Enemy Games

Chronicles of the Empire Book #2

by Marcella Burnard

Fantastic futuristic romance from the author of Enemy Within

Kidnapped while combating a plague, Jayleia Durante fights to resist the attractive Major Damen Sindrivik, an officer from a rival government's spy corps. But with her father missing, and mercenaries on her trail, Jayleia must join forces with the magnetic major-for the good of the empire.

Genres: Science Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Aliens, Space Opera, Futuristic, Science Fiction Fantasy

352 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2011

About the author

Marcella Burnard graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a degree in acting. She writes science fiction romance for Berkley Sensation. Her first book, Enemy Within won the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice award for Best Futuristic of 2010. The second book in the series, Enemy Games, released on May 3, 2011. An erotica novella, Enemy Mine, set in the same world as the novels was released as an e-special edition by Berkley in April 2012. Emissary, a sword and sorcery short story released in the two volume Thunder on the Battlefield Anthology in the second half of 2013. Nightmare Ink, an Urban Fantasy novel from Intermix available April 15, 2014

Reviews

[Katie(babs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jayleia Durante’s father Zaine has been accused of treason, where it’s believed he’s been providing the Targreth Federated Council’s enemy information. He’s disappeared and his daughter has now become a target. Jayleia is a scientist uninterested in intergalactic politics, but when she’s kidnapped by Major Damen Sindrivik, who a year ago hijacked her ship and took it over, she has no choice but to find out where her father is hiding and what information he knows. Damen wants to protect Jayleia since mercenaries are looking for her in order to get to her father. Damen has never forgotten the reserved Jayleia, who made quite the impression on him. He’ll keep a close eye on her while trying to keep his attraction hidden for the redheaded beauty.

As Damen takes Jayleia to a safe place, she comes to find out that Damen has a network of spies working for him. Damen is a mystery to her and one she wouldn’t mind cracking, but must remember to keep her distance at all times. But tensions are running high and at any moment they could be separated or even killed. And when Jayleia unknowingly offers Damen a piece of herself, she changes her future forever. Damen now has a new agenda, one where he must get Jayleia to trust him. As war among the alien races is eminent, both Jayleia and Damen find out one enemy, the Chekydran, are not what they seem and turn to the couple on the run to stop their people from being destroyed.

Enemy Games is a top notch sci-fi tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Marcella Burnard’s skill at world-building and creating intriguing characters will keep you rooted where you won’t want to stop reading even for a moment. The amount of terms and descriptions Ms. Burnard has invented is truly astounding. This is a type of book you read carefully and don’t rush because the plot can be complex at times. I found myself re-reading a few passages because I was lost at certain points, especially when Jayleia and Damen talk about their next course of action.

Jayleia and Damen make a great team. Their respect for one another takes time to build, but when they realize they can only trust one another, their relationship shifts in a way readers will whole heartily approve of. Both use their wits to keep them one step ahead of the danger that surrounds them. Damen almost wears his heart on his sleeve for Jayleia who is unaware of his feelings for her. The love they come to share is very subtle and not explosive, unlike the action on the pages. There are no big declarations of love between the two, but readers should be pleased by how things turn out.

Non-stop action, suspense and mystery makes Enemy Games a must read. Marcella Burnard is one author to keep your eye on who’s going places in the sci-fi romance world. Don’t let this book pass you by.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but not as good as the first one.

I love Jayleia and Damen as a couple. They weren't annoying (other than the ol' "I'll sacrifice myself for you!" "NO, I'll sacrifice myself for YOU!" business). I really liked how the author portrayed their cultures as very separate with different traditions, mating rituals, and cultural norms. It was very well done and I enjoyed seeing them get accustomed to each other.

The parts I didn't like -- the plot! I didn't read the first in this series THAT long ago, but I was totally lost most of the time. There were too many different groups vying for leadership, and I found I was constantly confused about what group was doing what and why. There were some parts that I think were designed to be a *shock* moment, but it didn't really work because I had no idea what was going on in the first place. There was one instance where one group becomes a traitor (*Jayleia gasps*) and I was thinking, "weren't they on the other side all along?". Totally lost.

