The Ophelia Prophecy

by Sharon Lynn Fisher

The Ophelia Prophecy is the thrilling new sci-fi romance from the author of 2013 RWA RITA finalist Ghost Planet. Asha and Pax -- strangers and enemies -- find themselves stranded together on the border of the last human city, neither with a memory of how they got there. Asha is an archivist working to preserve humanity's most valuable resource -- information -- viewed as the only means of resurrecting their society. Pax is Manti, his Scarab ship a menacing presence in the skies over Sanctuary, keeping the last dregs of humanity in check. Neither of them is really what they seem, and what humanity believes about the Manti is a lie. With their hearts and fates on a collision course, they must unlock each other's secrets and forge a bond of trust before a rekindled conflict pushes their two races into repeating the mistakes of the past.

Genres: Science Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Aliens, Dystopia, Futuristic, Fiction

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2014

About the author

Sharon Lynn Fisher writes mash-ups of fantasy, mystery, and slow-burn romance set in lush and atmospheric worlds. Her current series of stand-alone novels (which began with Salt & Broom) features cozy gothic fantasies set in Victorian England.

Sharon's other books include Grimm Curiosities, Tea & Alchemy, the Faery Rehistory historical romantasy series, and a trio of science fiction romances. Sharon is an Amazon bestselling author.

When Sharon's not writing, you'll mostly find her wandering the Pacific Northwest woods looking for fairies and mushrooms.

For more information about Sharon and her writing, visit www.sharonlynnfisher.com.

Reviews

[Angela James]

I'm not sure what to rate this. It was solidly a 4-star book until probably the last chapter. As with her first book, the author does a tremendous job of creating a unique, fascinating new world of the future. I was absolutely interested in the future she created where humans are nearly extinct and the Manti--a race of human/insect hybrids that were actually engineered by humanity themselves--are in control of the planet, and are also mortal enemies of the remaining humans.

The heroine, Ash, is an easy (human) heroine to root for and to like, as she's smart, doesn't act stupidly, and while conflicted at times about her loyalties, doesn't suddenly meet a guy she has an attraction for and decide that he's no longer the enemy and all her loyalty is with him. In other words, this doesn't fall into some of the old romance cliche in that way (some people might find the attraction/insta-lust itself a bit romance cliche but I thought it really worked)

Pax is our hero and he is, of course, a Manti. The story starts with Pax taking Ash prisoner and we follow their journey back to Pax's home, through rebellion and more, and to their happy ending.

Two things about this book: I mentioned I love the world created, and I do. However, I would have liked this book to be even a bit denser in the world building and details shared. I thought there was definitely more to know.

The other thing is that I thought the ending was rushed. I was at 98% and had decided this was the first part of two books, but everything was wrapped up kind of suddenly and somewhat neatly in the space of one scene/discussion. I do wonder if there's another book to come, because it seems like there's more story to tell, but the rushed ending made me feel less satisfied with it than I might otherwise have been.

That said, fans of the authors first book should pick this one up, as should anyone who loves science fiction romance that's truly got a unique setup in the terms of world.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, until I finished the last chapter I found myself thinking there was no way the full story could be wrapped up in a single book, which led to an immense amount of excitement about being able to look forward to a sequel. Nope, this story wrapped up there at the end, with a couple of acts of subterfuge I hadn't quite expected. Not cool. I really enjoyed learning about the characters and the battles between humans and Manti and I wanted more. It was another great story by Sharon Lynn Fisher. I absolutely loved Ghost Planet, and while The Ophelia Prophecy had some similarities, it was a new story, with new beings, and new issues. I was hooked with her first book and this second one seals the deal. Sharon Lynn Fisher is on my auto-buy list from now on. Oh, and though the story wraps up nicely in The Ophelia Prophecy, there is totally room for at least a sequel and I truly hope that Sharon Lynn Fisher follows up on it, because really, with the relationship between Asha and Pax all worked out, it's time to focus on Iris and Carrick. Please. Because it would be awesome.

[Susana · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars



Arc provided by Tor Books through Netgalley


This is not an easy review to write.

I loved the author's first book, "Ghost Planet", which had me completely enthralled; but this one, ended up mostly being, a chore to finish.

I can even admit that what happened here could well be a case of:
It's not you book, it's me, to a ratio of 70/30 blame....if this makes any sense whatsoever.

I admit that the blurb of this one wasn't as entrancing as Ghost Planet (so entrancing that it reveals something that should not be said to better amaze the reader!), and that the only reason I requested this title, was because GP had been such an amazing read.

This one: A sci fi novel in which a genetically altered species was created, with insect like characteristics. Insects o_O...
Insects... *shiver*
I had no idea what the author was going to accomplish with bugs, but I was ready to be amazed!

The beginning

Let me say this: I had to re-read the beginning of the story two times, because I disliked it so much the first time I read it; and after that,Ii could only force myself to keep reading a few pages a day.

Of course it came a moment, when I got lost in all the futuristic setting, so I had to go back and give it another try. And guess what?
Second time around reading it, it did get better.
Although I continue not being a fan of descriptions and storytelling that clearly have a paranormal mark...
You know, the main characters look at one another and there's instant lust, comments of "mates" and things like that.

Too much telling and not enough showing

I can't help feeling that this story needed at least two books to have been properly developed.
As it was, I felt that mostly everything in it, was only superficially touched.
With this being a complex sci-fi novel that tries to be every-place at once, most of the times, the storyline felt like info-dump.

Too much balls in the air
. A future in which mankind has been relegated to a prey status, in which they live in Sanctuary's.
(How did this actually happened?)
. The Mantis, as ruling species
(What happened to our defense systems?)
The explanations just felt too simplistic...

.Then there's talks of dissensions between the Mantis
.Political crisis
.Religious crisis
.Insta love that gave place to insta romance
.AI that when necessary takes a life of it's own...
(Then was a lot of convenient things happening when the need arose...)

.Talks about transgenic beings, then there's talks about Bio- Holocaust and Bio-assignatures....
These are the parts in which I take my fair portion of blame: I really couldn't muster any interest for this!

Asha lived her whole life in a Sanctuary, but we never actually saw it.
Then she's supposed to be twenty five _ yes, I know she led a sheltered life _ but with the exception of the most steamy moments, she appears to be seventeen..
Paxton in the beginning of the story was talking to a mysterious person. Did the reason why he was doing it, completely escape me?
His sister could also have played a more lively role in the story. Why her attachment to Carrick?
This could have also been developed.

In the end, there was supposed to be a big fight, when suddenly Paxton _you can call him the crown prince_, decides to change his loyalties and rebels against his father power. Practically alone, with a dubious political ally....
(the guy was supposed to be smart..)

So, what happens?
It fades to ~black~, so next time we ear from him, he has stolen all his father's ship's, (with help!) with fighting capacities.
Rebels 1
Paxton father 0
And so, the story ends with a nice bow on it. Yes, the future may hold problems, but for now all is good.

In the end there were some interesting twists on the story, that I didn't see coming, but as a whole, this tale didn't convince me.
But do give it a try, the writing is fluid, and hopefully you'll enjoy it more than I did.

Sharon Lynn Fisher official site

Buy "The Ophelia Prophecy"
@bookdepository.com

[Windypicnic · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Ophelia Prophecy is the worst book not written by Patricia Briggs I've read in 2014. Quite a lofty claim while there's still a month left in the year, but I'm hoping the universe doesn't hate me enough to send an even worse book my way before December 31st.

Wow, where do I even start with this one?

In a future where genetically engineered bug people (Manti) have all but destroyed the human race, our human heroine (Asha) encounters the Manti hero (Pax) and together they have to throw their collective histories aside in order to survive.

Pretty standard Romeo and Juliet shit but with bugs. OK. That *could* be tolerable in the right hands. In Fisher's hands however it is a dry, underwritten piece of dreck in which the hero is held up as an amazing fucking creature for fighting his desire to rape the heroine. You're meant to sit there going WOW, I LOVE HOW HE DOESN'T RAPE HER EVEN THOUGH HE TOTALLY WANTS TO. OH PAX, YOU DREAMY BUG MAN. THIS IS SO ROMANTIC!!!1

Think I'm exaggerating?

