Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
How much can one man give when faced with the prejudice of two worlds?
Acknowledged at last by the Governing Council, his life mating accepted, Jonathan Thomsin makes a home on Daran with his husband, Talin of the Warrior Order. He knows he will never see Earth or his family again and learns to live with that endless grief.
Jon is ecstatic when the Daranii Council gives Jon permission to return to Earth for life-saving surgery and allows him to contact and stay with his family for six months.
He will be healed in body, his grief left behind on Daran. Everything is possible, even peace between Daran and Earth. There are many issues to solve, people to convince, and prejudices to overcome.
For Jon, there was one problem that overshadowed the rest. He had been irrevocably changed while on Daran.
Jon forgot the old adage “you can’t go home again.”
This is book 2 in the Daranii Justice Series. You should read book one, The Price of Surrender, before reading The Promise of Sacrifice to enjoy the full story.
The Review
The Promise of Sacrifice is the second novel in the “Daranii Justice” series by C.J. Dragon. I highly suggest reading The Price of Surrender, the first book in the series, first. That novel introduces Jon Thomsin and what he faced at the hands of his torturer, Talin.
As the Earth and Daran are still at odds, the Daranii Council have come to an agreement that Jonathan Thomsin, along with his new husband Talin, may return to Earth. They will have the best of the Daranii Warrior Guards to protect them during their travel and stay. Earth has also agreed to supply top security and protection for Jon and Talin, and for Jon’s family. Jon is ecstatic that he will get to see them again, and also get the heart surgery that he needs to maintain a healthy and long life.
The homecoming is overwhelming and emotional for him, and he finally sees his parents Edward and Patricia again, along with his sister Emma and her fiancé Paul. And Talin finally gets to meet Jon’s family in person. Jon and Talin’s tell them the traumatic truth, and Talin is overwhelmed with how Jon’s parents accept him and now consider him a son.
The day comes for Jon’s surgery, which is a success, but he is a little disappointed that he’s not back up to one-hundred percent and has to be careful.
As days pass and his family has gone home to Iowa, Talin and Jon bond even more with his family and the stories that they tell. For Talin, Earth is a strange new world, but he is more than grateful to be able to share the unconditional love and kindness from Jon’s family.
Their stay takes a turn when Jon and Talin agree to meet with a reporter to tell the true and detailed story of what happened to Jon on Daran Even though it’s stressful for Jon, he recounts his story in an effort to bring peace and understanding between Daran and Earth. Jon is now suffers from PTSD, and it doesn’t help that he will have to relive the story again, even with therapy. He also has to face the fact that there are those on Earth who are not accepting, and bring their bigotry, hate and danger to those he loves. These haters don’t seem to understand that Jon was a sacrifice from Earth so that its inhabitants wouldn’t be annihilated by Daran.
Their amazing visit with Jon’s family ends too soon when Talin receives a comm from Sentai Tidan. Daran has wanted peace with Earth but Kalit, the Warrior Sentai who was forced to resign, opposes it, and has gained the support of the Warriors.
Something changes within Talin, and he becomes his former cruel self. Jon is not happy. He once again feels like a pawn and a prisoner on Daran. Talin continues to harass and threaten him. When he gives Jon the order to see Calan, Calan reveals a secret to Jon, and he knows that Talin knows it too. Will the life Jon loved with Talin ever be the same again? What troubles will take place between Daran and Earth?
Dragon has woven another spectacular sci fi tale, this time with the focus on Earth. There’s less world building than in the first book, and less of the Daranii language. It’s fascinating watching Talin and the Warrior Guards pick up more about Earth and its customs. Talin learns many phrases, and loves watching vids of National Parks.
Jon has selected more comfortable clothes for Talin to wear, and there’s even a tornado – the weather on Daran is not as extreme as it is on Earth. And of course, there’s lot’s of bacon!
Jon gets a reality check as Talin explains to him how serious the training is for the Order of Warriors. Talin makes Jon realize that the Daranii Warriors are true predators.
The supporting characters are wonderful. The love and concern of Jon’s family is touching. And the Warriors, Naran, Divar, Natat, Lanon, Senar and Katar, show what true protectors they are.
The Promise of Sacrifice is well written, filled with many wonderful moments between Jon and Talin. It’s also very steamy, as Jon and Talin’s love grows stronger. This is another intriguing and entertaining novel that careens between highs and lows and carries the reader with it.
There’s more to come forh Jon and Talin in the next novel, The Purpose of Sanctuary. I can’t wait to read it.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
