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Black Moon Rising
“I am not the man you think I am,” I tell him.
“Probably not. But isn’t that wonderful? There’s every possibility you could be so much MORE.”
Jass has been the Construct’s creature for years. A sinister prince. A man of shadows and fear. People cower at his feet. They cater to his every dark desire. Who would dare defy the most dangerous man ever created?
No one…
Except for her.
Reza’s been on the run for seven years. She’s found peace on her hidden planet. Managed to build some semblance of a life for herself there. But when the man she fears most in all the galaxy finally learns of her location, she must face him in order to escape his wrath once and for all.
A sea of stars separates them, but even that won’t keep them apart.
Black Moon Rising is a full-length science fiction romance by USA Today bestselling author, Callie Hart, writing as Frankie Campbell.
“Probably not. But isn’t that wonderful? There’s every possibility you could be so much MORE.”
Jass has been the Construct’s creature for years. A sinister prince. A man of shadows and fear. People cower at his feet. They cater to his every dark desire. Who would dare defy the most dangerous man ever created?
No one…
Except for her.
Reza’s been on the run for seven years. She’s found peace on her hidden planet. Managed to build some semblance of a life for herself there. But when the man she fears most in all the galaxy finally learns of her location, she must face him in order to escape his wrath once and for all.
A sea of stars separates them, but even that won’t keep them apart.
Black Moon Rising is a full-length science fiction romance by USA Today bestselling author, Callie Hart, writing as Frankie Campbell.
253 pages, ebook
First published January 23, 2018
104 people are currently reading
892 people want to read
About the author
Frankie Rose
12 books589 followersFrankie Rose was born in the United Kingdom, but now lives with her husband in sunny Australia.
She officially makes things up for a living, and when she's not doing that, she is generally making paper birds out of receipts and old lists or taking photographs that make her smile.
She officially makes things up for a living, and when she's not doing that, she is generally making paper birds out of receipts and old lists or taking photographs that make her smile.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
March 22, 2019
snakes in space. thanks jenny.
February 19, 2020
I watched Jenny Nicholson‘s utterly hilarious reading of this book and I simply had to check it out. I mean it couldn‘t possibly be THAT bad, right? Well, let‘s just say it was a wild ride. Did I enjoy it? Yes, but for all the wrong reasons. If I‘d had to take a shot everytime a concept, phrase, character or plot-point from Star Wars was shamelessly and hilariously badly ripped off I would be dead right now.
Can‘t 100% recommend the book but I absolutely recommend watching the reading. It‘s pure gold!
https://youtu.be/TJGm8Sj7Qn8
2.5 Stars for a guilty pleasure read that I wouldn‘t take too seriously
Can‘t 100% recommend the book but I absolutely recommend watching the reading. It‘s pure gold!
https://youtu.be/TJGm8Sj7Qn8
2.5 Stars for a guilty pleasure read that I wouldn‘t take too seriously
January 25, 2018
4-4,5 Brilliant stars
This was an interesting,captivating and unique story!I was hooked from the first pages and I couldn't put it down till the end!The plot was good and I enjoyed the characters.It started really good but in the half I felt that it was going a little bit slow which make me not to give it 5 stars, but then it keep up!
The story is told from both Jass and Reza point of view!Both characters were original!You could feel their chemistry through the story.Also it was nice that through the story we get to know more about their back story. Reza is strong and Jass is hot,broody and dangerous! The push and pull between them was entertaining!
Overall it was a great story, I'm looking forward for the next book!
This was an interesting,captivating and unique story!I was hooked from the first pages and I couldn't put it down till the end!The plot was good and I enjoyed the characters.It started really good but in the half I felt that it was going a little bit slow which make me not to give it 5 stars, but then it keep up!
The story is told from both Jass and Reza point of view!Both characters were original!You could feel their chemistry through the story.Also it was nice that through the story we get to know more about their back story. Reza is strong and Jass is hot,broody and dangerous! The push and pull between them was entertaining!
Overall it was a great story, I'm looking forward for the next book!
January 14, 2020
Well, it’s not not published Reylo fanfic.
February 21, 2021
Ohhhh man.
Now, if you recognize this book, it's probably from Jenny Nicholson's spectacular review of it. Watch that video first, it's hilarious, but I'm here to share some fantastic parts of this book that weren't mentioned in her review.
Spoilers, btw.
But first, stuff I actually liked.
- Col Pakka is basically a copy-paste of Poe with a forced joking side. However, he actually has some interesting depth. Since this book is a romance first and foremost, it really affects any interactions not between the romantic leads. But I actually really liked that Col is the adopted child of Leia - I mean, Erika Pakka. It's mentioned how this causes Pirians to think Col isn't really one of them - and that provides some interesting parallels to Reza. There's also a part where Reza says that, despite Col being adopted he's clearly Erika's son. The line "He's her son. It's that simple." is actually sweet.
- I liked the line "Her hair is sandy brown, but more interesting than that - shot through with gold and silver, as if it's woven from fine, precious metals." There's another descriptor: "Her dark hair is down for once, released from its intricate braids and plaits. Beautiful. Highlights of blonde and caramel catch under the light whenever she turns her head." Both are pretty visuals.
- I kind of like the line Jass says to Reza before their in-person sex scene: "We're balanced on two sides of a knife edge. We're answers to a question that was posed long ago. We're the same answer, Reza."
- Col has this cool line about Jass: "Black holes are magnificent, Reza. When you see the spirals of light disappearing inside the, they put on quite the show. Never forget they're deadly, though. They destroy anything that draws too close."
- That ending was something. More on that later.
Now - the weird parts. Let's go.
(Can we talk about how the premise of this is that Rey and Kylo have been having Force meetings for seven years but instead of hand-touching they were just having sex every time?)
➖
- The book opens, as Jenny said, with a graphic sex scene. Right in the middle of it comes this line: "[Jass] tastes strangely sweet - like a small citrus candy my parents used to give me when I was small, back before they died." [Warning: this next line is pretty NSFW.] "Now isn't the time to be thinking of my parents, though. I push them out of my mind, just as Jass pushes himself into me again."
I mean, just... that line "back before they died" is so unnecessary, and then there's that weird thing where she's thinking about her dead parents now...
➖
Reza escaped from the Construct when she was young. Jass almost had her but let her go so the Construct couldn't track her. But - get this - while teenage Reza was escaping, she apparently used a "cutting torch" and burned Stryker's (Hux's) eye out. "He was furious as a dying sun." Imagine Rey half-blinding Hux.
➖
We've heard about "blood horses" from Jenny Nicholson. But get this - "dune dogs." Oh, Reza also mentions "marauders living in the dunes," so Tusken Raiders are canon to Pirius as well.
➖
The cursing in this book is really weird. It uses sh*t, f*ck, ass, and even, c*ck. Oh, and d*ck. Just... the way they swear in this SW-esque universe is so random. Jass literally uses the phrase "looks like he's about to shit his pants" and "shit-eating grin." They sound so out-of-place every time...
➖
"No way in seven hells."
➖
Remember what Jenny said about this book having a weird fascination with suicide? Part of that comes from a time in Reza's backstory when she was a teenager and tried to kill herself but then Jass saved her. And I guess respected her because of that? It makes the book bordering on the bad side of "fun but bad," like My Immortal's fetishization of bi guys.
➖
There's this weird part where, once, the Construct captured this girl with a "pretty head" and "owlish brown eyes." Jass thought that she understood him, but she didn't so he had her killed and didn't care about it because she asked a stupid question.
That's another thing - it's implied in TFA that Kylo has done some bad things, but he's more of a weapon than the hand that guides it. And you don't actually see him murdering people. But Jass mentions so often that he kills people and destroys worlds that it's really hard to see him as a sympathetic character. I mean, the whole pressing point of this book is supposed to be that Reza has to turn Jass to the Light Side, but the whole "fixing the bad boy" is already an annoying plot thread without the caveat that the "bad boy" is a mass murderer.
➖
This is small, but at one point Jass sees a vision of Reza and describes her as having "Long brown hair, tied back into a complexity of knots and braids."
I feel like the author is trying to reference Rey's very unique hairstyle from TFA, even though "complexity of knots and braids" is impossible to understand. But my favorite part of this is that the cover model has the smoothest ponytail. I know cover models aren't always accurate to the characters, but it's just fun to try to understand what her hair could possibly look like.
➖
There are several fantastic parts where Jass is trying to escape with Col and get to Pirius. Col is trying really, really hard to crack a joke, but Jass actively tries to kill him every time this happens.
