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A Bright Celestial Sea
Pryor Oro came to the Olympus to find a missing Imperial, not fall for one.
On the space station Olympus, a disappearance and a theft have captured the attention of the Intergalactic Police Force. Assigned to the case, Pryor heads to the World Ship in order to search for a missing prince. While there, he’s forced to work with the Emperor, Wystan Aurelius, who seems to never let Pryor out of his sight. Confused over why a man he’s never met is acting so possessive, Pryor’s urgency to solve the case and get away from Olympus and its ruler intensifies, even as the unruly Emperor starts to grow on him.
Wystan Aurelius finds life on a World Ship dull, until Detective Pryor steps onto his ship, and into his territory.
More concerned with discovering who has stolen missing medical technology, Wystan couldn’t care less about a vanished prince from another planet. At least, not until he sees how invested in the case Pryor is, and realizes how upset he gets when he doesn’t have the Detective’s full attention turned his way, and his way only. Wystan finds himself at a crossroads. Force Pryor to accept him by telling the truth? Or win him over the old-fashioned way?
Wystan’s secrets could unravel everything, but he isn’t the only one hiding things. Pryor’s privy to some classified information could end up turning the entire galaxy for a loop. Together, the two must navigate through their emotions and the seedy underside of Olympus to solve the case before it’s too late, and life, as they both know it, is altered forever.
This book is a stand-alone featuring one flirty, slightly domineering Emperor and a surly detective trying to keep himself together. It is a slow burn with depictions of violence (though mild) and explicit sexual content not suitable for younger readers. Trigger mention of possible self-harm not shown on page or done, and mention of a toxic homelife. HEA guarantee! Originally available on Kindle Vella.
On the space station Olympus, a disappearance and a theft have captured the attention of the Intergalactic Police Force. Assigned to the case, Pryor heads to the World Ship in order to search for a missing prince. While there, he’s forced to work with the Emperor, Wystan Aurelius, who seems to never let Pryor out of his sight. Confused over why a man he’s never met is acting so possessive, Pryor’s urgency to solve the case and get away from Olympus and its ruler intensifies, even as the unruly Emperor starts to grow on him.
Wystan Aurelius finds life on a World Ship dull, until Detective Pryor steps onto his ship, and into his territory.
More concerned with discovering who has stolen missing medical technology, Wystan couldn’t care less about a vanished prince from another planet. At least, not until he sees how invested in the case Pryor is, and realizes how upset he gets when he doesn’t have the Detective’s full attention turned his way, and his way only. Wystan finds himself at a crossroads. Force Pryor to accept him by telling the truth? Or win him over the old-fashioned way?
Wystan’s secrets could unravel everything, but he isn’t the only one hiding things. Pryor’s privy to some classified information could end up turning the entire galaxy for a loop. Together, the two must navigate through their emotions and the seedy underside of Olympus to solve the case before it’s too late, and life, as they both know it, is altered forever.
This book is a stand-alone featuring one flirty, slightly domineering Emperor and a surly detective trying to keep himself together. It is a slow burn with depictions of violence (though mild) and explicit sexual content not suitable for younger readers. Trigger mention of possible self-harm not shown on page or done, and mention of a toxic homelife. HEA guarantee! Originally available on Kindle Vella.
416 pages, Paperback
Published June 18, 2022
107 people are currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
Chani Lynn Feener
67 books1,500 followersLibrarians, please don't add books. I stay up to date and add them myself and have ended up with many multiple copies because others add them later. Thank you!
Chani majored in Creative Writing at Johnson State College in Vermont. To pay her bills, she has worked many odd jobs, including, but not limited to, telemarketing, order picking in a warehouse, and filling ink cartridges. When she isn’t writing, she’s binging TV shows, drawing, or frequenting zoos/aquariums. She is the author of the Xenith trilogy, and the teen paranormal series, The Underworld Saga, originally written under the penname Tempest C. Avery. She currently resides in Connecticut.
Have a question? Check her blog! https://chanilynnfeener.wixsite.com/a...
Find her on Instagram @TempestChani
Chani majored in Creative Writing at Johnson State College in Vermont. To pay her bills, she has worked many odd jobs, including, but not limited to, telemarketing, order picking in a warehouse, and filling ink cartridges. When she isn’t writing, she’s binging TV shows, drawing, or frequenting zoos/aquariums. She is the author of the Xenith trilogy, and the teen paranormal series, The Underworld Saga, originally written under the penname Tempest C. Avery. She currently resides in Connecticut.
Have a question? Check her blog! https://chanilynnfeener.wixsite.com/a...
Find her on Instagram @TempestChani
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
August 2, 2024
re-read 08/2024
This was a comfort read. Work has weakened my brain so much that this book was the best therapy.
re-read 08/2023
„I did it again“ 😳🤣
First reading:
I'm running out of superlatives for Chani's books, so ... I love this story and I love this universe that Chani has created.
So the story has similarities with A Sea of Endless Light but at the same time is so very different. The characters are also ambivalent and carry great burdens and secrets, but are also so very different.
It was a treat to see Pryor and Wystan find each other, albeit so maddeningly hesitant.
He could smell him now too, confined in this tight space, a mixture of sandalwood and something else, something sharp and sweet that Pryor couldn’t place.
It smelled good. He hated it. -😏 just try honey, you can't get rid of him anyway
Wystan is very possessive and won't let go until he has him in his arms. Completely and utterly wonderful.
