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Atrophy #3
Diffraction
Winner of a 2017 Galaxy Award for Science Fiction Romance!
After his unusual reaction to a weapon, Commando Varean Donnelly is accused of being a shape-shifting alien and imprisoned onboard the Imojenna. Sure, he has abilities he keeps hidden from everyone--including the gorgeous doc examining him--because the government makes sure people as different as him disappear. For good.
Imojenna doctor Kira Sasaki knows there's something different about the handsome commando the captain's thrown in their brig. She doesn't think he's Reidar, although he might have been a victim of their cruel experiments. But when Kira learns the stubborn commando's racial make-up, she finds herself torn between defending him to Captain Rian Sherron and his crew or urging Varean to escape while he still can.
After his unusual reaction to a weapon, Commando Varean Donnelly is accused of being a shape-shifting alien and imprisoned onboard the Imojenna. Sure, he has abilities he keeps hidden from everyone--including the gorgeous doc examining him--because the government makes sure people as different as him disappear. For good.
Imojenna doctor Kira Sasaki knows there's something different about the handsome commando the captain's thrown in their brig. She doesn't think he's Reidar, although he might have been a victim of their cruel experiments. But when Kira learns the stubborn commando's racial make-up, she finds herself torn between defending him to Captain Rian Sherron and his crew or urging Varean to escape while he still can.
451 pages, ebook
First published January 2, 2017
9 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Jess Anastasi
26 books182 followersJess has been making up stories ever since she can remember. Though her messy handwriting made it hard for anyone else to read them, she wasn’t deterred and now she gets to make up stories for a living. She loves loud music, a good book on a rainy day, and probably spends too much time watching too many TV shows. Jess lives in regional Victoria, Australia. Find out more about Jess on her website www.jessanastasi.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 11, 2021
ARC REVIEW
OMG! My first read of the new year and wow. I love this series, it is best if you read all books in order because the main story arc that continues throughout all the books. Diffraction is no different from the first two books, it has a great emotional connection between all the characters and nice chemistry between the two main characters. There is great external conflict between Varean and various other characters and Varean's internal struggle with himself; what he's been hiding all of his life gave the character so much more depth. Kira much like everyone else on board the Imojenna has a past she'd rather not remember or think about. Continued through the story along with the silent war on the Reidar is Rian and Ella's hectic love/hate romance. Love that I hope their book is soon, stop teasing us Jess Anastasi, PLEASE!
Kira's path up 'till now has been clear keep everyone alive and help defeat the Reidar but when a soldier is brought on board because he reacts strangely to the new weapon the use to expose the shapeshifting Reidar. Rian and the crew automatically assume he's a spy and the enemy but to Kira she sees something different she thinks she knows what happened and why he reacts the way he does but she needs to keep him alive long enough to find out for sure; that's if Callen and Rian stop beating the crap out him long enough for her to run some tests. When Kira finally gets around to being able to convince Varean to give a blood sample and to start the test Rian is backstabbed and the crew must abandon the Imojenna. Split into two groups they each have their own missions to complete before meeting at the rendezvous point later. Kira knows this is her only chance to get to a real hospital and run the test, but what the tests say is something so completely different from what she thought. ( I was half right with my guess). With the new information Kira and Varean face a decision and even though both of them fell in love they make the wrong choice that they both realize days later. But another betrayal has Varean rushing to save her before he's had the chance to tell her he loves her.
This book is so jam packed with everything. I can't believe Jess Anastasi even went as far as she did it left me awestruck at what happened in this book. I can't wait for the next one! Overall this book just continues with the awesome.
OMG! My first read of the new year and wow. I love this series, it is best if you read all books in order because the main story arc that continues throughout all the books. Diffraction is no different from the first two books, it has a great emotional connection between all the characters and nice chemistry between the two main characters. There is great external conflict between Varean and various other characters and Varean's internal struggle with himself; what he's been hiding all of his life gave the character so much more depth. Kira much like everyone else on board the Imojenna has a past she'd rather not remember or think about. Continued through the story along with the silent war on the Reidar is Rian and Ella's hectic love/hate romance. Love that I hope their book is soon, stop teasing us Jess Anastasi, PLEASE!
Kira's path up 'till now has been clear keep everyone alive and help defeat the Reidar but when a soldier is brought on board because he reacts strangely to the new weapon the use to expose the shapeshifting Reidar. Rian and the crew automatically assume he's a spy and the enemy but to Kira she sees something different she thinks she knows what happened and why he reacts the way he does but she needs to keep him alive long enough to find out for sure; that's if Callen and Rian stop beating the crap out him long enough for her to run some tests. When Kira finally gets around to being able to convince Varean to give a blood sample and to start the test Rian is backstabbed and the crew must abandon the Imojenna. Split into two groups they each have their own missions to complete before meeting at the rendezvous point later. Kira knows this is her only chance to get to a real hospital and run the test, but what the tests say is something so completely different from what she thought. ( I was half right with my guess). With the new information Kira and Varean face a decision and even though both of them fell in love they make the wrong choice that they both realize days later. But another betrayal has Varean rushing to save her before he's had the chance to tell her he loves her.
This book is so jam packed with everything. I can't believe Jess Anastasi even went as far as she did it left me awestruck at what happened in this book. I can't wait for the next one! Overall this book just continues with the awesome.
March 23, 2017
Trying to pick my current favorite series is like trying to decided with grandson I love best so just say the Atrophy series by Jess Anastasi is in my top 10 list of must be reads. It has the perfect combination of action, suspense and romance in a continuing story-line. This really is a series you need to read from the beginning. I'd all you're interested in is the romance part then be my guest. However you will lose out on Rian and the alien body snatcher aspect that really is the meat and bones to the story.
Anyhow, when last we seen, Rian and gang had found a weapon that helps identify Reidar. It seemed a sure fire beat except it didn't seem to work to well on Varean, well at least they weren't getting the same results as if he was Reidar so they brought him back the Imojenna to investigate. The ship's doctor, Kira, takes a bit of a shine to Varean as she tries to discover what he actually is. Varean has always known he was a bit different but isn't exactly sure he wants to know how different he is. What started out as patient/doctor, soon blossoms to so much more. And of course all of this is going on while Rian and his crew continue on his mission to destroy the Reidar...before they destroy all of humankind.
What I truly love about this story is it isn't all romance and it isn't all SciFi. It a prefect blend of both with a collection of not so perfect characters you can't help but want more of. This time around in Rian's not so stellar life, there are more interactions with Ella who we also get to learn more of. Oh boy, things definitely are getting pretty in-ter-est-ing! Is it Ella or Rian that is the problem. A book ago I would have given you a solid answer but now...hmmm.
Yes, it is somewhat hard to not compare this Atrophy series to Firefly, BUT, is that so wrong? That was a awesome series and so is what Ms. Anastasi has created here. Flawed characters, scary villains and an unpredictable outcome, completely loving it and I am into this SciFi romance for the long haul. Now to count the months until the next release.
I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine.
Stars - 5, Flames - 3
Anyhow, when last we seen, Rian and gang had found a weapon that helps identify Reidar. It seemed a sure fire beat except it didn't seem to work to well on Varean, well at least they weren't getting the same results as if he was Reidar so they brought him back the Imojenna to investigate. The ship's doctor, Kira, takes a bit of a shine to Varean as she tries to discover what he actually is. Varean has always known he was a bit different but isn't exactly sure he wants to know how different he is. What started out as patient/doctor, soon blossoms to so much more. And of course all of this is going on while Rian and his crew continue on his mission to destroy the Reidar...before they destroy all of humankind.
What I truly love about this story is it isn't all romance and it isn't all SciFi. It a prefect blend of both with a collection of not so perfect characters you can't help but want more of. This time around in Rian's not so stellar life, there are more interactions with Ella who we also get to learn more of. Oh boy, things definitely are getting pretty in-ter-est-ing! Is it Ella or Rian that is the problem. A book ago I would have given you a solid answer but now...hmmm.
Yes, it is somewhat hard to not compare this Atrophy series to Firefly, BUT, is that so wrong? That was a awesome series and so is what Ms. Anastasi has created here. Flawed characters, scary villains and an unpredictable outcome, completely loving it and I am into this SciFi romance for the long haul. Now to count the months until the next release.
I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine.
Stars - 5, Flames - 3
May 19, 2023
THE DARK MOON was jam-packed with action, huge revelations, shocking discoveries, and some deeply emotional moments. The world that Jess Anastasi has created is getting more and more complicated and I have no idea how Rian and his allies are going to defeat the Reidar. The majority of the story was focused on the overall series arc and the romance took a bit of a backseat this time, which I was a little disappointed about.
That being said I really enjoyed Kira and Varean as characters. Kira has been pretty far in the background up to this point so I liked getting her backstory and learning how a doctor of her skills ended up on the Imojenna crew. Kira was tough, not afraid to stand up to Rian, and determined to help anyone in need. Varean was also likable; he was a born protector and a soldier to his core. He falls for Kira quickly and is willing to do anything to keep her safe.
