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The Messenger Chronicles #1
Shoot the Messenger
"Lies aren't her only weapons against the fae..."
In the Halow system, one of Earth’s three sister star systems, tek and magic—humans and the fae—are at war.
Kesh Lasota is a ghost in the machine. Invisible to tek, she’s hired by the criminal underworld to carry illegal messages through the Halow system. But when one of those messages kills its recipient, Kesh finds herself on the run with a bounty on her head and a quick-witted marshal on her tail.
Proving her innocence should be straightforward—until a warfae steals the evidence she needs. The fae haven’t been seen in Halow in over a thousand years. And this one—a brutally efficient killer able to wield tek—should not exist. But neither should Kesh.
As Kesh’s carefully crafted lie of a life crumbles around her, she knows remaining invisible is no longer an option. To hunt the fae, to stop him from destroying a thousand-year-long fragile peace, she must resurrect the horrors of her past.
Kesh Lasota was a ghost. Now she’s back, and there’s only one thing she knows for certain. Nobody shoots the messenger and gets away with it.
A new space fantasy series where the guys are hot, the perils are many, and one rebel messenger holds the key to the survival of the human race.
In the Halow system, one of Earth’s three sister star systems, tek and magic—humans and the fae—are at war.
Kesh Lasota is a ghost in the machine. Invisible to tek, she’s hired by the criminal underworld to carry illegal messages through the Halow system. But when one of those messages kills its recipient, Kesh finds herself on the run with a bounty on her head and a quick-witted marshal on her tail.
Proving her innocence should be straightforward—until a warfae steals the evidence she needs. The fae haven’t been seen in Halow in over a thousand years. And this one—a brutally efficient killer able to wield tek—should not exist. But neither should Kesh.
As Kesh’s carefully crafted lie of a life crumbles around her, she knows remaining invisible is no longer an option. To hunt the fae, to stop him from destroying a thousand-year-long fragile peace, she must resurrect the horrors of her past.
Kesh Lasota was a ghost. Now she’s back, and there’s only one thing she knows for certain. Nobody shoots the messenger and gets away with it.
A new space fantasy series where the guys are hot, the perils are many, and one rebel messenger holds the key to the survival of the human race.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2018
1150 people are currently reading
5164 people want to read
About the author
Pippa DaCosta
79books1,547followersTwo-time DragonCon Finalist & Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award semi-finalist--- "Wait a second. Let's cut to the chase. I write kick-ass urban fantasy & sci-fi novels with conflicted characters, breathless action, and no-holds-barred dialogue. My books may not leave you feeling all fluffy and warm inside, but they will excite you. There will be plot-twists, angst, probably a few dead bodies, and very likely your favorite character will turn out to be the bad guy. Don't say I didn't warn you..."
(I review on ŷ as a reader, not a writer. Reviews here are my personal opinion, not a professional one).
(I review on ŷ as a reader, not a writer. Reviews here are my personal opinion, not a professional one).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 487 reviews
September 19, 2018
I must confess, I went into this book a little apprehensive as I wasn't sure what to expect. But I wound up loving it so much, I bought the next two books in the series before I had even finished this one! This really convinced me why it's good to be open-minded and be willing to try books that are out of your comfort zone.
I'll write a full review when I have time. For now, I'll say that Pippa DaCosta did a brilliant job weaving together elements of fantasy and science fiction to create a unique and fascinating world. She also writes such fluid and exciting action sequences. This novel is very fast-paced with lead heroine Kesh Lasota getting into many fights along the way. With her magical whip and her swashbuckling ways, Kesh's adventures are so thrilling, even Indiana Jones would struggle to keep up with her.
I can also say that this book is full of surprises. At first glance, Kesh seems like a badass archetype that we've seen many times before, but as the story progresses, we learn that she is a much more complex character with a deeper backstory than she initially lets on. The story itself takes many twists and turns as well. There were many times where I thought I knew what was coming next only to be completely flabbergasted by what wound up happening. I love it when an author can smash my expectations like this. This was my first Pippa DaCosta novel, but it certainly won't be my last!
My only grievance is that I felt some of the supporting characters weren't really given enough time to shine. Early on, a twist happens involving a minor character, but since this person had literally only been in a couple of paragraphs, it really didn't have the impact it should have. Still, the main characters are so compelling, they do make up for the lack of attention given to some of the other ones.
I want to thank my buddy reader, The Awesomest Brittain! It was a lot of fun discussing this book with you and sharing my theories about what would happen next in the story, Brittain! (Even though my theories almost always turned out to be completely wrong!) I can't wait for our next buddy read. Just like wonderful books like this make me grateful that I took a chance to explore new genres, wonderful friends like you make me so grateful that I took a chance to join GoodReads! Thanks for being such an amazing book buddy, Brittain! :D
I'll write a full review when I have time. For now, I'll say that Pippa DaCosta did a brilliant job weaving together elements of fantasy and science fiction to create a unique and fascinating world. She also writes such fluid and exciting action sequences. This novel is very fast-paced with lead heroine Kesh Lasota getting into many fights along the way. With her magical whip and her swashbuckling ways, Kesh's adventures are so thrilling, even Indiana Jones would struggle to keep up with her.
I can also say that this book is full of surprises. At first glance, Kesh seems like a badass archetype that we've seen many times before, but as the story progresses, we learn that she is a much more complex character with a deeper backstory than she initially lets on. The story itself takes many twists and turns as well. There were many times where I thought I knew what was coming next only to be completely flabbergasted by what wound up happening. I love it when an author can smash my expectations like this. This was my first Pippa DaCosta novel, but it certainly won't be my last!
My only grievance is that I felt some of the supporting characters weren't really given enough time to shine. Early on, a twist happens involving a minor character, but since this person had literally only been in a couple of paragraphs, it really didn't have the impact it should have. Still, the main characters are so compelling, they do make up for the lack of attention given to some of the other ones.
I want to thank my buddy reader, The Awesomest Brittain! It was a lot of fun discussing this book with you and sharing my theories about what would happen next in the story, Brittain! (Even though my theories almost always turned out to be completely wrong!) I can't wait for our next buddy read. Just like wonderful books like this make me grateful that I took a chance to explore new genres, wonderful friends like you make me so grateful that I took a chance to join GoodReads! Thanks for being such an amazing book buddy, Brittain! :D
April 7, 2018
SO it turns out I never actually reviewed this beauty? *Side-eyes past self* Oops!
Anyways. Shoot the Messenger is amazing, a solid 4.5 stars. It's everything I could ever wish for in speculative fiction.
(^^^ me @ all my friends)
First off, fae! In motherf*cking space! F*ck yeah!
Shoot the Messenger is magical fantasy, dystopia, and space odyssey all wrapped up in one book. The story begins on a small mining planet populated mostly by human outlaws and criminals. Many centuries after a gruesome war between humans and fae, humans occupy several star systems whereas the fae stay on their home planet, near a source of magic that feeds them.
All that's about to change - the plot follows the fae's resurgence and introduces a new war between species. This series is going to be epic, for sure.
Secondly, the main character Kesh gets her own harem! Men of several species pursue her, and since the Messenger Chronicles is a slowburn reverse harem series, that means Kesh gets to keep them all.Lucky bitch.
Kesh is not quite fae and not quite human, part of a race created to serve as fae entertainment in gladiator-like fights. Many years after she escapes the fae planet, Kesh lives in a human colony, using her magic to dupe technology and deliver private messages, unseen by surveillance webs. Until she delivers a message that sets a multitude of enemies on her trail and brings her in contact with two of her love interests:
Kellee, a police marshall
Talen, an imprisoned & banished fae
Things get pretty crazy after that.
I took off half a star because the ending felt out of place :( and left me skeptical. But don't let that stop you from reading the book!! It's awesome, I mean it!
I'm curious to see where Pippa takes the plot in subsequent books, because all paths are pretty much open from here on out. Good things are ahead.
Anyways. Shoot the Messenger is amazing, a solid 4.5 stars. It's everything I could ever wish for in speculative fiction.
(^^^ me @ all my friends)
First off, fae! In motherf*cking space! F*ck yeah!
Shoot the Messenger is magical fantasy, dystopia, and space odyssey all wrapped up in one book. The story begins on a small mining planet populated mostly by human outlaws and criminals. Many centuries after a gruesome war between humans and fae, humans occupy several star systems whereas the fae stay on their home planet, near a source of magic that feeds them.
All that's about to change - the plot follows the fae's resurgence and introduces a new war between species. This series is going to be epic, for sure.
Secondly, the main character Kesh gets her own harem! Men of several species pursue her, and since the Messenger Chronicles is a slowburn reverse harem series, that means Kesh gets to keep them all.
Kesh is not quite fae and not quite human, part of a race created to serve as fae entertainment in gladiator-like fights. Many years after she escapes the fae planet, Kesh lives in a human colony, using her magic to dupe technology and deliver private messages, unseen by surveillance webs. Until she delivers a message that sets a multitude of enemies on her trail and brings her in contact with two of her love interests:
Kellee, a police marshall
Talen, an imprisoned & banished fae
Things get pretty crazy after that.
I took off half a star because the ending felt out of place :( and left me skeptical. But don't let that stop you from reading the book!! It's awesome, I mean it!
I'm curious to see where Pippa takes the plot in subsequent books, because all paths are pretty much open from here on out. Good things are ahead.
