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.
