"Star ships, and rebels, and intrigue, oh my..."
Prince Tarrant-Arragon has dueled and defeated the rebel
leader Commander Jason. He's now presumed dead, but is
really being held by the prince, who has healed him,
altered his appearance, renamed him Prince Djetthro-Jason,
and set him up for a shotgun wedding to Tarrant-Arragon's
sister, Martia-Julia. Now, he just has to get them married
(against the princess' wishes), stop an intergalactic war,
and discover which family member has a murder-worthy secret. Fantastic storytelling supported by exceptional, detailed
world-building shine throughout this book. Rowena Cherry
weaves a complex and absorbing tale, full of brilliant
settings and rich, quirky characters. Her witty, fast-paced
dialog ranges from snarky banter between Jason and the
Princess, to the exquisite understatement of a courtier's
observation, "If you neglected to warn Djetth beforehand
that you were going to shoot him down, Your Highness, he
may consider you in breach of contract..." Insufficient Mating Material is the third title in
Cherry's "Mate" series, following Mating Net, and Forced
Mate. Newcomers to the series will appreciate the family
tree/genealogy in the back of the book, which gives the
lowdown on all the characters. Ms. Cherry's accomplishments include being a chess
champion, and those who know the game will get an added
kick finding the chess references in her stories. The title
itself is an example --"insufficient mating material"
refers to a situation where neither player has the
requisite "material" to win ("mate"). But there was no
doubt in my mind that this couple has what it takes to play
a winning game. Whether you like romance on distant worlds
with alien cultures, or science fiction with a little
steam, Insufficient Mating Material fits the bill. Do
yourself a favor, though—start with the first story and
work your way through. It will make the journey that much
more fun!
Reviewed by Julia Clark
Posted December 6, 2007
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Fewmet!
Shot down...for failing to mate in public. Marooned on an island with the ultimate fashionista, who wouldn't take off her clothes to save her own life, Djetth was discovering that when a Tiger prince is honor bound to hide his true identity, when his best tool of seduction bears a damning tattoo, and his very life is in danger, survival isn't just a matter of making out. Someone was trying to kill them...
Even in the outrageously wicked Tigron Empire, who would dare to attack a royal princess and her consort? So what if she had spectacularly rejected Djetth's hand and privately turned her pretty nose up at his other princely parts? With the aid of two exiled empresses acting as psychic sleuths, some misplaced guitar glue and a talent for disguises, he would unmask a killer and prove this was certainly not a case of... INSUFFICIENT MATING MATERIAL
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