“How would I diagnose this? I would say that Nightchaser has a massive case of first-book-syndrome.”
~ Under the Covers

I had been looking forward to reading this book for a while. I really enjoyed Amanda Bouchet’s debut series the Kingmaker Chronicles, a fantasy trilogy heavy on the romance. Now, she’s taking a stab at sci fi; I love a sci fi series. My expectation were high. Now I have finished the book it’s taken me some time to organise my thoughts around it. They are one big tumble of both the good and the bad so I am carefully de-tangling each thread so I can take a closer look.

I think best in list form, it makes me feel like I am being efficient!

This book was a slow starter. It’s not that I think a book should come in guns (or lasers) blazing and then just get more hectic as it goes on. But, this book was very static. To the point where I was carefully looking in the nooks and crannies wondering where the plot had gone. I understand that Bouchet was building up her world and some of the characters within it. The problem was, was that it just wasn’t a gripping read; it wasn’t compelling me to turn the pages.

Then it went at light speed. I like books to have a steady pace throughout, a good build up to an exciting conclusion. Nightchaser plodded along for 70% and then we had an exciting ride for the last 30%. I really enjoyed that last 30%. Finally! Stuff was happening. That last 30% is what has me eager to grab the next book. But it was like reading two different books.

I did like the characters. Despite whinging about the first 70% of the book, it did do a great job of building the main characters and showing you the crew dynamics. There are some interesting story threads and even a potential secondary romance that Bouchet has built. I look forward to seeing how Bouchet develops them further.

Speaking of romance. If the Kingmaker Chronicles was a fantasy with a large dose of romance, Nightchaser is a sci fi with a romance at its core. The problem was, I didn’t really enjoy the romance. I liked Shade and Tess separately, but I didn’t quite see the connection. If I am honest I preferred the tension between Fiona and Jaxon – two members of Tessa’s crew.

How would I diagnose this? I would say that Nightchaser has a massive case of first-book-syndrome. It has great potential and Bouchet was just capitalising on this towards the end of the book. I fully plan on reading the next book in this series as I can’t wait to see where the story goes.

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About Amanda Bouchet

Amanda Bouchet grew up in New England where she spent much of her time tromping around in the woods and making up grand adventures in her head. It was inevitable that one day she would start writing them down. Drawing on her Greek heritage for the setting and on her love of all things daring and romantic for the rest, her debut trilogy, The Kingmaker Chronicles, took form. She writes what she loves to read: epic exploits, steamy romance, and characters that make you laugh and cry.

A French master’s graduate and former English teacher, Amanda lives in Paris, France. She met her husband while studying abroad, and the family now includes two bilingual children who will soon be correcting her French.

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Suzanne

Blogger/Reviewer at Under the Covers Book Blog

Gosh, we all seem to be admitting our ages…and I hate that I am at the point in life when admitting my age is a “thing”…whodda thunk it? I was kind of hoping I would remain 21 forever. However, I have moved out of that New Adult stage of my life and am now strictly in the Contemporary Romance age zone of 28. I would prefer to be in an Urban Fantasy arena, but I don’t think I own enough black leather. However, I could probably squeeze into some PNR, I am fully prepared to give a horn job to my favourite demon, or suck on my sexy vamps…fangs and I am definitely up for some heavy petting with some fine looking shifters. Than again their’s always Sci Fi…I am fully prepared to do the right thing and help some poor alien race with more 6 packs than a supermarket repopulate their planet. Not that I am loose woman or anything.

Annnnnd I will stop myself there, before I start waxing lyrical about my love of historical romance and fantasy as well; no one needs to know about my elf fantasies. As you can tell, I adore and day dream about most romance genres, and my three big loves are 1) reading about romance 2) writing about romance and 3) talking about romance with my gals. Which, is why I love Under the Covers so much, I get all my bookish needs satisfied and don’t get judged when I talk about my favourite characters like they are real people. Which they are right?

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