Review for Fighting Gravity

Blurb:
Forced into executing Aresia’s people, Phoebus escapes the Aresian Guard by flying his spaceship through a wormhole.

The only single woman of marrying age, Marissa flees her prospects of becoming Elder McGee’s third wife for a chance at freedom upon the New Atlantic Ocean.

When Phoebus’s spacecraft crashes upon an asteroid-ravaged Earth, he is captured by a rogue Earthling youth and thrown into a cellar. Marissa stumbles upon the spacecraft, but it explodes before she can find any sign of the alien. When she awakens, she discovers the alien’s whereabouts and vows to help him. They plot his escape when they learn Phoebus’s Aresians have landed and are searching for him. Phoebus and Marissa must battle against their despair and their peoples in their quest for freedom and love. And through it all, an Earthling and an Aresian will find it easier to fight gravity than their love for each other.

My review:
Phoebus is tormented by his daimon and forced to execute his fellow Aresians. He attempts to escape through a wormhole, but ends up being captured on a primitive planet called Earth. Marissa hopes to find a new life for herself, but the world outside her tiny community isn't what she expected it to be. Her old friends turned scavengers have nefarious plans for her. Her only chance for help is to free Phoebus and flee with him. They're hunted and must learn to trust one another, finding more than just trust along the way.

This is the second novella in Cherie Reich's Gravity series. She has outdid herself with this dark and action packed science-fiction fantasy romance. She starts you off right in the middle of the action, and I was on the edge of my seat through the whole thing. The image Cherie paints of an Earth hit by an asteroid is harsh and dismal, but not without hope. Marissa has the light of hope in her heart. She's sweet and compassionate, and though she's rightfully afraid, she has the courage to do what's necessary when the time comes. Phoebus is from a cold and war-hungry people who make themselves into something more by infusing themselves with daimons. It's fascinating and terrifying at the same time. The Aresians are a complex culture and the daimons a mystery. This aspect really intrigued me because I didn't know what Phoebus' daimon would do next.

This story is light on the romance, so I believe sci-fi and dark fantasy fans will love it.  There's fighting, betrayal, and unexpected twists. Cherie's writing is sharp and her imagery vivid. She makes the story come alive before your eyes. Fighting Gravity captivated me from beginning to end. Even if you haven't read the first book in the series, Defying Gravity, you can still thoroughly enjoy this one.

Fighting Gravity will be available on May 1st. Mark it on your calendars!

Author's bio: Cherie Reich is a writer, freelance editor, and library assistant. She typically writes horror, fantasy, and mysteries, but she enjoys other genres. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her e-books include ONCE UPON A DECEMBER NIGHTMARE published by Wild Child Publishing, THE BEST OF RAVEN AND THE WRITING DESK published by Hazard Publishing, and DEFYING GRAVITY published by Surrounded by Books Publishing. She is a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Valley Writers. She was the third place winner in Roanoke Valley's BIG READ writing contest.

Please visit Cherie's website. Fighting Gravity is already up on Goodreads.