New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep blasts off with an exciting new science-fiction fantasy adventure with a dash of historical romance. This action-packed space opera features a mix of magic and technology, along with a soul mates and enemies-to-lovers story. Perfect for fans of Star Wars, Bridgerton, and Pride and Prejudice.
A WOMAN WHO SEES EVERYTHING . . .
Few people know the name Vesper Quill. To most folks, I’m just a lowly lab rat who designs brewmakers and other household appliances in the research and development lab at the powerful Kent Corp. But when I point out a design flaw and a safety hazard in the new line of Kent Corp spaceships, everyone knows who I am—and wants to eliminate me.
I might be a seer with a photographic memory, but I don’t see the trouble headed my way until it’s too late. Suddenly, I’m surrounded by enemies and fighting for my life.
I don’t think things can get any worse until I meet Kyrion Caldaren, an arrogant Regal lord who insists that we have a connection, one that could be the death of us both.
A MAN WHO CAN’T FORGET HIS PAST . . .
The name Kyrion Caldaren strikes fear in the hearts of people across the Archipelago Galaxy. As the leader of the Arrows, the Imperium’s elite fighting force, I’m used to being a villain, as well as the personal assassin of Lord Callus Holloway. Even the wealthy Regals who live on the planet of Corios are afraid of me.
But everything changes when I meet Vesper Quill. I might be a powerful psion with telepathic, telekinetic, and other abilities, but Vesper sees far too many of my secrets.
Thanks to an arcane, unwanted quirk of psionic magic, the two of us are forced to work together to unravel a dangerous conspiracy and outwit the deadly enemies who want to bend us to their will.
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Review
A few weeks ago I was offered a chance to read ONLY BAD OPTIONS. I read the first chapter and thought, “This is so good.” And then I put it down, because we had to write the Innkeeper, and Ruby Fever was coming out, and Tapas comic was coming out, and… Yeah.
ONLY BAD OPTIONS came out this Tuesday, and I was going to read it in the release week so I could tell you about it. I cracked it open again late last night, read two chapters, and then I said, “Not tonight, Satan” because I knew if I read one more sentence, I would not get any sleep at all. So through the superhuman effort of will, I shut down my iPad, and then I read the book this morning, before brushing my teeth or getting dressed. Like a reasonable adult.
You know how you read a really good book and you’re slightly high afterward? This is not going to be a measured review in any way. Weeee!
Okay, so this is soap opera at its finest. There are both tech and magic in this universe. It’s not sword and planet, it’s sword and spaceship. For the older readers, this is the same genre as Deathstalker by Simon Green. For the younger readers, this is Dune without the gravitas, with more romance. This is my catnip genre, I love it!
In this galaxy there are several powers. This is explained really well so here is a quote:
The Imperium, led by Lord Callus Holloway, who was supported by the other noble families, collectively called the Regals, was one of the major ruling forces in the Archipelago Galaxy, along with the slightly less powerful Techwave and the Erzton. Each group controlled and focused on a different area. The Imperium dealt in magic, genetics, and bloodlines, while the Techwave eschewed such arcane things in favor of cutting-edge technology, experiments, and weapons. The Erzton maintained a neutral stance, selling minerals, wood, and other raw materials to both the Imperium and the Techwave, as well as to other wealthy organizations and individuals. Basically, the three groups boiled down to magic, tech, and minerals, although they would all happily use whatever they could get their hands on to acquire more wealth, weapons, power, and resources.
Estep, Jennifer. Only Bad Options: A Galactic Bonds book (p. 13). Kindle Edition.
So you have Imperium, which are wizards with swords and spaceships and Techwave, which are cyborgs and mechanically augmented people with advanced weaponry and spaceships. The two are duking it out while Erzton happily supplies both.
Vesper Quill works for one of the Regal families, loyal to Imperium. She is a lab rat and she has spelltech magic. She’s basically a magically guided engineer. She can fix just about anything. She doesn’t know who her father is. Her mother abandoned her at an early age. Her boss is her ex-boyfriend and she hates him with a passion of ten thousand suns.
Anyway, one of the family’s new experimental warships crashes, and Vesper is part of the team tasked with figuring out why. The official story is pilot error. The official story is very wrong. Vesper finds things people don’t want her to find and then she ends up on the front lines. Where she runs into Kyrion Caldaren.