He wanted Pryor, and not just in his bed. He wanted all of him, mind, body, and soul. 😍😍😍
The case the two are on is very interesting and prepares a good amount of action for the plot as well as the political confusion. There is relatively little sex here again, but when these two share the bed, wow is it steamy.
“You feel so good, Detective. I’m trying not to come from the squeeze of you and end this thing too quickly. Give me a minute.” 😳😳😳
This was a comfort read. Work has weakened my brain so much that this book was the best therapy.
re-read 08/2023
„I did it again“ 😳🤣
First reading:
I'm running out of superlatives for Chani's books, so ... I love this story and I love this universe that Chani has created.
So the story has similarities with A Sea of Endless Light but at the same time is so very different. The characters are also ambivalent and carry great burdens and secrets, but are also so very different.
It was a treat to see Pryor and Wystan find each other, albeit so maddeningly hesitant.
He could smell him now too, confined in this tight space, a mixture of sandalwood and something else, something sharp and sweet that Pryor couldn’t place.
It smelled good. He hated it. -😏 just try honey, you can't get rid of him anyway
Wystan is very possessive and won't let go until he has him in his arms. Completely and utterly wonderful.
He wanted Pryor, and not just in his bed. He wanted all of him, mind, body, and soul. 😍😍😍
The case the two are on is very interesting and prepares a good amount of action for the plot as well as the political confusion. There is relatively little sex here again, but when these two share the bed, wow is it steamy.
“You feel so good, Detective. I’m trying not to come from the squeeze of you and end this thing too quickly. Give me a minute.” 😳😳😳
August 15, 2023
Celestial is softer, sweeter and more plot focused than the other books in this universe but just as imaginative and non-traditionally romantic.
I am a sucker for Chani’s brand of fictional possessive men.
Keyword: fictional
I am a sucker for Chani’s brand of fictional possessive men.
Keyword: fictional
November 20, 2024
Really enjoyed the crime solving plot to this book! I did not figure out who was behind it at all, didn't even really have any suspicions either which I loved because normally I figure it out really quickly and then I'm just waiting for the characters to catch up 😂😂
Again, this was a lot sweeter of a relationship than I'm used to from this author, but it fit the characters really well. I do still prefer the darker books and characters, but this was definitely more about the plot than the romance.
It was also nice to learn more about Tiberians - I started this author's books with the Devil's of Vitality series, so I'm pretty much reading them all backwards! But it was nice to have more background about where Rin and Sila Varun are from and how their species behaves.
Again, this was a lot sweeter of a relationship than I'm used to from this author, but it fit the characters really well. I do still prefer the darker books and characters, but this was definitely more about the plot than the romance.
It was also nice to learn more about Tiberians - I started this author's books with the Devil's of Vitality series, so I'm pretty much reading them all backwards! But it was nice to have more background about where Rin and Sila Varun are from and how their species behaves.
February 6, 2024
i just kicked my slump’s ass by finishing this so i’m patting myself on the back rn even if it took me a few starts and stops…..my first non dark romance by chani, so even tho ik it’s not dark, it was still shocking to see the mmcs being so normal and nice lmfaoooo💀💀 when wystan went feral for his man talking bout “Take heed, soldier, that is my royal consort in there”, i screamed and swooned like u wouldn’t believe….love me a bold claim, esp when said claimant is talking outta their ass🤭🤣🤣 as usual, chani’s writing is immersive and creative, i always look forward to seeing what characters she comes up with.
July 30, 2024
Audio: 4.5 stars, Nick Mondelli, is a new to me narrator, and I thought he did a great job!
Book:3.5-4 stars
What a book. This was confusing a bit at first since you were just thrust in to action and a new world right away, but once you get in to the groove and know all the players it is hard to put down.
I loved Pryor and Wystan’s story! They were not really enemies, so I wouldn’t classify this as an enemies to lovers, but definitely got off on the wrong foot! I also found out some of the secrets early on, but overall the mystery kept me on my toes and I wanted to see how the characters found out the answers.
Overall I hope that Chani Lynn Feener puts out more audiobooks because I enjoyed this story a lot more than I anticipated!
Book:3.5-4 stars
What a book. This was confusing a bit at first since you were just thrust in to action and a new world right away, but once you get in to the groove and know all the players it is hard to put down.
I loved Pryor and Wystan’s story! They were not really enemies, so I wouldn’t classify this as an enemies to lovers, but definitely got off on the wrong foot! I also found out some of the secrets early on, but overall the mystery kept me on my toes and I wanted to see how the characters found out the answers.
Overall I hope that Chani Lynn Feener puts out more audiobooks because I enjoyed this story a lot more than I anticipated!
August 19, 2024
A book that doesn’t know if it’s a soap opera, a mystery or some kind of weird alternate historical universe.
I have given this one a chance because some of my dearest goodreads friends love it, but I just can’t get into it.
It’s supposed to take place in space, on some kind of planet/spaceship thing. The rulers are called emperors, and there seem to be many different “kingdoms” around the universe, each with an emperor/an empress. All humans, but with slightly different customs.
They don’t even look differently from each other, and they even smell like sandalwood or peach or whiskey. They travel around using trains, and the places are have names originating from Greek mythology (Hades, Olympus and the like).
I know I’m nitpicking, but these things kept me from fully immersing myself in the story, so I decided to call it quits, even though the audiobook is well narrated. This is just lazy, unimaginative writing for me.
Dnf at 55%.
I have given this one a chance because some of my dearest goodreads friends love it, but I just can’t get into it.