Outside of Kira and Varean's romance, there were also a lot of chapters from Rian's POV as he struggles with his ongoing war with not just the Reidar but also himself. Anastasi has written Rian as this truly damaged and scary guy so well that I'm still struggling to accept Rian as a love interest for Ella. That being said, we do get to see a little bit of Rian’s vulnerable side in this book and it really gives me hope for his redemption.
**ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Content Warning: PTSD, references to past torture; drinking as a coping mechanism
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:
“If you don't know, then I'm not going to tell. I've got to retain some balance of power in this skirmish.”
“I didn't realize we were in combat.”
He grinned, knowing there was probably too much self- satisfaction in the expression. “Then you've already lost.”
She skimmed by his mouth, using her hold on his hair to tilt his head the slightest bit. Her lips trailed like stardust over his cheek and upper jaw until she reached his ear. “I'm not the one on my knees.”
- - - - -
“I'm stuck in the dark like everyone else.”
He shook his head. “No, you're one of the ones who keeps the light burning for the rest of us poor damned souls.”
That being said I really enjoyed Kira and Varean as characters. Kira has been pretty far in the background up to this point so I liked getting her backstory and learning how a doctor of her skills ended up on the Imojenna crew. Kira was tough, not afraid to stand up to Rian, and determined to help anyone in need. Varean was also likable; he was a born protector and a soldier to his core. He falls for Kira quickly and is willing to do anything to keep her safe.
Outside of Kira and Varean's romance, there were also a lot of chapters from Rian's POV as he struggles with his ongoing war with not just the Reidar but also himself. Anastasi has written Rian as this truly damaged and scary guy so well that I'm still struggling to accept Rian as a love interest for Ella. That being said, we do get to see a little bit of Rian’s vulnerable side in this book and it really gives me hope for his redemption.
**ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Content Warning: PTSD, references to past torture; drinking as a coping mechanism
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:
“If you don't know, then I'm not going to tell. I've got to retain some balance of power in this skirmish.”
“I didn't realize we were in combat.”
He grinned, knowing there was probably too much self- satisfaction in the expression. “Then you've already lost.”
She skimmed by his mouth, using her hold on his hair to tilt his head the slightest bit. Her lips trailed like stardust over his cheek and upper jaw until she reached his ear. “I'm not the one on my knees.”
- - - - -
“I'm stuck in the dark like everyone else.”
He shook his head. “No, you're one of the ones who keeps the light burning for the rest of us poor damned souls.”
February 28, 2017
I was really looking forward to reading about Varean, however, I was never fully engaged in the story. I think since Rian is so much the alpha of this world, that he overshadows every other “hero” Anastasi writes about. It’s hard to invest in another story; when all I want to know is what is going on with Rian. At the same time, I really like where Varean’s storyline finally ended up, not so much the path it took to get there. I don’t think I could be so forgiving if I was in his shoes.
I think I just expected Varean to finally give Rian a run for his money. To be an equal alpha since he is a commando and supposed to be badass and fearless. Yet, he never demonstrated anything in the story that projected that in my opinion.
The story progresses as a whole in the battle against the Reidar, and the shocking truth of what Rian was doing all those years he was missing is revealed and it’s a doozy. So, of course, Rian spirals more out of control with his drinking and self-destruction.
The story would get really exciting and I would be super into it for a time then my attention would wander and it just seemed like it took forever to finish this one. The problem I had was I wasn’t emotionally invested and couldn’t engage. I am hoping I have better luck with book 4 because I really want to know what happens next. Overall the story was good, exciting at times and the storyline moves along so I am giving it 3 Boundless Stars.
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https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
I think I just expected Varean to finally give Rian a run for his money. To be an equal alpha since he is a commando and supposed to be badass and fearless. Yet, he never demonstrated anything in the story that projected that in my opinion.
The story progresses as a whole in the battle against the Reidar, and the shocking truth of what Rian was doing all those years he was missing is revealed and it’s a doozy. So, of course, Rian spirals more out of control with his drinking and self-destruction.
The story would get really exciting and I would be super into it for a time then my attention would wander and it just seemed like it took forever to finish this one. The problem I had was I wasn’t emotionally invested and couldn’t engage. I am hoping I have better luck with book 4 because I really want to know what happens next. Overall the story was good, exciting at times and the storyline moves along so I am giving it 3 Boundless Stars.
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
November 19, 2022
Series: Atrophy #3
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
This book picks up right after the previous one ends with Rian locking Commando Varean Donnelly up on the Imojenna for further questioning. Kira, the medic, takes issue with how they have been treating Varean but is also very curious as to why he is affected by the Reidar stunner. Varean and Kira slowly fall for each other even though she is going against her captain's wishes.
This is a very complex world that just continues to grow with each new book. This one covered a lot of new ground for the world and continued to show progression in the fight against the Reidar. This book did have a much slower start compared to the previous two, but after hitting the halfway point things really pick up.
Kira has been a very minor background character so far. It was nice to finally learn about her and how she ended up on the Imojenna. Kira may be against violence but she isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in. She frequently stands up to Rian about his treatment of Varean. I liked how protective she was, especially when it came to protecting her patient. Varean was an interesting character. He is very angry about being taken from his post and imprisoned but once he calmed down he became a pretty great hero. I do feel like because everything going on in this book Kira and Varean’s relationship wasn’t as well developed as previous couples. They didn’t really get enough time to learn about each other and really connect so this was more instant love than a slow building one.
I am still on the fence about Rian. We see how dangerous he is in this one but we also see him be a bit more vulnerable. This one gave me more hope that I would end up enjoying Rian’s redemption story. I had more issues with Lianna in this one than I did Rian though. Lianna turns really bitchy, especially towards Varean, and it made me not like her very much. I am really enjoying the progression of this story and all the new things that keep benign revealed with each book.
You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
This book picks up right after the previous one ends with Rian locking Commando Varean Donnelly up on the Imojenna for further questioning. Kira, the medic, takes issue with how they have been treating Varean but is also very curious as to why he is affected by the Reidar stunner. Varean and Kira slowly fall for each other even though she is going against her captain's wishes.
This is a very complex world that just continues to grow with each new book. This one covered a lot of new ground for the world and continued to show progression in the fight against the Reidar. This book did have a much slower start compared to the previous two, but after hitting the halfway point things really pick up.
Kira has been a very minor background character so far. It was nice to finally learn about her and how she ended up on the Imojenna. Kira may be against violence but she isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in. She frequently stands up to Rian about his treatment of Varean. I liked how protective she was, especially when it came to protecting her patient. Varean was an interesting character. He is very angry about being taken from his post and imprisoned but once he calmed down he became a pretty great hero. I do feel like because everything going on in this book Kira and Varean’s relationship wasn’t as well developed as previous couples. They didn’t really get enough time to learn about each other and really connect so this was more instant love than a slow building one.
I am still on the fence about Rian. We see how dangerous he is in this one but we also see him be a bit more vulnerable. This one gave me more hope that I would end up enjoying Rian’s redemption story. I had more issues with Lianna in this one than I did Rian though. Lianna turns really bitchy, especially towards Varean, and it made me not like her very much. I am really enjoying the progression of this story and all the new things that keep benign revealed with each book.
You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
January 3, 2017
Another amazing, action-packed, and thrilling novel in Atrophy series! I loved it and would recommend it to all book lovers. And if you enjoy sci-fiction then there is no way you won't like this. ;) I already love all the characters from previous books and also loved Varean. He fits right in with misfits of Imojenna.
Varean is forced to leave his post and then kept on Imojenna against his will. He has known that he is different but he has no clue why. So he simply couldn't explain why the weapon which is created for aliens effects him the way it does. Kira is the only one who sympathizes with him. She decides that he is someone to be trusted so now she must protect him from people she has known and loved for a long time. No one else is willing to trust Varean. But soon they find themselves in a situation which requires them to trust him and take his help.
The story is fast paced and very thrilling. I quite enjoyed reading it.
http://www.mineofbooks.blogspot.com
Varean is forced to leave his post and then kept on Imojenna against his will. He has known that he is different but he has no clue why. So he simply couldn't explain why the weapon which is created for aliens effects him the way it does. Kira is the only one who sympathizes with him. She decides that he is someone to be trusted so now she must protect him from people she has known and loved for a long time. No one else is willing to trust Varean. But soon they find themselves in a situation which requires them to trust him and take his help.
The story is fast paced and very thrilling. I quite enjoyed reading it.
http://www.mineofbooks.blogspot.com
December 10, 2016
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review
Compelling read that goes way beyond romance...
There are so many wonderful things about this series and this book, it is hard to know where to begin.
I'll begin with the fact Ms. Anastasi overcomes the sub-genre of sci-fi romance and joins Catherine Asaro in the world of woman based space opera with romance in it. Anastasi is creating a long space opera or saga along the lines of a minor Star Wars or Skolian Saga rather than just romance novels that exist for hot moments between male and female leads. By that I mane that the continuing journey of Rian Sherron and his fight against the shape shifting Reidar ties all of the stand alone novels together into a coherent story.
Also it is rare when 'genre-romance' has a deep overarching theme. Oh, they will have a constant villainous crew they fight, but not a moral theme. About 83% of the way through the book, Rian Sherron states what ties all the stories, all the characters, and all of the love stories together. “... The universe is a harsh,, dark place, and the only way to survive it is to use whatever tools you have at your disposal.” And that, in the case of Kira and Varean is love and trust.