"Banshee, I want you to protect the human woman from attack while she is on board.” Seconds ticked by as the ship conducted its version of thinking. “Does this order include yourself, Captain?” Pax understood the AI’s confusion. If he didn’t want Asha attacked, why not refrain from attacking her? “Yes, especially me, Banshee. The chemicals in my body, and the ones in hers … they may cause me to…"

"It’s triggered by a female’s reproductive cycle... Unfortunately receptivity is not a factor.” “You mean it doesn’t matter if I don’t want to.” “Not to my subconscious impulses.” She swallowed audibly, and shifted on her perch. He added, “It does matter to me."

I mean I could go on and on with this shit, but you get the picture. The heteronormative-as-fuck Manti men will fuck you even when you're not willing. Being rapists = in their DNA and Pax is a hero for fighting against it to bed the doe-eyed heroine willingly. See ladies that's a real man, he fights against his RAPIST NATURE in order to be your boo.



Never mind that the entire barf-worthy "relationship" that develops between Pax and Asha is half a step from pure Stockholm Syndrome, this book's inexplicable need to underscore how special Pax is and how *lucky* Asha is to have been forced into his company = UNFATHOMABLE LEVELS OF GROSS.

And then there's Asha. Oh Asha, you dreary imbecile. Apparently an archivist with the most expansive knowledge of the Manti around and she doesn't actually know dick about them. She's constantly being corrected or going OHHH I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. While one could argue that hey, this proves how ignorant the humans are of Manti society complexities, it does beg the question - why paint Asha as an expert in the first place if all you're going to do is undermine her throughout the entire novel?



This brings us to Fisher's lazy, lazy writing. The pages of The Ophelia Prophecy overflow with "mumbled, grumbled, growled" and other overused shortcut words for writers who should know better. The dialogue is stilted and overwrought with info dumps FUCKING EVERYWHERE because idk, writing is hard. The Ophelia Prophecy could have been far more readable (though still intolerable) had an editor taken some pruning shears to the text and hacked out all the dead wood. Though to be fair, the remaining text would have been shorter than a novella so I can kind of see why nobody bothered to clean out the meandering, photocopied descriptions of pseudo-romantic not-sex.



All I can say is that it might have taken several months, but in the end I finished the worst non-Mercy Thompson book I've picked up all year. I'm sorry The Ophelia Prophecy, you could have been fun except for everything.

[Jessica Subject · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit, this is totally my kind of story. When Ms. Fisher mentioned how Mary Shelley's Frankenstein helped to inspire The Ophelia Prophecy, I wasn't sure what to expect, but thought the story might be more on the paranormal side. It's not. The Ophelia Prophecy is in many ways an alien invasion story, only the aliens aren't from space. They are insect-human hybrids, created by scientists for use in the military. Only the insect hybrids took over, and the human population has been greatly reduced. But a prophecy predicts change. Will the humans be strong enough to tople the Manti government.

The Ophelia Prophecy is also a story about forbidden love, a Romeo and Juliet type pairing, yet drastically different at the same time. Two enemies are thrown together under strange circumstances. But each other's side, they must deal with betrayal from everywhere (even each other), and fight for their lives. Through these circumstances, they learn to trust each other, and grow closer than they ever expected.

The world-building in this story is exquisite. While I wouldn't want to live there, I'd definitely like to visit it again in another story, or for some of the characters to visit here, especially a sexy Manti named Pax.

I loved The Ophelia Prophecy just as much as Ms. Fisher's debut release, Ghost Planet. I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys action, science fiction, and/or a great love story. It is one I'll read again and again.

*I won an ARC of The Ophelia Prophecy from the author.
The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Margo - Putting the Mmmmmm back in Menage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall - 4.5 stars
A truly great blend of genres, which results in a fascinating tale with all of my favorite elements.

Fantasy World - 5 stars
Exotic, lush, amazing. Just wow.

Tingle - 4 stars
You'll have to wait for it, but when they kiss... FIRE!

Characters - 5 stars
Great heroine who faces problems like an intelligent, adult woman. Every character is complex – no caricatures here.

Story - 4 stars
Fabulous plot put together like the Mona Lisa made out of mosaic tiles. End is slightly rushed.

Summary
The description doesn't do this book justice. It's everything science fiction stories should be, and too often aren't. The hero and heroine wake up on the edge of a lake without remembering how they got there. As they investigate each other, the reader gets to go along for the ride discovering an exotic new world full of genetically engineered wonders. Each character has their own agenda and motivations, which seem completely reasonable, however, are often in conflict with one another. There are romantic and erotic elements, but they mostly take a back seat. Overall, this is one of the best books I've read lately, and I recommend it to anyone who likes science fiction, urban fantasy, or post apocalyptic stories. The Ophelia Prophecy is pricey at $9-10 for the ebook version, but well worth the cost.

Favorite Quote
“She wasn't small, and she wouldn't let the amir make her feel like she was.”

For access to all links in this review, please visit http://www.damesunrestrained.blogspot...

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Lynn Fisher's second novel, The Ophelia Prophecy, is a highly entertaining, action-packed, escapist science fiction romance, full of thrills, twisty surprises and tension. It might not be the most polished sci-fi pearl out there, but it certainly delivers everything a good sci fi book should: solid action, unique creatures, some really interesting ideas, captivating, well-thought-out plot line and lots and lots of excitement. Plus, it's hot. Seriously, mind-blowingly hot.

The story follows the extraordinary adventures of Pax and Asha, as they find themselves at the center of the conflict between humans and Manti, a race of hybrid half-insect warriors. Asha is a human girl who works as an archivist documenting and analyzing information about the Manti. The story kicks off with her being captured and taken into captivity by Pax and his sister, Iris. Pax and Iris are both Manti, and not just any Manti, but amir's children (which basically makes them the prince and the princess of the Manti people). With no memory of how she ended up on the beach outside her hometown and safe zone, Asha has to try her best to figure out what happened prior to her encounter with the Manti siblings and find a way to escape her captors. And considering Pax's unexpected and nearly uncontrollable passion (or horniness, if you will) for her, the task might prove very hard, if not impossible. And the things she'll learn in the process - about her family, her hometown and herself - will change her life forever.

Told in alternating voices of Asha and Pax, The Ophelia Prophecy is a highly addictive story. Gripping, fresh, steamy and very entertaining, it's a real page turnener of a book. Personally, I enjoyed it way more than I ever thought I would. This was my very first science fiction romance and I won't lie, I was a bit skeptical at first. I wasn't sure if this will prove to be something I'll connect with, or something I'll have to suffer through. Thankfully, from the moment Pax and Asha exchanged their first words, I knew I was in for a treat. And I was right. The Ophelia Prophecy proved to be one helluva entertaining ride for me. I breezed through the entire thing in no time and am now counting days to the release of the second book.

The book is literally overflowing with sexual tension and amazing chemistry between the characters. The world-building and unique mythology created by the author are truly epic. Sharon Lynn Fisher presents us with a broad palette of interesting characters and vividly described settings, through which she paints a fascinating, fully realized world. It's an intriguing sci fi vision and a hot romance, but don't think that's all it is. It is so much more than just that. It's quite a clever and multi-layered exploration of what makes us human. It's a complex political intrigue. It's a tale of love and trust, passion and betrayal, unexpected alliances and fighting for what is right - even if it means going against your own family, race and everything you believed in.

If you enjoy a good romance story set against an exotic background and filled with interesting characters, settings and ideas, The Ophelia Prophecy is the book for you. The science fiction part is complex enough to satisfy all fans of sci fi flicks, but not heavy enough to weigh down the plot line. The action races along at a near break-neck speed, the romance is deliciously spine-tingling and the conclusion of the first book, while perfectly satisfying, leaves you craving more. More of Pax and Asha. More of their intriguing universe. More of the gasp-worthy secrets and evil plottings of their enemies. More, more, more! I really can't wait to find out what happens next!