Finally, there were a few parts I liked but wish they had gone more in depth with. I enjoyed how Damen's culture had a blood ritual that related to mating, but it kind of came out of nowhere. I would have liked to hear a little bit more about Damen's personal history. We learned a lot about Jayleia, but only tiny surface bits about Damen. Even when it was revealed that he worked in the sex trade when he was young, we really only hear it as a fact and no further details on how he dealt with it. At one point he's embarrassed about his bondage-related scars, and the next he doesn't seem ashamed of his sex slave history.

I will try the next one, but only because the first in this series was so strong.

[Bookaholics · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enemy Games by Marcella Burnard
Futuristic Romance –May 3rd, 2011
4 ½ stars

Enemy Games by Marcella Burnard picks off from her from her first futuristic book, Enemy Within. Both have a captivating characters and amazingly developed world building. Futuristic fans will love this book even more than the first!

In this book, the heroine is a colleague and friend of the heroine in the first book. Her name is Jayleia Durante and she is half Swovjiti. Jayleia’s father is a powerful man who has disappeared and holds the key to some very important information. As his daughter, she is in danger because various factions seek to use her as a leverage to find her father. Jayleia finds herself kidnapped by the sexy Major Damien Sindrivik. He is dangerous spy who use anything including seduction to get what he wants. Soon they are embroiled in intrigue and politics. And come to the attention to the terrifying and deadly aliens known as the Chekydran. Can Jayleia save her father and her people? Will she succumb to her growing attraction to the manipulative Damien?

This was a fantastic futuristic romance. Fans of Linnea Sinclair will find a haven in this well thought out story with vivid and complex world building. I couldn’t finish it fast enough. The author masterfully brings together a plot with many twists. I was fascinated by the different cultures and people. As a Swovjiti, Jayleia has very interesting talents. Unbeatable fighting skills not to mention her amazing healing trace. I really admired her strength and ability to surprise me. Damien is a Claugh known for their predatory ways and as he ‘stalked’ Jayleia I was spell-bound.

If you love futuristic romances with intelligence, tense intrigue and phenomenal characters then this book will thrill you. This author transported me so I felt I was in space!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

[Carien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been looking forward to reading this book ever since reading Enemy Within, the first book in this series. And I can tell you this book was worth the wait.

Burnard manages to mix Scifi, adventure, suspense and romance into a thrilling tale that has you hooked from the start. The world building in this book is excellent and the plot is fast paced and intricate, which makes that you have to keep paying attention or you will easily lose track of what's going on. The romance and action storylines work well together and neither overshadows the other luckily enough.

So, no negative points? Only a minor one: Jayleia is a difficult character to get to know, but I liked Damen from the start, which made me invested in Damen's attempts to break through Jayleia's defenses to get to the person inside, so in the end this wasn't really a negative point at all.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this second installment in the series and I hope that there are more coming. The background story continues on from the first book and remains strong and this book follows two of the characters from the first book (we didn't know these two had noticed each other, but that worked for me). The only problem I had was that my favorite character in the story (present in both books) was killed (well, we never see a body and I suppose there is a way around that given that it is the future and I do see a way around what we ahve been lead to believe - oh how I hope that's true!). Even if the futurustic space thing isn't you usual preference, give this series a shot. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[Rachel-RN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow- so much going on. This was a slower read for me, I had to go back and re-read certain parts. *Lots* of action. More information would have been helpful in regards to culture. For example, the Swovjiti warriors/the Temple/High Priestess- Jayleia takes a vow of celibacy- required for all warriors? Or just the women? I didn't like how much Jay blamed herself for certain events in the book.
Overall, interesting. Recommended for those that like science-fiction with some romance.

[Dana Delamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love intelligent sci-fi with lots of twists and turns, I highly recommend Enemy Games. It's an excellent follow-up to Enemy Within. I really liked both Jayleia and Damen, and the plot was exciting and unpredictable. I won't spoil anything, but the story went in several directions I really didn't expect.

