feelings for Elena, who doesn’t understand why he’s been snapping at her and pushing her away. Her relationship with Trey is actually a healthy one, but might not be sustainable because of their different lives.
The unusually strong emphasis on the personalities and interpersonal relationships (not just romantic ones) is both good and bad: while it pulled me in, it also resulted in the world-building and the mystery getting somewhat short shrift. I never got a great feel for the Central Corps organization beyond bureaucracy, or for their sometime-allies, the PSI, who have a reputation as pirates despite their stated humanitarian work. Additionally, considering the Galileo has a military environment, the amount of arguing with superior officers, disregarding of orders, and near-mutiny is truly eyebrow-raising. Admittedly, it’s a different society, but that kind of culture doesn’t seem sustainable on board a ship.
It’s been several months since I finished reading The Cold Between, and while I did enjoy it quite a lot while reading it and remember the main characters and their personalities quite well, I recall very little of the nature of the mystery and its ultimate resolution. Bonesteel has a ways to go before she can be compared to Lois McMaster Bujold, who seems to effortlessly juggle characters, plot and setting, excelling at all. But I did get more attached to Elena, Greg and the other crew members of the Galileo than Kat (my co-reviewer at Fantasy Literature) did. If I continue with this series, it’ll be because I want to find out what happens with those characters.
Content notes: Countless F-bombs, one explicit sex scene, violence.
Original post: The publicist sent me the sequel to this book a while back, but I decided I needed to do this series in order (jumping into a series midstream doesn't tend to work so well for me). Luckily for me this one showed up on a Kindle sale! ETA: Apparently I didn't care enough about these characters to keep up with the series ... but I still have the third book on my bookshelf and keep thinking, one of these times. 2020 update: Apparently now is the time. I just reread this and then ordered a copy of the second book.
The Cold Between is a gritty mystery mixed with romance, wrapped in a space opera setting. It begins with a brief prologue in which the Central Corps spaceship Phoenix is about to detonate a large bomb. One of the medical crew, Kate, scrambles to prepare for the explosion, a little distracted by thoughts of her family, especially her twelve year old son Greg. Jumping forward twenty-five years, the Central Corps spaceship Galileo, with Greg Foster as its captain, is visiting the colony planet of Volhynia, near the wormhole where his mother’s spaceship was accidentally destroyed in the explosion years ago. While Greg deals with the mystery of the still-high radiation from the explosion and a diplomatic incident involving a nomadic spacefaring group called PSI, much of his crew is enjoying shore leave. Galileo’s chief engineer, Commander Elena Shaw, unexpectedly finds an older man in a bar who she clicks with, Treiko (Trey) Zajec, and takes off with him for a long night of sex and gourmet desserts.
When they part the next morning, Trey finds the murdered corpse of Elena’s crewmate and former lover, Danny, practically on his doorstep. Trey is promptly accused of Danny’s murder and arrested. Elena ― realizing that Trey couldn’t possibly have committed the murder because he was with her the entire night and they never slept, at all ― determines to rescue him.
Oddly, Volhynia’s law enforcement still seems intent on charging Trey with the murder, ignoring the fact that there’s the real killer on the loose. As Elena, Trey, and Greg (who’s rather reluctantly dragged into this mess) dig deeper, they find that the current mystery has seemingly inexplicable ties to the twenty-five year old tragedy, the mysterious explosion of the Phoenix.
The Cold Between has some interesting main characters with solid characterization. Greg Foster and Elena have been friends for years, but their relationship is strained because Greg, who is (very unhappily) married, is nevertheless clearly developing strong feelings for Elena, who doesn’t understand why he’s been snapping at her and pushing her away. Her relationship with Trey is actually a healthy one, but might not be sustainable because of their different lives.
The unusually strong emphasis on the personalities and interpersonal relationships (not just romantic ones) is both good and bad: while it pulled me in, it also resulted in the world-building and the mystery getting somewhat short shrift. I never got a great feel for the Central Corps organization beyond bureaucracy, or for their sometime-allies, the PSI, who have a reputation as pirates despite their stated humanitarian work. Additionally, considering the Galileo has a military environment, the amount of arguing with superior officers, disregarding of orders, and near-mutiny is truly eyebrow-raising. Admittedly, it’s a different society, but that kind of culture doesn’t seem sustainable on board a ship.
It’s been several months since I finished reading The Cold Between, and while I did enjoy it quite a lot while reading it and remember the main characters and their personalities quite well, I recall very little of the nature of the mystery and its ultimate resolution. Bonesteel has a ways to go before she can be compared to Lois McMaster Bujold, who seems to effortlessly juggle characters, plot and setting, excelling at all. But I did get more attached to Elena, Greg and the other crew members of the Galileo than Kat (my co-reviewer at Fantasy Literature) did. If I continue with this series, it’ll be because I want to find out what happens with those characters.
Content notes: Countless F-bombs, one explicit sex scene, violence.
Original post: The publicist sent me the sequel to this book a while back, but I decided I needed to do this series in order (jumping into a series midstream doesn't tend to work so well for me). Luckily for me this one showed up on a Kindle sale! ETA: Apparently I didn't care enough about these characters to keep up with the series ... but I still have the third book on my bookshelf and keep thinking, one of these times. 2020 update: Apparently now is the time. I just reread this and then ordered a copy of the second book.
June 20, 2016
An engaging space opera with elements of romance, mystery and military SF that doesn't quite live up to the complexity of it's world-building.
The setting is a remote sector of human-colonized space. There are two armed space-faring organizations that take responsibility for aiding and policing the human colonies. Central Corps is the Earth government navy of which the ship Galileo is part. The main character, Commander Elena Shaw, is the Chief Engineer of the Galileo and there are a couple of other view point characters there as well including the Captain. The other group is PSI who act as an independent group that actually has whole families on crews. The romantic interest for the main character is a retired PSI Captain, Treiko Zajec.
Central Corps and PSI disagree on methods, but are generally allies. That may all be about to change with unknown forces pushing them towards a conflict, starting with a ship-to-ship combat before this book starts and continuing with the murder of Elena's ex-lover and the framing of Treiko for it.
I can't believe I'm saying this about an already exposition-heavy book, but this one needed more exposition. There are so many areas where the reality of the political situation is a given, but the background is just not there. Case in point, we never find out what PSI stands for or even where the organization has come from. All the point-of-view characters must know, but the audience is left completely in the dark. Not explaining does avoid the trap of "As you know Bob, ..." but it feels like a huge hole in the narrative.
I can say something similar about the eventual bad guys. I have only the vaguest notions of what their motivations are and that makes the outcome of the book a bit questionable. Yay! We won! Against who? To stop them doing what?