"Col scratches at the back of his neck. 'I guess the broody front matches your attire well. Black boots. Black pants. Black cape. I mean, a cape? Isn't that a little impractical? Doesn't it get in the way when you're fighting?"
Edna Mode would like to speak with you.
But no, after this line Jass body-slams Col against a wall and chokes him, then drops him. Immediately after, Col says "I guess in hindsight it does flare rather dramatically." Jass just says "Shut up," and Col says "Sorry. I just mean, the theatrics of a floor-length cape... it's hard to pull off."
Jass then threatens to Force-choke Col "focusing a ring of energy around Col's neck," and tells him to shut up again.
I already take issue with removing Finn from this whole storyline and replacing him with Kylo Ren, but is this supposed to be bonding? It would be if Jass wasn't actively choking Col every time he says anything.
Oh, and here's one last gold nugget from their interactions:
"'Got anything white in there?' Col asks. Facetious bastard. He can see everything inside the locker is black."
Then Col tries to tell Jass that all-black is a bad idea on a desert planet, but Jass just says that he's endured enough pain asofar that it won't mean anything to him. I mean, I criticize, but that is a very Kylo Ren thing to pull.
➖
When Col and Jass are escaping, they steal a ship and make a run for it. Stryker tries to shut down the ship, but then Jass says "I'm a smart guy, though," and explains how he was actually secretly planning an escape all along and fitted out the ship so it couldn't be shut down. And, despite being in Jass's mind, this is how it's revealed.
➖
Jass does some fancy flying and evades the Construct. Col asks how he was able to predict the asteroids and escape, yada yada. Then we're treated to this:
"'Better you ask how the stars keep burning,' I whisper. 'Better you ask how the universe keeps expanding. The answers are easier to comprehend.'"
➖
On Pirius, Jass shares a Force scene with Reza and tells her they've been Force-dating for seven years. She asks him to prove it, and he takes her to a scene of the first time they kissed. It's also the first time they have sex on this random beach. They just... watch themselves... and Jass gets turned on. Then they just leave and don't even kiss. Yeah.
➖
"She's stronger than I'll ever admit to her, and it makes me seriously fucking nervous."
➖
"Seer Darius" is clearly a copy of Luke, but, while Jass is interacting with him, Jass casually mentions that Darius is "a foot taller than me."
A... a foot? A whole foot? Seers aren't mentioned to be exceptionally tall, and I'm assuming Darius isn't seven feet tall. So... how tall does that make Jass? Usually books like this make the bad boy love interest tall, but I can't understand how tall Jass is if it's not worth mention that Darius is a foot taller than him.
➖
Jass says that Reza has green eyes, and it throws me so much. This is the only mention of her eye color, and she seems to be a copy-paste of Rey in appearance so much otherwise.
➖
There's this scene after Erika's death where Jass, Reza, and Col are talking. Jass has his usual air of "I'm evil and you can't change me," when Col asks Jass out of the blue if Jass killed Erika.
Jass "almost loses his balance and goes toppling backward off the chair." This line is so out-of-character for him - now I'm just imagining Rey asking Kylo if he killed someone and Kylo just, falling out of a chair.
➖
Jass: "Ending a life has become second nature to me, but I've seen how affronting the task can be for others. How their hands shake, and their hearts falter. Stupid, reckless, soft hearts. Mine is carved out of steel."
➖
When Jass is sick, Reza asks Darius if they should take the opportunity to hurt him. Darius says that you shouldn't "purposefully clip an animal's wings." Look, I get the line, but why not say "bird's wings?" Honest to God, my first mental image was of a dog with wings.
➖
"It is lightness. It is darkness."
➖
In this scene where Reza is asking Jass why he hasn't sent her to the Construct, he tells her this:
"You know damn well what's stopping me. You know it can't be denied. It would be easier to kill myself than it would be to harm a hair on your damn head. If you die..." His face pales, a grey shadow suddenly giving his skin a sick, stricken pallor. "If you die, there will be no restraining me, Reza. I will set this galaxy on fire and I will watch it burn fiercer than the stars. I will make sure I live until every single light has gone out. I will tear, and I will rampage, and I will torture every last living soul until I am the only nightmare, the only dark thing left breathing, and only then will I be able to allow my blackened soul to escape me and give this place any kind of piece."
... yikes.
➖
"If only they knew what will befall them all soon. They wouldn't be concerning themselves with this kind of crap."
➖
There's a scene where Reza tries to enter Farren's mind and fails, stumbling back, and Col catches her. Jass, who is just watching this from afar, thinks "Col shouldn't be touching her that way. He shouldn't have his arm around her shoulders. If anyone should be breaking her fall, it should be me."
The thing is, in this whole book, Col is never seen as a romantic rival, so this line is really out of nowhere.
Ahh, we love a good old insanely jealous emo boy. We're really going for a blackout on the Wattpad bingo today.
➖
Jenny mentions in her video the scene where Reza fails to break into Farren's mind and Jass jumps in after she leaves to fix the situation. But instead of erasing the knowledge that Reza tried that in Farren's mind, Jass just... lets him know that he could kill Farren if he wanted but then he leaves. He just says stuff like "I'll be the harbinger of your destruction" and "Now leave, before my mercy finds its limit" and then just leaves his mind like nothing happened. Yeah, great plan on your part Jass, I'm sure that won't have negative repercussions later on.
➖
When Jass and Reza are having their first in-person sex scene, Reza finds herself wondering if Jass has been with other women before, and makes an offhand comment about how "the only two people more powerful than Jass on that base were Regis and Stryker, and the whole fleet knew about the line of women disappearing in and out of their sleeping chambers every night."
Wha... what?
You're telling me that off-brand Snoke and Hux were sleeping with tons of women, very openly? Oh my gosh, imagine Snoke just having a lot of prostitutes over all the time and no one ever comments on it. Like that's the image an evil galactic overlord wants to have.
I'm sure that that happens in the Empire, but I'm sure the higher-ranking officials would be more secretive.
➖
In that sex scene, Jass says this to Reza:
"I'm going to take you," Jass growls into my ear. "I'm going to have you, Reza. I won't allow anyone else to touch you. To look at you. To claim you. I'll f*cking kill anyone who tries."
Say it with me now:
Y I K E S
Also, this turned very alpha/werewolf fanfic for a moment.
➖
Listen to this, when Reza sees Jass naked for the first time:
He's standing in front of me, just as naked as I am. He is raw, though. Fearsome to behold. His body would make a maestro weep. They wouldn't be able to capture his beauty with paint, ink, clay or stone. Any artist would abandon their craft and forever mourn the loss of it, because they'd know how impossible it would be to do this man justice.
Someone was really affected by the Kylo shirtless scene.
➖
In the middle of this sex scene, Reza says "I can't love you. I can never love you. Not if this is who you truly are." This really doesn't deter Jass at all though, because he just says "Do you really think either of us have a choice?" and the scene continues. So yeah.
➖
Flipping to Jass's perspective, here're his thoughts on Reza:
I'm her creature now. Her slave.
Again, YIKES
➖
There's this scene where Col has apparently gotten pretty buddy-buddy with Jass. (Again, if this book had focused some of its energy away from the sex scenes and into the individual relationships Reza and Jass have with Col... but alas.)
Col cracks that he and Jass should get together sometime, drink tea and listen to music. Jass just says that Col wouldn't like his kind of music. "Too much screaming."
I genuinely can't tell if Jass listens to heavy metal - if that exists in the BMR world - or he literally just listens to screams. Given his character, either would fit, honestly.
➖
When they leave, they get a message smearing Col as "Col Offworlder" instead of Pakka.
➖
When Reza almost dies, she tells Jass to kill her but he refuses. Reza says he wouldn't have hesitated a month ago, but that seems blatantly untrue. Also, that scene has so many will-she-won't-she moments before she comes back.
➖
"And bad guys do bad things. Shitty things."
➖
"Their innate sense of fear starts screaming like a klaxon"
➖
Col to Jass: "And so the devil returns to sit stop [sic] his throne in hell."
Honestly, I liked the ending. Intense, and I liked the stuff between Col and Jass and Col's lost faith. Unfortunately, the book is now out of print so I don't think a sequel is coming. Such a shame, really. I did have fun. 2.5/5 stars.
Now, if you recognize this book, it's probably from Jenny Nicholson's spectacular review of it. Watch that video first, it's hilarious, but I'm here to share some fantastic parts of this book that weren't mentioned in her review.
Spoilers, btw.
But first, stuff I actually liked.
- Col Pakka is basically a copy-paste of Poe with a forced joking side. However, he actually has some interesting depth. Since this book is a romance first and foremost, it really affects any interactions not between the romantic leads. But I actually really liked that Col is the adopted child of Leia - I mean, Erika Pakka. It's mentioned how this causes Pirians to think Col isn't really one of them - and that provides some interesting parallels to Reza. There's also a part where Reza says that, despite Col being adopted he's clearly Erika's son. The line "He's her son. It's that simple." is actually sweet.
- I liked the line "Her hair is sandy brown, but more interesting than that - shot through with gold and silver, as if it's woven from fine, precious metals." There's another descriptor: "Her dark hair is down for once, released from its intricate braids and plaits. Beautiful. Highlights of blonde and caramel catch under the light whenever she turns her head." Both are pretty visuals.
- I kind of like the line Jass says to Reza before their in-person sex scene: "We're balanced on two sides of a knife edge. We're answers to a question that was posed long ago. We're the same answer, Reza."
- Col has this cool line about Jass: "Black holes are magnificent, Reza. When you see the spirals of light disappearing inside the, they put on quite the show. Never forget they're deadly, though. They destroy anything that draws too close."
- That ending was something. More on that later.
Now - the weird parts. Let's go.
(Can we talk about how the premise of this is that Rey and Kylo have been having Force meetings for seven years but instead of hand-touching they were just having sex every time?)
➖
- The book opens, as Jenny said, with a graphic sex scene. Right in the middle of it comes this line: "[Jass] tastes strangely sweet - like a small citrus candy my parents used to give me when I was small, back before they died." [Warning: this next line is pretty NSFW.] "Now isn't the time to be thinking of my parents, though. I push them out of my mind, just as Jass pushes himself into me again."
I mean, just... that line "back before they died" is so unnecessary, and then there's that weird thing where she's thinking about her dead parents now...
➖
Reza escaped from the Construct when she was young. Jass almost had her but let her go so the Construct couldn't track her. But - get this - while teenage Reza was escaping, she apparently used a "cutting torch" and burned Stryker's (Hux's) eye out. "He was furious as a dying sun." Imagine Rey half-blinding Hux.
➖
We've heard about "blood horses" from Jenny Nicholson. But get this - "dune dogs." Oh, Reza also mentions "marauders living in the dunes," so Tusken Raiders are canon to Pirius as well.
➖
The cursing in this book is really weird. It uses sh*t, f*ck, ass, and even, c*ck. Oh, and d*ck. Just... the way they swear in this SW-esque universe is so random. Jass literally uses the phrase "looks like he's about to shit his pants" and "shit-eating grin." They sound so out-of-place every time...
➖
"No way in seven hells."
➖
Remember what Jenny said about this book having a weird fascination with suicide? Part of that comes from a time in Reza's backstory when she was a teenager and tried to kill herself but then Jass saved her. And I guess respected her because of that? It makes the book bordering on the bad side of "fun but bad," like My Immortal's fetishization of bi guys.
➖
There's this weird part where, once, the Construct captured this girl with a "pretty head" and "owlish brown eyes." Jass thought that she understood him, but she didn't so he had her killed and didn't care about it because she asked a stupid question.
That's another thing - it's implied in TFA that Kylo has done some bad things, but he's more of a weapon than the hand that guides it. And you don't actually see him murdering people. But Jass mentions so often that he kills people and destroys worlds that it's really hard to see him as a sympathetic character. I mean, the whole pressing point of this book is supposed to be that Reza has to turn Jass to the Light Side, but the whole "fixing the bad boy" is already an annoying plot thread without the caveat that the "bad boy" is a mass murderer.
➖
This is small, but at one point Jass sees a vision of Reza and describes her as having "Long brown hair, tied back into a complexity of knots and braids."
I feel like the author is trying to reference Rey's very unique hairstyle from TFA, even though "complexity of knots and braids" is impossible to understand. But my favorite part of this is that the cover model has the smoothest ponytail. I know cover models aren't always accurate to the characters, but it's just fun to try to understand what her hair could possibly look like.
➖
There are several fantastic parts where Jass is trying to escape with Col and get to Pirius. Col is trying really, really hard to crack a joke, but Jass actively tries to kill him every time this happens.
"Col scratches at the back of his neck. 'I guess the broody front matches your attire well. Black boots. Black pants. Black cape. I mean, a cape? Isn't that a little impractical? Doesn't it get in the way when you're fighting?"
Edna Mode would like to speak with you.
But no, after this line Jass body-slams Col against a wall and chokes him, then drops him. Immediately after, Col says "I guess in hindsight it does flare rather dramatically." Jass just says "Shut up," and Col says "Sorry. I just mean, the theatrics of a floor-length cape... it's hard to pull off."
Jass then threatens to Force-choke Col "focusing a ring of energy around Col's neck," and tells him to shut up again.
I already take issue with removing Finn from this whole storyline and replacing him with Kylo Ren, but is this supposed to be bonding? It would be if Jass wasn't actively choking Col every time he says anything.
Oh, and here's one last gold nugget from their interactions:
"'Got anything white in there?' Col asks. Facetious bastard. He can see everything inside the locker is black."
Then Col tries to tell Jass that all-black is a bad idea on a desert planet, but Jass just says that he's endured enough pain asofar that it won't mean anything to him. I mean, I criticize, but that is a very Kylo Ren thing to pull.
➖
When Col and Jass are escaping, they steal a ship and make a run for it. Stryker tries to shut down the ship, but then Jass says "I'm a smart guy, though," and explains how he was actually secretly planning an escape all along and fitted out the ship so it couldn't be shut down. And, despite being in Jass's mind, this is how it's revealed.
➖
Jass does some fancy flying and evades the Construct. Col asks how he was able to predict the asteroids and escape, yada yada. Then we're treated to this:
"'Better you ask how the stars keep burning,' I whisper. 'Better you ask how the universe keeps expanding. The answers are easier to comprehend.'"
➖
On Pirius, Jass shares a Force scene with Reza and tells her they've been Force-dating for seven years. She asks him to prove it, and he takes her to a scene of the first time they kissed. It's also the first time they have sex on this random beach. They just... watch themselves... and Jass gets turned on. Then they just leave and don't even kiss. Yeah.
➖
"She's stronger than I'll ever admit to her, and it makes me seriously fucking nervous."
➖
"Seer Darius" is clearly a copy of Luke, but, while Jass is interacting with him, Jass casually mentions that Darius is "a foot taller than me."
A... a foot? A whole foot? Seers aren't mentioned to be exceptionally tall, and I'm assuming Darius isn't seven feet tall. So... how tall does that make Jass? Usually books like this make the bad boy love interest tall, but I can't understand how tall Jass is if it's not worth mention that Darius is a foot taller than him.
➖
Jass says that Reza has green eyes, and it throws me so much. This is the only mention of her eye color, and she seems to be a copy-paste of Rey in appearance so much otherwise.
➖
There's this scene after Erika's death where Jass, Reza, and Col are talking. Jass has his usual air of "I'm evil and you can't change me," when Col asks Jass out of the blue if Jass killed Erika.
Jass "almost loses his balance and goes toppling backward off the chair." This line is so out-of-character for him - now I'm just imagining Rey asking Kylo if he killed someone and Kylo just, falling out of a chair.
➖
Jass: "Ending a life has become second nature to me, but I've seen how affronting the task can be for others. How their hands shake, and their hearts falter. Stupid, reckless, soft hearts. Mine is carved out of steel."
➖
When Jass is sick, Reza asks Darius if they should take the opportunity to hurt him. Darius says that you shouldn't "purposefully clip an animal's wings." Look, I get the line, but why not say "bird's wings?" Honest to God, my first mental image was of a dog with wings.
➖
"It is lightness. It is darkness."
➖
In this scene where Reza is asking Jass why he hasn't sent her to the Construct, he tells her this:
"You know damn well what's stopping me. You know it can't be denied. It would be easier to kill myself than it would be to harm a hair on your damn head. If you die..." His face pales, a grey shadow suddenly giving his skin a sick, stricken pallor. "If you die, there will be no restraining me, Reza. I will set this galaxy on fire and I will watch it burn fiercer than the stars. I will make sure I live until every single light has gone out. I will tear, and I will rampage, and I will torture every last living soul until I am the only nightmare, the only dark thing left breathing, and only then will I be able to allow my blackened soul to escape me and give this place any kind of piece."
... yikes.
➖
"If only they knew what will befall them all soon. They wouldn't be concerning themselves with this kind of crap."
➖
There's a scene where Reza tries to enter Farren's mind and fails, stumbling back, and Col catches her. Jass, who is just watching this from afar, thinks "Col shouldn't be touching her that way. He shouldn't have his arm around her shoulders. If anyone should be breaking her fall, it should be me."
The thing is, in this whole book, Col is never seen as a romantic rival, so this line is really out of nowhere.
Ahh, we love a good old insanely jealous emo boy. We're really going for a blackout on the Wattpad bingo today.
➖
Jenny mentions in her video the scene where Reza fails to break into Farren's mind and Jass jumps in after she leaves to fix the situation. But instead of erasing the knowledge that Reza tried that in Farren's mind, Jass just... lets him know that he could kill Farren if he wanted but then he leaves. He just says stuff like "I'll be the harbinger of your destruction" and "Now leave, before my mercy finds its limit" and then just leaves his mind like nothing happened. Yeah, great plan on your part Jass, I'm sure that won't have negative repercussions later on.
➖
When Jass and Reza are having their first in-person sex scene, Reza finds herself wondering if Jass has been with other women before, and makes an offhand comment about how "the only two people more powerful than Jass on that base were Regis and Stryker, and the whole fleet knew about the line of women disappearing in and out of their sleeping chambers every night."
Wha... what?
You're telling me that off-brand Snoke and Hux were sleeping with tons of women, very openly? Oh my gosh, imagine Snoke just having a lot of prostitutes over all the time and no one ever comments on it. Like that's the image an evil galactic overlord wants to have.
I'm sure that that happens in the Empire, but I'm sure the higher-ranking officials would be more secretive.
➖
In that sex scene, Jass says this to Reza:
"I'm going to take you," Jass growls into my ear. "I'm going to have you, Reza. I won't allow anyone else to touch you. To look at you. To claim you. I'll f*cking kill anyone who tries."
Say it with me now:
Y I K E S
Also, this turned very alpha/werewolf fanfic for a moment.
➖
Listen to this, when Reza sees Jass naked for the first time:
He's standing in front of me, just as naked as I am. He is raw, though. Fearsome to behold. His body would make a maestro weep. They wouldn't be able to capture his beauty with paint, ink, clay or stone. Any artist would abandon their craft and forever mourn the loss of it, because they'd know how impossible it would be to do this man justice.
Someone was really affected by the Kylo shirtless scene.
➖
In the middle of this sex scene, Reza says "I can't love you. I can never love you. Not if this is who you truly are." This really doesn't deter Jass at all though, because he just says "Do you really think either of us have a choice?" and the scene continues. So yeah.
➖
Flipping to Jass's perspective, here're his thoughts on Reza:
I'm her creature now. Her slave.
Again, YIKES
➖
There's this scene where Col has apparently gotten pretty buddy-buddy with Jass. (Again, if this book had focused some of its energy away from the sex scenes and into the individual relationships Reza and Jass have with Col... but alas.)
Col cracks that he and Jass should get together sometime, drink tea and listen to music. Jass just says that Col wouldn't like his kind of music. "Too much screaming."
I genuinely can't tell if Jass listens to heavy metal - if that exists in the BMR world - or he literally just listens to screams. Given his character, either would fit, honestly.
➖
When they leave, they get a message smearing Col as "Col Offworlder" instead of Pakka.
➖
When Reza almost dies, she tells Jass to kill her but he refuses. Reza says he wouldn't have hesitated a month ago, but that seems blatantly untrue. Also, that scene has so many will-she-won't-she moments before she comes back.
➖
"And bad guys do bad things. Shitty things."
➖
"Their innate sense of fear starts screaming like a klaxon"
➖
Col to Jass: "And so the devil returns to sit stop [sic] his throne in hell."
Honestly, I liked the ending. Intense, and I liked the stuff between Col and Jass and Col's lost faith. Unfortunately, the book is now out of print so I don't think a sequel is coming. Such a shame, really. I did have fun. 2.5/5 stars.
May 13, 2018
Read this one for the character name. Wish it was better, glad it wasn't worse.
Jass (I'm-totally-not-a-certain-sith-lord) and Reza (personality-stripped-to-be-his-mate) are not the most exciting leads. The (see-I-detach-from-my-moon-sized-base-I'm-legally-distinct-from-the-DeathStar) Nexus is not as impressive as I'm sure it's supposed to be. The sudden stop is not an ending.
Jass (I'm-totally-not-a-certain-sith-lord) and Reza (personality-stripped-to-be-his-mate) are not the most exciting leads. The (see-I-detach-from-my-moon-sized-base-I'm-legally-distinct-from-the-DeathStar) Nexus is not as impressive as I'm sure it's supposed to be. The sudden stop is not an ending.
March 17, 2019
Honestly, Disney should sue Frankie Rose for selling this. It's blatant plagiarism of Star Wars Episode Seven, and god, the writing is terrible. Just stop. Stop.
January 24, 2018
Do you know Frankie Rose? I didn't, until Callie Hart explained she was going to release a Sci-fi novel under that name. No need to tell you, I had to take my chance with this genre I'm not too familiar with and I loved every word of it.
A damaged hero (more accurately anti-hero). A strong and resilient heroine. And a unique tether that draws them toward each other.
I won't tell you more about the plot since it's quite mysterious and you'll have to discover by yourself the unique bond between Reza and Jass.
The author leads us into a fascinating intergalactic world/battlefield where the Construct's power, manipulation and betrayal rule. Jass is their deadly weapon, but will love and compassion be the key to his redemption, or will they eventually mean Reza's perdition?
The love/hate relationship is intense, a true battle of will. Will they surrender, though?
The evolution and the conflict of the characters' feelings and interests was very clever. Trust and allegiance will be tested and I particularly enjoyed not knowing where Jass really stood in the bigger picture.
Suspenseful, gripping, action packed, Black Moon Rising had me holding my breath, just like the heroine did, until the unthinkable happened...Oh, was it twisted!!!
“Reza . It’s never going to be easy for you to look at me. Looking at me makes you feel alive. Looking at me makes you want. Looking at me makes you need. So just fucking do it. Look at me. Look at me right now, the way I’m looking at you.”
Well done, Frankie Rose, I'm ready for the follow up!!!
*I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED AN ARC COPY OF THIS BOOK. THANK YOU!!!
A damaged hero (more accurately anti-hero). A strong and resilient heroine. And a unique tether that draws them toward each other.
I won't tell you more about the plot since it's quite mysterious and you'll have to discover by yourself the unique bond between Reza and Jass.
The author leads us into a fascinating intergalactic world/battlefield where the Construct's power, manipulation and betrayal rule. Jass is their deadly weapon, but will love and compassion be the key to his redemption, or will they eventually mean Reza's perdition?
The love/hate relationship is intense, a true battle of will. Will they surrender, though?
The evolution and the conflict of the characters' feelings and interests was very clever. Trust and allegiance will be tested and I particularly enjoyed not knowing where Jass really stood in the bigger picture.
Suspenseful, gripping, action packed, Black Moon Rising had me holding my breath, just like the heroine did, until the unthinkable happened...Oh, was it twisted!!!
“Reza . It’s never going to be easy for you to look at me. Looking at me makes you feel alive. Looking at me makes you want. Looking at me makes you need. So just fucking do it. Look at me. Look at me right now, the way I’m looking at you.”
Well done, Frankie Rose, I'm ready for the follow up!!!
*I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED AN ARC COPY OF THIS BOOK. THANK YOU!!!
March 18, 2019
Judging by the ratings it looks like all the people who've never seen the last jedi decided to read this book and declare it a masterpiece!
January 24, 2018
I received an ARC of this book and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you Frankie Rose!
This was an interesting read! I loved the pretense of the story, and the classic sci-fi context. It’s timeless and almost always works. The addition of great characters and the constant guessing game of intentions keeps the reader hooked throughout.
I really enjoyed the dual narration. I love how we never truly know Jass’s intentions even though he is a narrator for half the book. He truly is a closed book. As soon as you think you have him figured out, he does something that completely changes your opinion about him. A complex and complete character created by Rose.
The ending of this book leaves you craving to know what happens next. It leaves you trying to change the page for more even though your kindle says you are 100% through the book. *sigh*
I simply cannot wait for the sequel!
This was an interesting read! I loved the pretense of the story, and the classic sci-fi context. It’s timeless and almost always works. The addition of great characters and the constant guessing game of intentions keeps the reader hooked throughout.
