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Chilling Effect #2
Prime Deceptions
The lovably flawed crew of La Sirena Negra and their psychic cats return in this fast-paced and outrageously fun science-fiction novel, in which they confront past failures and face new threats in the far reaches of space from the author of the critically acclaimed Chilling Effect.
Captain Eva Innocente and the crew of La Sirena Negra find themselves once again on the fringe of populated space—and at the center of a raging covert war. When Eva’s sister asks for help locating a missing scientist, promises of a big paycheck and a noble cause convince Eva to take the job despite lingering trust issues.
With reluctant assistance from her estranged mother, Eva and her crew follow the missing scientist’s trail across the universe, from the costume-filled halls of a never-ending convention to a dangerous bot-fighting arena. They ultimately find themselves at the last place Eva wants to see again—Garilia—where she experienced her most shameful and haunting failure.
To complete her mission and get paid, Eva must navigate a paradise embroiled in a rebellion, where massive forests and pristine beaches hide psychic creatures and pervasive surveillance technology. Can she find her quarry while avoiding the oppressive local regime, or will she be doomed to repeat past mistakes when her dark deeds come to light?
Captain Eva Innocente and the crew of La Sirena Negra find themselves once again on the fringe of populated space—and at the center of a raging covert war. When Eva’s sister asks for help locating a missing scientist, promises of a big paycheck and a noble cause convince Eva to take the job despite lingering trust issues.
With reluctant assistance from her estranged mother, Eva and her crew follow the missing scientist’s trail across the universe, from the costume-filled halls of a never-ending convention to a dangerous bot-fighting arena. They ultimately find themselves at the last place Eva wants to see again—Garilia—where she experienced her most shameful and haunting failure.
To complete her mission and get paid, Eva must navigate a paradise embroiled in a rebellion, where massive forests and pristine beaches hide psychic creatures and pervasive surveillance technology. Can she find her quarry while avoiding the oppressive local regime, or will she be doomed to repeat past mistakes when her dark deeds come to light?
446 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2020
113 people are currently reading
3697 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Valdes
25 books426 followersValerie Valdes is co-editor of the award-winning Escape Pod science fiction podcast, as well as the author of the Chilling Effect trilogy and space fantasy novel Where Peace Is Lost. Her short fiction and poetry have appeared in Uncanny Magazine, Nightmare Magazine and several anthologies. She lives in an elaborate meme palace in Georgia with her husband, children and cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
July 7, 2023
This series is Mass Effect inspired in the best way. The atmosphere is so cool and this installment I found to be more cohesive than the first book.
September 17, 2020
full disclosure: i did not realise this book was a sequel and read this without having read the previous book, however i did not struggle to get into it at all and was able to follow everything easily and now will defiently go back and read the first one!!
I first heard about this because I heard it had psychic cats so obviously I had to read it and while the cats were fun the strongest part of this book for me was the found family feeling of the ships crew. I always love this trope in sci-fi especially (this book reminded me a lot of on a sunbeam or becky chambers books).
We are following Eva and her crew as they are looking for one of the crews brother (Sue) who has gone missing and possibly kidnapped by a nefarious corparation. Overall this was just such a fun book and following the crew of La Sirena Negra on all their shennanigans around the galaxy!! The writing is super easy to follow and get into and has such a light and comforting tone to it that amkes you feel so happy and safe!
I really loved Eva as a protagonist, and I loved her relationship with Vakar and how sweet and supportive it was (and i'm guessing they met in the first book haha) which I feel like is not always that common in SFF! I also really liked all the shady corparation plotlines in this, and watching the crew decide who to trust was intriguing and very interesting!!
I first heard about this because I heard it had psychic cats so obviously I had to read it and while the cats were fun the strongest part of this book for me was the found family feeling of the ships crew. I always love this trope in sci-fi especially (this book reminded me a lot of on a sunbeam or becky chambers books).
We are following Eva and her crew as they are looking for one of the crews brother (Sue) who has gone missing and possibly kidnapped by a nefarious corparation. Overall this was just such a fun book and following the crew of La Sirena Negra on all their shennanigans around the galaxy!! The writing is super easy to follow and get into and has such a light and comforting tone to it that amkes you feel so happy and safe!
I really loved Eva as a protagonist, and I loved her relationship with Vakar and how sweet and supportive it was (and i'm guessing they met in the first book haha) which I feel like is not always that common in SFF! I also really liked all the shady corparation plotlines in this, and watching the crew decide who to trust was intriguing and very interesting!!
August 22, 2022
"A slow smile spread across Eva’s face as she had a wonderful, awful idea."
Shenanigans in Space. All non-stop action, non-sense decisions and crazy outcomes. I still think these are a bit long but they are packed full and this was just as much fun as the first story.
"Eva had a bad feeling about all this, but she told herself that was just her own enormous sense of shame talking."
Captain Eva didn't come across as very likeable in book one, I thought, but as part of her growth in this novel she was put in a few emotionally challenging and ethically ambiguous positions so she has started to grow on me.
There's something not quite amazing about these, the occasional odd phrasing or cheap trick, but overall these are a great deal of fun to read.
Shenanigans in Space. All non-stop action, non-sense decisions and crazy outcomes. I still think these are a bit long but they are packed full and this was just as much fun as the first story.
"Eva had a bad feeling about all this, but she told herself that was just her own enormous sense of shame talking."
Captain Eva didn't come across as very likeable in book one, I thought, but as part of her growth in this novel she was put in a few emotionally challenging and ethically ambiguous positions so she has started to grow on me.
There's something not quite amazing about these, the occasional odd phrasing or cheap trick, but overall these are a great deal of fun to read.
September 15, 2020
Eva Innocente doesn't want to talk to her sister again.
She doesn't want to call her mother anytime soon.
She and the rest of the crew of La Sirena Negra want paying jobs to pay their bills, and rescue crew member Sue's brother Josh from the Fridge. (It's not clear what the psychic cats sharing the ship want, but they like at least some of the crew members, and know where their purrs are most needed.) An evil organization that is forcing him to work on its nefarious high-tech projects involving banned technology. Sue has been making ransom payments, but no matter how much she pays, Josh doesn't get released.
They're working on what their next move will be when Eva's sister, Mari, an officer with the Forge, contacts her.