[Willa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Lynn Fisher follows her brilliant debut novel, Ghost Planet, with another fascinating glimpse into a unique and compelling world. The Ophelia Prophecy brings the post-apocalyptic oppression of humans by Manti hybrids to edge-of-your-seat life through the eyes of Asha, a human woman caught in confusing and perilous captivity behind enemy lines. The one person she should fear most of all, her Manti captor, Pax, is the only person she can trust. Or can she?

Asha and Pax's journey from enemies to lovers starts hot and stays spicy despite the mistrust, conflict and betrayals they face along the way. Fisher easily balances both science fiction and romance elements in this story, plunging the reader from page one into the remarkable world she creates. Her masterful portrayal of both human and Manti folklore and politics, as well as their shared, tragic history, leaves you rooting for both sides. Plenty of action and intrigue keep the reader guessing as the romance develops.

I highly recommend The Ophelia Prophecy and Fisher's debut Ghost Planet. For fans of great writing and exceptional storytelling in science fiction and science fiction romance, these are "must read" books.

This book will be available in April 2014. ARC received from Sharon Lynn Fisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Sharon Fisher]

Author Note
A lot of people have asked if there will be a sequel to this book. Now that I have the rights back to the story, I do plan to continue it with Iris and Carrick.

[Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ophelia Prophecy by Sharon Lynn Fisher is a romantic sci-fi about a future where humanity’s creations have taken over: human-insect hybrids rule the world now. I’ve always said that I’m not against romance, I just want there to be another plot and the romance needs to be convincing. The Ophelia Prophecy is a perfect example of this done well; I loved the romance and was intrigued by the world and mystery that Asha has set out to solve.
Note: I received The Ophelia Prophecy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some things may be different in the final version.

This book has adult content.



The Ophelia Prophecy by Sharon Lynn Fisher
Published by Tor Books on April 1st, 2014
Genres: Adult, Romance, Sci-fi
Length: 320 pages
How I got my copy: Publisher

Our world is no longer our own. We engineered a race of superior fighters -- the Manti, mutant humans with insect-like abilities. Twenty-five years ago they all but destroyed us. In Sanctuary, some of us survive. Eking out our existence. Clinging to the past.

Some of us intend to do more than survive.
* * *
Asha and Pax -- strangers and enemies -- find themselves stranded together on the border of the last human city, neither with a memory of how they got there.

Asha is an archivist working to preserve humanity’s most valuable resource -- information -- viewed as the only means of resurrecting their society.

Pax is Manti, his Scarab ship a menacing presence in the skies over Sanctuary, keeping the last dregs of humanity in check.

Neither of them is really what they seem, and what humanity believes about the Manti is a lie.

With their hearts and fates on a collision course, they must unlock each other's secrets and forge a bond of trust before a rekindled conflict pushes their two races into repeating the mistakes of the past.

Strengths:
The romance in The Ophelia Prophecy is delightfully slow burn. Asha and Pax are not each other’s biggest fans at the start and it takes a good 2/3 for them to own up to be attracted to each other at all. Love it!
I loved how this future Earth was portrayed, with humans having created human-insect hybrids as weapons, and then their weapons turning on them. Now “pure” humans eek out an existence only in places where the Manti don’t want to live. There is also a lot more going on below the surface though, and it was great to discover the truth along with Asha.
At first I was worried that The Ophelia Prophecy was anti-science, with the whole science bringing about the downfall of humanity thing. However, there are some conversations dealing with this directly and the characters’ opinions really impressed me. I wanted to save a whole paragraph as a quote since it explained beautifully how it isn’t science that is bad, it’s when science is corrupted by greed that things can go badly.
Right from the start, The Ophelia Prophecy pulls you in with a mystery: Asha has lost her memories and woken up next to a Manti man. Just as we start to figure out what has happened there, another plot element crops up and things continue on at a great pace. I was really impressed by the strength of the plot outside of the romance, since that is my biggest concern with romantic books.
*fans self* Wooo-ee, that romance is spicy! Once Asha and Pax figure themselves out, they definitely make up for lost time and it was quite enjoyable to read. And look, light BDSM done correctly!
Asha was a great heroine because she was both sensible and determined. Even when she was figuring out her feelings for Pax, she kept reminding herself of her goals and working towards them. I like this girl!

Weaknesses:
The ending of The Ophelia Prophecy was incredibly fast. I was looking at the number of pages left and quirking an eyebrow, wondering how things could possibly get wrapped up. The answer is through convenient plot devices unfortunately. I still was satisfied with it, but I had just expected more.
There is a crazy cliffhanger. Like, things are figured out for now, but crazy stuff could go down with hours or days. If you can’t take cliffhangers, definitely wait for the next book to be out.
While I liked Asha’s determination throughout most of The Ophelia Prophecy, by the end she doesn’t actually accomplish all that much. Especially in the final conflict, things really just happen to her and she goes along for the ride. After how strong she was earlier in the story, I found this rather disappointing.

Summary:
The Ophelia Prophecy is an excellent sci-fi with a swoon-worthy romance. If you’re like me and tend to think of yourself as not a fan of romantic plots, have no fear. There is plenty of excellent plot and world-building to sink your teeth into. Just be prepared for some serious sexy times as well ;-).

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

Cassandra was right, but no one listened to her. In The Ophelia Prophecy, a lot of people have an interest in making Ophelia’s predictions come true, whether they should or not.

This is definitely science fiction, but of the genetic engineering/biopunk/dystopian type, rather than the space opera version. We don’t travel off-planet, just into a not-too-distant future where the humans have been the authors of their own destruction, something that is certainly not implausible.

In this future, the desire to create “better, stronger, faster” soldiers to use against other humans led to a scientific breakthrough; the ability to splice insect and animal DNA into human DNA in order to create hybrid supersoldiers.

While it sounds like the “not-so-mad scientists” experimented with everything under the sun, by the time the story starts, the dominant hybrids are the Manti; human/insect hybrids. The Manti are not just dominant among hybrids, they have also reduced the “pure human” population to a small handful, using both semi-conventional warfare and bio-terrorism.

There’s an element of “Romeo and Juliet” meets “Frankenstein” in The Ophelia Prophecy. We start the story with a human woman and a Manti soldier in the Badlands outside the last human Sanctuary, waking up from unconsciousness with neither of them remembering exactly how they got there.

All they each know is that the other is supposed to be the enemy. But if it were that simple, there wouldn’t be a story.

Asha is hunting for her lost father. She believes that the Manti kidnapped him, for purposes unknown. And she’s half right.

Paxton is searching for a purpose. His father is the political leader of the Manti government, but the 25 years of unquestioned Manti supremacy have turned him into an autocrat. Pax is looking for a better way.

Instead, they find each other. Pax’ mission is to take Asha back to Manti HQ in Granada, to discover what she knows about how they ended up together in the first place. While at first she is his unwilling prisoner, the more they interact the more they discover in common. And the more that Asha learns about the true state of her world.

Nothing is as it seems. Not for Asha, and, it turns out, not for Pax.

Escape Rating B+: I wanted this to be longer. Or for there to be another book. There is so much more to be discovered in this world, and the place the story ends has the feeling of a new beginning, or the start of another chapter.

Pax and Asha start out on opposite sides. He’s the Manti Prince, and she’s the daughter of a member of the human governing council. What they have in common in that neither of them is content with their society’s version of the status quo. They each want answers.

We see this world through Asha’s eyes. She starts out unhappy with the conditions in Sanctuary, but believing in the version of the world that she has been told. Except that she studies the beginning of the war in the Archives, and things don’t seem to quite add up. Because they don’t.

The more Asha sees of the world beyond Sanctuary, the more her perspective changes. The more she learns, the more we learn. She discovers that not all humans are her allies, and not all Manti are her enemies, through some very hard lessons.

