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Dark Desires Origins #1
Malfunction
Investigator, Sergeant Logan Farrell, has never been convinced the human race deserves saving. But it looks like he’s got the job anyway.
It’s been five hundred years since we fled the remnants of a dying Earth in search of a new home. Twenty-four ships, each carrying ten thousand Chosen Ones. All sleeping peacefully...until people start dying in cryo.
Malfunction or murder? Hopefully, the former—a serial killer in the fleet would be drastic for morale. But Logan is determined to find the truth. Unfortunately, he’s got a new partner—and he works best alone.
Katia Mendoza, hot-shot homicide detective, has been woken from cryo to assist with the investigation. But is she really interested in solving the case, or does she have her own agenda?
Before he can answer that question, though, they become targets themselves.
Nothing like a few near misses with death to bring a couple together, and Logan finds himself falling for the alluring detective. But he doesn’t know that Katia is hiding a secret.
It’s not only humans who fled the dying Earth.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2020
60 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
Nina Croft
88 books1,095 followersGrowing up in the cold, wet, north of England, Nina Croft spent a lot of time dreaming of faraway sunnier places and ponies. When she discovered both, along with a whole load of other things, could be found between the covers of a book, her life changed forever.
Later, she headed south, picked up the perfect husband along the way, and together they volunteered to work in Africa. There they discovered a love of exotic places and a dislike of 9-5 work. Afterward they spent a number of years travelling (whenever possible) intermingled with working (whenever necessary.) Eventually they stumbled upon a remote area in the mountains of southern Spain and the small almond farm they now call home.
Nina spends her days reading, writing and riding her mare, Gencianna, under the blue Spanish skies—sunshine and ponies. She reckons this is proof that dreams really can come true if you want them enough.
Nina's writing mixes romance with elements of the paranormal and science fiction
If you'd like to find out about new releases then sign up for my Newsletter at: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/l...
Later, she headed south, picked up the perfect husband along the way, and together they volunteered to work in Africa. There they discovered a love of exotic places and a dislike of 9-5 work. Afterward they spent a number of years travelling (whenever possible) intermingled with working (whenever necessary.) Eventually they stumbled upon a remote area in the mountains of southern Spain and the small almond farm they now call home.
Nina spends her days reading, writing and riding her mare, Gencianna, under the blue Spanish skies—sunshine and ponies. She reckons this is proof that dreams really can come true if you want them enough.
Nina's writing mixes romance with elements of the paranormal and science fiction
If you'd like to find out about new releases then sign up for my Newsletter at: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/l...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 21, 2020
Interesting and amusing story. But at least there is Logan! Yumm
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I don't often pick up a book in the urban fantasy genre. Often it just seems too far fetched to me. I have read Nina Croft before, so I thought I would give another one a whorl.
This book starts off with a bang and keeps on going.
Location - deep space
Years in the future - 500+
Holy Hotness - Heck yes - Logan!
We have some fun and amusing characters in this book. The connection between Logan and Kitia is immediate and sizzling. For me that was the best part of the book.
But Croft is treating us to so many different genres in one story. Murder, mystery, crime, vampires, shifters, and so much more. You don't have time to become bored or uninterested in this book. Always plenty of action, one way or another!
Fun read!
* copy received for review consideration
full review - https://amidlifewife.com/malfunction-...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't often pick up a book in the urban fantasy genre. Often it just seems too far fetched to me. I have read Nina Croft before, so I thought I would give another one a whorl.
This book starts off with a bang and keeps on going.
Location - deep space
Years in the future - 500+
Holy Hotness - Heck yes - Logan!
We have some fun and amusing characters in this book. The connection between Logan and Kitia is immediate and sizzling. For me that was the best part of the book.
But Croft is treating us to so many different genres in one story. Murder, mystery, crime, vampires, shifters, and so much more. You don't have time to become bored or uninterested in this book. Always plenty of action, one way or another!
Fun read!
* copy received for review consideration
full review - https://amidlifewife.com/malfunction-...
July 29, 2020
Yes, it was interesting, even if everybody didn't think and overlooked some obvious things that would have made a world of difference in solving the mystery! LOL
January 23, 2020
3.5 Stars
I’m torn over how to review this book!
On the one hand I loved the futuristic space vibes. The idea that we had to leave a dying Earth behind and a lucky handful of people get to space travel to a new world is something I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of reading about. All the what-ifs and literally infinite possibilities of time and space will reel me in every time.
The author sets the stage with mysterious malfunctions that are causing death by asphyxiation, a strange crew that is definitely hiding something and two MCs that I was instantly curious (and rooting for) Katia and Logan. Back on Earth, Katia was a homicide detective and Logan is part of the new world military. Katia is a strong, capable heroine who calls it like it is and doesn’t pull her punches. Logan was the more vulnerable of the two and it totally worked for him. He was smart and compassionate but also had his rough edges just like his leading lady.
These two, along with the secondary characters had me pretty invested in the story.
What I’m torn up about is all the filler bits that lead to the big who-dunnit moment. No spoilers here but I definitely thought there would have been more. The pacing of the story,towards the end felt like everything was getting crammed in with minimum explanation or emotional pull. On top of finally solving the case and the why behind the whole thing, the MCs also have to deal with some life changing moments and “I love you’s” that felt like they came out of left field with no build up. I felt like things were whizzing by so fast I didn’t have a lot of time to really process these big events, let alone react to them on a deeper level.
Overall, I liked the story and I can definitely see this continuing especially with how things left off in the end. I’ll love to see Dylan, Adam and Callum again. I would recommend for the sci-fi fans who like space operas. The romance isn’t focal to the story, but rather a nice bonus in this suspense/mystery read.
* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * *
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
SAFETY INFO:
I’m torn over how to review this book!
On the one hand I loved the futuristic space vibes. The idea that we had to leave a dying Earth behind and a lucky handful of people get to space travel to a new world is something I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of reading about. All the what-ifs and literally infinite possibilities of time and space will reel me in every time.
The author sets the stage with mysterious malfunctions that are causing death by asphyxiation, a strange crew that is definitely hiding something and two MCs that I was instantly curious (and rooting for) Katia and Logan. Back on Earth, Katia was a homicide detective and Logan is part of the new world military. Katia is a strong, capable heroine who calls it like it is and doesn’t pull her punches. Logan was the more vulnerable of the two and it totally worked for him. He was smart and compassionate but also had his rough edges just like his leading lady.
These two, along with the secondary characters had me pretty invested in the story.
What I’m torn up about is all the filler bits that lead to the big who-dunnit moment. No spoilers here but I definitely thought there would have been more. The pacing of the story,towards the end felt like everything was getting crammed in with minimum explanation or emotional pull. On top of finally solving the case and the why behind the whole thing, the MCs also have to deal with some life changing moments and “I love you’s” that felt like they came out of left field with no build up. I felt like things were whizzing by so fast I didn’t have a lot of time to really process these big events, let alone react to them on a deeper level.
Overall, I liked the story and I can definitely see this continuing especially with how things left off in the end. I’ll love to see Dylan, Adam and Callum again. I would recommend for the sci-fi fans who like space operas. The romance isn’t focal to the story, but rather a nice bonus in this suspense/mystery read.
* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * *
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
SAFETY INFO:
January 21, 2020
This book is a prequel and I'm hoping that there will be a lot more because the original Dark Desires series was extremely interesting and well thought out. This particular story gives the origins of the humans that left a dying planet Earth and bravely set out to find a new world. Following a lottery those who were successful agreed to be placed in cryogenic sleep whilst skeleton crews took turns piloting the ships but not everyone is who they are meant to be with malfunctions galore and sadly not everyone has survived but is it really just systems breaking down or something far more sinister ?
I've no wish to ruin this for others so will say that this book sets the tone for what could be a very entertaining series. I loved seeing Rico again although obviously he wasn't the hero here. No that dubious title goes to Logan, an army sergeant turned investigator who is woken up to face all kinds of mayhem. Now luckily Rico has his very own sleuth extraordinary in the shape of cat shifter Katia ! Red herrings abound as the couple wade through Just what is truth and what is misdirection.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
I've no wish to ruin this for others so will say that this book sets the tone for what could be a very entertaining series. I loved seeing Rico again although obviously he wasn't the hero here. No that dubious title goes to Logan, an army sergeant turned investigator who is woken up to face all kinds of mayhem. Now luckily Rico has his very own sleuth extraordinary in the shape of cat shifter Katia ! Red herrings abound as the couple wade through Just what is truth and what is misdirection.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
January 21, 2020
What I Loved: I really loved the writing in this story. I just felt captivated by what was happening and I really wanted to get to the truth. Nina Croft did a great job of writing this one!
How I Felt: Right from the start, I was hooked on Malfunction. Waking up in a cryotank…finding it’s 500 years in the future and there’s a problem. It was right up my alley and I loved it! There’s a bit of humor and I appreciated that to lighten the story a bit. The murder mystery was a good plot and I was definitely interested in who did it. Overall, I was very happy with this book and I look forward to reading more from Nina Croft!
To Read or Not To Read: If you enjoy science-fiction, end-of-the-world survival, paranormal mysteries, this book is right for you!
I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my honest, unbiased review voluntarily.
How I Felt: Right from the start, I was hooked on Malfunction. Waking up in a cryotank…finding it’s 500 years in the future and there’s a problem. It was right up my alley and I loved it! There’s a bit of humor and I appreciated that to lighten the story a bit. The murder mystery was a good plot and I was definitely interested in who did it. Overall, I was very happy with this book and I look forward to reading more from Nina Croft!
To Read or Not To Read: If you enjoy science-fiction, end-of-the-world survival, paranormal mysteries, this book is right for you!
I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my honest, unbiased review voluntarily.
February 6, 2020
Review originally published at Vampire Book Club and based on a copy provided by the publisher.
Logan is a military investigator. His new partner Katia is a cat shifter. Her boss is a vampire. And they’re all investigating a series of suspicious deaths. Sounds like a typical urban fantasy set up, right? Except that Malfunction is set 500 years in the future. In space. I do love a genre mashup!
In the not too distant future, the Earth is dying. Several thousand people escape in a fleet of space ships in search of a new home planet. Five hundred years later, they’re still searching. Supplies are running low and the surviving ships in the fleet are starting to fall apart. Then a suspicious malfunction is discovered in several of the cryo-pods housing the survivors. Logan and Katia are awakened from their own pods to look into the malfunctions, and determine whether the aging technology is to blame or if in fact, it’s a serial killer. As a series of more “malfunctions” threatens their lives, the latter seems increasingly likely.
It took me a little while to get into Malfunction, but that could just be a mood thing. Once I got to the halfway point I was engrossed in the mystery, though I felt like I figured it out too easily. I enjoyed the chemistry between Logan and Katia, as well as the fact that their backstories are set more or less in the present. I also thought it was interesting that even in the future, humans weren’t aware of the supernatural creatures sharing their ship. My biggest complaint is that the ending, though it was exciting, was maybe less than heroic.
Malfunction is actually a prequel to Croft’s Dark Desires series, and is set about 500 years prior. Rio, the hero in book one of that series, plays a significant role in this book, as does the hero from book three. I haven’t read either of those but I’m curious enough about the world that I’ll probably pick them up. I’d also be willing to read more in this prequel series to see how the world evolves. I’d especially like to see more of the werewolf pack, a few members of which are introduced here.
Romanceopoly: Library - Free Choice
Logan is a military investigator. His new partner Katia is a cat shifter. Her boss is a vampire. And they’re all investigating a series of suspicious deaths. Sounds like a typical urban fantasy set up, right? Except that Malfunction is set 500 years in the future. In space. I do love a genre mashup!
In the not too distant future, the Earth is dying. Several thousand people escape in a fleet of space ships in search of a new home planet. Five hundred years later, they’re still searching. Supplies are running low and the surviving ships in the fleet are starting to fall apart. Then a suspicious malfunction is discovered in several of the cryo-pods housing the survivors. Logan and Katia are awakened from their own pods to look into the malfunctions, and determine whether the aging technology is to blame or if in fact, it’s a serial killer. As a series of more “malfunctions” threatens their lives, the latter seems increasingly likely.
It took me a little while to get into Malfunction, but that could just be a mood thing. Once I got to the halfway point I was engrossed in the mystery, though I felt like I figured it out too easily. I enjoyed the chemistry between Logan and Katia, as well as the fact that their backstories are set more or less in the present. I also thought it was interesting that even in the future, humans weren’t aware of the supernatural creatures sharing their ship. My biggest complaint is that the ending, though it was exciting, was maybe less than heroic.
Malfunction is actually a prequel to Croft’s Dark Desires series, and is set about 500 years prior. Rio, the hero in book one of that series, plays a significant role in this book, as does the hero from book three. I haven’t read either of those but I’m curious enough about the world that I’ll probably pick them up. I’d also be willing to read more in this prequel series to see how the world evolves. I’d especially like to see more of the werewolf pack, a few members of which are introduced here.
Romanceopoly: Library - Free Choice
January 20, 2020
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Science Fiction / Romance
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Nina Croft's Malfunction is the first installment in what is being called Dark Desires Origins. The story actually features two main characters: Sergeant Logan Farrell, Investigator of the Federation Security Force and Homicide Detective Katia Mendoza who spent 9 years in the London Metropolitan PD. 500 years ago, Earth became unsustainable. There was a lottery to choose which ones will travel on 24 ships seeking a new home that can sustain life. Each ship holds 10,000 chosen and 30 crew members who alternate for 10 rotations plus an army.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Science Fiction / Romance
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Nina Croft's Malfunction is the first installment in what is being called Dark Desires Origins. The story actually features two main characters: Sergeant Logan Farrell, Investigator of the Federation Security Force and Homicide Detective Katia Mendoza who spent 9 years in the London Metropolitan PD. 500 years ago, Earth became unsustainable. There was a lottery to choose which ones will travel on 24 ships seeking a new home that can sustain life. Each ship holds 10,000 chosen and 30 crew members who alternate for 10 rotations plus an army.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
September 24, 2021
500 years ago 24 ships were launched from Earth carrying the “Chosen Ones” deep into space in hopes of finding a new home as Earth was dying. Now after 5 centuries things are starting to go wrong. Only 10 ships remain and it seems somebody is killing the sleeping passengers. But who could possibly be killing people cryogenically frozen for 500 years and why bother? How is it happening on different ships? The number is small it seems random so is it just a fleet wide malfunction in the system? Or is there something more sinester at work?
