Unchained [Paperback]

C. J. Barry (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: New Concepts Publishing (January 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586086839
• ISBN-13: 978-1586086831
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,380,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

C.J. grew up reading science fiction novels, comic books, and her brother's Cracked magazines. In high school, a creative writing teacher told her she should be a writer, but she decided to go to college instead. In college, a writing professor told her she should be a writer, but she decided to be a computer programmer instead. A husband, a cat and two kids later, an adult education teacher told her she should be a writer. She finally gave in, and after selling the first novel she ever wrote, decided that all those teachers were right. Nine novels later, she continues to bring her unique blend of high adventure and sizzling romance to her novels.

C.J has won numerous awards for her novels, and is a member of the Romance Writers of America.

By day, she works as a web developer. By night, she dreams up adventures and pens the books she was destined to write.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like watching Han Solo and Princess Leia clash., February 10, 2006

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Unchained (Paperback)

Cidra's father had been in charge of ensuring the vaccine for the cursed Ximenes Plague left Avion with the destination of Dakru, where the d'Hont live. But the shipment never arrived on Dakru. In typical Dakruian tradition, the d'Hont killed the entire Faulkner family. They never realized one child escaped.

For ten years Cidra lived with Syrus, her father's old friend. In secret, Syrus taught her the ways of the Kin-sha warrior. The Kin-sha training was banned the same night the Avion government stood quietly by and let the d'Hont slaughter all the Faulkners. Other than Syrus, the only friend she has is the man called Barrios, a chef. When Syrus dies, Cidra and Barrios are the only ones at the funeral. In fact, they were still digging the grave when they are approached by Grey Stone. Grey is an intergalactic treasure hunter and had trained with Syrus before Cidra.

A few days prior to Syrus's death, he contacted Grey and made him promise to take Cidra on as part of his crew. Barrios goes along as the new ship's cook. Though Grey is close to locating his next treasure, he must put it aside in order to grant Syrus's last request. Grey and Cidra are to discover the real fate of the Dakru shipment, clear her father's name, and save the Kin-sha. One major problem: Dakru has learned that Cidra lives and the entire d'Hont race wants her dead!

***** It is no wonder to me that this story was a 2002 PRISM Award finalist or that it won the RIO Award! In fact, this has got to be one of the very best Science Fiction Romances I have ever read. The story hooked me in the very first sentence, when young Cidra wakes up in the middle of her family's slaughter. The ending is just as climatic. Oh, and don't expect to breath easy anywhere in between those two areas. This tale is non-stop action and romance. If you enjoyed watching Han Solo and Princess Leia click and clash in the original Star Wars trilogy, then you are going to LOVE this one! Highly recommending! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular action adventure/mystery within a romance, July 12, 2006

By 

Darkcat_ak "darkcat_ak" (Alaska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unchained (Paperback)

As a young girl, Cidra Faulkner was the only member of her family to escape when her family was massacred. Now, many years later she has been trained in the forbidden arts of a Kin-Sha warrior and her mentor has summoned Grey Stone to help her find the truth behind her families' murder.

Grey Stone is an intergalactic treasure hunter. When his old teacher and mentor sends him a cryptic message, he drops everything, only to arrive after the old mans death. While he is the best at finding lost and forgotten relics, nothing has prepared him for taking on Cidra, a woman with a death warrant attached to her name.

Just as suddenly as the two are thrown together, they are sent on a mission that will either kill them or absolve Cidra's family of a crime they didn't commit as well as save a planet from a plague that is more than anyone originally thought.

Hold onto your space helmet, you will need the oxygen it provides to read UNCHAINED. Cidra's story is very fast paced and the mystery had me holding my breath quite a bit as I anxiously tried to read faster to find out what would happen next.

Cidras' father was in charge of delivering a shipment of a much needed vaccination that was never delivered. While many years have passed, our hero and heroine currently have a space chart, a video-copy of the shipment blowing up as well as a vial from the lost shipment. Now it is up to our couple to find out what happened to the shipment and along the way convince the "bad guys" that they have been told lies all these years.

CJ Barry has done a wonderful job writing UNCHAINED. The story is fast paced, and flows from one event into the next seamlessly. While this didn't bother me in the least I thought I'd mention that the romance between our couple is secondary to the action adventure-mystery that they are trying to unravel in the story. I think it's a testament to CJ Barry's writing ability that she has also allowed Grey and Cidra the time to form any kind of attachment.

Cidra and Grey are forced to rely on each other and I would say that their relationship forms out of admiration for each others abilities. Cidra had been protected by their mentor and while strong in mind and body she is unaware of the real world. Grey has acquired the cynicism of one disillusioned with life as he is betrayed by associates in his profession. So Cidra gave Grey a fresh view of life. Both are strong and determined and I liked them both.

CJ Barry has become one of my favorite authors, and while UNCHAINED is not part of her "UN" series, it is not a book to be missed!