crtsjffrsn's review
4.0
Felix was certainly more than glad to get Zander back after he died. And he never expected that things would suddenly be normal for the two of them. But everything just gets more and more complicated by the day. For one, there's a cult that apparently worships Zander now intent on following them all around the galaxy. It's not just an annoyance; it's actually get in the way of them completing jobs. And a new species has emerged, potentially triggering a war when they destroy a probe belonging to the stin. Zander is pulled into the fray as an emissary for the Guardians, and the situation is further complicated by the presence of two individuals from Felix's past: a former lover in the form of the human ambassador and one of the stin who tortured him during his captivity. It's an intense situation all around, and everyone is counting on Zander to keep the peace and avoid another war. And it may take more out of Zander than anyone is willing to notice--except Felix, who is finding himself taxed in several ways himself. But if they've made it this far, they'll persevere. Right?
I am beyond pleased with this installment in the series. They say in order to move forward, you have to confront your past. We've seen Zander do that more than once in the series. In the process, that means Felix has had to do the same, but not quite to the extent that Zander has. Here, though, we get a glimpse at potential futures for Zander in his role as emissary and a long, dark look at Felix's past. There are turning points here for everyone, and the way they choose to respond to them is certainly going to shape not only how things play out during the summit and its aftermath but the rest of their lives. Many unexpected twists lie within.
There's one more book in the series after this one. I can't wait, but I also don't want it to end...
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
I am beyond pleased with this installment in the series. They say in order to move forward, you have to confront your past. We've seen Zander do that more than once in the series. In the process, that means Felix has had to do the same, but not quite to the extent that Zander has. Here, though, we get a glimpse at potential futures for Zander in his role as emissary and a long, dark look at Felix's past. There are turning points here for everyone, and the way they choose to respond to them is certainly going to shape not only how things play out during the summit and its aftermath but the rest of their lives. Many unexpected twists lie within.
There's one more book in the series after this one. I can't wait, but I also don't want it to end...
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
michaeljpdx's review against another edition
4.0
You can ready my full review of “Inversion Point” at my web site.
kaje_harper's review
5.0
As the book opens, Zander and Felix have worked past some of the issues that came between them in the last installment. They are solid, looking forward, although Zander's role as Emissary for the Guardians, the mysterious and most powerful race in the galaxy, has unwanted repercussions. Not only are there cultists following him, but the appearance of a new, possibly hostile galactic race puts him in the thick of first contact. To make it harder, the warlike stin, against whom the war they both fought in was waged, are claiming aggression by the new race and collusion by humans. Zander has to be part of trying to diffuse the next human-stin war before it starts.
Despite this, the book is actually more Felix's. While Zander's worst nightmares come from things his own side did to him, Felix was a prisoner of war of the stin. His damaged arm and his nightmares come directly from the guards and soldiers who captured, tortured, and held him. Now, if he's going to stay at Zander's side, he has to be civil in their presence. Not just their race, but some of the actual individuals who tormented him and destroyed his fellow human prisoners. Felix faces his toughest personal test, while trying to help Zander solve mysteries of who is on what side in this new mess, and hoping to head off another galactic war.
Despite this, the book is actually more Felix's. While Zander's worst nightmares come from things his own side did to him, Felix was a prisoner of war of the stin. His damaged arm and his nightmares come directly from the guards and soldiers who captured, tortured, and held him. Now, if he's going to stay at Zander's side, he has to be civil in their presence. Not just their race, but some of the actual individuals who tormented him and destroyed his fellow human prisoners. Felix faces his toughest personal test, while trying to help Zander solve mysteries of who is on what side in this new mess, and hoping to head off another galactic war.
the_novel_approach's review
5.0
Over the course of the last four books in the Chaos Station series, I have discovered Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen like to rip out your beating heart, stomp all over it, patch it up, and then mercilessly shove it back into your chest with a Band-Aid to patch it up. And yet, the pain is so beautiful and good. While the angst wasn’t nearly as high as in the second and even third book, it’s still there, and part of me wants to slap Zed and Flick, but the other part wants to just cuddle them and keep them in a safe bubble forever.
Following the events of the third book, the galaxy is awaiting the arrival of a fourth species to the Hub. As the emissary to the Guardians, Zed is expected to be there to help communicate with them, but how will he accomplish this? To make matters more difficult, Flick’s ex, Theo, is the human ambassador, and the two quickly fall back into an easy friendship, which sends Zed into a jealous spiral. When one disaster after another threaten not only the peace of the galaxy but their lives, will Zed and Flick be able to hold on to each other? Or are they not meant to be together after all?
