Title: The Tide of War
Series: Defending Epsilon, Book 1
Author: Lori A. Witt
Genre: Science-Fiction, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy (ish)
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: June 22, 2015 by Riptide Publishing
Lieutenant Commander Kyle West is one of Earth Fleet’s greatest fighter pilots. Every day, he leads his squadron into battle over Earth’s cities in a seemingly endless war against a vicious alien race, defending his home and his loved ones.
Millions of miles away, the Fleet’s Elite Squadron attacks from another angle, engaging the enemy on its home turf. Casualties are high, and the Squadron needs more of the Fleet’s very best. But joining the Elite is a death sentence—a surety Kyle isn’t willing to face. Until a devastating attack wipes out the family he refused to leave.
Commander Andrei Dezhnyov, an Elite Squadron gunner, isn’t sure what to make of the cocky new American pilot. Kyle is equally uncertain about the snarly Russian, but as they warm up to each other, their tentative alliance becomes a deep bond—one that endangers them both when a daring and disobedient rescue reveals secrets that call into question everything they’ve ever believed about their enemy. Secrets that their superiors would kill to protect.
Reviewed by: J9
In a Nutshell: Very good science-fiction read but not a strong romance.
Why I Read This Book: Sci-fi nerd here and the synopsis caught my attention.
What I Liked: This book was complex and engaging. The world building is gorgeous with humans unified in a fight against aliens. The progression of the war to its ultimate OMG conclusion was captivating for this sci-fi fan. I also loved how complex all the relationship were. The men and women in this book are living frantic lives, trying to eek out pleasure and meaning while engaging in a horrific war that’s destroying them mentally and physically. Kyle’s relationship with his gunner is particularly powerful, as is Dez’s with his squadron mates. This is a wonderful sci-fi story that fans of that genre should adore.
What I Didn’t Like: This isn’t a romance. First let me say, gay romance purist will not like how this book starts with Dez. Once I changed my premise of reading a romance, found I could enjoy the book a lot more. Second, the synopsis makes this sound like a traditional gay romance but it TOTALLY isn’t! The sexual intimacy is barely PG and the emotional intimacy barely more. What emotional intimacy is here is derived more from the plot and the characters’ loneliness than a connection to each other, IMO. Dez has a more sexually and emotionally intense relationship with another person than Kyle. In fact, I thought Kyle and Dez were drawn together more out of mutual grief than because they were emotionally connecting.
IMO: Romance fans will want to look elsewhere but sci-fi fans should absolutely read this book.
J9’s Rating:
Though I think I'd like to hear this book has more romance, the rest of it sounds really good! Adding to my list, thanks for the review :]
ReplyDeleteIt's a stellar sci-fi and that twist ending was great!
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