April 17, 2018
YES, this is a Pippa DaCosta book. YES, it took me nearly two months to write a crappy non-review for it. YES, I ONLY rated it 3 ridiculously lame, pathetic little stars. YES, I hate my repulsive little self a teensy little bit because of it. And finally YES, I obviously read the book BLOODY SHRIMPING WRONG.
Shoot the Messenger has ALL the trademarks of a Most Wondrous Pippa DaCosta Piece of Awesomeness (MWPDCPoA�): gloriously original world building (fae in bloody shrimping space, anyone?) + scrumpaliciously badass female lead (and a magic whip-wielding one at that) + deliciouspotential harem slaves sidekicks + non stop action + fast paced plot + evil twists and tricks à la Villainous DaCosta that are sure to leave you feeling like a crushed barnacle + lickable cover (which never hurts and stuff).
And despite all this ↑↑ amazing amazingness, who read the book BLOODY SHRIMPING WRONG and ONLY rated it 3 ridiculously lame, pathetic little stars, I ask you?!
I am the most undeserving, ungrateful, unappreciative, unthankful, ungracious [please insert all un-anything adjectives you can think of here] Pippette (short for "slightly hysterical Pippa fangirl who tends to behave as sanely as a 13-year-old on acid," in case you were wondering) that ever was. And probably that ever will be, too. Now excuse while I commit crustacean suicide and stuff.
Wait, before I do that, maybe I need to atone for my exceedingly depressing and most despicable lack of reading judgment here. So reread this book first I shall, and kill my little self via moderately electrified pincers second I will. Best plan ever and stuff.
� And the moral of this What the Bloody Stinking Fish is Wrong with Me Either I've Completely Lost It or the End of the World is Bloody Shrimping Nigh Crappy Non Review (WtBSFiWwMEICLIotEotWiBSNCNR�) is: please, Pippa, don't shoot the messenger, shoot me instead.
P.S.
ARC kindly provided by the Prodigiously Forgiving, Unbelievably Understanding, Inhumanly Merciful Author (PFUUIMA�) in exchange for an honest review.
It's ARC tiiiiiiiiiiiiiime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keeping my pincers crossed that none of Pippa's reverse haremslaves boarders look like this dude here. I mean, it's not like I have anything against sexy garden gnomes with suave moves and stuff, but I like my slaves boarders a little more, um, you know, taller and hotter and manlier and lipstickless and beardless and leotard/swimsuit/whateverthatthingis-less and stuff.
Jan. 12, 2018: it's again!!!!
[December 21, 2017]
Join Pippa DaCosta's and there's perhaps a slight chance you might possibly stumble upon a bloody shrimping from this book. Maybe. And should you perchance (and weather permitting) read said snippet, you might perhaps possibly end up feeling a teensy little bit like this (maybe):
[November 15, 2017]
Pippa DaCosta + reverse harem Space Fantasy =
Shoot the Messenger has ALL the trademarks of a Most Wondrous Pippa DaCosta Piece of Awesomeness (MWPDCPoA�): gloriously original world building (fae in bloody shrimping space, anyone?) + scrumpaliciously badass female lead (and a magic whip-wielding one at that) + delicious
And despite all this ↑↑ amazing amazingness, who read the book BLOODY SHRIMPING WRONG and ONLY rated it 3 ridiculously lame, pathetic little stars, I ask you?!
I am the most undeserving, ungrateful, unappreciative, unthankful, ungracious [please insert all un-anything adjectives you can think of here] Pippette (short for "slightly hysterical Pippa fangirl who tends to behave as sanely as a 13-year-old on acid," in case you were wondering) that ever was. And probably that ever will be, too. Now excuse while I commit crustacean suicide and stuff.
Wait, before I do that, maybe I need to atone for my exceedingly depressing and most despicable lack of reading judgment here. So reread this book first I shall, and kill my little self via moderately electrified pincers second I will. Best plan ever and stuff.
� And the moral of this What the Bloody Stinking Fish is Wrong with Me Either I've Completely Lost It or the End of the World is Bloody Shrimping Nigh Crappy Non Review (WtBSFiWwMEICLIotEotWiBSNCNR�) is: please, Pippa, don't shoot the messenger, shoot me instead.
P.S.
ARC kindly provided by the Prodigiously Forgiving, Unbelievably Understanding, Inhumanly Merciful Author (PFUUIMA�) in exchange for an honest review.
It's ARC tiiiiiiiiiiiiiime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keeping my pincers crossed that none of Pippa's reverse harem
Jan. 12, 2018: it's again!!!!
[December 21, 2017]
Join Pippa DaCosta's and there's perhaps a slight chance you might possibly stumble upon a bloody shrimping from this book. Maybe. And should you perchance (and weather permitting) read said snippet, you might perhaps possibly end up feeling a teensy little bit like this (maybe):
[November 15, 2017]
Pippa DaCosta + reverse harem Space Fantasy =
November 26, 2023
This book is free on Amazon (Canada) for now. 🙂
� Action
� Pace
� Illusions, lies, and twists
� Betrayal / Double-crossing
� World-building
� Characters
� Villain
�(🆗) Plot: it is amazing, but some parts could have used more build-up or more breathing room
🆗 Sexual tension
4.5 stars
I was not sure what to expect from this book. I usually read more fantasy than sci-fi, but wow! I really enjoyed this book!
The fantasy and the science-fiction are very well mixed and balanced to create this unique world where fae do exist (and live in a place full of nature called Faerie), but they are at war with humans (and other creatures) living in the Hallow system. A truce has been made a thousand years ago and nobody has seen a fae since, but things are about to change. Kesh Lasota may be the only one who can stop a fae invasion, but she also has her own issues and a dark past that she needs to deal with.
The combination of the fae and the Tek is really interesting. The author kept the fae "stereotype" (pointy ears, can't lie, strong, fast, like to torture and break humans, steal babies, etc.) but she weaved it into a futuristic setting instead of the usual fantasy old-fashion setting. She basically created a world of infinite possibilities because she mixed magic and advanced technologies.
This book is just full of surprises. First, there is Kesh, a bad-ass woman with a shady past, but we quickly realize that there is more to her than meets the eye. She is way more complicated than I first thought and her story is full of unexpected twists. She is also quite intense, she has dark secrets that still affect her and even though I felt so frustrated with her at times, her backstory is complete enough for me to understand why she may feel that way or why she acts the way she does.
Kellee is a good character too. He is strong, loyal, a typical alpha-male, and sexy as hell and I can’t wait to get more of him in the next books. There is some sexual tension between Kesh and him, and while the end of this book clearly shows that it won’t all be rainbows and ponies between Kesh and him, I really hope that they will get to act on this tension because it promises to be hot and very intense.
I also really like the fact that there is not a lot of romance in this book. I do love a good romance in a series, but from the start, Kesh meets with two different men (a sexy Marshal and a handsome fae) and I was so sure that she would end up falling madly in love with one of them, whether it is the damsel in distress scenario or the Stockholm syndrome (because both were possible at some point in the book). I expected a love story when I read about the two hot dudes, but DaCosta surprised me. Kesh does care for some characters and she does have interesting interactions with others, but no cliché romance so far. This series is a reverse-harem however so be patient, romance and smut will come further down the road. 😉
The characters in this book are very well done. They are all mysterious and full of secrets, and there are hints of their past that make us crave more details. Eledan is an amazing villain and I adored how he used his illusions and Dreamweaver powers to fool everyone around him. He is also complex, it’s not just about being all-powerful for him, he is in hiding, yet craves his homeland. He needs Kesh, but also seems to be intrigued by her (and maybe even attracted to her?). Anyway, my point is: I loved Eledan as a villain.
I would have liked to see more of Marshal Kellee and Talen...Especially Talen, that might be my only complaint. He is a complex and intriguing character and I really hope to see more of him in the next book, I already like him very much even though he comes in only at the end of the story. He reminds me of Kal in Aurora Rising with his tall frame, long silver hair, and violet eyes.
Still, the biggest surprise was the end of Shoot the Messenger (Oh. My. God!). As usual with faes, there was a lot of scheming and twists in this story, but wow I did not see that final twist coming. At all. Some twists could have used a little more build-up, but overall I just loved how this book kept me at the edge of my seat and how I was doubting everyone until the very end. I will not spoil anyone, but once again, props to the author for this unexpected turn of events and this refreshing ending.
I definitely recommend this series if you are looking for an interesting mix of sci-fi and fantasy, a slow-burn reverse-harem with hot guys, great characters, and a fast-paced adventure full of action and twists.
🙂
� Action
� Pace
� Illusions, lies, and twists
� Betrayal / Double-crossing
� World-building
� Characters
� Villain
�(🆗) Plot: it is amazing, but some parts could have used more build-up or more breathing room
🆗 Sexual tension
4.5 stars
I am Kesh Lasota.
Messenger.
Tek-whisperer.
I am invisible.
I was not sure what to expect from this book. I usually read more fantasy than sci-fi, but wow! I really enjoyed this book!
The fantasy and the science-fiction are very well mixed and balanced to create this unique world where fae do exist (and live in a place full of nature called Faerie), but they are at war with humans (and other creatures) living in the Hallow system. A truce has been made a thousand years ago and nobody has seen a fae since, but things are about to change. Kesh Lasota may be the only one who can stop a fae invasion, but she also has her own issues and a dark past that she needs to deal with.