It’s supposed to take place in space, on some kind of planet/spaceship thing. The rulers are called emperors, and there seem to be many different “kingdoms” around the universe, each with an emperor/an empress. All humans, but with slightly different customs.
They don’t even look differently from each other, and they even smell like sandalwood or peach or whiskey. They travel around using trains, and the places are have names originating from Greek mythology (Hades, Olympus and the like).
I know I’m nitpicking, but these things kept me from fully immersing myself in the story, so I decided to call it quits, even though the audiobook is well narrated. This is just lazy, unimaginative writing for me.
Dnf at 55%.
July 4, 2022
Gays in space. I repeat, GAYS IN SPACE.
I'm not gonna lie - I chose this book for two reasons: the cover and because it was a sci-fi m/m romance. I was expecting a relatively simple space-y romance, but this book was a gift that just kept on giving. There were so many more layers to the plot than I expected, and it was such a lovely surprise!
For one, there's a heavier dose of mystery than I thought there would be. Like yeah, duh, you would expect a certain level of mystery in a book where one of the MCs is quite literally a detective solving a crime, but I assumed that would be more of a background to the main romance plot. Instead, the mystery and romance aspects were both at the forefront of the narrative, and having it written that way kept me literally at the edge of my seat - I couldn't put it down!
Granted, it wasn't so much a mystery to the audience as it was to the characters - the plot's trajectory was fairly predictable for the reader but, commendably, not so much so that it made the story less engaging. It was actually kind of fun to watch the characters discover the puzzle pieces that you already assembled a couple of chapters ago.
Our MCs, Pryor and Wystan, were another little surprise! They had a surprising level of depth to their characters that I wasn't expecting - especially Pryor! I actually would have appreciated more background for Wystan because of how heavily Pryor's history is covered, but it makes sense for the plot, so that's not a significant issue for me. Their real shining moments are their interactions with each other. Detective Pryor is all business, and Emperor Wystan is a bold, shameless flirt, which is the best combination! The angst, the pining!
For me, the best part of their budding romance was the focus on touch. Physical touch is like my #1 love language, and this book is all about the little touches that make your heart race and give you butterflies, and I looooove it! Don't worry, though; the small touches most definitely evolve to much more...intentional ones. *wink wink*
Another unexpected layer, you ask? The worldbuilding! I loved the creativity in the different species and worlds and how they all interact with one another. The best part is how those physical/societal differences play a role in the story. I'm not sure that I would call it a traditional space opera? I usually attribute the genre as having stories on a more grand scale, but there are definitely elements of it here, so I might call it a zoomed-in space opera, if that makes sense.
Overall, this was a fun and engaging read! Aside from periodic grammatical/wording errors, I really don't have any major criticisms. I'll definitely be looking into other works by this author!
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Thank you, BookSirens, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I'm not gonna lie - I chose this book for two reasons: the cover and because it was a sci-fi m/m romance. I was expecting a relatively simple space-y romance, but this book was a gift that just kept on giving. There were so many more layers to the plot than I expected, and it was such a lovely surprise!
For one, there's a heavier dose of mystery than I thought there would be. Like yeah, duh, you would expect a certain level of mystery in a book where one of the MCs is quite literally a detective solving a crime, but I assumed that would be more of a background to the main romance plot. Instead, the mystery and romance aspects were both at the forefront of the narrative, and having it written that way kept me literally at the edge of my seat - I couldn't put it down!
Granted, it wasn't so much a mystery to the audience as it was to the characters - the plot's trajectory was fairly predictable for the reader but, commendably, not so much so that it made the story less engaging. It was actually kind of fun to watch the characters discover the puzzle pieces that you already assembled a couple of chapters ago.
Our MCs, Pryor and Wystan, were another little surprise! They had a surprising level of depth to their characters that I wasn't expecting - especially Pryor! I actually would have appreciated more background for Wystan because of how heavily Pryor's history is covered, but it makes sense for the plot, so that's not a significant issue for me. Their real shining moments are their interactions with each other. Detective Pryor is all business, and Emperor Wystan is a bold, shameless flirt, which is the best combination! The angst, the pining!
For me, the best part of their budding romance was the focus on touch. Physical touch is like my #1 love language, and this book is all about the little touches that make your heart race and give you butterflies, and I looooove it! Don't worry, though; the small touches most definitely evolve to much more...intentional ones. *wink wink*
Another unexpected layer, you ask? The worldbuilding! I loved the creativity in the different species and worlds and how they all interact with one another. The best part is how those physical/societal differences play a role in the story. I'm not sure that I would call it a traditional space opera? I usually attribute the genre as having stories on a more grand scale, but there are definitely elements of it here, so I might call it a zoomed-in space opera, if that makes sense.
Overall, this was a fun and engaging read! Aside from periodic grammatical/wording errors, I really don't have any major criticisms. I'll definitely be looking into other works by this author!
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Thank you, BookSirens, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 8, 2022
I wish I didn't feel so conflicted about this book, because there was so much about it that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The sci-fi and mystery parts of the story were both compelling and well crafted, as was the complex and intriguing worldbuilding. Where I had trouble connecting with the story was, unfortunately, the romance. Wystan sent up so many red flags for me right from the start that I just wasn't feeling it. The relentless hitting on a man who's just trying to do his job is verging on sexual harassment, and then there's all the pushy, possessive stuff, repeatedly violating personal space, not taking no for an answer... I'm deeply allergic to all of these, and maybe that's just me bringing my own issues into things, but it really put me off. (And did I roll my eyes a little at the "monster size" cock? Yep, I sure did.)
