Mini reviews for 3 novellas

Space Junque (Apocalypto #1) by L.K.Rigel

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Synopsis from Goodreads
The DOGs want to destroy the world. The gods want to make a new one. The trick is to survive both.

The world is on the brink of ecological cataclysm set off by the Oil Spill of 2010 and the Great Sea Level Rise of 2070. Hydroponics agronomist Char Meadowlark has become a recluse since her fiance was killed by a terrorist bomb and her twin sister Sky went underground to protect a top secret alternative energy project. Warned about an impending eco-terrorist attack, Char tries to get off planet, but the Defenders of Gaia strike while she's at the airport. Shuttle pilot Jake Ardri might offer her only hope.

When the DOGs' onslaught goes global and the material world threatens to implode, the ancient gods reemerge to take control over humanity. Through the ensuing chaos, Char must juggle two men, a world on fire, and a goddess with an agenda for a new world order.
Will there be any room for love in flagrante apocalypto?
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* * *

The premise is very interesting. The characters - fascinating. The world-building is a hot mess. You're pretty much assaulted by images and glimpses of information from which you have to try and assemble what is happening in the world.

And there is crap loads of what's happening. This series isn't called Apocalypto for nothing. Environmental terrorists are killing the world. There are explosions, weird mutations, plagues and women becoming barren everywhere. Char is whisked away from the planet on a space ship where she meets its captain, Jake, a bastard son of The Imperor. As the world dying and new Gods arise, her future is full of tragedies, prophecies and very fragile love.

Read the book if you feel brave enough to embrace the madness. At least it's not boring.

* * *

Прямо фантасмагория какая-то! Характеры и идея истории очень интересны, но исполнение... Мама дорогая!

Террористы-гринписовцы уничтожают планету своими взрывами, Земля полна странных мутаций, чумы и женщин, переставших рожать. Император живёт на межпланетарной станции. Чар улетает с Земли в последний момент перед ядерными взрывами с помощью своего друга, близкого помощника Императора. На корабле она знакомится с капитаном Джейком, сыном-бастардом Императора. Пока мир рушится и рождаются новые Боги, Чар предстоит испытать трагедии, пророчества и такую хрупкую любовь...

7.5/10 

Spiderwork by L.K.Rigel (Apocalypto #2)

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Synopsis from Goodreads

Her fate was to hold the world together. His destiny was to tear it apart.

As a child, Durga was chosen by the goddess to save humanity from sterility and extinction. Soon she'll be eighteen and have to serve as a chalice - to provide natural-born heirs to kings and more souls for the universe. Khai, the scion of Luxor, has different ideas about the new world order. When he falls hard for Durga, he isn't afraid to show it. Khai offers Durga the love she thought she could never have - but accepting him will destroy everything she's been commanded by the goddess to build.

Meanwhile, Jake Ardri now heads an emerging city-state and desperately wants Char Meadowlark to be his queen. But as king of his city, Jake is commanded by the goddess to provide natural-born heirs. Can Char share Jake with a beautiful chalice, trained to take Jake to the heights of sexual ecstasy?  
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* * *

 In a way Spiderwork is less confusing, than Space Junque but less interesting as well. The story continues in the new world 8 years later. Little girl Durga possessed and chosen to lead the world by the goddess, is now 18 and starts changing her own life and views on chalices as soon as she falls in love with Khai. 

Again there is not enough world-building, instead there are glimpses of what's happening. The storyline jumps between Durga and Char and Jake's struggles for their love and the city they built. 

There is also a hint of another prophecy about a girl who will ruin everything Durga built... A guess next book will be about her. A mish-mash of stories and images, and I still couldn't see the whole picture.

* * *

Книга ещё хуже предыдущей. Мир всё-также остаётся необъяснённым и не меняется. Со времён первой книги прошло 8 лет. Джейк и Чар управляют городом, который построили, но по новым законам город у Джейк могут отобрать, если у него не будет детей. Чар бездетна и ему приходится взять одну из Чаш богини, женщину, что может родить. 

Дурга, девочка, которой богиня напророчествовала и приказала править в первой книге, достигает 18-летия и готовится стать одной из Чаш. Но когда она влюбляется в принца Луксора - Кая, её взгляды на жизнь Чаш и любовь кардинально меняются.

Опяь всё написано урывками и сосредоточиться, получить наслаждение от книги не получилось.  

7/10 

 Daimon by Jennifer L.Armentrout (Covenant #0.5)

bought

Synopsis from Goodreads
For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals—pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfill as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards... and that she'll never be prepared for that duty.

According to her mother, that’s a good thing.

But as every descendant of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return—the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death… because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill.

The daimons have found her.
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* * *

A book to give you a taste of what  Half-Blood will be like. Alex comes out as a strong independant girl and very much reminds me of Dru from Strange Angels series by Lili St.Crow whom I adore.


The prequel describes Alex and her mom on the run and hiding from Covenant. There is no explanation why they run, but Alex's attempts to live a normal life and go to school are pretty amusing, until her family is found by daimons. Then her only thought is to get back to Covenant.

* * *

Небольшая новелла-приквел к самой книге Полукровка. Алекс - сильный интересный характер и очень напоминает мне Дрю из Странных Ангелов. На этой ноте в принципе можно и откланяться, так как Дрю я люблю, а значит буду читать и эту книгу :)

8.5/10