A fun and charming sci-fi romance. Miri and Leo were great protagonists, each starting out mostly content with life, but not entirely fitting into the world of Halcyon. Miri in particular can't quite find her place because of her secret abilities to see and influence people's emotions. As she and Leo reconnect, they both learn new truths about the world, about each other, and about themselves, allowing them to rekindle their relationship and grow into the people they are meant to be. The external plot moved along at a nice clip, growing increasingly exciting and high-stakes as the book progressed. High five for asexual representation, with both MCs falling on the ace spectrum. I had no trouble jumping into the world at this point in the series, and I enjoyed the glimpses at the backstory from the previous installations. I'll be moving books 1 and 2 up my TBR. Mindi Briar This was such an interesting book - fun, fast-paced, with a unique storyline!
There was so much happening, and there was never a dull moment. You are introduced to different planets/species, telepathic dragons, space pirates, unique mental abilities, and so much more! I loved the two main characters, Miri and Leo. The connection between them was so well-done. I liked that their relationship didn't get bogged down by unnecessary drama but remained realistic, with both characters dealing with fears, doubts, and unresolved emotions that sometimes held them back.
Miri’s journey of self-acceptance was intriguing and kept me engaged. The world-building was innovative and vivid, with enough details to help me get a sense of the world. I was eager to explore the world with each turn of the page! However, I wished for more in-depth explanations about dragons, considering how important their role was in the story. I loved their unique abilities, especially the telepathy they used to teleport humans, but it was never clarified how they looked or where they came from. This book was my introduction to the Halcyon Universe series, so there might be more details about them in the previous two books. Nevertheless, I found it easy to follow the story without having to read the previous two installments.
The story was wrapped up well, and the unconventional happy ending for Miri and Leo felt perfect for them.
I’d recommend this book, especially if you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced sci-fi romance, with a unique storyline and lovable characters! I had fun reading it!
Thank you, LibraryThing, the publisher City Owl Press, and author Mindi Briar for the gifted copy! I received a free copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Mindi Briar I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
I really like this science fiction romance series and was so excited for this third book in the series. One of the main characters Miri was introduced as a child in book 2 and one of the main characters from book 2 makes some appearances, but it can be read as a standalone. I liked seeing what happened to the children who were genetically modified and this book focuses on how those kids are doing now when they're all grown up and adults.
Miri can see emotions as auras around people, but when she keeps accidentally influencing people's emotions she loses her job. She's afraid of influencing people with her powers and unsure how to control it. While she's visiting her friend, a crime takes place that the dragons didn't see and she teams up with her childhood crush Leo to solve the crime.
I thought this was an interesting read and I liked how it dealt with the kids who were part of the experiments and the moral and ethical questions surrounding their powers. As well as bit of a murder mystery plot line. The tension increases later in the book and I wanted to see how it all played out. The epilogue was great and I appreciated the unusual shape Miri and Leo's happy ending took and how it worked well for them.
I liked Miri, her powers were interesting to read about and I liked how she was always aware of the danger her powers could pose even though she struggled to control them. I liked seeing her interact with Leo and I liked their romance. Leo seemed a bit less interesting of a character at first, but the more I got to know him the more I liked him. His sunshine personality, but also how he could be a bit reckless with his heart of the right place. They made for a great couple and fit well together. I liked seeing them find their way back together. There is not much drama and I liked they cleared things up relatively fast.
I liked how this book expanded on the topics the previous books had introduced as well as some new interesting twists and characters. The world comes more alive with each book. It also was nice to spend more time on Halcyon in this book and see more of the communities there, but also showed how they aren't perfect either.
To summarize: This was another great read in this series. I wanted to keep reading and see where the plot and romance would go. Miri and Leo were close until Miri pushed him away and now they have to team up to solve a crime. The murder mystery style plot combined with Miri's fears about her powers made for an interesting plot. I liked Miri and Leo together and I liked how their happy ending took a different shape than I see in most books, but a shape that was perfect for them. I liked how this book continues some of the topics that got introduced in book 2, but also works as standalone read. The world gets expanded in each book in this series and I liked seeing more of the world and more time spend on Halycon in this book as well as reading about the powers of the genetically modified kids who are now adults. Mindi Briar
Miri harbors a secret, and if it comes to light, it may cost her everything. As part of the Ediya Experiments, a group of children genetically modified with dragon DNA, Miri must hide her ability to see emotions in color. But that’s not easy when she keeps accidentally altering people’s feelings, often with disastrous results. When her latest mistake ends in her losing her job, she’s desperate to find a way to control the powers she never wanted. Leo has been hiding his crush on Miri ever since they were children. But when she shows up in his hometown, adrift and looking for answers, even wounded feelings can’t keep his past love from rekindling. He doesn’t understand why she insists on holding him at arm’s length. When the two of them witness a shocking crime in Leo’s idyllic community, the investigation pushes them together, forcing them to admit feelings they thought long buried. But as they uncover secrets that cast an ugly light on their society, they find their lives unmoored. Miri’s powers are more dangerous than she knows, and if she can’t get them under control, their future—and the world—could go up in flames. The Invisible Bright (The Halcyon Universe)