The book is also in desperate need of an eagle-eyed proofreader - "poor manors"? "in excruciated pain"? "your welcome"? There are quite a few more were those came from and they do detract from the reading flow quite a bit. These little but persistant errors aside, the writing flows well and shows plenty of skill.
*** I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
The sci-fi and mystery parts of the story were both compelling and well crafted, as was the complex and intriguing worldbuilding. Where I had trouble connecting with the story was, unfortunately, the romance. Wystan sent up so many red flags for me right from the start that I just wasn't feeling it. The relentless hitting on a man who's just trying to do his job is verging on sexual harassment, and then there's all the pushy, possessive stuff, repeatedly violating personal space, not taking no for an answer... I'm deeply allergic to all of these, and maybe that's just me bringing my own issues into things, but it really put me off. (And did I roll my eyes a little at the "monster size" cock? Yep, I sure did.)
The book is also in desperate need of an eagle-eyed proofreader - "poor manors"? "in excruciated pain"? "your welcome"? There are quite a few more were those came from and they do detract from the reading flow quite a bit. These little but persistant errors aside, the writing flows well and shows plenty of skill.
*** I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
March 23, 2024
Tropes: sci-fi romantasy, mystery, secrets
Feels: 3.5/5
Steam*: 2/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: typos, illness, loss of sibling (died as a young teen),
Pryor is 26 and a detective, but a travelling space detective, *jazz hands*. Wystan is 28 and he's a royal, he's emperor of his planet, but because he's a twin they have this weird sharing of the title thing going on we're half the year he rules and the other half his twin sister rules. Wystan's planet used to have a physical planet but it died, and all of his people moved to a massive ship where they live, it's called a world ship and it's like a planet-sized ship.
The plot is that Pryor comes to Wystan's world ship to investigate a royal / Imperial from another planet going missing, his name is Roth Tiberius, and later to investigate some missing/stolin secret technology. They interact during the investigation and from the beginning Wystan flirts with Pryor. And then it escalates and Wystan is glueing himself to Pryor's side. They constantly banter. Everyone else treats Wystan with deference because he's a royal, but Pryor is not impressed by titles. He stands up to him and rolls his eyes at him. As Wystan learns more about him, he becomes more interested, and starts asking him lots of questions and not letting him have any space. Pryor has an illness he's been dealing with throughout his life that presents some conflict.
Eventually their tension erupts into a sexual relationship. All of Wystan's focus is on Pryor, he's possessive of him and insistent on claiming him.
Their pasts and secrets come to light as we move towards the climax of the mystery. I won't spoil things by saying more, cuz I don't like to spoil mysteries.
This was a very enjoyable read. I really enjoyed the plot and mystery of this book. I loved the dynamic between the mmcs. I love a possessive character. And Pryor was delightfully prickly, smart, and it was nice that he really could hold his own up against Wystan. It's a slower burn book, but there us sexual tension simmering from the very beginning, it's a nice build up of the relationship. First kiss and hook up is that 56%. I love the world building that the author does.
The only negative thing I have to say about the book is every single book by this author is pretty much riddled with typos. If it was any other author I would literally give up on the author solely due to how many typos there are in the books. It grates on me and reduces my enjoyment in her books. But on the other hand, I really do love her storytelling, her world building, and the dynamic between her characters. (Though there have been some books that were a bit of a let down in the romance department). The typos are such a shame. Why can't she get someone to catch the typos for her???
Some notable moments:
Sassy! I love that Pryor stands up to Wystan. "“You like helping people?” Wystan watched him closely. “Yes.” “What else?” “I like long walks on the beach and rainy days and telling annoying emperors to shut up,” he drawled."
"“You can be whatever you want,” Wystan told him, “I just want you to be mine. Please.” He sounded desperate at the end, needy, and Pryor felt something inside of him come alive."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 3.5/5
Steam*: 2/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: typos, illness, loss of sibling (died as a young teen),
Pryor is 26 and a detective, but a travelling space detective, *jazz hands*. Wystan is 28 and he's a royal, he's emperor of his planet, but because he's a twin they have this weird sharing of the title thing going on we're half the year he rules and the other half his twin sister rules. Wystan's planet used to have a physical planet but it died, and all of his people moved to a massive ship where they live, it's called a world ship and it's like a planet-sized ship.
The plot is that Pryor comes to Wystan's world ship to investigate a royal / Imperial from another planet going missing, his name is Roth Tiberius, and later to investigate some missing/stolin secret technology. They interact during the investigation and from the beginning Wystan flirts with Pryor. And then it escalates and Wystan is glueing himself to Pryor's side. They constantly banter. Everyone else treats Wystan with deference because he's a royal, but Pryor is not impressed by titles. He stands up to him and rolls his eyes at him. As Wystan learns more about him, he becomes more interested, and starts asking him lots of questions and not letting him have any space. Pryor has an illness he's been dealing with throughout his life that presents some conflict.
Eventually their tension erupts into a sexual relationship. All of Wystan's focus is on Pryor, he's possessive of him and insistent on claiming him.
Their pasts and secrets come to light as we move towards the climax of the mystery. I won't spoil things by saying more, cuz I don't like to spoil mysteries.
