Veena’s review of Gambler: The Coalition Rebellion Ziem 2 by Justine Davis
Sci Fi Romance published by Bell Bridge Books 24 May 18

Another fantastic tale of courage and fortitude in the face of danger with a kick-ass cast of characters and enough twists and turns to make you dizzy. As many of you know, I am a huge fan of futuristic space opera romance. Ms. Davis has fast become one of my favorite authors in this genre with her tales of the various worlds that are a part of the Coalition of planets.

Eirlys Davorin is an angry young woman watching her brother and his best friend fraternize with the enemy, instead of becoming part of the shadow resistance movement that seems to be slowly coming together to stand against their coalition captors. When all seems lost, she finds out that her brother is, in reality, the leader of the rebellion movement and is willing to sacrifice everything to save her life. Also, by the way, the mother she’s thought dead all these years is actually alive and has strong precognitive skills as well as healing magic.

Reeling from all the hidden truths now out in the open, Eirlys is not necessarily any happier, especially when Brander, her brother’s friend who appears to be a feckless gambler, may be a lot more than what he appears. Their romance unfolds against a background tale that could be taken straight out of a Star Wars episode, as the ragtag resistance movement harasses the might of the coalition empire using their environment, bluff, and courage to win the day

Feckless Brander, who had hoped to become an engineer in a world before the coalition, uses his skill and ingenuity to create weapons and ships out of scraps. I do love the bit where the Davorin’s use their pet mice to chew through electrical wiring, harassing the enemy with power outages. In between the silver lining that they find when they’re forced to abandon their base and hide out in the caves that dominate their planet, the Davorin twins find a message of hope on one of their scavenging trips.

The story comes together nicely with all the relationship dynamics that, of course, include romance and enough plots and counter plots to make the story very interesting indeed. My imagination is working overtime with regard to where this series can go next. Can’t wait to actually read what the author has planned.

Grade: A

Summary:

On the mist-shrouded world of Ziem . . .
Eirlys Davorin, daughter of the “first family” of Ziem, feels ravaged by both the invasion of her peaceful world by the vicious Coalition and by newly discovered secrets that change her perception of everything she knows.
Brander Kalon uses his reputation as a scapegrace gambler to get close to the Coalition and aid the rebellion. Every risk he takes is fueled by the desire to buy the rebels enough time to cobble together a plan to end the invasion for good. He also finds himself facing the wrath of an independent young woman who feels betrayed by his deception, by her brother’s secret life as leader of the rebellion, and by their determination to keep her safe and out of harm’s way.
Eirlys clings to her burgeoning anger at what has been done to her world, and what those she had once trusted have kept from her. Only when she is at last free to fight back and join the rebellion does she begin to realize the true enormity of the battle they all face. And the kind of love it will take to survive.
Their chance to save the rebellion will hinge on the most dangerous gambit they’ve ever attempted . . . .

No excerpt available.

Other books in this series: