Customer Reviews

Ravyn's Flight

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am absolutely amazed by this book. This is her first book? She is such a strong writer that kept me mesmerized from first page to last. This is such a STRONG adventure, I can well understand why they picked her to write the #4 book in the 2176 series. I cannot wait for that.

Her characters were SO strong, the menace so "breathing down you neck".

Having read Day of Fire by Kathleen Nance and The Legend of Banzai Maguire by Susan Grant, I immediately pre-ordered Shadow Chasers by Liz Maverick, Grant's finale to Dorchester's 2176 series, The Scarlet Empress, and the fifth in the series,The Power of Two by Patti O'Shea. While I ordered, I noticed I had somehow missed O'Shea's debut book Ravyn's Flight, so I had to have it. If this is a preview of her style of writing, I cannot wait to get to her book in the 2176 series. This novel is amazing. There is such great talent in the Futuristic Romance genre, Robin D. Owen, C.J. Barry, Grant, but these new voices such as Robin T. Popp and Patti O'Shea are sounding they are a force that is here to stay. I just finished Popp's Too Close To The Sun and she blew me away. After reading such a great book as that, it's harder to come on the heels and impress me as much. Yet from page one that is precisely what O'Shea's book did! It's a strong story with such great female characters, but the males are just as vividly created, formed with such insight and emotion.

The main story centers on Ravyn Vedier. She is the communication expert on a team of 20 CAT specials - they go in and investigate if a planet is inhabitable. They were sent to Jarved Nine, which is strangely like Earth in terrain, air etc. The

only thing keeping this planet from being labeled a prime target for human habitation is the Old City. A town for about 20,000 to 50,000 people, perfect in every way, but no people. When Ravyn visited the Old City, she found it in pristine condition, just as if the people walked off. The intriguing riddle soon takes second place in her mind as she faces mind-bending horror. She is down in the subbasement of the CAT facility no more than 45 minutes, and returns to find her 19 CAT mates slaughter in a gruesome fashion and grotesquely arrange in the pattern of a flower.

Damon Brody and his team of six Special Ops force are on the other side of the Jarved Nine when the distress call comes from the CAT team. They arrive, discovers the slaughter and fear all are dead. Damon finds a terrified Ravyn covered in blood and hiding in under her bed. He sets his men to secure to building while he tries to get answers out of Ravyn. Damon makes her a cup of tea and finally gets a few shaky replies from her, immediately going on alert when Ravyn insists she did not set off the emergency distress beacon. They rush to find his men, and come upon what Damon fears. His team slaughtered in the same fashion as the other 19, this time arranged like a lightning bolt. Grabbing what they can carry to survive, they are left on their own to survive for three weeks until a military rescue mission is launched to find them. The only place left for protection is the Old City. They have to get there before the killer stalking them runs them to ground. It's their growing to trust of the other, which makes the grueling pace bearable.

Colonel Alex Sullivan is Ravyn's stepbrother. He raised her after their parents were killed. He knows something is bad wrong on Jarved Nine and he is determined to lead a team into rescue his sister...if she is still alive. He is satisfied with the members of his team, except the communications expert. Stacey is a CAT member, like his sister; in fact, she is Ravyn's best friend. Alex sees Stacey as a liability to his team. She is non-military. His gut tells him something terrible has occurred on this distant planet and Stacey's not trained to follow orders, not trained to defend herself, so he is going to push herduring the weeks long voyage to Jarved Nine, trying to see she stays alive. Stacey has been in love with Alex since she met him at Ravyn's and her graduation years before, so working under the harsh taskmaster is disturbing in more ways that one.

The secondary story of Alex and Stacey could make a novel on its own, but under the skillful talent of O'Shea, she weaves both tales into a breathtaking pace. The world of Jarved Nine is vividly created, the characters achingly real. You will care

for Damon and Ravyn, and the secondary Alex and Stacey. She starts with the first couple running for their lives and the second desperately rushing to their rescue, in a breakneck pace for the reader that never lags, never fails to mesmerize.

Be warned, this is a book once you pick you won't be able to put down. I was looking forward to the Power of Two before I read Ravyn's Flight, now I desperately looking forward to it!

Having read Day of Fire by Kathleen Nance and The Legend of Banzai Maguire by Susan Grant, I immediately pre-ordered Shadow Chasers by Liz Maverick, Grant's finale to Dorchester's 2176 series, The Scarlet Empress, and the fifth in the series,The Power of Two by Patti O'Shea. While I ordered, I noticed I had somehow missed O'Shea's debut book Ravyn's Flight, so I had to have it. If this is a preview of her style of writing, I cannot wait to get to her book in the 2176 series. This novel is amazing. There is such great talent in the Futuristic Romance genre, Robin D. Owen, C.J. Barry, Grant, but these new voices such as Robin T. Popp and Patti O'Shea are sounding they are a force that is here to stay. I just finished Popp's Too Close To The Sun and she blew me away. After reading such a great book as that, it's harder to come on the heels and impress me as much. Yet from page one that is precisely what O'Shea's book did! It's a strong story with such great female characters, but the males are just as vividly created, formed with such insight and emotion.