But enough on the negatives. The romance in this was great with a realistic outcome. The look into how a mixed military as an almost family group would work is interesting (although I think most military SF readers would be fuming - far too much insubordination and arguing about orders). The mystery was really well done with a steady pace of unveiling and a good grasp of the stakes.
Recommended, and I hope there's more in this universe.
The setting is a remote sector of human-colonized space. There are two armed space-faring organizations that take responsibility for aiding and policing the human colonies. Central Corps is the Earth government navy of which the ship Galileo is part. The main character, Commander Elena Shaw, is the Chief Engineer of the Galileo and there are a couple of other view point characters there as well including the Captain. The other group is PSI who act as an independent group that actually has whole families on crews. The romantic interest for the main character is a retired PSI Captain, Treiko Zajec.
Central Corps and PSI disagree on methods, but are generally allies. That may all be about to change with unknown forces pushing them towards a conflict, starting with a ship-to-ship combat before this book starts and continuing with the murder of Elena's ex-lover and the framing of Treiko for it.
I can't believe I'm saying this about an already exposition-heavy book, but this one needed more exposition. There are so many areas where the reality of the political situation is a given, but the background is just not there. Case in point, we never find out what PSI stands for or even where the organization has come from. All the point-of-view characters must know, but the audience is left completely in the dark. Not explaining does avoid the trap of "As you know Bob, ..." but it feels like a huge hole in the narrative.
I can say something similar about the eventual bad guys. I have only the vaguest notions of what their motivations are and that makes the outcome of the book a bit questionable. Yay! We won! Against who? To stop them doing what?
But enough on the negatives. The romance in this was great with a realistic outcome. The look into how a mixed military as an almost family group would work is interesting (although I think most military SF readers would be fuming - far too much insubordination and arguing about orders). The mystery was really well done with a steady pace of unveiling and a good grasp of the stakes.
Recommended, and I hope there's more in this universe.
September 26, 2017
So, we have a romance/SF/military murder mystery.
I have always thought that books like that, with the possible exception of Bujold's Vorkosigan series, are likely to do none of the parts well.
Indeed, I saw one review that compared this to Bujold. That's a bit like saying Coors Light and Trappist Rochefort 10 are alike because they are both beers.
Bonesteel's third book will probably be good. Her second will be mostly good.
Near the end, I was finalizing my opinions when I came across - within less than a full page - three examples of things I hate from inexperienced authors, who probably learned them in workshops.
One: unconscious man wakes up, sees a man, and decides from the man's posture that he is a doctor. OK, Sherlock, right on.
Two: You already know what the just-awakened man's first words are going to be, don't you? Are they "Where am I?" or "What happened?" or "What day is it?" or "Who are you?" or "%$& my head hurts"? No, no, silly. They are, as always, "How long have I been out?"
Three: He sees the doctor's green eyes, and instantly knows she is intelligent. Why can't the TSA learn just to look at people's eyes? Maybe I was sensitized to that because early on we learned that one of the heroes has eyes that are ... what colour are they, class? ... yes, they are grey. 3% of real people have grey eyes, but 75% of novel heroes do. Oddly, in movies, it's blue eyes that are vastly over-represented.
OK, well, then. Trey and Greg are right out of Sex and the City. Trey is the mysterious, older, highly capable man who appears to be mad, bad and dangerous to know. Greg is the Real Nice Guy who is obviously the perfect catch, but he's just So Dumb About Some Things. Jessica's OK. Elena's your Tom Swift character: give her a spoon and two twist ties and she'll build you a raygun in eight minutes. Most of the bad guys are nyah-hah-hah mustache-twirlers with no nuance at all. Danny, well, I can't tell you about him just now.
Sci-fi readers, please adjust your settings, This is Star Trek science, where to go somewhere you grimble the frammis beyond safe settings and hope it works. If something has to be done, a hero will hop into a troop carrier solo, and whiz around like a real pilot. I can only hope it's a really SMALL troop carrier, for a platoon maybe. As another reader noted, the local galaxy seems to be about the size of Chicago. I prefer my SF to come from authors who can tell me why a planet has unusual tides and then make them a key plot point; who can work out the challenges of landing a crippled ship on a strange planet.
There's a great deal of action where characters have very incomplete information. That's a good thing up to a point, and works most of the time, but eventually it all added up to just a bit too much.
And don't get me started about the big scene near the end with Stoya. Quite possible the most predictable scene I have read in 20 years. Two full demerits.
And I'm not at all sure about the scene where they fly low over a city that has been dead for at least ten thousand years, and look in a window to see a table covered with knick-knacks. Perhaps I could note that Pompeii was destroyed by a volcano in 79AD, 1,937 years ago. Picture those ruins. Now imagine that they were five times older than that, or more. Maybe on a planet with no atmosphere, with knick-knacks made of adamantium. Bah.
Summary: Bonesteel has enough promise to make it if she works with an experienced SF editor who will be mean to her. Or else she could give up and join the writers who are getting rich dashing off careless novels every few months; maybe some urban fantasy or a vampire romance.
I have always thought that books like that, with the possible exception of Bujold's Vorkosigan series, are likely to do none of the parts well.
Indeed, I saw one review that compared this to Bujold. That's a bit like saying Coors Light and Trappist Rochefort 10 are alike because they are both beers.
Bonesteel's third book will probably be good. Her second will be mostly good.
Near the end, I was finalizing my opinions when I came across - within less than a full page - three examples of things I hate from inexperienced authors, who probably learned them in workshops.
One: unconscious man wakes up, sees a man, and decides from the man's posture that he is a doctor. OK, Sherlock, right on.
Two: You already know what the just-awakened man's first words are going to be, don't you? Are they "Where am I?" or "What happened?" or "What day is it?" or "Who are you?" or "%$& my head hurts"? No, no, silly. They are, as always, "How long have I been out?"
Three: He sees the doctor's green eyes, and instantly knows she is intelligent. Why can't the TSA learn just to look at people's eyes? Maybe I was sensitized to that because early on we learned that one of the heroes has eyes that are ... what colour are they, class? ... yes, they are grey. 3% of real people have grey eyes, but 75% of novel heroes do. Oddly, in movies, it's blue eyes that are vastly over-represented.
OK, well, then. Trey and Greg are right out of Sex and the City. Trey is the mysterious, older, highly capable man who appears to be mad, bad and dangerous to know. Greg is the Real Nice Guy who is obviously the perfect catch, but he's just So Dumb About Some Things. Jessica's OK. Elena's your Tom Swift character: give her a spoon and two twist ties and she'll build you a raygun in eight minutes. Most of the bad guys are nyah-hah-hah mustache-twirlers with no nuance at all. Danny, well, I can't tell you about him just now.
