Xin knows how to look out for himself, and he knows when something sounds too good to be true. But a forgotten planet filled with riches is too tempting to pass up. Fortunately Xin also knows someone who can back him up - if he doesn't arrest Xin first.
A government agent who's lost hope.
Jonathan Gray used to believe in a better future. Now he's not so sure. Then Xin walks in, with his dark eyes and maddening smirk, and Jonathan feels like he's waking up for the first time in months. Well, parts of him at least. He knows Xin is trouble, but when trouble looks this good it's impossible to resist.
Two men. One dangerous planet. To survive they need to trust each other - too bad neither of them does trust.
Solid scifi MM romance featuring elusive cheeky bounty hunter Xin, and the straightlaced Commonwealth agent Jonathan!
Apparently, these two have been circling each other for quite some time, and when Xin tracks Jonathan down with the promise of a long lost planet that just might have unforetold amounts of valuable tech, Jonathan reluctantly agrees to go with him to check things out. What Xin quickly realizes though is that Jonathan is not the same man he was a year ago, carrying secrets that have destroyed his desire to carry out the initiative he’s spent his entire life championing.
What these two find is a dying civilization that was cut off from the universe and is desperate to get their technology working again no matter what the cost. This means exploiting Xin and Jonathan’s resources but refusing to cooperate with the Commonwealth agenda that is sure to come once they leave the planet to report their findings. Things soon spiral out of control, and Xin and Jonathan fight for their lives while forced intimacy and extreme conditions ultimately break the barriers to their overwhelming attraction.
Despite a small dip in my enjoyment factor, I want to first say that this is a great series. It’s gritty, it’s smart, the writing is spot on for a space opera about a dystopian existence where humankind is trying to recover from almost complete annihilation by a collective artificial intelligence. Way more sexier than the previous book (thank you so much Ms. Dare!), this is the most romantic installment in my humble opinion, being tightly cohesive with the storytelling and the relationship progression.
But…. I missed the Wayward Prince and its off-kilter crew (don’t worry, they show up around the 85% mark). I missed the daring exploits and the crazy antics that get them into trouble and the ingenious ways they solve their problems. Sure, life does need a bit of sobriety to it now and then, and I did like this and have no doubt others will too. Xin is forever saucy and optimistic despite his sad past. Jonathan is forever noble and regains his idealistic aspirations to better the human condition. These two are yin and yang and become each other’s reasons to forge ahead for something more.
Overall, I just want to put my goggles back on and have a fantastic fun ride, and I can only hope and cross all fingers and toes that Dare chooses to bring us more wondrous adventures of this entire well rounded and fabulous cast! Cheers!
A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
