Amanda Bouchet

'Utterly breathtaking' DARYNDA JONES 'Absolutely fabulous' C. L. WILSON 'So much love for this book! Buuuuuuy it!' NALINI SINGH _______________ A convict and an enchanting rogue hold the fate of the universe in their hands . . . Wanted criminal Tess Bailey and her band of merry thieves are desperate and on the run. The most powerful ruler in the universe wants them dead, and while he hunts them, the stolen ship they escaped on is running out of steam. Their one offer of help comes from Shade Ganavan, a tall, dark and arrogant stranger with ambiguous motivations. At her side is gentle, blind Shiori, Fiona, an ex-rebel fighter with a rage so strong it could bring generals to their knees, and determined Jax and Miko, steering their ship through the depths of space. Together, their friendship gives them strength, but will their bond be strong enough to defeat an enemy whose ruthlessness is legendary? As their luck runs out, Tess will have to choose an ending to her story - and whether to fight against or yield to a temptation so strong, it threatens to cleave the land of stars in two. _______________ Discover why readers everywhere are enchanted by Amanda Bouchet . . . 'A Promise of Fire made me laugh out loud more than once' Thea Harrison, New York Times bestselling author of the Elder Races series 'Absolutely fabulous. I didn't want to put it down. Amanda Bouchet is now on my auto-buy list! I highly recommend her books to my readers and to anyone looking for a great blend of fantasy and romance' C.L. Wilson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Winter King 'Give this to your Game of Thrones fans' Booklist STARRED Review for A Promise of Fire 'A sexy, emotional romance' The Washington Post 'I want more of these characters and I want more of this world. I cannot remember the last time I wanted to both savour and devour a book . . . Bouchet's writing is so engaging and magical' SmartBitchesTrashyBooks

Nightchaser

'Utterly breathtaking' Darynda Jones, New York Times bestselling author A convict and an enchanting rogue hold the fate of the universe in their hands . . . Wanted criminal Tess Bailey and her band of merry thieves are desperate and on the run. The most powerful ruler in the universe wants them dead, and while he hunts them, the stolen ship they escaped on is running out of steam. Their one offer of help comes from Shade Ganavan, a tall, dark and arrogant stranger with ambiguous motivations. At her side is gentle, blind Shiori, Fiona, an ex-rebel fighter with a rage so strong it could bring generals to their knees, and determined Jax and Miko, steering their ship through the depths of space. Together, their friendship gives them strength, but will their bond be strong enough to defeat an enemy whose ruthlessness is legendary? As their luck runs out, Tess will have to choose an ending to her story - and whether to fight against or yield to a temptation so strong, it threatens to cleave the land of stars in two. 'Absolutely fabulous. Amanda Bouchet is on my auto-buy list' C.L. Wilson, bestselling author of The Winter King

Lover of Romance 

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

  
    
  




Nightchaser is the first book in the new series that Amanda Bouchet has written and this is a science fiction romance and I had a feeling that this author would deliver just as she has done within her fantasy series. I wasn't sure what to fully expect from this author though, when it came to this book here, I just had a feeling it would be a fun time and it definitely was. As this is the first book in the romance between Shade and Tess, there is a lot of build up of the romance between them. Their romance does start out pretty slow at first, because you can see how the author is slowly building up the world here, she doesn't really pack everything into this first book, I still have so many questions about where she will be heading with this series. But what she does have me on.....a level of intrigued where I want the mysteries unveiled. 



In Nightchaser, we have our heroine, Captain Tess Bailey and a group that she flies with and they are a bit like "Robin Hood and his band of thieves" She has family that want her, no matter the cost, so that they can use what is in her blood for their own deceptive military means. Tess is determined to continue what she is doing, despite being chased all over the galaxy for it. Now her ship is damaged and in need of repairs so they touch down on a planet in search of someone that can do the repairs, quick and cheap and that is when Tess comes across Shade. Shade is working his way to buying back his family's empire business, and only through working with Tess he is realizing the chemistry between them, but there is more to it than that....the bounty on her safe return is a temptation he isn't sure he can resist. And Shade will have to make a choice and will he choose to stand by Tess in the end or be the one to betray her?



I found Nightchaser to be a astounding read and I was really captivated by the world that this author creates for us here. I really loved seeing the dynamics between Shade and Tess. They have such profound personalities and you come to see them for what they are in the end and what they are capable of and in the end what they are willing to sacrifice for each other. Tess was such a likeable heroine, while she can fight just as good as anyone, she has such a kind and caring heart and that was so attractive within the story. Seeing what she is willing to sacrifice for the sake of others especially children just warms the heart. Shade is a hero that will pull you into the story, he has that rugged blue collar vibe and I just wanted more of his background and hidden story because I know there are many depths to his character I am looking forward to seeing in future books. 



Overall I found Nightchaser to be a stunning debut novel to this series, its a book that will gravitate your attention, gear one up for the world building with each chapter, and brings to light a beautiful balance of plot focus and character building....Amanda Bouchet delivers on a level that leaves this reader itching for more!!