This book is my favorite of the series. And I know I likely say that every time, but honestly, the books just keep getting better, and I cannot wait to see what these talented authors have in store for the final (NO!) book in the series, Phase Shift. This book is filled with even more character development, more heart-wrenching moments, and awesome new aliens who just immediately make you happy, as if they are also communicating with you.
This new species is fascinating, and I don’t want to give too much away, because the initial introduction to them is just fascinating. They are completely unlike the other species already at the Hub: humans, ashushk, and stin. And yet, because of the Guardians, Zed is able to communicate with them. They seem peaceful enough, so that must be good for the humans and ashushk, right? I wish I could talk more about them, but it would give away critical information, so instead I’ll talk about my love for Qek and how it continues to grow with every book. She’s so fascinating to watch navigate the human world. And then there’s Zed and Flick. Their love for each other just deepens no matter what is tossed their way, even when all seems lost, they refuse to give up on each other. It tugs on the heartstrings and makes you pray for a happy ending.
Of course the book is tense. The stin are back to negotiate with the new species, and one of them is Flick’s former captor. This sends Zed into a tailspin. Between playing interpreter and trying to help Flick, he can barely catch a break, and this causes him to deteriorate to a degree. It doesn’t help matters when he sees Theo touching Flick or sharing secret smiles. I mean, really, Zed, have you two not learned anything over the course of the last three books? Trust him!
If you’re new to the series, I highly recommend going back to the first book and reading through, because events from the others are referenced in this one, and it would be a shame to miss anything. The series is truly great if you’re a sci-fi fan. Burke and Jensen have created a universe filled with fascinating species and technology, and it’s a place that I would like to live.
If it were stin free, at least.
Reviewed by Jennifer for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-inversion-point-by-jenn-burke-and-kelly-jensen/
Following the events of the third book, the galaxy is awaiting the arrival of a fourth species to the Hub. As the emissary to the Guardians, Zed is expected to be there to help communicate with them, but how will he accomplish this? To make matters more difficult, Flick’s ex, Theo, is the human ambassador, and the two quickly fall back into an easy friendship, which sends Zed into a jealous spiral. When one disaster after another threaten not only the peace of the galaxy but their lives, will Zed and Flick be able to hold on to each other? Or are they not meant to be together after all?
This book is my favorite of the series. And I know I likely say that every time, but honestly, the books just keep getting better, and I cannot wait to see what these talented authors have in store for the final (NO!) book in the series, Phase Shift. This book is filled with even more character development, more heart-wrenching moments, and awesome new aliens who just immediately make you happy, as if they are also communicating with you.
This new species is fascinating, and I don’t want to give too much away, because the initial introduction to them is just fascinating. They are completely unlike the other species already at the Hub: humans, ashushk, and stin. And yet, because of the Guardians, Zed is able to communicate with them. They seem peaceful enough, so that must be good for the humans and ashushk, right? I wish I could talk more about them, but it would give away critical information, so instead I’ll talk about my love for Qek and how it continues to grow with every book. She’s so fascinating to watch navigate the human world. And then there’s Zed and Flick. Their love for each other just deepens no matter what is tossed their way, even when all seems lost, they refuse to give up on each other. It tugs on the heartstrings and makes you pray for a happy ending.
Of course the book is tense. The stin are back to negotiate with the new species, and one of them is Flick’s former captor. This sends Zed into a tailspin. Between playing interpreter and trying to help Flick, he can barely catch a break, and this causes him to deteriorate to a degree. It doesn’t help matters when he sees Theo touching Flick or sharing secret smiles. I mean, really, Zed, have you two not learned anything over the course of the last three books? Trust him!
If you’re new to the series, I highly recommend going back to the first book and reading through, because events from the others are referenced in this one, and it would be a shame to miss anything. The series is truly great if you’re a sci-fi fan. Burke and Jensen have created a universe filled with fascinating species and technology, and it’s a place that I would like to live.
If it were stin free, at least.
Reviewed by Jennifer for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-inversion-point-by-jenn-burke-and-kelly-jensen/
prgchrqltma's review
4.0
Continues to be an enjoyable read. This book continues the romantic arc and has a complete external plot, as well.
expendablemudge's review
4.0
Rating: 4.5* of five
There was more "w"-verbing at 74% but for that one and only time it was less than revolting in context.
I'll get to reviewing before long.