The combination of the fae and the Tek is really interesting. The author kept the fae "stereotype" (pointy ears, can't lie, strong, fast, like to torture and break humans, steal babies, etc.) but she weaved it into a futuristic setting instead of the usual fantasy old-fashion setting. She basically created a world of infinite possibilities because she mixed magic and advanced technologies.
I’d fought for their appraisal, killed for their adoration, and risen in their ranks, but all that meant was I’d worn all the right clothes, opened all the right veins, and said all the right things while I bowed low.
This book is just full of surprises. First, there is Kesh, a bad-ass woman with a shady past, but we quickly realize that there is more to her than meets the eye. She is way more complicated than I first thought and her story is full of unexpected twists. She is also quite intense, she has dark secrets that still affect her and even though I felt so frustrated with her at times, her backstory is complete enough for me to understand why she may feel that way or why she acts the way she does.
Without his coat hiding his outline, I studied the confident way he moved. Broad shoulders carried a man who didn’t know how to hesitate. No wasted gestures. No wrong step. It helped that he had an easy stride and a tight ass I would have liked to admire for a lot longer than the minute he gave me as he reached into a panel in the wall and revealed a slim personal interface screen.
Kellee is a good character too. He is strong, loyal, a typical alpha-male, and sexy as hell and I can’t wait to get more of him in the next books. There is some sexual tension between Kesh and him, and while the end of this book clearly shows that it won’t all be rainbows and ponies between Kesh and him, I really hope that they will get to act on this tension because it promises to be hot and very intense.
I also really like the fact that there is not a lot of romance in this book. I do love a good romance in a series, but from the start, Kesh meets with two different men (a sexy Marshal and a handsome fae) and I was so sure that she would end up falling madly in love with one of them, whether it is the damsel in distress scenario or the Stockholm syndrome (because both were possible at some point in the book). I expected a love story when I read about the two hot dudes, but DaCosta surprised me. Kesh does care for some characters and she does have interesting interactions with others, but no cliché romance so far. This series is a reverse-harem however so be patient, romance and smut will come further down the road. 😉
I was a fly pretending to be the spider, and all I had to capture him with was his own web of lies.
He tasted wrong, like everything mothers warned their children about, like the old fairy tales; he tasted like sweet poison, the kind that would slay you slowly while you begged for more.
The characters in this book are very well done. They are all mysterious and full of secrets, and there are hints of their past that make us crave more details. Eledan is an amazing villain and I adored how he used his illusions and Dreamweaver powers to fool everyone around him. He is also complex, it’s not just about being all-powerful for him, he is in hiding, yet craves his homeland. He needs Kesh, but also seems to be intrigued by her (and maybe even attracted to her?). Anyway, my point is: I loved Eledan as a villain.
He narrowed his eyes and looked at me side-on. There was the threat again. It had always been there, buried under his quiet pauses and watchful glances. Talen was more dangerous than Kellee. He was the snake in the grass, the killer you never saw coming.
I would have liked to see more of Marshal Kellee and Talen...Especially Talen, that might be my only complaint. He is a complex and intriguing character and I really hope to see more of him in the next book, I already like him very much even though he comes in only at the end of the story. He reminds me of Kal in Aurora Rising with his tall frame, long silver hair, and violet eyes.
“I don’t know what’s real around you,� he mumbled, face crumbling.
“Lies are all the weapons a human has in Faerie.�
Still, the biggest surprise was the end of Shoot the Messenger (Oh. My. God!). As usual with faes, there was a lot of scheming and twists in this story, but wow I did not see that final twist coming. At all. Some twists could have used a little more build-up, but overall I just loved how this book kept me at the edge of my seat and how I was doubting everyone until the very end. I will not spoil anyone, but once again, props to the author for this unexpected turn of events and this refreshing ending.
I definitely recommend this series if you are looking for an interesting mix of sci-fi and fantasy, a slow-burn reverse-harem with hot guys, great characters, and a fast-paced adventure full of action and twists.
🙂
May 13, 2018
You know when you are all good and then the ending just really sucks? It ruins the book. Here, let me tell you what happened:
Fine.
This book has some cool stuff happening. It's total Sci-Fi with a big old helping of Fantasy mixed in. Fae Fantasy. So, let's call it Sci-Fae. That works. It's better than Space Fairies, my first idea. But, don't let the pretty name fool you. Fairies are assholes. They are famous for being assholes.
See? Total jerk move. His parents don't love each other anymore because of the infidelity and gonorrhea. Well, and they did find the kid annoying to live with... but still, the kid is only partially responsible.
Our heroine is Kesh and she is a messenger - which means glorified UPS girl. She delivers a message that is a death threat that says the guy will be killed in seconds and then she is all shocked that the guy gets killed in front of her. Um, not the sharpest tool in the shed, Kesh? She was also too dumb to get paid on this thing up front. Like, "dude, if you are going to kill the person immediately after I give him this message, you can't possibly expect me to get his signature. Pay now or get yourself another chump."
Kesh figures out who the killer was right away and spends most of the book trying to fight someone who is waaaaaay more powerful than her.It goes pretty much how you would expect.
*fingers crossed that this image works because I was cracking up*
And, it pretty much explains how things go.
The book calls itself a "reverse harem" book, but there really isn't much romance going on at all. And, the ending screwed up everything. I honestly have no idea if I will read the next one. I feel a little betrayed right now.
Fine.
This book has some cool stuff happening. It's total Sci-Fi with a big old helping of Fantasy mixed in. Fae Fantasy. So, let's call it Sci-Fae. That works. It's better than Space Fairies, my first idea. But, don't let the pretty name fool you. Fairies are assholes. They are famous for being assholes.
See? Total jerk move. His parents don't love each other anymore because of the infidelity and gonorrhea. Well, and they did find the kid annoying to live with... but still, the kid is only partially responsible.
Our heroine is Kesh and she is a messenger - which means glorified UPS girl. She delivers a message that is a death threat that says the guy will be killed in seconds and then she is all shocked that the guy gets killed in front of her. Um, not the sharpest tool in the shed, Kesh? She was also too dumb to get paid on this thing up front. Like, "dude, if you are going to kill the person immediately after I give him this message, you can't possibly expect me to get his signature. Pay now or get yourself another chump."
Kesh figures out who the killer was right away and spends most of the book trying to fight someone who is waaaaaay more powerful than her.It goes pretty much how you would expect.
*fingers crossed that this image works because I was cracking up*
And, it pretty much explains how things go.
The book calls itself a "reverse harem" book, but there really isn't much romance going on at all. And, the ending screwed up everything. I honestly have no idea if I will read the next one. I feel a little betrayed right now.
Read
December 11, 2022The Messenger Chronicles gets a WHOLE NEW LOOK!
***
Some of this:
This x3:
And a heck load of this:
Make sure you're signed up to my for all the news.
WARNING: May containnuts magic:
***
Some of this:
This x3:
And a heck load of this:
Make sure you're signed up to my for all the news.
WARNING: May contain
February 13, 2025
I’ve been greatly enjoying Pippa DaCosta’s 1000 Revolution SF series and when I saw that the audiobooks for another series are free on Audible, I decided to try them out. It’s good that I did not see that the series is supposed to be a Reverse Harem until I got halfway through. I might not had started it otherwise and it would have been my loss. The RM is extremely slow burn so I wouldn’t even bother with that tag at this point. There might have been a kiss somewhere and some long looks at some point in the story but not much else. The series has all that I like about this writer: morally grey characters, lots of twists and turns, lots of action but also interesting world building. Part fantasy, part space opera, there is a lot going on here. I will not write more because it is better for the reader to discover the details since I think the blurb already says too much.
September 21, 2023
(and one more star for the cover)
Holy shit.
HOLY SHIT.
My heart has been ripped out and my brain short-circuited.
*reloading*
Complex. Heartbreaking. Astonishing.
Fucking mind blowing.
Shoot the Messenger is a lie, in a lie, in a lie, in a lie. Pippa DaCosta went all Inception and destroyed my last grey cell.
After reading Muse's fantastic story, I should have known what to expect. Mind games, conflicted characters, and emotional violence. Incredible world-building, weakness, betrayal, destruction, insanity. Lies.
I should have expected all of that but boy, wasn't I surprised.
Fae in space? Perhaps only Pippa DaCosta could manage that but it works. Spaceships, glamour, illusions, chemical water, drones, magic whip,...
The Fae are a cruel race, unable to survive in a world of tek. The iron hurts them, binds their magic, but some of them found a way to live around it. Like the one who stole Kesh's drone and framed her for murder.
Kesh is an interesting character. She's weak, she's strong, I got attached to her, I hated her, I rooted for her, I wanted to see her die and I wanted to see her live. She's no heroine, she has no one and she's no one really. I both liked and disliked her, she's a complex character, just as Muse was.
The few characters around her are not black and white either but we learn very little in this first book. I didn't like Kellee, I fell for a lie, Talen's a mystery. Are they good? Are they bad? I believe they serve only themselves.
If you asked me which of the story or the characters were the more complex, I would not be able to answer. Nothing is what it seems, nothing happens like you think it will. Pippa DaCosta is a talented author and a sadistic puppet master. Hail to the Queen!
