Luc Saint-Cyr is a member of the Sempervians, a tribe of genetically engineered immortals who live lifetime after lifetime, playing a dangerous game at the whim of their leader. When Luc’s mortal lover casts him off, he is distraught and heartbroken. He’s an incredibly powerful man who runs huge conglomerate businesses, but for all that power, he cannot seem to master his love life. During the course of almost every life, Luc has fallen in love, and it always seems to end badly for him.

One of Luc’s businesses owns a wildly popular rock band named Kumwhatmay. From the moment he meets the drummer of the band – a quiet and somewhat fragile Kin by the name of Izzorah – at the contract signing, Luc once again loses his heart. But this time, it’s different. Although his appearance is somewhat feline, Rah has a gentle and soothing presence that feeds a need Luc didn’t know he had, and all Luc wants to do is gather the young man close and protect him. Issues stand in their way, however. Rah’s fragility soon proves to be a life-threatening condition, and even with medical intervention, he may have only a few years left to live. In addition, Luc’s leader is taking an interest in the young Kin that could very well end their relationship just as it is beginning.

Kayelle Allen’s novel Surrender Love is a well-written excursion into a complex and highly developed universe known as the Tarthian Empire. This is on the whole a love story that has a sub-plot of political intrigue, and for all that it is a good-sized novel, it is a quick and engrossing read. Ms. Allen has obviously put a lot of work into developing this universe, its various customs and occupants, as well as the Felis language, and this has paid off by making the Tarthian Empire very real for the reader.

I didn’t quite get the grasp that I would have liked on the political intrigue that is going on behind the scenes in this story, and this frustrated me somewhat. The love story is very well developed, but I would have preferred to have just a little more information on the rebels who are alluded to and what that is all about. In addition, I would have liked a little more background on the game of Peril that is played by the Sempervians, which seems to be held out as a tease to the reader. It appears fascinating, but tell me more, please.

Overall, I enjoyed Surrender Love. This novel feels like just one small episode in a much larger saga regarding the Tarthian Empire, and I hope that Ms. Allen gives us more in the future.

Reviewed by: Whitney