Novella Review: Silver Shark

Silver Shark (World of the Kinsmen)

Ilona Andrews

Kindle Book

Claire Shannon is a killer. She uses no weapons, only her mind.
Born on a planet locked in a long war, Claire is a psycher, a woman with the ability to attack minds and infiltrate a biological computer network where psychers battle to the death. But when the war abruptly ends, Claire must hide her psycher's ability to survive. She is deported to a new planet, a vivid beautiful place, where she meets Venturo Escana, a powerful psycher, whose presence overwhelms both her mind and her body. She thought she had left war and death behind, but now she must fight for her new life and this battle might just cost her everything...

This was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon – curled up on the sofa with some cherry coke and a romantic science fiction story by one of my favourite authors. Ilona Andrews has created an intriguing universe with many populated worlds, which are run by the Kinsmen – humans with extra-ordinary abilities – physical and mental.

Claire has some extraordinary mental powers, but when the war she has been fighting all her life ends and she has the opportunity to start again on a new planet she jumps at the chance. Landing a job with a generous, and very handsome man she has to keep the details of her past secret, but as she draws closer to Venturo she’s not sure how she can keep it quiet. Claire is a great character – you can see her opening up and coming into bloom now she no longer has to fight, but it is still difficult for her. Venturo is very much the ideal man – gorgeous, clever, loyal and with a caring streak, but a ruthless edge if crossed.

While not long story, it is a deliciously sweet cake with just the right consistency and a tangy aftertaste. Lots of fun and a good example of what can be done with a novella.

Recommended for fans of Elizabeth Moon and Maria V Synder. 8 out of 10