Diffraction centers on the love story of Kira and Varean, the disgraced doctor who has woven herself into the rag tag crew of the Immogenna. Her secrets are her own, no one, not even the the crew that has become her family knows the truth. Varean is a Commando, a space SEAL, who has become a prisoner of the Immogenna due to his reaction to their weapon against the Reidar. Kira forms an instant bond, her doctor's instincts kicking in and Varean is drawn to her as well. While the sex scenes were compelling, rather than the much easier to write steamy, the actual relationship held a deep authenticity the resonates with the truth of the characters.
The writing in itself is amazing, from the non-American cursing that adds a sense of future realism, reminiscent of the Mandarin in Joss Whedon's Firefly/Serenity. We feel we are in a different space and time, where words like “Cray-Cray” mean nothing in comparison to the Britishy “Shite” and “jezus” Dialogue between the military personell, particularly the hoards of alpha males, is spot on. I grew up in a family of Officers, and I could hear my brothers, father, uncles, cousins and nephews in every word.
I would recommend this to my sci-fi male friends who wrinkle their nose at the word romance as much as I would my female friends who eat romance novels daily
5 out of 5
Compelling read that goes way beyond romance...
There are so many wonderful things about this series and this book, it is hard to know where to begin.
I'll begin with the fact Ms. Anastasi overcomes the sub-genre of sci-fi romance and joins Catherine Asaro in the world of woman based space opera with romance in it. Anastasi is creating a long space opera or saga along the lines of a minor Star Wars or Skolian Saga rather than just romance novels that exist for hot moments between male and female leads. By that I mane that the continuing journey of Rian Sherron and his fight against the shape shifting Reidar ties all of the stand alone novels together into a coherent story.
Also it is rare when 'genre-romance' has a deep overarching theme. Oh, they will have a constant villainous crew they fight, but not a moral theme. About 83% of the way through the book, Rian Sherron states what ties all the stories, all the characters, and all of the love stories together. “... The universe is a harsh,, dark place, and the only way to survive it is to use whatever tools you have at your disposal.” And that, in the case of Kira and Varean is love and trust.
Diffraction centers on the love story of Kira and Varean, the disgraced doctor who has woven herself into the rag tag crew of the Immogenna. Her secrets are her own, no one, not even the the crew that has become her family knows the truth. Varean is a Commando, a space SEAL, who has become a prisoner of the Immogenna due to his reaction to their weapon against the Reidar. Kira forms an instant bond, her doctor's instincts kicking in and Varean is drawn to her as well. While the sex scenes were compelling, rather than the much easier to write steamy, the actual relationship held a deep authenticity the resonates with the truth of the characters.
The writing in itself is amazing, from the non-American cursing that adds a sense of future realism, reminiscent of the Mandarin in Joss Whedon's Firefly/Serenity. We feel we are in a different space and time, where words like “Cray-Cray” mean nothing in comparison to the Britishy “Shite” and “jezus” Dialogue between the military personell, particularly the hoards of alpha males, is spot on. I grew up in a family of Officers, and I could hear my brothers, father, uncles, cousins and nephews in every word.
I would recommend this to my sci-fi male friends who wrinkle their nose at the word romance as much as I would my female friends who eat romance novels daily
5 out of 5
November 30, 2016
Apart from Jess Anastasi's ending note that the long-awaited Rian/Ella story is nowhere in sight, it’s glorious to be back with the Imojenna crew and under the wiles of the volatile major captain, who still very much remains a lynchpin in the building action and the fabulous overarching plot of finding an alien species hell bent on infiltrating the galaxy with their stealthy shape-shifting methods. His mysterious past eludes him as much as it eludes us even each chapter unravels him a little more and I can’t seem to shake the feeling that even the leading romantic pair in this story can’t eclipse the importance of one man who finally seems to have turned a corner by the end of the book.
As much as it is about Rian’s continuing quest to destroy the aliens who’d destroyed him, ‘Diffraction’ however, is also about an AF commando who isn’t what he seems and the ship’s doctor who takes a shine to him. But apart from me wondering about the state of Rian’s liver from the constant drinking, there’s a mystery of Varean Donnelly’s heritage to solve and a backstory for Kira Sasaki that add some depth to this pairing. It’s nonetheless a slow-burn, a nuanced account of developing attraction and the measure of denial that seem to parallel the bond between Rian and Ella. The characters are not above eye-rolling moments though, especially as Kira gives into inexplicable TSTL moments when she pushes Varean away in the belief he would be better off with his kind then treats him rather coldly after that.
With Anastasi’s books as always, the blurb reveals just a facet of the fascinating universe and its politics and for this reason ‘Diffraction’ doesn’t function well as a standalone. Every chapter came as a surprise because I couldn’t see what was coming at all: secondary character deaths, new additions to the crew and many fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants moments, with several twists and turns written with such swagger that I wondered if I’d found myself in an amalgamation of all the classic sci-fi series (and the latest Marvel offerings) that I’d binged on in the last decade. Overall, I think the bottom-line here is that it has been such fun, if only to be part of the developing action and the build-up to what might look like a spectacular battle between the bad guys and the good guys…should the series be taken that far.
*ARC by netgalley and the publisher
(always grateful, mind)
As much as it is about Rian’s continuing quest to destroy the aliens who’d destroyed him, ‘Diffraction’ however, is also about an AF commando who isn’t what he seems and the ship’s doctor who takes a shine to him. But apart from me wondering about the state of Rian’s liver from the constant drinking, there’s a mystery of Varean Donnelly’s heritage to solve and a backstory for Kira Sasaki that add some depth to this pairing. It’s nonetheless a slow-burn, a nuanced account of developing attraction and the measure of denial that seem to parallel the bond between Rian and Ella. The characters are not above eye-rolling moments though, especially as Kira gives into inexplicable TSTL moments when she pushes Varean away in the belief he would be better off with his kind then treats him rather coldly after that.
With Anastasi’s books as always, the blurb reveals just a facet of the fascinating universe and its politics and for this reason ‘Diffraction’ doesn’t function well as a standalone. Every chapter came as a surprise because I couldn’t see what was coming at all: secondary character deaths, new additions to the crew and many fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants moments, with several twists and turns written with such swagger that I wondered if I’d found myself in an amalgamation of all the classic sci-fi series (and the latest Marvel offerings) that I’d binged on in the last decade. Overall, I think the bottom-line here is that it has been such fun, if only to be part of the developing action and the build-up to what might look like a spectacular battle between the bad guys and the good guys…should the series be taken that far.
*ARC by netgalley and the publisher
(always grateful, mind)
January 19, 2017
Well! I'm certainly glad I said yes to reading the third book. it's now 2:30 a.m. and I need to get some sleep. Full review tomorrow... Oops, forgot, full review on January 2, 2017 when the book is released!
My Review:
This is not going to be just a trilogy because the author has added a great twist to the world onboard the Imojenna, Captain Rian Sherron's spaceship. A twist that will most likely have far reaching effects.
Ms. Anastasi continues her wonderful space opera with this third love story. Kira, mild-mannered doctor of the Imojenna doesn't say "boo" to anyone except in defense of her patients. And Varean, their current prisoner, a commando who is accused of being one of the enemies, the Reidar. Varean's in pretty bad shape when they drag him onboard the Imojenna. And commandos are the toughest of the tough. Kira does her doctor thing and stands up to the security guards when they go too far with her patient. She just has a feeling about this man. And from that feeling comes a spark. And from that spark comes...trouble! But it wouldn't be any fun if there weren't some trouble!
And this book is fun! The crew runs into a whole lot of trouble this time, almost more than they can handle. They lose a lot this time, too. This third book is being released today, January 2, 2017. So pick it up and stay with the story! I strongly recommend it! Too good to miss!
This eARC was offered to me by Entangled in exchange for an honest review. I am not being compensated in any way. All opinions are fully my own.
~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review
My Review:
This is not going to be just a trilogy because the author has added a great twist to the world onboard the Imojenna, Captain Rian Sherron's spaceship. A twist that will most likely have far reaching effects.
Ms. Anastasi continues her wonderful space opera with this third love story. Kira, mild-mannered doctor of the Imojenna doesn't say "boo" to anyone except in defense of her patients. And Varean, their current prisoner, a commando who is accused of being one of the enemies, the Reidar. Varean's in pretty bad shape when they drag him onboard the Imojenna. And commandos are the toughest of the tough. Kira does her doctor thing and stands up to the security guards when they go too far with her patient. She just has a feeling about this man. And from that feeling comes a spark. And from that spark comes...trouble! But it wouldn't be any fun if there weren't some trouble!
And this book is fun! The crew runs into a whole lot of trouble this time, almost more than they can handle. They lose a lot this time, too. This third book is being released today, January 2, 2017. So pick it up and stay with the story! I strongly recommend it! Too good to miss!
This eARC was offered to me by Entangled in exchange for an honest review. I am not being compensated in any way. All opinions are fully my own.
~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review
December 29, 2016
The AF Commando Varean Donnelly has been dragged about the space ship Imojenna after failing a test to prove he is human. He didn't destruct like the shape shifting evil aliens do either. So what is he?