Sci-fi readers, please adjust your settings, This is Star Trek science, where to go somewhere you grimble the frammis beyond safe settings and hope it works. If something has to be done, a hero will hop into a troop carrier solo, and whiz around like a real pilot. I can only hope it's a really SMALL troop carrier, for a platoon maybe. As another reader noted, the local galaxy seems to be about the size of Chicago. I prefer my SF to come from authors who can tell me why a planet has unusual tides and then make them a key plot point; who can work out the challenges of landing a crippled ship on a strange planet.
There's a great deal of action where characters have very incomplete information. That's a good thing up to a point, and works most of the time, but eventually it all added up to just a bit too much.
And don't get me started about the big scene near the end with Stoya. Quite possible the most predictable scene I have read in 20 years. Two full demerits.
And I'm not at all sure about the scene where they fly low over a city that has been dead for at least ten thousand years, and look in a window to see a table covered with knick-knacks. Perhaps I could note that Pompeii was destroyed by a volcano in 79AD, 1,937 years ago. Picture those ruins. Now imagine that they were five times older than that, or more. Maybe on a planet with no atmosphere, with knick-knacks made of adamantium. Bah.
Summary: Bonesteel has enough promise to make it if she works with an experienced SF editor who will be mean to her. Or else she could give up and join the writers who are getting rich dashing off careless novels every few months; maybe some urban fantasy or a vampire romance.
May 23, 2016
This one is light on the science and on the world-building, but heavy on plot and character. Thankfully, that worked very well for me. Even the whirlwind romance felt genuine, and I think it was the interplay between the four central characters and several supporting members of the crew that really hooked me. In particular, I quite liked Elena, even if she could be incredibly (and yet, in my experience, realistically) oblivious at times.
Oddly, for a book that I enjoyed so much, I do think the book could use some paring down - and, somewhat contradictorily, more back story on the main groups (Central Corps and PSI) involved. While I appreciate Bonesteel not overloading us with unnecessary detail, I had a number of unanswered basic questions.
Oddly, for a book that I enjoyed so much, I do think the book could use some paring down - and, somewhat contradictorily, more back story on the main groups (Central Corps and PSI) involved. While I appreciate Bonesteel not overloading us with unnecessary detail, I had a number of unanswered basic questions.
December 17, 2019
Ahoy me mateys! Grab your grog! Here be book 1 of the ninth installment of the 3 Bells trilogy showcase. Arrrr!!!
the cold between (Elizabeth Bonesteel)
This be an impromptu 3 Bells Showcase. I have been meaning to read the Central Corps trilogy ever since Matey Sarah brought it to me attention. So not too long ago I checked out the entire series from the library via interlibrary loan. Then it sat and waited patiently for me to get to it. Time passed and on Sunday I realized the books are due back at the end of the week. Crunch time!
I am very glad that I did not return book one unread. This book follows the crew of the CCSS Galileo. The ship is finally able to take some shore leave on the colony of Volhynia after an extra-long deployment. What is supposed to be a short pleasurable trip goes wrong when one of the crew is murdered. But it seems like someone is trying to do a cover-up. The members of the Galileo be determined to find the truth and avenge their dead comrade.
The first thing to say about this book is that it had an absolutely amazing prologue. The action takes place about 25 years before the main plot but dang was it an explosive start. It does eventually tie the plot together but the mystery of what happened is a cool subplot through the novel.
After the delightful prologue, I was surprised that the story seemed to focus on a lustful one-night stand with sex scene included. But I promise it does make sense in the long run and the relationship does not overwhelm the greater story. I did love the characters in this. I have a soft spot for well run ships and quirky crews that (mostly) get along. In this novel, there are many points of view.
The first major point of view is Elena Shaw, a pilot and mechanic. I adore her. She is intelligent, competent, and has a temper. Another point of view is Captain Greg Foster of the Galileo. He is a bit of rule breaker but is always trying to do what's right for the ship and his crew. Then there be retired PSI Captain Treiko Zajec. PSI and Central don't get along but the murder investigation inadvertently draws them together. Besides the main three, I also grew to love side character, Jessica. She annoyed the hell out of me at first but as the plot evolves, she begins to play a larger role and I discovered her strengths.
While the character relationships are the highlight of the book, I also enjoyed the world building of this one. Humans have been trying to settle the galaxy and Earth would like everyone to believe that it is going great. The colony of Volhynia be one of their star attractions. The reality is that many colonies are failing. Terra-forming is the key to survival but doesn't always work. On the fringes of space supplies run out, people die, and politics are fraught. Central, PSI, and Syndicate raiders all have various ideas on how the Sectors should be run. Every colony seems to work slightly differently. I very much enjoyed the set-up.
There were some negatives. Captain Foster does seem to be a bit rogue a little too often. He and Elena are in the midst of a rather annoying fight that could have been solved by communicating and the continual angst often annoyed me. The bad guys were stereotypical and obvious as soon as they arrived on the page. The politics are only lightly explained and much of the backstory of the internal conflicts between PSI, Central, and the Syndicate aren't adequately explained. I wanted a bit more world building and a better resolution for the two main mysteries.
But ultimately I loved the action and characters and especially the ending. I even ended up enjoying the romance and its realistic ending. I can't wait to find out what happens next. Check in tomorrow for what me thinks of book two. Arrrr!
the cold between (Elizabeth Bonesteel)
This be an impromptu 3 Bells Showcase. I have been meaning to read the Central Corps trilogy ever since Matey Sarah brought it to me attention. So not too long ago I checked out the entire series from the library via interlibrary loan. Then it sat and waited patiently for me to get to it. Time passed and on Sunday I realized the books are due back at the end of the week. Crunch time!
I am very glad that I did not return book one unread. This book follows the crew of the CCSS Galileo. The ship is finally able to take some shore leave on the colony of Volhynia after an extra-long deployment. What is supposed to be a short pleasurable trip goes wrong when one of the crew is murdered. But it seems like someone is trying to do a cover-up. The members of the Galileo be determined to find the truth and avenge their dead comrade.
The first thing to say about this book is that it had an absolutely amazing prologue. The action takes place about 25 years before the main plot but dang was it an explosive start. It does eventually tie the plot together but the mystery of what happened is a cool subplot through the novel.
After the delightful prologue, I was surprised that the story seemed to focus on a lustful one-night stand with sex scene included. But I promise it does make sense in the long run and the relationship does not overwhelm the greater story. I did love the characters in this. I have a soft spot for well run ships and quirky crews that (mostly) get along. In this novel, there are many points of view.
