Shades of Dark

Captain Chasidah "Chaz" Bergren is no longer the pride of the Sixth Fleet. Now she is a fugitive from the corrupted Empire. She is captain of the Boru Karn, the ghost ship belonging to Gabriel Ross Sullivan "Sully". Sullivan, the man, is the most confusing being Chaz has ever met. He is one of the extremely rare human Kyi-Ragkiril. It is as though he is two men in one and sharing a mind link with Chaz, his wife. Chaz loves the entire package of Sully/Gabriel and has learned to call him by the name of whatever aura (for lack of a better word) he has around him. "Sully" is the warm human man, often cocky, and always available to help with the needs and concerns of Chaz and the crew. "Gabriel" is the wild human, domineering most times, hardly in control, and possessive of his wife. As one entire package, Sullivan is a mercenary who is slowly learning to control his Kyi-Ragkiril powers. Fleet and normal humans hate/fear the six-fingered, blue-skinned Stolorths who are Ragkiril. The instant they learn what Sullivan is, they cast him into the same hate filled category, a Soul-stealer. Chaz and Sully are hunting a ship breeding monsters before those monsters are released and started hunting them, so their hands are already kept busy. But when Chaz hacks into an Imperial drone for news, she learns that her brother, Thad, has been stripped of command and is being held for questioning (about her and Sullivan) before he is executed for treason. They know it is a ploy, by Sully's cousin Hayden Burke, to draw them out of hiding, but it still works. They must locate and join forces with Admiral Philip Guthrie (Chaz's ex-husband) and Del (a full powered Kyi-Ragkiril too attracted to Chaz) if the fractured Empire is to have any chance of surviving. ***** This story has long been in the making and I had high expectations of it. I am happy to say that am not disappointed in the least. There are a few times the story got slow, but these sections are filled with much needed information. Such as in life, not everything is nice and tidy. The author can decide to end the tale right here, right now, or publish another novel and continue this amazing adventure. I sincerely hope to see these characters again. The character of Sully/Gabriel can sound confusing while reading the synopsis; however, readers need not fear becoming confused. The story is crystal clear and flows smoother than silk. Author Linnea Sinclair is a natural when it comes to giving her characters multiple major problems while keeping her story easy to understand and hard to pull away from. Fantastic! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

This sequel to Gabriel's Ghost was great! I loved every minute of Chaz & Sully's journey. Very emotional and romantic read with a bit of "dark" tones. The ending kind of left me hanging - what will happen to them? Does Gabriel go free? or will he be condemned for his "talent" or did he lose his talent? The author does not say & I hope the next book will, hopefully, answer these questions. Highly recommend to all science fiction romance readers!

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 today 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.

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.

*If you're reading this before Gabriel's Ghost, stop, turn around and go get Gabriel's Ghost first. Then come back and read this one. Seriously, folks. In retrospect, after everything Sully and Chaz go through, Shades of Dark is the perfect descriptor for the evolution their relationship endures. It's been three months since they infiltrated the jukor-breeding lab on the Marker space station. Now it's time to go after the big guns, the brains and monetary brawn behind it all and the mobile ship lab coasting across the universe, breeding even more jukors. The continued kidnapping of Takan females to use as breeding machines is quickly escalating a desperate situation towards open war. Sully and Chaz are adamant as ever in their resolve to stop the bloodthirsty creatures from getting loose as well as annihilating those behind it. Their mission has never been in question. What is though is their relationship. Sully's powers grow stronger everyday, yet do not become easier to bear. Chaz is his firm support, however he needs it, but when a new crew member comes aboard, another with powers like Sully's, their love will undergo the ultimate test of wills and survival. No one ever said saving the universe was easy, but no one ever warned them it would demand - and take - so much of them personally either. Sully and Chaz are one of the most passionate couples I've ever had the pleasure of reading - and this isn't even a romance! We learn a lot more about the two in terms of how they came to be a couple. I thought I was already as invested in their relationship as I could get. Wrong, I was so wrong in that regard. This may not be a romance, but a lot of other romance couples could learn a thing or two from Chaz and Sully. The conflict between these two was HUGE! Again, Sully's powers are a major contender for foremost villain. But it was stepped up quite a few notches in this sequel to Gabriel's Ghost, where it seemed as though they'd at least come to an understanding, a compromise in terms of Sully's powers effecting them as a couple. Wrong again - at least somewhat. Sully, despite a willing and wonderful partner, still feels very much alone as he struggles to control the darker instincts of his Kyi-Ragkiril nature. He's not had the benefit of growing up learning and adapting to his skills and therefore perfecting them into something usable and at his whim rather than him at the power's whim. It was heart wrenching at times to read, the uncertainty and self-doubt he goes through. The third that steps in, takes the scales that are trying to balance and throws them into the outer reaches of space is another Kyi-Ragkiril, one Cordell Delkavra, Captain Regarth - or Del, as he is preferably called. it is hard to talk too much about him without giving everything away. He is the core of it all, the igniter to not only Sully and Chaz's relationship, but the main plot as well. At first, it's very hard to ascertain his motives and I wanted to know them right aw