Dr. Kira Sasaki doesn't like how the prisoner is being treated and does her best to ensure fair treatment. He will not help himself by cooperating. He is far too stubborn.
This is the third book in a series that must be read in order. The stories each have a staring couple that need to solve their own problems within the main story. Each member of the crew is special in their own way. There is a lot of space adventure and danger with a little sex and a lot of self sacrifice. This didn't end the way I thought it would. It sets us up nicely for the next book in the series.
I have read all the books so far and they get better with each one. I am totally addicted to the series.
Dr. Kira Sasaki doesn't like how the prisoner is being treated and does her best to ensure fair treatment. He will not help himself by cooperating. He is far too stubborn.
This is the third book in a series that must be read in order. The stories each have a staring couple that need to solve their own problems within the main story. Each member of the crew is special in their own way. There is a lot of space adventure and danger with a little sex and a lot of self sacrifice. This didn't end the way I thought it would. It sets us up nicely for the next book in the series.
I have read all the books so far and they get better with each one. I am totally addicted to the series.
January 2, 2017
In continuation of the adventures on aboard the Immojenna, the mysterious soldier who reacts to the stunner but does not turn into an alien is now a prisoner. Kira the ship's Doctor is appalled at the way he is being treated. And even though he may be dangerous, she can't help seeing beneath his veneer of aggression. After many hits and misses, many which endanger his life, she manages to hold them off by asking for time to run tests.
Those plans, of course, must be put on hold when things start turning hairy and the crew is forced to split up. Old enemies are too close for comfort and close allies are lost. New friendships are forged along with romantic encounters. This book too is as great at the last two and I can't wait until the next one is out. Can this series get any better!
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley for voluntary review consideration
Those plans, of course, must be put on hold when things start turning hairy and the crew is forced to split up. Old enemies are too close for comfort and close allies are lost. New friendships are forged along with romantic encounters. This book too is as great at the last two and I can't wait until the next one is out. Can this series get any better!
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley for voluntary review consideration
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February 7, 20173 Boundless Stars, review to follow on Boundless Book Reviews
April 6, 2017
Poor Varean! Because of his reaction to the Reidar stun gun, he has been abducted onto the Imojenna. He has been secured in their makeshift brig and the crew are doing their best to torture him as to why he is apparently human but takes hits from stunner! Kira, the crews doctor, does her best to temper their treatment of him, but with darkness mounting and their continued status as terrorists, there is only so much she can do. Varean knows he isn't Reidar but much of his ancestry is unknown so what else could he be????
Whilst it's easy to see why the crew are uneasy around him, it is also understandable that Varean isn't going to instantly forgive and forget once they 'fess up as to why he was brought on board. As his story and that of Kira's backstory unfolds, we learn more of why Kira is on board and that the Imojenna crew may just have some well hidden but potentially very strong allies!
Rian continues to be his tortured self, denying himself the soothing abilities of Ella (What a man!!!) I love that he and Ella are so long drawn out over the books. He is so self loathing, carrying the weight of the universe on his shoulders, that if he got his HEA instantly I think I'd be disappointed!! We also face heartbreak at the loss of the crew but have they all been permanently lost? Will they be able to rejoin the crew at some future time? I really hope so cos this was one of my fave characters!!!
My one nit pick is Lianna. This girl is tres, tres hard to love. In fact I don't even like her at the moment!!! I really hope she has some redeeming features soon cos I did find myself skipping bits where she was mentioned cos she was just so nasty!!!!! I get that she is Rians friend and crew and felt threatened when Varean came onboard but he wasn't a bad guy and she is STILL Mrs ForstyBitchyPants!!!
Roll on book 4!!!
Whilst it's easy to see why the crew are uneasy around him, it is also understandable that Varean isn't going to instantly forgive and forget once they 'fess up as to why he was brought on board. As his story and that of Kira's backstory unfolds, we learn more of why Kira is on board and that the Imojenna crew may just have some well hidden but potentially very strong allies!
Rian continues to be his tortured self, denying himself the soothing abilities of Ella (What a man!!!) I love that he and Ella are so long drawn out over the books. He is so self loathing, carrying the weight of the universe on his shoulders, that if he got his HEA instantly I think I'd be disappointed!! We also face heartbreak at the loss of the crew but have they all been permanently lost? Will they be able to rejoin the crew at some future time? I really hope so cos this was one of my fave characters!!!
My one nit pick is Lianna. This girl is tres, tres hard to love. In fact I don't even like her at the moment!!! I really hope she has some redeeming features soon cos I did find myself skipping bits where she was mentioned cos she was just so nasty!!!!! I get that she is Rians friend and crew and felt threatened when Varean came onboard but he wasn't a bad guy and she is STILL Mrs ForstyBitchyPants!!!
Roll on book 4!!!
January 1, 2017
Rating 3.5
This is the third novel in this sci-fi series in which Captain Rian Sherron and his crew are striving to remove the threat posed by the shape shifting Reidar who are using their abilities to impersonate key personnel throughout human organisations. Rian has helped developed a weapon which forces the Reidar to reveal themselves but does nothing to true humans. When Commando Varean Donnelly has a weird reaction to the weapon, Rian imprisons him on his spaceship, Imojenna. Doctor Kira Sasaki knows there is something very different about Varean, suspecting he is a victim of Reidar experimentation, but doesn't believe he is a threat or that he should be mistreated by other crew on their spaceship. Are the crew correct and able to prove Varean is dangerous? Can Kira prove he isn't? What about the instant attraction between the two - should either of them succumb to the temptation provided by the other? As Rian and the crew continue to try to avoid the authorities, can they succeed in their fight to save mankind from the Reidar?
Diffraction is an easy-read sequel to the earlier novels. It has an intriguingly different take on the alien conspiracy to take over the human communities and there are some revelations and more hints regarding Rian's past when he worked for the aliens. Many of the crew on the Imojenna still seem dysfunctional, making them difficult to relate to and empathise with, but the action scenes are well portrayed, brought to life in the reader's imagination. There are plenty of twist and turns and the great ending will certainly encourage me to look out for more in this series in future.
I received an ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review.
This is the third novel in this sci-fi series in which Captain Rian Sherron and his crew are striving to remove the threat posed by the shape shifting Reidar who are using their abilities to impersonate key personnel throughout human organisations. Rian has helped developed a weapon which forces the Reidar to reveal themselves but does nothing to true humans. When Commando Varean Donnelly has a weird reaction to the weapon, Rian imprisons him on his spaceship, Imojenna. Doctor Kira Sasaki knows there is something very different about Varean, suspecting he is a victim of Reidar experimentation, but doesn't believe he is a threat or that he should be mistreated by other crew on their spaceship. Are the crew correct and able to prove Varean is dangerous? Can Kira prove he isn't? What about the instant attraction between the two - should either of them succumb to the temptation provided by the other? As Rian and the crew continue to try to avoid the authorities, can they succeed in their fight to save mankind from the Reidar?
Diffraction is an easy-read sequel to the earlier novels. It has an intriguingly different take on the alien conspiracy to take over the human communities and there are some revelations and more hints regarding Rian's past when he worked for the aliens. Many of the crew on the Imojenna still seem dysfunctional, making them difficult to relate to and empathise with, but the action scenes are well portrayed, brought to life in the reader's imagination. There are plenty of twist and turns and the great ending will certainly encourage me to look out for more in this series in future.
I received an ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review.
January 6, 2025
Another great installment in the Atrophy series.I've been hooked onto this series from the first book-Atrophy.I really love the world building and the imagination that the author has put into creating this series and the characters.Though Diffraction didn't surpass my expectations like the previous books did, I loved that it was unique in its own way.
Varean is accused of being a Reidar, as he was affected by the Reidar weapon, but not exactly in such a way that they could pinpoint.He is a puzzle that Rian is determined to unravel.Varean knows he is different, but he is sure he isnt a Reidar, so what is he?
Here comes in Kira, the doc on the Imojenna ship.She feels an instant connection to Varean and is horrified at the treatment that he receives.But, what will happen when she finds out the truth about him?
The romance between Kira and Varean was great, though a little insta-lovish, but I'm willing to let that slide.It was cute to watch their relationship unfold amidst the threats and dangerous situations.
They were both great main characters and willing to go to great lengths for each other.I loved Kira's protectiveness.Though it didn't induce the initial excitement that the first two books did, I really like where the author is taking the story-plot wise and let me just say I am excited to read more.
Can't wait for the next book in the series!I'm really curious whether Rian will get his own book because that would be a really interesting one! :D
Varean is accused of being a Reidar, as he was affected by the Reidar weapon, but not exactly in such a way that they could pinpoint.He is a puzzle that Rian is determined to unravel.Varean knows he is different, but he is sure he isnt a Reidar, so what is he?
Here comes in Kira, the doc on the Imojenna ship.She feels an instant connection to Varean and is horrified at the treatment that he receives.But, what will happen when she finds out the truth about him?
The romance between Kira and Varean was great, though a little insta-lovish, but I'm willing to let that slide.It was cute to watch their relationship unfold amidst the threats and dangerous situations.
