Review: Knightmaster

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Xenoanthropologist Kennedy Black loves exploring new cultures with Space Corps. Everyone in her life has left her, so she happily fills the void with exciting adventures. When she’s assigned to escort the new ambassador to the planet Oron for an opulent ball, she’s thrilled to get an up-close look at the Oronis knights, and their culture of honor and duty to their knightqueen. But she never expected her reaction to cool, controlled Knightmaster Ashtin Caydor, head of the Oronis Knightforce. And she really didn’t expect a savage alien attack that leaves the knightqueen missing and Earth fingered as the culprit. Knightmaster Ashtin Caydor lives to protect his planet, his people, and his knightqueen. He came from nothing, and the code of knighthood is the cornerstone of his being. When Knightqueen Carys is abducted by their mortal enemies, the ferocious Gek’Dragar, he’s icily enraged, especially when he finds evidence that Earth, and the far too enticing Sub-Captain Kennedy Black, are involved. But Kennedy vows to clear Earth’s name by helping Ashtin and his knights find the queen. As she and Ashtin embark on a risky mission to a dangerous jungle planet, they’re forced to rely on each other, and their sizzling chemistry is soon undeniable. But love can’t be an option, not for a knight bound only to his duty and a woman whose heart already has too many scars.

Genre: science fiction romance

Publication date: March 2023

Mature content: yes

Review: Knightmaster is book one in the brand new Oronis Knights series by Anna Hackett, and in terms of science fiction/adventure, it's pretty good. There's almost non-stop action and the story is very much compelling, especially the fight scenes.

 

 

   

 

 

I had three main issues with this book, though, and that's why I'm rating it with just four stars instead of five. First, most of the secondary characters in the book apparently come from another science fiction series by the same author - one that I haven't read before at all, and as such I felt I was missing a few pieces of information, especially at the beginning of the story. Second, the romance between Kennedy and Ashtin unfolds way too quickly for my taste. It's true that they were on a lot of adventures in between, but the fact that they are professing undying love just a couple of days after meeting for the first time seemed a bit too over the top. I do believe they were perfect for each other, but their relationship deserved a bit more buildup. 

And lastly, even though Kennedy and Ashtin get their happy ever after (sort of), the knightqueen still hasn't been found at the end of the book, which means that if we want to know more about that part of the plot we need to wait for the next book in the series...

 

This being said, Ashtin makes a most compelling character, and and do want to learn more about Oron and its knights. So I guess I will in fact be waiting for book two to be published...

Happy readings,

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