What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sectors #14.25
Interstellar Plague
Newly graduated from a prestigious interstellar medical school, Dr. Saffia Mandell has been assigned to the Haven Two colony on the galaxy’s outer rim as the only doctor for some 2000 human residents. She’s counting the days until her five years there is up, trying to adjust to rural living after life in the crowded Inner Sectors and fighting her attraction to Chief Ranger Micah Navonn. She’s dreading the upcoming tourist season when the rich and pampered will descend on the planet for the scenic wonders and novel sports opportunities and no doubt inundate her little clinic but the colony depends on the seasonal income to survive.
As the senior official for his people, the Calinurra, the indigenous inhabitants of Haven Two, Micah enforces the treaty, regulates the tourist permits, patrols the forests and resists his fascination with Dr. Mandell. He never expected to be involved with a human woman and doesn’t want to believe in the concept of a fated mate. He wants to keep his life simple and isn’t ready for any long term commitment. Besides Saffia keeps proclaiming she’ll be leaving when her appointment is up in four and a half years so why should he risk his heart?
Then a ship arrives unexpectedly carrying a very ill little girl and soon the deadly virus is spreading through Haven Two. The colony authorities are desperate to cover up the problem to preserve the all-important tourist season and Saffia and Micah have to work together to battle the outbreak, the local administration and their undeniable feelings for each other.
Can the colony survive? And will Micah and Saffia be able to move past their fears about entanglements to act on the mutual attraction?
As the senior official for his people, the Calinurra, the indigenous inhabitants of Haven Two, Micah enforces the treaty, regulates the tourist permits, patrols the forests and resists his fascination with Dr. Mandell. He never expected to be involved with a human woman and doesn’t want to believe in the concept of a fated mate. He wants to keep his life simple and isn’t ready for any long term commitment. Besides Saffia keeps proclaiming she’ll be leaving when her appointment is up in four and a half years so why should he risk his heart?
Then a ship arrives unexpectedly carrying a very ill little girl and soon the deadly virus is spreading through Haven Two. The colony authorities are desperate to cover up the problem to preserve the all-important tourist season and Saffia and Micah have to work together to battle the outbreak, the local administration and their undeniable feelings for each other.
Can the colony survive? And will Micah and Saffia be able to move past their fears about entanglements to act on the mutual attraction?
- GenresScience Fiction Romance
215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2020
23 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Scott
91 books243 followersUSA Today Best Selling Science Fiction & Paranormal Romance author.
Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.
MISC FACTS ABOUT VERONICA
Seven time winner ~ SFR Galaxy Award
Proud recipient ~ NASA Exceptional Service Medal but must hasten to add the honor was not for her romantic fiction!
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – I’ll improve your process (mwahahahaa)!
Elvis Presley’s best friend once serenaded Veronica on a local TV telethon…now that could be a novel…
Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.
MISC FACTS ABOUT VERONICA
Seven time winner ~ SFR Galaxy Award
Proud recipient ~ NASA Exceptional Service Medal but must hasten to add the honor was not for her romantic fiction!
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – I’ll improve your process (mwahahahaa)!
Elvis Presley’s best friend once serenaded Veronica on a local TV telethon…now that could be a novel…
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 17, 2021
Dr. Saffia Mandell is a new doctor whose first medical gig is on Haven Two, a planet of indigenous Calinurra and a small human colony. It's rural, quiet, and peaceful, until the tourist season starts and thousands of rich, pampered off-worlders descend on the planet. The tourist dollar is the financial lifeblood of the planet, and everyone relies on the income.
Just before the tourist season opens, a ship comes to Haven Two seeking medical care for a sick little girl. Mandell treats her, she gets well and leaves planet, but she leaves behind a little something extra...her infection, which begins to spread among the human population. Saffia soon realizes she has a plague on her hands.
She attempts to contact Sectors, her government, to get medical assistance, but she's quickly shut down by the the local administrator who fears news of a plague on Haven Two will decimate the tourist season.
