The Gilded King draws readers into the dystopian future of Jaffrey’s Solis Invicti series, a world where nature has reclaimed much of Europe. The remains of the Solis Invicti live in The Blue, a haven for the vampiric race known as the Silver, but not for the humans they keep.

Julia, an angry and somewhat bitter young woman living in the Blue, dreams of the leaving the city but dares not. The Blue is safe, but the forested wilderness of the Red is a place where creatures with toxic blood promise instant death to any humans who venture into it. Like all the cleverest lies, there is a modicum of truth to the cautionary tales the Blue’s humans are raised on, it just doesn’t apply to them.

The Blue is, in essence, a farm. Humans living here are free of the blood-borne contaminant lethal to the Silver. The bars of this prison are not built from stone and steel, but a rigid class system that places the Silver, known as Nobles, at the top. As with all social hierarchies, the power afforded to those of high status brings out the worst in some of the Nobles, allowing them to be cruel and wicked without repercussions.

But, Jaffrey has built a nuanced society. Through Cameron’s POV we see a more human side to the Blue’s Nobles while the basic desire to survive, their need for the humans in the Blue, also becomes more apparent. I could relate to the Nobles’ cause. I could even understand why they would establish the oppressive societal laws of the Blue.

From its killer opening to the surprising conclusion, The Gilded King is amazing. Jaffrey balances conflicting motives rather than presenting a rigid view of Right VS Wrong. Both the vampiric Silver and the zombie-like effects of the Weeper virus have just the right balance between originality and canon. The romance between Julia and Lucas is packed with sexual tension while eschewing the puerile sappiness that generally accompanies developing love interests. In essence, Jaffrey breaks the rules in all the right ways with The Gilded King.

Book provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review

Pathogen Protocol is the second book in former Space Shuttle experiment engineer, Darren Beyer’s Anghazi series. Mandisa ‘Mandi’ Nkosi reunites with her mother, Gisela, on the Anghazi near Helios while Colonel Grae Raymus, alone and outnumbered, escapes from New Reykjavik to a secret base. Being inside an Anghazi begins to have a strange effect on Mandi, manifesting as vivid, recurring dreams of the ouroboros symbol: a snake biting its tail. Grae discovers a message left by Danny Dagan that reveals a startling truth. Jans Mikel can’t ignore this new information and travels to a moon near the Outer Sphere to meet a dangerous man who might become a powerful ally. Erik Hallerson’s battered and wounded body survives the vigour of Accelerated Regen Therapy and he returns to duty determined to find and destroy Grae.  
 
Pathogen Protocol continues from the events in Casimir Bridge and quickly immerses the reader in the corporate and government politics affecting human settlements on several worlds. Beyer weaves convincing scientific concepts into Pathogen Protocol alongside stunning visuals of distant solar systems, the organic Anghazi, and a seedy mining colony to create a vivid world. The characters are believable. Jans, Grae, Ivey, and Mandi complement and balance each other out well with their diverse backgrounds and skills. Erik is a convincingly formidable antagonist but lacks the humanity that would make him relatable. Fast pacing and plot momentum make Pathogen Protocol difficult to put down, although it will be challenging to follow for those who haven’t read the first book of Beyer’s Anghazi series.

Reviewed for Reader's Favorite