The first major point of view is Elena Shaw, a pilot and mechanic. I adore her. She is intelligent, competent, and has a temper. Another point of view is Captain Greg Foster of the Galileo. He is a bit of rule breaker but is always trying to do what's right for the ship and his crew. Then there be retired PSI Captain Treiko Zajec. PSI and Central don't get along but the murder investigation inadvertently draws them together. Besides the main three, I also grew to love side character, Jessica. She annoyed the hell out of me at first but as the plot evolves, she begins to play a larger role and I discovered her strengths.
While the character relationships are the highlight of the book, I also enjoyed the world building of this one. Humans have been trying to settle the galaxy and Earth would like everyone to believe that it is going great. The colony of Volhynia be one of their star attractions. The reality is that many colonies are failing. Terra-forming is the key to survival but doesn't always work. On the fringes of space supplies run out, people die, and politics are fraught. Central, PSI, and Syndicate raiders all have various ideas on how the Sectors should be run. Every colony seems to work slightly differently. I very much enjoyed the set-up.
There were some negatives. Captain Foster does seem to be a bit rogue a little too often. He and Elena are in the midst of a rather annoying fight that could have been solved by communicating and the continual angst often annoyed me. The bad guys were stereotypical and obvious as soon as they arrived on the page. The politics are only lightly explained and much of the backstory of the internal conflicts between PSI, Central, and the Syndicate aren't adequately explained. I wanted a bit more world building and a better resolution for the two main mysteries.
But ultimately I loved the action and characters and especially the ending. I even ended up enjoying the romance and its realistic ending. I can't wait to find out what happens next. Check in tomorrow for what me thinks of book two. Arrrr!
February 7, 2017
Really not my kind of book. Bones of a decent story, but the author weighs them down with talk talk talk about relationships--forming, foundering, hitting the rapids, enduring complications and misunderstandings, being analyzed--and that had me flipping forward from Chapter One. The author also makes her solar systems the about the size of small towns, has spacecraft stopping and letting "inertia slow them down," and crafts a military organization whose members are constantly disobeying and questioning orders--not very authentic. I would also say that the most complex, interesting character here is starship captain/dessert chef Treiko, and as he's not the protagonist he kind of steals the show from Elena.
Elena does get a spiffy tirade: "And there went Elena's temper. 'Now listen here, you thickheaded, slow-witted bastard. You want to follow orders? Fine. I'm a traitor. Blow us out of the sky. But when you're done, you grab Penumbra and you get the fuck out of there as fast as you can, do you hear me? Because if you keep interfering and get my ship destroyed, I swear to any and all gods you may believe in, I will find you in your sorry afterlife and I will make every instant of your existence hell and torment for fucking eternity. Have I made myself clear, soldier?'"
Elena does get a spiffy tirade: "And there went Elena's temper. 'Now listen here, you thickheaded, slow-witted bastard. You want to follow orders? Fine. I'm a traitor. Blow us out of the sky. But when you're done, you grab Penumbra and you get the fuck out of there as fast as you can, do you hear me? Because if you keep interfering and get my ship destroyed, I swear to any and all gods you may believe in, I will find you in your sorry afterlife and I will make every instant of your existence hell and torment for fucking eternity. Have I made myself clear, soldier?'"
March 9, 2016
First - this is Sci-Fi Fiction, as this book does NOT end with a HEA. There is definitely a romance element - as Trey and Elena fall in love, and are in love at the end of the book, but are not together at the end of the book. If you are looking for a Sci-Fi Romance, this is not it.
There are some great parts in this book - the beginning is amazing. Then it gets a little tedious and slow, then it gets great again, back and forth, back and forth.
And being a romance reader, I wanted the romance between Elena and Trey to be more of a focal point (and obvs to fly out into space together at the end). There is also a love triangle that sprouts its head. FYI.
For those that want a Sci-Fi, murder mystery with a strong heroine - this is for you.
Full review coming.
There are some great parts in this book - the beginning is amazing. Then it gets a little tedious and slow, then it gets great again, back and forth, back and forth.
And being a romance reader, I wanted the romance between Elena and Trey to be more of a focal point (and obvs to fly out into space together at the end). There is also a love triangle that sprouts its head. FYI.
For those that want a Sci-Fi, murder mystery with a strong heroine - this is for you.
Full review coming.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 8, 2018A mystery involving a space military engineer from a force that doesn't seem to have any form of fraternisation rules.
I found it a little hard to get into, but it kept me interested enough. Not sure I'll continue with the story though, since the end removes the character I liked most, and leaves us with the character who acted like an ass for a long period of time for dumb reasons.
I found it a little hard to get into, but it kept me interested enough. Not sure I'll continue with the story though, since the end removes the character I liked most, and leaves us with the character who acted like an ass for a long period of time for dumb reasons.
March 15, 2017
This novel was right up my alley: science fiction, romance, mystery, and action all tossed into the cocktail shaker and vigorously oscillated. I understand the comparison to Bujold: the mystery is satisfyingly complex, containing both human and scientific elements, and the characters are vivid and likeable (though I agree with other reviewers that the villains are mostly one-note. ) Where the novel falls short of the Bujold standard, though, is the world-building. I never had a clear sense of what Central Corps is; are they explorers, or enforcers? What kind of government is back home on Earth, providing them with directives?... Nor, for that matter, did I have a firm grasp on PSI; some characters call them saviors (for feeding the starving colonies that Central can't or won't help) but many others insist that they are pirates (for reasons that are never really elucidated, and which seemed increasingly ridiculous the better we got to know Trey.) I really wanted to know who was paying for those beautiful, sleek, technologically superior ships of PSI's--and perhaps more importantly, why! There's also some kind of Syndicate that's an enemy to both Central Corps and PSI, but . I hope these questions will be answered in the next book, which I will definitely be picking up, if only to find out .
August 17, 2017
2.5 stars. Fails too many realism tests. And yes, I expect realism. The whole 500 pages of action action action happens in about 24 hours, and that's just *impossible*. Maybe that wormhole DID bend time. And don't get me started on the unbelievable and sloppy military protocol and personnel behavior.
HOWEVER, it's a fast-paced fun book. It's romance meets mil SF. I appreciate the heavy romance element was concluded in a non "happily ever after" way.
I expect the next book in this series to be stronger after the debut novel jitters are settled down. Also, maybe the men will quit calling the women "my dear", because that was just patronizing and inappropriate and weird. And probably an artifact of the romance factor. But still. Eh.
HOWEVER, it's a fast-paced fun book. It's romance meets mil SF. I appreciate the heavy romance element was concluded in a non "happily ever after" way.
