Haven

Zone Cyborgs #1

by Jessica Marting

One stupid decision leaves Cressida stranded on Haven, an uninhabited planet on the edge of nowhere. But it isn’t totally empty. And Lukas, the cyborg living there in secret, is fascinated with her and has no intention of letting her leave.

Genres: Science Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Aliens, Space

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2018

About the author

Jessica Marting is a sci-fi and paranormal romance author, art enthusiast (not quite an artist, despite all that time in art school), an avid reader, and makeup collector. She lives in Toronto.

Reviews

[Melanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS!

He didn't have enough prior experience with people to forge relationships, let alone the romantic one he was already pining for.

Short, sweet, and straightforward! Haven made for the perfect in-between read.

Lukas is a military cyborg who's hiding out on the deserted planet of Haven - the same planet where the vacation vessel Cressida is traveling on is forced to make an emergency landing for repairs. Long story short, Cressida gets left behind and finds herself stranded with a 'man' unused to interacting with people.

So, I was impressed with Jessica Marting and the bleak universe she created for her characters to inhabit. I loved how, together, Cressida and Lukas found an oasis in the middle of it all.

She didn't want to be anywhere he wasn't.

If I had to criticize, I'd say the plot was perhaps too straightforward and needed a bit more tension to it. But if you're just looking to escape for a few hours with a sweet, low-angst read, I'd definitely recommend this one.

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Misfits love story!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙🖤💜💖
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍🌎
Character development: 😟🤭😤☺️🥰

The heroine: Cressida - she had booked passage on a luxury starship, hoping that would help with her case of Murphy’s Law which seemed to follow her everywhere. But as per her usual luck, the ship broke down and needed to land on the planet Haven, which is nearly abandoned and said to be off-limits to civilians. The planet was home to an abandoned military base and spaceport as well as a bunch of dangerous flora and fauna, but no sentient beings are reported to be there.

The Hero: Lukas - six years ago, Lukas had escaped the Zone military and landed on Haven, which is just outside of Zone space. He figured the war was probably over, but knowing Admiral Best, he could never be too sure. So, when a starship lands on the planet, Lukas is able to interface his personal hardware with that of the control tower to find out that the ship was a passenger ship which only landed for some quick repairs.

The Story: - Cressida decided that as long as they were stuck on Haven while the repairs to the ship were being made, she would sneak off the starship and take some Holo’s (holographic videos or pictures). Though after jumping from the ship to a tree, she got covered in Sap, ended up falling into a plant and passed out while the starship left the planet.

“They’re gone. It was a relief to Lukas, but a bitter one. It was better to be alone on Haven, and free than a product of the Zone’s military, built and paid for.”

“And he had been built, constructed by the galaxy’s finest surgeons and overseen by a Fleet admiral with cool, detached precision. The most expensive weapon the Zone would ever produce. Lukas would never forgive them for that.”

Lukas was grumpy and didn’t want to talk about himself at all. He had some surprises in his history. He was born human and became a cyborg for the military, though he really never had a choice in the matter, and he wasn’t treated as a human anymore after that, especially by his father. He came from a world where he had no choices. Cressida, though she was a free person, didn’t have it all that much better. She comes from a world where she worked 12–16-hour days to pay exorbitant fees for a tiny apartment and her electricity and utility bills. Though she did splurge on a cheap vacation once a year. Overall, I liked the story and how these two misfits found each other and became friends and lovers.

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[Carolyn F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3-1/2 stars

The ending was a lot "What? That's the end?" Otherwise the book was a sweet sci-fi romance.

[Cara Bristol · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of this book doesn't do it justice. This is a well-written, entertaining cyborg romance. Loved the character of Lukas. A cyborg hiding out on a dangerous planet from the military who tortured him, he learns how to be human again when a passenger from a cruise ship is left stranded on the planet. It hooked me from the beginning and kept me turning pages. Great world building.

[Honest Mabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn’t bad. But it wasn’t what I hoped for. I enjoy science fiction for aliens. So it was gravely disappointing to me for the MMC just be a human male. Like pfft I get enough of those every day.

Cressida is an idiot (FMC) and Lukas our human cyborg (MMC) is someone the author doesn’t seem to know how to write for a good chunk of the book.