Thousands thanks to Pippa DaCosta for providing me this ARC.
November 18, 2018
1st re-read (November 2018):
With less than a month until the release of the fourth book in the series I thought it was high time to go back to the beginning. And I was lucky enough that the audio version just got released as it let me experience the book on workdays. If I had to stick to normal reading it would have taken me at least a week of stolen moments in the mornings and evenings. The audio quality is incredible. I loved Annie Ellicott and Jeff Hays narration and the sound effects were simply great. Jeff's makes all the male characters come alive. I can't decide which one I liked most - SOTA or Kellee. Kellee's voice made me purr - I wish I could find a man with such voice in real life (I have a thing for voices).
Now, onto the book itself. In this book we get introduced to a whole new world filled with amazing tek (SOTA!), magic, Fae and other fascinating species. We also get introduced to two of the main male characters - and (take a look at the author's pinterest boards for these two character, I swear it's worth it!). Kesh, the main protagonist of the series, is a strange mix of badass and vulnerability, of innocence and cunning. And I love that complexity, that potential for change - change I had the opportunity to observe over the course of the following two books.
A little note on the genre of this book. If you're expecting a hot dirty smut type of book you'll be disappointed. The reverse harem develops slowly. Very slowly! But there's a lot of sexual tension. How would I categorize this book - a sci-fi/fantasy with some romance/erotica sprinkled in. So think carefully before picking this up - if you're looking for fast and dirty read focused more on the carnal than on plot this book is not for you. But if you're looking for a slow burn romance with a gradual character development and a lot of action you should definitely give the series a try.
ARC graciously provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
At first I was a bit apprehensive when I approached Shoot the Messenger. After all it's a new series and to an extend a new genre for the author. And as with all first-in-a-series books there's always a risk that it won't be good. Add to it the fact that the reverse harem trope is a bit difficult to pull of without devolving to an orgy, I was more than a bit worried. But I shouldn't have been. Because Shoot the Messenger was brilliant! And the bar was set high after . I don't know if The Messenger Chronicles will be able to surpass the gloriousness that is Li'el but so far it's managed to pull of something that hasn't happened to me in years - I dreamt of this world two nights in a row. Yes, it's that engaging. For me there's no higher praise.
The world is a bizarre mix of futuristic sci-fi and classic fantasy. There are small details that make it feel real but at the same time there aren't too many descriptions that clog the narrative. One of my favourite things was the biotech (for a lack of a better word) that the Fae use and it strongly reminded me of one of my favourite Star Wars series - the New Jedi Order. The similarities between the Yuuzhan Vong and the Fae in some aspects made StM even more captivating for me. I hope I'll have the chance to explore this more in the following books.
As it's usual for one of Ms. DaCosta's books all my preconceptions and theories proved ultimately wrong. One day I will be able to forsee a twist in her books but apparently it won't be in this one. This is what keeps me reading long after my poor eyes have started screaming for rest. I just need to know what's going to happen. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and your mind full of all the possibilities. I absolutely adore that feeling! All the action, all the tension that made my heart race and then BOOM! one final twist that made me weep. And now the wait for the second book begins.
With less than a month until the release of the fourth book in the series I thought it was high time to go back to the beginning. And I was lucky enough that the audio version just got released as it let me experience the book on workdays. If I had to stick to normal reading it would have taken me at least a week of stolen moments in the mornings and evenings. The audio quality is incredible. I loved Annie Ellicott and Jeff Hays narration and the sound effects were simply great. Jeff's makes all the male characters come alive. I can't decide which one I liked most - SOTA or Kellee. Kellee's voice made me purr - I wish I could find a man with such voice in real life (I have a thing for voices).
Now, onto the book itself. In this book we get introduced to a whole new world filled with amazing tek (SOTA!), magic, Fae and other fascinating species. We also get introduced to two of the main male characters - and (take a look at the author's pinterest boards for these two character, I swear it's worth it!). Kesh, the main protagonist of the series, is a strange mix of badass and vulnerability, of innocence and cunning. And I love that complexity, that potential for change - change I had the opportunity to observe over the course of the following two books.
A little note on the genre of this book. If you're expecting a hot dirty smut type of book you'll be disappointed. The reverse harem develops slowly. Very slowly! But there's a lot of sexual tension. How would I categorize this book - a sci-fi/fantasy with some romance/erotica sprinkled in. So think carefully before picking this up - if you're looking for fast and dirty read focused more on the carnal than on plot this book is not for you. But if you're looking for a slow burn romance with a gradual character development and a lot of action you should definitely give the series a try.
ARC graciously provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
At first I was a bit apprehensive when I approached Shoot the Messenger. After all it's a new series and to an extend a new genre for the author. And as with all first-in-a-series books there's always a risk that it won't be good. Add to it the fact that the reverse harem trope is a bit difficult to pull of without devolving to an orgy, I was more than a bit worried. But I shouldn't have been. Because Shoot the Messenger was brilliant! And the bar was set high after . I don't know if The Messenger Chronicles will be able to surpass the gloriousness that is Li'el but so far it's managed to pull of something that hasn't happened to me in years - I dreamt of this world two nights in a row. Yes, it's that engaging. For me there's no higher praise.
The world is a bizarre mix of futuristic sci-fi and classic fantasy. There are small details that make it feel real but at the same time there aren't too many descriptions that clog the narrative. One of my favourite things was the biotech (for a lack of a better word) that the Fae use and it strongly reminded me of one of my favourite Star Wars series - the New Jedi Order. The similarities between the Yuuzhan Vong and the Fae in some aspects made StM even more captivating for me. I hope I'll have the chance to explore this more in the following books.
As it's usual for one of Ms. DaCosta's books all my preconceptions and theories proved ultimately wrong. One day I will be able to forsee a twist in her books but apparently it won't be in this one. This is what keeps me reading long after my poor eyes have started screaming for rest. I just need to know what's going to happen. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and your mind full of all the possibilities. I absolutely adore that feeling! All the action, all the tension that made my heart race and then BOOM! one final twist that made me weep. And now the wait for the second book begins.
March 27, 2018
Shoot the Messanger is the first book in a new series by Pippa DaCosta. There are a few things I’ve learned about books by Miss DaCosta.
� � She is not afraid of having her main Characters do horrible things.
� � She loves to wrap the emotions of her readers around her fingers and make them dance like puppets.
� � Normal love lines aren’t necessary. She will bend and twist the road to romance anytime she pleases. Because who says there even needs to be a road to romance in the first place? Sometimes sex is just sex.
� � You are going to think you know who the good guys and the bad guys are. Well you are probably horrible wrong and she is going to smack you in the face with it at some point.
� � In my 3 series experience with Pippa I have learned that she isn’t a tidy wrap it all up with Happily Ever Afters for everyone kind of author. Sometimes that is a little hard on my soft heart, but it is always engaging.
When I read the synopsis for Shoot the Messenger I had to look up what a reverse harem was.
Reverse Harem Definition - A genre in manga and anime where a single (often ordinary) girl is liked and followed by a bunch of handsome men (3 or more) who are all madly in love with her. The girl often cannot pick which guy she should go out with and remains indecisive.
Well, while this isn’t my everyday cup of tea sometimes it is totally what I’m in the mood for especially if it is done by Pippa because I’m pretty sure it won’t be YA cheesy but more lustily scorching HAWT.
Kesh is the heroine at the center of this story. She used to be one of the Fae’s favorite play things. She learned well at the hands of her masters and she was one of the best. Now she has escaped and lived in hiding on an outpost delivering messages on the black market.
While Kesh isn’t exactly ordinary, she has a gift with technology and some pretty kick ass whip skills, she isn’t nearly as interesting as all the men who are in the picture. Let’s just say yum to them. While I definitely have a favorite in the growing Harem thus far the series is far from over and I could see someone else pulling into the lead.
Kesh ends up in a bit of trouble with a very large bounty on her head and ends up working with Marshal Kellee (hawt guy #1). He is beautiful, deadly, fast and not entirely human. I want one! But there is also Talen (hawt guy #2) a Fae in exile who is equally beautiful and dangerous but willing to help Kesh with her problems.
This, like most of Pippa’s works, is fast paced without much down time between crises, fighting and devastating revelations. There are some pretty big secrets held back until the last moment and man she suckered me again (see #4 above). It was a really good introduction to this world and a great set up for the next book in the series. I’m very excited to see the men of the Harem again and add a few more to it.
In case you are worried about the reverse harem thing, there wasn’t any actual sex yet. There are a few steamy moments but no full on sex. Not to say there won’t be in the series but if this is like any of the other series by Pippa DaCosta it won’t replace the story and while not fade to black in the past it wasn’t pages and pages of explicitness either.
Thank you to Netgalley and Pippa Dacosta for the arc
March 31, 2018
Shoot the Messenger (The Messenger Chronicles #1) by Pippa DaCosta is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. I love this author's fantasy books anyway and this is a start t a fun new series. The world building is great with fae and other creatures living with humans. The plot has twists and turns and plenty of surprises! I like her writing style, makes the characters come alive.
August 26, 2018
I finished this, but I am not reading on in the series.
The worldbuilding is absolutely fascinating, the characters are interesting and have depth (except the protagonist, but I'll get to that in a sec), and the plot is one that definitely interested me.