They were both great main characters and willing to go to great lengths for each other.I loved Kira's protectiveness.Though it didn't induce the initial excitement that the first two books did, I really like where the author is taking the story-plot wise and let me just say I am excited to read more.
Can't wait for the next book in the series!I'm really curious whether Rian will get his own book because that would be a really interesting one! :D
April 15, 2021
I’ve really been enjoying the Atrophy series, and this time it’s the story of Kira Sasaki, the Imojenna’s doctor and Varean Donnelly. Varean is a Commando serving on Captain Admiral Zander Graydon’s ship, the Swift Brion, when it is taken back from the alien shapeshifters that commandeered it. When he shows a reaction to the stun gun they’ve developed that affects the aliens but not humans, he’s taken prisoner aboard the Imojenna. Kira realizes there is something different about him when every medication she treats him with almost kills him, but won’t give up on trying to find answers. He wants to keep his differences to himself because that’s always been the best way to keep safe. Poor Varean goes through hell because he won’t/can’t explain why he has a reaction to the stun gun, but Kira is determined to help him. When they finally have a chance to run tests and find out the answer to his genetic make-up, they may part ways for a bit, but it is inevitable that these two belong together. There is quite a bit of torment and some real heart-break in this story, but there is a sense of hope by the end, which makes me eager to read the next book in the series, which will feature Captain Qaelan Forster and Camille Blackstone.
December 22, 2016
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't think this is the first book in this series. There are a lot of characters and a lot to catch up with. Lots of characters and POV changes. Not quite the story I expected. Ended well and well-written.
I don't think this is the first book in this series. There are a lot of characters and a lot to catch up with. Lots of characters and POV changes. Not quite the story I expected. Ended well and well-written.
January 21, 2023
This series is getting better and better. Loved the characters and revealing more of the ‘world’.
February 9, 2020
Another great installment in the Atrophy series, further advancing the overall story arc and giving a complete romance for Kira and Varean. Lots of action and tension! I'm really enjoying the worldbuilding, with the alien Reidar species becoming more and more of an intergalactic threat (and seeing how their plot against humans has been so insidious). At times it seems like there won't be any way to defeat them, yet there is still hope and it comes in the form of Varean who has some mysterious abilities that could be key to the Reidar's defeat - if he can figure out how to use them. And as always, the captain of the starship Imojenna, Rian Sherron and his feelings and relationship with the telepathic princess Ella (whom he rescued in book 1) are a secondary story arc that I hope to see completed in the last book. Overall a compelling and interesting read!
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
December 29, 2016
Well, I suppose my lucky streak with ARCs had to end eventually...honestly, this was a struggle to get through. I didn't expect to have as much trouble as I did finishing this one because the synopsis hit my sweet spot - a feisty lady doctor wrangling the bad news commando sounded right up my alley. Plus I like sci-fi romance, which is a sub-genre I don't often get to read, so I was looking forward to this story, but was ultimately quite let down.
First, a very petty nitpick, but my god was it annoying how all the characters in this futuristic society spoke English exactly the same way as we do with no difference OTHER than the use of the word 'freck' instead of 'fuck'. It was such a pointless change and every single clunky unnecessary usage made me grind my teeth in frustration:
"I don't know a thing about frecking shape-shifting aliens..."
"Get frecked, asshole."
"He was sure as frecking hell angry..."
FRECKING KILL ME ALREADY.
Second, the romance isn't very compelling, it's your basic insta-love with Varean taking a whiff of the doctor's luscious vanilla scent and feeling a buzz from her warm, gentle fingers and promptly finding it impossible to resist her. Meanwhile Kira finds him so attractive that her judgment is immediately compromised and she goes out of her way to disobey every order from her hardass terrifying captain in order to pander to the prisoner she was not supposed to be anywhere near, let alone uncuff or kiss, let alone give a tender sponge bath to...and so on and so forth. There isn't much depth or development of their relationship, nowhere near enough for us to understand why she risks her position and her life to free him nor why he is so taken with her that he's willing to endure hell in order to keep her from intervening on his behalf.
Third, the supporting cast are nearly all unlikable and saddled with single-note characterization. Rian is a murderous monster, Callan is a stubborn ass, Lianna is a vicious shrew...only Zahli and Ella escape the heaping of negative characteristics because the former is the heroine of a previous novel and the latter is set up to be the heroine of a future novel, so instead they're passive, sweet and virtuously wholesome.
I feel as though the author was perhaps trying for a 'Firefly' vibe, with the rag-tag crew of misfits in space, taking on passengers that are more than they seem and ending up rebelling against a secret wide-spread conspiracy. But the crew don't have anywhere near the same chemistry and fierce attachment to each other as the Firefly crew - I have no idea why Kira kept referring to the Imojenna as home and its crew as her family when most of the main characters were completely callous and insensitive and displayed zero respect for her.
Fourth, the story was completely repetitive - Varean was taken prisoner and everyone was all for his torture and death (despite no evidence of wrongdoing) based on him presumably being an alien. Every single encounter for several chapters involves him being threatened and then shot unconscious. When the plot gets underway and they're all off on a merry adventure, his input is greeted with threats of violence and murder, even when he's being helpful and done nothing wrong. Then things go FUBAR and holy shit, what are they going to do, everyone is frecked, and Varean has been nothing but an asset and upstanding guy, offering assistance and tactical support, but can you guess how they respond whenever he opens his mouth? THREATS OF VIOLENCE AND MURDER. The xenophobic nature of the crew really got on my nerves, acting as though his genetics made him fundamentally untrustworthy and fit only for a swift execution.
After all that, I still ended up finishing the story, so obviously it had some redeeming factors, otherwise I would've quit halfway through. On the plus side, 'Diffraction' was quite an easy read, with brisk and snappy writing. I found the alien conspiracy angle intriguing, and I liked the hints we uncover about Rian's mysterious past. The action scenes were well-done and there were a number of times the story took me by surprise with its twists and turns, and the ending was genuinely thrilling. It's just a shame the characters were so paper-thin and impossible for me to invest in.
Disclaimer: I received a digital ARC free from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First, a very petty nitpick, but my god was it annoying how all the characters in this futuristic society spoke English exactly the same way as we do with no difference OTHER than the use of the word 'freck' instead of 'fuck'. It was such a pointless change and every single clunky unnecessary usage made me grind my teeth in frustration:
"I don't know a thing about frecking shape-shifting aliens..."
"Get frecked, asshole."
"He was sure as frecking hell angry..."
FRECKING KILL ME ALREADY.
Second, the romance isn't very compelling, it's your basic insta-love with Varean taking a whiff of the doctor's luscious vanilla scent and feeling a buzz from her warm, gentle fingers and promptly finding it impossible to resist her. Meanwhile Kira finds him so attractive that her judgment is immediately compromised and she goes out of her way to disobey every order from her hardass terrifying captain in order to pander to the prisoner she was not supposed to be anywhere near, let alone uncuff or kiss, let alone give a tender sponge bath to...and so on and so forth. There isn't much depth or development of their relationship, nowhere near enough for us to understand why she risks her position and her life to free him nor why he is so taken with her that he's willing to endure hell in order to keep her from intervening on his behalf.
Third, the supporting cast are nearly all unlikable and saddled with single-note characterization. Rian is a murderous monster, Callan is a stubborn ass, Lianna is a vicious shrew...only Zahli and Ella escape the heaping of negative characteristics because the former is the heroine of a previous novel and the latter is set up to be the heroine of a future novel, so instead they're passive, sweet and virtuously wholesome.
I feel as though the author was perhaps trying for a 'Firefly' vibe, with the rag-tag crew of misfits in space, taking on passengers that are more than they seem and ending up rebelling against a secret wide-spread conspiracy. But the crew don't have anywhere near the same chemistry and fierce attachment to each other as the Firefly crew - I have no idea why Kira kept referring to the Imojenna as home and its crew as her family when most of the main characters were completely callous and insensitive and displayed zero respect for her.
Fourth, the story was completely repetitive - Varean was taken prisoner and everyone was all for his torture and death (despite no evidence of wrongdoing) based on him presumably being an alien. Every single encounter for several chapters involves him being threatened and then shot unconscious. When the plot gets underway and they're all off on a merry adventure, his input is greeted with threats of violence and murder, even when he's being helpful and done nothing wrong. Then things go FUBAR and holy shit, what are they going to do, everyone is frecked, and Varean has been nothing but an asset and upstanding guy, offering assistance and tactical support, but can you guess how they respond whenever he opens his mouth? THREATS OF VIOLENCE AND MURDER. The xenophobic nature of the crew really got on my nerves, acting as though his genetics made him fundamentally untrustworthy and fit only for a swift execution.
After all that, I still ended up finishing the story, so obviously it had some redeeming factors, otherwise I would've quit halfway through. On the plus side, 'Diffraction' was quite an easy read, with brisk and snappy writing. I found the alien conspiracy angle intriguing, and I liked the hints we uncover about Rian's mysterious past. The action scenes were well-done and there were a number of times the story took me by surprise with its twists and turns, and the ending was genuinely thrilling. It's just a shame the characters were so paper-thin and impossible for me to invest in.
Disclaimer: I received a digital ARC free from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2017
Originally published at Reading Reality
The Atrophy series is still hitting my “I miss Firefly” button, but as the series goes on the linkages both get more obvious and more tenuous at the same time.