I expect the next book in this series to be stronger after the debut novel jitters are settled down. Also, maybe the men will quit calling the women "my dear", because that was just patronizing and inappropriate and weird. And probably an artifact of the romance factor. But still. Eh.
May 31, 2016
I thought this was really well done. It was definitely a page turner with an interesting mystery and strong willed characters that I enjoyed reading about. Loved the relationship between Elena and Trey. Elena was especially entertaining, was cheering for her the whole way!
Will be interested to see where this goes from here after that ending
Will be interested to see where this goes from here after that ending
March 3, 2021
This book just could not catch and hold my interest. There are several good ideas and plot mysteries that get introduce but they couldn't keep me interested. Sometimes a writers style just doesn't click with me, but that doesn't mean it a totally bad book. If you are looking to try something new then it might be for you. Not recommended
February 26, 2016
The Cold Between is both a mystery and a romance. It all starts when Elena goes on shore leave and does something very out of character for her. She goes home with a man she meets at a bar. They have an instant attraction but both know it is a one-time thing. She is on shore leave off of a space ship and he lives on the planet. What neither knows is that he is about to be framed for murder. The victim is a crewmember on Elena’s ship and is also her former lover. The killing took place while Elena is with him so she knows he is innocent. From there the story goes in several directions. Part of the past becomes very important as tension and danger keep ramping up. This is one of those books you really do not want to put down. I loved the world building and the skillful use of back-story. The end was a surprise but also realistic. This is the first time I have read a book by Elizabeth Bonesteel but I plan to see what else she has written and check them out.
July 17, 2017
I can't believe I'm saying this but there was too much romance in this sci-fi romance. There's an old love, a want to be your lover and then a new guy that gets in her pants hour(s?) after meeting her. The mystery was okay. Not really game changing to me although it seemed to say a lot to everyone else in this book. I thought this was okay.
January 12, 2016
2.5 stars
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for review consideration.
Oh The Cold Between, how much I wanted to love you. You're a military sci-fi novel written by a woman that contains several strong and likable female characters: there just aren't enough of you out on the shelves these days. So I stuck with you. I kept going and kept going just waiting for that moment when it would all click together for me and somehow it never quite happened, which is just so disappointing.
Trying to peg the why of it, however, has been difficult.
Pacing may be an issue: the book touts the mystery surrounding the tragedy that happened twenty-five years ago; and yet we don't really learn what happened until 80% of the way in. So we have an extremely slow build-up, which then forces a quick resolution that ultimately feels anti-climatic because it all happens so fast. The revelation surrounding the mystery doesn't really aid things either: it's not exactly obvious, but it doesn't feel as revelatory as it should either especially since it's a conspiracy 25 years in the making.
The antagonists may be another issue: there are two, and both feel one note. One is a sadist who goes fully as far as threatening to rape our protagonist - both while she's alive, and promising to continue to do so after she's died. The other is power hungry, or maybe power mad, and he seemingly has no other speed so he's either angry that he's getting shut down, or probably abusing the power that he does have. Nuance would have gone a long way for both characters here. I know that Bonesteel was trying to make a point about corruption and unchecked power, but those kind of messages tend to get muddled when the bad guys are so flat.
Finally, I'm not sure that I quite bought into the relationship between Elena and Trey. While I appreciate her sense of justice in not wanting to leave him behind, Bonesteel wrote them as if they'd been together or known each other for quite some time - at one point Trey even tells another character something to the effect that he doesn't know Elena at all. But you know what, neither does Trey. They had a one night stand. Even by the time you factor in the time spent in space and running and what not, they've known each other for what, a week? Maybe two absolute tops? He doesn't know her that well either, and so when he's telling her he loves her, it's kind of suspect. The book does focus a lot on that relationship (and Elena's relationships in general), so if it doesn't work for you, it hurts the book as a whole.
So yeah. Like I said. I wanted to love this book and I just couldn't and that's just such a shame.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for review consideration.
Oh The Cold Between, how much I wanted to love you. You're a military sci-fi novel written by a woman that contains several strong and likable female characters: there just aren't enough of you out on the shelves these days. So I stuck with you. I kept going and kept going just waiting for that moment when it would all click together for me and somehow it never quite happened, which is just so disappointing.
Trying to peg the why of it, however, has been difficult.
Pacing may be an issue: the book touts the mystery surrounding the tragedy that happened twenty-five years ago; and yet we don't really learn what happened until 80% of the way in. So we have an extremely slow build-up, which then forces a quick resolution that ultimately feels anti-climatic because it all happens so fast. The revelation surrounding the mystery doesn't really aid things either: it's not exactly obvious, but it doesn't feel as revelatory as it should either especially since it's a conspiracy 25 years in the making.
The antagonists may be another issue: there are two, and both feel one note. One is a sadist who goes fully as far as threatening to rape our protagonist - both while she's alive, and promising to continue to do so after she's died. The other is power hungry, or maybe power mad, and he seemingly has no other speed so he's either angry that he's getting shut down, or probably abusing the power that he does have. Nuance would have gone a long way for both characters here. I know that Bonesteel was trying to make a point about corruption and unchecked power, but those kind of messages tend to get muddled when the bad guys are so flat.
Finally, I'm not sure that I quite bought into the relationship between Elena and Trey. While I appreciate her sense of justice in not wanting to leave him behind, Bonesteel wrote them as if they'd been together or known each other for quite some time - at one point Trey even tells another character something to the effect that he doesn't know Elena at all. But you know what, neither does Trey. They had a one night stand. Even by the time you factor in the time spent in space and running and what not, they've known each other for what, a week? Maybe two absolute tops? He doesn't know her that well either, and so when he's telling her he loves her, it's kind of suspect. The book does focus a lot on that relationship (and Elena's relationships in general), so if it doesn't work for you, it hurts the book as a whole.
So yeah. Like I said. I wanted to love this book and I just couldn't and that's just such a shame.
February 11, 2018
So not really science fiction romance, but definitely science fiction with romantic elements. It's billed as military scifi, and there are two military or paramilitary outfits involved--but everyone is so seemingly blase about the chain of command or any kind of discipline that the "military" aspect seems more like a convenience of transportation and plot. That's ok! I'm not that interested in military stuff anyway.
Our main character is on shore leave and hooks up with a guy. While they are busy, her ex-boyfriend is murdered. When she returns to her ship she finds out about the murder and that her lover of the night before was arrested.
There are a lot of twisty plot things that happen, although few of the plot elements were actually surprises. I don't think that's Bonesteel's real interest, to be honest. She's not trying to be Jeffrey Deaver, and so the mystery part of it is kind of predictable. Or--believable, as the case may be. What made this book stand out for me--and made me go ahead & buy the two sequels--was the depth of character. There were several viewpoint characters and I liked them all.
