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Deridia #8
Warder
Wife.
Daughter.
Warder.
There was a shift in the mountain. Where once creatures would ascend to the peak for the winter, now they hunted. With venom and claw, warders fell.
Others of her kind had settled. Wives, mothers, they flourished in their freedoms. While Gwynn struggled with the worry, the strain that came from lonely nights without news of her husband’s wellbeing.
A bargain. An entreaty. To train as a companion when the missions grew longer. To no longer be left behind.
And if she should find some remnant of her kind, a hint of their history, then was that so very wrong? Of a people that were not merely slaves, but explorers. Whose ships traversed the stars themselves.
She would be like them. Would see the world long denied to her, her husband by her side. Because the mountain was theirs.
Wasn’t it?
-x-
He tried to open his eyes to look at his hands. Failed.
Didn’t matter anyway, as there was yet more cloth covering his eyes. A waste. He was dead anyway. A corpse that still had the misfortune of drawing in breath. Of possessing a heart that still beat.
He drew in a ragged breath. It should have hurt. But it must have been another potion. The one pulling him toward the dark. Promised rest and healing if he would succumb. There was no healing from this. No mending. Honeyed words from those who had never burned. He opened his mouth.
A cry. A scream. Yet he made no sound. Couldn’t. Not to tell. Not to warn. Of what had come to their mountain. What he’d seen. Before...
Well. Before.
Daughter.
Warder.
There was a shift in the mountain. Where once creatures would ascend to the peak for the winter, now they hunted. With venom and claw, warders fell.
Others of her kind had settled. Wives, mothers, they flourished in their freedoms. While Gwynn struggled with the worry, the strain that came from lonely nights without news of her husband’s wellbeing.
A bargain. An entreaty. To train as a companion when the missions grew longer. To no longer be left behind.
And if she should find some remnant of her kind, a hint of their history, then was that so very wrong? Of a people that were not merely slaves, but explorers. Whose ships traversed the stars themselves.
She would be like them. Would see the world long denied to her, her husband by her side. Because the mountain was theirs.
Wasn’t it?
-x-
He tried to open his eyes to look at his hands. Failed.
Didn’t matter anyway, as there was yet more cloth covering his eyes. A waste. He was dead anyway. A corpse that still had the misfortune of drawing in breath. Of possessing a heart that still beat.
He drew in a ragged breath. It should have hurt. But it must have been another potion. The one pulling him toward the dark. Promised rest and healing if he would succumb. There was no healing from this. No mending. Honeyed words from those who had never burned. He opened his mouth.
A cry. A scream. Yet he made no sound. Couldn’t. Not to tell. Not to warn. Of what had come to their mountain. What he’d seen. Before...
Well. Before.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2022
36 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Miller
25 books125 followersI am an American by birth and situation, whose heart forever remains in Great Britain. I derive much inspiration from my holidays abroad, and my writing is heavily influenced by the delights of the English and Scottish countryside. My author's journey began in several reimaginings of The Phantom of the Opera where I explore happier endings for our beloved Erik-- hopefully aided by my degrees in psychology. I have a love for fantasy and paranormal romance, as well as the pleasure of a thrilling murder mystery... each of which have begun to creep into my writerly pursuits. When I am not consumed with a novel, I enjoy lavishing affection on my two cats, and working in historical costume design.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 30, 2022
3.5 ***
This book continues Gesper and Gwynn's story. I liked the continuation of the story line. I liked that Gwynn wanted to be a warder. I liked finding out more about the crashed space ship that brought humans to Deridia. I didn't care for Gwynn's emotional roller coaster. Her inner thoughts and emotional mood swings were giving me whiplash. Gwynn has two modes. She's either strong or a blubbering mess. Heavy on the blubbering mess. Gwynn apologizes to Gesper for her emotional state, Gesper panders and apologizes because he feels he isn't taking proper care of Gwynn. It was too much. Too much emotional turmoil, too much apologizing. It took away from the story. Maybe that was the story.
I read the first 25% of the book. After that I skimmed pages at a time to get back to dialog or anything that wasn't about Gwynn's emotions. I've followed this series from the beginning and notice that each subsequent heroine is more emotionally damaged than the last. I prefer a more stable, thoughtful heroine.
This book continues Gesper and Gwynn's story. I liked the continuation of the story line. I liked that Gwynn wanted to be a warder. I liked finding out more about the crashed space ship that brought humans to Deridia. I didn't care for Gwynn's emotional roller coaster. Her inner thoughts and emotional mood swings were giving me whiplash. Gwynn has two modes. She's either strong or a blubbering mess. Heavy on the blubbering mess. Gwynn apologizes to Gesper for her emotional state, Gesper panders and apologizes because he feels he isn't taking proper care of Gwynn. It was too much. Too much emotional turmoil, too much apologizing. It took away from the story. Maybe that was the story.
I read the first 25% of the book. After that I skimmed pages at a time to get back to dialog or anything that wasn't about Gwynn's emotions. I've followed this series from the beginning and notice that each subsequent heroine is more emotionally damaged than the last. I prefer a more stable, thoughtful heroine.
November 21, 2022
Great sci fi romantic adventure
Warder is a sequel to Drone, which made me happy, because Drone's ending felt...incomplete. Gesper's people had found a less than optimum solution for their reproductive problems, and that solution comes back to bite them in the ass. Gwynn and Gesper are a great couple, and I was happy with the growth of their relationship, as well as Gwynn's continued struggles with her PTSD. The worldbuilding is excellent in the Deridia series, and the adventure is as important as the romance.
Warder is a sequel to Drone, which made me happy, because Drone's ending felt...incomplete. Gesper's people had found a less than optimum solution for their reproductive problems, and that solution comes back to bite them in the ass. Gwynn and Gesper are a great couple, and I was happy with the growth of their relationship, as well as Gwynn's continued struggles with her PTSD. The worldbuilding is excellent in the Deridia series, and the adventure is as important as the romance.
January 20, 2023
A nice book to keep up with such a previously well developed couple
their concerns feel credible and in the end you will like them even better
I do have to say tho that the past portion of the book held my interest the most
cant wait to see a new installment that focuses on the one that left the community, I see a lot of angst coming our way and Im here for it
their concerns feel credible and in the end you will like them even better
I do have to say tho that the past portion of the book held my interest the most
cant wait to see a new installment that focuses on the one that left the community, I see a lot of angst coming our way and Im here for it
June 19, 2024
This was different
I found this one different. It delved into more history and family relationships. We had a glimpse of a man dissatisfied with h his lot in life and possibly a hint of what might come.
Even know these books fall around the humans slot this is the first time we are still with two same characters and people.
I found this one different. It delved into more history and family relationships. We had a glimpse of a man dissatisfied with h his lot in life and possibly a hint of what might come.
Even know these books fall around the humans slot this is the first time we are still with two same characters and people.
December 13, 2023
Another sweet sweet romance in the Deridia series/ world. This one though was a trifle long and would have been better if it had 20 - 50 pages cut from it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews