Reviewed by Sue Eaton

TITLE: The Harvest Young : Bound by War

SERIES: The Next Generation Book 4

AUTHOR:  M. A. Church

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH:  324 Pages

RELEASE DATE:  June 21,  2022

BLURB:

A brief moment in time can change everything.

Laken Fihk has no idea his destiny waits for him on the Unity, a Tah’Narian starship. But all it takes is one look at the incapacitated male, and Laken knows that’s his fated mate. Which is a problem, because the severely beaten, bloody, and unconscious male is the Blishue warrior named Torin. The species is considered sadistic, cruel, and without mercy—bloodthirsty monsters who kill without regard.

No one, absolutely no one, is going to be happy if Laken claims Torin as his.

Torin, member of the Blishue House of Dorntok, has found his mate and nothing will stop him from claiming Laken. So what if he has Tah’Narians doubting his honor, Ne Reynians wanting to kill him, and a battle brewing that could jeopardize all he holds dear? War has bound them together, and nothing can break them apart. He and Laken will overcome all obstacles to find a love that could last a lifetime. No matter what.

Destiny doesn’t make mistakes.

REVIEW:

What a joy to return to the Taken universe. I believe MA Church has saved the best until last.

This book has everything you could wish for: action, adventure, fated mates (of course), confronting prejudice and seeing beyond what you believe and expect.

This is the crux of the book is showing the unfound prejudice everyone holds and enabling growth and maturity in moving past those prejudices.  It also explores cultural differences and the resistance to change.

The Ta’Naherian’s have long been held up as honourable and dedicated despite their past actions.  To have one of their own, Laken, mated to a species the rest of the galaxy despises, considers unredeemable and are perceived as violent cold psychopaths, brings tension and conflict within the tight group of friends.  Torin is honourable and understands the issues the others have with him.  Laken shows unexpected fortitude and strength standing up to those he holds most dear. Torin and Laken are well rounded, interesting characters who face so many threats and problems.  There are twists and turns aplenty, and the slow burn of their love story culminates in some very hot scenes.

It was intriguing to find out more about Ne Reynian culture; we’d had a few clues from previous books but to have the brutal regime fully exposed but still a threat, kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting, hoping I was wrong, but waiting for the inevitable and all the action that arose from it.   M.A. Church knows how to write a convincing fight scene that is both brutal and beautiful in its execution.

My favourite line is from Torin talking to Laken:

“My culture and your culture are not the same and never will be.  That doesn’t make mine wrong.  Just Different.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it is a fantastic finale to the series.

RATING:

BUY LINK:

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