Devon’s review of Moonstruck by Susan Grant
SciFi/Futuristic Romance released by HQN 1 Jun 08

SciFi/Futuristic Romance tends to be hit or miss for me. And lately it’s been all miss. That’s why I was I was nicely surprised by Moonstruck, the first in Susan Grant’s new Borderlands series. It is sure to be enjoyed by readers who like a bit of Space Opera, and readers who like a kick ass heroine.

Moonstruck takes place just after the end of a very long war between the Coalition and the Drakken Horde. In order to promote peace, the newly established Triad government (Coalition/Horde/the Shrine of Earth) wants to put together a new flagship with a crew made up of the three groups. Coalition Admiral Brit Bandar is assigned to helm the ship, called the Unity. Unfortunately, her second in command is Finn Rorkken, a Drakken pirate turned military officer. Brit really, really hates the Drakken. She has spent half her life trying to exterminate them. Will she be able to work with them, particularly the charming and sexy Rorkken?

I enjoyed the world set up in this book and the motley crew aboard the Unity. The three different groups were very distinct. The Coalition are the “civilized” ones, reliant on reason and technology. The Drakken Horde are chaotic, violent, desperate to survive. They’re the most interesting. Earth, a recently rediscovered backwater planet, is represented by a knucklehead called Tango, whose idea of showing Earth culture to the others revolves around Rubik’s Cubes, Disco Balls, and the DVD of “The Devil Wears Prada”. Oh well, perhaps he’ll grow up a bit.

Brit and Finn had great chemistry. Brit was a very interesting heroine-a cold military leader, motivated by pure vengeance. She had the potential to be a shrill ballbreaker, but never fulfilled it (Thank goodness). She was able to be fair and listen to others, despite her overwhelming prejudice. Her inner struggle was palpable as she fought her attraction to Finn, and she had good reason to hate his people. I felt for her. Finn was a good foil for Brit, rough around the edges, intelligent, strong.

Finn wants his people to prove themselves to the Coalition, to show they aren’t barbarians. As he falls for Brit, he starts to smooth his rough Drakken edges to fit in (and appeal to her more). This made him less interesting to me, as his character arc seemed to revolve around pleasing Brit. Brit changed over the course of the book as well, but she still seemed the same at the core. It’s unusual to read a romance where the hero kind of fades next to the heroine, rather than the other way around. This didn’t bother me as much as it might, because Finn did start off really interesting, and I was very involved in their romance by the time he got boring.

The plot was interesting, and not hard to follow. Sometimes the technology and “space jargon” (as I call it) in this type of book come off a little ridiculous and nonsensical. You know, the random oaths and words (frikken, frakken, flooping). Here, things were consistent and I was able to understand everything in the context. I was pleased by the absence of random, meaningless apostrophes as well. There was a pretty big cast of characters, but I was able to keep them all in order. I am looking forward to more more of the Unity’s adventures, and I want Bolivarr and Hadley’s book now. Moonstruck is a fun read for those who enjoy love in space.

Grade: B+

The Summary:
PEACE IS FOR LITTLE GIRLS.

And Coalition starship admiral Brit Bandar is one tough woman. A mere intergalactic treaty could never get her to trust the Drakken Horde. There was too much bad blood between the Coalition and the Horde and, for intensely personal reasons, Brit wasn’t sure that she was through spilling it! But now a peaceful accord has made Finn Rorkken, a notorious Drakken rogue, second-in command on her starship – and through some grand cosmic irony – front and center in her thoughts…and her heart.

WARLEADER. PIRATE.

Either title sat easily on Finn’s battle-hardened shoulders. Though second-in-command to “Stone-Heart” Bandar? That would take some getting used to. Peace required as much sacrifice as war, so he’d comply even if his reaction to the gorgeous admiral fell decidedly outside protocol. But would he end up kissing or killing her if the galaxy’s tentative truce turned into all out war?
Read an excerpt here