Shifter Planet by D.B. Reynolds

Shifter Planet by D.B. Reynolds
Also by this author: Christian
Published by Macmillan on October 26th 2015
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Paranormal, General
Pages: 300
Format: eARC
ISBN: 9781633754416
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Specialist Amanda Sumner is one of the first to make contact on the Earth-like planet Harp and discovers she's the only Earthling, who can hear the trees sing in the strange forest. Determined to remain and learn more of the planet's secrets, Amanda sets out to become part of the elite Guild there...
But there is a secret involving some Guild members-one that could get her killed.
Shifter Rhodry de Mendoza wants the Earthlings off his planet before they destroy it--even if that means denying what he feels for the fierce and lovely Amanda. The pair is thrown together in what becomes a fight for their lives. And they might just lose everything-including each other-in their battle for the right to live in peace.

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Honestly I thought Shifter Planet by D.B. Reynolds was going to be another ‘earth girls are easy tale’. I refuse to give up on my hunt for good science fiction romance, which is hard to find.  To my utter shock and delight Shifter Planet isn’t an ‘earth girls are easy’ tale. This one has a powerful, smart and strong alpha female in Leiuteneant Amanda Sumner, who gives up her space fleet position to go ‘dirt side’ on the planet of Harp, which happens to be a lost Earth colony.  D.B. Reynolds is the author of this ingenious tale of science fiction and paranormal elements blended into an adventure tale of both a perilous journey and political survival.  The author ensnared me in Amanda’s trials and I too was along with her on her desolate journey to prove that she had what it took to survive and thrive on her new chosen world.

The first twenty five present of the book is the set up of the Earth Fleet finding the lost colony of Harp, which consists of Irish and Spainish decendants, from earth.  The Irish dialect and speech patterns we universally come to identify with Ireland and her people are represented in this book; while the Spanish heritage is glossed over, as I saw nothing to indicate Spanish heritage amongst the people of Harp, except for surnames.

The books plot has a lot of Amanda’s training to enter the Guild (the men who protect the citizens of Harp from the nasty Harp beasties), but nothing of her interacting with the few Fleet personnel on her team that stayed on Harp.  I would have thought that Amanda would have interacted with them, even if only in passing.  Also the Fleet character of Wolfram resigns his commission to stay on Harp; which is mentioned but never explored until the closing chapter.  I don’t know if this was intended to be a set up for more books of if they author just left us hanging.  I do hope there are more books about Harp, as the author has built a very interesting world.  I still would love to understand why Amanda was chosen to hear Harp’s voice, and is the planet a sentient presence.  So much could be explored in the world that was created by Reynolds.

Now to the relationship between Amanda and the people are Harp.  At first they seem very pleasant, but the more Amanda wants to be included in Harp society the more standoffish the people become; especially the Guild members.  Amanda’s treatment by the Guild members is abusive, but it is a good ole boy alpha club, with a sign that should say girls should not apply closed club.

There is a romantic relationship between Amanda and Rhodry de Mendoza, it is not thankfully instant love. Rhodry wants nothing to do with earth’s, as Harp has it’s secrets.  He resist his attraction to Amanda, and does everything to send the girl mixed signals. I loved that the two were like oil and water, and it was a delight to have a strong alpha female in a science fiction romance.  The sexual tension and escapades never detract from the adventure story, which is a blessing as sometimes the ‘sexy-times’ become the thrust of the science fiction romance story.

Over all this is a book that should not be missed, and since the science fiction genre is choked filled with ‘Earth Girls Are Easy’  books, this one a breath of fresh air.  I do think it would have done to change the title of the book as it gives the big secret of the planet Harp away.

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