But by the end, everything I liked about the book had fallen apart. First and most aggravating is that despite being written in FIRST PERSON, the main character is constantly keeping things from the reader. And not just in a 'I don't want to talk about it' kind of way. No. Instead, MAJOR plot points are 'hidden' with the character reacting as if things are A, while we find out later that SHE KNEW MAJOR PLOT POINTS that completely skew the situation into B.
In other words, the author decided to be 'clever,' and trust me it deserves the quote marks. Instead, what the reader is given is a character that makes no sense. She keeps things from the reader despite consciously being aware of them the whole time AND despite those things being completely relevant to the task at hand - for the sole purpose of making a 'twist' at the end of the book. This might work in third person. This would work if the story was told from another POV. It DOES NOT WORK in first person. We are inside their head. Dear author, I am not dumb. If we're inside her head, why can't we know things that she does that are relevant to what she's doing? It's not like she was even hiding it from herself. She plotted her every action towards one end, and you hid it for no other reason than to have a twist. I wanted to throw this book at the wall by the end for that reason alone.
I cannot recommend this book, and I doubt I'll read anything more by this author. The author knows how to write ... but clearly not how to respect the reader's intelligence.
The worldbuilding is absolutely fascinating, the characters are interesting and have depth (except the protagonist, but I'll get to that in a sec), and the plot is one that definitely interested me.
But by the end, everything I liked about the book had fallen apart. First and most aggravating is that despite being written in FIRST PERSON, the main character is constantly keeping things from the reader. And not just in a 'I don't want to talk about it' kind of way. No. Instead, MAJOR plot points are 'hidden' with the character reacting as if things are A, while we find out later that SHE KNEW MAJOR PLOT POINTS that completely skew the situation into B.
In other words, the author decided to be 'clever,' and trust me it deserves the quote marks. Instead, what the reader is given is a character that makes no sense. She keeps things from the reader despite consciously being aware of them the whole time AND despite those things being completely relevant to the task at hand - for the sole purpose of making a 'twist' at the end of the book. This might work in third person. This would work if the story was told from another POV. It DOES NOT WORK in first person. We are inside their head. Dear author, I am not dumb. If we're inside her head, why can't we know things that she does that are relevant to what she's doing? It's not like she was even hiding it from herself. She plotted her every action towards one end, and you hid it for no other reason than to have a twist. I wanted to throw this book at the wall by the end for that reason alone.
I cannot recommend this book, and I doubt I'll read anything more by this author. The author knows how to write ... but clearly not how to respect the reader's intelligence.
January 31, 2022
� Read with the Reverse Harem Revolution (RHR™️) Cult #eatallthecake �
Note: To be honest I started 5 days before the rest of the cult officially started. I saw my friend Maria reading it and my brain clicked so I got it on the very spot and started inhaling. And then I joined (yet another) cult so I thought I would cheat a little by adding this as my first read within my new cult. None of this matters to any of you but it does to me #notreally
Now to get on with my thingy which is going to be a GIFreview.
This book:
I literally inhaled the damn thing. It was soooooooooooooooooo good. It was a mind fuck in a mind fuck packaged snugly within a mind fuck and wrapped with mind fuck and OMGs.
The characters were great, the world is great, the writing was great. Biggest surprise had to be our heroine, Kesh.
I honestly can't write shit without spoilering everything or you know, write in general. So I will deploy my trusty GIFs to do the talking for me. Here we go:
Our heroine Kesh, with her two awesomesauce man candy, Kellee & Talen:
This gif I made represent them so accurately I have been laughing for a good 10 minutes.
The dynamic between the three was weird but awesome weird. Can't quite put my finger on it and trust me I want to.. Only complaint is I want moar of Talen and Kellee.
Now to the antagonist. His name is Mind Fucking Nut. No I am not kidding. Besides him being a good antagonist, for some reason he pretty much reminded of this GIF:
And his relationship with Kesh can be summed up by these two, with no particular order:
I can't of course leave out the best tek sidekick ever: Sota. Damn do I want one of my own! I would have named it Raja or Bob & I would adore it.
And the entire time I was like this:
I know you don't believe me or most likely you think I am retarded - not that I am not but I do have my moments - for using that many GIFs instead of words, so I will quote you one or three things to prove my point. #quotesforthewin
Honestly this was a masterpiece. It not only successfully combines Technology, Deep Space 9, Fairies, Robots & Drones but it has an "I have already killed your ass, you just don't know it yet" little wallflower of a heroine that can and does eats all the cake.
I have never read anything like this and if I do it won't be this awesomesauce piece of mastery. There is no point in me telling you to read this and that I can't wait for the next to come out, you already know it.
Pippa DaCosta I am yours! Here have some cake (^_^)/
Note: To be honest I started 5 days before the rest of the cult officially started. I saw my friend Maria reading it and my brain clicked so I got it on the very spot and started inhaling. And then I joined (yet another) cult so I thought I would cheat a little by adding this as my first read within my new cult. None of this matters to any of you but it does to me #notreally
Now to get on with my thingy which is going to be a GIF
This book:
I literally inhaled the damn thing. It was soooooooooooooooooo good. It was a mind fuck in a mind fuck packaged snugly within a mind fuck and wrapped with mind fuck and OMGs.
The characters were great, the world is great, the writing was great. Biggest surprise had to be our heroine, Kesh.
I honestly can't write shit without spoilering everything or you know, write in general. So I will deploy my trusty GIFs to do the talking for me. Here we go:
Our heroine Kesh, with her two awesomesauce man candy, Kellee & Talen:
This gif I made represent them so accurately I have been laughing for a good 10 minutes.
The dynamic between the three was weird but awesome weird. Can't quite put my finger on it and trust me I want to.. Only complaint is I want moar of Talen and Kellee.
Now to the antagonist. His name is Mind Fucking Nut. No I am not kidding. Besides him being a good antagonist, for some reason he pretty much reminded of this GIF:
And his relationship with Kesh can be summed up by these two, with no particular order:
I can't of course leave out the best tek sidekick ever: Sota. Damn do I want one of my own! I would have named it Raja or Bob & I would adore it.
And the entire time I was like this:
I know you don't believe me or most likely you think I am retarded - not that I am not but I do have my moments - for using that many GIFs instead of words, so I will quote you one or three things to prove my point. #quotesforthewin
Just like at the restaurant security, we walked through the scanners, barely stirring more than a fine layer of dust. As far as the tek was concerned, we didn’t exist.
“You are creepy,� Sota reported, the words all the more amusing when coming from a tactical drone.
@ 3%
“Any movement ahead of us?�
“Nothing on this level.�
“Anything above?�
His motors whirred. “Maybe.�
I rolled my eyes. “Can you be more specific?�
“No, something is blocking my sensors beyond twenty meters.�
“Activate stealth,� I ordered.
“Really?� His motors whined.
“Do we have to go through this every time?�
“It’s a terrible drain on my batteri—�
Sota received the look I reserved for assholes and disobedient drones everywhere.
@ 4%
“Its construction doesn’t match any in my databanks.�
If a tactical drone didn’t recognize it, then the rifle was rare, possibly unique.
“Self-guided projectiles,� Sota went on. “Neuro-controlled. This rifle is not human compatible.� Sota’s voice held a note of awe. “Is it wrong that I’m a little turned on right now?�
@ 5%
“I need to call in that favor.�
Kampa straightened. “Oh?�
“You see the stiff by the table in the corner?�
“The old guy on his own, pretending he can blend in like a whore at a virgin ceremony?�
“Go keep him company while I slip out the back?�
Scarlet lips broadened into a wide smile. “My pleasure,� she purred.
@ 10%
“It would take many years of voluntary exposure to human tek & a great deal of pain�
So, Larsen had slipped under the radar over years. Centuries? “How long have you been here?� I asked.
“It has been three hundred & forty-two years since the marshal detained me�
Kellee stiffened. Talen had revealed too much & the fae’s smile proved it.
I blinked, careful to school my features. The marshal was how old? I stared ahead, refusing to glance at Kellee despite needing to see his reaction.
@ 33%
Honestly this was a masterpiece. It not only successfully combines Technology, Deep Space 9, Fairies, Robots & Drones but it has an "I have already killed your ass, you just don't know it yet" little wallflower of a heroine that can and does eats all the cake.
I have never read anything like this and if I do it won't be this awesomesauce piece of mastery. There is no point in me telling you to read this and that I can't wait for the next to come out, you already know it.
Pippa DaCosta I am yours! Here have some cake (^_^)/
June 4, 2019
Why is it that as soon as I am motivated enough to write a review that something comes up and I have to keep procrastinating? I have finally carved out some time to write this review because honestly this book is far too good to just leave with an itty bitty paltry review.
I embarked on this buddy read with my dear friend David the Awesome as our first buddy read together. He is not a devotee of the reverse harem genre as I am and I think he went into it pretty skeptical. However, it is described as a slow burn so I thought it might be safe.
Shoot the Messenger is a reverse harem space fantasy with drones, firearms, space ships, magics, and fae. It is a complex and well defined universe where people live in fear of oppression from the powerful fae that have been removed and confined to other planets. Kesh Lasota is a messenger for the free people, delivering missives and information for profit.
Kesh is tough as nails and is used to delivering messages that people may not want to hear.
However, when one of her deliveries goes horribly wrong, she finds herself trapped in a new conflict over fae, power, and control.
