Beyond the Shadows

by Jess Granger

Book Overview

Commander Yara must return home quickly and claim the Azralen throne to prevent war, but the only ship available belongs to the rebel Cyn, an Earthlen trader with no regard for authority - especially... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425234150
• ISBN13: 9780425234150
• Release Date: May 2010
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 307 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Sexy Shadows

I can not explain how much I loved this book! I have yet to read the first one, not realizing that this was the second in the series, but while reading it, one could hardly tell. The author did a great job of filling in the missing pieces. Yara and Cyn were a great coupling in my opinion. The characters were personable, and you actually had to remind yourself that they aren't human. How the romance blossoms is fantastic. It really gets you into the book! I couldn't put it down! I recommend this book to all romance lovers, and even science fiction ones too because there is a lot of paranormal activity in this book.

Beyond the Shadows

Commander Yara needs to get back to her planet quickly so that she can take up the mantle of the Azralen throne. Just her luck to find the only ship even available is run by an Earthling. However, Yara knows that time is not on her side from messages from allies on the planet. Getting on her way is the most important thing right now, so Yara settles for passage for her and her cat. Cyn is a rebel for a war that is about to break out on Azra. Only a couple of things need to be put into place for it to begin. One of them is Cyn getting Yara on his ship and delaying her travel to the planet. Cyn has arranged to be in place and things seemed to fall into place. That is until you count in that Yara isn't the cold commander he was expecting, and she doesn't really know who he is. Both Cyn and Yara discover fast that this isn't going to be a comfortable trip and that's before things go crazy. Yara is developing feelings for Cyn that she just isn't allowed to have. Cyn, for his part, is finding that underneath her icy exterior and training, Yara is a woman with an honorable heart and hunger. Attacks, unsure feelings, and a few other things put both Cyn and Yara's plans in limbo. The only thing that seems on track is the passion they should not surrender to and fail. Yara learns just who Cyn really is, which just begins a journey that opens her eyes on the truth about Azra. Trust is something neither Yara nor Cyn has given to many, but that's what it will take if they are going to find a way to put Azra back on the right path and find a way to be together forever. Danger and deceit follow two forbidden lovers in Beyond the Shadows. Yara has been in the Elite her entire life and believes that they are just and fair rulers. Cyn has seen both sides of Azra and knows that things can only be put right if the Elite are defeated. It was amazing watching as both discover that their beliefs were not exactly the truth and then let their hearts show the way. I was enthralled from the beginning and did not want to put this book down until it was over. All the adventures that Cyn and Yara had only served to enhance their path toward a love that was unheard of on their planet. I absolutely loved the final battle - the entire thing had me on the edge of my seat hoping that both Cyn and Yara would come out of it safely. Beyond the Shadows is a must read that draws you in immediately as Cyn and Yara find the true way home. While I don't think you need to read this series in order to enjoy it, I do believe that you will want to check out the first book Beyond the Rain to meet Cyn's sister Cyani and her adventures Jo Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Fantastic!

After reading "Beyond the Rain" I was fascinated by the worlds and characters Jess Granger created and "Beyond the Shadows" is another outstanding paranormal romance. There's finally hope for the lower classes on Azra. Rebel leader Cyn has a plan to free them from the ruling class. To make his plan work he has to prevent Commander Yara, heir to the throne on Azra, from going home for a few days. But it's easier said than done. He manages to get Yara on his ship but soon realizes that she is not the cold and cruel person he expected. Yara doesn't know what life really is for most people on her homeplanet. She also doesn't know that Cyn is a rebel leader trying to disempower her and the ruling class. The more they get to know each other the more it becomes clear, that there is some serious attraction between them. Cyn realizes that there may be another, even better way to save the people on Azra. But will Yara be willing to help him when she learns the truth about who he is? "Beyond the Shadows" has everything a great book needs. The characters are believable, likable and great (ok, the bad guys are really creepy and cruel). Jess Granger's way with words captured my interest right from the start and the worlds she created are breathtaking. Cyn is an extraordinary character. He really cares for the people on his homeplanet and is willing to do nearly everything to stop their suffering. He is a man of honour when it comes to what's right or wrong. He is suprised by Yara and soon realizes that she is so much more than just another soulless member of the Elite. Yara is a great, strong and caring person and even though at the beginning she stands on the side of the cruel ruling class she never was unlikeable. When Yara realizes what is really going on on her homeplanet she can't go on with the status quo and is willing to risk everything to help the suffering people. I loved all scenes with Yara and Cyn and how they got closer. They are a great couple and just right for each other. To see them happy and hopeful for the future was heartwarming. The mixture of funny, hot and sad scenes is perfect. Even though there are going on some heartbreaking events I never lost hope that Cyn and in the end also Yara would be able to bring the people on Azra a better future. All in all I enjoyed everything about "Beyond the Shadows" and hope that there will be more books in the series. There are so many interesting characters that would deserve their own story so I really hope for more books.