Questions that Sergeant Logan Farrell and Detective Katia Mendoza have to figure out. The ships are all on various states of disrepair so it has to be a malfunction right? Just an unfortunate incident with no malice intent behind it whatsoever... right? The powers that be seem to want them to do just enough investigating to prove that it’s nothing more than a malfunction. Which might have worked if a sudden “malfunction” on a shuttle they were on that was in way better shape than most hadn’t almost got them lost in space. Something seems to be going on but still it seems impossible that any body could have committed these potential murders.
If a murder case wasn’t enough trouble Logan becomes aware that something odd is going on on the Trakis Two, the ship Katia was woken up from. A ship that unlike his ship the Trakis One doesn’t appear to be so rundown and falling apart. And Captain Rico is definitely not what he seems. The Captain seems to be hiding something and he really doesn’t want Logan on his ship. What he doesn’t know is that what Rico and Katia are hiding is that half the passengers on Trakis Two aren’t human and neither are they. Unknown to the rest of the fleet they have supernatural being in their numbers. Humans weren’t the only ones desperate to survive the end of the world.
After multiple interferences and multiple near deaths Logan and a Katia are eventually able to get done where in their case. While the powers that be are certain that convenient new information about a terrorist solves all the mysteries they aren’t do sure. Once they are able to actually investigate properly and get some much needed information the motivation and the murderer’s identity become pretty clear and it’s a race against time to stop said murderer from enacting their final plot. And just in time for the fleet to finally arrive at their destination. Though once two loners over the course of their time together Logan and Katia have grown close and feelings have developed. So they kind of would like to live to do something about it.
This was great and I loved it! It’s another of my recent reads where I wasn’t familiar with the author until I read the book and it did not in anyway disappoint. How could it? Supernatural beings and a murder mystery in space? Right up my alley. The mystery was good it was hard to guess what was really going on before the truth came out and I love a few good twists and turns.
Questions that Sergeant Logan Farrell and Detective Katia Mendoza have to figure out. The ships are all on various states of disrepair so it has to be a malfunction right? Just an unfortunate incident with no malice intent behind it whatsoever... right? The powers that be seem to want them to do just enough investigating to prove that it’s nothing more than a malfunction. Which might have worked if a sudden “malfunction” on a shuttle they were on that was in way better shape than most hadn’t almost got them lost in space. Something seems to be going on but still it seems impossible that any body could have committed these potential murders.
If a murder case wasn’t enough trouble Logan becomes aware that something odd is going on on the Trakis Two, the ship Katia was woken up from. A ship that unlike his ship the Trakis One doesn’t appear to be so rundown and falling apart. And Captain Rico is definitely not what he seems. The Captain seems to be hiding something and he really doesn’t want Logan on his ship. What he doesn’t know is that what Rico and Katia are hiding is that half the passengers on Trakis Two aren’t human and neither are they. Unknown to the rest of the fleet they have supernatural being in their numbers. Humans weren’t the only ones desperate to survive the end of the world.
After multiple interferences and multiple near deaths Logan and a Katia are eventually able to get done where in their case. While the powers that be are certain that convenient new information about a terrorist solves all the mysteries they aren’t do sure. Once they are able to actually investigate properly and get some much needed information the motivation and the murderer’s identity become pretty clear and it’s a race against time to stop said murderer from enacting their final plot. And just in time for the fleet to finally arrive at their destination. Though once two loners over the course of their time together Logan and Katia have grown close and feelings have developed. So they kind of would like to live to do something about it.
This was great and I loved it! It’s another of my recent reads where I wasn’t familiar with the author until I read the book and it did not in anyway disappoint. How could it? Supernatural beings and a murder mystery in space? Right up my alley. The mystery was good it was hard to guess what was really going on before the truth came out and I love a few good twists and turns.
January 16, 2020
This was first published on my blog " Lecture toute une Aventure"
I love it , i really love it!! to be honest i jumped on this without knowing what to expect because it was written by Nina Croft and i loved all i've read from her so far so i wanted more. It's what i would call a sci-fi paranormal romance suspense.....strange mix but wonderfully written!
You get shifters, vampires, fae etc and of course human too but in the space and of course there is some murders or malfunctions so an investigation is set to get the bottom of this.....However, if Katia is sent from the second ship in hope to find what is happening while keeping the existence of the others a secret, she must work with Logan, human empath and soldier wanting to fit in .Both have just been awoken from a 500y sleep in a cryotube and they have a lot to adjust to as well as deciding if they trust each other and what to do about an investigation some refuse to see be done.
I really got immersed in the story quickly and i loved it, the investigation is really well done with twists and lot of action as well as numerous humour touch so it was captivating and easily read. Rico the vampire captain is really funny and protective of his folk. Katia is so funny especially when she is hungry and Logan is really intelligent as well as courageous. they are steamy scenes well written but i enjoyed all the rest a lot more. Secondary characters like Callum were especially funny and interesting to read about, Dylan is a curious one etc so really you have at least one character you will want to survive.
I had my suspicions about the culprit identity ( and i was right) what i was a little disappointed with is the ending....it's kind of HEA but culprit has it too easy and i hope in the next book we will see some consequences fall upon that being.
i'm really curious about this series now so i definitively plan to keep reading it as i want more of these characters.
I love it , i really love it!! to be honest i jumped on this without knowing what to expect because it was written by Nina Croft and i loved all i've read from her so far so i wanted more. It's what i would call a sci-fi paranormal romance suspense.....strange mix but wonderfully written!
You get shifters, vampires, fae etc and of course human too but in the space and of course there is some murders or malfunctions so an investigation is set to get the bottom of this.....However, if Katia is sent from the second ship in hope to find what is happening while keeping the existence of the others a secret, she must work with Logan, human empath and soldier wanting to fit in .Both have just been awoken from a 500y sleep in a cryotube and they have a lot to adjust to as well as deciding if they trust each other and what to do about an investigation some refuse to see be done.
I really got immersed in the story quickly and i loved it, the investigation is really well done with twists and lot of action as well as numerous humour touch so it was captivating and easily read. Rico the vampire captain is really funny and protective of his folk. Katia is so funny especially when she is hungry and Logan is really intelligent as well as courageous. they are steamy scenes well written but i enjoyed all the rest a lot more. Secondary characters like Callum were especially funny and interesting to read about, Dylan is a curious one etc so really you have at least one character you will want to survive.
I had my suspicions about the culprit identity ( and i was right) what i was a little disappointed with is the ending....it's kind of HEA but culprit has it too easy and i hope in the next book we will see some consequences fall upon that being.
i'm really curious about this series now so i definitively plan to keep reading it as i want more of these characters.
November 2, 2021
The story itself was good and the mystery was what kept me reading. I had a hard time believing the romance but it was fine. But for the love of Pete, avoid the audiobook version at all costs. (Unless you want to scratch your head and get a good laugh.) The audio production was awful! The quality was the worst I’ve ever heard. Sometimes it sounded liked the reader was talking through a tube or a walkie talkie. Sometimes the voice would change for a sentence or two and then snap back to what it was before, almost as if they cut out a piece of the original audio and patched it with a different piece from a different reader. This was the craziest quality I’ve ever listened to. Like it was made in someone’s house and that someone was a complete novice. I honestly can’t understand how this got past any quality control reviews… but I’m guessing it didn’t have any. The reader was meh and has some really atrocious accents but probably would be passable if not for the other quality issues. The fact that I stuck with the audio to see what happened in the story is a testament to how interesting I found the mystery in the story. If I continue with the series I will be sure to buy a kindle copy instead of the audio.
