This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Sci-Fi Romance
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Released on January 29, 2019
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
The Delight
A psychic and elemental-gifted cat alien, a desperate human anthropologist, and a motley crew of aliens work to discover what they can about a deadly plague and the conspiracy behind it. Oh yeah, this was my kind of light sci-fi -(though whew, doggies, it was spicy) – romance. A new to me author gave me a a fun alien space adventure.
Review
Mystic was the second entry in the Cat Star Legacy series which is a next generation to the original Cat Star Chronicles series. The children from the earlier books are all grown up and getting their own romances in the stars. This was my first encounter with the author, series, and Cat Star world, but I had no problem jumping in at this point since there were good explanations of what went before and how things got the way they are now even while starting a standalone action plot.
Aidan has a vision that leads him to the unsettled side of the planet in time to rescue a woman who he sees in a vision falling from the cliff. This rescue begins a new adventure in his heretofore rather isolated life because one touch has him seeing a person’s whole future and being around new people can give him distracting visions about them that he knows he needs to keep to himself so they will live the life they were meant to live. This means he tends to keep to himself and avoid touching people. He’s a good guy who volunteers at an orphanage and helps his friends, but he sees himself as less accomplished than his cousins who have all gone out in the galaxy to make names for themselves. Now, he encounters a woman whose future is closed to him, but he can tell she’s in bad trouble and needs help. His time to step up and live his destiny has come.
Sula watched her lover die of a horrible plague while they were out studying primitive primates on a newly discovered planet and is the only person who knows the truth of how that disease was spread. She’s looking for the reason for what was done on a distant world while trying to stay one step ahead of those who would shut her up for good as the only remaining witness. She realizes that she can’t do it all alone and must trust Aidan and his friends to help when trouble catches up and nearly kills her. It doesn’t hurt that she finds Aidan attractive and that her grief over losing Raj doesn’t mean that she can’t love again.
One of my favorite sci-fi scenarios is when there’s a conspiracy and it takes a quirky crew of underdogs to come through. Aidan and his friends all have different alien gifts and Sula might be human, but she’s very smart and knows what evidence to seek. Aidan was so good and sweet. He is generous and caring, but the poor guy thinks his being a mystic will have him permanently alone since he can’t imagine sharing a life with someone and always seeing their future. But, Sula is different. Her future is closed to him and she is respectful of all his gifts and sees why he needs to keep them to himself. She sees the good man he is and wants that.
Now, they are aliens and yep, we have some interesting sexual features. I wasn’t that enamored with the physiology discussions about alien sex parts and the alien sex or that they went at it like mad once they got started and it took up the focus of the third quarter of the book, but, not like it doesn’t come with the territory.
The conspiracy wasn’t that hard to work out or who was behind it and why, but it was a good one for driving the story forward and heightening the danger and suspense. I love a good space battle or unexpected attacks or the need to take down a tough opponent throughout the story.
One side character stood out for me, Aidan’s altered clone genius hacker friend, and I am really hoping that he’ll be getting his story next.
All in all, I had a good time with Mystic. It stays pretty light, but has some good action and some spicy quickly developed romance along with a fun and quirky group of alien friends. Those who enjoy lighter sci-fi romance should definitely give this book/series a look or even start with the earlier series if you prefer to go all the way back to the beginning.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Not really my genre but I’m glad you had a good time
I really did. Thanks, Melliane!
Oh so cool you’re enjoying a second generation series they’re rare and rarely good. Thanks Sophia Rose
I have no idea if its better or worse than the original series, of course, LOL, but it did fine for me as a standalone. 🙂 But, I’ve read plenty that fit the old adage. 😉
This sounds very interesting, will have to look up this author. Those tow sound like a great couple with how she needs help to uncover all the things about that plague and how he can’t touch anyone, but he can touch her. I also like those type of scenarios in sci-fi with a conspiracy and a crew of underdogs who save the day. I also like the sound of the different types of alien gifts. Great review!
It was a nice discovery. I want to read the next story, too. It’s not as complicated as other SFR, but I had a good time. 🙂
You’re finding all the good scifi romance. I haven’t focused on this genre enough. Great review!
I had no idea there were so many out there. I’ve got a few on my list that Renee over at Addicted to Romance found years ago and this was one of the authors so I was glad to try this newer one she wrote.
Oh I bet that’s fun for those who have followed the series getting the younger generation. Hmm on the sexy bits. Too bad that wasn’t more engaging. But still sounds like fun 🙂
I would imagine so. Renee has read the earlier series and says its fab and even better than this one.
LOL, the sexy bits weren’t bad when they just got down to it, but the description of alien anatomy had me giggling- and killing the mood.