What she discovers is that Pax may be the only one she can rely on, but it’s a lesson that she figures out by trial and error. They are often in conflict because he takes away many of her choices, so she goes down the opposite path just to feel like she is choosing for herself.

The romance is downplayed. There’s an element of fated-mate syndrome, but one that both parties fight as long as possible. Pax because he doesn’t want to be a slave to his biology, and Asha because she has a primary mission to find her father, and becoming too involved with Pax will not get her where she needs to go.

The bits we see of Manti society are fascinating. The politics are cut-throat, and every bit as intimately deadly as The Game of Thrones. I wish we could see more!

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This review is based on an ARC ebook received for free from NetGalley. I am not being paid to review this book and what I write here is my own opinion. My rating scale is below.

brief
A romance novel disguised as science fiction with a lesson about humanity, The Ophelia Prophecy tells the story of a human woman and the not-quite-human Manti she must rely on for survival, and how the two of them learn how much they - and their races - truly need one another.

full review
I picked this book up because of the Manti, which is a race of genetically engineered humanoids that have both human and insect DNA. I was really hoping for something reminiscent of Adrian Tchaikovsky's Shadows of the Apt books. What I got was a romance novel disguised as science fiction with a lesson about humanity. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, and actually the book was thoroughly enjoyable once I got over the fact that it bore only the faintest resemblance to Mr. Tchaikovsky's works.

The Ophelia Prophecy tells the story of a human woman and the not-quite-human Manti she must rely on for survival, and how the two of them learn how much they - and their races - truly need one another. The story takes place in a future Earth where humans like heroine Asha live in fortified sanctuaries, because they have lost the war for supremecy to their creations, the genetically superior and occasionally very buglike Manti. Technology is relatively primitive in human habitats, but very advanced in Manti territory, so the Manti have AI in their airships and are capable of genetically engineering their future generations for optimal traits. Unfortunately for the Manti, this necessarily involves the occasional infusion of outside genes.

The Ophelia Prophecy opens on the shore of a body of water with a helpless damsel, Asha, and a basically human-looking Manti man, Pax, whose biology works against his mind, creating an instant and nearly overwhelming sexual attraction to her. Against the better judgment of his more-buglike sister, Pax elects to take Asha back to their home in Europe. Along the way the bond between Asha and Pax deepens and she is sometimes able to manipulate him with it, which is refreshing. Eventually they make it to his home, as attracted to one another as ever, but each with their own set of responsibilities which pull them in opposite directions.

This books offers a lot, really. There are monstrous enemies, clever enemies, kindly allies, despots, biohacking, secrets uncovered, and family reunions. Oh, and bug people sex. That happens, too, although all sex is only alluded to with the truly buglike people, which is probably a good thing. For those reading this for the erotic element, it's there, and the characters become very fond of it very quickly when it happens. (That's not a spoiler, I told you it was a romance).

The world is interesting, but the story feels kind of contrived, and there are portions toward the end where it's just confusing how things worked out as they did. Handwavium, I suppose. Either way, give it a try. The premise is neat, the writing is good, and the sexy bits are sexy.

rating scale
rating scale
1 star - I was barely able to finish it. I didn't like it.
2 stars - It was okay. I didn't dislike it.
3 stars - I liked it. It was interesting.
4 stars - It was excellent. I really liked it.
5 stars - OMG I WANT TO STALK THIS AUTHOR!

[Viking Jam · Rating 1 out of 5]

http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/04/04...




Publisher: Tor
Publishing Date: March 2014
ISBN: 9780765374189
Genre: Scifi
Rating: 1.0/5

Publisher Description: Our world is no longer our own.
We engineered a race of superior fighters–the Manti, mutant humans with insect-like abilities. Twenty-five years ago they all but destroyed us.
In Sanctuary, some of us survive. Eking out our existence. Clinging to the past.
Some of us intend to do more than survive. Asha and Pax—strangers and enemies—find themselves stranded together on the border of the last human city, neither with a memory of how they got there. Asha is an archivist working to preserve humanity’s most valuable resource—information—viewed as the only means of resurrecting their society. Pax is Manti, his Scarab ship a menacing presence in the skies over Sanctuary, keeping the last dregs of humanity in check. But neither of them is really what they seem, and what humanity believes about the Manti is a lie. With their hearts and fates on a collision course, they must unlock each other’s secrets and forge a bond of trust before a rekindled conflict pushes their two races into repeating the mistakes of the past.

Review: Cover art looks like a discarded fashion magazine cover of Kathy Ireland.

This was really painful to get through. Endless pages of dialogue that follows a loosely defined story-line and no plot. Asha and Pax meet in weird circumstances and he holds back on “raping her” as she is pure human and he is attuned to females who are sending hormonal signals of reproduction. So from there they kinda run around getting horny or beat up all for ????? It just so happens that Pax is the son of the Manti Amir which makes him a kind of…..(wait for it)….PRINCE! There is the usual human resistance effort along with the Manti “Rebelion’” blah blah blah.

This fooking novel goes nowhere, takes the reader nowhere and reduces characters to exhibiting surface emotions with no inner development of any substantive worth. Now why was this painful to get through? The author used the tried and true scene development word crutches like; “growled, growl, mumbled, muttered, frown, frowned and frowning”. Over and over and over. There are chapters devoted to the “50 shades of grey” approach to writing that Nora first capitalized on. Here it just comes off mechanical as the author has no talent in developing the characters to the point that you could possibly like them enough to envision their sex.

The novel has no plot, lots of dialogue, word crutches, poor character development and a wandering story-line. The characters are self-centered myopic douche bags that think the center of the universe starts and ends with them, especially their annoying “nuzzling” or “nibbling”. Fug.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I heard that Sharon Fisher had a new book due out I had to bug her for an ARC. Why you ask?? Well have you not read Ghost Plant? No? Then you have no idea what you are missing out on and I can only recommend you go read it, or at least get it on your TBR pile.

That book is the reason I had to have this one. No, its not the next in the series, but I had enjoyed Ghost Planet so much, that I was hoping The Ophelia Prophecy would be equally as amazing. I was not disappointed.

Ms Fishers world building is just amazing. You are transported through time to an era where evolution and science have come up against each other and at the minute, science is winning.

Hybrids are now in the majority and pure humans are scattered in small pockets, trying to fight against those that would see them eradicated, or so they believe.

Asha and Pax's story starts out confused, their first confrontation setting them up as enemies. However the more time they spend with each other the clearer things become, leading them to realise they have goals in common. They just have to convince everyone else it's a good idea.

The romance scenes are rather electric, and take a bit of a twist into the darker side of love at times following the current growing trend, which is fine with me....more than fine actually :D

The storyline continues to twist and turn all the way until the last few pages, keeping you thinking continually, which is always great as there is nothing worse than an important final plot line being telegraphed from the first chapter.

There are some amazing characters in The Ophelia Prophecy and I can't wait to see their stories too. They had better be coming Ms Fisher!

The Ophelia Prophecy is due out on general release in April of 2014. I was supplied with an ARC by Sharon Fisher in return for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is definitely original. There are things out there about mutants, but insect-human hybrids? I think that the world building in this book was done rather well. There was a good amount of science mixed in so it felt realistic. The action in this book never lets up. I thought at the beginning, 'Can they really keep this amount of intensity and action up?' Well the answer is yes.

I'm pretty satisfied that there isn't insta-love in this book, because I really can't stand that and I thought that was how this book was going to go. There is such a sense of star crossed lovers in this book, but it's not overly dramatic in that aspect.

One thing that kind of bothers me is the third person POV. The book is constantly jumping from how she feels to how he feels, it's annoying and I often found myself confused. I also found these characters kind of two dimensional and flat. I wasn't really satisfied with the character development.

There were a lot of unexpected surprises in this book, which I always love. As much as there are some things that annoyed me in this book I kept telling myself "only one more chapter and then you will do ____." But every time I finished that chapter I found myself saying "just one more". I had no idea what to expect with this book, overall I think it was a captivating read.

