Crossover
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ☆ ☆
Crossover (Cassandra Kresnov, Book 1) by Joel Shepherd
There’s a lot of focus on sex... like, a lot.
Science fiction can be one of the most unpredictable genres, you never quite know what you’re getting, no matter the synopsis.
Crossover isn’t a bad book, but I was expecting it to be a lot more badass than it turned out. The action sequences are strong, but they’re few and far between. In between, the narrative spends a surprising, and sometimes frustrating, amount of time on sex, often for no real reason. It got a bit exhausting.
The first half, however, is excellent. We meet Cassandra right in the middle of some deeply traumatic events. The interrogation scene is strangely compelling, and her quick progression to fending off an attack and earning the grudging respect of potential enemies (yes, a bit cliché) makes her a fascinating character.
Unfortunately, much of that intrigue fades in the second half. Cassandra becomes more two-dimensional, largely because of the excessive focus on her sexual escapades. By the end, I found myself caring less about her journey.
That said, I’m still planning to continue the series. There’s real potential here, and the book excels at the elements it gets right. I’m hoping the sequels put more emphasis on action and character depth rather than unnecessary filler.