Kesh can handle it though. She has been tempered by fire and has some tricks up her sleeve...like a magical whip and some badass powers of her own.
Okay from what I have told y'all, she sounds like a Mary Sue. Over powered. "Strong" woman trope where she is tough and methodical and not at all worth relating to. However, she has some big weaknesses that really help shape her character in fantastic ways. She has depth, insecurities, and a whole lot of fear that she has to work through.
Moving onto the harem part of this, let's talk about Marshal Kellee and Talen. Kellee is a police marshall and acts somewhat as the voice of reason. He is strong but lacks patience in many ways and wants to do things as he wants to.
Not that I blame him. There are some big powers fighting for control that he is attempting to keep at bay.
Then there is Talen. I don't want to give away too much but his role is this sensual creature that holds immense temptation for Kesh Lasota. It isn't romantic. Rather, instinctual. She is drawn to him and he is drawn to her. They balance each other well.
The start of her little harem. How cute.
It's not romantic really in this book though which I appreciated. Yes, there is attraction but there isn't much as far as action on that end which is super refreshing.
The plot line is original. The characters are well developed and unique. I don't want to go too far into the plot because there are so freaking many plot twists that it would give away some major spoilers and I don't want to do that to y'all.
Just read the book. I promise you won't regret it.
I embarked on this buddy read with my dear friend David the Awesome as our first buddy read together. He is not a devotee of the reverse harem genre as I am and I think he went into it pretty skeptical. However, it is described as a slow burn so I thought it might be safe.
Shoot the Messenger is a reverse harem space fantasy with drones, firearms, space ships, magics, and fae. It is a complex and well defined universe where people live in fear of oppression from the powerful fae that have been removed and confined to other planets. Kesh Lasota is a messenger for the free people, delivering missives and information for profit.
"I had delivered some unusual messages—a happy birthday ditty at a funeral, dates for illegal inter-species rendezvous, packages of cyn, and parcels that squeaked in a decidedly living and illegal way. It wasn’t my job to query the messages, just deliver them. But an eighteen-second death threat delivered by a drone and what he saw as a harmless messenger girl? Yeah, some might consider it amusing."
Kesh is tough as nails and is used to delivering messages that people may not want to hear.
However, when one of her deliveries goes horribly wrong, she finds herself trapped in a new conflict over fae, power, and control.
For a few breathless moments, there was nothing around me but air and glittering glass. Then I hit the fifteen-degree building façade with a shuddering oomph and started tumbling, over and over. I threw out both arms, stopping the roll. Leather squeaked on glass. My coat had tangled around my legs. I half skidded, half fell. I flicked the whip at passing nodules—the large bolts used to fasten the panels to the building. The whip’s coils snagged on one and snapped me to a halt, wrenching agony through my arm.
Kesh can handle it though. She has been tempered by fire and has some tricks up her sleeve...like a magical whip and some badass powers of her own.
Okay from what I have told y'all, she sounds like a Mary Sue. Over powered. "Strong" woman trope where she is tough and methodical and not at all worth relating to. However, she has some big weaknesses that really help shape her character in fantastic ways. She has depth, insecurities, and a whole lot of fear that she has to work through.
Moving onto the harem part of this, let's talk about Marshal Kellee and Talen. Kellee is a police marshall and acts somewhat as the voice of reason. He is strong but lacks patience in many ways and wants to do things as he wants to.
Not that I blame him. There are some big powers fighting for control that he is attempting to keep at bay.
Then there is Talen. I don't want to give away too much but his role is this sensual creature that holds immense temptation for Kesh Lasota. It isn't romantic. Rather, instinctual. She is drawn to him and he is drawn to her. They balance each other well.
The start of her little harem. How cute.
It's not romantic really in this book though which I appreciated. Yes, there is attraction but there isn't much as far as action on that end which is super refreshing.
The plot line is original. The characters are well developed and unique. I don't want to go too far into the plot because there are so freaking many plot twists that it would give away some major spoilers and I don't want to do that to y'all.
Just read the book. I promise you won't regret it.
May 7, 2018
1st read - February 2018
2nd read - May 2018
I'm a huge fan of Pippa DaCosta, she's yet to write a book I didn't love and the way she's always coming up with new ideas and trying new genres keeps her books fresh and exciting. As soon as she mentioned a new series with the tag line "fae in space" I was sold but then she threw in reverse harem and that just sealed the deal. I honestly think that Shoot the Messenger is her best book yet and that's really saying something considering she's written so many of my favourite series (the Soul Eater, Veil and 1000 Revolution just for starters!).
This is a futuristic sci-fi with a fantasty twist set in a time when the fae have been hidden from the humans for over 1000 years since the last big war. As the humans created more and more tek to keep up with fae magic our world became harder for the fae to survive in and since the last battle they've retreated to their home-world. No-one is under any illusion that the war is over but so far the fae have kept their distance and the humans have started to feel safe. Kesh has a unique ability to hide from tek and she uses that to remain off the grid, she earns her money delivering messages for the underworld but her life is turned upside down when the recipient of one of her deliveries is killed and she is framed for the murder. She is determined to prove her innocence but her evidence has been stolen by a warfae, someone who shouldn't even be in the same star system, and she has a Marshal hot on her tail and ready to bring her in.
I really don't want to go into any more detail than that because this is one of those books where you just need to sit back and enjoy the ride. This is a book with layer upon layer of secrets, lies, betrayals and so much more. Every time you think you have something figured out Pippa DaCosta will sucker punch you with yet another twist that you didn't see coming. The story is told from Kesh's point of view but none of the characters you'll meet, including our narrator, are completely good or evil. They're all hiding deep dark secrets and I think we've only scratched the surface of what is there to uncover. Kesh is a badass character, she's a fighter who knows how to look after herself but at the same time she has a vulnerable streak and she's also not always the most trustworthy person to have around. Life has taught her to expect betrayal and that it's better to be the one holding the knife rather than the one getting stabbed in the back so she doesn't always make choices I'd agree with but I found myself understanding her actions all the same.
As far as the other characters go I'm intrigued by both Kellee and Talon but we don't know either of them well enough to have uncovered their secrets yet. Both guys have done things that make me question their motives but they're also pretty sexy in their own ways so I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time with all three of the main characters! I loved Kesh's AI buddy Sota too, he's not around for the whole book but he brought a lot of humour to the story so I'm hoping we'll see more of him as the series continues.
Shoot the Messenger is the start of an exciting new series and it's one I can't wait to continue. If you like stories with multifaceted, three dimensional characters and even more complex plots, books that will screw with your mind and leave your head spinning, then this one is definitely for you. Bravo, Pippa, bravo!
___________________
It's a new Pippa DaCosta book so of course that puts it at the top of my "I NEED THIS BLOODY AWESOME BOOK NOW" list but then she throws in words like "reverse harem space fantasy" and I think my brain exploded! Is it March 2018 yet????
2nd read - May 2018
I'm a huge fan of Pippa DaCosta, she's yet to write a book I didn't love and the way she's always coming up with new ideas and trying new genres keeps her books fresh and exciting. As soon as she mentioned a new series with the tag line "fae in space" I was sold but then she threw in reverse harem and that just sealed the deal. I honestly think that Shoot the Messenger is her best book yet and that's really saying something considering she's written so many of my favourite series (the Soul Eater, Veil and 1000 Revolution just for starters!).
This is a futuristic sci-fi with a fantasty twist set in a time when the fae have been hidden from the humans for over 1000 years since the last big war. As the humans created more and more tek to keep up with fae magic our world became harder for the fae to survive in and since the last battle they've retreated to their home-world. No-one is under any illusion that the war is over but so far the fae have kept their distance and the humans have started to feel safe. Kesh has a unique ability to hide from tek and she uses that to remain off the grid, she earns her money delivering messages for the underworld but her life is turned upside down when the recipient of one of her deliveries is killed and she is framed for the murder. She is determined to prove her innocence but her evidence has been stolen by a warfae, someone who shouldn't even be in the same star system, and she has a Marshal hot on her tail and ready to bring her in.
I really don't want to go into any more detail than that because this is one of those books where you just need to sit back and enjoy the ride. This is a book with layer upon layer of secrets, lies, betrayals and so much more. Every time you think you have something figured out Pippa DaCosta will sucker punch you with yet another twist that you didn't see coming. The story is told from Kesh's point of view but none of the characters you'll meet, including our narrator, are completely good or evil. They're all hiding deep dark secrets and I think we've only scratched the surface of what is there to uncover. Kesh is a badass character, she's a fighter who knows how to look after herself but at the same time she has a vulnerable streak and she's also not always the most trustworthy person to have around. Life has taught her to expect betrayal and that it's better to be the one holding the knife rather than the one getting stabbed in the back so she doesn't always make choices I'd agree with but I found myself understanding her actions all the same.
As far as the other characters go I'm intrigued by both Kellee and Talon but we don't know either of them well enough to have uncovered their secrets yet. Both guys have done things that make me question their motives but they're also pretty sexy in their own ways so I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time with all three of the main characters! I loved Kesh's AI buddy Sota too, he's not around for the whole book but he brought a lot of humour to the story so I'm hoping we'll see more of him as the series continues.
