Only Good Enemies by Jennifer Estep Series: Galactic Bonds #2
Published by Self-Published on July 18, 2023
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Pages: 414
Format: eBook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Apple
A WOMAN ON A MISSION . . .
My name is Vesper Quill. I used to be a lowly lab rat, toiling away in obscurity developing brewmakers and other household appliances. But thanks to my seer magic and my own ingenuity, I'm now a Regal lady and the head of a successful corporation.
My mission? To destroy the Techwave, the dangerous group that has stolen my designs and plans to weaponize them against the Imperium. But when my mission takes an unexpected turn, I'm once again surrounded by enemies and fighting for my life.
Further complicating matters is Kyrion Caldaren, an arrogant Regal lord whose fate is bound to mine. Kyrion doesn't realize the two of us still have an unwanted connection that puts us both in grave danger . . . or does he?
A MAN SURROUNDED BY ENEMIES . . .
My name is Kyrion Caldaren. As the leader of the Arrows, the Imperium's elite fighting force, I've been tasked with tracking down and destroying the Techwave before they seize control of the Archipelago Galaxy.
My other mission? Find a way to assassinate Lord Callus Holloway, the Imperium ruler who wants to take my psion power for his own. Holloway is also a threat to Vesper Quill, who haunts my thoughts, despite the broken bond and distance between us.
When I realize Vesper is in danger, my priorities change, and I vow to use all my telepathic, telekinetic, and other abilities to help her. I will save Vesper from her enemies and mine-even if I have to burn down the whole bloody galaxy.
“I don’t get no respect,” comedian Rodney Dangerfield once said and neither does Lady Vesper Quill. Vesper may be a newly-minted aristocrat and head of her own prosperous company because she saved a ruler and countless lives, but you wouldn’t know it based on the disgruntlement from several interested parties that do not wish her happiness or success. Jennifer Estep’s Only Bad Enemies takes up right where Only Bad Options left off.
Only Bad Enemies opens with brilliant R&D scientist and psychic Vesper Quill waiting for the TechWave enemy to approach her about siding with them against the Imperium just as her predecessor did. Vesper may hate the Imperium’s leader and is determined that he comes to a sticky end, but the Imperium are a better prospect of governance than the evil mass destruction in lives of the TechWave. Vesper’s plan is to let the TechWave come to her, tag them with her little tracers and track them to their secret installations. Meanwhile, she’s keeping the secret that she and a certain arrogant Regal lord and head of the elite Arrows still share a psychic bonding. No way will she admit even to herself she misses him and wished he wanted their bond. But, alas her plans go awry and she needs the help of Lord Kyrion Calderen to escape a surprise kidnapping and worse.
Kyrion has gone months without seeing Vesper, but as much as he tries he can’t get the infernal female off his mind. Was breaking the bond a mistake? No, not when he stares into the power-greedy eyes of Callus Holloway who has just ordered Kyrion to find Vesper Quill and… kill her. It’s likely a test of Kyrion’s loyalty and to discover if the bond is intact, but he can’t not go to Vesper’s aid. And, to add to the challenge, Holloway sends Kyrion with Zane and two of the most sadistic Arrows there are.
Only Bad Enemies had an exciting action sequence when Vesper and Kyrion were up against the Techwave, but the political intriguing moments and surprise reveals were just as intense in a different way. I loved seeing the progress of Vesper and Kyrion’s tempestuous relationship. Both are unsure if the bond has created the feelings they have for each other and Vesper is doubly hesitant to believe in her feelings after being abandoned by her own mother and then Kyrion’s early reluctance to be bonded. The advancement of the series plot threads is at a good pace, wrapping up some things and leaving others to carry on into the next book.
All in all, this is coming along as an entertaining and engaging Space Opera series that I’m eager to continue and recommend to others to put the Galactic Bonds series on their TBR piles.
About Jennifer Estep
Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.
Jennifer writes the Crown of Shards epic fantasy series. She also writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and the Black Blade young adult urban fantasy series. Jennifer also the author of the Bigtime paranormal romance series and Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I have purchased the first one and hope to eventually get to this series.
I binged them through the summer and now I’m excited for the fall release of the latest. Its an exciting space opera with each book a little more suspenseful than the last.. 🙂
I’ve wanted to try this author. I should put the first one on hold!
This series was my first dip into her books, too. They must be very popular because I had to put a hold on each book I read in this series.
Yes! This is a fun series. I love the blend of technology and magic. I’m exciting for the new release later this year.
Woohoo, fellow fan!
Yes, the combo is fun. I got all caught up so I’d be ready for the new release when it hits.
Awww how fun!
Yes, I was so glad Lola recommended the first book for a buddy read and I just kept going. 🙂
I haven’t read much of this author but this sounds good.
I’ve been meaning to read her Spider assassin ones, but this sci-fi series also caught my eye.
This sounds like a solid sequel that advances the plot as well as the romance. Hopefully the series continues to be a good one.
Yes, this one got things moving along like a good sequel should. I’m definitely eager for book five. 🙂
This is one of the authors I keep saying I’m going to read some day! Great review!
Same here! I’m glad Lola talked me into a buddy read of book one so I’d finally give her books a go.