Alphabet Soup Challenge: Jess Granger - Beyond the Shadows

Commander Yara has spent years living without the distraction of caring for anything - or anyone. It's a sacrifice she's willing to make. Yara has honed herself into the perfect heir to the Azralen throne, but a bloody coup could destory everything she's worked so hard for. She must return home quickly to prevent war, but the only ship available belongs to an Earthlen trader with no regard for authority - especially hers.
Cyn is a rebel, driven to protect those suffering at the hands of the Elite leaders of Azra. Using his alias to manipulate the lovely but icy commander onto his ship, he has to keep her from Azra long enough to ignite the revolution. But when he awakens a vibrant and feeling woman between that icy exterior, he gets more than he bargained for - love. Can Cyn find a way to convince Yara to join them, or will they get caught in a web of lies and deception that could tear them apart?

Comment: Having read and liked the first book of this duology by author Jess Granger, I do have to say this is one of those cases of "why it took me so long to get to this" amazing gem in the pile. I mean, this book was really good and the only reason I can think of why I put it on hold for so long is I got the feeling this would be more about politics than society/planet rules, which I kind of wanted more after the first book. Thankfully, I was wowed and won over.

This story follows the happenings in the first book, which I read last year, and this time Cyn is the hero. He's the brother of Cyani, the heroine from the previous book.

Cyn, or Cyrus, is a rebel leader, he wants freedom and equality to his planet. The planet is ruled by a sisterhood but lately it's being more of a dictatorship and everyone walks in fear of what could happen if the Grand Sister is angered. Cyn thinks revolution needs to happen now and everything is ready for it but he needs someone from the Elite of the Sisterhood to help him open a sort of channel in order for the rebels and their allies to start the fight.

Yara is he next heir to the throne after Cyn's sister got out of the way. Yara only wants to defeat a rival before more bloodbaths and she needs to be at the temple/palace to do it. On her way she meets Cyrus and starts falling for him. But when she finds out the truth, can she help him? Or will she be the one to give him over to the Grand Sister?

I'm really giddy right now, this story has many of the elements I like in romance and the way the author used them here was perfect. It has adventure, romance, an interesting plot and a HEA!

I'm very happy this ended up being amazing, I just love when a book enraptures me this way.

The plot is simple, Cyn needs Yara to help the revolution happen in their planet. Yara is a product of the long tradition of the Matriarch ruling and she might not be convinced of the need for change but Cyn still needs to try. So he thinks he can kidnap her and give her to the rebels so she can be the face of change from a higher society group. During the time they must travel together they are, of course, wary of each other but slowly start to trust each other at the same time they feel a deep attraction.

This attraction thing is just the starting point, though. Their relationship is more complex and powerful than that and I loved how they got to fall in love. I think the author is very clever in how she creates her couples because Cyn isn't one of those overbearing I know best and Yara, despite her upbringing, isn't uppity and acts recklessly all the time.

Their relationship is balanced and I liked how Cyn changed his opinion of Yara and saw she wasn't like the other Elite females, she had feelings and she was worthy of his trust. Yara too thought badly of Cyn but she couldn't help seeing the goodness in him. Even when the possibility for treason and misunderstandings came, the author didn't make her stupid, she had her first reaction but after thinking about it she could see how Cyn really was an honorable man.

I loved all their scenes together, Cyn really needs to see Yara happy and safe and Yara can't help but wanting to see Cyn smile.

I mean, this should be whether too sugary, or too cliché, but honestly, their relationship felt so special, so beautiful, really perfect for my taste.

I think the author did well in balancing the sweetness but passion of the main couple's romance with their interesting personalities. I really like it when characters are proven wrong about others but instead of being silly about it, they act respectfully after realizing that. It was really good to see them interact.

Both of them had different upbringings, different views of reality. I liked the fact they didn't used those differences to the extreme to keep the other away, but their experiences together helped them save their lives in more action related scenes and in bonding too, for what one knows the other can learn from it too. Like I said, balance.

