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All These Gifts #1
If I Were a Weapon
See the future. Set things on fire. Fall in love? A superpowered sci-fi romance.
When dying alien ships materialized across the Earth, their nanite infection knocked Deneve Wilder out cold. She woke up with the ability to see the future. Determined to keep anyone from using her visions for evil, she took to the road. Giving up everything was a small price to pay for freedom.
The ship that hit Jolie Betancourt's town gave her the power to set things on fire. It was safer to start over in a new city. Then one terrible mistake demonstrated far too clearly that for her, solitude is safer. For everyone.
So when Deneve shows up after a vision of Jolie being kidnapped, Jolie wants little to do with the frustratingly attractive drifter. Deneve's surprised by how much she wants to thaw the pretty shopkeeper's chilly attitude, but the idea of staying in one place sets off her alarm bells.
If they can't evade whoever's abducting people with powers, however, the growing connection they both feel in spite of themselves might be the least of their problems.
The first novella of a five-book bi4bi sapphic near-future science fiction romance series, which is slow burn to high heat with a guaranteed HEA at series end.
Detailed content warnings are available in the book's front matter and on the author's website.
Cover artist: Sarah Waites
When dying alien ships materialized across the Earth, their nanite infection knocked Deneve Wilder out cold. She woke up with the ability to see the future. Determined to keep anyone from using her visions for evil, she took to the road. Giving up everything was a small price to pay for freedom.
The ship that hit Jolie Betancourt's town gave her the power to set things on fire. It was safer to start over in a new city. Then one terrible mistake demonstrated far too clearly that for her, solitude is safer. For everyone.
So when Deneve shows up after a vision of Jolie being kidnapped, Jolie wants little to do with the frustratingly attractive drifter. Deneve's surprised by how much she wants to thaw the pretty shopkeeper's chilly attitude, but the idea of staying in one place sets off her alarm bells.
If they can't evade whoever's abducting people with powers, however, the growing connection they both feel in spite of themselves might be the least of their problems.
The first novella of a five-book bi4bi sapphic near-future science fiction romance series, which is slow burn to high heat with a guaranteed HEA at series end.
Detailed content warnings are available in the book's front matter and on the author's website.
Cover artist: Sarah Waites
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2022
25 people are currently reading
913 people want to read
About the author
Skye Kilaen
19 books376 followersSkye Kilaen is a bi author who writes contemporary & science fiction romance that is sometimes polyamorous, focusing on sapphic stories, queer M+F, and bi and pan main characters.
She also sends out a monthly newsletter highlighting new & recent self-published and small press queer romances that look particularly promising but might fly under the radar. Sign up on her website, your TBR will thank you!
Skye currently lives in Austin, Texas because it has so many libraries and breakfast tacos.
She also sends out a monthly newsletter highlighting new & recent self-published and small press queer romances that look particularly promising but might fly under the radar. Sign up on her website, your TBR will thank you!
Skye currently lives in Austin, Texas because it has so many libraries and breakfast tacos.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
January 6, 2022
This was a fun and enjoyable read. While Skye is a newer author, she has already made her mark on me and I always look forward to enjoying her writing. When I saw that her next sapphic book was going to be a superhero, sci-fi/futuristic, romance, I was really excited. Skye did not let me down and this was a good start to the series and I can’t wait to read more.
The premise is really cool. A dying alien race, landed on earth, and sprinkled a bunch of nanites on people who were in close proximity to where their ships touched down. The nanites have given some people different powers, but no one knows what they all mean because all the aliens died as soon as they made it to earth.
I love superhero anything, so the fact that these alien powers changed some humans is such a cool premise. If someone is giving out superhero powers I am so in. Anyway, between the government, and other shadowy organizations, you don’t know who to trust and the intrigue angle of wondering what is really going on makes this book a lot of fun to read. I picked this up and happily read it in one session. I would have loved the book to be longer, because I was enjoying myself, but at least I know we don’t have to wait long for the second book in the series.
This book has a slow-burn romance with an ice queen character. Our ice queen is very frosty and has not melted much yet so the romance is just barely getting out of the blocks. Skye has promised that the heat level will definitely rise and I can’t wait to see how their relationship progresses in book 2.
TLDR: I would easily recommend this book to people who enjoy superhero type stories. The premise is a lot of fun and the book is very readable. You don’t have to be a big sci-fi fan to enjoy this as I think it would appeal to fans of all genres. There is an ice-queen romance, but it is still slowly building so the real heat is yet to come. This was a good start to this series and I’m excited about book 2.
A copy was given to me for a review.
The premise is really cool. A dying alien race, landed on earth, and sprinkled a bunch of nanites on people who were in close proximity to where their ships touched down. The nanites have given some people different powers, but no one knows what they all mean because all the aliens died as soon as they made it to earth.
I love superhero anything, so the fact that these alien powers changed some humans is such a cool premise. If someone is giving out superhero powers I am so in. Anyway, between the government, and other shadowy organizations, you don’t know who to trust and the intrigue angle of wondering what is really going on makes this book a lot of fun to read. I picked this up and happily read it in one session. I would have loved the book to be longer, because I was enjoying myself, but at least I know we don’t have to wait long for the second book in the series.
This book has a slow-burn romance with an ice queen character. Our ice queen is very frosty and has not melted much yet so the romance is just barely getting out of the blocks. Skye has promised that the heat level will definitely rise and I can’t wait to see how their relationship progresses in book 2.
TLDR: I would easily recommend this book to people who enjoy superhero type stories. The premise is a lot of fun and the book is very readable. You don’t have to be a big sci-fi fan to enjoy this as I think it would appeal to fans of all genres. There is an ice-queen romance, but it is still slowly building so the real heat is yet to come. This was a good start to this series and I’m excited about book 2.
A copy was given to me for a review.
May 1, 2022
Although science fiction stories are not always my forte, I enjoyed If I Were A Weapon, the first part of a series, a lot. Deneve and Jolie come closer all the while both, and especially Deneve, deal with additional troubles.
The plot is fun, Deneve’s thoughts and actions are fun to follow due to the lively style of writing. I felt that the first half developed slower than I wanted it to, but that turned out to be ok, especially since I never felt bored, on the contrary.
So, if you are into sci fi with a hint of wlw romance in it, this might be a great title for you.
5 out of 5 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The plot is fun, Deneve’s thoughts and actions are fun to follow due to the lively style of writing. I felt that the first half developed slower than I wanted it to, but that turned out to be ok, especially since I never felt bored, on the contrary.
So, if you are into sci fi with a hint of wlw romance in it, this might be a great title for you.
5 out of 5 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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January 12, 2022THANK YOU to everyone who's read & reviewed my F/F near-future sci-fi romance book that came out yesterday. <3 Book 2 in the series goes to the copyeditor on Friday, and will be out in July!
