Frying pan to the fire
Providence is having a tough time currently. What started off as being drug along to one of her teammate's bachelor party at a strip club, complete with unwanted lap dance, became a rescue mission that required her pararescuer training. From there it became a kidnapping by aliens. Then, she was forced to defend those aliens from slaver aliens to protect other kidnapped humans. Beaten, tazed and thrown into a cell, when a giant red demon walks into the cell growling, rescue is not what she thinks is happening. Imagine her surprise when she sees another human on this new planet. A pregnant human, who voluntarily mated one of these demons. And now she's learned that females have protectors so she'll be removed from her new human friend, and now two these demons are claiming that honor. Things keep moving and changing.
Spoilers ahead.
A different kind of fighter than Giselle, but not a bit less independent. A trained pararescuer, she's battled male entitlement her whole career. Landing on a planet of patriarchy, no matter how well meaning, after everything that happened on the way there puts her back up. Not in an "argue for the sake of arguing" sort of pettiness, but in a Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, fight for women's independence fighting stance. Males are meant to protect, but being told you're being handed over to strangers is enough to cause any modern woman to growl. Dagaa and Madhava (yes, this is a m/f/m menage) are captivated by the tiny fiery warrior. Introduced to fierce women by Giselle does not prepare them for the terror that Providence brings with her actions. Giselle studied war, Providence jumped into the middle of it to save lives. I liked the expansion of the world after the war ended. Daily battles turned from weapons to words. Lives are being forced to change with the abolishment of Toufik slavery and introducing new alien relationships. While life is improving, tension is rising. While I liked that Providence challenged Dagaa and Madhava, the actual challenge was a little strange. We get a little more insight into why Madhava was in the position he was with Vigris. We get a look at why Dagaa has avoided relationships. We get to visit with Giselle and Kagan. And the Miran Sona who are starting the colony. The well meaning, but horribly started human relocation program. I appreciated that things weren't perfect just because the civil war ended, even while I wondered how after hundreds of years of fighting, styles didn't change. I'm curious to see how the next human changes the status quo among the male dominated society the Cadi live in.