[Marilyn Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced, love her style.

It's good science fiction, actually uses science! And she verbalize the attraction/thoughts we all experience--realistically, right in the middle of life decisions. Only her characters confront them and make some good decisions.

[leah evangeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I had read book #1 first whoops. Otherwise a very unique take on the genre. I liked that she was 26 and not 16!

[Buka · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why but I've been craving some good sf romances lately and "Enemy's Games" does deliver healthy doses of not ridiculous science and an exciting romantic subplot. The book has it's strenghs - it has an interesting plot that doesn't lean heavily on romantic aspect, there are good scenes and it makes you care about what happens.
I didn't find the language exceptional but neither was it bad. Although, you can make a drinking game out of all times when somebody sucked a deep/audible/etc. breath or heat pooled in lower body/abdomen.

So all in all, it is one of the better books that I gobbled during my sf/romance streak but I just can't seem to like it. There are just too many things that I found illogical and ill thought-out or ill-explained.

Let's take a look at our main characters, for instance.
Damen - he is supposed to be of the other species who didn't even evolve from primates and yet all we know about his appearance, besides good looks, is his eye and hair color (mentioned once). Should we assume that he looks just like a human? But why?! And if not then how does he look like? We never find out.

Jayleya - in the previous book she did nothing when captured by an enemy with the rest of the crew and babbled important (though not so secret) information to her captors. But in "Enemy's Games" we suddenly find out that she's basically a sly home-schooled spy with superb ninja fighting skills.
And speaking of ninja skills, the most irritanting (for me) logical fail was - and I'm not joking - her costume. At the beginning our heroine is kidnapped from her experimental station and immediately whisked off to another planet. Apart from her working clothes and some tools she has nothing and there is even an episode when she rummages in Damen's closet for some clothes. And then practically at the same day she launches an attack clad in her super ninja outfit that appeared out of nowhere and was never explained later on. I know, it's not a big flaw but it grated on my nerves till the very end. And how can I trust the author who can't even keep such small things straight?

As for bigger things, characters reached incomprehensible conclusions, had abrupt non-explained changes of heart and often it was just hard to follow the flow of conversation or reasoning. It was as if some key information had never left author's head or was cut during the editing.

I had similar problems with the first book so I doubt I'd be reading the next one. But once again this is one of the better sf/romances out there.

[Dahrose · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where the first book in this series "Enemy Within" trod new ground and provided an exciting plot and intriguing characters this second book is a bitter disappointment. And is essentially way too similar in story line as the first book, failing to bring anything new or interesting to the reader. Worse, while I'm not a reader that typically needs every little detail explained I found huge gaps this time in my understanding of exactly just what was going on and why. Whilst I appreciated the female lead, finding her strong and capable with fantastic lethal skills it is never explained why she failed to step up in the first book when the crew was continually in mortal danger. Plus the male leads back story appeared to get lost in the telling and I was never quite sure of what it meant that he was a "predator".
Contributing to the confusion was the number of groups that continuously pop up & disappear throughout the book, all with confusing agendas, agents, double agents, allies, enemies etc. It became quite tiresome trying to remember or figure out exactly who everyone is.
The ending of the book is also rather abrupt. For a while I wasn't sure if there weren't pages missing as we seemed to go from action two pages before, then everything is suddenly resolved and the story just ends.

If there is a third book I will definitely be waiting for my library to purchase a copy as I won't be wasting my money any further on this series.

