ARC Review: Beyond The Red by Ava Jae
Author: Ava Jae
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Publishing: March 1st, 2016
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Goodreads synopsis:
Alien queen Kora has a problem as vast as the endless crimson deserts. She’s the first female ruler of her territory in generations, but her people are rioting and call for her violent younger twin brother to take the throne. Despite assassination attempts, a mounting uprising of nomadic human rebels, and pressure to find a mate to help her rule, she’s determined to protect her people from her brother’s would-be tyrannical rule.
Eros is a rebel soldier hated by aliens and human alike for being a half-blood. Yet that doesn’t stop him from defending his people, at least until Kora’s soldiers raze his camp and take him captive. He’s given an ultimatum: be an enslaved bodyguard to Kora, or be executed for his true identity—a secret kept even from him.
When Kora and Eros are framed for the attempted assassination of her betrothed, they flee. Their only chance of survival is to turn themselves in to the high court, where revealing Eros’s secret could mean a swift public execution. But when they uncover a violent plot to end the human insurgency, they must find a way to work together to prevent genocide.
Silvana's Review
Beyond The Red is one you need to keep your eye out when it comes out. What drew me in probably was the royalty aspect the book has. We have an alien queen and she is hated by her people because they think a woman cannot rule. They want her brother to rule. I'm laughing at these people who live in her city because girls are deadly when you least expect it and I love that Kora is ruthless and sweet at the same time. She is one of my favorite characters and I wish to read more about her because she has so much story to give.
I loved the world Ava Jae drew us. It's space and it's a planet that it's filled to the neck with red sand. The clothes the characters wear, the costums, the relationships and the way the system of this world works, was fascinating to me to read about. It is action-packed (I don't think there was a moment were there was no intense scenes or running from something or political intrigue in this book). The story flows through the pages easily and you get captured by the hands of a really good plotline.
If you are into sci-fi, well developed world, political intrigue in the royal court, forbidden romance, a badass hero and a powerful queen, Beyond The Red is for you and you got to pick it up because I desperately need a sequel.
Mana's Review
Beyond the Red surprised me. It was fast-paced, gritty, full of twists and turns, and of course, swoon worthy. The setting and the politics were so out of this world (haha if you're reading this, please laugh) and I don't think there was a moment where the plot slackened. It was always moving. There are so many things I loved about this book and honestly one of them was the opener. Because hello! Eros is quite the guy and he makes me laugh.
Jae has a knack for writing humor in desperate times. It's shown in Kora, but it's especially shown through Eros. I loved the characters individually and together. I loved how Kora stuck with her ideals and her morals so ardently throughout the whole book. The way the side characters tried to tear her down for being a woman (and a queen for that matter) but of course Kora won't take any of that.She is fantastic, that's all I need. I definitely need to talk about these when they are together. Some of them were the best scenes and I was so floored on how much sexual tension these two exuded. There was definitely a point where I was thinking, "WHEN WILL THESE TWO JUST GET IT OUT OF THEIR SYSTEM ALREADY?" Suffice to say, they were hot.
This book honestly has it all from aliens to royalty. Read this book and then cry with us because that ending is such a killer.
I'm Ava Jae.
I write. I read. I Photoshop. Then I tweet/blog/tumbl/post/vlog/instagram about it and some pretty awesome people like and read and watch it. I'm also an Assistant Editor at Entangled, and I'm represented by the wonderful Louise Fury of The Bent Agency.
I write YA and NA paranormal, Sci-Fi and Fantasy novels because I love writing about self-discovery and the complicated worlds of young people. Then I like to take their emotionally-ridden lives, rip them apart and set them on fire. My debut novel BEYOND THE RED will be published in hardcover and e-book by Sky Pony Press in March 2016. It has aliens and kissing and explosions and you can add it to your Goodreads shelf here.
I also have an addiction to movies, but that's another matter entirely.
4 comments
Oohhh the political intrigue, romance and sexual tension sound fantastic here! Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteJeann @ Happy Indulgence
YESS <333 It is super fantastic, I hope you pick it up :')
DeleteThank you for checking it you Jeann!!
Silvana
EEP THAT GRAPHIC IS BEAUTIFUL (like all your graphics guyz) :P I'M SO GLAD YOU LIKED ITTT! THAT ENDING THO. YA KNOW HOW I FEEL.
ReplyDelete- Aila @ One Way Or An Author
THANK YOU AILA!!! *keeps crying* that ending IT WAS SJHDSKJSHSSJ THIS BOOK COMPLETELY
DeleteSilvana