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The Cartel (The Apprentice, #1; The Twelve Systems Chronicles, #1)

E.G. Manetti

Start date: May 4, 2019

Finish date: May 31, 2019

Discussion: Group Reads

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* grσup rєαdѕ rulєѕ!
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What Members Thought

Apr 02, 2016 Karinloos rated it it was amazing

Shelves: top-reads, sci-fi

5 stars
This book was a welcome surprise.

I have been become exceedingly bored and frustrated lately with all the insta-love, mine, over the top supernatural powers of protagonist, totally unrealistic sexual prowess etc PNR/UF books out there. I fear I have read the best of them and while waiting for the next installments of my favorite authors it is becoming more and more difficult to find a book that satisfies me. I enjoy a slow build up in a relationship with a good intriguing well executed pl 5 stars
This book was a welcome surprise.

I have been become exceedingly bored and frustrated lately with all the insta-love, mine, over the top supernatural powers of protagonist, totally unrealistic sexual prowess etc PNR/UF books out there. I fear I have read the best of them and while waiting for the next installments of my favorite authors it is becoming more and more difficult to find a book that satisfies me. I enjoy a slow build up in a relationship with a good intriguing well executed plot. Erotic scenes when they occur need to be realistic . I cant stand it when authors find some totally childish way of describing the sexual organs. I mean if you are going to classify a book as adult, then stop treating readers like a 5 year old.

To get back to the review of this book. The story is classified as science fiction due to the fact that it takes place in a different solar system. This is about the total extent of the science fiction aspect. Yes stellar travel happens in this universe, there are multiple planets etc, but the story takes place on 1 world. The population is classified by their class where the warrior class is the ruling class. These are then subdivided into commercial cartels . The 5 most powerful of these cartels control this universe.

There is a complex set of ranks involved in this world. These ranks determine how much control the individuals have over their lives, their own will etc. Love has no real place in this world. Lust and sex is considered as natural has hunger and food in this world. It is common that higher placed individuals in this complex world take advantage of the skills of the lower ranked. This counts for both their intellectual talents as sexual servitude.

The Serengeti cartel (currently the 4th most powerful cartel) is headed up by Lucius who is the head of his sect . Lucius is a very enigmatic man. He is in the prime of his life and around 48 years old, married to the Lady Estella (10 years his senior) and has 2 sons and a daughter. He took over leadership of his sect at the young age of 38 ( yes that's young because the average life expectancy in this world is well over 100). His wife is terminally ill with some disease, to keep her alive the medic administers a certain drug which keeps her pain free, but this has completely dulled her touch senses. Consequently there are no sexual relations. He does however care very much for his wife (possible even love). I am telling you this now, because it only becomes evident three quarters of the way into the book that Lucius is married, so you should not get any romantic notions with regards to his relationship with our female protagonist.

Lillian is the daughter and only heir of a disgraced sect leader. The penalty for fraud is death. This penalty extends to family members, however they are given the option to be stripped of any rank and a period of "slavery" to prove their worth. They can however never be classified as warriors again. It is also customary for the higher placed and direct bloodline choose death. Lillian's mother is exempt because she is a seer and thus deranged. Lillian's youngest sister is exempt because of her age. Lillian chose servitude as the apprentice (lowest rank) to Lucius and thus his property.

The intrigue and plot of this book is brilliant. There are some negative points but they did not spoil the book for me. Lillian's constant repeat of the warrior litany, the initial lack of glossary of terms which by the way is completely at the end of the book.. Take note to glance through this first before reading the book otherwise the different terms might throw you. Basically nothing a good editor would not have sorted out.

I do high recommend this book, but take note there is no HEA, or HNF for those of you who absolutely require this. (there is a hint that it might come but..... )

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