StarJumper’s Bride

Cassie Gordon, on her way to Treaine to take a job as an apprentice engineer, has the bad luck to be on a spaceship that is captured by pirates. The men are all killed, and the women are kidnapped to work as slaves in the illegal drug trade – except for Cassie, who is put on the flesh auction block, to be purchased and used by the highest bidder. This is where Sebastian Asteril, disgraced former officer in the Seventh Fleet of Mariltar and now a trader of questionable ethics, found her and bought her. By the time they arrive at their destination, Sebastian and Cassie have developed a bond – but will it survive Cassie’s psychological trauma from the pirate attack and Sebastian’s lies?

This full-length novel has a very ambitious plot of broad scope containing a controversial topic (drugs and drug-dealing), as well as a love story that spans time and distance. The plot moves along at a fast clip, and the author manages to keep surprises coming until the very end. Clarke definitely knows her science fiction, ably blending a believable science fiction story with an emotional romance. In my opinion, StarJumper’s Bride is a superior addition to the genre of futuristic romance, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

I liked the character of Sebastian a lot – he was brash and sexy, and came across as a very independent guy. I was less fond of Cassie’s character because at first she seemed timid and passive in many ways – not really a match for Sebastian -- although her character grew and developed as the story progressed. The love scenes are sensual and somewhat explicit, and demonstrate the hero and heroine’s growing affection for each other. Readers should be warned that the story does contain some violence, which is used to move the plot forward.

Reviewed by: Jean