It's worth mentioning again that this is a book with romantic elements, rather than a romance. I'd hate to have someone unhappy because certain expectations weren't met. But if you like character-driven scifi that still has a pretty rollicking plot--and if you like female protagonists--then this book might be for you.
In terms of complexity and depth, it's well ahead of books like Games of Command. So, so, much better. But it's not an Ann Leckie or Lois McMaster Bujold, either. And that's fine! Something I want something lighter!
Our main character is on shore leave and hooks up with a guy. While they are busy, her ex-boyfriend is murdered. When she returns to her ship she finds out about the murder and that her lover of the night before was arrested.
There are a lot of twisty plot things that happen, although few of the plot elements were actually surprises. I don't think that's Bonesteel's real interest, to be honest. She's not trying to be Jeffrey Deaver, and so the mystery part of it is kind of predictable. Or--believable, as the case may be. What made this book stand out for me--and made me go ahead & buy the two sequels--was the depth of character. There were several viewpoint characters and I liked them all.
It's worth mentioning again that this is a book with romantic elements, rather than a romance. I'd hate to have someone unhappy because certain expectations weren't met. But if you like character-driven scifi that still has a pretty rollicking plot--and if you like female protagonists--then this book might be for you.
In terms of complexity and depth, it's well ahead of books like Games of Command. So, so, much better. But it's not an Ann Leckie or Lois McMaster Bujold, either. And that's fine! Something I want something lighter!
April 12, 2021
What is The Cold Between? It's a sci-fi space opera and space military book, but also a romance, and also a thriller with bits of time traveling (apparently) and military conspiracy.
I feel Bonesteel just grabbed a bag, threw pieces of paper inside with the genders she wanted to write about, and then just decided to say fuck it and mix them all. And well, it worked. I guess. I mean, I'm giving this a 5 stars and the sole reason why I wouldn't is a VERY uncomfortable comment about rape and how all the bad guys were misogynist twats (who said thinks that made me gag).
Anyhow, this book reminded me of The Eight by Katherine Neville in that it is preposterous and ridiculous, yet it is well written and has a thrilling story going on. The romance was a big fat cheap drama and I still do not like Elena and Trey's relationship (insta love is just dumb), but Foster is a big yes on my book. Big yes. I must say this fangirling is a relevant part of my review since this book is mostly romance than space-y hullabaloos.
I'm SUPER intrigued about what it's going on with the space opera-side of the story, I must say. I will be continuing this series if I ever get my hands on the rest of the books, I lowkey spoiled myself of the begining of the second book and I'm already asking myself HOW and WHY and WHAT DID I(they?) MISS.
Also: guys read this, she loses her gun and starts using A ROLLING PIN as a weapon. A rolling pin. A GODDANG ROLLING PIN. Ok. I'll stop. But this made me laugh so hard every single time.
I feel Bonesteel just grabbed a bag, threw pieces of paper inside with the genders she wanted to write about, and then just decided to say fuck it and mix them all. And well, it worked. I guess. I mean, I'm giving this a 5 stars and the sole reason why I wouldn't is a VERY uncomfortable comment about rape and how all the bad guys were misogynist twats (who said thinks that made me gag).
Anyhow, this book reminded me of The Eight by Katherine Neville in that it is preposterous and ridiculous, yet it is well written and has a thrilling story going on. The romance was a big fat cheap drama and I still do not like Elena and Trey's relationship (insta love is just dumb), but Foster is a big yes on my book. Big yes. I must say this fangirling is a relevant part of my review since this book is mostly romance than space-y hullabaloos.
I'm SUPER intrigued about what it's going on with the space opera-side of the story, I must say. I will be continuing this series if I ever get my hands on the rest of the books, I lowkey spoiled myself of the begining of the second book and I'm already asking myself HOW and WHY and WHAT DID I(they?) MISS.
Also: guys read this, she loses her gun and starts using A ROLLING PIN as a weapon. A rolling pin. A GODDANG ROLLING PIN. Ok. I'll stop. But this made me laugh so hard every single time.
May 5, 2016
The setting of the book a bit of a murder mystery and it seems that it may link back to a missing starship from 25 years ago. Elena is on shore leave on the planet next to a wormhole that sends out an EMP blast every day like clockwork. While she is out having drinks and consoling her broken heart her ex -boyfriend is murdered and by coincidence the man she spent the evening with is framed for Danny’s murder. Once she is back up on the ship she finds out Trey, the man she whiled away a night of passion is being arrested as Danny’s killer. With the captain giving her some time to figure out what is going on things start moving very quickly and she realizes that she doesn’t know as much about Danny as she thought as it seems he was working on the disappearance of a Central Corps ship in the area of the wormhole.
Things move off planet and towards the wormhole as things don’t appear to be what everyone first thought. The story is good and the mystery of the wormhole is pretty much solved by the end of the book but there are more questions and a good ending for most of the people involved.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss.
Things move off planet and towards the wormhole as things don’t appear to be what everyone first thought. The story is good and the mystery of the wormhole is pretty much solved by the end of the book but there are more questions and a good ending for most of the people involved.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss.
April 27, 2016
Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
First of all, Elizabeth Bonesteel is either the best pen name ever or the best real name ever. It’s also the best possible hero last-name.
Steely boners aside, The Cold Between is a blend of science fiction, mystery and romance that I found difficult to put down. It is not, however, a romance novel, so I want to warn readers looking for a guaranteed HEA to gird their loins.
One disappointment was the relationship between Elena and Captain Foster. At first I was really excited because I thought we had a great depiction of a platonic male/female friendship. But nope. We entered into love-triangle territory. I think it’s a set up for the next book, but regardless, I’m tired of the love-triangle trope.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. Once it got it’s momentum, I had to keep turning pages to find out how everything fit together. Some of the explanations were a little handwavy, but I’m down with that.
- Elyse
First of all, Elizabeth Bonesteel is either the best pen name ever or the best real name ever. It’s also the best possible hero last-name.
Steely boners aside, The Cold Between is a blend of science fiction, mystery and romance that I found difficult to put down. It is not, however, a romance novel, so I want to warn readers looking for a guaranteed HEA to gird their loins.
One disappointment was the relationship between Elena and Captain Foster. At first I was really excited because I thought we had a great depiction of a platonic male/female friendship. But nope. We entered into love-triangle territory. I think it’s a set up for the next book, but regardless, I’m tired of the love-triangle trope.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. Once it got it’s momentum, I had to keep turning pages to find out how everything fit together. Some of the explanations were a little handwavy, but I’m down with that.