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Original post:
The first book of my new F/F near-future sci-fi romance series is out in January! All These Gifts will be five books following the same couple, both of whom have superpowers due to alien nanites. Jolie's the ice queen and (irony!) a firestarter. Deneve's the drifter who can see the future. Slow burn at first, high heat later, guaranteed HEA by series end. <3 Hopefully Glorious Day fans will enjoy another F/F battle couple! Jolie and Deneve are both bi/pan.
My plan is to get all five novellas out in two years, so hopefully that isn't too bad of a wait!
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Original post:
The first book of my new F/F near-future sci-fi romance series is out in January! All These Gifts will be five books following the same couple, both of whom have superpowers due to alien nanites. Jolie's the ice queen and (irony!) a firestarter. Deneve's the drifter who can see the future. Slow burn at first, high heat later, guaranteed HEA by series end. <3 Hopefully Glorious Day fans will enjoy another F/F battle couple! Jolie and Deneve are both bi/pan.
My plan is to get all five novellas out in two years, so hopefully that isn't too bad of a wait!
January 9, 2022
I like reading sci-fi, but I think that even readers who do not enjoy reading sci-fi might also like this as the level of sci-fi was relatively low in this first book and many other genres are covered. It was a good read and I can only repeat what others have said before me, I wish it were longer and I’m looking forward to read the next book in the series.
There are so many genres in here, but to me it felt dystopian. The world is pretty much as we know it with the exception that a small percentage of the people have super powers. How did they get them? That’s the sci-fi part, aliens landed on earth and released nanites that gave a small percentage of the population superpowers. But the aliens died immediately after release of the nanites and the people with their newly obtained superpowers do not know or understand much about them. They could be called superheroes, except they are not really heroes (yet?). Non-gifted people are afraid of them and they are hunted, so they mainly live in hiding.
The two mains, Deneve and Jolie, both have powers and are reluctantly thrown together. They have very different personalities and deal differently with their powers and with the problems they face. There is a start of a romance between them, that is still quite frosty at this point (which is funny now I think about it because the ice queen of this story has fire wielding powers), but I can see them getting together.
The writing is engaging and it didn’t take me long to understand what was going on, except of course for the things that the mains are figuring out themselves. It’s an interesting storyline and there is still a lot of mystery to be uncovered. This book lays an excellent foundation for more to come.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
There are so many genres in here, but to me it felt dystopian. The world is pretty much as we know it with the exception that a small percentage of the people have super powers. How did they get them? That’s the sci-fi part, aliens landed on earth and released nanites that gave a small percentage of the population superpowers. But the aliens died immediately after release of the nanites and the people with their newly obtained superpowers do not know or understand much about them. They could be called superheroes, except they are not really heroes (yet?). Non-gifted people are afraid of them and they are hunted, so they mainly live in hiding.
The two mains, Deneve and Jolie, both have powers and are reluctantly thrown together. They have very different personalities and deal differently with their powers and with the problems they face. There is a start of a romance between them, that is still quite frosty at this point (which is funny now I think about it because the ice queen of this story has fire wielding powers), but I can see them getting together.
The writing is engaging and it didn’t take me long to understand what was going on, except of course for the things that the mains are figuring out themselves. It’s an interesting storyline and there is still a lot of mystery to be uncovered. This book lays an excellent foundation for more to come.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2022
How am I supposed to wait until July to know what happens next?
Six months before the beginning of the story, dying alien ships arrived on Earth in unexplained circumstances. Where they appeared, people disappeared, while a handful of others were infected with nanites. With nanites come superpowers but not always the ability to control them. Deneve Wilder gets visions of the future and the nanites guide her to help out, sometimes to save lives. A vision of a woman being kidnapped leads her to Austin, Texas, and Jolie Betancourt, another human with powers. After something went horribly wrong, Jolie decided it was safer for everyone if she stayed on her own as much as possible. Deneve being sent to maybe save her doesn’t fit with her plan.
My main regret about this book is that it’s too short. I want more. I got carried away by the story from the start. The world it takes place in feels very familiar, which makes it even more unsettling. It’s our world, in a dystopian (more dystopian?) not-too-distant future. It only takes Kilaen a few sentences to convey the sense of danger, of uncertainty, of urgency Deneve feels, and later Jolie’s closed-off attitude, her reluctance to let Deneve in, both literally and figuratively.
I liked both women a lot and am looking forward to finding out more about them. It’s a very slow burn, with the promise of heat in later books, but the connection is already there, already deep beneath the awkwardness.
The author announced five books in the All These Gifts series, hopefully over two years so not too long to wait in between each. Book 2, Know It In The Dark, should be out in July (already available for preorder). If the next ones are as good as this one, this could easily become another favourite series for me. And I can totally picture it as a movie or as a TV show.
I couldn’t have hoped for more than beginning the year with a book I enjoy a lot and the prospect of more.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Six months before the beginning of the story, dying alien ships arrived on Earth in unexplained circumstances. Where they appeared, people disappeared, while a handful of others were infected with nanites. With nanites come superpowers but not always the ability to control them. Deneve Wilder gets visions of the future and the nanites guide her to help out, sometimes to save lives. A vision of a woman being kidnapped leads her to Austin, Texas, and Jolie Betancourt, another human with powers. After something went horribly wrong, Jolie decided it was safer for everyone if she stayed on her own as much as possible. Deneve being sent to maybe save her doesn’t fit with her plan.
My main regret about this book is that it’s too short. I want more. I got carried away by the story from the start. The world it takes place in feels very familiar, which makes it even more unsettling. It’s our world, in a dystopian (more dystopian?) not-too-distant future. It only takes Kilaen a few sentences to convey the sense of danger, of uncertainty, of urgency Deneve feels, and later Jolie’s closed-off attitude, her reluctance to let Deneve in, both literally and figuratively.
I liked both women a lot and am looking forward to finding out more about them. It’s a very slow burn, with the promise of heat in later books, but the connection is already there, already deep beneath the awkwardness.
The author announced five books in the All These Gifts series, hopefully over two years so not too long to wait in between each. Book 2, Know It In The Dark, should be out in July (already available for preorder). If the next ones are as good as this one, this could easily become another favourite series for me. And I can totally picture it as a movie or as a TV show.
I couldn’t have hoped for more than beginning the year with a book I enjoy a lot and the prospect of more.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 1, 2022
A new year has just begun with an entertaining read from a new to me author. Four hundred years in the future aliens arrived and released a cloud of nanites which killed many humans but endowed others with special powers. Many of the gifted fled their homes and cities to avoid being used for evil purposes. Deneve Wilder received the power to see glimpses of future events. She now travels the country counteracting possible future incidents. Deneve has been lead to Austin, Texas to stop the kidnapping of Jolie Betancourt. Here both Deneve and Jolie find out that people with alien gifts have been disappearing at an alarming rate.
