Helpful Score: 4
I didn't care for this. I continually forced myself to keep reading just to finish the book. I never made it. Halfway through, I finally gave up. There are just too many books to read.
Helpful Score: 2
I don't generally read science fiction, but had seen good reviews of this book. While it took me awhile to figure out all the alien characters, and I kept having to refer to the chart in front of the book, the story kept me interested. Djinni doesn't realize that the captor she's falling in love with is her sworn enemy Prince Tarrant-Arragon. But, he may not be as ferocious as his enemies claim.
Helpful Score: 2
As others have said, the back cover sounds interesting. But the story is very hard to follow, the leading characters are annoying, and I had to "force" myself to finish reading it.
Helpful Score: 2
Well- these are hard to read because all the names of the characters are too similar. I've read 2 and the premise sounds good but the characters just aren't engaging. She needs to focus on fewer characters in the romance and for come up with better names! I read a lot and very fast...and I just couldn't follow this story.
Helpful Score: 1
I had trouble really getting into the hero, he didn't seem to have the lovable quality of most heroes. Did improve towards the end, but not quite as mich as I would have hoped.
Helpful Score: 1
Futuristic Science Fiction Romance, very explicit, *not* BDSM. "Forced Mate" is a chess term. The first in a proposed series by this author. One of the most inventive, imaginative worlds I have have come across, and I love science fiction. The author has a short story ebook prequel that explains the setting somewhat. It's available for $3 at http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/ - The second novel, "Insufficient Mating Material" will be out January 31, 2007.
By all the Lechers of Antiquity, what is a god-Emperor to do when his chosen mate is caught on tape speculating that he is a brute and a bore in bed? Renowned for his sexual prowess all over the galaxy, Prince Tarrant-Arragon has a reputation for depravity to keep up, even if the reality of his private life is a far different story. His personal inclination would be to woo his intended with charm and wit, but politics and Tigron tradition call for abduction followed by swift consummation. Embarking on a skilled seduction, Tarrant-Arragon feels confident in his ability to take his queen. But he hasnt counted on the unpredictability of his little Earthling or the startling fact that she would make a pawn of his own heart.
By all the Lechers of Antiquity, what is a god-Emperor to do when his chosen mate is caught on tape speculating that he is a brute and a bore in bed? Renowned for his sexual prowess all over the galaxy, Prince Tarrant-Arragon has a reputation for depravity to keep up, even if the reality of his private life is a far different story. His personal inclination would be to woo his intended with charm and wit, but politics and Tigron tradition call for abduction followed by swift consummation. Embarking on a skilled seduction, Tarrant-Arragon feels confident in his ability to take his queen. But he hasnt counted on the unpredictability of his little Earthling or the startling fact that she would make a pawn of his own heart.
Helpful Score: 1
OK - If you pick this book up, be prepared for confusion and interest all rolled into one. It is sometimes hard to keep the story straight and put together, but if you stick through the early confusion, your reward is a truly wonderful love story that ends in a well written romantic way. This is NOT BDSM, there is nothing kinky or strange. Forced Mate is a chess term - and chess is an underlying theme of this novel. Due to the difficulty of the read, I'm gonna have to go with 4 stars, but still worth the read!
Helpful Score: 1
Djinni (pronounced "Jinni") is the last fertile female of the Royal Djinn, and she has been sequestered on Earth to hide her from the Emperor and his family. The Crown Prince, Tarrant-Arragon, must marry a Djinn female. Djinni is descended from a disaffected line of the Royal Family, and has been groomed to marry an unknown cousin of Tarrant-Arragon. She's also been informed of the Crown Prince's debased character and cruelty, so has taken the oath of a Saurian White Knight to attempt to kill him, or to kill herself if he attempts to take her as a forced mate.
This is a big problem for Tarrant-Arragon, who isn't really as bad as Djinni has been led to believe. He's arrogant, dominant, and doesn't think much about anyone other than himself, but he's not debased. Tarrant-Arragon has discovered Djinni's existence, and is determined to have her for his wife. He is also determined that he will "make" her love him, to avoid the tragedies caused by the broken marriages of the past several generations of Emperors. Therefore he cannot reveal his real identity to Djinni until he is certain that she loves him. Meanwhile, the Saurian Knights are trying to bring down the Royal Family and disrupt the Empire...
This book is long and complex and I loved it. It is science fiction in the best "blasters and spaceships" tradition, with a theme of political intrigue running throughout. But wait! There's more! This is a very emotionally satisfying love story between a feminist woman and a man who has never considered the wishes and desires of another person at any time. The love story is extremely fun to watch, as Tarrant-Arragon discovers that his bride-to-be is not only not docile and frightened of him, but that she is smart, brave, and not ready to be caught by any man. You will love watching their interactions, as he tries to go against his upbringing by being thoughtful, patient, and considerate in order to win his bride's heart. You do have to work a bit to follow the story, but it was well-written and wove the various storylines into a comprehensive whole by the end of the novel. This novel will grab you and hold you until you finish it, so I don't recommend it for a five-minute before-bedtime read!
This is a big problem for Tarrant-Arragon, who isn't really as bad as Djinni has been led to believe. He's arrogant, dominant, and doesn't think much about anyone other than himself, but he's not debased. Tarrant-Arragon has discovered Djinni's existence, and is determined to have her for his wife. He is also determined that he will "make" her love him, to avoid the tragedies caused by the broken marriages of the past several generations of Emperors. Therefore he cannot reveal his real identity to Djinni until he is certain that she loves him. Meanwhile, the Saurian Knights are trying to bring down the Royal Family and disrupt the Empire...
This book is long and complex and I loved it. It is science fiction in the best "blasters and spaceships" tradition, with a theme of political intrigue running throughout. But wait! There's more! This is a very emotionally satisfying love story between a feminist woman and a man who has never considered the wishes and desires of another person at any time. The love story is extremely fun to watch, as Tarrant-Arragon discovers that his bride-to-be is not only not docile and frightened of him, but that she is smart, brave, and not ready to be caught by any man. You will love watching their interactions, as he tries to go against his upbringing by being thoughtful, patient, and considerate in order to win his bride's heart. You do have to work a bit to follow the story, but it was well-written and wove the various storylines into a comprehensive whole by the end of the novel. This novel will grab you and hold you until you finish it, so I don't recommend it for a five-minute before-bedtime read!
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this scifi romance with Djinns and a feisty female character. The chess reference was funny. The mind reading wasn't as interesting a characteristic like it is in Charlene Harris' books. I'm hoping to find another book by this author, because it was an entertaining read.
Helpful Score: 1
Absolutely Atrocious. The cover says that this author was a finalist in some New Romance Writers Contest. I find that difficult to credit unless it was a contest limited to a handful of entrants. If I actually set out to write idiotic and melodramatic dialogue, if I planned to create an example of the worst sort of sophmoric and soporific prose, and if giving readers headaches due to excessive eye-rolling was my dearest desire - this is the book that I would write. Thank you, author, for sacrificing some lovely trees in favor of this bit of total and utter nonsense. There were too many of them around anyway.
This was my 1st Sci-Fi romance. A little different from what I usually read but I found it very interesting. Will look for more.
Not a smooth story line.
Excellent Series! Must read!