- Elyse
April 2, 2016
Fun read...
I didn't quite know what to expect when I started this book. But new authors always interest me, and this seemed to have the "sci-fi with human relationships and a mystery to solve" formula of the J.D. Robb "... in death" books that I love.
It's fun, interesting and keeps you riveted. It's well written and moves at a good pace. I'm definitely a fan, and I'm looking forward to more from this author.
I didn't quite know what to expect when I started this book. But new authors always interest me, and this seemed to have the "sci-fi with human relationships and a mystery to solve" formula of the J.D. Robb "... in death" books that I love.
It's fun, interesting and keeps you riveted. It's well written and moves at a good pace. I'm definitely a fan, and I'm looking forward to more from this author.
December 31, 2017
From the cover art (should've been warned by the terrible picture of the guy) and the back-cover description, was expecting some straight-up mystery set in a sci-fi context. Instead, you get a preposterous meet-(not)-cute-in-a-bar scene with an sappy/creepy lothario that i'd more expect to see in a Will Ferrell parody. Followed by moany bosom heaving. All as the too-long opener. Didn't keep reading.
May 30, 2023
It was just kinda eh. It had its moments there'a a couple (not many) scenes that felt properly well written, where you didn’t find yourself hating how the characters were written.
Elena and Trey were just so annoying. ‘Oooh we’re lovers’, as Greg frequently mentioned they had known each other for like 5 days. Also for apparently being a mechanic for 8 years and ship captain for like 30, they are remarkably stupid.
Overall, a bit too smutty and unimmersive for me to enjoy much.
Elena and Trey were just so annoying. ‘Oooh we’re lovers’, as Greg frequently mentioned they had known each other for like 5 days. Also for apparently being a mechanic for 8 years and ship captain for like 30, they are remarkably stupid.
Overall, a bit too smutty and unimmersive for me to enjoy much.
December 23, 2018
I like sci-fi in its many facets. I like stories with rich characters, ones that have flaws and make me believe they are real people. World building, especially with new ideas, is something I love to immerse myself into.
_The Cold Between_ isn't any of that. It sounded like a decent space opera, with human colonies, the Corp in charge of things but with the PSI not wanting to be a part of it. A mystery, with seemingly opposing shadowy agendas. But it really isn't that. This is more Romeo & Juliet on a planet known for beer.
The characters I couldn't like. They are one dimensional, acting according to the opposite of what would be expected. But not in a good way. If the training of the Corps is so complete, why do nearly all of the people on the ship not follow orders or display any hint of discipline? They are all entrusted with a powerful ship but would fall apart under normal circumstances. Hard to have discipline on a ship where space wants to kill you when there is a lot of fraternization among and between ranks.
Our heroine is like a space based MacGyver, building and fixing anything, but can double as a combat shuttle pilot. One is hard enough, but both? The PSI guy that latches onto her has a dark and mysterious past, but is a wonderful desert chef. But he doesn't do all that much, except seduce our heroine within the first few pages to such an extent they do not she leaves the next morning. Umm... The rest of the characters represent singular traits that somehow attempt to push the plot forward.
While there is a thin veneer of military sci-fi, most of the writing centers around the tangled web of relationships on and off the ship. Lots and lots of pages are devoted to whom feels what about whom, or why they don't. It felt more like a romance novel plot was written, then sci-fi like settings were then sketched in to find appeal to readers of both types. The plot point that starts things out is supposed to cause so much radiation that ships can entire a huge swath of space. If the humans could do that, which be as if a hot blue star was born, they have a lot more capability than the author is letting on. But they don't and this point about super radiation falls flat & makes a lot of the book seem silly. I won't even detail the lack of world building, lack of any type of interesting technology or its impact on human society, or simply populating the locations with things more sophisticated than voice locks and miniture cameras. If the author wants to be in the military side of things, know that people that work on ships are not soliders, people on ships that look like infantry are not that, but Marines.
I tried to like it, but every couple of pages was a groan or some miracle handwaving. By Part III, I was skimming to see what the big secret was all about. That is not a good sign. The final mystery was interesting, but could have been served a lot better if a lot of the problems were addressed.
_The Cold Between_ isn't any of that. It sounded like a decent space opera, with human colonies, the Corp in charge of things but with the PSI not wanting to be a part of it. A mystery, with seemingly opposing shadowy agendas. But it really isn't that. This is more Romeo & Juliet on a planet known for beer.
The characters I couldn't like. They are one dimensional, acting according to the opposite of what would be expected. But not in a good way. If the training of the Corps is so complete, why do nearly all of the people on the ship not follow orders or display any hint of discipline? They are all entrusted with a powerful ship but would fall apart under normal circumstances. Hard to have discipline on a ship where space wants to kill you when there is a lot of fraternization among and between ranks.
Our heroine is like a space based MacGyver, building and fixing anything, but can double as a combat shuttle pilot. One is hard enough, but both? The PSI guy that latches onto her has a dark and mysterious past, but is a wonderful desert chef. But he doesn't do all that much, except seduce our heroine within the first few pages to such an extent they do not she leaves the next morning. Umm... The rest of the characters represent singular traits that somehow attempt to push the plot forward.
While there is a thin veneer of military sci-fi, most of the writing centers around the tangled web of relationships on and off the ship. Lots and lots of pages are devoted to whom feels what about whom, or why they don't. It felt more like a romance novel plot was written, then sci-fi like settings were then sketched in to find appeal to readers of both types. The plot point that starts things out is supposed to cause so much radiation that ships can entire a huge swath of space. If the humans could do that, which be as if a hot blue star was born, they have a lot more capability than the author is letting on. But they don't and this point about super radiation falls flat & makes a lot of the book seem silly. I won't even detail the lack of world building, lack of any type of interesting technology or its impact on human society, or simply populating the locations with things more sophisticated than voice locks and miniture cameras. If the author wants to be in the military side of things, know that people that work on ships are not soliders, people on ships that look like infantry are not that, but Marines.
I tried to like it, but every couple of pages was a groan or some miracle handwaving. By Part III, I was skimming to see what the big secret was all about. That is not a good sign. The final mystery was interesting, but could have been served a lot better if a lot of the problems were addressed.
May 11, 2018
I really loved this one. Elena is an appealing protagonist, who has sufficient history to make her wary of being pulled into situations where she is liable to be hurt again. But this story is as much about Greg, a Central Corp captain who is defined by a tragedy in his past and how in the present he still struggles to put it into context. Of course, if the book was all about somewhat damaged characters staggering from the loves and losses of their past, I wouldn’t be giving this one the time of day – what makes it special, for me anyway, is the fact that it is set in a really intriguing corner of space.