Let me explain.
The universe of the Atrophy series, along with its protagonists, feel very much like the crew of the Serenity, but with some significant differences.
Rian Sherron at first seemed like a ringer for Mal Reynolds, but a Reynolds who had gone way, way further into the Dark Side than even the gloomy and driven Reynolds seemed to have reached. As the series has continued, we learn a whole lot more about why, and the why is where things diverge.
The evil forces in Atrophy are not the mindless Reavers, but the sound-alike but not really do-alike Reidar in the Atrophy universe. The Reidar are shapeshifting aliens, and they have spent the last several decades, if not far longer, placing shapeshifted Reidar into positions of power and authority all over the human Alliance.
For several years, Rian Sherron, Alliance military hero, was a brainwashed captive of the Reidar, forced to act as one of their elite assassins. He escaped, with the help of Arynian priestess Ella (yes, think Inarra Sera, it’s close enough). Rian managed to claw some of himself back from the brink, and now the Reidar and all their operatives are hunting Rian and Ella across the galaxy.
In Diffraction, the Reidar manage to capture Rian’s ship Imojenna, and his crew is scattered as they attempt to continue their mission to expose and eliminate the Reidar. Meanwhile, Kira Sasaki, the Imojenna’s ship’s doctor, has managed to find her own version of River Tam, but she certainly doesn’t see Commando Varean Donnelly as a sibling.
She also doesn’t see him as someone she can keep in her life, no matter how much she wants to.
Escape Rating B: This is a solid entry in the series, but it doesn’t rise to the level of the first two books, Atrophy and Quantum. It mostly feels like a middle book, as in between all of the chases and captures, the arc of the story-as-a-whole is trending downwards.
The crew of the Imojenna have found a weapon against the Reidar, but no way to mass produce it, or even ship it. They’ve lost some of their own, and currently have more questions than answers to the mess they find themselves (and their galaxy) in.
In the middle of all the action is the romance between Kira and Varean. Varean is a mystery to the Imojenna crew. He reacts to the Reidar weapon, not exactly like a Reidar, but definitely not like a human. He’s something other, and they don’t know what. Under the circumstances, that they don’t trust what they don’t know is hardly surprising.
What is surprising is the doctor’s reaction. Kira is incensed at the way Varean is being treated, and it leads to an emotional involvement that springs just a bit out of nowhere, even in these desperate circumstances. There’s been a lot of insta-love in this series, and in this particular case it’s on a hair trigger. At the same time, there is absolutely no time for these two to fall in love. They just do. I hope the romance in the next book in the series takes just a bit longer to build.
This is a series that almost requires being read in order. While the romances in each book are separate, the overall story builds from one book to the next. Also, the relationship between Rian and Ella is something that we see glimpses of in each book, but is nowhere near any resolution – at least not yet. The long arc of the series is fascinating. How do you manage to defeat an enemy who could be anyone, anywhere, and can command all the resources of your own people against you at every turn? I definitely want to know what happens next.
The Atrophy series is still hitting my “I miss Firefly” button, but as the series goes on the linkages both get more obvious and more tenuous at the same time.
Let me explain.
The universe of the Atrophy series, along with its protagonists, feel very much like the crew of the Serenity, but with some significant differences.
Rian Sherron at first seemed like a ringer for Mal Reynolds, but a Reynolds who had gone way, way further into the Dark Side than even the gloomy and driven Reynolds seemed to have reached. As the series has continued, we learn a whole lot more about why, and the why is where things diverge.
The evil forces in Atrophy are not the mindless Reavers, but the sound-alike but not really do-alike Reidar in the Atrophy universe. The Reidar are shapeshifting aliens, and they have spent the last several decades, if not far longer, placing shapeshifted Reidar into positions of power and authority all over the human Alliance.
For several years, Rian Sherron, Alliance military hero, was a brainwashed captive of the Reidar, forced to act as one of their elite assassins. He escaped, with the help of Arynian priestess Ella (yes, think Inarra Sera, it’s close enough). Rian managed to claw some of himself back from the brink, and now the Reidar and all their operatives are hunting Rian and Ella across the galaxy.
In Diffraction, the Reidar manage to capture Rian’s ship Imojenna, and his crew is scattered as they attempt to continue their mission to expose and eliminate the Reidar. Meanwhile, Kira Sasaki, the Imojenna’s ship’s doctor, has managed to find her own version of River Tam, but she certainly doesn’t see Commando Varean Donnelly as a sibling.
She also doesn’t see him as someone she can keep in her life, no matter how much she wants to.
Escape Rating B: This is a solid entry in the series, but it doesn’t rise to the level of the first two books, Atrophy and Quantum. It mostly feels like a middle book, as in between all of the chases and captures, the arc of the story-as-a-whole is trending downwards.
The crew of the Imojenna have found a weapon against the Reidar, but no way to mass produce it, or even ship it. They’ve lost some of their own, and currently have more questions than answers to the mess they find themselves (and their galaxy) in.
In the middle of all the action is the romance between Kira and Varean. Varean is a mystery to the Imojenna crew. He reacts to the Reidar weapon, not exactly like a Reidar, but definitely not like a human. He’s something other, and they don’t know what. Under the circumstances, that they don’t trust what they don’t know is hardly surprising.
What is surprising is the doctor’s reaction. Kira is incensed at the way Varean is being treated, and it leads to an emotional involvement that springs just a bit out of nowhere, even in these desperate circumstances. There’s been a lot of insta-love in this series, and in this particular case it’s on a hair trigger. At the same time, there is absolutely no time for these two to fall in love. They just do. I hope the romance in the next book in the series takes just a bit longer to build.
This is a series that almost requires being read in order. While the romances in each book are separate, the overall story builds from one book to the next. Also, the relationship between Rian and Ella is something that we see glimpses of in each book, but is nowhere near any resolution – at least not yet. The long arc of the series is fascinating. How do you manage to defeat an enemy who could be anyone, anywhere, and can command all the resources of your own people against you at every turn? I definitely want to know what happens next.
January 9, 2017
3.5 stars.
I’m slightly conflicted about this book, because it made me come close to hating every crew member on the Imojenna, except for Kira. Rian gets a pass too because he’s too messed up and distracted with his own issues to be blamed for most of what happens to Varean. And a lot happens to Varean in this book, very little of it good. But in a way this is also a good thing, because I found Varean compelling enough to care about what happened to him.
Varean showed up at the end of the last book, Quantum, as a strange anomaly that the main characters of that story mostly forgot about. Sadly for Varean, he wasn’t forgotten by Rian and his pirate cousin, which is how he ends up on the Imojenna, under the most dubious of circumstances. Because no one can quite work out whether he’s alien or human, or why the alien stunner seems to affect him so badly. This leads to a lot of callous behaviour on behalf of the crew, except for Doctor Kira who at least has some compassion left.
I liked both Kira and Varean. The universe might be going to hell in a handbasket around them, but they still have a measure of goodness, compassion and an ability to care for each other. Not to mention protectiveness. I love how Kira tries to protect Varean, even before she knows the truth about him. I was a little surprised at how long it takes her to think of blood sampling, though, and later on in the book some of her reasoning gets a little annoying – and a bit too similar to how the romantic angst in the last book played out.
Varean is a man whose universe has collapsed, but even in the midst of all that mess, he’s still good enough to care about what happens to Kira. He even cares about the others, despite the abuse he gets from Callan, the nasty way Lianna treats him and the selfish usage of the rest of the crew. His attraction to Kira is a bit too instant and they never really have a chance to explore and deepen it throughout the book, but I still liked him. Some revelations about him did feel rather convenient and his capacity for forgiveness is astonishing, but I still wanted to know what would happen to him from one scene to the next.
Elsewhere, Ella really got on my nerves. She’s always annoyed me to a certain extent, but this time around I had no time for her at all. Also, why didn’t Kira ever ask her to look at Varean? That made no sense to me. Zahli continues to be useless, just hanging around, not being very helpful. We have a few further revelations about how bad and dark Rian is, but likewise there are hints of redemption too and a few twists which left me more curious about him than ever.
So overall this was a mostly enjoyable read. There is plenty of action, which comes thick and fast as the book progresses. We get a few new hints about the war with the aliens, plus a few more clues about the universe they’re all flying around, which definitely keep things interesting. More depth to the romance might have been nice, though, even though I found it a little more engaging than in the last book. As for the behaviour of the crew, Lianna in particular has left me a little reluctant to read more, especially as I suspect she and a certain pirate captain might be up next. I like the overall plot, but the characters are slowly driving me away from this series. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see whether or not I’ll read on.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
I’m slightly conflicted about this book, because it made me come close to hating every crew member on the Imojenna, except for Kira. Rian gets a pass too because he’s too messed up and distracted with his own issues to be blamed for most of what happens to Varean. And a lot happens to Varean in this book, very little of it good. But in a way this is also a good thing, because I found Varean compelling enough to care about what happened to him.
