Title: Chrysalis Cage
Series: Travelers 5
Author: Becky Black
Genre: MM / Science Fiction
Length: Novel (147 pages)
Publisher: Loose Id(January 28th, 2013)
Reviewer: Thommie
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: Jarrett Blake’s escaping from prison after months of torture and solitary confinement, but his bid for freedom ends when his stolen ship crashes into a remote moon. He wakes to find himself with two broken legs and helpless in the care of Marc Satie, a technician stationed alone at an isolated monitoring station. Marc saved Jarrett’s life, but was it an act of mercy or does he want to claim the reward on Jarrett’s head? It’s a big reward–as befits the most wanted terrorist in the galaxy.
Jarrett gradually recovers under Marc’s care and seduces him, hoping Marc will never turn his lover over to the authorities. As time passes. Jarrett begins to think of it as more than a seduction. Marc is beautiful, gentle and kind and Jarrett’s had none of those things in his life for a long time. He wants Marc at his side permanently.
But Marc has a secret and the exposure of it will show Jarrett he’s been in more danger than he ever realized. Marc is not the man Jarrett thought he was. After the truth comes out, Marc proposes a daring plan. If it succeeds they can walk away together as free men. But they have very different ideas about where they’re walking to.
Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/travelers-5-chrysalis-cage.html
Review: This was a very good book and I liked it very much, but the entire read I kept thinking how very lonely it was. The story takes place in the moon of a gas planet. Due to a magnetic storm, the moon is abandoned and the only person still living there is a young man, Marc, who is maintaining the observation station. However the story is narrated by Jarrett’s point of view.
Jarrett Blake a rebel of Chindra’s resistance who has finally escaped his Earthen captors. However, he is being pursued and finally his stolen ship is hit. His only thoughts are “let them not take me alive”. Yes, Jarrett would rather die than go back to that black hole where he’s been for nearly two years.
When his ship crashes on a remote moon, a stranger collects him and saves him. A stranger that looks just like an angel, but who is in reality an Earthen man. Jarrett wakes up to find himself severely wounded. Both his legs are broken and he is in the complete mercy of his enemy. His enemy though appears to be quite nice and gentle, Taking care of him almost with reverence. Specters of fear often cross his eyes though and that puts Jarrett in edge. Being for years an outlaw, in the middle of the battle, having killed hundreds and having his life in constant danger makes a man cautious. Jarrett is not a fool and as much as Marc appears to be meek, he can smell the hidden plan in the young man’s head.
Using more patience than ever before Jarrett reveals the young man’s secrets, secrets that put him in immediate danger, secrets that cause even a killer like Jarrett to be afraid. Assessing his situation Jarrett concludes that the only way for a chance in survival is to seduce Mark, make him fall in love and ensure that he’ll be loyal to him.
And just like that the trap has been laid. A trap for both of them in the end as Jarrett is not immune to Marc’s charms. Four months in that little place all alone with each other, planning their way free, getting into shape and loving each other, all with tinged with a layer of desperation. They might just pull it out, or they might lose everything they both are fighting for.
A very intense story from the beginning, Chrysalis Cage kept my attention till the last page and still hasn’t let it go. As much as you get an indication of what’s going on from the early start, the plot is marvelous in that it constantly changes. Subtle changes that you do not expect, but that throw you completely of balance. Characters that surprise you and often leave you with your jaw hanging, making for a very nice read. Even the men’s more intimate relationship is beautiful to see. Witnessing a killer, a terrorist, in action, being in his head, hearing his calculations one moment and his complete abandon the next. Seeing him in constant doubt, never letting go, never trusting too much was the best treat for me.
Very well written, with just the perfect amount of angst and the perfect balance in romance. Even the end was brilliant for me. I suppose should’ve expected it, everything indicated to it, but the little details thrown there had me thinking for a moment that it might end differently.
I loved it; it was a great read and adding fuel to my new-found love for Sci-Fi. Strongly recommended.