Entertaining first-contact SF with good female representation. Pacing can be a bit slow sometimes, but since that was exactly what I felt like, that was fine by me! The characters are a bit too perfect and a bit too powerful to make this really exciting, but again, that was what I wanted. Comfort-read for me! ( )

Conflicted

I like the universe and the writing style. I didn't like the fact that it was basically void of conflict. By that I mean 2/3rds of the book is reasonable people doing reasonable things to reach a mutually agreeable conclusion. There are a few minor points of conflict that may become interesting in the next book, but nothing really bad happens. The final resolution is bland bureaucratic decisions.

I will probably purchase the next book because I like the universe and the author, but I hope there is a better design to the pacing and structure. Some conflict to resolve at the end that doesn't end up feeling almost anti-climatic. ( )

This story takes place hundreds of years before 'Theirs Not to Reason Why' but does not have to be read before the other series. Jacaranda 'Jackie' is appointed Ambassador to make First Contact with alien life forms. She's Psi and a soldier with high moral and ethical fiber. Li'eth is her first contact, a V'Dan.

Lots of rich details, great characters and foundations. Very intriguing. I loved the idea that leaders must past competency tests and stating the 'Oath of Civil Service' every day. If only our own leaders had to do the same. This story grabs you and holds you the entire book.

You can read more of my reviews at https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/



( )

This is a first contact story between Earth and alien race known as the V'Dan. I liked the story. It had had elements that reminded me of Pride and Prejudice, and Babylon 5. I hated the former and was intrigued by the latter. The long and detailed descriptions of the clothing, etiquette, and customs were principle elements that reminded me of Pride and Prejudice. Reading through them was a hard but necessary task. In that If we actually meet an alien but physically similar race beings and tried to have any sort of interactions with them sorting out etiquette, and customs would be a big deal. Johnson was wise to emphasize this in the story. It gives the story an air believability and forces the reader to think about what a first contact situation during difficult times would be like. In the television series Babylon 5 there was an agency known as The Psi Corps it was an Earth Alliance organization, ostensibly established to help human telepaths learn how to control and use their abilities for the betterment of themselves and Humanity at large. In Johnson's vision of an Earth peopled with telepaths and other psychic gifts there are similar agencies. In this book that idea is is fully fleshed out with out the overtones of a repressive government that were in B5. This is an Earth with an enlightened government that runs on a merit and ethical based system where gifted and non gifted people work to the benefit humankind. Add to that the idea that our alien guests have similar abilities takes the story to another level of complexity that I soon found fascinating. Here we find other elements of Pride and Prejudice that are seriously considered. Johnson asks what would happen if two gifted individuals representing separate races became entangled at first via a psychic connection and later romantically? The heroine in the story is no Elizabeth Bennet, and the alien main character is no Mr Darcy. They both face surprisingly similar dilemmas. Given their unexpected psychic bonding can they represent the interests of their respective races without compromise? This is one of the central questions of this book in addition to that of establishing diplomatic, cultural, and ultimately military relations with an alien race, particularly one at war with a common foe? I liked Johnson's attention to detail, when it was not long winded. She took the time to discuss the engineering and logistics details of a first contact situation. Things like finding common measurements of the speed of light, and references to similar units of time and distance measurements. While I found the story long winded, Johnson needed the space to give the story credibility. Finally I would be remiss in not mentioning that this story is a prequel to a larger series " Theirs is not to reason why". This story and the next two that are to follow stand on their own from that series. ( )

It took me a little whole to get into this book but when I did, this is a great story. The heavy world building and all the science explanations do slow things down but the characters and fascinating plot make up for that. The main character Jackie is great. She is a very intelligent, honest, and interesting main character. She has to try get everyone to work together, to make First Contact go well, and learn everything that she can about the V'Dans. Johnson does a great job at making this world believable and interesting. There is so much about this book that I liked, making this very difficult to write a good review for. Johnson has done a really good job with this book and I am excited to read the next in the series.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. ( )