The Forge is an organization that is at least nominally on the side of law and justice, and which wants to destroy the Fridge, possibly as much as Eva. (There is backstory for this, told in full in the previous book, Chilling Effect, but provided in enough substance here to avoid confusion.)
The Forge wants to find Josh, too.
The Fridge doesn't have him anymore. He and another scientist escaped, and have vanished. If they were safe, Josh would have contacted Sue, right?
Eva hates doing any favors for her sister, but the Forge is willing to pay, very well indeed. They really need the money, and it's a chance to get paid for doing what they want to do anyway--find Sue's brother.
Unfortunately, this is going to mean asking her mother, the kickass auditor, for help, going places she really doesn't want to go, and confronting one of the worst acts she ever committed, in a career that, until relatively recently, wasn't overly concerned with right and wrong. She's changed, but is that going to be good enough?
Eva and her friends are going to find out.
This is a really enjoyable book, with good characters, some interesting aliens, action that moves along, and people who turn out to be both better and worse than they seem at first glance. And, of course, the psychic cats, including Mala, the opinionated calico (but I repeat myself.)
It's not perfect. There are places where I stopped, and wondered why an editor didn't suggest changing that. But I really enjoyed it, and look forward to more.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
She doesn't want to call her mother anytime soon.
She and the rest of the crew of La Sirena Negra want paying jobs to pay their bills, and rescue crew member Sue's brother Josh from the Fridge. (It's not clear what the psychic cats sharing the ship want, but they like at least some of the crew members, and know where their purrs are most needed.) An evil organization that is forcing him to work on its nefarious high-tech projects involving banned technology. Sue has been making ransom payments, but no matter how much she pays, Josh doesn't get released.
They're working on what their next move will be when Eva's sister, Mari, an officer with the Forge, contacts her.
The Forge is an organization that is at least nominally on the side of law and justice, and which wants to destroy the Fridge, possibly as much as Eva. (There is backstory for this, told in full in the previous book, Chilling Effect, but provided in enough substance here to avoid confusion.)
The Forge wants to find Josh, too.
The Fridge doesn't have him anymore. He and another scientist escaped, and have vanished. If they were safe, Josh would have contacted Sue, right?
Eva hates doing any favors for her sister, but the Forge is willing to pay, very well indeed. They really need the money, and it's a chance to get paid for doing what they want to do anyway--find Sue's brother.
Unfortunately, this is going to mean asking her mother, the kickass auditor, for help, going places she really doesn't want to go, and confronting one of the worst acts she ever committed, in a career that, until relatively recently, wasn't overly concerned with right and wrong. She's changed, but is that going to be good enough?
Eva and her friends are going to find out.
This is a really enjoyable book, with good characters, some interesting aliens, action that moves along, and people who turn out to be both better and worse than they seem at first glance. And, of course, the psychic cats, including Mala, the opinionated calico (but I repeat myself.)
It's not perfect. There are places where I stopped, and wondered why an editor didn't suggest changing that. But I really enjoyed it, and look forward to more.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
November 17, 2023
This one wasn’t quite as good as the first and the main plot driving force seemed a little light and was anticlimactic. It did seem to setup well for the third which I am hopeful for. Still was an enjoyable read and was an expansive universe. Looking forward to the final of the trilogy.
June 8, 2020
The La Sirena Negra crew are back again!
I have been eagerly awaiting Prime Deceptions ever since reading Chilling Effect last year. Let me just say, it was worth the wait!
Prime Deception’s biggest advantage was being able to jump right into the action again, but this time, without having the exposition of who everyone is. Where Chilling Effect was the bringing together of this ragtag family, Prime Deception is the exploration of what it means to be family.
Prime Deceptions goes into more detail on things mentioned in Chilling Effect, such as more on Eva’s blood family dynamics (as opposed to her real family on the La Sirena Negra), Then there’s Garilia.
There’s also more about the Proarkhe, aka the mysterious aliens who created the Gates and other tech. Once again, they have an overarching presence that teases us with more information. Who are these ancient creatures?
This book was an absolute joy to read. I loved all the nerdy references sprinkled in the book. A fandom planet, creatures that seem to be Pokémon-ish, and bot fighting, are just a few of the fun details that made this book so much fun.
Don’t take the amount of fun as a lack of stakes, however! The La Sirena Negra team are working once more for the Forge, to find a missing scientist. It’ll push the group to their limits, and between old foes and haunting memories, Eva will be tested most of all.
I’m always a sucker for stories about broken people that come together to make a family, and the crew of La Sirena Negra are a prime example of what I love about this dynamic. Sometimes your family isn’t who you’re related to. Sometimes, your family is the weird but wonderful cast of characters you meet along the way. And then sometimes, you have cats.
(Speaking of cats, if you loved Mala in Chilling Effect, you’re in for a treat in Prime Deceptions)
The world building of Prime Deceptions is wild and imaginative, just as it was with Chilling Effect. My other favorite part was just how alien the aliens were. No Star Trek-type forehead ridges here! I assume there will be a book three, and I can’t wait to see what sort of things Valerie Valdes has in store for us in the future.
I can’t wait for everyone to be able to read this book. Since Prime Deceptions is a sequel to Chilling Effect, I’d suggest reading Chilling Effect first. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read Prime Deceptions early as a eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I have been eagerly awaiting Prime Deceptions ever since reading Chilling Effect last year. Let me just say, it was worth the wait!
Prime Deception’s biggest advantage was being able to jump right into the action again, but this time, without having the exposition of who everyone is. Where Chilling Effect was the bringing together of this ragtag family, Prime Deception is the exploration of what it means to be family.
Prime Deceptions goes into more detail on things mentioned in Chilling Effect, such as more on Eva’s blood family dynamics (as opposed to her real family on the La Sirena Negra), Then there’s Garilia.
There’s also more about the Proarkhe, aka the mysterious aliens who created the Gates and other tech. Once again, they have an overarching presence that teases us with more information. Who are these ancient creatures?
This book was an absolute joy to read. I loved all the nerdy references sprinkled in the book. A fandom planet, creatures that seem to be Pokémon-ish, and bot fighting, are just a few of the fun details that made this book so much fun.
Don’t take the amount of fun as a lack of stakes, however! The La Sirena Negra team are working once more for the Forge, to find a missing scientist. It’ll push the group to their limits, and between old foes and haunting memories, Eva will be tested most of all.
I’m always a sucker for stories about broken people that come together to make a family, and the crew of La Sirena Negra are a prime example of what I love about this dynamic. Sometimes your family isn’t who you’re related to. Sometimes, your family is the weird but wonderful cast of characters you meet along the way. And then sometimes, you have cats.
(Speaking of cats, if you loved Mala in Chilling Effect, you’re in for a treat in Prime Deceptions)
The world building of Prime Deceptions is wild and imaginative, just as it was with Chilling Effect. My other favorite part was just how alien the aliens were. No Star Trek-type forehead ridges here! I assume there will be a book three, and I can’t wait to see what sort of things Valerie Valdes has in store for us in the future.
I can’t wait for everyone to be able to read this book. Since Prime Deceptions is a sequel to Chilling Effect, I’d suggest reading Chilling Effect first. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read Prime Deceptions early as a eARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 11, 2020
Great sequel to a fun first book. Way more psychic cats, to many Pokémon references to name, some palp action, and a heroine who has her shit together (as much as any space captain can)!
November 25, 2022
8,5 This is popcorn sci fi through and through. No deep ponderings of humanity's place in the universe, no unsuspected speculation about new technological breakthroughs, no deep commentary on societal ills. It's an action packed space opera with lots of references to popculture, a lot of snide remarks, and an engagin latinx heroine, a found family aspect and psychic cats. Written in an engaging style - that is not really anything special, sometimes falters even, but it does the job well, it did leave me with a big grin on my face and an itching to continue in the third part of the series soon.
Compared with the first book in the 'Chilling Effect'-series I liked this one better. The first book felt a bit episodic, with some story lines that hadn't anything to do with each other. Here there's a better throughline, with revelations leading to more insights and some fascinating complications. The set pieces were better as well, with for example some spying at a party and a complicated scene on and around a portal in space that was pretty tense. Oh, the psychic cats were used better in this second part as well, and main cat Mala takes center stage - and I had to grin when she behaved like a cat in alien situations ...
The main part of the plot centers around an alien civilisation having companion animals in different sizes and shapes that they are bonded with (and that they fight tournaments with) - they are building robotic companion animals to export in the galaxy, that can fit into a baseball sized pod and that can 'evolve' in larger forms. They even say they have to 'catch them all'. People who know all the different pokemon by name will get a kick from recognizing the references, I guess, I did find a Pikachu-substitue at least. Also there a lots of references to Mass Effect, Bioshock, robot fights, the Iron-Man suit and other pop culture elements. If you like video games you'll have a blast I think.
For me the found family aspects worked best - the crew of the space ship and their interactions are well realized and I liked the run ins Eva had with her mother and sister.
In conclusion: not deep, but a great palate cleanser if you like space opera adventure with a big wink and grin.
Compared with the first book in the 'Chilling Effect'-series I liked this one better. The first book felt a bit episodic, with some story lines that hadn't anything to do with each other. Here there's a better throughline, with revelations leading to more insights and some fascinating complications. The set pieces were better as well, with for example some spying at a party and a complicated scene on and around a portal in space that was pretty tense. Oh, the psychic cats were used better in this second part as well, and main cat Mala takes center stage - and I had to grin when she behaved like a cat in alien situations ...
The main part of the plot centers around an alien civilisation having companion animals in different sizes and shapes that they are bonded with (and that they fight tournaments with) - they are building robotic companion animals to export in the galaxy, that can fit into a baseball sized pod and that can 'evolve' in larger forms. They even say they have to 'catch them all'. People who know all the different pokemon by name will get a kick from recognizing the references, I guess, I did find a Pikachu-substitue at least. Also there a lots of references to Mass Effect, Bioshock, robot fights, the Iron-Man suit and other pop culture elements. If you like video games you'll have a blast I think.
For me the found family aspects worked best - the crew of the space ship and their interactions are well realized and I liked the run ins Eva had with her mother and sister.
In conclusion: not deep, but a great palate cleanser if you like space opera adventure with a big wink and grin.
November 3, 2021
3.5 stars
May 26, 2021
Valerie Valdes's 2019 debut novel
Chilling Effect
was one of my favorite books that year. Eva and her misfit crew of odd-job space travelers hopping from planet to planet, butting heads with everyone along the way, from Jane-Austenesque Dinosaurs, to mansplaining mad scientists, to gross alien bros with thin skin. It was goofy fun and often very funny. Now Eva Innocente and her crew are back for another adventure in Prime Deceptions, tracking down a scientist named Josh Zafone so they can deliver him to a mysterious employer. While there were some interesting parts and some decent worldbuilding, I struggled with parts of this sequel.
Prime Deceptions feels more focused than its predecessor, with minimal planet-hopping and a smaller cast of only six characters. After a brief introduction, Captain Eva Innocente and her crew make two short stops and then settle down on the planet Garilia, where they stay for pretty much the rest of the book.
Briefly, the two stops before Garilia were... okay. Aside from some minor hyucks about body odor at a perpetual Comic-Con on Charon, things were remarkably straight-laced. Even on the planet Abelgard, where the crew not only competes with robots but also engages in hand-to-hand combat with the use of power armor, nothing particularly exciting happens. Highlights include the return of a love-to-hate-him character from the previous book, and lightweight parodies of Samus Aran from the Metroid video games (renamed here as... sigh... "Nara Sumas") and Mega-Man.
Afterward, the search for Sue's brother (the aforementioned scientist) leads the crew to Garilia, and the book kicks into Pokémon Parody overdrive. I was occasionally impressed by how restrained the parody was but rolled my eyes when characters literally shouted things like "We've got to catch them all!"
The book was okay but felt overlong, as if someone had stuffed 450 pages of prose into a 300-page book. Conversations were so protracted and took so many breaks to explain what characters were feeling or what Vakar smelled like that a dozen lines of dialogue were sometimes spread across half as many pages. I get it, Vakar is an alien (resembling a cross between a pangolin and Dr. Zoidberg) whose emotions are transmitted through smell—but all these pit-stops to explain that he smelled like licorice or incense or whatever else mixed with jasmine and ozone really add up. There's also a lot of Spanish in the book, which was A-OK with me but might as well be redacted for readers who don't speak Spanish. Readers who took even one year of Spanish in high school should have no trouble getting the gist of what's said (from context if nothing else), and most of it is superfluous invective at any rate, but some phrases are either so long or so colloquial that they only serve to distract.
