Beyond the Shadows [Paperback]

I loved Beyond the Rain and was overjoyed to see a new Futuristic/SciFi author on the scene. I had barely finished it when I started thinking how much I wanted to read Cyn's story. He's the brother of Cyani, the heroine of Beyond the Rain and although we didn't get a chance to see to much of him, we did learn that he is the leader of a rebellion on the planet Azra, a matriarchal society where women rule. Unfortunately, the woman who is the current ruler was a tyrant who persecuted the people of Azra, subjecting many of them to horrendous living conditions, thus sewing the seeds of rebellion.

Yara is a member of the "elite", the highest class level who had been dispatched to hunt down Cyn, the leader of the upcoming rebellion. All this happened in Beyond the Rain, but I don't think you need to have read it to pick up where this book begins. I do recommend it though since it's a great book.

Beyond the Shadows starts up with Yara trying to find a way off the military base and return to Azra. But Cyn has arranged it that he has the only ship leaving and under his guise as Cyrus Smith, an Earthlan trader, he tricks her into walking into the trap he has set. But it doesn't take long for him to realize that Yara isn't the cold hearted woman he believed her to be. Stubborn yes, focused on her duty, indeed, but he is surprised to learn she also has a heart.

I'm in awe at how well done Ms. Granger has done with the character of Cyn. Although he comes from a place where women are the rulers and leaders, he doesn't lack in manly manliness for one moment. Rather he is alternately masculine, tender, brave, intelligent and in short, all things that make a great hero. He rose from the depths of despair to be a true leader of people. I ADORED him and I think many a reader will love him just as much as I did.

And just as well drawn as Cyn is, so is Yara. Due to the way she was trained her entire life, she is a loner who has never had the chance to enjoy life. Political intrigue rules her life. She has been led to believe that the lower echelon of Azra are criminals and degenerates who deserve the despairing life they lead. But as she and Cyrus travel to different worlds, her eyes are opened to many of the injustices in the galaxy, softening her to seeing that Azra may just be one of the worst offenders of them all.

The romance between Yara and Cyn is poignant and almost heartbreaking. They come from two very different places. His goal is to lead the rebellion against everything she has known and hers is to track down the rebel leader and maintain the status quo. Cyn is the first to fall for Yara, but he feels the weight of lying to her as to who he is and what his real goal is. Yara starts out as rather arrogant, a product of her upbringing and does her best to deny her growing feelings for Cyn. She knows he can't be a part of her future. You can feel the longing between them.

I really admire authors who tackle this genre. Although they are bound by the rules of a romance story, other than that, they make up their own worlds, their own rules, their own types of people. And Jess Granger excels at making this world she has created totally believable. As readers, we are excited to find new authors who write well written stories that can take us away from our daily lives when we need to 'get away'. And I'm very excited to have found Jess Granger. Even if you don't normally read this genre, I HIGHLY urge you give this book a try. It represents everything I love about this genre. As with her first book, once again she knocked this one out of the park. As much as I loved her first book, I think I love this one just a tiny wee bit more.

Cyn is the rebel leader, known better as Cobra, who longs to free the lower classes of his home planet of Azra from the ruling class run by a female dominated society. Cyn was raised on Earth after his mother escaped from Azra and will stop at nothing until the evil Grand Sister, who rules Azra with an iron fist, is stopped. His plan is to kidnap Commander Yara, the heir to the Azralen throne.

Yara needs passage on a ship back to Azra before her rival Palar tries to take over. Yara longs to bring peace and harmony to Azra and feels she can as the next Grand Sister. But she is stranded on a military base and has no one to turn to. Unfortunately the mysterious Cyrus Smith offers to take her home for the right price. Because Yara has run out of options, she and her scout, the feline Tuz will go with him.

Cyn enjoys pushed Yara's buttons by calling her pixie (because of her green colored hair) and keeping important facts about his past and who he is from her. Yara doesn't trust him as far as she can throw him, but she learns fairly quickly that this Earthlen male has her back when pirates attack them and she is taken hostage and to be sold as a sex slave. Cyn's feelings for Yara have grown into something deeper where he has to decide how honest he should be and convince her to join him and his people to stop a revolution that could kill many.

Beyond the Shadows (Realms Beyond #2) is perfect for those science fiction fans that enjoy intergalactic action and suspense with two warrior type characters. Even though Cyn is deceitful to Yara, right up to the moment where they act on their desire for one another, he knows he can't lose focus on his mission. Too many lives are at stake and that is where Yara is given a hard choice to make. Yara is one amazing heroine who doesn't back down from danger. But there was some confusion on my end in regards to Yara's important status. Because Yara is next in line to rule a planet, why would she be alone all and vulnerable, without any bodyguards, since she knows she has a rival who wants to get rid of her? The way Cyn was able to reach her and convince her to trust him is shaky even with the reasoning given.

Cyn and Yara are equals in almost every way from the way they fight to the way they love. There aren't many love scenes, but the tension and attraction between these two is definitely there. These are two characters you can get behind and root for. I continue to look forward to more future books from Jess Granger and found Beyond the Shadows to be an enjoyable read.

Katiebabs

Beyond the Rain

After reading "Beyond the Rain" I was fascinated by the worlds and characters Jess Granger created and "Beyond the Shadows" is another outstanding paranormal romance.

There's finally hope for the lower classes on Azra. Rebel leader Cyn has a plan to free them from the ruling class. To make his plan work he has to prevent Commander Yara, heir to the throne on Azra, from going home for a few days. But it's easier said than done. He manages to get Yara on his ship but soon realizes that she is not the cold and cruel person he expected. Yara doesn't know what life really is for most people on her homeplanet. She also doesn't know that Cyn is a rebel leader trying to disempower her and the ruling class. The more they get to know each other the more it becomes clear, that there is some serious attraction between them. Cyn realizes that there may be another, even better way to save the people on Azra. But will Yara be willing to help him when she learns the truth about who he is?

"Beyond the Shadows" has everything a great book needs. The characters are believable, likable and great (ok, the bad guys are really creepy and cruel). Jess Granger's way with words captured my interest right from the start and the worlds she created are breathtaking.
Cyn is an extraordinary character. He really cares for the people on his homeplanet and is willing to do nearly everything to stop their suffering. He is a man of honour when it comes to what's right or wrong. He is suprised by Yara and soon realizes that she is so much more than just another soulless member of the Elite.
Yara is a great, strong and caring person and even though at the beginning she stands on the side of the cruel ruling class she never was unlikeable. When Yara realizes what is really going on on her homeplanet she can't go on with the status quo and is willing to risk everything to help the suffering people.
I loved all scenes with Yara and Cyn and how they got closer. They are a great couple and just right for each other. To see them happy and hopeful for the future was heartwarming.
The mixture of funny, hot and sad scenes is perfect. Even though there are going on some heartbreaking events I never lost hope that Cyn and in the end also Yara would be able to bring the people on Azra a better future.

All in all I enjoyed everything about "Beyond the Shadows" and hope that there will be more books in the series. There are so many interesting characters that would deserve their own story so I really hope for more books.

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