Space opera is all about effective world building that gives a clear idea of the political and socio-economic setup across the galaxy without taking pages of dry information to do so. Bonesteel has this one nailed. Within a short space of time, I had a clear idea of how successful the colonisation attempts were and how effective the various terraforming projects have been – or not. Central Corps is the law enforcement agency that gets wheeled in to deal with events beyond the capability of colonists or the planetary police. As such, they need to be prepared for almost anything. So when something untoward happens to one of the crew, everyone is appalled and very shocked. I liked the fact that it really mattered to all the main characters, despite the fact that death is clearly part of the deal. It meant that the stakes mattered.
I stayed up far too late to find out what happens and burned through this one really quickly as I found it unputdownable. As with most mysteries, the good ones anyway, there were plenty of alternatives on offer as to what was happening before we got to the final climactic denouement, which was every bit as exciting and full of action as I could have hoped for. This one is highly recommended for fans of space opera.
9/10
Space opera is all about effective world building that gives a clear idea of the political and socio-economic setup across the galaxy without taking pages of dry information to do so. Bonesteel has this one nailed. Within a short space of time, I had a clear idea of how successful the colonisation attempts were and how effective the various terraforming projects have been – or not. Central Corps is the law enforcement agency that gets wheeled in to deal with events beyond the capability of colonists or the planetary police. As such, they need to be prepared for almost anything. So when something untoward happens to one of the crew, everyone is appalled and very shocked. I liked the fact that it really mattered to all the main characters, despite the fact that death is clearly part of the deal. It meant that the stakes mattered.
I stayed up far too late to find out what happens and burned through this one really quickly as I found it unputdownable. As with most mysteries, the good ones anyway, there were plenty of alternatives on offer as to what was happening before we got to the final climactic denouement, which was every bit as exciting and full of action as I could have hoped for. This one is highly recommended for fans of space opera.
9/10
February 11, 2024
reread 2024: agree with what was said below. such an entertaining novel. supremely underrated. elizabeth bonesteel is an authorial genuis
4.25* lost 3/4 of a star because I think "Trey" (if that's even his NAME) is the worst and was a waste of pages. More Elena, Jessica and Greg please. I know it's important we had a PSI character to get their viewpoint and history on the situation, and I think as a placeholder he's fine, but when's someone gonna come back and fill in a character??
But simply-- this book was So Good. I loved it, loved every Trekky thing about it - it's DS9, BSG, all the greats of sci fi that make me very nostalgic. Sure, it doesn't have the moral ambiguity of BSG and the epic scope of DS9 but it stands as a great novel by itself. It's got characters, it's got a found family aspect, intense action, and a deep story that you can really sink yourself into. The writing is great, makes you feel like you're right there, right next to the characters. It keeps my brain awake and turning all night. Finished it in a day (and fifty pages the next morning ;))
SO hyped for the next book. Elena and Greg!
4.25* lost 3/4 of a star because I think "Trey" (if that's even his NAME) is the worst and was a waste of pages. More Elena, Jessica and Greg please. I know it's important we had a PSI character to get their viewpoint and history on the situation, and I think as a placeholder he's fine, but when's someone gonna come back and fill in a character??
But simply-- this book was So Good. I loved it, loved every Trekky thing about it - it's DS9, BSG, all the greats of sci fi that make me very nostalgic. Sure, it doesn't have the moral ambiguity of BSG and the epic scope of DS9 but it stands as a great novel by itself. It's got characters, it's got a found family aspect, intense action, and a deep story that you can really sink yourself into. The writing is great, makes you feel like you're right there, right next to the characters. It keeps my brain awake and turning all night. Finished it in a day (and fifty pages the next morning ;))
SO hyped for the next book. Elena and Greg!
February 22, 2021
Well I will give that this one has a nice hook in the
beginning -- a mysterious evacuation near a wormhole
that ends up as an explosion that kills a pilot son's
mother. I wanted to find out what happened.
Then there is the rest of the book.
After a clumsy sex scene to start, this book certainly
went YA very quickly in my opinion. Further, there
was so much Man(and Woman)-splaining dialogue
that it lost all its thrills. Cumbersome arrest and
torture scenes with alot of insubordination between
ship officers. Ugh.
Finally there are some events that actually happen
in space (after all it was supposed to be space opera)
but I thought they were rather lame and unexciting.
Lastly, the explanation for the explosion/wormhole
sequence was fairly limp too.
Add that character development beyond making
goo-goo eyes at someone was near missing.
Not recommended.
beginning -- a mysterious evacuation near a wormhole
that ends up as an explosion that kills a pilot son's
mother. I wanted to find out what happened.
Then there is the rest of the book.
After a clumsy sex scene to start, this book certainly
went YA very quickly in my opinion. Further, there
was so much Man(and Woman)-splaining dialogue
that it lost all its thrills. Cumbersome arrest and
torture scenes with alot of insubordination between
ship officers. Ugh.
Finally there are some events that actually happen
in space (after all it was supposed to be space opera)
but I thought they were rather lame and unexciting.
Lastly, the explanation for the explosion/wormhole
sequence was fairly limp too.
Add that character development beyond making
goo-goo eyes at someone was near missing.
Not recommended.
August 1, 2017
A story about a girl who picks up a strange man in a bar and has sex with him. At least, that's the focus of the book through the first 50 pages. I had to check the cover to make sure I hadn't mistakenly picked up an erotica title. Mercifully, our lustful character returns to duty, but still the story remains focused on her sexcapades. At which point I gave up.
Did not finish. Deleted.
Did not finish. Deleted.
January 13, 2018
(adding this review some time later...)
DNF, kindle says 83% but I'm quite sure I was skipping ahead.
Bonesteel is an actual last name that real people have, so... pen name or nominative determinism? The guy on the cover lacks a provocatively hairy chest and his locks are insufficiently wavy, and I note that the girl is NOT reclining in his arms. C'mon, cover artist! Get with the program!
DNF, kindle says 83% but I'm quite sure I was skipping ahead.
Bonesteel is an actual last name that real people have, so... pen name or nominative determinism? The guy on the cover lacks a provocatively hairy chest and his locks are insufficiently wavy, and I note that the girl is NOT reclining in his arms. C'mon, cover artist! Get with the program!
January 18, 2016
A delightful sci-fi mystery with a strong current of romance, this action-packed novel filled with great characters to root for and against is perfect for fans of Lois McMaster Bujold.
Thanks to Harper Voyager and Edelweiss for providing a review copy.
Thanks to Harper Voyager and Edelweiss for providing a review copy.
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