If I Were a Weapon is an intriguing read marrying the knowledge of our current world with Kilean’s future world. It is comforting to not have to imagine and accept a completely different world. This creates a plausibility about the storyline.
The storytelling is exceptionally well done. We are quickly introduced to Deneve and in five pages the background story is laid out in a convincing yet simplistic way. As a reader you cannot help appreciating the skill of this author.
As this is Book One of the All These Gifts series I cannot wait for Book Two.
If I Were a Weapon is an intriguing read marrying the knowledge of our current world with Kilean’s future world. It is comforting to not have to imagine and accept a completely different world. This creates a plausibility about the storyline.
The storytelling is exceptionally well done. We are quickly introduced to Deneve and in five pages the background story is laid out in a convincing yet simplistic way. As a reader you cannot help appreciating the skill of this author.
As this is Book One of the All These Gifts series I cannot wait for Book Two.
January 9, 2022
An interesting and unique novella, featuring alien nanite technology and it's effects on their human hosts! A really unique concept, I enjoyed learning about all the 'powers' certain humans had.
Our two MC's are very different. One used to staying solitary, alone, and in one place. The other more sociable but never staying on for long, constantly moving. Jolie is a cool cucumber, but we can tell she has a lot of hurt buried. Deneve just takes everything that is thrown at her like water off a ducks back. I enjoyed seeing these two interact, and some ice thawing between them - but there is still a road to go! I look forward to seeing them open up more with each other.
We're setting up the conspiracy happening in this world with the "powered" people and their "gifts" and what certain no good entities are up to, in order to use these people for their own agendas!. Lots of mystery and intrigue, and we work toward discovering about these powers, the alien race that bestowed them and other forces at work.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Our two MC's are very different. One used to staying solitary, alone, and in one place. The other more sociable but never staying on for long, constantly moving. Jolie is a cool cucumber, but we can tell she has a lot of hurt buried. Deneve just takes everything that is thrown at her like water off a ducks back. I enjoyed seeing these two interact, and some ice thawing between them - but there is still a road to go! I look forward to seeing them open up more with each other.
We're setting up the conspiracy happening in this world with the "powered" people and their "gifts" and what certain no good entities are up to, in order to use these people for their own agendas!. Lots of mystery and intrigue, and we work toward discovering about these powers, the alien race that bestowed them and other forces at work.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 11, 2022
Aliens land on our planet and promptly die but not before making entire communities disappear and scattering nanites over a few people who were near the landing sites. These nanites endow those they infect with unusual powers. Deneve Wilder finds herself drawn to areas where others need saving although her nanites rarely tell her who or how she will be of help. When she finds herself in Austin she crosses paths with Jolie Betancourt, a store owner trying hard to keep her own unique powers under wraps with hopes she will not be singled out by those intent on using or worse, destroying her to eliminate the potential threat she represents.
If I Were a Weapon is the first book in this sci-fi series with a dystopian feel and I am excited to see what Skye Kilaen has in store for us next. I do not usually read sci-fi as I have little interest in space pirates, planetary wars or distant penal colonies. I’m not even a big fan of superheroes but I am a fan of dystopian reads with women struggling to survive with courage and determination. This book ticked those boxes along with a romantic element and enough intrigue to leave me wanting more. The near future setting is easy to visualize as is the potential danger Deneve and Jolie will face in the coming weeks and months. Their first meeting is a frosty one but attraction is there leaving me hopeful we will see this slow burn romance continue to develop. Loved the action scenes and the limited cast of secondary characters with often unusual powers I am curious to see put into action. Well done.
A copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest review.
If I Were a Weapon is the first book in this sci-fi series with a dystopian feel and I am excited to see what Skye Kilaen has in store for us next. I do not usually read sci-fi as I have little interest in space pirates, planetary wars or distant penal colonies. I’m not even a big fan of superheroes but I am a fan of dystopian reads with women struggling to survive with courage and determination. This book ticked those boxes along with a romantic element and enough intrigue to leave me wanting more. The near future setting is easy to visualize as is the potential danger Deneve and Jolie will face in the coming weeks and months. Their first meeting is a frosty one but attraction is there leaving me hopeful we will see this slow burn romance continue to develop. Loved the action scenes and the limited cast of secondary characters with often unusual powers I am curious to see put into action. Well done.
A copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest review.
July 20, 2022
The first work that I've read by this author. I've had this one for a while. Don't recall the order of things, if I'd picked it up before I saw any ratings or reviews, or after, but I know I didn't read it until now because of the reviews. Basically got the impression this is a story I should wait for the release of the next part before reading this one. So I did, wait. Then read this one. Then read next one immediatley afterwards. Though, before I stared, I saw that there was yet another part that I'd need to wait another roughly six months before I could read it, but eh, I'd waited long enough.
Being that I read both parts currently published in this series, it's somewhat hard to distinguish what events happened when.
Aliens arrived. Or, at least, alien technology, alien ships, and, briefly (possibly briefly) aliens. This event occurred six months before the start of the series, so I'm not revealing anything spoilery here.
When the ships arrived they kind of just popped into existence. Where bits of land, people, and stuff used to reside. The people, parts of cities, etc. poofed (gone where? unknown). Dust spread. Coated, fell onto people. Some people, well, washed off that off. Others? Fell comatose for a bit. After they woke up again they were somewhat altered. By tiny alien machines that had fallen onto, into them. Nanites. People reacted . . . well, good and bad. Mostly confused.
One such person is a woman named Deneve. Before the aliens arrived, she had a job (waitress) and family (brothers, parents). After? After she became a drifter. Something about the nanites, or possibly something already inside herself, caused her to run - immediately, after the events unfolded. Story starts with her arrival in Austin Texas. While in Austin, she runs into another person changed by the alien arrival.
Jolie owns and runs a shop, one that sells paper, notebooks, pens. A stationary store. She had a kind of difficulity personality before the event happened. At least that's the impression given. After the event? Well . . . . she has to interact with others as a store owner, and she has a good enough ability to fake a shop personality. She doesn't like being near people, though.
Naturally, then, when a woman pops up and can't seem to leave, well, complications. Also the woman, naturally this is a lesbian fiction book, is unnaturally beautiful. Dirty, dusty, but beautiful. Also naturally the shop owner is also gorgeous, but let's move on from this stereotype, eh?
Right, so.
The book was kind of addictive. Read it in a short gulp. Book is short, but that doesn't actually mean a book will be read in a quick gulp. There are some books (like, say, written by some famous authors of yesteryear) that are about 120 pages long. Take a good long while to read, whether or not they are good or not, take a good long while to read. Then there are those books that are about 787 pages, and you end up reading them in a day. Just because something is short doesn't mean it's easy to read. This one is easy to read.
So addictive I, as previously noted, immediately read the next part in this series.
Rating: 3.71
July 19 2022
Being that I read both parts currently published in this series, it's somewhat hard to distinguish what events happened when.
