Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: Declared
SERIES: Star Marked Warriors Book 2
AUTHOR: Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 202 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 9, 2021
BLURB:
An alien warrior, a kidnapped mate, and a traitor waiting to take everything from them both…
Wesley: I’ve always loved space. Give me Star Trek over Lord of the Rings any day. Since I was a kid, all I’ve wanted is to explore the great beyond, to boldly go and all that jazz. And with my feet firmly stuck on Earth, the way I reach for the stars is through developing video games. The biggest issue there? Well, I can’t keep a job beyond one project.
But all that staring at the night sky finally gets me somewhere when a tractor beam drops down from the sky in the Appalachian mountains and drags me up into an incredible spaceship full of big, scary, delicious-looking alien warriors. I’ve always fantasized about seeing the universe, but the reality—a handsy, grinning warrior—is so much more than I bargained for.
Jax: I have a problem—I am the son of Zul the Proeliator, greatest Thorzi warrior, and I have had no chance to honor my legacy on the battlefield. When our people were dying out, they took human mates and produced a generation of hybrid children. But the hybrid sons of the planet Thorzan are protected, privileged, and wasted. All my life, I have been companion and protector to Prince Kaelum instead of a proper warrior.
And now my enemies have come to believe that a younger generation of spoiled hybrids makes Thorzan ripe for invasion. When attack comes, it’s closer to home than expected, and I may be forced to choose between duty and protecting the beautiful man whose bright mind has caught my heart.
By popular cowriting duo Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes, Declared is an M/M SciFi alien romance with a hybrid warrior trying to prove his worth, a lost human looking for stable ground, and battles that will prove sometimes, the only thing a warrior can do when tested is survive.
REVIEW:
“I’d never been much of a religious man, but Jax was an absolute gift.
If karma was real, then clearly, I’d done something that had impressed the universe.”
In Declared, the second book in the addictive Star Marked Warriors series from power writing duo Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes, we fall in love with Wesley and Jax falling in love with each other. If you’ve read Captured, Book 1 in this series, you’ll recall that Wes is a brilliant, clever video game programmer who was abducted by the Thorzi along with Lukas (who fell in love with Prince Kaelum in Captured) and several other humans.
We also met Jax in Captured. He is the lifelong best friend and sworn protector of Prince Kaelum. Jax is always sunshine and light, laughter in the face of danger, a true warrior that would lay down his life for his people and his Prince/best friend. Did I mention he’s gorgeous? Yeah, there’s that too. Jax is a tall, stunning, ripped, shirtless blue alien with a gorgeous smile, generous heart, and an eternally optimistic attitude. He truly is a gift.
However, in Declared, we see Jax struggle to keep that smile on his face. While he tries to hide it, we see his vulnerabilities. He’s afraid. Afraid of being alone. Afraid of feeling useless, of not being able to contribute to his full potential, especially when he is eager to provide.
Nerdy Wes might seem an unlikely match for Jax, but they actually are completely compatible in every way: physically, emotionally, intellectually … and in other ways as well. Wes is ridiculously smart and resourceful, extremely stubborn (much to Jax’s chagrin), and like Jax, wants to be useful, to add value, to contribute. Their dynamic is fascinating in so many ways. Wes knows how to make Jax smile, to support him and calm him, all while pushing him outside his comfort zone. Conversely, Jax trusts Wes and gives him opportunities to prove himself and contribute. He gives Wes the platform to come into his own.
Jax and Wes fall in love effortlessly. But it leaves them with the dilemma of how to protect while also trust. Both Wes and Jax have vast resources to give to help those around them. But neither wants to lose the other and would do anything to protect them. This is a greater issue for Jax because Jax’s need to protect is deeply ingrained. Jax is a warrior. Protecting is part and parcel of who he is. When it comes to protecting Wes, the man he loves, there’s nothing Jax wouldn’t do, even if it includes putting Wes back in his self-described “helpless box” in order to keep him safe. Wes has other ideas, though, and implores Jax to believe in him and his ability to protect himself.
Faced with Wes’ boldness, resiliency, and anger at being rendered useless, Jax concedes. But it’s not easy. He needs to go against his own instincts in order to respect the man he loves:
“[I]t meant proving that I did believe in Wesley – that my belief was greater than my fear.”
The adoration Wes and Jax hold for each other is breathtaking. Wes believes Jax is a gift from the universe. Jax believes Wes “was put here, given to me by the stars”, where Wes can do incredible things: “Because you are full of miracles”. *happy sigh*
Like Captured, Declared is a top-notch book with a truly inspired plot, expertly crafted characters, witty dialogue, poignant moments, and an overarchingly well-rounded, immersive story. The writing is thoughtful, intentional, crisp, and on-point in every way. Plus, it has sex, romance, and lots of swoon-worthy moments. I just adored everything about this book. Can you tell?? 😉
As if you need any further incentive, Ms. Burns and Ms. Fawkes infuse Declared‘s riveting plot with some important societal subtext. To avoid spoilers, I will stick to generalities here, but it’s enough to convey the point. One of the storylines concerns the acrimonious relationship between the Thorzi and another group of people. In this context, Wes muses that “Hate was always easier than compromise.” He also notes that “Drawing imaginary lines in order to make an us and a them was a standard the universe over, it seemed.”
This story arc explores how people engage in arbitrary, even invented conflict, because it’s easier to argue than be vulnerable. It’s easier to fight than conciliate. It’s easier to stubbornly believe you are right than open-mindedly consider you may be wrong. The parallels between this story and what we see play out in the news every day are obvious and provide serious, impactful food for thought.
With each book I read of Ms. Burns and Ms. Fawkes, the more I love their writing, creativity, and masterful ability to provide exceptional entertainment. They also succeed in spinning out stories with universal appeal even within niche genres like M/M paranormal romance or, in the case of the Star Marked Warriors series, M/M SciFi romance. Even if you don’t typically go for SciFi, I am confident you will enjoy this book, and strongly encourage you to give it a try. You could read this as a standalone but I highly recommend reading the Star Marked Warriors series in order. So read the excellent Captured first in order to get full context for the events that happen in Declared.
On the whole, I can unreservedly declare that Declared is an exceptional story that you won’t want to miss. Now we wait for Submitted. Is it October 21st yet??
RATING:
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