Title: Fractal
Author: Rachel J. Mannino
Genre: Science Fiction / Romance
Rating: 4,5 stars
Purchase: Amazon
Review copy provided by Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.
Anna keeps to herself in rural North Carolina, raising her younger brother and never dreaming she might not be human. A ship descends from the sky and the handsome alien, Varick, proclaims that she is the long-lost ruler of his planet, forced to flee from their world by an experiment gone wrong. Determined to discover her heritage, she journeys with Varick to their abandoned planet. Along the way, Varick strengthens her belief in herself as she struggles to be the leader her people need. Anna discovers that as soon as they return, the Council will force her to marry a man she’s never met, even while her heart is drawn towards Varick. A romance between the Vadana and her Protector is forbidden above all, and can only end in Varick’s death. A prophet warns Anna and Varick that they can heal their solar system, but they can’t let anything stand in their way. Their growing love for each other will either save their world, or bring about destruction.
In Fractal, Anna has led a mostly quiet life – until now. She’s spend the last years taking care of her borther, raising him after her parents’ death, running a flower shop, and basically just being an ordinary person. That is, until the handsome alien Varick who shows up, who claims she’s the long-lost ruler of his planet, forced to flee from their world. Determined to find out more about who she truly is, Anna lets Varick take her with him, but the choice of finding out more about her home, her legacy, is not without consequences.
If Varick, the Protector, falls in love with the Vadana, in this case Anna, it could have disastrous consequences for both of them. As Anna learns that upon her return, the Council will force her to marry a man she’s never met, and a prophet tells Anna and Varick that they can heal their solar system, if they let nothing stand in their way, she begins to question if her feelings for Varick are real, and if so, if she can trust her own heart or needs to deny it.
This book reminded me a lot of Pocahontas, but then set in outer space. Anna falls for Varick although they’re vastly different, and they can’t be together because others won’t allow it (so in that way, it reminded me of Pocahontas and John Smith’s relationship). Of course, it’s a very different story! The world author Rachel J. Mannino creates is very large, and I feel like we’ve only seen a fraction from it in this book, and much more is to come.
Varick was, no doubt, my favorite character. Handsome, headstrong men do tend to be my favorites in fiction, and he fits that bill.
Fractal is an intriguing, sizzling scifi romance about love, choices, consequences and destiny.
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