Lauren Sullivan

I loved Amanda Bouchet’s previous series, so I was extremely excited to see her next book was a scifi romance! While it’s pretty fun overall, it wasn’t quite what I was expecting.

“There was nothing on my ship that wasn’t stolen. Hell, even the ship was stolen. Even the crew was stolen because, well, jailbreak.”

There’s some similarities with the Kingmaker Chronicles, specifically that Tess, like Cat, is the long-lost heir to a despotic ruler and was born “different.” Unlike those books, Tess basically announces who she is within the first chapter and she’s far more trusting than Cat. Tess has spent the past five years after breaking out of jail with her crew of Jax, Fiona, Miko and ship grandma Shiori. They’re Nightchasers, rebels who run supplies around to the needy (including an orphanage) and avoid catching the notice of the Dark Watch, the Overlord’s minions. A good chunk of the story is spent with the ship practically in pieces and docked on Albion 5, Shade’s home. Shade runs a parts store, but that’s not how he makes most of his money…. and those secrets set him at odds with his attraction to Tess. Both will need to decide what secrets to share and how far to trust, because more than just their lives are at stake.

“I was a Novalight. I wouldn’t go out like a sigh in the Dark. I’d go out like a fucking bomb.”

Tess was an interesting mix of confident rebel and socially awkward woman. There were several times during the book that I wanted to shake her for being too naive and trusting, but I liked her overall, and respected her for her convictions. It took a lot longer for me to warm up to Shade, mostly because of his continuous waffling over his feelings for her. I loved Tess’s crew and her interactions with them, especially Jax, and I honestly wanted more, especially the hint of a romance between two of the crew members. A lot of pages were spent on building up the relationship between Tess and Shade, to the detriment of the rest of the plot.

“[T]he whole galaxy was a freaking jail. Not everyone needed bars to be locked up, and what I saw around me was evidence of entire populations falling into complacency for the sake of personal peace.”

And that’s where my main criticism comes in. I wanted more action. What’s there is excellent, but most of the middle of the book is spent waiting for the ship to be repaired and building the will they/won’t they relationship between Tessa and Shade. I mean, the most interesting thing that happens in the middle is that Tess visits a bookshop and gets a cat. I’m hoping it’s just first-book-in-a-series syndrome, because the last quarter of the book really picked up. I also found the writing a bit clunky at times, especially the philosophical discussions about the Overseer’s banning of art and focus on conformity and routine. The clunkiness was worsened by the POV. It’s told from both Tess and Shade’s POVs, but Tess’s is first person while Shade’s is third. It was incredibly jarring for me to switch back and forth between them, sometimes mid-chapter.

Overall, this wasn’t quite what I was expecting, and I’d give it 3.5 stars. I’m interested enough in Tess and her crew to keep reading, and I’ll definitely be hoping the next book has more action!

I received this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Candyce Kirk

Nightchaser is quite the ride! I was shocked with how fast I read this book, but then again, I couldn't put it down! We start off with Tess on the run after stealing a lab the government definitely wants. We just don't know why. Things turn bad fast when her secret is exposed and she's not sure who to trust!

I love the world created in Nightchaser. There are different districts and it's clear every one has their own way of living. I think this is the only thing a bit lacking for me in this book, I would've love more details on how this world works. Hopefully we'll get more of that in the next book!
Tess hasn't had an easy life, but made it against all odds. Now she's determined to help the people who need help the most. There are sick children and she needs to get them medication. Her ship being damaged is an issue though. It's going to cost a lot and take away the precious time they really can't spare.

Tess and her crew find a space where they can hopefully have their ship repared and that's when things get fun. I love reading about Tess discovering things she doesn't know. Like cats. That part was so much fun for me. As a fan of cats, I'm all in having them appear in books! Bonk is by far my favorite character.

Nightchaser is a good first book for this series. A lot is going on, but it's not too fast paced. I love that the author chose to take time for the ship to be fixed and Tess to start discovering whole new sides of life. Learning to trust, finding out more about her past, how can she help the people who need her the most? Can she avoid being caught by the military and do all of this?

Shade made this book so much fun. He's so funny, but sweet at the same time. I have to say I kept wondering if Tess really could trust him though! You'll have to read Nightchaser to find out though, haha. The few chapters we get from his POV were perfect and really were a great part of this book. There weren't many, but just enough to give us more of an idea about who he is!

And the bookstore!!! I could live there myself. I loved that besides Tess loving books there were other characters who did as well. Love of books is something I love seeing in other stories! The romance isn't rushed or too much, but fits the story just right.

Besides the humor and romance, we get a lot of action. I loved seeing this all play out and I really can't wait to see how Tess continues fighting for what's right. Nightchaser doesn't end in a major cliffhanger, but definitely in a way that leaves you wanting more!