**A GOOD WHILE LATER**
So another solid four-plus star outing in a series whose SFnal street cred, if we could only get some straight boys to read it, would carry it far beyond the m/m ghetto. The resonance is my absolute favorite race so far, not excluding humans, because "fluffy yellow partner unit" made me laugh until my belly ached. I could *see* Flick's confused amused slightly insulted mostly bemused face when he heard that. Men with curly blond hair must get similar nonsense thrown at them all the time, and the fact that he's the reasonably public partner of the Emissary of the Guardians can't make life as a mop-top any easier.
The political elements of this outing are genuinely involving, again without reference to m/m content...well, except for the fact that Flick is the space equivalent of Alma Mahler Gropius Werfel, having bagged humanity's chief envoy Theo as well as Zed the Emissary. Ducks always envy the swans, hm? What is it about some people, anyway, that they can score the best and the brightest without seeming to bring anything all that exciting to the table themselves? But wait, Flick is...well...Flick is from a world where ambassadors are equivalent to unicorns and now his sweet, lovely ex is one and his amazing one-true-love man is one and he's, you know, just this guy. His head's whirling. He's interacting with the stin, the very same precise stin who tortured him almost to death during his four-year stint as a POW just cuz. He's way outside his comfort zone and he only gets more remote from it as Ambassador Theo the ex-lover sets Emissary Zed the one-true-love's teeth on edge and causes him to act like a sulky adolescent ninny. Which for all of me is the best moment in the book. I love that Zed gets all "my man step off or suffer" about his Flick. Sure it's silly! No way in hell can even the scrummy hotness that is Theo compete with Zed's amazeballs pedigree, position, and prior claim on Flick's feelings. But your man being just a little extra attentive and a scoche more possessive in the presence of a potential rival? Yes please. Very agreeable if not carried too far, and Authors Burke and Jensen don't let it get out of hand.
The tragedies that befall our heroes are testing and frightening and the stakes are unfathomably high: a renewal of the Human-Stin War with a side order of Species Four/the resonance in the stin's sights as well. Flick pays a horrible personal price to keep this from happening. Zed will have nightmares the rest of his life about Flick's sacrifice, its reason and its agent.
That's the set-up, however, for one of the best endings I've read in a book lately. The resolution of the war threat and the reward for Flick's horrifying sacrifice is...sweet beyond belief, balm for so many wounds these awful author-ladies have put our guys through. I would give the book five stars just for the ending.
I can't quite do that. The ashushk have had their major inning. The stin, well, not sure that we need a lot more stin assholishness but we'd be better informed if we saw a weentsy bit more of their culture for some whys. It's the resonance that causes me to dock a half-star from the rating. I know, because it's been made clear, that the series ends with book five. You introduce me to the resonance and expect I'll trot happily alongside the carriage as it briskly bowls AWAY from the coolest aliens yet?! (Sorry, Qek.) In one of this era's billion-page-per-volume nonillionologies, sure okay I get it we'll be back around this way one say soon.
BUT THIS IS IT!
So very not cool. I'm being kind because ending but absent that I'd probably bust this one down a whole star or even two for the tease this represents.
Write more books in this series, please. Not with Zed and Flick, even, just in the wonderful and rich universe. Space operas are a blast to read, and I am completely at your mercy, great BurkeandJensen, for writing a solid one with men like me in it.
There was more "w"-verbing at 74% but for that one and only time it was less than revolting in context.
I'll get to reviewing before long.
**A GOOD WHILE LATER**
So another solid four-plus star outing in a series whose SFnal street cred, if we could only get some straight boys to read it, would carry it far beyond the m/m ghetto. The resonance is my absolute favorite race so far, not excluding humans, because "fluffy yellow partner unit" made me laugh until my belly ached. I could *see* Flick's confused amused slightly insulted mostly bemused face when he heard that. Men with curly blond hair must get similar nonsense thrown at them all the time, and the fact that he's the reasonably public partner of the Emissary of the Guardians can't make life as a mop-top any easier.
