This is an anthology edition of the Kinsmen Universe, which includes
SILENT BLADE, SILVER SHARK, plus a new short story, and three original
illustrations. Family is everything. Talent is power. And revenge is
sweet. In a distant, future world Kinsmen-small powerful groups of
genetically and technologically advanced families-control vast financial
empires. They are their own country, their own rulers, and their only
limits are other Kinsmen. The struggle for power is a bloody,
full-contact sport: in business, on the battlefield...and sometimes in
the bedroom.
Silent Blade - Old hatreds die hard. Old love dies
harder. On the planet Rada, Meli Galdes' family is of minor rank, and
were relying on her marriage to Celino, the razor-smart, ruthless leader
of the powerful Carvanna empire. When he abruptly breaks their
engagement, he ruins her family and guarantees that Meli will never
marry, as no suitor will oppose the rich and influential Carvannas. But
Meli has a rare, secret, lethal-and valuable-talent. As a melder of
energy, she's capable of severing anything in her path. So she 'leaves'
her family and trains to become one of the best and most lethal of
assassins, all the while covertly guarding her family's interests. Now
she's ready to quit; but she has one more assignment. To kill the man
who ruined her life.
Silver Shark - Claire Shannon is a
killer...and her weapon is her mind. Born on a planet torn by war for
over 300 years, Claire is a soldier: a psycher, with the ability to
read, control, and destroy the minds of enemy psychers and to infiltrate
the biological network where they battle to death. When Claire's
faction loses the war, she barely escapes extermination from both sides,
as her talent brands her as too dangerous to society. By so-deeply
burying her ability that she avoids detection, Claire is instead
deported to Rada as a refugee, where she must find work to remain. She
finds a job as personal assistant to Venturo Escana, a premiere kinsman;
one of Rada's most wealthy entrepreneurs-and most powerful psychers.
She thought she had left war behind, but now she must hide her skills
and her growing feelings from Venturo...and this battle might just cost
her everything...
A Mere Formality - The leader of the fierce
Reigh people expires during an intergalactic summit, putting 30 million
colonists' lives and livelihoods in jeopardy. When the new heir to the
Reigh throne, Lord Nagrad, demands restitution, the phrase "a life for a
life" turns the intergalactic calamity into an arranged marriage
contract between Lord Nagrad and sharply intelligent diplomatic analyst
Deirdre Lebed... and the negotiation of terms becomes anything but formal...
4.5 STARS
SILENT BLADE thoughts-
This
was a shorter story but it was pretty full. And I did enjoy it. It's
also the first time that I have read any of the Kinsmen stories.
I really liked gutsy Meli even though she had become a assassin. The information about her skills and how she operates was different but good.
Celino just wants to be free and he is but he never counted the cost for Meli. Brilliant guy but at times clueless. Yes, he was ruthless too and entitled. He wants something he goes after it no matter what.
The continuing question throughout the story of course is, "Is she really going to kill him?"
I did like how the story ended. A longer story I wouldn't have minded at all though.SILVER SHARK thoughts-
Wow, the world building in this one is off the charts fantastic !!!
The beginning of the story showed the grimness of a long drawn out war. Other than to say that in each story there were some kick-butt women That was shown from Claire's point of view and it also shows a lot of lack and hardships. Claire comes from a very gray, colorless world. It's bland in every way. The world that she is deported to is completely opposite. Colorful, prosperous but still savage in some of it's ways.
Venturo makes for an interesting, powerful person and Claire has quite the time of hide and seek going on with him.
While I really enjoyed all of them, I think this one had to be my favorite of the three. And the drama towards the end made for a good ending.
A MERE FORMALITY thoughts- this one was quite the surprise. Not even sure how to explain it without giving too much away.
Other than to say that in each story there were some kick-butt women matched against some tough, skilled men who never saw them coming! Loved that !
On a final note the drawings in the each of the books are outstanding and add so much. Truly beautiful!
I read this book through HOOPLA.
No comments:
Post a Comment