Shoot the Messenger is the start of an exciting new series and it's one I can't wait to continue. If you like stories with multifaceted, three dimensional characters and even more complex plots, books that will screw with your mind and leave your head spinning, then this one is definitely for you. Bravo, Pippa, bravo!
___________________
It's a new Pippa DaCosta book so of course that puts it at the top of my "I NEED THIS BLOODY AWESOME BOOK NOW" list but then she throws in words like "reverse harem space fantasy" and I think my brain exploded! Is it March 2018 yet????
July 30, 2024
Still just as good as the first time I read this book.
*SQUEEL*
good lord.
space fae?
space fae?
SPACE FAE?!
and a sexy hybrid?! *growl*
girls, y'all don't even know. and those fuckin plot twists?
bruh.
read this it will not disappoint.
if you love fae. if you love genetically modified man flesh. if you love twisted plots and shit that makes your mind just ...
have your damn mind blown.
READ THIS.
December 19, 2018
4.5 stars. Pippa Da Costa never hangs around- her books are fast paced, non stop action. Strong characters and lies within lies. A very entertaining read.
October 3, 2018
3.5 stars
The fae have long since faded from human experience, gone for over 1000 years, but even though the brutal wars are over, the tek protection systems for the Halow colonies remain, fully controlled by a tek megacorp. (If this set up doesn't scream: IT'S NOT GOING TO LAST LONG, I don't know what does) Fae magic and tek are supposed to be an anathema to each other, but there are anomalies: Kesh is a ghost in the machine, able to whisper her way through tek, and her abilities have more than a little magic to them. She shouldn't exist. But neither should the fae killer setting her up to take the fall for an assassination, especially as he seems to be able to use tek as well as she does.
The immediate, violent consequences of their clash are played out in a world that's hyper detailed and multilayered, yet the info never overtakes the kickass action of the plot. Kesh is a much more complex character than she initially appears though, honestly, I'm not sure I even like her. Pippa DaCosta has zero issues giving you characters you're just not sure about, especially Kesh with her mysterious past. The only certain truth is that there are no idealised heroes here. Instead, there are surprises, providing some seriously great what-the-hell-just-happened moments.
So this is a spankingly fun and enticingly dangerous world, well worth getting lost in. I even learnt something because I didn't know what the hell a Reverse Harem thingy was before this and i'm all up for that so... on to the next.
The fae have long since faded from human experience, gone for over 1000 years, but even though the brutal wars are over, the tek protection systems for the Halow colonies remain, fully controlled by a tek megacorp. (If this set up doesn't scream: IT'S NOT GOING TO LAST LONG, I don't know what does) Fae magic and tek are supposed to be an anathema to each other, but there are anomalies: Kesh is a ghost in the machine, able to whisper her way through tek, and her abilities have more than a little magic to them. She shouldn't exist. But neither should the fae killer setting her up to take the fall for an assassination, especially as he seems to be able to use tek as well as she does.
The immediate, violent consequences of their clash are played out in a world that's hyper detailed and multilayered, yet the info never overtakes the kickass action of the plot. Kesh is a much more complex character than she initially appears though, honestly, I'm not sure I even like her. Pippa DaCosta has zero issues giving you characters you're just not sure about, especially Kesh with her mysterious past. The only certain truth is that there are no idealised heroes here. Instead, there are surprises, providing some seriously great what-the-hell-just-happened moments.
So this is a spankingly fun and enticingly dangerous world, well worth getting lost in. I even learnt something because I didn't know what the hell a Reverse Harem thingy was before this and i'm all up for that so... on to the next.
June 4, 2021
First Sentence:
"You have eighteen seconds to live.�
Genre:
Sci-Fi/Dystopian (RH)
Editing:
Flawless.
Cover Art:
Not only is the cover art gorgeous it's also accurate.
Romance:
Excisting set up for a potential future romance between Kesh, Talen & Kellee. Expect some light flirting & maybe a kiss. The "romance" in this series doesn't seem to be the main plot.
World:
Halow System (One of Earth's sister systems.)
My thoughts:
Tight plot, excellent character development, the author did a fantastic job. The story was action-packed, the world easily imagined, the political aspects intriguing. Kesh's priorities, hardships, morals, choices, & reality made for an intriguing character. She's an incredibly versatile & well thought out h.
Will I continue the series?
Yes, this series has an unbelievable amount of room for growth & I want to read all about Kesh, Talen, & Kellee's character(s) development. Kesh has quickly become my favorite h of 2018. I'm especially interested in how she will deal with the democide, how it impacts who she is, her actions & her priorities.
Recommendation:
I'd recommend this book to fans of slow burn non-traditional romance, subterfuge, magic, space, the fae, Artificial Intelligence, war, assassins, double agents, & dystopian worlds.
Rating:
4.5 stars
Disclaimer:
eARC kindly provided to me in exchange for a review.
"You have eighteen seconds to live.�
Genre:
Sci-Fi/Dystopian (RH)
Editing:
Flawless.
Cover Art:
Not only is the cover art gorgeous it's also accurate.
Romance:
Excisting set up for a potential future romance between Kesh, Talen & Kellee. Expect some light flirting & maybe a kiss. The "romance" in this series doesn't seem to be the main plot.
World:
Halow System (One of Earth's sister systems.)
My thoughts:
Tight plot, excellent character development, the author did a fantastic job. The story was action-packed, the world easily imagined, the political aspects intriguing. Kesh's priorities, hardships, morals, choices, & reality made for an intriguing character. She's an incredibly versatile & well thought out h.
Will I continue the series?
Yes, this series has an unbelievable amount of room for growth & I want to read all about Kesh, Talen, & Kellee's character(s) development. Kesh has quickly become my favorite h of 2018. I'm especially interested in how she will deal with the democide, how it impacts who she is, her actions & her priorities.
Recommendation:
I'd recommend this book to fans of slow burn non-traditional romance, subterfuge, magic, space, the fae, Artificial Intelligence, war, assassins, double agents, & dystopian worlds.
Rating:
4.5 stars
Disclaimer:
eARC kindly provided to me in exchange for a review.
March 28, 2018
3.5 WTF DID I JUST READ stars
Oooooooookay then
I can honestly, 100% say that I have never read anything like this before
Shoot the Messenger takes place in the future (kind of), with a fantasy aspect (kind of). It actually felt like if The Cruel Prince and Star Trek had a baby, it would be this book.
I never realized how many plot twists could happen in 285 pages. I started to feel whipped around by what all was happening, and I had to go back and reread some portions in order to understand what was going on. The plot twists did make sense to the story, and for the most part I didn't feel like they were put in there just to have something there. However, I could have done with one or two less OMG WHAT IS HAPPENING moments...my poor little heart can't take all that stress.
The romance wasn't entirely there either, and the parts that were there were confusing. I wasn't sure what was happening with Kesh and her boys, or if anything was supposed to be happening with them. There were a lot of hot feelings for several characters, and I wasn't certain who I should have been shipping, if anyone.
So yeah....I have confusing feelings for this book, but I'm still going to be reading the next book in the series because I hate cliff-hangers (which this one has), and my insatiable need to know what happens next needs to be, well, satiated.
Oooooooookay then
I can honestly, 100% say that I have never read anything like this before
Shoot the Messenger takes place in the future (kind of), with a fantasy aspect (kind of). It actually felt like if The Cruel Prince and Star Trek had a baby, it would be this book.
I never realized how many plot twists could happen in 285 pages. I started to feel whipped around by what all was happening, and I had to go back and reread some portions in order to understand what was going on. The plot twists did make sense to the story, and for the most part I didn't feel like they were put in there just to have something there. However, I could have done with one or two less OMG WHAT IS HAPPENING moments...my poor little heart can't take all that stress.
The romance wasn't entirely there either, and the parts that were there were confusing. I wasn't sure what was happening with Kesh and her boys, or if anything was supposed to be happening with them. There were a lot of hot feelings for several characters, and I wasn't certain who I should have been shipping, if anyone.
So yeah....I have confusing feelings for this book, but I'm still going to be reading the next book in the series because I hate cliff-hangers (which this one has), and my insatiable need to know what happens next needs to be, well, satiated.
November 10, 2022
At three-quarters, I've had enough. I like powerful women. And wish-fulfillment. So far, this story has broken Kesh down to her constituent parts and all the things I loved about her have been destroyed. Grimdark is not my thing. I got a misread on this, somehow, but the marketing supports that misread. So zero stars*. (specifially, the cover copy implies that Kesh can stop the destruction of a thousand years of peace. At this point, that peace is gone and the genocide of the human race is well underway)
* since zero isn't a thing with stars, it's one star in reality.
* since zero isn't a thing with stars, it's one star in reality.
March 16, 2018
Shoot the Messenger is a complicated one to review because there are so many plot twists.
It definitely kept me on my toes. Non-stop action.
It's the most un-haremy reverse harem I've ever read (not that I've read many but most were very silly and contrived). Action and plot takes a major front seat in this book. Romance so far in this series is almost non-existent.
So it's basically a kick a** sci-fi space adventure with bits of fae and otherworldly creatures mixed in, hinting at more romance in the future. The lead heroine is tough as nails. My perfect kinda book.
It was a solid 5 stars all the way up until the end. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the ending. But I can't wait for book 2.
It definitely kept me on my toes. Non-stop action.
It's the most un-haremy reverse harem I've ever read (not that I've read many but most were very silly and contrived). Action and plot takes a major front seat in this book. Romance so far in this series is almost non-existent.
