Only Cold Depths

Galactic Bonds, Book 4

By: Jennifer Estep

Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang, James Fouhey

New York Times best-selling author Jennifer Estep continues her Galactic Bonds series with a new action-packed adventure that blends science fiction, fantasy, and historical romance. This rollicking space opera features a mix of magic and technology, along with a soulmates story and “Pew! Pew! Pew!” battle scenes. Perfect for fans of Star Wars, Dune, Bridgerton, and Pride and Prejudice.

A woman who can’t control her power ...

Everyone knows the name Vesper Quill. I used to be a lowly lab rat working in a Regal-owned corporation, but thanks to my truebond with Kyrion Caldaren, I’m now one of the most wanted fugitives in the Archipelago Galaxy.

Kyrion and I have spent the last few weeks avoiding bounty hunters, along with the Arrows, the elite Imperium warriors tasked with capturing us. Now we’ve journeyed to a distant planet that’s supposed to be a refuge for truebonded couples, but when new enemies appear, we’re once again in grave danger.

As a seer, inventor, and engineer, I’m skilled at figuring out how things work, but I can’t quite understand my growing magic and newfound psionic abilities. The clock is ticking, and if I don’t figure out how to tap into my power, I’ll doom myself to a gruesome fate, along with Kyrion.

A man who can’t let go of his fear ...

As Kyrion Caldaren, I’m used to being respected and feared, especially given my telekinesis, telepathy, telempathy, and other powerful psionic abilities. What I’m not used to is being on the run, but as a rogue Arrow, I’ll do anything to protect Vesper.

Just when I think we’ve finally reached a safe haven, trouble finds us again, reigniting all my fears about losing Vesper.

When the cold depths of our enemies’ plan are finally revealed, the truth is more terrifying than anything I could imagine. Soon Vesper and I are fighting for our lives again, but even with our growing truebond power, this is one battle we might not survive.

©2024 Jennifer Estep (P)2024 Audible, Inc.

Glad for the next installment

Was a good next installment and voice actors did great job. The storyline was enjoyable but at times too predictable. Like about time someone get captured and few minutes later listening the whole sequence for expected kidnapping started.

Not say was bad just kind of know what would be happening. Not when to whom or how.

Good story

I’m not sure why this book were the one before didn’t get a better review. The series is good and the story is good. I’ll buy it a little predictable. I understand that people felt book 3 could’ve been an Novella, which I agree with, but I don’t believe that should cause poor reviews again the story was enjoyable and I like the characters. Happy I purchased and will do it again if given the choice.

Entertaining

Plenty of action and character development & growth as the couple struggle to evade assassins & bounty hunters. The narrator did a nice job.

Thank goodness for found family

Zane: “This is what is called mutually assured destruction… or perhaps triply assured destruction,
since three of us are involved in this ...”

The villains have no redeeming qualities. Their evil plans are formulaic (steal the experimental weapon, kidnap one or the other MC, go off on a villain monologue mid-fight scene, etc.)

The author has a hangup on certain phrases, like referring to Kyrian’s “Safsidian eyes” or how his “inner monster purred with satisfaction.” This book repeats Vespyr’s inner monologue about her uselessness ad nauseum.

Thank goodness for the frenemy quartet of Vesper/Kyrion and Astrid/Zane. Their banter and bickering was my favorite. I also liked that the second half gives Vesper a bigger found family. But, really, it was the Astrid/Zane/Kryrion threeway that stole the show - no, not that kind of threeway: the triply assured destruction, trifecta standoff, or threepeat of frenemy-chemistry was the best part of this story.

Sidenote: the narrators are awesome, however the number of pew pews and booms is just begging for the graphic audio, sound effect treatment.

Not the best of the series

Nothing much compared to the previous 3 books. I think this one has run its course