I really enjoyed the dual narration. I love how we never truly know Jass’s intentions even though he is a narrator for half the book. He truly is a closed book. As soon as you think you have him figured out, he does something that completely changes your opinion about him. A complex and complete character created by Rose.
The ending of this book leaves you craving to know what happens next. It leaves you trying to change the page for more even though your kindle says you are 100% through the book. *sigh*
I simply cannot wait for the sequel!
January 23, 2018
Well Holy Cow!
Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
I’m absolutely stunned, completely stunned, I don’t even know what to say or how to begin this review.
I will say that this genre is one I’ve never read before, I’ve never ever in my life read a Science Fiction book before and to be honest, I’ve never wanted to until I seen this author was writing this book, I jumped at the chance because how could I not? It’s new, it’s different and it was absolutely amazing!
The power that’s inside both main characters is insanely strong. The feelings they have, that they don’t even understand are even stronger. Their journey is filled with an insane amount of heartbreak and upset and even some sexiness and damn, it’s hot. It’s interesting to get into their minds, to see what they’re thinking and what they’re feeling and this author masters that. I won’t give away any spoilers because you HAVE to read this beauty without any to fully appreciate this book.
I have insane amount of love for this book and it’s absolutely thrown me..and that ending, I literally do not like the thought of having to wait until the next book is released, seriously *sighs* All in all though, it was a brilliant read, I really wish I could reward it with more stars than allowed.
Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
I’m absolutely stunned, completely stunned, I don’t even know what to say or how to begin this review.
I will say that this genre is one I’ve never read before, I’ve never ever in my life read a Science Fiction book before and to be honest, I’ve never wanted to until I seen this author was writing this book, I jumped at the chance because how could I not? It’s new, it’s different and it was absolutely amazing!
The power that’s inside both main characters is insanely strong. The feelings they have, that they don’t even understand are even stronger. Their journey is filled with an insane amount of heartbreak and upset and even some sexiness and damn, it’s hot. It’s interesting to get into their minds, to see what they’re thinking and what they’re feeling and this author masters that. I won’t give away any spoilers because you HAVE to read this beauty without any to fully appreciate this book.
I have insane amount of love for this book and it’s absolutely thrown me..and that ending, I literally do not like the thought of having to wait until the next book is released, seriously *sighs* All in all though, it was a brilliant read, I really wish I could reward it with more stars than allowed.
January 21, 2018
It doesn't matter what genre this author writes in because she always creates an an amazing must have story. I thoroughly enjoyed Black Moon Rising as it had everything a Callie Hart novel has: A broody/alpha male, strong woman, hot chemistry and a compelling story. I loved Jass and Reza and honestly never wanted it to end. And that ending??? Good Lord I wasn't ready! WHYYYYY? I need more!!! I need the sequel!
Jass and Reza have always had a connection spanning years. But when she comes face to face with the most feared man of the Construct after years of feeling his presence in her mind she could never expect to forge a deep connection with her enemy nor create an unbreakable bond with him. But does Jass have her best interests at heart? Or is this a game where the world is a stage and he is playing a part?
GAHHHH!! I loved this novel. I loved that it is different from what is out there and just proves that this author can literally write anything she sets her mind to. The way she built this world was phenomenal, vivid and so descriptive. In addition, I thought Jass and Reza had fiery chemistry and loveeed the bad boy edge that Jass had. He was the epitome of a Callie Hart hero where you don't really know what his intentions are but good Lord are u ready to find out. I loved this novel, the characters and loved that this author took a chance on creating such a fantastic story. Now I just need more!!! All in all this was fantastic! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
Jass and Reza have always had a connection spanning years. But when she comes face to face with the most feared man of the Construct after years of feeling his presence in her mind she could never expect to forge a deep connection with her enemy nor create an unbreakable bond with him. But does Jass have her best interests at heart? Or is this a game where the world is a stage and he is playing a part?
GAHHHH!! I loved this novel. I loved that it is different from what is out there and just proves that this author can literally write anything she sets her mind to. The way she built this world was phenomenal, vivid and so descriptive. In addition, I thought Jass and Reza had fiery chemistry and loveeed the bad boy edge that Jass had. He was the epitome of a Callie Hart hero where you don't really know what his intentions are but good Lord are u ready to find out. I loved this novel, the characters and loved that this author took a chance on creating such a fantastic story. Now I just need more!!! All in all this was fantastic! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
Want to read
January 6, 2018
January 23, 2018
Do you know Frankie Rose? I didn't, until Callie Hart explained she was going to release a Sci-fi novel under that name. No need to tell you, I had to take my chance with this genre I'm not too familiar with and I loved every word of it.
A damaged hero (more accurately anti-hero). A strong and resilient heroine. And a unique tether that draws them toward each other.
I won't tell you more about the plot since it's quite mysterious and you'll have to discover by yourself the unique bond between Reza and Jass.
The author leads us into a fascinating intergalactic world/battlefield where the Construct's power, manipulation and betrayal rule. Jass is their deadly weapon, but will love and compassion be the key to his redemption, or will they eventually mean Reza's perdition?
The love/hate relationship is intense, a true battle of will. Will they surrender, though?
The evolution and the conflict of the characters' feelings and interests was very clever. Trust and allegiance will be tested and I particularly enjoyed not knowing where Jass really stood in the bigger picture.
Suspenseful, gripping, action packed, Black Moon Rising had me holding my breath, just like the heroine did, until the unthinkable happened...Oh, was it twisted!!!
“Reza . It’s never going to be easy for you to look at me. Looking at me makes you feel alive. Looking at me makes you want. Looking at me makes you need. So just fucking do it. Look at me. Look at me right now, the way I’m looking at you.”
Well done, Frankie Rose, I'm ready for the follow up!!!
*I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED AN ARC COPY OF THIS BOOK. THANK YOU!!!
A damaged hero (more accurately anti-hero). A strong and resilient heroine. And a unique tether that draws them toward each other.
I won't tell you more about the plot since it's quite mysterious and you'll have to discover by yourself the unique bond between Reza and Jass.
The author leads us into a fascinating intergalactic world/battlefield where the Construct's power, manipulation and betrayal rule. Jass is their deadly weapon, but will love and compassion be the key to his redemption, or will they eventually mean Reza's perdition?
The love/hate relationship is intense, a true battle of will. Will they surrender, though?
The evolution and the conflict of the characters' feelings and interests was very clever. Trust and allegiance will be tested and I particularly enjoyed not knowing where Jass really stood in the bigger picture.
Suspenseful, gripping, action packed, Black Moon Rising had me holding my breath, just like the heroine did, until the unthinkable happened...Oh, was it twisted!!!
“Reza . It’s never going to be easy for you to look at me. Looking at me makes you feel alive. Looking at me makes you want. Looking at me makes you need. So just fucking do it. Look at me. Look at me right now, the way I’m looking at you.”
Well done, Frankie Rose, I'm ready for the follow up!!!
*I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED AN ARC COPY OF THIS BOOK. THANK YOU!!!
May 1, 2019
No pude con este libro lo intente porque tiene elementos que me fascinan como ciencia ficción , conexión entre los protagonista , naves espaciales y ambientación en el espacio ,etc .
Pero no pude en ningún momento conecte con los personajes y llegó un punto que todo era totalmente predecible y aburrido y simplemente ya no quería leerlo 😣
Pero no pude en ningún momento conecte con los personajes y llegó un punto que todo era totalmente predecible y aburrido y simplemente ya no quería leerlo 😣
January 18, 2018
It is not often that I come across a book I cannot put down. When I received the ARC, I promised myself I would pace myself, but I found that I just could not step away from the world and story line Ms Campbell has created.
I am a fan of sci-fi books and I can imagine that it is hard to establish a world so very different from our own. There is a fine line between not enough information that the world becomes confusing and too much information that a storyline gets bogged down. Frankie Campbell treads this line with confidence and in my opinion - gets it right. This is a first book, in what I hope, is a continuing series giving her time and scope to draw out all the intricacies of a new and vibrant universe. She gives you enough to get you buy and leaves enough questions to keep you intrigued.
Jass - what can I say about him other than the fact he is the epitome of tall, dark, dangerous, and drop dead sexy? He's flawed, he's violent, he's dangerous, but he's also so very conflicted when it comes to Reza. He is such a rich character with depth and soul [even if he wishes he didn't have one]. Jass was a joy to read about.