October 25, 2021
What I liked? The fact that this is mainly a sci-fi murder mystery with a paranormal romance angle. And Katia (for the most part).
What I didn't like? The story draaaaaaagggggggeeeeeeeedddddd. The person(s) involved are so fucking obvious it's annoying. Logan fucking winking all the god-damned time (it should just have been written in that he had an eye twitching/winking problem) and the drinking. These people drank all the damn time, all the fucking time and it contributed very little to the plot apart from serving as filler.
The storyline wasn't well executed and it really pains me coz it has the outline, it's the details along the way that are at times weak and so repetitive. Then the fact that Logan most of the time stood around like the pretty boy, like he had no investigative background, then all of a sudden he'd change to this competent person, it was bloody confusing.
Oh, also Katia being written in as a British character and the only thing that showed this is when she kept on repeating bollocks or Logan saying Balls all the time.
To save myself reading induced stress, I will not be going on with the series. Great overall story concept, weak and long winded execution.
What I didn't like? The story draaaaaaagggggggeeeeeeeedddddd. The person(s) involved are so fucking obvious it's annoying. Logan fucking winking all the god-damned time (it should just have been written in that he had an eye twitching/winking problem) and the drinking. These people drank all the damn time, all the fucking time and it contributed very little to the plot apart from serving as filler.
The storyline wasn't well executed and it really pains me coz it has the outline, it's the details along the way that are at times weak and so repetitive. Then the fact that Logan most of the time stood around like the pretty boy, like he had no investigative background, then all of a sudden he'd change to this competent person, it was bloody confusing.
Oh, also Katia being written in as a British character and the only thing that showed this is when she kept on repeating bollocks or Logan saying Balls all the time.
To save myself reading induced stress, I will not be going on with the series. Great overall story concept, weak and long winded execution.
January 30, 2020
ARC REVIEW
Dark Desires Origins #1, Damn Good Sci-fi Romance! Which I'm not surprised I love her Beyond Human series and with this being the prequel to the Dark Desires series I really need to get all of those and read them. I thoroughly enjoy Nina Croft's writing, her books are immersive they pull you in and don't let go and this one is no different.
The Earth was dying, with twenty-four ships big enough to hold ten thousand people each there was a lottery the winners were the lucky ones, or as they were called "The Chosen Ones" they set off to find a new home. The crews were big enough to man each ship in fifty year rotations and their family got a free pass and an army. But after five hundred years supplies are running short and they still haven't found a new planet and now a "malfunction" is causing cryotubes to fail suffocating the person inside.
Logan Farrell is with the army his current assignment had him with the MPs and that's what they need an investigator, to make sure the failure of the cryotubes was just a malfunction. Well the Captain of the second ship doesn't quite trust the higher ups and wakes up his friend Katia Mendoza a detective with the London Police, or at least she was before they left Earth, to help investigate. Rico the captain of the second ship has his own reasons for putting in his own person on the case, he can't afford everyone to know the truth about his ship. The truth that a good portion of "The Chosen Ones" who were suppose to be on his ship were left behind and replaced by his own people, his own supernatural kind including Katia.
Together Logan and Katia try and find out who is behind the sabotage but with every step closer they get they have a new near death experience that just brings them closer and closer together. The chemistry between them is instant and hot, every spare moment they have is together. But what will Logan think when he finds out not everyone is human?
Overall, I loved this book. The characters, the situation, humor, romance , hot hot (not limited to the bedroom) scenes. I inhaled this book and I want more!
Dark Desires Origins #1, Damn Good Sci-fi Romance! Which I'm not surprised I love her Beyond Human series and with this being the prequel to the Dark Desires series I really need to get all of those and read them. I thoroughly enjoy Nina Croft's writing, her books are immersive they pull you in and don't let go and this one is no different.
The Earth was dying, with twenty-four ships big enough to hold ten thousand people each there was a lottery the winners were the lucky ones, or as they were called "The Chosen Ones" they set off to find a new home. The crews were big enough to man each ship in fifty year rotations and their family got a free pass and an army. But after five hundred years supplies are running short and they still haven't found a new planet and now a "malfunction" is causing cryotubes to fail suffocating the person inside.
Logan Farrell is with the army his current assignment had him with the MPs and that's what they need an investigator, to make sure the failure of the cryotubes was just a malfunction. Well the Captain of the second ship doesn't quite trust the higher ups and wakes up his friend Katia Mendoza a detective with the London Police, or at least she was before they left Earth, to help investigate. Rico the captain of the second ship has his own reasons for putting in his own person on the case, he can't afford everyone to know the truth about his ship. The truth that a good portion of "The Chosen Ones" who were suppose to be on his ship were left behind and replaced by his own people, his own supernatural kind including Katia.
Together Logan and Katia try and find out who is behind the sabotage but with every step closer they get they have a new near death experience that just brings them closer and closer together. The chemistry between them is instant and hot, every spare moment they have is together. But what will Logan think when he finds out not everyone is human?
Overall, I loved this book. The characters, the situation, humor, romance , hot hot (not limited to the bedroom) scenes. I inhaled this book and I want more!
January 26, 2020
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled for an advanced copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Malfunction
By: Nina Crist
*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟.5
Malfunction is the prequel to the Dark Desires Series, but I didn't even know that, having never read Nina Croft. This story reminds me of The 100 with leaving a dying planet, cryosleep, strange mishaps on the ship, etc. The difference is the aspect of shifters as characters, and I am not a fan of shifters. That put me off this story a bit, and I wasn't as invested in the characters, Katia and Logan, as I had hoped. It's not a bad story at all; it's well written, intriguing, complex and the characters have a great dynamic. I'm not the right reader for this one, but tons of people certainly are and will enjoy reading Malfunction.
Malfunction
By: Nina Crist
*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟.5
Malfunction is the prequel to the Dark Desires Series, but I didn't even know that, having never read Nina Croft. This story reminds me of The 100 with leaving a dying planet, cryosleep, strange mishaps on the ship, etc. The difference is the aspect of shifters as characters, and I am not a fan of shifters. That put me off this story a bit, and I wasn't as invested in the characters, Katia and Logan, as I had hoped. It's not a bad story at all; it's well written, intriguing, complex and the characters have a great dynamic. I'm not the right reader for this one, but tons of people certainly are and will enjoy reading Malfunction.
November 6, 2020
4 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 20, 2020
Investigator, Sergeant Logan Farrell, has never been convinced the human race deserves saving. But it looks like he’s got the job anyway.
It’s been five hundred years since we fled the remnants of a dying Earth in search of a new home. Twenty-four ships, each carrying ten thousand Chosen Ones. All sleeping peacefully...until people start dying in cryo.
Malfunction or murder? Hopefully, the former—a serial killer in the fleet would be drastic for morale. But Logan is determined to find the truth. Unfortunately, he’s got a new partner—and he works best alone.
Katia Mendoza, hot-shot homicide detective, has been woken from cryo to assist with the investigation. But is she really interested in solving the case, or does she have her own agenda?
Before he can answer that question, though, they become targets themselves.
