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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN num: 9780553589658
ISBN number: 0553589652
Label: Bantam
Manufacturer: Bantam
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 448
Printing Date: July 29, 2008
Publishing house: Bantam
Release Date: July 29, 2008
Sale Popularity Level: 12369
Studio: Bantam
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Product Description:
Can love alone save the day? Award-winning author Linnea Sinclair returns with a vibrant interstellar thriller of romance and adventure in which two lovers are tested in the crucible of deep space, where there are only…
Before her court-martial, Captain Chasidah “Chaz” Bergren was the pride of the Sixth Fleet. Now she’s a fugitive from the “justice” of a corrupt Empire. Along with her lover, the former monk, mercenary, and telepath Gabriel Ross Sullivan, Chaz hoped to leave the past light-years behind—until the news of her brother Thad’s arrest and upcoming execution for treason. It’s a ploy by Sully’s cousin Hayden Burke to force them out of hiding, and it works.
With a killer targeting human females and a renegade gen lab breeding jukor war machines, Chaz and Sully already had their hands full of treachery, betrayal—not to mention each other. Throw in Chaz’s Imperial ex-husband, Admiral Philip Guthrie, and a Kyi-Ragkiril mentor out to seduce Sully, and not just loyalties but lives are at stake. For when Sully makes a fateful choice, changing their relationship forever, Chaz must also choose—between what duty demands and what her heart tells her she must do.
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Rated by buyers -
This is Ms Sinclair's best book yet, but as someone said before don't read it if you have not read Gabriel's Ghost. If you are not a Romance reader don't let the overly Romance-ish cover keep you away from this book.
Shades of Dark is romantic, but it's also definitely the second book in a Science Fiction series. Things are evolving and in this book. Chaz and Sully's relationship, Sully's relationship with his crew and his mission, Sully's relationship with his mental powers, Chaz's relationship with her ex-husband and the political structure of the universe where the story takes place all change over the course of the action. Not all those changes are finished at the end, and that might be unsettling to readers looking for a quick Romance fix, but seen as part of a larger story arc this book works, and works well.
I really like that the lovers in this book are both experienced adults, not sweet young things. They have quirks and warts and baggage, and love each other anyway. Even yesterday and on-gong love story about more than two dimensional adults is a rare thing. I also really like that you could take out all the sex in the book and it would still work as a ripping good SF adventure. All too often in Science Fiction Romance the Science Fiction part of the plot is an afterthought. Linnea Sinclair is leading the pack of new writers who are working to change that.
Rated by buyers -
Linnea Sinclair is a master story teller, every word has meaning, every story is a work of art. This story picks up on our favorite characters, Chaz and Sully and it should not be missed, it is a breath taking tale! I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for the subsequent Linnea Sinclair book! Keep them coming.
Rated by buyers -
Linnea Sinclair's Shades of Dark, which is destined to be a sci-fi romance classic that I urge you to pick up as fast as you can. You will not be disappointed in the least!
Shades of Dark takes place three months after Gabriel's Ghost ends. Sully, Chaz and their crew are fugitives, trying to stop Sully's cousin and his partner in crime by taking over the galaxy. These villains are able to re-create mutant beasts called Jukors that were used by the Empire. Because these things were so dangerous and hard to control, the Empire stopped all creation of them. Sully and Chaz's self determined mission is to fine these illegal labs where the Jukors are being made and try and stop these horrendous clones before it is too late.
Things are a bit touch and go, especially because Sully is a rare human breed called a Kyi Ragkiril who has telepathic and telekinetic abilities. His kind are so feared that he would be killed right on the spot. Sully is slowly losing his identity as a human because he is not sure he can control his powers. His only hope is Chaz, who is his ky'sara. As his ky'sara, Chaz can feel all of Sully thoughts and emotions, and the same goes for Sully. They are soul mates in the literal sense and when Sully makes love to Chaz, she does literally see stars! Sully likes to show Chaz the stars a lot! Yup, much more intimate moments going on between Sully and Chaz here! :D
Even though Sully and Chaz are happy to be together, they are never safe, especially when her brother is arrested for treason. Now more than ever they must find these labs and through some rumors and inside information from associates, they may have the perfect man to aid them. His name is Regarth Serian Cordell Delkavra otherwise known as Captain "Del" Regarth who is also a Stolorth and a Kyi. He is willing to help for a price and seems to take an interest in Chaz.
As Del joins Sully and Chaz, Del helps train Sully to control his kyi abilities. But Chaz doesn't like the way Del works. Del is a sleazy yet seductive character who not only wants to have a special relationship with Sully but wants to be a part of what Chaz and Sully have together! Yup, an intergalactic Kyi ménage. Now before you all become shocked and think, why, is Linnea going to go where none of her stories have gone before, Del's "blackmail" shall we say, is very subtle. Chaz makes the assumption and Del doesn't deny or agree.
Chaz is in between a rock and hard place. Her brother may end up dead, Sully is loosing himself more and more as a Kyi and Del keeps giving her the dirty eye that makes her want to shower. And then her ex-husband Philip shows up and that is when the real fun begins!
Shades of Dark is a masterpiece of science fiction fantasy. This is everything I was looking for in a book from a stellar love story, some of the most excellent written characters that I have read in such a long time and some twists that made me shout out loud. I am not one to shout as I read, but Linnea's books tend to do that to me. For an author to bring such emotion from myself is truly a master. Shades of Dark is one of these books that is a work of art.
Katiebabs
Gabriel's Ghost
Rated by buyers -
I can't say anymore than what the others who have reviewed this wonderful novel have said, except, please let there be a third book. Yes I know Admiral Philip Guthrie is getting his own book called Hope's Folly in Spring 09 (which I'm dying to read), but please let us have more of Captain Chasidah "Chaz" Bergren and Gabriel Ross Sullivan. What a fantastic relationship. I want to see more as it grows.
Rated by buyers -
When we last left Chasidah Bergren, former pride of the Sixth Fleet, and Gabriel Sullivan, a rare human Kyi-Ragkiril, in GABRIEL'S GHOST they had just destroyed an illegal jukor lab on Marker and had barely escaped with their lives, thanks largely to Chaz's ex-husband, Admiral Philip Guthrie, and her estranged brother Thad. Both men now knew Sully's secret, a secret that could jeopardize both of their lives. They had also learned that the political corruption went all to the top of the Imperial government, with First Barrister Darius Tage who they had trusted unquestionably with the most sensitive information pulling the strings along with Sully's cousin, Hayden Burke, who had been endowed with the Sullivan fortune and intended to keep it. Power corrupts and it will affect the heroes as well as the villains in their subsequent incredible adventure, SHADES OF DARK.
When we pick up their story, the Boru Karn is on a mission to destroy a second, space bound, jukor lab but they are not exactly sure where to locate it. Guardian Drogue, an Englarian Monk and Sully's former mentor, had arranged for them to meet with an informant known only as Dell on Narfial. When Chaz taps into a news beacon, her largest concern is that information regarding Sully's feared and abhorred talents had been broadcast across the galaxy. If that were the case, their connections would quickly dry up and Sully would face unbearable rejection from every one whose respect he had earned or whose trust he had carefully cultivated, including his crew. The news is not good. Although there is no mention of Sully's genetic aberration, Chaz learns that her brother has been imprisoned, and knows that Tage and Burke will stop at nothing to get the information they want from him. Should Thad resist, a Stolorth Ragkiril would glean his knowledge the hard way. Either way Thad was dead man. Although Chaz is torn with the strong need to rescue her brother, her Fleet training kicks in, and she knows that the needs of the many supercedes the needs of the one. They must get to Del ASAP before the damning information is revealed.
Sully agrees, but more trouble soon follows. When they are intercepted by a Farosian Infiltrator, it becomes painfully obvious that a trusted member of his own crew had betrayed their trust. Painful as it may be, Sully knows he must break his hard and fast rule about probing his friends' minds and discovers the culprit.
Sully's fears regarding the confrontation are justifiable. Kyi-Ragkirils are highly motivated by strong emotions, both pleasure and pain. His relationship with Chaz, his bondmate, has strengthened his power radically and he doesn't know what's happening to him or how to control it. It frightens him. Predictably he loses control during the interrogation and Chaz is forced to take drastic action.
With the conspirator confined, the Karn proceeds to the rendezvous point. Another surprise awaits them in Del, one who will test Sully beyond anything he could ever have imagined, putting both his personal ethics and his relationship with Chaz into question. The Kyi is seductive and Sully's new mentor is not endowed with human morality. What price will these lovers pay for his assistance?
I have read books that I couldn't put down before, but nothing has compared to the experience of reading SHADES OF DARK. I found myself hurtling through space, experiencing every twist, every emotion, every betrayal and every victory. There were moments (many) in which Del made my flesh crawl, as his culture and will collided with Chaz and Sully's. Yet in the end he was honorable in his own way. Chaz's self control astounded me, while her compassion left me completely in awe. Sully, what can I say, this is a trial by fire for him and he emerges sadder but wiser. Granted he makes grave errors on the way to finding himself but there is nothing he will not do in order to redeem himself. The love he and Chaz share is inspirational.
All I can say is wow, this book should win every literary award on the planet, and then some. If you read one SF romance this year, make it SHADES OF DARK. And if you haven't yet read GABRIEL'S GHOST run, don't walk, to the nearest bookstore and read it first. BTW fans of this series - get excited! Ms. Sinclair is currently working on a story for Admiral Philip Guthrie, which she is calling HOPE'S FOLLY. I personally cannot wait. ~ Reviewed for PNR Reviews "Staff Top Pick"
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