With the help of the hunky Calinurra Chief Ranger Micah Navonn, a sentient AI and some courageous, goodhearted Calinurra and human townsfolk, she battles the outbreak on her own.
This book has been on my TBR list since it was published in June 2020, but with a real plague raging, I wasn't ready to read it. It's now Jan. 2021, and I finished it! Maybe I've adjusted to the corona virus pandemic, but Colony Under Siege Interstellar Plague was quite readable. No problems!
What I liked most about the book was the setting and the townspeople. I finished the book thinking that Haven Two would be a wonderful place to live. And the way the people pitched in to help Saffia was heartwarming. Those two things softened the impact of the plague.
I also loved Warbly, the medical AI who becomes sentient. I liked how Micah supported Saffia.
For me, the story started a little slow, but once the plague hit, the action ramped up quickly. I wouldn't call this story a romance as much as a science fiction story with romantic elements. I felt like the point of Colony Under Seige wasn't whether Saffia and Micah get an HEA (although that was a part of the story), but whether Haven Two gets an HEA. Can Saffia get the outbreak under control? Can she get help? Will the colony survive?
Anyway, two thumbs up for this book! Don't let the real pandemic stop you from giving this a try.
Just before the tourist season opens, a ship comes to Haven Two seeking medical care for a sick little girl. Mandell treats her, she gets well and leaves planet, but she leaves behind a little something extra...her infection, which begins to spread among the human population. Saffia soon realizes she has a plague on her hands.
She attempts to contact Sectors, her government, to get medical assistance, but she's quickly shut down by the the local administrator who fears news of a plague on Haven Two will decimate the tourist season.
With the help of the hunky Calinurra Chief Ranger Micah Navonn, a sentient AI and some courageous, goodhearted Calinurra and human townsfolk, she battles the outbreak on her own.
This book has been on my TBR list since it was published in June 2020, but with a real plague raging, I wasn't ready to read it. It's now Jan. 2021, and I finished it! Maybe I've adjusted to the corona virus pandemic, but Colony Under Siege Interstellar Plague was quite readable. No problems!
What I liked most about the book was the setting and the townspeople. I finished the book thinking that Haven Two would be a wonderful place to live. And the way the people pitched in to help Saffia was heartwarming. Those two things softened the impact of the plague.
I also loved Warbly, the medical AI who becomes sentient. I liked how Micah supported Saffia.
For me, the story started a little slow, but once the plague hit, the action ramped up quickly. I wouldn't call this story a romance as much as a science fiction story with romantic elements. I felt like the point of Colony Under Seige wasn't whether Saffia and Micah get an HEA (although that was a part of the story), but whether Haven Two gets an HEA. Can Saffia get the outbreak under control? Can she get help? Will the colony survive?
Anyway, two thumbs up for this book! Don't let the real pandemic stop you from giving this a try.
January 20, 2023
A rookie Sectors doctor is tested when an alien plague is unleashed on the remote human colony on Haven Two and her strongest alley is an attractive male from the enigmatic native Calinurran race. With each book in the series, the far future space and alien adventures are a sure bet when it comes to reader satisfaction.
Interstellar Plague is entry #14.25 in The Sectors series and one of a duo that focuses on Haven Colony. It can standalone easily.
Dr. Saffia Mandell agreed to be sent wherever the Sectors Medical Service required her for a five year stint in exchange for help with her student medical loans. Her goal is the work her five at the Haven Two colony clinic for the local colonists and the big tourist seasons and then high tail it back to the Inner Sectors to work on a city hospital in one of the poorer districts. She will do her best job possible and then get back to the Inner Sectors. But, a mysterious plague disrupts her quiet, controlled life.
