B.A. Stretke

A classic BA Stretke short story - Written in his distinct old-world style with slightly stilted speech and old-world values. As always a quick pace, little character development, instant love, and fated mates. The world-building is limited in each story, but together form a dark and dangerous contemporary world. An excellent snack for those of us addicted to his style - which will forever puzzle me as at first exposure it annoyed me, but I seemed to have developed an addiction as I can not pass up any new release. As a short story without development, he can never score higher than a 3/5 on my scale.
5/5 - a buffet with all the trimmings
4/5 - a lovely full course meal
3/5 - a snack or dessert
2/5 - Aunty Emma's dry toast
1/5 - what the hell was that?… (meer)

I keep buying each new edition in every series BA Stretke writes – in spite of the fact that his characters are rarely developed more than a basic level. I do think his world-building is good and the plot for each short story is varied and interesting (no – not a novel - like many m/m writers who focus on long series, each installment is a short story) It does help that he does not develop the plot past the basics so we do not end up with dozens of questions. Each story is closed in itself and does not leave us with a cliffhanger.
This was one of his books that had the above but was also in need of some care and attention. Editing was poor and the characters? - did not work as individuals. The commander - hmm sort of okay. he would have worked better if the other main character had any redeeming value. Gage? yeah - no go. Portrayed as a role-over, passive who has absolutely no survival instinct and .... well I will not dwell on a character that does not work at all in the story.
I am not sure what the lure is but it could be the old-world style of speech he uses in his writing. These short stories somehow remind me of the old radio serial mysteries I enjoyed as a child – but the topic is definitely not from my childhood. (LOL) None the less here I am -… (meer)