Nothing like a few near misses with death to bring a couple together, and Logan finds himself falling for the alluring detective. But he doesn’t know that Katia is hiding a secret.
It’s not only humans who fled the dying Earth.
•••••••••
REVIEW: MALFUNCTION is the first instalment in Nina Croft’s adult, sci-fi DARK DESIRES SERIES: ORIGINS paranormal, fantasy romance series. This is military investigator Sergeant Logan Farrell, and homicide detective Katia Mendoza’s story line. MALFUNCTION and the Dark Desires Series: Origins is a prequel series to the author’s DARK DESIRES series set five hundred years earlier. You do not have to have read the original series to follow or understand the current time line.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Logan and Katia) MALFUNCTION focuses on the search for the truth. One thousand years earlier Earth was dying, and seventy thousand of Earth’s Chosen had set off in search of a new planet able to sustain human life. Fast forward five centuries wherein no planet has yet to be found, but several mysterious and questionable deaths in the cryo-tubes, on each of seven ships, have warranted an investigation. Enter Earth’s former military investigator Sergeant Logan Farrell, and homicide detective Katia Mendoza, who, themselves, have been sleeping in suspended animation for close to five hundred years. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Katia and Logan, and the potential fall-out as Katia and Logan become targets of a psychotic mind.
Someone or something is slowly killing several members of The Chosen but a conspiracy based in theory surrounding Earth’s twentieth century terrorist organizations forces Logan and Katia to call off the investigation, an investigation they refuse to shut down or willingly let go. Working together to uncover the truth, our couple will find themselves targeted, on several occasions, including the total destruction and annihilation of ten thousand people, in an effort to hide the truth.
The relationship between Logan and Katia is one of immediate attraction but Katia hides a secret-she isn’t what she appears to be. After several attempts on her life, Logan begins to believe that Katia is the target but no one is prepared for the fall-out of one person’s need for revenge. From a vampire pilot, to werewolf security, demons, and shifting panthers, Logan will soon discover that his life literally is in the hands of the people in charge. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
MALFUNCTION looks at some of the background and introduces several of the characters we meet in the author’s Dark Desires Series including vampire and rogue pilot Ricardo Sanchez, and Callum Meridian, founding member of the Collective. The premise is entertaining and fascinating ; the characters are energetic, playful and colorful; the romance is captivating and lively. MALFUNCTION is a wonderful addition to Nina Croft’s Dark Desires sci-fi /paranormal series.
Copy supplied for review
www.thereadingcafe.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 20, 2020
Investigator, Sergeant Logan Farrell, has never been convinced the human race deserves saving. But it looks like he’s got the job anyway.
It’s been five hundred years since we fled the remnants of a dying Earth in search of a new home. Twenty-four ships, each carrying ten thousand Chosen Ones. All sleeping peacefully...until people start dying in cryo.
Malfunction or murder? Hopefully, the former—a serial killer in the fleet would be drastic for morale. But Logan is determined to find the truth. Unfortunately, he’s got a new partner—and he works best alone.
Katia Mendoza, hot-shot homicide detective, has been woken from cryo to assist with the investigation. But is she really interested in solving the case, or does she have her own agenda?
Before he can answer that question, though, they become targets themselves.
Nothing like a few near misses with death to bring a couple together, and Logan finds himself falling for the alluring detective. But he doesn’t know that Katia is hiding a secret.
It’s not only humans who fled the dying Earth.
•••••••••
REVIEW: MALFUNCTION is the first instalment in Nina Croft’s adult, sci-fi DARK DESIRES SERIES: ORIGINS paranormal, fantasy romance series. This is military investigator Sergeant Logan Farrell, and homicide detective Katia Mendoza’s story line. MALFUNCTION and the Dark Desires Series: Origins is a prequel series to the author’s DARK DESIRES series set five hundred years earlier. You do not have to have read the original series to follow or understand the current time line.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Logan and Katia) MALFUNCTION focuses on the search for the truth. One thousand years earlier Earth was dying, and seventy thousand of Earth’s Chosen had set off in search of a new planet able to sustain human life. Fast forward five centuries wherein no planet has yet to be found, but several mysterious and questionable deaths in the cryo-tubes, on each of seven ships, have warranted an investigation. Enter Earth’s former military investigator Sergeant Logan Farrell, and homicide detective Katia Mendoza, who, themselves, have been sleeping in suspended animation for close to five hundred years. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Katia and Logan, and the potential fall-out as Katia and Logan become targets of a psychotic mind.
Someone or something is slowly killing several members of The Chosen but a conspiracy based in theory surrounding Earth’s twentieth century terrorist organizations forces Logan and Katia to call off the investigation, an investigation they refuse to shut down or willingly let go. Working together to uncover the truth, our couple will find themselves targeted, on several occasions, including the total destruction and annihilation of ten thousand people, in an effort to hide the truth.
The relationship between Logan and Katia is one of immediate attraction but Katia hides a secret-she isn’t what she appears to be. After several attempts on her life, Logan begins to believe that Katia is the target but no one is prepared for the fall-out of one person’s need for revenge. From a vampire pilot, to werewolf security, demons, and shifting panthers, Logan will soon discover that his life literally is in the hands of the people in charge. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
MALFUNCTION looks at some of the background and introduces several of the characters we meet in the author’s Dark Desires Series including vampire and rogue pilot Ricardo Sanchez, and Callum Meridian, founding member of the Collective. The premise is entertaining and fascinating ; the characters are energetic, playful and colorful; the romance is captivating and lively. MALFUNCTION is a wonderful addition to Nina Croft’s Dark Desires sci-fi /paranormal series.
Copy supplied for review
www.thereadingcafe.com
January 27, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I grew up reading sci-fi and this filled up a need I didn't know I had. Will have to look for the other books by this author.
January 31, 2020
Originally published at Reading Reality
Once upon a time there was a book called Break Out. It takes place in a far distant future – 3050 – in a galaxy far, far away. It’s kind of a heist story, and the first paranormal SFR I ever read. It’s SFR because, well, obviously, 3050 and humanity has managed to get itself off this rock. It’s paranormal because one of the lead characters, the captain of the spacefaring band of mercenaries that the series follows, is Ricardo Sanchez.
Rico was born on Earth in 1452. He became a vampire – yes, you read that right, vampire – during the Spanish Inquisition. A vampire, whether from the Spanish Inquisition or otherwise, is not what you expect to discover on a spaceship.
And yet, when humanity fled Earth, Rico managed to beg, borrow, bribe or steal – mostly bribing and stealing – his way onto one of the sleeper ships heading away from the disaster. And he brought 5,000 or so of his fellow paranormals along with him. Vampires, werewolves, werecats, demons, etc.
Through a bit of timey-wimey time travel bits, we got a few glimpses of Rico’s life before he went space traveling in Break Out and the books that followed. However, while he and his friends talked about their journey to get to the far-flung future, we didn’t get to actually see it.
Now we do. Malfunction is the first projected book in a prequel series to Break Out and its series, which is either titled Blood Hunter or Dark Desires. And if you’re wondering why I’m going through all this background information for a prequel, it’s because my love of Break Out (I gave it an SFR Galaxy Award in 2013.
I was interested in this book because I loved that one. Whether a reader new to the series will have that same reaction is anyone’s guess. I’m not sure.
Because this is not actually Rico’s story – not that I didn’t love seeing him again. Instead, this prequel is an SFR murder mystery – not that there aren’t plenty of paranormal elements in the mix.
This story takes place aboard the good ships of the Trakis expedition – and they are all falling apart. But those malfunctions are mostly what you’d expect after 500 years of continuous operation with no resupply and no hope or home in sight.
The Captain of the Trakis One and Rico on the Trakis Two have each woken an investigator from cryosleep because a recent audit of ships’ systems has turned up a malfunction that is not merely not random. It’s not even likely.
Someone has been running from ship to ship sabotaging cryosleep chambers – including each and every failsafe built in to those chambers to prevent the dozens of deaths by asphyxiation that have occurred.
Trakis One wants their investigator, Sergeant Logan Farrell, to declare the whole thing an unfortunate series of accidental but coincidental malfunctions. He’s not buying what they’re selling, but he’s a good enough soldier to pretend he does.
Rico Sanchez, on Trakis Two, wants his own investigator, Detective Katia Mendoza, to make sure the investigation stays away from the Trakis Two and doesn’t poke its nose into the many, many illegal things that Rico did to get his people onto the ship instead of the people who were supposed to be there.
As Katia is also one of Rico’s illicit people – and a werecat – she’s more than willing to keep the fleet out of their business. But her detective instincts are aroused by the crimes, which are definitely real and definitely crimes and not accidents or malfunctions at all.
That her baser instincts, as well as her emotions, are equally aroused by Sergeant Logan is something that she’ll have to either ignore or let Rico deal with – permanently. One way – or another.
Escape Rating B: I loved the early books in the original series, so I was all in for Malfunction. That being said, Malfunction didn’t feel like it hung together nearly as well as the early books in that series. I enjoyed Malfunction for its look back at the origins of a story I really liked, but I’m not sure that I’d have liked it nearly as much without having already seen the future of this universe and at least one of its characters.
Although the reviews seem to be saying that I’m a bit off-base, and readers new to this world are still loving this book. Your warp speed may vary, of course.
For this reader, it felt like the story existed on three levels. One is the “nostalgia” factor, that I already knew where this universe ended up, so it was fun to see where it began.
The second, and the primary plot of this particular story, is the spacefaring murder mystery. In a strange way, it reminded me of Medusa Uploaded, probably the bit about the mysterious deaths being investigated as well as the class system that has been not just preserved but enshrined in the way that people where chosen for this journey. It also has a bit of Veronica Scott’s Star Cruise/Sectors SF series to it, as that spacefaring SFR series often deals with crime aboard a spaceship. But the tone in Malfunction is dark in the way that Medusa Uploaded is dark.
Third, of course, is the romance between Logan and Katia. They have instant chemistry together, and they both resist it for equally good reasons. Sometimes for the same reason – neither of them has ever fit in and they are afraid to trust themselves emotionally. Of course Katia has another reason for resisting the attraction. She’s not sure how Logan will react once he knows her secret and she’s not sure about becoming emotionally involved with someone that she will probably outlive by centuries.
Unless, of course, the course of this investigation sends them both to “kingdom come” in a ball of fire. After all, someone is committing the crimes that they are investigating, and it becomes almost instantly clear that whoever that someone is they are willing to murder not just dozens but literally thousands of people to cover their crimes.
Or to fuel their need for vengeance. After facing near-death at every turn and always – so far at least – managing to survive together, it’s not any wonder that Katia and Logan decide to grab whatever joy they can in the now – because tomorrow really might never come for either of them.
I, however, certainly hope that there will be more books in the Dark Desires Origins series. It was fun to see Rico and company at an earlier stage of their journey – and the trials and tribulations of watching a new human colony being created while hiding in more-or-less plain sight should be fascinating.
Once upon a time there was a book called Break Out. It takes place in a far distant future – 3050 – in a galaxy far, far away. It’s kind of a heist story, and the first paranormal SFR I ever read. It’s SFR because, well, obviously, 3050 and humanity has managed to get itself off this rock. It’s paranormal because one of the lead characters, the captain of the spacefaring band of mercenaries that the series follows, is Ricardo Sanchez.
Rico was born on Earth in 1452. He became a vampire – yes, you read that right, vampire – during the Spanish Inquisition. A vampire, whether from the Spanish Inquisition or otherwise, is not what you expect to discover on a spaceship.
And yet, when humanity fled Earth, Rico managed to beg, borrow, bribe or steal – mostly bribing and stealing – his way onto one of the sleeper ships heading away from the disaster. And he brought 5,000 or so of his fellow paranormals along with him. Vampires, werewolves, werecats, demons, etc.
Through a bit of timey-wimey time travel bits, we got a few glimpses of Rico’s life before he went space traveling in Break Out and the books that followed. However, while he and his friends talked about their journey to get to the far-flung future, we didn’t get to actually see it.
Now we do. Malfunction is the first projected book in a prequel series to Break Out and its series, which is either titled Blood Hunter or Dark Desires. And if you’re wondering why I’m going through all this background information for a prequel, it’s because my love of Break Out (I gave it an SFR Galaxy Award in 2013.
I was interested in this book because I loved that one. Whether a reader new to the series will have that same reaction is anyone’s guess. I’m not sure.
Because this is not actually Rico’s story – not that I didn’t love seeing him again. Instead, this prequel is an SFR murder mystery – not that there aren’t plenty of paranormal elements in the mix.
This story takes place aboard the good ships of the Trakis expedition – and they are all falling apart. But those malfunctions are mostly what you’d expect after 500 years of continuous operation with no resupply and no hope or home in sight.
The Captain of the Trakis One and Rico on the Trakis Two have each woken an investigator from cryosleep because a recent audit of ships’ systems has turned up a malfunction that is not merely not random. It’s not even likely.
Someone has been running from ship to ship sabotaging cryosleep chambers – including each and every failsafe built in to those chambers to prevent the dozens of deaths by asphyxiation that have occurred.
Trakis One wants their investigator, Sergeant Logan Farrell, to declare the whole thing an unfortunate series of accidental but coincidental malfunctions. He’s not buying what they’re selling, but he’s a good enough soldier to pretend he does.
Rico Sanchez, on Trakis Two, wants his own investigator, Detective Katia Mendoza, to make sure the investigation stays away from the Trakis Two and doesn’t poke its nose into the many, many illegal things that Rico did to get his people onto the ship instead of the people who were supposed to be there.
As Katia is also one of Rico’s illicit people – and a werecat – she’s more than willing to keep the fleet out of their business. But her detective instincts are aroused by the crimes, which are definitely real and definitely crimes and not accidents or malfunctions at all.
That her baser instincts, as well as her emotions, are equally aroused by Sergeant Logan is something that she’ll have to either ignore or let Rico deal with – permanently. One way – or another.
Escape Rating B: I loved the early books in the original series, so I was all in for Malfunction. That being said, Malfunction didn’t feel like it hung together nearly as well as the early books in that series. I enjoyed Malfunction for its look back at the origins of a story I really liked, but I’m not sure that I’d have liked it nearly as much without having already seen the future of this universe and at least one of its characters.
Although the reviews seem to be saying that I’m a bit off-base, and readers new to this world are still loving this book. Your warp speed may vary, of course.
For this reader, it felt like the story existed on three levels. One is the “nostalgia” factor, that I already knew where this universe ended up, so it was fun to see where it began.
The second, and the primary plot of this particular story, is the spacefaring murder mystery. In a strange way, it reminded me of Medusa Uploaded, probably the bit about the mysterious deaths being investigated as well as the class system that has been not just preserved but enshrined in the way that people where chosen for this journey. It also has a bit of Veronica Scott’s Star Cruise/Sectors SF series to it, as that spacefaring SFR series often deals with crime aboard a spaceship. But the tone in Malfunction is dark in the way that Medusa Uploaded is dark.
Third, of course, is the romance between Logan and Katia. They have instant chemistry together, and they both resist it for equally good reasons. Sometimes for the same reason – neither of them has ever fit in and they are afraid to trust themselves emotionally. Of course Katia has another reason for resisting the attraction. She’s not sure how Logan will react once he knows her secret and she’s not sure about becoming emotionally involved with someone that she will probably outlive by centuries.
Unless, of course, the course of this investigation sends them both to “kingdom come” in a ball of fire. After all, someone is committing the crimes that they are investigating, and it becomes almost instantly clear that whoever that someone is they are willing to murder not just dozens but literally thousands of people to cover their crimes.
Or to fuel their need for vengeance. After facing near-death at every turn and always – so far at least – managing to survive together, it’s not any wonder that Katia and Logan decide to grab whatever joy they can in the now – because tomorrow really might never come for either of them.
I, however, certainly hope that there will be more books in the Dark Desires Origins series. It was fun to see Rico and company at an earlier stage of their journey – and the trials and tribulations of watching a new human colony being created while hiding in more-or-less plain sight should be fascinating.
June 18, 2020
Original review: https://myshelfbooks.wordpress.com/20...
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When I found this book in NetGalley I giggled like a little kid in front of a sweet store (well, or like an adult… never lose your sweet tooth!!). Why? Because this is a Paranormal Romance set inside a spaceship in the distant future. Shifters and vampires in space!! IN SPACE!!! What else can I ask for? Maybe some misterious murders? Check! Perhaps a dreadful situation for the rest of the human race? Check! Amazing characters? Uhmmm… Never ending action? Well, no so fast… Explosive ending? Yeah, but not what you are thinking… This book was aiming to my nerdy heart, but it misses miserably…
I must confess that this is my first book of the Dark Desires saga. I know this book happens way before the rest of the books, so it can be read without the need to pick the previous ones. At least that is the theory. I have the feeling I would have enjoyed more some characters if I knew them better, but I guess I will never know for sure. Overall, the cast of this book is pretty generous in size, but rather mediocre in interest. Most of them will be stored in the bad cupboard and some of them in the “maybe I’ll check them later” one. Actually, just one of them would make that second category: Adam, the werewolf. He doesn’t have a lot of time in the story, but the little there is he seems like a charismatic and fun guy. The main couple is really annoying. Katia is too grumpy and she only does three things: eat, drink and have sex. Logan was slightly better, but those three activities are also his main rutine. It really pissed me off the fact they are constantly drinking alcohol. Not a good example for the little sample of humankind there is left…
The mystery could have been the redeeming factor, but it is horribly developed. No rhyme no reason. The investigators doesn’t expend much time investigating (too focused on drinking I guess…) and all the clues are practically thrown to their faces. Those same investigators have zero qualms about ending the life of another person. Taking into account there are not many humans left, I would have expected a less drastic approach to their problems…
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When I found this book in NetGalley I giggled like a little kid in front of a sweet store (well, or like an adult… never lose your sweet tooth!!). Why? Because this is a Paranormal Romance set inside a spaceship in the distant future. Shifters and vampires in space!! IN SPACE!!! What else can I ask for? Maybe some misterious murders? Check! Perhaps a dreadful situation for the rest of the human race? Check! Amazing characters? Uhmmm… Never ending action? Well, no so fast… Explosive ending? Yeah, but not what you are thinking… This book was aiming to my nerdy heart, but it misses miserably…
I must confess that this is my first book of the Dark Desires saga. I know this book happens way before the rest of the books, so it can be read without the need to pick the previous ones. At least that is the theory. I have the feeling I would have enjoyed more some characters if I knew them better, but I guess I will never know for sure. Overall, the cast of this book is pretty generous in size, but rather mediocre in interest. Most of them will be stored in the bad cupboard and some of them in the “maybe I’ll check them later” one. Actually, just one of them would make that second category: Adam, the werewolf. He doesn’t have a lot of time in the story, but the little there is he seems like a charismatic and fun guy. The main couple is really annoying. Katia is too grumpy and she only does three things: eat, drink and have sex. Logan was slightly better, but those three activities are also his main rutine. It really pissed me off the fact they are constantly drinking alcohol. Not a good example for the little sample of humankind there is left…
The mystery could have been the redeeming factor, but it is horribly developed. No rhyme no reason. The investigators doesn’t expend much time investigating (too focused on drinking I guess…) and all the clues are practically thrown to their faces. Those same investigators have zero qualms about ending the life of another person. Taking into account there are not many humans left, I would have expected a less drastic approach to their problems…
January 20, 2020
Who says you can have too many genres in one book? Not me!!! I loved I got lots of bang for my buck in this new series. SciFi, PNR, Action/Adventure with a healthy dollop of Romance!
Think of all the great SciFi shows and Moves in recent years and you'll probably find a nod to it here. It was irreverent, funny, witty, filled with action and with a couple of scenes where my kindle nearly melted! I loved the fact that Logan was constantly thwarted with the other characters bad timing LOL.
I had a bet with myself as to who the baddie was - I was half right!
When Earthlings finally screwed up the planet beyond salvation they sent huge ships into space, searching for a new home. The Chosen Ones were supposed to be selected by lottery, we all know that has to be rigged, right! When a certain "Captain" makes it his mission to save his own people, Shifters, Vampires, Demons, etc, he has to do some creative moving of personnel.
Fast forward a couple of hundred years and there appears to be a serial killer on the loose, even if those in command just want to label everything a malfunction! Katia and Logan are woken up and paired up to help make it look like Command are covering all the bases. Sadly, Katia and Logan are just a bit too good at their jobs and find themselves in the blaster sights of someone who doesn't want them interfering.
Rico is a complete rogue. Even when doing something noble, he's also being a bit of a killer. Logan feels way too much, Katia has the appetite of a competitive eater and Sardi...well just wait till you meet him! There is even the obligatory Scotsman in space, Adam! Thankfully not an engineer, well so far anyway.
There are other great support characters that I'm fascinated by, especially Callum and I really hope that they all get a book of their own eventually! There is a bit of cliffhanger as justice is NOT served so I'm hoping that means the search continues in the next book!
Think of all the great SciFi shows and Moves in recent years and you'll probably find a nod to it here. It was irreverent, funny, witty, filled with action and with a couple of scenes where my kindle nearly melted! I loved the fact that Logan was constantly thwarted with the other characters bad timing LOL.
I had a bet with myself as to who the baddie was - I was half right!
When Earthlings finally screwed up the planet beyond salvation they sent huge ships into space, searching for a new home. The Chosen Ones were supposed to be selected by lottery, we all know that has to be rigged, right! When a certain "Captain" makes it his mission to save his own people, Shifters, Vampires, Demons, etc, he has to do some creative moving of personnel.
Fast forward a couple of hundred years and there appears to be a serial killer on the loose, even if those in command just want to label everything a malfunction! Katia and Logan are woken up and paired up to help make it look like Command are covering all the bases. Sadly, Katia and Logan are just a bit too good at their jobs and find themselves in the blaster sights of someone who doesn't want them interfering.
Rico is a complete rogue. Even when doing something noble, he's also being a bit of a killer. Logan feels way too much, Katia has the appetite of a competitive eater and Sardi...well just wait till you meet him! There is even the obligatory Scotsman in space, Adam! Thankfully not an engineer, well so far anyway.
There are other great support characters that I'm fascinated by, especially Callum and I really hope that they all get a book of their own eventually! There is a bit of cliffhanger as justice is NOT served so I'm hoping that means the search continues in the next book!
January 21, 2020
Malfunction is the backstory to the amazing Dark Desire series by Nina Croft. This is one of my all time favorite series by Ms. Croft so I was thrilled to see a return to characters I had appreciated in the first series. While Rico is not the main character he does make an appearance, an important one in fact.
Investigator, Sergeant Logan Farrell finds that the people who are sleeping while waiting for a safe new place since fleeing a dying earth are suddenly dying too. Hence the name is, it a malfunction of the ship or is it something much more sinister. Katia Mendoza joins the investigation; danger abounds as these two dance around their attraction and secrets. All the best elements of what made the Dark Desire such a wonderful series.
Malfunction is titled as the Dark Desires Origins 01 means that there are more to come along in the future. Woohoo, can’t wait.
4.5 Stars
The publisher/author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Investigator, Sergeant Logan Farrell finds that the people who are sleeping while waiting for a safe new place since fleeing a dying earth are suddenly dying too. Hence the name is, it a malfunction of the ship or is it something much more sinister. Katia Mendoza joins the investigation; danger abounds as these two dance around their attraction and secrets. All the best elements of what made the Dark Desire such a wonderful series.
Malfunction is titled as the Dark Desires Origins 01 means that there are more to come along in the future. Woohoo, can’t wait.
4.5 Stars
The publisher/author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 21, 2020
Very entertaining book. The human race has left Earth in search of a new place to live. Thousands of humans are in stasis waiting for a suitable planet to be found. 500 years have passed and one soldier has suddenly awakened. Are they there? Nope. It seems a string of "malfunctions" have occurred that have caused the death of some of the humans in the cryotubes. Logan's job is to investigate and show that the deaths were not the result of a murderous plot. In other words, his results are given to him and he needs to make the evidence fit.
On another ship in the fleet Katia is awakened by her captain. She was a homicide detective on Earth and he needs her to keep this investigation away from his ship. Rico and Katia are not human, and neither are half of the 10,000 other passengers onboard their ship. As Katia and Logan try to figure out what is causing certain cryo pods to stop working, trapping the occupants inside with no oxygen, other forces are working to stop the investigation. Logan is starting to have suspicions about Rico's ship, no matter how Katia tries to divert him. And she is starting to have feelings for Logan and doesn't want to see him killed for learning things that have nothing to do with their case.
I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.
On another ship in the fleet Katia is awakened by her captain. She was a homicide detective on Earth and he needs her to keep this investigation away from his ship. Rico and Katia are not human, and neither are half of the 10,000 other passengers onboard their ship. As Katia and Logan try to figure out what is causing certain cryo pods to stop working, trapping the occupants inside with no oxygen, other forces are working to stop the investigation. Logan is starting to have suspicions about Rico's ship, no matter how Katia tries to divert him. And she is starting to have feelings for Logan and doesn't want to see him killed for learning things that have nothing to do with their case.
I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.
January 14, 2020
What fun. I love Rico, he is one of my all time favorite characters. This is Rico before the Dark Desires series. He is not the main character in Malfunction but he is already snarky. There is trouble in the fleet fleeing Earth. 500 years have passed and suddenly a series of deaths occur in the cryo tubes. Are thy murder or are they malfunction? That is what Sergeant Logan Farrell and Katia Mendoza, hot-shot homicide detective have to find out. Seems simple but someone does not want them to succeed. Great story and set up for future books set in the time line. I received a free copy of the book from the author.
January 25, 2020
This was my first read from Nina Croft. It is an origin story for her Dark Desires series, but you definitely do not need to read anything before it to understand what is going on. It was a little different than I expected- mainly because I was not prepared for the paranormal aspects- shifters, vampires, etc. It was interesting to combine those pieces with a space journey story. It kind of worked though.
I liked Katia and Logan and their dynamics. Super hot and collaborative in their work. It looks like a couple of the side characters are in the other books in the series, so it will be interesting to see where they go.
I liked Katia and Logan and their dynamics. Super hot and collaborative in their work. It looks like a couple of the side characters are in the other books in the series, so it will be interesting to see where they go.
January 26, 2020
Malfunction is the prequel to Nina Croft’s Dark Desires Origins series and sets the tone for an intriguing and entertaining series of captivating stories. For those who have read the original Dark Desires, you will be reintroduced to characters like Rico, but he is not our current hero. Luke and Katia are the primary couple in this epic tale and definitely deserve the title of hero/heroine. There is so much happening that I’d be remiss to write spoilers, so I will simply say this is certainly a thrilling read that provides a fascinating foundation for more to come.
March 13, 2020
This SF love story of the end of the earth and humankind is worth the time. Both Katia and Logan are woken up on their ship to find out the suspect or perhaps a serial killer that is on its march. They end up working together and besides that someone is trying to kill them they develop unexpected emotions between them. Really great story that is full of mystery, action, and suspense. I loved that it was not predictable and that it had some unpredictable twists.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley
January 20, 2020
I enjoyed this book a lot has a bit of everything . It is set in the future when earth is evacuated and in space people are dying in the cryo-units . Logan is a detective that’s awake to help keep things running Katie is another detective that is awoken from Cryo to help solve the case .Really great storyline I really enjoyed the interaction between the characters kept my attention until the end . Really well written
April 28, 2020
Space the next frontier or is it? When a band of ships leave a dying earth seeking a new planet, people start dying and not of natural causes! Could it be a malfunction? Logan and Katia are awakened from cryogenic sleep to help figure that out! Katia has a secret of her own! Can Logan solve not 1 but 2 mysteries?
I read and reviewed this advanced complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley
I read and reviewed this advanced complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley
January 21, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It’s one of the first ones that I’ve read by this author and I am now looking for more of her works. There are so many genres in this one book that I’m not sure what you would really classify it has, but it was very enjoyable and keeps you in suspense. I can’t wait to read more on this series.
January 21, 2021
4.5 stars! This book was so different to other sci-fi books I've read. Paranormal creatures in space with the clunky, aging ships dying a slow death. Not to mention the real deaths of people in their cryotubes that our H/H investigate. If you love great writing that is paranormal, sci-fi, suspense and mystery all rolled into one, then I highly recommend this story :)
August 6, 2021
The story was okay but I had to grit ny teeth to keep reading throughal the truly bad science. The author betrays a lack of failure to comprehend science matters I used to teach to high school freshmen!
If not for the cute idea of a werecat and the play on that idea I would have awarded only a single star.
If not for the cute idea of a werecat and the play on that idea I would have awarded only a single star.
January 21, 2020
Once again Croft has woven a tale full of excitement and adventure. Not for the faint hearted, the characters come alive on paper and in your imagination. Great characters, innovative plot, and an intriguing story.
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