Customer Reviews

Shamara (Shielder Series, Book 3)

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Catherine Spangler is a genius! Her SHIELDER series is just brilliant! I looked for the first book of this marvelous series forever and finally Catherine sent it to me herself when she asked me to review SHADOWER, the second book of this series. I have thoroughly enjoyed this whole series and SHAMARA is no exception.

SHAMARA is the story of Jarek san Ranul and Eirene Kane and what a story it is! This story takes us all over the galaxy and back again. Eirene is an Enhancer but she does everything in her power to try to hide the fact. Controllers have already wiped out the Enhancer population but a few still pop up every now and again. When Jarek suspects what Eirene is, he tries his best to get her to help but she's denied the fact that she is an Enhancer for so long she refuses and tells him he's mistaken. Unfortunately circumstances are working against Eirene and time is of the essence to Jarek. Jarek cannot let the Controllers wipe out any more Shielder colonies. It is just too heartbreaking to hear about another whole colony being decimated without one survivor. Pretty soon the Shielder population will be as non-existent as the Enhancer population. Can Jarek finally convince Eirene to help him and can they eventually admit their love for each other? What will Eirene do when she finds out that Jarek killed her father? How will Jarek tell her that her father was a traitor to the Shielder population and an evil man and that Jarek had to kill him so he wouldn't kill another Shielder.

This world that Catherine Spangler has created is as real to me as it can be. The characters are amazing and the fact that I can visit all of the beloved characters over again in each and every book is just a bonus in my opinion. Even though each story is a stand alone, the books are all that much better when they are read together! I eagerly look forward to Catherine Spangler's next book. Courtesy of The Best Reviews

Women on Travan are only good either for breeding purposes or for trading for goods and services. Eirene Kane had hoped to escape those fates because she's a gifted healer, but her uncle has other plans for her. He's going to barter her virginity for a trade route. Eirene can't let that happen; it would only be a matter of time before her betrothed discovered that she's an Enhancer. So she stows away on a passing ship traveling to Saron. There she seeks employment as a courtesan, planning to rid herself of her irksome virginity quickly to make her worthless as trade fodder for her uncle. She'll use her gifts as an Enhancer to make the encounter swift, and then be on her way. Too bad her client seems immune to her mind manipulations.

Jarek san Ranul stands as the guardian between his people and extension. His people are Shielders, genetically resistant to the Controllers' mind manipulation. He's found a wormhole that possibly leads to Shamara, meaning sanctuary, for his people. Jarek believes that Enhancers, a race now believed to be extinct, had the ability to use a portal to travel to other galaxies. With such a heavy burden always with him, Jarek has never sought a relationship with a woman. Sick to death of being alone, he allows himself to be talked into a visit to the Pleasure Dome for a night of warmth and comfort in a woman's arms. He's stunned to learn the woman is a virgin. But an assignation attempt proves the woman to have the very gifts he seeks to aid his people.

SHAMARA by Catherine Spangler is an outstanding read. With the perfect blend of psychic gifts, space travel and old fashioned romance, Spangler creates a novel readers will find impossible to put down. Eirene proves her extraordinary valor time and again as she puts other's needs ahead of her own. Likewise, Jarek's concern for the survival of his people is only outshined by his concern for Eirene, a difficult balance indeed. Furthermore, the secondary story of the dangerous Leor Commander Gunnar juxtaposed by the lighthearted courtesan Lani, the "blue-feather lady" from the Pleasure Dome, provides comic relief for an otherwise very intense story. This fast paced plot with its wonderful secondary plot line will please previous fans in addition to earning many new ones. The carefully balanced characterizations and action make SHAMARA a Winner of the WordWeaving Award of Excellence.

"Shamara" is one of the few well written world building futuristic romance books. Of Spanglers first 4 books, "Shamara" is the best book in the series.

Some authors believe that to be a Futuristic, all you need are some lasers and space ships. That is not what a futuristic sci-fi world is all about.

In "Shamara", Spangler describes: Eirine's world on Travern, where the women are like slaves; the culture of the Leors; life of a prostitue in a Pleasure Dome; the genocide of Enhancers & Shielders; the mental powers of the Enhancers & Shielders; laranxs; smugglers; alien enemies & bounty hunters; the Shens on Aldon; and much more.

There was a discussion on the Paranormal Romance Lists that if you take out the sci-fi out of a futuristic romance, can the story work, or is it really just another romantic plot that could be placed in any time period. This is one book that is truly a futuristic, it would not be able to exist if there were not any sci-fi elements. Spangler surpasses herself by creating a richly detailed universe.

Not only was the sci-fi level in this book great, but as a romance, it had just the right touch of angst, love, and loyalty.

Jarek, is a sympathetic hero, and although he is not a complete Alpha male, he will take control and do anything in his desperation to save the extermination of his people. Eirene, the heroine, loves him for his sincerity and loyalty to his race.

Both H/H were very fleshed out 3 dimensional characters. The reader could understand both characters emotions and actions. A lot of romance books tell you about the Hero being arrogant, take charge, dominating, stubborn, and courageous. While the heroine, is always fighting off her emotions and being basically stubborn as well. In "Shamara" the actions and emotions are felt by the reader and not just told like the typical romance novel. We see Jarek's desperation for an Enhancer's help and why he's attracted to Eirene. We also see Eirene's desperation in hiding her powers, her fear of the powers, her fear of being found by the Leor who her uncle sold her to, and why she is attracted to Jarek who is completely different from any of the men from her home planet. You also feel her confusion and anger when she finds out that Jarek was involved in her father's death. Both the character's had a rhyme and reason, and all I can think of is "Finally!"

They both fight their attraction for another not just because the typical they don't want to get involved, but because they are determined to carry out their mission: Jarek in saving his people, and Eirene in becoming a healer.

I cried when Jarek hid Eirene and Rani then tried to suicide. It was a very enjoyable and well written book in both the futuristic and romance category. I would highly recommend this book. It is not necessary to read any of the other books in the series to read this one.

On Travan, Eireen is stunned when her avaricious Uncle Vaden informs her that he bartered her as a virgin bride to the powerful Leors for a trade route. Though she knows as a female that she has no rights, she pleads with her uncle to reconsider especially since she possesses healing powers. He tells his niece that her virginity is worth more than her healing prowess, or else he would have sampled the goods. Eireen knows that her mind-seeing future spouse will quickly learn she is an Enhancer, a trait that will mean her demise.

Desperate to escape, Eireen must rid herself of her virginity so she enters the pleasure dome where she meets Shielder Jarek san Ranul, who was left for dead by his foes. Jarek fully recovers and he realizes the virgin with him had to be an Enhancer using healing powers to save his life. He believes that Eireen could be the key to saving the Shielders from the genocide of the Controllers. However, he soon finds his responsibility as a leader conflicting with the needs of his heart to protect Eireen, the woman he loves.

With SHIELDER, SHADOWER, and now SHAMARA, Catherine Spangler has earned a high place among the elite of the science fiction romance sub-genre. The story line of her current tale is fast-paced, loaded with action that will please fans of both genres and adheres to the principles of the society that the author depicted in the previous novels. Eirene is a strong heroine while Jarek is trapped in a dilemma because he needs to endanger the woman he wants to keep safe leading to a superb story.

Harriet Klausner

Jarek san Ranul is fully aware of the fate of his people, the Shielders. The Controllers massacred most of the Shielders fearing their powers -- they are genetically resistant to Controllers' mind power. Any individual who shows the gift of mind power is put to death. The few survivors were scattered. Jarek finds evidence of a wormhole, a vortex to another galaxy, which can provide escape and he needs help to open it to find SHAMARA for his people.

Eirene Kane is Enhancer, one of a genetic few with a powerful gift. Enhancers can enter a mental plane of existence where thoughts are communicated to others even though their bodies might be light years apart. She is hiding her identity and a dark secret and on the run from her dangerous uncle who has traded her virginity for a trade route. Her flight hurls her into the arms of Jarek, a man who steals her heart and uncovers her secret.

Shamara is an engaging Futuristic romance filled with passion and love so much so that sub-genre fans will enjoy feasting on the tale. The magic of this novel lies in the characters who seem so real that Ms. Spangler must have met them in some far away place rather than her fertile imagination. Oh, what a set of secondary characters SHAMARA has, you will laugh your way through Lani's part in this book, right down to the unconventional stuff she did at the end. The fast-paced story line is exciting and the insight into many exciting characters is cleverly intermingled into the plot. Let me just say this, if you want a sensual book with tons of excitement, and thrills; this is the series for you. So hang onto your hearts and get set for a memorable, fast-paced tale that puts Catherine Spangler on your must read list!

I loved Catherine's first 2 books (Shadowder and Sheilder) and was looking forward to this one. I am so impressed, that as much as I loved the first 2, Shamara is even better! It was great to see Jarek get his own story, Eirene is a wonderful heroine and I loved the secondary characters, esp Lani! I am looking forward to more in this extraordinary series!!!

If you've been reading the author's other Shielder stories, then you can safely give this one a pass-by. The only good thing about it is the small subplot where we find out how Lani and Gunnar of Leor met. For the rest, it's just a tiresome recital of Eirene running away from this person or that planet and/or running away from her past/present, and Jarek tracking her down for the greater good of the Shielder people. Eirene has all of the emotional range of a 13 year old (my apologies to any 13 year olds who are reading this), and Jarek is just so heroic that it's tiresome. Although there's a lot of "action", nothing really ever happens - just a lot of people traipsing back and forth around the same portion galaxy. And please, every humanoid species worships the same god (given that oh-so-original name, "Spirit")? Characters from other stories have bit-part roles, but the main characters are so stereotypically semi-tragic that they become annoying. As to their romance, it's another one of those stories where they go at each other like rabbits in heat but lack the ability to say "I love you" until the last page. By the end of the book, I didn't really care if Eirene lived or died. Don't waste your money on this one.

