S. L. Viehl

Ok, this took a bit to get off the ground, but once it did I kind of enjoyed it. The main character has been accused in the reviews of being a Mary Sue, and I can kind of see it because everyone seems to be a little bit in love with her. However, I will say that this is like the third science fiction book I have read with a genetically modified modified main character, but she doesn't seem to be enhanced in any remarkable way than intelligence and healing powers, and even that is questionable. Like, it is explicitly stated she is meant to be a genius, but it just seems like she is competent at her job?
I will say that this author does not understand what makes a love triangle work. There is one love interest that she becomes engaged to over the course of the book and he dies, but the author didn't make this character interesting, so it became clear by 50% of the book that he is disposable, so you as a reader don't become attached to him as a character. The second love interest is so clearly meant to be the main love interest to the point where the relationship with the character she is engaged to feels like a plot cul-de-sac. But the relationship seems to be based entirely on misunderstandings until she forms a telepathic link and someone just bluntly tells her he likes her (at which point I am screaming show don't tell) not because they have so much chemistry. I also think it becomes a bit problematic rooting for this character as a reader when he rapes her because he is possessed by alien spores, which just strikes me as an entirely unnecessary plot point to establish that they are sexually attracted to each other kind of like the plot point where she loses her virginity, which, again just strikes me as very loud and incredibly close because this is a very unsubtle way to establish several things at once.… (meer)

This series is so messy, but I can't help but continue reading because Viehl keeps you on your toes. These stories are essentially constructed around a mystery, this one being a straight forward whodunnit serial killer. I'm not sure if it is one of those mysteries you can solve on your own like an Agatha Christie novel because the mystery is just the conceit. The draw is the drama which is laid on top of a formula Viehl followed in the first book. Everyone is still inexplicably in love with Cherijo Including the killer who accidentally Chose her (which doesn't make any goddamn sense and then promptly kills herself (yeah we are fully just doing the Jorenian society is homophobic and kill your gays within a few pages). Cherijo is the only suspicious one despite not being the only alien on board. Cherijo still doesn't understand Duncan Reever and Duncan Reever is clearly just trying to communicate with her Also there is this part where Cherijo gets mad at him for replaying their past interactions and trying to act in a more socially acceptable way, which just made me so angry because Reever is so autistic-coded and he is just trying his best. At the end she just decides to marry him because it is obviously inevitable, but that isn't earned.. Cherijo is the hero in all situations no matter how improbable multiple sequences where Cherijo saves someone from a life-threatening situation that she should not have lived through . Genocide. A colleague who doesn't respect her. The Hskskt ( who the author can't seem to decide whether or not they are Nazi-coded, or just militant aliens ).… (meer)