Cosmic Inception (Saving Caeorleia #3)

Title: Cosmic Inception (Saving Caeorleia #3)
Author: Alicia Nordwell
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: July 18, 2016
Genre(s): SciFi
Page Count: 310
Reviewed by: Kristin
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Blurb:

Their journey will span the universe and back, but there’s no guarantee they’ll make it together.

Though Nick and Fieo are drawn to each other, their relationship has never been easy. Their differences go beyond their races, but they’ve managed to work together to prevent the spread of corruption, growing closer along the way. Nick still battles the effects of years of loneliness, fear, and pain but surprises everyone when he refuses to stay behind when Fieo is sent on a vital mission to find the Collectors. Fieo objects, but there’s no stopping Nick when he sets his mind to something. Over the course of their mission, it becomes clear Nick is more than anyone ever imagined, but the mystery of his past threatens to derail his future.

The search for the truth will take Fieo and Nick far from Caeorleia, to worlds both familiar and completely alien, and put stress on their already tenuous relationship. It’s a journey that will either tear them apart or finally bring them together.

Book three in the Saving Caeorleia universe. I strongly recommend reading book one and two, which provide the background and world building for book three.

This series has proven to be an interesting progression starting with The Experiment, with Seral and the human Ryker establishing the world of Caeorleia and its customs.

In Adverse Effects we saw the character building blossom as Dade and Yaske struggled to figure out who wanted them dead.

And now, in Cosmic Inception, we’ve completely moved off planet with the characters Nickolas and Fieo, introduced in book two, where Nick is able to overcome his fears and doubts that his freedom of choice to choose Fieo, is exactly that, it’s his choice, not some genetically manipulated bond.

But Cosmic Inception is so much more than than Nick’s self-doubts. If you’ve been following the series and the concept of belie, you should have had a tiny inkling that this idea would show up again. And this plot devise could have gone in a very – for me – wrong direction very quickly. I was surprised and delighted when it didn’t turn out to be a conventional read at all. Yes. I’m being vague to avoid spoilers.

Nordwell did a great job character building through action rather than just words and mashing of lips and hips. Nick grew because he was forced into situations by his unknown past and it’s his past that will give him the ability to move toward being more with Fieo.

Fieo’s role in this was of unwavering support. Nick knew Fieo would always come for him, and Fieo never let Nick down. Yes, Fieo – like Seral – wanted to stash “his male” to protect and cherish, and like Ryker and Dade, Nick rebelled, stood up and demanded Fieo see him as an individual, not an object to be set upon a mantel even if cherished.

I am super impressed – none of my issues from the first two books ever came into question here. I had my very early “Oh no, no, no….” concern, but Nordwell handled that very deftly and moved it to the resolution. I’m really not wild about the concept of belie but it works for others.

I only have one item that I’m a bit uncertain about, and how the alien Hu really fit into the overall story. For myself, I didn’t feel she added as much to the story as perhaps intended. I *think* the author was perhaps trying to expound upon how unique Nick was and why the Collector and Ancients wanted him. But Hu’s resolution felt rushed and crammed in more than anything else.

Otherwise, I really enjoyed the trip around the galaxy. I am a total GEEK for different aliens and I was impressed with the diversity the author came up with. I appreciated watching Caeorleian customs through the eyes of Fieo’s crew, how Fieo’s ‘bonding’ was a matter of course and everyone was happier for it when Fieo and Nick solidified that bond.

I’m going to stop here, because this review will be a short story if I don’t. This is a delightful scifi series that really developed and grew over the course of all three books. And a shout-out for the book-cover – lovely!