Aliens arrived. Or, at least, alien technology, alien ships, and, briefly (possibly briefly) aliens. This event occurred six months before the start of the series, so I'm not revealing anything spoilery here.
When the ships arrived they kind of just popped into existence. Where bits of land, people, and stuff used to reside. The people, parts of cities, etc. poofed (gone where? unknown). Dust spread. Coated, fell onto people. Some people, well, washed off that off. Others? Fell comatose for a bit. After they woke up again they were somewhat altered. By tiny alien machines that had fallen onto, into them. Nanites. People reacted . . . well, good and bad. Mostly confused.
One such person is a woman named Deneve. Before the aliens arrived, she had a job (waitress) and family (brothers, parents). After? After she became a drifter. Something about the nanites, or possibly something already inside herself, caused her to run - immediately, after the events unfolded. Story starts with her arrival in Austin Texas. While in Austin, she runs into another person changed by the alien arrival.
Jolie owns and runs a shop, one that sells paper, notebooks, pens. A stationary store. She had a kind of difficulity personality before the event happened. At least that's the impression given. After the event? Well . . . . she has to interact with others as a store owner, and she has a good enough ability to fake a shop personality. She doesn't like being near people, though.
Naturally, then, when a woman pops up and can't seem to leave, well, complications. Also the woman, naturally this is a lesbian fiction book, is unnaturally beautiful. Dirty, dusty, but beautiful. Also naturally the shop owner is also gorgeous, but let's move on from this stereotype, eh?
Right, so.
The book was kind of addictive. Read it in a short gulp. Book is short, but that doesn't actually mean a book will be read in a quick gulp. There are some books (like, say, written by some famous authors of yesteryear) that are about 120 pages long. Take a good long while to read, whether or not they are good or not, take a good long while to read. Then there are those books that are about 787 pages, and you end up reading them in a day. Just because something is short doesn't mean it's easy to read. This one is easy to read.
So addictive I, as previously noted, immediately read the next part in this series.
Rating: 3.71
July 19 2022
January 12, 2022
I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait for the next in the series. I tend to enjoy science fiction and this was very well done. There was a lot of action and kept me invested through the end. Deneve and Jolie had great chemistry with each other and I got to the end not quite prepared for it to be over. I’ll be picking up book 2 as soon as I see it available!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 12, 2022
4 stars. I’m mad that I have to wait until July for book two! I need it now. This was so awesome. I didn’t really know what to expect going in, all I knew was that it was a sci-fi but there’s actually a lot of depth and nuance to this. It’s less than 200 pages but it feels packed and developed. Nothing is rushed or is lacking. The world building is well done, the pacing is smooth, the characters are flawed and real, and the romance is slow burn and filled with angst.
Deneve and Jolie are both such badass characters and I was rooting for them not only their relationship but as individuals. The way this ended has me wanting more immediately and I’m anxiously awaiting book two.
Deneve and Jolie are both such badass characters and I was rooting for them not only their relationship but as individuals. The way this ended has me wanting more immediately and I’m anxiously awaiting book two.
January 8, 2022
Introduced to this author through her book "Glorious Day", I eagerly waded into this new work and was not disappointed.
The plot centers around the lust for power by an unknown organization eager to control the country that now exists by forming a special army of gifted humans totally at their beck and call. Intrigue and danger is interlaced with a slow burn romance. Alien spacecraft crashed/disintegrated on earth and nanites absorbed by humans near crash sites have given them special powers. Now the hunt is on to capture these humans to form a controlled army. Our lead characters, Deneve able to see the future and Jolie able to start fires are forced to work together after Deneve's ability brings her to Jolie's doorstep. Mistrust is rampant and individuals are on constant alert but a tiny spark holds our ladies together as events unfold.
Bring on Part 2 quickly, please.
I rec'd a copy through Booksprout and this is a completely unbiased, voluntary review.
The plot centers around the lust for power by an unknown organization eager to control the country that now exists by forming a special army of gifted humans totally at their beck and call. Intrigue and danger is interlaced with a slow burn romance. Alien spacecraft crashed/disintegrated on earth and nanites absorbed by humans near crash sites have given them special powers. Now the hunt is on to capture these humans to form a controlled army. Our lead characters, Deneve able to see the future and Jolie able to start fires are forced to work together after Deneve's ability brings her to Jolie's doorstep. Mistrust is rampant and individuals are on constant alert but a tiny spark holds our ladies together as events unfold.
Bring on Part 2 quickly, please.
I rec'd a copy through Booksprout and this is a completely unbiased, voluntary review.
January 10, 2022
This is a Sci-Fi / Action novella and the first of the All These Gifts series.
I really enjoyed the main premise, an invasion of dying aliens that left some humans with superpowers. The book is told from the point of view of the two main characters: Deneve and Jolie. There’s a lot of fast-paced action that kept me turning pages even if this is not my kind of favourite genre. There is also a little bit of romance on the side, hinting that there might be more in the next book or books.
I have to warn readers that even though the action plot of this book ends satisfactorily, the main ARC seems to have just started and will continue in book 2 “Know it in the Dark” which will be published in July 2022. So be warned that you’ll have to wait until then to see how the story continues.
Overall, this has been an entertaining short read. If you are a Sci-Fi fan, I recommend it. 4 stars.
I really enjoyed the main premise, an invasion of dying aliens that left some humans with superpowers. The book is told from the point of view of the two main characters: Deneve and Jolie. There’s a lot of fast-paced action that kept me turning pages even if this is not my kind of favourite genre. There is also a little bit of romance on the side, hinting that there might be more in the next book or books.
I have to warn readers that even though the action plot of this book ends satisfactorily, the main ARC seems to have just started and will continue in book 2 “Know it in the Dark” which will be published in July 2022. So be warned that you’ll have to wait until then to see how the story continues.
Overall, this has been an entertaining short read. If you are a Sci-Fi fan, I recommend it. 4 stars.
January 11, 2022
Wow, this is my first book from this author. This book was such an easy read, you immediately get dropped in this world which is a bit sci-fi think the movie Independence day, but then quickly morphed into a superhero story a la marvel x-men.
There's a whole lot of intrigue & thrills to keep you guessing on who's really the bad guy. This sets you up for the sequel, which I'm looking forward to reading.
I really do not want to give too much away, so I'll keep this short.
The main characters Deneve & Jolie are opposites to be sure. One is your standard "ice queen", the fun part is going to be watching her melt all the way, which should be in the follow up story.
I was given an advanced copy for an honest review.
There's a whole lot of intrigue & thrills to keep you guessing on who's really the bad guy. This sets you up for the sequel, which I'm looking forward to reading.
I really do not want to give too much away, so I'll keep this short.
The main characters Deneve & Jolie are opposites to be sure. One is your standard "ice queen", the fun part is going to be watching her melt all the way, which should be in the follow up story.
I was given an advanced copy for an honest review.
