When I read the first book, I was pretty sure I wasn't going to read the sequel, but I thought I'd give it a try since it is well written it's just a bit too political for my tastes. If you liked the first book, you'll like this one as it's more of the same. A lot of politics, a little bit of relationships and a crazy zealot plus some social commentary. A good read, but again, not sure if I'd read a sequel...

This was a great follow up to Contact. I loved seeing more of Todd and how he was dealing with his loss. I enjoyed learning about the alien culture of the Nentraee as the two peoples try and find common ground with the alliance. I was already hooked on this series after book one, with the amazing installment I seriously can't wait to see what the next book has to offer.

Following the continuation of Book One “Contact” which I read last year, and really enjoyed, I was delighted to find myself approved for this book within hours of requesting it. Therefore, my thanks to the publisher Nine Star Press, and I am pleased to have read and am reviewing almost immediately within receiving it. (If only all my requests worked out this way!)

Todd Landon is recovering from the attack that took his husband, and many of the Nantreaa that had arrived at Earth last year when they had first visited San Jose. He’s still grieving the loss, but he’s determined to help these visitors of another world settle in without too many hiccups along the way. Yet others are bound and determined to prevent them staying, fear, bigotry, and outright hatred making it difficult for him to do his job as well as he can.

Then there’s Mi’cen and his family. With the political aspects of this book proving to be challenging, as well as interesting in reading, Todd’s attempt at getting to know and understand Mi’cen’s family is fascinating to read and see through his eyes. I loved Todd’s interaction with Faa, a small creature that can speak, and I also liked how everyone was their own person and unique to the story. Each character breathed life to the pages that otherwise would have seemed to be dull and overly political when dealing with an alien ‘invasion’, though really the Nantreaa are more political refugees than anything, as they are trying to find a safe place to stay after their planet was destroyed, their sun having gone supernova.

The whole situation is a bit impressive build-up, and I found myself devouring each page. I really like the author’s writing style, and he explains things reasonably well without pandering or info-dumping the reader. My one complaint was the religious aspects of the book. Granted, it wasn’t bad, and more debatable between aliens and humans which is understandable, but attempting to sway aliens over to a god that they know nothing about? No. Sorry, but I don’t think that would actually fly. Not to mention “God is mysterious, his ways of hurting people always has a reason”-I never liked nor believed that was a good line to tell worshippers. You need to have a better reason than that to make innocent people suffer. Sorry, but that’s just my opinion.

Though since the religion aspect did actually matter and come to play a part in the story-surprising me completely, actually-I actually didn’t mind it overmuch. I found it was actually helpful in the plot as well, because of course when introducing aliens to a human world, they’re going to touch base on religion at some point or another, and it seemed that much more realistic than anything else.

But I digress.

The plot was excellent. The world-building was cool, and the aliens were unique and fascinating. I would have liked to have learned more about their technology, animals, and history, but it focused more on the characters than the actual history of the Nantreaa this time around. I’m hoping that those things will be more explored in book three, or perhaps four if this is a series and not a trilogy.

Overall, I’m definitely giving this a 5/5 stars, because this was a delicious LGBT science fiction with politics, humor, some pretty hefty action towards the end, and a HEA but with enough unresolved issues that it still leaves things wide open for at least two more books. I highly recommend reading these if you like realistic characters, believable science fiction, and a fast paced plot. Book three cannot come fast enough!

Have you ever wondered what life might be like if one morning you wake up to news reports saying that beings from another planet have arrived? If you have (I can’t be the only one) then you may enjoy M. D. Neu’s A New World series.

NineStar Press was kind enough to send me a copy of book one so I could read it in anticipation of book two, Conviction, which was is to be released into the wild on March 25, 2019.

The short blurb bit: Contact and Conviction are the first two installments in a science fiction series called A New World. Todd Landon is living a happy life with his husband, Jerry when things take a bizarre turn. Todd’s estranged brother, Brad shows up out of the blue one day to let them know that alien vessels are approaching earth. First contact with an alien species is about to happen.

The is a great ride through a sci-fi world of aliens, political intrigue and relationships.

The descriptive bit: In the first book of this series, Contact, the reader is introduced to Todd Landon and his partner, Jerry. They’re living a pretty normal silicon-valley life until one day, Todd’s brother shows up to tell them that aliens are coming. Naturally, Todd and Jerry find it difficult to believe that first contact is about to happen, but Todd knows his brother – in spite of their differences over the years (because Todd’s family didn’t approve of him being gay). In a very short period of time, all that Brad has predicted comes true and the US is faced with the daunting task of first contact with an alien race.

The other-worldly visitors are the Nentraee. They’re a humanoid race looking for a new world to call their home. As always, there are people on Earth who are threatened by things they don’t understand, and the initial meetings don’t go as well as planned.

As a member of a crack team of technology specialists, Todd finds himself meeting with the Nentraee. They meet, discuss technology and other human/Nentraee curiosities then head out late to the official function. One moment, Todd is driving to meet his husband at the meet and greet and then he’s fighting for his life after a terrorist attack. Without concern for himself, Todd protects the Nentraee at great personal cost, saving the life of Mi’ko. Days later when Todd awakens it’s to the devastating news that his husband, Jerry was killed in the attack meant to derail all the negotiations.

Mi’ko, the Vice-Speaker for the Nentraee, saved by Todd’s act of bravery is moved by such a selfless act. Despite his concern that humans may be too volatile a species, he chooses Todd to become Special Envoy for Terran Affairs.

The second book, Conviction, begins with Todd in his new position and battling all the backroom wheeling and dealing as the Nentraee and humans try to work out how their two civilizations can fit together.

The conspiracy to destroy the fragile alliance between the Nentraee and Earth continues and Todd is put in the unenviable position of trying to ensure the safety of the Nentraee and his family and friends. The conspiracy seems to be embedded all around Todd and he has to learn who he can trust and continue to be the person that the Nentraee feel he is.

To help with his position, Todd agrees to move on to one of the Nentraee ships. It’s overwhelming at first but he relies on his honesty and integrity to get him through uncomfortable situations.

There’s resistance to the Nentraee/human alliance from both sides and it’s a tangled web of deceit and political maneuvering.

General Gahummed of the Nentraee remains resistant to being involved with any humans, Vi-Narm seems neutral and Mi’Cin seems to be forward-thinking. But the Nentraee are difficult to read and Todd’s instincts leave him confused about their motivations.

The second novel ends with a dramatic turn and Todd, once again, having to stand up for what he believes in.

My thoughts bit: One of the things that I noticed about halfway through the second book in this series was that the language … the Nentraee words for things were slipping into my mind. Sometimes, I find a book with an alien language a bit cumbersome to read. Neu does a fantastic job of weaving in the Nentraee language and culture so seamlessly that by the end of Conviction I found I had absorbed a lot of it.

I also thought that the way Neu wrote about Todd’s grief was insightful. Throughout Conviction Todd is still mourning the loss of his husband, in fact, he sees Jerry and speaks to him during some of his most difficult times. As Todd and Mi’Cin become friends, Todd struggles with feeling a connection to someone else. He wrestles with feeling as though he is betraying his husband, moving on too soon and disrespecting their marriage. Of course, none of that is true, but it was wonderful to see a character so fully experience grief and the strange thought-patterns we go through when processing a tremendous loss.

The book contains an interesting exploration of the damage that homophobia can cause to a person’s sense of self. As Mi’Cin and Todd become closer, Todd’s past issues with his homophobic family return to haunt him. He wonders if Mi’ko feels negatively about Todd and Mi’Cin’s relationship. Sure, Todd’s family have taken significant steps to apologize and move forward, but it’s clear that their feelings in the past were damaging and affect how Todd feels about himself and his relationship.

I loved the intrigue and the clues that Neu wrote into Conviction. It’s a convoluted journey, and yet it’s enjoyable and intriguing! I’m looking forward to the continuation of this series.

The warnings bit: Mentions homophobia, some violence, hate speech.

Neu's book is about aliens that invade earth. The aliens, the nentraee form an alliance with earth and have an earthling report to the nentraee leadership.

I've been trying to think of how best to review this book has I loved its so much. Its a brilliant I found the Nentraee fascinating and love learning about their culture and all little details that were put in.
Its was great to catch up with Todd and see how he was doing after everything that happen to him in the first book. So much happen and i dont want to say to much and spoil its for anyone..
I would totally recommend its becoming a favorite series of mine and i'm hoping there will be a third book.
I received this book from net galley in exchange for a honest review.