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Worlds of Deception
Abducted from Earth during an alien attack, thousands of people were forced into servitude by a race called Zantian. Over a century later, and still serving the Zantians, the grandchildren of the abductees have no idea what happened to their ancestors’ world but have managed to ensure the survival of the human race.
Leea, a descendant of Earth, falls in love with Yaran, heir to the planet’s ruling family. When their relationship is discovered, Leea is forced to fle Zantia for the planet Dekarra. It is there Leea begins to decipher the secrets of both planets, secrets that could promise liberation, not just for the Earthlings, but for everyone.
Back on Zantia, Yaran begins his own journey of discovery, learning the true nature of how his world works, and enconters a mysterious entity that reveals Zantia’s secret history. Can Yaran be free of his responsibilities, or will these revelations force his hand?
Together Leea and Yaran will struggle to unite the peoples of two worlds, and liberate them from the layers of deception.
Leea, a descendant of Earth, falls in love with Yaran, heir to the planet’s ruling family. When their relationship is discovered, Leea is forced to fle Zantia for the planet Dekarra. It is there Leea begins to decipher the secrets of both planets, secrets that could promise liberation, not just for the Earthlings, but for everyone.
Back on Zantia, Yaran begins his own journey of discovery, learning the true nature of how his world works, and enconters a mysterious entity that reveals Zantia’s secret history. Can Yaran be free of his responsibilities, or will these revelations force his hand?
Together Leea and Yaran will struggle to unite the peoples of two worlds, and liberate them from the layers of deception.
620 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 18, 2017
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March 1, 2026
Great sci fi the way sci fi should be.
I read this in 2020, but for some reason my review got eaten by GR. Oh well it happens. I managed to dig it up from prior reviews I placed elsewhere. So here goes...
This has been the best sci-fi book I've read in a really long time. I've heard it said generally that any type of "fantastical" genre or story only really works when it is about the people, not necessarily the setting or the gadgets, magic, technobabble, what have you. Those things have to be the back drop or just a device that is part of the story-telling. Well, in my humble opinion, Bosse really nailed this element. Yes, it is on another world. It's in the future. It has other races and space travel and gadgets we don't have. (view spoiler) But it is the story about the people, their feelings, their struggles and universal themes at the forefront of this book that really makes it work.
So the basic plot of Worlds of Deception is that a race from deep space comes to earth, captures a bunch of people, and then takes them to their home planet to be "workers." The workers do the labor in mines and in households or elsewhere the subjugating race doesn't want to do. Sound familiar? So anyway, this book takes that premise and then mixes it up with one of the aliens (called Zantians) and a human fall for each other. The depth of emotional content Bosse conveys is really compelling. You really feel like these characters love each other. Some of it's pretty steamy too! But most of it really explains the character's motivations and is quite touching.
And naturally that love story causes some conflict. The fact that it happens in on an alien world and the machinery that gets used is the backdrop to propel the story--it doesn't become the story. That being said, Worlds of Deception has some really great world-building too that is really interesting. And then there is a great mother-son relationship too. And powerful family relationships described throughout. They are made all the more interesting because they are in the backdrop of an alien culture.
There is another level of interesting emotional content. There were times that I felt like why are some of the workers so seemingly content or complacent? Why aren't they fighting? And then she tells an element of the story that makes it make sense. And then the main character does some stuff where I'm thinking, is that REALLY such a good idea? Aren't you putting people in jeopardy? But it gets dealt with. And dealt with well. There's enough in there where you question the character's wisdom and tactics to really keep you engaged. At least I thought so.
There are nice graphics I thought between the chapters. So that was pretty cool.
But the BEST part of this book is that it lives up to its namesake title. The book's like a damn onion! Layer upon layer. I found myself repeatedly at the stage of like, just when I thought I got through the layers, then there is some secret, some deception, something hidden that gets revealed. Each time, I'm thinking, "oh dang, that's awesome" or "oh that is SO COOL!" or "WHOA, didn't see that coming." It really ratchets up the suspense and the surprises.
And so the conflict unfolds such that one of the main characters ends up exploring stuff we take for granted. (I don't want to go into that too much. If you read this, you'll see what I mean.)
Anyway, I really enjoyed this one and I look forward to reading the next volume when it comes out.
I read this in 2020, but for some reason my review got eaten by GR. Oh well it happens. I managed to dig it up from prior reviews I placed elsewhere. So here goes...
This has been the best sci-fi book I've read in a really long time. I've heard it said generally that any type of "fantastical" genre or story only really works when it is about the people, not necessarily the setting or the gadgets, magic, technobabble, what have you. Those things have to be the back drop or just a device that is part of the story-telling. Well, in my humble opinion, Bosse really nailed this element. Yes, it is on another world. It's in the future. It has other races and space travel and gadgets we don't have. (view spoiler) But it is the story about the people, their feelings, their struggles and universal themes at the forefront of this book that really makes it work.
So the basic plot of Worlds of Deception is that a race from deep space comes to earth, captures a bunch of people, and then takes them to their home planet to be "workers." The workers do the labor in mines and in households or elsewhere the subjugating race doesn't want to do. Sound familiar? So anyway, this book takes that premise and then mixes it up with one of the aliens (called Zantians) and a human fall for each other. The depth of emotional content Bosse conveys is really compelling. You really feel like these characters love each other. Some of it's pretty steamy too! But most of it really explains the character's motivations and is quite touching.
And naturally that love story causes some conflict. The fact that it happens in on an alien world and the machinery that gets used is the backdrop to propel the story--it doesn't become the story. That being said, Worlds of Deception has some really great world-building too that is really interesting. And then there is a great mother-son relationship too. And powerful family relationships described throughout. They are made all the more interesting because they are in the backdrop of an alien culture.
There is another level of interesting emotional content. There were times that I felt like why are some of the workers so seemingly content or complacent? Why aren't they fighting? And then she tells an element of the story that makes it make sense. And then the main character does some stuff where I'm thinking, is that REALLY such a good idea? Aren't you putting people in jeopardy? But it gets dealt with. And dealt with well. There's enough in there where you question the character's wisdom and tactics to really keep you engaged. At least I thought so.
There are nice graphics I thought between the chapters. So that was pretty cool.
But the BEST part of this book is that it lives up to its namesake title. The book's like a damn onion! Layer upon layer. I found myself repeatedly at the stage of like, just when I thought I got through the layers, then there is some secret, some deception, something hidden that gets revealed. Each time, I'm thinking, "oh dang, that's awesome" or "oh that is SO COOL!" or "WHOA, didn't see that coming." It really ratchets up the suspense and the surprises.
And so the conflict unfolds such that one of the main characters ends up exploring stuff we take for granted. (I don't want to go into that too much. If you read this, you'll see what I mean.)
Anyway, I really enjoyed this one and I look forward to reading the next volume when it comes out.
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