This was a very enjoyable read. I really enjoyed the plot and mystery of this book. I loved the dynamic between the mmcs. I love a possessive character. And Pryor was delightfully prickly, smart, and it was nice that he really could hold his own up against Wystan. It's a slower burn book, but there us sexual tension simmering from the very beginning, it's a nice build up of the relationship. First kiss and hook up is that 56%. I love the world building that the author does.
The only negative thing I have to say about the book is every single book by this author is pretty much riddled with typos. If it was any other author I would literally give up on the author solely due to how many typos there are in the books. It grates on me and reduces my enjoyment in her books. But on the other hand, I really do love her storytelling, her world building, and the dynamic between her characters. (Though there have been some books that were a bit of a let down in the romance department). The typos are such a shame. Why can't she get someone to catch the typos for her???
Some notable moments:
Sassy! I love that Pryor stands up to Wystan. "“You like helping people?” Wystan watched him closely. “Yes.” “What else?” “I like long walks on the beach and rainy days and telling annoying emperors to shut up,” he drawled."
"“You can be whatever you want,” Wystan told him, “I just want you to be mine. Please.” He sounded desperate at the end, needy, and Pryor felt something inside of him come alive."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2022
2.5/5 RTC
Not another curing disability story :/
Not another curing disability story :/
February 22, 2023
I enjoyed this story. The world building was not too deep but satisfactory for a standalone. I didn't feel the love between the MCs and their chemistry was a bit forced. It just rubbed me the wrong way, I guess. The writing was fine, so I finished this book feeling mildly entertained. I will not discount the possibility of reading this author's work again.
January 6, 2025
5 stars
I really enjoyed this book by Feener. It's not as dark as the other novels I have read of hers, but it felt that just Gabe the mystery the opportunity to shine through. Character driven, as a lot of her novels tend to be, this was a fantastic read.
I really enjoyed this book by Feener. It's not as dark as the other novels I have read of hers, but it felt that just Gabe the mystery the opportunity to shine through. Character driven, as a lot of her novels tend to be, this was a fantastic read.
September 1, 2023
Surprisingly, not a dark romance set in this universe. I'm slightly shocked haha.
Very enjoyable though ^_^
Very enjoyable though ^_^
September 19, 2022
4.5/5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Bright Celestial Sea. This standalone gay sci-fi romance hit nearly all the right notes for me. Pryor is an intergalactic detective assigned to investigate a missing foreign prince in the World Ship Olympus (a gigantic planet-like spaceship). But his search doesn’t go according to plan from the get-go when the Olympus’ Emperor Wystan involves himself in every aspect of the investigation.
The book started off a bit rough because there wasn’t much set-up and the story just starts going immediately with our two main protagonists meeting that left me confused a bit because their interaction had so many layers already that I did not yet understand. But somewhere around a quarter in when I finally got what was going on, I was completely engrossed. I liked how the book balanced the mystery and the romance, giving the mystery the necessary attention so it doesn’t come off as just there to facilitating the romance. Although I could see the twist in the ending coming around halfway through, it did not deter me from enjoying the journey getting there. I thought it left just the right amount of clues to help the readers figure out the mystery for themselves.
I liked both Pryor and Wystan. Pryor is a man with a secret past that has left him with some trauma that has made him stubborn, aloof and intensely dedicated to his job. Wystan is a man with an agenda who knows what he wants and aggressively goes after it. They butt heads on their initial interaction, but as we learn each of their history, it becomes clear why sparks were flying as well. I enjoyed the will-they-or-won’t-they dynamic between them and the aggressiveness of the pursuit. The explicit spicy scenes were indeed sexy and well done (despite some what I thought to be iffy anatomy and realism). The romance worked for me and I won over.
A Bright Celestial Sea is a sexy sci-fi romance that also delivers an engrossing mystery.
*I received and eARC from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Bright Celestial Sea. This standalone gay sci-fi romance hit nearly all the right notes for me. Pryor is an intergalactic detective assigned to investigate a missing foreign prince in the World Ship Olympus (a gigantic planet-like spaceship). But his search doesn’t go according to plan from the get-go when the Olympus’ Emperor Wystan involves himself in every aspect of the investigation.
The book started off a bit rough because there wasn’t much set-up and the story just starts going immediately with our two main protagonists meeting that left me confused a bit because their interaction had so many layers already that I did not yet understand. But somewhere around a quarter in when I finally got what was going on, I was completely engrossed. I liked how the book balanced the mystery and the romance, giving the mystery the necessary attention so it doesn’t come off as just there to facilitating the romance. Although I could see the twist in the ending coming around halfway through, it did not deter me from enjoying the journey getting there. I thought it left just the right amount of clues to help the readers figure out the mystery for themselves.
I liked both Pryor and Wystan. Pryor is a man with a secret past that has left him with some trauma that has made him stubborn, aloof and intensely dedicated to his job. Wystan is a man with an agenda who knows what he wants and aggressively goes after it. They butt heads on their initial interaction, but as we learn each of their history, it becomes clear why sparks were flying as well. I enjoyed the will-they-or-won’t-they dynamic between them and the aggressiveness of the pursuit. The explicit spicy scenes were indeed sexy and well done (despite some what I thought to be iffy anatomy and realism). The romance worked for me and I won over.
A Bright Celestial Sea is a sexy sci-fi romance that also delivers an engrossing mystery.
*I received and eARC from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2022
“𝑰 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘. 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒓—”
I was first drawn to A Bright Celestial Sea by the cover alone but after reading the synopsis I knew it was going to be for me. I mean who doesn't want to read an intergalactic MM mystery romance? that features a smokin'hot intergalactic detective and Emperor that are forced to work together, resulting in a nice build up of tension, am I right?