January 12, 2022
genre : sci-fi novella (sapphic romance series)This was such a thrilling read! Ever since SJ Whitby got me hooked on their Cute Mutants series (my review of Vol 1), I’ve been obsessed with superpowered queer people. And Kilaen gave us an adult story of nanite alien–infected sapphics that is at times cute, somewhat dark, and mostly exhilarating.
MCs : white bi/pan woman*2
POV : dual 3rd-person
location: Austin, TX, USA
indie? : yes
Deneve Wilder (she/her, bi/pan) can see the future. Sort of. When her nanites lead her to Austin (oooooh shiny), she didn’t expect to end up staying with Jolie Betancourt (she/her, bi/pan), another powered woman who wants nothing to do with her. But the nanites insist. Soon, both women find themselves in danger greater than either of them has every been in before.
This is my third book by Kilaen, and she has once again wrote an amazing story! Anyone who has tried writing a rescue mission before knows how tough it is: it cannot be so easy that it’s boring, nor can it be so difficult that it’s unbelievable. The way Kilaen wrote all the confrontation scenes was excellent, and it kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering if Deneve and Jolie would be captured by the unknown organization with the vans.
I’m not well-acquainted with popular superpower theories, but I love that the nanites are allegedly programs running in human hosts that sometimes glitch. The cover design, featuring Jolie, also gave off a fitting vibe for the story.
There are wonderful little details about the characters that I absolutely love: Jolie marveling at Deneve’s dress with pockets (we all need big pockets) and that they both seem to love breakfast food at any time of the day (breakfast food is the best food; fight me!). Despite the atmosphere of the story being ominous, these little moments made me relax and chuckle.
If I Were a Weapon is the first book in the five-novella series All These Gifts, so it isn’t a surprise that there is still a lot we don’t know about the characters and their powers (let’s be real, they don’t understand their powers either). The relationship between Deneve and Jolie isn’t really romantic yet, but the arc spans across the series and I can’t wait for the nanites to keep playing accidental(?) matchmaker. I think Kilaen did a great job at setting up the world to keep readers interested and engaged, and I look forward the rest of the series to learn more about Jolie’s past and see the reluctant romance play out. Maybe we’ll get to know the other powered people in Jolie’s secret network, too.
content warnings: available on the author’s website
Buddy read with Gabriella! Check out her review here!
I received a digital review copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 15, 2022
An ARC copy was given to me from BookSirens for a honest review.
This book remind me on the TV show "The nevers", and I couldn´t get in touch with the story. Dying alien race left nanites on earth, which connect with the people and give than abilities. The main characters Deneve and Jolie meet and try to get along with their abilities and lifes. Maybe the next book have me to review my opinion.
This book remind me on the TV show "The nevers", and I couldn´t get in touch with the story. Dying alien race left nanites on earth, which connect with the people and give than abilities. The main characters Deneve and Jolie meet and try to get along with their abilities and lifes. Maybe the next book have me to review my opinion.
Read
January 17, 2024Exciting!
Deneve has been infected by nanites following an alien presence on earth and can suddenly see the future, but now to be free she finds herself running. Jolie has discovered she can use fire since the same alien presence and is living in solitude to keep everyone safe, until Deneve turns up on a mission to keep her from being taken, but with a connection growing between them, danger still looms at every turn.
A very exciting start to what I know will be a promising sci-fi series. I loved Deneve and Jolie from the second they were introduced, and they had the cutest way of being around one another because they were wary of everything around them, others who appeared to be chasing them both, and the connection they shared. That awkwardness really made them, as not only were they coming to terms with what their lives had become and what it meant for their future individually but it gave them a chance to trust and try to embrace these new powers to do good and support one another.
Throughout the story, Skye has dealt with sensitive topics with compassion and understanding, making sure that where the characters are going through experiences, or sharing feelings and emotions about things they have experienced, it is all explored with understanding and care of how difficult this situation Jolie and Deneve are in really is. It was also exciting to have that edge of adventure and excitement, especially as they learned more about one another and others like them. I really admired Jolie’s kindness towards Deneve, who was very new to all this whereas Jolie had access to support from other people, even if she was struggling to trust them at times, so everything she did to help Deneve was so sweet.
I’m really excited to find out where this adventure takes them in the next story!
Deneve has been infected by nanites following an alien presence on earth and can suddenly see the future, but now to be free she finds herself running. Jolie has discovered she can use fire since the same alien presence and is living in solitude to keep everyone safe, until Deneve turns up on a mission to keep her from being taken, but with a connection growing between them, danger still looms at every turn.
A very exciting start to what I know will be a promising sci-fi series. I loved Deneve and Jolie from the second they were introduced, and they had the cutest way of being around one another because they were wary of everything around them, others who appeared to be chasing them both, and the connection they shared. That awkwardness really made them, as not only were they coming to terms with what their lives had become and what it meant for their future individually but it gave them a chance to trust and try to embrace these new powers to do good and support one another.
Throughout the story, Skye has dealt with sensitive topics with compassion and understanding, making sure that where the characters are going through experiences, or sharing feelings and emotions about things they have experienced, it is all explored with understanding and care of how difficult this situation Jolie and Deneve are in really is. It was also exciting to have that edge of adventure and excitement, especially as they learned more about one another and others like them. I really admired Jolie’s kindness towards Deneve, who was very new to all this whereas Jolie had access to support from other people, even if she was struggling to trust them at times, so everything she did to help Deneve was so sweet.
I’m really excited to find out where this adventure takes them in the next story!
December 29, 2021
IF I WERE A WEAPON is the first book in the All These Gifts series, and we find ourselves in an Earth of the not-too-distant future where alien ships crash-landed to Earth, killing or displacing the inhabitants. For those that survived, for the lucky majority, life continued as normal but, for some, their lives were irrevocably changed.
Deneve and Jolie are some that changed. Deneve has the ability to predict the future in certain circumstances, with the nanites ramping up until she acts to change whatever it was she saw. Jolie has the ability to play with fire. Both are hiding from people who might use them and neither wants anything long-term. When Deneve has a vision about Jolie being in danger though, she has to stay to make sure Jolie is safe, even though they don't know each other.
This was really well-written, with plenty of backstory and build-up to move the story along. Deneve and Jolie don't know each other, and their relationship reflects that, although it will change as the series progresses. For now, they share a kiss and that's it. For the most part, it is stilted formality between them, which somehow works and lets you see more into their personalities than if they had been best buds from the outset.
Set in Austin, Texas, you get a story rich in detail, where the differences between those that are 'normal' and those that are not are highlighted in simple and subtle ways. This is a series so don't expect to have all the answers given to you in book one, because you will surely be disappointed.
As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to continuing with the series to see where it takes me next. Absolutely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Deneve and Jolie are some that changed. Deneve has the ability to predict the future in certain circumstances, with the nanites ramping up until she acts to change whatever it was she saw. Jolie has the ability to play with fire. Both are hiding from people who might use them and neither wants anything long-term. When Deneve has a vision about Jolie being in danger though, she has to stay to make sure Jolie is safe, even though they don't know each other.