Kelly Casey

I didn't even know I liked Sci-Fi books until I read this. I'm usually a fantasy or romance reader, and I'll watch sci-fi shows or movies, but the only other sci-fi books I've read were the lunar chronicles which I did really like. I really love the way Amanda Bouchet crafts her stories and creates these amazing romances. I love the stargate tv shows and I've watched farscape, and this you know ragtag spaceship crew just really does something for me. I cannot wait to continue with the series, and I have a guess as to who Tess's father really is. I'm just so excited that I have found another favorite author. The only thing I didn't like about this book was 1) the conflict and misunderstanding that is between the two main characters, and 2) the unexpected death of a character. However, I can still appreciate those plot points even though I personally didn't like them. I would 100% recommend this to anyone looking to branch out into sci-fi or just loves a good book about a ragtag group of characters and a strong romance.

Christina M Masters

Yet another book that pleasantly surprised me so far this year! I love a good Robin Hood-ish type story. It also felt a tad bit Firefly-ish as well and anything like that is well written is definitely something I want to read. And this book really did have everything...action, a bit of romance, intrigue, betrayal, mystery. Amanda Bouchet writes a really good main female character. Tess, the main character is a tough as nails lady, who feels an obligation to protect those who are less fortunate than her, but she also has an extremely vulnerable side due to all the things she has been put through in her life and you get to see her having to learn to trust, get hurt, and having to learn to trust again. She also has secrets...some that you find out about, some that I am sure you will find out about in further books, and one big one that you can probably guess at, but still doesn't take away from the story. But, I don't want to get too much into what happens in the book b/c then it just gets spoiler-y. As a side note, Amanda Bouchet definitely does not pull her punches and definitely pulls at the heartstrings a bit in this one.

Totally Addicted to Reading

One of the hardest things for me in writing reviews is preparing one for a book, which received so many rave reviews. (I wonder what can I say what has not already been said.) What is even harder is writing a review for said book when it does not in your opinion live up to the hype.
I struggled with the story and I took a while to get to the end. For me it was the longest and slowest journey in a fictional world. 


What I liked
World building: I enjoyed the world the author created from a fictional perspective. Living in constant fear and oppression, no freedom of speech and risk going to jail for the simplest of things is are some of what the inhabitants of this world faced.

Characters
Tess: Her loyalty, selflessness and inner strength were her most endearing qualities. Her experiences growing up shaped her into the person she is today. She has no wish for the orphans and her friends to experience the same horrors she did and so she would do anything to protect them.

Shade: Exudes confidence, is observant and have an awesome sense of humour. 

The secondary characters proved an interesting bunch. From Tess’s crew members to evil Overseer. 

The Not So Much
The Story: It began on a high note and I had expectations of grandeur for this one. This however was shot to the ground after the first ten percent of the story. I believe there was a lot of unnecessary information and the story lost its engagement factor as a result 

I could not fathom the lack of tension and fearful anticipation by Tessa and her crew. They are on the run, granted they knew nothing about the bounty on her head, but they acted as if all was well. 

I expected there would be lots of action. This was not the case. The action scenes appeared at around the seventy percent mark. At this point, the story felt rushed and the appeal this aspect was to emit was lost on me.

Romance: I understand her being attracted to Shade and yes, she has not been with a man for seven years. We all have wants, but how do you find time to be thinking about sexual gratification with the threat of recapture hanging over your head. She keeps putting herself out there and he rejects her every attempt at seduction. Her actions reeked of desperation. Eventually, they got together, but I had a hard time accepting their relationship, especially knowing they were both deceiving each other. 

Shade’s deception did not go down well with me. He had ample time to make Tess aware of the situation, but he failed to warn her. 

The ending, although not a cliffhanger indicated that the story will continue. Despite my disappointment with how this installment developed, I am curious to know how upcoming events will unfold.

Conclusion/Recommendations
I know there many readers who raved about this installment, but for me it was just ok. Although it was not a favourite, I would recommend it because there are others who may enjoy it more than I did. Readers who enjoy sci-fi romance can pick up this latest offering by Amanda Bouchet

b.andherbooks

After her ship is badly damaged in a shoot-out and a wild ride through a black hole, Captain Tess Bailey and her crew come to reluctantly rely on the swash-buckling Shade Ganavan. Tess is on the run from her family who are desperate for something within her, a secret that can both a medical cure or a military weapon, depending who gets there hands on it.

What Tess doesn't know is that Shade is a mercenary with his own secrets and he knows about the bounty on Tess's head, a bounty that will finally allow him to retire from his bounty hunting business.

But why isn't Shade turning Tess in? Probably because he's captivated by the tall, beautiful, and badass Captain who is fighting to right the wrong's of an evil ruler, one mission at a time.

For those looking for an epic space opera that is exciting, funny, and has SPACE CATS, this will be the perfect way to start your 2019!

*free copy received in exchange for a fair review.

Leonie

3.5 stars

So, this book started out really good. I liked the characters, the action was engaging and fast paced, and the world building was great.
But then the pacing got really slow for a while and a lot of the scenes seemed like fillers.
And while the story was still good, it just wasn’t great anymore.

(Also, the love interest calls the heroine ”starshine” and that’s just too cheesy for me. I mean, is this a joke?)

Overall, I wanted to love this book, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I’ll still read the next book in the series because the blurb sounds amazing. 


ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.

Nightchaser

Reviews