REVIEW: “Gravitational Attraction” by Angel Martinez
ABOUT:
A mysterious distress call draws the crew of courier ship Hermes to what appears to be an empty, drifting troop vessel–empty except for the blood and gore spattered corridors and a lone survivor locked in a holding cell. Drawn to the handsome, traumatized man, the crew’s comm officer, Isaac Ozawa, makes Turk his personal responsibility, offering him the kindness and warmth he needs after the horror he experienced.
Isaac knows firsthand what it’s like to be different and an outcast, and this cements their bond. Once a promising pilot, Isaac was left with a damaged body when his brain didn’t meld with the high-tech implant needed to fly fighter ships. Turk’s brain is no better. The result of a military experiment gone wrong, his natural abilities have been augmented to a dangerous degree.
When an amoral, power-hungry admiral kidnaps Isaac and uses him to convince Turk to become the cataclysmic weapon he’s hungered for, it will take Turk’s strength, the ingenuity of the Hermes crew, the help of the enigmatic Drak’tar, and Isaac’s own stubborn will to save them.
1st Edition published by Silver Publishing, February 2012
REVIEW:
I need to disclose that I am not a huge sci-fi reader; I do read it but not a whole lot.
I was drawn to this one by the favourable premise and the first 15% was quite enjoyable. Nice exciting set up with the discovery of Turk on an abandoned ship that’s covered in mystery and body parts. Even when Isaac recues the gorgeous damaged warrior I was excited to see the relationship develop under the threat of …something. But I wasn’t to know that it embraces so many of my personal peeves that I was barely able to finish it.
I’ve never been a fan of the whole ‘soul mates’ thing where the couple are ‘made for each other,’ their one and only true love, the other half of their being that invokes a need which touches the deep recess of the soul. Urgh. And that is exactly what Turk and Isaac are to each other. It’s ingrained and compelling for them because, oh let me quote: “The resonances match, hearts singing in tandem. You are the piece my heart was missing.” Again, urgh …
They both take turns in rescuing each other, demonstrating their courage, honour and altruism. In giving and receiving comfort the healing power of love may begin, and I suppose it’s sweet and endearing if you can swallow down the poetic lyrical waxing that’s supposed to complement their union. Endearments like:
“You make my blood sing.”
“Your smile takes the strength from my legs.”
“Your laugh wraps heated plumes about my heart.”
Turk constantly refers to Isaac as ‘my heart’ and when Isaac adopts the Corzin way of speaking he counters with endearments like “My ferocious love,” Oh boy … I really, really can’t stop my eyes from rolling so far back in my head I know now what my brain looks like. And then there’s the sex! Bodies’ wild with lust, ferocious kisses, nipping teeth, tongues tangling. ‘Cavern-deep moans vibrating’ and let’s not forget the colours of sparks that fly and the ‘hot splash’ of his climax. And then the dialog sends the cringe’o meter into overdrive.
“You won’t hurt me. Just go slow. I want that monstrous tool inside me. “
Doh!
Okay, so the relationship side of things didn’t work for me. The rest of the story takes us to Turks planet and the author builds an interesting world that demonstrates how two species co-exist peacefully and harmoniously. A perfect world full of good guys and strange walls. I couldn’t really follow the rest of the message or the plotline because at that point my attention was diverted by my shopping list and what to do with the kids the next day.
I’m going with a me-not-you rating because the overall ratings and reviews for this book on GR is over 4stars so obviously it’s me and my personal peeves that deterred my enjoyment. Right?
RATING: 2.5/MNY STARS
BOOK INFO:
Title: Gravitational Attraction
Author: Angel Martinez
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (1st Edition published by Silver Publishing, February 2012)
Pages: 266 pages
Release Date: 21 July 2014
Purchase Links: Dreamspinner Press
This proves my brain-twin theory. :P
I couldn’t get into this book and I AM a huge scifi reader. I tried it few times, never finished due to instalove. :\
Sub Zero, though… that one was great.
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Ha! *fist bump twinsie* :D
And Sub Zero? was that by the same author too? Because I’ll happily try another by her based on your say so.
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Same author, same universe. I liked it much better than GA. ;) Good worldbuilding, although I wished it was a bit longer so romance can develop in more believable way. But, I say that for almost every shorter-than-novel read… :\ I’m a hard sell on romance in novellas.
Give it a try. ;)
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Good review, Shells! And shame! This one was on my radar, but I guess I’ll wait for the revised version of Vassily The Beautiful.
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