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Cupid's Arrow
When her utopian moon base is targeted by Earth’s authoritarian powers, can she stand in the face of tyranny to prove love is stronger than hate? Biologist Pavani Nampeyo is devastated to lose her soulmate. But with the world military preparing to raid their lunar science colony, the broken-hearted specialist makes the agonizing decision to stay behind while the love of her life escapes to another solar system. And when the brutal invaders fail to find the missing colonists, Pavani’s protective instincts steer her in the path of a violent assault. Bruised but undaunted, she and her team attempt to drive out the troops by broadcasting video of the illegal occupation across the planet. But with the threat of reprisal looming, Pavani’s only hope of reconnecting with her true love might lie with the colony’s all-powerful artificial intelligence… Can Pavani outwit a formidable force before all her dreams turn to cosmic dust? Cupid's Arrow is the second book in the captivating Shambhala Saga LGBTQ+ science fiction series. If you like character-driven stories, passionate beliefs, and unique takes on the genre, then you’ll adore Susan English’s visionary tale. Buy Cupid’s Arrow to transform the future today!
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2022
About the author
Susan English
6 books12 followersSusan English is an award-winning author, a born adventurer, and a world traveler with an insatiable intellectual curiosity. She holds a master’s degree in physics, once lived on a sailboat in the San Francisco bay, was a Peace Corps volunteer in Namibia, and spent five years on the Big Island of Hawaii, where she owned an off-grid, completely self-sufficient farm in the jungle. Now she is happy to be living with her partner in beautiful Medellin, Colombia, the city of eternal spring.
Biografía
Susan English es una autora galardonada, aventurera nata, una trotamundos con una curiosidad intelectual insaciable. Tiene una maestría en física, una vez vivió en un velero en la bahía de San Francisco, fue voluntaria del Cuerpo de Paz en Namibia, y vivió durante cinco años en la Isla Grande de Hawái, donde poseía una granja autosostenible en la selva. Ahora, está feliz de vivir con su pareja en Medellín, Colombia, la ciudad de la eterna primavera.
Biografía
Susan English es una autora galardonada, aventurera nata, una trotamundos con una curiosidad intelectual insaciable. Tiene una maestría en física, una vez vivió en un velero en la bahía de San Francisco, fue voluntaria del Cuerpo de Paz en Namibia, y vivió durante cinco años en la Isla Grande de Hawái, donde poseía una granja autosostenible en la selva. Ahora, está feliz de vivir con su pareja en Medellín, Colombia, la ciudad de la eterna primavera.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 27, 2022
If you've read my review of the first book in the Shambhala series, you'll know how much I enjoyed it, so I was very excited to read this new installment. It wasn't what I was expecting, but it didn't disappoint. My guess was that it would tell the further adventures of Calli and the rest of the Shambhala crew, who ventured into the unknown with an experimental warp drive at the end of Callisto 2.0, but instead it was about their colleagues who stayed behind on the Foundation's lunar colony. Calli herself doesn't appear, but the story is narrated by her love interest Pavani, so her presence looms over it.
The plot begins immediately after Shambhala leaves as the lunar colony prepares for the arrival of a military force from the World Government. The general belief is that the Foundation is a terrorist organization and the World Government is determined to arrest its leaders, who were aboard Shambhala. Soldiers search the colony repeatedly for clues about where they are and tensions rise. The situation reaches a head when their general assaults the leader of the colony. The incident is caught on camera and public opinion starts to shift, so the military are forced to withdraw. The women on the colony then get back to some semblance of their normal lives, inviting an ex-soldier called Fatima, who has left the military because of her general's actions, to join them. Pavani herself is working on resurrecting two extinct species of animal - the quokka and the pika (both are totally cute by the way - I looked them up). Others meanwhile are building a new warp drive, which gets Pavani to thinking that against all the odds maybe there is a chance she can be reunited with her lost Calli. Do things work out for these lovers amongst the stars? You'll have to read the book to find out. Trust me, it'll be heaps more fun than if I just told you.
Like Callisto 2.0, this book made me wish I had a better head for science, so if an organization like the Foundation ever did appear, I'd have a chance of scoring a job with them. The lunar colony sounds like an awesome place to live, full of women who are passionate about their jobs and always supportive of each other, and I loved reading about it. I also enjoyed reading about the technology. Most of this seems to be built on the science of today so felt very believable. Some of the finer details went a bit over my head, but the author is very good at making things easy to understand. The discussions about the resurrection of extinct animals were especially interesting. It's wonderful to think that in the not too distant future this is likely to become a reality.