(Some examples: "Me cago en la hora que yo nací," "Nadando Contra La Corriente," and "Mierda, mojón y porquería," which translate as "I sh*t at the time that I was born," "Swimming against the current," and "sh*t, turds, and crap," respectively.)
One possible downside to the smaller cast is that I spent way more time with hot-headed Eva's thoughts than I would have liked. When she doesn't want to punch someone, she's taking the "Sympathetic Murder Backstory" trope to the extreme through painfully repetitive self-torture. Chapter 10, wherein she explains a previous mission to her crew, was a predictable, overly detailed slog. On the other hand, the psychic cat Mala has a much larger role this time around and even goes on a lengthy away mission. She was the best part.
Anyway, like I said, the book was okay. It was too easy to put down, and too hard to pick up again. I hesitate to recommend it, and I probably wouldn't read a third book in this universe, but if you read the first one (which I really liked) and are dying for more, then Prime Deceptions might be for you.
Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Prime Deceptions feels more focused than its predecessor, with minimal planet-hopping and a smaller cast of only six characters. After a brief introduction, Captain Eva Innocente and her crew make two short stops and then settle down on the planet Garilia, where they stay for pretty much the rest of the book.
Briefly, the two stops before Garilia were... okay. Aside from some minor hyucks about body odor at a perpetual Comic-Con on Charon, things were remarkably straight-laced. Even on the planet Abelgard, where the crew not only competes with robots but also engages in hand-to-hand combat with the use of power armor, nothing particularly exciting happens. Highlights include the return of a love-to-hate-him character from the previous book, and lightweight parodies of Samus Aran from the Metroid video games (renamed here as... sigh... "Nara Sumas") and Mega-Man.
Afterward, the search for Sue's brother (the aforementioned scientist) leads the crew to Garilia, and the book kicks into Pokémon Parody overdrive. I was occasionally impressed by how restrained the parody was but rolled my eyes when characters literally shouted things like "We've got to catch them all!"
The book was okay but felt overlong, as if someone had stuffed 450 pages of prose into a 300-page book. Conversations were so protracted and took so many breaks to explain what characters were feeling or what Vakar smelled like that a dozen lines of dialogue were sometimes spread across half as many pages. I get it, Vakar is an alien (resembling a cross between a pangolin and Dr. Zoidberg) whose emotions are transmitted through smell—but all these pit-stops to explain that he smelled like licorice or incense or whatever else mixed with jasmine and ozone really add up. There's also a lot of Spanish in the book, which was A-OK with me but might as well be redacted for readers who don't speak Spanish. Readers who took even one year of Spanish in high school should have no trouble getting the gist of what's said (from context if nothing else), and most of it is superfluous invective at any rate, but some phrases are either so long or so colloquial that they only serve to distract.
(Some examples: "Me cago en la hora que yo nací," "Nadando Contra La Corriente," and "Mierda, mojón y porquería," which translate as "I sh*t at the time that I was born," "Swimming against the current," and "sh*t, turds, and crap," respectively.)
One possible downside to the smaller cast is that I spent way more time with hot-headed Eva's thoughts than I would have liked. When she doesn't want to punch someone, she's taking the "Sympathetic Murder Backstory" trope to the extreme through painfully repetitive self-torture. Chapter 10, wherein she explains a previous mission to her crew, was a predictable, overly detailed slog. On the other hand, the psychic cat Mala has a much larger role this time around and even goes on a lengthy away mission. She was the best part.
Anyway, like I said, the book was okay. It was too easy to put down, and too hard to pick up again. I hesitate to recommend it, and I probably wouldn't read a third book in this universe, but if you read the first one (which I really liked) and are dying for more, then Prime Deceptions might be for you.
Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2024
What a fun adventure! I love how we get to know more about the crew of the "Le Sirena Negra" in this installment. They are becoming quite a quirky "found family" which are 100% my type of books.
Lots of ups and downs and different planets to read about. What I enjoy most about Valdes' writing so far is how she makes time pass in manageable increments, and every scene has meaning and does something to either progress the plot or give the reader insight into something as if we're a mouse in the corner of the room.
There are no long drawn out sessions of the characters doing mundane things aboard the ship in between destinations just to increase word count like some sci-fis I've read.
Looking forward to the next book!
Lots of ups and downs and different planets to read about. What I enjoy most about Valdes' writing so far is how she makes time pass in manageable increments, and every scene has meaning and does something to either progress the plot or give the reader insight into something as if we're a mouse in the corner of the room.
There are no long drawn out sessions of the characters doing mundane things aboard the ship in between destinations just to increase word count like some sci-fis I've read.
Looking forward to the next book!
April 20, 2021
A very satisfying follow-up, though with rather some big unresolved issues right at the end that certainly leave room for a sequel.
Less planet hopping than the first book, but I thought that was rather good, considering we finally get to know (and Eva deals with) what the deal is with Garilia and her PTSD from that planet. I liked the increase in political maneuvering, and how Eva's very complex family situation was expanded on.
Less planet hopping than the first book, but I thought that was rather good, considering we finally get to know (and Eva deals with) what the deal is with Garilia and her PTSD from that planet. I liked the increase in political maneuvering, and how Eva's very complex family situation was expanded on.
November 27, 2020
While I found this to be a fun read, I had a hard time concentrating on it, which may be more on me than the story.
January 28, 2021
Do space operas always have to be so deadly serious?
Sure, the protagonist’s life, and that of their gallant, family-sized crew are often in the balance, the galaxy is teetering on the edge of oblivion and bad guys and gals seem to be creeping out from under asteroid and half decently-sized nebula.
But is it still possible to have a good old laugh along the way?
When you’re Valerie Valdes, you have a new book out called Prime Deceptions and you’re writing about Captain Eva Innocente and the intrepid crew of La Sirena Negra – co-captain Pink, ship’s pilot Min, engineer Susan and Quennian law enforcement Wraith named Vakar (who’s in a relationship with Eva), you most certainly can.
Primarily because while a solar system’s worth of very, very serious stuff is happening to Eva and the crew, and they respond capably and accordingly because they are professionals and know their collective stuff, they are simultaneously able to stand back, realise the absurdity of much of it and crack jokes and make witty, incisive observations accordingly.