Reza is not a wallflower but she's also not a kickass femme fatale. She's just a person who ends up in a horrendous situation where the only options [to her] is die or get the hell out of dodge. So, she runs, and she survives. Reza has a strength and determination that makes her stand out. She is a perfect mirror to Jass who would stand out in a crowd whereas she would want to blend in. But where this would make her seem ordinary and boring - she really isn't. She is wonderfully written - flawed like Jass and, in some ways, a little bit broken by her past.
I have a feeling that Jass and Reza are each other’s redemption and salvation. Whether they'll get to realise this before it's too late is another matter altogether.
I just loved this story, the way it was written and kept me hooked. I loved its heart, and its depth. If you love sci-fi romance, I honestly say give this one a go you will not be disappointed. If you've never read a sci-fi romance, then Black Moon Rising is definitely a good book to start with.
Well done Frankie Campbell!!! You get two thumbs up from me and 5 glorious, shiny stars.
I am a fan of sci-fi books and I can imagine that it is hard to establish a world so very different from our own. There is a fine line between not enough information that the world becomes confusing and too much information that a storyline gets bogged down. Frankie Campbell treads this line with confidence and in my opinion - gets it right. This is a first book, in what I hope, is a continuing series giving her time and scope to draw out all the intricacies of a new and vibrant universe. She gives you enough to get you buy and leaves enough questions to keep you intrigued.
Jass - what can I say about him other than the fact he is the epitome of tall, dark, dangerous, and drop dead sexy? He's flawed, he's violent, he's dangerous, but he's also so very conflicted when it comes to Reza. He is such a rich character with depth and soul [even if he wishes he didn't have one]. Jass was a joy to read about.
Reza is not a wallflower but she's also not a kickass femme fatale. She's just a person who ends up in a horrendous situation where the only options [to her] is die or get the hell out of dodge. So, she runs, and she survives. Reza has a strength and determination that makes her stand out. She is a perfect mirror to Jass who would stand out in a crowd whereas she would want to blend in. But where this would make her seem ordinary and boring - she really isn't. She is wonderfully written - flawed like Jass and, in some ways, a little bit broken by her past.
I have a feeling that Jass and Reza are each other’s redemption and salvation. Whether they'll get to realise this before it's too late is another matter altogether.
I just loved this story, the way it was written and kept me hooked. I loved its heart, and its depth. If you love sci-fi romance, I honestly say give this one a go you will not be disappointed. If you've never read a sci-fi romance, then Black Moon Rising is definitely a good book to start with.
Well done Frankie Campbell!!! You get two thumbs up from me and 5 glorious, shiny stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2019
I enjoyed the read, but not in a good way. I will not linger on drawing parallels to Star Wars and the alleged relationship between Kylo Ren and Rey, they're blatantly obvious. I will credit the author for creating a setting that manages to get across the feeling of a tiny, shoebox-sized universe of Disney's Star Wars trilogy, everyone manages to travel across the galaxy in about thirty seconds, even secret search bases on rogue moons in interstellar space can be found quite easily.
Now let's talk about characters, the focus of this story (and they have to be, with a setting this vague). We're here because we want to see Kylo, or Jass as he goes by in this story, bang Rey, or Reza as she goes by in this story. And we get this from the very first sentence, awesome. I don't read sexually explicit works that often so I have no way to judge if this (or any of the lewd scenes for that matter) was well-written or not, but I digress, let's get back to our main duo.
Jass has a bit of a character arc. Kind of. He's a dark, brooding bad boy, as side character Col remarks when they first meet. He's bad because he's been trained to be bad, and he likes hurting people and being badass and Nine Inch Nails (the band and on finger) pretty much anything else you could name from Coldsteel the Hedgeheg's bio. But hey, edge is Kylo Ren's middle name, I knew what I was getting into. However, Kylo Ren as a character is interesting because he's an inherently decent guy trying to hype himself up into a villain and trying to reject everything he's been taught, there is a battle in his head between good and evil as he is both called towards the light while being fucked with by Il Signore Oscuro Smoke. He's a character with deep conflict. Jass... has none of this. He's bad because he's high on psychopathy-inducing murder heroin poison. The moment he's off it, he tries to tell himself he's still hardcore, but then he and Reza get it on Jass and decides he isn't hardcore anymore, he just wants to keep his waifu safe. So, it's a character arc induced by drugs and solved by sex... could be worse, honestly.
As for Reza... honestly, I liked her more as Reza than as Rey. Reza has friends, Reza has a home she is willing to die for, Reza's seen the evil things the First Order- I mean, the Construct does, and wants no part of it. She isn't trained enough to do any of the crazy Force- I mean unnamed psychic power stuff that Jass can do, and when she tries, she flubs it. She's not all-powerful despite her potential, she needs to work to become something great. Oppose this to Rey who becomes family with people she's known for about two hours and is instantly succeeds at everything. Unfortunately, Reza doesn't have much of a character beyond "Unf this tall muscled dude is so hot and handsome and my heart is devastated when he just looks at me take me now." Her whole character, what little of it there is, revolves around two things: wanting to get Jass between her legs because he's hot and being angry at Jass for being bad. It truly is unfortunate, she has the foundations of an actually bearable Strong Female Character™ but instead is a mostly blank slate who is there to get turned on and angry (often at the same time) at Jass. Many such cases!
Oh yeah, Col existed. I guess. Gotta get those quips in for the Marvel audience. And there was some smug old guy named Darius. Remember that old guy who gets whacked at the start of TFA? Yeah, I barely remember him too, but he reminded me of him a little. I was expecting Jass to kill him. Jass doesn't actually kill anyone at all in this book, now that I think about it... at least not on-page, I'm certain some goons got spaced on the Nexus when he blew half of it up with a crate of plasma.
So, why did I read this? I'm really not sure. Is it because Rey and Kylo's relationship is the only legitimately interesting part of the sequel trilogy and I want to see what somewhat competent writers do with it instead of the idiots at Disney? Was I hoping to find a serious attempt at the heroine's journey and the redemption of the dark prince archetype (Reza even calls Jass this)? Did I really think I'd find anything meaningful here? Honestly, no, I didn't have much hope, I just wanted to be entertained by some trashy romance. And that I certainly did find. If I had a nickel for every time Reza got devastated by a look, or every time Reza's fingernails clawed Jass's back, or every time Jass's eyes flashed gold, or every time Jass's muscular chest was described... I'd be a hypocrite to criticize the female gaze in any way, but I found it amusing. Reza (and the author too?) likes what she likes.
My final rating is "At least it's better than The Last Jedi" and 1/5 on Goodreads to make the recommending algorithm do its job. I only rate 1 star or 5 stars depending on if I'm interested in reading similar works or not. And this has been enough trashy romance for me.
Now let's talk about characters, the focus of this story (and they have to be, with a setting this vague). We're here because we want to see Kylo, or Jass as he goes by in this story, bang Rey, or Reza as she goes by in this story. And we get this from the very first sentence, awesome. I don't read sexually explicit works that often so I have no way to judge if this (or any of the lewd scenes for that matter) was well-written or not, but I digress, let's get back to our main duo.
Jass has a bit of a character arc. Kind of. He's a dark, brooding bad boy, as side character Col remarks when they first meet. He's bad because he's been trained to be bad, and he likes hurting people and being badass and Nine Inch Nails (the band and on finger) pretty much anything else you could name from Coldsteel the Hedgeheg's bio. But hey, edge is Kylo Ren's middle name, I knew what I was getting into. However, Kylo Ren as a character is interesting because he's an inherently decent guy trying to hype himself up into a villain and trying to reject everything he's been taught, there is a battle in his head between good and evil as he is both called towards the light while being fucked with by Il Signore Oscuro Smoke. He's a character with deep conflict. Jass... has none of this. He's bad because he's high on psychopathy-inducing murder heroin poison. The moment he's off it, he tries to tell himself he's still hardcore, but then he and Reza get it on Jass and decides he isn't hardcore anymore, he just wants to keep his waifu safe. So, it's a character arc induced by drugs and solved by sex... could be worse, honestly.
As for Reza... honestly, I liked her more as Reza than as Rey. Reza has friends, Reza has a home she is willing to die for, Reza's seen the evil things the First Order- I mean, the Construct does, and wants no part of it. She isn't trained enough to do any of the crazy Force- I mean unnamed psychic power stuff that Jass can do, and when she tries, she flubs it. She's not all-powerful despite her potential, she needs to work to become something great. Oppose this to Rey who becomes family with people she's known for about two hours and is instantly succeeds at everything. Unfortunately, Reza doesn't have much of a character beyond "Unf this tall muscled dude is so hot and handsome and my heart is devastated when he just looks at me take me now." Her whole character, what little of it there is, revolves around two things: wanting to get Jass between her legs because he's hot and being angry at Jass for being bad. It truly is unfortunate, she has the foundations of an actually bearable Strong Female Character™ but instead is a mostly blank slate who is there to get turned on and angry (often at the same time) at Jass. Many such cases!