[Bèbè ✦ RANT ✦ · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Whether her face, her body, her mind, or some combination, it was her. He'd told her that they shared a special bond, a bond he hadn't believed in until two days ago. Wasn't it a kind of sign? A sign that there was room for both of their speciaes in this aftertime?"

A thrilling and adventurous read, The Ophelia Prophecy is definitely on top of the list of Sci-Fi Romances. The romance itself wasn't your typical fall-in-love-with-first-glance type of love and the author definitely made a special effort to include the Scientific aspect of the story so it wouldn't look cheap. Yes, there was tension between main characters but I really liked how it grew with situations and time and allowed the reader to really follow their relationship with whatever happened to them.

Asha was the type of girl that didn't put up with anyone's sh*t and definitely stood up for herself. I liked that she still had a sense of humor and was brave, even after not remembering anything about herself. Pax was your typical hot man with that bad-boy attitude and confidence that just oozed from him. & let's not forget that he is half human, half animal so the hotness element may vary by your imagination ;)

Great writing and plot, this was definitely a great read and recommended for any Sci-Fi romance readers who like a little spice with their world building.

[Kay Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharon Lynn Fisher’s first novel, Ghost Planet, was a colony planet story with a twist. The Ophelia Prophecy is completely different, set on Earth after humanity has nearly been destroyed by the results of genetic engineering gone wildly out of control. The world is now controlled by the Manti, the largely (but not always) humanoid results of those experiments. The heroine, Asha, is a member of the isolated human community of Sanctuary, until the day she wakes up along the lake shore near a Manti male called Pax. Neither of them remembers how they came to be there, and both of them have secrets to protect and to unravel. Their travels in Pax’s sentient scout ship, complicated by Pax’s much more mantis-like sister Iris, lead them first to another pocket of humanity and then to the Manti capital in Granada, torn by factions within the Manti.

The Ophelia Prophecy is an exciting story as well as a complicated look at uncontrolled biological experimentation run amok, with a romance for good measure. But I did find myself wondering, with only the last few pages to read, if this was the first half of a two-parter. It isn't, but the ending, although satisfying, feels rushed and much of the final action is off page.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

The Ophelia Prophecy is a sci-fi romance that I was really looking forward to. The premise sounded amazing:

Our world is no longer our own. We engineered a race of superior fighters -- the Manti, mutant humans with insect-like abilities. Twenty-five years ago they all but destroyed us. In Sanctuary, some of us survive. Eking out our existence. Clinging to the past.

Some of us intend to do more than survive.

Asha and Pax -- strangers and enemies -- find themselves stranded together on the border of the last human city, neither with a memory of how they got there.

Asha is an archivist working to preserve humanity’s most valuable resource -- information -- viewed as the only means of resurrecting their society.

Pax is Manti, his Scarab ship a menacing presence in the skies over Sanctuary, keeping the last dregs of humanity in check.

Neither of them is really what they seem, and what humanity believes about the Manti is a lie.

With their hearts and fates on a collision course, they must unlock each other's secrets and forge a bond of trust before a rekindled conflict pushes their two races into repeating the mistakes of the past.

We’ve got a heroine that has a missing memory, a bioengineered hero – how could it not be a great read. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me.

The Good.

What worked for me in The Ophelia Prophecy was the set up and the world – it was just so cool. We have the Manti race, which humans engineered. Then the creations took over. I loved the descriptions of this humanoid race and I enjoyed the subsequent race relations that emerged out of this scenario. This was interested and intriguing and a lot of food for thought. The fact that the Manti are essentially herding the humans and allowing them the illusion of freedom reminded me of many utopian novels I loved that this can be seen as social commentary. While this utopia setting was not central to the novel, the fact that Asha comes from a utopic village added another dimension to a complex world.

So, in the end what I liked about this one was the more hard-core sci-fi elements. This expansion of real world problems (like bioengineering), that forces you to think about it in the context of the book and in real life is what sci-fi is all about and I think in this respect, the author nailed it. However, there was one element that I didn’t like…

The Bad.

I like romance, folks, and it likely fills the bulk of my reading material. So the romantic element to The Ophelia Prophecy is what initially got me intrigued. The sci-fi elements were, to my mind, icing on the cake. Unfortunately, the romance did not work for me.

Asha and Pax have a forbidden romance; they’re on different sides of an ongoing battle. This is a great trope in romance and generally I really like it as you get to see the characters start to come to understand their enemy’s point of view. I may have missed something here, but I just didn’t feel that Asha and Pax really understood the other’s side. I’m not convinced that Asha and Pax will have a happily ever after.

But what really bothered me was that their relationship was based on an instant physical attraction. This is fine, but I never felt that the relationship progressed past just the physical. For the bulk of the book Asha and Pax were at odds with one another or on the run and heading into danger. There just wasn’t time for a relationship to be built. Again, this is fine and it’s even finer if the book is the start of the series, but what really bugged me was that physical relationship ended with a declaration of love. Personally, I didn’t see the basis for either of the characters be “in love” with the other and this completely brought my enjoyment of this book down. It was a case of insta-lust disguised as insta-love.

Ultimately, I can’t say that I recommend The Ophelia Prophecy for die-hard romance fans like me. There was a lot of promise here with the world-building, in the end, the characters were flat for me.

*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Similar Reads

Wen Spencer's Endless Blue is, in many ways, very similar to The Ophelia Prophecy. There's complex world building going on, but there is a big focus on race relations and the creation of super soldiers through gene manipulation. Turk is one of these super soldiers, and like Pax, he's got some issue with it, although I do feel Turk was a little more tortured by it. There's also a romance in Endless Blue, but it does not overshadow the main plot, so it would be a good read for those who are not as obsessed with the romance genre like me.



If you liked the enemies to lovers theme in The Ophelia Prophecy, Marcella Burnard's Enemy Games would be a good choice. Jayleia and Damen are on the opposite sides of an intergalactic war and they certainly don't need the added complication of a relationship, but alas that's exactly what they get. There's definitely a more significant emphasis on the romance here. It also came to mind because there's some sort of genetic modification going on with Damen.



My final recommendation is Eve Kenin's Driven , which was a complete surprise read for me. Like Pax and Asha, Raina and Wizard (seriously awesome name) are thrown together by circumstances and they find themselves involved in a much larger conspiracy. Again, this one has more of a focus on romance, but it's fast paced and has a cool futuristic setting.



Review also on my blog, The Book Adventures.

[Nikyta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can be found at The Blogger Girls review site.

When Asha and Pax wake up in the desert with no memory of how they got there or who each other are, Pax makes a rash decision of bringing the mysterious human woman with him on his ship. Unfortunately, he not only can’t trust Asha but he can’t trust himself around Asha, especially when his Manti instincts are pushing him to mate her. With his growing attachment to Asha, Pax isn’t willing to let her out of his sight but that proves impossible when one situation after another leads to her seeking help from others to accomplish her own goal. When at every turn she’s willing to betray his trust, will Pax be able to let the human go or will he follow his instincts in the hope that the bond between them isn’t just one-sided?

This was an insanely intense story. From the start you’re thrust into Pax trying to kidnap Asha and Asha putting up a fight. The girl is feisty and will use everything at her disposal to keep herself safe and alive. She’s stubborn, deceptive and while she’s willing to betray everyone if it means getting her father back, she still holds some guilt towards hurting the two Mantis (Pax and Iris) that sorta, kinda saved her life. But, lucky for her, Pax is just as stubborn and will do everything to get Asha back safe and sound. He’ll even align with the enemy if it means keeping his unwilling mate by his side. The relationship the two have is nothing short of rocky and filled with lies. Honestly, I’m surprised that Pax was actually able to trust Asha at all considering how much she’d emotionally, and by proxy, physically done to him. At the same time, you have to admire Asha’s dedication to reaching her end goal no matter what obstacles got in the way.

