Regi’s Huuman Gods of Misfortune #1
LGBTQ Fiction, Science Fiction
Independent
Aug 9, 2022
Kindle
165
Amazon
Regi has settled into a comfortable life away from his home and family and gods. By choosing to leave the Empire, he chose to leave all those behind and live alone and godless. He still claimed to follow Poque, goddess of wanderers, but he doesn't expect her to notice him as he serves on Coalition ships. However, when an improbable series of events strands his ship near a black hole with no engines, no communication, and a pirate ship in the area, he must wonder if the gods' first blessing—misfortune—has found him. If so, he needs to find the second blessing that follows, or the entire crew will die.
Dante had a rather uncomfortable life until aliens kidnapped him, and then it turned downright miserable, but when a ship shows up claiming to be law-enforcement from the Coalition, he wonders if life might improve. The security chief is kind with an expressive face and velvety skin, not that he's noticing any of that. It's just that he's been alone for a long time and having someone touch him with kindness is stirring feelings Dante hasn't felt for a long time. However, he doesn't have time for foolishness when they're on a pirate ship and trying to escape certain death. Danger first, deciding how to ask an alien out on a date second.
Reviewed by Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
When I began this book, I was certain that I wouldn’t like it and couldn’t wait for the end. My problem was the number of Gods and Goddesses which seemed to be a focus of the story. My opinion changed when I began focusing my attention on Regi and Dante two amazing men who kept me fascinated by their kindness and determination to protect.
Regi is a Kowri whose belief in their Gods and Goddesses and the dismissal of them by other races has kept them to themselves. They do not accept any interference in their system and can be very aggressive with outsiders. For years Regi considered leaving the Empire to join the Coalition his one Goddess he follows is Poque but watching his mother an Exalted touched by her Goddess ignore both her husbands and him he finally made the choice to leave.
Regi is now Security Chief on a Coalition runner and there is trouble, the ship is dead and heading toward a black hole. When he spots what he believes is a ship idling near the black hole they head toward it and dock. Everything points to pirates but with nothing but death facing them they must enter the ship. The first pirate they encounter is killed and there does not seem to be anyone else aboard now they need to find a way to access the ship’s systems if there is any hope of survival.
While searching Regi comes upon a door containing what he believes is another pirate but what turns out to be a prisoner. Humans are a new species and there is nothing they can learn about this man they find other than he was kidnapped by the pirates and made a slave. He was tortured and beaten, and his future was bleak. He has refused to speak to anyone other than Regi and when Regi discovers he was a slave he is determined to make things better.
Dante has five fingers; five toes and his nose is close to his mouth making Regi assume he has a breathing problem, so he sees him as delicate and needs to be treated with care. Years of cleaning every corner of the ship makes Dante familiar with everything and his description of the pirates leads Regi to assume the pirates are a hostile species and must be gone before the rest of them return.
Unfortunately, they are not alone because one more pirate is aboard the ship, and he is the deadliest of all and finding and destroying him is imperative. It would take Dante and Regi to do what needed to be done but it would also result in their deaths. Regi and Dante have built a trust with each other, and that trust is bound to be tested repeatedly.
Two men, two species, with nothing in common but their desire to save everyone on their ship. Dante’s life was a nightmare a nightmare that caused other humans kidnapped to find that death was their only way out. Now Dante has no way to get home since no one knew where his home was, but he is determined to survive in this new world he found himself in.
Surprises, kidnapping, slavery, torture and an abundance of Gods and Goddesses for anyone who enjoys that but the bottom line the story is about two amazing men who overcome their many differences to work with each other. There is more coming, and I look forward to continuing Dante and Regi’s story.