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No Nomad can ignore a summons from the Oracle. Their culture demands that they submit to a raiding party to find and mate their one true love.
Imprisoned and mistreated by the infamous information broker Fagan, Alexa Maven lives a life that makes the thought of love a painful lie. If she dared to dream, she'd wish for freedom and anonymity; to be alone forever.
Mikal Fforde is a captain in the United Space Marine Corps. Love is a distraction he definitely doesn't need right now. He’s a tough fighter, a survivor, and he can’t afford the vulnerability that love brings.
But the Oracle has spoken, and two mismatched strangers are about to find their unlikely perfect match – if they survive Fagan!
*RAID is a short science fiction romance.
Imprisoned and mistreated by the infamous information broker Fagan, Alexa Maven lives a life that makes the thought of love a painful lie. If she dared to dream, she'd wish for freedom and anonymity; to be alone forever.
Mikal Fforde is a captain in the United Space Marine Corps. Love is a distraction he definitely doesn't need right now. He’s a tough fighter, a survivor, and he can’t afford the vulnerability that love brings.
But the Oracle has spoken, and two mismatched strangers are about to find their unlikely perfect match – if they survive Fagan!
*RAID is a short science fiction romance.
55 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 22, 2017
98 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Schwartz
110 books565 followersAustralian science fiction and fantasy author.
Avid reader.
Jenny Schwartz has a degree in sociology and history, and a lifelong fascination with understanding people. Her character-driven science fiction and fantasy novels explore other worlds and how people navigate strange situations and complicated emotions, while retaining their sense of self. Her plots are twisty and unexpected.
***
I've curated my bookshelf to share books which I hope readers of Caldryn Parliament will enjoy. With the older books, please be aware that they are a product of their times and read with care.
Avid reader.
Jenny Schwartz has a degree in sociology and history, and a lifelong fascination with understanding people. Her character-driven science fiction and fantasy novels explore other worlds and how people navigate strange situations and complicated emotions, while retaining their sense of self. Her plots are twisty and unexpected.
***
I've curated my bookshelf to share books which I hope readers of Caldryn Parliament will enjoy. With the older books, please be aware that they are a product of their times and read with care.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 16, 2018
Very quick read, but interesting concept and good value entertainment for that office lunch-time, or bus or train commute.
July 18, 2025
Fabulous, utterly satisfying SF-romance, fated-mates novella (59 pages)
Alexa Maven is a brilliant star chart expert, a rare and highly prized talent. She has been illegally enslaved for the past nine years, since the tender age of ten, by a brutal and enormously powerful criminal. Fagan obtains massive profits by selling Alexa’s star charts, but as crucial as she is to financing his empire, he has made no effort to preserve her health in order to protect her precious abilities. Instead, he has inflicted both physical and psychological trauma on her. Alexa has spent her hopeless existence cringing in corners, doing her best to be invisible to lessen her abuse. The possibility of ever achieving her freedom is nothing but an unattainable fantasy. Until the Oracle unexpectedly offers an opening.
Both Alexa and Fagan are Nomads, an honor-bound warrior culture. Though Fagan refuses to bow to any other source of social or political authority, every Nomad must surrender to the commands of the prophetic Oracle. At regular intervals, the Oracle matches unmarried Nomads, and the couples first encounter each other at a ritual called a Raiding Party. When the Oracle summons Alexa to the current Raiding Party, Fagan cannot refuse to let her go. But he commands her to return immediately, and bring her mate with her. He warns that her husband must either willingly serve him or die. Alexa believes Fagan when he claims there is nowhere she can hide, because he controls individuals within every government body in known space, including law enforcement and the military. If he has to drag Alexa back, he vows to mutilate her by cutting off her legs, because he only needs her brain.
