Review: Only Bad Options by Jennifer Estep

Only Bad Options (Galactic Bonds #1)
by Jennifer Estep

My Rating: 4 stars

Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Age Category: Adult
Type of romance: m/f

Blurb:
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep blasts off with an exciting new science-fiction fantasy adventure with a dash of historical romance. This action-packed space opera features a mix of magic and technology, along with a soul mates and enemies-to-lovers story. Perfect for fans of Star Wars, Bridgerton, and Pride and Prejudice.

A WOMAN WHO SEES EVERYTHING . . .

Few people know the name Vesper Quill. To most folks, I’m just a lowly lab rat who designs brewmakers and other household appliances in the research and development lab at the powerful Kent Corp. But when I point out a design flaw and a safety hazard in the new line of Kent Corp spaceships, everyone knows who I am—and wants to eliminate me.

I might be a seer with a photographic memory, but I don’t see the trouble headed my way until it’s too late. Suddenly, I’m surrounded by enemies and fighting for my life.

I don’t think things can get any worse until I meet Kyrion Caldaren, an arrogant Regal lord who insists that we have a connection, one that could be the death of us both.

A MAN WHO CAN’T FORGET HIS PAST . . .

The name Kyrion Caldaren strikes fear in the hearts of people across the Archipelago Galaxy. As the leader of the Arrows, the Imperium’s elite fighting force, I’m used to being a villain, as well as the personal assassin of Lord Callus Holloway. Even the wealthy Regals who live on the planet of Corios are afraid of me.

But everything changes when I meet Vesper Quill. I might be a powerful psion with telepathic, telekinetic, and other abilities, but Vesper sees far too many of my secrets.

Thanks to an arcane, unwanted quirk of psionic magic, the two of us are forced to work together to unravel a dangerous conspiracy and outwit the deadly enemies who want to bend us to their will.

My Review

When I heard of this book as the author announced it I knew I wanted to read, bought it shortly after release day and only got around to reading it when Sophia picked it up earlier this year and we decided to do a buddy read. I used to read a lot of books by this author years ago, then kinda fell behind and now there’s a bunch I haven’t read yet. So it was interesting reading a book by an author I used to read so much from and now haven’t read for a while.

Only Bad Options starts with an exciting first chapter with immediately things going and the excitement never lets up. It’s full of action, lots of things going on and things changing for the main character. It feels fast paced and well plotted. There are all these hints early on that slowly grow inti more throughout the book and then turn into bigger things. Some interesting reveals and developments throughout the book. And I was curious to see were the plot would go. I had fun talking about it with Sophia and speculating about some of the hints and what would happen next.

I liked how this book has its own sort of contained plot that probably will have bigger implications and consequences in the next book. This part mostly resolved by the end of the book, but lots of things going on besides that and related plot lines that will form part of the overarching series plot line I think. It worked well and made this book have a satisfying ending, while still making me curious for more.

Vesper is in a bad situation when her boss doesn’t like how she’s the only one pointing out flaws in the new ship line. Things go from bad to worse for Vesper and she ends up saving Kyrion, a feared killer and powerful fighter. They have a fated mates style psionic bond going on that neither of them wants. Amidst all the chaos and danger they find themselves in they have to figure out how to handle the bond or get rid of it as it can be used against them. And they don’t even like each other.

The romance is a definitely slow burn, there is progression in this book, but I feel they still have a long way to go. I didn’t really feel their romance at first as it’s definitely one of those hate to love situations with them not liking each other at all and constantly bickering and sniping at each other. It slowly develops into them appreciating the other and the hint of more feelings, but it’s still very early stages. My favorite part was them confiding in each other about their pasts. I wanted more of them getting to know each other. They do fit each other and I think they make for a great couple. They both have some darkness in them and willingness to do what it takes to reach their goals as well as a more vulnerable part of wanting someone to really care about them. I wasn’t sure what to think of the bond they have going on and it felt like a plot device to bring them together, but the sharing of powers thing it can offer sounds like it will be interesting. I think they will form a powerful couple as the series continues on.

I used to read a lot of this author’s book and knew what to expect from one of her books and this book fit that well. I think the part I struggled with the most is how my reading tastes have changed and this book made me aware of it. Nowadays I like gentler cozier stories with likeable characters and this one had the more badass type characters with action packed relentless pace in a harsh world type story. I just needed a break now and then with some calmer moments, but this book didn’t have much of that, so I switched to the re-read I had going when I needed a break.

The world building is well done and fascinating. I like the mix of scifi and fantasy elements. There are psionic type powers with the main character being a seer. I liked reading about Vesper’s seer powers. There are also these powerful swords that they can wield with elemental powers. Then there are different factions, their relationships with each other and the war between the Regals an Techweavers as well as the dynamics inside the factions. Lots of interesting things going on there.

To summarize: This was a solid start to this new series. There’s a lot going on with plenty of action and main character Vesper’s life goes gets thrown into chaos. The story is fast paced with plenty going on and feels very well plotted. I wasn’t sure about the romance at first and didn’t like their constant bickering and snapping at each other, but I do think they will make for a good couple as they fit and complement each other. I didn’t like how the fated mates style bond brought them together and wished there was more time for them to get to know each other, but I did like seeing them grow a bit closer throughout the book. The world building was well done with different factions with politics between and inside each of them as well as a fun blend of scifi and fantasy elements with some cool psionic powers. This book has a satisfying ending that wraps up one of this book’s plot lines, while still leaving plenty open for next books in the series.

Links:
– Goodreads
– Bookbub
– Amazon
– B&N
– Kobo

You can also read my review on Goodreads and Bookbub.