REVIEW: River – The Ambassador #1 – C.J. Dragon

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River Carteret is a diplomat, known for crafting solutions between disparate groups.

Growing up on Earth under the control of the Guardians, he’d never experienced hardships, such as war, plague, or famine.

Urged by his Guardian supervisor, River volunteers to go to the planet Drakonis to broker an agreement between the Drakos, and the Draas. He is determined to bring equality to the Draas, wresting it from their ruling class, the Drakos, if necessary.

There is only one, small problem.

The Drakos are a sanguinary race, needing blood to survive, and River, with his rare hemoglobin, constitutes a banquet to the Drakos, a lethal hazard for him.

Mix in an angelically handsome vampire Prince, low oxygen levels, and food he can’t eat, and River has set himself up for a task that will cause him to use every skill he has to survive.

Will River become prey to the Drakos?

Or will he succeed, losing his heart along the way?

Earth is now controlled by overlords, the Guardians and anyone who objects disappears never to be seen again. River Carteret is a Diplomat for the Guardians and has grown discontent. He hopes that maybe he could get an assignment off-world, and he gets his wish.

A new race needs a diplomat, unfortunately the Drakos are blood drinkers, vampires. Humans who are fed from immediately become addicted with no cure. After a medical exam River is cleared with the only difference is his blood which is considered silver meaning feeding from him would not cause addition.

River must consider if this is an assignment he wants to take, an assignment that could cause him to become a meal for the Drakos. It is Prince Eris who explains what they need River to do, the blood for the Drakos is supplied by Draas and the royal family wants them to have more freedom while most of Drakonis wants the status quo to remain in effect.

The Draas are acting up over the way they are treated, they are treated as slaves and only a food source, which is why River finally agrees to take the assignment. Having accepted the assignment River is promoted to Ambassador. Prince Eris promises to protect River and ensures his safety.

While travelling to Drakonis the Prince and River become friends, even dropping titles when they are alone. Working together they begin to have feelings for each other but there is no chance for a relationship, a Prince and a human Ambassador will not be accepted. River has a huge job in front of him trying to gain more freedom for the Draas only secrets arise putting River in a position of rethinking what he wants to do and who he wants to work and live with.

The Draas are overjoyed with River’s attempts to help them, but the Drakos are not. River doesn’t give up trying to bring more freedom to the Draas but he is a long way from home and on his own.

I am not a huge fan of sci-fi, but I am a huge fan of C.J. Dragon. This is the start of a new series which I look forward to. Secrets, lies, and surprises left me at the edge of my chair and now I happily await the next book in the series.