Linnea Sinclair

Stripped of her command, ex-Fleet Captain Chasidah Bergren is left to molder on the inhospitable, lawless planet of Moabar for a crime she didn't commit. So when her sometimes-nemesis, the presumed dead Gabriel Sullivan, turns up offering to stage a prison break if she'll help him track down who's responsible for breeding long-outlawed killing beasts called jukors, she quickly finds herself on board. Because whoever is responsible for the project is just as monstrous as the jukors show more themselves.

But that doesn't really do it justice. The real joy in Linnea Sinclair's Gabriel's Ghost are the characters. The story is told in first person, by the fantastic Chaz Bergren. She's Fleet all the way down to her toes and her training shows - she's calm in a crisis, thinks through her options and can take care of her own self, if you please. But at the same time, she's not the kind of girl to turn down a little rescuing from her friends. No running headlong into Dire Peril to prove a point for Chaz.

And then there's Sully - he's the best kind of scoundrel from his wicked grin, his quick endearments and his playful gambling streak to his secretly playing Robin Hood. It's obvious why he has the undying loyalty of his crew (who are also great) and it's equally obvious that he has a Gigantic Crush on Chaz and has for a long time. Which is why he used to hang around and taunt her and figuratively pull her pigtails back when they were on opposite sides of the law. And he definitely kept me giggling, which is really important if you're going to pull out a brooding tortured hero.

Because there is darkness to the story. The people Chaz and Sully are up against are some genuinely nasty folks doing genuinely nasty things. And Sully is harboring a dark secret - one that he can't always control and one that makes him an outsider from those he loves the most (see Tortured Alpha Hero). There's a lot going on for the characters - secrets, coming to grips with their relationship, finding the scourge of the galaxy, and plenty of explosions and blaster battles.

So, in short? This reminded me of the space opera I used to love to read and watch (and clearly still do). It's fast-paced and funny, and I've GOT to get hold of the sequel since the darned thing ends not quite on a cliff-hanger, but precariously close to the edge

More posted at A Hoyden's Look at Literature. show less

This may be my new favorite Linnea Sinclair book, which is pretty impressive, because I really loved Hope's Folly. Finders Keepers is fast-paced space opera with a dash of old school romance for flavor--just a dash, mind you.

Rhis had definite alphole hero potential, but he never crossed the line into "I want to kick him in the groin" territory. I have mad respect for that, because he very easily could have gone the punishing kisses route, yet didn't. He respected Trilby. I kind of want to show more hug him for that.

Trilby is one tough cookie. She built herself up from nothing, owns her own ship (it has...character), and doesn't take crap from anyone. Essentially, she's my favorite kind of heroine. I loved her. I loved this book. You should read it. :) show less

Review after re-reading 2015:

In this book we meet Captain Gillaine Davré – a military adviser for the Khalaran Confederation who has a liking for pub-crawling. We also meet the Kiasidira; a great sorceress from a legendary people called the Raheirans. As it happens, these two are one and the same, though not necessarily friends. Gillaine wants to be “just Gillie”, but possesses powers that she never asked for. Powers that make her feel isolated even among her own people.

When an show more accident flings her, and her sentient crystalship Simon, three hundred years into the future she sees a chance to have people look at her and just see her. Not a captain, not a sorceress, just a person. She sees a chance to develop normal relationships with people, most especially with one Admiral Mack Rynan. But things are not quite so easy, because three hundred years ago she saved the Khalaran people, and in the centuries since they have made her into a deity, the titular accidental Goddess. When an old enemy re-emerges Gillie has to decide if she’s willing to destroy in order to save; destroy an integral part of her adoptive people’s culture in order to face their adversary as her true, sorceress self.

An Accidental Goddess is a science fiction romance, with some elements that are arguably fantasy, and it’s a balanced blend of all those things. It’s a good science fiction story, atmospherically reminding me of Babylon 5, with culture clashes and space battles in and around the space station Cirrus One. It’s also a good romance novel, where Gillie and Mack are believable characters, their relationship moves forward with realistic bumps along the way. There are sex scenes in here, but they are well integrated, tasteful and not the main focus of the story (a mistake made by many authors who try to write science fiction romance, but end up writing science fiction erotica instead).
It’s debatable if a religion such the Khalarans belief in their Lady Kiasidira would have developed in span of just three hundred years, but I know too little of actual religion history to speak with any authority.

I love this book. It’s not perfect, but it ticked off so many of my favourite feel-good elements that I can do nothing but adore it. If you are a romance reader, I say give it a try. If you are a science fiction reader, I’d also say give this a try. It’s fun and easy, but also thought-provoking and action filled.

Original review from 2014:

When I started reading this I expected it to be a good romance, and it was, but it was also a surprisingly good science fiction novel. I got some Babylon 5-vibes from the atmosphere and setting (and I love me some B5!), and I also really liked the theme about how people's perception and memory of your actions will change with time after your death (or disappearance and subsequent time-travelling, as the case might be). For our main character, Gillaine Davré, that has resulted in an unexpected Goddesshood. I'm not entirely convinced a religion, such as it is in the book, would have developed in a timespan of merely three hundred years, but it is an interesting idea nonetheless. Furthermore, I would have liked it if the author explored the cultural ramifications of Gillaine's reappearance more than she did, but I still feel the futuristic elements are sufficiently thought-provoking to appeal not only to romance genre fans, but also to a majority of science fiction fans. There were some sex scenes in the book, as is to be expected of a romance, but they were well integrated in the story and none were overly graphic or alienating to non-romance readers. Overall this is a very enjoyable book with likeable characters, exciting action scenes and some sweet moments in-between. show less

I generally am not a fan of science fiction. I think mainly because the author has to spend so much time detailing the environment, inhabitants and cultures that the book often loses momentum for me and I lose interest unless the main characters are really strong. This was particularly true in the first 2/3rds of this book where I just couldn't find a way to relate to or care about the main charcters that much. That was especially not helped by the dual personality thing going on which, show more while I figured it's purpose out reasonably quickly, it was dislocating.That said, I really enjoyed the last third when I'd learnt enough about the main characters to be invested in them being successful in both the mission and the relationship.I probably won't seek out the second in the series though I'll pick it up if I run across it. show less