Kyrion is a sexy Darth Vader. Sword, woo-woo powers, high body count, etc, Kyrion is trapped in the very top echelon of Imperium power. He is reviled because he supposedly murdered his own father, but Emperor Holloway, who is an asshole of colossal proportions, made him into the head of elite strike troops. Kyrion’s mission in life to kill Holloway, preferably in the most painful way possible.
They meet. They cannot be together. Slooooow buuuuurn…
This is my new favorite thing. You have space battles and psionic powers, and there is a ton of competence porn, because Vesper can fix anything, and there is court intrigue, and the whole confused bloodlines thing. I love it. I’m going to be insufferable until I get the next one. In fact once I’m done here, I’m going to Jennifer’s Facebook to pester her.
In an effort to insert some objectivity into the review: I’ve met Jennifer before in real life and we follow each other on social media. As always, your mileage may vary. Please read an excerpt. I take no responsibility for my recommendation because this is my favorite type of story in my favorite genre. You are on your own.
Oooh, I will say this, it does start kind of slow, but it takes off like a rocket shortly after, so I would give it a couple of chapters. The best way to read this is to not overcomplicate it with trying to figure out how tech and magic work together. Just accept it and go with the flow. It’s a sci-fantasy.
And I went to Jennifer’s sit and there is no excerpt. You might have to go to Amazon and read using the Look Inside Feature.
And this concludes this incoherent review. I’m off to go nag Jennifer about the sequel.
PS. Please do not recommend other authors on this thread. This is the celebration of Jennifer Estep’s new work. Thank you!
Glad to hear you had a fun read! Hopefully that’s a little pick-me-up after the week you’ve had ????
Seconded.
Thank you…..
I absolutely love Jennifer Estep’s books and I’m saving this book for a reward for me after I have this baby and I’m sleep deprived and cranky. I can’t wait to read it though! I always end up pre-ordering everything she writes.
You are friends with all my favorite authors. I mean you guys are my absolute favorite, but Jeannine Frost and Jennifer Estep are really up there.
Are you also friends with Patricia Briggs?
I know Patricia professionally. We’ve met a few times, and we discussed some writing-related topics. She is an absolutely wonderful person. It is a priviledge to know her.
That is so cool! Also I love that you respond to your fans. It is one of the reasons I follow your blog religiously. Thank you for all you do.
I snapped this up after seeing you mention it on the Innkeeper post and I LOVED it. I blew through it so fast, I’ll have to go back and reread and savor it more but I can’t for the sequel and will definitely read her other books in the meantime!
Yesssssss! It’s so good, right?
need sequel now please. ???? this was great. thank you for the suggestion.
It’s a wonderful book. I read it in one night, i couldn’t stop. So much tension, such hidden depths to be discovered in the sequels. I can’t wait to see where she takes it. I will be right along side you, begging for the next one!
I really enjoyed both her elemental assassin series and crown of shards series.
Me too!! I’m a fan of her work, but this one somehow slipped past me. If you will now excuse me, I’m off to purchase a new book from one of my favorite authors, recommend by one of my favorite authors…. How awesome is that!!
Me too! Big fan of her stuff!
I love space opera too! I’m going to get this right now and will probably not get anything done today and/or tomorrow. Drool…
I also read it yesterday and I agree, it was tons of fun. It also reminded me that I hadn’t yet read A Sense of Danger (it got lost on my Kindle — I seem to remember it came out in a week with several other books), so I’m having fun with it now. In fact, the ONLY reason I’m not finished that is that my surprise birthday outing from my husband ate most of my day (the outing was not a surprise. Where we were going and what we were doing after leaving the house was the surprise).
She’s so much fun. I have been getting depressed about YA recently, and I like her YA as much as her adult books.
Thanks for the recommendation! I checked out the Look Inside and it looks good. Always happy to find new authors …
thanks for mentioning this on Tuesday, I snapped it up and read it on a road trip that evening. I really enjoyed it.
“Competence porn.”
I’ve never even heard of this genre before and I’m pretty sure I’m into it too.
I have been a HUGE fan of Jennifer’s work since the Bigtime series! When I saw she was writing a sci fi romance I was thrilled!! I immediately pre-ordered. I got it yesterday and started but forced myself to stop to go to bed. I can’t wait for tonight because I’m only a couple chapters in and I’m hooked. I’m so happy to hear you are friends with her and that you loved it as much as I know I will. 2 of my favorite authors!!
