When the people of Barit first saw the silver glint of sky craft, they felt awe. Then awe turned to fear. And they found a name for the mysterious newcomers. Sky raiders.Garek’s one year of duty as a guard walking the walls of Garamundo was extended to two when the sky raiders appeared. Two long years away from home and his lover, Taya. When he finally returns, the town is empty. While Garek was … empty. While Garek was protecting the city, the sky raiders were taking their victims from elsewhere.
Taya can’t bear looking into the night sky. All she can see is Barit, her home planet. Impossibly, the sky raiders have brought her and their other victims to Shadow, the planet that orbits the Star alongside her own, and looking up makes her aware of everything she’s lost. Garek is out there somewhere. She knows he’ll look, but he’ll never find her.
Only, Garek has a plan to do just that.
Nothing is going to keep him from Taya. Not even space itself.
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When a simple living planet with minimal technologies, Barit, is invaded by evil aliens known as Sky Raiders, Taya’s world is not only turned upside down – it’s completely taken away from her. The Sky Raiders abduct the people of Barit – including Taya, and force them into slavery and manual labor work on their planet Shadow. Taya’s lover, Garek, happened to be away at the time as he was on duty working as a guard protecting Garamundo. He had no idea that Taya and the townspeople were taken until he finally returns home. Garek sets out to find Taya and the people of Barit. However, they are beginning to get restless and start constructing a plan of escape. Taya knows Garek is out there looking for her, but she’s sure he won’t be able to find her. Time is running out and food is running low – with the captives setting their plans in motion will Garek find Taya in time or will the people of Barit take on the Sky Raiders themselves?
I really liked the main characters – Garek and Taya. They were enjoyable and genuine. Garek is a strong, protective, resourceful, and determined soldier who won’t let anything compromise his success of finding Taya. Taya is sweet, smart, brave, and compassionate. She recently discovers a special talent she possesses and is starting to stand up for herself and fight back against the Sky Raiders.
I found this book to be mostly moderately paced, with just a few slower scenes thrown in throughout. The writing flowed and was easy to follow and understand. Michelle did a great job with the worldbuilding and really provided so much detail in her writing that it was easy to picture.
I really liked the storyline – especially the romantic lovestory component. It’s amazing what kind of bravery and courage people can possess when they’re fighting for someone they truly love. It was very romantic to see to what lengths Garek would go to find Taya. Also, the level of hope and faith that Garek and Taya had for each other and their belief of being reunited.
I think this book has a lot to offer readers. There’s a bit of something for everyone. This book is about love, romance, hope, faith, courage, bravery, determination, compassion, strength, slavery, science fiction, aliens, space, mystery, suspense – and so much more!
I would definitely recommend this book to readers – especially those that enjoy science fiction and space opera books. Although, I think even romance readers would also enjoy this book!
This book is book one in a three-book trilogy. So add this book to your TBR List so you’ll be ready when book two is released!
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**
Sky Raiders is definitely different than this author’s Class 5 series, but still contains plenty of action, interesting and couragous characters – both men and women, and nasty alien foes to hate. The romance is between two lovers who have been separated, first by soldier Garak’s two years away from home serving guard duty, and then when he returns home to find his love Taya has been captured by the evil Sky Raiders along with most of his village. He’s one determined man, with a powerful skill which manipulates air, he’s a deadly foe to the aliens. He has brought down one of the alien craft and by sheer determination discovers how to fly it to search for Taya. What follows is a tale of people kept as slaves by beings with technology that makes them more powerful, but with determination and a bit of ingenuity, the slaves realize they can fight for their freedom, especially with the help of Garak, who will let nothing stand in his way to reunite with Taya and bring her home. I liked the strong Taya, who stood up for herself and took her equality with the men as her due, as well as the driven Garak, who would let nothing stand in his way, even when he had to learn to use alien machines that were completely foreign to his technology challenged society. This is the first of a trilogy, and though it had a satisfying ending to the story arc, it is very obvious that there are more adventures to come.
I had read and enjoyed this author’s Class 5 series so I decided to get this when it came out.
I was slightly disappointed that this didn’t grab me from the start. The first half of this book was slow going and I give it a 2 1/2 star rating. The second half picks up the pace and sets the stage for the second book in this new trilogy. This is more Space Opera than Science Fiction Romance.
I would like to know more about the Changed and also the Sky Raiders. Although I wouldn’t want to be kidnapped and used as slave labor, the bad guys don’t seem scary bad.