Luka and Mairwen (Overload Flux ) take on a very cold case, a secret lab, and the find of a lifetime. Which one of them is worth killing for? Forensic investigator Luka Foxe had gladly left his troubled past far behind, so only a plea from his old friend and mentor to investigate a violent crime scene frozen in an ice cave could have lured him back. Unfortunately, his old friend knows far more … than he’s telling, which could get them all killed, even with security specialist Mairwen Morganthur on their side. An unexpected ice fall reveals a hidden lab buried deep in a mountain and the find of a lifetime. Now someone is trying to make sure those secrets stay frozen in time, even if it means more deaths…
Buy Zero Flux today and continue the adventure.
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Zero Flux is a 17,000-word novella that is best enjoyed after reading Overload Flux, the novel that introduces Luka, Mairwen, and the worlds of the Central Galactic Concordance.
Includes a bonus free chapter from Minder Rising, the standalone second novel in the Central Galactic Concordance series.
The Central Galactic Concordance series:
— Overload Flux (Book 1) – standalone
— Minder Rising (Book 2) – standalone
— Zero Flux (Novella 2.5) – sequel to Overload Flux
— Pico’s Crush (Book 3) – coming Winter 2015-2016
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I was stoked to see this tweenie follow-up story to Overload Flux spotlighting Luka and Mairwen once again. They are back on Luka’s icy homeworld to solve a cold case with his old mentor knowing more than he lets on.
Zero Flux comes between Mind Rising and Pico’s Crush in the series order, but really it can be read any time after book one, Overload Flux.
Zero Flux jumps right into the situation with some detail of the culture and politics of the homeworld Luka gladly left behind. This was a quick read and more short story than novella so it got to point with not as much story development as one gets used to in the main books in the series. That said, I was more than happy to be back with Luka and Mairwen as a cold case warms up and danger threatens. There was a little work on the murder and a little exploration for the pair of lovers who are tied by love, but neither has said the words or pushed for them. I felt the situation with Luka’s homeworld connection was actually less defined and then realized that this made sense the way things were.
I love this pair so I was only disappointed because I wanted longer time with them and see them continue working on their investigations and navigating a world of secrets that they must keep. It was a nice interlude that fans will enjoy.
This was a fun short novella following Mairwen and Luka when they go to Luka’s home planet to solve a very cold case. There is a bit of mystery and I enjoyed spending a bit more time with Luka and Mairwen.
The mystery and the case they had to solve wasn’t as complex or long as the ones in the full length books, but it still was a fun read. I liked how they slowly figured out what had happened here and how far someone would go to protect their secrets.
There are some small mentions of events in the main series and Luka and Mairwen are already an established couple, but this one might work as introduction to the series. Although personally I think it works best read in order. I wonder if the events in this novella will tie in with the main plot lines as well eventually.
I really like both Mairwen and Luka and it was great to spend some time with them again in this novella. I also liked seeing how they were doing now and how the were settles into their new lives and in their relationship a bit more than at the end of Overload Flux. It was lovely revisiting them again and I hope to see them in the rest of the series too. They are just so great together and I am happy the author wrote this novella about them.
To summarize: this was a fun addition to the series. I liked spending a bit more time with Luka and Mairwen. The mystery is a bit shorter than in the main novels, but it was still a fun read and I enjoyed discovering what had happened here. I also thought it was interesting we got to visit Luka’s home planet and I liked the bits we see about how Luka and Mairwen are doing now. It can be read as standalone probably, but I think it’s most fun when read in order and it’s a great series so far. All in all this was a fun read and an awesome series so far and I like every new bit we learn about this universe and the people in it.