Beyond the Shadows

Excellent SF read - has a nice balance between the action and relationship subplots and characters you would like to know. I loved the first book and this one equaled and even surpassed it. Cyn [the hero] is frighteningly intelligent and powerful but still vulnerable. Yara [the heroine] has been brainwashed into the elitist policies - women, especially Elite women, rule by the right of superiority. Cyn has been fomenting a revolution to bring justice and equity to the planet. Pretending to be from Earth, Cyn intercepts Yara before she can return to take her place as the most likely heir to the Grand Sister [ruler]. Over time the adventures they share bring them steadily closer, and Yara begins to recognize injustice and Cyn begins to hope she'll forgive his deceptions... I really enjoyed both books - there is a setup for a third book so I'm hoping there will be more. Order is not hugely important but reading Rain first will make a few points clear that would be fairly murky without it. Beyond the Rain (2009) Beyond the Shadows (2010)

A stand out in this or any other genre

I loved Beyond the Rain and was overjoyed to see a new Futuristic/SciFi author on the scene. I had barely finished it when I started thinking how much I wanted to read Cyn's story. He's the brother of Cyani, the heroine of Beyond the Rain and although we didn't get a chance to see to much of him, we did learn that he is the leader of a rebellion on the planet Azra, a matriarchal society where women rule. Unfortunately, the woman who is the current ruler was a tyrant who persecuted the people of Azra, subjecting many of them to horrendous living conditions, thus sewing the seeds of rebellion. Yara is a member of the "elite", the highest class level who had been dispatched to hunt down Cyn, the leader of the upcoming rebellion. All this happened in Beyond the Rain, but I don't think you need to have read it to pick up where this book begins. I do recommend it though since it's a great book. Beyond the Shadows starts up with Yara trying to find a way off the military base and return to Azra. But Cyn has arranged it that he has the only ship leaving and under his guise as Cyrus Smith, an Earthlan trader, he tricks her into walking into the trap he has set. But it doesn't take long for him to realize that Yara isn't the cold hearted woman he believed her to be. Stubborn yes, focused on her duty, indeed, but he is surprised to learn she also has a heart. I'm in awe at how well done Ms. Granger has done with the character of Cyn. Although he comes from a place where women are the rulers and leaders, he doesn't lack in manly manliness for one moment. Rather he is alternately masculine, tender, brave, intelligent and in short, all things that make a great hero. He rose from the depths of despair to be a true leader of people. I ADORED him and I think many a reader will love him just as much as I did. And just as well drawn as Cyn is, so is Yara. Due to the way she was trained her entire life, she is a loner who has never had the chance to enjoy life. Political intrigue rules her life. She has been led to believe that the lower echelon of Azra are criminals and degenerates who deserve the despairing life they lead. But as she and Cyrus travel to different worlds, her eyes are opened to many of the injustices in the galaxy, softening her to seeing that Azra may just be one of the worst offenders of them all. The romance between Yara and Cyn is poignant and almost heartbreaking. They come from two very different places. His goal is to lead the rebellion against everything she has known and hers is to track down the rebel leader and maintain the status quo. Cyn is the first to fall for Yara, but he feels the weight of lying to her as to who he is and what his real goal is. Yara starts out as rather arrogant, a product of her upbringing and does her best to deny her growing feelings for Cyn. She knows he can't be a part of her future. You can feel the longing between them. I really admire authors who tackle this genre. Although they are bound by the rule