The resolution of the biggest issue was also well done I think. Some incredible scenes towards the end really made my day in terms of plot. The romance also ends up so sweet and amazing. I loved this book!
Sure, some parts seemed a bit more dragging, but they were few, I devoured this book in one day, I couldn't put it down. It was also very interesting to know more planets and their inhabitants and how their characteristics can help out heroes and why it's important for them to be like that. Very imaginative of the author. I think this could totally have more installments and hopefully it will one day after a certain character being mentioned as special.

All in all, a great story, wonderful really. I hope everyone can put aside any doubt about the sci-fi aspect if they don't feel like it, because this story was well thought, well structured and well executed for me! Amazing!

Grade: 9/10

Jess Granger - Beyond the Rain

After five years behind enemy lines, Captain Cyani has to complete one final mission before she can return to Azra-a planet ruled by a sisterhood of celibate warriors. Along the way she finds a prisoner, chained and beaten-but radiating feral power and an unbroken spirit.
For years Soren has endured torture as his captors leeched his very essence, a unique hormone then sold as a sexual narcotic in the shadow trade. Now he has been freed from slavery by a beautiful warrior woman with radiant blue eyes.
After years in bondage, Soren's hormones are so unbalanced that he will die if he does not mate with a woman. Can Cyani be the woman he needs to survive, or will this forbidden bond destroy them?

Comment: I got this book I don't remember when or why but after looking at the blurb again, suddenly it seemed promising and I added it to this month's reading list.

This book tells the story of distant alien worlds and in particular Cyani's story. Cyani is a warrior paying a debt by doing missions for her home planet. There's only one mission left before a life of solitude and silence awaits her as a celibate member of a sisterhood. During her last mission, she rescues a slave and she recognizes his species as intensely sensual.
Soren is finally rescued after years as a slave, and his captors have been stealing his essence, his hormones to sell in the black markets. After his rescue, it takes time to recover and his hormones aren't balanced so his attraction for Cyani is understandable...but after some time it becomes more than that and even his life is on the line.

I really enjoyed this story. I only thin the romance could have been a bit more passionate or intense but that can be explained by the protagonists themselves.
The world the author created is fascinating there are many planets, each one with different inhabitants and cultures and ways of living and acting. 

Cyani was born in a world ruled by a sisterhood that dismissed anyone who isn't highborn, something we understand much better during the book. Cyani is a warrior and she is close to go home and be alone. Deep down she doesn't want that but she feels is her duty and her penitence, also things we know more about as the story moves along. She is a brave woman and with a sense of honor very great. I think she was a little bit too pragmatic at times and I could see why it was difficult to empathize with her some times but overall, she was sweet and memorable.

Soren has been a slave for reasons we only dcover by the end of the book. He only wants to go home, in his planet people have personal gardens which are an extension of themselves, sort of. He thinks if nothing else he wants to die in his garden. His species are very peculiar and he needs to form a life bond with a mate. Only Cyani is available at first and he would like to keep her, but if there's one thing he understands is the power of choice, since his was stolen for so long. I found him intriguing and surprising and wanted to know more about him and his species and his way of life. His thoughts and actions show a man who respects and cherishes people and things and his character is the best. I think he could have been a bit more assertive in his behavior, usually women are portrayed more alike this, so in a way despite being pleased with his sweet and cute nature I also wanted a bit more decision making too.
The two of them were cute together and in the end I liked how their HEA happened and how everything turned out because if there's one thing we learn, their personalities mesh very well and are suited.

We learn quite a few things about the world, the other planets, the workings of things...it's refreshing and imaginative and I have to say I'm curious to read the second book, hopefully I will get it soon.
I think anyone who liked sci fi romance will appreciate this book for the tenderness, the novelty, the imagination and scenarios created and the clash of cultures when we balancing duty and love.
Grade: 8/10