by Amanda Bouchet
Series: Endeavor #1
Narrator: Susan Bennett
Length: 11 hours and 45 minutes
Genres: Romance, Science Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Heat Level:
Narration: 4 cups Speed: 1.3x
A delicious new heart-pounding romantic adventure from USA Today bestseller Amanda Bouchet!
Captain Tess Bailey and her crew of Robin Hood-like thieves are desperate and on the run. Pursued by a vicious military general who wants them dead or alive, Tess has to decide if she can trust Shade Ganavan, a tall, dark and arrogant stranger with ambiguous motivations.
Shade Ganavan had oodles of arrogance, oodles of charm, and oodles of something that made me want to kick him in the nuts.
What Tess and Shade don’t know about each other might get them killed…unless they can set aside their differences and learn to trust each other—while ignoring their off-the-charts chemistry.
Nightchaser is the first novel in the Endeavor science fiction romance series by Amanda Bouchet. I chose to listen to the audio narrated by Susan Bennett. A slow start gave way to an engaging read.
I am not going to lie, this started really slow for me. In fact at one point I almost DNF’d the audiobook. I think it was a combination of a few things. First, I recently listened to Polaris Rising, which was phenomenal and second the story started out disjointed and I couldn’t get my footing. I will say the second half of the book was stronger and I ended up slipping in.
The world-building is light, with the author sharing throughout the story but we still have a lot more to learn. We know the people are oppressed and that there is a rebellion. Tess is a member of the ruling house but seeks to help those in need. Think of her as a space Robin Hood.
We meet, Captain Tess Bailey and her crew of damaged, misfit thieves as they escape with stolen cargo from a military superpower whose general (apparently Tess’s father) wants the contents returned. There is now a bounty on her head. They escape and end up on a planet in another solar system but their ship is badly damaged.
Tess hires Shade Ganavan to make the repairs and this is where things get complicated. The story that unfolds is heavy on romance with suspenseful threads. Shade and Tess have sizzling chemistry, but both have secrets and don’t act right away. Mixed singles followed by explosive heat and these two need to make decisions.
What Tess doesn’t know is that Shade is a bounty hunter. He is trying to garnish funds to win back his family’s business. Bringing Tess in could restore everything. He struggles with this internally just as Tess struggles to let him into her inner circle of trust. Both threads felt genuine as did their off the chart moments.
I enjoyed all the characters, Shade in particular, but it took me a while to warm up to and understand Tess. Again the struggle was in the first half.
The second half of the book was intense with plenty of action and confrontation with the enemy. We finally get details on this world, Tess’s upbringing and what makes Tess different. It could turn the tides and end her father’s tyranny.
Susan Bennett did a stellar job with the narration and helped me pull through the first half. I felt she captured Tess and Shade from their chemistry to personalities.
While it was rough travels in the beginning, I ended up enjoying Nightchaser and will certainly pick up the next audio. Fans of space soap operas and romance laden fantasy will enjoy the beginnings of the Endeavor series.
A rough start gave way to an engaging, action-packed, romantic space fantasy in Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet #iloveaudiobooks #fantasy #ScienceFiction #Endeavor Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Mary @StackingMyBookShelves!
I have a hard time with a slow starting book. I am glad it picked up and you enjoyed it. I will have to add this one to my list.
Mary
Jen
Great review. Thanks for sharing the ups and downs. I have been on the fence about this one, and will wait to hear what others think of the second book before I decide.
Naomi Hop
I’ve read the first 2 books in Amanda Bouchet’s Kingmaker Chronicles, so I’m glad that even though this one started a little slow for you that it picked up and you want to get into the next one!
Teresa Mary Rose
I love the sound of this one and I’ve been meaning to read this author for a while. Good to know it has a slower beginning though! Great review!
Lindy@A Bookish Escape
It’s hard to get through a book when your just not feeling it. I recently had that experience, but was glad I stuck it out, because I ended up enjoying the book. I’m glad you enjoyed the characters and the second half picked up with more action!!!.
verushka
Tess sounds extremely badass! I’m glad this picked up in the end.
Melanie Simmons
I’m glad this worked out in the end. It can be hard to start a book after finishing a great book. Hard to live up to that previous book for sure.
Lily B
It’s been a while since I read a sci fi. It sounds interesting. Sorry it was a bit of a rough start
Olivia Roach
Science fiction romance isn’t one that I read a lot of because I like my sci-fi books action packed and intense. So I will probably skip on this because it sounds too slow for me ;.; I am glad you liked the second half though and I am glad it improved once you got past that halfway mark x
Laura Thomas
I’ve had to struggle through the beginning of a book but the second half saved it for me. Glad this one worked out. It sounds like a fun beginning to the series.
blodeuedd
Yikes, almost dnf! I fear I would have dnfed, but I am glad you got over it
Kimberly
It really picked up and grabbed me.
Ailyn Koay
did you say half the book was slow? not for me, I can’t handle it
Carole @ Carole's Random Life in Books
I liked this one a bit more than you did. I don’t remember having trouble getting into this book although I did find the second half to be more exciting. Of course, I haven’t had the chance to read Polaris Rising yet 🙂
Ash
Wow this looks awesome, I love the cover.
Nadene
I was eager to read your thoughts on this one ans I see you ended up liking it more than I did. I belive listenng on auduo helped .I agree the second half was stronger but it wasn’t enough to wow me.
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
I’m glad this improved for you! I find I’m more patient with audio than with print so I think I would be able to get through the rocky beginning. I noticed a few of this author’s books are on the Audible Romance package and a looking forward to trying her!
Lorna
I totally get the slow beginning thing. I recently DNF’ed an audio at 65% because I had struggled throughout. But I’m glad you ended up liking this!
Heidi
I am going to wait until the second book releases before deciding on this series. I loved this author’s debut book, but the second book of her last series was a big disappointment. I still haven’t read the finale of that first series. If the next book is better than this one, I will give it a go.
Anne - Books of My Heart
Yes, it has some genre similarities to Polaris Rising and I think Polaris Rising is much stronger than this one. I read this first and I completely fell for Shade. While Polaris Rising will be a different couple for each book, this I think will stay with the same couple and expand. So this suffers a bit from first book syndrome in a UF where the story is over several books, where Polaris was a full story for that couple.
I didn’t struggle with this and I did really enjoy it.
Debbie S Haupt
Ah you’ve covered all my love and hates for book 1 in a new series especially Sci-Fi, Paranormal, Fantasy. Great review Kim and this is an author I’ve been wanting to try so I’ll wait to see what you thought of book 2 🙂
Melliane
I heard different things about this one but I have the first book of her other series so I need to try this one
Mary Kirkland
This is the exact reason I almost never DNF a book once I start it. I always hope that it gets better and I’ll enjoy it which happens a lot of the time. Glad to hear it got better and you ended up enjoying it.
Jessica @ a GREAT read
OOh nice! I still need to read this one! And finish her first series which I need to do first! Whelp! Bummed that it had a bumpy start but glad it picked up afterwards. I really enjoyed Amanda’s first book so I have high hopes for the rest of them! Nice review!
Lotte Jean
Oh, this seems like a really interesting concept!
Lotte | http://www.lottelauv.blogspot.co.uk
Sophia Rose
Good to know that one has to push through the beginning to get to the smooth and exciting part. 🙂