So it is more like 2.75. Because eh I just wasn’t overly impressed across the board.’but if she wrote science fiction with cyborg aliens then I could genuinely hopefully enjoy it. But eh I just didn’t think this brought anything to the genre

[Kristiej · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book just as much on second reading and very happily give it a well earned 👍 thumbs up.



(&) (&) (&) (&) (&)



This book kind of came out of left field. Looks like I started it last year but I didn’t get very far before I kind of forgot about it. But I was in the mood for something short to read and when I found this one and it was a SciFi Cyborg romance I knew it was just the book to read.

Cressida lives a very drone like life, doing a drone like job, on a drone like planet. When she’s saved enough money she takes a drone like vacation. She’s on her way home when the space ship she’s on has to make an emergency stop on a deserted planet to make repairs. She leaves the ship but is rendered unconscious by a poisonous tree. And it seems the planet isn’t deserted after all.

Lucas is half man and half cyborg. When he was just young and without choice, on the orders of his own father, he was worked on and changed into a cyborg and expected to join the military. But tired of being treated as nothing but a machine and tired of killing. He went AWOL and hid out on a former military base that’s now completely deserted. So after years of living alone, he’s not too happy when he registers a human life form. He figures he has a few choices. He can either kill her, let the hostile planet kill her or he can save her. He reluctantly chooses the last option.

I really enjoyed both Cressida and Lucas. Right from the beginning Cressida see’s Lucas as a man and not a machine. Lucas has never experienced this before. He realizes that before her, he was lonely and he treasures her friendship. And Cressida is drawn to this rather unusual person who saved her and continues to save her from the hostile environment. Of course, being a romance, their friendship becomes more. But outside forces interfere.

This book hit just the right note and I’m quite taken with it. I’ve ordered the next two books in the series and I’m looking forward to reading them soon.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is an emotional roller-coaster.

I liked how Cressida treated him like a person and not a machine. She is very kind and caring. My heart breaks for everything Lukas and how he has been treated his entire life. You definitely get to see the uglier side of us humans in this story, but you also get to see some of the good as well.
Was an awesome read and will look forward to more from this author.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been good. The plot was interesting but the execution was lacking, seriously lacking.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly loved this story!

Cressida was marooned on a desolate planet and Lukas, the cyborg, saved her. Theirs was a really sweet slow burn budding romance. They were both considerate of each other. There was no overdone fake angst, no childish anger, hurt feelings or tantrums. Cressida understood that Lukas was not used to dealing with regular humans or his emotions very much. She gave him all the space he needed. Lukas didn’t want to scare Cressida away. He always behaved like a gentleman towards her. World building was detailed. Main character development was done so well, I wished I could be friends with Cressida and Lukas. Their story was just beautifully told by the author. They faced dangerous situations on the planet and worked together to solve problems. The author set the scene so that their survival on that planet was plausible given their resources.

Here’s the part that put this story at the top of my love-this-book list: When they were forced to be separated, Lukas said “Don’t do anything stupid. I will find you.” and Cressida did exactly that! She stayed safe. She didn’t do anything stupid even though she kept thinking of all the stupid things she wanted to do. She actually listened to her guy and they had the best HEA. How refreshing!

I’ve read several of Jessica Marting’s stories and loved them all. The Magic and Mechanicals series was particularly fun to read. Of all the stories I’ve read, Haven is by far my favorite. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mini review:

3.5 stars

This was cute and sweet sci-fi romance featuring Lukas and Cressida. I did enjoy their romance. It did happen on the fast side. I would have preferred that there would have been a slow, steady build up from their friendship to a romance. I did like them together. When they were captured and separated, it broke my heart because it was clear they needed and loved each other. I was happy that they got their HEA.

I liked the world building in this story. It was easy to follow and understand about the different planets. It put me into the cosmos. It was jus a nice easy sci-fi’s to get into.

This was my first cyborg romance, which was interesting. It didn’t get too technical but it did describe the basics. I thought this is would be more a barrier to their relationship, but it was just used as a way of them getting to know each other. It was more of conflict related why he was on Haven alone. It was different and unique from anything I had read in the past.

Overall I enjoyed it. Might not have been my favorite romance of all time, but it was still decent. I will remember it more of this being my first cyborg romance than anything else.

