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Review

4.5 post-apocalyptic, action-packed, exciting and romantic stars

I’m a huge Rebecca Zanetti fan. She writes fantastic action/adventure, suspenseful, sexy and romantic stories, and she’s totally nailed it with this one! Full of sensational characters living in a terrifying world, they face danger and violence and a true struggle for survival. There are lots of surprises and on-the-edge-of-your-seat excitement, and the romantic (and super-hot) love story woven throughout satisfied the romance reader in me. I was enthralled from start to finish.

While this is technically book 1 in The Scorpius Syndromeseries, part of the way through reading, I realised that there was a prequel novella, Scorpius Rising (available in the compilation On the Hunt), so I put this book down to read that one, and it set the stage nicely for everything that was happening. It’s set only a few months before this book, and while I wouldn’t consider the prequel a necessary read, and this book is definitely easy to follow without it, I’d recommend reading it to give you a good base for the story.

Set in a present-day post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, a bacteria has spread across the US (and possibly the world), wiping out 99% of the population. Those that have survived the bug have been left either been turned into a ‘Ripper’ – completely altered and stripped of humanity – or have recovered, but have been enhanced in some way (eg. with additional intelligence). Technology has broken down, essentials like food, water, clothing and gas are scavenged and hoarded, and society has completely fallen apart.

Lynne Harmony is a brilliant microbiologist and ex-head of the Infectious Diseases division of the CDC. She was involved in the initial discovery of the bug and worked tirelessly to develop a cure. She ended up being infected, but survived, and she is now on the run from an elite forces group who are mercilessly (and somewhat mysteriously) hunting her. She is searching for now-abandoned scientific facilities, looking for research carried out on the bacteria which may lead to a cure, and this has led her to LA where she seeks out notorious vigilante, Jax Mercury, offering herself and her knowledge in exchange for his protection.

Jax is the badass leader of a group of survivors. He lived his childhood on the streets before coming a soldier in the special forces and he has established a camp in the middle of an LA which is overrun by violent gangs. He now shelters a few hundred people who work together to protect each other, fight off attacks and scavenge for supplies, doing whatever it is that is necessary to survive. And, he is sensational! A total badass, he didn’t ask for the role that he’s been thrust into, but he does what is necessary to protect ‘his’ people. His ruthless badassery melds brilliantly with his intelligence, wit and sarcasm, and I loved his dry sense of humour in the face of everything he is dealing with.

The second they lost hope of survival, they lost everything. “Hope is the dream of a waking man.”
Tace snorted. “I like that quote better than the we’re all gonna die quotes you spouted yesterday.
Jax rubbed his aching temple. “I was moody.”

Lynne is also a great character. Strong and brave, she has overcome a lot already in the story, but the way she stands up for herself and does whatever is necessary to protect herself and fight to do everything she can to help with the bug is amazing. As a known survivor of the bacteria, she is viewed as a threat and hated on site by a most of Jax’s people, but he recognises the potential of having such a brilliant mind among them, so he agrees to take her in. Their attraction is evident from the very beginning and as Lyn settles in and assimilates herself into Jax’s compound, that attraction sizzles and after enduring months of hardship and little contact with others, they are drawn together in a way that is intense, passionate, and totally freaking hot!!!

He grabbed her hair and wrenched her head to the side, his gaze capturing hers. “This is fucking. Full bore, I’ll take you and make you come so hard you’ll forget the world for a few minutes. But that’s all it is. Not love, not forever, and not a way to manipulate me.”

Yep, Jax may have some emotional issues, but his life has been hard, and we get to see that in great detail as the story progresses and our characters are forced to deal with terrifyingly violence, betrayal, death, and the challenge of simply living in the world as it is. It’s exciting and suspenseful with some mystery and shocks, but there is also a nice amount of emotion. It’s heartbreaking in places, and I even teared up at one point, but the character development through it all is really well done as Jax reveals his vulnerability, learns what it means to be a true leader, and allows himself to truly feel – and the slow yet consistent relationship progression shows that beautifully.

“If there are bullets, I’m between you and them. If you get taken, I’m hunting you down till my last breath. And if you end up in hell, I’ll storm the fucking place until the fires go out.”

“I’m not good at this.” Taking her hand from his jaw, he pressed it against his heart. “You’re in here. Stay safe.”

This is a fantastic read. Fast paced, action packed, full of intrigue and excitement, with a great romance and a lot of heart, I was totally hooked. The book finishes off well, though there is a lot more story to be told, and with a number of other characters set up nicely for their own books, I am really excited to continue on with this series and can’t wait for Raze’s book up next.

I loved it – 4.5 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

The Scorpius Syndrome series

 

For more reads like this one, see our Action/Adventure Recommendations Page

And check out our Rebecca Zanetti Author Spotlight for more reads from this author