This was really well-written, with plenty of backstory and build-up to move the story along. Deneve and Jolie don't know each other, and their relationship reflects that, although it will change as the series progresses. For now, they share a kiss and that's it. For the most part, it is stilted formality between them, which somehow works and lets you see more into their personalities than if they had been best buds from the outset.
Set in Austin, Texas, you get a story rich in detail, where the differences between those that are 'normal' and those that are not are highlighted in simple and subtle ways. This is a series so don't expect to have all the answers given to you in book one, because you will surely be disappointed.
As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to continuing with the series to see where it takes me next. Absolutely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
January 12, 2022
Minus the slightly different premise, this feels like it could be an adult version of Cute Mutants! I loved the fledgling romance between icy Jolie and bubbly Deneve (both bi/pan), and I can’t wait to see what’s next for them in the love department. I found the plot a bit hard to follow at times (probably because my brain tends to have trouble processing sff stuff), but it’s still super cool and I know we’ll be in for some intense scenarios as the series continues. Skye Kilaen is a great writer and I can’t wait to read more from her!
Buddy read with Hsinju! Check out their review here!
Content warnings can be found at the beginning of the book.
I received an ARC from Skye Kilaen and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Buddy read with Hsinju! Check out their review here!
Content warnings can be found at the beginning of the book.
I received an ARC from Skye Kilaen and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 26, 2022
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
This book was short, sweet, and thoroughly enjoyable. We start by following Deneve Wilder, a young woman who can see glimpses of the future, thanks to the alien nanites in her system. She wanders around the US, hitchhiking and sleeping rough in order to avoid being exposed as 'powered'. When she reaches Austin, she encounters Jolie Betancourt, another powered woman, who avoids any contact with other people, for fear of accidentally hurting them with her powers. The two quickly discover that powered people are disappearing at an alarming rate, and need to be careful in order to protect themselves, and help their powered friends.
I absolutely loved the concept of this book. It's not quite post-apocalyptic, but with just enough damage that for some people, life has irrevocably changed, and not for the better. The 'alien nanites give us superpowers' is not a new concept, but it is really nicely executed, and feels fresh anyway.
The two characters are also very well executed, with interesting motives that don't always have clear cut reasons. They both have internal conflicts around their attraction to each other, as well as moral conflicts about dealing with the kidnappers. Both Deneve and Jolie felt very real to me, which I appreciated.
The blurb sure wasn't kidding on the 'slow burn' either, and I really look forward to seeing where the author takes both the relationship, and the world events, in the following books.
This book was short, sweet, and thoroughly enjoyable. We start by following Deneve Wilder, a young woman who can see glimpses of the future, thanks to the alien nanites in her system. She wanders around the US, hitchhiking and sleeping rough in order to avoid being exposed as 'powered'. When she reaches Austin, she encounters Jolie Betancourt, another powered woman, who avoids any contact with other people, for fear of accidentally hurting them with her powers. The two quickly discover that powered people are disappearing at an alarming rate, and need to be careful in order to protect themselves, and help their powered friends.
I absolutely loved the concept of this book. It's not quite post-apocalyptic, but with just enough damage that for some people, life has irrevocably changed, and not for the better. The 'alien nanites give us superpowers' is not a new concept, but it is really nicely executed, and feels fresh anyway.
The two characters are also very well executed, with interesting motives that don't always have clear cut reasons. They both have internal conflicts around their attraction to each other, as well as moral conflicts about dealing with the kidnappers. Both Deneve and Jolie felt very real to me, which I appreciated.
The blurb sure wasn't kidding on the 'slow burn' either, and I really look forward to seeing where the author takes both the relationship, and the world events, in the following books.
January 13, 2022
This is such a fun SF novella (which also sets up the clear potential of future romance between its two heroines). It's a little hard to give it a star-rating on its own, honestly, because it's part 1 in a 5-part series, and it definitely feels like the first episode in a tightly-linked TV series rather than a full story that could stand on its own. I really enjoyed every moment of it, though, it ended in a satisfying place for now, and I can't wait to read #2 when it comes out in July!
In this version of the contemporary US, a set of alien spaceships recently crashed into Earth, killing their riders as well as all the humans in their path - and left strange, paranormal after-effects for a lot of the humans who were too close to the crash. Each of them has developed different powers (which are more or less helpful or welcome) and they're all now in danger as someone - or maybe lots of different someones - are hunting them. It's a fun, familiar setup, but what makes it all work so well is that the heroines are both so great - very different but both extremely lovable in different ways - and the writing is just fabulous, pacey and confident. It swept me along from page one and never let me stop to quibble over any details because I always had to keep going and find out what would happen next!
I really enjoyed this story by itself, but I have every expectation that I'll LOVE the larger story when it's all completed. I'll be devouring Book 2 the moment it's available!
In this version of the contemporary US, a set of alien spaceships recently crashed into Earth, killing their riders as well as all the humans in their path - and left strange, paranormal after-effects for a lot of the humans who were too close to the crash. Each of them has developed different powers (which are more or less helpful or welcome) and they're all now in danger as someone - or maybe lots of different someones - are hunting them. It's a fun, familiar setup, but what makes it all work so well is that the heroines are both so great - very different but both extremely lovable in different ways - and the writing is just fabulous, pacey and confident. It swept me along from page one and never let me stop to quibble over any details because I always had to keep going and find out what would happen next!
I really enjoyed this story by itself, but I have every expectation that I'll LOVE the larger story when it's all completed. I'll be devouring Book 2 the moment it's available!
March 25, 2022
I never knew where this story was going, or who to trust. Should some of the secondary characters who are allies be trusted? Should Jolie and Deneve even trust each other? I had my doubts but so far so good. In this novella, we get a good introduction to Deneve and Jolie, who both have powers resulting from when some alien ships crashed on Earth. Everyone who is powered has different powers, at least so far. Jolie can set things on fire. Deneve gets messages from her nanites (as she calls them) that urge her to do certain things. The other powered characters have other powers. No one is fully trustworthy because they can’t tell if another person is powered or normal. It’s a fascinating speculative world that Kilaen has authored. I can’t wait for the next installment.
April 4, 2022
Ahhh, I LOVE other of this author's writing, but scifi is really outside my comfort zone, and this one didn't capture me, neither did the plot or the characters. The writing was still really good, and I like how they characters meet each other, and I think if you're one to appreciate enjoy scifi, this is really a strong recommendation!!!
