Heat by R. Lee Smith

Heat by R. Lee Smith
SUMMARY 

Earth. A world quarantined since its discovery by the Far-Reachers of Jota's history. And where the fortunes of slavers and chemists have been made ever since.

It was to Earth that Kanetus E'Var, the son of Jota's most ruthless slaver, escaped to make Vahst, a powerful drug manufactured from the human brain. And it was to Earth that Tagen Pahnee, Fourth-ranking officer of the Jotan Off-World Security Fleet, was sent to bring the criminal back to justice. Neither of them could have anticipated that at that moment, E'Var's hunting grounds were experiencing the worst heat wave in years, triggering the Jotan breeding cycle in both males.

Home is not an option for either of them. Both are determined to find a way to work on this hostile planet, surrounded by humans, surrounded by dangers, surrounded by Heat.

MY REVIEW 

I liked the bad guy. I would have never wanted to meet him in person of course, but he is the most interesting out of the two main male/alien characters.
Because Kanetus E'Va aka Kane is a mean sonofthebitch. Let’s count his attributes:
• Brilliant mind
• He prefers to use his talons and his claws to kill
• He carries his Chemist bag and he is an awesome Chemist
• He likes to f@ck
• Drug dealer
• Son of the most notorious slaver and a slaver himself
• Sadist. A predator who plays with his food.

The other male character, Tagen Pahnee aka Tagen is your typical cop who runs after Kane in order to arrest him. Let’s count his attributes:
• Not such a brilliant mind. He is searching Kane on foot without realizing the magnitude of planet Earth, without knowing that there are cars he could use.
• He knows how to shoot
• He carries horrid weapons
• He likes to watch TV
• Man of law
• Man of honor and duty who goes by the book
• Good in bed

This book consists of two stories that run in parallel, but the result is the same for both. Two alien men will fall in love with two earth women.

Kane has just lost his drug dealer/slaver (but still beloved) father, his ship and his money and he is about to be transferred to the prison where he will spend the rest of his life. He will escape and he will cross the gate in order to get to Earth. Earth is a very friendly planet full of potential slaves. It is also good for hunting. Humans’ brains can be used to develop a Vahst, a powerful drug. If he kills enough people and get their juice, he may be able to buy a new ship and continue his father heritage.

Tagen has no clue the revolution that Earth has had the last few hundred years. All the people from Earth that he has met are previous slaves who have been saved and they live isolated close to his planet, Jotan. Not very friendly neighbors, not very advanced and not very cooperative. They usually die when they become 20 something after all this suffering at the slavers’ hands. So, when he follows Kane through the gate and lands on the Earth, he will be surprised. Humans from Earth are very highly developed. They have cars, computers and TV. They have visited space. According to him, in about 50 years they may even discover Jotan.

Kane knows his way around; he can speak the language since he has visited the planet many times mainly for business and not pleasure. Tagen knows absolutely nothing.

The extra parameter that will make our favorite aliens’ life a living hell is the HEAT. They will land on Earth in the middle of the summer. As a consequence, Jotan breeding cycle will be initiated in both males. And they will have to find females to seize the fire inside.

Kane will try several females (not very willing I have to say), but then he will choose Raven as a more permanent solution. His Raven after a while.
“You’ll do as I say, Raven. You have no idea the things I can do to you.”

Tagen will use Daria, because she is the first female he met and she is kind to him and understandable.
“You burn in my blood, Daria Cleavon. I will be ashes when I return. I will never be able to feel again.”

So, pick your favorite alien. Most probably, both will kill you. Kane because he enjoys killing, Tagen because he will have one more of his oops/what-have-I-done/sorry-my-mistake moments.

Every time I open a book by R. Lee Smith, I know that I am in for a few surprises. I know her fascinating worlds will blow my mind and I know I will think differently when I finish the book. The author does not hesitate to use raw violence and graphic rape scenes while the ethical boundaries are not most of the times clear.