Rating: 
Summary: Profoundly awful - bad bad bad
Review: Based on reviews above I bought this book and tried to get into it. But it was so dumbfounding bad - in writing, plot, tone and sheer yuckiness - that I had to stop about 1/3 of the way through. And although normally I donate all my discards to my local library book sale, in this case I just threw it out because I couldn't donate something so dreadful.
Rating:
Summary: Profoundly awful - bad bad bad
Review: Based on reviews above I bought this book and tried to get into it. But it was so dumbfounding bad - in writing, plot, tone and sheer yuckiness - that I had to stop about 1/3 of the way through. And although normally I donate all my discards to my local library book sale, in this case I just threw it out because I couldn't donate something so dreadful.
Rating: 
Summary: I Admit It, I Like Space Pirates
Review: I admit it. I like space pirates. I like rogue psychics. I love derring-do in space,spaceships flashing across galaxies to save the Federation, or whatever-- United Systems in this case. And I had thought a long time ago, when I first read a book by Susan Sizemore (I think it was her first, a time travel story with sf background) that she could probably write decent space opera. So I was inclined to be pleased with this book when I finally got around to ordering it. And it provides a satifying amount of what I really like in escapist fiction.Roxanne is content enough in her marriage to a ship's captain. The war with the Trin has ended in an uneasy peace and things ought to be a bit easier on an empath with psychic healing skills working on a battle cruiser. Anyone else looking on can see that her husband is a manipulative jerk and she is clearly destined for bigger and better things. In fact, she's due to be pulled out of her comfortable berth and tossed into the middle of trying to halt a plague with political implications. Pyr is the captain of a ship heavily indebted to the Pirate League. His crew is mutinous. They are all infected with Sag, a plague that is wreaking havoc on many inhabited worlds and, in an effort to control the plague, addicted to the drug Rust. Plague suffers who don't take Rust die. Rust is controlled by the drug lords. On top of that, Pyr has also been given a slow acting poison for which there is no cure. Is there anyone else in the universe who needs a healer more? The pirates are ruthless. The United Systems Military are ruthless. The space drug dealers are ruthless. There's a lot of violence in this book--be warned. Also it probably could have used a stronger editorial hand when dealing with the psychic cavorting, but there's some real moments of mischievous humor in this book. I also have to admit, my favorite character was Martin Braithwaite, who got more than he bargained for out of his healing. If you are looking for something to read until the next Liaden Universe novel comes out you might give this one a shot.
Rating: 
Summary: Surprising well written and entertaining
Review: I am a fan of Susan's vampire books and picked this book up on a whim one day. And I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! Some people say it starts slow and awkward, I don't think so, and in fact, I had to read the first chapter again after I finished the book because silly me -- breezed though it and missed a few key points. Susan did an excellent job of laying out the plot of this book and then executing it. And her characteration was very well done. I hope she writes more in this genre/venue.
Rating:
Summary: Surprising well written and entertaining
Review: I am a fan of Susan's vampire books and picked this book up on a whim one day. And I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! Some people say it starts slow and awkward, I don't think so, and in fact, I had to read the first chapter again after I finished the book because silly me -- breezed though it and missed a few key points. Susan did an excellent job of laying out the plot of this book and then executing it. And her characteration was very well done. I hope she writes more in this genre/venue.
Rating:
Summary: I Want More!
Review: I love the characters, the dialogue, the romance, but I especially love the worldbuilding in this novel. Roxanne and Pyr's story seemed like just the tip of the iceberg when it came to what's going on in the United Systems. I want more on Martin, and on Roxy's family. I want to know more about the Trin War. More with Pyr and Roxanne wouldn't hurt, either. Great universe. Give me more!