Oh yeah, Col existed. I guess. Gotta get those quips in for the Marvel audience. And there was some smug old guy named Darius. Remember that old guy who gets whacked at the start of TFA? Yeah, I barely remember him too, but he reminded me of him a little. I was expecting Jass to kill him. Jass doesn't actually kill anyone at all in this book, now that I think about it... at least not on-page, I'm certain some goons got spaced on the Nexus when he blew half of it up with a crate of plasma.
So, why did I read this? I'm really not sure. Is it because Rey and Kylo's relationship is the only legitimately interesting part of the sequel trilogy and I want to see what somewhat competent writers do with it instead of the idiots at Disney? Was I hoping to find a serious attempt at the heroine's journey and the redemption of the dark prince archetype (Reza even calls Jass this)? Did I really think I'd find anything meaningful here? Honestly, no, I didn't have much hope, I just wanted to be entertained by some trashy romance. And that I certainly did find. If I had a nickel for every time Reza got devastated by a look, or every time Reza's fingernails clawed Jass's back, or every time Jass's eyes flashed gold, or every time Jass's muscular chest was described... I'd be a hypocrite to criticize the female gaze in any way, but I found it amusing. Reza (and the author too?) likes what she likes.
My final rating is "At least it's better than The Last Jedi" and 1/5 on Goodreads to make the recommending algorithm do its job. I only rate 1 star or 5 stars depending on if I'm interested in reading similar works or not. And this has been enough trashy romance for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2018
Title: Black Moon Rising
Author: Frankie Campbell
Series: Black Moon Rising #1
Genre: sci-fi romance
Heat: 2/5
Rating: 4/5
When I heard Callie Hart was releasing a sci-fi, I was super excited. I'm a little over contemporary at the moment, and although Hart's usual brand of gritty suspense appeals to me in this frame of mind, this was exactly what I needed.
It didn't disappoint.
I was fortunate enough to read an ARC, so my copy needed a proofread, but this will be discounted as I trust this will happen before the final manuscript is released. I very much enjoy Hart's writing, which flows nicely, although I do have to pick up on one common sentence form which has started cropping up more and more in her work: ending sentences with "though", which occasionally is absolutely fine, but when you have four on a page, it gets a little irritating.
Aside from this, the writing was smooth and the world Campbell created one I rather enjoyed being a part of. Yes, it was heavily influenced by the latest Star Wars, but it was original enough with its characters and the intricacies of its plot to not suffer from it.
I'm very much looking forward to the next instalment, to see where this picks up, because it ended with a bang. A one-click for sure.
Author: Frankie Campbell
Series: Black Moon Rising #1
Genre: sci-fi romance
Heat: 2/5
Rating: 4/5
When I heard Callie Hart was releasing a sci-fi, I was super excited. I'm a little over contemporary at the moment, and although Hart's usual brand of gritty suspense appeals to me in this frame of mind, this was exactly what I needed.
It didn't disappoint.
I was fortunate enough to read an ARC, so my copy needed a proofread, but this will be discounted as I trust this will happen before the final manuscript is released. I very much enjoy Hart's writing, which flows nicely, although I do have to pick up on one common sentence form which has started cropping up more and more in her work: ending sentences with "though", which occasionally is absolutely fine, but when you have four on a page, it gets a little irritating.
Aside from this, the writing was smooth and the world Campbell created one I rather enjoyed being a part of. Yes, it was heavily influenced by the latest Star Wars, but it was original enough with its characters and the intricacies of its plot to not suffer from it.
I'm very much looking forward to the next instalment, to see where this picks up, because it ended with a bang. A one-click for sure.
January 19, 2018
I don't normally read Sci-Fi Books, but when it's Callie Hart, even though Black Moon Rising is by Frankie Campbell, I will read anything, because a great author can use any name, they will still be a great author.
I loved Black Moon Rising, what you have to keep in consideration when you read it, is that Callie / Frankie writes series and not short books, so the story will continue, and I hope it's soon.
Black Moon Rising is written in duel Point of View, but I got the feeling that I get both POV's in one chapter, because they read each others minds, so to me it felt that I could hear what both Jess and Reza are thinking at the same time, and I loved that!
Black Moon Rising is worth the read, and I hope that the wait for the story to continue is not a long one.
I loved Black Moon Rising, what you have to keep in consideration when you read it, is that Callie / Frankie writes series and not short books, so the story will continue, and I hope it's soon.
Black Moon Rising is written in duel Point of View, but I got the feeling that I get both POV's in one chapter, because they read each others minds, so to me it felt that I could hear what both Jess and Reza are thinking at the same time, and I loved that!
Black Moon Rising is worth the read, and I hope that the wait for the story to continue is not a long one.
January 24, 2018
I am speechless. I never read Sci-fi or paranormal, but I love everything this author writes, so I said I will try this. This is phenomenal to say the least. I am reeling with the cliffhanger ending. I need to know when the next book will be out, like yesterday. This was such an imaginative story. I truly felt like I was a fly on the wall (would they have those in Pirius?) and witnessing first hand everything being said and done. I could not put this book down. The writing is so creative and free flowing. Ugh... I just can’t express how great this book is. Each character clicked together. And the budding love story stole my breath. Jass is probably the most broken man I’ve ever read. And his transformation is special. So is Reza’s. Their strength and intelligence and love is amazing. So please read this book. It will transport you to somewhere very special indeed.
January 24, 2018
“Better you ask how the stars keep burning,” I whisper. “Better you ask how the universe keeps expanding. The answers are easier to comprehend.”
It has taken me a few days to put my thoughts together enough to write this review. I’m a huge fan of this author so was intrigued to read something a little different from her and may I just say I am so glad I did. This story may be set in a future that sees humanity spread across the galaxies yet she captures the survival of the darkest human trait -hunger for power. This is a story of a battle for freedom, a war for the right to exist outside the control of The Construct. Destroying anything other, they travel through space from planet to planet wiping out rebellion, seizing bodies to join their ranks and assimilating all that remains to be of service to The Construct. Jass is one of their greatest weapons able to slip into minds, will matter to do his bidding just by thinking it. Taken and trained from childhood he is feared and revered in equal measure, yet he is haunted by her...
Reza is drawn to his darkness, frightened by her feelings to the man she knows could be her damnation yet a seer predicts it is she that will be his salvation. Having escaped the control of The Construct she has hidden from them until the time comes to face her fate. Harnessing the same powerful energy inside of her as Jass, can she learn to control her desire for him or will she fall into the abyss of need that he creates? With The Construct on their way to seek be destroy will the visions of the Seers prove correct or will faith wane as the Black Moon Rises?
This story is gripping, well paced and excellently unravels so you quickly forget they are in a different time, on a different planet and soon you are lost to the struggles they face. Jass is a beautifully dark soul, willing to share only what is necessary he’s a mysterious and enigmatic anti hero. He acts in the shadows, smoke and mirrors and yet he wins you over and makes you hope. Reva is a conundrum as she too has a great power yet she buries it instead of learning to harness it, until it’s too late. She runs from the truth and her feelings, overwhelmed by her part that she must play. She too has hidden depths and strength beyond imagination but we only just begin to realise this as the book ends and leaves us hanging! I need the next book in this series, the intricacies of the plot left me drunk and I can’t wait for more.
A five star otherworldly read.
~*~ Reviewed on behalf of Obsessed by Books ~*~
It has taken me a few days to put my thoughts together enough to write this review. I’m a huge fan of this author so was intrigued to read something a little different from her and may I just say I am so glad I did. This story may be set in a future that sees humanity spread across the galaxies yet she captures the survival of the darkest human trait -hunger for power. This is a story of a battle for freedom, a war for the right to exist outside the control of The Construct. Destroying anything other, they travel through space from planet to planet wiping out rebellion, seizing bodies to join their ranks and assimilating all that remains to be of service to The Construct. Jass is one of their greatest weapons able to slip into minds, will matter to do his bidding just by thinking it. Taken and trained from childhood he is feared and revered in equal measure, yet he is haunted by her...
Reza is drawn to his darkness, frightened by her feelings to the man she knows could be her damnation yet a seer predicts it is she that will be his salvation. Having escaped the control of The Construct she has hidden from them until the time comes to face her fate. Harnessing the same powerful energy inside of her as Jass, can she learn to control her desire for him or will she fall into the abyss of need that he creates? With The Construct on their way to seek be destroy will the visions of the Seers prove correct or will faith wane as the Black Moon Rises?