It’s as if Douglas Adams and Peter F Hamilton met at a writers’ conference and had an hilariously Spanish profanities-punctuated literary baby, one that is filled to the brim with double-dealing mercenaries, nefarious planetary rulers, shapeshifting robots of ancient origin and cute adorable robotic toys that might be the vanguard of a psychic invasion, but which also understands that the world, the galaxy and indeed the universe is a strange and weird place and thus deserving of a sideways glance and come humour-laced criticism.
It is, by any measure, inspired stuff.
Helping things along too is the fact that Eva Innocente is a Latinx woman who loves her abuelo and abuela, who swears in Spanish like a space pirate (not that she is, thank you; she skirts the law, yes, but in a roguishly likeable kind of way) and is not averse to dramatic, shouty videocalls to her mother who works for the Benevolent Organization of Federated Astrostates (BOFA; because there must always be an acronym or what kind of organisation is it, really?) in a hush-hush Secret Squirrel capacity.
Eva is one of the gloriously complex protagonists that you can’t help but love almost immediately.
After meeting her in Chilling Effect, we know that Eva is feisty, passionate, prone to acting impulsively but trying hard not to be because it doesn’t always end well (hence her compulsion-blunting co-captaincy with Pink aka Dr Rebecca Jones), in love with Vakar (hooray for unconditional, supportive, turn your spaceship around to rescue your beloved LOVE) and happy for the first time in a long time with a crew who is doing a better job of being a family than her own flesh and blood.
She is, in short, everything you’d want in a leading character and damn funny and unwilling to take any crap into the bargain.
This means that even in the fiercest of battles and the most terrifying of situations that Eva is ready with a quip, a witty aside or a startling on-point observation laced with humour to a thigh-slappingly funny degree.
Pulling off this kind of writing, one that values narrative substance, character emotiveness and hilarity in equal measure is not easy by any measure but Valdes manages it with giddy, joyously involving aplomb, investing Prime Deceptions with as much sparkling, zesty humour as spine-tingling action and affecting heart and soul.
Eva and hew crew are all too aware that much of what happens to them at the hands of weird-ass aliens, mercenary criminal syndicates and mysterious possible forces for good such as the Forge (where her sister, with whom she has a complex relationship, works in classified secrecy) is strange as hell or just plain ridiculous but they take it seriously because, all jokes aside, their lives and that of many other people are on the line, and while quips and retorts are frankly damn well hilarious, they cannot an emotionally affecting plot make.
So it is that in Prime Deceptions we are party to a story where The Forge contract Eva and her crew, who likes eating well and not being on the poverty line (somewhere they know all too well; they exist in a universe which is anything but altruistically benevolent), to find a missing scientist who can aid them in their ancient alien technology research and bring him back to tip the balance against the forces of evilness.
The only problem with a seemingly open-and-shut assignment?
The scientist in question is the brother of engineer Susan, who thinks the world of her shiny, squeaky clean brother, who might be or might not be, working with a planetary dictator to do with rather unspeakably awful, authoritarian things.
While all this is going down, and it is emotionally intense, Eva is struggling with very dark memories from her less-than-illustrious past, the kind of memories which might make people wonder if they should be following you at all and whether, hilarious though you are, they might be better off in another spaceship altogether.
It is big, epic, emotional stuff but Valdes smartly folds it into a fast-moving, thrillingly good plot that is rife with comedic moment after comedic moment without once missing a storytelling beat.
Prime Deceptions is proof that you can have your dramatic galactic cake and mercilessly but affectionately crack jokes about it too, and still have a story not only worth reading but reading quickly and with rampant enthusiasm because how can you not want to dive in and stay dived deep into to planetary shenanigans of this complexity, hilarity and emotional richness?
The thing you can’t and Prime Deceptions will richly reward you every step of the way as it takes from one side of the galaxy to the next, full to the emotionally-satisfying end with action aplenty, vivaciously-realised characters, pitch-perfect humour and a story that proves the galaxy can be in mortal danger but that doesn’t mean you can’t be sardonically observant about it too.
Sure, the protagonist’s life, and that of their gallant, family-sized crew are often in the balance, the galaxy is teetering on the edge of oblivion and bad guys and gals seem to be creeping out from under asteroid and half decently-sized nebula.
But is it still possible to have a good old laugh along the way?
When you’re Valerie Valdes, you have a new book out called Prime Deceptions and you’re writing about Captain Eva Innocente and the intrepid crew of La Sirena Negra – co-captain Pink, ship’s pilot Min, engineer Susan and Quennian law enforcement Wraith named Vakar (who’s in a relationship with Eva), you most certainly can.
Primarily because while a solar system’s worth of very, very serious stuff is happening to Eva and the crew, and they respond capably and accordingly because they are professionals and know their collective stuff, they are simultaneously able to stand back, realise the absurdity of much of it and crack jokes and make witty, incisive observations accordingly.
It’s as if Douglas Adams and Peter F Hamilton met at a writers’ conference and had an hilariously Spanish profanities-punctuated literary baby, one that is filled to the brim with double-dealing mercenaries, nefarious planetary rulers, shapeshifting robots of ancient origin and cute adorable robotic toys that might be the vanguard of a psychic invasion, but which also understands that the world, the galaxy and indeed the universe is a strange and weird place and thus deserving of a sideways glance and come humour-laced criticism.
It is, by any measure, inspired stuff.
Helping things along too is the fact that Eva Innocente is a Latinx woman who loves her abuelo and abuela, who swears in Spanish like a space pirate (not that she is, thank you; she skirts the law, yes, but in a roguishly likeable kind of way) and is not averse to dramatic, shouty videocalls to her mother who works for the Benevolent Organization of Federated Astrostates (BOFA; because there must always be an acronym or what kind of organisation is it, really?) in a hush-hush Secret Squirrel capacity.
Eva is one of the gloriously complex protagonists that you can’t help but love almost immediately.
After meeting her in Chilling Effect, we know that Eva is feisty, passionate, prone to acting impulsively but trying hard not to be because it doesn’t always end well (hence her compulsion-blunting co-captaincy with Pink aka Dr Rebecca Jones), in love with Vakar (hooray for unconditional, supportive, turn your spaceship around to rescue your beloved LOVE) and happy for the first time in a long time with a crew who is doing a better job of being a family than her own flesh and blood.
