Deep Blue

The Second Species Trilogy #2

by Jane O'Reilly

Date: 27th September 2188.
Vessel: The Alcatraz 2. Prison Ship
Location: UNKNOWN

Jinnifer Blue opens her eyes to find herself in a nightmare. Her plan to expose the horrific truth behind the government's secret Second Species programme has failed, and now she's being turned into a weapon by her worst enemy . . . her mother.

At the other end of the galaxy Caspian Dax, ferocious space pirate and Jinn's sometime lover, is facing an even more terrifying fate. He's being forced to fight in the arena on Sittan, a pitiless, ruthless alien landscape where blood is the only prize that matters. They will use him, destroy him, change him.

Jinn has only one chance - to go to Sittan and find Dax before his mind is completely destroyed. She must rely on her friends and one old enemy, leave her beloved ship the Mutant behind, and travel to a hostile planet. But hardest of all, she must keep faith that when she finds Dax, there will be something left of the man she knew.

One thing's for sure: the fight has only just begun.

Genres: Science Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

Published July 19, 2018

About the author

Jane O'Reilly was born in the north of England, where it was quite cold, and spent much of her childhood huddled under the duvet with a book. It's also how she's spent much of her adulthood. She also likes Captain America, handknit socks, and biscuits. Find her at www.janeoreilly.com

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep Blue, the second novel in the second species trilogy, is even better than the first book and a superb addition to the science fiction genre. There is more action than you can shake a stick at and for the fun-filled reading sitting I found it difficult to put down to do menial tasks. Often given the title of science fiction thriller, these books merge the sci-fi and thriller genres to create a compelling hybrid. The author manages, just as she did in Blue Shift, to make her reader feel a multitude of different emotions making this one hell of an emotional rollercoaster. She is adept at creating a richly imagined alien landscape featuring an unforgettable cast of characters who you can relate to and empathise with. Everything is so clear and vivid that I wanted to reach out and touch each character.

I did go into this book with some trepidation because, from past experience, the second novel in a trilogy can often be a complete drag that's merely there to set up the final book. I shouldn't have worried as this one blows the first out of the water AND sets up for the concluding book. You learn a lot more detail about the world and the characters in this instalment, and the intelligent way it was written had me mesmerised. We have so much going on in Deep Blue: suspenseful scenes, conflict, danger and emotional distress are just some of the things that happen. I look forward to the last book, and I hope we won't be waiting too long for it. I, however, know that I'll be sad when it all comes to an end.

Many thanks to Piatkus for an ARC.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

Having not read the first book I wondered if I would struggle with this.
But I found it totally enthralling and was left wanting more.
An exciting adventure which left me wanting more and even though in the wrong order i will be reading the first in the trilogy.

[Unseen Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of Deep Blue from Hachette Australia to review.

Rating of 3.5 - 4.

Following on from her 2017 release, Blue Shift, Jane O’Reilly returns to her electrifying science fiction universe for another exciting and action-packed adventure among the stars.

In the distant future of 2207, Earth is dying and humanity’s only hope for survival is a brand new planet on the other side of the galaxy. Travel to this new sanctuary requires passage through the territory of several alien species who are unwilling to let a ragged human fleet anywhere near their areas of space. In order to convince these aliens to allow humans access to a new planet, the government has initiated the Second Species programme to create the only resource the aliens want: human slaves genetically altered with alien DNA.

Former bounty hunter Jinnifer Blue, after failing to reveal the terrible truth about the Second Species programme, has been captured by its creator, her mother, Ferona Blue. Now genetically altered with alien strength and pissed beyond all belief, Jinnifer escapes from the lab where she was held. Having given up on warning humanity about the government’s sinister plans, Jinnifer’s only desire is to be reunited with her lover, the pirate Caspian Dax.

Click link for full review:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2018/07/23/...

Or visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/

[Anne Szlachcic · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Science Fiction and Fantasy are genres you love then this series is for you .
This book is the second in the series and whilst it can be read as a standalone
I would recommend reading the 1st book to put the worldbuilding and
the characters in place .

Jinnifer Blue's efforts to expose the Government's secrets has failed , drastically
........... her Mother now her worst enemy . To make matters worse her lover Caspian Dax
has to fight in the arena on Sittan .......... the outcome uncertain , will he survive unchanged ?.
She must leave her beloved ship behind and rely on her friends and rather
surprisingly and old enemy to rescue her love . Escaping from her Mother's
plans for her may prove even more difficult .

This is an enjoyable book full of action with twists and turns at very point .

