Romance Reviews Today has sent along a very nice review of Lost in Translation, which will appear on their site in their February 20 issue; I’ve posted it here with permission.
The hatred between the bat-like S’sinn and the humans, who colonized their world twenty years ago, burns bright. Neither Jarrikk, one of the few S’sinn Translators left, nor the human Kathryn Bircher likes the idea of linking their minds, but both have sworn an oath to the Commonwealth. Together, their empathic abilities can share memories and emotions, known as Translation. During their psychic binding that is a final attempt to save the Commonwealth, Jarrikk and Kathryn discover a plot to confuse Translation forever, just in time to barely prevent war between both their kinds. However, in the process, they lose their powers, and Jarrikk, feeling that he has nothing left to live for, decides to go through with the suicide ritual he nearly succeeded in years ago. Before he can complete the ceremony, though, Kathryn steps in and bonds them in a way that neither race has ever seen. Together, these two unlikely and loyal partners will do everything they can to stop an all-out war between the S’sinns and humans, and in the process, create a whole new world.
LOST IN TRANSLATION by Edward Willett is definitely a book science fiction purists will savor. Intrigue, the threat of interstellar war, and action all combine to make this tale a suspenseful and pleasant experience to those who enjoy intelligent writing and crafty storytelling. Mr. Willett has created a world fueled by hatred and fear, and all his characters express these emotions without shame. Readers know that Jarrikk and Kathryn will eventually become friends, but that doesn’t keep their initial interactions from being rife with conflict and tension. Each character in LOST IN TRANSLATION has his own ulterior motives, and it’s hard to keep track of who’s good and who’s bad, which adds to the intrigue.
Having never read this author before, I look forward to reading a few of Edward Willett’s previous titles, hoping that they will be of the same caliber as LOST IN TRANSLATION. — Courtney Michelle, Romance Reviews Today
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Keycon, alas, usually conflicts with Regina Lyric Light Opera’s annual spring show (Sweeney Todd this year, woo-hoo!). I usually make it to ConVersion in Calgary in the summer instead (this year pre-empted by WesterCon the first weekend in July, which I’ll be at).
Terrific review, Ed — congratulations!!
Btw…I was at a book signing yesterday and met a couple of the organizers for Keycon, Winnipeg’s annual science fiction and fantasy convention (coming up May 21-23 this year). Do you ever attend?