What do you think?
Rate this book
The Narvan #1
Trust
At long last, peace emerges from the bitter war that ravaged the worlds of the Narvan. Anastassia Kazan brought about the end to the fighting between Vayen Ta'set's homeworld of Artor and Artor's rival, Jal. When she offers Vayen a job on her team of bodyguards, he leaps at the opportunity. He'll do anything to keep Artor on the path to recovery.
Protecting the paranoid and mercurial woman whose deals and threats keep everyone in line is a tough, thankless task. One drunken night with Anastassia makes Vayen question why he got the job and whether he should keep it. But no one else on the team is willing to earn Anastassia's disfavor by calling her out on her reckless choices. Reckless will get her killed and send the Narvan back into chaos.
Not everyone is happy with Anastassia's changes on his homeworld and beyond. She's also on less-than-friendly terms with her deadly ex-partner. Then Vayen discovers that Anastassia is only middle management. The Council she works for harbors ambitious plans for the Narvan's military forces.
How much is Vayen willing to sacrifice to keep the Narvan at peace?
Protecting the paranoid and mercurial woman whose deals and threats keep everyone in line is a tough, thankless task. One drunken night with Anastassia makes Vayen question why he got the job and whether he should keep it. But no one else on the team is willing to earn Anastassia's disfavor by calling her out on her reckless choices. Reckless will get her killed and send the Narvan back into chaos.
Not everyone is happy with Anastassia's changes on his homeworld and beyond. She's also on less-than-friendly terms with her deadly ex-partner. Then Vayen discovers that Anastassia is only middle management. The Council she works for harbors ambitious plans for the Narvan's military forces.
How much is Vayen willing to sacrifice to keep the Narvan at peace?
- GenresScience Fiction
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2019
1 person is currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Jean Davis
25 books44 followersJean Davis lives writes an array of science fiction, fantasy and horror as well as children's books about her chickens. When not writing, she can be found playing in her garden, enjoying a glass of wine, or lost a good book.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 1, 2021
A gripping, complex science fiction. This book has the character depth of Star Wars with the world building of Star Trek all wrapped up into one brilliantly penned book. Science Fiction fans will absolutely love this one.
Anastassia is a great main character. Bold, determined, sometimes reckless and doing her best to navigate her duty to her people and the dangerous control of others in power. She is a believable and relatable character whose choices and flaws make her immeasurably more likable.
Secrets and betrayal. Love and trust. Mystery, intrigue and the threat of war. This book has it all and is an incredible start to what looks to be like a thrilling science fiction series.
Anastassia is a great main character. Bold, determined, sometimes reckless and doing her best to navigate her duty to her people and the dangerous control of others in power. She is a believable and relatable character whose choices and flaws make her immeasurably more likable.
Secrets and betrayal. Love and trust. Mystery, intrigue and the threat of war. This book has it all and is an incredible start to what looks to be like a thrilling science fiction series.
January 21, 2022
A fast-paced, good read. Jean Davis’s 'Trust' is my favorite type of SciFi: foreign worlds, multiple races, and intriguing abilities and technology. I picked this book because I enjoyed another book by Davis (The Last God). I would recommend both books to anyone who enjoys traveling to other worlds and tales about the complications of love and war.
Vayen is a survivor and always has been. No matter what women, partners, or secret government agencies throw at him, he finds a way to rise above. (Not that he doesn’t hit rock bottom on more than one occasion.
It was difficult to put this book down. I will definitely be following the rest of the series.
The title is an interesting connection to the story. I find myself wondering why 'Trust?' I think it does push me to reflect on the characters’ arcs. In that capacity, the title is perfect.
I noticed a couple of editing errors, but none were distracting or annoying. The first-person perspective is perfect for the story and the reader feels everything as the characters do. The world-building is weighted mostly towards systems and technology and not as much environment or scenery, but there were enough details to give me a picture of how each world was different, particularly the architecture. (Same with ships.) I have a feeling more of this will be visualized in later books in the series as the author further explores the Narvan.
I am mostly satisfied with the ending, I think the story wraps up well, if not a little too quickly. But that matches the overall pace.
I do read for pleasure but also to study the craft of storytelling. I think Davis is an excellent science fiction storyteller and a good inspiration for other writers.
Final Note: I love her cover art!
Vayen is a survivor and always has been. No matter what women, partners, or secret government agencies throw at him, he finds a way to rise above. (Not that he doesn’t hit rock bottom on more than one occasion.
It was difficult to put this book down. I will definitely be following the rest of the series.
The title is an interesting connection to the story. I find myself wondering why 'Trust?' I think it does push me to reflect on the characters’ arcs. In that capacity, the title is perfect.