I’ve loved this one. Devoured it, and can’t wait for the next one!
First of all, I’m glad to know I qualify as a Reasonable Adult. #TeamBooksBeforeDressing
Second, thanks for the review and staring down Jennifer Estep on behalf of all-us-who-want-more-please-and-thank-you.
#TeamIShouldCallInSick.
thank you. I shall commence reading !
I’m just glad the BDH isn’t alone in its urge to nag our favorite authors. ????
We are a naughty influence ????
We should tell Jennifer that Ilona tried to deflect the BDH by siccing us on Jennifer.
The BDH are voracious readers, so Ilona needs to have the next distraction queued up. 😛 Which will hopefully be FrInnday.
„competence porn“ I have become quite hesitant with trying new authors, but these two words alone might have convinced me to try this one…
Taken out of context, the phrase “competence porn” can lead to all sorts of speculation.
It’s a well established trope https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CompetencePorn
As a huge fan of Leverage, I love this.
I did not know the origin of the term, but I loved Leverage and similar shows so now I have a reference to look for! (In the same vein, I also really enjoyed watching Again My Life and Sherlock – would those then also be considered “competence porn”?)
Ooooo…. new shiny. Sci Fi + psionics\Fantasy? Be still my beating heart!
I will definitely check this out. I’ve read all the books you’ve recommended and loved them. Plus, we seem to have the same taste in Asian dramas, so I think anything you like, I’ll like 🙂
I love her, have read many/most of her books, she is AWESOME. But promised myself a lessjoy/moreserious read first. And now I am sighing.
I was trying to read a well written, less joy book by another very good author that I normally love, and couldn’t do it. My mindset just can’t handle sad/meaningful/or relevant right now. So I gsve myself permission to put it aside and went for Space Opera. It was the right choice for me!
Love the Space Opera!
Unless it’s a required read for work or school, don’t make yourself read something you aren’t into. It’ll be a slog and you won’t enjoy it at much as you would if you were in a different frame of mind. With the world the way it is, we all need all the joy we can get. If a light and fluffy, a dark and gory, or a hot and steamy book is what you want, then you deserve it. Read what makes you happy. ????
+1000
Awesome i will check it out.
Also i love that Ilona becomes a BDH member for other authors! ” I’m off to go nag Jennifer about the sequel.”
The struggle is real BDH has not patience!! haha!
Oooh I love Ilona’s book recos. I’ve discovered so many fabulous authors just from her!
Off to download this book.
Bought it, read it in a day, LOVED it. Fun, fast pace, coherent story line. Also have audio and i like the 2 narators. Want the sequel and have started an additional series she has written! Love the book recomendations!
I agree, absolutely fabulous! ????
This will be my first book by this author. Thanks for the recommendation.
Thank you for putting this book on my radar! It’s also giving me strong Psy-Changeling vibes which very, very few books do. I will definitely check it out 🙂
So we are on the same page. Nalini’s work is romance first, everything else second. This book is a space opera with romantic elements. I am so here for the elements, but it is not a romance-first novel.
Thank you for the caveat .. I tend to not like the “romance first” writing that well, but get really involved w character driven urban fantasy, space opera, and the like. Thank you for your recommendation; they have led me to several new authors that I now get to enjoy.
PS … I admire your strength of will that let you close a book you are really enjoying and try to sleep … sadly, I did not have that kind of strength when Ruby Fever came out. ????
When I read Ilona’s review psy- changling vibes was my first reaction.
Now to buy it, as I haven’t yet. I love her work and I think I own most of her books.
However I will be strong and reward myself when I have finished 10 out of 27 squares on my wedding day cross stitch for a friend.
Hmmm…something to look at on Barnes and Noble. I have not read any of Jennifer’s books. The post reminded me of older sci-fi reads my mom got me hooked into when I was younger.
Now we know that Ilona is one of the BDH when she gets her hands on a great-to-her book and/or series. The inner “more” is coming out. 😀
I think Ilona will find that patience is a swear word when waiting for the second book. 😉
Thanks for the recommendations! I don’t know if I should get it right now but I am definitely putting it on my Christmas list. Since we still do a full on exchange with the in-laws books make up my the majority of my list. ????