[gert · Rating 2 out of 5]

full disclosure: i'm literally 75% through the book, and just don't have the energy or motivation to finish it. even after all the work i put in getting this far.

yes, there's a romance-ish. or at least, there's a h/h. and props to the author for detailed, multi-level world building. there's a lot going on in this story - political intrigue, revolution, etc. etc.

but that's sort of the problem for me. i had a hard time keeping all of these disparate factions straight. as a matter of fact, you jump in so quickly at the start of the book, that i had to keep going back to the blurb to remind myself of the basic structure of who's who.

as well - way too much technical stuff for my liking. yes, very science fiction-y - terms for all sorts of science stuff (some made up, i guess, but honestly, i couldn't figure out what's what) bandied about. we're to admire the heroine's intelligence, i guess. but i found it both boring, and slightly confusing. the two main book killers imho.

so, would i recommend? sure. if you lean more towards true s/f versus space opera. if you don't mind that no sex happens until almost 3/4 of the book (i'm not ok with that, btw). and if you are able to keep track of a multitude of groups, all sharing way to many consonants for me to be able to remember them.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This science fiction romance has a hearty dose in intrigue and interstellar war. Jayleia Durante is an scientist working to find the cause and cure for a disease that is devastating a planet when she is kidnapped. Her father who is a spymaster has gone missing and her kidnapper, Damen Sindrivik, is sure that she knows where he is.

Jayleia's people and Damen's are very reluctant allies in a war with the insectoid Chekydran. They are currently losing the war because some of their people have allied with the Chekydran, Jayleia's father may have the clue to who the traitors are.

Jayleia and Damen are busy fighting traitors and their own attraction to each other. Both are keeping major secrets and finding trusting to be almost impossible. I liked the way their attraction grew as they battled so many who wanted to either kill them or capture them.

I liked the portrayal of the characters. The aliens were really alien in thought and behavior. I liked Jayleia who had a difficult childhood torn between her warring parents and used as a pawn by both of them. She developed into a strong person who took the best from both her parents to forge her own character.

This was an entertaining science fiction romance.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars I enjoyed this one, although it wasn't quite as good as the first. I wasn't sure how I felt early on, because they seemed to go from "I'm going to trick/seduce her into giving me information" to "I love her" way too quickly. But a lot happened after that, and I was definitely won over. While the basic romance was the same as the last one, ie: kidnap/rescue girl, have strong attraction but no trust, gain trust but than lose trust, and of course HEA. The world-building continued to be wonderful and the plot was definitely new and unexpected. There were some parts that got a little too heavy into the science/techno babble, but overall it was very good. I wish we got a little more follow-up on Ari and Seagdhg, same as I want some follow up about Jay and Damon in the next one.

V'k is so not dead! I think they lost their comm and crash-landed on some planet, and he'll end up with that mercenary Eddie, or some other chick we've had a minor introduction to.

[Kathy Horsman · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I loved about this book?

Constant action. This book doesn't take a breathe from the very first page to the very last one. There's all the sci-fi glitz in it you could ask for: star-ships, technology etc. Plus you have the whole universes to play out the plot within. I also liked the two main characters together. I thought they played off each other nicely and the romance wasn't an insta-love "let's do it right away" kind of love story, which was refreshing.


That being said, I did feel like I've read this story before. In fact....it was the first one of the series. Just with a different name of a captured female and a little different scenario here. I wanted something different from the first and I felt I didn't get it.

I still liked the story, but I was just a little disappointed.

[Madhellena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess the story lost its shine. First of all, I didn't like the heroes - either male or female.
Most of all, I HATED the storyline. I can't give it less that 3 stars because it's an exciting book, well written and original, but I really hated the story from half-point on (with the insects).
Besides, there is a tiny bit of a problem with this hive mind - why are the bad guys connected to each-other and not the good guys? They are the same species and they shouldn't be able to go against the hive mind.
I think the heroine was too whiny and the hero should have been more interesting - for example, the whole blood-mate things could have had a better explanation. Same with the sex trade thing and the scars.
Anyway, I am willing to try the short story but if it keeps up with the weird storyline I'll drop the series,

[Linda C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jayleia, daughter of the missing Tagreth Federated Councils IntCom (Intelligence Command) Director, is taken from her ship by the Claugh's computer genius, Damen, to prevent her from being sidelined for assisting them in the last war with the Chekydran as her father had. There seems to be dangerous things happening in the TFC in relation to the Chekydran. Fast paced as first volume. Really like this world.

