Liberty has spent her time trying to warn the people around her about imminent death. Her warnings have not always been well received, and after a stint in prison, she is offered a chance to enter the Volunteer Program.
Set free and launched into space, her life as a Death Seer begins.
The Nyal Imperium is the area that wants her, and she is delivered to a court world and into the custody of the duke who has other plans for her beyond having her read his death.
All she needs is a slight change to her genetic code and her destiny will change forever.
Liberty Trout sat up and stared toward the bars of her cell.
“You have a visitor, Trout.”
She looked into the shadows on either side of the grilled doorway. “I can’t see. Who is it?”
The guard unlocked the door and beckoned her forward. “Come out, Trout. They are going to talk to you.”
She extended her hands to the guard, and he put the cuffs on. She walked with the two other white-garbed orderlies that were on duty at the house for the criminally insane.
If she had been convicted of an actual crime, she would have had an easier time of it. As it was, Libby was used to the cold cell, the lavender scrubs and the frightened looks that she received from the staff and other inmates.
The flat, rubber-soled shoes thudded as she stomped her way past the eyes staring through the grills of the cell doors.
They took her through the hallways into a secure room where a peculiar party was waiting for her.
A small, silvery man was sitting at a table while two large and burly males were positioned behind him.
Her guards seated her across from him, and to her surprise, they left her alone with the extraterrestrial guests.
She smiled slightly and waited.
“Are you the seer?”
The silver man was direct.
“What do you mean, the seer? I am just a mental patient who likes to call in disasters.”
A chilling smile, that could have done a shark credit, spread across his features. “I am Recruiter Norz. If you are the seer I am looking for, there is a position for you in the Alliance or possibly the Imperium if that is where your aptitude lies.”
“You are kidding.”
He lifted a tablet and gracefully flicked through images with his fingers. “You predicted nineteen terrorist events before they occurred last year, and this year, you have already briefed local law enforcement on twenty-three that have all born fruit. If the law enforcement had taken you seriously, the most recent explosion that destroyed so many lives might not have happened.”
Libby nodded. “It was good that the others listened.”
Norz nodded. “Very good. Now, your people do not look favourably upon talents, and more and more of you are appearing in the population. We are not demanding that you come to us, but we are offering you a choice to be appreciated for what you bring to the universe.”
“Paranoia and pain?”
“You do not bring the pain, you merely see it. Do not give yourself more credit or blame than necessary.”
Review Companies
MR Review
Rating:
Reviewer: Titania
Review:
Liberty sees death, and her attempts to warn others have landed her in jail and worse. So when she is offered the opportunity to use her gift, she takes it even if it means living among the stars. But when her talents lead to a job as the Duke’s Death Seer, has she traded one prison for another?
Liberty by Viola Grace is tenth in the Terran Times Second Wave series. This book can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed Liberty. She came from a family that wanted to do the right thing, and taught her to as well even if the consequences were nothing nice. But her honor wouldn’t allow her to hide or stop trying so I loved that she was given an opportunity to take her talents somewhere it would be appreciated. With the help of the Alliance, Liberty was able to hone her talent. And then we have the duke. I thought the duke was an interesting character. Much of his character was hidden by Ms. Grace. We could guess he wanted more than he showed, we could guess he knew more than he said but Ms. Grace did a wonderful job of shrouding him in mystery. But for all his secrets, he wanted a future with Liberty. I loved that he was willing to do whatever necessary to make it so. I respected him, and as we learned more about him, I appreciated his inner strength.
Overall, I enjoyed this quick read from Ms. Grace. It was well written, full of sweet romance and with enjoyable characters.
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