[Carly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not Science Fiction; it is Space Opera, a genre of which I am inordinately fond. And this book was easily a 4-star book at the beginning through about the midway point. Then it went downhill. I think it should have stopped at the end of chapter 8 and we could call it a short story. It would have been a slice of life on a forbidden planet with toxic flora and fauna which our heroine encounters with ease. It would have been fine.

However, the writer creates another three chapters that go nowhere. The characters do, but I found myself dreading their trips. The book stopped at chapter 12. It seemed as though the writer got tired and stopped writing; there is no real ending.

There’s a plethora of errors, as if even the editor became lackadaisical. The book, in its entirety, seems half-hearted.

There are many word placement errors where words are oddly used or left out.
 “…and she now she could see his face clearly.” Odd sentence. There seems to be one “she” too many. Perhaps it would be better like this, “…and now she could see his face clearly.”
 “…possibly venomous or carnivores of both….” I believe that should read, “…possibly venomous or carnivores or both….”
 “He took one her hands in his….” That should probably read, “He took one of her hands in his….”
 “She gripped his gloved hands in his own.” Another odd sentence. It would be better as, “She gripped his gloved hand in her own.” Singular hand since he’s bigger than she is.
 At one point, the writer tells us the couple “bounced off a rubbery wall and gently ricocheted back….” The words “bounced” and “gentle” don’t go well together. Bouncing is lively, active, vigorous and “gentle” is calm, tender, and more moderate.
 There’s a discussion between the main characters and he says, “Yours is still is.” What does that even mean? In context, or out, it makes no sense.
 “Not that Lukas would have obeyed him had the order been anything more to walk to another part of the house.” I believe that should be, “…anything more than to walk to another part….”
 “Their landings on Haven was for repair….” A singular verb is used erroneously and should be plural, like this, “Their landings on Haven were for repair….” The subject is “landings,” not “Haven.”
 “Maybe she should just look for at another apartment block altogether.” Hmmm. Maybe remove the “at?,” like this: “Maybe she should just look for another apartment….”
 There’s a writer intrusion in the story, too, which propels the reader out of the book. The cyborg, who has never been treated as human, never had a childhood, let alone a childhood book, thinks the heroine is “like a mermaid.” That’s too fanciful for this cyborg-soldier who has only known war and the training for war.
 Quotation marks are missing at the end of conversation. That’s off-putting, forcing the reader to figure out when the speaker stops speaking.

There are instances, too, of the characters being obviously manipulated by the writer to push the story along. Here are three examples that contain spoilers, so I’m hiding them in case you don’t want to read them:

 Our cyborg could have stunned the bounty hunter who captured Cressida and him at any time, yet he didn’t and blamed his inaction on Cressida’s presence.
 Cressida is made to cling to Lukas, our cyborg, so that he isn’t free to take down the bounty hunter.
 Lukas (our cyborg) and Cressida (our distressed heroine) are captured because Cressida’s sister (a drug addict) comes looking for her. That is totally, completely contrived. An attentive reader could come up with a good three or four logical ways for the two to be captured and taken off-planet. Instead, we are supposed to believe that Cressida’s sister, who lives for drugs and the means of supporting her habit, would take time to find her sister. Their history is unfortunate: Cressida's sister has demonstrated that she cares nothing for Cressida; she wants money from Cressida, that's all. Nope. Cressida's sister would not come after her. Absolutely not.
It was the last of these manipulations that brought the book down to a 2-star rating.

I would have liked more science in the book, more of the technical aspects of cybernetics and Haven’s outdated technology (I got tired of “thermowire” being able to do everything). But then, the writer would have crossed into Science Fiction and Space Opera doesn’t need to go there. Space Opera is all about adventure and exploration and great, glorious, terrible things happening to the main characters who, through force of will, intelligence, and perseverance, come through it all for a well-earned happy ending. Sex is unnecessary, but okay if it occurs naturally, as an extension of the characters. In this book, the sex is mediocre. It could have been extraordinary, not in a prurient way, but in how it would affect a cyborg and a woman who is partaking in cyborg sex. What did they feel, really? How did it impact them? How did it change them? Why was it important? We are offered a watery impression, but little else.