She is, in short, everything you’d want in a leading character and damn funny and unwilling to take any crap into the bargain.
This means that even in the fiercest of battles and the most terrifying of situations that Eva is ready with a quip, a witty aside or a startling on-point observation laced with humour to a thigh-slappingly funny degree.
Pulling off this kind of writing, one that values narrative substance, character emotiveness and hilarity in equal measure is not easy by any measure but Valdes manages it with giddy, joyously involving aplomb, investing Prime Deceptions with as much sparkling, zesty humour as spine-tingling action and affecting heart and soul.
Eva and hew crew are all too aware that much of what happens to them at the hands of weird-ass aliens, mercenary criminal syndicates and mysterious possible forces for good such as the Forge (where her sister, with whom she has a complex relationship, works in classified secrecy) is strange as hell or just plain ridiculous but they take it seriously because, all jokes aside, their lives and that of many other people are on the line, and while quips and retorts are frankly damn well hilarious, they cannot an emotionally affecting plot make.
So it is that in Prime Deceptions we are party to a story where The Forge contract Eva and her crew, who likes eating well and not being on the poverty line (somewhere they know all too well; they exist in a universe which is anything but altruistically benevolent), to find a missing scientist who can aid them in their ancient alien technology research and bring him back to tip the balance against the forces of evilness.
The only problem with a seemingly open-and-shut assignment?
The scientist in question is the brother of engineer Susan, who thinks the world of her shiny, squeaky clean brother, who might be or might not be, working with a planetary dictator to do with rather unspeakably awful, authoritarian things.
While all this is going down, and it is emotionally intense, Eva is struggling with very dark memories from her less-than-illustrious past, the kind of memories which might make people wonder if they should be following you at all and whether, hilarious though you are, they might be better off in another spaceship altogether.
It is big, epic, emotional stuff but Valdes smartly folds it into a fast-moving, thrillingly good plot that is rife with comedic moment after comedic moment without once missing a storytelling beat.
Prime Deceptions is proof that you can have your dramatic galactic cake and mercilessly but affectionately crack jokes about it too, and still have a story not only worth reading but reading quickly and with rampant enthusiasm because how can you not want to dive in and stay dived deep into to planetary shenanigans of this complexity, hilarity and emotional richness?
The thing you can’t and Prime Deceptions will richly reward you every step of the way as it takes from one side of the galaxy to the next, full to the emotionally-satisfying end with action aplenty, vivaciously-realised characters, pitch-perfect humour and a story that proves the galaxy can be in mortal danger but that doesn’t mean you can’t be sardonically observant about it too.
May 1, 2025
This was a definite step up from the first book. The story was much more focused, although we still hopped all around the galaxy for the first 200 pages or so. Side characters got a lot more personality, Eva was much more likeable, and the cats actually kind of did something.
There were still sections of the story where I was just not that interested in what was happening. There are a lot of really cool ideas, but we bounce through a lot of them so quickly that I struggled to care. Once we landed on the final planet and stuck around for more than a couple of chapters, things got much better.
I was very intrigued with how things ended, and the impact it will have leading into the next book.
There were still sections of the story where I was just not that interested in what was happening. There are a lot of really cool ideas, but we bounce through a lot of them so quickly that I struggled to care. Once we landed on the final planet and stuck around for more than a couple of chapters, things got much better.
I was very intrigued with how things ended, and the impact it will have leading into the next book.
December 15, 2020
Thanks Harper Voyager for the free copy of this book.
October 13, 2020
Review coming soon...
October 6, 2023
Prime Deceptions is the 2nd book in the Chilling Effect series. Eva and her crew are hired to find a missing scientist, who happens to be one of her crew member’s brother. Their search takes them to a planet Eva hoped to never see again.
This series is packed full of fun moments. In this one, they somehow end up in a mech battle and Eva inadvertently auditions for a wrestling TV show. The plot was much easier to follow than the first book. There’s only one main mission and there are far fewer settings. I’m looking forward to finishing this trilogy!
This series is packed full of fun moments. In this one, they somehow end up in a mech battle and Eva inadvertently auditions for a wrestling TV show. The plot was much easier to follow than the first book. There’s only one main mission and there are far fewer settings. I’m looking forward to finishing this trilogy!
February 14, 2025
Enjoyed the second book of this trilogy! The ending was a bit too fast, but the sci fi elements set up were definitely intriguing! And I like the main characters and Mala, the cat, was a fun figure in this one.
Read
October 3, 2023Okay. This series is just fun. I usually hate fun series so thought I would not enjoy it but boy did I really like it.
If you want fun, read this series.
If you want fun, read this series.
November 4, 2021
I listened to this book on audiobook via Audible.
It’s a sequel to Chilling Effect, which I reviewed earlier this year.
I enjoyed it just as much as the first book, but I think I listened to it in chunks that were too small, because I wasn’t as enthralled as I was with the first book. That being said, that is a “me” issue and not an issue of the book.
The characters from book one are back, and we are given a lot more exposition into their own backstories, specifically Pink (I don’t believe in the first book we are told she is a transwoman and I really liked how this aspect of her wasn’t a huge deal, that she mentions it in passing - it felt very normalized and how I hope the future will be). There is a cute little romance between two of the other characters (which was blatantly obvious to me but, as usual, Eva is clueless). As such, it built on what was already a good foundation. There was the return of a few antagonists from book one, but not too much that it felt heavy-handed.
There are so many fun aspects of the novel as well as emotionally deeper considerations (Vakar’s “wraith” job taking him away from Eva, the part Eva had to play in Garilia’s history, and her relationship with Mari). My favourite aspect was the very obvious jokes surrounding Pokemon - it was as much a reference as a solid plot point, which I can’t imagine was hard to balance. I also really enjoyed the final few scenes - they were exciting and fun, as well as the bot fights and the Comicon planet.
Yet, some aspects felt a little too drawn out. Eva’s “conflict” on Garilia’s didn’t feel like that big of a deal to me. I’m not saying she shouldn’t feel conflicted, but given she didn’t know what she was doing, it’s less of a hard-hitting issue. Likewise, there was some repetition of phrases and descriptions (like Vakar’s scents) which were getting a little tired, and a very long shopping scene that bored me (I hate shopping though).
But overall, a solid sequel to the first book. I definitely enjoyed it. When the third comes out, I’m going to read it rather than listen, though I think the narrator does a fantastic job.