The main story centers on Ravyn Vedier. She is the communication expert on a team of 20 CAT specials - they go in and investigate if a planet is inhabitable. They were sent to Jarved Nine, which is strangely like Earth in terrain, air etc. The

only thing keeping this planet from being labeled a prime target for human habitation is the Old City. A town for about 20,000 to 50,000 people, perfect in every way, but no people. When Ravyn visited the Old City, she found it in pristine condition, just as if the people walked off. The intriguing riddle soon takes second place in her mind as she faces mind-bending horror. She is down in the subbasement of the CAT facility no more than 45 minutes, and returns to find her 19 CAT mates slaughter in a gruesome fashion and grotesquely arrange in the pattern of a flower.

Damon Brody and his team of six Special Ops force are on the other side of the Jarved Nine when the distress call comes from the CAT team. They arrive, discovers the slaughter and fear all are dead. Damon finds a terrified Ravyn covered in blood and hiding in under her bed. He sets his men to secure to building while he tries to get answers out of Ravyn. Damon makes her a cup of tea and finally gets a few shaky replies from her, immediately going on alert when Ravyn insists she did not set off the emergency distress beacon. They rush to find his men, and come upon what Damon fears. His team slaughtered in the same fashion as the other 19, this time arranged like a lightning bolt. Grabbing what they can carry to survive, they are left on their own to survive for three weeks until a military rescue mission is launched to find them. The only place left for protection is the Old City. They have to get there before the killer stalking them runs them to ground. It's their growing to trust of the other, which makes the grueling pace bearable.

Colonel Alex Sullivan is Ravyn's stepbrother. He raised her after their parents were killed. He knows something is bad wrong on Jarved Nine and he is determined to lead a team into rescue his sister...if she is still alive. He is satisfied with the members of his team, except the communications expert. Stacey is a CAT member, like his sister; in fact, she is Ravyn's best friend. Alex sees Stacey as a liability to his team. She is non-military. His gut tells him something terrible has occurred on this distant planet and Stacey's not trained to follow orders, not trained to defend herself, so he is going to push herduring the weeks long voyage to Jarved Nine, trying to see she stays alive. Stacey has been in love with Alex since she met him at Ravyn's and her graduation years before, so working under the harsh taskmaster is disturbing in more ways that one.

The secondary story of Alex and Stacey could make a novel on its own, but under the skillful talent of O'Shea, she weaves both tales into a breathtaking pace. The world of Jarved Nine is vividly created, the characters achingly real. You will care

for Damon and Ravyn, and the secondary Alex and Stacey. She starts with the first couple running for their lives and the second desperately rushing to their rescue, in a breakneck pace for the reader that never lags, never fails to mesmerize.

Be warned, this is a book once you pick you won't be able to put down. I was looking forward to the Power of Two before I read Ravyn's Flight, now I desperately looking forward to it!

This book has been out a while, but if you haven't read it, you can RUN out and get it now.

Pay no attention to the sleasy cover,(whoever designed this cover needed to read the book first) this is great stuff. I hope she will write more in this universe.

From the first page you will be caught. What a story. What a man. What a woman! What a journey of the imagination. What a writer!!!!!!!!

So many others have reviewed the plot, I'll just tell you not to start reading too late at night. I couldn't put it down. From the steamy sex to the final battle, it was great.

I loved the secondary characters, and the alien destroyer.

Not since Jayne Castle have I found a better author of futuristic romance. A great read. Don't miss it.

Ravyn's flight is the first book by new author, Patti O'Shea and it's a terrific read! It may be sci-fi, but Ms. O'Shea has managed to keep the characters down to Earth, interesting and entertaining. A classic look at the battle between good and evil, "Ravyn's Flight" has a sweet ending and a lesson to be learned (without being pushy!) I'm interested and excited to read her next book, I have a feeling it will also be well done!

Oh, and why is everyone freaked out about the cover? Hot guy, hot girl. Works for me.

Thanks Ms. O'Shea, for a fun and very interesting read!

I didn't really expect much when I started this book, especially from the cover. I was expecting just another "steamy romance." Man was I suprised. The wit and drama of this book were great. And I loved how the characters stayed true to themselves. For instance, Alex (a secondary character) was difficult and stubborn right to the end. Definitely worth anyone's time. I read it in one day, I just couldn't put it down. Please Patti write another one!!!!

In her wonderfully inventive futuristic romance, Ravyn's Flight, Patty O'Shea creates compelling, complex characters, an action-packed plot and steamy romance.

Ravyn Verdier is a highly trained CAT (Colonization Assessment Team) communications expert on the earthlike planet Jarved Nine. Her whole team is murdered by a mysterious alien life form, and when a nearby Western Alliance Special Operations team comes to the rescue, they too are murdered. Only their captain, Damon Brody, and Ravyn manage to escape the slaughter. As they try to outrun the killer and head toward the planet's magical Old City, their skills, character and emotions are tested to the limit.

