Joint Review – Children of Scarabaeus by Sara Creasy

Publisher: Avon
Publish Date: Out Now!
How we got this book: NetGalley

 

The crib is everywhere . . .

 
Edie Sha’nim believes she and her bodyguard lover, Finn, could find refuge from the tyranny of the Crib empire by fleeing to the Fringe worlds. But Edie’s extraordinary cypherteck ability to manipulate the ecology of evolving planets makes her far too valuable for the empire to lose. Recaptured and forced to cooperate—or else she will watch Finn die—Edie is shocked to discover the Crib’s new breed of cypherteck: children. She cannot stand by while the oppressors enslave the innocent, nor can she resist the lure of Scarabaeus, the first world she tried to save, when researchers discover what appears to be an evolving intelligence.

 
But escape—for Edie, for Finn, and for the exploited young—will require the ultimate sacrifice . . . and a shocking act of rebellion.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

MinnChica: In 2010 I did a Sci Fi Romance challenge and was introduced to the Scarabaeus Series. I’ve been anxiously awaiting the 2nd book in the series, and was not disappointed at all! This book should DEFINITELY be read after the Song of Scarabaeus (you WILL be lost if you only read the 2nd book.)

Has: I heard of Song of Scarabaeus but heard it featured pretty hard scifi elements that made me wary of picking it up — although I really love scifi romance. (I am a huge fan of the Grimspace and the Alien series by Gini Koch). But after hearing so much good things about it, I got the first book and I have to say it was fantastic read. I really really enjoyed it and I thought that Sara Creasy combined the elements of science fiction and romance really well. So I jumped on the chance to get the second book, and I’m glad I did!

MinnChica: Both books in the series are really great reads.  We pick up in Children of Scarabaeus almost exactly where we left off, and Edie and Finn are still trying desperately to get the information in Finn’s brain to the Fringe worlds. Their mission is thwarted by The Crib and now they must find a way to escape their captors, complete their mission, and now potentially save a group of children from Edie’s home world. When they return to Scarabaeus, Edie is amazed at the way the planet has morphed all on it’s own, and realized that Scarabaeus might hold the key to solving all their problems. Creasy does a wonderful job of combining the great romantic tension we’ve come to expect from our romance books, along with a mixture of both hard and soft Science Fiction elements.

Has: I totally agree. While the first book really concentrated on the world-building and establishing the characters, this book really focused on the romance and the characters as well as their repercussions of their choices in the 1st book.

MinnChica: Yes, and I have to say I think I enjoyed this book a little more because of that. I loved getting a closer look into the romance between Edie and Finn. The characters were really strong in this one, almost more so than the first. I was hoping for an Edie and Finn HEA, and was somewhat worried it wouldn’t happen. There was a time there at the end when I thought Edie was ready to give up everything. The way Finn swooped in and wouldn’t let her go, oh… I totally melted. I was very happy with the way Creasy ended the book. It was really well done.

Has: Yeah, the first book really was a taster of their romance. But this one really showed how much they have grown closer to each other compared to the unwilling allies when they first met. I loved how intense Finn was; he had quiet but lethal approach to it. I thought he was one of the best heroes I have read about in a while.  I really rooted for them to get together and the fact they were so determined to BE together despite the hindrance of outside and inner forces added tension to the romance. I think this book really cemented their romance and I know this is the last book in the series, I really hope there is more in the future especially about them. I was really drawn to their romance.

MinnChica: Exactly! I think Finn is one of my favorite heroes. I also loved the addition of new characters in this book, specifically the kids. The innocence they had, the way they approached the technology, the way they looked to Edie and Finn as parental figures. So good!

Has: Oh definitely. And they added lightness and humour too which was needed because this book had higher stakes for the characters and even the universe.

MinnChica: Very true. I also liked the way that Scarabaeus changed, especially given the events of the end of the first book. It was a neat and interesting spin, and I was completely drawn into the story and engrossed in each and every turn!

Has: The pace was great and I never got lost or felt that the story stalled in any way. I also loved the descriptions of how much Scarabaeus changed and evolved. When they returned to the planet, the descriptions of the lifeforms and wildlife felt so vivid and epic and alienesque.

MinnChica: It really was. That is one of my favorite aspects of this book, how imaginative Creasy is, how descriptive she gets with the planets and the technology. I do have to say though, this series is not for the light sci fi reader. Creasy gets very detailed about technology and the science behind everything. There were times when I felt a little lost and confused in the story. It was still very enjoyable, but complicated at times. Creasy can, at times, make me feel like an idiot! =)

Has: I am not keen on hard scifi partly due to those reasons (I tried to get through Kim Robinson’s Mars trilogy and could barely get through the 1st book). But I found that overall that the tech side of the story wasn’t as overwhelming or as technical as I thought it would be — although I felt the same as you in a few scenes. Nonetheless, Creasy captured both sides of scifi and Romance in an engaging way, and I don’t think fans of both genres would be unhappy with the Scarabaeus books. The world/setting and the characters sucked me in and I was sad to say goodbye when I clicked onto the last page in my ereader. I really wanted more!

MinnChica: I want more as well, however I think Creasy has said that there won’t be anymore books in this series. I wonder if she can be bribed with chocolate, or pie, or cookies?

All in all, I was very happy with Children of Scarabaeus. Although the science was a little much for me at times, the story moved quickly and in a way that was engaging and exciting to read. The romance sparked and sizzled and really drew me into the characters. I can only hope that Creasy will continue to write more wonderful Science Fiction Romance.
I give Children of Scarabaeus a B+.

Has: Can we start a campaign? 😀 I’ll donate even if Creasy wont write another book in this world. I will definitely be getting her next book. In fact I think because of her lush descriptive writing and multi-layered characters I will have put her firmly in my autobuy list. I highly recommend Children of Scarabaeus. I was swept up with the story and the romance with Finn and Edie. It was a pure joy to read. Even if you’re not a fan of the sci fi genre, I definitely think this duology will be enjoyable and memorable to romance fans. It’s a very good thing when a book leaves you wanting more.
I also give Children of Scarabaeus a B+