BOOK REVIEW- THE CHRONICLES OF JEGRA Gladiatrix of the Galaxy by Tristan Vick

Making her a slave to the arena was their first mistake. Underestimating her will be their last. 

Jessica Hemsworth's life was turned upside down the day aliens decided to abduct her and sell her into the Galactic Gladiatorial Syndicate. Now, fighting on the desert moon Thessalonica, she is reborn as JEGRA, Gladiatrix of the Galaxy!

When the ruthless Emperor Dakroth of the Dagon Empire falls for Jegra, he decides to make her his new Empress. Before their wedding day, however, the Nyctan enemy fleet jumps into Dagon space and decimates Emperor Dakroth's royal battlecruiser. Now, marooned on the desert moon, he has no choice but to turn to his bride-to-be for survival. AMAZON  5 STARS

Wow, now that was one wild ride and a fairly long book that was chock full.  Intense, edge of your seat reading is just a few ways to describe it.  Action on top of action on top of action.   And there were plenty of betrayals and schemes going on with  more than just one person.  The Emperor was the main one but so many others had deceptions and mandates of their own.  Most were "people" who were not who they seemed.  Most of them were out to save their own butts at all costs, most needing to sacrifice Jegra in order to do that.  That made for some really good subplots in the story.  In fact, I have to give the author a round of applause at keeping all those plates spinning in the air without it becoming confusing or unpleasant.  I don't know how he did it but I appreciated it. Even without the others motives there was still a lot going on all the time. 
Speaking of Jegra, I really liked her.  She was a survivor and she had some pretty bad things thrown at her.   She has come a long way from the terrified, puny human who was enslaved.   She has been physically enhanced but she is also pretty clever when it comes to strategies.   I had to admire her grit.  And she does manage to pick up a few loyal friends along the way.  The sad part is that some of those friends didn't make it all the way through to the end of the book.  

The world building in this book was out of this world.  Pun intended.  The aliens appearances, culture and personalities were so well drawn and intricate in detail.  The battles were well described and some pretty smooth moves were involved.  So were some of the escape plans that Jegra and a handful of people had to come up with more than once.  

I guess the only thing that I didn't care for too much was that Jegra had a transsexual girlfriend.  To be fair though, after I went and looked on Amazon there was a mention of different sexual preferences.  If I had seen that earlier I might not have read this book which would have been a shame because it was really worthy of the 5 Stars I did give it.  Well, Jegra did seem to get around quite a bit sexually with other species.  At least I am thankful that her sexual escapades weren't really into a lot of detail.  

You also have to remember the language will be rough sometimes.  Remember Jegra had to become a fight to the death Gladiator and she couldn't afford to offer mercy.   She also became quite blunt and often considered quite crude at times.  

There is a H.E.A. for now sort of ending of the book. But the door is wide open for another adventure because a new enemy has shown up. 

 "I received this book in exchange for a review."