At the Raiding Party, Alexa is matched with a tall, powerfully built man nearly twice her size. Mikal Fforde is a 29-year-old United Space Marine captain who has never been in love and has no particular desire to marry. He is also concerned that Alexa is too young and emotionally fragile to marry a hardened warrior like him. But like every other Nomad, he is bound by the Oracle’s choice. Refusing the match is not an option.
For such a short format, Jenny Schwartz does a fabulous job with this tightly plotted, SF-action-adventure romance. Alexa and Mikal are equally honorable, loyal, and sacrificial. They are truly heroic romantic protagonists, my favorite kind. As they face together seemingly impossible odds, the emotional connection between them grows in a believable way. The resolution of both the pulse-pounding action and the tenderly sensual romance is completely satisfying. The well-earned HEA feels both believable and rewarding.
In every possible way, this is one of the best paranormal romance novellas I’ve ever read. It ranks right up there with my all-time favorites by Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews.
Alexa Maven is a brilliant star chart expert, a rare and highly prized talent. She has been illegally enslaved for the past nine years, since the tender age of ten, by a brutal and enormously powerful criminal. Fagan obtains massive profits by selling Alexa’s star charts, but as crucial as she is to financing his empire, he has made no effort to preserve her health in order to protect her precious abilities. Instead, he has inflicted both physical and psychological trauma on her. Alexa has spent her hopeless existence cringing in corners, doing her best to be invisible to lessen her abuse. The possibility of ever achieving her freedom is nothing but an unattainable fantasy. Until the Oracle unexpectedly offers an opening.
Both Alexa and Fagan are Nomads, an honor-bound warrior culture. Though Fagan refuses to bow to any other source of social or political authority, every Nomad must surrender to the commands of the prophetic Oracle. At regular intervals, the Oracle matches unmarried Nomads, and the couples first encounter each other at a ritual called a Raiding Party. When the Oracle summons Alexa to the current Raiding Party, Fagan cannot refuse to let her go. But he commands her to return immediately, and bring her mate with her. He warns that her husband must either willingly serve him or die. Alexa believes Fagan when he claims there is nowhere she can hide, because he controls individuals within every government body in known space, including law enforcement and the military. If he has to drag Alexa back, he vows to mutilate her by cutting off her legs, because he only needs her brain.
At the Raiding Party, Alexa is matched with a tall, powerfully built man nearly twice her size. Mikal Fforde is a 29-year-old United Space Marine captain who has never been in love and has no particular desire to marry. He is also concerned that Alexa is too young and emotionally fragile to marry a hardened warrior like him. But like every other Nomad, he is bound by the Oracle’s choice. Refusing the match is not an option.
For such a short format, Jenny Schwartz does a fabulous job with this tightly plotted, SF-action-adventure romance. Alexa and Mikal are equally honorable, loyal, and sacrificial. They are truly heroic romantic protagonists, my favorite kind. As they face together seemingly impossible odds, the emotional connection between them grows in a believable way. The resolution of both the pulse-pounding action and the tenderly sensual romance is completely satisfying. The well-earned HEA feels both believable and rewarding.
In every possible way, this is one of the best paranormal romance novellas I’ve ever read. It ranks right up there with my all-time favorites by Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews.
February 14, 2023
Barely a nibble of a story, a lot of potential for a longer story I hope the author indulges in someday.
December 25, 2018
Alexa, a star chart expert, is the property of a dangerous pirate. One who would stop at nothing to keep her by his side. After all, Alexa doesn’t need her legs to do her job, does she? But the Nomads all follow a strict code. They can’t ignore a summons from the Oracle.
When the Oracle orders Alexa to attend a Raiding Party to find her mate and unite with her one true love, she does so with the pirate’s solemn vow still ringing in her ears – Come straight back, and if your new mate isn’t useful – he dies. What hope does she have of escape? And now she’s responsible for the life of a stranger.