Varean showed up at the end of the last book, Quantum, as a strange anomaly that the main characters of that story mostly forgot about. Sadly for Varean, he wasn’t forgotten by Rian and his pirate cousin, which is how he ends up on the Imojenna, under the most dubious of circumstances. Because no one can quite work out whether he’s alien or human, or why the alien stunner seems to affect him so badly. This leads to a lot of callous behaviour on behalf of the crew, except for Doctor Kira who at least has some compassion left.
I liked both Kira and Varean. The universe might be going to hell in a handbasket around them, but they still have a measure of goodness, compassion and an ability to care for each other. Not to mention protectiveness. I love how Kira tries to protect Varean, even before she knows the truth about him. I was a little surprised at how long it takes her to think of blood sampling, though, and later on in the book some of her reasoning gets a little annoying – and a bit too similar to how the romantic angst in the last book played out.
Varean is a man whose universe has collapsed, but even in the midst of all that mess, he’s still good enough to care about what happens to Kira. He even cares about the others, despite the abuse he gets from Callan, the nasty way Lianna treats him and the selfish usage of the rest of the crew. His attraction to Kira is a bit too instant and they never really have a chance to explore and deepen it throughout the book, but I still liked him. Some revelations about him did feel rather convenient and his capacity for forgiveness is astonishing, but I still wanted to know what would happen to him from one scene to the next.
Elsewhere, Ella really got on my nerves. She’s always annoyed me to a certain extent, but this time around I had no time for her at all. Also, why didn’t Kira ever ask her to look at Varean? That made no sense to me. Zahli continues to be useless, just hanging around, not being very helpful. We have a few further revelations about how bad and dark Rian is, but likewise there are hints of redemption too and a few twists which left me more curious about him than ever.
So overall this was a mostly enjoyable read. There is plenty of action, which comes thick and fast as the book progresses. We get a few new hints about the war with the aliens, plus a few more clues about the universe they’re all flying around, which definitely keep things interesting. More depth to the romance might have been nice, though, even though I found it a little more engaging than in the last book. As for the behaviour of the crew, Lianna in particular has left me a little reluctant to read more, especially as I suspect she and a certain pirate captain might be up next. I like the overall plot, but the characters are slowly driving me away from this series. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see whether or not I’ll read on.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
December 29, 2016
When Qaelan Foster, renegade captain Rian Sherron’s cousin, drags in a wounded soldier in Rian’s ship, Qaelan announces that the injured commando, Varean Donnelly, is suspected of being Reidar – an enemy shape-shifter alien. Varean is to be considered dangerous and kept in a makeshift brig until further notice. Doctor Kira Sasaki maintains the soldier should be kept in medbay, as it is obvious he was hurt by the blast from the razar – an energy weapon that exposes Reidars. However, they are not sure if the razar is foolproof, and Varean assures them he is not an alien, although Varean has a secret when it comes to his real identity, and there is an unknown violence that threatens to explode…
Rian hates Reidars with a passion; he was once tortured by the aliens, his mission is to see them eradicated before they rule the universe, Kira is appalled at the way Varean is being treated, she will not renege on her hypocratical oath; besides she senses that Varean is not a bad man, and he intrigues her.
In this third instalment of Jess Anastasi’s brilliant scifi series, Rian and his shipmates continue to try to evade the authorities, and while there is a continuing story arc through the whole series, a new reader can safely dive in DIFFRACTION, even if upon reading this, it sounds rather convoluted, it is not: Ms. Anastasi supplies all the necessary information as needed– and refreshes our memories – without bogging down the narrative with superfluous technical details. I am not a reader of science fiction novels, and I have loved this series from the beginning, and this might well be one of the reasons: I never feel like a techno-imbecile! DIFFRACTION is, as the previous two books, a very dense story, fast paced, and extremely well written, even lyrical at times, although I still have the same small issue as I had with the previous books: the substitution of the ubiquitous “freck”, in all its variations, for another f-word; it still gets on my nerves, for some reason.
DIFFRACTION is very much character-based, as much of the suspense derives from Varean’s identity. This series features extremely interesting characters, and Kira is no different: she is cool under pressure, a dedicated professional with a secret past, but no one messes with her patient, not even the volatile Rian, who is still quite the enigma at times, but, no more about him; I will let long-time readers savour what happens with Rian... The romance between Varean and Kira is a precarious one, as they tiptoe around each other, the ship’s crew is wary, and threats abound. DIFFRACTION has several surprise twists, not every returning character lives to see the end of this story, but the best surprise of all is that DIFFRACTION will not be the last book in the series! A character I particularly like will have his own story! Star Trek fans will enjoy this story, but philosophers as well!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Rian hates Reidars with a passion; he was once tortured by the aliens, his mission is to see them eradicated before they rule the universe, Kira is appalled at the way Varean is being treated, she will not renege on her hypocratical oath; besides she senses that Varean is not a bad man, and he intrigues her.
In this third instalment of Jess Anastasi’s brilliant scifi series, Rian and his shipmates continue to try to evade the authorities, and while there is a continuing story arc through the whole series, a new reader can safely dive in DIFFRACTION, even if upon reading this, it sounds rather convoluted, it is not: Ms. Anastasi supplies all the necessary information as needed– and refreshes our memories – without bogging down the narrative with superfluous technical details. I am not a reader of science fiction novels, and I have loved this series from the beginning, and this might well be one of the reasons: I never feel like a techno-imbecile! DIFFRACTION is, as the previous two books, a very dense story, fast paced, and extremely well written, even lyrical at times, although I still have the same small issue as I had with the previous books: the substitution of the ubiquitous “freck”, in all its variations, for another f-word; it still gets on my nerves, for some reason.
DIFFRACTION is very much character-based, as much of the suspense derives from Varean’s identity. This series features extremely interesting characters, and Kira is no different: she is cool under pressure, a dedicated professional with a secret past, but no one messes with her patient, not even the volatile Rian, who is still quite the enigma at times, but, no more about him; I will let long-time readers savour what happens with Rian... The romance between Varean and Kira is a precarious one, as they tiptoe around each other, the ship’s crew is wary, and threats abound. DIFFRACTION has several surprise twists, not every returning character lives to see the end of this story, but the best surprise of all is that DIFFRACTION will not be the last book in the series! A character I particularly like will have his own story! Star Trek fans will enjoy this story, but philosophers as well!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
January 8, 2017
Oh, but Jess Anastasi, you're killing me here! You give me an inch, then take away a mile! I'm so invested in this world you've made, and here you are spinning me out of control on this wild ride! Since obviously this poor “family” of crew members can't catch a break, we get to rejoin them as they take their exploits to even greater extremes in their fight for the human race. That's right, I said family. That's the one thing I think I love the most about this series. A group of “misfits” coming together with loyalty and love as so much more than crew members.
This time, we get to meet the enigmatic Varean. He's more than meets the eye, and with a history and lineage that the rest of the crew can't trust, his future seems rocky. Good thing he has the ship's doc, Kira to take care of him.
“The only anchor had been a voice. The sound of it like honey soothing bitter acid.”
There was so much going on in book three that my poor head was spinning and my poor heart didn't know how to react. Cheers for those kick -@$$ fight scenes? Cries for the lives lost? Swoons for a romance finding it's place in such difficult times? Oh my. So many times it felt like hope was lost. Watching Rian struggle with his inner darkness as he struggled with his ongoing attraction to Ella.
“I'm sorry I couldn't save you,” she whispered, her voice catching. “You tried, even though I didn't want it.” “Didn't you?”
Oh the heart wrenching feels! Of course this book opened up even more plotlines than it closed, but you won't hear me complaining. That just means that there is even more to anticipate. Bring it on! ~ George 5 Stars
This time, we get to meet the enigmatic Varean. He's more than meets the eye, and with a history and lineage that the rest of the crew can't trust, his future seems rocky. Good thing he has the ship's doc, Kira to take care of him.
“The only anchor had been a voice. The sound of it like honey soothing bitter acid.”
There was so much going on in book three that my poor head was spinning and my poor heart didn't know how to react. Cheers for those kick -@$$ fight scenes? Cries for the lives lost? Swoons for a romance finding it's place in such difficult times? Oh my. So many times it felt like hope was lost. Watching Rian struggle with his inner darkness as he struggled with his ongoing attraction to Ella.
“I'm sorry I couldn't save you,” she whispered, her voice catching. “You tried, even though I didn't want it.” “Didn't you?”
Oh the heart wrenching feels! Of course this book opened up even more plotlines than it closed, but you won't hear me complaining. That just means that there is even more to anticipate. Bring it on! ~ George 5 Stars
January 9, 2017
Until now, I hadn't really noticed Kira. I knew she was the ships doctor but she typically stayed in the background. She's smart and quiet, with a deep seated need to help others, regardless of the rules. And Varean has her breaking all sorts of rules. At the start of the story, her connection with Varean felt a like insta-lust but as they progressed, it morphed into deeper feelings neither would admit to, giving a poignancy to their relationship for most of the story.
Varean was interesting. He's a quiet guy, who has a lot of abilities, but never uses them to free himself. He's thrown his lot in with Kira with mixed results they need to iron out. He has plenty of secrets-whether he knows them or not is another matter-and there's no doubt he has feelings for Kira, but finding out who he really was threw me for a loop!
