Rogues
By Liddy Midnight & Cricket Starr
Ellora’s Cave © 2006
148 Pages
Reviewed by J'aime Maynard
Rating: 4/5 vampires
There is nothing quite like a book that starts out with a hot sex scene in the very first sentence. Rogues makes promises with that first line, and mostly delivers on them. The story opens with Thomas, a slightly self-absorbed vampire, and Rick, his psychic human companion, on their space ship "Sleepwalker." Though they are happy lovers, they both think they want a woman to share their life. But, not just any woman will do-they want the person who has been sharing their recent sexual encounters via a psychic link. That woman is Harriet-a bounty-hunter werewolf. When she shows up, it's to take them in for defaulting on the bank loan for their ship. But they've been paying. It isn't long before Harriet is helping the boys to discover who set them all up, and why.
This was a fresh paranormal-meets-science fiction tale with a hot ménage á trois at center stage. Very hot-the sex is explicit and varied. Every single orifice gets filled at some point! Yet, it remains hot throughout, without getting repetitive or boring. In fact, there is an extra spiciness to the sex since the three of them have a psychic bond. Thomas says, "Rick had taught him the benefits of a psychic lover. If she could hear his thoughts, it would save them both time and effort. Nothing like just thinking about what you want and having your lover respond." Also, the authors put some effort into making their futuristic setting as realistic as possible, and applying it to their characters. For example, people who spend too much time in space require regular exercise to keep their muscles from becoming weak. Thomas is a vampire, but how would that factor into traveling through space where there's no sunlight? How would he feed? The authors tackle such questions head on while keeping the story flowing smoothly.
Rogues is formulaic, but the authors poke fun at the very clichés they are using to great effect. One of the villains is named Christina Smerkish, and the three main characters are called Tom, Rick and Harriet, after all! Before the story begins, the reader sees the following passage: "A vampire, a psychic and a werewolf walk into a bar on Alpha Prime…"-1001 Stellar Jokes. What makes this note-worthy is that that is exactly what will follow. Add to this mix a jealous Artificial Intelligence who may want to be human, genetic engineering, embezzlement, assassins, and an accounting conspiracy of galactic proportions. Cheesy? Definitely. Hot and sexy? Oh, yes. Will Rogues win the Hugo Award? Not likely. But, readers will have a rip roaring good time with this steamy threesome as they have their adventures in, and out of, bed.
© J'aime Maynard and gottawritenetwork.com
March 4, 2007