The bond between them is built on bone-deep instincts and pheromones and, while it might not seem like it, is the basis for almost every life threatening decision they end up making. With the strange pull between them guiding their movements, they run into many problems including mysterious humans, religious zealots, a crazy Manti bent on personal revenge and even facing the Amir of the Manti species. It’s intense, filled with a ton of suspense and action and, to be honest, it was hard for me to put the story down at times. The writing is captivating and leaves you wanting to know what happens next.

With that said, I only had a few issues with this one. Mainly, I felt like the ending was very rushed and seemed too easily wrapped up especially since at 95% there was still so much that needed answering. For the last ten percent of the book, I was very sure there would be a sequel because there was just so much more that had to be told. Instead, the resolution to the build up happened off screen, which only left me with more questions and not enough answers. Beyond that, it was hard for me to accept Asha’s back and forth behavior completely. I didn’t feel like she really owned up to her multiple betrayals towards Pax especially since Pax would easily let her off the hook. I adored these two together but I just didn’t like Pax making excuses for her behavior whenever she stabbed him in the back.

All in all, this was still a phenomenal novel with a mix between a post apocalyptic and sci-fi setting. With just enough suspense and deception to keep you on the edge of your seat, the chemistry between Asha and Pax will no doubt suck you in and take you for a wild ride. With a fascinating society and descriptive characters, I’m hoping there will be more to come in this world because I know I want to see what happens next!

[Cyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

GENRE: Science Fiction
THEME: Romance, Mystery
RECEIVED: Publisher
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:

I couldn’t wait to read another science fiction romance by Fisher. After Ghost Planet I knew she would create another romantic plot twisting storyline with all the thrills of science fiction. I wasn’t disappointed, I was intrigue, surprised and hooked by the idea of insect human hybrids, but don’t worry this isn’t like the movie The Fly, our hero has the instincts but otherwise is human in appearance.

The Ophelia Project follows Ash and Pax who are strangers that have woken up on the edge of an off-limits area. Neither knows how they got there, or why they are together. Plus their attire is very minimal which makes their first impressions defensive and confusing. But Pax isn’t a human; he’s a Manti and wants to get some answer from Ash. Now Ash is Pax’s prisoner on his ship with his sister, but this is only the beginning of their troubles. Their journey brings them to finding out the truth, to enemies from both sides; attraction towards each other; politics and hoping love will bring two races together.

Ash at the beginning was a bit weak for my liking when it comes to a heroine. However she is smart and even escapes Pax holding her prisoner. She thinks of Pax as the enemy because of his race but their attraction towards each other is undeniable. Her spunk and bravery get her through this whirlwind that brought her and Pax together. The tension was my favorite part, but luckily fisher knows how to develop romance at a great pace.

Pax was by far my favorite character and I felt the most developed. He has an interesting background because of his upbringing and race. He’s a Manti, a hybrid with insect abilities that all started out a science experiment. But the experiment didn’t just alter DNA of some human; it ended up creating a whole race that eventually took over. But for Pax he is also the son of the amir, the highest-ranking military officer of the Manti. Making Pax a “prince” and heir to possibly taking over his father’s position on day. What I loved most about Pax was learning how he differed from human aka Ash; he wanted her as his mate, which is obvious right from the start. But he also isn’t the enemy she thought he would be either. Plus the romance was hot and luckily Pax isn’t at all insect like except for his eyes.

Overall this wasn’t as strong as Ghost Planet but it was top-notch science fiction goodness, I loved the originality of the plot and having hybrid insect is something I’ve never read before. The secondary characters like Pax’s sister Iris, his ship Banshee and the villainous Cleo were what brought to life some exciting, suspenseful and intense moments for Pax and Ash. The ending wraps up everything really quick, but the readers will be happy to know this is a stand-alone and we get an ending! I’m a bit overwhelmed with trilogies and love when authors can suck you into a world and resolve the plot in one book. I’m hoping that Fisher will bring us back to this world and continue with maybe a spinoff with Iris.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a heavy science fiction novel that will literally take the readers out of this world. Fans Revived by Cat Patrick and Ghost Planet by Sharon Fisher, will enjoy The Ophelia Prophecy by Sharon Lynn Fisher.

[Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a review copy from the publicist in exchange for a honest review.

I became a fan of Fisher’s after reading her first novel, Ghost Planet and couldn’t wait to dive back into another science fiction romance. Like Ghost Planet, Fisher did an amazing job combing two types of genres, creating a harmonious balance that showcased her writing/ storytelling ability. The world-building was very detailed and plot just as engaging; accomplishments in itself…as there are many books out there that lack one or the other.

Fisher surprises readers yet again with a unique concept that I’ve never read in science fiction, human-insect hybrids. Yup, you read that right. The Ophelia Prophecy is narrated in third person POV, alternating between our protagonists Asha, the human and Pax, the Manti ( human-insect hybrid). The story opens up with Asha and Pax waking up on the edge of The Sanctuary (one of the supposedly last remaining human camps) with no clues as to how they got there. It isn’t long till Asha recovers her lost memories and the truth is revealed as to why she woke up on the outskirts of town with Pax of all people…for he is the prince of the Mantis.

My favorite aspect of this novel is definitely the world-building; it was very well written and most importantly everything was explained in great depth. Fisher explained exactly how the Mantis hybrids came about, and why they ended up dominating the humans, when it was the humans who perfected the Mantis gene. I like that the information was easy to understand and never once was I overwhelm with the information or terminology. The plot and pacing was also good, there was never a dull moment as it kept me constantly engrossed in the story and our two lead characters.

Asha and Pax are like two star-crossed lovers, except when they first meet they’re not exactly…lovers. In reality they’re enemies that have a strong attraction/connection to one another. I appreciate the author trying to tone down the ‘instalove’ but it is still there somewhat, at least for Pax. As the prince of the Mantis, Pax practically breaks all law possible and risks his life to protect Asha…even when she tries to distance herself and double crosses him on multiple occasions in the book. Asha on the other hand is on a one track goal for most of the book, trying to find someone important in the Manti’s main capital. There is no doubt that she is attracted to Pax, but for the most part that was left at the back of her mind. I didn’t like how Asha would repeatedly betray Pax, especially when he was going out of his way to protect her and tell her the truth. Thankfully she came to her senses toward the end of the book, because it was starting to bug me (pun not intended).

Overall, The Ophelia Prophecy is a commendable second book by Fisher. It has many of the same qualities as Ghost Planet such as a unique and fascinating world building, realistic characters and an action filled plot. I highly recommend this book to already fans of Ghost Planet, and those who enjoy scifi with a dash of romance. I will definitely be on the lookout for Fisher’s future works!

[Stacey Brutger · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
Our world is no longer our own. We engineered a race of superior fighters -- the Manti, mutant humans with insect-like abilities. Twenty-five years ago they all but destroyed us. In Sanctuary, some of us survive. Eking out our existence. Clinging to the past.



Some of us intend to do more than survive.



Asha and Pax -- strangers and enemies -- find themselves stranded together on the border of the last human city, neither with a memory of how they got there.



Asha is an archivist working to preserve humanity's most valuable resource -- information -- viewed as the only means of resurrecting their society.



Pax is Manti, his Scarab ship a menacing presence in the skies over Sanctuary, keeping the last dregs of humanity in check.



Neither of them is really what they seem, and what humanity believes about the Manti is a lie.



With their hearts and fates on a collision course, they must unlock each other's secrets and forge a bond of trust before a rekindled conflict pushes their two races into repeating the mistakes of the past.





REVIEW:

Asha lived her whole life with the strict rules to never leave the walls of her hometown for fear of breaking the uneasy truce with Manti. It's the only things that have kept the few remaining humans alive. So when she woke up on a beach next to a Manti and no memories of her past, she quickly found herself taken prisoner. On the flight to the Manti home base, they discover a crashed ship. When they set down to investigate, they encountered a brewing rebellion. Asha must decide whom to trust, the Manti so determined to keep her no matter the cost or the humans who would do anything to survive.