This story is gripping, well paced and excellently unravels so you quickly forget they are in a different time, on a different planet and soon you are lost to the struggles they face. Jass is a beautifully dark soul, willing to share only what is necessary he’s a mysterious and enigmatic anti hero. He acts in the shadows, smoke and mirrors and yet he wins you over and makes you hope. Reva is a conundrum as she too has a great power yet she buries it instead of learning to harness it, until it’s too late. She runs from the truth and her feelings, overwhelmed by her part that she must play. She too has hidden depths and strength beyond imagination but we only just begin to realise this as the book ends and leaves us hanging! I need the next book in this series, the intricacies of the plot left me drunk and I can’t wait for more.
A five star otherworldly read.
~*~ Reviewed on behalf of Obsessed by Books ~*~
January 23, 2018
4 STARS
Huhhhhhh WHERE IS THE REST?!?!?! I'M GOING TO NEED THE REST OF THIS STORY ASAP OR I WILL RIOT. This has a sequel right??? It doesn't end like this? Someone's going to have to clear this up for me because HOLY COW I WILL GO INSANE.
I really, REALLY ended up enjoying this. It started off with a bang, hooked me right in.
The middle part is the reason why this is getting a 4 stars and no more. It got a bit slow, slower than I prefer.
BUT, with that being said, the last 35% of this book had me on the edge of my seat. I did NOT know what to think, who to trust, what to expect. I was completely at the mercy of this story.
Still am, considering how it ended. Is that a cliffy?? I'm borderline pissy about this because for some reason I thought this was a standalone but I'm thinking that ending was a sure cliffy. And cliffies mean there's... more coming? AGAIN, I WILL ASK, THERE'S MORE COMING RIGHT?
The characters were interesting (and somewhat similar-ish to Rey and Kylo from Star Wars which was GREAT). Jass is... damn, no words. That man is a lot of things, one of those being H.O.T. He's also quite conflicted which I loved, troubled heroes have always been my personal favs.
I also quite liked Reza! I like that it took her a while to give in, I respect her for that because it proves she respects herself.
All in all, REALLY ENJOYED IT. I need to know what the fuck happens next. What, when, how, who, the fuck? I'm so shaken up I don't know how to use my words anymore. So, I'll come back tomorrow to rewrite this review and make it a little bit more professional. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll be able to voice my thoughts properly. In the meanwhile, I'll stay shooketh.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchanged for an honest review.
Huhhhhhh WHERE IS THE REST?!?!?! I'M GOING TO NEED THE REST OF THIS STORY ASAP OR I WILL RIOT. This has a sequel right??? It doesn't end like this? Someone's going to have to clear this up for me because HOLY COW I WILL GO INSANE.
I really, REALLY ended up enjoying this. It started off with a bang, hooked me right in.
The middle part is the reason why this is getting a 4 stars and no more. It got a bit slow, slower than I prefer.
BUT, with that being said, the last 35% of this book had me on the edge of my seat. I did NOT know what to think, who to trust, what to expect. I was completely at the mercy of this story.
Still am, considering how it ended. Is that a cliffy?? I'm borderline pissy about this because for some reason I thought this was a standalone but I'm thinking that ending was a sure cliffy. And cliffies mean there's... more coming? AGAIN, I WILL ASK, THERE'S MORE COMING RIGHT?
The characters were interesting (and somewhat similar-ish to Rey and Kylo from Star Wars which was GREAT). Jass is... damn, no words. That man is a lot of things, one of those being H.O.T. He's also quite conflicted which I loved, troubled heroes have always been my personal favs.
I also quite liked Reza! I like that it took her a while to give in, I respect her for that because it proves she respects herself.
All in all, REALLY ENJOYED IT. I need to know what the fuck happens next. What, when, how, who, the fuck? I'm so shaken up I don't know how to use my words anymore. So, I'll come back tomorrow to rewrite this review and make it a little bit more professional. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll be able to voice my thoughts properly. In the meanwhile, I'll stay shooketh.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchanged for an honest review.
February 7, 2018
I read the blurb and was so excited to read this book. I love when authors take flawed characters and find redemption for them. And here Jass is wonderful, his struggle with being a Construct creature and yet caring for a human was well done and and I would rate this book 4.5* for him. He's a great blend of callous, loving, indifferent, etc. and I can't wait to read more about him in book two. Yes, I was caught by surprise that there is no warning that there is no ending, just a cliffhanger to the next book!
Unfortunately Reza the heroine, is the weak part of the story. She spends 90% of the book believing Jass is going to kill her and yet she's "conflicted" as she's having x rated dreams about him (where he shows his softer loving side). So day after day she wakes up, does her best to ignore him and goes around feeling scared. Yes it gets tiring very quickly! Plus with this treatment he's supposed to miraculously decide to become a better person and save the world. Yah. I really hope she gets better in book two cause Jass deserves so much better!
Unfortunately Reza the heroine, is the weak part of the story. She spends 90% of the book believing Jass is going to kill her and yet she's "conflicted" as she's having x rated dreams about him (where he shows his softer loving side). So day after day she wakes up, does her best to ignore him and goes around feeling scared. Yes it gets tiring very quickly! Plus with this treatment he's supposed to miraculously decide to become a better person and save the world. Yah. I really hope she gets better in book two cause Jass deserves so much better!
January 20, 2018
Absolutely loving this new series!!!! Is there anything that Frankie/Callie can't write that will keep you begging for more.
You are brought into the minds and lives of Reza and Jass. This is way more then just sci_fi or just a love story. It is a wonderfully painted world you will become immersed in with characters that pull you in and keep you invested in their every move.
The descriptive brilliance unleashed in this book to make this strange universe fully come to life is astounding. It is one thing to describe and make a reader believe when it is a setting we know or relate to, it is a whole other gift to bring strange planets and universes to such reality for a reader.
Reza, Jass and Col are the characters you will become infatuated with and just want more and more of. I devoured this story and can't wait for more!!
You are brought into the minds and lives of Reza and Jass. This is way more then just sci_fi or just a love story. It is a wonderfully painted world you will become immersed in with characters that pull you in and keep you invested in their every move.
The descriptive brilliance unleashed in this book to make this strange universe fully come to life is astounding. It is one thing to describe and make a reader believe when it is a setting we know or relate to, it is a whole other gift to bring strange planets and universes to such reality for a reader.
Reza, Jass and Col are the characters you will become infatuated with and just want more and more of. I devoured this story and can't wait for more!!
January 21, 2018
I’m so hooked. Everything about this story I absolutely loved. Jass & Reza are connected to each other, are drawn to each other and Reza doesn’t understand why. Reza fears for her life and knows Jass is coming for her but in her dreams they are always together and can’t stay away from each other. Reza needs Jass to save a planet and she’s hoping he does or will she finally see that he is just rotten to the core? I’m dying to know what will happen after that ending. Brilliant read that had me non stop reading.
I voluntarily reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
April 1, 2018
I enjoyed this but for crying out loud! Please, please can authors write stand-alones! I am so, so sick of cliff hangers and having to wait for the next book! By the time that happens I have usually forgotten about the first!
January 19, 2018
Full Blog Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 20, 2018
Holy Wow!!! How can you leave us hanging like that Frankie?!?!? What a fantastic book this was. When will the next one be out cause I need to know what happens like yesterday. This is a sci fy post apocalyptic book that will knock your socks off. It's about a girl who escapes the Construct, this evil chapter of the military as it were, and finds happiness. Then along comes what she perceives her worst nightmare Jass Beylar, a man who can kill you with a single thought and has done so to countless people. Can she escape him and does she even want to is the question. I couldn't put this book down and I can't wait for the next one to find out what happens. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone in the mood for an awesome sci fy book. I give it 5 stars without a doubt.
January 23, 2018
How many different ways can I say WOW!!!! This is one hell of a good read and has laid out a complex and fascinating world, which, I hope, will be explored and developed in further books. The story is intense, unusual and so well written that I found it difficult to put down in order to get on with things! I need to mention that this is also a very hot book, but this blends beautifully into the character and plot building. Both Reza and Jass are fascinating, a sort of yin and yang, and while they are the main characters, Frankie has brought other strong and interesting characters to the page, particularly Col. His humour, fortitude and good heart act as a great foil to the intensity of Jass and the relative innocence and vulnerability of Reza. I cannot wait to read more!!
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