Nice little read. The ending was perhaps a bit easy, but overall it was very enjoyable. ( )

Its not a secret I have read, enjoyed and recc'ed the Andrews Duo's books countless times. So its not hard to imagine my happy delight when I got a chance to read their newest novella "Silver Shark" ahead of time. This is set in the same universe as their futuristic romance "Silent Blade" published by Samhain a couple years back. The two stories can be read independent of each other, though "Silent Blade" is set in New Delphi and it wouldn't hurt to have read it since it explores a different track in the world ("Silent Blade" was all assassins and kinsmen battles, "Silver Shark" is more about the trained psychers). Also "Silver Shark" has a field day with science fiction-y stuff.

In a word: riveting. The world that Andrews built in "Silent Blade" is let loose and has a freedom to play. The novella begins at Uley, a world torn between two fractions building their military might to wage a three centuries and plus war against each other for planet and cause no longer viable. The story then moves to Rada, which is where "Silent Blade" takes place, and the stark differences between the two worlds is more than a little problematic for Claire who was raised to believe that attention to oneself is the worst possible situation.

The situation, at least as its presented to Claire upon arrival on Rada as a refugee, isn't strictly fair and it was a little convenient that her first job interview went so smoothly. This was more or less my one complaint with Claire--not that she's too good or too powerful, but that happenstance favors her a lot. Within her first day on Rada she lands herself an enviable job, with a boss she's attracted to (on multiple levels) in a job that comes easy to her with a firm that specializes in what she was trained to do for years. When a personal debt threatens the life she was building, that doesn't so much faze her as give her some hiccups and momentary panics.

This deeper look into the world of the psychers, as the psychic-powered bionet users are known as, was mesmerizing. I said in the "Silver Blade" review that the kinsmen set-up is nothing so much as Mafialand--I stand by that. The bionet evolves and changes for each user in response to their own perceptions--for one it might be a jungle filled with jungle animals and dangers, for another its an ocean with sharks and coral reefs. Claire's Bionet 101 about halfway through was more telling then showing, but within the confines of the mission it made sense.

"Silver Shark" focuses less on the romance angle (much of it reserved for the latter third) and more on the world/characters. We learn more about the kinsmen and their oddly archaic system of dealing with things (duels!), but also how it affects the civilians. The matter of fact way the Immigration Officer let Claire know that savage fights in the streets are pretty standard between kinsmen and she should basically just hide in a corner until its over with had me smiling a bit.

A regret I have though is I wish there had been more time for Venturo and Claire to play around in the bionet together. A confrontation that must have been pretty spectacular is briefly mentioned at the very end and I have to admit it was fun reading about how Claire outwitted folks. If anyone deserved to be able to swagger about because she's that good its Claire. A little too good at points; she makes a big deal about the different tests they use to find Psychers, but she manages to pass them all, rather easily. Its excused as part of her training--from a very young age she was taught discipline and control, but it couldn't have been mentally or physically healthy for her to constantly keep such tight shielding or to crack it occasionally.

The Andrews have made science fiction accessible to those who are wary of the science-babble, even with "Silver Shark" (which is more scifi focused then "Silent Blade") there wasn't a time when I had to step back and try to figure out what they were trying to explain with all the jargon. I'm crossing my virtual fingers that there will be more tales in the Kinsmen universe. ( )

I always love Ilona Andrews but I only just picked up the Kinsmen series/short stories. I didn't love the first books main chracters but Claire and Venturo were a little more enjoyable.

Claire fled her home planet after the war finally ended and she found herself on the losing side about to be terminated by her own people. She secretly a Grade A psycher with a powerful mind. She hides her abilities so well that when she lands in her new home she's hired as a "null", someone with no psycher ability whatsoever. This makes her the perfect secretary for Venturo, a powerful Grade A psycher who runs his own company. Psychers work almost as anti-virus programs for computer programs, only these powerful computer programs are biologic, allowing a human mind to run through them. As a null Claire's quiet mind is peaceful for other psychers. Of course in reality Claire's mind is hidden behind her shields and shouldering a burden.

My complaint in the first books was the "assassin" was more like a house wife - baking and cooking and having sex with her man, without much else. Claire is not that character at all which is an improvement. She hides as a "secretary" but she makes decisions that Venturo respects and he takes her on as back-up.

Spoiler time starts!
Claire gets called on by people from her old world and finally some action - noteably lacking in the first book. The bio-computers are cool, with the idea of human minds plugging into a world within the computer. She goes into the world to save the boys, and predictably (yeah!) runs into Venturo, who is protecting that world like the world's coolest anti-virus. She impresses him and Venturo becomes obsessed with finding the powerful mystery woman. Claire has been crushing on Venturo for a while so watching him try to find her and knowing she can't reveal herself without risking death builds toward the climax. Finally Claire is forced to reveal herself to once again save her old world "family". Cue the necessary romance book storm off and "oh no! he'll never love me now moment!", followed by everything coming together for the harmonious conclusion.

Venturois enjoyable - he's a powerful man but he treats his secretary with respect. Claire is a little blah at times but she's got a good excuse with her background and we get to see her cool abilities and explore the Kinsmen world a lot more enjoyably than book 1.

The finish of the book SPOILER was hysterically fun. You have to love families! ( )

Silver Shark is the story of a war refugee who finds herself on a new planet after her side loses a long and costly war. But Claire has more to worry about than the average refugee, because she is keeping a deadly secret: she is a psycher and never should have been allowed to leave her planet alive, much less be accepted as a refugee on her new planet. It doesn't help that her new boss is also a powerful psycher, who may be her salvation or her downfall. Because when it comes to refugees they may be offered a new start, but that doesn't mean that their old lives won't come back to haunt them.

For those who like their romance with a hint of science fiction. If you like Ilona Andrews, you will love this. Highly recommended. ( )

Great I love the character depth and world.
For a short story it has a lot of detail.
Well worth a read if you like psychic fantasy ( )