Adverse Effects (Saving Caeorleia #2)

Title: Adverse Effects (Saving Caeorleia #2)
Author: Alicia Nordwell
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: March 28, 2015
Genre(s): SciFi
Page Count: 290
Reviewed by: Kristin
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Blurb:

Dade, human-Caeorleian hybrid and ex-military grunt, doesn’t fit in—not with humans, not with aliens, not anywhere. He’s always on the outskirts, angry, and people aren’t sure they can trust him. When he encounters a compatible tziu named Yaseke, secrets, misunderstandings, and attacks nearly prevent the two from making a connection Dade sorely needs. Even after they unite, Dade and Yaseke face challenges that two newly joined males should never have to endure.

From traitorous council members, to sadistic aliens who plan to sell them as slaves, to meeting a mysterious race of revered aliens called Collectors, Dade and Yaseke manage to stay together—and even rescue two youths related to Yaseke, who’ve lost their parents to the same betrayer.

Someone from Dade’s past is at the root of everything he’s suffered. No way can he let them get away with what they’re planning, but Dade isn’t sure he can stop them on his own. If he doesn’t let go of his isolation and risk the pain letting others in will bring, he’ll never save Caeorleia in time.

Book two in the Saving Caeorleia universe. I strongly recommend reading book one, which gives the background for book two.

This picks up right on the end of book one, but from a new character’s perspective. The reader is introduced to Dade and Nickolas, two more survivors from the experiments the humans were conducting on their own people. Dade is angry. He’s an ex-soldier in a situation he doesn’t understand, in a body that’s been genetically modified, with enhancements that left him open to registering other people’s emotions. It’s been years since he’s been able to touch anyone, or he’s allowed anyone to touch him.
The Caeorleian’s and Ryker are afraid of how volatile his is and ask Yaseke to assess Dade’s mental state and report back. Yaseke refuses, but sees a person in need a friend. When Yaseke and Dade are physically threatened, Dade realizes he wants more from Yaseke than friendship.

I really liked this installment. More action, less heart to heart talking. I enjoy a book where actions push characters forward and toward resolutions. Heart to hearts happened “on the go”, so to speak, where the characters hashed things out while trying to resolve the situation they were caught in.

More cool aliens were introduced in this book as well, from the nasty quad-hive mind of the slavers (whose name I’m not even going to try to spell) to the Collectors of knowledge on a distant planet. Yes! Dade and Yaseke went off planet! Loved it!

Nice amount of external tension between the actions of the Council member, the aliens who got through the bio-net, and the attacks on Yaseke’s family. This could have gotten too busy, but the author tied the multiple plot threads up quite nicely.

A couple of Caeorleian children were rescued, which added a nice dynamic. I usually don’t care for kids in my romances, but this worked. I also greatly appreciated that both men remained strong and steadfast while being protective and concerned.

*My* quirks in this one:

Bottom line, Adverse Effects was solid continuation of this series.