Pax refused to relinquish the human captive who had so bewitched him, despite the merry chase she led him. Pulled into the secret underground of the Manti world and the human interment camp, they discover that not everything was as it seemed, and a future together will come at a great cost. One wrong move on either side could start the war all over again, this time, exterminating the human species once and for all.



Though the beginning of the book intrigued me, the heavy world-building slowed down the pacing. That being said, I loved all the world-building! The alieness of some of the characters was so very vivid that it gave me the creepy-crawlies at times. Well done! I adored the playful personality of Scarab, Pax's organic ship. The plot was so unpredictable that I couldn't guess what would happen next. And while the story had a good balance of science and sexual tension, everything seemed to stop when we got to the romance near the end. Ultimately, it was the complex relationships between the characters that really won me over, not to mention the exotic locals were so vividly depicted that I was captivated. If you enjoy sci-fi, don't miss this fast paced, unique book!

Posted from my site: www.StaceyBrutger.com

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Fisher's first book, GHOST PLANET, I had a few qualms with the narrative style. It was rather confusing honestly. I'm happy to say that this second book, not related to GHOST PLANET, kept me riveted to my Kindle (of which I read the e-ARC on).

The premise is pretty simple - humans f'ed up by creating a race of beings to be their second class and it turned out very very badly. For everyone. For the "Manti" (which is really a short form of anyone with mutagens basically...yes we managed to be even more offensive towards our creations by labeling them all the 'same') it sort of worked out. Kind of. For the humans...well...they live in gilded cages. Or hunted. Or they disappear. Really the options aren't so great in the beginning (they get moderately better sounding towards the latter half).

We open to both our heroine (Ash) and our Hero (Pax) waking up on the shore of an offlimits lake. Ash is dressed in a flimsy dress and Pax is naked having at some point gone into defensive mode. Neither remembers how they got there, why they are there, why Pax was in defensive mode, why Ash is in a flimsy dress outside the confines of her city or why they're anywhere near each other. Unfortunately for Pax his mating instincts kick into overdrive with Ash, but he does everything short of putting himself inside of a cage to keep her safe from his...courting shall we say.

Which I'll give Fisher credit, even though Pax is very very keen to get with Ash he is also very very keen to gain her trust, help her recover her memory, keep her safe and untangle the web they're in. So while his body (which is part insect) is urging him to make her his, his mind (and heart) are like OMG STOP. TELL THE SHIP TO SHOOT YOU IF YOU TRY.

There's a lot packed into this book--we have the memory issues, the truth of what lies between the Manti and the humans, the rebel faction, the religious faction, the religious rebel faction, Ash and Pax's...relationship and the truth above all truths. While I found some of it a bit repetitive and the truth behind Ash's memory loss to be a bit of an eyeroll handwave, I genuinely was interested to know what was going on. I wanted to see where the whole thing with Pax was going, what was going to happen with his sister, why it was so damned important for Ash to risk everything on a gamble that could have turned out badly (spoiler: she has 9 lives, I swear it).

I was also genuinely pleased with how Fisher handled Pax and Ash's evolution towards their trust. It felt organic and well paced, with only a little bit of impatience with Pax on my end (his urge to mate with Ash had him making...tactically unsound decisions at times, but it was all right, his sister was there to hit him upside his head for it).

Definitely give this a shot, fans of Linnea Sinclair especially will enjoy this.

[Christal · Rating 4 out of 5]

See this review and others like it at Badass Book Reviews!

The Ophelia Prophecy was a wonderful science fiction romance about bioengineering, inter-species politics, and of course the smexy lovin'. Asha and Pax have chemistry from the very beginning but the consummation doesn't come into play until near the end. No, Sharon Lynn Fisher isn't being cruel; there is a lot of development both Asha and Pax must go through before they are actually ready to be together. Sharon has created a complex society with many problems and societal issues and Asha and Pax have to figure out their place alone before they can conquer the world together.

I loved the character of Asha! She was spunky but not annoyingly so, brave but not reckless, and intelligent yet naive. Pax was an interesting for foil her, but I do admit that I had trouble picturing him in my head. He is a Manti, an insect hybrid, and while his physical differences are on the less obvious side, his biological instincts still marked Asha as his mate. I thought that they made a good team together and I really enjoyed the romantic tension, the will-they-or-won't-they, that was threaded throughout.

The secondary characters in The Ophelia Prophecy were also very interesting. I had a minor quibble in that I didn't think Asha's mother nor Pax's sister were fleshed out enough. I enjoyed seeing Asha's father's secret side though and I absolutely loved the character of Micah, the Manti tech/security wiz. Cleo was a substantial villain, but I think she lacked a little bite in the end. Another aspect that I loved was the sentient ships. Banshee really stole the show for me and I enjoyed seeing her develop more... independent... thought patterns.

There's a rather complex species divide in The Ophelia Prophecy and I was eager to learn about the Manti and their war with the humans. Sharon Lynn Fisher kept adding layer after layer of intrigue and deception onto the Sanctuary/Manti relationship. The story was quiet, but never boring, and my only complaint is that I felt the end wrapped up too quickly. I would love to learn more about Asha and Pax and the coming struggles they will face. According to our interview with Ms. Fisher, it looks like we might get to do just that.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for providing a review copy of this book.

[L.E.Olteano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at Butterfly-o-Meter Books on Apr 23rd 2014:

Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: Jesus freaking Christ, okay? The worldbuilding was insanely awesome, with freakish Manti (I have insect issues, okay? :p ), a fabulous Manti world with human reservations, scarab AI ships, I mean, biopunk and the works!
Characters: Asha was a mystery, I mean she finds herself in this weird situation, doesn’t have any idea how she got there. She just jumps into action and does whatever she can, there’s a resilience at the core of her character that, I imagine, would sprout out of being one survivor out of few. The more the story evolved, the better sense of her I got, and I loved that she was discovering along with me as a reader, pretty much. Very engaging.
Pax was of course the sort-of-dark, charismatic alpha figure I tend to fall for. Of course I fell for him, I mean, he’s just too awesome to resist! You’ll almost surely feel the same way as I did after reading this baby, he’s intense, has a solid moral compass that he tries his best to use as guide in all situations. He’s this mix of very rational, almost scientifically pragmatic and super-hot, molten-lava-potential kind of combo and he’s delicious.
Their chemistry was awesome, they had this constantly readjusting kind of relationship, lots of buildup and slow burn – once they really got together though, I loved the fact it felt like it was just the beginning of a complicated path, not the be-all-end-all kind of moment that would solve all of their problems. Loved, loved, loved that vibe.
I also feel the need to mention I totally loved a couple of secondary characters too, and I’d be thrilled to find out somehow I’d get to read more about them too :D Yes, I am greedy, hear me roar xD
Plot: The romance arc and the action were awesomely blended, lots of tension of all kinds that kept on building throughout the novel. The ending was satisfying, but I could also see a fabulous sequel happening (maybe featuring some of those characters I loved, lol!).
Writing: Third person narrative, his and her POV. I loved their voices.
Curb Appeal: Awesome cover, hooking blurb, awesome author name (you’ll love her work from page 1) – total impulsive buy material!

All in all, this was an awesome sci-fi romance read, with lots of action without going into insanity-mode, awesome character building and a fabulously freakish world to explore. If you’re into sci-fi romance, totally, totally give this biopunk a read! And if you haven’t already, give her first novel – Ghost Planet – a shot as well, I loved it too!

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ophelia Prophecy was a surprise for me. It has everything a science fiction novel needs, interesting world-building, new technology and, in this case, even a strong romance plotline. I enjoyed how the love story and the general plot intermingled without getting in each other's way. Even if you're not usually into Scifi, I would recommend this book to all fans of paranormal literature because I figure it's not too different from a human facing a shapeshifter society or else.

What a brilliant idea to invent a race of transgenic creatures, part human and part insect. I mean insect!! Seriously? That was sort of freaking me out but kept me interested at the same time. Needless to say that I enjoyed the world-building a lot. It was flawless, captivating and so very complex. Even though the Mantis were humankind's own creation, they had turned against them and wiped almost all humans off the earth with a terrible virus. Now, one generation later, the Mantis rule the earth and there are only small groups of humans left, the largest of them in Sanctuary, the home of our female MC.