Micah Navonn is Calinurran and retired Special Forces. He has returned to his homeworld after ten years away. He is the Ranger who polices the wild territory around the human colony and keeps people safe who are permitted to do outdoor activities in the nature preserve. His people have a strong spiritual connection and some psychic gifts so he is well aware that his soul is being tugged toward the new human doctor. He has no intention of acting on it because Dr. Mandell has made it clear that she isn’t sticking around. Too bad fate keeps throwing her in his path and he doesn’t really want to resist her after spending time together. Besides, Saffia needs all the help she can get when the colony is overrun with a deadly contagion.
Interstellar Plague felt a little too close to home after the year or so when the Covid 19 pandemic first hit with a vengeance, but that experience definitely made me see quickly that the author took the time to build an authentic situation when the colonists and the doctor were dealing with the alien plague that was brought to their world. From how the governing body to individual colonists handled themselves, to how Saffia faced the biggest challenge of her short career, this rang true to the plot of the story.
I enjoyed the intro to this new alien world and the Calinurra people as well as the human small resort town that made up the backdrop. Saffia was the focal character with Micah getting a few moments of narration. Saffia and Micah were great together and I could appreciate the romance development between them. I was glad the author let them have their time before the dire situation of the plague took front and center. Micah was a capable leader, but I appreciated how he respected Saffia as a medical leader and as a bright, intelligent woman and she learned to open herself up to appreciating new experiences and finding appreciation for something outside her previous long range plan. I really appreciated the epilogue and the story ended in a good place. I was glad to see there is at least one other book that returns to Haven Two and Saffia and Micah.
All in all, another abso-fab entry in the series. The balance of action and romance plot was done well. The sci-fi element was mostly futuristic med tech since this world is kept deliberately rustic, but there was some interesting alien moments, too. Those who enjoy slightly spice romance and a strong action plot should definitely check out this book and the whole series.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Feb 1st.
Interstellar Plague is entry #14.25 in The Sectors series and one of a duo that focuses on Haven Colony. It can standalone easily.
Dr. Saffia Mandell agreed to be sent wherever the Sectors Medical Service required her for a five year stint in exchange for help with her student medical loans. Her goal is the work her five at the Haven Two colony clinic for the local colonists and the big tourist seasons and then high tail it back to the Inner Sectors to work on a city hospital in one of the poorer districts. She will do her best job possible and then get back to the Inner Sectors. But, a mysterious plague disrupts her quiet, controlled life.
Micah Navonn is Calinurran and retired Special Forces. He has returned to his homeworld after ten years away. He is the Ranger who polices the wild territory around the human colony and keeps people safe who are permitted to do outdoor activities in the nature preserve. His people have a strong spiritual connection and some psychic gifts so he is well aware that his soul is being tugged toward the new human doctor. He has no intention of acting on it because Dr. Mandell has made it clear that she isn’t sticking around. Too bad fate keeps throwing her in his path and he doesn’t really want to resist her after spending time together. Besides, Saffia needs all the help she can get when the colony is overrun with a deadly contagion.
Interstellar Plague felt a little too close to home after the year or so when the Covid 19 pandemic first hit with a vengeance, but that experience definitely made me see quickly that the author took the time to build an authentic situation when the colonists and the doctor were dealing with the alien plague that was brought to their world. From how the governing body to individual colonists handled themselves, to how Saffia faced the biggest challenge of her short career, this rang true to the plot of the story.
I enjoyed the intro to this new alien world and the Calinurra people as well as the human small resort town that made up the backdrop. Saffia was the focal character with Micah getting a few moments of narration. Saffia and Micah were great together and I could appreciate the romance development between them. I was glad the author let them have their time before the dire situation of the plague took front and center. Micah was a capable leader, but I appreciated how he respected Saffia as a medical leader and as a bright, intelligent woman and she learned to open herself up to appreciating new experiences and finding appreciation for something outside her previous long range plan. I really appreciated the epilogue and the story ended in a good place. I was glad to see there is at least one other book that returns to Haven Two and Saffia and Micah.