Shamara is the third in the `Shielder series' book by the very talented Catherine Spangler. She started out in Futuristic Romance back when it was still getting its wings and her Shielder books helped define and set the standard for this genre. Spangler gives you George Lucas fantasy Off-World planets, and then proceeds to make you see them through her eyes. Her vivid writing conveys every detail of their world, allows you to experience it But more so, she never forgets the romance. She always gives you very human characters. Not the perfect hero and heroine, but very down to earth...well, very human characters with flaws. It's through these flaws you get the emotions, the involvement that won't let a reader put her stories down.

In Shamara, the third in the series (though they are stand alone and can be read out of order you enjoy them more if you do them in order). On the planet Travern the women are little better than slaves, so it's not surprising when Eirene Kane is told by her greedy uncle she is going to be bartered away as a virgin bride to the powerful Leors. On her planet she has no rights, yet she pleads with her uncle to reconsider her fate. She argues she is s healer. He merely laughs that her virginity was worth more to him. In her `mind-seeing', she learns that she in an Enhancer, and that her future spouse will learn this secret sealing her doom.

The Controllers, the rules of this quadrant, has wiped out the Enhancers, though obviously they missed a few here and there. So Eirene must hide that she is one. Desperate to escape her fate, she knows she must rid herself of her virginity, so she enters a pleasure dome where she meets a Shielder, Jarek san Ranual.

The Controllers have been destroying the Shielder colonies, and Jarek was left for dead. Jarek is determined to prevent The Controllers from destroy more Shielders, but he needs Eirene's help. However, she refuses to admit she is an Enhancer. He believes she is the key to saving the Shielders, but he needs Eirene to trust him. The big stumbling block - Jarek killed her father, a traitor to the Shielders.

Spangler just won a RITA nomination for Shadow Fires, the latest Shielder book, and small wonder. Shamara demonstrates the unbelievable brilliance with which Spangler conjures these far away worlds. It's a powerful, moving book that just doesn't get any better than this.

SHAMARA by Catherine Spangler is the third in a series of romances set in another time, another galaxy. I thought this was a decent read, but it wasn't as good as the first book in the series.

The hero of SHAMARA is Jarek san Ranul (Nessa's brother), who is now the leader of the Shielders, a race of people being systemically destroyed by the evil Controllers. Jarek has a bounty on his head and has a daring plan to bring his people to Sanctuary - known as Shamara - but he needs an Enhancer to help him.

The heroine, Eirene, is an Enhancer. She's also on the run from her abusive uncle, who intends to marry her off to a Leor commander in order to gain new trade routes. Just when Eirene thinks she's free of all the men in her life, Jarek kidnaps her. Now she has to escape him as well.

I thought Eirene and Jarek were okay characters. On the positive side, they had some chemistry together. On the negative side, Jarek spent too much time apologizing and Eirene spent too much time doubting herself and keeping everything a secret. She got annoying, fast. Especially since all she did is try to escape Jarek over and over, with negative consequences each time.

The characters I really enjoyed were two minor characters: the courtesan Lani and the Leor Commander Gunnar. Now THERE was a couple with fun dialogue, interesting scenes, and hot chemistry. I would have rather read their story, and enjoyed every scene they were in. I even found myself counting pages until their next scene, just cuz they were so good together.

Regarding the plot of SHAMARA, I have to agree with another reviewer that there were way too many coincidences in the story to make it believable. Also, this story suffered from jargon issues. It's set in another galaxy, but characters say things like "okay" and "hey," very American dialogue. Things like this took away from the "realism" of the story.

Anyway, it's an alright read. Entertaining, but not a keeper. If you are interested in this book, however, its series begins with SHIELDER (the best), followed by SHADOWER (which I loathed), and then SHAMARA. SHADOW CROSSING and SHADOW FIRES follow.

My introduction to this author came from Shadow Fires. I really liked that book and was looking forward to this one. I wouldn't recommend this one (try the library or a friend or used first). It isn't bad, it just is incredibly annoying. Too many coincidences, to many people standing at just the right time to help. Also, The heroine is another whiny, annoying female. She wants freedom, but boo hoo I can't help anyone else. She just takes and takes and people cover up for her. If she wants to be free, then she needs to deal with the consquences of all her actions. True adults don't run from responsiblities. When she gets absolved of her guilt(another coincidence) she suddenly can grow up and take charge of her life. If you read this book look for Lani and Gunnar - their interaction is the only interesting part of this book.