Louise Wise - Eden

Imprisoned for brutal crimes against his wardens, Fly became an unwilling experiment and was transported, with other criminals, to a hostile planet. Full of mutiny, anger and a desire for revenge the experiment was never going to be successful and Fly became the only survivor when the craft crashed.
Then the human ship arrived -- and Jenny.
With a malfunctioning spacecraft she was in for a fight for her life, but her problems were only just beginning when her crewmates abandon her on Eden.
Jenny's on her own... or so she thinks.

Comment: I got this book because it would feature a sci fi setting with a possible romance. It's not as if this is a genre I look for on purpose, but I must have seen it recommended somewhere...

Jenny and her two crew members Bodie and Matt are in a spacecraft and have the mission to investigate a specific planet, which apparently has some animal life. When they land, they start investigating, but the sudden appearance of a being who resembles human shape but is different at the same time, scares them and after some issues, Matt and Bodie manage to get back to the spacecraft and leave, abandoning Jenny with the "creature". After some trial and error, Jenny realizes she needs to survive and after a while she and the man shaped alien, of a race called Itor, establish a connection and even start communicating. As the days go by, Jenny needs to adapt and close proximity also plays a role in how she sees Fly, her new companion. Things even start changing for the better between them, but Jenny still hopes her crew members will come back, even more so when Bodie is her uncle. But if they do, will life remain the same with Fly?

This isn't a big story, and it seems clear the author was more concerned about writing the pertinent elements. On one hand, this is great, no overdone (pointless) stuff, but then it feels as if the story isn't as encompassing as it could, and I've felt the world building could have been presented better. Some readers also criticize the romance and how lacking in details it is, but this actually didn't bother me.

The story is set in Eden, a planet that seemed to be deserted but actually has life forms and characteristics to sustain them. We aren't told much about the life the three crew members had before they embarked on this mission, those details are shared from time to time as the plot develops. I've found this tactic to be a good choice, because it does allow the readers to make their own minds about them and how they are, personality wise. Still, Jenny is seen as someone determined and positive and committed. Her uncle Bodie is the one in charge and he is an expert at several things, he seems to be a reliable person. Matt, however, is impulsive and resentful of Jenny advancing on her career whereas Matt believes he isn't.

As things develop and Jenny gets stuck in the planet when an apparent malfunction of the craft leaves without her, we have glimpses of everyone's personalities in their actions. Jenny stays in the plant, needs to adapt, needs to establish a connection with Fly, the alien who seems to be compatible with humans (of course!) and they become a team. At first Flye does it so jenny has chances of surviving, he even offers her shelter and food, but we are aware of his thoughts and know he will want her to be his mate/companion.

I suppose one can say the romance isn't really a fair one, and there are a few scenes where this seems obvious. The author still went on with the relationship and in that specific context, with the details we got to see, perhaps it wasn't that terrible in my opinion, and Jenny even has some inner reflections which give the situation a certain fantasy-like vibe, and since this is a sci fi romance, I mean... Basically, the romance cannot be the ideal one we would prefer in different genres, but here I wasn't that concerned. Plus, for an alien Itor demonstrates very human like emotions and the reader is always aware of his thoughts.

Things seem to go well enough for the type of story one is expecting, and around half way, things change, when Matt and Bodie, who have been in orbit, crash in the craft. Jenny and Fly rescue them but, of course, this changes the dynamics. This second part of the story wasn't as great, because the intimacy and almost simplicity of their life now has two new players. I won't go into spoilers but it's a fact this new situation brings new challenges. I confess I was a little annoyed at this point, for two main reasons. First, a lot of things became predictable and then, the way things go on make the end of the book a little too convenient.

I think the author had a good plan, nevertheless, and I can only suppose such a situation could only go on in a certain path, even psychologically, but there are details I would change. In a way, the connection between all elements is there, but some aren't as smoothly done or as well structured as it would be ideal. Plus, with the notion the world building is too contained, makes some parts feel weaker by comparison. Also, there are moments that if one starts thinking in logical or scientific ways, or tries to use common knowledge of what to do when in face with unknown facts that might jeopardize human life, would make reading this quite a task for the mind. But I suppose the idea here was never to offer a study in real science methods.

This story is the first I try by the author and it seems as if she is independently publishing. I would say I liked her book way better than other books similarly published and perhaps with professional editing, this might be a much better work, for the bases and the content are all there. Despite thinking this, I doubt I'll read the second book. The end of this one wasn't the best thing ever, but I prefer to let my imagination live with the scenario the author offered...

Grade: 7/10