All in all, another abso-fab entry in the series. The balance of action and romance plot was done well. The sci-fi element was mostly futuristic med tech since this world is kept deliberately rustic, but there was some interesting alien moments, too. Those who enjoy slightly spice romance and a strong action plot should definitely check out this book and the whole series.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Feb 1st.
July 9, 2021
This book got me out of reading slump. I was struggling with finding the right book for my mood and eventually decided to pick up this one as I thought I was in the mood for scifi romance and author I already knew. That turned out to the right decision. This book was exactly the type of read I was looking for and I really enjoyed it.
Interstellar Plague is mainly told from the point of view of Doctor Saffia, she's assigned to be the doctor of a small colony to pay of her medical school fees. As soon as she's done with her obligatory 5 years of service she plans to find work in the Inner Sectors. Instead things don't go according to plan as she meets ranger Micah and their immediate attraction turns into more. And then a virus hits the colony and the doctor has a plague on her hands and not enough resources to fix it.
This was an exciting read. The first part of the book is more focused on the romance while the later half is more focused on the struggles with the virus. This worked out well as by the time to virus was there the couple was already established and could support one another through to troubling times. I wasn't sure how I would experience reading about a virus like this while we're still dealing with the Covid-19 virus in real life, but I actually quite enjoyed reading a fictional take on the topic. I thought the way some characters acted was realistic and understandable. There are some sad and slightly gruesome scenes, but there are minimal details, it's just the situation itself that sad with the virus rampaging through this small colony and so many falling sick or worse.
I liked that most of the chapters were from Saffia's point of view. I liked her and she made for a great main character. It was nice to have a few chapters of Micah's point of view, but having his thoughts only here and then made him feel more mysterious and you mainly get to know him through Saffia's point of view, which I liked. It was great getting to know the characters more and seeing them fall in love. I also like how capable Saffia was in her role as doctor and how she handles the whole situation even tough she has limited resources and things standing in her way. Micah has his own skills and interesting background. I wish we had seen more about his people, the Calinurra, as I really liked the bits we got about that. Luckily there is a second book about this couple, which I already bought, and I hope to see more of Micah's people in there.
The romance between Saffia and Micah develops quite quickly, but it felt realistic. I liked their connection and the way they interacted. Their attraction and heat is obvious, but so is their respect for one another and the way they understand and care for the other. I like how understanding Micah was about Saffia having her responsibilities as a doctor and how that sometimes would get in the way. And also how Saffia was understanding of Micah's responsibilities to his people. I liked them together and the epilogue was great too.
I really enjoy this author's books and seeing more of the Sector's world in eahc book. The focus on the small colony was interesting as well as the non-human species that live on the planet, the Calinurra. I really got a good feel for how life on this small colony was like and I liked the glimpses and pieces of information we got about the Calinurra. I look forward to returning to Haven Two in book 2.
To summarize: This was a great read. The author strikes the right balance between romance and plot. I liked the setting in the small colony of Haven Two and it was harrowing to see the devastation the virus caused there. It was an exciting read with a great romance and solid plot. I liked following Saffia as she fell in love with Micah and then had to battle an interstellar plague with few resources. There are some sad moments, but I also like the uplifting feel of seeing the virus dealt with and how capable doctor Saffia was. I liked both Saffia and Micah and they made for a great couple. It was fun getting to spend time in the colony of Haven two and getting a feel for how life is there. All in all this was an awesome read and I look forward to book 2!
Interstellar Plague is mainly told from the point of view of Doctor Saffia, she's assigned to be the doctor of a small colony to pay of her medical school fees. As soon as she's done with her obligatory 5 years of service she plans to find work in the Inner Sectors. Instead things don't go according to plan as she meets ranger Micah and their immediate attraction turns into more. And then a virus hits the colony and the doctor has a plague on her hands and not enough resources to fix it.
