Homecoming by Cecilia Robert

Homecoming by Cecilia Roberts
Series: Cloaked Devices
Published by Self Pub on 10/25/2013
Genres: PNR, Sci-Fi, Steampunk
Pages: 121
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley
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Five years ago, twenty-three-year-old panther shifter Sera Czedar left her home and her newly mated groom in a humiliating position after a mating ceremony gone wrong. She built a new life for herself in Varselles, the City of Outcasts where shifters exiled from their clans in the Seven Kingdoms can go for sanctuary.

Five years ago, panther shifter Levian Grayson was abandoned on the bonding bed by his bride, Sera. After years of tracking her, he arrives in Varselles, intent on staking his claim on her once and for all, even if it means hauling her over his shoulder just to make sure that happens.

Sera has always known her homecoming would eventually catch up with her one day. The one thing she can’t bear to do is hurt Levian, which will happen as soon as he finds out the reason she left him. Is she ready to take that path? Most of all, will Levian still want her when the truth comes out?

Homecoming is a great novella.

Levian Grayson is an interesting character.  He’s the Beta of their Kingdom and even his marriage doesn’t mean he’ll become Alpha because his bride will inherit that title.  If she ever comes home that is.  However, that doesn’t mean he isn’t alpha in his own right, he’s strong and intelligent and the only thing that really separates him from most alpha hero characters is he isn’t a total a-hole.  I mean he has a temper, but he’s aware of it and tries to keep it in check.  He hasn’t turned into playboy #1 in order to prove that he doesn’t miss his wife – whom he’s always loved – or say harsh things about her.  When he learns she fights for money he’s kind of turned on by it.  And when he learns the real reason she left, he doesn’t go all berserker on her.  He’s a winner!

Sera Czedar starts off being a bit of a silly young girl, but five years of living as an Outcast has made her strong.  Granted she made some poor choices that cost her quite a bit, but she knows they’re her own fault and that someday she’d have to face them.  She does what she needs to in order to survive and she hunts for some magical and dangerous books that she plans to bring home in order to atone.  When Levian shows up, she doesn’t go all stubborn female and get them all nearly killed.  BIG points there.  I like her progression as a character.

The side characters are quite interesting as well and I’d say more but I’m trying really hard not to spoil the plot here or give away her secrets too early.

The world is an interesting take on alternate history/steampunk.  Names of cities and titles are familiar-ish, but just off enough to make them their own thing.  She also does a good job of setting up the rules of society.  It’s quite easy to get sucked into this world and to catch on to how it operates.

It’s only a little over 120 pages so a quick read that has a lot of story packed in, but not in a messy way.  Definitely worth checking out.