Asha was a delightful protagonist. Fiercely strong, brave and intelligent, but also loyal and caring. She was a great match for Paxton, the Manti prince, with his cocky attitude and suspicious domination. Both of them can't remember how they got stranded together but Paxton intends to find out and takes Asha with him on his ship.

And heck, even the ship is sort of an MC in this book. Her name is Banshee and I thought it was hilarious how she kept making her own decisions and shocking her captain and pilot (Pax is underway with his sister Iris) with that. The biomimicry techniques in the book were fascinating, it might be in our future that scientists will rely more and more on the superior creations of nature.

But not only did Fisher some epic world-building or created highly fascinating characters and a riveting adventure. She also took her world to a more complex level of thought, of philosophical and political questions.

"At the core of Manti society - its heart of darkness - was a loathing for transgenic organisms. Self-loathing."

Trying to be independent from their creators and needing them at the same time, there was so much conflict in the Manti society. I'm not entirely sure that this will truly be a standalone book because there's the potential for at least another one. I'm really glad I read The Ophelia Prophecy and I might even try out more books by this author as I clearly enjoyed her writing style.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was pretty excited to read this until I realized it is by the author of Ghost Planet, which I did not love. But that's nobody's fault but my own. And I finished this thing in record time anyway, so bygones.

I think Fisher keeps drawing me in because her set-ups are so great: a planet where everyone has a ghost attached to them! A future earth where the part-insect creatures humanity engineered have turned against us and now rule over us from Granada, of all freakin' places! The latter is, of course, the premise of this book. There are very few human survivors after the war with the Manti, a race we created to be supersoldiers. But how/why we created them (something about the government but also "garage labs"), how they kicked our butts (some kind of virus) and why the use of such a charged name for the title when the "prophecy" isn't even all that important to the plot: these things are unclear. Also a wolfman? I don't know. Suffice to say there is a lot going on here before we even get to the romance, which is between an archivist living in Sanctuary (what may be the last human outpost left) and a Manti prince. Of course, Pax the prince doesn't look like a bug, not nearly as much as some of the other Manti. Because that's pushing the envelope for a lot of readers, even though he exhibits some of the characteristics of a typical paranormal romance hero (instantly "knowing" the heroine is his mate, for example).

There are a lot of great ideas in this book, but they kind of peter out before they can really be developed. Pax feels a strong urge to mate with Asha....just like his father did with his mother, but his mother is not exactly willing and kind of maybe spends her days in a drugged stupor in the palace because his father is a dick? Unclear. Would have liked to see more of the mother. There is a revolution going on in beneath the surface of Granada, having to do with how humans are treated by the Manti and what kind of genetic testing should be allowed, but the purpose of the revolution and the kinds of genetic testing/tinkering that would be good for both races? Unclear. And unclear isn't always bad - but this isn't COMPLEX unclear, it is just UNDERDEVELOPED unclear. There is enough here to form a series of books, but this seems to be a standalone. Kind of a disappointment.

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well then, color me surprised. Romantic science fiction hasn’t been this good since Ann Aguirre’s Sirantha Jax series! With a strong worldbuilding and an even stronger romance, The Ophelia Prophecy is a breath of fresh air in a (sub)genre that desperately needs it.

Asha and Pax were born on opposite sides of a long and bloody conflict. She is one the few remaining humans, raised in the Sanctuary, humanity’s last stand. Pax is Manti, a human-animal genetic hybrid, and a prince of sorts among his kind. When they meet, both their memories have been tampered with, and Asha ends up as a prisoner on Pax’s spaceship, Banshee.

Paradoxically, the romance was both quick and slow to develop. The attraction was instantly there, as well as Pax’s determination to keep Asha safe, no matter the cost. But while strong, attraction wasn’t accompanied by trust, and it took these two a long time to learn how to trust each other. Asha, for her part, didn’t just hide behind the first strong man determined to protect her, not even when a big part of her wanted to start a relationship with him. She insisted on making her own choices, and for the most part, those choices lead to something good.

I was more than a little surprised by the quality of Fisher’s worldbuilding! Sci-fi romances are usually just romances with a few sci-fi elements thrown in as a disguise, but here I felt that the author achieved a perfect balance between the two and took her time to develop the world, the well thought-through plot, and the romantic entanglement(s).

Admittedly, the big finale wsas somewhat poorly handled. A big and important scene happened mostly away from the reader’s eyes, which I resented. The switching of POV in that particular moment was, I suppose, meant to increase the suspense, but it only managed to irritate me. Luckily, the switch didn’t last long and everything was adequately explained afterwards.

The ending left plenty of room for a sequel, and I do hope we’ll get one in the near future. I’ve grown to care for these characters and I wouldn’t mind another lengthy visit to their exciting world.

[Kara-karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5
This was a nice read, but it lacked bite, ladies and gents. I think I'm spoiled by Jean Johnson and R. Lee Smith who blew my mind with their complex sci-fi novels, and anything less feels a bit bland.

The Ophelia Prophecy is a quiet book with a neat world-building and main characters used to downplaying their feelings, so when someone explodes (emotionally) the reader feels rather surprised. *I'm looking at you, Beck*

Asha comes from Sanctuary, one of the last reserves of humanity in the world taken over by Manti, - genetically engineered and mutated man/insect hybrids. She wakes up outside Sanctuary with part of her memory missing and is taken as a prisoner by a Manti captain, Pax, who plans to interrogate her and bring her to Granada, the stronghold of the Manti ruler.

Pax's complex biology somehow recognizes Asha as his mate, so he gets messed up emotionally and can only think of protecting Asha from various dangers along the way even if it puts Manti interests second to her needs.

Asha herself recovers her memory and realizes that she will have to work against Pax as well and even use his attraction to her, but along the way both of them find a common goal and a set of enemies, and circumstances bring them together even closer.

There are a few things I wasn't happy about. First of all, I felt like Pax's sister, Iris, and the captain himself started to feel something for the humans way too quickly and without some sort of emotional interactions to explain the pull.

Secondly, the majority of interesting stuff really only takes off in the last 30% of the book, and when I got into it and even started enjoying some steamy bondage scenes *grin* it all ended too quickly.

In my view, The Ophelia Prophecy would have benefited from double the length of the book, because right now I feel like I just skimmed it. There wasn't enough depth or character development for me here to get attached. Otherwise it's a nice, light read.

[Aussie bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ophelia Prophecy was a stretch for me I am just getting into Science Fiction stories and testing the waters for what type of story I like to read.

The Ophelia Prophecy is set in the future on Earth, The world has been separated into sections most of the world inhabited by the Manti people who are half bug half human the result of Human DNA testing before the world went to shit and the human survivors that live in fear of the Manti and are kept in small communities with the Manti keeping watch for rebellion.

Asha wakes up to find herself outside Sanctuary in a lake with no memories of how she got there, not far from her is Pax a Manti that is naked and protected in a cocoon, to unravel the mystery of what happened to them, Asha and Pax must learn to work together to find out what has happened to them and why they were by the lake with no memories.

Asha discovers a world different to what she imagined, are all Manti evil? Can she save the last of the human race? and can she find her missing Father?

The Opheilia Prophecy is a mix of Sci-fi, Romance, Mystery and action, the characters are amazing I love the Interaction between Pax and Asha, it is a bit of a star-crossed love considering they grew up as enemies. The world building is amazingly put together with such detail that you can really imagine the world in which the characters live, My favourite character would have to be banshee the ship though the first I have read of a AI computer that can think for itself but not try to kill everyone.

The ending kind of wrapped up a bit too quickly but had great twists in the story which I really enjoyed. I highly recommend this book for anyone that likes Sci-fi romance, I admit I was a bit put off by the whole bug/human type of person but don’t let this put you off, It is a great twist to the sci-fi Alien, dystopian type story.