Book Review - Spanning Worlds (Saving Askara #3) by J.M. Link
He’s tall, quiet, and evades her at every turn…
Virologist Kemina Perez didn’t think to be at the center of a fierce alien’s fight to save his species. But now she is, and it’s put her on an interesting path—one filled by a dark Askari with beautiful green eyes and a reserve that makes her have to corner him just to get him to talk to her. There’s something special about Jadar, though; she can’t quite put her finger on it. When Mina does, turns out she’ll span worlds and more just to stay by his side.
***
Jadar’s seen enough of Aderus’s trials with Tori to know he’d rather keep his distance when it comes to their new allies. Except there’s one who refuses to leave him be…even if he can’t deny the appeal of her springing tresses and inquisitive mind. To wage a combined war, they’ll have to work together, and in doing so, help him kindle a part of himself he’s never really forgotten.
*WARNING* Not intended for readers under 18. Contains explicit sexual content.
I ended up liking book three a little more than book two, probably because the plot progressed more here. Some might say it moved too fast, and I have to agree. Besides the romance, I thought we'd spend more time with everyone preparing for war—maybe upgrading weapons or strategizing in detail—not just focusing on the suits. We don’t even get much interaction with the people wearing them; most of it is just background information.
The pacing is definitely off. The story starts somewhat relaxed, then suddenly shifts into a jarring sense of urgency. The editing was also a bit rough in places—for example, Jadar “purred” far too often, which became distracting. Other than that, the book was okay and had the potential to be better.
I also didn’t think I would enjoy Jadar and Mina’s relationship, since I wasn’t interested in them when they were first introduced, but I did. They’re likable and work well together, though their relationship doesn’t get as much build-up as Aderus and Tori’s. For that reason, some readers might find it a bit rushed, too.
If there’s a fourth book, there seem to be three potential couples it could focus on: Braxas and Liv, Roz and Xaphan, or Smith and Tannin. I was glad to see the albino Askari make an appearance here. He’s not nameless anymore—he’s Tannin.
Book Review - Chasing Earth (Saving Askara #2) by J.M. Link
Tori knows Aderus sees dealing with Earth as necessary to an unlikely, but last-ditch effort to save his world; as she tries to bridge the gap between two vastly different species while proving she’s more than just some unimpressive human. But her fascination and his frustration have led to an attraction she’s unprepared to handle. Or more precisely, the consequences of acting on it. Which not only involve changes to her body, but struggling with what the fierce Askari inspires...and what’s actually possible between them.
***
Aderus never imagined a creature like Tori would be what he has come to crave, even over his own kind. The sentiments she provokes perturb as much as they entice him and understanding her proves a separate challenge. But when his actions result in an unintended threat to the balance of power in an alliance between their two races, he is forced to weigh his trust in her against the only thing that matters to him. Or so he thought.
*WARNING* Not intended for readers under 18. Contains explicit sexual content.
This book picks up right where the first one left off. The good news is that we get more of Aderus and Tori’s relationship. The downside is that I can’t remember anything particularly noteworthy to mention beyond that, the hybrid ships, and what happens to Tori. The story is shorter, and Tori was sidelined for most of it. She was quarantined in her room because of the “virus,” which turned out to be Henry, and it ultimately wasn’t as big of a deal as I expected.
Tori doesn’t really do much during this time. She’s supposed to be both a doctor and an ambassador, but neither role amounts to much here. I honestly thought she’d be researching, running her own tests, or even comparing notes with others. If not that, maybe getting more involved as an ambassador by using what she learned from Aderus to create a more accommodating environment for the Askari—but none of that really happens either.
Ambassador Wells, despite being painted in a negative light, actually seems to be doing his job. He may not be trusted with vital Askari information, but he does his best with what little he’s given. It’s a missed opportunity for Tori, because if she had shared what she learned—for example, surface-level information about the Askari, such as their dislike of being touched, the need for personal space, or dietary habits—it could have added more depth to both the story and her character. Instead, it highlights how the character framed as unlikable ends up being more effective than the one we’re supposed to root for.
Point is, I was a bit disappointed. I read the author’s note and understand that the publisher wanted to split it, but the result is a book that’s shorter and feels weaker. It wouldn’t have been as bad if there had been more… not fluff, but more fleshing out. There was plenty of space to include additional scenes that expanded the plot and added depth to the setting and characters.
We’re also introduced to a new character, Dr. Kemina “Mina” Perez, a virologist, who will take center stage in book three along with Jadar. Okay, I guess. Neither made much of an impact on me when they were first introduced. If anything, I was more interested in getting to know the nameless albino Askari. Sadly, I doubt we’ll get much on him, but who knows—I’ve only just started book three, so I might be pleasantly surprised.
Book Review - Saving Askara (Saving Askara #1) by J.M. Link
Victoria's day starts out like any other aboard the transorbital ship, Phoenix. Such is the life of an emergency medicine specialist in the age of "post-discovery". Sure, she had always dreamed of interacting with intelligent extraterrestrial life- the real thing, not those microbes on distant moons. Who wouldn't? She was still happy with her career, however mundane and demanding it might be. That's what it took to run a ship the size of a small city smoothly. Monotony. But all that changes one morning, and suddenly she's not so sure she didn't stick her foot in it...
Be careful what you wish for.
***
Escape had been their only drive, and even death was preferable to the alternative. But they never thought their flight for freedom would put them in an uncharted system. Forced to interact with an isolated world and its inferior, albeit curious people. When it affords them an unforseen and unprecedented opportunity to take back their world from those who seek to destroy them, however, Aderus begins to wonder if it wasn't fate. Earth's proposal is shocking and uncomfortable for a fierce, independent race that relishes in their solitude. But the more he learns of humans, the more he comes to admire and respect them. One, in particular.
I’ve only recently started exploring the non-human x human sci-fi romance / erotica genre, and I enjoyed this one more than others I’ve read so far. It’s perfect for readers who want their romance to have more substance instead of diving straight into the smut. The relationship between the characters develops gradually rather than instantly, which makes the connection feel more natural.
The Askari and humans are very different, both physically and culturally, so Aderus and Tori must work together to better understand each other. This slow-burn approach might feel drawn out for some readers, but it gives the romance more depth and emotional payoff.
As for the sci-fi aspect, it isn’t heavily emphasized, but there’s enough detail to create a vague picture of their universe. I imagine this will be developed further in book two. Readers who prefer something highly realistic and meticulously detailed might not enjoy this as much.
At times, I felt tempted to be nitpicky—like when Tori sticks out her hand for a handshake. I get that she was nervous when meeting the aliens for the first time, but personally, I wouldn’t have done that at all. And if I had, I would have quickly put my hand down, explained what it meant, and asked if they had their own way of greeting. After all, they are aliens. You’d need to explain every little reaction, mannerism, and social norm (things that are second nature to humans) to prevent misunderstandings. For all you know, smiling at them—especially with teeth—or staring into their eyes for too long could be considered a challenge or an insult.
You wouldn’t know unless you asked a lot of questions, but that’s difficult when the Askari aren’t talkative. Tori herself might be bothersome to some readers, as she often makes these kinds of mistakes and expects Aderus to act like a human would. Personally, I don’t mind it too much, and as long as you suspend disbelief and remember this isn’t meant to be realistic science fiction, it works. Still, I doubt they would have chosen someone like Tori—a space doctor with no training in first alien contact. And if she does have training, it certainly doesn’t show here. But I digress.
This ends on a cliffhanger, but I’m glad I don’t have to wait since I can start the next book right away to find out what happens. Overall, it was fun to read, or rather to listen to.
