MYSTIC

Intrigue, science, and a charming feline alien combine in this sci-fi romance as an anthropology student searches for a medical miracle.

As part of the Zetithian race, a feline and human extraterrestrial hybrid, Aidan Banadänsk has the ability to see visions. Sometimes they are prophetic, and at other times they signal an event that requires his intervention. When he sees a young woman named Sula Enduran plummeting into a ravine, he’s unsure of which type of vision it is. His only solution is to find her and figure out how he fits into her life. Sula is still reeling from the sudden and unexplainable death of her boyfriend, Raj, after he contracted a disease that was long thought to be eliminated. Now, Sula is searching for a cure, and she’s desperate to keep her plans to herself. While she graciously accepts Aidan’s help—seeing as he saved her life—she’s wary of sharing too much of her research. Having it fall into the wrong hands could be disastrous, but Aidan’s connections prove too beneficial to pass up. What Sula doesn’t expect is to find herself falling in love with the Zetithian, especially while she’s on a mission to avenge her former lover. The setting Brooks (Maverick, 2018, etc.) creates is confusing at best: a litany of fictional planet names, unfamiliar alien races, and out-of-place modern references to Indiana Jones and Indian food. It's hard to get a grip on how the galaxy functions in relation to Earth, leaving readers to figure it all out with the vague hints they’re given. Though Aidan and Sula get their happily-ever-after, their connection lacks believability. Their attraction is palpable (perhaps too much, as Sula frequently lapses into thoughts about the well-known sexual prowess of the Zetithians), but their lust never seems to evolve into something satisfying.

Bewildering.