The political elements of this outing are genuinely involving, again without reference to m/m content...well, except for the fact that Flick is the space equivalent of Alma Mahler Gropius Werfel, having bagged humanity's chief envoy Theo as well as Zed the Emissary. Ducks always envy the swans, hm? What is it about some people, anyway, that they can score the best and the brightest without seeming to bring anything all that exciting to the table themselves? But wait, Flick is...well...Flick is from a world where ambassadors are equivalent to unicorns and now his sweet, lovely ex is one and his amazing one-true-love man is one and he's, you know, just this guy. His head's whirling. He's interacting with the stin, the very same precise stin who tortured him almost to death during his four-year stint as a POW just cuz. He's way outside his comfort zone and he only gets more remote from it as Ambassador Theo the ex-lover sets Emissary Zed the one-true-love's teeth on edge and causes him to act like a sulky adolescent ninny. Which for all of me is the best moment in the book. I love that Zed gets all "my man step off or suffer" about his Flick. Sure it's silly! No way in hell can even the scrummy hotness that is Theo compete with Zed's amazeballs pedigree, position, and prior claim on Flick's feelings. But your man being just a little extra attentive and a scoche more possessive in the presence of a potential rival? Yes please. Very agreeable if not carried too far, and Authors Burke and Jensen don't let it get out of hand.
The tragedies that befall our heroes are testing and frightening and the stakes are unfathomably high: a renewal of the Human-Stin War with a side order of Species Four/the resonance in the stin's sights as well. Flick pays a horrible personal price to keep this from happening. Zed will have nightmares the rest of his life about Flick's sacrifice, its reason and its agent.
That's the set-up, however, for one of the best endings I've read in a book lately. The resolution of the war threat and the reward for Flick's horrifying sacrifice is...sweet beyond belief, balm for so many wounds these awful author-ladies have put our guys through. I would give the book five stars just for the ending.
I can't quite do that. The ashushk have had their major inning. The stin, well, not sure that we need a lot more stin assholishness but we'd be better informed if we saw a weentsy bit more of their culture for some whys. It's the resonance that causes me to dock a half-star from the rating. I know, because it's been made clear, that the series ends with book five. You introduce me to the resonance and expect I'll trot happily alongside the carriage as it briskly bowls AWAY from the coolest aliens yet?! (Sorry, Qek.) In one of this era's billion-page-per-volume nonillionologies, sure okay I get it we'll be back around this way one say soon.
BUT THIS IS IT!
So very not cool. I'm being kind because ending but absent that I'd probably bust this one down a whole star or even two for the tease this represents.
Write more books in this series, please. Not with Zed and Flick, even, just in the wonderful and rich universe. Space operas are a blast to read, and I am completely at your mercy, great BurkeandJensen, for writing a solid one with men like me in it.
susanscribs's review
4.0
Now that's more like it! Inversion Point is arguably the strongest entry yet in the Chaos Station series, with much less of the annoying "I'm not good enough for him" angsting that weakened Skip Trace and more of a focus on two strong characters working together to survive hair-raising adventures. Okay, there is some jealousy on Zed's part when Felix's former lover shows up (of course he is almost perfect, with none of Zed's "emissary of the Guardians" baggage), but at least Zed doesn't run away in a hissy fit. Felix shows remarkable growth from the previous book thanks to some therapy, and although he'll never be Mr. Charming he's a lot less hostile and prickly.
There is a lot of action in this installment - one shockingly violent scene in particular will not soon be forgotten - and an intriguing new species that bring the MCs closer in a way they never would have expected. It's a treat to catch up with the rest of the crew of the Chaos, especially Elias, who gets a little more of the spotlight than usual. And we finally get to meet members of the Stin species, who are responsible for Felix's worst nightmares. They're certainly not an admirable group, but the authors give them enough depth that they are not just cartoon villains either.
The god-like Guardians are thankfully quiet for most of the novel, letting our heroes save the day by themselves, with a little help from their new friends. Overall, this is a very strong M/M space opera with drama, romance and humor - just what I have been hoping for since I picked up Chaos Station. Not sure what the authors have planned for the finale, Phase Shift, but I will miss both main and supporting characters when the series is over.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There is a lot of action in this installment - one shockingly violent scene in particular will not soon be forgotten - and an intriguing new species that bring the MCs closer in a way they never would have expected. It's a treat to catch up with the rest of the crew of the Chaos, especially Elias, who gets a little more of the spotlight than usual. And we finally get to meet members of the Stin species, who are responsible for Felix's worst nightmares. They're certainly not an admirable group, but the authors give them enough depth that they are not just cartoon villains either.
The god-like Guardians are thankfully quiet for most of the novel, letting our heroes save the day by themselves, with a little help from their new friends. Overall, this is a very strong M/M space opera with drama, romance and humor - just what I have been hoping for since I picked up Chaos Station. Not sure what the authors have planned for the finale, Phase Shift, but I will miss both main and supporting characters when the series is over.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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