Side note: In the first book assumed Vakar’s “licorice” scent meant he was attracted to her, not that he loved her. This changes the tone of a lot of scenes from book one for me, haha.
It’s a sequel to Chilling Effect, which I reviewed earlier this year.
I enjoyed it just as much as the first book, but I think I listened to it in chunks that were too small, because I wasn’t as enthralled as I was with the first book. That being said, that is a “me” issue and not an issue of the book.
The characters from book one are back, and we are given a lot more exposition into their own backstories, specifically Pink (I don’t believe in the first book we are told she is a transwoman and I really liked how this aspect of her wasn’t a huge deal, that she mentions it in passing - it felt very normalized and how I hope the future will be). There is a cute little romance between two of the other characters (which was blatantly obvious to me but, as usual, Eva is clueless). As such, it built on what was already a good foundation. There was the return of a few antagonists from book one, but not too much that it felt heavy-handed.
There are so many fun aspects of the novel as well as emotionally deeper considerations (Vakar’s “wraith” job taking him away from Eva, the part Eva had to play in Garilia’s history, and her relationship with Mari). My favourite aspect was the very obvious jokes surrounding Pokemon - it was as much a reference as a solid plot point, which I can’t imagine was hard to balance. I also really enjoyed the final few scenes - they were exciting and fun, as well as the bot fights and the Comicon planet.
Yet, some aspects felt a little too drawn out. Eva’s “conflict” on Garilia’s didn’t feel like that big of a deal to me. I’m not saying she shouldn’t feel conflicted, but given she didn’t know what she was doing, it’s less of a hard-hitting issue. Likewise, there was some repetition of phrases and descriptions (like Vakar’s scents) which were getting a little tired, and a very long shopping scene that bored me (I hate shopping though).
But overall, a solid sequel to the first book. I definitely enjoyed it. When the third comes out, I’m going to read it rather than listen, though I think the narrator does a fantastic job.
Side note: In the first book assumed Vakar’s “licorice” scent meant he was attracted to her, not that he loved her. This changes the tone of a lot of scenes from book one for me, haha.
August 30, 2024
Series Info/Source: This is the second book in the Chilling Effect series. I got a copy of this on ebook to review through NetGalley.
Thoughts: If you enjoyed the first book, I think you will enjoy the second book in this series as well. In my opinion, this book had the same strengths and weaknesses as the first book. I loved the sci-fi adventure, the crazy antics, and fun characters. I struggled with all the Spanish in here, some of the decisions the characters made, and some of the motives that drove the plot.
This adventure takes Eva and her crew back to one of Eva's most tortured memories, the memory of what happened on Garilia. They are hunting down a missing scientist, and the mystery happens to tie in with the mystery of Sue's missing brother Josh as well. Eva will have to face her past actions on Garilia and hope that her crew will understand and support her if they are going to complete either mission.
This was a fun and fast-paced science fiction adventure just like the first book in this series. I love the cast of characters here and really enjoyed watching Eva find some more balance in her life and start to work more with her crew on a collaborative level. We get to travel to more amazing places, and I really enjoyed that Eva's mom joins the story some.
As with the first book, there is a lot of Spanish sprinkled in here; I really struggled with this, especially since this time I was listening to this on audiobook and couldn't stop to look up phrases and terms. I really wish there were footnotes or an index or something to help with this. My other big issue with this book was the motivation behind the plot. Yes, I know they were working on a job, but that really took a backseat to finding Sue's brother. I thought this was a bit odd since they just met Sue at the end of the last book, it seemed unrealistic that they would take on so much risk for her.
I listened to this on audiobook and the narration was very well done. I would definitely recommend listening to this on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this. This is another fun and fast-paced sci-fi adventure just like the first book. There are a creative and quirky set of characters that are a lot of fun to read about. I am also enjoying the character growth we are seeing from story to story. I remain a bit frustrated about how much Spanish is in here without any way for me to look it up to understand what is being said. I also thought the plot driving the story for this second book was a bit thin. However, I do plan on reading the third book in the series; I just really enjoy the characters and adventures here!
Thoughts: If you enjoyed the first book, I think you will enjoy the second book in this series as well. In my opinion, this book had the same strengths and weaknesses as the first book. I loved the sci-fi adventure, the crazy antics, and fun characters. I struggled with all the Spanish in here, some of the decisions the characters made, and some of the motives that drove the plot.
This adventure takes Eva and her crew back to one of Eva's most tortured memories, the memory of what happened on Garilia. They are hunting down a missing scientist, and the mystery happens to tie in with the mystery of Sue's missing brother Josh as well. Eva will have to face her past actions on Garilia and hope that her crew will understand and support her if they are going to complete either mission.
This was a fun and fast-paced science fiction adventure just like the first book in this series. I love the cast of characters here and really enjoyed watching Eva find some more balance in her life and start to work more with her crew on a collaborative level. We get to travel to more amazing places, and I really enjoyed that Eva's mom joins the story some.
As with the first book, there is a lot of Spanish sprinkled in here; I really struggled with this, especially since this time I was listening to this on audiobook and couldn't stop to look up phrases and terms. I really wish there were footnotes or an index or something to help with this. My other big issue with this book was the motivation behind the plot. Yes, I know they were working on a job, but that really took a backseat to finding Sue's brother. I thought this was a bit odd since they just met Sue at the end of the last book, it seemed unrealistic that they would take on so much risk for her.
I listened to this on audiobook and the narration was very well done. I would definitely recommend listening to this on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this. This is another fun and fast-paced sci-fi adventure just like the first book. There are a creative and quirky set of characters that are a lot of fun to read about. I am also enjoying the character growth we are seeing from story to story. I remain a bit frustrated about how much Spanish is in here without any way for me to look it up to understand what is being said. I also thought the plot driving the story for this second book was a bit thin. However, I do plan on reading the third book in the series; I just really enjoy the characters and adventures here!
January 21, 2025
Personally I think this was just as good as the first one. The humour and the characters are all there still as are dozens of references to various different things.
I have to say I think one of my favourite parts is actually the massive constant and constantly shifting and changing fan convention that the gang has to visit. I do also like that they brought back Leroy for a bit.
There's still a lot of questions, and some more actually being added, when it comes to The Fridge, and now The Forge, but also the Proarkhe.