I thought the story had a good mix of action, romance and drama, and there is plenty to enjoy for LGBTQ readers. There are funny moments, like the stalling of the soldiers when they first arrive on the moon, and very poignant moments, like when Pavani visits Calli's parents and they talk about their estrangement from her. The characters and their interactions felt very real and Fatima was a nice addition. The world building was strong as well. The author has a great eye for detail, which really brings things to life.
There were a couple of things I wasn't quite sure about, though, which I guess I should mention. Firstly I wasn't convinced that Pavani, who isn't a trained pilot, would be given permission to fly off into the unknown unaccompanied in a one of a kind, super expensive spacecraft, no matter how close-knit the community of women on the lunar colony are. Secondly, the introduction to the non-binary character Jesse felt a little bit forced. Instead of the big information dump conversation about gender fluidity beforehand, it might have been better to let us learn about the character for ourselves by showing us more of them going about their life and interacting with others. These were very minor niggles, though. Overall, I think Cupid's Arrow is a stellar book which I would totally recommend. I just hope we won't have to wait too long for the next one.
The plot begins immediately after Shambhala leaves as the lunar colony prepares for the arrival of a military force from the World Government. The general belief is that the Foundation is a terrorist organization and the World Government is determined to arrest its leaders, who were aboard Shambhala. Soldiers search the colony repeatedly for clues about where they are and tensions rise. The situation reaches a head when their general assaults the leader of the colony. The incident is caught on camera and public opinion starts to shift, so the military are forced to withdraw. The women on the colony then get back to some semblance of their normal lives, inviting an ex-soldier called Fatima, who has left the military because of her general's actions, to join them. Pavani herself is working on resurrecting two extinct species of animal - the quokka and the pika (both are totally cute by the way - I looked them up). Others meanwhile are building a new warp drive, which gets Pavani to thinking that against all the odds maybe there is a chance she can be reunited with her lost Calli. Do things work out for these lovers amongst the stars? You'll have to read the book to find out. Trust me, it'll be heaps more fun than if I just told you.
Like Callisto 2.0, this book made me wish I had a better head for science, so if an organization like the Foundation ever did appear, I'd have a chance of scoring a job with them. The lunar colony sounds like an awesome place to live, full of women who are passionate about their jobs and always supportive of each other, and I loved reading about it. I also enjoyed reading about the technology. Most of this seems to be built on the science of today so felt very believable. Some of the finer details went a bit over my head, but the author is very good at making things easy to understand. The discussions about the resurrection of extinct animals were especially interesting. It's wonderful to think that in the not too distant future this is likely to become a reality.
I thought the story had a good mix of action, romance and drama, and there is plenty to enjoy for LGBTQ readers. There are funny moments, like the stalling of the soldiers when they first arrive on the moon, and very poignant moments, like when Pavani visits Calli's parents and they talk about their estrangement from her. The characters and their interactions felt very real and Fatima was a nice addition. The world building was strong as well. The author has a great eye for detail, which really brings things to life.
There were a couple of things I wasn't quite sure about, though, which I guess I should mention. Firstly I wasn't convinced that Pavani, who isn't a trained pilot, would be given permission to fly off into the unknown unaccompanied in a one of a kind, super expensive spacecraft, no matter how close-knit the community of women on the lunar colony are. Secondly, the introduction to the non-binary character Jesse felt a little bit forced. Instead of the big information dump conversation about gender fluidity beforehand, it might have been better to let us learn about the character for ourselves by showing us more of them going about their life and interacting with others. These were very minor niggles, though. Overall, I think Cupid's Arrow is a stellar book which I would totally recommend. I just hope we won't have to wait too long for the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2023
I received an advance reader copy of Cupid's Arrow for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
When a book builds towards a cliffhanger that increases its world’s scope monumentally, you would usually assume the second book will carry that scope forward. My assumption, however, was incorrect. Instead of disappointment, this book filled me with delight.
That isn't to say Cupid’s Arrow doesn’t continue the story, nor is it to say the book doesn’t operate on a broader canvas. It does both, and it does both well. Much like Callisto 2.0, this book places its characters at the forefront of the story, with its plot being a secondary concern. Given the events that brought the first book to a close, it is perhaps inevitable that this sequel would have a deeper plot and provide further glimpses of the story being told throughout the series. But rather than bombast and over-the-top set pieces, it instead presents as a quiet, intimate tale.