Reread: I read it back in March quickly following the first volume. I loved the action and development of the romance. This time I spent more time and grasped a better feeling for the politics and the insectoid aliens. The insect section had much more to offer on slower reading and gave more depth to the space opera feel that I liked before. For readers of romantic science fiction this is a winning series.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. At first I was a little annoyed with the romance because of the whole "I will seduce you into giving information" and the cant wait to "break" you (with sex) attitude of the hero as I dont find manipulation at all sexy or romantic. But once I got a feel for him as a different alien predator species - about when Jay gave him her blood. And his reaction to that made me happier about the whole thing because at that point I felt his feelings were real and Jay was more important to him than his mission. So I settled in to enjoy which I did for a bit before the previously fast paced story suddenly became boring with pages of tedious and confusing info about crystals and species dna and metamorphosis.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this author! This books are fantastic. I love the characters, the story, the action, the romance . . . ah, everything. I can't wait for the next book to see what happens next.

The only thing I didn't like in this book was losing a character from the 1st book and partway into this one. I was really bumming! Guess I can hope that he's not really gone and will make a come back. Sigh!

I do hate waiting for a really good series.

I highly recommend these books. Pick em up and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

[Bianca Gogos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down! There were so many twists and turns, so many enemies and new allies, all very suspenseful. I loved how Burnard evolved the love between Jayleia and Damen. Both characters are so complex and have so many different people and organizations depending on them, yet it all made sense. I will definitely continue to read any and all of Marcella Burnard's books. She brings a technical size to the romance which is new.

[Anna (Bobs Her Hair) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enemy Games is an action-packed science fiction romance. I was engaged from the first few pages. While this book can stand alone reading Enemy Within (book 1) acquaints the reader with this futuristic world and it's conflicts. The romance aspect was a little weak at times but much stronger than in the first novel. If you enjoy Linnea Sinclair you may want to give this author a try.

[Janine Southard]

I couldn't finish this one, which is a shame because the first novel in this series was magnificent.

But this second novel in the same universe...it's all cliches and melodrama and poorly executed descriptions of feelings. :(

For sure, though, I'm still keeping my eye out for #3. The brilliance of book 1 cannot be refuted.

[Deyara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, quite liked the characters and the story though Damen was a bit annoying which was sad as I liked him a lot in Enemy Within. The romance was a bit better this time, and there was a fair bit of action.

[Pamelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series. This 2nd book isn't as dark as the first. Which makes sense as Ari was trying to deal with the torture she had endured in the first book.
Damen and Jay are the focus of this one and their story was told well. I enjoyed their relationship and banter. The story was excellent. I will watch for other titles by this author in the future.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Second book in the series had a good story structure. But the head hopping, confusing linking of people talking aloud & telepathically in various places, & the author settings up scenes with too many people & not being clear who was she or he lead me to want to stop reading. I was hoping this second book would be stronger than the first book but that didn't happen.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book although I found the action rather confusing at times - much as the heroine does. Several story lines were left hanging - to be resolved in further book/s?. The main romance gets a HFN but did seem rather rushed, almost too much happened for the books length.

[Victoria Pond · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this one, which is a shame this series was magnificent.

But this second novel in the same universe...it's all cliches and melodrama and poorly executed descriptions of feelings. :(

For sure, though, I'm still keeping my eye out for #3. The brilliance of book 1 cannot be refuted.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The long-awaited sequel! I think I enjoyed this story even more than the first book. Maybe because I actually remembered who some of the characters were from the first one! Again, I found the story intriguing and action-packed. And again I hope there is another in this series.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll admit, I was getting a little confused towards the end, and the characters seemed to accept gross bodily invasion with more equanimity than I would, but I was enjoying the ride enough to go along.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Still love the fast-pace, ripped roaring action and the unpredictability in which Burnard writes. I must've blinked a couple times, because I was lost and gotten left behind...

Looking forward to more!