Only Cold Depths by Jennifer Estep @jenniferestep.bsky.social @Jennifer_Estep @sophiarose1816

Posted September 17, 2025 by Sophia in Book Review / 12 Comments

Only Cold Depths by Jennifer Estep @jenniferestep.bsky.social @Jennifer_Estep @sophiarose1816Only Cold Depths by Jennifer Estep
Series: Galactic Bonds #4
Published by Self-Published on October 29, 2024
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Pages: 504
Format: eBook
Source: Library
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A WOMAN WHO CAN’T CONTROL HER POWER . . .
Everyone knows the name Vesper Quill. I used to be a lowly lab rat working in a Regal-owned corporation, but thanks to my truebond with Kyrion Caldaren, I’m now one of the most wanted fugitives in the Archipelago Galaxy.

Kyrion and I have spent the last few weeks avoiding bounty hunters, along with the Arrows, the elite Imperium warriors tasked with capturing us. Now we’ve journeyed to a distant planet that’s supposed to be a refuge for truebonded couples, but when new enemies appear, we’re once again in grave danger.

As a seer, inventor, and engineer, I’m skilled at figuring out how things work, but I can’t quite understand my growing magic and newfound psionic abilities. The clock is ticking, and if I don’t figure out how to tap into my power, I’ll doom myself to a gruesome fate, along with Kyrion.

A MAN WHO CAN’T LET GO OF HIS FEAR . . .
As Kyrion Caldaren, I’m used to being respected and feared, especially given my telekinesis, telepathy, telempathy, and other powerful psionic abilities. What I’m not used to is being on the run, but as a rogue Arrow, I’ll do anything to protect Vesper.

Just when I think we’ve finally reached a safe haven, trouble finds us again, reigniting all my fears about losing Vesper.

The whole galaxy has heard of former Arrow Kyrion Calderen and his true-bond partner, Vesper Quill.  A bounty is on their heads and they are on a running dodge hopefully to safety outside Holloway’s jurisdiction, but trouble and danger do seem to find them and a new threat arises.  Jennifer Estep’s continuing Galactic Bonds series has me utterly captivated.

Only Cold Depths is the fourth in the Galactic Bonds space opera series.  The books are tightly connected so this series must be taken in order.

Only Cold Depths picks up after the end of Only Hard Problems which took a side path and was told from Zane’s perspective, but this book is back to Vesper and Kyrion’s points of view.

The story opens with Vesper and Kyrion on the run and stopping off to refuel and grab some food supplies only to be tagged by a bounty team.  No surprise, the bounty team was tough, but there were more formidable foes right on their heels.  Vesper has a way of getting through situations, but she is knocked off kilter when she is confronted by another Seer who gets in her head and magnifies Vesper’s existing fears- that she’s weak, out of her league, and will likely get her and Kyrion killed because she can’t harness her magic or figure out their true bond issues.

Kyrion has his own raw spots and the pair really struggle the length of this book.  However, their next stop is Asterin’s home world with a similar society to the Regals though with one important difference- they respect and honor True Bonds.  Asterin’s mother and step-father share such a bond so she has no doubt Vesper and Kyrion will be given sanctuary.

Unfortunately, Asterin’s House Collier clan and family are involved in political intrigue and power plays so Vesper and Kyrion end up embroiled in the middle.  Someone is trying to take down House Collier and maybe the same someone is interested in the bounty.

Meanwhile, Vesper has her own personal crisis magnified when she must face the fact that she’s an unacknowledged daughter of House Zimmer and the Zimmer’s led by Zane have tracked her down, too.  She has so much anger at feeling abandoned and is scared of trying for a connection especially with people she isn’t sure she can trust.

Only Cold Depths had a lot of moving parts in that drama, action, and intrigue all swirled together.  Whether it was Vesper and Kyrion or secondary regulars like Zane and Asterin, or new characters like Asterin’s family, everyone was stirred up by something.  It was tough to see Vesper and Kyrion frustrated and unable to work their true bond, but interesting to have the Colliers there to give them some knowledge and set them on the right track.  Would they get it figured out and sorted by the big showdown against a pair of truly lethal, powerful villains, though?

While there were slow bits, there were also action and suspense aspects, as usual.  Wasn’t surprised by what a late reveal offered.  Things are coming to a head now as various factions line up for the final showdown.  Space Opera and those who like drama and intrigue in their sci-fi romance should definitely give this series a go.

 

 

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.

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Posted September 17, 2025 by Sophia in Book Review / 12 Comments

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