So it's basically a kick a** sci-fi space adventure with bits of fae and otherworldly creatures mixed in, hinting at more romance in the future. The lead heroine is tough as nails. My perfect kinda book.
It was a solid 5 stars all the way up until the end. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the ending. But I can't wait for book 2.
February 24, 2019
I was hoping I might like this series considering several friends love her books, and despite not liking another book of hers, I was willing to give a second chance. Zero chemistry still. It is fast paced speed that ends up convoluted instead of exciting. There is a betrayal twist that only serves to make the story worse instead of more shocking. There is bitterness and betrayal. I can't enjoy a character who blindly follows abusers, and I can't get behind a character who is so stupid about it I won't to shake her. She's a far way off from feeling self-worth and I don't have the patience. In the romantic department, the two guys were fine, but I didn't feel any genuine chemistry, affection or attraction. Where did it suddenly come from? And the unreliable narrator only works if done well, but I don't think the execution was convincing here. I'm not a big tech sci-fi person, either, so that didn't help my interest since I found much of that confusing.
Full review later.
Full review later.
February 27, 2018
"Oh! What A Tangled Web We Weave When First We Practice To Deceive"
Pippa DaCosta has woven together sci-fi and fantasy to build the richly complex world in which Kesh, Kellee and Talon reside. As the story builds we gradually learn more and more about Kesh, Kelly, the fae and tek. I preferred this to an 'information dump' as it added to the twisty plot, suspense and sense of unease.
The book is written first person and entirely from Kesh's point of view. Kesh is just a simple messenger, caught up in someone else's battle, or is she? Oh my word, this is an onion of a book, made of layer upon layer of amazing story, action, adventure and mind-blowing plot twists. The blurb really doesn't do the book justice BUT that's to ensure the element of surprise. And there are surprises galore in this book.
It's one of those stories that is impossible to properly review without giving away spoilers, and I really want to avoid them so that you get the full impact of the book, like I did. If you have read other books by this author then you will know some of what to expect, but this far surpasses any of her work to date. It takes all the best elements of her previous stories, polishes them up, adds extra glitter to them and twists them into something else altogether. If you haven't read her books (a) why not? you're missing some amazing stories and (b) this is really well written, drags you into the story and doesn't let you go, leaves your head reeling in the best of ways and will have you begging and howling for Book 2 so that you can continue the story.
A standing ovation to the author for this awe-inspiring, mind-twisting, a-m-a-z-i-n-g read. I need to go and lie in a darkened corner to mull over this book and recover from the book hangover I now have.
April 6, 2018
I think this entire book was one deception on top of another. This makes it hard for me to like or connect with any of the characters. If a person is into heavy deception and intrigue they may like this book but it really wasn't for me. I doubt I will read the next book.
August 23, 2018
The Great Review Catch Up of 2018! (Review: 5/20)
This was a ton of stuff packed in one little book and I'm kind of apprehensive because something like this can only go two ways: spectacularly awesome or dramatically wrong.
First of all, look at that cover... It's GORGEOUS. It's everything fantasy/science fiction covers should be like. It's what I wish Ilona Andrews covers would be like. I want to give this book all the starts because of that cover.
Then there's the world building; in one word: amazing. The idea is not new, I have seen other books use the duality between magic and technology; but this book was great at fleshing it out. So happy I can actually tag this as both fantasy and sci fi, and not feel it leaned more towards one or the other.
Our MC was really interesting. I kinda liked her, there was a vulnerability to her, but she was also super bad-ass.
The plot was my favourite and least favourite part at the same time. There were layers upon layers of stuff here with an interesting twist at the end. I'm actually curious where the author is taking this.
The reverse harem wasn't very noticeable in this book. She seems to be setting it up slowly. I'm curious to know how many guys will constitute this harem and who are they.
By the way Pippa has for each and they look HAWT.
This was a ton of stuff packed in one little book and I'm kind of apprehensive because something like this can only go two ways: spectacularly awesome or dramatically wrong.
First of all, look at that cover... It's GORGEOUS. It's everything fantasy/science fiction covers should be like. It's what I wish Ilona Andrews covers would be like. I want to give this book all the starts because of that cover.
Then there's the world building; in one word: amazing. The idea is not new, I have seen other books use the duality between magic and technology; but this book was great at fleshing it out. So happy I can actually tag this as both fantasy and sci fi, and not feel it leaned more towards one or the other.
Our MC was really interesting. I kinda liked her, there was a vulnerability to her, but she was also super bad-ass.
The plot was my favourite and least favourite part at the same time. There were layers upon layers of stuff here with an interesting twist at the end. I'm actually curious where the author is taking this.
The reverse harem wasn't very noticeable in this book. She seems to be setting it up slowly. I'm curious to know how many guys will constitute this harem and who are they.
By the way Pippa has for each and they look HAWT.
March 2, 2018
4.5 Stars
Brain meltingly good!
Wanting something unique, a series that blends futuristic dystopian sci-fi with Fae lore fit the bill perfectly.
The author has created a fantastical world at war. Tek vs. magic. Human vs. Fae. In its midst is Kesh Lasota, a street-savvy, whip carrying badass and illegal messenger of the Halow systems that hides in plain sight.
Told in the first person single point of view of Kesh, the plot goes off with a bang as she is wanted for the murder of one of her message recipients. From there, the author throws curve ball after curve ball and you never see them coming.
Setting a fast pace, we meet a host of characters, each more mysterious than the next. Kellee, Talon, and cast are enigmatic and had me flipping the pages eager for more about them. While only little nuggets are revealed this time around, I'm excited to learn more as the series continues.
True to its warning, this book is a slow-burn reverse harem story with several characters interested in the heroine. However, there are no love triangles and no sex scenes, though sexually charged scenes are present.
If you are looking for something unique with a perfectly executed plot twist or three and an end you won't see coming, definitely give this one a try.
Brain meltingly good!
Wanting something unique, a series that blends futuristic dystopian sci-fi with Fae lore fit the bill perfectly.
The author has created a fantastical world at war. Tek vs. magic. Human vs. Fae. In its midst is Kesh Lasota, a street-savvy, whip carrying badass and illegal messenger of the Halow systems that hides in plain sight.
Told in the first person single point of view of Kesh, the plot goes off with a bang as she is wanted for the murder of one of her message recipients. From there, the author throws curve ball after curve ball and you never see them coming.
Setting a fast pace, we meet a host of characters, each more mysterious than the next. Kellee, Talon, and cast are enigmatic and had me flipping the pages eager for more about them. While only little nuggets are revealed this time around, I'm excited to learn more as the series continues.
True to its warning, this book is a slow-burn reverse harem story with several characters interested in the heroine. However, there are no love triangles and no sex scenes, though sexually charged scenes are present.
If you are looking for something unique with a perfectly executed plot twist or three and an end you won't see coming, definitely give this one a try.
zzz-books-not-for-me
January 29, 2019DNF: 74%
Come on... FAE in SPACE! And a kick-ass heroine wielding a magic whip! And the plot twists that start way before the middle, epic fights and chase scenes, conflict between magic and technology! This book should've been my new ALL TIME FAVOURITE!! And I won't even talk about the perfection of the audiobook!
I don't know why it happened, but around the middle, I started losing interest fast. Suddenly the protagonist had this overly complicated backstory, and characters started acting strangely, weird stuff happened and I couldn't follow properly. Before I know it- the heroine has been in a coma for months/years and she was having some pretty weird nightmares, and when she woke up a character I remembered to be evil was suddenly good and... I just couldn't handle it. I know it's my fault for not paying proper attention. I might give it another go soon. There was too much I liked in this book to just leave it unfinished.
Come on... FAE in SPACE! And a kick-ass heroine wielding a magic whip! And the plot twists that start way before the middle, epic fights and chase scenes, conflict between magic and technology! This book should've been my new ALL TIME FAVOURITE!! And I won't even talk about the perfection of the audiobook!
I don't know why it happened, but around the middle, I started losing interest fast. Suddenly the protagonist had this overly complicated backstory, and characters started acting strangely, weird stuff happened and I couldn't follow properly. Before I know it- the heroine has been in a coma for months/years and she was having some pretty weird nightmares, and when she woke up a character I remembered to be evil was suddenly good and... I just couldn't handle it. I know it's my fault for not paying proper attention. I might give it another go soon. There was too much I liked in this book to just leave it unfinished.
April 13, 2018
This was a really good book, so why the three stars? Well I did not believe the inception thing at the end, it just seemed very convenient.
I will be reading the next book because I'm curious and I really want to read about some smexxy times between Talen and Kesh too.
P.s A harem is not two people right? cos that will suck, we need four at least, so get to stepping, Pippa.
I will be reading the next book because I'm curious and I really want to read about some smexxy times between Talen and Kesh too.
P.s A harem is not two people right? cos that will suck, we need four at least, so get to stepping, Pippa.
May 5, 2018
3 stars
In the beginning of the book in my mind I rated it 5 stars but by the middle and until the end it dragged became boring and I kinda lost the plot or the action or whatever it is ...it turned out sour ....
In the beginning of the book in my mind I rated it 5 stars but by the middle and until the end it dragged became boring and I kinda lost the plot or the action or whatever it is ...it turned out sour ....
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