kaje_harper's review
4.0
This book fits into the [b:Knight Errant|9671968|Knight Errant (Knight Errant, #1)|K.D. Sarge|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327905451s/9671968.jpg|14559793] Dream'verse. It's the backstory of Donte and Selene, with a tiny glimpse of 14-year-old Taro. This one is M/F not M/M, but Donte in particular is a character who will tug at your heart. The story opens with him at University, trying to do what he thinks his Captain expects of him, and hiding the fact that he is still so traumatized by his past that he has phobias and flashes of anger, and even moments of black-out. One of the things that makes him feel better, more mature and doing something good, is tutoring Jordan, a young, poor kid in the slums of the city. Then one day, he discovers that the kid's mother has sold him to slavers, for booze-and-drugs money.
Donte has a horror of slavers clearly tied to the past that still haunts him, and he's determined to rescue Jordan, as he was once rescued by Captain Marcori. But first he has to find him. And as he begins his search, his friend Selene invites herself along. Selene is stunningly beautiful, flirtatious, fiercely independent, wild and a little crazy. But it's good to have friends.
I really enjoyed this story, in Sarge's usual adventurous and humorous style, with strong emotional underpinnings. I had a few minor quibbles, for instance about a girl with Selene's background, job and home life being so unfamiliar with the possibilities represented by the sex slave trade (like the fact that they would take a young boy.) And Donte's backstory - the three encounters with the Captain, etc - were just a little cryptic for me to follow. Her guilt about him later could have been powerful if I'd understood it better. It almost felt like things were being held back to write in another story, or like I'd missed a story - perhaps I have. I also felt Ben could not have been quite that oblivious to Donte's situation, if there were physical marks he should have picked up on - Captain, twins, whatever - Ben's too good a doctor to have missed that.
Recommended for anyone who likes this author's universe and doesn't require an M/M pairing. As usual, no on-page sex in any combination of body parts. I'll pretty much read anything K.D. Sarge writes.
Donte has a horror of slavers clearly tied to the past that still haunts him, and he's determined to rescue Jordan, as he was once rescued by Captain Marcori. But first he has to find him. And as he begins his search, his friend Selene invites herself along. Selene is stunningly beautiful, flirtatious, fiercely independent, wild and a little crazy. But it's good to have friends.
I really enjoyed this story, in Sarge's usual adventurous and humorous style, with strong emotional underpinnings. I had a few minor quibbles, for instance about a girl with Selene's background, job and home life being so unfamiliar with the possibilities represented by the sex slave trade (like the fact that they would take a young boy.) And Donte's backstory - the three encounters with the Captain, etc - were just a little cryptic for me to follow. Her guilt about him later could have been powerful if I'd understood it better. It almost felt like things were being held back to write in another story, or like I'd missed a story - perhaps I have. I also felt Ben could not have been quite that oblivious to Donte's situation, if there were physical marks he should have picked up on - Captain, twins, whatever - Ben's too good a doctor to have missed that.
Recommended for anyone who likes this author's universe and doesn't require an M/M pairing. As usual, no on-page sex in any combination of body parts. I'll pretty much read anything K.D. Sarge writes.
ifihadatail7's review
5.0
another fantastic book from K.D.!
this a prequel to Knight Errant, and tells how two of the shipmates (Donte & Selene) met. while it lives in the romance genre, it's also a story of strength & survival.
Donte's on-planet at college when the boy he's tutoring is sold to slavers. He & Selene sign onto a spaceship crew to chase after him.
things i love about K.D.'s writing: it's wonderfully easy to empathize with her characters (in all her books), and even though this story exists in a sci-fi environment, she doesn't overdo the tech.
this a prequel to Knight Errant, and tells how two of the shipmates (Donte & Selene) met. while it lives in the romance genre, it's also a story of strength & survival.
Donte's on-planet at college when the boy he's tutoring is sold to slavers. He & Selene sign onto a spaceship crew to chase after him.
things i love about K.D.'s writing: it's wonderfully easy to empathize with her characters (in all her books), and even though this story exists in a sci-fi environment, she doesn't overdo the tech.
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