Review: Zall’s Captain by Amber Kell

Title: Zall’s Captain (Planetary Submissives: Book Three)

Author: Amber Kell

Pages/Word Count: 58 Pages

At a Glance: The Planetary Submissives series just gets better and better.

Reviewed By: Jennifer

Blurb: When ex-slave Zall is asked to be Captain Teslan’s cabin boy, he learns sometimes you have to bend your rules to offer your heart.

Zall is settling in on the ship Chalice chose for him. Even though he’s not a soldier, he’s learning from them and developing his own skills. When the ship changes captains, Zall has to decide if he’d rather keep his independence or offer himself to a man who might be everything he’s ever wanted…or his biggest mistake.

Danner Teslan has agreed to investigate a possible smuggling ring on a military ship. However, when he arrives and meets Zall, he’s convinced the ex-slave is his other half. Zall is not interested in becoming any man’s property and Danner has to decide whether he’s willing to give another person the freedom to destroy his heart.

Publisher’s Note: This book was previously released under the same title. It has been re-edited for re-release with Pride Publishing.

Review: The Planetary Submissives series just gets better and better, and while this is the last book—as of writing this review—I truly hope Amber Kell continues the series. I have enjoyed it immensely and wish to continue meeting new characters and going on adventures with them.

The former slave that Chalice rescues in the first book, Zall, makes a reappearance in book three. This time instead of facing down an angry emperor, he’s finally seeing the universe. Having secured a position on a military ship with the help of Chalice, Zall is content with his life. He’s finally free and independent. But all that changes when the new captain, Captain Teslan, boards the ship to take over. Teslan is there to investigate smuggling, and when he begins to search for a cabin boy, he doesn’t have to look far. Zall’s desire for him is clear. However, while Zall never wants to belong to another person again, Teslan believes he’s found his destined mate. How are they to work it out? It’ll take danger to bring them together.

If I loved the last book, Orlin’s Fall, this one was even better. Not only do old characters make a reappearance, but the situations are fresh. What I think I like most about this series is how different each book is. While yes, each book is set in the same universe, because it’s sci-fi, there are different species. And, the magic doesn’t work the same with each one. Chalice, in the first book, has elemental powers. Orlin, in the second book, has his magic emerge after his first time sleeping with his mate. Teslan has psychic abilities and can read minds.

The societies also treat pets differently. While Chalice is more submissive to his Master and kneels at his side, Orlin is worshipped and carried everywhere. Zall becomes Teslan’s cabin boy, but is never owned by the captain. And yet it works. There is commentary between each of the books about the other societies and their treatment of pets. And apparently I’m not the only one who wasn’t very fond of Terrin in the first book. It seems Teslan and the men in this book aren’t fond of him and his gruff, dictator ways, so he wasn’t the norm for heroes in this series as I had initially feared.

This book also adds another element. While there are again those light BDSM elements, Teslan is more of a switch than a Master, despite being in a position of power. Even though those elements don’t comprise the majority of the stories, Amber Kell presents a more varied approach than other series I’ve read. Well done!

I highly recommend this series. While the second doesn’t need to be read in order, the third is definitely better sometime after the first because Zall’s history with Chalice and Terrin is discussed. If you’re looking for a short sci-fi series, give this one a shot. All three could easily be read in a day. I just hope the author decides to write more.

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