I have two main complaints, one carrying over from the first book and that is the constant untranslated Spanish, sometimes full sentences. I do not want to keep having to pull out my phone to keep translating things. So I don't and I just suffer, hoping what is said isn't important.
The second is that the period of time from
That said, with how it ended, I'm really curious about Fault Tolerance and I am definitely going to read it after Neuromancer. Hopefully I don't take 2 months to actually do it this time.
I have to say I think one of my favourite parts is actually the massive constant and constantly shifting and changing fan convention that the gang has to visit. I do also like that they brought back Leroy for a bit.
There's still a lot of questions, and some more actually being added, when it comes to The Fridge, and now The Forge, but also the Proarkhe.
I have two main complaints, one carrying over from the first book and that is the constant untranslated Spanish, sometimes full sentences. I do not want to keep having to pull out my phone to keep translating things. So I don't and I just suffer, hoping what is said isn't important.
The second is that the period of time from
That said, with how it ended, I'm really curious about Fault Tolerance and I am definitely going to read it after Neuromancer. Hopefully I don't take 2 months to actually do it this time.
January 6, 2022
I really love the unabashed nerd culture references in these books. Here we've got Mass Effect, Avatar, Pokemon, and Transformers plus the original parts of the story that all melt together into one great mess. I did think narratively this book was weaker than the first book. It suffered from being overstuffed and unfocused. I also was frustrated with some of Eva's choices, especially her dealing with her mom. You can't tell someone nothing about your life and who you are and then get mad at them for not understanding you. Overall though this book was fun and I got to spend more time with the loveable characters which is what I really enjoyed.
June 7, 2023
Book two is better than book one, so I continue to find the sprinkle Spanish incredibly annoying. For gosh sake, how about offering translations in footnotes?
We find out about Eva's deepest darkest secret, get to meet her mother, and see her developing as a person. There are still cutesy pop culture preferences both in the chapter titles and in the plot including the throwaway line "Got to catch them all," and time spent on a planet which is a never ending fan convention, though the fandoms are not described specifically. But the plot is entertaining, if predictable, and Mala the psychic cat gets more page time here, and I'll go on and read book 3.
We find out about Eva's deepest darkest secret, get to meet her mother, and see her developing as a person. There are still cutesy pop culture preferences both in the chapter titles and in the plot including the throwaway line "Got to catch them all," and time spent on a planet which is a never ending fan convention, though the fandoms are not described specifically. But the plot is entertaining, if predictable, and Mala the psychic cat gets more page time here, and I'll go on and read book 3.
February 13, 2021
Loses a star for sucky space battle choreography, but Ms Valdes has made me a fan, as she is one of the truly rare authors who consistently operates on the principle that, whatever sad or bad things may happen in them, stories should be fun to read.
A bit low on choice lines, too, but not without a few:
“Worthless feces licker!” shouted one of the mercs. “Taste my vengeance!”
“Tastes like chicken!” Eva shouted back.
++++++++++++
A plaintive meow and gentle pressure drew Eva’s attention downward. Mala had rubbed against her leg and was going in for another pass, pausing only to look up at Eva.
“You can’t come,” Eva said.
Miau.” Mala’s pupils dilated briefly.
“No, you’re a tiny snack pack, don’t be ridiculous.”
“Miau.”
Eva glared at the cat. “If you come, you’re walking. I’m not gonna carry you.”
“Miau.”
“Fine. If you pee in my backpack, I’m giving you to a local.”
A bit low on choice lines, too, but not without a few:
“Worthless feces licker!” shouted one of the mercs. “Taste my vengeance!”
“Tastes like chicken!” Eva shouted back.
++++++++++++
A plaintive meow and gentle pressure drew Eva’s attention downward. Mala had rubbed against her leg and was going in for another pass, pausing only to look up at Eva.
“You can’t come,” Eva said.
Miau.” Mala’s pupils dilated briefly.
“No, you’re a tiny snack pack, don’t be ridiculous.”
“Miau.”
Eva glared at the cat. “If you come, you’re walking. I’m not gonna carry you.”
“Miau.”
“Fine. If you pee in my backpack, I’m giving you to a local.”
April 11, 2023
On 🎧
Aunque este segundo libro tiene mejor overall rating que el primero, personalmente funcionó mucho mejor el primero para mí. Por momentos se me hizo demasiado largo y perdía un poco el interés en la historia. Igualmente me gustó ver de nuevo a los personajes, sus relaciones y todas sus interacciones, especialmente luego de algunas cosas que habían pasado en el libro anterior. No sentí, sin embargo, que hubiera grandes avances en el macroplot, pero creo que sí los hubo a nivel de character development.
Personalmente no el mejor, pero veremos que trae el siguiente!
Aunque este segundo libro tiene mejor overall rating que el primero, personalmente funcionó mucho mejor el primero para mí. Por momentos se me hizo demasiado largo y perdía un poco el interés en la historia. Igualmente me gustó ver de nuevo a los personajes, sus relaciones y todas sus interacciones, especialmente luego de algunas cosas que habían pasado en el libro anterior. No sentí, sin embargo, que hubiera grandes avances en el macroplot, pero creo que sí los hubo a nivel de character development.
Personalmente no el mejor, pero veremos que trae el siguiente!
September 17, 2020
In this space opera Eva Innocente and the crew of the La Sirena Negra are hired to find a missing scientist and return him to her employers. They will cross space winding up on the planet that was the sight of her greatest shame. A fair amount of the story and most of the dialogue are in Spanish which makes for a difficult read for non-Spanish speakers. This was a free review copy through Goodreads.com.
December 2, 2020
Personally, I need more telepathic cats. Also could have done more with the Pro-Arc doom. My favorite (aside from the one or two telepathic cat cameos, that is), is the rich hispanic culture mixed with edgy, yet honest, narrative. Not horrible!
August 31, 2022
1st read: 31st March 2021 5⭐
Reread: 31/8/2022
📖
This one was just as amazing as the first time I read it, and still my favourite book of the series so far. And I loved every minute of it.
Rereading the first 2 books in this series has made me extra excited for book 3.
Reread: 31/8/2022
📖
This one was just as amazing as the first time I read it, and still my favourite book of the series so far. And I loved every minute of it.
Rereading the first 2 books in this series has made me extra excited for book 3.
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