Title: Forerunner
Author: Mark Alders
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Pages: 91
Characters: Aznan Calmere, Lunore
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Sci-Fiction, Erotic Romance
Kisses: 5
Blurb:
The Brona are sentient humanoid aliens, man’s first contact, and at a technological level equivalent to our pre-industrial age. As a culture, the Brona offer no interest to humanity. That is until it’s discovered the foreskins of male Brona secrete a substance which has miraculous curative properties for humans.
Aznan Calmere is a forerunner, a mercenary who is paid to obtain Brona foreskins no matter the cost. He’s paid well to do it, too. Trouble is, getting to Brona Major is hazardous. On his latest trip, Aznan avoids a near miss, crashing on a Moon of Brona. There he runs into Lunore, a male Brona who shows Aznan the real damage being done to the Brona people because of the foreskin harvesting by the forerunners.
Seems the Brona are not as simple as Aznan first thought when all is revealed. Will his new found respect lead to something unexpected? Will there be love? Or will there be war?
Review:
When I’m in the mood for a sexy, sci-fi romance, I immediately reach for a book written by Mark Alders. Mr. Alders has a way of sweeping up this reader into his unique and interesting worlds he creates. He’s not afraid to write humanly (or not so human) flawed characters that can be pretty shady at times. His characters do not always do the right thing, and often have to do some serious soul searching before they redeem themselves. In the end, his heroes usually end up being likeable men who live and breathe off of the written page.
Earth’s humanity is plagued with the New Pox. The only cure they’ve found is the foreskin of a primitive humanoid race called the Brona. There is something about the serum in the foreskin that fights the disease and delivers healing properties. So, the leaders of Earth hire mercenaries to fly to Brona and take as many foreskins from the Brona’s babies as they’re allowed, and return to Earth with them for a rather large sum of money.
Aznan is a mercenary that’s made the trip to the Brona for their foreskins several times. Since the infants’ parents always give their permission to take their foreskins, Aznan doesn’t believe he’s doing anything wrong. But when his ship crashes on one of Brona’s Moons, he is rescued by Lunore, a Brona male who intends to show Aznan the error of his ways. At first, Aznan doesn’t listen to Lunore, but as time goes by and with Lunore’s persistence, Aznan begins to see where taking the infants’ foreskin is slowly killing out the Brona’s race. Soon, Aznan begins to have feelings for Lunore and respect the Brona. As he and Lunore’s friendship develops into love, Aznan is forced to make a difficult decision that will affect many lives; including his own.
From the first page to the last word, Forerunner kept me fascinated with its storyline. I was immediately captivated by these characters’ lives and I read this book from start to finish in one sitting. I admit I wasn’t sure I’d like this book. After all, the hero takes foreskins from babies…so that was a little startling to me. But I should have known better, because Mr. Alders once again wrote a story that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I loved the characters in this book. Lunore was my favorite character, but Aznan did the most character growth in this book. From Lunore’s teachings he soon questions his previous actions and everything he’s ever been led to believe about the supposedly primitive Brona. As usual, Mr. Alders got right to the heart of his story through his amazing characters and I enjoyed every minute I read getting there. Fans of Mark Alders will love this book as well as fans of sci-fi romance. Mr. Alders is a master at writing wonderful sci-fi romances with larger than life heroes. If you’re looking for a great escape on a lazy day, Forerunner is a perfect way to escape for a couple of hours of enjoyment. Recommended!
Reviewed By: Gabbi