Following the events covered in Callisto 2.0, Calli and much of the Shambhala Space Station’s crew are missing, somewhere in the vastness of space. Instead of telling that story, the focus shifts to Pavani, who shares a close, personal connection with Calli. At its core, the story is about Pavani dealing with the loss of Calli, not knowing where she is, or even if she's alive. While wrestling with the unknown, Pavani must deal with the fallout of the previous book’s major twist. As she's drawn into a world of intrigue and corporate espionage, it’s an entertaining plot with more connective tissue than the first book.
With more plot to get through (and less space) than its predecessor, it still moves at a similar pace, drawing the story out gradually. While I appreciate Callisto 2.0’s pacing, with more plot, this book's flow works better than it did there. It diverges from the story at various points, presenting a slice of life viewpoint of the lives of the characters working from the moon.
The novel also conveys similar themes to its predecessor. The major theme is about togetherness. It's once again a piece of feminist literature with strong LGBTQI+ themes. It also questions the prospect of an all-female workplace that the first book championed. Religion is once again present in the book, but doesn’t feature as heavily. It also discusses love, and how this relates to monogamy versus polyamory. The themes, often presented via conversations, sometimes interrupt the book's flow, but I was always keen to keep reading.
The book is told via letters Pavani has written for Calli. While this achieves a similar result to the first book's first person POV, the author has balanced the emotion. The writing is clear and the prose’s style is engaging. The dialogue doesn’t fare as well, with some conversations feeling stilted. With that said, overall, it improves upon the original story.
The book is populated by entertaining characters. Some characters are more clearly defined and have more depth than any of those in the first book, and seeing their journey is fun. Pavani is is generally well written, but her character is less entertaining than Calli. While I can empathise with the character, there isn’t as much to relate to.
As the second book in a series, Cupid’s Arrow doesn’t entirely stand on its own, particularly following the previous book’s cliffhanger. If you opt to read this before the first book, it does an admirable job of quickly catching the reader up. Despite it being part of a series that continues from entry to entry, it feels like a complete experience.
The book is an admirable follow-up to Callisto 2.0. Some of the dialogue doesn’t ring true, and the asides have a tendency of interfering with the book’s flow. Despite those caveats, it remains an entertaining novel.
My full review is available on my website. To read it, and a host of other reviews (including the rest of the Shambhala Saga, click here.
When a book builds towards a cliffhanger that increases its world’s scope monumentally, you would usually assume the second book will carry that scope forward. My assumption, however, was incorrect. Instead of disappointment, this book filled me with delight.
That isn't to say Cupid’s Arrow doesn’t continue the story, nor is it to say the book doesn’t operate on a broader canvas. It does both, and it does both well. Much like Callisto 2.0, this book places its characters at the forefront of the story, with its plot being a secondary concern. Given the events that brought the first book to a close, it is perhaps inevitable that this sequel would have a deeper plot and provide further glimpses of the story being told throughout the series. But rather than bombast and over-the-top set pieces, it instead presents as a quiet, intimate tale.
Following the events covered in Callisto 2.0, Calli and much of the Shambhala Space Station’s crew are missing, somewhere in the vastness of space. Instead of telling that story, the focus shifts to Pavani, who shares a close, personal connection with Calli. At its core, the story is about Pavani dealing with the loss of Calli, not knowing where she is, or even if she's alive. While wrestling with the unknown, Pavani must deal with the fallout of the previous book’s major twist. As she's drawn into a world of intrigue and corporate espionage, it’s an entertaining plot with more connective tissue than the first book.
With more plot to get through (and less space) than its predecessor, it still moves at a similar pace, drawing the story out gradually. While I appreciate Callisto 2.0’s pacing, with more plot, this book's flow works better than it did there. It diverges from the story at various points, presenting a slice of life viewpoint of the lives of the characters working from the moon.
The novel also conveys similar themes to its predecessor. The major theme is about togetherness. It's once again a piece of feminist literature with strong LGBTQI+ themes. It also questions the prospect of an all-female workplace that the first book championed. Religion is once again present in the book, but doesn’t feature as heavily. It also discusses love, and how this relates to monogamy versus polyamory. The themes, often presented via conversations, sometimes interrupt the book's flow, but I was always keen to keep reading.
The book is told via letters Pavani has written for Calli. While this achieves a similar result to the first book's first person POV, the author has balanced the emotion. The writing is clear and the prose’s style is engaging. The dialogue doesn’t fare as well, with some conversations feeling stilted. With that said, overall, it improves upon the original story.
The book is populated by entertaining characters. Some characters are more clearly defined and have more depth than any of those in the first book, and seeing their journey is fun. Pavani is is generally well written, but her character is less entertaining than Calli. While I can empathise with the character, there isn’t as much to relate to.
As the second book in a series, Cupid’s Arrow doesn’t entirely stand on its own, particularly following the previous book’s cliffhanger. If you opt to read this before the first book, it does an admirable job of quickly catching the reader up. Despite it being part of a series that continues from entry to entry, it feels like a complete experience.
The book is an admirable follow-up to Callisto 2.0. Some of the dialogue doesn’t ring true, and the asides have a tendency of interfering with the book’s flow. Despite those caveats, it remains an entertaining novel.
My full review is available on my website. To read it, and a host of other reviews (including the rest of the Shambhala Saga, click here.
February 1, 2022
This is the second book in the Shambhala Saga. It picks up where 'Callisto 2.0' ends. The women of Arcadia are in shock, grieving the loss of their friends and fellow co-workers and getting ready for the military to arrive.
While Callisto left with many others on the Shambhala space station, biologist Pavani Namepeyo stayed behind. This book is Pavani's daily journal to Callisto, detailing the day-to-day activities and drama happening on Arcadia after they left.
Like the previous book there's a significant amount of ideology repeatedly pushed at the reader that doesn't seem to add value to the story. There are a lot of interesting moments in between the author dumping information rather than letting us see through the story what she's trying to say.
I wanted to like this story but by the end I was left asking myself what was the point? Almost nothing moved forward in this second book and there were definitely moments that broke suspension of belief, pulling me out of the story. My hope is that this is a case of middle book syndrome and the next book will be better.
For more of my reviews follow my blog at https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/
If you prefer to listen to my reviews, you can find my reviews on Spotify here: https://anchor.fm/wyldheart-reads
While Callisto left with many others on the Shambhala space station, biologist Pavani Namepeyo stayed behind. This book is Pavani's daily journal to Callisto, detailing the day-to-day activities and drama happening on Arcadia after they left.
Like the previous book there's a significant amount of ideology repeatedly pushed at the reader that doesn't seem to add value to the story. There are a lot of interesting moments in between the author dumping information rather than letting us see through the story what she's trying to say.
I wanted to like this story but by the end I was left asking myself what was the point? Almost nothing moved forward in this second book and there were definitely moments that broke suspension of belief, pulling me out of the story. My hope is that this is a case of middle book syndrome and the next book will be better.
For more of my reviews follow my blog at https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/
If you prefer to listen to my reviews, you can find my reviews on Spotify here: https://anchor.fm/wyldheart-reads
June 8, 2023
Our heroine stayed behind to face the incoming invasion and to protect her friends. That is not going to be an easy task, so our heroine is going to have her hands full.
This is book two of the series. It does pretty well as a standalone, with the essential bits covered early on. That being said, I think you will get a more complete experience if you read the books in order.
This is a science fiction story set on a space station. The story is well written and generally easy to read, but it has a tendency to get a bit preachy now and then, slowing the story down. The characters are well done and certainly provide the backbone of the story. There is a bit of action, a bit of tension and a bit of romance all wrapped in a solid plot. Overall, it was an enjoyable story and I look forward to seeing where it goes next. Hopefully at a slightly faster pace.
Recommended.
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems for review purposes.
This is book two of the series. It does pretty well as a standalone, with the essential bits covered early on. That being said, I think you will get a more complete experience if you read the books in order.
This is a science fiction story set on a space station. The story is well written and generally easy to read, but it has a tendency to get a bit preachy now and then, slowing the story down. The characters are well done and certainly provide the backbone of the story. There is a bit of action, a bit of tension and a bit of romance all wrapped in a solid plot. Overall, it was an enjoyable story and I look forward to seeing where it goes next. Hopefully at a slightly faster pace.
Recommended.
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems for review purposes.
June 9, 2023
We are proud to announce that CUPID'S ARROW (Shambhala Saga #2) by Susan English has been honored with the B.R.A.G.Medallion (Book Readers Appreciation Group). It now joins the very select award-winning, reader-recommended books at indieBRAG.
October 30, 2024
Incredible sci-fi
I thoroughly enjoyed this second part of this sci-fi series. I got halfway through and purchased the next two books of the series.
Incredible writing and character development.
I thoroughly enjoyed this second part of this sci-fi series. I got halfway through and purchased the next two books of the series.
Incredible writing and character development.
February 18, 2022
Loved it.
I'm sure some people might find this book a little preachy but I say, preach it sister! I can't wait till the next one comes out.
I'm sure some people might find this book a little preachy but I say, preach it sister! I can't wait till the next one comes out.
March 15, 2022
Don’t miss a series
This book is adventure romance fantasy it is a really good book try not to miss the series you will enjoy it.
This book is adventure romance fantasy it is a really good book try not to miss the series you will enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews