Idle Traveller

• Rated 0 stars

“This was a short fun read but nothing that special - not something that I would reread for example. Forget the hype, just read it for a few chuckles after a hard day's work. And check out their blog which is a lot more fun...”

Idle Traveller wrote this review Friday, April 17 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I started this about 2 (or possibly 3) seconds after finishing THE MOON'S SHADOW as I desperately needed to find out how Jai and Kelric dealt with each other - two powerful men on opposite sides of a galactic conflict who are related by blood and ability, not to mention character and vulnerabilities. If you're looking for a subtle read, this isn't it. But to hell with subtle. This soap opera in space pulled all the emotional strings that you could wish and left me vainly searching for my next high.

I had to admit to being a lot more invested in Jai than Kelric as his is the more interesting arc not to mention the more hearbreaking situation. However the first part of the book is basically a huge tease with their parellel stories acting out and their adorably skewed view of the other vis a vis their own insecurities. I was basicallly frothing at the mouth for them to FINALLY meet and for Kelric to realise what Jai actually is to him.

And it was bloody worth the wait.

But no - have to have to have to have to find out what happens next. Asaro - you can't just leave me hanging like this - come on. WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!
”

Idle Traveller wrote this review Wednesday, April 8 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Bloody hell - I loved this book.

It's a much darker book than I expected from Asaro whom I had previously classed as a "warm fuzzy" writer - yes, Jai is rather emo at times but he's a teenager and an empath, and is basically deep undercover in hostile territory and will be for the rest of his life. I really felt his deep loneliness and ever-present fear - as well as his intelligence, strength and complete rock-solid core of decency. The way his empathic abilities were both a source of salvation and huge danger really ratcheted up the dramatic tension to the point where I was practically reading with my nose glued to the page - something I haven't done since I was a teenager.

And can I just say how much I loved Tarquine. The ultimate powerful sexy lady, not to mention plenty scary... For a pairing that really shoulnd't have worked, it really did. This is the third book I read by Asaro with an experienced older woman paired with a younger comparatively inexperienced man - and this pushes that trope to the limits, and gets away with it. Obviously need to start looking for my own toyboy after all of this ;-).

As soon as I finished this, I started THE RUBY DICE. This was at midnight on a work night. Asaro is obviously very very bad for your sleep.
”

Idle Traveller wrote this review Wednesday, April 8 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Another can't-put-down book from Asaro.

I don't tend to read sci-fi or even "near future" - I was attracted by this book because it seemed to resemble Tanith Lee's much loved THE SILVER METAL LOVER in terms of a romance between a human and a machine. However, it's not at all similar even though it does pose similar questions on what really makes us human, as well as being an altogether excellent love story.

Again, there's the sciencey-stuff which, given Asoro's biography, probably makes more sense than in other similar books. It was interesting enough but I'm sure would be absolutely fascinating coming from a more techy background than I do. What interested me here was more the questions behind the technology. Even at the end, I was still unsure about whether Pascal was human - I read it as pretty ambiguous. However, the central question is whether it really matters. And I loved Sam - smart, competent and thoroughly decent: she and Pascal were well matched with their complementary strengths and vulnerabilities.

I wouldn't go as far to say that this is great ground breaking literature but it's certainly extremely enjoyable and a fun way to spend an evening.

”

Idle Traveller wrote this review Wednesday, April 8 2009. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“I'd always been meaning to try Asaro but somehow never got round to it until I downloaded a free ebook copy of this book from Baen's site. I'd always somehow thought that Asaro was hard sci-fi and been scared off as a result, but this was basically hugely enjoyable and addictive space opera with a dollop of romance. I gulped it all in one sitting.

The characters are extremely likable - Soz especially is a very strong and sympathetic protagonist, as are most of the supporting characters. Jaibriol, however, never really struck me a fully realised character - partly because we never see things from his point of view, and also because he's not really "on stage" for most of the book. As for the techy part of it, I found it surprisingly interesting - the mesh (ahem) between the human, the technology and the empath. The world-building was slightly disappointing - the politics of it didn't really make a huge deal of sense but then, this is space opera after all...

Definitely great popcorn reading with an emphasive on addictive. Immediately after finishing this book, I ordered every other book I could find on Baen's website (damn you, free ebook promotions!!) and was scanning other online retailers for others. I probably need to mention that this was at 1.30am and I was due to get up for work in 4 hours.

”

Idle Traveller wrote this review Wednesday, April 8 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“C

As the title suggests, this is romantica rather than straight romance which is the reasons for the incubus hero and werewolf heroine - the amount of sex these two engage in in the most stressful of circumstances would be beyond us lesser motals... And I had to say I laughed at the idea of a hero who is compelled to service any woman (and it is strictly women) who requires servicing. Except of course when he "bonds" with the heroine in which case it's all forced monogamy, baby ;-).

As romantica goes, it's not badly written and the two protagonists are pleasant if not particularly original or interesting. The worldbuilding doesn't make a great deal of sense but then I wasn't expecting it to, or all that interested to be perfectly honest. The sex scenes were hot if rather unrealistic, and there is a particular BDSM scene which is both ludicrous and probably insulting to those who do practice BDSM. I did like the idea of a hero who actually does have a valid (if contrived) reason for not wanting to fall in love but the love story itself was pretty undeveloped.

Conclusion: not a bad way to spend a couple of undemanding hours. I'll probably read the next one featuring the half vamp/half incubus brother for more of the same. Gotta have me some vamps...

”

Idle Traveller wrote this review Thursday, March 12 2009. ( reply | permalink )