However, putting all that greatness aside. A Bright Celestial Sea was a captivating read. A perfect crime/mystery solving read. That kept me engrossed from the very beginning with great character progression and world building.
I was first drawn to A Bright Celestial Sea by the cover alone but after reading the synopsis I knew it was going to be for me. I mean who doesn't want to read an intergalactic MM mystery romance? that features a smokin'hot intergalactic detective and Emperor that are forced to work together, resulting in a nice build up of tension, am I right?
However, putting all that greatness aside. A Bright Celestial Sea was a captivating read. A perfect crime/mystery solving read. That kept me engrossed from the very beginning with great character progression and world building.
August 5, 2022
3.5
Was alright. Needed a little bit of polishing as dialogue and plot points got confusing.
Was alright. Needed a little bit of polishing as dialogue and plot points got confusing.
April 10, 2025
grounding seas and love
This was another interesting story in this universe. I love the world building here.
Pryor was a bit of a prickly character but he had his reasons. The Emperor was a surprise. He knew what he wanted.
This definitely wasn’t as dark as most Chani books are. There’s a sweetness to this one with some dark elements. The crime and violence by some of the villains in this were pretty heinous.
Most of the book Pryor is trying to come to terms with who he really is and discovers love in the process. Very very sweet ❤️❤️
This was another interesting story in this universe. I love the world building here.
Pryor was a bit of a prickly character but he had his reasons. The Emperor was a surprise. He knew what he wanted.
This definitely wasn’t as dark as most Chani books are. There’s a sweetness to this one with some dark elements. The crime and violence by some of the villains in this were pretty heinous.
Most of the book Pryor is trying to come to terms with who he really is and discovers love in the process. Very very sweet ❤️❤️
April 27, 2025
This is not an insult to Chani who I think does toxic erotica so damn well, but I didn't know she had this in her.
I should have been clued in by the lack of trigger warnings at the start of the book, but this had such a great plot, with a romance that grew slowly, maybe dare I say a slow burn? This book highlighted how smart Chani actually is. This isn't just a space opera, Chani sounds like she actually knows a thing or two about science and tech. I barely kept up but didn't want to stop this audiobook for a moment.
The fact there was a plot twist I saw coming completely blinded me to the 2nd plot twist, and the surprise made me love this all the more.
I should have been clued in by the lack of trigger warnings at the start of the book, but this had such a great plot, with a romance that grew slowly, maybe dare I say a slow burn? This book highlighted how smart Chani actually is. This isn't just a space opera, Chani sounds like she actually knows a thing or two about science and tech. I barely kept up but didn't want to stop this audiobook for a moment.
The fact there was a plot twist I saw coming completely blinded me to the 2nd plot twist, and the surprise made me love this all the more.
June 16, 2022
This book has a lot to offer: a fascinating premise that includes some captivating world building: space faring empires, distinct species and cultures that come into sharper focus over the course of the story. There’s very little “info dumping” here, and that makes for a more seamless awareness of the solidly-developed context, which I appreciated. The mystery is convoluted and interesting and pretty easy to pick up on if you’re paying attention, which I suspect is the point: so much of this story is focused on Pryor– his feelings, reactions, and understandings, and there are definitely moments where readers will see things he, for a variety of reasons, can’t or won’t pick up on. The relationship dynamic is… also interesting. I’m not sure if it’s enemies-to-lovers (at least, not for both of them) or how I’d describe the chemistry Pryor and Wystan share, but it’s definitely there. I mostly liked Wystan, although there were definitely times when he was less “protective” and more “overbearing and controlling,” and I think one of the things I most liked about Pryor was his refusal to be shoehorned into acting like Wystan’s damsel-in-distress. Many of the supporting characters are nuanced and compelling– I’d read Fir’s book in a second, for example, and I’m seriously curious about Wystan’s sister. 4.5 stars out of 5.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
May 4, 2023
Wow, that fell super flat for me after how much I enjoyed Between the Devil and the Sea. Set in the same galaxy-spanning setting, we again interact here with the interplanetary police force and meet Pryor Oro, which- okay, is a cool name. He is a detective on the force who is sent to investigate a missing royal on a planet-like spaceship. He meets the Emperor of said ship - Wystan (less cool name) and for some as yet unclear reason this dude is suuuper into him. Their 'romance' plays out against the backdrop of this high-stakes investigation.
Regarding the romance, and possibly the thing I disliked most about this book, is how entirely one-sided it is. Pryor only ever has lukewarm feelings about the emperor, while the emperor relentlessly pursues him. It felt awkward to me. The sex scenes lacked chemistry, and I got bored with them because of this.
The mystery was convoluted and improbable, and there's a really dumb plot twist that made very little sense to me. It gave me early-2000's thriller movie vibes. There are a lot of secrets that are revealed in order to drive the plot.
I think the world-building was pretty interesting. The space politics was cool.
I probably could have forgiven the mystery aspect if the romance had been better, but as it was, it just kind of made me uncomfortable.
Regarding the romance, and possibly the thing I disliked most about this book, is how entirely one-sided it is. Pryor only ever has lukewarm feelings about the emperor, while the emperor relentlessly pursues him. It felt awkward to me. The sex scenes lacked chemistry, and I got bored with them because of this.
The mystery was convoluted and improbable, and there's a really dumb plot twist that made very little sense to me. It gave me early-2000's thriller movie vibes. There are a lot of secrets that are revealed in order to drive the plot.