I rated this book 2-stars because the plot was wasted on the delivery. The plotline is fascinating. A worker-bee woman stranded on an abandoned planet because of an inordinately bad decision on her part. A cyborg soldier in hiding. It’s a bit of Philip K. Dick’s short story, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” (later made into the movie, “Bladerunner”) and a bit of director Paul W. S. Anderson’s “Soldier” with Kurt Russell cast as the obsolescent cyborg. However, this book doesn’t deliver the pathos of a lone cyborg who has neither examined nor tested his humanity, nor the intense loneliness of a woman who has no purpose in life except for a love for old musicals and a holographer. It could have been so much better than it was. And that’s a shame that earned it a 2-star rating.

[Cc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cressida and Lukas

While trying to get a holographic image Cressida climbs out of her luxury space liner that’s landed on a deserted planet for repairs. Climbing out through a tree she is covered with poisonous tree pitch and falls over unconscious.

Lukas has hidden on Haven for six years alone. When he discovers someone was left behind he’s torn between preserving his privacy and saving who ever is out there or quickly electrocuting them while their unconscious. Since he went AWOL because he was tired of killing he brings Cressida back and gives her the antidote.

They get to know each other and become friends while working to survive on this dangerous and desolate planet.

Short but well plotted story. Good characterization and world building.

[shannon Stubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. It just needs a new cover maybe to help it stand out more. It doesn't do it justice. It starts out with Cressida being stranded on a dangerous planet while sneaking off of a cruise ship when it was being repaired. She then finds herself being poisoned by the flora of that planet. That is where Lukas steps in to save her. He's an AWOL cyborg that is hiding on this dangerous planet. They get to know each other better and fall in love along the way. The ending was kind of realistic to what could possibly happen in real life. No big heroics. Just you hoping they end up having a happy life together in the future. It was sweet.

[Jacqueline Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, totally didn't see that coming!

I thought the book was amazing how it pulled you in. The action off the git, and cyborg and a human, uncomfortable pain brought to the surface and learning how and having someone there to help you understand life. With just enough romance to help stir the pot!I

Truly an interesting novel worth reading! This was my first sci-fi novel that I've read, and I'm so glad I did! Happy reading.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She makes one mistake and now she is on an uninhabited planet of so she thinks. There is a cyborg hiding there and he will not be letting her to anywhere off the planet. What will she do when she finds out about him? How will they get on? Follow their journey

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/7/2021)! 🎁

[Mayhem-RW · Rating 4 out of 5]

She worked as an independent contractor, and for fourteen to sixteen hours a day, she found herself doing her work in a cubical farm. She made enough money to afford an efficiency and squirrel enough away to afford a cheap vacation every second or third year. And here she was on this cruise liner in one of the cheapest rooms she could afford on her way back from one of her cheap vacations. She went to the Toralian Belt and spent two weeks there taking jungle tours and doing tourist things. But now, as the ship rocked unexpectedly, she did not have the time to think about her lack of friends or her darfin-addicted sister, but thankfully, the captain came on over the intercom and said they were making an emergency landing on a planet to conduct repairs. The planet’s name is Haven, and it was an old military installation, but now it is an abandoned planet. Once planet side, she bribed a crewmember so she could go outside and indulge in her hobby. Cressida liked taking holo’s of her adventures and unknown to her, she was about to embark on an adventure that would change her life.

A typical twentieth-century human life with space travel combined to give us an interesting planet that is hostile to human life. But give humans a chance, and they will find a way to live there, even if it is only to eke out a meager existence. The FMC would have been toast or some carnivore’s droppings if not for the MMC. The physical world-building conveys enough information to tell you it is a bleak place to be. The ethereal world-building only reinforces this. The character’s interaction is as expected. And the character’s history is part of the story.

The telling of this tale, this romance, set in a science fiction setting, is good. I give this novella-sized read four stars out of five stars.

[CallaLily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was sedate. 45mph in the right lane on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

The FMC started out TSTL, but redeemed herself with her kindness to and patience with the MMC. In an uncommon twist, the MMC was a virgin. It’s a tranquil story. The FMC and MMC meet, communicate, share their secrets, experience mild external conflict, and live HEA.

Even the villains were lackluster. The drug addict sister who hired the bounty hunter? The FMC simply walks away from her and leaves her on the curb. The bottom-sucking bounty hunter who tracked the MMC down? Lightly handcuffed the MMC, peacefully transported him back to the evil father, then collected his pay and left without so much as a curse word being tossed out.
The evil father who abused the MMC and was the catalyst for his escaping to an isolated planet? Provided top cover so his planet wouldn’t be found, apologized for his misdeeds, and wished the MMC happiness with the FMC.

Overall the story is kind of flat. The FMC and MMC meet on an isolated planet and within days are declaring their undying love for each other. There was simply no passion; no fire. It just felt obligatory. They’re the only 2 people on the planet; who else were they going to get with?


Kindle
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[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a disappointing ending!

This book needed more character development. However, the plot and action went along quite well. All of the events that led to the two people being stranded together in the abandoned outpost were fine. Also, the period of them getting to know each other was well written. The cyborg however was not very well developed at all. He had all that technology, all that access to the “galactic web” before fleeing to Haven, and you’re telling me that he never looked at porn? And OK, if I believe that… He still spent all that time around other soldiers, you can’t tell me he never heard any dirty talk. And then, once he got a hold of a woman’s body he didn’t go exploring? Just odd.

[Nessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

EASY, CYBORG READ AND CLOSE TO INSTA-LOVE ONCE THE CHARACTERS GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. I couldn't rate it higher than an average 3 stars because I've read estranged/survival romance stories that topped this one with its in-depth moments - such as how one reacts when stranded on an unknown planet. The lack of fear and etc here wasn't as convincing. Not to mention, the interactions between the MCs that would have made TARZAN and JANE pale in comparison. I NEEDED MORE MEAT!

Heroine lands on an abandoned planet, got rescued by the cyborg and they all live happily ever after.
YAWNS. It was good while it started and then I got bored when things took a too sweet and anti-climactic turn.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Than Acceptance

I like reading cyborg and romances and I enjoyed this book. I was impressed with Cressida and her acceptance of Lukas. It makes the story more satisfying when the female doesn’t immediately jump in bed with the male but instead takes their time getting to know the person inside the mechanics. I just didn’t expect the ending and think the author did a great job tying the loose ends together....except that sister. Hopefully she never turns up like a bad penny again.

[Kathryn E · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved the book, hate the ending

The book has a good strong storyline and strong intelligent characters that work together to make a home on a deserted planet. The relationship grows through the book to a deep and abiding love that is threatened. I wanted a happily ever after but the story ended not on a cliffhanger but what felt like…nothing. There is a talented writer here but…

[Barbara W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven

I loved this story, a cyborg who escaped the torturous hands of the military and the cruel things he went through including just being treated like a machine, by going to an abandoned planet. Then a woman got marooned there and he was wondering if he should help he or kill her! I highly recommend this book. Happy Reading!!!!

[JP · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT Story 😁

This story is o be that explains how people in power do absolutely horrible things and never pay for them 😑. Meanwhile, the ones that have all the horror done to them, have to learn how to live with it 😒. And sometimes there can be a happy ending 😃. Thanks Jessica, I truly enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading more 🤓.

[Shyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haven

Cressida was accidentally left behind on a deserted planet or so she thought. Lucas found Cressida and helped her to recover but was uncomfortable with her being there. Cressida slowly made friends with Lucas now if everything goes good life would be great.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting short story about a futuristic world. Semi-enemies to more trope. Some adult content.

Note - the version I read did not have this cover. That's a little too dramatic for me and does not reflect the story, IMO.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in one sitting. So good!!!

This book was really good. Sucked me in from the beginning. I really enjoyed both of the main characters. The story was very well written and i will look for more books written by the author.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay

Considering it is sci-fi, it wasn't very exciting.
It had very mellow tempo to it.
The ending was an HEA, but it fave no hint of the future. Not that I really needed one but the story just stopped.
It was a weird reading experience.

[Jeletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story!

I really enjoyed this story. I was invested in Lukas and Cressida's stories and the world building worked. It was interesting and a bit heart-pounding here and there. They deserved their HEA! Read it!

[Kimberly Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love found

First time reading a story by this author. I greatly enjoyed this story and the love between the main characters. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.