I noticed a couple of editing errors, but none were distracting or annoying. The first-person perspective is perfect for the story and the reader feels everything as the characters do. The world-building is weighted mostly towards systems and technology and not as much environment or scenery, but there were enough details to give me a picture of how each world was different, particularly the architecture. (Same with ships.) I have a feeling more of this will be visualized in later books in the series as the author further explores the Narvan.
I am mostly satisfied with the ending, I think the story wraps up well, if not a little too quickly. But that matches the overall pace.
I do read for pleasure but also to study the craft of storytelling. I think Davis is an excellent science fiction storyteller and a good inspiration for other writers.
Final Note: I love her cover art!
November 21, 2019
Trust is set in a future universe where the worlds of the Narvan are recovering from bitter conflict with neighbouring worlds. The story is told from the point of view of Vayen, a young man recruited to act as bodyguard to Anastassia Kazan, the woman who used to be in a relationship with his older brother, now dead.
She is now a hard-ass protagonist trying to maintain the peace in the Narvan, beset by problems including a homicidal ex-partner and a mysterious High Council who control things.
This story is a great read, really well written, gripping and full of action. The plot has unexpected twists and turns, but is always believable.
From the title it is the first of what promises to be a great series, but unlike so many book series this first book does not end in any form of cliffhanger, it has a proper, satisfying ending.
I cannot recommend it too strongly, compared with other books out there it is up among the best, I would give it six stars if I could.
She is now a hard-ass protagonist trying to maintain the peace in the Narvan, beset by problems including a homicidal ex-partner and a mysterious High Council who control things.
This story is a great read, really well written, gripping and full of action. The plot has unexpected twists and turns, but is always believable.
From the title it is the first of what promises to be a great series, but unlike so many book series this first book does not end in any form of cliffhanger, it has a proper, satisfying ending.
I cannot recommend it too strongly, compared with other books out there it is up among the best, I would give it six stars if I could.
April 18, 2019
Trust. How much do we trust each other? Do we trust our lover/spouse unconditionally? What about our bosses? Their bosses?
Everybody has secrets, their own agenda. In Jean Davis’s new release, Vayen starts out rather naïve. People are who they say they are. Wrong. He learns the hard way that what people say isn’t always the truth. When Anastassia hires him as her bodyguard, she says it’s to keep the peace in Artor. But is it really? Is it the only reason? That’s where trust comes in.
Anastassia trusted the wrong person once. Now, he’s out to kill her. Can she trust Vayen to protect her?
Fantastic world building and complex characters make Ms. Davis’s story compelling. Just when you think you’ve figured out where the story is going, a twist surprises you. Get ready for an out-of-this-world adventure.
Everybody has secrets, their own agenda. In Jean Davis’s new release, Vayen starts out rather naïve. People are who they say they are. Wrong. He learns the hard way that what people say isn’t always the truth. When Anastassia hires him as her bodyguard, she says it’s to keep the peace in Artor. But is it really? Is it the only reason? That’s where trust comes in.
Anastassia trusted the wrong person once. Now, he’s out to kill her. Can she trust Vayen to protect her?
Fantastic world building and complex characters make Ms. Davis’s story compelling. Just when you think you’ve figured out where the story is going, a twist surprises you. Get ready for an out-of-this-world adventure.
January 12, 2023
Ahhh well that was definitely a roller coaster!! I met Jean Davis at a festival in 2021 and thought this book looked interesting as she told me all about it! Finally finished it today although I started it not too long ago haha.
I enjoyed it a ton!! The action and suspense was just great and I loved Anastassia and Vayen’s relationship grow, even if the council had pushed for it 🤣
I’m so happy with this book and I definitely want to continue the series eventually 🥺 THANK YOU!!
I enjoyed it a ton!! The action and suspense was just great and I loved Anastassia and Vayen’s relationship grow, even if the council had pushed for it 🤣
I’m so happy with this book and I definitely want to continue the series eventually 🥺 THANK YOU!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2020
Vayen has no idea what he’s getting into, and reading this novel was like peeking through my finger while simultaneously hoping he doesn’t die. Lol! This was an action packed read and it was hard to put down. Can’t wait to pick up the sequel to find out what trouble Vayen is going to get himself into next.
December 7, 2023
I enjoyed this sci-fi adventure book a lot. I’ve received this book at comic con and have both the kindle and physical version of it. I’ve enjoyed the protagonist and how immersive this sci-fi nonfiction is. I definitely recommend it.
May 26, 2021
This is a fantastic read. Totally different from most sci fi novels. Anxious to read the other two books in this series. Excellent book.
September 23, 2021
A fun read that moves fast. I can't wait to read the next in the series.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews