Silver Shark and Silent Blade by Ilona Andrews joint review

Silver Shark by Ilona Andrews (Kinsmen #2)

bought


Synopsis from Goodreads
Claire Shannon is a killer. She uses no weapons, only her mind.

Born on a planet locked in a long war, Claire is a psycher, a woman with the ability to attack minds and infiltrate a biological computer network where psychers battle to the death. But when the war abruptly ends, Claire must hide her psycher's ability to survive. She is deported to a new planet, a vivid beautiful place, where she meets Venturo Escana, a powerful psycher, whose presence overwhelms both her mind and her body.

She thought she had left war and death behind, but now she must fight for her new life and this battle might just cost her everything...
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Gorgeous, gorgeous book which left me absolutely jittery.


To start with my gushing I have to tell you that before my discovery of UF, I've read lots of sci-fi and lots of fantasy. So sci-fi for me is like putting on an old comfortable pair of tracksuit bottoms.


Why I love Ilona and Gordon writing is because of their clarity. The world-building is fresh and strong, the characters, their thoughts, feelings and motivations are crystal clear. It's pure pleasure reading their books, and even their novellas never suffer in quality.


You've read the synopsis, right? This was like Star Wars meet Hackers. Claire is a psycher who hijacks bionet (a virtual space) and kills enemies with her mind. Her world is bleak, grey and totally lacks emotions. When she has a chance to forge her identity and escape she doesn't hesitate.


The program for refugees leaves her on this bright, colourful, tropical planet where people love and laugh and wear their hearts on a sleeve. She  is shocked, flabbergasted and totally wants in.


She hides her abilities and gets a job as a personal assistant to a powerful psycher Venturo Escana, a gorgeous golden god... Aren't you rushing to buy the book yet? :) 

Sparks fly, sarcasm is aplenty, and I really want a full book out of this story, because it's that good. Best £2.16 I've ever spent. *wink*

9.5/10

Silent Blade by Ilona Andrews (Kinsmen #1)


bought


Synopsis from Goodreads
Old hatreds die hard. Old love dies harder.
On Meli Galdes’ home planet, the struggle for power is a bloody, full-contact sport—in business and on the battlefield. For years her lethal skills have been a valuable asset in advancing her family’s interests. She’s more than earned her right to retire, but her kinsmen have one last favor to ask.
Kill the man who ruined her life.
Celino Carvanna’s razor-sharp business acumen—and skills with a blade—won him the freedom to do as he pleases. There’s only one thing he can’t seem to control—his reaction to the mysterious woman who tantalizes his senses. Her eyes alone set his blood simmering, stirring ridiculous adolescent fantasies about breasts and honey. With a few words she dissects his soul. Who is she? And how does she slide so easily under his well-guarded skin?
It’s almost too easy to draw Celino within the kill zone. Meli plans to revel in him. Drink him in. Wring every drop of pleasure out of every moment.
And when she’s sure he belongs to her, she will finally repay a decade’s worth of pain—in a single, brutal dose of reality.
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You know what happened after I read Silver Shark? Right, I went and bought Silent Blade, because I craved more.

This short story was closer to The Edge world a had more of a love story than world-building. However the traditions and limitations of kinsmen were fascinating, and relationship between Meli and Celino were wry and sweet. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

8.5/10

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Буквально проглотила обо коротких рассказа от четы Эндрюсов. Сюжет - замечательная научная фантастика, какое-то скрещение Звёздных Войн и Хакеров. Я пищала.

Если вы такой же страстный поклонник Илоны Эндрюс как и я, ЧИТАЙТЕ ОБЯЗАТЕЛЬНО! Искры между парами так и летят, характеры превосходные, яркий мир так и хочется узнать получше. Сюжет выписан в синопсисах, поэтому по нему даже не прохожусь.