This was an exciting read. The first part of the book is more focused on the romance while the later half is more focused on the struggles with the virus. This worked out well as by the time to virus was there the couple was already established and could support one another through to troubling times. I wasn't sure how I would experience reading about a virus like this while we're still dealing with the Covid-19 virus in real life, but I actually quite enjoyed reading a fictional take on the topic. I thought the way some characters acted was realistic and understandable. There are some sad and slightly gruesome scenes, but there are minimal details, it's just the situation itself that sad with the virus rampaging through this small colony and so many falling sick or worse.
I liked that most of the chapters were from Saffia's point of view. I liked her and she made for a great main character. It was nice to have a few chapters of Micah's point of view, but having his thoughts only here and then made him feel more mysterious and you mainly get to know him through Saffia's point of view, which I liked. It was great getting to know the characters more and seeing them fall in love. I also like how capable Saffia was in her role as doctor and how she handles the whole situation even tough she has limited resources and things standing in her way. Micah has his own skills and interesting background. I wish we had seen more about his people, the Calinurra, as I really liked the bits we got about that. Luckily there is a second book about this couple, which I already bought, and I hope to see more of Micah's people in there.
The romance between Saffia and Micah develops quite quickly, but it felt realistic. I liked their connection and the way they interacted. Their attraction and heat is obvious, but so is their respect for one another and the way they understand and care for the other. I like how understanding Micah was about Saffia having her responsibilities as a doctor and how that sometimes would get in the way. And also how Saffia was understanding of Micah's responsibilities to his people. I liked them together and the epilogue was great too.
I really enjoy this author's books and seeing more of the Sector's world in eahc book. The focus on the small colony was interesting as well as the non-human species that live on the planet, the Calinurra. I really got a good feel for how life on this small colony was like and I liked the glimpses and pieces of information we got about the Calinurra. I look forward to returning to Haven Two in book 2.
To summarize: This was a great read. The author strikes the right balance between romance and plot. I liked the setting in the small colony of Haven Two and it was harrowing to see the devastation the virus caused there. It was an exciting read with a great romance and solid plot. I liked following Saffia as she fell in love with Micah and then had to battle an interstellar plague with few resources. There are some sad moments, but I also like the uplifting feel of seeing the virus dealt with and how capable doctor Saffia was. I liked both Saffia and Micah and they made for a great couple. It was fun getting to spend time in the colony of Haven two and getting a feel for how life is there. All in all this was an awesome read and I look forward to book 2!
May 7, 2021
Great Characters! Loved the storyline
Just finished "Plague" and found the characters interesting and intriguing. We get Soffi's background slowly as the story unfolds. She has a poor background with opportunities to improve her lot with an education and medical training. Her background is plausible, and Micah is a ranger/ mystic/ chief who has natural magical abilities tied to his native people on the planet, and our love interest. The plague brings us the stress of life and death tied Soffi's first medical assignment and first real romance. Lots of fun. I did read a review that said it was close to Veronica's story "Outbreak". I did not find it so at all. Except for both being doctors, our heroines are at different stages in their lives as well as having completely different backgrounds and scenarios. The stories read completely from a different aspect.... But both were enjoyable, both entertaining.
Just finished "Plague" and found the characters interesting and intriguing. We get Soffi's background slowly as the story unfolds. She has a poor background with opportunities to improve her lot with an education and medical training. Her background is plausible, and Micah is a ranger/ mystic/ chief who has natural magical abilities tied to his native people on the planet, and our love interest. The plague brings us the stress of life and death tied Soffi's first medical assignment and first real romance. Lots of fun. I did read a review that said it was close to Veronica's story "Outbreak". I did not find it so at all. Except for both being doctors, our heroines are at different stages in their lives as well as having completely different backgrounds and scenarios. The stories read completely from a different aspect.... But both were enjoyable, both entertaining.