It is fascinating to watch the very sensual and realistic development of Ravyn and Damon's relationship. It is also fun to watch the fireworks between Ravyn's brother Alex and her best friend Stacey as the two lock horns while their team and ship race to Jarved Nine to find out what is wrong.

With excellent writing and very intriguing plot twists around Ravyn and Damon harnessing and using the energy of Jarved Nine both to develop themselves psychically and to trap the killer, Ravyn's Flight soars above similar stories. It is a complex and emotional ride to which any plot summary cannot begin to do justice. Whether you normally like futuristic romance or not, this stellar novel is well worth your time.

I liked the book. I am trying to explore new authors and get into different things and i really liked this book. It was Different, but that's good.

Oh what coward. If her brother, Alex, could see her now, he would be so ashamed. First, the whole Colonization Assessment Team was killed right under her nose, and she did nothing. Then the leader of the Spec Ops team found her under her bunk. Then all of his men were killed too. Now there are just the two of them left on Jarved Nine, and the hope of rescue is weeks away. The thoughts that pounded through Rayvn Verdier were full of self-recrimination and self-loathing. Her brother had trained her far better than any of the training that the CAT members received, and she did nothing to protect them.

She felt Very much like an unworthy burden. Yeah, she could pull her own weight, but how long before the danger returned and she crumbled into uselessness again? How long until her fear caused her to fail Captain Brody? For eight months everything was going well, but now the rest of the team is dead. The horrible nightmares won't stop, and they are draining any strength she might have possessed. It is just she and Captain Brody alone on this planet, and not only is she battered by fear, but also by this compulsive attraction to her rescuer. But then, maybe they are not totally alone. After all, there is a killer stalking them.

Damon Brody is a survivor. A highly trained member of the Alliance's elite Special Operations, he is a soldier of impeccable reputation. He has been well trained and disciplined. Through all the battles he has been in he has never faced, or been prepared for what he has found here. The distress beacon called him and his men from the far side of Jarved Nine, but they were too late. Nineteen members of the CAT project are dead, brutally murdered and mutilated. One lone female has survived. Making matters much worse, his men are gone too, murdered just like the CAT team.

Complicating matters even more, he is starting to feel a very unsettling attraction for the survivor, Rayvn. He needs to protect her, to keep them both safe and alive until help can arrive from Earth...that help may be a minimum of at least three weeks away. Three weeks, and then only if Earth heard the emergency beacon. He doesn't need any emotional entanglements now, or ever. He isn't a trustworthy person, he's made too many bad decisions in the past, and the guilt weighs heavily on his conscience. The Old City is their best bet for safety and he is determined to get them there. What he doesn't understand is this feeling, this compulsion, to get to the Old City. He doesn't understand the strange dreams either...

Welcome to the world of Patti O'Shea. Earth has been in a global struggle and has been divided into two factions, who seem to fight at the drop of a hat. The military is under funded, and has taken to space to try to find advanced technology to finally win the wars, and they use the civilian colonization teams as their cover. For those of us who enjoy futuristic romance, you will find Rayvn's Flight to be a top notch read. Patti has built a world of exceptional beauty and hidden within it an evil so monstrous that it could wipe out a whole civilization. Now she brings two people from Earth together, survivors of a massacre, who are the only hope for this beautiful planet, and each struggling with personal secrets and insecurities.

As Rayvn and Damon struggle to survive, Rayvn's brother, Alex, is leading a rescue mission from Earth. What he finds along the way with Rayvn's best friend, Stacy, is special and when he gets to the planet, J-9 is not what he expected. Rayvn's Flight is a remarkable book that will keep you on your toes, and touch your heart. It is actually a trio of romances, two that are spawned from the current circumstances, and one from an ancient past on Jarved 9. The secret is a link hidden in the hearts of those involved, and you really must go on Rayvn's Flight

I'm a big fan of the hybred genre of Sci/Fi-Romance, but I'll be the first to admit that lots of the "futuristic" or "paranormal" books sold on the Romance side of the isle are so bad that it hurts to read them. That's not the case with this book. Ravyn's Flight works, and it works on both levels. It's good light action adventure SF, and good Romance. I think the secondary characters were way too calm about the strange powers of the Old City and that made the ending a little weak, but overall this book was a great read. Patti O'Shea goes next to Susan Grant on the short list of people who do SciFi-Romance the way it sould be done. I'll be looking for her next book.

Although the writing in Ravyn's Flight is top notch the cover is wretched. It is overly fluffy headed "romantic bodice ripper" and completely wrong for the book. It has no connection to the characters or the plot. In fact the cover was so silly that if I had not heard a bookseller talking about the book I'd have skipped it over as one of those "Futuristic" Romances written by someone who dosen't have a clue. I think the cover is going to loose the book crossover readers from SciFi who would enjoy Ravyn's Flight. That's too bad.