I think the world-building was pretty interesting. The space politics was cool.
I probably could have forgiven the mystery aspect if the romance had been better, but as it was, it just kind of made me uncomfortable.
November 16, 2025
The worldbuilding was a bit of a mess, honestly, needs an editor. Normally that would put me off of a book, but I couldn't put this one down. The story and the two MCs drew me right in. Investigator husbands! Royalty! Mysteries! Secret identities! Okay, a lot of the plot was predictable, although it never felt entirely rote. Will be checking out future books by the author.
December 28, 2022
I liked the story and the characters but…
Ugh typos. Misspellings. Some name inconsistencies. I felt like it was a draft.
Ugh typos. Misspellings. Some name inconsistencies. I felt like it was a draft.
June 27, 2022
A BRIGHT CELESTIAL SEA is a standalone that could easily be the first in a series.
Pryor and Castor, plus others in their crew, are sent to a World Ship to find a missing royal. It's not that easy though, and things become complicated when other things are found to be missing too. Throw in an Emperor-in-waiting and you've got one helluva story.
Half of the mystery is easy to see - it doesn't hide at all, except from Wystan and the others. But still, as the reader, it is all there for you as we are in Pryor's mind for the most part. The other part though - was brilliantly set up, with only a few clues as I neared the end. I won't say anything else but I loved it!
The world-building is second to none. The worlds and ships, plus the different hierarchies, are simple and clean to see. I didn't feel like the story lagged in any places; it definitely kept my attention from beginning to end.
This author is new-to-me but I will absolutely be keeping an eye out for future publications - especially if this does become a series. Definitely 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!
Pryor and Castor, plus others in their crew, are sent to a World Ship to find a missing royal. It's not that easy though, and things become complicated when other things are found to be missing too. Throw in an Emperor-in-waiting and you've got one helluva story.
Half of the mystery is easy to see - it doesn't hide at all, except from Wystan and the others. But still, as the reader, it is all there for you as we are in Pryor's mind for the most part. The other part though - was brilliantly set up, with only a few clues as I neared the end. I won't say anything else but I loved it!
The world-building is second to none. The worlds and ships, plus the different hierarchies, are simple and clean to see. I didn't feel like the story lagged in any places; it definitely kept my attention from beginning to end.
This author is new-to-me but I will absolutely be keeping an eye out for future publications - especially if this does become a series. Definitely 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!
October 16, 2024
3.6
Es un libro light de Chani que disfrute bastante, el slow burn, todo lo de detectives, los personajes, me mantuvo muy enganchada, si, una intuía debido a la sipnosis el plot, pero aun así estuvo bueno como todo se descubría.
Es un libro light de Chani que disfrute bastante, el slow burn, todo lo de detectives, los personajes, me mantuvo muy enganchada, si, una intuía debido a la sipnosis el plot, pero aun así estuvo bueno como todo se descubría.
September 12, 2025
I liked this one, but it didn't quite grip me like other Feener books I've read. It got a little messy at times with the plot, and the romance was not really believable (though I think that kinda gets explained away). Still enjoyable.
June 18, 2022
What a pleasant surprise. I chose this book rather randomly, because I wanted to read an M/M romance, and this was the first thing that popped up. But when I started reading, I realized that it is more of a mystery with the romance plot very elegantly woven in. I love it, when the romance is mixed in with interesting stuff happening outside of the actual romance arc and the main conflict is not just two lovers being too dumb to communicate properly. And in this book the blend of romance with sci-fi mystery works very well.
The main character, Pryor, works for an intergalactic task force of some sort and is sent to a world ship together with his partner and best friend Castor to solve a missing person's case. A noble from that world ship takes a keen interest in the investigation and, as we soon learn, in Pryor himself.
The writing it fantastic and really pulls you in. The characters are interesting (with the main character Pryor being a bit angsty at times, but for good reason as we later find out) and the world building is excellent. It is more of a space opera world, but the author moves through it with confidence and gives it enough depth and details to make it believable.
The story has a few twists and turns, with a pretty gut wrenching one towards the end, but even that is set up so well, that once it happens (and once you discover from the fact that the rug has been pulled out from under you) you ask yourself: "Why the heck didn't I see that one coming?" (I even did for a minute and then forgot about it again).
If there is any point of criticism I have it is that there is (quite common with M/M books) a lack of interesting female characters. There are female side characters, and some of them are even vital to the plot, but they remain very underdeveloped or don't get much time on page.
This was the first book I've read by this author, but I'm pretty sure it won't be my last. Full five stars from me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main character, Pryor, works for an intergalactic task force of some sort and is sent to a world ship together with his partner and best friend Castor to solve a missing person's case. A noble from that world ship takes a keen interest in the investigation and, as we soon learn, in Pryor himself.
The writing it fantastic and really pulls you in. The characters are interesting (with the main character Pryor being a bit angsty at times, but for good reason as we later find out) and the world building is excellent. It is more of a space opera world, but the author moves through it with confidence and gives it enough depth and details to make it believable.
The story has a few twists and turns, with a pretty gut wrenching one towards the end, but even that is set up so well, that once it happens (and once you discover from the fact that the rug has been pulled out from under you) you ask yourself: "Why the heck didn't I see that one coming?" (I even did for a minute and then forgot about it again).
If there is any point of criticism I have it is that there is (quite common with M/M books) a lack of interesting female characters. There are female side characters, and some of them are even vital to the plot, but they remain very underdeveloped or don't get much time on page.