The good thing – Jennifer Estep does tend to write fast…like really fast. I was always surprised when a new Elemental Assassin Book came out. ATM I’m kind of meh on all the books exept for IA. I guess I have a “Game-Phase” were I’m seriously thinking about playing Civ VI. I might have to postpone for the latest Jennifer Estep. Although…maybe I just not start tonight. I have to admire your self-restraint. Once I’ve started a good book I haven’t ever been able to stop before I finished. The next day was usually a bit difficult to get through with just 2-3 hours of sleep.
I read your comment on Jennifer Estep’s FB and laughed so hard. I thought about saving it to use when YOUR next book came out. But then I thought, well maybe the BDH is like it’s author after all…. LOL.
I read it the day it came out. I started after dinner and didn’t finish until, well, um, let’s just say late. Yes, it’s a tad slow in the beginning, but once it picks up it’s an I-don’t-care-if-I-sleep-tonight whirl. Highly recommend!
Oooh, sounds good. Just put in a request for my library to buy a copy.
My library has it “on order” I’m 2 in line
This is the next book up in my TBR pile, I have been on a sci-fi romance kick for awhile now, and I preordered this as soon as Jennifer Estep put the preorder links up on Facebook. I’m trying to make my current read last until tomorrow so I can start reading this after work and not have to worry about being a zombie at work the next day. ???? I’m anticipating that this will be good since I like Ms Estep’s writing in other series, and knowing you enjoyed it is a great sign because I have liked the books you have recommended in this genre. Now to just be good and not start it until tomorrow.
Cool, I preordered the book (love Jennifer Estep ????) and I am so looking forward to my weekend read!
Perfect timing! I’m on a road trip this weekend. I read Ruby Fever, Soul Taken & Final Heir way too fast and need something new!
Gee, I think you liked it.
Now that sounds awesome! Going to grab a sample and give it a go. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your recommendation!
Let me go check this out.
Would you do a separate post with recommendations that fit into this genre (space opera or sci-fantasy with romance elements but not romance first)? I love these types of books but I feel like they are so hard to find.
Unfortunately, there is not that many. 🙁 I starve for reading. But I will make a post once the innkeeper is done.
Thank you so much!
Thanks
I also would really appreciate it! I love good space opera and also prefer when the romance is secondary to the story.
No rush of course – the BDH would have our heads if we sidelined you from writing. ????
I’m excited to check out JE’s new book!
Thank you, this genre is hard to find!
I just finished it
please use any pull you have to get us the next book
Thank you for the recommendation. It came at just the right time for me – I wanted something fun and fast – and I sprinted through it.
I would happily nag the author for a sequel if acquainted, but since I’m not I will abide in p****nce.
The “Deathstalker” comparison made me laugh. It’s appropriate but this book was more fun. 🙂
Hmmm, this sounds like the kind of read that would give me the kind of mental break I need to finally get rid of my aching neck and shoulder muscles and subsequent headache.
Hope it goes away soon!
I’m not sure to be happy or sad that I clearly do NOT read as fast as you do!
Thanks for the story insight. Off to find the book! Sounds interesting.
I love Space Opera / Sci-Fantasy!
Can anyone suggest the ‘best’ of her series to begin with? or perhaps a reading order?
Thank you!
Jennifer Estep, that is: I’ve already devoured everything IA has written 😉
this is a new series. start with this one and see what you think. can always look at back catalog if you enjoy this.
I started with Jennifer’s Elemental Assassin series with Gin Blanco. After catching up (at the time) with that series, I read her older works. She has some other series that started a bit after Elemental Assassin that you could start with instead, if you don’t want to start a series with as many books as are in the Elemental Assassin series.
annnddd… I didn’t manage to be adult with this book and read right through the night. thank you for mentioning it briefly in your previously post. I’ve enjoyed her spider series so went and nabbed it to devour abdicating life for a while. really fun book. can’t wait for the next one.
Jo, you have it wrong. Because you are an adult you get to stay up and read! No more hiding under the blanket with a flashlight!
lol. true. but the next day requires functioning human regardless of the amazing book that meant almost no sleep!
also doing giveme hands for the sequel!
For the record, when you recommended Kingpin of Camelot, you converted me to romances.
This one sounds like so much fun, I’m going to pick it up today and hope I can sleep at some point. Whee!
