Mini-Review: In Command – Aileen Erin
In Commandby Aileen Erin
Series: Aunare Chronicles #2.5
Also in this series: Off Planet, Off Balance, On Mission
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Publication Date: February 23, 2021
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance
Pages: 204
Source: Purchased
My rating:
An Aunare Chronicles Novella
Amihanna di Aetes is used to fighting, surviving, and relying on her strength to get through the hard times. She thought the worst was over when she accepted her engagement to Lorne ni Taure, the High King of the Aunare, and claimed her place as the future High Queen.
It should be easy to slide into her new role. How hard can it be living in luxury with your soulmate after growing up alone on the streets?
But the more she learns about the Aunare and their politics, the more she realizes that the true test of her strength is just beginning.
Amihanna di Aetes is in for the battle of her life if she wants the Aunare to accept her.
Content notes: View Spoiler »
This is a 40k novella made to show Amihanna figuring out how to fit in with Aunare society, slotted in between Off Balance and On Mission. As such, it can’t be read without reading the previous books.
“I could never regret being with Lorne, but the rest of it… The rest of it was a lot to digest, and it was only day one. Day one of my new forever.“
Amihanna’s agreed to marry Lorne and take her place by his side as the High Queen, but it seems the Aunare people are still against her, including the High Council. And if they can’t even gain the approval of their own people, how can they hope to convince their allies to go to war against SpaceTech? Even worse, Lorne’s so busy with his work as High King that they barely have any time to talk, leaving her feeling even more at a loss for how to handle herself. How can she show the Aunare people who she really is?
After the overly sweet romance in the last book, I liked how this novella focused less on them and more on the politics behind the inevitable war. Don’t get me wrong, there is still quite a bit on some of the problems Lorne and Amihanna will have to overcome in their relationship (along with Lorne’s wailing over how he’s failing Amihanna). But the good thing, in my eyes, is that with Lorne swamped with his own work, Amihanna’s given the time to come into her own again. She and Roan hatch a plan, one that will hopefully prove to the Aunare (and the rest of the universe) exactly who she is. There’s also a bit more of a focus on her relationship with her mother, which I thought was missing from the last book. After all, Amihanna’s not the only one who was stuck on Earth. I found it a bit unbelievable that literally none of the points Amihanna raises were thought of by, uh, anyone except her apparently, but I was so thankful to for the lack of sappiness that I just went along with it.
Overall, after seeing Amihanna’s growth and a preview of the political wranglings, I’m even more excited for the next book!
One Comment