Their romance was the humming sound in the background. Unlike Zander and Mae, Kira and Varean didn't have a lot of personal time together. Varean and Kira's romance had a solemn tone, if you will, than the others did, but I think it fit the storyline since Diffraction was a darker book than the first two were.
Instead of romance driven, Diffraction was plot driven. And man, what a story it told! It felt like the in-between book of the series with all the information it contained. Plenty of suspense, Rian's crew splits up when they have to abandon ship, new allies are introduced, favorite characters gave me a few surprises and tears, and a few twists had me glued until the end. Obviously, I've enjoyed this series since I've read three books in two days!
Varean was interesting. He's a quiet guy, who has a lot of abilities, but never uses them to free himself. He's thrown his lot in with Kira with mixed results they need to iron out. He has plenty of secrets-whether he knows them or not is another matter-and there's no doubt he has feelings for Kira, but finding out who he really was threw me for a loop!
Their romance was the humming sound in the background. Unlike Zander and Mae, Kira and Varean didn't have a lot of personal time together. Varean and Kira's romance had a solemn tone, if you will, than the others did, but I think it fit the storyline since Diffraction was a darker book than the first two were.
Instead of romance driven, Diffraction was plot driven. And man, what a story it told! It felt like the in-between book of the series with all the information it contained. Plenty of suspense, Rian's crew splits up when they have to abandon ship, new allies are introduced, favorite characters gave me a few surprises and tears, and a few twists had me glued until the end. Obviously, I've enjoyed this series since I've read three books in two days!
February 4, 2017
I honestly don’t know where to start. I haven’t read the other books in the series and I HIGHLY suggest that you do. At times, I was a bit lost when it came to the world building. This series is all about science fiction and otherworlds; plus, its a genre that I typically don’t read. Otherwise, I really liked the book. It was different and took me out of my comfort zone.
I liked that this book had a familia atmosphere to it. It seems that most sci/fi books have that but with this series, I can really tell that Ms. Anastasi put a lot of thought into all the characters; lead or secondary. Again, since I didn’t read the other books, I was a little thrown when the crew gets seperated, I was torn. I realized that they had things to do but I was really starting to like them together.
Varean is a great hero. Trying to figure out what he is, his feelings for Kira and just generally being himself amongst the crew. He isn’t trusted and he knows it but with Kira, he has someone that he can trust and grow to love.
Kira has been in the other books but this is her story. I liked her. Strong, determined and will do whatever needs to be done for Varaen. Overall, though, don’t think that the romance is at the front. It’s not and that’s why I suggest reading the other books beforehand. The book never lets up either. It’s fast paced, has some series twists and truly, I didn’t want it to end.
I really need to read the other books in the series so I can have a better understanding of this one. Overall, I highly recommend this book because it’s different, took me out of my comfort zone and offered a hero and heroine that I fell in love with and you will too.
I liked that this book had a familia atmosphere to it. It seems that most sci/fi books have that but with this series, I can really tell that Ms. Anastasi put a lot of thought into all the characters; lead or secondary. Again, since I didn’t read the other books, I was a little thrown when the crew gets seperated, I was torn. I realized that they had things to do but I was really starting to like them together.
Varean is a great hero. Trying to figure out what he is, his feelings for Kira and just generally being himself amongst the crew. He isn’t trusted and he knows it but with Kira, he has someone that he can trust and grow to love.
Kira has been in the other books but this is her story. I liked her. Strong, determined and will do whatever needs to be done for Varaen. Overall, though, don’t think that the romance is at the front. It’s not and that’s why I suggest reading the other books beforehand. The book never lets up either. It’s fast paced, has some series twists and truly, I didn’t want it to end.
I really need to read the other books in the series so I can have a better understanding of this one. Overall, I highly recommend this book because it’s different, took me out of my comfort zone and offered a hero and heroine that I fell in love with and you will too.
January 3, 2017
Diffraction is the newest installment in Jess Anastasi's Atrophy series. Varean is a cammando from Captain Admiral Zander's ship who is being held captive by Rian's crew aboard the Imojenna. The crew members believe Varean is either a member of the hidden alien species known as the Reidar or his DNA has been altered by the vicious alien species. Rian had stumbled upon a weapon in the previous book that can be used to temporarily stun any Reidar masquerading as human and force the aliens to take on their original form. Varean has never changed from his human form but he has an adverse reaction to the weapon that is harmless to humans. Kira is the doctor aboard the Imojenna and is upset by the way Rian is treating the captive.
Diffraction has plenty of action, adventure, and romance and was definitely a page turner. I liked that this book moved the story along and we discover new dimensions to the ongoing battle between humanity and the Reidar. The only issue I had was when Kira and Varean suddenly had irreconcilable differences. This was the same problem I had with the previous book. I thought it was out of character for Kira to keep pushing Varean away when she spent a majority of the book aiding and abetting him against the orders of her captain and the advice of her friends. There was no reason to separate the two lovers and it made their reconciliation less believeable. I don't understand why authors use that as a plot device. There was already plenty going on in the story at that point that the love story did not have to be waylaid in order to add more drama.
Diffraction has plenty of action, adventure, and romance and was definitely a page turner. I liked that this book moved the story along and we discover new dimensions to the ongoing battle between humanity and the Reidar. The only issue I had was when Kira and Varean suddenly had irreconcilable differences. This was the same problem I had with the previous book. I thought it was out of character for Kira to keep pushing Varean away when she spent a majority of the book aiding and abetting him against the orders of her captain and the advice of her friends. There was no reason to separate the two lovers and it made their reconciliation less believeable. I don't understand why authors use that as a plot device. There was already plenty going on in the story at that point that the love story did not have to be waylaid in order to add more drama.
January 12, 2017
Another great installment in the Atrophy series.I've been hooked onto this series from the first book-Atrophy.I really love the world building and the imagination that the author has put into creating this series and the characters.Though Diffraction didn't surpass my expectations like the previous books did, I loved that it was unique in its own way.
Varean is accused of being a Reidar, as he was affected by the Reidar weapon, but not exactly in such a way that they could pinpoint.He is a puzzle that Rian is determined to unravel.Varean knows he is different, but he is sure he isnt a Reidar, so what is he?
Here comes in Kira, the doc on the Imojenna ship.She feels an instant connection to Varean and is horrified at the treatment that he receives.But, what will happen when she finds out the truth about him?
The romance between Kira and Varean was great, though a little insta-lovish, but I'm willing to let that slide.It was cute to watch their relationship unfold amidst the threats and dangerous situations.
They were both great main characters and willing to go to great lengths for each other.I loved Kira's protectiveness.Though it didn't induce the initial excitement that the first two books did, I really like where the author is taking the story-plot wise and let me just say I am excited to read more.
Can't wait for the next book in the series!I'm really curious whether Rian will get his own book because that would be a really interesting one! :D
Varean is accused of being a Reidar, as he was affected by the Reidar weapon, but not exactly in such a way that they could pinpoint.He is a puzzle that Rian is determined to unravel.Varean knows he is different, but he is sure he isnt a Reidar, so what is he?
Here comes in Kira, the doc on the Imojenna ship.She feels an instant connection to Varean and is horrified at the treatment that he receives.But, what will happen when she finds out the truth about him?
The romance between Kira and Varean was great, though a little insta-lovish, but I'm willing to let that slide.It was cute to watch their relationship unfold amidst the threats and dangerous situations.
They were both great main characters and willing to go to great lengths for each other.I loved Kira's protectiveness.Though it didn't induce the initial excitement that the first two books did, I really like where the author is taking the story-plot wise and let me just say I am excited to read more.
Can't wait for the next book in the series!I'm really curious whether Rian will get his own book because that would be a really interesting one! :D
January 3, 2017
The 3rd book in the series, you really need to have read the previous books to follow the story and characters. The central storyline of course is that of the alien shapeshifter Reidar's infiltration of the highest echelon of humankind & the one person who survived their capture, and subsequent brain washing, Rian Sherron's, mission to stop them - with his motley crew of talented outcasts.
Unlike the earlier books which were SFR, Diffraction focuses equally if not more on the Rian/Reidar angle compared to the romance/relationship between Kira, the ship's doctor & Varean the ultra super commando (think SEAL vs a soldier as a comparison) they imprisoned because he reacted to the razar (stunner gun which reveals the Reidar).
It was a bit of a letdown after the breathless action and romance in the 1st 2 books & Kira is a less compelling female lead after Mae (still can't get over the name!) if she can be considered the lead.
The author does introduce a load of twists (no spoilers from me) & I get the impression this book is more a bridge. Still an overall good read with the author's talented writing. I'm definitely sticking to this series.
Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review.
Unlike the earlier books which were SFR, Diffraction focuses equally if not more on the Rian/Reidar angle compared to the romance/relationship between Kira, the ship's doctor & Varean the ultra super commando (think SEAL vs a soldier as a comparison) they imprisoned because he reacted to the razar (stunner gun which reveals the Reidar).
It was a bit of a letdown after the breathless action and romance in the 1st 2 books & Kira is a less compelling female lead after Mae (still can't get over the name!) if she can be considered the lead.
The author does introduce a load of twists (no spoilers from me) & I get the impression this book is more a bridge. Still an overall good read with the author's talented writing. I'm definitely sticking to this series.
Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review.
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