I love your book recommendations so I just bought this book. ???? I am reading my way through Jessie Mihalik’s backlist currently. Do you have a link somewhere on the site listing the authors that you recommended? I admit I’m lazy and don’t want to go back through all the blog posts looking for names, although I will if I need to do so!
Thanks,
Robin
You want the Recommended Read category here ???? https://ilona-andrews.com/category/recommended-read/ for both IA suggestions and huge threads of BDH recommendations.
If you look under the blog title today, you will see the “Recommended Read” tag which will also take you there if you click on it ????
Mildly off topic, ModR, apologies, but wasn’t there also a “BDH Recommendations for Asian Drama” post once upon a time? I’ve tried a great variety of search terms on the site but the post won’t pop up for me – probably a me problem, but a link to the post would be very much appreciated ????
Hey Sabrina,
There have been a few Asian drama threads, with recommendations in comments, I’ve linked them below. As a more recent recommendation, Ilona has spoken very fondly of Love like the Galaxy 🙂
The most recent thread: https://ilona-andrews.com/2022/more-love-less-sleeping-with-the-fishes/
Older threads: https://ilona-andrews.com/2019/things-i-learned-from-chinese-dramas/
https://ilona-andrews.com/2019/flames-daughter/
https://www.ilonhttps://ilona-andrews.com/2019/rainy-day-ramblings/a-andrews.com/2019/moonlight-drawn-by-clouds/
Thank you, I really appreciate your help! The well was running dry and I really wanted a list of some new things to try 😉
What a joyful review to read! I was already suspecting I would enjoy it, and after reading the review, I think I will have to pick it up soon!
I am feeling the lack of a sequel in my hands too! I mean *redacts spoilers* *waves hands wildly* all of it!
Yes, it is a wonderful new story line!! I read and re-read all of Jennifer Estep’s books. It’s super cool that you know her and can recommend her books too! I read this one in one sitting, devouring the pages as fast as I could. Looking forward to any sequels as this is a great story!
Just have started the book – looks like that’s what I’m going to do tonight during my provider meeting for work ????. It reminds me of the Sarantha Jax series by Ann Aguirre? (Just curious, not necessarily recommending it although I do like it.)
Read the chapters on the “look inside” on Amazon. ????️
Barnes & Noble: online only, no in-store availability in any of the stores in my area for print copy. ????????
Blue Willow Book Store for the win! ????
Happy anticipation for a package in the next week or so! ????
She’s a new author to me, and she has a nice backlist, woo hoo!
I feel much better about this mad impulse purchase now. I saw the blurb on a forthcoming books article a little while back and pre-ordered based solely on that – it felt a little bit Bujold and hit lots of YES bells. Was a bit surprised and guilty (forgot I splurged) on Tuesday when I got the Amazon email and haven’t got round to reading it yet.
I’d sort of heard of Jennifer Estep in an I’ve-got-a-series-starter-book-somewhere waiting to be read one day, kind of way, but this sounds much more appealing.
Deathstalker you say? Very exciting, but surely should be the other way round with Dune a reference for still older readers; I’m sure that was around when I was a child – I never could get into it. Simon R. Green though – he took me on a merry old chase in my teens, still got the hefty old paperbacks lurking around somewhere. So I guess Deathstalker not for youngsters either actually. Now I feel old. Le sigh ????
Dune is experiencing a surge in popularity at the moment because of the recent 2021 adaptation 🙂
Now I feel both old and out of touch ????
I just got the audio based on the recommendation of another author’s blog posting where he says really nice things about mashing of genres with a lot of words from Jennifer Estep. And I knew HA had the book and audible was having a sale so I’m the proud owner of said book.
Thank you.
I’m so glad you like it too. I just finished it and am already jonesing for the next one. I didn’t know what I was going to do after the Spider series, but now I do 🙂
Loved Only Bad Options. Can’t wait for the next book.
Thanks for the recommendation. I was looking for something else to read while waiting for innkeeper and have already read Ruby 3 times. The synopsis seems to be in my wheelhouse.
Hmm… I saw a couple other mentions this week that left me “meh,” but I might have to check it out now.
Sounds kind of same genre as the Kinsmen stories?
Yes and no.
Ilona and Gordon debated this a bit during the Fated Blades release Q&A, but it’s slightly different sub genres. Kinsmen is a planetary SF while OBO is a classic space opera. The traditional definition of Space Opera states that there must be empires, space ships, and magic 🙂
My eyes opened wide at the mention of Deathstalker – I love that series. So now I am off to buy and Thank You Very Much! 🙂
Even your reviews are awesome. You had me at “Not tonight, Satan”. I know EXACTLY what you mean and I succumb way too often ????
Off to go find my copy and happy nagging!
I have just started reading it. Her other new series, section 47, is pretty fun as well
+1
+1
Definite +1
I fully agree with your review! I read it immediately after the last surprise post to continue the high..
And then..as I have allready reread all the Sweep books and the Edge books and the Kinsman books and and (I think you get the picture) I started to reread all Jennifer Estep’s books.
I have to survive till the next installment…hopefully in not to many hours????
I haven’t actually read your review because I don’t like reading reviews before starting a book. But the blurb itself makes it sound so interesting! Thank you for the recommendation!
oooo, It’s been awhile since I’ve read anything by Jennifer Estep. I really loved her Elemental Assassin series and Black Blade and Mythos Academy and
Guess it’s time to go check out her latest.
So you are part of Jennifer Estep’s book devouring horde (BDH0…he he he
Oh yea, a lip smacking glutton I am. I’m a little over half way though it at the moment. I had to take a break to get some sleep though. On the up hand, a yummy little feast to continue snacking on when it once again time to rise.
And since its Friday, a marvelous desert awaits in the form of the next segment in the latest Innkeeper.
Oh yea, today is serving up a fabulous buffet of eats. mmm
Definitely happy with OBO! Must stop reading at the halfway mark, or suffer at 6am tomorrow.
Ilona it’s so funny to see you reacting this way, had to chuckle as it kinda reminds me of the BDH.
Glad there is something you enjoy reading as much as we enjoy reading yours.
Thank you so much for the recommendation and the review, I always love the books you recommend. It is definitely your turn to pester an author for a sequel. You have definitely earned it after what we put you through.????
Catnip Genre is a wonderful concept and this is one of mine as well.
Read an excerpt after you mentioned the book and ordered it directly afterwards- so thank you for sharing it with us.
Glad you got to enjoy the same kind of great book reading session that got delayed because you worked on Ruby Fever and Innkeeper which we got/get to enjoy.
Only work got in the way and I had to come up with the strength of will too to not read a whole night- but the weekend is near.
And it is also FrInnday today, so yay!
I read it last night. I read all her stuff. I am looking forward to more of this and her other new series
It brings to mind Jessie Mihalik to me. I love her stuff too. For me, romance is secondary in a book. There has to be adventure, and usually a body count.
+1
Same here.
I found Jennifer Estep on your recommendation! Thank you! This book is so good. Just finished it on a train from London to York! I can’t wait for the follow up!
bought a copy, which I am saving for next weekend. my sister is going to read it with KU. cannot wait! thanks for the recommendation ❤️
I bought this book based on this post and I’m having a hard time working today because I NEED to finish it. I started it last night. Dang work! I shoulda took today off. It’s a really good story and now I have another author to obsess over.
oh this sounds great! right up my street – I’ll check it out definitely.
Just finished it. Several allusions to Sarah Mass (each series in fact) and Healer (James Bond reference) is not just a seer, but a sensate. Like Julie.
Fingers crossed your pestering has a catalytic effect. I am definitely ready for more!
Thanks for the recommendation.
You sold your friend a book, and i loved it.
Thank you!
Thanks for the recommendation.
I read the review, then I purchased the book it was fantastic.
I loved it, thank you so much Ilona
I finished OBO last night, I loved it! the characters, action, setting changes, I feel excited for the sequel. I love how smart Vesper is.
Jennifer, thank you for your work, it was wonderful.
IA, thank you for suggesting this book.
ok fine. if you are this excited about it, then i suppose i’ll have to read it now. geez. twist my arm why dontcha? lol *clicks over to kindle app*
In have started reading it and so far, so good. Glad my Kindle battery ran low, otherwise I would have been up much too late.
I enjoy her books so I am looking forward to this! I will need to check Audible too.
I read this at your recommendation and really enjoyed it. I am also now waiting impatiently for the next book. It’s an excellent filler for the BDH while waiting for the next Ilona Andrews release. I would sort of describe it as sort of Hidden Legacy in space.
My paycheck is already crying at the sheer number of books I will be getting as soon as I give her other series’ a chance.
Thank you for the hook-up. Off to get the first books.
You had me at competence porn (of which HA is the supreme ruler)! Going to buy it now…,
This. Ok was so awesome! It was on my pre order list and I was dancing all Tuesday reading it. Once I finished I was thinking to myself, I need to do another read through and that is what this weekend is for.
Well, I downloaded the free sample. Bought the book. Stayed up all night reading. And now I am in the same place as Ilona – “need sequel now!”
Loved the book – so wish I had the next. Thanks so much for the recommendation!
Uh oh, my finger slipped and hit instabuy. Oh no, I guess I’ll have to read this book over the weekend ????
I need the sequel too!! Really hope that nagging works as I can’t wait to devour the next book in this series! ^-^ It was a lot of fun! I’m on a bit of a high after having finished it just now too!
Thanks for your excellent example of adulting
#belikeIlona
Thank you, I am listening to the book right now.
This is the second book you have recommended that I have read or listened to and am very happy with both selections.
I got the book based on your opening paragraph and it was wonderful!! I can’t wait to read more of her work. Thank you so much
Your review convinced me to check it out. When I went to Amazon they had a deal with the Audiobook available for $1.99 with purchase of the Kindle version: too good to pass up.
Not a bad book, I listened with interest to the end. It is not as engaging as the Spider series, but hell, it is a good start of new one. I was a little anxious about the romance, but author thankfully stays light on that one. I would say about 4/5 stars.
Just picked it up late Friday. Now Hubby has a copy and he’s into it. It’s so good!
Thank you, Hubby and I’ve been a little lost after Ruby Fever. You should have seen his face when he found out it was the last Baylor book for now.
He’s a software engineer, but he can also fix anything. He’s hooked on this story and reading it almost as fast as I am. We might be picking up more of her work after this.
Again, thank you!
I’ve been a fan of Jennifer’s books for a while. I started based on Ilona’s recommendation, but then got truly hooked by the opening lines from Kill the Queen, which was the first in her Crown of Shards series: “The day of the royal massacre started out like any other. With me doing something completely, utterly useless.” How can you not keep reading after that?
So I was amused to read recently in her blog that she likes coming up with great opening lines. (Go to the blog page of her website, and then search in that page for “opening line”.) And Only Bad Options starts out with a great opening too: “Sometimes in life, you have only bad options.” Luckily for the heroine – and the hero – they seem to do pretty well even with only bad options…
Glad Ilona is “encouraging” the next book in the series – I’ll be impatiently waiting as well!
Oh, and pleased to see that as of right now, it’s Amazon’s #1 New Release in Space Opera Science Fiction…congrats to Jennifer!
I love Jennifer Estep. I read this book today and am jonesing for more. always looking for recommendations. thank you!
No, no, no! I refuse to read this post! Last time I read your comments about a book (The other side of the grave, Jeanine Frost) I ended up reading it, of course. And then buying -in order, mind- ALL other books in the same collection because you know, now that I read the first I need the sequel…
Oh, damn, too late. I’ve read it. Here we go again… (big smile)
Bought it read it ,based on your recommendation,now finished…
Loved it
when is the sequel comming out lol?
Only Bad Options is terrific in audiobook. I devoured it in 2 days and can’t wait for a sequel. Thanks so much for the rec — I might have missed it otherwise.
Blew through it on Sunday, had a truly crap day yesterday and re-read it yesterday afternoon/evening–which gave me a chance to catch the finger flick.
Thank you for the rec! I am looking forward to further competence porn suggestions.
PS–Love IA Fan Girl, AKA Adulting Queen. It reminds me that I have found my people in the BDH.
absolutely wonderful book! thank you for recommending this!❤❤❤
Loved the book! And now I want the next one….now. Sigh. I have been waiting for this book to come out, as Jennifer is one of 10 authors I follow.
it was sooooooo good!
Thank you. This was awesome.
Hah! Finished it before reading this. I loved it! Stayed up ’till the wee hours finishing it. Loved the heroine. I searched all over the internet looking to see if there is another one coming. What really amazed me was the plot development. It’s important to notice the little things that the author points out in the first couple of chapters. Highly recommend.
Thank you for the recommendation. I have read her spider series and they were great. Bought the audio book.
Well Gee thanks, now I am not going to get any sleep either. And there go the weekend plans. New plan. Finish reading awesome new book recommended by my favorite author (s). Good new plan lol