June 8, 2020
A timely story about a mysterious virus that quickly spreads through a colony on the frontier of space. Newly-minted doctor Saffia Mandell has barely settled into life in the colonies when people start getting sick. She's baffled but notes coincidences. Authorities stonewall her, refusing to allow her messages requesting help from her superior to go through. They seem more interested in the economy than helping people. She's aided by native Micah Navonn, to whom she's very attracted.
Saffia and Micah are strong characters, well developed. The others, not so much, though the colony's Admin is recognizable. Excellent world-building, especially the role of the indigenous people. The romance between Saffia and Micah takes second place after the illness, which is realistic. An enjoyable read.
Saffia and Micah are strong characters, well developed. The others, not so much, though the colony's Admin is recognizable. Excellent world-building, especially the role of the indigenous people. The romance between Saffia and Micah takes second place after the illness, which is realistic. An enjoyable read.
August 29, 2020
Veronica Scott does a terrific job of combining solid science fiction tales with just the right amount of romance, particularly in her Sectors SF and Star Cruise series. The latest Sectors novel, Colony Under Siege: Interstellar Plague, adds a contemporary element as a ferocious and sometimes deadly virus explodes across a small human colony. Saffia Mantell, the Sectors doctor serving five years at the colony to pay off her med school debts, and Micah Navonn, leader of the nonhuman (but very humanoid) local population, find themselves fighting the virus (and some of the local business interests) while hoping for help that may not arrive in time. I hope Scott decides to visit Haven Two again.
June 27, 2020
WOW!! talk about ripped from the headlines If this story does not remind you fo what is happening today, you have not been reading the news... I love any of the Sectors stories so this was an auto buy Slow to start until some strange virus appears from an unknown place and soon the colony should be on lockdown but- shades of 'Jaws' - dependant on tourism, the authorities refuse. A brand new doctor unsure of her authority and a hero who was Sectors Special Forces who is also a native of the planet with special abilities becomes a most enjoyable read
June 10, 2020
Hope, suspense, romance and a plague with magic! Who could ask for more:)
I read any Veronica Scott I can get my hands on and never have I been disappointed! This story is very relevant to the times but underlying it all is hope and perseverance mixed in with friendship, kindness, romance and a little magic! Absolutely perfect read!!!!
I read any Veronica Scott I can get my hands on and never have I been disappointed! This story is very relevant to the times but underlying it all is hope and perseverance mixed in with friendship, kindness, romance and a little magic! Absolutely perfect read!!!!
June 10, 2020
A little to true to what is going on here. This feature a Plague that arrives at a distant colony. Good characters, a interesting plot and a hot romance. I enjoyed visiting the Sectors once again. Great way to pass the time while locked in to stay safe.
June 14, 2020
Excellent
Fantastic addition to the Sectors series. Strong characters you come to care about and enough medical action to move the story along. Enough action to balance the romance with just the right amount of mysticism for spice.
Fantastic addition to the Sectors series. Strong characters you come to care about and enough medical action to move the story along. Enough action to balance the romance with just the right amount of mysticism for spice.
June 23, 2020
Utterly Delightful!
Just enough world building, just enough drama, just enough character building; put together with a lovely romance between 2 people from different worlds. A special story that hits all the right notes!
Just enough world building, just enough drama, just enough character building; put together with a lovely romance between 2 people from different worlds. A special story that hits all the right notes!
June 26, 2020
Well written, HEA even with a viral plague!
Gosh I so encourage others to read these stories. The grasp you have on space, relationships with others, the excitement and danger mixed in are fabulous.
Gosh I so encourage others to read these stories. The grasp you have on space, relationships with others, the excitement and danger mixed in are fabulous.
June 12, 2020
Another great read
I love Ms. Scott's books!!! Great characters and plots..looking forward to the next one. Hopefully it won't be too long of a wait!!
I love Ms. Scott's books!!! Great characters and plots..looking forward to the next one. Hopefully it won't be too long of a wait!!
June 7, 2020
Loved this story set in the Sectors, Ms Scott's scifi world. The romance build up takes up the first half of the book, and it is all well paced
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews