Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Pan, Bi – MMF
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
How does a human survive in an alien dominated InterGalactic Community? By becoming an assassin, of course. At least, that’s what Leopold thought when he became an assassin for the elite. Pretending to be an alien known as Voidstriker, Leopold feeds his appetite for vengeance, killing aliens as well as taking their money. It’s a win-win to his mind.
That is, until a bounty is placed upon his head. With his true identity now revealed to the IG Community, Leopold knows it’s only a matter of time before the powerful family members of his victims come for blood.
Far worse is the fact that the one who put the bounty on his head, is the one he most fears. A routine job three cycles ago brought him face-to-face with Mastrodai, a prince of the powerful Mrrog Nation. Not only did Leopold—accidentally—destroy part of Mastrodai’s moon, but one glimpse of the mighty alien had him feeling desire for the first time in his life.
He ran, and like predator after prey, Mastrodai never stopped hunting him. Leopold is convinced that Mastrodai wants bloody revenge. But when he finally confronts the mrrog, he is stunned to realize Mastrodai wants something very different. Something surprisingly intimate—the one thing that scares Leopold more than torture.
WARNING: 1) There is torture/rape OFF PAGE (NOT between the main couple, Mastrodai and Leopold–their sexy times are always consensual)
The Review
Leopold is a human from Earth, one of many young people who were brought up in orphanages when the Earth became extinct.
Leo was rescued by Zed, a Krushen, from the Sescurei/Kenesurri that enslaved and abused those that they captured. Leo wanted to be an expert assassin and wanted all species to fear him. Even though he sought revenge and hated all aliens, there were still a few “good” aliens, and Zed was one of them. He took Leo under his wing and taught him to speak the universal language of Veruvian.
Zed was an expert mechanic who kept the Doomed Voyager up and running. He made Leo his apprentice and taught him all he knew. Zed’s life was a sad one – his mate died he chose to not nest for ten years, and lived a solitary life.
As time passed, Leo reached his goal, with twenty odd assassin jobs under his belt. He made his name among the species that could pay the high price to have an assassination carried out. He was almost perfect, but it only took one mistake for an accident to happen. When he accidentally sets off a huge explosion, he finds himself face to face with one of the elite mrrog – Mastrodai – and he never forgets the encounter.
Leo continues to prove himself a top assassin, but he does alone as his friend and mentor Zed has died. But through Zed, Leo always has a safe place to go – the myxn village. He had made many friends through Zed, too.
After one job, Leo visits an out of the way bar and sees an old friend of Zed’s named Chancy. What Leo doesn’t know is that there’s a bounty on his head. He’s captured and wounded by Terk, a sex/slave-trafficker.
Leo finds a way to escape from the ship and takes the other captives with him. But the escape isn’t easy, as none other than Mastrodai is aboard the ship. No matter how hard he tries to lose him, Mastrodai stays on Leo’s trail. Even as resistant as Leo is, the magnetism between him and Mastrodai is too strong to fight. Just when Mastrodai feels it’s time to return home to Mragin, he will face a big mistake, and Leo will be in unbelievable danger.
Grimm has penned an explosive, fast, action-packed story in the first book in “The Saga of the Bold People” series. It checks off all the sci-fi boxes: powerful spaceships, deadly weapons, tons of aliens and alien languages, and some very vivid descriptions. It’s an epic tale filled with adventure.
The enemies-to-lovers trope builds the tension. When Leopold and Mastrodai finally come together, it’s very steamy and for Leopold it’s a new experience. The relationship is very strong, especially for Mastrodai, who never gave up his pursuit of Leo. They were just made for each other, and nothing would come between them.
Leopold was an exciting sci-fi adventure that had me wanting more of Leo and Mastrodai, and whatever other dangers they would face together in their chaotic world.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.