I received an advance review copy for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily :)
I received an advance review copy for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily :)
January 30, 2022
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
This book follows Deneve and Jolie. They were both given powers when aliens crashed to Earth and released nanites that had unique effects on some individuals. Deneve's ability to see the future leads her to tracking Jolie down in order to prevent her kidnapping. While grateful for the save Jolie believes she can take care of herself. Unfortunately, even after the crisis is averted, Deneve is unable to leave. The two form a tenuous friendship as they are forced to spend more and more time together and try to navigate the challenges thrown their way.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book and their dynamic. I liked Deneve's willingness to help even though she didn't really have a choice in the matter. I also loved the irony of Jolie's cold demeanor considering her fiery powers. As a pair I enjoyed how protective they were of each other and was glad for the slow buildup of them growing closer. Can't wait to see how things evolve in the next book!
Another aspect of the book I thought was well done was the powers; while some of them were classic they all seemed to have a bit of a twist/uniqueness to them which I thought was cool. Overall I would definitely recommend this book to any scifi fans!
4.5 stars
This book follows Deneve and Jolie. They were both given powers when aliens crashed to Earth and released nanites that had unique effects on some individuals. Deneve's ability to see the future leads her to tracking Jolie down in order to prevent her kidnapping. While grateful for the save Jolie believes she can take care of herself. Unfortunately, even after the crisis is averted, Deneve is unable to leave. The two form a tenuous friendship as they are forced to spend more and more time together and try to navigate the challenges thrown their way.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book and their dynamic. I liked Deneve's willingness to help even though she didn't really have a choice in the matter. I also loved the irony of Jolie's cold demeanor considering her fiery powers. As a pair I enjoyed how protective they were of each other and was glad for the slow buildup of them growing closer. Can't wait to see how things evolve in the next book!
Another aspect of the book I thought was well done was the powers; while some of them were classic they all seemed to have a bit of a twist/uniqueness to them which I thought was cool. Overall I would definitely recommend this book to any scifi fans!
January 21, 2022
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
Deneve, who can see the future, finds herself being guided to a woman, Jolie, who was going to be kidnapped. Deneve foils the kidnapping, but the alien nanites that grant her the ability to see the future won't let her leave Jolie alone. But Jolie has her own secret and doesn't want to get close to Deneve, despite the attraction.
This world is fascinating. The world building was slow and steady but builds an intricate world that I want to spend a lot more time in. With this story being on the short side (roughly 150 pages) Kilaen does a great job of keeping the story focused on Deneve and Jolie, while still building up the greater world they are in. I am excited for the series to continue and for the story and world to get bigger.
Deneve was a fun character to follow. Her struggles to deal with the alien arrival and the fallout from that gave depth to her character and really informed her decision making. She is nice, compassionate, but also snarky about her situation with the nanites. Jolie was interesting but I don't feel like I understood her as well as I did Deneve. Something happened in the past that has guided her interactions with others but we only get glimpses of that and who she was before the alien arrival, but I look forward to getting to know her more in following books.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to fans of sci-fi romances.
Deneve, who can see the future, finds herself being guided to a woman, Jolie, who was going to be kidnapped. Deneve foils the kidnapping, but the alien nanites that grant her the ability to see the future won't let her leave Jolie alone. But Jolie has her own secret and doesn't want to get close to Deneve, despite the attraction.
This world is fascinating. The world building was slow and steady but builds an intricate world that I want to spend a lot more time in. With this story being on the short side (roughly 150 pages) Kilaen does a great job of keeping the story focused on Deneve and Jolie, while still building up the greater world they are in. I am excited for the series to continue and for the story and world to get bigger.
Deneve was a fun character to follow. Her struggles to deal with the alien arrival and the fallout from that gave depth to her character and really informed her decision making. She is nice, compassionate, but also snarky about her situation with the nanites. Jolie was interesting but I don't feel like I understood her as well as I did Deneve. Something happened in the past that has guided her interactions with others but we only get glimpses of that and who she was before the alien arrival, but I look forward to getting to know her more in following books.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to fans of sci-fi romances.
February 24, 2022
IF I WERE A WEAPON was a very unique read and I found the alien landing and the nanites to be really interesting. There was still a lot unanswered but since this is a series that follows the same couple I assume those answers will come in later books. Jolie and Deneve were both likable characters but I'm not sure I fully felt their chemistry together. Yes this is a slow burn, they only share a kiss, but maybe it was going too slow and subtle for me.
Content Warning: homelessness, alien technology affecting people's behavior and emotions
Content Warning: homelessness, alien technology affecting people's behavior and emotions
June 9, 2022
I enjoyed this book. Looking foward to the next. There was an event that changed the lives of a lot of people. For a unknown reason some people have new powers. And they are being hunted. I did receive an ARC but these are my own thoughts.
January 8, 2022
🏳️🌈👩❤️👩📚⚢📓🔥📒🛸⭐️☄🕶️🔮👩❤️💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
That’s in exchange of an honest review that I received, from the author herself, an ARC of "If I Were A Weapon" (All These Gifts Series – Book #1) by Skye Kilaen.
So, here it is.
My rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The story (a near-future dystopian/sci-fi F/F romance) sets in Austin, Texas and focuses on Deneve Wilder & Jolie Betancourt.
When dying alien ships materialized all around planet Earth, killing or making numerous people vanish in the process, they realeased their nanites which infection impacted the population that has survived. For most, the ‘’lucky’’ ones, life continued as normal but, for a minority, their lives were irrevocably changed because they have been endowed with special habilities. Among them, Deneve who woke up with the ability to see the future (well, glimpses of future events, at least) & Jolie who has been given the power to set things on fire.
Deneve is determined to keep anyone from using her visions for evil so, she's on the run since she woke up with her new habilities. Having given up everything, she’s now homeless & always on the move, travelling the country to counteract possible future incidents because that's a small price to pay for freedom, right ?
After "the Landing", Jolie Betancourt left behind her town to start over in a new city by running a stationery store (previously owned by her mom’s godmother). But, then, one terrible mistake, somehting she’s definitely not proud of, demonstrated far too clearly that for her, solitude is safer. It's safer for everyone...So, alone, she works very hard to keep her head down, and as much as possible ignore everything & everyone appearing powered and/or alien.
They met when Deneve, after a violent vision of Jolie being kidnapped, shows up in Austin. But chilly shopkeeper Jolie wants little to do with the red-headed drifter that she founds frustratingly attractive … Dismissed, Devene tries to go away but her stubborn alien nanites seem to have other plans in mind and do their best (it would appear that they inconveniently — & quite painfully sometimes — control everything she does) to keep Devene around Jolie … That’s when they find out that some people with alien nanite induced gifts have been disappearing quite a lot lately.
➕ The "Pros" (non exhaustive list) :
° the pretty cool premise of this series’s good start
° the author’s pretty good writing style. It has improved since the last time I gave her a try and I’m glad about that.
° the (really) slow building of the underlying ice-queen romance. I liked a lot both Devene and Jolie, and I can’t wait to read more about them in book 2 because their relationship as deeply connected (hopefully soon to-be) lovers/souls (probably even soul mates) will be a great bonus IMO.
