Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay, Ace
Reviewer: Jay
Get Dare On Amazon | Get Chance On Amazon
About The Book
Dare
Dare Munro possesses empathic abilities, a mutation that emerged in humans during the past climate crisis. Some people interpret these mutations as Mother Nature’s way of seeking revenge or finding solace for what has been lost.
When his ‘gift’ became evident, his parents abandoned him, but now he’s a counselor of high repute with a Mindset Three rating.
Only Dare knows that he is not what he appears to be.
Dare’s true abilities came to light when he assisted a client dealing with the loss of his family. It was only a matter of time before the Service came for him to lock him away and use his talents for their own gain.
Determined to escape Earth, he secures passage on the colony ship, Gambit. On the ship, he’ll find Jason Stravetta, the ship owner’s son, who is famous for his strong aversion to Mindsets.
Despite the other man’s dislike, Dare is drawn to Stravetta, hoping for a friend rather than an enemy.
Will Stravetta force him to reveal his truth?
Will that truth cost Dare his freedom and his life?
Chance
It’s an arduous task to start over on a new, unexplored planet, but that’s what Chance Bradford signed up for.
As a Mindset Two, his empathy and training helps his fellow colonists, allaying their fears and bolstering their confidence. At least, until the dragons were seen flying high above the colony dome.
Discovering that only he can communicate with the telepathic ‘dragons’ comes at a price, their first meeting full of terror and pain.
Trying to understand a completely alien race strains Chance’s abilities and puts him in the sights of the humans that want the planet for themselves alone.
Will Chance be able to forge a peace between the colony and the dragon’s Flight? Is friendship even possible between the two species?
Will humans become the dragon’s prey, or perhaps something else altogether?
The Review
Dare is a well-written sci fi story set in the far future. The action takes place on a space ship where Dare, an empath, has taken refuge. He dreads being abducted and used by the government.
He meets one of the owners of the ship, and fears the family might ‘enslave’ him, but he and Jason develop a relationship that is then threatened by Dare’s intention to join the colonists on a newly established planet.
The story is good and the plot is quite gripping. I had a few minor gripes – some rather stilted language and a tendency to call people ‘the older man’ etc. even when they are alone and either their name or pronoun would suffice.
Still, there’s a happy ending and before that, Dare acts as mentor to a young empath, Chance, who is just discovering his abilities.
Four stars.
The Reviewer
I’ve been doing book reviews on my website, crossposted or linked to various social media, for a few years. I read a number of genres but I really enjoy all kinds of speculative fiction so thought I’d like to share my views with you. I love sci fi and other speculative fiction because of the way it can, at its best, make us see ourselves in a new light. Quite apart from the exciting stories, of course! I used to be an English teacher, and I’m a writer (fantasy) so I can be quite critical about style etc. but I hope I can also appreciate properly some books that don’t appeal to me personally but might be simply perfect for others. I have, obviously, read widely, and continue to do so.