I was given anarc of this book by NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant! The world building is fantastic and the plot moved with pace. Although I didn't want it to end. The author, Jane O'Reilly, is one of those authors you want to shout from the rooftops about.
In this second book of the Second Species trilogy, Jinn wakes up and discovers so much has changed and sets out to rescue Dax, who, after further modifications, has forgotten his past life. That isn't the only rescue mission underway as another member of the team is taken.
I missed the interaction between Jinn and Dax that was in the first book, however, Jinn's determination to save Dax, the fight for the pair to be reunited and everything he puts her through makes this story just as compelling.
Go ahead read this book, this series and definitely some Jane O'Reilly. Can't wait for the next one!

[Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was exceptional. The way Jane writes really transfers you to that universe and has helped me escape a few mundane things. It excites you and really makes you understand the characters but also enjoy their world and the way the characters work. It definitely feels like these people are real as that’s how in depth it went. This is a great book for science and fiction lovers alike. The explanation of space related things really intrigued me and again made me feel like I was there. Do read!

[Victoria Zigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a gripping continuation to this series, with some excellent worldbuilding. There was a certain thing towards the end where I felt the outcome was a little too convenient, and I personally felt like it was the author’s attempt to undo something that happened to one of the main characters without having to deal with figuring out a new way to get the plot to head in the direction required, but other than that it was a fantastic read. I can’t wait to see what happens in book three!

[Tony Hopcroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought the first book was great...wow Deep blue was fantastically brilliant. From the political shenanigans..too the alien worlds Jinn and Dax have too battle through to be together was page turning stuff. Highly reccomend this series. Cant wait for book 3

[Jessica Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow

[J.S. Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A page-turner of a ride.

[Katina Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Deep Blue’ is a fast paced, thrilling read and an excellent follow up to ‘Blue Shift’ in the Second Species series. We’re immediately thrust back into the adventures of Jinnifer Blue and Caspian Dax. Who, along with the crew of the Mutant, new and old faces, create a cast of unforgettable characters. Like in ‘Blue Shift’, we’re treated to passion, tension, conflict, emotional upheaval, thrills and danger. We learn more about the Second Species project and visit more of the universe, meeting vividly realised alien cultures. There’s tears, laughter and always a sense of urgency. Friendship, difficult relationships and an underlying passionate love story. Characters’ feel so real it’s impossible not become completely engaged in their adventures. I’m cautious about saying more about ‘Deep Blue’ in case you haven’t read ‘Blue Shift’.
Passionate, intelligent, thrilling sci-fi space adventure that I recommend reading. I love these books and their characters. I’m impatient for book three.

[Jessica Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book in this series and so was really excited for the second, although with a little trepidation because the middle book of a trilogy can sometimes feel like more of a pace setter. I needn't have worried, Deep Blue upped the pace to an almost unbearable ante, taking me on a rollercoaster ride through space. From the moment Jinn wakes up, back on the Alcatraz 2, determined to escape and track down her lover, Dax this is a fantastic, exciting read through to an intense ending which sets up the next book perfectly. It's really hard to critique without spoilers, so all I am going to say is that O'Reilly excels not just at action and romance, but at building believable alien worlds, whose inhabitants don't just not look like us, but who don't live or think like us either. Highly recommended.

[Book Gannet · Rating 2 out of 5]

After Blue Shift, I was intrigued to see where this series headed next. After all, the first one was a fun space romp with aliens and political intrigue and characters I liked enough to want to read more of.

Oh. Well. This one is not very much like the last one. Same universe, same characters, same political intrigue, but where’s all the fun gone? This isn’t so much a space romp as a space wreck, careening from one disaster to another as Jinn tries to rescue herself, then Dax, then everyone and mostly makes things worse and wrecks everything. All while Dax is fighting for his life and enslaved to an alien empress.

There are a few other characters taking up page time, but they follow a similar disaster pattern. Basically, this is the book where everything goes wrong.

Plotwise it’s okay, if pretty joyless, but it lacked the enjoyment of the first book. Sadly it shares a similar lack of detail and depth, but without the sense of scale or discovery. The escape from Alcatraz 2 is fast, formulaic and lacking in any tension whatsoever. Which sets the scene for several similar moments in the story.

It’s all right, I suppose, in a pulpy sci-fi way, but it wasn’t what I wanted. YMMV, of course, but it was just a little too hopeless, dark and joyless for me. Sorry.

(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the first instalment in this series and I loved this one that is better and more engaging than the first one.
I loved how the characters were developed and how the world building was improved and more details were supplied to the reader.
It's a real page turner that you cannot put down.
I look forward to reading the next instalment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for this ARC