Over the weekend, I read PIRATE BOUND by new author Carysa Locke, and I LOVED it. I did my whole I-found-a-new-sci-fi-author-to-love happy dance, something that I honestly don’t do too much in this genre (I’m very, very picky.)
But I was also super happy for another reason. Way back when I first started being a “serious” author, I stumbled upon Carysa on…. I think Livejournal? Yeah, it was that long ago. Anyway, I was writing the shadow reader series at the time, but I also had Shades of Treason calling my name. I wrote sci-fi long before I wrote UF (the shadow reader idea started as a sci-fi book), so I offered to critique a few manuscripts from aspiring sci-fi authors. Carysa was one of those authors and I’m being completely honest here when I say that her book was my favorite out of all the books I’ve ever critiqued or beta read. It stuck with me a year or so later, when I contacted her to see how the book was coming along. She’d only sent me a portion of it to read, and I wanted to read more. I can’t remember if she didn’t have more when I contacted her again or if I didn’t have time to read or whatever, but I didn’t talk to her again until around four or five months ago when I joined the Science Fiction Romance Brigade (a group of authors who write and support sci-fi romance). She noticed I was there and then mentioned that she was the person who wrote that book. It was that whole “I don’t know if you remember me, but…”
Of course I remembered her! I really did love what I’d read of that book.
And then I was happy to hear that she’d continued working on the book and the world, and she has a publication plan laid out. PIRATE BOUND, the novella I just finished isn’t the same book I critiqued five or so years ago, but she introduced characters that I do remember from that first manuscript and, you guys, if you loved SHADES OF TREASON or are a fan of Linnea Sinclair or Rachel Bach, I really think you’re going to love Carysa’s books. They are about…
…wait for it…
TELEPATHIC SPACE PIRATES! Not cheesy telepathic space pirates, because I so do not do cheesy, but really cool, have-their-own-culture, semi-justifiable marauding pirates. And they have a pirate king!
I SWEAR it’s not cheesy, guys. It works. It works so well I’m thinking of twisting Carysa’s arm to give me the next book now. (I preordered PIRATE BOUND but Carysa was super nice and let me have the book early. Yeah. Be jealous. 🙂
Carysa’s writing style works for me on every level, and as I said, there’s a pirate king, and he is fascinating. Also fascinating is Treon, the brother to the hero in PIRATE BOUND. The relationship between the pirates on the big, stolen-from-the-enemy ship is pretty awesome too. It feels like a brotherhood, and I can’t wait to read more of their stories.
If you’re looking for a good, solid, science fiction romance to read, definitely give PIRATE BOUND a try. It’s still on preorder, but releases next week I believe. If you buy it and read it and love it as much as I do, definitely let me know.
So excited to read more from this world!
P. S. Also, don’t you love the cover? So classy.
Thank you so much for the review and rec Sandy! I love that you particularly mentioned that my pirates aren’t cheesy – that was my fear for so long, that when people heard the phrase “telepathic space pirates” they would immediately go to the place of “man, that sounds cheesy!” – but I just don’t write that way. To answer a couple of things you brought up – the pirate king, Cannon, will definitely become more of a focus as the books go on, and readers will especially get to know him and his story in the third full-length novel, Pirate Throne. And Treon is getting his own book (books?) as well, but that will start in the fourth full-length book in the series. (Provided the first set of books sells enough for me to keep going. Ha ha.)
lol Cheesiness is my fear with everything I write.
I totally love your voice and the way you created the world, and I’m so happy to hear Cannon and Treon will get more focus! They’re great. Oh, and… Phantom? Was that the guy’s name who seemed into the sister? I’m curious about him too. Seriously, so many great side characters to explore. Your series is going to be AMAZING.
Aw, thank you! Yes, Nayla has a LOT of admirers, lol. I was originally planning a novella for her story, but it may need to be longer…
Noncheesy telepathic space pirates sounds like my favorite new read! Thanks for the rec.
Hope you love it! Releases tomorrow. I think the next book comes out in June? Can’t wait!
Much excite, very want. But it’s only 152 pages, it’s gonna break my heart when it ends and there’s NO MORE 😯
It’s a fantastic 152 pages. And there will be more. Eventually. Actually, not that long. I think the next book comes out in June. And then the next one pretty soon after that. 🙂
The first full-length book, Pirate Nemesis, is due out in June, and it is a full 300+ pages long! I also have a fairly aggressive release schedule planned, with something new out every 3-4 months. 🙂
Well, it’s already waiting for me on the Kindle app.
Just gotta finish the Gone series first.
But please hurry with the next book 😀
And Sandy, I’m very impatiently waiting for more after Shades of Treason!