° the introduction of a few (seemingly) good supporting characters
° the dark twist. Naturally (it wouldn’t be ‘‘fun’’ otherwise) some people want to control of the ‘‘gifted’’ but what would it be : governments and/or a bunch of powerful private organisations ???
〰️ The "In betweens" :
° the book is a bit too short for my own liking … But I tolerate the format since that’s the beginning of a series. I just hope the 4 next installments (the author announced 5 books in this series) will be way longer.
If there are not longer, I surely hope that the next stories will still allow both some action and a good character development which will have to include both the past and the future of the MCs => I’m particularly curious about what really happened that Jolie is so sure that no one is safe around her & I really want to see their relationship evolve, hopefully, toward a HEA…
➖ The "Cons" : ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Nothing to declare from my POV.
This quick read is a very enjoyable, interesting and intriguing one. I was totally hooked onto this story! A really nice way to begin the year. I’d love to say a lot of things but, it’d give everything away and that’s something I refuse to do … You’ll have to read the book.
Personal note : While reading, I didn’t have any trouble picturing everything in my mind’s eye so, let see how the series evoles. But if it stays on this path (so, with more backstory about each MC, more action build-up to move the story along, more and more info about the unknown enemy, etc), it could become the basis for a great scenario for a TV series or a movie.
Stay tuned guys and gals !!! ‘cause
Know It In The Dark (All These Gifts Series – Book #2) is already available for pre-order and should be released one the 12th July 2022 …
If I had to make a very short and quite different version of my review, it’d be something like this :
- Did I enjoy this book? => Yes, quite a lot.
- Did I find the characters believable? => Yes
- Is this book now included in my "must be re-read"-list? => Yes (but when the whole series will be out, otherwise the waiting is too frustrating…)
- Will I purchase the paperback? => Yes, someday, when the series will be complete.
- Would I read another book by this author? => Yes
- Would I recommend this book => Yes, especially to (F/F) sci-ci fans
🏳️🌈👩❤️👩📚⚢📓🔥📒🛸⭐️☄🕶️🔮👩❤️💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
That’s in exchange of an honest review that I received, from the author herself, an ARC of "If I Were A Weapon" (All These Gifts Series – Book #1) by Skye Kilaen.
So, here it is.
My rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The story (a near-future dystopian/sci-fi F/F romance) sets in Austin, Texas and focuses on Deneve Wilder & Jolie Betancourt.
When dying alien ships materialized all around planet Earth, killing or making numerous people vanish in the process, they realeased their nanites which infection impacted the population that has survived. For most, the ‘’lucky’’ ones, life continued as normal but, for a minority, their lives were irrevocably changed because they have been endowed with special habilities. Among them, Deneve who woke up with the ability to see the future (well, glimpses of future events, at least) & Jolie who has been given the power to set things on fire.
Deneve is determined to keep anyone from using her visions for evil so, she's on the run since she woke up with her new habilities. Having given up everything, she’s now homeless & always on the move, travelling the country to counteract possible future incidents because that's a small price to pay for freedom, right ?
After "the Landing", Jolie Betancourt left behind her town to start over in a new city by running a stationery store (previously owned by her mom’s godmother). But, then, one terrible mistake, somehting she’s definitely not proud of, demonstrated far too clearly that for her, solitude is safer. It's safer for everyone...So, alone, she works very hard to keep her head down, and as much as possible ignore everything & everyone appearing powered and/or alien.
They met when Deneve, after a violent vision of Jolie being kidnapped, shows up in Austin. But chilly shopkeeper Jolie wants little to do with the red-headed drifter that she founds frustratingly attractive … Dismissed, Devene tries to go away but her stubborn alien nanites seem to have other plans in mind and do their best (it would appear that they inconveniently — & quite painfully sometimes — control everything she does) to keep Devene around Jolie … That’s when they find out that some people with alien nanite induced gifts have been disappearing quite a lot lately.
➕ The "Pros" (non exhaustive list) :
° the pretty cool premise of this series’s good start
° the author’s pretty good writing style. It has improved since the last time I gave her a try and I’m glad about that.
° the (really) slow building of the underlying ice-queen romance. I liked a lot both Devene and Jolie, and I can’t wait to read more about them in book 2 because their relationship as deeply connected (hopefully soon to-be) lovers/souls (probably even soul mates) will be a great bonus IMO.
° the introduction of a few (seemingly) good supporting characters
° the dark twist. Naturally (it wouldn’t be ‘‘fun’’ otherwise) some people want to control of the ‘‘gifted’’ but what would it be : governments and/or a bunch of powerful private organisations ???
〰️ The "In betweens" :
° the book is a bit too short for my own liking … But I tolerate the format since that’s the beginning of a series. I just hope the 4 next installments (the author announced 5 books in this series) will be way longer.
If there are not longer, I surely hope that the next stories will still allow both some action and a good character development which will have to include both the past and the future of the MCs => I’m particularly curious about what really happened that Jolie is so sure that no one is safe around her & I really want to see their relationship evolve, hopefully, toward a HEA…
➖ The "Cons" : ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Nothing to declare from my POV.
This quick read is a very enjoyable, interesting and intriguing one. I was totally hooked onto this story! A really nice way to begin the year. I’d love to say a lot of things but, it’d give everything away and that’s something I refuse to do … You’ll have to read the book.
Personal note : While reading, I didn’t have any trouble picturing everything in my mind’s eye so, let see how the series evoles. But if it stays on this path (so, with more backstory about each MC, more action build-up to move the story along, more and more info about the unknown enemy, etc), it could become the basis for a great scenario for a TV series or a movie.
Stay tuned guys and gals !!! ‘cause
Know It In The Dark (All These Gifts Series – Book #2) is already available for pre-order and should be released one the 12th July 2022 …If I had to make a very short and quite different version of my review, it’d be something like this :
- Did I enjoy this book? => Yes, quite a lot.
- Did I find the characters believable? => Yes
- Is this book now included in my "must be re-read"-list? => Yes (but when the whole series will be out, otherwise the waiting is too frustrating…)
- Will I purchase the paperback? => Yes, someday, when the series will be complete.
- Would I read another book by this author? => Yes
- Would I recommend this book => Yes, especially to (F/F) sci-ci fans
🏳️🌈👩❤️👩📚⚢📓🔥📒🛸⭐️☄🕶️🔮👩❤️💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
Read
November 7, 2023
Trigger & Content Warnings
Murder
Gun violence
Physical assault
Kidnapping & attempted kidnapping
Building fire
Police & military violence
Car accident, off-page
Homelessness
Murder
Gun violence
Physical assault
Kidnapping & attempted kidnapping
Building fire
Police & military violence
Car accident, off-page
Homelessness
September 11, 2022
Fun X-Men-adjacent concept, good characterizations. Short and sweet! I look forward to reading the next in the series.
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