Mikal Fforde, a United Space Marine Captain, has little time or interest in romance, so when the Oracle pairs him with a mere wisp of a girl, he’s certain the world’s gone mad. The little mouse seems terrified of everything, especially him. But Mikal soon discovers her fear is for him, not of him, and suddenly Alexa doesn’t seem like a timid mouse. She’s a mysterious woman sent to save him from himself. In fact, he’d willingly risk his life to save hers.
Ms Schwartz just keeps those stories coming, and as usual, she left me wanting to know what happens next. This is the start of a new series, and I look forward to seeing where she takes her readers. :)
When the Oracle orders Alexa to attend a Raiding Party to find her mate and unite with her one true love, she does so with the pirate’s solemn vow still ringing in her ears – Come straight back, and if your new mate isn’t useful – he dies. What hope does she have of escape? And now she’s responsible for the life of a stranger.
Mikal Fforde, a United Space Marine Captain, has little time or interest in romance, so when the Oracle pairs him with a mere wisp of a girl, he’s certain the world’s gone mad. The little mouse seems terrified of everything, especially him. But Mikal soon discovers her fear is for him, not of him, and suddenly Alexa doesn’t seem like a timid mouse. She’s a mysterious woman sent to save him from himself. In fact, he’d willingly risk his life to save hers.
Ms Schwartz just keeps those stories coming, and as usual, she left me wanting to know what happens next. This is the start of a new series, and I look forward to seeing where she takes her readers. :)
March 25, 2022
A fun read.
This was a light, fast moving and well written story. Its a very quick read. Characters develop optimally. Our fmc is a scared kitten for much of the book. That's unusual for Schwartz, who tends to write very strong and smart fmc's. Yet the lead character is worthy of the readers respect from the very first page. I love the directness of the authors writing. Her descriptions are always spot on able to build a complex visual in my mind. This book was no exception. The deep poverty, both economic and social, that we see when we meet the lead character is so colorless and bleak. And there's a teenager who has been on her own since she was 13, living and working there. Being abused and threatened there. Until she gets an opportunity in the form of a mating tradition. This is such a great story.
This was a light, fast moving and well written story. Its a very quick read. Characters develop optimally. Our fmc is a scared kitten for much of the book. That's unusual for Schwartz, who tends to write very strong and smart fmc's. Yet the lead character is worthy of the readers respect from the very first page. I love the directness of the authors writing. Her descriptions are always spot on able to build a complex visual in my mind. This book was no exception. The deep poverty, both economic and social, that we see when we meet the lead character is so colorless and bleak. And there's a teenager who has been on her own since she was 13, living and working there. Being abused and threatened there. Until she gets an opportunity in the form of a mating tradition. This is such a great story.
December 29, 2017
A great short story that held enough detail to allow the events in the story to travel full circle. But the hopeless romantic in me :) :D could have read more of the characters - wanting more from the two likeable protagonists. Alexa and Mikal were two characters I could keep reading about, not only because they portrayed emotional grabbing elements, but because I felt the characters could have portrayed so much more. For a novella read, the story introduced many characters that could be interesting attention grabbers in further books in the series.
With thanks to the author for the opportunity of purchasing this book *free* as part of a sale.
With thanks to the author for the opportunity of purchasing this book *free* as part of a sale.
February 5, 2023
Another excellent shorter form
If you like Jenny Schwartz's novels/series you will like her shorter form writing too! I am not sure what label they (novella?) are but they are just as good craftsmanship as the longer series which I started reading after meeting in her YA novel "The Troll". I love the troll.
A note on why I didn't give this 5 stars. I only 5 star Hugo/nebula award winners. And this was not the lucky winner of that contest. But this is another example of the very high quality stories she writes.
Enjoy.
If you like Jenny Schwartz's novels/series you will like her shorter form writing too! I am not sure what label they (novella?) are but they are just as good craftsmanship as the longer series which I started reading after meeting in her YA novel "The Troll". I love the troll.
A note on why I didn't give this 5 stars. I only 5 star Hugo/nebula award winners. And this was not the lucky winner of that contest. But this is another example of the very high quality stories she writes.
Enjoy.
December 27, 2024
I have a kid who is "bored, bored, bored with every book in the house" and is asking me for some new sci fi books to read, so I did a quick KU search. I was frankly interested in this because of villain named Fagin, and I'm always game for a Dickens reference. This was a quick little novella with some interesting space politics world building that I wouldn't mind reading more of, but the short length meant a romance was shoved in, and while not quite instalove (it takes a couple days, I guess), it would not be this daughter's cup of tea.
June 26, 2018
Very short but well written with nice character development. Didn't go on and on and on with boring internal dialogue or endless sex scenes. Alexa and Mikal were not looking for relationships but the Oracle has paired them - and the Oracle is never wrong. In the Nomad society that's like 'fated mates'. Going to look at more from this author.
June 16, 2018
Entertaining
Excellently written. I usually stay away from Science fiction books, but I had read some of the authors other works. Though this is still not my favorite genre it was very entertaining. I wasn't disappointed. If you enjoy Science Fiction, you'll love this.
Excellently written. I usually stay away from Science fiction books, but I had read some of the authors other works. Though this is still not my favorite genre it was very entertaining. I wasn't disappointed. If you enjoy Science Fiction, you'll love this.
October 25, 2023
Raid: Futuristic Romance is a stand-alone novella in the Kidnapped Brides series, which I borrowed through Kindle Unlimited (KU). Short and cute, and I enjoyed the familiarity of the setting in worlds the writer has created across multiple books. This was perfect for a quick read.
December 27, 2023
3.5 stars. A short story/novella sci-fi. Alexa is a employee of/slave to Fagan, a pirate. A mathematical genius, she creates star maps and has been in his clutches for 9 yrs, since she was 10. But as a Nomad, she must answer the summons of the AI Oracle and meet her future husband.
August 25, 2018
Very cute
A very cute short story. Some action, tension and some romance thrown into the mix. Any SF/Rom can will like this..
A very cute short story. Some action, tension and some romance thrown into the mix. Any SF/Rom can will like this..
September 16, 2019
Ehh, I wasn't feeling either the characters or the storyline.
November 6, 2021
Nomads…
I liked this story quite a bit. It had a bit of everything. I only wish it were longer or there were more stories in the Nomad series….
I liked this story quite a bit. It had a bit of everything. I only wish it were longer or there were more stories in the Nomad series….
November 11, 2021
Cute, short and sweet. I personally enjoy the author’s writing style so that probably gave it an extra star.
March 9, 2022
Short story
Short, would make a good book. But, it has a gorgeous hero and an traumatized heroine in need of rescue. You just get enough of who they are and what they could be.
Short, would make a good book. But, it has a gorgeous hero and an traumatized heroine in need of rescue. You just get enough of who they are and what they could be.
December 16, 2022
3.5 stars
April 10, 2023
good read
Good characters and intriguing setup. Too short! Hope more will be available soon because context and plot are good for more stories.
Good characters and intriguing setup. Too short! Hope more will be available soon because context and plot are good for more stories.
April 24, 2023
It was too short to engage w the plot & characters so…
June 9, 2023
Easy quick read
Jenny Schwartz is always upbeat. Her space shenanigans are always full of a strong,
caring core. She takes hope to the stars.
Jenny Schwartz is always upbeat. Her space shenanigans are always full of a strong,
caring core. She takes hope to the stars.
June 25, 2023
Fast moving
Written from a place of vulnerability so different from the usual genre. I want to see the characters develop in the future.
Written from a place of vulnerability so different from the usual genre. I want to see the characters develop in the future.
June 9, 2024
fun read
Wish this could have been expanded into a full novel with more character depth and explanation into the world building, but for a novella it was a fun quick read.
Wish this could have been expanded into a full novel with more character depth and explanation into the world building, but for a novella it was a fun quick read.
April 23, 2025
Great short stories, would love to have more of this world...
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews