#jovianson

[trinigirlreader]

Review of 'Jovian Son' by Kim Catanzarite

Finally got the time to finish this...and I'm so glad I was able to!

This is the second novel, and the conclusion of the Jovian Duology, with the first book being 'They Will Be Coming for Us' by an author that was new to me, Kim Catanzarite. She was kind enough to reach out to me, to offer me the chance to read an ARC of this, and I felt so honored and happy to be chosen for the opportunity! Thanks again, Kim!

The plot begins with us catching up with Svetlana and her son, Evander. Ten years have passed since our heroine gave birth and ran off with him to her homeland of Russia, to stay with her adopted sister, Helena, and her family in an obscure and tiny town. Hiding from the Jovians, whom she knows are just biding their time until they take Evander to aid in the fulfillment of their plans to "take over the world," she is overprotective and paranoid, to the point where she has stopped her son from having many outside connections. But her plans are all for naught, as the Jovians find her; and her worst nightmare comes to life- they take Evander away from her. What follows is her unrelenting search and recovery for her son- bouts of bravery and cowardice, feelings of hope and despair, moments of happiness and sadness, while she struggles with the Jovians for her son's, and planet Earth's future.

I really liked Sveta in the first novel; her character was well-written and funny. However, I did not connect to her emotionally in a major way, she was just another good book heroine. In this second installment though, I felt for her every moment! Can you imagine what it must be like to live alone with the knowledge of aliens, with no one around you believing you or supporting you? Sveta handled it all with much aplomb (even during her more paranoid moments), while I can acknowledge I would have been a complete mess. I sympathized with her so much, and she was the best part of this whole book for me. I am so glad that she got her HEA in the end.

Beyond that, this was an engrossing and enjoyable read. There were some holes in the storyline I wished had been fleshed out a bit more, for example, what exactly happened to Evander after the Jovians got their hands on him?? I know, I know, the book was more about Sveta, but boy, do I hope and pray we get a book about him! Otherwise, this was an absolutely entertaining and satisfying culmination of the series. There were no instances of vulgar language, and one very minor erotic scene, so I would say this is suitable for persons as young as teens, going up to the more mature. Some minor triggers: loss of a loved one, "kidnapping" of a child, depression, but again, nothing to stop anyone from relishing this.

Kim, please let me see a book for Evander soon, as I am not ready to leave the Jovians yet!