This was the first book I've read by this author, but I'm pretty sure it won't be my last. Full five stars from me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 21, 2022
What do you do when you have deep secrets and points in your past that you cannot remember? Create a new life and become a detective known across the galaxy for your dogged determination and success rate. Pryor Oro is a man of many talents who lives for his job of helping others. . . and nothing else. He is too afraid of his past coming back to haunt him, or the holes in his memory divesting him of his assured confidence, to let anyone past the walls he has built around his heart. Even his best friend knows nothing about him prior to his time in the Academy. But he's good at what he does, and takes pride in that fact. Then a ghost from his old existence manifests in the form of a missing Imperial Prince that he has been tasked to find.
Wystan and his twin sister rule the world ship, The Olympus, together in a six month split. He has recently started his half-year off. . . and is bored. Then a prince of another empire goes missing while visiting the world ship and the detective sent to find him sparks memories of a person he thought was gone forever. Now, under the guise of helping to prevent an intergalactic incident, he sticks to Pryor like glue in attempt to discern the truth of the past Pryor has forgotten.
I loved the way Chani Lynn Feener wove together the threads of political intrigue, betrayal, class restrictions, and a who-done-it mystery with a long lost love/enemies to lovers romance. Add to that a wonderous amount of beautifully developed science-fiction world building and a well paced plot and you get a book that I could not put down. I dearly hope they continue writing in this world.
Recommended for fans of Gail Carriger's "Tinkered Stars" series, Lois McMaster Bujold, Everina Maxwell, and "We Could be Heroes" by Mike Chen.
*I received an eARC from the publisher via BookSirens. This review is entirely voluntary. *
Wystan and his twin sister rule the world ship, The Olympus, together in a six month split. He has recently started his half-year off. . . and is bored. Then a prince of another empire goes missing while visiting the world ship and the detective sent to find him sparks memories of a person he thought was gone forever. Now, under the guise of helping to prevent an intergalactic incident, he sticks to Pryor like glue in attempt to discern the truth of the past Pryor has forgotten.
I loved the way Chani Lynn Feener wove together the threads of political intrigue, betrayal, class restrictions, and a who-done-it mystery with a long lost love/enemies to lovers romance. Add to that a wonderous amount of beautifully developed science-fiction world building and a well paced plot and you get a book that I could not put down. I dearly hope they continue writing in this world.
Recommended for fans of Gail Carriger's "Tinkered Stars" series, Lois McMaster Bujold, Everina Maxwell, and "We Could be Heroes" by Mike Chen.
*I received an eARC from the publisher via BookSirens. This review is entirely voluntary. *
June 30, 2023
“I apologize,” the Emperor nodded to show his sincerity. “It was a poorly made joke. You’ll forgive me.”
“You can’t order someone to forgive you,” he snapped.
“No?” He hummed in mock disappointment.
“Pity.”
——————
“Alas, I have a tendency to fixate. It’s a nasty habit of mine.” He leaned in, bringing his mouth up against the curve of Pryor’s ear. “Maybe if you’re good, I’ll eventually let you in on what we’re playing for.”
——————
June 2023. M/M Romance sci-fi mystery about an interplanetary police officer with a hidden past investigating a case that may risk exposing his past, and which puts him in the sights of the planet’s emperor who seems far too interested in both the case and him.
I enjoyed this quite a bit, this was like a 3.5 for me. Chemistry between the leads kept me interested in their dynamic, and between the investigator’s secret past and the emperor’s potential involvement or over investment, there was a plausible amount of distrust and enemies to lovers dynamic that worked well with the plot.
The world-building of different cultures and traits of human-like alien species was interesting without being too in-depth, and the central mystery/space police procedural plot kept my interest.
I’m looking forward to checking out more by the author. Read on Kindle Unlimited.
“A Bright Celestial Sea” by Chani Lynn Feener.
“You can’t order someone to forgive you,” he snapped.
“No?” He hummed in mock disappointment.
“Pity.”
——————
“Alas, I have a tendency to fixate. It’s a nasty habit of mine.” He leaned in, bringing his mouth up against the curve of Pryor’s ear. “Maybe if you’re good, I’ll eventually let you in on what we’re playing for.”
——————
June 2023. M/M Romance sci-fi mystery about an interplanetary police officer with a hidden past investigating a case that may risk exposing his past, and which puts him in the sights of the planet’s emperor who seems far too interested in both the case and him.
I enjoyed this quite a bit, this was like a 3.5 for me. Chemistry between the leads kept me interested in their dynamic, and between the investigator’s secret past and the emperor’s potential involvement or over investment, there was a plausible amount of distrust and enemies to lovers dynamic that worked well with the plot.
The world-building of different cultures and traits of human-like alien species was interesting without being too in-depth, and the central mystery/space police procedural plot kept my interest.
I’m looking forward to checking out more by the author. Read on Kindle Unlimited.
“A Bright Celestial Sea” by Chani Lynn Feener.
November 10, 2022
I thought this book would be too sci fi, too technical but I was mistaken. Chani developed a fascinating world with a brat of an Intergalactic Police Force Detective, Pryor, on Olympus for an investigation. From the start, Imperial Wystan is interfering and insisting he be part of it, even run the investigation, and flirting constantly. With a great crime to solve and hot sexy times, this book kept you reading and involved. After they got a relationship going, I loved these two together and Wystan was more than patience itself with Pryor. I thoroughly love this series and this book. I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary opinion.
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