Rating:
Summary: Great Worldbuilding
Review: I was aware of Susan Sizemore as a romance novelist. Then I discovered her dark fantasy vampire series, all of which contain strong romantic elements along with a different look at a vampire culture. I've even found some short stories by this author in several fantasy anthologies. I'm not used to an author that gets around so much, but I've enjoyed every book of Sizemore's that I've read, some more than other, of course. I must say that I think Gates of Hell is far and away the best thing she's written. This book is undisciplined, unrestrained, and over the top - but, wow, what a ride! Other reviews here have given the outline of the story and opinions (for good or ill) of the characters and the strong romantic elements, but I don't think anyone has mentioned the worldbuilding. Fond as I am of Roxy, Pyr, Martin, Dee, Linch and the rest of the characters and the space opera that is their lives, I think it was the tantalizing glimpse into the United Systems universe that I found most intriguing. Among the matters touched on in the course of the book were the differences between military and civilian perceptions of wars and politics, budgetary constraints, the history of the United Systems, religious conflicts, types of marriages (how did Martin end up married not only to Roxy's sister, but to Rafe and Betheny as well?), technological development, love, death, basketball and there might even have been some mention of taxes in there somewhere. The story was about finding a cure for the Sagouran Fever and the cause behind the plague, but the action is played out as an episode in a universe where much has happened in the past, and the future is hinted at. While the plot of the book stands alone, I hope the author intended Gates of Hell as an introductory book to a series set in this universe. Because, I for one, would very much like to visit the United Systems again.
Rating:
Summary: great read
Review: I've always avoided Sizemore's books because I'm just not into this Vampire thing. Fortunately, despite the book's title, there's not a vampire to be found herein (though a bite of another sort plays an important role in the plot). This is a fun, well-written read with sympathetic characters in an intersting universe. Hint - KEEP GOING past the first chapter - it gets much more interesting. I'm disappointed that Sizemore hasn't written more set in this locale. Readers of the wonderful Lee/Miller Liaden stories might enjoy this.
Rating:
Summary: great read
Review: I've always avoided Sizemore's books because I'm just not into this Vampire thing. Fortunately, despite the book's title, there's not a vampire to be found herein (though a bite of another sort plays an important role in the plot). This is a fun, well-written read with sympathetic characters in an intersting universe. Hint - KEEP GOING past the first chapter - it gets much more interesting. I'm disappointed that Sizemore hasn't written more set in this locale. Readers of the wonderful Lee/Miller Liaden stories might enjoy this.
Rating:
Summary: If You Like A Little Romance With Your SciFi...
Review: Ms. Sizemore has created a nice space opera with interesting species, interstellar wars, treachery, telepaths, semi-immortals, romance, plague, group marriage, addiction, death-cults, and much more. If you're a hard-core sci-fi reader there should be plenty here for you. If you're new to the genre, or if you are a romance fan, the behavior and relationships of the characters should provide a familiar basis for your introduction to this type of story. Roxanne Shirah Merkrates is a Physician in the United Systems Military system. She is also of the Koltiri race and Shirah family, which means she is a powerful empath/telepath. She's contractually married to the captain of her ship, Eamon Merkrates. A plague is rapidly decimating planets, and she is sent by the Systems Council, to Eamon's displeasure, on a mercy mission to try to find a cure for the plague. The hospital she's sent to come under attack, she escapes in a dealer's ship, is captured by slavers, and then by pirates. Pyr is the captain of the pirate ship, a being who has been already infected by the plague, is addicted to the contraband medicine that staves it off, and was recently bitten by an acolyte of a death cult which infected him with a slow-acting fatal poison. He is trying to maintain control over his ship without letting his shipmates know that he is dying. He is also pursuing his own secret agenda regarding his People, the plague and his missing crewman, Axylel. Needless to say, the meeting of Roxanne and Pyr complicates their lives in an unexpected way, resulting in a bond that is stronger than either of them anticipated. This was a story that held my interest throughout - it flowed nicely, the primary and secondary characters were nicely developed, and most importantly, it didn't bog down the reader with unnessary technobits that weren't essential to the story.
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